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History of British Birds — W. Yarrell. 2d Edit. 1845

(Guide to Zoolog Gardens in the pamphlets remarkable also)

Vol I p. 32 The Iceland Falcon considered by some few as distinct species — a bird of higher courage & of more rapid & higher flight.— Faroe Racer - - Gou Madeira Black-cap, Galapagos.

p. 135 Waterton on Strix flammea feeding sometimes on fish

p 113 An extended examination of hawks shows, that in their [illeg] have less powerful flight — sternum decreases in size, to keel in depth, the cozoids & funicular become more slight— bears on pigeons & poultry & ducks in domesticat  & rabbits.—

p 359 Parus major frequently kills little birds like a shrike with blows on its head.—

396 Motacilla Yarrellii found in Britain & Scandinavia, & represent M. alba, but latter also f in England.

p. 412 M. neglecta & flava Rayii both f in Britain but to former rare in England, & the latter rare on continent

p. 451 Case of Alaudida arvensis breeding excellently in small aviaries

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Vol. 2

p. 14 Loxia curvirostra s specimens presented a variation, in both sets of the wing-coverts being tipped with dull white; & in L. leucoptera or white-winged C.B. other in south white band on the wing, from these same feathers, ie 2 sets of wing coverts (p.33) very well tipped with white (good analog. var.)

86 Many cases of Royston C. cornix & Common crow C. corone breeding together.— Also case of 2 hawks species of Cicus which did so, & were shot feeding their young

Vol I. p. 166 Curious law of coloring in birds. (p. 15 of 1st edit)

("When male & female unlike young like female (2) when male & female like, young different from both (3) added by Yarrell, when adults assume a plumage decidedly different during breeding season from colour which they bear in winter, the gray birds are intermediate in colour between two states. Are these new cases of male & female alike & gray alike? Corvis Swans Are these new case of male & female unlike & grey also unlike? It would

167v

Blyth in pamphlet no has grand case of female being hand[illeg]—

vol. 2. p. 448 In the Golden & several other plovers: the male & females equally or nearly equally assumes same breeding plumage.

look as if sexual & colour selection were [illeg].— I do not understand law III.

In whole case the sexual selection affects & is transformed in different way equally to young & hen?

How cd it be if [illeg] to young were like the old & that all subsequent changes in plumage were equal & with transferred or not to hen.

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p. 191 Cuckoo's egg size of Sky-lark

195 Schlegel says size of stomach influences development of egg. Y. admits laid at interval of few days

197 J. E. Gray says our Cuckoo does not uniformly completely desert her young.

204. From spec. of American Cuckoo have been take in England & 209 Thompson has remarked all taken on one W. coast at period of American migration.

It is really curious to see in Yarrell how many foreign birds occasionally visit England; & this is case of Red grouse wandering 60 miles from its home.

236. Italy, Sicily & Malta line of migration.— Spain by Gibraltar another line

240 Casea of Swallow which built on branch of Sycamore over a pool.—

248 Blackwall in Researches has discussed case of Swallows deserting their young so frequently for migration: excellent case of contest of two strong instincts. Swifts have been known to remain long past proper time on account of young.

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250. Swallows visit Faroe & its said even Iceland.

294. Flight of Pigeons: for wager pigeons flew 35 miles in 53 minutes — Bury case 72 miles in 2 ½ hours. London to Antwerp one bird flew the 240 miles in 5 ¼ hours: one came in ¼ hour later & a 3d in ¼ hour later & only 7 of the 18 which did ultimately arrive came in on same day; were started at ¼ before 7. Hence rate clearly much depends on finding way

Some came in several days afterwards & 14 were lost. From Ghent to Rouen 150 miles. 1 came in 1 ½ hours, & 16 in 2 ½ hours: I cannot believe this

312. Pheasants sometimes lay in Partridge nests

317. Y. seems to believe Edwards Pl. 337 case of hybrid of Pheasant & Turkey. Y. has twice seen birds believed to be produce of Guinea-fowl & pheasant, & plumage confirmed to statement

