NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
LAND BIRDS.
VOL. I.
A
HISTORY
OF
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS
BY
S. F. BAIRD, T. M. BREWER, and R. RIDGWAY
LAND BIRDS
TLUmTRATED BY CA PLATER AND 59.3 WnnDCUTfi
VOLUME I.
,4r'i;
B O S T O r.r
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
1874
REFERENCE
REFERENCE
l-'"t.Mv,l aroonlii.g t„ Act of Vow^ix'ss, i„ |ho y™, is;.,,
'iV I.ITTI.K, BUOWN, AND COMPANY,
i" the Otlice <,f th. Li,,,arian of Congress, at Waslungton.
I^PvPlFACE,
Till-: present Mork is designed to meet tlie want, wliicl. Ims lo:.o- heen felt
nia descii].tive aeeuiuit ot tl,e IJirds .,rX„rt]i America, with notices oi'tlieir
ovo-rapliical distrihution, l.ul.ils, nu-tlHuis of nesliiin- character of e.-s their
popidar nomenclature, and oilier points C(.nnected with their life histi.ry
I'or many years past the only systematic treatises heaiin- upon this' suh-
ject have been " Tiie American ()rnithoh)uy - of Alexan.ler AVilson finished
hy that author in ISU, and la'onnht (h.wn to the date of I8i'7 1,y (leor^e
Ord; the "Ornithological l',i..graphy - of Auduhon, bearin- date of LS.'iS wiUi
a second edition," liirds ul' America," embracing a little more of detail and
completed m 1S44; and "A Manual of the Ornithology of the Tnit...! States
and eanada," by Xuttall, of which a first edition was laiblish.Ml in 18:!-> and
a second m 184U. Since then no work relating to American Ornitholony of
a biographical nature, has been presented to the public, with the exception
ot s(Mne of limited extent, such as those of fiirand, on the "J'.irds of Lnu"
Island," in 1.S44; De Kay's " I'.irds of Xew York," 1,S44; Samuels's "Orni"
thology and Oblogy of Xew England,- I. SOS, ,nid a few others ; together with
(piite a nunil)er of minor i)apers on the l,irds of particular localities, of
greater or less moment, chiefly laiblished in periodicals and the Proceedings
of Societies. The reports of many of the government exploring j.arties also
contain valuable data, especially those of Dr. Xewberry, Dr. Jleermaim,
I>r. J. (). (Vioper, Dr. Suckley. Dr. Kennerly, and others.
Mow recenHy (in 1 STO) Professor ^A'hitney, Chief of the ( ieological Survey
nf California, has published a very im])ortant volume on the oriiitholoay of
th(! entire west coast of Xorth America, written by Dr. .7. (1. Cooper, and
containing much original detail in reference to the habits of the western' si)e-
oies. This is by far the most valuable contribution to the biograjihy of
American birds that has appeared since the time of Audubon, and, with its
t,vpogra])hical beauty and numerous and excclhuit illustrations, all on wood
and many of them colored, constitutes one of the most noteworthy j.ublica-
tions in American /oiilogv.
V]> to the time of tlie appearance of the M'ork of .\udubon, uenrlv all that
was known of th.- -reat ivgion of the Cnited States west of the 'Missouri
b'lver was the result of the journey of Lewis aii.l Clark up the Mi.ssouri and
vi PREFACE.
iici'oss to till' I'lifilie Cdiist, iuiil tliiil ol' Jiiliii Iv. Towii.send and Mr. Nxittall,
lidtli (if wlumi iiiiiil(! sdiuf collcclidiis and lirou^iit hack iiulicfs ol tlio (•(Uiu-
Irv, \\liii;li, liuwevur, tlicv wvw iiiialik' to cxjdini! to any ,L,M'(!at extent. The
riiliiv ic^ioii ut' Texas, New Mexico, Coloiiidn, Aii/.uua, Nevada, and (.'ali-
Inrnia was uiivisited, as also a ^n'cat poi'tidn ul' lemtovy north of tlie United
States hoiuidarv, inehidin,t;' IJritisli ('olund)ia and Alaska.
.V work liy Sir.lolin ilieliardson, l'ornnu,n a vulunie in his .serie.s of " Fauna
r>oreali-Ainericaiia," in refeienee to the oruitlioloy;y of tlie region covered by
tlie lludsiin r>ay Company's operations, was puMished in 1831, and has
lieen nnuh nsed liy Mr. Audubon, luit endmices little or nothing of the great
breeding-grounds of the water birds in tlie neighliorliood of the Great Slave
and liear 1-ake.s, the Upper Vukon, and the .sliores of the Arctic coast.
Tt will thu.s be seen that a third of a century has elap.sed since any at-
tempt has been made to present a systematic history of the birds of North
America.
The oliject of the ])resent work is to give, in as concise a form as jjossible,
an accoiuit of what is known of tlie birds, not only of the United States, but
of the whole region of Xorth America north of the l)Oundary-line of Mexico,
including (ireenland, on the one sitle, and Alaska M'ith its islands on the
otiier. The puldished materials for such a history are so copious that it is a
matter of surjn'ise that they have not been sooner utilized, consisting, as they
do, of numerous scattered l)iograi)hies and reports of many government expe-
ditions and ])rivat(^ exjiloralions. l>ut the most ])ro(hictive source has been
tlie great amount of manuscript contaiiunl in the archives of the Smithsonian
Institution in the foiin of correspondence, elaborate reports, and the field-
notes of collectors and tiavelleis, the use of which, for the present work, has
be(!n liberally allowed by i'mlcssor Henry. JJy far the most important of
these consist of notes made by the late IJol>ert Kennicott in Hriti-sh America,
and received from him and other gentlemen in the Hudson I'ay Territory,
who were brought into intimate relationship with the Smithsonian Institu-
tion throngli ]\Ir. Kennicott's efforts. Among them may be mentioned more
es]iecially Mr. \l. .MacFarlane, Mr. V,. II. b'oss, :\Ir. James Lockhart, ]\Ir.
i/iwivnce (lark, Mr. Strachan -lones, and others, whose names will appear
in the coiu'se of tiie work. The especial value of the (iommunications re-
ceived from tliese geiitlenu'n lies in the fact that they resided for a long
time in a region to which a Lirge proportion <if the raiiacious and water birds
of North America resort during the sunnner for iiu'ubation, and which until
recently has been sealed to explorers.
K(pially servicenble has been the information received from the region of
the Yukon iJiver and Alaska generally, including the Aleutian Islands, as
supplied liy Messrs. ifobert Kennicott, William II. Dall, Henry M. Bannister,
Henry W. Elliott, and others.
It should be understood that tlie remarks as to tlu; absence of general works
on American Ornithology, since the time of Audubon, apply oidy to the life
IMiKKACK. vii
ork
lii.stoiv <il' till! Hpt'cios, lis, ill 18r>S, (nic ol' tin- iiutlidi's dl' tlu' inusciit w
jiiililislieil ii sysli'iiiiitic uceuiiiit "i' llii .linls nf Xiiitli Aiiicrica, t'linstilutiiiL;'
\nl. IX, of the si-rics (if I'acilic llailruiid lu'iKirls; wliilc IVoin tln' iicn nf
Dr. Klliiilt ( 'diii's, a well-know n ami omiiu'iit Diniliiuld^i^ist, ai)i)t'areil in iS7-
ii L'oiiiiirilifiisivc voliiiiic, I'Ulilk'il " A Key t(i NOitti Aiuciicaii Ilinls,'' coii-
taiiiiiig tlcseriptiini!? "l' llie wjieciL's ami lii.^luT ^roiips.
Tiif tLH'liiiical, or tlcseiiplivi', iiialtiT ol' tlui picsL'iit work has liocii ])ifiiarcil
liy Messrs. Bainl and lliduway, that relating U\ the J,'((jil(,r(s entirely liy Mr.
Jlidgway ; and all the acediints ut' the habits ol' the sjiceics are Iroin the pen
of Dr. ISrewer. Jn adilitiou to the matter supplied hy these gentlemen, I'm-
i'essor 'i'heodure X. (iill lias I'liniislied that portion of tlie introduction de-
fining tlic class ol' birds as eomiiared with the otlua' vertebrates ; wiiik' to J)i',
Cones is to be given the entire credit for the jiages oiiil)racing the tallies of
the Orders and Families, as well as for the (llossary beginning on page ,"):!")
of Vol. 111.
Nearly all the drawings of the fnll-length figures of birds <'ontained in the
work were made diri'ctly on the wood, by Mr. Edwin L. Sheppard, of IMiila-
deljihia, from original sketches taken from nature; while the heads were exe-
cuted foi' the most jiart by Mr. Henry W. Klliott and Mr. i{i<lg\vay. liolli
series have been engraved iiy Mr. Hobart II. Xichols of Washington. The
•reiierie outlines weri; drawn bv iVnton !-. Schimborn, and eiiiiiaved by the
jieculiar process of -lewelt, Chandler, & Co., of lUillalo. All of the.se, it is
believed, speak for themselves, and re(|uire no other commendation.
A consideialije jiortion of the illustrations were jireparod, by the ])ersons
nienlioned aimve, for tiie IJeports of tiie (ieological Survey of California, and
published in the volume on Ornithology. To Professor Whitney, Chief
of the Survey, ackiiowledgiiients are due for the privilege of including many
of them in the jircsent History of Xorth American J'irds, and also for the
Ivxplanalion of Terms, ]page 't'H') of Vol, III.
A few cuts, drawn by Wolf and engraved by Whymper, first juililished
in " ISritisli llirds in their Haunts," and credited in their proper places,
were kindly furnished liy the London Society for the Dillusion of Chris-
tian Knowledge; and some others iirepareil I'or an unpublished volume by
J)r. Pilasius, on tiie ISirds of (ierniany, were ol)tained i'roni Messi.s. N'ieweg
and Son, of r>raunsehweig.
The volume on the Water Pirds is in an advanced .state of ]iieparation,
and will be publislied with the least p(jssible delay.
SPENCER F. UAIitU.
SMrni.siiNM.w iN.'^Trrrriox, Washington',
.ruimaiy 8, 1874.
CONTENTS
ri;r.rAri-,
Im iidiirniuN
Kaiiiily Tii;i.|ii.i:. Thr Thiiisln's
SiiMiiiiiily 'l'ri;iii,\.i:
SlllirMlllily Ml MINK
r.niiily I'lNri.ii,.,:. Tlif |lip|nTs
Kaiiiily SAMr.n.in.i:. Tlir Saxirciliis
Kiiliiily Svi. villi. K. Till' Sylvi;is
SuliliiMiily Svi.\ IIN.K .
Siilir.uiiily lii.cil.lN.i;
Slllir.lliiily rdl.KHTIIIN.K .
Family I mam.i: ui.i:. TIk (Irniiiiil-'l'its
I'amily I'a .1.. Th,. Tifiiiicc .
Siiliriiiiiily rAiMN.K
Suliraiiiily SiiriN.i:
Family <'i;uTlilA|i.i:. Tlii' Civi'Ikts .
Family 'rKiii^LciiiVTIlM;. Tin- Wrens .
Family MdrAiii.i.in.K. Tlu' Wa-tails
Suhlamily MniA( ll.l.is.i;
Siililainily Aniiiin.k
Family Syi.vh,, I. iii.K. Tlic Waililns .
SiiMamily Svi.vimi.iN.K
Siilil'amily (iKoriil.vi'iN.K .
Siililamily liri:i;iAN.i: .
Sulilamily Si.idpiiAiiiN.K .
Family IIllir\iiiNl|i.K. The Swallnws
Family VlUKdNin.i;. Tlic Viives .
ramily Ampkmh.k. Tlic Clialtcivis
Suliliiiuily Ami'i-.i.in.k
Subi'iimily I'ril.DciiSATiN.i-;
vol,. I. I,
I'Acii;
V
.\i
1
:i
:!I
(ill
till
7:;
Sii
M!
VH
VM\
KU
1(15
IC'.i
irr
im
.'iiiii
Mil
:!■.>(!
:i:.7
n'.(.-i
404
COXTK.XTS.
l''aiiiily I.AMiii.i:. Tlu' Slirikcs
Kaiiiily l'.Ki;i:iiii).K. The (.nils
Kiiiiiily Tanai;i:iii.k. TIh' 'riiiiMgci-s
l'';ii]iilv l-'l:iMWi,l.iii.i:. The Fiiiclii's
Suliriiiiiily I 'iM ((iiiii;ai'.--iin.i-:
.Siiblaiiiily I'yi;!:! iin.k .
iSuMiiMiily Si'i/.i:i.i.iN.v:
Imii:.\ 111 Tin; I'i.atk.s.
ri.ATKs 1-20.
■112
■125
■l:il
. 4tl!
410
. 524
528
INTRODUCTION.
TlFK class of Hinls (.Ivrs), as rojirosoiitod in tlio jnxwiit n,ne of tho wdil,!,
is composed of very many siH'cies, closely rclalcd i\num<^ themselves ami
(listin,t,'iiislu;(l by numerous cliaraclers common to all. For the puriioscs df
the present work it is hardly necessary to attempt the iletinitioii of wiiat
constitutes a liird, the veriest tym l)ein<^- ahle to decide as to the fact in
regard to any \(n'th American animal. Xevertjielcss, for the .-^aice of ljiv;'' -r
completeness, we may say that, comjiared with other classes,' I'.ji'ds m
iihranchiate vertelirates, with a hrain lillin.u' the cranial c'vity, tiie cerehral
portion ol' which is moderately well developt'd, the corpora striata connected
liy a small anterior commisNure (no corpus callosum develoiiedi, proseii-
cephalic hemispheres lurye, tiie optic hii.es lateral, the eerel)elluiu trans-
versely multitissured; the lun-s and heart not separated i.y a diaphraum
from the ahdominal viscera; aortic arch sini-le (the ri.^lit only liein-' d.^vel-
oped); Idooil, with imcleated red corjaiscles, uiider-'oin-- a complete Ciivnla-
tion, beiny received and transmitted by the ri-ht half ,p|' the (luadrilocular
heart to the lun-s for aeration (and thus warmed), and afterwards returned
by Ihe other half throu.-h tla; system (there being no communication be-
tween the arterial and venous portion.s) ; skull with a sin-le me.lian convex
condyle, chielly on the basi-occipital (with the sutiu'es for the most jiart early
oiiliterated) ; the lower jaw with its rami ossifyin-' from several points, coin
nected with the skull by the intervention of a (piadrate bone (homolo-cais
with tlu; malleus) ; i.elvis with ilia i.rolon-ed in front of the acetabulum, isehi^,
and pulses nearly parallel with each otlu'r, and the ischia usuallv .separat.'d:
anterior and ]..,sterior memb.'is much dillerentiated : the former modilied for
Ih-ht, with the humerus nearly paiallel with the axis of the bodv and c.m-
eeah'd m the muscles, the ra.liusand ulna distinct, with two persistent carpal
bones, and two to four dioits ; the h-s with the bones peculiarlv combined
(\) the proxmial tarsal bones cah's.'iuM' with the a.ljoinin- ti'bia, an.l ^'l)
the distal tarsal coalescing with three (sec.aid, thii'd, and f.airt'h) n.eta-
linsals (the first metatarsal beiii^' free), and forudn- Ihe s,,-ealled tarso-
iiietatarsus ; dermal appenda-es .levelope.l as feath.irs ; oviparcais, the e--s
bemn- iertili/ed within the bo.Iy, excluded with an oval, calcareous shell, i'md
MV.. ,uv iiM.l.tnl t„ lV„l,.,ss„i' Tli.MHl,,,-,. N. (iill lor tl„. p.vs,.„| ar,.,«u,l .,r tl„. ,l,Mn.,l,iiMi,'s
"I till' cl;iss ol limls ;ls .l|slill;riii.sllC(l flolll otlllM' ViTtclllalcs, ]l,ijfcs XI -XV.
xii NORTH AMERICAN lURDS.
liiitclii'd at ii tciiqiui'iilure Dl'iilimil Jd-t" F. (goncnilly liy the iiiculiiitiiui iqioii
UlCllI 111' lllU llinlllcl'J.l
Such an- sdiiu' ol' the •'■ .iliircs cdiiiiiion to all the cxistiiiL;- sjierii'is iil' liinls.-
]\laii_v (ilhers uiii^hl hi; I'liuniriati'd, hul only lliusc are 'j,\\vn which contrast
with the chai'aelei'istics of the nianunals on the one haml and those of the
reptiles on the other. 'I'he interior vertehrates are di -liniiuished liy so
many salient charactei's and are so widely separated from the hiiiher that
they need not he compared with the ]iresent class.
Although liirds are of course readily reco,i;iiiza.iile hy the oliserver. and ai'e
detinahle al once, cxistiiii;' under jiresent conditions, as wai'Ui-hlooded \'erle-
lirates, with the anterior niendiers prinulivcly adai)teil for IliL^ht, — they are
sometimes aliorlivc, — and ((i\ered with feathers, such characteristics do not
sutlice to enalile us to appreciati' the relations of the class. The character-
istics have heen '/wvu nioi-e lully in order to jiernut a comparison lietween
the mendiers of the <-lass and those of the mammals and rejitiles. 'i'he class
is without (!.\ce]ilion the most homo,L;cneous in the animal kiuL^dom ; and
amouu the lixim^' foi'uis less diU'erences are oliservahle than lietween the re]ire-
sentati\es of many natural ordei's anions other classes, iliit still ihi' diffei'-
ences lietween them and ihi' other existing forms are sullicient, ]ierlia]is, to
authorize the disiinction of the yroup as a class, and such rank has always
lieen allowed e.\ce]it iu,i;' liv one recent naturalist.
i'lUt if we furl her compare the characters of ihe class, it heconies evident
that those shared in common 'vitli the reptiles are nuich more numerous
than those shared wiili the mamm.ds. In this respect the \ iews of natui'al-
ists ha\e chan'^cd within receui years. l'"ormerly tlui two cliaracter-
isli<'s shared with the mannuals - the (piadrilocular heart and warm lilood
— Were dcciueil evidences of the clos(> aHiiMty of the two groups, and
they wer(! eonsei|Ucntly coiuhined as a section of the vfrlelirates, under
the name of Warm-Mooded W'rt el nates. Hut recently the tendency has
liecii, and very jusilv, to consider the lards and reptiles as mciuliers of
a coiuiuon ui'oup, separated on the one hand from .he nuinnnals and
on the other fmni the liatrachians ; and to this coml'inalion of hii'ds and
reptiles has lieen liiven tin; name Snni'd/isii/ii.
' I)r. t'niii^, ill liN " Kiv 111 Nmtli .Vimii'Mii Ilinls," f;iv(■^ mi iil>f' ;nMl lAlriiili'.l mtirlv nn
tlir ,i;riii'i;il . liai:iili li-lii^ lir liieU, .■iii'l nil lliiii iiili'iii;il iiml rMn mil ;iiiatoiii\ , In « hi. li «!■
ivlir (Mil- iviiiliis. .\ |ill|ii rtiy I'l■ll|■(■^^^^ !•'.. ,>>. McHM' ill lllr ".\llll;lls cil'lllc NrW ViilK l.yi'clllll III'
Xaliiial lli>liiiy" i.\, IsillO, "I'li llii' ('iii|iiis ai^il '"..nsus nl' liiids," i.s nf iiiiiili sriciililir viiliic,
- Ciiois mill (li'isl.in K.r iilaiiilliii.il .l.r /,iiii1.i,l.'i. . ISii'<, tlMi piv-. nl ih.- I. .11. .win;; .l.liiiili.iii
111' l.ii.ls a-i a I'la-i :
Aves. Skill iiivii.'.l vvli.illv 111 ill part uilli IValluT-.. .Viil.ai.ir |iair nl' liiii'.-, .'.no cili.l iiiln
wiiii.'^, .i;iiii'iiilly il>nl ill lli;;lil ; ■..niiiliiii.'s rii.liiiii'iilaiy. Oiii|iiil with :i sin;;!.' iniiiiyli'. .'aws
i'ii."i>.i'il ill liMiiiy slicaili^, wliiili r.iiiii 11 I. ill ; Inwcr jaw .if sc>vir,il rlfiiiriitMiiiil iiili.'iilulr.l lirliiml
willi a .li-liii.l ijiiiiiliali' liciiii' iilliii'lii'il to till' skull. Kimi-I « illi ilmililc iiiiri.l.' iiml ilniil'l.' v.'ii-
lli. l.>. .\il--|.a.i'S .■iiiiiic.li'il 111 II yrnltrr iir Irss rxtclll with Ilir llUlifs ; llli' sk.'li'tnll llHUv nl' li-s
|iii.iiiiiatir. |ii,iiiliia;.'iii iiii-.iiii|ilrli'. I'l'lvis uniri'iilly ii|ii'ii. i;i]>r.i.lii.liiiii l.y chjxn, r.Tlili/.'.l
williili 111.' 1..h1\ , aii.l lial. Iii'.l c.Mclliiilly, ritlnr liy ili.illialinii iir li\ Milm- liral ; tlii' .sIicIIm ral-
laii'iiii'' ami lianl.
II
INTRODUCTION. xiii
As alroiulv iiulicateil, the ranj^o of viiriatioii witliiii this class is cxtroinely
liiiiitc'il; ami if our views ivsi>ectiiiji; the taxoiioiiiic vahie of the siili-
ilivisioiis are iiiliueiiced hy this condition of things, we are olili,!;etl to deny
to tlie nnui[is of living liiids the vigliL which lias generally been conceded
of ranking as orders.
'J'he ureatest distinctions existing among the living niemhers of the class
are exliihitetl on tiie one liand liv the Ostriches and Kiwis and the related
forms, and on the otlier liy all tiie remaining l)irds.
These contrasted gron])S have been regarded by I'rofessor Huxley as of
rdiiial vabie ; but tiie (bfrerences are so slight, in comparison with tiiose
whicii iiave received ordinal distinction in other classes, tjiat liie expe-
diency of giving them tliat value is extremely doubtful ; and tliey can
lie coniliined into one ordei', which may appropriately l)ear the name of
h'lir/iljiii/nrii.
An objection lias lieeii urged to this depreciation of the vahu; of the sub-
divisions of the class, on the ground that the jieculiar adaptation for tliglit,
wiiicli is tiie prominent cliaracteristie of birds, is incapable of being e<uniiined
witli a wider range of form. This is, at most, an exidanatiou of the cause
of tiie sb'giit range of variation, and sliould not therefore afl'ect the I'xposi-
tioii of tlie /'"■/ (tliereliy admitted) in a classifii'ation iiased on morpiiologieal
ciiaracteristics. J>ut it must also lie Ijorne in mind tiiat iligiit is liy no
means incomjiatilile with extrenu; modifications, not only of the organs of
tligiit, liut of otlier parts, as is well exemplilied in the case of bats and the
extinct ])terodactyls,
\or is tiie class of liirds as now limited confined to the single ordisr of
which only we have living reju'esentatives. In fossil forms we have, if the
dillereiicrs assumed Ih; coniirmed, ty]ies of two distinct^ orders, one being
represeiiled by the genus .1 rc/niop/i ri/>- und another by the genera /cht/ii/iiriii.-i
and A/i>i/iiriiix of Maish. The first has been named fSaiiriirir liy Ibeckid ;
tlu' second /i/i//ii/iiriii/hi(/rs by ^larsh.
CompcUeil thus to (|Uestion the existencci (jf any grou|is <if ordinal value
among recent liinls, wi' ]iroceed now to examine the grounds nimn which natu-
ral sulidivisioiis slicukl be liasiid. The pronunent features in the classilication
of the class until recently have been the divisions into groups distinguished
liy their adaptation for ditfcrent modes of life ; that is, whether aerial or for
]iiiigivssiiiii on land, for wading or for swimming; or, again, into Land and
\\ atei liirds. Such grou]is hav(! a certain value as simjily artificial combi-
nations, but wt! nnist not be considered as thereby committing ourselv< s to
such a .system as a natural one.
The time has ,scai<'ely arrived to justify any system of classification
hithcrlo ]iropo,scd, and we can only liave a siu'c foundation after an exhaust-
ive study of till' osteology, as well ns tlie neurology aiul splanchnology, of the
various members. Kiioiigh, however, has already been done to coinince us
that the subdivision of the class into Land and Water Jiirds does not exjiress
xiv NORTH AMEinCA.V ]!IRDS.
tlio true relations of tlie members embniceil iiiuler tliose lieads. Enough
lias also lu'cn adduced to enable us to j^rouj) many t'ornis into families and
somewliat more conijireliensive groups, definable by osteologieal and otlier
eliaracters. Sueli are the (.'haradriniorpiia', ("econiorpha', Aleetoroinorpliie,
rteriH'lvimorjilia', Peristeromorjiha', ( 'oracDMior})!!;!', ('yp.<eloniorplia', Celeo-
moijilia', Ac'toniorpliii', and several ullieis. Hut it is \ery doubtfid wlietlier
the true clew to the aitinities of the gmups thus determined lias been found
in tiie relations of the vomer and contiguous bones. The families, too, have
been i>robably, in a number of cases, es])ecially for ihe passerine birds, too
nuudi circumscribed. Tlie in'ogress of sy.stematic ornithology, however, lias
b'oen so ]a[>id \\ithin the 'ast few years, that we may be allowed to hope that
in a second edition of this work the means may be furnished for a strictly
scientific classification and seipiencc of the families. (T. \. (J.)
A primary divisiim of recent oirds may be made by sejiaration of the
{«) Batild, or struthious birds and their allies, — in which the sternum has
no keel, is dmeloped from lateral paired centres of ossification, and in Mliich
there are numerous other structural jicculiarities of high ta.xonomic import, —
from the {h) Carinatcv, including all remaining birds cf the present geidogic
epoch. Otlier juiinary divisions, such as that info Allrici>i and I'rocorm
of r>ona])arte, or the corresponding yet somewhat modified and improved
J'sl/ojiKiilis and J'tildjxicdcs of Sundevall, are o]ien to the serious objections
that they ignore the ])rofound distinctions between struthious and other
birds, lUpiire too numerous exceptions, cannot be ]irimarily determined by
e.\aminaii:iu of adult specimens, and are liased upcui ]iliysiolo;,dcal considera-
tions not necessarily co-ordinate with actual physical .strucfure.
In the following .scheme, without attempting to indicate jiositive ta.xo-
nomic rank, and without committing myself finally, I ]ii'esent a numlier
of higi.er groups into which Cariiiate liirds may be divided, capalile of ap-
jiroximately exact definition, and ajijiareiifly of a] (proximately e(|uivalent
taxonomic value. I'oints of the arrangement are freely drawn from the
writings of various authors, as will lie jierceived bytlio.se comjietent to judge
without special references. I am jiarticularly indebted, however, to the
late admirable and highly important work of I'rofessor Sundevall,' from
which \('i'y many characters are directly borroweil. The arrangement, in
effect, is a modification of that adopted by me in flic " Key to North Aiiieri-
ciui liiids," u])on considerations similai to those herewith implieil. The
main points of '''iference are non-recognit'ion ()f three leading groujis of
nerinl, terrestrir ■ id natatorial birds, — groujis without morphological basis,
resting simjdy u]ioii tclcological modification ; a general depreciation of the
ta\oiioiiii(! value of tlu! several gnaips, conformaMy with the considerations
]ircseiitcil in the jirecediiig ])ages of this work ; abolishing of the group
<iriilli(l(iri'^ ; and recognition of a jirimary group SjiJirninri.^
1 Mil/iiii/i iiiiliiriiUs (iriiiiii ilin/iiiiiriii/iiriiiii /(■iiliiiiiiii. .Slui'tsliolni, IST'J "•'!.
- Tlii.s ^'rnM|i is iiisu.si'eptible of ilclitiitioii. Tfu' wmliiif; hints, as usiiiiHy alloiatcil, ilo not
INTRODUCTION. ^^,
A. PASSERES.' Hallux iuvai-iulily lucscii., roiiiiili'lcl}- inciiiiiln'iil. sc'iia-
ratuiy liiDValilc \<\ s|i.M'ializati()ii ol' tin' jli-.n,, /idllncis /unf/ns. with <.Milai'jC(l
hasi! and its claw laiycr ihaii that of tlic ini'hlii' ilif,nt. Willicr soroml iKir
loiii-th !(ii' vtTsalik': joints of toes always ■_'. ;!, ■). ,">, fi-om llrsl- lo foinih.
Wiiii^'-fovurls coiiipaialivcly short and Irw ; wilh the; cxi-cpdoii (jf the Irasi
covcrls npoii \\n: jiJ'n. alari.t. arranj^'cd in only fwj .«ei'ii!s, the gi'ouliT ol'
which dors not irach beyond ihi' middle ol' Ihe sec^oudni-y reMiii'es.' Rec-
ti-iees twelve (with raie anomalons e\eeiitii)ns). Mu.-ieal appafatus picsent
in iri-eater or less development and i oni|il(xily. J'alale a'<,dtli(n;iialhons.
Sti'iinnn of one parlicuhir nionld, sinyle-notched. Carotid sin^tde (sinisli-a).
Xatiuv liiLihly altrieial and psilopjedie.
a. Oscines.'' Sides of the tarsus ecnt-red in most or all of their exIiMit
with twcj nndivided horny j>lates in( 'tinj,' behind in a sharp ridfre (ex-
eept in Ahimlhla- : one of the plati- Mnporfoetly divided in a few otiier
forms). Mnsieal ajiparatiis highly (i.jvolopod, consisting of several dis-
tinct pairs of syringeal mnseles. i'riniaries nine only, or ton with tlic
first freipiently .spnrion.s, rarely over two thirds the length of the
longest, never e(|ualling Ihe longest.
b. Clamatores.' Sides of the tarsus covered with divided plates or
scales variously arranged, its hinder edge blinit. M'lsieal apparatus
weak and iniporlect, of few or inconii>letely distinguished syringeal
muscles (as far as known). Primaries ten with rare exceptions, the
lirsi usually eipialling or exceeding the rest.
B, PICARI^.' Hallux ineonsidei-alile, weak or wanting, not alwavs in-
eunilii'Ui. iiol Mparately movable by distinction of a special nmsele, its claw-
not longer than that ol'thi' middle toe unless of exceptional sha|ic (e. ir. Ccn-
tnj/iii.'i). Second or foin-lh toe freipiently vcrsatili'; third and fourth I're-
(inenlly with decreased number of joints. Wing-coverts I'or tue most jiart
hirger and in more mnnerous si'ries than in J'lissen's, the greater series
reaching beyond the miildle of the secondary cpiills (except in many J'ici
and .some others). Rectrices conuiionly ten (eight to twelve). JVimaries
always ten, the llrst only exwptionally short (as in Piri). Musical apjiara-
tus wanting, or consisting of a nni.scular mas.s, or of not more than three
pairs of syringeal nmsclcs. Palate desmognathous or legithognathous.
Sternum of non-i)a,sserine characler. its posterior border entire o- doubly
notched or feneslrale. Carotid single or double. Nature completely al-
trieial, but young sometimes hatched with down" (e. g. Caprimuhjida).
|K.ss,.ss in oonnnoM „n,. .single elmracter not also to W found in other groups, nor is the collooa-
tiiiii ot their cliaiaiti'is peeidiar.
» ('(.rrc.pondiMg ,loscly with the I.iunasu. and earlier Sundevallian aecei.tation of the term.
I'.ipnvaieiit to the later Osdm-.t of Siuidevall.
- As reniurk,.,! by Smi.levall, exceptions to the diagnostic pertineMi^e of these two .diaraeters
"1 hmd claw and wing-'overts taken together are scanvly found. For, in those non-passerine
h.rds, as li,,,,to,rs and son.e //,..„//««, .s, in which th.. elaw is enlarged, the >vi.,g-eoyerts an-
c.ti.erw-se ,l,.p„sed ; and similarly ^^\w^^, as in tnany /'/,•/ and cLsewhere. th verts arc „f a pas-
«'i'i liaraetcr, the fcM't are highly diverse.
" Laiiiiiii/}/:iii/ii,rs of Sundevall plus Ahnidiilir.
* <SVu/(7//y(i/iA,,v^' of Sundevall nnniis Jhnididir.
» Xcarly npnvalent t.) the l.inna.an /'/,„■. |.;,p„d f,, (1„. ]„t,, (isy^^ fV^mvv of Sundcvdl
A pnlynierphic gro,,)., perl'eetly distingoislied fn,M, /V.«,m' by the above charael,.rs in whi.'h
tor the most part, it apprexin.ales lo n„e or another „f the f.llowing lower groups, fro.n which]
Hcverally, it is .listinguished by th.. inapplicability of ih,' characters noted beyond. My divisions
xvi NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
II. Cypseli. I'lilalc !i'f,'itli()j;ii;itliuiis. Winj^s li'ii.u'tlieiKMl in lliuir tcr-
iiiiiuil poilioiis, iililnvvialci! luisiilly, willi llic liisl iniiniiry not ri'diii-cd.
Tiiil 111' Icii rcctrifus. Bill lissiinslriil or U'iiiiin»lnil. KciM iicvur /A\i;o-
(liic'tylc iioi- syiiiliwlylo, small, \v<'ak, scarcely lillcil I'ni' locoiiiulioii ;
hallux oflcii clcvalcil or lat(M-al or reversed; front Iocs usiiidly welilicd
at base, or with aliiioriiial ratio ol' jilialaiiucs in lenj:'lh and nnnilicr, or
liotli. Stci'nnni dec]i-kecli'd, nsually entire oY else donlily notelieil or
|verl'orate. Syrinireal mnscles not, more than one pair.
h. Cuculi. I'alale desnioi;iiatlious. Winjrs not pcciliar in lirevity ol'
liroxinial or Icniilh ol' distal |iori ms, and with lirst, primary not rcilnccd.
Tail ol' <'ij;ht lo twelve rectrices. Bill of indeterminate form, never
cercd ; tonj;iie not extensile. l''cet varionsly modilied l>y versatility
or reversion of eithi'r lirsl, second, or I'onrlli toes, oi' liy cohesion for a
j(reat distance of third and fourlli, oi' liy alisenec or rudimentary condi-
tion of lirst Ol' second ; ofleu liii.dily seansorial, rarely ainhiiialorial.
Syi'ini;'eal muscles luii paii's at most.
('. Fici. I'alale "' exhiliilinjr a simpliliealion and tlciiradaliou of tlie
il'gitlioL'ualhous structure" llluxlcyl: wiuLis hcaiiii;;- out this passi'i'iue
allinity in the couunou i-eiluclion of the liisl pi-iuiary anil ihi restriction
of the 1,'reati'r coverts. Tail of ten perfe<'t rectrices and usually a si\p-
plenientary pair. iJostruTU hard, straii;hl, narrow, snliccpial to head,
with counuonly extensile and vermiform hut not furcate tonj;uc. Feet
hij^hly seansorial. Fourth toe permaucutly reversed ; liasal |ilialaui;'e.s
of toes alilircniatcd. ."-^teruum doulily notched. Salivary i.dimds highly
developcil. llyoidean apparatus pcculiai'.
C. PSITTACI. IJill enor}uously thick-, sIkuI. hi-li. nnich ai-chcd li-om the
l)asc, tla; upper mandible stroiiL'ly hooked at the end, ecred at base, and
freely movable hy couipleto artii'idatiou with the forehead, the under nian-
diblo with short, broad, truncate symphysis. Keet peninniently zyirodactylo
by reversion f)f the fourth toe, which articulates by a doulile lacet. Tarsi
reticulate. Syrinx peculiarly constructed of three jiairs of intrinsic nuiscles.
Tou.u'ue sliort, thick, lleshy. Sternum entire or h'nestrate. Clavicles weak,
defective, or wantiiifT. Orliit iuor(! or less completed l)y apiiroach or union
of postoibital proiess and lachrymal. Allricial; jisilopaMlie.
D. RAPTORES. Bill usually i.ciwerful, adapted for tcarin-- llcsh, stronudy
di'curvi'd and hooked at the cud, furnished with a cere in which the nostrils
open. Feet strongly lle.xilile, with large, sharp, nutch curved claws graihially
narrowed from ba.se to til), ^'oiivex on the sides, that of the second toi' laiger
than that of the foinili toe, an<l the hinder not .snndler than the second one.
Feet never permanently zygodactyle, though fourth toe often vei-satih'; an-
tt'rior foes lonunouly with one basal web; hallux eonsiderable and com-
pletely incumbent (cxceiit Ciilliiirtiilo'). Legs leatliere(l lo the sull'rago or
beyond. Ileetriees twelve (with rare exceptions); ]ii'imaries sinuate or
einarginate (with rare exc(>i)tions). Sternum singly or doubly notclie(l or
fenestrate. Palate ilcsmognathous. Cai-otids double. Syi'inx wanting or
developeil with only one pair of nnisc'les. .\ltrieial; the young being weak
and helpless, yet ]itilopa'die, being downy at birth.
E. COLUMB.S!. Bill straight, eompre.ssed, horny at the vaulted liji, which
is scparatccl by a constriction from the sol> nieiubranous basal portion. Xos-
of Pif/friir, corrospoiid rospco lively to the ('iii»irloiii(ir/iliir, i'litTiigntnnriihii; and Ci'li'omorjAcc of
Huxley, from whom many of the cliamctcifi arc liorrowcj.
INTEODUCTION. Xvii
trils beneath a soft, tumid valve. Tomiiv of the niiuuhljles nuitually apposuil.
Frontal feathers swucpinj,' in stronjfly convex ontline across base of n])i)er
niaii(li!)!e. Lc.u:s feathered to the tarsus oi' lievuml. iraliiix ineinnbent (with
i\'\v exee[itions), and front toes rarely \velil)ed at l)ase. Tarsus with small
sculella in front, or oltener reticulate, the envelope rather niembn.iious
than eorneous. Head very small. Plumau'e without after-shafts. One pair
of syriiiii-cid muscle.s, .Sternum doulily notched, or notched and lenestrate
on each side. Carotids double. Palate schi/.op;iiatlious. ilono^ramous,
and liiLdily altricial and psiloi)a'dic.
F. OALLIN,Xi. Bill {renerally short, stout, convex, witli an obtuse
vaulted lip, corneous except in the nasal fossa, and witliout consii'iction in
its continuity. Nostrils scaled or feathered. Tonna of nppi'r inaudible ovi'r-
lapping. Frontal feathers Ibrmiiij,'- rc-eiitiant outline at the liase of upper
mandible. Legs usiiallj' leatliercil to the tarsus or beyond. Uallux ele-
vated, with few exceptions (e, if, ( 'racHn and .Uei/u/xidi'iJa:), smaller than the
anterior toes, occasionally waiitinj.'- (as in the Ileinipods). Tarsu.-;, when imt
leathered, generally broadly scutellale. Front toes commonly w(.'l)b((l at
base. Claws blunt, little curved. WiiiLis strong, short, and eoncavo-cdiivcx.
Ri'ctrii'cs commonly more than twelve. Head small. Phimai;!- usually
after-shafted. Carotids doiilile (except Tnni iridic and Mtyajioiliilti l No
iiilrinsi(; syringcal muscles. Sternum very deeply. ,L:'<'Uerally doulily. iiolc-hed.
Falalr srhizoL.'-uathous. Chielly |iolygainous. Pra'coi'ial and iMilopa'dic.
G. I1IMICOL.S. 'fil)ia! liare of feathers for-a variabli' (someliiues very
slightj distance above the suffrago. Legs commonly leiigtheneii. some-
times excessively so, ami neck usually prodiKX'd in (.'orrespouiliug ratio.
Tarsi soutellate or reticulate. Toes never coherent at ba.se: cleft, or united
lor a short distance by one or two small movable liasal wi'ljs ([lalinate only
in lirriircirdslra. loliate only in I'lniliiriiiiniliiln-). Hallux always rc(hiced,
obviously elevated and free, or wanting; giving a foot of cursorial char-
acter. Wings, with i't^w excejitions, lengthened, pointed, and Hat; the inner
primaries and owUn' secondaries veiy short, l<)rmiiig a strong re-enlran<.'e on
the |iosterior border of the wing. Tail shorter than the wing, of simple
form, and of i\-\\ feathers, except in certain Snipes. Head gloijose. slojiing
rapidly down to the coiitr. 'ted base- of the bill, eomi)letely feathered (except
IViHoiiiKrliiis ^). (lape of bill short and constricted; tip usually obtuse;
liiU weak and llexible. Uoslruiu eonmionly leiiglhcneil, and more or les.s
terete and slen<lcr: mi'inbranous wholly or in great ])art, without hard cut-
ting edges. Xostrils narrow, placed low down, entirely surrounded with
soft skin; nasal Ibssa' extensive. Palate schizognathoiis. Sternum usually
doubly, sometimes -ingly, notcluMl. Carotids doulile, I'tcrylosis of a par-
ticular iiattern. Nature pnecocial and ptilopa>die. Comprising the '• Plover-
Snipe" group; species of medium and .small .size, with never extremely
compressed or depressed body; more or less aquatic, living on jilains and
ill open places, usually near water, nesting on the ground, where the young
run freely at birth.
H. HZ3RODIONES. Tibia; naked bcl,)w. Legs and neck much length-
ened in corresponding ratio. Toes long, slender, never coherent at liase,
where cleft, or with movable basal webl,iug. Hallux fas coinpareil with
that of the preceding and following group) lengthen. mI, Ire.', ,and either
perfectly incumbent or but little I'levatcil, with a large claw, giviie.' a foot of
insc,s.sorial character, Wings commonly olitiise, bul broad and ainpli'. with-
out marked re-entrance on posterior border, the iutcrmcdiate rcuiiges not
'I.. 1. (•
xviii ?T0ETI1 AMERICAN BIRDS.
liciiij;' iniicli iilibroviiitiMl. Tail sIidiI iind l'i'w-H';vt!i(>r(.'(1. Iloiid luii'row, co-
iiicii-ol.>ngato(l, <,'ra(liially coiitrat'tiiij; to tliu lai-go, stout l>asu ol' lliu Mil; the
loral and (.rbital iL'<,'ioii, nr the wliolo lii'ad, nuked. Gape of tlio bill (looply
fissured; lip usnaily acute ; toniia hard nnd euttiiij,', liiU eonieo-elonijate,
al\va_\f longer f'un the head, stout and llmi. Nosti'ils small pluei.Ml hiuli
up, with entirely buny and horny, ni- only slig! ly nieinbranons, surround-
ings. l'l<'rylosis nearly ])eeuliar in the prcsenee, almost throui;honl the
group, of powder-down tracts, raicly lound elsewhere; pterylic very narrow.
I'alate dcsmognathoirs Carotids double. Altricial. Comprising the Herons,
Storks, Ibi.ses, etc. (not Cranes). l>peeies usually of large stature, with com-
pressed body and very long S-bent neck; perching and nesting usually in
tri'es, bushes, or other high places near water; yoiuig hatching' weak, .scarcely
feathereil, and reared in the nest.
I. ALECTORIDES ' Tibiiu naked below. Neck, legs, and feet iuuch as
ill the last group, l)ut hallux reduced and obviously elevate 1, with small
claw, the resulting foot cursorial (natatorial and lobate in Fulled). Wings
and tail commonly as in Ilerodloiien. Head lc>s nairowed and conic than in
the liust, fully feathered or with extensive baldness (not with definite ludvcd-
ne.ss of loral and orbital regions). JJill of various shape, usually leiigllicned
and obtuse, never extensively membranous. Rictus moderate. Nostrils
lower than in //froilloiici. Pterylosis not ])ccnliar. Palate schi/.ognathons.
Carotids do\ible. Nature ])riecocial and ptiloi)a'dic. Comprising the Cranes
and Rails and their allies; the former agreeing with the Ilemdhvies sujier-
licially ill stature, etc., lint lii.ghl}' diver.se in the schizognathous palate,
pia'corial nature. et(.'.
J. LAMELLIROSTRES. Feet palmate; tiltia' feathered fexcept Phir-
iiicoji/erus). I<cgs near centre of equilibrium of the body, its axis horizontal
in walking; not lengthened except in J'l«riilc(ijitcriis. Kuei'-Joint rarely
cxserted beyond general skin of the body. Wings moderate, reaching when
folded to, but not bej'ond, the n.sually .short and rounded (exceptionally long
and cuneate) tail. Feet tetradactyle (except sometimes in Phauiicnptcrw) ;
hallux reduced, elevated and free, often inilepeudently lobate. Hill lamel-
late, i. e., furnished along each comini.ssural edge with a regular series of
nnitually adapted laniiuic or tooth-like processes, with which correspond
certain laciniate processes of the fleshy tongue, which ends in a horny tip.
Bill large, thick, high at ba.se, depressed towanls the end. membranous to
the broad obtuse tip, which is occupied by a horny '•nail" of various shape.
Nostrils patent, never tubular; nasal fo.s.sie slight. No gular pouch. Plu-
mage dense, to resist water. Eyes very .small. Head high, ecjin]iressed,
with lengthened, sloping frontal region. Palate desmognathous. Repro-
duction priccocial ; yomig ptilopa^dic. Eggs numerous. Carotids double.
Sternum single-notched. Comjirisiug Flamingoes and all the Anserine birds.
K. STEOANOPODES. Feet totipalmate; hallux lengthened, nearly in-
cumbent, scmilatc'ral, completely united with the sci'ond foe by a lull weti.
Til)iie feathered ; position of legs with refereitce to axis of body variable,
but generally far posterior ; knee-joint not (ree. Wings and tail variable.
Bill of very vai'ialile shape, never lamellate, wholly corneous; its toniia
often s(>rrate; ext<'rnal nan^s very small or finally abortive. A prominent
nakeil gular poni.'h. Tarsi rctii'ulafe. Sternum entire or nearly so; i'urcu-
1 (!ion)is fl., TI., and I. arc respectively cipial to the CAovd/n'oidory/Ad', /'(/((rr/wwojvj/irt', and
Ocrnnotiwrphcc of Huxley.
XIX
IXTRODrCTloX.
lum conllucnt witli it.-; kcol. ('arotiils iloul)lo. Piilate liifrhly dcsmorjna-
thons. Kcprodiiciioii altricia! ; yoiuifi- [isilopiuilic or iitilopiiMlic. l\L;\irs
tKii/c 111- !l'A\ci-.
Li. IiONGIPiiNNES. (To riosl of the eliaractcrs of tlio fjToiip Iiltc frivcli
ttu' li'cims llaliidi-iniia is a sii,Mi:il "xci'iitiou, tlioi'.ijh uii(|iK,'Stioiialily Iprloiig-
iiiij; liiTc.) F('(.'l ;)aliiiatL'. Tiliia' fua'liiTiMl. Loffs at or near <'fiitiv of iMiui-
liliriuiii, alliii-iliiii: liorizoiital posilioii of axis <,f l)oily in wall<iii,i,'. Kir'c
scarcely IniricMl in coniiiioii iiitcji-miic- • ; tiliia sonictinus with a ionj,' apo-
physis. Hall. IX ck'vaicil, froc, fuiu ^Icss : very sinall. rudiincntary, oi'
wantiiiir. Piosti'iini of varialjlc shape, usually compressed and strai<,dit to
the hooUed end, sometimes entirely sti'aij;ht and acute, i/onnnonly lenj;lh-
ened, always eoriieoiis, without serration or true lanielhe. .Nostiils of vaii-
ous forms, tuliular or simply lissiu'cd, never abortive. No gular poueh.
WiuLis very lonf? and pointed, siirpa.'Jsing' the base and often the end of the
laru'c, well-formed, few-feathered tail. Carotids doulile. Palate sehizo"--
iiathous. Repioduction altrieial; young ptilopiudie. Eggs three or fewer.
Habit highly volueral.
M. PYGOPODES. I'Vet palmate or lobate. 'J'ibiie feathered, ollen with
a long apo[)hysis, always buried in common integument nearly to the heel-
joint, necessitating a more or less erect posture of the body on land, where
progression is <liltieult. Hallux small, ch'vated or wanting; feet lobate or
palmate. liill of indet<'rminat(; shape, wholly corneous, never lamellate or
serrate, nor with gular poueh. N'ostrils not abortive. Wings very short
reaching .scarcely or not to the base, never to the tip, of the .short, some-
times rudimentary, tail. Palate .sehizognathotis. Carotid usually double
sometimes single (in Poilicr/is and Mer(/ii/ii«). Nature altrieial or pnecocial •
young ptilopa'die. Highly nalatoi'ial.
IV. SPHENISCI. With general characters of the last group, but di.s-
tiiiguislied by uni(|ue ])tilosis and wing-structure, etc. Plumairc without
apteria, of singularly modified .scale-like feathers on m.ost ])arts : no devel-
oped remiges. Wings unlit llor llight, insusceptible of ])eriect llcxion or
extension, very short, with peculiarly llattencd lioiies and stable articulations.
Skeleton iion-pneuinatic. Many bones, terete in ordinary birds, here nattened.
iMctalarsal bone flattened transversely, doubly H'liestrate. Hallux elevated,
lateral, minute, free. No free pollex. Two a.iconal sesamoids; patella
from double centres; tibia without apophJ^sis; a free tarsal ossicle. Ster-
num with long lateral apophyses. Pelvic connections un.stable. Caro-
ti.ls double. Comprising only the Penguins. Conlined to the Southern
Hemisiihere.
Ilaviiij^- tlius presented and defined an aminn;enient of the hi,i,dier groups
into which recent Carinate birds are siisce])til)h! of division, I ne.xt jiroceed
to tlie consideration of tlie North American Families of birds wliich tlie
authors of tlie present work have provisionally ado])ted as suitable to
the end they had in view. Professor 15aird uro^s the caution that the
scheme is intended merely for the cimvenient deternn'iiation of tlie Xortli
American s])ec::>s, aware that in many instances diaono,scs or antitheses of
entire pertinence in such application woidd fail or be negatived by con-
sideration of the e.xotic forms. The arrang(>ment of the fannlies here
adojited is essentially that presented in 18.uS in Pi'ofessor Baird's "Birds of
XX N()liTI[ AMERICAN BIRDS.
Nortli America," modified somewiiat in" acc.rda.ico witli more recent views
ol Professor Sundevall and others. lint heio.e proceeding to the analysis
of tlie families, J will introduce an aititicial .lew to the preceding hi-dier
groups as ail.,pteil, so far as they are represented by North A^merican
species.
AKTUMCIAI. KKY TO TIIK KoliKlJOIXO IlKUfKH (iliOrPS,
B, m-ans ,f vhlch ,nn, K.rtI, A,„nean ,.ir,l „„., I. r.;./,/, r.fcn.d to ,ka, gnn<j> to n-hich it
1.1 hfld to lit/iiiiij.
I. Toi's 3 ; i; ill IVoiit, 1 Lcliiiid . .
H. Tot..s ;i ; nil in Irout. T,r..s elrlt ..r seinipalmat.. . .'.'.'. .'' L,m,;''!|''J'
Toes ],„i,Mat,.. \.«tnls tulmlar . . . ' . Yun.u'^xnks'
^''«tnls not tnl)uliir rvior.n.F^
in. T,.,.s 4 ; 2 in IVont, o ,„.,.in,l. liill mv.laml hnuknl .... . 1™^:
,v T . ., ■ r , I'-ill Mcitli.T.viv.l noihoukr.l. [Ciri!/; or r/d) Picvui.r
IV. Iocs 4 : 3 m front, 1 lirliind.
1. Toes .symlac'lvli' . . ,,,,-, t,
^. Toes totiiuilinatc (all lour ln]l-wcl,licil) «.,.i.., ...
3. Toe.s palniati'. Hill (iiivci iiii ,
,,.,, ' r,i.Mii()i,.E.
I'lllMof.nmMlnp; Ian„.llatp . . U.MiaunosruK.s.
not lamellate ; Imllux loliatc . Pyodimdk.s.
hallux not loliatc l,(i.\(iii'KN.NF.>i
4. Toes lobate. Tail nuliinontarv i>,.
Tail [lerleet. A honi.v frontal .sl,iel,l . ALKcroitmi;,..
N'o honi.v frontal sliiel.l .... Li.ViCdi,^.
5. Toes .seinipalniate ; .joineil l.y evid.-nt niovalilr- lia.sal well (A).
6. Toe.s cleft to the base, oi' there ininiovalilv cohiTeiit (B).
A. Hind toe elevated aliove the level of the ivsl.
Tibia' nake;l below. Xostrils iii'ifoiate . \,,. ,.•,.„„,
Nostrils imperforate. Tarsi reticulate. Head bald . llKiionio.sKS.
Head feathered Li.Micoi.yE.
Tarsi scutellate in front . . LiMlcoL.f:.
Tibia feathered below. No.strils iierforate KvPToers
Nostrils imiierforate. Gape reachincr below eye. (Oiipscli) Picvuix!
Oapc not reachinj; behnv eye . Gai.i,in,e.
AA. Hind toe inserted on the level of the rest.
Tibia, naked below Hkkoihonks.
Tibia; feathered below. Hill eered and hooked li.\iTOUFs
Hill not cered. Xa.sal membrane .soft and tumid . C'ui,r.MB.«.
Xa.sal .scale hard and flat . . . Gali.ix.«.
B. Hind toe elevated above the level of the rest.
Oape n.a,d,inK helow eye (Cyi>scU) Pic ah,^;.
(.ape not below eye. First jMimary emar<,'inate or about e(|Ual to 2d . . Limichl.k
'■'•■^t I"'i'iiaiy not eniaiginate and much shorter than 2d, Ai.ectoiudes.
BB. Hind toe inserted on the level of the re.st.
Xostrils oiieiiins beneath .soft swollen membrane Coi.r.MB^B.
Xostiilsotlierwi.se. Hill eered and hooked ]{aitoi(E,'<.
Bill otherwise. .Secondaries only six . . (Ci/j>sdi) PlcAlil^;.
Secondaries more than six (") . . . Pas.seue.s.
(</) Primaries 10 ; the 1st more than '^ as lonj; as thi. longest. {ri,matorcs) Passehes.
PriinaiieslO: the 1st not Saslonpasthelongest. I ,„ . ,
Primaries 0. ' I (^«''"'««) • • Passekes.
INTRODLX'TION.
liOouiTinj,' now to consideration of the Xortli Ariicrican Fioni/ir.-i of tlic
f(jrenoiii- iii-Iici\ni(Hips, 1 take \\]> tlu; latter in the luitiiral order in wiiich
tiiey have lieen |ire.seiitcd, giving uiuk'r liead of eacii sueh yronp an iinah-.^jis
of tlie Xortli American families by vhicli it is rei)re.sented, reiterating tlie
cantion that the ciiaractors are drasvn u]) only with reference to the Xortli
American genera, and are, con.seinieiitly, not necessarily or always ajiplicalile
uiion wider considerations. These analyses are made as nearly natural as
the state of the case permits, bnt 1 seize npon aay obvious external char-
acters which may be afforded, without regard to their morphological si<'-
niticance or taxoiioniic value.
AsALvsL^J OF Tin; F.\Mii.iKS OF PASSERES.
A. Oscines. Miisicul iippanitns liiglily developed. liuck of liir.siis iindividwl
or I'oniicd ol' a lew .sciitclla distiiR-t from those lapjiiiio- ovlt the front. First
priiiiaiy wantiiiir, spurious, or at most not over two thirds the leugtli of the
lon^-i'st.
H. Each side of tarsus eovereil with .a plate iiiuiivided in most or all of its
leiii,'th, aii<l meetiuf,' its I'eiiow iu a sharp rid^'e heiuiid.
b. I'riMiaries only nine.
c. IJili trian-uiar, depre.-sed, ah.iut as ivido at base as loii-r; tliu
gape twice as lung as tiie ,uhnen, reaehing t„ about opposite the
eyes; tomia straijriit or -eiitly curved. X,, ohvion.s rietal bristles
Tar-si not longer than the lateral toe and elaw. WiiiL's Ion- and
pointed, the lirst primary eiiual to or longer than the .seeond." Cen-
tral tail-i;.,.thers not half as long as the wing . . . Ifirnndinidw
cc. ttill variously eouiuo-elongate or slender, or. if depre.s.sod with
long rietal bristles: gape not nearly twice as Ion- as .Milmen • tomia
straight or genily curved. Nostrils not obviouslv nearer eulincn
than tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw.
Bill very slender, acute ; cuhiien rather concave at base Lon-
gest secondary acuminate, nearly or quite equal to the priin-ries
in tlio closed wing. Hind claw little curvc.l. about twice as Ion-
as the middle claw. Hind toe and claw longer than middle toe
and claw ^r, n-i
am variously conieo-elongate and acute; ciilmen not concave
at base. Longest secondary not acnininate. falling far short of
primaries in the closed wing. Hind daw well curved, not nearly
twice as long as middle claw ; hind toe and claw not lon-er than
niiddle toe aiul claw. Gape ample; tongue slightly bilid or
brushy, if at all ... . <.--;■,•;
lii I leiigtliene.1. very acute, even dcurved. Wings and (eel as
in the last. Gape con.strieted ; toi.gno generally deeply bilid
or brushy ... ^ ^, , . ,
Till , ••••... Carcouhv.
ccc. Bill more or le..s truly conic, usually short, thick; commissure
iKsnal ly more or less evidently abruptly angulated near the base or
with l,jbe or tooth further forward. Xostrils obviouslv nearer cul-
meu than tomia. Tarsus longer than lateral toe and claw.'
.u,„l, 11. ai th. ba,se ; the convs|,nn,ln,g portion of tl„. upper maiulibi,. is deep, so that the
^^l[ , NORTH AMKKK'AN BIRDS.
Bill stout, ImiiicI, cdiivcx in lu'aiiy all its outliiics; toiiiia not
iinj,'ulatL'il, Init willi one or iiioro lobes or iiii.'lis in advaiK^o of
till- liasr. Nostrils [ilacc'il vrry hi^li. < )llic'i' characti'l's much
as in iSi/lrifulida. Colors chiclly rcil and yellow. Uno }j:unus of Tiinaf/rida;.
Bill truly conic, much shoilcr than head, usually with the an-
gulation fvidciit; no lolic alonir middle of tomia, hut usually a
notch at cud. Nosti-ils placed very hi^di. Rictal liristles usually
obvious Friii(jini(l(T.
Bill coinc, but leiii,'thenud, little if any .shorter than head; tho
anjrulatiou of tho tomia evident ; no notch at end. Nostrils hij,di.
No rictal bristles Icteridcc.
hb. Prinuuies ten.
Otherwise with characti'rs iimeh as in Icterkhc . . . Sliirnidw.
d. Nostrils concealed with antrorse bristly leathers (except in
Psiloy/iiniis ai.d (I'l/nndikilUt)}
Base of bdl sheathed with antiorse bristly feather.'!, having
lateral branches to their very ends ; its tip mostly notched.
Basal joint of middle toe united oidy half-way to the lateral.
Sides, of tarsus occupied by a lateral groove, mostly Idled in
with small plates. First ])rimary more than half as long .as
second. Large, — over seven inches Cnrvidce.
Base of liill with two tufts of bristly feathers, ending in sim-
ple filameiils without lateral branches, its tip mostly nn-
notched. Ba.sal joint of middle toe united nearly all its length
with the laterid. Sides of tarsus ungrooved. First primary
lo.ss tli.in half as long as second. Small, — under .seven incho.'!. Paridce*
dd. Nostrils exposed.
r. Tail seansorial, with rigid acute leathers. Whole bill
slender, compres.sed, acute, deeurvcd. unnotehed, unbristleJ
Outer toe nnieh longv'r than inner Ccrthiidce.
ce. Tail not scansoiiat, graduated. First primary not le.ss
(gener.ally more) than half as long .is the second, and inner
toe uniteil to the middle by at least one half (usually more)
of the length of its basal joint.
Tarsus with few obsciu'c .scutella. Ilictal bristles present.
Bill stout, but not toothed nor hooked. Wing excessively
round d (fifth, sixth, and seventh priuun-ies longest), nnich
shorter thiui the long graduated tail. Size smaU. I'lumage
brown, nnbaude.l Cliamceadw.
Tarsus distinctly scntellate. Nostrils wholly expo.sed,
nostrils aro iip.iror the .ulnicn than the tonna. The whole bill is more or less bent in its axis from
the axis of the erauial base, so that the palate curves down, or is excavab'd or, as it were, is lirokcu
into two plants meeting at an angle, - one plane the anterior hard imperforate roof of the mouth,
the other the back palate where the internal nares are situate (.Sundevall). The singde North
.\nieriean genus of T<nui<i,-i<hv {Piiroii.j.i) is here eonveutionally ranged on aeeount of its high
nostrils an.l conic bill, although it does not show angulati.in of the toiuia. The TcUrhhv, with
obviously angulated tomia, shade into th<' Fi-imjiindn- in shortness and thickness of hill, and into
other fannlies in its length and slenderness.
1 These two genera, PsUoMiitis and Oniiiiwl-M', of the fannlv Cornda; have naked nostrils,
as under (/'/, but otherwise show the I'haraeters of ('iirn'ilii'.
2 With the f'iiriJa- the authors of this work inehnh' the Nuthatches as a subfamily Sittina:,
whicli 1 prefer to dissociate and phiee as a group of eipial grade next to Cnihiidit.
IXTRODUCTION.
xxm
scaled. No rictal l.i'isllcs, hut l,)ial Cralliri's will, l,n>i|y
points. JJill slcllllcr, lliil IKit'jlu'd II, ,1- lin,,i.;,.,l. Willys
ami tail iiuMlcnitcly nMin,!,.,] : immiIilt very iiiiirli slmiur
tliau Iho other. 8i/e siimll. Cohir l,;-owii,' ete., the wiiiirs
au.l tail haired or uii.liilated 7h„//,„/,,/i,/a:
Tarsus distinetly.seiitellate. -Vostrils overhiin;,' diol eon-
coaled) with bristly Ibather.^. Ilietal hrislk's prosciil,
stroll;;-. Hill powerl'iil, eoiiipresseil, slrouiily ii,,ti-iu.il,
toothed, and hook-e,l. \Viii,t;s ami tail iii,„l,.ra"te. Lar^'e!
Colors hlaek, whit,., and n-ray . . . . " JMniklw.
eee. Tail not seansorial. First primary less than half as l,)iig
as the see,)n,l.' ,ir ahoin halt'Ms I, mi;;-, in whi.-li ,.as,. tin. inner
too is elel't nearly to its h,-ise ( /'ami /f).
f. liasaljoini ol' middle too iiniioU .some ilistanee with
the inner, ami iiir half or more of its leiiM-th with the
outer toe.
Basal joint of middle toe .shorter than that of inner
toe, and wholly ailherent to liotli inner and outer toe.s.
Tar.su.s loiiy-er than ini,l,lle toe and claw, (ionvs more
than half the h'ngth of the lower Jaw. liill stoiit, hiifli,
comi)res.sed ; noteli,Ml and ahriiptly iiooked at tip . Vireonidce.
Basal Joint of miildle toe not .shorter than that of
inner toe; united to tlu^ outer for ahout two third.s, to
the inner for uhoiit, one half, its len^nh. Tar.sus not
longer than the middle toe and claw. Gonys le.ss
than half the length of the uinler Jaw. Bill triangular,
niueh depres.se(l at ba.so, moderately notched, and
''""'^'•■''•■'t'il'' impelkhe.
Basal Jomt of niiildle too shorter than that of the
inner toe, united to the outer for ahoiit two thirds, to
the inner for about one half, its length. Tarsus long,.,-
tlian middle toe and elaw. (ionys more than half Uio
lengtli of the under Jaw. Bill very weak and slen-
der, little decnrvi.d or notched at tip. Very small,
— under six inches long. (Tarsi booted in Ile^/ulJ,
distinctly .sentellale in /Vw^)/i7,,.) . . . ' . ' Sijlviidw
//■ Ba.salJointof middle toe rpiit,. free from the inner
and not united with the outer more than half-way.
Nostrils linear, low. Xo bristles or bristly points
whatever about the mouth. Wiii„s short, rounded
concavo-conve.x-. Tail very short, nearlv concealed
by Its coverts. Tarsi booted .... Ciitclila;
Xostrils oval. Bristles or bristly points about tli,.
mouth. Wings very long and pointeil, roaehino-
When folded, beyond the middle of the short, square,'
or cmarginate tail, and one and a half times nr more
ilSI'Ilt,
m" \ H r'"''' ''.T\ ''' '"■ '"'"■"■'' "' ''"'"' — '"-tieii, ,li,n.ri„g iVen, th,.
soutli;:':^;':' '^ *^""""' "• ^"''"^''"" -^ "'^ '^'-^^ ^"^'- > ^" '^^"^'--^ ^-^ -tenor
xxiv Xt)RTir AMERICAN BIllDS.
the li'lii,'lli of llu' laltcr; tip (brtiiod by sccciiul, tliird,
!iiiil lourlli iiuills; outer sccDiidiiry i'i'iicliiii|;' only
aliout two liiirds ■way to end of longest ]ii-iin:ify ;
spurious i|iiill very short. Tiii'si booted . . SftMCuUda:
Xo.itrils ov.d. Drislles or bristly poinls uliont llio
iiioiitli. Wiiii;s iiioder:ile. not reaehiii;/. when tbldi'il.
beyond tlic middle ol' Ihe tiiil, mid not over one and
H third times as Ions;; us tiie latter; tipl'ornied by third
to sixth (|uill : outiT secondary reaehin};: in closed
winLi' three Iburlhs or more the lenulh oC the lonirest
prima.T. Spurious (piill louuer. someliines one halt'
the seeond. Tarsi senteUato in Minihin', booted in
TiinliiHr . Turdidce.
au. Outside of tarsus covered wi'' two series of sculella, — one lapping; en-
tirely around in li'oul, the other entirely around lieliind. and uieclinu- at a
j;roovL' on the inside; hind ed;^i' blunt. Kirsl primary spurious or apparently
wanting. Hind elaw nuieh lenglhened. scarcely ciu'vcd. Nostrils with
antrorse liristly feathers. Bill conico-elougate ..... Ahiiidida:.
B. Clamatores. Outside of tarsus covered with ii series of plates variously
airaiiged. iapiiing entiiely around in front and behind, to moot at ii groove on
the inner side.
First primai-y lengthened, often longest, at least over two thinls as long as the
longest. Kill bi-oad at the base, luuch depressed, tapering to a line point, which
is abrii[)lh' drcur\c<l; culmen rounded or llalteiied ; gonys llattened; commissure
straight, or nearly so, to the tip. Nostrils small, circular, basal; overhnng, but
not concealed by bristles. Mouth caiiacions, with broad and deeply lissured
rictii.s, bosel with numerous long strong bristles. Feet small, weak. Tail of
twelve feutliers Tijrannidce.
Analysis lU- tin; Fa.mii.iks or PICARIiB.
."^econilarios only six.
Bill temiiroslral, longer than head, nearly cylindrical, (iape oonslrictod.
Ton.iruo liliform, oxtensile. lii-Iiibular. Wii'ys long in terminal jiortion, ab-
breviated proxiiually, acute. I'lumage ■impact, of metallic sheen. Si/e
smallest of all liirds. (Ilniiiniing-Hirds,) 'J'rochilida:
Srcoiidarics more than six.
Feel sviidaclvle bv comiation of outer and middle toes.
Ouler toe niuch longer than the inner, uniled for half its li'iigth with
the middli', fonuing a broad sole. Tiliia' nal<ed below. Bill longer
than head, straight, acute, with hard cutting edges and ample rictus.
Tiuigne rudiiucntiuy, lixed. Wings pointed, much longer than the short
scpiare tail. Tail-H'ati.crs twelve. I'lumage compact, oily. (King-
fishers.) Alredinkhv.
Feet zygodactylc' by reversion of outer or fourth toe.
Not scan.sorial; tail of eight or ten long soft featlier.s. Bill with de-
curved tip, not fitted for h.immeriug; rictus amph'. Tongue not ex-
tensile nor vermiform nor liarbed. Salivary glands and hyoidean appa-
ratus not peculiar, .No nasal Mills of feathers, .\rboreal and terrcstiial.
(f'uckoos.) Ciiniliilo'.
' K\(V)iliiig f'iniii/.s, ill whi.h ilic true liiiid tuf (hidhiv) is wmitiiig; the outer or fourth too
hiiiig, lunvi'vcr, ivvcrscd ,is usual, and taking the place of the hind toe.
INTRODICTroN. XXV
Ili'j-lilv soiuisoriiil ; tail nf iwi'Ivc liiiiil Mi'iiniiiiMli' U'uiIum-s. whcrcor ilio
(iiilcr |i;iir lire slinri iiml >]iiiriniis, I'nin-calcil lirlwi'cn liases iil' iirxl two
iiaiis. liill sldiit. sli-aiuiit. witli tin- tip iruiicatf or uciitf, not. (Ii'cui-vimI,
— ail clliciciit rhisi'l lor liaiiiMici-iiiL;' and lioriiiir wood. Toiiu'iK! vcniii-
liirin, I'xiriislic,' and liarliiMl. Salivary ulaiids lariir ; livoidrau apparatus
peculiar. Nasal tiil'ls iisiiallv presoiil. Arlioreal. (Woodperkers.) . Picidtv.
h'e"i in'illier syiidaetyle nor /yjiiidaelyle.
i''eet seniipalinale. ol' iioriiial ratio of plialaii,L,a's. Anterior toes eoii-
lieeted at liase I'y iiioxaM" welii'iiiL;'. Hind toe very siuall. elevateil,
seiiiilaleral. Middle toe prodiieed, its lai'L:'!' elaw peeliiiale. iiil! fis-i-
r(.stral, with very sniail, irianj;nlar. depressed horny -lart and ininieiisc
rii'lus, reaehinj,' lielow the eyes, runiislieil with hristles. Katlier larL;-e.
I'liinueje soli and lax. iniieli varieiiateil ..... ('(lun'iniilijiilw.
Veet seareeiy or not seniipalniate. ol' I'reiiiiently alinoniial ratio ol' pha-
laii'j-es (middle or outer loi', or liolh. with I'ewer Joints than usual aiiion;_'
l.irds). Hallux very small, elevated. I're.Mlenlly lateral or ver-alile.
Middle toe not prodiiei'd nor its elaw peeiiiuite. liill niueli as in tin'
last, liiil rietus niiliristled. Small. IMiiniaLrc compact, of li'W sim|ilo
suhdued colors C'l/jiscliihi:
Family oi PSITTACI.
To eliaraelers of Pxillaci adil: Cere reallui-cd, concealiiuj- the no.-trils. Feet
f^ranular. rii^:-ose. Wiiius poinieil. Tail ciineate. I'lumanc coarse and dry.
IFeail I'ealliercd. Colors },'reeii, with \ ellow and Mile .... /'sillitcidar
AsAi.vsis Ol- Fwni.iKs Ol RAPTORES.
Feet highly raptorial, with larue, siroiii;', sharp, eurveil, .oniraetile claws,
adapted lor tjraspiiij.'. Hallux perfectly iiieiinilient, leiiLStheiied (more than half as
lonjj' as the fourlli toe), with laiye elaw. Front toes with sliiaht liasal \,'eliliinj;
hetweell enter or middle oiie<, or iio|ii>: outer loe dflcil leVcM'silile. N'osirils iiii-
pi'rl'orate. liill >horl, sioui, noi notalily eoniracle(l in iis eoniinniiv. with
str.iliL.'iy hooked lip; lomia ofieii oin'c-lwice loollied or lolied. Head I'ealliereil
ulioliy or ill c;i,.,iicst part. Lower larynx developed with one pair of niiisele.-t.
riiiiiiai;'e with or willioiit afli'i'-shal'ts. ('(cea present, as a rule, it' iiiit alwavs.
l'hy-io;_'iioiiiy peculiar liy reason of ercal laleral expansion ami leiejlliwise
.sliorleiiiiii;- 111' the cranium. cansiiiL;- the eyes to he direciecj forward. l\ves
siirroniideil hy a ili-c of radiatiiij,' hrislly fealliers. in front closely appressed
to ami hidin.L;- llie l.,ise of the liill. cUewhcre lioiimled hy a rim of dill'eri'lilly
formeil fealheis. Toliiia nexcr loolhcd or lolii'd. N'o-lrils usiiallv at tliecdire
of the ,-i're. ( Inter loe completely versatile, shorter than the inner toe. liasal
phalanx of middle toe not lonci'r than ihe second, and iniieh shoiler (hail llu"
next. Lees eonmioiily fcathcri'd or lui^lly lo or on ihi- toes. riiniiap>
peculiarly -oft and lax, wiihout alier— lial'ls : lli;jlit perll^clly nni<eless. Cra-
nial walls widely separated hy inlervcntioii of spoiiLiy dipknv .^ternuni
comnioiily doiiMy iioli'hed. Cliielly iiocltirnal Sfn'ijiilii:
i'hysioe-mimy imi pei'uliar in any lateral cspaiision of the cranium; i\u'
eyes lateral in dirci'iioii. X,i .■omplelc faciiil disc; liase of liill not hidden liy
' Kxi'cptiiic; S/}/iiiriiii!i'i(K, in wliieli (lie tonfjiic is iml iiioiv piiidiisililc lliau in nidiiiary hirds,
'•* (liir species falls ratlicr in a ri'stii,ted I'aniily Ari<l,r, as distiiij,'iii>liiMl tVoiii Psilldcida' proper.
VOL. I. ,/
XXVI NORTH AilKRICAN BIRDS.
apprcssoil liristlcs. Nostrils wholly in llio core. Outer too I'arrly vcrsatilo,
c'Xfopt Pandiou, ctf. ; imt slioitcf iIkiii tlic iiiiiiT. lias:il iiliiiliUix ol' liiiiUUo
toe loii^nM' than tiio socoiiil. Iyui;s coiiiinoiily iiaUiMJ and si'iitellalc or ft'ti(,'U-
late ill sonio poitioii of liioii- luni;th ; toes always hare ami scaly. Pliimairo
I'oiupai't, tisiially with al'tor-shal'ts; lliL;hl aiiiiililo. Cranial walls with little
(liplc)L'. Slc'innni coiiiinonly siiijrlo-nolL'hud ur ffiic'sti-ale, .soinotiincs entifc.
Diniiial Falconida.
Feet .scai'ccly raptoi'ial. with Icntrlln'iu'il. little ein-veil or eontfaetile, weak, shoil
claws. Hallux elevated, shoi'leiieil, not mnic than hall'as lonp; as the fointh toe,
with small elaw. Fionl toes all welihed al lja.se : middle toe lenf;thened ; outer
not I'evei'silile. Jiasal jihalanx ol'niidille toe Idiiirer than either of the sneeeedintr.
No.^trils [lerbrate. Rill lengthened and eonipiu'atively weak, little hookeil. con-
tracted in its continuity ; toinia not tiMithed i>r Kilied. Head naked of leathers
in frreatcst part; spar.sely liristly. No lower lariiyx de\<'loped. No eo'ca.
After-shafts absent Calhartidce.
Famii.v 01 COLUMB^.
With eharaeters essentially as in C'lilniiilxi' lexelusive of those peculiar to Di-
dHKcndidw and hldidiv). P'-'niajri' without al'ter-shal'ls; the feathers with thick-
ened, sjiouiiv rhachis loos y inserti'd in the skin. 1 eail small, completely
It'athercd. exie|)tinji' .sometiiues a I'ireuurorliital space. Tarsi naked or oidy
leathered a little way above. Tail oi' twelve ti'.ither^. or IfUuthciuMl, euneate. and
of fourteen. (Hallux not perfectly ineumbenl in .V/((,/,aj('/x.) . . . CnlumhidcE.
An.\i.v.si.« of Famii.iis ol GALLINiE.
Hind loo lenLrtheiied, insistent. Tail-tisithers Iwclve. Sides of head and
throat ,vith naked spaces. Color .L;reeiii>h Crucidw.
Hind toe shortened, elevated. Tail-fealhers usually lburtei;ii or more. No
li'reen.
Larire. Tarsi, toes, and nasal fo.s.sa- naked. Head Imre of feathers, spar.sely
liristly, with wattles and caruncles. A jicctor.d tufi of bristly leathers.
Tarsi u.sually spiirrc<l in the mali'. I'luiniii;'e iridescent . . . Mcliin/ridida'.
Medium. Tarsi wholly or in L:real part, soineliincs also the toes, ami always
the nasal fossa', lealheri'd. Head completely fcatlicr(>(l. excepting,' a deliiiite
papillate strip over the ey(>. Tail-feathers sixteen or more. Sides of neck
usually with leiejllcued feathers, oi' a nakc(l distensilile area, or both. No
spurs. I'lumai.;!' without iridescence J'clnioiiidii.
Small. Tarsi, toes, and nasal fos<;e uakod. Head com|)letely feathi^red.
No peculiar feathers or lym]iaiium on side- of neck. No spurs. I'lunia;j<'
'lot iridescent Pvrdicida:
Ax.vi.v.'!!? <ii' FA\ni,ii:s or LIMICOL.S.
Toes not lobate. Tarsi not notably compresse(l.
Lej;'s extremely lonir; the tarsus ei[uallin),' or excccilinj;' the tail, and feet
either lonr-toeil ami |mlmale (/I'rcKvriro^ilrii), or three-toed and .semipal-
inate i IfimaiilDjins); with Ihc liill much loiiL'er than the head, very slender,
acute, and curved upw.iid Iliciirriroftridoi.
l,e;_'s moderate, stout. Tai'Siis shorter than lail. liill hanl, more or less
contracted at liasc, with short nasal lijssa, },'()nydeal an^dc, ami lusceiiding
INTRODUCTION. ^^^^,j;
gonys, the tip either compressod and tiniiieate or ilenressoil and acute.
Feet tliree-toed and with ba.-;al webbin.^' {Ikeumtopus). or Ibur-toed and
cleft (,SV,t;k/A,.) I/cemalopodidce.
Leg.< moderate. Tarsii,s shorter tlian tail, reticulate. Hind toe wantin"
(except in Sijualaro/a, \\here ve'-y .«niall, and in Ajilrraa). Bill short"
strai.Ldit, — not exeeedinfjf the head (generally shorter), — shaped like a
liigeon's, with short, broad, soft nasal Ibssie separated by a constriction li'oni
the enlarged, obtnse, horny terminal part. Head hn\'e, globose, contraetin"
suddenly to the bill. Neck short ...'.... chlradriklce.
Legs moderate. Tarsus shorter than tail, scutellaie. Hind toe present.
Bill long, — ci|nalling, or oftener exceeding, freipiently several times longer
than, the head; sofiish and membranous to the very tip, without constrie-
tion in i(s continuity ; straight or variously curved .... Scolopacidce
Toes lobate. Tarsi notably compressed.
(ieneral characters of ScoJopucida:. liody depressed; the under pluma.^.-
tluckened, duck-hke. Ilnbits natatorial Pladuropodidw.
AxAf.ysis or Famii.ii.s of HER01<I0NJBS.
Hallux lengthened, perfectly incumbent, witli lar-e claw. Tarsi scutellate .Mid
'"''■ '■'"'^' ■l'"-'"^'- '^ill perlectly straight, laperin- acute. Loral re-ion defi-
nitely nak.'d, continuous with covering of the bill. Head narrow. 'elon-'ate
tapering .... . " ^ ' .
Hallux somewhat ivduced, less perfectly incumbent. Tarsi eommonlv reticulate
^[idd e claw not pectinate. Lores, gular space an.l usually more of the head
naked. Bill vanon.sly ,.,nved or with expanded lip. (Genera Tuntalns Ihis
MyckTiu, and P/nhdai.) . . ' ™ , ,
'■••■■•• lantaUda.
Ax.vr.Ysi.i OF F.vMii.rFs of ALECTORIDES,
Of great statuiv, will, exlreinely long neck and legs, I>,m( or all of the head
;are. Iocs much .shorter than the tarsi; with basal webbing, bnt without loba-
'-n : hallux very short, higldy elevated. Bill cptalli:,. or exceeding the head
compressed, perlectly straight, coutracte.l about th, ddle, with eiilar...ed acute
tmninal portion ; nasal fbssa- wide and deep, with large perlbrate nostHls ^ . Gruidce
Sue moderate and small; neck and legs comparatively .short. Head com- '
e ely ,e,U,er...l, excepting, in the Coots ami Gallimiles, a broad l,„rnv Irontal
1 .'t-l. Ines cMua hng or ex.re.ling the tarsi, simple or lobat,.. Bill t'.ot eon-
siric ed m the noddle rather shorter than the head, straight and ,,,1,0 stout: or
-..•li long-'r. regularly .slender and deeurved, with Ion, mi.sal (b.^sa.. Nostrils
incompletely or not perforate -onus
. liaUidcc,
AjfAi.v,«is OF FA.^fIr.IK9 of LAMELLIROSTRES.
ZaXTr "'"'-"■":'■'"'""■">• '""f^"'" I -'■!< -"' i<rs. Hill of „ni,p.e
iKipe, bent abruptly down from the middle. T.bi.e n.ked below. Hind oe
minute or ulLsent. Wings rounded. I!ed the chief color , • , •,
Of moderate si.e; the neck short, or. when leng,,,;,;., ,1 Vompan ■ :'""""'^-
;i;;;tL;;h:hr:^^^ '.■"■" -— v.-i.>-v..opedandnu,c.
iiialiilw.
xxviii NORTH American birds.
ANALYSiti uF Famii.iks OF STEGANOPODES.
Bill rather loiii;er than head, cli'l't to eves. vui'V stout at liasc, tapuriiii,' to the
ilei'urved, but not hookeil, tip. Xo.slrils aliorlivc. (iiilar ,-iac luodci-alo, naked.
Win;/s rather lonjr, pointed. Tail lunjr. .still', euneate, twelve to Iburteen leathered.
Feet nt'arh' heneatii eelilre cit'eipiilibiiinn. (ieneral conli'.'ui'ation i;-oo.se-like . SuUila:.
Bill several times lonf;er than head, sleudei- liul sli-imir, depressed, [lerlectly
strai,;,dit, with small distinet hooked nail at end. Nost|-ils very small, (lular sac
enormous. Mandibular rami nieetini;- only at tip. \Viiit;s extremely Uiw^. with
upward of I'orly remiges. Tail short, rdunded, ol' twenty or nicire feathers.
Leg's beneath eenti-e of eiiuilibrimn. extrenjely short and stunt . . I'cticunidce.
Bill aljout as lontc as head, stout, sti-aiiiht, .scarcely taperiuL:'. slr<iu,L;ly hookeil.
Nostrils aboi'live. Oular sac modei'alc. l>ut evident: mostly nakcil. AVinus
short. Tail large, fan-shaped, sransorial, of twelve to fourteen broad still' leath-
ers, e.Nposcil to the base. Legs inserteil far behind centre' of e(|uilibrium . flraodida:
Bill rathei- longer than head, sleudei-, ]icrfeelly straight, tapei'iug to an acute
tip. Giilar sac small. Nostrils niinute. Wings .'uid tail, and general eonliguia-
tion. as in tin- last Phlklu'.
Bill much longer ihan li(^ad. straight, stout, strongly hooked. Nostrils vei-y small.
Gnlar sac w<'ll dcvidojied. Wings exceedingly long, strong, and ])ointcd. Tail
exceeilingly long, deeply forked. Feet exlraonlinaiily .short ; tarsi partly fcath-
ere(l .............. 'ihrhi/iniiche.
Bill about as long as head, straight, siout. t poring to an acute tip. Nostrils
small, (iular sai' rudimentary, feathered. Wings moderate, jiointed. T.-iil
short, but with two central feathers extraordinarily prolonged and lilamentous.
Feet small, beneath ceiitie of e(piilibrium PhcetlwiitUJa'.
Ax.M.YPis OF Fa.mimks OF LONGIPENNES.
Nostrils not tnbnlar. lateral, ]iei'forate. Bill with continuous covering, or only
broken by a sort of cere, hooked or stiaight 1(3 the end. Hallux small and ele-
vated, but always present l.iirida'.
Nostrils tubular, disjoined and lateral, or oHeliest superior and united in oiu'
(louble-barrelhvl tube. Cove'riug of bill in several pieo's; bill always hookeil.
Hallux minute, rudimentarv. or absent Prui-flhirltdrr.
An.m.vsis of Famii.u:s oi PYGOPODES.
Feel four-li ed, palmate. Hallux lobale, eonneeted at liase with base of innei-
toe. Tail perfect. Head elo.-ely and eomplelely fealhered. N'ostrils with a de-
pending lobe or llap. I3ill .Mraighl, compressed, acute .... Culi/mhiilif.
Feet four-toed, l,:l„;le. Hallux lobale, free. Tail rudimenlary. Head with a
naked loral strip and bristly oi' variously leuglheued feathers. N'ostrils simple.
Bill straight or deeurved al cud. compressed, acute /'tiiHri/n'dti:
Feet Ihree-toed, paiinale. Hallux alisent. Tail perfect. Head closely fcalhci'ed
or variously crested. Nostrils simple. Bill of indeterminate slKqie , . . Alckla:
XORTH AMEEICAN BIRDS.
l-AMir.v TURDID^. — The Thrushes.
Till' Tiirdichr, witli the Sd.rmilido' and ChiclUlcr, form a sroup closely
R'latuu, by conuiinn cliaracters, and appreciaUy diflbrent from tlie utlnJr
ikcincs with slender ])ills and s]iocially inseetivorou.s habits, having-, like
them, ton ja-imaries (the first mnch sliorter than the second, but nearly
always ap])recialile), and tlie nostrils uncovered. The ffcuiit family of
Kjllriniliila-, with similar (:haracter.s of the bill, never present more than
nine i)rimaries. The most striking of these common characters is seen
in the (lce])ly cleft toes, of which the outer is united by the basal joint
alone to tlu; middle toe, while the inner is se])arated almost to the very
base of its first j'oint.i Tiie i'rontal feathers extend, with rare excepti(jns,
to the very nostrils. The I)ill is elongated and suladate, moderately slender,'
and usually notched at tip ; the culmen moderately curved i'rom the base,
and the mouth well ])rovided with bristles, cxcc].t in a few cases. Usually
the .scutelhe coxering the front and sides of the tarsus are fused into one
continuous i.late, or else scarcely appreciable, cKcejit on the inner edge
only; in the :\rockiiig Thrushes they are, however, distinctly marked. The
lateral toes are nearly e.[ual, the cniter lather the longer. With these as
some of the principal characteristics, they may be distinguished irom each
(jther as follows : —
X.)TK. - In 11,0 piv^ciit vv„rk tlio IcPL'th <,f tlic tni! i. mon«nro,l f,-.mi flio ooccvx, i...i,l,. of tli,. .kin
.■in.l i.Mt, as usu.illy tl.o nis,., frn,,. the ba>„ of the .juills „t tlioir msortioii. The winjrs are nioasuiT,!
Iroiii the carpal joint, with dividers.
' bi a iKTl\rtly fresli si„rinien „f T„,;h,x nnisfr/ini,.,. tlie basal ha'r„f the first ]^h>h^^x of the
Miner toe IS ,.o,i„eete,l will, tile li.sl joint of tile ,„i,i,lh. toe by a membrane, whiell sOvtehes
aeross to w,tl„„ two llfths of the end of the latter; tiiere appears, however, to b,. no li.^amentous
" """• ""' ''■'-"' •i"'"f "<■ *'"' ">'''•'■ to,, is eutiivly mlh,.r.^i.t, ami a m,.mbr,iii,. ext.mls frr.ni
nearly tli,. basal half of th,' sir.m,! joint to the distal en,l of the first joint of the n,i,l,lle to...
W lie.i this .•onne.;tiiiK membrane l,,.,;om..s ,l,i..,l lh,. .livision of the to..s appears lonsidi'iably
k'reatel'.
When th,. lo,.s are all ,.xt,.n,h.,| in line with tl„. tarsns, th,' himl claw stivtehi's a little b,.yon.l
llie lati'ial and s.'aively ivaidies Ihi' base of tl„. miMdl,' elaw.
Th,
rlnt,.s at th,. ni,p,.r surface of the basal j ts of the toes are nninlranKiilar ami opposite
eaih otlii.r.
2 NORTH AMERIOAX BIRDS.
A. Nostrils oval. Loral ami I'nnital f(>allii'rs with bristly poiiit.s, or iiitcrspcr.<LMl with
liristlcs ; rirtns with loiiijfcr or sliortcr lirisllcs.
Saxicolidee. Wind's very loii^' ami iiuich pointed, rcaphiii^' beyond the middle
of tlu^ sliort si|nare or eniarginatcd tail, and one and a half times oi- more the
lenpjth of the latter. The spiu'lous priniary very short, tlie second {[uill longer
than the fonrtli. In the closed wini,' the outer si'condary reaches only abont two
thirds the leii{^'th ol' lonijest primary.
Turdidee. Winfrs i lerate, more rounded, not reaching lieyoud middle oi' the
ol'len rounded tail, and not more than one and a third the latter, usually \uinv
nearly eipial. Spurious |)rimary sometimes hall' the len^rlh ol' .secon<l (piill ; tin;
.second ((uill .shorter than the fourth. In the closed wing the outer secondary
reaches thri'c fouiihs or more the length ol' longest primary.
B« Nostrils linear, in lower eclge of iia.sal inembrane. Loial and frontal feathor.s soft
and downy, and no bristles or bristly jioints whatever about the mouth.
Cinclidae. Body very short aiul broad. Wings short, rounded, and concave.
Tlie Aiiievicim Si/lnida' arc in soinc ivs])octs very closiily related to the
f^ri.iic()/i(/(r, bvit iiiiiy be ili.stiiioiii.slied Ijy tlieir nmcli sumller wi/c, more
slender and dejjre.ssed l)ill, more .stronoly bristled rictus, etc. ; on wiiicli
iiccoiint they are more strictly " lly -catchers," ttiking tlieir prey in great
liart on the wing.
Of th(! three t'ainilies, the Tnrdidn- contain a great variety of forms,
and exhibit widely dilVerent characters, rendering it exceedingly diiliciilt
to arrange them in any systematic or regnltir seiinence, or to acciinitely
define tlu'ir boundaries. In the />/r(/.s of Xort/i AiniTicd, the ^Mocking
Tin'ti.slu's were ]ilaced among the Wrens, on account of tiie distinct tarsal
sciitellic, and otiier clitiracters. We tire now, howtiver, inclined to believe,
with Dr. Sclater, that their place is with the recognized Tin-iUda' ; and,
among otiier reasons, on the ground of tlieir more deejily cleft toes, iind
greater extension forward of fronttil fetithers. The following synojisis of
tlie North American forms will serve tlie jiurpose of di^termiiiing the geneiii,
even if these are not arninged or combined in ti strictly natural manner.
Aa Turdinae. — Tarsus covered anierioily with a continuous plute without
scales.
AVings (h'cidedly longer than the tail, which is nearly oven. Bill con-
siderably shorter than the head.
First quill usually not one for.rth the second. Wings pointed. Tarsus
hardly the length of head, but yet longer than middle toe; outstretched
toes falling short of tip of tail ........ Turdns.
B« Mimiiiae. — Tarsi scutellat(> anli>rinrly; scales seven.
Wings decidedlj' longer than the tail, whi(.'h is nearly even. Tarsu.s as
long as the head.
Bill decidedly .shorter than the head, .scnreoly iioteheil ; wings pointecl ;
llrst ([uill less than half the second, third niid l()urlh longest. Claws
not peculiar. Ihistles proiniuent. Tarsus considerubly longer than
middle toe and daw. ........ Orrtiscujitix
8INOIXG BIRDS — USCLNES. g
Wings (Icciilcdiy sliorlcr than the tail, wliicli is cunsidiTably irrailiiati'il ;
/irst q'lill liall'di- nioi(,' llian lialftiie second.
liiil nolclu'd at tip, sliorlur tiian licad ; sttaiuht.
Sculcila; very dislinrt; gonys stniiglit, or even declining at tip. Mimiis.
Scutcllic more or less obsolete; gonys convex, a,-<cending at tip. (idlnmnijiU-.i.
Bill not notched at tip, Icugliiened; sonietinies much decm-ved. JIurjKir/ii/uc/iiis.
NuTK. — III till' l!rvi(nv of American llinls, I., ilay, Ksdti, 400, I liavc^ advanced the suggestion
tliat tlie X. American gcinis Mi/icuMci, usually plai'cij undci- the yhiijiiliihi; ivally lielougs UMilei-
Tiii-iltilii: in a gioiip Mijuidtstinic. The i-elatioli.sliip.s are certaiidy very close, a.s is siiowu by tile
characters given hi-low.
Common C'liAUAcrKiis.— Tarsi without regular transver.se scutelhe, except at lower end.
Wings acute, jMii'ited, as long as or longer than tail, which is liut slightly graduated. Kirst
primary rarely half second, which exceeds the .secondaries, liase of (piills hulfy yellow, as are
inner edges. Tail spotted or varied at the end. Young birds with many light spot.s. Very
nii'loilious singers.
Myiadestiuae. Kill short, inueh depressed ; mouth ilecply cleft ; width at ba.se about iMpnd
to the (listanc- I'rom nostril to tip, or greater ; comnii.ssure more than twice distance from nostrils
to tip of Iiill, and nearly two and a half times length of gonys. Legs weak ; tarsi rather longer
than 'iiiddlc toe and (daw. Tail feathers tajn'ring slightly from ba.se to near tip, giving a slightly
ciiiicate appearance to the tail.
Turdiliae. Mill stouter, more lengthened ; narrow at ba.so and more comi)res.sed ; width at
base less than distance from nostril to tip ; coiiimi.ssure not more than twice distame from
ncstrils to tip of bill, and about twice length of gonys.' Tarsi stouter, longer than middle toe
and claw. Tail feathers widening slightly from ba.se to near ci|), giving a [larallel-sided or
slightly fan-shaped appearance to the tail.
The Mini,, III- dilfcr, as already mentioned, in the scutellate tarsi : more rounded win"s etc —
S. F. IJ.
Subfamily TURDIN^.
There iire several Aiiierieiiii oenei'ii of Tim/ina- not found nortli of
Mexico its yel, iilthough it is not impos.sible that one of these (Cat/iKnis)
may Iiefeafter be detected witiiiii tlie limits of the United States. Tlio
species oi Cathiirus resend)Ie the Xorth Americiin wood-thiushes {Hiilovlchlii) ;
but the si)iirioas or tirst primary cpiill is lunger (from one half to one third the'
second quill), the wings are rounded, not pointed, the tarsus is longer than
tlu! head, and the outstretched toes extend beyond the tail. The species to
lie looked for are ('. invlinnnnu: and ocriilcntaliti}
The Nortli American species of Tnnltiur, while ^W^ned under the singh;
genus Turdus, yet constitute several distinct groups, which we may c'^iU
subgenera.
Genus TURDUS, Linn.i;
i;s.
TiiTdils, LlNN.F.i;s, Syst. Xat., ed. 1(1, 17;VH, 1(!S. (Tvpe, r,n;l„s gis,-ivums of Furopc.) —
BAntn, Uev. Am. IJirds.
Gkn. Ciiau. Bill (■oiiioal, .subulate, .shorter than the head; llie tip gentlv .ieciirved and
notched (e.vccpt in J/,-sj,erurir/i/a) ; the rielus with modorale bristles; the wiiig.s rather
' See Itaird, Heview American liirds, I, 18(14, 7, 8.
4 XOUTir AMElilCAX BIRDS.
long ,111(1 pnintod, with sniiill first |>iiinaiy (less tluui one fourtli tlio si-coml) ; wings pon-
siik'nilily Iohuht tliau tlic tail, wliirli is lirni, iicaily cvni, witii broad H'allicrs. Tarsi
variablr, si'liloni as long as tiic si<iill, tlii' sfiilclla' liiscd into a foiiliiuions pliitc, onl)- in
raro individual instances showing indii'atiuiis ol'lliu lines of separation.
The gc'ims Turdiis is vcay cosniopolitiui, (iccunii'g neurly tliroiigliont tlio
glolie, exL'Cjitiiig in Auxtndin, iiiul eiul)riici.'s .specie.s oi' liighest piiiieetimi
as singers. In the Itirgo nil tuber of species known there arc nitiny vtiriiv-
tious in e.xteriial Ibrni, but the tninsition I'roin one to llie othei' is so griuUial
iis to render it very diilietilt to separtite theiii into ciilerent genera. Tlie
sections of the group we .ulopt are the following : —
tSdcs shitihir.
Hylocichla. .'iiiiancst spcoios. Bill short, broad at base ; iinii'h di'pii'sscd. Tarsi long and
sli'iidrr, loiigiT than niidillc toi' mid daw, by the adilitional Icnglli of tlic daw ; oiitslri'tchcd
li'gs rcailiing nearly to tip of tail. iJody .slender. Color: above olivaceous or reddi.sli, beneath
whitisli ; In-east s]iotted ; throat vithout sjiots.
Turdus. lull stouter and higher. Tarsi stout and short, .seaixely longer than iniihlle toe and
(law. I'lody stout, generally whitish beneath and spotted. {.Second ipiill longer than lil'lh ?)
Planesticus. Sinular to preceding. (.Sec(ni(l ([uill shorter than lil'lli ') liencath mostly
nni-eolored ; unstreaked except the throat, which is whitish with dark streaks.
.SV.res' disslni lliir.
Merula. Similar to 1'((ri!iis. Male usually more or less black, esp(eially on the head ;
rcniales lirowninh, often with streaked throats. ISill distinctly notched.
Hesperocicllla. Siniilur to Tanhis. Hale reddish beueiitii, with u black collar. Hill
without notch.
SunoKxus H7LOCICHLA, Haird.
Ifjlliii'lrlihi, lUlui) (s. g.>, l!ev. .Vm. I.irds, lS(i4, !•_'. (Type, Tiiri!i(.i mii.ifrliiiii.i.)
Tlie essentiiil clitiractcrs of Jli/locicJila luivc already been given. Tlie
stibgenus includes the small North
American sjiecies, with Turdiin iiiiia-
tdiiuis, CJm., at the head as tyi)e,
which are closely connected on the
one side Avitli Catliaruti, by their
lengthened tarsi, and with Turdus
liy the shape of the wing. The
bills are .shorter, more de]iressed,
and liroader at base than in typi-
cal 7'iir(fiis, so much so that the
sjR'cies have fre(iiiently been de-
scrilied under Musrinijid.
It is not at all inijirobable that
naturalists may ultimately conclude to consider the grouj) as of generic
rank.
In this grou]) there appears to lie five well-marked forms or ".sjiecies."
They are, musiclinus, Gm., pallasi, Caban., J'u.sccttccns, Steiih., sicainsoni.
Titrilits mllstdinus.
TUUDID.K — THE THRUSHES.
5
Caliaii., and alirirv, liiiinl. The first-naiiuMl is totally unlike the rest,
wliicli arc moie elosely related ill a]'i)eaiaiiee.
In studyinj;' carel'ully u very larj^e series ul' specimens of all the species,
the i()U()\vin;4- facts become evident : —
1. In autnmu and winter the "olive" cohir of the ])lnmajj:e assumes a
browner cast than at other seasons ; this variation, however, is the same
in all the species (and varieties), so liiat in antnnui and winter the several
species diller from each other as nuich as they do in spring and summer.
Of these live species, two only (iKil/nsi
and siruiiisuni) inhaliit the whole breadth
of the continent; and tliey, in the three
Faunal Trovinces over which they e.\-
tend, are niodilied into " races " or " va-
rieties" characteristic of each region.
The first of these species, as the pKlhml
WAY. piillasi, extends westward to the
liocky Mountains, and migrates in winter
into the South; specimens are very nuicli
browner in the winter than in spring ;
but in the Hocky Mountain region is a
larger, grayer race, the var. ainlnJiuiti.
This, in its migrations, extends along the
central niouutaiu region through Mexico
to (luatemala; si»ecimens from the northern and southern extremes of this
range are identical in all tlie sjiecilie characters; but the southern sjiecimens,
being in the fall and winter dress, are Imjwner in color than northern ones
(siting birds); an autumnal example from Cantonment IJurgwyn, \. ~S\., is
as lirowu as any Central American specimen. Along the raciiic Province,
from Kodiak to Western Mexico, and occasionally straggling eastward toward
the Kocky Mountain system, there is the \ar. iKnina, a race niixillrr tiian
the var. imUdni, and with much the .same colors as var. niiiluhoiii, though the
ndbus of the tail is deeper than in either of the other forms. In this race,
as in the others, there is no dillerence in size between s])ecimens from
north and south extremes of its distribution, becausi; the breeding-] ilace
is ill the Xortli, all Southern sjnicimeiis being winter s(jjourners from their
Xorthern birthplace.
The T. Hwa'uisoni is found in abundance westward to the western limit
of the Ifocky ^Mountain system; in the latter region s[v('ciiiiens at all
seasons have the olive of a clearer, more greenisli sliade than in any Kaslern
examples; this clearer tint is analogous with that of tiie IJucky Mountain
fnrm oi poUntii {<(ii(liih(ini). In precisely the same region inhabiteil by the
pallasi var. ndiius the siridnsdiii also has a representative form, — the \ai'.
iis/ii/otiin. This re.semliles in pattern the var. niniiiixoni. Imt the olive abov(>
is decidedly more rufesceiit, — nuicii as in Ilocky Mountain sperimeiis of
TtirilKs ustulatus.
6 NORTH A.MEKICAN liUlDS.
T. fiisrcsiriiti ; tin- spots on jii_y;uluiii mid l)iviist arc, also muTowor, a.s well
as luinlly darker in lolur than tlio l)ack ; and the lad is l()nj,'fr llian in
llocky Mountain siriu'iisajii, in which latter it is longer than in Eastern
examples. The remaining sjiceics — niHstc/iiins, J'li.srrsrciin, and idiriir- —
extend no I'ailher west than the IJocky Mountains ; the iirst and last
only toward their eastern base, while tlio second breeds abundantly as I'ar
tis tiie eastern limit of the (Ireat Hasin.
The T. fuficraccna, from the I'oeky M\)nntains, is considcralily darker in
color aliove, wliile the specks on the throat and Jugular are s[)arser or more
obsolete than in Eastern birds.
In T. >uiistr/i)iiis, the only two Western specimens in the collection
(Mount Carroll, Ills., and Fort Pierre) have the rumj) of a clearer grayish
than specimens from the Atlantic Coast ; in all other respects, however,
they ajjpear to be identical. Some Mexican specimens, being in winter
plumage, have the breast more buify than Northern (sjn'ing or summer)
exaniiiles, and the rufous of the head, etc. is somewhat brighter.
In alicia; no difference is observed between i'-astern and Western birds;
the reason is, ]M()bal)ly, that the breeding-ground of all is in one province,
though their migrations may extend over two. Thei'e is, however, a marked
dilference between the spring and autunni plumage; the dear grayish of
the former being replaced, in the latter, by a snuHy brown, or sej)ia tint,
— this especially noticealile on wings and tail.
The following synopsis is intended to show the characters of the different
s])ecies and varieties.
1. Spotn heiHofli rnnndeO, corcriiii/ hrciist and sides.
A< Uiillius brown iibove, bucumiiiLr niucli briglitur toward t'lK^ liill, and more
olivai'L'ous on the tail. Beneath white; whole breast with rounded .>;i)ot.s. Ne.'^t
on tree; egfjs jiale blue.
1. T. mustelinuB. ]5eueatli nearly pure white, with rounded blaek-
i.sh spots over the whole breast, sides, and upper |iart of abdomen ;
win<r, 4.25; tail, :l.0'>] eulnuMi, .SO; tarsus, 1.2(1. Ilah. Eastern Prov-
ince United States, south to tiuatemala and ]Iondura.s. Cuba and
Bermuda ol' West Indie.s.
2. SjiotK heiieuth Irianf/idar, on breast oidi/.
B« Entirely uniform in eolor above, — olivaeeou.s varyinir to reddish or
greeni.sh with the sjieeies. Beneath whitish, with a wa.sli of brownish a(.'i'o.-is
the breast and alonij' sides. Spots triaui;iilar, and eonlineil to the breast. Nest
on trees or bushes; ei,'i:;s blu(! spotted with Iirownish; exeept in T. fuscescviis,
which nest.s on the <i;roinMl, and lays plain lihu,' ey;t,^s.
a. Ao rouspic'ioiis !i(/lit orhilal rii>(/.
2. T. fuscesceua. Yellowi-sh-rufous or olive-fulvous .ibove ; a stronp;
wash of pale I'ulvous aeross the throat and jnj;nluin, where are very
indistinct cuneate spots of same shade as the back. Wing, 4.10; tail,
3.00; culmen, .70; tarsus, 1.15. /M>. Eastern Province of North
.\inerica. North to Nova Seotia and Fort Garry. West to Great Salt
Lake. South (in winter) to r.iuuuia and Brazil, ("ubu.
TrunrD.K — TiiH THRrsiri'X tj
.'i. T. aliciae. Oiiiyi-ili ilovi'-liiowii iiliovc; brciist aliiuisl while, with
brciid, hliickish spots; wIidIc siik; of hi'iid iiiiitiii-tii friiivish. \Viinr
4. 'JO; tail, ;i.2(» ; ciiIimi'ii, .77; tarsus, 1.15. Jfuh. Kasteiii Pinvinn'
Noi'tli Aiiicrica Iroiii slioio of Aret.ii; Ocean, Fort Yukon, and Kodiak
to Costa Riea. West to Missouri River. Ciiha.
b. A riitiKjiiciiiiiis iirhitiil liiKj (if huff.
A. T. swainsoni.
Grcciiisli-olivc above, l)roa.st and .sides of head .stroiifily tiiiired with
liiiir. Spots on lireast broad, (hsliiirt, nearly black. Leii^'th,
7.l>0; winjr, :i.!l(); tail, L'.ild ; eiilnieii, .(J'j ; tarsus, 1.10. //-//».
Kastern and Middle I'roviiiees of North America. North to
Slave Lake, .sonlh to Eenador, west to East I[iiniholdt Monn-
•''iii'^ van sii'ainsuni.
Brownisli-olive aliove, .somewhat more rnlesecMit. on wiiij,'; breast
and head stronu:ly washed with dilute nil'ons. Spots on breast
narrow, scarcely daiker than back. Wiiiir, 3.85; tail, IJ.OO; cnl-
nien, .70; tarsus, 1.1(1. J/ah. VncWu: I'rovinco of United States.
Gnatenmla var. ii x f alat lis.
C Above olivaceous, lieeomiiisj al)riiptly more reddish on upper tail-eoverts
and tail. Spots as in xiriiiiisiiiii. but larj^'cr and l<'ss transverse, — more sharply
defined. An orbital rinj; of i)ale bull'. Nest on ground ; eggs blue, probably
unspotted.
5. T. pallasi.
Olivaceous of ujiper parts like usfiihitii.i. Reddish of ni)])er tail-
eovert.s invading lower part of rump; no marked dilference in
tint between the tail and its upper covi'ris. Flanks and tibiie
yellowish olive-lirown ; a liiint tinge of bull' aero.ss the breast.
Kggs plain. Wing. .'{.SO: tail, ;i.OO; culnien, .70; tar.sus, 1.20.
J/'(l>. Kastern Province (.fl'nited States (oidy?) . . yiw.pallasi.
Olivaceous of upper parts like siraiii.iinii. Reddish of tail not in-
vading the rump, and the tail deeiilely more eastaneons than the
upper covert.s. Beneath almost jiuro white; scarcely any biilf
tinge on breast; Hanks and tiliia- grayish or plumbeous olive.
Size smaller than .■iiriiiiiKoiii ; bill depressed. 'Wing, 3.50; tail,
2.(10; cnhneii, .(iO: tarsus, 1.1.5. J/„h. Western Proviiice of Xortli
America, I'rom Kodiak to Cape St. Lueas. East to East Humboldt
Mountains .
var. nanus.
Olivaceous above, like preceding ; the upper tail-coverts scarcely
dill'erent from the back. Tail yellowish-rufbus. Beneath like
voinis. Size laiger than sinii,is<wi. Wing, 4.20; tail, 3.35; eul-
men, .80; tarsu.s, 1.30. fl,,!,. Rocky Jfountain.s. From ' Fort
Bridger, south (in winter) to Southern Mexico . . var. a u duho n i.
Turdus mustelinus, (Jmelin.
THE WOOD THRUSH.
Turdus vuMinvs, r,m:us, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 817. -^ ArntmoN, On.. Riog. I, 1832, 372,
I-l. /3 ^--In. Mirds An,. Ill, 1811, 21. pi. HI. - ])•.),;■,. l,a Sagra.s Cuba Ois. 1810,
4it.-lU.ui., IJudsN. Am. 18.58, 212. -In. IW. Am. Bird.s, 18(il, 13. -Sci atki:
P. Z. S. 1S5(J, 294, and 18.-;9, 325. -Jones, Nat. in UormuJu, 2(5. - Gunulacii'
J5 NORTH AMEinCAX BIRDS.
l!i'|icitorio, lSfl5, 2-2S. — .Maynaki). — Samit.ls, 14i1. Timliis milmhix, Wiis. Am.
Orii. 1, IMIS, 'i'l, jil. ii. Tunhis (Icnsnx, linNAl'. ('i>iiii)te.s liiiulus, XXVUl, 1853, 2.
-- 111. Notes Dclaltiv, 1854, 2(i (Taliasci)).
Aclclilioiial (ifjiiivs ; VlKil.l.oT, OLs. Am. Srjit. II, pi. I.\ii. — AVii.soN, Am. Oni. I, pi. ii.
Si'. CiiAii. Aliovc clciir ciiiimmon-hrown. on tlio tdp ol' the licail bcfoniing more
nil'oiis, on tlic nuiii) iiiul tail olivaeoons. The uiiilcr jiarls aio clear wliiti-, .'^oinct lines
tiiij,'eit willi Imir oil tho breast ov aiiteiiorly, and thickly iiiarke(l Ijeni'ntli, except on tlie
chill anil tliroat ami aliout the vent and lail-covcrls, with suli-triantjiilar. .'ilmrply dcliiieil
spni.s ol' lilacki.-ih. The .-^ide.-; of the head are dark lirowii, .■Jlrcakcd with white, and there
is also a maxillary series ol'sireaks on each side ol'liie throat, the central portion ol' which
sonietiines has iiidicalioiis of small s])ots. I,enj.'th, 8.10 inches; wini.'. 4.'J") ; tail, 3.()."i ;
tarsus, 1.2(). Voniiii' liird .-iiiiilar to adult, but with rusty yellow ti-iangular spots in the
ends of the Aviiif; coverts.
IIaii. U. S. east of Missouri plains, sonlh to Gnateinnla. Bermuda (not rare). Cuba,
LaSaoha; Gt xni.Acil. llondura.s, ^[ooui;. Cordova, Scl. Orizaba (winter), Si'miciih.
Haiuts. Till! W(i(i(l Tlinisli, witlimit beiiio- miywlicio u very iilniiKlniit
sjit'cies, is coiiuiion tlinm^'lidiit iicnrly t'vcry jiuition of the United Stati!,s
between tlic ]\Iississi])pi liivor iiiid the Allaiilic. It breeds in every
])ortion of tlie siiiiie extended area, at least as tar as Oeoi'cjia (in tlie .sdutli
and ^lassaelnisetts on the north. Iieyond the last-named Slate, it rarely,
if ever, lireeds on the coast. In the interior it lias a liigiier range, iiestino'
around irainilton, C. W. So far iis I am iiware it is unknown, or very rare,
in the States (jf Vermont, Xew Hampshire, and ]\Iainc.
It makes its ajtpearance early in Ajn-il in the Aliddle States, but in Xew
England not until four or five weeks later, ajipearing about the Idtli of May.
Their migrations in fall are more irregular, being tipparently determined l»y
the abundance of their food. At times they ilepart as early as tiie iirst
of September, but sometimes not until the last of October. It winters
in Central America, where it is (juitt! abundant at tliat season.
Tlie favorite localities of the Wood Thrush are the borders of dense
tliicket.s, or low damp hollows shaded by large trees. Yet its liabits arc
by no means so retiring, or its nature so timid, as these jilaces of resort
would lead us to infer. A small grove in IJoxlmry, now a iiart of I'xiston,
in close iiro.ximity to a dwelling-house, was for mtiny years the favorite
resort of these birds, where several pairs nested and reareil their young,
rarely even leaving their nests, which were mostly in low bushes, wholly
unmindful of the curious children who were their fretjuent visitors. The
same fearless familiarity was obser\ed at Blount .Vuburn, then Iirst used
as a pulilic cemetery. IJut in the latter instance the nest was always
placed high up on a branch of some spreading tree, often in cons]iicuous
lilaces, but tnit of reach. Mr. J. A. Allen refers to several similar instiinces
where the Wood Thrush did not show itself to be such a reclu.se as many
describe it. In one ca.se a pair built tiieir ne.st witliin the limits of a
thickly peopled village, where there were but lew trees, and a scanty
umlergrowtli. In anotlkir a Wood Thrush lived for several successive
suiumers among the elms and majiles of Court St^uare iii the city of
TUHDID.K — TIIK TIIRrSTIKS. ,j
Sjiriujfficld, Mass., uiidisLnrlMMl liy tlio ])assi'i's liy (ir tin; wiilktTs liciiciitli,
or tlic iiniso and rattle of the veliiclus cm tlic coiilij^uous sti'(;cts.
The sdiij,' (if this thnisli is oik! nf its most vciiiarkaliU' ami plcasin!;-
{'liaractcristics. Xo lover dC sweet sfpiiiids eaii have failed td notice it,
and, liaviii;;- onee known its source, no one can fail to recoj^nize it when
heard a,L,'ain. The melody is one of j,'reat sweetness and ]iower, and consists
of several ])arts, the last note of which resembles the tinklin,<;' of a small hell,
and seems to leave the conclusion suspended. Kueh jiart of its souji,' seems
sweter and richer than the jirecedinj^'.
I'he nest is usually built on the liorizontal bnincli of a small forest-tret;,
six or eij,dit feet from the ground, and, less frefpiently, in the fork of a bush.
The dianu'ter is about o inches, and the deiith .'!;,', with a cavity averayin^f
:') inches across by 2| in de]ith. They arc iirm, compact structures, chiefly
comi)osed of decayed deciduous leaves, closely imjiacted to<rether, and ap-
])arently thus combined when in a moistened condition, and afterward
dried into a firmness and .stren,ii:tli like that of pareliment. These are
intermin.nled with, and stren.uthened l)y, a few dry twiys, and the wlude
is lined with fine roots and a i'iiw fine dry ,i>ras.ses. Occasionally, instead
of tiie solid fniin(! of impacted leaves, we find one of solidified mud.
The e,u-,i,'s of the Wood Thrush, usually four in nundier, sometimes five,
are of a \niiforni dcep-ldue tint, with liut a .sli-ht admi.xture of yellow,
which imparts a greenish tinge. Their average measurements are l.UU by
.73 inch.
Turdus fuscescens, Sieimikns.
TAWKY THRUSH ; WILSON'S THBUSH.
Ti,n/i/.^ »;»s./,7/„„.v, Wii.«„x, Aiii.t. Omitliolofjy, V, 1812, OS, pi. 4:i (not of f! vf.i.in)
ri(r:/i(.sfi(.sa:,r,is, SiKiMiKN-s, Shaw's ( icn. Zooi. Bir.l.s, X, ,, 1S17, 182. Cvn .loi,,- 1S5.5
470 (Cuba). - lUiHi.. liinls X. .\n>. 18.58, 214. - In. Krv. Am. H. 18(i4, 17. -(irNi'.'r '
lirportorio, 18(i,5, 228 (C,,!,,,, ,K,t nir..). 1',,,.zkls, 0,„. lin.s. ii, 1868, 92. (Sail
\iociitc, liia/il, Dcn'iiilH.i-.^— S.vjiri-.i.s, l.-iO. — Sci.ATKii, 1>. Z. S. 1850, 32t) — In
Catal. Am. liiids, IBlil, 2, Xo. 10. T ,ml us ..ilex, Viiiu,!,. Kii.'vdop. MVtli."ll" 182:5
f!4/ (liasnl on T. musHinus, Wii.s.). Tiinhis „-ils,mi,\ Hnv. Oils. Wils. 1825 No'
7;i. Tanltis minor, D'Oiin. I,ii Sagni'.s ('uha, Oi.s. 1840, 47, pi. v (Ciil.a).
Sr. Cn.Mi. Almv,., at„l „„ si,lcs nC l,„wl an,l Ui'vk, i„,ulv uiiilonu lidit iv.l,lisl,-l,rown
wuhaiaiiit t,.n,l,.,u-y t,. orau,i;v „„ Iho cn>w„ a,„l (ail. I{,,,oatl,. white; tlie fore part
..! tlu. iMvast aiKl tlin.at (pal.T on the chin) tinnv.l witl, pale hrownisli-vcliow, in deciVvl
contrast to tht- wl.ito of th. hcily. The si,i..s of the th,-„at a,,,! the fore part of tlio l,roa.t
a.s colored, are n.arke.l with small trian-alar spots of lijrht brownish, nearly like the back
but not well <ler,ne.l. There are a lew obsolete blotches on the si.'es ,.f the brea.st (in thJ
white) of pale olivaeeoMs; th.. ,<i,les of the bo.ly tinned n-hh the .same, Tibi.e white.
Ihe lower n.amhble is brownisl y at th.. tip. The lores are a,sh-eolore,l, the orbital
refrion grayish. Lenjrth, 7.50 ; win- 4.2.") ; tail. ;i.20; tarsii.s, 1.20.
ILvn Eastern Xorth Ain..ri,.a, Halifax to Fort Bridirer,' and' north to Fort Garrv
tuba, 1 anunia, and Brazil (winterj. Orizaba (.winter;, Sc.micuhast
2
XO XORTTI AMERIUAN BIRDS.
Habttr. Tliis s]K'('i('s is one of tlio common liirds of New England, and is
|ir()l)al)ly aljundaiit in reitain localities throughout all tlie country east of the
liocky Mountains, as far to tlie north as the oOtli i)arallol, and possibly
as far as the wooded country extends. JNIr. Maynard did not meet witli
it in Xortliern Xew Jlam])shire. Mr. Wm. G. Winton obtained its nest
and eggs at lialifa.x, N. S. ; Mr. Boardman found them also on the (Julf
of St. Lawrence, and at St. Stejilien's, N. 15. ; Mr. Couper at (^^uebcc ; Mr.
Kriegliolf at Three Itivers, Canada; Donald (!unu <it Selkiriv and lied
liiver ; and ^Ir. Kundien and Dr. Hoy in Wisconsin. Mr. Mcllwraith
also gives it as common at Hamilton, West Canada. It breeds as far south
as rennsylviinia, and as far to the west as Utah, and occurs, in tlie breeding
season, throughout Maine, Xew IJrunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada.
Mr. liidgway found this tlirusli very abundant among tlie thicActs in the
valleys of the Provo, Weber, and Bear rivei-s, in Utah, and very character-
istic of th'\30 portions of the country.
It arrives in Massachusetts early in ^May, usually with tlie first bhi.ssoms
of the pear, ranging from the Htli to the 2()th. It is strictly of woodbind
habits, found almost entirely among cluini)s of trees, and obtaining its food
from among their branclu!s, or on the ground among the fallen leaves. It
moves south from the lOtii to the 2r)th of September, rarely remaining till
the first week in October.
It is timid, distrustful, and retiring ; delighting in shady ravines, the edges
of thick close woods, and occasionally the more retired parts of gardens;
M'hcre, if unmolested, it will i'rc(|ucnt the same locality year after year.
The .song of this tliriish is i|Uiiiiit, but not unmusical ; variable in its
character, changing from a jirolouged and monotonous wiiistle to (piick
and almost slirill notes at the chise. Their nadody is not uufreiiuently
prolonged until (piite late in the evening, and, in consei|iience, in some
portions of Mas.sacliu.setts these birds are distinguished with the name of
Xightingale, — a distinction due rather to the .season than to the high ipiality
of their song. Yet Mr. Ii'iilgwuy regards it, as heard by himself in I'tali,
as superior in some res|)ects to that of all others of the genus, though far
surpassed in mellow richness of voice and dejith of metallic tone by that of
the Wood Thi'iish (7'. iiiiisfch'nus). To his mir there was a sohMun harmony
and a beiiiitifid expression which combined to make the .song of tiiis siirjiass
tliat of all the other American Wood Tlinishe.s. The lieautv of their notes
a]»peared in his i-ars "really inspiring; their .song consisting of an ine.x-
]iressibly delicate metallic utterance of the syllables fn-inrl' ah, tx-inrl' ii/i,
tiril' ah, liril' ah, accom|)anieil by a fine trill which renders it truly .se-
ductive." The last two notes an; said to Ik* uttered in a soft and subdued
undertone, prodiuung thereby, in ed'ect, an echo of the others.
Til!' nest is nlwiiys jiliiced neiir tin' ground, generally niiscd from it by
II {\w\\ bed of dry leaves uv sticks; .sometimes among bushes, but never in
the fork of a bush or ti-eo, or if so, in very niru and exceptional ca.ses.
TURDID.E — TlIK TIIiU'SIlES. U
■\Vlnii incubation has ('(ininu-iiccHl, tlie female is reliictiint lo leave her uust.
II' driven oil' she utters no eoni[ilaint, hut remains close at hand anil returns
at tlie iirst t)pportunity.
They construct their nost early in INFay, and the younj,' are hatclied in the
latter part of that niontli, or tiie Iirst of June. Tliey raise two broods in the
season. The nest, even more h)osely put together tliau tliat of the (Iround
Swami) liobin (/'. pal/uni), is often with ditliculty ke])t complete. It is
al>out o inciies in height, 4A in diameter, with a cavity U inches deep and
.'! in width, and cf)mi)osed of dry bark, dead leaviss, stems, and woody hbres,
intermingled with gra.sses, caricas, sedges, etc., and linetl with soft skeleton
leaves. A nest from Wisconsin was composed entirely of a coarse species of
Sjian/aiifum; the dead stalks and leaves of which were interwoven with a
very striking effect.
The eggs, usually four, sometimes live in number, are of a uniform green
color, with a sliglit tinge of blue, and average M by .('.(i of an indi in
diameter.
Turdus aliciae, B.vinn.
ORAT-CHEEKED THBUSH; ALICE'S THSXTSH,
Tiinliis ii/iri(i; IS.vn;!", Hints N. .\iii. l.s.'iS, :\7, pliite 81, f. 2. — In. iirvii'w .\iii. Uinls, I,
l»tl4, L'l. ColKs, I'l'. Ac. N. Sc. Auk. l**"!. '.217 (Lalmuloi). -In. Catal. IlinU of
Wu.sliiii},'t(iii. — (irNipi,.\cii, Ki'iM'itorii), iMl.'i, ii'.t (Ciilia). - Lawk. Ann. N. Y. I,yc.
I.\, '.n (Costa Hica). — D.M.i, ami Uanmsi il;, liii.ls Alaska. - lillxnvAV, lic'iimt.
Si'. CiiAK. Aliovc nearly puri! (lark oliv '-{,'rt't'U : .«i(los of tlu' lie •' a.sli-i.'ray ; tiio chin,
liiroat, and luiilcr pait.s wiiilo; iiiiicst bt'l' ml. Sitlcs of throat ai .i oss the bri-a.st with
aii'ow-.sliai)('il spot.s of dark plmnbi'oii.s-lii iwii. Siilcs of boily i i axillaries dull (frayisli-
olivaci'oiis. Tiliiiu [iliniilii'ou.s; Ic^'s lirowii, boiigtli, iieai-jy 8 Inclics; wiiij,', 4.'J(t: tail,
:!.1!0: tai'siis. 1.1."),
IIaii. Kastcni North .Viiici'iia to slioics of .Vrclic Orcaii. ami aloiitr iiortlicrn coast from
lialirador to ICoiliak, hrcciliii;.; in iiiiMiciisc luiiiilicis hclwccii tho mouths of .Ma<'lvcii/.ic ami
Coppciiiihrc. West to l-'ort Yukon auil Missouii Ivivcr Stalui;. Wiiitcr.s .south to Costii
Uica. Cliiiii[ui. Sai.vix ; Cuba, (Uxdi.ach.
As originiiUy described, this specie.^ differs from ><ii'(iin!<()ii> in larger
size, longer bill, feel, and wings es])ecially, straigliter and narrower bill.
Tlie back is of a greener (dive. Tlie bretist and sides of the head are
entirely destitute of the bull' tinge, or tit best tiiis is very fsiintly indictited
on tiio upper ])iirt of the breast. The most chamcteristic features sire seen
on tlie side of t!ie head. Here Ihere is no indication whatever of thti light
line fr(>ni nostril to eye, and scarcely any of a light ring rmmd the eye, —
tlie v.h(de region iteing grayisli-tdive, relieved slightly by whiti.sh shaft-
streaks on llu! ear coverls. Tlio sides of liody, a.villars, and tibia' are
olivai'cons-gray, witluait any of the fiilvons tinge seen in siniliisinii.
The bill measures .•40 from tip to nostril, sometimes more; tarsi, l.'Jl ;
12 XOJITII AilERR'AM BIRDS.
wing, 4.20; tail, .'J.ld, — tutal, iiliout 7.50. Some sijeciinen.s sliglitly exceed
tliese diiiiensiuiis ; lew, if any, liill short of them.
In iiutumn the ui)pei' surface is somewhat diflerent from that in s|)riny,
being loss grayish, and with a tinge of rich sepia or snulf-browu, this
becoming graiUially more ai)[)reciable on the tail.
A specimen from Costa Ifica is iiudistinguishable from typical examples
from the Kastorn I'nited States.
Hahits. This species, tirst described in the ninth volume of the Pacific
liailroad Surveys, liears so sti'ong a resend)lance to the Olive-backed Thrush
{T. mvaiiisoni), that its value as a species has often been disi)uted. It was
first met with in Illinois. Since then numerous specimens have been ob-
tained from the District of ("ohimbia, from Labra(h)r, and the lower
Mackenzie Kiver. In the latter regions it was ibund breeding abundantly.
It was also found in large numbers on the Anderson liiver, but was rare
on the Yukon, as well as at (rreat Slave Lake, occurring there only as a
bird of jiassage tj or from more northern breeding-grounds.
In regard to its general lial)its but little is known. Dr. Coues, who
found it in Lal)rador, breeding !>l.imdantly, speaks of meeting with a family
of these l)irds in a deep anil thickly wooded ravine. The young were just
about to ily. The ])arents evinced the greatest an.xiety for the safety of
their brood, endeavoring to lead him from their vicinity by thittering from
bush to bush, constantly uttering a nudancholy phci'ijk, in low whistling
tone. He mentions that all he saw uttered ])recisely the same note, and
wt re very timid, darting hito the most impenetrable thickets.
This thrush is a regular visitant to ^lassachusetts, both in its spring and
in its fall migration. It arrives from about the first to the middle of May,
and aiijiarently remains about a week. It passes south about the first of
October. Occasionally it a2)liears and is present in Massachusetts at the
same time witli the Turdioi ,siniinsoni. From this species I hold it to be
unipiestionably distinct, and in this o]iinion I am confirmed by the observa-
tions of two very careful and reliable ornithologists, ^Ir. William Brewster
(jf Cambridge, one of our most ])romising young naturalists, and ]\Ir. George
O. Welch of Lymi, whose experience and observations in the field are
unsuri)assed. Tiiey inform me tliat there are obse-vable between these
two forms certain well-marktid and constant differences, that never fai".
to indicate their distinctness with even gn-ater precision than the constant
though less marked dill'erenees in their ]iluniag(!.
Tlie Tiirihix dliriir comes a few days tlie earlier, and is often in full song
when Ww, T. siniinsdiil is silent. The song of the former is not only
totally different from that of the latter, but also from that of all our
otlier Wood Thrushes. It most resembles the song of 'J'. imUani, but
dilfers in lieing its exact invei-se, for whereas the latter begins with its
lowest notes and ]iroceeds on an ascending scale, the former l)egins with
its highest, and concludes with its lowest note. The song of the T. nwaiii-
TL'KDID.K — TUE THRUSHES. 13
soni, on tlio other hand, exliibits much less variation iu the scale, all the
notes being of nearly the same altitude. *
I am also informed that while the T. .vrdinsoiii is far from being a timid
speeies, liut may be easily approaelied, and while it seems almost invarial>ly
to prel'er the edges of the jiine woods, and is rarely observed in open groiuida
or among the bare deciduous trees, the habits of the T. uliciw are the exact
reverse in these respects. It is not to be ibuni'c in similar situations, but
almost always frequents copses of hard wood, searcliing for its food among
their fallen leaves. It is extremely timid and ditticult to approach. As
it stands or as it moves upon the ground, it has a peculiar erecitness of
liearing which at once indicates its true specific character so unmistakably
tiiat any one once familiar with its appearance can never mistake it for
7'. )iirain.si)ni, nor for any other bird.
The nests measure about 4 inclies in diameter and 2^ in lieiglit. Tlie
cavity is 2 inches deep, and its diameter 2| inches. They are iiinisually
compact for the nest of a thrusli, and are composed chiefly of an elaborate
interweaving of fine sedges, leaves, stems of tiie more delicate Eqiiifnturca',
dry grasses, strips of fine bark, and decayed leaves, the whole intermingled
witli the paniculated inHorescence of gra.sses'. Tiiere is little or no lining
other than tliese materials. Tiiese nests were all found, with but few
exc(!ptions, on tiie branches of low trees, from two to .seven feet from
tlie ground. In a few exceptional cases the nests were built on the
groiuid.
Occasionally ne.sts of this species are found constructed with tlio liase
and sides of solid muil, as with the connnon Iiol)in {Tiinhis vn'(/rnt(iriHs).
In tiiese, as also in some otiier cases, their nests are usually founil on or
near tlie ground. So far as I am aware neitlier its occasional ]tositioii
on the ground, nor its mud frames, are peculiarities ever noticealde in
ne.sts of T. sirtdnsoni.
Tlie o'i[',<- 'Vine usually four in number. Their color is eitlicr a deep
green tint, or green slightly tinged with blue ; and they are marked with
spots of ru.sset and yellowish-brown, varying both in size and fre(iuency.
Thoir mean length is .92 of an inch, and their mean breadth .04. The
maximum length is .!)4 and the minimum M of an inch. There is
apparently a "on .^ant variation from the eggs of the T. siruiii.suiii ; those
of the uliria: i, ving a more distinctly blue groinuli color. The nests are
also quite diHeiefit in their a])|)earance and style of structure. The Hm»iitiii
mosses, so marked a feature in the nests of T. swuinsoiii, as also in those of
T. i(t<(it/(tt)i.'<, are wholly wanting in those of 7'. n/in'n:
This bird and the robin are the only species of our thrushes that cross
the Arctic Circle to any distance, or reach the shore of the Arctic Ocean.
It occui's from Labrador, all round the American coast, to the Aleutian
Islands, everywhere bearing its siH'cilic character as indicated above. It is
extremely ubuuduut on and near the Arctic coast, between the mouth of
14 XOIITII AMElilC.^ BIRDS.
the Mackenzio TJiver iind the ("oppevininc, more than 200 specimens
(mostly with tlieir uygs) having been sent tiience to the Smithsonian
Institution hy Mr. JMacKarlane. In all tliis number tliere was not a
single Ijird thai; had any appnjach to the characters of 'T. HWdinmni, as
just given. From tiie Slave Lake region, on the other hand, T. sirainmni
was received in nearly the same abundance, and unmixed during the
breeiling season with 7'. ulicia:
Turdus swainsoni, ( aisams.
OLIVE-BACKED THBTTSH; SWAINSON'S THSUSH.
Turdus swainsoui, V\\\. Tsohudi, Fiuiiiii Poniaiia, 1814 -4ii, 188. — f.Sci.ATKU & S.VI.VIN,
Ibis, 1S.",9, t; (Oimtc'iiialii). — Sci..vn:i!, 1'. Z. S. 18.-.8, 451 (Kcmulort ; 18511, 32(). —
111. Ciital. 1801, •>, 110. 11. — r.Alui), Itirds X. Am. 1858, -ilii ; li.'v. Am. 15,, 18t)4, 1!».
— (lrNi>i..Mii, Call. .Iimr. 18til, ;)24 (Cuba). —In. IJi'iicit. 18()5, 2-2'.». — I'ki.zki.n, Oru.
IJia/.il, II. 1808, its (Maraiiibitaiias, I'Vb. iiml Alaivli). — Lawk. N. Y. I.yc. IX, itl
(Costa Hica). — KiDGWAV. — Mayxakj). — Samuki.s, 152. — Cooi-KU, liirds Cal. ti. —
Dai.l & Bas.sistki!. Turdus minor, (J.melin, Syst. Xat. I, 1788, 809 (in \m{).
Turdus oU cactus, GniAUli, liirds \,. Kslaiid, 1843-44, i»2 (not of Ll.sx.). (/) Turdus
7uhiimus, Lakiiksnayk, licv. Zoiil. 1848, 5. — Sci.atku, 1'. /. S. 1854, 111. — Hiivani',
Pr. Ho.st. Soc. VII, 18i>(), 220 (Bogota). — J.,A\vui;.Nt.K, Auu. N. V. Lye. 1803. (liirds
Panama, IV, no. 384.)
Sp. Ciiah. l'p|H'r jiai-t.s uniform olivacpoii.'s, with a docidod sliado of }rroen. The fore
l)art of bri'ast. the throat and ehiu, |iale brownish-yellow; re.st of lower parts white;
the sides wa.><hed with brownish-olive. Sides of the throat and fore part of the breast
with snb-iiiund<'d spots of well-delined brown, darker than the baek ; the rest of liio
breast (>'.\ce|)t nieilially) with I'alher less distinct spots that are more olivaeeons. TibiiU
yellowi.sh-brown. liroad ring round the eye, loral refj:ion, and a general tinge on the
side of the head, clear reddish bull'. Length, 7.00 ; wing. 4.1.">; tail, IS. 10; tarsn.-;, 1.10.
