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‘HOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY. |

By a ay ped NET e Aol

ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY,

OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE HABITS OF THE

BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

ACCOMPANIED BY DESCRIPTIONS OF THE OBJECTS REPRESENTED IN THE WORK ENTITLED

THE BIRDS OF AMERICA,

TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS OF MANY OF THE SPECIES, ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

BY JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, F.R.SS.L.&E.

FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN AND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON ; MEMBER OF THE LYCEUM OF NEW YORK, OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PARIS, THE WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY OF MANCHESTER, AND OF THE SCOTTISH ACADEMY OF PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE ; MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT PHILADELPHIA, OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES OF BOSTON, OF CHARLESTON IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE QUEBEC LITERARY AND HISTORI-

CAL SOCIETY, THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, &c. &c.

EDINBURGH :

ADAM & CHARLES BLACK, EDINBURGH; LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN & LONGMAN, LONDON.

MDOCCEXXXIX.

PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO. OLD FISHMARKET, EDINBURGH.

INTRODUCTION.

How often, Good Reader, have I longed to see the day on which my labours should be brought to an end! Many times, when I had laid myself down in the deepest recesses of the western forests, have I been suddenly awakened by the appa- rition of dismal prospects that have presented themselves to my mind. Now, sickness, methought, had seized me with burning hand, and hurried me away, in spite of all my fond wishes, from those wild woods in which I had so long lingered, to increase my knowledge of the objects which they offered to myview. Poverty, too, at times walked hand in hand with me, and on more than one occasion urged me to cast away my pen- cils, destroy my drawings, abandon my journals, change my ideas, and return to the world. At other times the Red Indian, erect and bold, tortured my ears with horrible yells, and threat- ened to put an end to my existence; or white-skinned murderers aimed their rifles at me. Snakes, loathsome and venomous, entwined my limbs, while vultures, lean and ravenous, looked on with impatience. Once, too, I dreamed, when asleep on a sand-bar on one of the Florida Keys, that a huge shark had

me in his jaws, and was dragging me into the deep.

vi INTRODUCTION.

But my thoughts were not always of this nature, for at other times my dreams presented pleasing images. The sky was serene, the air perfumed, and thousands of melodious notes, from birds all unknown to me, urged me to arise and go in pursuit of those beautiful and happy creatures. Then I would find myself furnished with large and powerful wings, and, cleaving the air like an eagle, I would fly off and by a few joyous bounds overtake the objects of my desire. At other times I was gladdened by the sight of my beloved family, seated by their cheerful fire, and anticipating the delight which they should experience on my return. The glorious sun would arise, and as its first rays illumined the earth, I would find myself on my feet, and while preparing for the business of the day, I would cheer myself with the pleasing prospect of the happy termination of my labours, and hear ‘in fancy, the praises which kind friends would freely accord. Many times, indeed, have such thoughts enlivened my spirits; and now, good rea- der, the task is accomplished. In health and in sickness, in adversity and prosperity, in summer and winter, amidst the cheers of friends and the scowls of foes, I have depicted the Birds of America, and studied their habits as they roamed at large in their peculiar haunts.

Few persons can better than myself appreciate the pleasures felt by the weary traveller when he sees before him the place of repose for which he has long been seeking. Methinks I see him advance with a momentary renovation of vigour, and, al- though heavily laden, with expanded chest and brightened eye. He has now reached his home, embraced his family, laid aside his gun, and thrown off his knapsack ; while his faithful dog, glad too no doubt, lays himself down, wags his tail, and

INTRODUCTION. men

casting glances of friendship around, kindly licks the hands of the children who are caressing him. Anxiety of another nature now prevails among the members of the happy group; the contents of the traveller’s wallet are sought for, and ar- ranged in view of the whole family. One looks at this and likes it, another has caught hold of a different object, the oldest perhaps reads the “journal,” while some prefer gazing on the sketches “from nature.” Meanwhile the traveller and his dearest friend feel perfectly happy in being once more together —never again to part.

Now, Reader, you may,well imagine how happy I am at this moment, when, like the traveller alluded to, I find my journeys all finished, my anxieties vanished, my mission accomplished ; and when I expect soon to see myself and my dearest friends seated beneath lofty and fragrant trees, listening to the gay carollings of the Mocking Bird, or the sweet though perhaps melancholy song of my favourite the Wood Thrush. Fishing- tackle, bird-nets, and a good gun, will then be often exchanged for the pencil and the pen; and, although I can never entirely relinquish the pleasure of noting new facts in zoology, or of portraying natural objects, whether on canvass or on paper, I shall undertake few journeys, save short rambles for amuse- ment. If I have a regret at this moment, it is that I cannot transfer to you the whole of the practical knowledge which I have acquired during so many years of enthusiastic devotion to the study of nature.

You will perceive that the number of species of birds which have been discovered, figured, and described, since the publi- cation of the American Ornithology, by ALEXANDER WIxson, is very great. Indeed, the list is now extended to double the

Vill INTRODUCTION.

length that it shewed, at the period of his death, or even when his work was completed by the addition of the ninth volume. Yet I am confident that very many species remain to be added, by future observers, who shall traverse the vast wastes, extend- ing northward and westward from the Canadas, and along the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, from Nootka to Cali- fornia. Nay, [look upon the whole range of those magnificent mountains, as being yet unexplored, for the few scientific tra- vellers who have traversed it, have merely, as it were, picked up the scattered objects that crossed their path. Of this Iam persuaded, in consequence of the many conversations I have had with my friend Tuomas Nurratt, and the notices which I have received from Dr TownsEnp, as well as the valuable observations transmitted in a letter to me by my friend Dr Ricuarpson. Both Captain James Ross, and Captain Bacx, of the British Navy, have assured me that they saw curious birds, which they were unable to procure. Indeed, this has been the case with myself, even in some of the inhabited por- tions of the United States, as well as in Labrador and New- foundland. Therefore, Reader, I would strongly advise you to make up your mind, shoulder your gun, muster all your spirits, and start in search of the interesting unknown, of which I great- ly regret I cannot more go in pursuit,—not for want of will, but of the vigour and elasticity necessary for so arduous an enterprise. Should you agree to undertake the task, and prove fortunate enough to return, full of knowledge, laden with objects new and rare, be pleased, when you publish your work, to place my name in the list of subscribers, and be assured that / will not “leave you in the lurch.”

INTRODUCTION. ix

Now, supposing that you are full of ardour, and ready to proceed, allow me to offer you a little advice. Leave nothing to memory, but note down all your observations with ink, not with a black-lead pencil; and keep in mind that the more par- ticulars you write at the time, the more you will afterwards recollect. Work not at night, but anticipate the morning dawn, and never think for an instant about the difficulties of ransacking the woods, the shores, or the barren-grounds, nor be vexed when you have traversed a few hundred miles of country without finding a single new species. It may, indeed it not unfrequently does happen, that after days or even weeks of fruitless search, one enters a grove, or comes upon a pond, or forces his way through the tall grass of a prairie, and sud- denly meets with several objects, all new, all beautiful, and _ perhaps all suited to the palate. Then, how delightful will be your feelings, and how marvellously all fatigue will va- nish! Think, for instance, that you are on one of the de- clivities of the Rocky Mountains, with shaggy and abrupt banks on each side of you, while the naked cliffs tower high over head, as if with the wish to reach the sky. Your trusty gun has brought to the ground a most splendid “ American phea- sant,” weighing fully two pounds! What a treat! You have been surprised at the length of its tail, you have taken the precise measurement of all its parts, and given a brief descrip- tion of it. Have you read this twice, corrected errors, and supplied deficiencies? ‘‘ Yes,’ you say. Very well; now you have begun your drawing of this precious bird! Ah! you have finished it. Now, then, you skin the beautiful creature, and are pleased to find it plump and fat. You have, I find,

studied comparative anatomy under my friend MaceiLiivray,

% INTRODUCTION.

and at last have finished your examination of the esophagus, gizzard, coeca, trachea, and bronchi. On the ignited dry cast- ings of a buffalo, you have laid the body, and it is now almost ready to satisfy the longings of your stomach, as it hisses in its odorous sap. The brook at your feet affords the very best drink that nature can supply, and I need not wish you better fare than that before you. Next morning you find yourself refreshed and reinvigorated, more ardent than ever, for suc- cess fails not to excite the desire of those who have entered upon the study of nature. You have packed your bird’s-skin flat in your box, rolled up your drawing round those previous- ly made, and now, day after day, you push through thick and thin, sometimes with success, sometimes without; but you at last return with such a load on your shoulders, as I have often carried on mine. Having once more reached the settlements, you relieve your tired limbs by mounting a horse, and at length gaining a sea-port, you sail for England, if that be your coun- try, or you repair to Boston, New York, or Baltimore, where you will find means of publishing the results of your journey.

When I presented you with the fourth volume of this work, I was in fair Edina; and now, when I offer you the fifth, I am in Edina still. What beautiful walks there are, Reader, around that superlatively beautiful city! The oftener I have rambled along them, the more I have thought with deep regret, that now at last I am on the eve of bidding those walks, and the friends whom I know I possess there, a last adieu. No man, methinks, can ever leave a country where he has been kindly treated, without a deep feeling of sorrow. When I left England, and all my dear friends there, that feeling was as

pungent as it is at this moment, when | am about being thrust

INTRODUCTION. xi

into a coach, to travel as fast as horses can speed, towards Bris- tol, there to place myself on board that leviathan of the At- lantic, “ the Great Western,” to be paddled to my own native shores. But then, Reader, the remembrance of much kind- ness, and the gratitude resulting from it, will ever warm my heart. Whether far or near, I will ever try to communicate with those dear friends, and with you too, good Reader, should you be desirous of my doing so.

Late in the month of July last, whilst [ was engaged in ar- ranging the notes now in this volume, under the title of an Appendix, I had the great pleasure, one evening, of finding myself in the company of my worthy friend Dr Bacuman, of Charleston, and of my eldest son, whose name you cannot fail to recollect. The former had crossed the Atlantic, with the view of re-establishing his health by rambling over Europe, the latter had come from London to be my constant compa- nion. The days which we enjoyed together were few, but de- lightful; and when, at the end of a fortnight, my friend left us, I felt as if almost alone, and in the wilderness. August came in course, and in that month my beloved wife and the rest of my family joined me. My friend Maceitiivray and myself were up to the elbows among the birds which I had brought in spirits with me from America, I acting as secretary, he as prime minister. Under his kind tuition, I think I have

learned something of anatomy, which may enable me, at some future period, to produce observations that may prove interest- ing even to you, good Reader, for I promise that no sooner shall [have returned to America, and procured specimens of any of . the species, whose digestive and respiratory organs have not

been described in this work, than I will try to examine them

xii INTRODUCTION.

in detail, and publish the results in the Journals of some of our scientific institutions.

When September had mellowed the general aspect of nature, the long-cherished desire of obtaining a glimpse of the High- lands of Scotland filled our hearts anew, and we resolved to visit the mountains and lakes so beautifully described by the illustrious Scorr. The weather was as fine as we could wish. My good friend Maccitiivray, by way of obtaining a holiday, accompanied us, and, independently of the pleasure derived from his conversation, we found him useful in pointing out ob- jects with which he was familiar, and of which we might other- wise not have learned the history. Early one morning we start- ed, seven in number, for I took with me my dear little grand- child, not above two months old, with the desire, perhaps, of let- ting her breathe the mountain air. Every one acquainted with Edinburgh, knows the Chain-Pier at Newhaven. There, then, at eight o’clock we were, walking along its tremulous planks with a feeling of giddiness, and presently after found ourselves seated in the stern of a small steamer, bound for Stirling. There was no wind, the skies were serene, and the smooth waters were alive with shoals of young herrings, over which hovered gulls of various species. On some bare rocks near Aberdour, on the opposite coast, stood numerous cormorants, while along the shore, guillemots and auks dived or flew, as our boat approached them. After passing many beautiful spots, we entered the narrow passage of the “ Queen’s Ferry,” and presently obtained a view of the distant hills. At length we reached what I thought a very remarkable place for Scot- land, a considerable extent of land embanked, and so much

resembling some portions of the shores of the lower Mississippi,

INTRODUCTION. xiii

that, had the thermometer been at 86°, I should have looked upon it as well adapted for the cultivation of sugar, cotton, or tobacco. But the steamer, slow as was its progress, moved too fast for me; and if ever I again visit the Highlands, it shall be on foot, for no man, with nerve and will, and an ad- mirer of the beauties of nature, can ever truly enjoy the plea- sures of travelling, unless he proceed in that manner. After a while, we entered what I would call a singular narrow and tortuous bayou, winding amongst green meadows and corn- fields, and on whose margins some herons walked with mea- sured steps, while groups of lapwings flew over us so merrily, that we thought they had a holiday too. From the willows and ash-trees on the banks, “‘cushats” started in great numbers, alarmed by the noise of our paddles. Narrower and more shallow became the bayou, and at length our boat stuck in the mud. After a while, however, the sound of oars came on our ears, and, ere half an hour elapsed, the party from Edinburgh was, amidst much mirth and some sorrow, exchanged for the party from the hills of the north, as anxious apparently to reach their home, as we were to leave it farther behind. Now see us packed close in two great boats, rowed vigorously for a while, then towed along the margin, just in the way that Ca- nadian boatmen still proceed, by means of a cordelle, or as the Kentuckyans were wont to do thirty years ago on the Ohio _ and Mississippi. But, Reader, here we all are at Stirling. Nature must, I think, at one time have felt, as I would call it, “quite pleasant ;” for in this place she has produced a marvel- lously close imitation of one of her own works. At least, such was my impression when [ found myself walking around the walls

of Stirling Castle, so much did the rock at first resemble that.

xiv INTRODUCTION.

of Edinburgh; although in the details the two crags are very different. With delight we gazed on the beautiful valley be- neath us, until our eyes meeting with the wall of dark-blue mountains in the distance, we wished that CLAUDE LORRAINE had transferred the landscape to canvass, as he had done hun- dreds of others far less beautiful or grand.

At Stirling we had a good dinner, for which a good price was paid. Soon after we were on our way to the hills, comfortably enough stowed into a large post-chaise. Before we arrived at the village of Doun, however, darkness overtook us, so that we did not until nine reach Callender. There, we found a good house, kept by a good woman of the name of Stewart. Our friend Maceitirvray had stopped there before ; and, although there may be equally good taverns or hotels in Callender, we found no reason to regret our having taken his advice, for in Mrs STrEwart’s we spent the night very comfortably.

If travellers are sluggards, I pity them in my heart ; for, depend upon it, nature is never more beautiful than whilst she bathes herself, in the morn, in her own dewy waters. Then, traveller, whoever you may be, arouse yourself, leave your couch, emerge from good Mrs Srewart’s house, walk to the bridge opposite, and gaze upon the magnificent landscape around ; then lean over the parapet, and trace the nimble trout balancing itself in the pure stream that here slowly moves to- ward the rapids below. The meadows, though it was autumn, _ were yet green, the hills purpled with heather; and, as the sun’s rays dispelled the mist that lingered on the summits of the mountains, I thought that, in all my life, I had never be- held scenery that interested me more. Delightful country !

said I, how I should like to spend a summer here, amid clouds

INTRODUCTION. xv

and mists, sunshine and pleasant showers! Fresh egos, new milk, excellent ham, capital Scotch “ porridge,’ with bread, butter, and tea, constituted our breakfast, after which we marched in a body to the Falls of Bracklin, guided by a rosy- cheeked Highland lassie, stopping now and then by the way to pick up a wild flower, a blue bell, a “ gowan,” or a dog-rose, or to listen to the magpies and titmice. Pretty high we have climbed to a piece of moorland, where, no doubt, had we dogs and guns, with privilege to shoot, we might maim perhaps a grouse, perhaps a black-cock. But list! The roar of the cata- ract comes faintly on the ear; there is the very stream which, descending turbulently into the ravine, hurries to join the river below. Descend that narrow rocky pass with care, and trip lightly along that crazy bridge, wind to the right, reach the jutting angle of that rock, and now gaze upon the scene! I have looked at hundreds of streamlets in America equally tur- bulent, but I doubt if, after all, I have seen one so curiously confined within its rocky shores, or so abrupt in its various jets. Clusters of the bright-red_ berries of the mountain ash hung over the rocks, which were crusted with lichens; and, as I looked around on that sequestered spot, I thought what a secure retreat it might afford on occasions to some of the wild Celts of the olden times, who lived at variance with their Saxon neighbours in the valley below. I felt as if I were amongst them, enjoying the pleasure of living in the wilds, and then bethought me of the many similar spots yet belonging to our own Sons of the Forest.

Returning towards Callender, and emerging from the wood, we were surprised to see some hundreds of cows, all belonging

to the village below, grazing on what might well be called the

xvi INTRODUCTION.

finest of fore-grounds. The sun, now high, had considerably enriched the tints of the distance, which were mellowed into a hue bordering on the softest of modest purple; the small birds were rejoicing in the trees, the blue peat smoke of the village curled in spiry streams, and all nature seemed as happy as ourselves. But now, here we all are, on board our

post-chaise, bound for the Pass of Leny and Loch-Lubnig. On 3 proceeding, we found on the left side a brook, hurrying along to reach the level of the meadows of Callender vale, and passed some curiously grouped masses of blocks, amongst which, as our conductor informed us, badgers and foxes had often been bayed and worried. At the top of this beautiful pass, which is covered with brushwood, the country opens a little, and we saw on the creek the pretty Dipper, now skimming along, now perched on a stone in the water, in which it plunged at inter- vals in search of the food best suited to its appetite. On the opposite side the hills rose to a considerable height, here and there pleasantly sprinkled with black-faced sheep, and at length the lake opened to our view, flanked by an abrupt crag on one side, and long ferny slopes on the other. Beautiful miniature of grander objects of the same nature, how pleasant to me seemed, from the spot where I stood and gazed upon you, the green valley around, and how singularly well adapted to the scene was the white lodge in the distance, as contrasted with the pure tints of the sky above and the waters beneath ! Were I wealthy enough, I should spend at least a month here every summer. The lake, we were told, abounds in fine trout, the hills around afford grouse of different species, and the neighbouring forest is well stocked with roe and red-deer. Here we took our lunch; and, while we were refreshing ourselves with the water of the lake, and a few drops of

INTRODUCTION. xvii

mountain-dew, our friend Maccinitvray pointed out to us the ridges on which he had rambled the previous winter when they were covered with snow.

Retracing our way, we again approached Callender, and crossing the stream, drove through a lane in the direction of the Trosachs. Finding it rather tiresome to ride all day, some of us threw off our coats, and footed it pleasantly. Two small lakes were passed, and we were admiring the purple blossoms of the heather, when we overtook an ar- tist and his beloved on foot, both from London. Putting their extra luggage in our carriage, we continued our march and reached, nearly all at the same moment, the tavern of the Trosachs.

Here we met with many people from different parts of the

world : Cockneys, Irishmen, and “ Blue-noses,” some very thin, others over thick, some low, and some high in figure and man- ners. It was quite strange to me to hear a group of English- men talking, not of the scenery, but of the precious qualities .of their wines in Middlesex. Some who had navigated Vir- ginia Water, wondered whether Loch Lomond and Loch Ka- therine, were to be compared with Lake Huron and Lake Su- perior. They sucked their cigars in front of the tavern, walked nowhere, and thought of little else than their dinner.

- The traveller, who has passed over vast tracks of densely covered woodland, cannot be expected to gaze on trees of mo- derate size with much admiration, and perhaps on this very account I did not look upon the wooded crags of the Trosachs, as I should have done had they been naked, rough, and angu- lar, for I felt satisfied that they were abrupt and high enough to produce quite a sensation on the mind. The Trosachs, how-

b

XViil ‘ INTRODUCTION.

ever, are admired by the many, chiefly or entirely on account of Scott’s description of them, and I am far from being sorry for this. To me, the peep of Loch Katherine obtained from the landing-place, after running and frisking along, and rolling my- self among the heather, was absolutely delightful. With that most curious innate desire which there is in us of becoming older, for the purpose of enjoying the morrow, I went to rest, anxious to see the morn, and discover what existed beyond the crags that had bounded my view.

Thus, Reader, we spent half a day and a whole night at the inn on Loch Achray, and rose betimes expecting an early breakfast and an early departure; but no, the breakfast was late and hurried, the whole house, one might have thought, had just caught fire, every one called for the waiter, for his lug- gage, his bill, and the boat; and when the bustle was over, you might have seen a long procession issue from the hostelry. Giving way to the anxious, we lagged a little behind, and thus had a nice boat to ourselves, while the rest were uncomfort- ably crammed into another.

Loch Katherine, in my humble opinion, is a beautiful sile of water. We were told that some parts of it are of extreme depth ; but what rendered it so pleasingly welcome to me, was the prospect ever-changing, enlarging, and becoming more and more grand, as the ridges of hills came successively into view. Methinks, Reader, I am at this very instant gazing upon the heathery knolls and bracken-covered slopes of those rude moun- tains, for to me wild, melancholy, and sublime scenery is ever the most pleasing, and as we passed the jutting headlands of the lake, I could not help giving it a few drops more than. it already contained. I wished, indeed, that the wind had proved

INTRODUCTION. xtc

contrary, or that we had been forced to stand still until dark- ness had closed the magnificent landscape gradually and peace- fully from the view. Would that I could once more gaze on the beauties of Loch Katherine! Our rowers, however, indif- ferent to all save the shillings looked for, pulled uncommonly well, and in due time brought us to a very dirty landing, crowded with small ponies, ready-saddled, and standing by the side of a smoky hut, in which they who had not eaten enough at the Trosachs gorged themselves anew.

Now, our ladies, the maid, and our sweet babe are all mount- ed, while my friend MacciLiiIvray, my sons, and your humble servant, are going ahead on foot. The road is rough enough, but the sun shines brightly, and all are merry. When heated, we drink from a brook, and when hungry munch the contents of our pockets. Overtaking and leaving behind a very fat Englishman, we laugh, and seeing a broad-shouldered and sturdy Celt ahead, we strive to makeuptohim. Of the Gaelic language I know nothing, and yet it gives me great pleasure to hear it spoken by our friendly companion and the moun- taineers, as we trudge along. Now down a very steep and narrow pass we wind, and unexpectedly as it were find our- selves on the rocky shores of the famed Loch Lomond. How beautiful those three rugged and peaked mountains opposite, those green and wooded slopes, and that placid blue lake that stretches out before us, narrowing to the westward and ex- panding in the opposite direction.

