File:An illustrated manual of British birds (1889) (14561928969).jpg

Identifier: illustratedmanua01saun (find matches)
Title: An illustrated manual of British birds
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: Saunders, Howard, 1835-1907
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London, Gurney and Jackson
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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: average measurements 2 by i 4 in. Judging fromSwinhoes experience, the bird commences sitting at once, and thereis an interval of two days between the laying of each egg. In Europeincubation takes place in May. The food consists of water-insectsand their larvae, worms, snails, small fish and frogs. The note is amournful qua-a, seldom uttered in the daytime, though after darkthe birds are very noisy. The adult male has the crown, nape, and middle of the backgreenish-black; neck, wings and tail grey; under parts greyish-white ; a crest of from three to ten long white feathers ; bill blackishabove, lower mandible and lores lead-colour ; iris brick-red; legsand feet yellow. Length about 23 in.; wing 12 in. The female isduller in colour and has shorter plumes. The young bird has theupper plumage umber-brown, with paler streaks and white spots ;under parts striped with white, buff, and brown ; no crest. Youngmales are capable of reproduction while still in immature plumage. ARDEID.i:. :/9
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^ THE LITTLE BITTERN. Ardktta mixuta (Linnreus). This small species has been obtained in nearly every county ofEngland, especially in the eastern and southern districts ; and therecan be little doubt that—even recently—it has bred on some of theBroads of Norfolk, and formerly did so in other localities. InWales, and on the west side of the island, it is of rare occurrence,as it is also to the north of Yorkshire; while to Scotland its visitsare very irregular, though extending as far as the Orkneys andShetlands. About ten examples have been obtained in Ireland onpassage; the latest on October 2nd 1887. Most of the instancesrecorded in England have been between spring and autumn, but afew in the depth of winter. The Little Bittern is only a rare wanderer to the Faeroes, Iceland,Norway and Sweden ; and although it has been obtained on severaloccasions in Denmark, as well as the district of St. Petersburg inRussia, its usual migrations do not extend beyond the Baltic,Southward, it is

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