The snow bunting that wasn't
In the April number of The Zoologist, Mr. Mathews states that a snow bunting was in the habit of perching upon a tall tree in a hedgerow.
Surely this is a mistake.
At page 281 of British Ornithology, Mr. Selby, in speaking of the snow bunting, says "they run with ease and celerity, like the lark genus and never perch on trees.
I can confirm Mr. Selby 's statement from my own observations.
I have seen numbers of these birds on the coast of Essex, but in no instance have I ever seen one attempt to perch on a bush or tree, but they will occasionally upon low, broad railings.
I may also say that the pure black-and-white plumage is their summer livery in which state they are very rarely seen in Britain.
In winter, the black feathers of the back are broadly edged with ferruginous, and the head, neck and all the under parts are strongly tinged with the same colour, becoming of a deep chestnut on the crown of the head and back of the neck; in the breeding plumage, these parts are pure white.
Henry Doubleday
Epping.
April 16, 1858.
Editor: There is certainly a mistake in Mr. Mathews's statement which it is important to correct. Was the pied flycatcher the bird that he saw?
No comments:
Post a Comment