to stock the forest; a beautiful plumage adorns this bird; and its flesh acquires a higher and more delicious flavour from its unlimited freedom. This bird is said to have been originally brought to Europe from the banks of the Phasis, in Asia Minor, and to have been artificially propagated in this country. But, notwithstanding the coldness of our climate, and its tender constitution, it has multiplied in a wild state; and, disdaining the haunts of man, has left him to take shelter in the thickest woods and the remotest forests. In chasteness and pure elegance of colouring, there is, perhaps, no bird which surpasses the pheasant, or, indeed, equals it. These beautiful birds are very plentiful on many of the noblemen and gentlemen's estates in this county. They are bred in considerable numbers in the woods in Wingerworth, where buck-wheat is sown for them. In Bretby park the berries of a grove of elder-trees are reserved for them.

26. Tetrao, GROUSE.

1. Tetrao urogallus, WOOD GROUSE OR COCK OF THE WOOD.-Bare spot above the eyes rufous brown; head and neck cinereous; chin and belly blackish; axils of the wings white; scarlet legs feathered to the feet: weight from 12 to 13 lbs.

The male of this noble species of game is nearly as large as the turkey: the female is considerably smaller. This bird is chiefly found in mountainous and wooded situations. He feeds upon the cones of the pine, cranberries, ants' eggs and insects; and his gizzard, like that of domestic fowls, contains a quantity of gravel, which assists its powers of digestion. The female lays six or seven eggs, which are white and marked with yellow; and while sitting she is so remarkably tame and tranquil, that it is not easy to force her from her nest. The wood grouse begins early to feel the genial influence of spring; and, during his courtship, he may be seen upon the large branches of the pine-tree; his tail expanded like a fan, his wings drooping, his neck stretched out, &c.; at this period he seems insensible to danger, and this is the time sportsmen generally take to shoot him. They are now considered to be extinct in this country.

2. Tetrao Tetrix, BLACK GAME OR HEATH COCK.-Plumage black, a white spot on the shoulders; white tail of sixteen feathers, forked; thighs and legs dark brown: weight nearly 4 lbs. ; length twenty-two inches; extent two feet nine inches. Female, plumage mixed

with red.

These birds feed on whortleberries, but in summer and autumn wander into corn-fields. They are polygamous. About fifty years ago one was shot on Egginton heath. It has recently been shot on Morley moor. Formerly these birds appeared in great numbers in the Peak, but now they are not common in this county.

3. Tetrao Scoticus, RED GROUSE OR MOOR GAME.-Bill black; irides hazel; over the eyes a naked fringed membrane; a white spot on each side the lower mandible; throat red; head and neck tawny red, mixed with black; back red, with black spots; beneath purplish brown, streaked with dark lines; tail of sixteen feathers; thighs pale red, legs feathered to the claws: weight 29 oz.; length sixteen inches: female, belly spotted with white; weight

15 oz.

These birds prefer the summits of hills, braving the utmost rigour of winter, and never seek shelter in woods. When other food fails, they will devour the tops of heath. They are found in great plenty on the moors belonging to the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Norfolk, and on the estates of other noblemen and gentlemen in this county: they are seen in the greatest number on a foggy morning.

27. Perdix, PARTRIDGE.

1. Perdix Cinerea, PARTRIDGE.-Bill brown; behind the eyes a naked red skin; plumage orange, black and brown, sometimes brown and ash elegantly mixed with black; a semilunar mark on the breast; tail of ten feathers: weight 15 oz.; length thirteen inches: female, less. The female makes her nest of dry leaves and grass upon the ground, and lays from sixteen to twenty eggs. The young birds run as soon as they are hatched, frequently with a part of the shell sticking to their backs. The old birds pair about the middle of February, and their affection for their young is peculiarly strong and lively; they lead them out in common, call them together, point out to them their proper food, and sit close by each other, frequently covering their young with their wings, like the hen. It is not uncommon to see an old partridge feign itself wounded and run along on the ground, fluttering and crying before either dog or man, to draw them away from its helpless young ones. Several remarkable instances of their solicitude to save their brood are recorded by sportsmen. When a kite hovers over a covey of young partridges, the old birds fly up at the bird of prey, screaming and fighting with all their might to protect their young. These birds feed on ants' eggs, insects, all kinds of grain and young plants; they frequently feed on the green leaves of turnips, which gives a peculiar flavour to their flesh.