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vol. 2. Yarrell

p. 333 It is clear hybrids from Capercali & Black game common

346 It is clear the hybrids from Black-cock & pheasants & [illeg] are not uniform.

348 Hybrids from Black & Red forms have been suspected refer to Macgillivray vol 1. p. 162 as best case.

348 Lagopus alpinus not vulgaris is var Ptarmigan. L. sub alpinus var salaceti is the other Norway species; the latter has certainly crossed, though rarely, with Black grouse, according to Nilsson p 349. The latter has case of Black-cock & Domestic Fowl

355 Red grouse of Wales larger & lighten then those of Highlands; those of W. Highlands are an light-coloured & earlier breeder than those of East. H. Those of Yorkshire smallest of all.—

355, 357. var. seen to occur frequently of white birds resembling the summer dress of Ptarmigan. Perhaps [owing] to S. selection:—

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p. 368. The Ptarmigan of Iceland is rather different & was called by Faber L. Islandorum. (another insular sub-species)

(I think Gould showed the Spitzbergen hen distinct species)

383 Beware to believe from account of Rev. R. Lubbock, good ornithologist that hybrids have been produced between Red-legged partridge & Pheasant: & Temminck says between common & Red-legged. Perhaps cincera & rufa

646. In the Ruff or Machetes pugnax it is only the male which is so extraordinary variable & only during the retention of the nuptial plumage when it has it ruff.— so case of secondary sexual variability.

p. 653 The ruff scarcely completed in May & begin to fall latter end of June.— According to Montagu

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Yarrell. vol. 3.-

p. 142. Anser genus or Grey-leg-goose parent of tame goose — wonders how it is that all ganders became white after certain (mem. the case of selection of green in France) says white feathers are more valuable. Believe from occasional flattened form of lower part of trachea, & white ring of feathers at base of beak, that A. albifrons has crossed with it.—

X This species is easily tamed by Laplanders clear like gray —but it may be analogous variation like the white Lalend goose of S. America

p 142 The wild & a few were crossed in Zoolog. Gardens & offspring fertile

p 147 It has been stated that when geese of different sp. with black legs, or those with light-coloured are crossed, the offspring are prolific, but not so, when those with differently coloured legs are crossed.

No ask Bartlett

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vol. 3.

p. 193. Cygnus ferus. The depth of insertion of trachea in sternum is not so considerable in females or grey males. In the olor the trachea is not inserted; so specific difference like sexual

207. C. olor & C immutabilis have crossed, nothing said about fertility of offspring

p 226 C. immutabilis, the cygnets are white so [3 words illeg] of parents alike & grey unlike either..

243 The males of several Ducks, as some wild & Pintail for a short time in summer only about 6 weeks, assume plumage of female, more or less closely, sometimes most closely p 254 a male pintail confined in a hutch did not undergo this change

p. 272. Waterton has described this change in wild Duck.— How mysterious under sexual selection state the [illeg] yet understood.

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Yarrell. vol. 3

p. 381 Mergus albellus male of assumes adult female garb, for between in summer

459 Uria lacrymans.— (Ring Guillemot) — Temminck alludes to natural crossing of C. Monedula (Jackdaw) & spermogulus & Fringilla domestica & cisalpina & Corvus corax & leucophoeus (so he ranks them in species & C. cornix & corone (i e carrier & Royston.—

p. 460. M. Thieneman who has visited Iceland and other breeding places think the 2 Guillemots distinct as does Mr. Proctor who has dissected them; they are considered by Icelanders as distinct & breed on separate rocks or lower down on same rocks —The eggs are different & could be separated by inhabitants — The Icelanders believe they do not pair — Nilsson classes them as vars. — Gould is doubtful — Temminck as distinct — Yarrell (inclined to think very distinct but) cd find no difference except the white vary & streak on face & beak a little lighter

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vol 3

479 Alca impennis 32 inches long, wing from wrist to end of longest feather only 7 inches— [3 words illeg] — as other auks can fly — the small size of wing is fully consistent with [illeg] for increasing size.

