THE SPECIES. 107 



MellzophilUB. Plate iii. TURDINM (Passeridas). 



29. undatus^ 5 in. Dartford Warbler. Dark brown above ; 



chestnut brown below ; tail dark grey, half as long 

 as the bird, with its outside feathers tipped and 

 edged with white ; legs brown ; eyes orange yellow. 



The Dartford Warbler— Dimensions, As ; Eggs, Be— is an uncommon but undoubted 

 British bird. The first specimen on record was discovered near Dartford, in ^.^yZ' O" the 

 wing it looks like a black Wren. It has a curious way of working up a bush in search of 

 insects, and then flying off to the base of another bush, and working up that, spreading its 

 long tail as it settles after each change. The note is "pitchoo," with a chiding " cha, cha." 

 The female has a cinnamon breast. The young have yellow eyes ; those of the adult art 

 almost red. The nest is generally in a furze bush, and is so loosely made of bedstraw, furze, 

 and grass as to be seen through. It is small and deep, and lined with moss and wool. 

 There are four, five, or six eggs. 



Mer^us. Plate xxxii. ALCIDM. 



378. alle^ Z\ in. Little Auk. White spot over eye ; edges ol 



scapulars white ; remiges 26 ; primaries 11 ; tail 

 feathers 12 ; legs brown. 



The Little Auk — Dimensions, HI; Eggs, Mf — is a winter visitor, generally found afloat, 

 swimming much by the stern, and occasionally calling " try, try, try." 



AN AT I DM. 

 17 in. Smew. Rump grey ; bill grey ; 16 tail feathers. 

 19 in. Hooded Merganser. Rump white ; head white ; 

 18 tail feathers. 

 260. serrator, 24 in. Red-breasted Merganser. Rump white ; head 



black ; 18 tail feathers. 

 259. merganser, 26 in. GOOSANDER. Rump grey ; bill vermilion ; 18 tail 

 feathers. 



The Smew — Dimensions, No ; Eggs, Ni — is a winter straggler from Finland. It is really 

 a white bird, with black, and a few grey, markings, and a crest. It has a rapid, noiseless 

 flight, and its call is '* kr, kr." The female has a black patch on the lores. She is slate 

 grey above ; and her beak, like the male's, is bluish. 



The Hooded Merganser — Dimensions, Oqj Eggs Nk — is an American bird found here 

 occasionally, but unknown .elsewhere on this side of the Atlantic. 



The Red-breasted Merganser — Dimensions, Qq ; Eggs, Qm — is with us all the year round. 

 His flight is powerful and quick, and his wings whistle as he goes. His call is a " karr, 

 karr." The female has a white speculum divided by a black bar, while the male has two 

 bars. The nest is generally near water, and always on the ground, in some dry place. It is 

 made of heather and dry grass and leaves, and lined with brownish grey down, having dull 

 pale tips and centres. It contains from 6 to 12 eggs. 



The Goosander — Dimensions, Rk ; Eggs, Ra — breeds in Scotland, and is known all round 

 the coast in the winter. When in flight its wings are conspicuously long. Its call is "karr, 

 .karr," and it has a cry like a whistle. The male's head is black, the female's chestnut ; both 

 have crests. The nest is in a hole of some tree, or on the ground, generally in a tree, and 't 

 is lined with pale grey down, and contains from 8 to 12 eggs. 



Blerops. Plate xii. MEROPIDM. 



154. afiaster^ 10^ in. Bee-eater. Chestnut, gold, and green above ; 



gold and black below ; forehead white, lores black ; 

 wings green, black and chestnut ; tail green ; two 

 central feathers an inch longer than the others. 



155. philippinus, 12 in. Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Blue tail ; chestnut 



throat and no black band on breast. 

 The Bee-eater— Dimensions, Jg ; Eggs, Gc — has been occasionally shot in this country, 

 but it is very rare. 



The Blue-tailed Bee-eater— Dimensions, Kq—is even rarer, for it has only been seen here 

 once. 



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