Hah. Eastern North .Vmeriea ; westward to Humboldt Mountain anil I'pper Cohnnbia;
pcihaps occasionally straggling as far as (.'alifornia; north to Slave Lake and I'ort Yukon;
south to Ecuador and lirazil. Cuba, Gc.NDi.Acn ; Costa Itii'a, Lawk.
Sjiecimens examined from the nortiiern regions ((Jreat Slave Liike, ]\fiic-
kcnzie Itiver, iind Vukon) to (Juateiuitla; from Athintic Sttites to Kast
Humboldt Mountains, Nevada, and from intervening loctilities. Tiie ex-
tremes of variation are the brown isli-oliya of eastern and the cletir (/(irk
greenish-olive of remote western sjx'cimens. There is no observable ilif-
ference l)etween a (iuiitemalan skin and one from l-'ort Ihidger, I'tidi.
Hakits. The (.)live-l)acked Thrush, or " Swamp I'oliin," has very nearly
the same habitat during the breeding season as that of tlic kindred s])ecie3
with wliicli it was so long eoid'ounded. Althotigli Wilson seems to have
found the ne.st and eggs among tlie liigli lands of Northern tleorgia, it is yet
a somewhat more northern species. Tt does not breed so fiir south as
Ahissachusetts, or if so, cases nuist lie e.xceptional and very nire, lujr
even in Western Maine, wiiere the "(inumd Swamp Ilobin" (T. pallaai) is
cpiite abundant. It only becomes conunon in the iieighborht»od of (Jahiis.
TUKDIDyE — TJIE TimUSIIES. 15
ft is howovor, most widely distrilnitod over iioavly tlic rutins coiitiiiont,
lireediujj; \'r<>m latitude 44" ti) lii;j:h Airti(! rci,d(iiis. It winters in IJiiiito-
niala and soutliward as far as Eeuadov and JJni/il.
In its lud)its tliis tlmisli is noticeably different from the 7'. pa/lnaj, l)einjj;
much more arboreal, frwiuontin.t,' tiiick woods; rarely seen, exeejjt durinj,' its
mi"rations, in open ground, and seeking its food more among the brauehes
of the trees.
i\[r. llidgway found this species very al)undant among the "Wahsatch
Moniitaius, Avhere 't was one of the most characteristic summer birds of
that region. It was breeding plentifully in the canons, where its song
could be heard almost continually. It inhabited an intermediate position
between 7'. aiiiJuhnni and T. fi'srcsrcns, delighting nujst in the shrubbery
along tlie streams of the canons and passes, leaving to tiie T. aiuhdiuni the
secludeil ravines of the pine regions higher up, and to the T. fnsrcHccns the
willow thickets of the river valh^ys. He did not meet with it farther west
than the East lluinboldt ]\Iountains. The song, iu his opinion, resembles
tliat of the AVood Thrush (7'. iiiusfclinHx) in modulations; but the notes
want the power, while they possess a finer and more silvery tone.
The .song of tiiis species has a certain resenddance to that of 7'. jndlad,
being yet (pnte distinct, and the dilferences readily recognized by a fandliar
ear. It is more ])rolonge(l ; the notes are more e(|ual and rise with more
regidarity and more gradually, are licher, and each note is more coni])lete in
it.self. Its song of lamentation when roblied of its young is full of iiule-
scriliable pathos and beauty, haunting one who has once heard it long after.
When (lri\en from the nest, tlie female always flies to a short distance
and conceals herself; making no complaints, and ofl'ering no resistance.
These ImhIs, in a single instance, have been known to reach Eastern
Alassachu.setts early in April, in an unusually early season, but they
generally pass nortli a few weeks later. They make no jirolonged stay,
and are witli us rarely more than three or fimr days. Their return in
the fall appeals to be, at times, by a more inland route. They are then
not so numerous near tiie coast, but occasionally are abundant.
Tiieir nests in Nova Scotia, wherever ob,served, were among the thick
woods, (in horizontal branches of a forest-tree, usually about five feet from
tlie ground. Those observed in the Arctic regions by Mr. Kennicott were
freipiently not more than two feet from tiie ground.
The nest? average about four inches in diameter and two in height, the
cavity benig three inches wide by about one and a half deep. Tlusy are
more elaliorately and neatly cinistructed than those of any other of our
thrushes, cxcejit jierhaps of T. iistii/utiia. ('on'piciuius among the materials
are the ITjipniim- mosses, which by their dark filirous masses give 41 very
distinctive diaractcr to these nests, and distinguish them from all except
those of tlie T. iisfii/dtiis, which they resemble. lU'sides these materials are
founil fine sedges, lea\es, stems of e<iuisetaceou8 iilants, red glossy vegetable
16 NOKTII aMKIITCAN BIKDS.
fibres, the flowering steins of the Cladonio mosses, lichens, fine strips of
bark, etc.
The egg>=, wliich are foiir or fi\-e in number, exhibit noticeable variations
in size, shajie, and shades oi' coloring, bearing some resemblance to tliose
of T. uHtnhtnii and to the eggs asserted to be those of T. nanus, l)ut are
suificiontly distinct, and are still more so from those of T. alicia: They
range in lengtli from .83 to .!)4, with a mean of .88, tlieir mean breadtli
is .G6, the maximum .69, and the minimum .03. Tiieir ground color is
usually bluisli-green, sometimes liglit blue with hardly a tinge of green,
and the sjiots are of a yellowish-brown, or russet -brown, or a mixture of
both coloi-s, more or less confluent, with marked variations in tiiis respect.
Turdus swainsoni, ^ar. ustulatus, Nittall.
OBEGOK THBUSH.
Turdus n.i/iilnfun, XiTrAl.L, Man. I, 184fi, HXi (t'oluiiil)ia Itivcr). — Raihd, lairds N. Am.
IS.IS, 21,5, pi. Ixx.xi, (if,'. 1. -In. H.-v. Am. I!. IStU, 18. — t'luppKR & .SiiKi.r.v,
r. I{. IJc)). XII, II, 1800, 171.— I.'mowAY, Pr. A. N. S. Pliilad. 1869, 127.—
Dai, I, k Haxxistkii, Tr. t'liic. Acad. — tViopKii, Birds Vol., 5.
Sp. Ciiau. Gt'iiera! appearance of /'/.vf wtk.s, Imt with pattern of xirdinsotn ; the bull'
orbital rin;^ n.s conspicuous as in latter. The olive above is more brown than in this, and
less 3'ellowi.sh than in /uscesreDs, becoming decidedly more rufesecnt on winjjs ami less
observably so on tail. Pectoral aspect dillerent from funcesrcnii, the spots narrower and
cuneate, .sharply defined, and arranged in loiigitiidinal series ; in color they are a little
darker than the crown. Length, 7.oO; wing, .I.","); tail, 3.00; tarsus*, 1.12.
Had. Pacific Province of United States. Tres ilarias Isl, Guatemala (winter),
Itus. S. I.
This well-marked race is to l)e compared with siniinsoni, not with
fiisrcscens, as has generally been done ; the latter, except in shade of
colors, it scarcely resembles at all ; still greater evidence that such is its
attinity is that the T. vstiiJatus builds its nest on a tree, and lays a spotted
egg, like swainsoni, while fKst'csrrus nests on or near the ground, jierhaps
never in a tree, and lays a plain blue egg. The song of tlie present bird is
also scarcely distinguishable from that of swninsnni. U])on the wliole, we
see no reason why this should not be considered as a Pacific Province form
of tlie Turdus swainsoni; at least it becomes necessary to do so, after
referring to T. jxiUnsi, as geographical races, the T. uuduhoni and T. nanus.
Hahits. So far as we are aware, this thrush has a very limited distribu-
tion, being mainly restricted to the Pacific coast region from California to
Alaska in the breeding season, though migrating southward in winter to
(ruat.imala. Dr. Keimerly found it in great abundance breeding at Chilo-
weyuck Dejiot, July 3, 18")'.!. Dr. (Jooper also found it one of the most
abundant of the sununer residents in Washington Territory, arriving there
Tl'RDID.K — TIFE THRrSHES. I7
in Miiy and roniaininj^ until tlio licj^inninu' of Soptombcr. Tliree sjiocimons
ol' tliis tin'iish wero obtained at Sitka, by Mr. IJischoll'. Mr. Kidj^fway una
with only a .single specinieu east of tlie Siena Nevada, thuii^ii on that mnge
he f(mnd it an abundant sunmu'r bird.
In it.s general ajipearanee it hns a marked resemblance to Wilson's Thrush
(T. fiim'ficnis), l)ut its habits and notes, as well us its nest and eggs, clearly
]ioinl its nearer alliuity to Swainson's Thrush ('/'. tiinn'ii.soiii), its song being
scarcely dillcrent from tiiat of the latter species. Like this species, it fre-
(pients the thickets or brushwood along the mountain streams, and, except
just after its arrival, it is not at all shy. In crossing the Sierra Nevada in
July, 1H(37, Mr. IJidgway first met with this species, lie describes it as an
exipiisite songster. At one of the camps, at an altitude of about n,(IO() feet,
they were found unusually ])lentiful. lie speaks of their .song as consisting
of "ethereal warblings, — outbursts of wild melody." " Altliough its carols
were lieard everywhere in the depth of the ravine, scarcely one of the little
nnisicians could be seen." 'Tiie song of this thnush," he adds, "though
]K).sse.ssing all the wild, solenni melody of that of the Wood Thrush (?'.
nuiatciuiii-'i) is wi-aker, but of a much liner or more silvery tone, and more
methodical delivi-ry. It is much like tiiat of the 7'. siritiuMtii, but in the
(pialities nuMitione<l is even superior."
Dr Cooper found its u(!sts with eggs ab(uit the middle of June. These
were most usuully built on u small Inu'izontal branch, and were very strongly
constructed of twigs, grasses, roots, and leaves, usually covercil on the outside
entirely with the bright green I/i//iiiinii mosses i)eculia,r to tiiat region, which
in the damp climate near the coast continue to grow in that ptjsition, and
form large masses. Tiie numlier of eggs is usually five.
Dr. CoojH'r .states that tlie.si' tiirushcs sin- most in the early morning and
in the evening, when numbers may be heard answering one another on all
sides. They do not affect the darkt'st tiiickets so nnich as the Hermit
Thrush, but are often seen feeding in the gardens in the open snnsliine.
Dr. Sucklcy, who found them (juite abundant in tlu> neighborhood of Fort
Sleilacoom, on the edge of the forest, and in swamjiy land, de.scril)es the song
as a low, soft, sad, and lively whistle, confined to one note, and repeated at
regular intervals. Mr. Nuttall, the first to de.scrilie this form, speaks of
it as shy and retiring, and as in the haiiit of gatiiering insects from the
ground. His ear, .so (|uick to apjjreciate the ciiaracteristics of the .songs of
birds, which showed a close i'esend)lauce between the notes of this bird and
that of Wilson's Thrush (T. fitsrcsirm), enabled him to detect very distinct
and easily recognizable differences. It is nuwh more interrujited and is not
so jirolonged. The warble of this bird he describes as resend)ling iril-icil
t'vi/liii, and irit-irit, t'rl//l<i-f'ri/li(i. His (;all when surprised was irif-wit.
All the nests of this s])ecies that have fallen under my observation are
large, comjiact, str(uigly const ruct(id, and neat. 'I'hey measure al)out o
inches in their external tliameter, witii a deptii externally of 3; the cavity
18 NOIITII AMERICAN lUHDS.
is comparatively sliallnw, liciiij; larcl}- 2 inches in depth. The external
portions are constructed almost entirely of J/i/iniinn mosses, matted to-
gether and sparingly interwoven with dry leaves and fine fibrous roots,
and are lined witli finer materials of the same kind. Tiiese nests most
nearly resemble in their material anil in their position thos' of Swainson's
Thru.sh.
Mr. Hepburn found these birds very abundant about Victoria. It does
not usually breed there before tiie last of May, tliough in one exceptional
instance he found a nest with young birds on the 24th of that month.
The eggs vary in size and shape, ranging from .77 to .!)4 in length, and
from .().") to .()!) in breadth. They also vary in their ground color and in the
tints of the sjwts and markings. The ground color is ligbt green or light
blue, and the markings are variously yellowish-brown and lilac, or dark
brown and slate.
Mr. Grayson found this thrush very abundant in the month of January,
in the thickest of the woods, in the islands of the Three Marias, on the
Pacific coast of Mexico. They were very timid and shy, more so than any
bird that he saw on tho.se islands. It freipiently uttered a low plaintive
whistle, and seemed solitary in its habits.
Turdus pallasi, Cabams.
BUFOUS-TAILEO THBUSH; HEBMIT THBTTSH.
Tun/iis pnlldsii, ('.\iianis, ■Wicftmimii's Afcliiv, 1847 {i), 205. — lUinn, Binls N. Am.
1858, 212. — In. l!cv. Am. H. ]8()4, 1 1. — Si'latkii, 1'. Z. S. 18.')!), 325 ??. — In. Catiil.
18(n, 2, No. 7. — KiiMJWAV. — Mav.naud. — Samtkls, 148. I'ltnliiti .loli/iin'ni,
Wilson, Amcv. Oin. V, 1.S12, !»."> uiot of IwsN.Er.s). — Sci.ATKn, P. Z. S. ]8r)7, 212.
Tnrdua minor, 15on. OUs. Wilson, 182.), No. 72. I'uiiIks ijii/lchui, Cahanls, 'IVliudi,
Fainiii Peruana, 1844, 187 (not Miiscietipa tjiUUita ol' Paixas).
Ailililiouiil liguivs : All). Hinls Am. Ill, ])1. c.\lvi. — In. Oiii. liiog. I, jil. Iviii.
Si'. CitAU. Tiiil .wlifjiitl}' LMiiiirjiiiKitc. Abdvc liglit olivo-brown, with a .^can'cly \m'v-
(•(•pliblo .«lia(le of riMlilish, ]>as.-;iiiu:, liowcvcr, into dociilod ruloii.s on the rnnip, ui)pi'i' tail-
covi-rts, anil tail, and to a Ics.s dcfrrpc on tlio onter snrl'ado of llio wing.-*. Ui'ncalii wliilo,
witli a .<('ai'coly approoiable sliado of palu Imfl' aero,-*.-* the I'oru part of tlio liroa.st, and
sonictiMU's on tlio throat; the sides of the throat and tlio lore part of tho hroast with
ratliiT .shaiply dcliiUMl snlitrinn<rnlar spots of dark olivo-lnowu ; tho sides of tho hii'ast
Willi paler and less distinrt spots of the same. Sides of the body under the winys of a
paler shade than the back. A whitisii ring round tlii^ eye; ear-coverts very obsenrely
streaked witli paler. Length, 7. ^iO iiiehes ; wing, ;!.SI; tail, .'J.'J'); tarsus, 1.10; No. 2,n!rj.
Hah. Eastern North .\iiieiiea. Me.\i(;o? Not lound in Cuba, //(/c Gl'xnLAcii.
In Spring the olive aliove is very much thtit of eastern .specimens of
.siraut,so)ii ; in winter s])ecimens it is much browner, tiiid almost as much
so as in fiisccinriis. Young birds have the feathers of the hisad, back, and
wing coverts strciiked centrally with drop-slniped s])ots of rusty yellowish
]lAliir.s. I'ntil ipiite recently the "Ciround Swamp liobin," or Hermit
TfUIJID.E — TIIH TIIKUSHES. IQ
Tlinisli, lias not liccii (lisliiii^uislu'il from tlic flosL'ly allied sjiocics T. ■•ii'-ain-
ao/ii, aiul all accounts of writers lia\i' liU'iiiU'd liotli in singular coiil'usion.
jVfv I'oUeajim', rrolessor iiaird, in tliu siiuinu'r of 1S44, was the lirsl to siig-
gest the distinctness uf the two s]iecies. IJy the common jxiople of Maine
anil tile Iiritish I'rnvinces this diilerenci! has lon.t,' been- generally reeo_nni/ed,
this species hein.^ known as the "(Jround Swamp liohin," iiiid the other as
the " Swam]) K'ohin."
The present species is roiinil throughout Kastern X'li'th America to the
^Iississi])pi, and breeds from Massachusetts to high arctir regions. It is
only occasionally found breeiling so far sotith as .Arassachusctts ; through
which State it pusses in its s])ring migrations, sometimes as early as the Idth
of April ; usually reaching Calais, Maine, by the I'lth of the same month.
It is a very al)r.ndant l)ird throughout Maine, where it begins to breed
during the last week of May, and where it also probably has two broods
in a season.
The greater number ap])ear to pass the winter in th" Southern States; it
lieing common in I-'lorida, ami even occasionally seen during that season as
far north as latitude 38° in Southern Illinois, according to Mr. Hidgway.
It rarely, if ever, sings during its migration's ; ai>pears in small straggling
comiiauies, frequents both thickets and open fields, and is unsuspicious and
easily aiiproached.
The son,tf of this species is very fine, having many of the clianicteristios
of that of the Wood Thrush (7'. luiistr/uiiis). It is as sweet, has the .same
tinkling sounds, as of a bell, but is neither so ])owerf'ul nor so prolonged,
and rises more rapidly in its intonations. It l)egins wiili low, sweet notes,
and ends abruptly with its highest, sharp ringing notes.
Taken from the nest they are easily tamed, and are quite lively and
])layful; but their want of cleanliness renders them very undesirable ])ets.
When their nest is visited they make no complaints, but retire to a distance.
Not so, howt^ver, when their natural enemy, the hawk, appears ; tlie.se they
at once assail and seek to drive away, uttering loud and clear chirps, and
jieculiar twittering soun<ls.
The nest of this thrush is always built on the ground, most generally
either under low buslu's or in the open ground, rarely, if ever, among
thick trees, and for the most jiart in low swampy piaces. IJoth nest and
eggs closely resend)le tho.se of Wilson's Thrush ('/'. /iifursirns). In I'ars-
boro, Nova Scotia, I found one of the nests built in the very midst of the
village, close to a dwelling, though mi a .sjiot ,so marshy as to be almost
iinaiiproachable. The nests are '.'> inches in height and o in diameter, with
a cavity 3| inches wide by 1:| deep. They are comiiosed of decayed decidu-
ous leaves, remnants of dried i)huits, sedges and gnisses, intermingled with
twigs, and lined with finer grasses, sedges, and strips of Virk.
The eggs are of a uniform bluish-green color, iiud range iu length from .88
to .94, with uu average of .Go of an inch.
2(1 XORTir AMERICAN UlllDS.
Turdus pallasi, vm. nanus, Audi itdx.
DWARF HUBHIT THBU8H.
Turdits nnnim, Avu. Oni. liio};. V, 18;i!t, '2()1, pi. .ri. 1!aii;1(, liinls N. A. IS.IS, 213;
Ui'V. Am. B. 1804, 15. — Sci.ATKii, 1'. Z. S. Ijsr.it. - In. Catiil. 1801. — DAl.r, & lUx-
.Nl.sri;ii. -Cooi'Kii, Birds ('ill., p. 4. '/'Krilun /iiil/nni, var. iniiiii.s, Hiikjway, IJcp.
Kiiij,'.s ExiM'J. V, 1872. / '/'iinliis iiiiiiiilii.sc/ikw, liMKI.is, S. N. I, 1788, 808. tf.Miis.
cictipti (jiilldlii, I'ai.la.s, Zooj,'. liiKssii-Asial. 11, 1811, 4(1;').
Sp. Char. Above wilh tlii> cltjiir dink dlivo of swiiinsoni, Imt. tlii.s even imivi' mid
mon- pliiniljeon.s Tpj)!'!' tiiil-uovort.-* (bill not lo\vt>r ])iiil ol rump) bccoiniiij;- inoi-c iiil'oiis,
tlic tail abruptly clarki-r. richer, and more piirpH.ih-vuUius. apiiroaeiiinj; to eliestiiut. The
clear olive ol' the neck pas.xe.s into bro\viiish-y//'/»iit'(;i(,s aloiifr .-jide.s; pectoral .•<pot,'< more
spar.-;e and less jiiire black than in T. juillnni. The white beneath i.< of an almost snowy
purity, appreciably diU'ereiit liom the cottony-white of T. jxillnsi. Winjr, 3..')0 ; tail. 3.00;
bill, .3fi; tar.-iis. 1.07.
A very tanij;iblc and constant character po,<sessc(l liy this bird is the more .slcniler and
de[ires.sed bill, as coiii[iarcd with that of 7! /iiillasi. Specinicns vary only in intensity of
colors; thc-^e variations very limited, and correspondinj;' with those of 71 ji<i/l(i.ii. In all
ca.'fes, however, their precise ]iattcrn and peculiar ilistribiition is retained.
IIaii. Western Provineo of North America, eastward from Kodiak to Cape St. Luca.s.
Arizona, Corns.
Haiuts. Tliis small race of the Hennit Tlini.sli wtis first iioticeil by Dr.
Pickeriiio, uiul duscrilietl by Mr. AikIuIjoii from an im|)erfect skin. It
has since been obtainetl almndantly on the I'aeitic slope, and ]\Ir. liidgway
procured a specimen its far east tis the East Humboldt Mountains, which
he considers its eastern limit.
Ill its habits it is said to be, like T. pallasi, almost exclusively terrestrial.
Dr. Heermann mentions fmdin^f it abundant in California, and breeding
among tlie stunted oaks covering the Siind-hills of .San Francisco. Dr.
Cones found it in Arizona, but sjieaks of it as rare tind migratory, occurring
chietly in spring and autumn, and as a shy and retiring species. Dr. Cooper,
in his lie])ort on tlie Ilirds of California, descrilies it its shy and timid, pre-
ferring dark and sliady thickets, feeding chiefly on the ground, running
rapidly, and searching i'or insects among the leaves.
Near San Diego they begiin to sing about the 2r)th of April. The song,
consisting of a lew low ringing notes, resembles that of Wilson's Thrush
{T.fiisccticciis), and also that of T. in^lulahia, but is not so loud. Their note
of alarm is a loud and ringing chirp, repeated and answered by others at ti
long distance.
At Santa Cruz, on the first of June, Dr. Cooper met with several of their
nests, which, though [irobably erroneously, he suiiposed to belong to the
Dwarf Hermit Thrush. They were all built in thickets under the shade
of cottonwo(Kl-trees. Each nest was about five feet from the ground, and
all contained eggs, from two to four in number, in differing stages of incuba-
tion. The nests were built of dry leaves, roots, fibres, grasses, and bark,
TT-RniD-K-TIIh: THRUSHES. 21
without any imid, iiiul were lined witli decayed leaves. Tlieir licijilit and ex-
ternal diameter measured 4 inches. The diameter of the cavity was 2A inches
and tlie dei)th 2\. Tiie e,mi;s measured .!HI by .70 of an inch. Tliey are of a
jiale bluish-green, speckled with cinnamon-lu'own, cliieHy at tlie larger end.
The nest, supposed to be of tliis s])ecies, supjjlied l>y Dr. Cooper, is large
for tlie bird; constructed of a base loosely made up of mosses, licliens, and
coarse fibres of plants. It is a strong and compact structure of matted
leaves, put together when in a moist and decaying comb'tion ; with these
there are interwoven roots, twigs, and strong fibres, surrounding the nest
with a stout band and strengthening the rim. In fact, it corresponds so well
— as do the eggs also — with tiiose of 7'. iisfitlfifus, that it is extremely pioba-
ble that tliey really belong to that species. Tiie only observable dill'erence
is the absence of the Ili/pnnm mosses characteristic of northern natuhitioi.
Dall and Uanni.ster mention in their list of Alaska birds that the sjtecies
is not common there. It was also taken at Sitka and Kodiak by Bischoif.
The fact that this thrush builds its nest a])ove the ground, and lays
spotted eggs, if verified, woulil at once warrant our giving it independent
rank as a species, instead of considering it as a local race of 2>idlasi.
Turdus pallasi, var. auduboni, Baiud.
BOCKY MOUNTAIN HEBHIT THBUSH.
Turdii.iiiii'hilmiii, lUlHli, 1{('V. Am. IJirds, ]Sfi4, 1(1. ~ liiixiw.n', P. A. X. S. 1869, 129.—
Kl.l.lni', Illust. (lif;.). Mci-ithi sileiis, Sw.vin.mix, I'liilos. Miig. 1, 1827, 3()9 (not Tiiri/ns
sikiis u\' VlKU.un; Kiu'ycl. Mtitli. II, 182;i, (547, Iwiscil on T. iiiiiifcliniifi, Wii.s. = T.
/useciivim). — lit. Fauna Boi-.-Amer. II, 1831, 186. — H.vnti), liiiJ.s N. Aincr. 1858,
213, anil 922. - Scl.vtki!, P. Z. S. 1858, 325 (La Paiatla), ami 1859, 325 (Oa.\ara). —
lu. Catal. Am. Hirds, 1861, 2, no. 9.
Sp. Char. Colors iiiiich as in Tiinlns nmins, but tlio uppor tiiil-covert.^ scarcely diUbrent
from till- liack. Tail jcllowi.sh-nil'ous. Luiigtli ol'wiiiij:, 4.18; tail, .'J. GO; bill IVoiii iio.stril,
.45 ; tarsus. l.'Jti.
IIaii. l{(i(4vy Jlouiituins, from Fort Brldger south into Mexico. Orizaba (Alpine rej^ions),
Sl'.MRIlHAST.
This is a very distinct race of thrushes, altliough it may be questioned
wlietlier it be truly a species. It is, however, sulHciently distinct from the
eastern and western Hermit Thrushes to warrant our iiivino; it a place of
DO 1
some kind in the systems.
The young plumage differs from that of paUaxi as do the adults of tiie
two, and in about the same way. The olive is ver}- much purer, with a
greenish instead ot a brownish cast, and the tail is very much lighter,
inclining to dull ochraceous instead of rufous ; this yellowish instead of
rufous cast is apparent on the wings also. The yellowish "drojis" on head,
liack, etc., are very much narrower than in paf/asi., while the greater coverts,
instead of being distinctly tipped with yellowish, merely just perceptibly
fade in color at tips.
22
XOKTIl AMEHICAN lilllDS.
Hahits. At jM'oaciit wu liave but little knowlcdjiu of the liiiltits of tliis form
of T. j)ii//ifsi\ iuiil no iiiforiiiiition wliatoviT ro,L,Mr(liii^' it.s nestiii;,' or i'l;i;s.
In its (listriliution it is confinod to the cuntnil range (jf mountains i'roni
Fort Hridgcr to Soutliern ^kxieo. Tiiis species, there known i> " Sdlitario,"
is common in tlic Alpine region of Vera Cruz (as well as in all the elevated
regions of Ceni 1 Mexico), fre(pienting the jiine wtxids in the district of
Orizaha. Mr. Suinichrast obtained it at all seasons of tiie year at Moyoapani,
in that vicinity; a locality the height of which approximates 2,r)(l{) metres.
It is also found at a height of l,li()() metrbd, near the city of Orizaba.
Mr. Jlidgway calls this bird the " llocky Mountain Hermit Thrush."
He states that he i'ound it common in the Wahsatcli Mountain.s, but tiiat,
on account of its retiring haliits, it was seldom seen. It there lives
chiefly in the deep ravines in the pine region, exhibiting an attachment to
these solitudes ralhi-r than to the thickets along the watercourses lowi-r
down; the latter it leaves to the T. airfdnsoni. Owing to the reservt;d
manners of this bird, as well as to the great ditliculty of reaching its alxtde,
there were few opportunities j)reseuted for learning nmch eoncevning its
habits, nor did he hear its .song. In its lliglit the i)ale ochraceous 'and across
the bases of its (juills was a very conspicuous feature in the ajipearance of
its species, leading Mr. Itidgway to mistake it at first for the Mi/indesfes
tiiirnai'ndii, — also an inhabitant of the same localities, — so much did it
look like that bird, which it further resembled in its noiseless, gliding flight.
SunoExus TURD US, T,i\x.
Of 2'iirilus, ill its most restricted sense, we have no purely American
rei)resentatives, althougli it
belongs to the fauna of the
New AVorld in consc(iuence
of one siiccies occui'ving
in Greenland, that meet-
ing-ground of the birds
of America and Europe ;
which, howev(ir, we include
in the present work, as
related much more closely
to the I'ormer.
This (Jreenland species,
Tvnhis i/mciis, is closely
related to 7\ vi.-icirorus, the
type of the genus, and
comes much closer to the
Ttirdus iliiicus.
Ampri(;an Tiobins (l'/(iiifntiriis) than to the Wood Tliru.shes (ITi//ocirh/ii).
TURDID.K — TIIH TlJJtU.SlIE.S. .,
Zi
Turdus iliacus, r^iNx.
EEDWINO THETTSH.
Tunlnxilhcx, Linn. Syst. Nat. Kill, ,.,1. ]7:.,S, KiS, nn,l of Kuropran mitliors. _ Rkiv-
iiAiirn, lliis, lS(il, (i((!i(..,.nlau(i). I!aii;i), l!rv. Am. li. ],S(i4, 2;M(iiwiilaii,l).
Sp. Ciiaii. Tlii.s si)<'(,'i(.s is sinallor timn our Rol.in ( /: mi</nit,>rii,s), hnt uf ,i siiniliir
f;ia.vi«li-oliv(! aliovo, iiicliidiiig tlie licml. Tlic under jiiirts arc wliilc; the U.alli.Ts (.f iIk;
hwL'v iliroat, ami breast strwikod with l)rown. Tlio sides, axillars, and inn.^r wiii-r-c.vrt'
ail! reddish-cinnamon. A eonspicuous white streak over the eye and exiendin"- as far
hack as (lie nap.-. Hill hiack, yellow at hase of lower jaw. Lejrs paie-eolonMl. Se(Muid
.|nill loM-er than llflh. Len-th, ahout ,S.2.-, ; win- i.lH ; tail, :Ur> ; bill, from -ape, l.O" ;
troiii nostril, .41; tarsus. l.K!: middle toe and claw. 1.1."). Specimen de.scrihiHl : 18,7isj
g. a lirilisli spc^imen rec<.ived liom (lu' Royal Artillery Institution, Woolwich.
II.VH. (ircenland, in IIk; New World.
Tlu! ocoiirreiicc of tlii.s voll-kiinwn Eurnpoan specio.s in Greenland brinrrs
it witliiii tli(! limits oC tlu« AiiUM'icnii Fauna. Two (JiveiilaiKl spociniens are
iVLM.i-ded l.y Dr. Iteinhanlt: om of them sliot at Frederick.sluuil), Octohur ■'■'
184r..
^ liAiirrs. The lledwin.ir can ]>rolmbly only claim a place in the fauna of
Xorth Amcfica a.s an occa.sional visitant. Of the two specimen.s observed
in Greenland, one wa.s shot late in October. It is not known to breed there.
This si)ecie,s, during its breedino season, is found only in the more northern
portions of Kurojie; only occasionally, and very rarely, breeding so far south
as England. It makes its ajipearanoe in that kingdom oti its southern niiora-
tion,s, coming in large flocks from Nortlu'ru and Xortheastern Europe and
arriving usually before the end of October. During tlieir stay in England
they freipient parks and pleasure-grounds that are ornamented with clumps
of trees. During mild and open weather they seek their subsistence in
pasture lands and moist ineadoM-s, feeding principally on worms and snails
In severe winters, when tlie ground is closed by frost or covered by snow
th.i Uedwings are among the first birds to suffer, and often perish in lar-re
numbers. "
During tlie winter they exten.l (heir migrations to the more southern i.or-
li.M.s of Europe, U> Sicily, Malta, and even to Smyrna. In early spring they
return to the more central portions of the continent, and leave in May for
theii' more northern places of resort.
They nest in trees in the moist woods of Norway and Sweden. Their
nests resemble those of the common Fieldfare, T. pilaris. Tlie outside is
tomposed of sticks, w.>eds, and coarse gmss, gathered wet, and matted with a
.small quantity of moist clay. Tlu>y are lined witli a thick bed of tine -nuss
_ The IJedwing is said to po.s.sess a delightful note, and is called the Xjoht-
ii.gale o[ Norway. Linnan.s, speaking of this bird, claims that its hiuh
and varied notes rival even those of that far-famed vocalist.
During the summer the IJedwing advances to the extreme north, visitin-
24
NORTH AMERICAN HIRI)!^.
the Faroe Jtilaiids, Ici'laiid, mid Xortlicni Itnssia. Tlio ^oiicnd cliaradcr
of its food, its inability to tct'd cxtdnsivcly on bcrrios, and tlio fact tliat
it j'ln'islies i'roni starvation in .sovcro winters, would soeni to prove tliat its
occurrences in (Jreenland so late as October nnist have been ]iurely acci-
dental. It is not ja'oliable tiiat its presence in North America will be found
to be a common event.
The eg<;,s measure l.(ir> inches in len<j;th by .81 in breadtli. The y;round
color is a liglit .Lireen with a bluish tinge thickly covered with rassot or
reddish-brown spot.s, conlluent at the larger end.
Snini-NTs PLANESTICtJS, RoNwr.
J'/dlii-nficii.i, liiiNAI'. ('oIii|itr.s liclidlls, IS;')!. (Tv|ic Tiin/ii.i jiiiii'iiriiisii, (Jmki.IN.)
Tliis .'section of the Tlwuslu's is well rejiresented in America, es]iecially in
its niiddli' and soutiiern porlions, and its members liave a closi- rt'st'udilanco
to the typical Kuroiiean
sjiecies in the fidl form,
sbait legs, etc., as already
slati'd. Tiie spots on the
tlu'oat, and their absence
elsewhere on the under
part of l!ie body, are suf-
ficit'iit todisiiiiguish tiieni.
Of the two North Amer-
ican species one is the
well-known Uobin, tiie
other a closi'ly related
fnrm from ('a]ie St. l-ucas,
wliich indeed is probably
<iidy a local ra<'e or variety, altliough nothing exactly like it lias yet been
found away from Ix)wer California. 'I'lie following diagnosis may serve to
distinguish the two birds : —
("(iMMos ('ii.\iiAc'TKH.>J. Tlini.'it wliitc willi (lurk sti'onk.«. Iirsl nf iitnli'i' |iai'ts,
iiicliidiiiir liniiiir i>l' wiiiLi'. i'(>(lili,sli or dHiriiccons ; llio luiul re{,'ion wliili.<li; lower
o\t'liil while. Ncsl on trees. 1\sj:i;s |)liiill Mile.
.Vliove sliilv-olive, ;iii|)r(m<'lniiu' to lil.iek on the lieiiil. lieiieiilli rul'on.i!-
elieslniit. Spot in lore niiil on ii|i|ier eyelid of wliile. T:iil. l.'J.'i. l/nh.
\Vliol<' of North .\nieriea; Mexico, south to Oiixaeii iiml (^Milova; Cnha
(very rai-e) .'iiid Tel im;_'o, o|' \Ve<l Indies .... viir. m iijratori v n.
Above <lull f:r.iyi.-li-;isli, not darker on the head, nenealii ]iale yellowi.sli-
liillV; tini,'ed with ashy across lireast : a eonliniions white stripe from llie
lore.« over and a (piarler ol' jni ineh lieliiiid the eye. ''ore white on helly
and (lank.s tlmii in 7! initinitnn'ii.i. Hill stonier; ti only •'!.7''>, while the
win^r is till! .same. //'(/>. Cape Si. I.neas, Lower i 'alili>rnia . . vnr. m ii j! ii i s.
Tin litis inii^riitoriiis.
TUHDID.R — TIIR TTTUrSITF.S.
25
Turdus migratorius, vm. migratorius, Linn.
BOBIN ; AHEBICAN BEDBBEA8T.
Timlii'i i,ii;iriilnn'ii.i, Mnn. S. X. llitli cd. 17iiii, 2'.i-2. Sci.aiki;. 1*. Z. S. IH.Ifi, sni;
18r.!», :i;n ; laa-l, 17:2. - in. Cutiil. Am. lUnls, l.S(!l, 4. - Sri.AiKi! k S.M.viN, ll)is,
1H()(I, ;t!tti (Cohan).- liAiiiii, liiids N. .\iii. 18r.,H, '218 ; licv. .\iii. li. lS(i4, -iS.
CoopKii & SniKi.KY, I'. 1!. 1!. li. XII, II, \»!)\\ 17'2. - Duksski!, Iliis, isii,",, 47;,.
(Trxii.s, wiiilci). ('Dries, I'r. A. N. S. ]8(i(i, (il (Aiizinia). — Dam, vt liANSisiKu
(Aliiskii'l. — ('(Mii'Ki!, Minis Tnl. — Samtki.s, ].'')4.
Kii,'iiifs : VrKii.i.or, Ois. Am. .Si'|>t. II, jil. Ix, l.\i. — Wilson, Am. Oin. I, 1808, jil. ii. —
1)(H TV, Ciib. X. II. I, 1830, 1)1. xii. — AfDriioN, liinls Am. Ill, pi. .xlii ; Orii.
liiog. II, 111. cxxxi.
Si'. CiiAU. Tail .slijrlitly i'ouikIimI. .\1iovo dlivi'-cfray ; Id]) ami sides ol' the head lila<>k.
Cliiii anil lliroat wliilf, strcaki'il \vilh lilii'k. Kvclids, tnid .-i spol iiliovc the I'Vi' anlcriorly,
wliilc. ruder ]iarls and inside of the \vin<rs. ciiestniit-hidwii. Tlie under fail-eoverts and
;inal n'U'ion, witli liliiie. white, shiiwinf;' the plninlieons inner |iiii-ticins of the leathers.
Wiiifi's dark brown, the feathers all edyed niore or le.ss with pale ash. Tail still darker,
the extreme feathers tipped with while. Hill yellow dusky alonj; the rid^e and at, the
tip. Len).'th, 0.7."i ; wiiifr, ■">.4i! ; tail, 4.75; tarsn.s, l."_'.i.
IIaI!. The whole of N'orth Aineriea ; ^^exieo, Oaxaea, and Cordova ; (inatennda; Tnlia,
very rare, fiUxni.ACii ; Toha^o, I\iuk; l^erimida, Joxks; Ori/.uha (.Mpiiie re;,'ions, lireeding
alinndantly), SiMiciiiiAST.
Yoiinj,' liirds liavc triinsver.sc lilarkisli Imis dii tin; back, iiiul Itlacki.sli
spdt.s lieiu'iitli. Till! .slial'ls of tlu' Ics.si'i' cuvei'ts an; .stit^iiked with Iirnwiii.sli-
ycUow ; tlio back fciitlicis witb wliito.
Tliere aru somo vaviiition.';, both
of color 1111(1 in'oportious, lictwccii
ciistcrii and western speciiiiciis of
tho lloliui. In tlu' Latter tlieii^ i,s
a tendency to a loiiffer tail, thonoh
the dift'eriMice is not marked ; smd,
as a rule, they .slightly exceed eti.st-
ern siieciniens in si/e. The broad
white tip to the lateral tiul-feather
— so consincuous a mark of etist-
ern birds — is scarcely to lie found
at all in tiny western ones; and in
the latter the black of the lietul
is very sharply delined a<:ainst the
li.nhfer, clearer ash of ', back, there hardly t^ver beiiio' a tendency in it
to continiu! backward in the form of central spots to the feathers, as is
almost c. 'istantly seen in eastern exani]iles ; of western spi-ciinetis, tho
rufou.s, too, is a])])reciably lioiiter lliaii in eastern. .\s reoards the streaks
on the throat, the black or the white may either lare;ely predominate in
sjieeimens lium one locality.
Tltntii.t tni^iltoriiti.
26 XORTII AMERICAX IJIRDS.
Ill autunui and winter each nitons I'oatlier beneath is bordered by a more
or less eonspii'.nous crescent of white ; in addition to this, most of the lighter
individnals (9 ;'), at this season, iiave an ashy sulVusion over the breast and
Hanks ; and tliis, we liave observed, is more gemu'al and more noticeable in
western than in eastern specimens. In fall and winter the cohtr of the bill,
too, chanj^es, becoming at tliis season either ])artially or wlioUy dnsivy, instead
of almost entirely yellow, as seen in siuiiij; and summer examples.
^le.xican specimens, found breedinjr in tiie Al|)ine rej.;ions as far soutli
as Orizaba and Mirador, most r(!semble tiie western series ; one, however
(Xo. li(S,12(li;y , Orizaba), but in the autumnal plumage, and therefore
very ])o.ssilily a migrant from tlu; Xortii, is hardly distinguishable from
Xo. ;i2,j!()(), (Jeorgia; it is aliout identical in pr<>i)ortions, and the rntbus is
of a castaneous shade, like the deepest cohu'ed eastern examides ; the white
ti]i to the outer tail-feather is us broad ami conspicuous us is ever seen in
the latter.
1I.\I!1TS. Sciircely any American bird iias a wider range of g(M)graphical
distribution, or is more numerous wherever found, than this thrusii. From
(ireenlaiid on the extreme nortlieast to the plateau of Mexico, and from
the Atlantic to the I'acilic, the Itobin is everywhere a very abundant sjjccies.
Single specimens have been obtained as far .soutli as Cohan, (Jiiatemala. Its
distribution in tlie breeding season is iiardly less restricted, occurring alike
on the .shores of the Arctic Si-as and on the high lands of Vera ("ruz.
In tlie winter months it is most abundant in the ''outhern States, while
in tlie Middle and even the Xortliern States, in favorable localities, it
may be found throughout the year; its migrations being influenced more
by tiie (inestion of food than of climate. In the valleys among tiie White
i\Ionntains, where snow covers the ground from Octol)er to June, and where
tiie "old reaches the freezing-point of mercury. Hocks of the IJobin remain
during tlie entire winter, attracted liy the abundance of berries.
On the I'acitic Coast the llobin is only a winter visitant in Caliibrnia; a
very few remaining to breed, and tliost^ only among the hills. They reach
A'ancouver Lsland early in ^larch, and are very aliundant.
la New Kngland, where the llobiiis aic held in great esteem, ami where
they exist under very favonible circumstances, their numbers have very
largely increased, especially in the villages. They cause not a little annoy-
ance to fruit cultivators hy their depredations ii])on the productions of tlie
garden, especially cherries and strawberries. They arc^ a vorai'ious bird, and
no doulit destroy a large (luantity of small fruit, but there is abundant evi-
dence that this is more than compensated by ihv'w destruction of the mo.st
injurious insects, upon wliicii they wage an incessant war. The investiga-
tions of Mr. .1. W. r. .leiiks and I'rofessiir Treadwell liiitablish conclusively
their great .services in this direction.
The exjieriments of the latter gentleman show that the nestlings of the
Itobiii rei|uire a vast amount of animal food, forty p(>r cent more tliaii their
TURDIILK — THE TllUrsilKS. 27
own \vei;^lit beiuj^' consumed by the youui,' bird witliin twenty-lbur hours,
and, whiit is more, denionslnited to lie neecssiiry to its existence.
In Massachusetts a tew Robins remain tlu'ou^diout tiie year, but tlie .greater
jirojiortion leave early in Xoveniber, returning late in February or early in
March.
The song of the Hobin is deservedly popular. AVhile many of our birds
possess far .superior i)owers of melody, and exhibit a much greater variety in
their .song, there are none that exceed it in its duration or extent. It is tlu!
first bird in s])ring to oix-n and one of the last to close the great concert of
Nature. Their .song is earnest, sini])le, and thrilling, and is .said liy Audubon
to reseml)le that of the Kurojiean lllackhird. Turd us mcvtiln.
Tiie liobin, wlien taken young, may l)e readily tamed, a.ul soon becomes
contented and accustomed to conlinement. They are devoted to their young,
watcld'ul, attentive, and provident. They begin to constru>'t their nest in
early spring bi.'fore the trees i)ut forth their leaves, and often in very exposed
])osition.s. The size of the nest, in fact, makes concealment impossilde.
Tiicse nests are sometimes jilaced in ([uite remarkable positions, such as
the beams of a ship jiarlly tinislied, and where the carpenters were every
day at work, and similar situations indicating a great familiarity. Their
favorite ]ilace is the horizontal branch of an a]ii)le-tree, about ten feet from
the ground.
The nest of the Robin is a large and coarsely constructed combination of
rude materials. It is comjxised of a bast^ of sti'aw, leaves, mo.s.ses, stems,
and dry gra.sses, upon which a cui)-sliai)ed fabric of clay or mud is liuilt.
The whole is lined with tiner dry grasses and vegetable iilires. They
average Ti inciios in iieigiit and the same in diameter. Their cavity is
'1\ inches deep, with a diameter of '11 inclies.
The eggs of the Ivobin, wliicli are usually live and smnetimes six in num-
ber, are of a uniform bright greenish-bhu! color, liable to fade when ex]ios(Ml
to light, but when fresh exiiibiting a very distinct and bright tint. They
vary in size fnmi l.lio to l.l'J inches in length, and in breadth from .88 to
.To of an inch. Their mean measurement is 1.18 by .81.
Turdus migratorius, var. conflnis, Daiuu.
CAFE ST. LUCAS BOBIK.
Tiiriliis rniiihiix, IJaumi, lirv. Am. it. lS(il, 20. — lii,i.ior, IJiitls Ainerkii. — Cmiria!, Itilds
('ill., i).
Sr. CiiAii. Xo. "Jli,"!^!'. Kiilii'c ii|i]M'i' |iiii'ls inul .-liili's dl' licail iiml neck \iiiilonii }.Tiiyi-;li-
iisli, willl |ii'l-|ii\|is n rnint liiifTi' nl' oliviiciMiiis, li'ss lliiui ill fjislciii s|i('ciiiii'lis ol' 7! iiiii/iii-
tiiriii.i. Till' ct'iilnil (iDrliiiiis ol' the rcullicis nl' llic l()|i iif licail uic riillicr cliirkiM' tli:\ii llu'
i'iti;i',-<, thoii(ih iiliiiiist iiiii|i|iici'iiilily so, iiinl not iiiipnrtiiif; a ^'i'ihtuI (lii>ky iip|icMriiiii'i'.
Tile (iliin mitl tlimal an' wliiti', stvcaki'il with asliy-lirowii. Tlic Jii^riiluiii ami Incasl an-
28
NORTH AMP]RICAN BIRDS.
paU' yellow ish-bii 11'; the iixillars, iiincr wiiifr-co verts, ami sides of the breast similarly, but
rather more deeidedly coloicd. The belly and odijes of llu^ cris.sal iealher.s are white, the
hinder parts of the Hanks asiiy. There is a tlistiiK't whitish stripe from tiie lores over
and a (piarter of an inch behind the eye ; the lower eyelid is also whit<'. The tail-leathers
are worn, bnt there is an indication of a narrow white tip. The featli<Ms of the jiifru-
lum, especially of tlie sides, are tipped with ashy like the back, as in inunature specimens
of T. migraiorins. The tri'eater winjr-eovfM'ts nro tipped with dnll white. The bill is yd-
lowi.sh ; the u])[)er mandible and the tij) of lower tinged with dnsky. The feet are pale
brown.
The le" th oannot bo given acenrately, as the skin is nincli drawn np. TIk; wing, how-
ever, measin-es 5.10 inches, its tip reaching 1.40 lieyond the longest .secondary ; (ail, 4.10 ;
tarsns, l.'iO; middle toe and claw, 1.07; exposed portion of cnlnien, .'J2; from tip to open
portion of nostrils, .(!().
II.vii. Todos Santos, Cape St. Lucas.
The speciiiion with a ooiioi-al rosonihlaiico to an iiniiiattire T. niir/rotoriiis
(especially the western vaiietv) in the white stipeveiliaiy streak and oeuoral
markings, is inneli lighter beneath than in any of the many skins of T. ini-
ijrutoriuH e.xamined ; there being none of the dark eliestinit or cinnamon
shiide, but rather a light 1)11(1'; tiie l)elly and flanks are much more purely
white. The sujierciliary stripe extends farther beiiind Mie eye; indeed, in
most specimens of iiiii/ratoriiis the wliite i.s nearly confined to the eyelids.
The bill and wings are rather longer than usual in viii/ratoriiis ; the middle
toe, on the other iiand, appears shorter. Notliiug i.s on record in regard to
the habits of this bird.
SinoKNTs HESPEROCICHLA, lUiun.
Jfcupn-ocitli/d, l>.\ii!ii, llcv. Am. liinls, 1, l>sti4, \2. (Type 'I'linliix ii'rvi(u<i, V,m.)
The single species of this subgenus ditl'ers in form from tho Robins (I'la-
*_ » ^ itis/icux), ill the more awl-
shajied bill, the curved com-
missure, and the alwence of
a notch at the end ; the long-
er, slenderer, and straighter
claws ; and in the dissimi-
larity in color of the sexes.
In the latter res]»ects it
agrees with Mcinilo of 1mi-
rojie and Midille America;
in which, however, the bill
is distinctly iiotciied, and
less attiiiiuated. The tail is
shorter and broader than lu
PlaneAtku.s, more as in true Tnrdnn or IfjiJoiiihlu.
TrnDID.K — TUB THUrSlIKS.
21)
Turdus nsevius, (!mki,.
OBEOON ROBIN; VABIED THBTJSH.
Turdus tiivf! us, Cm. S. N. I, 1788, H17. — .Sclatkii, 1'. Z. S. 18r.7, 4; ISr.it, SSI. —
M.viui), liirds N. Am. UiiS, 21!) ; Ucv. Am. B. 1SG4, ;V2. — Ciiiu'kk & SrcKLKY, 1'. K.
H. K. XII, II, ISuit, 172. — Cori-.s, IV A. X. S. 18()t), 65. ((Quotes lUMniiicmc on
Cdloriido Uivcr, iilmve Fort Moliiivc, as txi-i'jitioiml.) — Maynauii jMiis.siKlmsetU 1). -
TriiNni'T.i. (N. .Ici-sfy !). — 1)ai,i. & Hanni.sikk (.Vluska). — Cimipkii, Hinls Cal. 10.
()r/ilieiis mi'niliiidiK, IJicil. F. U. A. II, 18:51, 187, pi. .\.vxviii.
OtliiT li{,'ui('s : ViKii.i.iir, Ois. Am. Scjit. II, 18il7, i)l. l.wi. — Ai:i). Uru. liio-,'. IV, 1838,
]il. oi^d.xix, luiil icccxxxiii. — lii. Binls .\m. Ill, jil. cxliii.
Sp. ("ii.Mi. Tail nearly even; tlio lateral leather .shorter. Ahove, rather dark lihiish
.slate ; iintlor part.s jjeiierally, a patdi on the npper eyelids eoiitiniimis with a stripe behinil
it alon^' the .side of the luwul and neck, iht! lower eyelid.s, two bands aero.s-s the wiiif,'
cdvert.s and the edjjes of the unills, in i)art, rufons oranire-l)r(>wn : middle of belly white.
Side.s of the head and neck, continnons with a liroad pectoral tran.-:v<'r.sc band, black.
Mo.st of tail feathers with a terminal [latcli of l)r()wnish white. Hill black. Feet yellow.
Fi-male more olivaceous above; the white of the abdomen more extended; the brown
beneath paler; the pectoral band olisolete. Lenfrtii, !)."") inches; wiiijjr, 5.00; tail, 3.!)0 ;
tarsus, 1. 2.").
Youug (4r),8!)7, Sitka. Anfr. IStU!; F. Biseholl') E.\'artly roscmldiiip; the adnlt female,
hnriiu/ no sjxits other than seen in the adult, plnmafje ; lint the ])eetoral collar is composed
only of badly d<'fMie(l blacki.sh transverse? crescents, and the upper parts anterior to the
rump are of an \nnbcr brown tint. The markiui,'s about the head and on the wint;s are
precisely as in the adult.
This species doe.s not appear to be liable to any noticeable variation.
Hah. West coast of North America, from liehrinj; Straits to California; strafTirlin^'' to
(treat Bear Lake. .Vccidental on Lonjr Island (Cab. (J. X. Lawrence). Xew .lersey (Call.
Dr. Sanniel Cabot), ami [[iswieh, Ma.ss. (Cab. Boston Society Natural History); Iowa
(Allkn).
IIahits. Tlu! iU'cideutal ocoiu'rence of
iniirkod bird in tlii' Kiistiini Sttiros
is its only clniin to ti pliiou in that
tiitiiia, it beiii}^ strictly a wcstoni
species, Iteloiijfiiio; to tlie Pacific
Coast. It was first discovered liy
tlie natuKilists of ('a])taiii Cook's
expedition, who met with it as far
to tlio north its Nootka Sound. It
is only very recei tly tliat we liavo
lieeoinc possu.-i.-ied of reliiihle infor-
mation in re^iird to its lireedin.L;
and its nest and ejij^s. Sir John
liichard.son was informed tliat it
nested in bushes in a manner simi-
lar to that of the common rohin. 7>m/,« mn ,»,..
Nnttall and Townsend fotind it aluiiidant annino the western slopes of the
few specimens
t
of this well-
30 NORTH AMKRICAN BIRDS.
liocky ^fountains, near tlie ("olmiibia liivcu', in Octobor. In the winter it
became still more numerous, passing the season in that region as well as in
more southern localities, associating with the roljin. From this bird it may
be readily distinguished by the diU'erence of its notes, which are louder,
sharper, and delivered with greater rapidity. In the spring, before leaving
for their breeding-i)lace3, they are described as having a very sweet warble.
On the Columbia Itiver they were not resident, arriving there in October,
continuing throughout the winter, and leaving crly in ^la}^ During their
stay they moved through the forest in small flocks, freipienting low trees,
and I'or the most part keeping perfect silence. They were timorous and didi-
eult of approach.
Its habits are said to resemble those of the robin, but in some of them
the descriptions given appear to correspond more with those of the Fieldfares
and liedwings of Europe. Like those species it is a summer resident of
high northern latitudes, aifects secluded forests and thickets bordering u])on
streams, and is found only iu unfreijuented localities.
Dr. ('(toper was of the oitinion that a few of these thrushes remained in
"Washington Territory throughout the summer, as he freipiently met with
them in the dark s])ruce forests of that region as late as June and July.
He describes the song as consisting of iive or si.\ notes in a minor key, and
in a scale regularly desceiuling. It was heard continually throughout the
summer, among the t<)])s of tlie trees, but only iu the densest forests. Dr.
Suckley states that after a fall of snow they would be found ahtng the sandy
beaches near the salt water, where they were both abundant and tame. We
are indebted to Mr. W. H. Dall for our lirst authentic knowledge of its
nest and eggs. The former measures (i inches in diameter with a depth of
2^, inches. It hiis but a very .slight de])ression, apparently not more than
hall' an inch in depth. The original shape of the nest had, however, been
somewhat flatter^ed in tra^tsportation. 'The materials'of vydch it was coni-<
];osed were fine dry mo.sses and lichens impacted together, intermingled with
I'mgments of dry stems of grasses.
A nest of this thrush obtained by Dr. Minor, in Alaska, is a much more
finished structure. Its base and ])erii)Iiery are composed of an elaborate
basket-work of slender twigs. Within these is an inner nest consisting of
an interweaving of fine dry grasses and long gray lichens.
The eggs in size, shape, ground cidor, and markings are not distinguishable
fiom those of the Tnrdus musicus of Euro]»e. They measure 1.D5 inches in
length by .f^() in breiulth, are of a light blue with a greenish shading, almost
exactly similar to the ground color of the T. inii/rdtoriiis. They are very
distinctly marked and spotted with a dark umber-brown approaching almost
to blackness.
Mr. Dall informs us that the nest found by him was built in a willow
bush, about two feet fntm llie gnuind, and on the top of a large mass of
rubbish lodged there by some previous inundation. Other nests of the
TUKDIDJ-; — THE THRUSHES.
31
same sjiecios wore met witli in several places between Fort Yukon and
Xiilato, always on or near a river-bank and in l(nv and secliidt'd localities.
Tliey arrive at Nulato about May 15, and prefer the vicinity of water,
fr(ii|uentiny: the banks of small streams in retired places. JNlr. Dall states
tliat lie has seen the male Itird on a jtrostrate lo^' near the nest, sin<,dng witii
all iiis mijfht, suddenly cease and run up and down the log for a few miinites,
struttinj,' in a siu;,'ular manner, tiien stojyping and singing again; and keeping
up this curious performance. Specimens were received from Sitka, Koiliak,
Cook's Inlet and Admiralty Islands.
SUBF.VMII.Y MIMINiE.
l)irds of tliis section liave a somewhat thrush-like appearance, but (except
in 0)rosro2>f<s) with longer, much more graduated, and broader tail; siiort
concave wings, about ecpial to or sliorter than tlie tail, usually lengthened,
sometimes decurved bill without notch, and strongly marked scutelhe on the
anterior face of the tarsus. Tiie loral feathers are soft, and not ending in
bristly points. The colors are dull shades of brown, gray, or plumbeous.
Most of the species, in addition t(j a melodious native song, possess tiie
power of imittating the notes of other birds ; sometimes, as in the American
Mocking r>ird, to an enunent degree. All are peculiar to the New World,
and the sj)ecies are much less vagrant tiian those of tlie Tiirdiua', — those
of tiie United States scarcely going beyond its northern bounilary ; others,
again, restricted to small islands in the West ladies or in the Pacific Ocean.
Genus OREOSCOPTES, U.uud.
Oro.vco;('c,v, B.Miin, HiidskN. Am. lK)f^, 346. (\'\\>v Orphtii^ 'iimHkiiiii.% Tiiwss.)
Orcoxeojitis, Haiud, liov. Am. liinls, 42.
Si'. Char. Bill .■iliortor tliaii the head, without ilistiiict notch. Bristles pi'oniiiHMit, their
tips reaeliiiii,' l>e\(iii(l the nostrils. \Vinj,'s poiuleil, equal lo, or a littlo loUjj;ur tliuu the
tail. First ((uill not hall' the se(;on(l, ahout
two (ilUis the lon^^est ; thirtl, fourth, and
(irtli <|uills e(|ual and loiiffest ; second be-
tween sixth and st^venth. Tail but .slifrhtly
gradiia(e(l ; the fealhors narrow. Tarsu.s
loajrer than ini(Ullo toe and claw by an ail-
ditioual elaw ; .seutelhe distinct anteriorly.
Of this genus only one species is
at present known. Tiiis belongs to
the Middle and AVestern ])rovinces
of the rniti'd States and extends
from the Pacific coast eastward to
Fort Laramie and tiie I?lack Hills
(ill winter to San Antonio, Texas) ; south to Fort Yuma and Cape St. Lucas.
hl29
Oreosrnptf.s iniintiuilts.
32
NORTH AMKRICAN IHRDS.
Oreoscoptes montanus, Wwuh.
SAOE THBASHER; HOTTKTAIN MOCKEB.
Orphetis moiilnnim, TowNsr.xn, Jour. Aciul. Nat. Sci. I'liilii. VII, ii, 1837, 102. — Am.
Birds Aiiifr. II, 1841, 1!U, \A. ux.\xi.\. Tin-ilns mutilmnis, Ari). Oiii. Hiof,'. IV, 1838,
437, 111. iTclxix, lij;. 1. Miinus mon/diiKs, Uonat. ('oiisp. 18r>(l, 2"t!. (hmscdptf.s
monlHitim, Uaikd, Hinl.s N. .\iii(T. IS.'iS, 347; U«'V. Am. Ii. 1804, 42. — Sui.atei!,
r. Z. S. KSiV.t, 340. —III. ratal. LSUl, 8, no. 3(1. — C'ooi-Ki!, HiiiKs Cal. 1, 12.
Sp. Char. First quill rather shorter than thu sixth. Tail .slij;htly {iradiiatiMl. Above
bro\viiish-a.>ih ; each feather obsoletely darker in the centre. Beneath dull white, thickly
marked with triiui^'iitar spot.s, excej)! on tiie under tail-eoverts and around the aims, whieli
rejrions are linj;ed with yellowi.sh-hrown. Winur-eoverts and (|\iilis edfjed with dull white.
Tail feathers lirown ; the outer edire<l, and all (exee])t, iierliap.s, the middle) tipped witli
white. I,enjrlh, S inches; win^', 4.8.'i ; tail. -I.OO ; tarsus, 1.21.
y<iiiiii/. Similar, hut .spots lieneath less sharply defmed, and the upper parts quite
eonspicuou.sl}' streaked with <lusky.
IIaii. Rocky Mountains of Uniteil States, west to raci(i<", south to Cape St. Lucas.
The careful ohservatiniis of IVfr. Iioliert I!idj,nvay have led him to tlie con-
viction that the name bestowed upon this .' uecios of " ^loiintain Mocking-
liird " is doubly a mi.snomer. It i.s not at all imitative in its notes, and it is
almost exclusively a resident of the ar-
temisia i)lains. It seems to be chiefly
confined to the great central plateau of
North America, from jMexico almost to
Washington Territory. Specimens have
been procured i'rom Cape St. Lucas, tiie
Lower Coh)rado, Mexico, and Texas, on
tlie south, and Xuttall met with it nearly
its far iiortii as W^alla- Walla. It ])roba-
bly occupies the whole extent of the
Great l?asin.
Dr. Kenncrly, who met with it while
crossing the ariil mmifi west of the l{io
(Jrande, says tliat wliile singing it was
usually ])erched u])on some busli or low tree. It was fretpiently seen
s"eking its food upon the ground, and when approached, instead of flying
away, it ran very ra])idly, and disa})]»eared among the low bushes.
')uring tlie winter months it was ob,served near San Antonio, Texas, by
j\[r. Dresser; and was also found by him to lie common aliout Eagle I'a.ss.
He noticed the same peculiarity of their running insteail of t.ieir Hying
away when disturbed. Tiiey ]treferred tlie Hat, bush-covered plains. A few
remained to breed, as he obtained the eggs there, although he did not him-
self meet with one of the birds in summer.
It is geiu'i'idly represented as keejjing chiefly on the grotnid, and obtaining
Orioscnplfs montanus.
TLKDiD.K — TiiK Tiiursiri';s. 33
its food ill tlii'^ ]K)siti(tii. (u'lienil Couch speaks of it as Sparrow-lilve in its
habits.
Mv. Niittall dt'scrihes its song as cliocrinji;, and the notes of whieli it is
composed as decidedly resend)linj,' those of tiie Ih-own Tinnisli (Ifnrpo-
rln/iiflins rn/iis). lie claims for it some of tlie imitative powers of the
]\Iocldn<i-I>ird (Mimn.i jxi/i/i/loMux), but in this lie is not supported by tho
observations of others. He met with its nest in a wormwood (Artemiiiiu)
bush on the border of a ravine ; it contained four e,L,'},'s of emei'ald green,
si)otted with dark olive, the spots being large, roundish, and more numerous
at the lai'ger end. The nest was composed of small twigs and rough stalks,
and lined with strijts of bark and l)ison-wool. The female flew off to a short
distance, and looked at her unwelcome visitors without uttering any com-
])laint.
The nests of this bird, so far as I have seen them, are all Hat, shallow
structures, with very slight depression, and loosely and rudely constructed
of an intermingling of strips of bark with rootlets and the tiner stems of her-
l)aceous jilants. Tlieir eggs, usually four in mnnber, do not vary essentially
in size, shape, or marking. Tluy measure 1 inch in length, and from .73 to
.7") in breadth. Their ground color is a bright green ish-))lue, marked with
dee]) olive-brown spots, iutermingkid with lilotches of a light lilac. There
are slight variations in the proportion of green in the shade of the ground
color, and also in the nund)er and size of tlK! spots, but these variations are
unimportant.
The following are IVfr. Ifidgway's ol)servations upon the haliits of this
species. They are full, valualile, aiul very carefully made : —
The Oiroaropfia inontitiins is a bird ]»eculiar to the artemisia wastes of the
Great 15asin, licing a characteristic species of the region between the Sierra
Nevada and the llocky Mountains. It is exclusively an inhabitant of tlie
" sago brush," and is partial to the lower portions of the country, though
it is not unfreiiuent on the open slojie of the mountains. A more uiiappro-
priate term than "Mountain Mocking- 1 )ird " could hardly have been chosen
for this species, as its ])re(lilection for the valleys, and the fact that its song
is I'utiirfi/ its own, will show. In my oi)inion, tlie term "Sage Thrasher"
would be more appro})riate.
In tiie neighborhood of ("arson City, Xtivada, the.se birds arrived about the
24th of March, antl immediately ujwn tlieir arrival began singing. At this
time, with the Stiirnclla iieif/trfa. and Poonpixn he/li, they made sweet nnisic
in the afternoon and early morning, in the open wastes oi' "sage brush,"
around the city. The birds when singing were generally seen sitting upon
the sununit of a ".sage" liusli, faintly warbling, in the course of the song
turning the head from side to side in a watchful manner. Upon being
approached, they would darl downward, seemingly diving into the bush upon
which they had ju'rched, li\it upon a close search the Itird could not Ih^
found, until it was heanl again singing a hundred yards or more in tho
6
34 NOIlTir AMERICAN' niRDS.
direction from wliicli I liiid a]i])roa('liO(l. Tliis peculiar, circuitous, concciilcd
lli^'Iit is ii \ory cliuractcristic tniit of tiiis bird, and one sure to excite atten-
tion.
As tlie season advanced, or about tlie lOtii of April, when the ])airing
season was at hand, the son;,'s of the males became jj;reatly improved, increas-
ing in sweetness and vivacity, and full of rapturous enu)tion ; their nuuiners,
also, became changed, for they had lost all their wariness. In Jiaying their
attentions to tlieir mates, the males would tly from bu.sh to bush, Mith a
])eculiar, tremulous fluttering of the wings, which, when the bird alighted,
were raised above tiie back ap])arently touching each other; all the while
vibrating with the emotion and ecstasy that agitated the singer.
The sung of this bird, tJHaigh very deficient in ])ower, — in this respect
eciualling no other species of j\fiiiii)ia' with which 1 am acquainted, — is
nevertheless superior to most of them in sweetiu'ss, vivacity, and variety.
Tt has a wonderful rescmlilancc to the l)eautifid subtle warbling of the
Jt'ct/ii/iis vitlniihi/ii, having in fact very nuich the same style, with much of
the tone, and about the power of the song of the Pi/rfnif/c rubra.
When the liirds are engaged in incul)ation, the males become very silent,
and one not familiar with tiieir habits earlier in the sea.son would think they
never had a voice; in fact, they make no protestations even when the nest is
disturbed, for, while blowing the egg.s, I have had the parent liirds running
around me, in the manner of a robin, now and then halting, stretching for-
ward their heads, and eying me in the most an.xious manner, but remaining
licrfectly silent. When the young are hatclied the ]>arents become more
.solicitous, signifying their concern by a low, subdued r/iiirk. At all times
when the nest is aii])roaclii;d, the l)ird generally leaves it slyly before one
a])]iroaches very near it.
The nest is very bulky, comi)ose<l externally of rough sticks, yu'incipally
the thorny twigs of the various " .sage bush " ])lants. Xearer the centre the
])rinci])al material is fine strips of iinier bark of the.se ])lants; and tlie liiung
eimsists of finer strij)S of bark, mingled with fine roots, and bits of rabbit
fur. The situation of the nest varies but little, luring generally jilaccd
near the middle of a bush, that is, about eighteen inches from tiie ground,
it is generally sujjported against the main trunk, upon a horizontal branch.
Several were found ujion the ground Ijcneatli the bush, one, in fact, endiedded
in the soil, like that of a I'ipilo ; or as sometimes the case with the Hor-
2wrJi>/nchitH rufm, others, again, were found in brush-heaps. In all ea-siis,
th(( nest was very artfully conceah'd, the situation l)eing so well .selected.
This bird is almost eijually eonunon in all parts of its haliitat, within the
lii.'its indicated. In June, we found it abundant on the large islands in the
Cheat Salt Lake, where many nests were found.
In autumn, it feeds, in comi)any with many other birds, upon berries,
" service berries " being its especial favorite.
ti;hi)io.k--tii1'; tiiimsiiks.
35
(!i;.\i,s HARPORHYNCHUS, (
AiiA.vrs.
Tvxvuhmif, WaiH.iW!, Isis, 1S31, oUS. (Tyi.r T. ,;■/„/„, Wm:i.., ii.,| 'IVmnlam,, livK
IHlti.)
llurixs, (iAMliKl,, I'r. A. N. S. I'liila. 11. US4i, 'itil. (Typr ll,!,;,,:, miivinis, (I ami.., i„.I
ofddl.liKiss, KSMil.)
Il.,r/iar/ni,i,:/iiis, ('AliANls, Aivliiv f. \aturj,'. IHIM, i. il,s. (Vyyr //„r/>r.i ,y,/irin,s, (JamiU
.Mithnu,,ln-iiH, liKirll. Av. Syst. >fut. KS.'.O, i,l. iv. (TyiH' sai'.l l)y (iiay to W 11. ni/,is.)
f!o. C'llAU. Hill Ihiin lorcliuaij as ionf; as. i)r iniicli loii-vr lliaii (he licad ; liccoiiiiii;,'
moil,' and iiioiv ihnirvcil in liotli Jaws as Icm-iIu'ikmI. No inaicaliDn of a noU-li. Kidns
willi tiic bristles cxtcnilinfr licyond
tin.' nostrils. Tarsns louir andslont,
a|i|)rccial)ly ('.xccciiini,' I lie niiddio
toe and claw, slron;,dy .>«Mili'llalu
antcrioily. Wings considfralily
shorter lliau tail, nuieh ronnd(Ml ;
tliu first (|nill more than half the
second ; fourth or lifth lonprest.
Tail largo, luuuh gradnated ; the
featheis lirni.
Tliu species uf this genus
lire nil of laro;e siz(^ in fact,
eniln'iicing the largest of tiie
American sleniler-billed os-
Ihr/ioifii/Hr/iiis rtifiis.
cine birds. All the species diller in structure, varying esjieeially in the
length of the hill, as above stated.
It is useless to attempt a division of this genus, for there is .such a gradual
chain of chunicters between the two extremes of form {riifii>^ and cr'imdis),
that they even seem almost one si)ecies,
when the numerous intermediate forms,
shading so insensibly into each other, are
considered. However, as this view would
be rather extreme, in view of the really
great dilference of form between the speines
mentioned, we may consider the following
as good sjjeeies, severai of them with one
or more varieties: rn/ns, with lonyiniuihi.
and /oiii/irosfn'x as varieties, the fornuu-
scarcely ap[)reeia.bly dilferent, the latter
ranking as a permanent race ; orcUcttnx, ri-
nfiriia, ciirviroHtris, tht; latter witli one well-
marked variety, pn/iiicn' ; mlivini.-i, with
most probably Invntd as a well-markeil
variety, and rrinsn/l.'i.
Tlie seasonal dif1eren<;es in the i)himage often make it ditheult to deter-
mine these several forms ; but if the following iiicts are borne in mind, the
Hdrliiirhfinchus nifiis.
3G NORTri AMKRICAX liinDS.
troulilu will Ik! gri'iitly lessened. In every s])0(;ie.s tliere is a more or less
(lecitlud ocliracuous tinge to the crissiil rei,'ion (sonietinuis extemlin<,' forward
over the tlaidvs) ; except in i rlssn/iK, in which the hnver tail-coverts and anal
region are deep cliest mt. In autumn and winter this oehniceons tint lie-
comes very much deeper, as well as more iirevalont, than in spring and
summer; the whole jdumage becomes softer, the colors more iironouuced,
and the markings more distinct, than when faded and worn in sunnner.
Synopsis of Species of Harporhyncbus.
A» .S])i)ts l)t'iioiitli sli!ii'|ily ilcliiiiMl iiiiil <oiis|iicii(>iis, — iimcli (liiikiT in color lliau
the uppor parts.
1. H. rufuB. Till! iiiarkiiij,'.'< liiii'D-cuiicatf ; wiii^' l)au(l.>< .sliarply (li'lincd.
Aljovo rulbus; iiiaikiiifr.s lii'hiw dark bi'own ; fiiitcr taii-fuatliL-rs diliilt'd
at lip; wing, 4.00; tail, 5.20; liill lioin nd.sti'il, ."!•, iii'aily stiaiylit ;
tai.^iis, l.;iU; iiiidilic (do, .!)() (1,;!77<J Cariisk-, I'ciiu.). //ab. Ka.><tciii
I'ldvinuo United States ........ vai-. i-ii/'us.
Wing, 4.-10; tail, 5.70; liill, .711; taisus, l.;i5: nnddlv toe. .!I0 (5,(m'_' ^
Itcpiiliiican Uivt'i-). J/i(h. Plain.-i liftwccn .Mis.^onii ijivcr to Itocky
Mountains ........ var. lu ii ij i cii ii il a .
Above umber lirown ; markings beneath blaek ; tail-leatliers not paler
at tip; wing, ;$.!)(); tail, 4.!»0 ; liill, .H5, slightly curved; tar.su.s, 1.40;
middle tiie, .04 (4,010 (J Hrownsvilie, Te.\.) JIah. Eastern Mexico,
north to Kio Grande ol Texas var. lony i rosi r in.
2. H. ocellatUB.' The markings circular; wing bands conspicuous.
Above grayisli-liiown : maikings beneath lilack; tail-leatheis broadly
tipped with wiiite; wing, 4.10; tail, 5.(iO; liill, Ironi rictus, 1.50, mod-
erately curved ; tarsus, 1.50. J/ah. Oaxaca, Mex.
.'?. H. cinereus. The markings deltoid; wing bands narrow, but siiarply
defined.
Above brownisli-ciiici'eous; markings beneath blackisli-lirown ; tail-
feathers broadly tijijied with w liit<' ; wing, 4.00; tail, 4.(iO; bill, .88,
much curved; tar.su.s, I.IJO; middle toe, .H5 (12,!)(!0 "? " — ^ V Capo
St. Lucas). Ifiih. ("ape St. Lucas, Lowi'r ("ahrornia.
B. Spots beneath ob.solote, not darker than the plumage above ; roundish in
Ibi'iii.
4. H. curvirostris.
.\liove cinereous; wing bands distinct; spots below distinct, upon a
white grouiul; femoral region and cri.ssuin very pale ochraceous; tail-leath-
ers broadly and .sharply tijipeil with pure white; wing, 4.;!0; tail, 4.50;
bill, 1.00, .st(mt, moderately curved; tarsu.s, 1.40; middle t0(!, 1.12(7,200^
Kinggold Jlariacks. Texas), //nh. from liio (Jrande valley in Texas to
Cordova, Oii/.aba. Oaxaca, Coiinia, and Mazatlan . . var. c ii rv irosi r i s.
Wing bands olisolcte, and tail spot.s very narrow and obsolete; spots
below just discernible upon a grayish ground; femoral region and
cri.ssum dilute ochiaceous-biown ; wing, 4..'!0 ; tail, 5.20; bill, 1.00,
slender, moderately curved; lar.sii.s, l.:}(); middle toe, 1.00 (8,12H^
'•New Mexico" — probably Eastern Arizona). /Jub. Arizona (Camp
Grant) var. pat men'.
1 Ilarpui/ii/ia/ius ua:/l(iliix, 8ci..\rK.H, V. Z. S. \St}-2, \i. l>t, \i\. iii.
TlUiDIIMC — THE TIIUU811KS o-
ol
C. Kiiliicly iiiispottiMl liciiciilli.
:>. H. redivivuB. Anal vf>/um and lower liiil-rovcrts lij:l,t ociifacooiis.
Ahovc soft lirownish-cincivons, tail n.nsi(l,.mlily darker; win;^- hands
almost oksolete, ami tail-feathers meicly diluted at tips. iJeneaUi paler
than al.,,ve, — almost white on throat and ahdonien ; anal refrion and
lower tail-eoverls yellowish-oehrueeous. A distinct '• hridle " Ibrmed
by the hair-liko tips of the feathers, bordering the throat; maxillary
stripe white with transverse bars of dusky; wiuj,', 3.!)() ; tail, ->:2:> ; hill,
1.0."), slender, nuxleralelyemved; tarsus, 1.2",; middle toe, .80 (40,7 '.S^J
20 miles from Colorado lliver, near Fori Mojave). Ilab. Arizona ((iila
River, Fort Yuma, and lort Mojave) Xixr. lecontei.
Above ashy drab, tail daiker and more brownish ; winj,' bands ineon-
sjiieuous, and tail-featluTs hardly diluted at tips. Beneath, the ochraco-
ous covers the abilomen, and the throat inelines to the same. No
"hridle." Cheeks and ear-eoverts blaekish, with eonsi)ieu()us shaft-
streaks of white; win- •).:iO; tail, 5.G0; hill, 1.40, stout, very nuieh
bowed, — the areli rey:ular ; tarsus, l.,V) ; middle toe, 1.00 (3,932^,
Caliliiruia). //"/'. Coast region of Calilbrnia . . . var. rediv i v u.i.
(i. H. orissalis. Anal rejrion and lower tail-eoverts deep ehestmit.
Ahov", brownish-ashy with a slight purplish east, tail not darker;
no trace of wing bands; tail-leathers diluted, and tinged with rusty at
tips. Beneath, of a unilbrm, jjaler tint than the ujiper plumage, not
lighter medially ; throat white, with a eonspienous " bridle " ; Ironi this
np to the eye whitish, with transversely angular bars of dusky; wing,
4.00; tail, 0.r,0; bill, 1.25, very .slender, bowed from the middle- tar-
sus, 1.30; ,ni<l<lle toe, .00 (11,5,!;!^ Fo,t Yuma). f/„h. ]{,.gion of
Uda River to Rocky Mountains ; north to Southern Utah (St Geomv
breeding; Dr. Buhner).
Harporhynchus rufus, ( auams.
BROWN THBASHEH.
Timlm n0,.,, L.nn. .Syst. Nat. Kith ,.1. ms, l.ii), hasod on C.VTF.snv, tab 19 -In
hy.st. Nat. I. mn, :iO:i.--(l.VTK.,;, NaUMianiiia, KS;-i.s, 4--'4 ( Heligoland, Oct. 18:i7).
H<'n,o,-lninchu» ri,/„s. Cm,. .Mus. Hei,,. 1S;10, 81 - lU,,.,., Iiir,ls X. Am 1858 'V,:i
-In. Kev. An.. Hirds, 44. - Scatkii, I>. Z. S. 1859, 340. -In. fatal. 18C1, 8. no.
48.— SA.MfKLs, l(i3. Mimm rufus, I'li. Max. Cab. Jour. 18-)8 18(1
Figures : Vt..;ii.i.oT. Ois. Am. Sept. 11, pi. li.v. - WiL.sos, Am. Oru. 11, pi. Mv - Vin
Orn. IJiog. pi. exvi.
Sp. Guar. Expo.sed porti.m of the bill shorter than the liea.l. Oulliue of lower nian-
■hhle straight. Above light einnamnn-red ; beneath pale rulbu.s-whit.. with loientudinal
stivaks ot dark brown, excepting on the chin, throat, middle of the belly, and nii.ler tail-
eoverts. These spots anteriorly are reddish-brown in their terminal portion. Tlu- inner
snrlaee of the wing and the inner edges of the primaries are cinnamon; the concealed
portion of the ipulls otherwi.se is dark brown. The me.lian and greater win.r-eoverts
beconie blaeki.sh-brown towards the ...ul, followed by white, producing two eoi;pieuous
bands. Ihe tail-feathers are all rufou.s, the external ones ob.scnrely tipped with whitish; the
sha ts ot the same color with the vanes. Length. 11.15; wing, 4.15 ; tail, 5.20 ; tarsus l.;50
I An. Lastern North America to Mi.ssonri K.ver, and perhaps to high central plains
tnited btates, east ol Rocky Mountain.s, north to Lake Winnipeg.
38 NOHTII AMKUU'AN HIIiDS.
As stated in " liirds of North Aiiioricii" soiiie .s])iH'imo,ns (viir. /oni/irniida)
from bt'yoiiil the Missouri Kiver are hirger than eastern birds, witli lonjjjer
tails, more rut'oiis beneatii ; tlio breast spots darlcer. Unt, in passing I'rom
east to west, the change is so insensible tliat it is im^Hjssible to divide the
series.
Habits. This Tiirusli is a common species throughout a widely extended
area, from tlu; Kocky Mountains to the Atlantic, and from the ]ied Ifiver
country, in JJritish America, to the l;io (Irande. And nearly throughout
this entire territory it also resides and breeds, from Texas to the o-lth paral-
lel of latitude.
It reaches New England early in May and leaves it in the latter part of
Sejjtcmlier or the tirst week of (October, its stay varying witli the si-ason
and the su])ply of its food. Tt is somewhat irregularly distributed, conunon
in some ])ortions of this section, and rare or even unknown in others. It
is not found near the sea-coast beyond Massachusetts. It passes the winter
in the Southern States, even as far to the north as Virginia, and is in full
song in the neighborhood of Savannah as early as the first of March.
The song of this Thrusli is one of great lieauty, and is much admired by
all wild !i]>preciate woodland iuelody of the SHVcte.-si arid liveliest tyiie. It
is loud, clear, empiiatic, full of variety and charm. Its notes are never imi-
tative and cannot be mistaken by any one who is familiar with them, for
tho.se of any other bird, unless it may be .some one of its western congeners.
It is a very steady iierformer, singing for hours at a time. Its notes an;
given in a loud tone, and its song may often lie heard to ijuite a distance.
In obtaining its food the Ih'own Thrush is at times almo.st rasorial in its
habits. In the early spring it scratches among the leaves of the forest for
worms, coleopterous griilis, and other forms of insect food. I>y some it
is charged with scrati'iiing up the hills of early corn, lait this is not a well-
fownded accusation. Merries of various kinds also form a large jiart of its
food, ami among these the small fruit of our gardens must be included.
This Thrush is a very all'ectionate and devoted bird, especially to its young.
It is also proinjit in going to the assistance of others of its species A\hen in
trouble. Whenever intrudeis a]ipniach their nests, esjiecially if their young
iire far advanced, they manifest the deepest anxiety, sometimes even making
a vigorous defence. Tl writer has a very distinct recollection of having
encountered, together with a viuniger brother, an ignominious defeat, when
making his lirst atteui|it to inspect the nest of one of tiiese liirds.
'I'he iirown Thrush is jealous nf the intrusion of other birds of its own
s])ecies to a too (dose pioximity to it.-i nesting-place, and will assert its
love of seclusion by stout liattles. In i.iaiisiana llu; coiislriu'tion of the
iie.st is commenced ipiite early in Mareli ; in I'enn.syhnnia, not until May;
and in tlu' Ni'W Kngliind States in tia' latter part of that month. The nest
is usually not more than two <ir three feet from the ground. It is built in a
low bush, on a duster of briers or amony; vines, I have known it to bo
TrRDID.E — THE TllUrsiIES. ;.}()
])lace(l in tlio interior of a lioap of hnisliwooil Ikisi'Iv tlirowii to^ctlicr. 1
have never luot -witli the nest luiilt n\)i)U the urouml, luit in S])ringli(!hl, and
in otlier dry and sandy h)ealities, this is liy no means an nneonunon (n'cnr-
rence. These nests are IViMjnently ])laeed in ehise in'oxiniity to honses, and
sometimes in the very midst of villa,m's.
The nest of the Tiirasher is hir^f, and ron.;ldy l)nt stroiijfly linilt. Tlie
base is usnally made of coarse twigs, sticks, and ends of hianciies, fn'iniy
interwoven. Within this is constrn'''ed an inni'r nest, com])osed of (hied
leaves, sti'ips of bark, and strong l)hu'k tibrons roots. Tlie.se arc lined
with liner roots, horse-hair, an occasional leather, etc.
The eggs are usnally four, sometimes live, and rarely six, in mnnber. Tlu'y
varv both in the lints of the ground color, in those of their markings, and
slightly in their shape. Their length varies from .'.lU to 1.12 inches, with a
mean of !.(•."). Their breadth I'anges from .7(i to .>S7 of an inch ; mean
breadtii, .SI. The ground color is sometimes white, marked with tine reddish-
brown dots, conllncnt at (lie larger end, or forniing a broail ring aroiuid the
crown. In others the markings have a yellowish-brown lint. Sometimes the
ground color is a light green.
t^
Harporhynchus rufus, \ar longirostris, (a can.
TEXAS THBASHES.
Orp/ini.i !(>ii;iiniK/n\ li.VFli. If. Z. ISliS, 5;"!. - In. Mii;,'. dc .'Cool. 18:W, OU. |)1. i. Tn.vm-
toiiiii fi)iiiiirii.iiiY, ('.Ml. Wicfjiii. Anil. 1S47, i. '2i'7. Miiinin Ittiiiili-iislri^, .Sci.ati i;,
1'. /. S. l>"i(i, -Jilt (Conlovii). J/iir/iiir/iiiiii-/iii.i /nmiirDs/rix, Cam. Miis. liriii. IS.lii, ,s|.
— liAiiiii, liinls N. Am. 1S,'.,h, li.VJ, |il. lii. In. licv. 41. -ScL.viKli, 1'. Z. S. lS,"i!i,
;imt ; 111. l^tit, 17i; (Cily of M<x.); 111. Calal. ISlll, >S, no. 17.
."^r. ("llAii. Siniil:ir In //, nifnx. tlir nilims cif lini'k iniirli il:irl<i'|-. \Viiii;s iiiiicll I'oiinilrd ;
.M'CDiiii iiiiill .■chillier lliiiii llii^ .■iccdiidiirics. KNposcd |ii)i-li(ii, (if the hill as loiij.' a.-; Ilir lirad ;
llic lower I'cl^'c dci'idcdly dci'invi'd or I'oiiravc. .Miove rallicr ilaik lirowiiisli-riil'oiis ;
liciu'alli pall' riil'niis-w liilc ; sirt'akrd on llio .■iidcs oC Iho iii'ck and Imdv. and across llic
lirc'asi, with vorv dark lirowiiisli-liiai'k, licai'lv iiiiiloriii lliili.lijlioiil, linicli darker (iiaii in
rn/'ii.t. Two rather narrow while hands on the win;''. Tlie eoiieealed jiortion of the
ipiiil.-i dark hrowii. beiii^tli, 1(1. ."lO; win^r. I.""; tail, .Mill; larsns, 1 lit.
Mail Eastern Mexico; norlli to IJio (irancle, Texa.s. Cordova, Sei,. Ori/aha (leiii-
perale re|.'i<in), .'^imiciiua.st.
Specimens from the Ii'ioCrande to Mirador and ( )rizaba are tpn'to identical,
with, of course, dilferences among individuals. 'I'his "species" is not, in
our oi»inion, separable from the //. rii/nn specilically: Imt is a race, repre-
senting the latter in 'he region given above, where the rn/ns itself is never
found. The relations of tlies(^ two forms are exactly paralleled in tlii^ Thri/a-
//iiirns iKihirlriinnis and 7'. In r/itiidiirl. the latter being nothing more than
the darker Southern representation of the former.
The Texas Thrasher apjiears to behmg only to the Avifauna of the South-
40 NORTH AMERICAN BIlfDS.
west. It first appears ns a bird of the valley of the I'io nmiide, and extends
from thence southward through Eastern IMexico to (.'ordova andOrizaba. In
Arizona it is replaced by H. patmcri, H. Icamtci, and H. crissfifis, in Cali-
fornia by H. )'afirini(s, and at ('a]ic St. Lucas by //. riiifrcus, while in the
Unitetl States east of the Rocky Mountains it is represented by its nearer
ally II. rufuti.
IIahits. The eggs of this species are hardly distinguishable from those
of the couinidii Urown Tiirasher (//. m/Ks), of the Atlantic States. The
color of their ground is a greenish-white, which is thickly, and usually coni-
jiletely, covered witli line markings of a yellowish-brown. They have an
avenige length of l.l;3 inches, by .79 in breadth. So far as I have had an
opportunity of observing, they do not vary from thesi; measurements more
than two per cent in length or one per cent in bi'cadth. Their nests are
usually a mere platform of small sticks or coarse stems, with little or no
dei)res.sion or rim, and are jilaced in low bushes, usually above the u]iper
branches.
In regard to the distinctive habits of this species I have no information.
Harporhynchus cinereus, X.vmus.
CAPE ST. LUCAS THRASHDB.
Ifiiriinrliiiiirliii^ riiinriis, X.VSH s, Tr. \. N. Sc. l.Si'iil, 2!tS. — Haiimi, I1>., '.Wi ; licvicw, Iti.
- Sil,.\Ti;i!, Catal. IStil, 8, im. 41). — Ki.mot, Illiist., i. i)l. i. — CiptiPKU, Birds Cal. 1.
1!).
Sp. Cn.Mi. Bill as Idiii; ns llic lioail ; all the lateral outliiios fronlly (Icciirvcd tVoiii tlio
l)as('. T?risll('s not very c()iis|iicii(ms, Imt reacliiiiu' t<> llif nostrils, ^Villf,'s coiisiiji'ialily
.slidrtcr tliaii the tail, iiiildi roinidcil. First jiriiiiary lirnad. nearly hall" the leiifrlii of llio
se<'(inil ; llie third to the seventh <|Mills nearly ei|ual, their tips Ibrniinf; the onllino of a
frentk' enrve : the s )nd (piill shorter than the ninth. Tail eonsiileraldy (,'raduatod, the
lateral fealliers more than an inch the .shortei'. Lejis stont : tarsi lon;;cr than middle toe,
dislini'tly sentellate, with seven scales.
Ahovo a.-hy lirown. with perhaps a tinjre (if rusty on the rnni]); henealh liilvons-whili',
more lidvoiis on the llaid\s. inside of win;:, and erissnm. Henealh. exeepi <'hin, (hroat,
and I'rom nnddle of alidomen to erissnm. with \v<'ll-delined V-shaped spots of daik lirown
at ihe ends of the featl er.>!, largest, across the hreasi. Loral reijion lioarv. Wings with
two mnrow whitish hands across Ihe tips of greater and midille coverts; the ipiills edged
externally with |),iler. Outer three tail-leathers with a rather ohsolele wlnle patch ii: the
end of inner weli. and across the lips of the onler.
Spring specimens are of rather purer white henealh. with the .spots mine clislinct than
ns (le,serih(Ml.
Length of l'J,!l(!() (skin). 10.00 : wing, 4.10; tail. -t.dr. ; (irst primary, 1,<!0; .s,.eond,
'J..")0 ; liill from gape, 1.40, IVoiii ahove, 1.1.'), from nostril, .1)0; tarsns, l.'Jfi; middli! toe
and ci.'iw, l.l'J: claw alone, ..'O.
II.Mi. Cape St. Lneas, Lower ('alilornia.
Tliis s]rcfics is curiously similar in cdldiiition to ^nvwoyi/cs' ininitmiiii^, from
which its much larger size, much longer and deciirved bill, and the gradu-
TURDID.K — THE TIIIIUSIIES. 4X
atcd tail, of course readily distiiiguisli it. It agrees in some respects with
II. rnfiis and //. longiroxtrU, but is smaller, the bill longer and more curved ;
the upper parts are ashy olivuceous-browu instead of rul'ous, etc.
H.xitiTS. So far as is at present known in regard to this species it appears
to be confined exclusively to the peninsula of Lower California. It has, at
least, been met with nowhere else. Mr. Xantus found it cj^uite numerous
in the vicinity oi Cape St. Lucas, in a region wliich, as he descriljes it, was
singularly unpropitious. This was a sandy shore, extending about a (puirter
of a mile inland, whence a cactus desert stretched altout six miles u]) to a
high range of mountains. Throughout this tract the ground is c(jvered with
a saline elHorescence. There is no fresh water within twenty-eight miles.
]\Ir. Xantus speaks of the hal)its of this bird as being simiLir to those of
the Orcusrojitci iiionhoinx. It was a very abundant species at this cape, where
he found it breeding among the cactus plants in hirge numbers. He men-
tions that as early as the ilate of his arrival at the place, April 4, he found
them already with full-fledged young, and states that they continued to
breed until the middle of -July.
He was of the impression that the eggs of this si^ecies more nearly re-
seml)le tho.se of the connnou Mocking- IJird than any others of this genus.
The aggravatingly brief notes that accomi)anicd his collections show tiiat the
general jjosition of the nest of this s^jecies was on low trees, shrubs, and
most usually, cactus })lants, and in no instance at a greater elevation from
the ground than four feet. Tlieir nests were flat structures, having only a
very slight depression in or near their centre. They were al)out T) inches
in diameter, and were very little more than a nu're platform.
The eggs vary somcwliat in their gnuuid color, but exliibit oidy .slight
variations in size or shape. Their greatest length is l.i.'i inches, and their
average 1.12 inches. Their mean lu'cadtli is .77 inch, and their maximum
.7!) inch. The ground color is a greenisli-white, prttfusely marked witli
spots «>f mingled purple and brown. In others the ground cohn- is a liluish-
green. In s(uiu' specinu'iis the spots are of a yellowish-brown, and in some
the mai'kings are much lighter.
Harporhynchus curvirostris, Caban,
OBAT CUBVE-BILL THBASHEB.
Ofii/iiiin riirn'nis/n'.i, S\v.mns(in, I'liilo.s. 'S\i\jt. 1S27, itii'.t (Ivistcni Mcxii'i)). — M'C.vi.l,, I'r.
A. N. Sc. May, 1848, 0:1. .)fiiiii(ii fiim'iiis/ri.i, (liiAV, OoniTii, 184-1 -4!'. Twrntitmii
nirririislrl.i, HoN.vr. ('uMs|M'itils, IS.'id, '>'7. Scl.ATKll, 1'. Z. S. lH,'i7, -I'J. //iir/iii-
,/iifiiclii(.s riin-irtistris, Caii. Mum. Ilciii. 1. IH.'ii), 81. — IJamiii, Hirils N. Am. ISTiS,
ar.l, |.l. li. ; 111. li.'v. 4;-.. - Hkkkmann, 1'. li. H. Iti'i). .\. I'mkc's U<\>. IS.V.i, 11. -
Scl.ATKIt, I'. Z. S. IH'.'.l, Xi'.l ; III. Ciilal. IHiil, 7. no. 4(1. — DiiKssi'ii, Il.is, ISii"., 48;l.
Pi})iuilorhiiiiis hirilliiiis, Ti.mm. I'l. (.'nl. 4U. .' Tn.mnloiiui cttula. W.Mil.Kli, l.si.s, 18^1,
r.28.
6
42 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Si'. CriAH. Expo.sp<l iiortion of tlie bill alioiit as long as thn head; considerably
decurvod. Above unifonii giayisli-browii, or light a.sh ; beiieatii dull white; the anal
region and under tail-coverts tinged with brownish-yellow. The under ]iarts generally,
except the cliin, throat, middle of the belly, and under coverts, with rounded sid)-triangiilar,
quite well-detine<l spots, much like the back. These are (piite conlluent on the breast.
Two narrow bauds on the wing-coverts, and the edges of primaries and alula?, arc white.
The tail-feathers, except the middle, are conspicuously tipped with white. Length of
female, 10 inches; wing, 4.0i) ; tail, 4.55 ; tarsus, 1.21).
Hah. Adjacent regions of I'nited States and Alexico, southward. Cordova, Orizaba,
Mirador; Mazallan, Cohma, Oa.xaca.
Specimens from the liio (ivaiide across to Mazatlan represent one species ;
but those i'roin the hitter locality are soniewliat darker in colors, tliongh this
may be owing, in part, to the fact tli.it they are winter birds. Considerable
differences in ])roportions may often be noticed between individuals, but
nothing strikingly characteristic of any particular region.
The specimens of the ^lazatlan series (.')7,32G^, 51,523, and 51,525 (J)
have tails considerably longt-r than any of those from tlie I{io (irande, the
excess iimounting in the longest to nearly an inch ; but one from the same
locality has it s/iorfer thiin any of the Texas specimens.
In its perfect plumage, this s])ecies has both rows of coverts distinctly
tipped with white ; l)ut in the faded condition of midsummer, the bands
thus ])roduced are hardly discernible, and the spots below become very
obsolete.
H.viUTS. Tii's interesting species appears to be common in "Western Texas,
the valley of the l!io (irande, and Western Mexico. It was met with in
these regions on the several railroad siu'veys, and is described hy Dr. Heer-
mann tis pos.sessing musical powers surpasse I by few other birds. When
alarmed it immediately hides itself in a tliick covert of underbrush, whence
it is almost impossible to dislodge it. Its food consists of fruit and berries
Avhen in their season, of insects iind their Itirva', and of worms. The c it
collects botii among tlie trees and from the grouml, on the latter of which it
s]ieiids mncli of its time. ^fr. J. 11. Clark stales tliat the nest of this bird
is very similar to tliat of the ^b)cking-!>ird, Init is finer and nnich more com-
pact. He iulds that it is oi'tener ibund among the Opuntia than elsewhere.
It is a (piict bir<l, ratiier shy, and keeps closely within the clumps of the
cjiapaiia]. For a bird of its si/e it makes an uiHisual noises in flying. At
Iiinggold liuiracks 'Sir. Clark's tent was jiitched under a conio-tree in MJiich
there was a nest of tlie.se liirds. They were at first .shy and seemed quite
disposed to al)andon their nest, l)ut, however, soon lu-came accustomed to
their new neiglibnr, and went nn with their parental duties. The position
id' their nest had ''(".ii very Judiciously selected, for it was during the .season
of tlie lilack li'iiit of the coino, which is somewhat in tiie sjiape and size of
a lliiiiibli', with a plcasniil milky ])nlp. These constituted their jirincipal
food. Tlic eggs in tins nesl; were live in iminlier. Lieutenant Coiicli met
witii it from Ih'ownsville to I>iirango, wiiere it laid already paired as early as
TURDID.E — THE TIIIIUSIIES.
43
Fel)ru:iry. IFo describes it as e.\cee(liii;>ly tiune aud gentle in its habits, and
with a sonj,' reniaikably nielodicnis and attractive. I'erclied un the topniuMt
Ijougli oi' a tloweriny mimosa, in the presence of his consort, the male will
])our forth a volume of must enchanting music. Their nest is generally very
nearly Hat, measuring nearly si.x inches in circumference, and scarcely more
than an inch in its greatest thickness. Tt has hardly any distinct cavity,
and liollows but very slightly from the rim to tiie centre, its greatest depres-
si(jn having barely the depth of half an inch. The nests are composed of
long coarse fibrous roots, rudely, but somewhat con^jactly interwoven. The
iimer framework is constructetl of the same materials intermi.xed with the
finer stems of grasses.
^[r. II. K. Dre.sser states that in the vicinity of ]\ratamoras these birds are
fond of fre(iuenting small villages, and that he fre(iuently Ibund their nests
within the gardens aud court-yards of the hou.scs, and near the road.
The eggs of this Thrush vary considerably in size, ranging from 1.20 to
l.();5 inches in length, and from .84 to .77 of an inch in Itreadth. Their
mean length is 1.12 inches, and their average breadth .80. They hav(!
a light green ground-color, generally, though not thickly, covered with line
brown spots.
Harporhynchus curvirostris, \ar. palmeri, liiucavAv.
PALHEB'S THBASHER.
Ilarimrhiim-huscAtrvimtrh, vnr. jmlma-i, liinow.w, licpoi-t King's E.xiu'ditioii, V, 1872.
Sp. Cn.vu. Bill ,-ilcn.lur, iiKHloiiitdy cuivccl; fillli ((uill loiigiv-^t; fourtli and .^i.xtli jii.>Jt
percquilily .slioilor, ami e(iiial ; .■^cdond equal to nilitii ; I'uvt 1.5o Atoviuv than lonuust.
fiiMiiM-al pliniia.ua' iiiiilniiii jiTayisli-iimlier. paler below, l)econiinj,' almost dirty whitisli on
Ihe throat and ahdomen ; lower part of the \m'nM and ahdonien with a very lew Just
di.seernilde inxyidar .specks of a darker tint; lower lail-eoverts dilute i-sabella-hrown, n'lore
oehraceous at their niar}j:ins ; anal re-ic.n and lower part of abdomen lijrht oehraeeons.
No ban.ls on wings, and tail-leathers only diluted at the tips, ila.xillary .stripe whitish
with transverse bars of dnsky. '• Ii-is (nan^-c."
tf(Xo. 8,I2M, "New J[exieo" = .\ri/.ona, Dr. Ileerniann) : wiufr, 4.;!0 ; tail, 5.00;
bill (from nostril). 1.0(1; tarsns, I.IJO; middle toe (wilhoul elaw), 1.00. 9 ( I!),7'J:1, ('ami')
("bant, Tue.son, Arizona, ^[ar(■ll !'_>, lS(i7 ; Dr. K. I'ahner ; with e--s) : win-' 1. 1."); tail,
4.8.-); bill, .!).-); tar.sns, l.'J.-); middle toe, .90.
ll.vu. Eastern Arizona (Tucson).
This very curious race S(>ems to unite the characters of ciirrirustris and
Iccoiitci ; in fact, it is so exactly intermediate between the two, that we are
abiiost in doubt as to which it is most ntiarly related. Having the stout form
and liirger size, as well as tiie spots on the abdomen, of the former, it has also
the uniform colors and general appearance of hroufrL Were it not that the
nest and egg.s, with the parent accompanying, had been receivt'd from Dr.
I'almer, we might be tempted to consider it a hybri.l between these two
44 XORTH AMKHICAN BIRDS.
species, its Imliitat lieiiig exactly between them, too. We have great ])leasiire
in dedicating this curidus I'oi'ni to Dr. Edward I'ahner, who has added very
much to our knowledge of the Natural History of the interesting region
where the jn'osent bird is found.
L>rsriq>tinii of iit'.i/ tiiiil ei/i/s. — (1.'),.'511, t'aiiii) Griiiit, Arizona; Dr. E. Piiliiii'i). Nc.^it
very bulky. — !) iiifhcs in lu'ii;lit liy ti in widlii. Vciy olaljonitely constiiiclcil. The tiiii-
iifst, of synmu'trical form, iuid coniposiod of thin };ras.s-.stalks and lia.x-likt' lihro.s, is
cucIoslmI in an ontur casi" of tiiorny .sticks;, tliiidy but .strongly jiut toj^ethcr. This inner
iH'st has a (U'cp cavity nn-asiniiif;; 4 inches in dianiclci- by li in depth.
Egjrs (two in nnnibcr) measure l.IG by .8.") ; in siiai)e exactly like tho.so of ('. ciirrlrox-
Irin ; i)ale lilue (deeper than in ciirriroslri.i'), rather thinly s|>rinkled with minute, but
distinct dots of pale .sopia-browii. Markings more distinct than tho.se ofcuri'iroslris. II. R.
The nest was situated in a cactus-bush, four and a half i'eet above the
ground.
Dr. Palmer remembers nothing s])ecial concerning its habits, e.\ee])t that
the bird was very shy, tind kept auich on the gi'ound, where it was seen
running beneath the bushes.
Harporhynchus redivivus, var. lecontei, ]5().n.\i'.
LECONTE'S THRASHEB.
Toxostomii liriiiiici, l,.\wi;. .\un. N. Y. I.yc. V, Sept. 1S,")1, Id!) (Fort Yiniia). Ilnr/io-
rhimchnx lecontei, 1!uN.\I'. C. It. X.WIll, 1854, 57. -lu. Notes Dclattre, 39.—
Baiuu, Birds N. Am. 1858, 35(1, pi. 1 ; In. licvicw, 47. — Cooi'EI!, Birds Cul. I, 17.
Sf. Cil.Mt. Bill much curved. Sccoml (piill about ci|ual to the tenth ; exposed portion
of the first more than half the lougest ; outer tail-feather an inch shortest. General color
above light grayish-nsh, beneath nnich paler; the cliiu and throat above almost white;
the sides behind brownish-yellow or pale rusty-yellow ash, of which color is the crissum
and anal legion. Tail-feathers rather dark brown on the under surface, lighter above;
the outer edges and lips ol' exterior ones oliscurely jialer. Quills nearly like the back.
II.M). GilalSivcr; Fort Yuma; Fort Mojave.
Since tlie description of the type, a .second sjiecimen (40,71 S^J, Fort
Mojave, 20 miles from Colorado liiver, Se])t. 30, ISOo) has been obtained
liy Dr. C'oues. This skin dill'ers slightly from the type in size, being
somewhat larger, measuring, wing ."i.HO, tail ').'.W, bill (from nostril) l.Oo;
while the other measures, wing I!. 70, tail 4.70, bill .08. This dillerence in
size very )>robably represents that between the se.\os, the type most likely
being a female, though the se.\ is not stated. Owing to the diHerent seasons
in which the two specimens were obttiined, they diller somewhat in plu-
mage also. Dr. Coues's specimen is somewiiat the darker, and the plumage
has a softer, more blended asi)ect, and a more tishy tinge of color; the
otihraeeous of the crissal region is also slightly deeper. No other ditl'erences
are apiirecitdile.
Il.viiiTs, Lecoiite's Thrasher is a new and comjiaratively little known
TURDID.E — THE THliUSIIES.
45
species. A sinyle spefiinoii was obtiiined by J)r. Txjcoiite near Fort Yuma,
and described by Mr. Lawruuue in 18jI, and niuiaiiied uniiiuu for many
years. In 18G1 Dr. Cooper presented a paper to the Calilbriua Academy
of Sciences, in which this bird is given among a list of those new to that
State. He tlien mentions tiiat he found it common about tlie .Mojave liiver,
and tliat he procured two specimens.
Dr. Cones, in his vahiable paper on the birds of Arizona, speaks of ol)tain-
ing, in IStlo, a .sjjecimen of this rare .si)ecies on a dry plain covered thickly
witli mes(piite and cactus, near Fort Mojave. Tins bird was very sl:y and
restless, Hutteretl hurriedly from one cactus to another, until he at last shot
it where it seemed to fancy itself hidden among the thick fronds of a large
yucca. Its large stout feet admirably adapt it for its partially terrestrial
life, anil it apparently spends nuich of its life upon the ground, where it
runs rapidly and easily. Its Hight he describes as swift but desultory, and
accompanied by a constant flirting of the tail. He considers this species as
inhabiting the whole valley of the Colorado ami Cila, and thinks that it
does not leave the vicinity of these streams for the mountains.
Dr. Coojier found a nest of this .species, but without eggs, built in a yucca,
and similar to that of //. mli virus. In his-IJeport on tlie IJirds of' Cali-
fornia, Dr. Cooper speaks of finding this bird common on the deserts, along
the route between the Colorado Valley, wlierever tliere was a thicket of low
bushes surrounded by .sand-hills. Its notes, lial)its, and general appearance
were like those of H. rcdivkuH.
Harporhynchus redivivus, c.vu.vn
CALIFORNIA THBASHEE.
Harpvx rcdirn;,, (i.v.MliKl., I'r. A. \. S. II, Au^'. 184,-., -JtM. Tamst.m,,, mlirirn, r.AMliKt,,
J. A. N. Sc. 2.1 .srr. 1, 1S47, 42. ^- C'.vs.siN, lllust. I, l.sr,5, 2(;o, i.l. .xlii. jr,n;m-/nin-
rA».v rn/n-in,.-.; Caii.vm.s, Aicliiv Natui- 1848, '.kS. — |{.mui., Binls X. Am. lsr.8, ;!4!) ;
Kfv. 48. - Sci ATi;ii, 1>. Z. .S, 18J!I, ;):}!!.- Ciori-.n, Hints Oil. I, 1.-,.
.^p. t'llAii. WiiiLMiiiicli loiiii.lf.l; til,. simoimI ,|iiill shorter tliuii tho swoiidai-ics. Tail
imicli t;TO(liiiilf(l. IJill iiiiicli .Icciii-viMl. l,,i|o-,.|' than the head. Above hrowiiish-olive.
without, any .^^ha.le of -iwii ; beneath pale I'iinianion. li-hte.<t on the throat, ,leei)eninj,^
yi-aihially into .-i hrowiii.sh-niron.s on the nnder t.iil-eoveit.^*. The foi'e iiart of tho hivii.Jt
and .sides of tho body brown-olive, lighter than the back. An obseure ashy snpereiliary
stripe, and another liffhtor beneath the eye. Ear-eoverts and an iiidistinot ui'a.xillary stripe
(lark brown ; the shafts of the Ibiiner whitish. En.ls and tips of tail-foatliers obsoletoly
paler. Leiifrth, ll..',() inehes ; winir, 4.20 ; tud, 5.75 ; tarsus, 1.5,5.
IIah. Coast reifjon olCaliliirnia.
Hadits. The Californiii Thrasher a])peurs to have a somewlnit rtistricted
distribution, being eonii -d to the coiist region (jf Calil'ornia, where, ho\rever,
it is (piite iibundiint. It was first met witli by Dr. C.ambel, near Monterey!
The specimens were obtained on the ground where they were searching for
46 KOUTII AMHRICAN BIRDS.
coleopterous insects. Dr. Ileerinaiui afterwards found this bird abundant
in the southern jiart of (,'aUfornia. It was ditlicult of ajiproach, diving into
tiie tliick bushes, running some distance on tlie ground, and becoiniug alter-
wards unapproacliable. He si)eaks of its song as a flood of melody equalled
only by the song of tlie Mocking- IJird {Mimus puliiijliitlus). Colonel McC'all
also describes its song as of exquisite sweetness, " placing it almost beyond
rivalry among the countless songsters tliat enliven the woods of America."
Jle also states that it is as retiring and simide in its manners as it is brilliant
in song.
In the character of its flight it is said to strongly resemble the Brown
Thraslier (//. riiftis) of the Eastern States. Their harsh, scolding notcfs,
wlien their nest is approaclied, their motions and attitudes, are all very
similar to those of //. vuJ'uh under like circumstances. Colonel McCall
ranks the song of this species as far sui)erior to that of any other Tinnish.
Without ])ossessing the powerful voice or imitative laculties of the Mock-
ing-Bird, its iu)tes are described as iiaving a liquid mellowness of tone, with
a clearness of expression and volubility of utterance that cannot be sur-
])asse(l.
A nest of this bird i'ound liy Dr. lleernuinu was conqiosed of coarse twigs,
and lined with slender roots, and not very carefully constructed. Mr. Hep-
burn writes that a nest found by him was in a thick bush about five feet
from the ground. It was a very untidy alfair, a mere pliittor:n of sticks,
almost as carelessly put together as tiuit of a i)igeon, in which, tliough not
in tlie centre, was a shallow depression aliout 4 inches in diameter, lined
with tine roots and gra.ss. It contained two eggs with a blue ground thickly
covered witli soot-colored spots conthu'nt at tlie larger end, and in coloring
not unlike tiiosc of the Tunliiti KMnlitttix. The eggs measured 1.19 inches
by .81 of an inch. Dr. (\)oi)er gives tlieir measurement as I.IO of an incli
liy .8.1 Two eggs belonging to the Smithsonian Institution ("^,040, a and b)
measure, one l.l!) by .81, tlie other 1.14 liy .U.S. The former has a blui.sli-
green ground spar.sely s])otted with olive-lirowii markings ; the other has a
ground of a light yellowisii-greeii, witli numerous spots of a russet lirown.
The general cliaracter of their nest is, as described, a coarse, rudely con-
structed platform of sticks and coai.se grass and mosses, with but a very
slight deim'ssiou. Occasionally, Iiowever, nests of this bird are more care-
fully and elal)oratcly maile One (l."),(l72) obtained near Monterey, by Dr.
Canlield, lias a diameter of iiudies, a height of .S, with an oblong-oval
cavity 2 inclies in deptli. Its outside Mas an interweaving of leaves, stems,
and mosses, and its lining fine long filirous roots.
These birds are cliietly fomid frequenting the dense chaparral that lines
tlie Iiillsides of California valleys, forming thicket.s, conqiosed of an almost
iiupenetrable growth of thorny shrubs, and affording an inviting shelter.
In such jilaces they reside througiiout tlie year, feeding upon iiis(!cts, for
the procuring of which tlieir long curved bills are admirably adapted, as
TFRDID/E — TIIK TIirjTSTTES. 47
nlsn upon the berries wliicli genoniUy aboniul in tlii'se places. Their nests
usimlly contain tliree eggs. Dr. ('ooper states that their loud and varied
song is freiiucntly intermingled with imitations of other l)irds, though tiie
general impression appears to be that they a ■■; not imitative, and do not
deserve to be called, as they oi'ten are, a mockinj^-bird.
Harporhynchus crissalis, lIiiNin.
BED-VENTED THBASHEB.
Ifnr/m-liiniclius rrissnli.i, IlKNltv, I'r. A. N. So. May, isns. — B.MliD, llirds N. Am. 1858,
350, |)1. Ix.vxii ; litnii'w, 47. — Cikh'ki!, Birds Cal. i, 18.
Sp. Cii.xk. Rcroiiil (inill iiliout as loiipf as the .iccondarics. Bill iiiuoh curved ; iDiigcr
than tlio lioad. Al)ovo olive hiowii, with a faint .»iiiado of <ri'ay ; Ix'noath nearly uiiiforni
lirowiiish-giay, iniieh paler than tlio baek, i)a.s.>iing inson.sibly into white on the (.'liin ; lint
the und(!r tail-coverts dark browiiish-rnl'ons, and ahrni)tly defnied. There is a hlaek
niaxilliirv stripe cnttinjr oil' a white one above it. There do not appear to be any other
stripes about the hea<l. There are no bands on the winj;s, and the tips and outer edfjes
of the tail-feathers are very ini'ons])ienously lii,diter than the reuiaiiiiiii,' portion. Lenj,'th,
11 inches; win,!;, 4.00 ; tail, o.SO ; tarsus. I.'.',').
II.Mi. Itegion of tho Gila llivor, to Rocky Mountains; Southern Utah (St. George,
Dr. I'aliiU'r).
A second sjiecimen (ll,r).3;i) of this mre species is larger than the type,
but otherwise agrees with it. Its dimensions are as follows : —
l,eu<,'th before .'ikinning, 12.r)0; of .skin, 12.50; wiiifr, 3.00; tail, (i.-'jO ; its frraduation,
1.45; fust quill, 1.50; second, .41; bill from forehead (chord ol' curv(>), 1.05, Iroin i;ape,
1.75, from nostril, 1.30 ; curve of culmcn, 1.1)2 ; height of hill at nostril, .22 ; tarsn.s,
l.-TO; midtllc toe anil claw, 1.12.
The bill of this species, though not fputc so long as in ndivirna, when
mitst develo]H'd, is almost as much curved, and much more slender, — the
depth at nostrils being but .22 instead of .20. The size of this specimen is
equal to the largest of rn/iririi.'< (:?,9.'{2) ; the tail absolutely longer. The
feet are, however, considerably smaller, he claws esi)ecially so ; the tarsus
meastu'es btit l..S(), instead of 1.52 ; the middle claw .29, instead of .'Mi.
With these differences in form, however, it would bo impossible to separate
the two generically.
A third specimen (No. 00,9.58 9 , St. (Jeorge, Utah, June 9, 187(1), with nest
and eggs, has recently been obtained by Dr. Palmer. This sjiecimen, being
a femtde, is considerably smaller than the type, measuring only : wing, :?.9(l ;
tail, 0.00; bill, from nostril, l.lo. The plumage is in the burnt sunnuer
condition, and has a jieculiar reddish cast.
Haiuts. Of this rare Tlirush little is known. So lar as observed, its
habits appear to be ncnirly identical witli those of the Californian .species
(//! n'(liririis). It is found associated in the same localities with If. Icroii/ci,
which iilso it tippears to very closely resemble in all respects, so far as ob-
48
NORTH AMKHICAN niKDS.
served. Tlw first spociiiicii was ol)tiiiiio(l by Dr. T. ('. Henry, near Mirnbres,
and described by him in M>y, ISo.S, in the I'roceednij^s of the IMiikdelphia
Academy of Sciences. A .second specimen was ol)taine(l by H. B. Miili-
liauscn, at Fort Yuma, in ISG.'!. Dr. Cones did not observe it at Fort
Wliijiple, liut tiiinks its range identical with that of /f. Ivnmtvi.
Dr. Cooper found tliis spcicies quite conimou at Fort Mojave, but so very
shy that lie only succeeiled in shootinj^ one, after nuich watrliin;^ i'or it.
Their soulj, general habits, and nest he speaks of as being in every way
similar to those of //. ndirunia.
The eggs remained unknown until Dr. K. Palmer had the good fortune to
find tliem at St. (!eorge, Southern I'tah, .lune 8, LS7l). The nest was an
oblong Hat structure, containing only a very slight deju-ession. It was very
rudely constructed externally of coarse sticks (piite loosely jait together ;
the inner nest is made of tiucr materials of the .same. The base of lliis
nest was i'l Indies long, and 7 in breadth ; the inner nest is circular, with a
diameter of A\ inches.
The eggs are of an oblong-oval sliai)e, one end being a little less obtuse
tlian the other. In length they vary from l.l.'i to 1.12 inches, and in breadtii
frcrn .iS4 to .82 of an inch. Tiiey are of a uniform lilue color, similar to the
eggs of the common itobin {TKn/ns iiu'ifnitdrins), only a little paliM' or of a
lighter tint. In the total absence of markings they differ remarkably from
tiiose of all other species of the genus.
Ckms MIMUS, Hoir.
.Vhniis, noiK, Isis, Oit. IS'iii, ".•"'i. (Typi' Turifus poliiijlii/tii.f, Linn.)
()r/i/nii.i, Sw.MNsiiN, Ziidl. .loiir. Ill, l.s:i7. 111". (Saiiif lypc)
(Jkx. CiiAii. Hill not niiu-li iiioiv Ihau hall' thu luii^lli of tlic liciul ; pfpiitly docnirvcd
lioiii tliu liiise, iiotuliod at tip;
(.•oiiiiiii,><.-iur(' curvi'd. Goiiy.s
i<lraif,'lit, or .^liylitly cDiifavc.
l{iutal hristles (piito well do-
volopi'd. Wiii<;s rather short-
er than the tail. Fiist priiiiai'v
ahtnit eipial to, oi- rather nioru
than, hall' the second; tliinl,
I'onrlh, and lillh (|nills nearly
I'lpial, sixth .seari'ely .shorter.
Tail eonsiderahly frradiinted ;
the fealliers still', rather nar-
row, esjiecially the outer wehs,
lateral feathers about three
(piarters of an ineh the short-
er in th(> type. Tarsi lon;j-er
3Ihmis futhjiilttttus
than middle toe and claw hy rather less than an additional claw ; tarsi conspienously aii<
slronjily .scutella.e; liroad plates seven.
TUUUID.K — THE TH1UJ8IIES.
49
Of this <:ft'iuis tliero aio many sjiecios in Anu-iicii, iiltliou;^li lait one occurs
witiiiii tliu limits of the I'liitcd States.
The sin<,'le North American s})ecies M. jiafi/f/fotfKs is asliy brown above,
wliite beneath; wings and tail black, the I'urmer nmcii varied with white.
Mimus polyglottus, r.oii:.
MOCKIKO-BIBD.
Tkh/iis ]iohiij!otli(.i, FilNN. Syst. Nut. Idtli t'd. 17")8, lil'.l ; 12tli cil. 17rtti, '203. — .V/»n/.'!
jHih/ij/o/tii.'.; Hon;, Isis, 18-2(), ii72. - Sclatki;, 1". Z. S. Is.'.iJ, 2V2. - - In. 185!t, 340.—
In. Ciital. 18()1, 8, no. r.l. — Bamm), liinls N. Am. ]8r)8, ;U-i. — In. liov. 48.—
SAMri-.i.s, l(i7. — C'ooPEH, Hiiils Cnl. I, 21. — (iiTSi)l.Aiii, Iti'pi'itoiio, IStiS, 230 (CuUi).
— T)i!i:ssi:i!, Iliis, ISfi.'i, 230. — ("ouK.s, I'r. A. N. Sc. ISOii, 05 (Ai-izoim). ! Orp/icns
/iiicii/i/iriix, Vl(ii>l!.s ZodI. IJci'clicy, 1830.
l"i;,'iiivs : \Vll.s(iN, Am. Orii. II. 1810, pi. .\, li},'. 1.- -Aui). Om. Hiog. I, 1831, pi. x.\i. —
In. Hinls Amir. II, 1841, pi. 137.
,'<r. CiiAU. Tliirit ami f'oiii'tli quills longest ; sucoiul about eijual to eighth; tho lir.st
liiiHiir MKirr tliiwi half llic .-icrouil. Tail cou^iili'iahly {rfaduatod. Aliovo ashy hrown, tlie
t'calhcis very olisolclcly ilarkcr ccutrally, anil towards the light pluuilicous downy basal
])ortion (scarcely apprccialilc, except when the feathers are lifted). 'I'he under parts are
while, with a faint lirnwnish tinge, except on the chin, and with a .shade of a.sli acro.s.s
till' bieast. There is a ))al(> superciliary stripe, but the lores are dusky. The wings and
tail are dark brown, nearly black, except the leaser wing-coverts, which are like the back;
the niidille and greater tippcMl with white. li>rniing two bands; the basal jiortion of the
primaries wliite ; most extended on the innc>r primaries. The outer tail-fealiiiu' is white,
sometimes .■\ little mottled; the seconii is mostly white, exci'pt on the outer web ami
towards th<' base; the third with a wnile spot on th(> end; the rest, except the middle,
very .slightly or not at all tipped wit'i white. The bill and legs are black. Length, O.oO;
wing, 4..")((; tail, .").(M».
Youitij. iSimilar. but distinctly -potted with
dusky on the breast, and obsoletely on the back.
Had. Xorth America, from ab(.ut 4(1^ (rare
in Ma.ssachusetts. Samuels), soutli to Mexico.
Said to occiu' in Cuba.
The jMocking-Ilirds are closely allied,
requiring careful compiirison to distin-
giiisli thtnn. A near idly is ^^. (irjiJuim,
of Jamaica, but in this the outer feather
is white, and the I'd, :'.d, and 4th tail-
feathers are marked like the 1st, 2d, and
.■)d i>f ji(j/i/f//(if/ifs, resjiectiveiy.
We have examined one hundred tuul
fourteen specimens, of the present species,
the .series embracing laige mimbers from
Florida, the l!io (irande. Cape St. Lucas, and Mazatlan, and numenms
sjiecimeiis from intermediate lucidities. The slight degree of variation
7
Miwifs poty^lnltits.
50 NORTFT AMi:RI('A>r lURDS.
inanifestcd in tliis iinincnso scM'ics is iviilly snrin'isini,' ; we, ciiii discover
111) (liili'ri'iico of color tlint dons not iU'ImmkI on ii;,'<', sex, sciison, or the
individual (tIioiij;li tlic Viiiiiitions of tlic latter kind are exct'cdinuly rare,
and when noticed, very sliylit). Altlioiii,di tlio avera.i^c of Wcstci'U six'ci-
nicns have! sli^liily loiii^cr tails tlian Eastern, a Florida example (No.
r)4,8r)(),(?. Enterprise, Kelt. 1!»), lias a tail as loiij,' as that of the htngest-
tailed Western one (Xo. 8,1(15, Fort Vnina, (!ila Kivcr, Dec). Specimens
from Colima, Mirador, Orizaba, and Mazatlan are (juite identical with
Northern ones.
Hahit.s. The ^[ockin,i,'-T>ird is distributed on the Atlantic coast, from
^rassachnsetts to Florida, and is also found to the I'acific. On the latter
coast it exhibits cinlain vaiiatiuus in forms, but hardly cniuugh to se])arate it
as a distinct sjiecics. It is liy no means a common bird in New Enyhind,
but instances of its breedinj,' as far north as Sjiringiield, Mass, are of con-
stant occnrrcMice, and a single individual was seen by Mr. I'oardman near
Calai.s, ^[e. It is met witli every year, more or less frequently, on Long
Island, and is more common, but l»y no means abundant, in New Jersey. It
is found abundantly in every Southern State, and throughout Mexico. It
has also been taken near drinnell, Towa.
A warm climate, a low country, and the vicinity of the sea ap]iear to be
most congenial to their nature. "Wilson found them less numerous west of
the Alleghany than on the eastern side, in the same jiarallels. Throughout
the winter he met with them in the Southern States, feeding on the berries of
the red cedar, myrtle, holly, etc., with wiiich tlie swampy tliickcts abounded.
They feed also upon winged insects, -which they are very expert in catching.
In Louisiana they remain throughout the entire year, approaching farm-
houses and plantations in the winter, and living about the gardens and out-
liou.ses. They may be fre(|uently .seen jierched ujion the roofs of houses and
on the chimney-tops, and are always full of life and animation. AVlien the
weather is mild the old males may be heard singing with as much sjiirit as
in tlie sjiring or summer. They are much more familiar than in the more
northern States. In (Jeorgia they do not begin to sing until Febi'uary.
Tlie vocal powers of the Mocking-Bird exceed, both in their imitative
notes and in their natural song, those of any other s])ecies. Their voice is
full, strong, and musical, and caj)al)le of an almost endless variation in niod-
idation. The M'ild scream of the P^agle and the .soft notes of the IJluebird
are repeated with exactness and with apjiarently e(pial i'acility, while both in
force and .sweetness the Mockiiig-liird will often imin-ove upon tlie originaL
The song' of the IMockiiig-Uird is not albigetlier imitative. His natural
notes are bold, rich, and full, and are varieil almost without limitation.
They are frequently interspersed with imitations, and both are uttered with
a rajiidity and eiii|diasis tliat can liardly be equalled.
The Mocking-lhrd readily becomes accustomed to confinement, and loses
little of the [lower, energy, or variety of its song, but oi'ten much of its sweet-
TUIIDID.K — TIIK TlIllUSlIErf. 51
ness ill a domnstieatod state. Tlio iiiiii,i,'liiig of unmusical s(-iui(ls, like the
f'l'owinn' of clocks, iho (.'arklinj^ dI' lii'iis, or tlKs crt'iikini;- of ii whccllnuTow,
wliili! lliiiy adel to the variety, necessarily detracts .'Voui the beauty ot his
son;,'.
Tiiu food of the ]\Ioekinj,'-15ird is (^hietly insects, their larva', worms,
spiders, etc., and in the winter of herries, in ^reat variety. They are said
to lie V(M'y fond of the gmpe, and to he very destructive to this iruit. Mr.
(f. C. Taylor (Ibis, 1802, ]>. ll'.H) mentions an instance that came to his
kuo\vledj,n', of a ])ersou living near St. Auj^ustiue, Florida, wlio .shot no less
than eleven hundred Mockiiig-Birds in a single season, and buried them at
tlie roots of his ;4rai)e-vines.
Several successful attempts have been ma<le to imhice the Mocking-ljird
to rear their young in a state of conliuement, and it has been shown to be,
by proper management, i)erfectly practicable.
In Te.vas and Florida the ^tloeking-Hird nests early in March, young hirds
appearing (varly in A]iril. In (leorgia and the Carolinas they are two weeks
later. In I'enn.sylvania they nest about the l(Jth of May, and in Xew York
and Xew England not until the second week of June. They select various
situations for tlie nest; solitary thorn-bushes, an almost impenetral)le thicket
of branililes, an orange-tree, or a holly-bush ajjpear to bj favorite localities.
They often build near the farm-houses, and the nest is rarely nu)re than seven
feet from the ground. The base of tlie nest is usually a rudely constructed
platform of coarse sticks, often armed with formidalile thorns surrounding
tlu! nest with a barricade. Tlie height is usually 5 inches, with a diameter of
<S. The cavity is 'A inches deep and o wide. Within tl e external barricade
is an inner nest constructed of soft line roots.
The eggs, from four to six in nund)er, vary in length from .94 to 1.06
inclies, with a mean length of .9i). Their lireadth varies from .81 to .GO of
an inch, mean breadth .7.">. They also exhi1)it great variations in the combi-
nations of markings and tints. The ground color is usually light greenish-
blue, varying in the dejith of its .shade frf)m a very liglit tint to a distinct
blue, with a sliglit greenish tinge. The markings consist of yellowish-brown
and purjile, chocolate-brown, russet, and a very dark brown.
Cksvs GALEOSCOPTES, ( '.ui.vxis.
Oii/cusraptes, C.viiANis, Mus. Ilciii. I, l>Sr)(l, 82. {Ty\»- .\fi(iicictipu ciiroHnouiis, I..)
Gkn. CuMi. ]5ill sliorlci- than the licail. riitlici- liroud at liase. Rictnl bri.stlc.'i inoiloratcly
(k'vi'loiH'il, rcaehin.!;: to llir iiostiils. Wiii,irs a little sliortL'i- than the tail, roundcil . iiccon-
duries well dovelopuj ; Ibiuth and lil'tli quills longest ; tliinl and sixth little shorter ; first
and ninth about equal, and about the leuirth of.^eoondaries ; first quill more than half the
se(;ond, about half the third. Tail pfradiiatcil ; lateral feather abi)ut .70 shorter than the
middle. Tarsi lonjrer than midtlle toe and claw by aliout an additional hall'-elaw ; scutel-
late anteriorly, more or less distinctly in diU'erent speeiiiiens ; seutellie about -seven.
52
NOKTII AMUKICAN 1MUD8.
The coiis|)iouou,s iiaUi'il iiiciiilininous border loiiiid tlif cyu ol' soiiiu Tliiiislii's, with the
biiri' jipaw bciiiiid i(, not iip|in'<-i;ili|c.
Tlieiv is litlh' (lincicm'c in loriii
betwt'ou the siiigli; species of (hdn)-
sivjUcs ami Minnis /ii>/i/i//ii/fiis, beycuul
the le.s.s decree of detiiiition oi' tlio
tiii-sal [ilates; and lint for the dif-
ferenee in eolonitiou (^iinitonn ])liiiu-
lieous instead of .uray alioxe ami
white lioneath), we would hai'dly be
inelined lo distinguish tlu; two ge-
lievie'lllv (i't/riKscofitts citroliiunsi.s.
The single s])eeies knoMii is lead-ci/lored, with black ca]), and chestnut-
red under tail-coverts.
Galeoscoptes carolinensis, cusan.
THE CATBIBD.
jifiiscicii/iii nirnliiirnsis, I, INS. Syst. Nat. 1, 17t)ti, -i-^^. Tiirihia ciirnliiii-ii.ii.i, Liciir.
Vi'iz. lS'i:t, ;!8. - I)'(>l:iili;w, l.a .'^:i!,'rii's Culia, di.s. 1,><.|(I, ;')1. Or/i/nns uiro/iiiiii.sis,
■l(isi;s, Nat. liiTimida, ISM, 27 (lircrds). Minms oiriiliiiciisix, (li;.vY, U.Miin, Hiiils
N. Am. l.S.'i'.i, .ill!. - r.;;v.\M, I'r. Mn.st. Sur. ISilT, (!!• (Iiiaf^iia). - l,niiii, I'r. 1!. .Art.
lust. (Woolwich), IV, ISlil, UV(ra.sl iirCascaclc Mis.K HiiliDsca/i/in cin'dhiii'ii.ii.i, V.th.
Mils. Hciii. i, 18r)(t, 8-J (type ol .,'i'iinsV -In. .loiii-. Oni. l.sr.S, 470 (Ciil.a). - - (il'ND-
l.Acll, h'l'iicit. 18(>j, 23(l(i'iilia, Very ciiiiiiMiiii). — S(i.,\ii;ii, Catal. Iiinls, Istil, (!, no.
8!t. — Sci.. .^ Sai.v. i'r. lS(i7, ^7."^ (.Mosipiild Coast). It.vmn, l!<v. l.sdl, iti. —
S.v.MiT.l.s, 17'J. — CiiDi'i i;, liird.sCal. 1. 'J:!.
Fit;urcs : Ain. li. .\. II, ]>\. 1 li). - in. Oni. liiot;. II, pi. •>». - Vir.ii.i.nr, Ois. Am. Si|it.
II, pi. l.wii. -Wn.sciN, Am. drn. II, pi. .\iv, f. ;i.
8p. Chak. Third i|iiill loiiL'csl : lirsl shnrlcr lliaii sixtli. I'ri'VailiiiL;' cnlcu' dark pluiiibc-
o!.s, liKiri' ashy bciu-alh. Crown and nape ilark siinly-lnowii. \ViiiL;> dark lirnvvii, (■(JL.'cd
with pluiulicous. Tail L'rci'ni.^li-black ; ihc latcr.-d Icatiiois Db.srincly tipped wilh phinilu'-
oiis. The lUider tiiil-euvcrt.s dark browuish-ehesiinil. Female smaller. I.eiii;lh, 8.8") ;
wiiiu'. :i.b,"i; tiiil, l.nii: tarsus. I.O.'i.
Il\r.. I'niteil ,<lal<'s. nerlli In Lake Wililiipefj,
we.-l 1(1 head of ( 'oliimbia. and Caseade Monil-
lains (Lovd): .sonlh to I'anama If. I!.; ("uba;
li.ihainas ; lli'rimida (b|-eeds). .\eeideillal ill
lli'li!^nlaiiil Island. iMimpi'. I taxai'a, Cordova,
and (iiialeiiiala. Sri,ATi:it ; Mosipiilo Coast, ScL.
\' ."^\i.v ; Orizaba (winter), Si .mkiiuast ; Yiieii-
laii. I.AUii.
Western s|)eeiiiieiis have not ajiprocia-
bly loiiovr tails liii.ii Kasteiii. Central
.Aniencau exiiinples, as a nue, have the
|)lninbe(ais of a nion' liluisii ca.sl tiian is usually seen in Nurtii Auierieaii
skins.
