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K. 2.--Arct. Zool. 2. No. 439.-Don. Br. Birds, 3. t. 58.-Lath. Syn. 6. p. p. 337. 1.-Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 17.-Walc. Syn. 1. t. 90.-Lewin's Br. Birds, 6. t. 226.- Flem. Br. Anim. p. 132.-Wils. Amer. Orn. 9. p. 74.

FEMALE.

Colymbus Immer. Linn. Syst. 1. p. 222. 6.-Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 588.-Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 800. 2.-Colymbus maximus Gesneri, Raii, Syn. p. 126. 8.Will. P. 260. 3. Mergus major, Briss. 6. p. 105. 1. t. 10. f. 1.-16. 8vo. 2. p. 389.-Le grande plongeon, Buff. Ois. 8. p. 251.-Ember Goose, Sibbald, Scot. 21.-Imber Diver, Br. Zool. 2. No. 238. t. 84.-Arct. Zool. 2. No. 440.—Will, (Angl.) p. 342.-Lath. Syn. 6. p. 340. 2.-Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 17.-Wale. Syn. 1. t. 99. Don. Br. Birds, 4. t. 99.—Lewin's Br. Birds, 6. t. 227.-Mont. Orn. Dict. 1.

Provincial.-Gunner. Greater Doucker.

This species is the largest of the genus, sometimes weighing as much as fifteen or sixteen pounds; length near three feet and a half. The bill is black, four inches and a half long; irides purplish; the head and neck deep velvety black; on the throat are several parallel white lines, formed of raised feathers; on each side the neck a large portion of the same, almost uniting behind and before; the sides of the breast streaked with black and white lines; the back, scapulars, and wing coverts, are black, marked with white spots in a most elegant manner; those on the back and rump are small and round, the others are larger and of a square form, disposed in rows; the quills and tail are black; the breast and under parts of the body white, with a few black streaks under the wings; legs black. The female is not so large, and the white markings on the neck are less distinct. The variation which has been observed in the plumage of these birds, has very justly been considered to be owing to its not arriving at perfection till the second, or perhaps the third year. The northern diver is rarely met with in the southern parts of England; seldom leaving the water; but instances are recorded of its having been taken alive on land. In the spring of the year 1797, one of these birds was taken near Penzance, in Cornwall, at some distance from water. It appeared incapable of raising itself from the ground; it did not seem to have any defect, as it lived for six weeks in a pond, and was supplied with fish; but for want of a sufficient quantity, was starved, as was apparent when we dissected it for preservation. It is not uncommon in Iceland and Greenland, where it breeds in the fresh waters, and is said to lay two large eggs, of a pale brown-colour, in the month of June. Is plentiful in Norway and some parts of Russia. In the latter country, as well as in some others, the skin is dressed and used for various sorts of clothing. It is tough, and well covered with soft down.

The female has been described as a distinct species, under the name of imber diver. In length she measures two feet; bill four inches long, of a dusky brown-colour; the top of the head and back part of the neck brown; forehead, sides of the neck and cheeks, speckled with brown ;

the feathers on the back and wings brown, with paler margins; the throat and part of the neck before, spotted black and white; quills and tail brown, and in some dusky, edged with white; the whole under parts white, with a little brown about the vent; legs dusky; the general colour is less bright than the male above, and dusky beneath.

It should appear that the size of this species has been commonly exaggerated, or they must vary very materially, since those which have come under our examination did not exceed ten pounds, and an old or matured male measured only two feet eight inches. A young female before the plumage was perfected, weighed eight pounds six ounces, and measured two feet seven inches in length. This young female killed in January, has the upper part of the head, back, and sides of the neck dusky black; backs and scapulars black, obscurely marked with cinereous spots; in a few places the matured feathers appear on the scapulars of a deeper glossy-black, marked with the clear white quadrangular spots as in the adult: the coverts of the wings, rump, and upper part of the thighs black, with numerous small, pure white spots: the sides of the lower neck and breast, continuing along the sides of the body under the wings, streaked black and white; the whole under parts of the bird, from chin to vent, white: the tail is short and rounded, consisting of twenty black feathers tipped with white.

From this immatured specimen we obtain the knowledge of the primary plumage, which is essential, because with so little of the character of the adult, the bird might have been mistaken for some other species, had not the few square spots of white on the scapulars betrayed its title.

A northern diver, taken alive, was kept in a pond for some months, which gave us an opportunity of attending to its manners. In a few days it became extremely docile, would come at the call, from one side of the pond to the other, and would take food from the hand. The bird had received an injury in the head, which had deprived one eye of its sight, and the other was a little impaired; but, notwithstanding, it could, by incessantly diving, discover all the fish that was thrown into the pond. In defect of fish it would eat flesh.

It is observable that the legs of this bird are so constructed and situated, as to render it incapable of walking upon them. This is probably the case with all the divers, as well as the grebes.

When this bird quitted the water, it shoved its body along upon the ground like a seal, by jerks, rubbing the breast against the ground; and returned again to the water in a similar manner. In swimming and diving, the legs only are used, and not the wings, as in the guillemot and auk tribes; and by their situation so far behind, and their

little deviation from the line of the body, it is enabled to propel itself in the water with great velocity in a straight line, as well as turn with astonishing quickness.

LOUGH DIVER.-A name for the Smew.

LOXIA (BRISSON.)- Crossbill, a genus thus characterised. Bill rather long, both mandibles equally convex, and very strong, much compressed; and, when at rest, crossing each other at the points, and having their cutting edges from the middle forward bending inward. Nostrils round at the sides of the base, and hidden by bristly-reflected feathers. Legs with the feet having three toes before and one behind, the fore ones entirely divided. Wings having the first and second quills of equal length, the third being the longest in the wing.*

LOXIADE (VIGORS.)-Crossbills, a group of perching birds (Insessores, VIGORS.)*

LUMME (Columbus arcticus, LINNEUS.)

