A familiar history of birds: Their Nature, Habits, and Instincts

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Contents

PAOB

Introduction i

Chapter I. Bank of Birds in the Animal Kingdom. — Tables of Classification. — Directions for their Application .... 5

Introduction

Our object being rather to furnish the reader with rational and interesting facts, than systematic arrangements, it is not intended to treat the subject of Ornithology* scientifically. ^^ But at a period when the education of every class of the coni- ^ munity is rapidly improving, and when the minds of the rising ' generation are in a state of advancement, fitting them for that more perfect knowledge, which, in the preparation of elementary books, ought always to be kept in view, it is of importance that even the simplest work should be arranged and founded, in some degree^ on scientific principles. We shall therefore commence with a few introductory remarks on those peculiar features in the formation and habits of Birds, by which they are distinguished from other branches of the animal creation ; evincing, as they do, that uniform and beautiful adaptation of means to the accomplishment of certain ends, which characterise every branch of the creation ; each in its respective perfection, proving beyond contradiction that as "the works of the Lord are manifold, so in wisdom hath He made them all."

The visible creation, it has been well said, was Adam's library. There may be times, places, and occasions in which a page out of a book in that library may impart not only instruction to the head, but consolation to the heart. When that persevering traveller, Mungo Park, was at one period of his perilous course fainting in the vast wilderness of an African

* From omit and logos, two Greek words, signif3ring the knowledge of birds.

A

INTRODUCTION, desert, naked and alone, considering his days as numbered, and nothing appearing to remain for him but to lie down and die, a small moss-flower of extraordinary beauty caught his eya "Though the whole plant," says he, "was not larger than one of my fingers, I could not contemplate the delicate conformation of its roots, leaves, and capsules, without admiration ! Can that Being who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after His own image % Surely not. Reflections like these would not allow me to despair ; I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forwards, assured that relief was at hand; and I was not disappointed."* And with the disposition to wonder and adore in like manner, can no branch of Natural History be studied without increasing that faith, love, and hope, which we also, every one of us, need in our own journey through the wilderness of life.

There are some points in which the structure and powers of the winged tribe demand more attention and admiration than those of any other class, inasmuch as the object to be obtained, is a more extraordinary one, and the difficulties to be overcome, such as the utmost ingenuity of man has been found utterly unable to meet. Let us suppose a person to have grown from infancy to manhood, without ever having heard of a bird. He sees that the light snow-flake is unable to remain suspended in the air ; that the still lighter thistle-down, when no longer supported by the breeze, has a tendency to fall to the ground ; and yet he is told that there are tenants of the air, countless as those of earth and water; that some of considerable size and weight can journey on their way above the clouds, with a facility and speed far exceeding that of the swiftest footed animal. He may, indeed, from observing that cork and light bodies when plunged in water, rise to the surface, conceive the possible existence of a lighter substance than air, capable, by the same laws of nature, of rising above the earth. If a

* Park's Travels in Africa,

INTRODUCTION.

philosopher, he may even discover the inflammable and lighter gas by which a balloon ascends, with the weight of a man attached ; but how shall he lift a substance heavier than the air ? And how guide its progress through the air ? Show him the weighty body of an eagle or a swan,* tell him their living history, and he may reasonably doubt your fact, and deny that these things could be.

There is one difficulty in the use of wings that any one may ascertain for himself. Let him take the smallest sized boy's kite by the narrow end, and wave it up and down at arm's length ; he will instantly perceive how great is the resistance of the air, and how obvious the inability of his muscular strength to produce anything like the rapid motion of a wing. And yet, in order to possess the powers of a bird, he must be able to construct and move artificial wings, in superficial extent, in some cases measuring several of such kites, with the additional difficulties, which mathematical knowledge would prove to be proportionally increased at every step in his progress. How all these seeming impossibilities are accomplished is perhaps the most interesting part of the following pages.