TIIUDID.K — TIIH TIIKUSllKS. 53
Hahits. Till! Catbinl liiis u very cxloiulcd j;v(ij;Tiiiiliiciil Viiiij^e. It is
iiliuii(l:iiit throiigliout tin; Atliiiitic States, iVoin Kloridii to Maine: in tlie
central jtortion oi' tlie continent it is t'onml as tar norlli as Luke Winneiiei;-.
On the racitie coast i lias lieen met witli at Tauania, and also 011 the
Columliia Itiver. It is occasional in ('ul)ii and the Bahamas, and in tlie ller-
nnulas is a iiermaneiit resident. It is also i'onnd diirinsj; the winter months
almiidaiit in Central America. It hreeds in all the Sontheni Slates witli
])(!ssilily the exce])tion of Florida. In Maine, accordinjj; to Professor \'errill,
it is as coiiiinoii as in ^lassachnsetts, arri\iiig in the former jilaee alioiit tlic
Lllltli of May. ahont a week latcir than in the vicinity of Hoston, and l)e;^in-
iiiiiij,' to deposit its ei;gs early in dune. Near Calais it is a h'ss comnion
visitant.
Tlie Xorthern migrations of the Catbird commence early in Fehruary,
when they make their apiiearance in Florid. 1, (ieorgia, and the Caroliiia.s.
In Ai)ril they reach Virginia and I'ennsylvaiiia, and New Fngland from the
1st to the KItli of ^lay. Their first aiipearaiice is usually coincident with
the lilossoming of tin; pear-trees, it is 1101 generally a iiojiular or welcome
visitant, a i)rejutlice more or less wide spread existing in regard to it. Vet
few birds more deserve kindness at our hands, or will better rejiay it. F'rmii
its iirst appearaiu'c among us, almost to the time of departure in early
fall, the air is vocal with the (piaint but attractive melody, rendered all the
more interesting from tlie natural song being often bl'iulcd with notes im-
jierfec'ly mimicked from the songs of other birds. Tiie song, whether
natural or imitative, is always varied, attractive, and beautiful.
Tiie Catl)ird, wlicn once established as a welconu' guest, soon makes
itself perfectly at home, lli^ is to be .seen at all times, and is almost ever in
motion. They beconu^ (|uite tame, and tlii' male liird will frequently appar-
ently deligiit to sing in the immetliate presiuice of man. Occasionally they
will build their nest in clo.se jiroxiniity to a house, and appear unmindful of
the presence of the niemiiers of the fainilv.
Tiie Catbird's power of mimicry, tiiough limited and imjierfectly exer-
cised, is freipieiilly very amusing. The more dillicult notes it rarely attem]its
to copy, and signally fails whenever it dots .so. The whislli' of the (i)uail,
the (duck of a hen calling iier iaood, the answer of tlie yiaiiig chicks, the
note of tiie I'ewit Flycatcli am' lu' ivfrain of Towlice, tlu' Catbird will
imitate witii so much exactness as . to l)c distinguished from the original.
Tiie Catbirds are di'voted jiaicnls, silting upon their eggs with great
closeness, feeding the young with a.ssiduity, and accompanying them with
parental intenst when they leave the nest, even long aft.'r they are able
to jirovide for tiieinselv".. In'ruders IVoni whom danger is apprehended
they will boldly attack, attempLing to d.ive away snakes, cats, dogs, and
sometimes even man. if these fail they resort to piteiais cries and other
maiiil(!stations of their great distress.
Towards oach other they are ailectionate and devoted, mutually assisting
54 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
in the construction of the nest; iiuii as incubation progresses ihe female, who
rarely leaves tlie nest, is supplied with i'ood, and entertaiueil from liis ex-
haust less vocal lulary of souj;, by lier mate. When annoyed by an intruder
the cry of the Catbird is loud, harsh, and unplea.sant, and is supposcvl to
resemble the outcry of a cat, and to this it owes its name. This note it
reiterates at the approach of any object of its dislike or fear.
The food of tiie Catbird is almost exclusively the larva; of the larger
insects. For these it searches both among the branches and tlie fallen
leaves, as well as the furrows of newly ploughed fields and cultivated gar-
dens. The benefit it thus confers ujwn the farmer and the horticulturist
is very great, and can hardly be overestimated.
The Catliird can witli proper jiainstaking be raised from the nest, and
when this is successfully accomj)lished they become perfectly domesticated,
and are very amusing pets.
They construct their nests on clusters of vines or low bushes, on the
edges of small thickets, and in retired [)laces, though almost always near
cultivated giound. Tiie usual materials of their nests are dry leaves for the
base, slender strips of h)ng dry bUrk, small twigs, herl)ac(,jus ])lants, fine
roots, and finer stems. They are lined with fine dry grasses, and sedges.
Their nests average 4 inches in height 1)y 5 in diametei'. The diameter and
dejjth of the ca\ity are 3\ inches. The eggs are of a uniform deep bluish-
green, and measure .'J~ in length and .09 of an inch in breadth.
CINCLIU.E — THE DIPPERS.
55
Kamii.y CINCLID^. — Tiik Diiteuh.
On page '1 will be found the cliarocteristics of tliis family, M-liicli need not
lie here rejieated. There is only a single genus, Cinrlux, with four American
species, and several from Eurojie and Asia.
Genus CINCLUS, Bechhtkin.
Ifililrnhiilii, Vir.ii,T.i>T, Aimlysc, ISKi (Ag.). — B.uiti), H. X. A. 229.
Ciiicliis, Br.(i;.sii;iN, (icnii'iii. Natui-fr. 1802. (Xot of Moi'liiiiig, 17.'<2. 'Typi' fHKriiiin ciii-
clii.1, L.) — Salviv, Ibis, lHti7, lO'J. (Moiiof,'nii)li.)
<ii:\. CuAii. liiU \vitli(iut nil}- lii-i.-;tl('s :il tlir hi'-c ; .sloniliM', .=uliiiliit(> ; tli(> inan(lH)lo
licnl sliglitly iiiiwiu'il; tlu; uiiliiieii sliijfhtly coiicavi! to nciir the ti)), wliii'h is iiiiich curved
anil nolcliL'd ; tlie coniiiiissiiral tMljrcs nf tli(!
liill liiu'ly iiick(>(l towanls oiid. Feel larn;o
and stroiiLr, the toes in'ojeeling eonsiderably
beyond the tail ; tlio elaw.s large. Lateral
toes ec|ni\l. Tail very short, and even; not
two tliirils the wii.trs, -whieli are eoneavo
and somewhat I'ulcate. Tlic (irst primary
is more than one Iburlh the longest. Eggs
wiiite.
Cindiis weriraitiis.
Tlie slightly upward hend of the
hill, somewhat as 'wxJuthxx, renders
the cuhnen concave, and t/ie commissure slightly convex. Tlie maxilla at
hase is nearly as high as the man-
dible ; the wliole bill is much com-
jiresscd anci attcmiated. The lat-
eral claws barely reach the base of
till! middle one, which is broad;
the inner face extended into a
liorny lann'na, with one or two
notclics or ])ectinations somewhat
as in ('(>/in'iin(/(/ii/(r. The stilfcned
suli-falcate wings are (piite re-
markabl.'. The tail is so short that
the upper coverts extend nearly to
its tip.
i'lic s|(ccies are all dull-colored birds, usually brown, sometimes varied
with whit(! on the head, hack, or throat. They inhabit mountainous sidi-
nlpine regions abounding in rajiid streams, and always attract attention
by their habit of feeding tnuhu' wattir, searching among the gravid and
stones for their insect prey.
Cinditf mfxirtimta.
56 NORTH AMERICAN IJIRDS.
The only otlicr spofics al all alliwl tu tlu^ Hiii,irlo Nortli Anu'ricaii nnc.
are tlio (/. an/ftii(in(H of Ci'iitial America, and ('. /Kt/lioii ul' Easlern Asia.
Tliey may be easily distingiiislied by the lallowiiig characters- —
Plumage ln'iioatli scarroly lighter than that above; head and ni'ck brownish,
darkest above. Wiuir, 4.00 : tail, 2.15; bill, .5(1; tarsus, 1.20 ; middle toe, .S.".
Legs (in life), pinkish white (S,4!)() l-'ort Ma.ss. N. .M.). IIaii. Monntidns of
Middle Province I'roni Sitka, south to (ruaternala . . var. )ii e.rirn n n s .
Plunuige beneath nnieh lighter than that above, — very light along the median
line; head not brownish, the contrast in shade between iip|)er and lower sur-
tiiccs very marke(l. Wing, .'i. 50: tail, 2.05 ; bill, .15; larsns, 1.30; middle loe,
.'JO. Legs yellow. (12, 7S>s J Costa Rica). Had. (luatemala and Costa Riea.
var. II r d <• s / n r u n . '
Plnniage uniform dnsky-brown. middle of belly lilaekish ; harh amJ riimp si/khhi-
ittcil iritli liliirk ; wings and tail lilaekisli-brown. Total len<rlh, S.OO; wing,
4,00; tail, 2.50; tarsus, 1.25; bill (to rictus), LlO {.'<alvin). IIaii. Lake liaikal
to Kamtsehatka ; Amoorland; S. E. .Siberia ; Japan (Sah in) . . var. jialhim'.-
Cinclus mexicanus, Swains,
AMERICAN SIFFES; WATEB OUZEL.
Ciiiehii jiiiUiitii, Hon. '/m\\\. .Tciur. II, lS-27, .'I'i (imt the Asiaiir sjM'iies). i'!iicIhs virxieiiHHK,
Sw. IMiil. Mag. 1827, JiCiS. - Si i,ati:i;, Ciital. ISCl, Id, Saivin, Ibis, 18(10, 190 ;
l.S(>7, 12(1 (C.Mutcniala). I'.AiiM), h'cvicw, (iO. ~- Dai.I, k T.ann is li.it (.\laskaV -
CooiT.i!, lUl■'i.^ Cal. I, 2,"p. /Ii/ilfii/iiil(i nif.n'iviiii, ilAiiin, liiids X. .Vni. ISi'i.S, 221i. —
('c)oi'r.i! k SccKi.r.Y, lii'p. 1'. U. U. XII, ii, is")',!, 17."( (U'sl). Ciin-his niiicriciniii.t,
Hicll. F. li. A. II, 18:!1, 27:i. Cinchi.s imuv/tn; lio.v. ; C, iiniiiiiin. Towns. ; ('. tuirn-
SI iidi, ".\ri)." Towns.
Kiguii's : HoNAi'Acii'., Am. Oni. 11, 1S2S, pi. xvi, tig. 1. .\iii. Oni. lii.ig. pi. iiclxx,
4:!.'). — 111. liirds Aiinr. II. pi. cx.x.wii.
Sc. Cm. .Vbove dark pluinbcoiis. bencilb paler; bead ami ii<>ek all round a sliade of
clove or perhaps a light sootv-brown ; less eonspicnoiis beneath. .\ coia'calcd spot of
vliile above the .'interior corner of the eye .and indications ol' llii' sane somctiines on the
lower eyelid. Immature spcc'iinens usually with the feathers benealb edged wilh grayish-
while : the greater and middle wing-coverls and Ics.scr ipiills lippcil with the same. The
eolors more uniform. Leni;lh, 7.50 : wing, 1. 00; tail, 2,55.
Yiiinii/. iSiinilar to the adull, but much iiii.M d with whilish medially bcuealh; (his in
Ibrm of longiluiliiial suflusions.
Autumnal ami winti'r speeimciis ha\c nmuc'rous liiuisvcrsi' cicsceuls of whilish on
lower parts and wings, — these very especially conspicuous piKtcriorly ; the sccoiidiuii'.s
iiri' also conspicuously tcrminaled wilh a while crescenl. Hill brown, paler toward ba.-ic
of lower mandililc. In spring and sumnicr the bill eiilirely black, and the whilish
liiurkings almost I'Htircly disappear; the young bird has a greater a iinl of while be-
neath than the adull in winter dress, and this while is disposed in longiludinal, not trans-
ver.se, sidl'usions. The color olihe leg.s np])ears to be ilie same iit all season.s,
I I'. ,//f/i'.v/ •(!•»<, Sai.vin, Ibis, N. S. Ill, 121, pi. ii.
- r. ii.illiisi, Tl M.M. .\biii. d'Oin I, ]i. 177. — Sai.vin, Ibjs, HI, 18(i7, 11!'. (S/iirin:n liiirfni.
var. I'ai.i.as. Znngr, U. - As. I, 120.)
Il'lll
CINrLIILf; — THK Dll'I'KUS. 57
pi'riincns, of any airo. (roin tlio coast of On-iron miil llic Ca^i-ailc ^[l)unlaiMs, have lla;
iiioi'c (licply lnowiiisli ihaii llinsc fi-oiii otlicr rcuioii-:.
Il.ui. Koiiiid tlii-(iiif:!i the luiiiiutaiiioiis ri'jrioii nl' the central and western |)art ol' North
America, from Fort llulkctl soiilli into Mexico anil (iMateinaia. Ori/.alia (Alpine re^rinn)
SiMicii. None received Ironi the coast region of C'alilbruia. Alinndant on the N. \V.
coast, Larainio Peak and Deer Creek, Nob.
This species has a wide I'aiioe aloiio' the luoiiiitaiiiuiis reoioii nl' Xdith iiiid
Middle Aiiiericii. Mexican speciiueiis are darlvcr.
Haihts. This interestiiio- bird inhabits exchisively tlie mouiitaiiioiis por-
tions of Xorth Ainericii west of the Mississip])i from Alaska south lo (Jiiate-
mala. It does not appear to Iiave been obtained on tiie coast of ('alifornia,
nor in the valley of tlie ^lississi])]>i. In the ISritish Possessions specimens
have been procured on Fraser's IJiver, at Fort llalkctt, and at Colvilh^ At
the latter place ^Ir. J. Iv. Lord states that a few remain and ]iass tlie winter.
They are foiind anion,i^ tiie luonntain streams of Vera ("rnz, ami jirobaldy
thvouii'hont Mexico, and no donbt may be met with in till the liiohlaiids
between these extreme i>oii\ts. Dr. Xewlierry met witii it in the rapid
atrean.s of the Cascade Mountains. He de-scriltes it as llittinjf ahing in the
bed of the stream, from tiuK! to time i>liino;ino; into tiie water and disa])pear-
in;4, to apjH'ar a,t;iiin at a (bstant ]ioint, ii]) or down the stream, skippinif
iilioiit I'rom stone to stone, constantly in motion, jcrkino its tail iuid moving
its body somtiwhiit in the manner of a Mien.
Dr. Cooper observed tiiis species both on tlie ('oliiml)ia and its trilattaries,
and also amoiiu- the niotiiitain streams oi' the Coast kanue west of Santa
Clara. At the latter ])luce he found a ])air mat 0(1 us early as ilandi KItii.
At sunset he heard tlu! male singing very melodiously, as it sat on one
of its favorite rocks in the middle of the foaming raiiids, making its delight-
ful melody heiu'd for (|uite ii long distance above the .sound of the rotiring
Wiiters.
"This bird," adds Dr. Cooper, "combines the form of a sandpijier, the song
of a canary, and the lupiatic habits of a duck. Its food consists almost
entirely of a(piatic insi'<'ts, and these it ])nrsiies under water, walking and
flyhig with i)erfect ease beneath a dcptli of .several leet of water." Jle also
states that they do not swim on the surface, lait dive, and sometimes liy
lU'ross streams beneath the surfaci- that their Might is rapid and direct, like
that of a sandpijier; jilso that, they jerk tiieir tails in a similar miunier, and
generally alight on ii rock or log.
Dr. Cooper on the ."ith of July found a nest of this bird tit a saw-mill on
the Chehalis iJivir, built under the shelving roots of an enormous arbor-vitie
tiial hadtloated over, and rested in a slanting position against the dam. The
lloor was of small twigs, the sides and roof iiivhed over it like an oven, aiul
formed ol moss, pioj(H'ting ,so as to protect and shelter the oMeiiing, which
was liirge enough to admit the hiind. Within this nest was a brood of half-
iledged young. The parents were familiar iind fearless, ami had become
8
58 NOin'II AMKRICAN BIRDS.
iiccustoiiKHl to the society ol' tlie niillei'S. Tlioy liad jn-oviously niisiHl aii-
Dtluii" bvood that season.
Tlie saiiK! oliscrsaiit naturalist, some time al'terwards, in l\Iay, found tlie
nest ol" anotiior pair, a lew niik's north oi' Santa Clara. This was built near
the loot of a niill-dani, resting on a sliijlit le(lu,o under an over]ian<,an<^' rock,
from which water was continually drojtping. It wa.s, in shiipe, like an oven,
with a small doorway, and it was Imilt externally of green ino.ss, which, being
still living, ])reventeil tlie easy discovery of the nest. It was lined witli soft
grass, and containetl young.
These l)irds are found .singly or in pairs, and never more than two together.
They are never found near still water, and frequent only wild mountain-
streams, ca.scades, eddies, and swift currents.
According to ^Ir. Dall's ob.servations in Ala.ska, the species is e.s.seiitially
solitary. He obtained .several specimens in .lanuary, February, and March,
always near some open, unfrozen s])ots in the Nulato IviAcr. It was only
found in the most retired spots, and almost invarialily alone. Wiien dis-
turbed, it would dive into the water, even in midwinter.
Mr. Eidgway describes the I)i]ii)er as remarkably (|\iick, as well as odd, in
its movements, — whether walking in the shallow bed of the stream, or
.standing on a stone along the edge, contimially tilting u]) and down, now
chattering as it Hies rapidly along the stream, again alighting into the water,
in whicli it wades with the greatest facility. Its liigiit is remarkably swift
and well sustained, and in manner is very unusual, the bird ]iro]iellin/ itself
by a ra])id buzzing of the wings, following in its ilight every undulation in
the course oi' the stream into whicli it drops suddenly. Its song is d(>scribed
as remarkably sweet ami lively, in modulation re.senjbling somewhat that of
tli(! ffiir/)<ir/i)/iir/iiis riifiis, l)ut less j)owerl'ul, though sweeter in effect.
Dr. K. lialdamus, of Halle, who jxisse.sses sjiecimens of the eggs of this
s])ccies, describes them as pure white in color, oval in shajie, and hardly
distinguishalde from those of the European 6'. ni/nc/lrns.
A nest of this bird obtained by Mr. .1. Stevenson, of Ilayden's Expedition,
in lierthoud's Pass, Colorado, is a hemisphere of very uniform contour built
on a rock, on the edge of a stream. Externally it was eompo.sed of gri'en
moss, in a living state ; within is a strong, compactly built apartment,
arched over, and su]tportccl by twigs, with a cup-like deju'cssion at the bot-
tom, hemispherical and eompo.sed of roots and twigs firndy bound together.
The structure is 7 inches in height externally, and has a diameter of lOJ
inches at tlu; ba.se. Within, the cavity has a depth of (1 inches; the
entrance, which is on one side, is M^ in breadth by 2\ in height. The eggs
were tliice in number, uniform, dull white, and unspotted. They measure
1.('4 inches liy .70. They have an elongated oval shape, and are much
pointed at one end.
SAXICOLID.'E — THE SAXICOLAS.
69
Family SAXICOLID^. — The Saxk.m.as.
Tho ocMioml fliaractors of tiiis iiuuily liave alrciuly liceii <,nveu on ]). '2,
as ilistiii,i;ui?jlK'(l IVoiu tlio 'fKnlida: Tlio n'laliiiii.slii|i8 art; very close, how-
over, and lull little violence would be done by making it a sublaniily of
Tiiriluhr or oven a group of Tanlma; as was done in the " Birds of North
America."
While the groui) is very W(;I1 r(']iro.senti'd in tlu; Old World, America has
but one peculiar genus SUilui, and iuiother iSti.rinilii, reiiresentod by a single
species, a straggler, perhaps, from (rreenland on the one side and Siberia on the
oHier. 'J'iu! diagnostic characters of these are as follows, including I'lin/i's
to show tile relationshii)S of the three genera: —
Turdus. Tiirsi loiii:, cxcccdiiiL,' tlic iiiidiUi' toe; \viiii;-s rcacliina' to tlic iiiiililli' dl' llic tail,
wliic'h is iilicml limr lilllis tlio leii,u:th of tlio wiiii^s. Itill .sloiit; its u]i|)it oiitliiie con-
vox toward tlio liiiso. Soeond quill slK.rtoi' than lll'lli.
Saxicola. Tarsi oonsidoralily loniror than tho middle loo, which roaches nearly to the
lip oC tho lail. Tail short, even; two thirds as long as the lenj,'llionod wiiiiis, which
reach boyoud tlio iiiiddlo of Iho lail. Si'coiid <|iiill Icjiiwr than liClli. JJdl attonualod;
ils uinior outline eonoav(> lowards ihe liaso.
Sialia. Tarsi short; about enual to the middle toe. Winys reaching buyoiul tho middle
of tho tail. JJill thiokunod.
Genus SAXICOLA, Hhc iistkin.
S'l.fim/ii, l!r.riisTi:iN, (icMioiniiiitzigi' Natur.i,'. I.SO'J. (Tyiic, ,S'. „-ii<iiil/ie.)
(■KN-. ('ii.vu. Cinimis-anv sliuhlly onrved to llu- well-iiofehed lip. Cidmon oon(^^vo for
lh(' basal hali; Ihen j;-enlly docnrviiM,-. Ooiiys strai.irlit. Bill .^londor, attenuated; more
than half the len,u-lh of head. Tail short,
bi-oad, even. Lei^^s eonsiderably longer
than tho lio.id ; when oiitstretcliod roaoliin<,'
nearly to tho lip of tail. Third ([iiill
longest ; second bnt liltle slioiier. Claws
long, slightly curved; bind loo ' rather
elongated.
As already stated, America possess-
es but a single member of this group
of birds, so well re]iresented in the Old
World. The color is bluish-grav, with
wings, a stripe through the eye, and tho middle of e.xpo.sod tail-feathers
black.
GO
NORTH AMElllCAN IJIIIDS.
Saxicola oenanthe, }'>i:( hst.
THE WHEAT-EAB.
MiilncUla a-iKiiillic, Ijnx. Syst. Nat. I, 17")S, ISO. ,S(i.n'ri)l(i (eiitiii//ie, TJiX'llsT. " Oeiiiein.
Xiitiirj;. Isd'J," unci of Kiiii)|)caii authors. — lloLiiiii.i,, Oni. (!nrii. ^l^luls(■n cd.), 1840,
i'A ((iiwiilaii(l). — l)Ali:ii, Uii'tls N. Am. iHiiH, 2'20 (Kuiopc) ; Review, 61. — Jonks,
i\at. Ui'iiumla, Lsr)!l, is (MciumdiU. -Coins, Vr. A. N. S. 18(il, 218 (Lalmuloi). —
Ui;iNHAi;iii', ll>is, l^til, ;"< ((iriM'iilainl). — Dai.i. & Haxnisit.i; (Alaska). Snxkula
icmnil/ioii/rs, Vi(;iii;s, /iiul. lilossoiii, lb^■^'.>, lit (N. \V. Amciica). — C.v.ssiN, 111. 1, 1854,
2<l8, \i\. .\.\xiv (Nova Siotia).
8i'. ("ilAii. ( I)i'scii|iti(>ii I'lciin Eiii-((i)t'aii s|ii'ciiii('i).) Male in .spriiij,', forulii'ad, liiii' over
till' cyi', and uiidci- parts ;_'cii('rally white; liic laller tiii^'ud with palo ycUowisli-hi-owii,
cspei-iaiiy cm the hri'asl and thiciat. A stiipe I'loni tlie iiill thi-oiigli, helow, and lichind
tlic eye. with tlic \vini;s, nppei' tilil-cciveils, hill and I'ci't, lilaek. Tail white, with an
aliriipt hand ol'liiac'k (alioiil .(ill of an inch loin;) at the end, this eoloi- exlenciin;,' I'urlhei-
lip on the iniildle leather. Kest of n]iper parts ash-i;ray ; ipiills and jrreatef eoveits
.sli^ditly ed},'ecl with whitish. I;en,i;th, (J.Oi) ; win.ir, ;i.4.'i ; tail, li..")ll ; tai-siis, 1.05.
Autiiinnal males are tiiiLred with lusty : the lilack iiiaikinjfs hiown. The feinale in
si)ring is reddisli-L;ray ; lores and cheeks brown ; the Mack niarkin^'s g-eiierally brownish,
and not well delined. Vj\s<xs pale lifrht blue. Xest on ^'ronnd.
Hah. -Vn Olcl Worlcl sjK'cies (l';iirop(\ Xortherii .Miii'a, and Asia), abnndant. in (ireen-
land, loiincl probably as an aniunnial inijiiant in Labrador, Canada, Xova Scotia, Hcriinida,
etc. Occurs also on Norton Sound, near I!eliriu^''s Slraibs. Very oeeasioiiul in the East-
ern States: Loin;- I>land.
This bird ii])iH'ars to be abiiiulimt in Xortoii Suiiiul, from which ro^'ion Mr.
Dull hu.s recuntly brought speuiiuoiis in full sjirino ^ilnningc. Tht'sc iirc! de-
cidt'illy sniiiUer tluin liird.s
from Liibriidor luid C!reon-
liiud, but notdistiugiii.sliable,
and seem to iionso jiri^'i.scly
with skins from Central Eu-
rope.
H.viUTs. The M-ell-known
Wheat-ear is entitled to a
pliiee in our faunii, not only
as an accidental visitor, but
iilso its an occasional resi-
dent. Dr. H. 1!. Storer, of
Hoston, fomul them breeding
in Lid)rador in the siuiimer
of lcS4.S, and jirociu'ed speci-
mens of the young birds
which were fully identified
by Dr. Saiiiiiel Ctiliot as lielonging to this species. In the following year
Andrew Downs, of llalirux, gave me the .sjiccimeii described and figured
Saxircln aimnthf.
SAXICOLID.ii: — THE 8AXIC0LAS. gj
by Mr. Cassin. Tliis was secured late in tlio siimiiior near Cii]-n'. Harrison,
L!il)rador, wliere it had evidently just reared its brood. In 18(j() Mr. Elliott
Coues obtained another specimen on tiie '2~>t\i of Auj^ust, at Henley Harbor.
It was in coniiiany M'itli two others, and was in immature plumage. Its
occurrence in considevaljle numbers on the coast of Lal)rador is I'urtl.'i' con-
firmed by a writer ("W. C") in "The Field," for June 1(1, 1H71, who estates
tiiat wlu'n in that region during the months of May and June lie saw u
numlK'r of "White Ears," the greater proi)ortion of tliem being males. He
inferreil from this tliat tiiey breed in tliat country, the apparent scarcity
of females being due to their occupation in nesting. !Mr. Lawrence has one
in his cabinet from Long Lsland, and the 8niith.sonian Institution one from
Queliec. Specimens have also been obtained in the Bermudas.
Holbiill, in his paper on tiie I'auna of (Jreenland, is of tiie opinion that the
individuals of this sitecies that occur tiiere come from Euro])e, make their
journey across the Atlantic; without touching at Iceland, and arrive in
South (h'cenland as early in tlie sea.son as it does at the former place, the first
of May. It reaches (iodhaven a month later, at times when all is snow-
bound and the warmth has not yet released the insects on which it feeds.
It is f(jund as far north as the 73d parallel, and even beyond. In SciJ-
tcniber it puts on its winter dress and dejiarts.
Mr. Dall .states that .several large flocks of this s]H>cies were seen at Nulato,
May 2'A and 24, 1".(JS, and a nund)er of sjjecimens obtained. They were
said lo be abundant, on the dry stony hill-top.s, but were rare along the
rivei'.
Tlie Wiieat-ear is one of the most connnon Ijirds of P'urope, and is found,
at different .seasons, tin'oughout tliat continent a:; well as in a large portion
of Western Asia. It breeds througiiout the British Islands as well as in the
whole of Xortliern Europe and A.sia.
Its food is ])rincipally worms and insects, tlu^ latter of which it takes U])on
tlie wing, in liie manner of a fly-catcher. The male bird is said to sing
prettily, but not loudly, warbling even MJieu on the wing, and hovering
over its nest or over its partner. In confinement its song is continued by
night as well as by day.
The Wheat-ear beguis to make its nest in April, usually concealing it in
some deep recces beneath a huge stoiu>, and often far beyond the reach of
the arm. Sometimes it is placed in old w.dls, and is usually large and
rudely constriicte.l, made of dried bents, scraps of shreds, feathers, and
rub1)ish collected about the huts, generally containing four pale blue eggs,
uniform in color, and without spots, which measure .81 of an inch in length
by .O'J iu breadth.
02
XOllTII A.MKHICAN lilRD.S.
Siafia .N/Vi/i
(iKxir.s SIALIA, SwAiNSOx.
Sidlid, SwAixsDX, Ziiiil. .loiii-. Ill, S<>iit. 1>S'J7, 17;!. (Tvpf Mnliicil/n sidlis, \,.)
Ge\. CiiAit. IJill short, stout, bioadiT lliiiii liif^li at the base, tliou uoiiiii.i'sscd ; slifjflilly
iiotclit'd at tip. Uictus witli short biislli's.
Tiiisi not longer than the iniildlc too. Chiw.s
(•oiisidt'ialily<'ui'vt'd. Wind's iiiiich loni^or thiin
lh(^ liiil ; the lirst primary .spurious, not ono
l()uilii tiic liiiif^cst. Tail niodi'i'atc; sliplitly
Ibrki'd. i'-!.'j;s [)lain blue. Nt'st in hok'S.
The species of this oeims are all well
niavkod, ami adult males ave easily
distiiijftnslialile. In till, hlue I'orms a
])i'omiiieiit I'eatiiie. Three well-marked
species are known, with a foiirtii less
di.stinet. The i'emales are duller in
color than the males. The younj;- tire spotted and bireaked with widte.
Synopsis of Species.
Common riiAUACTKns. Rich lihic abovo, dullci- in the H'uialc IJrucatli rcddisii
or blue in llic niaU'. ri'ildish or hf,dit dral) in tho HMualc. Voiuij; wilh wiujrs and
tails only blue, the head antl anterior parts of body with numerous whitish s[)ots.
A» /Iri'dsl rcihli.ih, or c/ifntinit,
1. S. stalls. Xo ('hestuut on the baek ; lluoat reddi.sli; abdomen and
crissuin white.
Blue of a rich dark )iur]ilish shade. Tail about 2.75. Ifah. Kast-
eru Province I'liiled States, ("ulia, aud licruuidas . . var. sidlis.
nine of a frrcenisli shade. Tail about 3.20. /fah. Kast Mexico
and nuateniala var. iiziirea.'
2. S. mexicaiia. Chcsinuf. in tircater or less amount, or. the back;
tiu'oat blue; al)douicn ami crissuni lihic. I/nh. West and Soulii Mid-
dle Province I'niled Slates, south to Jalap.'i, Cordova, and Coiima.
Bi ]lrc(ist hhic (lii/lit (Irali in 9)-
;?. S. arctica. Entirely rich fijreonish-blue ; abdon)on white. Ifdb.
Middle I'ruviiice I'liited Status; Fort iMunkliu, JJritish America.
Sialia sialis, TVmkd.
EASTEBN BLUEBIRD.
}fiifdcill(i sidJis, LiNX. .S. N. 17"iS, 1.S7 (biisrd on ('Arr.sliv, I, pi. xlvii). Sinlia sidlis,
liAlliU, liirds N. Am. IS.'iS, 2>-2 : Rev. (i2. — Ii.>Ai:iiMAN, Tr. Host. .Su.'. l.Stlli, 1'24
(t'alais, .Ml'.; very rare). — Diii'.ssf.i!, lliis, IStia, 4tir) (Texas, winter). — .Samii:i,.s,
I!. X. Knj,'., 17."). Sid/id irilsiHii, .SwAixsoN, Zoiil. .lour. Ill, 1827, 173. — t'Ali. .lour.
1S.')8, 1-JU. CiMU.Acn, Call. .lour. 18G1, 324; Repertorio, 180.'), 'J30. — Jones,
' S. dzurid, I'lAiiiii, lliv. Am. Hints, 1804,62. (i'. (niiira, !Swaix.son.)
SAXICOLlDyE — TJIE 8A XK '( )LAS.
03
Niit. licniiii(l:i, IS'i'.t, '2S, (it! (rosiiU'Tit in lic/iiiililiil. Siih-in xl.ili-t, lyAril. ; .hiipr/i.i
si.i/i.'!, Ntri'. ; /ui/Z/irdCii irilsdiii, Sw.
I'iffuics ; ViKii.i.iPT, Ois. Am. Sept. I!, ]il. ci, cii, liii. -Wils. I, pi. iii. Ai n. Oiii.
Itiiif,'. II, 1)1. ixiii. — III. li. A. II, pi. c.w.viv. - Ddiiiinv, Cal). I, pi. .\ii.
Si'. CiiAii. iMilirc u|)p('i- |)iiits, iiicliiilinj: wiiif,'-; iiml tiiil, rdntiiiiious iiiid luiiroini aziiro-
liliic: llic rhcck-siil'a (Uillcr tint dl' the ,>;aiiii'. lii'iicatii icildisli-hniwn ; the alKioiiicii, anal
n';,'ioM, ami iiiidcr tail-uovi'il.>i white. Jiill and foot black. Sl],al'l.>< of IIk' (|iiills and lail-
rcalli('r>< l)lacl<. I'Viiialc with the hliio li,i,diUT, and tiiij,'c(l with lirown on the lu;ad and
hai'k, Li'nu-lh. ().7i') ; win^f, 4.0(1 ; tail, 'J.OO.
Yoiinij. Males (if the yoai- dnll hi-owii on iieai! and liaek : and le,-<.'<er (•overls streaked,
exrept, on heail. with white. Thfoat and lore part ol'lncast sti-eaked with wliite. Tertial.s
eilired with lii-own. liest of coloialioii soinewdiat like adnlt.
Had. Eastei-n I'nited States ; west to Foil Laramie, Milk Rivor ; north to Lake Win-
nipei;; resident in lierninila ; Cuba (rare), ( iiNnr.Aeii.
A specimen from (Juatemala (r)(),411(?, N'liii I'atten) relerrible to tlie
var. aziircd is iiii(li.stiii,i,'ui.sliiilil(! in color I'rom Xortli American example.'-' ;
the wino.s and lail are lon};er, liowever, mea.suriiig respectively 4.20 and
,3.0(1.
Habits. The Bluebird is almndant thronohout the eastern portion of
North America, breeding in nearly
every part, from Georgiti tuid Lonisi-
aiia to the Arctic regions, with only
this exception, that near the sea-
l)oard its mignitions do not extend
so far to the north as in the interior.
It is very mrtily to be met with be-
yond the Penobscot, althoiiLch Pro-
fe.ssor Verrill mentions it its very
common in the western part of Maine.
It is found throughout the year in the
Hermndiis, and occasicmally in ("iiImi.
The Selkirk Settlement is the most northern locality to which it has been
traced. It is not known to occur larther west than the highlands west of
the Mississi])pi.
Througli idl the Eastern States the lUiitibird is one of the most familiar
and welcome of the earliest visitors of s])riiio, u.suiiUy making its appear-
iincc as ciirly as the first of Miirch. In mild sca.sons they come in the latter
jiart of February, long before there is any ai.]iarent relaxation of the severity
of winter. In IS.")?, in eonsetiuence of the unusual mildness of the season,
I'.iiK'birds iippeinvd ill lai'nx' numbers as early tis the If.th of February,'
and reniiiined apparently without siilfering any iiK'onvenience, although the
weather sul)se(iuently became quite sevei'c. In 1869 their first ap])earance
was observed as early as the 28tli of Jiinuiiry, the earliest jjcriod of which
I can find any record.
In the .Middle States, with every mild winter's day, the lUuebirds come
Sia/ia sinlis.
04 NORTH AMERICAN .BIltDS.
out from their retreats, and aj^ain disappear on tlie return of severer weather.
Later in the season, or early in Marcli, they return and make a permanent
stay.
When well treated, as the Rluehirds almost universally are, they retiirn
year after year to the same box, comin>j; always in pairs. The marked atten-
tions of the male bird are \ery striking, and have been noticed by all our
writers. He is very jealous of a ri\al, driving off every intruder of his own
species who ventures upon the domain he calls his own. Occasionally tlie
j)air suffer great annoyance from ve.vatious interferences with their domestic
arrangements by the house wren, wlio unceremoniously enters their home-
stead, desi)oils it of its carefully selected materials, and departs. At other
times the wren will take possession of the jjremises and barricade the en-
trance, making the return of its rightful owners impossilde.
The song of the lUuebirds is a low warl)lo, soft and agreeal)le, repeated
with great constancy and earnestness, and i)rolonged until (piite late in the
season. Just before their departure, late in October, the spriglitline.ss of
their song nearly ceases, and only a few plaintive notes are heard instead.
Tiie fotkd of the Uluebird consists principally of the smaller coleopterous
insects, also of the larva? of the smaller lepidoptera. In the early .spring
they are very bu.sy turning over the dry leaves, examining the trunks and
branches of trees, or ransacking posts and fences for the hiding-places of
their prey. In the fall their food jiartakes more of a vegetable character.
The lUuebird selects as a suitable place for its nest a hollow in the de-
cayed trunk of a tree, or boxes prepared for its use. Their early arrival
enables them to select their own site. The nest is loosely con.structed of
soft materials, such as fine gras.ses, sedges, leaves, hair, feathers, etc. These
are rarely so well wo\'en together as to bear removal. The eggs are usually
five and sometimes six in number. There are usually three broods in a
season. Before the first bnjod are able to ])rovide for themselves, the female
repairs her nest and commences incultation for a second family. The young
birds aie, however, Ijy no means left to shift for themselves. Tlie male bird
now.sliows himself iis devoted a jiarent as in the earlier spring he had proved
liin.self an atteutive mate. lie watches over the brood even after the second
family appears and claims his attention. We often find him dividing his
cares in the latter part of the sea.son with two broods, and at the same
time supplying his mule with food, and occa.sionally taking her ;'.ace on
the nest.
Tlie eggs of tlie Bluebird are of a uniform ;mle blue, measuring about .81
of an inch in lengtli by .(!2 m laeadtii.
In (J'latemala is found a local race differing in its lighter under colors and
in the gI^'enisll tiuting of its blue (.S*. nzitrca). The (S'. Hidlia is also f(»uiid in
the more o])en districts of the elevated regions where it is numerous. It is
there known Uii " Kl uzuUjo."
riAXlCOLIlLK — THE SAXICOLA;^. 65
Sialia mexicana, Swains.
CALIFOBinA BLTTEBIBO.
Siiilia niMii-nna, Sv,-. K. B. Am. II, 1831, 2(i-'. — Sci.atkI!, P. Z. S. 18.")r,, 20:1 (f'nnlovii) ;
1857, 121) (t'liliforiiia) ; 185!), 362 (Xalaim). — In. Catal. 18(!1, 11, no. Ofi. — li.vini),
BiiiLsN. Am. 18.-,8, 22:!; licvimv, (i:!. — Coi.i.kii & SrcKi.KV, P. If. I!. XII, ii, 1S5!I,
173. — Poori'.u, liiids Cal. I, 28. Siidin aaiili uliilin, TiiWN.s., Al'D. ; Siidiii. fivriilcn-
enl/i.i, Vicoiis.
Figuics : Ari). M. A. II, pi. ix.xxv. — hi. Uru. liioi;. V, jil. ccc.xuiii. — Vkjoils, Zool.
Bci'i'licy's, Voy. 1S3'J, |>1. iii.
Sp. CiiAU. Bill sli'iidiT. Tloiid and nock all round, and ii|)|)('r part.^ jri'iii'i'ally liiifrlit
aziiic blue. Iiit('r.-:cai)Mhii' it'j;ions. .-^idcs and lore part of the breast. an<l .-iiilcs ol' tlic
bfUy, dark rfd(li.-<li-!>ro\vii. Rest of under ])art-i (with lail-eovert,'<) pale liluisli, ting(!d with
gray about the anal region. Female duller above; the back bro\vni.>ih ; the blue ol' the
throat replaced Ijy ashy-l)rowii, with a shade ol' line. Length, (^50 ; wing, 4.2.") ; tail, '2.\M.
Yoiiiir/. Tail and wing as in adult; head, neck, back, and breast, dull brown; each
t'eatlier, exi'cpt on the crown, strci.kcd centrally with white.
IIaii. Western I'nitcd States, I'roin the Hocky Mountains to Pacilic. N'ot noticed on
the Mi.ssonri plains. Central 15ritisli America, or at ("ape St. Lucas. Found at Xalupa and
Cordova, Mex., Sci.atkii. I'opocatapctl (Alpine rcgii)U). Simicmka.^t.
As ill tlio titlii'is, till! cdldrs iti' this sjx'cios iiiv mtii'li dullov in fall iiiid
winter. No. '>'■'>, 'M'.^,i (('ai'.s(iii City, Xevcadu, Fell. 21) diU'eis i'roin others in
the followiiio; respects : there is hiirdly any cliestmit on the back, there being
only just a tiiiye aloiij,' each side of the interseaiailar reoion ; that on the
in-east is inteiTU|ilcd in the middle, tiiid thrown into ii ](atch on each side of
the brciist, thus coiinectinjf the blue of the throat and abdomen ; the blue
of the throat is unusually deep.
Hahits. This lUuebird beloiij^s to western Xorth America, its proper
domain beiii.ti; l)ctwecn the llocky Mountains and I'acitic, from ^[e.\ico to
Washington Territory. Mr. Nut tall li'st met with this speiMcs amoiij,' the
•small rocky ])rairi(!S of the Columbia, lie spetiks of its lud)its as exactly
similar to those of the common lUtiebird. The male is equally tuneful
tliroiiuhout the breedinji-season, and his .sontr is also very similar. Like the
comnion species he is very devoted to his iiiiite, alternately feedin.i,' and
caressing her and entertainiiio- her with his .song. This is a litths more
varied, tender, siiid sweet than that of the Ka.stern species, and ditlers in its
expressions.
Xuttall describes this tis an exceedingly shy bird, so much so that he
found it very ditticult to obtain a sight of it. This he attributes to the
great iibundance of birils of prey. Afterwards, in the vicinity of the village
of Santa Harbara, Mr. Xuttall again saw them in c(jiisiderable nunilicrs,
when they were tame tind familiar.
Dr. Cooper states that the.so Hluebirils seem to prefer the knot-holes of
the oaks to the boxes ]irovided for them. He docs not conlirm Mr. Xuttall's
description of its song, which he regards as neither .so loud nor so sweet iis
!>
00 NORTH AMEUrCAX lURDS.
(hat of tlio Kastcrn spocics. Ho clcscvibos it as a curious pcrforniance, sound-
iii,t^' as il' two l)ir(Is were siiit,niii;' at once and in difleront keys.
^lany of this s])eci('s n'niain in Wasiiington Territory during the winter,
where Dr. Cooper ni(!t with tiiem in December. They associated in Hocks,
frei^uented roadsides antl fences, and led ui)on insects and hemes.
Dr. ( ianihel f(jund this species tin'oughout the Iiocky AFountains, and always
in company willi the l^lii/ia (irrtini, being l)y far tlio more uliundant species.
Dr. Kennerly mentions tinihng tliis .species very abundant during liis
march u]) the Jfio Orande. Through tlie moiitlis of Xoveudier, December,
and January they were always to be seen in laige Hocks near small streams.
Tiie West"rn lUuebird constructs a ne.'-t usually of very loose materials,
consisting chiefly of line dry gra.sses. The.se are notMoven into an elaborate
nest, but are sim]ily used to lim; the hollows in which the eggs are deposited.
Near San Frauci.sco ^Ir. Hepburn found a pair making use of tlie nest of the
Hirunilo linii/roiiK On another occasion the liluebirds had not only taken
possession of the nest of this swallow, but actually covered up two fresh eggs
with a lining of dry grasses, iind laid iier own above tliem.
The eggs, usually four in nund)er, are of uniform jiale blue of a slightly
deeper shade tiian that of the *S'. sialis. They measure .H7 of an inch in
length by .(19 in breadth.
Dr. Coojier's sulisei[uent o1)sorvations of this species in f'alifornia enabled
him to add to his account of it in his rejiort on the birds of that State. He
found it abundant in all tiie wooded di.stricts, except high ii tiie mountains,
and thinks they reside through tiie sunnner even in the hot valley of the l{io
Clrande, where he found them ])reparing a nest in February. On the coast
they are numerous as far nortli as the 41llli i>arallel. He found a nest under
the porch of a dwelling-house at Santa Barbara, showing that, like our Eastern
R])ecie.s, they only need a little encouragement to become half domesticated.
Tliey raise two broods in a season, the lirst being hatched early in April.
At Santa ( 'ruz he found tiiem even more con tiding tiian the Kastern species,
Iniilding their nests even in the noisiest streets. One brood came every day
during the grape sea.son, at about noon, to ]»ick up grape-skins tlirown out
by his door, and was delightfully tame, sitting fearlessly within a few feet of
the oi)en window.
In regard to tlicir song Mr. ilidgway states that he did not hear, even
(hiring the pairing season, any note approaciiing in sweetness, or indeed
similar to, tlie joyous spring warble which .justly renders our Kaslern lUue-
bird (S. sill/is) so universal a favorite.
The two Western species of Sin/in, though ns.soeiatiiig during the winter
in the region along the (Mistern base of the Sierra Xexadii, are seldom seen
together during the Itreeiling-.season ; ihiiS.(irrfir(t returning to the hight^r
jKHtioiis of tiie thinly wooded desert mountains, while tlit! .S'. iiir.n'iitiiii re-
mains in the lower districts, either among the eottonwood.s of the river
valleys or among the pines anniiid the fuot-iiills of the Sierra.
HAXICOLID.K — TlIK 8AX1CUI,AS. 67
Sialia arctica, sw.vins.
KOCKT MOUNTAIN BLUEBIBD.
Eriilhriii-a (Slulin) (iirllfn, Swains. F. R. A. II, 1831, 2ft0, ]il. xxxix. Sitiliii, nirtkn,
XriTAi.L, Mail. II, IMCJ, .")7;!. — Haiku, Birds X. Am. 18.5,s, i-H ; |{cv. ti4. — Sci.aikh,
Catal. 18(il, 11, no. ()7. — DuKssKii, Iliis, ISti;"), 478. (Texas, winter, very alimnlant.)
— Coiii'Ki!, Uiiils Cal. I, •£>. Siidia macropkni, ISaikii, Stansbiuy's liejit. 1852, 314
(larger race with Innj^er wiiif^s).
^\\ CiiAH. GreL'iii.sJi aziin'-bliii- aliovc anil liclow, hrjirlilcst above; tlio liclly and under
tail-coverts wiiite; the latter tinij'ed wilii bhie at the (Muls. Fonialo showinif blue only on
the rnnip, \vini;Sj and tail; a white rin^ round the eye; the lores and sometimes a narrow
front whitish; elsowhore re|ilaccd by brown. Lenf^lh, (i.li.") ; wing, 4.3U ; tail, 3.00.
(ISVo.)
Yonnij. Male birds arc streaked with white, as in S. siidin, on tho characteristic ijrountl
of till! adult.
IIah. Central tabh^-lamls of North Anicrii'a, oast to mouth of Yellowstone. Oni;
individual colh'cted at Fort FranUlin, (ircat Hoar Lake. Not common on the Paciliu
.slope; the only siiccimcns rci'cived coniing from Simiahnioo, Fort Crook, and San Diojfo.
Not recorded as fouml in Mexico, 'V. Arizona, Colks.
A.s already stated, the blue of this s])ocics is <.;reeuer, liioro smalt-like
than ill xlidis. The females are distiiigiiislied from those of the other
species by the greener Idtie, entire absence of nd'oiis, and longer wings.
In autumn and winter the blue of the male is much .soiled by amber-
brown edges to tiie feathers, tiiis most conspicuous on the breast, where
the blue is sometimes almost concealed ; the plumage of the female, too, at
this season is different from that of spring, the anterior lower jtarts being
soft isabella-color, much less grayish than in s])riiig.
1I.\I!ITS. This JJbudiird belongs chieily to the Central fauna, and occujties
a jilace in the Eastern only by its apitearance on its borders. It was iirst
procured by Sir .lohii Ikichardson, at Fort Franklin, in July, 182,"). It is
abundant throughout the central taiile-hinds of North America, between
the racific and tho mouth of the Yellowstone, from (ireat Uear Lake to
the lower portions of California. In t'.ie latter State it is not common.
Mr. Xultall met with this sjtecies in the early \)\\\t of June, nortliwest of
Laramie Vmk. Tlie female uttered a low complaint wlii'ii her nest was
approached. Tliis was coiislniclcd in a hole in a clay cliff. Another was
found in the trunk of a decayed cedar. In one of these the young were
already hatched. The nest was composed of dried gra.s.ses, but in very insig-
nilicant cpiantity. Mr. Nuttall found them much uunv shy than the com-
mon sju'cies, and describes tiieiii as feeding in very nearly the same manner.
Ho afterwards found a nest of the same species in a clill' of the Sandy
Uivor, a branch of the Colorado. Both parents were feeding their brood.
The female was very uneasy at Iiis approach, chirping, ami at intervals
uttering a plaintive cry. He states that the male bird has a more plaintive
68 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
and raonotonou8 song tlian that of tlio common Bluebird, and tliat it has the
same warbling tone and manner. He afterwards observed the same species
in the winter, at Tort Vancf)uver, a.ssociating with tlic Western lUuebird.
J)r. Woudhou.se Inun;! the Arctic 15hiebird (juite common in the vicinity
of Santa Fe, in \ew Mexico, wliere tliey l)recd about tlie houses in boxes put
II}) lor them by the inhabitants for the i)urpose.
Mr. Townsend found this species in the vicinity of the Platte IJiver, near
the lUack Hills, and also on tlie banks of the ("ohnnbia. They confined
themselves to the fences in the neighborhood of settlements, occasionally
lighting upon the groiuid and scratching for minute insects. lie describes
their song as a delightful warble. Its notes resendile those of the common
Bluebird, but are so different as to be easily recognized ; they are ec^ually
sweet and clear, but have nnich less power.
Neither Dr. (land)cl nor Dr. licermaiin found ihis .sj-ecies in California
excepting during tlie winter, and were of the o[iinion that none remain there
to breed.
Dr. Kennerly observed them at different ])oints among the liocky Moun-
tains, where tliev frecpuMited tht; vicinity of his camp early in the morning,
at .some times in pairs and at others in flocks of four or five.
Mr. J. K. Lord states that he found this Hluebird very abundant between
the Cascades and the liocky ^lountains, where they arrive in June and leave
in September. After nesting they as.seniblud in large Hocks, and fed on the
open plains.
The eggs are of a very light blue, ])aler than those of the other species.
They measure .*^1' (jf an inch in length by .GO in breadth.
Mr. IJidgway states that ho found the IJocky ^Mountain Bluebird nesting
in Virginia City in June. Its nests were built about the old buildings,
and occasionally in the unused excavations about the mines. At Austin he
also found it conunou in July, in similar localities. On the Kast llumbohlt
Mountains it M-as very nunu'rous, especially on the more elevated portions,
where it nested among the rocks and, though more rarely, hi the deserted
excavations of woodpeckers in the stunted ])irion and cedar trees. Ho
describes it as generally very shy and ililHcult to olitain, seldom jtermitting
a very near aiija'oach. in its haliits it is much less arboreal tiian either >S'.
iiiiwiainn or ,s'. sliiH.-<, abvays jircferiing the open niouiitahi portions in the
higher miiges of tlie (ircat Basin.
Ill regard to its notes Mr. Uidgway .says : "The common note of this
species woiihl, iVoiu its character, be at once recogiii/ed as that of a Blue-
bird. Its autumnal note, bowcver, lacks entirely the jjcculiar plaintiveiicss
so characteristic of that of our Ivistcrn species, and is much more feeblo,
consisting of a simjile weak chirp. Like the »S'. vu'.eimnn, the »S'. arrlirn
was also never heaid to giv(^ utterance to anything resembling the lovely
spring warbling of the iS. tsidli-s."
SYLVIID.E — THE SYLVIAS. /jg
Family SYLVIID^. - Thk Sylvias.
C„AR Bill much shorter than hca.l, sI.M.lor, broad, and d.pro.sed at the hase, di.tinrtly
no..l,.d and deenryed at the tip. C„l,„en .sharp-rid^ed at b.se. Frontal feathers reaehin!
o the no.str>!.s wlneh are oval, with nienihrane above, and overhung- not concealed -
by a few bnstles or by a feather. Ui.tal bri..,les e.xtendin,. beyon.l nost. ils. Tarsi booted
or seutellate Basal ,onU of middle toe attached its whole length externally, half-way
ternally 1 nn.ar.es ten ; spnrious prin.ary about half the second, which is shorter than
the .seventh. Lateral toes equal.
The birds of this family are readily distinguished from the ParUla' hy the
slender hill, notched and dec,n-ved at tip; much bristled gape, sharp-ridded
cuhnen, exposed oval , .strils, less adherent toes, etc. They are much smaHer
hau the lurduhv anAS;,,n,olido; «-ith much more slender, depres.sed bill
longer rictal bristles, etc. The short outer primary, with the primaries ten
m number, distinguish them from the Sf/hiro/ida:
The following .ynopsi.s will serve to characterize tho American forms of
their res,,ect.ye sul>families. The species are all among the most diminutive
in size witli the exception of the Humming-Birds : —
A. AVin,.s lon,.er than the nearly even and emarjrinate tail. Scutell.-c of tarsus
^arcely or not at all appreciable. General color olivaceous above. Xo white on
Nostrils naked. Scntelkc di.stinct on inner face of tarsns only. Head plain.
Nostrils overhnng by bristly leathers. Scutell. of tarsns not appreciate'" "" ""
Head with a colored centra: erest I'lcciaoic.
B.Wi,,,s about equal to the graduated taih Tai^al seuteliu, distinct! Alf^"''""'
bldish ; tad with white spots or patches ^»-"o\l
Nostrils uncovered. Head plain; either bluish or black above. Polloj, i; li no..
SriiFAMibv SYLVIINiE.
Feathers of 'hontal re^io, w b ' , 'S:/':'"' '"^ T'^ ';-" ^ '■-•^i""t'- '-L
scutcllate anteriorly, b,^ i^Uisth't e^:!! 7'V' ".^ X:::^!^ T"''' '"'
Aineriemi form.) (.'n.nacicis ....nvn with relereiice to the
The intrcluction of this subfamily into the j.resont M-ork is renuired to
accomnu>date a spec.es of P,,,,,, ,.,„ e,!,,,,...! on the Yukon bvT ,1
s an Telegmph Kxped.tion, the first known instance of the existen;-! in n' Ui
. niencaot a group of birds characteri.stic of the northern par c^T ,0 O
JVorld. Among the smallest of the class, they are eniinen 'y soc a •„
feed entirely on insects, which they capture mostly on tl. wing k^^'
70
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
catchers. The nest is placed on the ground, and is of an oval or spherical
form with a round opening on one side. The .sexes are similar, and tlie
young difler very little from the parents.
Genus PHYLLOPNEUSTE, Meyer & AVolp.
Phyllopncnatc, Mevku & Wolf, Tasuheiibudi, 1)522. —Dkglaxd ct Gkp.iie, Oinith Enron
1, 1807, U-i.
Gen. CiiAK. Bill .liorter tlian tli.- lioad; strai-ht, slciulcr, ami dopicssed, notclu'il
at tip. NosliilsoptMi. Tiirsi k'ngtlicncd;
c.xi'oediii'r tin- nii<Mlc toe; .'jcutcllatc nii-
torii)i'ly, but with the plates indistinct,
claw,'! i-'hort, nnifli eiirvod. Winjr.s point-
ed, lon^'ur than tail, and roacliin<>- at
least to its niiddlo; spurious qiiill ex-
tendinj,' fai-thur than the uppor coviMt.
Tail eniar<riiiato. Olivaueoiis above ;
yellowish or whitish beneath.
^ 4500A
P/it/tlnpiti itsfr bnrfalh
For the purpo.se of distinguishing this
American, it is enough to siiy tliat, of the :
general appearance of the warblers, it has
a short spiu-ious first primary, as in the
Thrushes, and some Vireoiiida: Tlie single
species found as yet within our limits re-
semhles at first sight an immature Douh-oirn
a'stiva, hut is easily distinguished by llie
wing formula, the yellowish strijjc over the
eyi!, and the brown tail-feathers.
genus from any other North
Phyllopneuile ban ulis.
Fhyllopneuste borealis, J5i..vs.
ALASKA WILLOW WABBLY B,
r/ii/Hdjincusfe biiiYKlis, Bi.as. Iliis, KSti2, tii). P/ii/l/ujinainlt; Ki;nn., ISaiki), Tnuia. Cliioago
Acad. Soi. 1, ii, p. ai3, pi. x.\x, tig. 2, ISGD.
Sp. Cn.Mt. (Description of spc-cimen No. 45.90!).) Plnniafrc in AiiLmst : aliovo olive-
frreen, with a .slijrht .shade ot'lirowii on lop oChead, rather lijrhter behind : Ijenenth wliito
tinjred with irreenish-yellow ; tnoro oliv(? on the throat and breast; and more yellow
behind, inside the winir and on lhi;jhs; axijlars purer yellow. A well-marked fjreeni.sli-
yellow line from nostrils over the eye to the nape (extendinjr behind the eve nearly as
far as from eye to tip of bill), beneath this an olivaeeous streak thron«;h the eve, rnnnintf
into the mixed olive and yellowisli of the cheeks. Quills and tail-feathers brown, edged
with olivaceous; the outer edtres of primaries more yellowish than those of seeondnries •
the greater coverts tipped externally with greenish-yellow, so iw to form a di,stiucl baud
SVLVIID.K _ TIlK SYLVIAS.
71
across flio wiiip. Bill Tathor dark l)ro\vii ; paler Ixiicatli. Logs rlark olivr ; Iocs not stMi-
sibly (liirirront. Nest probably on ground, and domed. Eggs white, spotted wiili pini<.
.Spurious rjuill in length about one fourth the second, whieli Li'iout ecpials the sixth, or
very slightly exceeds it ; third and fourth hnigest ; lifih a little shorter.
Diuu'usions (fre.sh specimen before being skinned): colal length, 4.75; expan.se of
wings, (5.((() ; wing from carpal joint, 12.5t».
Dimensions (prepared specimen): total length, 4.00 ; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.00. Exposed
portion of lirst primary. 0.4'_' : of .second, L5(i ; of longest (measured from exposed base
of lirst primary). I.S."). Hill: length from aliove, 0.;5S ; liom nostril, (t.2!»; along gape,
1.."). Legs: tai-.su.s, O.liti : middle toe and claw, 0.:V) ; claw alone, 0.10; hind toe and
claw, 0.,i(i ; claw alone, 0,20.
ir.Mi. Xortheast Asia (China, East Siberia) ; adjacent to JJehring's Straits and Alaska.
Thi.s species, in oonci-al appetiraiice, appiivently comes iietirer to 7*. fivrhilii.t
tliiiii to any otiier of it.s eonoeiiers. It is, however, iiioiv. olivaceous-green
above, and more yellow beneath, and has a distinct I)and across the wing.
The siipereiliiiry liglit stripe is more distinct iind longer; the bill and legs
iive darker, and tlie toes not sensibly diderent in color from the tarsus. The
proportion of the (piills is mucli tiie same, excejtt tiiat the interval between
the tips of the fifth and si.xth tjuills is greater, and the second is almost inap-
preciably longer than the latter, not reaching nearly midway between the
two. Th(! tirst or s])urious (luill is rather sJKjrter.
A single specimen of this s])ecies was obttiined August IG, 1860, on St.
MichaL"s Island, in Norton .Soinid, Alaska, by Mr. (.Charles Pease. IVlr.
JJannistei met witli no other specimen in tiiat locality, and from this it is
inferred tiiat Miis is not tin abundant species there. It was described as a
new species untier tiie name of P. Icennicottii (I'.aird), but has been ascer-
tained by Mr. Tristram, to whom it was sent for examination, (Ibis, 1871,
p. 2;{],) to be identiciil with /' hovculis of Blasiu.s.
Dr. niasiiis also states (Xaumannia, 18.-)8, ].. ?^^r^) that a si)ecimen of this
species has betui obtiiined on the islan.l of Heligoland, showing it to be also
jin accidental visitant to Western p]uro]ie.
llAiiiTs. Mr. 1{, Swinhoe, who describes this among the birds of Formosa
as P.xnlrirnlfri,; sttites it to l)e a summer visitant to Soutliern China, passin-'
m large numbers through Anioy in its autuniiml migrations southeastwaiJ
probably to the Piiilippine I.slands. touching at Southwestern Fornmsa and
Twaiwanfoo, where lie found them abundant. This was for a few days in
October, but he neitlier saw any before nor afterwards, nor did he meet with
any tit Tamstiy (Ibis, IHHa, p. ;i07). The same writer (Ibis, 18(iO, p. ^3)
spet.ks oi tins bird tis very al)undant in Amoy during the months of April
iind May, Imt passing farther north to I)reed,
We have no information in reference to its habits, and notliing farther in
regard to i.s distriliution. As it bears a very close resembltmce 'to the Wil-
low Wren of Europe, /', tn,rl,lh,., it is .piite i.n.bable that its general hal)its
nest, and eggs will be found to correspond very closely with those of that
iiird.
72
NORTH AMERICAN J5IKDS,
The European warl.lers of the ,t,o„us rhullopncvMc are all insect-eatin..
birds, captunno then- j.rey wl.ile ..n the wi„.-, u, also feeding on their
larvi^ ll.ey irequent the woodlands during their l^reeding-season, but at
an other tunes are much more laniiliar, keeping about dwellings and sheep-
The P. trochih. is a resi.lent throughout the entire year in Southern
Europe and m Central Asia. That species builds at the foot of a bush on
tlie ground, and eonstructs a domed nest with the entrance on one side
Their egg« are five in number have a pinkish-white ground, and are spotted
with well-defined blotches of reddish-brown, measuring 0.G5 by 50 inch
and are of a rounded o\al shape. ^ '
SrBiw.Mii.v REGULINiE.
.liSoL '''"'' '""'" '"'" "" -'a.-,iiu>.o.l tail. Tu,.i ,„,ote,l, or without s,.„„.„„
This subfamily embraces but a single well-defined North America,
(Jkms regulus,
Cuv.
ncy,ans Wv " Lo.;o„.s .I'Anat. Co,,,,,, i;-,!., ISOO." (Typ. AMncilla rcgnlus, L.vn )
Iu;j,doHlr^, IkvTM. 1847. (Type "/.■. /,rmr,,„h,., Pali. "Okay )
P/n,lM,,.ik.., C.u>. M,,.s. H..i,.. I, 1850, :... iTy^.^. Motacma calcnanla, L,xx.,-C<,r.
//i!//i<>, Caii. ,Ioui'. ()i'„. 1, 1853, S3. (.S„i,„. ty,«..)
Okn. C„,u. Hill ,.lo„,,.o,-, m„..h ..1,0,-t,.,. tl,a„ ,1,0 l„.a,i. .1, p,.o,...o,l at, ha..o, l,„t l.ooo,„i„.
raiiidiy c<,i„p,o.ssiMl ; ,iio(lci-atoly uotfju.,! at ti|^
Ci,lii,cM, si.ai-l.t to near the tip, the,, pcntly
curved. r.,i„iiiis.^uiv sti-aiirlit; jronys convex.
RictiK>< well 1,1-oviiled wi,l, l),i,^lle,s ; uo.«<,,-il cov-
<Tcd l,y a sin.ule l,i-i.stly feallier dii-eeted forwai-ds
(not di.^tinct ill c„/en,hil„). Tar.<!i elongateil, ex-
ceedii,- con,.ideial,ly the middle too, .and without
scutollie. Lat.M'al trtes about ecpial ; hind toe with
the claw, ioniser thiin the inid.ile one l,y ahout
Iiair (he elaw. CIaw.s all much eiirved. First
, , ,„, primary about one third a.s ion-' a.s the l<m<'est-
.--ond e.p.,d to m. or six.h. Tail shorter than the wings, .„od..,.a,ely ii.rlced, the ^^
cr.s acuni.mate. Colors olive-.neen above, whi,i..l, beneath. Size vcy small.
»
We are unable to apjireciate any such difference betweet. the connuon
.North American Iir;,„n as to warrant Cabanis in establishing a sepamte
genus for the ca/aMa. The bristly feather over the no.stril is perhaps less
compact and close, but it exists in a rudimentary condition.
Hegiilns snirapa.
SYLVIID.K — T'll'; SYLVIAS.
The following synopsis will servo as diagnoses of the si)eeie.s : —
J lead with oiitirc! oiiii in adiill plain o
olivaceous, with a I'oiiccaleil patch of fi'inison.
Hub. Whole of North America; soiitii to (iiiatcmala; Grcciilaiul . . ,
Head with forehead and line over the eyo white, boniei-e.l inside l.y lilaek, and
within this a.Main is yellow, enibracin^r an orange patch in the centre of the
Clown. Hah. Whole of North America
Head with forehead and line throii-h the eye black, bordered inside by Avhitisb,
an.! within this ajrain by black, embracing an unuige-red patch in the euiitro of
the crown. Hub. Banks of Scluiylkill River, Pennsylvania
73
(i/fiid/iln.
■idfnqia.
curitrt.
Regulus satrapa, Liciit.
QOLDEN-CBOWNED KIKOLET.
I!.rn>h<s .mfrnpa, Liei.r. Vorz. 1S2;{, ii„. 410. - Da.,!, & IUn-ntstku (Alaska). - Loan
(VaiicMivr l.sl.). -lUiiti., Minis N. Am. 185it, 2-J7 ; lievicw, (J5. — Sei,.vri.;ii, V. 7. S
1857, 212 (Orizaba). - U.kmkkku, Cab. Jour, IV, y:(, pi. i, lij,. ,s (..jj.s, tVoin Labrador)."
--I'll. M.VX. Cab. Jour. IS.'iS, 111. _('o„|,|.;i. & SecKi.KV, l>. IJ. K. 1{. .\II, ii, 185!)
174 oviutm in W. Tciritorv). - Lone, 1{. Art. lu.st. Wool. l.S(i4, 114 '(nest »). —
DliKssKii, Ibi.s 18ti5, 47<i (T.'xas, winter). -S.v.Meia.s, 171*. -CooPKIt, liirds Cul I
32. Xah-hi rt,j„lnx, M'li.s. ; /,■,•,,»/»., a-isl„hi^, Vm:ii.L. ; A', tricolor, Xi;tt. Aim
Figures: Aue. Birds Am. II, pi. cxx.xii._lu. Urn. Biog. II, pL d.v.xxiii. _ Vik.ii.l Ois
Am. Sept. II, pi. cvi.
Sp. C.vk. Above olive-green, brightest on the onfr edges of the win- tail-reathors
tmged with brownish-gray towards the head. I'oreh..a,|, a line over the eye and u space
beneath It, white. Exterior of the ,.rown before and laterally black, embraeing a central
patch ol orange-red, encircled by gamboge-yellow. A dnskv spa,.- aroniul the eye
Wing-eoverfs with two yellowish-white bands, the posterior covering a similar band on
he quills, succeeded by a broad .Insky one. T'nder parts dull whitish. Len-rth under
4 niches; wmg, 2.2,; tail, 1.8... Fe,„,„,. without the orange-red central patd.: Young
birds without the colored eiowii. ^
ILvn. North Au>eri,.a generally. On the west coast, not recorded .south of Fort Crook
Orizaba, ScLATKK ; W. Arizona, Coi'ks. "'"vviook.
Specimens of this bird from the far West
are lunch brighter and more oliviiceoiis above;
the markings of the face are also somewhat
different in siiowing less dnsky aliout tlie eye.
These may form a variety olimceus.
The RcijkIhh rrisfnfiiH of Enrope, a close ally
of our bird, is distinguislied by having shorter
wings and longer bill; the Hanie-color of the
head is more extended, the l)laek liorder i.s
almost wanting anteriorly. The back tmd nunp. too. are more yellow
Habits The (ioKlen-creste.l Kinglet, or Wren, as it is often called, occnrs
over nettrb^ the whole of the North .A.nerican contine.it. It is abnn.lant
from the Atlantic to the I'acilic, an.l thronghont the British Provinces where
Resnlu.1 satrnpa.
74 North aj[erican birds.
it chiefly occurs in its hreeding-season. In Massadmsctts it is a winter
resident i'roni OeUiber until ^fay. In Maine it is met witli in si)rin<f and
fall, cliieHy as a niigratury visitor ; a lew also remain, and probably breed, in
tlie dense Thiijd s\vanii)S of tliat Statu. They are nuwt abundant in April,
and again in October. In the vicinity of Calais the CJ olden-crest is a coni-
nion summer resident, and, without doubt, breeds tliere.
IJr. Woodliouse mentions finding this species in abundance in New Mexico
and Texas, assoc^iated with Nuthatches and Titmice. Dr. Cooper i'ouud it
abundant in Wasliington Territory, particularly in the winter, and ascertained
positively tliat they breed there, by .seeing them feeding their young near
Puget Sound, in tlie montii of August. According to Mr. liidgway it is
much less numerous in the (ireat l>asin than the Jl. ai/ntdiild.
The food of this lively and attractive little bird during the sunnner months
is alnio.st ovclusively the smaller winged insects, which it industriously pur-
sues amid the highest tree-to])s of the forest. At other seasons its habits
are more those of tlie titmice, necessity leading it to ransack the crevices of
the bark on the trunks and larger lindjs of the forest-trees. It is an expert
fly-catcher, taking in.sects readily ujion the wing.
But little is known with certainty regarding its breeding-habits, and its
nest and eggs have not yet been deseril)ed. The presum])tion, however, is
that it builds a pensile nest, not unlike the European congener, and lays
small eggs finely sjirinkled with buff-colored dots on a white ground, and in
size nearly corresponding witii those of our common IIumming-Bird. We
must infer that it raises two broods in a season, from the fact that it spends
so long a period, from April to October, in its summer abode, and still more
because while Mr. Nuttall found them feeding their full-fledged young in
May, on the Columbia, Dr. (.'ooper, in the same locality, and Mr. Audubon,
in Labrador, observed them doing the same thing in the month of August.
According to the olt.servations of ^Ir. J. K. Lord, this s[)ecies is very com-
mon on Vancouver's Island and along the entire boundary line sepiirating
Washington Territory from British Cohnnbia, where he met with them at an
altitude of six thousand feet. He states that they build a pensile nest sus-
pended from the extreme end of a pine branch, and that they lay from five
to seven eggs. These ho does not describe.
Most writers speak of this Kinglet as having no song, its only note
being a single chirp. But in this tiiey are certainly greatly in error. With-
out having so loud or so powerful a note as the Buby-crown (7i!. ea/cndidd),
for its song will admit of no comparison with the wonderful vocal powers
of that species, it yet has a (juite distinctive and prolonged succession
of pleasing notes, whicli I have heard it pour forth in the midst of the
most inclement weather in February almost uninterruptedly, and for quite
an interval.
Bisclioff obtained a largo nnnd)er of this species at Kodink, and also at
Suka, where it seemed to replace the Uul»y-crown.
SYLVIID/E — THE SYLVIAS. -r-
I O
Regulus cuvieri, A id.
CUVIEB'S KIKOLET.
neguhiscimeri, Am. Oiii. Biog. 1, 1832, 288, pi. Iv, etc. — Uaiud, Birds X. Am. isni),
228 ; Ui'v. Am. Birds, 06.
Sr. Char. Size and general nppoarancc- probably that of II. .tn/mjin. A Idack band on
till! rorclii-ad pii.-^siiif,' baiA", throufrli and 1- d tin; eye, separat<,-d by a grayi.-^li Ijand from
another Ijlaek band on the crown, wliicli unibraces in the centre ol' the crown an orange
patch. Length, 4.2.') inche.-< ; extent ot'wing.s 0.
Hab. "Banks of Schuylkill River. Penn. June, 1812." Am.
This ,si)eeies continues to bo unknown, except I'roni the description of Mr.
Autlubon, as quoted above. It appears to difler mainly I'roni R .iiitrapa in
having two black bands (not one) on the crown anteriorly, separated Ijy a
whitish one; the extreme forehead being black instead of white, as in
mtmpa. The specimen was killed in June, 1812, on the banks of the
Scluiylkill liiver, in Penusylvauia.
Regulus calendula, Licm.
BUBT-CBOWNED KINGLET.
Afotacina mkiiiMfi, Linn. Syst. .\at. I, 170(5, 337. necjulus cfilnuhila, LiniT. Vflrz. 1823,
no. 408. — Bai1!I>, Birds N. Am. 1858, 220; Rev. 6(i. — Scuvrmi, P. Z. S. 18.^.7, 202!
— lii. 1858, 300 (mountains of Oa.vaca). — In. 1859, 362 (Xalapa). — In. 18G4', 172
(City of Mex.). -SA.MrKLs, 178. — Dali, & Banxi.stku (Alaska). -C,)opku, Bird.s
Cnl. I, 33. — III. Ibis, I, 1859, 8 (Guatemala). —Cooper k SrcKLEY, P. li. \i. XII,
n, 1859, 174.-I{KixiiAi!nT, Ibis, 1861, 5 (fireenlaml). — Duessku, Ibis, 1865, 475
(Texas, winter). CorthnUo a,/ci,dtd„, Caij. .Four. Orn. I, 1853, 83 (type of genus).
llaiuluH nthiiinix, VlKll.i.. Ois. Am. Sept. 11, 1807, 49, pi. civ, cv.
Other figures : WiLs. Am. Oru. I, 1808, pi. v, lig. 3. -I)ouoiiTY,'cab. II, pi. vi _ Vui)
Orn. Biog. II, pi. cxcv. — lu. Birds Am. II, pi. c.x.xxiii.
Sp. Ciiak. Above dark green ish-olive, passing into bright olive-green on the rump and
outer edges of the wings and tail. The under parts are grayish-white tinged « ith pale
ohve-yellow, especially behind. A ring roun.l the eye, two bands on the win-covcits
and the oxtenor of the inner tertials white. Male. Crown with a large conceaLd patch
ol scarlet feathers, which are white at the ba.se. Female and young without the red on
the crown. Length, 4..')0; wing, 2.;3.'i ; tail, I.80.
Hab. Greenland; whole of North America, and south to Guatemala. Oaxaca (hi<rh
region, November), Sclatku. Xalapa and Guatemala, Sclater.
This species of 7iV^/(/«,s appears to lack the small feather which, in satrnpa
overlies and conceals the nostuls, wiiich was probably the reason with Cabanis
and Blyth tor placing it in a different genus. There is no other very apparent
difference of form, however, although this furnishes a good character for dis-
tmguishnig between young specimens of the two species.
H^VBiTS. Much yet remains to be learued as to tlie general habits, the
76 NORTH AMKKICAX UIRDS.
nesting, and distribution during the breeding-season of the Ruby-crowned
Kinglet. It is t'ouud, at varying periods, in all parts of North America,
from Mexico to tiie sliorcs of the Arctic seas, and from the Atlantic to the
Pacific ; and, although its breeding-places arc not known, its occurrence in
the more northern latitudes, from ^hiine to the extreme portions of the conti-
nent, during the season of reproduction, indicate i)retty certainly its extended
distribution throughout all tiie forests from the •44th parallel northward.
None of our American ornithologists are known to have met with either its
eggs or its nest, hut we may reasonably infer that its nest is pensile, like
that of its European kindred, and from being susjn'uded from the higher
branches, from its peculiar structure and jiosition has thus far escaped
observation.
In the New England States they aie most abundant in the months of
October and April. A few ju'obably remain in the thick evergreen woods
throughout the winter, and in the northern parts of Maine they ai'c occasion-
ally fouud in the suunner, and, without doubt, breed there. In the damp
swampy woods of the islands in the liay of Fundy, the writer heard their
remarkable song resounding in all directions throughout the month of June.
The song of this bird is l)y far the most remarkable of its specific pecu-
liarities. Its notes are clear, resonant, and high, and constitute a prolonged
series, varying from the lowest tones to the highest, terminating with the
latter. It nuiy be heard at (juite a distance, and in some respects beai-s
more resenddance to the song of the English Skylark than to that of the
Canary, to which Mr. Audidwn compares it.
Their food ap])ears to he chiefly the smaller insects, in pursuit of which
they are very active, and at times appear to be so absorbed in their avocation
as to be unmindful of the near presence of the sjtortsman or collector, and
unwarned by the souimI of the deadly gun. They are also said by Wilson
to feed upon the stamens of the lilossoms of the maple, the apple, i)each, and
other trees. Like the other species, they are expert insect-takers, catching
them readily oji the v ing. They ari' chief'.y to be met with in the spring
among the tree-tops, where the insects they prefer abound among the
expanding buds. In the fall of the year, on their return, they are more
commonly met with among lower branches, and among bushes near the
ground.
Although presumed to be chiefly resident, during the summer months,
of high northern regions, Wilson met with s])ecimens in iViinsylvania
during the breeding-season ; am^ it is (|uite probable that they may occur,
here and there, among the high valleys in the midst of mountain ranges,
in different ])arts of the country.
In the winter it is most al»un(hint in the (Inlf States, and especially in
that of Louisiana. Dr. Woodiiouse found it ([iiite abundant throughout
Ti xas New Mexico, and the Indian Territory. Dr. Cooj)er found it in
Washington Territory, but did not there meet with it in summer. Dr.
SYLVIID.E — THE SYLVIAS.
11
Suckley, however, regarded it as a tninsieiit visitor, ratlier than a winter resi-
dent of tliat region, and I'ar mure abundant from about the 8th of Ai)ril to
the 20tii of May, wlicn it seemed to be mignitinj,', than at any other time.
Dr. Kennedy found tiiese birds in aljundauce near Espia, Mexico, and
afterwards, during .January, among the Aztec Moiuitains, and again, in
Feliruary, along the Bill Williams Fork. He describes them as lively,
active, and busy in the pursuit of their insect food. They seem to l)e
e([ually abundant at tliis season in California, Arizona, and Colorado.
Mr. Ividgway found them conmiDn in June and July among the coniferous
woods high upon the Wahsatch Mountains in Utah, and has no doubt that
they breed there.
Mr. Dall found this species abundant at Nulato, Alaska, in the spring
of 1808, i)referring the thickets and alder-bushes away from tlie river-bank.
They appeared very courageous. A pair that seemed about to connnence
building a nest in a si^iall clump of buslies tore to jneces one half finislied,
belonging to a pair of Srohrophuyiis fcrniyincus, and, on the blackl)irds'
return, attacked the female and drove lier away. This was early in June,
anil Mr. Dall was compelhitl to leave without being able to witness the
seijuel of the contest.
A straggling specimen of this bird was taken in 18G() at Nenortatik, in
Greenland, and sent in tiu' Hesb to (Jopenhagen.
SiTRFAMiiY POLIOPTILINJB.
The characters of this subfamily will be found on i)age (ill.
Gems POLIOPTILA, Sl
.'L.\T.
/■ulwiili/ii, Sci.AlKlt, I'r. Zo(il. !Soc. is:,:,, 11. (Tv|«', Moliicilhi camhu.)
f'liAK. Hill .sl(!iulL'r, atU'niiiile<l, lint (loprcsscil ut llu- )..isi' ; m'ailv :i.s loiif,' a.s t!
ilistini'lly notHicil at llu- ti[), and provided willi
iiiihUtuIu rii'liil bristles. Nostrils nitlier eloiijrated,
not eoneeided, liiit anterior to the Croiital I'e-allicrs.
Tarsi loii^'er than the iiii<ldle toe, distiiietl.v soiitcllale;
the toes small; the hinder oiu' ,S(-'areely loiip'r than
the lateral; its elaw seareely loiipT than the middle.
Outer lateral toe loiifror than the inner. First pri-
mary nhoiit one third the lou'rest ; .second uipial to
tho seventh. Tail a little Umaw than the \vini;s,
moderately fjradnated ; the leathers romided. Nest
felled and covered with moss or lichens. Kj;}{s "■ret-n-
ish-whitc, spotted with piirpli.sh-browu.
10 head,
Mio/itilu cirriilra.
The specioa all lead-color above ; white beneuth, and to ti greuttu' or \tm
78 NORTH AMEKICAN BIRDS.
extent on the exterior of the tail, the rest of which is black. Very diminu-
tive in size (but little over four inches long).
Synopsis of Species.
Top of head j)litiiibeotis.
Two outer tail-feathers entirely white. A nairow frontal line, extending back
over the e^e, liliiek. JJiib. Xortii America ...... P. cctmlea.
Outer taii-Coather, with the whole ol' tlie outer web (only), white. No blaek on
tiie forehead, but a stripe ovr the eye above one of whitish. Huh. Arizona.
P. 2iliniihea.
Tiqi of head black.
Edge only of outer web of outer tail-ieather white. Entire top of head from tht,
bill blaek. JIah. Rio Grande and Gila /'. mehtiiura.
Species occur over the whole of America. One, P. loubci/i, is peculiar to
Cuba, ami a close ally of J\ caralca.
Folioptila cserulea, Sclat.
BLVE-GBAT ONATCATCHEB; EASTEBK GKATCATCEEB.
Mnlacilla caridai, Li.sx. Syst. Nut. I, 17CO,'l)37 (hasvd ou Mulaci/ld piirvii cariilea, Enw.
tab. 30'i). Viilicinini cii:nila(, Cad. Jour. 18,')."i, 471 (Cuba). — (ii'SDL.vcu, liqicrt.
IStifi, "jyi. J'ulwjifila lariiliJi, Sei.ATKi;, P. Z. S. ISo.'s 11. — Uaiki), Kirds N. Am.
18.W, 3S0. — 111. Hev. 74. — l)r,i-..s.>fi;i!, Ilii.s, ISOfi, 231. — CooI'ku, Hirds Cal. I, 35.
Motdcillii cana, O.M. S. N. 1, 1788, 973. ? Viilieivom mexiaiiui, Bon. t'ouap. 1850, 310
(not of f'Assis), ffinalc. Polioptihi mcxiaiiin, Sci.atku, P. '/.. S. IS.'iO, 3(i3, 373.
Figures: ViKii.i,. Ois. II, pi. l.\.\.\viii. — Wilson, Am. Orn. II, pi. .xviii, tig. 3. — Am.
Oni. Biog. I, 111. l.\.\.\iv ; In. Birds Am. I, pi. Ix.x.
fe' • CuAii. Abovy grayish-blue, gradually becoming bright blue on the crown. A
narrow froulal band of black extending backwards over the eye. I'nder parts and lore.s
bluish-white tinged with lead-color on the sides. First and second tail-feathers while
except at the extreme base, which is black, the c(dor extending oblicpiely forward on
the inner web; third and Ibtnth black, with white tip, very .flight on the latter; tilth and
sixth entirely black. TpP'''" tail-coverts blackish-plumbeous, t^nills edged externally
with pale blui.sli-gray, which is much broader and nearly white on the tcrtials. Eemale
without any black on the head. Length, 4.;i() ; wing, 2.1"); tail, 2.2'). (Skin.)
IIaii. Middle region of United Slates, from -Vtlautic to I'acilic, and south to Guatemala;
Cape St. Lucas. Cuba, Gixdi.ach and Buvant. ]5ahanias, liitVANT.
Hauits. Tiie lUue-j^ray Flycatcher is a common sjiecies from the vVtlantic
to the I'ncific coast, iilthou,t,'h not met with in the New Enyland States. It
is less abiindiint on the coast tlian at a distance from it, and has a more
nortliern range in the interior, licing met with in Xortliern Ohio, Michigan,
and tiie IJritish Provinces. S|ii'ciiiu'iis occur in tiie Smitiisonian Institution
collection from New York to Mexico and (iuatemala, and from Washington
Territory to California.
They ajijjcar in reiinsylvania early in ^fay, and remain (here until the
lust of Septemlier. They are obstirve I in Florida and Georgia early in
.SYLVIID.E — THE SYLVIAS. 79
March, bnt are not known to winter in that latitude. All the .specimens
in the Smithsonian collection were obtained between April and October,
except one from Southern California, wiiich was taken in December.
Near Washington, Dr. Cones states the lilue-gray Gnatcatciier to be a
sunnuer resident, arriving during tlie first week of April, and remaining
until the latter part of September, during which
time they are very aljundant. Tiiey are said
to breed in liigh open woods, and, on tlieir first
arrival, to frecpient tall trees on uhe sides of
streams and in orcliards.
In Californiii and Arizona tliis species occurs,
but is, to some ext(;nt, replaced by a smaller
species, jiecnliarly western, P. mrliin urn. Tliere
they seem to keej) more about low bushes, hunt-
ing minute insects in small companies or in
jiairs, and their habits are hardly distinguish- Poiwpnin cmdm.
al)le from those of Warblers in most respects.
The food of this species is chiefly small winged insects and their larva?.
It is an expert insect-(!atcher, taking its- prey on the wing with great
celerity. All its movements are very rapid; the bird seeming to be con-
stantly in motion as if ever in quest of insects, moving from one part of
the tree to the otlier, l)ut generally jirelerring the upper branches.
Nuttall and Audul)on, copying Wilson, sj)eak of the nest of this Gnat-
catcher as a very frail receptacle for its eggs, and as hardly strong enough to
bear tiie weight of the parent bird. Tliis, however, all my observations
attest to be not the fact. The nest is, on the contrary, very elaborately and
carefully constructed ; large for tlie size of the bird, remarkably deep, and
with thick, warm walls com])osed of soft and downy materials, l)ut abun-
dantly strong for its buiUler, wlio is one of our smallest birds l)oth in size
and in weight. Like the nests of the Wood I'ewee and the Humming-T^ird,
tliey are moi^.els of architec.nral beauty and ingenious design. Witli walls
made of a soft felted material, they are deej) antl ])ur.se-like. They are not
pensile, but are woven to small upright twigs, usually near the tree-top, and
sway witli eath breeze, but the de])th of the cavity and its small diameter
])revent tiie eggs from rolling out. Kxternally the nest is covered with a
beautiful periphery of gray licliens, assimilating it to the bark of the decidu-
ous trees in which it is constructed.
Occa-sionally these nests have been found at the height of ten feet from
the ground, but they wvv more frequently built at a much greater eleva-
tion, even to the heiglit of fifty feet or more. They are made in the shape
of a truncated cone, three inches in diameter at the base ami but two at the
top, and tliree and a half inches in height. - The diameter of the opening
is an inch and a half In Northern (Jeorgia they nest about the middle
of May, and are so abundant tiuit the late Dr. Gerliaixlt would often find
go NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
not less tlmii five in a sin<.;le day, and very rarely weie any of them less
tluiu sixty feet from the ground. Dr. (icrhardt, wlio v as an accurate and
careful ()l).scrvor, speaks of these as the best huilt nests he had met witli in
tliis country, botli in ri'jj;ard to strength and its ingeniously contrived a])er-
ture, so narrowed at the top that it is impossible for the eggs to roll out even
in the sc orest wind. Tliey have two broods in the season in the Southern
States, one in April and again in July.
This Flycatcher lays usually fiv(i eggs. These are of a, short oval form,
somewhat pointed at one end and rounded at the otiier, and measure .5()
of fin inch in lengtli by .44 in breadth. Their gro.nid-color is a greeni.sh-
wliite, marked and dotted with small blotclies and spots of varying and
blending shades of reddish-brown, lilac, and slate.
Folioptila plumbea, r..\ii!D.
LE&O-COLOBEO ONATCATCHEB; ABIZONA GNATCATCHEB.
Piilio/itifii jtliiiiilini, liAiiMi, Pr. A. N. Sc. VII, .Tunc, 1S.')4, llS. --hi. Hiids N. Am. 18.18,
382, \>\. .\.\.\iii, fig. 1 ; Uovii-w, 7-t. — ('ihU'KK, Birds I'al. I, 37.
pp. Cn.in. Aliovc liliiisti-frr.-iy ; tlie f'orcliciul uniform witli the crown. Eyelids white.
A ]).il(' frniyi.sli-wiiiti; line over tlic ('}•(•, nliovo wliich is anotlicr of lilack, niucli concealed
hy (lie feathers, and whiili does not reach to the hill. Lower parts dull white, tiiiirc<l with
hluish on the sides and with hrownish behind. Tail-feathers lilack ; the (irst and -second
edpred and tipi)ed with white, involving the entire outer web of the first, and m(\st of
that of the .^'cond ; t\w lliinl with only a very faint edsriujr of the same. Fcnuile duller,
without the hlack superciliary line. Lenj,'th, 4.40; wing, 1.80; tail, 2.;i(l (7,18!)).
Il.vn. .Vrizona.
This species difl'ers from /*. rarulfii, in having the ash above less bluisli,
especiiilly on tiie forehead ; the black su])erciliary streak is only a horizontal
bar, not reiicliing tlie 1)111, wliereas in cn'rii/ix it not only reaches tlie l)ill,
but idso extends across tlie forehead ; the light superciliary stripe is more
distinct. The tail is entirely diiferent, the latenil feathers being almost
entiftly black, instetid of the reveI^s(^
From immature s])ecimeiis of /'. nirlinnirti it may be distinguished by
larger size and purer white lower jtarts, ami greater amount of white on
outer wi'bs of lateiiil tail-featliers.
llAItlTs. Ihit little is known in regard to the distrilaition or history of
this sjK'cies. It appears to be peculiar to Arizbna and Mexico. There is no
good reason to suppose thsit it ditVers nmteriidly in any of its habits from
the other s])ecies of this genus. Dr. Coojier, who observed tliis species at
Fort Mojave, states that it is a winter residdit of tliat region in small
numbers ; and, so far as lie observed, is undistinguisliable either in haliit or
general appearance from cither of the otlier s])ecies wliicli at that season
are also found there. Its cry of alarm resembles that of tlie common wren.
SYLVlIDyE — THE SYLVIAS. gj
Folioptila melanura, Lawi;.
BLACK-CAPPED OKATCATCHER.
I'li/icu'oraafricnjiiUfi, LawkkSi P, ^nii. N. Y. Ly('. V, Sept. IS.'d, 12-1 ('int of Swainsun).
Ciilicivtn-a vmianid, Cassin, Illnst. I, ISo-t, KU, pi. xxvii (not of HuN.). J'oiiafitiln,
melanura, Lawkf.nce, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VI, Dec. ISfifi, 168. — Baii:i>, Birds N. Am.
18')8, 382; licview, 68. -^ ]Ikeu.m\nn, 1". i'.. U. K. vol. A (William.son), 1859, 39.—
CoopKii, Biid.s I'al. I, 37.
Sp. Char. Above pliimboous-bliin. Whole crown, to bill and cj'o,<!, with tail, Instroiw
blue-black. Beneath pale Idnish-j^nvy, almost white on chin and anal region; the (lank.*!
and cri.<suni tinged with brown. Edge of eyelid.-!, and margin and tip of outer web of
lirst and second lateral tail-feather.-:, white. Female and young without the black of tho
crown. Length, 4.1.'); wing, 1.85; tail, 2.10.
ILvii. San Diego to Fort Yuma and Cape St. Lucas. Arizona, Col'ks.
Specimens of tliis species from Cape St. Lucas differ from tliose of San
Diego described in the V. H. R. Keport (7,llll) in having the wliole of tlie
outer web of the outer tail-feather white, and iu a rather hirger wliite tip.
The coloi's beneath are a little less asliy, though not of a pure white. The
ash of the back is rather lighttn- and purer. The lores are rather lighter.
The first primary is a litth; hirger and broader.
It is possible that tlie restriction of tlie wliite of tlie outer web of tlie
exterior tail-feather to the outer half only is an unusual circumstance, as
both Mr. Cassin and Mr. Lawrence, in tiieir descriptions, speak of the entire
outer web being white, — the second featiier being of tlie former character.
Under these circumstances there will be little specific diH'erence between
the tails of P. melanura and phnnhca. The female bird:* will then be
separated by the liglit superciliary line and much shorter tarsi of P.
plumhea, — tlie latter measuring .08 instead of nearly .70 of an inch.
Habits. Tliis species was first noticed as belonging to the North
American fauna by Cajitain ]\fcCown, who obtained it near Ringgold Bar-
racks in 1850. It has since been noticed at Fort Yuma and at San I)ie<'o
and obtained in greater abundance at Cape St. Lucas. It is also found in
Mexico. Dr. Cooper says that it is common all winter both at San Diego
and at Fort Mohave. It has been tmced as far nortli as latitude 80° in the
Sierm Nevada. Its song he describes as a harsh ditty of five parts, some-
thing like a wren's song, with notes like those of a swallow, and also closely
resembling the song of V^ireo belli. Their scolding note is a faint mew, like
that ol" a cat.
The liabits of this species appear to be not unlike those of the peculiar
family to wliicii it belongs. All its members are among our smallest birds,
are almost exclusively inliabitants of wootls, and resembh- the Ri<juli in
tlieir restless activity in pursuit of the smallest insects on wliich they feed.
This binl is described as particularly active, ipiick in its movements, search-
11
82 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
ing with great activity for its food, and preferring low trees and bushes.
At times it will dart about in tlie air in pursuit of small insects.
Mr. John Xantus found tliese l)irds to be quite abundant at ('ape St. Lucas
and obtained several of their nests. They were generally built amon.^ the
niterlacing tendrils of a wild vine {Antigomn kpfopm), and .so closely inter-
woven with tlie smaller branches as to be inseparal)le.' The nests, like those
of all tliis family, are structures of great beauty and delicacy. They luive a
li..ng]it and an external diameter of about 2^ inclies. The cavity is 1 1 inches
wide at the rim, and fully two inches deef.. This great proportionate depth
ot tlie nest seems to be characteristic of this genus. Tlie external portion of
this nest is composed of a composite blending of %arious vegetable materials
fine hempen fibres of plants, strips of delicate bark from smaller shrubs'
silken fragments of cocoons and downy cotton-like substance, all very
closely impacted and felted together, somewhat after tlie manner of the
Humming-Bird. The whole is very softly and warmly lined with a beauti-
fully interwoven and silky fabric composed of the soft down of various
plants.
The walls of the nest, tliough of the softest materials, are so thick and
so firmly impacted as to make it a structure remarkably firm and secure
against accidents.
The eggs, four in number, measure .55 of an inch in length by .45 in
breadth. They are of an oblong-oval shape, their ground-color is a pale
greenish-white sjjrinkled over the entire surface with fine dottiuirs of purple,
reddish-brown, and black.
CIIAM/EAD.E — THE GROUND-TITS.
83
Family CHA^MABM. — The (iROUND-Trrs.
Char. Bill compressed, short, rather conical, not notched nor decurved. Ciilmen
shnrp-rid^'ctl. Nostrils linear, with an inciunbcnt scale. Rictal bristles reaching beyond
nosiril.s, which are scantily overlnnig by bristly leathers. Loral feathers brisHy and
directed forwards. Tarsi booted, or covered with a continuous plate anteriorly, with
faint indications of scutelliv on the inner side. Basal joint of middle toe attached for
about half its length on either side. Primaries ten; si.vth quill longest. Plumage very lax.
We have found it impossible to assign the genus Chamcca to any recog-
nized fouiily of American birds, and have accordingly been obliged to give it
indejjendent rank in this re-
spect, althougli it may prop-
erly belong to some Old
World group witli which we
are not acquainted. In its
general appearance it ap-
proaches the I'arukc in loose
plumage, bristly lores, want
of notch to bill, etc. ; but
differs in the very mucli
bristled rictus, sharp-ridged
culmen, linear nostrils, booted tarsi, less amount of adhesion of the toes, etc.
It approaclies the Sijlviidw in the
sharp-ridged culmen and bristly gape,
but is otherwise very different. The
excessively rounded wing is a pecu-
liar feature, the sixth primary being
the longest.
The family may, perhajvs, be best
placed between the SyiviidoG and
Pnridcp.
This family has but one representa-
tive (Chaiiiwafascmta), and tiiis con-
fined to the coast region of California.
Tlie characters of the genus are those
of the family.
Chamaa/usciata.
Cliamrra/asciala.
Gknus CHAM2IA, Cvmbel.
C/;frn)(rrt, Gambei,, Pr. A. N. So Pliil III iSiT ir.i /t n ^ •. >
, i». ii. ciL. 1 mi. Ill, isii, 104. (Type, Parus fasciulus.)
But one .species of tliis geni.s has as yet Iwen described.
84 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Chamsea fasciata, Gamd.
OBOUND-TIT; WBEN-TIT.
Pariis fasciatui, fiAMnia, Pr. A. N. So. Aug. 1843. 2(55 (California). Chaviaia fasciata,
Gambkl, I'r. A. N. Sc 111, 1847, 1.54. — Ib. J. A V. Sc. 2d suiie.s, I, 1847, 34, pi. viii,
fig. 3. — Cahanis, Wifgiuiuiir.s Aivhiv, 1848, I, lOx. — Cassin, Illust. 1, 1853, 39,
1>1. vii. — Haikd, Birds N. Am. ISrS, 370. — lu. Review, 7(5. — (.''iopeu, Birds Cal. I,
39.
Sp. Ciiah. Wings scarcely two tlilrd.i the Icnprtli of the ; both very imieh j^i'adu-
afed. Uii))L'r and out<3r [lart.s generally (iiieiiKling the whole tail) olivaeeouw-hrown,
tinged with gray on the head ; bcneatii pale brownish-cinnamon, with obsolete sitreaka
of dusky on the throat and breast, Sid(,'s iind under tail-coverts tinged with olive-ltrown.
Loi'es and a spot above tiio eye obscui'ely whitish. Tail-feathers with obsolete transverse
bars. Total length, G.20; wing, 2.30; tiiil, 3.50, graduation, 1.20; e.xpo.sed portion of
first primary, .85, of second, 1.30, of longest, si.xtii (measured from exposed base of first
primary), 1.80; length of bill from forehead, .52, from nostril, .30; along gape, .GO;
tarsus, l.Oo ; middle too and claw, .78 ; claw alone, .23 ; hind toe and claw, .55 ; claw
alone, .30. Eggs liglit blue, unspotted ; nest on low bushes.
Hab. Coast region of Calitbrnia.
Habits. This very interesting .species, wliich seems to combine within
itself the principal characteristics of the Wren and the Titmouse, was first
described by the late Dr. Ganibel of Tliiladelpliia. So far as is now known,
it is confined to the coast country of California, from Fort Tejon to the shore
and from San Diego to the Sacramento. Dr. Gambel's attention was first
directed to it by the continued sound of a loud, crepitant, grating scold which
he was constantly hearing in fields of dead mustard-stalks and other similar
places. He at last discovered it to be this species, which from its peculiar
habits he called a Wren-tit. It kept close to the ground, was difficult to be
seen, and eluded jjursuit by diving into the thickest bunches of weeds, utter-
ing, when approached, its peculiar grating ,»ren-like notes. Wlien quietly
watched it could be seen to search for insects, climbing twigs and dry stalks
sideways, jerking its long tail, or holding it erect in the manner of a wren,
wliich, in this po.sition, it very much resembles. He describes it as at times
uttering a slow, monotonous singing note like ii chick-a-dee, represented by
2}ce-pee-pec-peep. At other times its song is a varied succession of whistling.
In spring it was heard, in pairs, calling and answering, in a less solemn
strain, and in a manner not unlike a sparrow, with a brief pU-pit-pU, ending
with a prolonged trill. If disturbed, they at once resumed their usual scold-
ing cries.
Mr. Bell fouml this species chieHy frequenting damp places, and speaks
of it as of pert habit, and not easily frightened. Its white iris, when ob-
served in its native retreats, makes it easily recognized. This feature is as
conspicuous in this bird as it is in the White-eyed Vireo. Its skhi is re-
markably strong, the muscles of tlie thiglis powerful and well developed,
and its whole muscular system exhibits an unusual strength and firmness.
CHAM^AD.E — THE GROUND-TITS o -
oO
Dr. Cooper's observations in regard to tliis bird are a little different in
some respects. He found it common everywiiere west of tlie Sierm Nevada
on dry plains and l.illsides, among the siirubby undergrowtl, but not in the
forests. Instead of preferring .lamp places, he found it living M-here there is
1.0 water, except occasional fogs, for six or eight months at a tin.e Their
movements can be observed by patient watching and keeping perfectly
•luiet, when they seem attmcted by curiosity to such a degree as to approach
one wi l„n a few feet, and fearlessly hop round him as if fascinated ^'
Dr. Cooper found their nests near San Diego built about three feet from
the ground in low shrubs. They were composed of straw and twigs mixed
w. h feathers and firmly interwoven. The cavity, about two inches wide
and an inch and three fourths deep, is lined with grass and hair. The c.-s
three or four in number, are of a pale gre«nisli-blue, and measure .70 byl2
86 NORTH A^^ERICAN BIRDS.
Family PARIDiE. — The Titmice.
Char. Bill {rcnpr.illy short, conical, not notched nor deciirved at tip. Cnlmcn broad
and ronndi'd, not sliari)-i'idf;ed at l>ase. Nostrils roundi'd, l)asnl, and concealed by dense
bristles or bristly feathers. Loral feathers roiiij;h anil bristly, dire(;ted forwards. Tarsi
distinctly scutellate ; basal joints of anterior toes abbreviated, that of ini<ldle toe iniited
about ecjually for three fourths its lenjith to the lateral: in Pnriitiv Ibrniinpr a kind of palm
for [ri-as])inf,' ; outer lateral toe decidedly lonjrer than tlie inner. Priniarit .s ten, the first
nnich shorter than the second. Tail-fuuthcrs with soil tips. Nest in holes of trees ; epffs
white, spotted with reddish.
Witli Cabanis we include the Nutliatclics in the same family with the
Tiimice, and have prepared tlie altove diagnosis to embrace both groujis.
They agree in having a conical bill, not notched nor dcciirved, with much
rounded culmen, and nearly straight commissure, and rounded nostrils cov-
ered with dense bristles. These cliaracters will re.adily distinguish them, in
connection with the ten primaries, and tarsi with scutellaB on tlie anterior
half only (as compared with Alaitdiilir), from any other American Oscincs.
The two subfainilies may be thus distinguished : —
Pariuas. Body compressed. Bill shorter than the head. Win^s rounded, equal to or
shorter than the rouniled tail. Second ((uill as short as thi; tenth. Tarsus lon<i;er than
the middle toe and claw, which are about equal to tlie liinder ; soles of toes widened
into a palm. Plumage rather soft and lax.
Sittinae. ]3ody depressed. Bill about ecpial to or longer than the head. Wings much
pointed, much longer than the nearly even tail. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe
and claw, which are about equal to tixe hinder. Plumage more compact.
Subfamily FARINiE.
The charactei"s of the subfamily will be found sufficiently detailed above.
The genera are as follows : —
Hill with curved ontJiiies.
Head with a long ])ointed crest. Wings and tail rounded.
Body full and large. Tail aliout equal to wings .... Lophnphaiie.i.
Head with feathers full, l)ut not {westetl. Wings and tail rounded.
Body full. Tail about ('([ual to wings ; rounded Parun.
Body slender. Tail much longer than wings ; nnich graduated . Pmltrij)ariis.
Bill toilh outlines nearly straight.
Head with compact feathers. AVings pointed.
Body slender. Tail rather shorter than the wings ; nearly even . Auri2>arHs.
Genus LOPHOFHANES, Kaup.
Uphophineji, Kaitp, Kiitw. Ocsili. Knrop. Tliicrwelt, 1829. (Typo, Partts cristalus.)
Jiaiulupliiis,^.\\KAS\>t, Mu.s. Hi-in. 18,50, 1851, 01. (Typo, Parius bicolor, L.)
PARin.K— THE TITMICK.
H7
Okn. Char. Crown witli a coiispinions prost. Hill conical ; both uppor and lower
outlines convex. Wings frrmlnateil ; lirst (piill very .short. Tail modenilely long and
rounded. .VesiLs in hollow trees ; eggs white with line red dotting.s.
Of this genu.s there are several North American species, all a^'reeiii-,' in
;,'e»cral diaiucters. One of tliese,
the L. wollurheri, is given by Ca-
biinis as typical, while he sepa-
mtes tiie L. hit'ohr generically
under tlie name of Ba-olophiis,
as having a ratlier iliHcrent form
of crest, stouter bill and feet, and
longer wings. All of our species,
liowever, vary in these charac-
ters, each one showing a different
combination, so that we prefer to
consider all as belonging to tjie
siime genus with P. crinUttiot.
Tjophojilifines b'cohr.
The species, all of which have tlie under parts uniform wliitish, may be
arranged as follows : —
L. bicolor. ..,ov(! idunilieous; forehead blaek ; erown much like the back. Huh.
Eastern Province United States.
L. atricriBtatus. Above phinibi>ous ; forehead whitish ; erown black. Jhh. East
A[e.\ico, north to Rio Grande.
L. inornatus. Above olivaceous; forehead an.l crown like the back. Huh. South of
Middle and Western Provinces of United States.
L wollweberi. Sides of head banded black and white; erown ash; throat black.
Hub. b. Koeky Mountauis of United States; Mu.\ico to Oaxaca.
Lophophanes bicolor, Bonap.
TUFTED HTMOUSE; BLACK-FBOHTED nTMOITSE.
Parus «,W,.-. L,NN Syst Nat. 12th e.l. I. I76fi. 340 (based on P„ru. crislaU., Crrsny
Buds Kurop... 1842.-BA,Kn, Birds N. An,. 18.58. 384; Koview 78 -Se^r ,7
Catal. mi, 14 no. 87. B..U„k,. l,„lor, Oah. Mus. Hdn.'l, 18.0. 91 ype^: '
Am. II, pi Ixxt ' ""' '■ '"■ *""• '''°8- '• "'• '"''^' '"• "i'-'l'^
S... CnAu Above ashy ; a black frontal band. R..neath dull whiti.sh ; sides brownish-
chestnut, o( more or less intensity. Length, 6.25 inches ; wing 3 17
Hah. United States, from Missouri A^alley eastward.
Feathers Of the crown elongated into a flattened crest, which extends back
as fur as the occ.put. Bill conical; lower edge of upper mandible nearly
straight at the base. Fourth and fifth quills etpuil ; third a little shorter
88
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Lophophanes inomatus.
the bill, which arc blackish.
than seventh ; second rather shorter than tlie secondaries. Tail nearly even,
the outer about .20 of an inch shorter than tlie longest. Upper parts
ash-color, with a tinge of olivaceous. Forehead dark sooty-brown. Tlio
feathers of the upper part of the head
and crest obscurely streaked with lighter
brown. Under parts of head and body,
sides of head, including auriculars, and a
narrow space above the eye, dirty yellow-
isli-white, tinged with brown; purest on
the side of head, the white very distinct
in the loral region, and including the tuft
of bristly feathers over the nostrils, ex-
cepting the tips of those in contact with
riie sides of the body and tlie under tail-
coverts are tinged with yellowish-brown. The ([uills and tail-feathers are
edged with the color of the back, without any whitish. Bill black. Feet
lead-color.
Specimens from the West are larger, the colors all more strongly
marked.
Habits. The Tufted Titmouse is a common and well-known species in
the Southern States, from the seaboard to the IJocky Mountains. Its north-
ei-n limits are in Pennsylvania, ^Missouri, and Kansas. P'arther north than
this its occurrence ai)i)ears to be oidy occasional and accidental. The state-
ment of Mr. Audubon that they are found in the Northern States, even to
Nova Scotia, was evidently a mistake. They do not occur in Massachusetts,
nor, so far as I am aware, have they been met with in any part of New
England.
They are abundant in Northern Georgia, where, according to the obser-
vations of Dr. Gerhardt, they are among the first birds to breed, having
fledglings fully grown as early as the first of May. Dr. Woodhouse found
them very common in the Indian Territory, but none of the other explor-
ing parties met with it farther west, where it is replaced by its kindred
species.
It is perhaps the most abundant bird in Southern Illinois, where it is resi-
dent, being excessively numerous in winter, and in that season often a posi-
tive miisance from their impertinent vehement scolding as they appear to
follow the hunter in troops through the woods. In winter it is a constant
inhabitant of the door-yards and shrubbery, particularly fruit-trees in the
towns, where it is associated with the Carolina Chickadee {Panm caroli-
ncnsis) and other winter birds, but exceeding them all in familiarity and
boldness. (Ridgway.)
Mr. Nuttall, who never met with this bird north of Pennsylvania, found
it very common in the winter and spring in the Southern States, where it
displayed all the habits and uttered the usual notes of the family. In the
PARin.K— TUK TITMICE. gQ
dreariest sttlitmlus of tlie Sotitliurn States tliese birds wcie liis constant and
anuising eonii)anions. TluMr hMriglitly niovenuMits and their varied musical
talents made it even i.iore pecnliarly interesting at a time when all the other
tenants of the forest were silent. The notes of this hird, which, when e.x-
jiressfd hy this writer on jtaper, .seem only quaint and eccentric articulatioii.s,
were characterized hy him as lively, cheering, and ■aried, delivered with a
delicacy, energy, pathos, and variety of e.xjiression to which it was fur beyond
the ]K)wer of descri|itiou t(i do justice.
These notes, at times, even partook of the high-echoing and clear tonca
of the Oriole. The usual song of this Titmouse is presented !>'' Mr. Xuttall
Iiy the following characteristics: " jr/n))-/(iiii-ki/fi/-/>i//i/-(/ni/-(/-' , ''■U-fxhica-
dee-dir," varied with " Kin-/<r-tJi(l-d id-did," etc., etc. Lit'er i. ''o sea.son,
under tiie milder inthuMices of spring, these Titmice jjursued the insects from
branch to branch, calling restlessly and with loud and echoing voices, peio-
pilo-pcto, with fre(iiu!nt (juaint variations t(j(j mimerous to be repeated.
Their song even consi.sted of successions of playful, pathetic, or querulous
calls, never e.xhil)itiiig any trills after the manner of the Warblers, yet the
comjiass and tones of their voice, their capricious variety, and their general
effect are desciribtnl as quite as pleasing as the more exquisite notes of our
summer songsters.
When wounded this Titmouse resists with great s])irit any attempt to take
him alive, but soon becomes tame and familiar in confinement, subsisting on
.seeds, broken nnts, etc. Imj)atient of restraint, it incessantly attempts to
work its way out of its cage.
The general habits of these birds corresjiond clo.sely with those of the large
family to which they belong. They move usually in small flocks of from
live to ten through the branches of trees and bushes in quest of insects,
examine the cracks and crevices of the bark, hang on the under side of small
branches, move sideways around the tiunks of trees, probe the openings in
acorns, pine-cones, nuts, etc., for its food, and retain apparently the family-
group r ';il the s])ring, when they se])arate into pairs.
One of these birds kept i,i confinement by Dr. Bachman of Charleston
was in the habit of hiding its food in the corner of its cage, in a small
crevice, and of creeping at night into a small box, where it lay doubled up
like a ball till the first light of the morning, when it resumed its restless
habits.
The Tufted Titmouse passes its nights and days, when the weather is in-
clement, in the liollows of decayed trees or the deserted holes of tiie wood-
peckers. In such places it also builds its nests. It has been known to exca-
vate a hole for itself even in hard sound wood. Its nest is simply a rude
lining of the selected cavity, composed of various soft and warm materials.
In this are deposited from six to eight eggs. But a single brood is raised in
a sea.son. The young biids, as soon as they are fledged, hunt in company
^vith their parents, and remain associated with them until the following
()0 NORTH AMKiacJAN lURDS.
spring. Tlie eggs of this liird liavc a Icnigtli of .TH of an indi and a breadth
of .50. Tliey arc of a roundi'd oval in shape, and are thici<ly sprinkled
with fine rust-colored dots, intermingled witii a few larger markings of lilac,
on a white ground.
Lophophanes atricristatus, Cassin.
BLACK-TUFTED TITMOUSE ; TEXAS TITMOUSE.
rariis a/rirri.s/iiliis, ("as.sin, Pr. A. N. Sc. I'liil. V, 18.'>(), Klli, |il. ii (Trxas). Lnphojtlmwi^
ttliici islatiis, I'A.ssiN, 111. liiiils 'IVxiis, cti'. I, 1853, VA, ])\. iii, — BauiI), Uirils N. Am.
1858, 38,5 ; licview, 78. — C'odI'KI!, lUnls C'lil. 1, 43.
Sp. Ciiau. Crest very Iniii; and ])oiii1i'(l (1.2") iui'lios). Aliove asli-colored, A broml
band on the fort'lioad dirty wiiito, rest of head above, with cre.it, l)laek, tinj^ed with ash
on the sides, t'olor of l\w baek sliadinj; iiisensilily into the dull a.shy-white of the nnder
parts, yidesofbody palu bi'ownish-chestnnt. Female with the orcvt dnller bl.ick. Iris
dark brown. Lonjrtli, alioiit 5.25 inches; winp', 3.00.
Had. Valley of Kio Grande, sonth, into Mexieo. San Antonio. Texas. A^era Crnz,
SCLATKU.
This sjiccies is not rare in Te.xas, where it has been noticed as far east as
San Antonio.
IIabits. So far as known, the IHack-crested Titmouse is restricted in its
distribution to the valley of tin; Jtio (Irande, including portions of Mexico
and Western Texas. It was first met with in the latter State by John W.
Audulxjn, and described by Mr. Cassin in the Troceedings of the I'liihidelphia
Academy.
hi its general ajipearance and in all its habits it is mentioned as having
so close a resenddance t(i tlie connnon Tufted Titmouse as to be hardly dis-
tinguisliable from that bird. Dr. Woodhouse met with tliis species near Sa..
Antonio, Texas, in March, Ifiill. While his l)arty was encamped on the IJio
Salado lie obs(>rved these birds busily engaged in cajituring insects among
the trees on the banks of the stream. Like all tlie members of tliis family,
it was incessantly in motion and very noisy. Liter in the season, on the
8th of May, the .same Jtarty, when encamped on tlie (ibiilii, again found this
species very idnindant among the oid<s. The young males, tlien fidly grown,
closely resembled the iididt females, botli wanting the black crest that dis-
tinguishes the matin-e male, lie afterward noticed this species occurring iit
intervals along liis route as far as tlie head waters of the Ilio San Franci.sco
in New Mexico, lie o! .served it alnio.st exclusively among the trees that
bordered streams of water. The females and the young males invarialily had
crests of the same cinereous color as their general jilumage, but in the latter
slightly tingeil with lirown. They oiHiurred in small parties, were very lively
and sociable in their haltits, ami in their geneml ap|)earaiice and even in
tlieir nott^s .so very closely resembled the Kastern species as, at a short dis-
tance, to be hardly distinguishable from it.
PARIDyE — THE TITMICE. QJ
Dr. Heermann, in his report on tlic birds of Lieutenant I'arke's survey,
mentions having first observed this species near Fort Chirke, in Texas, where
it was very abundant He describes it as spriglitly and active in its move-
ments, searching with great assiduity for insects in the crevices of the bark
and among the branches of trees. Wliile thus engaged it keeps up a cliatter-
iiig note, varied with an occasioaal low and phiintive whistle. Its habits
appeared to him to resemble most those of the common Pariis atricapiUas.
Dr. Heermann states that it builds its nest in the hollow of trees, and that
it lays from twelve to sixteen eggs. He does not, however, say that he
ever met with its eggs, nor does he give any description of them. The nest,
he states, is composed of fine dry grasses, feathers, wool, mosses, etc.
General Coucli's description of this sjiecies and its habits is very similar.
He observed it in the province of Nev Le.m, in Mexico, where he found it
verj' abundant along the San Juan into the Sierra ^ladV' He describes it
as a very lively bird, with a very perfect whistle of a single note.
Mr. Henry A. Dresser souglit very diligently for its nest and eggs near
San Antonio and Houston, in Texas, wliere he found the bird very connnou,
and where he was sure many ])airs remained to breed, but its nest was very
hard to find, and the birds very wary. He succeeded in finding one nest,
in a hollow tree, near tlie head sjuings of tlie San Antonio Uiver, but it
contained young. The nest he does not describe, nor does he mention the
number of young it contained.
Lophophanes inornatus, ( .vssin.
OKAT-TVFTED TITMOTTSE ; CALIFORNU TITMOXTBE.
Pariis iiwrnnlus, (ivMiiKi., I'r. A. X. Sc. riiil. .\u<,'. 1H4'), -iti.") (rii|«T raliforniaV — In.
J. A. N. So. new .scr. 1, 1847, li.'), pi. vii. Lophnphi iich iiionuiliis, Ca.s.six, 111. 1853,
1». -BAinn, lUnlsN. Am. IS.W, 1)80; Uuvi.w, 78. — .S(;lati:u, CaUil. 18G1, 14, no.
88. — Ku.ior, lllust. 1, 111. iii. — CoopKU, Hinls ("til, I. 42.
Si\ CiiAii. Crest eloiifTiitotl. CoU.r above olivi.ccoiis-iisliy, lienonfli wliilisli. Sides nf
IkmI.V mul under tail-eoverls very faiii'ly tiii-;(Ml witli lirownisli, senreely approciiil.le.
Sid.'s of lir-ad suareely dillereiit from the erowi). Forehead obscurely whitish. Length,
/J iiiehes ; will};, 2."),").
Had. Southern United Stato.i, from Rocky Mountains to PaciHc ; Western Nevada
(UiUGWAv). W. Arizona (CouKi»).
The bill and feet of this species are lead-color. Tlie thinl, fourth, and
fifth .juills are longest; the third and eightli about wiual ; the second is
sliorter tlian the .slujrtest primaries. The lateral tail-feathers are a little
shorter than the othere.
A specimen from Fort Tliorn lias the crest longer than ill otlier siiecimens
before me, measuring l.-'if) inches from base of bill to its tip. Tliis may be a
characteristic of the male, the sexes being otherwise alike.
92 Noirni AMKincAN birds.
Habits. Tlie (imy Titmouse belongs «!sseiitiiilly to the Pacific coast,
coming eastward only as i'ar as the banks of the Ivio Grande in Texas. It
was first discovered and described by ])r. Ganil)el, in his Ijirds of California.
It has since been met with not only throughout California, but also lu all
the southern portions of the Jiocky ^lountains, in New Mexico, and from
Mimbres to the Kio Grande.
Dr. Woodhouse met with this s])ecies in the San Francisco Mountains,
near the Little Colorado Itiver, Xew ^Mexico. He found it very abundant,
feeding among the tall ])ines in company with the Sltta ijygmwa, S. acnlmta,
and Paru.H montnnm.
Dr. Gambel firet noticed this species near ^Monterey on the 20th of No-
vember. It was flitting actively about among the evergreen oaks of that
vicinity in comi)any with large flocks of several kindred species. They
were all in restless activity, searching every branch for insects. As well
as he could distinguish its notes among those of the busy throng in the
midst of which he observed it, they a]tpeared to resemble very closely those
of the common P. nfrimpiNitn. Upon his following it up, it would iitfer a
loud scolding outcry, erect its higli and ])ointed crest, and appear as angry
as possilile at the intrusion. He found it very connnon, frecjuentiug tall
bushes in small flocks, searching branches of low trees, uttering weak and
slender cries, resembling the syllables tsee thlji-ddij.
Dr. Heernuuni found it one of the most common of the birds of California,
where it is resident throughout the year. He descril)es their notes as
posse.ssing an almost endless viiriety, so much so that he was repeatedly
prompted to follow it as a new sjK'cies. He met with a nest of this bird in
a deserted woodpecker's hole, whicli contained young.
Dr. Cooper has met with this species in February near San Diego, but
not on the Colorado. Tliey seem to iirefer the evergreen-oak groves toward
the middle of the State, but are not fouiul in the higher Sierra Nevada.
They are residents throughout the year in the evergi' n oaks near San
Francisco. He adds that they are seen in smidl ])artns, scattered about
the trees, and calling to each other with a variety of sweet and loud notes,
some of which are said to eijual those of our best singers. It also has
certain powers of imitation like the Eastern crested species and the same
cry of ptto-peto.
It feeds on acorns as well as insects, and often goes to the ground in search
of them. It cracks the acorns with its bill, and hammers at bark and de-
cayed wood witii the industry of ;i woodi)ecker.
^fr. Kidgway met with this .species among the ])ini's of the eastern sh)pe
of the Sierra Nevada, but nowhere in abundance. Among the cedars it was
almost the only bird seen. He describes its manneis as greatly resembling
those of the other s])ecies. Its notes, though dill'ering from those of the
Eastern L. hiw/or, being weaker and less distinct, retain its vehement and
characteristic manner of utterance.
PARID.E — THE TITMICK. 03
Lophophanes woUweberi, Hoxai-.
WOLLWEBEB'S TITHOTTSE ; STBIFED-HEAOEO TITMOUSE.
LnplmplMMsivoUu-ihii-i, Bon. C. 1!. XXXI, Si'i>t. ISi'iO, 478. — Westeb.mann, Hijilr. Dier-
kiiiide, III, 1851, 15, plate. — Haiud, IJird.s N. Am. 1858, 386, pi. liii, lif?. 1 ; Ucvinw,
7!). — ScLATEU, P. Z. S. 1858, 299 (Oiixaca, high lands). — In. Catal. 18U1, 14, no. 89.
— Cooi'KU, Hiiils Cal. I, 43. Pitrm amicxus, Cas.sin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Oct. 1850,
103, pi. i. LiijihoplMiies galcnliis, Cauanis, Mus. Hfiii. 1850, 1851, 90.
Sr. ("iiAii. CiMitnil portion of crest asli, encircled liy Idack, conimencin-i: as a frontal
band, and pa.s.sing over the eye. Chin, throat, and a lino from liehind the eye and cnrving
rouinl the auricular.>< to the throat (bordered behind by white), as also some occipital
feathers, black. A white line from above the eve marij:ininf( the crest, with the cheeks
below the eye and nnder parts generally white. A black half-collar on the nape. Upper
parts of body ashy Length, abont 4.50 ; wing, 2..50.
Hab. Southern Rocky Mountains of I'nited rfi.tles, and along table-lands through
Mexico, to Oa.\aca (high regions, Sci..vrKii;. Orizaba (Alpine regions, Su.M.j.
Habits. Wollweber's Titmouse, .so far as its distribution is known, is
a bird of Western Texas, the liigh table-lands of Me.xico, and of the whole
of New Mexico. It wa,s described l>y Hona^tarte and by Cassin nearly simul-
taneously, in 1850. It bears a very close resemblance to the Lophuphancs
cristufKs of Europe.
Although comparatively nothing is known in reference to the specific hab-
its of this si)ecies, tliey may be very readily inferred from those if the other
members of this genus, who.se characteristics are all so well marked and so
uniform. Dr. Kennedy is the only one of our natiu-alists who has men-
tioned meeting the species in its living form. In his Report upon the Birds
of Lieutenant Whipple's Survey he states that he found it in tlie thick bushes
along tiie Pueblo (Jreek. Wherever lujticed it was coiLStantly in mction,
lutpping from twig to twig in search of its food, lie also found it among
the pines of tiie Aztec ^Mountains. Xo mention is made of its nest or eggs,
and its niditicution remains to be ascertained.
Ck.sls PARUS, Li.nn.eu8.
raru.i, LiNN.i-:rs, Sy^st. Xat. 1735. (Tyiu', P. iiiKJor.)
Gkx. Ciiau. Head not crested. Rody am] head full. Tail moderately long, and slightly
romided. Dill conical, not very stout; the upjicr and nnder outlines very gcMitly iiiid
slightly convex. Tarsus l)ut little longer than middle toe. Head and neck generally black
or brown, with sides white. Nest in holes. Eggs white, sprinkled with red.
In the group, as defiiu'd abovi", arc embraced several genera of modern
systematists. The true black-capped American Titmice belong to the section
Pdicilc of Kaup, and exhiliit but three well-marked forms; one, /'. vioufdiinn,
with a hitu stripe over the eye ; one, idrivapillus, without it, with black
94 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
head ; and one, hudsoniciis, also without it, and with brown head. Tlie
species may be arranged as follows: —
1. Head and neck, above and beneath, black ; their sides white.
A« A broad white stripe above the eye, meeting across forehead.
1. P. montanuB. Edges of wing-coverts, secon(hiriL's, and tail scarcely
paler than general tint above. Beneath asliy-whitisii, medially. Wing,
2.85 ; tail, 2.50 ; bill (along cnlmen), .50 ; tarsus, .G!) ; middle toe, .43 ;
wing-formula, 4 = 5, 3 = 0, 7, 2 ; graduation of tail, .18. Hah. Moun-
tain regions of Middle and Western United States.
B< No wiiite stripe above the eye.
a. Tail as long as, or longer than, wing. Conspicuous white edgings to
wing-coverts, secondaries, and tail-feathers.
2. F. atiicapilluB.
Dorsal region yellowish-cinereous, wings and tail purer ash ; sides light
ochraceous. Whii'' edgings of tail-feathers not margining their ends.
Wing, 2.60; tail, .1)0; bill, .40; tar,sus, .02; middle toe, 30; wing-
formula, 4, '■., G, 3, 7, 8, 2 = 9 ; graduation of tail, .30. (12,851 $,
Brooklyn, N. Y.) Hab. Eastern Province of North America, north of
about 39° var. atricapillus.
Dorsal region and sides with scarcely a perceptible yellowish tinge;
white edgings of tail-feathers passing around their ends. .Beneath
whitish. Wing, 2.75 ; tail, 2.80 ; culmen, .35 ; tarsus, .05 ; middle toe,
.40 ; wing-formula, 5, 4=0, 3 = 7, 8, 2 = 9; graduation of ttiil,
.50. (3704^? Salt Lake City, Utah.) 7/«6. Region of Missouri River
and Rocky Mountains var. sepientr ion ulis.
Colors as in atricapillus, but much darker. Beneath more ochraceous.
Wing, 2.40; tail, 2.50; cuhnen, .40; tarsus, .00; middle toe, .40; wing-
formiila, 4th, 5tb, and Gth equal, 3 = 7, 2 = 10; graduation of tail, .25.
(G7G2 $ ? Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory.) Hah, Pacific Prov-
ince of North America var. Decide II tul is.
b. Tail shorter than wing; no conspicuous white edgings to wings and tail.
3. P. meridionalis. ' Beneath ashy (nearly dark as upper stnfaee),
whitish medially. Wing, 2.G0; tail, 2.20; culmen, .40; tarsus, .03;
middle toe, .40 ; wing-formida, 4, 5, 0, 3 = 7, 2 = 10 ; graduation of
tail, .10. (10,203, Mexico.) Hab. Eastern Mexico.
4. P. carolinensiB. Beneath pale soiled oehraeeous-whitish, scarcely
lighter medially. Wing, 2.55; tail, 2.30; cuhnen, .35; tarsus, .53;
middle toe, .38 ; wing-fonnnla, 5, 4, 0, 7, 3, 8, 2 = 9; graduation
of tail, .10. (700^, Wa.shington, D. C.) Hab. Eastern Province of
United States, south of about 40°.
2. Head and neck, above and beneath, brown, the throat darkest ; their sides white,
C3. Back, scapulars rump, and sides rnst^'-chcstnut.
5. P. rufesoenB. Side of neck pure white. Wing, 2..'!5 ; tail, 2.00 ;
. tarsus, .01 ; middle toe, .40. Tail scarcely graduated. Hab. Pacific
coast of North America.
D« Back, etc., grayish or ochraceous brown.
G. P. hudBOUiouB. Side of neck grayi.sh. Back, etc., smoky-gray.
' I'.ints mwidunutlis, Sci,.irKR, 1'. Z, S. 1850, 293. — lUllui, Iti'v. 81.
PARID^ — THE TITMICE.
95
Sides dark rusty-brown. Wing, 2.45; tail, 2.45; tarsus, .02; middle
toe, .35; graduation of tail, .30. (17,101, Halifax, N. S.) Hub. Arctiu
America; south to northern boundary of the United States (except to
westwai'd).
7. P. sibiricuB.' Side of neck white. Back, etc., rusty ochraceous-
gr.ay. Sides rusty ochraceous. Wing, 2.70; tail, 2.80; tarsus, .00;
middle toe, .30 ; graduation of tail, .30. Hub. Europe.
Parus montanus, Gambel.
HOTTNTAIV CHICKADEE: WHITE-BBOWED CHICKAOEE.
Parus nwnlaniis, Gambel, Pr. A. N. S. Pliila. April, 1843, 259 ; Journ. A. N. Sc. 2d
SiMics, I, 1847, 3.1, pi. viii, f. 1. — lUiKi), B. N. A. 1858, 394 ; Review Am. H. 1, 18U4,
82. — Klliot, lllust. —CooPEli, Bird.sOal. I, 46.
Sp. CriAR. Head and neck above, with und(;r part of head and throat, glossy black ;
forehead, stripe above the eye and band below it, involving the auriculars, wliite. These
stripes end)raeing between them a black band through the eye and confluent with the black
of the head. Above .ishy; beneath similar, but paler; the upper part of breast and middle
line of belly white. Length about 5 inches; wing, 2.00; tail, 2.40.
Hab. Mountain region of Middle and Western United States.
Habits. Tlie Mountain Chickadee was first met with by Dr. Gambel in
journeying westward from Santa Fe, in New Me.xico, and from thence was
found in all the ranges of tJie Eocky
Mountains nearly to California. Its
notes and hal)its are said to closely
resemble tlio,se of the conmion Chick-
adee, but weaker and more varied. It
keeps more in low bushes, where it
moves from branch to branch with
untiring activity, searching eacli mi-
nutely for small insects. It also fre-
quently descends to the ground to
pick up small seeds. While tiius oc-
cupied it will occasionally stop, look
Piirits alricapillux.
round and, uttering a slender te-de-de, and then its usual note, to-de-de-daU
will fly to another bush.
On the Hio Colorado they kept chiefly among the cotton-wood trees that
grew along its banks, and its ihmiliar notes were almost the only souiuls
heard. They were observed in large an.l busy flocks along the snuUlcr
streams in company with tiie Least Tit and the Regnli. Dr. Gambel did
not hnd them, however, so abun.lant on the California sides of the rid-e
wliere other species took their place. ° '
Ur. Heermann found this Titmouse abundant among the mountains sur-
> Parua Hbiriciin, Omel. S. N. 1788, p. 1013.
96
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
rouiuling the Volcano in the southern mines, and suhsequently met with
them on the sununit of the Tejon Pass. He tliinks their notes and hahits
very simiLar to those of the africoiii/fus. Dr. Suckley obtained a single
specimen at Fort Dalles, but regarded it as extremely rare in that locality.
Dr. Woodhouse found it quite abundant
in the iSan Francisco Mountains of New
Mexico, where it was feeding; among tlie
tall pines in company with kindred
species.
Mr. lUdgway found this species in
groat abundance among the jiines on
the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada
JMountains, as well as in all the exten-
sive cedar-groves on the mountains to
the eastward. Around Carson City this
species was found tlnougliout the win-
ter. In its manners and notes, particularly the latter, it wa.s hardly distin-
guisliable from F. carolincmis. The notes are described as louder and more
distinct, though their calls in sj)ring are rather less clearly articulated.
Pnrliif wnntanus.
Farus atricapillus, Linn.
EASTERN CHICKADEE ; BLACK-CAFFED TITMOUSE.
Pnrnn atrimpillii.i, I, inn. Syst. Xnt. I, I'titi, 341 (liaseil on Purus atricapillus cunadeiusis,
Blil.s,s().N, 111, .I;".;!, tal). xxi.x, fig. 1). — Haikd, Birds N. Am. Isr.S, 3iM) ; Reviow, 80.
— Sci.ATKl!, Ciital. 1861, l;!, no. 80. — Dai.L & IUnnlstku (Alaska). — Sa.mcki.s, 182.
Pircih- ii/rioi/iilli(, Hon. t'onsp. 1850, 230. Pants yiilicstris, Nrrr. Man. I, 1832, 79.
Fijjurcil liy ArnrnoN", Wii.sus, etc.
Sr. CiiAH. Scfoiid i|iiill a.s loiim ns tlio sci'niidaric.*. Tail vorv slifrhtly rounded ; lateral
feathers about .10 shorter than middle. Back brownisli-ashy. Top of head and throat
blaek, sides of liead between them \vhit(!. Beneath whitish; browni.sh-white on the sides.
Sid('.< of outer tail-feathers, some of i)riinaries, and secondaries conspicuously margined
with white. Lenj;tli, 5.00 ; wiiijr, 2.50: tail, 2..50.
IIab. Eastern North America, north of ,'il)th parallel.
In this species the first ([uill is spurious ; the fourth quill is longest ; the
fifth and sixth successively a little shorter ; the tliird is altout eipial to, or a
litth' shorter than, tlie eiglitli ; the second is a very little longer than the
secondaries. The tail is a little roimded, tlie innermost feather longest, the
rest successively ii little shorter. The greatest difl'erence in length of tuil-
feiithers amounts to .30 of an inch.
The entire crown, from the bill to tlie upper part of the biick, coming
down on the sides to the lo'ver level of the eye, is pure black, idthough the
edge alone of the lower eyelid is of tliis color. A second black patch begins
PAKID.K — THE TITMICE. 97
{it tli(i lower maii(li1)le and ocoupieH tlie entire iiiuler finrfiice of tlie head and
throat, but not extending as tar hack within a quarter of an incli as that on
the upper part of the neek. The space Ijetween these two patches, on the
sides of the head and neck, is wiiite, tliis color extending along the hliick of
tlie back of the neck as far as its truncated extremity, but not b<jrdering it
behind. The middle of the breast and belly, as far as the vent, is dull
wJiite, that immediately behind tlie black of the throat a little clearer. The
sides of the breast and body under the wings, with the under tail-coverts,
are pale, dull brownish-white. The back, rumj), and upper tail-coverts are
of a dirty bluish-ash, waslied with yellowish-brown, especially on the rump.
