Cassell's book of birds; vol. 2

"The Great Tit," says Mr. Yarrell, "will frequently kill small birds, accomplishing his purpose by repeated blows with his sharp beak on the skull of the victim, and afterwards...

The eggs (see Fig. 35, Coloured Plate X.), from four to six in number, are laid about May, and are incubated entirely by the female. If the season is fine the male ministers to...

The Urubitinga is, without question, the noblest and most courageous member of its family, and, according to the Brazilians, is a very dangerous foe to monkeys, small quadrupeds...

The WHITE WAGTAIL (_Motacilla alba_) is grey upon the mantle, the nape is of velvety blackness, the throat and upper part of breast are also black, the rest of the under side br...

Although very numerous in the northern parts of Europe, and by no means rare in the central portion, this species is constantly overlooked, by reason of the smallness of its siz...

The PARADISE or ROYAL FLY-SNAPPER (_Terpsiphone paradisea_) is a magnificent species, two feet in length, if we include the centre tail-feathers, which measure fifteen and sixte...

"The Siberian Titmouse," says M. Malm, "is not only most fearless, but possessed of an extraordinary degree of curiosity, and I have often had the greatest enjoyment in watching...

The RAVEN SHRIKES (_Thamnophilus_) appear to combine all the peculiarities exhibited by the various members of this group, and in some respects resemble the Jay in appearance. T...

The following particulars respecting this species we extract from one of Dr. Bennett's interesting works on Australia:--"The locality it frequents, says Dr. Stephenson, 'consist...

The LAUGHING HAWK (_Herpetotheres cachinnans_) is a South American bird, to which we have assigned the first place, inasmuch as in some respects it resembles the Falcons; the na...

The DWARF SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (_Chelidopterix Riocouri_) is of a greyish blue colour upon the upper part of the body, deeper in shade upon the head and shoulders than on the win...

The first that we shall narrate happened in our own village. Two male Redbreasts were captured and confined in the same cage. From the moment of their imprisonment they seemed e...

This bird is found throughout the entire continent of Europe, the greater part of Asia, and upon the rivers of Northern and Western Africa. Many naturalists are of opinion that...

In the southern provinces of the United States the breeding season of this Thrush commences in April, whilst in the northern parts, on the contrary, it does not begin till the e...

The LYRE-TAILED NIGHT JAR (_Hydropsalis forcipata_), as the species with which we are most familiar has been called, is spotted with brown and yellow upon its body, the centre o...

The Ant Thrushes inhabit forests or wooded tracts that abound upon the vast prairies of South America, and appear entirely to avoid mountain regions. Some few species venture ne...

The eyrie of the Mississippi Kite is always placed at the summit of a lofty tree, the magnificent white oaks and magnolias with which the Southern States are so plentifully ador...

The DWARF EAGLE (_Hieraëtos minuta_) is pale reddish brown upon the head and nape, longitudinally marked with black streaks, which are most prominent upon the fore part of the h...

W. Thompson, Esq., in his valuable communications on the natural history of Ireland, says that "A friend at Cromac has frequently found the nest of the Meadow Pipit on the banks...

The eyrie of the Snake Buzzard is built about June; it is flat in shape, and formed of branches and twigs; the interior is lined with green leaves, and green branches are also f...

Steeples, lofty edifices, and in some countries rocks, are the situations preferred by this species when about to build. The nest is constructed of hay, dry leaves, blades of gr...

The COMMON WREN (_Troglodytes parvulus_) is about four inches long, and from five inches and a half to six inches broad; the wing measures an inch and three-quarters and the tai...

"The mode of proceeding in the construction of one of these nests," continues the same writer, "is as follows:--First of all the bird begins by winding a quantity of wool, goats...

The Sheep Wagtails appear in Europe about May, and leave again in August or September. During the breeding season they usually frequent marshy districts, and the immediate vicin...