But the study of Ornithology has other charms, in a great measure confined to itself, and recommending it to the attention of a large class of readers ; namely, that of its being within the reach of all who take an interest in the proceedings of the .natural world. Quadrupeds, generally speaking, are few in number, and so difficult of access, that in fact, beyond the limited families of our domestic menageries, few can have an opportunity of investigating their habits. Out of eighty genera of four-footed animals, about fifteen only are to be met with in the British Islands ; of these many live so remote from man, that accident alone can gratify his curiosity, and of that greater portion scattered over the earth, few, comparatively speaking, ever fall under the observation of the most inquiring traveller. One-half of the characteristic features of the lion and tiger tribe we collect from the analogous habits of one of a similar genus, namely, the cat, which harmlessly purrs by our

* The wild swan weighs 25 lbs.

INTRODUCTION.

fireside : while the sheep and goat afford information respecting the numerous class of ruminating animals, which inhabit parched deserts, or the precipitous regions of rocks and mountains. But in the class of Birds the case is different : many, it is true, and perhaps some of the most singular as well as most beautiful, are seldom accessible ; but of those which meet us at every turn, which cheer our solitary walk with their song, or display before us their various instincts and prominent occupations, the number is immense. Of about one hundred and twenty genera, about half are to be met with in this country, and frequently under circumstances favourable for ascertaining their habits and modes of life. Every field and garden, every tree and hedgerow, may prove the prolific source of delightful interest and information; for a trifling attention will enable an observer to distinguish, when on the wing, high in mid-air, or flitting from spray to spray, the genus to which every species belongs. In short, not a day passes but a lover of nature may record in his journal, anecdotes and hints from whence a store of practical knowledge may be derived. In the country, an acquaintance with the feathered creation is like the acquisition of another sense, limited by neither season nor situation ; their periodical journeys to and from regions far remote, their mysterious and wonderful instincts adapted to their respective situations, are all sources of inexhaustible interest. The spring, the summer, th^ autumn, and the winter, have each their corresponding interests. There is, moreover, a remarkable uniformity amongst Birds, which does not exist in Quadrupeds ; for instance, a lion and an armadillo, a giraffe, or a mole, are as different as living creatures can be conceived to be ; but in Birds, excepting in size, and the natural division between the land and water families, a greater similarity is discoverable ; a circumstance which enables us to treat more briefly the particular history of their several subdivisions.

Chapter I

Rank of Birds in the Animal Kingdom. — Tables of Classification. — Directions for their Application.

Birds form the second class in the great natural division of the Animal Kingdom. They resemble the first class, Mammalia (those that suckle their young), in some respects ; such as the general form of the skeleton, the mode of breathing through lungs, &c. They differ from them by being what is termed oviparous, or producing their young enclosed in eggs, in their outward form, in their feathery covering, and in the structure of their mouths, which are furnished with a homy bill, instead of lips and teeth ; but most particularly are they distinguished from other animals by being provided with wings.

It is not our intention, as we have said, to treat the subject in what is called a scientific manner, by entering into details and particulars, more calcidated for those who have made it a matter of long study, than for the greater number, probably, of our readers, who may have paid little attention to it : but as it is our wish to be as extensively useful as possible, we have drawn up the following Tables, giving at a glance not only a general outline of the rules by which Birds are classed, but at the same time enabling an inexperienced person with very Jittle trouble, in most cases, to make out for himself the genus, or family, of any specimen which may be placed before him, and which he may wish to describe.

We are far from recommending these Tables as perfect, or even the best that could be drawn up, and an experienced student will, no doubt, find some of the subdivisions to be defective ; but, when the difficulty of any mode of classification,

CLASSIFICA TION OF BIRDS.

so accurate and unexceptionable in all its details as to meet every case, is considered, an approximation to the truth is all that can be hoped for ; and we trust that, for practical purposes and general use, the annexed will be found, on the whole, simple and satisfactory. Whatever may be their imperfections, we can at least vouch, from experience, for their tending very materially to facilitate a leamer^s progress; and as they are founded on the authority of some of our most esteemed naturalists,* even the more advanced may, it is to be hoped, refer to them with advantage.

* Chiefly from Cuvier and Dumeril.

CLASSIFICA riON OP BIRDS.

