BOONK. 



49 



peculiar habits, and the place of its nidification is still a matter of 

 doubt, although it is said to breed in the more northern parts, where 

 it is supposed to build in the holes of rocks. A fine specimen is 

 said to have been shot near Coventry, in December last, where it 

 appeared to associate with the starlings, and not less than twenty 

 have been killed in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, during the last 

 three winters. 1 



BOHEMIAN CHATTERER.— A name for the Bohemian Wax 

 Wing. 



BOMBYCIVORA (Temminck.)— * Wax Wing, a genus thus cha- 

 racterised. Bill strong, short, and strait ; the upper mandible slightly 

 bent at the tip, and notched ; nostrils, at the base, of an oval shape and 

 open, concealed by closely set feathers directed forwards ; wings long, the 

 first and second quill feathers being the longest ; secondary quills having 

 their tips ornamented with a wax-like appendage ; legs with three toes 

 before, and one behind, the outer toe joined at its base to the middle 

 one ; shank shorter than the middle toe. 



This genus has been established by Temminck, who has very judi- 

 ciously removed it from the genus Ampelis, (Chatterer), where it 

 was left by Linnaeus and Latham ; but which possess distinct and 

 peculiar characters, and belong to a different order.* 



BONES OF BIRDS. — *Are nearly all hollow, and communicating 

 with the lungs, are thence filled with air, so as to render them more 

 buoyant for flight. The breast bone (Sternum) extends much lower than 

 in quadrupeds, and is distinguished by a ridge like the keel of a ship, 

 except in the ostrich, &c, which do not fly. The bones of the wings 

 are similar to the fore legs of quadrupeds.* 



BONXIE. — A name for the Skua. 



BOONK (Ardea minuta, Linnaeus.) 



Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 646.— Ind. Orn. 2. p. 683. 27 Edio. t. 275 Ardea danubi- 



alis, Gmel Little Bittern, Br. Zool. App. p. 537. t. 8.— Arct. Zool.2.No. 359. 



—Lath. Syn. 5. p. 65. 27.— Ib. Supp. p. 235.— Lemhi's Br. Birds, 4. t. 147.— 

 Wale. Syn. 2. t. 128.— M<mt. Orn. Diet. & Supp.— Don. Br. Birds, 3. t. 54.— 



Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 14 Bewick's Br. Birds, 2. p. 511 Rufous and Rayed 



Bittern, Lath. Syn Le Blongois, Buff. 7. p. 395 Ardeola naevia, Briss. 5. 



p. 500. 47. t. 40. fig. 2.— Ib. 8vo. 2. p. 342 Botaurus rufus, Briss. 



Provincial. — Long-neck. 

 This beautiful species is scarce larger than a fieldfare in the body. 

 The length, to the end of the tail, is fifteen inches ; the bill two 

 inches long, dusky at the point, yellow on the sides ; the top of the 



1 Mag. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 165 

 E 



