Plate 1
The Mexican Jay
Cyanocorax luxuosus (Lesson)

ILLUSTRATIONS
OF THE
BIRDS
OF
CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, OREGON, BRITISH AND RUSSIAN AMERICA.

INTENDED TO CONTAIN DESCRIPTIONS AND FIGURES
OF ALL
North American Birds
NOT GIVEN BY FORMER AMERICAN AUTHORS,
AND A
GENERAL SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

BY
JOHN CASSIN,
MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA; OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY; OF THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA; OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE; OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY; OF THE NEW YORK LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY; OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF MONTREAL, ETC. ETC.

1853 TO 1855.

PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
1856.

Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by
JOHN CASSIN,
in the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

PREFACE.

The natural history of North America has been regarded with especial interest wherever the sciences have been cultivated since the discovery of the continent. There never has been a period, however, in which such extensive and productive research has been carried on, as in that which commenced with the annexation of Texas to the United States, and in which also California and New Mexico have become parts of the Union. The extension of the laws of the United States over these vast countries, and the consequent protection and personal safety, have induced the visits of scientific travellers;—numerous Government expeditions for the purposes of exploration and survey have been necessary, and have been despatched on such missions with the utmost promptness and vigilance of the public good by all administrations of the General Government, in the period to which we allude, and have almost invariably been accompanied by officers specially charged with making observations and collections in Natural History. The Smithsonian Institution also has exerted an influence in the highest degree favorable and important in the development of the Natural History of this country, as in other departments of science and literature.

These are the main and immediate causes of the great strides that the knowledge of the natural productions of North America has made within a period of little upwards of twenty years. There are, of course, others, of which the general diffusion of knowledge and attention to education in the United States especially, and in fact throughout the civilized world, have been perhaps the most efficient.

Since the time of the publication of the works of our predecessors in American Ornithology, the additions of species and of information in that department of our Zoology have been very large, and being for much the greater part within our reach, we have been induced to undertake the present work. It is to be regarded in some measure as an addition to the works of former authors in American Ornithology, but at the same time complete in itself.

Our advantages for study have been much superior to those possessed by former writers in America. There never was in the United States, until within the last ten years, a library of Natural History, approximating in any considerable degree to completeness, nor affording the necessary facilities for the study of Ornithology. Nor until within that period was there any collection sufficiently comprehensive to answer the purposes of comparison and general research. In various branches of Natural History, but especially in Ornithology, these most important and desirable objects have been fully accomplished in the formation of the Library and Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,—a result for which science is indebted, not to the Government, nor to public patronage of any kind, but to strictly private enterprise and individual scientific taste.

A new era in the history of the zoological sciences in the United States commenced with the purchase and importation of the late General Massena’s collection of Birds into this country in 1846, by Thomas B. Wilson, M. D., of Philadelphia, and the commencement at the same period of a library in Natural History by the same gentleman and his brother, Mr. Edward Wilson, now residing in England. Both have been continued without intermission to the present time, and the results have been, so far as relates to Ornithology, that a most extensive collection has been formed, now numbering about twenty-five thousand specimens, and a Library containing very nearly every book relating to this branch of natural science, of which copies are to be obtained; and also, principally through the personal exertions of the latter-named gentleman, in the cities of Europe, many that are of exceeding rarity and value. In several other departments, also, nearly or quite as complete collections of books and specimens have been made. To Fossil Remains, Conchology, and Crustacea, these remarks are especially applicable.

Citizens who thus devote themselves to the advancement of science and intellectual cultivation in their country,—whose exertions tend so immediately to elevate it in the scale of civilization and refinement, deserve to be ranked with its most illustrious scholars, statesmen, and soldiers, and are equally entitled to the national gratitude. So long as the condition of, or progress in the arts and sciences shall continue to characterize nations, the influence in the United States of the gentlemen to whom we have alluded, must be regarded as important in the highest degree, and their services will be gratefully remembered by their countrymen so long as the sciences are cultivated or appreciated. They have reared in their native city a monument to Natural Science as endurable as its influence in the minds of men, and more honorable to themselves than the proudest obelisk or the richest memento of the conqueror’s triumph.

With such facilities for study, we have necessarily had advantages over other American Ornithologists. One object of our work is to present a general revision of the Ornithology of the United States, endeavoring to bring our subject nearer to the true state of the science than has been previously attempted in this country. In our Synopsis, the student will find many corrections and additions, and will find himself, too, very probably introduced to names both American and European, of the connection of which with North American Ornithology, previous records are silent, quite unjustifiably.

Our predecessors have not been well versed in the history and bibliography of Ornithology, nor indeed have they professed such information. It is in fact a description of knowledge to be attained with difficulty in any country,—so great, indeed, that no one Ornithologist has ever yet been completely acquainted with the bibliography of his science.

To our publishers, Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co., is due our gratitude for constant kindness and encouragement during the publication of the present volume. Our treatment by the members of this eminent firm has in fact most fully demonstrated to us their deep interest in the Natural Sciences, as gentlemen of taste and cultivation, quite irrespective, so far as relates to our work, of merely business considerations.

To the kind friends whose contributions have added so much to the interest of this volume, we have to express our sense of great obligation, especially to Col. George A. McCall, Capt. J. P. McCown, Capt. S. G. French, Dr. T. C. Henry, of the U. S. Army, to Mr. John G. Bell, Dr. A. L. Heermann, Dr. P. R. Hoy, Dr. S. W. Woodhouse, Mr. John H. Clark, Dr. Charles Pickering, and Dr. C. B. R. Kennerly.

To Dr. A. Hall, of Montreal, and Dr. R. Haymond, of Brookville, Indiana, for much valuable information relating to the birds of their districts.

To Professor J. P. Kirtland, Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, Professor S. F. Baird, and Mr. Robert Kennicott, we have also to express our gratitude for very important services, in facilitating the circulation of our work, and for much information and assistance.

For facilities for the examination and comparison of specimens we gratefully acknowledge our obligations to the gentlemen of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; to Professor Joseph Henry and Professor S. F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution; to the Natural History Society of South Carolina; to Mr. Edward Harris, to the Rev. Dr. Bachman, to Mr. John Krider, to Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence, and to Mr. J. P. Giraud.

Of the superior execution of the plates of our work, it is perhaps unnecessary for us to speak, but in justice to Mr. J. T. Bowen, and Mr. W. E. Hitchcock, we may be allowed to say that we regard them as having in this volume fully established a degree of excellence in the production of zoological plates, rarely excelled, if equalled, in this country.

Though we hope and fully intend to proceed with a second series of this work, as materials accumulate, especially as the present volume has met with a degree of patronage much greater than we had any right or reason to expect, we have to say to our friends and patrons, that at present we have no definite prospect of such continuation. Should we be favored with life and health, we hope to present two additional volumes or series, each, like the present, complete in itself, for which very nearly a sufficient number of birds are now known as inhabiting the United States, and which are not given by former authors on North American Ornithology. At present, our engagements, we regret to say, render such an undertaking quite impossible.

John Cassin.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, November, 1855.

CONTENTS.

[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] J K [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] U [V] W X Y Z

A Acanthylis, genus [Page 249] Accipiter, genus [94] Ammodromus, genus [136] “ ruficeps [pl. 20], [135] “ rostratus [pl. 38], [226] Antrostomus, genus [235] Aquila, genus [109] Archibuteo, genus [103], [161] “ ferrugineus [pl. 26], [159] Astur, genus [93] Athene, genus [188]

B Bernicla, genus [54] “ nigricans [pl. 10], [52] “ leucopareia [pl. 45], [272] Bubo, genus [177] Buteo, genus [97] “ Bairdii [pl. 41], [99], [257] “ insignatus [pl. 31], [102], [198]

C Callipepla, genus [50] “ Gambelii [pl. 9], [45] “ squamata [pl. 19], [129] Caprimulgidæ, family [235] Carpodacus, genus [78] “ familiaris [pl. 13], [73] Cardinalis, genus [206] “ sinuatus [pl. 33], [204] Cardinella, genus [266] “ rubra [pl. 43], [265] Cathartes, genus [56] Ceryle, genus [254] Chamæa, genus [40] “ fasciata [pl. 7], [39] Chordeiles, genus [237] Circus, genus [108] Cotyle, genus [247] Culicivora, genus [164] “ mexicana [pl. 27], [163] Cyanocorax, genus [5] “ luxuosus [pl. 1], [1] Cypselus, genus [248] Cyrtonyx, genus [25] “ Massena [pl. 4], [21]

D Diomedea, genus [211] “ brachyura [pl. 50], [289] “ nigripes [pl. 35], [210] Dryotomus, genus [287] “ imperialis [pl. 49], [285]

E Elanus, genus [106] Emberiza, genus [153] “ bilineata [pl. 23], [150] Embernagra, genus [71] “ Blandingiana [pl. 12], [70]

F Failconidæ family [85] Falco genus [85], [122] “ polyagrus [pl. 16], [88], [121] Fissirostres [235]

G Geococcyx, genus [219] “ mexicanus [pl. 36], [213] Glaucidium, genus [189] Gymnokitta, genus [167] “ cyanocephala [pl. 28], [165]

H Halcyonidæ, family [253] Haliaetus, genus [37], [109] “ pelagicus [pl. 6], [31] Hierofalco, genus [89] Hirundinidæ, family [242] Hirundo, genus [242] Hypotriorchis, genus [90]

I Icterus, genus [43] “ cucullatus [pl. 8], [42] “ melanocephalus [pl. 21], [137] Ictinea, genus [106] Insessores, tribe [235]

L Larus, genus [29] “ Heermanni [pl. 5], [28] Lophophanes, genus [18] “ atricristatus [pl. 3], [13], [19]

M Melanerpes, genus [11] “ formicivorus [pl. 2], [7] “ thyroideus [pl. 32], [201] Morphnus, genus [114]

N Nauclerus, genus [105] Nyctale, genus [68], [185] “ Kirtlandii [pl. 11], [63], [187] Nyctea, genus [190]

O Ortalida, genus [270] “ poliocephala [pl. 44], [267] Otus, genus [181]

P Pandion, genus [112] Parinæ, sub-family [17] Parus, genus [17] “ septentrionalis [pl. 14], [80] Petrochelidon, sub-genus [243] Picolaptes, genus [157] “ brunneicapillus [pl. 25], [156] Pipilo, genus [126] “ fusca [pl. 17], [124] Plectrophanes, genus [230] “ McCownii [pl. 39], [228] Polyborus, genus [112] Progne, genus [245] Psaltria, genus [19] Ptilogonys, genus [171] “ nitens [pl. 29], [169] Pyrocephalus, genus [128] “ rubineus [pl. 18], [127]

Q Querquedula, genus [83] “ cyanoptera [pl. 15], [82]

R Recurvirostra, genus [233] “ occidentalis [pl. 40], [232] Rostrhamus, genus [107]

S Sarcoramphus, genus [59] Saxicola, genus [208] “ oenanthoides [pl. 34], [207] Scops, genus [179] Strigidæ, family [175] Strix, genus [176] Surnia, genus [191] Sylvicola, genus [281] “ olivacea [pl. 48], [283] “ Kirtlandii [pl. 47], [278] Syrnium, genus [183]

T Thalassidroma, genus [277] “ furcata [pl. 46], [274] Tinnunculus, genus [92] Toxostoma, genus [263] “ rediviva [pl. 42], [260] Trochilus, genus [148] “ Alexandri [pl. 22], [141] Troglodytes, genus [175] “ mexicanus [pl. 30], [173]

V Vireo, genus [154] “ atricapillus [pl. 24], [153] Vireosylvia, genus [224] “ altiloqua [pl. 37], [221] Vulturidæ, family [56]

ILLUSTRATIONS
OF
THE BIRDS
OF
CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, OREGON, AND BRITISH AND RUSSIAN AMERICA.

CYANOCORAX LUXUOSUS.—(Lesson.)
The Mexican Jay.
PLATE I.—Adult Male.

The family of birds, familiarly known as Jays, is so extensively diffused, that every country of the world produces species except Africa south of the Great Desert, Australia, and the islands in the Pacific ocean.

The European species are few in number, but that which is the most common and well known by the name from which has been derived the popular appellation now applied to nearly all of its more or less nearly allied relatives, is justly regarded as one of the most remarkable of the birds of that continent. It is the only species of this family which inhabits central Europe and the British Islands, and is much admired on account of the beauty of its plumage, which is for the greater part of a very handsome light reddish brown, with its wings richly colored of a beautiful light blue and a deep black. It is a cunning, cautious bird, and possesses very considerable powers of imitation and of voice in general. Nearly all the European ornithologists relate instances of specimens which they had seen in a state of domestication, some of which had been taught, not only to articulate words but also to imitate various sounds and the cries of animals. Bewick mentions one which would call a dog, and another which could imitate the noise made by a saw. Others have heard it imitate the mewing of a cat, the notes of other birds, and even the neighing of a horse. In Germany, where the taming and rearing of birds is made a matter of business to a much greater extent than we have any examples of in the United States, the Jay is a great favorite on account of this talent, or in some measure for the same reason that the Mocking bird is in this country. It does not appear, however, to possess the talent for accurate imitation, nor the taste nor talent for combination which is shown in such an eminent degree by the famous songster of this country, but to evince imitative instincts more similar to those of the Parrots.

Other Jays, of very handsome plumage, inhabit Asia, from the northern regions of which continent, as well as from northern Africa, a few species visit Europe. They are not abundant in either of the first mentioned continents.

The birds of this group are most numerous in America. In the higher northern latitudes and in the eastern parts of the United States, a few species only are found; several others, of which some account will be found in the present work, and some of which are very handsome and remarkable species have as yet to be regarded as exclusively western, having only been observed in the countries on the Pacific seaboard. We beg the liberty of saying, however, in passing, that it is as yet quite impossible to define, in any reliable manner, the limits of the range of any of the birds usually regarded as exclusively inhabiting the Western States and territories of the United States, so vast a central region having been but very imperfectly explored, and which yet presents to the enterprising scientific traveller one of the most interesting regions for research on the face of the globe. It comprises the entire range of country from the Mississippi river to beyond the Rocky Mountains, from the northern to the southern limits of the United States.

In Mexico and thence southward to Brazil and Patagonia, and, in fact, throughout South America, many species of Jays are to be met with in abundance, and of such beautiful plumage and variety of tints as far surpass those of any other country. The prevailing hues of the plumage of the greater number of the American species are the different shades of blue, from the most delicate ultramarine or azure to deep indigo, generally variegated, in a very agreeable manner, with white, black or yellow. Amongst the most handsome of these birds we may mention the great crested Jay of South America and the West Indies, Cyanocorax pileatus, a large and very showy species, the Mexican painted Jay, Cyanocitta ornata, which has the entire plumage of a deep blue color beautifully relieved by a large patch of very pale bluish white on the back part of the head and neck. Others, such as Beechey’s Jay of California and Mexico, Cyanocitta Beechii, of which we shall give a plate and description, have the plumage of fine silky blue above, and deep black on the under part of the body. There are a few species in which the prevailing color of the plumage is violet, as the Cyanocorax violaceus, a native of the northern parts of South America, and probably of Central America and Mexico. There are also a few species of which the bird figured in our present plate is one, in which the plumage is green, usually variegated with blue and yellow.

The Mexican species yet discovered are of very fine plumage, though generally of smaller size than many of those of South America. Several of the species of the southern portion of this continent are, in fact, so large that they approach the stature of their relatives, the crows, though clothed in a quite different style of vesture. In fact, some of the larger species are known to collectors and travellers by such names as the Blue crow, the Surinam crow, &c. The Cyanocorax azureus of South America is the “Blue Crow,” and is one of the largest species of this family.

The Jays must be regarded as highly organized birds, and are possessed of a superior order of instincts. However deficient in melody or compass of voice, there are few other birds in which are found combined so many characters or bird-like qualities. Delicacy of form, beauty of plumage, vigorous and enduring powers of flight, are united with much liveliness of disposition, unusual instincts of precaution and self-preservation, and the ability to subsist on very diversified descriptions of both animal and vegetable food. They are accordingly entitled to a superior position in any system of classification, based, as all zoological systems should be, on the knowledge of functional as well as of organic characters;—on the observations of the naturalist in the field or forest, not less than on the conclusions or discoveries of the anatomist.

Nearly all the species of this group of birds appear to partake to a considerable extent of the cunning, though not unpleasant nor unsociable habits of the Blue Jay of the United States, and like it they feed indiscriminately on seeds or fruits, worms, insects, and even small quadrupeds, or on other birds. They live principally in the forests, though several of the fine species of South America and all the species of North America frequently resort to the orchards and fields, or approach the habitations of men, and when captured young are readily domesticated.

The very handsome bird which, in our first plate, we present to our readers, is a recent addition to the Ornithology of the United States, having been observed in Texas, though previously known as a bird of Mexico. It is nearly related to the Peruvian Jay, C. yucas, Boddaert, or C. peruvianus, Gmelin, which is a native of the countries of western South America. It is, however, considerably smaller, and is differently colored on the inferior parts of the body, having there a prevailing tint of green instead of the clear yellow of that also handsome bird, and other characters tending to establish a clear specific difference.

This bird is abundant in Mexico. It was observed to be quite numerous on the tierra templada or table lands, and in the hills bounding the plains of Perote and Puebla on the east, by Mr. William S. Pease, an enterprising naturalist, who accompanied the army of the United States, under General Scott, throughout its campaign in Mexico. Mr. Pease learned that it lived on the sides of the hills throughout the year, and was called by the inhabitants, the pepe verde. His collection, now included in that of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, contained very fine specimens of both sexes, though his notes contain little information respecting them.

M. Lesson, an eminent French naturalist, was the first to describe this species. His description, from a Mexican specimen, is in the Révue Zoologique for 1839, p. 100. (Paris.) The first published notice of it as a Texan species is by Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence, in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, vol. v., p. 115.

The credit of having first discovered it within the limits of the United States is due to Col. George A. M‘Call, Inspector General of the United States Army, who sent specimens to the Philadelphia Academy, from Texas, several years since, and who has most kindly favored us with the following note:

“The first specimens of this Jay that I saw within the territory of the United States, were in the forests that border the Rio Grande, on the south-western frontier of Texas. There they were mated in the month of May, and no doubt had their nests in the extensive and almost impenetrable thickets of Mimosæ, which are commonly denominated Chaparral. Of the number of their eggs, or the description of their nests, I learned nothing, not having been able to discover their abode, precisely; but from the jealousy and pugnacity which they manifested on the approach or appearance of the large boat-tailed blackbird of that country (Quiscalus macrourus,) which was nesting in great numbers in the vicinity, I felt satisfied that the Jays were, at the time, also engaged in the duties of incubation and rearing their young. In character or temperament they appeared to be very active and lively, though less noisy than some other species of their family, and their gay plumage was exhibited to advantage as they flitted from tree to tree, or dashed boldly in pursuit of such of their more plainly attired neighbors as ventured to intrude upon their domain.”

Captain J. P. M‘Cown, another accomplished officer of the United States Army, also observed this bird in Texas, to the natural history of which country he has contributed a large amount of most valuable information. From the interesting memoranda which he has very generously and promptly furnished for our use in the present work, we make the following extract:

“During the several years that I was in Texas, I frequently saw this Jay, but never above Ringgold Barracks or north of the woods which skirt the Rio Grande. It appeared to prefer the Acacia groves which have sprung up where the ground has been overflowed. Though I have shot numerous specimens it is rather a cautious bird. I have seen nests high up in the trees alluded to, and always supposed them to belong to this species, but was never clearly satisfied, though I have no doubt that it breeds in Texas.”

The figure in our plate is about three-fourths of the natural size.

The plant represented is the Salvia coccinea, which is a native of the southern parts of North America.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Cyanocorax, Boie, in Oken’s Isis, 1826, part II., p. 977.

Bill rather large and strong, with the ridge of the upper mandible curved gradually from the base to the point—ridge of the lower mandible curved upwards. Nostrils at the base of the bill, in rather a large membrane, and partially concealed by projecting feathers. Wings moderate, rather rounded, fourth, fifth and sixth primaries usually longest; secondaries long, exceeding some of the shorter primaries. Tail rather lengthened and rounded; tarsi robust, rather long; toes and claws strong. Head usually with a crest or with the frontal plumes erect and crest-like. Plumage of various colors, mostly with some part of greater or less extent, blue. Exclusively American. Type C. pileatus. (Wagler.)

Cyanocorax luxuosus. (Lesson.) Garrulus luxuosus. Lesson Revue Zoologique 1839, p. 100. (Paris.) Cyanocorax luxuosus. (Less.) Du Bus, Esquisses Ornithologiques, part IV. pl. 18. (Brussels.)

Form. Feathers of the head in front or at the base of the upper mandible, short, erect and rigid—other plumage of the head above somewhat elongated; wings rather short, with the fourth and fifth quills slightly longest; tail ample, and rather long, with the central feathers longest; bill strong, tarsi and feet moderate, claws strong and curved.

Dimensions.—Total length (of skin) from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, about 10½ inches, wing 4¾, tail 5½ inches.

Colors.—Short feathers at the base of the bill, blue, which color is succeeded by a transverse band of bluish white; cheeks and head above, pale azure blue; sides of the head in front of and behind the eyes, throat and neck in front fine silky black, which forms a wide mask extending to the breast.

Body above, wings and central tail feathers, fine parrot-like green, deepest on the tail, entire inferior surface of the body pale yellowish green. External tail feathers, pale yellow. Bill and feet dark colored. The green feathers of the tail running into blue at their ends, and nearly black on their under surface.

Sexes similar.

Habitat. Mexico and Texas—Specimens in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

Observations. The present species we regard as deviating in some degree from the characters of the typical species of this genus, as is the case with other species to which it is nearly related. We do not at present, however, consider them as presenting peculiar characters sufficient to constitute a distinct genus, though that excellent ornithologist, the Prince of Canino, has given to this group the generic name of Xanthoura, which embraces the species now before us, C. yucas (Boddaert) and X. quatimalensis. Bonap. (Consp. Av. p. 380.)

Plate 2
The Californian Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus (Swains.)

MELANERPES FORMICIVORUS.—(Swainson.)
The Californian Woodpecker.
PLATE II.—Male and female.

The most richly colored Woodpeckers of North America, at least in our Opinion, are two of the most abundant species. We allude to the bird now before us, and to the well-known red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, (Linn.) in both of which the prevailing colors are a fine glossy black and a rich crimson.

Were the latter bird less common in the Atlantic States, his claims to be considered one of our finest plumaged species would perhaps be more distinctly recognised, and his very showy head of the finest crimson could not fail to attract admirers. As, however, he has the disadvantage of an attributed disposition to take liberties entirely forbidden by the farmer and gardener, and is moreover to be seen in almost every woodland in the summer season, his gay appearance is by no means duly appreciated, nor his general character held in high estimation. He is however not so abundant as formerly, and with the destruction of the large trees of the forest, which is constantly carried on to make room for the increasing population in the more densely settled States, the time may arrive when the sight of the red-headed woodpecker, with his brilliant plumage, will be an unusual and pleasing circumstance to the young, and serve to remind the aged of perhaps long-forgotten incidents and associations of early life when remnants of the forest yet flourished even in proximity to cities, or varied the aspect of cultivated districts.

Our present species is one of the most abundant of the birds of California. It appears to take the place of the red-headed woodpecker in the countries west of the Rocky Mountains, extending its range from Oregon into Mexico, and probably to Guatimala and other countries of Central America. It is not inferior to that species in the beauty of its colors, is quite as unwary and familiar in its disposition, and when the population of the great Western States shall have arrived at such a very desirable stage of progress as to possess a generation of juvenile sportsmen, our bird will no doubt be quite as great a favorite on holiday shooting excursions.

Several species of woodpeckers have had ascribed to them the habit of accumulating stores of provisions in anticipation of the approach of winter, but we have no knowledge of this being done by any American species, except that now before us. For it we can claim this degree of instinctive prudence on undoubted evidence, and shall have the pleasure, in the present article, of laying before our readers an account of it, which is not only a remarkable illustration of instinct, but shows a singular method of mechanical preparation and management.

Our valued friends, Mr. John G. Bell of New York, and Dr. A. L. Heermann of Philadelphia, both of whom have made extended visits to California for the purpose of investigating its Natural History, found this woodpecker very abundant in all the parts of that country which either of them visited.

The former gentleman has had the kindness to inform us, that he considers it by far the most extensively diffused and common woodpecker of that country. He represents it as somewhat disposed to gregariousness in its habits, and has frequently seen individuals on the same tree so numerous and so close together, that several might have been killed at a single discharge. According to Mr. Bell, its note very considerably resembles that of the red-headed woodpecker, which it much resembles also in flight and other general characters. He observed it only on trees, particularly on the pines; and upon examination found the contents of the stomachs of all the specimens which were procured by him, to be composed principally of ants, of which several of the species of California habitually frequent trees. The large collection of birds brought home by Mr. Bell contained numerous specimens of this species.

The account given by Dr. Heermann of this bird is of a highly interesting character, and he has identified, for the first time, the species of woodpecker of which previously nothing could be accurately made out from the statements of travellers respecting a bird which possessed the provident and curious instinct of storing away a supply of food for the winter in holes made for that purpose in the bark of trees. His remarks are in his “Notes on the Birds of California observed during a residence of three years in that country,” published in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. II. p. 270. (Quarto 1853,) from which we transcribe the following:

“This is the noisiest and most abundant of the woodpeckers of California. Perched on the topmost branch of a tree, it darts suddenly into the air in pursuit of an insect, and having secured its object, soon again returns to the same place, only to repeat this manœuvre in a few moments.

“In the fall season this species is busily engaged in digging small holes in the bark of the pines and oaks, to receive acorns, one of which is placed in each hole, and is so tightly fitted or driven in, that it is with difficulty extracted. Thus the bark of a large pine, forty or fifty feet high, will present the appearance of being closely studded with brass nails, the heads only being visible. These acorns are thus stored in large quantities, and serve not only the woodpecker during the winter season, but are trespassed on by the jays, mice and squirrels.

“The nest of this bird is dug out in the body of a tree, and is from six inches to two feet in depth. The eggs, four or five in number, are pure white.”

The following graphic and intelligent account, to the same purpose, is from Kelly’s Excursion to California, and is evidently from the pen of an excellent observer and an agreeable writer:

“In stripping off the bark of this tree, I observed it to be perforated with holes, larger than those which a musket ball would make, shaped with the most accurate precision as if bored under the guidance of a rule and compass, and many of them filled most neatly with acorns. Earlier in the season I had remarked such holes in most of all the softer timber, but imagining that they were caused by wood insects, I did not stop to examine or inquire, but now finding them studded with acorns, firmly fixed in, which I knew could not have been driven there by the wind, I sought for an explanation, which was practically given me by Captain S——’s pointing out a flock of woodpeckers, busily and noisily employed in the provident task of securing the winter’s provision. For it appears that this sagacious bird is not all the time thriftlessly engaged in ‘tapping the hollow beach tree’ for the mere idle purpose of empty sound, but spends its summer season in picking these holes, in which it lays its store of food for the winter, where the elements can neither affect nor place it beyond their reach, and it is regarded as a sure omen that the snowy period is approaching when these birds commence stowing away their acorns, which otherwise might be covered by its fall. I frequently have paused from my chopping, to watch them in the neighborhood, with the acorns in their bills, half clawing, half flying around the tree, and have admired the adroitness with which they tried it at different holes until they found one of its exact calibre; when, inserting the pointed end, they tapped it home most artistically with the beak, and flew down for another.

“But the natural instinct of this bird is even more remarkable in the choice of the nuts, which are invariably found to be sound, whereas it is an utter impossibility in selecting them for roasting, to pick up a batch that will not have a large portion of them unfit for use, the most smooth and polished frequently containing a large grub generated within. Even the wily Digger Indian, with all his craft and experience, is unable to arrive at any thing like an unerring selection, while in a large bag full, that we took from the bark of our log, there was not one containing the slightest germ of decay. These woodpeckers never encroach on their packed stores until all the nuts on the surface of the ground are covered with snow, when they resort to those in the bark, and peck them of their contents without removing the shell from the hole. The bark of the pine tree, from its great thickness, and the ease of boring, is mostly sought for by these birds as their granary for the winter season.”

This extraordinary example of instinct is scarcely surpassed by any other which has been observed in the animal kingdom, and it is to be hoped that further accounts will be furnished by observers in the countries which it inhabits, respecting the bird which is endowed with such interesting and unusual habits.

This woodpecker is common in Mexico in woods on the table lands, and was observed by Mr. Pease also in the upper part of the tierra caliente. It was first introduced to notice from Mexican specimens received from the vicinity of Real del Monte by Mr. Swainson, a distinguished English naturalist, who first described it in the Philosophical Magazine, 1827, p. 439 (London.) It was observed in California previous to that country having become a part of the United States, by Mr. Nuttall, the eminent botanist and zoologist, who gave it a place in his Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada. Vol. I., p. 682 (Boston, 1840.)

Our figures are rather less than one-third of the size of life.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Melanerpes. Swainson, in Fauna Boreali Americana, Birds, p. 316, and Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopedia, Birds, Vol. II. p. 310. London, 1837.

Bill straight, rather wide at the base and somewhat cylindrical, ridge of the upper mandible arched, and with a slightly developed lateral ridge on each side, nostrils basal, nearly concealed by projecting plumes. Wings long, first primary spurious, fourth and fifth usually longest, tail moderate, composed of broad and strong feathers. Tarsi and feet moderate or rather strong; two external toes before and behind, nearly equal. General form short and robust; color black, varied with red and white. Type M. erythrocephalus. (Linn.)

Melanerpes formicivorus. (Swainson.) Picus formicivorus. Swainson in Taylor’s Phil. Mag., 1827, (p. 439,) London. Picus melanopogon. Temminck, Pl. col. Vol. IV., pl. 451. Leyden, about 1829. Melampicos flavigula. Malherbe in Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1849, p. 542? (Paris.)

Form. Compact and rather robust; wing long, with the second and third quills longest, and nearly equal; tail rather broad, and with the feathers but moderately rigid at their ends, unless worn; feet moderately robust; toes long; claws much curved. Rather larger than Melanerpes erythrocephalus. (Linn.)

Dimensions. (Of a skin from California.) Total length from tip of bill to end of tail, about 9½ inches; wing, 5¾; tail, 3½ inches.

Colors. Male. Short feathers immediately around the base of the bill, black. Broad subfrontal band, pure white, which unites with a wide, somewhat crescent-shaped mark of the same color, tinged with pale yellow on the throat and neck in front. Large coronal and occipital space immediately succeeding the white subfrontal band, fine light crimson, of which color there is also a small, irregular spot or two in the centre of a black band on the upper part of the breast.

Cheeks, back, wings, and tail fine deep black, with a greenish gloss. Band of black across the breast, succeeded by another, in which the feathers are longitudinally marked with black and white; feathers of the flanks, and under tail coverts, white, with black longitudinal stripes; middle of the abdomen, rump, and spot at the base of the primaries, pure white. The latter most readily observed on the inferior surface of the wing. Secondary quills rather widely bordered with white on their internal edges. Bill nearly black; legs and feet lighter. Female similar to the male, but with a wide band of black on the top of the head.

Hab. California and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Observations. The bird described by Temminck as Picus melanopogon is stated by him to have been received from Mexico, and his figure is certainly the bird which is the subject of our present article. His description and figure are in Livraison 76 of the Planches Colorices, which was published about 1828 or 1829, but bears no date, and was anticipated by Swainson’s publication in the Philos. Magazine.

In the Revue et Magazin de Zoologie, for 1849, p. 542, M. Alfred Malherbe, who has devoted much attention to the study of the woodpeckers, has named a species Melampicos flavigula, and has very carefully pointed out differences which he considers sufficient to establish it as distinct from Picus melanopogon. He relies almost entirely on the greater or lesser extent and relative widths of the white, black and red spaces on their heads. Notwithstanding the extensive knowledge which M. Malherbe undoubtedly possesses from his great attention to this family of birds, I cannot see that there are any characters given which may not be very properly attributed to differences in age or sex, and I have accordingly felt myself justified in suspecting it to be the same as the present species, having before me specimens which I understand to represent both of them.

No dependence can be placed in the extent of the red color on the head, as a character, so far as I have observed, in the woodpeckers of the United States. In Picus pubescens, a common species in Pennsylvania, the young male has the head above entirely crimson, which color in the adult is restricted to a narrow occipital band. I do not know that the change in others of our species is so decided, but the width of the occipital stripe is much varied in different specimens of the same species, and my impression is, that as a specific character this very ornamental portion of the plumage of woodpeckers ought to be estimated with great caution.

Plate 3
The Black-crested Chickadee
Lophophanes atricristatus (Cassin)

LOPHOPHANES ATRICRISTATUS.—(Cassin.)
The Black-crested Chickadee.
PLATE III.—Male and Female.

The pleasant little birds of the same family as those known in Great Britain as Tits or Tit-mice, have received in America, from the characteristic notes of several of the species, the name of Chickadees. Popular names being entirely of a local character and of little scientific value, we invariably prefer to give those by which species are known in this country instead of the names of birds allied to or resembling them which inhabit Europe, though the latter are generally adopted by American writers.

The species of this family, which are permanent residents in the middle and northern States, and especially the tufted or crested Chickadee (L. bicolor,) are among the very first of the feathered inhabitants of our woodlands to welcome the advent of spring, and to hail with their clear and melodious notes the earliest tokens of the decline of winter. Even on fine days in February or early in March, the crested Chickadee may often be heard, apparently indulging himself in gratifying anticipations of the approaching spring-time; or it may be, that not being instinctively weather-wise like the beaver, and not at all versed in wise saws or modern instances, he thinks that it has already come. Which conclusion, though sometimes adopted quite as summarily by tidy house-keepers, is very apt to be demonstrated by the storms of St. Patrick’s day to be entirely illusory.

The tits or chickadees are abundant birds in the temperate and northern regions of both hemispheres, most so perhaps in Europe, though the researches of ornithologists have added numerous species to those formerly known to inhabit Asia and America. Several very handsome birds of this family have been discovered, within a few years, inhabiting the Himalaya mountains, and other parts of India, and in Japan. In North America the species have increased from two only, which were figured by the celebrated Wilson, to twelve, the additions having been principally from the Western States, and from Texas and Mexico, and there can be no doubt that in the almost unexplored countries of North-Western America as well as in those which have received a greater degree of the attention of zoological travellers, such as Texas, California and Mexico, others yet remain to be discovered.

There are about fourteen European species of this group of birds, and about twenty which are exclusively Asiatic. A few species of allied genera inhabit Africa and New Zealand, but none of near relationship have yet been found in Australia nor in South America.

The species of all countries appear to be very similar in their habits, and live almost entirely in the forests, subsisting exclusively on insects in the summer, and in the winter partially substituting seeds and berries for their more grateful food.

The black-crested chickadee is a native of Texas and probably also of Mexico. It was discovered in the former country by Mr. John Woodhouse Audubon, a son of the distinguished ornithologist, and was first described by us in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. It is very similar to the crested chickadee in form and general appearance, but exhibits a striking difference in having the crest entirely black, by which character it is distinguished from all others of the genus to which it belongs.

The only information that we have obtained relative to its history has been communicated to us by Samuel W. Woodhouse, M. D., who was attached, as surgeon and naturalist, to a party under the command of Captain Sitgreaves of the Topographical Engineers of the Army of the United States, which surveyed the rivers Zunia and the Colorado of the west, by order of the Government.

Dr. Woodhouse has had the kindness to allow us to copy the following memoranda from his Journal, which will be published at an early period, with the Report made by Captain Sitgreaves to the Topographical Department, and will be an important contribution to the natural history of Texas and New Mexico:

“While our party was encamped on the Rio Salado in Texas, near San Antonio, in March, 1851, I observed this handsome little chickadee for the first time. It was busily engaged in capturing insects among the trees on the bank of the stream, and like the other species of its family, was incessantly in motion and very noisy. At our camp at Quihi, on the eighth of May, I again found it very abundant among the oaks. The young males, which were then fully grown, much resembled the adult females, both wanting the black crest which characterizes the male. Afterwards I noticed this species, occurring sparingly, along our route, as far as the head waters of the San Francisco river in New Mexico.

“I observed it almost entirely in trees bordering streams of water, the females and young males invariably having the crest of the same cinereous color as their general plumage, but in the latter slightly tinged with brown. It occurred in small parties, appeared to be very sociable and lively in its habits, and in general appearance and in nearly all its notes which I heard, it so very much resembled the common crested chickadee of the Northern States as scarcely to be recognized as a distinct species at a short distance.”

The collection made by Dr. Woodhouse contains fine specimens of this bird, from a male and female of which, and from Mr. Audubon’s specimens, our plate has been prepared. We have represented both sexes about three-fourths of the natural size.

The plant figured is the Phlox Drummondii, a beautiful species which is a native of New Mexico and California.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Lophophanes. Kaup Skiz. Entw. Eur. Thierw. (1829.) Lophophanes atricristatus. (Cassin.) Parus atricristatus. Cassin. Proc. Acad. Philada. Vol. V., p. 103, (Oct. 1850.)

Form. With a high pointed crest, bill rather strong and acute. Wings long, with the fourth and fifth primaries longest, and nearly equal; tail rather long.

Dimensions of a skin from Quihi, Texas. Total length, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 6 inches; wing 3; tail 2¾ inches.

Colors. Male. Crest, black; body, wings and tail above, cinereous; darker on the latter, and with an olivacious tinge on the back. Front and inferior surface of the body, ashy white; flanks, ferruginous. Shafts of primaries, reddish at their bases; those of the tail feathers white beneath; bill and legs black. Young male with the crest cinereous, shaded with light brown.

Female. Similar to the male, but slightly smaller, and with the crest cinereous.

Hab. Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This species is of the same general form and color as Lophophanes bicolor, (Linn.,) and Lophophanes inornatus. (Gambel.) It is about the size of the former, and larger than the latter, and may be readily distinguished from either of those or from any other species known to me, by its black crest.

