Part 25

MADEIRAN FORK-TAILED PETREL Oceanodroma castro (Harcourt)

An example of this bird was picked up dead in Kent in December 1895.

The home of this species is the islands lying off the west of Africa, viz. Cape Verde, Madeira, Desertas, Salvages, and Canaries, from whence individuals occasionally wander to Europe.

This species very closely resembles Leach's Petrel, but the tail is hardly forked; the upper tail coverts are white tipped with black; and the bases of the tail feathers are white. Length nearly 8 in.; wing 5·9 in.

WILSON'S PETREL Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl)

This bird is almost cosmopolitan in distribution, but perhaps the South Atlantic is its main home, and it is commoner up the North American coast than on this side. Several examples have been shot in this country. The legs and wings are longer than in the preceding species and the webs of the feet are _yellow_ at their bases. The general colour above and below is sooty brown with white on upper tail coverts and thigh patches, and also at the base of the outer tail feathers. Length 7 in.; wing 6 in.

THE FRIGATE PETREL Pelagodroma marina (Latham)

Of late years two examples of this Petrel have been washed up on our shores. The Salvages are the nearest breeding haunts of this species, but it is also found in the south seas.

The crown, nape, and patch behind the eye are slate grey; upper parts grey; wing coverts brown; quills blackish. Tail black; under parts white tinged with grey on the flanks. Length 7·75 in.; wing 6·25 in.

THE GREAT SHEARWATER Puffinus gravis, O'Reilly

This species is a fairly regular summer visitor to the waters round our coasts, but it does not often approach the land.

Nothing is known of its breeding haunts, which are probably in the Antarctic seas.

The upper parts are ash brown, mottled with white on the upper tail coverts. Under parts white, sometimes brownish on the belly. Legs pinkish. Length 19 in.; wing 12·7 in.

THE SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus (J. F. Gmelin)

This species visits us yearly but is much scarcer than the Great Shearwater.

Its only known nesting haunts are in Chatham Islands and others near New Zealand, but the birds which visit us probably nest in the South Atlantic.

The whole of the plumage is brown, rather greyer below and more mottled. Legs blackish outside, lilac grey within. Length 18 in.; wing 12 in.

THE MEDITERRANEAN GREAT SHEARWATER Puffinus kuhli (Boie)

A single specimen of this Atlantic and Mediterranean Shearwater was picked up on the Sussex coast in 1906. It is similar to the Dusky Shearwater but greyer, wings and tail blackish brown, under parts pure white. Length 17·25 in.; wing 12·75 in.

THE MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus anglorum (Temminck)

The Manx Shearwater is the commonest of the Shearwaters that are found round our coasts. It is resident with us throughout the year, feeding chiefly on fish, offal, etc., that it finds on or near the surface.

During the nesting season it retires to secluded parts of the coast, where it lays its single white egg in rabbit-burrows or other crevices. It is not known to breed on the east coast, but down the west from Wales northwards as well as in Ireland it breeds commonly, though from its nocturnal habits the nest is not always easy to find.

It may be distinguished when flying by its rounded wings and its habit of progressing with wings held motionless close over the surface of the water.

The crown, nape, and upper parts are sooty black, under parts white, except for a patch of sooty brown behind the thighs; legs and feet flesh-coloured; outer toes black. Length 15 in.; wing 9·5 in.

THE LITTLE DUSKY SHEARWATER Puffinus assimilis, Gould

This is another species inhabiting the Salvages and islands off the west coast of Africa.

Some three or four examples have been obtained, which were originally wrongly identified as _P. obscurus_, an American species.

The upper parts are slaty black and under parts white. Bill and legs blackish; webs yellow. Length 10·5 in.; wing 7·4 in.

THE CAPPED PETREL Æstrelata hæsitata (Kuhl)

Extremely little is known of this species, which used to nest in the West Indies. It has occurred here on one occasion only.

The crown, nape, and mantle are dark brown; hind-neck and upper tail coverts white; cheeks grey; forehead and under parts white; central tail feathers brownish black; the rest, white edged with brown. Length 16 in.; wing 11·3 in.

