98 



THE EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



bad, it remains long moist, clogs the feathers, and gathers dust. Preserved birds 

 ought to be kept in close cases, cleaned at least twice a-year, carefully searched for 

 vermin ; if much infected, baked in an oven, then slightly imprej^nated with pure 

 rectified oil of turpentine. Under this treatment skins last long enough ; but, judg- 

 ing from appearances, the keepers of museums are a lazy race, the more so if paid 

 by the pubhc ; and all naturalists who have visited such places have seen quadrupeds 

 in rags ; birds, under which lay small heaps of dust and dead moths, and eggs, of 

 which the membrane had been devoured, and the colours gone ; while the minerals, 

 shells, and other comparatively imperishable articles, were carefully laid on cotton, 

 kept perfectly clean, and tended with unusual cave. Oil of turpentine we have also 

 found to be the best preservative for dry anatomical preparations, and under its de- 

 tergent influence, we have seen a collection of muscular and vascular articles, that 

 literally swarmed with Acari and Tineas, reduced to a state of perfect sanity, although 

 not until they had been repeatedly soaked in it. In short, ihis oil is invaluable, and 

 greatly surpasses all other substances in use, for where they have failed, we have 

 found it invariably to succeed. To preserve collections of birds' skins in drawers, it 

 is enough to moisten the latter now and then with a little of it by means of a bit of 

 sponge. After a few days, its smell will not nauseate the most delicately orgaiiized 

 or clean-fingered inspector of bills, feathers, and claws. 



Digestive Organs of Birds. — Having, in a former Number, given a short de- 

 scription of the digestive organs of Birds,, illustrated by a sketch of those of the 

 Red Grouse, we now present four figures intended to exhibit the differences on 

 which characters, designative of the various orders, may be founded. These figures 

 are from " A History of British Birds," by W. Macgillivray, newly published, and 

 in which will be found, besides the ordinary technical characters, and an account of the 

 habits, distribution, and relations of the species, various anatomical details, especially 

 with reference to the digestive organs. These figures are representative of the orders 

 Rasores or GaUinaceous Birds, Gemitores or Pigeons, Deglubitores or Conirostral 

 Birds, and Vagatores or Crows and Starlings. It will at once be perceived, that 

 the" differ from each other in several nafticulars - 



In the Rasores, Fig. I, the (Esophagus is narrow, with a very largo globular crop, 

 having a small aperture ; the proventriculus is bulbiform, with oblong, generally sac- 

 culated glandules ; the stomach is a powerful gizzard, with very thick lateral mus- 

 cles, a prominent distinct inferior muscle, and thick rugous epithelium, or inner coat ; 

 the intestine of moderate length, and nearly uniform diameter, but having apLiended 

 two coBca of extreme size, being together of equal capacity with the intestine. 



In the Gemitores, Fig. 2, the cesophagus dilates immediately with an extremely 

 large transverse crop, internally reticularly rugous in the breeding season, and hav- 

 ing a small aperture ; the proventriculus is bulbiform, with oblong simple glandules ; 

 the stomach a powerful gizzard, with very thick lateral muscles ; a prominent dis- 

 tinct inferior muscle, and thick rugous epithelium; the intestine is long and narrow; 

 the cceca reduced to very small cylindrical adnate tubes. 



In the Deglubitores, Fig. 3, the cesophagus gradually dilates into a membraneous 

 sac of moderate size, lying on the right side, and sometimes curving round the back 

 of the neck ; the proventriculus is oblong, with cylindrical glandules ; the stomach a 

 powerful gizzard, wuth very thick lateral muscles, a prominent inferior muscle, and 

 thick rugous epithelium ; the intestine short and i-ather wide ; the co3ca minute, ob- 

 long, adnate. 



In the Vagatores, Fig. 4, the cesophagus is rather wide, without crop or dilata- 

 tion ; the proventriculus bulbiform, with oblong or cylindrical glandules ; the stomach 

 rather large, roundish, more or less compressed, its muscular coat of moderate thick- 

 ness, not separated into distinct muscles, but composed of uniform fasciculi, inserted 

 into circular tendinous spaces; the epithelium thin, and slightly rugous; the intes- 

 tine of moderate length and diameter; the cceca very small, cylindrical, and 

 adnate. 



All the other orders possess equally distinctive characters, which, when clearly 

 pointed out, will throw considerable light upon the affinities of the different species, 

 and effect changes in classification which will prove utterly subversive of some of our 

 most approved systems. 



The Green Wagtail (Motacilla jiaveold), in Norfolk. — Mr Salmon, in the 

 May number of the Naturalist, gives the following notes respecting this bird : — 

 '* The few pairs uf spring Oatears, or Green Wagtails, that visit this neighbourhood, 

 resort to the immediate sides of the river, which is bordered by grass lands an(\ un- 

 cultivated wastes ; it is only in this locality that they are to be seen. I have re- 

 peatedly noticed them running upon the weeds on the surface of the water, catching 

 insects, kc. I have found its nest among the ling which grows close to the water. 



The old birds express considerable anxiety when you approach within the vicinity of 

 their nest, hovering with their peculiar undulating motion whilst on the wing over 

 your head, or alighting upon a bank or any other convenience on the ground, at the 

 same time uttering their note of alarm." 



The Green Wagtail, in Mid-Lothian. — In July and the beginning of August, 

 very large flocks of this species are seen in the irrigated meadows to the west of Edin- 

 burgh. They are composed of young and old birds, which search for insects and 

 worms on the newly mown grass, as well as on the taller leafy weeds, such as docks. 