Having access to specimens of all the known North American species of this family, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, we beg the liberty of laying before our readers a synopsis of these birds, with short descriptions, and of availing ourselves also of the present occasion to express our grateful acknowledgments for the facilities and privileges generously allowed us by the gentlemen of the Academy.

SYNOPSIS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF THE SUB-FAMILY PARINÆ.

I. GENUS PARUS. Linnæus. Syst. Nat. I. p. 340. (1766.)

Not crested, bill short, rather strong, conic, entire, nostrils at the base of the bill and concealed by projecting feathers. Wings moderate, with the first quill spurious, fourth and fifth usually longest and nearly equal, tail rather long, legs and feet rather robust, claws curved and sharp. Colors usually cinereous and black.

This genus originally included all the birds now usually regarded as constituting a family of many genera, species of which inhabit nearly all the countries of the world. As restricted, it appears properly to embrace numerous species without crests found in Asia, Europe, and America; nearly all of which have the upper part of the head and throat black. A further division has however been made by Professor Kaup, of Darmstadt; and all the American, with some European and Asiatic non-crested species, form his genus Pœcila.

The American species are as follows:

1. Parus atricapillus. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. p. 341 (1766). The black-capped Chickadee.

Length (of skin) about 5 inches. Head and neck above and large space on the throat black, cheeks and sides of the neck white, entire plumage of the body above cinereous, slightly tinged with brownish olive, below ashy white tinged with brownish. Bill and feet dark. Sexes alike.

Hab. Northern and Middle States of North America. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

2. Parus carolinensis. Audubon Orn. Biog. II. p. 341, (1834.) The Carolina Chickadee.

Length (of skin) about 4¼ inches. Head and neck above and large space on the throat black, cheeks and sides of the neck white. Entire plumage of the body above cinereous, slightly tinged with brownish olive, below ashy white tinged with brownish. Bill and feet dark. Sexes alike.

Hab. Middle and Southern States of North America. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. Very similar to the preceding, but easily recognized by its smaller size.

3. Parus septentrionalis. Harris, Proc. Acad. Philada. II. p. 300, (Dec. 1845.) The long-tailed chickadee.

Length (of skin) about 6 inches. Head above and space on the throat black, cheeks and sides of the neck white. Entire plumage of the body above cinereous, strongly tinged with reddish brown, below ashy white, tinged with yellowish brown, especially on the sides and flanks, external web of outer tail feathers nearly pure white. Bill and feet dark. Tail comparatively longer than in either of the preceding species.

Hab. Missouri and the Rocky Mountains. Great Salt Lake. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada. and in the National Collection, Washington city.

Obs. A species related to, but quite distinct from either of the preceding. It is larger, and the specimens which I have seen have the bill longer and more pointed, the tail much longer, the black space on the head more restricted, and the general coloring more tinged with brown. The white outer edges of the external tail feathers is a well-marked character.

4. Parus montanus. Gambel, Proc. Acad. Philada. I. p. 259, (April, 1843.)

Length (of skin) about 5 inches. Head and neck above, line through the eye, space on the throat and upper part of the breast black. Line over the eye, large space on the cheeks and side of the neck white. Body above cinereous, below ashy white tinged with brownish on the flanks, bill and legs dark.

Hab. California. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This western species is readily distinguished from all others of North America by the broad white line over the eye. Its bill is longer than in the typical species.

5. Parus hudsonicus. Forster, Philosoph. Trans. lxii. p. 430, (London, 1772.)

Length (of skin) about 5 inches. Head and neck above deep ferruginous brown, large space on the throat brownish black, cheeks white. Body above brownish cinereous, below ashy white, sides and flanks deep reddish chestnut brown, bill and feet lead colored. Sexes very similar.

Hab. British America, and Northern States of the Union. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. Quite a distinct and well-marked species, erroneously supposed by some European writers to be the young of P. atricapillus. It has been found breeding in the State of Maine, by our friend Dr. Brewer of Boston.

6. Parus rufescens. Townsend Jour. Acad. Philada. vii. p. 190, (1837.)

Length (of skin) about 4½ inches. Head and neck above, large space on the throat and breast deep blackish brown, cheeks and sides of the neck white, body above and sides below bright chestnut, medial portion of the body below ashy white. Bill and legs lead color.

Hab. Oregon and California. Spec. Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. A beautiful little species, which appears to inhabit a large extent of country west of the Rocky Mountains. It is easily recognized by the bright chestnut color of the superior parts of the body.

II. GENUS LOPHOPHANES. Kaup. Skiz. Entw. Eur. Thierw. (1829.)

Crested, bill moderate, strong, conic, entire, upper mandible rather the longer and slightly curved, nostrils basal, rounded and concealed by projecting feathers. Wings rather long, with the fourth and fifth primaries usually longest, tail rather long, legs and feet robust, the latter rather large, and provided with curved, strong and very sharp claws. Prevailing color of all known American species, cinereous.

This genus comprises the crested species of Europe and America, which were formerly included in the genus Parus, Linn., but which evidently form a natural and easily characterized group, fully entitled to generic distinction.

1. Lophophanes bicolor. (Linn) The crested Chickadee.

Parus bicolor. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. p. 340, (1766.)

Length about 6½ inches. Front black, crest and body above dark cinereous, tinged with greenish on the back, below ashy white, flanks reddish brown. Bill and legs nearly black. Sexes alike.

Hab. Eastern North America. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

2. Lophophanes atricristatus. (Cassin). The black-crested Chickadee.

Parus atricristatus. Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada. V. p. 103, (Oct. 1850.)

Length (of skin) about 6 inches. Male—front, ashy white, crest black, entire plumage above cinereous, beneath ashy white, flanks reddish brown. Bill and legs black. Female, with the crest ashy, not black. Young, like the female, but with crest tinged with brown.

Hab. Texas and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philad. and in the National Collection Washington city.

3. Lophophanes inornatus. (Gambel). The plain-crested Chickadee.

Parus inornatus. Gambel. Proc. Acad. Philada. II. p. 265, (Aug. 1845.)

Length about 5½ inches. Front, crest and entire plumage above cinereous, strongly inclining to olive, below uniform whitish, cinereous. Bill and legs lead-colored. Sexes alike.

Hab. California. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. A plainly-colored species abundant in California, easily recognized by the uniform cinereous color of its plumage.

4. Lophophanes Wollweberi. Bonaparte, Comptes rendus, Acad. Paris, xxxi. p. 478. (Sept. 1850.) The Texan Chickadee.

Parus annexus. Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada. V. p. 103. (Oct. 1850.)

Lophophanes galeatus. Cabanis Cat. Heine’s coll. p. 90. (1851.)

Length (of skin) about 5 inches. Anterior feathers of crest, cinereous, succeeding and most elongated, black, others margined with white, short occipital feathers black. Throat black, line commencing behind the eye, thence curving and uniting with the space of the same color on the throat, black. Line above the eye running into the crest and around on the neck, white. Entire plumage above cinereous, tinged with olive, below ashy white, bill and feet dark.

Hab. Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This species considerably resembles Lophophanes cristatus, (Linn.) a common European bird. I have no doubt that the names given above are synonymous; that applied by us being about one month later than the publication of the description by Bonaparte as cited.

III. GENUS PSALTRIA. Temminck. Pl. Col. III.

Bill very short, thick, upper mandible curved, entire, nearly of the same thickness as the lower, nostrils basal, concealed by projecting feathers, wings rather short, first quill spurious, fourth and fifth longest and nearly equal, tail long and slightly wedge-shaped. Tarsi long and slender, feet rather strong, claws curved and acute, that on the posterior toe strongest. Not crested, colors of all known species principally cinereous and white.

This genus was established by the celebrated naturalist Temminck, of Leyden, (in Planches Coloriees, vol. iii.) with a little bird as its type named by him Psaltria exilis, which inhabits Java. The bird discovered by Dr. Townsend in Oregon, and now well known to American Ornithologists as Parus minimus, Townsend, not only belongs to this genus, but only materially differs in size from Psaltria exilis. Temm. Its colors and general appearance much resemble it.

The American species are:

1. Psaltria minima. (Townsend) Townsend’s Chickadee. Parus minimus. Townsend, Jour. Acad. Philada. vii. p. 199. (1837.)

Length (of skin) about 4 inches. Head above deep cinereous, inclining to purplish brown, body above cinereous, with a tinge of olive. Throat and breast whitish, abdomen and flanks cinereous, tinged with purplish brown, bill and feet black. Female rather smaller.

Hab. Oregon and California. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. As frequently turns out to be the case with birds to which such names as minor and minimus are applied, this little bird is considerably larger than its near relative, P. exilis, Temm. which otherwise it much resembles. It is now frequently brought in collections from California.

2. Psaltria melanotis. (Sanbach.) The black-eared Chickadee. Parus melanotis. Sandb. Proc. Brit. Ass. for Adv. Sci. vi. p. 99. (1837.) “Parus melanotis. Sandb.” Hartlaub, Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 216. Psaltriparus personatus. Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus Acad. Paris, xxxi. p. 478. (Sept. 1850.)

Length (of skin) about 4 inches. Male, broad stripes on each side of the head under the eye, and uniting on the occiput, deep black with a green metallic lustre. Head above pale cinereous, body above cinereous brown, throat and neck white, below ashy white, with a purplish tinge, bill and legs dark. Female, with the ears brown.

Hab. Texas and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This pretty little bird has the bill longer and more compressed than either the preceding species, or Psaltria exilis, Temm. It is, however, we think, a true Psaltria, in which respect we coincide with Prof. Westerman, who gives a description and excellent figure of it in Contributions to Zoology, (Bijdragen tot de Dierkunden,) Amsterdam, 1851.

A few other names have been given to American species of the old genus Parus by the earlier authors, all of which are undoubtedly synonymes for those of species previously described, and which we have enumerated. We have in all cases given the authority for the first description and its date.

Chamæa fasciata. (Gambel) a bird of California—though described originally, but as Dr. Gambel expressly states provisionally only, as a Parus, we regard as properly belonging to the family of Wrens (Troglodytidæ.)

Plate 4
The Massena Partridge
Cyrtonyx Massena (Lesson)

CYRTONYX MASSENA.—(Lesson.)
The Massena Partridge.
PLATE IV.—Male and Female.

This singularly, we had almost said, fantastically colored, though very handsome Partridge, is an inhabitant of Texas and Mexico. No other species presents such a remarkable arrangement of colors, and the black lines in the face of the male bird, as the eminent English Ornithologist, Mr. Gould, very appropriately observes, “forcibly remind one of the painted face of the clown in a pantomime.”

It has, until recently, been an exceedingly rare and highly prized bird in collections, a few specimens only having reached Europe or the cities on the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. Those have received names, and have been described by various European authors, as will appear from the synonymes included in the present article; but neither of them have published any information relative to the habits or history of this curious bird, nor have indicated the district of Mexico from which it had been received. It has been known only as a museum species.

Since the commencement of the military operations of the United States in Texas, New Mexico and California, and the subsequent incorporation of those countries into this great Confederacy, their natural history has attracted a large share of the attention of naturalists and students at home, and also of many highly accomplished officers of the army. In fact, to the latter gentlemen is to be awarded the high merit of having contributed, notwithstanding the engrossing and deeply responsible character of their professional duties, a large portion of all that is known relative to the zoology of those vast, and especially in a scientific point of view, very interesting regions.

A valuable notice of the Massena Partridge is given by our highly esteemed friend, Col. McCall, in his “Remarks on the habits of birds met with in Western Texas, between San Antonio and the Rio Grande, and in New Mexico, with descriptions of several species believed to have been hitherto undescribed,” published in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, V. p. 213, (June, 1851,) which we have taken the liberty of transferring to our pages.

“This species was not seen before crossing the San Pedro, but it was not long until it made its appearance in the waste and rocky region into which we then entered. And from that time until we reached the Rio Pecos, a distance of 140 miles, (westwardly by the route travelled,) it was frequently seen, though I should not say it was very common. This region is a desert of great length from north to south, our trail crossing it at nearly right angles. The general face of the country is level, and consists of either a crumbling argillaceous limestone, or a coarse grey sand, producing nothing but a sparse growth of sand plants. Water is found only at long intervals, and except at those points there is little cover for game, and apparently less food,—the principal growth being Cacti, of which the most common is Cactus arborescens; yet here, amongst projecting rocks, or on the borders of dry gullies, or in loose scrub, I found the Massena Partridge in all the beauty of his rich and varied plumage.

“The habits of this species are different from those of any other species of partridge that I have met with. They were in covies of from eight to twelve individuals, and appeared to be extremely simple and affectionate in disposition. In feeding, they separated but little, keeping up a social cluck all the time. They were so gentle as to evince little or no alarm on the approach of man; scarcely moving out of his way as he passed, and only running off or flying a few yards, when perhaps half their numbers were laid low by a shot. This inclined me to think they might with little difficulty be domesticated, although I found them here in a boundless, barren waste, and nowhere near the habitation of man. This trait of gentleness is the very opposite of those strikingly manifested by the scaly partridge, (Callipepla squamata,) which I always observed to be, though found perchance in grounds as little frequented as these, remarkably vigilant, shy, and difficult to approach. The call or signal note of this species is peculiar. I never saw it after crossing the Pecos river.”

Col. McCall’s observations on the habits of this bird confirm an opinion expressed by Mr. Gould in his Monograph of American Partridges: “No account whatever has yet reached us of the habits and economy of this species, which, judging from the comparative shortness of the toes, and the great development of its claws, we may expect to be different from those of other members of the family.”

The circular spots which are numerous on the inferior parts of the body in this partridge, appear to indicate as a character an analogy to the Guinea fowls, which is further sustained by its habit of uttering its note continually when in company with its fellows, or when feeding. The Guinea fowls in their native wilds also associate in small parties, and take wing only reluctantly, and for short distances.

Capt. S. G. French, of the U. S. Army, has most kindly and very opportunely presented us with fine specimens of this and other species preserved in spirits, for which, as well as for some valuable memoranda, we beg here to express our gratitude. He remarks, with reference to this species: “It was in the summer of 1846, when crossing the then pathless and untrodden plains or table lands which extend westwardly from San Antonio, Texas, to New Mexico, that I first met with this beautiful partridge. On a bright summer afternoon, I undertook the ascent of a high rocky mountain for the purpose of obtaining a view of the valley through which the San Pedro river takes its course, and when I had gained the summit I observed several of these birds, a few feet only in advance of me, running along over the fragments of rocks and through the dwarf bushes, which grew wherever there was sufficient soil. Their handsome plumage and their gentleness attracted my attention, and I felt many regrets that I had left my gun behind me, thereby losing the opportunity of securing specimens for examination.

“A few days afterwards, however, when encamped on the head waters of the river, I found a covey, and succeeded in obtaining several specimens, one of which I had skinned, but which was afterwards unfortunately lost. From that point we occasionally met with these birds on the route to the Pecos river, a distance of over one hundred miles. I did not see them again until we came to the Eagle Springs, in a mountainous region about twenty-five miles from the Rio Grande. Two covies were found there, and several specimens were obtained.

“In the spring of 1851, I again passed over the same route in charge of a military expedition, and on the way out, two of these birds only were seen, one of which, (a female,) was killed by Major E. Backus, U. S. Army, and is now in the collection of Dr. Woodhouse, who was then going out with a party of topographical engineers to which he was attached. When returning in July last, I chanced to kill at an encamping ground near Howard’s Springs, between the San Pedro and Pecos rivers, the specimen which I now send you. It was the only one that I saw on the route as I came back from New Mexico, and it is but fair to conjecture that these birds are not at all numerous.

“They appear to inhabit the rocky sides of the mountains and hills in that desolate region of elevated plains, west of the fertile portions of Texas, living amidst the solitude that wraps them in silence, far from enemies and the busy haunts of men. In no instance have I met with this species near any settlements. The wild, rocky hill-sides in the lone wilderness, seem to be their favorite resort; and there, where trees are almost unknown, and vegetation is scant, and where hardly a living thing is seen, are these fine birds found in all their beauty and gentleness. The covies of them showed but little alarm at our approach, and ran along over the rocks, occasionally attempting to secrete themselves beneath them, in which case they would let a person approach within a few feet. When startled by the firing of a gun, they fly but a few yards before again alighting, and exhibit little of that wildness peculiar to all the other species of partridges with which I am acquainted.”

In 1832 this bird was described under the name Tetrao guttata, by Don Pablo de la Llave, in Registro trimestre ó coleccion de Memorias de Historia, Literatura, Ciencasóy Artes, Vol. I. p. 145, Mexico, 1832, which periodical, though little known, and discontinued, we believe, before the completion of the second volume, contains several valuable papers by this and other Mexican authors, relative to the natural history of their country. The ornithological papers by Sr. De la Llave, evince much ability, and contain very accurate observations and descriptions; and a tone pervades them too, which proclaims him to be a true lover of nature. That in which we are interested at present, is entitled, “Sobre tres especias neuvas del genero Tetrao,” and consists of notices of birds of this genus, of which he had living specimens at his residence in the city of Mexico, and descriptions of three species, viz.: Tetrao marmorata (which is Ortyx macroura, Jardine and Selby), T. cristata, (which is O. squamata, Vigors.) and T. guttata, (which is O. Massena, Lesson.)

To the last bird he thus alludes: “It is only a few days since the third species has been brought to me. It is rather smaller than the former, and its deportment is entirely different. It carries its head habitually resting upon its shoulders, the neck being excessively small and deflexed, and in every thing it shows an amiability, and so to speak, a kindness of character (una bondad de caracter) which is not found in any other species of this genus, and it is naturally so tame and domestic as to permit itself to be caught with the hand. These birds are always united, forming a covey, and whenever one is separated, the others follow it; they do not, like others, wish to sleep on elevated places, but sit on the ground, drawing very near together. Their notes, which are not varied, are very low and soft, and I have never heard loud cries from the male. When they are frightened, they show much activity and swiftness; at other times their gait and movement are habitually slow and deliberate, carrying the crest puffed up (esponjada).”

Sr. De la Llave gives as the locality of his specimens, the warm regions near the city of Mexico.

These statements comprise all that is known at present of the Massena Partridge.

The contents of the crop in Capt. French’s specimen consisted exclusively of fragments of insects, pronounced by Dr. Leconte to be principally grasshoppers, and a species of Spectrum. No trace whatever of food of a vegetable character.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Cyrtonyx. Gould, Monograph of the Odontophorinæ (American Partridges) Introduction, p. 14, London, 1850. Folio.

Bill short, robust, ridge of the mandible curving downwards from its base; lower mandible straight with two slight dentitions near its point; nostrils large, covered and bordered with a membrane. Head crested, the feathers inclining backward and forming a thick tuft on the occiput; wings rather long, tertiaries pendant, longer than the primaries; tail short, and composed of soft feathers. Tarsi rather long and robust; toes short, hind-toe focal, nails large, long and curved. All the known species are natives of America. Type C. Massena.

Cyrtonyx Massena. (Lesson.) Ortyx Massena. Lesson. Centurie Zoologique, p. 189. Paris, 1830. Ortyx Montezumæ. Vigors. Zoological Journal, Vol. V., p. 275. London, 1830. Odontophorus Meleagris. Wagler. Isis. Vol. XXV. p. 277. Leipzig, 1832. “Perdix perspicillata. Lichtenstein in Mus. Berlin.” Gould in Monograph. ut supra. Tetrao guttata. Llave Reg. trimestre, I. p. 145. Mexico, 1832.

Form. Compact and robust; plumage of the head above, elongated, and forming a pendant thick tuft on the occiput. Wings rather long; tail short, formed of weak feathers, and concealed by the superior coverts; tarsi rather short, robust; toes short; claws long, curved.

Dimensions of Capt. French’s male specimen in spirits. Total length, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 9 inches; wing 5; tail 2 inches. Female. Dr. Woodhouse’s female specimen, (dried skin.) Total length about 8¼ inches; wing, 4¾; tail, 2 inches.

Colors. Male. General color of the sides of the head and throat, white, with black stripes commencing at the base of the bill and curving above and below the eye, forming a broad, abruptly terminated somewhat triangular patch on the cheek, which is united to a wide longitudinal mark on the throat;—the entire white space enclosed by an edging of black.

Occipital tuft of crest-like feathers, buff yellow, frequently nearly white, but varying in shade of color in different specimens. Head above with a central black line commencing at the base of the bill, and running into brownish and black, on the upper part of the head.

Upper surface of the body brown, inclining to reddish chestnut, every feather having several transverse bars of black, and a narrow longitudinal stripe of pale yellowish, nearly white in the centre; wing coverts and tertiaries paler, and with the black bars much broader, and inclining to form circular spots on some of the feathers. Primaries brownish black, transversely barred with pale reddish yellow, especially on the outer webs.

Middle of the breast and abdomen fine deep chestnut, forming a wide longitudinal stripe on those parts of the body; sides and flanks sooty black, every feather marked with about six or eight circular spots of pure white; ventral region, thighs, and under tail coverts, deep black. Tail and long superior coverts same color as the wing coverts. Upper mandible nearly black; under mandible lighter; tarsi pale colored.

Female. Head above, and occipital tuft and body above, pale reddish or purplish brown, with a tinge of cinereous; every feather with transverse irregular bars and lines of black, and with a conspicuous longitudinal narrow stripe of yellowish white in the centre.

Throat pale white; inferior surface of the body pale purplish brown on the belly and flanks, with irregular lines and minute spots of black.

Hab. Mexico and Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. The descriptions by M. Lesson and Mr. Vigors, as cited above, were published nearly at the same time. That by M. Lesson appears to have had a short period of priority, which entitles his name to preference.

In our article on another species, we propose to give a synopsis, with descriptions of all the partridges inhabiting the continent of America.

LARUS HEERMANNI.—Cassin.
The White-Headed Gull.
PLATE V.—Adult Male and Young female.

Amongst the many species of sea-birds which frequent the coast of the American continent on the Pacific ocean, there is a race of Gulls with very graceful forms, slender and brightly colored bills, and handsome plumage, of which no immediate representatives have yet been discovered on the eastern shores of this continent. The range of the species of this race extends from Oregon to Cape Horn, and one species similar in general characters inhabits the coasts of Australia and some of the islands in the Pacific ocean.

This group appears to be characterized generally by the uniform lead-colored plumage which prevails in several of the known species, and seems to embrace Larus Belcheri. Vigors. Larus fuliginosus. Gould. Larus nova hollandiæ. Stephens, the present species, and some others.

The bird, which is the subject of the present description, is one of the most handsome of the numerous family to which it belongs, and of which species are found on all the sea shores of the world. It is one of many additions to the ornithological fauna of the United States, which have been discovered by Adolphus L. Heermann, M. D., of Philadelphia, who has been occupied for nearly three years in making researches and collections, with excellent judgment and great enterprise, in California, and has now succeeded in safely bringing home the most extensive collections ever made in that country.

Dr. Heermann found this Gull occurring frequently on the coast of California, but most numerous in the harbor of San Diego in the month of March, at which time though it appeared to have attained its perfect plumage in some instances, yet many specimens were clothed in that of young birds. Both of these stages of plumage are represented in our plate, and it is possible that the plumage assumed in winter, at all ages, may be similar in most respects to that of the young.

Plate 5
The White-headed Gull
Larus Heermanni (Cassin)

It was observed, at the localities alluded to, usually flying in company with the western Gull, Larus occidentalis, Audubon, a large and handsome species, of which, in a future part of our work, we hope to have the pleasure of presenting a figure and description to our readers. It appeared to be engaged in the capture of small fishes, of which several species abound in the harbor of San Diego, and also appeared to feed on the small maritime animals of various classes, that inhabit the immense beds of Kelp which occur on the coast, and are especially extensive off the harbor of San Diego less than a mile from its mouth.[1] The nests and eggs of both the present species and of the western Gull were found by Dr. Heermann on the Coronadoes islands which are situated a short distance below the mouth of the harbor.

Our first notice of this bird which we regard as having been previously undescribed, and which we dedicated to its discoverer, is in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. VI. p. 187, (October, 1852.) The figures given in the present plate are about one-sixth of the natural size.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Larus. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. p. 224, (1766.) Larus Heermanni. Cassin. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philada., Vol. VI. p. 187, (1852.)

Form. Bill rather long and slender; wings very long, extending beyond the end of the tail; first primary longest; tail truncate or slightly emarginate.

Dimensions. Adult. Total length of skin from tip of the bill to the end of the tail, about 17½ inches; wing, 13½; tail, 5½; bill from the angle of the mouth to the tip of the upper mandible 2½ inches.

Colors. Adult. Bill red, both mandibles tipped with black; feet and legs dark; head white, which color gradually blends into an ashy lead color enveloping the entire body above and below—darker on the back and wings and paler on the abdomen. Secondary quills tipped with white, forming an oblique bar when the wings are folded. Superior coverts of the tail very pale cinereous, nearly white. Quills and tail feathers brownish black, all of the latter narrowly tipped with white. Shafts of the two first primaries white on the inferior surface of the wing.

Young. Smaller, total length about 16 inches, wing 13, tail 5 inches. Entire plumage brown, darker on the head and paler on the under surface of the body; quills and tail feathers brownish black, the latter narrowly tipped with white.

Hab. Coast of California. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. We are acquainted with no species of Gull which intimately resembles the bird now described. Judging from the only description extant of Larus Belcheri. Vigors, which is in the Zoological Journal, Vol. IV. p. 358, and which is too short to be of service in this family of birds—it appears to resemble that species to some extent. L. Belcheri is much larger, and is described as having the entire plumage brownish lead-color, and as being 21 inches in total length. It appears to be, however, the only western American species with which our present bird can be confounded.

Plate 6
The Northern Sea Eagle
Haliaëtus pelagicus (Pallas)

HALIAETUS PELAGICUS.—(Pallas.)
The Northern Sea Eagle.
PLATE VI—Female.

The study of the rapacious birds of western and north western America presents great attractions to the ornithologist, and a wide field for discovery.

Owing, principally, to the difficulties in obtaining, or even in observing the shy and vigilant birds of this family, their investigation is of peculiar character, and dependent on accidental opportunity in some measure every where, but especially in countries where the primitive forests yet flourish in undisturbed vigour, and which abound in unexplored and, as yet, inaccessible mountains; or in plains of an extent only known to the adventurous hunter, and traversed only by the wandering Indian, or by the pioneers of civilization: the devoted missionary, or the enterprising and hardy emigrant. Such is the character of the regions of that portion of North America, the visits of naturalists to which have been too transient to afford proper opportunities for the study of the rapacious birds, and the detached items of information which have appeared from time to time are not sufficiently numerous to be regarded as giving any clear insight into their history.

The naturalist, generally travelling expeditiously with a military or other party on business for the government, or with a caravan of emigrants, may get a glimpse of a Falcon of singularly novel and beautiful plumage as it darts away into concealment; or may see, occasionally, an Eagle seated at ease, and viewing the novel cavalcade leisurely, but beyond the range of his rifle; or as he performs, in turn, his assigned duty, and guards his sleeping companions in the encampment, his watch-fire may attract clamorous night birds of strange forms whose cries are unfamiliar to him, but to his practised ear may present unmistakable family relationship, yet it is readily demonstrable that the proper study of those birds requires facilities of a description only attainable in the course of more protracted residence and frequently recurring opportunities.

The discovery in western America of the Californian Vulture, second in size only to the great Condor of the Andes; of the Ferrugineous Buzzard, Archibuteo ferrugineus, one of the handsomest of the American Falcons; of the Burrowing Owl, a very remarkable species which lives in holes in the ground; of the Little Californian Owl, Athene infuscata, the most diminutive of its family yet discovered in the United States, and of other curious species, may be regarded as affording an indication of the interesting results in this group of birds which will reward the future labours of naturalists and travellers in those vast and diversified regions.

The bird which is the subject of our present article is the largest and most powerful of the Eagles. It is a native of the remote sea-coasts of northern Asia and America, and has been especially observed in the group or girdle of islands which extends from one continent to the other.

It also, very probably, extends its range into the interior of Russian America, and possibly southward, in the winter season, into Oregon and California. In size, and in the strength of its beak and talons, this gigantic Eagle far surpasses any other of its tribe. The Golden Eagle, and the White-headed Eagle, are comparatively insignificant; and if its habits correspond to its powerful organization, as may safely be presumed, it is one of the most destructive of the rapacious birds. It appears, however, like other species of its genus, to prey principally on fishes, which are caught either by its own exertions, or appropriated summarily by the right of the strongest, from the acquisitions of more expert or more successful fishermen.

Though, like the White-headed or Bald Eagle, the range of this extraordinary bird may be very extensive, yet the solitudes of the extreme northern parts of the two continents appear to be its proper home; where, it has been fully demonstrated, that although the resident animals of the land are necessarily restricted in numbers, the sea teems with multitudes of inhabitants. There, in the bleak regions of almost perpetual winter, the Great Sea Eagle reigns, a mighty chieftain, without a competitor, and with power unrivalled: finding ample subsistence in the arctic quadrupeds, and in the fishes of the northern seas, or occasionally levying tribute from the hosts of feathered travellers that make their annual pilgrimage to the places of their nativity, and intrude on his domain. Even the famous Condor of the Andes, the largest of Vultures, scarcely exceeds him in size, and in swiftness of flight, and power of beak and talons, is much his inferior.

Pallas, a celebrated Russian naturalist, was the first who gave a satisfactory and reliable account of this Eagle, in his Zoology of Asiatic Russia, I. p. 343, (published at St. Petersburg in 1811, though printed many years previously,) but it appears to have been previously noticed by the distinguished navigators, Steller and Billings.

Before the time of Pallas, and, it may be added, since, also, various reports of remarkable and sometimes very large Eagles having been seen in different parts of America, were from time to time made by travellers and voyagers. In fact, some are carefully and credibly described which are yet unknown to naturalists. Capt. Cook, in the account of his last voyage, or rather in that part of it which was written by himself, states that several Eagles, one of which is very remarkable, were seen at Kayes’ Island, on the northwest coast of America, in latitude 59° 49′ N. “We saw,” he says, “flying about the woods, a Crow, two or three of the white-headed Eagles, mentioned at Nootka, and another sort full as large, which appeared also of the same colour, or blacker, and had only a white breast.” Last Voyage, II. p. 352, quarto, London, 1784. It is necessary for me to say only, that no species of Eagle having a white breast is yet known as an inhabitant of any part of America.

In the History of the Expedition of Lewis and Clarke it is stated, that “The Calumet Eagle sometimes inhabits this side of the Rocky mountains. The colours are black and white, beautifully variegated. The tail feathers, so highly prized by the natives, are composed of twelve broad feathers of unequal length, which are white except within two inches of their extremities, when they immediately change to a jetty black, the wings have each a large circular white spot in the middle, which is only visible when they are extended.” II. p. 188, Philada., 1814. This statement, though it appears to have been usually regarded as referring to the Golden Eagle, does not apply to any established species, but it is worth bearing in mind that in the number of the feathers of the tail, the bird here alluded to agrees exactly with Audubon’s Washington Eagle, (Orn. Biog. I. p. 63.)

The black-checked Eagle of Pennant, said to be from North America, (Arctic Zoology, I. p. 227,) and which is Falco americanus, Gmelin, is described as being “about the size of the Golden Eagle, but with the head, neck and breast of a deep ash colour, each cheek marked with a broad black bar, passing from the corner of the mouth beyond the ears; back, belly, wings and tail, black.”

One of the most remarkable of these mysterious birds is the White Eagle, represented by Du Pratz as inhabiting Louisiana, of whose description of which the following is a translation: “The Eagle, the king of birds, is smaller than the Eagle of the Alps, but it is much handsomer, being almost entirely white, and having only the extremities of its wings black. As it is rather rare, this is a second reason for rendering it esteemed amongst the people of the country, who buy at a high price the feathers of its wings to make the ornament of the symbol of peace, and which is the fan of which I have spoken in giving a description of the Calumet.” Du Pratz, Histoire de la Louisiane, II. p. 109, Paris, 1758. On the faith of this description, the species supposed to be alluded to has been named Falco candidus by Gmelin. If not an albino, there is a possibility that it is a species of a group of white hawks, of rather large size, which are principally found in South America, and one species of which (Buteo Ghiesbrectü Dubus,) is known to inhabit Mexico. The latter would agree very well with Du Pratz’s description, so far as it goes.

That excellent and reliable naturalist, the Prince Maximilian of Wied, whose Travels in the interior of North America contain much valuable information in nearly all departments of Zoology, mentions a “Grey Eagle of enormous dimensions,” I. pp. 203, 214, (Raise in das innere Nord-America, Quarto, Coblenz, 1839.)[2]

But there is no end to the accounts of strange Eagles given by travellers and naturalists. Some of them may have reference to peculiar species which have in later times escaped attention, but the probability is, that they more frequently allude to accidental varieties, or that the authors describe from such reports as they had heard at second hand, or fell into error from insufficient personal observation.

Several of the naturalists who have recently visited California have informed us that they saw occasionally large species of Eagles, or other large rapacious birds, of which they did not succeed in procuring specimens, nor in approaching within sufficiently short distance to be enabled to examine them satisfactorily.

We have introduced the extraordinary bird which is the subject of our present article, thus early into our work, for the purpose mainly of asking attention to a most remarkable and interesting species heretofore apparently entirely unknown to American Ornithological writers, and also on account of its similarity, in some respects, to one of the most important of Audubon’s discoveries, the Washington Eagle. This celebrated author was not acquainted with the bird now before us.

The specimen of the Washington Eagle, described and figured by Audubon, does not appear to have been preserved, or at any rate is not known to be extant, nor does it appear that he ever procured more than one. His drawing, however, with some others of species which he had met with but once, appears fortunately to have escaped the destruction of his collection of pictures of birds by rats, as described in his Ornithological Biography, Vol. I. Introductory Address, p. 13, (Edinburg edition, 1831.)

We have no doubt that such a species exists, or in other words, that Audubon is entirely correct in regarding his bird as a peculiar species; and we think it quite impossible for his description and history to apply to the young of the common White-headed or Bald Eagle, as has been supposed by some American, and by nearly all late European Ornithologists. But we are disposed, at present, to question the correctness of his plate, and also his statement that the bird represented was an “adult male” (Orn. Biog. I. p. 62). We are aware, of course, that the plate may not be a fair representation of the drawing, and in fact it has not been very carefully engraved. The tail appears to be unfinished. Having, however, quite sufficient knowledge of the difficulties in getting up correct plates of birds, we are enabled fully to appreciate the disadvantages under which this distinguished Ornithologist, with all his artistic knowledge and perseverance, must necessarily have laboured at the commencement of his great work, and his plate of the Washington Eagle is one of the earliest, being the eleventh of the series.

The bill, as represented in the plate, is shorter than we have ever seen in any adult Eagle of this group (the fishing Eagles), and above all the arrangement of the scales on the tarsi anteriorly, is such as we have never observed in any rapacious bird whatever.

Notices of the Washington Eagle having been captured, have appeared occasionally (as in Nuttal’s Manuel, I. p. 71, and the Boston Journal of Nat. Hist. III. p. 72), and we have seen numerous specimens of Eagles of a size so large that they could not, without much doubt, be referred to the common white-headed species. But we have never seen nor heard of a specimen which presented all the peculiar characters represented in Audubon’s plate, and especially the anterior scales of the tarsus continued transversely so far down to the toes. The pointed and slender feathers of the neck, the large size, and in one specimen of a young bird, the short bill we have seen, and there are specimens now in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy in which these characters will be found, but not the peculiar arrangement of the scales of the tarsus. All other species of fishing Eagles have the head more or less marked with white in their mature plumage. In Audubon’s plate of the Washington Eagle, the head is of the same deep brown as the other parts. From analogy, therefore, it may safely be presumed that he was mistaken in supposing his specimen to be that of an adult male bird.

An interesting feature in the large specimens to which we allude, is the fact that they almost invariably have the ends of their tails broken as though injured by alighting habitually on rocks, or on the ground, thus apparently confirming Audubon’s statements. Young birds are however peculiarly liable to such injury on account of their feathers not possessing the strength and rigidity of more mature plumage.

Respecting the Washington Eagle, our conclusion is, therefore, after many years of attention to American birds, and especially to obscure or little known species, that of the existence of such a species in North America as is described by Audubon, in Ornithological Biography, I. p. 58, there can be no reasonable doubt. But we are of opinion that when adult it is very probably a bird with the head more or less white, and tail of the same colour; and we are disposed to regard the plate in Birds of America as erroneous, for reasons above intimated, or for others not at present demonstrable, and at all events as representing a young specimen. Waiving the presence of the character of the scales of the tarsi as above stated, we think that we have several times seen the young of the Washington Eagle, and that specimens of it are now in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy. It is not, however, so large as the immense Eagle which in the present article, and accompanying plate, we have the pleasure of presenting to the American public for the first time, but it appears to us to be more nearly related to it than to any other species.

The Eagle mentioned in the History of the Expedition of Lewis and Clarke, as cited in a preceding page, we are inclined to suspect to be the present species, but should not be surprised if it should be ascertained by succeeding naturalists to be the adult of the Washington Eagle.

The great Eagle now before us has never been observed as yet by an American voyager, and few specimens only are contained in European museums. The only specimen in the United States is that in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy from which the drawing was made for the present plate.

We have added as a suitable conclusion of our present article a translation of the original account of this Eagle as given by Pallas, and which will be found in his Zoology of Asiatic Russia, as cited above:

“Steller, worthy of a better fate, first observed this remarkable species, and in his manuscripts briefly described it. Now, also, I have before me an elegantly prepared specimen from my friend Billings, who, with the last navigator, explored the ocean between Kamschatka and America. This very large bird is frequent in the islands between Kamschatka and the American continent, especially in the islands noted for the unfortunate shipwreck and death of Bering. It appears very rarely in Kamschatka itself. In the highest rocks overhanging the sea, it constructs a nest of two ells in diameter, composed of twigs of fruit and other trees, gathered from a great distance, and strewed with grass in the centre, in which are one or two eggs, in form, magnitude and whiteness, very like those of a Swan. The young is hatched in the beginning of June, and has an entirely white woolly covering. While Steller was cautiously viewing such a nest from a precipice, the parents darted with such unforeseen impetuosity as nearly to throw him headlong; the female having been wounded, both flew away, nor did they return to the nest which was watched for two days. But, as if lamenting, they often sat on an opposite rock. It is a kind of bird, bold, very cunning, circumspect, observant, and of savage disposition. Steller saw a Fox (Vulpes lagopodus) carried off by one and dashed upon the rocks, and afterwards torn in pieces. It lives also on dead substances cast up by the sea, and various offscourings of the ocean.”