2. Perdix Coturnix, QUAIL.-Bill dusky; head ferruginous, spotted with black; a yellowish line from the crown to the back; chin and throat whitish; breast pale orange spotted with black; back black and yellow; tail of twelve feathers, black and reddish: about half the weight of the partridge, and exactly of the same form; length seven inches and a half; extent fourteen inches.

The female makes her nest like the partridge, and lays six or seven eggs, of a grey colour

speckled with brown, which she hatches in three weeks. Quails are birds of passage, and are universal throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. In the autumn they are seen in immense flocks traversing the Mediterranean sea from Europe to the shores of Africa, and returning again in the spring, frequently in such numbers as to cover many of the islands in the Archipelago. It is said that one hundred thousand have been taken in one day in the space of four miles. Some remain in England all the year, and only shift their quarters in the winter. These birds are seldom seen, though their calls are heard most seasons in corn-fields in June and July.

23. Otis, BUSTARD.

Otis Edicnemus, THICK-KNEED BUSTARD OR STONE CURLEW.-Pale reddish brown, with dusky spots; chin, belly and vent white, with a few dusky streaks; two primary quillfeathers black, with a white bar in the middle: length eighteen inches; extent thirty-six inches; weight 18 oz.

This bird breeds on the Derbyshire moors, where its principal food is earth-worms. It migrates in the winter and returns early in the spring. It is seldom seen in the day. "In the evening it comes out in quest of food, and may then be heard at a great distance: its cry is singular, resembling a hoarse kind of whistle, three or four times repeated, and has been compared to the turning of a rusty handle."

DIVISION 2. WATER BIRDS.

"On the birds that enliven the water :-Wild-ducks in spring-time hatch their young in the islands, and upon reedy shores;-the sand-piper, flitting along the stony margins, by its restless note attracts the eye to motions as restless :-upon some jutting rock, or at the edge of a smooth meadow, the stately heron may be descried with folded wings, that might seem to have caught their delicate hue from the blue waters, by the side of which she watches for her sustenance. In winter the lakes are sometimes resorted to by wild swans; and in that season habitually by widgeons, goldings and other aquatic fowl of the smaller species. Let me be allowed the aid of verse to describe the evolutions which these visitants sometimes perform, on a fine day towards the close of winter :

"Mark how the feather'd tenants of the flood,
With grace of motion that might scarcely seem
Inferior to angelical, prolong

Their curious pastime! shaping in mid air
(And sometimes with ambitious wing that soars
High as the level of the mountain tops)

A circuit ampler than the lake beneath,
Their own domain ;-but ever, while intent
On tracing and re-tracing that large round,
Their jubilant activity evolves

Hundreds of curves and circlets, to and fro,
Upward and downward, progress intricate
Yet unperplex'd, as if one spirit swayed
Their indefatigable flight.-'Tis done-
Ten times, or more, I fancied it had ceased;
But lo! the vanish'd company again
Ascending;-they approach-I hear their wings
Faint, faint, at first, and then an eager sound
Past in a moment-and as faint again!

They tempt the sun to sport amid their plumes;

They tempt the water or the gleaming ice,

To show them a fair image:-'tis themselves,

Their own fair forms, upon the glimmering plain,
Painted more soft and fair as they descend
Almost to touch;-then up again aloft,
Up with a sally and a flash of speed,

As if they scorn'd both resting-place and rest!"

Wordsworth's Lake Scenery.

ORDER 6. GRALLE.

29. Ardea, HERON.

1. Ardea Grus, CRANE.-Body cinereous; hind head bare of feathers, warty; crown, forepart of the neck and quills black; from the pinion of the wings a tuft of loose, lacerated curled feathers: length five feet or more; weight about 10 lbs.

Rarely found in the county.

