A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.
- George Montagu
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.
386/440 page 358
![TURNSTONE; Provincial: Little Black-headed Tomtit.— Tile length of this species is about four inches and a half; weight two drams and a half. The bill is dusky; iiddes dai’k hazel. Crown of the head black, but not glossy; cheeks of a dirty white; chin black, in some spotted with white; the back of a rusty grey; breast and belly of a light brownish buff-colour ; quiUs and tail bluish grey, lightest on their outer mai-- gius; legs lead-colour. We must here again remark that this species is not to be confounded with the Cole Titmouse. If no other marks of distinction were want- ing than the white on the back of the head and wing-coverts, it would be suf- ficient ; but this is a larger bird, the colour on the back is not of that bluish cast, and the tail is longer. 'We shall, however, refer our reader to the history of that species, where we have more copiously defined the distinction. The Marsh Tit- mouse has more the habits of the Blue species, partaking with it of flesh, and at- tending the oat-ricks. It appears partial to low wet ground, where old wUlow-trees abound, in the holes of which it frequently makes its nest. We have seen it artfully excavating the decayed part of that tree, carrying the chips in its bill to some dis- tance, always working downwards, making the bottom for the reception of the nest larger than the entrance. The nest is composed of moss and thistle-down, some- times a little wool, and lined mth the down of the thistle. It lays five or six white eggs, spotted >vith rusty red, mostly at the larger end; theii' weight from nineteen to; twenty-one grains. We shall here remark that all the species of Tit- mice, whose eggs are known, ai'e similar in colour, and only to be distinguished from each other by size and weight. Those of the Nuthatch, Cree2)er, Wren, Yellow Wren, Wood Wren, and Lesser Petty- chaps, all agree in their markings, and so lilce those of the Titmice that it is scarce possible to separate them with certainty if once mixed together ; and it is somewhat remai-kable, aU these bii’ds breed in holes, or make a covered nest. This bird is not so common as the Great or Blue species, but more plentiful than the Cole Mouse. It is also found in many other parts of Europe, especially in Sweden and Italy. The notes of the three species with black heads are much alike, especially that which is Bice the whetting of a saw, and the whistle made use of only in the spring; but the chatter is to be distinguished. Titmouse, Wood. — See Wren, Golden- crested. [Thomas Gierdet,—See Redbreast.] [Tommi-liden.—See Redbreast.] Tommy, Tomnoddy, Tomnorry, or Tami- norie.—See Puffin. Tomtit.—See Titmouse, Blue. Tomtit, Blackheaded. — See Titmouse, Great, and Marsh. Toney Hoop.—See Finch, Bui. Tope.—See Wren, Common. [Tor Ouzel.—See Ouzel, Ring.] Towwille. 1 [Towwilly.]r®® Sanderhng. Tree-Climber or Creeper.— See Creeper; and Sparrow, Tree. [Tree Pipit.—See Lark, Tit.] [Tree Sparrow.—See SpaiTow, Tree.] Trittichan.—See Oyster-catcher. 1 1 See Duck, Tufted.] [Tufted Pochard, j Tuliac.—See Gull, Skua. Turnstone.—[YarrcH, ii. 520; Heioitson, Ixxix. 003.] Tiinga Interpres, Lin. Syst. i. p. 248, 4 ; Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 071; Ind. Om. ii. p. 738, 45. Triuga Morinella, Lin. Syst. i. p. 249, 0. Morinellus'maiinus. Bail Syn. p. 112, A. 5 ; Will. p. 231, t. 58. Arenoiia, Bris. v. p. 132,1; 16. 8vo, ii. p. 240. Arenaria cinerea, Bris. v. p. 137, 2, t. 11, f. 2 ; 16. 8vo, ii. p. 247. Le Tourne- jjierre, Buf. vui. p. 150, 1.10. Hebridal Sandinper, Br. Zool. ii. No. 200; Arct. Zool. ii. No. 382. Turnstone, or Sea Dot- terel, Br. Zool. ii. No. 199 ; 16. fol. 125, t. E. 2, f. 2 ; Will. Angl. p. 311; Edw. 1.141; Lath. Syn. v. p. 188, 37 ; Sup. p. 249 ; Leioin, Br. Birds, v. t. 179; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 153; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 15. —This species of Sandpiper is about the size of a Throstle; length nine inches and a half; weight rather more than four ounces. The bill is black and strong, about an inch in length, and turns a little upwards ; irides hazel. Forehead and chin white; across the breast a broad band of black; the fore pai-t of the neck black, joining to that on the breast, and encircling the upper port of the neck ; a black streak from the eyes, and another from tl;e bill, meet in an angle at the collar on the side of the neck; above the eye a streak of white, on the ears a spot of the same ; the back part of I the neck is white, mixed witli brown.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0386.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
