Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk: More Especially on the Birds and FishesBrowne, Thomas, Sir
History
Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk: More Especially on the Birds and Fishes
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Natural history -- England -- Norfolk
Barganders a noble coloured fowle vulpanser wch breed in cunny burrowes
about norrold & other places.
[_Fol. 9._] Wild geese Anser ferus.
scoch goose Anser scoticus.
Goshander,[19] merganser.
[19] This evidently refers to the Goosander, which as he says in
another place most answers to the Merganser.
Mergus acutirostris speciosus or Loone an handsome & specious fowle
cristated & with diuided finne feet placed very backward and after the
manner of all such wch the Duch call [Assf _struck out_] Arsvoote.[20]
they haue a peculiar formation in the leggebone wch hath a long & sharpe
processe extending aboue the thigh bone [it _struck out_] they come
about April & breed in the broad waters so making their nest on the
water that their egges are seldom drye while they are sett on.
[20] This well describes the Great-crested Grebe, which Browne
rightly says comes to us about the month of April. Browne notices
the peculiar formation of the tibia in this family of birds, but it
had long been known. The next, named _Mergus acutirostris
cinereus_, is most likely the same species in winter plumage. The
other birds mentioned are Mergus minor, the Little Grebe or
Dabchick, and _M. serratus_, the Red-breasted Merganser, even now
known as the "Saw-bill."
Mergus acutarostris cinereus [another d _struck out_] wch seemeth to bee
a difference of the former.
Mergus minor the smaller diuers or dabchicks in riuers & broade waters.
Mergus serratus the saw billd diuer bigger & longer than a duck
distinguished from other diuers by a notable sawe bill to retaine its
slipperie pray as liuing much upon eeles whereof we haue seldome fayled
to find some in their bellies.
Diuers other sorts of diuefowle more remarkable the mustela fusca &
mustela variegata[21] the graye dunne & the variegated or partie
coloured wesell so called from the resemblance it beareth vnto a wesell
in the head.
[21] The Smew, male and female, or either in the immature plumage
are here referred to.
[_Fol. 12._[I]] many sorts of wild ducks[22] wch passe under names well
knowne unto the fowlers though of no great signification as smee [wige
_struck out_] widgeon Arts ankers noblets.
[I] Fols. 10 and 11 are (10 written on both sides) on the
"Ostridge," _vide_ Wilkin, Vol. 4, p. 337-9. The paper is a
different size, 11-1/2 by 7-1/2, and the article is evidently bound
out of place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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