A natural history of English song-birds, and such of the foreign as are usually brought over and esteemed for their singing. To which are added, figures of the cock, hen, and egg of each species, exactly copied from nature / by Mr. Eleazar Albin: and curiously engraven on copper.

  • Albin, Eleazar, active 1713-1759.
Date:
1737
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A natural history of English song-birds, and such of the foreign as are usually brought over and esteemed for their singing. To which are added, figures of the cock, hen, and egg of each species, exactly copied from nature / by Mr. Eleazar Albin: and curiously engraven on copper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Tongue he has a black Stroak, very plain to be feen if you open his Mouth, which the Hen hath not; or, at leaft fo faint, that 'tis hardly vifible; but the firft Time the Cock moults his Feathers, he lofes that black Stroak : He may then be known from the Hen by his Colours, in the Beauty of which, he much excels her. His Breaft has a caft of Green, Red, Purple, &c. elfe the Feathers all over his Body are Black,with a blue and pur¬ ple Glofs, varying, as it is varioufly expofed to the Light; only the tips of the Feathers on his Head, Neck, and Breaft are Yellowifh; and on the Belly, &c. White: All his Spots and Colours, are brighter than thofe of the JLen. The Bill of the Cock is of a pale Yellow, inclining to White; in the Hen, jThe Time, &c. of the Starling's Building her Nejl. THI S Bird ufually breeds in May, has young Ones fit to take towards the End of that Month, fometimes by the Middle of it. They build their Neft in the Holes of Towers, Pidgeon-Houfes, Trees, &c. The Goodnefs of thefe Birds does not depend up¬ on the Places where they Breed, tho’ fome have given the Preference to one Sort, and fome