The wings are brown ; the outer edges of the third to the seventh i)riniaries
narrowly edged with wliitisli ; the innermost sect)ndaries more broadly and
conspicuou.sly edged with the same ; larger coverts edged with dirty whitish.
Outer webs of tail-feathers edged with white, purest and occupying half the
web in the external one, narrowing and less clear to the central feathers, tlie
basal portions, especially, assuming more the color of the back.
Hahits. Tlie common Chickadee or Jihick-cai)ped Titmou.se is so well
known throughout the greater portion of the United States as to be gen-
erally accepted, by common consent, as the tyjiical representative of its
numerous family. Until i-ecently it has been sup])osed to be universally
di.stributed over the continent, and while this is now (piestioned, it is iKjt
(piite clear where its limits occur. In Eastern IMaine the Parus hudsonictiH
and tliis species meet. In the District of Cidumbia it crosses the northern
limits of P. envoi iiiemia, and in the northern ^li.ssissippi Valley it mingles
with tlie Aar. septcntrionuiiH. It remains to be ascertained liow far the
species exceeds these bounds.
A few individuals of this sp(!cies were observed by Mr. Dall, December
12, at Nulato, wjiere, however, it was not common. They were also ol)-
tained by lii.schoff at Sitka and Kodiak.
As in very many essential respects the whole family of Pnrifh- are alike
in their characteristics of habits, tiieir manner of collecting food, their rest-
less, uneasy movements, tlie similarity of their cries, their residence in hol-
low trees or brandies, and their nesting in similar i)laces, witli the excei)tion
only of a few species that construct their own pouch-like nests, we have
taken the best known as the common point of comi)arison. Except in (he
variations in plumage, the jioints of difference are never great or very
noticeable.
In New Englnnd the IJlack-Cap is one of our most common and I'amiliar
birds. In the vicinity of Calais, Mr. IJoardman sjieaks of it as resident and
abundant. The writer did not meet with it in Nova Scotia, nor even in the
islands of the Hay of Fuiidy, where the hiuhonicns is a coiumon bird.
It is a resident species, nesting early in May, and Jiaving full-Hedged nest-
lings early in June. AVhile it seems to ])refi!r the edges of woods as best
allbrding the means of food and shelter, it by no means coutines itself to
98 NoIiTII AMERICAN BIRDS.
thes(5 localities, not. only appearing familiarly around the dwellings in the
winter season, but also occasionally bleeding in open and exj)Osed jdaces.
A hollow ])ost ol' a I'ence in the midst of open cultivated fields, a decayed
stump near tlie side of a pultlic highway, a hollow log in a frei^uented farm-
yard, and even the side of an inhabited dwelling, are localities these birds
have been known to select in which to rear their young. In the winter
they not unfre<iuently extend tlieir visits, in search of food, into the very
heart of*large and crowded cities, where they seem as much at home iind as
free from alarm as in the seclusion of the forest, searching every crack where
insect larvie or eggs can be hid. On one occasion a j)air had built its nest
over a covered well which connects with the dwelling by a side door, tlirough
which water was chawn at all hours of the day by means of buckets and a
rope, the wlieel ior which was in close proximity to their nest. Tiiey mani-
fested, however, no uneasiness, and even after the young were ready to fly,
tlie whole family would return to the ])lace for shelter at night and during
inclement weather.
Their courage and devotion to tlieir young is a remarkable trait with the
whole race, and with none more than with the present species. On one
occasion a Black-Cap was seen to fly into a rotten stump near the roadside
in Brookline. The stump was so much decayed that its top was readily
broken off and tlie nest exposed. Tlie mother refused to leave until forcibly
taken off by the liaiid, and twice returned to tlie nest when thus removed,
and it was only by holding her in tlu; hand that an opportunity was given
to ascertain there were seven young birds in her nest. She made no com-
plaints, uttered no outcries, but resolutely and devotedly thrust herself be-
tween her nestlings and tlie seeming danger. When relea.sed she immedi-
ately flew back to them, covered them under her siielteving wings, and looked
xij) in the face of her tormentors with a ipiiet and resolute courage that could
not be surjiassed.
The nest of the Chickadee is usually a warm and soft felted mass of the
hair and fur of the smaller tiuadrui)ed.s, downy feathers, fine dry grasses and
mosses, lining the cavity in which it is placed and contracting it into a deep
and purse-like opening if the cavity be larger than is necessary. Usually the
site .selected is already in existence, and only enlarged or altered to suit the
wishes of the pair. But not unfrequently, at some pains, they will exca-
vate an opening for themselves, not only in decaying wood, but even into
limbs or trunks that are entirely sound.
These birds in winter collect around tlie camps of the log-cutters, become
very tame, and seek on all occasions to share with their occiqiants their food,
often soliciting their portion with plaintive tones. Though nearly om-
nivorous in the matter of food, they prefer insects to everything else, and
the amount of good conferred by them on the farmers and the owners of
woodlands in the destruction of insects in all tlieir forms — egg, cat(!rpillar,
larva, or imago — must be very great. No chrysalis is too large to resist
PARID.E — THE TITMICK.
99
their penetrating bill, and no eggs so well hidden tliat they cannot find them
out. L liave known one to attack and Hy off with the chrysalis of a " Woolly-
bear" or salt-marsh cater])illar {Leucardia acrcvu). When thus t'oragiu" Ibr
their food tiiey seem totally unconscious of the near presence of man, and
unmindful of what is passing around tlieni, so intent are they upon the
object of their pursuit.
The notes of the Chickadee exhibit a great variety of sounds and combi-
nations. As they roam through the country in small flocks in quest of food,
their refrain is a continued and lively succession of varying notes sounding
like a quaint chant. When annoyed by any intrusion, their cry is louder
and harsher. They are rarely thus disturbed l)y the presence of man, and
even when their nest is approached by him they present only a passive and
silent resistance. Not so when a cat or a squirrel is observed in unwelcome
vicinity. These are pursued with great and noisy pertinacity and hoarse
cries of dan, f%. day, in which they are often joined by others of the same
species.
So far as we have observed them, they are apparently affectionate, gentle,
and loving to each other. We utterly discredit the accusation that they
will treaclierously beat out the brains of feeble birds of their own race. It
is unsupixirted by testimony, and in the instance cited by AVilson he gives
no evidence that this injury may not 1^1 ve been done by some other species,
and not by one of its own kindred.
Tlieir nest is usually near the ground, and the number of eggs rarely
if ever exceeds eight. They are said to have two broods in the season,
but tliis statement seems to be contradicted by their continued presence
after Jiuie in small flocks, evidently the parents and their first and only
brood, who apparently remain togetiier nine or ten months.
The eggs of this species vary somewiiat in regard to the distribution and
number of the reddish-brown markings with which their white -n-ound is
more or less sprinkled. In some they are chiefly gathered in a ring about
the larger end ; in others they are distributed over the entire e^.- ° Tiieir
eggs are smaller and a little less si)herical in shape than those of the septm-
tnonalis, averaging .58 by .47 of an inch.
Parus atricapUlus, var. septentrionalis, Hauius.
LONO-TAILED CHICKADEE.
Panu^scplcnlrmutli., H,uuas, P,-. A. N. S... 11, 184.5. ano.-r.ss,^. iii„,t. I, 1853. 17.
T: ' 7. 1, ' ""''' ^"^'^ '""• ''''• ''" ' ^^'^'''■■' '»■ - S^^'-ATKK. Catal. 18U1
14 no. 82. Panis sepkntrhnalu, var. albcsce,,.-,, IJai.i.. Birds N. Am. 1858, xxxvii
? Parus atncapUliM, I'n. Max. fab. Jour. VI. 1858, 1 i).
Sp. C,ur. Length abont S.M inche,,; wing, 2.70; tail aho.* .T inches. Head nbove
and below black, separated by white on the .sides ..f the head; baok browni.sh-ash. Be-
IQO NORTH AMERICAN. BIRDS.
nt'ftth wliito, tinifod witli pnli; browiiish-wliito on the sides. Outer tnil-fefitliera, primaries,
HiKJ .secoiHlaries l)roiiiiiy eil^'eil witli white, iiivolviiiff nearly the whole outer web of outer
tiiil-l'eatiier. Tail mueh grailuateil ; the outer H.-uther iiljout .50 ol' un inch shorter than
the middle. Seeond quill about as long as the secondaries.
IIai^ Region of Missouri River to Roeky Mountanis.
Tlii.g nice is very similiir to the P. atricapillus, but differs from it
somewhat as atriaipilhis does from cnroliiu-iisis. Its size is much greater;
the tail proportionally longer, and much more graduated ; the white of
wing and tail purer and more extended. The bill appears to be stouter
and more conical. Tlie back ha.s, i)erhaps, a little more yellowish. The
spurious or first primary is larger.
It will be a difficult matter to retain this as a species distinct from
atriaipiUus, in view of the insensible gradation from one form to the other ;
and it may be looked ujwn, witli scarcely a douljt, as simply a long-tailed
Western variety of the common species. P. Occident alls, and, probably, even
P. caro/iiioisiti, may even fall under the same category, their peculiarities
of color and size being precisely such as would a jjriori be exjiected from
their geographical distribution.
Habit.s. The Long-tailed Titmouse appears to have an extended distribu-
tion between the Missi.ssippi Valley and the IJocky Mountains, from Texas
into the British Possessions, siiecimens having been received from Fort
Simpson and Lake Winnipeg. Among the ncjtes of the late Robert Ken-
nicott is one dated Lake Wiimipeg, -Tune G, mentioning the dissection of a
female of this species found to contain a full-sized egg. A memorandum
made by Mr. Ross, dated at Fort William, May 15, sjieaks of this bird
as abundant at Fort Simpson, from x\vigust until November, the last having
been seen Xovember 10. One was shot, June 2, on Winnipeg River, "a
female, who was about to lay her egg."
In regard to its distinct individual history but little is as yet known. It
was discovered and first described by the late Edward Harris, of New Jersey,
who accompanied ^Ir. Audubon in his expedition to the upper branches of
the Missouri River, and who obtained this bird on the Yellowstone, about
thirty miles above its junction with the Missouri, on the 26th of July. He
describes its notes as similar to those of the common atricapiUvs, but less
harsh and querulous, and more licjuid in their utterance. Subsequently
specimens were obtained Ijy Mr. Keru, artist to the exploring exjiedition
under Fremont in 1840.
It is the largest species of this genus in America. In its breeding-habits
it is not diflerent from the Eastern representatives. Mr. R F. Goss found
this species breeding abundantly nt Neosho Falls, in Kansas. Tliey nest in
decayed stumps, hollow trees, branches, logs, etc., after the manner of the
atricitpi/lus. The excavation is usually ten or twelve inches, and even
metre, in deijth. The nest is warmly made of a loose soft felt composed of
the fur and fine hnir of small ([uadrupeds, feathers, and tlie finer mosses.
PAIUU.K — TIIK TlTMlCi:.
101
The eggs, usually five, occasionally eight, in nuniljer, are of a rounded
oval siiupe, measuring .GO by .50 of an inch. They have a ])ure duli-wliite
ground, and the entire egg is very uniformly and pretty tliickly covered
with tine markings and small blotches of red and reddiali-brown inter-
mingled with a lew dots of purplish.
Farus atricapillus, var. occidentalis, Baird.
WESTEBN CmCKAOEE.
Pitrnsnccidentdlis, Raikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 3!)] (W. Territory) : Hfiviow, 81. — Sii.atki!,
fatal. 1861, 14, no. 82. — Elliot, lUiist. 1, pi. viii. — CoorKU, Birds' Cal. 1, 4j.
Si'. Cii.vu. Tarsi leiifrtliciifd. Tail <rniduato(l ; ontor ilsitlior about .25 of an incli siiorter
than the middle. Above dark browni.-ih-ash ; iiead and neek al)ove uiul below black sepa-
rated on the sides by white; beneath lifrjit, dirty, rusty yellowish-brown, scarcely whiter
along the middle of body. Tail and wings not quite so much edged with whitish as in P.
afn'rapillus. Length about 4.7") ; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.40.
IIaii. Northwest coast region of the United States.
This race is of the same size as P. atrkapillus, and resembles it in its
markings ; the ashy of the back is, however, washed with a dtirker shiido
of yellowish-l)rown. The brown of tlie under parts is so much darker as to
cause tlie predominant color there to be a pale yellowish-brown, instead
of brownish-white. The fourtli quill is longest; the fifth and sixth a little
siiorter than tlie third ; tlie second is about as h)ng as the secondaries. The
tail IS rounded, rather more so than in most atrkcqnllas, the diffei-ence in the
lengths of the feathers amounting to about .25 of an inch. The amount
of light margining to the quills and tail-feathers is much as in atricamllus,
but rather less, perhaps, on the tail.
This seems to be the Pacific coast representative of the P. atrimpiUii^
as septcntnomt/is belongs to the middle region, corresponding in its di«er-
ences witii otiier Western representatives of Plistern species.
Habits. Dr. Cooper, in his Birds of Washington Territory, says of
this variety: "The common Black-capped Chickadee, so abundant in the
Eastern States, is, in Washington Territory, represented by the Western
litmouse, freipienting the low thickets and trees, where it is always busilv
employed seeking food." He observed its nest near Puget Sound, burrowed
in soft lytten wood. Dr. Suckley found it quite abundant in the valley of
the Willamette, and also at Fort Vancouver during winter. In habits it
closely resembles the Black-Cap of the Eastern States.
It is chieHy found in Oregon and Washington Territory, visitin- the
iwrthern part of California in winter, when it is also abundant nea"r the
Columbia Biver. At this season it is generally found among the deciduous
trees along streams and oak groves, seeking its food among the branches.
It feeds oil seeds and insects, and is very fond of fresh meat, fat, and crumbs
102 x<»i{Tii AMKrucAX iiruns.
of bread. They migrate but little, reumiiiin<^ at the Columbia River even
when the <,'rounil is covered with snow. Tiie egf,'s are as yet unknown, but
without doubt they closely resemble those of the Eastern species.
Farus carolinensis, Audubon.
BOUTHEBN CHICKASEI.
Pnnis mrnlinnisl.i. Am. Oiii. lUiig. II, 1834, 474, \A. Ax. —In. Birds Am. II, 1841, l.'i'i,
jil. cxxvii. - IJ.Mlili, Hiiils N'. .\m. ISSS, 3i)2 ; Kc-view, 81. — SiX.vrKli, C'lital. IStil,
i:t, III). 81. I'uxiU caroUnaisui, BoN. Consi). 1850, 230.
Sr. CiiAH. Seconil »niill iiii|)iTi.Mably longer tliaii soeondnrici. Tail vory little roundeil.
Loiigtli alioul •t.")0 inches; wiiig les^s than 2.5(1; tail, '2.40. Back l)ro\vni.'*h-ash. Head
above, anil throat, black, separated on sides of head liy white. Beneath white; browni.-<li-
white on sides. Onter tail-leathers, ju'lniaries, and .secondaries, not edged with white.
II.\B. South Atlantic and gidf n-gion of I'nited State.*, north to Washington, I). ('.
Texas and the Mississippi Valley ; north to Central Illinois ; the only species in the
southern portion of tlu; latter State.
This species is, in general, rather smaller than P. atriccqrilhin, although
the tail and wing appear to be of much the same size. The body and feet
are, however, snuiller, and the extent of wing is three quarters of an inch
less. Tiie bill is apparently shorter and stouter.
The primaries are proportionally and absolutely considerably longer than
the secondaries in the present sjjecies, the difference being .55 of an iiicli,
instead of .45. The tail is rather more roundetl, the fetithers narrower.
The tail is considerably shorter tlnm the wing, instead of longer ; the
black of the throat extends much farther back, is more dense ami more
sharply defined behind, than in atriatpilhis. Taking into view these dif-
ferences, and othei's of color, we feel justified in retaining this as a species
distinct from atrimjnlliis, and, iu fact, having mcrulioiialis as its nearest
relative (see Syno[)tical Table). IJoth this species and atrmtpilhis are found
together in the Middle States, each preserving its characteristics.
Hauits. South of the once famous line of Mason and Dixou this smaller
counterpart of the (Jhickadee seems to entirely replace it, although in New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, and occasionally even as I'ar to the north as New
York City, the two occur together. Its range is presumed to be all the
States south of the Potomac and the Ohio, as far to the west as the liio
Chande. It was probably this species, and not the atrmipillm, which was
met with by Dr. Woodhouse in the Indian Teri-icory. Without much doubt
it breeds in all the States south of Pennsylvania.
In Southern Illinois, as far north in the Wabash Valley iis the mouth of
White Iliver, this is the only species, unless the P. atricapilliis occasionally
occurs in winter. Specimens from this region are undistinguishable from
those taken in Georgia and the extreme Southern States, and do not present
the peculiar features of P. utricupillits. It is a very abundant species,
PARI D.K — THE TITMIPK 103
niitl resident, beiii;,' in winter one of tlie most common, as well iis one ol'
the most ramiliur liirils, inhabiting all luculilios, giving jtrelerunce neither
to swampy woods nor to door-yards, for it is as often seen in one \A\\vv. as
another. It is never gregarious, tliough many may often be seen or heard at
the same moment. It begins inciil»ation early in April, generally selecting
the wild phim and red-bud trees in the woods. This species very often
constructs its own nesting- places, and the soft wood of the.se trees is very
easily excavated. The excavation is generally made in a horizontal dead
limb, with the opening on the under side ; tiiis is neat and regular, and as
elaborate as those of any of the woodpeckers. Sometimes, however, a
natural cavity is selected, fre(piently in a pi tstmte stumit or "snag." The
nest is almost always a very elaborate structure, being a strong comi)act cup
or Ijed of "felt," whose main material is rabbit-fur and cow-hair.
In its habits it seems to resemble more closely the /'. jxtl ust rii of Europe
than the atricapill !(.•<, being generally found only in the immediate vicinity
of ponds and deep, marshy, moist woods. It is also rarely fouiitl other
than singly or in pairs, the parent birds, unlike most of this family, separat-
ing from their young soon after the latter are able to provide for tliemselves.
It rarely or never moves in Hocks.
Their notes are said to be ' i sonorous and less frequent than those of our
Black-capped Titmouse. In the winter a portion retire from the coast in
South Carolina into the interior of the State and into Florida, where Air.
Audubon found them, in the winter of 1831 and 1832, much more abun-
dant than he had ever seen them elsewhere. He found them breeding as
early as February, occasionally in the nests deserted by the J>rown-headed
Nuthatch. A nest obtained by Dr. Uachman from a hollow stump, about
four feet from the ground, was in form cup-shaped, measuring two inches
internally in diameter at the mouth, and three externally, with a depth
of two inches. It was constructed of cotton, fine wool, a few fibres of
plants, and so elaborately felted together as to be of uniform thickness
throughout.
Mr. Audubon was in error in regard to the eggs, -which he describes as
pure white. Their ground-color i ) of pure crystalline whiteness, but they
are freely and boldly marked all over with deej) reddisli-brown and red spots.
Tiiese, so far as we have compared the eggs, are larger, more numerous, and
more deeply marked than are any eggs of the utricu^illus we have ever met
with.
According to the observations of the late Dr. Alexander Gerhardt of
Whitfield Co\inty, Georgia, tiiese birds usually breed in holes that have
been previously dug out by the J'icKs jiKhfsrnis, or in decaying stuinjis not
more than five or six feet from the ground. He never met with its nest in
living trees. The eggs are from five to seven in number, and are usually
deposited in Georgia from the 10th to the last of Apiil.
The eggs of this sjjecies are slightly larger than those of the atricapillm,
104 NOllTH AMERICAN UIIIDS.
ami the reddish-brown blotches with which they are profusely covered are
much more distiiuily marked. Tiiey are of a si»heroidal oval in shape,
lia\ 3 a pure white ground, veiy unilormly aiul genor.illy sjn-inkled witli
blotches of a reddisli-brown. Tiiey measure .00 by .50 of an inch.
Farus r-ifescens, Towns.
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE.
I'm us riif.-mii.i, TiiWNsi-.Ni), .1. A. N. Se. Pliil. VII, ii, 1S37, 190.— Ari). On\. Riog. IV,
isas, 371, jil. n'cliii. — Id. Birds Am. 1841, 158, pi. c.\.\ix. — ItAiiiii, Itinls N. Am.
IS.W, ay4; Review, 83. — CooPKR & Sl'cKl.KV, P. U. U. li.'i.. XII, ll, la.lit, 194
(nesting). —S(.i,.vrKii, Catiil. 1801, 14, no. 8f!. — Oai.i, & HANNi.sTi'.it (Aliuska). —
(.'iMiiM'.::, Hiiils (.'al. 1, 47. I'uecih: riifisccii.i, ItiixAi". (."onsji. ISSO, '230.
Si'. CiiAK. Whole licad and neck almve, aii<l throat IVoiii bill to upper part of hreast,
sooty lilai-kish-liiowii. Sides of head ami iieek. upper pail of hreast, and middle of hody,
white; l)a(;k and sides dark brownish-eliestuut. Length, 475 inclit^'; wing, 2.'M; tail,
2.10.
Had. Western I'liiled States, n<'ar I'aeilie eoast. '
Haiuts. The Cliestuut-backefl Titmoiiso was first obtained by Townsend
on the banks uf the Coluudtia JJiver, and described in th(! Journal of the
riiiladelphii) Academy. It is a resident, throuohout the year, of the forests
of the Columbia, and is found throuohout California. Like all of thi.s
familiar family, they may be .seen in small ilocks, of all ages, in the autuum
and winter, moving briskly about, uttering a nund)er of feeble (juerulous notes,
after the manner of tlie nti-iciipillux, liut never joining in anything like the
(jnaint and jingling .song of that l)ird. Tliey occasionally have a coidi
warbling cliatter. These busy little gniu))s may be often seen in coin ,ny
with the Pftnis (irridftifa/is and tlu; Iteifithtu sntriipa, moving through tlie
b.ishes and thickets, cartd'ully collecting insects, their larvie ami eggs, for a
♦ew moments, and tlien Hying olf for sonu! otlier jiliu-e. Tliey are suppo.sed
to rear tlu'ir young in the midst of tlie densest forests.
Mr. Nuttall states tliat when the gun thins their raidvs the survivors dis-
play surprising coinage and solicitiule, following their destroyer with wailing
cries, entres ng for their companions.
J)r. (buubel found the young of this species in great abumlancc ammul
^lonterey in the fall and winter months. Dr. Ileermann saw them in June,
].sr)2, feeding their young ill the vicinity of San Francisco, where, however,
they are rare.
In Washington Territory, Dr. ( 'oo])er ftamd this the most abundant species.
It ))rel'erred tlie dense overgieens, where large parties cotdd be found at all
seasons busily seeking food among the leaves luul brar.ches, ascending even
to the higliest tops. Tiiey were usually in company witli tlie Jicijnii and
the otlier Titmice. Mr. JJischofl" found them abundant at Sitka.
PARID.E- THE TITMICE. 105
They iicst, like all the others of this genus, in holes in soft ilecuyed tnniks
and large? limbs oi" trees a lew feet from the ground. Their eggs are not as
yet known.
Farus hudsonicus, Forst.
HUDSON'S BAT CHICKADEE; BBOWK-CAPFED CHICKADEE.
Pariis hudsiiiiicK.i, Fdiistki!, I'liilos. Trans. l.XII, 1772, HS.'t, 4:!0. — Am. Oni. Bioj^. II,
1834, 543, 111. (•xciv. — 111. Hiid.s Am. II, 1.S41, Im, pi. cxxviii. — lUiuii, Kiitl.s N.
Am. 18.')8, :!'.t,^); licvicw, 8'2. — S.\.MrKi..s, 18,".. - D.u.i. & H.VNNisrKinAliisku). I'drns
hutlMii kits \i\r. lit/onilix, liliYANl', I'r. Best. .Soc. N. II. IX. 1803, 308.
Si". Cii.Mi. Above yi'lliwi.-^li olivnp('on.«-lirown ; top of liuiu! ])iircr brown, not very
tliU'i'ii'iit, in tint. Chin and throat dark .><c)oty-hrown. Sides of hoad white. I?eneath
while; sides and mial repjion lifiiit lirownish-chcstnut. No whitisii on win;;.'! or tail.
Tail nearly even, or slif^litly eniarginale and roundud. Lateral leathers abont .20 shortest.
Len<,'th abont 5 inehes; winjr, 2.40; tail, '2.(!(i.
IIaii. Northern portions of North America, from Atlantic^ to l*aci(io.
Sjiecimens from the most nortliern localities iiii])ear lai-gor than those from
Maine and Nova Scotia (/'. litloralis, HitVANT), witii luoportioiially longer
tails (li.OO inches, instead of 2.4(1). We can, however, detect no other
dilferencc.
The J'dnix nibirii'iia of Kurope is very similar in colruation and characters
to tlie r. hii(lKoniii(-f. Tlic luincipal dilference is seen in the cheeks, which
in Htbiririts are pure wliite, this color extending along the entire side of tho
neck, widening behind, anil e.xteiitling round towards the back. In hinhoni-
vm the cheeks behind the eyi's and sides of the neck are ash-gray, tlie white
being contined to the region Itelow or near tiie eye. The smoky-gray of the
upper part of head iiml neck in sihivints is in a stronger contrast witli tlio
brighter nd'cscent-gray of the , ...id is separated from it. by an obscure,
conceided, whitisii dorsal half-collar, represented 'Mxhtiditi^iiicKn only by a didl
grayish shade in the plumage.
Haiuts. This interesting species, one of the liveliest and mo,st animated
of its family, belongs to the northern and eastern sections of Nt ' i America.
It is found in the eastern and northern portions of Maine, and ])robably also
in tiie northern parts of Ni-w York, Vermont, and New llampsiiire. In the
heavily wooded mountain-valley of Krrol, in tiie latter Stale, Mr. Maynard
met with this bird in the latter jtart of Octolicr, in company N.ith tho
common airirnpil/n.s. in the same month he also obtained two birds in
Albany, in the uortliwe.stern ''orner of Main(\ A single s])ecimen was
taken at Concord, Massachusetts, October L".', by ]\lr. William IJrewster.
Near Calais it is resident, but not common. It is more abundant in the
islands of tiie Iky of Fundy, wlicn? it takes (lie jilacc, almost exclusively,
of the alriiapillm. Tiio writer lirs( met with thesi; lively little wood-sprites
14
106 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
ill 1850, in the tliick swampy woods wliicli cover one of the small islands
near (Iraiid jMonan. Their general ap]iearaiice as they fhtted through tlie
woods, or rustled restlessly among the tangled debris of de(..._|Iiig trees and ■
underl)riish with which the forest was clioked, was not unlike that of our
common J>laek-('ap. Yet there was an indescribable something both in their
cries and in their manners that at once suggested a ililference of S2)ecies. To
my ear their cries were sharper, clearer, and a trifle harsher. There was
none (if that resonant Jingle so full of charm in the Chickadee. Their notes,
too, were more articulate, more like distinct words, and were brought out at
certain times with an emjihasis the eil'ect of which was very striking.
Ueginning with tsdiCi-dei, the dee-dve-dSe was reiterated with an almost
incessant volubility.
It seemed to be a more retiring bird, never frequenting the houses, but
keeping closely to thick and retired woods. Yet it is not a timid species, but
seemed entirely unmindful of our presence, or, when mindful of it, to resent
it as an impropriety, rather than to fear it as a danger. They ajipareiitly had
nests or young at the time of my visit, though I could not detect their local-
ity. One jiair became at last so annoyed at my jirolonged presence as to
manifest their uneasiness by keeping within a few feet of my heail, follow-
ing me wherever I went, and without ceasing from their clo,se surveillance
until I finally left their grove and emerged into the open country. All the
time they lirought out the cry of dee-dee with a clear, ringing emphasis that
was almost startling.
A few days later, being at H lifax, Mr. Andrew Downes, the naturalist,
took me to the nest of these birds in a small grove in the vicinity of that
city. The nest was in a small beech-tree, and had l)een cut through the liv-
ing w(i(h1. The excavation, which was not more than two feet from the
ground, was about ten inches in de]tth, was in a horizontal jjosition only
about two inches, wlmre it turned abrujitly downward, and from a width of
an inch and a half assumed a width of three, and a dejjth of seven or eight
inches. Tliis was warndy lined with feathers and soft fur. The nest con-
tained young birds. These particulars we only ascertained when we had
laid '^are the excavation by a sharj) hatchet. Though disajti»ointed in our
seiirch for eggs, yet ve witnessed r very touching manifestation of devotion
on the ])art of the parents, and of neighl)orly .solicitude in various other in-
mates of the grove, which was at or^e most interest ing and a scene long to
be rememltered.
With all tJie self-sacrificing devotion of the Rlack-t'a]), these birds di.s-
jihiyed a bohlness and an aggi-ssive intreimlity that at once commanded
our respect and admimtion. I never witne.s.sed anything quite equal to it.\
They tiew at our faces, assailed our arms as we wielded the invading hatchet,
and it was dillicult not to do them even unintentional injury without aban-
doning our jairpose. IJefore we could examine the nest they had entered,
and had to be again and again removed. As soon as we were satisfied that
PAK1D.E — THE TITMICE. 107
the nest of tliis hemic pair did not contain wliat we sont^lit, we left tlicni, and
tnrned to look with e([Uiil adniinition upon tiio imlignant asseni1>ly of feath-
eied remonstrants by wliich wo were surrouui^od. The neij;hl)orin<^' trees
swarmed with a variety of birds, several of which we had never l)efore seen
in their sunnner homes. There were the lled-Poll Warbler, the JUaclv and
Yellow Warbler, and many others, all earnestly and elocpiently crying out
shame upon our proceedings.
Dr. Bryant, in his Notes on the Birds of Y:jr?noutli, N. S., etc., mentions
finding quite a inimber of this .species on Big Mud Island, near that place.
A pair of these birds with their young were seen by him near Yarmoutli on
the 3d of July. Their habits seemed to him identical with those of the
Black-Cap. The young were fully grown and could Hy with case, yet tlieir
parents were so solicitous about tlieir safety that he could almost catch them
with his ha ". Their notes appeared to him similar to those of our common
species, but sharper and more tiling, and can be readily imitated by repeat-
ing, with one's front teeth sluit together, the syllables ('.ee-dee-ilte-tlee.
Mr. Audubon found a nest of this Titmouse inl^alirador. It was built in a
decayed stump about three feet front the ground, was purse-slraped, eight
inches in depth, two in diameter, and its sides an-inch thick. It wius entirely
composed of the finest fur of various quadrupeds, cliiefly of tlie nortiieru
hare, and all so thickly and ingeniou.sly mattetl throvighout as to seem as if
felted by the hand of man. It was wider at the bottom than at the top.
The birds vehemently assailed the party.
Mr. Boss, in notes comnumicated to the late Mr. Kennicott, mentions that
specimens of this sjiecies were shot at Fort Simpson, October I'i, in com-
pany with J', septentrional is, and others were afterwards seen towards the
mountains. The notes he describes as harsher than tliose of the septintrio-
imlia. The Smithsonian nuiseum contains s])eo'iiiens from Fort Yukon and
Great Slave Lake, besides the hicalities already referred to. Mr. Dall found
it the commonest Titmouse at Nulato, abunilant in the winter, but not pres-
ent in the spring.
Tiie eggs of tliis species measure .5G by .47 of an inch, are of a I'oundcd
oval shape, am' with a white ground are somewhat sparingly marked witli
a few reddish-brown spots. These are usually grouped in a ring around tiie
larger end.
f ENus FSALTRIPARUS, ^Boxap.
Pmltripnru.i, Ronav. Coniptcs R('n(lu.s, XXXI, IS.'iO, 478. (Tyiio, P. mclanotis.)
^Kili/linliini.i, Caii.vnis, Musi'iim lli'liicnmim, 1851, UO. (Tyiw, Parm trylhruccphalus.)
Pmltrw, Cassin, 111. X. Am. Uird.s, 1853, lU.
(iKN. CiiAU. Sizi" very small ami .■^li'iuler. Bill very small, short, coniprcssi'il, nml
with its ii|)por onlliiK" iiiiich t'lirviMl for tin; terminal half. I'ppi'r maiidililo much di'opi'r
than under. Tail Kmil', slender, nmcli graduated; miieh hinii-er tliaii liie \viiijr'<; llio
I'eutlicis very narrow. Tarsi coiisiduiably longer than tho niiddlo toe. No black ou the
108
XOHTli AJ[ERICAN BIRDS.
crown or throat. Eyos while in somo specimens, brown, in others. Nest purse-shaped;
eggs un.spotted, wliite.
No bird of thi.s genus belongs to the eastern portion of the United States.
The three species may be defined as follows : —
A» Tload striped witli black on the sides.
P. melanotis. The stripes passing under the eye and uniting on the
occiput. Huh. Eastern Mexico
B« No stripes on the head.
P. minimus. Back ashy ; crown light brown. ll(th. Pacific Province of
United States var. viinimua.
Back and crown uniform ashy. Ilab. iiliddle Province and southern Rocky
Mountains of United States var. plumbeus.
Fsaltriparus melanotis, Bonap.
BLACK-EAKED BVSH-TITKOUSE.
Parus melanotis, Hautlaub, Hcv. Zobl. 1844, 216. Pn-cile melanotis, Bp. Consp. 1850,
230. .Kyilluilisciis melanotis. Cab. llus. Heiii. 1, 1850, 1851, DO. Psallria mclanolis,
Wk,stki!MAXN, Bijd. Dierk. 1851, IG, plate. Rwllriparus mclaniilis, Bonap. C. U.
XXXVIII, 1854. — Sd.ATKi!, P. Z. S. 18.58, 29*). — In. 1864, 172 (City Mex.).—
S. 1.VIN, Ibis, 1866, li)0 (C.uatemnlii). — BAinn, iiinls N. Ain. 1858, 386, pi. liii, tig.
3 ; lievicw, 84. Psaltriparits pcrsonatus, Bonap. C. U. XXXI, Sept. 1850, 478.
Sp. Char. A black patch on each cheek, nearly mt^eting behind. Crown and edges of
the wing and tail a.sh-gniy ; rest of upper ]tarls j'ellowish-brown, lighter on the nnnp.
Beneath whitish; anal region tinged with yellowish-brown. Length about 4 inches;
wing, I.iJO; tail, 2.^0.
Had. Eastern Mexico; south to Guatemala; Oaxiica (high region), Scl.^ter. East
Humboldt Mountains, Nevada i" IIidoway.
Habits. In regard to the specific peculiarities and tlie distinct individual
habits of tlie members of this pretty little
species, little is at present known. Its mode
of nesting has not been observed, and no
mention is made, l)y those who have met
with it, of its peculiarities of song, nor have
we any information in regfird to any of its
habits. Its geograpliical distrib .tion, so far
as ascertained, is from the south side of the
vall(\y of the Hio (Jrande of Mexico to Gua-
temala, and there is no reliable evidence of
its crossing the United Stai.'s boundary line, unless Mr. Kidgway is correct
in his assurance that he saw it in the East Humboldt Mountains of Nevada,
near Fort Kuby. It was first dcscrii)ed from (luatemalan specimens. Mr.
0. Salvin (Ibis, 18()(), p. 190) states that on more tlian one occasion he
observed what he believed to be tliis species, in the pine-woods of the
mountiiins near Solola, and above the lake of Atitlan.
2»T11 6
PsaltrijHirus minimHs.
I'ARID.E— THE TITMICE. 109
(.1
Fsaltriparus minimus, var. minimus, Bonap.
LEAST BtrSH-nTHOTJSE.
Panm minimus, Town.sknd, .1. A. N. Sc. VII, ir, 1837, 100. — Arn. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838,
382, 111. cedxxxii, tij,'s. fi, (i. — In. Birds Am. II, 1841, 160, pi. cxxx. Pavilc minima,
Bon. Con.sp. 1850, 230. I'.iaUria minium, ('a.-^sin, lllust. 18.53, 20. I'ml/ri/innin
minimiui. Box. C. li. XX.WIll, 18,'i4, 62. — Baikd, Birds N. Am. ISi'.S, 3i»7 ; l!i-
view, 84. — Cooi'EU & Suckley, P. K. U. Kep. Xll, ii, 1851), 195. — (Jocu'EU, Birds
Cal. I, 48.
Sp. CiiAii. Tail loiip-, feathers graduated. Above ratlujr dark olivaeeoiis-cinorcons ;
top and sides of head smoky-brown. Beneath pale whitish-brown, darker on the sides.
Length about 4 inches ; winjr, 1.00 ; tail, 2.25.
IIab. Pacific coast of United States.
There is (juite an appreciable tlifl'eretice between specimens of this species
from Washington Territory and California ; the latter are smaller, the under
parts paler. In the series before us, however, we see no grounds for
specific distinction.
Hauits. This interestinjf little species was first added to our fauna by the
indefatigable Mr. Town.send in 1837. It
is abundant throughout the I'acific coast
from Fort Steikcoora to Fort Tejon. Dr.
Gambel found it exceedingly abundant
both in the Kocky jMountains and through-
out California. During the winter the
otherwise cheerless woods were alive with
the busy and noisy troops of these restless
and industrious birds, gleaning their scanty _ „ .
' n ri J Psaltnixtrus minimus.
fare in company with the licguli, in every
possible position and manner, from bush and tree. He describes their anx-
ious solicitous searcli for food as (|uite curious. They kei)t up a continual
twittering, and so intent were tliey in their eniitloyment that they api)eared
to lose sight of all danger, and it was by no means uiuisual to be so sur-
rounded by a flock as almost to render it possible to catch them in the haiul.
Dr. Cooper found this species abundant in Washington Territory, but
never met with it north of the Columliia Kiver. Dr. Suckley says it is (piite
common at Fort Steilacoom. He could not, however, detect any din'erence
in its habits from those of other s])ecies of this family. He saw none in
Washington Territory during the winter, and presumes they all migrate to
the South, though the riifcsccns and the ovci(hntalU are found there through-
out the winter. Towiisend, however, sp(!aks of it as a constant resident
about the Columbia lliver, hopping around among the bushes, hanging from
the twigs in the manner of other Titmice, twittering all tlie while with a
rapid enunciation resembling the words tJiNhLsh txhitit-ttiec-twcc.
110 NOKTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Mr. Nuttall first observed their arrival on the banks of the Walilamet Iliver
about the niiddle ol' Mny. They were very industriously engaged in quest
of insects, and were by no means shy, but kept always in the low bushes in
the skirts of the %\ oods. On one occasion the male bird was so solicitous in
regard to the safety of the nest as to attract him to the place where, sus-
pended from a low bush, about four feet I'roni the ground, hung tlieir curious
home. It was i'ormed like a long purse, with a round hole for entrance near
tlie top, and made of nios.s, down, lint of plants, and lined with feathers.
The eggs were six in number, pui'e white, and already far gone toward hatch-
ing. In the following June, in a dark wood near Fort Vancouver, he saw
a tiock of about twelve, which, by imitating tlieir cliirjiing, he was able to
call around him, and whicli kejit up an incessant and (pierulous chirping.
A nest of this bird presented Ijy j\Ir. Xuttall to Audubon was cylindrical in
form, nine inches in length and tln-ee and a half in diameter. It was sus-
pended from the fork of a small twig, and was composed exterucilly of hypnum,
lichens, and fibrous roots so interwoven as to present a smooth surface, with
a few stems of grasses and feathers intermingled. The aperture was at the
top, and did not exceed seven eighths of an inch in diameter. The diameter
of the internal passage for two thirds of its length was two inches. This
was lined with the cottony down of willows and a vast quantity of soft
feathers. The eggs were nine in number, pure white, .56 of an inch by .44
in their measurement.
Dr. Cooper found them throughout the year near San Francisco. He
found one of their nests at San Diego as early as the first of !March. The
nest is so large, compai'ed with the size of the birds, as to suggest the idea
that tlie Hock unite to build it. He gives the measurements as eiglit inches
in length and three in diameter, outside ; the cavity five inches long, one
and a half in diameter. It was cylindrical, and suspendetl by one end from
a low branch.
When one of these birds is killed, Dr. Cooper says that the others come
round it with great show of an.xiety, and call plaintively until tliey find it
A\ ill not follow tliem, becoming so fearless as almost to allow of their being
taken by the hand.
Fsaltriparus minimus, var. plumbeus, Bmrp.
lEAD-COLOBED BTTSH-TITMOVBE.
Psallnn phimhrn, Yi\\VA\ V\: A. N. S. VII, Juno, 18.'i4, 118 (Little Colorado). rsnIMpnrm
phniiheiin, Haiui), IJinls N. Am. ISfiS, 3i»8, pi. x.vxiii, iig. 2 ; Review, 84. — Sclater,
Catal. 1861, 398, no. 77. — Cooi-EK, Birds Cal. I, 49.
Sp. Char. Tail loii^, feather.^ p;ni(liiato(l. Al)ove rather liffht olivacoon.'^-cincroous.
Top of head rather clearer: forehead, chin, and ,«idcs of liead, pale smoky-hrowii. Be-
neath brownish-white, scarcely darker on the sides. Length about 4.20 inches; wing,
2.15; tail, 2.50.
PARID.E — THE TITMICE. HI
Had. Southern Rocky Mountain rojrion of Fnitoil Ptatos, from mountains of Wost
Arizona to Green Kiver, Wyoming; west to Carson City, Nevada (Uir)GWAYj.
This variety is very similar to tlic Ptudtyipnviis minimus of the west coast,
which it represents in the Kocky Momitaiu region. It is, however, apprecia-
bly larger, the wings and tail proportionally longer. The top of the head is
plumbeous, nnilbrm with the bu(!k, instead of smoky-brown. The back is a
paler ash, the nnder parts darker.
HiUJiTs. Of the history of this variety but little is known. It is found in
the southern portion of the Iiocky Mountain regions, within the United
States, in Arizona and Xew jMexico. Tlie extent of its area of distribution
remains to be ascertained. \)v. Kennerly met with it on Little Colorado
I{i\ er, where he observed it among the scattered bushes along the banks of
tlie river, occurring in large flocks. These passed rajjidly from place to place,
uttering their short, (piick notes. He afterward met with them along the
head waters of Hill Williams Fork, inhabiting the tops of the cotton-wood
trees. "When attracted to them by their notes, they could oidy be seen after
a very careful search. Ho obtained no knowledge as to their mode of nest-
ing, and no information, so far as we are aware, has been obtained in regard
to their eggs. It may, however, be safely conjectured that they are white,
and hanlly distinguishable fiom those of the minimus. Dr. Cones found
them common near Fort Whipple, Arizona.
Mr. Iiidgway met with this bird in especial abundance among the canons
of West Humboldt ^louiitains in September. He found it also in all suit-
able places westward to the very base of the Sierra Nevada ^lountains. It
was met witli principally in the thick brushwood bordering the streams, in
ever-restless companies, continually twittering as they flew from bush to
bush, in single rows. !Mr. Iiidgway describes these birds as remarkably
active in their movements. If unmolested, they were exceedingly unsus-
picious and familiar. During November he found them inhabiting the
cedars, always associating in scattered flocks.
Genus AURIPARirS, Baikd.
Aiiripants, Baiud, Rev. Am. Hiids, 1804, 85. (Typo, ^-EijiUuilns jUivkcps, SuND.)
Ges. Ciiau. Form sylvicoline. Bill conieal, nearly .wtraight, and very acute ; the eoin-
mi.ssuro very shghtly and gently curved. Nostrils concealed by decumbent l)ristle.'^.
Wings long, little rounded; the Hrst quill half the second; third, fourth, and liflh quills
nearly ei[ual, ami longest. Tail slightly graduated. Lateral toes equal, the anterior united
at the extreme ba.se. Hind toe small, about ui^uul to tho lateral. Tarsus but little longer
than the middle toe.
This genus is closely allied to Paroiths of Euro]ie, as shown in Birds of
North America (p. <id\)), tliongh suflieiently difl'erent. It is much more syl-
vicoline in appearance than the other American Paridxv.
112
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Auriparus flaviceps, IJaiud.
TELLOW-HEAOBO BUBH-TITMOVSE ; VESDIK.
^Effi/halns flaviceps, Sunuevai,!,, Ol'vcrsigt afVct. Ak. FiJih. VII, v, 1850, 129. Psaltria
fltivkciiK, Sl'l. p. Z. S. XX IV^, Miucli, 1856, 'AT. rmllriparus flaviceps, Sci,. Catal.
Am. lUrds, 1801, 13, no. 70. raroidrs fluviccps, Haikd, IJiids N. Am. 1858, 400, pi.
liii, li{,'. 2. Auriparus fliiviceps, IIaiiid, lU-view, 1804, 85. — (.'oopEii, liirda t'al. I,
51. Void rostrum oriuUum, Lawrenuk, Ann. N. Y. Lye. May, 1851, 113, pi. v, fig. 1
(Texas).
Sp. Char. Above oinereous; hond, all round, yellow; les.ser wing-coverta chestnut;
beneath browiiLsli-wliite. Lenpfth, 4.50 inches; winfr, 2.1C; tail, 2.35.
IIau. Valleys ol' the Rio Grande and Colorado ; Cape St. Lucas.
Habits. This new and interesting little species was first added to our
lanna by Mr. Kawrence in 1851, only a year
after its first description as a bird of Mexico.
Notwithstanding the abundance in which it
has been in certain localities, less has been
developed in regard to its habits and specific
characteristics than Ave seem to have had a
right to anticipate.
It was found in Western Texas, in Mexico,
in the lower valleys of New Mexico and
Arizona, and is very abundant at Cape St.
Lucas. Of the eighteen species of birds found by Mr. John Xantus breed-
ing in the last-named locality, this one was regarded as the most abundant.
In a letter from that gentleman, written in August, 1859, he mentioned
that he had collected over one hundred eggs of this species, during that
season, in the immediate vicinity of Cape St. Lucas.
Dr. Heermann, in his report on the birds oUserved in Lieutenant William-
son's explorations, states that he first discovered tliis species in Southern
California, at the terminus of the Mohave
Eiver. Owing to their extreme wildness,
he was not able to obtain any specimens.
In searching for their food, he states that
they often remained suspended with their
backs downward, after the manner of the
Titmice. He found their nests quite
abundant, though from the lateness of
tlie season few of the birds were re-
maining, in the neighborhood of Fort
Yuma. Dr. Heermann describes their
nests as spherical, formed of twigs, and having the entrance on one side.
The interior was lined with down and feathers, and contained usually from
Auriparus flaviceps.
Auriparus flavierps.
PARin.K — Til !•: TITMICE. .> 113
four to six e<,'<^a. Tliese lio (losei'il)es as liaviiiji, when fresh, a ground-color
of i)iile blue, duHlied all over with small hlack si»ot.s.
Dr. Kenuerly, in his Report on the IJirds of the Mexican Pioundary Siirvey,
states that he met witli tiiis species in the vicinity of the Ikio Gr.inde. They
were very wild, flew rapidly, and to quite a distance before they alighted.
They seemed to frequent the low mez([uite-bushes on the hillsides.
Mr. Xantus found this species, when he first arrived at San Lucas, on the
4th of April, with young birds already fully Hedged, although others were
still breeding and continued to breed until the middle of 'luly. Two fifths
of all the eggs he collected tluit .season, lie writes, were of this species. This
may, however, have been in part owing to the conspicuous prominence of
their nests, as well as to their abun(hinc(!. Xantus found the nest in va-
rious positions. In one instance it was suspended from a leafless bninch
not three feet from the ground, with its entrance nearly to the ground. In
another instance it was on an acacia twenty feet from the ground. For
the most part they are hung from low acacia-trees, on the extreme outer
branches. In all cases the entrance to the nest was from the lower end, or
towards the ground.
Dr. J. G. Cooper, in his History of the Dirds of California, speaks of find-
ing a large number of this beautiful little bird during the whole winter fre-
quenting the thickets of algarobia and other shridns, and with haliits inter-
mediate between those of Titmice and Warblers, corresponding with their
intermediate form. Their song resembles that of the Cliickadee, and they
also uttered a loud cry, as they sat on liigh twigs, witli a triple lisping note
resembling tzee-tee-tce. Dr. Coo])er found a pair building on the lOth of
March. They first formed a wall, nearly spherical in outline, of the thorny
twigs of the algarobia, in which tree the nest was usually built. They then
lined it with softer twigs, leaves, the down of plants, and feathers. They
covered the oiitside with thorns, until it became a mass as large as a man's
head, or nine inches by five and a half on the outside. The cavity is four
and a half inches by two, with an opening on one side just large enough for
the bird to enter. On the 27t]i of iVrarch, Dr. Cooper found the first nest
containing eggs. These were in all instances four in number, pale blue,
with numerous small brown spots, chiefly near the larger end, though some
had very few spots and were paler. Tiieir si/e he gives as .60 by .44 of an
inch. In one nest, which he closely observed, the eggs were hatched after
about ten days' incubation, and in two weeks uiore the young were ready to
leave their iiest.
Subfamily SIT TIN JE.
The characters of the Sittina- are exjiressed with suftlcient detail on page
86. The section is represented in America by a single genus, confined
mainly to the northern jtortion.
15
114
.VOHTK AMERICAN BIRDS.
Sitta cnroti-.^nsis
(JkNUS sitta, LiNNyKUM.
.V/«(/, LiN.N.tars, Syst. Nat. 1735. (Agaiisiz.)
Okn. Ciiak. Rill subulate, acutely pointed, compressed, ii))out as long as the head;
culnien and commi.'isure nenily
sti-nij^ht; gonys convex and as-
cending ; nostrils covered by a
tuil of bristles directed forward.
Tarsi stout, soutellate, about equal
to the middle toe, much .shorter
than the hinder, the claw of which
is half the total length. Outer
lateral toe much longer than in-
ner, and nearly ecjual to the mi<l-
dle. Tail very .short, broad, and
nearly even ; the feathers soft and
truncate. Wings reaching nearly
to the end of the tail, long and
acute, the first primary one third of (or Ie,s.s) the third, or longest. Iris brown. Nest in
holes of trees. Eggs white, .spotted with reddish.
Tlie North American species may be arranged as follows : —
A. Crown lilack. ,
S. carolinensiB. Belly white ; no bl.ack stripe through eye.
Bill, .70 long, .17 d(>cp. Black spots on tertials sharply defined.
IJab. Eastern rroviiice Norll\ America . . . var. euroliui-n.iis.
Bill, .80 long, .1'' deep. Black .spots on tertials obsolete ITnh. Middle
anil Western Pro-, nee United States, south to Cordova, Mexico, var. ac aleida.
S. canadensis. Bell ,■ brownish-rusty. A black stripe through eye. Hub.
Wliol<> of North America.
B« Crown not black.
S. pusilla. Crown light hair-brown ; hind too much longer than tlu^
middle one. Ihih. South Atlantic and (iulf States.
S. pygmaea. Crown greenish-plumbeous ; hind toe about equal to middle
one. Hub. Wcstei'ii and Middle Province United States, south to Xalapa.
Sitta carolinensis, var. carolinensis, Lath.
WHITE-BELLIEO NTTTHATCH.
SiUn etiropa-a, var. y, carolinensis, Gm. S. N. I, 1788, 440. Silta carolinensis. Lath. hid.
Orn. I, 17!>0, 2ti2 ; also of all other Anit'ri<'aii writers. —Ekichknbach, Handbucli,
Abh. II, 18.5S, 153, tab. d.xiii, figs. 35(i3, 35«4. — lUlun, Birds N. Am. 1858, 374,
pi. xxxiii, lig. 4 ; Kcview, 86. — Max. Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 106. Sitta mclanocephtla,
ViKiM,. Gal. I, 1834, 171, 111. dxxi. i.
Other figures: Wilson, Am. Oni. 1, pi. ii, fig. 3. — Auu. Oni. IJiog. II, pi. clii. — In.
B. A. IV, pi. ecxlvii.
Sp. Char. Above ashy-blue. Top of head and neck black. Under parts and sides of
'lead to a short distance above the eye white. L'lider tail-coverLs and tibial feathers
PAIUD.K — THE TITMICE.
115
Silln aculmla.
l)i-own ; fniipcalod piiiiiarifs white. Bill stmit. Foiimlo with lilnck of lu'!«l };los.-<e(l with
iishy. Leiijrth iihout <j inchi's ; wiiifj aliout :i.7-').
IIab. United States nid Uiitish I'roviiiccs ; west to Iho Valley of the Mi.«.soiiri.
TfATilTS. The coiriiion Wliite-liellied NiiMiatch ha.s an exteinletl (listrilm-
tion tlirougliout la-arly tlie wliole of Kasteni North Aiiieiicu, from the Athiu-
tic to the IJocky iMountaiiis. West of the great central plains it is replaced
by the var. andcnta. It ha.s not been
met with, so far as 1 tun aware, farther
north than Nova Scutiti. It is a resi-
dent of Eastern Maine, and is tpiite
common in the southern and western
portions of tlie same State. In jMa.ssa-
cinisetts it is rather coniiiion than abun-
dant, and more plentiful in the western
than in the eastern portio?\s of that
State.
The habits of this and tlu! other species
of Nut'.atches jmrtake somewhat of those
of the smaller Woodpec^kers and of the
Titmice. Without the noisy and restless
activity of the latter, they seek their food
in a similar manner, and not unfrecpiently do so in their company, moving up
or down the trunks and over or under the branches of trees, searching every
crack and crevice of the bark for insects, larvio, or eggs. Like the Woodpeck-
ers, they dig industriously into decayed brandies for the hidden grub, and like
both Woodjjeckei-s and Chickadees they industriously e.xcavate for themselves
a ])lace for their nests in the decayed trunks of forest trees. Their nest, how-
ever, is usually at a greater elevation, often some twenty or thirty feet from
the ground. The European Nutluitch is said to plaster up the entrance
to its nest, to contract its opening and lessen the diingers of unfriendly
intrusion. This habit has never been observed in any of the American
species.
All our ornithological writers have noticed the assiduities of the male
liird to his sitting mate, and the attention with which he supplies her with
food. He kee])s ever in the vicinity of the nest, calls her from time
to time to come to the mouth of the hole to take her food, or else to
receive his endearments and caresses, and at the ajjprotich of danger
fearlessly intervenes to warn her of it. Wluni feeding together, the male
bird keeps up his peculiar nasfil cry of hfink-honk, rei)eating it from time
to time, as he moves around the trunk or over the branches.
Their favorite food is insects, in every condition. With this, when abun-
dant, they seem content, and rarely wander from tlieir accustomed woods in
summer. In winter, when snow or ice covers the branches or closes against
them the trunks of trees, they seek the dwellings and out-houses for their
IIG NORTH AMEUICAN liUlDS.
uecessaiy food, ami will oven alight on the grouiul in (luest of seeds. In
searching; for food i.'inong the trees, Ihey move as readily with their heads
downward as in any other position. Their motion is a uniform and steady
progression, somewhat in the manner of a mouse, but never, like the Wood-
pecker, by occasional hops.
The Euroj)ean species ccdlect and store away the fruit of the hazel and
other nut-bearing trees. Our bird has been supj)osed to do the same thing,
but this is by no means an indisjtutable fact.
In some parts of the country absurd prejudices prevail against these inter-
esting little birds. They are indiscriminately confounded with the smaller
Woodi)eckers, called, with them, Sap-Suckers, and because in tiie spring and
fall they frequent old orchards are most unwisely, as well as unjustly, peree-
cuted. They are among the most active and serviceable of the fruit-grower's
benefactors. His worst enemies are their I'avorite food. It is to bti ho])ed
that soon a better-informed jjublic oi)inion will ])revail, cherishing and ju'o-
tecting, rather than seeking to destroy, this useful, affectionate, and attractive
si)ecies.
Interesting accounts are given in English works of the confiding tameness
of the European species. When kindly treated, it will come regularly for
its food, approaching within a foot or two of the hand of its benefactor,
and catching with its bill the food thrown to it before it can reach the
ground.
The pair work together in constructing the perforation in which they make
their uest. When the excavation has been well begun, they relieve each
other at the task. The one not engaged in cutting attends upon its mate,
and can-ies out the chips as they are made. These nesting-places are often
quite deep, not unfreiiuently from fifteen to twenty inches. Audubon states
that they build no nest, but this does not corresi)ond with my observations.
In all the instances that have come to my knowledge, warm and soft nests
were found, composed of down, fur, hair, or feathers loosely thrown together,
and, though not large in bulk, yet sufficient for a lining for the enlarged
cavity that completes their excavation. Soon after they are hatched, the
young climb to the opening of the nest to receive their food, and, before
they are ready to fly, venture out upon the trunk to try their legs and claws
before their wings are prepared for use, retiring at night to their uest. In
the Southern States they are said to have two broods in a season.
The eggs of this Nuthatch measure .80 by .62 of an inch. Their ground-
color is white, but when the egg is fresh it has a beautiful roseate tinge, and
generally receives an apparently reddish hue from the very general distribu-
tion of the spots and blotches of rusty-brown and purplish with which the
eggs are so closely covered. These markings vary greatly in size, from fine
dots to well-marked blotches. Their color is usually a reddish-brown ;
occiisioually the markings are largely intermixed with purple.
FARID.E — THE TITMICE. jj^
Sitta carolinensis, var. aculeata, Cass.
SLENDEB-BILLEO NUTHATCH.
*''""?:"''"'"• •'.\^'^i^-. !'>■• A. X. S,.. VIII, Oct. I,s5ti, 2.14. - Haiki., Birds N. Am. IS.'ia,
'•', I'l. xxxiii, lijr. ;! . |!,.vi,.,v, 8(i. — C.oi'Kit, Orii. ('ill. I, 1870, 54. ! tliUii atroli-
ot".T' '"^'■'■•^ ''•''' ''■ '^'- ^- 1«''»'. 2!)3 ^Cordova) ; 1858, 300 (Oii.\acii) ; 1859, 303 (Xuliipa),
•'7 J (Oiixaca).
ll'^l-i 'n" ''^ ''i"iilar to earnlineii.iis ; hut ujipor sc'coiidani'.s witli only obspiiro
1'lacki.sli .lotclu..., instead of sharply Uolinud lo>i-itudiuaI .spot.s of ek-ar black, liill .slen-
derer and more iitlenuated.
IfAn. Western and Middle Provinces of the United Slates, .south to Cordova, Me.K.
Orizaba (.Vlpnie re-ions), HvMini.
Tlie cliamcti!r.s j-iveii ahove (ix\)reHs the es.sential diflereiice.s between this
and tlie Ka.ster„ race of .V. cn-o/innisis. In the pte.ser.t form, the depth of the
bill opposite its l,,se in .14, the width .17, and .80 or more in lengtli
irom the forehead; while these same measurements in var. mrofiucmis
are .17, .22. and .70. Tlie obsolete (character of the black spots on the
secondaries is a persistent feature in the var. acu/cata.
HA1J1T.S This bird chiuHy dillers from its eastern congener in its more
Slender lull. Tliere appears to be no difference in regard to their liabits, at
least none have been noticed, and it is probable there is none other than
trivial changes caused by its opportunities of procuring food, and the kinds
upon w uch It subsists. It is supposed f. be distributed througliout Western
Nor Ji America, from the IJritisii Possessions to Mexico, though Dr. Coo,,er
thinks that It ,s not a common bird south of San Francisco, and only to be
seen there m the ct.lder months. It has been met with at San Diego in Feb-
ruary. He did not observe any in the Coast Mountains, near Santa Cruz,
but northward tliey are numerous in the summer, frequenting chiefly the
groves of the deculuous oaks, cree].ing constantly about their trunks and
branches in search of insects, whicli they also occasionally seek on the roofs
and walls of houses. Their habits are similar to those of S. canndcn.is, but
their movements are .said to be slower, and their note is a single harsh call
uttered occasionally, and resi.on.letl to by their comrades. Dr. Cooper found
them quite common in Wtishi.gt,,,. Ten-itory and at Puget Sound. Dr.
buckley also mentions their great abundance.
Dr Kennerly met with this species a hundred miles west of Albuquerque,
New Mexico, and quite abundant among the pines of the Sierra Madre He
speaks of its note as being jieculiar.
Mr. J. K. Lord states that this species remained about Colville durinc. the
winter, when the thermometer was 30° below zero. He also mentious"that
le ound them nesting, in June, in the branches of the tallest pine-trees so
lugli up as to render the obtaining their eggs almost an impossibility
Mr. llidgway found the Slender-billed Nuthatch abundant, throughout tlie
X18 NORTH AMERICAN UIRDS.
year, in the vicinity of Carson City, among the pines on tlw Sierra Neva(hi
Mountains, lie noted its great similarity in manners to the earulinciiHU ; at
the same time tlie well-marked dilference in the notes did not esca])e his
attention. Tiiese notes are nuich weaker, and are uttered in a finer tone, and
some of thoni are said to be entirely dill'erent.
Sitta canadensis, Tjnx.
BED-BELLIED NTTTHATCH.
;Sif/ii ciniiiikiini.i, I, INN. Syst. Nut. I, 17(i('>, 177. —Am. Oiii. nioj;. 11, 1834, pi. eviii. —
lit. Itirds Am. IV, pi. ccxlviii. — liKicii. lliiinlli. Al>li. II, IS.'iIi, IfrJ, tiili. dxiii, lig.s.
li.'itil, :\'iiJ-2. — lUinn, lUids N. Am. lS.'),s, ;i7t> ; Hcvicw, 87. -- S(i„\ri:i!, Ciitiil.
Ifiiil, 1;'), no. !tl. — Cooi'Kii, Oiii. C'iil. I, 1870, 54. Hil/d viiriii, WiLs. Am. Oin. I,
18U8, 4(1, jil. ii.
Sp. Cn.\li. Al)ov(! ii.^liy-liluc. Tup of head lilack ; a white line aliovo and a black one
tlii'0U};'h tiie eye. Cliin white ; rest of under parts lirowni.sli-nisty. Leii<,'th alxmt A.M
iiieht'.s ; wiiif;, 2.()(1. Feinali' with the lilaek of head ini.Ked with ashy : beneath paler,
more of a nniddy-white.
II.\i!. Whulc l.'iiiled Stales and liriti.sh I'roviiici's. North to Lake Winnipeg.
IlAitlTS. The common Ifed-bellied Nutliatch, thougli nowliere a very
ahundant .<!])ecies, is found throughout tlie vliole of Niu'th America, fnmi
Florida to high uortheru regions, and from ocean to ocean. Tlie Smithsonian
Institution ])ossessos specimens fnuu Georgia, Selkirk Settlement, (California,
and Washington Territory. Mr. (.Jandud found them ([uite common in the
mountains in the interior of Califm'nia, in October, roving in comi)any with
busy docks of tlie Pnnis iiiojitmiKs.
Dr. Coojier met with tluun aliundantly in Washington Territory, where
they ju'eferred the oaks aiul oilier deciduous trees, and never freiiueiited the
interior of tlie dense forest. He fibserved this bird and the Slender-billed
Xuthatch, along the 4'.lth parallel, cast of the Cascade ^loimtain.s, as late as
the middle of Octoljer. Dr. Siukley also met both biids west of the same
mountains.
Tliis Xutliatch was olwerved by Mr. K'idgway among the as])en groves bor-
dering the stivaiiis that flow from the Ka.st Ilumlioldl Mouiiliiins. In tiiat
locality it was coiiimo!i througli the month of September, though not abun-
dant. It was again seen in .Itiiie among the pine-woods of the Wahsatch
Mountains, but it was not iniiiiiKm.
'Wiiile a f(^w of lliese birds are reside ' of tlie Northern States, they aru,
to a consideralile extent, of migratory ha -s. Wilson ob.served them leaving
in large numliers for the Southern States in October, and returning again in
April. On tlie L'dth of '..lay, ISli?, the writer observed a small fI<K'k in
Eastern ^liis.saclinsetts, evidently just arrived from the South. They were
apparently fatigued and hungry, and paid no attention to the near presence
PARID.K — THK TITMICK. 119
of workmen eii«,'ii<;i'(l in st'ttiiijf lioiiu-polcs. Tliey visited and carefully
examined each pole, and bored holes into .several in search of hidden larwe,
often within a few feet of ]»ersoiis at work.
While on the IWilu- coast they are said to prefer the forests of deciduous
trees, and to he rarely found in the dark ever<,'reen fn-ests, in the Eastern
States they seem to be particularly fond of the seeds of pine-trees, and in
the winter are seldom found in the woods of deciduous trees.
They feed in pairs and climb about in all directions, usually in comjmny
with the white-breasted species, Chickadees, and the smaller Woodpeckers.
They are restless and rapid in their motions, and have a voice at Ic'ast an
octave hi<Ther than any other of this fan)ily. The note is a monotone, and is
unmusical. Mr. Xuttall represents their cry as consistinj^ of three .syllables,
represented by (l(li/-(l(l;/-(hlit, and comi)ares it to the sound of a child's
trumj)et.
Those winteriuff at the North occasionally visit farm-yards and orchards,
and examine the eaves of outbuildings for food.
Audubon found this sjuuies more jilentiful in the woods of Afaine and
Nova Scotia than anywhere else. I lis never met any south of Maryland,
saw none in Newfoundland, and oidy met with one in Librador. At East-
jHU't he found a pair breedin<,' as early as the I'Jth of Aja-il, l)efore the
liluebirds had made their a])pearance, and while ice was still remaining on
the northern exposures. An excavation had been made in a low dead stumj),
less than four feet from the ground, both male and female birds working
by turns until they hail reached the depth of fourteen inches. The eggs,
four in numlKfr, were of a white ground-color, tinged with a deej) blush
when fresh, and sprinkled with reddish dots. They raise but a single brood
in a season.
C. S. I'aine, of East IJethel, \t., found a nest of this sjtecies about the
middle of May, in a small beech-tree, the tixcavation having Iteen nrade at
the height of twelve feet from the ground. The hole was abo\it as large as
that made by the Downy Woodpecker. When lirst noticed, the bird was
looking out of the hole. Having been started out, she Hew to a limb close
by and watched the party some time. AVhen she flew back, she buzzed
before the hole in the maimer of a Hununing-l>ird, and then darted in.
While Afr. I'aine was looking on, the male came .several times to feed his
inat(f, who would meet him at tiie opening with a clamonuis noise, to receive
his bounty. The nest contained live eggs.
In Western Massachu.setts, Mr. Allen sjteaks of this species as chit^Hy a
winter resident, appearing the (irst week in October, anil leaving the hist
of Ap-1.
The eggs of this species measure .(12 by .48 of an iiu'.h, and are of an
oblong-(»val shape. Their ground-color is a clear crystal white, marked
priiu;ipally about the larger end with a wreath of purple and roseate
markings.
120 NORTH AMEIIICAN BIRDS.
Sitta pygmsea, Vi<;.
PIOXT KUTHATGH.
Sitta pj/fim(ai,, Vifious, Zniil. l^cwihcy's Voy. 1830, 25, jil. iv. — Aun. Orn. Hioj;. V, 1839,
pi. cau'xv. — In. Hiids Am. IV, pi. col. — Itl'.lcEl. Haiif"' 18;'):!, 153, till), il.viv, tigs.
SSti.i, 3306. — Ni'.wiiKiiiiY, P. 1!. H. Hep. VI, iv, 18')7, 7- — Haihd, Hiid.s N. Ain.
1858, 378 ; Review, 88. — Sci.AIKI!, P. Z. S. 1859, 363 (Xsilapo,^. — 1b. Cutal. 1861,
15, no. i»3. — CooPKlt, Oni. ("al. I, 1870, 55.
Sp. CiiAK. Above a.-iliy-hliic ; licad and iii>per part of neck greenish n.shy-brown, it.s
lower lionlcr pas.«iiig a little lu'low the eve, where it is darker; nape with an obsicure
whitisli .spot. Chin and throat wliiti.<li; rest of lower part.s browni.sh-white ; the .sides
and behind like the baek, but paler. ^Middle tail-feather like the back ; it^i basal half with
a long white spot; its outer web edged with black at the base. Length about 4 inches;
wing, 2.40.
Had. Western and Middle Provinces of I'nited States ; south to Xalapa.
Tliis species is closely related to Sitta pmilla of the Southern States.
The brown of the head has, however, an olivaceous-green tinge not seen
in the other ; the Avliite sjiot on tlie nape loss distinct. The middle tail-
feather has its basal half white and the outer web edged with black at the
base. This black edging is never seen in the other, and the white patch is
reduced to a faint trace, only visible in very higlily pluraaged specimens.
Habits. This diminutive species of Nuthatcli is found througliont our
Pacific coast and on tlie western shtpe of the liocky Mountains, from Wash-
ington Ten-itory to Southern California. It is idso to be found in New
Mexico, and specimens have been ])rocured from Mexico.
Dr. Kennerly found them (juite abundant in the Sierra Madre and San
Francisco Mountains, even as high uj) as the snow-line, seeking tlieir insect
food among the to])s of the lofty j)ines. Dr. Newberry frequently met with
tliese Xuthatches in the most wooded ]ilaces on his route, where water was
near and any consiilerable amount of animal life visible. He, however,
never met with them in the forests of yellow ])ines. Dr. Oambel mentions
their almost extraordinary abundance, in the winter montiis, in U]»per Cali-
fornia. Around ^lonterey, at times, tlie trees ai)peared almost alive with
them, as the}' ran up aiul down and around the Imiiuihes and trunks, ntter-
ing their monotonous and queruhtus cries. Their note he describes as a
re])eated wiiistling irit-vif. When one utters this cry, tlie rest join in.
Tliey also have a whistling trill wliile they are busily seardiing the tree in
every part, and they never leave till they have pretty thoroughly searched
every crack.
Dr. Cooper oidy met witli tliis Nuthatch in the open pine-foi-ests about
Fort Colville, near tlie 4",ltli ])aridlel. Tiiey were as.sociateil in smidl flocks
alM>ut the 20th of Octolier, when tiiere were heavy frosts at night. The
chir])ing noise they made resend)led the cries of young diickens. Their
liabits were very similar to those of the I'luiltriparuH minimus.
I'ARID.K — THE TITMICE. 121
Mr. J. K. T^nl ibtind tliis Xuthatcli an ahuiuliuit bird along the entire
lengtli of the hotindary line from the coast to the Rocky Mountain.s. It was
also conunon on Vancouver Island. Tliey were seen in large flocks in com-
pany with the ('liicka(h'e.s, excei)t during the nesting-time, which is in June.
A few were winter residents at Colville, but the greater number left in
November, lie descriljes it as a very active bird, always on the move.
After nesting they congregate in large flocks and move about from tree to
tree, twittering a low sweet note; as if singing to themselves, now climbing
back downwards along the under sides of the toi)most branches of tall pines,
searching into every crevice for insects, or, descending to the ground, cling-
ing to the slender flower-stalks for other insects. They nest in June, make
a hole in tlie dead brandi of a pine, and deposit their eggs on the bare chips
of the wood. Tliis account does not agree with the experience of California
ornithologists, wlut have found a loose nest within the excavation.
Mr. Kidgway foimd this Nutliatch abundant amimg the pines of tlie Sierra
Nevada, in the vicinity of Carson City. They were found generally in pairs.
Its note is said to greatly resenil)le the vociferous pee])ing of some of the
small Sand])ipers, being sharp, loud, and distinct, and vigorously and continu-
ously uttered, whether clindjing or flying. He found it exceedingly hard to
discover this bird among the branches, or even when flying, owing to the
swiftness and irregularity of its flight. When the female of a pair had been
killed, the male bird was extremely loud in his lamentations. Diminutive
as this bird is, Mr. IJidgway states that it is also the noisiest of all tlie feath-
ered inhabitants of the ]iines, though it is less active in the pursuit of insects
than the larger species.
Nests of this bird obtained ncnr Monterey appear to be as well made as
those of any of this gemis, lining the cavity in which they are placed and
conforming to it in size anil slnqtc, the materials sutflciently interwoven to
permit i-emoval and jireservation, and warndy constructed of feathers, wool,
vegetable down, hair, and the silky efflorescence of .seeds.
Tlieir eggs, seven in number, rcscndile tiwise of the X ni imdenMS, but are
of smaller si/e and a little more jxiinted at one end. Their gnmnd-color
is crystalliiui-white. This is covered more or Ic '• thickly with red spots, most
numerous at the larger end. Their measure varies from .()5 by .50 to .(10 by
.47 of an inch. The first eggs of this bird brought to the notice of natural-
i.sts were procured at Kort Cniiik on the Upper Sacramento of California, and
not far from Mount Shasta, liy Sergeant .Tohn Feilner, I'. S. A., forming part
of a very extensive collection of birds and eggs transmitted by him to the
Smithsonian Institution. Promoted to a lieutenancy for gallant conduct,
this gentleman finally attained the rank of cajitain of cavalry, and was killed
by the Sioux during an exploring expedition into Dacotah under General
Sully.
Iti
122 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Sitta pusilla, Lath.
BBOWN-HEAOEO NVTHATCH.
Sitta pusilla, Lath. Iiul. Orn. I, 1790, 263. — Wils. Am. Orn. 11, 1810, 105, pi. xv. —
Am. Orn. Biog. 11, 1834, pi. v.xxv. — In. BinlsAm. IV, pi. ccxlix. — Reich. Hnndb.
1853, 153, tab. dxiv, tigs. 35tJ7, 35(i«. — Baihd, Biids N. Am. 1858, 377 ; Review, 88.
— ScLAl EU, fatal. IbOl, 15. 'v
Sp. Char. Aliovo a.«liy-l>lii<.' ; top of head and upper part of neck rather life'ht liair-
browii, divided on the nape by wliitc. Eye involved in the brown, which is deeper on
the lower border. Beneath muddy-whiti.<h ; sides and behind paler than the back.
Middle tail-feathers almost entirely like the back. Length of female, 4 inches; wing, 2.50.
Hau South Atlantic and Gulf States. Ohio! Kihtland.
Habits. The Drown-headed Nuthatch ha.s a much more restricted distri-
bution than the other members of this family in this country. The speci-
mens in tlie Smithsonian Museum are chiefly from Georffia. Wilson met
with it in Virginia, and .states that it is found in the other Southern States.
I have received its eggs from Cheraw, S. ('., and from Florida.
Wilson's description of its habits makes them almost identical with those
of Sittn canadcniii.% while its notes are more .shrill and chirping. Like that
bird, it is very fond of the seeds of the pines. Wherever found, it is a con-
stant resident, and does not migrate.
Audubon states that this bird never goes farther north than Afaryland,
and that it is the most !d)undant in Florida, (leorgia, and the Carolinas.
In Louisiana it is mre, and it is not found in Kentucky. Its notes,
he states, are several octaves higher than tl',.se of the mrolinribsis, and
more shrill, and at least an t)ctave and a half higher than those of the
cmiadcnsis.
Although apparently preferring pines and pine barrens, it by no means
cfinfines it.soll' to them, but is not uniiv(|uently seen on low«trecs and fences,
mounting, descending, and turning in every di:*e('tii»n, and with si much (juick-
ness of motion as to render it dittictdt to shoot it. It examines every hole
and every crevice in the bark of tri'es, as well as their leaves and twigs,
among wliich it finds almndiince of food at all seasons. I hiring the breeding-
season they go about in pairs and sire very noisy. Their only note is a mo-
notonous cry, described as resembling (lend, deiul. ]Mr. Audubon further
states that when the first brofnl leaves the nest, the young birds keep to-
gether, moving from tree to tree with iUl the activity of their jiarents, wiio
join them when tiie secimd '.-...ud is alile to keep them company. In Florida
they [Kiir in the beginning of Felirtiary, having eggs as early as the middle
of that month. In South Carolina they breed on<^ month hiter. Their nest
is usually excavated by the birds them.selves in the dead portion of a low
stump or sajiling, .sometimes oidy a few feet from the ground, but not unfre-
(piently at the lieight of thirty or forty feet. Both birds are said to work in
PARID^ — THE TITMICE. 123
concert with great earnestness for several days, until the hole, which is round,
and not larger at tiie entrance tlian the body of the bird, is dug ten or twelve
inches deep, widening at the bottom. The eggs, according to Mr. Audubon,
are laid on the bare wood. This, however, is probably not their constant
liabit. The eggs, hvm four to six in number, and not much larger than those
ot the Hunnuiiig-15ird, have a white ground, tliickly sprinkled with tine red-
disli-brown dots. They are said to raise two, and even three, broods in a
season. Accorchng to tlie observations of the late Dr. Gerhardt of Northern
Georgia, tlie Ihowu-headed Nuthatch breeds in that part of the country about
the 19th of April.
The eggs of this Xuthatcli are of a rounded oval shape, measuring .60 by
.50 ot an inch. Their white ground-cok)r is so completely overlaid by a pro-
lusion ot tine dottings of a dark purplish-brown as to be entirely concealed,
and the egg appears almost as if a uniform chocolate or brown color.
124
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Family CERTHIAD.^. — Thk Creepers.
Guar. Primaries ten ; first very short ; less than half the second. Tail long, wedge-
shaped, the featliers stifl'ened and acute. Rill slender, much compressed and curved.
Outer lateral toe nuu'h longest ; hind toe exeeeding both the middle toe and the tarsus,
which is scutellato auteriorly and very short. Entire basal joint oi" middle toe united to
the lateral.
Cfrthin nmiricann.
Oknus CERTHIA, Linn.
CertlUa, Lixn.eus, Syst. Nut. od. 10th, 1758, 112. (Tyjic, C. J'timilinris.) (Set- Reicmkn-
iiAcu, liandbuch, I, ii, 1853, 25(5, for a monograph of the gomis.)
Gen. CnAU. Plumage soft and loose. Bill as long as head, not notched, compressed;
.ill its lateral outlines deeurved. Nostrils not
overhung by I'eatliers, linear, with an ineum-
lient thickened scale, as in D-uglodyfes. No
rictal bristles, and the loral and frontal feathers
-inooth, without bristly sliafls. Tarsus scutel-
latt! anteriorly, shorter than middle toe, which
again is shorter than hind toe. All claws very
long, nnich curved and compressed; outer lat-
eral toe nnich the longer; basal joint of middle
loe entirely adherent to adjacent ones. Wings
rather pointed, about etpial to the tail, the
'(■athers of which arc much pointed, with
stifTened shafts. Primaries ten; first li'.ss than half the second. Nest in holes of trees;
eggs white, sprinkled with reddish.
Of the Certhiadcc but one p;enu3 lie-
loyps to Aijierica, — C'erthia, with its one
•small spe iea u( con&icloi'iihle v.iiiability
with locality. Tiie i'hiU"a(;ter.s abovi;
"fiven include both iainily iiiul generic
characters, derived from this one jfeuus.
This is readily distinj,niished by the de-
curved, compressed bill ; absence of
notch and bristles; exposed linear nos-
trils with incumbent scales ; connate
middle toe, very lonj^ claws, short tarsi,
pointed and stiH'eiied tail-featiiers, etc.
The American and Kuropeaii varieties (they can scarcely be called species)
resemble ciUih other very closely, though they appear to be distinguished by
such dilierences as the following: —
The two Euroi)ean races, ('. finniiiaria and C. rosta; both dilfer from all
the American varieties in having tiie crissum scarcely tinged with yellowish.
Ctrthid americana.
CERTHIAIJ.K — THE CUEEl'EK.S. 125
C. famUiuris is more ashy heneatli tlian any others, and (J. rosfa; is purest
wliite beneath of all. Nearest C./(imiliaris, in tlic American series, as regards
tints of the upper parts, are the Pacific coast specimens of V. tnticrimtia, —
wliile the latter are most like tlio Atlantic region specimens of the same.
C mcriruna is to he compared only with the North American forms, thougli
it is the only one approaching /fo«//<V//-v',s" in tlie ashy lower parts.
C. familiar is is at once separated from the rest by having the tail shorter
than the wing.
C. costa', is almost precisely like Eastern specimens of C. nmcricana in
coh)rs, but is absolutely pure wliite below, and without the distinctly yellow-
ish crissum of the American bird. The bill and claws, however, are consid-
erably longer than in Kastern amerimna, though their size is almost e(pialled
by those of Western specimens ; the colors are, however, more decidedly
difi'erent.
There is never any deviation from the generic pattern of coloration ; but
the variation, amonij individiiah of each form, in length of the bill and claws,
as well as the tail, is remarkable.
Certhia familiaris, var. americana, Hdxai'.
BBOWN CBEEFEB.
Verthiii funca, Baiiton, Fraginonts of tlit' Xatuial Flistorv of Pennsylvania, 1799, 11. Cfr-
fliin /iiMili<irLs, ViKri.i.. Uis. Am. Sciit. II, 180/, 70 (not the European bird); also of
Wii.si.N and AuiiuiKiN. — Maynaui), Birds E. iMass. 1870, 9:3. Certhia amcrkumi,
BciNAl'. ('oinp. List. Ksa.s. _K|.;i,i,. Handb. I, 18.-)a, 21)5, pi. dc.w, ligs. 4102, 4103.
— Baiud, Birds N. Am. 1858, 372; Review, 89. — iMa.x. (.'ab. Jour. 1858, 105.—
('ooi'KU&SucKl.KY, P. H. |{. Kep. XII, ii, 1859, 192. - IIamms, Pr. Best. Soe. X. II.
18(i4 -OG, 80. Cert/iia mexkruM, Cixii'Ki!, Orii. Cal. I, 1870, 58.
k
Si'. Ciiah. Bill about llii', l^nn;tli of tlu: head. Ab.ne ilark brown, with a .slif;litly
rid'ou.s shadi', oaeli rcalhcr .struakiMl centrally, but not abruptly, with wliitisli; riinii> rust v.
licneatli almost .sjlky-wliitL' ; the under tail-oovcrt.s with a liiint rusty tiii<rt'. A wliitu
streak over the eye; the ear-eoverts streaked with whi.ish. Tad-1'eatliers brown een-
lially, the e<lges paler yellowisii-browii. Winjis with a transver.se bar of pale reddLsh-
whitc .'ieros.s both web.s. Leuijtli, .")..")0 ; winjr, 2.(iO ; tail, 2.00. (\o. 8'J7.)
Yomuj. (r)!)4r), Steilaeooni, \V. T. ; Dr. J. 8. Cooper.) ResenibHng the adult, but
streaks Ml)ove indistiuet, and the leathers thi're tipped iudistiuetly with blaekisii ; the
ruloMs restricted to tiie upjjcr tail-coverts. IJreasl and JultuIuiu with very niiuulo blackish
waving.s or indistini^t bars.
IIau. Whole of United States, to Red River .Settlement.
Specimens from the far west arc purer white beneath, much as in foda\
Imt those from the northwest coast have the wliite tinged with light rusly.
Tiiough purer white below, these specimens are mucii browner tdiove thiin
Eastern ones, — sometimes more so than in famifiaris, Imt then there is
the yellowish crissum never seen in this " species," and the i)roportions are
quite difi'erent. Thus it will be seen the C. amevinuia nniy alway;', be dis-
126 NORTH AMEUICAX UIRD8.
tinj,'uislied from the otlier forms ; wlien most resembling coHfn; in the grayish
tints of the upper phimage (as in Eastern examples), the lower parts are less
jmrely white, and the bill and claws smaller ; wlien like it in the projiortions
and i>ure white of the lower parts (as in Western specimens), the colors above
are altogetlier more brown. The yellowish crissum of amcricanuH will
also distinguish them. Though often resembling famlliaris in the colors of
the upper i)arts, the latter may always be distinguished by its ashy lower
parts without yellowish crissum, the shorter tail, with its less acute feathers,
and stouter bill.
C. mcxicaiius is still more different in colors, for which see that variety.
Haiuts. Our common Creeper, so closely resembling the Creeper of Eu-
rope as by many to be supposed identical with it, is distributed over the
whole of Xorth America, from tlie Gulf of Mexico to high northern latitudes.
At difl'erent seasons it may be found in every one of the several States and
Territories, yet it is never very abundant. Tiie Smith.sonian possesses speci-
mens from various parts of the country, from Georgia to Fort Steilacooni on
the Pacific, but of these none api)ear t(j have been secured during the period
of rejiroduction. Dr. lleermann found them very connnon in the more
mountainous districts of California. Dr. Cooper found these birds abundant
in the forests of Washington Territory, but difficult to detect from the simi-
larity of their color to that of the bark over which they crept. They were
ai)])arcntly constant residents in that Territory. Dr. Suckley, who obtained
several specimens of this species in the oak groves in the vicinity of Fort
Steiliicoom, states that in their habits the Western birds resemble those of the
Atlantic States.
Mr. Eidgway found this Creeper inhabiting both the pine forests of the
Sierra Nevada, where it was the more connnon, and also, in winter, among
the willows of the river valleys. He did not meet with it east of the Truckee
Itiver, nor until he had reached the Wahsatch Mountains.
Dr. Woodhouse found the Brown Creeper generally distributed throughout
the Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, and (.'alifornia, and adds that it
was especially abundant in the San Francisco Mountains of New ^lexico.
Dr. Cooper states that he has met with this form in the winter through-
out the higher mountains and among the Coast Range as far south as Santa
Cruz. He found them cliiefly i'retiuenting the coniferous trees, creeping up
and down their trunks and branches, searching for insects in their crevices,
and so nearly reseml)ling the bark in their general color, that they can be
detected only with great difficulty, except when in motion.
He adds that their notes are shrill and wiry, and are oilen heard when the
bird is scarcely visible, without a careful search, tlieir cry appearing to be
from a greater distance than tiie real ])erformer. In March, Dr. Cooper heard
them giving out a faint but sliarp-toned song, resembling that of a Wren.
If Dr. Cooper is correct in his account of the notes, they do not correspond
with those of our Eastern bird.
CERTITIAD.E — THE CREEPERS. 1^7
Dr. Kennorly, in his Report on the hinls ohserved hy him near the 3r»tli
parallel, states tliat he IoiuhI our (toninion Creeper very abundant amony the
rougli-barked cedars in the Aztec Mountains. It usiuiUy attracted notice,
and its ])lace of retreat was discovei 1, by iiis heariuf^ its quick and siiarp
notes. A clo.se and careful search ^^cnoruliy enabled him to perceive; it j)n)-
ceeding leisurely ujjward and downward, in straiglit or spiral lines, towartl
the top of the tree, d(jdgin>,' dexterously to the opposite side from the ob-
server, and only resuming its occupation when assured of solitude and safety.
The observations of Dr. Kennerly, if they are to be received as character-
istic of the AVestern (,'reepers, do not corres])ond with those of our Ea.stern
birds, as far as we have observed tliem. Noim of our birds are more easily
approached, and when they are pursuing their search, for food, none are more
regirdless of observation. The statement that our ( 'reeper, when watched,
moves to the opposite side of the tree from tlie looker-on, has ff)und a certain
currency in our books. We are, however, of the opinion that this is owing
to its restless activity, prompting it to constant changes of place and position,
and not to its timidity or caution. We have uniformly found them either
unconscious or regardless of our near presence.
They are solitary in their habits, and frequent, especially in the summer,
deep woods, searching for their favorite food in high places where it is difli-
cult to reach them, but this is no necessary evidence of tiieir shyness. Tliey
often hunt for their food in very exposed places, with equal courage and
recklessness. It is an active, restless bird, associating with Titmice and the
smaller Woodpeckers, moving with great rapidity from side to side and from
place to place. They breed in hollow trees, in the deserted holes of tiie Wooil-
peckers, and in the tlecayed stum])s and branches of trees. Their nest is a
loose aggregation of soft, warm materials, not interwoven, but simply col-
lected witii regard to no other requisite than warmth.
In the summer of 18.") 1 our jiarty, in their visit to one of the smaller
Grand Mcman Islands, was so fortunate as to meet witli the nest of this bird.
It was built in a decayed birch-tree, only a few feet from the ground, and
contained five eggs nearly ready to hatch. This was on the 20th of June.
Tlie nest was an intermingling of decayed wood, the fur of small quadrupeds,
and feathers, but with so little adherence or consistency of form that it was
impossible to retain the materials in position after removal.
So far from evincing any timidity, the birds refused to leave tlieir nest, and
could hardly be prevented from following it when remoxed from the woods
to a house on the i.sland. One of our companions, returning to the woods in
order to secure the birds for the sake of identification, found the pair still
lingering round the place of their rilled nest. Upon liis approacli they began
to circle round his head with rejH'oachful cries, and continued to keep so
close to him tliat it was imf)ossible to shoot one without mutilating it. At
length one of the birds aliglited on a small branch held over his head by
a lad who accompanied him, and in this position was secured by shooting it
128 NORTH AMEKICAN 15IRDS.
with a pistol loa.led with the finest shot. Its mate couhl have been secured
as she persisted in pursuing them, hut she was not molested. Throu-dio,,;
there was not a trace of timidity on the part of either hinl, hut the most
reckless and daiuiig devotion.
Jfesides the single cull-note or the sharp outcry with which the Creepers
signahze then- movements, an.l which they utter from time to tin.e as they
rapnlly ami busdy n.ove up and ,lown the trunks and limbs, or flit from tree
he fact 1 he care ul observations of Mr. William P.rewster of Cambrid-.e
have .satisfied lum that these birds have a very distinct and varied .son. D^r-
ing the winter these birds are not uncommon in the vicinity of Hostonrcomin^
al>out the houses with all the tameness and confidence of the P.n,s ntrical
lus, and pernut a very near approach. They are very easily attracted by .sus-
pending from a piazza a piece of fat meat. Mr. Brewster has observed them
commence smgnig as early as the 14th of March. Their notes are varied
and warbling and somewhat confused; some of them are loud, powerful and
suri.as..ii.gly sweet, others are more feeble and plaintive; their .song u.sually
eml.s wit^i then- accustomed cry, which may be represented by le^.
ere-ep. Mr. Lrewster, besides repeate.Uy hearing them sing in Massachusetts
m the early spring, has also listened to their song in Maine in the roiXof
Their eggs are small in proportion to the size of the bird, are nearly oval
edtT; n 1?™'''''""'''' ground, sparingly sprinkled with smalJ, fine,
red and reddish-brown spots. They measure .55 by .4.S of an inch.
Certhia famiUaris, var. mexicana, (ii.oa.
MEXICAN CBEEFEB.
Certhia nicTicana, "Glooek, Handbuch." RE.rnKNn.v,,,, Hnndbuoh, I, 18.53 265 „1
dlxn, ,.,s. 3841, .3842.-Sn,.ATKn. P. Z. S. 1856, 290; 1858, 297 ; 1859, '3S, 3 2
--SU.VI.V. ,1,„, i8fi,i, 190 (Volcan do Fuo..,. Cat.). - Ba„>i., Birds N.Am. 18.58
6,i (undor C. amencamt), pi. Ixxxiii, fig. 2 ; Review, 90.
Sr. Char Gronnd-color ul.ovo vory dark sopin-brown, each feather with a .sharply
ofinerl ,„..d,al .troak of p:rayi..h-white, these streaks beoou.ing broader posteriorly wherl
they are discontinued at the l,o.in„inf, of the rump. Whole rump and upper tai -'covert..
ches nut-ru OU.S. Beneatl, pale ashy, hecon.ing almost white on ti.e throat; crissal fe.nth-
ers deep ochrnceous except at the tips, which are whitish. Markings of the winffs as
hh^dafJ^ir""'' ^''''' ''""'^"^^ '"'"- '•''' '""' -•'"' ''' C'"-" "-'n-l),'.48';
UnTttdSt^t'e?'"*'''' ""'' ^^'''''°' '"■"''"^'^ "''''"'^'"^ "'""" "'•' tab>e-lands into ti,e
This is one of the best marked of the various races that have been dis-
cussed (see p. 124). The ground-color of the upper parts is altogether darker
than m any of the others, and the streaks are more sharply defined and nar-
CERTIIIAD.E — THE CREEPERS. 129
rower ; the rufous of tlie rump is of a castaneous, instead of yellowish cast ;
the wings appear more uniform with the l«ick, owing to the dark color of the
latter, and their pale markings have little of that yellowish tinge so notice-
able in the others. In the ashy tinge of tlie lower parts there is a resem-
blance io familiariH ol Europe; but the latter has not tlie ochraceous cris-
sum so noticeable in the present bird. There is little resemblance to Western
and Rocky Mountain specimens of the C. mmrimna ; and if these are to
be considered as sejiarable from the Eastern (which, however, would not, in
our opinion, be advisable) they must not be referred to mvxicmia.
The Mexican Creeper is introduced here on account of the jjrobability of
its occurrence in the Southern IJocky Mountains.
Habits. Mr. Salvin found the Mexican Tree-Creeper by no means un-
common in the pine forests of the upper zone of the V(jlcan de Fviego. He
also observed it frequenting pine-trees in the district of Chilasco, Vera Paz,
at about 6,000 feet above the sea.
17
130 NORTH AMKRICAX HrRD.S.
Family TROGLODYTIDiE. — Tife Wrk
>:n-s.
Char. Riotal bristles wanting; tiu> lonil IWitluMs with bristly points; the Irontnl
fentht-rs fren.-rally not reaching to nostrils. Nostrils varied, exposed or not ..ovo.cd by
leathers, and generally overhung by n seale-like n.enibrane. IJil) usually without, notch
(ex,x.pt ui some Middle American genera). Wings nn.ch lounded, about e.|ual to tail
which IS graduatcl. I'rhnaiies ten, the Ihsl generally about half the second. ])asal joint
ot nnd.lle toe usually united to half the basal joint, of inner, and the whole of that of the
outer, 01' more. Lateral toes about eipial, or the outer a little the h)nger. Tarsi scutellate.
The inn)(,ssibility of detii.i.ig uuy largo groiii) of ai.iiuals, so as to se])iiratc
It stnugeiitly and abruptly from all otliers, is well understood among natu-
ralists; and tlie Tronloih/tidw form no exception to the rule. Somo^betir so
close a resemblance to the Mocking Thruslies as to have been combined with
them ; while others again exliibit a close approximation to other subfamilies.
The general attinities of the family, however, appear to be to the Timfiila;
and one of the best characters for separating the two families aj.pears to exist
in the structure of the feet.
In the Tiorlufn- tlie basal joint of the outer lateral toe is united to the
middle toe, .sometimes only a part of it ; and the inner toe is cleft almost to
its very base, so as to be opjwsable to the hind toe, separate irom tlie others.
In tlie Ti-o(flo(hiU.(lw, on the contrary, the inner toe is united by half its b' sal
joint to tlie middle toe, sometimes by the whole of this joint ; and the second
joint of the outer toe enters wholly or partially into this ui;ion, instead of
the basal joint only. In addition to this character, the open, exposed nos-
trils, the usually lengthened bill, the generally etpuil lateral toes, the short
rounded wings, the graduated tail, etc., furnisli points of distinction.
Genera.
A. Lateral toes very unequal.
n. Cuhnen ilepressed basally, the interval between the nostrils wider than
the much compressed anterior half of the i)ill. Plate on the posterior half
of the tarsus continuous. Catherpea.
h. Cuhnen compres,sed ba.sally, the interval between the nostrils ii.u'rower
than the rather dei)res.se.l anterior half of tlie l)ill. Plate on the j.osterior
half of the tar.sus broken into smaller scales. Salpinctes.
B« Lateral toes equal.
c. Length about 8 inches. Campylorhynchus.
d. Length less than C inches.
Bill abruptly decurved or hooked at the tij). Outstretched feet not
reaching near to end of tail. Thryothorus.
Tail longer than the wing, the feathers black, variegated terminally
with whitish Subgenus r///'.)/ '""""«•••.
Tail shorter than the wing, the feathers rusty, not variegated with
^^''''•'**'' Subgenus Thri/oth or us.
Hill only gently curved at the tip. Outstretched tect reaching nearly to
or b(!vond \]w end of the tail.
T!{<J( JLODVTID.K — THE WUKNS.
131
Hack witlinut, .streaks. No di.stinct suiiorrilinry stiipo. Troglodytes.
Bill (;urvo(l, sub-conical. Tiiil ns long m* wing- Siihgcnu.s Troijlod i/fen.
Bill sti-ai;rlit, sulniliitu. Tail nmcli shorter than winf;.
8ulijrcnii.s ^1 tin rill n r ii .
Back streaked with black and white. Cistothorus.
Bill short, stout; its depth eipial to one half its length I'roni
the nostril ; gonys straight or even convex, ascending. Crow ji
streaked ; no distinct suiicrciliary stripe. Subgenus ('in loth or it s.
Bill elongated, slender ; its deptb less than one third its length
from the nostril ; gonya slightly concave, declining. Crown not
streaked; a conspicuous superciliary stripe. Subgenus Telmatodyteit.
Gknus CAMFYLORHYNCHUS, Siix.
Campylorlijinchm, Si-ix, Av. Rriis. I, 1824, 77. (Type, C. si-nlupacean, Si>ix = Tiirdiin
varkguliis, Gmul.)
Okv. Char. Bill stout, compressed, as long as, or longer than the head, without notch
or rictal bristles; culmcn and com-
missure curved ; gonys nearly straight.
Nostrils in the antero-inferior part of
nasal groove, in advance of the frontal
feathers, with an ovcil. mging scale
with thickened edge, as in T/irijotho-
rtts ; sometimes, as in the type, re-
duced to a slight ridge along the upper
side of the nasal groove. Lateral sep-
tum not projecting below or anterior-
ly into the nasal cavity, but concealed
by the nasal scale. Tarsus a little
longer than middle toe and claw ;
claws strong, much curved, and very
sharp ; middle toe with basal joint
adherent almost, throughout. Wings Cktmpjiiorhynchm bruntuicapiUus.
and tail about ecpud, the latter graduated; the exterior webs of lateral feathers broad.
This genus embraces the largest species of the family, tiiid is well rej)-
resented in Middle and Soutli America, two species oidy reaching into
North America, which may be di.sLinguished as follows : —
Top of head and post-ocular stripe reddish-lirown ; baek streaked longitudi-
nally and linearly with whice. All the feathers beneath conspicuously sjwtted.
Crissum and tlanks with rounded or elougate(l spots. Iris re(ldish. No.-:trils
inferior, linear, overhung by a scale. Nests large and purse-shaped; eggs white,
profu.sely marked with salmon-colored or reddish spots.
a. Spots much larger on throat and juguhun than elsewhere. Inner webs
of second to fifth tail-feathers {"betwecm middle and outer fealiiers) black,
except at tips. Li^ugih, 8.t)0 ; wing, ;J. 40;, tail, 3.."). Ilah. A(ijaccnt bor-
ders of United States and Mexico hniiiiieicajtilliin.
b. Spots on throat and juguhun little larger than elsewhere. Inner webs of
intermediate tail-leathers banded with white like the outer. Length, 7.50.
Hah, Cape St. Lucas afflnU.
132
XORTH AMEHFCAN «IRI)S.
Campylorhjmchus brunneicapillus, Gray.
CACTUS WBEN.
I'li-iihiptn hninnricnpilliin, I,afi!F.s\ayk, Mng. dc Zool. 1835, 61, j)l. xlvii. — Lawr. Ann.
X. Y. I,yc. V, 1851, 114. — Cassis, Hirds C'ul. Tex. 1854, 15(i, \>\. xxv. — Hkkumann,
.1. A. N. Se. II, 1853, 263. ('. Iiniiiiidcapllhi.1, (!kay, Gimhmii, I, 1847, 15i). — Bp.
I'onsii. 1S50, 'i'iS. — Sci,. P. A. N. S. 156, 264. — lUiim, Kinla N. Am. 1858, 355;
I'r. riiil. Aciul. 185!", 3, otc. ; Ucv. itH. — Hkkiimann, 1*. K. K. X, 185S>. — Dkessek,
llns, 186.5, 482 (Tcxiis). — Cdoi-kh, Oim. ("al. 1, 1870, 6;.
Sp. CiiAii. Hill as lon<; as tlic lioad Abovo brown ; darkest on the head, wliifh i.<»
nnspottod. Fealhcrs on thi' back sticakod centrally with white, nencatli whiti.sli, tiii)?ed
with rusty on the belly ; tiic leathers of the throat and upper parts, and under tail-eoverts,
with larp'. rounded black spots; tlio.-ie of the reinainini; inider parts with snndler, more
linear ones, i 'liin and line over the eye white. Tail-leathers black beneath, barred subter-
luinally (the outer one throufrhout) with white. Iris, reddish-yellow. Leiifrth, 8 inches;
winjr, 3.40 ; tail, ,3..').").
Hah. Adjacent borders of the United States and Mexico, from the mouth of the Rio
(irande to the Valley of the Colorado, and to the Paeilio coast of Southern California.
Replaced at Cape St. Lneas liy <\ nffiiiis.
Tliis sjiet'io.s is lotnul iiliundaiilly along tlie line of the IJio drande and
Ciila, extoiuling noitlnvard .some di.stance, and everywhere conspicuous by
its wion-like habits and cnornions nest. v
Habits. The Brown-headed ('iee])er is a compnratively recent addition
to the fauna of the rnited Staters,
but ajtjiears to be common idong
tlie southwestern borders of tlie
I'liited States, from the valley of
the liio (irande to San Diego, in
California. In Lower California
it is rejilaced by the C. ajfinis.
It was liist added to our avi-
fauna by Mr. Lawrence in IHol,
on the strength of a sj)ecimen
obtained in Texas by Ca])tain
McCown.
Dr. Hecrmann, in his \m\wv on
the Birds of California, s|ieai<3
of finding it in the ariil country liack of (Juymas, on the (iiilf of Cali-
fornia. Tills country, jircscnting oidy broken surfaces and a coiifu.sed
mass of volcanic rocks, covered liy a scanty vegetation of thorny buslies
ami cacti, among other interesting birds, was found to contain this species
ill aiiiiiidaiicc. Mc describes it as a lively, sprightly 8])ecies, uttering, at
intervals, clear, Imid, ringing imics. Us nest, compo.sed of gni.s.ses and lined
witli fcallieis, was in tlic sliapc of a long ])ur.sc, enormous for tiie size of tlie
bird, aiul laid fiat between tiio forks or on the branches of u cactus. TIio
Ctimptjlorhynrhus bninnticuf'i//it>.
TROGLODYT1D.E THE VVUEN8. 133
entrance was a covered ]ia.ssa<j;e, varying frmn six ti) ten inches in len>ith.
The Of^ys, six in nnmher, lie ilescrilied as beinjj; tit' a delicate salnion-cdlor,
very pale, and often so thickly speckled with ash and darker salmon-colored
;i' its as to give (jnite a rich cast to the whole surl'ace of the (^gg.
Lientenaiit Coucli met with these liirds near Monterey. He states that
they have a rich, powerful song. Of the nest he gives substantially the
same descrii)tioii as that furnished by Dr. Heermann.
The eggs are of an oblong-oval shape, slightly more jtoinfed at one end,
antl are so etiually and generally covered, over a white giound, with fine
salmon-colored spots, as to present a uniform aud almost homogeneous
apjiearance. They vary in length from an inch to l.OL* inches, and have
an average breadth of .08 of an inch.
Campylorhynchus affinis, Xanti;«.
THE CAFE CACTUS WBEN.
Vumpiihirhijiulius dtliiiis, Xanpis, I'l-. .\. N. Sc. ltS."i!», 'J'.KS ^Capo St. l.iicas^. 1!aii!1i, I'r.
A. N. Si'. lS."i!t, :i(i:t: \Wv. 1(10. Sci.. Cital, ISiil, 17, no. 1(18. • Ki.i.mr, llliist.
H. N. A. I, IV. I'diii'Kii, OiM. Cat. I, 1870, 02.
Si'. ("ii.\i<. ('ap (if iu'ad icddisli-ljiowu ; tlio conifiiU'il ciMitrcs of fcatlu'r.*! dii.sky.
Rest iif iii>pi'r |)arl.< ^liiyi.-ili-lii'owii, nil the fi'iU.licr.'* of liody and S('ii(mlars with broad cen-
tral or .«lial1 streaks of wliilisli ('dL;i'd witii lilack; tlic slrcaks irrcu'iilar ill oiilliiii', on some
foaliiers nearly linear, in others wideiiiiiu: at intervals aloiij;' tin? shall. Outer weli.s of the
wiiig-fi^atliors cros.sed liy aliout seven rows of wliiti.sli seniieirenlar s[)ol.s, witii eorresjiond-
'm<( .series of more eirenlar ones on the inner \vel>. Tail-feathers lilaek, all of them with a
series of aliont eiylit (inadrale while spots on each well, which are allernate to each other,
not opposite, and extend from or near the lilaek shall to the e(l].;(' ; ihc; extreme lips of llio
feathers lilaek ; the two central fealhers, however, more like llie hack, with irregular niot-
tliiii,' of jrrayish and Mack. I'ltper tail-eoverts liarred transver.sely with Mack.
Under parts white, I'aiiitly timred with rusty posterioily ; each feather spotleil with
lilaek, exeeptiiif;- on tin- imiiiacnlat(! chin. These spots are rather lai'L'er and more (piad-
rate on the Jiij;ii1hiii, where tiiey are sometimes on lii(> sidi's of the fealhei-s (on one
or liolh sides) ; posteriorly, however, they are eloiifxaled or lear-shapeil, and striinji- aloii;;
the shaO, one or two on each. On tli(? erissnni ihey are lai-jre and miieh rounded, three or
liiiir on each loil},'er feather. I,e;.:s rutiier dusky. Bill lead-color, pale at the base below :
iris reddi.sh-browii. A broad while slrijie from bill over the eye aii<l nape; eiliji'd
above and below with black; limj liehind the eye like the crown ; cheek-feathers while,
edired with blackish.
Jmmalnri! siiceimeiis exhibit, a lelideiicy to n whitish spollim; in the ends of the fealhers
of the cap. A very yoinifi; bird does not, however, diller materially, except in haviiij; tin;
spots less distinct bencalh, the white streaks less coiispicnoiis iibove, the while of the
win;;s soiletl with riifoiis. iSpeiimeiis vary considerably in Ihe pro|)orlioiial as well as
alisoliite lliickiipss and leie.rlh of ihe bill ; thus, No. It'2,l(i7 measmes .80 liuui nosiril to end
of bill, instead of .(10, as ui\en below for No. I'i.lHI'i.
12,iMi,"i. Total lennlli, 7.o" ; wiii^r, .'1..10; tail, ;i.lO ; iis jjradnalion, .(."i; exposcil portion
of lirst primary, 1.4'-', of second, 'J.l.'i, ofloii^;csl, or foiirlh (nieasnreil from exposed ba.se of
first primary), I'.b'i; lenglh of bill lidin loichead, .!l(>, from nostril, .(iO; along gape, 1.07;
134 NORTH AMKUICAN BIRDS.
tiirsiis, 1.02; iiiidilli; toe imd claw, .00; daw almu', .25; liin<l too uiiil ilaw, .7l> ; elnw
alone, .1!.").
IIau. Only ol)st'iv(Ml at Cape .St. Luoius, Lower Calilbrnia.
Tliis species is most nearly allied to C. hrimiiiiciipilliin ; the most apparent
diflerence at first si<j[lit being in tlie greater concentration of black on the
throat and jngnlum in brumieirapillus, and tlie nuicli smaller size of the
remaining sj)ots on the under j)arts, with the dei^ided light -cinnamon of
the jKisterior jntrtion of tlie body. Tlie outer and centml tail-featliers alone
are niarked as in C. affink, the intermediate ones being entirely black, with
tlie e.\cei)tion of a white suliterminal band.
This is one of the most characteristic birds constituting the isolated fauna
of Cape St. Lucas. Like nearly all the species peculiar to this n^markable
locality, it is exceedingly abundant, breeding in immense numbers. Tt has
not yet 1)een detected elsewhere, though it may possibly be found on the
Lower ("olonulo.
Haiuts. Tliis recently described sjiecies was first discovered by Mr.
Xantus, and lias, so far as is known, a somewhat restricted locality, having
been met witli only at tlie southern extremity of Lower California, wliere it
is an exceedingly abundant bird. Mr. Xantus has jiulilished no oliservations
in regard to its habits, wliich, however, are jtrobably very nearly identical
with those of the more common species. From the brief memoranda given
by him in tlie genenil register of his collections, made at Cajie St. Lucas, we
gather that their nests were liiiilt almost exclusively in ojiuntias, cacti, and
tlie i)rickly ]iear, and were generally only four or live feet from the ground,
but occasionally at tlie height of ten feet.
Tiie nests are large purse-sliajied collections of twigs and coarse grasses,
very similar to, and iiardly ilistinguishalile in any respect from, those of tiie
more northern species. The eggs vary from 1.(15 to 1 inch in length, and
from .()") to .7<l of an inch in breadth, and liave a reddisii-white ground very
uniformly dotted with fine markings of reddish-brown, jiurple, and slate.
SiinoF.xrs SALPINCTES, <'.\ii.kms.
s;i//iiiicfi:i, Cahams, Wicf^inann'.s .Vnliiv, 1S17, i, 'i'Si. (f)'l»', Truiihnhilt.s tihsuliiii.s.
Say.)
(U.S. CiiAii. IJill n.< lonjr lis t lie head ; all tlie ontliiies iii-arly ."traifflit to tlie tip, then
deciirved ; nosli'ils oval. Keel weak: lafsi decidedly longer than liie middle loc; outer
lateral loc niiieli loni/er. reaelMiijr lo llie lia,<e of llie middle claw, ami ciiual lo lln' hinder.
Winirs idioni one liflh lon).'er than ihe tail : ll xpo.^ecl porlion oi' lh<' lirst piimary ahont
hair Ihat of llie s.'ccind, and two lil'lli.; Ihal of lln' lonrlli and tiflli. Tail-leal hi'r.>i very
hroad, |)lanc, lu'aily even or sliijlilly ronndcil; the lateral moilerately f,'nidiialed.
Of this genus but one sjiecies is so far known in the United Slides, the
liack Av'reii of tiie I'lirlier ornithologists. It is peculiar among its cognate
THO( JLODYTID.E — THE WRENS,
135
genera by having the two continuous plates on eacli side the tarsus divided
into seven or more smaller plates, with a naked interval between them and
the anterior scutelhe. Other characters will be found detailed in the lie view
of American Birds, p. 1(J9.
Salpinctes obsoletus, Caban.
BOCK WHEN.
Trmjlodutea obsuMiis, S.w, Longs K.\i»',l. II, i,s-i;!, 4 (south fork of Pluttu). — At'n. O™.
liioS. IV, pi. rcdx. Id. U. a. 11, pi. txvi. - NKWBiiuiiY, P. U. If. Hep. VI, iv,
18;.7, SO. — IIi:ki!M.\nn, P. I!, li, Hep. X, 1S5!), 41. Salinncks olm,MiLi, (Jab. Wicg-
iiiaiinsAivliiv, 1847, i, 3-J3. li.vii!!), liiids N. Am. 1858, :iri7 ; Kev. 11(1. — Sci.atkh,
P. Z. S. isns), 371 (Oa.xacaK -CiM.i'illi, Oiii. Cal. 1, 1870, til. I I'mijImhiUs lalis-
/(tscidtim, Liciir. I'lvis-Vci/i-ich. Is31, no. 82.
Sp. ("iiau. riiinmo-c vciy sdl'i iiiid lax. IJill aliout as long as the head. Upper parts
browiiish-jfray, cacli t'catlirr with a ci'iilral
line ami (oxcc|)t on (in- head) tniiisvcrsc liars
of (lu.sky, and a small dull i)ni\vnisii-wliiri'
spot at the end (.sei'n also on the tips of tlu?
(secondaries). Runi|i, si.les of tiie liody, and
poste?-ior part of helly and under taii-i'overts
dull ciinianion, darker aliove. Itesl of under
parts dirly while; fealhcrs of throat and
breast with dnsky eenlral streaks. Lower
tail-eoverts handed liroadly with lilaek. In-
ner tail-feathers like the liaek, the otiiers
with a broad hlaek bar n<'ar the end; the
ti|)s cinnamon ; liie outer on each sidi' alter-
nately banded with this color and lilack.
A dull wliite line above anil lieliind llie eve.
2.40. Young not niaikccl or banded bencalii
Siilpiilrh.s obsottttis.
Iris brown. Length, o.TO; wing, 2.82; tail,
Eggs white, spotted with red.
IIah. Central regions of the Tnited Slates, to .\[exic>o, east to mouth of Yellowstone
River. Cape Si. Lucas. Not recorded from I'aeili.' sloiie. W. Arizona, CoiKs. Oaxaca,
Sci.ATKH.
Haiuts. The l{(tck Wren, .so far as its distrilmtinu is known, is princi]»ally
restricted to tlie higii eentriil jtlains of the h'ocky Mountains, from Xoliriiska
to tlie coast ranges near tlie I'acilic, and from Oregon to Mexico and Lower
California. According to I»r. Cooper it is nn abundant species throughout
the dry, rocky, and liarrcn districts of California, especially in tlie .southern
portions, where it I'onics nearer the coast. They are numerous among the
plains on both sides of the h'ocky Mountains. Tiicir favorite jtliices are
among the rocks, where they arc always busily engaged in hunting for insects
in the crevices. Dr. Cooper found nests at San Diego in cavities under tiie
tiled roofs of inaiscs, but tliey ail contained young as early as May. At
Fort Mojave they began to sing in Fciirtiary, and their .soirg continued
throughont the spring. They range to a liigh elevation among tlie nioun-
136
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
SafpintffS ohso!rtiis.
tains, liuviiig been found by Dr. Nev.beny at Klamath Lake in Oregon. Dr.
Cooper does not describe their song, but Dr. Heeruiann speaks of it a.s only a
very weak trill. Tiie latter met with them in the mountainous districts of
California, where thev were searchinH
for their food among the crevices of
the rocks. He afterwards met with
them in New Mexico and Texas.
They were (piite abundant in the Te-
jon Valley, passing in and out, among
and under the boulders profusely scat-
tered over the mountains, searching
for spiders, worms, and small insects,
in i)ursuit of which they uttered at
intervals a loud and (juick note of a
peculiarly thrilling character. Lieu-
tenant Couch found them in the sand-
stone rfinges near I'atos, in the province of Coahuila. Some of their habits
are spoken of as sparrcw-like, and, while tiiey have the usual wren-like
gi'ating noises, they also ])ossess a song of great variety and sweetness.
Dr. Kennerly met with them among the bushes in the vicinity of the Rio
CJrande. Their flight he describes as sliort, the biixl generally soon alighting
on the ground and rumiing off very rapidly.
This Wren was tii-st discovered by Mr. Say near the Arkansas Kiver, inhab-
iting a sterile district devoid of trees, hopping along the ground or flitting
through the low, stunted junipers on the Ijanks of the river, usually in small
flocks of five or six. Xuttall afterwards found them in July on the Western
Colorado. Tiie note of the female was ch(irr-rktirr-tr-aii//i, with a strong
guttural accent, and with a shrill call similar to the note of the (Carolina
Wren. The old Itirds were feeding a l)r()od of five young, which, though full
grown, were cherished with (juendous assiduity. He found them nesting
among the rocky ledges, in the crevices of which tiiey bide themselves
when disturbed. Afr. Nuttall also met with this sjjecies near Fort Van-
couAer. Mr. Salvin states that in several instances it has been mot with in
(Juatemala.
The eggs of this Wren obtained by Dr. Palmer in Arizona have a clear
Vihite ground, sparingly s])otted with well-defined, distinct dottings of brown-
ish-red. Tliese are (chiefly distributed around the larger end. They vary
somewhat in size and shape, some being of a more rounded i'unn, though all
have one end more jiointed than the other. The length is jtretty uniform,
.77 of an inch. The breadth varies from .00 to .(10 of an inch. They art!
Lirger and more oblong than the eggs of any otiier Wren, except perhajis the
mc.ilviiniis, and bear little resemlilance to any other eggs of this family with
which 1 am ari|uainted, except those of the Winter Wren, and the egg at-
tributed to T. inih ri'iniKs.
TRoaLUDYTrD-K — THE WHENS. i;-}-
Tli(! nest i.s lioind^ciicdiis in wtnicluro, compuseil eiitiroly of thin strips of
rcdtlisli-coloii.'il Imik iiiul lino roots, intorsporsetl with a few snuill hits of
wool. It is distorted l)y ])iickinji,-, so that nieasuronients of it woukl he
vahieless; its dimensions in its jiressed condition are: diameter, ."i iuclies ;
depth, 2 inelies. The cavity is shaUow and saucer-shaped.
From ^Ir. llidgway we k'arn that from the summit of the Sierra Nevada
eastward, as far as tin; i)arty explored, he found this Wren universally tlis-
triltuted. In (lie mithlle ]irovinces of the Ihx^ky Mountains it was the most
ahundant species of (he family, l)ut was not so abundant in the Wahsatdi
Mountains. Tiie general resort of this s])ecies was among rocky or stony
inll-slop(!S, though it was not confined t<j sucii localities. At Carsou City
he found it iiarticularly i)artial to the rubhish 1 the decayhig ]iine-logs. At
Virginia ("ity it was the only Wren seen frequenting the old Ituildings and
abandoned niiuing-shaits, in its predilection for sucdi ])laces reminding him
very nuu'ii of the Tliri/of/i<iri(ii /ndociriiniiis, which in its manners it very
strongly resembles.
Mr. Uidgway noticed a wonderful variety in the notes of this Wren. Its
peculiarly guttural ttnrc. was rei)eateilly heard, and its song in spring had
a sligiit resend)lauce in modulation to that of the Carolina Wren, th(ni"h
altogether lacking the jxiwer aud richness so characteristic of the superb song
of tliat bird. FriMjuently its .song was changed into a prolonged monotonous
trill, siiuilar to the trenndous spring-call of tiie Jiniai linniuilia.
This species is not so wary as the Cat/nrjicH viciiatniiti. Upon suddenly
starting up an individual of tins kind, lie would Hy to the nearest l)ouhler,
turu with his breast towards tiie ])arty, swing oddly from side to side, all the
while ludicrously bowing and scolding the intruder with his i)eeuliar shar})
expressions of displeasure.
Dr. Cooper, in iiis pa]ier on tiie Fauna of tiie Territory of ^rontana, states
that he observed this bird occasionally through the main Itocivy Mountain
chain to near the crossing of tlie liitterroot, but it was less tHnnmon than
among the cliffs and rocks of the itarren plain along their eastern slope.
Tiiough he did not find it in tlie western part of Washington Territory, he
has no doul)t that it fre()iients ])arts of the rocky canons of tlie Columbia
Plain. A nest with nine eggs was found in a log-cabin below Fort lienton.
Genus CATHERPES, hum..
Cdtherpifi, ll.uiiii, Iliids X. .\in. I >.-.j5, :i.-)7. (T\|h', Tlirmtlfints m<:ri,;nuis, Sw.^
Okn. Ciiau. Hill Idiijrcr lliiiii till' hciiil, ,<liMnl(r; all the (nitliiies iieiiily strtiijriil to lli(>
tip, then gontly (lociiivi'd, ^^uwsx Icasl so ; nostiils liiiciir; larsiis .slioit, alMnit, e(|iiiil to tins
middle toe, which reaches to llie iiiiddl.' of liie iiiiildic claw. OiitiT toe consideialily
Icilifrer than the inner, leacliiiitr heyond the liase of the middle claw. Win^js a little lonjjor
than the tail; the e.xiiosed portion of the liisl primary aliunl half that of the fourth and
18
138
NOHTII AJIEKICAX BIRDS.
fifth. Tail-fenthcrs very broad and perfectly plane; tail nearly even; the two lateral
graduated; the outer about eleven twelllhs ol'tlie middle.
Tliis genus agrees with Sa^nnctes in
tlie broad, i)liiue tail-feathers, but the
bill is much longer, the nostrils linear,
not oval, the feet mucli stouter, the
outer toe ratlier longer; tlie tarsus short-
er, being equal to the middle toe, not
longer; the hind toe nuich longer tlian
the outer lateral, instead of equal to it.
The wings are but little longer than the
tail, and shoiler than in Salpindcs.
Tliis genus is conhned to the western
Catherpes mexicaniis.
portions, wliere a single species, 0. mccicanm, occurs in two well-marked
varieties : —
C. mezicanus.
Culinen almost straight, the tip der-nrvcd, ponv-s straight. AIh.vr blackish-
brown ; wings and back sparsely sjirinkled with minute white specks; no s ch
murhui;,s on head or neck. Bars on tail very br.md, .12 in width on outer
feathers. Wmg, 2.84; tail, 2.40; cnlmen, .90; tarsu.s, .75 ; mi.ldle toe, .08;
posterior, .47 ; outer, .52 ; inner, .49 (52,791, Mazatlan, Mexico). Hah. Mex-
ico .. .
„ , , var. ni ex I ran us.
Cuhnen and gonys Imth gently curved, the latter somewhat concave. Above
cmnamon-ashy, more rc.idish on rnnip and wings; head and neck above with
numerous dots of while ; very (bw of these on liack ami win-^s. Tail-bars
very narrow and thread-like. Wing, 2,48; tail, 2.12 ; culmen, .8;!; tarsus, ..50;
middle toe, .52 ; posterior, ..•55 : outer, .44 ; iimcr, .30 (53,425 ^, Fort Churchill'
Nevada). JIab. Middle (and I'acilic?) I'lovince of United States, var. eon.sperxus.
In var. mc.riemiv.9 the white of throat is more abruptly defined against the
rufous of abdomen than in var. ron-
spersus, in which the transition is very
gradual. The latter has the seconda-
ries rufous with narrow isolated bars
of black; the former lias them lilaik-
ish, hitkntcd on lower webs with dark
rufous. In nir.rivnnns the feet are
very stout, and dark brown ; in mn-
.'ipcr.vis tliey are much weaker, and
deej) black.
All sj^ecimens from soutli of the
United States (inchuling ( Jiraud's type
of Certhia alhifrmis) belong to the re-
stricted mcKinnnis, wliile all from the
United States are of the var. <oiis/irrsi<K
Ciilherpta mexitanus.
TI100L0DYTID.E — THE WREXS. 139
Catherpes mexicanus, var. conspersus, Ridgway.
CAiSrOK WHEN; WHITE-THBOATEI) BOCK WSEN.
rroijhiilijles mr.nmintH, Hkkumann, .1. A. X. Sc. 2cl ser. II, 1853, 113. — In. P. K. R. Rt'p.
X, 18,")9, 41. —C'as.six, IlUi.st. IJinls Cal. 1, 1854, 17:', lil. xxx. Catherpes mexicanus,
Baii;|), Hii'ils X. Am. 1858, 350 (in imit) ; Hev. Ill (in i)ait). — Cuol'KU, Oni. Cal. 1,
1870, (it). Oallicrpcs viexiaoiKs var. con.ipcrsn.s, KlDUWAY.
Sp. CnAii. (Xo. 53,425 ^, m.ar Fort Cliuicliill, X'ovada, December 7, 18()7; R. Ridg-
way). Above, brownisli-a.>ihy on the anterior, and bright cinnamoii-rulbii.s on the pos-
terior hair, tilt' two colors shading: in.'ieM.-iibly together. The anterior, or grayish portion
thickly s|)rinkl((l with nunieroii.s .small ciicidar dot.s of white, each preceded by a .smaller
speck of du.sky ; a few of the.se dot.s on the rump. Wings with obsolete, ragged, narrow,
isolated bars of dusky, these most sharply di'fnied on the secondaries. Tail clear rufous,
crossed with about nine very narrow, thread-like, .somewhat zigzag bars of blacTv, — these
about .02 wide on the middle, and .07 on the outer feather. Beneath, anterior third, pure
silky-white, .shading insensi1)ly into .soft ochraceous on the breast, this .soon darkening into
deep ferruginous, the color of all the posterior lower parts ; the whole of this ferruginous
surface, with very obsolete transverse spots of white, each ])reci'ded by a narrower dusky
one. Length, 5.75 ; extent of wings, 7.50 (fre.sh) ; wing, 2.48; tail, 2.1.'!; euhueu, .83 ;
tarsus, .50. Bill deep slate, paler, and with lilaceous tinge, at base of lower mandible ;
iris umber ; tarsi and toes black (fresh color.s).
Hab. Centi-al region of North America, from boundary of United States northward.
Extends up Valley of Colorado. Western Nevada, resident ; Ridgwav.
The above characters a)i])ly tn all .specimens of Catlurpea from north of
Mexico, as substantiated liy a suHicient series in the collection. It is a
remarkable fact that this northern race .should be so much smaller than tiie
Mexican one, especitilly in view of the fact that it is a resident bird in even
the most northern parts of its ascertained habitat.
HA15IT8. The geoLfraiiliical distribution of this race of the Wliite-throatcd
Wren, so far as known, is confined to the line of the United States and
Mexican boundtiry, extending northward up the Valley of the Colorado, as
far as Western Nevada. Tlie corresponding Mexican race reaches some
distance southward, but has not yet been detected beyond the limits of
Mexico. The habits of both nices, however, are (^uite similar, as far as
known.
Dr. Heermann first mot witli tliis Wren in the sjn-ing of 1851, on the
Cosumnef. iliver. In the following year he ]):'ocui'ed three specimens on the
Calaveras Kiver. He describes it as an active, sinightly bird, having a loud
and pleasing song that may be heard a great distance, and which it repeats
at short intervals. When found, it was occu|)ied with setirching for insects,
between and under the large boulders of rock that, in some })ortions of the
river, are thrown together in confused nuusses, as if by some terrific convul-
sion of nature.
Dr. Kennerly also met with this species in similar localities among the
hills bordering upon the Big Sandy, where the rocks are also described
140 XOHTH AMKKJCA.V ItlK'DS.
as piled up thick and hi,I,. Tl.oy were .lartin. Iron, rock to rock and
-ejnng anjong tl.e crevices witl. ...at activity, constantly ..peatin, tl^
.t^dithcult to procure a specunen. He did not observe this bird anywhere
Their occurrence equally in such wild and desolate regions and in . .e midst
of crowded c. .es ind.cates that the abundance of thei^ food in either place
^^ IHM, first observed they were supposed to nest exclusively in .leep and i„-
accessjble crev,ces of rocks, where they were not likely to be traced. Mr
H. K Dresser afterwards n.et with its nest and eggs in A\ astern Texas, thou-h
h g,ves no descnpfon of either. He found this species rather conunon n^x
Km Antonio, where it ren.a.ned to breed. One pair fre,,uented a printing-
o^hc a hat place an old half-ruine,! building, where th'eir familiar habits
made them great favorites with the workmen, who informed hi.u that the
previous spring they had built a nest and reared their young in an old wall
c^e^by^ and that they berime ve.y tame. At D. Heennann's rancho .I
he Medina he procured the eggs of this bird, as well as those of the
Louisiana and Bewick's Wren, by nailing up cigar-boxes, with holes cut in
tiont, wherever these birds were likely to build.
Mr. Suniiehrast describes its nesti as very skilfullv wrought with sinders'
webs, and built m the crevices of old walls, or in the interstices between the
tiles under the roots of the houses. A nest with four eggs, supposed to be
those of this si)ecies, was ol)tained in Western Texas by Mr J H Clark • it
was cup-sha,,ed, not large, and with only a slight dq.ression. The e.-s
lour ,n number, were unusually oblong and pointed for eggs .if this fa.nllv'
a.ul measured .80 by ..;(. of an inch, with a crystalline-white ground, pro-
fiisely covered with numerous an.l large blotches of a re.ldish or cinnamon
So far as the observations of Mr. liidgway enabled him to notice this bird
he found It much less common than the ^./ph,;. „lsoh;„s, and inhabiti,,.:
on y the most seclude.1 and rocky recesses of the mountains. Its common
noe o alarm is des,.ribed as a peculiarly ringing ,,Jnk. It 'uas a remark-
. l.lv o.ld and indescribably singular chant, utterly unlike anythin.. el.se Mr
l>.<lgway ever l.eanl. This consisted of a series of detached wl^istles l,e-
Minn.ng ,n a high tine key, every note clear, snu,otli. and of equal leiioth
each 1,1 succession being a .legree lower than the ,,receding one, and ,n.i;
ending when the bottom of the s,.ale is reache.l. The tone is .soft, ricli
and^ silvery, resembling somewhat the whistling of the Cardinal Gros-
It was often seen to fly nearly perpen.licularly up the face of a rocky wall
and was also noticed to cling to the roof of a cave with all the facility of a
true Creeper. ,
' Thi.s icrimrk iipj.lics to tin- Mcxicni iiicc
THOdl.ODYTID.K — TIIK WREN'S.
141
(iiMs THRYOTHORXJS, Vieill.
ThriHImni^, ■\'ii-.ir,i,..T, Aiialysf, ISKi, 45. (Type, Trnglodyks arundimitrv.s, " Tnujhdjitc
'''" /'■"•'••'""■'■," Vii;ri,i.. Oils. Am. Supt. II, 1807, 'of> = Si/Ma ludovkiuita, Lath.)
Gk\. Ciiak. Bill cniiiinvsscd, latlicr .slender; height about one fourth the length above.
Culnion and .•oniiiiissuie frenily cinved throughout; gonws straight; tip very ob.soletelv
"olehed. Nostrils in the lov.er edge of anterior
e.xtrennty of the nasal groove, narrowly elliptical,
overhung by a .till' ,seale-like roof of the thiekened
membrane of the upper part of the nasal groove, the
cre.seentic .-dge rounded. The .septum of nost 'ils
miperforate; the posterior pai^t of the na.snl oavif
with a short septum projecting into it parallel wit'h
the central, not iiiTpcndieular as in Microrercnlus.
W nigs and tail ab„ut equal, the hitter moderately
rounded; the first prinmry more than half the
.second, about half the longest. Tarsi rather short.
scarcely exceeding mi<ldle toe .Vnterior .scntelhe Thr^othorus imloHncianu,.
distinet, ivst of each si,le of tarsi in a .•ontinuous plate. Lateral toes ecpial.
_ The diagno.ses of the X„rth American s])ecies are as follows: —
Species and Varieties.
CoMMov rnAUArTFii.s. U.-ad above, and b,fk, of much the same color. Cris-
sum banvd transversely ; rest „f un.ler parts plain. Tpper tail-coverts an.l ex-
posed surface of win^s barred, [ris hazel. Xest in holes or with an arched
covering. Eggs red.ljsh-whife, spott..,! with red and i)urple.
". Thriiofhnrns.
T. ludovicianus. Tail-feathers reddish-brown, barred with black. Greater
wmg-coverts spotted with whitish.
Beneath yell,.w-whitish, washed oivasionallv with rustv. Sides plain
Bill from nostril, .-I,-, Length, (i.t.H). Hah. Eastern Province Unite.l
htates . , , , . .
r. , ,. ••■... var. ; M (lortci a ii n s.
Beneath rufous; lijrhu.r on throat and alomr median line. Sides
obsoU.fely barivd with dusky. Bill f,,,,,. „„„,i,_ ,-;c. Length, 0.25
J/'ib. Lower Rio Grande. ...... a..; ;•
\ar. ber la udic ri.
h. Tehnnlndiites.
T. bewickii. Tail-H.athens, ex.rpt central, black; the expo.sed surface and
tips only varied with white. Length, itjA).
Above dark rufous-brown; beneath phimbeou.s-white ; flanks tinned
with brown. H,„„p and exposed secondaries distinctly ban.led. l^uills
and nnd.lle tail-feath..rs browni.sh-black. Length from nostril .3!)-
along gape, .70. Hah. Eastern I'rovinc Tnited States. var h e w icic if
Above ashy-brown ; beneath, inclu.ling flanks, dear white ; rump
a.shy, and, like secondaries, very obsoletely barred. Quills and middle
tail-feathers grayish-brown. I/ah. Southern border of Cnite.l States
into Mexico . . , ' ,
„ , . ■ ■ var. I e II co<j a .i tvr.
Colors intermediate between the two last. Bill longer, from nostril
.50, from gape, .HI. //«/>. Pacific Province . . . . x,ir. up il nr .i s .
142
XOHTII AMERICAN BIKDS.
HuBOE.vus THRYOTHORUS, Vikiu,.
Thryothorus ludovicianus, var. ludovicianus, Bonap.
GREAT CABOLIKA WBEN.
Sylvia liiilovicidnii. Lath. Iml Oin II iron r. la t . ^i t , ....
\..z. 1,H.M, J5; also ol BoNArAiMK. An.n.oN, an.l I'u.nck Max. Thryothorus In-
,^>rn-.u.., l„s.U.i. ,83«, etc. - Ba,h„, ]«..« N. Am. 18.^8. 361 /rcv,
7,.,,/W,,,s- .n;n..l>...ce„., V,k„.u Oi.s. A.„. S.-i.t. II, 1807. 55. pi. cviii. (Ortainlv
? o 'p '"; '''•''• ■'"• ""• "• ^'"•."''''""•''•' ''•'""•"'-■ V.KM.,.. Nouv. Diet. XXXIV
1*19, jO. Jhryot/wnisloinsmiia; Lk.s.sox. Kov. Zoiil. 1840 ^yo
Ad.l,do,ml ligures: Auu. 0,„. I3io.. I, 1831, pi. Ixxvii. _ I.! '£a. Am. II, 1841. pi.
Sr. Ctau. Exposed portion of tl.o l.ill ..hortov ti.an the hoad. Abov. n.,l,li.l>-l,mwn
Ih.oatuliti.l.; rest of „„,lor parts pale yellow-rusty, .larkest towar-ls the under tail
covers wh,eh are eonspienously l.arred with blaek. Exposed surface of the wh'sa d
(eathe s an.l qu.lls shown,g series of alternating whitish and dusky spots L^s fle
colored. Length, Cinches; win- 2.(i0; tail, 2.45. i^'.^.s tlesli-
IIab. Eastern Province of L'nit^-d States, from New York southward to the Gulf.
