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.
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![enlargement in tlie middle of the trachea of some birds, especially the semi-osseous chambers in the Mergansers, and some species of Ducks, were intended as con- densers to assist in the compression of the air for augmenting the sound; but expe- rience informs us this is not the ease, for some birds possessing a labyrinth have weak voices, exempUfled in the Mallard or male of tiie common Duck. But as sound is produced by birds from the lower ex- tremity of the trachea, and not from the larj’nx, the condensation of air before that part cannot promote the force of the ex- pulsion of it through the soniferous organ, but only serves to modulate the tone. As we have touched upon this subject in another place, it is unnecessary to enlarge upon it in this. [Bittern, American.—SeeHeron,Freckled.] Bittern, Little.— [Farrell, ii. 565; Hew- itson, Ixxxiii. 315.] Ardea minuta, Lin. Syst. i. p. 240, B; Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 646; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 683, 27; Edw. t. 275; Lath. Syn. Sup. ii. p. 301, No. 8; Bewick, Br. Birds, 11, t. p. 51. Little Bittern, Br. Zool. App. p. 537, t. 8; Arct. Zool. ii. No. 359 ; Lath. Syn. v. p. 65, 27; Ib. Sup. p. 235; Lewin, Br. Birds, iv. t. 147; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 128; Bon. Br. Birds, in. t. 54; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 14. Le Blongios, Buf. vii. p. 395. Ai'deola naBvia, Bris. v. p. 500, 47, t. 40, f. 2 ; Ib. 8vo, ii. p. 342. Provincial: Boonk; Longneck.—This beautiful species of Heron is scarce larger than a Fieldfare in the body. The length, to the end of the tail, is fifteen inches. The bill two inches long, dusky at the point, yellow on the sides. The top of the head, back, and tail black, glossed with green ; the fore part of the neck, breast, and thighs buff colour; belly and vent white; at the shoulders a large chesnut spot; the larger coverts of the wings whitish; the lesser coverts yellowish buff; quill-feathers black; legs and toes dusky green; thighs fea- thered to the knees; middle claw serrated on the inner side. The above is the de- scription of the mole. The female is sujr- posed to be the Ardea minuta, Lin. Syst. 240, 26. It differs from the other sex in the plumage of the upper paif of the body being brown, margined with pale rufous; beneath, the feathers are the same, but paler, and more deeply margined. The eggs are said to bo white, about the size of those of the Blackbird, four or five in number, which are placed on the ground upon a few dried flags. The Little Bittern is a very rare bird with us. Few instances only are recorded of its being killed in England. A male w'as shot near Bath in the autumn of 1789, perched on the stump of a tree on tlie bank of the Avon. It is more frequent in some parts of the Euro- pean continent, particularly in Switzer- land. Supplement. — A female of this rare species was shot contiguous to the river Credy, in Devonshire, in the month of May, 1808. It was only wounded in the ■wing and was kept ahve for two days ; and it was observed to sit mth its neck con- ti-acted like the common Heron, but with the bill pointing upwards. Upon dis- section, about forty eggs were counted in the ovaries, some of which were so con- siderably enlarged, as to induce an opinion that a brood would have been produced in this country, especially as a male Avas afterwards shot not very distant, and had been previously seen near the same place. A thii’d was also killed in the same neigh- bourhood during that summer. Mr. Co- myns, Avho gave us the above information, has two of these birds in his collection. It is found in some parts of Asia, particu- larly in Arabia; and if a little variety of plumage may be admitted, is an inhabitant of New Holland; this difiers merely in having a few lengthened black spots down the fore part of the neck; such has been observed in the marshes about Port Jack- son in December, and is called by the natives Duralia. Mr. Fleming informs us, that one was shot at Sanda, in the Orknies, in the winter of 1805. Bittour—See Bittern. Blackbird.— lYarrell, i. 221; Hewitson, XXV. 91.] Turdus merula, Lin. Syst. i. p. 295, 22; Gmel. Syst ii. p. 831; Baii Syn. p. 65, A. 1; Will. p. 140, t. 37; Ind. Orn. i. j). 340, 50. Merle, Buf. iii. p. 330, t. 20; Bris. ii. p. 227, 10; ib. 8vo, i. p. 221. Blackbird, Br. Zool. No. 109, t. 47 ; Ib. fol. 92; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 345; Albin. i. t. 37; Will. Angl. p. 190; Lath. Syn. iii. p. 43, 46; Ib. Sup. p. 141; Lewin, Br. Birds, ii. t. 61; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 210; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 10. Provincial: Amsel. — This well - knoAvn species of Thrush needs little description. The male is wholly of a deep black, when it has attained maturity, which is not till towards the return of spring, at wlrich time the bill and orbits of the eye ai-e yellow: the young and females are of a dai'k rusty brown; the bill and eye-Hds dusky. The song of the Blackbird is a shrill land of whistle of vaiioits notes, which it commences eaiiy in the spring. It is an early breeder, and prepares a nest composed externally of greeir moss, fibrous roots, and other like materials ; the inside is plastered with eorih arrd afterwoi'ds lined with fine dry grass; the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0039.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