L. EBT-oovartg. 6, Upper Tail-covorli

C LASS r PICA TION OF BIRDS.

I. RHpaciuua.

2. Passerine.

3. Scansores.

4. Gallinaceous.

5. Waders.'

6. Web-footed.

Waders are readily distinguished by their length of leg.

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24 USE OF THE TABLES.

By way of showing the utility of the preceding Tables, a few instances, explaining the manner of applying them, may be acceptable.

Suppose, then, that a person entirely ignorant of Ornithology, finds a bird, and wishes to know its name or character. He will first turn to Table L, where the number of hind-toes appears as the distinguishing guide for further observation. His specimen, for instance, has only one hind-toe ; he is then directed to the character of the anterior, or fore-toes, the two exterior or outer of which, in this case, he finds to be very slightly connected, and for a moment, without further rules to guide him, he might be at a loss whether to consider his specimen as belonging to the orders Rapaces, GrallflB, or Passeres : the character, however, of the claws and beak will at once point out the propriety of considering it as of the Rapacious Order, marked as No. i. For further information, he is then referred to Table II., where the eyes are to be his guide. He finds them on the side of the head, and pursuing his line of direction, sees that it is feathered about the neck, and he accordingly turns to Table IV., where the lower jaw, or mandible, as it is called, of the beak, is the distinguishing feature. This lower mandible, in his bird, is not furnished with either bristles or tufts like a beard, neither is the tail considerably lengthened out by feathers projecting one beyond the other, like the Snake-eaters, or Magpies, for example.

Having proceeded thus far, his attention is turned to the first feather of the wing, which he finds to be shorter than the second. He next looks to the beak, which is not lengthened, and straight from its base, but is bent throughout and hooked at the point. His bird must, therefore, be of the Buteo or Astur genus. But the wings do not extend beyond two-thirds of the tail ; it therefore belongs to the Astur genus ; and he has then only to ascertain the species, which he will easily do by consulting museums, or books with minute descriptions and plates.

Again : a bird is brought to him, which, on comparing with the characters given in the first Table, he finds to have no

USE OF THE TABLES. 25

back-toe, and that the fore-toes are united by a membrane ; he rightly, therefore, concludes that it belongs to the order Palmipedes, or Web-footed ; and he is directed for further particulars to Table XXVI. Thus he perceives, that as his specimen has only three front-toes, that its beak is not toothed, or serrated like a file or saw, and that its wings are very short, it must be of the tribe Brevipennes, and he is referred tp Table XXX. Then, as the wings are feathered, and it has no back-toe, it must be of the genus Alca ; and he will have little difficulty, on referring to its colours, size, and a few other particulars, to ascertain its speciea

In the above references, the birds for consideration were a Sparrow-hawk and Puffin, species more or less known to most of our readers. One more, however, shall be added, entirely foreign. Its colour a brilliant green, beautifully mottled and variegated on the upper part, the lower of the breast and legfeathers being of a delicate lemon-colour; the size, rather smaller than a Thrush. On looking to Table L, the hind-toes are found to be two, and two before ; it is therefore of the order Scansores, or Climbers, and reference is made to Table XIV., when, as its beak is not very large at the base, and not toothed, it must be of the Cuneirostral tribe, Table XV. On examining its beak, and finding it rather curved, with mandible rounded, and nostrils projecting, there can be no hesitation in pronouncing it to be a Cucidus, or Cuckoo. And so it is : the Golden Cuckoo, one of the most splendid ornaments of the South African forests, and not uncommon at the Cape of Good Hope; and in such a gorgeous garb, little likely to be taken by an ignorant observer for a bird belonging to the family of the grey and sober livery-clad class of Cuckoos, peculiar to our northern latitudes.

CHAPTER IL aXRCCTDEE OF I

Extemal Strurtwe.— Skeleton.— Chwacter of Beat— Bones, their Lightnesa. — Solidity of Backbone. — Breastboiia, Use of. — Wing-bones, —Legs, Pecnliaritiea of.— When resting on one Leg.— Why Birds do

We shall now proceed to give a tew details concemiiig the Etructuie and peculiarity of their fonna and chaTacteTs.