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Haliaëtus. Savigny, Description of Egypt, Zoology, p. 85, (1809.)

Size, large. Bill, strong, straight at the base, hooked and very sharp at the point, sides of the bill compressed, margin of upper mandible, slightly festooned. Wings rather long and pointed, formed for rapid and vigorous flight; tail moderate. Tarsi short, very strong, and with the toes, covered with scales; claws very strong, curved and sharp. About ten or twelve species known, which are scattered throughout the surface of the globe.

Haliaëtus pelagicus. (Pallas.) Aquila pelagica. Pallas, Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, I. p. 343, (St. Petersburg, 1811, Quarto.) “Aquila marina. Steller, MSS.” Pallas ut supra. Falco Imperator. Kittlitz, Kupfertafeln zur naturg. der Vogel pt. I. p. 3, pl. 2, (Frankfurt, 1832.) Falco leucopterus. Temminck. Pl. col. I. pl. 489. Haliaëtus pelagicus. (Pallas.) Temm. & Schl. Fauna Japonica, Aves p. 10, pl. 4. Haliaëtus imperator. (Kittlitz.) Bruch in Isis XXV. p. 1102, (1832.)

Form. Very large and powerful, tail rather short, wedge shaped, the middle feathers being nearly four inches longer than the outer, which are shortest, all of the fourteen feathers somewhat pointed, but the central four lanceolate.

Bill strong, much compressed, very wide laterally or in altitude; upper mandible with a slight festoon; gape rather wide, extending so far back as to be immediately under the eye; cere large, in which at the distance of nearly an inch from the frontal feathers, the nostrils are obliquely inserted, large loral space bare, or with a few scattered bristles.

Wings rather short, third and fourth quills longest, but with the fifth little shorter; secondaries abruptly acuminated, and some of them with their shafts produced into filaments or thread-like appendages, exserted from the tips of the feathers; secondaries and greater coverts very broad and strong.

Legs and feet rather short, but strong; tarsus feathered below the joint for half its length, bare lower portion, with about five large frontal scales immediately succeeding the feathers; then to the toes in common with its entire posterior part, covered with numerous scales, which are rounded or hexagonal: the latter shape most readily observed behind; toes, with broad frontal scales; claws large.

Feathers of the head and neck, narrow and pointed, or acuminated; those on the breast and back, somewhat lanceolate, but broad, and sometimes abruptly pointed. Tail coverts, both above and below, ample—extending to half the length of the tail.

Dimensions of a skin from Behrings Straits. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail, about 3 feet 8 inches; wing, 2 feet 2 inches; tail, 1 foot 4 inches; bill, from tip of upper mandible to angle of the mouth, 3¾ inches; width of bill, laterally, at point of insertion of the nostrils, full 1¾ inches.

Colours. Female, nearly adult? Tail, white, the two external feathers having their outer webs, brownish black, mottled with white, and other feathers slightly spotted with the same brownish black. Entire other parts, above and below, very dark brownish black; lighter on the head and neck, and on which parts every feather is lighter in the middle.

Primary quills, shining black; secondaries and tertiaries, white at their bases, and brownish black at their ends; greater coverts narrowly tipped with brownish white; lesser coverts whitish on both margins, especially at their bases, terminated with brownish. Rump with the plumage white at the base.

Bill, yellow, (in skin,) feet, yellow.

Adult, as described by authors cited above. Large frontal space, commencing at the base of bill, white, which is also the colour of the greater wing coverts, the abdomen, and the tail. All other parts of the plumage blackish brown; bill, cere, legs and feet, yellow.

Hab. Russian possessions in Asia and America. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. The largest of all known Eagles, and nearly related to H. Washingtonii (Aud.). It differs from the latter, as described by Audubon, in being larger generally, but has the wing shorter and the tail wedge shaped, and containing fourteen feathers. We suppose H. Washingtonii to be the young of a closely allied species, and that both are strictly congeneric with H. leucocephalus, H. albicilla, H. vocifer, and others known as Fishing Eagles.

Plate 7
The Ground Wren
Chamaea fasciata (Gambel)

CHAMÆA FASCIATA.—(Gambel.)
The Ground Wren.
PLATE VII.—Adult Male.

This little bird was discovered in California, by William Gambel, M. D., an enthusiastic and highly talented young naturalist, who, during an overland journey across the North American Continent, made many discoveries, and added much valuable information to several departments of Natural History, and we regret to say, whose recent death, during a second expedition of the same character, occurring, as it did, so early, and thus terminating so prematurely a life of such promise, is to be deplored as a loss to science and to his country.

Dr. Gambel’s account of this bird in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, II. p. 265, and in the Journal of the same society, quarto, I. p. 34, which is the first and, as yet, the most satisfactory, is as follows: “For several months before discovering the bird, I was attracted in the fields of dead mustard stalks, the weedy margins of streams, low thickets and bushy places, by a continued loud, crepitant, grating scold, which I took for that of a species of Wren, but at last found it to proceed from this Wren-tit, if it may be so called. It was difficult to be seen, and kept in such places as I have described, close to the ground; eluding pursuit by diving into the thickest bunches of weeds and tall grass, or tangled bushes, and uttering its grating Wren-like notes whenever approached. But if quietly, watched, it may be seen, when searching for insects, mounting the twigs and dried stalks of grass sideways, jerking its long tail, and holding it erect like a Wren, which, with its short wings in such a position, it much resembles.

“Sometimes it utters a slow, monotonous, singing chicadee note, like pee, pee, pee, pee, peep; at other times its notes are varied, and a slow whistling continued pwit, pwit, pwit, pwit, is heard. Again, in pleasant weather, towards spring, I have heard individuals answering each other, singing in a less solemn strain not unlike sparrows, a lively pit, pit, pit, tr, r, r, r, r, r, but, if disturbed, they at once resumed their usual scold.”

Mr. Bell, whose collection contained numerous specimens of this bird, found it abundant in the neighbourhood of San Francisco, and has kindly allowed us to use his memoranda: “I observed this bird in bushes and briers every where along the roads, and in brush heaps on lands which had been recently cleared, though it appeared rather to prefer damp places. It was very pert, and not easily frightened, and as it moved about with its tail erect, uttered several rather peevish notes, unlike those of any other bird with which I am acquainted.

“The white iris of this bird, when in its native haunts, is quite readily observed, and with its manners and the localities which it frequents, reminded me, in some measure, of the white-eyed Vireo, (V. noveboracensis.) Its skin is unusually strong for such a small bird, and it has a remarkable development of the muscles of the thighs, and, in fact, unusual strength and firmness of the muscular system generally.”

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Chamæa. Gambel in Proceedings Acad. Philada. III. p. 154, Feb., 1847.

Bill short, slightly curved, rather acute, both mandibles entire, ridge of the upper curving nearly from the base, depression for the nostrils large, oval and exposed, nostrils opening beneath a membrane in the depression. Wings very short, rounded; tail long, and graduated; tarsi long, and rather slender.

One species only known.

Chamæa fasciata. (Gambel.) Parus fasciatus. Gambel, Proc. Acad. Philada., II. p. 265. August, 1845.

Form. Body rather short and robust; wings short and rounded, with the sixth and seventh primaries longest, and nearly equal; tail long and graduated, external feathers about an inch and a half shorter than those in the middle of the tail. Entire plumage of the body composed of long, silky, puff-like feathers.

Dimensions of a skin from California. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail, about 5½ inches; wing, 2½; tail, 3½ inches.

Colours. Male. Head very dark cinerous, lighter on the cheeks and sides of the neck; back, rump, external margins of the quills and tail feathers olive brown. Wings and tail dusky brown; the latter with many crimp-like transverse lines of darker, more distinct in some specimens than others; quills also with similar lines on their inner webs, but frequently very obscure.

Beneath, from the base of the mandible to the abdomen, pale reddish, running into olive on the flanks, and with many of the feathers on the throat and breast having longitudinal stripes of light cinereous olive; under tail coverts brown.

A distinct ring around the eye, and spot on the nares, whitish cinereous.

Bill and feet, dark brownish black.

Iris, white.

Female. Similar to the male, but with the colours rather less vivid.

Hab. California. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. We consider this bird as decidedly related to the Wrens, and as forming a well characterized genus, of which it is, as yet, the only known species. It is frequently brought in collections from Western America.

The plant represented in the plate is the Eschscholtzia Californica, a native of California.

The figure in our plate is about three-fourths of the natural size.

ICTERUS CUCULLATUS.—(Swainson.)
The Hooded Oriole.
PLATE VIII.—Male and Female.

Some of the most beautiful of the American Orioles are inhabitants of Mexico. Of these, we present, in the plate now before the reader, one of the smallest of the species, which, though it cannot compete with many others of its more richly coloured relatives, is still entitled to make considerable claims. The various shades of the richest yellow colours are almost exhausted in the splendid species of these birds which are found in Mexico, and in South America, and as an accompaniment to the luxuriant vegetation of those countries, they form, necessarily, a most agreeable and interesting feature.

The birds of this family represented in the northern portion of this continent, by the Baltimore Oriole, are remarkable for their skill in constructing elaborately formed and pendent nests, frequently of large size. Several of the South American species make them of grasses, intricately and substantially woven, and shaped like a purse or bag, with the entrance sometimes from the top, but more frequently ingeniously inserted in the side, near the lower end. They are usually suspended from the pendent branches of trees, and often near the habitations of men. The Baltimore Oriole builds a nest sufficiently similar to afford an idea of the general character of the nests of these birds, but those of several of the southern species are much more artfully and elaborately constructed.

The handsome little bird at present before us, was first described from Mexican specimens, by Mr. Swainson, in the Philosophical Magazine, 1827, p. 436, (London.) It is an inhabitant, also, of Texas, where it was repeatedly observed by our friends Col. McCall and Capt. McCown, the latter of which gentlemen has most kindly communicated the following with other valuable notices:

Plate 8
The Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus (Swainson)

“This beautiful Oriole is quite common on the Rio Grande, where it raises its young. When met with in the woods, and far away from man’s abode, it is shy, and seems rather disposed to conceal itself, yet a pair were constant visitors, morning and evening, to the vicinity of my quarters (an unfinished building at Ringgold Barracks, Texas.) They became so tame and familiar that they would pass from some ebony trees that stood near by, to the porch, clinging to the shingles and rafters, frequently in an inverted position, prying into the holes and crevices, apparently in search of such insects as could be found there, which, I believe, were principally spiders. They would sometimes desist for a moment from this occupation, to observe my movements, and if I happened to be enjoying a cigar after dinner, seemed to watch the smoke with great curiosity. I often offered them such hospitality as was in my power, but could never induce them to touch any food, in which respect they were very different from the large black birds, whose acquaintance I also cultivated. I have seen the nests of this species, but never had an opportunity to examine them.”

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Icterus. Brisson Ornithologie, II. p. 85, (quarto, Paris, 1760.)

Bill, conic, straight, or slightly curved, and entering the frontal plumes, point acute, nostrils basal partly covered by a membrane. Wings, rather long and pointed; tail, long; tarsi moderate, slender, covered with scales. Colours, generally yellow and black. About twenty-five species known, all of which are natives of America.

Icterus cucullatus. Swainson in Philos. Mag., 1827, p. 486.

Form. Slender and delicate; bill, very acute, curved; wing, rather short, with the third quill longest; tail, rather long, graduated; tarsi and feet, slender.

Dimensions. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail, about 7½ inches; wing, 3½; tail, 4 inches; female, slightly smaller.

Colours. Male. Narrow frontal band, throat and neck in front, and space extending to the eye, back, wings and tail, glossy black. External edges of the quills, and tips of wing coverts white, the latter forming two white bars on the wing. Upper part of the head and neck, rump and upper tail coverts, and all the under parts, fine golden yellow, paler on the abdomen. Inferior wing coverts, and tail feathers at their basis, pale yellow. Bill, bluish horn colour.

Female. Entire upper parts, olive green, tinged with yellow on the head and rump. Wings, pale brown; coverts, tipped with white, and quills narrowly edged with white; tail, above, yellowish green. Entire under parts, greenish yellow.

Hab. Texas and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This species does not intimately resemble any other of its group, though partaking of their general style of colouring, and can be readily recognized by the student. Very fine specimens were obtained in Texas by Capt. McCown, which are now in the collection of Mr. George N. Lawrence, of New York, to whom we are indebted for an opportunity to figure the female. The latter does not resemble the male in colour.

Our figures are about two-thirds of the natural size.

Plate 9
Gambels Partridge
Callipepla Gambellii (Nuttall)

CALLIPEPLA GAMBELII.—(Nuttall.)
Gambel’s Partridge.
PLATE IX.—Male and Young Female.

Mexico and the adjacent parts of the United States are particularly productive of game birds, and amongst them are several species of Partridges, unrivalled in beauty of plumage by those of any other country of the world. Of those, some prefer fertile valleys, or grounds under cultivation; others appear to live almost entirely in the barren plains, or in the mountains.

Independently of the usefulness of those birds as food, to the citizens of the States alluded to, and to those who, in future years, shall occupy with their farms and homesteads districts yet unpeopled, the numerous game birds must always be a source of constant interest and amusement. Like the Deer, and like the Turkey, Grouse, and Partridge of other States, their pursuit is not only an easily attainable amusement, but serves also for the cultivation of a knowledge of, and expertness in the use of firearms, which are peculiarly characteristic of our vigorous and successful population, and have contributed in an important degree to the formation of the character of the world-renowned citizen-soldier of the United States.

Experience in hunter life, and the incidental influences of its occupations and associations, are no inconsiderable features in American education; and the invigorating and healthful pursuits of the youthful hunter or trapper have always appeared to us to be no unimportant agents in the development of his physical and of his intellectual constitution. In large portions of every State of the Union, the gun or the rifle is the favourite companion of almost every boy from the earliest period of his competency for its management; and we have seen abundant instances, in our early days, of very considerably forced presumption of competency. In fact, the stranger, in very many of the rural districts of the United States, might almost be tempted to conclude that the famous ancient formula of early education had been adopted, with an addition: “Learn to speak the truth and to swim”—and to shoot.

The beautiful Partridge now before us was discovered a few years since in New Mexico, by Dr. William Gambel, in honor of whom it has been named. The first description of it is in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, I. p. 260, April, 1843, and afterwards was reprinted in the Journal of the same society, I. p. 219, (Quarto.)

Since that period it has repeatedly been observed, and we have now the gratification of being able to present to our readers a particular history of this fine species.

Our friend, Captain S. G. French, of the United States Army, to whose kindness we have previously been indebted, has favoured us with the following interesting account:

“This species was found by me on the Rio Grande, some seventy miles below El Paso; and from that point to the place just mentioned, the numbers constantly increased. They seem to be partial to the abodes of man, and are very numerous about the old and decayed buildings, gardens, fields, and vineyards around Presidio, Isileta, and El Paso. During my stay there in the summer of 1851, every morning and evening their welcome call was heard around us, and at those early and late hours they were constantly to be found in the sandy roads and paths near the villages and farms. In the middle of the hot summer days, they rest in the sand, under the shade and protection of the thick chapparal; and, when disturbed, they glide through the bushes very swiftly, seldom resorting to flight, and uttering all the while a peculiar chirping note, by which they appear to be enabled to keep together. The parent birds would utter the same chirp whenever I endeavoured to capture their young. The male and female were always found with the young birds, and showed much affection for them, even endeavoring to attract my attention to themselves by their actions and cries.”

Col. George A. McCall, the accuracy of whose knowledge of the birds of Western America is unrivalled, gives an interesting account of this bird in his “Remarks on the habits, &c., of Birds met with in Western Texas, between San Antonio and the Rio Grande, and in New Mexico,” published in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, V. p. 213, (June, 1851):

“After losing sight of the Massena Partridge, I did not fall in with the present species until we reached the Limpia river, about 100 miles west of the Pecos.

“This beautiful bird, whose habits, in some respects, bear resemblance to the common partridge, like that, seems to prefer a more genial and hospitable region. In this part of the country, the Mesquite tree (Acacia glandulosa) is more or less common; and the Mesquite grass, and other plants bearing nutritious seeds, are abundant. Here, this partridge increases rapidly in numbers, and becomes very fat; and, as I afterwards ascertained, is much disposed to seek the farms, if any be within reach, and to cultivate the acquaintance of man. About the rancho of Mr. White, near El Paso, I found them very numerous; and here, in flocks of fifty or a hundred, they resort, morning and evening, to the barn-yard, and feed around the grain stacks, in company with the poultry, where they receive their portion, as it is scattered amongst them by the hand of the owner. I found them distributed through the country from the Limpia to the Rio Grande, a range from east to west exceeding one hundred miles; and along the Rio Grande, from Eagle Spring Pass to Don Ana, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles. North of this I did not see them. I was not among them during the season of incubation.”

But the most comprehensive and complete account ever before published of this Partridge, has been furnished by the same gentleman (Col. McCall) for insertion into our present article; for which, and for many other similar favours from him, we beg to tender our deep sense of obligation.

“Whilst in California, during the last summer, (1852,) I was enabled to ascertain the western limit of this species as satisfactorily as I had previously ascertained its eastern limit within the State of Texas. And, although the extent of its range to the north is not yet clearly established, it may be said that the portion of our territory inhabited by this beautiful bird is a rather narrow belt of country, (say one thousand miles long by two hundred broad,) embraced between the 31st and 34th parallels of north latitude, and extending from the Pecos river in Texas to the Sierra Nevada and the contiguous desert in California. Be it understood, however, that when I speak of a narrow belt of country along a certain parallel, I do not intend to say that the habitat of the species does not extend beyond this belt into Mexico; but that the river Gila being our southern boundary through the greater part of the region referred to, the portion of our own territory inhabited by this bird is confined to such a belt as I have indicated.

“First, then, with respect to its western limit. This species was discovered by Dr. Gambel, ‘on the eastern side of the Californian range of mountains, in 1841.’ He did not meet with it on the western side; nor has it, as far as made known, been found there since that time by others. During the last summer, search was made for it by several gentlemen who were interested in the subject, as well as by myself, in different localities from north to south along the Pacific slope, but in every instance without success. Hence, the inference must be that this Partridge has never crossed to the west of the Sierra, where, as we well know, it is abundantly replaced by the closely allied species, the ‘California Partridge.’ Following down the Sierra Nevada to its junction with the coast-range, you come upon a desert of sand of vast extent; and as the snowy peaks of the Sierra had stopped the march of this species above, so did the burning sands of the desert stop its progress below, and effectually shut it out from the Pacific plain. It is true I found it at Alamo macho (cottonwood grove), which is 44 miles west of the Colorado river. Thus far it had penetrated into the dreary waste, and had managed to find shelter and subsistence where there is little to support animal life. But from this oasis to Valle-cita (little valley), it is seventy miles. In this interval, a vast ocean of sand presents a formidable barrier, as is but too plainly indicated by the bleached bones of horses and mules scattered along the route—and this barrier effectually separates the two congenerous species of partridge: the range of Gambel’s Partridge being confined to the east of this desert, while the range of the California Partridge is confined to the west of it—although on both sides they approach to the very edge, as I ascertained from personal observation.

“In the second place, with respect to its eastern limit—I have to repeat that I did not meet with this species in Texas, either in going or returning, anywhere east of the Pecos river; nor was it found by either of three other parties who explored those regions, both previously and subsequently, until after they had passed to the west of that river. Here, again, a sandy desert, between the Pecos and Devil’s river, is the barrier beyond which the species under consideration has not extended its range to the eastward; and, as it is replaced beyond the Sierra and the desert in the west by the California Partridge, so is it replaced beyond the Pecos in the east by the Massena Partridge.

“With regard to the northern and southern limits of this species, less is known. I found it in 1850, on the Limpia creek, in N. Lat. 31°—thence to the Rio Grande, and up that river to Don Ana, Lat. 33°. But I found it nowhere beyond that point, either near the river or among the hills as far back as the foot of the Sierra de los Mimbres, and I passed up and down between El Paso and Santa Fe at different seasons of the year; yet through all this country I met with the Blue Partridge (C. squamata). The species in question, however, is known to be abundant in the country around the sources of the Gila river. It has also been found along that river, from the Pimo villages to its mouth; and there is no doubt it inhabits the entire valley of the Gila. It was common along the Colorado river, as far up as Camp Yuma (mouth of Gila), and it has been met with in that valley as high up as Yampai creek, N. Lat. 34°, but I have no information of its having been found north of that parallel.

“The habits of this species are, in most respects, similar to those of the California Partridge; but it has always appeared to me less vigilant and wild. I was not so fortunate, however, as to discover its nest; nor did I gather from others any information as to its eggs—their colour or their markings. I frequently heard the call or song of the male bird during the period of nesting, which, from some cause or other not apparent to me, was later than that of its congener. As early as June 4th, I found covies of the young of the California Partridge large enough to fly—say one-fourth grown; whilst all the birds of this species (and I saw many,) as late as June 16th, were still without their young. But the voice of the male, as I was about to remark, is, at this season, strikingly rich and full. A very good idea may be formed of his cry by slowly pronouncing, in a low tone, the syllables ‘kaa-wale,’ ‘kaa-wale.’ These notes, when uttered close at hand, are by no means loud; yet it is perfectly astonishing to what a distance they may be heard when the day is calm and still. There was to me something extremely plaintive in this simple love-song, which I heard for the first time during a day of burning heat passed upon the desert. I had reached the well at Alamo mucho before noon, and had halted to rest my jaded mules after their toilsome march. Here is, in truth, a desert!—figure to yourself, if you can, a portion of this fair earth, where, for some hundreds of miles, the whole crust seems to have been reduced to ashes by the action of internal fires; behold a vast plain of desolation, surrounded, and, at intervals, intersected by abrupt mountain ranges, which are little better than gigantic heaps of scoria; imagine this scenery to be actually glowing under the direct rays of a midsummer sun, and you may have some idea of the prospect that meets the eye of the traveller who looks out upon the desert from the well of the Alamo. You may perceive in his rear a few stunted cottonwood-trees scattered along the edge of a channel, in which, apparently, water once was, but now is not; whilst around him, here and there, is a light-leafed mesquite that stretches forth its slender arms, and appears to invite him to a shade which is but a mockery. Here it was that I first heard the plaintive voice of this bird as he strove to cheer his mate whilst occupied in the tedious task of incubation.

“I had passed the hours of noon stretched upon the sand near the well: the thermometer, in the best shade to be obtained, indicating a temperature of 140° to 150°, (Fahrenheit); and as the sun began to decline towards the horizon, the first wakeful sound of animal life that greeted my ear was the soft ‘kaa-wale,’ ‘kaa-wale,’ of this beautiful bird. I turned towards a cluster of mesquite, at the distance of some two hundred yards from which the call seemed to come, but could discern no object in motion. This song was continued, at short intervals, for about an hour; when, at last, one of the birds came forth upon the sand, and was soon followed by its mate. They ran lightly over the sand, and glided into the gully, where they began to search for their evening meal. I followed with my gun and secured them both—they were a male and female, the skins of which I have preserved. This was June 8th.

“Later in the season, when a covey is dispersed, the cry for assembling is ‘qua-el,’ ‘qua-el.’ The voice at all seasons bears much resemblance to that of the California Partridge—having, in its intonation, no similarity to the whistle of the Virginia or common partridge.

“The crops of those killed at the Alamo, and thence to the Colorado, were filled with the leaves of the mesquite, which seemed to be their principal food, though in some were found remains of coleopterous insects. In some of those killed near the river I found the wild gooseberry.

“The dimensions of this species, given by Gould in his ‘Odontophorinæ,’ are, (? skin) length 9¾ inches; wing, 4½; tail, 4. By Dr. Gambel, (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philada., I. p. 260,) length, over 10 inches; wing, 4½; tail, 4½.

“Those I obtained in California were as follows, (measured immediately when killed):

The identical pair of birds alluded to in this excellent and satisfactory history is represented in our plate; and the specimens, with many others collected by this gentleman, are now in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy.

Fine specimens of this bird are also now in the national collection at Washington, and were collected by Dr. Woodhouse, while attached to the party under command of Captain Sitgreaves, which surveyed the rivers Zunia and the Colorado of the west.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Callipepla. Wagler in Isis, 1832, p. 277.

Head, with a crest of long feathers, either pendent or erectile, and recurved; bill, short, with the upper mandible curved gradually from the base, under mandible straight, and near the tip having generally two dentations, nostrils rather large, basal, covered with a membrane. Wings, rather ample, concave, quills rigid; tail, rather lengthened, strong; tarsi rather long and moderately robust. About six species known, all of which inhabit Mexico, and the adjoining parts of the United States and California, and are birds of beautiful plumage.

“Lophortyx Gambelii. Nutt.” Gambel. Proc. Acad. Philada., I. p. 260, (1843.)

Form. With an upright recurved crest of about six feathers, general form robust, rather lengthened; wings, with the third, fourth and fifth quills nearly equal and longest; tail, long; feet and legs robust. Feathers in front, at the base of the bill very narrow and probably erectile.

Dimensions of skins, total length from tip of bill to end of tail, from 9¾ to 10½ inches; wing, 4½; tail, 4 to 4½ inches; of living or recent bird, according to Col. McCall, as above, total length of male, 10½ to 11⅜ inches; of female, 10⅜ to 10⅝ inches.

Colours. Male. Frontal feathers white, each having a narrow longitudinal line of black, succeeding those a transverse band of white. Top of the head, fine reddish chestnut, crest, brownish black. Throat, black, which colour is completely enclosed by an edging of white.

Entire plumage of the upper parts of the body, neck, wings, and tail, light bluish cinereous; feathers of the neck above, slightly marked in the middle with dark chestnut; flanks and sides, dark chestnut, every feather with a longitudinal strip of white; middle of the breast and abdomen white, with a large black spot on the latter. Bill, dark.

Female. Throat, ashy white, with no vestige of black, as in the male. Head, above, plain cinereous, or with the colours of the male very faintly indicated; other parts of the plumage similar, but more obscure and paler. Crest, less fully developed.

Hab. Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Coll. Washington city.

Obs. Nearly related to, and, at first sight, bearing considerable resemblance to, the California Partridge, (C. Californica.) From this, however, it is easily distinguished by the entirely different colour of the inferior parts of the body, and other characters easily discovered on the most superficial examination.

According to the rule which has become part of the code of zoological jurisprudence, which has gradually formed itself, and is now almost universally adopted, the name properly to be cited as the authority for this species ought not to be “Nuttall.” It was first described in a paper written by Dr. Gambel himself, without allusion to his learned friend and patron, Mr. Nuttall, as joint author, editor, or otherwise. Nevertheless, as we happen to know that that distinguished gentleman did furnish the specific name in question, and others in the paper alluded to, we, for the present, acquiesce in the citation of his name. But under no circumstances can this method be allowed as a general principle. No person is the authority for a species unless he is the first to publish a description of it, and the citing of a name as the authority for a species ought always to be based on that fact, the neglect of which has caused much difficulty and confusion in zoological nomenclature.

BERNICLA NIGRICANS.—(Lawrence.)
The Black Brant.
PLATE X.—Adult Male.

This is a very remarkable and distinct species of Brant, first noticed by our esteemed friend Mr. George N. Lawrence, an Ornithologist of great ability and accuracy, of the city of New York. It was described by him in a paper read before the Lyceum of Natural History of that city, and published in its Annals, IV. p. 171, (1846.)

Mr. Lawrence states in the paper alluded to: “I have taken the above description and figure from an adult female, procured at Egg Harbour, N. J., in January. Since then two others have been obtained at the same place, one of which I have in my possession. On dissection it proved to be a male. It agrees in markings with the female, but is evidently a younger bird, being somewhat lighter in the colour of its plumage. From this, I infer, they become darker by age. It is a little larger than the female, the bill being also stouter, measuring seven-eighths of an inch high at the base.

“When on a shooting excursion some years since at Egg Harbour, I noticed a bird flying at some distance from us, which our gunner said was a Black Brant. This was the first intimation I had of such a bird. Upon further inquiry, he informed me that he had seen them occasionally, but that they were not common. I have learned from Mr. P. Brasier, who has passed much time at that place, that, speaking to the gunners about them, they said they were well known by the name of Black Brant, and one of them mentioned having once seen a flock of five or six together.

“From these facts it appears to be known to gunners, but has heretofore escaped the notice of Ornithologists. With all my inquiries I have not been able to procure a specimen before this winter. I think it a good and well marked species.”

We have had the pleasure of seeing the specimen described by Mr. Lawrence, and entirely coincide with him in his conclusion. It is precisely similar to others that have come under our notice, and all presenting the same peculiar specific characters.

Plate 10
The Black Brant
Bernicla migricans (Lawrence)

To the gunners of Philadelphia this bird is known by the same name, and we have seen several specimens which have been shot in Delaware Bay, and at various points on the sea-coast. Our friend Mr. John Krider, Gunsmith, whose establishment is a favourite place of resort of the Ornithologists and gunners of this city, and who is well acquainted with American birds, and very successful in obtaining specimens of rare species, has had several specimens of this Brant brought to him within the last two or three years. It must, however, be considered as a species of rather unusual occurrence on the Atlantic coast, but perhaps not more so than the Snow Goose, and others which are well known. As is the case with the birds just mentioned, it is probable, too, that the migration of this Brant does not commonly reach so far southward as the latitude of either of the large cities on the Atlantic.

Several species of Geese, which appear to be unknown to Naturalists, have been noticed by travellers in various parts of North America, but especially in the northern and Arctic regions. Of these we shall give an account, somewhat in detail in a succeeding article; at present, we are acquainted with one allusion only, which we think it not improbable has reference to the species now before us. It is in Sir John Richardson’s “Arctic Searching Expedition,” a journal of a Boat voyage through Rupert’s land and the Arctic Sea, in search of the discovery ships under command of Sir John Franklin, London, 1851, New York, 1852. In citing an account of the valley of the Yukon river, in about lat. 66° north, long. 147° west, contained in a letter to him from Mr. Murray, a resident in that country, the following statements occur (American edition, p. 305): “White Geese (Snow Geese, Chen hyperboreus) are also passengers here; and there are likewise Black Geese, which I presume you have never seen. A few of them pass down Peel’s River, but they are more abundant on the Yukon. They are very handsome birds, considerably smaller than the White Geese, and have a dark brown or brownish black colour, with a white ring round the neck, the head and bill having the shape of that of the Bustard (the Canada Goose, Anser Canadensis). The Black Geese are the least numerous, and the latest that arrive here. They fly in large flocks with remarkable velocity, and generally pass on without remaining as the others do, some days to feed. When they alight, it is always in the water; and if they wish to land, they swim ashore. They are very fat, and their flesh has an oily and rather disagreeable taste.

“Bustards, Laughing Geese, Ducks, and large Gulls, make their appearance here from the 27th to the 29th of April; Snow Geese and Black Geese about the 15th or 16th of May, when the other kinds become plentiful. They have mostly passed by the end of the month, though some, especially the Bustards, are seen in June. The White Geese and Black Geese breed only on the shores of the Arctic Sea. They return in September, and early in October, flying high, and seldom halting.”

Sir John Richardson seems inclined to the opinion that the common Brant is here alluded to; which, however, we cannot consider so probable as that it is our present bird. So well acquainted with the water birds of Europe and America as he is, it could scarcely have been supposed by Mr. Murray that he had never seen so abundant a species as the common Brant. Besides, the white ring round the neck, as described, is exactly applicable to the Black Brant now before us, and its uniting on the front of the neck forms a peculiar character sufficient to distinguish it from any other species.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Bernicla. Stephens, Continuation of Shaw’s Zoology, XII. p. 45, (1824.)

Bill, small, shorter than the head, upper mandible elevated at the base, tip with a broad nail, margins of both mandibles finely serrated. Wings, long, pointed; tail, very short, rounded; tarsi, moderate; toes, rather short. Probably contains six or eight species, inhabiting various parts of the world.

Bernicla nigricans. (Lawrence.) Anser nigricans. Lawrence, Annals N. Y. Lyceum, IV. p. 171, (1846.)

Form. Bill and head, and feet, rather small; wings, with the second quill longest; tail, short, composed of sixteen feathers; coverts, both above and below, long, reaching almost to the end of the tail.

Dimensions, according to Mr. Lawrence. Total length 22½ inches, alar extent 44, bill along the ridge 1³/₁₆, from gap 1⅜, lower mandible 1¼, length of tarsus 2¼, middle toe 2, outer 1⅞, inner 1½, weight 3 lbs.

Total length of skin from Delaware Bay, from tip of bill to end of tail about 22 inches, wing 13¾, tail about 5 inches.

Colours. Male. Neck almost completely encircled by a band of white, broadest immediately in front, and narrowest behind. Head, neck, breast and abdomen, glossy black, having on the latter a brownish tinge. Upper parts of the body umber brown, nearly black on the rump, some of the feathers with paler margins; quills and tail feathers brownish black. Feathers on the sides and flanks tipped with white; upper and under tail coverts, and ventral region, white. Bill and feet dark, nearly black.

Hab. Atlantic coast, New Jersey. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. The Black Brant is nearly related to the common Brant (B. brenta), but can readily be distinguished by the uniform black colour of the inferior parts of the body, and the ring on the neck uninterrupted in front, and not separated into two white patches on the sides of the neck, as in the common species. It appears also to bear some resemblance to the Bernicla glaucogastra, Brehm. Handb. Vogel Deutschlands, p. 849 (Ilmenau, 1831), but may be distinguished from it also by the characters just mentioned.

SYNOPSIS
OF THE
SPECIES OF BIRDS
INHABITING THE CONTINENT OF AMERICA, NORTH OF MEXICO.

I. ORDER RAPTORES. THE RAPACIOUS BIRDS.

General form, strong, muscular, and capable of vigorous and long continued flight; bill and claws usually curved and strong, and adapted to the destruction of other animals, or for preying on animals already dead. The sense of sight in many species developed in a greater degree than in any other group of the animal kingdom. Habits, in the majority of species, solitary, cautious, and very vigilant. Female larger than the male. Inhabit all parts of the world, and form a well defined and easily recognized order of birds, strikingly analogous to the Rapacious Quadrupeds.

I. FAMILY VULTURIDÆ. THE VULTURES.

Head and neck usually naked, and the former frequently more or less carunculated, or with the skin wrinkled; bill, strong, rather lengthened and strongly hooked; claws, usually moderate, and but slightly curved; wings, usually long and powerful. Size, generally large; body, heavy. General structure adapted to the destruction of dead animals exclusively, but a few species do not hesitate to attack young or feeble animals when living.

Inhabit the temperate and the warm regions of the earth, but are much more numerous in the latter. There are about twenty known species of Vultures.

I. GENUS CATHARTES. Illigee Prodromus, p. 236. (1811.)

CATHARISTA. Viellot Analyse, p. 21. (1816.)

Head and upper part of the neck, naked, or partially covered with short downy feathers; the skin of the former generally wrinkled, or with wart-like excrescences. Bill, rather long, straight, curved at the end; nostrils, large, open, and unprotected, inserted near the middle of the bill. Wings, long, third and fourth primaries usually longest; tail, composed of twelve feathers, usually slightly rounded; legs and feet, moderate, rather strong, covered with scales, middle toe long, hind toe shortest; claws, rather strong, moderately curved, obtuse at their points. Colour of all known species, black.

Of this genus, which is peculiar to America, there are seven species; four of which are natives of the northern, and two of the southern portion of this continent, and one of the West Indies. All of them much resemble each other in their habits, and the two South American species are nearly related to similar species of the North, as will be pointed out in descriptions of the latter now to be given. In all its essential characters, this genus differs very little from Sarcoramphus, which includes the Condor and the King Vulture of South America.

A.

1. Cathartes aura. (Linn.) The Turkey Buzzard. The Turkey Vulture. Vultur aura. Linn. Syst. Nat., I. p. 122. (1766.) Cathartes septentrionalis. De Weid Reise, I. p. 162. (1839.)

Catesby Nat. Hist. Carolina, I. pl. 6. Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. I. pl. 2. Wilson Am. Orn. IX. pl. 75, fig. 1. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 151.

Plumage, commencing on the neck with a circular ruff of rather long and projecting feathers. Head and upper part of neck, naked, or with scattering, down-like feathers, especially on the vertex, and with the skin wrinkled. Nostrils, large, oval, communicating with each other; tail, rather long, rounded.

Entire plumage, brownish black, darkest on the neck, back and tail above; many feathers having a purple lustre on the upper and under parts of the body, and with pale brownish borders on the upper parts. Bill, yellowish white; wings and tail, paler beneath. Head and neck, in living bird, bright red.

Total length of skin about 30 inches; wing, 23; tail, 12 inches.

Hab. The entire territory of the United States—rare in New England. Wisconsin, (Dr. Hoy,) Oregon, (U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes.) New Mexico, (Dr. Henry.) California, (Dr. Gambel.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This species is abundant in the Southern, and of quite frequent occurrence in the Middle States of the Union; but it rarely visits the northeastern, or on the Atlantic, is seldom met with north of New Jersey. In the southern part of the State of Delaware, and in Maryland, it is very abundant, migrating farther south in the winter. It subsists entirely on dead animals, which it devours in every stage of decomposition or putridity.

A South American species, long considered as identical with the present bird, is now well ascertained to be distinct, and is the Vultur jota. Molina. This name has been erroneously applied to the Carrion Crow or Black Vulture of the United States. The South American species is the smaller, is more slender in all its members, and all the specimens that we have seen have been of a more uniform clear black colour.