Here we found a few small stone cabins, some fat bairns, abundance of ale, and a_ sufficiecy of capital whisky. The artist and his beloved were sketching a little cataract that

tumbled over a crag into the lake. Pony after pony, and one

XX INTRODUCTION.

pedestrian after another, are seen descending the pass, and in the rear, puffing and melting is the rubicund and ample- bodied admirer of Burgundy wine. All eyes are directed down the lake, so anxious are all for the arrival of the steamer. For my part, I really care not, but would gladly camp among the heather, or go in search of a Polecat or a Blackcock. We eat, we drink, we laugh, and now Rob Roy is talked of, and we all know that there is one of his hiding-places close by. Here then we are, on this craggy point, from which a heap of great blocks has fallen, and now we ascend toward a small triangular hole, which seems more fitted for the retreat of a badger than of “ an honest man” like the Red Rob. Ladies can hardly venture here, but men may easily ascend, and now, “one after another, gentlemen, if you please,” says the guide, this advice being here quite as necessary as for a person to tell another that a goose is not a turkey. With the aid of a very old and crazy ladder we descend into the hole; and now, Reader, being positively in Rob Roy’s Cave, open your eyes, stare around, and, if you please, tell us what you see. Why nothing! all is darkness, damp, and slime. Were I the keeper of this celebrated. spot, I would have it quite a different place before next September.

“Pull away for the opposite shore, good men, and you JoHN Woopuouss, take the tiller.” Now we proceed slowly but steadily toward the landing-place of Tarbet. Friend Mac- GILLIVRAY and I are put ashore, and we stride along a beauti- ful turnpike road to the house. It is a commodious house, and I should be well pleased to reside here a while every sum- mer. We had scarcely been comfortably settled, when the steamer’s cargo of wayworn travellers came in thick upon us,

INTRODUCTION. xxi

excepting the Burgundy-wine admirer, who somewhere gave us the slip. For the better part of two days we enjoyed our- selves in walking, riding, and visiting the neighbouring inlet of Loch Long, with the romantic valley of Glen Croe.

Our voyage to the head of Loch Lomond, and subsequently to its lower extremity, was very pleasant. From Balloch we were carried in crowded coaches to Dumbarton, where we ar- rived just in time to be hurried on board of a Glasgow steamer, which for half an hour stuck in the mud at the mouth of the Leven, affording us more time than was necessary to see the strangely abrupt crag on which Dumbarton Castle is built. At length we arrived at the far-famed Broomielaw.

Next day it rained, but we were assured that rain is of no importance in Glasgow, and we congratulated ourselves on the beautiful weather which we had in the Highlands. Having visited the Museum of the University, and that of the Ander- sonian Institution, in both which we were treated with kind- ness, as well as the Cathedral with its multitudinous tombs, the necropolis, the bridges, and the principal streets, not forgetting the Salt Market, for the sake of honest Bailie Nicol Jarvie, we left the mercantile metropolis of Scotland, and posted toward Lanark. The scenery of the beautiful and fertile valley of the Clyde is of a very different nature from that of the hills which we had just visited, and the contrast was agreeable ; but, excepting the celebrated Falls, which have so often been described, and the Cave in which the Patriot WaLLacr concealed himself from his many foes, this tract did not pre- sent objects on which I love to dwell. Still less does the bar- ren moor that occupies the heights between Lanark and the

plain of the Lothians, over which we passed, until the beauti-

xxii INTRODUCTION.

ful city of the north, with its picturesque “ Craigs,” again glad- dened our sight.

Pleasant as our trip had been, it seemed not to have bene- fited the health of my good wife, for in a few days after our return to Edinburgh, she was again taken ill. There is no lack of excellent physicians in that city, and we had the good fortune to fall upon one who not only restored her to health, but who has become a truly excellent and most valued friend. To this gentleman, Dr JoHN ARGYLE ROBERTSON, of 58 Queen Street, for his most efficient aid, and most kind and gentle treatment, we can never cease to cherish the most lively feelings of affec- tion. It is a curious part of my history, that during the whole time of my sojourn in Britain, none of the principal medical advisers whom we had occasion to employ would receive any recompense from us. In London, Mr Betx, and in Edinburgh Mr Nasmyru, the most dexterous and celebrated dentists of their respective cities, thus afforded us their aid; and in the former place Mr Puitires, Dr CarswE LL, and Dr Roscoe treated us with as much attention as if they had expected the most liberal fees. To all these excellent friends, whose liberality we have thus experienced, and whose professional aid has been so beneficial to us, we shall ever prove most grateful.

Here I have had the pleasure of meeting with several of my American friends, and some of my patrons ; among others, Epwarp Harris, long since introduced to you, Augustus TuornDYKE, Esq. of Boston, Messrs CooLepGe and DrxweELu of the same city, Mr Krucer and his Lady from New York. Of our English friends several have also visited us: Lady Ra- vENsworTH, Lady GeorGiAnA LippELL, the Honourable THo-

MAS LippDELL, Miss FoTHEerGILL of York, and JonaTHan Bram-

INTRODUCTION. xxiii

WELL, Esq. of Sheffield. But now, Reader, let us change the subject.

The measurements of the specimens described in all the volumes now in your hands, have been taken after the same plan. The length has been measured while the bird was lying flat and extended on its back, from the point of the bill to the tip of the tail, to the extremities of the wings, naturally closed by the sides, and to the end of the longest toe, the legs and feet being stretched to the full length. In Owls and other birds whose heads are large and rounded, the same method has been followed, the measurement not having been taken along the curvature of the parts, as is the practice with other persons. The wings have been measured from the carpal joint or flexure to the tip of the longest quill; the bills from the base of the ridge to the tip, and from the opening of the mouth to the end of the lower mandible; the tarsi from joint to joint ; the toes from their base to the root of the claws, and the latter along their back, following the curve. The colours of the bills, eyes, legs, and claws have been given from fresh specimens, unless in a few instances where skins only have been seen by me. This is especially the case with the spe- cies received from Mr Nutratt and Dr Townsenp. Many specimens of the digestive organs, and other parts, of the birds described, have been deposited in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, from the President of which I have received letters of thanks.

Besides the species described in this volume, and portrayed in the fourth volume of my Illustrations, I have presented you with several which reached me in London, and even in Edinburgh, after the “ Birds of America” were finished. A

XXIV INTRODUCTION.

rather voluminous Appendix contains corrections and addi- tional facts, together with an account of the digestive and re- spiratory organs. At the end of the volume you will find the names of all my subscribers who have continued to receive the fasciculi of my plates until the work has been completed. Those who have stopped short, and discontinued their subscriptions, it is unnecessary to mention; but of them there are now up- wards of one hundred and twenty.

To Professor Trait and the Curators of the Library of the University of Edinburgh, for the liberality of which they have allowed me the use of many valuable works not other- wise to be procured, I offer my sincere thanks; as well as to Professor Jameson for the specimens sent to him by the late Dr MerepirH GairDNER, which he has had the kindness to lend me from the rich Museum under his charge. Allow me also to mention the names of a few friends to whom I shall ever feel most deeply indebted. The first on the list is W1L- LIAM MacaiLiivray, and I wish that you, Reader, and all the world besides, knéw him as wellas I do. Thenext is WILLIAM Curupertson, Esq., originally of London, but now a citizen of New York. I have to offer my most sincere thanks also to B. F. Duncan, Esq. of Charleston in South Carolina, for his valuable and friendly assistance ; and to CoarLes Kpmonpston, Esq. of the same city, for his exertions in procuring specimens in spirits.

I have pleasure in saying that my enemies have been few, and my friends numerous. May the God who granted me life, industry, and perseverance to accomplish my task, forgive the former, and for ever bless the latter !

Should you feel inclined to read the little book, which will

INTRODUCTION. XXV

immediately follow this under the appellation of a Synopsis of the Birds of North America, call on my friends, Messrs Apam and Cuartes Brack, on the North Bridge of Edinburgh, and they will hand it to you. Now, Reader, farewell! may you be successful in all your undertakings! may you be heppy abroad and at home! and may the study of the admirable productions of Nature ever prove as agreeable to you as it has been to me.

JOHN J. AUDUBON.

EpinsureH, lst May 1839.

; fe ay F

el

“ot

Wy hes ais - Fa

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Red-and-white-winged Troopial, Yellow-headed Troopial, Bullock’s Troopial, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Lark Finch,

Prairie Finch, .

Brown Song Sparrow, . Brent Goose,

Louisiana Hawk, . Townsend’s Warbler, Arctic Bluebird,

Western Bluebird,

Chestnut-collared Lark-Bunting,

Black-headed Siskin, Black-and-yellow-crowned Finch, Arctic Ground-finch,

Audubon’s Warbler,

Hermit Warbler, . Black-throated Grey Wate:

Glaucous Gull or Burgomaster, .

Scarlet Ibis,

Lazuli Finch, : Clay-coloured Bunting, . Oregon Snow-finch,

Black-throated Green Warbler, .

Blackburnian Warbler, Macgillivray’s Warbler,

Icterus tricolor,

Icterus xanthocephalus, .

Icterus Bullochii, Picus querulus, Fringilla grammaca, Fringilla bicolor, Fringilla cinerea, Anser Bernicla, Falco Harrisii, Sylvia Townsendi, Sylvia arctica,

Sylvia occidentalis, Emberiza ornata, Fringilla magellanica, Emberiza atricapilla, Fringilla arctica, Sylvia Audubonii, Sylvia occidentalis, Sylvia nigrescens, Larus glaucus,

Ibis rubra,

Fringilla amena, Emberiza pallida, Fringilla oregona, Sylvia virens, . : Sylvia Blackburnie, . Sylvia Macgillivrayi,

Page

XXViil TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Mourning Warbler, . Connecticut Warbler, Arkansaw Siskin

Mealy Redpoll, Louisiana Tanager, . Townsend’s Bunting, Painted Bunting, Red-breasted Merganser, Black-throated Guillemot, Knob-billed Phaleris, Curled-crested Phaleris, Horned-billed Guillemot, Golden-eye Duck,

Eared Grebe,

Semipalmated Sandpiper, .

‘Trumpeter Swan,

Dusky Albatross, American Scoter Duck, Havell’s Tern,

Trudeau’s Tern, . thy Marsh or Gull-billed Tern, American Swan, . Violet-green Cormorant, Townsend’s Cormorant, Californian Partridge, Golden-winged Warbler, Cape May Warbler, . Brown Creeper, Californian Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, .

Red-bellied Woodpecker, . Red-shafted Woodpecker, .

Lewis’s Woodpecker, Red-breasted Woodpecker, Maria’s Woodpecker,

Common Three-toed Woodpecker,

Phillips’s Woodpecker, Canadian Woodpecker, .

Sylvia Philadelphia, Sylvia agilis, Fringilla psaltria, Fringilla borealis, Tanagra ludoviciana, Emberiza Townsendi, Emberiza picta, Mergus Serrator, Uria antiqua, Phaleris nodirostris, Phaleris cristatella, . Ceratorhyncha occidentalis, Fuligula Clangula, Podiceps auritus, Tringa semipalmata, Cygnus Buccinator, . Diomedea fusca, . Fuligula americana, Sterna Havelli, Sterna Trudeaui, Sterna anglica, Cygnus americanus, Phalacrocoraz resplendens, Phalacrocorax Townsendt, Perdix californica, Sylvia chrysoptera, Sylvia maritima, . Certhia familiaris, Sitta pygmea, . Picus villosus,.

Picus carolinus, Picus mexicanus, . Picus torquatus, . Picus ruber,

Picus Martine, Picus hirsutus,

Picus Philipsui, .

Picus canadensis.

19

81 85

87

90

90

91

92 100 101 102 104 105 108 110 114 116 117 122 125 127 133 148 149 152 154 156 158 163 164 169 174 176 179 181 184 186 188

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Harris’s Woodpecker, Audubon’s Woodpecker, Common Ptarmigan, White-tailed Grous, . Dwarf Thrush, Townsend’s Ptilogonys, Canada Jay, Crimson-winged Troopial, Brown Pelican, Rough-legged Falcon, Plumed Partridge, Welcome Partridge, Lazuli Finch, . Crimson-necked Finch, Grey-crowned Linnet, . Cow-pen Bird,

Evening Grosbeak, Townsend’s Finch, Anna Humming Bird, .

Californian Vulture,

Bachman’s Oyster-catcher,

Townsend’s Oyster-catcher,

Townsend’s Surf Bird, .

Slender-billed Guillemot, .

Western Duck, American Flamingo, Burrowing Owl, . Little Night Owl,

Little Columbian Owl, . Short-eared Owl, Bullock’s Troopial, Baltimore Oriole, Mexican Goldfinch, . Varied Thrush, : Commen Water Thrush,

Little Tyrant Flycatcher, . Small-headed Flycatcher, .

Blue Mountain Warbler,

Picus Harrisii,

Picus Auduboni, . Lagopus mutus, Tetrao leucurus, Turdus nanus, . . Ptilogonys Townsendi, Corvus Canadensis, Icterus Gubernator, Pelecanus fuscus, Falco lagopus,

Perdix plumifera, Perdix neoxenus, Fringilla amena, Fringilla frontalis, Fringilla tephrocotis, Icterus pecoris, Fringilla vespertina, Fringilla Townsendi, Trochilus Anna, Cathartes californianus, Hematopus Bachmanii, Hematopus Townsendi, Aphriza Townsendi, Uria Townsendi, Fuligula dispar, . Phenicopterus ruber, Strix cunicularia, Strix passerina,

Strix passerinoides, . Strix brachyotus, Icterus Bullockii, Icterus Baltimore, Fringilla mexicana, . Turdus nevius, Turdus aquaticus, Muscicapa pusilla, Muscicapa minuta, .

Sylvia montana,

XXIX

19]

194 196 200 201 206 208 211 212 217 226 228 230 230 232 233 235 236 238 240 245 247 249 251

253 255 264 269 271 273 278 278 282 284, 284, 288 291

294.

XXX TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Bartram’s Vireo, .

Short-legged Pewee Tivos, : Rocky Mountain Flycatcher, .

American Dipper,

af DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES NOT FIGURED.

Delafield’s Yellow-throat, .

Parkman’s Wren, Morton’s Finch, Imperial Woodpecker, . Lineated Woodpecker, . Gairdner’s Woodpecker, Drummond’s Snipe, .« Western Gull, Franklin’s Rosy Gull, Ross’s Gull, Yellow-nosed Albatross, Black-footed Albatross, Gigantic Fulmar, Pacific Fulmar, P Slender-billed Fulmar, .

SPECIES SEEN IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT NOT

Vireo Bartramit,

Muscicapa Richardsonii, .

Muscicapa nigricans,

Cinclus americanus,

Sylvia Delafieldii, Troglodytes Parkmanit, Fringilla Mortonii, . Picus imperialis,

Picus lineatus,

Picus Gairdnerii, Scolopax Drummondit, Larus occidentalis, Larus Franklinii, Larus Rossii, Diomedea hae aa Diomedea nigripes, Procellaria gigantea. Procellaria pacifica,

Procellaria tenuirostris,

CHARACTERIZED.

Bachman’s Hawk, Fork-tailed Owl,

Brown Ibis,

American Pheasant, Nuttall’s Whip-poor-will,

Red-backed Woodpecker, .

Green-tailed Sparrow,

Townsend’s Mocking Thrush,

White-tailed Cormorant, White-rumped Cormorant,

Falco Bachmanii,

Strix forficata,

Tantalus fuscus, Phasianus americanus, Caprimulgus Nuttallii, . Picus pyrrhonotus, Fringilla chlorura, Turdus Townsendi,

Phalacrocorax leucurus,

Phalacrocorax leuconotus, .

296 | 299 302 303

307 310 312 313 315 317 319 320 323 324 326 327 330 321 333

334 334 334 335 335 335 336 336 336 336

(i meee) }

APPENDIX.

Turkey Buzzard,

Black Vulture or Carrion Crow,

Caracara Eagle, White-headed Eagle, Osprey or Fish Hawk,

Peregrine Falcon or Seedaceackod

Hawk,

Pigeon Hawk, .

Petit Caporal, American Sparrow Hawk, Swallow-tailed Hawk, Mississippi Kite,’ . Goshawk,

Stanley Hawk,

Cooper’s Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,

Black Warrior, Red-shouldered Hawk, Winter Hawk,

Snowy Owl,

Barred Owl,

Barn Owl,

Little Screech Owl,

Great Horned Owl, . .

Little Owl,

Chuck-will’s-widow, .

Night Hawk,

Purple Martin,

Common Barn Swallow,

Republican or Cliff Swallow, .

White-bellied Swallow,

Cathartes Aura, Cathartes Iota, Polyborus brasiliensis, . Falco leucocephalus, . Falco Halidetus, .

sae Falco peregrinus,

Falco columbarius, Falco temerarius, Falco sparverius, Falco furcatus, Falco plumbeus, Falco palumbarius, Falco Stanleyit, Falco Cooperti, Falco pennsylvanicus, Falco borealis, Falco Harlani, Falco lineatus, Falco hyemalis, Strix nyctea, Strix nebulosa, Strix flammea,

. . Strix Asio, . Strix virginiana, . Strix acadica, . Caprimulgus carolinensis, Caprimulgus virginianus, Hirundo purpurea, , . Hirundo rustica, . Hirundo fulva, Hirundo bicolor, .

Page 339 345 351 354 362

365

368 368 370 371 374 375 376 376 377 378 380 380 380 382 386 388 392 393 397 401 406 408 41] 415 417

XXxil

American Swift, .

Tyrant Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Common Pewee Flycatcher, Wood Pewee, .

Traill’s Flycatcher,

Small Green-Crested F Tphacatia:

Least Flycatcher,

American Redstart, .

Green Black-capped privasealion?

Yellow-throated Vireo, .

Red-eyed Vireo, ae

Warbling Flycatcher or Vireo,

White-eyed Vireo,

Solitary Vireo,

Yellow-breasted Chat,

Great Cinereous Shrike,

Loggerhead Shrike, .

Mocking Bird,

Cat Bird,

Ferruginous Thrush,

American Robin or Migratory Thrush,

Hermit Thrush,

Wood Thrush,

Tawny Thrush,

Golden-crowned Thrush,

Shore Lark, Brown Titlark,

{ Prairie Titlark,

Blue Bird, me Yellow-poll Warbler,

{ Children’s Warbler, .

Azure Warbler,

Blue-green Warbler, Hemlock Warbler, Autumnal Warbler, .

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Cypselus pelasgius, Muscicapa Tyrannus, Muscicapa Cooperi, . Muscicapa crinita, Muscicapa fusca, Muscicapa virens, Muscicapa Traillii, . Muscicapa acadica, . Muscicapa pusilla, Muscicapa Ruticilla, Muscicapa Wilsoniz, Vireo flavifrons, . Vireo olivaceus,

Vireo gilvus,

Vireo noveboracensis, Vireo solitarius, Icteria viridis, Lanius Excubitor, Lanius ludovicianus, Turdus polyglottus, Turdus felivox, Turdus rufus, .

Turdus migratorius, .

Turdus minor, Turdus mustelinus, Turdus Wilsonii, . Turdus aurocapillus, Alauda alpestris, . Anthus Spinoletta, Anthus pipiens, Sylvia Sialis, . Sylvia estiva, . Sylvia Childrenii, Sylvia azurea, Sylvia rara, Sylvia Parus, .

Sylvia autumnalis,

432,

419 420 422 423 424. 425 4.26 427 427 428 428 428 4:30 431 432 433 433 434 435 438 440 441

442

4A5 446 4.4.6 447 448 449 449 4.52 453 453 456 456 AST 457

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

f Pine-creeping Warbler, .

Vigors’s Warbler, .

Black-throated Blue Warbler,

Pine-swamp Warbler,

Black-and-yellow Warbler,

Blackburnian Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, . Worm-eating Warbler, . Prothonotary Warbler, . Nashville Warbler, . Tennessee Warbler, .

Swainson’s Warbler,

Maryland Yellow-throat, Roscoe’s Yellow-throat, . Green Black-capt Warbler,

{ strvina Ye Warbler or

Hooded Warbler, . Selby’s Flycatcher,

American Gold-crested Wren,

Great Carolina Wren, Marsh Wren, . Bewick’s Wren, . Wood Wren, . . . .

Nuttall’s Short-billed Marsh Wren.

House Wren, .

Black-and-white Creeper, .

Crested Titmouse,

White-breasted Nuthatch, .

Red-bellied Nuthatch, . Carolina Titmouse, Blue Jay,

Raven,

American Crow, .

Fish Crow, . Boat-tailed Grakle,

Sylvia pinus,

Sylvia Vigorsit, Sylvia canadensis, Sylvia sphagnosa, Sylvia maculosa, . Sylvia Blackburnie, . Sylvia castanea, Sylvia vermivora, Sylvia Protonotarius, Sylvia rubricapilla, Sylvia peregrina, .

Sylvia Swainsonii, Sylvia Trichas,

Sylvia Roscoe,

Sylvia mitrata,

Sylvia mitrata, Muscicapa Selbyi, Regulus tricolor, . Troglodytes ludovicianus, Troglodytes palustris, Troglodytes Bewichii, Troglodytes americana, Troglodytes brevirostris, Troglodytes edon, Certhia varia, .

Parus bicolor, .

Sitta carolinensis,

Sitta canadensis, . Parus carolinensis, Corvus cristatus, . Corvus Coraz, .

Corvus americanus, Corvus ossifragus,

Quiscalus major, .

C Purple Grakle, or Common or \ uicsniiadernatan

Blackbird, Rusty Grakle,

Quiscalus ferrugineus, -

XXxiii

457 A45T 458 458 458 459 459 460 461 461 462 462

463

463 464 465 465 465 466 467 467 4.69 469 4:70 ATT A72 473 ATA ATA 415 416 ATT 479 480

481

483

XXXIV TABLE

Orchard Oriole,

Rice Bird, ‘ Red-winged Starling, Cow-pen Bird,

Meadow Lark,

Cedar Bird,

Snow Bunting, White-throated Bunting, Yellow-winged Bunting, Henslow’s Bunting, Sharp-tailed Finch, . Macgillivray’s Finch, Purple Finch,

Grass Finch or Bayngd Bunt-

ing,

Indigo Bunting,

Tree Sparrow,

Snow Bird,

Song Sparrow,

Swamp Sparrow,

Blue Grosbeak,

Pine Finch,

American Goldfinch, Common Crossbill, Towhee Bunting, Fox-coloured Sparrow, . Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cardinal Grosbeak, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Finch, . Painted Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Summer Red-bird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo,

Ivory-billed Woodpecker, .

