. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . weather,in fevere winters, in fearch of thofe parts of riversor lakes which are not bound up by the leaves this country early in the fpring, and goesnorthward to breed, and is never feen during thefummer months in any part of England; but in hardwinters (which the appearance of thefe birds pre-fages) they are common on the frefh-water pools,rivers, and fens in the eaft riding of Yorklhire, andon the fens of Lincolnfhire. Their flelh is by fomeaccounted rank and fifhy; others fay that it is dryunpleafant food, and, in corrobor
. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . weather,in fevere winters, in fearch of thofe parts of riversor lakes which are not bound up by the leaves this country early in the fpring, and goesnorthward to breed, and is never feen during thefummer months in any part of England; but in hardwinters (which the appearance of thefe birds pre-fages) they are common on the frefh-water pools,rivers, and fens in the eaft riding of Yorklhire, andon the fens of Lincolnfhire. Their flelh is by fomeaccounted rank and fifhy; others fay that it is dryunpleafant food, and, in corroboration of this,quote the old vulgar proverb, He who would re-gale the devil, might ferve him with Merganfer andCormorant. The author, in fome inftances, hasfound thefe proverbs to be not well founded; butnever having tailed of this particular fpecies, hecannot hazard a contrary opinion. The foregoing defcription was taken from a birdin full plumage, with which this work was favour-ed by Robert Pearfon, Efq. of Newcaflle, 2QthMarch, 1800. BRITISH BIRDS. 257. DUN-DIVER, OR SPARLING-FOWL.{^Mergus caflorf lAn.—UHarle cendrSy ou le Blevre, BufF.) This is of the fame form as the Goofander, butdiffers from that bird in its plumage and fize: itmeafures twenty-feven inches in length, and thirty*five in breadth,—-and, when in good condition,weighs fometimes between three and four bill, from the tip to the corners of the mouth,is two inches and a quarter long, of a red colour,but darker on its ridge; the hooked horny nail ofthe upper mandible is blackifli; the tip of the underone white. The head and upper part of the neckare of a deep chefnut; the cl*eft, the feathers ofwhich are foft, very long, and pendent, is of adeeper Ihade of the fame colour: the chin and up-per part of the throat are white: the back, fcapu- VoL. II. t K k &SS BRITISH BIRDS. lars, coverts of the wings, rump, and fides of thebody, are of a bluifh afli or lead colour: the forepart of the neck, breaft, be
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