2. Cathartes atratus. (Bartram.) The Carrion Crow. The Black Vulture. Vultur atratus. Bartram Travels, p. 289. (1791.) Vultur urubu. Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept., p. 53. pl. 2. (1807.)

Wilson Am. Orn. IX. pl. 75, fig. 2. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 106.

Plumage commencing higher on the back of the neck than on its sides or in front, and there consisting of short feathers. Head and naked portion of the neck, warted or corrugated, and thinly covered with short hair-like feathers, bill rather long, nostrils large, and communicating with each other; tail, even; legs, rather long.

Entire plumage, deep uniform black, with a bluish gloss; under surface of primaries nearly white.

Total length (of skin) about 23 inches, wing 16½; tail 8½ inches.

Hab. Southern States, Texas (Audubon), California, Oregon (U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes). Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. Abundant in the Southern States, and gregarious, congregating in large numbers in the cities, where they are of service in the destruction of all descriptions of rejected or waste animal matter.

The South American bird usually regarded as identical with this bird, is the Vultur brasiliensis. Ray. It is considerably smaller, and otherwise quite distinct.

3. Cathartes californianus. (Shaw) The Californian Vulture. Vultur californianus. Shaw, Nat. Misc. IX. p. 1, pl. 301. (1797.) Vultur columbianus. Ord. Guthries’ Geog. II. p. 315. (1815.) Cathartes vulturinus. Temm. Pl. col. I. pl. 31. (1820.)

Aud. B. of Am. pl. 411. Gray Gen. of B. pl. 2. Licht. Trans. Berlin Acad. 1838, pl. 1.

Size, large. Plumage commencing on the neck near the body, with a ruff of long, lanceolate feathers, which are continued on the breast. Head and neck bare, or with a few short feathers on the vertex, and at the base of the upper mandible; bill rather long, nostrils small, communicating with each other; wings long, primaries pointed; tail long, slightly rounded; tarsi and feet very strong.

Entire plumage black, many feathers narrowly tipped with brown, secondary quills with a grayish tinge, greater coverts tipped with white, which forms a transverse bar on the wing. Bill, yellowish white. Iris, carmine. Head and neck, in living bird, orange yellow. (Gambel.)

Total length (of skin) about 45 inches, wing 31, tail 15 inches.

Hab. California, Oregon. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This large Vulture is inferior only in this family to the Condor of South America. It is restricted to the countries west of the Rocky mountains, where in the vicinity of rivers it is occasionally abundant, living principally on dead fishes. It appears to be, however, more cautious and timid in its habits than the other birds of this group, and constructs its nest in the remote recesses of the mountains.

B.
SPECIES PROBABLY OCCURRING IN THE UNITED STATES.

1. Cathartes burrovianus. Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada. II. p. 212, (1845.) Burrough’s Vulture.

Resembling C. aura, but much smaller. Plumage on the neck ascending behind, as in C. atratus; bill, rather short; tail, rounded; tarsi, rather long. Entire plumage, deep uniform black, without brown edgings.

Total length of prepared specimen, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 22 inches, wing 18, tail 8½ inches.

Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (Dr. Burrough), Mazatlan (Dr. Gambel). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This is the smallest of all known Vultures, and though strictly of the same genus as C. aura, may readily be recognized by its small size. It is very probably to be found in California, and the late Dr. Gambel thought that he had seen it in that country, and at Mazatlan. (Jour. Acad. Philada. I. p. 26, quarto.)

II. GENUS SARCORAMPHUS. Dumeril Anal. p. 32, (1806.)

GYPAGUS. Vieill, Anal. p. 21, (1816.)

Head and neck naked, the former with an elevated fleshy caruncle. In all other characters much resembling Cathartes.

2. Sarcoramphus sacer. (Bartram) The Sacred Vulture. Vultur sacra. Bartram, Travels in Florida, p. 150, (1791.)

Original description.—“The bill is long, and straight almost to the point, where it is hooked or bent suddenly down, and sharp; the head and neck bare of feathers nearly down to the stomach, when the feathers begin to cover the skin, and soon become long and of a soft texture, forming a ruff or tippet, in which the bird, by contracting his neck, can hide that as well as his head; the bare skin on the neck appears loose and wrinkled, which is of a bright yellow colour, intermixed with coral red; the hinder part of the neck is nearly covered with short stiff hair; and the skin of this part of the neck is of a dun purple colour, gradually becoming red as it approaches the yellow of the sides and forepart. The crown of the head is red; there are lobed lappets of a reddish orange colour, which lay on the base of the upper mandible. The plumage of the bird is generally white or cream colour, except the quill feathers of the wings and two or three rows of the coverts, which are beautiful dark brown; the tail, which is rather large and white, is tipped with this dark brown or black; the legs and feet of a clear white; the eye is encircled with a gold coloured iris, the pupil black.” Bartram, as above, p. 150, 151.

Obs. The identification of the bird here described, may be considered as one of the most important services to be performed in North American Ornithology. Its occurrence has never been noticed since the time of the accurate and veracious naturalist who first described it, and his careful description above quoted seems to clearly indicate it to be a species entirely unknown. The white tail especially is characteristic, and establishes a clear distinction from any other known species. It is related evidently to the King Vulture, (S. papa,) but that species has a black tail, and in case of mistake or misprint in Bartram’s description, it may be presumed at any rate to relate to an occurrence of that species within the United States. There is no more inviting nor more singular problem in North American Ornithology.

C.
SPECIES, THE OCCURRENCE OF WHICH IN THE UNITED STATES IS DOUBTFUL.

1. Sarcoramphus gryphus. (Linn.) The Condor.

Bonap. Am. Orn. IV. pl. 22. Temm. pl. col. 133, 408, 464. Zool. Voy. Bonité, Birds, pl. 2, (Paris, 1841.)

Size, large. Head, neck, and large space on the breast, bare. Plumage, black, with a white space on the wing; neck, with a collar or ruff of white downy feathers; plumage of the back, the quills and tail frequently with a gray tinge. Head above with a large caruncle or comb, and others on the sides of the head and neck.

Total length of skin, about 4 feet, wing about 2 feet 6 inches, tail about 15 inches.

Hab. South America.

Obs. The famous Condor of the Andes, though it has been admitted as a North American bird into the works of Bonaparte and Nuttall, cannot at present, in our opinion, be so regarded. The description in the History of the Expedition of Lewis and Clarke, which was supposed to relate to this bird, and has been the sole authority for its introduction by the authors just mentioned, very probably applies to the Californian Vulture. No other travellers have seen the Condor, either at the localities mentioned by Lewis and Clarke, or elsewhere in North America. It is common in the western parts of South America. The most complete descriptions with which we are acquainted are by Humboldt, in Zoological Observations, I. p. 26, (Recuil d’Observationes de Zoologie et d’Anatomie comparée Paris, 1811, quarto,) and by Darwin in Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle, Birds, p. 3, (London, 1841,) and by the same author in Voyage of a Naturalist, I. p. 234, 238, (American edition, New York, 1846, duodecimo.)

2. Sarcoramphus papa. (Linn.) The King Vulture.

Spix. Av. Bras. pl. 1. Buff. Pl. Enl. 428. Vieill. Gal. pl. 3.

Plumage on the neck, dusky cinereous; wings and tail, glossy black; all other parts, fine pale fulvous. Head and upper part of neck naked, the former with an elevated and conspicuous caruncle arising from the cere.

Total length of skin about 28 inches, wing 18, tail about 9 inches.

Hab. South and Central America. Mexico.

Obs. The King Vulture is the most handsome bird of its family. Though admitted by Nuttall as a bird of the United States (Manuel, I. p. 40, Boston, 1840,) no instance is recorded, or has otherwise come to our knowledge, of its having been observed north of Mexico. It is not improbable, however, that it may yet be found in Texas or in California, or possibly in Florida. It is described by Hernandez as an inhabitant of Mexico, in his “New History of the Plants, Animals, and Minerals of Mexico,” p. 319, (Nova, plantarum, animalium et mineralium Mexicanorum, Historia, Rome, 1651, folio,) and has found a place in the works of all authors on general Ornithology, and been noticed by many travellers.

The above comprise all the Vultures which have been hitherto known or supposed to inhabit America, north of Mexico. There are three other species which appear to be peculiar to South America and the islands of West Indies, (particularly the more southern of them,) all of which more or less intimately resemble our species of the North. They are Cathartes jota (Molina), described in Geog. Nat. and Civil Hist. of Chili, American edition, I. p. 185, (Middletown Conn. 1808, octavo,) Cathartes Brasiliensis, Bonaparte Consp. Av. p. 9, and Cathartes urbicola, Des Murs Rev. and Mag. de Zool. April, 1853. The latter is a large and very remarkable species which has only recently been ascertained to frequent the cities of several of the West Indies.

Nearly all of the American Vultures are remarkable for a disposition manifested, in a greater or less degree, to resort to cities, or even more isolated abodes of men, for the purpose of procuring food. In the southern cities of the United States, the Black Vulture congregates in large numbers; its relative of South America (Cathartes Brasiliensis) possesses the same habit, and is exceedingly abundant in the cities of the countries that it inhabits. Even the gigantic Condor does not hesitate to make its appearance in the vicinity of villages or dwellings in the western countries of South America for the same purpose. In this respect these birds resemble the most common European bird of their family which inhabits southern Europe, and also Asia and northern Africa; the Neophron percnopterus or Egyptian Vulture. The latter is, however, very different in colour, being nearly white when adult, and clean, which is an important consideration in a bird of habitually filthy habits.

Travellers have represented the male of the Condor as larger and as having more handsome plumage than the female. We hope to be excused for here asking attention to this point, should opportunity occur to any of our readers. It is the only known or supposed instance in the order of Rapacious Birds, of the male being the larger, and, if true, of course establishes an exception hitherto not recognized by naturalists. In these birds, and especially in the Falcons and Eagles, the difference in the size of the sexes of the same species is often very remarkable, but the larger is invariably the female.

Further experiments and observations by persons having suitable opportunities and facilities are very desirable for the purpose of ascertaining the degree of development of the senses of sight and smell in the Vultures. Eminent authors have maintained quite opposite views on this subject, some attributing the fact that they perceive objects suitable for their food from a distance, to the acuteness of their sight and others to their power of smelling. This is yet an open question, though there is a very considerable amount of evidence on each side, and may be regarded as presenting an interesting field for further investigation.

Plate 11
Kirtland’s Owl
Nyctale Kirtlandii (Hoy)

NYCTALE KIRTLANDII.—(Hoy.)
Kirtland’s Owl.
PLATE XI.—Adult Male.

Having in the eastern portion of the United States no traditions nor architectural remains which date beyond the first settlement of the white man, our people are but little prone to many of the superstitions which have prevailed in the old world. In the absence of the ruined monastery or crumbling abbey, of the ivy-covered baronial castle and haunted tower, local and legendary superstitions especially, have found no considerable nor permanent place in the popular mind.

Some reliance in the influence of the moon, and a small degree of attention to the aspect of the sign of the zodiac according to the time-honored frontispiece in the almanac, both materially lacking in the important requisite of full and trusting faith, are very nearly the only mysteries which can be regarded as having acquired a practical adoption in any appreciable degree. Others, as the witchcraft of former and the Spiritualism of latter times, as in other countries, have temporarily assumed aspects of more or less importance, but have either disappeared, or, awaiting the certain test of Christian enlightenment and unprejudiced examination, have taken the form of religious faith, and are held in conscientious veneration. An occasional exception may be found, too, in the local transplanting of an European, or perhaps of an African tradition, but many superstitions of the old world are almost absolutely unknown; the evil Banshee, the gentler Brownie, Puck and Oberon, Mab and Titania have no local habitation, though well beloved as beautiful accessories in the immortal productions of the poets, or as told by an humble mother to her children in tales of remembrance of her native land.

In the higher order of legends—in those which record facts or dim histories of exceeding antiquity, or in which are embalmed the deeds of the remote hero, though even more faded than his features on the mouldering wall or the faded marble—young America pleads her youth. But not without product—and as that which has been shall be again, as legends and traditions like to those of other nations will very probably be amongst the results of American mind, there is one American name, perhaps as yet one only, which may become mythical or even now is. When thousands of years shall have rolled away, and the annals of the present age shall be known only to the scholar and the antiquary of those times in precious scraps and fragments, the adjusting of which shall require the skilfulness of learning, some future Lepsius or Layard may recognise in a wise Minos or in a just Nemesis, the American Washington.

The Republic of the United States has acquired its position as a nation, and in fact has existed only in an age of enlightenment, and the universal attention to education and the diffusion of general knowledge which happily has ever prevailed in a degree not exceeded in any country, has necessarily prevented in a great measure the forming of orally transmitted histories or of legendary fables, and there being no ruins of buildings nor other evidences of the decay of past ages, our people do not associate with ideas of desolation, animals which might have found suitable habitations in such localities, nor have they attributed traditional associations or characters.

We have no birds of ill omen, and even the long-defamed Owl has escaped his usual reputation; not that he is regarded with favor, rather the reverse; but for other reason than attributed connexion with supernatural agents; nor is his appearance in the neighborhood of the farm-house or the settler’s cabin regarded as at all ominous, except of immediate danger to whatever of the domestic poultry may have attracted his attention, or in any degree foreboding, unless of his own abrupt demise in case he happens to be observed by the proprietor, having at hand his trusty rifle or fowling-piece. The owl takes the greater risk in such an adventure.

On account, in some measure, of their peculiar forms, particularly their large heads and staring eyes, their nocturnal habits, and their habitually resorting in the day-time to secluded haunts in the forest or other little-frequented localities, no animals have been more invariably regarded as of evil portent than owls. And in this character they have found a place in the literature, and especially the poetry, of nearly all nations ancient and modern. The Latin writers seldom fail to mention the appearance of the owl among the omens and prodigies which they frequently enumerate as having preceded disasters to the state or to distinguished personages. Pliny in his Natural History, gravely devotes a chapter to Inauspicious Birds, and gives the owl a post of distinction in this manner: “The owl, a dismal bird, and very much dreaded in public auguries, inhabits deserts which are not only desolate, but dreary and inaccessible: it is a monster of night, nor does it possess any voice but a groan. Thus, when it is seen in towns or in daylight, it is an omen to be dreaded.” Book x., chapter 12. The poets give him the same reputation, but perhaps only in the legitimate exercise of their art. The poet is privileged in the entire domain of nature, and Virgil and Shakspeare have forever commemorated, though somewhat infamously, the Owl. The former alludes to it as one of numerous precursors of the death of Dido:

“Solaque culminibus ferali carmine bubo

Sæpe queri, et longas in fletum ducere voces.”

“Whilst lonely on the roof, night’s bird prolongs

The notes of woe, and shrieks funereal songs.”

Shakspeare uses the Owl in the same capacity of direful portent. Thus Casca, in allusion to omens preceding the death of Cæsar:

“And yesterday, the bird of night did sit

Even at noon-day upon the market-place

Hooting and shrieking:”

and in Macbeth he introduces its cry as an accompaniment of the murder of Duncan:

“Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shrieked,

The fatal bellman, which giv’st the stern’st good-night.

He is about it:”

and again in Henry the Sixth:

“The owl shriek’d at thy birth; an evil sign;

The night-crow cried, aboding luckless time,

Dogs howl’d, and hideous tempests shook down trees.”

Shakspeare has various other passages of much the same tenor, and so have many other poets of the English and other languages; but, as we can say truly with Cowper (in Task):

“The jay, the pie, and e’en the boding owl,

That hails the rising moon, have charms for us,”

we have no intention at all of making out a strong case of bad reputation against him, even from the poets. We ought to say, though, that he has borne this reputation much more recently than the time of Pliny, and in some countries of the old world has scarcely yet attained a character of entire respectability. There might be a difficulty, however, in deciding which is the more remarkable, the things said of him, or the gravity of the sayer. A writer, cited in Brand’s Popular Antiquities, says to the point: “In the year 1542, at Herbipolis or Wirtzburg, in Franconia, this unlucky bird by his screeching songs affrighted the citizens a long time together, and immediately followed a great plague, war, and other calamities. About twenty years ago, I did observe that in the house where I lodged, an Owl groaning in the window presaged the death of two eminent persons who died there shortly after.” Another, bringing the matter to a more general bearing, says: “If an owl, which is reckoned a most abominable and unlucky bird, send forth its hoarse and dismal voice, it is an omen of the approach of something: that some dire calamity and some great misfortune is near at hand.” And amongst many similar stories, it is related by an old author, that when a Duke of Cleves was suffering with the disease of which he afterwards died, an Owl was seen and heard frequently upon the palace of Cleves in the day-time, and could scarcely be driven away. Very wonderful, but not calculated for the present meridian, and happily rather out of date generally. It would scarcely suit the citizens of our frontier States to regard in any such aspect the nightly serenades of the Great Horned Owl, though performed in a style entirely appropriate.

Other nations, and some more ancient than the Romans, also regarded the Owl with various degrees of superstition. In Egypt, at one period, an image of an Owl transmitted by the supreme authority to a subject, was an intimation in established form, that the latter would particularly oblige his sovereign by immediately committing suicide. With which civil invitation, compliance, at earliest convenience, appears to have been necessary, not entirely as a matter of mere politeness, but to save himself from aspersions as a man of honor and a gentleman. An instance is related by Diodorus Siculus, in which a person placed in such a dilemma and manifesting some repugnance and uncourtly backwardness, was put to death by one of his parents to save their house from disgrace.

But the people of the present day have been favored to live in an age characterized in all Christian countries by the diffusion of truth and the progress of intellectual cultivation, and in which, as a peculiar feature, the physical sciences especially have tended to dispel the mists of ages. In accordance with the spirit of it, modern writers rarely resort to the adoption, even in poetic composition, of ungrounded popular errors. Thus, with no such implication, Coleridge, in Christabel, introduces the Owl in an opening chorus:

“’Tis the middle of the night by the castle-clock,

And the owls have awakened the crowing cock.

Tu—whit!—tu-whoo!

And hark again! the crowing cock

How drowsily he crew.”

And beautiful too is the allusion to the Owl by Longfellow, in Hyperion: “For the owl is a grave bird; a monk who chants midnight mass in the great temple of Nature.”

Kirtland’s Owl, which we present to our readers in the plate now before us, is one of the most recent additions to the Ornithological Fauna of this country, and was first brought to notice by Philo R. Hoy, M. D., an eminent naturalist and physician of Racine, Wisconsin, who has ascertained its occurrence, and has succeeded in obtaining several specimens in the neighborhood of that city.

It appears, however, to be by no means a common species, though having been observed in the season of incubation, as well as in the winter, it may be presumed to be a constant resident, and further investigation may bring to light full details of its history. It belongs to a group composed of several species of small owls, found in the northern regions of both continents, the most common of which, in this country, is the little Acadian Owl (Nyctale acadica), a curious and rather handsome little species not very well known in the rural districts, but sometimes occurring, and also occasionally captured, in the cities. It is the least of the owls of the Atlantic States. Another species is known as Tengmalm’s Owl (N. Tengmalmii), which inhabits the higher northern latitudes of America and Europe.

Like the other small species of its family, the present Owl probably subsists on the smaller birds and quadrupeds and on insects. The last form no inconsiderable portion of the food of the smaller Owls. We have repeatedly found the remains of insects in the stomachs of several species; and in 1851, during the period of the appearance of the Seventeen-year Locust (Cicada septemdecim) in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, we enjoyed an opportunity, in company with several members of the Academy of Natural Sciences of this city, of observing the common Red Owl (Ephialtes asio) while engaged in feeding on insects of that remarkable species. It captured them principally in an apple-tree in which it was first noticed, but occasionally pursued its object to the ground, and with a degree of adroitness and avidity which fully evinced that it had been accustomed to similar occupation.

Dr. Hoy’s description of the species now before us was first published in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, VI. p. 211, (Dec. 1852,) from which we make the following extract:

“But two specimens of this bird have been taken, to my knowledge; the first was captured in October 1851, and kept until winter, when it made its escape; the second, that from which the above description was taken, flew into an open shop, July 1852. It is strictly nocturnal, utters a low tremulous note, and is an active and efficient mouser.”

We have been informed by Dr. Hoy that during the past summer (1853,) he had succeeded in obtaining another specimen which proved to be a female. It is slightly larger than the male, but similar in all other respects.

The figures in our plate represent the male bird, and are about two-thirds of the size of life.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Nyctale. Brehm, Handb. Nat. Vog. Deutschlands, p. 111, (1831.)

Size, small. Bill rather weak and almost concealed by projecting plumes at its base, strongly curved and sharp. Wings moderate, rounded, with the third and fourth quills nearly equal and longest; tail moderate, tarsi short, and with the toes densely clothed with hair-like feathers; claws rather long, slender, and very sharp. Type N. Tengmalmii (Gmelin).

Nyctale Kirtlandii. Hoy, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philada., VI. p. 210, (Dec., 1852.)

Form. Small, but compact, wing with the fourth quill slightly longest, tarsi and toes fully feathered, claws slender, sharp.

Dimensions of a skin from Dr. Hoy. Male, total length from tip of bill to end of tail, about 7 inches; wing, 5¼; tail, 3 inches. “Extent of wings, 16 inches,” (Dr. Hoy.) Female, rather larger.

Colors. Male. Head and upper portion of breast, and entire upper parts dark chocolate-brown; front and eye-brows white, and a line of the same color extending downwards from the base of the lower mandible; ear feathers behind the eye darkest; primaries with white spots on their outer margins forming three irregular bars, and with circular spots of white on their inner webs; tail rather darker than the back, narrowly tipped with white, and having two bands composed of spots of white.

Entire under parts of the body, tarsi and toes, reddish-ochre-yellow; bill and claws black, iris-yellow.

Hab. State of Wisconsin. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and in Dr. Hoy’s coll. Racine, Wisconsin.

Obs. This little Owl is strictly congeneric with Nyctale Harrisii Cassin. Proc. Philada. Acad. IV. p. 157, (Feb. 1849,) and Journal of the same society, Quarto II., plate V., but different in size and color. N. Harrisii is the same as Ciccaba gisella Bonaparte, Cons. Av. p. 44, (1850.)

The present bird also resembles, in some degree, Strix frontalis Lichtenstein, described in a Fauna of California, in Transactions of the Berlin Academy, 1838, p. 430.

EMBERNAGRA BLANDINGIANA.—(Gambel.)
Blanding’s Finch.
PLATE XII.—Adult Male.

Blanding’s Finch was discovered in the Rocky mountains by Dr. Gambel, and named by him in honor of one of the most universally respected of American naturalists and friends of science, William Blanding, M. D., formerly a resident of Philadelphia, but now of Providence, Rhode Island. During many years of previous residence in South Carolina, Dr. Blanding omitted no opportunity of facilitating by observation and active exertion in contributing to collections, the advancement of the interests of Natural Science in all its departments, and he has been deservedly complimented by naturalists whose studies he has been the means of promoting, and with whom personally he has for many years maintained relations of the most friendly character. Many of the cultivators of Natural History in America owe much to the advice and encouragement of Dr. Blanding, and among such we gratefully include ourselves.

This bird belongs to a group of which several species are known to inhabit Mexico and South America, and of which one other species is a summer visitor to Texas. All of them are birds of handsome and even elegant general appearance and color of plumage, and partake much of the inoffensive habits of other birds of the family to which they belong, and which includes the Finches and Sparrows. Subsisting for the greater part on seeds, much of their time is passed on the ground, or in undergrowths of shrubbery in the immediate vicinity of fields and meadows, or other grass-bearing localities.

Plate 12
Blanding’s Finch
Embernagra Blandingiana (Gambel)

We regard the present species as the handsomest Bird of the family of Sparrows yet discovered in the United States, and regret that it is not in our power to lay before our readers an account of it at all full or satisfactory, little having been placed on record, or having otherwise come to our knowledge, beyond the fact that it inhabits sparingly the Rocky mountains, California and northern Texas. It is probably one of the many species which migrate in summer to those countries from Mexico, and even further southward, as is the case with the greater part of the numerous species of birds which are summer-residents in the eastern portion of this continent. Not more than three specimens of this bird have been brought home in the many extensive collections made by the various naturalists who have visited the countries where it is found, from which we must necessarily infer at present that it is one of the rarest of the birds of California and the Rocky mountains, though more abundant in Texas.

From Dr. Gambel’s paper containing his description of this bird, published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, I. p. 260, (April 1843,) and subsequently in the Journal of the same society, I. p. 51 (Quarto), we extract the following:

“Of this new and singularly marked species, I procured a single specimen only, in September, on the bank of a small stream in the Rocky mountains, about half-way between New Mexico and the Colorado of the West. It kept in low bushes, in company with Fringilla guttata, and F. graminea, occasionally uttering a single chirp. The throat and breast of this species very much resemble those of Fringilla Pennsylvanica.”

Dr. Woodhouse procured, also, one specimen, only, during Capt. Sitgreaves’ Expedition to the Zuñi, and Colorado rivers, respecting which he observes: “Whilst encamped on the Rio Salado, near San Antonio, Texas, in the beginning of April, I procured a solitary specimen of this beautiful and interesting bird. Its favorite haunts seemed to be the low bushes in the vicinity of the creek; this was the only one that I observed east of the Rio Grande. In the Zuni mountain, and in the vicinity of the pueblo of Zuñi, it was quite abundant.” (Report of an Expedition down the Zuñi and Colorado rivers, by Capt. L. Sitgreaves, of the Topographical Engineer Corps, U. S. Army, Washington, 1853. Zoology, p. 85.)

It was also seen by Dr. Heermann, in California.

Our figure is that of a male, and is about two-thirds of the natural size.

The plant represented, is Nuttallia digitata, a native of California.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Embernagra. Lesson Traité d’Orn, p. 465, (1851.)

Bill, moderate, conic; wings, short, rounded, usually with the fifth and sixth quills slightly longest; tail, lengthened, rounded at the tip; tarsi and toes, lengthened, strong; claws, short, curved. A genus of birds related to Zonotrichia, and containing several species, all of which are American.

Embernagra Blandingiana. (Gambel.) Fringilla Blandingiana. Gamb., Proc. Acad. Philada. I. p. 260, (April, 1843) Fringilla chlorura. Aud. Orn. Biog. V. p. 336?

Form. Rather robust, bill strong, wing short, second, third and fourth quills nearly equal, third slightly longest, tail rather long, legs and feet strong, claws well developed, that on the hind toe large.

Dimensions. Adult. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail, about 7 inches; wing, 3⅛; tail, 3¼ inches.

Colors. Head, above, fine rufous chestnut. All other upper parts, yellowish green, tinged with ashy. Throat, white, which color is bordered on each side by a line of ashy black. Sides of the neck, the breast and sides of the body, and flanks, light cinereous, tinged with ochre on the latter and under tail coverts. Middle of the lower part of breast, and of the abdomen, white. Wing, at its flexure and under wing coverts, yellow. Quills and tail-feathers, light greenish yellow on their outer webs.

Hab. California and Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Mus. Washington.

Obs. This species resembles somewhat several others which are natives of the Southern extreme of North America, though not sufficiently to be readily confounded with either of them.

The description of Fringilla chlorura, Aud. in Orn. Biog. V. p. 336, consists of extracts of letters from Dr. Townsend, in which a bird is described, of which he procured no specimens, but evidently like the present, in some respects, but not with sufficient precision to be determined. He represents it as “a true Fringilla. The head of light brownish color spotted with dusky, back varied with dusky and greenish olive, rump brownish spotted with dusky, &c.” Our present bird is by no means a true Fringilla, nor does the description otherwise apply to it with such degree of probability as to be relied on.

Plate 13
The American House Finch
Carpodacus familiaris (M‘Call)

CARPODACUS FAMILIARIS.—M‘Call.
The American House-Finch.
PLATE XIII.—Male and Female.

When the winter of our northern climes has abated its rigors, and the season of brighter skies and returning flowers approaches, none of its early tokens are welcomed with more pleasing associations, than the reappearance of those familiar birds, which, like the Wren, the Blue Bird, and the Pewee Flycatcher, come pleasantly into the immediate vicinity of our dwellings, to select accommodations for the construction of their nests, and for rearing their young. They share the hospitality of the splendid mansion and the humble cottage, and are made welcome alike in each.

Of birds of this description, no species is more remarkable for its confiding disposition, than the little Finch now before the reader, and which is a native of the western countries of North America. It not only approaches the abodes of men without hesitation, and occupies habitually the suitable parts of houses and other buildings, but resorts in large numbers to such uncongenial localities as one might think them, as towns and cities. In several of those in New Mexico, and California, this bird is very abundant, and is a great favorite.

Several species of the same genus to which the present belongs, all of which present considerable similarity, inhabit northern countries of this continent, and others are found in the same latitudes of the old world. The males of all the species are clothed in plumage of fine crimson, or of purple of various and delicate shades, when they have attained maturity. The females are however of much plainer appearance, and generally present little similarity of color to their more gay consorts. The Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) is the best-known American bird of this group. It is common as a winter visitor in the middle and southern States, and at that season its habits are such only as are adapted to a roving life in the woods. It retires in the spring to the northern states, and the mountains of Pennsylvania, and is there regarded with much favor on account of the beauty of its plumage and its agreeable song.

A species of the old world (C. erythrinus), which is one of several that are natives of northern Russia, of Siberia and Kamtschatka, is very similar in its general appearance to the Purple Finch, and, like it too, it has an extensive range of migration, appearing throughout European and Asiatic Russia, and the northern countries of India. Of the Asiatic species, one is remarkable for having been discovered on Mount Sinai, by an European naturalist, and in reference to that fact, has been named by him the Sinai Finch (Carpodacus sinaiticus.)

Our present bird appears to be the species alluded to by Dr. Gambel as the crimson-fronted Finch, Erythrospiza frontalis (Say), in the Journal of the Philadelphia Academy, Quarto, I. p. 53, in the following passage: “This handsome songster we first observed in New Mexico, particularly about Sante Fé, where it is an abundant and familiar resident, keeping about the corrals and gardens, and building its nest under the portals and sheds of the houses. In July the young were ready to fly, which must have been a second brood, or else they begin to lay much later than in California. Under a long shed or portal, in the Plaza or Square of Sante Fé, they had a great many nests; and the old birds would sometimes fly down about our feet while sitting at the doors, to pick up crumbs, &c. for their young.

“In California, it is also an extremely abundant and familiar resident, and is called by the inhabitants Buriones. During winter they assemble in flocks, frequenting the bushy plains and hill-sides, hedges, vineyards and gardens, living on the various kinds of seeds which are so abundant, and also sometimes doing considerable damage among the grapes. Early in March they commence pairing, and soon are busy building their nests; placing entire confidence in man (which is but too often misplaced) they persist in building about the houses; on the projecting planks under the portals, under the eaves, in sheds, boxes or in any nook they can find. I once found a nest in a small box of seeds which had been stuck up over a door. They will also build on the horizontal branch of a tree in the garden, and a great many nests are made in the willow hedges of the vineyards, but they prefer by far the rafters under the sheds and houses, repaying the inmates for the privilege, with their most melodious song, which is continued during summer, from the roof near the nest. The nest is made of small sticks, or stems of weeds, willow catkins and down of the willow, and lined with horse-hair. They usually lay five eggs, sometimes of a plain bluish white color only, but generally having a few scattering streaks and specks of dark brown on the larger end. Some nests are made principally of feathers, cotton or wool, with a few sticks and dried grass, and lined with horse-hair. Frequently only four eggs are found in the nest, and they often have a very few specks or streaks on one side only.

“It would be impossible, with words, to describe the song of this western Orpheus; and although California contains many song-birds, among others the Mocking-Bird, yet there is none more exhilarating to the feelings, or melodious and tender to the ear, than the song of this Finch.”

This bird was first described satisfactorily as a distinct species, by Col. M‘Call, in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, VI. p. 61, (April 1852.) In a previous paper in the same periodical, V. p. 219 (June 1851) he thus alludes to it:

“I found this charming little Finch abundant at Sante Fé, where it commenced nesting in March, although the weather was still wintry, and so continued, with frequent snow-storms, for more than a month. Notwithstanding this, the song of the male failed not to cheer his mate during incubation, with the liveliest melody. The notes often reminded me of the soft trill of the house-wren, and as often of the clear warble of the canary. The males of the last year, though mated and apparently equally happy and quite as assiduous as their seniors, were not yet in full plumage, having little or nothing of the red colors that mark the adult birds.

“The nests, which were stuck into every cranny about the eaves and porticoes of the houses throughout the town, were variously composed of dry grass, fine roots, horse-hair, long pieces of cotton twine, or strips of old calico; in fine, of countless odds and ends, that were picked up about the yards;—these were curiously and firmly interwoven, so as to make a warm and comfortable abode for the new-comers. Eggs, four or five, pale blue, slightly marked on the larger end. The young were able to fly by the middle or latter part of April. A second brood, and in some cases, I believe a third was raised during the summer, as not a few of them continue to incubate until some time in the month of August. Before the latter part of September, however, nearly all of them had disappeared from about Santa Fé.”

For the following additional account of this species, prepared expressly for the present article, we are also indebted to Col. M‘Call:

“Whilst residing in New Mexico, I always remarked a gentle amity in the character of this lively little songster which failed not to bespeak for him the kindly regard of all with whom he made his abode, whether the wealthy proprietor of the manor-house, or the humble peon, whose miserable hut stood aloof from the mansion. For, the same cheerful melody that soothed the noontide of the former while idly swinging in his hammock, welcomed the appearance of the latter as he came forth at the dawn of day to resume his toil; the same confiding familiarity was observable in his approach to both, and the same merry pranks were played, whether feeding on the bounty of the one, or gleaning a more scanty meal near the ill-furnished table of the other. It was this pleasing trait in his character which prompted me in the choice of his name.

“His disposition also towards other birds, appeared to be mild and peaceful, as I had many opportunities to observe. I will mention one instance: In the piazza of the house I occupied, quite a colony of these birds had their nests: here the work of building and incubation had gone on prosperously for several weeks, although the weather at times was stormy and cold, and ere the genial warmth of spring was fairly felt, the colony might have been said to be fully established. As the season advanced and birds of less hardy nature began to arrive from the south, a pair of Barn-Swallows (H. rufa) made their appearance, and forthwith entered the territory of the Finches. And here they at once, very unceremoniously, began to erect their domicil. This act of aggression would have been fiercely resented by most birds, and violent measures would have been promptly resorted to, to eject the intruders. The conduct of the little finches was quite different: at first they stood aloof and seemed to regard the strangers with suspicion and distrust, rather than enmity. In the mean time the swallows went quietly to work, without showing any inclination to intermeddle; and in a day or two [their mud-walls all the time rapidly advancing] they gained the confidence of their neighbors, and finally completed their work unmolested. Indeed, a perfect harmony was established between the parties, which I never saw interrupted by a single quarrel during the time they remained my tenants.

“This incident, and I would mention others were it necessary, illustrates the character of this species in strong contrast with that of its relative, the Purple-Finch, (C. purpureus,) which both Wilson and Audubon agree in representing, from personal observation, as quarrelsome, tyrannical and domineering in the extreme. This species may, moreover, be considered as a more southern bird than the Purple-Finch, its northern range probably not extending much beyond the limits of New Mexico, on the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains; while that of the other stretches to the Fur countries.

“On the western slope, it is common throughout California, but not in Oregon. At the Missions of San Diego and San Gabriel it nested in the hedge-rows, as well as in the buildings. I often saw it in numbers on the edges of the immense fields of wild mustard, a plant which, introduced by the early Spanish missionaries, now overruns whole districts of that country, and in size and vigor of growth is almost arborescent; but whether it nested in these thickets or not, I did not ascertain. Yet I found the nests of the Red-winged Black-bird (A. phœniceus) in numbers, placed at the distance of 6 or 8 feet from the ground, in the branches of the wild mustard.

“The food of this species, like its congeners, consists at different seasons of buds, fruits, the seeds of various grasses and wild plants, which it often plucks from the capsules while hanging inverted or sidewise on the bending stalk. Insects are also eaten, I believe, at all seasons. But in its half-domesticated condition at Santa Fé, nothing edible seemed to be amiss.”

This species appears to congregate into flocks at the close of the summer season, and to adopt the wandering habits of its near relative the Purple-Finch previously alluded to in this article. They migrate at that period and during the winter to Mexico, and probably to the countries of Central America. The following notice is from Dr. Heermann’s Notes on the Birds of California, (Jour. Philada. Acad. Quarto, II. p. 267,) and relates to this bird:

“Very abundant and found in large flocks in the fall season, feeding on the buds of young trees. I found this species abundant at Guaymas, where it breeds under the eaves of houses, in the branches of the small cactus plants; and one nest I discovered in a deserted woodpecker’s hole, made in the body of an upright cactus, one and a half feet in diameter and about fifteen feet high, with which species of plants the country near Guaymas is covered. In California I found its nest on the dwarf oaks, composed of coarse grasses and lined with fine hair. The eggs, from four to six in number, are pale blue, marked with spots and delicate lines of black.”

Dr. Woodhouse also notices this bird as abundant in New Mexico and California, (Sitgreaves’ Report, Zoology, p. 88.)

The figures in our plate are about two-thirds of the size of life.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Carpodacus. Kaup Nat. Syst., p. 161. (1829.)

Bill short, conical, wide at base, wings long, pointed, second and third quills longest, tail moderate or rather short, tarsi and feet strong, colors in males usually purple, size small.

Carpodacus familiaris. M‘Call, Proc. Acad. Philada. VI. p. 61. (April 1852.)

Form. Generally similar to that of Carpodacus purpureus (Gm.), but smaller than either that species or Carpodacus frontalis. (Say.) Bill short, strong; shorter, more curved above and more turgid than that of C. purpureus. Wing rather long, with the first, second and third quills longest and nearly equal, secondaries truncate and emarginate, tail slightly emarginate only, not forked as in C. purpureus, legs, feet and claws moderate.