Pileated Woodpecker,

Red-headed Woodpecker, .

OF CONTENTS.

Icterus spurius,

Icterus agripennis, Icterus phoeniceus, Icterus pecoris,

Sturnus ludovicianus, Bombycilla carolinensis, Emberiza nivalis, Fringilla pennsylvannica, Fringilla passerina, Emberiza Henslowi, Fringilla caudacuta, Fringilla Macgillivrayii, Fringilla purpurea,

my Fringilla graminea,

Fringilla cyanea, Fringilla canadensis, Fringilla hyemalis, Fringilla melodia, Fringilla palustris, . Fringilla coerulea, Fringilla. pinus, . Fringilla tristis, Loxia curvirostra, Fringilla erythrophthalma, Fringilla iliaca, . Fringilla ludoviciana, Fringilla cardinalis, Fringilla leucophrys, Fringilla savanna,

Fringilla Ciris,

. Fringilla socialis,

Tanagra estiva,

Coccyzus americanus, Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Picus principalis,

Picus pileatus,

Picus erythrocephalus, .

485 4.86

— AST

491 492 494 496 497 497 498 499 499 500

502

503 504 505 507 508 508 509 510 511 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 517 518 520 523 525 533 536

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, . Three-toed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Golden-winged Woodpecker, .

Ruby-throated Humming Bird, .

Belted Kingfisher, Blue-grey Flycatcher, Canada Flycatcher, . Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Dove, White-headed Pigeon, Zenaida Dove,

Ground Dove, .

Wild Turkey, . Pinnated Grous,

Ruffed Grous, . : Spotted or Canada Grous, . Virginian Partridge,

American Coot,

Clapper Rail, or Salt-water Marsh

Hen, Sora Rail, Virginian Rail, Yellow-breasted Rail, American Golden Plover, . Kildeer Plover, Wilson’s Plover, . Ring Plover, American Ring-Plover, American Oyster-catcher, Sanderling, aca Pectoral Sandpiper, . , Solitary Sandpiper, . Common American Snipe, Semipalmated Snipe or Willet, Yellow-shank, Long-billed Curlew,

Hudsonian Curlew,

Picus varius,

Picus tridactylus, Picus pubescens, Picus auratus, Trochilus Colubris, . Alcedo Alcyon, Musicapa cerulea, Musicapa canadensis, Columba migratoria, Columba carolinensis, Columba leucocephala, Columba Zenaida, Columba passerina, . Meleagris Gallopavo, Tetrao Cupido, Tetrao umbelius, Tetrao canadensis, Perdiz virginiana,

Fulica americana,

‘ Rallus crepitans,

Rallus carolinus,

Rallus virginianus, Rallus noveboracensis, Charadrius marmoratus, Charadrius vociferus, Charadrius Wilsonius, Charadrius melodus, Charadrius semipalmatus, Hematopus palliatus, Tringa arenaria, Tringa pectoralis, Totanus chloropygius, Scolopax Wilsoni, Totanus semipalmatus, Totanus flavipes, Numenius longirostris,

Numenius hudsonicus,

XXXVi TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Esquimaux Curlew, . Great Marbled Godwit, Hudsonian Godwit, White Ibis, Hyperborean Pileeap Great White Heron, Great Blue Heron, Night Heron,

Reddish Egret, Louisiana Heron,

Snowy Heron,

Least Bittern, .

Canada Goose,

Brent Goose,

Eider Duck,

Scaup Duck,

Pintail Duck,

Green -winged Teal, Harlequin Duck,

Wood Duck,

Hooded Merganser, . Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe, Pied-billed Dobchick, Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Razor-billed Auk, Double-crested Cormorant, Florida Cormorant, Frigate Pelican, ee Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull,

Common American Gull, Cayenne Tern,

Sooty Tern,

Noddy Tern,

Black or Short-tailed i

Pomarine Jager, . Wilson’s Petrel,

Numenius borealis, Limosa Fedoa,

Limosa hudsonica,

Ibis alba, , Phalaropus hyberboreus, Ardea occidentalis, Ardea Herodias,

Ardea Nycticorax, Ardea rufescens,

Ardea ludoviciana, Ardea candidissima, Ardea exilis,

Anser canadensis,

Anser Bernicla, Fuligula mollissima, Fuligula Marila,

Anas acuta,

Anas Crecca,

Fuligula histrionica, Anas Sponsa, .

Mergus cucullatus, Podiceps rubricollis, Podiceps cornutus, Podiceps carolinensis, Colymbus septentrionalis, Uria Grylle,

Alca Torda, Phalacrocorax dilophus, Phalacrocorax floridanus, Trachypetes Aquilus, Larus marinus,

Larus argentatus, Larus zonorhynchus, Sterna cayana,

Sterna fuliginosa, Sterna stolida,

Sterna nigra,

Lestris pomarinus,

Thalassidroma Wilsonii,

590 590 592 593 595 596 599 600 604: 605 606 606 607 610 611 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 623 624 625

' 627

628 629 632 634 636 638 638 639 641 642 642 643 645

(| xxxvili )

LIST OF ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

18 Digestive organs of Picus querulus, : Z Full size, 2. Proventriculus, stomach, and duodenum of Anser Bernicla, 3. Rectum, cceca, and oviduct of Anser Bernicla, 4. CEsophagus, stomach, and duodenum of Mergus Serrator, : : : ‘ Less than half-size, 5. Coeca of Mergus Serrator, ; : . Full size, 6. Proventriculus, stomach, and duodenum of Cygnus americanus, . ; : E Half size, 7. Intestine of Cygnus americanus, . . One-third do. 8. Proventriculus, stomach, and duodenum of Pelecanus Suscus, : . : : \ Half size, 9. Ova, oviduct, cloaca, rectum, and cceca of do. : Full size, 10. Digestive organs of Buteo lagopus, . é Half size, 11. GEsophagus of Phenicopterus ruber, 12. Coeca of Pheenicopterus ruber, : ; ‘ Full size, 13. Digestive organs of Phenicopterus ruber, . 14. CEsophagus and stomach of Icterus Baltimore, a 15. CEsophagus, stomach, and duodenum of Cathartes Aura, Half size, 16. Duodenum of Cathartes Aura, : ‘ : Full size, 17. Internal surface of stomach of Cathartes Aura, 18. Section of brain, and nasal cavity of Cathartes Aura, 19. External nares of Cathartes Aura,

23.

24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

. Digestive Organs of Cathartes atratus, . Nasal cavity of Cathartes atratus, . Digestive organs and trachea of Polyborus brasili-

ensis, : One-third size, Proventriculus, stomach, and intestine of Falco leu-

cocephalus, Full size, Ceeca, rectum, and cloaca of Falco leucocephalus,

(Esophagus, stomach, and duodenum of Falco furcatus,

External aperture of ear of Strix nyctea,

External ear of Strix nebulosa,

Head of Strix americana,

Page 16

27 28

98 98

143 143

214 215 225 262 262 263 281 341 342 342 343 344 348 349

353

360 361 373 385 387 390

XXXViii LIST OF ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

29. External aperture of ear of Strix Asio, . : Full size, 392 30. CEsophagus, stomach, and duodenum of Strix virginiana, Half size, 395 31. Ceeca of Strix virginiana, F : ‘ Full size, 395 32. Head of Strix virginiana, : ‘ 5 -» _- 396 33. Head of Strix acadica, . : ; : So 19)°) 34. Digestive organs of Strix acadica, : : --. 400 35. Digestive organs of Caprimulgus Carolinensis, . scp 4038 36. Digestive organs of Hirundo purpurea, . 5 -- 408 37. Digestive organs of Vireo flavifrons, . : w. 428 38. Digestive organs of Alauda alpestris, 5 ‘ ». 448 39. Digestive organs of Sylvia Sialis, . ; gi Aas 40. Digestive organs of Troglodytes ludovicianus, . : -. 466 41. Digestive organs of Sitta Carolinensis, . ; . 473 42. Digestive organs of Corvus cristatus, ; ; we = 475 43. Digestive organs and trachea of Corvus americanus, aoe, pO 44. Digestive organs of Quiscalus versicolor, 5 ssneg 402 45. Digestive organs of Icterus pheniceus, . . .. 489 46. Esophagus and stomach of Zcterus pecoris, : on. Pee 47. Ceca of Icterus pecoris, ; 3 ; ee 491 48. Digestive Organs of Sturnus ludovicianus, ‘ : hy aap 49. Digestive Organs of Bombycilla carolinensis, . y NE 495 50. Digestive Organs of Fringilla leucophrys, ; : os pe 51. Digestive Organs of Coccyzus Americanus, : . ote pee 52. Coeca of Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, . : ‘ Seo. Ga 53. Digestive Organs of Picus principalis, , ; --. _ 926 54. Lateral view of head, tongue, hyoid bones, cesophagus, and trachea of Picus principalis, : : : vee ees 55. Same part viewed from beneath, : : : so: 28 56. Digestive Organs of Picus pileatus, ; , a woe ey Ed 57. Glosso-laryngeal muscles of Picus auratus, : , jee oe ee 58. Lateral view of head of Picus villosus, . ‘ : was DAS 59. Hyoid bones of Picus villosus, seen from above, : . 543 60. Trachea of Trochilus Colubris, . 4 ; ; ea 545 61. Digestive Organs of Trochilus Colubris, ; . wee | oes 62. Head and hyoid bones of Trochilus Colubris, from above, nas. purely 63. Head and hyoid bones of Trochilus Colubris, from beneath, as 545 64. Tongue of Trochilus Colubris, ; Twice the natural size, 546 65. Digestive Organs of Alcedo Alcyon, ; ; . — Fullsize, 548 554

66. Digestive organs of Columba migratoria,

LIST OF ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD. XXXIX

67. Digestive organs of Tetrao Umbellus, . ; . Half size, 562 68. Digestive Organs of Perdix virginiana, : . Fullsize, 566 69. Cceca of Perdix virginiana, : : : ; Pe DOO 70. Proventriculus, stomach and intestine of Fulica americana, oe OOS 71. Cesophagus, stomach, and duodenum of Rallus erepitans, eos nO 72. Cocca, rectum, and cloaca of Rallus crepitans, . F aon el 73. Digestive Organs of Charadrius Wilsonius, : F La 577 74. Digestive Organs of Hematopus palliatus, : . Half size, 580 75. Digestive Organs of Totanus semipalmatus, - . Full size, 585 76. Digestive Organs of Numenius longirostris, ; P sae 587 77. Digestive Organs of Limosa Fedoa, : : . ... 590 78. Esophagus, stomach, and duodenum of Jdis alba, . aad ee DOF 79. Cceeca of Ibis alba, : 3 : 594 80. Digestive Organs of Phalaropus hyperboreus, . : ou 81. Digestive Organs of Ardea occidentalis, : : Row ee 82. Digestive Organs of Ardea Herodias, . : é sso, 603 83. Proventriculus and stomach of Anser canadensis, : swotot GOB) 84. Proventriculus, stomach, and duodenum of Fuligula mollissima, ... 612 85. Cceca and rectum of Fuligula mollissima, : : osetie Ge 86. Digestive Organs of Podiceps rubricollis, ; ‘ site O2E 87. Proventriculus and stomach of Podiceps carolinensis, . avalon) G24 88. Proventriculus and stomach of Colymbus septentrionalis, | O26 89. Coeca of Colymbus septentrionalis, : : ; «-. 626 90. Digestive Organs of Phalacrocorax dilophus, . ° aor § 630 91. Digestive Organs and trachea of Tachypetes Aquilus, zee O30) 92. Digestive Organs of Lestris pomarinus, : - ... 644 93. Digestive Organs of Thalassidroma Wilsonii, . ... 645

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ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY.

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RED-AND-WHITE-WINGED TROOPIAL.

IcTERUS TRICOLOR.

PLATE CCCLXXXVIII. Mate.

How delightful, I have often exclaimed, must have been the feel- ings of those enthusiastic naturalists, my friends Nutratt and Town- SEND, while traversing the ridges of the Rocky Mountains! How grand and impressive the scenery presented to their admiring gaze, when from an elevated station they saw the mountain torrent hurling its foamy waters over the black crags of the rugged ravine, while on wide-spread wings the Great Vulture sailed overhead watching the de- parture of the travellers, that he might feast on the salmon, which in striving to ascend the cataract had been thrown on the stony beach! Now the weary travellers are resting on the bank of a brawling brook, along which they are delighted to see the lively Dipper frisking wren- like from stone to stone. On the stunted bushes above them some cu- rious Jays are chattering, and as my friends are looking upon the gay and restless birds, they are involuntarily led to extend their gaze to the green slope beneath the more distant crags, where they spy a mountain sheep, watching the movements of the travellers, as well as those of yon wolves stealing silently toward the fleet-footed animal. Again the pilgrims are in motion ; they wind their pathless way round rocks and fissures ; they have reached the greatest height of the sterile plat- form ; and as they gaze on the valleys whose waters hasten to join the Pacific Ocean, and bid adieu, perhaps for the last time, to the dear friends they have left in the distant east, how intense must be their

VOL. V. A

2 RED-AND-WHITE-WINGED TROOPIAL.

feelings, as thoughts of the past and the future blend themselves in their anxious minds! But now I see them, brother-like, with lighter steps, descending toward the head waters of the famed Oregon. | They have reached the great stream, and seating themselves in a canoe, shoot adown the current, gazing on the beautiful shrubs and flowers that or- nament the banks, aud the majestic trees that cover the sides of the valley, all new to them, and presenting a wide field of discovery. The melodies of unknown songsters enliven their spirits, and glimpses of gaudily plumed birds excite their desire to search those beautiful thick- ets; but time is urgent, and onward they must speed. A deer crosses the stream, they pursue and capture it; and it being now evening, they land and soon form a camp, carefully concealed from the prying eyes of the lurking savage. The night is past, the dawn smiles upon the refreshed travellers, who launch their frail bark; and .as they slowly float on the stream, both listen attentively to the notes of the Red-and-White-winged Troopial, and wonder how similar they are to those of the “ Red-winged Starling :” they think of the affinities of species, and especially of those of the lively birds composing this beau- tiful group.

Indeed it is not a little interesting to the practical ornithologist to see the amalgamation as it were of species belonging to certain families, and of none more than of the birds formerly known by the names of Quis- cali and Icteri. He who attends to the manners of these birds will be inclined to assimilate them on the one hand to the Crows, and on the other to the Finches, while many of their habits indicate that they are quite different from either.

The first striking resemblance between Quiscalus major, Q. versico- lor ; Icterus tricolor, I. phaniceus, I. Gubernator, I. ferrugineus, and the Cow Bird, is found in the circumstances of their all moving in flocks, mixing more or less with one another, and shewing a decided attach- ment to man, founded entirely on self-interest, and the benefit which results to them from his agricultural labours. They are all loqua- cious, fly in dense whirling masses, alight equally well on trees, poles, or fences proper for roosting, as well as on the rank plants of marshes and meadows. They walk with ease, indeed with a considerable degree of grace, and are never seen to hop or leap. Although some of these species may give a preference to the more immediate neighbourhood of

RED-AND-WHITE-WINGED TROOPIAL. 3

the sea than others are wont to do, those which go farthest inland will rarely spend a night anywhere else than on the sedges surrounding the ponds or lakes of the interior. In this respect, these different species remind you of a similar habit in our Common American Crow, which differs from the Fish Crow, the latter, as I have already informed you, retiring to the tops of low trees in the midst of swamps to spend the night, and often at a considerable distance from any open water.

The birds of which I now particularly speak are all in a manner omnivorous, and although their bills differ considerably in shape, some being stouter or less conical, or less pointed than others, they are all fond of grain, and in a greater or less degree are looked upon by the husbandman as depredators. Their notes are more chattering than musical, and they are exceedingly prone to be garrulous at all seasons of the year. Fond of flesh, they not unfrequently devour the young of birds weaker than themselves; and they have a habit of perching on cattle, to search for the insects among their hair. While the Boat- tailed Grakle is fond of seeking for crayfish, fiddlers, or fry that have been cast on the shore, or of watching the dying oyster on the exposed bank, the Crow Blackbird will be found following the plough, picking up grubs and worms, or tearing the tender blades of the maize, in company with Redwings, Cow Buntings, and Ferruginous Grakles. All these species form their nests pretty much alike, and when they are placed on trees introduce into their composition some dung or earth, in which respect they resemble the American Crow. Lastly, I may state, that, to my taste, their flesh is very far from exceilent.

The beautiful species of this group which forms the subject of the present article was discovered in Upper California by my friend Tuo- mas Nutraut, Esq., from whom I received the specimen represented in the plate, together with the following account. “ Flocks of this vagrant bird, which, in all probability, extends its migrations into Oregon, are very common around Santa Barbara in Upper Califor- nia, in the month of April. Their habits are similar to those of the Red-winged Icterus, but they keep in large flocks apart from that species, which also inhabits this country as well as Mexico. They are seldom seen but in the near suburbs of the town, feeding at this time almost exclusively on the maggots or larve of the blow-flies, which are generated in the offal of the cattle constantly killed around the town for the sake of the hides. In large whirling flocks they are

4 RED-AND-WHITE-WINGED TROOPIAL.

seen associated with the Cow Birds, Common Grakles, Red-wings, and a small species with an orange-yellow head, flitting about in quest of food, or perching on the orchard trees in the town, where they keep up an incessant chatter and discordant confused warble, much more harsh or guttural than the note of the Cow-bird. They are also common around Monterey. With the female, and the circumstances of breed-

ing, I am not acquainted.”

IcTERUS TRICOLOR.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXXVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill nearly as long as the head, conical, straight, moderately stout, tapering to a fine point; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being a little convex at the base, the ridge a little flattened toward the base, where it runs into a short tapering process, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip a little depressed ; lower mandible higher at the base than the upper, with the angle rather short and wide, the sides rather flat at the base, convex toward the end, the edges in- flected, the tip acute; the gape-line straight, but at the base deflected. Nostrils oval, in the fore part of the short nasal depression.

Head of moderate size, ovate, with the forehead flattened ; neck short; body moderately stout. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus rather stout, compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, of which the up- per are blended, and two lateral plates meeting at an acute angle be- hind ; toes rather large, compressed, the first much stronger, the outer a little shorter than the inner ; claws large, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage soft, blended, glossy, the feathers ovate and rounded. Wings of ordinary length, the second and third quills longest and equal, the first shorter than the fourth ; the outer secondaries abrupt, and slightly repand. ‘Tail of twelve broadly rounded feathers, rather long, almost even, the lateral feathers being only two-twelfths of an inch shorter than the longest.

Bill and feet black, iris hazel. The general colour of the plumage is glossy bluish-black ; the smaller wing-coverts deep carmine, their lower row white.

Length to end of tail 9 inches ; bill along the ridge 13; wing from flexure 5; tail 3x4; tarsus 124 ; hind toe £4, its claw 7% ; second toe 3,

its claw #4; third toe 4%, its claw 3; fourth toe 74; its claw 74.

RED-AND-WHITE-WINGED TROOPIAL. 5

This species is very intimately allied to the Red-winged Starling, Icterus pheniceus, being of the same size, and almost entirely of the same colour. The bill is a little more slender, and has the ridge at the base rather elevated and convex, that part being flattened in the other species ; the tail in the present is even, but in the other well rounded ; the red on the wing is deep carmine, edged behind with pure white, whereas in the other it is scarlet, edged with pale orange yellow.

Another species very intimately allied to both, Psarocolius Guber- nator of W acute, has the bill considerably shorter and higher, the wings longer, and the tail slightly rounded. It is similar in size, and of the same black colour ; but differs in having the feathers of the head and neck abrupt at their extremities, and presenting a velvety texture, as well as in being furnished with a uniform scarlet patch on the wing, neither edged with white, as in Jcterus tricolor, nor with yellow, as in

Icterus phoniceus.

nerd

YELLOW-HEADED TROOPIAL.

ICTERUS XANTHOCEPHALUS, Bonap.

PLATE CCCLXXXVIII. Maue, Femarz, anp Youne.

Tals species was first made known as an inhabitant of North Ame- rica by the naturalists of Major Lone’s expedition to the Rocky Mountains. According to Dr Ricuarpson, “ the species ranges in summer to about the fifty-eighth parallel,” but has not been found to the eastward of the Mississippi, where it “ arrives from the southward in the middle of May, and by the 20th of the same month reaches the Saskatchewan, where it associates with the Redwing, and, being more numerous, commits even greater havoc in the corn-fields. Mr Nut- TALL has favoured me with the following notice respecting it. ‘“ On the 2d of May, around the Kansa (Texian) Agency, we now saw abun- dance of the Yellow-headed Troopial, associated with the Cow-bird. They kept much on the ground in companies, the males (at this time) by themselves. In arable or loose soil they dig into the earth with their bills in quest of insects and larvee, are very active, and straddle about with a quaint gait, and now and then, while on the ground, which they wholly frequent, in the manner of the Cow-bird, whistle out with great effort, a chuckling note sounding like ho-kukkle-ait, often varying into a straining squeak, as if using their utmost endeavour to make some kind of noise in token of sociability. Their music, if such it deserves to be called, is however even inferior to the harsh note of the Cow-bird. Are they also polygamous? Afterwards, in the month of June, by the edge of a grassy marsh, in the open plain of the Platte, several hundred miles inland, we met with the nest of this bird con- taining several spotted and blotched greenish-white eggs, not much un- like those of the Red-winged Icterus.” To this Dr TownsEnp adds: —* Icterus xanthocephalus inhabits the western plains of the Missouri and banks of the Platte River to the Black Hills. The nest of this species is built under a tussock in marshy ground, formed of fine grasses, and canopied over like that of the Meadow Lark. The eggs, from two to four, are of a bluish-white, covered all over with minute specks of purple, largest and most numerous at the great end. It associates

YELLOW-HEADED TROOPIAL. 7

with the Cow-bunting, and alights on the backs of the horses. Its note is very harsh and grating, and does not resemble that of the Red- winged Blackbird.”

I have represented a male, a female, and the head of a young bird

approaching towards maturity.

