Part 3 Twelfths; Diminishing to 2-1/4 Twelfths, for About a Foot From

the extremity enlarged to 5 eighths; the rectum 6-1/4 inches long; the cœcum 5 twelfths long, 1-1/2 twelfth in diameter at the base, tapering to 1 twelfth, the extremity rounded. The stomach contained fragments of crustacea.

The trachea is 8-1/2 inches long, cylindrical; the rings 154, and ossified; its diameter at the top 5-1/2 twelfths, diminishing in the space of an inch and a half to 3 twelfths, and so continuing nearly to the end, when it contracts to 2-1/2 twelfths. The last rings are much extended, and divided into two portions, the last transverse half ring arched, and 5 twelfths in length. The bronchi are in consequence very wide at the top, gradually taper, and are composed of about 25 half rings. The contractor muscles are very feeble; the sterno-tracheal slender; a pair of inferior laryngeal muscles inserted into the first bronchial ring.

AMERICAN BITTERN.

ARDEA MINOR, WILS.

PLATE CCCXXXVII. MALE AND FEMALE.

It never was my fortune to have a good opportunity of observing all the habits of this very remarkable bird, which in many respects differs from most other Herons. It is a winter resident in the Peninsula of the Floridas, as well as many of the keys or islets which border its shores. But the greater number of individuals which pass over the United States, on their way northward, in March, come from places beyond our southern limits. During my residence in Kentucky, I never saw or heard of the occurrence of one of them; and although I have killed and assisted in killing a considerable number at various times of the year, I never heard their booming or love-notes; or, if I have, I did not feel assured that the sounds which reached my ears were those of the American Bittern. This may probably appear strange, considering the many years I have spent in searching our swamps, marshes, and woods. Yet true it is that in all my rambles I had not the good fortune to come upon one of these birds sitting on its eggs either among the grass or rushes, or on the branches of low bushes, where, I have been informed, it builds.

In Lower Louisiana, it is called the “Garde Soleil,” because they say it will stand on one foot for hours, with its eyes, or one of them at least, fixed on the orb of day, and frequently spread out its wings, in the manner of Cormorants and Vultures, to enjoy the heat, or perhaps the gentle breeze. There it is seldom obtained in spring, but is a regular autumnal visitant, appearing early in October, and frequenting the marshes both of fresh and salt water, where many remain until the beginning of May. It is then common in the markets of New Orleans, where it is bought by the poorer classes to make gombo soup. In almost every other part of the United States it is commonly called the “Indian Pullet,” or “Indian Hen.”

Although in a particular place, apparently favourable, some dozens of these birds may be found to-day, yet, perhaps, on visiting it to-morrow, you will not find one remaining; and districts resorted to one season or year, will be found deserted by them the next. That they migrate by night I have always felt assured, but that they are altogether nocturnal is rather uncertain, for in more than half a dozen instances I have surprised them in the act of procuring food in the middle of the day when the sun was shining brightly. That they are extremely timid I well know, for on several occasions, when I have suddenly come upon them, they have stood still from mere terror, until I have knocked them down with an oar or stick. Yet, when wounded, and their courage is raised, they shew great willingness to defend themselves, and if in the presence of a dog, they never fail to spread out to their full extent the feathers of the neck, leaving its hind part bare, ruffle those of their body, extend their wings, and strike violently at their enemy. When seized they scratch furiously, and endeavour to bite, so that, unless great care be taken, they may inflict severe wounds.

I never saw one of them fly farther than thirty or forty yards at a time; and on such occasions, their movements were so sluggish as to give opportunities of easily shooting them; for they generally rise within a few yards of you, and fly off very slowly in a direct course. Their cries at such times greatly resemble those of the Night and Yellow-crowned Herons.

My friends, Dr BACHMAN and Mr NUTTALL, have both heard the love-notes of this bird. The former says, in a letter to me, “their hoarse croakings, as if their throats were filled with water, were heard on every side;” and the latter states that “instead of the búmp or böomp of the true Bittern, their call is something like the uncouth syllables of ’pump-aū-gàh, but uttered in the same low, bellowing tone.”

Dr BACHMAN procured, on the 29th April 1833, about forty miles from Charleston, individuals, in the ovaries of which he found eggs so large as to induce him to believe that they would have been laid in the course of a single week. Some others which were procured by him and myself within nine miles of Charleston, on the 29th of March, had the eggs extremely small.

While at Passamaquody Bay, at the eastern extremity of the United States, I was assured that this species bred in the vicinity; but I saw none there, or in any of the numerous places examined on my way to Labrador and Newfoundland. In neither of these countries did I meet with a single person who was acquainted with it.

In few other species of maritime or marsh birds have I seen so much difference of size and weight, even in the same sex. Of about twenty specimens in my possession, scarcely two correspond in the length of the bills, legs, or wings. The plate before you was engraved from a drawing made by my son JOHN WOODHOUSE.

AMERICAN BITTERN, ARDEA MINOR, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vii. p. 35, pl. 65, fig. 3.

ARDEA MINOR, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 307.

AMERICAN BITTERN, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 60.

AMERICAN BITTERN, ARDEA LENTIGINOSA, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 374.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXXXVII. Fig. 1.

Bill longer than the head, moderately stout, straight, compressed, tapering to the point. Upper mandible with its dorsal line straight, towards the end slightly convex and declinate, the ridge broad and rather rounded at the base, gradually narrowed to the middle, then a little enlarged, and again narrowed to the point, the sides bulging, towards the margin erect, the edges sharp, towards the end obscurely serrated, the tip narrow, with a distinct notch or sinus on each side. Nasal groove oblong, with a long depressed line in front; nostrils sub-basal, linear, longitudinal. Lower mandible with the angle very long and extremely narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the sides flattened and sloping outwards, the edges sharp, direct, obscurely serrulate, the tip extremely slender.

Head small, oblong, much compressed. Neck long. Body slender, much compressed. Legs longish, stout; tibia bare for about an inch, reticulated all round, the scales on the hind part larger; tarsus roundish, with numerous large scutella before, reticulated behind with angular scales; toes very long, slender, marginate, the fourth and third connected by a short web, not reaching the second joint of the former; first toe large, second longer than fourth, all covered with numerous large scutella above; claws long, slender, tapering, slightly arched, that of hind toe much larger and more arched.

Eyelids, and a large space before the eye, bare. Plumage loose, soft, and blended; hind part of neck in its whole length, and a large space on the fore part of the breast without feathers, but covered, those on the neck being directed obliquely backwards. Wings rather short, broad, convex; primaries broad, rounded, the first pointed, shorter than the third, which is slightly exceeded by the second, the rest slowly graduated; secondaries very broad, rounded, the inner elongated so as slightly to exceed the primaries when the wing is closed. Tail very short, rounded, of ten feathers.

Bill dull yellowish-green, the ridge of the upper mandible brownish-black, of a lighter tint toward the base. Bare space before the eye brown; eyelids greenish-yellow; iris reddish-yellow. Feet dull yellowish-green; claws wood-brown. Upper part of the head brownish-grey; a streak of pale buff over the eye to behind the ear; a dusky streak from the posterior angle of the eye; the cheek and an oblique band to the middle of the neck light brownish-yellow; beneath which is a dusky brown line from the base of the lower mandible, continuous with a gradually enlarged band of black, which runs along the side of the neck; the upper parts yellowish-brown, patched, mottled, freckled, and barred with dark brown; alula, primary coverts, and most of the quills, deep bluish-grey, approaching to black; the tips of all these feathers light reddish-brown, dotted with bluish-grey. The fore part of the neck white above, yellowish-white beneath, the throat with a middle longitudinal line of yellowish-brown spots; on the rest of the neck each feather with a light brown central mark edged with darker, the rest of the lower parts dull yellowish-white, most of the feathers marked like those on the neck.

Length to end of tail 27 inches, to end of wings 26-1/2, to carpal joint 17, to end of claws 32-3/4; extent of wings 45; wing from flexure 13-1/4; tail 4-3/8; bill along the ridge 3-3/8, along the edge of lower mandible 4-1/2; breadth of mouth 1; depth of bill at base 3/4; bare part of tibia 1; tarsus 3-5/8; hind toe 1-3/4, its claw 1-1/2; middle toe 3-3/8; its claw 1; outer toe 2-5/8, its claw (7-1/2)/8; inner toe 2-1/4, its claw 7/8. Weight 1 lb. 7 oz.

Female. Plate CCCXXXVII. Fig. 2.

The Female resembles the male, but is somewhat smaller with the colours duller.

Length to end of tail 26-1/4 inches, to end of wings 25-1/2, to end of claws 27-3/4; extent of wings 42-1/2; wing from flexure 12-1/4. Weight 1 lb. 3 oz.

The dimensions of a young male shot in autumn were as follows:

To end of tail 24 inches, to end of wings 24, to end of claws 29; extent of wings 26; wing from flexure 10-1/2. Weight 1 lb. 1-1/2 oz.

In dissecting this bird, the extreme compression of the body strikes one with surprise, its greatest breadth being scarcely an inch and a half, although it is capable of being much dilated. The great length and thickness of the neck are also remarkable; but these circumstances are not peculiar to the present species, being equally observed in many other Herons. On the roof of the mouth are three longitudinal ridges; the aperture of the posterior nares is linear, with an oblique flap on each side; the lower mandible is deeply concave, its crura elastic and expansile; the tongue 2-1/12 inches long, sagittate at the base with a single very slender papilla on each side, trigonal, tapering, flattened above; the width of the mouth is 10 twelfths; but the pharynx is much wider. The œsophagus, a b c, which is fifteen inches long, is very wide, having at its upper part, when inflated, a diameter of 2 inches, but gradually contracting to 1/2 inch at its entrance into the thorax, and again expanding to 1 inch. Its walls are extremely thin, and when contracted, its mucous coat forms strongly marked longitudinal plaits. The proventriculus is very wide, its glandules oblong and arranged in a belt 10 twelfths in breadth. The stomach, e, is of moderate size, membranous, that is with its muscular coat very thin, and not forming lateral muscles; its tendinous spaces large and round, its inner coat smooth and soft; its greatest diameter 1 inch. There is a small roundish pyloric lobe, as in other Herons. Both lobes of the liver lie on the right side of the proventriculus; one, i, being 1 inch 10 twelfths, the other, j, 1 inch 2 twelfths long; the gall-bladder large, 11 twelfths long. The intestine is long and very slender, measuring 4 feet 7 inches, with a diameter of only 2 twelfths at its upper part, and 1-1/2 twelfth at the lower, when inflated; the rectum 4 inches long, and 4 twelfths in diameter, its anterior extremity rounded, and having a minute papilliform termination, only 1 twelfth long.

The trachea, which is 12-1/2 inches long, differs from that of ordinary Herons in being much compressed, especially at its upper and lower extremities; the middle part being less so. It is also proportionally wider, and its rings are narrower. At the top its diameter is 5 twelfths, at the middle 4-1/4 twelfths, towards the lower part 4-3/4 twelfths, at the end 4-1/4 twelfths. The rings are osseous, in number 180; the five lower divided in front and behind, and much arched, the last measuring half an inch in a direct line between its extremities. The bronchi are in consequence very broad at their commencement, but gradually taper, and are composed of about 18 half rings. The contractor muscles are inconspicuous, the sterno-tracheal slender; and there is a single pair of inferior laryngeal, going to the first bronchial ring. The aperture of the glottis is 8 twelfths long, without any papillæ, but with a deep groove behind, and two thin-edged flaps.

In the digestive organs of this bird, there is nothing remarkably different from that of other Herons. The stomach contained remains of fishes and large coleopterous insects. The examination of the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, would not lead us to suppose that its cry is of the curious character represented, although it certainly would induce us to believe it different from that of ordinary Herons, which have the trachea narrower, round, and with broader and more bony rings.

Although in external appearance and habits it exhibits some affinity to the Rails, its digestive organs have no resemblance to theirs.

An egg presented by Dr BREWER of Boston measures two inches in length by one inch and a half, and is of a broadly oval shape, rather pointed at the smaller end, and of a uniform dull olivaceous tint.

BREWER’S DUCK.

ANAS BREWERI.

PLATE CCCXXXVIII. MALE.

The beautiful Duck from which I made the drawing copied on the plate before you, was shot on Lake Barataria, in Louisiana, in February 1822. It was in company with seven or eight Canvass-back Ducks. No other individuals of the species were in sight at the time, and all my efforts to procure another have been ineffectual.

You will see that this curious bird is named in the plate “Anas glocitans,” the descriptions of that species having induced me to consider it identical with this. But on comparing my drawing with specimens in the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, I found that the former represents a much larger bird, which, besides, is differently coloured in some of its parts. The individual figured was a male; but I have some doubts whether it had acquired the full beauty of its mature plumage, and I considered it at the time as a bird of the preceding season.

In form and proportions this bird is very nearly allied to the Mallard, from which it differs in having the bill considerably narrower, in wanting the recurved feathers of the tail, in having the feet dull yellow in place of orange-red, the speculum more green and duller, without the white bands of that bird, and in the large patch of light red on the side of the head. It may possibly be an accidental variety, or a hybrid between that bird and some other species, perhaps the Gadwall, to which also it bears a great resemblance.

Bill nearly as long as the head, higher than broad at the base, depressed and widened towards the end, rounded at the tip, the lamellæ short and numerous, the unguis obovate, curved, the nasal groove elliptical, the nostrils oblong.

Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed; neck rather long and slender; body full, depressed. Feet short, stout, placed behind the centre of the body; legs bare a little above the joint; tarsus short, a little compressed, anteriorly with small scutella, laterally and behind with reticulated angular scales. Hind toe very small, with a narrow free membrane; third toe longest, fourth a little shorter; claws small, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage dense, soft, and elastic; of the hind head and neck short and blended; of the other parts in general broad and rounded. Wings of moderate length, acute; tail short, graduated.

Bill dull yellow, slightly tinged with green, dusky along the ridge. Iris brown. Feet dull yellow, claws dusky, webs dull grey. Head and upper part of the neck deep glossy green; but there is an elongated patch of pale reddish-yellow, extending from the base of the bill over the cheek to two inches and a quarter behind the eye, and meeting that of the other side on the chin; the space immediately over and behind the eye light dull purple. A narrow ring of pale yellowish-red on the middle of the neck; the lower part of the neck dull brownish-red, the feathers with a transverse band of dusky, and edged with paler. The upper parts are dull greyish-brown, transversely undulated with dusky; the smaller wing-coverts without undulations, but each feather with a dusky bar behind another of light dull yellow; first row of smaller coverts tipped with black; primaries and their coverts, light brownish-grey; some of the outer secondaries similar, the next five or six duck-green, the next light grey with a dusky patch toward the end. The rump and upper tail-coverts black, as are the parts under the tail, excepting two longitudinal white bands; tail-feathers light brownish-grey, edged with whitish. All the rest of the lower parts are greyish-white tinged with yellow, beautifully undulated with dusky lines, on the middle of the breast these lines less numerous, and each feather with a reddish-grey central streak.

Length to end of tail 23 inches, to end of claws 24; extent of wings 39; bill along the ridge 2-1/2, along the edge of lower mandible 2-1/8; tarsus 1-1/8, middle toe 2, its claw 5/12; hind toe 3/8, its claw 1/8. Weight 2 lb. 9 oz.

I have named this Duck after my friend THOMAS M. BREWER of Boston, as a mark of the estimation in which I hold him as an accomplished ornithologist.

LITTLE GUILLEMOT.

URIA ALLE, TEMM.

PLATE CCCXXXIX. MALE AND FEMALE.

This interesting little bird sometimes makes its appearance on our eastern coasts during very cold and stormy weather. It does not proceed much farther southward than the shores of New Jersey, where it is of very rare occurrence. Now and then some are caught in a state of exhaustion, as I have known to be the case especially in Passamaquody Bay near Eastport in Maine, and in the vicinity of Boston and Salem in Massachusetts.

In the course of my voyages across the Atlantic, I have often observed the Little Guillemots in small groups, rising and flying to short distances at the approach of the ship, or diving close to the bow and reappearing a little way behind. Now with expanded wings they would flutter and run as it were on the surface of the deep; again, they would seem to be busily engaged in procuring food, which consisted apparently of shrimps, other crustacea, and particles of sea-weeds, all of which I have found in their stomach. I have often thought how easy it would be to catch these tiny wanderers of the ocean with nets thrown expertly from the bow of a boat, for they manifest very little apprehension of danger from the proximity of one, insomuch that I have seen several killed with the oars. Those which were caught alive and placed on the deck, would at first rest a few minutes with their bodies flat, then rise upright and run about briskly, or attempt to fly off, which they sometimes accomplished, when they happened to go in a straight course the whole length of the ship so as to rise easily over the bulwarks. On effecting their escape they would alight on the water and immediately disappear.

During my visit to Labrador and Newfoundland I met with none of these birds, although the cod-fishers assured me that they frequently breed there. I am informed by Dr TOWNSEND that this species is found near the mouth of the Columbia River.

ALCA ALLE, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 211.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 795.

LITTLE AUK, ALCA ALLE, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. ix. p. 94, pl. 74, fig. 5.

URIA ALLE, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 425.

LITTLE GUILLEMOT, URIA ALLE, Richards. and Swains. Faun. Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 479.

LITTLE AUK, or SEA DOVE, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 531.

Adult Male in summer. Plate CCCXXXIX.

Bill shorter than the head, stout, straightish, subpentagonal at the base, compressed towards the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convexo-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal depression short and broad; nostrils basal, oblong, with a horny operculum. Lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal outline very short, ascending, and straight, the sides convex, toward the end ascending and flattened, the edges thin and inclinate, the tip acute, with a sinus behind.

Body full and compact; neck short and thick; head large, ovate. Feet short, rather stout; tibia bare for two-twelfths of an inch; tarsus very short, compressed, covered anteriorly with oblique scutella, behind with angular scales; hind toe wanting; anterior toes connected by reticulated webs, the inner much shorter than the outer, which is almost as long as the middle; the scutella numerous. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, rather acute, that of the middle toe having its inner edge considerably expanded.

Plumage dense, blended, glossy. Wings of moderate length, narrow, pointed; primaries pointed, the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of twelve feathers.

Bill black. Iris dark hazel. Feet pale flesh-coloured; webs dusky; claws black. Inside of mouth light yellow. The head, upper part of neck, and all the upper surface, glossy bluish-black. A small spot on the upper eyelid, another on the lower, several longitudinal streaks on the scapulars, and a bar along the tips of the secondary quills, white. The lower parts white; the feathers on the sides under the wings have the outer webs white, the inner dusky; lower wing-coverts blackish-grey.

Length to end of tail 7-1/8 inches, to end of claws 7-7/8, to end of wings 6-7/8, to carpal joint 2-7/8; extent of wings 14-1/4; wing from flexure 4-7/8; bill along the ridge (4-1/2)/8, along the edge of lower mandible 1; tarsus 3/4; middle toe 1, its claw 1/4; outer toe 1, claw (1-1/2)/8; inner toe 5/8, its claw (1-1/2)/8. Weight 8-1/2 oz.

Adult Female, in winter. Plate CCCXXXIX. Fig. 2.

In winter, the throat and the lower parts of the cheeks are white; the sides and fore part of the neck white, irregularly barred with blackish-grey; the upper parts of a duller black than in summer.

There is nothing very remarkable in the anatomy of this bird, beyond what is observed in the Auks and Guillemots. The ribs extend very far back, and, having the dorsal and sternal portions much elongated, are capable of aiding in giving much enlargement to the body, of which the internal, or thoracic and abdominal cells are very large. The subcutaneous cells are also largely developed, as in many other diving and plunging birds.

The roof of the mouth is flat, broad, and covered with numerous series of short horny papillæ directed backwards. The tongue is large, fleshy, 10 twelfths of an inch long, emarginate at the base, flat above, horny on the back. The heart is large, measuring 10 twelfths in length, 8-1/2 twelfths in breadth. The right lobe of the liver is 1-3/12 inch in length, the left 1-1/12; the gall-bladder is elliptical. The kidneys are very large.

The œsophagus, Fig. 1, a b c, is 3 inches 10 twelfths long, its walls very thin, its inner or mucous coat thrown into longitudinal plates; its diameter at the middle of the neck 5 eighths, diminishing to 4 twelfths as it enters the thorax. It then enlarges and forms the proventriculus, c e, which has a diameter of 8 twelfths; the glandules are cylindrical, very numerous, and arranged in a complete belt, half an inch in breadth, in the usual manner, as seen in Fig. 2, b c. The stomach, properly so called, Fig. 1, d g, is oblong, 11 twelfths in length, 8 twelfths in breadth; its muscular coat moderately thick, and disposed into two lateral muscles with large tendons; its epithelium, Fig. 2, c d e, thick, hard, with numerous longitudinal and transverse rugæ, and of a dark reddish colour. The duodenum, f g h, curves in the usual manner at the distance of 1-1/4 inch, ascends toward the upper surface of the right lobe of the liver for 1 inch and 10 twelfths, then forms 4 loops, and from above the proventriculus, passes directly backward. The length of the intestine, f g h i, is 16-1/2 inches, its diameter 2-1/4 twelfths, and nearly uniform as far as the rectum, which is 1-1/4 inch long, at first 3 twelfths in diameter, enlarged into an ovate cloaca of great size, Fig. 3. b; the cœca a, a, 41 twelfths long, cylindrical, 1/2 twelfth in diameter, obtuse.

The trachea, Fig. 1. k, l, is very wide, flattened, its rings unossified, its length 2-9/12 inches, its breadth 3 twelfths, nearly uniform, but at the lower part contracted to 2 twelfths. There are 75 rings, with 5 inferior blended rings, which are divided before and behind. The bronchi, Fig. 1. m, m, are wide and rather elongated, with about 25 half rings. The contractor muscles are extremely thin, the sterno-tracheal slender; there is a pair of inferior laryngeal attached to the first bronchial rings.

The above account of the digestive organs of this bird will be seen to be very different from that given by Sir Everard Home, who has, in all probability, mistaken the species. “There is still,” says he, “one more variety in the structure of the digestive organs of birds, that live principally upon animal food, which has come under my observation; and with an account of which I shall conclude the present lecture. This bird is the Alea Alle of Linnæus, the Little Auk. The termination of the œsophagus is only known by the ending of the cuticular lining, and the beginning of the gastric glands; for the cardiac cavity is one continued tube, extending considerably lower down in the cavity of the abdomen, and gradually enlarging at the lower part; it then turns up to the right side, about half-way to the origin of the cavity, and is there connected to a small gizzard, the digastric muscle of which is strong, and a small portion of the internal surface on each side has a hard cuticular covering. The gastric glands at the upper part are placed in four distinct longitudinal rows, becoming more and more numerous towards the lower part of the cavity, and extend to the bottom, where it turns up. The extent of the cavity in which the gastric glands are placed, exceeds any thing met with in the other birds that live upon fish; and the turn which the cavity takes almost directly upwards, and the gizzard being at the highest part instead of the lowest, are peculiarities, as far as I am acquainted, not met with in any other birds of prey. This mechanism, which will be better understood by examining the engraving, makes the obstacles to the food in its passage to the intestines unusually great; and enables the bird to digest both fishes and sea-worms with crustaceous shells. It appears to be given for the purpose of economizing the food in two different ways,—one retaining it longer in the cardiac cavity, the other supplying that cavity with a greater quantity of gastric liquor than in other birds. This opinion is further confirmed by the habits of life of this particular species of bird, which spends a portion of the year in the frozen regions of Nova Zembla, where the supplies of nourishment must be both scanty and precarious.”

With respect to this statement and the reasonings founded upon it, it will be seen from the description and accompanying figures above, taken directly from nature, and without the least reference to the dissections or theories of any person, that the œsophagus and stomach of the Little Auk or Guillemot, Alca Alle of Linnæus, are very similar to those of other Auks, Guillemots, Divers, and fish-eating birds in general. The cardiac or proventricular cavity forms no curve; and the gizzard with which it is connected, is not small, nor has it merely a small portion of the internal surface on each side covered with a hard cuticular lining; for the epithelium covers its whole surface, and is of considerable extent. The gastric glands are not at all disposed as represented by Sir E. HOME, but are aggregated in the form of a compact belt half an inch broad, Fig. 2. b, c. As to the ingenious reasoning by which the economy of the Little Auk is so satisfactorily accounted for, it is enough here to say, that having no foundation, it is of less than no value. But were there such a curvature as that in question, there could be no propriety in supposing that it presented any great obstacle to the passage of the food, or retained it longer than usual. Nor is the statement as to scanty and precarious supply of nourishment correct; for the Arctic Seas, to which this bird resorts in vast numbers, are represented by navigators as abounding in small crustacea, on which chiefly the Little Auk feeds, and that to such an extent as to colour the water for leagues. Besides, if there were such a scarcity of food in Nova Zembla, why should the birds go there? In short, the whole statement is incorrect; and the many compilers, from Dr CARUS to the most recent, who have pressed it into their service, may, in their future editions, with propriety leave it out, and supply its place with something equally ingenious.

The egg of this species measures one inch and nearly five-eighths in length, one inch and an eighth in its greatest breadth. It is remarkably large for the size of the bird, and of a dull uniform pale greenish-blue.

LEAST PETREL.

THALASSIDROMA PELAGICA, LEACH.

PLATE CCCXL. MALE AND FEMALE.

In August 1830, being becalmed on the banks of Newfoundland, I obtained several individuals of this species from a flock composed chiefly of Thalassidroma Leachii, and Th. Wilsoni. Their smaller size, and the more rapid motions of their wings, rendered them quite conspicuous, and suggested the idea of their being a new species, although a closer inspection shewed them to belong to the present. In their general manners, while feeding, floating on the water, or rambling round the boat in which I went in pursuit of them, they did not differ materially from the other species. Their flight, however, was more hurried and irregular, and none of them uttered any note or cry, even when wounded and captured. I have been assured that this bird breeds on the sandy beaches of Sable Island on the coast of Nova Scotia; but not having had an opportunity of visiting it, or any other breeding place, I here present you with Mr HEWITSON’s observations on this subject.

“In an excursion,” says this amiable and enterprising naturalist, “through the Shetland Islands during the present summer, in search of rarities for this work (the British Oology), I had the very great satisfaction of seeing and taking many of these most interesting birds alive; they breed in great numbers on several of the islands, principally upon Foula, the north of Hunst, and upon Papa, and Oxna, two small islands in the Bay of Scalloway; the last of these I visited on the 31st of May in hopes of procuring their eggs (it being the season in which most of the sea-birds begin to lay); but in this I was disappointed; the fishermen who knew them well by the name of Swallows, assured me that my search would be quite useless, that they had not yet “come up from sea,” and so it proved. Sixteen days after this (June 16th and three following days) I was at Foula, but was alike unsuccessful, the birds had arrived at their breeding places, but had not yet begun laying their eggs; numbers of them were sitting in their holes, and were easily caught; one man brought me about a dozen tied up in an old stocking, two of which I kept alive in my room for nearly three days, and derived very great pleasure from their company; during the day they were mostly inactive, and after pacing about the floor for a short time, poking their head into every hole, they hid themselves between the feet of the table and the wall; I could not prevail upon them to eat any thing, though I tried to tempt them with fish and oil; their manner of walking is very light and pleasing, and differing from that of every other bird which I have seen; they carry their body so far forward and so nearly horizontal, as to give them the appearance of being out of equilibrium. In the evening, toward sun-set, they left their hiding places, and for hours afterwards, never ceased in their endeavours to regain their liberty; flying round and round the room, or fluttering against the windows; when flying, their length of wing, and white above the tail, gives them a good deal the appearance of our House-Martin. I went to bed and watched them in their noiseless flight long ere I fell asleep, but in the morning they had disappeared; one had fortunately made its escape through a broken pane in the window which a towel should have occupied, the other had fallen into a basin, full of the yolks of eggs which I had been blowing, and was drowned. I regretted much the fate of a being so interesting, by its very remarkable, wandering, solitary, and harmless life. Before leaving Shetland I again visited the island of Oxna, and though so late as the 30th of June, they were only just beginning to lay their eggs. In Foula they breed in the holes in the cliff, at a great height above the sea; but here under stones which form the beach, at a depth of three or four feet, or more, according to that of the stones; as they go down to the earth, beneath them, on which to lay their eggs. In walking over the surface, I could hear them, very distinctly, singing in a sort of warbling chatter, a good deal like swallows when fluttering above our chimneys, but harsher; and in this way, by listening attentively, was guided to their retreat, and, after throwing out stones as large as I could lift on all sides of me, seldom failed in capturing two or three seated on their nests, either under the lowest stone or between two of them. The nests, though of much the same materials as the ground on which they were placed, seem to have been made with care; they were of small bits of stalks of plants, and pieces of hard dry earth. Like the rest of the genus, the Stormy Petrel lays invariably one egg only. During the day-time they remain within their holes; and though the fishermen are constantly passing over their heads (the beach under which they breed being appropriated for the drying of fish), they are then seldom heard, but toward night become extremely querulous; and when most other birds are gone to rest, issue forth in great numbers, spreading themselves far over the surface of the sea. The fishermen then meet them very numerously; and though they have not previously seen one, are sure to be surrounded by them upon throwing pieces of fish overboard.”

The egg measures one inch and an eighth in length, six and a half eighths in breadth, is nearly equally rounded at both ends, rather thick-shelled, and pure white, but generally with numerous minute dots of dull red at the larger end, sometimes forming a circular band.

PROCELLARIA PELAGICA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 212.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 826.

STORMY PETREL, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 327.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXL. Fig. 1.

Bill shorter than the head, slender, compressed towards the end, straight, with the tips curved. Upper mandible with the nostrils forming a tube at the base, beyond which, for a short space, the dorsal line is nearly straight, then suddenly decurved, the sides declinate, the edges sharp, the tip compressed and acute. Lower mandible with the angle rather long, narrow, and pointed, the dorsal line beyond it very slightly concave and decurved, the sides erect, the edges sharp, the tip slightly decurved.

Head of moderate size, roundish, anteriorly narrowed. Neck short. Body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, very slender; tibia bare at its lower part; tarsus very slender, reticulate; hind toe extremely minute, being reduced, as it were, to a slightly decurved claw; anterior toes rather long and extremely slender, obscurely scutellate above, connected by striated webs with concave margins. Claws slender, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage very soft, blended, the feathers distinct only on the wings, which are very long and narrow; primary quills tapering, but rounded, the second longest, the first three and a half twelfths, the third a twelfth and a half shorter; secondaries short, the outer incurved, obliquely rounded. Tail rather long, broad, slightly rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers.

Bill and feet black. Iris dark brown. The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-black, with a tinge of brown, and moderately glossed; the lower parts of a sooty brown; the secondary coverts margined externally with dull greyish-white; the feathers of the rump and the upper tail-coverts white, with the shafts black, the tail-coverts broadly tipped with black.

Length to end of tail 5-3/4 inches, to end of claws 5-1/4, to end of wings 6-1/4; extent of wings 13-1/2; wing from flexure 5-1/8; tail 2-1/8; bill above (4-1/2)/8, along the edge of lower mandible 5/8; tarsus 7/8; middle toe and claw 7/8; outer toe nearly equal; inner toe and claw (5-1/2)/8. Weight 4-1/2 drachms; the individual poor.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXL. Fig. 2.

The Female resembles the male.

A male bird, from Nova Scotia, examined. The upper mandible internally has a longitudinal median ridge; the palate is convex, with two lateral ridges. The tongue is 5-1/2 twelfths long, emarginate and serrulate at the base, very much flattened, tapering to a horny point. The heart, Fig. 1, a, is of a very elongated narrow conical form, 2 twelfths in length, 4 twelfths in breadth at the base. The lobes of the liver, b, c, are equal, 6-1/2 twelfths long. The œsophagus, d, e, is 1 inch 10 twelfths long, of a uniform diameter of 2-1/2 twelfths; behind the liver, it enters as it were a large sac, f, g, h, 9 twelfths of an inch long, which gradually expands to a diameter of 6 twelfths, forming a broad rounded fundus g, then curves forwards on the right side, and at h terminates in a small gizzard, about 3 twelfths long, and nearly of the same breadth, from the left side of which comes off the intestine. The latter passes forward, curving to the right, behind and in contact with the posterior surfaces of the liver, then forms the duodenal fold, h, j, k, in the usual manner. The intestine, on arriving at the right lobe of the liver, at k, receives the biliary duct, curves backward beneath the kidneys, and forms several convolutions, which terminate above the proventriculus. It then becomes much narrower, and passes directly backward, in a straight course to the rectum, which is only 4 twelfths of an inch long. The cœca are oblong, 1-1/4 twelfth in length, and 1/2 twelfth in diameter. The intestine is 8-1/2 inches long, its diameter diminishing gradually from 2 twelfths to 3/4 of a twelfth.

In Fig 2. are represented:—the lower part of the œsophagus, d, e, f; the proventricular sac, f, g, h; the very small gizzard, h; the duodenal fold of the intestine, i, j, k. Here the parts are viewed from the left side.

Fig. 3. represents:—the proventricular sac thrust forward, f, g, h, the gizzard, h; the duodenum, i, j, k, pulled to the right side; the convolutions of the intestine, l, m, under the kidneys, the cœca, n; the rectum, o, and the cloaca, p.

The proventricular glands are very numerous, but not so closely placed as is usual, although scattered over a much larger extent, from e to g in Fig. 2. Between the termination of the glands and the stomach there is a portion destitute of glandules. The stomach or gizzard has its muscular coat thick, its tendons moderate, its inner surface covered with a rather thick but not very hard epithelium, which is more prolonged on two opposite sides, although in the fundus it is complete.

This curious digestive apparatus agrees very nearly with that described and figured by Sir EVERARD HOME as that of Alca Alle. The stomach, it is seen, is excessively large in proportion to the size of the bird; but why it should be so, and moreover be curved in this manner, is not very obvious. Conjectures are easily made, and might run in this form. This little bird, which wanders over the face of the ocean, subsisting upon garbage, oily and fatty substances, small fishes, and even sea-weeds, requires a large stomach for the reception of its heterogeneous fare, which not being always very nutritious or easily digestible, must be very plentifully intermixed with the gastric juices, and detained a considerable time; which conditions are accordingly provided for by the very great number and extensive dispersion of the proventricular glandules, and the curve of the organ. Should any hard substances, as crustacea, be introduced, they are pounded by the gizzard; but as the bird is little addicted to feeding on such substances, that organ is reduced to a very small size.

The aperture of the glottis is 1-1/2 twelfth long. The trachea is 1 inch 7 twelfths in length, wide, flattened, its diameter from 2 twelfths to 1-1/2 twelfth; its rings unossified, 82 in number. The bronchi are short, wide, of about 12 half rings.

GREAT AUK.

ALCA IMPENNIS, LINN.

PLATE CCCXLI. ADULT.

The only authentic account of the occurrence of this bird on our coast that I possess, was obtained from Mr HENRY HAVELL, brother of my Engraver, who, when on his passage from New York to England, hooked a Great Auk on the banks of Newfoundland, in extremely boisterous weather. On being hauled on board, it was left at liberty on the deck. It walked very awkwardly, often tumbling over, bit every one within reach of its powerful bill, and refused food of all kinds. After continuing several days on board, it was restored to its proper element.

When I was in Labrador, many of the fishermen assured me that the “Penguin,” as they name this bird, breeds on a low rocky island to the south-east of Newfoundland, where they destroy great numbers of the young for bait; but as this intelligence came to me when the season was too far advanced, I had no opportunity of ascertaining its accuracy. In Newfoundland, however, I received similar information from several individuals. An old gunner residing on Chelsea Beach, near Boston, told me that he well remembered the time when the Penguins were plentiful about Nahant and some other islands in the Bay.

The egg is very large, measuring five inches in length, and three in its greatest breadth. In form it resembles that of the Common Guillemot; the shell is thick and rather rough to the touch; its colour yellowish-white, with long irregular lines and blotches of brownish-black, more numerous at the larger end.

ALCA IMPENNIS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 201.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 791.

GREAT AUK, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 553.

Adult in Summer. Plate CCCXLI. Figs. 1, 2.

Bill as long as the head, feathered as far as the nostrils, beyond which it is very high, exceedingly compressed, tapering, and slightly declinate. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight for an inch and a quarter, then declinate and decurvate to the end, the ridge very narrow, broader at the base; the sides nearly flat, with a basal ridge succeeded by a deep groove, then a large flat space, succeeded by eight oblique curved ridges, the edges sharp toward the end, the tip decurved and obtuse. Nostrils marginal, linear, short, pervious, but concealed by the feathers. Lower mandible with the angle long, the sides extremely narrow and linear for half their length, the horny part not being extended over the bone, which is covered with feathers, afterwards deep and compressed, with the dorsal line at first convex, then ascending and concave to the end, the sides flat, with about ten transverse ridges, the edges sharp, the tip deflected.

Head large, oblong, anteriorly narrowed. Eyes rather small. Neck short and thick. Body compact and full. Wings extremely small, but perfectly formed. Feet placed far behind, short, very strong; tarsus short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate, laterally covered with angular scales, those on the hind part very small. Hind toe wanting; third toe longest, outer nearly as long, inner much shorter, lateral toes marginate, all with numerous scutella and several rows of angular scales above, and connected by reticulated webs. Claws rather small, narrow, arched, convex above, and obtuse.

Plumage close, blended, very soft, on the head and neck short and velvety. Wings diminutive, much pointed; the primaries tapering to an acute point, the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated, their coverts long; secondaries short and broad, scarcely longer than their coverts. Tail short, pointed, of fourteen feathers.

Bill black, with the grooves between the transverse ridges white. Iris hazel. Feet and claws black. Fore part of the neck below, and all the lower parts white, of which colour also is a large oblong patch before each eye, and the tips of the secondary quills; the rest black, the throat and sides of the neck tinged with chocolate-brown, the wings with greyish-brown, the head, hind neck, and back glossed with olive-green.

Length to end of tail 29 inches, to end of wings 23-3/4, to end of claws 31-1/2, to carpal joint 18-1/2; extent of wings 27-1/4; wing from flexure 7-1/8; tail 2-7/8, bill along the ridge 3-5/8, along the edge of lower mandible 4-1/2, greatest depth of upper mandible 1, depth of lower 5/8; width of gape 1-7/8; tarsus 2; middle toe 2-5/8, its claw 5/8; outer toe 2-5/8; its claw (3-1/2)/8; inner toe 2-(1/2)/8, its claw (4-1/2)/8.

GOLDEN-EYE DUCK.

FULIGULA CLANGULA, BONAP.

PLATE CCCXLII. MALE AND FEMALE.

You have now before you another of our Ducks, which at least equals any of the rest in the extent of its migrations. Braving the blasts of the north, it visits the highest latitudes in spring, and returns at the approach of winter, spreading over the whole country, as if it seemed not to care in what region it spends its time, provided it find abundance of water. Now propelling itself gaily, it may be seen searching the pebbly or rocky bottom of the Ohio, or diving deep in the broad bays of Massachusetts or the Chesapeake. Presently it emerges with a cray-fish or a mussel held firmly in its bill. It shakes its head, and over its flattened back roll the large pearly drops of water, unable to penetrate the surface of its compact and oily plumage. The food is swallowed, and the bird, having already glanced around, suddenly plunges headlong. Happy being! Equally fitted for travelling through the air and the water, and not altogether denied the pleasure of walking on the shore; endowed with a cunning, too, which preserves you from many at least of the attempts of man to destroy you; and instinctively sagacious enough to place your eggs deep in the hollow of a tree, where they are secure from the nocturnal prowler, and, amid the down of your snowy breast, are fostered until the expected young come forth. Then with your own bill you carry your brood to the lake, where under your tender care they grow apace. The winged marauders, rapid as their flight may be, cannot injure you there; for while your young ones sink into the deep waters, you arise on whistling wings, and, swifter than Jer Falcon, speed away.

In South Carolina the Golden-eye is abundant during winter, when it at times frequents the reserves of the rice-planters. I have also met with it on the water-courses of the Floridas at that season. From these countries westward and northward, it may be found in all parts of the Union where the waters are not frozen. It is seldom seen on small ponds entirely surrounded by trees, but prefers open places, and on the Ohio is generally found in the more rapid parts, on the eddies of which it dives for food.

This species exhibits a degree of cunning which surpasses that of many other Ducks, and yet at times it appears quite careless. When I have been walking, without any object in view, along the banks of the Ohio, between Shippingport and Louisville, I have often seen the Golden-eyes, fishing almost beneath me, when, although I had a gun, they would suffer me to approach within an hundred paces. But at other times, if I crawled or hid myself in any way while advancing towards them, with a wish to fire at them, they would, as if perfectly aware of my intentions, keep at a distance of fully two hundred yards. On the former occasion they would follow their avocations quite unconcernedly: while on the latter, one of the flock would remain above as if to give intimation of the least appearance of danger. If, in the first instance, I fired my gun at them, they would all dive with the celerity of lightning, but on emerging, would shake their wings as if in defiance. But if far away on the stream, when I fired at them, instead of diving, they would all at once stretch their necks, bend their bodies over the water, and paddle off with their broad webbed feet, until the air would resound with the smart whistling of their wings, and away they would speed, quite out of sight, up the river. In this part of the country, they are generally known by the name of “Whistlers.”

I have observed that birds of this species rarely go to the shores to rest until late in the evening, and even then they retire to secluded rocks, slightly elevated above the surface, or to the margins of sand-bars, well protected by surrounding waters. In either case, it is extremely difficult for a man to get near them; but it is different with the sly Racoon, which I have on several occasions surprised in the dawn, feeding on one which it had caught under night. Yet, on some of the bays of our sea-coasts, the Whistlers are easily enticed to alight by the coarsest representations of their figures in wooden floats, and are shot while they pass and repass over the place to assure themselves that what they see is actually a bird of their own kind. This mode is successfully followed in the Bay and Harbour of Boston in Massachusetts, as well as farther to the eastward.

The Golden-eye is rarely if ever seen in the company of any other species than those which are, like itself, expert divers; such, for example, as the Mergansers, or the Buffel-headed Duck: and it is very rare to see all the individuals of a flock immersed at once. Sometimes, when suddenly surprised, they immediately dive, and do not rise again until quite out of gun-shot. When wounded, it is next to impossible to catch them; for their power of remaining under water is most surprising, and the sooner one gives up the chase the better.

The Golden-eye Ducks manifest a propensity to adhere to a place which they find productive, and that to a most extraordinary degree. One day, while approaching the shallow fording-place of Canoe Creek, near Henderson, in Kentucky, I observed five Whistlers fishing and swimming about. They allowed me to advance to within a few yards of the shore, when, swimming close together, and shaking their necks, they emitted their rough croaking notes. Not being desirous of shooting them, I slapped my hands smartly together, when in an instant they all went down, but suddenly rose again, and running as it were over the water for about ten yards, took flight, passed and repassed several times over the ford, and alighted on the large branches of a sycamore that hung over the creek, at no greater distance from where I stood than about twenty yards. This was the first time in my life that I had seen Golden-eyes alight on a tree. I waded to the opposite side, and gazed upon them with amazement for several minutes. When on the eve of pursuing my course, one of them, gliding downwards with nearly closed wings, launched upon the water, and at once dived. The other four followed one after another, somewhat in the manner of Pigeons or Starlings, as if to ascertain whether some danger might not still exist. I left them at their avocations, and soon after met a family of country people going to Henderson, one of whom asked me respecting the depth of the ford, to which I replied that the water was low, and added that they should be careful lest some ducks that I had left there might frighten the horses on which the women were. The good folks, with whom I was acquainted, laughed, and we parted.

About four o’clock, as I was returning, with a fine Turkey-cock slung to my back, I met the same party, who told me that, “sure enough,” the ducks were at the ford, and I was likely to have “a good crack at them.” There they were when I went up, and I forced them to fly off; but as I was proceeding, and not more than fifty yards beyond the creek, I heard their splashings as they again alighted. In the course of a fortnight I visited the place several times, but never missed finding these five ducks there. This led me to inquire as to the cause, and, having undressed, I waded out barefooted, and examined the bottom, which I found to be composed of rather hard blue clay, full of holes bored by cray-fish. But to make myself quite sure that these creatures formed the attraction to the Ducks, I watched an opportunity, and shot two of the latter, the examination of which satisfied me on the subject.

I had long before this been convinced, that an abundant supply of food afforded a powerful attraction to migrating birds, and on this subject you may remember my remarks in the articles of the Wild Turkey and Passenger Pigeon, in the first volume of this work; but I had not then, nor have I since, seen so strong an instance of pertinacity in attachment to a particular spot.

The flight of this species is powerful, extremely rapid, and wonderfully protracted. It passes along with a speed equal to that of any of the Duck tribe, and I believe can easily traverse the space of ninety miles in an hour. The whistling of its wings may be distinctly heard when it is more than half a mile distant. This statement may be found to be in contradiction to those of probably every previous writer, for it has been a general opinion, that the greater the extent of wing the more rapid is the flight, which is anything but correct. On flying from the water, they proceed for a considerable distance very low, not rising to any height until they have advanced several hundred yards.

The only nest of the Golden-eye which I have examined, I discovered, on the 15th of June, on the margin of a small creek about eight miles from Green Bay. The female left it, probably to go in search of food, whilst I was sitting under the tree in which it was, thinking more of my peculiar situation than of birds of any kind, for I was almost destitute of ammunition, and bent on returning to my family, then in Louisiana. How exciting are such moments to the ardent observer of Nature! In an instant, hunger, fatigue, even the thoughts of my beloved wife and children, vanished; and in a few minutes I was safely lodged on the tree, and thrusting my arm into the cavity of a large broken branch. Nine beautiful, greenish, smooth eggs, almost equally rounded at both ends, were at my disposal. They were laid on some dry grass of the kind that grew on the edges of the creek, and were deeply imbedded in the down of the bird. Not being then aware of the necessity of measuring or keeping eggs, I roasted them on some embers, and finding them truly delicious, soon satisfied my hunger. While I was eating them, the bird returned, but no male was to be seen. Whether many of these birds breed within the limits of the Union I cannot tell. Dr RICHARDSON says they are abundant in the Fur Countries, and Dr TOWNSEND states, that they are plentiful on the Rocky Mountains and along the north-west coast of America.

Of the changes which the young males undergo, nothing is known beyond the fact, that the young of both sexes resemble the adult female, until the approach of the first spring, when their general migration northward removes them from our observation.

At the approach of spring, I have observed this species swell the throat and the feathers of the head, and emit their rough croaking notes very frequently. The males at this period become very pugnacious, though, after all, they remove northward together, preceding the females for at least a fortnight. They usually spend the autumn and the earlier parts of winter separate from the females. These birds have, like the Goosanders, a habit of shaking their heads violently on emerging from the water Their flesh is fishy, and in my opinion unfit for being eaten, unless in cases of excessive hunger. The food of this species, while on fresh water, consists of fish of various kinds, mollusca, young frogs, tadpoles, crayfish, and, I believe, some kinds of grass. When on salt water, they feed principally on bivalves and fishes of different species.

ANAS CLANGULA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 201.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 867. Male.

ANAS GLAUCION, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 201.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 867. Female and Young.

GOLDEN-EYE, ANAS CLANGULA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 62, pl. 67, fig. 6.

FULIGULA CLANGULA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 393.

CLANGULA VULGARIS, COMMON GOLDEN-EYE, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 456.

COMMON GOLDEN-EYE, Nuttall, Manual, vol ii. p. 441.

Adult Male in winter. Plate CCCXLII. Fig. 1.

Bill shorter than the head, deeper than broad at the base, gradually depressed toward the end, which is rounded. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight and sloping to the middle, then slightly concave, and finally decurved; the ridge broad and rather concave at the base, narrowed between the nostrils, convex towards the end, the frontal angles long, the sides erect at the base, sloping and convex towards the end, the edges soft, with about fifty lamellæ, the unguis oblong and decurved. Nostrils medial, linear, pervious, nearer the ridge than the margin. Lower mandible flattened, ascending, nearly straight, a little curved at the base, the angle long, rather narrow, the dorsal line very slightly convex, the edges with about fifty lamellæ, the unguis broadly elliptical.

Head large, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Neck short and thick. Body compact, much depressed. Feet very short, placed far back; tarsus very short, compressed, having anteriorly in its whole length a series of small scutella, and above the outer toe a few broad scales, the rest covered with reticular angular scales. Hind toe very small, with a broad free membrane beneath; anterior toes longer than the tarsus, connected by reticulated membranes, having a sinus on their free margins, the inner with a narrow, lobed, marginal membrane, the outer with a thickened edge, the third and fourth about equal and longest, all covered above with numerous narrow scutella. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, obtuse, that of first toe very small, of third largest, and with an inner thin edge.

Plumage dense, soft and blended; feathers on the fore part of the head and cheeks very small and rounded, on the upper and hind parts, linear and elongated, as they also are on the lateral and hind parts of the upper neck, so that when raised they give the head a very tumid appearance, which is the more marked that the feathers of the neck beneath are short. Wings small, decurved, pointed; the outer primaries pointed, the first generally longest, the second slightly shorter, in some specimens a little longer, the rest rapidly graduated; the secondaries incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner much elongated. Tail short, graduated, of sixteen feathers.

Bill black. Iris bright yellow. Feet orange-yellow, webs dusky, claws black. Head and upper part of neck deep green, changing to purple in certain lights. Back, posterior scapulars, inner secondaries, edge of wing, alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and four or five outer secondaries, black,—the back being darker and glossy, the wing-feathers tinged with brown. An elliptical patch between the base of the bill and the eye, lower part of neck all round, sides of the body anteriorly, the lower parts generally, the scapulars, excepting their margins, which are black, a large patch on the wing, including many of the smaller coverts, some of the secondary coverts, and six or seven of the secondary quills, pure white. The basal part of the secondary coverts black. Axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts dusky; the elongated feathers of the sides have the inner, some of them also their outer margins black, that colour in those of the innermost covering the whole inner web. The feathers on the legs, and along the sides of the rump dusky. The tail brownish-grey.

Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 17-1/2, to end of claws 20-1/4; extent of wings 31-1/2; bill along the ridge 1-5/8, from the angles 2, along the edge of lower mandible 2-3/12; wing from flexure 9; tail 4-1/2; tarsus 1-5/12; hind toe (6-1/2)/12, its claw (2-1/2)/12; second toe 1-9/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12; third toe 2-1/4, its claw (4-1/2)/12; fourth toe 2-4/12, its claw 3/12. Weight 2 lb. 4-1/2 oz.

Of another male, length to end of tail 19-1/2, to end of claws 21-1/2, to end of wings 17; extent of wings 31.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXLII. Fig. 2.