Dimensions of a skin from California: Total length from tip of bill to end of tail about 5½ inches, wing 3¼, tail 2¾ inches. Col. M‘Call gives the total length of the recent bird as 6 inches, 1 line and alar extent 10 inches.

Colors. Male. Head entirely, back, rump, superior tail-coverts, neck before and breast, brownish red, inclining to crimson, most clear and distinct on the rump, superior tail-coverts and front immediately at the base of the bill, and most obscure on the back.

Wings and tail, blackish brown, every feather having paler edgings.

Abdomen and inferior tail-coverts, white, every feather having a longitudinal stripe of brown.

Bill, pale yellowish brown, lighter on the lower mandible.

Female. Without red on any part of the plumage. Body above, dark brownish, every feather having a longitudinal central stripe of a darker shade of the same color, and edged with lighter inclining to cinereous. Body beneath, sordid white, longitudinally dashed with brown.

Young Male. Much resembling the female, but with the red color appearing on the front at the base of the bill, on the neck and rump.

Hab. New Mexico and California. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Coll. Washington.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plate 14
The Northern Chickadee
Parus septentrionalis (Harris)

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

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

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

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plate 15
The Red-breasted Teal
Querquedula cyanoptera (Vieillo)

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

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

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

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

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

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

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

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

Colors. Male. Top of the head, chin and under tail-coverts, brownish black; head, neck and entire under parts, deep purplish chestnut; abdomen with a large spot of brownish black; back, scapulars, rump and upper tail-coverts, brownish black, edged with dull chestnut; large space on the shoulder and lesser wing-coverts, light sky-blue, succeeded by a transverse band of white, speculum brilliant grass-green; a portion of the two first scapulars blue, and all with a central stripe of pale reddish chestnut. Bill dark; feet yellow.

Female. Shoulders blue as in the male, but no trace of the chestnut color which prevails in the latter, that being replaced by a mottled yellowish and brown, very similar to the females of several other species of ducks. Head above brownish black.

Hab. Utah, California, Louisiana, Chili. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Mus. Washington.

Obs. This very handsome species does not resemble any other species likely to be confounded with it. With other species of Teals, it has been placed in a distinct genus under the name Pterocyanea, Bonaparte, in which, however, we fail to perceive sufficient characters to warrant a separation from Querquedula.

SYNOPSIS
OF
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.

II. FAMILY FALCONIDÆ. THE FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES.

Head and neck usually covered with feathers, but in a few instances partially naked; bill, usually very strong, curved and very sharp; tarsi and toes, generally strong and muscular; claws, curved, sharp; wings, various, but usually large, and adapted to swift and vigorous flight. Size, very much varied, body generally very compact, and organized for strength and activity of habits, and for the destruction of living animals. Female larger than the male.

Inhabit all parts of the world, numerous in the temperate and torrid regions.

I. SUB-FAMILY FALCONINÆ. THE TYPICAL FALCONS.

Bill, short, hooked, upper mandible always furnished with a well defined tooth; head, rather large; feet and tarsi, very strong; toes and claws, long, the latter very sharp and strong; wings, long, pointed; tail, rather lengthened.

Embracing about fifty species, inhabiting all parts of the earth, and may be regarded as presenting the highest organization of the Rapacious form of Birds.

A.

I. Genus Falco. Linnæus Syst. Nat., I. p. 124. (1766.)

General form, robust and powerful; bill, short, with the upper mandible curved, and with a distinct tooth; nostrils, circular, with a central tubercle. Wings, long, pointed, formed for vigorous and rapid flight; tail, rather long; tarsi, short, robust, covered with rounded or hexagonal scales; middle toe long, claws large, curved, and very sharp. This genus, as restricted, contains from fifteen to twenty species, found in various parts of the world, several of which more or less intimately resemble the Falco peregrinus of Europe, and the Falco anatum of America. They are remarkable for exceedingly rapid flight, and great boldness in attacking animals on which they prey.

1. Falco anatum. Bonap. Comp. List p. 4. (1838.) “Falco peregrinus Gm.” Wilson, Audubon and other authors.

Edwards’ Birds, I. pl. 3, 4. Wilson Am. Orn. IX. pl. 76. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 16, octavo edition, I. pl. 20. De Kay, Nat. Hist. State of New York Birds, pl. 3. fig. 8. Lembeye B. of Cuba, pl. 1. fig. 2.

Bill, rather short, strong, very sharp, with a well defined tooth in the upper mandible; wings long, legs strong, middle toe long, claws curved, sharp.

Adult. Frontal band white; top of the head, back, wing-coverts and rump, bluish cinereous; every feather crossed transversely with bands of brownish black; rump and lower part of the back lighter, and with the dark bands less numerous.

Throat, sides of the neck and upper part of the breast white, with a tinge of buff without spots, other under parts same color, with a deeper shade, and with cordate or rounded spots of black on the lower breast and abdomen, and transverse bars of the same black on the sides, under tail-coverts and tibiæ. Quills, brownish black, with transverse bars of yellowish white on their inner webs. Tail, brownish black, with transverse bars of cinereous, very pale and nearly white on their inner webs, and narrowly tipped with white.

Cheeks with a patch of black most narrow and clearly defined in the adult bird, and separated from the color of the back of the head by a white space; back of the neck, mixed with yellowish feathers, forming an irregular collar. Bill, light bluish horn color, paler at the base; legs and feet fine yellow. Sexes alike.

Younger. Entire plumage above, brownish black; nearly uniform on all parts, and with little or no appearance of the bars which are seen in the adult. Tail, uniform dark brown, with spots or irregular transverse stripes of reddish white frequently only on the inner webs. Frontal spot of white obscure, large space on the cheek, black not separated posteriorly from the same color of the head above. Under parts, white and yellowish white, every feather, except on the throat, with a wide longitudinal stripe of dark brown; the latter color prevailing on the sides and abdomen. Throat, white, nearly every feather with a very narrow central line of black. Tarsi and feet, bluish lead color.

Dimensions. Female, total length 19 to 20 inches; wing, 14½ to 15; tail, 7½ to 8 inches. Male and young smaller.

Hab. The entire eastern portion of North America, and perhaps western; Greenland? Oregon? (U. S. Ex. Exp.) Jamaica, (Mr. Gosse.) Cuba, (Mr. Lembeye.) Bermuda, (Sir W. Jardine.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. In the adult of this species, there is a white frontal band as in the adult of the European F. peregrinus.

It is very similar in color and general characters to that species, but is larger, and the young differ.

Audubon’s figures represent the dark-colored plumage described above as that of young or immature birds. Wilson’s figure is that of a more adult specimen, with the frontal band partially produced; but the bird in completely mature plumage, has never been figured.

This bird frequently appears in the United States, generally on the sea-coast in the autumn and winter, at which seasons, also, according to Mr. Lembeye, it visits the island of Cuba. It flies with extraordinary vigor and rapidity, and is remarkable for its bold and destructive habits.

2. Falco nigriceps. Cassin,[3] new species. The Western Peregrine Falcon.

Very similar to the preceding, but smaller, and with the bill disproportionately weaker. Very similar, also, to Falco peregrinus, but differing from both in the colors of the young bird, and in other characters. Adult. Frontal band of white, very narrow. Head and neck above, and cheeks, clear black, with a tinge of cinereous; other upper parts, bluish cinereous, every feather having transverse bands of brownish black, lighter on the rump and upper tail-coverts.

Throat and breast, pale reddish white; other under parts, lighter, with rounded spots and transverse bands of black, and with a tinge of cinereous on the flanks and abdomen. Tail above, pale bluish cinereous, with transverse bars of brownish black, and narrowly tipped with white. Patch of black on the cheek, very large, and scarcely separated from the same colors of the back of the head and neck.

Dimensions. Total length, females (of skin) about 17 inches, wing 13 to 13½, tail 6 to 6¾ inches; males, total length 14½, wing 11½ to 12, tail 5½ to 6 inches.

Younger. Entire plumage above, dark brown; many feathers, especially on the rump, tipped with rufous; tail above, brown, with a tinge of ashy, and barred with rusty on the inner webs. Under plumage pale reddish ferruginous, paler on the throat, all the feathers with broad longitudinal stripes of black, and many, also, with irregular transverse stripes of the same color, which predominates on the flanks and under wing-coverts, and which are marked with reddish white bars and circular spots. Tibia, with transverse bars of brownish black.

Dimensions. Female (of skin), total length about 17 inches, wing 12, tail 6½ inches.

Hab. Bear creek, California, (Mr. E. M. Kern.) Coast of Lower California, (Dr. Heermann.) Chili, (Lieut. Gilliss.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Mus. Washington.

Obs. This bird, of which we have seen numerous specimens, appears to be distinct from Falco anatum. It is uniformly smaller than either that species or F. peregrinus, but resembles Indian or other Asiatic specimens of the latter strongly. The young differ from the young of the species just mentioned, especially in the deeper and different red color of the under parts of the body. In this character they more resemble Falco peregrinator of India, Falco puniceus of Africa, Falco melanogenys of Australia. It has also generally the cheeks as strongly marked with a black patch as the latter, and can, by that character, be distinguished from either F. anatum or F. peregrinus.

This species appears to inhabit the western portion of America as far south as Chili.

3. Falco polyagrus. Cassin, new species. The American Lanier Falcon.

General form robust; bill, rather short, very strong; tooth, prominent; wing, long, second and third quills longest, and nearly equal; tail, rather long. Female nearly adult. Narrow frontal band; line over the eye, cheeks and entire under parts, white; narrow stripe from the corner of the mouth, dark brown; some feathers on the breast and abdomen, with longitudinal stripes and spots of brown, which color forms a large spot on the flank, plumage on the sides also with spots of brown. Entire plumage of the upper parts, brown, many feathers with rufous edgings; paler on the rump; tail above, grayish brown, with transverse bars of white, and narrowly tipped with the same color. Quills, dark grayish brown, with numerous bars of white on their inner webs; under wing-coverts, dark brown, edge of wing at the shoulder and below, white, spotted with brown. The brown of the back extending somewhat on to the breast at the wing-joint. Bill, bluish horn color, under mandible yellow at its base. Large space around the eye, bare, with a narrow edging of brown on the first plumage encircling it.

Younger Female. Entire plumage brownish black, throat white, and many feathers on the under parts with edgings and circular spots of white; under wing-coverts, also, with circular spots of white; under tail-coverts with wide transverse stripes of white. Young Male? Frontal band nearly obsolete; entire upper parts, uniform brown, with narrow rufous stripes on the head; under parts, white, with a tinge of reddish yellow, and nearly every feather with a narrow longitudinal stripe of blackish brown; large spaces on the flanks brown. Tarsi and feet lead colored.

Dimensions. Female (of skin), total length about 20 inches, wing 14, tail 8 inches.

Hab. Sources of the Platte river, (Dr. Townsend.) California, (Dr. Heermann.) Puget’s Sound, (U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and in Nat. Mus. Washington.

Obs. Very similar, in the two first stages of plumage above described, to Falco jugger of India, (Gray’s Illustrations of Indian Zoology, II. pl. 26, and Jerdon’s Illustrations of Indian Ornithology, pl. 44,) but larger. We have, however, never seen the young of F. jugger in the plumage of the young of our species as described above, from Dr. Heermann’s Californian specimens. This is the first species of this group of Falcons (the Laniers and Juggers) yet discovered in America, and is especially remarkable on account of its near affinity to the Asiatic species.

II. GENUS HIEROFALCO. Cuvier, Reg. An. I. p. 312, (1817.)

Size, large. Bill, short, thick, distinctly toothed, and with a slight festoon; wings rather shorter than in Falco; tarsi and toes shorter, the former covered with small circular scales. Color of adult usually white. Contains several species inhabiting the northern regions of both continents, nearly all of which where regarded with great favor for the purposes of Falconry.

1. Hierofalco sacer. (Forster.) The American Gyr Falcon. Falco sacer. Forster, Phil. Trans. London, LXII. p. 423. (1772.) Falco fusca. Fabricius Fauna Grœnlandica, p. 56, (1780,) not Gmelin, (1788.) Falco cinereus. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. p. 267. (1788.) Falco grœnlandicus. Turton, Syst. Nat. I. p. 147. (1806.) Falco labradora. Audubon, B. of Am. p. 196, (name on plate pub. about 1834.) “Falco candicans. Gmelin.” Bonap. Cons. Av. p. 23. “Falco grœnlandicus. Turton,” Hancock in Ann. and Mag., Nat. Hist. II. p. 249. “Falco islandicus. Lath.” Aud. Orn. Biog. II. p. 552.

Edwards’ Birds, II. pl. 53, young. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 196, young, (but not pl. 366 which represents another species.) Schlegel, Traité de Fauconnerie, pl. (no number,) adult. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. II. pl. 10, (feathers.)

Form strong, and robust; second and third quills (in the young bird) longest and nearly equal. Adult, according to Hancock as cited above, “ground of the plumage pure white, upper parts elegantly marked with arrow shaped spots of a dark gray; under parts and head streaked with the same; wings reaching to within two inches of the end of the tail; second primary the longest.”

Young. Entire plumage, brown, tinged with cinereous on the upper parts. Throat, dull white; all the plumage of the under parts edged with and having circular spots of dull yellowish white, the rounded spots more apparent on the tibia and under tail-coverts. Quills, mottled with the same white on their inner webs; tail, with numerous (about thirteen) irregular bars of the same. “Bill and cere, pale blue; iris, brownish black. Feet, grayish blue; the under parts of the toes greenish yellow; claws dusky.” (Audubon.)

Hab. Northern America. Greenland, (Fabricius, Hancock,) Hudson’s Bay, (Richardson,) Labrador, (Audubon,) Louisville, Kentucky, (Mr. C. W. Webber.) Spec. in Mus. Nat. Hist. Soc. Charleston, S. C.

Obs. The Gyrfalcon is of very rare occurrence in the United States, though not unfrequent in the northern regions of this continent.

Mr. Hancock, whose opportunities were ample, fully demonstrates (as cited above) that the Falco grœnlandicus of Greenland, which is the present species, and the Falco islandicus of Iceland, are distinct, which appears to be assented to by all late writers. The bird, figured by Mr. Audubon as the adult of the species of which the young bird was obtained by him in Labrador, was an Iceland specimen, (Orn. Biog. IV. p. 476,) and therefore not correctly given as the American bird. We have never had the satisfaction of seeing the adult of this species; but for an opportunity of examining one of Mr. Audubon’s Labrador specimens, we are indebted to the Rev. John Bachman, D. D., of Charleston, S. C., who, with that disposition to advance the interests of Zoological Science which has always characterized him, most kindly forwarded it at our request.

Turton’s description above cited, is copied by him from Pennant’s Greenland Falcon, Arctic Zoology, I. p. 257.

III. GENUS HYPOTRIORCHIS. Boie Isis, p. 976. (1826.)

DENDROFALCO. Gray list, p. 3. (1840.)

Size small, tarsus lengthened and rather slender. In all other characters much like typical Falco. Toes long, slender and furnished with sharp, curved claws. This genus includes about ten or twelve small species found in various parts of the world, and for the greater part dark colored, like the species of typical Falco.

1. Hypotriorchis columbarius. (Linn.) The Pigeon Hawk. Falco columbarius. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. p. 128. (1766.) Falco intermixtus. Daudin, Traité d’Orn. II. p. 141. (1800.) Falco temerarius. Aud. B. of Am. I. p. 381. (1831, plate pub. 1829) “Falco æsalon. Temm.” Rich. and Sw. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 37.

Cat. Car. pl. 3. Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. pl. 11. Wils. Am. Orn. II. pl. 15, fig. 3. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, pl. 25. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 75, 92. Oct. ed. I. pl. 21. De Kay, Nat. Hist. N. Y. pl. 4, fig. 9.

Small, head and body broad and strong, bill short, wing pointed with the second and third quills longest, tail slightly rounded, tarsi and toes slender. Adult male. Entire plumage of the upper parts dusky slate color, inclining to bluish, every feather with a black longitudinal line. Forehead and throat white, other under parts pale yellowish or reddish white, every feather with a narrow longitudinal stripe of brownish black, plumage of the tibia, light rusty red, with narrow stripes of black. Quills black, with transverse bands of white on their inner webs, and narrowly tipped with ashy white, tail above light bluish cinereous tipped with white, and with a wide subterminal band of black, and with several other narrower bands of black, inner webs nearly white. Cere and feet yellow, bill blue.

Middle age or winter plumage? Entire upper plumage, brownish black, slightly mixed with rufous on the head and neck behind, white of the face, and under parts more deeply tinged with reddish yellow, dark stripes wider, plumage of the sides, with wide transverse bands of brownish black, predominating on some feathers, and the yellowish white, assuming the form of circular spots. Tail dark brown, nearly black tipped, and with four bars of white, upper tail coverts with spots of white at their bases. Feet yellow.

Younger and adult female? Entire upper plumage, dusky brown, quite light, and with a tinge of ashy in some specimens. Head above with narrow stripes of dark brown and rusty red, and in some specimens, many irregular spots and edgings of the latter color, on the other upper parts. Forehead and entire under parts white, with longitudinal stripes of light brown. Plumage of the sides and flanks light brown, with pairs of circular spots of white, tibia white, with dashes of brown, tail above and below pale brown, with about six bands of white. Neck behind with a distinct band of white.

Dimensions. Total length (of skin,) females, 12 to 14 inches, wing, 8 to 9, tail, 5½ inches. Male. Total length, 10 to 11 inches, wing, 7½ to 8, tail, 5 inches.

Hab. North and South America. Wisconsin, (Dr. Hoy.) California, (Mr. J. G. Bell.) Oregon, (Col. M’Call, Dr. Townsend.) Cuba, (M. de Sagra.) Jamaica, (Mr. Gosse.) New Granada, (M. Parzudaki.) Bermuda, (Sir. W. Jardine.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. The adult of this species is with difficulty distinguishable from the European H. æsalon, but we have never seen the latter in the nearly black plumage, which we regard as characterizing the young or winter plumage, of the American bird. The light, “liver brown” plumage, represented by European authors as the female of F. æsalon, frequently occurs in this bird, and is given by Rich. and Swains. in Fauna Boreali Americana, Birds, pl. 25. The adult which appears to be Falco temerarius, Aud., is figured in B. of Am. pl. 75, the other figures by Aud. pl. 92, and Wilson’s plate, represent this bird in the dark plumage as described above.

Adult specimens from Western America, even more closely resemble the European species, but differ from the Eastern American only in small and scarcely describable particulars, as the slightly greater extent of the white front, or the greater purity of the white of the throat and breast. We regard the stage of plumage above described as that of the female, (and as figured by Rich. and Swains.) principally on account of its analogy to the female of the nearly allied European species.

This bird is of frequent occurrence in the United States. The largest specimens that we have ever seen are from Oregon, and may prove to be of a distinct species, though we cannot at present, determine.

IV. GENUS TINNUNCULUS. Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. I. p. 39. (1807.)

CERCHNEIS. Boie Isis, p. 976. (1826.)—POECILORNIS. Kaup Class. der Savg. und Vog, p. 108. (1844.)

Size small, tarsus and toes lengthened, slender. Colors generally more or less rufous and white. In all other respects similar to typical Falco. This genus comprises about twelve very handsome species of small size, inhabiting various countries.

1. Tinnunculus sparverius. (Linn.) The Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. p. 128. (1766.) Falco dominicensis. Gm. Syst. Nat. I. p. 285. (1788.) Falco gracilis, cinnamominus and isabellinus. Sw. Cab. Cy. p. 281. (1838.)

Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. pl. 12, 13. Cat. Car. pl. 5. Buff. Pl. Enl. 465. Wilson Am. Orn. II. pl. 16, fig. 1, and IV. pl. 32, fig. 2. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, pl. 24. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 42. Oct. ed. I. pl. 22. Nat. Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 7, fig. 16.

Small, wings moderate, tail rounded. Adult Male. Frontal band, space including the eyes and throat, white; spot on the neck behind, two others on each side of the neck, and line running downwards from before the eye, black. Head above, and wing coverts, bluish cinereous, the latter usually spotted with black. Spot on the top of the head, the neck behind, back, rump, and generally the tail above, light rufous or cinnamon red. Under parts generally a pale shade of the same color, frequently nearly white, but sometimes nearly as dark as the back, and always with more or less numerous circular, or oblong spots of black. Quills brownish black, with white bars on their inner webs. Tail tipped with white, sometimes tinged with rufous, and with a broad subterminal band of black, frequently with several of the outer feathers, white tinged with ashy, and barred with black. Bill blue, legs and feet yellow. Back generally with more or less numerous transverse stripes of black. Rufous spot on head, much varying in size, and sometimes wanting.

Female. Upper parts as above, and wing coverts, and tail rust red, with numerous transverse bands of brownish black, under parts with numerous longitudinal stripes, and on the sides and flanks, with transverse bands of the same color, external feathers of the tail palest, broad subterminal band on the tail, obscure or wanting. Young Male. Wing-coverts, dark bluish cinereous with large circular spots, and with bands of brownish black, all the rufous parts with broad bands of the same color, under parts with large circular spots, and wide traverse bands of black on the sides and flanks.

Dimensions. Total length, 11 to 12 inches, wing 7 to 7½, tail 5 to 5½ inches. Sexes nearly alike in size.

Hab. The entire continent of America. California, (Mr. Bell.) Mexico, (Mr. Pease.) Cuba, (M. de Sagra.) Bermuda, (Sir W. Jardine.) Chili, (Lieut. Gilliss.) Patagonia, (Ex. Exp. Vincennes.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This elegant little Hawk, is one of the most handsomely colored of the Rapacious Birds of North America, and is frequently met with.

It is widely diffused, being common to all parts of the United States, and we have seen numerous specimens brought in collections from various parts of South America. The young bird has never been figured. Specimens from all parts of America are very similar, and we have seen the stages of plumage, which have been considered as indicating distinct species by eminent authors, but they do not appear to be constant, nor peculiar to any locality.

II. SUB-FAMILY ACCIPITRINÆ. THE HAWKS.

Bill short, hooked, upper mandible lobed, but not toothed. Wings rather short, tail long, and rather wide, tarsi rather long and slender, toes and claws long, the latter curved and sharp. Embraces forty to fifty species, amongst which are birds of all countries. They are very vigilant and active and swift of flight, and have as a peculiar character amongst the Falconidæ, the habit of pursuing their prey into woods and forests.

I. GENUS ASTUR. Lacepede Mem. Inst. III. p. 506.

SPARVIUS. Vieill, Anal. p. 24, (1816.) Leucospiea. Kaup, Class, p. 118, (1844.)

General form, strong, but somewhat slender; bill short, curved, festooned; nostrils large, somewhat ovate, inserted in the cere. Wings moderate; tail, long and broad. Tarsi rather lengthened; covered in front with rather wide transverse scales; toes and claws, rather long, the latter sharp. This genus contains about twelve species of all countries.

1. Astur atricapillus. (Wilson.) The Goshawk. The Black-capped Hawk. Falco atricapillus. Wilson Am. Orn. VI. p. 80. (1812.) Falco regalis. Temm. P. col. I. (liv. 84 about 1827.) Dædalion pictum. Less. Traité d’Orn. I. p. 67. (1831.)

Wilson Am. Orn. VI. pl. 52, fig. 3. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, pl. 26. Jard. and Selby, Ill. Orn. pl. 121. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 141, Oct. ed. I. pl. 23. Temm. Pl. col. 495.

Large, general form, rather slender; wings, short. Adult. Head above, neck behind and stripe from behind the eye, black, generally more or less mixed with ashy; other upper parts bluish cinereous, with the shafts of the feathers black; a conspicuous stripe over the eye, and an obscure collar on the back of the neck white. Entire under parts white, every feather with a longitudinal line of brownish black, and several transverse narrow and usually irregular bands of ashy brown. Quills, brown, with bands of a deeper shade of the same color, and with mottled white bands on their inner webs. Tail, dark brownish cinereous, with irregular bands of brownish black, and narrowly tipped with white; under surface very pale, nearly white; under tail-coverts pure white. Young. Head above and other upper parts, dark brown mixed with rufous, especially on the head and neck. Under parts, white, tinged with fulvous, with large oblong and circular spots of deep brown.

Dimensions. Total length, female, 22 to 24 inches, wing about 14, tail 10½ to 11 inches; male, 19 to 20 inches, wing 13, tail 9½ to 10 inches.

Hab. Northern and eastern North America. Spec. Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. Resembles to some extent the Goshawk of Europe, (Astur palumbarius,) with which it has been confounded by some American authors. It is about the same size, but may easily be distinguished by its lighter color, and by its much narrower and more numerous bands on the inferior parts of the body. It is in all respects a distinct species, as described by Wilson and by Temminck.

The young male of this bird may readily be mistaken for the young female of the succeeding species, (Accipiter Cooperi,) but can be distinguished by the different color and markings of the under parts of the body. In some specimens of this species, the transverse bands on the under parts are so irregular or broken, as to present a nearly uniformly mottled aspect. This stage of plumage is represented in Audubon’s plate, but is not the most common.

II. GENUS ACCIPITER. Brisson, Orn. I. 310. (1760.)

NISUS. Cuvier, Regne An. I. p. 321, (1817.) hieraspiza. Kaup Class. p. 116, (1844.)

General characters very similar to those of Astur, but the species are generally more slender and much smaller. Wings short, with the fourth quill usually slightly longest, shorter than in Astur; tail long; tarsi rather long and slender, and frequently with the scales of the tarsi nearly obsolete. Contains about twenty species of all countries, many of which bear more or less resemblance to the Accipiter nisus of Europe.

1. Accipiter fuscus. (Gmelin.) The Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Chicken Hawk. Falco fuscus, and dubius. Gm., Syst. Nat. I. p. 280, 281. (1788.) Accipiter striatus. Vieill, Ois. Am. Sept. I. p. 42, (1807.) Falco velox, and Pennsylvanicus. Wilson Am. Orn. V. p. 116, and VI. p. 13, (1812.) Sparvius lineatus. Vieill. Ency. Meth. III. p. 1266. (1823.) Nisus Malfini. Less. Traité I. p. 58. (1831.) Accipiter fringilloides. Vig. Zool. Jour. III. p. 434.? (1827.)

Temm. Pl. col. 67. Vieill, Ois. d’Am. Sept. pl. 14. Wilson, Am. Orn. V. pl. 45, fig. 1, VI. pl. 46, fig. 1. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 374, Oct. ed. I. pl. 25.

Small, tail rather long, with the end nearly even; tarsi and toes slender. Adult, entire upper parts dark brownish black tinged with ashy, occiput mixed with white. Throat, and under tail-coverts, white, the former with very fine lines of black on the shafts of the feathers; other under parts, fine light rufous, deepest on the tibia, and with transverse bands of white; shafts of the feathers with lines of dark brown. Tail, ashy brown, tipped with white, and with about four bands of brownish black. Quills, brownish black, with bands of a darker shade, and of white on their inner webs; secondaries and tertiaries, with large partially concealed white spots. Shafts of quills tinged with reddish. Young. Entire upper parts umber brown, tinged with ashy; neck behind mixed with white; greater wing-coverts and shorter quills, with large white spots partially concealed. Under parts white, with longitudinal stripes and circular spots of reddish brown, changing into transverse bands on the flanks and tibiæ; under tail-coverts, in many specimens, pure white.

Dimensions. Total length, female, 12 to 14 inches, wing 7½; to 8, tail 6½ to 7 inches; male, total length 10 to 11, wing 6 to 6½, tail 5 to 5½ inches.

Hab. Throughout North America. Hudson’s Bay, (Richardson,) Wisconsin, (Hoy,) Texas, (Audubon,) California, (Heermann,) New Mexico, (M‘Call,) Mexico, (Pease.) Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This little Hawk is one of the most common of the North American species. It is very similar, when adult, to the Accipiter nisus of Europe, but the young differ, as is the case with nearly all our Hawks which resemble birds of the old world. We have never seen a specimen of A. fuscus with the transverse bands on the under parts regular and unbroken, as is commonly met with in the young female of A. nisus.

Though we regard the law of priority as of great importance, we have in the case of this species continued Gmelin’s specific name fuscus, (1788,) though it had been previously used by Fabricius, (1780; see Hierofalco sacer in this synopsis.) We know of no practical benefit, however, that would now result from the alteration of this long established name, especially as the fuscus of Fabricius is a synonyme itself. Any naturalist, however, being so moved, may call this bird Accipiter dubius, if he chooses, and shall not be molested by us.

2. Accipiter Cooperii. (Bonaparte) Cooper’s Hawk. Falco Cooperii. Bonap. Am. Orn. II. p. 1. (1828.) Falco Stanleii. Aud. Orn. Biog. I. p. 186. (1831.)

Bonap. Am. Orn. pl. 1, fig. 1, young. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 36, 141, fig. 3; Oct. ed. I. pl. 24, adult and young.

Larger than the preceding; slender; wings short; tail rounded. Adult, head above brownish black, mixed with white on the occiput; other upper parts dark ashy brown, with the shafts of the feathers brownish black; an obscure rufous collar on the neck behind. Throat and under tail-coverts white, the former with lines of dark brown; other under parts transversely barred with light rufous and white; tail, dark cinereous, with four wide bands of brownish black, and tipped with white; quills ashy brown, with darker bands, and white marks on their inner webs. Young. Head and neck behind yellowish white tinged with rufous, and with longitudinal oblong stripes of brown; other upper parts light umber brown, with large partially concealed spots and bars of white; upper tail-coverts tipped with white; under parts white, with narrow longitudinal stripes of light brown; tail as in adult.

Dimensions. Female, total length 18 to 20 inches, wing 10 to 11, tail 8½; male, 16 to 17, wing 9½ to 10, tail 8 inches.

Hab. The entire territory of the United States. Chili, (Gay.)

Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. Rather a difficult species to the ornithologist, on account of the great variations in its colors, and in size also. It is, in fact, unusual to find two alike in a dozen specimens. Very similar when adult to A. fuscus, but much larger. The adults of both sexes are the same in color. We have latterly suspected that the smaller specimens usually considered as young males of this bird, are really the young of the species next below, (A. Mexicanus.)

This bird is of frequent occurrence in the United States.

3. Accipiter Mexicanus. Swainson. The Mexican Black-capped Hawk. Accipiter Mexicanus. Swains. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds p. 45, (1831,) not figured.

Smaller than the preceding; tail long, rounded. Adult, head above black; other upper parts dark brownish black, with a tinge of cinereous, darkest on the back. Throat and under tail-coverts white; other under parts fine light rufous, deepest on the tibiæ, and barred and spotted with white nearly obsolete on the breast, sides and tibiæ, the longitudinal dark lines on the shafts of the feathers, (conspicuous in A. Cooperii,) barely discernible on the breast. Quills, dark brown, edged exteriorly with ashy, and with bands of darker brown and white on their inner webs; tail, dark cinereous, tipped with white, and with four bands of brownish black, that near the base of the tail obscure. Young, head and neck behind, and upper part of the back, dark rufous, striped with brownish black; other upper parts umber brown; under parts white, with longitudinal narrow stripes of brown; wings and tail as in adult; upper tail-coverts tipped with white. “Iris, carmine,” Dr. Gambel.

Dimensions. Total length, male, 15 inches, wing 9, tail 8 inches.

Hab. California (Dr. Gambel, Mr. Bell); Mexico (Mr. Pease); Eastern? Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. Similar for the greater part, to A. Cooperii, but smaller, and with the tail and tarsi comparatively longer, and with the fine red of the under parts more uniform, the white stripes being nearly obsolete. Several specimens of both adults and young were brought in the fine collection made in California by Mr. J. G. Bell, of New York, and it was previously brought from the same country by Dr. Gambel, and from Mexico by Mr. Pease.

III. SUB-FAMILY BUTEONINÆ. THE BUZZARDS.

Bill short, strong, upper mandible curved, and with its edges festooned; wings long and broad; tail moderate, rather short; legs and feet moderate; toes rather short. General form heavy; flight vigorous, and capable of being long continued, but not so swift as in preceding sub-families. This group comprises about twenty-five species of all countries.

I. GENUS BUTEO. Cuvier, Reg. An., I. p. 323. (1817.)

PŒCILOPTERNIS. Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 329.

Bill short, wide at base, edges of upper mandible festooned; nostrils large, ovate; wings long, wide, fourth and fifth quills usually longest; tail moderate, rather wide; tarsi rather long, and having transverse scales before and behind, but laterally small circular scales; toes moderate, rather short; claws strong. Comprises about twenty species, inhabiting all countries.

1. Buteo borealis. (Gmelin.) The Red-tailed Hawk. The American Buzzard. Falco borealis, leverianus and jamaicensis. Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I. p. 266. (1788.) Falco aquilinus. Bartram, Trav., p. 290. (1791.) Buteo ferruginicaudus. Vieill., Ois. d’Am. Sept., I. p. 32. (1807.) Accipiter ruficaudus. Vieill., Ois. d’Am. Sept., I. p. 43. (1807.) Buteo fulvus and americanus. Vieill., Nouv. Dict., IV. pp. 472, 477. (1816.)

Vieill., Ois. d’Am. Sept., I. pl. 6, 14; Wils., Am. Orn., VI. pl. 52, figs. 1, 2; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 51, oct. ed., I. pl. 7; Gosse, Ill. B. of Jamaica, pl. 2; Lembeye, B. of Cuba, pl. 1. fig. 1.

Adult. Tail bright rufous, narrowly tipped with white, and having a subterminal band of black. Entire upper parts dark umber-brown; lighter, and with fulvous edgings, on the head and neck; scapulars, with a generally concealed basal portion, white, with brown bands; upper tail-coverts generally yellowish white, but frequently on their inner webs of the same rufous as the tail, and with brown spots and bands. Throat white, with brown longitudinal stripes; other under-parts yellowish-white or fawn color, with many longitudinal lines and spots of reddish-brown, tinged with fulvous, most numerous on the breast, and an irregular band across the abdomen of oblong longitudinal spots and narrow transverse bars; under tail-coverts and tibiæ generally immaculate, but the latter frequently spotted, and transversely barred with light rufous. Under surface of the tail silvery white. Young. Tail, in many specimens, pale-brown, with numerous bands of a deeper shade of the same color, and tipped with white; upper tail-coverts white, banded more or less regularly with dark-brown; other upper parts dark umber-brown, many feathers narrowly edged with white and with partially concealed spots of white. Entire under-parts white, sides of the breast with large oval spots of brown, and a wide irregular band on the abdomen composed of similar spots of the same color; tibiæ and under tail-coverts with irregular bands and sagittate spots of brown.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 22 to 24 inches; wing, 15½ to 16; tail, 8½ inches. Male—19½ to 21 inches; wing, 14; tail, 7½ to 8 inches.

Hab. Eastern North America; Fur-countries (Richardson); Wisconsin (Hoy); Florida (Bartram); Jamaica (Gosse); Cuba (Lembeye).

Obs. One of the most common and easily recognized of the North American species. It is diffused throughout the eastern portion of the continent, but in the west appears to be replaced by the succeeding.

2. Buteo Swainsoni. Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 3. (1838.) The Western Buzzard. Buteo montana. Nutt., Man. Orn., I. p. 112. (1840.) “Buteo vulgaris.” Rich. and Sw., Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 47. “Falco buteo. Linn.” Aud., Orn. Biog., IV. p. 508.

Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, pl. 27; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 372, oct. ed., I. pl. 6.

General form and appearance very similar to B. borealis, but rather larger, and with the wings longer; neck and upper part of the breast brown; tibiæ light rufous, with transverse bars of a deeper shade of the same. Tail bright rufous, narrowly tipped with white, and with a subterminal band of black; upper tail-coverts rufous and white; entire other upper parts dark umber-brown, with partially concealed ashy-white and pale fulvous bands and spots on the scapulars and shorter quills. Lower breast white, tinged and with irregular transverse bands of pale-rufous; abdomen with a broad irregular transverse band composed of longitudinal lines and oblong spots of brown, and tinged with rufous. This abdominal band nearly obsolete in some specimens. Under tail-coverts yellowish-white; under surface of the tail silvery-white, with a reddish shade.

Young. Upper parts dark-brown, edged and spotted with white tinged with rufous; tail above ashy-brown, with dark-brown bands, and tipped with white. Under parts white, on the sides and abdomen with large oblong spots of brown; tibiæ and under tail-coverts white, with transverse bars and large spots of brown.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 23 to 26 inches; wing, 16½ to 17; tail, 9 to 10 inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. Northern and western regions—Rocky Mountains and Oregon (Dr. Townsend); California (Mr. Bell); Wisconsin (Dr. Roy); Mexico (Rivoli collection).

Obs. Nearly related to B. borealis, and much resembling it. We have never seen, however, specimens of the latter with the brown space on the neck and breast so extensive as in specimens of the present species brought from California by Mr. Bell, nor with the transverse bars on the abdomen, as is usual in this species, and as represented in the plate in Fauna Boreali Americana. It is brought frequently in collections from Western America; and the young may be Buteo ventralis. Gould.

3. Buteo lineatus. (Gmelin.) The Red-shouldered Hawk. The Winter Falcon. Falco lineatus and hyemalis. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. pp. 268, 274. (1788.) Falco buteoides. Nutt., Man., I. p. 100. (1st edition, 1832.)

Vieill., Ois. d’Am. Sept., pl. 5; Wils., Am. Orn., pl. 53, fig. 3; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 56, 71, oct. ed., I. pl. 9; Nat. Hist. N. Y., pl. 6, fig. 13.

Smaller than the preceding. Adult. Wing-coverts, from its flexure to the body, fine bright rufous; breast and other inferior parts paler rufous; many feathers with narrow lines of black on their shafts, and spotted and barred transversely with white; the latter color predominating on the under tail-coverts. Entire upper-parts brown; on the head and neck much mixed with rufous, and with white spots on the wing-coverts and shorter quills and rump; quills brownish-black, spotted with white on their outer webs, and with bars of a lighter shade of the same color and of white on their inner webs; tail brownish-black, with about five transverse bands of white, and tipped with white. Younger. Under parts with large sagittate spots and wide bars of rufous, tinged with brown. Young. Entire under-parts yellowish-white, with longitudinal stripes and oblong spots of brown; throat brown; upper parts brown, with partially concealed spots and bars of white; quills dark-brown, with wide bars of rufous, and white on both webs; tail brown, with many bands of pale brownish and rufous-white; tail beneath silvery-white.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 22 to 24 inches; wing, 14; tail, 9 inches. Male—total length, 18 to 20 inches; wing, 11½ to 12; tail, 8 inches.

