A general account of the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow: including historical and scientific notices of the various objects of art, literature, natural history, anatomical preparations, antiquities, &c., in that celebrated collection / by J. Laskey.

  • Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A general account of the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow: including historical and scientific notices of the various objects of art, literature, natural history, anatomical preparations, antiquities, &c., in that celebrated collection / by J. Laskey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    This species is almost a general inhabitant, being found in all the temperate ga]ot>11- and warm parts of the globe; formerly in plenty in England, as it appears from ^ the bill of fare of Archbishop Nevil, that no less than one thousand were dres- sed at his feast. They are found in Asia Africa, Isles of Madagascar and Bour- bon, also in great plenty at Siam; In America they are met with at New York and Long Island; in some of the West India Islands, and at Cayenne.' It is of the Heron tribe, and like them, frequents marshes and banks of streams, feeding on fish. 1. BITTERN. Ardea Stellar is, Linn. Case No. This is an elegant species, somewhat less than the Heron, length about two feet six inches; the bill brown, beneath inclining to green; irides yellow; the feathers on the head long, and those of the neck loose and waving; the crown of the head black; the lower jaw on each side dusky; the plumage, in general, is beautifully variegated; the ground a ferruginous yellow, palest beneath, marked with numerous bars, streaks, and zigzag lines of black; the legs are pale green; claws long and slender; and the inner edge on the middle claw serrated. This bird is not uncommon in cur Islands, and in most of the temperate parts of the Continent; in Sweden it is said to migrate; frequents marshy places especially where reeds are plentiful, among which it makes its nest ire April, which is chiefly composed of a bed of rushes. The female lays four or five eggs of a pale greenish ash colour, and the young are hatched in twenty-five days. It is very indolent, seldom stirring from its lurking place, unless disturbed during the day. In the evening after sun-set, it may be seen soaring aloft in a spiral ascent till out of sight, making a singular kind of noise; it has also another note like the bellowing of a Bull, which it uses ia February, and ceases after the breeding season; this is always used when perched on the ground. It defends itself fiercely against dogs and men, and and is said to aim principally at the eyes of its foe. Its food is mice, frogs, and other reptiles, which it swallows whole, as well as small fish; is reckoned good eating. 2. COMMON HERON. Ardea Major, Linn. This is a beautiful, tho’ common species; the male weighs about 3l[- lbs.; length three feet three inches; bill six inches long, colour dusky beneath, at the base yellowish; round the eye greenish, and bare of feathers; irrides yel- low; forehead and crown white; sides of it over the eye black; all the feathers of the crown long, two in particular being eight inches in length; on the whole forming a most elegant crest; these are used as ornaments in the East, and bear a considerable price. The Heron’s plume is also an appendage to a Knight of the Order of the Garter. The neck is white, the forepart marked with a double row of black spots; wing coverts bluish grey, outer edges of the wing white; bastard wing and greater quills black; middle of the back al- most bare, covered by the scapulars which are grey and white, of a loose texr ture, long and narrow; the feathers of the lower part of the neck before are also of the same texture, and hang loose over the breast; on each side, under tire wing, a bed of black feathers; breast and under parts white, legs dirty- green; inner edge of the middle claw serrated. This species is common in these kingdoms, frequents marshy places, and edges of streams where it may be seen standing motionless for hours together, waiting the passing of a fish, which it may snap up for food. In this interval the head is crouched between the shoulders, and the body resting on one leg. It will eat frogs, and at tinges feeds on vegetables. In flying it draws iii
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