The female is much smaller. Bill dusky, a portion at the end, not however including the unguis, dull yellowish-orange. Eyes and feet as in the male. Head and upper part of neck dull reddish-brown. Lower part of neck and the sides of the body brownish-grey, the feathers margined with pale grey. Upper parts greyish-brown, much darker behind; tail brownish-grey; wings brownish-black, seven of their coverts, excepting at the bases, white, the smaller coverts lighter and tipped with greyish-white; the legs and sides of the rump greyish-brown.

Length to end of tail 16 inches, to end of wings 15, to end of claws 17-1/4; extent of wings 28; wing from flexure 8-1/2; tail 3-1/4; bill along the ridge 1-3/8, from the angles 1-3/4, along the lower mandible 1-(5-1/2)/8; tarsus 1-(3-1/2)/8; hind toe 5/8, its claw (1-1/2)/8; middle toe 2-(2-1/2)/8, its claw 3/8; outer toe 1/8 longer; inner toe and claw 2. Weight 1-3/4 lb.

An adult male examined. The tongue is 2 inches long, fleshy, papillate at the base, with two series of lateral filaments, a deep median groove, and a thin semicircular tip, as in many other ducks. The œsophagus is 10 inches long, of moderate diameter, dilated towards the lower part of the neck to 1/2 inch; its walls very thick; the proventriculus with numerous oblong glandules. The stomach is a large and powerful gizzard, of a roundish form, 2 inches long, and of equal diameter, its lateral muscles very large, and upwards of half an inch thick; its epithelium rugous. The intestine is 6 feet 1 inch long, its diameter varying from 5 twelfths to 4 twelfths; the rectum 4 inches long; the cœca 3-1/4 inches in length, their greatest diameter 2-1/2 twelfths. The contents of the stomach a soft mass of a reddish colour, in which are distinguished small mussels and remains of fishes, with some vegetable fibres.

The trachea is 9 inches long, for 4 inches narrow, its diameter being about 4-1/2 twelfths, and its rings, which are 60 in number, cartilaginous; it then forms an ovato-oblong expansion, which, when drawn out, is 2-1/2 inches long, and 1 inch in breadth, and is formed of ossified and flattened rings, narrower behind, placed obliquely, and about 30 in number; it then contracts to a diameter of 5 twelfths, and has 16 free rings, but below this the rings, 25 in number, become united or blended, and gradually expand into a vast irregular cavity, having a broad bony frame in front, membranous behind, and separating to the distance of 1 inch, the bronchi, which are large, the right one much larger and longer than the left, and composed of 20 rings, all of which are almost complete and cartilaginous, excepting the two upper. The rings of the left bronchus, also about 20, are more incomplete.

Now for conjectures. These enormous dilatations are intended for strengthening the voice. But the voice is not strong in this duck. Well, then, they are receptacles of air, to enable the bird to keep longer under water. But the bird does not keep longer under water than many other ducks, and besides, the female, which has no such dilatations, dives as well as the male.

One use at least is this. A comparison of the windpipe of an American Golden-eye, with those of two Scotch ones, shews that the so-called Clangula Americana, is in this respect precisely similar to the Clangula chrysophthalma. Their digestive organs are also the same; and American skins compared with European skins, exhibit no differences of the slightest importance. Some individuals, especially males, have much larger bills than others, but this happens in the birds of both countries, and the Golden-eye is not singular in this respect. Clangula Americana, therefore, requires a better elucidation than the appendage of a “Nob,” before it can be admitted as a species.

RUDDY DUCK.

FULIGULA RUBIDA, BONAP.

PLATE CCCXLIII. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.

Look at this plate, Reader, and tell me whether you ever saw a greater difference between young and old, or between male and female, than is apparent here. You see a fine old male in the livery of the breeding season, put on as it were expressly for the purpose of pleasing the female for a while. The female has never been figured before; nor, I believe, has any representation been given of the young in the autumnal plumage. Besides these, you have here the young male at the approach of spring.

The Ruddy Duck is by no means a rare species in the United States; indeed I consider it quite abundant, especially during the winter months, in the Peninsula of Florida, where I have shot upwards of forty in one morning. In our Eastern Districts they make their appearance early in September, and are then plentiful from Eastport to Boston, in the markets of which, as well as of New York, I have seen them. On the Ohio and Mississippi they arrive about the same period; and I have no doubt that they will be found breeding in all our Western Territories, as soon as attention is paid to such matters as the searching for nests with the view of promoting science, or of domesticating birds which might prove advantageous to the husbandman.

My friend Dr BACHMAN informs me that this species is becoming more abundant every winter in South Carolina. In the month of February he has seen a space of the extent of an acre covered with it. Yet he has never found one in full summer plumage in that country. It is equally fond of salt or brackish and of fresh waters; and thus we find it at times on our sea-coast, bays, and mouths of rivers, as well as on lakes and even small ponds in the interior, or on our salt marshes, provided they are not surrounded by trees, as it cannot rise high in the air unless in an open space of considerable extent. At the time of their arrival, they are seen in small flocks, more than from seven to ten being seldom found together, until they reach the Southern States, where they congregate in great flocks. When they leave their northern breeding-grounds, some proceed along the coast, but a greater number along our numerous rivers.

The flight of the Ruddy Duck is rapid, with a whirring sound, occasioned by the concave form of the wings and their somewhat broad ends, the whistling sound produced by other species having more pointed and stiffer quills, not being heard in this, or only in a very slight degree. They rise from the water, with considerable difficulty, being obliged to assist themselves with their broad webbed feet, and to run as it were on the surface for several yards, always against the breeze, when it blows smartly. The strength of the muscles of their feet enables them to spring from the ground at once. When they are fairly on wing, they fly in the same manner as most of our travelling ducks, sustain themselves with ease, and are apt to remove to great distances. They alight on the water more heavily than most others that are not equally flattened and short in the body; but they move on that element with ease and grace, swimming deeply immersed, and procuring their food altogether by diving, at which they are extremely expert. They are generally disposed to keep under the lee of shores on all occasions. When swimming without suspicion of danger, they carry the tail elevated almost perpendicularly, and float lightly on the water; but as soon as they are alarmed, they immediately sink deeper, in the manner of the Anhinga, Grebes, and Cormorants, sometimes going out of sight without leaving a ripple on the water. On small ponds they often dive and conceal themselves among the grass along the shore, rather than attempt to escape by flying, to accomplish which with certainty they would require a large open space. I saw this very often when on the plantation of General HERNANDEZ in East Florida. If wounded, they dived and hid in the grass; but, as the ponds there were shallow, and had the bottom rather firm, I often waded out and pursued them. Then it was that I saw the curious manner in which they used their tail when swimming, employing it now as a rudder, and again with a vertical motion; the wings being also slightly opened, and brought into action as well as the feet. They are by no means shy, for I have often waded toward them with my gun until very near them, when I cared not about shooting them, but was on the look-out for a new Rail or Gallinule, along the margin of the ponds. They are often seen in company with Teals, Scaup Ducks, Gadwalls, Shovellers, and Mallards, with all of which they seem to agree.

My opinion that the males of this species lose the brightness of their spring dress before they return to us in autumn, is founded on the occurrence of multitudes of males at that season destitute of the garb in question, and my examination of many for the purpose of determining their sex and ascertaining that they were old birds. In February 1832, I saw immense flocks of Ruddy Ducks about an hundred miles up the St John’s in Florida. They would start from the water, as our schooner advanced under sail, patting it with their feet, so as to make a curious and rather loud noise, somewhat resembling the fall of hail-stones on the shingles. Their notes are uttered in a rather low tone and very closely resemble those of the female Mallard. They afford good eating when fat and young, and especially when they have been feeding for some weeks on fresh waters, where their food generally consists of the roots and blades of such grasses as spring from the bottom of rivers and ponds, as well as of the seeds of many gramineæ. When on salt marshes, they eat small univalve shells, fiddlers, and young crabs, and on the sea-coast, they devour fry of various sorts. Along with their food, they swallow great quantities of sand or gravel.

At St Augustine, in Florida, I shot a young bird of this species immediately under the walls of the fort. Although wounded severely and with one of its legs broken close to the body, it dived at once. My Newfoundland dog leaped into the water, and on reaching the spot where the bird had disappeared, dived also, and in a few moments came up with the poor thing in his mouth. When the dog approached I observed that the duck had seized his nose with its bill; and when I laid hold of it, it tried to bite me also. I have found this species hard to kill, and when wounded very tenacious of life, swimming and diving at times to the last gasp.

In the Fauna Boreali-Americana, the tail of the Ruddy Duck is said to be composed of sixteen feathers, and in NUTTALL’s Manual of twenty; but the number is eighteen.

RUDDY DUCK, ANAS RUBIDA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 137, pl. 71, fig. 5. male; pl. 130, fig. 6. young male.

FULIGULA RUBIDA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 390.

FULIGULA RUBIDA, RUDDY DUCK, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 455.

RUDDY DUCK, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 426.

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

Bill as long as the head, a little higher than broad at the base, depressed and widened toward the end, which is rounded. Dorsal outline straight and declinate to the nostrils, then direct and slightly concave, the sides sloping and concave at the base, broadly convex toward the end, the edges soft, with about forty short erect lamellæ internally on each side, the unguis linear-oblong, suddenly decurved and directed backwards, its lower part transversely expanded and serrulate. Nostrils in an oblong depression covered with skin, medial, rather small, linear oblong, pervious. Lower mandible flattened, a little recurved, its angle very long and narrow, the laminæ about a hundred and forty and extremely small, the unguis oblong.

Head rather large, oblong. Eyes of moderate size. Neck short and thick. Body full, much depressed. Legs short and placed rather far behind; tibia bare for a short space; tarsus very short, compressed, with an anterior series of small scutella, an outer short series going to the fourth toe, the rest reticulated. Hind toe very small, with a free inferior web; anterior toes very long, slender, the middle toe double the length of the tarsus, the outer almost as long, the inner considerably shorter, and having a broad lobed margin; the webs reticulated. Claws rather small, slender, compressed, slightly arched, acute.

Plumage dense, blended, on the upper parts very soft; on the fore part of the head stiffish; on the lower parts with a silky gloss, and stiff, having the extremities broad, and the barbs strong and pointed. Wings very short, of moderate breadth, concave, pointed; primaries tapering, the first longest, obliquely rounded. Tail short, much graduated, of eighteen stiff, narrow feathers, of which the shaft is very strong, and runs out in a flattened concave point.

Bill and edges of eyelids greyish-blue. Iris hazel. Feet dull greyish-blue; webs inclining to dusky; claws greyish-brown. Upper part of the head and nape deep bluish-black, that colour running to a point about the middle of the neck; a large white patch on each side of the head, from the bill to behind the ear, narrowed on the throat. Neck all round, and all the upper parts, as well as the sides of the rump, rich glossy brownish-red or chestnut; the lower parts greyish-white, tinged with brown, and marked with transverse interrupted bands of dusky. Wing-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers, blackish-brown.

Length to end of tail 14-3/4 inches, to end of wings 12-1/2, to end of claws 15, to carpal joint 7-3/4; extent of wings 21-1/2; wing from flexure 6-1/4; tail 3-1/2; bill along the ridge 1-5/8, along the edge of lower mandible 1-5/8; tarsus 1-1/4; hind toe and claw (4-1/2)/8; inner toe 1-3/4, its claw 1/4; middle toe 2-3/8, its claw 3/8; outer toe 2-3/8, its claw 1/4. Weight 1-3/4 lb. Average measurements of six individuals.

The black on the head of the male is sometimes marked with a few white feathers.

Adult Female in summer. Plate CCCXLIII. Fig. 2.

The plumage presents the same characters as in the male. The bill is of a darker greyish-blue; iris as in the male; feet darker. The top of the head, and all the upper parts, are dark reddish-brown, minutely dotted and undulated with dusky; wings and tail as in the male; lower parts duller than in the male, but similarly marked; the throat, and a band from the base of the upper mandible to beneath the eye, brownish-white.

Male one year old. Plate CCCXLIII. Fig. 3.

Bill, eyes, and feet as in the adult. A similar white patch on the side of the head; upper part of head and hind neck dull blackish-brown; throat and sides of the neck greyish-brown; lower part of neck, dull reddish-brown, waved with dusky; upper parts as in the adult, but of a duller tint; lower parts greyish-white.

Young in December. Plate CCCXLIII. Fig. 4.

Bill dusky; iris hazel; feet yellowish-green, webs dusky. All the upper parts dull reddish-brown tinged with grey, and barred with dusky; wings and tail dark greyish-brown. Cheeks, fore part and sides of neck, and all the lower parts, dull yellowish-white, undulated with dusky; as is the rump above; the lower tail-coverts white.

The tongue of a male is 1 inch 8 twelfths long, and of the same general form as that of the Fuligulæ, but a little more dilated at the end. The œsophagus is 1/2 inch in diameter until its entrance into the thorax, when it contracts, and again expands to 6 twelfths, to form the proventriculus, of which the glandules are oblong, small, and very numerous, occupying a space of 2-1/4 inches in length. The stomach is a strong gizzard, of a roundish form, 1 inch 5 twelfths long, 1-1/2 inch broad; its lateral muscles very large, and about 8 twelfths thick; the epithelium confined to two round spaces 1/2 inch in diameter, opposite the lateral muscles. The intestine is 5 feet 1-1/2 inch long, its diameter varying from 5 twelfths to 3-1/2 twelfths. The rectum is 2 inches 10 twelfths long; the cœca 4 inches 2 twelfths their greatest diameter 2-1/2 twelfths.

In another male, the œsophagus is 7-1/2 inches long; the stomach 1 inch 5 twelfths long, 1 inch 6 twelfths broad; the intestine 5 feet 11 inches long; the rectum 2-3/4 inches; the cœca 4-1/8 inches, their greatest diameter 2-1/2 twelfths.

The trachea is 5-3/4 inches long. The thyroid bone is comparatively large, forming an expansion 7 twelfths long, 5 twelfths broad. At its upper part the trachea has a diameter of 3 twelfths, about the middle enlarges to 4 twelfths, and so continues nearly to the end, when it contracts to 2 twelfths. The last ring is very large, being formed of five or six united rings, of which the last two or three are split; but there is no expansion or tympanum as in other ducks. The muscles are as in the other species of this family. The bronchi are of moderate length, with about 15 half rings.

LONG-LEGGED SANDPIPER.

TRINGA HIMANTOPUS, BONAP.

PLATE CCCXLIV.

I have often spoken of the great differences as to size and colour that are observed in birds of the same species, and which have frequently given rise to mistakes, insomuch that the male, the female, and the young, have been considered as so many distinct species. The Long-legged Sandpiper has been treated in this manner, and has latterly reappeared under the name of Tringa Douglassii, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana of my friends RICHARDSON and SWAINSON. BONAPARTE was, in truth, the first who described this bird; and although some differences might be found between his specimen and the one described in the work just mentioned, they are trifling compared with those which I have observed between seven or eight individuals all procured from the same flock at a single shot. It is strange that neither BONAPARTE nor SWAINSON have mentioned the sex of their specimen.

On the morning of the 4th of April 1837, while seated among the drift wood that had accumulated on the southern shore of the island of Barataria, forty miles from the south-west pass of the Mississippi, and occupied in observing some Pelicans, I saw a flock of about thirty Long-legged Sandpipers alight within ten steps of me, near the water. They immediately scattered, following the margin of the retiring and advancing waves, in search of food, which I could see them procure by probing the wet sand in the manner of Curlews, that is, to the full length of their bill, holding it for a short time in the sand, as if engaged in sucking up what they found. In this way they continued feeding on an extended line of shore of about thirty yards, and it was pleasing to see the alacrity with which they simultaneously advanced and retreated, according to the motions of the water. In about three quarters of an hour, during all which time I had watched them with attention, they removed a few yards beyond the highest wash of the waves, huddled close together, and began to plume and cleanse themselves. All of a sudden they ceased their occupation, stood still, and several of them emitted a sharp tweet-tweet, somewhat resembling the notes of Totanus solitarius; immediately after which seven birds of the same species passed close to me, and alighted near those which I had already watched. They at once began to feed, and as I thought that the first flock might join them, and that I might lose the opportunity of procuring specimens, in sufficient number, I fired and killed eleven. The rest flew off, and were joined by the second group, the whole flying to windward in a compact body, and emitting every now and then their sharp tweet, tweet, until out of sight and hearing.

My son JOHN obtained several of these birds on the same island while they were feeding on the margins of a fresh-water pond; and we saw them on almost every island and bay on our way to the Texas, where we also procured some on Galveston Island.

The flight of these Sandpipers is rapid and regular. They move compactly, and often when about to alight, or after being disturbed, incline their bodies to either side, shewing alternately the upper and lower parts. On foot they move more like Curlews than Tringas, they being as it were more sedate in their deportment. At times, on the approach of a person, they squat on the ground, very much in the manner of the Esquimaux Curlew, Numenius borealis; and their flesh is as delicate as that of the species just named. In the stomach of several individuals I found small worms, minute shell-fish, and vegetable substances, among which were the hard seeds of plants unknown to me. I suspect that in summer and autumn they feed on small fruits and berries, though of this I have no proof.

Among those which we procured, I found the differences in the colour of the plumage quite as great as in Scolopax noveboracensis, some of the younger birds being yet in their winter dress, while the older had already assumed a reddish colour on the cheeks, the top of the head, and the breast. The females were all larger than the males, and differed from each other not only in the markings of the plumage, but also in the length of the bill, to the extent of a quarter of an inch, and of the legs, to a still greater extent. Whether or not this species assumes a uniform reddish tint in the breeding season, such as is observed in the Pigmy Curlew, Tringa subarquata, I am unable to say, although I am much inclined to think that it does.

Their passage through the United States is very rapid, both in spring and autumn, Some few spend the winter in Lower Louisiana, but nearly all proceed southward beyond the Texas.

TRINGA HIMANTOPUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 316.

TRINGA DOUGLASSII, Swainson, DOUGLAS’S SANDPIPER, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. 379.

TRINGA HIMANTOPUS, SLENDER-SHANKS SANDPIPER, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. 380.

LONG-LEGGED SANDPIPER, AUDUBON’S STILT SANDPIPER, and DOUGLASS’ STILT SANDPIPER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 138, 140, 141.

Male in Spring. Plate CCCXLIV. Fig. 1.

Bill much longer than the head, very slender, subcylindrical, very slightly decurved, compressed at the base, the end rather depressed, considerably enlarged. Upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, being very slightly decurved towards the end, the ridge narrow, convex, flattened towards the tip, the sides sloping, with a narrow groove extending nearly to the end, the edges rather blunt and soft, the tip decurved. Nostrils basal, linear, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle long and very narrow, the dorsal line straight, towards the end slightly deflected, the sides sloping outwards, with a long narrow groove, the tip a little broader.

Head small, oblong, compressed. Eyes small. Neck rather long. Body slender. Feet long, very slender; tibia bare for an inch; tarsus long, slender, compressed, covered before and behind with numerous small scutella; hind toe very small, the rest of moderate length, slender, the second very slightly longer than the fourth, the third very little longer; short basal webs, running out along the margins, that between the third and fourth toes larger. Claws rather long, very slender, slightly arched, tapering, compressed.

Plumage very soft, blended; the feathers somewhat distinct on the back. Wings very long, pointed; primaries tapering, the first longest, the second slightly shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; outer secondaries slightly incurved, obliquely sinuate on the outer web towards the end, the inner web rounded; inner secondaries very narrow, tapering, reaching to three-fourths of an inch of the longest primary when the wing is closed. Tail of moderate length, nearly even, but with the two middle feathers exceeding the rest by two and a half twelfths of an inch, of twelve narrow, rounded feathers.

Bill black. Iris brown. Feet dull yellowish-green, claws black. The upper parts are brownish-black, the feathers margined with reddish-white, the edges of the scapulars with serriform markings of the same; rump and upper tail-coverts white, transversely barred with dusky; tail light grey, the feathers white at the base and along the middle. Primary quills and their coverts brownish-black, the inner tinged with grey, the shaft of the outer primary white, secondaries brownish-grey, margined with reddish-white, the inner dusky. A broad whitish line over the eye; loral band dusky; auriculars pale brownish-red; fore part and sides of neck, greyish-white, tinged with red, and longitudinally streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts pale reddish-brown, transversely barred with dusky; the middle of the breast and the abdomen without markings. Dimensions of five individuals.

Length to end of tail, 8-3/4 8-1/4 7-3/4 8 7-1/2 wings, 9-1/4 8-3/8 8-1/2 8-3/4 8-3/4 claws, 11-1/4 10-5/8 10 10-1/2 10-7/8 Extent of wings, 16-3/4 16 15-1/2 17 16

Weight of an individual, 2-3/4 oz.

Female. Plate CCCXLIV. Fig. 2.

The female is considerably larger, but otherwise resembles the male. Dimensions of five individuals.

Length to end of tail, 10-1/2 11 9-1/4 10-3/4 8-1/2 wings, 11 10-3/4 11-3/4 11-1/2 10-1/8 claws, 13-1/4 12-1/2 11-1/2 12-3/4 11-3/4 Extent of wings, 18 16-1/2 16-7/8 16-1/2 17-3/4

Weight of two individuals, 4 oz., 3-3/4 oz.

The winter plumage differs considerably; the bill, iris, and feet, are as above. The upper parts are brownish-grey, the head narrowly streaked with dusky; the rump as in summer; the scapulars plainly margined with whitish; the quills as in summer. The band over the eye lighter, the loral space grey; the fore part and sides of the neck greyish-white, longitudinally streaked with grey, the sides similar, and with the lower tail-coverts barred with grey, the rest of the lower parts white.

Length to end of tail in a male 9 inches; extent of wings 16-1/2; wing from flexure 5-1/4; tail 2-4/12; bill along the ridge 1-6/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-7/12; bare part of tibia 1; tarsus 1-7/12; hind toe and claw (4-1/2)/12; middle toe (9-1/12)/12, its claw (2-1/2)/12.

The roof of the mouth is flat, with three rows of papillæ. The tongue is 1 inch 5 twelfths long, emarginate and papillate at the base, very slender, concave above, tapering to a point. The œsophagus is 4 inches long, very narrow, its diameter 2 twelfths. The proventriculus is oblong, 7 twelfths in length, 3-1/2 twelfths in diameter. The stomach is a strong gizzard of a roundish form, compressed, 8 twelfths long, 7-1/12 twelfths broad; its lateral muscles large, its epithelium very dense, thick, longitudinally rugous, and of a reddish-brown colour. The intestine is 12-1/2 inches long, its anterior part 2-3/4 twelfths in diameter, the hind part 1-1/2 twelfth. The rectum is 1-1/2 inch long; the cœca 11 twelfths long, 1 twelfth in diameter, obtuse.

The trachea is 3 inches long, slender, its diameter at the upper part 1-3/4 twelfths, gradually diminishing to the lower part, where it is 1 twelfth. The rings, about 110 in number, are slender and unossified, the two last divided. The bronchi have about 15 half rings. The contractor muscles are thin, the sterno-tracheal slender; and there is a pair of inferior laryngeal muscles going to the first bronchial rings.

In another individual, the intestine was 13-1/4 inches long, the rectum 1-1/2 inch, the cœca 1 inch.

The contents of the gizzard in both were fragments of shells, small black seeds, and much sand and gravel.

AMERICAN WIDGEON.

ANAS AMERICANA, GMEL.

PLATE CCCXLV. MALE AND FEMALE.

This lively and very handsome Duck is abundant during winter at New Orleans, where it is much esteemed on account of the juiciness of its flesh, and is best known by the name of Zinzin. In the Western Country, and in most parts of the Eastern and Middle States, it is called the Bald Pate. Early in September it enters the United States by their northern extremities, as well as from the Texas; and in both these regions it is now well known to breed in nearly equal numbers. Those which retreat south-westward remain along the coast and in the interior of the Floridas, as well as all that portion of the Gulf of Mexico extending to the mouths of the Mississippi, where they remain until the latter part of April, sometimes even until the middle of May, as they have but a comparatively short journey to perform in order to arrive in Mexico in time to breed. On the coast of the Atlantic they keep in the marshes in company with various species of the same family, being in a manner indifferent as to their associates. During early spring, in Louisiana, they are often seen alighted on extensive plains that have very little water on them.

While advancing along the shores of the Bay of Mexico, in April 1837, I and my party observed this species in considerable numbers; and during the whole of our stay in the Texas, we daily saw and very frequently procured Widgeons. There they were found in ponds of brackish water, as well as in the fresh-water streams. Before we left that country they were all paired, and I was informed by the Honourable M. FISHER, Secretary to the Texian Navy, that a good number of them breed in the maritime districts, along with several other Ducks, and that he annually received many of the young birds. Their manners at this time fully proved the correctness of the statements of all those who spoke to me on this subject. Indeed my opinion is that some of these birds also propagate in certain portions of the most southern districts of the Floridas, and in the Island of Cuba, as I have seen Widgeons in the peninsula in single pairs, in the beginning of May.

Their retrograde movements in spring, like those of other species, depend much upon the temperature or the advance of the season; and those which proceed northward set out on their journey much earlier than those which move in the opposite direction, the former departing from the middle of March to the 20th of April. Their first appearance on the waters of the Ohio takes place late in September or early in October, when they at once throw themselves into the ponds of the interior, and there remain until the waters are closed by ice, scarcely any betaking themselves to the rivers, unless to repose on the sand-bars. They are there, however, less abundant than nearer the sea-coast, and usually associate with Pintails and Teals, but rarely with Mallards or Dusky Ducks. Whilst in those retired ponds of the forest, from one to another of which they roam in quest of food, they are less noisy than most other species, even than the Pintails, and in this respect resemble the Blue-winged Teals, whose notes are feeble and delicate. Those of the Widgeon are a soft whistle somewhat similar to the word Sweet, enunciated as if produced by a flute or a hautboy, and in my judgment not at all like the hew hew spoken off by WILSON. They are less shy in those retired places than most species, or are to appearance less aware of the danger of allowing the sportsman to approach them.

In feeding they immerse their neck and the anterior part of the body, generally swimming closer together than other Ducks, in consequence of which habits they are easily neared and often shot in great numbers at a single discharge. During their stay in those districts they feed on the roots and seeds of grasses, water-insects, beech-nuts, small fry, and leeches, and are not so delicate as an article of food as those procured in the rice-fields of South Carolina, or in the plantations of Louisiana and Florida. On their return in spring (for in mild winters they remain all the season in Kentucky), they generally continue until the end of April, and usually pair before they depart; which induces me to believe that numbers of them breed within the northern limits of the United States, although I have not heard of any having actually been seen doing so.

On the lakes near New Orleans, as well as on the Chesapeake, they are not unfrequently found in company with the Canvass-back Ducks. WILSON mentions their being partially supplied with food by the industry of the latter; but they manage very well in most parts without such assistance. When in full security, the Bald-pates feed at all hours of the day; but in thickly inhabited parts of the country, they usually seek for food at night or early in the morning.

The flight of this species is rather swift, well sustained, and accompanied by the whistling sound of the wings usual in birds of this family. They move in flocks of moderate size, and without much care as to the disposition of their ranks, being sometimes extended into a front line, sometimes in single file, frequently mingled confusedly, and flying at a moderate height, whether over the land or over the water. When they are first started, they fly almost perpendicularly, in a hurried and rather irregular manner. They walk prettily and with ease. After heavy falls of rain in our Southern States, they often alight in the corn fields, in company with other Ducks, where the ploughed earth, being quite moist and soft, yields them an abundant supply of worms and insects, as well as grains of corn, pease, and other equally nutritious substances.

Dr RICHARDSON informs us that this species breeds in the woody districts of the Fur Countries, up to their most northern limits, in latitude 80°; and Dr TOWNSEND states that it is abundant on the Columbia River; but he has not furnished me with any account of its breeding, and I have not had an opportunity of observing it during the season of propagation, as I left the Texas without having found a nest or young.

ANAS AMERICANA, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 526.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 861.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 384.

AMERICAN WIDGEON, ANAS AMERICANA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 86, pl. 69, fig 4.

MARECA AMERICANA, Stephens, AMERICAN WIDGEON, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Boreali-Americana, vol. ii. p. 445.

AMERICAN WIDGEON, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 389.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXLV. Fig. 1.

Bill nearly as long as the head, deeper than broad at the base, depressed towards the end, the sides nearly parallel, the tip rounded. Upper mandible with the frontal angles short and obtuse, the dorsal line at first sloping, then concave, at the end decurved, the ridge broad and flat at the base, then broadly convex, the edges soft, with about fifty-five internal lamellæ, the unguis obovate, curved abruptly at the end. Nostrils sub-basal, lateral, near the ridge, oblong, pervious. Lower mandible flattened, its angle very long and rather narrow, the dorsal line very short, slightly convex, the edges soft, with about seventy lamellæ.

Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long, slender. Body elongated and slightly depressed. Feet very short; tibia bare for about a quarter of an inch; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly with two series of scutella, the outer shorter, the rest covered with reticulated angular scales; toes obliquely scutellate above; first very small, free, with a narrow membrane beneath; third longest, fourth considerably shorter, second shorter than fourth; their connecting webs entire, on the edge crenate; the second or inner toe with a membranous margin. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather acute; the hind one very small and more curved, that of the middle toe curved outwards, and having the inner edge dilated.

Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the head and upper neck oblong, small, those along the crown and occiput longer; of the lower parts ovate, glossy, with the extremities of the filaments stiffish. Wings rather long, little curved, narrow, pointed; the first quill longest, the next scarcely shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries very short, broad, obliquely rounded; the inner elongated and tapering; the tips of the filaments of the outer web of the first primary are separated and curved a little outwards. Tail short, rounded and pointed, of sixteen feathers, of which the middle pair are more pointed and project considerably.

Bill light greyish-blue, with the extremity including the unguis, and a portion of the margins, black. Iris hazel. Feet light bluish-grey, the webs darker, the claws dusky. The upper part of the head is white, more or less mottled with dusky on its sides; the loral space and cheeks reddish-white, dotted with greenish-black; a broad band from the eye to behind the occiput deep green. The lower part of the hind neck, the scapulars, and the fore part of the back, are minutely transversely undulated with brownish-black and light brownish-red; the hind part similarly undulated with blackish-brown and greyish-white. The smaller wing-coverts are brownish-grey; the primary quills and coverts dark greyish-brown; the secondary coverts white, tipped with black. The speculum is duck-green anteriorly, bounded by the black tips of the secondary coverts, black behind, internally black with white streaks, the inner elongated secondaries having their outer webs black, margined with white, their inner webs brownish-grey. The tail-feathers are light brownish-grey. The throat is brownish-black; the lower part of the neck in front, and the fore part of the breast, light brownish-red; the breast, belly, and sides of the rump, white; the sides of the body finely undulated with white and dusky; the rump beneath and the lower tail-coverts black.

Length to end of tail 20-1/2 inches, to end of claws 21; extent of wings 34-1/2; bill to frontal processes 1-(7-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-7/12; wing from flexure 11; tail 4-1/2; tarsus 1-7/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw (2-1/2)/12, middle toe 1-8/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12. Weight 1 lb. 14 oz.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXLV. Fig. 2.

The female is considerably smaller. The bill, feet, and iris are coloured as in the male. The head and upper part of the neck all round, are white or reddish-white, longitudinally streaked with brownish-black, the top of the head transversely barred; the lower part of the neck in front and behind, the fore part of the back, and the scapulars, are blackish-brown, the feathers broadly margined with brownish-red, and barred with the same, the bars on the back narrow; the hind part of the back dusky; the upper tail-coverts barred with white. The wings are greyish-brown; the secondary coverts tipped with white; the secondary quills are brownish-black, the inner greyish-brown, all margined with white. The tail-feathers are greyish-brown, margined with white. All the lower parts are white, excepting the feathers of the sides, and under the tail, which are broadly barred with dusky and light reddish-brown.

Length to end of tail 18 inches, to end of claws 19-1/2; extent of wings 30; bill along the ridge 1-6/12; wing from flexure 9-3/12; tail 3-9/12; tarsus 1-6/12; middle toe 1-9/12, its claw 3/12. Weight 1 lb. 5 oz.

A very great diversity of colouring exists in this species, which, however, is not yet properly understood. Although males are often found as described above, and as represented in the plate, others have a very different appearance. Thus, an individual shot at the mouth of the Mississippi, in the beginning of April 1837, has the head and neck brownish-orange, the feathers all minutely tipped with dark green, the lower fore neck lilac; all the upper parts finely undulated with white and dusky, as are the sides; the wing-coverts light brownish-grey; the other parts as described above, but the upper tail-coverts black at the end. In some individuals the top of the head is reddish-white, in others light red, in others pure white; in some, most of the smaller wing-coverts are white, in others grey or brownish-grey; in some the throat is whitish, in others black. These differences, no doubt, depend upon age and season.

The American Widgeon has been considered distinct from the European; not on account of any difference in size or form, or texture of plumage, but because it has in certain stages a green band on the side of the head, which the European bird is said not to have. The mirror is the same in both; the wing-coverts are white or grey in both; the crown is white, or cream-coloured, or orange-brown, in both; but in the European the head and neck are described as reddish-chestnut, and in the American as yellowish-white. Now, in fact, American birds sometimes have the head and neck red, and European Birds sometimes have the green streak on the side of the head. In short, on comparing specimens from America, with others from India and Norway, I cannot perceive any essential difference. At the same time, not having traced our Widgeon through all its gradations, and being equally unacquainted with all those of the European and Asiatic Widgeon, I cannot positively affirm that Anas Americana is identical with Anas Penelope.

A male preserved in spirits presents the following characters.

The roof of the mouth is deeply concave, with a median prominent line, and numerous irregular small tubercles on the sides, with several larger ones at the fore part. Two large branches of the supra-maxillary nerve run in this ridge, as in other ducks. The tongue is 1 inch 5 twelfths long, with numerous straight, pointed papillæ at the base, a median longitudinal groove, and a thin broadly rounded point. The œsophagus, a b c d, is 10 inches long, narrow, dilating a little on the lower part of the neck, where its diameter is 1/2 inch. The proventriculus, b c, is 8 twelfths broad; its glands oblong, 2 twelfths in length, and occupying a belt 1 inch 4 twelfths in breadth. The gizzard, e f g, is extremely large, of a nearly regular elliptical form, placed obliquely, its length 1 inch 8 twelfths, its breadth 2-1/2 inches; its lateral muscles extremely large, the left, e, 1 inch 2 twelfths in thickness, the other, f, 1 inch and 1 twelfth; the inferior muscle, g, only 1 twelfth. In the œsophagus are contained slender leaves of grasses; in the gizzard some of these leaves and other vegetable matters, small seeds, and a great quantity of sand. The cuticular lining or epithelium is dense, slightly rugous, much thickened on the spaces opposite the middle of the lateral muscles. The duodenum, g h i, is 5-1/2 inches in its first curve, g h, and is then reflected for 7 inches, passes backwards under the kidneys and forms several convolutions. The intestine, g h i j k l, is 6 feet 2 inches long, 1/2 inch in diameter in its duodenal portion, gradually contracts to 4 twelfths at the distance of 18 inches from the pylorus, again enlarges to 5 twelfths, and near the rectum to 7 twelfths. The rectum is 4-1/2 inches long; the cœca 9 inches, their diameter for nearly 2 inches being 2 twelfths, after which they are enlarged, their greatest diameter being 4 twelfths. The liver is large, the right lobe being 3-1/2 inches long, the left 2-1/2.

The trachea, m, is 7-1/2 inches long, of moderate diameter, the rings roundish and ossified, about 140 in number, its breadth at the top 4-1/2 twelfths, gradually diminishing to 3 twelfths. At the lower part several of the rings are united so as to form an irregular dilatation, bulging out into a rounded sac, n, on the left side, its greatest diameter being 10 twelfths. The bronchi are of moderate length, wide, with about 25 half rings. The contractor muscles are rather strong; and besides the sterno-tracheals, o, p, there is a pair of cleido-tracheals.

In a female, the gizzard is 2 inches in its greatest diameter; the intestine is 5 feet 2 inches long. The contents of the œsophagus and stomach as in the male.

BLACK-THROATED DIVER.

COLYMBUS ARCTICUS, LINN.

PLATE CCCXLVI. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.

One of the most remarkable circumstances relative to this beautiful bird, which is intermediate between the Red-throated Diver and the Loon, is the extraordinary extent to which the wanderings of the young are carried in autumn and winter. It breeds in the remote regions of the north, from which many of the old birds, it would seem, do not remove far, while the young, as soon as they are able to travel, take to wing and disperse, spreading not only over the greater part of the United States, but beyond their south-western limits. In the Texas I saw individuals of this species as late as the middle of April 1837; and I find it enumerated in a list of the birds observed by my young friend Dr J. K. TOWNSEND on the Columbia River, where he also met with Columbus glacialis. Its ramblings over a considerable portion of northern and eastern Europe have equally been noted, and it has been found breeding in the extreme north of Scotland.

For many years I knew the young of this bird only by the name “Imber Diver,” applied by BEWICK to that of another species, and now have pleasure in looking upon a drawing of mine, made about thirty years ago, with that appellation attached to it. Very few old birds in full plumage have been procured within the limits of the United States, and none in as far as I know, farther south than the Capes of Delaware.

No sooner has the foliage of the trees that border our western waters begun to drop and float on the gentle current of the fair Ohio, than the Black-throated Diver makes its appearance there, moving slowly with the stream. The Mississippi, Missouri, and their tributaries, are at the same period supplied with these birds. Along our eastern and southern shores they are seen from the end of autumn until spring.

Whilst in Labrador, I saw a few pairs courting on wing, much in the manner of the Red-throated Diver; but all our exertions failed to procure any of the nests, which I therefore think must have been placed farther inland than those of the Loon or Red-throated Diver. I observed however, that in their general habits they greatly resemble those species, for on alighting on the water, they at once immerse their bills, as if for the purpose of ascertaining whether it yields a supply of suitable food, and afterwards raise themselves and beat their wings.

This species has almost as powerful a flight as the Great Northern Diver or Loon, and I think shoots through the air with even greater velocity. When flying it moves its wings rapidly and continuously, and has the neck and feet stretched out to their full length. I well recollect that while I was standing near the shore of a large inlet in South Carolina, one of these birds, being shot while passing over my head at full speed, did not, on account of the impetus, reach the ground until upwards of twenty yards beyond me. They are equally expert at diving, and fully as much so in eluding the pursuit of their enemies when wounded. I saw my friend Mr HARRIS bring down one from on wing, on which NAPOLEON COSTE, and WILLIAM TAYLOR, Captains of the Revenue Cutter and Tender of which we had the use, paddled in pursuit of it in a light canoe; but, although they advanced with all the address of Indians, they proved unsuccessful, for after following it both in the Bay of Cayo Island, and in the Bay of Mexico, for nearly an hour, they were obliged to return without it, having found it apparently not in the least fatigued, although it had dived sufficiently often to travel above two miles, shifting its course at each immersion. It is curious to observe how carefully these birds avoid the danger of sudden storms or heavy gales. On such occasions, I have seen Divers at once seek the lee of rocks, islands, or artificial embankments, where they could not only remain in security, but also procure their accustomed food. At other times, when striving against the tempest, they dive headlong from on wing, and are sure to reappear in the smooth parts which sailors term the trough.

I once caught one of these birds on the Ohio, it having been incapacitated from diving by having swallowed a large mussel, which stuck in its throat. It was kept for several days, but refused food of every kind, exhibited much bad humour, struck with its bill, and died of inanition. The food of this species consists of fish, aquatic reptiles, testaceous mollusca, and all sorts of small crustaceous animals. Its flesh resembles that of the Loon, and is equally unfit to be eaten.

The eggs, which are sometimes two, more frequently three, average three inches in length, by two in their greatest breadth, which is about a third of the whole length distant from the extremity. Their form is that of the Red-throated Diver, which however they exceed in size. The shell is rather thick, the surface roughish, the ground colour chocolate tinged with olive, sparingly spotted at the larger end with very dark umber and black, and sprinkled all over with very small dots of the same colour.

I have represented an adult male, a female, and a young bird.

COLYMBUS ARCTICUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 221.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 800.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 420.

COLYMBUS ARCTICUS, BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Boreali-Americana, vol. ii. p. 475.

BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXLVI. Fig. 1.

Bill as long as the head, straight, stout, higher than broad at the base, much compressed toward the end, and tapering to a point. Upper mandible with the dorsal line descending and considerably convex toward the end, the ridge convex, narrowed toward the point, the sides convex beyond the nostrils, the edges involute for half their length in the middle, direct at the base and toward the end, the tip narrow and sharpish. Nasal groove rather long and narrowed; nostrils sub-basal, linear, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle extremely narrow, and very long, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the ridge convex and narrow, the edges sharp and involute, the tip attenuated.

Head of moderate size, oblong, narrowed before. Neck rather long and thick. Eyes of moderate size. Body elongated, much depressed, of an elliptical form viewed from above. Wings small. Feet short, rather large, placed very far back; tibia almost entirely concealed; tarsus short, exceedingly compressed, sharp-edged before and behind, covered all over with reticulated angular scales, hind toe extremely small, externally marginate, connected with the second for half its length by a membrane, which extends, narrowing, to the end; the anterior toes connected by articulated membranes, the fourth or outer longest, the third a little shorter, the second considerably shorter than the third; all covered above with numerous narrow scutella; the second toe with a free two-lobed membrane, the claws very small, depressed, blunt.

Plumage short and dense, of the head and neck very short, soft and blended; of the lower parts short, blended, stiffish, considerably glossed; of the upper compact, glossy; the feathers on the lower part of the sides of the neck much incurved, oblong with the terminal barbs stiff; those of the fore part of the back and the scapulars straight, oblong, abrupt. Wings proportionally very small and narrow, curved; primaries strong, tapering, the first longest, the second slightly shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries very short, broad, and rounded. Tail extremely short, rounded, of eighteen feathers.

Bill black. Iris deep bright red. Feet greyish-blue, their inner sides tinged with yellow; claws black, that of the inner toe yellowish at the base. The upper part of the head and the hind neck are light grey or hoary, the fore part and sides of the head darker. The upper parts are glossy black tinged with green anteriorly, and shaded with brown behind. On the fore part of the back are two longitudinal bands of transverse white bars, the feathers being tipped with that colour; the scapulars, excepting the outer, are marked in the same manner with transverse rows of rather large square spots. Most of the wing-coverts have two roundish spots of white near the end. The quills are blackish-brown, tinged with grey externally, paler on the inner webs; the tail also blackish-brown. The fore neck, to the length of six and a half inches, is purplish-black, ending angularly below, and with a transverse interrupted band of linear white spots near the upper part; beyond which the sides of the neck are blackish-brown, with several longitudinal white streaks, formed by the edges of the feathers; on the lower part of the neck a broad space is occupied by these longitudinal, dusky, and white streaks the former of which gradually become narrower. The lower parts are pure white, excepting a longitudinal band on the sides under the wing, which is dusky.

Length to end of tail 29 inches, to end of wings 27-1/2, to end of claws 33; extent of wings 39-1/2; wing from flexure 12-3/4; tail 2-3/4; bill along the ridge 2-(5-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 3-(4-1/2)/12; tarsus 3-1/12; hind toe 8/12, its claw 2/12; second toe 3-2/12, its claw (5-1/2)/12; third toe 3-8/12, its claw 5-(5-1/2)/12; fourth toe 4-1/4, its claw (4-1/2)/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXLVI. Fig. 2.

The Female is smaller than the male, but is similarly coloured.

Young in Winter. Plate CCCXLVI. Fig. 3.

The texture of the plumage is less dense, the feathers on the neck being more downy, and those of the back oblong and rounded. The bill is light bluish-grey, dusky along the ridge; the iris brown; the feet more dusky. The upper part of the head and the hind neck are dark greyish-brown; the sides of the head greyish-white, minutely streaked with brown. The upper parts have a reticulated or scaly appearance, the feathers being brownish-black, with broad bluish-grey margins; the rump dull brownish-grey. The primaries and their coverts are brownish-black, the secondaries and tail-feathers dusky, margined with grey. The fore part of the neck is greyish-white, minutely and faintly dotted with brown, its sides below streaked with the same; the lower parts, including the under surface of the wing, pure white; the sides of the body and rump, with part of the lower tail-coverts, dusky, edged with bluish-grey.

When in their first downy plumage, the young are of a uniform brownish-black colour.

SMEW OR WHITE NUN.

MERGUS ALBELLUS, LINN.

PLATE CCCXLVIL. MALE AND FEMALE.

The Smew is a bird of extremely rare occurrence in the United States, insomuch that it must be considered merely as a transient or accidental visitor. Indeed I have felt strong misgivings on reading WILSON’s article on this species, and cannot but think that he is mistaken when he states that it “is much more common on the coast of New England than farther south,” and again “In the ponds of New England, and some of the lakes in the State of New York, where the Smew is frequently observed—.” Now, although I have made diligent inquiry, not only in New England, but in every part of our country where I thought it likely that the Smew might occur, I have not met with any person well acquainted with birds of this family, who has seen it. WILSON, in short, was in all probability misinformed, and it is my opinion that his figure was made from a stuffed European specimen which was then in Peale’s Museum in Philadelphia, and that he had taken the Buffel-headed Duck, seen at a distance, for this species, as I am aware has been the case with other individuals.

The only specimen procured by me was shot by myself on Lake Barataria, not far from New Orleans, in the winter of 1819. It was an adult female in fine plumage. How it had wandered so far south is an enigma to me; but having found it, and made a drawing of it on the spot, I have taken the liberty to add one of the other sex from an equally fine specimen. After all, the Smew can scarcely be considered as belonging to the American Fauna, any more than our Fork-tailed Hawk can with propriety be called a denizen of England; and in this I am supported by all the great navigators of our Arctic Seas, such as ROSS, PARRY, and FRANKLIN, none of whom, nor any of their companions, ever met with a single individual of this beautiful bird.

MERGUS ALBELLUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 209.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 831.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 398.

SMEW or WHITE NUN, MERGUS ALBELLUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 126, pl. 71, fig. 4. Male.

The SMEW, or WHITE NUN, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 467.

Adult Male Plate CCCXLVII. Fig. 1.

Bill rather shorter than the head, straight, rather slender, a little higher than broad at the base, tapering, somewhat cylindrical toward the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal outline sloping gently and slightly concave to the middle, then straight, at the tip declined, the ridge rather broad and flat at the base, then convex, the sides sloping at the base, convex toward the end, the edges serrate beneath, with about forty slightly reversed, compressed, tapering, tooth-like lamellæ, the unguis elliptical, much curved. Nasal groove oblong, sub-basal, filled by a soft membrane; nostrils oblong, submedial, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very narrow and extended to the obovate, very convex unguis, the sides rounded, with a long groove, the edges with about sixty perpendicular sharp lamellæ.

Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck of moderate length. Body full and depressed. Feet placed far behind, extremely short; tibia bare for a quarter of an inch; tarsus extremely short, much compressed, anteriorly covered with a series of very small scutella, and another row on the lower half externally, the sides reticulate. Hind toe very small, with an inferior free membrane; anterior toes double the length of the tarsus; the second shorter than the fourth, which is nearly as long as the third; all connected by reticulated webs, of which the outer is deeply emarginate. Claws short, considerably curved, compressed, acute, that of the middle toe with a thin inner edge.

Plumage full, soft, and blended; feathers of the head and upper part of the hind neck very slender, and elongated along the median line into a narrow decurved crest; those of the shoulders obovate and abrupt, of the rest of the upper parts ovate, of the lower elliptical. Wings very short, narrow, curved, and pointed; primaries narrow, tapering, the first scarcely longer than the second, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries short, narrow, rounded, the inner tapering to an obtuse point. Tail short, graduated, of sixteen rather narrow, tapering feathers.

Bill dark greyish-blue. Iris bright red. Feet livid blue, claws dusky. The general colour of the plumage is pure white; a short band on each side of the hind neck bordering the crest, duck-green; a broad patch on the lore and below the eye, a narrow band across the lower part of the hind neck, formed by single bars near the tips of the feathers, the middle of the back in its whole length, a short transverse bar under the fore edge of the wing, the anterior margin of that organ to beyond the carpal joint, the outer edges of the scapulars, the primary coverts, the secondary coverts, and the outer secondary quills, excepting the tips of both, deep black. The quills are also black, but of a less deep tint; the hind part of the back becomes tinged with grey, and the rump and tail-feathers are dusky grey. The sides of the body and rump are white, finely undulated with blackish-grey.

Length to end of tail 17-1/2 inches, to end of claws 18-1/4, to end of wings 15-1/2; extent of wings 27; bill along the ridge 1-(3-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-(7-1/2)/12; wing from flexure 7-3/4; tail 3-1/2; tarsus 1-(1-1/2)/12; first toe 1/2, its claw 2/12; second toe 1-1/2, its claw 4/12, third toe 1-11/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12; fourth toe 1-10/12, its claw 5/12. Weight 1 lb. 8 oz.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXLVII. Fig. 2.

The Female is much smaller. The feathers of the hind part of the head and neck are also elongated so as to form a crest. The bill, iris, and feet, are coloured as in the male. All the lower parts are white, excepting a broad band of light grey across the middle of the neck, and a narrow portion of the sides, which are of a deeper tint. There is a patch of brownish-black on the lore and beneath the eye; the upper part of the head and half of the hind neck, are light reddish-brown; the rest of the hind neck, and all the upper parts, bluish-grey, darker behind, and in the middle of the back approaching to black. The wings as in the male, that is black, with a large patch of white, and two narrow transverse bands of the same; the tail dusky grey.

Length to end of tail 15-1/4 inches, to end of claws 16-1/2, to end of wings 14-1/2; extent of wings 25. Weight 1 lb. 4 oz.

GADWALL DUCK.

ANAS STREPERA, LINN.

PLATE CCCXLVIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

I have met with this species along the whole of our Atlantic coast, from Eastport in Maine to Texas. It is, however, more abundant in the interior than in most of our maritime districts, and is particularly so on the tributaries of the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi. In the early part of autumn and late in spring many are found on the margins of our great lakes. Yet the Gadwall has been represented as not plentiful in the United States, probably on account of its being generally dispersed, and not congregated in particular districts.