Hab. North America; Oregon (Townsend); California (Heermann); Wisconsin (Hoy); South Carolina (Gibbes).

Obs. An abundant and rather difficult species to the student. The young bird, which is Falco hyemalis Gm., is the more usually met with, and bears very little resemblance to the adult.

4. Buteo Bairdii. Hoy, Proc. Acad. Philada., VI. p. 451. (1853.)

Female. Rather smaller than B. lineatus; wings long and pointed; third primary longest; tail moderate, rounded. Entire upper-parts dark brown, with a purplish-bronze lustre, especially on the primaries; plumage of the head and neck behind, and some feathers on the back, edged and tipped with yellowish-white; upper tail-coverts yellowish-white, with transverse bars of brown. Tail above brownish-cinereous, and having about ten narrow bands of brownish-black, and tipped with white. Under parts pale yellowish-white, or fawn color, with a few sagittate spots of brown on the sides, and a stripe of brown running downwards from the corner of the mouth. Forehead white; under wing-coverts yellowish-white. Cere, legs, and irides, yellow.

Younger? Upper parts very dark-brown, or nearly black, with purplish lustre. Under parts with almost every feather having a large spot of brownish-black, which color predominates on the breast, so as to present a nearly uniform color with the upper parts; throat with narrow stripes of the same color. Flanks and inferior wing-coverts with circular and oval spots of white. Tibiæ dark-brown, with transverse bars and circular and oval spots of reddish-white. Upper tail-coverts reddish-white, with their outer edges brown, and with transverse stripes of the same. Under tail-coverts yellowish-white, with transverse stripes of brown. Forehead white; cheeks yellowish-white. Stripes from the corners of the mouth wide and conspicuous. Sex unknown.

Dimensions. Female—total length (of skin), 19½ inches; wing, 15; tail, 8 inches, and about an inch longer than the folded wings.

Hab. Wisconsin. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This is a well-marked species, especially in the stage of plumage described above as probably the younger, in which the nearly uniformly brownish-black breast and large spots of the same color on the other under-parts, are striking characters. The first-described plumage resembles that of B. pennsylvanicus. We have seen only the two specimens now described, both of which are from the State of Wisconsin.

5. Buteo pennsylvanicus. (Wilson.) The Broad-winged Hawk. Falco pennsylvanicus. Wils., Am. Orn., VI. p. 92. (1812.) Falco latissimus. Wils., Am. Orn., VI. p. 92. (1812. Copies printed later than those containing the preceding name.) Sparvius platypterus. Vieill., Ency. Meth., III. p. 1273. (1823.) Falco Wilsonii. Bonap., Jour. Acad. Philada., III. p. 348. (1824.)

Wils., Am. Orn., VI. pl. 54, fig. 1; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 91, oct. ed. I. pl. 10; Nat. Hist. N. Y. Orn., pl. 5, fig. 11.

Smaller than either of the preceding. Adult. Entire upper-parts dark umber-brown; feathers on the back of the neck white at their bases. Throat white, with narrow longitudinal lines of brown, and with a patch of brown on each side, running from the base of the lower mandible; breast with a wide band composed of large cordate and sagittate spots and transverse stripes of reddish-ferruginous tinged with ashy; other under-parts white, with numerous sagittate spots disposed to form transverse bands on the lower part of the breast, flanks, abdomen, and tibiæ. In some specimens, in winter plumage, the ferruginous color predominates on all the under parts, except the under tail-coverts, and all the feathers have large circular spots on each edge; under tail-coverts white. Tail dark-brown, narrowly tipped with white, and with one broad band of white and several other narrower bands nearer the base. Quills brownish-black, widely bordered with pure white on their inner webs. Young. Plumage above umber-brown, edged on the head and back of the neck with fulvous, and with many feathers on other upper-parts edged with the same color and ashy-white; upper tail-coverts spotted with pure white. Under-parts white, generally tinged with yellowish, many feathers having oblong and lanceolate longitudinal stripes and spots of brown; a stripe of brown on each side of the neck from the base of the under mandible. Tail brown, with several bands of a darker shade of the same and of white on the inner webs of the feathers and narrowly tipped with white.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 17 to 18 inches; wing, 11; tail, 6½ to 7 inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. Eastern North America; Florida (Abadie); Long Island (Giraud); Wisconsin (Hoy). Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This handsome little species is of rather unusual occurrence in the middle and southern States, though according to Dr. Hoy it is abundant in Wisconsin. It is an easily recognized species, though presenting considerable variations in color, according to age and season.

The names Falco pennsylvanicus and Falco latissimus occur in different copies of the sixth volume of the original edition of Wilson (1812), and the probability is that the latter was substituted by the author, in the later printed copies, after he had noticed that he had previously applied the name pennsylvanicus to another species. Of the last three volumes only second editions were published under the editorship of Mr. Ord; the seventh and eighth in 1824, and the ninth in 1825. The statement in Hall’s edition, I. p. 92 (Philadelphia, 1828), that the name latissimus was given by Mr. Ord, is therefore incorrect. That gentleman, now President of the Philadelphia Academy, and of whose advice and instruction we have the great advantage and gratification, informs us that he had nothing to do with either of the names to which we here allude.

6. Buteo Harlani. (Aud.) Harlan’s Buzzard. The Black Warrior. Falco Harlani. Audubon, Orn. Biog., I. p. 441. (1831. Plate pub. 1830) “Buteo borealis.” Gray, Catalogue of Birds in British Museum, Accipitres, p. 34. Buteo albonotatus. Gray, Cat. Brit. Mus., Accipitres, p. 36; Kaup, Isis, 1847, pp. 329, 369?

Aud., B. of Am., pl. 86, oct. ed. I. pl. 8.

“Head very large; neck short; body robust. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus a little compressed, scutellate before and behind, reticularly scaly on the sides; toes scutellate above, scaly on the sides, tubercular and scabrous beneath; claws curved, roundish, very acute. Plumage compact; feathers of the head and neck short and rounded; tibial feathers elongated, and loose at the tips. Wings long; first quill short, third and fifth equal; first primaries cut out on the inner web towards the end. Tail longish, ample, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. Bill light-blue, black towards the end; cere and angles of the mouth yellowish-green. Iris light yellowish-brown. Feet dull greenish yellow; claws black.

“The general color of the plumage is deep chocolate-brown; the under-parts lighter, the feathers there being margined with light-brown. Tail lighter than the back, and rather narrowly barred with brownish-black, the tips brownish-red. Under wing-coverts whitish, spotted with deep-brown. Length, 21 inches; extent of wings, 45; bill, along the back, 1½; along the gap, from the tip of the lower mandible, 1½; tarsus, 1¾.” (Aud., as above.)

Adult? Brownish-black, with a purplish lustre; occipital feathers white at base, and a few white feathers in front at the base of the bill. Under wing-coverts black, with circular spots and irregular bars of white. Quills white on their inner webs for about two-thirds of their length, and transversely barred with pale ashy-brown. Tail above brownish black, tinged with ashy, and with about six to eight bars of black, the widest of which is next to the tip, which is white. Inner webs of the tail-feathers, except the two in the middle, white, mottled with ashy, and with the transverse bars conspicuous; tail beneath ashy-white. Plumage of the back and entire under-parts of the body white at base, and having concealed pairs of circular and oval spots of white most obvious on the abdomen and under tail-coverts. Bill and legs light-colored.

Dimensions. Total length (of skin), 20 inches; wing, 16½; tail, 9½ inches.

Hab. Louisiana (Audubon); Mexico? Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. The only bird that we have ever seen which appeared to be this species is that described above as probably the adult. It is one of two or three species of black Buzzards which inhabit Mexico and Central America, and we suspect it of being identical with B. albonotatus (Gray, as above), though of that species there is no sufficient description published.

7. Buteo insignatus. Cassin. New species. (March, 1854.) The Canada Buzzard.

Form robust; wings rather long, third quill longest, secondaries emarginate at their tips; quills unusually broad; tail rather short, slightly rounded; tarsi feathered in front below the joint, naked behind, and having in front about ten transverse scales. Under wing-coverts and under tail-coverts white, the former striped longitudinally with pale-ferruginous, and some of them transversely with dark-brown, the latter with transverse stripes of pale reddish-brown. Plumage of the tibiæ dark-ferruginous mixed with brown. Throat and a few feathers in front white, with narrow lines of black. Entire other plumage above and below dark-brown, nearly every feather having a darker or nearly black line on its shaft. Quills above brown, with a purple lustre, beneath pale-ashy, with their shafts white, and irregularly barred with white near their bases. Tail above dark-brown, with an ashy or hoary tinge, and having about ten obscure bands of a darker shade of the same color, beneath nearly white, with conspicuous bands of brown, the widest of which is next to the tip, which is paler. Tarsi and feet yellow. Sex unknown.

Dimensions. Total length (of skin), 17 inches; wing, 14½; tail, 7½ inches.

Hab. Canada (Dr. M’Culloch). Spec. in Mus. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Montreal, Canada.

Obs. Of this very remarkable little Buzzard one specimen only has come under our notice, and is that above described. It belongs to the collection of the Natural History Society of Montreal, by whom it was most kindly sent to Philadelphia for examination at our request, through the good offices of M. M’Culloch, M. D., a distinguished physician and naturalist of that city.

In color, though a true Buteo, this bird differs from any known American species, and more resembles in that respect some stages of the young plumage of Circus hudsonius or C. æruginosus. It was captured in the vicinity of Montreal.

II. GENUS ARCHIBUTEO. Brehm, Isis, 1828, p. 1269.
TRIORCHIS. Kaup, Syst. Eur. Thier., p. 84. (1829.)
BUTAETES. Less., Traité, p. 83. (1831.)

General characters very similar to those of Buteo, but with the tarsus densely feathered to the base of the toes, but more or less naked on the hind part. Toes short; claws moderate; wings rather long. Contains about six species, of both continents.

1. Archibuteo sancti-johannis. (Gmelin.) The Black Hawk. The Rough-legged Buzzard. Falco sancti-johannis and NOVÆ-TERRÆ. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. pp. 273, 274. (1788.) Falco niger. Wils., Am. Orn., VI. p. 82. (1812.) Buteo ater. Vieill., Nouv. Dict., IV. p. 482. (1816.) Falco spadiceus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 273?

Wilson, Am. Orn., VI. pl. 53, figs. 1, 2; Faun. Bor. Am., Birds, pl. 28; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 422, oct. ed. I. pl. 11.

Large, and rather heavy; wings long; tarsi feathered, a narrow space naked behind; toes naked, and rather short. Adult. Entire plumage glossy black, in many specimens with a brown tinge; forehead, throat, and a large space on the head behind, mixed with white. Tail with one well-defined band of white, and irregularly marked towards the base with the same color. Quills with their inner webs white, most readily seen on the under-surface of the wing. Some specimens have several well-defined bands of white in the tail. Others have the entire plumage dark chocolate-brown, with the head more or less striped with yellowish-white and reddish-yellow. Cere and legs yellow.

Younger. Upper-parts light umber-brown, with the feathers more or less edged with yellowish-white and reddish-yellow; abdomen with a broad transverse band of brownish-black; other under-parts pale yellowish-white, longitudinally striped on the neck and breast with brownish-black; wings and tail brown, tinged with cinereous; quills for the greater part of their length white on their inner webs; tail-feathers white at their bases. Plumage of the tibiæ and tarsi pale reddish-yellow, spotted with brown. Other specimens have the throat and breast with the black color predominating.

Young male? Entire upper-parts light ashy-brown, more or less mixed with white, especially on the head and fulvous; under-parts yellowish white and dark-brown, the latter assuming the form of longitudinal stripes on the breast, and narrow transverse stripes on the abdomen; tarsi and tibiæ dark-brown, striped with dull-white and reddish; greater part of quills and tail white. Cere and legs yellow.

Dimensions. Total length, female, 22 to 24 inches; wing, 17 to 17½; tail, 9 inches. Male—total length, about 20 to 21 inches; wing, 16 to 16½; tail, 8 to 8½ inches.

Hab. Entire North America; Oregon (Townsend). Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. This is one of the most abundant of the birds of this family, in all the States on the Atlantic, and is one of the most variable in plumage. Two stages of plumage—the adult black bird and the young, when the wide abdominal band of black is well defined—are easily recognized; but there are a variety of other plumages which are difficult to refer to their proper age, sex, or season. Although the stage of plumage described above as perhaps that of the young male (figured by Wilson, pl. 53, fig. 2, and Aud., pl. 422, fig. 2) may be correct, we regard it as by no means established, and in fact are inclined to suspect that there are two distinct species confounded.

2. Archibuteo lagopus. (Gm.) The Rough-legged Buzzard. Falco lagopus. Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I. p. 260. (1788.)

Wils., Am. Orn., IV. pl. 33, fig. 1; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 166; Gould, B. of Eur., I. pl. 15.

Very similar in general form to the preceding. Above light umber-brown; many feathers, especially of the head and neck behind, edged with yellowish white and fulvous. A wide transverse band or belt on the abdomen brownish-black; other under-parts yellowish-white, with a few longitudinal lines and spots of brownish-black; quills ashy-brown, with a large basal portion of their inner webs white; tail at its base white, which is also the color of the greater part of the inner webs of its feathers almost to the tip; terminal portion light umber-brown; tip white. Plumage of the tibiæ and tarsi pale reddish-yellow, striped longitudinally with brown.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 21 to 23 inches; wing, 16 to 17; tail, 9 inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. All of North America; Europe; California (Mr. Bell); Wisconsin (Dr. Hoy). Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.

Obs. The bird here inserted as identical with the European Archibuteo lagopus has been usually regarded, by late naturalists, as the young of the species immediately preceding. Such may be the truth of the case, and our only reason for giving it thus is, that after careful comparison and examination of numerous specimens, we find it absolutely impossible to distinguish it, by any character whatever, from the European bird. Whether two birds can be exactly the same in all their characters, so far as presented by specimens, and yet be distinct in species, is a question that we are not prepared at present practically to decide. We regard it as quite possible, however, that the present may be the young of A. sancti-johannis. It is one of the most common species of its family. Mr. Bell’s specimens from California are, so far as we can see, exactly the same as the European bird, differing from eastern specimens only in very unimportant characters.

3. Archibuteo ferrugineus. (Licht.) The Western Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo ferrugineus. Lichtenstein, Trans. Berlin Acad., 1838, p. 428. Archibuteo regalis. Gray, Genera of Birds. I. pl. 6. (1849, plate only.)

Larger than either of the two preceding. Bill wide at base; wings long; tarsi feathered in front to the toes, naked and scaled behind. Adult. Tibiæ and tarsi bright ferruginous, with transverse stripes of black, irregular and indistinct on the latter. Entire upper-parts striped longitudinally with dark-brown and light-rufous, the latter color predominating on the rump and lesser wing-coverts. Quills ashy-brown, lighter on their outer webs, and with the greater part of their inner webs white; tail above reddish-white, mottled with ashy-brown; tail beneath pure yellowish-white. Under-parts of the body white, with narrow longitudinal lines and dashes on the breast of reddish-brown and narrow irregular transverse lines of the same color, and black on the abdomen; flanks and axillary feathers (under the wing) fine bright-ferruginous.

Young. Entire upper-parts dark umber-brown, very slightly mixed with fulvous; upper tail-coverts white, spotted with brown; entire under-parts pure white, with a few narrow longitudinal lines and dashes of brown on the breast, and arrow-heads of the same color on the sides and abdomen, larger and more numerous on the flanks; tibiæ white; tarsi dark-brown, mixed with white; under wing-coverts and edges of wings white.

Dimensions. Female—total length, about 23 to 25 inches; wing, 17 to 17½; tail, 9 inches. Young—smaller.

Hab. California (Mr. E. M. Kern); Sacramento valley (Dr. Heermann). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This is one of the handsomest of the American Falconidæ. It is also one of the largest of the Buzzards, and easily distinguished from the preceding species. Of the recent American travellers, Mr. E. M. Kern was the first who brought home this fine species; since which adults, young birds, and eggs, have been collected by Dr. Heermann. It is not rare in California.

IV. SUB-FAMILY MILVINÆ. THE KITES.

Size various, usually medium or small. Bill short, weak, hooked, and acute; wings and tail usually long; tarsi and feet slender, frequently short. The birds of this sub-family habitually feed on reptiles and other small animals, and are deficient in the strength and courage of those of the other sub-families. About thirty-five species of all countries belong to this group.

I. GENUS NAUCLERUS. Vigors, Zool. Jour., II. p. 386. (1825.)

CHELIDOPTERYX. Kaup, Class., p. 112. (1844.)

Bill short and weak; wings and tail very long, the former pointed, the latter deeply forked. Tarsi very short; toes short. Contains not more than three species, two of which are American, and the other African.

1. Nauclerus furcatus. (Linn.) The Swallow-tailed Hawk. Falco furcatus. Linn., Syst. Nat., I. p. 129. (1766.)

Cat. Car, pl. 4; Buff., Pl. Enl., 72; Wilson, Am. Orn., VI., pl. 51, fig. 3; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 72, oct. ed. I. pl. 18; Gould, B. of Eur., 1. pl. 30; De Kay, Nat. Hist. N. Y., Birds, pl. 7, fig. 15.

Wings and tail long, the latter deeply forked. Head and neck, inferior wing-coverts, secondary quills at their bases, and entire under-parts, white. Back, wings, and tail, black, with a metallic lustre, purple on the back and lesser wing-coverts, green and blue on other parts. Tarsi and feet greenish-blue; bill horn color.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 23 to 25 inches; wing, 16 to 17½; tail, 14 inches. Male—rather smaller.

Hab. Southern States on the Atlantic, and centrally northward to Wisconsin; Texas (Mr. Audubon); South Carolina (Prof. Gibbes); Wisconsin (Dr. Hoy); Pennsylvania (Mr. A. F. Darley); Jamaica (Mr. Gosse). Accidental in Europe. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This very handsome Hawk is especially abundant in the Southern States. It cannot readily be confounded with any other North American species, though we have not been able to compare it with the Elanoides yetapa, Vieill., of South America, with which it is either identical or very similar.

II. GENUS ELANUS. Savigny, Nat. Hist. Egypt, I., 97. (1809.)

Bill short, compressed, hooked; wings long, pointed; tail moderate, generally emarginate; tarsi short. Contains four species only, much resembling each other; one of which is American, one African, and two Australian.

1. Elanus leucurus. (Vieill.) The Black-shouldered Hawk. The White-tailed Hawk. Milvus leucurus. Vieill., Nouv. Dict., XX. p. 563. (1818.) Falco dispar. Temm., Pl. Col., I. (Liv. 54, about 1824.) “Falco melanopterus. Daud.” Bonap., Jour. Acad. Philada., V. p. 28. “Falco dispar. Temm.” Aud., Orn. Biog., IV. p. 367.

Bonap., Am. Orn., II. pl. 11, fig. 1; Temm., Pl. col. 319; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 352, oct. ed. I. pl. 16. Gay’s Chili Orn., pl. 2.

Head above, entire under-parts, and tail, white, the middle-feathers of the latter usually tinged above with ashy, and the head posteriorly tinged with the same color, which gradually shades into a fine light-cinereous, which is the color of the upper-parts of the body, quills, and greater wing-coverts. Lesser wing-coverts glossy black, which forms a large oblong patch; inferior wing-coverts white, with a smaller black patch. Bill dark; tarsi and feet yellow.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 15½ to 17 inches; wing, 12; tail, 7½ inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. Southern States; California (Dr. Heermann); South Carolina (Prof. Gibbes); Chili (Lieut. Gillis). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. An abundant species in the Southern and South-western States. It is larger than the African E. melanopterus, with which it has been confounded, but considerably resembling it and the Australian species in form and general characters.

III. GENUS ICTINIA. Vieill., Analyse, p. 24. (1816.)

NERTUS. Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 314.
PŒCILOPTERYX. Kaup, Class., p. 112. (1844.)

Bill short, tip emarginated; wings long, pointed; tail rather short; usually emarginated; tarsi short. Two American species constitute this genus.

1. Ictinia mississippiensis. (Wilson.) The Mississippi Kite. Falco mississippiensis. Wilson, Am. Orn., III. p. 80. (1811.) Falco ophiophagus. Vieill., Nouv. Dict., XI. p. 103. (1817.) “Ictinia plumbea. Gm.” Aud., Orn. Biog., II. p. 108.

Vieill., Gal., I. pl. 17; Wilson, Am. Orn., III. pl. 25, fig. 1; Aud., B. of Am. pl. 117, oct. ed. I. pl. 17.

Head, exposed ends of secondary quills, and entire under-parts, light-cinereous, palest and nearly white on the tips of the secondaries. Back, wing-coverts, and rump dark lead-color; primaries and tail brownish-black, the latter with a tinge of bluish. Bill dark; tarsi and feet lighter.

Dimensions. Total length, female, about 15 inches; wing, 11 to 11½; tail, 6½ inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. Southern States; Texas (Mr. Audubon); South Carolina (Prof. Gibbes). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This bird is quite different from the South American I. plumbea, for which it has been mistaken by American naturalists; in fact, it is so little like it, that a comparison of specimens of the two species would render a suspicion of their identity quite impossible.

IV. GENUS ROSTRHAMUS. Lesson, Traité d’Orn., I. p. 55. (1831.)

Bill long, very slender, hooked, and sharp at the tip; wings long, pointed; tail rather long, emarginate; tarsi and toes rather long; claws very long, slender, acute. The present is the only species.

1. Rostrhamus sociabilis. (Vieill.) The Hooked-billed Hawk. Herpetotheres sociabilis. Vieill., Nouv. Dict., XVIII. p. 318. (1817.) Cymindis leucopygius. Spix, Av. Bras., I. p. 7. (1824.) Rostrhamus niger. Less., Traité, I. p. 56. (1831.) “Falco hamatus. Illiger.” Lesson, as above.

Temm., Pl. col. I. 61, 231; Spix, Av. Bras., I. pl. 2; Guerin, Mag. de Zool., 1834, pl. 20.

Adult. Tail at base, and under tail-coverts, white; all other parts black. Naked space before the eye yellow, which is also the color of the feet; bill and claws black. Tail usually tipped with pale-cinereous. Younger. Throat and line over and behind the eye yellowish-white; general plumage brownish-black, mixed with yellowish-white on the under-parts of the body. Young. Forehead—stripe behind the eye and throat reddish or ferruginous-white; upper-parts brown, many feathers edged with pale-ferruginous; under-parts yellowish, with longitudinal stripes of black; tail at tip and base, and under tail-coverts, yellowish-white. Legs yellowish-green.

Dimensions. Female—total length (of skin), 16 inches; wing, 14; tail, 7½ inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. Florida (Mr. Harris, Dr. Heermann). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This bird is remarkable for its slender and hooked bill, unlike that of any other Falcon. It is well known as a South American bird, and was first noticed in Florida by Mr. Edward Harris; subsequently by Dr. Heermann. Both these gentlemen having obtained specimens of young birds, it is probably a constant resident of that State.

V. GENUS CIRCUS. Lacepede, Mem. d’Inst., III. p. 506. (1803.)

STRIGICEPS. Bonap., Comp. List., p. 5. (1838.)

Size medium; head rather large; face partially encircled by a ring or ruff of short projecting feathers (as in the Owls). Bill rather short, compressed, curved from the base; nostrils large; wings long, pointed; tail long, wide; tarsi long and slender, compressed; toes moderate; claws long, rather slender. Embraces about fifteen species, of all parts of the world.

1. Circus hudsonius. (Linn.) The Marsh Hawk. The Harrier. Falco hudsonius. Linn., Syst. Nat., I. p. 128. (1766.) Falco uliginosus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 278. (1788.) Falco europogistus. Daudin, Traité, II. p. 110. (1800.) “Falco uliginosus.” Wilson, Am. Orn., VI. p. 67. “Falco cyaneus. Linn.” Aud., Orn. Biog., IV. p. 396.

Edw., Birds, VI. pl. 291; Vieill., Ois. d’Am., pl. 9; Wilson, Am. Orn., VI. pl. 51, fig. 2; Bonap., Am. Orn., II. pl. 12; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 356, oct. ed. I. pl. 26; Faun. Bor. Am., Birds, pl. 29; De Kay, Nat. Hist. N. Y. Orn., pl. 3, figs. 6, 7.

Form slender; tarsi long; ruff very distinct on the neck in front. Adult. Upper-parts, head, and breast, pale grayish-cinereous, generally more or less tinged with fuscous, and on the back of the head mixed with dark fulvous; upper tail-coverts white. Under-parts white, usually with many small cordate or hastate spots of light-ferruginous; quills brownish-black, with their outer webs tinged with ashy, and a large portion of their inner webs white; tail light-cinereous, nearly white on the inner webs of the feathers, and with obscure bands of brown; under-surface white; inferior wing-coverts white; secondaries tipped with dark-brown. Young. Entire upper-parts dark umber-brown, mixed with fulvous, and white on the occiput and neck behind; upper tail-coverts white. Tail reddish-brown, with about three broad bands of dark-fulvous, paler on their inner webs. Under-parts rufous, with stripes of brown on the breast and sides; tarsi and feet yellow. In younger birds, on the under-parts the brown stripes are more numerous.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 19½ to 21 inches; wing, 15½; tail, 10 inches. Male—total length, 16 to 18 inches; wing, about 14; tail 8½ to 9 inches.

Hab. All of North America; California (Col. M‘Call); Oregon (U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes); Cuba (M. de Sagra, M. Lembeye). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. Resembles to some extent the Circus cyaneus of Europe, but is easily distinguished from it by its colors and rather larger size. The adults and young of this species present great differences in color and general appearance.

V. SUB-FAMILY AQUILINÆ. THE EAGLES.

Size usually large. Bill large, compressed, straight at base, curved and acute at the tip; wings long, pointed; tail ample, generally rounded at the end; tarsi moderate or rather long, strong; toes long, strong; claws very strong, curved, acute. This sub-family includes about seventy species, of all countries.

I. GENUS AQUILA. Mœhring, Av. Gen. p. 49. (1752.)

Large, bill large, strong, compressed, and hooked at the tip; wing long, pointed, very strong; tarsi moderate, feathered to the base of the toes. Tail rather long, rounded or wedge-shaped; toes and claws long; the latter very sharp and curved. Contains about twenty species, which are regarded as the true Eagles.

1. Aquila chrysaetos. (Linn.) The Golden Eagle. The ring-tailed Eagle. Falco chrysaetos and fulvus. Linn., Syst. Nat., I. p. 125. (1766.) Falco canadensis. Linn., Syst. Nat., I. p. 125. (1766.) Aquila nobilis. Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As., I. p. 338. (1811.) Falco niger. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 259. (1788.)?

Edw., Birds, pl. 1; Brown, Ill., pl. 2; Buff. Pl. Enl. 409, 410; Wils. Am. Orn., pl. 55, fig. 1; Aud. B. of Am., pl. 181; oct. ed. 1, pl. 12.

Very large; tarsi densely feathered to the toes. Adult. Head above and behind and neck behind light-brownish fulvous, much varying in shade in different specimens. Base of the tail pure white, which color varies in extent in different specimens, but generally occupies the greater part of the tail; remaining portion glossy black. All other parts rich purplish-brown, very dark, and nearly black on the under-surface. Primary quills shining black, secondaries purplish-brown, with a violet tinge; tibia and tarsi brownish-fulvous, tinged with ashy; toes yellow. Younger. Entire plumage mixed with fulvous, and with the under-surface of the body paler.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 33 to 40 inches; wing, about 25; tail, about 15 inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. Whole of North America; Oregon (Dr. Townsend). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. We are not without doubts as to the specific identity of the American and the European Golden Eagles. All the American specimens that we have examined are smaller, the bill shorter, and the plumage much darker than those of Europe. We have not at present, however, a sufficient number of either continent, and it unfortunately happens that nearly all our European specimens are young birds, while the American are adults. Mr. Audubon’s plate represents this bird in nearly mature plumage.

II. GENUS HALIAETUS. Savigny, Hist. Nat. d’Egypt, I. p. 85. (1809.)

Size large; tarsi short, naked, or feathered for a short distance below the joint of the tibia and tarsi, and with the toes covered with scales. Bill large, strong, compressed; margin of upper mandible slightly festooned; wings rather long-pointed; tail moderate; toes rather long; claws very strong, curved, sharp. This genus contains about ten species of all parts of the world, all of which prey more or less on fishes, and are known as Fishing or Sea Eagles.

1. Haliaetus pelagicus. (Pallas.) The Northern Sea Eagle. Aquila pelagica. Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat., I. p. 343. (1811.) “Aquila marina. Steller, MSS.” Pallas as above. Falco imperator. Kittlitz., Kupf. Nat. Vog., pt. I. p. 3. (1832.) Falco leucopterus. Temm., Pl. col. 1. p. (no page.)

Kittlitz Kupf., pl. 2; Temm., Pl. col. I., pl. 489. Cassin. B. of California and Texas, I., pl. 6.

The largest of the Eagles. Wings rather shorter than usual in this genus; tail wedge-shaped, and composed of fourteen feathers. Adult. Large frontal space, greater wing-coverts, abdomen and tail white; all other parts of the plumage dark brown or brownish-black; bill and legs yellow. Younger. Tail white, more or less marked with brownish-black. All other parts brownish-black, lighter on the head and neck. Quills black, secondaries and tertiaries white at their bases; bill and feet yellow.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 3 feet 8 inches; wing, 2 feet 2 in.; tail, 1 foot 4 inches.

Hab. Russian-American Islands (Pallas); Japan (Temminck & Schegel). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This very large and powerful bird inhabits north-eastern Asia and the islands between that continent and America, and probably other parts of Russian-America. It is the largest of the Eagles, and appears to be related to the species immediately succeeding.

2. Haliaetus Washingtonii. (Aud.) The Washington Eagle. Falco Washingtonii. Aud. Orn. Biog., I. p. 58. (1831, plate pub. 1827) Falco Washingtoniana. Aud. Louden’s Mag., I. p. 115. (April, 1828)

Aud. B. of Am. pl. 11; oct. ed. I., pl. 13.

Large, “bill shortish, very deep, compressed; feet rather short, with the leg long; the tarsus short, rounded, anteriorly covered with transversely-narrow sentella, posteriorly with small tuberculous scales; feathers of the head, neck and breast narrow and pointed; wings long, second quill longest; tail of ordinary length, rounded, extending considerably beyond the tips of the wings, of twelve broad acute feathers.”

“Bill bluish-black, the edges pale, the soft margin towards the commissure, and the base of the under-mandible yellow; cere yellowish-brown; lore light greenish-blue; iris chestnut-brown; feet deep yellow; claws brownish-black; upper part of the head, hind neck, back, scapulars, rump, tail-coverts and posterior tibial feathers blackish-brown, glossed with a coppery tint; throat, fore-neck, breast and belly light brownish-yellow, each feather marked along the centre with blackish-brown; wing-coverts light grayish-brown, those next the body becoming darker and approaching the color of the back; primary quills dark-brown, deeper on their inner-webs; secondaries lighter, and on their outer-webs of nearly the same tint as their coverts; tail uniform dark-brown; anterior tibial feathers grayish-brown.”

Dimensions. “Length, 3 feet 7 inches; extent of wings, 10 feet 2 inches; bill, 3¼ inches along the back; along the gap which commences directly under the eye to the tip of the lower mandible, 3¼ and 1¾ deep; length of wing when folded, 32 inches; length of tail, 15 inches; tarsus, 4½; middle toe, 4¾; hind claw, 2½ inches.” Audubon as above.

Hab. Kentucky (Audubon); Western and Eastern? Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.?

Obs. The above description we regard as that of the young bird, and consider the adult as yet unknown. No specimen precisely corresponding to Mr. Audubon’s bird, has been obtained since its discovery, and it has latterly been looked upon by Naturalists, especially in Europe, as an unusually large specimen of the young white-headed Eagle. It is probably a western species, and would be readily recognized by the transverse scutellæ of the tarsi which are continued to the base of the toes.

3. Haliaetus albicilla. (Linn.) The Gray Sea Eagle. The European Sea Eagle. Vultur albicilla. Linn., Syst. Nat., I. p. 123. (1766.) Falco ossifraga et melanaetos. Linn., Syst. Nat., I. p. 124. (1766.) Haliaetus grœnlandicus. Brehm, Vog. Deuts., I. p. 16. (1831.)

Buff., Pl. Enl., 112, 415; Selby, Ill. Brit. Orn., pl. 3; Gould, B. of Eur., I. pl. 10.

Large, bill large, much hooked; wings long; tail moderate. Adult. Tail white; head and neck pale yellowish-brown, in some specimens very light; all other parts of the plumage dark umber-brown; quills nearly black; bill, feet and irides yellow. Younger. Bill brownish-black; irides brown; entire plumage dark-brown, with the tail mottled with white, much varying in extent; throat paler, and in some specimens nearly white.

Dimensions. Female—total length, about 3 feet to 40 inches; wing, 2 feet 3 inches; tail, 1 foot. Male—smaller.

Hab. Greenland (Fabricius, Holboll). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This Eagle, which is common in Europe, and breeds in cliffs on the sea-shore, we give as an inhabitant of Greenland. We have to say, however, that the only specimen from that country which we have ever seen, and which is a young bird, presents considerable variations from European specimens, and we consider it quite possible that Dr. Brehm is right in giving it specific distinction. The young of this bird resembles that of the succeeding species (H. leucocephalus), and the most readily-detected difference is its larger size and longer tarsi. The adults are, however, entirely dissimilar.

4. Haliaetus leucocephalus. (Linn.) The Bald Eagle. The White-headed Eagle. Falco leucocephalus. Linn., Syst. Nat., I. p. 124. (1766.) Falco pygargus. Daud., Traité, II. p. 62. (1800.) Falco ossifragus. Wilson, Am. Orn., VII. p. 16. (1813.)

Cat. Car., I. pl. 1; Buff., Pl. Enl., 411; Vieill., Ois. d’Am., Sept., I. pl. 3; Wils., Am. Orn., IV. pl. 36; VII. pl. 55; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 31, 126; oct. ed., I. pl. 14.

Large, but smaller than either of the preceding Eagles; bill large, strong, much hooked and sharp; wings long; tail moderate; tarsi rather short. Adult. Head, tail and its upper and under coverts white; entire other plumage brownish-black, in some specimens with the edges of the feathers paler; bill, feet and irides yellow. Younger. Entire plumage dark brown; throat paler; abdomen frequently with fulvous edgings on many feathers; bill brownish-black; iris brown; tail more or less mottled with white, which color in a more advanced stage extends over a large portion of the tail, especially on the inner webs of the feathers.

Dimensions. Female—total length, about 3 feet; wing, about 23 inches; tail, about 14 inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. All of North America; Oregon (Townsend); Florida (Bartram); Accidental in Europe. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This handsome bird, which has had the honor of being adopted as the emblem of the United States, inhabits the whole of North America. It is very easily recognized when adult, and the young is not readily mistaken for that of any other American species except the immediately preceding.

III. GENUS PANDION. Savigny, Nat. Hist. Egypt, I. p. 95. (1809.)

Bill short, curved from the base, hooked, compressed; wings very long; tarsi short, very thick and strong, and covered with small circular scales; claws large, curved very sharp; tail moderate. Contains about three or four species nearly allied, inhabiting various parts of the world.

1. Pandion carolinensis. (Gen.) The Fish Hawk. The Osprey. Falco carolinensis. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. 263. (1788.) Aquila piscatrix. Vieill., Ois. d’Am. Sept., I. p. 29. (1807.) Pandion americanus. Vieill., Gal., I. p. 33. (1825.)

Vieill., Ois. d’Am. Sept., I. pl. 4; Cat. Car., I. pl. 2; Wilson, Am. Orn., V. pl. 37; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 81; oct. ed., I. pl. 15; Nat. Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 8, fig. 18.

Legs, feet and claws very strong. Adult. Head and entire under-parts white; wide stripe through the eye downwards, longitudinal stripe on the top of the head and occiput and entire upper parts of the body, wings and tail, deep umber-brown, generally with the feathers more or less edged with lighter brown; tail with about eight bands of blackish-brown, and with the greater parts of the inner-webs of its feathers white; breast with numerous cordate and circular spots of pale yellowish-brown; bill and claws bluish-black; tarsi and toes greenish-yellow. Young. Similar to the adult, but with the upper plumage edged and tipped with pale-brownish, nearly white.

Dimensions. Female—total length (of skin), about 25 inches; wing, 21½; tail, 10½ inches. Male—smaller.

Hab. Throughout North America; Texas (Woodhouse); Oregon (U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. The American Osprey is very similar to that of the old continent (P. haliaetus), and specimens from Western America even more intimately resemble it. It is, however, larger, and retains in all the specimens that we have seen, differently-formed spots on the breast, being heart-shaped and circular, instead of narrow and lanceolate, as in the. European species. The Fish Hawk is abundant on the sea-coasts of the United States, and is one of the few rapacious birds of this country which are not molested.

IV. GENUS POLYBORUS. Vieillot, Analyse, p. 22. (1816.)

CARACARA. Cuvur. Reg. An., p. 316. (1817.)

Size smaller than the preceding; bill long, compressed, wide laterally; cere large; wings long, pointed; tail moderate, or rather long; tarsi long, rather slender, covered in front with large hexagonal and irregular scales, and laterally and horizontally with smaller; claws long, slightly curved, rather weak; space in front of and below the eye naked. Two species only form this genus, both of which are abundant birds of South and Central America.