2. Ardea Stellaris, BITTERN.-Hind head scarcely crested; above pale yellow brick colour, with transverse black spots; beneath paler, with oblong ones: length two feet six inches; weight 22 oz.

Formerly found at Melbourn and other parts of the county, but now very rare.

3. Ardea Cinerea, HERON.-Hind head with a black pendant crest; body cinereous; neck with a black line underneath; breast with a black band. Female, hind head smooth black; back bluish, beneath whitish; breast with oblong black spots : length three feet two inches; extent five feet four inches; weight 33 lbs.

This bird is not unfrequent; it has been shot in various parts of the county.

30. Numenius, CURLEW.

Numenius Arquata, CURLEW.-Bill six inches long, and arched; plumage greyish white, spotted with black; quills black; tail white, barred with black; legs bluish grey: weight from 22 to 37 oz.; length two feet; extent three feet three inches. Found sometimes, though rarely, in the county.

31. Scolopax, SNIPE.

1. Scolopar Rusticola, WOODCOCK.-Bill three inches and a half long; body, above variegated with red brown, black and grey; beneath dirty white, with transparent black lines; chin yellowish: weight 13 oz.; length fourteen inches; extent twenty-six inches.

These birds are common in every part, but more especially in the north-west extremity of the county. During the summer months, they inhabit and breed in Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and other countries in the north; but on commencement of the frost, they begin to migrate southward. A few birds reach us in October, but the main body does not arrive till November. The greater part leaves us again at the end of February or the beginning of March.

2. Scolopax Gallinago, SNIPE.-Bill three inches long, flattish and rough at the tip; body, above blackish and reddish brown; four brown longitudinal lines on the head; throat, breast and belly white; neck red and brown; scapulars black and yellow; tail tipped with white; legs pale green: weight 4 oz.; length twelve inches; extent eighteen inches.

Snipes are migratory birds, and are supposed to breed chiefly in the lower lands of Germany and Switzerland. They visit us in October or November, and retire in the spring. Many remain the whole year, and make their nests of dried grass and feathers, in the most inaccessible parts of marshes. They make a piping noise in April.

3. Scolopax Gallinula, JACK SNIPE.-Bill tubercled; above variegated with a green and purple gloss; from the shoulder to the tail two deep buff stripes; lores brown; legs greenish: length eight inches and a half; extent fifteen inches.

Frequent in the county.

4. Scolopax Egocephala, GODWIT.-Bill very slightly bending upwards; body grey, more or less tinged with pale ferruginous, with dusky spots; belly and vent white; tail with dusky bars: length about sixteen inches; weight 12 oz. or more.

This bird is not often seen in this county; several, however, have been shot at different times, on Sinfin moor, on the moors in the Peak, and at Barlborough.

5. Scolopax Calidris, REDSHANK OR WHISTLING PLOVER.-Bill two inches, red at the base, black at the tip; head, back of the neck and scapulars dusky ash colour, spotted with black; back and under-side of the body white; legs orange: weight 6 oz.; length twelve inches; extent twenty-two inches.

The note of this species is shrill, resembling the human whistle, and may be heard half a mile. They appear in November. Shot at Staveley.

32. Tringa, Sandpiper.

1. Tringa Pugnax, RUFF AND REEVE.-Bill and legs yellow buff; face covered with yellow pimples; wing coverts grey brown; middle tail-feathers barred with black, the three outer ones plain grey brown: length about one foot; extent of wings nearly two feet. These birds are rare in this county; they were found formerly on Sinfin moor.

2. Tringa Vanellus, LAPWING OR PEWIT.-Bill, crown, crest and throat black; a black line under each eye; back purplish green; wings and tail black and white; legs red: weight 8 oz.; length thirteen inches; extent thirty inches.

They have great powers of flight, and dart with great celerity; during nidification they show great anxiety; and to divert the attention of a man or a dog approaching their nest, will fly so near as almost to come in contact. Their chief food is worms; the female lays four or five eggs, olive-coloured and spotted with black, on the dry ground. She sits about three weeks; the young are covered with a thick down, and are able to run in two or three days after they are hatched. The parent displays the fondest attachment to them, and employs innumerable interesting stratagems to avert approaching danger. They may sometimes be seen in large flocks on marshy lands or newly ploughed fields in search of worms. They are named from their particular cry, and remain with us the whole year. Lapwings are found in most parts of Europe, as far northward as Iceland. In winter they are met with in Persia and Egypt.

