42 BUITISII BIRDS. [vol. vi. 



Turdus, simply so called, or Viscivorus minor [the Song- 

 Thrush]. 

 Turdus Pilaris, the Field-fare. It flies over to us about 

 the end of Autunm ; it feeds on Holly and Juniper 

 berries. Its flesh is valued at banquets. 

 Turdus Iliacus or Illas, or Tylas, the Red wing or Wind- 

 Thrush. The picture of it in our plates [No. 13] is 

 drawn by the hand of that most noble lady and heroine, 

 the Countess of Errol. 

 Merula Vulgaris, the Blackbird. 

 Merula Torquata [the Ring-Ouzel]. 



Sturnus, a Starling. Among the Italians it is served at 

 table. It can be taught to speak perfectly,* and to 

 imitate the voice and cry of any kind of animal. 

 Now we have to treat of little birds, which are either thin- 

 beaked and for the most part insectivorous, or thick-beaked. 

 First of all about the thin-beaked birds, among Avhich we 

 reckon the Larks. 



Chapter iv. 



of little birds. 



The small birds among us which have slender beaks are 

 these : The Lark, distinguished from other birds by the very 

 prolonged claw of the heel or hinder digit, as also by its song, 

 which it utters when flying on high. 



Alauda vulgaris, the common Lark. It has a sweet and 



delicate flesh [the Sky-Lark]. 

 Alauda Arborea, the Wood Lark [possibly the Tree- 

 Pipit]. 

 Alauda Pratorum, the Tit Lark [the Meadow-Pipit]. 

 Alauda Crist at a. 

 The Swallow has a large head in proportion to the size of 

 its body. A short beak, short and narrow- feet, very long 

 wings, a long and forked tail. Its flight is agile and almost 

 unceasing. This bird is a messenger of Spring. Of its 

 species there are among us : — 



Hirundo Domestica, the common House Swallow. 

 Hirundo Riparia, the Sand-]\Iartin or Shore-bird. 

 Hirundo Apus. the Black-Martin [the Swift]. 

 Thin-l)eaked birds which have the tail of one colour : — • 

 Curruca is almost as large as a Tit -lark or Robin ; the 



beak is thin, rather long and black. 

 The bird similar to the Stoporella. 

 Ruticilla, the Redstart. 

 Rubecula, the Robin red -breast. 



