Part 6

Although this bird has bred in different parts of England, its chances of doing so now are somewhat remote, on account of the merciless persecution it suffers at the hands of gunners. Its nest is situated in holes in trees, walls, or rocks, and is composed of bits of straws and dry grass. The eggs number from five to seven, and vary from light greenish-blue to pale buff, with minute pit marks over their surface.

THE GOLDEN ORIOLE.

This bird is, to a very great extent, an accidental visitor to our shores, but it is thought by eminent authorities that it would become a common breeder with us were it not so dear to the heart of the collector. It has bred in several of the southern counties of England, and suspends its nest, which is composed of strips of bark, wool, sedge, grass, and leaves, with an inner lining of flower-heads of grass, beneath the forks of a large horizontal branch at some considerable height from the ground. The eggs number four to five or six, are white or light creamy-white, spotted with purplish-brown and underlying markings of grey.

THE OSPREY.

The Osprey, now only met with in one or two remote parts of Scotland, employs sticks, turf, moss, and wool in the construction of its bulky nest, which it builds on the top of a tall tree or ruin. The eggs number three, sometimes four, varying from white to creamy-white in ground colour, beautifully marked, and especially so at the larger end, as a rule with rich reddish-brown. The markings vary considerably.

THE WHITE WAGTAIL.

Although this bird is the Continental representative of our Pied Wagtail, there are on record many well-authenticated instances of its breeding in this country. It differs from the Pied Wagtail in being bluish or slate grey, where that bird is black, below the nape. Its nest, and the situation in which it is placed, do not differ from that of the bird just named. The eggs are also similar, but are said to be subject to greater variation in colour and markings.

THE BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL.

The nest of this somewhat rare visitor has several times been found in Northumberland, and it has in all probability nested on many occasions elsewhere, without its identity being clearly established. The nest is made of dry grass, fine roots, and moss, lined with hair and occasionally a few feathers, and is situated on a bank or amongst grass or corn in a similar position to that of the Yellow Wagtail. The eggs number five as a rule, but six are sometimes found, of a yellowish-white ground colour, spotted, freckled, and clouded with light brown, and occasionally streaked on the larger end with fine blackish-brown lines.

MONTAGU'S HARRIER.

Although this bird rarely breeds with us now, its nest has occasionally been met with in recent years in the southern counties. The nest is placed on the ground amongst heath, fern, furze, or growing crops, and consists of a few twigs, straws, and bits of dead grass. Its eggs number from four to six, of a faint bluish-white, and are on rare occasions marked with a few light reddish-brown spots.

THE HEN HARRIER.

Game-preserving has proved a disastrous business to this bird, and it now only breeds in a few of its old strongholds, such as Cornwall, Wales, the Highlands, Orkneys, and Hebrides, where I have met with it. Its nest is composed of sticks, sprigs of heather, dry grass, and wool, and is placed upon the ground in deep heather. The eggs number from four to six, of a pale bluish-white colour, rarely marked with a few reddish-brown spots.

THE MARSH HARRIER.

Sticks, reeds, and sedge are the materials used by this bird for building its nest, which is situated on the ground, although instances have been reported of it occurring in a tree. It is said to still breed in Norfolk and the West of England. The eggs number three or four, sometimes as many as six, it is said. They are greyish-white, slightly tinged with light bluish-green, and occasionally marked with rusty brown.

THE HOBBY.

This bird still breeds in very small numbers in the Midlands and in the Eastern Counties. It selects the old nest of a Crow, Wood Pigeon, or Magpie, and deposits its three or four eggs in it without any attempt at nest-building. The eggs are yellowish-white in ground colour, but this is almost entirely hidden by the thick marking of reddish-brown.

RICHARDSON'S SKUA.

The islands lying to the West and North of Scotland, also parts of the far north of the mainland, are chosen by this Skua for its breeding quarters. The nest is simply a slight hollow, sparingly lined with a few bits of withered grass, and is situated on wild, unfrequented moors and bog-land. The eggs number two, but upon occasion one only is found, and sometimes as many as three. They vary from olive-green to reddish-brown in ground colour, spotted and blotched with blackish-brown and light grey. I have seen them harmonise so closely with their surroundings that I had a great difficulty in finding them, though I had marked the whereabouts of the nest within a few feet through my binoculars.

THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.

Low rocky islands are the favourite breeding places of this Gull, and they are now particularly numerous at the Farne Islands, where I have seen the eggs lying about so thickly that the visitor had to exercise great care to avoid treading upon them. Sometimes quite a large quantity of seaweed is used in making the nest, at others a few bits of grass and roots, and in some cases, where bare peat earth is available, simply a hollow is scratched out. The eggs as a rule number three, but sometimes only two are met with. I have seen it stated that the bird occasionally lays four, but out of the hundreds of nests I have examined I have never had the luck to see that number. In coloration they vary from pale greyish-green to reddish-brown, blotched and spotted with blackish- and greyish-brown. Sometimes the markings take the form of streaks. The eggs, although as a rule darker than those of the Herring Gull, are very difficult to distinguish, and I have found no safe method short of watching the parent birds on the nest.

THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.

The flat-topped summits of rocks, stacks, and high maritime cliffs are the usual situation for this Gull's nest; however, I have met with it on comparatively low rocky islets in Highland sea-lochs. It does not breed on the East Coast of England. Its nest is made of bits of heather, dead grass, seaweed, and sometimes a few feathers, and varies in size. The eggs number three, but sometimes only two are found, greyish-brown or stone colour, tinged with olive and spotted with blackish-brown and dark grey.

THE BLACK GROUSE.

This bird places its nest amongst deep heather, long grass, and rushes, ferns, and brambles, in suitable moorland parts of England, Wales, and Scotland. It is simply a hollow lined with a few bits of fern, heath, or dead grass. The eggs number six to ten, or even more, yellowish-white to buff, spotted with rich reddish-brown. I have generally found it through putting the hen off her nest.

THE MARSH WARBLER.

A situation such as that afforded by a stunted bush overgrown with weeds and close to water of some kind, chiefly in the southern counties of England, is said to be chosen by the Marsh Warbler for its nest. It employs grass-stems and leaves, moss and spiders' webs, in the construction of its nest, with an inner lining of horsehair. The eggs number from five to seven, and vary considerably in coloration. One type is said to be greenish-white, spotted, blotched, and marbled with olive-brown, and another greenish-blue, blotched and spotted with olive-brown and grey underlying marks. It is a rare and local breeder with us.

THE SNOW BUNTING.

The highest mountain-tops of Scotland and the Shetlands are patronised by the Snow Bunting during the breeding season. It makes its nest of withered grass, fine roots, and moss, and lines it with down, wool, hair, or feathers, and situates it in crevices of rock or amongst loose stones. The eggs number from four to eight, but five or six are generally found, varying from dull white to very light greenish-blue in ground colour, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown, and occasionally streaked with blackish-brown. The markings are most numerous at the larger end, and the underlying ones are of a light grey and pale brown.

THE SPOTTED CRAKE.

The eastern and southern counties of England are the favourite breeding resorts of this somewhat uncommon bird. Its nest is large, and made of reeds, sedges, rushes, and other materials growing in swamps, and is placed on a tussock or amongst reeds, the base generally resting in water. The eggs number eight to ten, and even twelve, and vary in ground colour from white to buff, the intermediate stages including olive and greenish-white. They are spotted with reddish-brown of varying shades, and grey.

THE RED-THROATED DIVER.

I have seen this bird's nest in the Outer Hebrides, where it is fairly common. It also breeds on the mainland of Scotland and in Ireland. The nest is generally placed close to the edge of some mountain tarn or loch, and is a mere depression trodden in the peat earth, sometimes scantily lined with bits of dead bent or water-weeds. The eggs number two, of a dark brownish-olive, frequently greenish, spotted with blackish-brown, and underlying markings of a lighter character.

THE BLACK-THROATED DIVER.

The Black-throated Diver breeds in the Outer Hebrides and on the mainland of Scotland. It places its nest, which is made of reeds and aquatic weeds, lined with grass, on the shingle of mountain-loch shores and small islands. The eggs number two, dark olive-brown, or buffish-brown, spotted somewhat sparingly with blackish-brown and umber-brown. The eggs need careful identification, else they are likely to be confused with those of the Red-throated species.

INDEX

A

Auk, Little, 69

B

Bittern, 33 Blackbird, 29 Blackcap, 46 Black Redstart, 62 Blue Tit, 46 Brambling, 63 Bullfinch, 22 Bunting, Black-headed, 65 " Cirl, 60 " Common, 56 " Snow, 90 Buzzard, 60

C

Capercailzie, 35 Carrion Crow, 44 Chaffinch, 23 Chiffchaff, 51 Chough, 58 Cirl Bunting, 60 Cole Tit, 68 Coot, 55 Cormorant, 66 Crake, Spotted, 90 Creeper, 66 Crossbill, 32 Crow, Carrion, 44 " Hooded, 55 Cuckoo, 48 Curlew, Common, 55 " Stone, 75

D

Dartford Warbler, 61 Dipper, 52 Diver, Red-throated, 91 " Black-throated, 91 Dotterel, 69 Dove, Ring, 26 " Rock, 69 " Stock, 61 " Turtle, 66 Duck, Eider, 43 " Wild, 47 " Tufted, 75 " Pintail, 83 Dunlin, 36

E

Eagle, Golden, 43 " White-tailed, 42 Eider Duck, 43

F

Falcon, Gyr, 57 " Peregrine, 54 Fieldfare, 57 Fly-catcher, Pied, 36 " Spotted, 62