3. Tringa Hypoleucos, COMMON SANDPIPER.-Bill, head and quills brown; neck dark ash colour; back brown, mixed with green, with transverse dusky lines; longitudinal black lines on the head; a white stroke above each eye, beneath white; legs greenish: length seven inches and a half; extent thirteen inches; weight 2 oz.

Shot at Sinfen moor and Tideswell. Frequents the Derwent at Duffield, regularly appearing in March and leaving in September. It is likewise found on the Wye at Buxton."

4. Tringa Macularia, SPOTTED SANDPIPER.-Base of the bill and legs reddish; body spotted above and beneath; over the eyes a white stripe; wings with two white bars: length nearly eight inches; extent fourteen inches; the size of a thrush.

5. Tringa Alpina, DUNLIN.-Bill and legs dusky ferruginous, with dusky spots; breast and belly with blackish blotches; tail-feathers grey, edged with white: length eight inches; extent fifteen inches; weight 1 oz. Has been shot at Staveley.

6. Tringa Canutus, KNOT.-Above grey, with dusky grey spots; beneath white, with dark spots; rump white, with dusky crescents; primary quill-feathers serrate; outmost tail-feathers whitish immaculate: length nine inches; extent twenty inches; weight 4 oz. Formerly found on Sinfin moor.

33. Charadrius, PLOVER.

1. Charadrius Pluvialis, GOLDEN PLOVER.-Blackish, with yellowish green spots; front, belly and vent white; legs blackish: length above ten inches; extent twenty-four inches; weight 9 oz. Shot formerly on Sinfen moor.

2. Charadrius Calidris, SANDERLING OR CURWILLET.-Bill and legs blackish; lores and rump greyish; head and back grey, with slight dusky streaks; front and body beneath white, immaculate: length eight inches; extent fifteen inches; weight nearly 2 oz. Shot at Staveley.

3. Charadrius Hiaticula, RINGED PLOVER.-Grey brown; beneath white; crown crossed by a black band; neck with a white collar, beneath which is a broad black one; legs orange: length seven or eight inches; extent sixteen inches; weight nearly 2 oz.

Shot at Derby, February, 1786.

4. Charadrius Morinellus, DOTTEREL.-Breast dull orange, over which is a white band, and above that a black one; across the eyes a white stripe; legs blackish: length nearly ten inches; extent eighteen inches; weight about 4 oz.

These birds frequent the hills of the Peak in flocks, in April, May and June, where they are frequently taken or shot, and are considered excellent eating.

34. Hæmatopus, OYSTER-CATCHER.

Hematopus Ostralegus, SEA-PIE OR PIED OYSTER-CATCHER.-Body, above black, beneath white; throat black, with or without a white crescent across it; breast and belly white; wings crossed with a white band; rump and upper half of the tail white; bill three inches long, orange; iris crimson; under the eyes a small white spot; legs orange; claws black length sixteen inches; extent two feet seven inches; weight 16 oz. Shot at Derby.

35. Rallus, WATER RAIL.

Rallus Aquaticus, WATER RAIL.-Bill slightly arched, slender; above black; beneath orange; above, feathers dusky, edged with olive brown; flanks with transverse black and white spots; beneath the wings ash colour; base of the wings white; tail short; legs reddish and near the tail: weight 5 oz.; length twelve inches; extent sixteen inches. Rare. One shot on the Derwent at Duffield, a few years since.

36. Gallinula, GALLINULE.

1. Gallinula Chloropus, WATER HEN OR MOOR HEN.-Front fulvous; garters red; body blackish; outer edge of the wings and vent white: length fourteen inches; extent twenty-two inches; weight about 15 oz. Common on the rivers and ponds.

2. Gallinula Crex, CORN CRAKE OR LAND RAIL.-Rufous brown, with blackish spots; beneath pale yellowish brown; wings reddish bay; bill and legs grey brown; flanks, with a few transverse brown streaks: length nine inches and a half; weight 6 to 8 oz.

