Io8 THE SPECIES. 



Merula. Plate i. TURDINM (Passeridae). 



9. vulgaris^ 10 in. Blackbird. Plumage brownish or glossy black ; 



bill orange or brown. 



10. torquata^ 11 in. Ring Ouzel. Plumage brownish black, with 



white crescent on chest ; bill orange or brown, but 

 black at tip. 



The Blackbird — Dimensions, Im ; Eggs, Gl — might have a better name, for it is not the 

 only bird that is black ; and the female is brown, and the young are spotted. He has a hasty, 

 fitful flight, low, but straight across open ground, making a spurt at the finish, and cockingup 

 his tail as soon as he settles. His^ note is a deep contralto warble and pipe, with a call of 

 •* pic, pic, pic." He has a yellow bill ; the female has a brown one until she ages. The 

 young male has a blackish bill ; the young female a brown one ; and the male is darker 

 generally than the female. The nest is among evergreens or in a hedgerow, and is within a 

 few feet of the ground. It is made of twigs and roots plastered with mud, and lined with 

 dry grass and moss. There are from four to seven eggs. 



The Ring Ouzel — Dimensions, Jk ; Eggs, Gt — is a bird of the wilderness, resident in a few 

 favoured localities all the year round, but mostly coming in April and leaving his moorland 

 haunts in December. Like the Blackbird he raises his tail as he settles, and his flight is 

 strong and straight. ^ The song is flute-like and melodious, but not so musical as a Black- 

 bird's ; and the call is a sharp *' tac, tac, tac." The female is chocolate brown instead of 

 black, and the gorget (whence the name iorquatat collar wearer) is not clear white. The 

 nest is on the ground, and generally by the side of a stream. It is made of coarse grass and 

 heather and twigs, plastered with mud and lined with dry grass, and it contains four or five eggs. 



MUvus. Plate xv. FALCON I DM. 



185. migrans, 23 in. Black Kite. Bill black ; wings brown beneath ; 



tail dark brown and moderately forked. 

 184. iciinus, 26 in. Kite. Bill horn colour ; wings whitish beneath 



with a broad black patch ; tail rufous, barred with 

 brown, and much forked. • 



The Black Kite— Dimensions, Qo J Eggs, Oh — was unknown in this country until 1866, 

 and it has not been seen here since. 



The Kite — Dimensions, Ro ; Eggs, Pk — is now a rarity in this country, though at one 

 time it used to be our commonest bird of prey. It is very reddish in plumage, and has 

 yellow eyes and cere, and feet and legs. Its gliding flight gave it its old name of Glead. It 

 seems to swim in the air, steering itself with its forked tail, m long sweeps and shorter curves, 

 much as does the schoolboy's toy to which it gave its name. Its cry is a "whew," with an 

 occasional " keh, keh." The female is larger than the male, and is greyer above and redder 

 below, and shorter in the tail. The nest is in a tall tree ; it is built of twigs and many other 

 things, including rags and paper ; it is very large for the size of the bird, and contains two, 

 three, or four eggs. 



Monticola. Plate i. TURDINM (Passeridse). 



11. saxaiilis, 8 in. RoCK Thrush. Axillaries chestnut ; tail chestnut- 



with two darker central feathers ; bill black ; legs 

 black. 

 A Rock Thrush— Dimensions, Gs ; Eggs, Ga — was shot in Hertfordshire, in 1843. There 

 is no other authenticated record. 



Motacilla. Plate v. MOTACILLINM (Passeridas). 



63. fiava, 6 in. Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. Bluish head, 



white eye stripe ; white chin ; white throat ; yellow 

 breast. 



64. viridis, 6\ in. Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail. Grey head, 



no eye stripe ; white chin ; yellow throat ; yellow 

 breast. 



65. rait, 6^ in. Yellow WAGTAIL. Yellow head, with brownish 



crown. 



60. alba, 7^ in. White Wagtail. White head ; black cap ; 



black throat ; greyish back. 



61. lugubris, y\ in. PiED WAGTAIL. White head ; black cap ; black 



throat ; black back. 



62. melanope, 8 in. Grey Wagtail. Grey head ; narrow white eye 



stripe ; black patch on throat ; green rump. 

 The Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail — Dimensions, Dj ; Eggs, Cn — has occasionally bred in 