IcrERUS 1cTEROCEPHALUS, Ch. Bonap. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 27. pl. 3, fig. 1, 2.

IcTERUS XANTHOCEPHALUS, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 52.

AGELAIUS XANTHOCEPHALUS, Swains—SaFFRON-HEADED Maize-Birp, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 281.

YELLOW-HEADED Trooriat, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 176.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXXVIII. Fig. 2.

Bill shorter than the head, stout, straight, conical, tapering to a fine point ; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly convex at the base, the ridge a little flattened toward the base, where it runs into a short tapering process, the sides rounded, the ed- ges inflected, the tip a little depressed; lower mandible rather higher at the base than the upper, with the angle short and wide; the sides convex at the base, toward the end rounded, the edges involute, the tip acute ; the gape-line straight, but at the base deflected. Nostrils oval, in the fore part of the short nasal depression.

Head of moderate size, ovate, with the forehead flattened ; neck short ; body moderately stout. Feet of ordinary length ; tarsus rather stout, compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, and two lateral plates, meeting behind at an acute angle; toes rather large, compres- sed, the first much stronger, the outer a little shorter than the inner and united with the third as far as the second joint ; claws long, little arched, compressed, laterally grooved, very acute.

Plumage soft, blended, glossy ; the feathers generally ovate; those on the upper part of the head stiffish and somewhat silky. Wings of ordinary length, the first, second, and third quills almost equal, the se- cond being longest; outer secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail ra- ther long, rounded, the lateral feathers four-twelfths of an inch shorter than the longest.

Bill and feet black; iris hazel. The head, the upper part of the hind neck, the fore neck and part of the breast, orange-yellow, the throat paler ; the feathers along the base of the bill, the loral space, a

8 YELLOW-HEADED TROOPIAL.

band below the eye, and a narrower one above it, black. The rest of the plumage is glossy black, excepting two bands on the outer part of

the wing, formed by some of the smaller coverts, and the primary coverts, which are white.

Length to end of tail 9 inches; bill along the ridge 13; wing from flexure 512; tail 4,4 ; tarsus 1,4; hind toe 7%, its claw 7% ; second toe rz, its claw 74; third toe +4, its claw © ; fourth toe #, its claw 79.

Female. Plate CCCXXXVIII. Fig 3.

The female, which is much smaller, is of a uniform greyish-brown colour, with the feathers at the base of the upper mandible, a band over the eye, and the fore part of the neck light yellow ; the throat dull white, , and the feathers on the middle of the breast margined with white toward the end. The bill and feet are dusky brown.

Young. Plate CCCLXXXVIII. Fig. 4,

The head represented is that of a young male assuming the plu- mage of the adult.

Gaya)

. BULLOCK’S TROOPIAL.

Ictervus BouLwocki, Swains.

PLATE CCCLXXXVIII. Mate.

Accorpine to Mr Nurratt, who has favoured me with so many ob- servations relative to the birds described in this and the preceding vo- lume, “‘ Butiock’s Oriole occurs in nearly the same localities as the Yellow-headed Troopial. About fifty or sixty miles to the north-west of the usual crossing-place of that branch of the La Platte called La- rimie’s Fork, we observed it making a nest quite similar to that of the Baltimore Bird. This species, which I have since seen in upper Cali- fornia, where it arrives (around Santa Barbara) in the beginning of May, has the same plaintive fifing warble, but more brief and less va- ried. ‘The males also, as usual, arrive in flocks considerably before the females. They have likewise the same habit of concealing themselves for a length of time while carefully gleaning for small larve, or sip- ping the nectareous juices of the opening blossoms of the trees they delight to frequent. On the Platte, the only trees they can resort to are the Balsam poplars, which border the stream. In all respects this species resembles the Common Baltimore Bird, which it supersedes from the first great bifurcation of the Platte, to the shores of the Co- lumbia, extending at least as far as the borders of Old California. Mr Butuock, its discoverer, also met with it throughout the table-land of Mexico.”

Since the above notice was transmitted to me, I have received ano- ther from Dr TownsEnp, along with a female and a young male, both of which I have figured in Plate CCCCX XXIII. “ It inhabits the Rocky Mountains near the Black Hills and theforests of the Columbia River. In the latter place it isa rather plentiful species. Its usual note consists of a single quavering call somewhat like one of the notes of the Scarlet Tanager, Tanagra rubra. At other times it warbles a little, but not with half the sweetness or compass of its near relative the Baltimore. It is a very active species, so much so indeed that it is very difficult to get a shot at it while sitting, but it is easily killed on the wing. It evidently breeds here, and has probably now a nest (June 16th), but I

10 BULLOCK’S TROOPIAL.

have not been able to find it. The female is rarely seen, and is parti- cularly shy and noiseless.”

XantTuHorNus Buxzocki1, Swainson, Synopsis of Mexic. Birds, Phil. Mag. 1827, p. 436.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXXVIII. Fig. 5.

Bill a little shorter than the head, conical, very slightly decurved, compressed, tapering to a very attenuated point ; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, being very slightly convex, the ridge narrow, its basal extremity tapering, the sides convex, the edges over- lapping, the tip extremely sharp ; lower mandible with the angle long and of moderate width, the dorsal line and that of the crura slightly concave, the sides erect and nearly flat at the base, convex toward the end, the edges slightly inflected, the tip extremely slender; gape-line straight, declinate at the base. Nostrils elliptical, with a small opercu- lum above, in the fore part of the nasal membrane, half-way between the ridge and the margin.

Head ovate, of moderate size; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus much compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, and two longitudinal plates behind form- ing avery thin edge ; toes of moderate size, the hind toe much stronger, the lateral about equal, the third and fourth united at the base. Claws rather long, moderately arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute.

Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovate and rounded. Wings of moderate length, the first four quills nearly of equal length, the first being scarcely two-twelfths shorter than the second, which is the long- est, but scarcely exceeds the third. Tail rather long, straight, rounded and slightly emarginate, the middle feathers being one-twelfth, and the lateral three-twelfths shorter than the longest.

Bill greyish-blue, dusky along the ridge; feet and claws light blue. The upper part of the head, the hind neck, and the anterior portion of the back, with the loral space, some feathers at the base of the lower mandible, and a rather narrow longitudinal band on the fore neck, deep black; the anterior part of the forehead, a band over the eye, the cheeks, sides of the neck, and the breast rich orange-yellow ; the rest of the lower parts paler; the lower wing-coverts and the anterior

BULLOCK’S TROOPIAL. 11

edge of the wing pale yellow; the hind part of the back and the upper tail-coverts yellow, tinged with olive, purer on the rump ; wings brown- ish-black, with a large patch of white formed by the outer small coverts, and the edges of the secondary coverts, besides which the quills are all margined externally with white, the secondaries more broadly. The four middle tail-feathers are black, all the rest orange-yellow, with a dusky patch near the end, broader on the inner, narrower and fainter on the outer.

Length to end of tail 71 inches ; bill along the ridge 72 5; wing from flexure 4,4; ; tail 3; ; tarsus 1%; hind toe 44 ; its claw 77; second toe 72, its claw z ; third toe 74, its claw “4; fourth toe 7%, its claw 4.

Adult Female. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 2.

The Female is smaller and differs greatly in colouring. The bill and feet are as in the male. The upper parts are greyish-olive, lighter on the rump, on the head and upper tail-coverts tinged with yellow ; the loral space dusky, the anterior part of the forehead, a band over the eye, the cheeks, and sides of the neck, with the fore part of the breast light greenish-yellow; the throat dull white, the lower wing- coverts and edge of the wing very pale yellow, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, slightly tinged with olive. The wings are dark brown, the larger small-coverts tipped with greyish-white, the secon- dary coverts and quills edged with the same. The tail dull oliva- ceous yellow. This description is taken from an individual killed on the 21st June 1836, on the Columbia River.

Length to end of tail 7 inches.

Young Male. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 1.

_ A young male, killed on the Columbia River, on the 21st June 1836 and in its first plumage, resembles the female in all the upper parts, including the tail, of which the four outer feathers, however, are more yellow. The loral space, and a streak on the throat, shorter and nar- rower than in the old male, are black, the band on the eye, the cheeks, the fore neck, and part of the breast, pale yellow; the rest of the lower parts as in the female.

( 12)

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER.

Picus QUERULUS, WIiLs.

PLATE CCCLXXXIX. Mate anp FEMALE.

Tuis species, which was first described by Witson, is found abun- dantly from Texas to New Jersey, and inland as far as Tennessee. Pine-barrens suit it best, and it is nowhere more numerous than in those of the Floridas, Georgia, and South Carolina, where, at any time of the year, one is sure to be saluted by its peculiar note, or to see it busily and cheerfully engaged in searching for food, or flitting from one tree to another.

In quickness of motion it approaches more to the Common Three- toed Wookpecker, than any other with which I am acquainted. It glides upwards and sidewise along the trunks and branches, on the lower as well as the upper side of the latter, moving with astonishing alertness, and at every motion emitting a short shrill and clear note, which can be heard at a considerable distance. While on wing it also emits this note at the commencement of each curve of its undulated flight. Often when alighted it issues a tremulous note, which is also short, sharp, and shrill, and during the love season its cries resound through the pine-woods. Near Bayou Sara in Louisiana, I once slightly wounded two males, which I put into my hat in order to carry them home. ‘The first, on being brought to the ground, was easily se- cured, but the case was different with the other, for it at once hopped off toward the nearest tree, crying loudly all the while, and on reach- ing it ascended as if unhurt. However I obtained it by accidentally knocking off the bark with a clod of earth. It defended itself courage- ously, and pecked at my fingers with so much vigour that I was ob- liged to let it drop several times out of my hand. Confined in my hat, they remained still and sullen, and when I looked at them they both hid their heads, as if ashamed of their situation. Whenever I chanced to fire my gun, it alarmed them, and they uttered a plaintive ery, dif- fering from their usual note while at liberty. One of them died before I reached the house, probably through the great heat; the other how- ever was well, and I put it into acage, every part of which it examined,

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER. 13

until finding a spot by which it thought it might escape, it began to work there, and soon made the chips fly off. In afew minutes, it made its way out, and leaped upon the floor, uttering its common cluck, hop- ped to the wall, and ascended as if it had been on the bark of one of its favourite trees. The room being unfinished, the bricks were bare, and as it passed along, it peeped into the interstices, and seized the spiders and other insects which it found lurking in them. I kept this bird two days, but when I found that the poor thing could procure no food, I gave it its liberty, and was glad to find that its wounded wing was so far healed as to allow it to fly thirty or forty yards at a time, so that it had a good chance of being able to reach its favourite pines again, with the scent of which it was strongly imbued.

When on a high tree, it looks as if entirely black. Generally too, even when seen close at hand, the red line over the eye is covered by the adjacent feathers; at least this was the case with the two indivi- duals mentioned above. The one which died had its gizzard crammed with the heads of small ants and a few minute coleopterous insects. It is fond of the company of our small Woodpeckers, as well as of Sylvia pinus and Parus Carolinensis.

I have found this bird mated in January in the Floridas, and en- gaged in preparing a breeding place in February. The nest is not unfrequently bored in a decayed stump about thirty feet high, the wreck of a noble pine, destroyed by the irresistible fury of a hurricane. The eggs, which are usually four, although I have found as many as six, are smooth and pure white. The young, like those of our other species, crawl out of their holes, and on the branches around wait for the food brought by their parents, until they are able to shift for them- selves.

In the winter months, I have seen several of these birds enter a hole at dusk, where they probably remained all night; and in cold drizzly weather I have observed them doing the same at various hours of the day. When wounded, I have several times seen them making toward these retreats. There is little difference between the sexes, excepting that the red line over the eye is wanting in the female. Witson’s measurements are less than those of any individuals which I have examined.

It is generally believed that all Woodpeckers are strictly insec-

tivorous ; but this opinion is by no means correct, for many species

14. RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER.

feed on grain and fruits of various kinds. Some of them even come to the ground to search for those which have fallen from the trees, as I found to be the case with the present species, which I repeatedly ob- served so occupied in the Pine Barrens of the Floridas. On such oc- casions it is always silent. It moves in pairs at all seasons, and is ex- tremely pugnacious during the period of incubation, when each male is constantly giving chase to intruders of its own kind. During these encounters, its cries are incessant, and much louder and sharper than

on more ordinary occasions.

RED-cocKADED WooDPECKER, Picus QuERULUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 103, pl. 15, fig. 1, male. Picus auEeRu us, Oh. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 46.

ReEpD-cocKaDED WoopPeEckER, WVuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 577.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXXIX. Fig. 1.

Bill somewhat shorter than the head, straight, rather slender, ta- pering, angular, at the point compressed and abrupt ; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge sharp, the sides sloping, the na- sal groove with a prominent narrow ridge, rather nearer the ridge than the edge at its commencement, but joining the latter about a third from the tip, the edges sharp and direct; lower mandible with the angle rather short and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the ridge sharp, the edges convex toward the end, the tip compressed, but abrupt. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear-oblong, broader at the base.

Head of moderate size, ovate, convex above; neck rather short; body moderate. Feet short, rather slender; tarsus short, anteriorly scutellate, laterally covered with angular scales, posteriorly with a row of narrow scutella ; toes four; the first short, the second next in length, the fourth directed outwards and backwards, and longer than the third; claws large, strongly arched, compressed, deeply grooved on the sides, tapering to a very acute point.

Plumage very soft and blended; feathers at the base of the bill bristly and directed forwards so as to cover the nostrils. Wings long ; the first quill extremely small, being only ten-twelfths long ; the second four-twelfths shorter than the third, which is one-twelfth shorter than the fourth, this being the longest. Tail long, cuneate,

of twelve feathers, the lateral very small, weak, and rounded, the rest

RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER. 15

strong, with the barbs worn at the end, the tip emarginate, the shafts being worn.

Bill greyish-blue, with the upper mandible dusky toward the ridge. Iris hazel. Feet greyish-blue, claws of the same colour, dusky along the ridge. The upper part of the head, the hind neck, the loral space, and a band down each side of the neck glossy black ; feathers at the base of the bill, a band over the eye, and a large patch on the side of the head white. Margining the black behind the eye, is a streak of bright carmine, formed by a series of very slender feathers. All the upper parts, including the wings, are blackish-brown, transversely banded with white. Tail black; the fourth feather obliquely white on the outer web toward the end, the next with the white extended to the inner webs toward the end, it being barred with black on the inner ; the second white, with five black bands on the inner web and one on the outer; the first or lateral feather white, with a black patch near the base of the inner web. The lower parts are white, the sides of the lower part of the neck, and of the body, marked with oblong black spots.

Length to end of tail 83 inches; extent of wings 1423; bill along the ridge 2; wing from flexure 4,4 ; tail 37%, the lateral feathers 144 ; tarsus 7 ; hind toe #2, its claw 74; inner toe 4, its claw 24; middle toe 3%, its claw 3%; outer toe 4, its claw 7.

Female. Plate CCCLXXXIX. Fig. 2.

The Female is somewhat smaller, but resembles the male in colour, with the exception of wanting the red streak behind the eye.

Length to end of tail 72 inches, to end of wings 63, to end of claws. 63; extent of wings 13.

The roof of the upper mandible is slightly concave, with a promi- nent middle ridge ; the lower mandible more concave, with two ridges and a median groove. The tongue is 103 twelfths long, slender, its breadth 1 twelfth, its sides parallel; it tapers to a point at the end, where it is margined with acicular bristles directed backwards. The hyoid bones curve round the back of the head, converge, and run along the middle of the skull to the base of the bill, without curving to either side. The palate is flattened, the posterior aperture of the nares linear, with an anterior slit, which is margined with papille. The aperture

16 RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER.

of the mouth is 41 twelfths in width. The ceso- phagus, a 6, is 2 inches 8 twelfths long, narrow, uniform, its breadth 2 twelfths. The proventri- cular belt, b, is 43 twelfths long. The stomach, cde, is of moderate size, oblong, 83 twelfths in length, 6 twelfths in breadth; its muscles rather strong, its tendons large, the epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous, and of a reddish colour. The intestine, ¢ fh, is 9 inches long, its upper portion 2 twelfths in diameter, its nar- rowest part 14 twelfth; the rectum 3 twelfths in diameter, gradually enlarging into the cloaca, 7. The trachea, which is 1 inch 8 twelfths long, and of about 65 rings, measures 1 twelfth across at the upper part, gradually contracts a little, and is furnished with strong contractor and sterno-tracheal muscles. The bronchi are of moderate length, with about 15 half-rings. The contents of the stomach were remains of insects, and small round very hard dark- brown seeds. During the autumnal and winter months, this species is wont to feed on the berries of several species of Smilax, on grapes, and at times even on the common Poke-berries.

I am also persuaded that whilst the Pines are

in bloom, much of their flowers is used, perhaps more as a relish, than as an essential article of food.

ii Cols J

LARK FINCH.

FRINGILLA GRAMMACA, Say.

PLATE CCCXC. Mate.

Tuts beautiful species is another of those of which we owe our first knowledge to Colonel Lone’s party, who discovered it on their expedi- tion to the Rocky Mountains. To the Prince of Mustenano we are indebted for the first figure of it. That naturalist states, in the short account he has given of it, that “ it sings sweetly, and often continues its notes while on the wing,” and to this I can only add the following statement with which I am favoured by my friend Mr Nurraty:

*‘ This species, in small flocks, in the spring season, when we saw it, appears rather frequent on the ground, resting on it in silence, or merely uttering a feeble chirp. They do not appear on the central table-land, or on the western plains. We therefore had no opportunity of learning any thing of their habits in the breeding season. I believe they are occasionally seen at no great distance from the upper settle- ments of the Missouri.”

FrINGILLA GRAMMACA, Say, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 47, pl. 5, fig. 3. Larx Fincu, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 480.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXC. Fig. 1.

Bill short, stout, conical, compressed toward the end; upper man- dible with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the ridge extending but a short way on the forehead, where it tapers to a point, the sides rounded, the edges direct and overlapping, the tip pointed, the gape- line nearly straight, a little deflected at the base; lower mandible of the same breadth as the upper, with the angle very short and broad, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the back broad, the sides round- ed, the edges inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, small, roundish, concealed by the feathers.

Head of moderate size, ovate ; neck short, body full. Feet of mo- derate length and rather slender ; tarsus rather short, compressed, an-

teriorly covered with seven scutella, posteriorly with two longitudinal VOL. Vv. B

18 LARK FINCH.

plates meeting so as to form a very sharp edge ; toes moderate, the first strong, the lateral equal ; claws rather long, slender, much compressed, laterally grooved, moderately arched, very acute. ;

Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovate. There are short bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of moderate length ; the outer three quills nearly equal, the third longest, but exceeding the first only by one-twelfth of an inch, and the second by a quarter of a twelfth ; the fourth not much shorter, the rest slowly decreasing; the outer secondaries emarginate, the inner tapering to a blunt point, one of them considerably elongated. Tail rather long, rounded.

Bill reddish flesh-colour, the upper mandible tinged with dusky. Feet and claws flesh-colour. On the upper part of the head are three longitudinal bands of white separated by two of light red, the anterior part of which is black. ‘The upper parts are light greyish-brown, lon- gitudinally streaked with dusky, the central part of each feather being of the latter colour, the hind part of the back and the rump without streaks. On the wing are two faint bands of yellowish-white, formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts, and those of the primary coverts, and a patch of the same formed by the bases of the outer pri- maries ; the quills dusky brown, slightly margined with whitish, the inner secondaries with light red; the tail darker, all the feathers ex- cepting the middle terminated by white, which on the outer occupies more than a third of its length, and extends nearly to the base of the outer web. Below the eye is a white streak ; the cheeks are light red, with an anterior black spot ; under them a broad white band extends from the lower mandible and curves upwards, separated from the throat which is white by a short line of black on each side. The lower parts are yellowish-white, the lower part of the neck greyish, the sides tinged with greyish-brown, the lower wing-coverts greyish-white.

Length to end of tail 63 inches ; extent of wings 81; bill along the ridge $$, along the edge of lower mandible 74; wing from flexure 3,3; ;

tail 3; tarsus yz; hind toe #4, its claw 24; middle toe 74, its claw 34.

( 19°)

PRAIRIE FINCH. FRINGILLA BICOLOR, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCXC. Mate anp FEmAte.

This species, of which there are in my possession several specimens, presented to me by my friend Mr Nutrat1, was discovered by that zealous naturalist and his companion Dr TownseEnp on the plains of the Platte, and briefly characterized in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. From its general appearance, and especially from what is known of its habits, I consider it closely allied to the Rice Bunting, Hmberiza oryzivora ; but as my object has always been to describe our birds, without caring much how they are named, I here adopt the appellation given by its discoverers, the latter of whom has favoured me with the following notice respecting it.

“'The Prairie Finch inhabits a portion of the Platte country, in large flocks. It is strictly gregarious, and feeds upon the ground, along which - it runs like the Grass Finch, Fringilla graminea, to which it is some- what allied, As the large flocks, consisting of from sixty to a hun- dred individuals, were started from the ground by our caravan in pass- ing, the piebald appearance of the males and females promiscuously in- termingled, presented a curious, but by no means unpleasing, effect. While the flock is engaged in feeding, the males are frequently obser- ved to rise suddenly to a considerable height in the air, and poising themselves over their companions, with their wings in constant and ra- pid motion, they become nearly stationary. In this situation they pour forth a number of very lively and sweetly modulated notes, and at the expiration of about a minute descend to the ground, and course about as before. I never observed this bird to the west of the Black Hills.”

_ Mr Norratt’s notice respecting it is as follows:—‘ On the 24th of May, soon after crossing the north branch of the Platte, we met with this very interesting species of F’ringilla. 'The males associated in flocks with the Cow Birds, uttering a most delightful song. Towards evening in particular, we sometimes saw them in all directions around

us on the hilly grounds, rising to a little height, hovering and flapping

20 PRAIRIE FINCH.

their wings, at the same time singing something like weet, weet, wt, wt, wt, notes betwixt the hurried warble of the Bob-o-link, and the melody of the Sky Lark. It is in short one of the sweetest songsters of the prairie, is tame and unsuspicious, the whole employment of the little band being an ardent emulation of song.”

FRINGILLA BICOLOR, PRAIRIE FINCH, Townsend, Journal of Acad. of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 189.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXC. Fig. 2.