The Creoles of Louisiana name it “Violon,” on account of the whistling sound of its wings. It arrives in the neighbourhood of New Orleans and the mouths of the Mississippi along with the Widgeon, and is fond of the company of the Red-head, to which it is about equal as an article of food. The Gadwalls are usually seen in small flocks, and during winter resort to the larger lakes and the pools in the interior of the great marshes, adjoining the waters of the Gulf. In that part of the country they feed on small fish, insects, and aquatic grasses. Fewer of them are found in Massachusetts and the State of New York than elsewhere, and this probably on account of these districts being more elevated and less marshy than those farther south. My friend Dr BACHMAN informs me that they are rather plentiful in South Carolina, where they are considered good eating, and where they arrive in the beginning of October, but are more frequently met with at that season, and in early spring, than during winter, when a single individual may sometimes be seen in a flock of other ducks.

While we were in the Texas, in the latter part of April and the beginning of May, we found the Gadwall quite abundant on all the inland ponds and streams, as well as on the brackish pools and inlets of the islands and shores of Galveston Bay. Many of them had paired and separated from the other ducks; and I was assured that this species breeds there, as does the Dusky Duck, the Mallard, the Blue-winged Teal, the Widgeon, and the Shoveller, the young of all these species being plentiful in the end of June and beginning of July. I was satisfied as to the truth of the repeated assurances I had received on this subject, by observing the manners of individuals of all these species before my departure from that country. After a continuance of rainy weather, Gadwalls are found in great numbers on the vast prairies of Oppelousas and Attacapas, where I have been told they continue until very late in spring, and some remain to breed.

This species dives well on occasion, especially on being wounded. At the appearance of danger, it rises on wing—whether from the ground or from the water—at a single spring, in the manner of the Mallard, and, like it also, ascends almost perpendicularly for several yards, after which it moves off in a direct course with great celerity. I have never seen it dive on seeing the flash of the gun; but when approached it always swims to the opposite part of the pond, and, when the danger increases, flies off. On being wounded, it sometimes by diving makes its escape among the grass, where it squats and remains concealed. It walks with ease, and prettily, often making incursions upon the land, when the ponds are not surrounded by trees, for the purpose of searching for food. It nibbles the tender shoots and blades of grasses with apparent pleasure, and will feed on beech-nuts, acorns, and seeds of all kinds of gramineæ, as well as on tadpoles, small fishes, and leeches. After rain it alights in the corn-fields, like the Mallard, and picks up the scattered grains of maize. The common notes or cry of the female have a considerable resemblance to those of the female Mallard; but the cry of the male is weaker as in that species.

It is by no means shy in the Western Country, where I have often found it associating with other species, which would leave the pond before it. Near the sea, however, it is much more wary, and this no doubt on account of the greater number of persons who there follow shooting as a regular and profitable employment. From the following note of my friend Dr BACHMAN, you may judge how easily this fine species might be domesticated.

“In the year 1812 I saw in Dutchess County, in the State of New York, at the house of a miller, a fine flock of ducks, to the number of at least thirty, which, from their peculiar appearance, struck me as differing from any I had before seen among the different varieties of the tame Duck. On inquiry, I was informed that three years before, a pair of these ducks had been captured in the mill pond, whether in a trap, or by being wounded, I cannot recollect. They were kept in the poultry-yard, and, it was said, were easily tamed. One joint of the wing was taken off, to prevent their flying away. In the following spring they were suffered to go into the pond, and they returned daily to the house to be fed. They built their nest on the edge of the pond, and reared a large brood. The young were perfectly reconciled to domestication, and made no attempts, even at the migratory season, to fly away, although their wings were perfect. In the following season they produced large broods. The family of the miller used them occasionally as food, and considered them equal in flavour to the common duck, and more easily raised. The old males were more beautiful than any that I have examined since; and as yet domestication had produced no variety in their plumage.”

The migration of this species extends to the Fur Countries, where it is said to breed. The description of a male killed on the Saskatchewan River, on the 22d of May 1827, is given in the Fauna Boreali-Americana; and I have a fine male procured by Dr TOWNSEND on the Columbia River.

ANAS STREPERA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 200.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 859.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 383.

GADWALL, ANAS STREPERA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 120, pl. 71, fig. 1.—Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 440.

GADWALL or GREY, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 383.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXLVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill nearly as long as the head, deeper than broad at the base, depressed towards the end, the sides parallel, the tip rounded. Upper mandible with the frontal angles short and obtuse, the dorsal line at first sloping, then slightly concave and direct, the ridge broad and flat at the base, then broadly convex, the edges soft, with about fifty internal lamellæ, the unguis roundish, curved abruptly at the end. Nostrils sub-basal, lateral, rather small, oblong, pervious. Lower mandible flattened, its angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line very short, slightly convex, the edges soft, with about sixty lamellæ.

Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long, slender. Body elongated, slightly depressed. Feet very short; tibia bare for about a quarter of an inch; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly with two series of scutella, the outer shorter, the rest covered with reticulated angular scales; toes obliquely scutellate above; first very small, free, with a narrow membrane beneath; third longest, fourth considerably shorter, second shorter than fourth, their connecting webs entire, on the edge crenate; the second or inner toe with a membranous margin. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather acute, the hind one very small and more curved, that of the middle toe with an inner sharp edge.

Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the head short, of the occiput and nape a little elongated, of the lower parts glossy with the extremities of the filaments stiffish. Wings rather long, little curved, pointed; the first quill longest, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries very broad, but pointed, the inner much elongated, and tapering to a point. The tips of the filaments of the outer web of the first primary are separated and curved a little forwards. Tail short, rounded, of sixteen strong pointed feathers, of which the middle pair project considerably.

Bill bluish-black. Iris reddish hazel. Feet dull orange-yellow, claws brownish-black, webs dusky. Head light yellowish-red, the upper part and nape much darker and barred with dusky; the rest dotted with the same. The lower part of the neck, the sides of the body, the fore part of the back, and the outer scapulars, undulated with dusky, and yellowish-white, the bands much larger and semicircular on the fore part of the neck and breast; the latter white, the abdomen faintly and minutely undulated with brownish-grey; the elongated scapulars brownish-grey, broadly margined with brownish-red; the hind part of the back brownish-black; the rump all round, and the upper and lower tail-coverts, bluish-black. The anterior smaller wing-coverts are light grey, undulated with dusky, the middle coverts of a deep rich chestnut-red; primary coverts brownish-grey, outer secondary coverts darker and tinged with chestnut, the rest black, excepting the inner, which are grey. Primaries and inner elongated secondaries brownish-grey, of which colour also are the inner webs of the rest, part of the outer webs of five of the outer black, and their terminal margins white, of which colour are the whole outer webs of the three next to the inner elongated quills. Tail brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler.

Length to end of tail 21-3/4 inches, to end of wings 19, to end of claws 23-1/4; extent of wings 35; bill along the ridge 1-3/4, along the edge of lower mandible 1-7/8; wing from flexure 11; tail 4-3/8; tarsus 1-1/2; hind toe and claw 1/2; second toe 1-5/8, its claw 4/12; third toe 1-7/8, its claw 4/12; outer toe 1-(7-1/2)/12, its claw 2/12. Weight 1 lb. 10 oz.

Adult Female. Plate CCCXLVIII. Fig. 2.

The female is considerably smaller. Bill dusky along the ridge, dull yellowish-orange on the sides. Iris hazel. Feet of a fainter tint than in the male. Upper part of head brownish-black, the feathers edged with light reddish-brown; a streak over the eye, the cheeks, the upper part of the neck all round, light yellowish-red tinged with grey, and marked with small longitudinal dusky streaks, which are fainter on the throat, that part being greyish-white; the rest of the neck, the sides, all the upper parts and the lower rump feathers brownish-black broadly margined with yellowish-red. Wing-coverts brownish-grey, edged with paler; the wing otherwise as in the male, but the speculum fainter. Tail-feathers, and their coverts dusky, laterally obliquely indented with pale brownish-red, and margined with reddish-white.

Length to end of tail 19-1/4 inches, to end of wings 18-3/4, to end of claws 19-1/2; extent of wings 31; wing from flexure 8-1/4; tail 3-3/4; tarsus 1-(4-1/2)/12; middle toe 1-(9-1/2)/12, its claw 4/12.

In a male, the roof of the mouth is deeply concave, with a prominent median ridge, and oblique grooves toward the end. The tongue is 1 inch 10 twelfths long, fleshy, with a deep longitudinal groove, two lateral series of filaments, and a thin broadly rounded tip, as in other ducks. The œsophagus, a, b, is 10-1/2 inches long, 5 twelfths in diameter for about four inches, then enlarged to 10 twelfths, and again contracted as it enters the thorax. The proventriculus, b b, is 1 inch and two twelfths long, its greatest diameter 8 twelfths. The stomach, c d e, is a very large and powerful gizzard, of an elliptical form, compressed, 1 inch and 9 twelfths long, 2 inches in its greatest breadth, or in the direction of the lateral muscles, of which the right, c, is 10 twelfths thick, the left, d, 9 twelfths. The epithelium is thick and rugous; much thickened and forming two roundish, flat or slightly concave grinding surfaces, opposite the muscles. The intestine, e f g, is 6 feet 10 inches long, wide, its diameter for 2 feet being 4-1/2 twelfths, towards the rectum enlarging to 6 twelfths. It forms first a very long duodenal curve, c e f g, and is then convoluted or coiled in numerous folds. The rectum is 5-1/4 inches long; the cœca 11 inches, their greatest diameter 6 twelfths, for 2 inches at the commencement 2 twelfths, towards the end 2-1/2 twelfths, their extremity rounded.

The trachea, h, is 7-1/2 inches long; its diameter at the upper part 4 twelfths, gradually diminishing to 3-1/2 twelfths; it then enlarges to 5 twelfths, and contracts to 3-1/2 twelfths at the commencement of the dilatation of the inferior larynx, which is extremely similar to that of the Widgeon, but larger; there being an enlargement, i, formed by a number of the lower rings united, and to the left side a rounded bony tympanum j; the greatest transverse diameter of this part, from i to j, is 1 inch 1 twelfth. The bronchi, k k, are of moderate size, covered with a dense layer of adipose matter.

LEAST WATER RAIL.

RALLUS JAMAICENSIS, GMEL.

PLATE CCCXLIX. MALE AND YOUNG.

My knowledge of this pretty little species is altogether derived from TITIAN PEALE, Esq., of Philadelphia, by whom, in October 1836, I was favoured with the following letter:—

“I herewith send you the ‘Little Rail’ of which we were speaking yesterday, and the letter of Dr ROWAN which relates to it. The young died soon after I received them, but the old one lived with me until the 26th of July (four days after its capture), evincing considerable anxiety for the young, as long as they lived. Both young and old partook sparingly of Indian meal and water, or bread and water, and soon became quite at home, and probably might have been domesticated, had they been properly accommodated.

“The most remarkable part of the history of this individual is, that after its death we should have discovered in dissection that it was a male, rendering it singularly curious that he should have suffered himself to be captured by hand while in defence of the young brood.

“There is now in the Museum a specimen of this species, which has been in the collection for about thirty years, said to have been caught in the vicinity of the city. It stands labelled ‘Little Rail, Rallus minutus, Turton’s Linn;’ but the authenticity of the specimen has always been disputed by BONAPARTE and others, because none else had been found; and the author just named expressed a belief that it was an immature specimen of Rallus (Crex) Porzana of Europe.

“I regret that I should have mislaid the measurements of the specimen when recent, if any were taken, and cannot lay my hands on them, or any thing more than the above notes. Respectfully yours, &c.

TITIAN R. PEALE.”

Inclosed in Mr PEALE’s letter was the following note from Dr ROWAN “to the Messrs PEALES.”

“On Saturday last I wrote to you of the Rail Bird breeding near this place. I then described one that I caught last summer, which was unlike the Rail in the fall season, and I presumed that all in the wet ground were the same, but this day my men mowing around the pond started up two of the usual kind. The hen flew a few rods, and then flew back to her young in an instant, when they caught her together with her four young, which I herewith send you. Many more can be caught. I have seen them in our meadow every month of the year, but they never make a great noise except when very fat on the wild oat’s seed. From the above you will conclude that they do not migrate to the south, but breed here. Respectfully,

THOMAS ROWAN.”

RALLUS JAMAICENSIS, Brisson Sup. p. 140.—Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. ii. p. 718.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 761.

Adult Male. Plate CCCXLIX. Fig. 1.

Bill shorter than the head, rather stout, compressed, tapering. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly convex toward the end, the ridge narrow and convex in its whole length, the sides convex towards the end, the edges sharp, the tip rather acute. Nasal groove extending to a little beyond the middle of the bill; nostrils linear, lateral, submedial, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the sides erect, the dorsal line sloping upwards, the edges a little inflected, the tip narrowed, the gape line straight.

Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck shortish. Body compact, deeper than broad. Feet of moderate length, rather slender; tibia bare a short way above the joint; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed anteriorly covered with broad scutella, posteriorly with smaller, and on the sides reticulated. Hind toe small and very slender; middle toe longest, and longer than the tarsus; inner toe considerably shorter than the outer; toes free, with numerous scutella above. Claws of moderate length, compressed, slightly arched, acute.

Plumage blended, slightly glossy above. Wings short and broad; tapering, rounded, the first and second nearly equal and longest. Tail very short, much rounded, of twelve feeble rounded feathers; the upper and lower tail-coverts nearly as long as the tail-feathers.

Bill black. Iris red. Feet bright yellowish-green, claws dusky. The head and all the lower parts are very dark purplish-grey, on the upper part of the head approaching to black, on the fore part of the neck faintly undulated with paler, on the sides and hind parts barred with greyish-white; the lower wing-coverts barred with grey and white; the lower tail-coverts of the latter colour. The hind neck and fore part of the back dark chestnut; the rest of the back and tail-coverts greyish-black, transversely barred with white. Wing-coverts and inner secondaries reddish-brown, with white spots; the other quills more dusky. The tail-feathers also reddish-brown, barred with dusky and marked with white spots.

Length to end of tail 6 inches; wing from flexure 3-7/8; tail 1-1/16; bill along the ridge 1/2, along the edge of lower mandible (4-1/2)/8; bare part of tibia 1/4; tarsus 1; hind toe and claw 1/2; middle toe and claw 1, outer toe and claw 7/8; inner toe and claw 5/8.

Young a few days old. Plate CCCXLIX. Fig. 2.

While yet covered with down, the young is black all over; the bill bright yellow, with the point of the upper mandible, and a band across the middle of the lower, black; the feet dull yellowish-green, the claws dusky.

Since the above was written, I have received a letter from my friend J. TRUDEAU, M. D., in which he says that his father shot a considerable number of these Rails last winter in the vicinity of New Orleans.

ROCKY-MOUNTAIN PLOVER.

CHARADRIUS MONTANUS, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCL. FEMALE.

For the following brief account of this bird, I am indebted to my learned and obliging friend, THOMAS NUTTALL.

“This remarkable species, so much allied to the Charadrius Wilsoni, was scarcely seen by us for more than one or two days, and then on the central table-land of the Rocky Mountains, in the plains near the last of the streams of the Platte, pursued in our western and northern route. It being the month of July when we saw it, there is little doubt but that it was breeding in this subalpine region. The only individual shot, was seen skulking and running through the wormwood bushes which so generally clothe those arid and dry wastes. After running some time, it would remain perfectly still, as if conscious of the difficulty of distinguishing it from the colour of the grey soil on which it stood. All that we saw were similar to the present individual, and none, however flushed, took to the wing. We do not recollect hearing from it the slightest complaint or note of any kind, being intent probably on concealing its young or eggs by a perfect silence.”

The skin from which I made my drawing was that of a female; and it is my opinion, that the male, when found, will have as distinct markings as those exhibited by Charadrius melodus or Ch. semipalmatus.

CHARADRIUS MONTANUS, ROCKY-MOUNTAIN PLOVER. Townsend, Journ. Acad. of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 192.

Adult Female. Plate CCCL.

Bill shorter than the head, straight, somewhat cylindrical. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight to beyond the middle, then bulging a little and curving to the rather acute tip, which projects beyond that of the lower mandible, the sides flat and sloping at the base, convex towards the end. Nasal groove extended to the middle of the bill; nostrils basal, linear, open and pervious. Lower mandible with the angle rather short, the sides at the base sloping outwards: the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges sharp, the tip rather acute.

Head of moderate size, oblong, the forehead rounded. Legs rather long and slender; tibia bare half an inch above the joint; tarsus slender, compressed, covered with angular scales, of which the anterior are much larger; toes short, slender, with numerous scutella above, marginate, the outer connected with the middle by a short membrane. Claws small, compressed, slightly arched, rather acute.

Plumage soft, the feathers rather distinct on the upper parts, blended on the lower. Wings long and pointed; primary quills tapering, the first longest by a quarter of an inch, the rest rapidly graduated; inner secondaries tapering and elongated, one of them nearly as long as the outer primary when the wing is closed. Tail of moderate length, even, of twelve feathers.

Bill black. Feet light dull brownish-yellow. Forehead, a band over the eye, fore part of neck, and all the rest of the lower surface, white; top of the head and nape dark yellowish-brown, sides and hind part of the neck dull ochre-yellow, which is the prevailing colour on the upper parts, the feathers being broadly margined with it while their central portion is greyish-brown. Wing-coverts lighter; primary coverts and quills dusky, their shafts and margins white, that colour becoming more extended on the inner and on some of the secondaries, so as to form a conspicuous patch on the wing; inner secondaries like the back. Tail yellowish-brown, tipped with yellowish-white, the two outer broadly margined with the same.

Length to end of tail about 8-1/4 inches, to end of wings the same, to end of claws 9-1/4; wing from flexure 6-1/8; tail 2-1/2; tarsus 1-(4-1/2)/8; middle toe 3/4, claw 1/4.

GREAT CINEREOUS OWL.

STRIX CINEREA, GMELIN.

PLATE CCCLI.

This fine Owl, which is the largest of the North American species, is nowhere common with us, although it ranges from the north-eastern coast of the United States to the sources of the Columbia River. It has been procured near Eastport in Maine, and at Marble Head in Massachusetts, where one of them was taken alive, perched on a wood pile, early in the morning, in February 1831. I went to Salem for the purpose of seeing it, but it had died, and I could not trace its remains. The gentleman, Mr IVES, in whose keeping it had been for several months, fed it on fish and small birds, of which it was very fond. Besides shewing me various marks of attention, he gave me a drawing of it made by his wife, which is still in my possession. It uttered at times a tremulous cry not unlike that of the Little Screech Owl, Strix Asio, and shewed a great antipathy to cats and dogs. In the winter of 1832, I saw one of these Owls flying over the harbour of Boston, Massachusetts, amid several Gulls, all of which continued teasing it until it disappeared. I have seen specimens procured on the Rocky Mountains by Dr TOWNSEND, and several brought to London by the medical officer who accompanied Captain BACK in his late Arctic journey. Among the individuals which I have examined I have found considerable differences as to size and markings, which may be attributed to age and sex. My drawing was taken from a remarkably fine specimen in the collection of the Zoological Society of London.

The comparatively small size of this bird’s eyes renders it probable that it hunts by day, and the remarkable smallness of its feet and claws induces me to think that it does not prey on large animals. Dr RICHARDSON says that “it is by no means a rare bird in the Fur Countries, being an inhabitant of all the woody districts, lying between Lake Superior and latitudes 67° or 68°, and between Hudson’s Bay and the Pacific. It is common on the borders of Great Bear Lake; and there, and in the higher parallels of latitude, it must pursue its prey, during the summer months, by day-light. It keeps however within the woods, and does not frequent the barren grounds, like the Snowy Owl, nor is it so often met with in broad day light as the Hawk Owl, but hunts principally when the sun is low; indeed, it is only at such times, when the recesses of the woods are deeply shadowed, that the American hare and the murine animals, on which the Cinereous Owl chiefly preys, come forth to feed. On the 23d of May I discovered a nest of this Owl, built on the top of a lofty balsam poplar, of sticks, and lined with feathers. It contained three young, which were covered with a whitish down. We got them by felling the tree, which was remarkably thick; and whilst this operation was going on, the two parent birds flew in circles round the objects of their cares, keeping, however, so high in the air as to be out of gunshot; they did not appear to be dazzled by the light. The young ones were kept alive for two months, when they made their escape. They had the habit, common also to other Owls, of throwing themselves back, and making a loud snapping noise with their bills, when any one entered the room in which they were kept.”

STRIX CINEREA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 291.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 58—Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p 77.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLI.

Bill short, stout, broader than high at the base, its dorsal outline convex to the end of the cere, which is covered with stiffish linear feathers having their barbs separated, the ridge very broad, the sides sloping and nearly flat, the tip compressed, decurved, acute; lower mandible small, with the angle long and wide, the dorsal line convex, the edges sharp, the tip narrow; the gape-line straight, at the end decurved. Nostrils large, elliptical; eyes large, but proportionally smaller than in most other Owls.

The body is slender, anteriorly broad, but seems large and full on account of the great mass of plumage; the neck short; the head extremely large. Feet rather short; the tarsi very short, and feathered; the toes very short and feathered, there being only two or three bare scutella at their extremity. Claws slightly curved, long, slender, compressed, tapering to an extremely narrow point.

Plumage very full, soft, and downy; the feathers generally oblong. Those on the face linear, stiffish, with loose barbs, and disposed in two large disks surrounding the eyes; besides which there is a ruff of softer linear, denser feathers from the forehead, behind the ears, to the chin. The conch of the ear is very large, although greatly exceeded by that of many other Owls, and furnished with an anterior semicircular operculum, beset with slender feathers. Wings very large, concave; primaries, decurved toward the end, the first with the tips of the filaments separated, and recurved in its whole length, the second in its terminal half; the first quill short, being of the same length as the sixth, the second 2-1/2 inches longer, the third 1-1/2 inch longer than the second, 1/4 inch shorter than the fourth, which is the longest, or equals the next. The first five have their outer webs more or less cut out towards the end, and the first seven have their inner webs sinuate. The tail is long, ample, rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers.

Bill yellow. Iris bright yellow. Claws brownish-black. The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-brown, variegated with greyish-white in irregular undulated markings; the feathers on the upper part of the head with two transverse white spots on each web; the smaller wing-coverts of a darker brown, and less mottled than the back; the outer scapulars with more white on their outer webs; the primary quills blackish-brown toward the end, marked in the rest of their extent with few broad light-grey oblique bands, which are dotted and undulated with darker. Tail-feathers similarly barred, darker towards the end, the middle ones more intricately marked. The feathers of the ruff are white towards the end, dark-brown in the centre. The disks are on their inner side grey, with black tips; in the rest of their extent greyish-white, with six bars of blackish-brown very regularly disposed in a concentric manner; feathers on the chin or upper part of throat greyish-white. All the under parts are greyish-brown, variegated with greyish and yellowish white; the feet barred with the same.

Length to end of tail 30-1/2 inches, to end of wings 27-1/4, to end of claws 22; extent of wings 48-1/2; wing from flexure 19-1/4; tail 12-3/4; bill along the ridge 1, along the edge of lower mandible 1-3/4; breadth of gape 1-1/2; tarsus 2-1/2; hind toe 7/12, its claw 7/8; middle toe 1, its claw 1-5/12.

BLACK-SHOULDERED HAWK.

FALCO DISPAR, TEMM.

PLATE CCCLII. MALE AND FEMALE.

I have traced the migration of this beautiful Hawk from the Texas as far east as the mouth of the Santee River in South Carolina. CHARLES BONAPARTE first introduced it into our Fauna, on the authority of a specimen procured in East Florida, by TITIAN PEALE, Esq. of Philadelphia, who it seems had some difficulty in obtaining it. On the 8th of February 1834 I received one of these birds alive from Dr RAVENEL of Charleston, who had kept it in his yard for eight days previously, without being able to induce it to take any food. The beauty of its large eyes struck me at once, and I immediately made a drawing of the bird, which was the first I had ever seen alive. It proved to be a male, and was in beautiful plumage. Dr RAVENEL told me that it walked about his yard with tolerable ease, although one of its wings had been injured. On the 23d of the same month I received another fine specimen, a female, from FRANCIS LEE, Esq., who had procured it on his plantation, forty miles west of Charleston, and with it the following note. “When first observed, it was perched on a tree in an erect posture. I saw at once that it was one of the birds which you had desired me to procure for you, and went to the house for my gun. On returning I saw the Hawk very high in the air, sailing beautifully over a large wet meadow, where many Common Snipes were feeding. It would now and then poise itself for a while, in the manner of our Little Sparrow Hawk, and suddenly closing its wings plunge towards its prey with great velocity, making a rumbling noise as it passed through the air. Now and then, when about half-way, it suddenly checked its descent, recommenced hovering, and at last marking its prey, rushed upon it and secured it. Its cries, on being wounded, so much resembled those of the Mississippi Kite, that I thought, as I was going to pick it up, that I had only got one of that species. It was so shy that I was obliged to get on horseback before I could approach it within gun shot.”

Mr H. WARD, who accompanied me on my expedition to the Floridas found this species breeding on the plantation of ALEXANDER MAYZCK, Esq., on the Santee River, early in the month of March, and shot three, two of which, a male and a female, are now in my possession. Their nests were placed on low trees near the margins of the river, and resembled those of the American Crow, but had none of the substantial lining of that bird’s nest. Mr WARD states, that at this time they were seen flying over the cane brakes in pursuit of large insects, somewhat in the manner of the Mississippi Kite, and that they were very shy.

My friend JOHN BACHMAN has seen this species fly in groups, at a very great height, in the beginning of March, and thinks that it is only of late years that they have located themselves in South Carolina, where, however, five of them have been procured in one year.

The Black-shouldered Hawk appears to give a decided preference to low lands, not distant from the shores of the Atlantic. On our way toward the Texas, several of these birds were seen over the large marshes, flying at a small elevation, and coursing in search of prey, much in the manner of the Hen-harrier or Marsh Hawk, but all evidently bent on proceeding to the eastward. Whether this species winters there or not, I am unable to say, but that some remain all the year in Florida, and even in South Carolina, I am quite confident.

The difference between the food of this species and that of the Mississippi Kite is surprising to me. I have never seen the latter seize any bird, whereas the Black-shouldered Hawk certainly does so, as in the stomachs of two individuals which I examined were remains of birds as well as of coleopterous insects. These two birds agree nearly with the description of the one procured by Mr TITIAN PEALE, excepting in the length of the wings, which in them and in several others that have come under my notice, have their tips fully an inch shorter than the end of the tail. A breeding female differed from the rest in having the eyes dull yellowish-red; the tail-feathers had all been ash-grey, all the primaries were edged with white, and many of the secondaries were still of a light brownish-grey; the black spots under the wings were smaller than usual; the abdomen was also tinged with brownish-grey. I am therefore of opinion, that these birds undergo as many changes of plumage as the Mississippi Kite.

BLACK-WINGED HAWK, FALCO MELANOPTERUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Orn. vol. ii. pl. 11. fig. 1. Female.

FALCO MELANOPTERUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 31.

FALCO DISPAR, Temm. Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis. Append, p. 435.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLII. Fig. 1.

Bill short, broader than deep at the base, with the gape very wide. Upper mandible with the cere covered at the base with bristly feathers, the dorsal line convex and declinate to the end of the cere, then curved downwards in about the third of a circle, the sides at the base sloping towards the end convex and erect, the sharp edges with a distinct festoon, the tip narrow and acute. Lower mandible with the angle very wide and long, the dorsal outline very short, ascending and slightly convex, the sharp edges inflected, the tip obliquely truncate and narrow. Nostrils elliptical, rather large, in the fore part of the cere.

Head rather large, broad, flattened above, with the superciliary ridges prominent. Eyes large, directed obliquely forwards. Neck short; body compact. Legs of moderate length; tibia long and muscular; tarsus very short, stout, roundish, covered anteriorly with feathers for half its length, the rest with small roundish scales, toes short, thick, tuberculate and papillate beneath, scaly above, like the tarsus, but with three large scutella at the end. Claws long, curved, conical, extremely pointed, that of middle toe with an inner edge.

Plumage soft, blended, full, on the back rather compact. Feathers of the cere, lore, and eyelids, bristle-pointed. Wings very long and pointed, the second quill longest, the third nearly as long, the first longer than the fourth; the first, second, and third with the outer web attenuated toward the end; the first and second with the inner web sinuated; secondaries very broad, rounded, the inner web exceeding the outer. Tail of twelve feathers, of moderate breadth, long, emarginate and rounded, the middle and lateral feathers being about equal, and eight-twelfths of an inch shorter than the second feather from the side.

Bill black; the cere and soft basal margins yellow. Iris bright red. Tarsi and toes yellow, of a darker tint than the cere; claws black. All the lower parts are pure white, with the exception of a patch on five or six of the larger wing-coverts; the forehead is also white, as are the cheeks; the superciliary bristles black, the white of the head gradually blends into the general colour of the upper parts, which is ash-grey; the smaller wing-coverts bluish-black; the shafts of the quills brownish-black; all the feathers of the tail, excepting the two middle, white; the shafts of the two middle feathers blackish-brown, of the rest white towards the end, the whole of that of the outer pure white.

Length to end of tail 16 inches, to end of claws 12-1/4, to end of wings 14-7/8; extent of wings 40; wing from flexure 13; tail 7-10/12; bill along the ridge (1-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-5/12; tarsus 1-4/12; first toe 7/12, its claw 3/4; second toe (10-1/2)/12, its claw 10/12; third toe 1/4, its claw (9-1/2)/12; fourth toe (10-1/2)/12, its claw 8/12. Weight 14 oz.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLII. Fig. 2.

The female is rather larger than the male, but in other respects similar.

Length to end of tail 16-3/4 inches, to end of wings 15-3/4, to end of claws 12-3/8; extent of wings 41-1/2; tail 8; wing from flexure 13-1/2; bill along the ridge 1-1/8, along the edge of lower mandible 1-1/2; tarsus 1-3/8; hind toe 3/4, its claw 7/8; outer toe 7/8, its claw 1/2; middle toe 1-3/8, its claw 5/8; inner toe 7/8, its claw 3/4. Weight 17-1/4 oz.

The young when fledged have the bill and claws black, the cere and feet dull yellow; the upper parts brownish-grey, the scapulars and quills tipped with white, the former also margined, with yellowish-brown; the primary and secondary coverts are also tipped with white; the smaller wing-coverts are brownish-black; the outer webs of all the tail-feathers are more or less brownish-grey toward the end. The lower parts are white, the feathers on the breast tinged with brownish-yellow at the end, and with the shaft yellowish-brown. The lower wing-coverts are all white.

CHESTNUT-BACKED TITMOUSE.

PARUS RUFESCENS, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCLIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

You have before you on the same plate three species of Parus, two of which are new to science. Of specimens of these I obtained possession in consequence of the purchase which I made of part of Dr TOWNSEND’s hard-earned collection, made during his laborious expedition over the Rocky Mountains, and the valley of the Columbia River. For an account of the habits of those which are not found to the east of the Rocky Mountains, I am indebted to my friends THOMAS NUTTALL, Esq., and J. K. TOWNSEND, M. D. Mr NUTTALL’s notice respecting the present species is as follows:—

“The Chestnut-backed Titmouse is seen throughout the year in the forests of the Columbia, and as far south as Upper California, in all which tract it breeds, forming, as I have some reason to believe, a pendulous, or at least an exposed nest, like some of the European species. It is made of large quantities of hypna and lichens, and copiously and coarsely lined with deer’s hair and large feathers, such as those of the Grouse and the Jay. They are commonly seen in small flocks of all ages in the autumn and winter, when they move about briskly, and emit a number of feeble querulous notes, after the manner of the Chickadee, or common species, Parus atricapillus, but seldom utter any thing like a song, though now and then, as they glean about, they utter a t’she, de, de, or t’dee, t’dee, dee, their more common querulous call, however, being like t’she, dé, de, vait, t’she, de, de, vait, sometimes also a confused warbling chatter. The busy troop, accompanied often by the common species, the Regulus tricolor, and the small yellow-bellied Parus, are seen flitting through bushes and thickets, carefully gleaning insects and larvæ for an instant, and are then off to some other place around, proceeding with restless activity to gratify the calls of hunger and the stimulus of caprice. Thus they are seen to rove along for miles together, until satisfied or fatigued, when they retire to rest in the recesses of the darkest forests, situations which they eventually choose for their temporary domicile, where in solitude and retirement they rear their young, and for the whole of the succeeding autumn and winter remain probably together in families. When the gun thins their ranks, it is surprising to see the courage, anxiety, and solicitude of these little creatures: they follow you with their wailing scold, and entreat for their companions in a manner that impresses you with a favourable idea of their social feelings and sympathy.”

Dr TOWNSEND says, that “the Chinook Indians call this species a kul. It inhabits the forests of the Columbia River, where it breeds and goes in flocks in the autumn, more or less gregarious through the season. The legs and feet are light blue.”

PARUS RUFESCENS, CHESTNUT-BACKED TITMOUSE, Townsend, Journ. Acad. of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 190.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 1.

Bill very short, straight, strong, compressed, rather acute; both mandibles with the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides sloping and convex, the edges sharp, the tip of the upper scarcely longer. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the recumbent feathers. Head large, ovate; neck short; body rather robust. Feet of ordinary length, robust; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two lateral plates meeting behind so as to form a thin edge; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the second joint, the hind one much stronger, and with its claw as long as the third. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage blended, tufty, unglossed. Wings of moderate length, the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest, the sixth scarcely shorter, the third and seventh equal, the second and eighth equal, the first very short, being only half the length of the second. Tail long, slender, arched, very slightly emarginate, or with its tip divaricate, of twelve rather narrow feathers.

Bill brownish-black, with the edges and tip paler. Feet greyish-blue; claws paler. Head and neck, and fore part of the sides, dark-brown, with a broad longitudinal band of white on each side, from the bill under the eye, curving up on the shoulder, and almost meeting on the back; which, including the rump, is bright chestnut, as are the sides under the wings; the middle of the breast and abdomen greyish-white, the lower tail-coverts tinged with chestnut. Wings and tail brownish-grey, the smaller coverts tinged with chestnut, the secondary coverts margined and tipped with greyish-white, of which colour also are the outer edges of the quills, except the first; tail feathers faintly margined with bluish-grey.

Length to end of tail 4-1/2 inches; wing from flexure 2-3/8; tail 1-11/12; bill along the ridge (4-1/2)/12; tarsus (7-1/2)/12; hind toe (3-1/4)/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe (4-1/2)/12, its claw (2-3/4)/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 2.

The Female is similar to the male.

BLACK-CAP TITMOUSE.

PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, LINN.

PLATE CCCLIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

The opinion generally entertained respecting the extensive dispersion of the Black-cap Titmouse, has in all probability originated from the great resemblance which it bears to the Carolina Titmouse, Parus Carolinensis, described at p. 341 of the second volume of this work; that species being now known to extend its spring and summer migrations as far eastward as the State of New Jersey, where it has been found breeding by my friend EDWARD HARRIS, Esq. of Moorestown. The Black-cap, on the other hand, is rarely observed farther south, and then only in winter, when it proceeds as far as beyond the middle portions of Maryland, from whence I have at that season received specimens in spirits, collected by my friend Colonel THEODORE ANDERSON of Baltimore. Westward of the Alleghanies it extends as far as Kentucky in winter, but at the approach of spring returns northward. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey some are known to breed; but as the Carolina Titmouse breeds there also, it is difficult to say which of them is the most numerous, they being so like each other that one is apt to confound them. In the State of New York it is abundant, and often rears two broods in the season; as you proceed eastward you may observe it in all places favourable to its habits; and, according to Dr RICHARDSON, it is found as far north as Lat. 65°, it being in the Fur Countries the most common bird, “a small family inhabiting almost every thicket.” None were seen by Dr TOWNSEND either on the Rocky Mountains or about the Columbia River, where, on the contrary, Parus Carolinensis is abundant, as it is also in the Texas, where I found it breeding in the spring of 1837. Although bearing a considerable resemblance to the Marsh Titmouse of Europe, P. palustris, it differs from that species not only in colour, but more especially in its habits and notes.

Hardy, smart, restless, industrious, and frugal, the Black-cap Titmouse ranges through the forest during the summer, and retiring to its more secluded parts, as if to ensure a greater degree of quiet, it usually breeds there. Numerous eggs produce a numerous progeny, and as soon as the first brood has been reared, the young range hither and thither in a body, searching for food, while their parents, intent on forming another family, remain concealed and almost silent, laying their eggs in the hole deserted by some small Woodpecker, or forming one for themselves. As it has been my fortune to witness a pair at this work, I will here state what occurred, notwithstanding the opinion of those who inform us that the bill of a Titmouse is “not shaped for digging.” While seated one morning under a crab-apple tree (very hard wood, Reader), I saw two Black-cap Titmice fluttering about in great concern, as if anxious to see me depart. By their manners indeed I was induced to believe that their nest was near, and, anxious to observe their proceedings, I removed to the distance of about twenty paces. The birds now became silent, alighted on the apple-tree, gradually moved towards the base of one of its large branches, and one of them disappeared in what I then supposed to be the hole of some small Woodpecker; but I saw it presently on the edge, with a small chip in its bill, and again cautiously approached the tree. When three or four yards off I distinctly heard the peckings or taps of the industrious worker within, and saw it come to the mouth of the hole and return many times in succession in the course of half an hour, after which I got up and examined the mansion. The hole was about three inches deep, and dug obliquely downward from the aperture, which was just large enough to admit the bird. I had observed both sexes at this labour, and left the spot perfectly satisfied as to their power of boring a nest for themselves.

The Black-cap Titmouse, or Chickadee, as it is generally named in our Eastern States, though exceedingly shy in summer or during the breeding season, becomes quite familiar in winter, although it never ventures to enter the habitations of man; but in the most boisterous weather, requiring neither food nor shelter there, it may be seen amidst the snow in the rugged paths of the cheerless woods, where it welcomes the traveller or the woodcutter with a confidence and cheerfulness far surpassing the well-known familiarity of the Robin Redbreast of Europe. Often, on such occasions, should you offer it, no matter how small a portion of your fare, it alights without hesitation, and devours it without manifesting any apprehension. The sound of an axe in the woods is sufficient to bring forth several of these busy creatures, and having discovered the woodman, they seem to find pleasure in his company. If, as is usually the case, he is provided with a dinner, the Chickadee at once evinces its anxiety to partake of it, and loses no opportunity of accomplishing its object, although it sets about it with much circumspection, as if it were afraid of being detected, and brought to punishment, A woodcutter in Maine assured me, that one day he happened to be at work, and had scarcely hung up his basket of provisions, when it was observed by a flock of these birds, which, having gathered into it at once, attacked a piece of cold beef; but after each peck, he saw their heads raised above the edge, as if to guard against the least appearance of danger. After picking until they were tired or satisfied, they left the basket and perched directly over his fire, but out of the direction of the smoke. There they sat enjoying themselves and ruffling their feathers to allow the warmth more easy access to their skin, until he began his dinner, when they immediately alighted near him, and in the most plaintive tones seemed to solicit a portion.

WILSON and others have spoken of this species as being addicted to moving in the company of our smaller Woodpeckers and Brown Creepers, and this in such a way as to induce most readers to believe the act to be customary; but I have often found groups of them, at times composed of more than a dozen, without any such companions, and I should be more inclined to think that the Downy Woodpecker, and the Brown Creeper, seek the company of the Titmice, rather than that the latter associate with them. Often indeed have I watched the busy Chickadees, as they proceeded from tree to tree, and from branch to branch, whether by the road-side or in the interior of the forest, when no other birds were with them. The light rustling sound of their concave wings would intimate their approach as well as their retreat, as gaily one after another they passed onwards from one spot to another, chattering, peeping everywhere, and determined as it were, not to suffer a chink to pass without inspection. Now hanging, back downward, at the extremity of a twig, its feet almost up to its bill, it would peck at a berry or a seed until it had devoured it, or it had fallen to the ground: should the latter be the case, the busy bird would at once fly down, and hammer at the fruit. To the Black-cap Titmouse the breaking of a hazel nut is quite a pleasure, and I have repeatedly seen the feat accomplished not only by a bird in its natural state, but by one kept in confinement. Courageous and at times exceedingly tyrannical, it will attack young birds, break their skulls, and feed upon their flesh, as I have more than once witnessed. In this habit they resemble the Jays, but in every other they differ entirely from those birds, although the PRINCE of MUSIGNANO has thought fit to assimilate the two groups. The Chickadee feeds on insects, their larvæ, and eggs, as well as on every sort of small fruit, or berries, including grapes, acorns, and the seeds of various pines. I have seen them eat the seeds of the sunflower, the poke-berry, and pears, as well as flesh of all kinds. Indeed it may be truly called omnivorous. Often, like Jays, you may see them perched as it were upon their food, and holding it beneath their feet while pecking at it; but no Jays are seen to hang head downwards at the end of a branch.

My friend THOMAS M’CULLOCH, Esq. of Pictou, in Nova Scotia, has favoured me with the following interesting remarks having reference to this species. “Sometimes I have been inclined to think, that the sight of this bird is comparatively imperfect, and that it is chiefly indebted to some of the other senses for its success in obtaining subsistence. This idea may not be correct, but it seems to derive some support from the little incident which I am about to mention. While standing at the edge of a patch of newly-felled wood, over which the fire had recently passed, and left every thing black in its course, I observed a small flock of these birds coming from the opposite side of the clearing. Being dressed in black and aware of their familiarity, I stood perfectly motionless, for the purpose of ascertaining how near they would approach. Stealing from branch to branch, and peering for food among the crevices of the prostrate trunks, as they passed along, onward they came until the foremost settled upon a small twig a few feet from the spot upon which I stood. After looking about for a short time it flew and alighted just below the lock of a double-barrelled gun which I held in a slanting direction below my arm. Being unable however to obtain a hold, it slided down to the middle of the piece, and then flew away, jerking its tail, and apparently quite unconscious of having been so near the deadly weapon. In this country these birds seem to be influenced by a modification of that feeling by which so many others are induced to congregate at the close of autumn and seek a more congenial clime. At that period they collect in large flocks and exhibit all the hurry and bustle of travellers, who are bent upon a distant journey. If these flocks do not migrate, their union is soon destroyed, for when the Black-cap Titmice again appear, it is in small flocks; their former restlessness is gone, and they now exhibit their wonted care and deliberation in searching for food.”

The nest of this species, whether it be placed in the hole of a Woodpecker or Squirrel, or in a place dug by itself, is seldom found at a height exceeding ten feet. Most of those which I have seen were in low broken or hollowed stumps only a few feet high. The materials of which it is composed vary in different districts, but are generally the hair of quadrupeds, in a considerable quantity, and disposed in the shape of a loose bag or purse, as in most other species which do not hang their nests outside. Some persons have said that they lay their eggs on the bare wood, or on the chips left by Woodpeckers; but this is not the case, in so far as I have examined them; and in this my observations are confirmed by those of Dr BREWER of Boston and Mr M’CULLOCH of Pictou, who also have inspected nests of this species. The eggs rarely exceed eight in number; they measure five-eighths of an inch in length, by three-eighths and three-quarters, are rather pointed at the smaller end, white, slightly sprinkled with minute dots and markings of light reddish. Those of the first brood are deposited from the middle of April to that of May; for the second about two months later. The parents I have thought generally move along with the young of the second brood.

Dr BREWER says, “on the 20th of June, I found in a single Titmouse’s hole a mass of the hair of the Common Skunk and moss large enough to weigh two or more ounces, and sufficient to construct a nest for some of our larger birds, such for instance as Wilson’s Thrush.”

Mr M’CULLOCH found a nest of this bird placed about two feet from the ground in a small stump, which seemed to have been excavated by the birds themselves. It contained six young, and was lined entirely with the hair which cattle, in rubbing themselves, had left upon the stump.

The flight of this species, like that of all our American Titmice, is short, fluttering, generally only from tree to tree, and is accompanied with a murmuring sound produced by the concavity of the wings. It is seldom seen on the ground, unless when it has followed a fruit that has fallen, or when searching for materials for its nest. It usually roosts in its nest during winter, and in summer amid the close foliage of firs or evergreens. In winter, indeed, as well as often in autumn, it is seen near the farm-houses, and even in villages and towns, busily seeking for food among the trees.

“On seeing a cat, or other object of natural antipathy,” says Mr NUTTALL, “the Chickadee, like the peevish Jay, scolds in a loud, angry, and hoarse note, ’tshe, dáigh dáigh dáigh. Among the other notes of this species, I have heard a call like tshe-de-jay, tshe-de-jay, the two first syllables being a slender chirp, with the jay strongly pronounced. The only note of this bird which may be called a song, is one which is frequently heard at intervals in the depths of the forest, at times of day usually when all other birds are silent. We then may sometimes hear in the midst of this solitude two feeble, drawling, clearly whistled, and rather melancholy notes like ’te-dĕrry, and sometimes ye-pĕrrit, and occasionally, but more rarely in the same wiry, whistling, solemn tone, ’phēbé. The young in winter also sometimes drawl out these contemplative strains. In all cases the first syllable is very high and clear, the second word drops low, and ends like a feeble plaint. This is nearly all the quaint song ever attempted by the Chickadee. On fine days, about the commencement of October, I have heard the Chickadee sometimes, for half an hour at a time, attempt a lively, petulant warble, very different from his ordinary notes. On these occasions he appears to flirt about, still hunting for his prey, in an ecstacy of delight and vigour. But after a while the usual drawling note again occurs. These birds, like many others, are very subject to the attacks of vermin, and they accumulate in great numbers around that part of the head and front which is least accessible to their foot.”

PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 341.

PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 566.

BLACK-CAPT TITMOUSE, PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 134, pl. 8, fig. 4.

PARUS ATRICAPILLUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 100.

BLACK-CAPT TITMOUSE, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 241.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 3.

Bill short, straight, strong, compressed, rather obtuse; both mandibles with the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides sloping and convex, the edges sharp, that of the upper mandible slightly sinuate. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the recumbent feathers. Head large, neck short, body robust. Feet of ordinary length, rather robust; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the second joint; the hind one much stronger, and with its claw nearly as long as the middle toe. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage blended, tufty; feathers of the head glossy. Wings of moderate length, the first quill scarcely half the length of the second, which is equal to the first secondary, the third and seventh about equal, the fourth and fifth equal and longest. Tail long, a little arched, emarginate and rounded, of twelve slender rounded feathers.

Bill brownish-black. Iris dark brown. Feet greyish-blue, as are the claws. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck pure black, as is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. Between these patches of black is a band of white, from the base of the bill down the sides of the neck, becoming broader behind, and encroaching on the back, which, with the wing-coverts, is ash-grey tinged with brown. Quills dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white, the secondary quills so broadly margined as to leave a conspicuous white dash on the wing; tail of the same colour, the feathers similarly edged. Lower parts brownish-white, the sides pale yellowish-brown.

Length to end of tail 5-1/8 inches, to end of wings 3-7/8, to end of claws 4-1/2; extent of wings 8-1/4; wing from flexure 2-10/12; tail 2-9/12; these measurements taken from three males. In another, the bill along the ridge (4-1/2)/12; along the edge of lower mandible 7/12; tarsus 7/12; hind toe 3/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 5/12, its claw 3/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 4.

The Female is similar to the male.

Male examined. The tongue is 4-1/2 twelfths long, emarginate and papillate at the base, flat above, depressed, tapering, the point horny, slit, with four bristly points. Œsophagus, b, c, d, 1-1/2 inch long, tapering at the commencement to the diameter of 2 twelfths, and then continuing nearly uniform, without dilatation; the proventriculus, c, d, is not much enlarged. The stomach, d, e, is a strong gizzard, of an oblong form or ovate, 4 twelfths long, 3 twelfths broad, with strong lateral muscles; its epithelium longitudinally rugous, and of a dark reddish-brown colour. Intestine 7-1/4 inches long, the diameter of its duodenal portion, f, g, h, 2-1/2 twelfths. The rectum, g, k, is 7-1/2 twelfths long; the cœca, j, 1 twelfth long, and 1/4 twelfth in diameter.

The trachea is 1-2/12 inch long, its diameter uniform, 3/4 twelfths, its rings 42. It is furnished with lateral or contractor muscles, sterno-tracheal, and four pairs of inferior laryngeal. Bronchi short, of about 10 rings.

CHESTNUT-CROWNED TITMOUSE.

PARUS MINIMUS, TOWNSEND.

PLATE CCCLIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

My friend NUTTALL’s account of this Titmouse is as follows, “We first observed the arrival of this plain and diminutive species on the banks of the Wahlamet, near to its confluence with the Columbia, about the middle of May. Hopping about in the hazel thickets which border the alluvial meadows of the river, they appeared very intent and industriously engaged in quest of small insects, chirping now and then a slender call of recognition. They generally flew off in pairs, but were by no means shy, and kept always in the low bushes or the skirt of the woods. The following day I heard the males utter a sort of weak monotonous short and quaint song, and about a week afterwards I had the good fortune to find the nest, about which the male was so particularly solicitous as almost unerringly to draw me to the spot, where hung from a low bush, about 4 feet from the ground, his little curious mansion, formed like a long purse, with a round hole for entrance near the summit. It was made chiefly of moss, down, lint of plants, and lined with some feathers. The eggs, six in number, were pure white, and already far gone towards being hatched. I saw but few other pairs in this vicinity, but on the 21st of June, in the dark woods near Fort Vancouver, I again saw a flock of about twelve, which, on making a chirp something like their own call, came around me very familiarly, and kept up a most incessant and querulous chirping. The following season (April 1836) I saw numbers of these birds in the mountain thickets around Santa Barbara, in Upper California, where they again seemed untiringly employed in gleaning food in the low bushes, picking up or catching their prey in all postures, sometimes like the common Chickadee, head downwards, and letting no cranny or corner escape their unwearied search. As we did not see them in the winter, they migrate in all probability throughout Mexico and the Californian peninsula at this season.”

According to Dr TOWNSEND, “the Chinooks name it a-ha-ke-lok. It is a constant resident about the Columbia River; hops about in the bushes, and frequently hangs from the twigs in the manner of other Titmice, twittering all the while with a rapid enunciation resembling the words thshish, tshist, tsee, twee. The irides are bright yellow.”

PARUS MINIMUS, Townsend, Journal of Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 190.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 5.

Bill short, strong, compressed; upper mandible with its outline arched, the sides sloping and convex. The edges sharp, the tip descending, acute, and considerably exceeding that of the lower; which has the angle short, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils round, basal. Head rather large, broadly ovate, convex in front; neck short; body slender. Feet of moderate length, tarsus proportionally longer than in any other American species, stout, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two lateral plates, forming a very sharp edge behind. Toes moderately stout, the first with its claw equal to the third, the anterior united as far as the first web. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Wings, short, very broad, concave, rounded; first quill half the length of the second, which is a quarter of an inch shorter than the outer secondaries. Tail very long, being half the entire length of the bird, slightly arched, much rounded, and a little emarginate.

