Part 20

Obs. This bird bears considerable resemblance to Carpodacus purpureus, but is smaller, and has occasionally been mistaken for Carpodacus frontalis. The latter is a distinct and very handsome Western American species, the young of which only has been figured, but of which adult specimens have been brought home by Mr. Bell and others.

It is possible that the present is the bird alluded to by Swainson as Fringilla purpurea? in Fauna Boreali Americana, II. p. 264, and by Sir William Jardine in his edition of Wilson’s American Ornithology, I. p. 121, (London and Edinburgh, 1832, 3 vols. octavo). The Fringilla hæmorrhoa, Wagler Isis, XXIV. p. 525, appears to be too large for this bird and more like the common C. purpureus.

PARUS SEPTENTRIONALIS.—Harris. The Long-tailed Chickadee. PLATE XIV.—Male Adult.

The form and general appearance of this little bird resemble those of its congeners, the Black-capped Chickadee (P. atricapillus) and the Carolina Chickadee (P. carolinensis). It is, however, larger than either of those species, and presents other characters which not only fully demonstrate it to be entitled to specific distinction, but, very probably, to possess features in its history different in some respects from any of its relatives.

Its bill is longer and more strongly developed, indicating perhaps a different race of insects as its food. Its tail is unusually long, and its entire organization stronger and larger than either of the species above mentioned, with the larger of which (P. atricapillus), it has erroneously been considered identical by some European authors.

This little bird is strictly a western species, and for its discovery and the first description of it, we are indebted to Edward Harris, Esq., of New Jersey, well known as one of the most eminent cultivators of Zoological science in America. It was discovered by Mr. Harris during a visit to the Upper Missouri and Yellow Stone rivers, in company with the late Mr. Audubon, and which was the last journey ever performed by the latter distinguished gentleman. The description, with some valuable observations on other species of the genus Parus, was first published in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, Vol. II. p. 300, (Dec. 1845,) from which we make the following extract:

“A single specimen of this bird was procured on the 26th of July on the Yellow Stone river, about thirty miles above its junction with the Missouri. It is evidently a bird of the season, with immature plumage, to which may be attributed the dullness of the black on the head and throat. On comparison of this bird with P. carolinensis and P. atricapillus, it will be perceived that, beginning with the smallest bird, the parts which are black, decrease, and the white parts increase in size and intensity, in ascending. In septentrionalis the outer web of the lateral tail-feather is entirely white, except a small portion at the base, where there is a slight tinge of grey next the shaft; and the quills, secondaries and all the tail-feathers are margined more broadly and with a purer white than in the other species.

“The note of this bird is similar to that of P. atricapillus, but its voice more liquid and less harsh and querulous in the utterance. Bill longer and stouter.”

This bird has been received at the Philadelphia Academy in a collection made by Mr. Edward M. Kern, while attached as Artist to the exploring party commanded by Col. Frémont in 1846. A very fine specimen is in the collection made by the surveying party under the command of Capt. Stansbury in the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake of Utah, and is noticed in Prof. Baird’s Zoological appendix to Capt. Stansbury’s Report, p. 316. (June 1852.)

Our figure is of the size of life, and the plant represented is Microsperma Bartonioides, a native of Western America.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Parus. Linnæus, Syst. Nat. I. p. 340, (1766.) Parus septentrionalis. Harris, Proc. Acad. Philada., II. p. 300, (1845.)

Form. The largest species of typical Parus yet discovered in America. Wing with the fifth primary longest; tail, long, somewhat fan-shaped; tarsi and toes, rather strong; claws, large, flattened, sharp.

Dimensions. Total length (of skins) 5½ to 6 inches; wing, 2¾; tail, 2¾ to 3 inches.

Colors. Head above and space on the throat, black; cheeks and sides of the neck white, the latter color nearly meeting on the back of the neck. Entire plumage above cinereous with a brownish tinge, plumage beneath only white, with touches of yellowish brown on the sides and flanks. Quills edged externally with white, outer tail-feathers edged also with the same color, which on the external feather occupies the entire outer web. Bill and feet dark.

Hab. Missouri and Utah, Rocky mountains. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Coll. Washington.

Obs. This is the largest American species of the genus Parus (as restricted by late naturalists), and is particularly remarkable for its lengthened tail. It is a distinct and well-marked species, related to P. atricapillus and P. carolinensis, but easily distinguished from either by the characters above mentioned.

QUERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA.—Vieill. The Red-breasted Teal. PLATE XV.—Male and Female.

This handsomely colored and elegant little Teal, is of frequent occurrence in Western America, though first noticed as a North American species in Louisiana, by E. Pilaté, M. D., a physician and naturalist, residing at Opelousas in that State. In a communication to us accompanying one of the first specimens obtained by him and intended for the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, that gentleman mentions having occasionally seen it in company with other species of ducks, but regards its appearance as unusual in Louisiana. The specimen alluded to, which is that of a male in very fine spring plumage, is now in the collection of the society mentioned. According to Dr. Pilaté, who has paid much attention to Natural History, this bird associates with other small species of water-birds, and appears to possess, in the migrating season, similar habits, and frequents the same places of resort, though rather unusually shy and vigilant.

Our valued friends Capt. Howard Stansbury, of the U. S. Topographical Engineers, in his able Report of a Survey of the valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah, and Prof. Spencer F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, in a valuable Zoological appendix to that Report, allude to this Duck as commonly met with in Utah, and especially in the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake. It was observed frequenting the rivers and small streams. The collection brought home by Capt. Stansbury containing many objects of the highest interest and scientific value, which are described with his usual great accuracy in Prof. Baird’s Appendix, is now in the National Museum at Washington city. The specimens of the present bird were obtained in the river Jordan, a stream emptying into the Lake, and so named by the settlers in that region, who are principally of the religious denomination of Mormons.

It visits South America in the course of its winter migration, and is frequently to be met with in the western countries of that portion of this continent. The extensive collection in all departments of Natural History made by the party under the command of Lieut. J. M. Gilliss, of the U. S. Navy, during the performance of several years’ duty in making geographical explorations and astronomical observations in Chili and other countries of South America, by order of government, and which is now a portion of the National Museum, contains numerous specimens of the bird now before us. We have seen it, in fact, in all the various collections from western South America that have recently come under our notice.

Dr. Woodhouse represents this species as very abundant in western Texas and New Mexico. (Sitgreaves’ Report, Zoology, p. 103.)

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Querquedula. Stephens, Continuation of Shaw’s Zoology, XII. p. 142, (1824.)

Size small, bill rather long, straight, of nearly equal width throughout its length, lamellæ well defined, wings moderate, pointed, with the second quill usually longest, tail moderate, pointed, tarsi short, toes fully webbed.

Querquedula cyanoptera. (Vieill.) Anas cyanoptera. (Vieill.) Nouv. Dict., V. p. 104, (1816.) Anas Rafflesii. King, Zool. Jour., IV. p. 97, (1828.) “Pterocyanea cœruleata. (Licht.)” Gray, Gen. of Birds, II. p. 617, (1845.)

Form. Small; wing rather long, with the second quill distinctly longest; tertiaries and scapulars, long; two central tail-feathers pointed; bill, rather long.

Dimensions. Total length (of skin), about 15 inches; wing, 8; tail, 3½ inches.