In examining the skeleton, ve find the head teiy minating in a beak, composed of a hotny substance, in form and Btracture and hardness as intimately connected ^th the habits and general character oi the biid, as jaws and teeth are with those of man and other animals. Thus in Ea^es, Hawks, and all birds which tear their prey, as well as in Parrots, which have to bruise hard substances, or procure their food by piercing the bark of trees, as Woodpeckers, the bill is extremely hard and powerful. Whereas in those which feed on worms, and sabstances equally soft, or live by suction, or swallow their food, aa Woodcocks, Backs, &&, the hardness is gradually diminishod.

A philosopher need not go further than this instmrnent, in search of a proof how well the providence of God fita the means to the end.

The hooked tip and sharp overhanging edge of the upper mandible, in the birds of prey, act like a dissector's knife, readily separating the flesh from the bones : a bill, hooked at the end with sharp edges, may indeed he considered as a characteristic of all birds of prey, that is, of all birds living on smaller birds, or quadrupeds, or Mtes. Instead of a hook there is a sort of tootii at the extremity of the beak of certain birds of this class, which adds gxeatly to its strength j and it has been observed that those possessing it are more noble and courageous than others. Thus the Shrike, or Butcher Bird, although its usual food consists of beetles and insects, vill not only bravely defend itself but occasionally attack birds far superior in size ; and is a perfect terror to the smaller species, who flutter round their agsailan^ uttering the most piercmg

cries, as if they wished to give notice of the intruder'a approach. The bill of the Parrot is also hooked, but is at the same time nnfitted for the uses to which it is applied by the birds just mentioned, curving and overlapping the lower bill so much, that if the lower bill only had motion, the bird could scarcely open its mouth sufficiently wide to receive food ; yet neither the hook nor the overlapping could be omitted, since it ia by the beak that Parrots so readily climb ; for which purpose it is therefore fitted, as well aa for breaking nuts and other hard substances on which they feed.

The way by which the Parrot's beak is able to answer both purposes is Uiis: the upper mandible, which in other birds forma one uniform piece or continuation of the skull, is united to the bone of tlie head by a peculiar membrane placed on each aide of it, enabling the bird to lift or depreaa it at pleaanre. The muscular power of this contriTanc* ia very great, for the truth of which all who have incantioualy exposed their fingers to the bite ev.en of a Paroquet will readily vouch. There is a bird sometimes found in this country, called the

Hsad Df CioublU.

Crossbill, from the singular conatmctiou of its beak, the mandibles of which, instead of shutting together like those of other birds, cross each other ; at first sight this might be supposed to be an accidental deformity, and that the poor bird must have great difficulty in picking up its food. But tiiis is by no means the case, for as the bird lives upon the seeds or kernels of the hard fir-cones of pine-trees, it would never be able to crack them, and must soon die of hunger, if not furnished with a bill of more than ordinary strength and peculiarity of construction; exactly,' in short, like the bill with which nature has provided it ; with thia it can instantly, and most dexterously, cut the hardest cones asunder. But as Divine Providence guards against every possible difficulty tliat might arise from any unusual conformation, so, in thia case, it has been found that the muscles for closing the lower mandible were much lai^er and stronger on the side opposite to that where the lower mandible crossed the upper one ; a hig^y necessary provision, to make amends for the increased quantity of power necessary to give the mandibles equal and uniform strength.

The Puffin is another bird with a strangely large and disproportioned bill, something like a Parrot's, whence it is sometimes called the Sea Parrot : it is also very powerful, and a bite from one of them would inflict a serious wound. When once they seize an object, they are with difl&culty induced to leave hold of it ; and, as they grasp it with great force, a singular mode of catching them is practised, which we shall notice when we come to speak of these birds.

Again, the longer tapering bill of the Snipe and Woodcock tribe is the precise instrument wanted for penetrating deep into moist earth, from whence they extract their food. In this case strength is not requisite, and would have been quite out of character with the slender neck of this family, as well as unnecessary, for the purpose of collecting small worms ; but length was indispensable, and nature has provided accordingly.

