254 



HICKWALL. 



this bird as successfully obtains it by instinct. In the summer it is 

 equally amusing- to see this bird catch chaffers, (Melolontha vulgaris, 

 and Zantheumia solstitialis,) and the common large dung beetle, ( Geo- 

 trupes stercorarius,) which fly about in the dusk of the evening through- 

 out tho summer months. These are most dexterously caught, if within 

 reach of a flirt with mutilated wings. 



At four years old, its piercing and inharmonious cry became in- 

 cessant in the spring, from which it may be inferred that at that age 

 this species usually begin to breed, and ours being probably a male, its 

 clamour proceeded from the common impulse of nature. 



We cannot close this account of a favourite domesticated animal, 

 without remarking the several accidents that befel it, which prove its 

 hardy nature. It was first obtained by a shot in the wing, which 

 obliged half the wing to be amputated. A few years since the bone of 

 the thigh was broken, by some accident, close to the body, and as no 

 art could set the fractured bone in such a situation, it was left to 

 nature: in two or three months it united, and the limb was per- 

 fectly restored to action ; and lately, by some unaccountable means, the 

 wing which was before mutilated received a compound fracture close to 

 the body, and as it was impossible for nature to form an union of the 

 bone in a limb so situated, and on which the wind had so much power, 

 we determined on amputation, having first applied a ligature just above 

 the part taken off, suffering the ligature to continue, and without any 

 other assistance the poor bird perfectly recovered.* 



Whether these immatured birds breed we cannot be certain, but are 

 inclined to think they do, as we saw a great many of them intermixed 

 with the perfect ones in the gullery on an island off St. David's, where 

 the nests were innumerable : they seemed equally clamorous with the 

 others when disturbed. The nests were on the top of the island, 

 amongst the grass and loose stones, composed of a small quantity of 

 long dry grass, the eggs, which were two in number, of a dark olive- 

 brown, with dusky blotches. Like others of the genus, this bird feeds 

 indiscriminately on fish, and various other productions of the sea, par- 

 ticularly the star-fish. It is sometimes observed to trample the soft 

 sand, by moving its feet alternately in the same place : for what pur- 

 pose this singular action is intended, we cannot say, unless it is to 

 force up the sand eels or other hidden prey, as the one mentioned 

 above did the worms. They are plentiful on all our coast, and in the 

 northern parts of Europe. 



HE WHOLE. — A name for the Poppinjay. 



HICKWALL.— A name for the Crank-bird. 



