File:A history of British birds - by the Rev. F. O. Morris (1862) (14772339803).jpg

Identifier: historyofbritish04morr (find matches)
Title: A history of British birds / by the Rev. F. O. Morris
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Morris, F. O. (Francis Orpen), 1810-1893
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London : Groombridge

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ns of Peeblesshire, Selkirkshire, and Dumfries-shire. In the Hebrides it is likewise plentiful, and in Oi^kney^it is found in various parts of the mainland, in Hoy, Waas,Eonsay, and Eday. In Ireland it is met with in mostsuitable localities. The red bird, like the Red Indian, gives way before the in-roads of cultivation, and flourishes only where nature is yetto be seen in her primitive aspect. Attempts have been madeto re-establish the Ancient Briton in Devonshire Dorsetshire,Sussex, and Surrey, but in vain; aboriginal inhabitants, likemy own ancestors in ages long gone by, before Koman, Saxon,Dane, or Norman had set foot on the soil, when once driveninto the fastnesses of Wales and the wild districts of the country,there alone they can yet maintain their tribe. H. R. H. the Duke of Gloucester turned out eight braceand a half on Bagshot Heath in 1829, but, excepting twokilled two years afterwards on Cobham Heath, nothing morewas seen of them, though every precaution had been taken to
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* k RED GEOUSE. 197 secure their stay. One was killed in XorfoIk many yearssince near Downham, and one in 1794; near Wedhampton, inWiltshire. In the wild state they abound, in certainly a remarkable decreeconsidering the vast numbers that are shot every year, wher-ever there is sufficiently long heather, which affords themboth home and food. The nature of the latter imparts apeculiar bitter flavour to them, but the taste for it is soonacquired, and there is hardly a better game bird. They pre-fer drier places to the low and swampy. In the mora remoteparts of Scotland they are looked upon as birds of good omen,and their morning crow is considered as a signal for the darkspirits of the night to take their departure. They are capable ofbeing kept in a state of domestication, and in some instanceshave been known to breed in captivity; one pair in the aviaryof the Dowao^er Duchess of Portland, and another pair at Mr.Griersons, of Eathfarnham, in the county of Dublin; LordStanley also had a

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