The Peacock At Home | Page 4

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well as the legs and feet, is of a bright scarlet, contrasting beautifully
with its black plumage, which varies as the light falls on it, to a deep
purple or violet. Its general haunts are the crevices of high 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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