THE COLLARED PETREL Æstrelata brevipes (Peale)

A single example of this Petrel was obtained off the coast of Wales in December 1889. The southern and western Pacific appear to be its true home.

The crown is slaty grey; rest of upper parts darker, becoming browner on the wing coverts. Forehead and throat white; rest of under parts white, sometimes tinged with grey. Length 11·5 in.; wing 8·7 in.

BULWER'S PETREL Bulweria bulweri (Jardine and Selby)

This small Petrel is a common resident in the Canaries and neighbouring islands, but only one individual has straggled to our shores.

The plumage is of a uniform sooty brown; tail wedge-shaped. Bill black. Legs reddish brown. Length 11 in.; wing 8 in.

THE FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis (Linnæus)

Although not very rare, this bird is seldom seen, as it spends most of its time at sea in attendance on the fishing-boats or on the banks where the fish abound. In Scotland it nests on St. Kilda and a few of the other islands of that group; while in the Shetlands, where it was first known to nest in 1878, it has now spread to several of the neighbouring stacks.

The nest is placed on a ledge on the face of a precipitous cliff, and the single egg is pure white with a few reddish-brown spots. The young are at first nourished on a yellowish oil vomited by the parent birds, and large numbers are annually taken in St. Kilda for the sake of this oil. It may easily be distinguished from a Gull on the wing by its peculiar flight and rounded wings.

The back and tail are grey, the rest of the bird white. Bill yellowish; legs ash colour. The young resemble their parents. The more northerly form of this bird has greyish under parts and may be met with in Scotland in winter. Length 19 in.; wing 13·25 in.

THE BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS Diomedea melanophrys, Boie

The true home of this species is in the southern seas near the Chatham Islands and New Zealand, but it has been known for some time past to occasionally visit the North Atlantic.

A specimen was obtained near Cambridge on the 9th of July 1897.

The adult has a short black band passing through and above the eyes; back and wings brownish black; tail feathers grey; rest of the plumage white. Length 27 in.; wing 17 in.

INDEX

A Accentor, Alpine, 70 Hedge, 67 Albatross, Black-browed, 399 Auk, Great, 377 Little, 380 Avocet, 312

B Bee-Eater, 184 Bittern, American, 228 Common, 227 Little, 227 Blackbird, 15 Blackcap, 45 Bluethroat, 34 Brambling, 128 Bullfinch, 135 Bunting, Black-headed, 139 Cirl, 143 Corn, 140 Lapland, 149 Little, 146 Meadow, 145 Ortolan, 144 Reed, 147 Rustic, 145 Siberian Meadow, 145 Snow, 150 Yellow, 141 Yellow-breasted, 147 Bustard, Great, 292 Little, 292 Macqueen's, 293 Buzzard, Common, 201 Honey, 210 Rough-legged, 203

C Capercaillie, 274 Chaffinch, 126 Chiffchaff, 53 Siberian, 54 Chough, 154 Coot, 290 Cormorant, 219 Courser, Cream-coloured, 296 Crake, Baillon's, 287 Little, 286 Spotted, 285 Crane, 291 Creeper, Tree-, 85 Wall-, 85 Crossbill, 137 Two-barred, 139 Crow, Carrion, 163 Hooded, 164 Cuckoo, 186 American Yellow-billed, 189 Great Spotted, 189 Curlew, 347 Eskimo, 349

D Dabchick, Little Grebe or, 390 Dipper, 70 Diver, Black-throated, 384 Great Northern, 383 Red-throated, 385 White-billed Northern, 384 Dotterel, 296 Dove, Rock, 271 Stock, 270 Turtle, 272 Duck, Buffel-headed, 258 Common Sheld, 239 Eider, 260 Ferruginous, 254 Golden-eye, 257 Harlequin, 259 Long-tailed, 258 Mallard, or Wild, 241 Ruddy Sheld, 240 Scaup, 256 Tufted, 255 Dunlin, 324

E Eagle, Golden, 204 Spotted, 203 White-tailed, 205 Egret, Little, 225 Eider, King, 261 Steller's, 261