G

Gadwall, 75 Gannet, 67 Garden Warbler, 53 Garganey, 76 Golden-crested Wren, 27 Golden Eagle, 43 " Plover, 37 Goldfinch, 21 Goose, Grey Lag, 73 Goosander, 77 Goshawk, 73 Grasshopper Warbler, 43 Grebe, Little, 35 " Great Crested, 77 Greenfinch, 28 Greenshank, 80 Green Woodpecker, 30 Grey Wagtail, 64 Grouse, Red, 25 " Black, 89 Guillemot, Common, 68 " Black, 77 Gull, Black-headed, 50 " Common, 30 " Herring, 44 " Great Black-backed, 89 " Lesser Black-backed, 88 Gyr Falcon, 57

H

Harrier, Montagu's, 86 " Hen, 87 " Marsh, 87 Hawfinch, 61 Hawk, Kestrel, 25 " Merlin, 33 " Sparrow, 45 Hedge-Sparrow, 52 Heron, 49 Hobby, 87 Hooded Crow, 55 Hoopoe, 84 House Sparrow, 25

J

Jackdaw, 25 Jack Snipe, 57 Jay, 24

K

Kestrel, 25 Kingfisher, 30 Kite, 39 Kittiwake, 78

L

Landrail, 38 Lapwing, 31 Lark, Shore, 67 " Sky, 37 " Wood, 32 Lesser Whitethroat, 41 Linnet, 23

M

Magpie, 22 Marsh Tit, 69 Martin, House, 51 " Sand, 39 Meadow Pipit, 35 Merlin, 33 Merganser, Red-breasted, 79 Missel Thrush, 53 Moorhen, 31

N

Nightingale, 31 Nightjar, 33 Nuthatch, 29

O

Oriole, Golden, 85 Osprey, 85 Ouzel, Ring, 59 " Water, 52 Owl, Barn, 31 " Long-eared, 40 " Short-eared, 78 " Tawny, 43 Oyster-catcher, 68

P

Partridge, 46 " Red-legged, 70 Peregrine Falcon, 54 Petrel, Stormy, 34 " Fulmar, 76 " Leach's Fork-tailed, 84 Phalarope, Grey, 42 " Red-necked, 84 Pheasant, 48 Pied Fly-catcher, 36 " Wagtail, 48 Pintail Duck, 83 Pipit, Meadow, 35 " Rock, 65 " Tree, 36 Plover, Golden, 37 " Green, 31 " Kentish, 60 " Ringed, 82 Pochard, 62 Ptarmigan, 54 Puffin, 58

Q

Quail, 67

R

Rail, Land-, 38 " Water, 56 Raven, 23 Razor-bill, 71 Red-backed Shrike, 58 Red-legged Partridge, 70 Redpoll, 26 Red-shank, 39 Redstart, 28 " Black, 62 Redwing, 40 Ringdove, 26 Ring Ouzel, 59 Robin, 26 Rock Dove, 69 " Pipit, 65 Rook, 24 Ruff, 41

S

Sanderling, 70 Sand Martin, 39 Sandpiper, Common, 41 Scoter, 64 Seagull, Common, 30 Shag, 74 Shearwater, Manx, 83 Shieldrake, 40 Shore Lark, 67 Shoveller, 42 Shrike, Red-backed, 58 Siskin, 27 Skua, Common, 38 " Richardson's, 88 Skylark, 37 Smew, 65 Snipe, Common, 50 " Jack, 57 Sparrowhawk, 45 Sparrow, Hedge, 52 " House, 25 " Tree, 63 Spoonbill, 54 Spotted Fly-catcher, 62 Starling, 22 Stint, Little, 39 Stock Dove, 61 Stone-chat, 34 Storm Petrel, 34 Swallow, 44 Swan, Mute, 74 Swift, 50

T

Teal, 29 Tern, Sandwich, 71 Tern, Arctic, 72 " Common, 72 " Lesser, 72 " Roseate, 82 Thrush, Common, 28 " Missel, 53 Tit, Blue, 46 " Bearded, 82 " Cole, 68 " Great, 29 " Long-tailed, 70 " March, 69 " Crested, 74 Tree Pipit, 36 " Sparrow, 63 Turtle Dove, 66 Twite, 87

W

Wagtail, Grey, 64 " Pied, 48 " Yellow, 73 Warbler, Dartford, 61 " White, 85 " Blue-headed, 86 " Garden, 53 " Grasshopper, 43 " Marsh, 89 " Reed, 80 " Sedge, 79 Water Ouzel, 52 " Rail, 56 Wheat-ear, 34 Whimbrel, 80 Whinchat, 64 White-tailed Eagle, 42 Whitethroat, 27 " Lesser, 41 Wigeon, 38 Wild Duck, 47 Woodcock, 49 Woodlark, 32 Woodpecker, Green, 30 " Great Spotted, 65 " Lesser Spotted, 78 Wood Warbler, 81 Wren, Common, 24 " Golden-crested, 27 " Willow, 79 Wryneck, 27

Y

Yellow-hammer, 56

Printed by Cassell & Company, Limited, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.

10.113

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Transcriber Notes

Obvious spelling and punctuation errors repaired. All split paragraphs were rejoined. Hyphenation was standardized using the most common form.