Bill black; feet and claws dusky or blackish brown. Upper part of the head, and hind neck dull greyish brown; upper parts brownish-grey; wings and tail dusky brown, tinged with grey, the margins of the quills and tail-feathers greyish-white. Cheeks of a paler tint than the head; all the lower parts brownish-white, the sides tinged with reddish.

Length to end of tail 4-1/2 inches; wing from flexure 1-(10-1/2)/12; tail 2-2/12; bill along the ridge (4-1/2)/12; tarsus 7/12; hind toe (2-3/4)/12, its claw (2-3/4)/12; middle toe 4/12, its claw 9/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLIII.

The Female is rather smaller, and its colours are somewhat paler.

A nest presented to me by Mr NUTTALL is of a cylindrical form nine inches long, three and a half in diameter. It is suspended from the fork of a small twig, and is composed externally of hypna, lichens, and fibrous roots, interwoven so as to present a smoothish surface, and with a few stems of grasses, and some feathers of Garrulus Stelleri intermixed. The aperture, which is at the top, does not exceed seven-eighths of an inch in diameter; but for two-thirds of the length of the nest, the internal diameter is two inches. This part is lined with the cottony down of willows, carefully thrust into the interstices, and contains a vast quantity of soft feathers chiefly of Steller’s Jay, with some others, among which can be distinguished those of Tetrao urophasianus, Columba fasciata, and Tanagra ludoviciana. The eggs, nine in number, are pure white, (4-1/2)/8 of an inch in length, by (3-1/2)/8 broad, and are rather pointed at the small end.

LOUISIANA TANAGER.

TANAGRA LUDOVICIANA, WILS.

PLATE CCCLIV. MALE.

WILSON was the first ornithologist who figured this handsome bird. From his time until the return of Dr TOWNSEND from the Columbia River no specimen seems to have been procured. That gentleman forwarded several males in much finer condition than those brought by LEWIS and CLARKE. Some of these I purchased, and, on his return to Philadelphia, I was presented with a female by my young friend Dr TRUDEAU, of Louisiana, a representation of which you will find in Plate CCCC. fig 4. The only account of this species is by THOMAS NUTTALL, who, however, was unacquainted with the female.

“We first observed this fine bird in a thick belt of wood near Lorimier’s Fork of the Platte, on the 4th of June, at a considerable distance to the east of the first chain of the Rocky Mountains (or Black Hills), so that the species in all probability continues some distance down the Platte. We have also seen them very abundant in the spring, in the forests of the Columbia, below Fort Vancouver. On the Platte they appeared shy and almost silent, not having there apparently commenced breeding. About the middle of May we observed the males in small numbers scattered through the dark pine forests of the Columbia, restless, shy, and flitting when approached, but at length more sedentary when mated. We frequently traced them out by their song, which is a loud, short, slow, but pleasing warble, not much unlike the song of the Common Robin, delivered from the tops of the lofty fir-trees. This music continues at short intervals throughout the whole forenoon, during which time our songster is busily engaged in quest of such coleopterous insects and larvæ as are to be found on the young branches of the trees he frequents, and which require an assiduous and long-continued search to gratify his wants. Of the female and nest we are still ignorant, though they are in all probability very similar to those of our other known species. We have not seen this bird as far south as Upper California, though it may exist in the thicker forests remote from the coast, which we had no opportunity of visiting.”

LOUISIANA TANAGER, TANAGRA LUDOVICIANA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. p. 27, pl. 20, fig. 1.

TANAGRA LUDOVICIANA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 105.

LOUISIANA TANAGER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 471.

Adult Male, in Spring. Fig. 1, 2.

Bill rather short, robust, tapering, compressed toward the end, acute. Upper mandible with its dorsal outline declinate and slightly convex, the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex, the edges sharp, overlapping, with two slightly prominent small festoons about the middle, and a distinct notch close to the tip, which is a little declinate. Lower mandible strong, with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line straight, the back broadly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils round, basal.

Head rather large, ovate, flattish above; neck very short; body ovate, compact. Legs shortish; tarsus short, compressed, rather stout, with seven anterior scutella, and two lateral plates forming an acute edge behind; toes of moderate length; middle toe longer than tarsus, lateral toes much shorter and equal, hind toe stout. Claws rather large, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage soft, blended; feathers of the head stiffish with silky lustre, bristles at the base of the upper mandible small. Wings of ordinary length, the second quill longest, the first four having the outer web attenuated towards the end; secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail rather long, straight, emarginate, of twelve feathers.

Bill dull greenish-yellow, brown along the ridge. Feet greyish-blue. The head all round is of a beautiful rich carmine, fading gradually on the nape, paler on the throat and fading on the fore neck; the rest of the neck, all the lower parts, two bands on the wing, formed by the middle coverts, and the extremities of the secondary coverts, together with the rump and upper tail-coverts pure bright yellow. The anterior half of the back, the scapulars, two bands on the wings, and the inner secondaries black, the latter broadly margined at the end and tipped with yellowish-white; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills chocolate-brown, margined with yellowish-white; tail black, the feathers narrowly tipped with greyish-white, and slightly margined toward the end with yellowish white.

Length to end of tail 7-1/4 inches; wing from flexure 3-(9-1/2)/12; tail 3; bill along the ridge 7/12, along the edge of lower mandible (8-1/2)/12 tarsus 8/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 6/12, its claw 5/12.

The female which has not been described or figured before, will be seen on Plate CCCC, Fig. 4. The bill is dusky brown above, light greyish-yellow beneath. The head, ear-coverts, and hind neck, dull green, as is the rump; the middle of the back and the scapulars greyish-brown tinged with green. Anterior wing-coverts greyish-brown; middle coverts black with the extremities dull yellow, secondary coverts and inner secondaries blackish-brown, tipped with greyish-white; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills chocolate-brown, slightly edged with brownish-white; tail-feathers similar, but margined with yellowish-green. The lower parts are light dull greenish-yellow, the sides tinged with grey.

Length to end of tail 6-3/4 inches; wing from flexure 3-9/12; tail 2-10/12; bill along the ridge 7/12; tarsus 8/12; middle toe and claw 9/12.

SCARLET TANAGER.

TANAGRA RUBRA, LINN.

PLATE CCCLIV. MALE AND FEMALE.

You have now before you representations of one of the most richly coloured of our birds, and one whose history is in some degree peculiar. The Scarlet Tanager enters the United States from Mexico, through the Texas, in the beginning of April. On several of the islands in the Bay of Mexico, I found it exceedingly abundant, and restrained in a great measure from proceeding eastward by the weather, which was unseasonably cold. Many were procured in their full dress, and a few in the garb of the females. These plain-coloured individuals turned all out to be males, which in so far confirmed my former observations respecting this and several other species, in which the males precede the females by about a fortnight in their spring migrations. It was at the same period that I observed the wonderful rapidity in the change of the plumage from its winter aspect to its summer colouring, in the Red-breasted Snipe, Scolopax Noveboracensis; and I became convinced that nearly the same phenomenon took place in the Tanagers. In them, in fact, the older individuals, being stronger, had attained their full colouring, while the younger were later in changing. As we advanced, I procured many specimens partially coloured, and when the males had mostly passed, the females made their appearance; manifesting similar gradations in the changes of their colours. I knew that many of the males of this species reach our Middle Districts in a spotted dress, and soon after acquire their full colours; and I am disposed to think that in the autumnal months, the young males of the year become of a much purer tint than that of the young or old females. The latter themselves improve materially in this respect as they advance in age, and I have some nearly twice as richly coloured as birds only a year old. The same observations apply to our Summer Red Bird, Tanagra æstiva, of which I have females, procured by my valued friend EDWARD HARRIS, Esq., exhibiting tints nearly as bright as those of their mates obtained at the same time, when they had nests. In the Scarlet Tanager it is remarkable, moreover, that some males acquire a beautiful transverse band of glowing red on the smaller wing-coverts; and I have several specimens in this state, presented to me by Mr HARRIS and Dr TRUDEAU.

The Scarlet Tanager proceeds as far northward as Lake Huron, where it was observed by Dr RICHARDSON; but this must happen rarely, as it is very sensible to cold, so much so indeed, that in the State of Massachusetts, should a sudden change take place in the weather, during the time of their spring migrations, hundreds die in the course of a night, not only in the woods and orchards, but even in the towns and villages. I witnessed a like occurrence at Eastport in Maine late in May, when I was on my way to Labrador; and as I was proceeding to the Texas, I observed that they sought the shelter of the low bushes, when the weather was damp or chill. None were seen after we left the former place, though they are at times found breeding in the British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In the United States they seem extremely partial to certain districts, generally preferring sandy soils and undulating grounds. Thus, I found them breeding abundantly in Louisiana, but rarely there in the lower parts. My friend Dr BACHMAN informs me that they are seldom met with in the maritime districts of South Carolina, and that there they follow the mountain range as it were for a guide. Yet they are plentiful in the Jerseys, where they usually arrive about the middle of May, in Kentucky, and along the Missouri; and, in short, are generally dispersed over the Union.

The migrations of this species are performed by night. Its flight on ordinary occasions is even and swift, and it passes through the woods in a gliding manner, when the glowing colours on the males render them as conspicuous as pleasing to the sight. On the branches their movements are rather sedate, and it is but seldom that they emit their usual notes when in motion. These are by no means musical, although oft repeated. They have been well imitated by WILSON, who represents them by the syllables “chip, churr.” I have not, however, thought them pensive in any degree, but rather lively: and when emitting them, the bird often inflates his throat, stands erect, and vibrates his body, as if in perfect ecstacy.

It is by no means true, as authors allege, that the Scarlet Tanager retires from the sight of man, and prefers the deepest recesses of the forest to the neighbourhood of the husbandman’s cottage; at least, this is not the case in those parts of our country where the population is not very dense; for I have observed it to take up its abode for a season in the very vicinity of the squatter’s cabin, to the patch of open ground near which it constantly resorted to search for coleoptera and other insects, forming its slightly-built nest on the lower branch of a spreading oak, or on a tree close to the road-side. It is composed externally of a few dry weeds and small twigs, and scantily lined with fibrous roots or slender grasses. In Louisiana the eggs are deposited by the first of May, about a month later in our central districts, but in the State of Maine frequently not until the middle of June. It never raises more than one brood in the season; and I have observed that, notwithstanding the difference in the temperature of our Southern and Northern States, the young are no sooner able to travel than they are at once led off, so that families may be seen travelling southward for many weeks in succession, and by the end of September all have left the United States. The eggs are from three to five, smooth, of a dull greenish-blue colour, speckled with reddish-brown and light purple, and measure a little more than 7 eighths of an inch in length, by 5 eighths in breadth. The young are fed with insects and fruits of many sorts. At this period the old birds feed also on insects and larvæ, but toward the latter period of their stay they all subsist chiefly on the smaller berries and grapes.

The parental affection of this bird has been so beautifully and truly described by WILSON, that, in presenting the following statement regarding it, I must contribute to the gratification of your kindly feelings as much as of my own. “Passing through an orchard one morning, I caught one of the young birds that had but lately left the nest. I carried it with me about half a mile, to shew it to my friend, Mr WILLIAM BARTRAM; and, having procured a cage, hung it upon one of the large pine trees in the Botanic Garden, within a few feet of the nest of an Orchard Oriole, which also contained young; hopeful that the charity or tenderness of the Orioles would induce them to supply the cravings of the stranger. But charity with them, as with too many of the human race, began and ended at home. The poor orphan was altogether neglected, notwithstanding its plaintive cries; and, as it refused to be fed by me, I was about to return it back to the place where I found it, when, towards the afternoon, a Scarlet Tanager, no doubt its own parent, was seen fluttering round the cage, endeavouring to get in. Finding this impracticable, he flew off, and soon returned with food in his bill; and continued to feed it till after sunset, taking up his lodgings on the higher branches of the same tree. In the morning, almost as soon as day broke, he was again seen most actively engaged in the same affectionate manner; and, notwithstanding the insolence of the Orioles, continued his benevolent offices the whole day, roosting at night as before. On the third or fourth day, he appeared extremely solicitous for the liberation of his charge, using every expression of distressful anxiety, and every call and invitation that nature had put in his power, for him to come out. This was too much for the feelings of my venerable friend; he procured a ladder, and, mounting to the spot where the bird was suspended, opened the cage, took out the prisoner, and restored him to liberty and to his parent, who, with notes of great exultation, accompanied his flight to the woods. The happiness of my good friend was scarcely less complete, and shewed itself in his benevolent countenance; and I could not refrain saying to myself,—If such sweet sensations can be derived from a single circumstance of this kind, how exquisite—how unspeakably rapturous—must the delight of those individuals have been, who have rescued their fellow beings from death, chains, and imprisonment, and restored them to the arms of their friends and relations! Surely in such godlike actions, virtue is its own most abundant reward.”

TANAGRA RUBRA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 314.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 420.

SCARLET TANAGER, TANAGRA RUBRA, Wilson, Amer. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 42, pl. 11, fig. 3. Male; fig. 4. Female.

TANAGRA RUBRA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 105.

SCARLET TANAGER, or BLACK-WINGED SUMMER RED-BIRD.

PYRANGA RUBRA, SCARLET BLACK-WINGED TANAGER, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor. Americana, vol. ii. p. 273.

Adult Male in Spring. Plate CCCLIV. Fig. 3.

Bill rather short, robust, compressed toward the end, acute. Upper mandible with its dorsal outline declinate and slightly convex, the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex, the edges sharp, overlapping, with two slightly prominent small festoons about the middle, and a faint notch close to the tip, which is a little declinate. Lower mandible strong, with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line straight, the back broadly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils round, basal.

Head rather large, ovate, flattish above; neck very short; body ovate, compact. Legs shortish; tarsus short, compressed, rather stout, with seven anterior scutella, and two lateral plates forming an acute edge behind; toes of moderate length; middle toe longer than the tarsus, lateral toes much shorter and equal, hind toe stout. Claws rather large, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage soft and blended; very small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of ordinary length, the second quill longest, the first four having the outer web attenuated toward the end; secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail rather long, straight, emarginate, of twelve feathers.

Bill dull greenish-yellow, brown above. Iris hazel. Feet greyish-blue, claws greyish-yellow. The general colour of the plumage is pure scarlet; the wings and tail black; the axillar feathers, inner lower wing-coverts, and more or less of the inner webs of nearly all the quills, white.

Length to end of tail 7 inches, to end of wings 5-3/4, to end of claws 6-3/8; extent of wings 11-3/4; wing from flexure 4-1/12; tail 2-10/12; bill along the ridge (7-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 10/12; tarsus 9/12; hind toe (4-1/4)/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12; middle toe (7-1/4)/12, its claw (4-1/4)/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLIV. Fig. 4.

Bill and feet as in the male. The general colour of the upper parts is yellowish-green, tinged with grey, of the lower parts greenish-yellow; the feathers of the wings and tail greyish-brown, margined with yellowish-green, the secondaries and tail-feathers narrowly tipped with greyish-white, the lower wing-coverts and the edges of all the quills white.

Length to end of tail 6-1/2 inches, to end of wings 5-3/4, to end of claws 6-1/4; extent of wings 10-3/4.

The young when fledged resemble the female; the males being, however, distinguishable from the females by their brighter tints.

The young male in autumn, after the first, moult, has the lower parts of a much brighter yellow, the upper of a lighter green, but with all the feathers having a central black mark, those on the head oblong, on the middle of the back broad, on the rump linear. The wing-coverts are black; the quills and tail-feathers brownish-black, margined with yellowish-green.

Two males in my possession, shot by Dr TRUDEAU, are remarkable for having the first row of small coverts scarlet, forming a conspicuous band amidst the black of the wing, and the lower wing-coverts tipped and margined with the same. In all other respects, however, these individuals agree with the others.

An adult male examined. The roof of the mouth is concave, with a median prominent ridge and two more prominent lateral ridges, between which and the edges is a broad groove for the reception of the lower mandible. The tongue is 6 twelfths long, deeply emarginate and papillate at the base, flat above, with a median groove, the tip horny and pointed, but terminated by several flattened bristles or shreds Œsophagus, a b c, 2-1/2 inches long, its diameter 4-1/2 twelfths, until its entrance into the thorax, when it contracts a little. Proventriculus, b c, 1/2 inch long, and 3-1/2 twelfths in diameter. The stomach, c d e, is a strong gizzard, 8 twelfths long, 7 twelfths in breadth, its lateral muscles moderately thick; the epithelium rugous and dark reddish-brown. Intestine, f g h, 7-1/2 inches long, its average diameter 2-1/2 twelfths, its narrowest part 2 twelfths. The rectum i j, 10 twelfths long; the cœca, i, 3/4 of a twelfth long, and 1/2 twelfth in diameter.

The trachea is 2 inches long, its diameter 1-1/2 twelfths, and nearly uniform; the rings about 60. The contractor and sterno-tracheal muscles are slender; and there are four pairs of inferior laryngeal.

In a female the intestine is 7-1/4 inches long.

The contents of the stomach in both were remains of insects and seeds.

The digestive organs of this bird, and probably of all the Tanagers of the same group, are thus not essentially different from those of the Passerine tribe, including Finches, Buntings, &c. The œsophagus has a more elongated dilatation than in most of the species of that tribe, of which, however, the Corn Bunting of Europe is very similar in this respect.

MACGILLIVRAY’S FINCH.

FRINGILLA MACGILLIVRAII.

PLATE CCCLV. MALE AND FEMALE.

Whilst BACHMAN’s Finch resides in the pine forests of the Carolinas and other Southern States, preferring dry and sandy lands covered with grasses; and whilst HENSLOW’s Bunting or Finch, and the Yellow-winged Bunting, are fond of open prairies and ploughed fields, in which they nestle; the species, on which I have bestowed the name of my friend MACGILLIVRAY, chooses for its residence the salt marshes of our Southern Atlantic shores, in which also are found the Sharp-tailed and Seaside Finches of WILSON and other authors. The three former spend the greater part of the winter in the forests, perch occasionally on trees, and feed principally on seeds; whereas the latter three are never found elsewhere than in the salt marshes, and feed chiefly on minute shells and aquatic insects. Were I therefore to adopt the minimum generic groups which have become prevalent, I would place the three birds of the interior in a genus apart from that containing the three marsh-birds.

MACGILLIVRAY’s Finch is as yet very rare within the United States, and has not been observed farther eastward than Sullivan Island, about six miles from Charleston in South Carolina; but it is very abundant in the Texas, occurring on all the low islands that are much intersected by salt-water bayous, and interspersed with ponds of brackish water, seldom leaving these localities unless whilst travelling, or passing from one island to another, which they do by flying at the height of only a few feet above the surface. They run among the rankest weeds with uncommon celerity, and do not seem to mind being followed by a dog, which they very easily elude amongst the thick grass. Whilst breeding they often start from a little distance, and pursue a singularly irregular or zigzag flight, much resembling that of the Jack Snipe of Europe, and yet performed with apparently slow beats of the wings. They fall as it were among the grass as suddenly as they rise from it, and by these manœuvres save their nests from the searching eye of the keenest student of nature. They very seldom alight on the stems of grasses, although when they do they climb with facility, occasionally using their tail as a support, in the same manner as the Rice-bird. Their strong tarsi and toes enable them to walk on the ground with great vigour. When they take wing deliberately, their flight resembles that of a young partridge, and, if over the land, is seldom extended between forty or fifty yards at a time. The males appear very jealous of each other, and frequently one pursues another on wing, but usually abandons the chase before the conquered bird has alighted, leaving it to pursue its course as it pleases after it has been driven beyond the assailant’s jurisdiction. The notes of this species are few and unmusical, consisting of a sort of roll of five or six syllables, which it seems to me impossible to imitate. They are usually heard early in the morning. My friend Dr BACHMAN informs me that none of these Finches remain in South Carolina during winter, and that they generally disappear early in November, when the weather is still very pleasant in the maritime portions of that state. Many, however, spend the winter in the salt marshes about the mouths of the Mississippi, and I have no doubt that they are constant residents there, as they are in the Texas.

This species has already been described at p. 285 of the second volume of the present work.

MARSH HAWK.

FALCO CYANEUS, LINN.

PLATE CCCLVI.

With ease and elegance of flight, guided by an uncommon acuteness of what I would call short-sightedness, the Marsh Hawk, like an experienced gleaner, ranges over the wide extent of the prairie. The pure white of the hind part of the female’s back, and the pale blue of the male, attract your eye so long as the pair remain within sight. The diligence and industry which they exhibit remind you of the search of a well-trained pointer.

This species visits the greater part of the United States. Dr RICHARDSON procured some specimens in latitude 65° north, and Dr TOWNSEND found it on the plains of the Columbia River, as well as on the extensive prairies bordering on the Missouri. I have met with it in Newfoundland and Labrador on the one hand, in Texas on the other, and in every intermediate portion of the country.

In the Fauna Boreali-Americana, Mr SWAINSON has published an excellent paper relating to such birds as have and have not been considered as identical with this bird and the European one bearing the same name. I perfectly agree with that gentleman when he says that “the typical structure of the wing in the present group must unquestionably be that most prevalent among the species. It must, however, be remembered, that even this character is subject to variation, according to the age and perhaps the locality of the bird, and that it must not be insisted upon with too much rigour.” I regret that this learned ornithologist did not introduce the word sex into the above well-founded remark, as in the sexes of birds, as well as in individuals of different ages, remarkable differences are often observed.

It is to MONTAGU that we are indebted for our first knowledge of the differences that exist between the male and the female of the European Hen Harrier, with which WILSON believed the Marsh Hawk of America to be identical. The Prince of MUSIGNANO, in his continuation of Wilson’s American Ornithology, also considered these birds as the same; although he has since altered his opinion. For my part, having carefully observed the habits, and compared specimens of both, I have come to the conclusion of their being the same species.

The flight of the Marsh Hawk, although light and elegant, cannot be said to be either swift or strong; but it is well sustained, and this may be accounted for on comparing the small size and weight of its body with the great extent of its wings and tail, which are proportionally larger than those of any other American Hawk. While searching for prey, it performs most of its rambles by rather irregular sailings; by which I mean that it frequently deviates from a straight course peeping hither and thither among the tall grasses of the marshes, prairies, or meadows, or along the briary edges of our fields. It is seldom indeed seen to chase birds on wing, although I have met with a few instances; nor is it much in the habit of carrying its quarry to any distance; for generally as it observes an object suited to its appetite, it suddenly checks its speed, and almost poising itself by a few flaps of its wings, drops with astonishing quickness on its unfortunate victim, which it usually tears to pieces and devours on the spot. If disappointed, however, it rises as quickly as it dropped, and proceeds as before. Whilst engaged in feeding, it may very easily be approached, surprised, and shot, by an experienced sportsman, for it rises in a flurried manner, and generally cuts a few curious zigzags at the outset. To obtain it, one has only to mark the spot with accuracy, keep his eye upon it, and advance with his gun in readiness, for he will probably get within a few yards before the bird rises. I have frequently seen it shot in this manner. At other times, by watching its beats over a field or meadow, one may obtain a good opportunity by concealing himself near a spot where he has seen it miss its object, as it is sure to repass there in a short time, at all events before it removes to another field. When wounded and brought to the ground, it makes off on the approach of its enemy by great leaps, and at times so swiftly that great exertion is requisite to overtake it; and when this is accomplished, it throws itself on its back, strikes furiously, and can inflict pretty severe wounds with its very sharp claws.

This species flies very high at times, and in a direct course, as if intent on proceeding to some great distance; but as I observed that this frequently occurred when the bird was satiated with food, I have thought that it preferred this method of favouring digestion, to its more usual mode of sitting on the top of a fence rail, and there remaining quiet until again roused by the feeling of hunger. I have often seen it, after sailing about in circles for a long while, half-close its wings, and come towards the ground, cutting curious zigzags, until within a few feet of it, when it would resume its usual elegant and graceful mode of proceeding.

I have observed it in our western prairies in autumn moving in flocks of twenty, thirty, or even so many as forty individuals, and appearing to be migrating, as they passed along at a height of fifty or sixty yards, without paying any attention to the objects below; but on all these occasions I could never find that they were bent on any general course more than another; as some days a flock would be proceeding southward, on the next to the northward or eastward. Many times I have seen them follow the grassy margins of our great streams, such as the Ohio and Mississippi, at the approach of winter, as if bent on going southward, but have become assured that they were merely attracted by the vast multitudes of Finches or Sparrows of various sorts which are then advancing in that direction.

In winter, the notes which the Marsh Hawk emits while on wing, are sharp, and sound like the syllables pee, pee, pee, the first slightly pronounced, the last louder, much prolonged, and ending plaintively. During the love-season, its cry more resembles that of our Pigeon Hawk; especially when the males meet, they being apparently tenacious of their assumed right to a certain locality, as well as to the female of their choice.

The Marsh Hawk breeds in many parts of the United States, as well as beyond our limits to the north and south in which it finds a place suited to its habits; as is the case with the Blue-winged Teal, and several other species, which have until now been supposed to retreat to high latitudes for the purpose. That many make choice of the more northern regions, and return southward in autumn, is quite certain; but in all probability an equal number remain within the confines of the United States to breed.

It is by no means restricted to the low lands of the sea-shores during the breeding season, for I have found its nest in the Barrens of Kentucky, and even on the cleared table-lands of the Alleghany Mountains and their spurs. In one instance, I found it in the high-covered pine-barrens of the Floridas, although I have never seen one on a tree; and the few cases of its nest having been placed on low trees or bushes, may have been caused by the presence of dangerous quadrupeds, or their having been more than once disturbed or robbed of their eggs or young, when their former nests had been placed on the ground.

Many birds of this species breed before they have obtained their full plumage. I have several times found a male bird in brown plumage paired with a female which had eggs; but such a circumstance is not singular, for the like occurs in many species of different families. I have never met with a nest in situations like those described by some European writers as those in which the Hen-harrier breeds; but usually on level parts of the country, or flat pieces of land that are sometimes met with in hilly districts. As I am well aware, however, that birds adapt the place and even the form and materials of their nests to circumstances, I cannot admit that such a difference is by any means sufficient to prove that birds similar in all other respects, are really different from each other. If it be correct, as has been stated, that the male of the European bird deserts the female, as soon as incubation commences, this indeed would form a decided difference; but as such a habit has not been observed in any other Hawk, it requires to be confirmed. Our Marsh Hawks, after being paired, invariably keep together, and labour conjointly for the support of their family, until the young are left to shift for themselves. This is equally the case with every Hawk with which I am acquainted.

Having considerable doubts as to whether any American writer who has spoken of the Marsh Hawk ever saw one of its nests, I will here describe one found on Galveston Island by my son JOHN WOODHOUSE, and carefully examined by him as well as by my friend EDWARD HARRIS and myself. As is usually the case when in a low and flat district, this was placed about a hundred yards from a pond, on the ground, upon a broom-sedge ridge, about two feet above the level of the surrounding salt marsh. It was made of dry grass, and measured between seven and eight inches in its internal diameter, with a depth of two inches and a half, while its external diameter was twelve inches. The grass was pretty regularly and compactly disposed, especially in the interior, on which much care seemed to have been bestowed. No feathers or other materials had been used in its construction, not even a twig. The eggs were four, smooth, considerably rounded, or broadly elliptical, bluish-white, an inch and three-quarters in length, an inch and a quarter in breadth. The two birds were procured, and their measurements carefully entered in my journal, as well as those of others obtained in various parts of the United States and of the British Provinces. A nest found on the Alleghanies was placed under a low bush, in an open spot of scarcely half an acre. It was constructed in the same manner, as the one described above, but was more bulky, the bed being about four inches from the earth. The eggs, although of the same form and colour, were slightly sprinkled with small marks of pale reddish-brown. In general, the Marsh Hawks scoop the ground, for the purpose of fixing their nest to the spot. On returning to London, in the summer of 1837, I shewed several of the eggs of the American bird to WILLIAM YARBELL, Esq. who at once pronounced them to belong to the Hen Harrier; and on comparing their measurements with those of the eggs described by my friend WILLIAM MACGILLIVRAY, I find that they agree perfectly.

The young are at first covered with soft yellowish-white down, but in a few weeks shew the brownish and ferruginous tints of their female parent, the young males being distinguishable from the females by their smaller size.

I have found a greater number of barren females in this species than in any other; and to this I in part attribute their predominance over the males. The food of the Marsh Hawk consists of insects of various kinds, especially crickets, of small lizards, frogs, snakes, birds, principally the smaller sorts, although it will attack Partridges, Plovers, and even Green-winged Teals, when urged by excessive hunger. The only instance in which I have seen this bird carry any prey in its talons on wing, happened on the 2d of April 1837, at the south-west Pass of the Mississippi, when I was in company with EDWARD HARRIS, Esq. and my son JOHN WOODHOUSE. A Marsh Hawk was seen to seize a bird on its nest, perhaps a Marsh Wren, Troglodytes palustris, and carry it off in its talons with the nest! A pair were hovering over the marsh during the whole of our stay, and probably had a nest thereabout. It is rather a cowardly bird, however, for on several occasions, when I was in the Floridas, where it is abundant, I saw it chase a Salt-water Marsh Hen, Rallus crepitans, which courageously sprung up, and striking at its enemy, forced it off. My friend JOHN BACHMAN has frequently observed similar occurrence in the neighbourhood of Charleston. Whenever it seizes a bird on wing, it almost at once drops to the ground with it, and if in an exposed place, hops off with its prey to the nearest concealment.

In autumn, after the young have left their parents, they hunt in packs. This I observed on several occasions when on my way back from Labrador. In Nova Scotia, on the 27th of August, we procured nearly a whole pack, by concealing ourselves, but did not see an adult male. These birds are fond of searching for prey over the same fields, removing from one plantation to another, and returning with a remarkable degree of regularity, and this apparently for a whole season, if not a longer period. My friend JOHN BACHMAN observed a beautiful old male which had one of its primaries cut short by a shot, regularly return to the same rice-field during the whole of the autumn and winter, and believes that the same individual revisits the same spot annually. When satiated with food, the Marsh Hawk may be seen perched on a fence-stake for more than an hour, standing motionless. On horseback I have approached them on such occasions near enough to see the colour of their eyes, before they would reluctantly open their wings, and remove to another stake not far distant, where they would probably remain until digestion was accomplished.

I have never seen this species searching for food in the dusk. Indeed, in our latitudes, when the orb of day has withdrawn from our sight, the twilight is so short, and the necessity of providing a place of safety for the night so imperious in birds that are not altogether nocturnal, that I doubt whether the Marsh Hawk, which has perhaps been on wing the greater part of the day, and has had many opportunities of procuring food, would continue its flight for the sake of the scanty fare which it might perchance procure at a time when few birds are abroad, and when quadrupeds only are awakening from their daily slumber.

WILSON must have been misinformed by some one unacquainted with the arrival and departure of this species, as well as of the Rice Bird, in South Carolina, when he was induced to say that the Marsh Hawk “is particularly serviceable to the rice-fields of the Southern States, by the havoc it makes among the clouds of Rice Buntings that spread such devastation among the grain, in its early stages. As it sails low, and swiftly, over the surface of the field, it keeps the flocks in perpetual fluctuation, and greatly interrupts their depredations. The planters consider one Marsh Hawk to be equal to several Negroes for alarming the Rice Birds.” Now, good Reader, my friend JOHN BACHMAN, who has resided more than twenty years in South Carolina, and who is a constant student of nature, and perhaps more especially attentive to the habits of birds, informs me that the Marsh Hawk is proportionally rare in that State, and that it only makes its appearance there after the Rice Birds have left the country for the south, and retires at the approach of spring, before they have arrived.

European writers have generally considered our Marsh Hawk as larger than their Circus cyaneus; but this opinion must have originated from a want of specimens for comparison, and perhaps also a want of books on which one might depend. Were all ornithological works characterized by the accuracy and detail to be found in those of my friend WILLIAM MACGILLIVRAY, the case might be different. The measurements which he has taken from recent specimens correspond with those which I also have taken from individuals newly killed, as nearly as is usual in birds of other species. Indeed, should you measure as accurately as possible a hundred specimens of any bird as large as our Marsh Hawk, I am persuaded you would not find many of them to agree in all their proportions. Instead of the American exceeding the European bird in size, I think it will generally be found to be as nearly equal as possible.

FALCO CYANEUS and F. PYGARGUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 126.

FALCO CYANEUS, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 39.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 33.

MARSH HAWK, FALCO ULIGINOSUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vi. p. 67, pl. 1, fig. 1., young female.

FALCO CYANEUS, Ch. Bonaparte; Amer. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 30, pl. xi. fig. 1., male.

BUTEO (CIRCUS) CYANEUS ? VAR ? AMERICANUS, AMERICAN HEN-HARRIER, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 55.

HEN-HARRIER, or MARSH HAWK, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 109.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLVI. Fig. 1.

Bill short, compressed. Upper mandible with its dorsal line a little tumid at the base, sloping to beyond the cere, then decurved in the fourth of a circle, the sides sloping, towards the end a little convex, the edge with a festoon a little anterior to the nostril, the tip acute, concave beneath. Lower mandible with the angle broad, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip rounded, with the edges decurved. Nostrils large, ovato-oblong, in the middle and fore part of the cere, and having an oblique ridge from the upper edge.

Head of moderate size, oblong; neck short; body slender, much compressed behind. Legs long and slender; tibia long but muscular; tarsi long, compressed, with seventeen or eighteen large oblique scutella on the fore and outer side, oval or subhexagonal scales on the sides, and scutella behind, excepting at the upper and lower parts; toes small, slender, the outer with a short web at the base, connecting it with the third; first considerably shorter than second, fourth a little longer than the latter, third much longer; all covered above with scutella, unless at the base, where there are small scales, beneath tuberculate and papillate, there being a long fleshy tubercle on the last joint of each toe, and one on the next joint of the two outer. Claws long, compressed, rounded above, flat beneath, curved into the fourth of a circle, those of the first and second toes largest, that of the third with a slight internal edge, of the fourth much smaller and less curved.

Plumage very soft, generally blended. Cere covered on the sides with rather long bristle-tipped feathers, which curve upwards and partially conceal the nostrils; space between the bill and eye with radiating feathers of the same nature. A distinct ruff of narrow feathers, which are decurved, but with the tips recurved, extends from behind the eye on each side to the chin. Wings long, much rounded; the fourth quill longest, the third two-twelfths of an inch shorter, the second a quarter of an inch shorter than the fifth, the first and seventh about equal. The outer webs of the first five are attenuated towards the end; and the outer four have their inner webs sinuate; the secondaries are broad and rounded. Tail straight, long, of moderate breadth, and slightly rounded, the middle feathers longest (in perfect specimens, but often worn). The quills and tail-feathers are extremely soft, being covered with a velvety down.

Bill bluish-black, cere yellow; inside of mouth dark bluish-grey. Iris yellow. Tarsi and toes yellow, tinged with orange; claws black. The general colour of the plumage above is light greyish-blue, the head and scapulars of a deeper tint, the hind part of the back paler; the bases of the occipital and ruff feathers white; the bristles of the cere and lores black, their downy bases white. The fore neck and anterior part of the breast are also greyish-blue; the middle of the breast and the sides white, tinged with blue, the feathers having their shafts dusky, and some very faint indications of bars; those of the legs, the lower wing-coverts, and lower and upper tail-coverts, pure white. The seven outer primaries are black, tipped with pale brown at the base white, and on the outer edge tinged with grey; the rest and the secondaries of the general colour, but with more or less brown towards the end, their inner webs white, and obscurely barred with dark grey. The two middle tail-feathers are of a lighter tint than the back, and the colour on the outer webs of the rest gradually fades into white; the inner webs of all but the two middle more or less white, with eight irregular narrow bars of darkish grey.

Length to end of tail 19-3/4 inches, to end of wings 16-1/2, to end of claws 16-1/2; extent of wings 44; wing from flexure 14-4/12; tail 8-9/12; bill along the ridge 1-2/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-2/12; tarsus 2-8/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw 10/12; middle toe 1-(2-1/2)/12, its claw (8-1/2)/12. Weight 16 oz.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLVI. Fig. 2.

The female is larger than the male, and differs extremely in the colours of the plumage, although those of the bare parts are the same. The general colour of the upper parts is umber-brown, of the lower light yellowish-red. The upper part of the head is deep brown, the feathers edged with light yellowish-red; the anterior part of the forehead, a band over the eye, and the loral space, pale greyish-yellow, the bristle-tips of the latter black. The cheek feathers are dull brown, slightly edged with yellowish-red; the ruff feathers light yellowish-red, with a narrow brown central band. The upper hind part, sides, and fore part of the neck, the breast and sides, are light reddish-yellow, each feather with an oblong-lanceolate umber-brown mark. Some of the hypochondrial feathers have four light spots; the central part of the outer tibial feathers is light brownish-red; the feathers of the middle of the breast, the abdomen, and the lower tail-coverts, are of a uniform light yellowish-red. On some of the scapulars, as well as many of the wing-coverts, are one or two round light red or whitish spots; and the bases of the occipital feathers are white. The primary and secondary quills are of the same colour as the back, slightly edged with paler, the greater part of the inner webs whitish, the primaries with broad bands of deeper brown. Upper tail-coverts white. Tail light greyish-brown, white at the base, with six broad bands of deep brown on the middle feathers, four on the lateral, the last band much larger, the tips brownish or reddish white, the inner webs, excepting the two middle feathers, reddish-grey or whitish, the shafts light brown. Lower wing-coverts reddish-white, with central lanceolate brown markings: lower surface of primary quills greyish-white, with very conspicuous broad blackish-brown bands; tail reddish-grey beneath, with the dark bands more distinct.

Length to end of tail 20-1/2 inches, to end of wings 18-3/4, to end of claws 15-3/4: extent of wings 46-3/8: wing from flexure 15-1/4: tail 9-10/12; bill along the ridge 1-3/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-2/12; tarsus 3-2/12; hind toe 10/12, its claw 1-2/12; middle toe 1-1/2, its claw 10/12.

Young fully fledged. Plate CCCLVI. Fig. 3.

The young of both sexes when fully fledged, resemble the adult female, but have the colours of a richer or deeper tint; all the lower parts with an elongated brown streak on each feather; the upper tail-coverts white, with a lanceolate reddish-brown spot.

After the first moult, the male still resembles the adult female. At least, such is the case with a specimen presented to me by Dr RICHARDSON, and marked “Buteo (Circus) cyaneus. Spec. N. 6. Male. May 31. 1826. Fort Franklin,” being the one elaborately described at p. 63 of the second volume of the Fauna Boreali-Americana. In this specimen the colours are much faded, and the feathers worn, the upper tail-coverts in particular being reduced almost to the shafts. It is valuable as indicating by two feathers on the leg, which are new, the next state of plumage of the male, which is as follows:—

The upper part of the head and the hind neck are light brownish-red, with dusky streaks, the white of the nuchal feathers conspicuous. The upper parts are brown, with a tinge of grey, more apparent on the wings, the scapulars and some of the smaller wing-coverts still marked as in the young and females; the upper tail-coverts pure white; the tail-feathers grey, with a tinge of brown, the lateral reddish-grey; the dark bars much diminished in breadth, and the inner webs still tinged with yellowish-red. The ruff is brownish-grey, margined with reddish-white; the fore part of the neck and breast pale brownish-red, tinged with grey, each feather marginally spotted or edged with dull white. The rest of the lower parts are white, the feathers generally with several spots of light red along the centre; these spots assuming the appearance of transverse bars on the sides and legs; the smaller wing coverts are similarly spotted, but those near the edge have only a dusky streak, and the secondary coverts are barred with dusky. The inner webs of the quills toward the base are white, with narrow bars of brownish-black, and the extremities of the primaries are as in the adult.

After a very careful comparison of seven skins of American birds with an equal number of European, no essential differences can be observed. I am therefore compelled to conclude, that the Marsh Hawk of America is the Hen-Harrier of Europe. The following measurements are obtained from a comparison of eight individuals.

Amer.

M. M. Length to end of tail, 19-3/4 16-1/2 wings, 16-1/2 14-1/2 Extent of wings, 44 40-1/2 Wing from flexure, 14-4/12 13 Tail, 8-9/12 8-7/12 Bill along the ridge, 1-2/12 1-(1-1/2)/12 Tarsus, 2-8/12 2-9/12 Hind toe, (7-1/2)/12 (7-1/2)/12 Its claw, 10/12 (10-1/2)/12 Middle toe, 1-(2-1/2)/12 1-(2-1/2)/12 Its claw, (8-1/2)/12 (8-1/2)/12 Anterior tarsal scutella, 17 18 Scutella on first toe, 7 6 second, 5 5 third, 16 17 fourth, 7 8

Europ.

M. M. Length to end of tail, 18 18-1/4 wings, 15-3/4 — Extent of wings, 40 39-1/2 Wing from flexure, 13-1/2 13 Tail, 9 8-1/2 Bill along the ridge, 1-1/12 1-1/12 Tarsus, 2-1/2 2-8/12 Hind toe, 8/12 7/12 Its claw, 9/12 (9-1/2)/12 Middle toe, 1-1/2 1-2/12 Its claw, 8/12 (8-1/2)/12 Anterior tarsal scutella, 18 15 Scutella on first toe, 6 6 second, 5 5 third, 18 15 fourth, 7 7

Amer.

F. F. Length to end of tail, 20-1/2 20-1/4 wings, 18-3/4 18-1/2 Extent of wings, 46-3/8 45-1/2 Wing from flexure, 15-1/4 14-9/12 Tail, 9-10/12 9-9/12 Bill along the ridge, 1-3/12 1-3/12 Tarsus, 3-2/12 3-2/12 Hind toe, 10/12 (7-1/2)/12 Its claw, 1-2/12 1 Middle toe, 1-1/2 1-4/12 Its claw, 10/12 (9-1/2)/12 Anterior tarsal scutella, 19 17 Scutella on first toe, 7 5 second, 5 5 third, 16 16 fourth, 8 7

Europ.

F. F. Length to end of tail, 21 21 wings, 18-1/2 19 Extent of wings, 46 46 Wing from flexure, 14-1/4 15-1/4 Tail, 9-9/12 10 Bill along the ridge, 1-2/12 1-3/12 Tarsus, 2-9/12 2-9/12 Hind toe, (7-1/2)/12 9/12 Its claw, 1-1/12 11/12 Middle toe, 1-4/12 1-5/12 Its claw, 10/12 11/12 Anterior tarsal scutella, 18 — Scutella on first toe, 6 — second, 5 — third, 17 — fourth, 8 —

If measurements of this kind are calculated to throw light on the subject, the collectors of skins are welcome to the above, which have been made with as much accuracy as possible.

An adult male examined. On the roof of the mouth are two lateral and a median prominent ridge, the intervening space covered with small papillæ. The posterior aperture of the nares is oblong, 4 twelfths of an inch in length, but with an anterior slit 7-1/2 twelfths long. The tongue, a, is 8-1/2 twelfths long, fleshy, emarginate and papillate at the base, concave above, rounded and slightly emarginate at the tip. The mouth is 1 inch in breadth. The œsophagus, a b c d e, which is 6 inches long, is very wide, with very thin parietes, and on the lower part of the neck is dilated into a sac or crop, b c, which on being distended has a diameter of 2 inches at the widest part. It then contracts to 10 twelfths as it enters the thorax; its proventricular portion, d e, has a diameter of 1 inch. The stomach, e f g is roundish, 1-1/2 inch in diameter, somewhat compressed; its muscular coat extremely thin, being reduced to small parallel fasciculi converging toward two tendinous spaces of an elliptical form, and about half an inch long. The intestine, g h, is 3 feet 2 inches long; its diameter at the upper part 3 twelfths, towards the cœca 2 twelfths. The rectum, i j, is 2 inches long, not including the cloaca, j, which is globular and 1 inch in diameter. The cœca are extremely small, being 2-1/4 twelfths long, and 1 twelfth in diameter. The pylorus has no valve properly so called, but two ridges run from it into the intestine to the length of about 3 twelfths of an inch. The gall-bladder is 7 twelfths long and 4 twelfths in breadth.

In a very small male, the œsophagus is 4-3/4 inches long; the intestine 3 feet 4 inches. In a female, the intestine is 3 feet 9 inches long.

The trachea is 4-8/12 inches long, flattened. 4-1/4 twelfths broad at the upper part, gradually contracting to 2-3/4 twelfths; its rings 95, extremely thin and unossified. The bronchi are of moderate length, with about 20 half-rings. The lateral muscles are thin, the sterno-tracheal slender.

THE COMMON MAGPIE.

CORVUS PICA, LINN.

PLATE CCCLVII. MALE AND FEMALE.

Although Magpies are abundant in the north-western portions of the United States, and are met with as far north as the Saskatchewan River, where, according to Dr RICHARDSON, some of them spend the winter, none have yet been seen nearer the shores of the Atlantic than the head waters of the Red River in Louisiana, where they were seen in abundance by the lamented Colonel PIKE, then a lieutenant in the United States’ army. His notice, although already published by WILSON, so well describes the habits of this species, that I repeat it here with pleasure. “Our horses,” he says, “were obliged to scrape the snow away to obtain their miserable pittance; and, to increase their misfortune, the poor animals were attacked by the Magpies, who, attracted by the scent of their sore backs, alighted on them, and, in defiance of their wincing and kicking, picked many places quite raw; the difficulty of procuring food rendering those birds so bold as to alight on our men’s arms, and eat meat out of their hands.” To CLARKE and LEWIS, however, is due the first introduction of this bird into the Fauna of the United States. These intrepid travellers first observed the Magpie near the great bend of the Missouri, although it was known to have been obtained at the fur-trading factories of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

There is a difference of opinion as to the identity of the Magpie of America and that of Europe. THOMAS NUTTALL, who has seen those of both countries, as well as their nests, and observed their habits, assures me, that he looks upon them as clearly of the same species. Captain SABINE thought differently, and CHARLES BONAPARTE, after remarking in his “Observations on the Nomenclature of WILSON,” that “it is not a little singular that this species, which is so common in every part of Europe, should be confined in its range on this continent to the western and northern regions,” thus plainly indicating his belief of their identity, names it, in a list of European and North American Birds, published in London in April 1838, “Pica Hudsonica. Nob.” the European bird being at the same time ticketed “Pica melanoleuca.” Mr SWAINSON, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, remarks on comparing them:—“We cannot perceive the slightest difference whereon to build even the character of a variety, much less a species;” and this truly is my own opinion.

The following notice regarding our bird was given me by my friend THOMAS NUTTALL:—“On the 15th of July, arriving at the borders of the Shoshonee, or Snake River, we first met with the Common Magpie on our route, mostly accompanied by the Raven, but there were no Crows. The young birds were so familiar and greedy, approaching the encampment in quest of food, as to be easily taken by the Indian boys, when they soon become reconciled to savage domesticity. The old birds were sufficiently shy, but the young were observed hopping and croaking around us, and tugging at any offal of flesh meat thrown out, like so many vultures. Differing so far from the proscribed and persecuted Magpies of Europe, these, at least the young, seemed evidently to court the advantages of society in supplying them with food, and betrayed scarcely any alarm on our approach. If chased off for an instant, they returned the next, and their monotonous and gluttonous croak was heard around us at all hours of the day. The dryness of the season, and the scarcity of insects and small birds, urged them no doubt to this unusual familiarity with their doubtful friend and frequent enemy, man. By the borders of streams in the central table-land of the Rocky Mountains, in several places we saw the old nests of the Magpie, made usually in low but thick bushes in the usual manner, barricaded over and floored with interlaced twigs. We scarcely ever saw them at all in the heavy forests of the Lower Columbia, any more than the Platte and Missouri, in all which places they are merely accidental visitors. They are not uncommon, however, in the vicinity of Monterey in Upper California. Their common call is pay pay, and the usual low social chatter when approaching their companions. I one day observed a small flock, and among the fraternity heard one chattering familiarly in the varied tune of the Cat-bird, as he sat on a bough by the water, where birds might become his prey. At another time I observed a flock of young Magpies boldly persecuting other birds, and chasing even Pigeon Hawks.”

The following characteristic account of the habits of the Magpie as observed in Scotland, I have extracted from my friend MACGILLIVRAY’s “History of British Birds.” “It is generally distributed in Britain, being more or less common in all the cultivated and wooded districts of England and Scotland, both in the interior and along the coast, although nowhere numerous, on account of the hostility of gamekeepers, gardeners, and sportsmen of all degrees. There, on the old ash that overshadows the farm-yard, you may see a pair, one perched on the topmost twig, the other hopping among the branches, uttering an incessant clatter of short hard notes, scarcely resembling any thing else in nature, but withal not unpleasant, at least to the lover of birds. How gracefully she of the top twig swings in the breeze! Off she starts, and directing her flight towards the fir wood opposite, proceeds with a steady, moderately rapid, but rather heavy flight, performed by quick beats of her apparently short wings, intermitted for a moment at intervals. Chattering by the way, she seems to call her mate after her; but he, intent on something which he has spied, hops downwards from twig to branch, and descends to the ground. Raising his body as high as possible, and carrying his tail inclined upwards, to avoid contact with the moist grass, he walks a few paces, and spying an earthworm half protruded from its hole, drags it out by a sudden jerk, breaks it in pieces, and swallows it. Now, under the hedge he has found a snail, which he will presently detach from its shell. But something among the bushes has startled him, and lightly he springs upwards, chattering the while, to regain his favourite tree. It is a cat, which, not less frightened than himself, runs off toward the house. The Magpie again descends, steps slowly over the green, looking from side to side, stops and listens, advances rapidly by a succession of leaps, and encounters a whole brood of chickens, with their mother at their heels. Were they unprotected, how deliciously would the Magpie feast, but alas, it is vain to think of it, for with fury in her eye, bristled plumage, and loud clamour, headlong rushes the hen, overturning two of her younglings, when the enemy suddenly wheels round, avoiding the encounter, and flies off after his mate.

There again, you perceive them in the meadow, as they walk about, with elevated tails, looking for something eatable, although apparently with little success. By the hedge afar off are two boys with a gun, endeavouring to creep up to a flock of plovers on the other side. But the Magpies have observed them, and presently rising fly directly over the field, chattering vehemently, on which the whole flock takes to wing, and the disappointed sportsmen sheer off in another direction.