Habits. The Great Carolina or Mocking Wren is found in all the South-
eas ern and Southern States from Floritla to Maryland, and from the Atlantic
to vatisas an,l the \ alley of the IJio (irande. It is not common about Wash-
inston, but IS much more abundant in the Southern State... Occasionally it
._ .^ -,_. - I'as been found as far north as Philadelphia,
and in one or two instaaces near New York,'
where JMr. Lawrence has twice seen it, and
where on one occasif)n it appeai-ed to be breed-
ing. Dr. Woodhouse found it very abundant
througliout Texas and the Indian Territory.
It is also abundant, and resident, in Southern
Illinois, as far north as latitude 38° 20' 20".
Tiie habits and movements of this species,
as described by those who have had the
best oi)portunities for observing it, corre-
spond with those of the whole family of
AVrens. Its Hight is usually only in short
distances, and is accompanied with short Hap-
., , , J , , rings of the wings, and violent jerkings of
the body and tlie tad. The latter is usually kept erect. It moves with
quick jerks, and with sharp, raj.id notes uttered as if in anger. It is in si-dit
one tnoment and out the next, passes in at one place and out at another
Thrynthorvs hfwickii.
TROGLODYTIDyE — THE WRENS. 143
with the rapidity of thonj,'ht. Mr. Audubon often saw it sin.u;infT from tlie
roof of an abandoned liat-l)oat, near New Orleans, and when its son;,' was
ended it would creep from one board to the next, enter an augur-hole at
one ])hice to reappear at another, catching numerous sjuders and other in-
sects all the while.
Occasionally its movements are like those of a Creeper, ascending to the
upper branches of trees of a moderate lieight, or climbing a grapevine,
searching diligently among the leaves and in the crevices of the bark for
insects.
This .species possesses a great variety and power of song. It is also said
to have and to e.xliibit renuirkal)le powers of imitation, with n great variety
in its appropriated notes of other birds, giving, with modulations, tlie hoarse
rattle of the Kingtislier, tlie lively notes of tlie Tufted Titmouse, the simple
refrain of the Ground Kobiii, with those of the Grakles, the Meadow Lark,
the Bluebird, and others. Like the common Wren, the Carolina generally
builds its nest in the hollow of some tree or stump, or any other convenient
cavity. At other times it constructs its own habitation without any other
protection than the thick branches of a vine or shrub. In these situations
they are long and deei), and have an artificial roofing, often separate from the
nest itself. Tlie materials employed in their con.struction are hay, grasses,
leaves, feathers, horse-hair, and dry fibres of the long Spanish moss. They
are softly and warmly lined with fur, hair, and feathers. The nest is not
unfre(iuently five or six inches in depth, while the opening is not large
enotigh to admit more than one 1)ird at a time. They sometimes raise three
broods in a season.
It breeds as far north as Philadelphia, Mr. Audubon having found its nest
in a swamp in New .lersey, opi)osite that city.
Although seemingly studious of concealment, and shy and retiring in its
habits, Nuttall frequently observed it in Tuscaloosa and other large towns
in Alabama, appearing on the tops of barns and out-houses, singing with
great energy.
Dr. Coofier, who enjoyed a favorable opportunity of watching these birds
in Florida, in the spring and summer of 1859, found a nest of this Wren in
the middle of March. It was built in a small box on a shelf in a mill, and
was about four feet from the ground. It was arched over at the top, though
this was not necessary to shelter it. This covering was formed of shavings,
with a few small sticks and straws. Four eggs were laid. The birds were
very tame, and were not alarmed by the loud noise of the mill, nor by a cat
almost always present. Another nest found by Dr. Cooper was built in a
small hole in the trunk of a tree, not more than six inches from the ground.
This nest was not arched over. Its close proximity to a dwelling-house
alone protected it from wild animals.
The eggs of this Wren are usually six or seven in number, and vary in size
and shape. They are for the most part of a spheroidal-oval shape, though
144
xNOKTlI AM1-;U1CA.\ JUHD8.
.son.e are ,nore oblon^^ than otl.ors. Their lo,,,4h x aries (rn,.. .To t<. 70 of an
u m T '' """"i:^' "''■' '"''^■'""^ "f I'"'I'^<^' «l"te, reddish-brown.
a id nt ./ r ^'""r^""'^ l'-"^' -1"'% ^'i"u-J. "»ul are not n.ore
abunUant at the larger end than elsewhere.
Thryothorus ludovicianus, Nar berlandieri, (ouch.
BEBLANOIEB'S WBEN.
Sp. r.iAH. Kxposcl portion „n,ill ,u.,iHv as Ion- us tlio l,..n.l Ah„v i i
brown, n.ost vivi.l on the nnn,,. A ^y\Msh .fv.k m- ■ 1, . . ,' T '■"''•^'"
IIah. A'alli'v of J{io Grande. ■" > > , -•-
Tl)e distinctive features of this race will be found indicated on pac^e 141
T us orm bears to the T. Indovirian,. about the same relation thK, 1:
ti^fZ '''T' '"" ;" "■ ''''''"' ' ""^ ^^ ''"'-^'^^ *« ^« considered; r
ened bill and deej-er color belong to the Kio Grande. It has not yet been
met with north of the Eio (Grande, but doubtless extends into Texas Not"
mg IS known of its habits.
StrnoExu.s
THRYOMANES, Soiat.
'''"'■""' '' ^'•'■"™"' ^'^^''l- A-"- ^i-'J^. 1««1. ^1- (Type rrooloU,lesl,,cicm.)
Thryothorus bewirkii.
There aie three strongly marked geograi^hi-
cal \arieties of " Bewick's Wien," separable
by quite constant cliaracters. Of these the
Afcxican {lairof/askr) and the typical form
from eastern North America {hcwld-ii) difier
niost in coloration, wiiile the western {hiuIii-
ri(s) is intermediate in this resi)ect, but witli
a longer bill than in tlie otlier two. Tjiu ])e-
culiarities of tlie three forms are exjiressed
on page 141.
TUOGLODYTIU.K — THE WUENd. 145
Thryothorus bewickii, vm. bewickii, Uonap.
BEWICK'S WBEV; LOKO-TAILEO HOUSE WHEN.
Trn(jtoihi/r.t hciric/.ii, Aril. Oni. IHoj,'. I, l.s;!l, '."li, 1>1. xviii. — 111. lliid.s Am. II, 1841, 120,
pi. rxviii. riii-itiilhiiriin hviriekii, Wfsw. List, 18;{8. — Haiisd, IJirils N. Am. 1858,
363. Tfhiiiildiliilis l,i:irick-ii, ('All. Mus. Hfiii. I, ISfiO, 78. Thrijolhortis bewickii, viir.
harii-lii, It.MiMi, licv. Am. 15. IStJJ, 12ti.
Sr'. CiiAii. Aliovc (l:uk riilims-lpiowii ; niiiii) miil iiiiililU^ luil-Conthers soinctiiiio.s a littlo
liuli-r, anil very .>ili<rlitly liiiircd witli jri-ay, and toffi'tlici' with llio cxpiwed surface of soo
ciiidai-ii',< dislinclly liani'd wilii dusky. HiMiciitli .soiled ))hnnlpi'oii.s-\vliitisli ; llank.s limwn.
Crissuni l.andod; ^'lound-color nf (mills and tail-fcatlicis lirownisli-black. Lungtli, ").")():
winjr, 2.2'): tail. 2.50. LciiKtli lioin nostril, 3i>; alon;.' gape, 7(».
IIau. Eastorn Province of I'nitcd States.
Habits. This interest iii"- si)iHit's of Wren was first iiiot with by Aiuhibou
in l^niisiiuiii. A uunilier of imliviihuils were observed at the time, but noth-
inji; of its history wtis i<iiowu for sevenil years iifterwanl. In shape, color,
and liabits it most resembled the t.'arolinii Wren, but was less rapid in move-
ment, and not so lively. Fourteen years later l)r. Baclinian ii^ain met witli
birds of this speeii's, in l.S;!.'., tit the Salt Sul])hur Sjirings of Mryinia. Tiiey
comi)rised a family of two jitirents and ti^■ i young, nearly full grown. Their
notes were like tho.se of the Winter Wren, neither louder nor more connected.
They seemed of restless htiliit, eree])ing actively among fences, stumps, and
logs. One a.scendeil an niik, netirly to the toj), in the manner of a Creeper.
This species proved to be i|uite common in that loctdity, and to be the
only Wren alauidant timoiig the mountains. Dr. (Jibl)s detected it noar
Columbia, S. (A, and Dr. Trudeau afterwards found it quice common in
Louisiana.
It was first observed breeding by I'rofessor Baird in ('arlisle, Penn.,
in 1844. In all respects the nests and their location corresponded with
these of the common Wren. I»r. Woodhouse found it very abundant in the
Indian Territory, tind describes its habits tis similar to tliose of other Wrens.
Lieutenant (Joucli observed tiiis Wren at Santa Itosalio in Mexico, early in
March. It was .seeking its food among the low jjrickly- pears. He was
informed that they dejjosited their eggs wherever they could do .so without
making much of a nest, inside the cal)ins under tlie rafters, but in New
Leon he found one of its nests (juite elaborately constructed in a tliatclied
roof. He descril)es the song as tpiite varied, and one of the sweetest tiiat
he heard in that country.
The late Dr. (ierliardt of Viirnell's Station, Ga., met with this species
among the mountainous i)ortions of Northern Georgia, where it generally
nested in holes in stumps. In one instance the nest was constructed five
inches in lengtii, and lour in diameter, with a cavity two inches in depth, and
the walls of great pro])ortioniite tliickness, nuule externally of coars<, roots,
19
]46 NORTH AMKUICAX lilRDS.
finer on the iuHidc, and lined willi varidtis kinds of aniniul I'ur -and willi
leathers, liolli birds \vori\ed to^etlier in eonslrni'tiny tiieir nest, hej^innin^'
on the lltii of Ajiril, and on the L'Ttli of the same niontii this contained
seven e,i,',us. The nest was not covered a' the to]), in the manner of the
(^irolimi Wren. In the foHowinj^ season anotiier jiair commenced hnildin^'
their nest in liis lied, in a lo,L;-li(aise. Driven from tiiese impossilih' (Hiarters,
tiu'V tried liie same e\|)eriment in vaiiiuis oliiei' parts of the luaise, Imt only
to aliandon it, and at last linished hy makiny a suecessfid attemiit in the
hay-loft. 'I'heir visits to that |iortion of (Ji'orjfia, he informed me, were
irrejj,iilar ami only oeeasional. In ISo',) he had not met with any birds of
this species for the s]iace of live years.
The e^ys measure .(17 by .")(> of an inch in their average )iri|iortions,
resemblin.u somewhat those of the Carolina Wren, init havin.i;' a lighter
"ground, with fewer and liner markin,L;s of slate- and reddish-brown. The
},n'ountl-C(dor is of a iiinkish-white.
Mr. A. iioucard obtained specimens ol' tiiese birds in the winter monlhs,
in the State of (laxaca, Mi'xico, pi'olialily of tiie var. /incoi/Ks/ir.
AVe learn from Mr. llid;;\\ay that in S(aithern Illinois (as fur north as lati-
tude 'M" 20' 20") this Wren is very abundant, and the most familiar s]ii\cies
of the family. In certain localities (as in the Valh-y nf the Wabash) it
entirely icplaces the '/'riK/Zdi/i/fcs inlmi, the latti'r iicin^ wholly uid<no\\n. In
its habits it is even more familiar than that s|)ecies, always preferriii,i^
tlie out-bnildin.us, e\en in lai'i^e towns, to the neighliorhooil of tla^ woods,
and still further inci'eases its atlractidiis by posscssin,i;' a charming son;.;',
ii real soikj, of sweet notes linely modulated, and uttered, generally, as
the liird |pcrch("^ pon a fence or tiie sialilc rooj', its head tbrnwn iiack,
and its long tai. pendent as it sings. The cunfused, gai)bling sputter of
7'. iii/iiii, uttered as it |ianses Just for an instant in its restless lio]iping
through the ivy. cannot iie compared tn the chant of liipiid musical notes
of this species, wliicii rescndilcs moi'e nearly, both in modulation and power,
that of the Son,g S|)arro\\ \ Mi/hs/h'-.k mi/di/iif], lhou,gli far superior to it.
On ordinary occasions the note of iJcwick's Wren is a soft, low /<///, uttered
as the bird hops alioiit the fence or stable, its long tail carried ujiright, and
Jcikcd to one side at each Imp. In ils moNcnu'Uts it is aitdgcther mure _
deliberate and less restless than the 7'. /ii(/iiri('-'/ii's, >■ 7'riii//iii/i//i.'< tnlon,
neither of which it nmch resembles in motion, a. id si less in notes. The
nest of this Wren is usually buil' about the oul-liouses, ^ mortisi^-hole or
siaue wcll-cnucealiMl corner being gcnerallv selected. ( tld stables and ash-
hoppers ai'c especially frcipienlcd ;>s ncsting-]il:a('>. .Mr. IJidgway louud one
in the bottiim of the conical pmiinn of a (piail-ni't v>hicli was hung up in a
shed, and aunlliei' in a pi'ce cif stn\('-pipe which !ay horizontally in the gar-
ret ol a smokc-hiiuse ; another ii'sleil upon a Hat Imard over tiie do(ir of an
out-hinise, while a fnmili was jilaced behind the wcatiiei-linarding of a build-
ing, 'i'lu- nest is generally very bulky, though the lailk is regulated to suit
Tli()(il,()l)VTII).F, — TIIK WIMON'S. 147
tlin size of tlin (^avity in wiii'li tlic, iiost is jilaccd. Its materials am usually
sticks, straws, cdarse i'catlicis, tine cliiiJS, (itc.., cxtciioily iasteueil toi^etlier
with masses of spiiler's-welis, tiie lining being of liner antl more downy mate-
rials, generally soft spider's- wei IS, tow, and especially the downy featluu's of
liarnvard fowls.
Thryothorus bewickii, vm. leucogaster, (Jm fd
Tivijhiiljilis /tiiriKjdsIrd, (liiri.ii, I'. Z. S. l,s;!(), iS!t ('I'iiiniiuliinis). I!(in. Xod's rti'liittrc,
185.1, 41!. ' Tlii'ihilhth-ii^ lii-irhl.li. Sri.AiKi;, 1'. /,. S. lf<."iil, :i7'J (Oaxafii). Tlirjinlliiii-nx
hrii-iikil var. Inn-iKjii.sli i\ li.Miiii, Ifcv. Am. I>. I'JT.
Si'. Cii.ui. .Miovc asliy-lini«ii ; niiii|i and iiiiilillr lail-liMllicrs l)ri>\vnisli-ii>li. Ilic liir-
liicr iicai'ly pure asli ; witlicnil a|i|i;ci'ialili' liais; liais mi srcmiilarii'S olisolctc. liciicalli,
ini-liiiliii,^' iiisiilr <il' wiii'j. iiiirc wliilc, willi lilih' m- iin lnow iii.^li im tlii' .^iiiK's. (."i-is-^iiiii
liainlcil; i;-roiiiiil-i-nli)r oI'iIk' (|iiills ami l.-Ml-lralliris L'layisli-liruwii. Size nl' var. hcirirl,/'
il.Vl!. Siiiillirni lidlilrrs ol' I'liilc'd Slalrs, iiilii Mo.Mcd.
lI.viilTs, Xothing is on record of tlic lialiit.s of this variety iis distin-
guished from var. hi irirhii.
Thryothorus bewickii, mh spilurus, \'i(;ni!s
Tniii/iii/j/fi'n .i/iiliin(.s, Vliaili.-^, Zoiil. lici'r'hcy'.s Viiya.i;i', l"^;'.'.'. Is, |i|. iv, tij,'. 1 (< 'alil'oriiiaV
7'liri/iiHiiini.^ siii'l:ini-i. ( 'nciPKl!, Oni. Ciil. I, ISTa, li'.'. 7'rnii/,iiliili:s ln-iriiiii, \i;\viii:iii;v,
r. !!. I!, lii'iit. VI, IV, l.s.',7, sil. ('(Min;i; ,>^ ,Sr, ki i.y, ;i,. Ml, n. tsiio, mil. T/nif-
iitliiirim hiifitkii, S(i..\ri:ii, <'alal. IMil, -J-J, im. Ml ^iii pail). ThrHijlJujrnxhtiriiKii,
viir. sj:ihirii.i, ll.vilil), li'cv. Tiii.
Sp. Cm.M!. Similar in hiii-it-Lii in cnlnr, the hill cdii.-^iili'i'.'ilily loii^rci'. I,i'iijj;tli froni nos-
tril, .5(1, fiapc, .Si, iii.^lr.iil ol' .:;!) ami .7n.
II.M). Tai-ilic slope ol' I'liiiiMl Slate.-:.
Young liirds from all the localities dilli-r from adults merely in having the
featliers oi' thi; throat and hrcast very iiarrowly and inconspicuously edged
witii lilackisii.
II.Mili'.s. This variety of I'.cwick's \Vrc;i is exclusively an inhahitaiit of
the. Western coast. According to I >r. ('oo|icr, they aliouud throughout tlie
wooded parts of California iind northward, IVcinunling tlie densest, forests
as well as the open groves. I hiring the winter they were found in the vicin-
ity of hirt Mojiivcinit left in .\pril. prnluiiily for the mouninini. Tiiey also
winter liiroiighout the mild regions towiinls the coast as far north as I'nget
Sound. Tliey are known as Mocking-Wrens. tiiougii Dr. Cooper thinks they
do not rcidly imitate other hirds, hut ratlier have a grciit variety of tlicir own
notes, some of which lescmiile thosi' of other liirds and are well calculated
to deeeivt) one unaccustomed to llicm. lie was often led to seai'cli in vain
for .some new form, which he thought he heard singing, onlv to tind it to he
148 Noirnr ameimcan miips.
a bird ol- tl.is species. X.ar San Die-o, in A,)ril, IHiVI, ho discovered one
ot Its nests built in a Ionv busl., only throe leet fn.ni the ground It was
quite open above, formed of twigs, grass, etc., an<l contained five e-.-s just
ready to hatcli, described as white with brown specks near the larger end
Messrs. Vittall and Town.sen.l observed these birds in the marshviuea.lows
ot the Walilaniet. accompanied by their young, as i,arly as Mav. They s.-emed
to have all the habits ..f Marsh Wrens. Drs. ( tand^el and 'Heern.ann, who
observed them in California, describe them as keei.ing in h,w bushes and
piles ot brush, as well as about old dead trees and h.gs, over and around
vyhich they were Hitting with the greatest activity, uttering, wlien ai.j.roache.i
tlie usual grating scold of the Wrens.
In Washington Territory 1 )r. Cooper states (hat this an.l the Winter Wren
are among the few birds that enliNcii the long rainy season with their .son-.s
which were as constantly lieard in the .lullest w.-ather as in the sunnv sprii^-'
llie young broods make their first appearance there in .Tunc. Dr 'su,.kk"v
louiid this s,,e.Mes very abundant at I'uget Sound, where it is a ..onstaiit
resident through.uit the year. On sunny days in Januarv mid in February
it was found among low thickets in con.paiiy with the smaller species At
this season they were v cry tame, allowing a person to approach them without
a].parent fear. He sj.eaks of the voice of the male as being harsh and lo.ul
during tiie breeding-sea.son, a-.d not unlike that of the common House Wren
(JriNTs TROGLODYTES, \'ikmx.
Tvo!,lo.h>les, VlI-.o.Lor. (.is. A,„. S. |,t. ||, ],m,7, .VJ. (Tyi..., Tr„„M,>frs „;/„„.)
The diaracters of this genus are suthciently iu.h-cated in the .synoi.sis vn
l>agv LSI. They come very closa to tliose of nn/„f/,on>s, the nostrils e.s-
jK'ciall^v- being linear and ox..,l,„„g l.y a .scale. In this respect both differ
fmin lln-nophih,, „f Middle America. The bill is .shorter or not lom^er than
the head ; straight, .slender, and without notch. The tail is graduated and
shorter than th.' m.ich rounded wings, the featlu-rs narrow. The light super-
ciliary line of Thniutlwrus is almost entirely wanting.
Species and Varieties,
,i. -i , . , "• Tiiiiiliiilijlfs.
liill .'111(1 winu'.-; nlioiil criiiiil.
T.BBdon. UoiR.atI, -n,yisl,-«l,il,.. Cis. ,,„,1 ll„nl<s .lislinrllv l,„riv,l.
\ inK-<'"V,.H.s ..|,ott..,l with wl,iti..l,. I.,„.k l„.,s of „ni alu mif tlu- «i,l,!.
"I lllcir lllU'IS|lilrcs.
I'H'sl priMiMi-y n-urly l,.ir ti,.. l,.„.nsl. r„l.,r ahov,. ,|,„-k-l.r..wn. niCous
t™is„.i|. „„,,. J^a.,..,.,, |-n,v ,.|„,...,lS„.„.s . . . vnr. „.,/„„.
Ui.iirs,,,,,!,,,-. Al,„ve|ml..rl,n,w„. //„/,, 1v,,.|..,m M..Ni,.,., In,,,, Hi,,
Uliiiiiic si,iilliwiiii|
I'Msl pninaiT |,„ir ,|„. .,„.o,„|. a1,„v.. ,,a'l.,- I,',„w„'. //„/, \l2\C^ ' " '' " ' '
"n.l\\..sU.n,|>,„vi,„...|-„iu.,ISu,l..s . . , , vn,../wM-/-,„,MMM.
TR()(iLODYTI D.l': - THE WRENS.
149
val'. (I I II X <' (' ti ■"' ' >■' .
/(. Aiiiirllinrii.
Tiiil very sli.n't : diily iilioiil two tliinls tlio wing.
T. hyemalis.
.(. Size i,\' iiiinn ,.x,.,.|,i foi- shortci- tail, winjr iilionl 2.(10; rulliieii very
sliaiMht. //'(/). Alculiaii Islauils
/'. Much .siiialliM- tluiii (itdiiii, wing alionl 1.7i").
Pal(! ifddisli-lirown ; dusky bars ol' upper parts with whitish spots or in-
terspaces, lldh. Eastern Province United States ; Cordova r var. Ii // << m n I i ." .
Dark ruliiMs aljove and helow; upper parl.s with low or almost no
whitisii spots. Hub. I'aeilie Province North America. var. jiu r i/i c n s .
Troglodytes BBdon, Vii:im-.
HOUSE WBEN; WOOD WBEN.
Tniii/di/iitrs ,nl„„, Vir.ii.i.. (Us. Aui. Sept. II, 1S(I7, iri, pi. evil. — lii. Nmiv. Piet. XX.XIV,
IM'.i, .">(i(i. I'.AiLii, I'.inis N. Aiu. IS.".^, MH ; li''V. KW. ~ Sc i,.vri;i!, Catal. ISOl, -J-J,
nil. Ur.. Mavx.vim), H. K. .\hiss. llijlniiiilhivas wihm, (ali. .lour. IStiO, 4(»7. Syhi"
tloiiKsliai, \V,i.soN, Am. Oni. 1, ISOH, 12it, pi. vii. Triiiili,di//,s Jniviin, NlTT. Man.
I, is;t2, i-l-l. f Tr^'ului/ii/rsdmi-rkiiiiiin, Arii. (Ini. Bioj,'. II, 18:J4, ■liV.i ; V, ISyi), -Iti'.t,
111. ilxxix. 111. llirds Am. II, 1841, l'i3, pi. cxix. — H.uitn, birds N. Am. IhaS, 3(iS ;
l!iv. 1, 1 11.
Other lignrcs ; Ai n. (hii. liiog. 1, l.s:il. pi. Ixxxiii. - In. Bird.s Am. II, 1841, jil. cxx.
Si'. ('u..,i. Tail and wings about e(pial. Mill shorter than the head. Above reddi.sh-
brown. darker towards the head, brighter on the rump. The leathers everywhere, except,
on tlie head and neck, baried with dusky ; obscurely .so on the back, and still less on the
rump. All the tail-ti^alliers barreil Inim the base: the conlrast, mori! vivid on the exterior
one. li( alb jiale luh ons-while, tinged with light biownish rcross the breast; the po.s-
terior parls rallicr dark brown, obscurely banded, rnder lail-i'overts whitish, with dii.skv
bars. \n iiidi-^lincl lii:- over (he eye, eyeliiis, and loral region, whiti.sh. Cheeks brown,
streaked with whitish. Lenglh, l.!M) ; wing, 'J.(»S: tail. li.dO.
H.Mi. Eastern Province ol' ilie Tniled Statc>. iVom .Vtlanlic to the .Missouri Uiver.
Ill till' h'ovit'w di' Aii.t'iieiui liinis (\k I :'>!»), I Iitivo establislicd a
(i::()rii>!, to umlifiicc. siii'L'iiiii'tis I'l'niii ^Icxico pulci' llniii (li/aii, tiiul
bniwiiisli tiiioo on Uic brciist, iuid smaller si/c.
TliL'Ui cau seai'ct'ly he iiiiy tlmiht that tlio 7'. mnirlfiniKs ol' And
iKttliiiio; more tliaii this s|i(rifs in daiU. acfideiitally .stiiled pluiiui;
charcnal of lainil tices, etc.).
H.vlilTs. Till' ciiiuiiKiii House Wren is i'ouiid
Lliruuoiiuut ilie I'liited Slates, iVoiii llie Atlaiitie
to tiie lioeky Mouiilaiiis, tlinttoli it is iml eveiy-
wliere e([iially aliiiiidaiit Tims, wliile in some
l)arls III' .Massaelui.setts it ocetirs in eonsiilei-
alile immliers every year, in oilier port ions iml
twenty niiles distant it is never seen. West id'
till! Iioeky Motinlains it is rt'iilaeed l.y I'ark-
iiian's vV'ren, wliieli is nitlier a raee than a dis-
variety,
with ii
nlioii is
;e (I'm 111
7V..«/.../i/(,
150
NORTH AMERICAN RnU)S.
Troi^tniliitrs rl''lnn.
tiiR't species, the flillen-iices in plmiiiige heiiii^' very slijilit, iiiid in lialiits,
nest, iinil e,L;^s ii<it iipiirecialile, tliiiii<;li Dr. < ooju'r tliiiiks there is u diller-
enco ill their soii^. Another nice or ii closi'ly allied species, T. if~liri(K, is
t'oiiiid in Mexico, near tiie Ixtrders of the United States, hut does not have
fill extended ran^e. It is round in the winter in (liiateinala.
This species does not apjiear to lie i'ouiid lieyond the southwestern jiortion
of Maine and the southern portions of New Hampshire and \'ernioiit. It
iiiakes its first apjiearance in Washinjiton early in A])ril, and for a while is
very altiindant, visiting very fainiliar-
iy the jiiil'lic yroiinds of the capitol,
private <>ardeii8, out-lmildings, and the
eaves of dwellin.ns. It does not ap-
pear in the New JMiylaiid States until
after thi' first \\'eck in ^Fay, and leaves
for the South ahout the last of Sep-
teiiilier. It is not observed in any
portion of the I'liited Slates after the
first of Xoveniber.
The hollows of decayiiif^ trees, crev-
ices in rocks, or the centre of meshes
of interlacinj,' vines, are their natural
resorts. These they readily relin()uish
for the facilities ofl'ereil in the .stM'iety
of man. They are liold, sociable, contidiiij; birds, and will enter into the
closest relations with tlio.se who cultivate their aci|uaiiitance, biiildiiiji
their nests from ]irefereiice under the eaves of houses, in corners of the
wood-shed, a clothes-line liox, olive-jars, martin-lioxes, open ji'oiirds, an
old hat, thi^ skull of an ox placed on a pole, the )iocket of a <'ariia,uc,
or even the sleeve of an old coat left hanging- in an oiit-buildint,'. in the
spriiif; of IH.").""! a pair of these Wrens nested within the house and over
the dooi' of tlic room of the late llohert !\ennic<itt, where they raised
their liroods in .safety. They iaiilt a second nest on a shelf in the .same
room, which they entered throiiLili a knot-hole in the iinceiled wall. At
first shy, tiicy soon became (|uite tame, and did not regard the presence
of members of tht! family. Tlu' male bird was more siiy than his mate,
and though ci|iially indiwtrious in collecting insects would rarely iuiiig
tliein nearer tliaii the knot-hole, where the female would receive them.
The female ^ith her br I was destroyed l)y a cat, but this did not deter
the male bird from appearing the following season wiili another male ami
building llieir nest in tlie same place. Aiiolher insiance of a singular selec-
tion of a breeding-place has been given iiy the .same authority. Dr. Keiini-
cott, the father of ilobeit, a c(aintry physician, drove an old twip-wheeh'd
o]ien gig, in the baik of which was a box, a foot in length liv three inches
in width, open at the lop. In this a jiair of Wrens insi- ted, limi' alter time,
Tl!()(il,()I»VTll).K- TlIK WUKNS. l."»l
in l)iiil(liii,i; tlu'ir nest. T1i(H1l;1i removed ciK'h tiiue tiie vcliicle was ii.sed, the
pair I'ur ii luiii; wliih; pursisted in tlieir Hlleiiiiils lo make nse nl' tliis place, at
last oven depositin>f tlieir e<j;<>'.s on the hare liottom of the l)ox. It was two
or three weeks hefore they (iiially desisted I'rum their vain attempts.
Sometimes tiiis hird will build a nest in a lar^e cavity, Iioldinj,' ])erhai)s a
Itnshel. Uet'ore the euj) of the nest is completed, the birds will generally
endeavor lo lill tiie entire sjiace with sticks and vari(ais other convenient
substances. Where tiie entiancis is niMiecd.ssarily large they will generally
contract it by building abiait it a barricade oi' sticks, leaving only a small
entrance, in the midst ol' tiiese ma.sses ol' material they construct a eom-
piict, cui)-slia]ied, inner nest, lieniis|)lierical in sliape, composed of tiner ma-
terials and warndy lined with the Inr of >u\n]\ (piadru])e(ls, and witii soft
feathers. If tiie eggs are taken as the female is dejiositing tlieni, slie will
continue to lay <|uite a, long while. In one instance eighteen were taken,
after wliieh tiie, liirds were let alone and raised a brood of seven.
During the months of May ami dune the male is a constant and remark-
able singer. His song is Imid, clear, and shrill, given with great animation
and vajiidity, tlie iierformer evincing great jeahiusy of any interruiition, often
leaving off aliruptly in the midst of liis song to literally " ])itcli in" u]ion
any rival who niay presunu! to c<impete witli him.
If a cat or any unwelcome visitor apiiroiich the nest, angry vociferations
suceeed to his spriglilly song, and he will swoop in raiiid Higiits across the
head or back of the intruder, even at the apparent risk of his life.
Where several pairs occupy tiie nnw garden, their contests are frei|Uent,
noi.sy, and generally iniite amuMiig. In their iigiits with other liirds for the
possession of a coveted hollow, their skill at barricading treipieiitly eiialiles
the AVreiis to keep triiimiphanl ]i()ssessiiiii against birds niucli more ])oweiful
than them.'^elves.
Their food is exclusively iiisecti\i)i(ais, and of a (dass of destriictne in-
sects that render them great iieiietactors to the iiirmer. Mr. Ki^nnieott
ascertained that a singli; ,,air of Wrens carried to their young aliout a thou-
sand in.si'cts in a single day.
The young, when they leave their nest, keep together for some time, mov-
ing about, an interesting, suciable, and active grouji, under tlii^ charge of their
mother, but industriniis in supplying their own wants.
The eggs of the Wren, usually from seven to niiu^ in iimnber, are ol' a
rounded-oval shape, at times nearly as broad as long. Their ground-cnlur is
white, but they are ,s(i thickly stiidde(l with markings and line spdts n[' red-
dish-bniwii, with a few occasidiial jMiints nf ])iii|ilisli-slate, as to conceal their
ground. Tlieir sliapi! varies fnnn nearly spherical to an oblong-oval, smue
measuring .(>(• bv .'>'> nf an inch, others with the same breadth lia\ ing a
length of .()" of an inch,
I'mler the name of Trniilniliilis iiiiiirifiiini-'<, or Wood Wren, Mr. Aiidubiin
figured ami descrilied a.s a distinct species wiiat is pndialily only a somewhat
152 NORTH AMJ'JRKJAX IJIKDS.
hu-er and .Inrk.-r l\mn of the i,resent sjitvios, hardly distinct enou-d. to lu,
■'i^;;'''^,"' " ™''- ^^'- ^^"''"''"" •""* ^^'^'^ "" i"'livi.l..a.l near Kastport
m mi.. The younj,^ were tbllowin- their parents through the tan-led re-
cesses ot a dark forest, in search of food. Others were ohtained in the same
par of Maine, neai^ Dennisville, where Mr. Lincoln informed Mr. Auduhon
that this bird was the con.n.on Wren of the neighhorhood, an.l that they bred
1.1 liollow luys in.the woods, but seldom ai)proached farm-houses
In the winter following, at Charleston, S. C, Mr. Audul)on again met indi-
VKhials of tins sui)i,o.sed species, .showing the .same habits as in Maine re-
maMHiig 111 thick hedges, along .litciies in the woo.ls, not far from plantations.
Ihe notc^s are described as differing considerably from those of the Hou.se
N\ieii. It has not been seen by Mr. IJoardman, th..ugh residin.^ in the
region where it is said to be the common Wren. Professor Verrill mentions
It as a rare lurd in Western Maine.
Mr. Charles S. I'aine, of Randolph, Vt., is the only natumlist who has
met with wliat he su,.po.ses were its nest and eggs. 'tIic following is his
account, communicated by letter.
" The AVoo.1 Wren comes among ns in the spring about the lOth or loth
of Apri , and siiig,s habitually a.s it .skips among the brush and logs an.l
•nxb-r the roots and sti.in,,s of trees, hi one instance I haye known it to
make it^ apj-earance in midwinter, and to be about the hou.se and ban, some
time. It IS only occasionally that they siu-nd tlie summer here (Central
Verm..nt). a he nest from which I obtained the egg you now haye, I found
about tlie hrst of duly, just as the young were about to fly. There were tiye
young bir,l,s and one egg. The nest ^vas built on the hanging bark of a de-
caying beech-log, close uiKh-r the l,.g. A great quantity of m„,ss and rotten
wood had been collected an.l filled inaroun.l the nest, and a little round hole
Mi for tlK. ....trance. Th.- n,>st was lined with a soft, downy substance I
liaye no doubt that they .sometimes commence to biwl as early as the mid.lle
of iMay, as I haye seen their young out in early June."
.Mr. I'aine .bscivlits the statement that they buil.I their nests in iiolcs in
tlie gimiKl. The ..gg refenv,! to by Mr. i^.in.. is „val i„ shape, slightly nujre
point.'.! at one end, measuring .To of an inch in length by .f.li i„ brea.ith
The groun.l ,s a d.-a.l chall<y-white, oyer whicli a.e .sprinkled a few ye.y tine
.Us of a light yidlowish-brnwii, slightly more numerous at the la.-er en.l
1 Ins egg, while it lu-ais .s..nie ivs..mbla.ice to that of the Winter Wren i.s
totally unlike (hat of the House Wren.
TUOCtLODYTID.E — THE WREN'S. I53
Troglodytes sedon, vai. parkmanni, Aud.
FABKMAN'S WHEN ; WESTEBN WOOD WBEK.
Troijhi!i/f,:i jxd-kmnniii, Aid. Oni. IJiog. V, 1839, 310. — lit. Syiiop.si.s, 1830, 76. — In.
Hinls Am. 11, 1841, 133, pi. c.v.\ii. — 15.viui>, liirds X. Am. 1808, 31)7 ; licv. 14n. ~
Coni'i;u& SrcKLKY, 1'. K. 1!. Kcp. Xll, 11, 18i>0, li)l (lu'.st). — .Sci.atki!, Ciital. I8iil,
23, 110. l-K). — ('uDi'Kii, Oiii. ('ill. I, 1870, 71. Troijlodijics sijh-cslri.i, (l.VMiii;!,, I'l'. A.
N. Sc. Ill, 181(>, 113 (California, (juotv-s unoneously Aru. T. aineriaiiiKi).
Had. Western and Middle I'rovinces of I'uiUMl StaU.',-:. East to the Missouri River.
Western .Xrizona. Coi'ks.
Althou<,'li tlio differences between the ea.stem and western House Wrens,
as stated in the lUrds of North Anierica, are not very iippreciable, yet
a conipari.son of an extensive seiies shows that they can hardly be consid-
ered as identical. The j^'eneral color oi i)arkma)ini above is jialer and grayer,
and there is little or none of the rufous of the lower back and ruinp. The
bars on the npjjcr surface are rather more distinct. The under parts are
more alike, as, wiiile adoii sometimes has flanks and crissum .strongly tinged
with rufous, otlier specimens are as pale as in T. pnrkmmini.
Perhaps the niost a])])reciable differences between tlie two are to l)e found
in the size and projiortions of wing and tail. The wing in parhnnnni is
(piite decidedly longer tlnm in advii, measuring, in males, 2.12 to 2.1;"), in
stead of 2.00 to 2.05. This is due not so much to a larger size as to a gi'eater
develoiimeut of the ]irimaries. The first ([uill is ecjual to or barely more
than half the second ni puiinuinni ; and the diiference lietween the longest
primary and the tenth amounts to ..■?2 of an inch, instead of al)out .20 in
mlon, where the first (piill is nearly haU' the length of the third, and much
more than half the lengtli of the sect 'd.
ILviiirs. This western form, liardly distinguishable from the connuon
House Wren of the Eastern States, if recognized as a distinct sjiecies,
is its complete analogue in regard to habits, nest, eggs, etc. It was first
obtained liy Town.send on tlie ('oluml>ia l!iver, and described by Audulion in
liS.'ill. It ims since been oiiservcd in various parts of the country, from the
Mississip]ii N'alley to tlie racific Coast, and from Caiw St. Lucas to Oregon.
J)r. Cooper, in iiis ISirds of Washington Territory, speaks of tliis Wren as
common about Tuget Sound, where it appeared to lie much less familiar than
our conuuuF. Wren, tliough its liabitsand .song seemed to lie very similar. It
there fretiuented chieHy the vicinity of woods and piles of logs, neitlier
.seeking nor dwelling in the vicinity of houses. It arrives there about the
20tii of A]iril. As observed alioiit Vancouver in IS.")."), its song ajipeared to
Dr. Cooper diH'erent from tliat of the T. tnlon. He found one of tiieir nests
built in a horse's skidl that hud been stuck u])on a fence. Dr. Suckley, who
ob.served tin'st> l)irds about Fort Steilacoom, describes their voice as harsh
and unmusical.
154 NOKTH A.MEIUCAX JHHp.S.
Dr. Cooper lias «iiK-e olismcd tlieiii in Caliluniia, iiiid in the whiter, in
tile Colorado N'allcy, wliero they roo.steil at niyht under tlie eaves of the gar-
rison I)uildin-s. They make their appearance at San Francisc. as early
as March 10, and nest at San Dii-o in April, ile has fonnd their ne.sts
in hollow trees at varions hci-hts, iroiii five to i'oity leet, all composed of a
lloor and l)ai'ricade of long- dry twigs, grass, and hark, loosely placed, hut so
interwoven as to leave only, just space for the birds to scpieeze in over them.
They are warmly lined with a large (juantity of leathers. Their eggs he
gives as from five to nine in iiumher.
The Lite ]Mr. Hephurn has furnished more full and e.xact information in
regard to this species. We give it in his own words.
"The T.parkminuii is the conmion wren of A'ancouver Island, far more
so than of California, where 1 have ibund the P.ewick's Wren (7'. hnriclii)
nmch more numerous, rarkman's Wren huilds its ne.st in li„ll„w trees in
Vancouver Lsland, ahout the middle of Jhiy, forming it of small sticks laid
at the bottom of the hole, neatly and comfortably lining it on the inside with
feathei-s that arch over the eggs. It will also rcailily avail itself of any
similar and e(iually convenient cavity. I have known these birds to build
under the roof of a frame house, entering by a hole between the tojunost
board and the shingles; also in a hole in a gate-])ost, through which gate
peo])le were continually passing; and also over a doorway, getting in by a
loose board, in a place where the nest could be reached by the hand. In
IHol' I put a cigar-bo.x, with a hole . t in one end, between the forks of a
tree in a garden at Victoria. A jiair of Wrens sjieedily took jiossession of
It and formed their nest therein, hiving .seven eggs, the first on the l.Sth of
]\Iay. The eggs (jf this Wi'cn are white, thickly freckled with pink sixit.s,
so much so in some s])eciniens as to give a general pink a])pearance to the
ogg it.self, but forming a zone of a darker hue near the larger end. They
are .<S1 df an inch in length l)y .."iO in wiiltli."
Their eggs re.send.lc those of the T. mJon .so as to be hardly distingui.sh-
id.le, yet on comparing several sets of each there ,scem to be these constant
ditferciice.s. The sjiots of the western species iire finer, less marked, more
numeruus, and of a ])iiiker shade of reddi.sh-lirown. The egg.s, t(.o, range a
little smaller in size, though exhibiting great variations. In one nest'the
average measurement of its seven eggs is .(10 by .r.(). tjiat of another set of
the .same number .70 liy .HO of an inch.
In all respects, Iial)its, manners, and notes, Tarkman's Wren is a ])eifccl
counterpart of the eastern Hoii.se Wren. In the country east of the Siena
Nevada it almost wholly replaces the \\cstern lUnvick'.s Wren (Thr>/ot/ion>s
hririd-i:\\iiv..y>i/in-i's),nm\ inhabits any wooded localities, as little preference
being giveti to the cottonwoods of tiie river valleys as to the aspen grovc-s
high up in the mountains.
TRiXrLUDYTlDyE — THE WHENri. 150
Troglodytes parvulus, \iu. hyemalis, \ivm.\..
WINTEE WEEN.
Si/hifi trniiMii/r.i, \Xu.sos, Am. Orii. I, l.Hd.S, HiO, \,\. viii, f. (>. TrDiihili/lr.'i hiiemnlh,
Vii:ii,i.ipr, N'ouv. Diet. XXXIV, ISl'.t, T.U. -Ain. Oni. liiog. IV, 18:58, 4M), pi.
cirlx. — 111. lUnl.sAm. II, 1841, liS, pi. c.v.Ki. — lUllil., Hml.s N. Am. 18.-.8, Jiti!' ;
U.'V. 141. — S(M,.viKli, 1'. Z. S. 18r.(i, -i'JO (Coidovii, ilcx.K — 111. Ciitiil. 18(11, 'I-i, wi.
V<i. -^l),\i.i. & IUNNl.sTKU(Ala.skii). — Cool'Kl!, (»ni. Ciil. I, 1870, 7:!.
Sr. CiiAU. Bill vc-ry stnii^hl, sIcimIit, hikI coniciil ; .-^borlcr lliiiii the lirail. Tail coii-
sidiM-iil.ly .■^liinlcr (liaii ill./ wiii^-.s which ivach lu its ini.ltllf. L'l.piT liarls ivil.lish-browii ;
IjcM-oiiiiiiff liri*'hltM- lu the niiiii) iinil tiiil ; I'vcrywlifi-c, i'-N(;cpt. on the- hiNul ami iippur part
of the hack-, with Iraiisvcrsi' bar.-; of iliislcy ami «>f li.L'hk'r. Si-ipiilais ami winj^^-i'ovcTt.s
with .spot.s of whiti'. lii'iicalh pale rcildisli-limwii, liam;(l "ii iho po.^lcriui- half of thu
body with dusky and whitish, and spotted wilh white nioiv antwioi-ly ; ontci- web of
primaries similarly spotted with pale browiii,sh-white. An indistinct pale line over the eye.
Length, about -1 inelies; wii'.-,-, l.dli; tail, 1.2(1.
Hah. North America ^;enerally. South t(5 (Jordova, Mex.
Western specimens intiy be seimrated iis ti variety [xwijinin (Bairp, Itev.
Am. Birds, 1SC.4, 145), luised oiitlie miicli dtirker coIdi's and the almost entire
absence of the whitish sjiots amoii^- the dark bars. The umler parts are more
rnt'ons ; the ttirsi are shorter, thi! claws hirger, the l)ill straighter and more
slender.
The Winter Wren is very clo.sely reliited to the common Wren {T. parvu-
liin, Koch) of Europe, so mucli so, in fact, that the two idmost seem to be
varieties of one species. The dill'eiences, as shown in a large series from
both continents, are the following: In T. jxtvvulm there is a tendency to
more uniform siiadi^s ; and the prevailing lint iinteriorly, beneath, is a pale
yellowish-iish, almost immaculate, instead of brownish-ochraceous, showing
minute specks and darker edges to the feathers. In extreme specimens of
T. pannliiA the Itars even on the tail and wings (except primtiries, where
they are always distinct) are very obsolete, whik m the lower jiarts they are
confined to the flanks and crissum. Sometimes, however, specimens of the
two are found which are almost uudistiiiguishable from each oilier. In
fact, it ip only by taking the ]ilaiiier European l)irds and conqiaring them
with the darker American examples from the northwest coast, that the dif-
ference lietween T. pari-ti/ns tind 7'. /ii/niinlix is readily aiiim-ciable.
H.MUT.s. The Winter Wren, nowhere very aliiiiidant, seems to be dis-
tributed over the whole of North America. Hiirdly distinguishable from
the common Wren of Ivir(i]ie, it .an scarcely be considered as distinct.
The habits of our species certainly seem to be very different from those
assigned to the Eiiro]»ean bird, which in England ajipears to lie as common
and as familiar a bird as even the Uedbrea.sl. The small size and retiring
habits of our species, as well as its unfretpient occurrence, and only in wild
places, combine to keep its history in doubt anil obscurity. It is supposed
15G XOKTII AMKKICAX JJUiUS.
to be northern in its ,listril,„tion .luri... the broe,lin^-.soason, vet only u
s.ny e «pecuaen was ohtau.ed Uy Sir .John Jfichur.lson, and ti^at on the
northern sliores of Laive Iliii'on.
Ou tlie I'aciKc coast Dr. Cooper reranle.! the Winter Wren as the most
common, speces in tlu3 Ibrests of Washington Territory, where it n.,,uented
even the densest portions, an.l where its lively sun,, was alnn.st the only
sound to be heard. It was >nost connnonly seen in winter, retiring, in suni-
Zlinrnl'Zr'"^ " '^'''" ''' ^'™' '-' '-'' - ^'^ ^"-
Dr. Su.kley also states that this Wren was tb,uul at Fort Steilacoom more
a mndantly n. the wn.ter than any other .speeies. It was very nnsnspieious
allow,,., a very near approach. The dense lir forests, anu,,.,- fallen h,..'
were ,ts nsna pkces of reso,^ durin, the h,,.,, da,np, and d,.ary wint^;^
o 0,e^,n. I,,. s,.ekley rega.led the habits of this species and' tho.se of
m^is h, s!i^, ''" ''' "'^^^^ '''"'^''"'- ^^'- ^"''^'""" "^^'""^^^ '''"^ «Pe^i-
M,-. Andubon fonnd this species at Eastpo,-t, on the 9th of May, in full
ong a,.d ciu, e abundant. A n,onth late,, he lound then, e.p.ally'plentiful
ni the Ayalen Islands, and afterwards, about the n.iddle of J,dy in Lab-
raao,.. He described its so,,, as excelling that of any bird of its size with
t, ,' V n ,?•"",' ';7''""^"'' ^'^'"" *■"" '•*• •-■"•l^""-- ^'"ergy, and n,elody, and as
t,uly n,us.cal. Its power of continuance is .said to be very surprising
Ihe character,stics of the Winter Wren are those of the whole "fa,„ily
ll.ey ,nove.s w,th rapidity and precision fro,,, place to place, in sho.t. sudden
hops and Ihghts, bending downwa,-d and keeping their tails erect They
w,Il ,-un un.ler a large root, tln'ough a hollow stu.np or log, or between the
interstices ol rocks, more in the ,nan„er of a n.ouse than of a bird
Ihe w,-,ter has several times observed the.se Wrens on the steep sides of
Mount \\ aslnngton, in the nu.nth of June, moving about in active unrest
ilisappear,„g and ,.eappea,ing among the b,oke„ n,asses of granite with'
which these s]o,.es are strewn. This was even in the most thickly wo-nled
portions. Ihough they evidently ha.l nests i,i the neighborhood, they couhl
not be discovered. They wei^e unsuspiciou.s, cmld be approached within a
ew teet, but uttered .luorulous coni,,Iai„ts if one persisted in sea,rhing too
long 111 the places they entei-ed.
Tl.ls W,v„ as I a,n inforn,e.l by M,-. P.oa,-d,ua,i, is a connuon summer resi-
uent near Calais, Me.
^ Mr. Audul,on met with its ne.st in a thick forest in Tennsvlvania. He
jollowe.1 a pa.r of these birds until they .lisappeared in the hollow of a protu-
berance, covered with mo.ss and lichc. resembling the excrescences often
een on lo,est trees. The aperture was perfectly nuinde.l a,.d .,uite smooth.
He put in h,s hnger a„.l felt the ,.eckiiig of the bill's bill and heard its
^luerulous c,y. He was obliged to remove the j.u-ent bird in o,-der to see the
eggs, wh„.h weiv six in nun,be,-. The parent bir.ls made a great clamor as
TUOGLODYTID.K — THE WRENS. I57
he was exaiuiiiiiin' tlieiii. The iiest wsis seven inches in h-nj^tli and lour and a
half in hreadtii. Its walls were coniposed of mosses and licliens, and were
nearly two inches in tiiickness. The cavity was very warndy lined with the
fur of the iVnierican iiaro and ii few sol't feathers. Another nest found on
the ]Moiiawk-, in New York, was similar, hut smaller, and huilt against the
side of a rock near its liottom.
Afr. AVilliani F. [fall met with the nest and eggs of this bird at Camp
Sehois in the central eastern ])ortion of ]\Iaine. It was huilt in an unoc(!U]iied
log-hut, among tlie fir-lenves and mosses in a crevice l)etween the logs. It
was large and bulky, conijio.sed externally of mosses and lined with the fur
of hedge-iiogs, and the feathers of the sjnuce partridge and other liirds. It
was in the sliape of a ]iouch, and the entrance was neatly framed with hue
pine stick.s. The eggs were six in nundtcr, and .somewhat resemliled those of
the I'orufi afriiitpillufi. The female was seen and fully identified.
In this nest, wiiich measured live and three tpiarters inches by five in
breadth, the size, solidity, and strength, in view of the diminutive jirojxjrtions
of its tiny architect, are (juite remarkable The walls were two inches in
thickness .and very strongly im])acted and interwovtui. The cavity was an
inch and a quarter wide and four inches deep. Its heinhjck framework had
been made of green materials, and their strong and agreeable odor ])ervade(l
the structure. The eggs measured .(i") by .48 of an inch, and were s])otted
with a bright reddish-brown and a few pale markings of iJurjdish-slate, on a
pure white ground. Com])ared with the eggs of the European Wren their
eggs are larger, less oval in sliape, and the spots mucii more marked in
their character and distinctness.
Troglodytes parvulus, var. alascensis, Uaiiui.
ALASKA WBEN.
Tivglodi/lai alasaitm's, H.viiili, Tiaiis. <'lii(iif;o Aiad. Sc. I, ii, 31 "1, ]>!. xx.\, tig. 3, 1809. —
Dam. & lU.NNisTKit (AliiskiO. -fuiKscii, Ornitii. X. W. Aiiiwikas, 187-2, 30.
Sp. CiiAit. ^ 11(1., (;l,3-J!), Aiiiiikiiiik Isliiml, riiiiliis.likii, (ht. 21. 1S71 ; W. II. DaU.
Aliovc iiinlit'r-lirowii, more nili'scciit 1111 tin' wiujjs, ruiii|i. and tail ; si'cuMilarit's ami lail-
featiit'rs showinir iiidistinct Iraiisvui-se dusky liars: |iviiuai-ics alioiit (M|ii:dly liari'cd with
l)laokisli and dilntc^ iniil>i'i' of lirnwnish-wliilc ; iniildli'-covcits li|i|)('(I \viili a small white
dot, iireccilfd liy a lilack one. Lowci' pai't, inrhuiiiiir a rather distinct .siipfrciliaiy stripe,
pale oohniuoons-unilH'i' ; sides. Hanks, alidonicn. and cii.ssnni distini'tly baircd with dusky
and whitish on a rusty ^'round ; cii.ssuni with sa^'itlato spots of white. Wing, 2.20; tail,
1.00 ; culiiuMi, .05 ; tarsus, .7.").
Had. Aleutian and I'rihylow Islands, Alaska.
The specimen above described represents about the average of a large
series obtained on Amaknak Island by Mr. Dall. They vary .somewhat
among themselves as regards dimensions, but all are very mucli larger than
158
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
any specimens of T. h>/nna/i% from whicli it also clillers in longer, strai«rliter,
and niore subulate bill (the gonys slightly ascemling). The type s]...dnien'
from St. (leorge'.s Island M-as innnature, and we embrace the ojJiiortunity of
giving the de.scription of an adult sent down with several otliers in tlie
autumn of I.S71 by Mr. Dall from Unalasclika.
This form bears th^ same relation to T. /i,/n>ia/i.^ that M,'lo^pizn nna-
UmM'cnxU does to M. mclodia ; T. iHinfi,n,>^, like M. riifina, being an inter-
mediate form.
Habits. Of this new variety, tlic Alaska Wren, but little is as yet
known as to its i)ersonal hi.story. Air. Dall states that it is found in abun-
dance all the year round on St. George's Island, and that it breeds in Mav,
building a nest .)f moss in the crevices of the rocks, and, according to the
Aleuts, lays six eggs. Mr. Dall subse<iuently found it quite common at
Unalaschka in the summer of l,S71.
(Jknts CISTOTHORUS, Cahan.
CiMhnnis, Caham.s, M„s. Ilcin. ^^M, \s:,\, "7. (Tvi.o, Tr,„i!vil„>.s Mhn-is.)
r,'hm,Miit,-s, Caiianls, J[„,s. H..in. ISnO, :s-.], 78. (Tjih', t'aih:., i>ahi..lns.)
Thniutlwrns, Vikii.m.t, Aiiiilyse, 1810, iRvor.liiiK to (!. K. Cray.
<!h:x. Ciiau. Rill alxjut as loiip- as the head oi' niudi
slioitiT. iiuicli coiniiros.xcd, not notclicd, ^'iitly ilcciiivcd
lioiii lli( middle; the jronys sliujilly concave iii- striiiirlit.
Tecs rciicjiin'r to the end of the tail. Tamis hin,irer than
the middle toe. Hind toe lonj,'cr than the lateral, shorter
than the mid<lle. Lateral toes alioiit e(|nal. Hind toe
al S lonjrer than or eqnal to its disrit. Win^s rather lonirer
than the t,.il. all tlie fcatliors of which are nmch gradn-
ateil : the lateral only two thirds the middle. The
(eathers narrow. Jiack hlack, conspicnonsly streaked
with white.
Cistolhnriis iKihtstrix.
Of this genus there are two sections, (Jisfo/lmrxs ]iroper aiul Tilmatoilnl,^,
the diagnoses of wliich liave alreiuly been given. The two Xorlii Ameriiiaii
s])ecies ])resent tlie feature, uni(iue among our Wrens, of white streaks on
the back.
A. CistothoruB. Rill liairienirili ofhca.:. No white snporciliary streak. Itcad
and rnm|, and Lack streaked with white. Tail dusky, harred with hrowii. (\ MhiriK.
B. Telmatodytes. Rill h.nu-th of heail. A white superciliary .strii.e. itack
alune streaked wiih white. Tail-feathers black, barred with whitish . C. pahistrh.
THOGLDDYTID.K — TJIE WRENS. 150
Cistothorus stellaris, cviiVN.
SHOUT-BILLED MABSH-WEEU.
nn,ih.l,it,ss,.ll,n-is, "Men.-." Na.mann, Vog.l l)-uts,hlan,ls, III, 1S23, 724 (Carolina).
' CMI,..:,. s,,lhn-is, Cau. Mu.s. lU'iu. 77.-r.AnM., liir.ls N. A,n. 185S, 3(i5 ; Rev.
Iti!. ^Sci.ATKl!, Catal. 22, no. H2 (in i.iirt). TroijUHhtlis bnnnixln.s, NriT. Man. 1,
18;!2, 4:i(i. -.Ari.. Orn. Hi..;,'. II, 1834. 427, 1.1. .Ixxv. - lu. liinls Am. II, 1841, 138,
pi. c.x.xiv. C. ikijiins, Sil.ATEU & Salvi.n, ll)i.s, IXjSt, 8.
Sr. CiiMi. Tiill v,.|-y short. .-.Mn-rlv half th.> lon-lh "f th- hca.l. Winy aii.l tail alxml
...lual. llin,l,.r part of tin' ,towm aii.i liic s,-a|.iilar au.l ii.t,.rscapnlar n-io.i ol' ti.o l.a(.-k and
nnnp almost l.lack. .-uvaUr,! witii wliito. Tail <lnsky, the H.illn-r.s barred thron-hout with
hrown (tin- .'olor uravish on ihu under .nrfa.'e). Heneath white; the ..ides, upper part ol
hreast, and iiinler tail-eoveits reddish-hrown. Uj.per pajts, with the exceptions men-
tioned, reddish-l.rown. Leii-th, 4..".it; win-. 1.7.'.; tail, 1.75.
IIaii. Eastern I'lcvinee of rnited Slates, west t.. Loup Fork ol' Platte.
Tlieni is a rlosoly allied vavii'ly fvum Mc.xieo and (Guatemala (C. chijnns,
S(i..\Tr.K & S.vi.viN','pr. Z. S., ISr.'.i, S; wliicli dille.v.s in the characters stated
Ih'Iuw.
White dorsal streaks extendiiifT lo the rump, v.hieli i.s .•onspienously Landed with
brown, ami somewhat spotle.l with wliiiisli. Heneath, incindir.;,' linin-,' of
winj;s. liyht cinnamon-brown; throat and belly paler, almo-st white; sides and
eris,sMim very ol)s,.letely barred with darker, aii.l faintly .spotted with whitish.
Feathers of" iu}r"lu"' ''"''^' »'''''•*. ''"'' ^^■'''' ^'"' "'"''"' "'"^'■'"■'■'' ''>' ""' l'''''"' ''''^"'■'•
Tarsius, .W long. //,//<. Ea.stern T'rovhiee of United States . . . C. stellaris.
Streaks on baek eonliiied lo inter.seaiiiilar region; rump and upjier lailrnv.^iis
ahnost plain n'ddi.sli-brown. nenealii much paler than in .sli'lhiri.s, without any
apprceiable iiidieation of bars or s|iots on sides and erissmn, (.r of the fulvous
of th.' jugular feathers. Inside (.f wings snowy-white. Tar.sii.s, .72 long.
y/<(/.. Mexico and Guatemala ; lira/.il? ('. eh<i'n,s.
The diHereiices between these two varieties are just l)arely iiiti)recial>le
when specimens of tlie two, of eorrespondino; setisons, iin; cunijiared. Two
Mexican e.xiiniples {elqidns) dilVer ni«tre Ironi eacli other tliiiii one does
from North Americiin siiecimens; hecause one (a typictd s]ieeiinen received
from Salvin) is in tiie worn, faded, niidsiimmer ]iliiniiioe, and the other in the
jierfect autnnmiil dre.ss. I'.esides the hinder tarsi of tiiese Mexiciin liirds,
t .>eir tails, and even their hills, are h)njj;er than seen in Nortli Amerietm skins.
Hut while these dilfereuces between tiie North Amerii'an tind Mexican birds
iire Just ai.i.reciid)le, there is one from I'.razil (fiKOlT, Sr. Don Fred. Albu-
• lueniiie) which is exactly intermediate between these two varieties in color,
while in size it is even smaller tliiin the North Aniericiin ones, measuring,' as
follows: wino', l.dd; tiiil, l.tiO; culnien, .4."), tarsus, .(11.
Kven if recoonizable as lielonoino to diil'erent varieties, these .specimens
are eerttiinly all referable to one species.
Hahits. The Siiort-billetl Marsh Wri'n is very irreoidurly distributed
tlirouglunit the United Stutes, being fmiud from lieorgia to the Ihitish
100
N'OltTII AMKIilCAX HIUDS.
Cistof/ion/s pnfif^tris.
I'liiviiicfs, and IVdiu tlic Atlantii; to the ri)por ^rissduri. Ft is nowliero
alimidaiit, ami in many large portions of intervening territory has never
l)een i'ound.
It is exclusively uu inhabitant of low, iV(>sli-water marshes, opi-n swamps,
and meadows, is never t'onnd on high
• ground, and is very shy and ditlicult of
ai)proaeh. It makes its first appearance
in Massachusetts early in May, and leaves
early in Se]>tend)er. In winter it has
heen found in all the (iulf Slates, from
Florida to Texas.
A(^cording to Nuttall, thisAVrcn lias a
lively and quaint song, delivered ear-
nestly and as if in haste, and at short
intervals, either from a tuft of sedge or
from a low hush on the edge of a marsh.
When ajiproached, the song becomes
harsher and more hurried, and rises
info an angry and petulant cry. In the early p.art of the .sea,son the male is
(luite lively and nuisical. These Wrens spend their time chiefly in the long,
raidx grass of the swami)s and meadows searching for insects, their favorite
food.
Their nest is constructeil in th(> midst of a tiis.soek of coarse high grass,
the tops of which are ingeniously interwoven into a I'oarse and strong cover-
ing, s])herical in shape, and elo.sed on every side, except one snuill aperturo
left for an entrance. Thi; strong wiry gra.>*s of tli tussock is also interwoven
with finer matiM'ials, making the whole impervious to the weather. The
iimer nest is coniiiosed of grasses and finer .sedges, and lim^d with soft, vc'e-
table down. The eggs are nine mi numlpcr, \m\v white, and rather small for
the bird. Tiiey are e.\ceedingly delicate and fragile, more .so than is usual
even in the eggs of Ilunnning-I!irds. They are of an oval shape, and measure
.(ill liy A'l of an inch.
•Mr. Nuttall conjectured that occasionally two females occupied the same
nest, and states that he has known the male binl to liu.sy itself in construct-
ing .several nests, not more than one of which would be used. .\s these birds
rear a second brood, ii is probable that these nests are built from an in-
stinctive desire to have a new one in readiness for the second brood. This
peculiarity has beiui uotieed in otiier Wrens, where the female sometimes
takes jKtssession of the new abode, lays and sits upon her second set of eggs
before her first bi d are ready to fly, which are left to the charge of her
mate.
Mr. .'.udnlion found this Wren breeding in Texa.s. Dr. Tnulean met them
tm the marshes of tlu' i)elaware 1 fiver, and their nest and eggs have been
sent to us from (he Koskonong marshes (»f Wisconsin. It has also been foinid
TltOGLODYTID.li — THE WUliNS. 101
in the i.mrslu^s of Conuec ticut Uiver, near Hartford ; and in Illinois Mr. Ken-
nicott lound it anion- the loi.g grasses bordering on the prairie sloughs.
In Massachusetts I have occasionally met with tiieu' nests, but only late
in July, when the rank grass of tiie low meadows lias been cut. These
were probably their second brood. The nest being built close to the ground,
and made of the living grasses externally, the> are n.jt distinguishable from
tlie unoccupied tussocks tiiat surround them.
Cistothorus palustris, Bxum
lONG-BILLED MABSH WREN.
Vnr. imlustris.
Certhin paluslris, Wn..soN, Am. On.. 11. ISIO, 58, pi. -xii, %. 4 (IVniia). Troglodyk. pn-
hixtris, Hon. 01.S. Wils. 1S-24, no. (Hi. — .\ri). Oiu. lUoj;. 1, 1831, 5(10, \A. c. — lli.
Hints Am. 11, 1841, 1:!.'), pi. ixxiii. ^ liKisiLMUvr, Ibis, 18G1, 5 ((iodtliaab, (iiwii-
lan.l). Thruothonix i>'ihixtrh, Nrrr. Man. 1, 18:V.>, i:i'.". cishthnriix (TdnwImiiikH)
lMlustri.% HaU!!), Hinls N. A]i.. 185S, ;i(il ; li.'V. 147. -~ Sil-ATKU, Catal. 1801, -li.
Thr>jotho,ns ariai<luimr„s, Vn-,|],i,..T, X.mv. Diet. .\X.\1V, 1819, 58 (not Tiy.
nnimiiii'iiriix, Vir.ll.l.oH. Tlirnutliunix i,ni,idimu;Ms, Hon. Consp. 185(1, 220. Td-
matodi/tcs (iriiiiiliiiiictiis, ('ah. Mils, llrin. 185(1; 78.
Hah. Ea.stiMii ruitcl Siatf.s fiom tlif Mis.-oiiri Rivur ; (irLviilaiiciy Rkinhaki.t ;
Mo.xico, ami (liuitt'iiuila V Conlova. Sii.ATiat.
Var. iiiiliKlicoln.
Cistothonis i,„l„sMs, var. ,ml,i<liod.,, Haiiu.. \U■^. .\m. H. 18(14, 148. Tvn,,M„Us ,,„lm.
trh, Nicwii. 1'. K. Ki'p. VI iv, 1H57, 80 (I'a.ili.- ivf,'ioii). CislnllwrKs jm!i(sl,-h, Coockr
& SiiKi.F.v, r. K. IJi'P- ^. "• '^'''•'' ^'•"' *^^- T.)- Cooi'Kii, (»in. (-'al. I. 1870, 75.
Cailiin /iiilii.slris, l.oiiii, I'r. 1!. Art. Inst. IV, 117.
Sp. CiiAi!. Hill about as loni; as lit'ii.l. Tail an. 1 winj.' nearly ciiual. I'lipcr pnrt.s ol' .i,
(lull nMl.li.sb-browii, cxci'pl on llic crown, inliMs.'ai)nlar region, out<M- suHacc of terlial.s,
and tail-fcalluM-.s, wliicli arc nlniost black: ibc tirst wilb a median patch like llic frromid-
color ; liic second with short stronks of while, extcndin^f round on the sides of the ni'ck ;
the third indented with brown; the fourth barred with whitish, dcreasiui;- in lunount
from the outer feather, which is marked from the b.iM. to the lifth. where it is coidined to
the tips; the two iniddle feathers above like the back, and barred tiiroiigiiont with dusky.
Iteneath ratlier pure white, the sides and under tail-.'overls of a liglitcr shade of brown than
tlie back : a white streak over the eye. I-cujrih, 'i.oO ; wim;', '2.(18; tail, '2.(11). (.1. ••"'•<•)
Hau. I'acilic Coa.st and .Mitldie I'roviucc of 'nited Stales.
In comparing a series of Marsh Wrens of eastern North America with
western, we iind that they dilVer very apinvciably in certain characteristics,
which may be expressed by the following diagnoses: —
Hill lentJthened, eipial to tarsus. Tinl-covcrls above and below cuher perfectly
plain, or with very obsolete bands, reduced to obsim-c spots beneath. Itauds
on tail liroken : scarcely iippreciabic on the middle f.'at hers . . var. /m I n s t r i s .
Hill shorter llian tarsus. Tail-eoverts distinctly banded all acro.ss. Hiuids on tail
.piite distinct ; appreciable on the central fci;thers . . . var. ;>((/ 1( (//c'>/(( .
•21
162 NORTH AMi;iaCA.\ JJIHDS.
Tliodiflereiicesbetwwii tiu'se two riice,s is much more appreciable than
tliuso between Tro!,l<,di,ks <nlon mu\ T. " pu rhiu, ,mi" ; tiie most striking
character i« the mucii k)nger liili of the var. pulndris.
Specimens of tlie \iir. jjaludico/a Ironi the interior are paler and more
grayish-brown above, and liave less distinct bars on the tail-coverts and tail,
than in Pacific coast spccinu-ns, while on the crown the brown, instead of
the black, largely predominates.
Habits. The common Alarsli AVivn api)ears to liave a nearly unrestricted
range througliout Xorfh America. It occurs on the Atlantic coi'ist from ^las-
saclaisetts to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the I'acili. , and as far north
as Wasiiington Territory on the west coast. A single s])ecinn-n was procured
in (Ireenland. It is not, however, at all common in these more northern
latitudes. Mr. Drumniond, of Sir Joini IJichards.iii's paity, met with it in
the r.5th i)arallel on the eastern declivity of the IJocky Mountains and in the
Saskatchewan Valley. Dr. Cooi)er found it early in .Marcii in tlie salt marshes
along the coast of Wasiiington Teiritory, and thinks it winter.) in that section.
On the Eastern coast it is not common as far north as Massaciiu.setts a k'w
being found at Camljridge and in I'.arnstable County. It is abuiulant near
Wa,sIiington, I). C, and throughout tin, country in all suitable locations south
and west from Pennsylvania. Mr. liidgway found it i.lentiful in I'tah.
They frefpient low marsliy grounds, wliether near the sea or in the inte-
rior, and build in low Ijuslies, a few feet from the ground, a well-constructed
glolndar nest. On the Potomac, wliere the river is subject to irregular tides,
tliey are generally not less than five feet from the ground.
These nests are nearly s])]ierical, and Ixitli in size and s]ia])e rcsemlde a
eocoanut. They are made externally of coarse sedges firndy interwi.ven,
the interstices l)eing cemented with cLiy or mud, and are imj)ervi(uis to
the weather. A small round orifice is left on one si(h^ for entrance, the up-
per side of whicli is also ])rotecteil from tlie rain by a ]irojectiiig edge. The
inside is lined with fine grasses, featiier.s, the down of the silk-weed, and
other soft and warm vegetable sul)stances. The.se birds arrive in tiie :\Iiddle
States early in May and leave early in Se|itcml)er. They have two broods
in the season, and eacli time coii.struct and occupy a new nest.
Au(hd>on describes its nest as built antong sedges, anil as usually partly
constructed of the sedges among which the ne.st is l)uilt. fhis is tlu' usual
manner in which the ('. ,s^/Arm laiilds its ne.sf, but I have never known
(me (.f the jirescnt species biulding in tins manner, and in the locidities in
which they lireed, near the coast, being subject to irregular lieights of tides,
it could not lie done with safety.
'I"he note of the Marsh AVren is a low, har.sli, grating cry, neither loud nor
nnisical, and more resembling the noi.se of an insect tlian tlie vocal utler-
ances of a bird.
Their food consists diielly of small a(|Uatic insects, minute nioUusk.s
and the like, and these Ihey are very c.\pert in securing.
TKOGLODVTID.K — THE WItKNS. If)-]
Tli(! e-gs .)(• tills spccli's average .Gr, of an inch in lensth and .50 in
biva.lth. riicv are, In coL.r, in striking contrast with those of tiie C. stcl-
larls, being so'thickly marked with blotches and spots of a deep chocolate-
brown as to be almost of one nniform color in appearance. They are of an
oval shape, at times almost spheroidal, one end being but slightly more
pointed than the other. They number from six to nine.
In a few instances eggs of this species from the Mississii)pi Valley and
from California are of a light ashy-gray color, the markings being smaller
and of a nnicli lighter color.
We have thus completed the account of the Oscine Singing-Birds with
slender bills not hooked at the end, and which have ten distinct primaries ;
the first or outer one, howevcir, either ([uite small or else considerably shorter
than tlu! second. Wi; now c(uue to a series with only nine primaries, the
first being entirely wanting, and the second, now the outermost, nearly or
cpiite as long as the third. In the prelinunary tables of general arrange-
ment will be foinid the comparative characters of the dilferent himilies
oi' (krinrs, but the diagnosis of the series referred to is presented here, as
follows : —
C0.MM0X CitAU.U'TKKs. Piiniaiii s iiiiii' : tli.> fir.«t quill nearly as lonjr as the spcond or
thinl. Tarsi distinctly wiitcllaif liir wlinic Icnglli anturiorly. Bill conical, but slender or
(Ifpr.'sscd, usually, ex.vpt in (WrMih; half tiic loli-lh of the head; more or loss bristled,
or not. •bed. Nostrils oval or roiuided. Lateral toes nearly or .luite equal, and shorter
than tiie middle; the ba.sid joint of the ini.ldie free nearly to itrf base u.\.ternally, united
lor aliont half internally.
MotaciUid%. iiill slender. Cnlnieii sli;j;htly coneave at liase. Le,!,'s lousr ; daws but
little curved. Hind toe considerably loiij:er than the middle one; its claw nmeb lon.uer
(twice) than tlu- middle claw ; all llie claws but slightly curved. Innermost seeondari.M
(so-ealled tertials) eloiiijated, luMch lono-er than the outer .secondaries : and the lilUi ori-
niarv emarginated at end. N'est on L'round.
Sylvicolidee. Mill rather slender, eonieal, or depressed. Culnien straiuht or convex..
Iliud toe .shorter than the middle: the claws all much <Mnvcd. Hind claw not eons|iic-
uously loufj-er than the middle one. When the hind toe is leiit;thenod, it is usually in the
dij?it, not the claw. Tertials j;-enerally not lon.j-er than the sci'oiMlaries, and not emargi-
liated. r,a|iewide; loiifrue slightly .sjilit at end. XesI variously l>la 1.
Ceerebidse. Similar to Si/lrinilida: Iiill j,'eiierally lonu'cr : e(|ual to heail or more,
(lape of mouth narrow ; toiiLHie tfcncrally much IViug.'d at the I'ud. Xest on trees.
The TtiiKtifrii/n; the Frinnillido; and even the frlrrUlir, come very near
these families, as will be exi)liiined further on, all agreeing in having the
nine jtrimaries, and in many other eliaiacters.
164 NORTH AMMKICAX IURD><.
Family MOTACILLID-ffiJ. — Tiik AVA(iTAiLs.
Char. Bill .slondiT. conical, noaily as high as wi.lo at iho base, with slight notch at the
tip; thu eulmen slightly conravu aln.vo th." anterior extrcmitv of tho nostrils; short bris-
tles at gape, whieli, howevc-r, .lo not extend Ibrwanl to nostrils. Loral Teatliers soft and
d.Mise, bnlwith bristly points; nasal groove lille.l with naked membrane, with the elon-
gato.l n..stnls n. low.Tcdge; the frontal feathers eoming n]. to the aportnre, bnt not directed
lorward nor overhangh.g it. Wings l.-ngthen-.l and sharp-pointed; the primaries nine
(without spimous lirst). of which the lirst three to live, considerably longer than the
-succeedmg, form the tip; the exterior secondari,.s generally inwh ..mar-inatcd at the
ends; the inner secondaries (so-called tertials) nearly e.pial to the long.'st primaries. The
tad rather nariw, eniarginate. Tarsi l,.ngthei,e,l, sentellate anteriorly only, the hind ckuy
nsnally very long, acute, and b„t slightly cnrvd (except in MoUmil,,). Inner toe clell
almost to the very base, outer adherent Ibr basal joint only.
Tho coi.ihiiiiititjn of naked m.strils, notclied l)ill, and nine primaries, with
tl.e tarsi sentellate anteriorly oidy, will t.t once .listinf,niish the Anthincv of
this family from the Alotulnhr, which tliey so closely resemble in coloration,
habit.s, and lenothened hind claw. The leii,!j;thened, sljohtly curved hind
claw, nnich ]»ointed wings, emarginated secondtiries, — the inner ones nearly
as long as the primaries, — distingnish the family from the Si/loieulidw, with
which also it has near relation ;hij)s.
Subfamilies and Genera.
MotacilUnsB. Tail longer than <,r ..i|ual to wings : th.' two ccTitral feathers rather
I.Miger than lafral ; the llMthers broadest in middle, ^vhellce they taper gradually
to the rounded tip. Colors unilbrm : gray, lilack, yellowish ; without pale edges
to feathers aliove, or streaks below.
Tail from eo.ryx eousi<lerably longer than the wings, doubly forked. Iliud
claw .shorter than the toe; decidedly (urvcd . . .' . . .]f„/„rill,t.
Tail from (.'occyx ecpial to the wings, slightly graduale.l. [liud .'law de-
cidedly longer than the toe, .slightly <Mnycd Biidyles.
Anthinee. f.-iil shnrfer than the wings, emargiiiate at end, the two central
shorlcr than lateral : the i;.athers broad<'st near the end, and roun.ling rapidly at
end. Almve grayish-brown, the feathers edged with pal.-r. Under i)arls .streaked.
Wings much (lointcd and lengthened.
Hind toe and cOaw shorter than tarsus; outstretched toes falling .short
"'■*'l'"'"'^'il \„II,H..
Illlid toe and claw longer than tarsus; oiitslrctched toes cxlendin!.'- lie-
.. y""'l tip "I' tail ■ A«w^,v.
AViiigs short and I'oundcd.
I'oiiit of whigs formed by outer Ibur primaries of nearly e(|ual
'^'•^^ff<'' •, ■ . Xnliocorye
I'omt of wing formed by outer live primaries, the lirst shorter than
""■"'■'•'' Pv,i:o,;,ni,}
' .V. nif„, li.viliK. (.Ihii,?., nifii, (i.MKi.ix, Sy.st. Xat. I, UMK, 7i)H.)
" J\ boijotrnsi.,, li.vii.n. i,h,l/n,s l„„j„lr,„is, Sa.,vrKll, 1'. Z. «. 1855, !((!•, p|. ci. )
MOTACILLID.K TIIK WAUTAILS.
165
Subfamily MOTACILLIN-aS.
Ge\us MOTACILLA, Linn.
Mofacilla, Linn. Syst. Nat. (T\\»; MotticilUi alba.)
The diagiio.si.s alreatly j,nven of MotaciUa will serve to define it. The
genus is an Old AVovld one, represented by several species, only one of which
{M. alha) is entitled to a place here from occurring in Greenland.
G
^^..^
Motacilla alba, Linn.
WHITE WAGTAIL.
Mutodlhi idhi, Linn. Syst. Nat. l-2th cd. 170li, :!31. — Kkys. k Hi,.\s. Will). Europ. 1840,
xlix, ami 171. — Dwii-.vNi), (»iii. Kmoii. 1, 1811), 4;!3. — Hi:iNH.Mil>r, Ibis, l.Stil, ti
((.iivciilan.l). — Nkwton, Haiing-OoiiM's Ici'laiul, 18G3, \\>\^. (" rather pli'Htiful"). —
H.uiii), l!cv. Am. R ISiU, 1.52.
Fij^uic : (icui.l). Birds KtiiDiic, 113.
Sp. Cii.M!. (il,41() $, Niinilifr.u). Forehead a.s far hack as above the pyo.«, with s;i<h'S
of head and iioek, white ; tlie reinaiiiiiig; portion of head an ' neek above and below
to tliejnn;uluni, black; the rest
of under parts white. Up-
per parts ashy-gray, inelu<ling
rump ; the uppei' tail-eoverts
tinged with blaek. Wing.s
with two eonspieuous Viands
and the outer edges of the .see-
onilaries while. Tail-feallier.s
blaek; the outer two white,
oilged willi Mai'k internally.
Hill and legs blaek. Tip of
wing fornieil by outei' three
priniarie.s ; the ilistauee be-
tween the third anil fourth
about one third that between
the fourth and lillh. Tarsi lengthened; elaw small ; hind loi' and claw shorter than tlie
middle, its elaw sliort, eousiderably curved, less than the toe alone; l.ileral toes nearly
ecpial. [A'uglh, T.liO ; wing, .1.4.') ; tad. ;!.!)0 ; bill li-oni nostril, .;J7 ; tarsus, .Hli; hind toe
and elaw, ..")(>.
lI.Mi. ('(Uitinental Kurope, rarer in Kngland ; Iceland; (Jrcenland (only two specimens
seen); Siberia; Syria; Nidiia. etc.
Motdcillii i/nnrl/i, a closely allied species, hy some considered a variety
only, dill'ers in having th.e ninip lilack, tlie asliy of the back glo.s.scd with
blackisli, and with the lilack edging of the kiteral tail-featliers broader.
Habits. Tlie common White Wagtail of Kuuipe claims a place in the
Mnfnrilh nlbn.
UK) XORTII AMERICAN lUIIDS.
North American fauna us an ..ccasi.uml visitant of (hwnlan.l, wi.ere in two
instances snioU, specimens liave been in'ocunal. It is fcund in all ]K)rti..ns
ol the Eur()])ean Continent, from the
islands of tlie Mediterranean as far north
as the Arctic re<rions. It a]t|iears in Swe-
den in April, and leaves there in October.
Mr. (Jonld states also that it is found in
the northern portions of Africa, and in
the highlands of India. It also occurs,
though less fretjuently, in England, where
-ta^ "" '"^ '■''l'^'"'i^<l hy a local race, or an allied
-' -.' ' spwies, J^/w///,/ //^,m7//of (iould. The
Mniadiin ,Mu. MoliicUlu cMu is Said I )y Temniinck to iii-
hahit meadows in the vicinity of streams
ot water, v.Uages, an<l -hi houses. Its fo<.d is chieHy insects in various sta-^es
and of ditl'erent kinds.
It builds its nest on the ground among the grass of the mi.adow, in fissures
ui rocks or dcviyeil buihling.s, among the r.ots ..f trees, on the banks of
streams, m ])des of wood and fagots, or undei' the arch of a l)iidge. The
nests are somewhat coarsely constructed of interw..\en drv bent Ttems of
I.lants and reeds, with a finer lining o[ the same. The egg.s, si.x in number,
are (.f a bluish-white ground thickly sprinkled with line dOttings, which are'
most usually of a. Ijhickish-brown color, sometimes ashy-grav or reddish-
brown.
The T'ied Wagtail, J/. ,y,ovr///, Degland and (lerbe regard as a race, and
not a s])ecies. It has a limited halutat, confined to Norway, Sweden' and
the IJritisli Mand.s, in the latter of which it is a resident throughout the
year. IJesides their diHerence in i)lumage, Mr. Varrell has noticed certain
•hUerences also of habit. The o/b„ is said not to be so partial to water as
tlu^ pied si)ecies, and though often found near ploughed land, does not, like
Its kindred species, follow the i)h)ugh in search of in.sects. Mr. Hewitson also
states that it has a hoarser voice.
Like all the birds of this family, the Wagtail is much admire.I for the ele-
gance of its lorm, its activity, and the airy lightness of its motion.s. It seems
ever on the move, runs with great rapidity a .piick succession of stejis in
pursuit of its food, and goes from ])hice to ].hic(^ in short undulating Hi-hts.
It has a cheerful ciiirping note which it utters while on the wing. When it
alights, it gives a graceful fanning movement with its tail, from which it
derives its name.
Tlic I'ied Wagtail, wlio.se habits have been more closely observed by Eng-
lish naturali,sts, has freciuently been seen to wade into the water in search ol'
aquatic insects, and im.bably also of small fish, as in confinement they have
been known to catch and feed on minnows in a fountain in the centre of their
aviary. It is jirobable that tlie habits ui the White Wagtail are n.^t dissimilar.
MOTACILLID Ji — THE WAGTAILS.
167
Tliey leave their breediiig-pliic.es in October, cuUooting iuid moving iu
Slllilll tloclvS.
Tlioir cLigs iiiensiire .70 of an inch in longtli and .")'.» in tircadtli. The
ground-i'dlor is ol' a grayi.sh-white si* thickly Uecked witli tine ash-colnied
and black dots us to give tiie entire egg the ellect ol' a unil'oriu dark ashen
hue.
(!i;.\is BUDYTBS, Cuvieb.
Bi'diite.i, Ci'vii;!!, K. A. 1S17. (T^l"'' i^Macilla flava , LiXN.)
The recent discovery of a species
of yellow-bellied Wagtail iu Xorton
Sound, liy the naturalists of the IJus-
sian Telegraj)!! Kxpedition, adds an-
other member of an Old World fam-
ily to the list of American birds.
Much confusion exists as to the pre-
cise numlier of species in the genus,
some grouping together as varieties
what others consider as distinct s])e-
cies. There is an unusual degree of
variation with age, sex, and sea.son,
and this, combined with stron<dv
marked geogra])hical peculiarities, ren-
ders the prn].er .solution of the problem impossible to any but those hav-
ing access to large series.
45012
llttdyte.s fluva.
Budytes flava, Linn.
YELLOW WAGTAIL,
Mntmilln thro, |,,nn. SvsI. \„t. I (U-im, 3:5. F issni & IfAisTi.Arn, Vi,-,.] OslafVikas,
208. Hii.IiiIcs Jhni, I!,.n. {1S:!S). - - M,„i„.:ni..i|!|.i.-, Sil.iiisfl,,. l!,.i.sc, U, ii (Is.Vi),
1(!8. — Dkcani. & (iKKiiK, Oniitli. Kuioi.. I (l.sti7), :t7(i. - I'.aom), Tnins. Cliirnfro
.\i"i.l. Sri. I, ii, |,. ;{12, pi. .vxx, li^r. ] ; ],s,i!i. D.u.r, k ItAXMsiKii, Tr. Cli. Ac. 1,
LMiii, 1-27. TiiisiiiAM, |l,is, 1S71, •.>:J1. — KrxsrFi, 1872.
Sp. Cmau. I)..s,Ti|.ti()ii ,,!• sp,...in„.i, No. 4r,.!)ii>, t:.k,.,i „t St. Mi,nim-IX Norton Sound
.Inn.,- (i, IStid, l,y II. .M. liiuuii.^ct.M-. AIm.v... jnclniiinfj ,>.l-.-s of ui.]).-.- tail-covert... rwh
olivc-^rrecM, the top and .-.ides of tho head and ncek i)nro a.'.li-.irniy ; eliin and wrll-niarkcd
.><trip.' froninoslrilsovrth.M.yelo li,e nape, wliitc; all und.M' parts rieli yellow, tinged with
olivr on the si,l<'s. Strip.' fnmi .■orn.'r of Mi,)iitli thnMigh the ey..; nn.i involving,' tlu! car-
.'..v.Mt.s hia.'kish-asli. F..all„.rs of win-s an.l l.-ul dark lir.iwn ; the .-ov.-rts an.F.seeonda-
ries eds-cd with ..liv,' (.^howini: the .)hs(Mnv h,<rht winjr-h.-ns), the loiiw.st of the latter
cdjre.l e.\t.'rn»lly witli whit.- inn.-nnost .piills .',ljr,.,l ..xternaily with white. Onter three
.inills nearly e.|nal an.l lon-.'st (ll„. proh.n.ir.MJ ,<,M.)ndari..s as l.'.n.i:). th.- .others ..'ra.lnatinp
loss. Outer tail-fl'athers and .shaft ,vhite ; the inner weh e.lged e.xternally with .husky.
168 XOHTJI A.MEK1CAN JllKDa.
wim.l, bo^innin. a, ,1,.. l.ns... ,.„„s „,u j^n.Umlly to .l.o v.lgo, al.o„t Lalfa,, i„cl, fi-om tip
k.alhcTs; s..c„nrl leatluM- will, rather less wl.it.,, an.l will, a narrow li,„, of brown alonl
till' onlcr t:iil,. of tlio siialt to within half
an inch of tlic tip. JijH .„,<! l(!j,-s hlackish.
I'nncnsions (preparfd specimen). To-
tal length, (i.OO; wing, ;!.()(); tail, .■i.t)0;
exiiosed poition of (Irst ])riniary, 2.30.
Hill: length (ioni forehead, (l.r,8 ; f,-,,,,!
nostril, 0.;j.-,; along gape, 0.r,7. I^.gs :
tarsns, 0.!)1 ; middle (oe and elaw, (),7(t;
daw nlone,tt.l(J; hind too and claw, (l.ti."),'
claw alone, U..i(i.
A second sjieeinien (Xo. 4o,910) diU'ers
ni having ashy color oC Ji^ad obsenred
Biiriuten flara with olivai.'eons-brown ; and the yellow
I- .,„„., . , , ">' '"'cast showing brownish liases. The
light niarkmgs .m th,. wnigs more distinct and whiter
A,,other bird ,Xo. 4o,..l;i). taken on shipboard, abont ninety tniles west of St Mat-
thc«s Island, Iiehrn,gs Sea, Angns. 1,), 18ti.;. app,.ars to he of the san.e species in
a^unjnal, vss. Here the npper colors are n.ore brown ; ,he low..- parts -IwS ^i
t.t..a.l w„h l,row,nsh-(hlvous across the breast and tlank. Ka.ntscha kan ...ecinu. of
same stage ot plnmage are very sinnlir. '
I am unable to distinouisl, tliis .si^ecies iVoni tl.e Protean Bm(,,te, flava of
Europe ttnd Asia. Mtmy diderent races appear to he fonnd thrnnghottt this
wide circle of distribution, many of tl.em more or less l..cal, bt.t the propor-
tions and ovneral chttracter are the stune in all, tmd the general tendency
aj.pears to be to nnite all into one sj.ecies. The sexes and a-^es of all the
species real or si.].,,osed, vary very mud., t.nd, in the absence oi' a hir-^e
series, 1 ct.n throw no light upon the obs.-urities of the subject. I ci'te
above the latest general work on the birds of Europe, in wjiicli will be
louiicl the i)rincipal synonymes.
The specimens from Alaska submitted for examination to Mr II B Tris-
tram were identified by him as the B.Jlava.
H.vniTs. The Gray-hetuletl Wagtail of Europe finds a phice in the fauna
of ISorth xim.M'ica as a bird of Alaska, where s,,ecimeiis have been obtained
and where it ;s. at least, an occasioiml visittmt. It is not a common bird of'
the Brithsh Islands, where it is rejdaced by a closely allied spe.nes Only
.seven or eight instances of its .)ccurrence were known to Mr. Yarrell
On the continent of Euroi,e it is.,uite an abundant .s].ecies, inh,il)itin- wet
sp-ingy i.laces m moist meadows, an.l frcptenting the vicinity of wtiter and
the gravelly edges of rivei-s. It is numerous in all the central portions of
l-^iirope. It has also t.n extensive northern and eastern geograiihical ran-e
a,)pearing in Xorway and Sweden as early as April and remaining tl.rre'
until Septemi)er. Linim-us met with it in Laphmd on the 2l><l of May It
occurs in Algeria,, Xubia, and Egypt. Mr. (lould has received it from the
Himalayas, and Temminck gives it as a bird of Jajian.
According to iJegland, this bird is a very tibundant species in France
MOTACILLID.K — TriK WAOTAIIA Hyj
■wlirri! it iicsts (in llii' j^nmiiil in tiic (MjnilioUls, in oikmi fiulds, nii'iulows, and
)uiii<lst till- .stiindinLi; uiuin. It lays iVoni inur to six c.^^s, ol' u lin»\\nisli-yul-
knv on ii riMldisli-wliito <4ruMU(l, piofiisfly cnvcrcd witii finu dots of reddisli-
grny. ■wiiicli aro more or less confluent. A i'vw ziyzag lines of dark brown
or lilaciv an! found on tiie larger end. Tliiiy measure X>'.'> of an inch in length
and ..").') in breadth. Its food is tlie.s, moths, small green eaterpillars, and
atjuatic insects.
Uay's Wagtail, recognized by some autl )rs as a distinct s])eeies, is proba-
bly only an insular race, eliietly fouml in tlie Uritish Islands and in Western
France. In the latti-r place Ixith birds occur, and here also they have been
known to mate the (uie with the other. Tlieir nests and eggs are .so alike
as not to l)e distinguishable. Tiie former are constructed of line fibnais
roots and tine stems of grasses, and are lined with hair.
These bii'ds are remarkably social, collecting in small Hocks soon after
leaving their nests, and until their autumnal migrations following the older
birds in (piest of food. Tliey have two call-notes which are (juite shrill, and
are repeated in succession, the .second being lower in tone. Xo mention is
made by the naturalists of the Telegraph Expedition of their having any song
other than these notes.
Mr. Uannistcr first observed thi.s species at St. Michael's, on tiie 0th or lOth
of June, and from that time until late in August they M-ere among the mo.st
abundant of the land-birds. During the month of June he observed them
in flocks of twenty or thirty individuals. It seemed to be a rather shy bird.
He described its fligiit as like that of our common (ioldfincli, rising with a
few strokes of its wings, then closing them ,'uid describing a sort of parabo-
loidal curve in the air. Tlu^ only note wiiieh he heard and identified as
uttered by this species was a kind of faint chirp, hardly to be called a song.
These l)irds seenu'd to prefer the open country, and were rarely observed in
the low brush, the only approach to woods found on the island.
SfmwMiiv ANTHINiE.
The characters of this sul)fainily liave already been detailed. The Ameri-
can sections may be defined as follows, although Avhether entitled to rank as
genera may be ipiestioned : —
Common Cu.\r.\cti:i!S. Tail (li'i'iilcilly shorter thiin the wiiijj-s; fes;.-; than hatrtiii;
whole fcULjih of hird ; .•^iiuply cniiiriiiiialc and rouiidcd. Hind claw loii<;thon('(l ;
only slijihtly curved. Feath(M-s of liack with ])alor cdfjes ; Inrast .streaked with
du.sl<y. Nest on tlie pi'ound ; 0!ri;s i'/nely mottled so as almost to be tniilorm dark
brown (hi North American species).
a. Wiiii/s iiinrh puiiitcil. (iml li'iii/llifucd.
Point of winpr formed by four onti'r primaries, of wliich tiie fourth some-
times a little sh uler than the third. Hind toe and claw as lon^- as middle,
shorter than tarsns, the claw alone usnally a little lonprer than the toe itself,
170
KOKTIl AMEi;i('AX lilKDS,
and sliglitly oiirvcl; imuT Um- and t-law Nm-or than ti... outer; OMtstivtfhci
toi's liilliiijr slioi-t of til.; lip „rtail ; liin.l toe au.l claw shoi-l,.,- than tarsus Ai,f/,.,.s.
I'oiiit of winjvs foriiiud liy Iniir mil.'r primaries, tlio lirst loiifjest, or as lonir
as othors. Lo-s stout, the oi i> '.•IkmI toos rcaehjii,!,' almost to tip of laiK
Iliiid toe and claw lon-er tliau tarsus, tliu claw very Ion- but equal to the
toe iiroper .... ,,
'■•••••• Aeocori/s.
h. Wiiii/s sltiirt. lOHiidvd.
Point of wings formed by lour outer primaries of nearly ofpial leufrth . Xotm-m-,ix.'
Point of wiii-s lormed by live outer primaries, the- lirst shor'ter than
tliird .... ,, ,.
/ ('dwci)ri/s.-
Gen-us ANTHUS, Hecilst.
-t»t/n,s, Bi:riisr. (;,.,.i..in. Xaturg. l)..utschl. ],S(.2. (Typ,., Al„n,ia spmokm.)
Ci.AR. Bill .slender, much attenuated, and .listinefly nofhed. A W^yy short bristles at
__. the base, t'ulmeu concave at the base. Tarsi
quite .listinclly sculellate; lonirer than the middle
toe : inner lateral toe the longer. Hind to<' rather
shorter than the tarsus, but longer than the mi.Mle
toe, owing to the long, attenuated, and moderately
curved hind claw, which is considerably more
than half the total length of the toe. Tail rather
long, enuirginatc. A\'iiig very long, eonsidei-alily
longer than the lengthened tail, reaching to its
-—-— middle. The lirst primary nearly eipial to the
longest. The tertials almost as long as tlii' prima-
-y' lonj
3 ries,
i>tit one spui'ie.s of this genu.s beloiios
in-opeily to Xoilh Aiiierii:ii, altlioiioli a .sec-
Anihus liit/orlrintnm.
011(1 i.s accidental in Greenland and ALiskn. The .liagnoses tu'e as follows : —
Bill and feet blaeki.sh. Prevailing color above olive-brown, liencath bull'. Ed"o
anil inside of wings whin>. Sli.-.fts of nii.ldli' tail-ti.athers abov.. d.uk brown"
iidlandleet du.sky lle.sh-color. Prevailing color above olive-green: more dis-
tinctly streaked. Hciieath greenish-white. Edge and insid,^ of wings green-
ish-yellow. .Shafts of miihlle tail-H.athers above whitish . . ^. '' A. /,r,ife„.s,-s.
Z.wnKi! (Cal)anis .Totmial, Kxtiahert I, IS:.:!, (14) .stales that JufJnis rrr-
ritiHs, Pallas, is found in the Aleutian Islands. It is descrihed as haviiig
The f.'ct yellowish-brown; the tw., longest under tail-coverls with a bla.'kish longitudi-
nal spot; the longest tertial almost ,.,p,al lo the longest primary ; the .shaft of the first
tail-leather mostly white; no green on the plumage; the throat rust-color.
1 A„fh,siX..tw,;.r;,s) ,;</„.•,, Rviim, U,.v. Am. liinls, 18.11, lad ,.//„„,/„ ,»,;,, (U, ) //„/,
Istlniius (if I'aniiiiin.
••< AuHn,ur,,/;,..nn,s) l,„„„>,„.,\ li.viiii,, i;,.v. Am. iiirds, l,->(i4, 1.^ ^AMhx ln,„„/ur.,\ SnA-
■VKU). Itith. Ecuador, t'oluillbia,
MoTACILLin.E- TIIK WA(iTAII-S.
171
Baldamus (Xaumainiia, 1857, 202) says he has received Anthus aqua-
ticus aiul its e-gs from Lalmalor. Tliis statement, however, requires veri-
fieation.
Anthus ludovicianus, Lk m.
TITLAKK ; AMEEICAN PIPIT.
A!,ii„l„ Imlnvkiaim, f)M. S. N. I, 1788, 7!t3. Aulhux huknicwuiis, LicUT. Vcrz. 18215,
:i7 ; als,, of Ail.ruoN k r.oNAi'Aiiii:. - H.ui;!.. Uirds N. Am. 1858, 232 ; Rev. 153. -
t'on:.s, IV A. N. S. 1801, 22ii (Li'l'™'"'*- — '^'''■■^•'F'"' ''• '^'- ^- ^''•''"' ^^fi (<A"<lovii).
— 111. Catal. 18til, 21, no. 153. Sd,. i^ Sai.v. Ilii.s, 185!>, » ((iiialcniala). — ,K)Ni;s, Nat.
ill IWiuu.la, 185!t, 2!», aiitmim. — Bl.AKl.sroN, ll>is, 18ti2, -4 (.SaskaUliuwaii). — Dai.i,
& I5annisii'.i;, Tr. Cliio. Ac. I, ISGit, 277. ^ ('o.MM;r:, Oni. Cal. I, 187(i, 78. Ahmhi
ruhv, (!.M. ; Altnuh n'f", Wn.s. ; AiMiis siiiimhWi, Bun., An.. ; AhiuiUi petinsiil-
viinkii. I5i;iss. ; /.//.' 'i i)ani!<!ilciinkii, l?i)N\. Ivi.yrl. Mvth. 1, UiK), il9. I ihilii-
filhi Inobniiici, Lath. ■■ 1. Om. II, 17!>0, 5(i3. - Vikii.lot, Em-yl. SK-th. II, 1823,
447 Aii/Iinsjii'iiiisiilniiii'ii, Zanuki! ; Anlhiixminiith-us, .\ri). ; Aiilliii.-< /ujikiis, An>. ;
Aiitliiis riibi'u.i, Mi-.uiil-.M ; Anlliiis i-nnhnrillil, Hiii.iKil.l., l-'aiiua Cnmlaiul.s («1. Paiil-
sciiK 1840, 25 (r.mMiIamU.
I'iKuves: Aii>. lUnls Am. Ill, vl. .xl. In. Oni. Ww^. I, ]>!. lx.x.\. -Wii.s.in, V. i.l. l.\.\xi.\.
Sp. CiiAii. (Fi'iiKilc. m siniii.ii.) Above olivo-Ui-own, I'ac'h foatlior .^lijjlitly darker to-
wards the eeiitnil iio-.-tidii ; lieiieatli pale duU-lmlV, or yellowish-lirowii. with a maxillary
series of dark-lirowii spots and streaks across tlie hivasl and alon^j sides. King round the
eye, and superciliary stripe, yellowish. Central tail-feathers like the haek, others dark
biaeki.sh-hrowii ; the external one white, except at the lia.se within ; a white .spot at the
end of the second. Primaries edgeil with whitish, other quills with pale hrownish.
Length, O.nO ; wing, :iAr> ; tnil, '2.'X>.
ITafi. Whole of North America; (ireenland; Bernuida ; .south to Orizalia. < iuateniala,
and even Peru ? Heligoland, Euroi>e. ((iATKi.) Nol noted in West Fiidics.
Spriiio- suecimeua from Labrador, eollected hy Dr. Cones, liave tlic upper
parts ashy without any tiiioc of
ohve, ahnost hhii.sli on tlie liead ;
the lower ])arts deei)er and more
reddish-bulV than in autumnal
anil winter sjieciuuMis. Tarsi
black in ajtrino;, brown in win-
ter; toes always black.
llAliITS. At ditl'ereiit seasons
of the year the llrown Titlark
is found tln'ouo;hout the conti-
nent, and abundant for the time
in the seveml parts of the coun-
try, chielly freciuentini: the least
cultivale.d ]»ovtions and ap])ar-
ently preferring,' tb.e ste'-jle and least attnu'tive re{,'ions. It is one of the
most oxtonsively distributed of all our Xorth American birds, beinj,' found
172 XORTH AMKHICAX 151 RDS.-
ill ininieiisu iiiniil)er.s dver tlit; wliulc Icii.i^th luid hroadtli of North America.
Gambol met tiiem in large minilieiH in New Mexico and Calit'ornia ; Jticli-
ardsoii found tiiem on tlie ])laiiis of the Sa.skatehewan ; it is abundant in
tlie Aretie. regions from May to Uctoljer, and is eiiually common on tlio
coast of Laljrador; Mr. Dall found it universal from Uritish ("olumhia north.
It is also found in Florida, ("ajjc St. Luca.s, Mexico, and Central America.
Accidental si)ecinieiis have occurretl in Kurope.
This lark is a bird of easy and beautiful Hight, passing and rejiassing
through tlie air witli graceful evolutions, and when moving to new localities,
sweeping over the jjlace several times before alighting. It also moves
rajjidly on the grounil and after the manner of the true larks, jerking the
tail like our Water-Tiirnshcs and the Euro])eaii Wagtails.
When feeding on the open ground in the interior, their food is chiefly in-
sects and small seeds. On the lianks of rivers and on the seashore tliey arc
fond of running along the edge of the water, searching among the drift for
insects, small shells, and crustaceans. Near New Orleans and Charleston, in
the winter, Mr. Aiuhiboii found them feeding, in com])any with tiie Turkey
Buzzard, ui)on garl)age.
Dr. Cones found tlie Titlark abundant in every locality visited Ity him in
Labrador, giving him an ample opportunity to oliserve its habits during the
breeding-season. He I'ound thcni on .some of the most rocky and barren
islands along the coast. They i're([uented only the ojieii, bare, and exjiosed
situations, such as that coast everywhere afforded, and were never found in
wooded localities. The nests of this s])ecies found by him were identical in
situation, form, and consfructioii, ]ilaced on tlui sides of fiteej), ])reci]iitous
chasms, in small cavities in tlic earth, into which dry nio.ss had been intro-
duced to keep the nest from the damp ground. They vt-ere composed entirely
of coarse, dry grasses loosely ]int together, witlaait any lining. Tlieir exter-
nal diameter was six inches, and the depth of tlie cavity two inches.
Dr. Cones describes the song of the male bird as very sweet and ])lea.sant.
j\Ir. Audubon sjieaks of it as consisting of a few dear and mellow notes
when on the wing, and when .standing erect cm the rocks it produces a clearer
and louder song.
Dr. Cones s])(!ak.s of their flight as undulating and unsteady, and never ])ro-
tracted to any great distance. They never alinht on bushes, l)ut always on
the gnmnd, where lliey run with great ease and rapidity. At low tides they
resorted to tlie muddy Hats, where tht'V ran about upon the eel-grass, .search-
ing for their food in comi)any with the small SandpiiK^rs and in a similar
maimer, finding there an abundance of food. At all limes they exhibited a
heedless familiarity and an entini want of fear of man, feeding unconcern-
etlly around tlie doors of the houses, and .searching for their in.sect food on
the roofs of the shells and dwellings.
Iloth liirds inculiate and sit so closely that they lim.v almost be trodden
upon liefore they are willing to leave tlieir nest, and even then tinly llutter
MOTACILLIDJ'; — TIIK WAUTAIIA I73
oir to a sliort distiince, wit!- hnu\ I'rit'S of ilistress tliat soon Itring tho iiiato
lUicl other iiairs of the Siiiiie Si<t'L'ii;.s lu join in tliu laiiKMitatioiis. Tlicy liovor
i>\v.v the heads of tho iutrudei; , at tiiiios appniaohiiig witiiiu a few feet, ex-
picssiii" their distress hy tl>e most ])laintive eries, and even when tlie in-
truders withdraw following tin ni to a considerable distance.
All the nests of this lark that 1 liave seen are reniarkalile for the thickness
of their walls, and the strength, cnnipiictncss, and elaborate care with which
the materials are [uit together, piirticnlarly for nests built on the ground.
They are ^vell suited to ])rotect their contents from tlie cold, damp ground
on which they are jdaced ; and their ujiper portions are eoni])osed of stout
vegetable stems, lichens, and grasses strongly interwoven, and forming a
strcjng rim around the upjjcr part of the nest.
])r. (V)ues describes their eggs as nf a dark chocolate-color, indistinctly
marked with numerous .small lines and streaks of l)lack. Audul)on describes
them as having a ground-color of a deep reddish-chestnul, darkened by nu-
merous dots of dee])er reddisii-brown and lines of \arious sizes, esi)ecially
toward the larger end. Those in my possession, received from Laltrador by
Tliienemann, measure from .7") to .7^^ of an ineii in lengtli, and from .5!)
to A')2 in Itreadth, and lia' e a ligiit-brown or clay-colored ground, .so tiiickly
covered witli .spots as to be almo.st conceahul. Tiu-sc sjxits are of a jairplish
chocolat(!-brown, with occasioniil darker lines aliout the larger end. In
others the markings are Ixdder and larger and of lirighter hues. Like tlie
eggs of the Anllias iirborcKs of Kurope, it is probable that those of this
Titlark exhiliit great variations, both in ground-color and in tho shades of
their markings.
Anthus pratensis, Ib.disr.
EUBOFEAN PIPIT.
AlamUi imittiini.i, Linn. Syst. Nut. ITHii, "287. .Inllms /h-uIi usi.s, ll"( iisr. |)rii(sili. Vii^cl,
III, Ifto", 7y.2. — Kkys. it Iti.As. Willi. Kiiropus, isiii, 17'.i. /.anukii, l'iil>. .li>iii-. I,
cxtiahcl't, IS."):!, lill. r.\ri.si;N, id. Iliiliuil.l,, l'':uili. (lniiilnMcIs, ISJli, 'Jl. — liKlN-
liAiiiii-, lliis, l.stil, li. NiAviiiN, llAiaN(i-(ii>ri.i)'s lickml, ls(i3. — liAlun, Kov.
Am. li. UHtit, 1."..'.
Figures : (luii.irs Itiiils Kimipr, pi. cxxxvi.
IIaii. Ein'opc fxciicriiliy ; ciiiiiiiKHi in iiii|il;iiMl ; iirridciiliil in (irccnliiiKl ; St. Micliiicl's.
Xoiioii Soiiiiil.
This species in gtMieral form resembles tlie ..(. hn/nrirlinnis, tlie til'th
primary in both being abru[)tly ami considerably shorter than the outer four;
tlie bill and legs (piite similar. The average si/e ap]iears much the same.
The u]iper jiarts are, however (especially the head ajid back), more distinctly
streaked with du.d;> ; tiie edge and insidt! of wing greenish-yellow, not
whito, and the up]ier ]ilumage and outer edges of the (piills decidedly olive-
green. The shafts of the miildle tail-feathers above an^ whitish, not dark
174 .NOIiTH AMERICAN JilltDS,
blown ; tlie midtn' i.arts oroeiiisli-wliito, cdiispicuouslv streaked with dark
brown. The bill is dusky, the l)ase aii.l edges ].aler;'the k-s dusky llesh-
color, not dark brown.
The occurrenee of this s]iecies in fJreenland wa,s noticed in the Review ■
and since the publication of that w.^'k a. specimen has been obtained at St'
Michael's, m Alaska, by Mr. W. H. J)all, and is now in the Sn.ith.sonian
collection. The specimen in .piestion ap])ears to be the true jm(/n,.sU
H.viiiTs. This Kuropean .s].ecies claims a jdace in the North American
fauna on the -rouii.l of a siu-le .specimen havino been f.mnd in Greenland
111 ISb,, and one at St. Michael'.s, Xortmi Sound. In the Old World it is'
the counterpart of our huloindanm, which, in all resiiects, it closely re.sem-
ble.s. It !.'> the m.Kst common an.! the best known of Euroi.ean Titlarks In
(ireat Britain, where it is found throughout the year, it aj.pears to prefer the
uncultivated districts, inhabiting commons and waste hinds, and in the more
northern parts frcpienting the moor.s. It is also found in meadows and
marsh lands, m winter seeking more sheltered ])laces. It is rarely seen to
alight on a branch or to sit on a rail. Its s..ng is soft ami musical, an.l is
usually uttered when on the wing or when ^ ibiating over its uest. It .seeks
Its food altogether on the ground, running nimbly in pursuit of in.sect.s, slugs,
and worms. According to Varrell its nest is built on the ground, generafly
among the gra.ss. If is conii.osed externally of dried sedges, lined with finer
materials an.l .some hair. The eggs are si.x in number, of a reddi.sh-brown
color, mottled over with darker sha.lcM of the .same, and measure .8(1 bv .(iO
of an inch.
According to the ob.servations of English mituralists, this bird roorts to
various ingenious .levies to conceal its nest, or to <lrnw asi.le attenti..ii fr.mi
It, such as feigning laniene.ss when it is ai.proache.l, and ...iicealing it by
artificial covering when it has been once .liscovered.
The Mea.low IM])it is common during the summer months in Denmark,
Sweden, an.l Norway, visiting al.so tiie Faroe Islands an.l Kvlaii.l. It in-
habits the wh.>le cntinent of Kun.pe as far .south as Spain, Italy, and Sicilv.
it has als.. been f.mnd in X.irthern Africa, an.l. aconling t.. Coidd, in West-
ern Asia. Teinminck als.) states it t.. be ani..ng the birds of Jajian.
According to Deglan.l these larks, after the bre.Mling-sea,s.in. unite in small
fl.)ck,s, ])r..ba])ly families, and fr.'.pient l.)w an.l .lamp h)calitie.s. In summer
they are more ..ften foun.l .m high an.l .Iry mountain ]daiii.s. Their llesh is
snid to be de]icil)iis.
<ii:Ms NEOCORYS, S.i.Ari:n.
Xa„;,ni.. Sri,.vr|.:i:, I'r. Zoul. .S,,.. L„i„l. IS.-Jr, .'■.. (Typ,., .Il,u„h s/w,,i„,. Mu.
t'ii.Ui. liill Imlf as Icn,,- lu. thr I,,.,,! ; ll, 1,,,,,, ...mi.mv,. at the base, sl,.Hillv .IcriuTcl
tl'.' tip. RkMiis witlmiit l,n.stl,.s. Legs .stout; tarsi .lislmrtlv .s,.nt..llat... iJ.ii^w than
the middle toe. Iliu.l t,... v.^y loiipr. e,|iinl to th<- larsas, niucl. longer than th.. mid.lle toe-
at t
MUTACILl.l U.E — THE WAGTAll-S.
175
its daw but sliiiiitly eiirvcd, and alxiut liall'tlio total loii;j:tli. Inner laloval too rather lon^vr
than outer. Winf^'s nnich longer tlian tail; liist. quill loii^'cst. Tertials eoiisideraMv lohi.'er
than fx'condarie.s. Tail rathci' short, eniai-.uinate.
But one si)ecies of this gemis is known, it being peculiar to the Western
plains.
Neocorys spraguei, S( r,.vT.
MI8S0UBI SKTLABK; SFBAOUE'S PIPIT
AliiH(l<( sjimgitn, Avn. Binls Am. VII, li>-t:i, li-i:,, pi. ccicl.x.x.wi. Aijni(l„iii,i siifdijnd.
UaH!!), Stansliury's lit'p. 1S;V2, 329. ycoairi/f! sjmirjHci, Si't.ATKli, 1'. Z. S. 1857, H.
liAllil), Birds N. .\ni. 1858, 231. — Hi.akiston, Iliis, 18112, 4 (Saskatidicwan). — (.'o();'iii;.
Oni. C'al. I, 1871), 80. Anthus (Xeucurijs) .sinvijitei, liAlliD, lii'V. 155.
Sr. CiiAH. Ahove wood-brown, all the li'alher.s ed.u'ed with paler, espei-iallv on the
noek, where there i.s a browni.sh-yellow ting;e. Tiie under parts are dull white, with a
collar of sharply ilelined narrow brown .streaks aeross the forepart and alonj;' the sides of
the breast. Lores and a supereiliary line whitish. Tail-feathers, e.\eepl the middle ones
dark brown; the outer one while, the .second white, with the inner nitn-i,nn brown. The
outer primary is ecl'<ed with white, and there are two dull whitish bands aero.ss the winns.
Rill and feet yellow, the t'ormer brown aliove. " I,enf;th (leinale), 5."."); will"-, 3.35-
tail, 2.50.
Hab. Plains of Yellowstone and Upper .Missouri to Saskatehewan ; Nebraska.
This '.ittle-known species 1ms tlie oenenil iiiiiiearancu of a Titlark, Imt is
readily distinouished from Anthm lu-
doviriannti hy the jiurer white of its
under parts, the much darker centres
and much ptiler maroins to the fetitliers
above, the entirely white external tail-
featiier, iind tlie yellow legs and bill, as
well as by its generic peculiarities. In
its song and general habits it ajiproaches
nearer the Kurojiean Skylark than any
bird belonging to oin- faiiiiii.
Haiuts. Tiiis interesting s]iec,ies was
first described by AudulMPii, in the suji-
plementary jKU'tion of his ]Urdsi)f Ameri-
ca. It was obtained by the jiarty wliich
accompanied him tn the I'pper ]\lissouri in \M'.\. It was first met with on
the I'.lth of June near Kort I'nion, in Dacotah Territiny. It has since been
found on the Ibrk of the Saskatchewan, but little additional information
respectiiig its jialiits litis lieen obtained since its iirst discovery.
It seems to more nearly appmacli, in its haliits, tlie Kiiro])ean Skvlark
than any otlier of our Nortii American liirds. Mr. Kdward Harris was com-
pletely misled, at tirsl, by the .sound of their song, so tliat on several occa-
sions he sought for tlieiii on ijie gmuud. Their voices appeared to come to
Neontri/s sitrtii:ntt.
AVofory.T s/>ragitei.
176 NOHTH AMEIUCAN BJHDS.
liiii. from tl.o earth's suifa.'... Aftor having travdhMl iu ,,uo.st of tliom to
no puriiose, to many .li.stant parts of the prairies, lie at last discovered tliat
tliese sounds in'oeeedeil from si"\eral
nf these birds soaring at so great an
elevation as to make them diflieult to
dise( ver hy tiie eye, even in tlie trans-
parent atmosi)liere of tliat country.
Tiiey are deseril)ed as rui.nin<' grace-
fully on the ground, at times sipiat-
tiug to oliserve the movements of the
intruders, and again elevating their
bodies as if to meet their a]iproacli
Jusmg from the groun.l, they lly in au undulating manner, so that it is
extremely ddlicult to shoot them on the wing. Thev continue thus to fly
m mcreasmg circles until nUnxi a hundred yards high, when they begin to
S'ug After a while, suddenly ch.sing tlieir wings, thev droj) to the gn.und
They could be easily a].proaehed in a light wagon, and in this manner
several specinuMis were obtained.
Captain IJlakiston (Ibis, V. (II) found this Skylark c.mimon on the prairies
of the Saskatclu-wau during the breeding-season. He first met with it on
tlie (ith of May, near Fort Carlton. When disturbed from the gi^ass, its
usual haunt, it utters a single chirp, and immediately mounts iu the air by
a circuitous course, witli a very undulating flight, to a great height, where
with outstretched wings it soars in a i)eculiar manner," and utters a very
striking song. This is described as consi.sting of a (luick succession of
notes, iu a descending scale, each note being lower than the preceding. The
bird then descends to the ground with great rapidity, almost like a stone,
and somewliat in the manner of a hawk swooping on its prey. It Mas'
(hfiicult of approach, and not easily kille.l. He also observed thJse birds in
Nortiiern Minnesota, ^[ay 4, IS.")!).
A nest of this bird was built on the ground and i)laced in a hollow. It
was made of fine grasses interwoven into a circular form, but without any
Iniing The eggs were four or five in iiuud)er, an ol)long oval iu shajK', much
pointed at one end, and nu'asuring .87 of an inch in length by .03 in breadth.
Their ground-.'olor was a dull white, ,so miimtely dotted with a grayi.sh-
].uri)le as to give the whole egg a homogeneous appearance, as ^of' that
unil'orm color.
The young larks, ,soon after being hatched, followed their i)arents on the
ground, and wen^ fed with .seeds of the smaller j.lants an<l with insects.
They had already begun to a.s.sociate in small floc^ks of from eight to a dozen
before tiio ].arty left, and on Ih,- IGth of Augu.st had commenced their
southern migrations.
SYLVirOLin.K — TIlK WAKMLKKS. 177
F.^.M^.Y SYLVICOLIDiE. — Till.; Wakhi-kks.
The Si/Iri(v/i(/w are essentially cluiractorized among tlie Oseines with niii(>
primaries, by their small size, Ihe usually sleiuler and conical insectivorous
l)ill, shorter than the head, without anj^le in the yape near the hasc ; the toes
deeply cleft so as to leave tiie inner one tree ah -ost to its very liasc (excejjt
in Mniotilticc), etc. The siiaUow notch at the end of the tongue, instead of
a deeply fissured tip, distinguislies the family from the dnrhidir, to siune of
which tliere is otherwise so great a resend)lance. The abseiu'e of ahrujit
hook and notch in both mandibles separates it from such of the rircuitidcv
as have nine ]trimaries.
Tiie American Mofdrilliilw are distinguished from the Si//rico/i(f(r by
the emargination of the outer and the great eh)ngation of the inner sec-
ondaries, as well as by other features referred to undt'r tliat family.
Anthiis, in particular, difl'crs in the lengtliened and slightly curved Iiind
claw. There is little dilHculty in distinguislung the SiilrimUihr, however,
from any families excepting the slender-liilled forms of the Tinuii/ridcr, as
Chlorospimjus, Noiionia, Vhlovoihriisn, etc., anil the conirostral Carchida:
In fact, some ornitludogists are inclined to include all three of the families
thus mentioned in one, from the dilliculty of marking their boundaries
respectively.
In fact, we are of the opinion that no \ icdeuce would be dniu> by adopt-
ing this view, and would even include witii the above-mentioned families
the FriiKjillida- also. The order of their relation to one anotlier would be
thus: Friiif/i/lida; Tuiniijrida', SjilvlcoUilw, ('(rnbida ; there being scarcely
any break in the transition bi'tween the two extremes, unless there are
many genera referred to the wrong family, as seems very likely to lie the case
with many included in the Tamii/n'da: Tim /riji;/i//iif forms of the latter
family are such genera as B."nvrciiuiii and J /•/(•;/((*«, they being so closely
related to Himie/riiii/il/iitc genera by so many features — as rounded conca\e
wing, lax plumage, and siiizine cohiration — as to be scarcely .seiiarable.
Either tlie.se two families are connected so perfectly by intermediate forms
as to be inseparable, or the term T(niii(fn'd(r covers too great a diversity of
forms. With the same regularity that we jirod'cd from the Frimjillidtr to
the typical forms of the Tdiiin/riihr {/'i/ntiu/a, Tdiiin/ni, CidUsh, etc.), wo
pass down the scale from these to the Si//ri<vlid(r ; while between many
genera of the latter family, and others referred to the Cinrhidir, no differ-
ence in external anatomy can lie discovered, nuicii less expressed in a
description.
In the foHowing synopsis we attempt to define the higher grou])s of tlio
Si/lvii-olidn; although in the large number of sjietues aim their close ndation-
siiips it is very dilticult to express clearly their distinctive features.
23
178 NORTH AilEiUCAN BIRDS.
Subfamilies.
A. Rill oonir'al, its bristles vpit woak, or wanting.
a. JJill .sMl.-,onical, iIr. c.ilnien and coinnn-ssuro nearly straifrht
iylvicolinae. luM.t weak, not reaehin- near the .mkI oHhe tail Wintr
l.o.nt.nl, ccnsxieral.lv longer than the nearly even or slightly eniar-i-
nate,l la,l. Feet .iark-eolore,l (exeq.t in IMuHherns, IMnaia, ami
J'iinil(i). Aiboreal. '
Geothlypinae. Feet str.mg, reaching nearly to en.l of the tail Win-
roinided. F.'et i)inkit;h-while. Tvrrp.vriul.
h. Bill high and coinj)ressed, the oulnien an.l eommissuro ninoh enrved
Ictenan*. Bill without noteh or rietal bristles ; wing nn.eh ronn.led
shorter than the tail. '
B. Bill depressed, its bristles strong.
Setophaginae. Bill, turamnue^ considerably broader than hi<di the tin
"...re or less hooked, and with a distinct notch. Rietal bristles reaching
hall-way, or more, to the tip.
Sections and Genera.
.SVI.VICOI.IN.K.
1. Jliddle toe, with claw, longer than tarsus.
Mniotilteae. Bill much compressed lor terminal half, the lateral outline
dcMdedly concave ; eulmen and gonvs decidedly convex ; connnissuro
n.oderatcly concave. Rietal bristles very inconspic.ons; noteh iust
perceptible . . ir ■ -,
2. Mi<ldle toe. with claw, not long.M- than taisu.s. •■•••• ^^Imotdta.
VermivorecB. Bill without a distinct notch, or lacking it entirely ; rietal
bristles wanting, or very nnnule; eulmen and gonys nearly straight; bill
onl}' very moiierately compres.><ed,
". Jliddle toe and claw al)out equal to tarsus.
Bill not acute; eulmen and gonys decidedly convex; notch just
perce,,tiblc ; bristles apparent . . .^ . . . 'Protonotaria.
m\ moderately acute, I'obu.st ; no notch; eulmen straight, its base
elevated and slightly nn-lied ; bristles not appar(>nt . ' . ' Ihll,„ii„
Bill moderately acute ; robust; no notch ; eulmen conve.x, its ba^^e
not elevatpd; bristles apparent Helmitherm.
t>. Middle toe and claw considerably shorter than tarsus.
Bill very acute, its outlin.'s nearly straight ; notch not perceptible ;
bristles not apparent . ir i ■ n i
Bill very acute, its outlines nearly straight; notch Just perceptible;
bristles stronc: . . ' ' /> ,
Sylvicole». Bill distinctly notched; rietal bristles .strong; outlines
generally slightly curved.
Bill acute, gonys .slightly concave IWhsogkma.
Bill not acute, gonys conve.x Dendnnea.
OKOTIIt.Yl'IN.fl,
3. Wings pointed, longer than the nearly <'ven tail.
Seiureae.
.\iiove olive-brown ; beneath white with dark streaks . Seiurus.
Above olive-green; beneath yellow without streaks . . Opornnm.
SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 179
4. Wings louiiiU'd, sliortcM' tliau tlif jjriuliiiitod tail.
Oeothlypeae.
Above o!iv(.'-i;ivi'ii; bt'iit'iUli yellow, without streaks . . Genihhjpis.
ICTKUIAX.i;.
5. Bill very (lee|> and eonipressed ; tail graduated ; outer toe deeply eleft.
Icterieae.
Olive-green above; liiiglit yellow anteriorly beneath. Upperman-
dible deeper than the lower Irteria.
Phunbeou.^i-blue above; red, blaek. and while beneath. I'pper
niandiltle not so deep as the lower Oranatellus.
C. Bill slend(!r, sub-uonical. l)ut curved ; tail nearly even ; outer toe adherent
for basal half.
Teretristeae.
Ab'jve olive-gray ; beneath whiti.sh posteriorly, and yellow an-
teriorly . 'J'eretrixtiii.
SKTOIMI.VOIX.K.
7. Bill Ujrnunine. Tail broad, equal to or longer than the wing, and much
rounded.
Setopbageae. Colors mainly l)lack, red, and white.
Tail not longer than the wing. Above blaek, wing variegated Setophitgn.
Tail longer than the wing. Above pliunbeous, wing nnvariegated Myioborus.
8. Bill sylvicoUiie. Tail narrow, almost even ; shorter than the wing.
Myiodioctese. Colors yellow beneath, olive-green or ashy above.
Black markings aljout the head in the ^ . . . . Myiodiocte.s.
9. Bill t.omewhat pnrine. Tail equal to the wing, almost even.
Cardellinese. Colors mainly red, or red, a.shy, and white.
Bill weak, almost cylindrical ; wings rounded, the quills broad and
soft at ends. Tail slightly rounded, the feathers soft. Cok)rs mainly
red. Ergaticus.
Bill stout, the culmen and gonys veiy convex; wings pointed,
the quills emarginaliHl and hard at ends. Tail even, the feathers
hard. Color ashy above ; runqi and beneath white. Head red and
black Cardellinn.
Of the above, Granafel/u,% Mi/iohn>'ii>t, ErcjntiruH, and Cardelliua belong li
(."entral and South America, Teretristis to Cuba.
Subfamily SYLVICOLIN^.
Skotion MN 10 tilted.
Char. Bill slightly imtched .some distance from the tip. Rictal bristles minute. Hind
toe considerably developed, longer than the lateral toe; its claw decidedly longer than
it.s digit. First quill nearly or quite as long as the second. Wings long, pointed ; much
longer than the tail, which is nearly even. Tail-feathers with white spots. Bill much
compressed for terminal half, the eomiuissure and lateral outlines decidedly concave; the
culmen and gonys convex.
180
NORTH AMKRKWN JJIRU»J.
(Jkms mniotilta, y
iKii.i.or.
Mnio/il/,,, ViKu.L.rr, Analys.., Ksit!, 45. (Type, .\Mni//„ v,n-i„, L.)
ttKN.Cn.vn. (i..M,.n,l rorn, sylvi,.„li,„. ; l,ill nulu...- Ion- .■oini.re.sed, sliortor than the
hoa.l, with v..,y sh.„t ,i,.|.l l,ristl..s and a shallow notrh. Wings considcTahly lon-rc..,- tliun
th.' tail, wind. IS sh^ditly nMnulo.l ; liist qnill shortor than s....ond and thinl. ' Tarsi ratluM-
.short,; t..os long,, niddl..on.M..iual loth.., arsns; hind too marly as lonf,^ th. Haw ron-
Md..ral y shorter than its digit. Color white, stroaUc-.l with bhick. Nest on gronn.l; ejfgs
whitL', hiolfhcd with rud. °*
Tliis -emis .lifr,M'.s tVo.u other Sylvicolincs in tl,e elongation of tlic toes
especittlly tl.e hinder one, by means of which the sj.ecie. is eiuibletl to move
11]. iui.l ilown the trunks of trees, like the true Creepers. But one species is
recoonized as Xorth American, altliough Xuttall describes a second
Mniotilta varia, Viiii.l.
BLACK AND WHITE CEEEPING WARBLEB.
Molacilh, v.,n„. l.,xx. s. X. I, 1 TOti. ;m. Va-lhu, v,n-i„. V.KO.t.or ; A,r,>n,oN. Mui.til,.,
'•"'•"', \l.:i....ov (ial. Ois. 1. Ks3t, 27.i, ,,1. d.xix. - AfmmoN. - lUot.., Rirds N
Am. 1N,,S, -i.-i; li..v. l.;r.-.S..,.Ar.:K. 1'. Z. S. 1858, -m (Oaxaca, Xala,.a) ; 18,5<),
M,S (Aalapa) ; ]8.,.'i, 143 (Ilogota) ; 18;.fi, •».! (Conlova) ; 18(i4, 172 (City of M.-x ) ~
n.rat"'- l'"*"!' -■'' "<•• It!^. -«'■■,. &.<v,.v. Ibis, 185!., 1(, (Cuatemaia). - - NKWn.v
Mns, 18;,!), 143 (.Santa Vnu ; wintrr). - f.v,,. .I..,,,.. |||, 475 (Cuba; winter) - I'.kv-
ANT, I'r. n,.st. So... 185!. (Ilahanms; April 2(.). -Ooss..:, Birds Jam. 134 (.lamai.a •
wnit,.r).-.IoNj.;s, Xat. li..rmuda, 18.-,!.. 2!. ((..tolHT). - C.u.. .lour. 18tl(., 328 (Costa
Jura).-- LAWia;N.i.:, Ann. N. Y. I.yo. 18.J1, 322 (Panama 1{. H, : winfr). - (irNot,
Cah. .Tourn. 18.i], 32.i (Cuba; v.tv connnon). Cn'/luu m,„-ul„t„, W,,,s. M,hlil,.,
Imrcahs, Xfir. .Uinolilla vnrw. vai-. /„u;,i,;,sfri.s; llAiKn, 15irds X. Am. 1858 xx.vi
no. I(i7. — 111. fatal, in 8vo, 18(i!). no. Itl7. ' '
Figures: Avi^. t)rn. liiog. V, ,.1. xr : liirds Am. 11, ,,1. cxiv. - Wn..soN, Au>. 0,„. m
pi. xix. '
!=;.•. TnAR. Bill with the npper man.lihl,- oonsidornl.ly d.vnrvod. the l..w,-r .straight.
._ S.- -^tC^HT-j Goncral wilor of tho male lila.'k. the feathers broadly
edged with white; the head all ronnd black, with a
median stripe in the erown and neck aliov.^, a .super-
ciliary ami a nnixillary om; of white. AIid<lle of bellv,
two conspiennns bamis on the wing.s, outer edws of
lertials and inner of all the wing and tail feather.s, and
a spot on the inner webs of the outer two tail-leathers,
white. Rnmp and upp.T tail-coverts blaek, edged e.\-
ternally with white. Fennde .similar ; the under parts
whit.., obsol,.t..|y .streak.-.l with black on the si.l..s an.l
nniler tail-covcrt.s. Length, S in(die.s ; wing. 2.85;
t)iil. 2.1>r,.
ITah. Eastern Province of North Ameriea. an.l n..rth to Fort Sin.pson. Both coasts
01 Mex„.o (as far north as Ma.atlan, on west si.le). and southward to Bogota. Whole
ot U est Indies and Bermuda.
iNGhS
Mmiililta varia, V'ml
8Y lA'lCOLID.E — THE WAIUJLEUS.
181
r,()raliliin i/iiiiteil. Biiliiinias ; l!('iiniiil:i ; Culiii; .IiiiiiiiicM : SiUilii Ciiiz; Wrsl liulii's;
Coiil<iv;i, Xalapa, OiiXiwa, Mcx. ; (iiiiiti'iiiala ; I'aiiiiiiiii II. Ii. ; lioL^uia.
Specimens bret'din^' in tlie Soutliern States diilor in rather lunjier liill uml
less amount of black, Inil are otherwise undistinguishable.
IIaiui's. Tiie r>hicU and White ('ree[ier, nowiicri' an al)nndant siummcs, is
met with in various sections of the country. It occurs in all i)arts of New
En<,'land and Xew Vork, and has been found in tlie interim' as far north as
Fort Simpson. It has been met with on the I'acitic coast only at Mazat-
lan, is conunon in the liaiianias and most of the West India Islands, j^en-
erally as a nii<,frant. It has also been found in Texas, in the Indian Terri-
tory, and in Mexico, and tlirouj^hont Central America. In the last-named
region Mr. Salvin states it to be pretty iMpially ami generally spread over
tlie whole country. It is there migratory, leaving in spring. It was also
detected in Cobunbia, South Anu'rica, l)y iMr.
C. W. Wyatt. Mr. Newton also met with it
as a winter visitant in St. Croi.x, leaving tiiat
island at the end of Marcii. He regards this
species as almost a tliorougii ("ret^piM' in iial>its.
In Jamaica a few are residi-nt througiiout tiie
year, according to the observations of .Mr.
Mandi, and though its nests iiave never bei'n
found there, a son of Mr. March saw a pair
carrying materials with which to construct
one.
Dr. Coues states that this Warbler is a very
common summer resident near Washington,
but is nuire abundant there in the spring and in tlie fall, tiie greater number
going farther mu'tii to breed. Tiiey arrive in Washington during tlie tirst
week in April, and are exceedingly nunu'rous luitil May. Me a(hls that tliey
are generally found in iiigii ojieii woods, and tiiat they "breed in hoh's in
trees." This is probably an error, or, if ever known to occur, an entirely
exceptional case.
Our bird is also a common sununer visitant at Calais, arriving tlu'ie about
the 1st of May, and by the lOtli becoming rather aliunthint. Mr. IJoardman
has frequently found their nests there, and always on tlie ground, in rocky
places and usually under small tret!s.
It does not appear to have been met with on the Pacific coast north of
Mazatlan, nor in any portion of Western North America, beyond the valleys
of the Missi.ssip])i and the IJio (Jrande.
In its habits this bird seems to be ninie of a Creejier than a Warbler.