Bill short, robust, conical, compressed ; upper mandible a little nar- rower, with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the ridge slightly pro- longed on the forehead, the sides convex and bulging, the edges direct, the gape-line nearly straight, deflected at the base, the tip sharp and a lit- tle exceeding that of the lower mandible ; the angle of the latter short and very broad, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip pointed. Nostrils basal, oval, in a very short deep depression, nearly concealed by the feathers.

Head rather large ; neck short ; body full. Feet of ordinary length, rather strong; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, anteriorly covered with seven scutella, behind with two plates meeting so as to form a very thin edge; toes of moderate size, the hind toe stouter, the lateral equal. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a very acute point.

Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovate and rounded. There are distinct but small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of moderate length; the outer three quills nearly equal, the second being longest, the fourth slightly shorter than the third; outer secon- daries broadly rounded and emarginate ; inner tapering to a rounded point, one of them, when the wing is closed, little shorter than the outer primaries. Tail of moderate length, a little rounded, the lateral fea- thers shorter than the longest by two and a half twelfths.

The bill is light blue, the upper mandible somewhat dusky along the ridge ; the feet and claws reddish-brown. The general colour of the plumage is greyish-black, the rump blackish-grey. The quills are blackish-brown, the inner secondaries black. There is a large patch of

PRAIRIE FINCH. 2!

white on the wing including some of the smaller coverts, the tips of the first row, and the secondary coverts ; the primaries and outer secon- daries are narrowly, the inner secondaries broadly margined with white, with which most of them are also tipped. The middle tail-feathers are black, the rest brownish-black, all narrowly edged with white, and having a narrow speck of the same at the end of the inner web. Some of the feathers on the abdomen and the lower tail-coverts are also tip- ped with white.

Length to end of tail 7 inches ; bill along the ridge #4, along the edge of lower mandible 74; wing from flexure 3;,; tail 234; tarsus

. 1 4. 1 4h. 1 EBs 3 it; hind toe #4, its claw #3; middle toe 74, its claw 7%.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXC. Fig. 3.

The Female, which is smaller than the male, differs greatly in colour. The bill is dusky above, pale beneath ; the feet as in the male. The upper parts are greyish-brown, streaked with dusky brown, the lower white, with oblong spots of brownish-black, the abdomen nearly pure, the sides tinged with reddish-brown. The quills are dark brown, edged and tipped with reddish-white, and the patch on the wing is of the same tint. The tail feathers are also dark brown, the outer externally edged, and all tipped with white on the inner web.

. Length to end of tail 64 inches; bill along the ridge 24 ; wing from flexure 33; tail 23°; tarsus +}; hind toe 34, its claw ;4; middle toe #4, its claw 34.

( 22 )

BROWN SONG SPARROW. FRINGILLA CINEREA, GMEL.

PLATE CCCXC. Mate.

Or this bird I have received the following account from Mr Nur- TALL :— This species, so much allied to Fringilla iliaca by its brown colour, inhabits the woody districts of the Columbia, very generally as far as the sea-coast, and continues as far south as Upper California. It is a somewhat familiar and agreeable songster, mounting some low bush, and singing, at intervals, for hours together, much in the manner of the Song Sparrow, but with a sweeter and more varied tone. We heard their cheerful notes throughout the summer; and every fine day in winter till the month of November, particularly in the morning, their song was still continued. The nest and eggs are scarcely distinguishable from those of the Song Sparrow, the former being chiefly formed of dry grass, and lined with finer blades of the same, or with deer hair. They keep much in low ground and alluvial situations, amidst rank weeds and brambles, where they are frequently to be seen hopping and searching after insects, like so many Wrens or Swamp Sparrows, which they so much resemble also in plumage. They are as usual very soli- citous for the safety of their young or eggs, keeping up an incessant chirp, and are nearly the whole summer, like the Song Sparrow, engaged in the cares of breeding. We have found this species also very com- mon in Upper California.

Dr TownseEnp speaks of it as follows :—‘* This species inhabits se- veral hundred miles of the Platte country in great numbers, as well as the banks of the Columbia River. It affects generally the low bushes of wormwood (Artemisia), from the sumiit of which it pours forth a variety of pretty notes. It appears to be a very pugnacious species. Two of them, probably males, are often observed fighting in the air ; the beaten party goes off crest-fallen, and the conqueror repairs to the nearest bush, where he tunes his pipe to a lively and triumphant stave in honour of his victory. I again met with this bird, though not plen- tiful, in June 1825, on the waters of the Columbia River near the mouth of Lewis River. I never observed it in the vicinity of the lower

settlements. The sexes are almost precisely alike in plumage.

BROWN SONG SPARROW. 23

FRINGILLA CINEREA, Gimel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 922.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p- 445.

CrnereEous Fincu, Arct. Zool. vol. ii. No. 260.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXC. Fig. 4.

Bill short, stout, conical, compressed toward the end; upper man- dible with the dorsal line very slightly convex, at the base and toward the tip, the ridge narrow, and extending a short way on the forehead, where it tapers to a point, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip pointed, the gape-line nearly straight, a little deflected at the base ; lower mandible of the same breadth as the upper, with the angle very short and broad, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the back broad at the base, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip pointed.

Head of moderate size, ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length and rather stout; tarsus rather short, compressed, an- teriorly covered with seven scutella, posteriorly with two longitudinal plates meeting so as to forma very sharp edge; toes moderate, the first strong, the lateral equal; claws rather long, slender, much compressed, laterally grooved, moderately arched, very acute.

Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovate. There are no dis- tinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings short, con- cave, broad, much rounded; the first quill four-twelfths and three- fourths shorter than the fourth, which is the longest, the rest very little graduated, the outer secondaries slightly emarginate, the inner not elongated. Tailrather long, slender, much rounded, the lateral feathers being five-twelfths of an inch shorter than the longest.

Bill dusky, the lower mandible reddish-brown toward the base. Feet and claws dusky reddish-brown. The general colour of the upper parts is dark olivaceous brown, all the feathers dusky in the centre ; the wing-coverts, inner secondaries and tail-feathers more or less tinged with red on the margins. Over the eye is a dusky greyish line; on the cheek a whitish line, and beneath it a dusky brown band; the throat and fore part of the neck white, with longitudinal brown streaks, the middle of the breast brownish-white, the sides dark greyish-brown, as are the lower tail-coverts.

Length to end of tail 6 inches; extent of wings 8; bill along the ridge 7} ; wing from flexure 2,2; tail 2}; tarsus +}; hind toe #, its claw #3; middle toe #4, its claw #.

The Female is similar to the male.

(24a)

BRENT GOOSE. ANSER BERNICLA, Bonar.

PLATE CCCXCI. Mate anp Femate.

Tue extent of the migrations of this species remains as yet unknown. Its progress along our Atlantic shores in October, November, and De- cember, is varied, and in a great measure uncertain, it being appa- rently induced to tarry or to proceed by the changes which may happen in the temperature. It in fact appears to remain along the coast until forced away by the intensity of the cold, when it resumes its flight, and removes to countries beyond the southern limits of the United States.

The Brent Goose may be considered as a salt-water bird, for it never ascends our rivers beyond the influence of the tides, nor is found on inland lakes or ponds, unless it be wounded, and happen to alight accidentally in such places. To this natural predilection for salt-water may be attributed its habit of flying round the projections of capes and headlands : it very seldom passing directly over a neck of land, unless suddenly surprised and alarmed by the gunner.

This species has never been seen by my friend Dr Bacuman in South Carolina. I never observed any on the lakes or shores about the mouths of the Mississippi, nor any where in the course of my route to the Texas. While I was in that country, I did not find any person who could give me sufficient reasons for believing that it ever tarries there. Where it may go in winter is therefore to me unknown.

The flesh of this bird I consider as excellent food. The young in autumn, or about the time of their first appearance on our eastern coast, Massachusetts for example, are tender, juicy, and fat; and are as well known to the epicures of Boston as the more celebrated Canvass-back is to those of Baltimore.

Its flight resembles that of our other Geese, being in ordinary cir- cumstances rather slow and sedate. As to its cry, although I have often seen hundreds of individuals at a time, I have not been able to tune my ears so as to liken its cacklings to the sounds produced by “a pack of hounds in full cry,” as alleged by Witson. The Brent Goose

BRENT GOOSE. 25

is a shy bird, not easily approached ; it swims well, and when wounded can dive with great expertness, as I have more than once witnessed. Its food consists of marine plants, which I have often found in its giz- zard, along with coarse gravel and fragments of shells, which latter were so thick as to lead me to think that the bird had not broken them for the purpose of getting at the animal. In walking it moves with lighter and quicker steps than even the Barnacle Goose, Anser leucop- sis. It is very easily tamed, and when thus subjugated eats any kind of grain, and crops the grass well with its head slightly inclined to one side. It has been known to produce young in captivity.

Of its manner of breeding I am ignorant; and all that has been stated on the subject is, that it breeds in great numbers in northern latitudes, for example, on the coasts and islands of Hudson’s Bay and the Arctic Sea, and that it lays white eggs.

I have represented a pair which were shot in spring, when their migratory movements are more regular than in autumn.

Anas Bernicra, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 198.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 844.

Brant, Anas Bernicia, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 131, pl. 72, fig. 1.

Awser Beryicta, Ch. Bonap., Synops. of Birds of United States, p. 378.

Awser Brernicta, Brent Goose, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 469.

Brant or Brent Goose, Wuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 358.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCI. Fig. 1.

Bill much shorter than the head, higher than broad at the base, somewhat conical, slightly depressed toward the end, narrowed and rounded at the tip. Upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge a little flattened at the base, convex toward the end, the sides sloping, the edges soft, the oblique marginal lamellz short, transverse, about 25 on each side, the unguis round, convex, striato-denticulate on the inner edge. Nasal groove elliptical, commencing at the base, and extending to beyond the middle of the bill; nostrils lateral, medial, longitudinal, narrow-elliptical, open, pervious. Lower mandible straight, depressed, with the angle very long, rather wide, somewhat rounded, the sides sloping outwards, the edges soft, with about forty lamelle.

Head small, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long and slender. Body full, slightly depressed. Feet short, stout, placed a little behind the centre of the body ; legs bare a little above the tibio-tarsal joint

26 BRENT GOOSE.

Tarsus short, compressed, covered all round with angular reticulated scales, which are smaller behind. Hind toe extremely small, with a very narrow membrane ; third toe longest, fourth a little shorter, but longer than the second ; all the toes reticulated above at the base, but with narrow transverse scutella towards the end; the three anterior connected by a reticulated membrane ; the outer with a thick margin, the inner with the margin extended into a two-lobed web. Claws small, arched, rather depressed, especially that of the middle toe, which has the inner margin expanded.

Plumage close, rather short, compact above, blended on the head, neck, and lower parts of the body. The feathers of the head and neck small and oblong, of the back very broad and abruptly rounded, of the breast and belly broadly rounded. Wings when closed extending a little beyond the end of the tail; primaries very strong, decurved, the first longest, the second almost equal ; secondaries long, broad, rounded. Tail very short, rounded, of sixteen feathers.

Bill and feet black. Iris hazel. Head and neck all round black, glossed with blue. A small streak under the eye, and a spot on the chin, white ; on each side of the neck a patch of the same formed by a number of the feathers which have a white band near the end. The general colour of the upper parts is brownish-grey, the feathers termi- nally margined with light greyish-brown ; the quills, and primary co- verts greyish-black, the primaries darker ; the upper tail-coverts white, the tail greyish-black. The fore part of the breast is light brownish- grey, the feathers terminally margined with greyish-white; the grey tint gradually fades into white, which is the colour of the abdomen, sides of the rump and lower tail-coverts; the sides of the body grey, the feathers broadly tipped with white ; axillar feathers and lower wing- coverts grey

Length to end of tail 242 inches, to end of claws 254; extent of wings 48; bill along the ridge 1,4, along the edge of lower mandible 1,4; wing from flexure 13; tail 44; tarsus 14; hind toe 34, its claw #4; middle toe 1,5, its claw #4. Weight 33 lb.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXCI. Fig. 2.

The Female, which is somewhat smaller, is similar to the male.

Length to end of tail 23 inches, to end of wings 24, to end of claws 233 ; extent of wings 443. Weight 22 lb.

BRENT GOOSE. 27

An adult female procured by Dr Tuomas M. Brewer of Boston.

The roof of the mouth is concave, with a median row of short pa- pillze, two lateral series of flattened laminz, and some irregularly scat- tered intermediate prominences, the lower mandible more concave. The tongue is fleshy, with the base papillate, the sides parallel and furnished with recurved papilla, the tip rounded and thin, the entire length 1 inch 5 twelfths. The cesophagus, a, which is 13 inches long, is exceedingly slender, its diameter when contracted not being greater than that of the windpipe, or about 4 twelfths, but it is capable of be- ing dilated to 6 twelfths ; its inner coat thrown into prominent longi- tudinal ruge. The proventriculus, ad, is enlarged to the breadth of 11 twelfths, its glandules simple, cylindrical, 2 twelfths long. The stomach, cdef, is a very highly developed museular gizzard, placed

Kig.1.

28 BRENT GOOSE.

obliquely, and of an elliptical form, its length being 1 inch 9 twelfths, its breadth 2 inches 11 twelfths. This great breadth is caused, as in other birds of this family, by the vast size of the lateral muscles, of which the left, d, has a thickness at the middle of 1 inch 43 twelfths, the right, ¢, of 1 inch 3 twelfths, this leaving but a very small space between the two grinding surfaces, which are placed obliquely. The lower muscle, /, is narrow and of moderate thickness. The epithelium is soft unless on the two grinding plates, which are of an elliptical form, a little concave, smooth in the middle, longitudinally grooved to- ward the margins. The proventricular belt of glandules is 1 inch 3

. Fig.2. iE Zz a E B= N G N\ BE 3 Be = = = = = E = ze z= oes = em zs US — SS Z——_ B = NR Z ZS = Ni zs = = yy Six i y ia = [= = i—= EE ZEEE = = — =e 2ars — = — i— ££ Zz Le Z ZA Ze = S —— 5 a - = B [= —— EB Z— [> N = \ = 2 Z— [a S 2 : = eee a Bz E= Ts = = S\Vf— = Z = SVv= os | a = a 5 Z = SS —— ES == R =|-— ES = > =\— ~—EX = 3 = = = Qs = y = =~ RY iS BA = Sis CGS aS | { 4 = { S SETA Cc ‘ Be S yuu 7S se } RS = = S Sze = S SS = = SS = jy, TKO 7 Wy NOS .

eee

BRENT GOOSE. 29

twelfths in breadth. The stomach contained a large quantity of pure quartz sand. The pylorus is destitute of valve. The duodenum ¢ gh, has a diameter of 43 twelfths, and curves at the distance of 5 inches ; the intestine is disposed in longitudinal folds, there being 16 turns, and measures 5 feet 11 inches in length. It retains a pretty uniform breadth as far as the rectum, Fig. 2, ab, which enlarges to 7 twelfths. The cceca, acc, which come off at the distance of 5 inches from the extremity, are 54 inches in length, very narrow, their diameter at the base being about 1 twelfth, towards the end 2 twelfths, and their great- est breadth toward the middle 33 twelfths. In Fig. 2 is seen part of the oviduct, d 4, which opens at the distance of 4 inch from the anus, opposite 6, and above or anterior to the ureters. In this bird there is no decided cloaca, which is equally the case with other species of this family, and with such birds generally as pass their faeces in a compact cylindrical form. In this respect, Swans, Geese, and Ducks are ana- logous to Pheasants, Grous, and Partridges; they being in fact aqua- tic Gallinacez.

The trachea is 11 inches long, its diameter at the upper part 43 twelfths. It isa little flattened above, less so in the middle, and some- what compressed at the lower extremity, where its diameter is 3 twelfths. There are 150 free osseous rings, and 15 additional united rings at the lower part. The inferior larynx is destitute of muscles. The space between the last ring of the trachea and the first bronchial ring is large, being 44 twelfths in length. The bronchi are very short, rather wide, with about 10 incomplete rings, the extremities of which nearly meet. The lateral muscles are strong, and there is a pair of cleido-tracheal, and a pair of sterno-tracheal muscles, the former coming off at the distance of 22 inches, the latter at that of 1 inch 2 twelfths, from the inferior larynx. The cleido-tracheal muscle is a direct con- tinuation of part of the contractor, but the sterno-tracheal is indepen- dent of them, and attached to two rings of the trachea. The contrac- tor muscle terminates in the solid tube, at the distance of 9 twelfths from the inferior larynx.

( 30 )

LOUISIANA HAWK.

Fatco HARRIsi.

PLATE CCCXCII. Frmaxe.

Tue varying modes of flight exhibited by our diurnal birds of prey have always been to me a subject of great interest, especially as by means of them I have found myself enabled to distinguish one species from another, to the farthest extent of my power of vision. On consi- dering this matter, I have become fully convinced that a greater length of the wings in any one species is not, as most naturalists have imagined, an indication of its greater power of flight. Writers of the present day who, judging of the flight of birds from such circumstances, think that those species which have longer and, as they suppose, more complete wings, fly with more rapidity than those whose wings are comparatively short, are, in my opinion, quite mistaken. They judge in this matter, not from experience, but from appearance, having pre- viously determined theoretically that a long wing is a more efficient instrument than a short one; and being acquainted with birds only through the medium of skins and feathers, presume to inform us as to their comparative agility. The power of flight in birds of any kind depends not upon the length, amplitude, or shape of the wings, but upon the rapidity with which these members are moved, and the mus- cular energy applied to them. It is not a little surprising to me that not one of the authors who has written on this subject, has spoken of the mode of flight of our Turkey Buzzard, which, notwithstanding its very ample wings, is one of the very slowest birds; for, although it manages to rise to a great height, all its movements are laborious and heavy, unless when it is at some considerable elevation. The ampli- tude of its wings serves it in sailing only, never in enabling it to pass swiftly through the air, as birds of much shorter wings, but greater muscular energy, are wont to do.

The Golden Eagle, which has universally been considered as a bird of most extraordinary powers of flight, is in my estimation little more than a sluggard, though its wings are long and ample. It is true that it can sustain itself for a very considerable time on wing, but the observer

LOUISIANA HAWK. 31

cannot fail to see that, instead of being swift, it moves slowly and some- what heavily. For this reason it is rarely seen to give chase on wing, but depends more on the weight of its body while falling or swooping on its prey from a certain height than upon any dexterity or velocity of flight. Eagles while swooping do not use their wings as a medium of propelling themselves farther than by nearly closing them, that they may descend with more rapidity, in doing which they produce a loud rustling noise, which I have often thought has a tendency to frighten the quarry so much as to render it unable to seek for safety by flight or speed of foot. The Golden Eagle can, indeed, soar to a very great height, but this it accomplishes by a circling or gyratory flight of a very slovenly character, and not much superior to that of Vultures or birds still more nearly allied to itself. Thus, Reader, I would look on this celebrated bird as one of the slowest and heaviest of its tribe ; and would place next in order our Red-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, which being also possessed of ample wings, of considerable length, moves through the air, and pounces upon its prey in a similar manner. Then in succession will come the Black Warrior, Falco Harlani; the Broad-winged Hawk, F’. Pennsylvanicus ; the Red-shouldered Hawk, F. lineatus ; the Common Buzzard, F. Buteo; and the Rough-legged Falcon, /. lagopus or F'. Sancti-Johannis, which is in a manner the very counterpart of the Golden Eagle, as well as every other species en- dowed with no greater powers, and furnished with wings and tails of similar size and form ; although, of course, some slight differences are to be observed in these different species, on all of which I would will- ingly bestow the distinctive name of Swoopers. All these birds are more or less indolent ; one might say they are destitute of the power of dis- tinguishing themselves in any remarkable manner, and none of them shew a propensity to remove to any great distance from the place of their birth, unless, indeed, when very hard pressed either by want, of food or by very intense cold.

The next group which attracts the attention of the American orni- thologist is that composed of such birds as are provided with longer and almost equally broad wings, but assisted by more or less elongated and forked tails. Of this kind are our Swallow-tailed Hawk, Falco Sur- catus ; the Black-shouldered Hawk, . dispar; and the Mississippi Kite, F'. Mississippiensis. These species assume what I would call a flowing manner of flight, it being extremely graceful, light, buoyant,

32 LOUISIANA HAWK.

and protracted beyond that of most other hawks. They are, however, devoid of the power of swooping on their quarry, which they procure by semicircular glidings of greater or less extent, according to the situa- tion or nature of the place, over the land or the water, on the branches or trunks of trees, or even through the air, while in the latter they are wont to secure large coleopterous insects. These species are provided with short, strong tarsi, are scarcely able to walk with ease, wander to great distances, and possess very little courage. i

After these long-winged fork-tailed hawks, comes the Marsh Hawk, Falco cyaneus, which, by its easy manner of flying, it being supported by ample wings and tail, is in some degree allied to them, though it is by no means a bird of rapid flight, but one which procures its food by patient industry, and sometimes by surprising its prey. Its style of chase is very inferior to that of those species which I consider as not only the swiftest, but the most expert, active, and persevering marau- ders. The Marsh Hawk is connected with these by its long and slen- der tail, and also by its propensity to wander over vast tracts of country. It may be said to swoop or to glide in procuring its prey, which con- sists both of birds and small quadrupeds, as well as insects, some of the latter of which it even seizes on wing.

Taking somewhat into consideration the usual low flight of the lat- ter species, I feel induced to place next it the very swiftest of our Hawks, as I am convinced you would consider them, had you witnessed, like me, their manners for many successive years. These are the Goshawk, F. palumbarius, Cooper’s Hawk, F’. Cocperi, the Pigeon Hawk, F’. co- lumbarius, and the Sharp-shinned Hawk, /’. fuscus. Though their wings are comparatively short, somewhat rounded, and rather concave, they have longer bodies and larger tails than any other of our hawks. The tail is used as a rudder, and appears most effectually to aid them in their progress on wing. None of these birds ever pounce on their prey, but secure it by actual pursuit on wing. Industrious in the highest degree, they all hunt for game, instead of remaining perched ona rocky eminence, or on the top branch of a tall tree, waiting the passing or appearance of some object. They traverse the country in every direction, and dash headlong in the wildest manner, until their game being up they fol- low it with the swiftness of an arrow, overtake it, strike it to the ground with wonderful force, and at once fall,to and devour it. Although the flight of our Passenger Pigeon is rapid and protracted almost beyond

LOUISIANA HAWK. 33

belief, aided as this bird is by rather long and sharp wings, as well as an elongated tail, and sustained by well regulated beats, that of the Goshawk or of the other species of this group so very far surpasses it, that they can overtake it with as much ease as that with which the pike seizes a carp. I have often thought that the comparatively long tarsi of these Hawks, as well as their elongated and padded toes, are of considerable assistance in securing their prey on wing, as they throw these members to the right and left, upward or downward, when about to come into contact with the object of their pursuit. In boldness and ferocity they probably surpass all other birds of prey.

