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Comprising principally the Flamingo, Crane, Slork, Spoon-bill, Snipe, and others.
Linnaeus was very happy in the naming of this order. The word
Grallae means stilts; and if all this family were placed before you in
a drawing, you would see the aptitude of the name. The legs of this
order are all very long; and so are their necks and bills also: but
this exactly meets their wants; for their appointed food lying at the
bottom of pools, if they had not this provision they could not reach
it. The bodies of this order are slender ; their tails short. They live
on animal food; and generally build their nests on the ground.
Genus Phcenicopterus. --The Flamingo. This is a tall and most
beautiful bird. In size it may be compared to the swan ; but its legs
and neck are so long that, when upright, it is as tall as a Grenadier.
The plumage of the Flamingo is a vivid red. It was once known in
Europe, but man had so many inducements to pursue it, that it left
that quarter altogether, and is now known only in some parts of
Africa and America. It is said that numbers live together in great
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harmony. They sometimes, according to Dampier, are found three
hundred in a flock. When feeding they have a sentinel, who screams
as the enemy approaches, when the whole army are in an instant on
the wing, leaving the pursuer far behind.
Genus Platalia. --The Spoon-bill. The shape of the bill of this
bird gives it its appropriate name. This member is jet black, and
light as whalebone; but the plumage is a pure white, and on the
head is a crest of the same colour. The spoon-bill is of the crane
family, and is known in Europe; also in America; but in the latter
country it is of a beautiful rose colour.
Genus Ardea. --The Crane. The home of the crane is in the Arctic
regions. Its plumage is ash coloured; and two large tufts of feathers
terminate each wing: these used to be set in gold, and worn as
a costly ornament. Cranes are gregarious; and they are represented
as living together in all faithful attachment, affording a pattern to
mankind, both of conjugal and filial love: indeed, many of the
feathered race teach man important lessons.
The Stork is a bird of passage. This is especially noticed in the
prophet Jeremiah, where the Lord is remonstrating with Israel,
chap. viii. 7. The crane and stork are much alike; but their habits
are dissimilar. The stork is larger than the crane; but its neck is
shorter. The head, neck, breast, and belly, are all white; and the
rump, with the exterior feathers of the back, dark. The stork is a
silent bird: the crane has a loud piercing voice. The stork loves the
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THE CREATION.
haunts of men: the crane flees from them. As the stork destroys a
great number of noxious reptiles, it is considered a great friend to
man; and from time immemorable has been venerated. In Holland,
the stork is even protected by the laws, and builds its nest on the tops
of houses, without molestation. There is also a black species of
stork, the modern Ibis of Egypt; and another species in America.
The Heron. Often is this bird seen in this country sailing high
in the air. He is a great robber of ponds; and pitches his tent
always near ponds that are well stocked. One species of this family
is called the night heron, from its flying in the night, and its hoarse
voice.
The Bittern is of the heron family ; and chiefly remarkable for its
most dismal hollow note. It is not so larce as the heron. Its
plumage is a pale dull yellow, spotted and barred with black.
This bird is not so voracious as the heron; its flesh is much
esteemed; and though its voice is so inharmonious to man,
naturalists have supposed it to be the language of affectionate
intercourse.
Genus Scolopax. --The Woodcock. This is a bird of passage. In
breeding time, it inhabits the Alps and the northern parts of Europe.
It subsists on worms and insects. When the cold sets in very severe,
they come southward, and visit our country till March, when they again
migrate to the north. The beak of the woodcock is about three
inches long, and is admirably adapted to penetrate into mud, where
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it finds its appointed food. The plumage is varied--black, grey,
and reddish brown.
The Snipe. This also is a bird of passage, though some remain
with us, in the north of Scotland, and breed there. The bill of this
bird is about two inches and a half in length, also adapted to procure
its food. The back is covered with large plumage, variegated with
black and reddish brown.
The Curlew. This bird visits our sea coast from winter to spring ;
but returns at the latter season to the mountains to breed. There is
a variety of species of this family, but they all agree in general cha-
racter. The bill of the curlew is longer than its head, and the feet
are furnished with four toes.
Gencs Charadrius. --The Lapwing, or Peewit, is a well-known
bird in England; and is remarkable for attachment to its young,
watching the nest with the most jealous fidelity. They are generally
birds of passage; and as the cold increases, they meet together in
consultation, and finally disappear towards the south.
The Golden Plover. This is a migratory bird. Its length is
eleven inches; and the expansion of its wings from twenty to
twenty four. The head, back, and circles of its wings are black,
and beautifully spotted with yellowish green. The belly is white.
It is very common in the Hebrides or Western Islands of Scotland.
