And, proud of his plumage and proud of his air,
He mingled with birds at once splendid and rare.

the ancient continent, from Lapland and Sweden, to the Orcades, the Canaries, and at the Cape of Good Hope. In Europe they are birds of passage, and are seen among those vast crowds of birds which twice a-year pass the island of Malta. Their food is insects; their flesh smells strongly of musk; they build in holes of rotten trees, or in old walls, occasionally in this country; eggs from two to seven.

So

The Paradisea, or CRESTED HOOPOE, is about the size of a thrush, and weighs from two to four ounces; length nineteen inches; two of the tail feathers very long; inhabits India. large a crest, added to a creature of so diminutive a size, renders this bird one of the most fantastical of the feathered tribe. The crest consists of two rows of feathers equidistant; the whole of these feathers are red, and terminate with a black spot; the upper part of the body is grey, with a tinge of brown, varied with transverse waves of dirty white; the wings and tail are black, undulated with bars of white. Some varieties of this bird in Europe; a distinct species in Madagascar and the Cape. When tamed, shews great attachment to its master; when fully domesticated, eats either bread or raw flesh. A variety in Egypt excellent food.

The Superba, or GRAND-PROMEROPS, is one of the most rich, splendid, and singular in plumage of the whole tribe of birds. It is the size of a pigeon in body, but measures nearly four feet in length. Hind part of the head and upper part of the belly glossy green; the rest of the upper parts black, changing to violet; inhabits New Guinea. There is a beautiful coloured engraving of this bird in Dr. LATHAM's work: it is not easily described.

The Mexicana, or MEXICAN PROMEROPS, is the size of a song thrush; inhabits Mexico. The Papuensis, or NEW GUINEA BROWN PROMEROPS, is twenty-two inches long; inhabits New Guinea.

Timid ROLLERS (25), in robes ting'd with red and

To clamour devoted, came also a few.

The NUTHATCH (26) was whistling while climbing the trees,

Intent more on pleasing himself than to please.

(25) ORDER, PICA, (Linn.) ROLLER, the GArrulous.

The genus CORACIAS, (Linn.) or ROLLER, consists of nearly thirty species scattered over the globe: the characteristics are, a sharp-edged bill, bent at the point, base without feathers; tongue cartilaginous, bifid; legs short; feet formed for walking. The most deserving notice is

The Garrula, GARRULOUS, or Common Roller, occasionally found in England, but more commonly on various parts of the European continent, particularly in Germany, Sicily, and Malta, where it is sold in the markets and poulterers' shops. It is the size of a jay; length twelve inches and half; its general plumage is blue; back red; quill feathers black, primary quill feathers beneath blue; middle tail feathers dirty green, the rest blue. It is remarkably clamorous, gregarious, migratory and timid; builds in trees, particularly the beech; feeds on insects, frogs, nuts, and corn. Eggs pale green, with numerous dusky spots. Inhabits Africa and Syria, as well as Europe. The rest of the species do not very essentially differ.

(26) Order, PICÆ, (Linn.) NutHATCH.

The genus SITTA, (Linn.) or NUTHATCH, consists of more than twenty species; distinguished by a subulate, roundish, straight, entire bill, the upper mandible a little longer, compressed and angular at the tip; tongue jagged, short, the tip horny; nostrils small, covered with bristles; feet gressorial; hind-toe long. They are chiefly natives of America and the

The BUSTARD, (27) huge Rasor, with gular pouch long, With legs formed for running and beak that is strong,

West Indies, a few of the Cape, and one of Europe; this last is denominated

The Europea, NUTHATCH, Nutjobber, or Woodcrucker, is about the size of a sparrow; in length nearly six inches; it is cinereous, beneath reddish; tail feathers black; the four lateral ones beneath tipt with white; bill three quarters of an inch long; another variety less in size. It is common in some districts of this country, remaining all the year; it is said, not seen in Cornwall nor very far north. It creeps up and down the trunks of trees, and builds in their hollows. If the entrance of the hole be too large, it artfully fills it up with clay till it admits only its own body. Eggs six or seven, white, spotted with rust colour, and are exactly like those of the great titmouse. The nest is used as a magazine for winter provisions, and a retreat during the night. Their usual food is nuts, the shells of which they break with their bills; in defect of such food they eat insects and their larva. The notes of this bird are various; in the spring it has a loud shrill whistle; in the autumn a double reiterated cry; it is also said to sing in the night.

