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.

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$Hewitson, Ixii. 243.] Certhia familiaris, Lin. Syst. i. p. 184,1; Gmel. Syst. i. p. 469; Ind. Orn. i. p. 280, 1. Certhia, Bris. iii. p. 003, 1; 76. 8vo, ii. p. 2; Raii Syn. p. 47, A. 5 ; Will. p. 100, t. 23. Grimpereau, Buf. V. p. 481, t. 21, f. 1. Common Creeper, Br. Zool. i. No. 02, t. 39; 76. fol. p. 82, t. K.; Arct. Zool.ii. No. 174; Alhin. iii. t. 25; Lath. Syn. ii. No. 701; Ib. Sup. p. 126; Lewin, Br. Birds, ii. t. 55; Wale. Syn. i. t. 54; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 5. Provincial: Tree-creeper; Tree-cUmber.— This is the only species of the genus in England; its weight about two drams; length five inches; bill half an inch long, slender and curved; irides hazel. The upper part of the head and neck are prettily mai-ked ■with streaks of black and yeUow-brown; above each eye is a stroke of white; back, rump, and scapulars, inclining to tawny; quiUs dusky, mostly tipped and edged with white, or very light brown: the coverts are varied with dusky hro'wn and yellomsh white, the last of which forms a sort of bar across the wung; the breast and belly ai’e of a silvery white; the tail consists of twelve shai’p-pointed stiff fea- thers, of a tawny brown. Some authors have described this bmd as possessing only ten feathers in the tad, which is a mistake. This bird is pei’petuaUy climbing u)) the body and Umbs of trees in search of insects, its only food. It makes a nest in some hole, or behind the bark of some decayed tree, composed of drj' grass and the inner bai'k of wood, loosely put toge- ther, and lined ;\ith small feathers. The eggs ai'e from six to eight in number (not twenty, as some assert), weight about eighteen grains; these ai-e white, mi- nutely speckled with bright rust-colour. During the time of incubation the female is fed by the other sex, whenever she quits her nest in seai'ch of food. The note of the Creeper is monotonous and weak, several times repeated in a deliberate man- ner ; but is rarely heard in winter. At this season it is constantly active in search of food, which is chiefiy the larvae of insects, found under moss, and in the crevices of the bark; which is procured in sufficient abundance to subsist it during that season. Creshawk.—See Kestrel. [Crested Corvorant.—See Corvorant, Com- mon.] [Crested Lapwing.—See Lapwing.] [Crested Lark.—See Lark, Crested.] [Crested Tit.—See Titmouse, Crested.] [Crested Shag.—See Shag, Crested.] Crocker.—See Gull, Blackheaded.] Crookedbill.—See Avoset. Crossbill [Common.—Tarreitl, ii. 1; Hew- itson, Uv. 212.] Loxia curvirostra, Lin. Syst. i. p. 299, 1; Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 843; Ind. Om. i. p. 370, 1. Loxia, Bris. iii. p. 329, t. 17, f. 3; 76. 8vo, p. 401; Raii Sij7i. p. 86, A.; Will. p. 181, t. 44. Le Bee croise, Biif. iii. p. 449, t. 27, f. 2. Cross- bill, or Shield-apple, Br. Zool. i. No. 115, t. 49 ; 76. fol. 106, t. U. f. 2 : Arct. Zool. ii. No. 208 ; Will. Angl. p. 248, t. 44*; Edw. t. 303; Albin. i. t. 61; Lath. Syn. iii. p. 106, 1; Lewin, Br. Birds, ii. t. 66 ; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 205; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 11; Don. Br. Birds, ii. t. 39. — This species of Grosbealc weighs about an ounce and a half: length near six inches and a half: bin strong, both mandibles convex, and crossing each other at the points, which are hooked ; colour brown ; eyes small; irides dusky. The plumage of the male varies from a beautiful red to orange- colour on the head, neck, breast, back, and rump ; the wing-coverts rufous-brown ; quills and tail dusky; vent almost white ; under tail-coverts spotted dusky; tail forked; legs short; claws strong. The females also vaiy somew'hat in colour. In general they are of a dull obve-green on those parts where the male is red; but the feathers on the back are mottled with dusky; the wings and tail similar to that of the male, but not so dark. We have observed the crossing of the mandibles are not constantly on the same side. The Crossbill is not known to breed with us, but is more or less found amongst our fir plantations, from June to the latter end of the year, feeding on the seed, by dex- terously dividing the scales of the cone, for which purpose the bill is admirably adapted. It is sometimes found in our orcliards in autumn, and will readily di- vide an apple to get at the kernels. In the year 1791 we were informed by a bii’dcatcher at Bath that he had taken an hundred pair in the months of June and July : the greater part were males, which were general!)' sold for five shiUings each. Many are taken with a call-bird and bird- lime ; others are caught by a horse-hair noose fixed to a long fishing-rod. So intent are these birds when picking out the seeds of the cone, that they wiU suffer themselves to he taken by the noose being put over the head. They are discovered by the twittering noise they make while feeding. This bird is said to be a con- stant inhabitant of the northern parts of Europe ; breeds early in the month of Mai’ch, on the tops of the pine-trees. In confinement it seems to have much the$