The Lesser Plover. This little welcome stranger comes to us in
April, and leaves us about the longest day, June 21. It is also
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THE CREATION.
seen in September, on the Wiltshire downs, whence it migrates to
places unknown. The migration of birds from us in autumn, is
much greater than of the winter ones. The greater number leave
our shores in September, October, and November.
These are the four first orders in Linnaeus's arrangement of Birds.
For the last orders we will take advantage of Dr. Latham's admirable
enlargement. The latter arrangement will then be,
5. Gallinee ; 6. Struthiores ; 7. Passeres ; 8. Columba.
FIFTH ORDER. --GALLINiE.
EIGHT GENERA. --MANY SPECIES.
Comprising principally, the Peacock, Turkey, Guinea-fowl, the Cock-of-the-wood, the
Curassoic, Pheasant, Black-cock, Ptarmigan, Partridge, and Quail.
Genus Pavo. --The Peacock. Even in the time of Solomon, this
beautiful bird was noticed. When it appears with its tail spread out,
and the sun shines on it, no bird can equal it: but then its harsh and
discordant voice, and its voracious habits, make it less a favourite
than it would otherwise be. So it always is, that after a little
acquaintance, it is the conduct of man that is looked to, and not so
much his appearance. The peacock is a native of Asia; but since its
importation to Europe, it has become quite naturalized, and is found
in most of our parks and grounds. Its flesh was much esteemed by
the ancients. The female bird has none of the beauty of the male,
except its symmetry.
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Genus Meleagris. --The Turkey. This bird is a native of the New
World, as America used to be called. It was brought to this country
in the time of Henry VIII. The turkey is found in great numbers
in the wilds of America.
The Pheasant. The plumage of this bird is hardly surpassed by the
Peacock,--the colours are so delicately blended. There are a great
many varieties of the Pheasant,--white, spotted, and crested, but all
are beautiful.
The Barn-fowl. The shape, size, and plumage of this most welcome
of all the feathered tribes to man, is too well known to need any
description. Persia is supposed to be the home of this valuable
domestic bird: when it was imported into Britain is not known; but
evidently before the Roman conquest, as it was forbidden by the
Druids to our forefathers. In the cruel and barbarous customs of
almost every country, because this animal is so courageous, it has
been trained to single combat: but whether it be bull-fighting or
cock-fighting, or any of these degrading sports, there is a day of reckoning
--a day of account coming. A Christian cannot engage in these things,
--a man forfeits all right to that most blessed name, that has delight
in them. How sweet are those words of Cowper:--
" I would not enter on my list of friends
(Though graced with polished manners and fine sense,
Yet wanting sensibility,) the man
Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm. "
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THE CREATION.
The Christian is a partaker of the divine nature; and God is love; and
he that bears that name should delight to imitate Him who feedeth
the young ravens when they cry, and openeth his hand and satisfieth
every living thing.
This bird supplies man with the most delicate food; and even the
very look of a farm-yard, with this family about, gives sprightliness
and cheerfulness to all around.
When the breed is good, it is calculated that a hen will lay between
two and three hundred eggs in the year; though she rarely hatches
more than one brood. The egg-shell, being formed of the finest pre-
paration of lime, is used in medicine.
Genus Numidia. --The Guinea Hen. The name of this fowl is
taken from its native country, Guinea, in Africa; though now it is in
a domestic state all over Europe. It is also found in America; but it
is supposed to have been imported there early in the sixteenth century.
It is a beautiful bird, with spotted plumage, rather larger than the
common hen.
Genus Crax. --The Curassow. This bird is nearly as large as a hen
turkey; the bill is black at the point. The head is adorned with a
beautiful feathery crest. The whole body ie jet black--quite glossy.
It frequents the settlements of Berbice and Demarara.
Genus Tetrao. -- The Cock-of-the-wood. This is a very large bird,
weighing at times fourteen pounds. It is common in the Alps,
France, Germany, and the Highlands of Scotland. It feeds princi-
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pally on corn: and, as you may imagine from its size, makes no small
havoc amongst it. The female bird is much smaller than the cock.
They feed also on ants' eggs, and on the cones of the fir.
The Black Cock. This bird, like the cock-of-the-wood, is fond of
woody or mountainous districts. It weighs, when full grown, lour
pounds. It is also called the Black Grouse.
The Moor Fowl.
This valuable bird is peculiar to the British Isles,
and weighs from fourteen ounces to a pound.
The Ptarmigan. In these kingdoms, this bird is only found on the
summits of the mountains of Scotland and Cumberland.
The Bustard. This bird is now almost extinct in England. When
full grown the wings expand nine feet; the female is not more than
half the size of the male.
