English: Magpie Identifier: naturalhistoryof41797dono (find matches) Title: The natural history of British birds, or, A selection of the most rare, beautiful and interesting birds which inhabit this country : the descriptions from the Systema naturae of Linnaeus : with general observations, either original or collected from the latest and most esteemed English ornithologists : and embellished with figures, drawn, engraved, and coloured from the original specimens Year: 1794 (1790s) Authors: Donovan, E. (Edward), 1768-1837 Latham, John, 1740-1837 Pennant, Thomas, 1726-1798 Gilbert, Richard, 1794-1852, printer Donovan, E. (Edward), 1768-1837. Natural history of the nests and eggs of British birds Linné, Carl von, 1707-1778. Systema naturae. Regnum animale F. and C. Rivington (Firm), publisher F., C. and J. Rivington (Firm), publisher Law and Gilbert, printer R. & R. Gilbert (Firm), printer Leverian Museum (London, England) Subjects: Birds Publisher: London : Printed for the author, and for F. and C. Rivington ... Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library View Book Page: Book Viewer About This Book: Catalog Entry View All Images: All Images From Book Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book. Text Appearing Before Image: ound-ifh, and one inch and a quarter in length. The Merlin appearsin England when the Hobby difappears, which happens in October. This fpecies, like the Hobby, feems to vary exceedingly in colourin different fpecimens; in fome the back and wings are bluifh afh-colour #, in others ferruginous: the bars of clay-colour and dufky onthe tail, are from thirteen to fifteen in moit. birds; but Mr. Pennantfays, one he examined had only eight; our fpecimen has twelve barsacrofs. The length of the Merlin is twelve inches: though fmall, it wasformerly trained for hawking, particularly for taking partridges,which fome authors fay, it could kill by a fingle ftroke on the neck.The Merlin flies low, frequents the fides of roads, and fkims fromone part to another in fearch of prey. It is defcribed as a birdwanting neither cunning nor fpirit. It is at this time very fcarce inEngland, and feems to be uncommon in every part of Europe. * A fpecimen in the Lererian Mufeum anfwers to this description. PLATE Text Appearing After Image: PLATE XCV. CORVUS PICA.MAGPIE. PlC^E, Bill comprefTed, convex. GENERIC CHARACTER. Bill ftrong, conic with bridles reflected from the bafe downwards.Tongue bifid. SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND STNONTMS.Varied with black and white. Tail fhaped like a wedge, Corvus Pica: albo nigroque varius, cauda cuneiformi. Linn*Syji. Nat. I. p, 106, 48. No, 10. edit. 10*Scop. ann. 1. p. 38, No, 41,Pica varia et caudata. Gefn, av> 695,Magpie or Planet. Rain Syn. f 41, A. 1, Will. Orn. p. 127. p. 19. Albin. I, pi 15. Ren. Br. Z00L I. JV*. 78. £#/£„ Gw, *S)fl, /*. L p* 392. 29. La PLATE XCV. La Pie. Brif. Qrn. 2. p. 35. No* 1. Buff. Oif. 3. p. 85. pi 7. P/. enh 488. Aelfter. Fr;/d&. /. 58. Kram. eh p. 335,Guzza, Putta, Zinan. 66.Skata, Skiura, Skara, i^«». Suec.fp. 92..Dtf7«V Skade, Huus Skade. Norv.Skior. Tunfugl. Brunnich, 32.Praka. &■#. 2V*. 38. The beautiful combination of vivid gloffes with which the plumageof this common bird is enriched, has been fo little attended to inpaintings of Note About Images Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original work.