File:A history of British birds. By the Rev. F.O. Morris (1862) (14770754443).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

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
oAfrica in winter. It is not a plentiful species, except in the Fen counties,but yet can by no means be called rare in suitable situationsin any part of the kingdom. This Rail frequents the sides of rivers, streams, water-courses, pools, ditches, and ponds, and any swamps or marshyplaces in their vicinity, where the strong vegetation gives itshelter. In Cambridgeshire, the Rev. Leonard Jenyns relates thatit occasionally is met with near Bottisham, as it no doubtis in many other parts in that district. In Norfolk it isabundant; it breeds in several parts of the county, and remainsthroughout the year. In Yorkshire, it is more or less commonly met with inthe neighbourhood of York, Burlington, Sheffield, Leeds,Doncaster, Barnsley, Hebden Bridge, and Halifax, near whichplace, namely, at Saltershebble, a young bird was shot. Ihave seen them at Wansford, in the parish of Nafferton: andin Berkshire, near East G-arston. One was shot in theneighbourhood of Blaydon Burn, in the county of Durham,
Text Appearing After Image:
WATER-RAIL. 83 in January, 1854, John William Bell, Esq. informs me, oneonly having been heard of about there before. In Sutherlandshire, Mr. St. John says that they are notuncommon in the winter. In Orkney, the Natural Historyof Orkney informs us that it is found all the year. It wasformerly abundant about the Loch of Aikerness, but sincethat was drained, has disappeared in that quarter. It issometimes seen at Crantit, near Kirkwall, and is not uncommonin Sanday. In Ireland it is resident and indigenous. Some breed here. They have been known to do so nearOdiham, in Hampshire; in the county of Norfolk, nearBrandon; also at Kingston; and near Melbourne, in Derby-shire; and have been seen in summer in Cambridgeshire, inGuy Fen, near Cambridge; and in fact in various parts ofthe country. Individuals have been killed in the winter months ofDecember, January, and February. It is, at all events partially, a migratory species, and insevere winters the numbers of these birds seem to be increa

Note About Images