Yet at their first advent, on warm fanning breeze,
They repose a long time on the summits of trees :

The Esculenta, or ESCULENT SWALLOW, inhabits China and the Islands of the Indian Ocean; it is only two inches and a quarter long; blackish; beneath white; all the tail feathers with a white spot; builds in caverns of rocks; nest made of a gelatinous substance, said to be obtained from marine plants, but, most probably, a secretion from some gland in the bird itself; it is eaten by the Asiatics as a luxury. Its chief ingre dient is doubtless gelatine. See the Introduction.

The Urbica, MARTIN, House-Martin, Martlet, Martinet, is bluish black, beneath white, tail feathers without spots; a variety with quill and tail feathers tipt with white; five and a half inches long; builds under the eaves of houses; the outside of its nest like the common swallow, of clay; eggs white; inhabits Europe and North America; migrates like the swallow. See the Introduction.

The Apus, SWIFT, Black-Martin, Skir-Devil, or Skeer-Devil,* is blackish, chin white; eight inches long; feet so small that it rises from the ground, and walks with difficulty; is mostly on* the wing, and rests by clinging to some wall; makes a harsh disagreeable screaming; builds chiefly in towers and other lofty edifices. Arrives later than the common swallow. Re. tires from England early in autumn.

The Rufa inhabits Cayenne, is five and a half inches long; affixes its nest, which is sometimes a foot and a half long, to beams. The Purpurea, or PURPLE SWALLOW, is entirely violet, female brown; inhabits Carolina and Virginia, where it is esteemed for its use as a warning to poultry of the approach of birds of prey, which it becomes by attacking them furiously. The Cayennensis, or WHITE COLLARED SWIFT, is blackish

* For the meaning of the term skir, see my Observations on the Somerset Dialect, article To Skeer.

There silent they sit, scarce one twittering note,
Is heard to distend the sweet fissirosts' throat.
But the MARTINS, in fear of a cold April day,
Deferred their approach till the season of May;
While the SWIFTS, whose loud shrieks make the
welkin oft ring,

Chose a day still more distant to welcome the spring.

violet; five and a quarter inches long; nest long, conic, chiefly of the down of dog's bane, curiously woven together with a division in the middle. Inhabits Cayenne.

The Riparia, SAND MARTIN, Shore-bird, or Bank Martin, is the smallest of the British Swallows, being in length only four inches and three quarters; the upper parts of its plumage are a mouse-coloured brown; beneath white, except across the breast, which is brown. Frequents rivers, and makes its nest in the banks, but is most commonly found in sand-pits, where it easily makes its nest in horizontal holes two or three feet deep. May be seen, during the summer, in the sand-banks at the lime-kilns near the foot of Blackheath-hill. It sometimes builds in old walls; and, occasionally, it is said, in hollow trees. Eggs five, white. Habits in other respects similar to the House Martin. Found in most parts of Europe, and also in America, where it is called Ground Martin.

:

The Pelasgica, called by WILSON, CHIMNEY SWALLOW, is found in the United States of America, but it is there, as the swallow of this country, a migratory bird, arriving in Pennsylvania late in April or early in May it builds in chimneys, but, in the woods, in hollow trees; nest formed of very small twigs, fastened together with a strong adhesive glue or gum, secreted by two glands, one on each side of the hind head, and mixes with the saliva; eggs four, white; young fed during the night. This bird is four and a half inches long, and twelve in extent; colour a deep sooty brown; it is supposed to winter in Honduras.

There were WOODCOCKS, (10) and SNIPES, both GRALLATORS of fame;

Now distinguished, ah me! in our annals as Game;

(10) ORDER, GRALLÆ, (Linn.) WOODCOCK, SNIPE, CURLEW, GODWIT, GREEN-SHANK, &c.