The food of the Magpie consists of testaceous mollusca, slugs, larvæ, worms, young birds, eggs, small quadrupeds, carrion, sometimes grain and fruits of different kinds, in search of which it frequents the fields, hedges, thickets, and orchards, occasionally visits the farm-yard, prowls among the stacks, perches on the house-top, whence it sallies at times, and examines the dunghill and places around. Although it searches for larvæ and worms in the ploughed fields, it never ventures, like the Rook, and several species of Gull, to follow the plough as it turns over each successive furrow. It has been accused of picking the eyes of lambs and sickly sheep, I think with injustice; but it sometimes carries off a chicken or duckling, and sucks an egg that may have been dropt abroad.

It is extremely shy and vigilant in the vicinity of towns, where it is much molested, but less so in country places, although even there it is readily alarmed. When one pursues it openly, it flits along the walls and hedges, shifts from tree to tree, and at length flies off to a distance. Yet it requires all its vigilance to preserve its life; for, as it destroys the eggs and young of game birds, it is keenly pursued by keepers and sportsmen, so that one might marvel to find it maintaining its ground as a species, and yet it is not apparently diminishing in most parts of the country.

On the ground it generally walks in the same manner as the Crows, but occasionally leaps in a sidelong direction. The sounds which it emits are a sort of chuckling cry or chatter, which it utters when alarmed, as well as when it wishes to apprize other birds of danger. On the appearance of a fox, a cat, or other unfriendly animal, it never ceases hovering about it, and alarming the neighbourhood by its cries, until the enemy has slunk away out of sight.

It generally keeps in pairs all the year round, accompanies its young for some weeks after they first come abroad, and after the breeding season retires at night to the copses or woods, where sometimes a considerable number meet together. It begins to construct its nest early in March, selecting as its site the top of some tall tree, a poplar, an ash, an elm, sometimes a willow, or a beech; or, in defect of such in a favourite locality, placing it in a thick bush of hawthorn, holly, or other low tree, or even in a hedge. It is a large, and therefore generally very conspicuous fabric, of a spheroidal or elliptical form, composed first of a layer of twigs, on which is laid a quantity of mud; then a dome of twigs, frequently hawthorn or sloe, but as often of any other kind, loosely but securely interlaced; while the bottom of the interior is lined with fibrous roots; and there is left in the side an aperture not much larger than is barely sufficient to admit the bird. The eggs are from three to six, and differ considerably in form and colouring. In general, they are regularly ovate, or a little pointed, about an inch and five-twelfths long, eleven and a half twelfths or an inch across; but sometimes more elongated by one-twelfth of an inch, or abbreviated by nearly the same quantity. Frequently they are pale green freckled all over with umber-brown and light purple, and sometimes pale blue or bluish-white, or greenish-white, with smaller spots and dots of the same dark colours, so as very nearly to resemble the eggs of the Jay, which however are smaller.

CORVUS PICA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 157.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 162—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 57.—Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 292.

CORVUS HUDSONIUS, Sabine, Frankl. Journ. p. 671.

MAGPIE, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 219.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLVII. Fig. 1.

Bill rather shorter than the head, straight, robust, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate, the sides convex, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the tip, which is rather sharp; lower mandible straight, the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal outline very slightly convex and ascending, the sides convex, the edges sharp and inclinate. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards.

Head large, ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus with seven large anterior scutella, and two long plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella, separated almost to the base; first very strong; lateral toes nearly equal, third considerably longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, sharp, the third with the inner edge somewhat dilated.

Plumage full, soft, blended; stiff bristly feathers with disunited barbs over the nostrils, some of them extending nearly half the length of the bill; feathers on the throat with the shaft downy, and prolonged. Wings of moderate length, much rounded; the first quill very short, extremely narrow, and falciform, the second two inches and four-twelfths longer, and about the same length as the ninth; the third an inch and a quarter longer than the second, and four-twelfths shorter than the fourth, which is the longest by half a twelfth or so. The tail is very long, much graduated, the lateral feather being four inches and nine-twelfths shorter than the middle.

Bill and feet black. Iris dark brown. The plumage of the head, neck, fore part of the breast and back, black, the feathers on the latter part being very long, and although rising between the shoulders extending nearly to the rump; the top of the head, and the back, glossed with green, the neck tinged with blue, the shafts of the throat-feathers grey. The feathers on the middle of the back are greyish-white, those behind tipped with black; rum and tail-coverts bluish-black. The scapulars are white; the smaller wing-coverts black, the secondary coverts, alula, and primary coverts splendent with bronzed green; primaries black, glossed with green, their inner webs white excepting at the end and for some way along the margin; secondaries bright blue changing to green, their inner webs greenish-black. Tail splendent with bright green, changing to greenish-yellow, purplish-red, bluish-purple and dark green at the end; the inner webs chiefly greenish-black, but with various tints. The breast and sides are pure white; legs, abdominal region, lower tail-coverts, and lower wing-coverts black.

Length to end of tail 18-1/2 inches, to end of wings 11-3/8; extent of wings 22-1/2; wing from flexure 8; tail 10-1/2; bill along the ridge 1-(4-1/2)/12; tarsus 1-(10-1/2)/12; first toe 8/12, its claw 10/12; middle toe 1-2/12, its claw 6/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLVII.

The Female is similar to the male, and little inferior in size.

Five American specimens compared with several European, present no appearances indicative of a specific difference. Some individuals of both countries are larger than others, and the tail differs much in length, according to age or the growth of the feathers. The largest specimen in my possession, presented to me by Dr RICHARDSON, and marked as shot by Mr DRUMMOND, measures as follows:—Length to end of tail 20-1/2 inches; bill along the ridge 1-7/12; tail 11-3/4; wing from flexure 8-9/12; tarsus 2; middle toe 1-1/12, its claw (7-1/2)/12. In this individual the feathers on the fore neck are white for more than half their length from the base. In the other specimens this white part is fainter or light grey, and of less extent.

PINE GROSBEAK.

PYRRHULA ENUCLEATOR, TEMM.

PLATE CCCLVIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

In WILSON’s time, this beautiful bird was rare in Pennsylvania; but since then it has occasionally been seen in considerable numbers, and in the winter of 1836 my young friend J. TRUDEAU, M. D. procured several in the vicinity of Philadelphia. That season also they were abundant in the States of New York and Massachusetts. Some have been procured near the mouth of the Big Guyandotte on the Ohio; and Mr NUTTALL has observed it on the lower parts of the Missouri. I have ascertained it to be a constant resident in the State of Maine, and have met with it on several islands in the Bay of Fundy, as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador. Dr RICHARDSON mentions it as having been observed by the Expedition in the 50th parallel, and as a constant resident at Hudson’s Bay. It is indeed the hardiest bird of its tribe yet discovered in North America, where even the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, though found during summer in Newfoundland and Labrador, removes in autumn to countries farther south than the Texas, where as late as the middle of May I saw many in their richest plumage.

The Pine Grosbeak is a charming songster. Well do I remember how delighted I felt, while lying on the moss-clad rocks of Newfoundland, near St George’s Bay, I listened to its continuous lay, so late as the middle of August, particularly about sunset. I was reminded of the pleasure I had formerly enjoyed on the banks of the clear Mohawk, under nearly similar circumstances, when lending an attentive ear to the mellow notes of another Grosbeak. But, Reader, at Newfoundland I was still farther removed from my beloved family; the scenery around was thrice wilder and more magnificent. The stupendous dark granite rocks, fronting the north, as if bidding defiance to the wintry tempests, brought a chillness to my heart, as I thought of the hardships endured by those intrepid travellers who, for the advancement of science, had braved the horrors of the polar winter. The glowing tints of the western sky, and the brightening stars twinkling over the waters of the great Gulf, rivetted me to the spot, and the longer I gazed, the more I wished to remain; but darkness was suddenly produced by the advance of a mass of damp fog, the bird ceased its song, and all around seemed transformed into chaos. Silently I groped my way to the beach, and soon reached the Ripley.

The young gentlemen of my party, accompanied by my son JOHN WOODHOUSE, and a Newfoundland Indian, had gone into the interior in search of Rein Deer, but returned the following afternoon, having found the flies and musquitoes intolerable. My son brought a number of Pine Grosbeaks, of different sexes, young and adult, but all the latter in moult, and patched with dark red, ash, black and white. It was curious to see how covered with sores the legs of the old birds of both sexes were. These sores or excrescences are, I believe, produced by the resinous matter of the fir-trees on which they obtain their food. Some specimens had the hinder part of the tarsi more than double the usual size, the excrescences could not be removed by the hand, and I was surprised that the birds had not found means of ridding themselves of such an inconvenience. One of the figures in my plate represents the form of these sores.

I was assured that during mild winters, the Pine Grosbeak is found in the forests of Newfoundland in considerable numbers, and that some remain during the most severe cold. A lady who had resided there many years, and who was fond of birds, assured me that she had kept several males in cages; that they soon became familiar, would sing during the night, and fed on all sorts of fruits and berries during the summer, and on seeds of various kinds in winter; that they were fond of bathing, but liable to cramps; and that they died of sores produced around their eyes and the base of the upper mandible. I have observed the same to happen to the Cardinal and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

The flight of this bird is undulating and smooth, performed in a direct line when it is migrating, at a considerable height above the forests, and in groups of from five to ten individuals. They alight frequently during the day, on such trees as are opening their buds or blossoms. At such times they are extremely gentle, and easily approached, are extremely fond of bathing, and whether on the ground or on branches, move by short leaps. I have been much surprised to see, on my having fired, those that were untouched, fly directly towards me, until within a few feet, and then slide off and alight on the lower branches of the nearest tree, where, standing as erect as little Hawks, they gazed upon me as if I were an object quite new, and of whose nature they were ignorant. They are easily caught under snow-shoes put up with a figure of four, around the wood-cutters camps, in the State of Maine, and are said to afford good eating. Their food consists of the buds and seeds of almost all sorts of trees. Occasionally also they seize a passing insect. I once knew one of these sweet songsters, which, in the evening, as soon as the lamp was lighted in the room where its cage was hung, would instantly tune its voice anew.

My kind friend THOMAS M’CULLOCH of Pictou in Nova Scotia, has sent me the following notice, which I trust will prove as interesting to you as it has been to me. “Last winter the snow was exceedingly deep, and the storms so frequent and violent that many birds must have perished in consequence of the scarcity of food. The Pine Grosbeaks being driven from the woods, collected about the barns in great numbers, and even in the streets of Pictou they frequently alighted in search of food. A pair of these birds which had been recently taken were brought me by a friend, but they were in such a poor emaciated condition, that I almost despaired of being able to preserve them alive. Being anxious, however, to note for you the changes of their plumage, I determined to make the attempt; but notwithstanding all my care, they died a few days after they came into my possession. Shortly after, I received a male in splendid plumage, but so emaciated that he seemed little else than a mass of feathers. By more cautious feeding, however, he soon regained his flesh, and became so tame as to eat from my hand without the least appearance of fear. To reconcile him gradually to confinement, he was permitted to fly about my bedroom, and upon rising in the morning, the first thing I did was to give him a small quantity of seed. But three mornings in succession I happened to lie rather later than usual, and each morning I was aroused by the bird fluttering upon my shoulder, and calling for his usual allowance. The third morning, I allowed him to flutter about me some time before shewing any symptom of being awake, but he no sooner observed that his object was effected than he retired to the window and waited patiently until I arose. As the spring approached, he used to whistle occasionally in the morning, and his notes, like those of his relative the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, were exceedingly rich and full. About the time, however, when the species began to remove to the north, his former familiarity entirely disappeared. During the day he never rested a moment, but continued to run from one side of the window to the other, seeking a way of escape, and frequently during the night, when the moonlight would fall upon the window, I was awakened by him dashing against the glass. The desire of liberty seemed at last to absorb every other feeling, and during four days I could not detect the least diminution in the quantity of his food, while at the same time he filled the house with a piteous wailing cry, which no person could hear without feeling for the poor captive. Unable to resist his appeals, I gave him his release; but when this was attained he seemed very careless of availing himself of it. Having perched upon the top of a tree in front of the house, he arranged his feathers, and looked about him for a short time. He then alighted by the door, and I was at last obliged to drive him away, lest some accident should befall him.

“These birds are subject to a curious disease, which I have never seen in any other. Irregularly shaped whitish masses are formed upon the legs and feet. To the eye these lumps appear not unlike pieces of lime; but when broken, the interior presents a congeries of minute cells, as regularly and beautifully formed as those of a honey-comb. Sometimes, though rarely, I have seen the whole of the legs and feet covered with this substance, and when the crust was broken, the bone was bare, and the sinews seemed almost altogether to have lost the power of moving the feet. An acquaintance of mine kept one of these birds during the summer months. It became quite tame, but at last it lost the power of its legs and died. By this person I was informed that his Grosbeak usually sang during a thunder-storm, or when rain was falling on the house.”

While in the State of Maine, I observed that these birds, when travelling, fly in silence, and at a considerable height above the trees. They alight on the topmost branches, so that it is difficult to obtain them, unless one has a remarkably good gun. But, on waiting a few minutes, you see the flock, usually composed of seven or eight individuals, descend from branch to branch, and betake themselves to the ground, where they pick up gravel, hop towards the nearest pool or streamlet, and bathe by dipping their heads and scattering the water over them, until they are quite wet; after which they fly to the branches of low bushes, shake themselves with so much vigour as to produce a smart rustling sound, and arrange their plumage. They then search for food among the boughs of the taller trees.

LOXIA ENUCLEATOR, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 299.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 372.

PINE GROSBEAK, LOXIA ENUCLEATOR, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 80, pl. 5, fig. 2.

PYRRHULA ENUCLEATOR, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 119.

PYRRHULA (CORYTHUS) ENUCLEATOR, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 262.

PINE GROSBEAK or BULLFINCH, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 535.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill short, robust, bulging at the base, conical, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal outline convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping; lower mandible with the angle short and very broad, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected; the acute decurved tip of the upper mandible extending considerably beyond that of the lower; the gape-line deflected at the base.

Head rather large, ovate, flattened above; neck short; body full. Legs short, of moderate strength; tarsus short, compressed, with six anterior scutella, and two plates behind, forming a thin edge; toes short, the first proportionally stout, the third much longer than the two lateral, which are about equal; their scutella large, their lower surface with large pads covered with prominent papillæ. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, and acute.

Plumage soft, full, rather blended, the feathers oblong. At the base of the upper mandible are strong bristly feathers directed forwards. The wings of moderate length; the primaries rounded, the second and third longest, and with the fourth and fifth having their outer webs slightly cut out. Tail rather long, emarginate, of twelve strong, broad, obliquely rounded feathers.

Bill reddish-brown. Iris hazel. Feet blackish-brown, claws black. The general colour of the plumage is bright carmine tinged with vermilion; the feathers of the fore part of the back and the scapulars greyish-brown in the centre; the bristly feathers at the base of the bill blackish-brown; the middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, light grey, the latter with a central dusky streak. Wings blackish-brown; the primaries and their coverts narrowly edged with reddish-white, the secondaries more broadly with white; the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with reddish-white, the smaller coverts edged with red.

Length to end of tail 8-1/2 inches, to end of wings 6-1/4, to end of claws 6-3/4; extent of wings 14; wing from flexure 4-3/4; tail 4; bill along the ridge (7-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 7/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; first toe (4-1/2)/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe 8/12, its claw 5/12.

Female. Plate CCCLVIII. Fig. 2.

The female is scarcely inferior to the male in size. The bill is dusky, the feet as in the male. The upper part of the head and hind neck are yellowish-brown, each feather with a central dusky streak; the rump brownish-yellow; the rest of the upper parts light brownish-grey. Wings and tail as in the male, the white edgings and the tips tinged with grey; the cheeks and throat greyish-white or yellowish; the fore part and sides of the neck, the breast, sides, and abdomen ash-grey, as are the lower tail-coverts.

Length to end of tail 8-1/4 inches, to end of wings 6-1/4, to end of claws 6-3/4; extent of wings 13-1/2; wing from flexure 4-1/2; tail 3-10/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; middle toe and claw 1-1/12.

Young fully fledged. Plate CCCLVIII. Fig. 3.

The young, when in full plumage, resemble the female, but are more tinged with brown.

An adult male from Boston examined. The roof of the mouth is moderately concave, its anterior horny part with five prominent ridges; the lower mandible deeply concave. Tongue 4-1/2 twelfths long, firm, deflected at the middle, deeper than broad, papillate at the base, with a median groove; for the distal half of its length, it is cased with a firm horny substance, and is then of an oblong shape, when viewed from above, deeply concave, with two flattened prominences at the base, the point rounded and thin, the back or lower surface convex. This remarkable structure of the tongue appears to be intended for the purpose of enabling the bird, when it has insinuated its bill between the scales of a strobilus, to lay hold of the seed by pressing it against the roof of the mandible. In the Crossbills, the tongue is nearly of the same form, but more slender, and these birds feed in the same manner, in so far as regards the prehension of the food. In the present species, the tongue is much strengthened by the peculiar form of the basi-hyoid bone, to which there is appended as it were above a thin longitudinal crest, giving it great firmness in the perpendicular movements of the organ. The œsophagus a b c d, Fig. 1. is two inches 11 twelfths long, dilated on the middle of the neck so as to form a kind of elongated dimidiate crop, 4 twelfths of an inch in diameter, projecting to the right side, and with the trachea passing along that side of the vertebræ. The proventriculus c, is 8 twelfths long, somewhat bulbiform, with numerous oblong glandules, its greatest diameter 4-1/2 twelfths. A very curious peculiarity of the stomach e, is, that in place of having its axis continuous with that of the œsophagus or proventriculus, it bends to the right nearly at a right angle. It is a very powerful gizzard, 8-1/2 twelfths long, 8 twelfths broad, with its lateral muscles 1/4 inch thick, the lower very distinct, the epithelium longitudinally rugous, of a light reddish colour. The duodenum, f, g, first curves backward to the length of 1-1/4 inch, then folds in the usual manner, passing behind the right lobe of the liver; the intestine then passes upwards and to the left, curves along the left side, crosses to the right, forms about ten circumvolutions, and above the stomach terminates in the rectum, which is 11 twelfths long. The cœca are 1-1/4 twelfth in length and 1/4 twelfth in diameter. The entire length of the intestine from the pylorus to the anus is 31-1/2 inches (in another male 31); its greatest breadth in the duodenum 2-1/2 twelfths, gradually contracting to 1-1/4 twelfth. Fig. 2. represents the convoluted appearance of the intestine. The œsophagus a b c; the gizzard d, turned forwards; the duodenum, e f; the rest of the intestine, g h the cœca, i; the rectum, i j, which is much dilated at the end.

The trachea is 2 inches 2 twelfths long, of uniform diameter. 1-1/2 twelfth broad, with about 60 rings; its muscles like those of all the other species of the Passerinæ or Fringillidæ.

In a female, the œsophagus is 2 inches 10 twelfths long; the intestine 31 inches long.

In all these individuals and several others, the stomach contained a great quantity of particles of white quartz, with remains of seeds; and in the œsophagus of one was an oat seed entire.

Although this bird is in its habits very similar to the Crossbills, and feeds on the same sort of food, it differs from them in the form and extent of its crop, in having the gizzard much larger, and the intestines more than double the length, in proportion to the size of the bird.

ARKANSAW FLYCATCHER.

MUSCICAPA VERTICALIS, BONAP.

PLATE CCCLIX. MALE AND FEMALE.

This species extends its range from the mouth of the Columbia River, across our continent, to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico; but how far north it may proceed is as yet unknown. On the 10th of April 1837, whilst on Cayo Island, in the Bay of Mexico, I found a specimen of this bird dead at the door of a deserted house, which had recently been occupied by some salt-makers. From its freshness I supposed that it had sought refuge in the house on the preceding evening, which had been very cold for the season. Birds of several other species we also found dead on the beaches. The individual thus met with was emaciated, probably in consequence of a long journey and scanty fare; but I was not the less pleased with it, as it afforded me the means of taking measurements of a species not previously described in full. In my possession are some remarkably fine skins, from Dr TOWNSEND’s collection, which differ considerably from the figure given by BONAPARTE, who first described the species. So nearly allied is it to the Green-crested Flycatcher, M. crinita, that after finding the dead bird, my son and I, seeing many individuals of that species on the trees about the house mentioned, shot several of them, supposing them, to be the same. We are indebted to the lamented THOMAS SAY for the introduction of the Arkansaw Flycatcher into our Fauna. Mr NUTTALL has supplied me with an account of its manners.

“We first met with this bold and querulous species, early in July, in the scanty woods which border the north-west branch of the Platte, within the range of the Rocky Mountains; and from thence we saw them to the forests of the Columbia and the Wahlamet, as well as in all parts of Upper California, to latitude 32°. They are remarkably noisy and quarrelsome with each other, and in the time of incubation, like the King Bird, suffer nothing of the bird kind to approach them without exhibiting their predilection for battle and dispute. About the middle of June, in the dark swamped forests of the Wahlamet, we every day heard the discordant clicking warble of this bird, somewhat like tsh’k, tsh’k, tshivait, sounding almost like the creaking of a rusty door-hinge, somewhat in the manner of the King Bird, with a blending of the notes of the Blackbird or Common Grakle. Although I saw these birds residing in the woods of the Columbia, and near the St Diego in Upper California, I have not been able to find the nest, which is probably made in low thickets, where it would be consequently easily overlooked. In the Rocky Mountains they do not probably breed before midsummer, as they are still together in noisy quarrelsome bands until the middle of June.”

Dr TOWNSEND’s notice respecting it is as follows: “This is the Chlow-ish-pil of the Chinooks. It is numerous along the banks of the Platte, particularly in the vicinity of trees and bushes. It is found also, though not so abundantly, across the whole range of the Rocky Mountains; and among the banks of the Columbia to the ocean, it is a very common species. Its voice is much more musical than is usual with birds of its genus, and its motions are remarkably quick and graceful. Its flight is often long sustained, and like the Common King Bird, with which it associates, it is frequently seen to rest in the air, maintaining its position for a considerable time. The males are wonderfully belligerent, fighting almost constantly, and with great fury, and their loud notes of anger and defiance remind one strongly of the discordant grating and creaking of a rusty door hinge. The Indians of the Columbia accuse him of a propensity to destroy the young, and eat the eggs of other birds.”

TYRANNUS VERTICALIS, Say, Long’s Exped. vol. ii. p. 60.

MUSICAPA VERTICALIS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 67.

ARKANSAW FLYCATCHER, MUSICAPA VERTICALIS, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 18, pl. 2, fig. 2.

ARKANSAW FLYCATCHER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 273.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 1.

Bill rather long, stout, tapering, broader than high, unless toward the end. Upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight and declinate, until at the tip, where it is deflected, the ridge narrow, the sides convex, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the very narrow tip. Lower mandible with the angle short and broad, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the ridge broad and flat at the base, the sides convex, the edges sharp, the tip acute. The gape-line almost straight. Nostrils basal, elliptical, partly covered by the bristly feathers.

Head rather large; neck short; body slender. Feet very short; tarsus slender, compressed, with six anterior scutella, which are so large below as almost to meet behind; toes free, slender, of moderate length. Claws moderately arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Strong bristles along the basal margin of the upper mandible, and over the nostrils. Wings rather long, broad; the first five primaries much attenuated toward the end, the first more so, the fifth least; this attenuation being chiefly produced by an incision on the first web; the first four are nearly equal, the third longest, the fourth half a twelfth shorter, the third one-twelfth shorter than the hind, and exceeding the first by nearly two-twelfths; the other primaries gradually broader and more rounded; outer secondaries abrupt and slightly emarginate. Tail rather long, almost even, of twelve broad, abruptly rounded and acuminate feathers.

Bill black. Iris brown. Feet and claws black. The general colour of the upper parts is ash-grey, the back tinged with yellow; the wing-coverts and quills chocolate-brown, with brownish-white edges, those of the inner secondaries broader. Upper tail-coverts and tail black, excepting the outer web of the lateral feather on each side, and the basal margin of the next. There is a patch of bright vermilion on the top of the head, tinged with orange-yellow behind. Throat greyish-white, the sides and fore part of the neck pale ash-grey, shaded on the fore part of the breast into pure yellow, which is the prevalent colour of the lower parts; lower wing-coverts yellow, the middle ones tinged with grey.

Length to end of tail 9 inches, to end of wings 7, to end of claws 7, extent of wings 15-1/4; tail 3-7/8; wing from flexure 5-1/2; bill along the ridge 9/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-1/12; tarsus (8-1/2)/12; first toe (3-1/2)/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12; third toe 7/12, its claw 4/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 2.

The Female is rather smaller, but is similar to the male in colouring.

The young also is similar to the adult, but wants the red patch on the head.

In the female mentioned above as having been found in Texas, the mouth is half an inch wide, its roof anteriorly slightly concave, with three median prominent lines, the palate flat, with its membrane or skin diaphanous, as in Goatsuckers. The tongue is 7 twelfths long, deeply emarginate and papillate at the base; triangular, extremely depressed, tapering to a thin slit and bristly point. The posterior aperture of the nares is 4 twelfths long, linear, papillate on the edges, ending abruptly at its fore part, without a prolonged fissure. Œsophagus, a, a, b, 2 inches 9 twelfths long, funnel-shaped for half an inch, then cylindrical and nearly 4 twelfths in diameter, until it enters the thorax. Proventriculus, c, 3-1/2 twelfths in diameter, and with a belt of oblong glandules. Stomach c, d, elliptical, 7-1/2 twelfths long, 6 twelfths broad, its lateral muscles of moderate strength, the lower not distinct; the epithelium with broad longitudinal rugæ, and of a dark reddish-brown colour. Intestine, e, f, g, 7 inches long, its diameter at the anterior part 3-1/2 twelfths, gradually diminishing to 1-1/2 twelfth. Cœca extremely small, 1 twelfth long, 1/2 twelfth broad, and 1-1/4 inch distant from the anus; cloaca i, globular.

Trachea 1 inch 10 twelfths long, tapering from a diameter of 2 twelfths to 1 twelfth; the rings ossified and firm, about 70 in number; the lateral and sterno-tracheal muscles slender; the inferior laryngeal muscles are strong but very short, forming a prominent knob, and attached to the first bronchial ring. Bronchi wide, of about 20 half-rings.

The digestive organs of this bird, and of the Flycatchers in general, do not differ materially from those of the Thrushes and Warblers. The pharynx and œsophagus, however, are much wider.

SWALLOW-TAILED FLYCATCHER.

MUSCICAPA FORFICATA, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLIX. MALE.

Not having seen this handsome bird alive, I am unable to give you any account of its habits from my own observation; but I have pleasure in supplying the deficiency by extracting the following notice from the “Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada,” by my excellent friend THOMAS NUTTALL.

“This very beautiful and singular species of Flycatcher is confined wholly to the open plains and scanty forests of the remote south-western regions beyond the Mississippi, where they, in all probability, extend their residence to the high plains of Mexico. I found these birds rather common near the banks of Red River, about the confluence of the Kiamesha. I again saw them more abundant, near the Great Salt River of the Arkansa in the month of August, when the young and old appeared, like our King Birds, assembling together previously to their departure for the south. They alighted repeatedly on the tall plants of the prairie, and were probably preying upon the grasshoppers, which were now abundant. At this time also, they were wholly silent, and flitted before our path with suspicion and timidity. A week or two after, we saw them no more, having retired probably to tropical winter-quarters.

“In the month of May, a pair, which I daily saw for three or four weeks, had made a nest on the horizontal branch of an elm, probably twelve or more feet from the ground. I did not examine it very near, but it appeared externally composed of coarse dry grass. The female, when first seen, was engaged in sitting, and her mate wildly attacked every bird which approached their residence. The harsh chirping note of the male, kept up at intervals, as remarked by Mr SAY, almost resembled the barking of the Prairie Marmot, ’tsh, ’tsh, ’tsh. His flowing kite-like tail, spread or contracted at will while flying, is a singular trait in his plumage, and rendered him conspicuously beautiful to the most careless observer.”

MUSCICAPA FORFICATA Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 931.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 485.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 275.

SWALLOW-TAILED FLYCATCHER, MUSCICAPA FORFICATA, Bonap. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 15, pl. 2, fig. 1.

SWALLOW-TAILED FLYCATCHER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 275.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 3.

Bill of moderate length, rather stout, subtrigonal, depressed at the base, straight; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight, and declinate, to near the tip, which is deflected, slender, compressed, and acute, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch close to the tip; lower mandible with the angle rather long and wide, the back broad at the base, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly covered by the bristly feathers.

Head rather large; neck short; body ovate. Feet short; tarsus with six anterior very broad scutella. Toes free, slender; the first stout, the lateral equal; claws rather long, arched, slender, much compressed, very acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of the upper mandible strong. Wings rather long, the first four quills longest, with their inner webs emarginate and attenuate at the end. Tail very long, deeply forked, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.

Bill and feet black. Iris hazel. Upper part of the head, the cheeks, and the hind part and sides of the neck, ash-grey; scapulars and back darker and tinged with reddish-brown; the rump darker, the upper tail-coverts black. Wings brownish black, all the feathers margined with greyish-white, the anterior wing-coverts scarlet; tail-feathers deep black, with their terminal margins white, the three outer on each side pale rose-coloured to near the end. The throat, fore part of neck and breast, pure white; the sides, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, and lower wing-coverts, pale rose-colour; the axillary feathers bright scarlet.

Length to end of tail 11-1/2 inches, to end of wings 7-1/2; tail to the fork 2-2/12, to the end 5-1/2; wing from flexure 5-1/8; bill along the ridge 5/8, along the edge of lower mandible 7/8; tarsus 3/4; hind toe 3/8, its claw 4/12; middle toe (5-1/2)/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.

SAY’S FLYCATCHER.

MUSCICAPA SAYA, BONAP.

PLATE CCCLIX. MALE AND FEMALE.

This species was first discovered by TITIAN PEALE, Esq. of Philadelphia, and named after Mr THOMAS SAY by BONAPARTE, who described and figured it in his continuation of WILSON’s American Ornithology. It appears to range over a very extensive portion of country, lying between Mexico and the settlements of the British Fur Companies, a pair having been procured at Carlton House, as mentioned by Dr RICHARDSON. Little is yet known of the habits of this species, but it would seem, from Mr NUTTALL’s remarks, to be a rupestrine Flycatcher, and not strictly arboreal, as supposed by Mr SWAINSON.

“We first observed this bird,” says Mr NUTTALL, “in our route westward, about the 14th of June, within the first range of the Rocky Mountains called the Black Hills, and in the vicinity of that northern branch of the Platte known by the name of Larimie’s Fork. At the time, we saw a pair perched as usual on masses of rocks, from which, like the Pewee, though occasionally alighted, they flew after passing insects, without uttering any note that we heard; and from their predilection, it is probable they inhabit among broken hills and barren rocks, where we have scarcely a doubt, from their behaviour, they had at this time a brood in a nest among these granite cliffs. They appeared very timorous on our approach, and seemed very limited in their range. Except among the Blue Mountains of the Columbia, we scarcely ever saw them again. Their manners appear to be very much like those of the Common Pewee; but they are much more silent and shy.”

MUSCICAPA SAYA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 67.—Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 20, pl. 2, fig. 3.

TYRANNULA SAYA, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 142.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 4.

Bill of moderate length, rather slender, broader than high at the base, straight; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight and declinate, to near the tip, which is deflected, slender, compressed, and acute, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch close to the tip; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the back broad, the dorsal line ascending and almost straight, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, partly covered by the bristly feathers.

Head of moderate size, ovate; neck of moderate length; body slender. Feet short; tarsus with six very broad anterior scutella; toes free, slender; the first stout, the lateral equal; claws long, arched, slender, much compressed, very acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of the upper mandible slender. Wings rather long, rounded; primaries tapering, rounded, the outer not sinuated on the inner web, the first half an inch shorter than the second, which is half a twelfth shorter than the third, the fourth about the same length as the second, the rest moderately graduated; secondaries long, broad, rounded. Tail rather long, very slightly divaricate and emarginate, of twelve rounded feathers.

Bill and feet black, basal margin of lower mandible yellow. Iris hazel. Upper parts brownish-grey, the head more tinged with brown; upper tail-coverts and tail brownish-black; wings of a darker tint than the back, the feathers margined with greyish-white; a dusky spot before the eye; fore part and sides of neck light brownish-grey, shaded into pale brownish-red on the breast and abdomen; lower wing-coverts reddish-white.

Length to end of tail 7 inches, to end of wings 5-8/12; wing from flexure 4-2/12; tail 3-1/4; bill along the ridge (7-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible (10-1/2)/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; hind toe 3/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe (5-1/2)/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.

WINTER WREN.

TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS, VIEILL.

PLATE CCCLX. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.

The extent of the migratory movements of this diminutive bird, is certainly the most remarkable fact connected with its history. At the approach of winter it leaves its northern retreats, perhaps in Labrador or Newfoundland, crosses the inlets of the Gulf of St Lawrence on tiny concave wings, and betakes itself to warmer regions, where it remains until the beginning of spring. Playfully and with alacrity it performs the task, hopping from one stump or fallen log to another, flitting from twig to twig, from bush to bush, here and there flying a few yards; feeding, singing, and bustling on, as if quite careless as to time or distance. It has reached the shore of some broad stream, and here a person ignorant of its habits might suppose it would be stopped; but no, it spreads its wings, and glides over like a meteor.

I have found the Winter Wren in the lower parts of Louisiana, and in the Floridas, in December and January, but never saw one there after the end of the latter month. Their stay in those parts rarely exceeds three months; two more are employed in forming a nest and rearing their broods; and as they leave Labrador by the middle of August at the latest, they probably spend more than half of the year in travelling. It would be interesting to know whether those which breed along the Columbia River, near the Pacific Ocean, visit the shores of our Atlantic States. My friend THOMAS NUTTALL informs me that he occasionally saw the Winter Wren feeding its young in the woods, along the north-west coast.

At Eastport, in Maine, when on my way to Labrador, I found this species in full song, and extremely abundant, although the air was chill, and icicles hung from every rock, it being then the 9th of May. On the 11th of June, I found it equally plentiful in the Magdalene Islands, and wondered how it could have made its way there, but was assured by the inhabitants that none were ever seen in winter. On the 20th of July, I met with it at Labrador, and again asked myself, how it could possibly have reached those remote and rugged shores? Was it by following the course of the St Lawrence, or by flying from one island to another across the Gulf? I have seen it in almost every State of the Union, but only twice found it breeding there, once near the Mohawk River in New York, and again in the Great Pine Swamp in Pennsylvania. It breeds abundantly in Maine, and probably in Massachusetts, but few spend the winter even in the latter State.

The song of the Winter Wren excels that of any other bird of its size with which I am acquainted. It is truly musical, lull of cadence, energetic, and melodious; its very continuance is surprising, and dull indeed must be the ear that thrills not on hearing it. When emitted, as it often is, from the dark depths of the unwholesome swamp, it operates so powerfully on the mind, that it by contrast inspires a feeling of wonder and delight, and on such occasions has usually impressed me with a sense of the goodness of the Almighty Creator, who has rendered every spot of earth in some way subservient to the welfare if his creatures.

Once when travelling through a portion of the most gloomy part of a thick and tangled wood, in the Great Pine Forest, not far from Maunchunk in Pennsylvania, at a time when I was intent on guarding myself against the venomous reptiles which I expected to encounter, the sweet song of this Wren came suddenly on my ear, and with so cheering an effect, that I instantly lost all apprehension of danger, and pressed forward through the rank briars and stiff laurels, in pursuit of the bird, which I hoped was not far from its nest. But he, as if bent on puzzling me, rambled here and there among the thickest bushes with uncommon cunning, now singing in one spot not far distant, and presently in another in a different direction. After much exertion and considerable fatigue, I at last saw it alight on the side of a large tree, close to the roots, and heard it warble a few notes, which I thought exceeded any it had previously uttered. Suddenly another Wren appeared by its side, but darted off in a moment, and the bird itself which I had followed disappeared. I soon reached the spot, without having for an instant removed my eyes from it, and observed a protuberance covered with moss and lichens, resembling those excrescences which are often seen on our forest trees, with this difference, that the aperture was perfectly rounded, clean, and quite smooth. I put a finger into it, and felt the pecking of a bird’s bill, while a querulous cry was emitted. In a word, I had, the first time in my life, found the nest of our Winter Wren. Having gently forced the tenant from his premises, I drew out the eggs with a sort of scoop which I formed. I expected to find them numerous, but there were not more than six, and the same number I afterwards found in the only other nest of this species ever discovered by me. The little bird called upon its mate, and their united clamour induced me to determine upon leaving their treasures with them; but just as I was about going off, it struck me that I ought to take a description of the nest, as I might not again have such an opportunity. I hope, Reader, you will believe that when I resolved to sacrifice this nest, it was quite as much on your account as my own. Externally it measured seven inches in length, four and a half in breadth; the thickness of its walls, composed of moss and lichen, was nearly two inches; and thus it presented internally the appearance of a narrow bag, the wall, however, being reduced to a few lines where it was in contact with the bark of the tree. The lower half of the cavity was compactly lined with the fur of the American Hare, and in the bottom or bed of the nest there lay over this about half a dozen of the large downy abdominal feathers of our Common Grous, Tetrao Umbellus. The eggs were of a delicate blush-colour, somewhat resembling the paler leaves of a partially decayed rose, and marked with dots of reddish-brown, more numerous towards the larger end.

The nest which I found near the Mohawk was discovered by mere accident. One day in the beginning of June, and about noon, feeling fatigued, I sat down on a rock overhanging the water, where, while resting, I might have the pleasure of watching the motions of some fishes in sight. The damp of the place produced a sudden chillness, and caused me to sneeze aloud, when from beneath my feet there flew off a Winter Wren. The nest, which I soon found, was attached to the lower parts of the rock, and presented the same form and structure as that already described; but it was smaller, the eggs, six in number, contained young far advanced.

The motions of this interesting bird are performed with great rapidity and decision. While searching for food it hops, creeps, and leaps about from one spot to another, as if it derived pleasure from exercise. At each movement it bends its breast downward, so as almost to touch the object on which it stands, and by a sudden extension of its strong feet, aided by the action of its half drooping concave wings, jerks itself forward, keeping its tail elevated all the while. Now through a hollow log it passes like a mouse, now it clings to the surface in various attitudes, suddenly disappears, but presently shews itself by your side; at times it chirrups in a querulous rolling tone, then emits single clear sharp chirps resembling the syllables tshick, tshick, and again remains silent for a time. It will now and then reach the upper branches of a small tree or a bush, by hopping and leaping from twig to twig; in the course of this transit it will present its opposite sides to you a score of times; and when at length it has gained the summit, it will salute you with its delicate melody, and then dash headlong and be out of sight in a moment. This is almost constantly observed during the spring season, when more than ever its alertness is displayed. On all such occasions however, whilst in the act of singing, its tail is seen to be depressed. In winter, when it takes possession of the wood-pile, close to the husbandman’s dwelling, it will challenge the cat in querulous tones, and peeping out here and there, as it frisks in security, wear out Grimalkin’s patience.

The food of the Winter Wren consists chiefly of spiders, caterpillars, and small moths, as well as larvæ. Towards autumn it eats small juicy berries.

Having lately spent a winter, at Charleston in South Carolina, with my worthy friend JOHN BACHMAN, I observed that this little Wren made its appearance in that city and its suburbs in December. On the 1st January I heard it in full song in the garden of my friend, who informed me that in that State it does not appear regularly every winter, but is sure to be found during very cold weather.

With the view of enabling you to compare the habits of our Winter Wren and the Common Wren of Europe, the manners of birds being a subject on which, as you are well aware, I have always bestowed particular attention, I here present you with those of the latter bird, as observed in Britain, by my learned friend, WILLIAM MACGILLIVRAY:—“With us the Wren is not migratory, but is found during winter in the most northern parts of the island, as well as in the Hebrides. Its flight is effected by a rapid and continuous motion of the wings, and therefore is not undulated, but direct; nor is it usually sustained, for the bird merely flits from one bush to another, or from stone to stone. It is most frequently met with along stone-walls, among fragments of rocks, in thickets of gorse, and by hedges, where it attracts notice by the liveliness of its motions, and frequently by its loud chirring noise. When standing, it keeps its tail nearly erect, and jerks its whole body; then hops about with alacrity, using its wings at the same time, and continually enunciating its rapid chit. In spring and summer, the male has a very pleasing, full, rich, and mellow song, which it repeats at intervals; and even in autumn and on fine days in winter, it may often be heard hurrying over its ditty, the loudness and clearness of which, as proceeding from so diminutive a creature, is apt to excite surprise, even after it has been long familiar.

“During the breeding season, Wrens keep in pairs, often in unfrequented parts, such as bushy dells, mossy woods, the banks of streams, and stony places overgrown with brambles, sloes, and other shrubs; but they are also to be found in shrubberies, gardens, and hedges in the immediate vicinity of human habitations, to which the wilder individuals also approach in winter. They are not properly speaking shy, as they conceive themselves to be secure at the distance of twenty or thirty yards; but on the approach of a person, they conceal themselves in holes among stones, or the roots of bushes.

“I know not a more pleasant object to look at than the Wren; it is always so smart and cheerful. In gloomy weather, other birds often seem melancholy, and in rain the Sparrows and Finches stand silent on the twigs, with drooping wings and ruffled plumage. But to the Wren all weathers are alike. The big drops of the thunder-shower no more wet it than the drizzle of an easterly haar; and as it peeps from beneath the bramble, or glances from a hole in the wall, it seems as snug as a kitten frisking on the parlour rug.

“It is amusing to watch the motions of a young family of Wrens just come abroad. Walking among furze, or broom, or juniper, you are attracted to some bush by hearing issue from it a lively and frequent repetition of a sound which resembles the syllable chit. On going up you perceive an old Wren flitting about the twigs, and presently a young one flies off, uttering a stiffled chirr, to conceal itself among the bushes. Several follow in succession, while the parents continue to flutter about, in great alarm, uttering their loud chit, chit, chit, with indications of varied degrees of excitement. On open ground a young Wren might easily be run down, and I have heard it asserted that an old one may soon be tired out in time of snow, when it cannot easily conceal itself. And yet, even in such a case, it is by no means easy to keep it in sight, for on the side of a bank, or by a wall, or in a thicket, it will find a hole where one least expected it, and creeping in some crevice beneath the snow, reappear at a considerable distance.

“The food of birds can be determined only by opening their crops or stomachs, or by observation directed to living individuals, the former, however, being the only sure method. The Wrens which I have opened generally contained remains of insects of various kinds, with larvæ, and sometimes pupæ; but I have also found in them seeds, and Mr NEVILLE WOOD states that they sometimes eat red currants. In the stomach of an individual examined in December 1830, I found many small hard seeds, an entire pupæ, and numerous fragments of the shells of pupæ, and elytra of coleopterous insects. So small a bird having so slender a bill, might doubtless be taken for a typical entomophagist; but it is probable that no species of this order confines itself exclusively to insects.

“The Wren pairs about the middle of spring, and begins early in April to construct its nest, which varies much in form and composition, according to the locality. One brought me by my son is of astonishing size compared with that of its architect, its greatest diameter being seven inches, and its height five. Having been placed on a flat surface under a bank, its base is of a corresponding form, and is composed of layers of decayed ferns and other plants, mixed with twigs of herbaceous and woody vegetables. Similar materials have been employed in raising the outer wall of the nest itself, of which the interior is spherical, and three inches in diameter. The wall is composed of mosses of several species, quite fresh and green, and it is arched over with fern leaves and straws. The mosses are curiously interwoven with fibrous roots and hair of various animals, and the inner surface is even and compact, like coarse felt. To the height of two inches there is a copious lining of large soft feathers, chiefly of the Wood Pigeon, but also of the Pheasant and Domestic Duck, with a few of the Blackbird. The aperture, which is in front, and in the form of a low arch, two inches in breadth at the base, and an inch and a half in height, has its lower edge formed of slender twigs, strong herbaceous stalks, and stems of grasses, the lowest being felted in the usual manner. It contained five eggs of an elongated oval form, averaging eight lines in length, and six lines in breadth, pure white, with some scattered dots of light red at the larger end, one of them with scarcely any, and another with a great number. Of three nests presented to me by my friend THOMAS DURHAM WEIR, Esq. one is extremely beautiful, being composed entirely of fresh green hypna, without any internal layer, although, no eggs having been found in it, it possibly had not been completed. It is of an oblong form, seven inches in length, and four in its transverse diameter. The mouth measures an inch and eight-twelfths across, an inch and a twelfth in height. Its lower part is formed of small twigs of larch laid across and interwoven, so as to present a firm pediment. The longitudinal diameter of the interior is three inches and a half. Another, formed on a decayed tuft of Aira cæspitosa, is globular, six inches in diameter, and composed of moss, with a lining of hair and feathers, chiefly of the domestic fowl. The third is globular, and externally formed almost entirely of ferns, like that described above. In all the nests of this species which I have seen, the lower part of the mouth was composed of twigs of trees, or stems of herbaceous plants laid across, and kept together with moss and hair.

“The nests are found in a great variety of situations: very often in a recess overhung by a bank, sometimes in a crevice among stones, in the hole of a wall, or of a tree, among the thatch of a cottage or outhouse, on the top of a shed or barn, the branch of a tree, whether growing along a wall, or standing free, among ivy, honeysuckle, clematis, or other climbing plants. When the nest is on the ground, its base is generally formed of leaves, twigs, and straws, and its exterior is often similar; but when otherwise, the outer surface is generally smooth and chiefly composed of moss.

“The number of eggs which it lays has been variously stated by authors. Mr WEIR says that, although it is commonly seven or eight, so many as sixteen or seventeen have been found in its nest. ROBERT SMITH, weaver in Bathgate, told me, that a few years ago, he saw in a nest, which was built on the bank of a rivulet about two miles from Linlithgow, seventeen eggs; and JAMES D. BAILLIE, Esq. informed me, that in June last, he took out of one which he discovered in a spruce tree, near Polkemmet House, sixteen eggs.”

My friend THOMAS M’CULLOCH of Pictou has presented me with the following curious account of a European individual of this species.

“During my residence at Spring Vale in the vicinity of Hammersmith, I was amusing myself one afternoon with the movements of a pair of Water-hens, which were flirting about the edge of the tall reeds so abundant in that neighbourhood, when my attention was arrested by a Wren, carrying a straw, darting into a small hedge directly beneath the window at which I stood. In a few minutes the bird reappeared, and flew to a piece of old thatch which was lying near, and having disengaged another straw he immediately returned with it to the place in which the first had been deposited. For about two hours this operation was continued by the bird with the greatest diligence. He then abandoned his task, and ascending the highest twig of the hedge, he poured forth his sweet and merry notes, until driven away by some person passing near. For the remainder of the evening I saw no more of the little architect, but on the following morning, being drawn to the window by his song, I observed him leave his favourite perch and resume with ardour the employment of the previous day. During the forenoon I was not able to pay much attention to the movements of the Wren, but from an occasional glance I observed that his task, with the exception of a few intervals of relaxation, when his merry warble fell upon the ear, was plied with a degree of bustling activity which was worthy of the important undertaking. On examining his labours at the close of the second day, I observed that the exterior of a large spherical nest was nearly finished, and that from the old thatch, though exceedingly moist and black from decay, all the materials had been obtained. By the afternoon of the ensuing day his visits to the thatch were discontinued, and he kept bustling and flirting about the spot. He seemed from his lengthened intervals of song rather to be exulting in the progress, than to be making any addition to the work. In the evening I inspected the nest, and found the exterior complete, and by carefully inserting my finger, I ascertained that no lining had yet been applied, in consequence most probably of the moisture which still remained in the straw. Returning to the spot in about half an hour afterwards, with one of my cousins, to look at the nest, I observed with no small surprise that the little bird had not only resented the intrusion by closing up the aperture, but also had opened another passage from the opposite side of the hedge. The aperture was closed with pieces of the old thatch, and the work was so neatly executed that no traces of the former entrance were perceptible. The nest was altogether the work of one bird, and during the time he spent in building we never observed another Wren in his company. In the choice of the materials, as well as in the situation of the nest, there was something exceedingly curious. Though the bottom and sides of the garden were enclosed by a thick hedge, in which he could have built in perfect security, and where, from the vicinity of the stables, abundance of fresh materials could have been easily obtained, yet the old thatch and the hedge at the head of the garden were preferred. This part of the hedge was young and thin, and separated from the buildings by a narrow path, which was constantly frequented by the servants of the establishment. Interruptions from this source, however, he did not seem to mind, for though often driven from his task he returned the next moment with as much confidence as if he had never been disturbed. Even when his nest was destroyed by the wantonness of a stranger, he did not abandon the place, but continued to carry straws from the old thatch with as much diligence as before. From the extreme caution, however, which he subsequently displayed, and the circuitous routes which he took, I never could discover the spot which he selected for his second nest.”

The Winter Wren so closely resembles the European Wren, that I was long persuaded of their identity; but a careful comparison of a great number of specimens, has convinced me that permanent differences in colouring may be pointed out, although still, I am not by any means persuaded that they are specifically different.

TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS, Vieill. Encyl. Meth., ii. p. 470.

TROGLODYTES EUROPÆUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 93.

WINTER WREN, SYLVIA TROGLODYTES, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 139, pl. 8, fig. 6.

TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS, WINTER WREN, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 318.

WINTER WREN, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 427.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLX. Fig 1.

Bill rather long, slender, tapering, acute, nearly straight, subtrigonal at the base, compressed towards the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal outline slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping at the base, towards the end slightly convex and erect, the edges sharp, direct, without notæ; lower mandible with the angle narrow and rather acute, the dorsal outline straight, the back narrow, the edges sharp, and inflected, the tip very narrow; the gape-line very slightly arched. Nostrils linear-oblong, basal.

Head ovate, of moderate size, neck short; body ovate. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella, of which the upper are indistinct; toes rather large compressed; first large, and much longer than the two lateral which are equal, the third much longer; the third and fourth coherent as far as the second joint of the latter. Claws long, arched, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, acute.

Plumage soft and blended; no bristle-feathers at the base of the bill. Wing shortish, broad, much rounded; first quill very small, being little more than half the length of the second, which is 2-1/4 twelfths shorter than the third; the fourth longest, and exceeding the third by half a twelfth, and the fourth by somewhat less; secondaries long, rounded. Tail short, much rounded, of twelve slightly arched, weak rounded feathers.

