The Peacock At Home | Page 4

cliffs in Devonshire and Cornwall.
P. 7. l. 2. _The Widow, or Widah Bird._] Is a species of bunting, a native of Angola and other parts of Africa. And is remarkable for the feathers of its tail. The two middle ones are about four inches long, and ending in a long thread, the two next are thirteen inches in length, broad and narrowing towards the points, from these proceed another long thread.
P. 8. l. 6. _Yaffil the Woodpecker (Picus Viridus)._] The name Yaffil is provincial, but is so very expressive of the noise it continually makes, that I have preferred it on that account. It is a beautiful bird, and is sometimes called the English parrot; the colour of its plumage, green, yellow, and scarlet, giving it some resemblance to that bird.
P. 8. l. 10. _The Numidian Crane, or Demoiselle._] From the elegance of its appearance, and its singular carriage, is called the Demoiselle, which means the young Lady; for this bird walks very gracefully, and sometimes skips and leaps, as though it were trying to dance.
P. 8. l. 15. _Guillemot (Colymbus)._] A sea bird, of which there are several species numerously spread over the northern world; from whence they come towards winter to the British shores and remain till they have reared their young: it is sometimes called the foolish Guillemot from his stupidity; for when their companions are shot one after another, they have so little sense of danger, that they make a small circuit, and then return and settle in the same place, to share the same fate.
P. 8. l. 17. _Toucan (Ramphastos)._] A native of America, where it builds in the hollows of trees, and sits at the entrance, ready to peck at the monkeys, who often endeavour to destroy and eat the young. It is about the size of a Magpye, but the head large in proportion, to enable it to support its immense bill, which is six inches and a half in length, but extremely thin. It is a mild inoffensive bird, and easily tamed, but cannot endure the cold of our climate; the feathers of the breast are highly esteemed by the natives.
P. 8. l. 20. _Cross-bill (Loxia)._] So called because the two mandibles cross each other in different directions: they feed chiefly on the seeds of fir-trees; the singular construction of their bills being admirably adapted to separate the seeds of the cones. The pips of apples are also a favourite food, and to obtain them, they split the apple with one stroke of their bill; they are consequently found to be very injurious to orchards. It has been observed that they have been more frequently seen in England since the fir-tree has been generally more planted, than formerly.
P. 9. l. 8. _Siskin (Fringilla Spinus)._] A migratory bird, which is seen in the Southern parts of England at the time of the barley harvest, and is sometimes called the Barley-bird. It has a pleasing note, and is sold as a singing bird in the London bird-shops by the name of the Aberdevine. The accusation of its flirtation with the Greenfinch, is to be understood as pure scandal, the most prying naturalist never having discovered any particular attachment between them.
P. 10. l. 9. _Razor bill (Alea)._] A migratory sea-bird which visits the Northern shores in spring, and leaves them in winter; they lay a single egg on the ledges of the rocks without any nest, and on which it is said to be fixed by a cement.
P. 10. l. 10. _Spoon-bill (Platea)._] So called from the construction of the bill, which is flat the whole length, but widens towards the end in the form of a spoon or spatula; and it is equally remarkable in its substance, not being hard like bone, but flexible like whalebone; they feed on snakes, worms, frogs, and fish, even on shellfish, which they first break with their bills.
P. 11. l. 3. _The Agami, or Trumpeter_, a native of America, remarkable for a singular noise, resembling the instrument from which it takes its name.
THE END.
J. Swan, Printer, 76, Fleet Street, London.
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