It is an expert and niinlile climber, and rarely, if ever, perches on the branch
of a tree or shrub. In the manner of the smaller Woodpeckers, the Cree])-
ers, Nuthatches, and Titmice, it moves rapidly around the trunks and larger
limbs of the trees of the forest in search of small insects and their larvie.
Mniotiltn varia
]^2 NO.! I'll AMKKUAN lilKDS.-
Jt is ^riici't'ul 1111(1 rapid in iiKivfiiiciit, iiiid is olli'ii s(i intent niuiu its hunt
us to lie uniiiiiKirul ut' tlic nciir ]iivs('iicii iif niiin.
It is I'liiind cliii'tly in tliiekets, but tliis is iinibahly owinjj; to the I'liet that tluMv
its I'luid is |iriii('iiially li> hn olitaiiifd. It is ticcasionally seen in niore ojien
etiuntry, and has lieen i<ii(i\vii to breed in the iniiuediate vicinity of a (hvellinj,'.
Wilson rejjjarded this liinl as a true Creeper, and objected to its beiiiji;
classeil as a Wariiler. He even denied to it the possession ot" any soii;^. In
this he was (piite mistaken. Though never loud, ]iroloiin('d, or ])o\vert'ul, tlui
song of this Warbler is very sweet and pleasing. It ln'gins to sing t'roiii its
first appearance in May, ami continues to repeat its brief reirain at intervals
almost until its departure in August and Sejiteniber. Xuttall speaks of it
as lieing at first a monotonous dittv, and as utteri'd in a stroiiy but shrill and
filing tone. These notes, he adds, as the season advances, become more mel-
low and warbling, and, though feeble, are jileasing, and are similar to those
of the Kedstart. Ihit this .statement does not do full Justice to the varied
and agreeable notes with which, in early spring, these liirds accompany their
lively hunt for food among the tops of the lorest trees. They are diver-
sified and sweet, and seem suggestive of a genial and hajipy nature.
Tlie.se birds make their appearance in New Kngland early in May, and
remain there, among the thick wooils, until the middle of October, and in the
Southern States until the verge of winti'r.
Their movements in search of food aic like tho.se of the Titmice, keeping
the feet together and moving in a sui'cession of short rapid hops uj) the
irunks of trt^es and along the limbs, passing again to the bottom by longer
flights than in the ascent. They make but short flights from tree to tree,
but are a])i)arently not incapable of more prohmged (uies.
So far as I know, these birds always build their nests on the ground. Afr.
Xuttall found one in Iioxbury containing young about a week old. The nest
was on the ground, on the surface of a shelving rock, made of coarse strips
of the inner bark of the Ahirs nni(i(/r)isis externally, and internally of soft
decayed leaves and dry grasses, and lined with a thin layer of lilack hair.
The parents fcil their young in his jn'cseuce with allectionate attention, and
manifested no uneasiness, creeping, head downward, about the trunks of the
neighboring trees, carrying large smooth caterjiillars to their young. The
nests of this bird are strongly and com])actly built, externally of coarse .strips
of various kinds of bark, and lined within with hair and tine .stems of grasses.
In several instances I have known them to be roofed over at the top, in the
manner of the (iohlen-crowned Thrush. They measure about three inches
in their external diameter, and are e(|Ually deej).
The nests ajipear to be a favorite reci']itack' for the parasitic eggs of the
Cow-Ihinting. Mr. Hubert L'idgway obtained a nest at Mt. Cannel, 111.,
in which wen; four eggs of tli(> MulothvuH and only two of the parent birds ;
and ^Ir. T. M. Trijijie, of Orange, N. V., also found a nest of this Creeper
in which were but three of its own and five of the parasite.
SVl,VI('<tI,[l).K- THK WAIiMLKItS.
18,']
TIio eggs vary in sliii|,(. IV,,iii „, nMiiidiMl |o mii nl.long nviil, iiml in si/o In.ni
.(i!t t(. .7.-. or an inch in Icngtii, and Ironi ,:)l to .:.:'. (.r an inch in hiva.hh.
Tlicirgn.nnil-cuh)! is a cicaniy-wliiUMo which the .U'ci. ivil marisings ini|iait
an ai-paivntly lankisii tingn. They am niaikc.l na.iv or I.^ss i.rofiiscly wiih
bright ml (hits, jioints, and hh)tchcs. Tlicsc vary in iiunil).'r and in distiilni-
tion. In some they arc very tine, and arc chiefly cuidincd to the hirgcr end.
In others they are largei , more ditlused, and occasionally there are inter-
mingled marks and lihUchcs of .slale-color. The ellect oi' these variations
is, at times, to give; tlu^ appeanuiee of greater diffenMi-es to these eggs than
really exists, the gronnd-.'olor and the shade of the red markings really pre-
senting luit little niodilications.
The color of the yonng nestlings is closely assimilated to that of the
ohjects that usuidly Hnrround tht^ nest, and iieli)s to conceal them. Mr.
I'.inroughs once came accidentally uj.on a nest with yonng of this species.
He says: "A I'.laek and Wliilt, Creeping Warl.ler smldenly became much
alarmed as F approached a crundtling old stump in a dense jiartof the forest.
He alighted ujiim it, chirped sharply, ran up and down its siih's, and linally
left it with nuieh reluctance. The nest, which contaiiu>.l thre.' young bird's
nearly fledg-d, was ].laced uj.on the ground at the foot of the slump, and in
such a position that tlu; coh.r of the youug harmonized iHufeclly with tlu;
bits of liark., sticks, etc., lying about. My eye rested npon thein for the
■second time before I made them out. They Imgged (he nest very elo.sely,
but as I put down my hand tliiiy all .scampered olV with lond cries for helis
which caused the parent birds to i)laee themselves almost within my reach."
SixiioN VERMIVORE>E,
niM s PROTONOTARIA, H
AHin.
Pro/n,m/„n„, ;'..ui!l., I.ir.Ls N. Am. 1S:.S, •.':!!1. (Ty,„., .}/„/,„■!//„ dim,, l!„i,„.)
(!kn. ("iiak. ChanictiTi/cMl i,v iis Ion- disliiiclly notdicil bill, and lonj.- wiii-s, which .qiv
an inch lonj^cr Ibau tin .slijihlly j^iatliialcij tail (IIk;
lalL'i-al leathers ali.mt .12 of an inch .-ijini'tfr). The
niider tail-eovort.s ai-e very loii.ir, reaeliiiim within hall'
an ineli nl' the tip of the tail. The tarsi and hind toe
are i)ro))ortionally longer thai; in the tnie Warblers.
The notch and frreat, size of |]ie bill (listiii<rnisli it
from the Swamp Warblers. Nesi, ni hole..; eir{i;s nniuh
blotched with reddish.
The oidy North American s]iecies belong-
ing to the gronp appears to be the old Si/lvia
protonotaria of (Jmelin.
JViiloiiiil.iiiii ritini, lliiircl.
184
xNOUTil AMKHICAN liUiDH.
Frotonotaria citrea, ISaikd.
PROTHONOTABT WABBLER ; GOLDEN 8WAMF WARBI^B.
Motiiiilhi cUriM, lidDi). Talil. 17M! (I'l. I'lil. 704, lig. 2). I'roluiwlnriu eitno, liAiiiii, Hirils
N. Ai.i. IS")!*, 1':!!); \W\. 17;t. Sii.atki!, Ciital. 1861, 26, no. 166. — GuMii,. Cab.
.lour. IMil, ;1'_'4 (Cul>a ; vi'iy laicK Ilihiniitliniilinijn i-ilini, Vah. .lour. liS61, S.'i ^('o.sta
Hiia). Miiliuilhi prtildiiti/iin'ii.i, (i.M. Siiln'n prul. L.^iii. — Vir.ii.i,. Ois. Aui. Scjit.
II, jil. Ixxxiii. -Wii.siiN, Am. Oru. Ill, [pI. xiv. lij,'. 2. — Arn. Oin. Hiog. II, ]•!.
iii. r<riitifiin( pmt . lioN". Uitimiiti prut. Al'u. Ilcliuit/uriis prut. Bon. Caiiip-
so/li/jipis jiral. ('.\li. .lour. Mutiicillii lutrivitllis, O.mki.. I, 1788, 984. Sijlvia mir.
li.Mll., elf. ^llasl■ll ou Ja- (I'niiiil Fiijiiitr i/ii ('diiiKtii, IJltls.soN, Oi.s. Ill, 1760, .^08, pi.
xxvi, i\n. I). KiiuaW. Siili-inilii tiiii: Nrri'. .Man. I, 1840, 431.
Si'. Cu.wt. Itill vciv larj.'f; a.<i hwix iis the licail, 'load anil lu'i'k all I'oinid, with tliu
(.Milirc uiiilcr |i.iils, iiiclmliiiLr the liliia', liiii yellow, oxcopting the nniil region and under
tiiil-eovert.<, wliieli are white. Hack dark olive-ofreen, with a. tinge of yellow ; rnnip,
upper tail-eovert.s wings, and tail above, liliiish a.-;ii-eolor. luner margin of (juill.-i and the
tail-t'ealher.-: (exeept the innermost) white; the outer webs and lips like the back. Length,
5.4(1; wing. 'J.!»i: tail. 2.2.").
II.Mi. Kasiern Province of I'nited Stales (Southern region); Cuba, Costa Rica, and
Panama 1!. 1!. .Not iceorded t'rom .Mexico nr (iuateuiala. Aeeidental in New Brunswick
((i. A. lio.Mtn.MAN in letter). Yuealau (IjAWUknck).
Tills i.s (iiie of tlii> very liiiiKlsomcst of Aim'i'ioiiii Warbli'i's, tlie yellow of llio
ht>a(l mill lower parts liciiio; of a imrciicss and nicllowiicss scarcely apiiroacliod
by any other species. In a lii.^lily colored male from Soutlierii Illinois (No.
1(1,111, .Mississippi Hottoiii, Union Co.. Ajiril '2o ; Ii. Konnicoti) it is stained
in sjKits, particularly over the eyes and on the neck, with a beautiful cad-
luiuin-iiran.ne.
Hauit.s. Ill reoanl to the habits of ihi.s beautiful and intcrestin<j; Warbler
wi! receive but little lioht from the ob-
.servatioiisof olderornitholojrical writens.
Its o;('oo;rapliical distribution i.s some-
what eriatic and irreo;ular. It does not
appear to be distributed over a very
wide ratline. It occurs as a migrant in
the West Indies and in Central Ameri-
ca. In the I'liited States it is found
in the Southern re<iion, but farther west
the ranji;e widens, and in the Missiosijjpi
Valley it i.s found as far north as Kansas,
Southern and Central Illinois, and Missouri. Accidental specimens have been
oblaiiieci as far to the northeast as Calais, though unknown to all the Kastern
States as far south as .Siaitliern Viroinia. It was met with by none of the gov-
ernment parties except by I>r. Woodhouse, who found it abundant in Texas.
Mr. Audulioii ob.Herved them, near Louisville, Keiitutiky, frctpienting creeks
an<l lagoons overshadowed by large trees. These weri! their favorite places
Priitnn'>fiiritt rilrrn
SVLVICOLID.K TllK W A Klil.KKS. JgS
of resiu't. Tlii'V iilso |trcri'i'rt'(l llic lidrdcrs ol' sheets (if wiiler to tlie iiiloiior
III" the. tuvest. Tliey return iii s|niii,ii,' tu tlu^ Soiillierii States early in Maveh,
l)iit ti) Ki-ntneky not lieinre tlie last nf A|iril. 'I'hey leave, in Oilolier, and
raise hut a sin.i^le l)n>(Pil in a seasun. AiKhilmn ilescrilK'S their nest, liul it
it (lillers so essentially I'loni their known mode of hivedin.L;, that he was
evidently in eiroi' in rej^aid to his siipjiosed identiiiealion of the ne^l of
this Rjiecies.
Dr. Iiaehnian, who often met them on tiie honleis of small streams near
Charleston, was <'ontident that they breed in that State, ami notieed a pair
with four youi;;.;- iiirds as early as .June I, in iS.'Ki.
lieeently more li'^ht has lieen thrown u|ion theii' hahits hy Mr. I>. K.
(loss, who, in May, lS(i."., found them iireedini^ near Neosho Kails, in Kansas.
The nest was iaiilt within a Woodpeeker's hole in tiie slump of a tri'e,
not more than three feet hi,i;li. The nest was not roundeil in shajH', hu'
made to eonfoini to the irregular cavity in which it. was huilt. ft was
of ohloui;' shape, and its cavity was deepest, not in the centre, hut at one
end, upon a closely impacted hasi^ ni,,de up of IVii^'meiits of thied loave.s,
broken bits of glasses, stems, mosses, and lichiMis, decayed wood, and other
material, tlu^ upper ]>ortion consist Iul; of an interwea\ iuL; of line roots of
wooded plants, varyin.ii, in si/.e, but all stroiij;', wiry, and slender. It was
lined with hair.
Other nests since <liscovered are of more uniform I'oiins, circular in shape,
and of coarser materials, and all are built witii unusual strength and care for
a nest oceupyini; a sheltered ca\ ity.
In ou" instance ilieir nest was built in a brace-hole within a mill, where
the birds could bi closely watched as they carried in the materials, and the
parent was afterward taken by hand by Mr. tloss from its nest. It was
([iiite tanu", and aiiproached within two yards of him.
Since then Mr. IJid^way has obtained a nest at Ml. Carmel, III. It was
built in a hollow snaj;', about \\\c feet from the ,i;round, in the river bot-
tom. So fai' from beiny noisy and vociferous, as its name would seem to
imply, Mr. Iiidj^w.iy describes it as one of the shyest and most silent of all
the Warblers.
Tlit^ I'ligs of this W'arblei' haxc an aveia^i^ breadth of ..'i."i of an inch and a
lenjith varyiii";: from .tl."t to .7" of an inch. They are of a rounded-oval form,
i;ne end heiii^f but slightly less rounded than the other. Their ground-color
is a yellowish or creamy while, more or h-.-^s profusely marked ovi'r their
entire surface with lilac, ]iuiple, and a dark purplish-brown.
Mr. Kid^'way states that it is idways an abundant snmmei' liird in the
Wabash bottoms, where it inhabits print'ipally luishy swamps ami the wil-
lows around the borders of stai^naiit lagoons or " ponds " near the river, and
in such hx'alities, in c',nipany with the Wliite-bellietl Swallow {/liriiiii/o
liiniftir], takes possession of the holes of the Downy \Vood|>ecker {J'icus
/tiihrsi'fiis) and ('hick;idee (/'urns ((irn/iiii nsis), in which to build its iiest.
■J I
186
XORTir AMKRICAX ]iIRDS.
Mr. Kidgway adds that in its movements tins Warhhv is sl.nv and delib-
erate, like the Hrlmitherm va;,urori,s, strikii.-ly ditlerent in this respect
from the sprightly, active Dr.ulnHro'. Its common note is a sliarp piJ re-
markably like tlie winter note of the Zonotrirhu, olbiwllis.
It has Deen taken as far north as l.'ock Island, 111., and Dr. Cones men-
tions the occurrence of one individual near Washington, D C seen in a
swampy brier-patch, May 2, 1801. This was j>erhaps only an' accidental
visitor. If regularly found there, it is probably exceedingly rare. It has not
been met with between Washington and St. Stephens, Xew Brunswick where
Its occurrence was unquestionably i)urely accidental.
Gekus HBLMITHERtTS, Raf.
Okn. Ciiau. Bill large .in<l
Hdmithrrus, Raf.nksquk, Journal de Pl.ysi,„c, LXXXVIII, 181!., 417. (Type, MoUuilla
Vermivom, Su-ai.ns,.n, Zoiil. .r,„>r. IV. us^;, j;,, („„t „,■ j,,..^.,..,, jj,oo)
Helmnw, Aru. Synopsi.s, 1S3!., m. (Tyiu., ,S>/n« ,,r„hm„u, Ai'm.)
It, rompro.'ised, almost tannfrrine; nearly or quite as long
as the head. Cnliiieii very siiglitly curved"
gouys straight; no ndfli in the bill; Wctal
I'listles wanting. Tarsi siioit, but little longer,
if any, than the uiid.ll,. toe. Tail eonsiilora-
lily shorter than tlie wings; rather rounded.
U'ings rather long, fh.^ lirst (juill a little shorter
than the .second and tjiird.
The birds of this division are very
plain ill their colors, more so than any
'"""■*"'"•"■""■"""'■'•' '"• other American Warblers. There are
but two species referable to the geiiiKs, of which the //. .v:ainsom dillers
Irom the type in having a considerably
longer and more compressed bill, the
ridge of which is com])res.sed, elevated,
and apjjcars to extend backwards on
the forehead, as well as to be in a
straiglit line with the upper part of
the liead. The wings are longer ; tlie
fail Ibrked, not rounded; the feathers
narrower and more jioiiited; the tarsi
shorter than in the type. It appears
to be at least a distinct subgenus to
whieli th(! name lldimUi, Aun., is to
bo ai)plied.
Hrlniitlii riis lermivorm.
SYLVIU)LID.E — TIFK WARULERS. jg^r
Species.
Common Characters. Colors i.laiii. Above olivaceous, beneath nearly white.
Xo .spots or bauds on win^f or tail.
H. vermivorus. Abov olive-green. Head yellowish, with a black stripe
above and one behind each eye. Tail ronuded. ll,ih. Jvistern Provinee oC
United States; south to Cosia Riea ; Cuba, (/lehinf/icnis.)
H. swainsoni. Above dull olive-given, tinged with brown. Stripes on
the head somewhat as iu the last, but reddish-b.-owu : the median light
stripe on the .'rown seareely visible. Tail slightly forked. Uub. South
Carolina and Georgia; Cuba (very rare). (/le/inaia.)
Helmitherus vermivorus, Bonap.
WOBH-EATiao SWAMP WAKBLER.
. Afotcu:ma vcrmivam, Omki.. Syst. Nat. I, 17ti,s, <..5l. ' Siilvia vermhvra, Lath. Ind Orn
II. iryo, 49!). - W„.s. Ill, pi. .xxiv, fig. -t. -Ain. Orn. 15iug. I, pi. xxxiv. .','ylvicola
wnnu'ura, Uien. Ildiiun,,, venuivum, Afi.. IJir.ls Am. II, pi. r.v. — Li;mim;yf,, Av. Cuba,
18r)0, 3,-), pi. vi, lig. I. Ihlmithenis irrmironis, n„s. ; Caii. : lUllil), liiril.s \ Am'
18,08, 252; l{,.v. 17!». -S,r,Ari:i!, P. Z. tS. ls,-,!», :(,;:; (Xalapa). - In. Catal. 1801, 28,
no. 175. — Sci.ArKli & Sai.V[N, Ibis, I, 185!t, 11 (Cuatrmala) ; .'ab. Jour. 1800 a-'9
(Co.sta Ki.a); lb. 185(i (Cuba). - Ui-xuLAeu, Cab. .lour. 1801, 320 (Cuba ; somewhat
rare), k cniuuum pniiLs-i/lvania,, Box., GossK, U. Jumaiea, 1817,150. Ildniithcrus
vn,jr„tm-!us, Kak. .1. de Phys. 88. 1819, 417. - IIaRTLAUB ; Vermivom fulclMpiUu,
SwAiNsoN, Uirds, II, 1S37, 245.
Sp. Char. Bill nearly as long as the head : upper parts generally rather clear olive-
green. Head with foiu- black stripes an.l three brownish-yellow ones^ namely, a black one
on each side of the crown and nne from behind the eye (extending, in fact, a little anterior
to It), a broad.M- nu-dian yollov one on the crown, and a superciliary from the bill. Under
parts pale browid.sh-yellow, tinged with bull' across the breast and with olivaceous on the
.sides Tail unspotted. Female nearly similar. Length, o.oO ; w=ng, 3.0t) ; tail 2 3o
In antinnnal speeiiuciis the light stripes on the head are deeper bulf than in sprin-.
IIab. Eastern Province of United States (rather Southern); Southeastern Mexico^ina-
teinala; Cuba; Costa Rica; V, : agua ; Oriiiaba (winter, Sr.MiciiiiAsT); Yucatan (Lawrkxck).
Habits. Much reimiins to be ascertained iu regard to the history, habits, and
distril)ution of this iuterestiiifr .species. So l:-v as is now known it is hardly
anywhere very coniiiion (hiring tiie bn-edino-season. Yet its abundance anil
wide distribution as a nuo;rant (birin.ir the winter months in various extended
localities appear to warrant the belief that it must be correspondingly abun-
dant in summer in localities tlitit have escaped our attentioti. It has" been oc-
casionally met with in the Ceiitrtil and Southern States, as hir west as Eastern
Mexico, and as far to the north as Southetistern Xew Vork. Specimens have
been procured fi'om Cuba, Mexico, Central America, and the northern portions
of South America. It is a, regular winter visiti-t of Jamaica, whither it goes
in tke autumn in considtMiible numbers, and is \ery widely dilfused.
It reaches IVniisylvania about the middle of ^iay, ami leaves in Septeni-
Iter. Wilson noticed a pair feeding their young about the iT.th of .Tune.
1^8 xoimr AMKiucAX uinns.
He ^.pposed tins hi,..l to l.av. a n>ore nortlu.rn ,listnh„tinn tl.an hel-.n^s to
In iH. .ntc.no,. they a.c n.et with, according ,u Au.h.hon, as far nu.tl. as
t he ,sn„tlu.,.u ,sh.„v.s ..i Lake, En., whcv he ha.n.l the.n in tiu- a„t„„n,. Mr
Au.h.lM,.! ,.u,„l the.u more nun.en.us i„ Xew Jersey than anvwhere else L,
n^m, an.l Kentneky th.-y are co.uparatively rare. Mr. Kid^^.ay i„,onns „.e
that this ,s a rather e.nnn.nn siKries in Southern Illinois in the thickest
(laniji Nv..n,ls in the l...tt..n.-]a„.ls aha.n the Wabash ifiver
Aeeenlh,,- to Wilson, the.se l.irds are anion,, the ninihlest of its fanulv an.l
aj. reniarl.jhly fon.l of spi.lei., .lartin, al.out when-ver there is a prohahiH
of hndin, these ni.seet.s. Where branches are broken and the leavi withered
seurehes anion, then, in prelerenee, n.akin, a ,reat rustlin, as it In.nts ,;
lieselrds are arboreal ui their prelerenees. residing in the interio, ,f
MOO, sand are .seldom seen in the op.n held.s. Thev resort to the , round
and turn over the d.y leaves in ,,uest of inseets. They are very n^sn^^
cions and ea.sy of apjn'oacli. - ' '
Nnttall describes their notes and their hal,its as resenddin, the connnon
Pa>.s .....,.//., and remarks that they are constantly ntLrin, a e. i"
pki. ing call, soundni, like fsh,-,le.,lr-.
Until .pute recently, nothing has been j.ositively known in regard to its
n st,n,. Audubon has described its nest as made of dry moss^ and t^
ulk.n bloom of the hickory and the chestnut, and as built in bushes .1^^
eet from the .round. Fie describes the e,,s as cream-colored, marked al^
he larger end with reddi.sh-brown. These descriptions have not been e! -
firmed, and all our n.formation has led us to look for its nest on tl round
Mr. Tnppe states that it is found, but is not at all ..ommon, near Oranne'
A. 1 where it arrives about the mi.l.lle of May. It ha.s, at that time'^i
rapid, cliatterni, note, and it always, he siws, keeps near the .round, ami
besides ,t. clurtterin, son,, has in dune a series of odd notes: much lik
Lose of the M,ite-breaste.l Nuthatch, i.ut more varied and musical e
liardly entitled to be called a s..ii,. ' •
Mr. T. H Jack,son of Westchest.M-, I'enn., in the American Naturalist for
)eeember, lS,;i^ mentions finding the nest ami e,,s of this bird. w"l ^
ns aceonnt m his o... words: •■ , .„ the (Ith of dune, IH.i!,, I ,W„nd a Lst
ol thi.s species containing five e,u,s. It was placed in a hoMow on the .round
"uch like he nest,s of the Oven-Mird (Sn.r ,.y/...). ,„, ,,,;! ,, '
Irom s,.ht by the dry leaves that lay thickly around The nest was cm
posed externally ,. d.d leaves, mostly those of the beech, while . !
r was prettily Imed with the fine, thread-lii<e stalks of the hair-moss
/%(......). Altogether it was a very neat structure, an.l looke ^
tl.o-.g. the owner was habitually a gnaind ne.ster. The e-.. most n u v
ma kings are fewer and less distinct. So close .lid (he femah, sit Uiat I
captured her without difficulty by ph.cing my hat over the nest."
s^VLncoLiDJ-; — the warhlku.s.
189
The same observin- ornithologist informs mc tliat this WarLh-r arrives in
rennsylvania early in May, and makes the most solitary part of tlie wo.kIs
Its home, outsale of which it is rar.-ly seen. True to its name, it is ever
busy hunting out and devouring the worms that lurk among the forest foli-
nge, pursuing its avocation in .sil,,,ice, with tiie excei.tion of a faint n.,te
uttered ocensionally. This species is not as shy as many of our Warhh'rs that
ircpient the woo.ls. Towar.ls the latter part of .Afay they eminence con-
structing their nests. Uv. Jackson adds that the nest above referred to was
lound on a thickly woode.l hillside, a few yards above a running stream. So
neatly was it embedded in the ground ami covered with dry leaves that
discovery wouhl have been impossible ha.l not the female" betrayed its
position. ]5utli bii.ls exhibited the greatest alarm at his presence, but on
Ins retiring to a sla.rt distance the female returned to the nest, where she
^^•ils easily capture.I. The ba.se ami i)eriphery of the nest were compo.sed
dry beech-leaves, while the inner lining was made of tine hair-mosses
{J oljitrirlnniii).
In the hitter part of June, 1871, Mr. Jackson f.aiml another iie.st of this
species, containing five young birds about half grown. He was seated on
a log resting after a hard tramp, when a A^^,rnl-eating Warbler alighted near
him, luuing a large green worm in its beak. Ai'ter at first manifesting much
uiieasine.ss, ami scohling as well as she couhl, she suddeiilv became silent and
llew to the ground. On his going to the spot both parents ilew from the
ne.st. It was in all re.S].ects, in regard to materials, manner of constiniction
and situation, the exact counterpart of the other. Jioth were place.l on steepi
M-ooded hillsides, facing the east.
Two of the eggs of this Warbler thus identified by Mr. Jack.son, and kindly
loaned to me by him, are of a soiii.nvhat rounded-oval shape, less obtu.se at
one en.l. They have a clear, crystal-white grouml, and are spotted with
nunute dottii.gs of a bright red-brown. These are much more numerous in
one than in the other, ii'id i,. both are conliuent at the L.rger end where
they are beautifully inte •mingled with cloudings ..f lih.c-brown. These e-s
measure, the one .78 by .OH of an inch ; the ..tlier, .70 by .'.(i of an inch ""
Aii..tiier nest of this s].ecies, f.mnd by Mr. Joseph n'. liiitty of \e\v Y..rk
on the side of a hill near Montdair, X. J., was also built on the oruun.l in'
a part ot the .-oods where there was no underbrush, and was phu.'.l in a
slight hollow, with .Iry oak-leav,.s collected arouml it, and partly ..overing it.
Ihe nest was made of dry leaves, and lined with gras.ses and th.e roots It
eontamed h.ur eggs, alike in their marking, an.l corresponding exactly with
those obtained by Mr. Jackson. Mr. JSatty nearly stepped on' the bird with-
out her leaving the nest.
I)r. Coues found the Wovm-enting Warbler a rather iinc<.mmon summer
resulent near Washington, brw.hng there but sparim-ly. It arrives there
tlunngthe fir,stweek in May, and remains until the third week in .September.
lie describes it us slow and sedate in its movenu'iit.s.
190 NORTH AMERirAX BIRDS.
Helmitherus swainsoni, Aud.
SWAINSON'S SWAMP WABBLER.
Sylvia swain.o>,i, Ar... Orn. Hiofe^ II, 1834, 5(!3, ,,I. ...xoviii. Sylvicola sw. Hun Fen,,!-
vara s>r. lios. /A//.,,/,, .„• Au... Hir.ls A,„. II. 1841, pi. civ (t.ype of genus,. //./-
vul/icru, sw. I!„N. ; Cvn. ; B.uuu. limhN. An.. 1858, 252; Kev. 180.
Sp. Ci.AH Rill ,,s lo„. as the la.ul. Uppor parts ,1„11 olivo-gro..,,. tingo.l with reddish-
W„ o„ the .v,,,^, and .till .no.c on tho .....nvn and nape ; a ^npcx-ilia^y ..tnpe ".1 Z
under part, ol the body are white, tinged witli yellow, but palest on the tail-eovert. • the
H.vD. Coast of South Carolina and Georgia ; Cuba (very rare).
A youim^ bird (No. 32,241 Liberty Co., (ion,,na) is very si..,ilar to the adult
described bt.t diHers in ti.e followino- respects: the lower parts have a de-
cided soiled, sulphur-yellow tiuye, while the brown of the upper parts is
nuich more reddish, there being- no dillerence in tint between the crown
and back ; also the superciliaiy stripe is more sharplv defined.
IlAiiiTS. Tliis species is comparatively rare, a.i.l, so tar as is known, has a
very restricted distribution. It was first discovered by Rev. J)r Eachman
n, the vicinity of Charleston, S. V., near the kmks of the Edisto Ifivor'
This was m the spring of lH:\->. He was first attracted by the novelty of its
notes, which were four or five in number and repeated at intervals of a few
numites. These notes were loud and dear, and more like a whistle than a
song. Ihey resembled the sounds of some e.xtraordinarv ventrihxpiist - so
much so that he at first su])].osed the bird to be imich farther oil' tlian it
really was. He was so fortunate as to secure it. The shape of the bill he
at once noticed as being dilferent from that of any other American bird then
known to him. In the course of that season he obtained two other sjiecimens
Toward the close of the same setison he saw an old female, accompanied by
Its four young. One of the latter, which he procured, did not diller n.ateri-
iilly from the old birds.
Ho met with them only in swampy and muddy places, and when o,.ened.
he always found their stomachs filled with fnigm.mts of coleopterous insects
as well as small green wo.'ms, such as are common on water-plants The'
habits of this species most resemble those of the Prothonotary Warbler '
as the latter skij.s a-i ong the low bushes growing about ponds or in marshy
places. It IS seldom seen on high trees. Nothing is known as to their
nesting or eggs.
SYLVrcOLID.E — THE U'ARBLIOHS,
191
Genus HELMINTHOPHAGA, Cai.ax.
Udminlhoplmun, CAnAMs, J[i,,s. llcin. ISr.O, 1851, 20. (Tyi.P, Sulria ruficapiUa, Wii.s.)
Gen. Char. Bill elongated, cniciil, very acute; the outline.^ very nearly .slrai-lit,
sometimes slifrlitly deeurved ; no iraie of notcli at
the til), nor of hristle.s on the rietus. Win^^s long and
pointed; tiie (list (jnill nearly or <|iiite the kin!,'e.-*t.
Tail nearly even or slightly eniai'ginale ; short and
rather slender. Tarsi longer than the middle toe and
elaw.
Tlie species of this section are well cliar-
actcfizcd by tlu3 attomiation and aciiteness /'
of the bill, and the absence of any notch.
There are, however, eonsiderai)le sidK)rdiiiate '^''""■"'""M''v« -/f™,,,//,,.
differences in the diilereut species. In some the bill is larger and more
acute than others ; in one species, the H. pnr(/n'ii((, the wings tire uuusiially
lengthened, the tail being only about seven twelfths as hjng.
Species and Varieties.
Common CnARACTKTis. Iris brown. Length about u.OO. Xest on the ground,
in grass or dead leaves. Eggs elear white, thiekest at end, with minute dots of
brown oF various shades and faint ]>nri)le.
Aa Tail with a eonspieuons patch of white.
a. A black patch covering throat and breast.
1. chrysoptera. Above ash, beneath white. Forehead and a patch
on the wing yellow. Jfith. Eastern Province of United States, south to
Bogota ; Cuba.
2. baohmani. Above olive-green; beneath, with forehead, yellow;
crown ash, bounded anteriorly with a black bar. No yellow oil wincv.
Hab. South Carolina and Georgia. Cuba in winter.
6. No black on throat or lireast.
3. pinus. Above olive-green; beneath, with forehead, yellow ; wings
nsh, with two white bands; lores black. Ilah. Eastern Province of
United States, south into Guatemala.
B. Tail without a conspicuous while patch.
c. Crown with a concealed pat(;h of rufous (obsolete in 9).
4. ruacapilla Above olive-green; head ashy; beneath continuous
yellow ; a light orbital ring. Hah. North America (very rare in Mid.Uo
and Western Provinces) ; Greenland. Soutli to Southern Mexico (Oax-
aca, Cordova, Oi'izaba).
Yellow of thi-oat spreading over cheeks, ami staining lores and
eyelids. Atlantic States. (Carlisle, I'cnn., speiMincns.) var. r iifi r,t p ilh, .
Yellow of throat eontined within themaxillie; lores and eyeliils
clear white. M ississippi Valley. (Chicago .specimens.) var. ocnl <i r i s .
Yellow of throat restricted to a nu'dial stripe, leaving its sides
nshy. Middle Province. (Sp(>ciincn liom Fort Tejon, Cat, and
East Humboldt Mountjiins, Nevada.) . . . var, (/ ii tt k ru I in
192
NORTH AMEIUCAN IflRD.S.
."). virginiae. Alici\c msIi Io ilu' riiniii. Iiciiciilli wliitc. A |i:iicli on llic
jugiihiiii, Willi ihc ii|i|ici- tii](| lower liiil-o.vci i.-, yrllow. Jlttb. llocky
MoiiuliiiiLs of I'liiicd Status, WL'st t(i Eiisl IIiiiiilMililt .Mmiiitiiiiis.
(>. luci%. Aliovo ash, Ijfiicatli (■(iiitiiiiioii.s white, ['ppei- tiiil-coveits
ohestiiiil. //((/). Coloi'ado leyiiiii of Midille rioviiicc.
7. celata. Ahove ediitiiiiioiis olivu-giwu, lielow Loiiiiimoiiji palo yel-
low. (Oiaiige on ei-()wii in ^ only?)
Aliove ashy-olive, lieiieath yollowi.-ih olivaeeons-white ; iinu'r
webs of lail-leiilheis liroailly eilgcd with white. (Middle ivjrioiis
of Noitli Aineiica ; JFexieo.) • . var. celata.
Abovo gi-cenish-olive, lienoath l)i-i','ht gieenish-yellow ; wliitu
edjjes to iiniei- webs of tail-l'eatheis obsolete. (I'aeilie IVovinee
of North Amei-iea. ) var. I ii t esrr n s.
Similar to vaf. irfufn. lint plumajje darker and more din^v. Xo
wliite edfrinj,'s to tail-leathers, and apiiarenlly no ni/miH on the
crown in either .sex. (lieorgia, Florida, etc.) . . ww: nbsr n r <i .
d. No rufons on <'rown.
S. peregriiid. AboV(> olive-green ; head and wv\<. pme ash: beiieatli
eoiitimion.s white. Jl'di. Eastern Province of North Ameriea north to
Fort Simpson, II. 1$. T .-iouth to Paiiama. Cuba (rare).
Helminthopliaga chrysoptera, ( .\n.\x.
GOLDEN-WINOED WABBLEB.
MiitiU'iUii clint.ifij>/,r,>, I.inn. .s. Sm. 1, 17titi, :!:i;i. Siih-in ,l,i: L.\tii. - Wii.s. Am. Orn.
II, pi. XV. tig. .'). -Hon. Sijlrknlti t-lir. Bon. H.liniiiii vlu: Aid. liinls Am. II, pi.
evii. Ifdiiiilliynts e/ir. liox. — Sei..\ ri;i:, 1'. /,. 8. \Km, 113 iHegota). lltlniinthophiKja
chrysopUru, V.\\\. Mils, llciii ; .bunii. I. Orn. lisiid, ;!2,s (Costa Kiia). — Haiim), Birds
N. Am. ISnS, 2,'),') ; l!cv. 17;'). — Sci..vri:K .t .S.m.vix, lliis, II, IMid, ai)7 (Clioetum,
(iiiatcmala). — S.VI.VIN, lSt)7, 135. — DuK.ssr.li, Ibi.s, ISli.'i, 477 (San Antonio). — J.aw-
KKSCK, Ann. X. Y. l.ye. VII, KStil, :i!>3 (Panama). — (irxDi.. Cab. .bmrii. Ifli], 3-2i>
(Cuba, ran'). MoluciUii Jhififrniin, {\\\v.\As. Siilvin jUn-i/rouK, l,.\ril.
Sp. CllAK. Upper parts niiirorni bliiish-gray ; the head above and a large i)ati;li on the
wings yellow. A broad streak from the bill
throiigli and behind the eye, with the ehin,
throat, and forepart of the breast, blaek. The
I'Xteiiial edge of the yellow crown coiilinnoiis
with .a broad p.atcli on the side of the occiput
abovt; the auricular.s, ii broad maxillary stripe
widening on the side of the neck, the under parts
generally, with most of the inner webs of the
outer three lail-leather.s, wliite; tin; sides of the
boily pale ash-color. I'emdlc similar, but duller.
Length alioiit "> inches; wing, "J.ti.") ; tail, '2.'_'.").
IIah. Kastern Provineo of riiit(Ml States, San
Antonio (DiiKSifKi!): Cnlia (rare) ; (xuateinala; Co.sta Rica ; I'anama; Bogota. Recorded
ill West Indies from Cuba only; not from .Mexico. Verngiia; Chiri(iui (Sai.vin).
IlAiiiTs. Sii I'ar lis mil- ])resent kti()\vlc(l<,'i; of this Warliler o.xtend.s, it is
nowhero a conuuon spocics, ami i.s distriltnted over a coiu])aiativoly small
IfFlminthophns^fi relnfn.
SYTAICOLIDJ': — THE \VAUIiLEl{S. 1(J3
extent of territoiy. Wilson met witli it in I'cnnsylvtiniii durinj]; tlic last of
A]ii'il and the first of .May, lielievini,' it to he only a niiLtrant s|)e(!ies on its
way to more northern regions. Xuttall was sceptieal of tiiese conelusions,
as he never met with the speeies in the Xew Kngland States. Andul)oii
observed these birds in their migrations through Louisiana, whieh State they
entered from Texas in the montii of A\m\. He procured several s]t(!vinu'ns
in Louisiana and Kentucky, and one in New Jersey, lie knew nothing as
to its breeding, and seems to have accepted Wilson's inferences in regard to
its northern migrations. He never met with this bird in the fall, when, if a
Xorthern sjiecies, it shoukl be returning south, and thence inierred that it
migrated by night.
Professor r>aird has obtained this binl near Carlisle, Penn., in duly,
rendering probal)le its breeding in that vicinity. W. S. Wood met with
it near St. Louis, May lo, 1S.")7, and two days previously in the same
year jMr. Kennicott procured an individual in Souti'iern Illinois. Occa-
sionally specimens have been obtained in Alassaehu.setts, and of late these
occurrences have Ijecome more freiiuent or more ob.served. It was first
noticed near Poston by ,]. Eliot Cabot, Ks(|., who shot one in May, \H:',H,
near Fresh Poud. This was, he thinks,' on the 2(tth of that month. Since
then Mr. J. A. Allen has known of several si)ecimens taken within the
State. Mr. Jillson has ob.served it spending the sunnner in Polton, and
evidently breeding, as has also 'Sir. Allen at Springiield, and Mr. IJennett at
llolyoke. In the summer of ISTt), Mr. ^laynard obtainetl its nest and eggs
in Newton.
The late Dr. (ierhardt found it breeding among the high grounds of North-
ern Georgia. It has also Ijeen taken at Pacine, Wi.s., by J)r. Hoy, and in
Ohio. These data seem to show that it is sjjaringly found from Oeorgia to
Massachusetts, and from New Jer.sey to Missouri and Wisconsin. Its west-
ern limits may be more extended. It was not met with l)y any of the ex-
jiloring ]»arties iHjyond St. Louis, but its retiring habits and its spar.se distri-
bution may account for this.
])r. Sajuuel Cabot was the fii-st naturalist to meet with the nest and ovaa
of this bird. This was in May, 18.".7, in (ireenbrier County, ^'a. The nest
was con.stvucted in the midst of a low bush on high ground, and contained
four eggs.
The late Dr. Alexander (lerhardt ibund the nest and eggs of this Warbler
in the sja'ing of IS;")!), in Whittield County, (!a. It contained four eggs, and
was built on the ground. It was very large for the bird, being live inches in
height and four in diameter. The cavity was also quite large and deep for
so small a binl, e.\ceeding three inches both in depth and in diameter. The
outer and under jim-tions of this nest were almost entirely com])osed of the
dry leaves of sevt^ral kinds of deciduous trees. These were interwoven with
and strongly bound together by black vegetable roots, dry sedges, and line
stri])s of pliant bark, and the whole lined with a close network of fine
25
194 NORTH AXIEHICAX liUWH.
leaves, dry grasses, and fibrous roots. Dr. (Jcrhardt informed me tliat tliesc
birds usually budd on or near tlie ground, under tussoclvs of grass in cIuu.ds
of buslics, or pinc-brusli, and tliat they lay from four to five eggs, from the
btii to the ITitli of May.
The eggs of this species are of a beautiful, clear crystal-white, witli a few
bright reiUbsh-bnnvn spots around the larger end. Kggs from Ifacine Wis
and from Northern (Jeorgia, differ greatly in their relative si/e Tile foi-
nier measure .70 of an inch in lengtJi and .53 in breadth ; the latter Gli
by .4!). '
A single specimen of tliis species was obtained by Mr. Salvin, at Choctum
in Guatemala. '
Helminthophaga bachmani, Cahan.
BACHHAirS WABBLEB.
Sulvia horhmnni. An,. Orn. liiof;. 11, 18^4, 4,S3. pi. olxxxiii. Sulvu'ola b. R.cn. Vcrmi.
vorah. liox. Jleluwin I. An.. Syu. liinl« Am. II, 1841, 93, ,,1. cviii. _ Lkmbfvr
Av. Cuba, 1850, 3(i. ,,1. vi. n.. ]. IHnnlhm,. I, H„n. IhUnMh.phaga h. Cvb"
.lour. Ill, ]85.i, 475 (Culm, iu wiutn). - BAriJi., Minis X. An.. 18.58, 2r,.'; • Itev 175
-GuNi.LAcu, (.'ab. Jour. ISfil, ;i2(i (('ul,a, rare) ; l{i.p,.,-t. ,;r,, 232. ' "
Sp. Char. Above olive-green, as also are tiie si.le.. of the head and neck Hind
head hnged with a.sh. A broad patch on the foreliead, bordered behind by black- ehin
stnpe fronj tin,, along the si.lo of the tln-oat, and the entire under part.., deep j-'ellow'
Tl. ,at and forepart of brea,.t black. A patch on the inner weh of the outer two tail-
feat..crs near the en.l white. Length, 4.50; wing, IX.- tail, 2.05. Finale with merely
a patch of dusky on the jugulum, and with the black bar on vertex obsolete.
Hah. Coast of South Carolina and Georgia ; Cuba in winter.
Habits. Bacliman's War) .ler is a comparatively new and but little kno^v,l
species of this interesting group. It was first discovered, July, 1833, by Key
Dr. John Bacliman, ti few miles from ("harleston, S. C, and in the same vi-
cinity he afterwards discovered a few others of l)oth .sexes. He described it
as a lively, active bird, gliding among the l)ranches of the thick 1)ushes, occa-
sionally mounting on tlie wing and seizing insects in the air, in the manner
of a Flycfitclier. The individual first obtained was an old female wliich
had, to all appearances, just reared a brooil of young. With tliis partial ex-
ception, nothing is known in relation to its liabits. As all tlie species of this
genas, without rny at present known exception, con,struct their nests u])on
the ground, it is a natural inference that it probably nests in a similar situa-
tion.
Tlie Smithsonian Institution possesses but a single specimen of this lurd
obtained near Charleston, S. C. It was not observed by any naturalist of'
tlie several governmental ex].loring expeditions, and, so far as we are at
present informed, its only known ])laces of abode are Soutli Carolina and
Cuba, where it is extremely rare. Its nest and eggs still remain unknown.
8VLVI('0LII),K — TIIK WAHULKIfS. ]p5
Helminthophaga pinus, UAiiii).
BLUE -WINGED YELLOW WABBLEK.
C'erHiiii iiiiiim, Linn. Sy.st. Nat. I, 17()0, 187. S/ihiu /liiiiis, Laiii., Vikim,. (not of M'ii,-
SON). /fc/iiiiiil/iiiiiliiKjd /liiiiiH, li.viitn, IJirils N. Am. 1858, 25-t ; Hcv. 174. — Sci,ai'i;i!
it Sai,\ IS, lliis, 1, IS;')!!, 11 ((iuatnimla). - Sil.ATKlt, C'litiil. 1801, •>», no. 170. Sit/n'ii.
sulitiiriii, Wii.sciN, Ami. Oiii. II, pi. .\v. ^ Arn. Oiii. Hiog. I, |)1. x.v. Suhuailn ml.
lluil. rermiciini mil. Sw. lliliiKiia sol. \v\k Miids Am. II, pi. i-.\i. llihuithc
ml. Bun. — Sii.ATKii, P. Z. S. Isr.ti, :2!il (Coidovii). Jhliiiin/liu/iliaijit .sul. C'aii.
Itci «.<
Sp. Ciiau. Uppur parts iiiul clifcks olivc-<r|-ccii, brigliU-st, on tlio riiinp; the wiiijj.^, tail,
and upper tail-coverts, in part, bliiisli-c.nay. An intensely blaek [lateii Iroin the blue-black
bill to the eye, continued a short distance liehiiid it. Crown, e.\ec|)t behind, and the under
parts generally, rich oraiifre-yellow. The inner win^ and under lail-c(]verts white. Eye-
lids, and a short line above and behind the eye, liri^diter yellow. Wiiii; with two white
bands. Two outer tail-leathers with most of the inner weli, thinl one with a spot at the
end, white. Femitle and i/oiui;/ similar, duller, with inori' olivaceous on the crown. Length,
4.r)0; wiiifr, 2.40; tail, 2.10.
Hah. Eastern ITnited States and Mexico to (Juatemala (Cordova; Cohan). Not
noted i'roin West Indies.
Habits. Tlie Bliio-wiiif^'nd Yellow Wiirlilor is not known so far to the
north as New Eiioland, and i.s rare even in Eastern and Sontliern New York.
Tt seems to be distriluited throuoh the United States from I'ennsylvania to
Floridii, iind from the Mississijipi Valley eastwavd. It has also lieen taken
in Central America. Mr. Trippe states that it breeds in the vicinity of
Orange, N. Y. Mr. Andubon fonnd it tibnndant in the barrens of Ken-
tucky, iiiid as i'iir north on the Mi.ssissippi as St. (lenevicve.
In reo;ard to the song of this bird, Mr. Trippe states that its notes are very
forcible and chanicteristic. Once hciU'd, they will always be remembered.
He describes them as a rapid chirrup resendiling chTiuehich, k'-a-rc-r'r'r'r'r,
uttered very tpiickly. According to Mr. Itidgwiiy, they are wonderfully
similar to the rude lisping chirrup of the CotiirmcHla!^ jMxst'vinux.
Wilson says that these ^Varblers come from the South early in May, fre-
([uenting tiiickets and shrublieries in search of insects, wiiich they seek in
the branches. They are also fond of visiting gardens and orchards, gleaning
for insects among the low bushes. They generally build their nests on the
edge of se([uestered woods. These ^Ir. Wilson states to have been, in every
instance observed by him, fixed on the ground, in a thick tussock of long
grass, and built in the form of an inverted cone, the sides being formed
of the dry bark of strong fibrous weeds lined with fine dry grasses. These
nuiteriids, he remarks, are not arranged in the usutil circular iniumer, but
shelve downwiird from the top, the mouth being wide and the bottom narrow.
He describes the eggs as five in number, pure white, with a few liiint dots
of reddish near the larger end. The young apjtear the first week in June.
The nests were always in an ojien but retired ])art of the woods, and were
all as thus described.
196 NORTir AMKRICAN JHUDS.
Accordiiijf to Mr. Amlulxni its son;,' consists of a lew weak notes that are
by no moans inturestinjf. His deHcrii)ti(tn of its nost a^^rees with that of
Wilson. Ho statos that it usually has two lu'ootls in tho .season, one in May,
tho other in .Inly. The yoiuij,' disiJorso as soon as they are able to provide for
themselves.
He describes them s-.s of solitary habits, and adds that they leave Louisi-
ana for the Soutii early in Oettilier. Its tli<,dit is short, undetermined, and
])erformod in zigzag liue.s. It will aseend twenty or thirty yards in the
air as if about to go to a greater di.stance, when, suddenly turning round, it
will descend to the i)la(e from which it set out. It rarely ]>ursues insects
on the wing, feeding chietly on the smaller kind of .s])idors, and seizing other
insects as they come within its roach.
The above accounts of its breeding, and especially of its nest, do not cor-
ros]iond with the observations of ^Ii'. Ifidgway, neai' Mt. Carmel, III, where
the bird is abundant. A nost collected l)y him is a very loose open struc-
ture, composed chielly of broiid, thin, and ilexilile strips of the inner bark
of deciduous trees, chiefly the l)ass-W(jod. It contained five eggs, and was
obtained iMay H. It was first di.scovored by noticing tho bird with mate-
rials in her l)ill. The situation of tiiis nost " was in no wise," siiys Mr. Iii<'.g-
way, "as described by \Vils(jn, not luiving any covered entrance." The nost
was veiy bulky, and so loo.soly made tiiat only the inner portion coidd be
secured. " I have Ibund other nests," adds Mr. Itiilgway, " all correspond-
ing with this one. There can be no doubt as to its identity, as the birds
were scon building the nost, and were closely watched in their movements.
Both male and female were seen several times." (No. 1(),14U, Smith. Coll.)
The eggs of this si)ecios measure .70 of an inch in length by .o?> in breadth.
Their ground-color is white, s))rinkled with a few roddish-brown spots.
Helminthophaga ruflcapilla, Baird.
KASHVILLE WABBLEB.
Syh-ia ruficiipilla, Wn.s. Am. Oiii. Ill, 1811, 120, pi. xxvii, lig. 3. — Akd. Oni. Biog. I,
18.32, 4.")0, jil. l.x.\xi.\. Ihliniiifliophiioa rvficdpilln, HAiiin, Birds N. Am. 1858, 256;
li.v. IT;').— Sci.ATKli, r. Z. S. IS.-.il, 37:i (XalapiO. — D1!1>ski:, lliis, ()5, 477 (Texas).—
('<"M'i;i!, Oni. Cal. I, lS7(i, 82. ,Siili-ia nil'rir,i/ii//,i, Wii,s. Am. Om. VI, 1812, !'>,
(ii'iii'ial liidi'x. — XriT., 15ox. Sijh-iaila. nth. Uhmi. ]%rm intra rub. Hon. — Hki.n-
llAltUT, Vi.l. Mi-<I. for 1853, 185-J, 82 ((iicciiland). — liiii-.WKU, Pr. Bo.st. Soc. N. H.
VI, 1856, 4 (iifst and eggs). Ifdiitnia riili. Arn. Birds Am. II, jd. cxiii. Ilihinthrits
rub. Bon. — Sci.. V. A. S. ]S.".(i, 201 (Cordova) ; l8.''>i», 3f;;i (.Valapa). Jfil,iiiii//i,i/ili(i(ja
rub. t'Ali. — Sn.ATKi;, I'. '/.. S. IS'iS, 298 (Oaxaca ; Fid), ami Aug.). Miiinlllttirnh.
Ki;iMiAl!in-, lliis, 186], 6 (r.rconland). Siih-iu huiu„i(,stni, Shaw, Gi'ii. Zoul. X, il,
1817, 622. " SiiliHii mishvUlei," ViEiLLor. — Uhav. Sylvia mexicaiut, Holboll.
Sr. CiiAH. Hoal and neck abovu and on sides asti-frray, tlic crown with a patch of
conceali'd daik lirownish-oranfre liiildcn liy asliy tips to tilt' f'catliur.s. Upjior ])art.s olivo-
gruLMi, brightest on tlie rump. Under parts generally, with the edge of the wing, deep
SVLVICOLID.K — TIIIO WAUItLKUS. j(,Y
yellow; tho nnal n'jrion i.alor; tiif sides tiiifrcd with olivo. A broml yellowish-whiU.
ring i-oiiii(l the (•>■.,■ ; tlic loivs ycil,,wisli ; no .siiiuTciliiiry .stiij).'. The inner .mI-cs oI' iIr.
tail-foatiiiTs mai-nincd willi dull wiiilc. FnunU: similar, l.nt dnlicr; llie under parts paler,
luid with niiMv wliih- I, lit little traee of the red ol'tlie crown. Length, -{.(m ; wini;-, 'J.-l-J-
tail, 'IM'i. ' ' ' "'
^ II.vii. Eastern Province of North Aniericii; rare in the Middle Province (Fort Tejon,
('al., and Hast ILunholdt Mountains, Xev.) ; Ureeuland (RKiNiiAiiin) ; Oaxaca (F.^hiinuy
and August, .Sci.atku) ; Xalapa and Cordova (Scl.vtku; ; Urizaba (winter, Su.miciikastJ.
Not re(.'orde(l IVoni West Indies.
It is an intoroHtino fact, tlitit, in this specios, we fiml in tlio yullow ii tun-
(leiicy to liocmiio moio iind moru rustiictcd its wo puss wostwiird. In adult
sprinjr males tVoin the Atlantic Status this color invades the cheeks, ami
oven stains the lores and eyelids. In two adtilt sprinj,' males from Chiciino
it is coiiHned within the maxilhe, the cheeks l)eini>- clear iish, and the h.nil
streak and orbital rin<i- imre white ; while in tm adtilt male (iitittimnal, how-
ever) from the East Httmlxddt Mountains (Nevada, Xo. o;!,:l,")4, U. S.'ceol.
Plxpl, 40th par.) the yellow is restricted to a medial strij), even the sides
of the throat hein-v ashy ; the ash invades the back too, tilmost to the rtiiiip,
while in P^astern specimens it extends no iarther hack than the nap' A
male (No. 10,(ioG, J. Xantns) from Fort Tejon, Cal., is niiicli like the Xe-
vada specimen, thouyh the peculiar features of the remote Western form are
less exiiooerated ; it is ahotit intermediate hetweeii the other si)ecimen and
the specimens from ('hica-i'o. As there is not, unfortunately, a sulliciuntly
large series of these birds Ijefore us, we cannot say to what extent these
variations with lonoitude tire constant.
Hahits. The Niishville Wtirbler iippi-ars to be a specios of somewhat
irregular occurrence ; at one time it will bo rather abundant, thotigh never
very numerous, and at another time comparatively rare. For a long while otir
older naturalists regtirtled it as ii very rare species, and knew nothing as to
its habits or distribution. Wilson, who first met witii it in 1811, nevei^found
more tiiaii three specimens, which he procured near Xashville, Tenn. Audu-
bon only met with three or four, and these he obtained in Louisiiina ;ind
Kentucky. These and a few others in Titian I'etile's collection, supposed to
have been obtained in rennsylvaniti, were all he ever saw. Mr. Xuttall at
first reganled it as very rare, itiid its a Southern species. In that writer's later
edition he speaks of it as a bird having- a Xorthern distribution as far as
Labradt)r. Dr. Kichardson records the occurrence ol'a single straggler in the
fur country. So liir as known, it occurs tis ti niignint in all the States
east of the Mis.souri, and is a summer resident north of tlie 4(lth parallel.
It probably breeds in the high ground tjf Pennsylvania, though this ftict is
inferred rather than known. It breeds in Connecticut iind Mti-ssachusetts,
and in Maine in the vicinity of Calais, being more abundant there than any-
where else, as far i.s has been a.scertained.
^ Two individiuils of this si)ecies have been taken in (Jreenland: one at
Gotltluiab, iu 1835 ; iind the other at Fiskentesset, August 31, 1840.
]J)S NORTH AMERKWX KIRDS.
In jMassai'lmsctts it has so far ln'i'ii found in only a fi>\v ri'stiutwl locali-
ties, Andovi'V, Lynn, and Hudson, tliouuli it unv'.oulttt'dly occurs clsewlicro.
About till' time Wilson olitained his first s|u'ciini'u, a livinj; l)ird of tliis
.s])ccii's Hew into the ])arlor of tlii' late Colonel Tiiomas II. IVukins of IJrook-
line, and is n(t\v in tiie lollection of his <;randson, Dr. Caliot. Tlie latter
{jentlenian states (liat when he first lieiian niakinj;; collections this AV^ar-
l)ler was a very rare visitaut to his nei,nid)orhood, but has of late become
nuu'h more common, tiiou!,di varyinji' greatly in this respect in din'ercnt
seasons. Specimens have been obtained in Western Iowa by Mr. II. W.
Parkt'r, of (Irinnell.
A few instances of its occin'rence west of tiie ]\Iissi.ssi])]ii Valley are known.
One of tiieso was by Xantus near Kort Tejoii ; anotiier near Like Talioe, in tiie
Sit-rra Nevada, liy Mr. (Jruber; and in the Kast Humboldt Ah>untains, Nevada,
by Mr. IJidnway. SiM-ciiniens of this Warbh-r were obtained in tlu^ winter by
JM. Uoucard at Oaxaca, Mexico.
in the sunnuer of IH*)-!-, Mr. Charles S. Paine fimnd it Itreeding in IJaii-
dolph, \t., but was unable to discover tiu! nest. " They spend the sum-
mer," he wrote, " amonu hiw liuslies, and ]»roiial)ly build their nests anioiijf
tiie thickets. I have watciied their movements on several occasions. Once
1 detected an old bird witii food in iier iiill about to feed her younj,'. I ciuild
hear tiie younjj binls, yet was unalile to find the nest." Two years later,
Mr. (}eor{,'e O. Welch, of Lynn, found the nest of this Warliler on the
ground in a small tliicket. It contained younn' jiartially Hedged, and t)ne
egg uiihatched. Tiie nest was built in a slight depression, in a ilry jtlace,
among fallen leaves and in the siicltcr of a thicket of young ouk-trees.
Tliis egg in sliai>e was of a rounded oval, and measured ."I'.t by .oO of an inch ;
one end was sliglitly more pointed than the other. The ground-color was
while, slightly tinged with pink, and marked over the entire surface with
purplisli-lirown dots. Around tiie Lirger end these spots form a beautiful
wreath of eonlhient markings. Since then otiier nests have been found in
the same locality, all on tiie ground and built in like situations. Tliey have
a diameter of four and a hcigiil of two inches The cavity has adiameter
of two and u (le|tth of one ami a tiuarler inches. Tlie outer portions are
built of dry mosses, intermingled with strijis of tlie Itark " the wild grajie
and the red cedar and a few hcrbaceinis twigs, and lined with a thick layer
of dried carices, small haves of the v. Iiite pine, and line grasses. The whole
structure is loosely ]»ut together. 'I'lii' nests are generally concealed by over-
arching leaves, which, howi'ver, form no ]iart of the ni'sl it.sclf.
The late Klijali I'. Harrow, of Anilovcr, Mass., a young natnrali.st of much
jtromise, found several nests of this rare Warbler, all of which were con-
cealed liy grass. The eggs he found varied in ItMigth from StU tii .(il of an
in(!li, and in breadth from ,."i(l to .."il of an inch. I»otli jiarents, as observed
by Iiim, were entirely silent.
The Nashville Warbler has been .said to be a comparatively silent and
SYIA'ICOMD.K — TUK WAUni-KUS. Ujjj
sniijilcss l)ir(l, I'iiiely j;iviii<^ Ibrtli any sounds, !in<l tliosn art^ i't,nntiiii'il liy Dr.
li'irlianlsoii (o l\\v. creaking nnist' ur.uU' liy llie whi'lting of ;i saw. Wilson
conipiiri's tlu'si! soniiils to tlii> crackin"' of dry twigs or the striking togctlicr
of small pi'hlilo.s. Mr. .1. A. Allen sjieaks of its song us being similar to that
of the ("liestnut-sided Warbler, which hitter hird, as is well known, has notes
so clo.scly re.sendiling those of the Summer VeUow-liird that it is dillicult to
distinguish one from the other hy their notes. Mr. T. M. TripiH! states, also,
that this Warliler has a very line song, rosemWing that of the Siunuiur Ycl-
low-I5ird more nearly than any other.
These Warhlers arrive in iMa.ssachusetts alioiit the fir.st of iMay, and remain
about three weeks, wluui tlu' larger ])ortion move farther north.
More recently Mr. I'aiiie writes me that the Nashville Warbler has of
lute years become u common bird in certain localities in Central Vcninont.
They come and keep com])any with the Canada Warliler, but are moie rest-
less than that s])e(Mes at the time of their first ajipcarance. They always
in the breed ing-sea.son take up their abode in thickets, where there are also
tall trees. My. Paint; adds that their song consists of repetitions of single
notes, the hist terminating .siunewhat abruptly. Their .song ceases by the
loth of June. After their young are ready to lly, they di.sjierse about the
woods and fields, and are then not readily discoviued.
Helminthophaga virginise, IVmkd.
BOCKT MOUNTAIN WARBLER; VIRGINIA'S WARBLER.
.' /( il/i(i/i/iiiiiii rinjiiiiir, ll.Mlili, llinis N. .\in. uiiiIit cxiiliiniitiiiii dI' platfs, IStiO, xi,
pi. l.wix, li),'. 1 ^Koit lUiinwyii, N. M.) ; Hrv. 177. - (-'imnai, Uni. i'A. I, ls7(i, s.'i.
Sr. ("u.Mt. Sniiu'wliiil like //. rnlirnjiillii. MkIc. Top mill sides of iiciiil, liacK
wiii^T'* lij;lil iisliN -pliiiiilii'oiis ; ipiilis ;iiiil liiil-lriillicis lirmvii, imIm-,.,} widi pure iisliy-plinn-
lii'diis, llic iailcr iiiilisliiiclly iniil iiiiiinwly iiiiiruiiit'ij wilii wliilisli iiilcniiilly ainl iil liic end.
WiMi'p, wilii upper iiiid lower liiil-eoverls, liri},dit yellow, in vivid eonlriist willi the rest of
the liorly. Crown with a eoneeiiled paleh of rieli eheslnnl. lies! ol' under parts lirownish-
while. u ith a paleh of rieli yellow on tiie in;;nhnn. Inside of wini^s mid axiilars ])nre white.
.\ white rill),' ro 1 the eye. Hill mid le<rs dnsky. The colors nnieli duller in aniiiiiiii.
Fritialv. s/iriiii/. Siiielar to the male, lint eheslnnl spot on erown olisolele, the yellow
jii^'iilar paleh less dislinet, the upper tail-i'overts more irreeiiish, and the lower le.ss rii'h
yellow.
Leli^rlli, "i.iH' ; exieni, 7.'J."i: wiiij.', "J..")!) whn fresh. Dried skin; lenjiUi, tiXt; wiii;:.
•2.")(1; tail, ■-'.•JO; tarsus, .(17.
II Ml. Southern I!o<'ky Monntains (.Middle I'rovinee of t'liited Stales) ; Kast llninlioldl,
Wahsali'h, anil lintah Monntains.
A young bird (\o. ."i.".,.">."i,'i, Kast Humboldt Mountains, Xevada, Augtist ."i)
is olive-gmy above, becoming green mi the rump and upper tail-coverts ; the
miildle and seinindiiry coverts narrowly tipped with pale giiiyish-buff, pro-
ducing two indistinct bands. The lower parts are jiale dirty-buff, cxcejit the
200 NORTH AirEIiI('AX-]!IRDS.
lower tail-covcrts, wliicli arc Ifiinni-yellow ; tliorc is scarcely a tiiif^e of yellow
on tiie ju^uluin, ami not a trauo of chestnut on tlic crown.
Habits. ISut little is <a,s yet known in regard to the habits ami di-slrihution
of this somewhat I'iire and recently di.scovered sjic-eies. It was first met witii
by Dr. AV. W. Ander.son, at Fort Ihn'Lfwyn in New Mexico, and described
by I'rofessor llaird in ISGd, in a note to the ex])lanation of Vol. II. of the
I5irds of Nortli America. It was named in iionor of ^Nlrs. Virjiiiiia Ander-
son, the wife of its discoverer. An innnature individual of this species was
obtained August l."i, 1804, by Dr. ("ones, at Fort Wliipple, near I*re.icott, in
the Territory of Arizona. As it bears a close resendilance to the Hehiiiii-
(li(ij)li(ii/<i riiJJcdpilla, it is n(!t improbable that its habits bear a ver\' close
resemblance to those of that species.
In the summer of ISliU, ^Ir. Iiobert Ilidgway was so fortunate as to meet
with the nest and eggs of this bird near Salt Lake, I'tah (Smith. Coll.
lo,2i)',>). This was June 9. The nest was end)edded in tlie depo.sits of
dead or decaying leaves, on ground covered by dense oak-brush. Its rim
was just even with the surface. It was built on the side of a narrow ravine
at the bottom of which was a small stri'am. The nest itself is two inches
in dejith liy three and a half in dianu'ter. It consists of a loo.se but intri-
cate interweaving of tine strijis of the inner bark of the mountain mahog-
any, fine .stems of grasses, roots, and mosses, and is lined with the same
with the addition of the fur and hair of the smaller animals.
The eggs were four in numlier, and measure .('4 by .47 of an inch. They
arc of a rounded-moid shape, have a white ground with a slightly roseate
tinge, and arc profusely si>otted with numerous small blotches and dots of
jiurplish-brown and lilac, forming a crown around the larger cud.
This bird was first oli.served liy Mr. Itidgway among the cedars and pines
of the East Humboldt Mountains, where in duly it was (piitc common. It
was very abundant in the Wah.satch Mountains near Salt Like City, through-
out the sunnner chiefly iidiabiting tlie thickets of scrub-oak (m the slopes of
the can()ns in which they nested, and where tin . were daily seen, but where,
owing to the thickness of the bushes, they were with diHiculty o'ltained. Ke
descrilies its .song as almost exactly like that of Dcinlruini (r.sfird. The
usual note is .» soft pit, (piite dilfcieut from the sharp c/iip of If. nliita.
Holminthophaga luoiae, Cooi>i:u.
LUCTS WABBLEB.
•Iclmiiilhiijihiiijn hiciii\ f'niii'Kl!, Pr. Cal. Ai'iiil. .Inly, IStil, l'.!0 (Fort Mohiivc). -- U.vilii),
Hcv. Am. II. 18(M, 17S. — Ki.i.Kii, Illust. Hiiils N. Am. I, v. — Cooi'kh. Orn. f'al. I,
1870, 84.
f>r. CiiAii. (Ic'iicriil loiiii mid size tliiil nl' II. rulh-niitlht. Almvc liirlil-i'iiit'iiMnis; licneath
wliiii', linviug u .<oili'(l, very jpale lintl', aliiiti.-sl white liugo on tlio ihront, hroiisf, unil llHnk.i.
' SYLVICOLID.E — THE WAUIJLEUS. 201
A patch on the vortox, as in If. rKjiai/iillii, ami the iipv'r tail-covorU, dark clicstnut-
bro\\ II. Lores to nostrils and rcfjion round llic eye, like tlio tiiroal, in ratliur dcitidud I'on-
trast to the ash of the crown. Quills and tail-t'oatlicrs brown, narrowly cd},'t'd externally
with g:ray. An obsolete^ terminal white paleh on the iinier weliol' the outer I'eatiiei-; this
wt'b in most of the other tail-leathers likewise narrowly edi,'eil with white. Axillars and
inner lace of wings white. Iris brown. Tarsi blue. Leny:th, in life, 4.40; extent, fl.ild;
wiuf,', 2.40. LeufTth of skin, ;5.!)0 ; wing, 'l.'.i',) ; tail, l.f<(j; tarsus, .04; mi<ldle too and
claw^.i'O ; bill above. .3") ; pipe, .")(». "
IIau. Fort Mohave, Colorado Kiver (Middle Province of rnited .Slates) : Fort Wliipple,
Arizona.
Habits. Thi.s is also a now or recently discovered species of this interest-
ing group of Warblers. In regard to its iiest and eggs nothing is positively
ascertained, yet as all the birds of tiiis genus luv nown to build on llie
ground, and to have a great unil'onnity in the characteristics of their eggs, it
seems to lie a matter of natural inference that this species idso is a ground
builder, anil litis eggs similar to those of the Xashville Warbler. For the
little we know in regard to its habits and distribution, we are indebted to
the observiitions of Dr. J. G. Cooper of Ciiliforniu, who first discovered it,
and to Dr. Cones, who litis since met wiUi it in Arizona.
Dr. Coo2)er first olwerved this sjiecies nciir Fort ^Moliave, where it matle its
a])pearance about the last of Mtirch. His attention was ctiUed to it liy its
peculiiir notes, resembling those of some Jhni/roinr, but fainter. After con-
siderable watching and scrambling througli dense mezipiite thickets in its
pursuit, he succeeded in shooting one, and found it to be a new species.
Afterwards they became more numerous, frecpienting the tops of the mez-
ipiite-trees in jini'suit of insects, and constiiiitly uttering their short liitt
pleasing notes. About ten days after tlie iirst apjuarance of the males, Dr.
Coojier obtained the first female, tind thinks tiiat without doubt they are
much later in their mignitions, as is the case witli other Warblers. He,
wa.s not able to discover their nest, liaving to leave the Vidley late in
^fay.
Mr. Holdeii olitained other , pecimens of tliis bird, nc ir the :54th parallel,
in March of IHli;}.
Dr. Coues met with tliree individuids of this sjiecies near Fort AVliipple,
where it is a summer resident. It arrives tiiere between the J "ith and the
20tli of April, and remains until the latter ]>iU't of Septen.oer. It mates
about tjie last of April, and the young birds tippeiir early in tf tine.
Dr. Cotie.. regiirds its haliits a.s more like those of the true (iround War-
blers than those of the other species of this group. It shows a decidctl
preference for thickets and copses, ratlier than for high open woods, and is
also an exceedingly shy and retiring species. To the extreme difUcully of
observing or procuring it Dr. Coues attributes its having so hmg remained
unnoticed.
It is described as exceedingly active in all its motions, and quite as rest-
less as a Polioptila, to which class, in its colors, it also bears a ch)so resem-
2U
202 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
blaiice. The only note Dr. Coucs ever heard it utter was a quick and often
repeated taij), as slender and as wiry as that of a Uiialratcher. Dr. Cooper,
however, has described its song as rich and ])leasing, the little performer be-
ing mounted on the top of some mezquite or other bush. Dr. Cooper supposes
this species to breed, not in the Colorado Valley, but in the more mountain-
ous regions.
Dr. Cones hazards the conjecture that this bird builds in low bushes.
Should it prove so, it would in this respect difler from all the other niend)ers
of this well-marked grouji, and from the other Ground Warblers, whicli, in its
general habits, it so nmch resembles.
Helminthophaga celata, var. celata, r>.viuD.
OBANOE-CROWNED WABBLEB.
Sylvia cclnfa, Sav, Lons's Kxp. U. Mt.s. I, 182:5, Itl'.i. — Kus. Am. Orn. I, pi. v, tig. 2. —
Ari). Orii. liiog. II, pi. d.xxviii. Si/lvkuln rt.l. liiiii. J'cntiii-oni eel. .Iai;i>. lIcHniiia
cd. Arn. Rirds Am. II, jil. c.vii. /hhni/h'ru.i eel. Box. — Sci.atkk, P. Z. S. 18,')7,
212 ((liizalm). Helmiii/liojilunja eel. Haiki), Birds N. Am. 1858, aS? ; liev. Am. Birds,
I, 18d5, 17() (ill imrtK — Dai.i. k IJannistkii (AhiskiA. — Sclatki!, P. Z. S. 18.-)8, 298
(Oa.xiRii, Dt'iciiilicr) ; li^Sit, 373 ; 1862, 111 (La Puriula). //. ccUtIa, var. cdaUt, KiDcw.
Ui'l.t. U. S. Geol. Kxpl. 40tli Par.
Sp. Char. Above <rrayisli olivo-jjropn, ratlior l)riglit<»r on the nmip. Beni-ath oiitiroly
prcciii.-!!! yollowi.sli-wliitf, L'xcu[)t a little wliili.sli aljout the amis; the siiU'.s tinged with
grayi.sh-olivaci'oii.'!. A coiireali'd patch of palo oraiigo-rufous on llio crown, hidden hy
the grayish tips to the leathers. Kyelids and an ol)seure snpi-reiliar}' line yellowish-white,
a (hisky obsenre streak through the e3'e. Inner webs of tail-feat her.s broadly edged with
white. Femiilf with little or none of the orange on the crown, and the white edging.s to
inner webs of tail-feathers. Vmnii/ lacking the orange entirely, and with two fulvons-
whitish bands on tlie wing. Length, 4.70; wing, 1!.2."); tail, 2.(10.
Had. Mid<llu I'rovineo of North America; Yukon and McKenzie River (listrict. Very
rare in the Eastern I'rovini'o of I'nited States; Mexico in winter; Uuxaca, La I'arada,
(Sei.ATKu) ; Oriz.iha, winter (SiMtenu.vsT).
This variety inhabits the interior regions of North America, from the
Yukon .southward into Me.vico ; westwiird, its range meets that of tlie var.
iHtciicem at about the meridian of 110°, while eastward it extends beyond the
Mississi])])i, though rare east of the latter region. Specimens i'rom Soiitliern
Illinois (where it is al)undant in its migrations) and from Wisconsin are pre-
cisely like Hooky Mountain exi»mi)les; but severid in the collection before us
from tlie South Atlantic States (Florida, (Jeorgia, etc.) arc ,so dilferent as almost
to warrant their sepaitition as a diH'erent variety. Tlie.se indiviibiids are most
like the style of the interior, — var. cchtta, — but tire even less yellowish, aiiti
the whole plumagt! is very dark and dingy ; all of them, too, lack any trace
whatever of orange on the crown. Should all specimens fntm this region
agree in tiie latter resjicct, the .series I'rom tlie Sonllieastern States is certainly
entitled to recognition as w variety, for which we propose the name vlm'uru.
SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 203
Habits. Tlie <^cogTa]>Iiiciil distribution of H. ccUUa is involved in some
doubt, owinj,' jn'obaljly to its ir'jgulai'ity of niignition. In a few oceiU'^ional
instances this species has been oliserved in the Atlantic States. Several luive
l)eeu obtained near Philadelphia. Mr. Audubon attinns to havin<? .seen it in
the Middle States about the lUth of May, and in Maine later in the montli.
Beyond tliat he did not trace it. Mr. J. A. Allen procured one specimen of
tliif. bird in Si)ringHeld, Mass., May 15, 18t)3. There were quite a uuniljer
among the fruit-trees of the garden and orchard, then in bloom, and, mis-
taking them for Hclminthoplunja rvjicfipilla, he at first neglected to slujot any,
until, being in doulit, lie procured one, and found it the C)i'auge-( "rown. The
group passed on, and one was all he ol)lained. It is not given by Mr.
Turubull as one of the birds of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, nor by Mr.
IJoardnuin or I'rofessor Verrill as occuriiug in Maine. 1 am informed Ity
Mr. Ridgway that it is a regubir s])ring and autunui migrant in Southern
Illinois, and in some seasons is ([uite connuon.
It was taken as a migratory species at Oaxaca, Mexico, during the winter
montiis, by M. A. Boueard.
Mr. Aiulubon's account of the habits iind movements of this species must
be received with much caution. His description of its nest is entirely inac-
curate, and much that lie attril)utes to this siHicies we have reason to believe
relates to the habits of other birds.
On the Pacific coa.st it seems to be quite abundant, at different seasons,
from (.'ape St. Lucas to the arctic regions, where it breeds. Mr. Kennicott
obtained several sfwcimens at Fort Yukon and at Fort Resolution, and Mr.
lioss met with them at Fort Simjjson. Xantus obtained these birds both at
Fort Tejon and at Cape St. Lucas. It is common in Southern ("alil'ornia
during the wintt-r, frequenting low l)usiies and tiie margins of streams. Dr.
(}aml)el met with it in early spring on the island of Santa Catalina, where
he had an o])portiuiity of listening to its simple and lively song. Tiiis lie
describes as commencing in a low, sweet trill, and ending in fsfic-iip. It
is .sometimes considerably varied, but is described as generally reseml)ling
i')'-i;r,r,r-ii/ie-iiii.
Dr. ("ooper sjjcaks of this Warbler as an abundant and constant resident
of California, near tiie coast, and found in summer througliout the Sierra
Nevada. In March they begin in sing their sinqtle trill, which, he says, is
rather nuisical, and audible for a long distance.
Dr. Coues met with this Warlder in Arizona, at Fort Yuma, Septemln^r 17,
at Fort Mohave, Octolter 1, and also at the liead-waters of Bill Williams
liiver. Lieutenant Couch found it at Brownsville, Te.x., seeking its food
and making its home among the low shrubbery.
Dr. Suckley found it very abundant at Fort Steilacooni, in Washington
Territory, where it kept in shady places among thick brusli, generally in the
vicinity of watercourses. Dr. Heermann i'ound a few jtaii-s incubating near
the summits of the highest mountains o'l the Ctdorado River. The nests of
204 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
this species, seen l>v jNIr. Kennicott, were unil'oi'iuly on the ground, generally
among cluiups of low bushes, olten iu the side of a bank, and usually Iiiddon
by the dry leaves among which tlioy were ])laced. He met witli t,li(!so nests
iu the middle of June in the vicinity of (<reat Shive Lake. They were large
for the size of the bird, having an external diameter of four inches, and a
height of two and a lialf. and appearing as if made of two or three dis-
tinct fabrics, one within the other, of nearly the same materials. The ex-
ternal portions of these nests were compo.sed almo.st entirely of long, coai-se
strips of bark loosely interwo\en with a few dry grasses and stems of jtlants.
Within it is a more elaborately interwoven structure of finer dry grasses and
mosses. Tliese are soltly and warmly lined with hair and fur of small
animals.
Nests from more arctic regions are of a different style of structure, homo-
geneous in materi.ds, — which are chiefly stems of small plants and the finer
grasses, — anil are of a more comi)act make and smaller in size.
Their eggs are from four to six in num'oer, and vary in length from .70
to .()() of an inch, and in breadth from .50 to .45 of an inch. They have
a clear white ground, marked with spots and small blotches of reddisli-
brown and fainter marking of purplish-slate. The numl)er of spots varies
greatly, some eggs being nearly unspotted, others jjrofusely covered.
Mv. Ifidgway met with this Warbler in great abundance during its autum-
nal migration among the shrubbery along the streams of the Sierm Nevada,
at all altitudes. In summer it was only seen among tlie high aspen woods
on the Walisatcli Mountains. Fully Hedged young birds were numerous iu
July and August. Their usual note was a sharp ihi^).
This bird was found breetling near Fort liesolution, on the Yukon, at
Fort IJae, and at Fort Anderson.
The notice of geogrii))hical distribution of the different races, at tlie begin-
ning of the article, will serve to sliow to what varieties the preceiUng remarks
severally belong.
Helminthophaga celata, var. lutesceus, Ridgway.
PACTFIC ORAKOE-CBOWNED WABBLEB.
/Mmiii/linplKKjii ci'htia, fooi-KR & Sl'PKI.F.Y, V. \\. R. XII, ii, 185i>, 178. — Lolil), I'r. 1!.
Art. Inst. Woohvifli, IV, 1804, 115. — I$.\iui), Rev. Am. Birds, I, 1805, 170 (in imrt).
— r'ddi'Kii, Oni. ('ill. I, 1870, 83. //. cclaUi, var. lukscens, Uidoway, Kt'|K)rt U. S.
(i.ol. KxipI. -Idth Pur.
fp. Cii.M!. MitJe. r'p])('r surface continuous briprht olivo-fjreen. AVliolc lower parts,
includiiij,' supureiliary siripi' and eyelids, l)ri},dit yellow, almost {jiinihofre ; abdomen soiiie-
wliat wliilish. Inner welis of tiiil-li'atliers just jierceptilily edfreil with wliite. Wliolo
rniwn lirijilit oranpe-riifoiis, sciirccly concealed. AVin^f, 2.40; tail, I.iH); bill, .40; tarsus,
.07 : miildle toe, .45. Winir-lonnula, '2, 3, I, 4. Female Similar, l)nt ciranire of crown
almost oUsolete. Wing, 2.;i(l ; tail, 1.90. Yoitnij •>/ the i/eiir. Similar to adult, but with
SYLVICOLID^-TIIE WARBLERS. 205
a brownish tinj^o above ; iiiidiUo and soeonilary coverts tipped witli dull fulvous, fuiTV, in-
conspiciKius blinds. No tiaix- of onin;;e on tlie crown.
Hah. Pacilic Trovince of Noctii Anieiiea, from Alaska to Capo St, Luuas. Stray-ling
eastward to about tlie IKith nieiidian. Not found in Mexico ?
Tlie diflerences between the I'.icific coast specimens of the H. cclufit and
those from the interior reo ions — first iiointed out in tiie Ifeview of Ameri-
can IJu'ds — are very readily appreciable upon a comjjari.ion of si»ecimens.
The present bird is a coast variety, entirely replacing- the true cduta (var.
ccluta) in the region above indicated.
Helminthophaga peregrina, (a ban.
TENNESSEE WABBLEB.
Sylvm iieregriim, AVii.s. Aiii. Orn. IV, 1811, 83, j)!. xxv, fiR. 2.— Aud. Orn. Biog. II, pi.
cliv. Si/lvicola /wr. liwn. Ferunvoni pc: \V,s. lldiiwin per. Xvik mn\^ \m. \\,
pi. ex. IhlmitkeniH pa: Bo.\. Hrhnhithnplm.ja per. Cad. Slus. IKaii. — hi. Jour!
Oni. 1861, 85 (Costa Hica). - lUuii), Birds N. Am. IS.W, 2.18; Kov. 178. — Sclateu
& Salvin, Ibis, 18(50, 31 (C.uiilciiiidii). — Sclateh, P. Z. S. 185!), 373 (Oaxaea) ; Catal.
1861, 29, no. 180. — Lawuenci;, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1861, 322 (Panama). — (!iNni,.un,
Cab. Jour. 1861, 326 (Cuba, very rare). Siih-iii. feiines.ivi, ViKii.Lor, Kncytd. iletli.
II, 1823, 452. /Sijlria ml&surieiisis, Max. Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 117.
Sp. Chab!. Top and sides of the head and neck asli-gray ; rest of upper parts olive-
green, brightest on the runi]). Beneath .lull white-, faintly tinge.l in places, especially on
the sides, with yellowish-olive. Eycli.ls and a stripe over the eye whitish ; a dusky line
from the eye to the bill. Outer tail-feather with a white spot along the inner edge near
the tip. Female with the ash of the head less conspicuous ; the under parts more'' tinged
with olive-yellow. Length, 4.00 ; wing, 2.7a; tail, 1.8.").
IlAn. Eastern Province of North America ; Calais, Me. ; north to Fort Simp.«on, TL B.
T.; Mexico; Oaxac.i? Guatemala; Costa Rica; Panama R. R. Very rare in Cuba.
Veragua (Sai.vi.n). Chiriiiui (Lawkkxck).
Autunnial s])ccimens and young birds are sometimes so strongly tinged
with greenish-yellow as to be scarcely distinguisliable from H. cdata. The
wing is, however, always longer, and the obscure whitish patch on the
inner edge of the e.xterii.r tail-feather, near its ti]), is almost always aj)-
preciable. In cdata this edge is very narrowly and uniforndy margined
with whitish.
A yoiuig bird of the year, from Fort Simpson (27,228), has two distinct
greenisli-white bands on the wings, and tlio forehead and cheeks greenisli-
yellow. A corresponding age of If. vdain has the wing-bands more reddish-
brown, the wings sliorter, and no white patch on the outer tail-featiier.
Haihts. Like the Nashville Warbler the present species has received a
name inappropriate to one witli so nortlicrn a distribution. It was first ob-
tained on the banks of the ('uinl)erland Kiver liy Wilson, and has since been
known as the Tennessee Warbler. Ibit two specimens were ever (tbtained
by him, and he regarded it as a veiy rare species. He found them hunting
206 NORTH AMERICAN UIRDS.
nimbly among tlie yoiing leaves, and thought they possessed many of the
habits of the Titmice. Their notes he descrilwd as few and weak, and in
their stomaclis he found, upon dissection, small green caterpillai's and a few
winged insects.
Mr. Audubon nUo regarded it as a rare species, and only three specimens
ever fell within his observations. These were obtained in Louisiana and at
Key West. He describes them as appearing to be nimble, active birds, ex-
pert catcliers of tlies, and fond of hanging to the extremities of branches,
uttering a single mellow tweet as they tly from branch to branch in search of
food, or while on the wing.
Mr. Nuttall a])pears not to have met witli it. Dr. Richardson procured
only a single specimen at Cumberland House, in the latter ])art of May.
This was in a dense thicket of small trees, and was flying about among the
lower bmnches. He was unable to discover its nest, or to learn anything in
regard to its habits.
A little more light has since then been given both as to its geographical
distribution and its mode of nesting. Specimens of this species have been
obtained in Costa Eica, Guatemala, Oaxaca, Mexico, and Panama. A speci-
men of this species was also taken in Colombia, S. A., by Mr. C. W. Wyatt.
Dr. Gundlach mentions it as occasionally found in Cuba. Mr. Drexler
secured specimens of it at Moose Factory and at Fort tJeorge in the arctic
regions. Specimens were taken by Mr. Bernard II. Eoss at Fort Simpson.
^Ir. Kobert Kennicott met witli it on the northern shores of Lake Winni-
peg, June G. They were then abundant, and had already mated. He again
met with them at Fort liesolution, and Mr. Clarke found them at Fort Kae,
Mr. W. F. Hall in Maine, ^Ir. Bell on the Upper Missouri, and Professor
Baird in Penn-sylvania. Mr. Eidgway lias obtained it both in sjjring and in
fall in Southern Illinois, where it is abundant in some seasons. It does not
appear to occur on the Pacific coast.
Mr. Boardman writes that the Teiniessee Warbler is, in the summer time,
cpiite a common bird in St. Stephens and vicinity. Its notes, he adds, re-
semble the low, subdued whistle of tlie common Summer Yellow-Bird.
Mr. Maynard found this Warbler very connnon near Lake Unduigog dur-
inji the breeding-season. It was found in all the wooded localities in tlie
regions north of the neighboring mountains. Its son!.', he states, resembles
that of H. nijicapilln, the notes of the first part lieing more divided, while
tlie latter part is shriller.
A nest of this Warbler (Smith. Coll., 347<)), obtained on the northern shore
of Lake Superior by Mr. (»eorge Barnston, is but little more than a nearly flat
bed of dry, matted stems of giuss, and is less than an inch in tliickness, with
a diameter of about three inclies. It is not circular in shape, and its width
is not uniform. Its position must have been on some flat surface, probably
the ground. The eggs resemble those of all the family in having a white
gi'ound, over which are profusely distributed numerous small dots and points
SYLVICOLID^E — THE WARBLERS. 207
of ,1 re(l(lisli-l)r()wn, and a few of a purplisli-slati;. They are of an oblong-
oval sliapc!, and lucaHuro .08 by .HO of an inch.
A nest from near Sprinjrfidd, :\ra8s., obtained by Professor Ilorsford, the
l)arent bird liaving been secured, was built in a low cluini) of bushes, just
above tlie ground. It is well made, woven of fine lienipen fibres of vege-
tables, slender stems of gras,s, delicate mosses, and other like materials, and
very thoroughly lined with liair. It measures two and three fourths inches
in diameter' and two in height. The cavity is two inches-wide and one and
three fourths deep. The eggs measure .GO by .50 of an inch, are oblong-
oval in sliape, their ground-color a ])early wliite, marked in a corona, about
the larger end, with brown and purplish-brown spots.
Ge\us FARULA, IJoNAP.
Chloric, BoiE, Isis, 182(i, 072 (not of Mocliriiift 1752). (Type, Pnrus nmcricanus.)
Sylvkulit, SUAINS..X, Zoiil. ,I„uiii. Ill, July, 1827, 169. (Not of Muiupliicy, Mus. Caloii-
iiiamim, 1797, CO ; (reiiiis of laud luollusks.) (Snino type.)
Parulii, BoNAi'. Oi'of,'. & (Vmip. List, 1838. (Saino type.)
Compsothlijins, Cabanis, Mu.s. Ilciii. 1850, 1851, 20. (Saiuo type.)
Gkv. CirAH. In tlio species of this jrcnns tlu> hill is (30iiical and aoiito ; tlio cnlnicn
very gently curved from the liase ; the uoniiiiissure .'^lifrhtly conca\'e. The notch when
visible is further from tlu^ tip than in Dcndroicn, but usually is either obsolete or entirely
wnntinp:. IJristles weak. The tarsi are longer than the midille toe. The tail is nearly
even, and considerably shorter tlian the wing. Color, blue above, with a triangular patch
of green on the back ; ant(;rior lower parts yellow.
Two species — one with thiee varieties— of tliis gemis, as lately restricted,
are known in Amerii'a, only one, however, has as yet been detected within
the limits of tlie United States. They may be distinguished as follows : —
P. amerlcana. Ey('li<ls white. Yellow beneath restri(;tcd to anterior half.
Two white bands on wing; a dusky collar across the jugulum. -Hah. East-
ern Province of United States, south to Guatemala; IJahmnas; Cuba;
Jamaica; St. Croi.x ; St. Thomas.
P. pitiayumi. Eyelids dusky. Yellow l)eneath, extending back along sides to
the crissum.
Tivo white hamh on iritKj.
Above plumbeous-liluo; lores and eyelids deep black. Abdomen wholly
yellow. Wing, '>:ii); tail, 1."-). Hah. South America from Bogota to
^"'■"^'"'y vm'.pitiayHmi}
Above ashy-blue; lores and eyelids scarcely darker. Abdomen wholly
white. Wing, 2.3o ; tail, 2.05. Hab. Tres Marias Islands, Western Alex-
'*'° var. insular in?
*
1 fiuMn pitiayumi, ViKtu,. Nouv. Dirt. II, 1816, 276. Panda mt. Sct-AT. Catal. 26, no.
165. — Baird, liev. Am. Birds, I, 1865, 170.
Pnnila inxularis, Lawh. Ann. N. Y. Lye. X, Feb. 1871.
3
208
NOKTH AMEKIOAN 151 HD^.
Onhl II tntre of white on wiii;/.i, or none at till.
Above iiidigo-blue. Wing, 2.10; tail, 1.70. Ilab. Cot;ta Kioa and Gua-
^<-'""'''' var. inornata^
Compxuthlypis fjvttiiralis, Cabants {Purula (pit., r.AiRD, IJev. Am. 1).), and
Coil irosfni III siijiari/io.wiii, Hakti.auii {Ponila
siqiarilkmi, J'.Aiiii), J{ev.), luive Iwoii roferroil
by latur systumatists to this ■'omis ; but tlioy
aro iimcli more closely related to Conirostrum,
— a jj;oims usually assigned to tlio Ucnrhidn:
The " I\" {iiiihtrolia is confined to Costa Ifieu;
but "/'." fiiipeiTilumi is a sjiceies of the
table-lauds of Mexico, and likely to bo de-
tected in Arizona or New Mexico. The char-
acters of this species are as follows : —
Comrnstnim .wpemliosiiw, UAun. R. Z. 1844, 21"). Wiiolc dorsi,] ropion, incltiding
riiiii|), olivi-necMi ; ivst of ii|.i)ci- part.^ asli.v. Aiitorior half Itonoatli yellow, with a ci-cs'-
ceiitic bar ofuhcstnut-bi-owii across th,. jiii;iilimi ; jiostovioi' lower parts white, ashy later-
ally. A uouspiuuous supereiliary stripe ol' white. Wing, 2.G0; tail, 2.10.
Farula americana, Boxap.
BLTJE TELLOW-BACKEO WABBIEB.
Parus nmcricanns, Lisx. Syst. Xat. 10th cd. I, 17.>S, 100. .}r„t,H-illa am. Cmklik Siilvia
am. Lath., Aid. .Si/h-icola am. lii.ii., .\vi). — Ionks, Xat. in licriiiuda, 183!>, .5!).
Parulaam. Ron. List ISirds X. Am. 183f<. •- Cossi;, Kirds .lam. 1847, l-.M'hunaicaK —
PiAllili, P.irds X. Am. 18.^)8, -.'lis ; lic.v. l(ii>. - .S,-,.ati:i!, P. Z. S. 18,'i7, 20:> (.Xalapa). -
In. Ibis, 18jl>, 10((!uatemala). — In. fatal. 18t!l, 2ti, 1(1;). — Xkwton, Ibi.s, I8r.!), 143
(.Santa Cruz ; winter). - Ca.ssin, Pr. A. X. S. 1800, ar(i (St. Thomas). — Gitndi.ach,
Cab. .lour. 18(jl, 32(i (Cuba; very connnon). Vuinpsatldiipis am. Cau. Mus. Ilcin.
18r)0, 20. — In. Jour. Ill, lS;o, 476 (Cuba). Fkcdida hidocichnn, P.itis.soN. Muta-
cilUi lud. G.M. MotiniUu cqua, lioDD. Sijlviu lorqiHita, Vikill. r/in/uthorus turq.
SrKPiiKN.s. Stilvid jmsiUa, Viihii. Siilviroln pus. Swxisn.
Figures : AuD. Orn. liiog. I, pi. xv. - In. nirds Am. II, pi. xcl. — Vieill. Ois. Am. II,
pi. xei.x. — Wii,s. Am. Crn. IV, pi. xxviii. — lUrFFo.N, pi. enl. dcexx.xi, lij,'. 1 ; dceix.
lig. 1.
Sp. Ciiau. Above blue, the middle of tlie back with a pateli of yellowitih-green. Be-
neath yellow anteriorly, white behind. A reddish-brown tinge across the brea.st. Lores
and space round the eye dusky ; a sm.ill white spot on either eyelid ; sides of head and
neck hke the crown. Two conspicuous white b.ands on the wing.s. Outer two tail-f(!ath-
ers with a conspicuous .spot of white. Feimile similar, with le.ss brown on the breast.
Length, 4.75 ; wing, 2.;?4 ; tail, 1.90. Xest of long moss.
Hab. E.istern Province of United Slates, north to tin- Lakes (" Greenland "), west to
the Mi.ssouri Valley ; in winter, south to Guatemala (not s.-en on the west coast of Mexico).
West Indies; Bahamas; Cuba; .laumica ; St. Croix; St. Thomas; J.alapa, G.iatemala
(Sci.ATKR) ; Orizaba, winter (Sl-.micurast) ; Yucatan (Lawhkxck) ; Porto Rico and Ina^ua
(Bryant). "
1 Parii/d hwrwito, Hamm), Ucv. Am. Hird.s, I, ISO.";, 171.
SYLVICOLID.E — THE WAHHLER8. 209
Autumnal males are browner on the chin, yellower on the throat and
juguluni. Head tinfi;ed with greenish ; secondaries edged with greenish-yel-
low. Autumnal females are light green-
ish-olive above, dirty-white beneath.
In very brightly colored spring males,
there is frequently (as in "iH,!!:?"), Phila-
delphia) a well-defined, broad blackish
band across tlie jiigulum, anterior to an
equally distinct and rather broader one
across the breast, of a brown tint, spotted
with black, while the siiles are much
. , J '1.1 1 J. i. 1 i.1 11 Pnruin americnna.
spotted with chestnut-brown ; the blue
above is very pure, and the green patch on the back very sharp'y de-
fined.
Habits. Tiie Blue Yellow-P.ack is one of our most interesting and attrac-
tive Warblers. Nowhere very abundant, it luus x well-marked anil restricted
area within which it is sparingly distributed. It is found from tlie Missis-
sippi Valley to the Atliintic, and from Canada southward. In its winter
migrations it visits the West Indies, the Bahamas, and Central and South
America. Hidifa.v on the east, and Platte River on the west, appear to be
the northern limit of its distribution. Dr. Woodhouse met witli it in the
Indian Territory during tlic breeding-season. Mr. Alfred Newton found this
species, apparently only a winter visitant, in tlie island of St. Croix. Most
of the birds left about the middle of March, though a few renuiined until
early in May.
A single specimen of this s])ecies was taken at South Greenland in
1857.
This Warbler has been found breeding as far to the south as Tuckertown,
N. J., by Mr. W. S. Wood ; and at Cape May, in tiie same State, by ]\Ir.
John Krider. At Washington, Dr. Cones found it oidy a spring and autumn
visitant, exceedingly abundant from Ajn'il '1') to May ITt. Po.ssil)ly a
few remained to breed, as he met with them in the fu'st week of August.
In the fall they were again abundant from August 25 to the second week in
October. He found them inhabiting exclusively high open woods, and
usually seen in the tops of the trees, or at the extremities of the branches,
in the tufts of leaves and blossoms.
Even where most common it is not an abundant species, and is to be found
only in certain localities, somewhat open and swami)y thickets, usually not
of great extent, and prefers those well covered with the long giay lichens
known as Spanish moss. In such localities only, so far as I know, do they
breed.
This Warbler has also been ascertained to breed in Southern Illinois, where
Mr. Pidgway found it in July, engaged in feeding fully Hedged young birds.
It is there most common in spring and fall.
27
210 NOltTir AMERICAN BIRDS.
A true Warbler in most of its attriltutes, this l»ird has many of tlie liabits of
Titmice. Liko tiicso it IVet^iu'uts the tojjs of the taller trees, feeding on the
small winged insects ..nd caterpillars that abound among the young leaves
and blossoms. It has no song, i)roi»erly so called, its notes are feeble and
few, and can be heard only a short distance.
The song of this species is said by Mr. Trii)i)e, of Orange, N. Y., to
be a somewhat sharp and lisping, yet unite varied and pleasing, series of
..otes.
^Ir. Auduljon sj)eaks of this species as breeding iji Louisiana, but his
description of the nest ditl'ei-s so entirely from such as are met with in Mas-
sachusetts as to suggest doubts as to the correctness of the identification.
Jle describes them as Hitting over dani]) i)laces, the edges of jionds and
streams, and pursuing tiieir })rey with great activity. They resort to the
woods as soon as the foliage appears on the forest trees, and glean among the
leaves for the smaller winged insects.
The nests of this Warbl':r, so far as has fallen luuler my observation, have
always been made of li .ig gray lichens still attached to the trees on which
they grow. With great skill do these tiny architects gather up, fasten
together, and interweave, one with the other, the hanging ends and longer
branches. Dy an elaborate intertwining of these h)ng fibres they form the
principal part, sometimes the whole, of their nests. These struetiu'es are at
once simple, beautiful, ingenious, and skilfully wrought. When first made,
they are somewhat rude and unfinished, Imt as their family are gathered,
the eggs deposited, incubated, and hatched, a change has been going on. Lit-
tle by little has the male bird busied himself, when not procuring food for
his mate, in improving, strengthening, and eidarging the nest. These same
acts of improvement upon the original nests are noticed with llumming-
Birds, Yireos, and a few other birds.
The nests are sometimes constructed on the sides of trunks of trees, when
covered with the long gray lichens, but are more fre([uently found hanging
from branches usually not more than six or eight feijt from the ground.
Thus surrounded by long hanging mos.ses in clumps not distinguishable from
the nests themselves, they would not be readily recognized were it not that
those familiar with the habits of the bird may be readily guided to the spot
by the artless movements of the unsuspecting parents.
These birds are confiding, easily approached, and rarely exhibit any signs of
alarm. Even when their nest is disturbed they make but little complaint, and
do not manii'est any very great signs of emotion. When built against a trunk
these nests consist only of an interweaving of the moss above and below a
very small o]iening, within whi(di a small cu])-sha])ed Hooring has been nuide
of the same material, and usually cannot be removed without destroying all
semblance of a nest. When pensile they are imperfectly circular in sha])e,
with an entrance on one side, and rarely with any lining. Occiisionally they
are models of synnnetrv <ind beauty.
HYLYICOLWA'] — THE WAKBfiKRS.
211
Tlie eggs, four or fivo in iniinhoi', have a clear wliito ground, and uro s])ar-
ingly .spotted witli markings of rwldisii-la'own, slate, jturplc, and lilac. Jn
some the first predominate, in otho'-s the last three shades are more ahnn.lant,
and usually form a eontiuent ring arcuid the larger end. They measure from
.62 to .6.") of au iuch in length, and from .-ill to .50 in breadth.
Section SYLVIC0LE>E.
This section has been already characterized as having a distinctly notched
bill, well provided with bristles. Of tlie two genera one, FrrLs.so<//o.sx,i, has
the bill slender, acute, something like Hdmintlwphiuja, and with the tongue
lengthened and much lacerated at end ; the other, Umdroiva, with less acute
bill and tongue shorter, merely notched at tip, and a little fringed only.
Genus FERISSOQLOSSA, Uaird.
Perismjlnssa, Baiki., Rev. Am. Birds, 1864, 181. (Type, Motacilla tigrhw, Gm.)
Gkn. Ciiai!. Form of Deiidroira, but liill .slender, acute, with very obsolete notdi ; the
coniiiiis.siiro gently nrelied or curved from the base ;
the gony.s .-.Iso .straight, or even .slightly concave.
Tongue lengthen.-d, narrow, deeply bilid (for one
third), and deeply lacerated or fringed externally
at the end ; the edge along tlie median ])ortion folded
over on the upper surface, but n-.t adherent.
The curvature of the bill in Pcrii^sm/lonsa
tigrina is quite peculiar among the ^i/hi-
eoHifw with notched bills. Some Helniin-
thophagas (without notch) approximate this PrrhsonhM, nt-rina, iiaira.
character, though in none, excepting H. hnchmmu, is it in e(iual amount,—
all the others having the gonys very slightly convex, instead of straigh ' oi
even slightly concave.
It is most probable tliat the Hclinnia mrhonntn of Aiululion belongs litre,
as it appears very closely allied to the type of this genus. The two"species
may be distinguished as follows : —
Common CnARACTERS. Mnh. Top of head black. Above olive, becoming yel-
lowi.sh on rump. Head, neck, and lower parts bright yellow, becominsr whi'tish
posteriorly. Dorsal feathers with black centres ; breast and sides sti-eaked with
black. ,\. black streak through the eye.
P. tigrina. Large white patches on inner webs of tail-feathers.
Sides of head and middle of throat tinged with chestnut. One large
white patch on wing, covering both rows of coverts. Outer web of
lateral tail-feather blackish.
212 NORTH AMERICA:>r IflUDS.
p. oarbonata. No white piitclios on tail-t'oailiiTs.
No clifstiiut about lu'ail. Two bands on the winp, llic anterior one
white, the (wsterior yellow. Outer web of hiteral tail-leather wliili.sh.
Ferissoglossa tigrina, ]>aiki).
CAFE HAT WABBLEB.
Mulncilhi tigrina, OMr.t.rx, Syn. Nat. I, 1788, !>85. Sijlria tiij. Lath. Pnidroim liij. IJAiitn,
Hhd.s N. Am. 18ri8, 280. — S(l,.vn;ii, fatal. 18(il, :i:l, nn. I!t8 ; P. Z. S. IStil, 71
(Jaiiuiiea, April). — Maki ll, I'r. An. ise. 18(ia, •_'!•:( (.lainaii'a ; lirced.s). — A. & K. Nkw-
ToN, Ibis, IS;')!*, Mi (St. ("roi.x. Notrs on anatomy of toii;,'iic). — (Jrxni.Aeii, Cab.
.lour. 18til, y'2G (Cuba ; not rare). — SamI'KI.s, •J4(I. /'< rixKixjiossii tiijrivti, Uaikd, Kev.
Am. Birds, 1804, 181. Si/lvia vuin'liinti, Wilson, Am. Urn. Yl, 1812, 9i>, jd. liv,
fig. 3. — Hon. ; Nfir. ; At'D. Oru. IHog. V, jd. cecfxiv. — D'Ouii. La Sagra's Cub.
1840, 70, pi. .\. Si/lcivola luni: Jaku., Bos., Am. Binls Ain. II, pi. Ixxxv. Ccrlhi-
Ola mar. (Sossk, Birds Jam. 1847, 81. — In. lUust. lihimamphus mar. Cah. Jour.
Ill, 1855, 474 ^Cuba.)
Sp. Char. Bill very aente, conioal, aiul decidedly eurved. Rill and feet black. II])pcr
part of head dull black, some of the feather.s liiintly inari;ine<l with li<j;ht yello\vish-l>rown.
Collar .scarcely meeting behind ; rump and under parts jienerally rich yellow. Throat, fore-
part of lireast, and sides, streaked with bhu'k. Abdomen and lower tail-coverts j)nle yel-
low, brighter about the vent. Dar-coverts light reddish-chestnut. Back part of a yellow
line from nostrils over the eye <d' this same color ; chin and throat tinged also with it.. A
black line from eonnnissm'c through the eye, and running into the chestnut of the ear-
coverts. Back, .shoulder, edges of the wing and tail, ycllowi.sli-(dive ; the former spotted
with dusky. One row of small coverts, and outer ba.scs of the secondary coverts, form a
large patch of white, tinged with jjalc yellow. Tcrtials rather broadly cdge(l with brown-
ish-white. Quills ami tail dark brown, the three outer lealhcrs of the latter largely marked
with white on the inner web; edge of the outer wel) of the outer feathers while, more
perceptible towards the base. Length, ").'_'.") ; wing, 'l.M ; tail, 2.15.
Female. Above olivaceous-ash, most yellowish on nnn]) ; no black nor chestnut on
head. Wing-coverts inconspicuously eilgcd with whitish. Tail-spots vciy inconspicuous.
Beneath didl white tinged with yellowish on the breast, and streaked a.s in the mali',
but witli dusky grayish instead of black.
IlAn. Eastern Province of I'liited States, north to Lake Wimiipi>g and Moos(> Kactory ;
all the West Indies to St. Croix. Breeds in Jamaica. .Not recorded from Mexico or Cen-
tral America.
Tliu chostnut iibout llic Iicnd in adult males varies in amount with tlio
iiRliviihial; suiuotinios (a.s in 20,0;'):?, Afay, M<io,se Factory, II udsuns Hay Ter-
ritory) tliero is ai> oblong s))ot oi' cliestiiut in the middle of the crown, but
generally tliis ia absent. Very fretiuently the chestnut tinges the throat. All
variations in tiiese resjtects api)ear, however, to be individutil, iind not dts-
pendent at idl on locality. West Indian specimens a])pear to be abse.ately
identicid witli tlio.se from Xorlli America.
Aut iiial specimens are browner, the chestiuit markings much obscm-ed.
ir.u..Ts. Tiiis sotnewhat rare species, so far as its history and dislrilmtion
are known with certainty, is migratory in the ]»rinciiial portions of the I'nited
SYLVICOLID-E — THE WARBLERS. 213
States, in tlio spriii<4 and tall passinjj; to the north of the 4'2d pamllel to
breed. The iirnt specimen was obtained near tlie extreme sonthern jH)int of
New Jersey by Cleorjfe Ord, in 1811, and described and figured l)y Wilson.
From this accidental eireumstanee it derives its inapjiropriate name of ('a])e
^lay Warl)ler. Wilson never met witli a secontl sijecimen, and Mr. Nuttall
Wiis wlioUy nnaciiiiainted with it. Mr. Audubon also never met witli a speci-
men in all his wanderings, and was able to aild notiiing to its history. Those
figured by him were ])rocured by Mr. Edward Harris, near IMiiladeljiIiia,
through which region tliese birds appear to pass rapidly in their northern
migrations.
Mr. J. A. Allen obtained a specimen near Springfield, Mass., May 15,
1803, and specimens have also lietui procureii at Kast Windsor Hill, t'onn.,
by Dr. Wood. It was not met witli in Western Maine by Mr. Verrill, but in
Eastern Maine and in New Hrunswiciv Mv. IJoardman lias lonnd it a not un-
common summer visitant, though of irregular frequency. He has no doubt
tliat they remain there to breed. They reach Calais as early as the .second
week in May, or as early as tlunr ai)]iearance usually in the neigldiorhood of
I'iiiladelphia has been noticetl Mr. Kuinlien has also obtained sjjecimens
from year to year, about tlie middle of May, in Soutliern Wisconsin, where
they do not remain to lireed, and Mr. Uidgway has taken them in the
beginning of May in Soutliern Illinois.
It is also l>y no means uncommon in Cuba; was met by the Newtons as
a migrant in St. Croi.v, and is not only one of the birds of Jamaica, l)nt is
resident and breeds in the highlands of that island. It is not known to
occur in Central America, Mt^xico, or west of the Mississippi lliver. S]teci-
niens were procured at Moose Factory about May -8.
Its nests and eggs have not been, with certainty, obtained in the Ignited
States, though an egg olttained in Coventry, Vt., in ISIid, and attributed at
tlie time to this liird, closely resenililes its identified eggs from Jainaii'a.
Specimens of the bird, as well as its nests and eggs, jiave also been received
from St. Domingo by Mr. Turnbull of I'iiiladelphia. In the summer of
1S71 a nest of this sjieeies was found by Mr. II. H. Hailey on the ifichard-
son Lakes, in the extreme north western part of Maine. The nest was in a
low spruce-tree, less than five feet from the ground, ami wiieii found con-
tained only a single egg. Unfortunately it was left until more eggs were
deposited, and in the moan while the tree was cut, and the nest and eggs were
destroyed.
Mr. W. T. Marcii of Jamaica, in Ids notes mi the liirds of that island,
states that this species may always be found, in its various changes of plu-
mage, abcait the mangrove swamps antl river-banks. During the summer
months it was common abmit Healthshire and (ireat Salt Pond, ami at other
times very generally distrilmted over the island, lie also met with several
specimens of its nests and eggs, but their ])osition was not stated. The nests
liiul apparently been taken from a bush tu' tree, were three and one fourth
214 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
inches in diameter by two and one half in height, with cavities unusually
large anil deep for the size of the uests. They were wrought almost entirely
of long strips of tliin flexible bark, strongly and firmly interwoven. The
outer portions consisted of coarser and longer strips, the inner being much
finer and more delicate. Witli the outer portions were also interwoven bits
of mosses, lichens, and the outer bark of deciduous trees. The entire fabric
was a remarkable one.
The eggs measure .70 by .55 of an inch, have a pinkish-white ground,
blotched with jnnple and brown of various shades and tints. They are dis-
jiosed chiefly about the larger end, usually in a ring. The eggs are oval iu
shape and slightly pointed at one end.
Ferissoglossa carbonata, Baikd.
CABBONATED WABBIEB.
Sijlviu carbonaUi, Arii. Oiii. IJio},'. I, 1831, 308, \A. Ix (Ivfiitucky). — Xi'tt. Ifcliiiaia
cnrhmata, Aun. Syii. ■ — In. I!ii(l.s Am. II, 1841, 9;'), jil. eL\. Ikiidroiw carbonala,
Bauid, Birds N. Am. ISr.S, 287 ; Kev. Am. Bivds, 207.
Rp. Char. IJill l)ro\vnisli-l)Iack nliovo, liplit blue boncath. Iris h:\zol. Foct light (losli-
color. l'|i])ei' |iart ol' tiie lieail black. Forepart ol' tlio back, lessor wiiiir-covcrts, and
sides dni!k_,, spotted with black. Lower back <hill yellowisli-frreeii, as is the tail, of
which the outer web of the outer feather is whitish. Tip of the .second row of coverts
white, of the lirst row yellow ; tpiills tlusky, their outer webs tinged with yellow. A line
from the lore over the eye ; sides of the neck and the throat bright yellow, .\ dusky line
behind the eye. The rest of the under parts dull yellow, excepting the sides. Length, 4.7;"!
inches ; bill above, 4.42 ; tarsus, .75. (Auuuuo.v).
Hau. Kentucky.
This sjjecies continues to be known only by the description and figure of
Audubon.
Judging from tlie description, tliis species is closely related to /'. Ilip-inn,
but .seems to be distinct in tlie jjure bltick of the top of the licad, tlie ab.senoe
of omnge-brown on the cheeks, tlie white of the wing being on tlie middle
coverts instead of the greater, i\nd the tail-feathers being yeUowish-grtu'n ;
the outer web of outer feather white, instead of a large spot on the inner
web, etc. The back ajtpears more distinctly .streaked.
llAItiTS. Two .sjiecimens of this Warbler, obtained near Heiider.son, Ky.,
May, 1811, by Mr. Audubon, are all its chiim to be recognized lus ii good
s]H'cies. N(mc have since been seen. These birds are descrilu'il as having
been busily engaged in collecting insects among the branches of a dogwood
tree. Tlieir motions were like tiiose of other Warblers. Tliis is all we its
yet know as to the history of this species, and its claims to be regiirded as
a good and distinct species are involved in doubt.
SYLVICOLID.t; — THE WARBLERS.
215
Dentlroica rornnala.
Genus DENDROICA, Gray.
Sj/hicri/n, OuAV, (Icnciii Birds, 2(1 eil. 1841, 32. (Xot of Iluiinilircys nor Swaiusou.)
Dcnilriiicd, (iiiAY, (iciicia IJiiils, ApjH'iulix, 1842, 8.
Ithiinam/ihufi, Hauti.auii, Hi'v. Zool. 184."), 342. (Not of l{aliiR'.siiiU", Am. Monthly Mng.
1818, and Jour, de l'liy.s. 1819.)
Gen. Char. JJill conical, attoiiiuitcd, doprossod at the ba.se, where it is, however, scarcely
lu'oader than hij^h, (.'onipressed from the mid-
dle. Culincn .straif^ht for the ha.sal half, then
rather rapidly curving, the lower edge of up-
per mandible al.so concave. Gonys slightly
con ve.K and asccMding. A distin!;t notch near
till end of the bill. Bristles, though short,
gcncally quite distinct at the base ol' the bill.
Tarsi long; decidedly longer than middle
toe, which is longer than the hinder one ;
the claws rather small and much curved ;
the hind claw nearly as long as its digit.
Tli(^ wings long and pointed ; the second quill
usually a very little longer than the first. The tail slightly rounded and eniarginatc.
Colors. Tail always with a white or yellow spot; its ground-color never clear olive-
green. In D. O'stivd edged internally with yellow.
Eggs iisually with a white or a bluish-wliite ground, marked with purplish-brown and
obscure lilac; in some, mingled with varying shailcs of sienna-brown. Nest, so far as
known, in bushes and trees, except D. ijalmarum, which is on the ground.
The genus Dcndroica is one of the most extensive as to species of any in
North America, and scarcely admits of any subdivision. There is a little vari-
ation in the bill, wings, etc., the chief peculiarities being in D. cantvnca and
pcnntujlvanim, in whicli the bill is broader, and more depressed, with longer
bristles ; in D. striitfn, where the bill is narrow with scarcely any bristles ; and
in D. palmaram and kirtlnndi, where the wings are very short, scarcely
longer tlian the tail. D. pnliiiantm has
the tarsus unusually long. Tiie colors
in all are strongly marked, and the spe-
cies are among the most beautiful of
all belonging to our fauna, and an; the
most conspicuous for their numbers and
in tlieir migrations.
The dini'rence in manners between
certain members of this genus is re-
markable ; tints, the J), pnlinnriim is
very torre.striul in its Imliits, walking
up n the ground with (lie (Mise and
gnice of ii Titlark {Jiit/ms), and, like
these birds, it has a wagging motion
On the other hand, tiie Ikmh-oivti dominim is as much a
Vfnilinirii niiftitbfltti.
of the tail.
216 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Creeper as is tlie Miiiofiff/i rtirio ; creeping not only along the branches, but
the cornices ami lattices of buildings, with the facility of a Nuthatch (Sitfn).
Both these species, however, may often be seen hop))ing ixmong the ioliagt;
of tile trees, now and then snapping an insect on the wing, in the manner
of others of the family.
Species and Varieties.
Inner wclis of t.iil-foathors with ii hirj;;o p.itoli, or broad cilgo, of yellow . Guot'P A.
Inner wel)s of tail-feathers with a larpe patch, or broad edj^e, of while.
Wings with conspienons white niarkinjjrs Ghoit H.
Wings without conspicuous white markings' Guoup C
Oroup A. — (lohhii Warhlcm.
Rump and crissnm without rufous markings Sm'rs I.
Riuiip and crissuni with rufous markings Scries [I.
Series I.
Previiiling color rich yellow, shaded on npper parts with olive-green. $ with
streaks of chestnut across the breast and along the sides, and with or without
a greater or less tinge of the same on the crown. 9 with the streaks beneath
obsolete or entirely wanting; no rufous on crown. Jnv. paler and duller than
the 9i ' ometinies fpiite ashy.
A« Tarsus less than .G5 of an inch. Outer webs of tail-feathers with yellow pre-
dominating.
1. D. aestiva. ("rown generally pure yellow, sometimes with only a
tinge of rufous; lower webs of wing-coverts and tertials pure yellow ;
rump and upper tail-coverts much mi.xed with the same. Wing-
fornnda,' I = 2, 3 ; wing, 'i.liO; tail, '2.0r>; bill, from nostril, ..'iO ; tarsus,
(I'i. Ilah. Entire contiiu'Ut of North America; in winter .south to
Bogota and Cayenne; Trinidad (only locality in West Indies).
B« Tarsus not less than .70 of an inch. Outer wubs of tail-fcailiers with dusky
predominating.
(/. Cn.wn withoM' any rufous, or with only a tinge.
2. D. petechia. Xn/ir Dlirr-i/rern (e.vi'C])t in /")■.) ^ side^^ slretiheil (cx;
*cept in jiir.). Crown greenish, sometimes tingeil with oiange-rufous
nntt-riorly ; lower webs of wing-coverts, etc., not i>urc yellow, and rum|)
and ii|)per tail-coverts without any adniixtun^ of yellow. I/ub. West
Indies (e.xeept Barbadocs and Trinidad) ; not on the Continent.
Lower part of throat streakeil ; outer webs of wing-coverts
liardly appreciably dilferent from the general surface. Above
golden yelliiwish-olive; crown generally without a trace of rufous.
Wing-formula, 2 = a, 4, 1, 5; wing. 2..V) ; tail, 2.10; l)ill, .:10 ;
tnr.sus. .80. //<//>. Cuba and the Bahamas . . var. n ini ill a r li i .'
Lower |)art of throat not streaked; outer webs of wing-coverts
decidcilly yellowish, nn<l ijuite dilferent from the general surface.
' Aliove greenish ydlow-olivc ; crown almost always strongly tinged
1 Or if with wliitc markings, the lacviiiliiig coliu' yi'lluw, ns in J>. piiiiis, in which oidy lln'
ndtdt (J has the wiiig-hinids asliywliitc.
'■* Till' wiiig-fnrnmlii, though varying among individuals, is ncvcrthidi'ss in u measure cliarin-
tcristii'. .\ii avcrngi' s|H'(iiiM'U is in cjuh ciisi' cluisi'ii.
■ J>. gumlliuhi, It.vilin, H.vicw Am. H. I, b'Mlf), 197.
SVLVICOLID.K — THE WARBLERS.
217
with rufous. Wiug-lbrniula, 4, 3, 2, o, 1, G; wiii},', 2.70; tail,
2.2o; bill, .35 ; tarsus, .7!). Ihtb. Jamaica and llayti y \-m: pet ech i it }
e. Whole throat soinutimcs streaked; bauk also soiiietiuuis witii
streaks of dark eastaneoiis; <^reeu above lighter than in var. jieterhid ,
the rump snmetiuies tinged with yellow. Wing-formula, 2, 3, and
4 equal, 5=1; wing, 2.50 ; tail, 2.00 ; bill, .34 ; tarsus, .78. link.
Porto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. ui.. holomew.
var. r iifirup ilia.''
3. D. aureola.' N^ape uliiuti/.i ashy ; sides never strenhed. Abdomen, anal
region, and axillars iieaily white; forehead and crown strongly tinged
with rufous; nape dark ashy. Wing-lbrnnda, 2, 3, and 4 eciual, 5, 1=0;
wing, 2..55 ; tail, 2.00 ; bill, .32 ; tarsus, .75. Jluh. Galapagos Islands.
6. Crown witii only a sharply dehned ovate patch of dark purjilish-rulbus.
4. D. capitalis.* A bioad superciliary stripe of pure yellow ; wing-
formula, 3 = 4, 2, 1 = 5; wing, 2.30; tail, 2.00; l)ill, .30; tarsus, .70.
(9 distinguishal)le from that of the varieties of pelediiii by the dis-
tinctly yellow ujiper eyelid, and considerably shorter tarsus.) Ilab. Bar-
badoes Island, West Indies.
c. Head all round rufous.
5. D. vieilloti. (9 not distinguishable from that of other species.)
//(//). Continental Middle America.
Breast and sides with hrnad streaks of rufous ; outer webs of wing-
eoverts and tertial.i pure yellow.
Rufous of the throat with the jmsterior outline sharply defined
against yellow of jugulum. Wing-fornmla, 3, 4, 2, 1, 5; wing,
2.75; tail, 2.10; bill, .34; tar.sus, .75. /lab. New Gr.-mmia (Car-
thagena, etc.) v^y. vieilloti.'
Rufous of the throat covering the jugulum and blemliug with
the streaks of the breast. Wing-lbrnnda, 3, 2, 4, 1, 5;^wing,
2.45 ; tail, 2.05 ; bill, .27 ; tarsus, .04. Hub. Istluniis of Panama'.
var. rn/igula.*
•
1 Dendrniea petechia, BAinn, Review, 100. {.U<ilacilla pelceliia, Lixn. 17(i(5.)
A specimen from Port an Prince is smaller, measuring, wing, a.-IO ; tail, 2.10; bill, .,11 ;
tar.sus, .71. It is perhaps lighter green above than Jamaieau specimens. These features may
only be cliaracteristic of the jiartieular individual.
'■' J), ruficiipillii, B.vii!i>, Kev. -2(11.
A single specimen from Porto liico dillers in some r.'speets from the .nvrag.' of a seri.'S from
the other islands named. The chief diHeren.es are, less thieklv streakcl throat, and distinct
shuft-streaks of dark chestnut on the back. However, one or two specim.ms of tru.' r„Heu/,ilU
from St. Thomas liav,. tli.' .ipper jmrt of the throat .stnNike.I, an.l one of them has the streaks on
the back. In all probability other sj.ecimens from Porto Uico would be more like typical .species
of this race as seen in the maj(Hity of tho.se from St. Thomas ami St. IJartholomew.
« IK (uireoln, H.uiin, l!ev. 101. {Sijlvlcohi a. V,uv\,\t, Voyage lleagle, 1811, 80.)
♦ 1). ea/ii/alis, I,.uvii. Pr. I'hila. .\,Mid. IStiS, X,H. Harba'does. /V»,/,v„V,/,' li.viim, Kev. 201.
6 JK vi.ilhti, Cassin, Pr. A. N. S. May, bsiiii, lyo. ,|'a„„,„„, Cirthagena.) — lUiitn, Kev.
203
A rufi.juhi, RaiI!!., liev. p. 201. The habitat as Martinique, W. I., was tlu'rc .pu'ried, but
without any reason for .so doing other than that this was the locality of Vieillot's .species, with
which til." typ.' described in It.'view nearly agreed. Should I'iiilht's .spe.'i.^s 1k' really from Marti-
nicpie, in all probability the prtseut bird will be found to he dilfer.'ut, an.l theivfore not entitled to
thi. name here given. Provi.h'd such is tli« ease, the munu " rujiaps," Cabanis, cannot with
29
218 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
lireast and Mes u-iti, ouhj venj unrrow or mnrc/y appreciable streaki of
ruJo,i»; outer tu-ebx of ir!n,j-,-orerls, etc., scarcely (liferent from general
surface.
Rufous of the liuad confmod to it, and abnijitlv (Iclinod all round.
Wiug-Cornuila, ;{. 2 = 4, 1, 5; wiiifr, 2.70; tail, 2.25; bill, .;ii ;
tar,sii6., .72. JIab. .Mexico (Imiii Ilouduia.s and Yucatan to Ma-
zathui) ; , . ,
' var. b rya u tt.^
Series IT.
Prevailing color yellow; crown, rump, and cris.suin with spots of infou..- a
band of the same on the side of the head, from bill (meeting both on forehead
and on chin) aroinid eye and over ear-coverts.
C. D. eoa." Hub. Jamaica (Gossk).
Series I.
Series II.
Group B.
Base of primaries with white patch.
Two white bands on wine
No white bands on wing
Base of primaries without wliite jjatch.
Rumji yellow.
Crown with a yellow spot ,;>p,.,p, jjj
Crown witiiout a yellow .spot Series IV
Rump not yellow.
Throat white (with black streaks in .ilrinta and phnretra) . . Series V.
Throat yellow or orange
Throat black, or mixed with black ....
Series VI.
Series VII.
Series I.
7. D. oUvacea. $. Ileiid and neck, all round, fine light orange-
rnfons; a broa^l blac^k " .^pcclacie ".along siil.,,' of ^the Ijead. 9. IT.^l
yellowi.sh,.TlM.sky on toj^ spectacle obsolete. Ilab. Wliole of Eastern
Me.xici); Guatemala.
Series II.
8. D. caBrulescens. $. Head dark blue above and black underneath;
a black patch covering wh.ilc I;iteral and under side of head and lateral
lower parts. Rest of ui)])er ]>arts dark blue; ba.ses of primaries and
abdomen pure white. 9. Above olive, with a light superciliary stripe ;
beneath wholly light green ish-bu If; base of primaries wliite. Hah.
Ea.stern Province of United States; in winter south into Cuba, Jamaica,
and St. Domingo.
propriety Im ,isod, ns under tliat hrad \w i.idudes s] iineas from Carthagena (true ci,'ilh>ti\
Costa Uioa, and Mcxieo (tlii^ latter hri/nitti).
* I>. viciUiiti, var. bri/aiili, Uidowav.
« Syiiieola coa, GossE, Birds of .bnnai.'a, 1847, US ; Illustrations Birds .Tnin. Dcw/roica cm,
BAtlti), K.-v. lO.-i. Tho true positio this si.cmcs is very unccrtniii, owing to the itnin'rCrt
description, or rather the iM(oinpI..t,. phniiage. of the types. Tlic-re is no .loubt. however, that it
IS entirely dillerent from any other, an<l in its having, as e.xpiv.ssly stated, the inner webs yellow,
thus briiigiiig It into close relation with the "(icldeii Warblers."
SYLVICOLID.'E — THE WARBLERS. oiQ
Sericn III.
9. D. coronata. A yellow patcli on each side of the breast; above
ashy sti-cakcd with black ; l)elly white. $. Breast more or less ..k ;
upper parts ash with a bluish tinge. ? . JSreast only streaked with biaek ;
ash ofiip[)cr part grayish or brownisii.
Tiiroat white; a white superciliary streak; two white bands on
wing. Huh. Eastern Province of North Anierii'a, north to Alaska
and Greenland; in winter south to Panama and West Indies (resi-
dent in Jamaica!) X!iy. coronata.
Throat yellow; no wiiite superciliary streak; one white patch
formed by the fusion of the two l)ands on the wing. Hab. Western
Provincte of North Amoiica from British Columbia, .«outh to Cape
St. Lucas and Jalisco, Western Mexico ; east to Uocky ilountains.
var. a m d u b o it i .
Serien IV.
10. D. maculosa. Whole lower parts liright yellow ; black streaks
across breast and along sides; crown ash; lores, amiculars, and back
black. 9 scarcely dillercnt. Ilab. Eastern Province of North Amer-
ica, from Fort Simpson to Panama ; Cuba and Bahamas.
f>erieH V.
A. Above ashy-blue, or .soft bluish-green.
11. D. caerulea. Lo\\cr parts pun^ white or greenish-white; with or
without a narrow band across the breast; above line ashy-blue, or soil
bluish-green; if blue (^), the back and crown streaked with black;
if green (9 and >i'.), these streaks obsolete. Hub. Eastern Province
of United States (rare northwar.l except in Mississippi Valley), south to
Bogota in winter ; Cuba.
B. Al)ove not asiiy-bhie noi- l)luish-green, but streaked with black upon an
ashy greeuish-dlive or yellowish ground, or else bright olive-green.
a. Sides more or less rufous, and without black or dusky streaks on under
surfa(,'e|.
12. D. penndylvanica'. * <?. Crown pure yellow;' throat and auriculars
pure white ; ^ a,l. similar, but crown greenish, and more or less streaked.
Jiir. Above bright olive-green, nearly grass-green, without .ifreaks except
on the back; side of heail, and sides, clear ashy, the latter with or without
a trace of chestnut; eyelids and medial lower parts pine while, //ab.
Eastern Province of I'nited States, south to Panama; Bahamas.
13. D. oastanea. ^. Crown reddish-chestnut ; throat and sides rufous ;
auri<'ulars black. 9 similar, but crown thickly streaked, sometimes with-
out a trace of rufous ; Jugulum and throat only tinged with rufous. Jkv.
Above greenish-olive, streaks obsolete ; beneath, hicliuliiiy lower lail-
rovrrfs, pale green ish-bn If, or whitish-bnH; and without any trace of
streaks on the sides (<listinction from 9 of D. .itriatn) the sides usually
with a tinge of chestnut. I/ab. Eastern Province of North America,
from Hudson's Bay Territory to Xcw Cnanada.
b. Sides without any rulbus, and with black or dusky streaks.
Medial lower parts not streaked ; inner w,-b.i of tail-feathers with broad
pateh of white,
14. D. striata. ^. Crown deep bku'k ; auriculars and lower parts
white; throat with two series of black streaks, converging and forinin"
an angle on the chin. Above ashy streaked with black. 9 similar^
220 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
but crown greenish sti-eaked with black ; lower parts tinged with green-
ish. Juv. Above greenish-olive, the streaks obsolete ; beneath pale
greenish-yellow ; the lower Uiil-coverts pure white. Hub. Eastern Prov-
ince of North Anieriea, north to Greenland and Kodiak, south to Bogota,
Cuba, and Bahamas.
Medial lower parts streaked loith hlack ; inner webs of tail-feathers merely
edged with white.
15. D. pharetra.' ^. Above grayish-whito, with broad streaks of
black ; pusteiiorly, })lain brownish-gray ; lower j)arts with cuneate spots
of black. Hub. Jamaica.
Series VI.
A. A black " mask " around the eye and on am-icnlars, and extending down the
side of the throat; a light sn^)erciliary stripe continued back into a large space, of
similar color, on side of neck.
10. D. blackburniae. Crown with an orange or yellowish spot (ex-
posed or eoneealed) ; superciliary stripe, side of neck and throat, intense
orange-red {^ ad.), or varying from this to pale bull' (jni'.). ^ intense
black above; back streaked with white or yellowish. 9 olive-gray above,
streaked with black. Juv. olive-gray above without distinct streaks.
Hub. Eastern Province of I'nited 8tate.<, south to Ecuador; Bahamas.
17. D. dominica. Crown without an orange or yellowish spot; super-
ciliary stripe and side of neck June white; throat gamboge-yellow;
above ash, without streaks.
Superciliary stripe l)right yellow anterior to the eye. Bill, .45 ;
tarsus, .GO ; wing, 2.G(J ; tail, 2.00. JIab. Atlantic United States
and West Indies var. dominica.
Superciliary stripe pure white anterior to the eye. Bill, .;J5;
tarsus, .00 ; wing, 2.70 ; tail, 2.2t). //((//. ^Mississippi region of
United States; Mexico (Yucatan on e;ist coiust, andColiniaon west
coast); Guatemala and Honduras .... var. al bilor a .
B« No black " mask." Superciliary stri)ie scarcely, reaching bchini.. the eye.
Sides of neck ashy like the l)ack.
IS. D. graciae. .\uriculars, neck, crown, and upper parts genei-ally,
ashy ; a sui)ra-loral sti'ipe, a crescent on the lower eyelid, and the anterior
lower parts gamboge-yellow. Crissum while.
Hack and sides streaked ivith black; abdomen white.
Yellow of throat terminating abruptly at the jngnlum ; supra-
loral stiij)e extending about .20 of an inih past the eyi', this portion
of it while; dorsal streaks bioad. Wing, 2.C0; tail, 2.20. Jlub.
Arizona (Fort Whipple) var. (/raciw.
Yellow of thi'oat covering whole juguhnn, and not ending abrupt-
1}'; supra-loral stripe .scarcely i)ii.ssing the eye, and wholly yellow;
dor.s.il streaks narrow. Wing, 2.20 ; tail, l.Oo. Hub. British Hon-
dunis (Belize) var. decora .
Hack and sides not streaked with black ; abdomen yellow.
Yellow of throat extending back to the crissum ; .supra-loral
stripe as in the last ; dorsal streaks wanting. Wing, 2.10 ; tail, l.'Jo.
Uttb. Porto Rico var. adelaida}
1 D.pliaretra, Baikd, Kcv. 192. {Syl cicala pharetra, OossE, Birds .Tarn. 1847, 163.)
■■' l>. adclaiike, Uaiku, Rev. April, 1805, 212.
SYLVICOIJD/K — THE WAKIiLKUS.
S'eries VII.
Throat black in $, mixer] with hlaek in ?.