Bill dusky brown, with the basal edges of the upper and two-thirds of the lower mandible paler. Iris brown. Tarsi and toes pale greenish-brown, as are the claws. The general colour of the upper parts is reddish-brown, darker on the head, brighter on the tail-coverts, quills, and tail. There is a white spot near the tips of the posterior dorsal feathers. The secondary coverts, and the first small coverts, have each a white spot at the tip. The wing-coverts and quills banded with blackish-brown and brownish-red, the bands of the latter colour becoming reddish-white on the outer five quills. Tail with twelve dusky-bands. The dorsal feathers and scapulars are more faintly barred in the same manner. A brownish-white band from the upper mandible over the eye; the cheeks brown, spotted with brownish-white, the margins of the feathers being of the former colour; the lower parts pale reddish-brown, the sides and abdomen barred with brownish-black and greyish-white; the fore neck and breast more faintly barred; the lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white, barred with dusky; the lower tail-coverts brownish-red, barred with dusky and having the tip white.

Length to end of tail 3-7/8 inches, to end of wings 3-1/8, to end of claws 4-3/8; extent of wings 6-(1-1/2)/8; wing from flexure 1-7/8; tail 1-5/12; bill along the ridge 5/12; tarsus 8/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 6/12, its claw (2-3/4)/12. Weight 6 dr.

Female. Plate CCCLX. Fig. 2.

The Female is somewhat smaller than the male.

Length to end of tail 3-5/8 inches, to end of wings 3, to end of claws 4-2/8; extent of wings 5-3/8; wing from flexure 1-7/8; tail 1-4/12. Weight 4 dr.

Young in Autumn. Plate CCCLX. Fig. 3.

The upper parts are much darker than in the adult; the lower parts of a deeper tint.

Length to end of tail 3-1/2 inches, to end of wings 3-1/8, to end of claws 4-1/8; extent of wings 5-3/8; wing from flexure 1-(5-1/2)/8.

The young bird just ready to fly, has the bill bright yellow, excepting the ridge of the upper mandible, which is brown; the feet yellowish-brown. The upper parts are reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky; the wings as in the adult, but the secondary coverts with only a very small dull white spot at the tip, and the first row of coverts with a line of the same colour along the shaft. The lower parts are dull greyish-brown, with the terminal margin of each feather darker, and the sides and hind parts barred with dusky.

On comparing numerous specimens of American and European birds, it is found that the proportions of the parts are nearly the same, and the colours generally similar. But the American birds generally have the lower parts more tinged with red, their general colour being pale reddish-brown, whereas those of the European birds are pale greyish-brown; in the former the bars on the sides and hind parts are much darker, advance farther on the breast, and in some specimens are seen even on the neck; in the latter the bars are dusky, and never appear on the middle of the breast, much less on the neck. In old European birds, the axillars and lower wing-coverts are greyish-white, without spots; in old American birds, even those of which the neck is unbarred, the axillars and lower wing-coverts are always barred with dusky. As to the two rows of white spots on the wings, they seem to be quite similar in the birds of both continents, and in those of each exhibit variations in form, sometimes being short and somewhat triangular, sometimes also extending along the shaft. The tarsi, toes, and claws are precisely similar, as are the wings, and it does not appear that in the American bird the claws are larger, or the wings longer, as might be supposed by a person desirous of proving the one to be more scansorial and migratory than the other. Perhaps the European bird is somewhat larger, and it certainly differs a little in colour. After one has studied the differences, he can easily select from a promiscuous assemblage of skins the European or the American specimens. But, after all, the differences are very slight, and certainly not such as to form good essential characters. Were the two species to be comparatively characterized, they might be described as follows.

T. europæa. In the male the upper parts reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky, the lower parts pale greyish-brown, the sides and abdomen barred with dusky and greyish-white, the fore neck and breast without bars, the lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white.

T. hyemalis. In the male the upper parts reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky, the lower parts pale reddish-brown, the sides and abdomen barred with brownish-black and greyish-white, the fore neck and breast more faintly barred, the lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white, barred with dusky.

The following is a comparative view of the measurements of several American and European birds.

American.

M. M. F. Length to end of tail, 3-7/8 3-11/12 3-5/8 .... wings, 3-1/8 — 3-1/8 .... claws, 4-3/8 — 4-2/8 Extent of wings, 6-(1-1/2)/8 — 5-3/8 Wing from flexure, 1-7/8 1-11/12 1-7/8 Tail, 1-5/8 1-3/12 1-4/12 Bill, 5/12 5/12 (4-3/4)/12 Tarsus, 8/12 (8-1/2)/12 8/12 Hind toe, 4/12 (4-1/2)/12 4/12 Its claw, 4/12 (3-1/2)/12 3/12 Middle toe, 6/12 (6-1/2)/12 5-3/4)/12 Its claw, (2-3/4)/12 (2-1/2)/12 2/12

European.

M. M. F. Length to end of tail, 4 4-1/4 3-6/8 .... wings, 3-1/4 — 3-1/8 .... claws, 4-1/2 — 4-1/4 Extent of wings, 5-7/8 6-1/2 5-3/4 Wing from flexure, 1-7/8 1-11/12 1-7/8 Tail, 1-(5-1/2)/12 1-1/2 1-4/12 Bill, 5/12 (5-1/2)/12 5/12 Tarsus, 8/12 8/12 8/12 Hind toe, 4/12 (4-1/2)/12 4/12 Its claw, (3-1/2)/12 4/12 3/12 Middle toe, 6/12 (6-1/2)/12 6/12 Its claw, (2-1/2)/12 (2-1/4)/12 (2-1/4)/12

In a male shot at Charleston in January, the upper mandible has a prominent median line beneath, the palate is flat, the mouth 2-3/4 twelfths in breadth. The tongue is 5 twelfths long, emarginate and papillate at the base, slender, flattened, very narrow, tapering to a lacerated point. The œsophagus, a, b, c, is 1-1/2 inch long, of uniform diameter, being 1-1/2 twelfths in breadth. The stomach, d, e, is oblong, 5 twelfths in length, 3-1/2 twelfths in breadth, its muscles of moderate strength, the lower not distinct from the right; the cuticular lining longitudinally rugous, and of a dark brown colour. The intestine, f, g, h, is 8 inches long, the duodenum 2 twelfths in diameter; the cœca 1 twelfth long, 1-1/4 twelfth broad; the neck 9 twelfths long; the cloaca large, globular, 3 twelfths in diameter.

The trachea is 1 inch 3 twelfths long, of nearly uniform diameter, 1-1/2 twelfths broad; the lateral muscles strong, sterno-tracheal, and four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles; the rings ossified.

ROCK WREN.

TROGLODYTES OBSOLETUS, SAY.

PLATE CCCLX. ADULT FEMALE.

This species was discovered by some of Major LONG’s exploring party, and first described by Mr THOMAS SAY. My friend THOMAS NUTTALL, who had opportunities of studying its habits, during his recent journey in company with Dr TOWNSEND, has assured me that they are very similar to those of the other Wrens. The figure in the plate was taken from an adult female, given to me by Mr NUTTALL; and I have since then obtained two males. In my drawing the bird was represented on a stone, but for the reasons mentioned in my Introduction, my son VICTOR GIFFORD attached it to the drawing of the Winter Wren, so that it now appears perched on a twig, which, however, is not a common practice with this species.

“On the 21st of June,” says Mr NUTTALL, “on the ledges of the bluffs which border the bottom of Hare’s Fork of the Siskadee (or Colorado of the West), I heard, and at length saw this curious Mountain Wren. Its actions are those of the Carolina species, Troglodytes ludovicianus. The old female (as I supposed) sat upon a ledge of rock at the head of a high ravine in the bluff, cocking her tail, and balancing herself, at the same time uttering a tshurr, tshurr, and té aigh, with a strong guttural accent, and now and then, when approached, like the common Short-billed Marsh Wren, Troglodytes brevirostris, a quick guttural tshe de de. It has also a shrill call at times, as it perches on a stone on the summit of some hill, again similar to the note of the Carolina Wren, occasionally interrupted by a tshurr. Among these arid and bare hills of the central table-land they were quite common. The old ones were feeding and watching a brood of four or five young, which, though fully grown, were protected and cherished with the querulous assiduity so characteristic of the other Wrens. They breed under the rocky ledges where we so constantly observed them, under which they skulk at once when surprised, and pertinaciously hide in security, like so many rats. Indeed so suddenly do they disappear among the rocks, and remain so silent in their retreat, that it is scarcely possible to believe them beneath your feet till after a lapse of a few minutes you begin to hear a low cautious chirp, and the next moment, at the head of the ravine, the old female probably again appears, scolding and jerking in the most angry attitudes she is capable of assuming. In the same rocky retreats they are commonly accompanied by a kind of small striped Ground Squirrel, like that of the eastern coast in many respects, but much smaller. These little animals, which are numerous, the White-chinned Buzzard, Buteo vulgaris of RICHARDSON and SWAINSON, and the Raven frequently hover over and pounce upon. We met with this species as far west as the lowest falls of the Columbia, or within a few miles of Fort Van Couver, but among rocks and cliffs as usual.”

TROGLODYTES OBSOLETA, Say.

MYOTHERA OBSOLETA, Ch. Bonap. Amer. Ornith vol. i. p. 6, pl. 1, fig. 2.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WREN, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 435.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLX Fig. 4.

Bill nearly as long as the head, slender, slightly arched, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the sides convex towards the end, flat and declinate at the base, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very slight notch close to the declinate tip; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the dorsal line very slightly concave, the sides sloping outwards and concave, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, basal, with a cartilaginous operculum, open and bare.

Head oblong; neck short; body slender. Legs of ordinary length; tarsus longer than the middle toe, compressed, with eight anterior distinct scutella, and two lateral plates forming a sharp edge behind. Toes of moderate size, the third and fourth united at the base, the first large, the outer considerably longer than the inner. Claws rather long, moderately arched, much compressed, with an abruptly tapering, very acute tip.

Plumage soft and loose. Wings of moderate length, convex, broad and rounded; the first quill very short, the second a quarter of an inch shorter than the third; the fourth longest, but scarcely exceeding the third and fifth. Tail rather long, much rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.

Bill dusky, with the edges pale yellow. Iris hazel. Feet dusky. Upper parts light dull yellowish-brown, and, excepting the rump, transversely barred with greyish-brown; the wings barred in the same manner, excepting the primaries, which are plain; the secondary coverts with a small white spot near the tip. Tail-coverts barred like the back, as are the two middle tail-feathers; the others broadly tipped with pale yellowish-red, undulated with dusky; behind which is a broad band of brownish-black; the remaining or basal part banded like the central feathers, the outer feather with four reddish-white spots or bars on the outer web, the intervals being brownish-black, and a spot of white on the inner web. The lower parts are greyish-white, tinged with sienna, the sides inclining to yellowish-red. The lower tail-coverts are barred with brownish-black.

Length to end of tail 6 inches, wing from flexure 2-11/12; tail 2-1/4; bill along the ridge (9-1/2)/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12; middle toe 6/12, its claw (2-1/4)/12.

DUSKY GROUS.

TETRAO OBSCURUS, SAY.

PLATE CCCLXI. MALE AND FEMALE.

As I have never seen this species in its native haunts, I am obliged to have recourse to the observations of those who have had opportunities of studying its habits. The only accounts that can be depended upon are those of Dr RICHARDSON, Dr TOWNSEND, and Mr NUTTALL, which I here give in order, beginning with what is stated respecting it in the Fauna Boreali-Americana by the first of these naturalists.

“This large Grous inhabits the Rocky Mountains from latitude 40° to 60°, and perhaps to a greater extent, for the limits of its range either northward or southward have not been ascertained. It has been known to the fur-traders for nearly thirty years; but it was first introduced to the scientific world by Mr SAY, who, in 1820, accompanied Major LONG to the source of the Missouri; and a female specimen, deposited by him in the Philadelphia Museum, has lately been figured by the Prince of MUSIGNANO in his continuation of Wilson’s Ornithology. I had no opportunity of observing the habits of this bird myself, but was informed by Mr DRUMMOND that, in the mornings during pairing time, usual station of the male is on some rocky eminence or large stone, where he sits swelling out the sides of his neck, spreading his tail, and repeating the cry of “Coombe, Coombe,” in a soft hollow tone. Its food consists of various berries, and its flesh is very palatable. Mr ALEXANDER STEWART, a chief-factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who has often crossed the mountains, informs me that the males of this species fight each other with such animosity, that a man may take one of them up in his hand before it will quit its antagonist.”

Dr RICHARDSON adds in a note, that “the description and figure of Mr SAY’s specimen agree so completely with our younger female specimens, that there can be no doubt of their specific identity; but it is proper to observe that there is some discrepancy in the dimensions. The Prince of MUSIGNANO states the total length of the bird to be eighteen inches, that of the wing nine inches and a half. The wing of the largest of our males is scarcely so long; while the biggest of our females, measuring twenty-one inches in total length, has a wing barely eight inches long. This, perhaps, merely indicates the uncertainty of measurements taken from prepared specimens. Mr DOUGLAS’s specimens in the Edinburgh Museum are of younger birds than ours, but evidently the same species.” These remarks correspond with what I have so often repeated, that age, sex, and different states of moult, produce disparities in individuals of the same species.

Dr TOWNSEND, in the notes with which he has favoured me, has the following observations:—“Dusky Grous, Tetrao obscurus. Qul-al-lalleun of the Chinooks. First found in the Blue Mountains, near Wallah Wallah, in large flocks, in September. Keep in pine woods altogether, never found on the plains; they perch on the trees. Afterwards found on the Columbia River in pairs in May. The eggs are numerous, of a cinereous brown colour, blunt at both ends, and small for the size of the bird. The actions of the female, when the young are following her, are precisely the same as the Ruffed Grous, using all the arts of that bird in counterfeiting lameness, &c. Female smaller than the male, lighter coloured, and wants the yellow warty skin upon the sides of the neck.”

Mr NUTTALL’s notice is as follows:—“The Dusky Grous breeds in the shady forests of the Columbia, where we heard and saw them throughout the summer. The male at various times of the day makes a curious uncouth tooting, almost like the sound made by blowing into the bung-hole of a barrel, boo wh’h, wh’h, wh’h, wh’h, the last note descending into a kind of echo. We frequently tried to steal on the performer, but without success, as, in fact, the sound is so strangely managed that you may imagine it to come from the left or right indifferently. They breed on the ground, as usual, and the brood keep together nearly all winter. The Ruffed Grous also breeds here commonly, and I one day found the nest concealed near a fallen log, but it was at once forsaken after this intrusion, though I did not touch the eggs.”

From the examination of specimens in my possession, I am persuaded that this species, like Tetrao Cupido, has the means of inflating the sacs of bare skin on the sides of the neck, by means of which, in the breeding season, are produced the curious sounds above described.

TETRAO OBSCURUS, DUSKY GROUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. pl. 18.—Id. Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 127.—Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 344.

DUSKY GROUS, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 666.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXI. Fig. 1.

Bill short, robust, slightly arched, rather obtuse, the base covered by feathers. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate, the ridge convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip thin-edged and rounded; lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the ridge broad, the sides convex, the edges inflected, the tip rounded. Nostrils in the fore part of the large and feathered nasal depression, roundish.

Head small, ovate; neck of ordinary length; body large and full. Feet stout, of moderate length; tarsus short, feathered; toes stout; the first very small, the lateral about equal, and much shorter than the third; the anterior toes connected by basal scaly membranes, partially covered with feathers; all with broad and short scutella, margined, but scarcely pectinate, the lateral scales not being prominent. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, rather obtuse.

Plumage full, soft, rather blended, the feathers broad and rounded. A bare papillate space around the eye. Feathers on the upper part of the head narrow and elongated. Wings rather short, convex, much rounded; the quills very strong; the third longest, the fourth next, the third and sixth about equal, as are the first and seventh. Tail large, of ordinary length, rounded, of twenty feathers, which are broader toward the end, and abruptly rounded.

Bill brownish-black, lighter at the base. Iris dark hazel. Toes bluish-grey, claws wood-brown. Papillar space around the eye vermilion. Upper parts blackish-brown, the wings lighter. The elongated feathers on the head greyish-brown; the hind neck minutely undulated with bluish-grey; the scapulars, inner secondaries, and smaller wing-coverts also minutely undulated with grey and brownish-red, and most of the latter with a small greyish tip; the rump and upper tail-coverts obscurely undulated with grey. Alula, primary coverts and quills, clove-brown, the secondaries bordered and tipped with yellowish-grey; the primaries mottled with grey on their outer webs. The tail is black. The sides of the head, fore part and sides of the neck, and fore part of the breast greyish-black; the lore and throat are barred with white; the greyish-black of the breast passes into blackish-grey, and finally into dull bluish-grey; the feathers of the abdomen tipped with greyish-white, as are the lower rump and tail-coverts, which have moreover one or two narrow bars of the same; the flanks undulated with black and marked with an elongated white spot along the central part and on the tip; axillary feathers white, as are the inner wing-coverts; the tarsal feathers brownish-grey. The concealed part of the plumage is light grey, unless on the feathers around the bare space on each side of the neck, which is of an orange colour, and which the bird inflates.

Length to end of tail 22 inches, to end of wings 15-1/2, to end of claws 18-1/2; extent of wings 30; wing from flexure 9-1/2; tail 7-1/2; bill along the ridge 1, along the edge of lower mandible 1-(2-1/2)/12; tarsus 1-9/12; hind toe 6/12, its claw 6/12; second toe 1-2/12 its claw 7/12; third toe 1-10/12, its claw (8-1/2)/12; fourth toe 1-5/12, its claw (6-1/2)/12.

Female. Plate CCCLXI. Fig. 2.

The female is considerably smaller than the male. The bare papillar space over the eye is of much less extent, but, as well as the bill and feet, is coloured as in the male. The upper parts are dark greyish-brown, barred on the neck with grey, on the other parts barred and minutely undulated with yellowish-brown; the wings as in the male, but lighter and more mottled; the tail greyish-brown, becoming black toward the end, the middle feathers undulated like the back, and having four grey bands with a terminal white one. The sides of the head and the throat are greyish-white, undulatingly barred with brown; the general colour of the fore neck is greyish-brown, with pale sienna bands; on the breast the colour is brownish-grey, and the colours and markings of the rest of the under parts are as in the male, but paler.

Length to end of tail 19-1/4 inches; wing from flexure 9; tail 6-1/4; bill along the ridge 10/12.

In a specimen in my possession, killed by Dr TOWNSEND on the “Columbia River, Sept. 26. 1834,” the tail is considerably rounded, the lateral feathers being 7 twelfths shorter than the longest remaining, the middle feathers being lost. The tail is deep black, with a terminal band of ash-grey, half an inch in breadth. It is therefore probable, that when the tail is unworn, it is distinctly rounded, and tipped with grey.

YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE.

CORVUS NUTTALLI.

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

I have conferred on this beautiful bird the name of a most zealous, learned, and enterprising naturalist, my friend THOMAS NUTTALL, Esq., to whom the scientific world is deeply indebted for the many additions to our zoological and botanical knowledge which have resulted from his labours. It is to him alone that we owe all that is known respecting the present species, which has not hitherto been portrayed. In a note inserted by him in my journal, he says:

“As we proceed to the south in Upper California, around the village of Sta. Barbara, we find the Common Magpie substituted by this remarkable species, which is much more shy and cautious, as well as more strictly insectivorous. It utters, however, nearly if not quite the same chatter. In the month of April they were everywhere mated, and had nearly completed their nests in the evergreen oaks of the vicinity (Quercus agrifolia). The only one I saw was situated on a rather high tree, towards the summit, and much concealed among the thick and dark branches. Their call was pait, pait; and on approaching each other, a low congratulatory chatter was heard. After being fired at once, it seemed nearly impossible again to approach them within gun-shot. When alighted in the thick oaks, they remained for a considerable time silent, and occasionally even wholly hid themselves; but after a while the call of recognition was again renewed, and if the pair then met, they would often fly off a mile or more, without stopping, in quest of insects. We often saw them on the ground, but never near the offal of the oxen, so attractive to the Crows and Ravens around.”

CORVUS NUTTALLI.

Adult. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 1.

Bill almost as long as the head, straight, robust, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate, the sides sloping and slightly convex, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the tip, which is rather sharp; lower mandible straight, the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal outline very slightly convex and ascending, the sides sloping outwards and slightly convex, the edges sharp and inclinate, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards.

Head large, ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus with seven large scutella in front, and two long plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella, and separated almost to the base; first very strong; lateral toes nearly equal, third considerably longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, sharp, the third with the inner edge somewhat dilated.

Plumage full, soft, blended; stiff bristly feathers, with disunited filaments over the nostrils, some of them extending nearly half the length of the bill; feathers on the throat with the shaft downy and prolonged. Wings of moderate length, much rounded; the first quill very short, extremely narrow, and falciform; the second two inches and four and a half twelfths longer, and a little longer than the ninth; the third an inch and one twelfth longer than the second, and three twelfths shorter than the fourth, which is the longest. The tail is very long, much graduated, the lateral feathers being four inches and seven twelfths shorter than the middle.

Bill pure yellow, as is a bare space under and behind the eye. Iris hazel. Feet black. The plumage of the head, neck, fore part of the breast and back, brownish-black, the feathers on the latter part being very long, those on the upper part of the head strongly glossed with green; the shafts of the throat-feathers greyish, and those of the feathers on the middle of the neck white. The feathers on the middle of the back are light grey, some of them whitish, and those behind tipped with black; rump and tail-coverts brownish-black. The scapulars are white; the smaller wing-coverts splendent with bronzed green; primaries black, glossed with shining green, their inner webs white, excepting at the end, and for some way along the margin; secondaries bright blue, changing to green, their inner webs greenish-black. Tail splendent with bright green, changing to greenish-yellow, purplish-red, bluish-purple, and dark green at the end; the inner webs chiefly greenish-black, but with various tints. The breast and sides are pure white; the legs, abdominal region, lower tail coverts, and lower wing-coverts, black.

Length to end of tail 18 inches, to end of wings 11-1/2; wing from flexure 7-3/4; tail 9-10/12; bill along the ridge 1-4/12; tarsus 1-11/12; first toe 7/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe 1-2/12, its claw 6/12.

In form, proportion, and size, this Magpie is precisely similar to the common species. Its bill has the sides less convex; the bare space under the eye is of much greater extent, and the feathers of the tail are much narrower. The colours are similar, and distributed in the same manner; but the bill of the present species is yellow, instead of black, and the black of the back and fore neck is tinged with brown. The two species are wonderfully closely allied; but on comparing my specimen with several others in the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, I found that they all precisely agreed with it.

I have represented in the plate a twig of a species of Platanus discovered by the excellent naturalist after whom I have named the bird perched upon it.

STELLER’S JAY.

CORVUS STELLERI, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

Of this Jay, discovered by STELLER, whose name it bears, Dr RICHARDSON states that it “is not uncommon in the summer time on the Pacific coast of America, from the mouth of the Columbia to the 56th parallel. It also frequents the Rocky Mountains, where Mr DRUMMOND procured a specimen. In its manner it greatly resembles the Garrulus cristatus.” Mr NUTTALL’s account of it is as follows:—

“We first observed this bird in our Western route in the Blue Mountains of the Columbia, east of Wallah Wallah. Here they were scarce and shy, but we met them in sufficient abundance in the majestic pine forests of the Columbia, where, in autumn, their loud and trumpeting clangour was heard at all hours of the day, calling out djay, djay, and sometimes chattering and uttering a variety of other notes scarcely recognisable as distinct from the calls of our common Blue Jay. They are, however, far more bold, irritable, and familiar. Watchful as dogs, a stranger no sooner shews himself in their vicinity then they neglect all other employment to come round, follow, peep at and scold him, sometimes with such pertinacity and irritability as to provoke the sportsman intent on other game to level his gun against them in mere retaliation. At other times, stimulated by mere curiosity, they will be observed to follow you in perfect silence, until something arouses their ready ire, when the djay, djay, pay, pay, is poured upon you without intermission, till you are beyond their view. So intent are they on vociferating, that it is not uncommon to hear them busily scolding even while engaged with a large acorn in the mouth. Of their geographical limits we are as yet uncertain. They were first found by STELLER at Nootka; but they do not extend into upper California, and scarcely to the west as far as the most western of the true Rocky Mountain Chains. They feed on insects, acorns, and the seeds of the gigantic pines which form a belt along the Pacific and the rivers of the Oregon Territory. In the month of May, I found a nest of this species in a small sapling of Douglas’s Fir, on the borders of a dark and dense forest, and again some time after a second nest with young, in an elevated branch of the same pine, on the border of a rocky cliff. On approaching the nest, which contained four eggs, of a pale green colour, with small olive-brown specks, varied with others of rather a violet hue, both the male and female flew at me with the utmost anger and agitation, deafening me almost with their cries and entreaties. But though I took only two of their eggs, I found next day that they had forsaken the nest, being too fearful and jealous of the intrusion to remain any longer in the same place. The nest as usual was bulky, made of interlaced twigs, and roots, with a stout layer of mud, and lined with black root-fibres. I saw the nest about ten days previous to the time of taking two of the four eggs. On that occasion the female (probably) only followed me in silence.”

CORVUS STELLERI, Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 370.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 158.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 438.

STELLER’S JAY, GARRULUS STELLERI, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 44.

GARRULUS STELLERI, STELLER’S JAY, Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 294.

STELLER’S JAY, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 229.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 2.

Bill shorter than the head, strong, straight, a little compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and convex toward the end, the sides sloping and becoming more convex toward the tip, which is declinate, thin edged and obtuse, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch; lower mandible straight, the angle short and broad, the dorsal outline ascending and slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and directed outwards, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, roundish, covered by reversed bristly feathers.

Head large, ovate, eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus much compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, and two long plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella, the outer adherent as far as its second joint to the middle toe; first very strong; lateral toes nearly equal, third much longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, sharp.

Plumage full, soft, blended; stiff bristly feathers with disunited barbs over the nostrils, some of them extending a third of the length of the bill; at the base of the upper mandible several longish slender bristles. The feathers on the top of the head and occiput linear-oblong, slightly recurved, and forming an erectile crest an inch and a half in length. Wings of moderate length, convex, and much rounded; the first quill very short, the second an inch and a quarter longer, the third nine-twelfths longer than the second, and three-twelfths shorter than the fourth, which is one-twelfth shorter than the fifth, the latter being the longest, although scarcely exceeding the sixth. Tail long, rounded, of twelve rather broad, rounded, and acuminate feathers, of which the shafts are undulated.

Bill and feet black. Iris hazel. Head and neck, with the fore part and middle of the back brownish-black, of a lighter tint on the back, and on the throat streaked with dull grey; the feathers on the forehead tipped with bright blue; the hind part of the back, the rump, and the upper tail-coverts, light blue; as are the lower tail-coverts, the sides and lower parts of the rump, the sides of the body, and the whole of the breast; the middle of the abdomen paler, the tibial feathers, and the lower wing-coverts dusky, tinged with blue. Wings blue, the secondary coverts and quills rich indigo and ultra-marine, narrowly barred with black, the outer coverts of the primaries pale; the inner webs of the primaries and outer secondaries dusky; tail blue with numerous narrow, inconspicuous dusky bars; the lower surface of the wings and tail dusky.

Length to end of tail 13 inches; bill along the ridge 1-(1-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-(4-1/2)/12; wing from flexure 5-11/12; tail 6; tarsus 1-8/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe 11/12, its claw 5/12.

The Female is similar to the male, and scarcely inferior in colouring, but somewhat smaller.

Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge 1-1/2; wing from flexure 5-1/2; tail 5-1/2; tarsus 1-8/12; middle toe 11/12 its claw 5/12.

Dr TOWNSEND informs me that it is called Ass-ass by the Chinooks, who regard it with a superstitious feeling, believing that should a person hear it enunciating certain notes, which resemble the syllables jaa-jaa, he will shortly die, whereas its other notes, kuc, kuc, kuc, kuc, rapidly repeated, portend good. He further states that it is gregarious, like the Blue Jay, and corroborates some of the particulars above given.

Two eggs presented to me by Mr NUTTALL measure an inch and an eighth in length, and seven-eighths in breadth.

ULTRAMARINE JAY.

CORVUS ULTRAMARINUS.

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

Although the Ultramarine Jay has been described by Mr SWAINSON, in his Synopsis of the Birds of Mexico, under the name of Garrulus sordidus, I retain the specific name “ultramarinus,” previously given by the Prince of MUSIGNANO. The only observations respecting its habits that I am aware of having been made, are the following, for which I am indebted to my friend THOMAS NUTTALL.

“Early in October, on arriving in the forests of the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver, an establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Company, we saw in the same situations with the Steller’s Jay, the present species. Its habits are much like those of the Common Jay. It usually flies out to the tops of the lofty pines, jerks its tail, and perches playfully on some extreme branch, where it utters at times, as if excited by petulant anger, a strong whoit, woit, woit, woit, after which expression it emits a sort of recognition-call at short intervals, twee, and sometimes a shorter ’twee ’twee. When much pursued, it sits still in the concealing shade of the lofty branches on which it seeks refuge. It feeds on insects, acorns broken up, and probably pine seeds. They appear to associate in roving families throughout the fall and winter, like the other species, seldom if ever associating with the more Common Steller’s Jay, though now and then perhaps in the same tree. It is a graceful, active, and rather shy species, flying out straight from tree to tree, remarkable by its long tail and rather short wings; and its note is much less harsh and loud than that of Steller’s Jay. They breed in the dark pine woods probably where we so frequently saw them alight, and on the 15th of June they were feeding their fully fledged young, two of which I pursued for some time, but they skulked so effectually as to escape me after a long and doubtful chase. The young had a great predominance of grey on the back. The same species also extends into Upper California.”

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 3.

Bill shorter than the head, strong, straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and convex toward the end, the sides sloping and becoming convex toward the tip, which is declinate, thin-edged and obtuse, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch; lower mandible straight, the angle rather short and broad, the dorsal outline ascending and slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and directed outwards, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, roundish covered by the reversed bristly feathers.

Head large, ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus much compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, and two long plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella, the outer adherent as far as its second joint to the middle toe; first very strong; inner toe shorter than outer, third much longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage full, soft, blended. Stiff feathers with disunited barbs over the nostrils, the longest scarcely extending to a third of the length of the bill; at the base of the upper mandible several longish slender bristles. Wings of moderate length, convex, and much rounded; the first quill very short, an inch and two-twelfths shorter than the second, which is eight-twelfths shorter than the third, the fourth three-twelfths longer than the third, and a twelfth and a half shorter than the fifth, which is the longest, but scarcely exceeds the sixth. Tail long, much rounded, of twelve rather narrow, rounded and acuminate feathers, of which the lateral is an inch and a quarter shorter than the longest.

Bill and feet brownish-black. Iris hazel. Upper part of the head, sides and hind part of the neck, wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail, light blue; back light greyish-brown, the feathers of the rump whitish and tinged with blue at the end; the inner webs of the quills dusky; the tail transversely undulated, and having the appearance of being faintly barred with a darker tint. A white band over the eye formed by the tips of the feathers there; the cheeks dusky; the fore neck greyish-white faintly streaked with dusky; and bounded below by a narrow semilunar band of light blue continuous with that of the neck. The lower parts are pale purplish-grey, passing into white on the abdomen; lower tail-coverts tinged with blue.

Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge 1-(1-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-4/12; wing from flexure 5-8/12; tail 6-2/12; tarsus 1-8/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe 1-1/12, its claw (6-1/2)/12.

The Female is considerably smaller, but resembles the male in colour.

Length to end of tail 11-1/2 inches; wing from flexure 5-3/12; tail 6-2/12; tarsus 1-7/12; middle toe 1, its claw (6-1/2)/12.

The resemblance which this species bears to the Florida Jay is so close that one might readily confound the two. That species, however, is distinguishable by its smaller size and its more rounded tail; by its having a band of whitish across the forehead and extended over the eye, where it is not in dots as in the Ultramarine Jay.

CLARKE’S NUTCRACKER.

NUCIFRAGA COLUMBIANA.

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

No sooner had I examined perfect specimens of this somewhat singularly coloured bird, than I felt assured, more especially from the form of its bill, that it is with us a representative of the Nutcracker of Europe; and I was much surprised, on comparing it with the figure given of it by ALEXANDER WILSON, to find the latter very defective, the bill being nearly half an inch shorter than in four specimens which I have inspected. All that is known of its habits is contained in the following notes from Mr NUTTALL and Dr TOWNSEND.

“We first observed this species in a small pine grove, on the borders of Bear River, in the table-land of the Rocky Mountains, where they were probably breeding, in the month of July. We again saw a considerable flock of the young birds early in August, in a lofty ravine near the summit of one of the three belts or isolated mountains, about thirty or forty miles west of the Shoshonee River. They appeared somewhat shy, and scattered through a grove of aspens, flying with a slight chatter, scarcely a caw, from the tops of the bushes or trees, on to the ground, probably in quest of insect food. We never saw this species either on the lower plains or forests of the Columbia, or in any part of Upper California. It appears never to descend below the mountain plains.” T. N.

“CLARKE’s Crow, Corvus columbianus. First found on Bear River, and afterwards on the Blue Mountains, plentiful. Its flight is very unlike that of the Common Crow, being performed by jerks, like that of the Woodpecker. When sitting, it is almost constantly screaming; its voice is very harsh and grating, and consists of one rather prolonged note. It breeds here in very high pine trees. The White Pelican also seen here in July, no doubt breeds; also the Canvass-backed Duck, the Shoveller, and Dusky Duck; found young of all of them. The Corvus columbianus is never seen within five hundred miles of the mouth of the Columbia. It appears generally to prefer a mountainous country and pine trees; and feeds chiefly on insects and their larvæ.” J. K. T.

CLARKE’S CROW, CORVUS COLUMBIANUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. p. 29. pl. 20, fig. 2.

CORVUS COLUMBIANUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 57.

COLUMBIAN CROW, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 218.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 4.

Bill as long as the head, stout, somewhat conical, compressed, at the tip rather depressed. Upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides rounded, the edges sharp and overlapping, without notæ, the tip flattened and obtuse; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges sharp and a little inflexed, the tip flattened, and rather obtuse. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards.

Head large, broadly ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, stout; tarsus compressed, with seven large anterior scutella and two plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella; the first toe very large, the inner a little shorter than the outer, the hind much longer; the third and fourth united as far as the second joint of the latter. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage full, very soft and blended; the stiff bristly feathers over the nostrils extend about one-fifth of the length of the bill; and there are no distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible; the feathers on the head are very short. The wings are long, and much rounded; the first quill two inches shorter than the second, which is ten-twelfths shorter than the third, the latter exceeded two-twelfths by the fourth, which is the longest; the outer primaries being narrow, give the wing, when closed, the appearance of being pointed. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve rather broad feathers, of which the lateral is half an inch shorter than the middle.

Bill and feet brownish-black. Iris hazel. The general colour above and below is light brownish-grey, the forehead, throat, fore part of cheeks, and a space around the eye white, tinged with yellow. Wings black, glossed with blue; seven of the secondaries largely tipped with white, upper tail-coverts greyish-black; tail pure white, excepting the two middle feathers and the greater part of the inner webs of the next pair, which are black glossed with blue; lower wing-coverts dusky, some tipped with white; lower tail-coverts pure white.

Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge 1-8/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-10/12; wing from flexure 7-11/12; tail 5-1/4; tarsus 1-4/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12; its claw 8/12; middle toe 11/12, its claw 6/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 5.

The Female is similar to the male.

BOHEMIAN CHATTERER.

BOMBYCILLA GARRULA, VIEILL.

PLATE CCCLXIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

The first intimations of the occurrence of this beautiful bird in North America, were made by Mr DRUMMOND and Dr RICHARDSON, by the former of whom it was found in 1826, near the sources of the Athabasca, or Elk River, in the spring, and by the latter, in the same season, at Great Bear Lake, in latitude 50°. Dr RICHARDSON states, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, that “specimens procured at the former place, and transmitted to England, by the servants of the Hudson’s Bay Company, were communicated, by Mr LEADBEATER to the Prince of MUSIGNANO, who had introduced the species into his great work on the Birds of the United States.” “In its autumn migration southwards,” he continues, “this bird must cross the territory of the United States, if it does not actually winter within it; but I have not heard of its having been hitherto seen in America to the southward of the fifty-fifth parallel of latitude. The mountainous nature of the country skirting the Northern Pacific Ocean being congenial to the habits of this species, it is probably more generally diffused in New Caledonia and the Russian American Territories, than to the eastward of the Rocky Mountain chain. It appears in flocks at Great Bear Lake about the 24th of May, when the spring thaw has exposed the berries of the alpine arbutus, marsh vaccinium, &c., that have been frozen and covered during winter. It stays only for a few days, and none of the Indians of that quarter with whom I conversed had seen its nests; but I have reason to believe, that it retires in the breeding season to the rugged and secluded mountain-limestone districts, in the sixty-seventh and sixty-eighth parallels, where it feeds on the fruit of the common juniper, which abounds in those places.” In a note, he further states:—“I observed a large flock, consisting of at least three or four hundred individuals, on the banks of the Saskatchewan at Carlton House, early in May 1827. They alighted in a grove of poplars, settling all on one or two trees, and making a loud twittering noise. They stayed only about one hour in the morning, and were too shy to allow me to approach within gunshot.”

I am informed by Dr TOWNSEND, who has spent about four years in the Columbia River district and on the Rocky Mountains, that he did not observe there a single bird of this species. In the autumn of 1832, whilst rambling near Boston, my sons saw a pair, which they pursued more than an hour, but without success. The most southern locality in which I have known it to be procured, is the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, where, as well as on Long Island, several were shot in 1830 and 1832. The specimens from which I made the figures of the male and female represented in the plate, were given to me by my friend THOMAS M’CULLOCH of Pictou, in Nova Scotia, who procured several others in the winter of 1834. The following account of the affection displayed by one towards its companion, with which he has also favoured me, will be found highly interesting.

“During the winter of 1834, many species of the northern birds were more than usually abundant in the province of Nova Scotia, being driven, no doubt, from their customary places of resort by the cold which was very intense at the commencement of the season. Large flocks of the Loxia Enucleator appeared in every part of the country, while the Fringilla Linaria, of which we had not seen a single specimen for upwards of two years, could be shot at almost any hour of the day, in the streets of Pictou; and we were often told of birds being seen, which from the description we could not recognise as belonging to any species with which we were already acquainted. The first day of the year having proved uncommonly mild, I went out, accompanied by my father, with the expectation of obtaining something new for our collection of birds. We had scarcely left our own door when we observed a small flock alight in a thicket of evergreens a short distance from where we stood. Thinking they were Pine Grosbeaks, we directed the man who was with us to push on and obtain a shot. He did so, and we just arrived in time to pick up a pair of birds which he had killed. One glance was sufficient to shew us that they were not what we had supposed, but a species we had never previously seen or heard of as visiting that portion of the Continent. You, my dear Sir, have often enjoyed such moments, and therefore can easily conceive the intense delight with which we surveyed our prize, and how anxiously we watched the progress of the remainder, as they flew to an adjoining thicket, where one immediately disappeared, while the other took its station on the top of a spruce, from which its simple tze tze tze was uttered with the greatest vehemence, as if calling on its companions to hasten from the danger which it had recently escaped. Seeing the bird so very watchful, we made a small circuit with the view of diverting its attention, and at the same time of looking for the one by which it was accompanied, as I conceived it to be severely wounded, from the apparent difficulty of its flight. After a careful examination of the bush we at length observed it upon a low twig, and from its inattention to the calls of its mate, and the cowering position in which it sat, I concluded that it was unable to make another attempt to escape. Giving it an occasional glance, we turned towards the other, which still retained its former station on the top of the spruce, though its uneasiness seemed to increase at every step. While the man was cautiously working his way through the thick alder, in order to get within shot, I carefully examined the bird, which certainly presented a very interesting object. It stood almost as upright as the top on which it was perched, its height being much increased by its long and graceful crest being quite erect, while at the same time its wings were kept in a constant jerking motion, as if in readiness to remove at a moment’s notice. Independent of the mere beauty of the bird, there was something deeply interesting in the anxiety for the safety of its mate, so touchingly displayed by the force and rapidity of its simple but affectionate warning. The motion of the alders frightened the bird, and I had the mortification of seeing it rise in the air, as if about to commence a lofty and long-continued flight. Unwilling to give it up, I watched its progress with longing eyes, but at last, when about turning away in despair, it suddenly wheeled about, dashed by with great velocity, gently brushed its companion, and thus by dispelling its stupor induced it to make another effort to escape the danger which threatened its destruction. Though surprised and delighted with this singular display of fidelity and affection, I felt not a little disappointed to see them both about to elude our grasp. The weakness of the wounded bird, however, soon induced it to seek concealment in another thicket, while the other, still faithful to a friend in distress, alighted as formerly on a spruce top, whence it could both see and warn it of approaching danger. As we again drew near, its anxiety seemed to be redoubled, while its notes were uttered with corresponding quickness and energy; but before we could get within reach, it again launched into the air, and made off, calling on the other to follow with all possible speed. After flying for some time, and finding itself unattended, it again returned and alighted on a top near the one it had just left. The opportunity was too good to be lost, and notwithstanding our admiration of this additional instance of its fidelity, we shot it down, affection for its species being the occasion of its ruin. These, my dear Sir, are all the observations I was enabled to make upon these interesting birds, during the short and only time they ever came under my notice. From the man I learned that before the first shot they were quite mute, and unsuspicious of danger. Some days after these were obtained, a single one was observed by my father repeatedly to come and sit for a considerable time on some willows at the bottom of our garden, but not being accustomed to the use of a gun, he did not procure it. Whether this was the wounded one or not, we could not tell, but from the affection of the bird for its kind, we thought that possibly it might be that one in search of its lost companions.”

AMPELIS GARRULUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 297.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 363.

BOMBYCILLA GARRULA, Ch. Bonap. Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. pl. 16, fig. 2.—Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 438.

BOMBYCILLA GARRULA, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Americana, vol. ii. p. 237.

EUROPEAN WAXEN-CHATTERER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 579.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXIII. Fig. 1.

Bill short, rather stout, straightish, broader than high at the base, compressed towards the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line convex and declinate towards the tip, which is deflected, narrow, and rather acute, its sides convex, its edges sharp and overlapping, with a distinct notch; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex and ascending, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip very small, acute, ascending, with a small sinus behind. Gape-line nearly straight, the upper mandible having a wide festoon near the base. Nasal membrane large, feathered; nostrils oval, partially concealed.

Head ovate, of ordinary size; neck short; body full. Feet rather short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed, with six anterior scutella, and two plates behind, meeting so as to form an edge, except at the lower part; toes of moderate size, first stout, third and fourth slightly connected at the base; inner toe a little shorter than outer; third much longer. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage blended, very soft, silky, but with little gloss. A tuft of linear, oblong, erectile, decurved feathers on the head; no bristles at the base of the bill. Wings rather long, broad, and pointed; first quill longest, the second slightly shorter, the other primaries pretty equally graduated; secondaries, excepting the inner two, broad and abruptly rounded, with the shaft projecting and enlarged into a flat, oblong, horny appendage, of the colour of red sealing-wax. Tail of moderate length, even, or very slightly emarginate, the middle feathers being shorter, by a twelfth of an inch, than the one next the lateral.

Bill black, the base of the lower mandible whitish. Iris hazel. Feet and claws black. The general colour of both surfaces is ash-grey, becoming more tinged anteriorly with brownish-orange, of which colour are the forehead, a patch on each side of the throat near the base of the bill, and the feathers under the tail. A band of deep black from the nasal membrane, along the lore, and over the eye, to the top of the head, where it is concealed by the crest; feathers at the base of the lower mandible, and a narrow streak below the eye white; the upper part of the throat deep black. Alula, primary coverts, and quills greyish-black, the secondaries more grey; the primary coverts largely tipped with white, the primary quills with a bright yellow, the secondary with a white elongated spot at the end of the outer web. Tail light grey at the base, gradually shaded into deep black, with a broad terminal band of bright yellow.

Length to end of tail 9-3/4 inches; extent of wings 16-1/4; wing from flexure 4-8/12; tail 3; bill along the ridge 6/12, along the edge of lower mandible 9/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.

Female. Plate CCCLXIII. Fig. 2.

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

The wax-like appendages vary from seven, which is the greatest number, to four or three, and are sometimes wanting, especially in young birds, of which, however, some possess them. In some specimens the yellow tips of the tail-feathers and primary quills are very pale yellow or whitish.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.

LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXIV. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.

I found this species quite common on the islands near the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, which I visited early in May 1833. They were then journeying northwards, although many pass the whole year in the northern parts of the State of Maine, and the British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where, however, they seem to have been overlooked, or confounded with our Common American Crossbill. Those which I met with on the islands mentioned above were observed on their margins, some having alighted on the bare rocks, and all those which were alarmed immediately took to wing, rose to a moderate height, and flew directly eastward. On my passage across the Gulf of St Laurence to Labrador, in the same month, about a dozen White-winged Crossbills, and as many Mealy Redpolls, one day alighted on the top-yards of the Ripley; but before we could bring our guns from below, they all left us, and flew ahead of the vessel, as if intent on pointing out to us the place to which we were bound. On the 30th of June, a beautiful male was shot, on a bunch of grass growing out of the fissure of a rock, on a small island a few miles from the coast of Labrador; and on the 23d of July, my young friend Dr GEORGE SHATTUCK, procured a fine adult female on the Murre Islands, whilst she was feeding among the scanty herbage.

Within the limits of the United States, I have obtained some during winter along the hilly shores of the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania; also in New Jersey, and in one instance in Maryland, a few miles from Baltimore, beyond which southward I have never met with this species, nor have I heard of any having been seen there. According to Dr TOWNSEND, who resided about four years on the Columbia River, none are met with in that region. As it appears that individuals accidentally visit Europe, I am led to think that the true summer haunts of this species are as yet not better known than those of the Bohemian Chatterer and Common Crossbill. The latter has been shot in winter by my son JOHN WOODHOUSE, within a few miles of Charleston in South Carolina, where several were seen, and the specimen he procured there is now in the collection of my friend the Reverend JOHN BACHMAN.

The southward migration of this Crossbill, as well as of the other, is extremely irregular. Being evidently hardy birds, they appear to prefer northern to temperate climates, and to shift their station only during the most severe cold. The comparatively small number that spend the year in Maine and the British Provinces adjoining, may be forced to do so by wounds or other accidents, as in general I have found them moving toward the north as soon as the chill blasts of winter were tempered by the warmer rays of the vernal sun.

The habits of the White-winged Crossbill are in general similar to those of our common species. Its flight is well sustained and undulated; it is easily approached, is fond of saline substances, uses its bill and feet in the manner of Parrots, and procures its food from the cones of pines. Its song is at times mellow and agreeable, and in captivity it becomes gentle and familiar.

Mr HUTCHINS says that this species reaches Hudson’s Bay in the month of March, and breeds in May, forming a nest of grass, mud, and feathers, about midway up pine trees, and laying five white eggs, marked with yellowish spots. The young are abroad in the end of June, and the species remains in that country until the latter part of November. Dr RICHARDSON states that it “inhabits the dense white spruce forests of the Fur Countries, feeding principally on the seeds of cones. It ranges through the whole breadth of the continent, and probably up to the sixty-eighth parallel, where the woods terminate, though it was not observed by us higher than the sixty-second. It is mostly seen on the upper branches of the trees, and, when wounded, clings so fast, that it will remain suspended after death. In September it collects in small flocks, which fly from tree to tree, making a chattering noise; and in the depth of winter it retires from the coast to the thick woods of the interior.”

LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 844.

LOXIA FALCIROSTRA, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 371.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. iv. p. 48, pl. 41, fig. 4. Male.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith vol. ii. pl. 14, fig. 3. Female.

LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 117.

LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 263.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 540.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXIV. Figs. 1, 2.

Bill rather long, stout at the base, where it is higher than broad, extremely compressed toward the end, the mandibles towards their extremity deflected to opposite sides, so as to cross each other. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and deflected, the sides slightly convex, the edges sharp, and towards the end united, as in Rhynchops nigra the tip excessively compressed, decurved, and extending far beyond that of the other. Lower mandible with its angle very short and broad, the dorsal outline ascending and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and approximated at the tip, which is extremely acute. Nostrils small, basal, round, covered by the short, bristly feathers.

Head large, broadly ovate; eyes small; neck short; body compact. Feet rather short, strong; tarsus short, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two posterior plates meeting so as to form a thin edge; toes of moderate size, the outer united at the base, the first strong, the lateral toes nearly equal, the third much longer; the pads and papillæ of the soles very large. Claws long, arched, very slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point

Plumage blended. Wings of ordinary length, pointed, the outer three primaries longest (in one specimen the first longest, in three the second); secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail of moderate length, deeply emarginate, the feathers curved outwards at the point.

Bill dusky, tinged with greyish-blue, especially on the edges. Iris hazel. Feet dark reddish-brown. The general colour of the plumage is rich carmine, inclining to crimson; the feathers on the fore part and middle of the back dusky, excepting the tips; the scapulars, wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail black; two broad bands of white on the wing, the anterior formed by the first row of small coverts and several of those adjoining, the other by the secondary coverts, of which the basal half only is black; the inner secondaries are tipped with white, as are the tail-coverts, and the quills and tail-feathers are very slightly margined with whitish. Bristly feathers at the base of the bill yellowish-white; sides brownish, and streaked with dusky, axillar feathers whitish; lower tail-coverts brownish-black, broadly margined with reddish-white.

Length to end of tail 6-1/2 inches, to end of wings 5-1/4, to end of claws 5; extent of wings 10-5/8; bill along the ridge (8-3/4)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 7/12; wing from flexure 3-7/12; tail 2-7/12; tarsus (7-1/2)/12; hind toe (3-1/2)/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe 5/12, its claw 5/12.

Female. Plate CCCLXIV. Fig. 3.

The female has the upper parts dusky, the feathers margined with greyish-yellow, the rump wax-yellow; the lower parts are yellowish-grey, streaked with dusky, the fore part of the breast wax-yellow; the wings and tail are as in the male, but paler, and with the white bands on the former of less breadth. Bill and feet darker than those of the male.

Length to end of tail 6-1/4 inches, to end of wings 5, to end of claws 5-1/4; extent of wings 10.

Young. Plate CCCLXIV. Fig. 4.

The young resemble the female, but the lower parts are dull yellowish-grey, spotted and streaked with dark brown.

After the first moult the male still resembles the female, but is more yellow. At the next moult it acquires the red colour, which becomes richer and purer the older the bird.