F Falcon, Greenland, 211 Gyr, 211 Iceland, 211 Red-footed, 215 Fieldfare, 10 Finch, Citril, 120 Firecrest, 51 Flamingo, 230 Flycatcher, Pied, 107 Red-breasted, 108 Spotted, 105 Fulmar, 398

G Gadwall, 244 Gannet, 222 Garganey, 250 Godwit, Bar-tailed, 345 Black-tailed, 346 Goldfinch, 117 Goosander, 264 Goose, Bean, 233 Bernacle, 235 Brent, 235 Grey Lag, 231 Pink-footed, 233 Red-breasted, 234 Snow, 234 White-fronted, 232 Goshawk, 206 Grebe, Black-necked or Eared, 389 Great Crested, 387 Little, 390 Red-necked, 388 Slavonian or Horned, 389 Greenfinch, 114 Greenshank, 343 Grosbeak, Pine, 137 Scarlet, 136 Grouse, Black, 275 Pallas' Sand, 273 Red, 276 Guillemot, Black, 379 Brünnich's, 379 Common, 377 Gull, Black-headed, 360 Bonaparte's, 359 Common, 363 Glaucous, 368 Greater Black-backed, 367 Great Black-headed, 362 Herring, 364 Iceland, 369 Ivory, 371 Kittiwake, 369 Lesser Black-backed, 366 Little, 360 Mediterranean Black-headed, 362 Sabine's, 358 Wedge-tailed, 359

H Harrier, Hen, 200 Marsh, 199 Montagu's, 200 Hawfinch, 115 Hawk, Sparrow, 207 Hen, Moor, 288 Heron, 223 Buff-backed, 225 Great White, 225 Night, 226 Purple, 224 Squacco, 226 Hobby, 214 Hoopoe, 185 House-Martin, 112 Sparrow, 121

I Ibis, Glossy, 229

J Jackdaw, 160 Jay, 156

K Kestrel, 216 Lesser, 218 Kingfisher, 182 Kite, 208 Black, 210 Knot, 330

L Lapwing, 306 Lark, Black, 171 Crested, 170 Shore, 172 Short-toed, 170 White-winged, 171 Wood, 169 Linnet, 129

M Magpie, 159 Mallard, or Wild Duck, 241 Martin, House-, 112 Sand-, 113 Merganser, Hooded, 267 Red-breasted, 265 Merlin, 214 Moor-hen, 288

N Nightingale, 38 Nightjar, 175 Noddy, 358 Nutcracker, 156 Nuthatch, 81

O Oriole, Golden, 99 Osprey, 219 Ouzel, Ring, 19 Owl, Barn, 190 Eagle, 197 Hawk, 196 Little, 195 Long-eared, 191 Scops, 197 Short-eared, 192 Snowy, 196 Tawny, 193 Tengmalm's, 194 Oyster-Catcher, 310

P Partridge, 280 Red-legged, 281 Pastor, Rose-coloured, 154 Peregrine, 212 Petrel, Bulwer's, 398 Capped, 397 Collared, 397 Frigate, 393 Leach's Fork-tailed, 392 Madeiran Fork-tailed, 393 Storm, 391 Wilson's, 393 Phalarope, Grey, 314 Red-necked, 315 Pheasant, 279 Pigeon, Wood, 268 Pintail, 247 Pipit, Meadow, 94 Red-throated, 95 Richard's, 97 Rock, 98 Tawny, 96 Tree, 92 Water, 97 Plover, Caspian, 298 Golden, 302 Grey, 305 Kentish, 301 Killdeer, 302 Lesser Golden, 304 Little Ringed, 301 Ringed, 298 Sociable, 306 Pochard, Common, 253 Red-crested, 252 Pratincole, 295 Black-winged, 296 Ptarmigan, 278 Puffin, 381

Q Quail, 282

R Rail, Land, 283 Water, 287 Raven, 161 Razorbill, 375 Redpoll, Lesser, 132 Mealy, 131 Redshank, Common, 340 Spotted, 342 Redstart, 31 Black, 33 Redwing, 8 Reedling, Bearded, 71 Robin, 35 Roller, 184 Rook, 165 Ruff, 333