 Their flight is similar to that of the Grey Wagtail, that is, performed in long undu- 

 lations, and they perch occasionally on trees and bushes. A few individuals may be 

 seen in the same place early in summer, but certainly not a fiftieth part of the number 

 that may sometimes be seen iu July. None of them remain after the middle of 

 August. 



BRITISH BIRDS. NO. III. 



The White-tailed Sea Eagle. — Of this magnificent bird, which is still not 

 uncommon in the North of Scotland, and especially in the Hebrides, the principal 

 distinctive characters are the following: — Its form is robust, the neck of moderate 

 length, the head rather large, the wings very long, the feet strong, the toes stout, 

 the claws large, curved, tapering, acul:e, rounded above, flat beneath. The bill is 

 nearly as long as the head, very deep, compressed, with a long, curved, acute tip. 

 The plumage is compact and imbricated ; the space between the bill and the eye 

 sparsely covered with very small, narrow feathers; those of the neck narrow and 

 pointed, of the back broad, of the belly very soft and downy, of the outer part of the 

 tibia? elongated. The fourth and fifth quills are longest, and the wings when closed 

 are of equal length with the tail, which is rather short, broad, and rounded. The 

 cere and bill are pale yellow, the iris bright yellow, the tarsi and toes gamboge, the 

 claws blueish black. The general colour of the head, neck, breast, back, and upper 

 wing-coverts, is pale greyish-brown ; the lower parts and legs are chocolate-brown ; 

 the primary quills blackish -browm, their base and the greater part of the secondaries 

 tinged with ash-grey; the tail white. The length of the male is three feet, of the 

 female three feet two inches, the extent of the wings of the latter seven feet. The 

 colouring varies considerably, young birds being darker. For the fiist three years, 

 the bill is black or dusky, the iris brown, the feet yellow. The colour of the plum- 

 age is dark-brown, mottled with white and light-brown, the tail blackish. 



This bird is not remarkable for courage, although its strength is great, and its 

 flight powerful. Its principal nutriment is derived not so much from the produce of 

 its own industry, as from catrion of all kinds ; and it is frequently seen sweeping along 

 the sides of the mountains, and hovering over the shores, in search of dead sheep, 

 fish, young birds, and such animals generally as arc large enough to furnish a m.eal, 

 so weak as to make no formidable opposition, or so heavy as to be incapable of very 

 rapid or protracted flight. It sometimes carries off poultry that have straggled to a 

 distance from the house, clutches up young lambs, and, when hard pressed by hungers 

 is said to attack sheep and even deer ; but a fox, an otter, or a seal, it scarcely ever 

 ventures to molest, and a man may carry off its young before its face with little dan- 

 ger of even a scratch. Yet instances have occurred of its manifesting some spirit in 

 defence of its nest. 



Being a heavy bird, with very large wings, it finds some difficulty in raising itself 

 on wing, and therefore seldom alights on plain ground for the purpose of resting but 

 usually settles on a large stone or block, the pinnacle of a rock, or the edge of a pre- 

 cipice. The case is difi'erent, however, on an extensive sand, for there it can escape 

 from its enemies without experiencing any danger. When it is fairly on wing, its 

 motions arc beautiful in the highest degree. Its wings are extended to their full 

 length, forming an obtuse angle with the back, and as it sweeps along in wide curves, 

 it seems to glide through the air without the least effort, and with very little motion 

 of the wings or tail. The feet are drawn close to the abdomen, and the neck is re- 

 tracted to such a degree, that the head seems stuck upon the shoulders — a character 

 common to all our rapacious birds. In this manner it searches the hill sides, the, 

 moors, and the shores ; but in proceeding to a distance, without regarding the inter- 

 mediate space, it flies in a straight line, always at a great height, and with regular 

 flaps, somewhat in the manner of the Raven. It utters a loud, shrill scream, \\hich 

 in calm weather may be heard at the distance of more than a mile, and emits a noise 

 somewhat resembling the yelping of a Dog, which may be imitated by the syllables 

 queak, queak, uttered repeatedly in rapid succession. 



It sometimes seizes fishes when they swim close upon the surface, and has fre- 

 quently been observed watching by a lake or stream for salmon or trouts. When it 

 has young, it provides abundantly for them, and instances have occurred of people 

 obtaining a supply of food, in times of scarcity, by climbing to its nest. On observ- 

 ing a person walking near it, they fly around him at a safe distance, occasionally ut- 

 terin"" a savage scream, and allowing their legs to dangle, with outspread talons, as if 

 to intimidate him. 



The Raven frequently harasses it, and the Skua and Peregrine Falcon have been 

 seen to pursue it ; but it is perfectly safe from the attacks of any bird excepting the 

 Golden Eagle. Like that species, it is often shot from a concealed hut or pit, and 

 deprived of its eggs or young by letting down a person by means of a rope to the nest, 

 which is generally placed in the most inaccessible part of a precipice, although some- 

 times in no very secure place, and occasionally on the island of a lake. 



There seems to be no reason for believing that this Eagle has a very acute sense 

 of smell, especially as it is not aware of the presence of a person lying in wait withm 

 fifteen yards of it ; but its vision must be very penetrating, otherwise it could not so 

 readily fall upon a carcase on the hills, or a dead fish on the sliores. from the j;^reaE 

 height at which it often soars. In searching for food it usually, however, sweeps 

 along the mountain's sides, at no great height. 



In almost every district in the Highlands, stories are told of Eagles that have 

 carried off infants, and it is probable that such ,an occurrence m.ay have taken place, 

 although the evidence is usually imperfect. Many absurd notions have been enter- 