Woodcocks and Snipes are such shy birds, that their modes of feeding can rarely be observed ; but sometimes opportunities have occurred which prove the truth of what is here said. A couple of Snipes were, by means of a good telescope, actually seen thus boring with their slender beaks in soft mire for their food. They were feeding close to the edge of a lake, pushing their bills into thin mud, by repeated thrusts, quite up to the eyes, then drawing them back again with great quickness, and every now and then shifting their ground a little.

The bills of Ducks and similar birds, which live partly by suction, and partly on small fish, or aquatic animals, merit particular notice from their peculiar adaptation to that office ; the inside of them towards the edge, being thickly set with rows or lines of short, strong, sharp-pointed prickles. These might be mistaken for teeth : this, however, is not their purpose, which is merely to act as a sort of filter. Observe a Duck in a brook, crushing, with that quick motion of his head, soft weeds and other substances mixed with the mud. The operation is thus carried on : by plunging its flat bill into the oozy pulp, the finer pottion is sneked up thn}ii(^ theae tooth-like lines ; what it chooBes is retained, the rest being thrown out and washed away by the rapid clattering motion of the flat bilL Aa a further help, enabling them to judge what is an i^reeable and proper food, these birds are fumiahed with an additional supply of dehcate nerres, extending to the very end of the beak ; hence it haa been coiyectnred that they have some sense of taste, of which birds in general are supposed to be destitute. That this is the use for which these additional nerves are designed, may be further gathered from the accurate examination of a bill, much resembling a Duck's, belonging to one of the most extraordinary animals in the world, found only in Kew South Wales. It is called the Duckbilled

Duck-biUod PlatypuB.

Platypus ; " having the beak of a duck, the body of an animal, and the feet webbed, and furnished also with stroi^ claws. As it hves under ground generally, its eyes are like the mole's, so small as nearly to prevent its seeing It depends, therefore, in great measure, upon the sense of feeling and smelling, and tasting belonging to the beak, for its livehhood ; and accordingly it is found, that throi^hont the whole beak, and more especially at its extremities, there is a fine nervous tissue which renders it as sensible as the tongue for the taste, or the fingers for the touch, and the nose for smelling.

There b a Duck closely allied to oui Shovelers, whose beak

has a curious addition — certain flaps or loose projections — of

■ Ansa melanorhTnchos.

THE BEAK.

which the foregoing figure Will give a better idea than any description. It is found in Australia, but its habits are little known.

In the Goosander, which in other respects partakes much of the nature of Ducks, these rows of tooth-like lines are harder and very much resemble the teeth of a saw, extending along the edge of the beak ; thus enabling it to secure even eels and fish, of which it destroys great numbers, and which would, but for this addition, make their escape and slip away from a surface unprovided with means of holding them fast. The bill of the Bhynchops, or Skimmer, which collects its food floating on the surface of the waves as it swims across the ocean, is another very curious instance of contrivance In most species it will be observed, that the upper part of the beak is much larger, and covers the lower part ; but in this bird the contrary takes place, for the lower jaw or mandible of the beak is much larger than the upper, so that the bird can use it as a sort of spoon, dipping it into the water, and thus scooping up small fishes, or other light floating particles, on which it feeds. How different in its form is the beak of this bird from those of the Swallow and Goat-sucker tribe, which, feeding on the wing, adopt a somewhat similar course in catching the various flying insects on which they live ! In their case the beak is short, and so weak as to be almost soft, but of vast width, proportioned to the size of the body. This may be easily seen in the common House Swallow, but more particularly in the Swift, or large Black Swallow, and Goat-sucker, whose heads may be said to be almost all composed of mouth, so wide and gaping are their large short beaks ; consequently when the supply of insects is abundant, they have little more to do than fly with open mouth, and close their beaks upon the objects which cross their flight. This the Swallow does with a sharp clicking jerk, which may be heard by an attentive listener on a calm day at a considerable distance.