S Sand-Martin, 113 Sanderling, 331 Sandpiper, American Pectoral, 322 Baird's, 326 Bartram's, 335 Bonaparte's, 323 Broad-billed, 321 Buff-breasted, 335 Common, 336 Curlew, 328 Green, 338 Purple, 329 Siberian Pectoral, 323 Solitary, 339 Spotted, 337 Wood, 337 Scoter, Common, 262 Surf, 264 Velvet, 263 Serin, 121 Shag, 221 Shearwater, Great, 394 Little Dusky, 396 Manx, 395 Mediterranean Great, 395 Sooty, 395 Shoveller, 245 Shrike, Great Grey, 100 Lesser Grey, 101 Masked, 104 Red-backed, 102 Siskin, 119 Skua, Arctic or Richardson's, 373 Great, 371 Long-tailed or Buffous, 374 Pomatorhine, 372 Skylark, 167 Smew, 266 Snipe, Common, 319 Great or Solitary, 318 Jack, 321 Red-breasted, 345 Snow-Finch, 129 Sparrow, "Hedge," 67 House-, 121 Tree-, 124 Spoonbill, 230 Starling, 151 Stilt, Black-winged, 313 Stint, American, 327 Little, 326 Temminck's, 327 Stone-Curlew, 293 Stonechat, 29 Siberian, 31 Stork, Black, 229 White, 228 Swallow, 109 Red-rumped, 111 Swan, Bewick's, 237 Mute, 237 Whooper, 236 Swift, 173 Alpine, 175

T Teal, 248 American Green-winged, 249 Blue-winged, 249 Tern, Arctic, 356 Black, 349 Caspian, 352 Common, 354 Gull-billed, 351 Little, 357 Roseate, 353 Sandwich, 352 Sooty, 358 Whiskered, 351 White-winged Black, 350 Thrush, Black-throated, 14 Dusky, 18 Missel, 1 Rock, 22 Song, 4 White's, 14 Tit, Bearded, 71 Blue, 79 Coal, 77 Crested, 81 Great, 75 Long-tailed, 74 Marsh, 78 Tree-Creeper, 85 Sparrow, 124 Turnstone, 309 Twite, 133

V Vulture, Egyptian, 198 Griffon, 198

W Wagtail, Blue-headed, 90 Grey, 89 Pied, 86 White, 88 Yellow, 91 Wall-Creeper, 85 Warbler, Aquatic, 66 Barred, 47 Cetti's, 59 Dartford, 48 Garden, 46 Grasshopper, 65 Great Reed, 63 Greenish Willow, 52 Icterine, 59 Marsh, 62 Melodious, 60 Orphean, 44 Pallas' Willow, 52 Radde's Bush, 58 Reed, 60 Rufous, 58 Sardinian, 44 Savi's, 66 Sedge, 63 Sub-Alpine, 48 Yellow-browed, 51 Waxwing, 104 Wheatear, 22 Black-eared, 26 Black-throated, 26 Desert, 27 Isabelline, 25 Whimbrel, 348 Whinchat, 27 Whitethroat, 40 Lesser, 42 Wigeon, 251 American, 252 Woodchat, 103 Woodcock, 317 Woodpecker, Greater Spotted, 180 Green, 179 Lesser Spotted, 181 Wren, 83 Golden-crested, 50 Willow, 55 Wood, 56 Wryneck, 177

Y Yellow Hammer or Yellow Bunting, 141 Yellowshank, 340 Greater, 340

THE END

_Printed by_ R. & R. Clark, Limited, _Edinburgh_.

AGENTS America The Macmillan Company 64 & 66 Fifth Avenue, New York Canada The Macmillan Company of Canada, Ltd. 27 Richmond Street West, Toronto India Macmillan & Company, Ltd. Macmillan Building, Bombay 309 Bow Bazaar Street, Calcutta

Transcriber's Notes

--Retained copyright information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

--Silently corrected a few palpable typos.

--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.