In this species there are three longitudinal ridges on the roof of the mouth, and the palate is bent in the same manner as in Buntings. The tongue is of the same general form as that of the Pine Grosbeak, 3-1/2 twelfths long, compressed and slender at the base, with the basi-hyoid bone of a similar form, concave above, dilated and rounded at the end, so as to resemble a scoop or spoon. The œsophagus, b c d e, is 2 inches and 8 twelfths long, when dilated forms a crop of vast size, c d, which lies chiefly on the right side of the neck, but also passes behind so as to appear on the left side. This form occurs equally in the Common Crossbill, and seems to be peculiar to this genus. The greatest breadth of the crop is 10 twelfths. On entering the thorax, the œsophagus contracts to 2 twelfths. The proventriculus, e, is bulbiform, with a diameter of 3 twelfths. The stomach, f, is a strong gizzard of rather small size, somewhat bent in the same manner as that of the Pine Grosbeak, 4-3/4 twelfths long, 6 twelfths broad; its muscles distinct; the cuticular lining very firm but thin, longitudinally rugous, and of a light red colour. The intestine, g h i j k, is 10-1/2 inches long, its greatest diameter 2 twelfths, its least 1-1/2 twelfth. The rectum, j k, is 1 inch 2 twelfths long, including the cloaca. The cœca, j, are 1-1/4 twelfth long, and 1/4 twelfth broad.

The trachea is 1 inch 9 twelfths long, 1-1/2 twelfth broad at the upper part, gradually diminishing to 1 twelfth; its rings firm, and about 75 in number. The inferior laryngeal muscles are large. The bronchi are formed of about 15 half-rings.

The twigs represented in the plate are those of a species of Alder common in Newfoundland.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

EMBERIZA LAPPONICA, NILSSON.

PLATE CCCLXV. MALE AND FEMALE.

My first acquaintance with this species took place on the 15th of February 1819. Walking with my wife, on the afternoon of that day, in the neighbourhood of Henderson, in Kentucky, I saw immense flocks scattered over the open grounds on the elevated grassy banks of the Ohio. Having my gun with me, as usual, I procured more than sixty in a few minutes. All the youths of the village turned out on this occasion, and a relative of mine, in the course of the next day killed about six hundred. Although in rather poor condition, we found them excellent eating. Three days after they disappeared as suddenly as they had arrived, for although on the previous evening they seemed as numerous as ever, none but wounded birds were to be seen in the morning. Whilst at Shippingport, near Louisville, in the same State, I found a good number of these birds on the commons, feeding in company with Shore Larks and Snow Buntings, and obtained some dozens. Among all the specimens which I procured in that part of the country, none were in perfect or summer plumage, most of them being in the garb of the male, as represented by the second figure of my plate.

In their movements they resemble the Snow Bunting. They run and hop on the ground with ease and celerity, many making towards a tuft of withered grass at the same time, to search for the few seeds that may yet be procured around or beneath it, and all the while uttering a repetition of chips, in a rather low and plaintive accent. When on wing, to which they resorted after each discharge of the gun, or when nearly approached, they formed into compact bodies, wheeled and cut to and fro through the air, now high, now low, in the manner of Larks, alighting suddenly, and perhaps immediately flying off again to renew their curious evolutions. At times flocks composed of hundreds would settle on the top-rails of fences, or on the lower large branches of the trees in the fields; but on such occasions they appeared as much discontented as the Snow Buntings are, when they also alight on trees, fences, or houses.

The Lapland Longspur visits the neighbourhood of Louisville in Kentucky almost every year, but seldom appears when the weather is not intensely cold. I found it also in the vicinity of St Genevieve in Missouri; and it seems surprising that none were observed near the Columbia River by Dr TOWNSEND.

The best account of this species, as observed in the northern latitudes of America where it breeds, is that given by Dr RICHARDSON, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana. After stating that it is common in the northern regions of both continents, he says:—“I never met with this species in the interior of the Fur Countries during winter, and I suspect that its principal retreats in that season are on the borders of Lakes Huron and Superior, and in the country extending to the westward on the same parallel. In the year 1827, it appeared on the plains at Carlton House, about the middle of May, in very large flocks, among which were many Shore Larks (Alauda alpestris) and a few individuals of Emberiza picta. During their stay of ten or twelve days, they frequented open spots, where recent fires had destroyed the grass. They came to Cumberland House a few days later in the same season, and there kept constantly in the furrows of a newly ploughed field. In the preceding year they were seen, though in smaller flocks, in the vicinity of Fort Franklin (lat. 65-1/2°) in the beginning of May; and the crops of those that were then killed were filled with the seeds of the Arbutus alpina. They breed in the moist meadows on the shores of the Arctic Sea. The nest, placed on a small hillock, among moss and stones, is composed externally of the dry stems of grass, interwoven to a considerable thickness, and lined very neatly and compactly with Deer’s hair. The eggs, usually seven, are pale ochre-yellow, spotted with brown.”

The figure of the male in summer plumage represented in my plate, was drawn from a beautiful specimen in the collection of my esteemed friend, Captain JAMES ROSS of the British Navy.

FRINGILLA LAPPONICA, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 317.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 440.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR, EMBERIZA LAPPONICA, Ch. Bonaparte. Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 53, pl. 13, fig. 2, Male, fig. 3, Female.

EMBERIZA LAPPONICA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis, p. 440.

EMBERIZA (PLECTROPHANES) LAPPONICA, LAPLAND BUNTLING, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 248.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 463.

Adult Male in Summer. Plate CCCLXV. Fig 1.

Bill short, robust, tapering, somewhat compressed; the upper mandible nearly as large as the lower, its dorsal outline very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the sharp edges inflected, the marginal outline slightly angulate; lower mandible broader, with involute sharp edges. The palate with a prominent knob. Nostrils basal, round, partly concealed by the feathers.

Head of moderate size, ovate; eyes rather small; neck short, body compact. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with seven large scutella, sharp behind; toes of moderate size; the lateral toes equal, the hind toe stout. Claws long, slightly arched, laterally grooved, compressed toward the end, very acute, that of the hind toe much elongated.

Plumage soft and blended, the feathers somewhat distinct on the back and wings. Wing long, pointed; first quill longest, second scarcely shorter; secondaries emarginate. Tail rather long, deeply emarginate.

Bill yellow tipped with dusky; iris hazel; feet and claws black. The head and fore part of the neck are black; a band of white passes from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, becomes broader, and, descending on the neck, margins the black of that part. The lower parts are white, the sides streaked with black. A brownish-red crescent on the hind neck; the feathers of the upper parts black, broadly margined with yellowish-red; the first row of smaller wing-coverts margined with white, the secondary coverts tipped with the same; the primary quills narrowly edged with reddish-white, the secondary with yellowish-red; as are the tail-feathers, of which the two outer have a wedge-shaped white spot at the end.

Length to end of tail 6-3/12 inches; wing from flexure 3-10/12; tail 2-1/12; bill along the ridge 6/12, along the edge of lower mandible 8/12; tarsus 9/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw 4/12.

Male in winter. Plate CCCLXV. Fig. 2.

Bill dull yellow, tipped with dusky; feet and claws black. Upper part of the head black, the feathers edged with brownish-red; the cheeks greyish-brown; the throat, and fore part of the neck, greyish-white, a reddish-white band from the bill, over the eye, and down the side of the neck; the upper parts light brownish-red with black spots. The tips of the first row of small coverts, and of the secondary coverts, white; the quills and coverts blackish-brown, edged with light red; the tail brownish-black, the feathers edged with reddish-grey.

Female in summer. Plate CCCLXV. Fig. 3.

The female has the bill yellowish-brown, tipped with dusky, the feet and claws brownish-black, the upper part of the head, the hind neck, and the back, are reddish-grey, spotted with black; the wings and tail as in the male. A reddish-white band over the eye, and down the neck; the lore dusky; a black band from behind the eye; the cheeks light yellowish-brown; a black band from the lower mandible margining the throat, which is white; as are the lower parts generally; but the lower part of the neck is spotted with black, and the sides streaked with dusky.

Length to end of tail 5-9/12 inches; wing from flexure 3-8/12; tail 2.

ICELAND OR JER FALCON.

FALCO ISLANDICUS, LATH.

PLATE CCCLXVI. ADULT FEMALE.

The figures of the adult female of this superb Falcon now before you were taken from the bird described by Mr JOHN HEPPENSTALL, at page 554 of the second volume of this work. It was kept by him upwards of six years; and it was his intention to have sent it to me alive from Sheffield; but it died of an affection of the œsophagus, which had for some days rendered it unable to swallow its food. My kind and most worthy friend, however, sent it to me immediately, so that after having received it in good condition, I was enabled not only to make it the subject of the present plate, and to take accurate measurements of all its parts, but also to institute a comparison between it and one of the specimens obtained in Labrador, which, with its consort, is represented in Plate CXCVI.

In all essential respects it agrees with the Labrador bird. The festoon on the edge of the lower mandible is however more prominent, and on the other hand, the tooth which is prominent in the young bird from Labrador, is in the old Iceland bird broken off and worn on both sides. In like manner, several of the claws, which are larger and stronger in this individual, are worn and blunted. These are the accidents of domestication or long use, and shew that no dependence can be placed on the prominence of either the festoon or the tooth of the bill as indicating a difference of species. The tarsi, toes, their scales and scutella, are the same as in the Labrador specimen. The wing, however, is more pointed, although the feathers are of the same form; but this arises from the first quill of the Labrador bird not having completed its growth, as both it and some of the other quills are still sheathed at the base. In Mr HEPPENSTALL’s bird the second quill is longest, the third very little shorter, and the first nearly as long, and three quarters of an inch longer than the fourth. The tail is slightly rounded, as in the Labrador bird, the lateral feathers being three quarters of an inch shorter than the longest, and the feathers are similarly though less distinctly pointed, they having been considerably worn. The plumage is compact, and the feathers are of the same form in both birds, but those of the head are a little broader in the Iceland bird. On the whole, however, no differences are observable beyond what might be expected between a young and an old individual of the same species. The colouring of the Iceland bird, however, is very different.

The bill is very pale blue, the extremity of the upper mandible black, that of the lower yellowish; the eyes greyish-black; the cere, superciliary ridge, edges of eyelids, tarsi and toes, pale yellow; the eyelids pale blue; the claws black. The plumage is pure white, but all the feathers of the back and rump, the scapulars, the wing-coverts, and the secondary quills, have near their extremity a brownish-black spot, generally arrow-shaped. The anterior feathers of the back have, moreover, a black streak on the shaft, which on those farther back becomes larger and lanceolate, and on the rump is accompanied by a third spot; the larger coverts and secondary quills have also three or more spots, and the primary quills have seven spots or partial bars toward their extremity, besides a large subterminal black space, their tips however being white. On the inner margin of the two middle tail-feathers are eight, and on the outer four dusky spots, and their shafts are also dusky, as are those of all the quills on their upper surface. There are also a few slight lanceolate dark spots on the sides of the body, and on the tibial feathers.

Length to end of tail 23-1/2 inches, to end of wings 21-1/2, to end of claws 18-3/4, to carpal joint 5-1/2; extent of wings 51-1/4; breadth of gape 1-1/8; wing from flexure 17; tail 9-3/4; bill along the ridge 1-5/12; tarsus 2-4/12; hind toe 1-1/12, its claw 1-5/12; middle toe 2-1/12, its claw (worn) 11/12. Weight 2 lb., it being much emaciated.

The tongue, a, is 10-1/2 twelfths long, fleshy, deeply emarginate at the base, having on its upper surface numerous orifices of mucous crypts, towards the end narrowed, deeply concave, horny, with the extremity rounded and very slightly emarginate. The œsophagus, b c d e, is 7-1/2 inches long, wide, dilated into a large crop, c d, lying on the right side; the proventriculus, f, is 1/2 inch in diameter, with a belt of oblong glandules, arranged into four very prominent longitudinal ridges, with deep grooves between them. The stomach, f g h, is round, compressed, 1-1/2 inch in length, 1 inch 5 twelfths in breadth; its muscular coat thin, composed of large fasciculi, not arranged into distinct muscles; its inner coat soft, without horny epithelium, but irregularly rugous, especially towards the pylorus, which has three knobs or valves. The intestine, h i j k, is 36-1/2 inches long, 5 twelfths in diameter at its anterior part, gradually contracting to 4 twelfths. The rectum is 3-1/2 inches long, 1/2 inch in diameter at the commencement; the cœca 2 twelfths long, 1-1/2 twelfth in diameter; the cloaca, l m, globular. The right lobe of the liver is 2 inches 4 twelfths long, the left 2 inches 1 twelfth; the gall-bladder large.

The crop or dilatation of the œsophagus was nearly filled by two excrescences from its inner surface, of a soft spongy texture, but not ulcerated, or in any part scirrhous. The inner surface of the stomach was similarly affected, but in a much less degree, and the pyloric region was indurated. The intestines quite sound.

The trachea, m n o, is 6 inches long, considerably flattened, 5-1/2 twelfths, in breadth at the upper part, gradually diminishing to 4 twelfths. Its rings, about 78 in number, are ossified, the last large, divided, arched, and with a broad membrane, o, intervening between them and the first bronchial ring. The lateral or contractor muscles, p, are very strong, as are the sterno-tracheal, q r, and there is a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles, s, inserted into the membrane between the last ring of the trachea and the first of the bronchi. The bronchial half rings 15, slender and cartilaginous.

BAND-TAILED PIGEON.

COLUMBA FASCIATA, SAY.

PLATE CCCLXVII. MALE AND FEMALE.

In the course of Colonel SAY’s expedition to the Rocky Mountains, a single specimen of this large and handsome Pigeon was procured. This individual was afterwards figured in the continuation of WILSON’s American Ornithology. Many specimens however have more recently been obtained by Dr TOWNSEND, from whom I have procured three pairs of adult and some young birds. Comparing them with the figure above alluded to, I should consider it as having been taken from a young male. In my plate are represented two adult birds, placed on the branch of a superb species of Dogwood, discovered by my learned friend, THOMAS NUTTALL, Esq., when on his march toward the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and which I have graced with his name! The beautiful drawing of this branch was executed by Miss MARTIN, the amiable and accomplished sister of my friend Dr BACHMAN. Seeds of this new species of Cornus were sent by me to Lord RAVENSWORTH, and have germinated, so that this beautiful production of the rich valley of the Columbia River may now be seen in the vicinity of London, and in the grounds of the nobleman just mentioned, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Dr TOWNSEND’s notice respecting the bird here spoken of is as follows:—

“The Band-tailed Pigeon is called by the Chinook Indians ‘akoigh homin.’ It ranges from the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains across to the Columbia River, where it is abundant. It arrived in 1836 in very great numbers, on the 17th of April, and continued in large flocks while breeding. Their breeding places are on the banks of the river. The eggs are placed on the ground, under small bushes, without a nest, where numbers congregate together. The eggs are two, of a yellowish-white colour, inclining to bluish-white, with minute spots at the great end. These Pigeons feed upon the berries of the black elder and the buds of the balsam poplar. When sitting in the trees, they huddle very close together in the manner of the Carolina Parrot, and many may be killed at a single discharge of the fowling-piece. The flesh is tender and juicy, and therefore fine eating.”

Mr NUTTALL has favoured me with an equally interesting notice. “This large and fine Pigeon, always moving about in flocks, keeps in Oregon only in the thick forests of the Columbia and the Wahlamet, and during the summer is more particularly abundant in the alluvial groves of the latter river, where throughout that season we constantly heard their cooing, or witnessed the swarming flocks feeding on the berries of the elder tree, those of the Great Cornel (Cornus Nuttalli), or, before the ripening of berries, on the seed-germs or the young pods of the Balsam poplar. The call of this species is somewhat similar to that of the Carolina Dove, but is readily distinguishable, sounding like a double suppressed syllable, as h ’koo, h ’koo, h ’koo, h ’koo, uttered at the usual intervals, and repeated an hour or two at a time, chiefly in the morning and evening. They are said to breed on the ground, or in the low bushes, but I did not find the nest, although I saw the birds feeding around every day near Watpatoo Island. During the whole of this time they keep in flocks, either in the poplars or elder bushes, and on being started, sweep about like flocks of domestic pigeons, soon returning to their fare, when they feed in silence, keeping a strict watch for intruders. They remain on the lower part of the Columbia nearly the whole year, late in the season (October and November) feeding mostly on the berries of the Tree Cornel, but still they seem to migrate some distance to the south, as the severity of the winter approaches.”

COLUMBA FASCIATA, Say, in Long’s Exped. to Rocky Mountains, vol. ii. p. 10.

BAND-TAILED PIGEON, COLUMBA FASCIATA, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. pl. viii, fig. 3, vol. i. p. 77.

COLUMBA FASCIATA, Bonap. Synops. p. 119.

BAND-TAILED PIGEON, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 64.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXVII. Fig. 1.

Bill straight, rather short, slender, compressed; upper mandible with a tumid fleshy covering at the base, where it is straight in its dorsal outline, convex towards the end, with a sharp-edged, declinate, rather obtuse tip; lower mandible with the angle long and pointed, the sides erect at the base, sloping outwards toward the end, the edges sharp, the tip narrow but blunt. Nostrils medial, oblique, linear.

Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body full. Feet short, strong; tarsus very short, rounded, with two anterior rows of large hexagonal scales; the hind part fleshy with very small scales; toes broad and flat beneath, marginate, with large scutella above; the hind toe smallest, the lateral nearly equal, the middle toe much longer. Claws of moderate size, arched, compressed, grooved beneath, rather acute.

Plumage rather compact above, blended beneath, on the hind neck strong, with metallic gloss. Wings long, the second quill longest, the third only a twelfth of an inch shorter, the first six-twelfths shorter, and a little longer than the fourth, the rest rather quickly graduated; secondaries of moderate breadth and rounded. First quill with the outer web narrower at the base than toward the end, the second and third quills with their outer webs having a slight sinus and attenuated toward the end. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve broad abruptly rounded feathers, of which the lateral is half an inch shorter than the longest.

Bill yellow, with the tips black. Feet yellow, claws greyish-black. Bare space around the eyes carmine. The head, fore neck, and breast are of a light reddish-purple or wine-colour, which on the abdomen and lower tail-coverts fades into whitish; a narrow half-ring of white on the hind neck, the lower part of which is of a metallic brownish-green tint. The upper parts are greyish-blue, darker, and tinged with brown on the fore part of the back and scapulars; sides of the body and rump greyish-blue. Alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and outer secondaries brownish-black, very narrowly margined with brownish-white. Tail greyish-blue at the base, much paler and tinged with yellow toward the end, these colours being separated at the distance of two inches from the tip by a band of black.

Length to end of tail 16 inches, to end of wings 13-3/4; wing from flexure 9; tail 6-1/4; bill along the ridge 10/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-1/12; tarsus 1-1/12; hind toe 8/12, its claw (5-1/2)/12; middle toe 1-(4-1/2)/12, its claw 7/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLXVII. Fig. 2.

The female differs from the male only in having the tints a little duller, and on the upper parts somewhat darker, with the black band on the tail less decided, the middle feathers being but faintly marked with it.

Length to end of tail 15-1/2 inches.

It was omitted to mention that the minute spots on the eggs are white.

NUTTALL’S DOG-WOOD.

CORNUS NUTTALLI, Audubon.

This very beautiful tree, which was discovered by Mr NUTTALL, on the Columbia River, attains a height of fifty feet or more, and is characterized by its smooth reddish-brown bark; large, ovate, acuminate leaves, and conspicuous flowers, with six obovate, acute, involucral bracteas, which are rose-coloured at the base, white towards the end, veined and reticulated with light purple. The berries are oblong, and of a bright carmine.

ROCK GROUS.

TETRAO RUPESTRIS, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXVIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

Whilst at Labrador, I was informed by Mr JONES, of whom I have made mention on several occasions, that a smaller species of Ptarmigan than that called the Willow Grous, Tetrao Saliceti, was abundant on all the hills around Bras d’Or, during the winter, when he and his son usually killed a great number, which they salted and otherwise preserved; and that in the beginning of summer they removed from the coast into the interior of the country, where they bred in open grounds, never, like the Willow Grous, retreating to the wooded parts. They seldom appear at Bras d’Or until the last of the Wild Geese have passed over, or before the cold has become intense, and the plains deeply covered with snow. While about his house, they repair to the most elevated hilltops, from which the violence of the winds has removed the snow. There they feed on the mosses and lichens attached to the rocks, as well as on the twigs and grasses scantily found in such places at that season. They keep in great packs, and when disturbed are apt to fly to a considerable distance, shifting from one hill to another often half a mile off.

Not having seen this species alive, and my drawing having been taken from specimens kindly presented to me by my friend Captain JAMES ROSS, R. N., I cannot do better than present you here with the observations of Dr RICHARDSON, as recorded in the Fauna Boreali-Americana. “HUTCHINS reports that the Rock Grous is numerous at the two extremities of Hudson’s Bay, but does not appear at the middle settlements (York and Severn Factories), except in very severe seasons, when the Willow Grous are scarce, and Captain SABINE informs us that they abound on Melville Peninsula, Lat. 74° to 75°, in the summer. It arrived there in its snow-white dress, on the 12th of May 1820; at the end of that month the females began to assume their coloured plumage, which was complete by the first week in June, the change at the latter period being only in its commencement with the males. Some of the males were killed as late as the middle of June in their unaltered winter plumage. In this respect the species differs from the Willow Grous whose males first assume the summer colour. The Rock Grous is found also on Melville Peninsula and the Barren Grounds, seldom going farther south in winter than latitude 63° in the interior, but descending along the coast of Hudson’s Bay to latitude 58°, and in severe seasons still farther to the southward. It also occurs on the Rocky Mountains as far south as latitude 55°. It exists in Greenland, is common in Norway, is known in Sweden by the name of Sno Rissa, and is the species most frequent in the Museums of France and Italy under the name of Tetrao Lagopus. It is not a native of Scotland. The Rock Grous in its manners and mode of living resembles the Willow Grous, except that it does not retire so far into the woody country in winter. Contrary, however, to what HEARNE says, it is frequent in open woods on the borders of lakes in that season, particularly in the 65th parallel of latitude, though perhaps the bulk of the species remains on the skirts of the Barren Grounds. It hatches in June. The ground colour of the egg is, according to Captain SABINE, a pale reddish-brown, and is irregularly spotted and blotched with darker brown.” Specimens in my possession, coloured as here described, average one inch and five-eighths in length, by an inch and an eighth in breadth.

TETRAO RUPESTRIS, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 751.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 640.

TETRAO (LAGOPUS) RUPESTRIS, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 354.

ROCK GROUS, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 610.

Adult Male in Winter. Plate CCCLXVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill short, robust; upper mandible with the dorsal outline curved, the ridge and sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip declinate, thin edged, but rounded; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex, the back broadly convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip blunt. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by feathers.

Head small, ovate; neck of moderate length; body bulky. Feet of ordinary length, robust; tarsus feathered, as are the toes, the first toe very small, the middle toe much longer than the lateral, which are nearly equal, the inner being a little longer. Claws slightly arched, depressed, broad, with thin edges and rounded at the tip.

Plumage compact, the feathers generally ovate and rounded; those on the tarsi, toes, and soles oblong, with loose stiffish barbs. Wings rather short, concave; the primaries strong, narrow, tapering, pointed; the first an inch and seven-twelfths shorter than the second, which is four-twelfths shorter than the third, this being the longest, but only exceeding the fourth by a twelfth and a half. Tail rather short, nearly even, of sixteen broad feathers, of which two are incumbent, less strong, and longer than the rest by two-twelfths of an inch.

Bill black; superciliary membrane scarlet; claws dusky, towards the end yellowish. The plumage is pure white, with the exception of a broad band of black from the upper mandible to the eye, and for a short space behind it; the shafts of the six outer quills, which are brownish-black, and all the tail-feathers, the two middle excepted, they being of a deep greyish-black colour, with a terminal narrow band of white.

Length to end of tail 13-1/2 inches, to end of wings 12; wing from flexure 8; tail 4-1/2; tarsus 1-2/12; hind toe 2/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe 11/12, its claw 8/12.

Male in Summer. Plate CCCLXVIII. Fig. 2.

In summer, the plumage differs little in texture, with the exception of that on the feet, which is short and thin on the tarsi, worn on the base of the toes, of which the soles and half of the upper surface are denuded. The bill and claws are of the same colour as in winter; but the plumage is variegated with black, reddish-yellow, and white. The upper parts may be described as black, transversely and irregularly banded and spotted with yellowish-red, the feather terminally margined with white, there being on each feather several bars of yellowish-red running from the margin inwards, but leaving a black space in the centre. The lower parts are lighter, more broadly and regularly barred with brownish-black and light reddish-yellow. The feathers along the edge of the wing, the alula, primary coverts, nearly all the secondary coverts, primaries and outer secondaries, white; as are the lower surface of the wing, the axillar feathers, and some of the feathers on the abdomen, as well as those on the feet, the latter being soiled or tinged with yellowish or grey. The shafts of the primaries are brownish-black, and the tail is black as in winter, tipped with white, and with the lateral feathers having part of their outer web white; the two middle feathers barred like the back. The dimensions of an individual are as follows:

Length to end of tail 13-1/2 inches, to end of wings 11-1/2; wing from flexure 7-10/12; tail 4-1/2; bill along the ridge 7/12; tarsus 1-2/12; middle toe (1-1/2)/12, its claw 6/12.

Female in Summer. Plate CCCLXVIII. Fig. 3.

The female does not differ materially from the male, the yellow bands being only broader and lighter.

Very great differences are observed in the length and form of the claws, they being in some individuals very long, thin-edged, and tapering, to a rounded point; in others very short, being worn down to the stump. This species is considerably smaller than the Ptarmigan of Scotland, which it precisely resembles in its winter plumage. In its summer plumage, however, it differs in having the markings larger; and as yet no specimens have been obtained marked with undulated slender, ash-grey, and dusky lines, in any degree approaching those characteristic of the British bird in its autumnal plumage. The bill of the Rock Grous is shorter and thicker than that of the Ptarmigan, although the reverse has been alleged.

MOUNTAIN MOCKING BIRD.

TURDUS MONTANUS.

PLATE CCCLXIX. MALE.

This interesting and hitherto unfigured species was procured on the Rocky Mountains by Dr TOWNSEND, who forwarded a single specimen to Philadelphia, where I made a drawing of it. The following notice by Mr NUTTALL shews that it is nearly allied in its habits to the Mocking Bird:—

“On the arid plains of the central table-land, betwixt the northern sources of the Platte and the Colorado of the West, in the month of June, we frequently heard the cheering song of this delightful species, whose notes considerably resemble those of the Brown Thrush, with some of the imitative powers of the Mocking Bird. For a great part of the day, and especially early and late, its song resounds through the desert plains, as it warbles to its mate from some tall weed or bush of wormwood, and continues with little interruption nearly for an hour at a time. We met with it in the plains exclusively, till our arrival at Wallah Wallah, but we are not certain of having seen it in any part of California, it being apparently entirely confined to the cooler and open regions of the Rocky Mountains. Just before arriving at Sandy Creek of the Colorado, while resting for refreshment at noon, I had the good fortune to find the nest in a wormwood bush, on the margin of a ravine, from whence the male was singing with its unusual energy. It contained four almost emerald green eggs, spotted with dark olive of two shades, more numerous towards the greater end, the spots large and roundish. The nest itself was made of small twigs and rough stalks, lined with stripes of bark and bison wool. The female flew off to a little distance, and looked on her unwelcome and unexpected visitor, without uttering either call or complaint.”

ORPHEUS MONTANUS, MOUNTAIN MOCKING BIRD, Townsend, Journal of Acad. of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 192.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXIX. Fig. 1.

Bill of moderate length, rather slender, compressed, straightish, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly declinato-arcuate, the sides convex toward the end, the edges sharp, with a slight sinus close to the narrow declinate tip; lower mandible with the angle short and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the edges sharp and a little declinate at the end, the tip narrow; the gape-line very slightly arched.

Head oblong, of ordinary size; neck rather short, but somewhat slender. Feet longish, rather strong; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with seven large scutella, sharp-edged behind; toes of moderate length, slender, the hind toe stout, the lateral nearly equal, the anterior united for a short space at the base. Claws slender, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rounded, the first quill short, the third and fourth longest, the second and fifth equal, and about a quarter of an inch shorter than the fourth. Tail long, rounded, of twelve rather narrow rounded feathers.

Bill dark-brown, the base of the lower mandible paler. Feet yellowish-brown, claws dusky. The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-brown, the tips of the secondary coverts, the edges of the primary quills, and a large spot at the end of the three lateral tail-feathers, white; the lower parts whitish, marked with triangular dusky spots, of which there is a distinct line from the base of the bill; the throat, the middle of the breast, the abdomen, and lower tail-coverts unspotted.

Length to end of tail 8 inches, to end of wings 5-3/4; wing from flexure 3-9/12; tail 3-1/2; bill along the ridge (7-1/2)/12; tarsus 1-2/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 8/12, its claw (3-1/4)/12.

VARIED THRUSH.

TURDUS NÆVIUS, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXIX. ADULT MALE.

Of this beautiful Thrush, of which a figure not having the black band running quite across the breast, as is the case in the adult male, is given by Mr SWAINSON, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, Dr RICHARDSON speaks as follows:—“This species was discovered at Nootka Sound, in Captain COOK’S third voyage, and male and female specimens, in the possession of Sir JOSEPH BANKS, were described by LATHAM: PENNANT has also described and figured the same male. The specimen represented in this work was procured at Fort Franklin, lat. 65-1/4°, in the spring of 1826. We did not hear its song, nor acquire any information respecting its habits, except that it built its nest in a bush, similar to that of the Merula migratoria. It was not seen by us on the banks of the Saskatchewan; and, as it has not appeared in the list of the Birds of the United States, it most probably does not go far to the eastward of the Rocky Mountains in its migrations north and south. It may perhaps be more common to the westward of that ridge.”

Dr RICHARDSON’s conjecture as to the line of march followed by it has proved to be correct, Dr TOWNSEND and Mr NUTTALL having found it abundant on the western sides of the Rocky Mountains. The former of these zealous naturalists informs me that he “first found this Thrush on the Columbia River in the month of October, and that it becomes more numerous in winter, which it spends in that region, though some remove farther south. It there associates with the Common Robin, Turdus migratorius, but possesses a very different note, it being louder, sharper, and quicker than those of the latter, and in the spring, before it sets out for its yet unascertained breeding-place, it warbles very sweetly. It is called Ammeskuk by the Chinooks.”

Mr NUTTALL’s notice respecting it is as follows:—“Of this bird, whose manners so entirely resemble those of the Common Robin, we know almost nothing. They probably breed as far north as Nootka, where they were first seen by the naturalists of COOK’s expedition. On the Columbia they are only winter birds of passage, arriving about October, and continuing more or less frequently throughout the winter. At this time they flit through the forest in small flocks, frequenting usually low trees, on which they perch in perfect silence, and are at times very timorous and difficult of approach, having all the shy sagacity of the Robin, and appearing at all times in a very desultory manner.”

The numerous specimens of this Thrush in my possession have enabled me to compare it with Turdus migratorius, and another new Thrush from Chili. On examining the tail, from the shape of which Mr SWAINSON considers this species allied to our Mocking Bird, I found its form, length, and extent beyond the wings, to correspond almost exactly with those of the tail of our Robin; and, if it proves true that the Varied Thrush forms a nest bedded with mud, it will strengthen my opinion that both these and the Chilian species are as nearly allied as possible, and therefore ought to be considered as true Thrushes, of which, to assume the language of systematic writers, Turdus migratorius is the type in America, whilst Turdus Merula is that of Europe.

The two figures in my plate were taken from adult males shot in spring. You will find a figure of the female in Plate CCCCXXXIII.

TURDUS NÆVIUS, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 817.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 331.

ORPHEUS MERULOIDES, THRUSH-LIKE MOCK-BIRD, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 187.

Adult Male, Plate CCCLXIX. Figs. 2, 3.

Bill of moderate length, rather strong, compressed, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal outline slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the edges sharp, overlapping, destitute of notch, there being in its place an extremely slight sinus, the tip a little declinate; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line very slightly convex, the ridge narrow, the sides erect and convex, the edges sharp and slightly decurved towards the narrow, rather obtuse, tip. Nostrils basal, oblong, half closed by a horny operculum. Head of moderate size, ovate, convex anteriorly; neck rather short, body moderately full. Feet of ordinary length, rather stout; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with a long plate and four inferior scutella, posteriorly with two long plates meeting at a very acute angle. Toes rather large, the first strongest, the lateral nearly equal, the third and fourth united as far as the second joint of the latter. Claws rather large, moderately arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage soft and rather blended. Wings of moderate length, broad, rounded; the first primary extremely short, being about a fifth of the length of the third, which is longest, but scarcely exceeds the fourth; the second four-twelfths shorter than the third. Tail large, rather long, nearly even, of twelve broad rounded feathers.

Bill black, with the basal half of the lower mandible yellow; iris hazel; feet and claws flesh-coloured. The general colour of the upper parts is a deep leaden-grey, darker on the head, the feathers very narrowly margined with brown; the quills and tail-feathers dusky, the outer webs of the latter tinged with grey, and their tips white; the lore dusky; a band of reddish-orange passes from over the fore part of the eye down the side of the neck, and almost meets its fellow on the hind part; two conspicuous bands of the same cross, the wing obliquely being formed of the tips of the first row of small coverts, and those of the secondary coverts; the outer webs of the primary coverts about the middle, a band on the primaries near the base, part of the outer webs towards the end, and the tips of the secondaries, also pale reddish-orange. The lower parts in general are reddish-orange, paler behind; a band of greyish-black passes down the side, and crosses the lower part of the neck, where it is almost pure black; the feathers of the sides are tipped with light grey; those of the middle of the abdomen are white; and the lower tail-coverts are tipped with the latter colour. The axillary feathers are white, tipped with grey; the smaller coverts grey, tipped with reddish-white, the primary coverts grey, the secondary nearly white, of which also there is a bar formed by part of the inner webs of the quills.

Length to end of tail 10-1/4 inches; wing from flexure 5-1/4; tail 3-10/12; bill along the ridge 10/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-(1-1/2)/12; tarsus 1-1/4; hind toe (5-1/2)/12, its claw (5-1/2)/12; middle toe (10-1/2)/12, its claw 4/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 6.

The female, which is scarcely smaller than the male, is coloured in the same manner; but the upper parts are strongly tinged with olive-brown; the reddish-orange bands are much paler, the tail-feathers are margined with dull reddish-brown; the band on the lore, down the sides of the neck, and across it, is light greyish-brown; the orange tint of the lower parts is much paler; the lower wing-coverts have no tinge of red, and part of the breast and abdomen is nearly pure white.

Length to end of tail 10 inches; wing from flexure 5-2/12; tail 3-8/12; bill along the ridge 10/12; tarsus 1-1/4; middle toe and claw 1-3/12.

The plant represented on the plate is the American Mistletoe, Viscum verticillatum, on the berries of which several of our Thrushes occasionally feed, as the Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus, is said to do on those of Viscum album. It is found in almost every part of the United States, growing chiefly on oaks and apple-trees.

AMERICAN DIPPER.

CINCLUS AMERICANUS, SWAINSON.

PLATE CCCLXX. MALE AND FEMALE.

The specimens from which figures here given have been taken, were procured on the Rocky Mountains, on the 15th of June, when they were supposed to be breeding, so that they were probably adults in full plumage. Having little taste for critical discussions, I shall refrain from inflicting on the reader a long and elaborate review of all that has been said on the subject of this interesting but little-known bird, which was figured by the Prince of MUSIGNANO from a specimen obtained near the sources of the Athabasca River, under the name of Cinclus Pallasii; and has been described by Mr SWAINSON, first as C. Mexicanus, and again, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, as C. Americanus. The latter name I prefer to that of C. unicolor, which is in fact incorrect, the bird not being of one single colour. Unfortunately very little is known respecting the habits of the American Dipper, which however, being in form and size so very similar to that of Europe, probably resembles it in its mode of life. I therefore cannot do better than endeavour to supply the deficiency by presenting you with the history of the latter species, as given in detail by my friend WILLIAM MACGILLIVRAY, who, among the wild hills of his native country, has studied its habits with a zeal and acuteness certainly not exceeded by those of any ornithologist. His account, which first appeared in a periodical named “The Naturalist,” and which he has revised and amended for insertion here, is in truth a model of histories of this kind.

“The Dipper is in many respects one of the most interesting of our native birds. Residing chiefly in the wild glens of the mountainous districts, it now and then presents itself to the wandering naturalist as it flits along the streams, or is seen perched on a stone in the midst of the water, the white patch on its breast rendering it conspicuous at a great distance. Even the mere collector of plants, who, of all men, seems to be the least capable of comprehending the harmonies of nature, pauses to gaze upon it, as it shoots past him in its rapid and even flight; the solitary shepherd, wending his way to the mountain corry, meets it with delight; and the patient and contemplative angler, as he guides his tackle over the deep pool, smiles upon the tiny fisher, whose frequent becks have attracted his notice. The singular circumstance of its obtaining its food under the surface of the water, although in form and structure it is allied to the Thrushes, Wrens, and other land birds, has especially drawn the attention of ornithologists to it; and the explanation of its mode of progression in that element has exercised their ingenuity, although very few have based their conjectures on actual observation. Lastly, the land-proprietor, or his factor, too much occupied with other pursuits to inquire for themselves, and trusting to the reports of prejudiced persons, direct their gamekeepers and shepherds to destroy the lively and harmless creature, whenever an opportunity occurs, because it has been supposed to destroy the eggs and fry of the salmon.

“This bird having in a particular manner engaged my attention in the course of my many rambles, I have been enabled to trace its history in a satisfactory degree, so that the account here presented of it I consider as among the most accurate of those which I have written.

“It frequents the sides of rivers and streams of inferior magnitude, especially such as are clear and rapid, with pebbly or rocky margins. I have met with it in every part of Scotland, as well as in the hilly parts of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and it is said by MONTAGU to occur in Wales and Devonshire. In Scotland it is not peculiar to the mountainous regions, being found in the lowest parts of the Lothians, as well as on the alpine rills of the Grampians, and other elevated tracts, but it is generally more abundant in hilly ground, and, although never common in any district, is nowhere more plentiful than on the Tweed and its tributaries, in the pastoral counties of Peebles and Selkirk. It is also a well-known inhabitant of all the larger Hebrides. It is not only a permanent resident, but seldom shifts its station to any great extent, excepting during continued frosts, when it descends along the streams, and is seen flitting about by the rapids and falls. Mill-dams are also favourite resorts, especially in winter and spring. On lakes having a muddy or peaty bottom I have never observed it; but it may sometimes be seen on those which are shallow and pebbly at the margins, as on St Mary’s Loch in Yarrow, where I have shot it.

“The flight of the Dipper is steady, direct, and rapid, like that of the Kingfisher, being effected by regularly timed and quick beats of the wings, without intermissions or sailings. It perches on stones or projecting crags by the sides of streams, or in the water, where it may be seen frequently inclining the breast downwards, and jerking up the tail, much in the manner of the Wheatear and Stonechat, and still more of the Wren; its legs bent, its neck retracted, and its wings slightly drooping. It plunges into the water, not dreading the force of the current, dives, and makes its way beneath the surface, generally moving against the stream, and often with surprising speed. It does not, however, immerse itself head foremost from on high like the Kingfisher, the Tern, or the Gannet; but either walks out into the water, or alights upon its surface, and then plunges like an Auk or a Guillemot, slightly opening its wings, and disappearing with an agility and dexterity that indicate its proficiency in diving. I have seen it moving under water in situations where I could observe it with certainty, and I readily perceived that its actions were precisely similar to those of the Divers, Mergansers, and Cormorants, which I have often watched from an eminence, as they pursued the shoals of sand-eels along the sandy shores of the Hebrides. It in fact flew, not merely using the wing, from the carpal joint, but extending it considerably and employing its whole extent, just as if advancing in the air. The general direction of the body in these circumstances is obliquely downwards; and great force is evidently used to counteract the effects of gravity, the bird finding it difficult to keep itself at the bottom, and when it relaxes its efforts coming to the surface like a cork. MONTAGU has well described the appearance which it presents under such circumstances:—“In one or two instances, where we have been able to perceive it under water, it appeared to tumble about in a very extraordinary manner, with its head downwards, as if picking something; and at the same time great exertion was used, both by the wings and legs.” This tumbling, however, is observed only when it is engaged in a strong current, and its appearance is greatly magnified by the unequal refraction caused by the varying inequalities of the surface of the water. When searching for food, it does not proceed to great distances under water; but, alighting on some spot, sinks, and soon reappears in the immediate neighbourhood, when it either dives again, or rises on wing to drop somewhere else on the stream, or settle on a stone. Often from a shelving crag or large stone it may be seen making short incursions into the water, running out with quiet activity, and presently bobbing up to the surface, and regaining its perch by swimming or wading. The assertion of its walking in the water, on the bottom, which some persons have ventured, is not made good by observation, nor countenanced by reason and the nature of things. The Dipper is by no means a walking bird: even on land I have never seen it move more than a few steps, which it accomplished by a kind of leaping motion. Its short legs and curved claws are very ill adapted for running, but admirably calculated for securing a steady footing on slippery stones, whether above or beneath the surface of the water. Like the Kingfisher, it often remains a long time perched on a stone, but in most other respects its habits are very dissimilar.

“The first opportunity which I had of observing this bird advancing under water occurred in Braemar, in 1819, when, from the bank of the stream which passes by Castletown, I noticed one “tumbling about” in the rapid current. In September 1832 I watched a Dipper for some time, on a part of the Tweed, where the current was very rapid. It flew off from the shore, and alighted in the middle of the stream, where it immediately dived. Reappearing a little way farther up the river, it floated for a few seconds, dived, emerged, and flew to the opposite bank, on reaching which it again disappeared under water for a short time, and thus continued its exertions. When perched on a stone near the shore, especially if the water be not much agitated around, it usually makes short incursions into it, apparently for the purpose of procuring food, and returns to its station. On these occasions it is not difficult to approach it, provided due precaution be used; but in general it is shy and easily alarmed. I have several times shot at an individual which observed me as I was quietly walking up to it; but it is not often that one remains until you come within shot. A method which I have often successfully practised was to mark the position of the bird at a distance, taking note of an object on the bank opposite to it, then make a circuit and suddenly come upon the spot. When one has been pursued either up or down a stream for a quarter of a mile or so, it usually turns, to regain its ordinary station, when it may be shot as it dashes past.

“In August 1834, while ascending White Coom, the highest mountain in Dumfriesshire, accompanied by my son, I observed a Dipper retreating behind a large stone, over which the water fell, in the midst of a streamlet that flowed along the bottom of a narrow sear or rut. Imagining that its nest or young might be concealed there, we went up to the place, and, on perceiving the bird behind the little waterfall, endeavoured to catch it, on which it sallied forth, plunged into a pool, and attempted to escape down the stream, but without success, for we met it at every turn, and it was obliged to betake itself again to its retreat. We now turned off the water from the stone, when it again plunged into the pool, and after some windings, at length effected its escape. On emerging at some distance it flew off, and I considered it strange that it had not used its wings at first, as it certainly could more easily have escaped through the air than through the water. The chase afforded another rare opportunity of viewing its subaqueous flight, which in all probability was caused by excessive alarm. It flew about in the pool, just as a bird would fly in a confined space in the air, but of course, with less velocity, and on diving at first seemed covered with small air-bubbles which adhered to its surface.

“On being wounded the Dipper commonly plunges into the water, flies beneath its surface to the shore, and conceals itself among the stones or under the bank. In fact, on all such occasions, if enough of life remains, it is sure to hide itself, so that one requires to look sharply after it. In this respect it greatly resembles the Common Gallinule. In the winter of 1829, I shot one on the Almond, which flew to the other side, walked deliberately out into the water, disappeared, and slowly emerged under a bank at some distance, where I found it after wading through the stream, which was partially frozen. Another had just strength sufficient to fly into a deep hole under a bridge on the Yarrow, partially filled with water, on which it was found floating dead. In August 1834, I shot a Dipper on Manor Water in Tweeddale, which flew off, dived, and hid itself under a bank, on which I forded the stream and endeavoured to secure it, but it slipped out under water, swam down the current twenty yards or so, and got under a large stone, where it was traced. The introduction of the gun-rod only caused the persecuted bird to retreat as far as it could, and when I was employed in removing some pebbles and gravel from behind the stone, it slipped out under water, and proceeded down the stream a considerable way before it rose to breathe. I noticed the place where it dived in under the bank, and it being at length obliged to come up to respire, I met the bird with my hand and so secured it.

“When wounded and caught, it struggles hard, grasping firmly with the feet, but does not attempt to bite. I mention this circumstance as common to certain species of birds, such as the Fieldfare, Blackbird, and Starling, which without possessing the power of annoying their enemy, yet do not tamely suffer themselves to be destroyed, but struggle to the last, undismayed, and ready to use the slightest chance of escape. Other species, equal in strength, such as the Snipe, the Golden Plover, and the Lapwing, do not struggle so vigorously, but meet their fate in a quiet and apparently stupid manner. Some birds, again, such as the Tits and Warblers, although evidently extremely frightened on being seized, watch every opportunity of biting. I need scarcely add that some, as the Kestril and Sparrowhawk, grasp and bite with as much good-will as effect.

“The most melancholy ornithological exhibition that I remember to have witnessed, was that of a wounded Dipper which was shot through the lungs, above Cramond Bridge, near Edinburgh. It stood still, without attempting to fly off, apparently insensible to all external objects, its legs bent, its wings drooping, its head declined. The blood was oozing from its side, and gurgling in its windpipe, which the poor bird made ineffectual efforts to clear. At intervals, a convulsive heaving of the chest took place, followed by an effort to vomit; and in that state the sufferer stood for five minutes, until I got over the stream to it, when it expired in my hand. In the agony of death, the pupil became contracted to a mere point, and presently after dilated, when the lower eyelid gradually rose and covered the eye. This is commonly the case in birds, which do not expire with their eyes open, like man and most quadrupeds.

“The food of the Dipper is said by authors to consist of small fishes, roe, and water-insects. Thus, according to WILLUGHBY, “Pisces predatur, nec insecta aversatur.” MONTAGU states that he saw an “old bird flying in with a fish in its bill,” and that “these birds will sometimes pick up insects at the edge of the water.” M. TEMMINCK alleges that its food consists of “insectes d’eau, demoiselles et leurs larves; souvent du frai de truite.” Mr SELBY judiciously combines these statements, informing us that “water-insects and the fry and spawn of fish form its food.” Mr JENYNS, more wary, confines it to “aquatic insects.” It would answer no good purpose to bring forward the notions of other compilers. There is nothing incredible in all these statements, although it is to be remarked that no one states that he has actually observed fishes, or their eggs, in the stomach of this bird. I have opened a great number of individuals, at all seasons of the year, but have never found any other substances in the stomach than Lymneæ, Ancyli, Coleoptera, and grains of gravel. As to the ova and fry of the salmon, there is no evidence whatever that the Dipper ever swallows them; and, therefore, the persecution to which this bird has been subjected in consequence of the mere suspicion, ought to cease until the fact be proved. That the mollusca above mentioned form a principal part of its food was never suspected, and therefore I was much pleased with making the discovery, which satisfactorily accounted to me for all the subaqueous excursions of the species.

“The Dipper is generally seen in pairs, sometimes singly, and, for a short period, at the breeding season, in families but never in flocks. In some favourite places, such as a water-fall, or a series of rapids, one may in winter find so many as four or five individuals, but always scattered. Its song is short, but lively, and continued at intervals. It bears no resemblance to the full song of the Thrushes, but closely resembles the subdued winter warble of the Redwing and Starling, or the first notes of a young Song Thrush. This gentle warble is not confined to any period of the year, but may be heard during sunny weather at all seasons. Its common note, which it frequently utters while perched on a stone or while flying along the stream, resembles the syllable chit.

“About the middle of spring it begins to form its nest, so that its first brood is abroad at the same time with that of the Blackbird. The nest, which is placed among the moss on the bank of a stream, or among the roots of a tree in a concealed place overhanging the water, sometimes in a crevice of a rock, or under a bridge, or even in the space behind a waterfall, varies considerably in form and size, according to its position; but is always very bulky, arched over, and resembles that of the Wren more than of any other bird. A perfect specimen found by my friend Mr WEIR, in the county of Linlithgow, presents externally the appearance of a flattened elliptical mass, measuring ten inches from the front to the back part, eight and a half in breadth, and six in height. The aperture is in front, of a transversely oblong form, three inches and a quarter wide, and one inch and a half high. The exterior is composed of various species of mosses, chiefly hypna, firmly felted, so as to form a mass not easily torn asunder, especially in its lower part. This portion may be considered as forming a case for the nest properly so called, and in this respect resembles the mud case of the swallows. The nest itself is hemispherical, five and a half inches in diameter, composed of stems and leaves of grasses, and very copiously lined with beech-leaves. I have examined several other nests, which were similarly constructed, and all lined with beech-leaves, one having a few of ivy, and another one or two of the plane, intermixed. MONTAGU describes the nest as “very large, formed of moss and water plants externally, and lined with dry oak leaves”, and others have stated that the lining is of leaves of various trees, which may depend upon the locality. The eggs, five or six in number, are of a regular oval form, rather pointed, pure white, varying from eleven-twelfths to an inch and one-twelfth in length, and averaging nine-twelfths in their greatest breadth. They are somewhat smaller than those of the Song Thrush.

“The genus Cinclus may be considered as placed on the limits of the families of Turdinæ and Myrmotherinæ, being in fact more allied to Turdus than to Pitta, although through Chamæza perhaps more obviously related to the latter. The digestive organs of the Common Dipper are entirely analogous to those of the Thrushes and allied genera, but bear no resemblance to those of the piscivorous birds, the œsophagus being narrow, and the stomach a true gizzard. The bird, being destined to feed upon aquatic insects and mollusca, which adhere to the stones under the water, is fitted for making its way to the bottom at small depths, and maintaining itself there for a short time, a minute or more; in conformity with which design its plumage is rather short and dense, its tail abbreviated, its wings short, broad, and strong, its bill unencumbered by bristles, and of the proper form for seizing small objects, as well as for detaching them from stones. Having its feet constructed like those of the Thrushes, but proportionally stronger, the Dipper thus forms a connecting link between the slender-billed land birds and the diving palmipedes, as the Kingfisher seems to unite them with the plunging birds of the same order.”

The only original observations respecting the habits of the American Dipper that I have to present here are the following, with which I have been favoured by Dr TOWNSEND:—“This bird inhabits the clear mountain streams in the vicinity of the Columbia River. When observed it was swimming among the rapids, occasionally flying for short distances over the surface of the water, and then diving into it, and reappearing after a long interval. Sometimes it will alight along the margin, and jerk its tail upwards like a Wren. I did not hear it utter any note. The stomach was found to contain fragments of fresh-water snails. I observed that this bird did not alight on the surface of the water, but dived immediately from the wing.”

