THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



SEPTEMBER, 1838. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE THE HOGS. 



In tho order of Pachydermata, the Ho^s constitute a family distinguished by having 

 the feet cleft, with two hoofed toes, and two additional smaller ones behind, which do 

 not reach the ground ; as well as a moveable prolongation of the muzzle, supported 

 upon a bone, and which enabli's them to dig into the soil in search of roots. This 

 family is composed of the Hogs properly so called, the Ethiopian Hogs, and the Pec- 

 caris. 



Fig. 1. The Chinese Hog (^Sus Scrofa^ var. Sinensis) is a small variety of 

 the Common Hog, with the ears erect, the upper parts blackish, tho lower white. 



Fig. 2. The Cape Hog (S. capensis) is similar to the Chinese in form, and gene- 

 rally of a black colour. 



Fig. 3. The Babyrussa {S. Indicus) is distinguished by the elongation of the 

 tusks of both jaws, which are curved backwards. Its ears are short, its feet com- 

 paratively long, its colour brownish-grey. It inhabits the Indian Islands. 



Fig. 4. The Babvrussa. Female. Of a brownish colour, with tho tusks not 

 projecting. 



Fig. 5. Mi.\,\-s\ Hog (^Phacochwrus ^lEliani). The Phicochoeri are distin- 

 guished from the Hogs by their grinders, which are composed of cylinders connected 

 by cortical matter. Their tusks are of enormous size and spread outwards. This 

 species, of which the head is furnished on each side with a large fleshy lobe, is^ pecu- 

 liar to Africa. 



Fig. 6. The Collared Peccaki (Dicotyles torquatus). The Peccaris, which 

 are peculiar to South Amenca, resemble our Common Hog in form, but have no outer 

 toe on the hind feet, and their tusks are not protruded. The present species has a 

 band of white on the shoulder and lower part of the neck. 



Fig. 7. The White lipped Peccaki (Z). labiutus) is brownish-black, with the 

 lower lip and the throat white. 



DESCRIPTION OP THE PLATE THE JAYS. 



The Jays constitute a genus of birds very nearly allied to the Crows, from which 

 they differ chiefiy in having the bill less strong, the tail more elongated, their colours 

 more gaudy, and their ha;. its approximating to those of the Titmice, to which also 

 they are nearly allied. They reside chiefly in woods and thickets, occasionally be- 

 taking themselves to the open country in the neighbourhood, and feed on fruits, 

 seeds, insects, worms, sometimes eggs and young of other birds, as well as small 

 quadrupeds, and carrion. They are, in short, as omnivorous as the Crows. They are 

 generally dispersed, and some of the species are spread over a vast extent of country. 

 The species represented on the plate are American, with the exception of the first, 

 the Common Jay, which belongs to Europe and Asia. 



Fig. I. The European Jay (^Gamilns Glandarius). This bird, which is re- 

 markable for the beautiful biue barred patch on the wings, although its colours are 

 not otherwise fine, is not uncommon in many parts of Britain and the Continent of 

 Europe. Like several other species, it imitates the notes of birds and the cries of 

 quadrupeds 



Fig. 2. The Florida Jay (G. F/oridanus), although a native of Florida, as its 

 name implies, occurs also in Louisiana, Kentucky, and other parts of the L^nited 

 States. 



Fig. 3. The Blue Jay (G. cristatvs) is the most extensively distributed and 

 best known of the North American Jays. It is with the description of this species 

 that our countryman Wilson commences his celebrated "American Ornithology;" 

 and its manners have with equal felicity been described by his successor, our esteemed 

 friend, the enthusiastic Audubon. 



Fig. 4. Steller's Jay fG. 5ie//eH) is peculiar to the north-western coast of Ame- 

 rica, and was first described by Lathan from a specimen obtained, on Cook's Expe- 

 dition, at Nootka Sound. 



Fig. 5. The Canadian Jay (G. canadensis) inhabits the northern parts of the 

 United States, and the British settlements in North America. 

 40 



BRITISH BIRDS THE KINGFISHER. 



