A History of British Birds, Volume 1Edw. Walker, 1826 - Birds |
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Page vii
... chiefly the skilful practi- tioner who is enabled to profit by them ; to the less informed they appear obscure and perplexing , and too frequently de- ter him from the great object of his pursuit . To investigate , with any tolerable ...
... chiefly the skilful practi- tioner who is enabled to profit by them ; to the less informed they appear obscure and perplexing , and too frequently de- ter him from the great object of his pursuit . To investigate , with any tolerable ...
Page ix
... chiefly on seeds , next to those of the Pie kind , there seems to be a more regular gradation downwards , since only a few anomalous birds , such as the Cuckoo , Hoopoe , Nuthatch , & c . intervene . The soft - billed birds , or those ...
... chiefly on seeds , next to those of the Pie kind , there seems to be a more regular gradation downwards , since only a few anomalous birds , such as the Cuckoo , Hoopoe , Nuthatch , & c . intervene . The soft - billed birds , or those ...
Page x
... chiefly delights , and from which it derives its support . It may be proper to observe , that while one of the editors of this work was engaged in preparing the cuts , which are faithfully drawn from Nature , and engraved upon wood ...
... chiefly delights , and from which it derives its support . It may be proper to observe , that while one of the editors of this work was engaged in preparing the cuts , which are faithfully drawn from Nature , and engraved upon wood ...
Page xxvii
... chiefly from Mr White's Natural History of Selborne , and are arranged nearly in the order of their appearing : - 1 Wryneck , ...... 2 Smallest Willow Wren , 3 House Swallow , 4 Martin , 5 Sand Martin , .... Middle of March Latter end ...
... chiefly from Mr White's Natural History of Selborne , and are arranged nearly in the order of their appearing : - 1 Wryneck , ...... 2 Smallest Willow Wren , 3 House Swallow , 4 Martin , 5 Sand Martin , .... Middle of March Latter end ...
Page xxix
... in their last passage to this country , off the land , by adverse gales ; like many thousands of other land birds thus blown to sea to become food for fishes . been chiefly met with in the northern parts , and INTRODUCTION . xxix.
... in their last passage to this country , off the land , by adverse gales ; like many thousands of other land birds thus blown to sea to become food for fishes . been chiefly met with in the northern parts , and INTRODUCTION . xxix.
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Common terms and phrases
ash grey bars bill is black birds of prey blue bluish breast and belly breed BRITISH BIRDS Buff Buffon cere chesnut chiefly claws black Cuckoo dark brown dull white dusky brown Eagle eyes hazel Falco feathers feeds feet female lays Fieldfare five eggs five inches flocks fore frequently genus greater coverts green ground head and neck hinder insects irides kind Lark Latham lays five lays four light likewise Linn.-Le male mandible marked middle feathers Motacilla moult MOUNTAIN FINCH nearly nest numbers observed olive outer pale brown pale edges pale yellow places Plover plumage PRATINCOLE prey quadrupeds quill feathers quills dusky Red Grouse reddish brown rump rust colour rusty scapulars seen short shot sides sometimes song species specimen spotted with brown streak Swallow tail feathers Temminck thighs throat Thrush tinged tipped with white Titmouse toes trees vent white spot White-tailed Eagle whitish wing coverts winter yellowish
Popular passages
Page 296 - This guest of summer, The temple-haunting. martlet, does approve, By his lov'd mansionry, that the heaven's breath Smells wooingly here : no jutty, frieze, Buttress, nor coigne of vantage, but this bird Hath made his pendent bed, and procreant cradle : Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ'd, The air is delicate.
Page 93 - tis, to cast one's eyes so low! The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air, Show scarce so gross as beetles : Half way down Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade! Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head: The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, Appear like mice; and yon...
Page 234 - But, first and chiefest, with thee bring Him that yon soars on golden wing, Guiding the fiery-wheeled throne, The Cherub Contemplation ; And the mute Silence hist along, 'Less Philomel will deign a song, In her sweetest saddest plight, Smoothing the rugged brow of Night, While Cynthia checks her dragon yoke Gently o'er the accustomed oak. 60 Sweet bird, that shunn'st the noise of folly, Most musical, most melancholy...
Page xxv - tis nought But restless hurry through the busy air, Beat by unnumber'd wings. The swallow sweeps The slimy pool, to build his hanging house Intent. And often, from the careless back Of herds and flocks, a thousand tugging bills Pluck hair and wool...
Page xxv - Of hazel, pendent o'er the plaintive stream, They frame the first foundation of their domes; Dry sprigs of trees, in artful fabric laid, And bound with clay together. Now 'tis nought But restless hurry through the busy air, Beat by unnumber'd wings.
Page 239 - Wisely regardful of the embroiling sky, In joyless fields and thorny thickets leaves His shivering mates, and pays to trusted man His annual visit. Half afraid, he first Against the window beats ; then brisk alights On the warm hearth ; then hopping o'er the floor, Eyes all the smiling family askance, And pecks, and starts, and wonders where he is ; Till more familiar grown, the table-crumbs Attract his slender feet.
Page xxv - Nestling repair, and to the thicket some ; Some to the rude protection of the thorn Commit their feeble offspring...
Page xxiv - Amusive birds ! say where your hid retreat, When the frost rages and the tempests beat ? Whence your return, by such nice instinct led, When Spring, soft season, lifts her bloomy head? Such baffled searches mock man's prying pride, The God of Nature is your secret guide!
Page 216 - Lo, here the gentle lark, weary of rest, From his moist cabinet mounts up on high, And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast The sun ariseth in his majesty; Who doth the world so gloriously behold, That cedar-tops and hills seem burnish'd gold.
Page 117 - Pour'd out profusely, silent : join'd to these Innumerous songsters, in the freshening shade Of new-sprung leaves, their modulations mix Mellifluous. The jay, the rook, the daw, And each harsh pipe, discordant heard alone, Aid the full concert ; while the stockdove breathes A melancholy murmur through the whole.