1. Polyborus tharus. (Molina.) The Caracara Eagle. The Mexican Eagle. Falco tharus. Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. del Chili. (1782.) Falco cheriway. Jacquin, Beytr. Gesch. der Vogel, p. 17. (1784.) Falco brasiliensis. Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I. p. 262. (1788.) Falco plancus. Miller, Cimelia Physica. Polyborus vulgaris. Vieill., Nouv. Dict., V. p. 257. (1816.)

Jacq. Vog., pl. 4; Miller & Shaw, Cim. Phys., 2d ed., pl. 17; Vieill., Gal., I. pl. 7; Spix., B. of Bras., I. pl. 1, a; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 161; oct. ed., I. pl. 4; Swains. Zool. Ill., I. pl. 2; Gay’s Chili Orn., pl. 1.

Legs long; occipital feathers somewhat elongated. Adult. Head above, back, rump, wings, broad abdominal belt and tibiæ brownish-black; neck before and behind, sides of the head behind the eye, breast, upper and under tail-coverts yellowish-white; on the breast and neck behind finely barred transversely with black; tail for about two-thirds of its length white, with numerous narrow bars of black, and widely tipped with black; bill at base bluish; tip yellowish-white; tarsi and toes yellow. Younger. Head above dark-brown; other upper parts pale-brown, with paler edgings to many feathers; under-parts dark-brown, nearly all the feathers having longitudinal central stripes of dull white; throat yellowish-white; tail for the greater part and its coverts above and below white, with numerous transverse bands of pale ashy-brown, and tipped with brownish-black.

Dimensions. Female—total length (of skin), about 26 inches; wing, 17; tail, 10 inches. Male—larger?

Hab. Southern North America; Florida (Audubon); Texas; Mexico (McCall). Abundant in South America. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. The Caracara Eagle has been observed in Florida, and is an inhabitant also of Texas and Mexico. It walks on the ground with facility, and otherwise resembles the Vultures in its habits; and, like them, lives on dead animals for the greater part. The original edition of Molina, in which a scientific name is given to this bird for the first time since the adoption of the binomial nomenclature, we have not seen; but in his second edition, Preface, p. 1 (Bologna, 1810), it is stated to have been published in 1782. His name undoubtedly has priority.

We are inclined to the opinion that this bird, and several more or less nearly allied species of South America, belong properly to the family of Vultures;—of all the habits of which they partake. This opinion is supported somewhat by Molina’s statement, that of the present species the female is the smaller (2d ed., p. 221), as Humboldt and others have observed of the Condor, and as appears to be the case in the family of Vultures, but not in that of the Falcons.

V. GENUS MORPHNUS. Cuvier, Regne. Animal, I. p. 317. (1817.)
URUBITINGA. Less., Rev. Zool., 1839, p. 132.
SPIZOGERANUS. Kaup, Class., p. 120. (1844.)

Size medium; bill rather long, abruptly curved at the tip, which is acute; edges of upper mandible festooned; wings and tail long; legs long; tarsi and toes strong, the former with wide transverse scales in front; claws strong. A genus of American species, inhabiting the southern portion of the continent.

1. Morphnus unicinctus. (Temm.) Harris’ Buzzard. Falco unicinctus. Temm., Pl. col., I. p. (no page—livraison 53, about 1827.) “Falco anthracinus. Licht.” Gray, Genera, I. p. 27. Buteo Harrisii. Aud., Orn. Biog., V. p. 30. (1839.) Polyborus tæniurus. Tschudy, Wiegm. Archiv., X. p. 263. (1844.)

Temm., Pl. col., 313; Aud., B. of Am., pl. 392: oct. ed., I. pl. 5; Tschudy, Fauna Peruana Orn., pl. 1.

Legs long, and with the feet robust; wings rather short; tail long. Adult. Shoulders, wing-coverts and tibia chestnut-red or bay; other parts very dark umber-brown; upper and under tail-coverts white; tail white at its base, and tipped with white; middle portion presenting the appearance of a very wide band, dark brownish-black, with a reddish or violet tinge. Younger. Upper-parts umber-brown, much mixed with fulvous; shoulders chestnut-red, with dark-brown spots; quills dark-brown; secondaries tipped with yellowish-white; entire under-parts yellowish-white, many feathers on the breast, sides and abdomen, with large oblong and circular spots of brown; tibiæ yellowish-white, with transverse irregular lines of light brownish-red; upper and under tail-coverts white; tail brown, with many bands of a deeper shade of the same color, and with the inner-webs yellowish and reddish-white, and having many narrow bands of dark-brown; base and tip of the tail yellowish-white.

Dimensions. Female—total length, 22 to 24 inches; wing, 15; tail, 10 inches. Young male—total length, 20 inches; wing, 13; tail, 9½ inches.

Hab. Southern States; Mexico, abundant; Texas, frequent (Col. McCall); Mississippi, rare (Dr. Jenkins); Peru; Chili (Lieut. Gilliss); Chili, abundant (Gay, Fauna Chilena). Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. Col. McCall, who has seen this bird in large numbers in Texas, represents it as habitually frequenting the ground in the vicinity of water, and especially abundant on both sides of the Rio Grande. It is slow and heavy in flight, and a dull, sluggish bird in all its habits, partaking in these respects of the general characters of the Vultures.

The affinities of this species we regard at present as uncertain, and arrange it provisionally only in the present genus and sub-family, but by no means agreeing in our views with late European ornithologists.

The foregoing are all the birds of this family which can be regarded as well-established species inhabiting that portion of North America, within our prescribed limits.

Respecting their history, one of the most important questions to the naturalist is, the change of plumage from young to mature age, and another change which takes place in assuming their spring or summer and their winter liveries. The latter change is by no means well understood in many species, and to ascertain it completely in any one would yet be an interesting contribution to its history.

A few species are known only as of exceedingly rare occurrence in the United States, but the larger number are sufficiently numerous to be investigated without difficulty. Of the former, the Washington Eagle (Haliaetus Washingtonii), Harlan’s Buzzard (Buteo Harlani), the Black Hawk, the Rough-legged Hawk (Archibuteo sancti-johannis and lagopus,) and nearly all the Western species, may be regarded as particularly requiring further research.

In the winter season, various species resort to the sea-coast, and others to the margins of bays and rivers in considerable numbers. In the vicinity of the cities these have, however, greatly diminished since the introduction of steamboats and railroads. Steam-engines, and especially locomotives, are innovations for which the Eagles and Hawks evidently have no fancy. To the markets appropriated to the accommodation of farmers and traders from the rural districts in all the cities on the Atlantic seaboard, specimens are frequently brought for sale, a demand, reliable to some extent, having arisen from collectors and amateurs.

Occasionally an immense multitude of Hawks soaring high in the air, and in company, has been observed. This curious phenomenon has been seen by our friends, Professor Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington city; Dr. Hoy, of Racine, Wisconsin; and by ourselves. It occurs in autumn, and is probably incidental to migration; but its exact character and object is unknown, and involves an interesting inquiry. It is necessarily temporary, as the procuring of suitable food by such a large number of rapacious birds would be impossible.

In the western and northern regions of North America, the birds of this family are particularly worthy of the attention of the traveller and naturalist, and would undoubtedly well repay him in the discovery of unknown species. This is the case also in the States of Florida and Texas, to the latter of which, very probably, some of the many Mexican species are visitors, that have not yet been noticed.

In Oregon and Russian-America, there are also very probably species which have not been recognized as inhabitants of this continent, though well known as birds of Northern Asia, and others entirely unknown to naturalists.

B.

Doubtful and obscure species which have been described as inhabiting North America.

1. Falco americanus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 257. (1788.) The Black-cheeked Eagle. Pennant, Arctic Zoology, I. p. 227.

“With a dusky and blue-bill; yellow cere; head, neck and breast of a deep ash-color, each cheek marked with a broad black bar passing from the corner of the mouth beyond the eyes; back, belly, wings, and tail, black; legs yellow; feathered below the knees. Is about the size of the last (the Golden Eagle) North America,” (Pennant, as above.)

Of this bird, Gmelin gives a short abstract of Pennant’s description, and applies a scientific name. Naturalists relying solely on that abstract, have erroneously considered the species meant as the Golden Eagle (A. chrysaetus), and the name Falco americanus has accordingly been usually quoted as a synonyme. Though “feathered below the knees” is somewhat indefinite, yet, taken in connexion with “legs yellow,” it is clear that this cannot be the Golden Eagle, which has the tarsus densely feathered. There is no North American species known to which the original description applies.

2. Falco candidus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 258. (1788.) The Louisiana White Eagle. Lath., Syn., I. p. 36. Du Pratz, Hist. Louisiane, II. p. 109. Falco conciliator. Shaw, Gen. Zool. Aves., VII. p. 77. (1809.)

White; tips of the wings black. Smaller than the Golden Eagle.

This bird is represented by Du Pratz as held in high estimation by the aborigines of Louisiana, who used its feathers for ornamenting the calumet or symbol of peace. It may have been an albino of a known species, or distinct and now unknown. The description applies to a beautiful Mexican species, Buteo Ghiesbrectii (Dubus), which is about the size of the Red-tailed Hawk (B. borealis), and should it ever be observed in Louisiana, the question may be considered as settled.

3. Falco variegatus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 267. (1788.) The Speckled Buzzard. Lath., Syn., I. p. 97.

“Length more than 12 inches; in shape like our common buzzard. The bill is dusky; the whole head and neck as far as the shoulders whitish; the shaft of each feather blotched irregularly with rusty-brown; back and wing-coverts brown, several of the feathers, especially on the wing-coverts, are spotted with white; tail dark brown, crossed with several bars; but these are nearly obsolete, appearing on close inspection; the quills are very dark, almost black; the under parts from the breast are white; down the shaft of each feather is a blotch of brown; these marks spread out larger and broader as they proceed downwards to the belly; thighs pretty much the same; vent plain white; legs yellow; claws black. A fine specimen of this bird is in the Leverian Museum, which came from North America.” (Latham, as above.)

Generally cited as a synonyme for the Marsh Hawk, Circus hudsonius, with, as we think, but a small degree of propriety. It appears to us to be the young of either Buteo pennsylvanicus or Accipiter cooperii, or an unknown bird.

4. Falco albidus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 267. (1788.) The Buzzardet. Penn., Arct. Zool., I. p. 245.

“With dusky bill; head, cheeks, neck, breast and belly white, marked with large brown spots more sparingly dispersed over the breast and belly; lesser coverts brown; the others colored like the head; primaries dusky; thighs white, with small sagittal spots of brown; tail dusky, barred and tipped with white; legs yellow. Length, 15 inches. It has much the habit of the Buzzard, but the legs in proportion are rather longer. In the Leverian Museum. Except in the almost uniform color of the tail, Mr. Latham’s species, p. 97, No. 83, agrees with this (which is the preceding F. variegatus). North America.” (Pennant, as above.)

Probably the same as the preceding.

5. Falco obsoletus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 268. (1788.) The plain Falcon. Penn., Arct. Zool., I. p. 242.

“Bill black; head dusky; nape spotted with white; back and coverts of the wings and tail of an uniform deep brown; under-side of the neck, breast, belly and thighs deep brown, slightly spotted with white; primaries dusky; inner webs marked with great oval spots of white, mottled with brown; middle feathers of the tail plain brown; inner webs of the rest mottled with white; exterior webs and ends slightly edged with the same; legs strong; wing reaches near the length of the tail. Length, from bill to tail, 2 feet 1 inch. Inhabits Hudson’s Bay.” (Pennant, as above.)

We are acquainted with no bird to which this description and measurement apply.

6. Falco spadiceus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 273. (1788.) The Chocolate-colored Falcon. Penn., Arctic Zool., I. p. 234, pl. 9.

“With a short and black bill, and yellow cere. The whole plumage of a deep bay or chocolate color, in parts tinged with ferruginous; primaries black; the lower exterior sides of a pure white, forming a conspicuous spot or speculum; the wings reach to the end of the tail; the exterior sides of the five outermost feathers of the tail dusky; their inner sides blotched with black and white; the two middle black and cinereous; the legs and toes feathered, the last remarkably short. Length, 1 foot 10 inches. Inhabits Hudson’s Bay and Newfoundland. Preys much on ducks. Sits on a rock and watches their rising, when it instantly strikes at them.” (Pennant, as above.)

Regarded by authors as a synonyme for the Black Hawk (Archibuteo sancti-johannis), but the description suits better the Ferruginous Buzzard (A. ferrugineus). Neither of these has, however, the toes feathered, nor otherwise entirely agrees with the description. It may be an unknown species.

7. Falco obscurus. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 281. (1788.) The Dusky Falcon. Penn., Arct. Zool., I. p. 248.

“With a bluish bill; upper mandible armed with a sharp process; yellow cere; head, neck and coverts of the wings and tail dusky brown, slightly edged with ferruginous; hind part of the neck spotted with white; primaries dusky; inner webs marked with oval spots of a pale rust color; tail short, tipped with white, and barred with four broad dusky strokes, and the same number of narrow ones of white; the hind part of the head spotted with white; from the chin to the tail whitish, streaked downwards with distinct lines of black; legs deep yellow. Inferior in size to the last (F. dubius or fusca). Inhabits the province of New York.” (Pennant, as above.)

Cited by authors as a synonyme for the sharp-skinned Hawk (Accipiter fuscus), which seems to be erroneous, though correct enough if reference only be made to Gmelin’s compilation of Pennant’s description. The latter, as quoted above, and which is the original, appears to apply to Falco columbarius (Linn.), but not with sufficient accuracy to be without doubt, and we know of no bird at present inhabiting “the province of New York” that it entirely suits.

8. Aquila maculosa. Vieill., Ois d’Am. Sept., I. p. 28, pl. 3 bis. (1807.)

Upper part of the head, nape, neck, and mantle, black; eyebrow white, bordered by a black line from the eye; space between the bill and eye and cere blue, the former with scattered hairs; iris yellow; throat and breast white, every feather with a longitudinal central stripe of black; abdomen black, many feathers having circular spots of white; tibia and under tail-coverts ferruginous, with central spots of brownish; rump and upper tail-coverts white, with transverse stripes of black; quills and tail leaden gray above, light bluish-gray beneath; feet orange; claws blackish. Total length, about 25 inches; wing, 16; tail, 10 inches.

An excellent figure of this bird is given by Vieillot, as above, but which represents no species with which we are acquainted. In general appearance it resembles Phalcobænus carunculatus, Des Murs (Rev. et Mag. de Zool., April, 1853, p. 154), a South American species, of which specimens are in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy. Though given by Vieillot as a bird of North America (as above, and in Nouv. Dict., XXXII. p. 56), we suspect that he was mistaken.

9. Sparvius ardosiaceus. Vieill., Ency. Meth., III. p. 1274. (1823).

Body above, bluish slate color; beneath, ferruginous, with transverse white bands; chin white; bill bluish-black; feet orange; cere and edges of the mouth dull green; quills and tail brownish-black; eyebrows dull white; tail slightly forked. North America.

Possibly Accipiter fuscus, but we regard it as quite remarkable that Vieillot, at so late a date, should have again described that species, being undoubtedly well acquainted with North American birds. We recollect no bird which exactly suits this description.

10. Falco Bachmanii. Aud., Orn. Biog., V. p. 334. (1839, the date on the title-page of this volume is erroneously printed 1849.)

“I have several times seen in South Carolina a Hawk flying, equal in size to Falco lineatus, and remarkable for the great breadth of its wings. It was of a uniform brown color, excepting the tail, which was barred with white. The same bird has also been repeatedly observed by my friend, Dr. Bachman, who feels assured of its being distinct from any other Hawk hitherto found in North America.” (Audubon, as above.)

This is the entire and only description published and the species alluded to has never been identified, to our knowledge.

11. Milvus leucomelas. Rafinesque, Annals of Nature, part I. p. 4. (1820.)

“White, unspotted; top of head and part of the back, wings, tail, and bill, black; feet yellow. It is found in West Kentucky and Illinois; it feeds on fishes, and is therefore called Fishing Hawk. Size small, tail quite forked.” (Raf., as above.)

This is a puzzler. If any such bird exists, it has escaped late researches, though we very much suspect that Rafinesque ventured a description on reports, rather oddly confounding the Forked-tailed Hawk (Nauclerus) and the Osprey, or Fish Hawk (Pandion).

12. Aquila dicronyx. Rafinesque, Atlantic Journal, p. 63. (1832.)

The specimen described under this name was the same that is alluded to by Mr. Audubon in his article on the White-headed Eagle, in Orn. Biog., II. p. 163, as being kept in captivity in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and this description and its author he also alludes to. We mention this bird for the purpose of facilitating the student who may not have access to the works of Rafinesque, and for the purpose of pointing out a curious error into which Mr. Audubon and Dr. Harlan, as quoted by him, seem to have fallen, in regarding it as the White-headed or Bald Eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus). It is expressly stated by Rafinesque to have been brought from “near Buenos Ayres,” and was evidently, from his description, the Circaetus coronatus of South America. This name is therefore by no means to be cited as a synonyme for Haliaetus leucocephalus.

13. Falco doliatus. Shaw, Gen. Zool., Aves., VII. p. 77. (1809.)

“Length ten inches; bill violet; cere, irides, and legs, yellow; tail marked with whitish bars more apparent beneath than above; under tail-coverts and flanks brown, with two or three round white spots on each side of the shaft; thighs ferruginous, with black shafts. Inhabits Carolina, observed by Bosc.” (Shaw, as above.)

Probably the young of either Hypotriorchis columbarius or Accipiter fuscus, but quite impossible to identify from such a meagre description.

14. Falco glaucus. Bartram, Travels, p. 290. (1791.) Barton, Fragments of the Nat. Hist. of Penna., p. 11. (1799.)

“The sharp-winged hawk, of a pale sky-blue color, the top of the wings black.” (Bartram, as above.)

This insufficient description has been supposed to be intended for the adult of the Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius), but Barton (as above) applies it to the Nauclerus furcatus. It is probably one or the other.

15. Falco subceruleus. Bartram, Travels, p. 290. (1791.)

“The sharp-winged hawk, of a dark or dusky blue color.” (Bartram, as above.)

Impossible to identify, from its brevity. It may be either the Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis), the Fork-tailed Hawk (Nauclerus furcatus), or the adult Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius).

16. The following names have been given without descriptions, by the authors cited:—

Falco regalis. The great Gray Eagle. Bartram, Trav., p. 290. Barton, Frag. Nat. Hist. Penna., p. 11. Falco gallinarius. The Hen Hawk. Bartr. Trav., p. 290. Falco pullarius. The Chicken Hawk. Bartr. Trav., p. 290. Falco ranivorus. The Marsh Hawk. Bartr. Trav., p. 290. Falco piscatorius. The Fishing Eagle. Bartram, Trav., p. 290. Barton, Frag. Nat. Hist. Penna., p. 2, 17. Falco cæsius. The Blue Hawk. Ord., Zool. N. A., in Guthrie’s Geog, I. p. 315.

The above embrace all the names and descriptions of birds of this family that have come under our notice, except those of such as are now well ascertained to inhabit other countries exclusively, and for which nearly allied species of North America have been mistaken. Of the latter we may more particularly mention the European Falco rusticolus (Linn.), which is given by Fabricius as a bird of Greenland, but stated by Holboll to have been the young of F. anatum, and Buteo vulgaris and Hypotriorchis æsalon, both of which are also European species, and have never been found in America to our knowledge, though there are species which are nearly related to them.

The student may advantageously bear in mind that of those above, which were originally described by Pennant, in English, abstracts or compilations only, in Latin, are given by Gmelin in his edition of the Systema Natura of Linnæus. These abstracts are mostly very short, and not always to be relied on as conveying strictly the sense of the originals. Nor are they at all improved by Turton in his edition of Linnæus, in which, so far as relates to these species, he merely retranslates into English the Latin text of Gmelin without reference to Pennant. In the study of the obscure species alluded to, the original descriptions only can be consulted without risk of error.

Plate 16
The American Lanier
Falco polyagrus (Cassin)

FALCO POLYAGRUS.—Cassin.
The American Lanier Falcon.
PLATE XVI.—Male and Female.

The researches of late naturalists have tended to demonstrate that the animals of Western North America have a more intimate relationship with those of Asia and the old world generally than those of the Eastern portion of this continent. Nor is this affinity restricted, apparently, to any one class, or to such as might have migrated, but is found to exist in a greater or less degree in classes of animals, as that of reptiles, possessing powers of locomotion too limited to admit of such supposition. When, too, we have had our attention directed to the family of Sparrows and Finches, to the beautiful Jays and Magpies, or the various species of Grouse, Partridges, and many other families, we have been almost persuaded to entertain the opinion that the birds of Western America are of a higher grade of organization than those of the Atlantic States. Whether such is the case in other classes of animals, we are not prepared to say, but, if true, it is singularly accordant with the fact that, of the aboriginal American races of men, the West has produced the superior. And it is remarkable, too, that there are Western tribes which very intimately resemble the Mongolian variety of the human race, if they do not really belong to it; thus connecting themselves with the Chinese and Japanese, and other nations of Northern Asia.

The remarkable Falcon which we now have the pleasure of introducing to the reader, is one of the species that show close affinity to an Asiatic congener. It is so much like a common Falcon of India, a bird much used for the purposes of falconry, and known by the name of the Jugger, in the valley of the Indus and other parts of India (Falco jugger. Gray, Ill. of Indian Zoology, II. pl. 26, and Jerdon, Ill. Indian Orn., pl. 44), that it can scarcely be distinguished from it by any character, except size. It is in fact one of the most remarkable instances of close proximity to an Asiatic relative to be found in American birds. It is larger than the Indian Jugger, and more powerful and robustly organized.

Though trained for the chase, the Asiatic bird alluded to is not held in as high estimation as several others; the greatest favorites being the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), nearly related to the Duck Hawk of the Atlantic coast of America (F. anatum), and the Indian Goshawk (Astur palumbarius), which is also a relative of an American species. Falconry, though now little cultivated in Europe, is yet a much-pursued and favorite pastime in several countries of the East. In addition to the Hawks just mentioned, several others, a few of which are more or less nearly related to species of this country, are employed. Some of the smaller Hawks of India are so easily trained that they are set free at the close of a hunting season, the Falconer not considering them of sufficient value to induce him to keep them until another.

The home of the bird now before us, appears to be the mountainous regions of Oregon and California, from which it descends in the winter season to the lower districts, in the valleys of the rivers, and on the shores of the Pacific. In the former country, near the sources of the Platte river, the first specimen that we ever saw, was obtained by the late Dr. John K. Townsend during his trip across the continent in the year 1834, and in whose collection, now belonging to the Philadelphia Academy, it yet remains. Since that period it has been observed in the Rocky Mountains and on the Columbia river, by the naturalists attached to the United States Exploring Expedition, in the Vincennes and Peacock. In the fine zoological collection made by this expedition, is preserved the only female specimen, in the dark plumage, described below, yet known to have been brought to the attention of naturalists. In California, Dr. Heermann particularly noticed this bird, and his collection contains several specimens which he obtained in the plains near Sacramento city.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Falco. Linnæus, Syst. Nat., I. p. 124. (1766.)

General form compact and strong; bill strong, short, with a distinct and sharp tooth in the upper mandible; wings long, pointed; tail moderate, or rather long; tarsi short, robust; toes long, claws large, curved, sharp; tarsi covered with hexagonal or circular scales. A genus of birds remarkable for their courage and very rapid flight, species of which are found in all countries.

Falco polyagrus. Cassin, Birds of California and Texas, I. p. 88. (1853.)

Form robust; wings rather long, second and third quills longest, and nearly equal; tail rather long; bill short, rather wide at base; tooth in the upper mandible prominent.

Dimensions. Female. Total length of skin, about 20 inches; wing, 14; tail, 8 inches.

Colors. Female nearly adult. Narrow frontal band, line over the eye, and entire under parts white; narrow stripe from the corner of the mouth running downwards, dark brown; some feathers on the breast, and abdomen with longitudinal stripes and spots of brown, which color forms a large and conspicuous spot on the flank. Entire upper parts brown, paler on the rump, many feathers with rufous edgings; tail above pale grayish-brown, with transverse bars of white, and narrowly tipped with white; quills dark grayish-brown, with numerous bars of white On their inner-webs; under wing-coverts dark brown; edge of the wing at the shoulder and below, white, spotted with brown. The brown of the back extending somewhat on to the breast at the wing. Bill, bluish horn color, under mandible yellow at its base. Large space around the eye, bare, with a narrow edging of brown on the first plumage by which it is encircled.

Younger female. Entire plumage above and below, brownish-black; throat white; many feathers on the under parts with edgings and circular spots of white; under wing-coverts also with circular spots of white, and the under tail-coverts with wide transverse stripes of the same.

Young male? Frontal band nearly obsolete; entire upper parts uniform pale brown, with narrow rufous stripes on the head; under parts white, with a tinge of fulvous, and nearly every feather with a narrow longitudinal stripe of blackish-brown; large spaces on the flanks, brown; tarsi and feet, lead-colored.

Hab. Oregon and California. Spec. in Nat. Mus., Washington; and Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This is the only American Falcon yet discovered, which belongs to the group forming the sub-genus Gennaia, Kaup., which contains Falco laniarius, Linn., (Gould, B. of Eur., I. pl 20); Falco biarmiaus, Temm., (Pl. col., 324); Falco jugger, Gray, and several other species. It especially resembles the last, but is larger, and we are at present of opinion that the young of the two species differ in the colors of their plumage.

PIPILO FUSCA.—Swainson.
The Cañon Finch.
PLATE XVII.—Adult Male.

This plain-plumaged and sober-looking bird is another of the feathered inhabitants of the mountainous wilds of California and New Mexico. Numerous specimens have been brought in the various collections which have been made in those countries, and it may be regarded as one of the most abundant of the peculiar species of Western America.

It was first described, however, by Mr. Swainson, from Mexican specimens.

Our friend, T. Charlton Henry, M. D., of the United States Army, a zealous and talented young naturalist, who has been for some years in New Mexico, has noticed this bird at all seasons in that country. For much valuable and satisfactory information relating to the birds to be included in the present work, we are indebted to this gentleman, amongst whose notes in our possession we find the following, relating to the species now before the reader:—

“This bird is common in New Mexico during both summer and winter, and so far as I have observed, lives almost entirely in the mountains. It is very retiring in its habits, and seems to prefer the cañons; indeed, I have seldom observed it far from some shady gorge, where, like its relative of the Eastern States, the Towhe-Bunting (Pipilo erythropthalma), it passes the greater part of its time on the ground, and is generally accompanied by its congener, the Arctic Ground Finch (Pipilo arctica). When disturbed, it seeks the thickest cover, though it is by no means shy nor difficult to approach. Its nest is usually constructed in the thick branches of a cedar or dwarf oak, and I am not aware of its producing more than a single brood in a season.

“The only note that I have ever heard this bird utter, is a simple chirp, somewhat resembling that of the Fox Sparrow (F. iliaca), but more subdued. It is usually to be met with in pairs, at all seasons.”

Col. McCall observed this bird to be abundant also in California, and with his usual kindness, has furnished a notice of it for our present article.

“The habitat of this species, I am inclined to believe, extends throughout California, as I met with it from the upper waters of the Sacramento river to the mouth of the Gila, the former having its origin in the north, the latter debouching at the extreme southern boundary of the State; yet, it is by far the most abundant from Santa Barbara southwardly.

Plate 17
The Cañon Finch
Pipilo fusca (Swainson)

“The habits and manners of this species differ somewhat from those of its relatives, the Towhe and the Arctic Finch (P. erythropthalmus, and P. arctica). Its flight is more even and regular, as it is without that violent jerking of the tail from side to side which gives such singularity and appearance of awkwardness to the movements of the Towhe. It is also less shy and suspicious than the Arctic Finch, which I occasionally met with in the same regions. The latter I had previously observed with attention in New Mexico, where I procured specimens; and all my observations lead me to pronounce the present species less decidedly a Ground Finch than either of the others, although all are doubtless closely allied.

“The favorite abode of this species appeared to be the vicinity of water-courses, where it was generally seen singly or in pairs, though I have at times surprised eight or ten together, under the shade of a large bush, at noon in a summer-day; and at such times I had no difficulty in procuring, with my gun, three or four specimens before the party was dispersed. In fact, it appeared at all times a familiar bird, boldly coming into the roads to feed, and permitting the close approach of a person either mounted or on foot. If compelled to retreat, it darted suddenly into the thicket, but returned again as soon as the cause of alarm had disappeared. Near Santa Barbara, in the month of July, I found thirty or forty of these birds dispersed over an old field of some five acres in extent, lying contiguous to the sea-beach, and through which a small stream of fresh water trickled as it crept silently away to the sea. Here they were feeding on the ground, sheltered by a rank growth of weeds; and when I flushed one of them as I walked along, he almost invariably flew into a neighboring tree, instead of seeking shelter again in the weeds at a little distance.

“At this time, the birds of the year were fully fledged, and scarcely differed in the color of their plumage from the adults. The rufous tints of the head, the wing-coverts, and the lower parts generally, being only rather more bright and distinct in the old birds than in the others.”

The collections made in California by both Mr. Bell and Dr. Heermann, contained many fine specimens of this species. According to the latter (in Journal of the Philadelphia Academy, quarto, II. p. 267), it builds its nest always in a bush or tree, in which respect it differs from the Arctic Ground Finch (Pipilo arctica), another Western species, which builds on the ground, and from others of the same genus, in this respect confirming the observation of Dr. Henry, as given in a preceding page. Dr. Heermann’s observations possess an especial interest, from his having so carefully stated the peculiarities of the construction of the nests and other facts relating to the nidification of many species. He says, respecting the present bird: “I found one nest built in a grape-vine, overhanging the Sacramento river, and all that I have seen were placed in the immediate vicinity of water. The nest is composed of coarse twigs and grasses, and lined with fine roots. The eggs, four in number, are of a pale blue color, dashed with black spots, and interspersed with a few faint neutral tint blotches, which are more abundant at the larger end.”

The name Cañon Finch we have taken the liberty of adopting from Dr. Henry’s manuscript notes in our possession: it was very appropriately given by him with reference to the localities which he has observed to be the favorite haunts of this bird in the mountains of the Far West.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Pipilo. Vieillot, Analyse, p. 32. (1816.)

Form lengthened, but rather robust; bill short, conical, strong; wings short, rounded, the fourth primary usually longest, but little longer than the third and fifth; tail long, wide, much rounded at the end; tarsi and toes strong, compressed. An American genus, comprising several species of both divisions of this continent.

Pipilo fusca. Swainson. Philos. Mag., 1827, p. 434.

Form large for this genus; bill rather longer than in other species; tail long, and composed of broad feathers.

Dimensions. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail, about 9 inches; wing, 4⅛; tail, 4⅝ inches.

Colors. Entire upper parts olive-brown, with a rufous tinge on the head, and ashy on the scapulars and wing-coverts. Nares, circle around the eye and throat, pale rufous; the latter spotted with black. Breast, sides, and flanks, cinereous; middle of the abdomen white, with a tinge of fulvous; under tail-coverts bright fulvous. Quills and tail-feathers brown, the former edged exteriorly with ashy, the latter with olive. Bill and feet light. Sexes very nearly alike.

Hab. California and New Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. This bird resembles no other species of its genus, except Pipilo Aberti, Baird, (Stansbury’s Report of a Survey of the Valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah, Zoology, p. 325, 1852). From this it differs in the color of the throat, that of the latter being uniform with the other inferior parts of the body, and in other characters.

The figure in our plate represents the adult male about two-thirds of the natural size.

Plate 18
The Scarlet-crowned Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubineus (Boddaert)

PYROCEPHALUS RUBINEUS.—Boddaert.
The Scarlet-crowned Flycatcher.
PLATE XVIII.—Adult and Young Males.

This bright-plumaged little bird is a summer visitor to Texas and New Mexico, in which countries it rears its young, and appears to be an inhabitant also not only of Mexico, but of nearly the whole of Central and South America. It has been long known as a bird of the last-named division of this continent, though but recently ascertained to be a resident within the limits of the United States, having been first observed in Texas by Captain J. P. McCown, of the United States Army, in 1850, and announced as an addition to the ornithology of North America, by Mr. Lawrence, in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, V. p. 115. In some interesting notes on the birds of Texas, by Capt. McCown, published in the same journal, VI. p. 12, we find the following in reference to the present species:

“This beautiful little Flycatcher is seldom seen. I did not notice over a dozen of them while in Western Texas. I always found them near the ponds along the Rio Grande, and generally on a tree or stake near the water. The only nest I ever found was built upon a retama (a variety of acacia), over the water, and I was not able to procure it. The female is quite a plain bird.”

Our friend, Lieut. D. N. Couch, one of the several officers of the Army who have greatly contributed to the knowledge of the Natural History of little-explored portions of this country, and the results of whose observations have most generously been placed at our disposal, met with this bird in small numbers in Northern Mexico. From many valuable papers, which will add much to the interest of the present work, and for which we are indebted to this gentleman, we make the following extract:

“This bird was first seen at Charco Escondido, in Tamaulipas, on the tenth of March. The male had evidently preceded the female in his arrival, as the latter was not observed until several weeks afterwards. Early in the morning, and again about sunset, he came to the artificial lake that is constructed here for the supplying of water to the inhabitants, and appeared to be of a very quiet and inoffensive disposition, usually sitting on the upper branches of the trees, occasionally uttering a low chirp. Subsequently, it was met with in Nueva Leon, though I had little opportunity of observing its habits. It appeared, however, to be in some respects similar in its manners to the smaller species of the Northern Flycatchers.”

Dr. Henry has also met with the present bird in the vicinity of Fort Webster, New Mexico. He represents it, however, as of exceedingly rare occurrence, so far as he has observed, and fully confirms the statements given above, respecting its partiality for the neighborhood of water. His first specimen, a male in full plumage, was obtained on the Rio Miembres, near Fort Webster, in the month of March, 1853.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Pyrocephalus. Gould, Zool. Voy. Beagle, Birds, p. 44. (1841.)

General form compact and rather heavy; bill depressed, wide at base, rather long, acute, with an indentation near the tip of the upper mandible, and with several pairs of bristles at its base; wing long, the second and third quills longest, and nearly equal; tail ample, wide; tarsi rather long, slender; toes moderate or short. The species generally have the feathers of the head above lengthened and crest-like, and with other parts of the plumage of a fine scarlet color. An American genus of Flycatchers inhabiting the southern portion of the northern and nearly the whole of the southern division of this continent.

Pyrocephalus rubineus. (Boddaert.) Muscicapa rubineus. Bodd., Tab. dez Pl. Enl. Buff., p. 42. (1783.) Muscicapa coronata. Gm., Syst. Nat., II. p. 932. (1788.)

Form. Head above, from the base of the bill to the occiput, with long crest-like feathers. General form rather broad and robust; wings and tail long; legs slender.

Dimensions. Male. Total length (of skin), about 5½ inches; wing, 3¼; tail, 2½ inches.

Colors. Adult Male. Long feathers of the head above, and entire under parts, fine scarlet; brightest on the top of the head, palest on the under tail-coverts. Upper parts of the body, line from behind the eye, wings and tail, sepia brown; bill and feet dark. Under wing-coverts frequently edged and tipped with pale red.

Female. Entire upper parts plain sepia brown; under parts yellowish-white, with a few longitudinal lines of brown.

Young Male. Similar to the female, but with the flanks tinged with pale red.

Hab. Texas and New Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. On comparison of our specimens from Texas with others from various parts of South America, we cannot at present find differences sufficient to induce us to regard them in any other light than as one species. The present is the first bird of its genus which has been observed within the limits of the United States.

The sexes of this species are quite unlike each other, the female having none of the brilliant color of her companion.

The figures in our plate represent the adult and young males about two-thirds of the natural size.

Plate 19
The Blue Partridge
Callipepla squamata (Vigors)

CALLIPEPLA SQUAMATA.—(Vigors.)
The Blue Partridge. The Scaly Partridge.
PLATE XIX.—Male and Female.

This is another of the fine game birds that inhabit the countries on the southwestern frontier of the United States, and the adjoining regions of Mexico. Though not presenting such gay colors in its plumage as the two other Partridges which we have previously figured in the present work, it is by no means destitute of claim to respect in personal appearance, and in gracefulness and delicacy of form is not at all their inferior. We have always particularly admired its ample and curious crest, which is possessed by both male and female, and, though admitting of being flattened so as to lie close on the head, is usually to be seen erect, and gives it an air unusually spirited and striking. It is remarkable for great swiftness in running, and is more of an insect-eater than is usual in this family of birds. It is abundant in Texas and New Mexico.

Specimens of this bird had reached Europe as early as 1830, in which year it was first brought to the notice of naturalists by Mr. Vigors, one of the founders of the Zoological Society of London, and one of the most profound naturalists of the only school of systematic Zoology, the Circularian and Quinarian, which Anglo-Saxon mind has yet produced, a consideration one would think not slightly to be regarded. His description is in the Zoological Journal, V. p. 275. It has, however, always, until within a few years, been of great rarity in collections, and nothing was known of its history or habits until the publication of the valuable contributions to Natural History which have been made by officers of the Army of the United States.

The Blue Partridge was first noticed within the territory of the United States, by Lieut. J. W. Abert, a son of the distinguished officer who presides over the Topographical Department of the Army. In Lieut. Abert’s very able and valuable “Report of an examination of New Mexico in the years 1846-7,” made as an officer of Topographical Engineers, and which, besides its great military and geographical usefulness, contains much information relating to the natural history of that country, we find several notices of this bird, one of which, occurring under date of twelfth of November, 1846 (p. 497), we take the liberty of transferring to our pages:—

“After passing through the little town of Las Canas, we encountered another hill of sand, very difficult of ascent, and after we reached the top, we commenced the descent through a crooked ravine that was strewed with fragments of rocks. On the way, we saw several flocks of crested quails, which were running along with great rapidity among the clumps of the Kreosote plant (Larrea mexicana). We procured one of them; at the report of the gun, only three or four rose up; they seemed to depend more on their fleetness of foot than swiftness of wing. This bird proved to be the Ortyx squamata. The size, contour, and general character, greatly resemble the common quail (O. virginiana); the plumage is of soft, silvery gray, the iris hazel, and the crest fringed with white. On opening the stomach, I found it filled with grass seeds and insects of the order Hemiptera.” This is the earliest record of this bird having been observed within the limits of the United States; subsequently, it has been noticed by others.