Q

585. Larus fuscus — kept in garden a male bird was given it, while it cd not swallow — "paused for a moment & then as if suddenly recollecting himself, he ran off full speed to a pan of water shook the bird about in it, until well soaked & immediately gulped it down without further trouble. Since that time, he invariably has recourse to the same expedient in similar cases." Reason

p. 615 Lestrus Richardsonii, does not get mature plumage till several months & breeds before final plumage obtained.

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Zoology of the Beagle —Birds

p. 16 The female of a carrion Hawk of Falklands Milvago leucurus is much handsomer than the male.—

41

p 6. Ruff [illeg] two months

[Half of cork?] fully 9 months

p 8 Putal in 6 weeks

(p 10 Intellect)

Nothing else bearing on sexual selection See vol. I for discussion on ? larynx

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Summary on colour of Birds

[4 words in red crayon illeg]

Nat. Sel. might make adult different from old; but after young have left nest of can fly & freed themselves

(like young Lion very stupid. Perhaps chiefly whilst suckling analogue to Down. or spotted Deer: have no [4 words illeg] of character) (The plumage in nest [2 words illeg]) there seems no cause for these [illeg], as far as adaptation is concerned a different plumage. Again it is very doubtful how far plumage in any case is for adaptation: this discussed in separate paper.—

On other hand when male differs greatly from hen, it is clearly sexual selection, partly in relation to males fighting together or for charming hens. In common Cock & other cases we see both concurrent: (here difficulty as far as tame are concerned; but plumage in wild the do charm. Do Peacocks fight?) Dixon says they do a little when ornate in full plumage: Hen makes advances. As sexual characters are completed in adult age they will tend to be transmitted to corresponding age.— necessary affect young; & when they are confined

[marginal pencil:] How far extend view to Mammalia & Insecta?!!

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To male, the young will resemble female. [illeg] is Cuvier 2d Law.— But we know that characters vary much, & we shd. a priori expect that this would be commonest case be transferred to female; & in the sexes would be alike & both wd [illeg] young & then in Cuvier 2d. Law.— But it is quite possible that sexual character, may be transferred in some degree to young: & we see them in young male Pheasant & Blackbird in which young males can be discriminated, & this explains Yarrell 3d Law that when the adult sexes generally both, so much transfer (or one as in Ruff) either for short period as in latter, or as in Mallard for nearly year female attained very   takes on for part of year nuptial plumage, young intermediate

178

Between 2 states of parents, both states having been transferred. Indeed it may be suspected that in all cases whether male has apparently [illeg] sexual character or has transferred all the characters to female, thus some slight influence has been transferred to young. Lastly if we suppose that sometimes the transference has been great to young, then we explain sexes & young being all alike as in crows, Jays, Kingfisher Rock Pigeon &c.—

We come to then that all plumage is related to sexual selection, & laws all depend on degree which they have happened to be confined to adult males.

A hen Robin by selecting from colours, makes her own sex beautiful.—

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No doubt nat select. will determine that no character injurious shall have been gained by sexual selection, yet wonderful what it will permit, horns of [illeg], jaws of Stag-Beetle tail of Peacock.

It may have determined the sombre colours of Hen Pheasant & Grey-Hen & lesser tail of Peacock, for safe incubation. It is very striking how different in closely related species these law of colouring are.— Undoubtedly curious & general laws are of very general occurrence.

(Read over all the note)

[marginal pencil:] The song has been transferred to some females young essentially a sexual peculiarity.