The genus SCOLOPAX, (Linn.) to which the WOODCOCK, Scolopax Rusticola, belongs, consists of fifty-six or more species, of which fifteen are common to this country. The chief characteristics of this genus are the bill, more than an inch and half long, slender, straight, weak. Nostrils linear, lodged in a furrow; tongue slender, pointed; toes divided to their origin, or slightly connected; back toe small. The chief of these are the following:

The Rusticola, or WOODCOCK, is fifteen inches long; bill three inches, straight and reddish at the base; forehead cinereous, the rest of the upper part of the body a mixture of ferruginous black and grey disposed in bars; beneath yellowish white, with dusky streaks. Flesh and intestines good. Five or six varieties, with white or pale straw-coloured body, spotted or otherwise diversified. In the summer they retreat in France to the loftier mountains, and from England towards the mountainous regions of Norway and Sweden; some, it is said, to America; but a few remain in this country the whole year, and, of course, breed here. They are found as far south as Smyrna, Aleppo, and Barbary, and as far East as Japan. They are also found in Canada and Cape Breton.

This bird is dressed for being eaten without having its intestines taken out.

What ground there may be for the saying I do not know, but PHILIPS, in his Cyder, has the following lines on the woodcock: "The woodcock's early visit and abode

Of long continuance in our temperate clime
Foretell a liberal harvest:"

There were CURLEWS, by long bills and wading well

known;

And the CROW, who to feasting on carrion is prone.

Unless it be that as its long continuance here is indicative of a severe winter, and as long frost renders, most probably, the earth more fruitful.

The Gallinago, or COMMON SNIPE, Snipe, or Snite, has a straight bill three inches, body nearly twelve inches long; the general appearance of the body a variegated brown; beneath whitish. It migrates partly, and partly breeds in England during the summer. Eggs four or five, olivaceous, spotted with rufous-brown. Flesh excellent, and dressed in the same manner as the woodcock, without taking out the intestines. Found in almost every part of the world.

"The snipe flies screaming from the marshy verge,
And towers in airy circles o'er the wood,

Still heard at intervals; and oft returns

And stoops as bent to alight; then wheels aloft
With sudden fear, and screams and stoops again,
Her favourite glade reluctant to forsake."

GISBORNE, Walks in a Forest,—Winter. Although the respectable authority of GISBORNE leaves us no reason to doubt the accuracy of the above description, yet the motions of the snipe, when disturbed, in the marshy districts of Somersetshire, are not in exact accordance with it; the snipe there is usually found in ditches or drains, and, when disturbed, it rises screaming, and generally moves in a rectilinear or slightly curved direction, so as to be readily shot at on the wing: I have not observed in it a disposition to return to the spot whence it arose. Snipes are not often seen before they rise their motions are of the most active kind.

The Major, or GREAT SNIPE, weighs about eight ounces, and is sixteen inches long; bill four inches; and similar to that

There were, too, some GODWITS, GREENSHANKS, and TомTITS,

The last, though small birds, are accounted great wits.

of the woodcock; upper parts of the body similar to the com. mon snipe. This bird is rarely met with in England. Flesh good.

The Gallinula, JACK SNIPE, Gid, or Jud Cock, is eight inches and a half long; bill about two inches; body variegated. Inhabits this country, Europe, Asia, and America; migrates, none remaining in this country during the breeding season.

The Limosu, JADREKA SNIPE, Lesser Godwit, or Stone Plover is about seventeen inches long; bill four inches. Rarely seen in England. Found in Iceland, and the northern parts of Europe.

The Totanus, SPOTTED-SNIPE, or Spotted Redshank, is about the size of the greenshank; head pale ash-colour, with oblong streaks of black; back dusky, varied with triangular spots; wing coverts similarly spotted; beneath white. Found, though rarely, in England.

The Egocephala, Godwit, Common Godwit, Grey Godwit, Yarwhelp, Yarwip, or Sea Woodcock, weighs from seven to twelve ounces; length about fifteen inches; bill long, from three inches and a quarter to upwards of four inches. Head, neck, and upper parts a rusty brown; but there is considerable variety both in the plumage and the size of this species. Migrates from one part of the island to another: by some naturalists said to leave England in the Spring and to return in September; but Colonel Montagu informs us that it continues here the whole year, migrating from one part of the country to another, These birds are often taken in Lincolnshire, and fattened for the London market.

The Cantabrigiensis or CAMBRIDGE Godwit is larger than the common Red Shank; it has been shot near Cambridge, but is a very scarce bird. The Canescens or CINEREOUS GODWIT is