There is a beautiful poem called the FILBERT, written, I believe, by SOUTHEY, and printed in the first volume of the Annual Anthology, 1799, in which allusion is made to this bird: "Enough of dangers and of enemies

Hath nature's wisdom for the worm ordained;

Him may the Nuthatch, piercing with strong bill,
Unwittingly destroy, or to his hoard

The squirrel bear, at leisure to be crack'd."

(27) ORDER, GALLINE, (Lath.) BUSTARD, the GREAT, the LITTLE, the THICK-KNEED.

The genus OTIS, (Linn.) or BUSTARD, consists of seventeen species, natives of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The characteris

Whose presence this Island regards now as rare,
Came, also, to visit the LORD of the AIR.

tics of the tribe are, bill strong, a little incurvated; toes three before, none behind; legs long, and naked above the knees. The following, found in this country, are all that it is necessary to describe.

The Tarda, or Great-Bustard, is said to be the largest of the British birds, sometimes weighing as much as thirty pounds; found in some parts of this country, ‘and inhabits also the open plains of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its colour is wave-spotted with black, and rufous; beneath white; length four feet; female not so large, weighing about twelve pounds; she has also different shades of colour. The male has a long pouch, beginning under the tongue, and reaching to the breast, capable of holding several quarts of water, supposed to be for supplying the hen whilst sitting on the young, before they can fly with that fluid. It feeds on grains and herbs; is solitary, shy, and timid;; flies heavily, but runs swiftly; is quick of sight and hearing; lays two pale olive-brown eggs, with darker spots, in a hole scraped in the ground. In autumn they are gregarious, when they leave the open downs for more sheltered situations. The eggs are eagerly sought after, for the purpose of hatching under hens: they have been reared thus in Wiltshire. As they are very valuable birds, and eagerly sought after, they are become scarce; they are still said to exist on some of the Wiltshire downs, but, from the latest information which I can collect, this may be doubted. From a paper lately read before the Linnean Society by Messrs. SHEPPARD and WHITEAR, it appears, however, that they now breed in the open parts of Suffolk and Norfolk. Mr. Hardy, of Norwich, has domesticated this bird, whether with advantage to its more productive powers we are not informed.

Tetrax, LITTLE-BUSTARD, or Field-Bustard, is about the size of a pheasant, being in length seventeen inches; the back

Of GAME* he the monarch, whom often, of yore,
The hunter pursu❜d over mountain and moor.

scapulars and wings are ferruginous, mottled with brown, and crossed with black lines; great quills black, white at the base; secondaries white; beneath white. Rarely found in this country; more common on the European continent, particularly France, where it is a delicacy. Eggs said to be green, and four or five in number,

The Enicdemus, THICK-KNEed-Bustard, Stone-Curlew, or Norfolk-Plover, is arranged by Linnæus under the genus Charadrius, or Plover; in compliance with later ornithologists, it is placed under this head. The general appearance of this bird is greyish; two first quill feathers black, white in the middle. Inhabits Europe, Asia, and Africa. Migrates to this country, being found here the latter end of April; frequents open hilly situations, corn-fields, heaths, warrens. Lays two eggs, of a light brown colour, blotched with dusky, on the bare ground. Feeds on insects, worms, and reptiles. They leave this country in October. The male makes a piercing shrill cry.

* The following are now the chief of the birds in this country by law denominated GAME: Partridges, Pheasants, Woodcocks, Snipes, Quails, Land-rails, Heath-fowl, commonly called Blackgame; Grous, called Red-game and Moor-game. But there are laws also, now become a kind of dead-letter, for the protection of the eggs of Cranes, Bittours, Herons, Bustards, Shovelards, Mallards, Teals, or other Wildfowl. There is also a particular law for the protection of the eggs of Pheasants, Partridges, and Swans. BUSTARDS are also forbidden to be killed between the first of March and the first of September; Partridges, Pheasants, and Heath-fowl, are also similarly protected; and destroying Wild Ducks, Teal, Widgeons, or other Water-fowl, in any fen, Jake, broad-water, or other resort for wild-fowl, during the moulting season, namely, between the first of June and the first of October, subjects the offender to a penalty of 5s.