144 0^3\ClTH0L0gr, Book II. 



The Legs and Feet are great, ftrong and mufculous, which is efpecially remarka- 

 ble in this bird. It hath but one back-toe, which toward the root or rife of it is broad 

 and torofe. The outer fore-toe is joyned to the middlemoft at the bottom. 



It had a yellow Gall, large Tefticles, a ihorter Breaft-bone than Woodjfeites 5 fhort 

 blind Guts .• Reed-Beetles in the ftomach. 



It is always converfant among Reeds, and fings fweetly. It fticks to, and climbs up 

 Reeds, as Woodpeckers do up trees. 



The Alcedo vocalis of Bellonim feems to°be the fame either with this or the letter 

 Species 5 the defcription whereof fee in Aldrovandm, lib,2o. cap.62. 



§. IV. 



TkeleJJer Reed-Sparrow. An Cannevarola Aldrovandus <? An Ficedula cannabina Olin£ .<? 



TT is equal to, or fomewhat lefs than a Redfiart. It creeps and fings among Reeds. 

 From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was five inches three quarters : 

 From tip to tip of the Wings extended eight inches. The Bill, meafuring from the 

 point to the Angles of the mouth, was three quarters of an inch long : The lower 

 Chap almoft white, the upper blackiih, the Mouth, within yellow : The Tongue 

 cloven, and divided into filaments, the Irides of a hazel colour. The Back toward 

 the Rump is of a dark olive or dusky green, toward the Head more cinereous. The 

 middle of the Breaft is white 5 the Throat and lower Belly have a mixture of yellow. 

 The fides are of a dirty, greenifti colour. 



The prime feathers of the Wings are in number eighteen, of which the fecond is the 

 longeft. They are of a dark brown or dusky colour, as in the Redftart, and other 

 fmall birds.; The Tail is 2 5. inches long, and compofed of twelve feathers. The 

 foles of the Feet are of a greeniih yellow. The outmoft Toe adheres to the middle- 

 moft below, as in others. The Bill and Feet,in this Bird are greater than the propor- 

 tion of the reft of the body feems to require. The Female differs little or nothing 

 from the Male. 



Annoi. This Bird I bought in the Market at Florence, where they call it Beccafigo : 

 which nametfrey give to many fmall birds that feed fat. I luppofe it is that defcribed 

 and figured in Olina by the title of Beccafigo Cannabino. My defcription, differs fome- 

 thing from this otMx.Willnghby, but not considerably, vi%. The Back was of a pale 

 green inclining to yellow, which juft above the Tail was more yellow. The feathers 

 of the Wings and Tail were of a Moufe-dun, having their edges of the fame colour 

 with the Back. The Tail, when fpread, terminated in a circular Circumference. 

 The Breaft, Belly, and Throat were white, dafhed with yellow. The Bill long, 

 ftreight, flat, ordepreffed 5 The lower Chap of a horn-colour, the upper more dul- 

 ky, but not black: The Legs long, and of a light blue, with a little dafti of yellow. 

 The Mouth within yellow : The foles of the feet yellow. 



It is common in the Low Countries among the Reeds. 



Another Bird of this name, but different in kind, we {hall defcribe afterwards. 



§. V. 



The Creeper. Certhia. 



IT is a very fmall birdj fcarce bigger than the copped Wren. It hath a long,flender, 

 fharp Bill, bending downwards like a Bow. The upper Chap of a dark colour, 

 the nether white at the bafe, and black at the tip. The Tongue not longer than the 

 Bill, wherein it differs from the Woodfiites, yet hard and ftiff at the point, and fharp 

 like a Goad. The Irides of the Eyes of a dark hazel colour. 



The Throat, Breaft, and Belly white: The Head, Back, and Wings inclining to a 

 Fox-colour 5 the middle parts of the feathers being whitifh. Above the Eyes on each 

 iide is a white fpot. The beam-feathers of the Wings are eighteen, the firft of which 

 is very fhort, the fourth thelongeft,and by meafure two - inches : The three outmoft 

 are dusky, the 'reft have white tips, and a broad white line through their middle, 

 fbmething inclining to fulvous. The edges of thofe next the body are likewife ful- 

 vous, and have white only on the exteriour fide of their fhafts. The covert-feathers 

 of the Wings are more black, the middlemoft have their middle part fulvous 5 all their 

 tips white. The Tail confifts often feathers only, as in Woodftitesjs very long for the 



bignels 