The Kingfisher, although one of the least elegantly formed of our native birds, is 

 among the most distinguished for the beauty of its plumage, which is such as at once 

 to recall to mind the splendour of the feathered denizens of the tropics. Its large body, 

 short and thick neck, disproportionately long bill, diminutive feet, and abbreviated 

 tail, give it a peculiar appearance, so that the least observant cannot mistake it for 

 any other bird. The bill is considerably longer than the head, straight, rather slen- 

 der, higher than broad in its whole length, four- sided, its outlines almost straight, 

 and its tip pointed. The very short tarsi are roundish, and destitute of defined 

 scales ; the first toe shorter than the second, the third slightly longer than the fourth ; 

 the claws arched, slender, compressed, and acute. The plumage is soft and blended ; 

 the feathers generally long, especially on the hind neck and rump ; of an oblong form, 

 without plumules. The wings are rather short, but very broad, the secondary quills 

 being of great length ; the tail very short, a little rounded, of twelve rather narrow, 

 rounded feathers. The upper mandible is dark-brown, as are the margins and tip of 

 the lower, the remaining part being pale orange. The tarsi and toes are orange-red, 

 the claws dark-brown. The upper part of the head is dull green, each feather with 

 a transverse bar of light greenish-blue near the end ; the hind neck, sides of the 

 back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, are of a similar dull green, tinged with purple in a 

 difl'erent light, the latter feathers tipped with light blue. The middle of the back, the 

 rump, and tail-coverts, are of a beaut, ful glossy light blue, the tail of a duller purplish- 

 blue. The quills are hi own, with the outer webs dull green. A band of yellowish- 

 red from the nostril to (he eye; the loral space dusky; behind the eye a similar 

 yellowish-red band ; below which, and extending from the lower mandible, is a band 

 of greenish-blue, terminating behind in a yellowish-white patch. The throat is of 

 the latter colour, and the rest of the lower parts yellowish-red, of a richer tint an- 

 teriorly. The length is "i inches. The female is somewhat smaller, but similar in 

 the colour, the tints being only a little less bright. 



Let us now imagine ourselves on the banks of the Esk, the woods resuming their 

 green mantle, and the little birds chanting their summer songs. From afar comes 

 the murmur of the waterfall, swelling and dying away at intervals, as the air becomes 

 still, or the warm breezes sweep along the birchen thickets, and ruffle the bosom of tl,e 

 pebble-paved pool, margined with alders and willows. On the flowery bank of trie 

 stream, beside his hole, the Water-Rat nibbles the tender blades ; and on that round 

 white stone in the rapid is perched the Dipper, ever welcome to the sight, with his 

 dusky mantle and snowy breast. Slowly along the pale blue sky sail the white fleecy 

 clouds ; as the lark, springing from the field, flutters in ecstacy over his happy mate, 

 crouched upon her eggs under the shade of the long grass, assured that no ramblii g 

 urchin shall invade her sanctuary. But see, perched on the stump of a decayed wil 

 low jutting out from the bank, stands a Kingfisher, still and silent, and ever watch- 

 ful. Let us irei-p a little nearer, that we may observe him to more advantage. Be 

 cautious, for he is shy, and seeks not the admiration which his beauty naturally ex- 

 cites. There he is grasping the splint with his tiny red feet, his bright blue back 

 glistening in the sunshine, his ruddy breast reflected from the pool beneath, his lorg 

 dagger-like bill pointed downwards, and his eye intent on the minnows that swarm 

 among the roots of the old tree that project into the water from the crumbling bank. 

 He stoops, opens his wings a little, shoots downwards, plunges headlong into the 

 water, ri-appears in a moment, flutters, sweeps ofi' in a curved line, wheels round, 

 nd returns to his post. The minnow in his bill he beats against the decayed stump 

 until it is dead, then tossing up his head swallows it, and resumes his ordinary po-- 

 ture, as if nothing had happened. Swarms of insects flutter and gambol around, but 

 he heeds them not. A painted butterfly at length comes up, fluttering in its desultory 

 flight, and as it hovers over the hyacinths, unsuspicious of danger, the Kingfisher 

 springs from his perch, and seizing it returns to his post. There, swift as the barbi d 

 arrow, darting straight forward, on rapidly moving pinions, gleams his mate, who 

 alights on a stone far up the stream, for she has seen us, and is not desirous of our 

 company. He presently follows, and our watch being ended, we may saunter a whi e 

 along the grassy slopes, inhaling the fragrance of the primrose, and listening to tl.e 

 joyous notes of the Blackbird, that from the summit of yon tall tree pours forth his 

 soul in music. 



