File:A history of British birds. By the Rev. F.O. Morris (1862) (14564255958).jpg

Identifier: historyofbritish06morr (find matches)
Title: A history of British birds. By the Rev. F.O. Morris ..
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Morris, F. O. (Francis Orpen), 1810-1893
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London, Groombridge and Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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he wings have the second quill feather the longest. Greaterand lesser wing coverts, primaries, secondaries, tertiaries, greater 166 POLISH SWAN. and lesser under wing coverts, tail, and (tail coverts, pureunsullied white. Legs and toes, pale grey slate-colour; webs,pale grey slate-colour. The young of this species are white from the first, andhence the specific name. Since the foregoing article was sent to the press, I havereceived a letter from Arthur Strickland, Esq., in which heinforms me that a German naturalist has published a pamphlet,to prove that the so-called Polish Swan is only an albinovariety of the common species. I am unable at present, nothaving seen the work, to do more than record the circum-stance of its publication, but it seems to me, as at presentadvised, that the fact of the young having been procuredin different instances in the white plumage, is sufficient, inconnection with the other peculiarities mentioned by Yarrell,to constitute the present a distinct bird.
Text Appearing After Image:
167 RUDDY SHIELDRAKE. RUDDY GOOSE. COLORED DUCK. Tadorna rutila, Jexyxr. Selby. Gould. Anas rutila, BEWICK. Tadorna— ? Rutila—Fiery red. The bird thus called advances from Denmark, through thesouth of Russia, to various parts of the east of Europe, andhas been met with also in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Turkey,Greece, and Austria. It likewise appertains to Asia, havingbeen found in Persia, Asia Minor, the Dukkun in India, andthe neighbourhood of the Caucasian range. Great numbershave been seen on Lake Van, that beautiful water, which noone read the description of in Mr. Layards Nineveh withoutwishing that he might be there to see. In Africa also theyare said to be found, even to the Cape. Several of these Shieldrakes have now been procured in thiscountry. Marmaduke Tunstall, Esq. possessed one which was believedto have been shot in the severe winter of 1776, at Bryanstone,near Blandford, Dorsetshire, the seat of Mr. Portman, ancestorof Lord Portman. A second was subsequently killed

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