The male has a tuft of feathers about five inches long on the lower
mandible; the head and neck are of the peculiar colour of ashes, the
back is transversely barred with black and rust colour.
These birds used to frequent Salisbury Plain, and other of our large
commons, but now they are rarely seen.
The Partridge. This bird is found in every climate, from the arctic
regions to the tropics; and its plumage is adapted to its country. In
Greenland it is brown in summer, and white in winter. The flesh of
the partridge is delicate and nutritious.
The Quail. This is the smallest bird of this family; but that it is
a bird of passage is singular. It was with this bird that the Lord
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THE CREATION.
miraculously fed the Israelites when they wandered in the wilderness.
(Exod xvi. 13, Numbers xi. 13--32. )
SIXTH ORDER--STRUTHIORES.
Comprising the Ostrich, the Cassowary, the Dodo.
The Ostrich. This is the largest of birds; and seems, from its habits,
to be a link between the quadruped and feathered tribes. When the
ostrich stands erect it is not unlike the camel, appearing nearly as
high as a man on horseback. When the head is extended, from the top
of it to the tail is nearly six feet, and the tail one foot more. The
large " ostrich feathers," are at the extremities of the tail and wings;
for its covering generally is more like hair. It inhabits the regions of
Africa and Asia within the torrid zone. It is adapted in a most
admirable degree to the country it inhabits, as it seldom drinks.
The following passage in Job gives the natural history of the ostrich.
" Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his
dwellings. . . . Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks ? or
wings and feathers unto the ostrich ? Which leaveth her eggs in the
earth, and warmeth them in dust, and forgetteth that the foot may
crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She is hardened
against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in
vain without fear; because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither
hath he imparted to her understanding. What time she lifteth up herself
on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider," (Jobxxxix. 6,13--18. )
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The Camicary. This bird in stature is second only to the Ostrich;
it is about five or six feet, at its largest size, from the bill to the
claws. The wings are in a great measure concealed under the
feathers of the back. The cassowary is provided with a kind of
natural helmet of horn, which will resist a heavy blow. Its eye is
also very piercing.
The Emu. This bird is like the cassowary; but is deficient of the
helmet-like knob on its head, just spoken of. New Holland, and all
those vast clusters of islands comprehending the Moluccas, Australia,
&c. , are the home of the emu. It is a gentle bird, and capable of
being tamed.
The Dodo. This bird has not been seen by any person now living;
indeed, some naturalists have doubted if it ever existed. If you look
in the Penny Cyclopaedia, at the article bearing its name, you will
find the subject examined into at great length; and, weighing all the
evidence, it seems conclusive that a very large bird, bearing this name,
was known to the natives of the Mauritius in the early part of the
last century; and also in the one preceding. In the British Museum
there is a foot of a large bird said to be the Dodo; and also a drawing
of the bird itself. And in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford there
is the head of one of the same species; which is the only remains
of a once perfect bird, presented to the Museum in the reign
of Queen Elizabeth. Some of the most learned naturalists of the
present clay have thought, comparing all the evidence together,
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THE CREATION.
that the bird to which these remains belonged, was greater than the
ostrich.
The traditional accounts of the natives of the Mauritius, and the
journals of voyagers, concur in stating, that the Dodo was a bird of
great size, and excellent for food; though, in this last particular, some
of them differ.
SEVENTH ORDER. --PASSERES.
SIXTEEN GENERA. --MANY SPECIES.
Comprising the Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Sparrow, Fieldfare, Grosbeak, and many
others.
Though this is the least family of the birds of the air, yet is it by
far the most interesting. It is to it that we are indebted for " the
melody of the groves;"--for the blackbird, the thrush, and thousands
of other birds of this family, wake up the morning with the sprightli-
ness of their song; and as the evening shades set in, the pensive
solitary whistle here or there, is in keeping with the quiet calmness of
the time; and when all is hushed and still, how beautiful is the song
of the nightingale to her mate, cheering " the live-long night;" and
though our gardens and orchards may suffer from some of this family,
yet, as has been found, we should suffer far more from their absence;
for fly-catchers and insect and worm-destroyers are of more value to
us than we generally are aware of. This family we will consider in
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their great divisions. First, those that feed on insects; as the
Thrush, Blackbird, Fly-catcher, &c. Second, those that feed on
grain and fruit; as the Lark, Finches, Bunting, Starling, &c. Third,
those that take their prey flying; as the Swallow, Swift, Goat-
Sucker, &c.
The Thrush. This most delightful songster of our groves is well-
known ; and one never regrets seeing it, except when perched up in a
large basket-cage, with its note dull compared to that sung in freedom.