The next race is composed of the species called ‘* True Falcons,” of which we have the Jer Falcon, Falco Islandicus, the Peregrine Falcon, F’. Peregrinus, the Pigeon Hawk, F’. Columbarius, and the Spar- row Hawk, F. Sparverius. These birds are probably the most highly organized of the series. Their wings are pointed and somewhat broad ; their tail is not only considerably elongated, but has a firmness and elasticity not seen in that of the other species. While in Eagles and other sluggish birds of prey, the motions of the wings are slow, in the species now under consideration they are strong and quickly repeated. They moreover possess the power of swooping in a higher degree than even the Eagles, for although much smaller birds, they are if any thing still more compactly formed, whilst they are at the same time endowed with at least a fair power of flight, so that they give chase to the swift- est birds, and not unfrequently overtake and destroy them. In their migrations they differ from the slow-flying species, which seldom re- move far from the place of their birth, for they appear to delight in following the myriads of the feathered tribes from which they have de- rived their subsistence during summer in the northern regions, to those southern countries in which they are sure of obtaining an ample sup- ply, each species pursuing those on which it more usually preys. Thus, some, as the Peregrine Falcon, will remove as far as the confines of Mexico or the extreme portions of California. The Jer Falcon, which mostly feeds on hares and grous, belonging to northern countries, and which of course migrate southward to a very short extent, rarely ad- vanees far ; while the Pigeon Hawk, as daring as the Peregrine, follows the Red-wings, Rice-Birds, and other small migratory species, with a pertinacity not in the least surpassed by that of the Peregrine Falcon itself.

VOL, V. ce

34 LOUISIANA HAWK.

The group of our American birds of prey of which the species dif- fer most strikingly from the rest, contains the Bird of Washington, Falco Washingtonii, the White-headed Eagle, /. leucocephalus, and the Fishing Hawk or Osprey, F. Ossifragus. Looking upon these three species as more or less connected in respect to their general habits, while each of them differs from the rest, I hope you will ex- cuse me, Reader, if I now take a glance at them separately. He who generalizes at random might perhaps be induced to compare the Fish- ing Hawk to nothing else than a very large and clumsy Tern, for like most birds of that group, it is known to range in a desultory manner over the waters of our bays and estuaries, and along the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It poises itself a while on spying its prey just beneath the surface of the water, glides or plunges headlong upon it, and thus secures it at once, or experiences the same disappointment that Terns themselves do on many occasions. It is true, however, that the Fishing Hawk does not, Tern-like, secure its finny prey with its bill ; but what of that, if it plunges into the deep and seizes its quarry there ? The Bird of Washington which is also a fishing Eagle, glides over its prey, and seizes it mostly in the manner exhibited by Gulls. The White-headed Eagle, which, as I have told you before, also dives after fish on some occasions, and pursues the smaller kinds in shallow water by wading after them, will also attack birds and quadrupeds of various species, and thus may be looked upon as one of the most singularly gifted of our diurnal birds of prey.

The species now before you belongs to the group of what may be called indolent or heavy-flying Hawks. The specimen from which I made my drawing, was procured by a gentleman residing in Louisiana, who shot it between Bayou Sara and Natchez. A label attached to one of its legs authorizes me to say that it was a female; but I have re- ceived no information respecting its habits ; nor can I at present give you the name of the donor, however anxious I am to compliment him upon the valuable addition he has made to our Fauna, by thus enabling me to describe and portray it. I have much pleasure in naming it af- ter my friend Epwarp Harris, Esq., a gentleman who, independently of the aid which he has on many occasions afforded me, in prosecuting my examination of our birds, merits this compliment as an enthusias- tic Ornithologist.

LOUISIANA HAWK.

to Or

Fatco Harristt.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXCII.

Bill short, robust, as broad as high at the base, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible with its dorsal outline sloping a little at the base, then decurved, the sides nearly flat, the edge with a slight fes- toon, the tip prolonged, trigonal, descending, acute ; lower mandible with the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal line convex, the edge decurved toward the end, the tip obtuse. Nostrils rather large, ovate, oblong, oblique.

Head large, ovate, flattened above, with the superciliary ridges projecting. Neck of moderate length; body full. Feet of ordinary length, very robust; tarsus strong, roundish, feathered anteriorly for somewhat more than a third, and having thirteen scutella, covered be- hind with sixteen scutella, reticulated on the sides and at the lower part ; toes strong, of moderate length, the first and second thickest, and nearly equal; the first with four, the second with five, the third with eight, the fourth with six entire scutella, the parts toward the base with transverse series of rectangular scales; claws long, stout, arched, mo- derately compressed, flat beneath, tapering to a very acute point; the inner edge of that of the middle toe sharp.

Plumage rather compact, the feathers broadly ovate and rounded ; ths space between the bill and the eye covered with small bristle-pointed feathers ; the feathers on the outer side of the leg not much elongated. Wings long, broad, much rounded ; the first quill four inches shorter than the fourth, which is longest, the fifth longer than the third, and the seventh longer than the second ; the first four having the inner web cut out; secondaries broad and rounded. ‘Tail long, broad, slightly rounded, the lateral feathers three-quarters of an inch shorter than the longest.

Bill light blue at the base, black toward the end; cere and feet yel- low ; claws black. ‘The general colour of the plumage is deep choco- late brown; the quills darker ; the upper and lower wing-coverts, and the feathers of the legs brownish-red, the wing-coverts with a central dusky streak, which is enlarged on those toward the edge beyond the carpal joint, and on the secondary coverts, so as to leave only the mar-

gins red. The feathers of the rump are faintly margined with red,

36 TOWNSEND’S WARBLER.

and the upper tail-coverts are barred and tipped with white. The tail is brownish-black, with two broad bands of white, the one at the base, the other terminal.

Length to end of tail 24 inches ; bill along the ridge 142; cere 73; wing from flexure 153; tail 101; tarsus 3,74 ; hind toe 1%, its claw 17% ; second toe 144, its claw 124; third toe 2, its claw }3; fourth toe 1y%,

its claw 7%.

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. Syiv1iA4 TownsENDI, Nutra.

PLATE CCCXCIII. Mate.

Me Norratt has honoured this beautiful Warbler with the name of his friend and companion Dr Townsrenp. It was procured about the Columbia River. All the information respecting it that I possess is contained in the following brief notice by the former of these cele- brated naturalists. ‘* Of this fine species, we know very little, it being one of those transient visitors, which, on their way to the north, merely stop a few days to feed and recruit, previous to their arrival in the higher latitudes, or afterwards disperse in pairs, and are lost sight of till the returning wants and famine of the season impel them again to migrate, when, falling on the same path, they are seen in small silent flocks advancing toward the retreat they seek out for their temporary residence. As this species frequents the upper parts of the lofty firs, it was almost an accident to obtain it at all. The female remains

unknown.”

Syztvia TownsEnn1, (Wutiall), TowNsEND’s WaRBLER, Towns. Journal of Acad. of

Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 191.

Adult Male in Autumn. Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 1. The specimen here described was shot by Dr TownsEnp on the 28th October 1835, on the Columbia River, and is in perfect plumage.

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. 37

Bill short, slender, somewhat conical, compressed, straight, pointed, upper mandible with its dorsal outline slightly convex toward the end, the ridge narrow, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected, with a very slight sinus in the place of the notch, the tip slightly declinate and acute ; lower mandible with the angle short and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, and very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges in- volute. The gape-line is straight; the nostrils basal, oblong, opercu- late, partially concealed by the feathers.

Head rather small, ovato-oblong ; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, slender ; tarsus longish, slender, compressed, anteriorly with seven scutella, posteriorly with two longitudinal plates meeting at a very acute angle behind ; toes rather small, the hind toe stouter, the lateral equal; claws of moderate length, well curved, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rather pointed ; the first quill one-twelfth of an inch shorter than the second, which is almost as long as the third, and about half a twelfth longer than the fourth ; the other primaries slowly graduated ; the outer secondaries emarginate, the inner not elongated. Tail of moderate length, even.

Bill dusky. Feet and claws flesh-coloured. The upper parts are light olive, anteriorly tinged with grey, on the rump with yellow ; all the feathers dusky in the centre; the cheeks, ear-coverts and throat are black, the feathers on the latter edged with yellow ; a band over the eye, from the bill to behind the ear, a broader band on the side of the neck running into the former, and a patch on the fore part of the breast, bright yellow; the rest of the lower parts white, but the sides marked with oblong dusky spots. The wings are blackish-brown, with two conspicuous white bands, formed by the tips of the first row of coverts and by those of the secondary coverts. The tail-feathers are blackish-brown, edged with greyish-yellow ; the two lateral on each side white, excepting a dusky band occupying the terminal half of the outer web, and a small portion of the inner; there is also a white spot near the end of the inner web of the next feather.

Length to end of tail 43% inches, bill along the ridge 8, ; wing from flexure 23%; tail % ; tarsus 7; hind toe #, its claw 7 ; middle toe 54,

. 2 its claw 34.

ARCTIC BLUE BIRD. SYLVIA ARCTICA. PLATE CCCXCIII. Mare anp Femate.

Tus beautiful species, first introduced to the notice of ornitholo- gists by Dr Ricuarpson, who procured a single specimen at Fort Franklin, in July 1825, is merely a summer visitor to the Fur Coun- tries. Both the male and the female are represented in my plate. The latter I believe has not hitherto been figured. Mr Nutratt’s notice respecting this interesting bird, so closely allied to Sylvia Sialis, is as follows :

*¢ Sialia arctica. Ultramarine Blue-bird. About fifty or sixty miles north-west of the usual crossing place of that branch of the Platte called Larimie’s Fork, in the early part of June, this species of Sialia is not uncommon. The female utters a low plaint when her nest is approached, the place for which is indifferently chosen in a hole ina clay cliff, or in that of the trunk of a decayed cedar. At this time the young were hatched. The nest is made of the usual material of dry grass in very insignificant quantity. 'They are more shy than the com- mon species, and have the same mode of feeding by watching on some low bush or plant, and descending for an insect. We afterwards saw anest of this species on a cliff of the Sandy River, a branch of the Colorado of the West, The female and male were both feeding their brood, The former chirped and appeared uneasy at my approach, and at intervals uttered a plaintive yéow. The male sings more quaintly and monotonously than the commen kind, but in the same general tone and manner.”

To this Dr Townsenp adds that it is found in the “ Forests on the banks of the Platte River, in the vicinity of the Black Hills, and in the same situations on the banks of the Columbia. This species,” he continues, “ was observed in the winter at Fort Vancouver, associat- ing with S. occidentalis, They confine themselves chiefly to the fences in the neighbourhood of the Fort, occasionally flying to the ground, and scratching in the earth for minute insects, the fragments of which

were found in their stomachs. After procuring an insect, the male

ARCTIC BLUE BIRD. 39

usually returned to the fence, and warbled for a minute most delight- fully. Its note, although like that of our common Sialis, is still so dif- ferent as to be easily recognised. It is equally sweet and clear, but of so little power (at least at this season) as to be heard only at a short distance. In the spring it is louder and bolder, but is at all times

much less strong than that of the common species.”

Eryrwaca (Sratia) arctica, Swainson. THe Anrcric Biur-srep, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 209.

Arctic Bivue Brrp, Sraura arctica, Nuttall, Manual vol. u. p. 573.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 2.

Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, compressed towards the end ; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight and declinate, until near the end when it becomes convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex towards the end, the edges direct and overlapping, with a distinct notch close to the narrow deflected tip ; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval.

Head rather large; neck short ; body moderately full. Feet of or- dinary length, slender; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with seven long scutella, posteriorly with two very long plates meeting so as to form a sharp edge; toes of moderate length ; the first stouter, the second and fourth nearly equal, the third much longer ; claws mode- rate, well curved, slender, compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point.

Plumage soft and blended, with considerable gloss; short bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long ; the first quill very small, being only seven-twelfths of an inch long, the second one- twelfth shorter than the third, which is longest, but exceeds the fourth only by half a twelfth, the other primaries rapidly graduated ; the outer secondaries emarginate, the inner not elongated. ‘Tail long, deeply emarginate, of twelve strong feathers, of which the medial are five-twelfths shorter than the lateral.

Bill and feet black ; iris brown. The general colour of the upper parts is light azure blue, approaching to smalt blue ; the quills and larger coverts dark greyish-brown, the outer tinged with blue, the pri-

40 ARCTIC BLUE BIRD.

maries broadly margined with light blue, the secondaries with greyish- blue, the inner chiefly with dull white. The tail feathers are also brown, gradually more blue toward the base, and all broadly margined externally with that colour. ‘The sides of the head, the fore part and sides of the neck, and the anterior half of the breast, light greenish- blue; that colour gradually fading on the hind part of the breast ; the abdomen and lower tail-coverts greyish-white.

Length to end of tail 74 inches; bill along the ridge 3%, along the edge of lower mandible 7 ; wing from flexure 474; tail 214; tarsus

7, hind toe 7g, its claw 77; middle toe 74, its claw 2%.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXCIIL. Fig. 3.

The Female differs greatly. The parts which retain the same co- lour are the rump, wings, and tail, of which, however, the blue edgings are less pure and of less extent, and the outer primary and outer tail- feathers are margined externally with white. The upper part of the head, the hind neck, the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts are light greyish-brown, margined with pale greenish-blue ; the cheeks and sides of the neck are paler; the fore part of the neck and the anterior por- tion of the breast are light greyish-brown, on the breast tinged with red; the rest of the lower parts of an undecided brownish-white tint ; the lower wing-coverts pale greyish-brown, edged with white, the lower tail-coverts with a medial dusky streak.

Length to end of tail 63 inches; bill along the ridge &; wing from flexure 47% ; tail 2735; tarsus {2; hind toe 74, its claw #4, mid- dle toe §, its claw 34.

The above descriptions are taken from skins procured by Dr TownsEnD on the Columbia River. That of the male is from a speci- men shot in June 1835; and that of the female from one shot on the 26th of the same month and year. Of two other specimens in my pos- session, a male agrees with that described, but bas the blue of the upper parts deeper, and of a tint approaching to that of the common species. The female is also similar to that described, but has a dull white spot before the eye, and the upper part of the throat brownish-white.

There are some slight errors in Mr Swarnson’s description of this bird in the Fauna-Boreali Americana, which, however, may be ex-

cused, as he had only a single skin. Instead of the bill being more

WESTERN BLUE BIRD. 4]

faintly notched than in “ Sialia Wilsoni,” it is more decidedly so; and although somewhat more elongated, it is not less broad at the base. It is stated that “the second quill-feather is the longest ; the first and third are equal, and about a line shorter; the tenth is an inch anda half shorter than the second.” Now in all my four specimens, the first quill is diminutive or rudimentary, little more than half an inch long, as it is in “ Sialia Wilsoni,” although it has been overlooked in the de- scription of that bird in my second volume ; the second quill is a little shorter than the third, which is the longest, and the tenth is one inch and seven-twelfths shorter than the third, in another, half a twelfth less, in a female an inch and three-twelfths. I have not seen any specimens having the upper parts “ ultramarine blue,” and I think an approximation to that tint belongs to younger birds, while the old males are rather smalt-blue.

This species is distinguished from the Common Blue Bird by ha- ving the wings longer, straighter and more pointed. In the male the fore-neck amd breast are light greenish-blue, whereas in the other spe- cies they are brownish-red. The two species, however, are very inti- mately allied, as they also are with that which comes next to be de- scribed.

WESTERN BLUE BIRD.

SYLVIA OCCIDENTALIS. PLATE CCCXCIII. Mare anp FEMALE.

Or this handsome bird, which was discovered by Dr Townsenp, and described in his name under the denomination of Sialia occidentalis, Mr Nourraty has favoured me with the following notice :—‘ The Western Blue Bird possesses many of the habits of our common kind. The male is equally tuneful throughout the breeding season. Mount- ing some projecting branch of an oak or low pine, he delivers his de- lightful ditty with great energy, extending his wings, and exerting all his powers as it were to amuse his sitting mate, or to allure attention to his short, often-repeated, but thrilling lay. In the midst of all this

charming employment economy is rarely forgotten, and a crawling

42 WESTERN BLUE BIRD.

beetle or busy insect is no sooner seen than snatched up by our still watchful songster, who resumes his wonted perch, to be again inter- rupted by the cares of providing a subsistence ; or, reiterating his melody, strives to drown the song of some neighbouring rival by tender strains and more earnest endeavours. He appears also equally solicitous with out common species to shew his affection for his mate, whom he constantly accompanies, feeds, and caresses, with an ardour of affection seldom rivalled. His song is more varied, sweet and tender than that of the common Sialia, and very different in many of its expressions. In the small rocky prairies of the Columbia, near its bank, where I first heard and saw this species, they were ex- ceedingly shy, probably in consequence of the presence of birds of prey, which prowled around, and it was with difficulty that we got sight of them, but afterwards, in the vicinity of Santa Barbara, in Upper Cali- fornia, I saw them in considerable numbers, and very familiar, making at this time (April) their nests in the knot-holes of the oaks which abound in the neighbouring plains. We first met a flock of young birds alone, in the winter, near to Fort Vancouver, flitting through the tall fir trees, like so many timorous and silent winter passengers. ‘These had so much the appearance of young of the common species, that for some time we paid little attention to them ; but their silence, the ab- sence of the usual complaints of ¢ shaye vit, &c., and at length their dif- ferent notes, convinced me of their being distinct, previous to any exa- mination of their plumage. This species, unlike Scalia arctica, does not extend to the mountains, but seems constantly to affect similar. si- tuations with our common kind, along the coast of the Pacific, as ours does along that of the Atlantic.”

I have given figures of both the male and the female in their spring dress.

SIALIA OCCIDENTALIS, WESTERN BLUE BIRD, Townsend, Journal of Acad. of Nat.

Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 188.

Adult Male in summer. Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 4.

This species in size and form, as well as in colour, is very similar to the Common Blue Bird. Its bill is of ordinary length, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end ; upper man- dible with the dorsal line straight and a little declinate at the base,

convex toward the end, the ridge narrow, the sides convex toward the

WESTERN BLUE BIRD. 43

end, the edges direct and overlapping, with a slight notch close to the narrow deflected tip ; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, elliptical, operculate, partially con- cealed by the feathers.

Head rather large ; neck short; body moderately full. Feet of or- _dinary length, slender; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, behind with two long plates meeting so as to form a thin edge; toes of moderate length; the first stouter, the second and fourth nearly equal, the third much longer; claws moderate, well curved, compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point.

Plumage soft and blended, with considerable gloss. Short bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long; the first quill very small, being only seven-twelfths of an inch long, the second half a twelfth shorter than the third, which is longest, but only exceeds the fourth by three-fourths of a twelfth; the other primaries rapidly gra- duated ; outer secondaries emarginate, inner not elongated. ‘'ail ra- ther long, deeply emarginate, the middle feathers being four-twelfths of an inch shorter than the longest.

Bill and feet black; iris brown. The general colour of the upper parts is bright blue of a tint approaching to ultramarine ; a broad band across the fore part of the back, and the scapulars, chestnut-red ; the quills and larger coverts dark greyish-brown, the outer webs blue, the primaries light brown at the end, the secondaries faintly margined with whitish. The tail-feathers are also brown toward the end, but blue toward the base ; the lateral with the margin of the outer web whitish. The sides and fore part of the neck are light blue, tinged with grey, the fore part of the breast and the sides of the body light chestnut- red ; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white tinged with blue.

Length to end of tail 7 inches; bill along the ridge 7%, along the edge of lower mandible 4 ; wing from fiexure 4,°, ; tail 239 ; tarsus 19,

hind toe 74, its claw 74 ; middle toe 7%, its claw 75.

Adult Female in summer. Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 4.

The Female differs from the male in the same degree as that of the Arctic Blue Bird from its male; the upper parts being light greyish- brown tinged with blue, which is brighter on the rump ; the wings and tail are as in the male, but with less blue; the lower parts are bluish-

grey, the breast and sides light brownish-red tinged with grey.

44 CHESTNUT-COLLARED LARK BUNTING.

Length to end of tail 62 inches ; bill along the ridge #2 ; wing from flexure 41; tail 23% ; tarsus }2 ; hind toe 34, its claw 24 ; middle toe ,8,;

its claw 33.

In size and form there is little difference between the three species of Blue Bird, namely, Sylvia (or Sialia) Sialis, arctica, and occiden- talis. 'The first of these species has the wings shorter than the other two, in which the primary quills are remarkably elongated ; its bill is also shorter, and its general habit seems to be somewhat more robust. Males of the three species are easily distinguished by their colours. S. Sialis is of a rich bright blue above, brownish-red beneath anteriorly ; S. arctica, is of a light smalt or greenish-blue above, and of a paler tint of the same beneath anteriorly ; S. occidentalis is of an intermediate tint of blue, approaching to ultramarine, with a chestnut band across the back, the throat also blue, but the fore part of the breast red. The in- timate affinity of the three species affords one of the most striking in-

stances of this kind that are met with.

The plant represented Calycanthus floridus, the Carolina Alespice, much esteemed on account of the fragrance of its large purple flowers, abounds in the Southern States, growing on the margins of swamps

and rivulets.

CHESTNUT-COLLARED LARK-BUNTING.

EMBERIZA ORNATA. PLATE CCCXCIV. Mate.

Dr TownsEnp procured a single male of this new species, respect- ing which he has sent me the following notice. ‘ It is by no means a common bird; keeps in pairs, and appears to live exclusively upon the ground ; is remarkably shy, and although I saw the female several times I was unable to procure it.” Were my young friend at my elbow, I would certainly ask him a few questions, and in particular where he

procured this species.

CHESTNUT-COLLARED LARK BUNTING. 45

PLECTROPHANES ORNATA, CHESTNUT-COLLARED Fincu, Townsend, Journal of Acad. of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 189.

