File:Birds of Britain (1907) (14568779648).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbritain00bonh (find matches)
Title: Birds of Britain
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Bonhote, J. Lewis (John Lewis), 1875-1922 Dresser, Henry Eeles, 1838-1915
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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t is a heap of reeds placed on the marsh in thethickest part of a reed-bed. The eggs are usually four innumber and of a uniform brownish olive colour. In thebreeding season it utters a loud booming noise, but atother times it is a very silent bird. The adult is buff, irregularly barred and streaked allover with black, except on the head, which is pure black.Sexes and young are alike in plumage. Length 28 in.;wing 13 in. THE AMERICAN BITTERN Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu) This bird was, curiously enough, first described from aspecimen killed in Dorset. It is a purely American species,but a good many examples have been taken in all partsof the United Kingdom. It may be distinguished fromthe preceding species by its smaller size, darker colora-tion, and uniformly brown primaries. Length 24 in.;wing 11 in. THE WHITE STORK Ciconia alba, Bechstein It is curious that a bird so common and well protectedon the Continent should not be of more general occurrence 228 BITTERiN Botcuirus stellaris
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The White Stork ill these islands. It can only be considered a rare straggler,most of the examples having been seen in spring. The whole plumage is white, except the quills, which areblack. Legs and bill crimson. Length 40 in.; wing 23 in. THE BLACK STORK Ciconia nigra (Linnseus) Some fourteen examples in all of this fine bird havebeen procured in England. It breeds in Sweden, Denmarkand East Germany and thence eastwards in Central andSouthern Eussia. Like the White Stork, it is a migrant,wintering in Africa. The whole of the plumage is black, with metallic reflec-tions, except the lower breast and vent, which are white.Length 3 8 in.; wing 21 in. THE GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus (Linnaeus) In the southern and eastern parts of England this speciesused to be well known as an autumn migrant, but of lateyears it has become decidedly scarcer. It breeds commonlyin the marismas of Spain and the marshes of the Danube. The head, neck, and under parts are a deep copperybrown; back, wings,

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