Capt. S. G. French, of the United States Army, to whom we are indebted for fine specimens of this and other birds of Western America, has also favored us with the following note:—

“It was in 1846 that I first met with this bird near Camargo, on the Rio Grande. At Monterey, none were to be found; but on the plains at Agua Nueva, a few miles south of Saltillo, I observed them in considerable numbers.

“Since then, I have met with them occasionally on the Upper Rio Grande, in the vicinity of El Paso, and some seventy miles down the river from that place. They inhabit the same section of country with Gambel’s Partridge, though I have never seen them associated together in the same covey. Their favorite resorts are the sandy chaparral and mesquite bushes, through which they run with great swiftness, resorting to the wing only when suddenly alarmed by finding themselves too nearly approached.

“They appear to be very shy, and but seldom are found near habitations, though I once saw a large covey run through my camp in the suburbs of El Paso.

“The bird that I sent you was killed on the Rio Grande, below El Paso, in July last (1852).”

Col. McCall, in his “Remarks on the habits, &c., of birds met with in Western Texas,” in Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, V. p. 222, thus alludes to the Blue Partridge:—

“This species I have met with, at different times, throughout a more extended region than either of the former (the Massena Partridge and Gambel’s Partridge), viz.: from Camargo on the lower Rio Grande, to Santa Fé. On the present occasion, they were more numerous between the latter point and Don Ana than elsewhere. They seem to prefer the vicinity of the greater water-courses to interior tracts. They are much more wild than either of the preceding, and being extremely watchful and swift of foot, they elude pursuit with surprising skill, scarcely resorting to flight even in comparatively open, sandy ground. They do not approach the settlements as much as the last.

“For the table, all these species, however, possess in a high degree the requisites of plump muscle and delicate flavour. Massena is, perhaps, the best.”

The following more extended and beautiful sketch, referring to this Partridge, has been very kindly furnished by the same gentleman (Col. McCall), for our present article:—

“The habitat of this species, as I have remarked elsewhere, embraces an extensive region, the limits of which, though not yet positively defined with any degree of accuracy, may, at least with reference to our own territory, be asserted to lie principally within the valley of the Rio Grande or Rio del Norte of Mexico. This valley, although comparatively narrow, contains a country of great extent from north to south; and embraces, in its stretch between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico,—every variety of climate, from the extreme of cold to that of tropical heat. This entire region, not even excepting the narrow mountain-valleys, covered in winter with deep snows, is inhabited by the species under consideration. I have met with it on the Rio Grande and its affluents, from the 25th to the 38th degree of north latitude—that is to say, from below Monterey, in Mexico, along the borders of the San Juan river to its junction with the Rio Grande; and at different points on the latter as high up as the Taos and other northern branches, which gush from the mountain sides. I have also found it, though less frequently, near the head of the Riado creek, which likewise rises in the Rocky Mountains and flows eastwardly to the Canadian; further north than this my examinations did not extend.

“Now, as the Partridge, wherever found, is always resident, there is in the extensive distribution above noted, good proof of a hardiness of constitution possessed by no other species of American Partridge, except the common or Virginia Partridge; for no other species has been found in regions as cold and inhospitable as those I have named. Again, arguing from analogy, if the plainer plumage is always found in birds inhabiting more northern latitudes, my opinion is strengthened when I look upon the plain and sober hues of the Blue Partridge as contrasted with the bright and more decided colors of the Massena, California, and Gambel’s Partridges, all of which prefer the milder regions, and shun those of snow.

“The habits, moreover, of this species are more like those of the common Partridge than either of the others. I have shot these birds over a pointer dog, and at times found them to lie sufficiently close to afford good sport; this, however, it must be admitted, was not often the case, and never, unless the cover was remarkably good; for, in general, they are vigilant and wild, making their escape by running on the first approach of danger. In swiftness of foot none of the family can compete with them. When running, they keep the body erect and hold the head high; and in this attitude they seem fairly to skim over the surface of the ground. On such occasions the white plume is erected and spread out like a fan, or rather like an old fashioned chapeau de bras, worn fore and aft: this gives them a trim, jaunty air, that is peculiarly pleasing and attractive. I remember once being particularly struck with the beautiful appearance thus presented by a large covey that I came upon suddenly in open sandy ground. It was in the month of February, just at sunrise; I was half asleep on my horse, and thoroughly benumbed with cold (having been in the saddle since two hours before daybreak, in order to reach Eagle Spring by breakfast time), when a sudden start of my horse roused me into wakefulness. On looking up, I beheld about twenty of these birds in the trail a few yards in advance. Contrary to their usual manner, they were strutting along, or rather slowly walking away; and with their white chapeaux spread out to the full extent, they glanced over their shoulders and clucked to each other as if uncertain whether danger threatened or not. I drew up my horse and looked on with delight, until the little fellows finally took to their heels and swiftly glided away to the nearest cover. This little incident having restored me to full consciousness, I cast my eyes around, and never shall I forget the sublime prospect that then burst upon my enchanted gaze.

“A more glorious, a more heavenly dawn of day than this, it is impossible to conceive! The heavy dew of the preceding night has been congealed, and the whole country is white with frost. The rising sun casts his broad beams over the vast plain, and in an instant its surface is brilliant with sparkling crystals.

“The abrupt and isolated peaks, whose soft parts the frosts and storms of past ages have loosened and swept away, seem in the distance to rear still higher their lofty summits, now crowned with glittering diadems. On all sides, to the farthest extent of my powers of vision, the varied prospect is open to my view—hereaway, strongly defined, I behold the bold outline of the Apache mountains; yonder, I regard, with admiration growing as I gaze, the countless undulations of the prairie, each as it succeeds the other diminishing in the distance until the last faint wave is blended with the blue horizon. Still admiring as I turn, I find my horse at last fairly faced about; and now another view, the grandest, the strangest of all, is presented to my almost bewildered senses. It is the mirage! Wonderful illusion, cruel mockery—how often hast thou deceived the famished wanderer of the plains with the semblance of water; leading him on farther and farther, and leaving him at last sinking and exhausted in the midst of the desert!

“Behold! I clearly see a broad lake of bright water, with noble trees growing on either hand; and nothing but the positive knowledge that this counterfeit lake lies directly across the road over which I have just passed, and the perfect certainty under which I rest, from actual examination, that neither wood nor water is to be found in that direction within thirty miles, can persuade me that what I now look upon is not real! But I will return from this digression—yet, if this page ever meets the eyes of my two companions on that expedition (Lieutenants B—— and M——, of the 3d), they will remember the glorious sunrise, the mirage, and finally, the covey of Partridges to which I have here alluded.

“This species is found farther to the south on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande than on our own, owing probably to the rugged character of the country there, for I never met with it anywhere in low grounds. The first appearance it makes in Texas is a little above Rhinosa, on the first highlands on this side encountered in ascending the river from its mouth. Thence up to the Rocky Mountains, the birds of this species may be considered denizens of the United States, being about equally distributed on both sides of the great river.”

In a paper in the “Registro Trimestre,” I. p. 144 (Mexico, 1832), Don Pablo de la Llave, an able Mexican naturalist, gives a description of this bird, and names it Tetrao cristata. He had kept it, with other species, in captivity, and of his notice of it we give the following translation: “The second species is considerably smaller than the preceding,” (Tetrao marmorata, Llave, which is Ortyx macroura, Jardine and Selby). “It has on its head a crest of feathers very erect and soft, bill black, the neck moderate, body elongated, much compressed, feet robust, gray or blackish, small, and have, more than in Tetrao, the appearance of the Larks or Buntings. It is almost entirely of a lead color, with the feathers of the breast speckled with black, and those of the sides with many longitudinal bands of white. Its voice is very much varied, and that of the male is loud, sounding like a castanet, at the same time raising and depressing its head.

“I have not observed in this bird any courage;—it is very timid; all its movements are rapid, and notwithstanding that I have fed my specimens for a long time, every day they become more wild and intractable.

“It inhabits the Mezquite regions in Northern Mexico.”

The contents of the stomachs of Capt. French’s specimens were hemipterous insects, some of which were very minute, with a few seeds and pods.

Our plate represents the male and female, which are nearly alike in plumage, about two-thirds of the size of life.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Callipepla. Wagler in Isis, 1832, p. 277. Callipepla squamata. (Vigors.) Ortyx squamatus. Vig. Zool. Jour., V. p. 275. (1830.) Callipepla strenua. Wagler, Isis, XXV. p. 278. (1832.) Tetrao cristata. Llave, Registro Trimestre, I. p. 144. (1832.)

Form. Robust, body compressed; head with long, erectile, crest-like feathers; bill rather strong, curved; wings short, with the fourth quill slightly longest, tertiaries long; tail rather long, ample, rounded; legs and feet moderate; tongue pointed, very acute at the tip; nostrils large.

Dimensions. Total length of skins, 8½ to 9 inches; of specimens in spirits (from Capt. French), 10 inches; wing, 4½; tail 3¼ inches.

Colors. Head light yellowish cinereous, with a tinge of brown; feathers of the crest broadly tipped with white. All other parts of the plumage light bluish ash color, paler on the under parts and nearly white on the abdomen; nearly every feather of the under parts and of a wide ring around the back of the neck, with a central arrow-head, of brownish black, and with a narrow but very distinct edging of the same. Flanks with longitudinal central stripes, and in some specimens with circular spots of white. Middle of the abdomen frequently with a large spot of pale chestnut; under tail-coverts nearly white, with longitudinal stripes of dark ash and brown. Quills light ashy-brown; shorter tertiaries frequently edged with yellowish-white on their inner webs; bill, black; irides, hazel; tarsi, brownish lead-colored. The width of the white tips of the feathers of the crest varies in different specimens. Sexes very nearly alike; female slightly paler, and not so fully crested.

Hab. Texas and New Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Nat. Mus., Washington.

Obs. This species does not resemble any other at present known, and is therefore easily recognized. It is the type of Wagler’s genus Callipepla, in which are also arranged the California Partridge and Gambel’s Partridge.

Plate 20
The Brown-headed Finch
Ammodromus ruficeps (Cassin)

AMMODROMUS RUFICEPS.—Cassin.
The Western Swamp Sparrow.
PLATE XX.—Adult Male.

The only information that we can present to the reader respecting the bird now before him, is, that specimens were brought from California in the collections made by Mr. Bell and Dr. Heermann. It appears to have been overlooked by all other naturalists,—a circumstance probably not to be attributed to its rarity in its native country, so much as to the character of the localities in which it lives during the greater part of the year, in common with other species of the same family.

The little birds of the group to which this species belongs, of which there are several, are all of humble and unpretending appearance, and live in the vicinity of the shores of the ocean and the margins of streams of fresh water, and hence have been designated Swamp Sparrows. The flats, or other low and level tracts, overgrown with reedy or sedgy vegetation, in the vicinity of the sea-shore, are the favorite resorts of two or three species throughout a large portion of the entire extent of the Atlantic coast of the United States; while somewhat similar localities along rivers or smaller streams, or even swamps and marshes in the interior, afford appropriate habitations for others. In these they subsist mainly on seeds of grasses and such other plants as usually abound in those situations, and occasionally on insects. The Swamp Sparrow, first described by the celebrated ornithologist, Wilson (Ammodromus palustris), is the best known of these birds, and is abundant in all suitable localities, during the summer season, throughout the greater part of the older States of the Union. In winter, it migrates southward, and is found in large numbers along the Mississippi river in the south, and other streams in the southern States. The Swamp Sparrows have no song, other than a few rather remarkable and not unmusical notes.

Dr. Heermann remarks of this bird: “In the fall of 1851, I met with a single specimen of this bird, in company with a flock of Sparrows of various kinds. In the spring of 1852, I found it quite abundant on the Calaveras river, where I procured several specimens. Its flight appeared feeble, and when raised from the ground, from which it would not start until almost trodden upon, it would fly a short distance, and immediately drop again into the grass. Its notes are a ditty, resembling that of our Chipping Sparrow (E. socialis), and were heard towards the spring season.”

In our plate this bird is represented of the size of life.

The plant is a western species of Ipomea, which was raised from the seed by our esteemed friend, Mr. Robert Kilvington, of Philadelphia, to whose kindness we are indebted for the privilege of figuring it and other plants for the plates of the present work.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Ammodromus. Swainson, Zoological Journal, III. p. 348. (1827.)

Size small; bill lengthened, pointed; tip of upper mandible slightly curved downwards; wings very short; the first primary shorter than the succeeding four or five, which are nearly equal; tail moderate, or rather long, with its feathers narrow; tarsi and toes rather long, slender. An American genus, containing six or seven species.

Ammodromus ruficeps. Cassin, Proc. Acad., Philada., VI. p. 184. (Oct., 1852.)

Form. Bill shorter than usual in this genus; wings short, rounded; tail long; tarsi lengthened, slender.

Dimensions. Total length of skin, about 5¾ inches; wing, 2½; tail, 2¾ inches.

Colors. Head above chestnut-brown, which is also the prevailing color of the back and rump, the feathers of both the latter edged with pale cinereous, tinged with olive. Spot in front of the eye white, forming a partial superciliary line. A narrow stripe of black from each side of the lower mandible running downwards, above which is a stripe of white; intermediate space on throat nearly white; other under parts pale ashy, with a tinge of olive; quills brown; primaries edged externally with ashy; secondaries with pale chestnut-brown; tail reddish-brown, with crimped obscure transverse lines; bill dusky horn-color; feet pale.

Hab. California. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.

Obs. Resembles in some measure A. palustris, but can be easily distinguished. It appears to be restricted to California, not having been observed in New Mexico or Texas. Ammodramus is the original orthography of the name of this genus given by Swainson as cited above, but that here given is universally adopted, and is much the most usual in generic names of similar derivation.

Plate 21
The Black-headed Oriole
Icterus melanocephalus (Wagler)

ICTERUS MELANOCEPHALUS.—(Wagler.)
The Black-headed Oriole.
PLATE XXI.—Adult Male.

Again we portray an inhabitant of the land of the Mesquite and Mimosa. This handsome, though plain Oriole, when compared with some of its brilliant relatives of the same countries, is found throughout nearly the whole of Mexico, and extends its range northwardly into Texas and New Mexico. Mr. Pease, who accompanied the Army of the United States under General Scott, in Mexico, in 1847, observed it at Jalapa, and in the neighborhood of the city of Mexico, in considerable numbers.

As a bird of Texas, this species was first brought to notice by Mr. Jacob P. Giraud, Jr., of New York, who received it in a collection of birds from that State, in 1834, and published a description of it in his “New Species of North American Birds,” p. 1 (1841). Since that time it has been found within the limits of the United States by several naturalists, but especially by Mr. John H. Clark, who, while attached as zoologist to the commission for running the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, neglected no opportunity of making investigations which have contributed much to the natural history of the regions necessarily passed through, and whose collection contained specimens of this species. To Mr. Clark we are indebted for the following note respecting this species:

“Approaching the lower Rio Grande from New Mexico, the Black-headed Oriole was first seen near Ringgold Barracks, but not in abundance; and, although of rich plumage, its quiet manners and secluded habits prevented it from being very conspicuous. It was noticed most frequently while feeding on the fruit of the hackberry; but whenever exposed in picking off the berries, it always showed signs of uneasiness, and would immediately seek refuge in places affording greater concealment.

“Usually, pairs were to be seen keeping close together, and they seemed to prefer the thick foliage which occurs on the margins of the ponds or in the old bed of the river. They did not appear to communicate with each other by any note; indeed, I was struck with their silence, though my opportunities for observation were limited. Their habits seemed to be very different from those of any other Oriole with which I am acquainted.”

This observation, by so accurate and careful an observer as Mr. Clark, deserves especial attention. It is quite probable that this bird is the type of a distinct group or sub-genus.

In the papers of Lieut. Couch, most kindly placed by him at our disposal, we find the following in relation to the bird now before us:—

“The Black-headed Oriole was seen for the first time on the third of March, 1853, at Santa Rosalio rancho, eight leagues west of Matamoras. It had paired, and both male and female were very shy and secluded, seeking insects on the nopal (a species of prickly pear), or among the low mimosa trees, never seeming to be at rest, but constantly on the look-out for their favorite food.

“At Charco Escondido, farther in the interior of Tamaulipas, this bird was well known to the rancheros, who were disposed to give it a bad reputation, stating that it often came to the rancho to steal the freshly-slaughtered beef, hung up to dry in the sun. Whether this was true or not, I had no opportunity of ascertaining; but my acquaintance with the Black-headed Oriole, at this place, I have a particular reason for remembering. Early one morning, an old man, who had daily called on me, with his wife and six nude pickaninnies, presented himself, and wished as usual to take me to a spot where great numbers of rare birds were to be found. Gladly assenting, we were out of sight of the rancho at sunrise of one of the magnificent mornings only known in tropical latitudes. It was the day after a severe norther, and the whole feathered kingdom was in motion. My guide soon called my attention to two calandrias, as these birds are called by the Mexicans, which were quietly but actively seeking their breakfast. The male having been brought down by my gun, the female flew to a neighboring tree, apparently not having observed his fall; soon, however, she became aware of her loss, and endeavored to recall him to her side with a simple pout pou-it, uttered in a strain of such exquisite sadness, that I could scarcely believe such notes to be produced by a bird, and so greatly did they excite my sympathy, that I felt almost resolved to desist from making further collections in natural history, which was one of the principal objects of my journey into the country.

“Another species that takes the place of this bird, west of Monterey, has a more powerful, varied, and artistic song, but I have never heard the lay of any songster of the feathered tribe expressed more sweetly than that of the present Oriole. At Monterey, it is a favorite cage-bird. The notes of the male are more powerful than those of the female.

“My stay in Mexico was not sufficiently protracted to enable me to study the habits of this interesting bird as fully as I could have wished. Generally, its flight is low and rapid, and it seemed to prefer the shade of trees. It was observed almost invariably in pairs, and the male and female showed for each other much tenderness and solicitude. If one strayed from the other, a soft pou-it, soon brought them again together.”

Nature has, for much the greater part, denied to birds of brilliant plumage any remarkable powers of melody, and there are many birds of great beauty, in which the voice is harsh and uninviting, if not absolutely disagreeable. Occasional exceptions occur, particularly in the families of Grosbeaks and Finches, species of which are capable of producing short, though expressive and musical notes, sometimes uttered in connection with each other, and forming a partial song. Such is the case, too, with a few of the Orioles; but we should infer from the interesting statement of Lieut. Couch, that the bird now before us is, at least, one of the most gifted of its family, and we shall look forward to his further investigations in Mexico, which he is now about commencing, hoping for additional information in relation to this remarkable species.

All the most celebrated songsters of the feathered kingdom are birds of very plain plumage. The Nightingale, famed in all ages, and universally admitted to be the most superior in vocal ability of all the birds of the world, would attract no attention whatever from the general observer, so modest and unpretending is its appearance. The Mocking Bird of the United States, properly regarded as second only to the Nightingale, is scarcely less so, and our other Thrushes, and the little Vireos, very respectfully to be mentioned as vocalists, partake of the same character.

Mr. Pease noticed the Black-headed Oriole not only at Jalapa, but also on the tierra caliente, between that city and Vera Cruz. At the season when observed by him, it fed principally on fruits, as noticed by Mr. Clark, which fact does not conflict with Lieut. Couch’s statement, that it is an insect-eater; as all the birds of the family to which this species belongs, subsist on both fruits and insects, or are what are termed omnivorous. At Jalapa, it was called by the Mexicans, Calandria iquimite, the latter word being the name of a tree, of the fruit of which it is said to be particularly fond.

Our plate represents the adult male, which is but little different from the female. The figure is two-thirds of the natural size.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Icterus. Brisson, Orn., II. p. 85. (1760.) Icterus melanocephalus. (Wagler.) Psaracolius melanocephalus. Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 756. Icterus Audubonii. Giraud. New species N. A. Birds, p. 1. (1841.)

Form. Rather robust; bill strong, high at base; wings rather short; third and fourth quills longest; tail graduated; central feathers longest; legs and feet large and strong.

Dimensions. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, 8¾ inches; wing, 4; tail, 4¼ inches.

Colors. Head black, which color has a semicircular termination on the breast. Entire under parts and neck behind, bright yellow; back and rump yellowish-green; wings black; quills edged externally with ashy white; tail black; bill bluish-black, lighter at the base of the lower mandible; tarsi and feet lead-colored; irides brown. Sexes nearly alike; female with the yellow parts of the plumage less vivid, and the tail in some specimens edged and tinged with greenish.

Hab. Texas, Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.; and Nat. Mus., Washington city.

Obs. This bird resembles no other in any considerable degree; and is, therefore, to be easily distinguished. It seems to belong to some one of the subdivisions of the old genus Icterus, or of Xanthornus, which are so variously and confusedly given by professed systematists, that we have no faith in any of them; which declaration, by the way, we have no objection to embrace the present opportunity of extending to late opinionative classifications, in a manner rather general and comprehensive. It is about full time for a true zoologist to appear, who shall be capable of systematizing—of reducing to order and symmetry the vast fund of facts and detached knowledge in natural history, which the present age has accumulated. In our happier day-dreams, we have deemed it inevitable that such a one must shortly appear. The great Anglo-Saxon zoologist is yet to come.

Plate 22
The Purple-throated Humming Bird
Trochilus Alexandri (Bourcier)

TROCHILUS ALEXANDRI.—Bourcier and Mulsant.
The Purple-throated Humming Bird.
PLATE XXII.—Adult Males.

The Humming Birds are peculiar to America. Until within a comparatively recent period, about one hundred species were known to naturalists,—that being the then considered large number enumerated in works published as lately as within about twenty years. Discoveries of previously unknown species in this family of birds have been numerous beyond precedent or comparison with any other, notwithstanding the zeal and ability which ornithology has commanded within the period mentioned. At present, there are nearly three hundred ascertained species of Humming Birds. The large and recent additions have resulted, in a great measure, from the exploration of regions previously little visited or inaccessible, principally in the northern part of South America, but also in Central America and Mexico.

That portion of the continent of America between the Amazon as a southern boundary, and the Rio Grande and Gila as a northern, embracing New Grenada and Guiana, the whole of Central America and Mexico, to which may be added the West India Islands, appears to be the most productive of Humming Birds. Within that range, but especially in the Republic of New Grenada, these splendid little birds are much the most abundant, and it embraces nearly all of the most remarkable in form and most beautiful in plumage. Southward into Brazil and Peru, and other countries of South America, a considerable variety of species are also found; but, in the north, that is to say, north of the line between Mexico and the United States, we have few species of Humming Birds, and even those give us but an imperfect idea of the gorgeous tints of their relatives of the tropical regions of this continent.

Of the natural productions of America, these birds have attracted the most universal admiration. Nor has it been, by any means, without foundation. Nature appears to have exhausted herself in the lavish profusion of colors of every tint and shade with which she has adorned these gems of the animal world. They are the most splendidly colored and at the same time the most diminutive of birds. Almost every color known in art is to be met with in the plumage of some one or other of the Humming Birds, and usually with a lustre more resembling that of the most highly finished workmanship in metal, or of the most exquisite precious stones, than the transient or easily destroyed appendages of a delicate animal organization.

There are, however, some species which are quite plain in their appearance, and present little or no trace of metallic or other brilliant colors. Of these, one large species is perfectly black; others are reddish-brown, or fulvous and plain dark green.

In size, the Humming Birds vary much. The Giant Humming Bird of Brazil, which is the largest, though one of the plainest, is about the size of the Chimney Bird of the United States, and several fine species of the later discoveries in this group are but little smaller. Several species are quite as large as the House Wren. On the other hand, there are Humming Birds little larger than the Humble Bee of our meadows; and there are many species of Beetles and other coleopterous insects, that are much larger. The common ruby-throated Humming Bird of the United States, is a medium-sized species, and of respectable dimensions when compared with some of his pigmy brethren of the far South.

In form, too, they vary exceedingly. Some are very slender, and apparently feebly constituted; others are comparatively quite robust. There are species which have bills excessively long, the Sword-bearer (Trochilus ensiferus), which is about the size of the House Wren, has a bill longer than its body. So entirely disproportionate does the bill of this species appear to be, that few persons, on seeing specimens for the first time, can avoid a suspicion that it has been artificially lengthened; and we have more than once heard it suggested on such an occasion that this remarkable appendage could readily have been drawn out by processes used by comb-makers. This exceedingly long bill is, however, no inconvenience whatever to the gay little individual who is responsible for it, luckily for him;—in fact, it assists him admirably in procuring an entirely honest subsistence amongst the large trumpet-flowers, and others with long tubular corollas, abundant in tropical countries. No other known species has this organ of a length so disproportionate, though there are several in which it is unusually long for birds of such size. The bill is, however, scarcely of the same form and shape in any two species. In some, it is perfectly straight and very short; in others, as we have already observed, it is very long. Numerous others have the bill curved downwards, or scythe-shaped, and a few species have it turned upwards, presenting a very singular appearance.

Other curious appendages are to be met with in species of this family. One group has exceedingly long tails, three or four times the length of the body. Several Humming Birds have the outer feathers of the tail long, and though narrow for the greater part of their length, suddenly expanded at the end like a paddle or a spoon. These seem to form a group or sub-genus of their own, and are also remarkable for having the upper part of the leg (the tibia, and sometimes part of the tarsus) covered with a thick mass of white downy feathers, presenting one of the many instances of phenomena to which it appears almost impossible in the present state of our knowledge, to assign a use in the economy of the species. The wings in all Humming Birds are large, when compared with those of many other birds, and are formed for long-continued and rapid flight.

The food of the Humming Birds is now well ascertained to be principally insects. We regard the conclusion, also, as unavoidable, that the moisture contained in flowers is their drink only, and not capable alone of supporting life. The tongue appears to be the principal organ used both in capturing insects and in procuring the fluid portion of their subsistence, and is constructed in a manner peculiarly adapted to these purposes. It is long, and composed of two parallel tubes (like a double-barrelled gun), furnished with the necessary apparatus of muscles for sucking, and thus enabling the bird to reach the drops of moisture or the fluid secretions contained very frequently in the corollas of flowers, more abundant in some species than others. The tongue is flattened, and sometimes barbed towards the end, or margined with fringe-like appendages, evidently designed to be of material service in feeding on minute flies or other small and soft insects. It admits, too, of being darted outwards, like that of the woodpeckers, and in the manner thus indicated it is very probable that their food is secured.

A large space on the throat is generally the most beautiful part of the plumage of the birds of this family. Frequently, however, the top of the head and the entire under parts of the body are clothed in colors of the most surpassing brilliancy. The upper parts are usually plainer.

In the countries where these birds are most abundant, and even in others of South America, some species of Humming Birds are spread over a vast extent of territory;—other species are well known to be peculiar to quite restricted localities. Many inhabit only the warmest districts;—others are found only in mountain-valleys, thousands of feet above the level of the sea. One of the most beautiful Humming Birds, the Polytmus (Trochilus polytmus), a large species, having the plumage mainly of a most exquisite green, with the top of the head jet black, and with the tail excessively long, inhabits only the island of Jamaica, and it is quite probable that every island of the West Indies produces species which are to be found in no other. In some sections, they are exceedingly numerous. Mr. Gosse, in his valuable volume on the Birds of Jamaica, mentions having seen “no less than a hundred come successively to rifle the blossoms within the space of half as many yards in the course of a forenoon.” We have been informed of instances of the ruby-topaz Humming Bird (T. moschitus) having occurred in the island of Trinidad in even greater abundance.

In allusion to the general abundance of these birds in the countries where they abound, and as a sketch of their habits, we transcribe the following from “A Voyage up the Amazon,” from an excellent observer and agreeable writer, our friend, Mr William H. Edwards, of New York:

“Wherever a creeping vine opens its fragrant clusters, or wherever a tree-flower blooms, may these little birds be seen. In the garden, or in the woods, over the water, everywhere, they are darting about;—of all sizes, from one that might easily be mistaken for a different variety of bird, to the tiny Hermit (Trochilus rufigaster), whose body is not half the size of the bees buzzing about the same sweets. Sometimes they are seen chasing each other in sport with a rapidity of flight and intricacy of path the eye is puzzled to follow. Again circling round and round, they rise high in mid-air, then dart off like light to some distant attraction. Perched upon a little limb, they smooth their plumes and seem to delight in their dazzling hues; then starting off leisurely, they skim along, stopping capriciously to kiss the coquetting flowerets. Often, two meet in mid-air and fight furiously, their crests and the feathers on their throats all erected and blazing, and altogether pictures of the most violent rage. Several times we saw them battling with large black bees, who frequent the same flowers, and may be supposed to interfere often provokingly. Like lightning, our little heroes would come down, but the coat of shining mail would ward of their furious strokes. Again and again would they renew the attack, until their anger had expended itself by its own fury, or until the apathetic bee, once roused, had put forth powers that drove the invader from the field.”

The Mexican Humming Birds have been, until recently, but little attended to, and even at this time are by no means well known. In an interesting volume by Mr. William Bullock, a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, “Six Months Residence and Travels in Mexico” (London, 1824), a work that contains much information on the natural history, and especially the ornithology, of that country, there is a chapter exclusively devoted to the Humming Birds. From it, we make the following extract, which may be regarded as the more interesting, as some of the species alluded to may be found hereafter in those parts of the United States contiguous to Mexico:

“In Mexico, the species of Humming Birds are numerous. Near the capital, on my arrival, scarcely one was to be seen; but in the month of May and June, numbers were found in the Botanic Garden, in the centre of the city; and, by offering a reward to the Indians, many were brought to me alive. I had nearly seventy in cages, which, with attention and care, I kept living for some weeks; and could I have devoted my whole attention to them, I have no doubt of the possibility of bringing them alive to Europe.

“It is probable the whole of them feed on insects; numbers I am certain do so, having watched them attentively in the Botanic Garden at Mexico, in pursuit of their minute prey; and in the yard of the house in which I resided at Themascaltepec, where one of them took entire possession of a pomegranate tree in blossom, on which he sat the whole day, catching the small flies that came to the flowers.

“Although, like the Robin and other birds of Europe, in a state of nature, they are extremely tenacious of any intrusion of their own species on their dominions, yet, in captivity, when several kinds have been confined together, I never observed the least inclination to quarrel, but have seen the smaller take what appeared to be unwarrantable liberties with those of five times their size and strength;—thus, when the perch has been occupied by the great blue-throated one, the diminutive Mexican Star has settled on the long beak of the former, and remained perched on it some minutes, without its offering to resist the insult.

“Europeans who have seen only the stuffed remains of these little feathered gems in museums, have been charmed with their beautiful appearance; but those who have examined them whilst living, displaying their moving crests, throats, and tails, like the peacock in the sun, can never look with pleasure on their mutilated forms. I have carefully preserved about two hundred specimens, in the best possible manner, yet they are still but the shadow of what they were in life. The reason is obvious; for the sides of the laminæ, or fibres of each feather, being of a different color from the surface, will change when seen in a front or oblique direction; and as each lamina or fibre turns upon the axis of the quill, the least motion, when living, causes the feathers to change suddenly to the most opposite hues. Thus the one from Nootka Sound (T. rufus) changes its expanded throat from the most vivid fire color to light green; the topaz-throated does the same, and the Mexican Star changes from bright crimson to blue.

“The sexes vary greatly in the plumage in many species, so much so, that it is with difficulty we recognize them. The male and female of the Mexican Star (Cynanthus Lucifer) could not have been known had they not been seen constantly together, and proved to be so by dissection. They breed in Mexico in June and July, and the nest is a beautiful specimen of the architectural talent of these birds; it is neatly constructed with cotton or the down of thistles, to which is fastened on the outside, by some glutinous substance, a white flat lichen resembling ours. The female lays two eggs, perfectly white, and large for the size of the bird, and the Indians informed me they were hatched in three weeks, by the male and female sitting alternately. When attending their young, they attack any bird indiscriminately that approaches the nest. Their motions, when under the influence of anger or fear, are very violent, and their flight rapid as an arrow; the eye cannot follow them, but the shrill, piercing shriek which they utter on the wing, may be heard when the bird is invisible, and often led to their destruction by preparing me for their approach. They attack the eyes of the larger birds, and their sharp needle-like bill is a truly formidable weapon in this kind of warfare.

“Nothing can exceed their fierceness when one of their own species invades their territory during the breeding season. Under the influence of jealousy, they become perfect furies; their throats swell, their crests, tails, and wings, expand; they fight in the air (uttering a shrill noise), till one falls exhausted to the ground. I witnessed a combat of this kind near Otumba, during a heavy fall of rain, every separate drop of which I supposed sufficient to have beaten the puny warriors to the earth.

“In sleeping, they frequently suspend themselves by the feet, with their heads downwards, in the manner of some parrots.

“These birds were great favorites with the ancient Mexicans. They used the feathers as ornaments for their superb mantles in the time of Montezuma, and in embroidering the pictures so much extolled by Cortez. Their name signifies, in the Indian language, beams or locks of the sun. The feathers are still worn by the Indian ladies as ornaments for the ears.”

It may be properly remarked here that the statement made by Mr. Bullock, of the habit of these birds sleeping with their heads downwards, has attracted considerable attention, and it has been thought probable that he may have been mistaken, or misinformed, not having been confirmed by subsequent naturalists. It may, however, apply only to some species.

The pugnacity of these little birds is almost universally alluded to by writers who have enjoyed opportunities of observing them in the countries where they abound. A Humming Bird of any size, even the smallest, is not on that account less a fighting character, and jealous of whatever rights and privileges he considers himself entitled to. But as both of the authors above quoted, have alluded to this point, we beg the indulgence of the reader to lay before him another extract especially relating to this hostility of disposition, and happily illustrative of the fights and feuds of the Humming Birds. It is from the very pleasant and valuable little work, previously mentioned, on the Birds of Jamaica, by Mr. Philip Henry Gosse; and the species alluded to, the Mango Humming Bird (T. mango), is one which is considerably larger than the common ruby-throated species of the United States. It is abundant in the West Indies, and in some parts of South America, and it occasionally visits the shores of Florida. It is figured by Mr. Audubon:—

“A Mango Humming Bird had, every day, and all day long, been paying his devoirs to these charming blossoms” (the Malay apple, Eugenia malaccensis). “On the morning to which I allude, another came, and the manœuvres of these two tiny creatures became highly interesting. They chased each other through the labyrinth of twigs and flowers, till, an opportunity occurring, the one would dart with seeming fury upon the other, and then with a loud rustling of their wings, they would twirl together, round and round, until they nearly came to the earth. It was some time before I could see, with any distinctness, what took place in these tussles; their twirlings were so rapid as to baffle all attempts at discrimination. At length, an encounter took place pretty close to me, and I perceived that the beak of the one grasped that of the other, and thus fastened, both whirled round and round in their perpendicular descent, the point of contact being the centre of the gyrations, till, when another second would have brought them both to the ground, they separated, and the one chased the other for about a hundred yards, and then returned in triumph to the tree, where, perched on a lofty twig, he chirped monotonously and pertinaciously for some time;—I could not help thinking, in defiance. In a few minutes, however, the banished one returned, and began chirping no less provokingly, which soon brought on another chase and another tussle. I am persuaded that these were hostile encounters, for one seemed evidently afraid of the other, fleeing when the other pursued, though his indomitable spirit would prompt the chirp of defiance; and, when resting after a battle, I noticed that this one held his beak open, as if panting. Sometimes they would suspend hostilities to suck a few blossoms, but mutual proximity was sure to bring them on again with the same result. In their tortuous and rapid evolutions, the light from their ruby necks would now and then flash in the sun with gem-like radiance; and as they now and then hovered motionless, the broadly-expanded tail,—whose outer feathers are crimson-purple, but when intercepting the sun’s rays, transmit orange-colored light—added much to their beauty. A little Banana Quit (Certhiola flaveola), that was peeping among the blossoms in his own quiet way, seemed now and then to look with surprise on the combatants; but when the one had driven his rival to a longer distance than usual, the victor set upon the unoffending Quit, who soon yielded the point, and retired, humbly enough, to a neighboring tree. The war, for it was a thorough campaign, a regular succession of battles, lasted fully an hour, and then I was called away from the post of observation. Both of the Humming Birds appeared to be adult males.”

In the United States, there have been discovered as yet not more than five species of Humming Birds, including that which is presented to the reader in our present plate. They are the ruby-throated Humming bird (Trochilus colubris), which is the much-admired little species everywhere common in the summer-time, in the States on the Atlantic; the Mango Humming Bird (T. mango), an abundant South American and West Indian species that occasionally visits Florida, as above stated; the Anna Humming Bird (T. Anna), a species of California and Mexico, the most beautiful of the northern species, and which derives additional interest from the fact that it was named by an eminent French naturalist, in honor of Anna, Duchess of Rivoli, whose husband, General Massena, Duke of Rivoli, the distinguished officer of the armies of the Emperor Napoleon I., founded the ornithological collection which now belongs to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. In addition to these, are the rufous-throated or Northern Humming Bird (T. rufus), a western species, which extends its range on the Pacific coast to a high northern latitude, and the bird now before us. Another species or two have been named as inhabiting California, without it being stated whether the upper or lower divisions of that country was intended. They are not known to inhabit that portion which is one of the States of this Union, though it is quite probable that others of the numerous Mexican species will be found extending their range into the western and southwestern territories.

Within the limits of the United States, the Humming Bird now before the reader, has been noticed only by Dr. Heermann, whose fine collection made in California contained numerous specimens. He detected it in one locality only, which was the burying-ground at Sacramento city. There several pairs remained during the season of incubation, and reared their young, finding suitable food and protection amongst the flowering plants, with which, with great feeling and propriety, that last resting-place of the emigrant and stranger has been adorned.