LANNER. 



287 



many as twenty. These are not much less than those of a partridge, 

 but of a longer shape, of a dull white, marked with rust-coloured spots. 



It is a migrative species, appearing with us about the latter end of 

 April, and departing in October. On its first appearance, and till the 

 female begins to sit, the male is frequently heard to make a singular 

 noise, much resembling that of a comb when the finger is drawn along 

 the teeth, and which has been used as a decoy. 



It is much sought after for the delicacy of its flesh, but it is a diffi- 

 cult bird to spring, depending on its legs for safety more than its wings. 

 In autumn, when the corn and grass are cut, it takes to the thickets 

 and brakes, and is with difficulty roused to take .flight. It flies slow, 

 and with its legs hanging down. 



It is most plentiful in the northern parts of the kingdom, and in 

 Ireland. On their first coming they are very lean, but before their 

 departure become excessively fat. It is found in the Hebrides and 

 Orkneys ; inhabits Germany, France, and Italy, and as far north as 

 Norway. 



* I have never heard it in the vicinity of London, nor in Wiltshire, 

 or Normandy, though it is said to be plentiful in the west of England.* 



Their food is chiefly worms, snails, and insects, in defect of which, 

 seeds and various vegetables. 



LAND CURLEW.— A name for the Stone Curlew. 



LANIADiE (Vigors). — * Shrikes; a group of perching birds (In- 

 sessores, Illiger.) * 



LANIUS (Linnaeus.) — * Shrike, a genus thus characterised. Bill 

 of middle size, strong, much compressed ; the upper mandible strongly 

 curved towards the point, where it forms a hook ; the base without a 

 cere, but furnished with coarse hairs directed forward ; nostrils at the 

 sides of the base, almost round, half shut by a vaulted membrane, often 

 in part concealed by the hairs ; feet with the shank longer than the 

 middle toe ; three toes before and one behind, quite divided ; wings, 

 the first quill of middle length, the second a little shorter than the 

 third and fourth, which are the longest in the wing. * 



LANNER (Falco Lanarius, Linn^us.) 



Falco lanarius, Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 276 Will. 48.— Rati, Syn. 15. p. 13 Le La- 

 nier, Buff. Ois. 1. p. 243 Temm. Man. d'Orn. J. p. 20. — Flem. Br. Anim. p. 



49.— Lanner, Br. Zool. 1. No. 51. t. 23 Arct. Zool. 2. p. 125. K. — Will. 



(Angl.) p. 82.— Lewins Br. Birds, 1. t. 17.— Lath. Syn. 1. p. 86. 72.— Ib. 

 Supp. p. 21.— Wale. Syn. 1. t. 16. 



This species of falcon is rather less than the buzzard. Bill bluish ; 



cere greenish-blue ; irides yellow ; the crown of the head brown, 



mixed with yellowish white ; the rest of the head, upper part of the 