In Swans the [illeg] was dark, sexual relations have under [illeg] & Hen white, perhaps lighter than young. (might have lighten one sex more than other) a C. immutalis has quite whitened young. What was colour of grey of dark [illeg]?? Perhaps light or darker, but gradual transference of colour will have been [illeg] states

[marginal ink:] Give case in Turdus.—

[marginal ink:] Hence normally I look at young & old as alike.—

177

Cuvier Regne Animale Tom I p. 306 makes rule absolute about colours!

I cannot make out about owls; grey males seem like female, which do not differ much from males.

Royston crow male nearly like female & young similar

Jackdaw hen less grey when young

Magpie, female like male, young not mentioned like old Mag. Y says

Jays alike — young not mentioned Macgillivray says same colours but less bright.—

Kingfishers nearly alike, & young birds seem to differ only in beak colours of.—

Martins little difference in sexes or in young

Nightjar sexes a little different, young like their parents

Rock dove sexes alike & young do

Turtle dove sexes nearly alike, but young different

Cygnus immutabilis sexes alike & young white

(MacG. In common Hooting owl, young very like old; not in great snowy owl very different— [illeg blue crayon]

Young male pheasant just perceptibly different.

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Yarrell.—

[vol. 1]

p 186 Water-ouzel. sexes alike —grey breast [illeg] topped with brown.— above edged with white

191. Missel thrush sexes alike— grey  more spotted or streaked above & topped with black — beneath spotted.

201 Field-fare sexes slightly different — young not mentioned

206. Song Thrush —sexes slightly different — young in beak feathers slightly spotted & streaked.

214 Blackbird —female umber brown above — breast reddish brown, slightly spotted —young upper part blackish brown darker in males, tail feathers spotted or streaked — under parts light rufous brown with terminal darker spots, generally more distinct in males.— after 1 month young male intermediate between old m & females.

223 Ring ouzel —female rather lighter than male

band across chest narrower & less pure with grey margin to [illeg] broader (young males resemble adult females, but as young females pectoral gorget scarcely perceptible.)

The golden oriole grey male after 1 month resembles adult females.—

I

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Begin I suspect that all plumage of birds is due directly of indirectly to sexual selection —for I think there is little adaptation in colour. (I do not refer to texture as in owls.) or in strange ruffs & brilliant colours &c of birds.— Climate or light [indirectly] must have come into play, (what a contest New Zealand & Australian birds) Contrast green-woodpecker & black-Wyreck & Nut-hatch.

Blackbird, grey ouzel & [illeg].— Common & Royston crow

Owls white & brown — Swallows Martins & Swifts.— Again we see a large class which has males different from females plumage can have little to do with conditions of life. So again with the large numbers of [illeg] & [illeg] both sexes of which put off nuptial plumage for a short period of year. Can seem much like adaptation in ground birds, yet [illeg] cock and Hen Pheasant —Black-cock & grey-Hen. Colour may be more important to hens & so to nat. selection being here intensified. In Arctic Birds may have colour into play on such birds as get white plumage from independent causes may be than alone who are able to endure.—

Concluding that colour is due to sexual selection, we may account for laws of plumage by supposing generally transferred to female, i.e to [illeg] age & possibly in same degree to young, yet this would leave

179v

great difference in young & wd explain law of parents alike offspring dissimilar. But is this law universal

Cock Trappean are spotted like Guinea-fowl ast but hens, have character transferred to hens in Guinea-fowl

Guinea-fowl? Cygnus immutabilis has young chick like two parents. I am incline to think then that some transfer at least when any transfer to female first year [illeg] because in Yarrells law when both sexes take on nuptial plumage young intermediate between the 2 states.—

But we know male sexual characters may be confined to male & in this case now which be transferred to female & male will differ from female greatly which not having been modified at sexual age will be like yearlings.— But I do not doubt gradation, we see in young blackbirds the colour of black has been transferred to hen, they [illeg] different from cock & some to the young.

All this applies to theory of Human races = It makes sexual selection far more important than I thought =

Applies to Human Races.

Reference:

William Yarrell. 1845. A history of British birds. 2d ed. 3 vols. London: John Van Voorst.