Adult Male in spring. Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 1.

Bill short, conical, pointed ; upper mandible with the dorsal line al- most straight, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip slightly declinate ; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the edges inflected, the tip acute ; the gape-line ascends a short way at first, and is after- wards nearly straight, and there is a small narrow prominence on the palate.

Head of moderate size, ovate ; neck short ; body full. Feet of mo- derate size ; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, behind with two longitudinal plates meeting so as to form a very thin edge ; hind toe stout, lateral toes nearly equal; claws long, slender, compressed, little curved, that of the hind toe elongated.

Plumage soft, full, blended, on the back somewhat compact. Wings rather long and pointed, the first quill longest ; tail rather long, nearly even.

Bill yellow, with the tips dusky. Feet and claws yellowish flesh- colour. The upper part of the head, a streak and some spots behind the ear, and the breast, black ; a broad band over the eye, the throat and sides of the neck, the abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and three late- ral tail-feathers white, the latter edged externally with dusky. There is a broad transverse band of yellowish-red on the hind neck; the up- per parts are yellowish-grey, the feathers dusky in the centre ; the quills and larger coverts dusky with yellowish-grey margins, as are the four middle tail-feathers.

Length to end of tail 5} inches ; bill along the ridge #4 ; wing from

flexure 3;%; tail 1 {2 ; tarsus {3 ; hind toe #, its claw 4.

(i), 4B)

BLACK-HEADED SISKIN.

FRINGILLA MAGELLANICA, VIEILL.

PLATE CCCXCIV. Mate.

Waite residing at Henderson, on the Ohio, I, one cold morning in December, observed five males of this species on the heads of some sunflowers in my garden, and, after watching them for a little time, shot two of them. The rest rose high in the air, and were soon out of sight. Considering the birds very nearly allied to our Common American Goldfinch, I was surprised to find the head black at that season. Their notes resembled those of the Pine Finch, Fringilla pinus, but in their manner of feeding, as well as in their flight, they precisely resembled the American Goldfinch, Fringilla tristis. All my subsequent endea- vours to meet with this species failed, and I am unacquainted with the

female.

FRINGILLA MAGELLANICA, Vieill.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 2.

Bill short, conical, compressed toward the end, very acute ; upper mandible a little broader than the lower, with the dorsal outline slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected and overlapping, the tip slightly declinate ; the gape-line straight, but a little deflected at the base ; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dor- sal line straight, the sides convex, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers.

Head of moderate size, roundish-ovate. Neck short. Body ra- ther full. Legs of moderate length ; tarsus short, compressed, slender, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, and thin-edged behind; toes slender, compressed, scutellate, the first large and stouter, the lateral nearly equal; claws long, compressed, moderately curved, very acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Wings rather long, pointed; the first and second quills equal, the third one-twelfth shorter, the other pri- maries rapidly graduated ; the outer secondaries emarginate. ‘Tail rather short, emarginate.

BLACK-AND-YELLOW-CROWNED FINCH. 47

Bill dusky ; feet and claws reddish-brown. The head and throat are black; the back yellowish-green, the rump and lower parts green- ish-yellow; the wings black, with two bards of yellowish-green ter- minating the first row of small coverts, and the secondary coverts, and a conspicuous band of yellow on the basal portion of all the quills, most of which are margined toward the end with the same. Tail yellow at the base, black toward the end.

Length to end of tail 43 inches, bill along the ridge 44, ; wing from flexure 23%; tail 14$; tarsus £%; hind toe 75, its claw 34; middle toe

44, its claw jz.

BLACK-AND-YELLOW-CROWNED FINCH.

EMBERIZA ATRICAPILLA, GMEL. PLATE CCCXCIV. Mate.

Tue only account which I have received of this handsome Finch, long since known to the ornithologist, is from Mr Nurrari :—“ We first observed the young of this species on the central table-land of the Rocky Mountains, in the prairies, and mostly running on the ground. We heard no note from them. We afterwards saw a few stragglers, in the early part of winter, in the thickets of the forests of the Columbia River, near Fort Vancouver, accompanying the Fringilla leucophrys. It is probable that they come there to pass the cold sea- son. They are equally seen at this time, and until late in the spring, in the woods and thickets of Upper California.

EMBERIZA ATRICAPILLA, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 875.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i, p- 415.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 3.

Bill short, stout, narrower than the head, conical, somewhat com- pressed toward the end, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal out- line nearly straight, the ridge convex and obscure, the sides rounded, the edges somewhat inflected, with a very small notch at the end, the

48 BLACK-AND-YELLOW-CROWNED FINCH.

tip a little declinate ; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the point acute. The gape-line nearly straight, at the base a little de- clinate ; the palate concave. Nostrils basal, roundish, open, partially concealed by the feathers.

Head rather large, ovate; neck short ; body full. Legs of mode- rate length, rather stout; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, co- vered anteriorly with seven scutella ; toes rather large, scutellate above, the first stronger, the lateral nearly equal, the third and fourth connected at the base. Claws rather long, moderately arched, slender, compressed, laterally grooved, acute.

Plumage full, soft, and blended. Wings of ordinary length; the first quill two and a half twelfths shorter than the second, which is longest, but scarcely exceeds the third, which in like manner is very slightly longer than the fourth, the other primaries moderately gra- duated ; the outer secondaries slightly emarginate, the inner not elong- ated. ‘Tail long, rounded.

Bill reddish-brown, dusky toward the point; feet flesh-coloured, claws dusky. The upper part of the head is black, with a longitudi- nal median band of yellow, changing behind to grey ; upper parts yel- lowish-brown, tinged with grey, the feathers of the fore part of the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts with a central dusky spot; quills and larger coverts dark brown, bordered with reddish-brown, paler on the primaries ; the tips of the first row of small coverts, and of the se- condary coverts, white, forming two bands across the wing. Tail greyish-brown, the feathers edged with yellowish-grey. The sides of the head, throat, fore part and sides of the neck, sides of the body, and fore part of the breast, light grey, the sides tinged with yellow, the rest of the lower parts brownish-white.

Length to end of tail 8 inches ; bill along the ridge # ; wing from flexure 37, ; tail 37, ; tarsus 3; hind toe #4, its claw #; middle toe

iz; its claw a.

A young male, shot by Dr Townsrenp, on the Rocky Mountains, on the 12th of July 1834, has all the upper parts dull yellowish-grey, streaked with dusky ; the wings and tail dusky brown, the quills edged with reddish-brown, the two bands on the coverts light reddish-brown ; the lower parts whitish, streaked with dusky, the throat white, with a band of dusky spots on each side from the lower mandible.

(49:4)

ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. FRINGILLA ARCTICA, SWAINS. PLATE CCCXCIV. Mate anp FEMALE.

Tuts handsome species was first described by Mr Swatnson in the Fauna Boreali-Americana. Dr RicHaxrpson in the same work states, that it was observed only on the plains of the Saskatchewan, where he supposes it breeds, as one specimen was obtained late in July. It arrives there in the end of May, and frequents shady and moist clumps of wood, being generally seen on the ground. It feeds on grubs, and is solitary and retired. My friend Mr Norratt has furnished me with the following account of it :—

“‘ We found this familiar bird entirely confined to the western side of the Rocky Mountains. Like the common Towee, it is seen to frequent the forests amidst bushes and thickets, where, flitting along or scratching up the dead leaves, it seems intent on gaining a humble subsistence. It is much more shy than the common kind, when ob- served flying off or skulking in the thickest places, where it is with dif- ficulty followed. In a few minutes, however, the male, always accom- panying his mate, creeps out, and at first calls in a low whisper of re- cognition, when, if not immediately answered, he renews his plaintive par par or pay payay, until joined by her; when, if the nest be invaded, he comes out more boldly, and reiterates his complaint, while there re- mains around him the least cause of alarm. When undisturbed during the period of incubation, he frequently mounts a low bush in the morn- ing, and utters at short intervals, for an hour at a time, his monoto- nous and quaint warble, which is very similar to the notes of the Towee ; but this latter note (towee) so continually repeated by our humble and familiar Ground Robin, is never heard in the western wilds, our pre- sent species uttering in its stead the common complaint, and almost mew, of the Cat Bird. On the 14th of June, I saw the nest of this Species, situated in the shelter of a low undershrub, in a depression scratched out for its reception. It was made of a rather copious lining of clean wiry grass, with some dead leaves beneath, as a foundation.

The eggs were four, nearly hatched, very closely resembling those of VOL. v. D

50 ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH.

the Towee, thickly spotted over, but more so at the larger end, with very small, round, and numerous reddish chocolate spots. As usual, the pair shewed a great solicitude about their nest, the male in parti- cular approaching boldly to scold and lament at the dangerous intru- sion. This species extends into Upper California, and is occasionally - seen there with the brown species of Swainson, Pipilo fusca.”

Dr TownsEnp informs me, that it is called ‘‘ Chlawa-th” by the Chinook Indians, and is abundant on the banks of the Columbia where it is found mostly on the ground, or on bushes near the ground, rarely ascending trees. His description of the nest and eggs agrees precisely with that of Mr Nurratt.

The eggs of this bird in my possession measure an inch and an eighth in length, and seven-eighths in breadth. ‘They are broadly rounded at the larger end, and fall off rather abruptly at the other ex- tremity. The spots and markings are vermilion, intermixed with lar-

ger spots of neutral tint, on a pure white ground.

Pyrerra (Preto) arctica, Swainson, Arctic GRounD-F incu, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 260.

Arctic Grounp-Fincu, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 589.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 4.

Bill short, robust, narrower than the head, conical, somewhat com- pressed toward the end, acute; upper mandible almost straight in its dorsal outline, being very slightly convex, the ridge narrow and well- marked, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, the tip a little declinate ; lower mandible with the angle short and broad, the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the point « acute. The nostrils basal, roundish, open, partially concealed by the feathers. The gape-line nearly straight, a little deflected at the base.

Head rather large, ovate; neck shortish; body robust. Legs of moderate length, rather stout ; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella; toes rather large, scutellate above, the first stronger, the lateral nearly equal, the third and fourth connected at the base. Claws rather long, moderately arched, slender, compressed, laterally grooved, acute.

Plumage full, soft, and blended. Wings of ordinary length, the fourth quill the longest, the third and fifth next and nearly equal, the

ARCTIC GROUND-FINCH. 51

second shorter than the sixth, the first seven and a half twelfths of an inch shorter than the fourth. Tail long, rounded, of twelve strong feathers. '

Bill brownish-black. Iris red. Feet and claws reddish-brown. The general colour of the plumage is black, that colour extending over _ part of the breast, the sides and lower tail-coverts orange-red, the cen- tral part of the breast and abdomen white, the feathers of the tibize dusky, margined with whitish. An elongated patch on the outer web of all the scapulars ; a small terminal spot of the same on the first row of small coverts and on the secondary coverts, and a large patch at the end of the inner web of the outer three tail-feathers on each side, white.

Length to end of tail 84 inches, bill along the ridge 7%, along the edge of lower mandible * ; wing from flexure 31; tail 4,%,; tarsus 15

hind toe 7, its claw #; middle toe 2, its claw 7.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 5.

The Female is smaller. The parts which are black in the male, are blackish-grey, which on the fore part and sides of the neck is tinged with reddish-brown. In other respects there is not much difference in the plumage.

Length to end of tail 8 inches; bill along the ridge ;4; wing from flexure 37; tail 4; tarsus 1; hind toe #4, its claw #4, ; middle toe 44, its

claw 3.

The male above described was shot by Dr TownsEnp on the Columbia River, on the 14th May 1835 ; the female on the 11th October 1834. In form, size, and colour, this bird is most closely allied to the Towhe Finch, Pringilla erythrophthalma of Linnzus, from which, how- ever, it is at once distinguishable by the spots of white on the scapu- lars and wing-coverts which are wanting in that species. The latter on the other hand has a patch of white on the basal part of the outer webs of the primaries, that part being black in the present species.

( 52)

AUDUBON’S WARBLER.

SyYLvid AuUDUBONI, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCXCV. Mate ann FEemate.

TuHIs species, so very intimately allied to Sylvia coronata, that an observer might readily mistake the one for the other, was discovered by Dr Townsrnp, who has done me the honour of naming it after me. He states, that “ the Chinook Indians know it by the name of ‘ Fout- sah, and that it is very numerous about the Columbia River, arriving there in the middle of March, and remaining to breed, but disappear- ing in the end of June. In the beginning of October it is again seen, with its plumage renewed. Its voice so nearly resembles that of the Chestnut-sided Warbler as to render it difficult to distinguish them. It keeps in the most impervious thickets, and is always silent when en- gaged in seeking its food.” Mr Nurtatr has favoured me with the following animated account of it.

“ This elegant species, one of the beautiful and ever-welcome har- bingers of approaching summer, we found about the middle of April, accompanying its kindred troop of Warblers, enlivening the dark and dreary wilds of the Oregon. The leaves of the few deciduous trees were now opening rapidly to the balmy influence of the advancing spring, and flowers but rarely seen even by the botanist, sent forth their delicious fragrance, and robed in beauty the shady forests and grassy savannahs. But nothing contributes so much life to the scene as the arrival of those seraphic birds, the 'Thrushes and Warblers, which, unit- ing in one wild and ecstatic chorus of delight, seemed to portray, how- ever transiently, the real rather than the imaginary pleasures of para- dise. Nor in those sad and distant wilds were the notes of the gilded mes- senger of summer (Sylvia wstiva) the less agreeable that I had heard them a thousand times before. The harmonies of Nature are not made to tire, but to refresh the best feelings of the mind, to recall the past, and make us dwell with delight upon that which best deserves our re- collection. But what was my surprise to hear the accustomed note of the Summer Yellow-Bird delivered in an improved state by this new Warbler, clad in a robe so different but yet so beautiful. Like that

species, also he was destined to become our summer acquaintance, breed-

AUDUBON’S WARBLER. 53

ing and rearing his offspring in the shady firs by the borders of the prairie openings, where he could at all times easily obtain a supply of insects or their larve. On the 8th of June the young of this species, at that time so much like those of the Yellow-Rump, were already out in small roving and busy flocks, solicitously attended and occasionally fed by the still watchful parents. We may notice in this species as a habit, that, unlike many other birds of its tribe, it occasionally frequents trees, particularly the water oaks and the lower branches of those gi- gantic firs, which attain not uncommonly a height of 240 feet. In the branches of the latter, near a cliff, opening on a prairie by the banks of the river Columbia, I have reason to believe that a pair of this fine species had a nest, as great solicitude was expressed when I several times accidentally approached the place.”

I have given figures of the male and female, taken from specimens

obtained by Dr TownsEnp on the Columbia.

Sytvia Aupusoni, AupuBoN’s WarBLeER, Townsend, Journal of Acad, of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 190.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCV. Fig. 1.

Bill short, straight, rather strong, tapering, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible with its dorsal outline slightly convex toward the slightly declinate acute tip, the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping with a slight notch near the tip; lower mandible with the angle rather short and of moderate width, the dorsal line ascend- ing and almost straight, the edges a little inclinate, the tip acute. Gape-line straight ; nostrils basal, oval, operculate, partially concealed by the feathers.

Head of ordinary size, ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with a few long scutella, sharp behind; toes slender, free, the outer united as far as the second joint ; the hind toe proportionally large ; claws arched, of moderate length, slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point.

Plumage soft, blended, without gloss. Wings rather long, little curved; second and third quills longest, fourth almost equal, and slightly longer than the first, which is scarcely a twelfth of an inch shorter than the second ; outer secondaries slightly emarginate ; inner not elongated. Tail rather long, slightly emarginate, the lateral fea- thers bent outwards.

54 AUDUBON’S WARBLER.

Bill and feet black. Iris brown. The general colour of the plu- mage above is ash-grey, streaked with black ; the crown, rump, upper part of the throat and a patch on the sides, rich yellow; first row of small coverts largely tipped, and secondary coverts broadly margined with white, which thus forms a conspicuous patch on the wing. Quills and tail brownish-black, narrowly margined with brownish-grey ; outer margin of the two outer tail-feathers on each side white, and a patch of the same colour on the inner webs of the outer three towards the end. There is a small white spot on each of the eyelids; the loral space and cheek are black; the lower part of the neck anteriorly, the fore part of the breast, and the sides, are variegated with black and white, the latter colour margining the feathers, the rest of the lower parts white.

Length to end of tail 5? inches ; bill along the ridge 73; wing from flexure 3,1, ; tail 23%; tarsus 3%; hind toe 3%, its claw 74, middle toe 4, its claw ?4.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXCV. Fig. 2.

The female is rather less, and wants the yellow spot on the crown, although the feathers there are tinged with that colour at the base. The upper parts are light brownish-grey, streaked with dusky ; the lower parts whitish, tinged with brown, and streaked with dusky ; the throat and rump are yellow, but of a paler tint than in the male, and there are but slight indications of the yellow patch on the sides. The wings and tail, are as in the male; but the two rows of coverts have much less white on their outer edges, and the white patches on the tail- feathers are of less extent.

Length to end of tail 53 inches ; bill along the ridge # ; wing from flexure 214; tail 21.

In size, form, and proportions of parts Sylvia Auduboni, and S. coro- nata are, it may be said precisely similar, the differences that can be pointed out being extremely insignificant. Thus the bill is slightly longer, and the tarsus slightly shorter in S. Auduboni. The colours of the two species are also exactly alike, the only difference in this re- spect being that the throat of this new species is yellow, while that of the other is white.

HERMIT WARBLER.

SYLVIA OCCIDENTALIS, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCXCY. Mate anp FEMALE.

Or this species discovered by Dr TownsENpD and Mr Norvatt, in the forests of the Columbia River, all that I know is contained in the following notes from these enterprising naturalists :—‘“ The Hermit Warbler,” says Mr Nutra t, “I have little doubt, breeds in the dark fo- rests of the Columbia, where we saw and heard it singing in the month of June. It isaremarkably shy and solitary bird, retirimg into the darkest and most silent recesses of the evergreens, where, gaining a glimpse of light by ascending the loftiest branches of the gigantic firs, it occupies in solitude a world of its own, but seldom invaded even by the prying Jay, who also retreats, asa last resort, to the same sad gloom. In con- sequence of this eremitic predilection, it is with extreme difficulty that we ever got sight of our wily and retiring subject, who, no doubt breeds and feeds in the tops of these pines. Its song, frequently heard from the same place, at very regular intervals, for an hour or two at a time, is a soft, moody, faint, and monotonous note, apparently delivered chiefly when the bird is at rest on some lofty twig, and within con- venient hearing of its mate and only companion of the wilderness.”

Dr TownsEnn’s note is as follows :—“I shot this pair of birds near Fort Vancouver, on the 28th of May 1835. I found them flitting among the pine trees in the depth of a forest. They were actively engaged in searching for insects, and were frequently seen hanging from the twigs like Titmice. Their note was uttered at distant inter- vals, and resembled very much that of the Black-throated Blue Warbler,

Syleia canadensis.”

Syivia occipenTALIs, Hermit WarsieEr, Townsend, Journal of Acad. of Nat.

Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 190.

Adult Male in Summer. Plate CCCXCV. Fig. 3. Bill short, straight, rather strong, tapering, acute, its dorsal outline very slightly convex, the sides convex, the gape-line straight. Head

of ordinary size, ovate ; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of or-

56 HERMIT WARBLER.

dinary length, rather slender ; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, sharp behind; toes slender, free, the outer united as far as the second joint; the hind toe proportionally large ; claws arched, of moderate length, slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point.

Plumage soft, blended, without gloss. Wings of moderate length, rather convex ; the outer three quills almost equal, the third longest ; the inner secondaries not elongated. Tail of moderate length, slightly emarginate.

Bill black ; iris brown; feet yellowish-brown. The general co- lour of the upper parts is bluish-grey, spotted with black; the upper part of the head, which is similarly spotted, the cheeks, and the sides of the neck are bright yellow ; the throat black, the rest of the lower parts white. The feathers of the wings are dusky, edged with grey- ish-white ; and there are two transverse bands of white, formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts and the outer webs of the second- ary coverts. The tail-feathers are brown, excepting the two lateral on each side, which are white.

Length to end of tail 532 inches; bill along the ridge 74; wing from flexure 2;%; tail 1;%; tarsus 7; ; hind toe ;4, its claw 74; mid-

dle toe #2, its claw #4.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXCV. Fig. 4.

The bill and feet as in the male. The upper parts are of a duller grey, tinged with brown ; the yellow of the head is less extended and not so bright; the throat is whitish, spotted with dusky; the other

parts are similar.

THE STRAWBERRY TREE.

Evonymus Americanus, Willd. Sp. Pl. vol. i. p. 1132.—Punrsu, Flora Amer. vol. i. p. 168.

This beautiful shrub, which attains a height of five or six feet, is common in most parts of the United States, growing in low or swampy ground, and in shady places, is characterized by having the branches quadrangular, the leaves subsessile, elliptico-lanceolate, acute, and ser- rate. The fruit is large, round, tuberculate, of a scarlet colour, and

very ornamental.

Ur ar)

BLACK-THROATED GREY WARBLER.

SYLVIA NIGRESCENS, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCXCV. Mate.

Tuts is another of the interesting species discovered and named by Dr Townsenp, who informs me that it is called “4h Kah a qual” by the Chinook Indians ; that it is abundant in the forests of the Co- lumbia, where it breeds and remains until winter ; and that the nest, formed externally of fibrous green moss, is generally placed on the upper branches of the oak, suspended between two small twigs. Mr Nurratt’s notice respecting it is as follows :—‘ This curious species, so much resembling Sylvia striata, was seen to arrive early in May; and from its song more regularly delivered at intervals, in the tops of deciduous-leaved trees, we have little doubt but that they breed in the forests of the Columbia. On the 23d of May I had the satisfaction of harkening to the delicate but monotonous song of this bird, as he bu- sily and intently searched every leafy bough and expanding bud for larvee and insects in a spreading oak, from whence he delivered his solitary note. Sometimes he remained a minute or two stationary, but more generally continued his quest for prey. His song, at short and regular intervals, seemed like ’t shee *t shay t shaitshee, varying the feeble sound very little, and with the concluding note somewhat slen- derly and plaintively raised.”

For the drawing of the plant represented in this plate, and no- ticed in the preceding page, I am indebted to my much esteemed friend Miss Martin.

