A Familiar History of Birds: Their Nature, Habits, and Instincts, Volume 1John W. Parker, 1835 - Birds |
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A Familiar History of Birds: Their Nature, Habits and Instincts Edward Stanley No preview available - 2019 |
A Familiar History of Birds: Their Nature, Habits, and Instincts, Volume 2 ... Edward Stanley No preview available - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
America amongst animals appear attack Barn-Owls beak Bearded Vulture bill bird-lime bird's birds of prey body bones cage called carried Carrion Crow catching claws colour considerable Crow Cuckoo dart dead devour distance Ducks Eagle eggs escape extraordinary eyes Falcon favourite feathers feed feet Fieldfare fish flight flying frequently Gannet gastric juice Genus gizzard ground gullet habits Hawk head height Heron insects instance instinctive island Jackdaw Jays Kestrel killed known length live Magpie mandible mice miles mode natural naturalists nearly nest never observed occasionally Owls Partridge Passerine Passerine Order peculiar perch Pigeons placed plumage pounce prey Raven remarkable resemblance rock rookery Rooks scarcely Scotland seen seize short Shrike singular small birds soon sort Sparrow species spot stomach strong supposed Swallow Table tail Thrush toes Toucan tree tribe upper usually Vulture Waders watch wings yards young birds
Popular passages
Page 218 - Many were the attempts of the neighbouring youths to get at this eyry: the difficulty whetted their inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting the arduous task. But when they arrived at the swelling, it jutted out so in their way, and was so far beyond their grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and acknowledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. So the ravens built on, nest upon nest, in perfect security, till the fatal day arrived in which the wood was to be levelled.
Page 217 - Who provideth for the raven his food ? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Page 217 - God: 8 who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
Page 2 - With a disposition to wonder and adore in like manner, as Bishop Stanley says, can any branch of Natural History be studied without increasing that faith, love and hope which we also, every one of us, need in our journey through the wilderness of life?
Page 2 - Being (thought I) who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image? — surely not! Reflections like these would not allow me to despair. I started up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forwards, assured that relief was at hand ; and I was not disappointed.
Page 188 - All small birds have an antipathy to the shrike, betray anger, and utter the moan of danger when it approaches their nests. I have often heard this signal of distress, and cautiously approaching to learn the cause, have frequently found that this butcher-bird occasioned it. They will mob, attack, and drive it away, as they do the owl, as if fully acquainted with its plundering propensities.
Page 226 - Ill-omen'd bird ! as legends say, Who hast the wond'rous power to know. While health fills high the throbbing veins, The fated hour when blood must flow. Blinded by rage, alone he pass'd, Nor sought his ready vassals' aid ; But what his fate lay long unknown, For many an anxious year delay'd.
Page 128 - The upper part of the head was broken in, and the back torn by the talons of the eagle. We had plainly seen her bearing it in the manner of the fishhawk.
Page 2 - I mention this to show from what trifling circumstances the mind will sometimes derive consolation ; for though the whole plant was not larger than the top of one of my fingers, I could not contemplate the delicate conformation of its roots, leaves, and capsula without admiration. Can that Being, thought I, who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures...
Page 252 - Sacred History, from the Creation of the World to the Destruction of Jerusalem. With Questions for Examination.