A. Siiius stroakod; bhifk ol' throat witli its posterior oiithne concave.
a. Side of head wliite and bhick.
19. D. nigrescens. A small yellow spot over the lore ; above ash ; be-
neath, white, jj. Whole crown, nnilbrni glossy black; back streaked
with black. ? . Crown ash streake<l with black ; throat mixed with white
anteriorly. Jnv. Crown and cheeks a.^hy; throat mostly white; back
withont streaks. Ilah. Western and Middle Province of United States,
south, in winter, into Western Mexico (Oaxaca).
h. Side of head yellow and black, oi' yellow and olive.
Blade of throat coveriucjjuyuhim ; a hidden lyiow spot in middle of forehead.
20. D. chrysopareia Elack above, pure wlnte below ; no tinge of yel-
lo,v behind the black jugular patch. II„b. Eastern .Aliddle America
from Guatemala to Texas (San Antonio).
21. D. virens. Olive-green .above, the crown and b.ack withont streaks ;
beneath white, the breast and anal region tinged with black. Ilali.
Eastern I'lovincc of North America, from Greenland to Panama; Cuba;
Oaxaca; Heligoland, Europe!
Black of throat confined anteriorly to thejmjnJum ; no yellow spot on forehead.
22. D. townsendi. Above olive-green, the crown and back with con-
spicuous black streaks ; beneath yellow anteriorly, and white posteriorly.
9, black of throat mixed with yellow ; y«y., no black on throat, and
streaks on back obsolete. Hub. North and Middle Province of United
States, .south, in winter, into Guatcuuala.
B. Sides not streaked; black of thvoat with its ])osterior outline convex.
2;j. D. occidentaliB. Above ash tinged with ohve ; beneath white
Head nearly all yellow. ^. Top of head yellow with a few small
black spots; nape black; back streaked with black ; sides pure white.
(9 not seen.) Jiw. Yellow of crown overlaid by olive ; above green-
ish-plnmbeou.-<, without any black on nape or back ; throat yellowisli-
wlntLsh ; sides tinged with ashy. Ilab. Western and Middl.. Province
of United States, south to Guatemala.
221
Oroup C.
A. Above .ish ; no supra-loral stripe ; eyelids not yellow.
24. D. kirtlaadi. Above, including side of head and neck, bluish-ash;
crown an.l back streaked with black ; beneath (except crissum) j.ale yel-
low; breast .spccklc.l, and sides si rcakc.l with lilack ; lores and orr.ital
region, black ; eyelids white. Hah. Eastern Province of United States
(Cleveland, Ohio), and IJaliamas.
2.\ D. pityophila.' Above, inchuling side of head and neck, dull a.^ih;
the forehead and crown olive-green; crown and liack not stre.iked •
beneath white ; the throat and jugnlum yellow ; sides ashy ; no specks
on breast, nor streaks on sides, but a few along side ef neck, between the
ash and yellow. Ilab. Cuba.
B. Olive-green or brown above; a snpra-loral stripe of yellow ; ey-lids yellow.
a. Above olive-green, without streaks ; crissum white ; sides of breiust with
obsolete grayish streaks.
« l>. Hl!/o/,lulu, BAUti), Rev. 208. (Sylvicola p. (irNUl,. Ann. is. Y. Lye. Oct. 1855, KiO.
222 XOHTIl A.MKHICAN IMHDS.
■Ji(. D. pinuB. Forclicai] iiinl car-oovortsolivt^; nlHlomcii whilt- ; yellow
siiiira-ltinil stripe not eoiiliiiiieil lioliiiid llie eye. 9 '"oie f,'i'uyisli ; Jui'.
iibovo uiiibef, benoatli lif,'ht i,'iayisli-biowii, tinjjoil witli yellow. JItdi.
Eastern Province oll'iiited Slates; Jialiainas.
? 27. D. moutana. lAneliead ami eai-covei-ts j'ellow ; ahdoiiieii yellow;
yellow sii[iia-!(iiid stiipe coiitiiiiied past the eye into the yellow ol' the
aurieulai-s. (9 and other stajres niiknowu.) Il(tb. " Dliio Mountains of
Virginia."
h. Above olive-green, the back streaked with chestnut; crissiun yellow;
streaks of black on sides.
'28. D. discolor. Bright gamboge-yellow beneath ; streak on lores
and along side ol' neek, as well as along sides and Hanks, deep black ;
dorsal feathers ehestinit medially. 9 'I'lller, but similar; ./"■'. not seen.
Ilab. Eastern Province of United States: in winter, throughout West
Indies.
e. Above olive-brown, the back not streaked ; crissiiin gamboge-yellow ;
streaks of reddisli-eheslinit on sides.
29. D. palmarum. A<I. Porehead and crown deep rufous; suiiereiliary
stripe bright j'ellow, continued back over ainiculars; sexes alike. Jiii:
and rt(7. in winter. Crown brownish, streaked with dusky; streaks on
sides more dusky. Ilah. Eastern I'lovinee of North America, north
to Port Simpson and Hudson's Uay ; liahumas; Cuba, St. Domingo,
and Jamaica, in winter.
Dendroica aestiva, Baird.
YELLOW WASBLEB; BITUHEB TELLOW-BISD.
MotnciUa ns/ini, (!m. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 996. — Hiilfin irsfion, I,.\ril. ; Vii'.it.I.. II, pi. xcv.
— At'd. Orti. Hiog. I, |il. XXXV. 93. fiiilrirnht nvl. Sw.mns. — .Vi n. liirds. Ami. II, pi.
Ixxxviii. llltitiKihiiiliitu irxt. Wts. ; I'All. .Ii)ur. Ill, 472 (Cuba). Ikmiroifn tent. H.Mi!l>,
Birds N. Am. 18,'.ti, 282; Hcv. 19.5. — .Sci,.AT|-.l!, fatal. 1801, 32, no. 194 (K.cuiidor,
Cayonno, N. Granada). — T.wi.oii, Ibis, 18ti4, 81 (Trinidad). —fooi'Kli & Sicki.ky,
P. 1!. K. XII, II, 18,59, 181 (N. W. coast). — SAMUias, 237. — D.m.i- k lUxxisrKii,
(.Maska). — CooPKi!, Oni. Cal. 1, 1870, 87. Si/Zn'ti ciiniliiicusis, L.vni. Iiid. Orii. II,
1790, 5,51. f Syh-iti Jl'ii-'i, ViKli.l.or, II, 1807, 31, pi. Ixxxi. .S'l/lvin cifriinlla, Wll.s.
II, pi. XV, lig. 5. Siih-iit flii/i/iriii, All). Orn. Biog. I, 1831, pi. xxxv (yi)Uiig). ! Sifl-
rid ivthhiiiiid, Afl). Oiii. liiog. I, 1831, i>l. Ixv. .'iiiln'ccitt r. All). I'.inls .\iii. II, pi.
Ixxxix. .Mdtitcilhi rubiijiiiom, P.vi.i.A.s, Zoi)g. l{o.sso-.\.siat. I, 1831, 49(i (Kodiak). I!hi-
iiinmplius cliri/ncnliis, Box. Bull. Soc. biini. Caen, II, 18.51, 32 {/>. as/icn, froia South
America ; t'aycniic).
Other localities: Xnhipn, .Sci.aiki!, P. Z. .S. 18,59,303. Oiitikmiiln, .Sci.ArKU k Sai.vi.n,
Ibis, 1859, page 11. Pawnini, winter. Lawk. Aim. N. Y. Lye. 1801, 322. TnrlHi,
N. Gmnaihi, Ca.ss. I'r. A. N. 8e. 1800, 191. UdiihUi, Sclatku, Pr. 1855, 143. Vitji
of Me.rko, In. 1804, 172.
Sp. CiiAit. TJill lead-coloi'. Head all loinid, and under parts generally, bright yellow ;
lest of upper p.arts yellow-olivaceous, brightest on the rump. Pack with obsolete .streaks
of dusky reddish-lirown. Fore breast and sides of the l)ody streaked with brownish-red.
Tail-feathers bright yellow ; the outer webs and tip.s, with the whole ui)per surfaces of tht!
innermost one, brown ; extreme outer edges of wing and tail-feathers olivaceous like the
back; the middle and greater coverts and tertials edgc-d with yellow, forming two bands
on the wings. Female similar, with the crown olivaceous like the back, and the streaks
SVLVICOLID.K — THE WAUBLEItS.
223
wantiiifT on the bnrk, and much ivstriutiMl on tlie under parts. Tail witli moro lirown.
Lcn},'lli of mail", o.^r, ■ winy:, 2.00; tail, 2.2r». (Xo. 'J40.) Yo„f,;,. Dull l,ro\viiisli-oliv.*
above; palo ochraecous-yullow beiieatli, with tiiu throat more whitish; the yellow of tail
rcstrietod to iimi'r half of inner wehs. The latter feature will serve to di.stiii},'uish it from
any other Xoith American spi^eics.
IIaii. Entire iVorth Amciica, and in winter into South America as liu- as Ecuador
Cayenne, and Trinidad. Not, recorded from West Indies, where replaced by allied species'.
Ill tlie great abuiKlance of this species ami its wide range of distribution,
tliei'c are many variations in size and color, thouoji none tiiiit are not readily
understood. In yoting l)irds tlie yellow of tiie tail-l'eatli<n's is more restricted,
sometimes contiiied to the edge of the inner wehs. la adults tjiere is occa-
sion.dly ti tinge of orange in the foreliead.
Si/hia rdthbunia of Auduhon is described with even tail, and tlie tail-feath-
ers brown, edged extermilly witli yellow ; the reverse of cvdicu. It is gene-
rally, however, consideretl u synonynie.
Birds of this type ("(Golden Warblers") of six or eight additional species
are known to occur in the West Indies, the Galapagos, and in Middle America;
one of them, D. hrjimiti, possibly to be met with in Southern Arizona. (See
Baird, Keview Am. Dirds, Hi;*,.)
After comparing a series of about one hundre<l and twenty North and
Central American specimens (tiie latter being winter visitors to the region
where uV)taineil), nothing really characteristic of any particular region "can
be detected. Specimens from the I'acilic coast of tlie United States are per-
fectly identical in colors with those from the Atlantic States ; and they agree
in size and proiwrtions, exceiit of the bill, which is iippreciably longer and
Itroader in the Eiistern than in the Western birds. The mo.st highly col-
ored examples are from the interior regions, along the Mississippi Valley from
Louisiaiiii to Northern Illinois, and over the plains north to Fort Simpson.
The majority of the specimens from this region are just appreciably diflerent
from others, in having the yellow more intense and prevalent, almost sub-
duing the olive .shades above ; the crown more tinged with orange. Some-
times (as in No. 4,a01, Calcasieu Pass, La.) the runi]i and upper tail-coverts
are aij.3olutely ^;/^/y^ yellow, only a medial stripe on the feathers being oliva-
ceous like the back. Tiie orange-rufous tinge on the crown is deei)est in
Nos. 4,600, Fort Lookout, and 4,:!()(), Calcasieu Pass.
Three adult summer males from Alaska (Xos. 54,420, Kodiak ; 54,42."'.,
Yukon liiver; and 27,207, Fort Yukon), as well as one from Maine (52,378^
Caliiis), differ from others in having the olive pervading the whole surface
above, even to the bill, the forehead being only tinged with yellow, and the
edges of wing-coverts merely inclining to this color. The lower parts are
much as in Southern s])eciineiis, thougii the yellow is less intense.
Females from Arizona (as 4!l,712, Camp (Jrant, May ; 40,004, Fort Whip-
ple, May ; and 34,:M0, Los Pinos, New JMexico, June) differ from others in
very bleached plumage, the lower ])arts being almost white, and the upper
224 NURTII AMERICAN BIRDS.
surface (inite asliy. 15iit this is, in I'lict, an actual lilcacliing, IVeiiuently to be
seen in birds truni tliat region.
HAmT.s. The geographical range of tlie connnon Summer Yellow-Bird is
very nearly coextensive with North America. In its northern distriliution
it is found as far toward the arctic sliores as any of our land birds. Iiiciiard-
son speaks of it as well known throughout the fur countries as far as tlie
woods extend, and mentions meeting with it among tlie earliest arrivals in
spring, coming in company with tlie cipially well-known llobin and the
(.Jrakle. At Fort Franklin, latitude W>\ he saw it the lotli of ^lay, about
the time of its first appeamnce in New England. Tliis was supjtosed to be
the limit of its nortliern range, but more recent observations give abundant
evidence of its ]>resence, in considerable numbers, to tlie very shores of tlie
Arctic Ocean. The late ^Ir. Heiiburn, in manuscript notes, states it to be a
connnon summer visitant botli of California and Vancouver's Island, and that
along the coast he has traced it as far north as tlie frontier line of 54° 40',
wliere it arrives at the beginning of May, but does not nest until the end of
the month.
^Ir. Dull, in his notes on the birds of Ala.ska, states that this AVarbler is a
rather common bird all through that territory, and gives its arrival as about
the lOtli of May.
Its extreme southern limit is not .so distinctly traced, but is at least as far
as tlie northern portions of South Anu'rioa, inclusive of Cayenne and Ecuiador.
In .'ill of the West Iiulies except Trinidad it is rei)laced by .several closely
allied species or h)cal races. In Trinidad, Mr. E. C. Taylor states that he
found this species common, and could perceive no difference from North
American specimens. In Guatemala it is abundant in the wintei".
Dr. Cones Ibund this Warbler abundant in Arizona, where it is a summer
resident, from April 25 to the middle of September. There, as elsewhere,
its i)ref(!rence for Avatercourses was noticed. Wherever found, it is alwiiys
most abund.ant in alluvial meadows, and more rare in other localities.
Dr. Samuel Cal)ot found this Warbler connnon in Central America, and
Dr. Cragin, of Surinam, sent the Boston Society several specimens from
Guiana. Dr. Woodhouse found it abundant in Texas and New Mexico,
as did Drs. Suckley and Cooper in Wasliingtou Territory and California. It
breeds over the whole area of North America, from (ieorgia on the southeast
and from Mexico, northward. Dr. Sumichiast found it, only as a migratory
bird, abundant on the ]tlains of Mexico.
The notes of ]Mr. Kennicott ami the memoranda of Messrs. McFarlane,
Iioss, and Lockhart attest the extreme abundance of this species in the I'arthest
Arctic regions. In nearly every instance the nests were placed in willows
from two to five feet from the ground, and near water. In one instance Mr.
Iioss found the eggs of this sjieeies in the nest of Tiirdii.^ sirninaoni, which
had either been deserted or the parent killed, as the eggs were in it, and would
probably have been hatched by the Warbler with her own.
.SVI.VICOLIIXK — THE WAUHLEHS. 225
Dr. Cooper found tliis Wnrlilcr very iilmiulaiit in Wiisliinjfton Territory,
and notici'd tlioir arrival in large numbers al the Straits of Vww as early
as April 8.
The Sununer Vello\v-l>ird ariives in New England with great unil'oruiity
from the lirst to the middle of May. Its eonung is usually the harhinger <it'
the ojiening summer and expanding leaves. I'ldike most oi' its family, it is
confiding and familiar, easily encouraged, liy attention to its wants, to eultivate
the society of man. It eontidingly Imilds its nest in gardens, often in elo.se
vieinity to dwellings, an<l in the midst of large villages and cities, auKJUg the
shrubbery of fre(|uented parks. This Warbler, .soon after its arrival, begins
*lie construction of its nest. It is usually placed in hiw bushes, three or four
feet from the ground. Occasionally very ditl'erent positions are chosen.
Hedges of Imckthnrn and hawthorn, liarlierrv-liushes, ami other low sliruit.s,
are their favorite ])laces of resort. On one occasion the nest was jilaced
some forty feet from the ground, in the top of a horse-chestnut tree over-
hanging the main street of a village. Such high positions are, however,
not very common.
The nest is invarialily fastened to .several twigs with gre;it tirmness, and
with a remarkabh> neatness and skill. A great variety of materials is em-
])loved in the construction of their nests, though not often in the same ne.st,
' hich is usually quite hoinogeneou.s. The more connnon materials are the
hempen fibres of jtlants, librous strips of bark, slender stems of plants and
leaves, and down of a.sdejiias. Interwoven with these, forming the iimer
materials, are tlu^ down from willow catkins, the woolly furze from fern-stalks
and the Kriophnrnin. ri.ri/iiiicinii, arid similar substances. These are lined with
soft, fine gras.ses, hair, feathers, and other warm materials. Cotton, where
procural>le, is a favorite material; as al.so is wool, where abundant. I have
known instances where nests were laiilt almost exclusively of one or the
other material. A pair of these liirds, in ISIKi, liuilt their nest under a par-
lor window in lioxltury, wiiere all their operations coidd be chisely watched.
When discovered, only the framework, the fastening to the su])])orting twigs,
had l)een erected. The work of compliition was sim])le and rai)id. The
female was the chief builder, taking her jxisition in the centre of the nest
and arranging the materials in their jjlaces as her mate brought Miem to her.
Occasionally, with outstretched wings and exi)anded tail, she would whirl
herself round, giving to the soft and yielding materials their liemis]iherical
form. At intervals she arrested her revolutions to stop and regulate with
her bill .some unyielding i»(irtion. When her mate was dilatory, .she made
brief excursions and collected material for her.self, and when the materials
brought her were deemed nnsuital>le, they were rejected in a most summary
and amusing manner. Tiie im])ortant part >; the tail-feathers in shaping the
nest and jdacing the materials in position was a striking feature in this in-
teresting i)ertormance. The greater portion of the nest was thus constructed
in a single day.
29
226 NORTH AMERICAN IHRDS.
The woiuU'vt'ul sagacity displiiyi'il by this Warhkn- in avoiding the disa-
ureoahk! ahrinativo of I'ithcr iiavinu; to ahandon its own lu'st or of vcarinij;
tlic yinnij; of the intnisivo Cow r)iai'l\l)iiil, wht'n oni' of liii'si' I'gij.s is drui)]ied
in hor nest, was liisl notiied liy Mr. Niittall. Tiit; ogg ol' tiie parasite, heing
too hirge lor ejeetnient, is ingeniously incareerati'd in the hottoni of the nest,
and a new lining liuilt over il. Oceasionally, either hy aeeident or design,
the intrusive egg has been fractured. Mr. Xuttall states that where the
])arasitie egg is laid after her own. tlie Summer Vellow-liird acts faithfully
the])artofa foster-parent. This, however, is not aeeording to my oiwrva-
tions. lu several instances I have known the Summer Vellow-l>ird utterly
refu.se to act the part of a foster-jiarent, and, rather than do so, saeritice iier
own eggs. So far as I know, this \\ arhler will never it upon or hatch out
the egg of the Cowliird, under any circumstances. Some ])owerful instinct,
bordering closely upon reason, seems to teach the.se intelligent Warblers the
character of the iutnuler, and they sacritii'e their own eggs rather than rear
the ]iarasite. In this dilennna they will always, so far as 1 know, iiu-arcer-
ate their own eggs with the ('o\\bird's and reconstiuct the ni'st alnive them.
In oni? instance the sanu' jtair of VeUow-Uirds twice, in the .same nest, cov-
ered u]) alien eggs in tiiis manner, liuildiug, in fact, three nests one above
the other, between the walls of which iiad been successively included two
eggs of the ("owbird. Tiiis ihree-storied nest measured seven inches in
lengtJi, and was built almost exclusively of raw cotton. The covering of the
imju'isniied eggs was about two thirds of an inch thick. In both instances
the Cowliird's eggs had been broken, a]i]iarently iiy design.
So far as I am aware this \Vari>ler rai.ses but one brood in IMassachusetts
in a season. In rennsylvania it is said to raise ^wo, and even three. The
eggs are usually live and (H'casionally si.\ in numlier.
This Warbler is conspicuous in its devotion to its yiaiiig, evincing a strong
attachment ami an anxiety in regard even to an unoccupied nest, and be-
traying the site by this solicitude. They will also resort to various exi>edi-
ents to draw one away from their nest, by feigned lameness and other strata-
gems aiul mano'uvres.
The song of the Sumnu'r Ycllow-Iiird is simple but |ilensiiig, and is easily
'•ecogni/ed when once known, though liable to be ciuifoiuidi'd with that of the
Maryland ^'ellow-Tllroat, and also said (o resemble the son,g of seveial other
Warblers,
In conliuement they usually beconu' very tauu>, fMuiliding, and reconciled
to their imprisoinueiit, and have been known to perch on an outstretched
linger, and to catch Hies in a room.
Their eggs vary in length from .01 to .7" of an inch, and in Ipivadth from
.4'.) to .oL'. They have a ground-color of a light green. Their dots and
bhttches vary greatly in nundicr, si/e. and maimer of distribution. Their
colors are light purple, ilarki'r pui'iilish-brnwu, and other shades of brown
and lilac.
SYLVICOUD.E — TllK WAHHl.KliS. 227
Dendroica corcT»'.;i, <!ray.
YELLOW-EUMP WABBLEB; MYETLE WAEBLEE.
Mot'icil/ii C'liviKilii, l,iNN. Syst. Nat. I, ITilti, :!:!:!. X/z/c/-' ,;,ri<iiiif,i. Lath. ; ViKii.i.nr ;
Wll,s. ; NriT. ; All). Urn. liio-,'. II, pi. cliii. S;//rioi/(i o<i-iHi<it,i, Sw.mns. ; lio.N. ; Acn.
Hinls, Am. 11, |il. Ix.wi.- -.Ionks, Nut. liiTimiila, ,"i!t (abmi.liuil in Apiil). /ifiiilivini
coi;)ii(ihi, (iiiAY, (JriiiTa. IStii. -1. Maiim), liircls N. Am. IS.Vs, -rii; \W\. IS7. -
Ma1!C11, 1'. .\. N. Sc. lM!:i, -.".fJ v'i"":'i''''. in .siininii'V ; lircnlinf,'*. (iiNin,. I'ali. ,limi.
1S()1, ;i2i) (t'lilia : iM.mnioii). — Coni'i;!! & Sn ki.ky, 1'. I!. H. .\11. ii, IS.V.i, IHCHl'iiKct
Soumh. SAMIKI..S, •J'iii. - Dai. I, & Mannisiki! (Ala.skaK - ('ooi'Dil, (hii. Cal. I,
1870, M). Uliiiiciii/illiis iny. ('All, .lour. IN.'i."), 17.1 (< 'illia). Muldi'ilhi rnniiilin.ii.i, LlNN.
l-2tli cil. 17lili, :i:!t (Fitrdii/d ciihulnisis ,i,h rm. Wv. Ill, .".-J 1, pi. .x.wii, li^'. 1). I'linix
■viriiiiiiiiiiiin, Linn. 12th ri\. Sysl. Xal. 1, 17iiii, :U2. .\/u/,i,i//,i iiuihrid, viiu-Ui, iiiinjiiis,
(1m. Si/IpIh ,viiii/lni/iii(ii'i, Vii.ii.i.. Sjih-iii .riiiiflii.i-ini, Vii:il,i..
Localitcs ([uoti'il : .V. (IivciiIkii.I, ItriNilAlilir, Itii.s, ISiil, "i. Ctii-itoni, Scl.. 1'. Z. S.
ISi'itJ, "Jul. Xii/diM, 111. 1S.'>!I, ;li);!. duii/iniiilii, Scl.. .'i; Sai.v. IN.MI, 11. I'antima,
I.AWi!. Ann. N. Y. I.yc. Vlll, li:!. C(il«i, winlrr, ('ah. .Idui'. Ill, 17:3. /tuliumtis,
winter, UllVANr, Most. I'l. VII, IS.V.'. ./,n,iiihi. {\o~.sv., liircls ,1am. l,"..->. SI. Dnniiit-
qo, Sai.i.k, r. /. S. lt<,")7, iM. r.i.ilii lHai, Lawi;. n,i:'ili,i, winti'i-, Simii iiitAsr.
Si'. CilAU. AImivc liliiisii-a.-;li, slivakcil Willi Hark. I'liiliT parts wliili'. The I'lircpart
of lircast anil lin' ■■<iili'.-< lilark. lin' Irallicis iimslly i'(lj;rcl narruwiy willi wliili'. CidWii,
ruiiip, and .sidi's of lirra.-it vi'llow. Clicrks ami lures Mack. 'I'lii' I'Vi'liils and a siipriviliai v
stripe, Iwi) liands on llie win;/ and spnis on llie oiiler lliiee tail-reiilliei>. while, l-'nuiili:
of duller phinia.ii'e and hrowner aliove. l,en;4lli, ").(>."); wiii'r, .'(.OH; tail, 'l.')^\.
IIaii. lOasleiii I'lovinee of North America, iiiid iiorlliward, extemliii^' .sparsely aloiii,'
L'nited Stales lioiiiidary to PiicMlic^ Oc'eaii ; Denver City, Colorado; Korl Yukon ; (Ireeiilaiid ;
Eastern Mexic'o to I'aminia !!. II.; \Vc\stein West Indies and Ueiinnda. l!iH'eds in .liuiiaieal
Autuiiiiiiil and winter liinl.s nrc very iimcli ihillci' mid more olwciiri'ly col-
oivd, tlu' ii|ijH'i' ]iurls 111' an uinlicr cast with llio sti'i'iik.s alniiist (ilisiili'to ; tlio
black of till' lii'ca.st wantini,' <>i' but jn.st indicated, and tlio yoUow i)at('h('s du
crown abiKist t'nnccalcd by tbi; brown tip.s to the I'eatliors, and tho.so on side
of breast (iiiitc dull.
A siirin,L!; male (r)L',:,'.S.")) rroin Wasiiinoicm i.s remarkable in liaviii,!,' tlie
adjoinino series tit' I'eatiiers down tlie middle oi' the back \vilii tlieir inner
welis broadly edj-eil wilii yellow. In this resiiect it diilers i'roni all others
that we Iiave noticed.
Il.^lill's. The Vellow-cinwned Wood Wariiler is one nfthe most common
species of this melius, as well as one of the most widely distriiuited. It is
found, at dill'ereiit seasons, tliidi|o;lioiit the east(>rn ]iart of the continent, as
far west as the (ileal Plains, extending at Ihe far noiih to tiie raciiic Ocean.
It has been found in (ireeiilaiid, tliree specimens havinu been taken witiiin
twenty vesirs, and on the shores of tlie Arctic Ocean, and duriiii; the winter
in the West India islands, Mexico, and Central America, Specimens from
Klorida and Korl Slcilacoom, I'tiiiaiiia, ( iiiatemala.and damaica, and from Kort
Uaiv Anderson lliver, and the Viiknn.in ihe colleclion of llie Smitlisoiiian In-
stitution, iiltest, ils wide distribution. In daiiiaica, in the neiohliorhood of
228 NORTH AMERICAN 151 RD8.
Spiinislitowii, this s]n'cies lias Uioii kiiuwii to breed. In view of the faet that
tliis bird is rejj;arded, witli <food reason, as one ot" our most northern speeies,
breedinji' to tiie very shores of the frozen seas, the ocenrrence seems erratic
and remarkable. Yet it is not without eorrespdudin^ vaj^aries in other sjje-
eie.s, the cara/cacnui breeding in Cuba and the tiyrinu in St. Dominjfo and
Jamaica.
Afr. I'aine, of East Ifandoljili, Vt, .states that these AVarblers arrive in his
vicinity about tiie first of .May, and remain tluic nearly two weeks, and then
all i)ass north. They do nut return on their southern lli;j;ht until the la.st
of S('])teniber, when tiiey remain aboiit three weeks. It is a very active, rest-
less bird, chiri)ing eoutiuually and very sharply as it tlies around in search
of insect.s, but has not, so far as he knows, any sonj,'.
In Southern Illinois, as Mr. IJid^way inbirms nie, this l)ird is a common
winter sojourner, remaining- late in sjning with the migratory s])ecies. It is
very abundant throughout the winter in woods, orchards, and door-yards.
^Ir. Salvin found this species l're(|Uenting the more ojien districts aliout
Duenas, (iuatemala, apparently jn'eferring scattered bushes to the denser un-
derwood, and was an abundant sjiecies there thnuighout the Avinter sca.s(Ui.
It is but tpiite recently that we have known with ci'rtainty its place and
manner of breeding. Neither Wilson, Xuttall, noi' Audubon a])])ear to have
met with its nest, though the lutter received one from Professor McCuUoch
of Halifax.
In the suuMiier of IS.");"), early in July, I obtained a nest of this species
in Tarsboro', Nova Scotia. It was built in a low bush, in the midst of a
small village, and contained six eggs, flie parents were very shy, ami it
was with great dilliculty tlia) one of tlicni Mas secured i'or identilieation.
Tiiougli late in llu^ season, inculmlion had Imt just conunenced.
The nest was built on a horizontal brancii, the smaller t\\ igs of which were
so interlaced as to admit of its being built upon them, though their extremi-
ties were interwoven into its rim. The nest was small for the bird, being
only two iiK'hes in depth and fmii' and a half in diameter. The cavity
is one and a half inches deep and two and a half wide. Its base and exter-
nal ])orti<Mis consist of fine, light, dry stalks of wild grasses, and slender
twigs and roots. Of the last the firm, .strong rim of tlu' nest is exclu-
sively woven, ^''•"thin, the ne.st is compo.sed of soft, fine gra.sses, downy
feathers, and the fine hair of the smaller mammals.
^Ir. Audubon, who observed very closely tlie haliits of these birds during a
vinter in Kioiida, descrilies thi'in as very social among themselves, skipping
along the jiia/./a, lialaiicing theniseh cs in the air opposite the sides of the
house in search of sjiideis and insects, diving through the low bushes of the
garden after larva' and worms, and at nig'ii roosting among the orange-
triics. In his visit to Maine Ih^ found the i; very aliumlant in early May.
The woods seemed alive witii them, and wiierever he landed, on his way to
Labrador, he found them in great numbers.
.SYLVR'OLID.K — THE WAKBLEIW. 229
This Warbler is an expert Hycatcher, feeds eliieHy on insects, and is a great
(levourer of small caterpillars; !)Ut in tlie winter its food is larj^ely (•i>mi»)setl
of herries, especially llujse of the Mi/riin vii-l/tni. It will also feed on grass-
seeds. In the warmer wintry days in Florida, when insects are aliundant,
Mr. Audubon states that these birds are particularly active in their pursuit,
and the trees seem full of them. At this time they endt, at each movement,
a single note, ticeet, so very jieculiar that they may be at once recognized by
the cry.
Wilson states that these Warblers a])pear in Pennsylvania, from the North,
early in October, and stay there s(!veral weeks. Some of \.\\v.n\ lemain in
the Southern States all winter. They feed witli great avidity upon the ber-
ries of the red cedar.
In Western Mas.sacinisetts it is a very al»undant spring and autumn visit-
ant, making but a brief stay in sjiring, Imt pa.ssing northward in large num-
bers. In autumn it remains longer, and passes south more leisurely. Mr.
1>. P. Mann found its nest and eggs in Coiicord, but this was jirolialily an ex-
ceptional instance. In Eastern Maine it arrives May Ho, and, as Mr. ]>oard-
man thiidss, remains to breed. Both Dr. Suckley and Dr. Cooper met with
this .sp(icies in Washington Territory, where it is very rare.
No writers have observed or noted tlie song of this l)ird, except Mr. T. ^I.
Trippe (American Nat., II. [). 171), who states that iluring its si)ring migra-
tions it lias a verv sweet song or warl)le, uttered at siiort intervals.
It reaches the high northern latitudes hiti' in May, and leaves that region
in September. The observations tif Mr. McKarlane show tiiat the nests of
this bird are moderately common at Anderson lliver, and are generally liuilt
in low spruce-trees four or five feet from the ground. In one or two
instances it was placed on the ground.
Tlie eggs of tliis AVarbler vary from .71' to .SO of an inch in lengtli, and
from .no to ..").") in breadth. Their ground-color is wiiite, often tinged witii a
blui.sh shade, and lilotched and s]iotte(l with reddisji-ln'own, puri)le, and darker
shades of brown. They are of a ro.'ided oval shape.
Dendroica auduboni, P>.\ii!i).
AUOTTBON'S WABBLER ; WESTERN YELLOW- RUMP.
Sijlrln iiiiihihniii, Tii\vnsi:nii, .1. \. X. Sc. VII, ii. \)i:\7. - III. Xarmtivi-, l.<(:iO, 34-2.—
All). Oiii. liio;;. V, 1s:i!l, :,•>. |i|. I'ccxcv. Sii/riciihi ini<liil«iiii, llnN. I,i>t. ls;!,>*. — .\ri>.
liiiil.s .\iii. II, 1,S41, 'Jil. )il. Iwvii. Ihiiili'iiii-i, iiii.hilmiii, ll.\iia>. Minis N. .\iii. l.s.-.s,
27;l ; Itrv. 188. - S(l,.vn.li, I', /,. .S. \X',H, '.'".IS (Oiixm-i ; Ocldlici) ; 1 Still, •.>,"ill lt»ll/aliiO.
.^clAi'iai «: S.M.viN, lliis, IMId, -J":* (f^iiii 'ii'iiiiiiiii'i. 'iiial.V <'ihi|'|;ii *; Sn ki.kv,
I'. I!. Ii. I.'.'p. XII, II, IH.V.i. IM. Sii,.Mi.ii, I'. /. S. l.stil, 17-_'(('il,v (if Mixli(p). —
ClIOI'KIl, Hill. I'lil. I, 1S7(I, ,S,H.
Si'. ClI.MI. Al")Vi> hlllisli-asli. sllCiiki:il Willi Mark, iiiii-l liiarki'il i>ll llic liliiiijli' cil' llic
liiiek ; on llie licail ami neck liliii>li-a>li. .Miildli' iil' iTuwii. niiiiii. rhiii, mid tliioal. ami a
230 NoltTJJ AMEIUCAX liJUDS.
patch on tlic siiic ol' tlii' Ijicast, L'iiiiilMii^i'-yt'llow ; space Ix'iicatli and anterior to llic I'Vi'S,
foicpart ot" breast anil sides, l)iai-k ; this color extending; licliind on the sides in streaks.
Middle of belly, luider tail-coverts, a porlion of upper and lower eyelids, and a broad band
on the wings, with ii spot on each of llie four or five cxlerior tail-leathers, white; rest,
of tail-fealhcrs bli'ck. Fiiniile brown aliove: the other niarkiMirs less coiis])iciioiis and less
black. Leny:tli, 5.:;.'); \vi'.ii,'s. Ji.'JO ; tail, "J.i;"). Yoiukj. tirst pluniauf, whole Ijody, inehid-
ing head all roinid and rump, i()ns[)icuoi;sly streaked with slaly-black upon an ashy ground
above and while below, ^.'o yellow on crown, rnnip, breast, or thioat. AVings an<l tail as
in autunnial adull.
Wxa. Western an<l Middle Provinces of the I'nited States; Cape St. l/ucas; Western
Mexico and Orizaba? Oaxaca (cold regions, October, yci..\Tt:ii) ; (iuatemala (Salvix).
This bird is very closely allied to D. coroiudd, but is distiiiouished by the
yellow (not white) throat ; the absence of a superciliary white stripe (the
eyelitls ^vhite, however); the restriction of the black of the face to the lores,
and to a suffusion round the eye ; and the presence of ont; broad band on tiie
uinjis, instead of two narrow ones.
Habits. This betiutifiil Warbler, .so strikinoly simulating; the J), mronula
in the character of its niarkinos, and now so Well known as a common sj)ecies
on the Pacific cotist, wiis first met with by Mr. Townsend near the C"oluinbi!i
Iiiver, wiiere he found it very alnindant. Mis account of its haliits is incon-
sistent, and probalily not rclialik*. Mr. Niittall, who \tas willi Mr. Town.send,
dilfers, also, essentially in his account, lie states that lie lirst saw them about
the middle of Ajjril, and that their song bore a very close resemblance to that
of tlie J>. asficK, but was delivered in a much su]ierior style. They remained
his sunnner comi)anion.s, breeding amono' the siiady tiis on the liorders of
prairie openings^ where there was an abundant siijiiily of insect food. ]^>y the
8tli of -lune he fouiul their youno; already out, in small and busy Hocks, so-
licitcmsly attended by their jiarents. They oreatly resembled tlie youiio of
the ivronaht. These liirds fi('(|ueiilcd large trees, particuhirly the water-oaks,
and the lower branches of gigantic lirs.
Dr. Cooper ibund this Warbler one of the most al)undant sjiecies of Wiisli-
ingtnn Territory, and lielieved tlicm to be, to some extent, a rcsiiU'ut s])ecies,
as he mot tiiem aliout the Straits of Fuca in March. He s]ieaks of its song
as lively, and heard everywlicre on the liorders of the woods, even near the
coast, where k'w of the smaller s]iecios excr visit. I:i the fall he noticed
straggling flocks of the yiuing wandering about She low shruliliery in large
niindjcrs. Tiie same writer also states that this species is in winter a \fry
abundant liird in the southern part (d' ( 'alifornia, Hitting abcait among tiie
Imshes and low trees. The males are then in the dull plumage of the females,
and do md ]iiit on their richer hues until ^larcli or .\piil. He saw none
south of San Franci.sco after May 1, but tiiey liegan to reappear in September.
As lie found newly Hedged young near Like Tahoe, he thinks they breed
throughout the higher Sierra Xevaila. At the sea level in latitude .">7° they
a])j)ear lute in Se]itember, and remain until March L'd.
Dr. iSuckley regarded this bird as the most abundant species visiting Uie
SYLVICOLID.R — TIIK WAItHLKIIS. 281
western portion of Wasliiiij^ton Territory. Near Kort Stcilacoom it was
found principally anions tlie oak-trees on the plains.
Dr. AVoodlioii.se found it alaualant in New Afe.Kico, eontininj;' itself to tlie
timbered and mountainous districts, and es])ecially plentiful amon^' the San
Francisco Mountains, foedinj,' anionj,' the tall i)ines. Dr. ("oiies found it ex-
ceedingly common in Arizona, wiiere some spend the winter, and a few pos-
sibly remain in tiie suninuir to Ineed.
Dr. Heermann found them remaining in the Sacramento Valley throughout
the winter, and (piotes Dr. Kenncrly as finding these birds on the lioca
(Irande and at (HiVerent points in Sonora. Mr. (lanibel found these AVarblers
on all his roatt; from Xew Me.xico to California in great alumdance, tlieir
habits greatly ntsemlding those of the D. coruniitn. Tiiey disjilay a gn^at deal
of familiarity, entering the towns, resorting to the gardens ami hedge-rows,
and even the corrals of the houses, descending also to the ground in company
with IJlackliirds and Sparrows.
This Warbler is thus shown to have a very extended distribution. It is
now known to be found, at ditferent seasons, from Central America to British
Columbia, and from New Mexico to the I'acitic.
We are indelited to the lat(! Air. IIe[)burn for all the knowledge we possess
in reference to ils nests, eggs, and breeding-habits. He procured their nests
and eggs in Vancouver's Island. They were built in the forked branches of
small shrulis. Around these the materials of which they were Ituilt were
strongly bouml, and to it tiie nests were thus sccundy fastened. They were
quite long and large for the l)ir(l, being four inclies in height, and three and
a half in diameter. The cavity is small, lait deep. The external peri-
]thery of tiie nest is made of coarsci strips of liark, long dry leaves of wild
grasses, ami strong stalks of plants, intermingled with hner grasses, pieces of
cotton cloth, and otiier materials. Tiie inner iiest is also a singular coniliina-
tion of various materials, yet carefully and elaborately put together. It is
made u|) of fine gra.s.ses, feathers, lichens, mosses, line roots, etc., all felted to-
g(?tlier and lined with a warm l)edding of fur and ftiathers. Mr. Ileplaun's
ob.servations, so far as they go, seem to show that this liird does not usually
build in such lofty positions as Xiittall and otliers conjectured.
According to .Mr. I leplmrn, they arrive in VaiKuaiver's Island in the middle
of April, and generally freiiuent liigii trees, constructing their nests in the
upper branches, though also frei|iienlly buihling in low bushes, a few feet
from tlie ground. The uumlier of their eggs is fiair. These, lie states, havi'
a jture white gnamd, and are sjiotted, usually chielly about the larger cud,
with red markings.
Mr. Salvin met with botii tiiis species and the A coroiiiilii at San (leroni-
nio, Novemlier, 1S."'.». Tiiey congregated together on the ground, where they
principally obtained tlieir food.
Dr. (!oo])er, in his paper (Ui the fauna of Montana, mentions this Warbler
as the only one of tlie genus .seen l>y him lietween Fort Meiiton and Fort
282 NORTH AMERICAN RIHD.^.
Viiiicouvcr. It was vciy cominoii tlirouoliout tlio momilniiis, and lie Ibuiid it
m every p.irtion of tlie co.ntiy west of them, even where seurcely a busli
was to be se(;n.
According to tlie careful oliservations of IVfr. T^olx^rt I{idi,nvay, this War-
bler, during the summer montlis, in the (Jreat IJasin, chietlv inhabits the
pines of tiu3 high mountain ranges, as well as the cedar and j.^inon woods of
the desert mountains. In winter it descends to the lower portions bein-
then found among the wiUows, or, in small roving comi-anies, hoppin-- amon--
the tree-tops in the river valleys. In manners it is said by him to i^semble
the armwta, but in their notes they differ very widely. A nest, containing
throe young, was found by Mr. Itidgway near the extremity of a liorizontal
branch of a lune-trce, about ten feet from the ground.
The eggs of the Audubon Warljler do not ivsemble'tho.se of any Drvdroica
with which I am ac.]uainted, but are most like those of the Hooded AVar-
bler. They measure .70 by .r.O of an inch, have a reddish or pinki.sh white
ground, and are sparingly marked ^itli fine brown markings, tinted with a
cnm.son shading.
Dendroica maculosa, IIukd.
BLACK AND YELLOW WARBLEB.
.1/,./^//;^ wanih^n, (Iv. S.v^t. \„t. I, 178,H, 984. S„Mn m. Laiii. ; Vn-M . • 15.,N •
NriT. ; An.. On,. liio«. I, II, V, ,,1. I. ].:i. ^,!n.-o,,. ■„,. Sw.v,ns. , |i„x: ; Am:
Hinls Am. 1 1, 1,1. .x,vi. I!him„„pl,„s m. Cm,. .I„„-. ) 1 1, ]«.-,-,, 474 ,,.„|,,,) i,,„in,i,;, m
n.vinn, nii.ls X. Am. I.'^.kS, 2S4 ; l!,.vi,.w, l'.m;. - S.x.vti.:,!, I>. Z. S iS;Vt ytit 'Wi
(Xnlapa). I?nvAXT, Vv. l!„.t. Sue. VII. IS.V.l (lialiaiims). - S.i.Ari:!! k Sm'.vin 'll,is
IS.,!., 11 (finat.MMala). - Lawuks.k, Ann. X. Y. I.yc. US.il, :!2-2 (I'ananm ; winJ.i). -
..•.Ni.i.A.„,Cal...I,nu-. lS.n,;rJ.UCuba; very rare). -Samikls, 238. S,ilcia nw,,n„li„,
A\ii,s. in, ]>1. .\xiii, li^'. ;!. • . .
Pp. Ciiak. .IA,/r, h, s/,ri„,,. liill ,iark l.liiisl,-l,]ack. rallM-r li-litcr liriiealli. Tail ilii^kv
I''"'' '■^"' ''■-'" ,iri-i'.vi^l'-l'ln.'. I-Vout, ioro, .•l,..,.|c, a,„l a ,.rri,„ !,,■ tl„. t-v, Mark, runnin.r
into a lai-.. inan.irular |.at,-l, 01. ll,,. l.a.'k liotw.M.n tl». winus. wiiirh i.< al.so Mack Kvcli.U
nii.l a. .trip.. IW.mi tli,. ,.y.. aionj,- ll... ],ca,| wl.iu.. r,,,,,,- |ail-,-ov,.r.s l,la.-k .mw.i.. of l|„.
f.^atJuTs t.pp,..I with urayisi,. A1i.1o„m.|. and hnwr tail-,..,v..,ts whit,.. I!,„np an.l .m.l..,-
part.s ..N,...pt as ,l,.s,Tih,.,i, yMJow. [,ow..|- thr,.al, l.iva.st, aii.l ,s|,K..s .^tivakcl with hhi.'k •
th.. ..tivaks .■l„s..|- „„ ||„. !,,w,.r ihi-oat an.! ll.rc l.ivast. I,....,.,.,- wi„^.-,.„v,.||s. an.l ..,!..vs „l'
the wiM.o- an.l tail, hluisl,-.;Tay. ih.. fonn...- ,«polt,..l with 1, k. (.tiiills an.l tail aln.osl hla.'k ;
th.. lattrr w.ih a s,|nan. patch ..C uhii,. „„ il,,. in • w,.l,s .,r all th,. tail-li.alh,.is (Iml ij,,:
Uxo nni,.,) I„.y„n,l th,. n,i,l,||,. of th,. tail. Tu,. whit,- han.l,. a,.,-„.s,s ih,- win;... (s„n„.|in„.s
f...al..,.,.,.,| MiK, ,.!„.) f„r I by ,|„. ,„„|,ll,, ,„„| s,.,.,m,larv roM-vt^. fart „r th,. ,.,|..v „r
th.. linu.i- uvhs ort|„.,|„i||s whit,.. l.\.alh,.rs iMai-inin'i;- th,. I,|a,.k pat,.|, ,m nu''\:>rk
Muw\ nntl „„ ih,. si,l,..s tin-,..l with ,., .,.„ish. I„.„oth, ;". in,.|„..s win..-. 2..^,() ; tail •'".-.
A.uiu.n.al M,al,.s ,liir,.,. in ahs,.n,. ' l,la, k „r had., Inn,!. ,.i,l,.s „r i„.a,|, an,l t,. u c.n.si,!..,'-
nhlo ,Ii.jr|-,.,. l„.n,.ath, mill in nHi,-li l,.sy whit,. ,>ii ih,. win;:-' ami h,.a,l.
Female in s,.rh,,,. Similar. I,nl all th.. c..l„r,. .hill,.r. ^I!la,-k „r (l„. I,a,.k ro,.tri..t..,l t.. a
i'..iitral triniif,'iilar ]iatch.
IfA... Kast..n, Pn.viM,.,. ,X Savth Anu.ri.'a t,. lA.rt Siinp..,,., ; f.^a-.torn Mexico t,. (i.iatc-
rnalii and rananiii; Ifahainas ; Cuha (v,.iy rare).
SVI.VICOLID.E — THE WAliULKliS. 233
Habits. The lilack iind Yellow WavMei', one of the most boiiutit'iil of this
attnu'tive family, was siip})osc(l l)y our earlier writers to be exceedingly rare.
Wilson never met with more than two specimens, — one in Ohio, the other
on the Missi.ssij)j)i, — and spoke of it as a very scarce species. In regard to
its song he was quite at fault, denying to it any notes deserving the name
of song. Niittall, who had only seen it occasionally in ^^as.sachusetts, in
the middle of ^lay, regarded it as rare, and was unacquainted with its
notes. Its history is now much better known, and neither its great rarity
nor its deficiency ,is to melody can any longer l)e admitted.
At certain seasons and in i)arti(uilar ])laces it is a very common species.
It may be found during the breeding-season throughout Xorth America east
of the Great i'lains, between latitude 44° and Fort Simpson in the fur
country. During its migrations it may be met with in most of the Eastern
States, in Eastern Mexico, and the northern portions of South America. It
has been found in the liaiiamas, and also in (.'ul)a, wlien; it is not connnon.
Specimens ha\e been received from Mexico, Guatemala, and ranama, and
from P\irt liesolution, llupert Housi', and Fort Simpson, in iVrctic America,
and as far to the west as the mouth of Vermilion River. Dr. Ih-yant
met Avitli it in the Bahamas as early as .the loth of March, where it was
(juite common. M. IJoucard found it at I'laya Vicente, in the hot portion
of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico.
In "N'estern Massachusetts, Mr. Allen found it a common spring and
autumn visitor, occurring in its nortliern llights from the middle of ^May to
the first of June, and in the autunm as late as Sejjtember 20. Professor
Verrill ibund it in Western ^laini', but not common, both in s])ring and fall,
but had no reason to beli(!\-e that it l)red there. Mr. Uoardman does not
include it in his list of Calais birds, and 1 did not iind it among the islands
in th(^ I5ay of Fundy. In the vicinity of Halifax, during the months of
June and July, it is one; of the most common of the Warblers, occurring in
ever}' ilircction.
Mr. Audubon o1)served these Warlilers in Louisiana, in their migmtions, as
early a.s the middle of Mantii ; luit its appearance there, as well as in Kentucky
and Ohio, a])peared to be occasional and accidental. In autumn he has met
with tiiem in large nundiers among the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania.
Tlu^y were jjassing soutiiward with their young. AVhile on his way to Lali-
rador he noticed them in Maine, near Eastport, in May, very abundant along
the roads, the fields, and the low woods, as well as in the orchards and gar-
den.s. The season was thi'n not advanceil, the weatiier cohl ; and these birds
sheltered themselves by night among tlu^ evergreens, and were often so chilled
as to be readily taken l)y tiu' hand. He also met them wherever ho landed
in the neighltoring islands in the Bay of Fundy and at Labrador.
The song of this Warblci' is clear and sweetly modulated, and surpasses
that of most of this family. It seems to ju'efer the interior of low woods,
where its notes may chielly Ix; heard during the early summer, as it sings
234 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
while it is soarciiing for its food uinoiig the hriuichos, in the manner of the
Vircos.
Like nearly all tlio members of this family, in its search for food it blends
the hal)its of the C"roei)ers with tliose of the Flyeatcliers, feeding upon
insects in their every form, running up and down the trunks for the ova,
lar'\T, and pupfe, expertly catcliing the insect on the wing, and equally
skilful in hovering over the expanded bud and searching the o])eniug leaves.
Mr. Audubon I'ouud its nest placed deep iiong the branches of h)w fir-
trees, su)i])orted by horizontal twigs, constr\icted of moss and lichens, and
lined with fibrous roots and feathers. One found in Labrador, in the Itegin-
ning of July, contained five eggs, small and rather more elongated than is
common in tliis genus. They were wliite, and sprinkled witii reddisii dots at
the Lirger end. The female fluttered among tlie brandies, si>rcading her
wings and tail in great distress, and returning to her nest as soon as the in-
truders were a few yards olf. In August he saw a number of tiieir young
already I'ollowing their ]iarents and moving southward. In his expedition
to T(!xas, ]\Ir. Audubon again met this bird, in considerable nuniliers, early
in Ajwil. Their eggs, he states, measure tiiree fourths of an inch in length
by nine sixteenths in breadth. In some the ground-color, in.stead of pure
white, is of a yeUowish tinge.
The writer found this AVarbler abundant near Halifax in the early sum-
mer of 1850, freipienting the tliick hendock woods, confiding in its habits,
unsuspicious, and easily approached. Tlie distress, as described by Audulton,
manifested in behalf of its own young, it is as ready t«i exhibit when the
nest of a feathered neighbor is disturl)eil. A pair of Hudson's Hay Titmice,
protesting against tlie invasion of their home, by their outcries brouglit a jiair
of these Warblers to t]ieir,symi)athetic assistance ; and tlus latter manifested,
in a more gentle way, ipiite as much distress and anxiety as tiie leal i)arents.
"With exjmuded tail and lialf-extended wings tliey iUittered overhe.id among
the branches, approaching us almost within reach, uttering the most piteous
outcries.
Sir Jolin Eichardson found this Warbler as connuon and as fiuuiliar as
the D. ajstiva on the Saskatchewan, and greatly resembling it in habits,
though giftetl witli a nmch more varied and agreeable song.
!Mr. Kennicott met this Wail)ler on (Jreat Slave Lake, June 12, 1800,
wliere he obtained a i'emale, nest, and five eggs. Tlie nest, lodsely built, was
l)laced in a small spruce about two feet from the ground, and in thick
woods. The bird was rather bold, coming to her nest wliile he stood by it.
This nest was only one and a lialf indies deep, with a (b'ameter of three and
a half indies ; the cavity only one indi deeji, with a diamcler of two and a
half inches. It was mad(! almost entirely of fine stems of jilants and slender
grasses, and a lew mosses. The cavity was lineil with finer stems, ami fine
black roots of herbaceous ])lants.
The eggs of this Warbler are, in shape, a rounded oval, one end being but
SYLVICULID.K — THE WAU15LEK8.
235
slinjhtly more pointed than the otlier. They measnre .62 of an incli in
len^tli and .411 in breadth. Tlieir yround-color is a li^iit ashen hne, or a
dull wliite, anil tiiis is more or less si)rinUled witii tine dots and blotciies
of a lij^ht l)r()\vn. I'or the most part these are grouped in a ring about
the larger end.
Mr. Ii. Deane, of ('ambridgc, found this l)ird breeding near Lake I'mba-
gog. Its nest was in tiie lork of a low spruce about three feet from the
ground. The nest contained four eggs, and was made of dry gras.ses, spruce
twig.s, and rootlets. Tt was lined witli tine black roots, being a rather coarse
structure for a Warbler. Tlie eggs were nearly spherical, averaging .62 by
.51 of an inch. Their ground-color was a creamy-white, sparsely marked
with a few large blotciies of lilac and umber.
Dendroica cserulea, R.vinn.
CSBULEAN WABBLEB; WHITE-THBOATED BLUE WABBLEB.
Sylvia cm-ithu, Wii.s. Am. C\\\\. II, 1810, 141, i.l. .xvii, tij?. .">. Siih-kohi c. Swaixs. ; ,T.\i!n. ;
Uiuii. ; Hon. ; .Vri>. Oiii. liioj;. 1, [il. .\li.K ^ Xrrr. Demlmka c. Bamid, Hiids N. Am.
1858, 280 ; IWv. 191. — GuxDi,. Call. Jour. 18til, 32(5 ^('uba ; very rare). — .Sa.mitei.s,
57!l. Sylvia vmv, Wo.stiN, II, pi. x.vvii, lig. 2. — HiiN. ; All). Orii. IJioi;. I, [il. .\lix.
Salvia (tMrai, Stkimi. .Sliaw, Zuiil. X, 1817. — Box. .Vm. 0\i\. II, 1828, pi. .\xvii (9).
— All). Oni. Bioi;. I, |il. xlviii, xlix : Nrrr. Sylvia bifuxclala. Say, Long'.s Exped.
I, 182:!, 170. Sylvia itaj)iilta-ai,i, ViKii.i,. Kiicye. Jleth. II, 1823, 449 (from Wilson).
Otlier loi'iilities : Jlarinfa, Sllatkk, 1'. Z. S. 1857, 18. Panama It. 11., Lawhknck, Aim.
N. Y. Lye. 18til, 322. Yucalan, Lawu. Vcratjua, Sai,v.
Sp. Ciiah. Mnlo. Above briglit blue, <larkost on tlie ciowu, tinged with ash on the
rniiip; middle of back, seapnhnv, upper tail-eoverts, an<l side.s oftliu crown, streaked with
black. Beneath whit<" ; a (;i)ilai' across the brea.st, and .streaks on the sides, dusky-blue.
Lores, and a K .e throiijih and behind the eye (where it is bordered above by whiti.sh),
dusky-bliie; paler on the cheeks. Two white bands on the wing,s. All the tail-leathers
except the iinicrniost with a white patch on the inner weli near the end. Female, green-
ish-blue above, brightest on the crown ; beneath white, tinged with greenish-yellow, and
obsoletely streaked on the sides ; eyelids and a superciliary line greenish-white. Length,
4.25; wing, 2.0."); tail, !.!)(».
ILvii. Eastern I'nitcd Stales, north to Xiagara Falls; Cuba (very rare); Guatemala;
Veragua, Panama, and Bogota. Not recorded Ironi Mexico (except Yucatan), or West
Indies (except Cuba),
Tiie autumnal adult idumage of both .sexes is, in every re.spect, exactly
like the spring dress. Young males in Lite summer are very similar to adult
females, but are purer white l)elow, and less uniform greenish-blue al)ove, the
dark stri]»es on sides of the crown and bhick centres to scapulars being (piite
conspicuous ; the young fismale, at the same season, is similar in pattern to
the adidt, but is dull green above, witliout any tinge of blue, and light bully-
yellow below.
Tiiere is considerable variation in adult males, especially in the width of
280 NOHTH AMKKU'AN lilKDS.
the pectoral collar; one (No. (id.XTT, ]\lt. Carinel, Wabash ("o., 111., Aug. 9)
has tliis entirely interriiiiteil. In tliis imlividiial lliere is no trace oi" a
wiiitish suitra-iuiricular streak; while others i'rnni the same locality, and
obtained at tiie same date, have tlie band across tiie juguhmi continuous, and
a (juite distinct white streak over the ear-coverts.
H.MilTS. Of this somewhat rare Warbler very little is as yet well known.
Its habits and distribution during tlie breediiig-sea.son need more liglit than
we now ])()ssess to enalile us to give its story with any degree of exactness.
Its appeiirance in I'ennsylvania, Oiiio, llHnois, and Missouri early in May,
when Warblers that go north to breed are on their way, at first suggested its
belonging to that class. It is not known to proceed any farther north, e.x-
cejit in accidental instances; though the writer has been a.ssured, and lias no
rea.son to doubt the fact, tiiat it abounds and Ineeds in the neighliorhood
of Niagara Falls. I can find no good evidence that it ever o(!curs in Massa-
chusetts. Individuals have been ol)tained in northern South America, Pana-
ma, and ('ul)a. Dr. Woodhou.se dcscrilics it as ([uite common in Texas and
in the Indian Territory, wliere it breed.s, as lie obtained l)oth tiie ohl and tlie
young birds. It was also abundant among the timbered hinds of the Arkan-
sas and its tril)utaries. It was not obtained in any other of the government
e.xpeditions, nor was it found in Arizona by Dr. ("(uie.s. Mr. T. M. Trii)pe
noticed a single individual near Orange, N. Y. Wilson sujijiosed tliem to
breed in I'ennsylvania, though he was never able to find their nests. He
usually met with these birds in marshes or on the borders of streams among
the branches of poplars. Their haliits were those of the Klycatciiers. He
saw none later than the L'Otli t>f August. Describing this species as the Uliie-
green W^irbler, as met with by him on the banks of tiie ("umberland early in
April, he mentions its gleaning for food among tiie upper brandies of the
■ tallest trees, rendering it dillicult to lie pruciiied. Its resemblance, in liabits,
to Flycatchers, he again remarks. Its only note was a feeble chirp.
According to Audulton, this Warbler ajipears in I^ouisiana, where it also
breeds early in s])ring, and leaves the tirst of Oi'tober. Lil<e all its family, it
is (piite lively, has a similar flight, moves sideways up and down the liranches,
and hangs from the ends of the twigs in its .search for insects.
^Ir. Audul)on also states that the liveliness of the notes of this WarUer
renders it cons])icuous in the forests, the .skirts of which it i're(iuents. Its
.song, tiiough neitiier loud nor of long continuance, lie speaks of as extremely
sweet and mellow. He found it as nunu'rous in the State of Louisiana as
any other Warbler, so that he could sometimes obtain tive or six in a single
walk.
The nest he descrilM's as placed in the I'orks of a low tree or bush, partly
jiensile, ])rojecting a little above the twigs to which it is attached, and ex-
tending below them nearly two inches. Tlie outer i)art is composed of the
iilires of vines and the stalks of herbaceous ])lants, with slender roots ar-
ranged in a circular manner. Tlie nest is lined with iiua dry fibres ol the
SVLVICOLID.K - Til H \VA liBLHRS. 287
Spanisli moss. The o-o-s are five in nuinlwr, of a pure wliite with a few led-
(hsh siM.ts about tho lar-or end. WIum. distuihe.l duiiu- iucuhation the
kMiiahi IS .said to trail aloii- tin; Lrauchcs witii .h' .in- wiiins and i.h.intivo
notes, m tlie manner of 1). uslim. After the young iia\e left the nest, they
move and hunt (o,i,'ether, in company with their parents, eviueiny great iietiv-
ity m the pursuit of insects. They are also said to have a great ])artiality
for trees the toj.s of whiidi are thickly covered with grapevines, and to occa-
sionally alight on tall weeds, feeding upon their seeds.
In his visit t(. Te.xas, Mr. Aiidul.on met a largo number of these birds
apparently coming IVom .Mexico. Un one occasion he encountered a lar-e
tioek on a small island.
Mr. Xuttall mentions fiiuling these birds very abundant in Tennessee and
also in West Florida.
In only a single instance has the writer met witli this Warbler This was
about the mid.lle of Ju.e, at the Fairmount Water Works in the city of I'liila-
<lelphia, where, among the tops of the trees, a single individual was busily
engaged ,n hunting insects, undisturbed by the largo numbers and vicinity
ot visitors to the grounds. It kept in the tops of the trees, movin- about
with groat agility. "
Mr. Ifidgway gives the CaM-ulean Warbler as the most abundant species
ot Its genus in the Lower Wabash Valley, not only during the spring and
all migratmns, but also in the summer, when it breeds more plentifully even
han the R astlra. It inhabits, however, only the deep woods of the bot-
toni laiKls, where it is seldom seen, and only to be distinguished by the nat-
nvalist. Inhabiting, mostly, the tree-top.s, it is an inconspicuous bird and
thus one that easily escapes notice. In its habits it is j.erhaps less inte'ivst-
mg than others of its genus, being so retired, and possessing only the most
feeble notes. o j
Dendroica blackburniae, r.viiu).
BLACKBUBNIAN WARBLER; OBANGE-THROATED WABBLEB
MoU,a/!„ MMrnia, li.M,,,.,s-. Syst. Xat. I, 1788, -.77. S,/ri„ W. Latk. ; Wir.sov III
V. xxin. N,nT ; Ar... .„„. liio,. I., V, ,,1. .xxxv. ..vxnx. S,Mn,. U. .rl.a. •
/ • '•,';■ ' "■ "' •'•• '•''■'^■"- /■''"■'"""/''"- '''■ <'A". .Mms. Il,.in. 1S.^„ 1,
J "1 n';, , '7!' "'■''' ^- ^""- ''''• -"' ■' '''■^•- '**"• -«' '.vrKU ^ S.v,v,N, Il,is;
18.,!., .,„aU.n,ala). - .S.-,,.vn.;i,. V. Z. S. 18^-.., :iU;i ,Xala,m) ; II.. ]8,m, 04 ,K,.„a,l,M>
--In. Catal. 1801, m, no. 187 (I'allatun.a an.l Xa-u.^al, Wna.!,.,). - .^ ^m,-,-, s 007
MM.1N, I, 1-88, !i,l 0;.nn,r ,„:n.,i ,7 /'. ,7.,n,„.., HuFF. V. 313, ,.1. Iviii, ti.. 3,
..M,ana. .sy. .,,„..., W„.s. V, ,1. .xliv, ,i.. 3. - Am. 0,„. !«.« ,1, pi. .xtxiv
\ uu.. Nouv. )ut. \I. 1817, 180 (.MaitiMi,,,,,.). - In. Kueycl. MOth. II, iU.
Loca .t,..s ,, noted : Ji,„j,„„, s..,..vr,.:ii, V. Z. S. 18r,.s 143. />„„„„„, l.,,vh. An,, N V
f , ^ ,'; ^^- "f '''■'■"' *'^"- 'f'""-- I'^'i''. ='^'^- /^/""""v, unvAN,', no.st. vv. vn,
lSi.y. ycra!/u„, hMAis. Ci/o-i,, (wintur ; ia,v), Sc.Miaii! vs,-
238 NORTH AMKHICAX IlIRDS.
Sp, Ciiah. rppcr |iarts lU'iiily uiiiHniii lilin'k-, witli u wljitisli scapular stiipc ami n laifri!
wliitu i)atc'U ill tlio iiiiddlo of tlic \viiii.'-coV(M'ls. An oliloiif; paluli in liic iiiidilU' of tlit'
(i-owii, anil the i-iiliiT siil'' <>l' llii' lii/ad ami iicciv (iiiciiidiiii; a .siipcrciliaiy stript- lioin tlic
iKKstrils), till' L'liiti, tliroal, and liiicpait nl' tlie luvast, lirijriit ovaiifrc-ri'd. A liiiick stripo
Crdin llic coininissuri.' passinir amiind tiic lnwcr liail'dfthc eye, and inclndiiif; liic I'ar-i'DVcrts;
wilii, liowcvcr, an (pranj.'t' iit's<'cnl in it, jnst ladow ihc cvf, tlio cxticnii' lid licinj; lihwik.
Ui'st of inidi'i' parts wliite, strciiifrly tiii^'fd witii yi'llowisli-oraiif.'-c on tlic liiuast and liuily,
and slivaki'd witli black on I hi' sides. Oiitur tlircc tail-t'catlicrs wliilc, tlic slialls and tijif
dark liidWii ; tlio I'onrlli and lil'lli spotted nineli willi wliite ; llie oilier lail-featliei's and
(|iiills almost lilaek. J-'iiKtilf similar; the colors dniler; the leathers ol' the upper parts
with olivaceous cdfTcs. Len^'tli, ").")(• ; wiiiir, 2.8.'J ; tail, '2.2ij.
ll.vu. Eastern Province ol' United States; Eastern Mexico, and south to Uogota and
Ecuador; Uuhuuius alone ol' West Indies with certainty.
Atituiiiiml males resenilile tlic feinalos. They have two wliite bands in-
stead ol' one ; tlie black stiijies on tlie sides are lai'oer ; under parts yellowish ;
tlie throat yellowisli, imssing into purer yellow behind.
Autumnal young liirds have the same jiatteni of coloration, but the dark
portions are ihill orayish-uiiilier, with the streaks very obsolete, and the light
parts dull buHy-wIiite, tinged with yellow on the jugidum ; there is neither
clear black, brigiit yellow, nor jiure white on the plumage, except the latter
on the wing-bands and tail-patches.
Habits. This soniewluit rare and very beautiful Warbler requires addi-
tional investigation into its habits before its history can be regarded as satis-
fiictorily known. Save in reference to its wider distribution during its south-
ern migrations, little more is known as to its habits than where Audubon
left its history nearly thirty years since. The Smithsonian collection has
specimens from Pennsylvania, t)hio, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, and from
Central America. Mr. Sclater has received specimens from Mexico, and i'roni
Ecuador in South America. Other writers mention iiaving s[ieciniens from
Guiana, ^lartinitpie, and ranaina, and Dr. Ihyant loiiiul it in the JJahamas.
It is thus known to have a wide distribution from the Atlantic to the Mis-
sissip[ti Itiver, as far to tlie north probably as Labrador. Its area of repro-
duction is not known with exactness, but the .southern limit is supposed to
be the high wooded districts of Pennsylvania, New York, iind New England.
A young bird was taken by HolbiiU, October 10, 1845, at Frederikshaal;,
Greenland. In 1837 an egg was sent me from Covciiitry, Vt, which pur-
ported to belong to this bird ; iind in the following stiiiinier its nest and eggs
were procured in a wilil, .secluded ])art of Itoxbury, Mass. In neither case
was the identification entirely free from doubt.
Dr. Pachman states that when a resident of Lansingburg, N. Y., in 1833,
he saw a pair of these biuls in the iict of constructing their nest. j\Ir. Allen
has no doubt that a few breed in the vicinity of Springfield, ^lass., as he has
obtained them as late as June 24. He found it most coinmou in mixed or
hard-wood forests. It arrives about the middle of May. Professor Verrill
gi\es it as a summer resident of Western Maine, though rarely seen on
SVLVICOLinj': — THE WAHBI-EHS.
239
nccniinfc of its habit of kve]m<i .•(.iu'0iil(3(l among tlie douse loliu^ro, Air.
ISoiinlinan givos tli(f saiue uccouiit of its lesiduiico in siiiiiiuur in tiu. noi^h-
liorliood of ( 'alais.
Mr. Audubon did not rogard this bird and his " Ilcmloek Warbiur " as tiu!
same spccii-s, but gavo distiiu^t and diirorcnt accounts of their habits. We
liavc therefore, to receive witli caution these records of peculiarities. He
found the I'.lackburnian WaHder breeding in Xortlieastern ^biine, in Xew
I'muiswick, in the .^raj,'(hdeine Islands, and in Labrador and Xewfoundiand.
He states, correctly, that it has a, very sweet son,i; of five or si.x notes, nnu;h
louder than .seemed jwssilde from the size of the bird. It pursues its
insect prey among the branches of the fir-trees, moving along after the man-
ner of the common Ifedstart.
Mr. ^rc( "ulloch, of Ilalifa.x, gave Mr. Audubon a nest of this bird with
three eggs. The nest was formed externally of ditlerent textures, lined
with fine delicate strips of I,ark and a thick bed of feather.s and horse-hair.
The eggs were small, conical, with a white gromid spotted with light- red
at the larger end. The nest was in the small fork of a tree five feet from
the ground, and near a brook.
The nest obtained in IJoxbury was in a bu.sh, a few feot from the ground,
in a very wild region of ibrest and rocks. Externally, except in its length,'
which M'as less, it resend.lcd a nest of the (,'. trir/im, being made of coarse!
dry grasses. Fnternally it was uuu'ii more warndy lined with leathers and
soft fur than is the case in ne;4s of the Yellow-Throat. The eggs were of
a crystal whiteness, marked at their larger end with dark purple, and but
for their smaller size might have been mistaken for those of (/. tnchus.
The position of the nest, however, was conclusive in regard to this ]>oint.
The egg from Coventry was substantially similar, except that reddish-bmwn
dots were mingled with the purple markings, in the form of a wreath around
the larger end.
Wilson describes this Warl)ler as .songless, but attri1)utes to its counter-
part, the Hemlock Warbler, a very sweet song of a i'ew low notes, — a \ery
different account from that given by Audubon of the song of the Black-
burnian.
Mr. I'aine states that this species is resident during the summer months in
Randolph, Vt. It is, h(. says, a very close com])anion of the D. viirn.% arriv-
ing at the same time with it even to a day, or about the Kith of :^ray. Its
dry eliiri)ing song may th(in be heard in striking contrast with the sweet
notes of the rircm. He was not able to find its nest.
Mr. C. W. VVyatt met with this species as a winter resident at Alto, in Co-
lombia, South America. Its upward range seemed to be terminated oidy by
the ])aramos. Among the oaks on the I'amiilona road he found it very coni-
mon just under the paramo, the bright orange throat of the male making it
a v(>ry conspicuous bird. He was led to believe that they were nut found
then; at a lower elevation than five thousand feet.
240 NORTH AMEIilCAX I!||{DS.
Dendroica dominica, I'.viia).
YELLOW-THBOATED GRAT WARBLEB.
II , ..JO. ,,| xxvn 1,,. .-.. /„„,,„,,,„ ,,,„.„.,„_ . "> -
;:ii:-::':-:;;.^j:sr'v::t-,^:^;:'-r^^^ "■-
n:,,.,,. (St. |,o,„i„..,). . ,i,„. ; ,,,, o,.,;. I!i,«. I. , i ;.v, •■:••; V /'• '""■ '
l/io,„nij>/u,,j,u,s. Caii. ,|„„|. Ill, ^J^ ^,.„,,.,, *'- '•'•'(■'.'iM.ii,..).
Otlier localities : r,/;vAi,vf, S. i \ i . r 1' / si m-,. .„., ... ,.
K-*.)/, UMl. J,inmu;t, (Icssi:, llii.ls ,);,„,. i,-„;. '' ' ' '• ^- ' '
Sp. Cnxn. I-ppor pails „„ilon„,,T;,yi>li-l.l,„.. Chii, ;mi,1 ihnni l,ri..l,i ,■ ii
i-;is whi,,.. F.,,,.|,,„,, ,,„, „„,„,,„„; ,„.,^, ,„. ;; ' .^ ^J' • ""-• ;""i--
^'">1 nM>M..r,„is s.ivaks on .1,.. si,i..s oCI,,. I,,,-,., l,l..,|. , • ,' ■^"''" '" ""■"■■"•
;:::r::;;::;::::;-;;;;: ;;:;;-:;:;£^^^^^^^
An nmnmni.l nu.l. rx... I,,M.S, Wasl,i„.,„n, D. ( -.) l,„s ,. ,,,„i,,,,„.
iH ..t ...ks n„ t,.n. „.ad wii,.„n, ; .li. .vllnu- ,,i.|.., an.l .lull..,., ini.i th.. wl.ilo
licia.iitli .s,.ili.,| with ],m\viiisli.
I.. jr.-.K.n.l ,,i„t<.n, ..f ,.ul„n.ti.,n this s,,..,.i,.s ivsemlih^s two u(h..,.s • .,„e
"'"'" '^^•'^'"""' *' "'^■'' '■'•-'" ''"'•tn 111..,,. Tiu. ,liMo„,.s,.s .,,. ,, ,„ll.,ws' -
, '';'^'^'-- ;'"^;'-Ti:'- r r -.s „sl,-,,.v, „,., ,;„,„|,„,„| „„, ,•,,., „,
-•l<. -V MM. Ii„i„nns,nil„ al,„v,.,. v.. ,p„sM,,. i,„„u|,i.,. Lrliiml,, ..1„„ ,„„1
"'":'• ^'r'''^ "'^"- I '""-iiy wi.i. i.h.,.i.si, ; ,.,.,..11,,. i„H |. „.i,„s, „.;ii,.,.
.•ll,ll two hiindsdl, \\-i||ns, wl,ilc.
SM,,,.,.,.ili,„..v III,,. ..Xh.„.li„. ,n ,1,.. „„,„,, |„.|,i......x,...|,|,i,. ,|i„,..s
"'";'■""■ """■'r,*' l-''l-l^.s..p,M.„„.,|,n,i„,| sl,„r,l„. ,„.ai,v
jw ,,.|,„„.|, Kv,.li,lsa„,|i,„i.„.,„.„,,, ,,,,„.„,„ „,,;„., , ,, ,„„ ,„,„,,,^,„|
niii k'ii,L'ili,.|„.il, iri.iiys ii,M,i>si „.ii\,..
V,.|l„w ..,„,(i,,,.,l ,„J„.„i,„„; ,.,.s, „|. „,„|,.,. ,„,,s ul„„.; ,|„. si,l,.s
S,|.,.ilU,.,| w,(l, Miirk
"'" '"" '""■''"'•"' "" •^''"•""' "-i< I...1 1 l,.v whi.... Kv..|i.ls ,„„1 i„r,.a-
-•'■Im' '.n.s,...nl ,v..il.,w. n,u.k str..,>k.M|. iiiH sh,„.,, j^onys sIIkI.iIv ,v..x.
SVIA ICOLID.K — TIIK \VAI{liI-Ei:S. 241
Vcllinv (if nndi'i- parts cunrmcil l<> jutriiluiu ; losl of mikIit iiarls wlii;,' ;
till' sides sli-i'akcd willi lilaclv ........ iinu-in.
Yi'llow ol'uildi'i- paits uxt'.'lidiiig' to cfissiiiii. Sides scan'eiy streaked.
tith Itni/ti . ^
111 the Koviow (]>. 209) .•^c'vcriil variations in tliis species are noted; luit at
that time tiiere was not a sutlicicnt niinilter of s|)eciiiiens to warrant our
coiiiin,L? to a couehisioii as to their vtiliie. Now, however, we hiive Itelter
material bcibre us, and ujion tlie exaniiiiatioii of about thirty s|)eeimeiis, in-
cluding two series of nearly ecjual nund)ers, — ^ one from tlie Allantie Sttites
and tiie West Indies, the other from tiie Miswissipjii region and Middle
America, — ^ find thtit there are two tippreciahly diitert" raees, to lie dislin-
guisheil from eiicii other l»y itoinls of constant difference. All liirds of the
first series have the iiill longer tliiin any of the Litter, the diiference in a
majority of tlit! s|)ecimens lieini; very consideralile ; tiiey also iiave the sujier-
ciliary stripe l)ri!.;iil yelhiw anteriorly, while amoii^ the latter there is never
more than a trace of yellow over the lores, and even this miiiinnim amount
is discernible only in one or two individuals. Tlie West Iiidiiin form is, of
course, the true (loiiiinlcn. and to be distin,Li;uisln;d as var. (/oniiiiirii ; as none
of th(! syi'.onymes of litis species wi're i'oitiided upon tl (! Mexican one, how-
ever, it will be necessiiiy to propose a new nattte ; iiccordin.LjIy, the teriti \ar.
nlbl/ard is selected as beiiti; most descri])tive of its peculiar fiMttures.
'liu! followiitj; .syno]isis, taketi from tyjtical specimeits, shows the dilVer-
ences between the.se two races : —
(No. .'!,:!'J'J. (J. i.ilieity Ciiiiniy, ( ieoi'jiia.) liill fli'oiu nostril). .t."i; lafsiis. .tiO ;
willfT, '-'.(lit: tail, 'J.I HI. Sii|ie|-eiliMry stripe, aiiti'lioi- to eye. wholly liri;,;lit yellow ;
yellow of eliiii ami maxilla' exleiidiiii;' to tln' liill. /lah. In siiiiiiuer. .\tlaiitie
States ot'l'iiiteii Stati'.s, noilli ti> \Vasliiiii.'loii. In wintef, atid possibly all
the yeai', in < 'iilia. Santo DoniiiiLio, and .laiuai"a . . vaf. d o iii i n ir n .
(No. ()I,l.'iii. jj, lieli/.e, IIoudnia>.l Kill (t'foni Host i ill, ..'l."! ; lai-u-, ,110; wiiii;-,
2.70; tail, 'J. 'JO, Supeiviliai-y siripi' wholly while; yi'llow ot'rliin ami niaxilhe
lioi'deied nntrowly next the hill with while, //nh. In snnnner, the Mi>sis>ippi
rejiioli of rnited States, north to Lake I'aie ; I'oiiniiou in South Illinois, In
winter, ami possihly all the ye,. r, in .Mexico, south to (iualeinala, ^'uealali on
the ,\llantie, and Coliuia on the I'aeilie side ..... \ at. ((/'</ /n ck .
II Alius. Tiie histi.iy of the Vcllnw -throated AN'arblcr is very imperfectly
known, lis m.| iota ji ileal distiibtitioii is iifcoiiliif and appa'.'cittly eccentric,
FiMitid occiisioiially, rat Iter than lVc(|tictitly, in the Si ml hern Allaittic atid (lull'
Slates, it occurs irreoiilaily as liii' tun I It as Wasbinoton, Mew York City,
Clevelaui', ' ),, rniiai County, 111., iind Kansas, In the last ]>lace il is sitp-
posed idso occiisionally to breed. West of this it has not been traced in any
portion of the rnited Stntcs. il was obtained in Tantatilipas, Mexico, by
laeutciiaiit Couch, and on the wcstciit ccmst Mf, .Xaitttis lotiiid it at Cnlima.
Mr. Scliiter has jtlso pinciiicd it ffntu other jiortions of Mcxicn, and M. l>ou-
' Ihiiilri'ifii :ii/,l,(i,lii. IIa,i;ii, I!c\ . iMi;,, 'JI'J. //„/.. Pmtu [[ire.
242 NOimi AMERICAN lilKDS.
ciinl took it iit Oaxaca. Ft luis Ikh'ii oblained in (Juatemala and Jamaica. In
tlio latter j)lace it is t'oiuul the I'litiir .season. In ("nba, in tlie winter, it is
(juite coninuai. It has also been i'unnd in St. Doniinf^^o, and jn'obal)!}' in tlie
other West India Islands Mr. (Josse states that these birds do not ajipear in
-laniaiea before the Kitli of Auyusl, and that they leave by the tirst of Ajiril.
On tlie other hand, ilr. March, in hi.s notes on the birds of that island, states
that on the Sth ol' Anpist he olilained an old binl and two yonn<j:, the latter
of whieli he was confident had l)een liatched on the island, and his son had
met witli the birds all lhrouj,'li the snnnaer, and had i)rocured a S2)ecimen on
the 4tli of -Inne.
AVilsdii states tliat the habits of tiii-* s]iecies jiartake nioi'c of those of the
Croejier than of tlie trne Warbler. He met witli it in (ieor^ia in the month
of Febrnary. He s])eaks of its notes as loud, and as re.senddin.y those of the
Indij^o-Bird. It remained some time ereei»ing around the brandies of the
same pine, in tlie manner of a I'uri's, utterinj,' its sony every few minutes.
Wiien it Hew to anotiier tree, it wmild alij;ht on the trunk and run nimbly
up and down in search of in.scct.s. Tliey are said to arrive in (leorgia in
February, aft ;• an al)sence of only three month.s. Wilson states that tiiey
occur as far north as reiinsylvaiiia, lait (h)es not ,uive his autliority. 'I'lic
food of this species ajijiears to lie larva' and l>n)>a', rather than winj^ed insects.
Tho.se dis.seeted by ^Ir. (iosse in Jamaica were found to have (piite lar;^e
stomaclis, containing' caterpillars of various kinds.
Xuttall and Audubdii are very cunliadictorv in their statiMiieiits toui'liinf;
its nestinj;', and it is iKjt jirnbulile that ihi' accuunts yi\cii by eitlier are
founded ujion any reliable authorities. The former di'scribes a nest ri'imirk-
alile liotli f(ir structure and situation, .siid to have liceii Inimd in West Flor-
ida, suspemleil by a kind of rojie from the end of bianciies ovi'r a stream
or a ravine. Tiiis nest, entirely peiisih', is im]M'r\i(iiis to rain, and witli an
entrance at tlie iMittuin. Me >/]\{'s a \i'\y full and iiiiiiule description of i', is
nest, but jiives no autliority and no data to establish its aulheiiticity. Wr
can therefore only <lismiss it as jirobubly erroiUMMis.
< )ii the other hand, Mr. Audubon claims to liaxc seen its nest, ol' which he
jiives a very dillercnt acciaint. He describes it as very jpicttily constructed,
like the nests of any other of this f^cnns, its outer parts n.ide of dry lichens
and soft mosses, the inner of silky substancrs and tibres of the Spiinish moss.
The ci:,L(s are said to be ibiir in number, with a white jinaind-color mid u fiw
)iuiple (lots near the larj^er cinl. lie thinks they raise two iiroods in a sea-
son in Louisiana. These nests are not pensili', but are |ilaced on the liorixoii-
tal branch of the typrcss, fi(Mii twenty to lifly feet abo\e the eiouiid. il
closely resembles a knot or a tiifl of nios.s, and therefore is not easily discov-
ered from below.
A iie-<t coiit.iiuiiiL: a siii<,de ejii,', found by Mr. <ios-i(> near Neosho Falls, and
supposed to beloiiji' to this speeies, but not fully idi'iitilied, was built in a low
.sajilinj; a few feet from the yroiind, and is a very neat structure, such as is
SVLVlCOLUhK — THE WAIUJLKHS. 24;J
ik'scrihed liy Audulion. TIic ct^'Lt is piiro crystal-white, olilniijj; and jiointoil,
and marked willi pui'iile and ln'uwii.
Mr. lJidjj;\vay iiddniis mc tluu in Suiitliern Illinnis, at h-ast in tlie valley
of the Ixjwer Wabasli, the Yellow-throated Warbler may lie .said to lie at least
11 regular, though not eouinion, .sununer .sojourner. Though it inhalnts eluelly
the swampy ])ortions of the liottoni-lands, it makes IVe(|nent visits to the or-
chards and door-yards, less often, howt-vrr, in the breeding than in the nu-
grating season. In its mamu'rs it is almost as much of a Creeper as the
Mniiitiltti nirlii, being freipicntly seen ereepinu- not only along the branches
u'i trees, but over the eaves and cornices of lauldings, with all the facility
of a Nuthatch.
Kggs .sn])posed to be of this sjiccies, taken near Wihnington, N. ('., by
Mr. Norwood (!iles (1(1.1 it'.l, Smith. < 'oil. i, have a uround-color of dull ashy-
white, with a livid tinge. They are thiikly speckled, chiefly around the
laiger end, Mith irregular markings of ridbns, and fainter ones of lilac in-
terspersed with a very few miimte specks of black. They are broadly ovate
in form, and measure .T" by .-").■") of an iucli.
Dendroica gracise, ('nii>
ABIZOKA WABBLER,
Lfiii/rdini (jravia: (Voyv.s), HAMiii, lii'V. Am. liinls, 1, .\|iiil, ISti'i ; \<. 21ii. — Kl.I.InT, Illnst.
liinl.s X. Am. 1, vi. — ('noi'i.i!. Urn. Ciii. 1, IbTu, .'itW (Aiiiiomli.x).
Si'. CiiAii. Aihili iiikIi- I Xc). 4(i.(iS0, .M:iy I. ISd."), Dr. !•;. ('(nies). WIidIc iipper parts,
iiicliiiliiiLi' I'lU-cdvcT'ts 1111(1 siilfs of iii'rk, :i-.|i-L;r;iy ; small ciinrali' sircaks 'er the crown.
coalcsciMl lali'i'ally iiili) a luciail sliipi' niicacli side, with laijjcr cmicate streaks on tlieinlcr-
.>i('apnlar rcLiion, anil ini'onspieiiniis linear sli'i'aks on upper tail-eovei'ls. lilai-k. Two eon-
spicuon.i wliile liamls acr<i>s ilie wiiii;. Innneil liy ilic lips orniiilille ami secomlary coveiMs;
swoniiarii's passing.;- eNlernally inln liulil a-li. Laleral lail-li'allier enliidy w''in'. exci'pt
about, tlie liasal lli'iil ol' ihe iniK'r wcii dhe dusky rnnninj.' .some ilislanc'e louard llie end
aloiijr llie edj.'e), and a liroad streak eoveriliu' ino.st ol'tlie terminal I'onrlli o|' the outer Well,
which are ele.-ir dusky ; the next leather has the outer weh exactly the same, hut almost
the hasal hall' ol' tin' inner is dusky : on llie next llii' while is (■(inHiied to mi ohloiiL' spot (not
tonehiiii;- the inner edi;-e) on ahnul Ihe terminal third, while the outer wet) is only e(|ire<l
with while; the rest have no while at all. .V siipereiliary stripe exiendini.' aliout .'JO of
an iiiih hehind the eye (that portion liehind tlu' cyr wlelei, ihe lower eyelid, maxilla',
chin, throat, and jiejiilinii pure i;aiiihoi;e-yellow. Kest of lower parts, iiielndini;' linini;' of
winy, pure while ; ihe sides eoiispienoiisly .streaked with hiaek ; lores, and a i'vw olisolete
streaks aloii},' the Jnnetion of the ash and yllow, chisky. Wintr, '_'.(iU ; tail, 'J. "JO : liill (from
nostril), ..'tO; tarsus. .(ID. .\ihill /fimih- ( lO.tiS."), .\[ay '.'I). Similar to the male, imt colors
iliillcr, and markiiiL's less sharply delined. Wiuj:. 2.4."i ; tail. 'J.nit. Yoinitj {M\,'.W1. Aii'.'iist
II). .VIiDVe lirowiiish-f.''ray iril/mn/ slrcnl.-s. lii'iiealii ochraciMius-white, ohsolelely streaked
aloiii; the sides. Yellow superciliary stripi' not well deHned, ami only a tiiifre of yellow
on ihe ju^'uhun, llie throat heiiii; ,1,'ray ish-« hile. Wines and tail nearly as in llii' adult.
The youii}.' ill ailtui.nial plimiaee is similar, lull llii' yelluw oecupies its usual area; it is,
however, miien duller, as well as liirhler, than in the adult,
Hah. foil Whipple, near I'rescotl. Arizona. Iteli/.e. Ilrilish llondinas (var, ihrnrti).
244 NORTH AMEHICAN BlIiDS.
This S]>ecie.s is most closely roliitud to // lulrlniiUr, from I'orto Hico ; but
ill the latter the yellow beueatli extends back to tlie crissum, coveriii<f even
tlie sides ; there are also no streaks on the sides or back ; the |iroportioiis,
too, are ([uite diflereiit, tiie wings and tail beinji' scarcely tliree fourths as long,
wiiile the liill and feet arc nuich tlu^ same size, the tarsi even inucli shorter.
A sitecinien (Xo. 41,8U8 <J) from l>elize, Hoiuluras, differs so essentially from
the Fort Whijpple s))ecimens, tiiat it is, beyond doubt, entitled to a distinc-
tive name. The iHfl'ereiices between tiiese two very well marked races can
best be expressed in a table, as follows; —
(4(l.(iS0. 1^. lAirt Wliipplc. Arizona). Hill (iioiii nosliil). ..'!(•; tarsus. .00; wiiij;-,
'J.fiO; tail. 'J.litt. SiipcriMliary slrijic i.'Xtt'iiiliiij,' ."-'O lii'liiiid the vyv, that purtioii
licliiiul the t'Vi' wliitc ; yi'llow of jii^iiilMm not sprcailiiij,' over lircast (ciKliiig
1.35 lium the iiill). Streaks (if rrowii coali'sccil inti) ;i lirnad siripo on each
siilo ; tlioso of back broad, ami llio.so on nppcr tail-iovcrts almost obsolclt'.
Wing-bands, .20 wido. Lore duskv-grayisli. lltih, Knit Wliipple, near I'ro.s-
cott, Arizona ; ahniidant, brcc'dintr (Cot'Ks) mw. ij lU <■ 1 n .
(4],W8, ^, iiclizf). Mill. .;!0: larsii.s, .(;0; win;;. •-'.'JO ; tail, 1.!)."). Snpi'rciliar\
.stripe .scarci'lv passinjr the cVf, wholly yellow; yellow of jugnlmn spreading;'
over breast (emliiie; ].(iO from the bill). Streaks of the eiown seareely eoalesi.'cd
alotiL' its sides; those on liai.'k not loiiirer than those on crown, and those on
nppei' lail-roverts very eons|iienons. AVinf,'-bands, .10 \\ ide. Lore deep black.
Hull. Uelize, Ilondnras, roidelil? ....... var. drrora.
Habits. Wc tire indebted to Dr. Klliott Cones for all tliat we at i)resent
know ill reference to this recently discovered species. lie first met witli it
.Tilly 2, lS(i4, in the Territory of Arizona. I>r. ("ones fir.sl noticed this
bird iininiio tlie pine woo Is covering tlie summit of Whipjile's I'ti.ss of the
liocky Mountains. He saw no more in his journey into Centiiil Arizona
until he was aoain aiiioiio the ]iiiies til Fort Whijijile. There he iigain
found it, and it proved to be a very eoninion bird. Dr. Cones anticipates
tliiit this s])ecies will yet be found to oc(Mir in the forests of the San Fran-
cisco .Mountains, and llint its range will lie a.scertained to include all the
]iiii(' ti'iicts of New Mexico and \ii/oiia, from the \ alley of the IJio (Iraiuk'
to that of the (Ireat Colorado Kiver. lie idso has no doubt that it breeds
near and around Fort Whipple.
Specimens Ibiind at lielize, first believeil to be identical with those from
Arizona, arc now refcired to a race called i/narn.
.Aceurdiiig to I >r. Ciaics's (dpser\iilioiis, the AN'arliler arrives ai l''ort Wliip-
]ile about the L'dth of .\|iril. and ri'iiiaiiis in that neighliorhood until the third
week in .September. It is jbiiiid almost exclusively in pine woods, is active,
industrious, and noisy, and possesses very marked llycatching haliits, flying
out li'oiii ils jieivh In catch passing insects. It has been, so far, found almost
exclusively among tlic tallest trees.
In regard to the song of this spi^cies, Dr. Cones states tliiit it n|iitears to
lia\(' scNcral dilferciit notes. One of these is the ordinary /s//i, gi\i'n out at.
all limes liv both old and voiiiig of all kiiuls of smiill in.sectivorons birds.
SYLVICULI1)J.J — THE WARBLERS. o , -
Its true son. honnl only in spring, consists of two or tl.ree lou.l sweet wlns-
t OS, sometHues sl.uTe.l. tollowed l.y .several continuou.s notes, re.sen.l.lin..-
. ...-r-. in a w„y but dear tone. Their notes are of great power for tl.:
s,.e„t he b,r.l. it .Is.. Uas another and cp.ite dilferent .son., whieh Dr
Coues thought greatly re.send,led the notes of the eon.n.on An.urican JJecU
sttirt.
As all the birds he noticed had n.ated by the fir.st of May, he has no doubt
t .at they raise two broods in a season; and the faet that ho found newlv
«e.^ed ymmg as late as .he nuddle of August seen.s to eorrobontte the eo;.
u. n^s ot Ins su,>position. In regard to the eggs, nest, or breeding-habits
ot this species, we have as yet no inforniati..n.
Dendroica pennsylvanica, Hvii.i).
CHZSTNUT-SIDED WARBLEB
\\ H-N, I, pi. XU-, (,.. :V /.„,/,„,,„„ ^, ,, ,,„„^ „,,,,^ ^. ■ ' ™ .
-^ S^XAJKU. S...v,s, l,,is ,s... n , ,s.;.,, ,::ur,Mn, ,;„at. ; Xov;.„.L;._s.vm':
M.,, 1. s,//,v„ >r>rr,„r/,M,>, I..vi„. l,„r. (),„. II, UiXl, 538 -Vu-MI ■ l?„s ■
isiii) ■!..« ,> '■■'^^ < II. i!„.st. So,.. \ II, ]8r,i). cwte /lVt■,^ cmi. ,r„„r
1801), ,iJ8. /V/w//m, Willi,.,-, Laul, Ann. N. V l,,,- isiii ■<...) ,- '"'•'"""•
Si'. Oii.Mi. J/r,/,.. r|,p,.r parts stn.Ml<,.,I „■
111! I'l.l'li illl,| p,..l:. IlIllisll-uTMy, U-!,i,.l, l,L.,.,.m,.S
...a,ly win,,, on ,1,.. i;„...p.,., ,„■ ,1,., |,„.|, . „.„ ,„;,,, , ,: "■ ■■■-'■"^■■'.^ • » , .i, i,.,..,,,,..
y-llow. Tlioc,wnis,..:M,iMiioasv.ll,.v ,, V Vr 7 " -r'''"''''''"'^'
another h..|..w it. ELr-c.vrts n,„l l,.v v "i ', " '"'" """' ""' "'"■ '""
|.lish-clu.s,„nt stripe s„.r, , . ' | : ' "'""T ";"'"'- ''^"'^ I""" "'''"•• " I""-
,.v,.,.nl ll„. . Ml ■ ■ , .■'""''•'"" '~'''"l^ '"""Ii.imIm-.mI will, l,l,iisl,-,r,.„v
.....,■ I .1 ..,■ ,i„. ,„;,:: ""'-■ '■ ■"■'-'•■»""■" "'<>■ » ■!"■-
sp. ng. Jhe entne „p,„.,. p„,,s are of a eoMtinuous li,ht olive...Teen • the
. se...l.l> into and tingeing the whi,.. ..f ,he eiiin and .I,,...,, ' X„ blaeU
.tmks are visible ab.,v.. „r on the ch.-i.U and .he eye i. surrounded I,;
- 't,n.,..us ring o, whi.e nn. se,.n in :,,ring. lu this plu.nage it has il.:^
'l"''"tl.V been isplere.l as a dis.Jnr) spe,i,.s.
The .nuh, in tliis plumage may usually be distinguished from the le.nale
246 NoltTII A.MIOUICAX lUHDS.
liy ])(issessiii;4' a Inu-e, or a ilistiiict stiijie, of cliostuut on the Hanks, the
y(Hiii;f I't'iaale al least lackiii",' it.
Ji.viilTs. riie j.'eo.yTapIiii ill (listriluition oi" this coininon w]>ecies duriiii; its
season of re]ii(i(hictiiin is inferivd rather than positively known. So far
as 1 am aware, it is not known to hreed farther south than Massaelnisetts.
Yet it is proliahit' tliat, when we know its histoiy luore e.xaetly, it will he
found during the lireedinu-.season in different suitalile h)ealities from I'eini-
sylvania to Canada. JNIr. H. W. i'arker, of (irinnell, Jowa, mentions tliis
bird as connnon in that neijihhorhood.
Tntil reeently it was regarded as a rather rare sjiecies, and to a large e.x-
tent it had eseaped the notiee of our <dder oriiithologieal writers. Wilson
could give hut little aeeonnt of its haliils. It jiassed rajiidly hy him in its
sjii'iug migrations. He did not regard it as common, ]iresumcd that it has
no song, and nearly all tiiat he says in regard to it is conjectural. Air. Au-
dulion met with this sjiecies lait once, and knew notldng as to its habits
or distribution. Mr. Nuttall, who observed it in ^Massachusetts, where it is
now known to be not unt'ommon in certain localities, also regarded it as very
rare. His acoount of it is .somewhat Iiy])oth(!tical and ine.xact. Its .song he
very aecurattdy describes as similar to that of the />. nsfirti, only less of a
whistle and somcwiiat louder. He re]>re.sents it as e.\]ire.ssed by t^h-hh-tslt-
tsln/iii, \{\\ii\\ at intervals of iialf a nnnute, and often answered by its mate
from lier nest. Its lay is characterized as sini])le and lively. Late in June,
IS.'UJie observed a ]iair 'ollecting food for their young on the margin of the
Kresli I'oiid swamps in ( 'amluidge.
Mr. .Mien has found tiiis species y\\\\{v connnon in Wcjstern ^ras.sachusetts,
arriving there about tlie IKli of May, and remaining through the summer to
breed. He states — -and his observations in this respect correspond with my
own — tliat during the lireediug-season they I'reipU'Ut low woods and swamjn"
thickets, nesting in laishes, and adds tliat thev are rarely fouial amonj"' hijfh
trees. They leave there early in Septemlier.
l'rofes.sor Verrill found this Wariiler a common summer visitant in West-
ern Ahuue, arri\ ing about the second week in May, and remaining there to
bri'cd. Mr. iioardman thiidss it reaches Mastern ]\laine abiait the middle
of .May, and is a couiUKin summer resident. I did not meet this sjiecies
citiier in New l>iuuswi(k or Nova Scotia, nor was Dr. I'ryant more for-
tunate, but Lieutenant illand gives it in his manuscript list of the birds
found in the neighborhood of Halifax.
Mr. Ii'idgway iidbrnis me that this species breeds in the oak openhigs and
among the ])raiiie thi( kets of Southern Illinois.
During the eight months that are not included in their season of icjiro-
duction, this species is scattered oNcr a wide extent of territory. Their
earliest a]i|peaiance in the Xoithern States (at i'laltesmouth) is April 2ll, and
they all disa]>]M'in' early in Septemlier. At other tinu's they have been met
with in the Jjahamas, in Mi'.xico,(iuatemala, Costa IJica.and Panama. It has
■•^VLVICOLID.K — Tin-: \VARI',|,KI!S. 04'
m)t yet l,eo„ .lotoot.! in Mu, W.st Indies. M. l!..u.:anl ..hh.ine.l s,>ecinu,n.
■It 1 1.1} ii \ icentc, m the ],„L ,.,„„Hrv ..f Oaxa.'u, Mcxicu
rn tl.e i.e,yl,l,or|,oo.l uC Cdai.s, Mr, JJuardn.an informs n,o tluit this War-
bler IS ounimun.aud that its habits resenil.K. those of the JJIack-.,oll Warl-h-r
;"'»•'■ M'^i" 'l....se of any other of the o-onus. It always nests in bushes or in
low trees, and m tlie vicinity of swamps.
An.ong the memoranda furnishe.l to the late Mr. Kennicott bv Mr Koss
IS one t.. the elleet that the (^hestn.U-sided \\'arlder was observed at Lake
' '" )} "'"^ .^''^>' -•'• ""^^- '•"•"""•■' it is at this point is not stated.
Air. ( \ I ame regards the Chostnut-sideil Warbk-r as one of the sweetest
s.nge,. hat j.s,t X-erna.nt. He .h-seribes it as ven- conlidin, and gentle in
. ;. I hits It .s eludiy foun.l inhal,i,in. h.w bushes, in the neiuld.orhood
' taller tre... and ,t always buihis its nest in the fork of a h.w busli, not n.ore
than iron, hree to five feet fr.un the .round. He has seen n.anv of their
OS s. and they la.ve ai been in sinular situations. They will pernnt a vety
u. . .pproaeh w.thout leav,„. their nests. These are eonstrneted about the
■ist ot May. Iheir s..nj, eontn-ues until about the last of June. Alter this
ine\ are .seldom heard,
.f. Klliot Cabot, Es.i„ had tl,e .ood lort.n.e to be the lirst of our natural-
sts to d^cover ,n dune, IS:!-., the nest and e^^s ,., this Warbler, it was
.xed on he horizontal forked braueh „f an oak saplin., in Mr dine Mass
H' h-male remained sitting on her nest until so Hosely approached as to be
.s .nctly seen. n.e nest .as ,.f snips of ..d-eedar bark, and wellliued
^.th eoarse ha>r and was compact, elas.ic, and shallow. It contained lour
egys. the oround-eoior of winch was white, over winch w.-re di.stributed
numerous d.st.nct spots of und.er-brown. The.se Mere of different sizes
more numerous towards tiie lar-er end.
In regard to their i.e.lin. [n Pennsylvania, Mr. Xnttall tnentions in the
|:;'->11<' ■>> lull son,, and had no doubt that they were ttest.n, there at the
The Chest n,,f -sided Warbler usually constructs its nest in localities apart
' -'—od, rounds .Iu.ed,esoflowandswan,pvw Is, bu, in jd"
'V''\"''"^'."" /'" ,"7'« ^-y '■••'"" "'-1 two and a half to three and a
1 ■'''■'-■•'-tenKdu.,h.,:naM,avea.liame,er..f from three to lour
.hes. Ihecav.t^- ,s about tw -hes deep. They are usuallv con.poscd
X e,nally .. ooseb" .n.er.wined strips nf the bark of ,]»• sn.aller ve„.,lbles.
u. , luuted by a .v s.en.s and bi.s of dry grasses, and lined wi,h woollv
Ntnetable fdnvs and a lew ,sof, |,airs of the sn.aller anin.als. They are usuallv
ve.y hnnly bound .0 the sn.aller branches by silky libres Iron/ the eo us
at^ttH tnsects. hese nes.s were all lound ,n open places, in low. wild
n...,shy loeal.fes, but none far Iron, a cult.vate.l ..eighborhood, an.l the
^48 NOKTII AMERrCA.V JJIRDS.
situaticms cliosen for tl... nests .lu n..t .lillbr nwtterially Iro.n tlu,.se usually
Tl.o cp .,i' ti.is Warbku' uro uf an obloun-oval sj.ap,., l,a^■o a ground-color
01 a nd, cu-eaniy-white, an.l arc beautifully s],ott...l, cl.ioly about the Lu-vr
eiul, with two slnulos of purplo and purpHsh-brown. Tbey n.eusure .tiol,y
Ax) ol an inch. " •'
Dendroica striata, lUiiiD.
BLACK-POLL WARBLEB.
Muscicopa slrirUa, FonsTKK, Pl.il. T,a„s. I,X 1 1. ;)8a, 428. M,„u-U,„ ... G>Ma,x .S>,ln„ s
..KVK, Av. r.„„, ,«,„, ,:, s,„n,;,„ ... Sw.v,xs,.n ; Box. f A,.;..' Hi,.,,. A II ,
.lour. II , 4<a (C,,!,,,). A,,,/,,,/,.,, ,s, |!.v,„„, iJi,,,, x. _\„^ jj,_.j,_ ^,^„ . ,.^,^, ^^^ _
;.n.:s. Ir. A. X So. 1801, 2,,, (,,„|„.„,,^,. „„,,t )._„,„„,. ^'al,. .bur. iMil, 320
I.AMii;|.,(K, W icf-maiiii s Aivliiv, 18IU, I'.G (Chik.).
dtliiT localities (iiiotcd : iy,W,/ SciAlTii 1' Z S 18-.-. , ,., „, ,,
l'.ost.So,.. Vli, ls;J!,. ' • ^'*"'"' "■'■ ^^"^"""'"' ""^■-^^■'■' '"'•■
Sr. ("HAH. J/,,/.. Crow,,, „,„.,.. a„,l „pp..,- half of tl,.- l„.a,l blark : .1,.. |,nv,.,- l.„lf i„-
d„,„,, tl,.. ,-a,-..ov..,.ts, whiu, ,1,.. s..,,a,a,i„g li„.. passi,,. ,i„.o„.l, ,|,.. „„.l,llo of tho Vv.
est o, „,,,„., ,,,,,s g,.ay,sl.-asi,, ,i„...,l with h.-ow,,. a,„l ,.o„spi,.„o„sly s„oako.l with hiai.k.
\ n„ a,„i ta,l- U.a.l„.,-.s l„.ow„, clg,.,! oxt,.n,ally (,.x,...p, tl„. i,,,,.,' tail-r,.all„.,..s, with ,1„11
. .vo-.-,.,.,.,,. Iwo ..o„..p„.„o„.. l,a,..« „Cwl,it,. o„ ,1„. wi„,.-..ov.Mts, tl,o t..,-tials ...l-.o.) with
;;,""";■; ' ;' ■'■ •""•''^ "■';'"■■ "•■"' ■' ■'-"• '>' • -i' ^I'l." ..r ti„. th.-oat ho„, ,1,0 d,i„
< . .M.K.S o ,1,.. n.vk wi,m. ,1 ,„„s i„,o u ..lo,... pa„,.|, oC Made st.vaks cu„tl„„...i alon.
the. Moas, a,„I s„l..s ,o the root of tho tail. ()„„.,. ,wo rail-H.a(l,c.,-s with a„ ol,li,,,„. patch
"" ""; '; '■;■"' -• "'•• •■'"•; 'i- """•- '"i^'-i n,.,.,„aii,- wi.h wi,i„.. /.;. /,' ,1,;,,,,
cN.-op that the „pp,.,- pa,ts a,v olivar-.o,,.., a„,l, ,.v.. , ,|,.. now,,, sli-cakcl with black •
tl.c M-]„tc o., ,l„.«,dcs a,„l ac,.o.«.s the l„-ea..t ti„,..c,l with yellowish ; a ,•!,„. of the ,.a„,e'
ronn.lthe..yee„t by a ,]„sky line tl„-o„^h it. h,.„^,l, of ,„ale. o.To ; wi„^. ;!.,).,; tail 2 '^o
lAH. hasten, P,„vi„ee of all .\o,-,|, .\„,..,.i,.„ ,„ Aiclic ()cea„ ; Alaska; r,ree,;ia„.l •
"I-, M, w„„e,- (,.a,e)i Iiaha„,as; lio.ota. Chile ^ Xot reoonled .ro.a intenn,.,l,atJ
I" "■iiill U'S.
Th.' autumnal diuss of youn- birds is vory difrerent from that of sprin-^
lhu.ipiH.rpait.saiv lio-ht oliv,.-oT,.,,„, ohsoldclv streaked with brown- be-
neath -reenish -yellow, obsoleleiy stn.iiked on the lavast at.d sid.'s the u'n.h.p
tad-..overts pure white, a yell.wish ring round the eve, and a supereiliaiy
••ne ol the .same color. In this .In-ss it is .scarcely po.s.sible to di.stin..uis]i it
»'•""» the ■mmatuiv I), ra.shnuv. The diflerences, as hir as tangible, will be
haind dctiuled iind(.r the head of the latt(.r spc.ie.s.
Tlie young bird in its first .Iress is also ,|Mite dilferent, again, from the
""•t'n.inal-phnnage,] bir.ls, Th,. upper parts are hoary-grayish, the lower
v.liile ; each leather of the whoh- body, e.x,.ept low,.r tail-coverts, with a ter-
minal bar or trausver.se .spot of blacki.sh, those on the upper parts approtich-
SYI,V1('(»MI).K - TIIK WAHIJLKUS. 24!)
iii,H tlie l)iis(' of tile Icutlicrs uloiij^ llie slial'l. \Viii,ns and tail iiiiuli as in tlin
autiiiiiiial ]tliima,UL'.
llAmrs. Tlu! appcaraiici' of this lu-autiful and familiar Waihler in Now
England i,s tlu' sure liarliingur of the suninicr. 'I"hu last of the; migrants that
do not tari'v, it l)!);'gs u]) the rear of the hosts of hyjterborean visitors. Tiiis
species ranges over the whole extent of eastern North America, from INIexieo
to the Arctic seas. It has not been found farther west than the (Jreat riains
and the Itio (irande. Wiierever found it is abundant, and its lively and
attrai'tive manners and appijarance render it a jileasing feature. It is not
known to .stop to breed in Mas.saclni.setts, but it lingers with us till the last
lilo.ssom of the ap])le falls, and until the lUueljird and the l!(jbin have already
well-tledged l)roods, sometimes as late as the Idtli of June, and then sud-
deidy disap])ears.
Dr. Woodhou.se tbuud it abundant in Texas and the Indiiin Territory, and
individuals have been [irocured in Missouri and Neliraskn. It has been I'ound
abundant in the Arctic regions, aiound lM)rt Anderson, Fort Vukoii, and Fort
Good lfo]ie. A single specimen was taken near (Jodhaab, (irecjuland, in
ISo.S, as reconled by Professor lleinhardt. Dr. Hryant met with it in the
IJahamas, in the si)ring of IS,")'.), where it was alaiudant from the 1st to the
loth of May. He describes its haliils as similar to tlio.se of the Afniotilta
Viiria, clindiing arouiul the trunks of trees in .search of insects with the
same facility. Single sjiecinu'ns ha\e been procured from (Jreenland on the
northeast, and from liogota and Culia. Dr. Cones tbund it abumlant in
Lal)rador in all well-wooded situations, and desciibi s it as a most expert tly-
catclu'r, taking insects on the wing in the manner of the ('iiiititi)i(K riiru-s.
Air. Allen has never noted the arrival of this bird in Western Massachusetts
before the l^Utii of May, nor later than the 1st of -luni'. Tiiev again become
abundant the last of .Se])tember, and remain into Octoiier. In Eastern Maine
jMr. lioardman rt'ports them abundant, and as remaining to lireed. They are
there more numerous about open jiastures than most Warlilers. They nest
in low trees, about swampy places.
In Central Vermont, Mr. I'aine states, the iUack-I'oil is tim last of all the
migrant l)irds that come from the Soutli, and is seen only a lew days in the
iirst of June. It .seldom stays more than a day or two, and then ])as,ses
north. It ap])ears singular that a bird coming so late should go yet farther
north to lireed. lie slates that its song consists <inly of a few low. lisjiing
peejts. It may usually be .seen wandering over fields in which there are a
few scattered trees, anil seems to be a very active, restless bird.
The writer also met with them in great abundance alwait Eastport, and in
the islands of tlie (Irand Menan grouj). It was the most common Warbh-r
in that locality. The low swam|iy woods seemed filled with them, and were,
vocal with their peculiar love-notes.
Wiison states that h;' occasionally found this Warbler in Pennsylvania and
Xew .lersev, and was confident tliev would be found t('> breed in those States,
250 XUKTll AMKlilCAX JUIJD.S.
but tliis liiis never l)eeii ((HitiiiiKHl. He reganled it as a silent bird, and
Mr. AuduliDn dues not edniplinient its vocal powers. Vet it is a pleasinj^-
and varied, it' not a powerful singer. Mr. Tri|t])e speaks of its song as faint
and lisping, o';' ms consisting of four or live syllables.
None of our liinls, before its history was well known, lias been made the
occasion for nioi'e ill-foundi'd conjectures than the Lilack-l'oll. Wil.son was at
fault as to its song and its Soutliern breeding, and imagined it would be found
to ne.st in high tree-tops, .so as not to lie readily delected. Xuttall, on the
otiier hand, jireilieted that it would be founil to breed on the ground, after the
manner of the Mniutiltnc, or else in IkjIIow trees Mr. Audubon, finding its
nest in Labrador, imUdges in flights of fancy over its supposed rarity, which,
.seen in the ligliL of our jtresent knowledge, as an abundant bird in the local-
ity wiiere his expedition was fitted out, are .somewhat annising. Tiiat nest
was in a thicket of low trees, containeil four eggs, and was phiced about four
I'eet from the ground, in the fork of a small bianch, close to the main stcMu
of a fir-tree. Its internal diameter was two inches, and its depth one and
a lialf. It was formed, externally, of green and winte moss and lichens, in-
termingled with coarse dry grasses. It was lined, with great care, with fine,
dry, dark-colored mosses, resemliling horse-hair, with a tiiick bed of soft
feathers of ducks and wilhnv grouse.
In pa.ssing north, these Warblers, says Audubon, reacli Louisiana early in
February, where they glean their food among the upper liranclies (jf tiie trees
overhanging the water, lie never met with lliem in maritime parts of the
South, yet they are al)undant in tlu; State of New Jersey near the ,sea-shore.
As they pass nortliward their haliits seem to undergo a change, and to ])ar-
take more of the nature of ('reei)ers. They move along tlie tninks and lower
lindis, .searching in their chiid<s for larva- and iiujia;. Later in the .season, in
more northern h)calitie.s, we again find them expert liycatchers, darting after
insects in all directions, chasing them while on tlie wing, and making tiie
clicking sound of the triui Flycatcher.
Tliey usually reacli IMa.s.sachu.setts after the middle of May, and their stay
varies from one, usually, to nearly four weeks, esiiecially when their insect-
food is abundant. In our ortihanls they feed eagerly u])on the canker-worm,
which is just ai>])earing as tliey puss tlirough.
Around Kast]iort and at (irand Menan they confine themselves to the tliick
swampy groves of evergreens, where they breed on the edges of the woods.
All of the .several nests I met with in these localities were built in thick
spruce-trees, about eight feet from the ground, and in the midst of foliage; so
(K'nse as iiardly to be noticeable. Yet the nests were large and bulky for s(»
small a bird, In'ing nearly five inches in iliametiM' and three in heiglit. The
cavity is, howevi'r, small, lieing only two inches in diameter, and one and a
fourtli to one and a half in (h'pth. They were constructed cliiefly of a
collection of slendci' young ends of laanclies of jiines, firs, and spruce,
interwoven wilii aiul tied togi'liier liy long liranches of the ('luifiiniii licliens,
«VLVIC0LIDJ<:_TII1.: \\'AJ{I!LER>4. on
slMHler I,..rl.u.on„. , ,s, nn.l finer ..,!.,.. Tho n.sts were strongly l,„ilt
. .pact an. hon„.„.n....ns, .n.l w,. .lal.nn.U.ly lin..! ui.l. fine ,^L. . '
«M sses and f,„c ^tnuv. In all the nests funn.l, tl.e nnnil.T „f e-- ' was live
T ,s a somowlmt n.,ticeal.le fact, that tl.nn^l. this sjuries is ^.n in New
Kn, an, only l.y the n.i.ldle of May. others of its kind have Ion. hefore
-.1.0 n,h Arctic localities. Jiiehardson reco.ls its presence at tiie Cu,:.
huland House in May, and Ki.gineer Cantonn.ent l.y the 2(ith of A,..-il. Mr
Wkhart ..oeured a nes, an,l live e^,, at Fort Yukon, June -). All the nests
tak u ni these local.t.es Mere of snmller size, w..re hnilt within two feet
.1 the j4.o.nHl, and all we.e nu.ch n.ore wannly lined than were those front
..and Arena... In a few insta-.c-s Mr. McKarlane fo.u.d the nests ..f this
peces actually lanlt upon the ,rou..d. This, however, is an abnor.nal posi-
i-n and .mly occas.oned Uy the M-a..t of suitai.le situations in protectedlo-
c.i l.es. In one instance a nest was taken on the first of June, ..ontainin-
veil-developed e...hryos. Vet this ,s.,nc .species has fre.iuentlv l-e™ observed
ZIll """^'"r"^^ "--'^ "■• '"- '^ft- others of its species have
alKMdy l.udt their nests and heumi hatching.
The e-s of this species measure .7li hy .^0 nf an inch. Their shape is an
ol>lo-i,-oval. Their ground-color is a beautiful white, w.th a sli.d. n,,^ of
p;n w iien fresh. They are blotched and dotted over the entire Zl
. p.of use markings of a sul,dned lavender. a..d deeper markings of a dark
.s Ine, though si.x are occasionally found in a nest.
Dendroica castanea, B.viun.
BAY-BE£ASTED WARBLER.
Hjllrlii ciistduri:
(iiC(i!<liiueii,\\\\,s.\u, Oiii II mm (1- .1 ■ ..
l!io". I 1. Ixix I'.i ) , ' ' ' • •^"'' ''- ^- --'''^^- '■ ^'''■■■•'•- ; An.. On,.
' '"o- •> pi. I.\i.\. ■^i//n<;i/,i caxtdiicn, Swvivs • In... i. •.
Am II 1,1 Ivvv />/ ■ ; '--"AINS. , .lAlil). ; I{|(ll. ; IJoN. ; .\,;n. IJinls
xxiii. lis. -2. -Mu. ,.,„. Ml,.,. I, ,!; U^^wli '"' "'"""""""' ''"'■ '"' •'■•
• .lnish-.n.v. tl . ! , , :""" ':'rT" '""' '"''-"""'"^^ '■''^•^'' -^'--'liv with
with a ,i,„e or ...; H, , :: J ''"' T'?^ "'''"■• '^'"- •"■"^■' '-'^ ^ -'"''«"
olive. ,.„.oak-..I .l.,.o,„.|.o„l ^iii. I IH S , " ;"• """" '"''' "'" "''l"''' l^"''*''
Low,.,- parts with t,4es f . "'''•"^'o,,,.! „„,■„ „f ,,,estnnl on tlu- ..■own.
tail. 2.4i ' ''"■"""'' '"' "" ''"■'P-- Length of male, 5.00 ; wing, 3.05 ;
252 NORTH AMKIMCAX lURPS.
Hah. Easlcni I'niviiicc (if Xoilli AiriciiiM l<i Iliiiisoii's liiiy ; (liiiilciiiiilii, sdiuIi to Istli-
liiu> (if Darii'ii. Xcil j-ccni(lcil lidiM Mi'xi<M or West Jiidirs.
Till! i'l'iuiik', imd iimiiutiin? niiiles of tliis .species diiler iiiucli tVom tlie
s])riiio: iiiiiles, iiiid are olteii coiiroiiiideil witli other speeies, es])eeiiilly with J>.
s/riii/ii. A (.ireful eompiirisoii ol' an extensive series of iniiuature specimens
of tlie two s]K'('ies shows tiiat in n(sf((iii'ii the under ])arts are siddoni waslied
nnifornilv on tlie throat and breast with vellowish-oreer, lint while this
may he seen on the sides of the neelc anil hreast, or even aeross the latter,
the eliin and throat are nearly white, the sides tinged with dirty hrowi.,
even if the (oenerally jiresent) trace of ehestnut he wantiuo- on the sides.
There is a hull' tinoe to the under taiI-cov(!rts ; the ([uills are aliruptly iniir-
• fined with white, and there are no traces (however ohsolele) of streaks on
the hr(!ast. In />. .sfrinfn the' under jiarts are ipiite uniformly washed with
^reenish-yellow nearly as far hack as the vent, the sides of the hreast and
sometimes of the ludly with ohsolete streaks ; no trace of the uniform dirty
reddisli-hrown on the sides ; the under tail-coverts are pure M'hite. The
([uills are only oradually palei' towiirds the inner edge, instead of being
rather abru])tly white.
llAiiiTs. 'I'lie liay-breasted Warbler is one of the many species belong-
ing to this genus whose hi.story is yet very imi)erfectly known. Kvery where
(piite rare, it is yet distributed from the Atlantic to the (!reat Plains, and
from the (lulf of Me.\ico far into the Hudson J'.ay Territory. In the winter
it i.s known to extend its migrations as far to the south as the northern por-
tions of South America. It has not beim traced to Mexico nor to the West
India Islands, but has been procured by Mr. Salvin in (Juatemala. Nearly
all the s])eciniens obtained in the United States have either been taken
before the 12th of May or in the autunui, indicative of a more northern
breeding-] i] ace. In Kastern ^rassachu.setts it is I'xceedingly rare, passing
through after the middle of May and returning in Seiitemlier. ^Ir. May-
nard has obtained a specimen as late as .Iiine 1!', which, though not neces-
sarily jnovino that any breed there, indicates that the line of their area of
i( production cannot be di.stant. In the western part of the .same State, Mr.
Allen has iound it from ^Fay 20 to the 2."ith, and has obtained one specimen
in July. In Western Maine, ^Ir. Vi'rrill has noted its occurrence from the
middle of May to June, lait it is very rare; and ^Ir. lioardman re])orts the
same for Kastern !Maine, where it is a summer resident. He writes that he
has several times shot specimens in the early summer, Imt that he ouild
never find the nest. It is also given by Lieutenant I'dand as one of the birds
found in the vicinity of Halifax. It was not ob.served by any of the gov-
ernmental exploring ex])editions, nor fiuuid in Arizona by Dr. Cones. Mr.
Lawrence has received specimens from I'anama, obtained in wintisr, Mr.
Cassin from Darien, and Mr. Sdater from (Wiateniala.
This sjiecies .so far eluded the notice of ^Ir. Audubon as to prevent him
from giving uny account of its habits. ife only mentions its occasional
svi-vicni,ii).K — TiiK \VAi;r.i,i:i{s. 2r)8
arrival in Pennsylvania and Ni'W Jersey early in April, and its almost
innncdiali) and sudden disai)iK'aranii'. He several times olitaincd them at
that |ieri()d, and yet lias also sliot tiieu' in Louisiana as late as dune, while
busily searciliini^ tor food aiuon^' the blossoms of the cotlon-]ilant.
Wilson also reji'arded this sjieeies as very rare. He r(!]Ha'ts it as jiassin<^r
through Pennsylvania aJKUit the middle of May, hut soon disaiiiiearin,u. He
describes these birds as haviiiu many of the habits of Titndee, and dis-
]»layin;4- all their activity, it haiij;s ahcait the extremity of tlu! t\vij,'s, and
darts about from place to place with restless dilij^ence in search of various
kinds of larviv. Wilst)n never met with it in tJie summer, and \ery rarely
in the fall.
Mr. Nuttall noticed this s]i(!cies passing through Massachusetts about the
luth of April. He regarded it as an active insert-iuuiter, keepiuL^- in the to])s
of the hij^hest trees, dartinii' about with j;reat activity, and hanging;- from the
twi;j;s with fluttering win.ijs. i)iw of these liirds that had been wouiuUmI
soon became reconciled to its coidinement, and iireodiiy cauuht at and
devouretl the Hies that weic oiferiid. In its habits and manners it seemed
to him to greatly resend)le the Chi'stnut-sided Warbler.
Mr. T. M. Tripjie speaks of this Wariiler as one of the last to arrive nt>ar
Orange, X. Y. ( )wing to the fact that at that time the foliage is pretty deiisi',
and that it makes but a sliort stay, it is not often s(!en. He s])eaks of it as
not quite so active as the other Warlders, keeping more on the lower boughs,
and seldom ascemling to the tops of the trees.
Mr. C. W. Wyatt met with this species at Xaranjcj, in (Colombia, South
America.
Kggs of this bird ol)tained by Mr. (ieorge Tlusii at Coldwater, ni'ar
Lake Sup(iri(a', are of an oblong-o\al sliape, measuring .7"> by .~)'2 of an inch,
and except in their su]ierior si/e and lewer markings might be mistaken for
eggs of I), (infira. Their ground-color is a bluish or greenish white. The
markings are vt'ry few and fine, except tliosi' in tlie crown around the laiger
end, and there the blotches are deeper and itntw mnnerous. Tlieir colors are
dark reddish-brown and purple.
Mr. ^layuard found this s]iecies the most abundant of the Si// rim/ Ida- at
Lake Undjagog, where it bieeds. 'I'wo nests wen; taken in -lune. One was
found June •\, in a tree by the side of a cart-]iath in the woods, just com-
pleted. It was built in the horiz""tal branch of a heudock, twenty feet
from the ground, and live or six from tlu^ triiidv of the tree. ]W the 8th of
.Tu'.e it contained three fresh eggs. The other was built in a similar situa-
tion, Id'teen feet from the ground, ami contained two fresli eggs.
These ne.sts were large for the bird, and resendiled those of the I'urple
Finch. They were c(nn|»o.sed outwardly of line twigs of tlu; hai'kmatack,
with which was mingled smut; of the long hanging llsnva mos.ses. Tiiey were
very smoothly and neatly lined with black libr(Mis roots, the seed-stalks of
C/niloiiia mosses, and a few hairs. They had a diameter of aluait six inches,
254 XOKTH AMlilUCAN lillinS.
and a lioight of about two mid a lialf inclins. Tlio cavity was three inches
wide and an inch and a (luarlci' dcc]t. The e-rjis varied in lengtli from .71
to .0") (jf iin inch, and in l)ica(kli from StA to .50. Their ground-color
Mas a bluish-green, thickly spotted with l)ro\vn, and generally witli a ring
of confluent blotches of \nm\n and lilac around the larger end. Occasion-
ally the s]i(jt,s i)ioved to lie more or less of an umlier-brown, and in some
specimens tiie spots were less numerous tiian in othcr.s.
These l)irds were found in all the woodeil .sections of that rtfgion, where
they freijutnted the tops of tall trees. Their song, he states, in itsOpening, is
like that oi' the I'.lack-l'oll, with a. terminal Marble similar to that oi' the
liedstart, but given Mith less energy.
Dendroica ceerulescens, Baird.
BLACK-THSOATED BLUE WABBLEB.
Motacilhi cnmdevsis, Llnx. .Syst. X,it. 1, ]7(J(i, :J3(! (not \>. 3;U. wliicli is I). cornmM.
Sjjh-iii ai,ui</ni.si.s, Lath.; M'm..s(in-. ^ Aim. Ovn. lliog. II, jil. cxlviii, dv. — S.vi.i.iJ,
P. Z. S. 18,'>7, 231 (St. DniiiiiiKoV Sjilri,-i,l(i cuiKii/ciisix, Swains. ; .rAiiii. ; lioN. ;
Ari). lairds .Vm. IF, ]il. .\cv. j;/iiiii(ni/i/iiis cm. V\n. Dcmh-oiin r.nini/iiisi.i, IJAiiai,
liiiils X. Am. isr)8, 271. — In. I'. Z. S. isiil, 7(i (.l,iiii;ii,a). — (irxin,. Calj. .lour ISO],
32(i (t'uliii ; v.ry c'oimiKm). — Sa.MCKi.s, 221. .U,>/,ifi7/,i cari(/,'.wi,.t, Om. S. Xat. I,
17SS, Stiiii. Si//nii !■.(/•. Lath.; Vir.ii.i,. li, j.l. Ixxx. — D'Ouii, Safin's I'ulia, Ois.
ISlli. (>;i, 1)1. ix, ti<,'s. 1, -2. 1),ii,h-ni,;i ,•„•)■. llAii;i), IJi'v. .Aim. I!. 18(14, 1S(1. ,syr/r(
pii^ilhi, \Vm.s. V, i>I. xliii, lifi. ;i (.(uv.>. SjthHii /,i(r„jit,r,f, Wii.s. ,\i//f!„ /,<,/ii.i/n\
SiKi'ir. Si/I rill iiiiK-ni/iHx, Vw-M.i.uT. ,Si//n'ii. .iji/nujiiusir, Hon.; Nititai.i.; Aui). tiijl-
vicii!,! j,(iiijuisii, (ids.sK, liinls .lain. 1817, lli2 (IVmale). — In. lUiist. no. 37.
Pp. CiiAii. Ali()v<' unil'oriii (■(inlinnoiis nrravisli-lilnc. inclinliiifr tlio outer t'dfres of the
quill am! tail-fcatlicrs. A namiw Cnnital liiif, llir ciiliri' sid.'.s of head and iicrk, cliiii and
tln-iiat, luKlnjiis lilack ; tliis coloi- (■xk'iidiii.tr in n Imiad lateral strii)e to the tail. Iio.-:t of
iindiM- parts, iiieliidiiii,'- llic .■ixillary rc.crioii. wliilc. Wiii.i;s and tail lilark aliovc, the Ibniicr
wilh ii conspiciioiis wliilf patch lonncd l.y the liasi's of .all the primaries (cxccpl the lii'st);
the inner welis of the seeondaries and tertiaU with siiiiilar jialejies towards the hase tiinl
aloii.j- Die inner niardn. All the tail-leathers, exei'pt the innermost, with a white patch on
the inner weh near the end. Lenirlh, ').•")() ; wini;-. '_'.()(l ; tail. 2.'J").
Female, olive-frreen above anil dull yellow bein'ath. Sides of head dn.-^ky olive, the eye-
lids .-uid a snpereiliary stripe whitish. Traces of the white patches at the hase of the pri-
niaries and of tlii' t.-iil.
IIah. Kastein IVoviii f T'nited Slates: .lainaic^a. Ciiha, and St. noiniiiiro in winter;
very ahnndant ; Bahamas (Hiivaxt). Xot recorded fr.mi M,.xi,.o or Central America.
The white ])atch at tlie ba.se of the primary, together with the total ab-
sence of outer markings on the wings, is jiccnliar to this specnes, and is found
in both sexes. The female is more different from the male than that of any
other s])ecies.
The plumage of the male in autumn is iiiuilar to the spring dress, but
the back and wings are M'ashed with greenish, and the black of the
throat variegated with M-hite edges to the feathers. A younger mule (788,
SYLVICOLID.E - THE WAUULEltS. 255
Octiilior 10, r'iirlislc, I't'iiii.) (liU'cis in liiiviui,' Ihv liliick ;ippcnvinj:j in patclu'.s,
tlio thruiil being nidstly wliitu ; tluire is al.su a narrow wLilo suiierciliary
sUipo.
ll.vnnx Tii(> niacic-tln'oated liio AVarlil.'r, at diircrcnt seasons of tlic
year, is distriljiited over neaily tlie whole eastern jjortion of North Anieriea.
Abundant in the West Indies in winter, as also in tlie South Atlantic States
in early spring and late in fall, it is found during the breeding-season from
Northern Now York and New Hngland nearly to the Arctic regions. A few
probaljly stop to breetl in the liigii portions of Massachusetts, and in late
seasons they linger about the orchards until dune. They undoubtedly hreed
in Vermont, X(!W Hampshire, and Maine.
Dr. AVoodiioiise states tliat he found it abundant in Texiis ; but this is the
oidy instance, ,so far as is known, of its occurring west of the Missi.ssijipi
Valley.
Towards the clo.se of the remarkably mild winter of ISOt"), a ])air of the.se
birds were oUserved for .several days in a sheltered portion of iJoston. They
were in excellent condition, and were very laisily employed hunting for the
larvai and eg^s of in.sects and sjiiders in the corners and crevices of the walls
of hou.ses and (ait-biiildings, evidently (d)tinning a full supply. In Southern
Illinois, Mr. Itidgway cites this Warbler as one of the least cmunion of the
s])ring and fall visitants.
Audubon found this s]iecies in nearly every Southern and Southwestein
State during tiieir migrations. They arrive in South Carolina late in March,
are most abundant in Ajiril, and leave early in May. They keej) in the deei)
woods, ])assing among the brandies about twenty feet from the ground. Jle
traced them as far north as the Magdaleine Islands, but found none in New-
foundland, and liut a single specimen in Labrador. They breed in Nova
Scotia, and a nest was given him found near Halifax liy Dr. .Mac( 'ulloch.
The.se were .said to be usually jjlacod on the horizontal liranch of a tir-tree,
.seven or eight feet from the ground, and to be composed of Hue strips of l)ark,
mosses, and fdirous roots, and lined with line grasses and a warm bed of
feathers. The eggs, li\(' in nundier, were white, with a rosy tint, and sprin-
kled with reddish-brown dots, cliieHy at the larger end.
This Warbler is an expert catcher of tiie smaller winged insects, pursuing
them (|uite a distance, and, when .seizing them, making the clicking sound of
the true Flycatcher. So far as they have been ob.served. they have no song,
only a monotonous and sad-sounding r/i<ij).
Nuttall, in the secontl edition of his Alanual, mentions having oliserved
several ])airs near Karranville, rcnn., on the Susiiueiianna, and among tiie
AUeghanie.s. It was in May, and in a thick and shady wood of hendock.
They were busy foraging for food, and were uttering what he describes as
slender, wiry notes.
In Western Afassachusetts, My. Allen states it to be common from the loth
to the 2r.tli of May, and again in SeptiMuber. They were fouml by Mr. ('. W.
250 N'OKTll AMI-;i!l("AN HIHDS.
Iifinictt (HI ]\romit Ildlycikc (huiiiu' llic lnccdiiijf-st'iisdii, find liv Mf. 15. llos-
I'ord oil llio westoiii lidgcs during tla' .siinie ])ei'iiMl. 'I'iicy uru L'ouinion, Mr.
JJdindnian .stiiU's, in tlic tliick wimhIs idHHit Caliiis, tlimiigli id! t!ie hrewling-
siiiisdii.
In Jamaica, during tlu; winter, it exclusively Ireriuents tiio edges of tall
■\vo(ids in unl'reiineiited iiioiiiitainnn.s idealities. Tliey are t'oiiiid in iliat island
t'rfini Octolier 7 until tiie '.Hli ol' Ajiril. Mr. (Josse, who has closely ohservd
their liahils during winter, s]ieaks of tlieir jilaying together with inucli spirit
lor hall' an hour at a tiiias chasing each other swii'tly round and nuind, occa-
sionally dodging tiirnugh the huslies, and uttering at intervals a pelihly flici'p.
They never remain long alight(Hl, and are diliicult to kill. Ue.stlessness i.s
their great characteristic. 'I'hey often alight transver.scdy on the long pendent
vines or slender trees, hopping up and down without a moment's intermission,
jieckiiig at insects. Tliey are usually very plump and fat.