SYLVIA NIGRESCENS, BLacK-THROATED GREY WaRBLER, Jownsend, Journ. of Acad. of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 191.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCV. Figs. 5, 6.

Bill shortish, straight, rather strong, tapering, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal outline convex and declinate toward the acute tip, the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlap- ping, without notch; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line very slightly convex, the edges a little inclinate, the

58 BLACK-THROATED GREY WARBLER.

tip acute. Gape-line slightly arched ; nostrils basal, oval, operculate, partially concealed by the feathers.

Head of ordinary size, ovato-oblong; neck short; body slender. Feet of ordinary length, slender ; tarsus rather long, compressed, ante- riorly covered with seven long scutella, of which the upper are blended behind with two long plates, meeting so as to form a sharp edge ; toes short, slender, free, the outer united as far as the second joint ; the hind toe proportionally large, the inner toe shorter than the outer ; claws arched, of moderate length, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute, that of the hind toe much stouter.

Plumage soft, blended, without gloss. Wings of moderate length, little convex, pointed ; the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest, the fourth little shorter than the third, the outer primaries ra- pidly graduated; secondaries narrow, the outer rounded and slightly emarginate, the inner not elongated. ‘Tail rather long, slightly rounded and emarginate, of twelve rather narrow and weak feathers.

Bill and feet black. Ivis brown. The general colour of the upper parts is bluish-grey, streaked with black, of the lower white, the sides marked with narrow black streaks; the upper part of the head and nape, the loral space and cheeks, and the fore part of the neck, with a small portion of the breast, black; a band from near the nostrils to near the eye yellow; a band of white over the eye, and another from the lower mandible along the side of the neck, white. The wings, and tail are blackish-brown, the feathers edged with bluish-grey ; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the first row of pri- mary coverts, and the outer edges of the secondary coverts; the outer margin of the first quill is also white; as are those of the outer two feathers of the tail, with the greater part of the inner web of the outer three.

Length to end of tail 5; bill along the ridge 72; wing from flexure 2,8; tail 2; tarsus 3; hind toe 2%, its claw 7; middle toe

48 j 44, its claw 7%

The above description is taken from a male shot by Dr TownsEnp, on the 16th June 1835, on the Columbia River. A male shot by him on the 28th October of the same year, differs only in being of a more uniform bluish-grey above, the black spots being concealed by the ~ elongated filaments, and there being more grey than black on the head.

GLAUCOUS GULL OR BURGOMASTER. 59

The black on the throat is in like manner partially concealed by the white tips and margins of the feathers. Another male, shot on the 14th May, is intermediate in colouring.

In its colours this species has a considerable resemblance to Syl- via varia, as well as to S. coronata and S. Auduboni, to which latter two species it is more allied in form than to the former, which differs in having the bill much longer and more compressed, the tarsus shorter, and the hind toe much longer.

GLAUCOUS GULL OR BURGOMASTER.

LARUS GLAUcus, Brunn.

PLATE CCCXCVI. Aputt Mate anv Youne.

I rounp this species on the coast of Labrador in very small num- bers, all paired, in the month of July; but our endeavours to dis- cover their nests were unavailing, and their shyness, which surpassed even that of the Great Black-backed Gull, prevented us from seeing much of their habits. I have never met with one on any part of our Atlantic coast, and Iam much disposed to believe that those which may retire from the Arctic regions, where they are numerous, follow the north-west shores of America, as is indeed the case with many of the hyperborean birds, they giving an unaccountable preference to that side of the continent. It is true that I have often been told at Boston and New York that the Glaucous Gull had not unfrequently been pro- cured there ; but in no instance could I place any reliance upon the report, for when the supposed Glaucous Gull was shown to me, it pro- ved to be merely a large specimen of the Herring Gull, Larus argentatus. Dr Ricnarpson, who had good opportunities of observing this bird, speaks of it as follows :-—

*« This large and powerful Gull inhabits Greenland, the Polar Seas, Bafhn’s Bay, and the adjoining straits and coasts, in considerable num- bers, during the summer. Its winter resorts in America have not been mentioned by authors ; and the Prince of Musienano informs us,

that it is exceedingly rare in the United States. It is notoriously

60 GLAUCOUS GULL OR BURGOMASTER.

greedy and voracious, preying not only on fish and small birds, but on carrion of every kind. One specimen killed on Captain Ross’s expedi- tion disgorged an auk when it was struck, and proved, on dissection, to have another in its stomach. Unless when impelled to exertion by hunger, it is rather a shy inactive bird, and has little of the clamorous- ness of others of the genus. ‘There is a considerable variety in the size of individuals. Captain Sazine found most of his specimens smaller than the Z. marinus, but the largest individual of either spe- cies which he met with, was a male of L. glaucus, killed in Barrow’s Strait. Its length was thirty-two inches; extent of wing sixty-five inches ; weight four pounds and a quarter. Its tarsus was three inches and a half long, and its bill, which was prodigiously strong and arched, measured upwards of four inches. The eggs of this Gull are pale purplish-grey, with scattered spots of umber-brown, and subdued laven- der-purple.”

My figures were taken from specimens kindly presented to me by my friend Captain James Crarxe Ross, R. N.

Larus exaucus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 600.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p, 814.— Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 361. Larus ciaucus, BurcomastER GuLL, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer.

vol. ii. p. 416. Guiavucous Gut1, or BurcomastER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 306.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCVI. Fig. 1.

Bill shorter than the head, stout, compressed, higher near the end than at the base. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight for half its length, declinate and arched towards the end, the ridge convex, the sides very rapidly sloping and slightly convex, the edges sharp and somewhat inflected, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal groove rather long and narrow ; nostrils in its fore part, lateral, longitudinal, linear-oblong, wider anteriorly, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the outline of the crura decurved toward their junction, where there is a prominence, beyond which the outline ascends and is slightly concave, the sides erect and nearly flat, the edges sharp and a little inflected.

Head large, ovato-oblong, narrowed anteriorly. Neck of moderate length, strong. Body full. Feet of moderate length, rather slender ;

GLAUCOUS GULL OR BURGOMASTER. 61

tibia bare for three quarters of an inch; tarsus somewhat compressed, covered anteriorly with numerous much curved scutella, laterally with angular scales, behind with numerous smali rectangular scales ; hind toe very small and elevated, the fore toes of moderate length, slender, the fourth longer than the second, the third longest, all scutellate above, and connected by reticulated entire membranes, the lateral toes mar- gined externally with a thick narrow membrane. Claws small, slightly arched, depressed, rounded, that of the middle toe with an expanded thin inner margin.

The plumage is very full, close, elastic, soft, and blended, on the back somewhat compact. Wings very long, rather broad, acute; the first quill scarcely two-twelfths of an inch shorter than the second, which is longest, the rest of the primaries rapidly graduated ; secon- daries broad and rounded. Tail of moderate length, nearly even, being slightly rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers.

Bill gamboge yellow, with a carmine patch towards the end of the lower mandible, and the edges of both mandibles at the base of the same colour. Edges of eyelids red, iris yellow. Feet flesh-coloured, claws yellowish. The head, neck, lower parts, rump, and tail, are pure white ; the back and wings light greyish-blue ; the edges of the wing, and a large portion toward the end of all the quills, white.

Length to end of tail 30 inches ; bill along the ridge 27%, along the edge 34; wing from flexure 193; tail 82; tarsus 233; hind toe 24, its claw %; second toe 79, its claw #5; middle toe 25%, its claw £% ; outer toe 21, its claw 7b.

The Female, which is somewhat less, resembles the male.

Young in full plumage. Plate CCCXCVI. Fig 2.

The bill is yellow to a little beyond the nostrils, black at the end ; the feet flesh-coloured, the claws dusky. The iris brown. The gene- ral colour of the plumage is very pale yellowish-brown ; the feathers of the back with a large dusky spot towards the end; the quills and tail-feathers barred with the same.

( 62 )

SCARLET IBIS.

IBIS RUBRA, VIEILL.

PLATE CCCXCVII. Aputt Mate anno Younse.

Ir was supposed by Witson, and since his time by others, that this brilliantly coloured Ibis is not uncommon in the southern parts of the United States. This opinion however is quite erroneous, and I have found the Scarlet Ibis less numerous than even the Glossy Ibis; indeed I have not met with more than three individuals in a state of liberty, in the whole range of the United States. These birds occurred at Bayou Sara, in Louisiana, on the 3d of July 1821. They were travelling in a line, in the manner of the White Ibis, above the tops of the trees. Although I had only a glimpse of them, I saw them sufficiently well to be assured of their belonging to the present species, and therefore I have thought it proper to introduce it into our Fauna. Writson’s figure, I believe, was taken from a living specimen, not however procured with- in the limits of the United States, and which was kept for some time in Peale’s Museum in Philadelphia. My drawing of the adult male, and that of the immature bird, were made from specimens also procured beyond our limits. It is said that the habits of this bird are very si- milar to those of the White Ibis, of which I have given you a long ac- count; but, as I have not had opportunities of observing them, I judge it better to abstain from offering any remarks on this subject.

TanTALUs RUBER, Linn, Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 241.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 703. Scanrer Isis, Tanratus RuBER, Wils. Amer. Ornith, vol. viii. p. Al, pl. 66, fig. 2. Isis ruBRa, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 311.

Scarier Isis, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 84. ‘

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCVII, Fig. 1.

Bill very long, slender unless at the base, deeper than broad, com- pressed, tapering, arcuate, obtuse at the tip. Upper mandible with the dorsal line arched in its whole length, the ridge convex, broader to- ward the end, the sides at the base nearly erect, towards the end very

convex and narrow, the ridge separated in its whole length from the

SCARLET IBIS. 63

sides by a deep narrow groove, the edges inflected and sharp. Nostrils basal, dorsal linear, direct. Lower mandible nearly equal to the upper, narrower toward the end, its angle long, very narrow, and protracted in the form of a groove to the tip, the dorsal line decurved, the sides erect on the crura, convex toward the end, the edges sharp but strong, like those of the upper.

Head small, compressed ; neck long and slender ; body rather full, deeper than broad. Feet very long, stout; tibiz bare about a third of their length, and covered all round with hexagonal scales ; tarsi long, moderately compressed ; anteriorly covered with numerous broad scu- tella, the rest with hexagonal scales, toes long, the first small and slen- der, the third longest, the fourth considerably shorter, the second shorter than the fourth, all covered above with numerous scutella, laterally with angular scales, beneath flattened, with thick soft margins ; the anterior connected at the base by membranes, of which the outer is larger ; claws small, arched, compressed, obtuse, that of the middle toe with a sharp thin edge.

Anterior part of the forehead, sides of the head to beyond the eyes, skin at the base of the lower mandible, and the upper part of the throat bare. Plumage in general soft, rather blended; the feathers of the head and neck narrow, of the other parts ovate. Wings long, ample ; primaries very strong, the third longest, the fourth longer than the se- cond, the first longer than the fifth; secondaries broad and rounded. Tail short, arched, nearly even, of twelve rounded feathers.

Bill, feet, and bare parts of the head, pale lake. Iris yellow. The plumage is of a nearly uniform bright scarlet, excepting the shafts of the quills and tail-feathers, which are white, and the terminal portion of the outer four primaries, which are bluish-black.

Length to end of tail 29 inches ; bill along the ridge 63; along the edge of lower mandible 64; wing from flexure 11}; tail 3354; bare part of tibia 144 ; tarsus 33%; ; hind toe 174, its claw 7% ; second toe 1,%, its claw 3% ; third toe 7, its clawz% ; fourth toe 274, its claw 4.

Young assuming the plumage of the adult. Plate CCCXCVII.

In its first plumage the young has the bill and feet brownish-grey, the bare parts of the head pale flesh-colour ; the plumage of the head, neck, and upper parts of a uniform brownish-grey ; that of the lower white ; the quills and tail-feathers dusky.

Individuals of this species differ much in size,

( 64 )

LAZULI FINCH. FRINGILLA Amana, Bonap. PLATE CCCXCVIII. Mate.

Tue Lazuli Finch, one of the handsomest of its tribe, and allied to the Indigo Bird, Fringilla cyanea, was added to our Fauna by Tuomas Say, who procured it in the course of Lone’s expedition already men- tioned. A figure of the only specimen then obtained was given in the continuation of Witson’s American Ornithology by the Prince of Mu- sicNano. It has been my good fortune to procure a fine pair from Dr TTownsEND, who shot them on the Columbia River, on the 3d of June 1836, so that I have been enabled to represent the female, which has not hitherto been figured, as well as the male. That enterprising na- turalist has informed me, that “ the Chinook Indians name this species Tilkonapaooks, and that it is rather a common bird on the Columbia, but is always shy and retiring in its habits, the female being very rarely seen. It possesses lively and pleasing powers of song, which it pours forth from the top branches of moderate-sized trees. Its nest, which is usually placed in the willows along the margins of the streams, is composed of small sticks, fine grasses, and cow or buffalo hair.”

A nest of this species presented to me by Mr Nutra tt, who found it on the Columbia River, is fastened between thestemand two branches of a large fern, round which many of the fibres are woven. It is fun- nel-shaped, six inches in length, three inches in breadth externally at the mouth, from which it gradually tapers. Internally its diameter at the mouth is two inches, and its depth three. It is composed of fibrous lichens, mosses, decayed leaves and grasses, of coarse texture and rudely interwoven. It is lined with finer fibres and a few horse hairs.

The figure of the female will be seen in Plate CCCCX XIV, Fig. 1.

Lazuxir Fincu, Frincinta ama@na, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 61, pl. 6, fig. 4.

Frinciiia amena, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 106.

Lazutt Fincu, Wuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 473.

LAZULI FINCH. 65

Adult Male in summer. Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill short, robust, conical, a little bulging, straight, acute ; upper mandible broader, its dorsal outline somewhat convex, the ridge nar- row, the sides sloping and a little convex, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the narrow declinate tip; gape-line a little deflected at the base; nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers ; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascend- ing and very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip acute.

Head of moderate size, broadly ovate; neck short; body rather full. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus much compressed, covered an- teriorly with seven scutella, of which the upper are blended, posteriorly with two long plates, meeting so as to form a very thin edge; toes free, of moderate size, the first large, the lateral equal, the middle toe longer than the first. Claws slender, compressed, well arched, acute. |

Plumage full, soft, blended. Wings of ordinary length, the second and third quills longest, the first nearly one-twelfth of an inch shorter and about equal to the fourth; outer secondaries slightly emarginate, inner not elongated. ‘Tail of moderate length, emarginate, of twelve obtuse feathers.

Bill and feet brownish-black. The head and neck all round are of a beautiful greenish-blue, as are the hind part of the back and rump; the loral space black; the fore part of the back, the scapulars, the wings and tail are brownish-black, all the feathers margined with blue ; the wing crossed by a conspicuous white ‘band formed by the first row of small coverts, and an obscure band of bluish-white formed by the tips of the secondary coverts. On the fore part of the breast is a broad band of light brownish-red ; the sides, lower wing-coverts, and tibial feathers are bluish-grey ; the rest of the lower parts white.

Length! to end of tail 53% inches; bill along the ridge #4; wing from flexure 37, ; tail 244; tarsus 7; hind toe 4%, its claw 7; middle

6 j 28 toe $2, its claw 74.

Adult Female. Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 1.

The Female has the bill and feet like those of the male ; the upper parts light greyish-brown, the hind part of the back and the rump greenish-blue, but of a faint tint; the cheeks and throat pale reddish-

VOL, V. E

66 CLAY-COLOURED BUNTING.

grey; the lower part of the neck, and the fore part of the breast light greyish-red, the sides, lower wing-coverts, and tibial feathers light brownish-grey, the rest of the lower parts white. The wings and tail are blackish-brown, the feathers slightly edged with blue ; the trans- verse bar on the wing narrower than‘in the male, and brownish-white.

Length to end of tail 5,4 inches; bill along the ridge #, ; wing from flexure 2'$; tail 24; tarsus 74, hind toe and claw 7%; middle toe and claw 23.

CLAY-COLOURED BUNTING.

EMBERIZA PALLIDA, SWAINSON.

PLATE CCCXCVIII. Mate.

Tuis homely-looking little bird was discovered by Dr Ricnarpson, who states that it ‘* visits the Saskatchewan in considerable numbers, frequents the farm-yard at Carlton House, and is as familiar and con- fident as the common house-sparrow of England.” My friend Mr Nort- TALL, in speaking of it as allied to Fringilla pusilla of Witson, states that it is distinct in its habits, it being a prairie bird, not seen in the woods, and occurring only in spring, although in all other points it agrees with the species just mentioned. It was not met with by him far up the Platte, but is supposed to visit the prairies of the Missouri down to the line of settlements. My drawing represents a male. A female in my possession differs only in being rather smaller.

EMBERIZA PALLIDA, CLay-coLoURED Buntine, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bo- reali-Americana, vol. ii. p. 251.

Ciay-coLouRED Buntine, Vutiall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 584.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 2.

Bill short, strong, conical, compressed toward the end, acute ; upper mandible rather broader than the lower at the base, but less deep be- yond the nostrils, its dorsal line declinate and slightly convex, the sides

convex, the edges direct, the gape-line ascending to beyond the nos~

tiie dik oe

CLAY-COLOURED BUNTING. 67

trils, afterwards straight, the tip acute ; loyver mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line almost straight, the sides rounded ; the edges inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partially concealed by the feathers.

Head ovate, of moderate size; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, slender; tarsus compressed, with seven an- terior scutella, and two plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge ; toes free, the first stronger, the third much longer than the late- ral, of which the inner is somewhat shorter than the outer; claws of moderate length, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute.

Plumage soft and blended, on the back rather compact. Wings of moderate length, rather rounded, the first quill two-twelfths of an inch shorter than the second, which is scarcely longer than the third and fourth, the other primaries slowly graduated ; the secondaries rounded, the inner not elongated. Tail long, emarginate, of twelve narrow feathers, of which the middle are three-twelfths of an inch shorter than the outer.

Bill yellow, greyish-brown toward the end. Feet flesh-coloured, claws dusky brown. The general colour of the upper parts is light yellowish-brown, each feather having a central streak of brownish- black ; the streaks on the rump are fainter and more slender. The quills and tail-feathers greyish-brown, narrowly margined with brownish- white. Over the eye is a long band of brownish-white ; the cheeks are pale brown, the sides of the neck are very light buff, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, the sides of the body tinged with greyish-brown.

Length to end of tail 5,2, inches; bill along the ridge # ; wing from flexure 274; tail 23%; tarsus #}; hind toe 3, its claw 7; middle toe

Bas 23 73, its claw 73.

The Female is similar to the male, but has less yellow on the sides of the neck, and is somewhat smaller.

Lenth to end of tail 5;% inches; bill along the ridge #4 ; wing from flexure 274; tail 23; tarsus 7; hind toe and claw 3%; middle toe and claw 75.

This species has some resemblance to F’ringilla pusilla, from which, however, it is easily distinguishable. The bill is longer and much more slender, its wings and tail also longer, and the latter more deeply

emarginate. There are none of the reddish-brown tints conspicuous

68 OREGON SNOW-FINCH.

in the Field Sparrow, which, moreover, has the gape-line less deflected at the base, and has the palate concave, in place of being knobbed. The specimens from which the above descriptions have been taken were

procured on the 15th of June 1834, on the Rocky Mountains, by Dr TowNsEND.

OREGON SNOW-FINCH.

FRINGILLA OREGONA, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCXCVIII. Mare anp FEMALE.

Tuis species, which is so nearly allied to our Common Snow Bird, Fringilla nivalis, is another of those recently added to our Fauna by Dr TownsEnp, from whom I purchased several specimens. All that I know of its habits is derived from the following notice given me by Mr Nourratu. “ It was first seen by us in the woods of the Columbia, in the autumn and winter, flitting about in small flocks, always in the forest, never in the open fields, or on the way-sides. At this time they rarely utter an occasional chirp, or remain wholly silent. We after- wards saw them inhabiting the same woods throughout the summer, in diminished numbers, or in pairs, but I do not recollect hearing them utter any song, though they are probably not silent in the season of breeding. With the nest, eggs, and young I am not acquainted.”

I have represented the male and female from specimens procured by Dr TownsEnpd on the Columbia River, on the 5th October 1834.

Frineitta Orecana Orecan Snow Fincu, Townsend, Journ. of Acad. of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 188.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 3.

Bill short, rather small, conical, considerably compressed, acute ; upper mandible a little broader than the lower, its dorsal line straight, slightly declinate at the tip, the sides convex, the edges slightly in- flected, but overlapping; the gape-line straight ; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex,

eps

OREGON SNOW-FINCH. 69

the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers.

Head rather large, broadly ovate ; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus rather short, stout, with seven anterior scu- tella, of which the upper are blended, sharp-edged behind ; toes rather strong, the first stout, the middle one considerably longer than the la- teral, which are equal; claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. _

Plumage very soft and blended. Wings shortish, curved, rounded, the first quill three and a half twelfths of an inch shorter than the se- cond, which is half a twelfth shorter than the third, and about the same length as the fourth; the secondaries rounded. Tail rather long, slightly emarginate.

Bill reddish-white, the tip dusky. Iris hazel. Feet and claws flesh- coloured. The head, neck all round, and a portion of the breast black, the feathers faintly margined with grey; the rest of the lower parts white, excepting the sides, which are tinged with brown. The fore part of the back is dark reddish-brown, the hind parts dull grey. The smaller coverts, secondary coverts, and inner secondaries are dusky, with broad light-brown margins; the primary coverts, and the rest of the quills brownish-black, narrowly edged with brownish-white. The tail is of the same dark colour as the wings, excepting the two outer feathers on each side, which are white, the second, however, having a part of the outer web dusky, and the third having a white streak on the inner web toward the end.

Length to end of tail 61 inches ; bill along the ridge #4; wing from flexure 374; tail 274; tarsus +2; hind toe 74, its claw #4; middle toe

eS , a 44, its claw #3.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 4.

The Female has the bill and feet coloured like those of the male. The head and neck are blackish-grey, the feathers edged with paler ; the back and wing-coverts dull reddish-brown ; the wings and tail as in the male; the breast and abdomen white, the sides pale reddish- brown.

Length to end of tail 53 inches; bill along the ridge 7; wing from flexure 3; tail 274; tarsus 24; hind toe and claw £4; middle toe

and claw 34.

70 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.

Tue Liserty Busu.