CINCLUS PALLASII, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. p. 1, pl. 16, fig. 1.

CINCLUS AMERICANUS, Swains. and Richards. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 173.

BLACK WATER-OUSEL, or DIPPER, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 358.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXX. Fig. 1.

Bill rather short, slender, slightly ascending, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges sharp and inflected with an obscure notch close to the narrow slightly deflected tip: lower mandible slightly bent upwards, the angle medial and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the tip narrow and rather acute, the gape-line straight. Nostrils linear, direct, in the lower and fore part of the nasal membrane which is covered with very short feathers. Eyes rather small; eyelids densely feathered.

The general form is short, full, and compact; the head oblong, compressed, rather small; the neck rather short; the body rather deeper than broad. Legs strong, of ordinary length; tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with a long undivided plate and four inferior scutella, posteriorly with two long plates meeting at a very acute angle. Toes rather large and strong; the first, second, and fourth, nearly equal in length, but the first much stronger, the third much longer; the third and fourth united as far as the second joint of the latter. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, that of the hind toe considerably larger.

Plumage very soft and blended, the feathers oblong and rounded; those about the base of the bill very short and velvety. No bristles at the base of the bill. Wings rather short, broad, convex, and rounded; the first quill very short and narrow, being about a third of the length of the second, which is shorter than the fourth, the third longest, and with the next three slightly cut out on the outer web towards the end; secondary quills long, broadband rounded. Tail short, even, of twelve rather broad feathers, which are slightly decurved. Legs feathered to the joint, but the tarsus entirely bare.

Bill brownish-black; iris hazel; feet flesh-coloured, toes dusky towards the end; claws yellowish-grey. The general colour of the plumage is blackish-grey or deep bluish-grey; the head and neck chocolate-brown, that colour extending lower on the fore part of the neck than behind; the downy feathers of both eyelids white; the quills and tail-feathers dusky; the secondaries terminally margined with white.

Length to end of tail 7-1/2 inches; extent of wings 10-1/2; wing from flexure 3-3/4; tail 2-1/4; bill along the ridge 9/12, along the edge of lower mandible 11/12 tarsus 1-1/12; hind toe 5/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 10/12, its claw 4/12.

Adult female. Plate CCCLXX. Fig. 2.

The Female is in all respects similar to the male.

In form, size, and proportion, the American Dipper is almost precisely similar to the European.

COCK OF THE PLAINS.

TETRAO UROPHASIANUS. BONAPARTE.

PLATE CCCLXXI. MALE AND FEMALE.

Although the Cock of the Plains has long been known to exist within the limits of the United States, the rugged and desolate nature of the regions inhabited by it has hitherto limited our knowledge of its habits to the cursory observations made by the few intrepid travellers, who, urged by their zeal in the cause of science, have ventured to explore the great ridge of mountains, that separate our western prairies from the rich valleys bordering on the Pacific Ocean. Two of these travellers, my friends Dr TOWNSEND and Mr NUTTALL, have favoured me with the following particulars respecting this very remarkable species, the history of which, not being myself personally acquainted with it, I shall endeavour to complete by adding some notes of Mr DOUGLAS.

“Tetrao Urophasianus, Pi-imsh of the Wallah Wallah Indians, Mak-esh-too-yoo of the Nezpercee Indians, is first met with about fifty miles west of the Black Hills. We lose sight of it in pursuing the route by the Snake River until we reach Wallah Wallah, on the banks of the Columbia, near the mouth of Lewis River. This bird is only found on the plains which produce the worm-wood (Artemisia), on which plant it feeds, in consequence of which the flesh is so bitter that it is rejected as food. It is very unsuspicious, and easily approached, rarely flies unless hard pressed, runs before you at the distance of a few feet, clucking like the common Hen, often runs under the horses of travellers when disturbed, rises very clumsily, but when once started flies with rapidity to a great distance, and has the sailing motion of the Pinnated Grous. In the autumn they frequent the branches of the Columbia River, where they feed on a narrow-leaved plant. At this time they are considered good food by the natives, who take great quantities of them in nets. J. K. TOWNSEND.”

“On the north branch of the Platte (Larimie’s Fork) we begin to meet with the Tetrao Urophasianus in considerable numbers, always on the ground in small flocks or pairs, by no means shy, but when too nearly approached arising with a strong whirring noise, and uttering at the same time a rather loud but very short alarmed guttural cackle. The notes of the female indeed at such times almost resemble those of a common Hen. The old male when killed by Dr TOWNSEND turned out so different from the imperfect and unadult specimens figured, that we could scarcely recognise it for the same species. Its size seemed to promise a fine meal, but appearances are often deceitful, and after being nicely broiled, it truly deserved to be treated like the well-prepared plate of cucumbers, proving so very bitter, though delicately white, that our hungry hunters could scarcely swallow more than a morsel. In short, it feeds by choice on the bitterest shrubs of these sterile plains, and under-wood (several species of Artemisia) is literally its favourite food. Of its nest and breeding habits we ascertained nothing, but cannot for a moment hesitate to say that some mistake must exist in either asserting or supposing that a bird so constantly confined to the open desert plains, could retire to the shady forests and dark alluvial thickets of the Columbia to rear its young apart from their usual food and habits. We met with this very fine Grous near to the plains around Wallah Wallah, on the south side of the Columbia, but never saw it either in the forests of the Columbia or the Wahlamet, nor, so far as we know, has it ever been found on the coast of California, or in the interior of Mexico. T. NUTTALL.”

Mr DOUGLAS’s statement is as follows:—“The flight of these birds is slow, unsteady, and affords but little amusement to the sportsman. From the disproportionately small, convex, thin-quilled wing,—so thin that a vacant space half as broad as a quill appears between each,—the flight may be said to be a sort of fluttering, more than any thing else: the bird giving two or three claps of the wings in quick succession, at the same time hurriedly rising; then shooting or floating, swinging from side to side, gradually falling, and thus producing a clapping, whirring sound. When started, the voice is cuck, cuck, cuck, like the Common Pheasant. They pair in March and April. Small eminences on the banks of streams are the places usually selected for celebrating the weddings, the time generally about sunrise. The wings of the male are lowered, buzzing on the ground; the tail, spread like a fan, somewhat erect; the bare yellow œsophagus inflated to a prodigious size,—fully half as large as his body, and, from its soft, membranous substance, being well contrasted with the scale-like feathers below it on the breast, and the flexile, silky feathers on the neck, which on these occasions stand erect. In this grotesque form he displays, in the presence of his intended mate, a variety of attitudes. His love-song is a confused, grating, but not offensively disagreeable tone,—something that we can imitate, but have a difficulty in expressing—Hurr-hurr-hurr-r-r-r-hoo, ending in a deep, hollow tone, not unlike the sound produced by blowing into a large reed. Nest on the ground, under the shade of Purshia and Artemisia, or near streams, among Phalaris arundinacea, carefully constructed of dry grass and slender twigs. Eggs, from thirteen to seventeen, about the size of those of a common fowl, of a wood-brown colour, with irregular chocolate blotches on the thick end. Period of incubation twenty-one to twenty-two days. The young leave the nest a few hours after they are hatched. In the summer and autumn months these birds are seen in small troops, and in winter and spring in flocks of several hundreds. Plentiful throughout the barren, arid plains of the river Columbia; also in the interior of North California. They do not exist on the banks of the River Missouri; nor have they been seen in any place east of the Rocky Mountains.”

TETRAO UROPHASIANUS, Ch. Bonap. Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. pl. 21, fig. 1. Female.

TETRAO (CENTROCERCUS) UROPHASIANUS, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Americana, vol. ii. p. 358.

COCK of the PLAINS, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 665.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXI. Fig. 1.

Bill shortish, strong, somewhat compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line arcuato-declinate, the ridge flattened at the base and narrowed on account of the great extent of the nasal sinus, which is feathered, the sides convex toward the end, the edges inflected, the tip narrow and rounded; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and width, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip obtuse, but like the upper thin-edged. Head rather small, oblong; neck of moderate length; body full. Feet rather short, stout; tarsus roundish, feathered, bare and reticulated behind. Toes of moderate size, covered above with numerous scutella, laterally pectinated with slender projecting flattened scales; first toe small, second a little shorter than fourth, third much longer. Claws stout, slightly arched, moderately compressed, obtuse.

Plumage dense, soft, rather compact, the feathers in general broadly ovate; those on the head very short, on the sides of the neck anteriorly at its lower part and across the fore part of the breast, small, very short, broad, stiff, and imbricated like scales; higher up on the sides of the neck a tuft of feathers having their shafts elongated, bristle-like, and terminated by a few filaments. On each side of the lower part of the neck in front is a large bare space capable of being inflated into a hemispherical sac. On the fore part of the breast the feathers, although long, have the shaft thickened and elongated; the rest of the feathers are of ordinary structure. Wings rather short, concave, much rounded, the primaries stiff and very narrow, so as to leave a large interval when the wing is extended; the third, fourth, and fifth quills longest. Tail long, graduated, of twenty stiffish feathers, each tapering to a very elongated point.

Bill black; iris light hazel; superciliary membrane vermilion; toes brownish-grey; claws brownish-black. The upper parts are light yellowish-brown, variegated with brownish-black and yellowish-white; the feathers of the head and neck transversely barred, of the back barred, undulated and dotted, with a whitish longitudinal line along the shafts of the wing-feathers. The quills chocolate-brown, their outer webs and part of their inner margins mottled with yellowish-white. Tail with about ten bands of yellowish-white on the outer webs, which are otherwise variegated like the back, the inner webs nearly plain brown. The throat and fore part of neck whitish, longitudinally spotted with brownish-black; a narrow white band across the throat; the sides of the neck and fore part of the breast white; the elongated shafts of the tuft-feathers, black; the sides variegated like the back with a broad line of white along the middle of each feather; the axillars and lower wing-coverts pure white; the hind part of the breast and the abdomen, brownish-black; the sides of the rump like the back, the lower tail-coverts brownish-black, largely tipped with white, the feathers of the tibiæ and tarsi pale brownish-grey, faintly barred with brown.

Length to end of tail 30 inches; extent of wings 36; wing from flexure 13; tail 12, shortest feathers 7; bill along the ridge 1-6/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-4/12; tarsus 2-1/2; hind toe 1/2, its claw 4/12; middle toe 2-1/4, its claw 6/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLXXI. Fig. 2.

The female is much smaller than the male, and differs in being destitute of the bare skin on the fore neck, in having the superciliary membranes smaller, the plumage entirely of ordinary texture; the tail less elongated, with the feathers less narrow and ending in a rounded point. All the upper parts, fore neck and sides are variegated with brownish-black, yellowish-grey and whitish disposed nearly as in the male; the throat whitish, the fore part of the breast white, the middle part brownish-black, the legs and tarsi as in the male, as are the quills; the tail-feathers mottled like the back and tipped with white.

Length to end of tail 22 inches; wing from flexure 10-1/2; tail 7-3/4; bill along the ridge 1-4/12; tarsus 1-(10-1/2)/12; middle toe 1-(8-1/2)/12, its claw 6/12.

The size of this species has been exaggerated, it having been by some compared to the Turkey, and by others to the Great Wood Grous of Europe, Tetrao Urogallus, whereas, in fact, it seems not much to exceed Tetrao hybridus. In some individuals, as I am informed by Dr TOWNSEND, the hair-like shafts of the feathers on the sides of the neck, are considerably longer than in my figure of the male.

COMMON BUZZARD.

FALCO BUTEO, LINN.

PLATE CCCLXXII. FEMALE.

The specimen from which the figure before you was taken, was shot by Dr TOWNSEND on a rock near the Columbia River, on which it had its nest. Unfortunately, however, he has not supplied me with any account of this species, and the only notice respecting its habits that I have seen, is that in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, by Dr RICHARDSON:—“The Common Buzzard arriving in the Fur Countries in the middle of April very soon afterwards begins to build its nest; and, having reared its young, departs about the end of September. It haunts the low alluvial points of land which stretch out under the high banks of a river; and may be observed sitting for a long time motionless on the bough of a tree, watching patiently for some small quadruped, bird, or reptile, to pass within its reach. As soon as it espies its prey, it glides silently into the air, and, sweeping easily and rapidly down, seizes it in its claws. When disturbed, it makes a short circuit, and soon settles on another perch. It builds its nest on a tree, of short sticks, lining it sparingly with deer’s hair. The eggs, from three to five in number, are equal in size to those of the domestic fowl, and have a greenish-white colour, with a few large dark brown blotches at the thick end. It was seen by the Expedition as far north as the fifty-seventh parallel of latitude, and it most probably has a still higher range.”

FALCO BUTEO, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 127.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 23.

BUTEO VULGARIS, COMMON BUZZARD, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 47.

Female. Plate CCCLXXII.

Bill short, strong, as broad as deep at the base, compressed toward the end. Upper mandible cerate, its dorsal outline declinate and a little convex as far as the cere, then decurved, the sides rapidly sloping, towards the end nearly perpendicular but convex, the edge with a slight festoon, the tip trigonal, acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line convex and ascending, the edges sharp, arched, at the end deflected, the tip rounded. Nostrils irregularly obovate, in the fore part of the cere, nearer the ridge than the margin.

Head large, roundish, flattened above; neck rather short; body full. Feet short, robust; tarsi roundish, anteriorly feathered half-way down, anteriorly scutellate, laterally reticulate, posteriorly also scutellate; the lower part all round covered with series of small scales, as are the toes for half their length, the terminal portion being scutellate: they are strong, of moderate length, the hind toe stouter, with four large scutella, the inner with four, the middle with about eight, and connected at the base by a web with the outer, which has four large scutella. Claws long, arched, compressed, tapering to a point, flat beneath.

Plumage ordinary, full, rather blended beneath. Space between the bill and eye covered with bristly feathers; eyelids with soft downy feathers, and ciliate: the superciliary ridge prominent. Feathers of the head and neck ovato-oblong, of the back and breast ovate and rounded, of the sides and outer part of the leg elongated, of the rest of the leg short. Wings long, broad, the fourth quill longest, the third next, the fifth very little shorter, the second longer than fifth, the first and seventh about equal; first four abruptly cut out on the inner web; secondaries broad and rounded. Tail rather long, broad, slightly rounded.

Bill light blue at the base, with the margins yellowish, the tip black; the cere yellow. Iris hazel. Feet yellow; claws black, at the base bluish. The general colour of the upper parts is chocolate-brown. The quills are of the general colour externally, but the primaries are black toward the tip, a great part of the inner web, with the shaft, white, and barred with brownish-black, the bars more extended on the secondaries. The tail is marked with about ten dusky bars on a reddish-brown ground, tinged with grey, the last dark bar broader, the tips paler. The eyelids are whitish, as is the throat, which is longitudinally streaked with dusky. The rest of the lower parts are yellowish or brownish white, barred with brown. The lower wing-coverts are white, barred or spotted with dusky; the white of the inner webs of the primaries forms a conspicuous patch, contrasted with the greyish-black of their terminal portion.

Length to end of tail 23 inches; wing from flexure 17; tail 10-1/2; bill along the ridge 1-8/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-7/12; tarsus 3-5/12; hind toe 1, its claw 1-1/12; middle toe 1-10/12, its claw 1-1/12.

Another specimen in my possession, procured by Dr TOWNSEND on the plains of Snake River, has the upper parts brown, streaked and spotted with reddish-white; the upper tail-coverts white, barred with dusky, the lower parts as above described. The colours however vary, and in some the upper parts are deep brown, the lower reddish or brownish white, barred with reddish-brown.

When compared with European specimens, mine have the bill somewhat stronger; but in all other respects, including the scutella and scales of the feet and toes, and the structure of the wings and tail, the parts are similar.

MARSH HARE.

LEPUS PALUSTRIS, Bachman.

The Hare figured in the plate is thus described by my learned friend Dr BACHMAN, in his excellent observations on the different species of the genus Lepus inhabiting the United States and Canada, inserted in the seventh volume of the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia:—

“Smaller than the American Hare. Ears much shorter than the head; eyes rather small; tail very short; feet small, thinly clothed with hair. Upper surface yellowish-brown; beneath, grey.

Incisors 4/2, Canines (0—0)/(0—0), Molars (6—6)/(5—5) = 28.

“The upper incisors are longer and broader than those of the American Hare, marked, like all the rest of the species, with a deep longitudinal furrow. The small accessory incisors are smaller and less flattened than those of the last mentioned species, and the molars are narrower and a little shorter. The transverse diameter of the cranium is much smaller, the vertical diameter about equal. Orbits of the eyes one-third smaller. This is a striking peculiarity, giving it a smaller and less prominent eye than that of any other American species. The pterygoid processes of the temporal bone project downwards nearly in a vertical line, whilst those of the American Hare are almost horizontal.

“Head and ears shorter than those of the Lepus Americanus; legs short, and rather small; body short and thick; feet small, thinly clothed with hair beneath, so as not to cover the nails, which are larger than those of the American Hare. Tail shorter than that of any other species of true hare inhabiting the United States, except the Lepus Nuttalli. Hair on the back long and somewhat rough. From the short legs and ears of this species, and its general clumsy habit, it has the appearance when running through the marshes, splashing through mud and mire, and plunging into creeks and ponds of water, of some large Norway Rat, hastening to escape from its pursuers.

“The teeth are yellowish-white; the eyes are dark brown, appearing in certain lights quite black. Upper parts of the head brown and greyish-ash. Around the orbits of the eyes slightly fawn-coloured. Whiskers black. Ears dark greyish-brown. The back and whole upper parts yellowish-brown, intermixed with many strong black hairs. The hairs, when examined singly, are bluish-grey at the roots, then light brown, and are tipped with black. The fur, beneath, is light plumbeous; under the chin grey; throat yellowish-brown; belly light grey, the fur beneath bluish. Under surface of the tail ash-colour, edged with brown. During winter the upper surface becomes considerably darker than in summer.

Dimensions, taken from a specimen in the flesh:

Length, from point of nose to insertion of tail, 13 inches Height, from the top of the fore-shoulder to the end of the middle claw 7 Length of the head, 3-1/2 ears, 2-1/2 hind foot, 3 tail (vertebræ), 5/6 tail, including the fur, 1-1/2 Weight 2-1/2 lb.

“I have not heard of the existence of this small species of Hare to the north of the State of South Carolina, nor is it found in the upper parts of this State,—confining itself to the maritime districts, to low marshy grounds partially inundated, to the borders of rivers subject to the overflowing of their banks, and to the ponds, usually termed reserves, where the waters intended to overflow the rice-fields are preserved. In these situations, rendered almost inaccessible on account of mud, entangled vines, and stagnant waters, sending up poisonous miasmata, the fruitful source of disease, surrounded by frogs, water-snakes, and alligators, this species resides through the whole year, scarcely molested by man. In these forbidden retreats, frequented by Herons (Ardea), Snake-birds (Plotus Anhinga), and Ibises, this almost aquatic quadruped finds a home suited to its habits; making up for its want of speed in eluding pursuit, by its facility in winding through miry pools and marshes overgrown with rank weeds and willows. In such situations, I have met with it fifty miles north of Charleston; but, as soon as the traveller arrives at the high grounds of the middle country, where the marshes disappear, this Hare is no longer seen. It is common in all the lower parts of Georgia, and I have observed it for sale in the market of Savannah. It is abundant in East Florida, even at its farthest southern extremity. I received a living animal of this species, taken on one of the islands near Indian Key, called Rabbit Key, separated from the main-land by several miles of sea; where it could have proceeded only by swimming, but where it is now found in great numbers. In all the low grounds of Florida, this species takes the place of the American Hare, which has not been observed in those situations.

“The Marsh Hare is one of the most singular in its habits of all the species. It runs low on the ground, and cannot be said to possess the fine leaping gait of the American Hare. It is so slow of foot, that nothing but the sheltered and miry situations in which it resides can save it from being easily overtaken and captured. I have, indeed, observed the domestics on a plantation, during a holiday, setting fire to a piece of marsh ground, in a very dry season, and armed with clubs, waiting till the flames drove these Hares from their retreats, when they were run down and killed in considerable numbers, I noticed that when the American Hare made its appearance it was suffered to pass, on account of the speed they knew it to possess, but no sooner did the Marsh Hare appear, than with a whoop, they gave chase, and seldom failed to overtake it.

“The feet of the Marsh Hare are admirably adapted to its aquatic habits. A thick covering of hair on its soles, like that on the other species, would be inconvenient; they would not only be kept wet for a considerable length of time, but would retard them in swimming. All quadrupeds that frequent the water, such as the Beaver, Otter, Muskrat, Mink, &c., and aquatic birds, have nearly naked palms; and it is this peculiar structure, together with the facility of distending its toes, that enables this quadruped to swim with such ease and rapidity. The track, when observed in moist or muddy situations, differs very much from that of the other species. Its toes are spread out, each leaving a distinct impression, like those of the rat.

“The Marsh Hare deposits its young in a pretty large nest, composed of a large species of rush (Juncus effusus) growing in a convenient situation. These appeared to have been cut into pieces of about a foot in length. I have seen these nests nearly surrounded by, and almost floating on, the water. They were generally arched, by carefully bending the rush-grass over them, admitting the mother by a pretty large hole in the side. A considerable quantity of hair was found lining the nest, but whether plucked out by the parent, or the effect of the season, (it being late in spring when these animals shed their coat) I was unable to ascertain. The young were from five to seven. They evidently breed several times in the season, but I have observed that the females usually produce their young two months later, at least, than the American Hare. Twenty-one specimens were obtained from the 9th to the 14th day of April; none of the females had produced young that season, although some of them would have done so in a very few days. On one occasion only, have I seen the young in March. These bear a strong resemblance to the adults, and may almost at a glance be distinguished from those of the last-mentioned species.

“This species possesses a strong marshy smell at all times, even when kept in confinement, and fed on the choicest food. Its flesh, however, although dark, is fully equal, if not superior, to that of the American Hare. The Marsh Hare never visits gardens or cultivated fields, confining itself throughout the year to the marshes. It is occasionally found in places overflown by salt or brackish water, but seems to prefer fresh-water marshes, where its food can be most conveniently obtained. It feeds on various grasses, gnaws off the twigs of the young sassafras, and of the pond spice (Laurus geniculata). I have seen many places in the low grounds dug up, the foot-prints indicating that it was the work of this species in search of roots. It frequently is found digging for the bulbs of the wild potato (Apios tuberosa), as also for those of a small species of Amaryllis (Amaryllis Atamasco).

“I possess a living animal of this species, which was sent me a few weeks ago, having been captured when full grown. It became so gentle in a few days that it freely took its food from the hand. It is fed on turnip and cabbage leaves, but prefers bread to any other food that has been offered to it. It is fond of lying for hours in a trough of water, and seems restless and uneasy when the trough is removed, scratching the sides of its tin cage until it has been replaced, when it immediately plunges in, burying the greater part of its body in the water.

“It has already shed a great portion of its summer, and resumed its winter, dress. The hairs on the upper surface, instead of becoming white at the point, as in the American Hare, have grown long and black, through which the brownish parts beneath are still distinctly visible.

“This species, like others of the genus existing in this country, as well as in the deer and squirrels, is infested with a troublesome larva of an œstrus in the summer and autumn, which, penetrating into the flesh, and continually enlarging, causes pain to the animal, and renders it lean. One of these larvæ dropped from an orifice in the throat of the hare which I have in confinement. It was of the usual cylindrical shape, but appears to differ in some particulars from the Œstrus cuniculi.”

EVENING GROSBEAK.

FRINGILLA VESPERTINA, COOPER.

PLATE CCCLXXIII. MALE.

This fine species of Grosbeak was first introduced to the notice of ornithologists by Mr WILLIAM COOPER, who published an account of it in the Annals of the Lyceum of New York. Mr SCHOOLCRAFT observed a few individuals, in the beginning of April 1823, near the Sault Sainte Marie in Michigan, from which the species was traced to the Rocky Mountains. Dr RICHARDSON mentions it as a common inhabitant of the maple groves on the Saskatchewan plains, whence “its native appellation of Sugar-bird.” The female remained utterly unknown until it was obtained by Dr TOWNSEND, who found this Grosbeak abundant about the Columbia River, and procured a great number of specimens, several of which are in my possession. The following note from him contains all the information respecting its habits that I can lay before you.

“Columbia River, May 27, 1836.—The Evening Grosbeak, Fringilla vespertina, is very numerous in the pine-woods at this time. You can scarcely enter a grove of pines at any hour in the day without seeing numbers of them. They are very unsuspicious and tame, and I have, in consequence, been enabled to procure a fine suite of specimens. The accounts that have been published respecting them by the only two authors to whom I have access, Mr NUTTALL and Prince BONAPARTE, are, I think, in many respects incorrect. In the first place, it is stated that they are retiring and silent during the day, and sing only on the approach of evening. Here they are remarkably noisy during the whole of the day, from sunrise to sunset. They then retire quietly to their roosts in the summits of the tall pines, and are not aroused until daylight streaks the east, when they come forth to feed as before. Thus I have observed them here, but will not say but that at other seasons, and in other situations, their habits may be different. They are now, however, very near the season of breeding, as the organs of the specimens I have examined sufficiently indicate. They appear fond of going in large bodies, and it is rare to see one alone in a tree. They feed upon the seeds of the pine and other trees, alighting upon large limbs, and proceeding by a succession of hops to the very extremities of the branches. They eat, as well as seeds, a considerable quantity of the larvæ of the large black ant, and it is probable that it is to procure this food that they are not uncommonly seen in the tops of the low oaks which here skirt the forests. Their ordinary voice, when they are engaged in procuring food, consists of a single rather screaming note, which from its tone I at first supposed to be one of alarm, but soon discovered my error. At other times, particularly about mid-day, the male sometimes selects a lofty pine branch, and there attempts a song; but it is a miserable failure, and he seems conscious of it, for he frequently pauses and looks discontented, then remains silent sometimes for some minutes, and tries it again, but with no better success. The note is a single warbling call, exceedingly like the early part of the Robin’s song, but not so sweet, and checked as though the performer were out of breath. The song, if it may be so called, is to me a most wearisome one: I am constantly listening to hear the stave continued, and am as constantly disappointed. Another error of the books is this,—they both state that the female is similar to the male in plumage. Now, this is entirely a mistake: she is so very different in colour and markings, that were it not for the size and colour of the bill, and its peculiar physiognomy, one might be induced to suppose it another species. The specimens in possession of Mr LEADBEATER of London, and from which Prince BONAPARTE drew up his descriptions, must have been all males.”

In the present plate you will find the figure of a male only; but in Plate CCCCXXIV. are representations of the young male and adult female, which are however here described.

FRINGILLA VESPERTINA, Cooper, Ann. Lyc. New York, vol. i. p. 220.—Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 113.

EVENING GROSBEAK, FRINGILLA VESPERTINA, Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Orn. vol. ii. pl. 14. fig. 1.

COCCOTHRAUSTES VESPERTINA, EVENING GROSBEAK, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 269.

EVENING GROSBEAK, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. Appendix, p. 594.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXIII.

Bill of moderate length, extremely thick, conical, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the sides rounded; the edges sharp, overlapping, with a slight sinus close to the acute tip; lower mandible with the angle very short and broad, the dorsal line straight, or very slightly concave, the back very broad, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip acute. Nasal sinus extremely short and broad: nostrils round, basal, concealed by short reflected bristly feathers.

Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short; body moderately full. Feet short, of moderate strength; tarsus short, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two plates behind forming a sharp edge; hind toe large, outer toe somewhat longer than inner; claws rather large, moderately arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage full, soft, blended, the feathers oblong. Wings rather long, broad, abruptly pointed; the outer three primaries almost equal, the first longest; outer secondaries emarginate. Tail of moderate length, rather narrow, emarginate, of twelve rather narrow feathers.

Bill yellow; iris hazel; feet flesh-colour, claws brown. The upper part of the head and the occiput are brownish-black, bounded anteriorly by a broadish band of bright yellow across the forehead, and laterally by a streak of the same, passing over the eye; the stiff feathers over the nostrils black, as is the loral space. The cheeks, hind neck, and throat are dark yellowish-olive, and that colour gradually brightens until, on the outer edges of the scapulars, the rump, the axillars and inner lower wing-coverts, the abdomen and lower tail-coverts, it becomes pure yellow. The smaller wing-coverts, alula, primary coverts, three outer secondaries, outer web of the next, and the bases of the inner secondaries, black; as is the tail; six of the inner secondaries, inner web of the next, and inner margin of the rest, as well as their coverts, white, the basal part excepted.

Length to end of tail 8 inches; wing from flexure 4-3/4; tail 3; bill along the ridge 10/12, along the edge of lower mandible 11/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; hind toe 5/12, its claw, (4-1/2)/12; middle toe, 8/12, its claw (3-3/4)/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 5.

The adult female, which is here figured and described for the first time, from a specimen obtained from Dr TOWNSEND, and marked “Black Hills, Female, June 3, 1834,” wants the yellow band on the forehead, the streak of the same colour over the eye, the black line along the basal margin of the upper mandible, and the large patch of white on the wings. The bill and feet are as in the male, but paler. The upper part of the head is dark brownish-olive; the cheeks lighter; the hind neck, back, and scapulars light brownish-grey, with a slight olivaceous tint, shaded into brownish-yellow on the rump. The wings are black; a portion of the edge of the wing, the tips and part of the margins of the secondary coverts, a concealed band on the basal part of the primaries, the outer three excepted, and the edges of all the quills toward the end, white, which is broader on the secondaries, and forms a band on them. Tail-coverts black, tipped with a triangular spot of white; tail-feathers also black, with a white spot on the inner web at the tip, eight-twelfths long on the outermost feather, gradually diminishing towards the central feathers, which are slightly tipped. Throat greyish-white, margined on either side by a longitudinal band of black, from the base of the lower mandible, and ten-twelfths in length; the lower parts yellowish-grey; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white, axillars and some of the lower wing-coverts yellow.

Length to end of tail 7-1/2 inches; wing from flexure 4-1/4; tail 2-10/12; bill along the ridge (9-1/2)/12.

Young Male. Plate CCCXXIV. Fig. 6.

The young male bears a considerable resemblance to the female, differing chiefly in wanting the black bands on the throat, and in having the upper parts much lighter, and the lower more yellow. Bill yellow; iris hazel; feet flesh-colour, claws dusky. Head and cheeks light greyish-brown, the rest of the upper parts of a paler tint, slightly tinged with yellow on the margins. The wings and tail are black, as in the female, and similarly spotted with white, but tinged with yellow. The lower parts are yellowish-grey, the sides of the neck and the axillars pale yellow, the abdomen and lower tail-coverts white.

The young male has been described as the adult female by Mr SWAINSON in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, and has been made a distinct species by M. LESSON, under the name of Coccothraustes Bonapartii. The Prince of MUSIGNANO, it is observed, has erred in stating that “no difference of any consequence is observable between the sexes; though it might be said that the female is a little less in size, and rather duller in plumage.”

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.

FRINGILLA MELANOCEPHALA.

PLATE CCCLXXIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

The following account of this Grosbeak affords another proof of the ardent zeal of my excellent friend THOMAS NUTTALL, who, though more especially engaged with botany on his recent journey to the Columbia, has not neglected opportunities of noting many interesting facts relative to birds.

“On the central table-land of the Rocky Mountains, and on the upper branches of the Colorado of the west, we first heard the powerful song of this most delightful Finch. From thence, in the thick groves of all the streams on our western course to the borders of the Columbia, and throughout the dense forests of that river nearly to the sea, we were frequently cheered amidst the wildest desolation by the inimitable voice of this melodious bird. Jealous of all intrusion on his lonely and wild haunts, it was seldom that we had the opportunity of witnessing this almost fairy musician, which gave a charm to the saddest gloom, and made the very woods as it were re-echo to his untiring song. With the modesty of superior merit, and almost with the solicitude of the Nightingale, our favourite Finch seeks the darkest thicket of the deepest forest. The moment his eye rests on the intruding observer he flits off in haste, calls to his mate, and plunging into the thicket sits in silence till he is satisfied of the restoration of solitude, when he again cautiously mounts the twig and pours out afresh the oft-told but never-tiring tale of his affection and devotion to the joys of nature. His song, which greatly resembles that of the Red-breasted Grosbeak, is heard at early dawn, and at intervals nearly to the close of night. It is a loud, varied, high-toned and melodious fife, which rises and falls in the sweetest cadence; but always, like the song of the nightingale, leaves a sensation of pleasing sadness on the ear, which fascinates more powerfully than the most cheering hilarity. In fact, the closing note of our bird is often so querulous as to appear like the shrill cry of appealing distress: it sinks at last so faintly, yet still so charmingly on the sense. When seen, which is only by accident, he sits conspicuously on some lofty bough, below the summit of the tree, and raising his head, and swelling his throat with a rising motion, almost amounting to a flutter, he appears truly rapt in ecstacy, and seems to enjoy his own powers of melody as much as the listener. Even the cruel naturalist, ever eager to add another trophy to his favourite science, feels arrested by his appeal, and connives at his escape from the clutch of the collector.

“About the month of July, in the Rocky Mountains, I observed the female feeding her fledged young, and they also spent the summer in the thickest branches, but with the nest and eggs I am unacquainted. The song, as I have heard it, in the forests of Columbia, seems to be like the syllables ’tait, weet, teet, weowit, teet weowit, teet weeowit, verr, and sometimes terminating weet, weet, weet, every note a loud tender trill of the utmost sweetness, delivered in his own “wood-notes wild,” mocking nothing, but still exulting in his powers, which, while exerted, seem to silence every songster around. The Robin seems almost his pupil in song and similarity of expression, but falls short, and after our Orpheus, seems at best but a faultering scholar.”

GUIRACA MELANOCEPHALA, Swainson.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXIII. Figs. 2, 3.

Bill rather short, very robust, bulging at the base, conical, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal outline a little convex, the sides rounded, the edges sharp, ascending from the base to beyond the nostrils, then deflected with a slight median festoon, and an obscure notch close to the tip; lower mandible with the angle short and very broad, the dorsal line straight, the back very broad at the base, the sides high and convex, the edges inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers.

Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short; body rather full. Legs of moderate length, rather strong; tarsus anteriorly covered with seven scutella, posteriorly with two plates forming a sharp edge; toes rather large, the first stout, the lateral nearly equal, the middle toe much longer. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, broad. The first quill two-twelfths shorter than the second, which is longest, but scarcely exceeds the third, the fourth longer than the first; secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail rather long, nearly even.

Bill with the upper mandible dusky, the lower white. Iris hazel. Feet and claws wood-brown. Head, cheeks, and a small portion of the throat black; the upper parts brownish-black; the feathers on the lower part of the hind neck all round, a streak over each eye, another along the middle of the hind head, the greater part of the rump, and the lower parts generally, yellowish-red or brownish-orange; the edges of some of the feathers on the back, a broad band formed by the first row of small coverts, a narrow band formed by the tips of the secondary coverts, a band on the base of the primaries, the outer web of the first excepted, the margins of three of the primaries toward the end, and a spot on the outer web of most of the secondaries at the end; a large patch on the inner web of all the tail-feathers, excepting the two middle, and largest on the outer, pure white; the middle of the breast and abdomen, with the axillaries and lower wing-coverts, yellow.

Length to end of tail 8-1/2 inches; wing from flexure 4-1/4; tail 3-8/12; bill along the ridge 9/12, along the edge of lower mandible 10/12; tarsus 11/12; hind toe (4-1/2)/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe 8/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLXXIII. Fig. 4.

The female is much less beautiful. The bill is of a lighter brown above, brownish-white beneath, with the edges and tip of the lower mandible light brown; the feet and claws wood-brown. The upper parts are wood-brown, the head darker, with three longitudinal bands of brownish-white; a band of reddish-white across the hind neck, the feathers of the back margined with whitish; the wings marked as in the male, but with brownish-white; the tail without white spots. The lower parts are of a much paler tint than those of the male; the axillars and lower wing-coverts yellow.

Length to end of tail 8-1/4 inches; bill along the ridge 9/12; tarsus 11/12; middle toe and claw 1-3/12.

SHARP-SHINNED OR SLATE-COLOURED HAWK.

FALCO FUSCUS, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXXIV. MALE AND FEMALE.

There is a pleasure which that ornithologist only can feel who spends his days in searching for the materials best adapted for his purpose, and which arises from the contemplation of the objects he is anxious to portray and describe, as they roam in freedom over Nature’s wild domains. Another pleasure is derived from finding in different countries birds so much alike in form, colour, and habits, that they seem as if formed for the purpose of exercising our faculties of observation and comparison. But this pleasure passes into pain, or at least perplexity, when, as in the present instance, two species differ so slightly that you cannot clearly define their characters, although they yet seem to be distinct. In fact, I long felt uncertain whether the American bird described by WILSON under the names of Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Slate-coloured Hawk, was distinct from the Sparrow Hawk, F. Nisus, of Europe.

It is mentioned in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, that a specimen of this bird was killed in the vicinity of Moose Factory, and that it has been deposited by the Hudson’s Bay Company in the Zoological Museum of London. This specimen I have not seen, but confiding entirely in the accuracy of every fact mentioned by the authors of that work, I here adduce it as a proof of the extraordinary range of this species in America, which from the extreme north extends to our most southern limits, perhaps far beyond them, during its autumnal and winter migrations. I have met with it in every State or Territory of the Union that I have visited. In the spring of 1837, it was abundant in Texas, where it appeared to be travelling eastward. I have a specimen procured by Dr TOWNSEND in the neighbourhood of the Columbia River; and, when on my way towards Labrador, I met with it plentifully as far as the southern shores of the Gulf of St Lawrence, beyond which, however, none were observed by me or any of my party.

I never saw this daring little marauder on wing without saying or thinking “There goes the miniature of the Goshawk!” Indeed, reader, the shortness of the wings of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, its long tail, though almost perfectly even, instead of being rounded as in the Goshawk, added to its irregular, swift, vigorous, varied, and yet often undecided manner of flight, greatly protracted however on occasion, have generally impressed upon me the idea alluded to. While in search of prey, the Sharp-shinned Hawk passes over the country, now at a moderate height, now close over the land, in so swift a manner that, although your eye has marked it, you feel surprised that the very next moment it has dashed off and is far away. In fact it is usually seen when least expected, and almost always but for a few moments, unless when it has procured some prey, and is engaged in feeding upon it. The kind of vacillation or wavering with which it moves through the air appears perfectly adapted to its wants, for it undoubtedly enables this little warrior to watch and to see at a single quick glance of its keen eyes every object, whether to the right or to the left, as it pursues its course. It advances by sudden dashes, as if impetuosity of movement was essential to its nature, and pounces upon or strikes such objects as best suit its appetite; but so very suddenly that it appears quite hopeless for any of them to try to escape. Many have been the times, reader, when watching this vigilant, active, and industrious bird, I have seen it plunge headlong among the briary patches of one of our old fields, in defiance of all thorny obstacles, and, passing through, emerge on the other side, bearing off with exultation in its sharp claws a Sparrow or Finch, which it had surprised when at rest. At other times I have seen two or three of these Hawks, acting in concert, fly at a Golden-winged Woodpecker while alighted against the bark of a tree, where it thought itself secure, but was suddenly clutched by one of the Hawks throwing as it were its long legs forward with the quickness of thought, protruding its sharp talons, and thrusting them into the back of the devoted bird, while it was endeavouring to elude the harassing attacks of another, by hopping and twisting round the tree. Then down to the ground assailants and assailed would fall, the Woodpecker still offering great resistance, until a second Hawk would also seize upon it, and with claws deeply thrust into its vitals, put an end to its life; when both the marauders would at once commence their repast.

On several such occasions, I have felt much pleasure in rescuing different species of birds from the grasp of the little tyrant, as whenever it seizes one too heavy to be carried off, it drops to the ground with it, and being close by, I have forced it to desist from committing further mischief, as it fears man quite as much as its poor quarry dreads itself. One of these occurrences, which happened in the neighbourhood of Charleston, in South Carolina, is thus related in my journal.

Whilst walking one delightful evening in autumn, along a fine hedge-row formed by the luxuriant Rocky Mountain rose-bushes, I observed a male of this species alighted in an upright position on the top-bar of a fence opposite to me. I marked it with particular attention, to see what might follow. The Hawk saw me as plainly as I did him, and kept peeping now at me, and now at some part of the hedge opposite, when suddenly, and with the swiftness of an arrow, it shot past me, entered the briars, and the next instant was moving off with a Brown Thrush, Turdus rufus in its talons. The Thrush, though seized by the sharp claws of the marauder, seemed too heavy for him to carry far, and I saw both falling to the ground. On running up, I observed the anxiety of the Hawk as I approached, and twice saw it attempt to rise on wing to carry off its prize; but it was unable to do so, and before it could disengage itself I was able to secure both. The Thrush must have been killed almost instantaneously, for, on examining it, I found it quite dead.

My friend THOMAS NUTTALL, Esq., tells us that in the “thinly settled parts of the States of Georgia and Alabama, this Hawk seems to abound, and proves extremely destructive to young chickens, a single one having been known regularly to come every day until he had carried away between twenty and thirty. At noon-day, while I was conversing with a planter, one of these Hawks came down, and without ceremony, or heeding the loud cries of the housewife, who most reluctantly witnessed the robbery, snatched away a chicken before us.” Again, while speaking of the wild and violent manner of this bird, he adds “descending furiously and blindly upon its quarry, a young Hawk of this species broke through the glass of the green-house, at the Cambridge Botanic Garden; and fearlessly passing through a second glass partition, he was only brought up by the third, and caught, though little stunned by the effort. His wing-feathers were much torn by the glass, and his flight in this way so impeded as to allow of his being approached.”

Whilst travelling to some distance, the Sharp-shinned Hawk flies high, though in a desultory manner, with irregular quick flappings of the wings, and at times, as if to pause for a while and examine the objects below, moves in short and unequal circles, after which it is seen to descend rapidly, and then follow its course at the height of only a few feet from the ground, visiting as it were every clump of low bushes or briar patches likely to be supplied with the smaller birds, on which it principally feeds. Again, after having satisfied its hunger, this little warrior, at times rises to a great height, and indeed now and then is scarcely discernible from the ground.

I found a nest of this Hawk in a hole of the well-known “Rock-in-cave” on the Ohio River, in the early part of the spring of 1819. It was simply constructed, having been formed of a few sticks and some grasses carelessly interwoven, and placed about two feet from the entrance of the hole. I had the good fortune to secure the female bird, while she was sitting on her eggs, which were nearly hatched, and it was from that individual that I made the figure in the plate. The eggs, four in number, were almost equally rounded at both ends, though somewhat elongated, and their ground colour was white, with a livid tinge, scarcely discernible however amid the numerous markings and blotches of reddish-chocolate with which they were irregularly covered. The second opportunity which I had of seeing a nest of this species occurred not far from Louisville in Kentucky, when I accidentally observed one of these hawks dive into the hollow prong of a broken branch of a sycamore overhanging the waters of the Ohio. Here the eggs were five in number, and deposited on the mouldering fragments of the decayed wood. The third and last opportunity happened when I was on my way from Henderson to St Genevieve on horseback. I saw a pair of these birds forming a nest in the forks of a low oak, in a grove in the centre of the prairie which I was then crossing. The young in the nest I have never seen.

This interesting species usually resorts to the fissures of rocks for the purpose of there passing the hours of repose, and generally in places by no means easy of access, such as precipitous declivities overhanging some turbulent stream. It is often not until the darkness has so much gained on the daylight as to render objects difficult to be distinguished, that it betakes itself to its place of rest, and then I have only been assured of its arrival by the few cries which it utters on such occasions. The earliness of its departure has often much puzzled me, for with all my anxiety to witness it, I have never succeeded in doing so, although on two or three occasions I have watched the spot more than half an hour before dawn, and remained patiently waiting until long after the sun had risen, when I clambered to the hole, and always found it empty.

The food of this Hawk consists chiefly of birds of various sizes, from the smallest of our warblers to the Passenger Pigeon or young chickens, the latter appearing to afford a special temptation to it, as has been above related. I am also aware that it feeds occasionally on small reptiles and insects, and I shot the male represented in the plate, on wing, whilst it held in its claws the small Shrew also represented. It is extremely expert at seizing some of our smaller snakes and lizards, and not unfrequently snatches up a frog while basking in the sun.

The difference of size observed between the males and females, as well as between individuals of the same sex, is very remarkable; and no doubt it was on account of this very great disparity that WILSON described specimens of both sexes as two distinct species. Its notes are short, shrill, and repeated in a hurried manner, when the bird is wounded and brought to the ground. It often emits cries of this kind while falling, but suddenly becomes silent when it comes to the earth, and then makes off swiftly, with long and light leaps, keeping silent until approached. Although a small bird, it possesses considerable muscular power, and its extremely sharp claws are apt to inflict severe pain, should a person lay hold of it incautiously.

FALCO FUSCUS, and DUBIUS, Gmel. and Lath.

SLATE-COLOURED HAWK, FALCO PENNSYLVANICUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vi. p. 13, pl. 46, fig. 1. Adult Male.

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, FALCO VELOX, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vi. p. 116, pl. 45, fig. 1. Young Female.

FALCO VELOX, Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 29.

FALCO FUSCUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Ibid. Append. p. 433.

ACCIPITER PENNSYLVANICUS, SLATE-COLOURED HAWK, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 44.

AMERICAN BROWN or SLATE-COLOURED HAWK, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 87.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXIV. Fig. 1.

Bill short, with the dorsal line of the upper mandible curved from the base, so as to form nearly the fourth of a circle, the sides sloping rapidly and convex toward the end, the edges sharp anteriorly, with a broad tooth-like process or prominent festoon about the middle, the tip very acute and decurvate; the cere rather short, its margin forming a convex curve before the nostrils, which are oblique, oblongo-ovate, broader behind; the lower mandible with the angle broad and short, the dorsal line convex, the back broad at the base, the sides convex, the edges inflected, the tip obliquely truncate, rounded, with a very faint sinus behind.

Head of moderate size, broad, rather flattened above; neck very short; body very slender, remarkably attenuated behind. Legs long and very slender; tarsus rather long, extremely slender, compressed, anteriorly covered with fifteen scutella disposed in a longitudinal plate, of which the inner sharp edge projects considerably, whence the name of “Sharp-shinned” given to this species, the sides with hexagonal scales, the hind part with numerous scutella. Toes slender, the third and fourth connected at the base by a web, extending beyond the second joint of the latter, and curving forward as far as that of the former; first and second toes strongest and about equal; third extremely elongated, fourth very slender; tuberculate and papillate beneath, there being a long fleshy tubercle on the last joint of each toe, and one on the next joint of the two outer. Claws very long, arched, gradually attenuated to a fine point.

Plumage full, soft, blended, somewhat distinct on the upper parts. Wings of moderate length, reaching beyond the middle of the tail; the fourth quill longest, the fifth scarcely shorter, the third intermediate between the fifth and seventh, the second a little longer than the seventh, the first generally shorter than the outer secondary; the first five quills cut out on the outer, the first four more deeply on the inner edge. The tail is long, even, of twelve rather broad, rounded feathers.

The bill is light blue at the base, bluish-black at the end; the cere and eyelids yellowish-green; the iris bright reddish-orange; the tarsi and toes yellow; the claws black, pale bluish at the base. The general colour of the plumage on the upper parts is deep greyish-blue, or dark slate-blue, the shafts darker; the feathers on the occiput are white at the base, that colour appearing more or less as they are raised; and on each of the scapulars are two large white patches, which, however, are not seen until the feathers are raised. The outer primaries are tinged with brown; all the quills are marked on the inner web with dusky bands, between which the inner margins are white toward the base. The tail has four broad bands of blackish-brown, and is tipped with greyish-white. The cheeks are yellowish-red, and the forehead is tinged with the same colour. The throat is reddish-white; the lower parts are transversely and rather broadly barred with light red and white, there being from three to five bars or double spots of the latter colour on each feather, those on the sides with the inner web entirely red; part of abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; feathers of the legs barred like the breast; lower wing-coverts yellowish-white, barred and spotted with dusky.

Length to end of tail 11-1/4 inches; to end of wings 8-3/4; to end of claws 11-1/4; extent of wings 20-1/2; wing from flexure 6-10/12; tail 5-10/12; bill along the ridge 8/12, along the edge of lower mandible 8/12; tarsus 1-11/12; hind toe (5-3/4)/12, its claw, 6/12; middle toe 1-2/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12. Weight 3-1/2 oz.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLXXIV. Fig. 2.

The female, which greatly exceeds the male in size is generally greyish-brown tinged with blue on the upper parts, in very old individuals bluish-grey or dark bluish-grey, more or less tinged with brown. The bill, cere, iris, feet, and claws are as in the male, and the markings on the plumage are similar on the upper parts; the lower are generally of a lighter tint, but otherwise nearly the same.

Length to end of tail 14 inches; extent of wings 26; wing from flexure 8-2/12; tail 6-8/12; bill along the ridge 10/12; tarsus 2-1/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw (7-1/2)/12; middle toe 1-11/12, its claw 6/12. Weight of an individual 7-1/2 oz., of another 8-1/4.

Young birds of either sex, when fully fledged, have the upper parts generally hair-brown, on the back darker; the feathers on the head and hind neck margined with light red; those of the rest of the upper parts also terminally edged with brownish-red; the feathers of the hind head and neck are white at the base, but to less extent, and the scapulars are also spotted with the same. The lower parts are white or yellowish-white, the throat longitudinally streaked, the rest banded with dark brown, the feathers of the sides spotted, those of the legs light reddish, obscurely marked with darker along the middle; the lower tail-coverts white. The female has the markings on the lower parts much narrower at this age.

A male bird preserved in spirits presents the following characters:—The roof of the mouth is flat, with two longitudinal ridges; the posterior aperture of the nares oblong, with a linear anterior slit, papillate on the edges. The tongue is 5 twelfths long, narrow, concave above, slightly emarginate. The œsophagus, a b c d e, is 3 inches 3 twelfths long; its diameter at the upper part 5 twelfths; it enlarges on the neck to a capacious crop, c d, 1 inch in diameter. The proventriculus, e, has a complete belt of small oblong glandules. The stomach, f g, is large, roundish, membranous, without distinct muscles, 1 inch 3 twelfths long, and 1 inch broad. The intestine, g h i l, is 14-3/4 inches long, its greatest diameter 2 twelfths. The rectum, j l, is 1 inch 9 twelfths long; its diameter at the anterior