zi6 



o^^ciTHOLogr, Bookii. 



A late Englilh Writer faith, that they are a very pleafant Song-bird, ringing 

 early in the Spring, and having great variety of notes : Old or young become tame 

 very fwiftly, and will fingin a ihort ipace after they are taken, if you take them in 

 the latter end of January, or beginning of February. 



Its weight was three quarters of an Ounce : Itsmeafures were from the Bill to the 

 Claws fix inches; to the Tail end (even 5 from Tip to tip of the Wings fpread eieht 

 and an half. Perchance this may be the Bird which Gefner makes his firft Currnca 

 whole figure you have in Aldrovands Ornithology, lib.iy. cap. 34. 



In the Neft of this bird the Cuckgw is faid to lay her Egg, which the foolifh bird fits 

 upon, hatches, and brings up the young one till it be fledg'd, and can fhift for it felf : 

 Whence the word Currnca fignifies as much in Latine as Cuckold with us in Englifo 

 7, e. one that brings up another mans Child for his own. Ifuppofe our word Cuckold 

 came from Cuckgw, but a man abuled in that manner is very improperly 10 called he 

 that abufes him being indeed the Cuckgve, that lays an Egg in his Neft. Whether or no 

 this Bird doth hatch and bring up the young Cuckgw I cannot fay of my own experi- 

 ence, but I am fure this is not the only Cuckgws-nmfe, for I have known the Water- 

 wagtail, and other birds perform that office, 

 jwof *A?drov~ Aldrovandus defcribes his Magnanina in theie words. It is a bird of the bignefs of a 

 Sparrow, having a (lender, (harp, black Bill: On the nether fide down to the Belly of 

 a pale afh-colour, the belly being white. Behind the Eyes it hath a notable ipot of 

 almoft a Cheihut colour, of which colour is alfo the crown of the head. The greater 

 Wing-feathers are black 3 the Tail of a lpadiceous, but paler than the Back. The 

 Legs and Feet yellow, the Claws black. Some of our Fowlers call it Magnanina, as 

 much to fay, as a Smith or Carpenter-bird, perchance becaufe it makes a loud knock- 

 ing or fnapping with its Bill as it catches flies: Other call it, Pajfere matto, that is a 

 fooliih Sparrow, perhaps from its colour, which approaches to fpadiceous, or rather 

 becaufe it eafily yields it felf to be taken. 



The feventh 

 Ficedida or 

 Scatarello of 

 Aldrov. 



The fecond 



Mtifchapa of 

 Aldrsv.or Bo- 

 nn of the 



Ctnoife. 



Chap. V. 



Tl?e Beccafigo or Fig-eater, perchance the fourth, or feventh Ficedula of 

 Aldrovandus, to Dohich arejubjoynedthe defcriptions of other f mall 'Birds akin 

 to this out of Aldro vand . 



THis is a very fmall bird, fcarce fobig as the common Linnet, thort bodied. The 

 colour of its Head, Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail from aih-colour inclines 

 to green, in fome dusky,with a Tincture of green. It hath the fame number 

 of Wing and Tail-feathers with all other fmall birds. But the quills of the Wing are 

 of a Mouie-dun, with black fhafts, and green edges. The lefler rows of feathers that 

 cover theunderfideof the Wings are yellow. The Tail is about two inches long, not 

 forked, and all its feathers of a dusky colour. 



T he Belly of a white or filver colour : The Breaft fomething darker, with a tin- 

 cture of yellow. 



The Bill is ihort, the upper Mandible black, the lower bluiih : The Mouth within- 

 fide of a red or fkin-colour : The Legs fhort, the Feet bluiih, and in fome of a lead 

 colour. 



This bird is not remarkable for any variety of colours, fo that it is very hard fo to 

 defcribe it, as by certain and chara&eriftic notes to diitinguiih it from all others. 



In its ftomach difi'eded we found grape-ftones, and other feeds. 



Mr. Jejfop (hot this bird in Yorkshire, and lent it us by the name of Petty chaps. 



The feventh Ficedula of Aldrovand, which he faith his Country-men the Bolognefe 

 call Scatarello, but the Genoefe Beccafigo, is almoft all over of a dusky aih-colour, 

 efpecially on the back and upper-fide, for the Breaft is yellow: The Feet are black. 

 Saying in the colour of the Feet it agrees with the Bird by us defcribed in this 

 Chapter. , 



Neither is the fecond Mufiicapa of Aldrovand, or Chiuin of the Bolognefe, called 

 by the Genoefe, Borin, much unlike to this. It is a little bigger than a Wren , its Bill 

 (lender, (harp, and very fit to ftrike flies. The upper part of its Head, as alfo its 

 Neck and Back are of a pale aih-colour : its Head beneath, its Throat, Breaft, and 

 Belly are of a white, tending to yellow $ but the Breaft and Belly more dilute. The 



Wings 