"The louder notes of this bird," says Mr. Yarrell, "have nothing particular in their tone to recommend them; but if approached with sufficient caution to prevent alarm, or when...

We must not omit to mention the American SAILOR SWALLOWS (_Progne_), partly because they have frequently been seen in Europe, but more especially as they form the connecting lin...

Most members of this family inhabit the northern parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, some few belong to North America, and others are natives of Asia and Africa. Opinions differ as...

The Secretary Vultures live in pairs, each couple occupying a certain district, over which they often hunt for hours together, seeking their food among the grass that covers the...

The DWARF OWL SWALLOWS (_Ægotheles_), found exclusively in New Holland, are recognisable by their long but powerful body, nearly round head, short, rounded wing (in which the se...

This Nightingale is met with over the whole continent of Europe, from Sweden to the Mediterranean, and over a large portion of Central Asia, as far north as the middle of Siberi...

The SILK-TAILS (_Bombycillæ_) possess a compact body, short neck, and moderate-sized head. Their wing, in which the first and second quills are longer than the rest, is of mediu...

This bird was first seen in England by Pennant, who, having killed his specimens in the neighbourhood of Dartford, gave it the name of the Dartford Warbler. Since that time it h...

The WATER OUZELS (_Cinclus_) constitute a group whose members, though closely allied to the Thrushes, have been separated from them on account of certain peculiarities by which...

The ASHY GARDEN WARBLER (_Hypolais cinerescens_) is entirely greyish green on the upper portion, and whitish green on the under side of the body. The eye is dark brown; the uppe...

The GREY, or BLACK-BROWED SHRIKE (_Lanius minor_), is a beautiful species, from seven and a half to eight inches broad, and thirteen and a half to fourteen inches long. The uppe...

The voice of the Missel Thrush resembles that of the Blackbird. "The male," says Mudie, "is not a mere idle songster; he is equally vigilant and bold in the defence of his famil...

THE OWLS (_Striginæ_) constitute the last division of the extensive order RAPTORES to which we have to call the attention of our readers. These remarkable birds possess an appar...

The PINC-PINC (_Cisticola schœnicla_) is very recognisable by its short, delicate, and slightly curved beak, long tarsi, large toes, short tail, and rounded wing, in which the f...

All the large forests of South America, from Mexico to the interior of Brazil, are inhabited by this large and formidable Eagle, which, although it occasionally visits the warm...

The CONDOR (_Sarcorhamphus gryphus_, or _Sarcorhamphus condor_) has been the subject of even more extravagant tales than its European representative, the Lämmergeier, as its nam...

The WHITE-TAILED WHEATEAR (_Dromolœa-Saxicola-leucura_) is about seven inches and a quarter long, and eleven and three-quarters broad; the wing measures three inches and two-thi...

The HAIRY-FOOTED OWL (_Nyctale dasypus_) is distinguished by its unusually broad head, large ear-apertures, and well-developed facial discs; the wings are rounded, the tail of m...

THE EAGLES (_Aquilæ_) are distinguishable by the following characteristics: their body is stoutly and compactly built, their head is of moderate size and entirely covered with f...

"At this period," says Wilson, "the extreme affection of the Tyrant Shrike for his mate and young makes him suspicious of every bird that happens to pass near his residence, so...

The Eared Vultures are found throughout Africa, and have occasionally visited Europe. In Asia they are replaced by the Sukuni, or Bald Vulture (_Otogyps calvus_). In their habit...

The Diamond Bird is found throughout the whole of Southern Australia, from east to west, and is still numerously met with in Van Diemen's Land. Trees and bushes are its favourit...

=British Battles on Land and Sea.= By JAMES GRANT, Author of "The Romance of War." Complete in Three Vols., with about 200 Engravings in each, extra crown 4to. 570 pp., cloth, 9...

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+--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's note: | | | | P. iv. 'The eiled Owls, 'eiled' should be 'Veiled', changed. | | P. 107. 'Co...