The Natural History of Ireland: Revised and enlarged by Howard SaundersReeve, Benham and Reeve, 1851 - Zoology |
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Page 6
... the precise shade could not be ascertained , owing to the bird having been two or three days dead . On dissection it proved to be a female ; the stomach was quite empty . 7 WILD SWANS , Cygnus The following notes relate to 6 ANATIDE .
... the precise shade could not be ascertained , owing to the bird having been two or three days dead . On dissection it proved to be a female ; the stomach was quite empty . 7 WILD SWANS , Cygnus The following notes relate to 6 ANATIDE .
Page 17
... stomach was filled with minute seeds and gravel . As I have heard of flocks of wild swans being frequently seen on Lough Neagh during the last two months , there is little doubt that they have been there since first observed in January ...
... stomach was filled with minute seeds and gravel . As I have heard of flocks of wild swans being frequently seen on Lough Neagh during the last two months , there is little doubt that they have been there since first observed in January ...
Page 18
... stomach , in addition to sand and minute pebbles , contained a number of seeds . Early in February 1839 , a Bewick's swan was shot near Cole- raine , and came under my inspection at a bird - preserver's in Belfast . It was in full white ...
... stomach , in addition to sand and minute pebbles , contained a number of seeds . Early in February 1839 , a Bewick's swan was shot near Cole- raine , and came under my inspection at a bird - preserver's in Belfast . It was in full white ...
Page 29
... stomach of the last obtained was filled , according to the preserver , with tender grass or blades of young wheat . We ate this bird and found it good in quality ; the flesh was very dark- coloured . A few more of these geese were ...
... stomach of the last obtained was filled , according to the preserver , with tender grass or blades of young wheat . We ate this bird and found it good in quality ; the flesh was very dark- coloured . A few more of these geese were ...
Page 34
... stomach was wholly filled with stems and bean goose . leaves of the shamrock trefoil . Wild geese , probably of this species , sometimes appear on wing near Belfast early in the autumn . On the 20th August , 1836 , I observed six ...
... stomach was wholly filled with stems and bean goose . leaves of the shamrock trefoil . Wild geese , probably of this species , sometimes appear on wing near Belfast early in the autumn . On the 20th August , 1836 , I observed six ...
Common terms and phrases
adult bird adult male appeared April arctic arctic terns August autumn bean goose Belfast Bay bill black-backed bred breeding breeding-haunt brent geese brent goose cliffs coast colour common common tern Cork cormorant diving Dublin eggs feathers February feeding female fish flight flock flying frequently gannet goose grebe grey lag guillemot gull harbour head herring-gull hirundo immature inches informed Ireland island islet January Jardine June Kerry killed kittiwake lake Larne Lough Larus latter lesser black-backed gull Linn locality Lough Neagh March mentioned miles month nests nidify noticed observed obtained occasionally pair petrels plumage pochards procured puffin R. J. Montgomery razorbill remarked river Lagan rocks roseate scaup Scotland season seen Selby shooter shore shot skua species specimen stomach Strangford Lough summer teal terns toe and nail tufted ducks visited Wexford wigeon wild ducks wild-fowl wing winter yards Yarrell young birds
Popular passages
Page 351 - Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew ! And, gentle ladye, deign to stay ! Rest thee in Castle Ravensheuch, Nor tempt the stormy firth to-day. " The blackening wave is edged with white : To inch* and rock the sea-mews fly; The fishers have heard the Water-Sprite, Whose screams forebode that wreck is nigh.
Page 9 - Beautiful bird ! thou voyagest to thine home, Where thy sweet mate will twine her downy neck With thine, and welcome thy return with eyes Bright in the lustre of their own fond joy.
Page 198 - ... inches from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail when spread as far as possible flat.
Page 221 - They are so numerous that we have frequently seen an uninterrupted line of them extending full half way over the bay, or to a distance of more than three miles, and so close together that thirty have fallen at one shot. This living column, on an average, might have been about six yards broad, and as many deep ; so that, allowing sixteen birds to a cubic yard, there must have been nearly four millions of birds on the wing at one time.
Page 234 - I observed with concern the extraordinary affection manifested by these birds towards each other ; for, whenever one fell dead or wounded on the water, its mate or a stranger immediately alighted by its side, swam round it, pushed it with its bill as if to urge it to fly or dive, and seldom would leave it until an oar was raised to knock it on the head, when at last, aware of the danger, it would plunge below in an instant.
Page 220 - Hill, from the myriads of small birds of that name which frequent its base, and appear to prefer its environs to every other part of the harbour. " They are so numerous that we have frequently seen an uninterrupted line of them extending full half way over the bay, or to a distance of more than three miles, and so close together that thirty have fallen at one shot.
Page 351 - The search after food, as we agreed on a former occasion, is the principal cause why animals change their places. The different tribes of the wading birds always migrate when rain is about to take place...
Page 234 - July, the old ones show vast affection towards them, and seem totally insensible of danger in the breeding season. If a parent is taken at that time, and suspended by the wings, it will, in a sort of despair, treat itself most cruelly, by biting every part it can reach ; and the moment it is loosed, will never offer to escape, but instantly resort to its unfledged young...
Page 261 - Here the ganet soares high into the sky to espy his prey in the sea under him, at which he casts himself headlong into the sea, and swallows up whole herrings in a morsell. This bird flys through the ship's sailes, piercing them with his beak.
Page 370 - ... by night, and with a candle light kill abundance of them. Here are severall wells and pooles, yet in extraordinary dry weather, people must turn their cattell out of the islands, and the corn failes.