The ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq, fellow of the Royal Society in three books : wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described : the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plates : translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work : to which are added, Three considerable discourses, I. of the art of fowling, with a description of several nets in two large copper plates, II. of the ordering of singing birds, III. of falconry / by John Ray ...

§. III. * The Blue-bird of Bellonius, Passeri solitario congener, † 1.1 Aldrov.

THere is also (saith Gesner) another bird akin to the solitary Sparrow, of the Blackbird kind, frequenting rocky places, whence by the Grecians it is called, Petrocossyphus, [that is, the Rock-Ouzel or Blackbird] by our Country-men Steinrotele, esteemed in like manner for its singing. In another place he thus discourses concern∣ing the same bird: This (viz. which * 1.2 Bellonius, whose words he had cited, calls Merula torquata, i. e. Ring-Ouzel) seems to be the very same with that bird of which Raphael Seillerius of Augsburg lately wrote to me in these words. The bird which from its blue colour the Germans call Blauvogel is of the bigness of a Stare, hath his Breast, Loins, and Neck of a lovely blue, yet darker than the Kingfisher. The Back and Wings are somewhat black, yet shewing something of blue. The Bill is an inch and half long, under the Nosthrils dusky, the upper Chap being hooked, and co∣vering the nether, for the most part. The Feet are divided, as in other birds. It lives in the highest parts of the Alps, neither is it contented to abide in the tops of the Mountains, but chuses the most rocky and craggy places, and such as are covered with Snow, neither do we know certainly that it is found in any other place than the Mountains about the River Athesis, especially near the City of Inspruck. For this cause it is had in great account even by the Inhabitants themselves of those places, and is fed with such meat as men usually eat, and such as is usually given to Blackbirds and Thrushes designed for fowling. It speaks with an articulate voice very pleasant and various; and is it self so docile, and observes things so diligently, that it will express most things by some articulate sound. Being awakened at Midnight, and called up∣on by a by-stander, as if it were bidden, it will sing with a clear and loud note. Like other birds, it aims at mens Eyes, because seeing in them, as in a Looking-glass, its own image, it is affected with a desire of its like, and thinks to joyn it self in compa∣ny with it. Before the Autumn, at what time other birds sit, and are busie in bring∣ing up their Young, together with its colour it changeth also its voice. Its colour about the beginning of Winter of blue becomes black, which about the beginning of next Spring it changes again into its own natural blue. Being fully fledg'd, and once got out of the Nest, and a little accustomed to flying, it cannot any more (as all the Fowlers affirm) by any allurement or deceit be enticed and taken, so naturally crafty it is. It makes its Nest in deep holes in very high and unaccessible solitudes, having found a secure place, to which it may safely commit it self and its Young. And by its cunning doth not only remove it from the access of men by placing it on the highest ridges of the Mountains, but also hide it in deep Caverns from the Chamois, and other wild beasts, and there it feeds three or four Young with worms, till it brings them out of the Nest, and turns them loose to shift for themselves. Now the Fowlers having either by chance, or by lying in wait, found out the place, taking with them a long, round, smooth stilt or stake, made of a singular piece of wood, hard to be found (such as the climbers of Rocks and hunters of Chamois are wont to make use of to assist them in getting up the crags and cliffs of Rocks) mount up there where you would not think it possible for them to find room to set one foot. And to omit no∣nothing, they wrap their heads with cloth, covering their faces so far that they may see side-ways, to avoid dizziness; and this they do partly to fence them against the old birds, partly, and chiefly (this being the true cause of their so doing) to hin∣der their prospect any ways but just forward, to see where they are to pitch their stake, or clap on their hands. So at length, not without extreme toil and danger, they arrive at the Nest, which with that long pole or stake I mentioned they draw up out of the deep hole where it was placed, and carry away with them, cherishing, and bringing the Young up at their own houses: And afterwards either sell them dear, or present them to Gentlemen and great persons of their knowledge. Thus far Seillerius. I suspect that this very bird, which Gesner calls Blauvogel, is the same which about Chur in the Grisons Country and elsewhere is called Steirotele, or near akin to it.

* 1.3 Bellonius, who thinks this bird to be the Cyanus or (as Gaza translates it) the Caeruleus of Aristotle, writes thereof in this manner. That bird which Aristotle calls Cyanus, Pliny, Caeruleus, because it haunts among the Rocks of the high Moun∣tains, and is like a Blackbird, is now by the Grecians commonly called Petrocoslypho,

that is, the Rock-Ouzel. It is lesser than a Blackbird, and blue all over, kept in Cages, and highly esteemed for its singing. Its voice is the same with the Blackbirds. It hath no French name, because it is not found in France, nor yet in Italy, unless brought thither in Cages. It is sometimes taken out of the Nest to be taught so speak arti∣culately. * 1.4 In another place, where he also treats professedly of this bird, adding a figure of it; although (saith he) we call the bird by Aristotle entitled Cyanus, by Gaza rendred Caeruleus, In French Merle bleu, yet we do not this as if it were known to France; but because of the Countrimen of Epidaurus, who use divers Idioms, some who speak Italian call it, * 1.5 Merlo biavo, others who speak Greek, Petrocossypho, others who speak Dalmatic call it simply, Merle. Kept in a Cage it sings more sweet∣ly even than a Blackbird. For which reason the Countrimen of Illyricum, who live among the Rocks, take them out of the Nests, and carry them to the Cities to sell. It is not found in France, unless brought in from abroad. It builds in the tops of Mountains, as we observed in Candy, Citharaea, Corcyra, Zacynthus, and Euboea, now commonly called Negroponte. Aristotle also in the fore-quoted place making mention of it, saith it was commonly seen among the Rocks in Scyros. Aristotle com∣posing his History of Animals at Athens, sent abroad men through divers Countries to search out all kinds of living Creatures: In Scyros the Mountains are cragged, with many Rocks. But to make a brief, compendious description of this bird, we need but imagine a small Blackbird of a blue colour; for just such a one is this bird. It is full of tongue, and seldom descends into the plain Country. It breeds for the most part five Young, and never more. It affords as good and better nourishment than a Blackbird, flies swifter, and uses the same food. All this out of Bellonius; whom Aldrovandus pronounces mistaken, in that he thought this bird to be the Cyanus of Aristotle. Himself, with Gesner, deeming the Cyanus of Aristotle to be of the Wood∣pecker kind: Which how he proves see in this place.

Turner conjectures the Caeruleus of Aristotle to be that bird which is called in English, a Clot-bird, a Smatch, an Arling, a Stonecheck, and in High Dutch, Ein Brechvogel. This he saith in England breeds in Coney-burrows, and under stones, and appears not in Winter. The English names and place of building argue Turner to have meant the common Oenanthe or White-tail; which is a far different bird from the Caeruleus of Bellonius.

For my part, to speak freely what I think, I judge the Blauvogel of Gesner to be the very same bird with the solitary Sparrow; but the Caeruleus of Bellonius to be a bird specifically different, and which I have not yet seen alive, though I have often seen its picture.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Ornithol. l. 16. c. 8.
• * 1.2

  Cap. de Cae∣ruleo.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 1. Observ. cap. 11.
• * 1.4

  Lib. 6. de Avibus, cap. 26
• * 1.5

  The blue Ouzel.