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

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.

387/440 page 359

$TURTLE. TYSTE. which passes down each side of the hreast; the crown of the head, upper part of the hack, and scapulars is a mixture of black and ferruginous; the latter whitish on their exterior edges; lesser w'ing-coverts nearly the same, but lighter; lower part of the back under the scapulars wliite; quills dusky, the secondoiies tipped with white ; the greater coverts edged with the same; the shafts of the primary quills white; belly, vent, and under tail-coverts white; upper tail-coverts white, crossed wnth a bar of black; tail black, tipped with white, except the middle feathers; legs orange. The bird from which the above description is taken was killed in September on the coast of South Wales ; another in my collection, killed in Corn- wall the beginning of August, has a faint collar round the neck, w'hich, with the hand on the breast, is dusky brown; the chin is white, but the whole head is hrowm, w'ith dusky streaks; the back and scapulars black, each feather deeply mar- gined with light ferruginous ; the exterior feather of the tail white on the outer web; legs light yellowdsh broam. This is un- doubtetUy a young bird. The Turnstone is subject to great variety in respect to the marldngs about the head and neck; hut the black on the hreast, and more or less round the neck, at once distinguish it from any other species. In some the base half of the tail is white, and the quills next the body the same, as w'ell as the base of the rest, except the four first. In others the lower part of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are wholly white. This bird is sometimes met with on the coast in small fiocks of five or six; pro- bably the brood, which in most, if not in all, of this class, consists of four young. It is not known to breed with us, but visits some of our shores in August, and departs in the spring. It is said to breed in Hudson's Bay, makes a slight nest on the dry ground, and lays four olive- coloured eggs, spotted with black. De- parts from thence in September. The name has been given it from its manner of turning up the stones in search of ma- rine insects. [Turtle’ Dove.] } Turtle, Sea.—See Auk, Little. Twink.—See Finch, Chaf. Twite.— \_YarreU, i. 590; IIewiUon,'h.. SO.!.] Fringilla montium, Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 917, 68 ; Ind. Orn. i. p. 459, 84. Li- uaria montana, Bris. iii. p. 145, 33 ; Ib. 8vo, i. p. 3-10 ; liaii Syn. p. 91, A. 4; Will. p. 191. Blountain Linnet, Br. Zool. No. 133, t. 53 ; Ib. fol. Ill; Will. Anyl. p. 201; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 380, C.; Lewin, Br. Birds, ii. t. 80; Lath. Syn. iii. p. 307, 70; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 13.— This species of Finch is rather larger than the Linnet or Greater Eedpole; length about six inches. The bill is yellowish, brown at the tip; irides hazel. The top of the head and rump red ; upper parts dusky black, edged with rufous; beneath rufous-white, with black- ish spots on the throat; belly white. In some the whole head is light rufous, streaked on the top with dusky; the hack, scapulars, and wing-coverts dark rufous- brown, with paler edges; rump tinged with red; gi'eater quills and t^ dusky black, more or less edged with white on the exterior webs; upper part of the breast and sides rufous-white, spotted and streaked with dark rufous-brown; lower part of the breast, belly, and under tail- coverts white; tail forked; legs dusky. Like the Eedpole, this bird is subject to much variety in respect to the red mark- ings. Some are described to have the top of the head, breast, and rump red. In its general appearance it is much like the female of that bird, but darker on the upper par-ts, as weU ns more ruforrs on the cheeks and throat; the red on the rump is never found in that bird. The Twite is gregarious, accompanying the Linnet in large flights, and is token aborrt London together by the birdcatchers. A variety has been given as the Mountain Linnet; it has a twittering note, but has rrot been observed to sing. Dr. Latham favoirred me with the nest and eggs, which he re- ceived orrt of Yorkshire. The nest is formed of moss and roots of plants mixed with heath, and lined with finer heath and fibrous roots. The egg is the size of that of the Linnet, of a blue-w'hite, faintly spotted with purplish red at the lai'ger end. The female is said to want the red mark on the rump, and may therefore he frequently mistaken for the common Lin- net before it has thrown out the other red markings. It is possibly found in many other pails of England in the ivintor sea- son, but not generally distinguished from the Linnet. Tyste, Taiste, Teisty, or Toist. — See Guillemot, Black.$