If birds can be so tamed as to prefer captivity, all is well; but then
the cage door should be opened, to give a reality to the thought. Our
own country affords several species of this family; the two principal
are the Song Thrush and the Misseltoe-bird. The latter is by far the
largest of the two; and has the inner feathers of its wings yellow.
In France the thrush is a bird of passage. The food of this bird is
principally insects and berries. It sings generally on the loftiest
spray of some high tree.
The Blackbird. The plumage of the male bird is a jet black, and
that of the female a dark russet. The note of the blackbird is the
loudest of the wood; and in the distance is beautiful. In the Alps
there is a species that from its colour should be called the White-bird,
its plumage being purely white.
The Redwing. This is a species of Thrush; but the plumage under
the wings is of an orange or dusky red. The red-wing, moreover,
is migratory, and coracsto us about Michaelmas, and leaves in March.
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THE CREATION.
The Fieldfare. This bird is larger than the common thrush, and
generally goes in flocks. The redwing and fieldfare migrate in
company.
The Fly-catcher. This is a sportive little bird, about five inches long.
The head is large, and spotted with black; wings and tail are dusky;
the belly is white. It is a bird of passage, and comes to us in the
Spring, and leaves in September. As its name implies, it feeds on
flies; and this accounts for its migration.
The Lark. This bird belongs to the second division of our family;
and may hardly give place even to the nightingale for the melody of
its song. How often have we watched it together, ascending higher
and higher, until it was scarcely visible; and then marked its delight
as it descended to its loved partner and offspring. How cruel the sport
to invade such domestic happiness! I believe some parents are little
aware how birds'-nesting, as it is called, hardens and debases the
minds of their children. Cruelty to animals is almost invariably either
the forerunner or companion of cruelty to man.
The Cardinal Grosbeak. This American bird is also called the
"Red bird," and the "Virginian Nightingale. " With the most
brilliant plumage, as its name implies, it unites the sweetest song,
emidating, it is said, the nightingale. This bird frequents the cedar
groves of Bermuda, and looks exceedingly rich, darting among the
trees. It is many years since I heard their note, but I never thought
it, however melodious, to reach the song of our native nightingale.
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The Black Cap. The crown of the head of this little bird is quite
black. This circumstance gave it its appropriate name. It is a bird
of sweet song; so much so, that in Norfolk they call it " the mock
nightingale. "
The Robin Red Breast. This little winter friend gives us song, when
almost all the choir of the woods is silent; and though he is not pro-
tected, as the stork in Holland, by Act of Parliament; yet a sort of
common law seems to pervade all ranks, so that it is high treason
against the feelings of humanity to hurt him. I remember this even
at school: if any boy hurt a red-breast, there was always a host to
take poor Robin's part. He comes to our windows, and never wants a
friend to provide crumbs for him. The robin seems fond of the
haunts of man; and he in return gives him his protection, without
imprisonment.
The Golden-crested Wren. This is the smallest of our English
birds, weighing not more than twenty-six grains. It has a scarlet
mark on its head, surrounded by a yellow rim. It frequents our
woods, and may be called, from its size and beauty, " the English
Humming Bird. "
The Wheat-ear is only a visitor to our shores, but it stays the early
Spring, Summer, and part of Autumn. Its plumage is of a bluish
grey, and the belly part a yellowish white, tinged with red; the legs,
black. It abounds in Sussex.
The Sparrow. This little friendly bird gives the name to this
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THE CREATION.
order:--" Passern, the Sparrows. " It has very little fear of man;
and has neither song nor beauty of plumage, and yet its cheerful
chirp on the spray is not without its charm; and though it is a
robber of our gardens, yet it also takes away many of our enemies.
Therefore, whilst we may not bestow the same regard on the sparrow
as on the red-breast, yet we will not despise him, but give him a
few crumbs, when he comes to our doors in the winter's morning:.
It is, my beloved children, such a joyful thing to love to give happi-
ness, even to the least of the irrational creation; and never should
God's children forget (and O that you may be numbered among
them) the double import of our Lord's words, " Are not two sparrows
sold for one farthing, and not one of them shall fall to the ground
without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear ye not, therefore; ye are of more value than
many sparrows. " (Matt. x. 29--31. ) Often, when looking on this
cheerful little bird, does this most beautiful scripture come to my
mind.
The Swallow. This is the third division of this order. Four
species are natives of England; though all of them leave us in
September and October. 1. The House Swallow; 2. the Martin;
3. the Sand Martin; 4. the Swift: to these may be added the
Esculent Swallow; the nests of which bird are imported into China,
to the number of four millions annually; the current price of which
is the weight of the nest in silver.
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