THE SFECiES, 



Melizophilus. Plate iii. TURDINM (Passeridse). 



29, undatus^ 5 in. Dartford Warbler. Dark brown at 



chestnut brown below ; tail dark grey, half as 

 as the bird, with its outside feathers tipped 

 edged with white ; legs brown ; eyes orange ye 



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

 British bird. The first specimen on record was discovered near Dartford, in xqjZ' 

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

 insects, and_ then flying off to the base of another bush, and working up that, spread! 

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

 The female has a cinnamon breast. The young have yellow eyes ; those of the adu! 

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

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

 There are four, five, or six eggs. 



Merg^ulus. Plate x.xxii. ALCID^. 



378. alle^ 8^ in. Little Auk. White spot over eye ; edg 



scapulars white ; remiges 26 ; primaries 11 ; 

 feathers 12 ; legs brown. 



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

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



MergTis. Plate xxii. ANA TIDM. 



261. albellus, 17 in. Smew. Rump grey ; bill grey ; 16 tail feathei 



262. ciicullatus, ,19 in. Hooded Merganser. Rump white ; headw 



18 tail feathers. 

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



black ; 18 tail feathers. 

 259. merganser, 26 in. Goosander. Rump grey ; bill vermilion ; i£ 



feathers. 



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

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

 flight, and its call is " lor, kr." The female has a black patch on the lores. She ii 

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



The Hooded Merganser — Dimensions, Oq ; Eggs Nk — is an American bird founc 

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



The Red-breasted Merganser — Dimensions, Qq ; Eggs, Qm — is with us all the jjear r 

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

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

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

 made of heather and dry grass and leaves, and lined with brownish grey down, havin; 

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



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

 the coast in the winter. When in flight its wings are conspicuously long. Its call is '' 

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

 have crests. The nest is in a hole of some tree, or on the ground, generally in a tree, 

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



Merops. Plate xii. MEROPIDM. 



154. apiaster^ loj in. Bee-eater. Chestnut, gold, and green at 



gold and black below ; forehead white, lores b 

 wings green, black and chestnut ; tail green ; 

 central feathers an inch longer than the others 



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



throat and no black band on breast. 

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

 but it is very rare. 



The Blue-tailed Bee-eater — Dimensions, Kq — is even rarer, for it hns only been seei 