Colymbus arcticus, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 221. 4.-Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 587.-Ind. Orn. 2. p. 800. 4.-Raii, Syn. p. 125. 7.-Will. p. 259. t. 62.-Ib. (Angl.) P. 343. t. 62.-Temm. 2. p. 916.-Mergus gutture nigro, Briss. 6. p. 115. 4.-Îb. 8vo. 2. p. 391.-Lumme, Buff. 8. p. 262.-Black-throated Diver, Br. Zool. 2. No. 241. t. 85. f. 2.-Arct. Zool. 2. No. 444.-Edw. t. 146.-Lath. Syn. 6. P. 343. 4.-Lewin's Br. Birds, 6. t. 229.-Flem. Br. Anim. p. 133.-Mont. Dict. 1.

Provincial.-Northern Doucker. Speckled Zoon. The length of this species is two feet; bill near two inches long, slender, black; the fore part of the head and throat black; hind part of the head and neck ash-colour; sides of the neck white, spotted black; on the fore part of the neck a large patch of black, changeable to purple and green in different lights; the back and upper parts black; scapulars marked with square spots of white; wing coverts with round spots; breast and belly white; quills dusky; tail short and black; legs black, with a reddish cast on the inside.

This bird is rarely found in England, but is not uncommon in the northern parts of Europe; said to inhabit the lakes of Siberia, especially those of the arctic regions, as well as North America, particularly Hudson's Bay.

In some countries the skin is used for various sorts of clothing, and other purposes, being warm and exceedingly tough, which is common to all the genus.

LUNDA.-A name for the Puffin.

LUNGS OF BIRDS are internally attached to the spinal part of the breast. They are not divided into lobes, as in quadrupeds. The membrane (Pleura) which covers them, communicates by many openings with different parts of the body, for the purpose of transmitting air to render the body buoyant.

LYRE or LYNE.-Names for the Sheerwater.

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MADGE HOWLET.-A name for the Barn Owl.

MAGPIE (Pica caudata, RAY.)

Corvus pica, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 157. 13.-Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 373.-Raii, Syn. p. 41. A. 1.-Will. p. 87. t. 19-Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. p. 162. 32.-Briss. 2. p. 35. 1 -Ib. 8vo. 1. p. 164.-Pica caudata, Flem. Br. Anim. p. 87.-Wils. Amer. Orn. 4. p. 75. pl. 35. f. 2.-La Pie, Buff. Ois. 3. p. 85.-Ib. pl. Enl. 488.Pie, Temm. Man. d'Orn. 1. p. 113.-Garten-Grabe, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 2. p. 1267-Frisch, Vög. t. 58.-Magpie, Br. Zool. 1. No. 78.-Arct. Zool. 2. No. 66.-Lewin's Br. Birds, t. 39. Will. (Angl.) p. 127. t. 19.-Lath. Syn. 1. p. 392. 29.-Ib. Supp. p. 80.-Mont. Orn. Dict.-Bewick, Br. Birds.-Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 5.-Don. Br. Birds, 4. t. 95.-Shaw's Zool. 7. p. 369.*

Provincial.-Madge. Hagister. Pyet. Pianet.

This species is about eighteen inches in length; weight between eight and nine ounces. Bill black; irides hazel; the breast, upper part of the belly, and scapulars, white; the rest of the plumage black; the wings and tail beautifully glossed with blue, green, and purple; the ten

first quill feathers are white in the middle on the inner web; the tail is nine inches and a half long, and very cuneiform, the outer feathers not being much above half as long as the middle ones; legs and claws black.

The female differs only from the other sex in being rather less, and in the tail being shorter.

It has been very justly remarked, that England does not produce a more beautiful bird than the Magpie; but that those who have only seen the dirty mutilated specimens in captivity can form no idea of its native beauty. These birds generally continue in pairs the whole year; and though shy, it rarely removes far from the habitation of man. Its attachment, however, is governed by self-interest; it is a great enemy to the husbandman, but has cunning enough to evade his wrath. No animal food comes amiss to its carnivorous appetite; young poultry, eggs, young lambs, and even weakly sheep, it will attempt to destroy by first plucking out their eyes; the young of hares, rabbits, and feathered game, share the same fate; fish, carrion, insects, and fruit; and, lastly, grain, when nothing else can be got. It is an artful clamorous bird, proclaiming aloud any apparent danger, and thereby giving notice to its associates. Neither the fox nor any other wild animal can appear without being noticed and haunted; even the fowler is frequently spoiled of his sport, for all other birds seem to know the alarming chatter of this bird.

Its nest is curiously built for the defence of its young; it is of an oval shape, made of sticks, generally the black thorn, strongly woven together, with only a sufficient entrance on one side; the bottom is plastered with earth, and lined with fibrous roots.

Amongst our larger birds the Magpie excels all her congeners in architectural skill, though several of the older naturalists were inclined to attribute to her more ingenuity than facts will corroborate. Albertus Magnus, for example, says, "she not only constructs two passages for her nest, one for entering and another for going out, but frequently makes two nests on contiguous trees, with the design of misleading plunderers, who may as readily choose the empty nest as the one containing the eggs; on the same principle that Dionysius the Tyrant had thirty sleeping-rooms." Others maintain that the opening opposite the passage is for the tail of the mother Magpie when hatching; but before speculating upon the use of this, it would have been well to ascertain its existence; for among the numerous Magpies' nests which I have seen, (two very perfect ones are now before me,) the alleged second

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