These elegant birds are very generally dispersed. They are rather abundant in the valley of the Derwent at Duffield, eight or ten being frequently heard at one time at night, and it is curious to notice the differences in their voices. But though so many inhabit the fields, they are very rarely seen, it being almost impossible to make them rise; they may, however, be lured very near, by imitating their note with a pocket comb and case, even till they are seen within a yard or two. Their shape and swift manner of running, are admirably

M

adapted for making their way through the grass, which they do without any motion being perceived among the stems. O. J.

ORDER 7. PINNATIPEDES.

37. Phalaropus, PHALAROPE.

Phalaropus Lobatus, GREY PHALAROPE OR SCOLLOP-TOED SANDPIPER.-Bluish grey, with dusky spots; beneath white; head white; wing coverts and tail feathers blackish, with whitish margins: weight 1 oz.

This is one of the rarest of British birds: one is mentioned in Bewick, as having been shot at Staveley, in this county.

38. Fulica, Coor.

Fulica Atra, BALD COOT.-Front white or reddish; body blackish; beneath dusky grey; wings edged with white; garters yellow: length sixteen inches; extent thirty inches; weight 24 to 28 oz. Found occasionally on the Trent and Derwent.

39. Podiceps, GREBE.

1. Podiceps Minor, LESSER GREBE OR DIPPER.-Reddish brown; breast and belly silvery white, mottled with grey; cheeks pale ferruginous; fore-part of the neck grey; lowest part of the rump, and spot on the wings, silvery white: length ten inches; extent seventeen inches; weight 6 or 7 oz.

The motions of this bird in the water are lively and elegant, but on land its gait is slow and awkward. Like the rest of the grebes, having no tail, it is obliged to walk upright, which gives it a grotesque appearance. It is found on the Trent and Derwent, where it is frequently shot in the winter. On the least appearance of danger, it disappears under the water and dives to the side, where its bill alone appears above, and prevents it from being

discovered.

2. Podiceps Cristatus, GREATER CRESTED GREBE.-Adult bird: dusky brown; beneath white; head rufous, enlarged with a crest; collar black; inner quills white. Two years' old bird: cheeks and throat with a bright tawny pendant ruff. Young bird: head smooth; wings with a white spot: length twenty-three inches; extent thirty-three inches; weight between 2 and 3 lbs. Found sometimes on the Trent.

3. Podiceps Auritus, LESSER CRESTED GREBE OR EARED GREBE.-Blackish brown; breast and belly white; cars with an orange tuft; sides dull ferruginous: length twelve inches; extent twenty-two inches. Found in the same places as the last.

ORDER 8. PALMIPEDES.

40. Colymbus, DIVER.

1. Colymbus Glacialis, GREAT NORTHERN DIVER.-Head and neck violet black; back and wings spotted with white; throat and hind part of the neck with a white crescent: length three feet five inches; extent four feet eight inches; weight 12 or 14 lbs. One shot at Darley, near Derby, in December, 1826.

2. Colymbus Stellatus, SPECKLED DIVER.-Dusky, with oval white spots; beneath white; head and fore-part of the neck speckled with grey; feathers at the sides fringed with greyish white: length twenty-seven inches; extent three feet nine inches; weight nearly 4 lbs.

41. Sterna, TERN.

1. Sterna Hirundo, COMMON TERN OR SEA SWALLOW.-Bill and legs red; crown and front black; tail forked; outmost feathers black on the outmost webs: length fourteen inches; extent thirty inches; weight about 4 oz. One shot at Duffield, January 6, 1827.

2. Sterna Minuta, LESSER TERN.-Bill and legs yellowish red; crown black, front white; from the bill to the eyes a black stripe; tail forked, the outermost feathers all white: length eight inches and a half; extent nearly twenty inches; weight 2 oz.

3. Sterna Fissipes, BLACK TERN.-Black; back and wings grey; vent white; tail slightly forked: length ten inches; extent twenty-four inches; weight nearly 3 oz. The two latter birds have been shot on Sinfen moor.