File:Lost and vanishing birds; being a record of some remarkable extinct species and a plea for some threatened forms (1898) (14565138627).jpg

Identifier: lostvanishingbir00dixo (find matches)
Title: Lost and vanishing birds; being a record of some remarkable extinct species and a plea for some threatened forms
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Dixon, Charles, 1858-1926
Subjects: Birds -- England Extinct birds
Publisher: London, J. Macqueen
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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low linedwith dry grass. The eggs are three in number,and vary from buff to olive brown in groundcolour, heavily marked with reddish brown,blackish brown, pale brown, and grey. Bothparents assist in their incubation. When disturbed, 86 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS the birds rise in fluttering crowds from the ground,with noisy cries of remonstrance, and continue tofly to and fro above their nests until the dangerhas passed. But one brood is reared in the season;and a movement south may be observed soon afterthe young can fly, the passage of this speciesextending from August to October, The adult Black Tern in summer plumage hasthe head, neck, breast, and belly black; the undertail coverts white; the remainder of the plumagedark grey. In winter plumage the forehead,throat, and lores are white, and the under parts aremore or less mottled with white. Young birdshave the upper parts, especially on the head andback, mottled with brown. The length of thissmall Tern is about ten inches. PLATE IV.
Text Appearing After Image:
G R EAT AUKS THE GREAT AUK (alca impennis) rriHE species we have hitherto mentioned havebecome extinct in the British Islands only,their extermination being of a local character;but the present bird excites a wider melancholyinterest, for there can be little doubt that ithas ceased to exist altogether. Many erroneousopinions prevail not only respecting the geographicaldistribution of the Great Auk, but the cause of itsextirpation. As most readers may know, the GreatAuk was incapable of flight. The bird was nearlyas big as an ordinary tame Goose, but closelyresembled a Razorbill in general appearance, exceptthat its short narrow wings were quite incapableof bearing it through the air. If useless for flight,these wings were used with marvellous power asoars, and the bird was a most accomplishedswimmer and diver. This inability of the wings for flight was due to the abortive character of the 87 88 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS bones of the forearm and hand, the humerus beingproportionately as

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