92 



COBB. 



These birds pair in April, and begin laying early in May. Insects we 

 found to be the favourite food of the young, especially the common 

 grasshopper. When they could peck, small seeds, particularly canary, 

 were acceptable. Oats they greedily devoured, after dexterously de- 

 priving them of the outer husk. The monotonous song of the male 

 was incessant, shrill, and piercing ; so much resembling the vociferous 

 call notes of the babillard, that it requires considerable knowledge of 

 their language not to mistake the one for the other. We are assured 

 by Mr. Austin, that he shot a male of this species, in 1803, near 

 Bridgewater, and in April, 1805, we observed a pair between Bridge- 

 water and Glastonbury. Another specimen, in the collection of Col. 

 George of Penryn, was shot near that place. According to conti- 

 nental authors, it is abundant in the warmer parts of France, in Italy, 

 and on the shores of the Mediterranean ; but is not found in the colder 

 regions. 



The female might readily be mistaken for that sex of the yellow 

 hammer at a little distance, but is materially different when compared, 

 especially in the chestnut-colour of the upper parts of this bird. The 

 note is simple and plaintive, similar to that of the yellow hammer, but 

 shorter, not so shrill, and the latter part not drawn out to such a length. 



It is remarkable that so common a bird as the Cirl-Bunting seems to 

 be in the West of England, should have so long escaped the notice of 

 British naturalists ; but in all probability this has been occasioned by 

 their locality. It is said to be only found on the continent in the 

 warmer parts of France and Italy ; so with us it seems confined to the 

 mildest part of England ; but the winter of 1800, which was severe in 

 Devonshire, did not force them to seek a warmer climate, but, on the 

 contrary, they continued gregarious with other small birds, searching 

 their food amongst the ploughed lands. 



CLACK GOOSE and CLAKES. — Names for the Bernacle Goose. 



CLATTER GOOSE.— A name for the Brent Goose. 



CLOACA. — * The termination of the straight gut (rectum) in birds, 

 named, so Atkinson says, from their having no urinary bladder, the 

 urine being received into this cloaca.* 



CLOVEN-FOOTED GULL.— A name for the Stern. 



CLUCKING DUCK.— A name for the Bimaculated Duck. 



COALLY-HOOD.— A name for the Bullfinch. 



COBB (Larus marinus, Linnaeus.) 



*Larus marinus, Gmel. 2. 598.— Lath. Index, 2. 813. Q.—Temm. 2. 760.— Larus 

 niger, Briss. 6. 158. 1. — Le Goeland noir, Buff. 8. 405. t. 31. — Larus maximus, 

 ex albo et nigro varius, Ilaii, Syn. 127. A. 1. — Great black and white Gull, 

 Will. 3U.—Albin, 3. t. 94.— Black backed Gull, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 242.— 



