File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14748841311).jpg

Identifier: birdsEuropeIIIGoul (find matches)
Title: The birds of Europe
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Gould, John, 1804-1881
Subjects: Pictorial works Birds
Publisher: London, Printed by R. and J.E. Taylor, pub. by the author
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
enish blue spotted all over with blackish brown. Omnivorous in its appetite, the Jackdaw feeds on fruits, pulse, and grain, to which are added, grubs, snails,worms, and even carrion. In its disposition it is thievish and mischievous : easily domesticated and familiar,it may be taught to articulate words with distinctness. The sexes are alike in the colouring of their plumage, and do not undergo any change either in winter orsummer. The young during the first year are more uniform in their colouring than the adult: the silvery greyof the head and neck is not attained until the bird is three or four years old. The adult has the top of the head black, with violet reflections ; back part of the head and neck silvery grey,the feathers of these parts being long and silky; the whole of the upper surface greyish black, the primariesand secondaries having blue and violet reflections ; feet and bill black ; irides greyish white. The Plate represents an adult male and female of the natural size.
Text Appearing After Image:
m o o m. o Corvus frugilegus-; (Ziwo:). SZweU&tt&fo; ROOK. Corvus frugilegus, Linn.Le Freux. This familiar bird appears to be distributed over the greater part of Europe, giving preference to those cultivatedportions which afford it a supply of granivorous food, upon which it partially subsists, and for which it is gene-rally condemned by the husbandman as an injurious and destructive neighbour ; though, were the habits of theRook carefully investigated, we doubt not it would be satisfactorily proved that he amply repays the farmerfor the few grains he steals, by the destruction of immense numbers of grubs and insects which he devoursin the course of a single year, thus rather claiming our gratitude for his services than deserving our enmity : itmust be acknowledged, too, that its presence helps to enliven our fields and pastures. The Rook is very fastidious in its choice of a place for performing the duties of incubation, frequentlyleaving the trees of the forest for those si

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