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 ...

CHAP. V. The Beccafigo or Fig-eater, perchance the fourth, or seventh Ficedula of Aldrovandus, to which are subjoyned the descriptions of other small Birds akin to this out of Aldrovand.

THis is a very small bird, scarce so big as the common Linnet, short bodied. The colour of its Head, Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail from ash-colour inclines to green, in some dusky, with a Tincture of green. It hath the same number of Wing and Tail-feathers with all other small birds. But the quills of the Wing are of a Mouse-dun, with black shafts, and green edges. The lesser rows of feathers that cover the underside of the Wings are yellow. The Tail is about two inches long, not forked, and all its feathers of a dusky colour.

The Belly of a white or silver colour: The Breast something darker, with a tin∣cture of yellow.

The Bill is short, the upper Mandible black, the lower bluish: The Mouth within∣side of a red or flesh-colour: The Legs short, the Feet bluish, and in some of a lead colour.

This bird is not remarkable for any variety of colours, so that it is very hard so to describe it, as by certain and characteristic notes to distinguish it from all others.

In its stomach dissected we found grape-stones, and other seeds.

Mr. Jessop shot this bird in Yorkshire, and sent it us by the name of Pettychaps.

The seventh Ficedula of Aldrovand, which he saith his Country-men the Bolognese * 1.1 call Scatarello, but the Genoese Beccafigo, is almost all over of a dusky ash-colour, especially on the back and upper-side, for the Breast is yellow: The Feet are black. Saving in the colour of the Feet it agrees with the Bird by us described in this Chapter.

Neither is the second Muscicapa of Aldrovand, or Chiuin of the Bolognese, called by the Genoese, Borin, much unlike to this. It is a little bigger than a Wren; its Bill * 1.2 slender, sharp, and very fit to strike flies. The upper part of its Head, as also its Neck and Back are of a pale ash-colour: its Head beneath, its Throat, Breast, and Belly are of a white, tending to yellow; but the Breast and Belly more dilute. The

Wings above dun, underneath also of the same colour, but paler. The Rump white. The Tail (which consists of twelve feathers) is three inches long, and of the same colour with the Wings. The Legs and Feet * 1.3 Spadiceous: The Claws long and slender.

Moreover, the Salicaria of Gesner is either the same with this, or certainly near akin to it. It is, saith he, a very small bird, of colour partly dusky, as on the upper side; partly yellowish, as on the nether; and partly whitish, as on the sides, and near the Neck, having reddish Legs. It feeds upon Flies, Spiders, and other Insects that it finds among Willows, which that it may enjoy alone, it drives away other small Birds. It hath a slender, streight Bill.

Aldrovandus describes another bird by the name of his first Muscicapa, or Flie∣catcher, * 1.4 which he saith from following and frequenting Kine, the Bolognese call Boa∣rola, or Boarina. It is is a long-bodied bird, and hath a pretty long Bill, of a dusky reddish colour. The Head and whole Back are of a colour mixt of * 1.5 plumbeous, cinereous, and yellowish. The Breast and all the belly white; but the Breast spotted with black. The Wings are particoloured, of black, yellowish, and white: The Tail long, black, and white on the sides: The Legs and Feet black.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The seventh Ficedula or Scatarello of Aldrov.
• * 1.2

  The second Muscicapa of Aldrov. or Bo∣rin of the Genoese.
• * 1.3

  Of the co∣lour of the Palm tree branch. The Salicaria or Willow∣bird of Gesner.
• * 1.4

  The Boarina of Aldrov.
• * 1.5

  A lead-co∣lour.