De la Sagra states that this hird occasio'udly breeds in Culta, young birds
iiaving lieen killed tliat had evidently lieen hatched there. The record of
this Warhler, as ](resented hy ditferent authors, i s ajiparently inconsistent and
contradictory: rare with sonu' observers, alaindant with others; rcMuaining
in -lamaica until well into .\j>ril, yet common in South Carolina in March,
and even ai)pearing in ]\Iassachu.setts in mi Iwinter; suj)])osed to breed in
the highlands of Cuba, yet, except in the case of the nest taken near Halifax,
its manner of breeding was uukuown until lately. It is jirolialily rare in hiw-
lands e\ery where, and nowhere common exce])t among mountains, and, while
alile to endure an inclement season where food is alaindant, is intlueneed in
its migratory movements liy instinctive ])romptings to change its quarters
entirely in reference to a supply of food, and not liy the temi)erature merely.
It jiresence in i)ostoii in winti'i' was of course a singular accident; but its
jilunip condition, and its coiiteiiti'd stay so long as its supply of food was
abundant, suHiciently attested its ability to endure severe weather for at least
ii limited period, and while its I'ood was not wanting. ^Ir. Tri]ipe states that
these birds reach Xorthern New dersey during the first week of INIay, and
stay a whole month, remaining there haiger than any otiier species. At lirst
they have no note but a simjile iliirp; but, before they leave, the males are
said to have a singular drawling song of tour or five notes.
Mr. I'aine states that this Warbler is a resident, lait not very common bird,
in liandolpli, Vt. Ke has usually noticed it in the midst ol' tliii k woods,
not generally in tall trees, l)ut among the lower branches or in Imshes. The
song he descril)es as very short and insignitieant, its tones sharp and wiry,
and not to be heard at any great distance. He knows nothing as to its iie.st.
They arrive at liandolpli from the South ai)out the middle of May.
We are indebted to Mr. John IJurroughs for all the knowledge we ]ios.se.ss
in relation to the nest and eggs of this sjiecies, which had previously baf-
fled the search of other naturalists. He was so fortunate as to meet with
their ne.st in the summer ol' I.S71. Karly in July, in company with his
SVI.VK'OLID.E — TIIK WAUBLKHS. 257
nephew, Mr. C. 15. Dev"'', Mr. I'.iirroiijflis visited tiiu .-siime wiioils, in lio.xlnny,
Deliiwiire County, X. V., in wliicli lie had in ii previou.s yeiir found tlie ne.it
of the .Mourning- (iround ■\Varl)ler. The tree.s were mostly hendoek, with an
under^Towth of hirch and heecli. They first notieed tiie jiarent liirds with
food in their liills, and then .set aliout deliherately to liiid their ne.st iiy
M'atehin;,' their movements, lint tiie liirds wen; eiinally vigilant, and watehed
tluMu (piite as determinedly. " It was diamond eut diamond." They were so
.su.spieious, that, after loading- their iieaks with food, they wouhl swallow it
themselves, rather than run the risk of lietrayin^' their seeret hy ajiproaehin^f
the nest. They even apparently attemjited to mislead them by heinj,' very pri-
vate and uontidential at a ])oint some di.^itanee from the nest. Tiie two watehed
the liird.s for over an hour, when the mosquitoes made it too hot for them to
hold out any longer, and they made a rush upon the jiTouiid, determined to
hunt it over inch liy inch. The l)irds then manifested the <;reatest conster-
nation, and when, on leaping over an oM lo^-, the younj;- sprang out with a
scream, hut a few feet from them, the <listraeted ])air fairly threw tliem.selves
under their very feet. The maUi l)ird trailed his hriglit new jilumage in
the dust; and his much more humbly clad mate was, if anything, more .so-
licitous and venturesome, coming witiiin easy reach. The ne.st was placed
in the fork of a small hemlock, aliout tifteen inches from the ground. There
■were four, and perhaps five, young in the nest, and one egg unhatched, which,
on blowing, jiroved to have lieen fresh.
The nest measures three and a half inches in diameter, and a trifle more
than two in height. The cavity is broad and dec}), two and a third inches in
diameter at the rim, and on<! and a. half deep. Its base and jjcriphery are
loose aggregations of strips of deeayeil inner bark from dead deciduous trees,
ehiedy liasswood, strengthened iiy fine twigs, rootlets, and bits of wood and
bark Witliin this is a firm, compact, well-woven nest, made by an elabo-
rate interweaving of slender njots and twigs, hair, fine pine-neetUes, and simi-
lar inatei'ials.
The egg is oval in shape, le.ss olitu.se, but not pointed, at one end, with a
grayish-white ground, ])inkisli wiien unlilown, ami marked around the larger
Olid with a wreath, chielly of a i)right umbei-lmnvn with lighter markings of
reddish-brown and ob.scure purple. A few smaller dottings of the .same are
sparingly distributed over the rest of the egg. Its measurements are .70 by
.50 of an inch. It more nearly resembles the eggs of the />. iiuukIoxo than
any other, is about five per cent larger, a little more oblong, and the spots
differ in their reddish and purplish tinge, so far as one speeinum may be
taken as a criterion.
33
258 NORTH A.NtEIUCAX IJIKDS.
Dendroica olivacea, Si i at.
OLIVE-HEADED WABBLEB.
Sijlrki (ilimcro, (iin.M-D, Hinls Texas, ISH, 11, [il. vii, W'^. % — Sci.ATF.Il, P. Z. S. ISrir),
()(). .Sif/i-ifii/d (,/it-(imi, Cassin, 111. Hiids Texas, ete. 18;").'), 2S;i, 1)1. xlviii. llhimnm-
/i/iiis (j/iviici'Ks, Sci.ATKli, 1'. /,. ,S. !{*")(). lilH (('c)i(li)va). Ihiiilntieti olimcai, .Scl.Ali'.ii,
1'. Z. K. 18J8, '2H8 (Oa.xaeii ; eokl rej,'i(iii). - Id. P. 'A. S. IH.VJ, ;ili;i (.lalupa). — In.
ratal. 1861, 31, no. 190. — Baikd, liev. .\iii. U. I«il4, -.iit.'). .syc/u hcniatn, Drnrs,
Hull, .\eail. iiiiix. XIV, 1847, Idl. - In. liev. Z. 18-18, -2-15. Ni/h-iivla heiiUiUi, Bon.
Con.si). l><r)(i, adi).
8p. f'lfAU. Ilcail anil iicrk all roiiiid, with jii.iiiiluiii, lirowiiish-sallVon, with ii li'i-ounish
tin.iri' oil llii' iiaiic. licsi of u|i|)ci- pails a.shy. Middle and tips of groatoi- wing- covorts
white, foriiiiiig two haiid.s on the wing-; a thifd white patch at tlu' ba.SL'.s of the priiiiafies
(except the outer two), and cxlendiiif,^ Ibfwards aloii^' the outer edyc.s. Secondaries oiljjcd
externally with olive-jrieen. Iiniei- webs of rpiilLs con.spienoii.sly ed.u'ed with white. I'nder
parts, except a.s de.seiihed, while, tiiifred with Ijfownisli on tlu; sid<'s ; a narrow liontal
band, and a broad .stripe from thi.s thrciijrh eye and over ear-eoverl.s, black. Outer tail-
feather wl'.ite, exce))! at ba.s(! and towards ti]); frrealer portion of inner web of iie.xt
feather also white, nuieh more restriete<l on the third. Leiifith, 4.(iO ; wine-, 2.SS ; tail,
2.15 ; tarsu.s. .7").
A temale .specimen (14,.'!(;il). perliap.s also in antiimiial plnini!,:,'e, has the .sall'ron n'placed
by clear yellowish, except on the loj) of head and nape, which are olive-green. The black-
frontal and lateral baiid.s are replaced by whitish, leaving only a dusky patch c-i the ears.
Hah. Mexico (both coasts to the .southward) ; (iiiateiiiala.
Tliis S])ecie.s i.s <ri\ou by Mr. (liraiid as occui'vino- in Texa.s, but it h pos-
sible that ho may have been luislod a.s to the true locality. It may, how-
ever, be yet detected along tlie southern border of the I'nited States.
Nothiii" is known of its liidiits.
Dendroica nigrescens, \\.\\\w.
BLACK-THBOATED OBAT WABBLEB.
Sijlcia nigresaum, Towssuxii, ,1. A. N. Se. VII, ii, 1837, 1!>1 (Columbia Hiver). — Acn,
Om. Biog. V, 18:3!t, ,07, pi. cecxcv. Fermivorn in';/. Box. ; NuiT. .Si/hncnJn vi<j.
Aui). Birds Am. II, pi. xiiv. lihlimiiiphiix niij. Caii. 1850. Ikvih-aim iiiij. Baiiii),
Bird.s N. Am. 18r)8, '2711 ; Bev. 18(i. -- Sil.ArKi!, P. Z. S. 1808, •2!»8 ; 18.09, 374 (Oax-
aea : Ingli mountains in JIarch). llr.Kii.MANN, P. B. Ii. Beji. X, iv, 4ii. — <'ooi'i;i! k
SiCKi.r.v, P. H. \{. I!ep. XII, 11, Isr.H, ISO. CoofKll, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, !tO. ! Sylvia
hiilscli, (JiiiAii), Birds Texa-s, 1838, \\\. iii, lig. 1, 9 (suggested by Selatcr).
Sp. ("iiAii. Head all round, Ibrepart of the breast, and streaks on the side of the body,
black : rest of under parts, a stripe on the side of the head, beginning acutely just aln)ve the
middle of the <'ye, and another paralh'l to it, beginning at the base of the nmh'r jaw (the
.xtripes of opposite siiii's conlhien; on the chin), and running further back, white. A yellow
spot in front of the eyi'. Itest of upper parts blnish-gray. The interscapular region and upper
tail-coverts streaked with blai-k. Wing-coverts black, with two narrow white bamls; (piills
and tail-feathers brown, the two outer of tlu! latter white. M-itli the shafts and a terniiiial
svi,v[coLiiu<: — Tiric wahhlkhs. 250
stiviik lirnwii; the ihinl liroun, with a tcniiinal iiariow wiiilc sircak. Hill l.lack : I'cct
lii-dWii. LciiMlli. 1.7(1: Willi;-, L'..".!!; tail. 2.H».
IIaii. Wi'slcni and Miildlc I'lov iiiivs of Kiiilcd Stati's. Migratory s.iiilliward into
Wi'stcni .\[cxic() (Oaxaca): Ori/aha (uinlcr, Si mii-mhasi,).
Ft'iiiiilo (Ti.'vJT:?, East Hiiiiil.ul(lt Mdinitiiiiis, Xov., July U). Siinilnr to
tlie male, but crown ash mcilially stmikcil witli Mack, instead of continuous
Mack; llie streaks on hack narrow and inconsi)icuons ; tlic Mack of tlio
throat contincd to tlic jiinnlnni, apiteariui,' in s|iots only on anterior half. A
youn<f feinalt! (No. r);;,;i7(i, Kn.st Ilnniholilt Mountains, Anjiust l(t) is plain
brownish-ash above, lacking entirely the streaks on tin; back, and those on
sides of crown extremely obsolete. Thei'e is no black whatever on throat or
.jugulnin, which, with tiie wc^ll-deHned supra-loral stri])e and lower parts in
general, are soiled white, more brownish laterallv. The other features, includiii''
the yellow sjiot over the lores, with the wing and tail markings, are inuch as
in the adult. A young male (olVfiT;"*), same hicality and date, dillers from the
last in having tiie sides of the (trown black, and the throat-patch almost
comiilete, but nnicii h.idden by the broad wiiite borders to the feathers. An
adult autnnmal male (7,*)'.t(), Calaveras Ijiver) is like the spring adult, but
the ash is overspread iiy lirownish, nearly obliterating the dorsal streaks, and
dividing the iilack of tlu; crown ; the i>lack throat-jiatch is perfectly defined,
but much oliscurcd by white liorders to the feathers.
Hahits. Tiie IMack-throated (J ray or Dusky Warbler, so far as is now
known, belongs to the Western and Middle Provinces, occurring certainly
us far to the south as San Diego, in California, and as far to the mn-th as Fort
-Steilacoom, in Washington Territm-y, penetrating in wintev into ^Mexico.
The most easterly localititis in which it has Ixjen met with are in Arizona
and New Mexico. The Smithsonian Institution has received specimens also
from t!olnmbia Iliver, Calaveras, Cal., and Fort Defiance.
This species was first obtained and de.scrilied by Mr. Towusend, who found
it alnnidant in tlie forests of the Cobnubia, where it lireeds and remahis
initil nearly winter. Its nest, which he there met with, resembles that of
I'ltni/a inncririinii, oidy it is made of the long and fibrous green mo.s.s, or
Usnm, peculiar to that region, and is placed among the npjier branches of
oak-trees, suspended lietween two small twigs.
jMr. Xnttall stales that it arrives on the Cobuubia early in Afay, and from
the manner in which its .song was delivered at intervals, in the to])s of decidu-
ous trees, he had no doui)t that they were breeding in those forests as early
as May 23. This song he describes iis delicate, but monotonous, uttered as
it busily and intently searches every leafy bough and expanding bud for
insects and their larva' in the spreading oak, in which it utters its solitary
notes. Its song is repeated at .sliort and regular intervals, and is said l)y Mr.
Xuttall to bear some resemblance to f-slir('-f.slitl;/-fs/iiii/s/irr, yuryin'^ the feeble
sound very little, and with tlie coniduding note somewhat slenderlv and
])laiutively raised. Dr. Suckley sjieaks of this l)ird as nujderately abundant
260 -NoltTII A.MKIJICAX lilUDS.
near Fort Steilacooiii.^'ciiciiilly met with on oaks, mul vcrviiuu;i rosenibliiig
Dniihumt atuhdnmi in its luil.its. Its arrival tliiM'c liu gives as occurring
in lilt' first wt'clc in April, or a nmntli earlier than stated hy Xuttall.
l>r. Cooper met witii a pair at I'uget Sound that apjieared to have a nest,
though he sought lor it in vain. He describes its note as faint and unvaried.'
Dr. ( '(UK'S met witi, this AVarl.Ier in tiie vieinity of Fort Whipple, Arizona.
He spi'aks of it as cummon there as a spring and autunni migmiit. He tiiinks
that a W\\ remain to breed. It arrives in tliat Territory about Ajn^i] I'D, and
is found until late in Septemlter. It is most common among the pine-trees,
and in its geneml Jiabits isstate.l to rescnuble tlie new .sjiecies />. ,ir,„Uv.
Dr. Jleermann tbund a lew birds of this species near Sacramento, ami also
on the range of luountaius (livi.ling the Calaveras and the Mokelunnie Itivers.
During the survey by Lieutenant Williamsons j.arty, Dr. Heerniann met
with a single s])ecinieu among the mountains, near the summit of tiie Tejon
Pass. It was in company with otiier small birds, migrating southward, and
gleaning its food from among the topmost lu'anclies of the tallest oaks. He
states that its notes clo.sely resendile the sounds of the locust.
Dr. Cooper states tliat tiiese birds ajipear at San Diego by the 20th of
April, in small Hocks migrating northward, and tiieu uttering onlv a faint
chirp. They frequent low bushes along the coast, l)ut as they pit:)ceed farther
north they take to the deciduous oaks as the leaves begin to ex])antl, early
in May, at which time they reach the Columbia Kiver. He has never mc!t
with any in ( 'alifornia after April.
Mr. Hidgway ob.served tliis species only in the pine and cedar woods of
the Kast Humboldt ]\Iountains, where, in all probability, they were breeding.
He observed numerous families of young birds following "their parents in
the months of July and August. He met with them only among the cedar-
and the woods of the nut-pine, and never among thc^ brusiiw<.od of the canons
and ravines. He states tliat the common note of tiiis bird greatly resembles
the siuu'p chirj) of the Diiuhvici roronafa, and is louder and more distinct
than that of D.diiilulxmi.
y.h\ A. Houcard obtained s])ecimens of these birds at Oa.xaca, Mexico,
during the winter months.
Dendroica chrysopareia, Sd.. & sai.v.
YELLOW-CHEEKED WARBLEB.
Dendrnkii cJ,ri/.in/,„,yi,i, Sci.atki! & Sai.vin, 1'. '/„ s. ISfiO, 298. -- In. Ibis, 1800, 273
(Vera Vm, (!iiiil..iiiala). -In. is.!".. - Duksskh. Il,i.s, 18t)5, 477.- lUiitii, Ki.v.A'm.
B. 1S{)4, 183. --C.ioim:!!, Oin. Cil. I, 1870, 'X.i.
Sp. Cu.vii. CJ'jn. h^alviii (•olIcelioM.) Ib'iiil ami lioiiy ahove l)lark, the fcatliors with
olivc-MToun (■(Ijr.'.s especially ..II tlie liaek. (ilisriirinir tlio },a-oiin(|-roloi- ; niiii|) (•luar black.
Entire side of head rexten<lin<r to nostrils aii.l on lower jaw), and the partially eoncoaled
Imsesof the leathers on the median liii.. of the forehead, yellow, with a narrow black hne
i^VLN I('()|,||).K_THK WAKHLKIJS. .,-.,
^f 1 1
'••"■" I0.VS, ,1.,,,„.|, ,|„. ,.y,.. wi ,,iM. l,,l,i,„l, hut not crossing .lu-oud, tlieyllow. Ii,.n..ul,
2^1: "7 •"■''"" "'""" '' '"'■"'■ '""'■'' '"• '''"'-'^ ■— ^' ""■ "I- -"' "'■••-'. -"i
OC .,n „, ,1,.. .,,,,. s,„„.., |,.,„v....n ,1,.. y..llnu- ,,at,.l„.s of tl„. ,wo si.l.s of ,1„. h,.,! .,,,1
. k, .,,,,1 .x„.,„l,., .I,„„ „,.. .i,|,„ i„ „ ,.„,;,„ .„. „,„,ks. K..,lu.,s „r ..,.iss,uu w„h l,la,.|.
•mo. Uni^s ,,l,„v,. ;,.l,y, will, i„„ Whit,. \,nuU across (l„. ....vit.s, tl.., sraiMilars
Mtri.iL-,.,1 ,, ;,i M 11 . >"n.ii.--, iin- sea pillar
ti A..,| uii 1 I ,i,.i„.|,, „,„ ,|,„|, .,,|^.,„| ,„„,.„,,||^. ,^..,1, ^^.,,i^,, ^,,^, ,,,,^^ ^^..,,_ ,j,^_|
k. tk.|.s l,la,.ki.l,, ,.,|..,1 ,x,.,,ially will, asliy, ,1,.. lal.ial wi,l, wliil. at ,1,.. uj. (,„,,
^ : ; " ""■ "i ;.■;;" '■'-■'''"- - '-• "—'is .li- ..as,.; „ii,.., wi,l, a s ., ,a„.l, „r
Tliu capture .if spi.cinu.ns ..f tl.is s,„.,.io.s at San Antnuio, Texi.s l,v ])r
lleonnan.,, a„.l „„ „,., Mo.lina Ifivr l,y Mr. Drcssor, entitles it t., a place in
our fauna. 1 1„. spooinien .Icscril.,.! above i.s Mr. Salvin's tvpe.
llAiUT.s. A sniolc sperinien i.s .s,i.l to have heen taken near San Antonio,
le.xas, by 1 r. llcern>ann. It i.s tlmuol.t to I.e probably a bin! bolonninn- to
I.etaunaui An.ona and New Me.vicu, and is given luTothetically bv ])r
(oopcr union,' the birds oi' Calilbrnia. In its appeamnce it resen.bl,; /)
r.m|., I). t,un,.nulii, and J), ord./r.fa/i.. It was originally deseribe.l by
^ilvn, fmni a sn.gle specimen obtained in Guatemala. Another pair ^vL
alU^nvard oljan.ed by Mr. Salvin on the highest point of the road between
SaLuna and lactic. In regard to its habits, nothing is on record.
Dendroica virens, b.vird.
BLACK-THROATED GEEEN WARBLEB.
His Am II, ,,|. lxx.vv.-liK,s„.v,M,T. Vi,l. M,..l. I„.isn;i, 1854, 72, 81 ((i.e. .lau.l)
a,xa,a ; :i73 (Xalapa, ; l,,is. iMi., 8.. - ,,.uv,iKS.:., Ann. X. V. .v. Vli; « '
^^^^SA.vui....s. 222. J/«/.<,7/,« n>,«.v. Kkimiaki.t, Ibi.s, 111, isoi, 5 ^.luliauhaal,. (in...,,-
.l.f Lh'""' r^!f '; l^''"'"' '"'■''■ "'■'■'"^'^■" "^' "■'•■•- ""'' '"i"' '■'-"• v-llow olive-,.iv,.n •
the loatl,,.,. of the ..aek will, i,i, ,i s.ivaks of hlaek. Foivheail aiwl" sides of 1,..; , ,. j
neck, in. ,„lii,. a si,p..,.,.i,i.,,. .,,ip,., I,,,,,,, ,..„,,,. ., ,,„,^. .,,.^... ,,,„ ,
UH-o.„h ,..,,.,., an,l ano„„.i. ,,„,„„. :,. ,,,„, Hi.-oal, and fln-epart of tb.. I„ st, x e 0^
■ti u.llow on the breast ami Hanks. U'in.s and tail-i;.,,!,..,. dark- .'rown, ed.a.l .-iU
l>Iu,sli-Kray ; two white Lands on the win^: ,1„. .iva...,- part of th. tliree on,.,, t^il -IL .
ei-s wh.U.. Fe.u.k similar, ....t dulle,- ; the tlnoal yellow ; ,|,e l,la,,.k of b..e..t n.nel o ,-
2C>2 .NOUTII AMKKICAN IlIKDS.
fi'iilcil liy white .•(Imvs; tlii' siilfs streakfd witli l.lauk. L('ii<,'tli, ,' iiwlics • win" " 58 •
tail, 2.;!0.
Hah. Kiistcni I'lovincr of rniicii Slates; Giveiilaiid ; Ili'lifrolnnd, Eiinipe ; sniitli to
Panama 1!. li. In Mcxieo, .Xaiapa. t"(ini<iva, ami OaxaeaV Culia aloUL- in West Indies,
ilexieo (every wht.Te in winter, Si-mhuhast).
The aiituiiiiiiil iiialo liiis tlic lilack of tliroiit and livoast olisfiircd l)y whitish
tips. Fuiaalus aiu yulluwish-wliite heiiealli, tiiij^'ed Willi ■^luyish tuwards the
tail.
As sliowii ill the Mencric eliapter, D. rirens is the tyi>e ol' a section uf
olivaceous Warblers with black chin and throat. The followiiij,' more elalw-
rate diagnoses of the gruui) may lacilitute its study, the sjiecies being quite
closely related : —
CoM-MOV CiiAiiArTER3. Upper part,>< more or less olivaoeoii.s-<rrepn, with tlm
Ceatliers .streaked eentrally with lilaek (sonielinies concealed). .'<ides ol'liead vel-
low. Chin and throat hlaek ; rest of the under parts, in.'hidinfr inside of wini;-.s,
white, with or without yellow on lireast. Winps with two while bands. Inner
web of lati'ral tail-feather ahno.st entirely white from the base.
Above briidit olive-frreen with eoneealed bl;ii>k streaks; tail-eoverta ashv.
Sides conspicuously .streaked with blaek ; erissnm unspotted. Jugulum .some-
timos faintly tinged with yellowish. An obscure dusky-olive sti-ijie through
the eye, and a ereseentie jL-iteli of the .same some distance beneath it . . virenn.
Above olivaceons-a.shy (rmni) pure ash), with more di.stinot black spots.
Top and sides of head clear yellow, the leathers of the crown tipjied with
lilaek, (II- rlouded with dusky plunibeou.s. No dark niarkiu<rs or strijjes oii
side of head. Xo distinct black streaks beneath; blaek of throat restricted
to front of neek occkUnlalU.
rrevailing color of upper parts black, with olivaceous cd.sings on the back;
runi]i and upper tail-covert pure black. Sides and eri.ssuni streaked with
blaek. A simple black strip.,' througli the eye; no patch beneath it . chrijsujjiirevi.
Aliove olive-crreen. I'pper tail-coverts ashy, with central black str.'ak.s.
Feathers of head ab(jve black, with olive-green edges. A broad olivaceous
blaek stripe through eye from lores, involving the ear.s, in which is aycllow-
i.sh ereseentie patch below the eye. I!lack leathers of throat and chin edged
with yellow. Jnguluni and .sides of breast also yellow. Sides streaked
with black. Xo distinct black streaks on erissuni .... tdimifi'iiilii.
Habits. — Tlie Black-throated Green Warbler, like nearly all the mem-
bers of this liighly interesting genus, has, to ti very great degree, escaped tiie
closer ol)servatioiis of our older ornitliologi.sts. Wilson only noticed it as it
passed through renn.sylvania in its eaily s])ring migrations. He mentions its
freiiuenting the higher Iminches of forest trees in search ol' tlie Itirvic of the
smaller insects that feed upon the ojiening buds, and describes it as a lively,
active bird, having only ti few chirping notes. All had ])assed on by the
12th of May. Tiieir return he was never able to notice, and he liecame
afterwards satisfied that a few remained all the suinnier in the higher grounds
of tliai State, having obtained several in June, 18U9.
Audubon met with this bird from Newfoundland to Texas, but never found
SVLVrcol.lD.K — TIIH WAUm.KKS. 203
it breediu,!;. N'owlu'rc aliiiii(liiiit, tliciii wcri' larj^i; triicts of comitry wlicro
lie novel' met with it, (>r wliuri! it was of nire occinrniK'i'. J If Imiiiil it iimst
nbiiii(laiit ill tiie viciiiiiv of Kastport, ^Sfe. Hu also met with it iliiiiii^'
suiiiiiit'i', ill Xe\v Kiiulaiid ucncially, Xortlifrn IViiiisyhaiiia, and Now Vuik,
lint not in Labrador. Ilu doscribos its lialiits as a niin^lin^' of tlioso of tliu
Wai'bloi's and of the Yiroo, und its notes as reseinhling those of the latter.
In its search for food he found it quite regardless of the near inesi'iice of man.
In its sjirii!,^; iiii.iiratioiis it |iasses tiirough the wooils usually in [laiis, in llie
fall i'eai)]iearing in lloeks of si.\ or Keveii. In breeding it occurs only in
single pairs, and each ]iai' a]»pro]iriate.s to itself a large tract of territory
within wliiidi no other is usually I'ounil. .After Oetoljer, al! have jiassed be-
yond the limits of the I'liited States.
During the winter months it ajipears to be (luite common in different ]iarts
of Mexico and ( 'entral America. In the large collection of ( iuatciiialaii skins
collected by Dr. Van Patten, and jiurcliased by the IJoston Natural History
Society, this bird was one of the most abundant of tlu' migratory sjiecies.
Specinitiiis wen^ taken by Mr. Boucard at I'laya N'iceiite, in the hot country
of Oa.xaca, Mexico.
Dr. Woodhonse found this Warbler common in the Indian Territory and
in Te.xas, and Lieutenant Couch met with it in Tamauliiias, Mexico, in March,
lH~)o. With these exceptions it has not lieeii oliserved in any of the go\eiii-
meiit surveys, or found west of the valley of the Ilio Grande. Iicsides the
points named, it has lieeii obtained in Ohio, Illinois, ^lissouri, and in the West
Indies, in ( 'entral and in the northern ]iortioiis of South America. Heinhardt
gives it as accident.d in (h'ceidand. A single stray siiecimeii was obtained
in Heligoland, Europe, October lU, ISoH.
jNIr. I'aiiie, of liandidpli, Vt., notes the arrival of this bird about the 10th
of May. He sjieaks of it as a very sweet singer, and as usually seen in the
tops of tidl trees, the hemlock being its favorite resort. There it chants its
sweet sad notes through even the heat of the day. It continues in song
nearly throughout the summer. Later in the .sea.son it fretineuts the open
fields, in which it is seldom seen in the breeding-seas(jii. Its food, which
it catches on the wing in the manner of Vireos, consists of the smaller
winged insects, caterpillars, and other larva*. In the fall, according to Mr.
Audubon, it feeds upon various kinds of small berries.
It reaches Massachusetts the first of ^lay, and is most numerous aboiit
the loth, when the larger jirojiortion pass farther noith. In Western
Maine, I'rofessor Yerrill states it to be a summer but not a common visitant ;
and near Calais, Mr. I'oardman has found it lireeding, but does not regard it
as at all common, thougli in the year l.SHT he found it quite abundant
in the thick woods in that neighborhood during its breeding-season. Dr.
Ihyant also siteaks of it as one of the most common of the AVarblers ob-
served by him near Yarmouth, N. S. A single .s])eciiiier was taken at Julii'.n-
haab, (ireenland, in 1853, and sent to the lioyal Mu.seum of Copenhagen.
264 NDirni amkimcax hihd.s.
In the vicinity of J'.ostcu, es])eciaily in tiu! lijnli j^nouncla oi' Xortblk and
Ks.si'x (.'oiintii's, it i.s u not unu()niin(jii sjiccics, iiud its ne.st.s are tuiiii(l in cer-
tain lnv(i!ite localities. .Niittall re-^ards .May 12 as tliu average of ...eir first
appearance. l'.u.sy, ([uiet, and iinsus])icious of man, they were seen liy him,
collecting, in early OcUjher, in small groups, and moving restlessly through
the forests prcjiaratory to dejiarting .soutli. June <S, 183(1, he found a nest
of this species in a s(ditary situation among the Mlue Hills of Milton, Mass.
The nest was in a low and stunted Juniper (a very unusual location). As
lie approached, the female remained motionless on the edge of the nest, in
such a manner as to be mistaken for a young bird. She then darted to tlie
gr.;und, and, moving away expertly, di.sapiieared. TJie nest contained four
eggs, which he describes as wliitc inclining to flesh-color, variegated at the
larger end with pale purplish points interspersed with lirownand bhick. Tiie
nest was formed of line strips of tlie inner liark of the juniper, and tough white
librous bark of other i)lants, lined with .soft feathers and tlie .slender to])s of
grass. The male ))ird was singing his simjile cliant, rcscndiling the .syllaliles
fe-i/e-tr,it.se-(i,]mnHnu)i^ed loud and slow, at the distance of a (piarirr of a mile
from the nest. He describes his song as simjde, drawling, and jdaintive. He
was constantly interrujjting his song to catch small flics, keeping up a per-
l)etual snapping of Ids bill.
Several nests of this l)ird,given me by 'Sir. ( Jeorge O. "Welch of Lynn, have
))eeu found by him in high trees in thick woods on the western Iwrders of
that city. They are all small, snug, com])act structures, liuilt on a l)ase of
line stri]is of bark, I)its of leaves, and stems of jilants. The u]i])er rims are
a circular intertwining of tine slender twigs, interwoven with a few fine
.stems of the most tlelicat.' gras.ses. The inner pijrtions of these nests are
very softly and warndy redded with the line down and silky stems of
])lants. They have a diameter of three and a quarter inches, and a lieight of
one and a half. The cavity is two inches in diameter, and one and a half
in depth. The eggs measure .7(1 l)y .oO of an incii, have a widte or jairjdi.sh-
white giound, and are blotched and dotted with markings of reddish and
l>urplish brown, dilfu.sed over the entire egg, but more numerous about the
larger end. One end is much more pointed than the other.
SYLVIOJLIDJ-: — THE WARBLEItS. 265
Dendroica townsendi, r.viKD.
TOWNSEND'S WABBLEB.
S>th-la fnini.ifiidi, " XriiAM.," TnWNisr.Nn, ,1. A. N. Sc. VII. ii, IHliT, li"l. ^- Ai'n. Orn.
I5iog. V, 18:J'.t, 111. i'iMxi:iii. Siilviaitu t. liiiN. ; Arn. liiiils Am. 11, 1841, \\\. .\iii.
Dniii-olra I. r.Aiiiii, liiiils X. Am. IS.^.S, 2(i!» ; I!cv. IS'i. — .Sci.ATKii, P. Z. S. l.s.l.s,
•2ns (Oaxaca; \\\^\\ lamls in wiiitiM) ; 1S;V,I, :i7 t (Totonti'pi'c ; winter) ; lliis, ISti.'), SO.
— Sci.ATKU k Sai.vis, lliis, IS'i'.t, 11 ((iiiati'niala). — CiiDl'KU & SrcKl.r.v, 1'. 1{. I!.
XII, II, 18.'.!), 179 (Cal.). — Tuusuri,!., Birds of Kiist IViin., cU:. IStJlt, 4-.'. — Si:niik-
vai,, Divers. lS()i>, tillt ^.Sitka). — (.'iml-Klt, Orn. Cal. 1, 1S70, >.)1.
Sp. Char. Sjiriii;/ male. Aliovc hrifrlit olivc-fircen : tiic Irallicis all lilack in the centre,
,'<lio\vina: more or Ifs.s a.s .stn^aks, espcrially iju llie cniwii, where the black pretloiiiiiiate.s.
Quills, tail, ami upper tail-ecivert fealhers ilark lirowii, edyed with hhiish-},n-ay ; the
wings with two white hands on the coverts; the two outer tail-leathers white with a
brown streak near the end; a white streak only in the end ol' the th: ' leather. I'nder
parts as far as the middle of the hody, with the sides of head and neck, n hiding; a super-
ciliary .'stiiije and a spot lieneath the eye, yellow; the inedian portion of he si<le of tlu;
head, the chin and throat, with streaks on the siih's of the hreasi, Hanks, and under lail-
covcrts, hlack ; the reinaiiuler of the under parts while. Length, 5 inches; wing, 2.05;
taill, 2.2.-,.
Spriiii/ femide Resenililing the male, hut the l)laek patch on the throat replaced by
irregular blotches upon u pui'e yellow ground.
Had. AVesterii Proviuee of ITiiitcil States, north to .Sitka; Mexico, into Guatemala.
Migratory. Accidental near i'hiladclphia.
The autuiiiniil iulult nitilo i.s iimeh liki; lliii sprint feuiiik', but the black
throiit-imtch is jieit'ectly deliiied, thmigli iiiiich obscured by the yellow edi,'e.s
of the t'eatber.s, instead of broken into snudl blotches. The young male in
aiitunui is similar in general appearance, but there tire no streaks above, excc])t
on the crown, where they arc mostly concealed ; the stripe on side of iiead
is oliviiceous, instead of black ; and nearly all tlie black on the throat is con-
ce.ded.
A line adult male of this sjiecies was taken near IMiiladeliihia, Peiiu., in
the spriiio of l.StiS, and is now in the collection of the late W. V. Tiirnbull,
Es(|., of tiiat city.
ILviJiTs. Ill regard to the habits of this very rare Western Warbler very
little is iis yet positively known, tind nothing whatever litis lieeu ascertained
as to its nesting (jr eggs. Tiie sjiecies wtis first met with by Mr. Townsend,
October liS, IHof), on the banks of tiie Columbia llivcr, and was named by
Mr. Nutttdl in honor of its discoverer. It is sjiokeii of by these gentlemen
as having been a tmnsient visitor only, stojjping but a few days, on its way
north, to recruit and feed, jirevious to its ih-parting for the higher latitudes in
which it spends the breeding-season. It is, Iiowexer, (piite as probtible that
they disperse by ptiirs into solitary places, where for a while they escape ob-
servation. When the season again com])els them to migrate, they reapiioar
on the same ]»ath, only this time in smidl and silent flocks, as they slowly
move toward their winter (piarters. These birds also are chiefly to be found
34
266 -NOKTil AMEIJR'AX JJIJiD.S.
in tlie tops „f the loftiest tirs i.u.l >a]wv evergreens of the forests, where it is
almost iiujiossilile to iwociire them.
i)r. Cooper .•hserved one of this species at Shoalwater J5av, December l'(t
1.S..4. It was iu compMiiy with a iiuck of Titmice and other small birds'
'J he l..lh,wuig year, in Xovemher, he saw a small tlurk iu California iro-
•Hientni- tlie wiUonns in a low wet meadow, and was so fortunate as to
]»rocure a [laii'.
Kid-way met with it in the Kast Humboldt Mountains, where it was
rather common ni Septeniber, inhabiting the thiclvets of as].ens, alders, etc.,
along the streams.
Mr. I". L. Sclater obtained several fine specimens of this Warbler from
the west coast of Central America, and Mr. Salvin found it a winter visitant
at J)ueua.s, where he na-t with it even more IVe.iueutlv than the I).„/rnir„
virais, with winch he f.amd it associnted. Skins were found amon- the
birds taken by Dr. \-au I'atten in Ciuatemala. A single .specimen has-been
taken m Tennsylvania.
Mr. A. JJoucard obtained s].ecimens of this .species in the mountainous dis-
trict ot Totontepec, in the State of Ua.vaca, Me.vico.
Dendroica occidentalis, Maiud.
.VESXERN WARBLEB.
-V
na n,ri,ln,Udis, Townskn,., ,I. A. \. .S,.. VH, ,,. lS;i7, ILO (C.lu.nl.ia River). - In
Namtiv.., ]8;i!., :U0. -Al I,. On,, lii,,;;. V, ,,1. Iv. ,synV„;„ ,„r. 1!„n, ; a.m. Hints
Am. H, 1.1. xciu. Ilnulmi,;, „„■. \^MM^, MiiiLs X. Am. IS.'.S -'(is • Rev 1S.3 —
nM„.K,i &_S,VKLl.v, I!. H. K..,,. XII. ,,, IS.-,!,, irs (X. W. ,.„Jst). -'(■,.,„•".:.!,' (in,.
< 111. I, 18/(1, !!:>, Ih'inlroini cliritsni„nrl,i, ,S,i.at,.:|!, |'. /. s ISii-) 1<I (] „ P-h-mIi,
Mr.x.) (nntot IV Z. .S. ],S(iO, 1!.) : ll,is, is,;.",, ,si, ; is<i,;, V.n. I„n,lr„l,;, nirnnntrh
S.u.viN, I". Z. S. .May 2(i, 1803, 187, pi. .x.xiv, li^. -1 ((!.iatcn,ala).
Sr. Cn.Mi. Spriwj mak. Crown witii .vi,|,..^ „r |1„. I„.a.l ami nock coMtinucHi.s liri,.],,
yellow, fcallif.-,. of tlR. ionner (.(Igcl narrowly wilh hlack ; ro.st or„|,|„.r parls ,l,-,rk hrowi,
edged with hliiisli-gray. so .inirh so on the hack .-nid nnnp leathers as t,. oh.sciire the hrown'
and with an ,,livarcous .sha.l,.. Chin, throat, and forepart ot hrcasi (ciidin- e.mvexly Ir.-
hindina s„hcrescc,nic ontlinc). with th.. nape, hhiek ; rest of under parts white'vcrv
fanitly streaked „„ the sides with hlaek. Two whit.' haii.ls on the win.i;-. two outer taij-
H'Mlh,Ts. and the n.nuinal p„rtion of a third, while ; the .shafl.s and an iulernal streak
towards the end, dark lin.wu. Hill jct-hlaek ; k-s hrown. Lcn-th. 1.70 ■ win- •'70-
tail. 2.;!0. ■ r.> - ,
SpriiKj frmah. Similar, hut duller gray above ; tlw yellow of the head le.s.s oxten.lcd,
and the throat whiti.sli sp.ilteil with dn.skv.
Hai,. \V..stern i'rovine.^ of Unitcl .'States and Mexico (Moyapain, winter, S.'.MieitHASi,)
to (luateniala. N<it seen at Cape St. l,uea.s.
^ An nutumnal ti.hilt male (.".n.dSI, (Jnaiemala, Decemlw, received from Mr.
Salvin, and a tyiie specimen of his " /;/n //v,(/r/.s") is much like (he .sju'lno-
male, having the tiiroat wliolly lilack, the ieatiiers, however, laintly margin.'d
SVLVlCOLTn.R — TFTE WARBLERS. 2(')7
witJi whitish ; tliora art- no l)ljtcl< sixits on llio cniwn, Init, iiis'ciid, an oliva-
ceiiiis slain ; the nape is njivaccnus instead of lilack, and Uw, lihick centres
to dorsal rcatiicrs nioin concealed : tiie ash alinve is less |iure, am" tliero is no
trace ol' sireaks on the sides. A leniale lanli innal f) — ;{.S,14I --IVoni Ori-
/alia, Mexico, is,^rayisii-,.ll\aceoiisal)ove, inclndin- tlie whole lopof tiio head,
except henealh the snrlace ; tlie leathers on t.pot iiead have ■oiispicnons
lilaek centres, hut there are none on the l.aek : the sides of the head, and
tho Inises ol' the I'eatiiers on its top, are soileil yellow; the throat is dirty
white, witii the I, fathers diisi<y heneath the surliicci ; the hreast and side's
have a stroiij.- hrownish tinjjv. Anotiier female, and an autumnal one (prob-
ably of the year), is more lirown aliove, the specks ou the top of the head
exceedingly minute; tiiere are also oi)scure streaks alonn- the sides, where
there is a strong' brownisli tiii^e.
IIahits. The Western or Hermit W<M.d Warbler, so far as known, is
limite.l in its distribution to the I'acitic coast IV.mT Central America to Wash-
ington Territory. Specimens procuivd from \'olcau de Fuc-o, Ale.xico, Ari-
zona, and California, an' in the collection of tlie Smithsonian Institution,
liut little is positively known as to its history or iiaiuts. Nuttall, who first
met with it in the forests on tiie ban'ks o-f tlie Columbia, ha<l no (hnibt
that it inveds in the dark Ibrests bord.'rinn-on that river. Ifo (h'scribed it as
a remarkably shy and solitary bird, retiring into the darkest and most silent
recesses of the everureens, and apparently liviiij-- anionj;- the loftiest brandies
of the ^nyantic lirs of that re^i,,n. In (•onse(|nence of its i)eeuliar habits it
was with e.xtrenm dilhi-ulty that his party could -et a si-ht of this retiring-
species. Its ,son,s,r, which he frequently hear.l fi.an these ]ii<,di tree-tops at
very re-nlar intervals for an Ikmu' or two at a time, he describes as a faint,
moody, and monotonous note, deliveriid wli.m the bird is at rest on some
lofty twi>f, and within convenient heariiij.- of its mate.
.Mr. Townsend, who was on.! of the .same jmrtv, shot a pair of these birds
near Fort Vancouver, .May 2S, IS:'.,-,. They were tlittino amon- the toj.s of
the pn.e-tives in the deiiths of the for..st, where he fre.iuentlv saw them
han.;-n,^ from the twi-.s, in the manner of Titmic(>. Their notes, uttered at
dillerent imerval.s, he describes as very similar to these of the Black-throated
l!lu(i Warbler [/>. nmi/rsrni.s).
Dr. Suckl..y obtained, dmie, ISoC, two .specimens at Fort St<.ilaco,mi. He
also .lescribes them as very shy, feedin- mid spendin.s,r nio.st of their time in the
tops of the hi-h.!st lirs, .so hij-h up as to be almost out of the reach of fine shot.
The species he re-ards as not at all rare on the I'aeilic coa.st,but only dilHcult
of procuriiiur, „„ account .,f the almost inaccessible nature of its haunts.
Dr. C.mes procured a sin-le specimen of this species in Ariz.nia early in
September. It was taken in thick scrub-oak bushes. He thinks it may be
a summer resident of that Territory, liut^ if so, very niro.
A single specimen was also obtained at i'etuluma, Cal., by Mr. Emanuel
Samuels, May I, IHoO.
2(iS NOliTII AMEUICAX ItlJiDS.
It was also observed, Au-iist 29, l.y Mr. ].'i.l,Mwav, aino.iir the Inishes of a
canon among tlie East Jlumholdt Mouuiauis. Ho .IfsciiLes its single note
as a lisjied jizKt.
Tluee inilividnals of this sj)ecies were collected by Mr. Houcardin Southern
Mexico in 1802, and were referred by Dr. Sehiter to I), ckrijsoprria (P. Z. S.,
l.S(i2, p. 19). Snbse(juently Mr. Salvin described as a new species, under
tlie name of 7/ niracmtrls, otlu-r individuals of the J), uvr it I nihil is obtained
by him in (iuatemala. The frue specific relations of the .s].eciinens both
from Southern A.rexi..o and Central America have ,->ince been made clear
by Dr. Sch.ter, Ibi.s, l.SOr., p. 87, enabling u.s to give this .species as a winter
visitant ot the countries above named. Mr. Salvin states (Ibis, 1800, p. 191)
that these birds were found in most of the elevated districts' where pines
abouiul. He procured spiscimens in the Volcan de Fuego, in the hills above
the Plain of Salama, and near tlie mines of .Vlotepeciue.
Dendroica pinus, Baird.
PmE-CBEEFINO WABBLEB.
Siihiaphuis, W.I.S. Am. Oni. Ill, 1811, 2,5, ,,1. xix, li- 4. - Bon. ; Nrrr. - AuD. Orn,
Bioy. II, |.I. ixi. 7'A/v/r,//„„/,,v /«■„,«, SiKl'll. ,S!lh-kula,H„as,.]xMK; Ulcu • li.i.s ■
An.. HinlsAm. II, ,,]. Ixxxii.^Jo.NKs, Xat. I{,.,»m.l,., IW!), 5!. (abundaut in Oct.).'
Ithimuiphus puim, H„x. J>n,Un,k-a pinas, H.viui., Hiids N. Am. 1858, 277 ■ l{ev 100
-ScLATEii, Catal. 18(i], 31, no. l89.-OifKs, IV. A. \. Sc IStil, •22o' (Labiador
coa.st). _SA.MrELs, 22!). - IJuvANr, Pr. Ho.st. S,.,-. 18<:7, (!7 (InaKua). ^„Ma viyorsii,
Al-I). Urn. liwy. I, 1832, 103, j.l. x.xx. Virco vinurxii. Mitt.
Sp. Char. Spniuj male. Vys^wv paints nearly iinilbiii. and Hoar olivo-^rocn tlic feath-
ers of the crown with rather darker shaft... Under ,.arts ,uvM..rallv, e.xeept the n.iddle
ol the uelly l).;lnnd, and under tail-eoverts (which are wliite). hri-ht j.arub.,fr(.-vell,.w, will,
obsolete sti-eaks of dnsky on tlie sides of llie breast and l.ody. Sides of head an.l neck
olive-sreen like the ba,!", willi a broad ..ni.ereiliary stripe; the eyeli.j.s and a spot heneath
tlu> eye very obsem-eiy yellow; wiiiirs and tail brown; the feathers edi;ed wi'h dirty
white, and two bands of the same across the eovert.s. Inner web of the lirst tail-feather
with nearly the terminal hall; of the .secMind with nearly the terminal third, dull iiieon-
.■^pienous white, belli; 1 h, .").50 ; winjj, ;!.0() : tail. •_'.4(). ( I ..■3,")(J.)
Sjirliifi fi-mah: Similar, but more grayish ab,,\ .■. and almost grayish-white, with a tinge
nfyelL.w beneath, instea.l of bright yellow. V,,,,,,,,. rniber-bniwn above, and din.ry
pale .-i.shy beneath, with a slight yellowish ting.' on the abdomen. Wiiii.' and tail nmcli as
in the autumnal adi.'t.
^ Had. Eastern ' -ovince of United States north to Ma.'v^achusettis ; winters in United
States. N^ot r .or -d in West Indies or Middle America (except liahamas and Ber-
muda ?).
Autunuial males are nnidi like spring individuals, but the yellow beneath
is softer and somewhat richer, and the olive above overlaid with a reddish-
umber tint.
Habits. The ?iiu!-rreeping Warbler is found more or less aluindantly
throughout the United States from the Atlantic to the Valley of the Missis-
SVI,V1('()L11)J.:— TIIK \VAi;iJLEU8. 209
sippi. Ih. \V'()(.il house stiit.>s that it is comuioii in Toxfis iiiul Xi-w Mexico.
It was nut, however, met witli by any other of the -•overiiiiieut ex[.luriiio-
parties. Dr. Cerhanh tomiil it (piite coninion in Northern (ieorgia, wliere it
remains ill the winter, and where it breeds very early in the season'. On the
lllth of Ai)ril he found a nest of these liirds with nearly full-j.rown youno.
It has not been found in Maine by Professor N'errill nor by Mr. lioardinan,
nor in Nova Seotia by Lieutemtut JUand. Mr. Allen has found it breedin.-'
abundantly in t!ie west,.,n part of iMa,ssa(;husetts, where it i.s oni; of the
earliest Warblers to arriv.", and where it remains until Uetol)er. In ISlil
they \ver(! abundant in tlu pin,; woods near Sprin-tield as early a.s Ajml 4,
aluhough the yround at t lat lime was covered with snow. J)urin,u the last!
weeks of Ajnil and the larly part of .May tiiev freipient the open fields,
obtaininjr mueh of thei • food from the j-round" in company with I), jm/-
vwnna, the habits ..f which, at this time, it closely foUows. Later in the
season they retire to the pine forests, where they remain almost exclusively
throughout the summer, chietiy ..n the tops of the tallest trees. For a few
weeks precedinj. the first of ()..tober they anain come about th.- orchards an.l
fiolds. In its winter minrations it does u«t appear to leave this country, and
has not been found in any of the West In.lia Islands, in .Mexico, m.r in South
or Central America. It biet'ds s]iarin-ly in S(.iithern Illinois.
Mr. Jones found the.se birds numerous in IJermiida late in September, but
tliey all disappeared a few ue.'ks later. Dr. Ihyant found them at Inagua,
liahamas.
Wilson first noticed this Warliler in the pine Moods of the Southern
States, where he found it resid..nl all the year. He describes it as running
along the bark of pine-trees, though occasi(aially alighting and feeding on
the ground. When disturbed, it always flies up and clings to the trunks of
trees. The farther .soutii, the nion^ numerous he found it. Its principal food
is the seeds of the Soutiiern pitch-pine and various kimls of insects. It was
as.sociated in flocks of thirty in the dej.tlis of the pine barrens, easily recog-
nized by their manner of rising from the ground and alighting on the trunks
of trees.
Audubon also s])eaks of this bir.l as the most aluuidant of its tribe. He
met with them on the sandy liarrens of Ka.st Florida on the St. John's Jfiver
early in February, at which period they already had lu'sts. In their habits
he regarded them as quite chwely allied to the Creei)ers, ascending the
trunks and larger brandies of trees, hopping along the bark searching for
conoealed larva-. At one moment it moves sideways along a branch a few
steps, then stops and moves in an..ther direction, carefully examining each
twjg. It is active and restless, generally searching for insects among the
leaves and jjlossoms of the pine, or in the crevices of the bark, hut occiion-
ally pui'suing them on the wing. It is found exclusively in low lands, never
in mountaiiums districts, and chiefly near the sea.
Its nest is usually placed at cmisideralile licight, sometimes fifty feet or
27(1 NoilTII AMEIilCAN Hl'ltDS.
murt'. from the tiTdiiiid, iiiid is usiuilly i'ask'iiecl to tlie twij^rs of a .small In'aiiuli.
In Massiicliu.sctt.s it lias hut a siii^lo brood in a season, hut at the South
it is said to have tlnvc.
The iliii'Iit of tliis Warlilcr is sliort, and exhihits uiidulatiuj^ curves of yreat
elej^ance. Its son^' is deserihed as monotonous, consislinL; merely of coutin-
lujus and tri'nmlous sounds. 'Slv. Auduhon found none lieyond New Bruns-
wicic, and it lias never liec i found in \ova Scotia so far as I am aware.
Botli old and younjj; hinls remain in Massac-husetts until late in October,
and occasionally liirds are seen as far to tiie north as I'liiladelpliia in mid-
winter. At this scasmi they abound in the ])ine forests of tlie Soutlici'u Slates,
where they are at tliat time the most numerous of the Warblers, and wliere
some are to lie found thronj^hout the year.
In tlie summer their food consists of the larva' and ejigs of certain kinds
of in.sects. In the autumn they freijuiiut the Southern gardens, feeding' on
the berries of the cornel, the box .i.iTa])e, and other small fruit. Mr. Xuttall
states that their song is cleticient both in compass and in variety, though not
disagreeable. At times, he states, it ap]iroaches the simiiler trills of the
canary; but is usually a reverberating, gently rising or murmuring sound like
cy-r-r'i'i'r'r'-tih, or in the .s])ringtinie like fur tur-tir fir tir-tir tir, and some-
times like fx/i-fs/i-fs/i-fir-fir-fir-/ii\ e.xhiiiiting a pleasing variety in its ca-
dences. The note of the female is not unlike that of the Black and White
Creeper.
On the Ttli of June, Mr. Xuttall discovered a nest of this Warbler in a Vir-
ginia junipcr-trec in Mount Aul)urn, some forty feet from the ground, and
iirmly Hxed in the upright twigs of a do.se iiranch. It was a thin but very
neat structure. Its jirineipal material was the old and wiry stems of tlie
Pulj/gonuiH tcuiir, or i<not-weed. These wi're circularly interlaced and inter-
wound with rough linty fibres of asclepias and caterpillare' webs. It was
lined with a lew bristles, slender root-fibres, a mat of tiie down of fern-stalks,
and a few feathers. Mr. Xuttall saw .severiil of these nests, all made in a
similar manner. The eggs in tlu^ nest described were four, and far advanced
towards hatching. They were white, with a slight tinge of green, and were
freely sprinkled with .small pale-lirown spots, most numerous at the larger
end, where they were aggregated on a more jmrplish ground. The female
maile some slight complaint, but immediately returned to the nest, thougli
two of the eggs had been taken.
Mr. Xuttall kept a male of tliis sjiecies in confinement. It at once be-
came very tame, fed gratefully from the hand, from the moment it was
caught, on flies, small earthworms, and minced flesh, and would sit con-
tentedly on any hand, walking directly into a dish of water offered for drink,
without any precautions, or any signs of fear.
Mr. J. (). Sliute found a nest of these Warblers in Woburn as early as
May 8. It contained four eggs, the incubation of which had commenced.
Three other uests were also found by him in the same locality, all of them
SVI,VI('()|,I[).K — THH WAKHLKIiS. y'-i
1>otw(vn tilt' ,Stli iiiul the L'4tli (>r Miiy.iuid i.U l.iiilt on l.ranclu's of tlic ml
piiK! iii.d iiiNir till! top. Several iie.sts of this WiiH.ler, f(jiiii(l in Lynn, Mass.,
hy .Mr. (Jeoiv-o (). Welej,, are alike in tlieiv mode of' 'onstnietif.n' and diffei'
in their materials from other aceounts. They are all .somewhat loosely jait
together, and are composed e.xternally of tine strips of the liark of the red
cedar, line inner hark of several ileeiduons trees, dry stalks of plants, the
e.xiivue of insects, and fine dry --Tasses. The cavities of these nests, which
iiiv comparatively large and deep, were lined with the fur of the smaller
mammals, the silky ilown of iilaiits, and feathers. A few tine wiry roots
were also intermingled. These nests are uhout two and a half inches in
lu'iglit and three in diameter.
Ihe e.ggs of this Warhler are of a rounded oval sliajjc, have an average
length of -2 of an inch.an.l a breadth of .00. Tlu^y resemlple in si/e and ap-
pearance the eggs of the // mdanva, but the spots arc more numerous, and tlie
blotches larger and more generally distributed. The ground-color is a bluish-
white. Scattered over this are subdued tintings of a tine d.dicate shade of
I'urple, and upon this are distributed dots and blotches of a dark jairplish-
brown, mingled witli a few lines almost IJack.
Dendroica montana, n.\ii!i).
BLUE MOUNTAIN WAKBLEE.
SvlvU, mo„,.nw, W„.., A,.,. (),„. V, KSU', 11;J, ,,1. .vliv, li... "J (" Ml,,.- Mountains of IVnn-
sylvanm ).-A.„. (.n.. llio,,^ V, -M ("Calif,,,,,!,,":) S.ilna,!,, ,,„„fan„, .Iv„„ •
All.. I{„-,ls An,. II, 1S41, .!!!, ,,1. x.'viii. /),;„/r„i,H „„,„>„,„, lUlim, Birds \ V„i'
1.V.S, 2<-.: l{,.v. l!Mi. S,,rn„ ti.jrhx', Viiai.i,. Ois. Am. .Sept. II, 1807, ^4, ,.1 v.iv
(I . .S. and St. DiniiinnD). '
Sr. riun. Tl,is s|,,.,.i,.. is i;„„- in,.|„.. a„,| llnvc ,,„a,.t,.,s i„ l.Mi^fh ; the npp,.- parts a ■■i,.],
yclow-ol.v.,: !,.,„„., .1„„.U ,.,„,,, y..|l.nv.aL.o,l„...i,l,.s„ni,.. nock;. „vasra„'|l,ellv pal,.
yoUow st,val<..,l will, I.l,„.k .,r ,l„sl<y : v..„t plain pale yllow. \Vi„,.. I,la,k ; li,., a„.i sc, '„■„!
rows o eovc,.,.. ln-oa,llv tipp..,| u id, pale y..||„wish-wl,i,..; „.,,ials the ..anie; the rest of
he qmlLs o.luc.1 w,lh whitish. Tail l,ia,.k, han.l.s.n.clv ro,,,,,!..,!, ...I.v,l with pal., olivo-
ho two oxt..|-,„r loathes ou oa,.|, si,l,. whi„. ,„. the in,,,.,- va„..s Ih.n, tho n,i,l,llo ,o tho
.ps, and 0,1,0,1 ,.,, the „n,or s with wl,i(... Hill ,|,.,i- L,,,„,,. Legs ami U.et p,n-ple-
lirown: s,.l,.syoll,nv. Eye dai-k hazel. (Wil.s,,,,.)
H.vn. " Hhio Mi),ii, tains of Virgil, i„." St. I)o„,iiig,,y
This species is only known from the .lescription of Wilson, Vieillot and
Audubon, and we are not aware that a specimen is to be found in a.iv collec-
tion. If d(>scribed correctly, it appears dillerent from any established' si.ecies
although the most nearly related to R pi,,,,., which, however, differs in the
absence ot a yellow iVontlet, in having a greener back, less distinct streaks
beneath, and in the white of the anal region.
Haiuts. Whether the I'.lne Mountain Warbler is a genuine .species or an
unlamihar plumage ol' a bird better known to us in a dillerent dress is a
272 NORTH A.MKRKJAX ItlRDS.
•Itinstioii not iiltn.r(,tli("r set fled t(. tlic iiiiii.ls of some. It was dcacrihed by
Wilson from a sin-lc s|,..ciMR'ii ol,t;.iiR'.l near tlio I'.liie Kiduo of Virjriniii.
Aii(1;i1m);i Ibiind iiiiother in the collcc-tion of the Zooloj^i..,,! Soeioty. Fn.ni
this he iniide lii.s dniwiiij,'. A thud lia.s also .ee.i met with and (K'.seril)ed l.y
Vieillut. We know nolhin.y' in w^nvd lo its iial)it.s, except that its song is said
to he a sin-le snrrp, three or four times repeated. Us l)reedin',^-habits, its
manner of nii,-,vration, and tiio jJaee of its more abun(hint occurrence, yet
remain entirely unknown.
Pendroica kirtlandi, Baird.
KIBTLAND'S WASBLEB.
><^l>Mn,ln k-irthiuli, 1{,M,:„, Ann. X. Y. I,yr. V, ,I„m,., IS.Vi, 217, l^l. vi (Clovolan.!, Ohio).
-("AssiN, lllu.si. I, isr,.-,, L-rs, 1,1. xlvii. J>,,,lnm;, kirlhnuli, Haikd, liiids N Aia
ISr.S, 28ti ; H,.v. '2(11!.
Sr. TirAU. ALovr sl,it..-l,lM(.. Ilic fratliprs of the cmwii witli i, nairow, tlu.sc of the
mi(l,il.. „f the h-M-k Willi a l.n.,„i,M-, stnN.k „r li|,-,..k : ,. nanow lionlK.t invojviii- the- lores
the ant.MMoi- .m.,1 of the eye. iiiwl the spmv l,,.nealh il (,,ossil,ly the whole aancuhi.-s), hlaek \
the ro.st of the eyelids white. The under parts are clear vellow (almost white on the
under tad-coverts); the Ijreast with small spots and sides of the ho.ly with short streaks
of hlaek. The -reater and mi.idle wiiin-eoverts, ,i„ills, and lail-foathors are edged with
•lull whitish. Tlu. two outer tail-feallu'is have a dull wliite spot near the end of the inner
web, largest on the first. Leiiiilh. .")..".(); wing, '2.80; tail, 2.70. (4,3(i3.)
IIad. Northern Ohio, and IJaliainas.
In addition to the type whieli is in tlie collection of the Smithsonian In-
stitution, a second specimen was olitained by Dr. Samuel Cabot, of Boston,
taken at sea between tlie islands of Al)aco and ("uba. It nnist, however, be
considered as one of tlie rarest of American birds.
HAiiiT.s. Kirtland's Warbler is so far known liy only a few rare speci-
mens as a bird of Nortii America, and its biography is utterly unknown.
The first specimen of tiiis s]tecies, so far as is known, -was obtained by Dr.
Jared P. Kirtland, of Cleveland, ()., in U;\y, ISal. It was shot by that nat-
ni-alist in woods near tlitit city, and was by him given to Professor Baird, who
descrilied it in the Annals (.f tiie Xew York Lyceum. Ft apjiears to be
closely allied to both the llcoronafu and D. oiuhihoni, and yet to be a spe-
cifically distinct bird. A second speeim-n, in the cabinet of Dr. Samuel
Cabot, Jr., of iioston, was obtained at sea, between the islands of Cuba and
Abaco. A tiiird specimen was ol)tained June !>, 18C)(), near Cleveland, and
is in the collection of Mr. 1{. K. Winslow, of that city. Anotlier si)ecimen
is also reported as having been olitained in the same neigh Ixn-hood, but not
preserved; tind Dr. Hoy, of K'acine, AVis., is confident that he has seen it in
the neighborhood of that jilaee. At jiresent all that we can give in regard
to its history, habits, or distribution must be inferred from these few and
meagre facts.
SYLVICOLID.K - THE WAUBLEUS. 273
Dendroica palmarum, Wwud.
YELLOW BED-FOLL WABBLEB,
Motncilhi luiliixinnii, Omki.. Syst. N :t. I, 17SS, !)')! (liiiwd on Piilm Wiirblcr, Latham, Syn.
II, I'. I!IH, no. l;n, St. Poiiiiiigip). Siilvic //. Lath. ; ViKli.i.or, II, jii. l.xxiii. — I5(in. ;
D'Ollli. Sarin's ('nl)n s. 1S4(), l!l, \<\. v.ii. Ni/h-iivla /). .SAI.l.^^ I'. Z. S. 1857, -261
(St. l)oniiti},'(i). /)n,„. i,;i ji. HAiiti), ItiiiLs N. Am. ISSH, 288; Rev. 2(17. — Sci.ATKli,
Catal. 18til, :i;i, no. l!i!». —In. 1'. Z. S. ISlil, 71 (.laniaica ; Ajnil). - Hiiyant, I'r.
Host.Soc. VII, l.S;V.nI!aliama.s). — In. 1S(;7, !•! (llaytiK I(i;i;wKi!, I'r. Host. Soc. 1S(>7,
139. — (IrNiPi.Acil, Cat), .loiii'. 181)1, ;(•-'(! (('ul)a; very coinnion). — Samik.i.s, -JK).
Si/h-ia jiiltr/u'ii, Wii.s. VI, pi. xxviii, li};. 4. — Ijon. ; Nnr. ; Ari). Orn. Bioj;. II,
pi. dxiii, il.xiv. Siilcii-ola 2)dcchi(t, SWAlss. ; Afl). Birds Am. II, |)1. xc. Si/lvicola
nijifii)>ilhi, Hon-. Jl/uiniiiijihi(.i riif. ('All. .Four. Ill, 18.')"), 47;) (('ul)a ; winter).
Sn. CllAR. Ailitll ill .ijin'iig. Head aUovc clu'stinil-roil : rest oi' u]>por parts brownish
olivc-jrray ; tin- rcatlicrs witli darker ocntrcs, the color brijihtLMiiiii^ on llu; rump, iipiicr
tail-covcrts, and oiitor niarjrins of wing and tail-foatlierK, to grconisli-yi'llow. A .stroak from
lio.strils over the cyi', and nndcr parl.-J fjoncially, inclndin}; the tail-covcrts, hriglit yellow ;
paler on the hody. \ maxillary iini'; hreast and sides linely hnt rather olisoletely streaked
witli rcddish-hrown. Chci'ks hrownisii (in highest spring plninage chestnut like the he.id) ;
the eyelids and a spot under I lie cyi" olive-brown. Lores dusky. A white spot on the
inner wel) of the outer two tail-leathers, at the end. Length, f) inches; wing, 2.4'2 ; tail,
2.'2"). Sexes nearly alike
Autumnal males are more reddish abovi? ; under part.s tinged witli brown, the a.xillars
yellow.
Hah. Eastern Province of North America to Fort Simpson and rindson'.s Bay ; Ba-
hamas, Jamaica, Cuba, and 8t. Uomingo in winter. Not noted from Mexico or Central
America.
This species vaiios coiisidoralily in (liflVroiit stapjcs, Init can generally he
recognized. Innnaturc .siicciiuens resemble those of J\ ti(/n'iia, but differ in
the chestnut crown, browner back, loss brioht rump, brighter yellow of under
tail-coverts, smidler lilotcbes on tiiil, no wliite bands on the wings, etc., as
well as in the shape of tlie bill.
Habits. The lied-PoU Warbler belongs, in its geographical distribution,
to that large cla.ss of birds wliich visit higli northern Itititudes to breed, pass-
ing back and fortli over a witle extent of territory, from tlie West India
Lslands to the extreme northern ])ortions of the continent. Specimens have
betiii procured from ("uba, .Tamaica, St. Domingo, and the Bahamas, in fall,
winter, .and spring, where, at such times, tlicy seem to be generally (piite
common. It has not been oliserved in ]\Iexico or in Central or Soutli
America. It has been met with on the western shore of Lake Michigan,
but nowhere farther to the west. It luis been found in the I!ed Iii\er Settle-
ment, Fort George, Fort Simpson, tind Fort Ilesolution, in the Hudson IJay
Territory. It is not known, so far as I tun tiware, to breed south of Itititude
44°. Wilson and Nuttall both sttite that this bird remains in Pennsylvania
through the summer, but they were probably misinformed ; at least, there
is no recent evidence to this effect. Wilson also states that he sliot speci-
35
274 NOKTU AMKItlCAX mtiDS.
mens in nonrctin, near Savannali, early in Fclmiavv, and infora tliat aonio pass
the entire winter in (ieor^ia, wiiieli is not iinjn'Dlialile.as this bird can emhirc
severe weatlier witliout any ai)parent inconvenience.
Tiiere are several niari<e(l ])ecnliarities in tlie haliits of this WaHder which
(listiiiynish it from every otlieroi' its j,'enns. Ah)ne of all the DcuAroica', so
far as is known, it ImiKls its nest on the jironnd.and isipnte terrestrial in its
habits, and, notwithstanding' the statements of earlier writers, these areciuite
different from all others of this gemis. It has very little of the habits of the
Creeper and still less of the Flycatcher, while it has all the manners of the
true (iround ^Varbler, and even a])pro.\imates, in this res])ect, to the Titlarks.
iMy attention was first called to tlicse jiecnliarities by Mr. Downes of
Halifax, in thesunnnerof 1851; and I was surja-isod to find it ncstinyon the
ground, and yet more to note that in all its movements it appeared fully as
terrestrial as the Maryland Veliow-Tliroat, or the Towiiee I'incli. Since then
Mr. lioardman aiid other naturalists have found its nest, which is always on
the ground.
Mr. MacCidloch, in the fourth volume of the Journal of the Tlostnn
Natural History Society, has given an inler(>sting jiajier upon the terrestrial
l)eculiarities of this species, siiowing tiiem to i)e nearly identical with those
of the sciiiri, with wiioni he tliinks it should be classed. In its terrestrial
movements this l)ird is shown to l)e (piite at home, while otluir Warblers,
when driven by necessity to feed upon the ground, are awkward, and mani-
fest a want of ada2)tation.
Dr. Henry Bryant, another very close and accurate observer, in his notes
on the birds of the llaiiamas, rei'erring to this AVarbler, speaks of it as ex-
tremely abundant, but conlinetl to the sea-shore. " Its habits," he add.s,
apparently with some surprise, " are decidedly terrestrial, and it approaches,
in this respect, to the Titlarks. They were constantly running along the
edges of the road, or else hoi)ping amongst the low In'anciies in tlie ])astures.
I did not see a single individual .seeking for food amidst the large trees.
These birds could be constantly seen running uj) and down in the market in
search of sinall flies. Tiiese they caught either on the ground or else by
hopping up a few inches, scarcely opening the wings, and alighting directly."
Mr. J. A. Allen, in his lUrds observed in Western Massachusetts, shows
that these pecidiarities of habits in this Warbler had not escaped his notice.
He speaks of it as " frequenting, in com])any with Jj. piiiits, the edges of
thickets, orcliards, and open fields, oiul is miirh on the (jmnad."
^Ir. (^reorge A. Roanlman, writing me from St. Stei)hen, March, 18(57, says :
" The Yellow l!ed-Poll is one of our most common Warblers, and, nnlike
most other Warblers, spends mnch of its time feeding n])on the ground. It
is no uncommon thing to see a dozen or two on the ground in my garden at
a time, in early sjiring. Later in the season they have more of the habits of
other Warblers, and are in summer expert flycatchers. In tiie fall we again
see them mostly upon the ground, feeding with the lilue Snowbirds {Jnnco
SYLVK'UMIU; - THE \VAUULER8. 275
/t//cwrt//,s) and the Cliij)])!!!",' Sjiiirntw. They lirced in o\d Imisliy pnstiiivs.iind
very uiiily, ni'stini,' iil(ini;si(h) of some little knoll, and, I tliink, always njion
the j^ionnil. Tlic nc^t is V(My warmly lined witli ffathers."
Mr. Mad iiiluih, in tiu' iiaper already referred to, states that duriny their
autnmnal niigiations lliey seem invrriably to exhiliit the haliits of true .S///-
vini/ii/(i\ j^leaninLT amoni; hranelies o.' trees for the smaller insects, and not
nnfre(iuentiy visiting the windows of dwellings in search of spiders and
insects.
In their migrations throngh Ma.ssachnsetts these Warlilers are everywhere
tpiite ahnndant in the spring, l)ut in their relnrn in autnnni are not observed
in the eastern ])art of tin; Stale, thongh very connnon in the western from
September into Xoveinlier, remaining long after all the other Warl)lers are
gone. Xone remain dnring the summer.
In Western Maint^ Mr. Verrill states, it is ([uitc connnon both in spring
and in fall, arriving in April, earlier than any other Warbler, and again
becoming aliundant the last of Sejttember.
I found it plentiful in the vicinity of Halifax, where >• occurs throughout
the summer from ^lay to Septemlter.
Mr. liidgway gives this species as jjcrhaps the most, numerous of the tran-
sient visitants, in .spring and fall, in Southern Illinois. It is very terrestrial
in its habits, keeping naieli on the ground, in orchards and open ])laces, and
its movements are said to be wonderfully like those oi' ^liiflnis /luloiucidnn.s.
In the viliratiirv motions of its tail, especially when upon the ground,
these birds greatly resemlile the Wagtails of Kurojie. They have no other
song than a f(iw simple and feeble notes, .so thin and weak that they might
almost be mistaken for llu' soun<ls made by the connnon grasshopper.
The lied-roU usually selects for the site of its nc^t the edge of a swampy
thicket, more or less o])en, ))lacing it invariably u])on the ground. This is
usually not large, about three and a half inches in diameter and two and
a half in depth, the diameter and depth of the cavity each averaging only
half an incii less. The walls are compactly and elaborately constructed
of an interweaving of various line materials, chietiy fine dry grasses, slender
stri])S of bark, stems of the smaller ])lants, hypnum, and other mosses.
Within, the nest is warndy and softly lined with down and feathers.
Mr. Kennicott met with a nest of this Ijird at Fort Kesolution, June 18.
It was on the ground, on a hummock, at the foot of a small spruce, in a
swam)). When found, it contained live young birds.
Their eggs are of a rounded-oval shape, and measure .70 of an inch in
lengtli by fu) in l)readth. Tlieir ground-color is a yellowLsh or creamy-
white, and their blotches, chietiy about the larger eud, are a blending of
purple, lilac, and redtlish-browu.
276 NORTH A.MHItlCAN r.IlMKS.
Dendroica discolor, Baiud.
FBAIBIE WABBLES,
Syln,, tlheolor, ViKii.r,. Ois. Am. Sr],!. II, 1SU7, ;i7, pi, xoviii, - Hon, ; Ai'i). Orn I5i„L'
I. 1.1. .viv ; Xiii, -. l,i;.MMi;vi;, Av.s CuImi, isr.(», 'M, pi. vi, li«. % S,jlri,vht diseuhr,
.Iaki). ; liiiii. : lioN. ; Aii>. Itinls Am. 11, pi. .xtvii. - (io.s.><|.„ lljids .Imii. 1847, 150
llhiu,„„i,lius Jiscnhr, Caii. ,l.mr. Ill, I8i5, 474 (CuUv ; wintn). Av„/n,/,v, .Ww
liAiiii), Hilda N. Am. Ks5,s, -Jito ; JJev. 213. — Nkwion, Ibis, hs.iu, I44 (St C'roi.v) —
HiiVA.sr, IV l!„st. Soc. VII, m,\> (li,.h,mia,s). - In. 18(i(i (I'.,ito l!i,„) ; lStJ7, !.]
(llayti). -CiiNiu.Aill, Ciil). Jour, 18til, :C2(I (Cuba; voiy common). -Sa.mukw, 241,
AyiKd wiiiitld, W11..S0N, 111, pi. x.w. tiy. 4,
Rp. CllAl!. Si.rinij mah: Above iiMiloiiii (liiw-^'iccii ; tlio intoi-.xcapnlar iv-ion witli
ciR.stniil-ir.l (vnlivs to fualluT.-i. ('ndci- |.ails and si.lw oftlie iioa.i, iii.liulin|J n broa.l
."iupcvilia.y hm. from the nostilLs to a liiilu brhin.l the cyo, brij-ht ydlow, bn-iitc.-<t an-
tciiorly. A Woll-deliiiud narrow .stripe from llie eoinniis.suro of the iilli tlimiii,di the
eye, and anotlier lioni llie .sanu^ point curving' -cnlly below it, al.^o a .seri.'.s of streaks on
eaeh side of (he body, e.Mendhifr (Wmi the throat to the llank.s black. Qnilis and tail-
feathers brown, edged with white; liie terminal half of the inner wel) of the (irst and
second tail-feathers white. Two yellowi.sh bands on the winps. F,;m,k similar, but
duller. The dorsal streaks indistinct. Length, 4.80 ; wing, 2.2ij ; tail, 2.10.
First plumage of the yoinig not seen.
IIab. Atlautie region of United States, north to J[as.saehusetts ; St)utli Illinois ; in
winter very abundant liiroughout all the West India Islands, lus far, at least, us tho Virgin
Islands. Not recorded Iroui Mexico or Central Ameiica.
Autiuniml specimens have the pUiniarre more hlomled, but the markings
not cluiugetl. A youiiy nuile in auiunnial dres.s is wholly brownisli olive-
green above, the wliole wing unilbrm ; ilie Ibrehead ashy, the markings about
tlie liead ratlier ol)solete, tlie ciiestnut spots on tlie back and the black ones
on tiie sides nearly concetded.
Habits. The Prairie AVarbler, nowlicre an abundant species is jn-etty
generally, though soniewliat irregidarly, distributed tin-ougli tlie eastern por-
tion of the United States from .Alassachusetts to (leoigia during its breeding-
sea,son, Tlie Smitlisonian :\ru.seum embraces no .specimens ttiken west of
riiiladelpliia or AVashington. T have had its nest and eggs found in
Central ^aw York. Mr. Auchdjon speaks of its occurring in Louisiana, but
his accounts of its nesting are so obviously inaccurate that we must receive
this statement also with misgivings. "Wilson, however, obtained ,s])eciniens
in Kentucky, and gave to it tlie inajipropriate name of Frairic Warbler.
Xuttidl regai'ded it as rare in New England, wliich opinion more careful
observations do not confirm. They certainly are not rare in certain jiortions
of Massachusetts. In Essex County, and, according to Mr. Allen, in the
vicinity of Sjiringfield, they ai'e rather common. The Smithsonian possesses
si)ecimens from the Eahamas, Jamaica, St. Croix, St. Thomtus, ami other West
India islands. Dr. CJundliich speaks of it as common in Cuba, In the
Bahamas, Dr. Bryant found the.se Warblers more abundant than he had ever
known them in the United States. In January all the males were in winter
SYhVICOLID.K — TFIE VVARHI-KUS. 277
])luniiijj;i!, auine not liaviiii,' rlmii^'i'd liy A]iril to tlicir siiiiunor cDstunu'. Ih;
ro^'uriletl tlieiii ii8 coiisliiut lusiilents of those isluiuls. Tliuy Inul all piiiicil
oir l»y tliu middle of Ainil.
In tlui isliiiul (if St. ( 'ruix, Mr. Kdwiinl Xcwton obsorvod tlicao Wiirlilcrs from
tlio Idtli of Si'ptciiiliur to tliu JTtli of Miirc'li. Tliuy weiu invwcnt on the ishiiul
about two tliii'ds of tlie year, luid while they were found were very coiutuou.
In Jaumicii, aceordinj; to Mr. IVrardi, they are numerous throuj,'hout the
entire year, tJKaigli le.ss aliundant (hniiij,' tlie summer months. Tiiey were
always i)lentiful in the yaitlei s about the JiLilpi'i/hid (jhihni, eapturiny small
inseets from the ripe fruit.
Mr. Gosse, on the contrary, regarded it as ordy a winter visitant of that
island, apiKMrini,' by tlie IHtii of August, and di.saiiiiearing by the 1 Itli of
April. He observed them among low bushes and herliaeeous weeils, along
the roadside, near the grouml, examining every stalk and twig for inseets.
Others Hew from busiies by the wayside to the middle of the road, where,
hovering in the air, a lew fecit from the ground, they seemed to lie catching
small dijiterous insects. Their stomachs were fdled with fragments of insects.
Wilson found them usually in open plains and thinly wooded tracts, search-
ing most leisurely anu)ng the foliage, carefully examining every leaf or blade
of grass for insects, uttering, at short intervals, a brief vhirr. They did not
a])pcar to be easily ahirmed, and he has known one of these birds to remain
half an hour at a time on the lower branch of a tree, and allow him to ap-
proach the foot, without being in the least disturbed. He found their food
consisted of winged inseets and small caterpillars.
In 1858, Mr. John Cassin wrote me : " The Prairie Warbler certainly
breeds in New Jersey, near Philadeliihia. I have seen it all summer for the
last twelve years, and have seen the young just able to lly, but ncn-er found
the nest. It has a very peculiar note, which 1 know as well as I do the Cat-
bird's, having often followed and searched it out. It frequents cedar-trees,
and I suspect breeds in and about them."
Dr. Cones found the I'rairie AN'arbler mostly a spriu;,' aud ui'fumn visitant
in the vicinity of AVashington, being ((uite abundant during those seasons.
A few were observed to remain during the breeding-season. They arrive
earlier than most of this family of birds, or about tlie 2{A\\ of April. He
found them frequenting, almost excluijively, ci'dar-]iatches and pine-trees, and
speaks of their having very ])eculiar manners and notes.
Both Wilson and Audubon were evidently at fault in their doi-^criptions of
the nest and eggs. These do not correspond with more recent iuul ]»ositive
observations. Its nest is never pensile. Mir. Xuttall's descrii)tions, on the
other hand, are made from his own observations, and are evidently corn-ct.
Ho describes a nest that came under his obse|vation as scarcely distinguish-
able from that of the D. (estiva. It was not ])ensile, but fixed in a forked
branch, and formed of strips of the inner bark of the red cedar, fibres of ascle-
pia, and caterpillars' silk, and thickly lined with the down of the Gnajjhaiitm
278 NOUTIl AilEKlCAN JJlIiDS.
plaiifagineitm. He describes the eggs as having a white ground, sharj) at one
end, and marked with s})ots of lihic-imrple and ol' two shades of brown,
more numerous at the larger end, where they Ibrnied a ring. He s]ieaks of
their note as slender, and noticed their arrival about the second week of
May, leaving the middle of Sejjtendier.
At another time ^Ir. Nuttall was attracted l>y tiie slender, filing notes of
this bird, reseud)liiig the sui)i)ressed syllables 'tsh-'tsh-tuh-tshca, beginning
low and gradually growing louder. Witli its mate it was laisily engaged
collecting Jiies and larva; about a clump of locust-trees in Mount Auburn.
Their nest was near, and the female, Mithout any precautions, Ment directly
to it. Mr. Nuttall removed two eg'js, which he afterwards replaced. Each
time, on his withdrawal, she returned to the nest, and resorted to no exjjcdi-
ents to entice him away.
Several nests of this Warbler have been obtained by Mr. Welch in Lynn.
One was built on a wild rose, oidy a few feet from the ground. It is a snug,
compact, and elaborately woven structure, having a height and a diameter of
about two and a half inches. The cavity is two inclies wide and one and a
half deep. The nuiterials of which the outer parts are woven are chiefly the
soft inner bark of small shrubs, mingled with dry rose-leaves, bits of \ege-
tables, wood, wooily fibres, decayed stems of jdants, spiders' webs, etc. The
whole is bound together like a web by cotton-like fibres of a vegetable ori-
gin. The upper rim of this nest is a marked feature, being a strongly inter-
laced weaving of vegetable roots and strips of bark. The lining of the nest
is com]i()sed of fine vegetable fibres and a few horse-hairs. This nest, in its
general mode of construction, resembles all that 1 have seen ; only in others
the materials vary, — in some dead and decayed leaves, in others renuuns
of old cocoons, and in others the pajtpus of com])osite plants, being more
prominent than the fine strips of bark. The nests are usually witiiin four
feet of the ground. The eggs vary from three to five, and even six.
The late Dr. tierhardt found this bird the most common Warbler in Nor-
thern Georgia. There its nests were siiuilar in size, structure, and jiosition,
but diH'ered more or less in the mateiials of whicli they were made. The
nests were a, trifle larger and the walls thinner, the cavities being corresi)ond-
ingly larger. The materials were more invariably fine strips of inner bark
and Hax-like vegetable fibres, and were lined with the finest stems of ))lants,
in one case witii the feathers of the (Ircsat Horned Owl. In that neighbor-
hood the eggs were deposited by the loth of jNlay.
lu Massachusetts tlie Prairie Warbler invariably selects wild pasture-land,
often not far from villages, and always open or very thinly wooded. In
Georgia their nests were built in almost every kind of liush or low ti'ce, or
on the lower limljs of post-oaks, at f lie height of from four to seven feet.
Eggs were found once as early as the 2d of May, and once as late as the 10th
of June. The birds arrived there by the lUtli of A])ril, and seemed to
prefer hillsides, but were found in almost any open locality.
SYLVICOLIU.E— THE WARHLERS.
270
III Sniitlioni Tlliiidis, Mr. ]{iil,L,'\vay cites tliis apocics as a ratlior raro l)ir(l
aniDiiL,' thii (lak lianviis wlici'o it Iu'l-ihIs. He iilsit mot witli it in (irclianls in
till' WDoik'd ])urtious, in April, during tlic uortliwanl migration of the Si//-
riiviidn:
The eggs ani of an oval sliapo, ])ointed at one end, and measure .08 l)y .48
of an ineh. They have a wliito ground, marked with spots of lilac iuid pm'-
ple aud two shades of umber-brown.
Subfamily GEOTHLYPINiS.
Section SEIURE/E.
rcrr.
The diagnosis of the subfamily will bo found on page 178. The ASciii
as there stated, have the wings i)ointed, and rather longer than the nearly
even tail, whieh is unsjiotted. The genera diller in proportion rather than
absolutely, Oporoniis having longer wings and hirger claws. The coloration,
however, is always distinctive, as follows : —
FikIci- P!ii( white or wliili.sli, tliickly .streaked
Bouealli yellow, willioiit .spots .
tSeiwus.
Oporornis.
Genus SEIURUS, Sw.m.vsox.
&/»ms ,SwAiN.soN-, Zo.i!. Jour. Ill, 1S-J7, 171 . (Sullick-ntly distinct from Sciunus. ) (Type.
Jl/i>laci!l(i iniivcdjii/h, ]..) v Ji •
HenkocicMn, (iii.vv, List of tienera, 1810.
Gkn. Cm.m!. ISill rather .sylvieohue, eoinpres.sed, with a distiiipt notch. Gonys a.seoiid-
niK. Rielal Lristles very short. Win,.s inoderat.., ahn.it three ri.iarters of an inch longer
than the tail : lirst (piill .seareoly shorter than the
se.ytiiil. Tail .sli-htly roiiiideil ; feather.s aouiiii-
nate. Tarsi ahout as long „s the skull, eoii-
siilerahly e.xeeeilini; the middle toe. Under
tail-coverts ivaehiim- within alioiit half an ineh
of the end of the tail. Color above olivaeeoiis;
beneath whitish, thickly streaked on the breast
and sides. Wiiijjs and tail ininiactilato. Xests
on the ground, often arched or she;terO(] by ])osi-
tion or dry leaves. Kjr.s white, marked with
red, brown, and piiriile.
Seiiints attrnrapilhi.t.
This genus is decidedly sylvicoline in general a]ipoarance, although the
spots on the breast resemble somewhat those of the Thrushes. The three
species nuvy be groujied as follows : —
A. Middle of erown brownish-oran.uv. bordered by blackish. Xo white super-
ciliary streak ... u ■„
•^ ■ • • . . . . A. aiiroaijHllus.
280
N( HITH AMERICAN BIllDS.
B« ("rowii like tlio l>ai'k. A wdl-dorinod supornilinry liirlit stripo.
Thickly siiciikcil lioiiciitli, iiioludiii}^ I'lissiini. Groiiiiil-uolor and Kiiporoiliary
stripe yiiilowisii. Hill .siuall »S'. tioaehnrareiisis.
Sparsely streaked beneafli ; tliroat and orissum ininuuMilatc. Ground-color
and superciliary strijje while. Bill very large . . . . H. ludoviduuitx.
Seiunis aurocapillus, Swaixs.
OOLDEN-CaOWNEO THBUSH.
Motacilla atirncapilla, Linn. S. JT. I, 1766, 334. Ttirdus ntir. Lath. ; Wils. Am. Orn.
II, pi. xiv, lif.'. 2. — All). Orn. Hio<;. II, pi. cxliii. Siilviti niir. Wifs. Scinriui aur.
SWAINSON, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1S27, 171. — lUiiii), IHrds N. Am. 1858, 260 ; I{«v. 214.
— MooKK, P. Z. S. 18,->n, 55 (Honduras). — Max. Cab. .loiir. 18.58, 177. — Jonks, Nat.
Ucrinuila, 27. Jleii ion-k/ihi aur. Sci.ATKli, Catal. 1861, 25, no. 15i). — (JiNni.Acll,
Cal). Jour. 1861, 326 (Cuba). Seiunis aur. D'OiMi. Sajjra's Cuba, 1840, 55. — Daij. &
Hanxisti'.I!, Tr. Chic Ac. I, ISO!), 278 (.Vlaska). — .Samtki.s, 218. Turdus coronaliis,
ViKlu.. Ois. II. 1807 8.
Other loealities (piotcd : ( v/oivf, .Sci.ATK I!, V. 7.. S. 1856, 293. St. Domivfio, Sai,I.1% V. Z. S.
1857, 231. Ouiitciiiiil', Sc\,\TtM ii. Sm.vis, Ibis, I, 185i>, 10. Santa Crm (winter),
Ni;\vroN, Ibis, 1859, 142. Vidia (winter), Cab. Jour. Ill, 471. Jamaica, (Iossk,
Birds, 152. —ScLATKi!, P. Z. S. 1861, 70. CVi.s7,( A'/w, Cad. Jour. 1861, 84. Onzuba
(winter), Sr.MicniSAsr. i'acataii, Lawk. Chii-iqiii, .Salv.
Sp. Char. Above unirorni olivo-rrrocn, with a tinrje ol' yellow. Crown with two nar-
row .streaks of black iroin the bill, enclosing a median and much broader one of brownish-
orange. Beneath white ; the breast, sides of the bod}', and a niaxillarj' line, streaked with
black. The female and young of the year are not a|)preciably diHerent. Length, 0.00;
wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.40.
IIah. Eastern Province of North .\inerica, north to English River, II. B. T., and Alas-
ka ; west to mouth of Platte, and Denver City, Colorado; Ma/atlan ; whole West Indies;
Eastern Mexico; Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica; Bermuda in autumn and winter
(Jones).
IIabit.s. The Golden-crowned Tlirnsh, or Oven-Uird, as in some portions
of the country it is exclusively called,
inhabits the whole of eastern North
America, as far to the west as the Great
IMains, and to the north at least as far
as English liiver. In the winter .season
it has heen found in Mexico, St. Domin-
go, Jamaica, Cuba, and other West Indiii
islands, and in Central AnuM'ica is also
very common. Afr. Sumichrast also
speaks of it as common at Orizaba
during the same season, and it has l)een
found in the IJermudas and the IJahanias.
In all these places it usually ap])ears early in the autunni and remains until
the ensuing spring. It breeds as far to the north as it has been known to go.
liichardson met with its nest on the banks ot the Saskatchewan, and was
,Sfiiint» atiforupiUus.
SYLVIC0LIDJ5 — THE WARBLKRS. 281
conviiicod tliiit it bml at even still higher latitudes. Aiiionp; some meino-
raiula 1 ivcoivcd iVom the late ^Ir. Koivuieott is one stating tliat he met
with this Thrush breeding near English Iliver, duly IH. These birds arrive
in the fur country about the fii'st of ^Fay. How far to the south they Itreed
wc have no ]iositivo information. I have never received its eggs from any
l)oint south of I'hiladelphia, nor did I ever meet with it or hear its notes
in summer in the vicinity of AVashington.- Audub'Mi was of the opinifui
that a few remain to breed even in Louisiana, and states that he found them
abundant in Te.xas in tlus middle of ^lay, but ho may have confounded this
sp(!ci('s with the Louisiana Thrush.
In Jamaica, where its habits have been carefully studied by Mr. Gosse, it
arrives in Scjitember and leaves about the 20tli of April. Mr. Wiirdemann
obtained spceinuMis at (\i\)G Fhu-ida, Septend)cr 24 and 25. Mr. Audubon
mentions their apjiearing in Louisiana as early as the lirst of March. Wilson
never noticed it in Lo\iisiana before the lust of April, nor after September.
Tlie Smithsonian possesses no specinusn obtained earlier than May 1, except
some procmed April 2r) from the mouth of Platte Ifiver. Mr. Allen notes
its arrival in Western Massachusetts May 10. Mr. Verrill gives the early
part of ]May as the time of its reaching Western Maine, and Mr. Boardman
IMay I for the vicinity of Calais.
Though not found on the California coast, specimens of this bird have
been taken in M-Jnter near ]\Iazatlan, Mexico, siiowing probably that in their
migrations they cross the mountains of Northevn Mexico, as do the Mnioli'Ja
rcn'ia and a few other of our Eastern speciis.
In Eastern Mas.sachusetts it usually ai)pears i'rom the 1st to the 10th of
^fay, just as the first leaves of the trees are expanding, ami is to be found
only in thick woods, often near (lieir edges. Occasionally found perched on
the low lindis of trees, it is quii terrestrial in its habits, keeps a good deal
on the ground, running about among the fallen leaves, more in the manner
of a small (piadruped than a bird. ^fr. Audubon speaks of its frequenting
shady woods, watered l)y creeks and rivulets. I have found them rather
more abundant in woods upon high and dry ground, usually u])on slopes of
wocjded hillsides. In this respect it a])pears to differ in a marked manner
from its near of kin, the Water Thrush (S. noixhornccnsU).
This bird, and indeed all of this genus, have the peculiar vibratory mo-
tions of the tail noticed in the Wagtail of Europe, and also observed in our
own Ived-poll Warbler, and in the Titlark.i. In consequence of tlu'se jiecu-
liarities this species is known, in Jamaica, as Land Kirlup, and the iuirrho-
rornisis as the Wativ Kicliip. Mr. (!osse found in its stomach gravel,
various seeds, nnul-insects, caterpillars, and small turbinate shells.
The usual and more conunon song of this species is a very peculiar and
striking one, uidike that of any other of our birds. It is said to somewhat
resendihi the song of the Annitov niothifiiri.'nA' Eurojxv It is loud and clear,
enunciated with great rajiidity, and uttered with griiat emphasis at its close.
•M
282 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
It is cliaracterized hy onovj,'y and power, ratlior tluin variety or sweetness, yet
it is not uiipleiising. Aiuhibou calls it a "simple lay," and ai-ain " a short
succession of simple notes," — expressions that would give one who had never
heiird its song an altogether incorrect idea of its true character Wilson is
still more in error wlicu he states that this bird has no song, but an (niergetic
twitter, when, in fact, it has two very distinct songs, each in its way renmrk-
able. Nuttall describes its song as " a simple, long, reiterated note, rising
from low to high, and shrill" ; liichardson sjjeaks of it as "a loud, clear, anil
remarkably pleasing ditty"; and Mr. Allen calls it " a loud, echoing song,
heard everywhere in the deep woods." In reference to the songs of this bird,'
and the injustice that has been done by writers to this ancrother species
of our birds, Mr. Boardman of St. Stephen has written me the iollowing just
observations.
" Many of our common Warblers, Thrushes, and other birds, have rare songs
they reserve for some extra oc( isions, and many of our connnon birds do not
get credit for half their real j^wer of song. Once last sjn'ing, as I was watch-
ing for some birds, I heard a new and veiy pretty warble, sonietiiing like
the trill of a AVinter Wren, and found diat it came from our common slate-
colored Snowbii'd (Jiiiico hi/emalis), a bird that I see every day that 1 go
to the woods, and yet these notes I had never heard before. It is the same
with the Golden-crowned Thrush. Wlien it gets into the top of a tall tree,
its strain is so rare and beautiful that but few know it as from that bird.
The same is true of the AVatcr Thrush, and also of both Tardus jxdlnsi
and Turdus siraiiiKoiii."
The Oven-Uird always nests on the ground, and generally constructs nests
with arched or domed roofs, with an entrance on one side, like the mouth of
an oven, and hence its common name. This arched covering is not, however,
universal. For a site this sjiecies usually selects tlie wooded slope of a hill,
and the nests are usually sunk in the ground. When placed under the
shelter of a projecting root, or in a thick clump of bushes, the nest has no
other cover than a few loose leaves resting on, but forming no part of it.
A nest from IJacine, AVis., olitiiincd by Dr. Hoy, is a fine typical specimen
of the domed nests of this species. The roof is very perfect, and the whole
I)resents the appear.'.nce of two shallow nests tinited at the rim, and leaving
only a small o])ening at one side. Tiiis nest M-as five inches in diameter
from front to back, si.x inches from side to side, and four inches high. The
opening Avas two and a quarter inches wide, one and three (luartcrs high.
Tiie cavity was two inches deej), below the brim. At the entrance the roof
recedes about an inch, obviously to allow of a freer entrance and exit from
the nest. Externally this nest is made of wood, mosses, lichens, and dry
leaves, with a few stems and broken i'raginents of plants. The entrance is
strongly built of stout twigs, and its ujipei' ])ortion is com])osed of a strong
framework of fine twigs, roots, stems, mosses, dry i)lants, etc., all firmly
interwoven, and lined with finer materials of tlie same.
SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 283
On the 7th of Juno, LSaS, I cuine accidentally u])on a nost of this hiixl
of ii very dill'eivnt style of structure. It was in a thiciv wuod in llinghani.
Tlio nest was built in a depression in the ground at the foot of some low husiics,
and its to[) was completely covereil by surrounding vines and wild llowers.
It would }irobably have escaped notice iiad not my daughter, then a child
of four years, attempted to gather some wild tlow(!rs growing directly o\er
its entrance. This Ihislied tin; mother, wlio until then had remained (puet,
althougii we were standing with our feet almost up(jn the nest, and the Ijird
ilnttered and tumbled aljout at our feet with well-i'eigned mamruvres to distract
our attention. The child in great glee souglit to catch it, Init it eluded her
grasp, and, running otf like a mouse, disappeared. The nest contained six
eggs, was entirely open, and with no other cover than the wild plants that
clustered above it. As to its identity there was no doulit, as tiie parent was
afterwards snared u])on its nest. This nest was somewhat loosely constructed
of skeleton leaves, dry slender stalks, grasses, and i)ine-needles, and was
lined with a few slender grasses and leaves. It had a diameter of six inches,
and was two and a half inches deep. The cup iiad a diameter of three and
a half inches and a depth of two, being very large for the size of the bird,
probably owing to the shape of the cavity in which it was suidv.
Tiie nest of this V)ird seems to be a favorite [tlace of resort for tlie Cow
JJlackbird to deposit its egg. In one nest, found Ijy Mr. Vickary in Lynu,
no less than three eggs of these ])arasites had been placed.
The eggs of the Golden-crowned Tiirush are subject to considerable varia-
tions. Their markings dill'er in their colors and shades, and yet more in num-
ber, size, and manner of distriljution. The eggs are oval in shajie, one end
being but very slightly smaller than the otiier. Their average length is .82
of an incli, and their breadth is .55 of an inch. Tiieir ground-color is a beau-
tiful creamy-white. They are marked, usually principally about the larger
end, with dots and blotches, intermingled, of red, reddish-brown, lilao, darker
purple, and I'erruginous. Occasionally these make a beautifu" croM'n around
the larger end, leaving the rest of the surface nearly free froi i sj ots.
Seiurus noveboracensis, Xutt.
SUAIL-BILLEO WATER THRUSH.
Motacilla noveboracensis, U.mklin, S. N. I, 17S8, 958. Si/lvia nnv. Latit. ; Vikh.i.ot, Ois.
Am. Sept. II, pi. l.xxxii. Sfiuriui nov. Ni'ir. ; Bon. ; AuD. Birds Am. Ill, pi. cxci.x.
— n.viun, r.inls N. Am. 1S.")8, 201, pi. Ixxx, fif,'. 1 ; Rev. 215. —Max. Cab. Jour.
ISnS, 1-Jl. — Dam, .t liANNisrr.u (Aliuskiil. — Sa.\ii-f.i..s, 2'20. Ifniicncirhla nov. Cab.
Scliom. UuiiUiii, III, tiiKi ; .lour. 1S60, 321 (Costa Rica). — Sci,.vri;it (Tobago). —
CJuNDLACll, Cab. .lour. 18(il, 320 (Cuba). Mniolilta nov. (lliAV. n Mntm-iUa fnwi-s-
ccns, C.MELl.v, S. X. SI84 (basrd on Fimiidti jtimnircnsin, liMssiix, III, r)12, Jamaiia).
TurihiHaqudlii-iis, AViLs. ; Aid. Oni. Hiofj. 18.'!!), 284, pl. ccfcxxxiii. Siilria fin/Zioidis,
VlElLLor, Nouv. Dint. XI, 1817, 208. Sciiinm leiiuiros/rifi, Hw. 1827; Ga.mu. iJciurun
284 NORTH AMERICAN BlIlDA.
si,//u>;,..crns, U'(1nniONV, .Sa«,a'.s ful,a, 1840, 57, pi. vi. Sciurus gossc, BoN. Coiisp
\i>M, mm (Jiunaica). / AiUlni, Vhu-ininicri, Li;s.s. licv. /. ls;i!», ],il ((.•oloinbk)
OtliiT localities .luotcl : Xahqui, Sci.AiKli. Gimkmala, Sci.aier & Sai.vin. Pamma,
lawKiiNCK. CVW/i«//cH«, Cassin. -S-ofte CnM (wiiitiii), Nkwion. t'«4,(, Caii Ja-
maic, (!ns,s|.;.; SuL. Venezuela, Sul. & Salv. r«t«<««, Lawu. iV. 'liartlwkmy,
SuMj. / iriiguu, Salv.
Si'. C'liAii. Hill, (ioni rictus al.out the length of the skull. Above olive-brown with a
sim.U. ol j^roen; beneath pale .sulplnn-yellow, brightest on the abdomen. Region about
the has.,, ol the lower maiidihie, and a snpereiliary line Ironi the base of the bill to the nape
brow.nsh-yeliow. A .InsUy line liotn the bill through the eye; chin and throat finely
spotted. All the renminmg under ])arts an.l sides of the bodv, e.vcq.t the abdomen and
meludiug the un.ler tail-eoverls, cou..pieuo>...|y and thickly stieake.l with oliva.vou.s-brown
almost black on the breast. Length, 0.1,5; wing, 3.12; tail, 2.40. Bill, iro.n rictus, .04.'
bexes similar.
IIau. Eastern Province of North America, north to Arctic Ocean and Yukon (west-
ward along northern border of L'nited States to Ca.scade Mountains) ; Fort Urid-cr Dhfx-
LKii); Arizona (CoiKs) ; whole West Indies ; Southeastern Mexico ; all CentrarAmerica •
Tauama and Eastern South America (Bogota; Carthagena; Brazil).
A very yotmo; bird (22,619, Fort Simp.sou, August 10) is very diflerent
from the adult in culoration. The upper parts are fuligiuous-hlack, etich
leather with a broad terminal bar of pale ochraceous, wiuo-coverts tij)ped
witli the same, forming two distinct l)ands ; streaks below as in the adult,
but broader and less sharply defined.
II-VBiTs. This species has a general distribution, at certain seasons,
tlirougliout the whole of eastern North America as far to the nortli as the
Arctic Ocean. Xorth of tiie United States it is also found on the Pacific
coast as far south as the Cascade Mountains. In the winter it is (luite com-
mon ill all the West India Islands, in Southeastern Mexico, Central America,
riinama, and the eastern part of South America to Brazil. From about lati-
tude 43° northward it breeds throughout all Xortli America. Sir John IJich-
ards(ui met with it at the Ctirlton House, where it was found fretiuentiiig the
moist and thickly wooded banks of the river. Tiiese birds made their first
iil)l)eariiiice in May, and the greater portion soon after disappetired, as if pro-
ceeding still farther north to breed.
Among other memoranda given ine by the late Mr. Kennicott was one
fiirnisiied liini by lAIr. Lockliart, to the ellect that, at Yukon IJiver, June 21,
l.SoU, lie hiid shot a i'emale Water Thrusli as she Hew from lier ne.st. Tliis
contained five eggs, and was concealed under a small ])ile of <lrilt, close to
the river, but under large willow-trees. This wtis not lined with down. At
the same locality anotlier nest witli six eggs was also obtained. This also
M-as on the ground tit tiie foot of some willows near the water. It was made
of moss, and lined with very fine grass.
All thiit has been given by our earlier authors as to the habits of this
species must lie received with more or less uncertainty. The diflerenco be-
tween this bird and that known as the Louisiana Thrush has not been suf-
ficiently clear to these writers to enable us always to determine which of the
SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARHLKPuS. 285
two they Inid in view. Ami even now tlie distriluitioii in .summer of the
liuhoiciaiiUH is hiiully detiniihle with prec-ision.
Wilson describes the habits of tliose he observed in Penusylvunia us
evincing a remiirkable jjartiaiity for brooks, rivers, jionds, and tiie vicinity
of water j-enerally, wadiny in sliallow ])(jols in searcii of atjuatic insects, and
j,aving, as it moves it along, an almost contimionsly vibratory motion to its
tail. He speaks of it as very shy, darting away with signs of alai'm wlien-
ever ajjproached, and uttering a sliari» cry. In all other resjiects his account
of tiiis bird probably refers to the Louisiana species.
This is also, without doubt, true of nearly all Audubon gives in connection
witli the history of this Tiuiish, which in all probability does not breed in
Louisiana, nor remain there through April, being at that time well on its way
to more northern regions.
Mr. Gosse, in his notes on the birds of Jamaica, states that this l)ird re-
appears in that island about the end of August. He noticed tiiem about the
muddy margins of ponds, and they soon became abundant. Individuals
were also to be seen running on the road, es])ecially near the sea-shore, and
by the edges of morasses. They ran rapidly, often waded up to their tibiie
in water, or ran along the twigs of a fallen tree at tlie brink, and now and
then Hew up into the branches of a i)iinonto or an orange-tree. Whether
running or standing, they were continually Ihrting up their tails, after the
manner of the Euroi)ean Wagtail. During its winter resilience in Januiica
it has no song, only a monotonous cry, a sharp chip. Its stomach was
fomul to contain water-insects and shells. Uv. March has noticed their
arrival in Jamaica as early as August 5. They all leave by the iirst of
April.
Mr. Allen found these birds not uncommon both in spring and in fall in
the vicinity of Springfield. He thinks a I'ew breed there, as he has met with
them in the months of June, July, and August, very s])aringly however.
They arri\e about the Titli of May. I have once, at least, met \dth its
nest and eggs near IJoston.
Dr. (Jones says this bird is (juite common, both in the s])ring and fall,
near Washington, and breeds s])aringly, having been found there in July.
They arrive about the first of ]\Iay, are enunently aciuatic, frequent swampy
thickets and thick ilark woods intei'spersed with pools, where they associate
with the Solitary Tatler.
In Southern Illinois this species, Mr. Kidgway states, is found only during
its migrations and in mild winters. He never met with it in the breeding"
season, when the S. liulorividiim is so abundant. Ikit it returns early from
the North, and he has shot numbers of them in August. During the whole
tall they are common about all swaiujiy places, or the margin of creeks in the
woods ; and in mild winters a few are found in the swamps of the bottom-
lands, where the den.se forest affords them comfortable shelter. On warm
daya in December and January, he has heard them singing with all the vi"-or
286 NOIiTll AililUICAN UIlfDS.
of spring in siidi lucalitie.s. In notes, as well as in manners, Mr. Ifidgway
lias noticed little (liflerencu between this species and ,S'. ///^/oi- (■««//««. "xiie
song, liowever, is decidedly weaker, tliough scarcely less sweet, and the two
are very easily (hstinguished at sight l.y one lamiliar with them.
^ These birds breed, tliough they are not very abundant, in the vicinity of
(Calais, and also in the w«;stern part of Maine. Professor Veirill states that
they reached the neigliborhood of Norway, Me., about tlie first of May, a ibrt-
night earlier tlian Mr. Allen noted tiieir arrival in Springheld. Mr.'verrill
demonstrated the fact of their breeding in Western Maine, by finding, June 8,
1801, a nest and eggs in a dense cedar swamp near Norway. 'I'his was built
in an excavation in the .side of a decayed moss-covered log, the excavation
Itself forming an arch over the nest in the manner (jf, yet dilferent from,
that of tlie Golden-crowneil. The nest itself was an exceeding beautiful'
structure, lour and a half inches in diameter, but only an inch and a half in
depth, being very nearly ilat, tiie cavity only half an inch deep. The entire
base was made of loose liyi)num mosses, interspersed with a few dead leaves
and stems. The whole inner structure or lining was made up of the fi'uit-
stems of the sanie ino.ss, densely impacted. The outer circumlercnce was
marie up of mos.ses and intertwined small black vegetable roots.
This nest contained five eggs, tlie brilliant white ground of which, with
their delicately shaded spots of reddish-brown, contrasted with the bright
green of the mossy exterior, and set off to advantage by the conspicuous and
unique lining, jiroduce a very ])eautiful effect.
Air. George A. Uoardman of Calais, ]Me., an oljserving and accurate natu-
ralist, has furnished me with the following interesting account of the habits
of this species and its congener, the cmrompUlm, in a letter dated St.
Stephen, March 23, 18G7. "Did you ever notice their walk on the ground 1
You know that most of our birds are hoppers. These two, S. nuvcbonaxnsis
and ,S'. ,uiroca2nUns, have a beautiful gliding walk, and of all our other birds
T only remember two that are not hoppers, the Anthus ludovicianuH and
Molothrus pcvoris. I do not think that a naturalist should ever say, as
Wilson was constantly doing, that any bird has no note or song whatever,
unless he is well accjuainted w ith them, at ill times, especially while breed-
ing. IMany birds seem really to have nothing to say except when mating.
I tliink that our little walker, the Water Thrush, has been particularly ill
used 1)y writers in this respect, for I regard liim as one of our liveliest sing-
ers. Its note is very high an.d clear, begins witii a sudden outburst of melody,
so as almost to startle you, is very clear and ringing, as if the bird had just
found its mate after a long absence. It then keeps falling luitil you can
hardly hear it. Its note is very sweet, and can be heard wlien you are in a
canoe or boat a very long ways. lAh- most of our Warblers and Thrushes,
when singing, they do not like intrusion, and it Avas a long while before I
could make out the bird that uttered these notes. I could only do it by
going in a boat or canoe. They hide in thick trees, over the water, where it
SYLVICOLIDyE — THE WARBLERS. 287
ia impossible to walk up to thorn. I almost always find them on some
island, in a I'iviu', that has Leon ovm-flowod, and always very near tlie water."
Their c!gij;.s vary in length from .SI to .H7 ofavi inch, and in breadth Irom
.().") to f)',). They have an oblong-osal slii>j)e, tapering to a point at one end
and rounded at the otiier. Tiieir ground is a clear crystal-wliile, and tiiey are
more or less marked with lines, dots, and dashes of varying siiailes of unil)er-
brown. These markings are more numerous around the larger end, and are
nnicii larger and l)older in some tlian in others, in many lieing mere jwiuts
and fine dots, and in such cases eijually distriliutcd over tlie wliole egg. In
otlu^rs a ring of large eonlluent blotclics is grouped around the larger end,
leaxing the rest of the egg nearly unmarked.
Seiurus ludovicianus, Bonap.
LOUISIANA WATEB THBUSH.
Turihi^lmhivkidnun, Ann. Orn. Bioj;. I, 1832, 99, pi. xix. Seiurus luilovicinmts. Box. —
Hahmi, IJiicls N. Am. 1858, 2(52, pi. lx.\.\-, tig. 2; Rev. 217. — Sci.ai r.i!, W Z. .S. IS.IO,
WA (.Xaluim) ; 373 (Oaxaea) ; 18til, 7" (.Tiimaica). — Sci.atf.U & Sai.VIN, IIpLs, 18G0,
273 (Ouatcniala). — Sami'KI.s, .I?'.). Ifaiicncichla liiil. Sri.ATKI!, C'atal. 1801, 25, no.
161 (Orizaba). ? Tunlus molaciUa, Vieill. Ois. Am. Si'iit. II, 18((7, 0, pi. Ixv (Ken-
tucky). Seiurus mo/acilla, Box. 1350. llenicociMa mot. ('ad. Jour. 1857, 210 (Cuba).
— OuNDi.Acir, Jour. Orn. 1801, 320. Ilcnicocichln major. Cab. Mus. llein. 1850
(Xiilapa).
Sp. Char. Bill lonjjnr than tlio .skull. Upper parts olive-hrowii with a.«ha(lo of green-
i.ih. A conspiciiou.s wliiti! superciliary lino from tlie bill to the najie, iuvolvini; tlie upper
lid, witli a brown one from the bill tliroiigli the e\-e, wiileniiii; behind. Under jparts white,
with a very liiint shade of palo buff behind, especially on tiie tail-coverts. A dusky max-
illary line; the forepart of breast and side.s of body Avitli arrow-.shaped streaks of the
.same color. Cliin, Ihro.at, belly, and under tail-eovert.s. entirely immaculate. Length, G.33;
wing, 3.25 ; tail, '2.40 ; bill, from rictus, .75. Sexes .similar. Young not seen.
Hab. Eastern rrovinee of United States as far north as Carlisle, Pcnn., and Michigan;
Cuba and Jamaica ; Southern Mexico (Coliina) to Guatemala.
Autnnnml specimens have a more or less strong wash of ochraceous over
the flanlvs and crissum, and tiie brown above j&.urus
rather darker and less grayish tlian in spring ^__ — ^^^ nT* ""'"""*■
birds.
This species is very similar to S. novcbo-
racensis, altiiough readily distinguishable by
the characters gi\-en in the diagnoses. The
differences in the bill tliere referred to are Mums ludovidu^us,
illustrated in the acconijianying diagram. nouap.
Habits. The Water Thrush described by Wilson as most abundant in
the lower ]iart of tiie IMississippi Valley, as well as that given by Audubon
as the Louisiana Water Tlirush, though its position as a genuine sjiecies was
afterwards abandoned, are undoubtedly referable to a closely allied but ap-
288 XORTII AMERICAN JHftDS.
parontly distinct Sciiirm, now know,, a.s tlie Louisiana Water Tlinisli Tin's
bird lias a very close resenil.lance tu the norchmmn.iH, dillerin- chiedv in
size and in l.avin. a larger bill. Althon^h its distribution is nCt yet Jully
detenumed, at seen.s to belong ndluT to the South an.l Southwest.-rn States
and only acei.lentally to be found uoilh of the .Middle States, Still a ain-de
.speeunen has been obtained in Massachusetts, an.l it has been several times
lonn.l in MK-h.j,mn and Missouri. Specimens of this bir.l have also been
imK.ured m I'ennsylvania, tieor-da, Tama,dij,as. Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, and
Uualemala.
Its recognition as a distinct species from the common Water Thrush is
«o .-ecent, and the two species so ch.sely resend.le each other, that as yet its
habits and ustoiy are imperfectly known. Wilson relers to the binls ho
had met with in Missi.ssippi and Louisiana, which we presume to have been
the same, as bemg there in abundance, and eminently .listinguished by tlie
loudne.s.s, sweetnes.s, and cxja^essive vivacity of their .lotes. These he de-
scribes as beginning ve,y high and cleai-, and as falling with an almost imper-
ceptible gradation until tliey are scarcely articulated,- a desc,-iption that
would also answer ve,y weU for the soi-g of the true Water Thrush. J )urin.r
their .song, lie adds, they are pei'ched on the middle branches of a tree over
the brook oi' liver-bank, ].ouiii.g out a channing melody, so loud and disti.ict
that it may be heard at the distance of nearly half a mile. The voir'.e of this
bird appeared to liim so exquisitely sweet and expressive that he was aiever
tired ot listening to it.
It is also .p.ite probable that .,eai-ly all of .\ud.ibon's accouiits of the habits
of the ^^ater Thrush were derived fro.i his obserNation of this s,,ecies, and
not of ^i, \o.-thern congener. He describes its song as fully equal to that
o^ the Nightingale, its notes as powerful an.l m.-llow, and at times as varied
He states that it is to be foun.l at all s.-a.sons in the dee,,..st an.l most swampy
of the canebrakes of Mississippi and Louisiana. Its song is to be heard even
in the winter, when the weather is calm an.l warm.
He describes its ilight as ea.sy an.l coiitinue.l, just above the brakes or
cl..se to the grouiid. Wq.en on the ground, it is continually vibratim'/its
body, jei-king out its tail and then cl.)sing it again. It walks gracefully alon-r
the branches or on the ground, but never ho,«. He states that it feeds on
insects and their larva-, and often pursues the former on the win-v
He describes the nest as placed at the foot and among the i-oots of a tree
or by the side of a decayed log, and says they are often easily discoveie.l.'
Ihey ai-e commence.l the first week of April. T!ie outer porti.>ns are forme.l
ot diy leaves and mosses, the inner of fi.ie grasses, with a few hairs or the
dry hbi-es of the Spanish moss.
The eggs, four in number, are describe.l a.s flesh-colored, sprinkled with
dai-k re.l at the larger end. They are hatche.l in fourteen day.s. The y..un..
leave the nest in about ten days, and follow the parent on the groun.I f.-.m"
place to place. When disturbed on her nest in the earlier periods of incu-
SVLVK'OLIDJ-: — TIIK WAUIlLKIiS. 28!)
lulidii, hIio lUL'icly llir.s oil'; Imt liitor, or when sIr; lias yimii^', she tmiiUles
iiliouL on tlio grmiiul, Hprciuls lior winj^s and tiiil, utk-rs iiilooiis cries, iiiid
soeius ii.s if in tlio last u^'oiiit'S of lU'spair. Tliis species Mr. Audubon never
luct with fartlier east than (leor>j;ia, nor fartliev north than Henth'rson, Ky.
Of late years, or since attention has heeii uiou! drawn to tiie s|iecilic
dii'ference between tliis species and tlie Water Thrusli, it has apjiarently
become more numerous, and has been obtained in etinsicUualile lunubers in
the vicinity of Washington. In tiiat neighborhood, once consiiUued so
rare, it was found l)y Dr. t'oues to be not at all uncommon at certain
seasons and in particular hjcalities. From tlie lOtli of April to tlie 20th
of ]\[ay it was always to be met with among the dense hiurel-bralces ihat
l)order the banks of and till the ravines leading into Hock Creek and I'iney
IJrandi. lie believes tiiey breed there, but they were not obscrveil in tlie
fall. Tliey were usually very .shy, darting at once into the most impene-
trable brakes, but were at other times easily approached. He always found
them in ])airs, even as early as the 20th of Ai)ril. Their call-note was i\
sparrow-like chirp, as if made by striking two pel)bles together. They also
had a loud, beautiful, and melodious song, the singularity of which first drew
his attention to the bird.
Mr. Itidgway infoiiiis me that in the Wabash Valley this bird, familiarly
known as the " Water Wagtail," is an abundant summer sojourner. It inhab-
its the dampest situations in the bottom-lands, the borders of creeks, lagoons,
and swami)s, living there in company with the Prothouijtary Warbler {Pro-
tonoUtria citirct). In its movements it is one of the quickest as well as the
most restless of the Sf//ri<v/iiln', tliough it is eminently terrestrial in its hab-
its. It is usually seen upon the wet ground, in a horizontal position, or even
the posterior part of its body more elevated, and its body continually tilting
up and down ; if it fancies itself unobserved, it runs slyly beneath the brush-
wood overhanging tlie sliore ; but if startled, it flics up suddenly Mith a sharji
and startling chatter. He adds that in early spring (from the latter part of
February to the l)eginning of April) its rich loud scmg may l)e heard before
the trees are in leaf, for it is one of tlie earliest of the Warblers to arrive.
When singing, it is usually perched upon the lower branches of a tree over-
hiinging the water, but lie has freipiently seen it among the topmost branches.
Wilson and Audubon have not exaggerated the merits of the song of this
bird, for among all its family there is certainly not one of our North Ameri-
can species that comjiares with it. In richness and volume of its very liquid
notes it is almost unrivalled, though the song itself may not be considered
otherwise remarkable.
Mr. Salvin met this si)ecies in different portions of Guatemala in the months
of August, September, and November, 1859. A dry watercourse in the for-
est, or in the bottom of a; bari-anco, seemed to be its favorite resort, while
its near congener, the noirhomcensui, was observed to seek rather the more
open streams.
37
290
NOJM'II AMEIUCA.N IJIKlJS.
(iK.Nc. OFORORNIS, HAinn.
ni,„rnn„\ Raii,,., I!i„ls X, An.. Isr.S, 240. (Ty,,,., S/ihio „,,ilh, AV„,h.)
Gkn. Cma... Hill .sylvieolin... rather o..,Mpre.s.s.,.I ; distinctly notci.ed at tip ; rictal l.ri«tlo8
v.M-y iniieh riMliicud. Win-s clongatiMl, i.,.int-
I'd, iniidi loii-vr timii tli,. tail; tlu' Mist .,„ili
nearly or iiuitc llii. lon^'cst. Tail very sli-htly
roinided; lail-leatlKMs acuminate, pointed';
tlie under covert.s rcacliinn- t„ wiihin le.«s llian
lialC an incli of their tip. Tar.^i elonfraled,
lonjrcrlhan the head; eluws !ar{,'e, the jnnder
one as lonff a.s its dicfit, and longer than the
lateral toes. Above olive-green; lieiiealh
yellow ; tail and wings ininiaeidato. Legs
O/iurornis /orniiisu.i. ^ now.
This grou]) of American Warblers is very distinct from any other The
typical speacs is .ptite similar in color to Gcofh/i/pis phiUulelj,!,!,,, but is at
once to be distinguished by mnch longer wings, more even tail, and larger
toes and claws. It is also very similar to Sriurn,, differing chiefly in The
longer wings, larger claws, and absence of spots beneath.
Thmat anderown ash-eolor ; a white ring ronnd the eve. Xo black on the
side ol the head • . . . .
Throat and sni.crciliary stripe yellow; to'p of 'the liea.l an,l a'.streak beneath '^' "^''""
tlie eye black , .
O./ormosus.
Oporomis agilis, Baird.
CONNECnCUT WABBLEB.
SyMa a„ilis, W,Ls. Am. Orn. V, 1812, 04. pi. xxxix, fig. 4. -Aim. Orn. Bio. II pi
exxxvn. ; Hon ^yh-icola a,j. Jakd. ; Aud. Birds Am. II, pi. xcix. Trklu,san. n'utt'
Oporomis ag Baiud, Birds X. Am. 1858, 240, pi. Ixxix. fig. 2 : Rev. 218. ) Triduu>
-tvT.uL 208' *'""■ ''' '"'■ '"'"' ""' *'''"""■'■ '■"•• ^'"'"- ' *"•' "•■ •'""' l^""' ''«'')•
Sp CiiAR. Spring male. Upper parts and sides of the body uniform olive-green very
s hghtly tniged with ash on the crown. Sides of the head ash, tinged with dusky beneath
the eye. (Entne head sometimes ash.) Chin and throat grayish-ash, gradually lu-cominff
. arker o the upper part of the breast, where it becomes tinged with dark a.sh. Sides of
the neck, breast, and body olive, like the back ; rest of under parts light yellow. A broad
'•on nuious wlnte nug round the eye. Wings and tail-feathers olive (especially the latter)
without any trace of bars or spots. Bill brown above. Feet vllow. Lcn4,, (i inches
".ng, 3.00 ; ta , 2.25. F.nale. The olive-green reaching to the bill, and e^ve'ringsS
of head ; tnroat and jugulum pale ashy-buff. Yo,n,g not seen. Nesting unknown
Autumnal sr-eennen nearly uniform olive above; the throat tinge-1 with brownish so as
to obscure the ash,
Hab. Eastern Pro\ nice of United States.
SVLVICOLID.K — TIIK WAIMILKIIS.
291
Oporonti.^ ngilis.
A specimen in tlie colk'ctinii of t\w I'liiladclpliiti Academy, killed l)y Mr.
Ki'IiUm-, lias tlic darker iish of the jugiiliim of a decided sooty tiii;,'o.
A peculiarity in tlic history of this species is shown in the fact that it is
quite aliundant in Illinois, Wisconsin, etc., in the spring, and very rart^ in
the autumn; precisely the reverse being the case near the Atlantic liorder,
where only two or three spring specimens have been announced as captured
by collectors. It is jw.ssiblc that they go north in spring, along the valley of
the Mississippi, and return in autumn through the Atlantic. States. Their
summer abode and breed ing-jilaci! are as yet unknown.
IlAiiirs. Of the history of this rare and beautiful species but little is as
yet known. It was tirst met with by
Wilson, in the State of Connecticut,
and he afterwards olttaincd two other
specimens near Philadel])hia. Others
have since been procured at Carlisle,
Penn., at Washington, Loudon County, ^ ,
Va., near Chicago, l{acine,and in South- mM
ern Illinois. Septend)er 25 to Oeto- ■
l)er 1, and ^lay, from the 15th to the
28th, appears to be the epo<>h of their
fall and spring occurrence. Tiiey are
more frecpiently noticed in the au-
tumn. It is supposed to be a migratory bird, going north to breed.
It was found by Wilson, in every case, among low thickets, and seemed to
be more than commonly active, not remaining for a moment in the same
position. Mr. Autlubon obtained only two specimens, a pair, opposite Phila-
delphia in New Jersey. When he tirst observed them they were hopping
and skip]»ing from one low bush to another, and among the tall reeds of the
marsh, emitting an oft-repeated tweet at every move. They were chasing a
species of spider tha'^ ran niml)ly over the water, and which they caught by
gliiling over it. Ujion dissecting them, he found a number of these spiders
in their stomachs, and no otlier food. These two birds were not at all shy,
and seemed to take very little notice of him, even when close to them.
Mr. Trumbull, in his list of the birds of Eastern Pennsylvania, marks it
as a summer resident of that State, which is probably not the fact. Mr. Law-
rence includes it in his list of birds found near New York City. It is not
given by Mr. Verrill or Mr. Boardman as occurring in any part of Maine, and
has not been detected in Western IMassachusetts by Mr. Allen, though it has
been occasionally met with in the eastern part of the State by Dr. Cabot, Mr.
Maynard, and others. More recently, in the fall f)f 1870, and again in that
of 1871, this species lias been found cpiite abundant in a restricted locality
in the eastern part of that State. It was first observed by Mr. II. W. Ilen-
shaw, a promising young naturalist, in the early part of September, 1870,
among the Fresh Pond marshes in Cambridge. They appeared to be (^uite
292 NOUTH AMERICAN liUtUii.
numerous, and several specimens were obtained. He communicated the dis-
covery to Lis friend, Air. William Brewster, and more than fifty specimens
of this rare Warbler were obtained during that season. In the lollowino-
autumn, in September and during the first few davs of October, these birds
were observed in the same locality, apparently in greater numbers, and
more specimens were obtained.
Mr. Henshaw writes me that he first saw this species, September 7, 1870,
when he obtained a single specimen. From that time uutil September 27 it
was very connnon througliout the Fresh Pond swamps, to which locality it
seemed to be restricted. It again made its appearance in 1871, and at about
the frame time, and remained until October 5. It was in even greater num-
bers than during the preceding year.
Their habits, while witli us in the fall, appear to be very different from
those of the individuals observed by Wilson and Audubon, wjiich were
described as bem- -f a remarkably lively disposition, and lieuce the name of
agihs. Mr. Henshaw found them almost constantly engaged in seeking their
food upon the ground. When startled, they would Hy up to the nearest bu.sh,
upon which they would sit perfectly motionless, in a manner clo.sely resem-
bling the Thruslies. If not further disturbed, they immediately returned to
tlie ground and resumed the search for food among the lea\es. If greatly
startled, tliey took a long flight among the bushes, and could mrely be" found
again. The only note he heard tliem utter was a single sliarp chirp, emitted
occasionally, when surprised. Tliey were all remarkably fat, so much so as
to make it difficult to obtiiin a good specimen.
About sunset, standing on the skirts of the swam]), he has repeatedly ob-
served these birds alight, in great numbei-s, on tlie edge, and immediately
pass in, evidently intending to remain there over night. He judged that
they migrate entirely by day. On only one or two occasions did he ob-
serve tliese birds feeding in the tops of willow-trees. At such times they
appeared ecjually lively in their movements with tlie Dmdroiva striata, in
company witli whicli tlioy were a.ssociated. The birds he saw were nearly
all in immature plumage, adults being comparatively rare.
Dr. Coues states that tlie Connecticut Warbler is found near W^ashington
in tlie month of October, but that it is rather uncommon. He did^not
meet with it in spring. He .sjx'aks of its frp.,uenting old buckwheat and
corn fields, searching for food among the dry, rank weeds, and also in swam]>y
places among low thickets.
SYLVICOLin.K — TIIK WARHLERS. 293
Oporornis formosus, liAiiti).
KENTUCKY WABBLEB.
? Sylvia wquiiniHiu/ii, ViKll.l,. Ois. Am. Scjit. II, 1SII7, 'Jt!, |)1. Ixxxi, Pciin. (not (>I(1mki,inK
Si/h'iii jhrninsd, Wii.s. Am. Oni. Ill, ISll, !<."), \<\. xxv, l'ii{. ;(. — Nrir. ; Atn. Drn.
Biog. I, [il. xxxviii. Sii/ricdld fiiniiosn, ,Iaki>. ; Hicii. ; ItuN. ; Max. Mijioiliih-li-s
formonii.i, Al'D. Syii. — In. liiril.s Am. II, 1>1. Ixxiv. — Lkmiievk, Av. Culia, 1S50, ;i7.
Gi;st>i.Acii, Ciib. ■lour. IStil, U'iti (CuliJi). O/iornnii.i /onimsus, IJaiiii), IJinls N. Am.
18iJH, 247 ; Hcv. '218. — Scl.ATKli & Sai.vin, ll)i.s, I, ISnU, 10 (Giiiituiiiiila).
Other looalitii's cited : .I/c.irv), SiLAlKU. Isthmus I'd itiiiioi, LAWliKNti;. I'cnKjua, Sai.v.
C'osld. Jlkd, liAWIt.
Si". CiiAit. Adult intilc I'lipiT pait.s iiiiil .siiU's daik olivc-irii'i n. ("rowii ami sii|('>< of
tliu head, iiicludilig a l,rianj;ular patdi ti'oiii lioliiiid the cvi' down the .side of llic iit'ck,
black, till' loatliers of the crown narrowly liiiuilatcd at tip.s with dark a.sh. A line li-om
no.strils over the eye and cncirclinj;' i( (except anteriorly), with the entire under part,-*,
liri}!;ht yellow. Xo white on the tail. Femnic siiniiar, with less hiaek on the head. Length,
;') inches; wiii}^, 2.'J.">; tail, 2.2."). YituiKj not .seen.
The adults in autuiuii are exactly the .same as in .s|irinfr.
IIah. Ea.st,eru Province otrnitcd States, north to \Vashiin;lou and Chicago; west to
Repidjlican Fork of Kansas River (Coik.s). 'Cuba, CJuateniala, and Islluuus Panama. Not
recorded from West Indies cxeei)t Cuba.
Habits. The Kent- uky Warl)ler i.s an abuiidaiit species in tlie Southern
and Southwcstorn Status, and lias been found, thoiioh more rarely, as far to
the north as Southern New York in the east and to Southern Wisconsin in
the west. It has also been obtained at Fort Jiiley, in Kansas. Its nest and
egys have been procured near Cleveland ')., liy Dr. J. R Kirtland, and also
in Chester County, I'enn., by Mr. Nc s. It is a winter inhabitant in
Me.xieo, ranama, (Juatemala, and Cu',.i.
Wilson speaks of havino; met with this bird in abundance from Kentucky to
the mouth of the AIississii)pi, everywhere tiuite common, but most esjiecially
so in the States of Tennessee and Kentucky. At the Ikilize he several times
heard it twitterinjj; among the high r.mk grass of those solitary morasses.
lie found it fre(|uenting htw damp woods, and building its ne.st either in the
middle of thick tufts of rank grass, in the fork of a low Imsh, or on the
ground. The materials of which these nests were made were loose dry
giuss, mixed with the ])ith of wood, and lined with hair. He found the eggs
from four to six in number, pure white, ajtrinkled with reddish sjieeks. He
met with the female sitting u])on her eggs as early sis May. These birds,
he adds, tire .seldom seen among high branches, but prefer to frecpient low
bushes and canelnake.s. In tluMr habits they are very lively tuid sprigiitly.
The song is loud, comprising three notes, tind resendtles (inril/i-fitriif/t-diirc-
dle. It makes its appearance in Kentucky from the South about the middle
of April, and leaves the regi(jn about New Orleans on the ii])])roaeh of cold
weather. Wilson was assured that it never remains there during the winter.
Wilson characterizes tluise birds as a riickless lighting species, almost
always engaged in ])ursuing its feUows.
294 NORTH AMKHICAN BIRI)8.
Mr. Audubon states that this Warl)ler is the most common ami abundant
species that visits tlie State of Louisiana and the whole it\u;ion about the
Mississippi IJiver, but is not so common in Kentucky or Oliio. He de-
scribes it as an extremely lively and active l)ird, found in all the low grounds
and damp places near watercourses, and generally among the tall rank weeds
and low bushes growing in rich alluvial soil. It is continually in motion,
hopping from stalk to stalk, and from twig to twig, preying upon insects,
larvae, or small berries, rarely ]iursuing an insect on the wing. He describes
its song as agreeable and emphatic. He has never known this sjiecies fly
fartlier than a few yards at a time. Its lliglit is low, and is performed in a
gliding manner. It makes its first appearance about the middle of March,
and remains until the middle or last of September. He states that it rears
two broods in a season. His description of its nest, as " small, beautifully
constructed, and attached to sevend stems of nink weetls," etc., does not agree
in position, size, or ajipearance with any that I have ever seen.
According lo Tdr. Audubon, it feeds largely u])on spiders, which it obtains
by turning over the witiiered leaves on the ground. Tiie young birds resem-
ble their mother until the following season, when the males attain the full
beauty of their iduinage. They remain with their parents until they migrate.
The late Dr. Alexander Gerhardt, an accurate and observing n.itnralist of
Northern Georgia, informed me, by letter, that the nest of the Kentucky
Warbler is usually built on the ground, under a tuft of grass, often on a hill-
side and always in dry places. The eggs are deposited from the 4th to the
lull I of May. Nearly all the nests he met with were made externally of a
loose aggregation of dry oak and chestnut leaves, so rudely thrown together
as hardly to possess any coherence, and requiring to be sewed to be kept in
place. The interior or inner nests were more corajjactly interwoven, usually
com]io,sed of fine dark-brown routs. Instead of being small, they are large
for the bird, and are inelegantly and cltnnsily made. They measure four
inches in their diameter, three in height, and two in the dejjth of their cavity.
One nest, the last received from Dr. (Jerhardt, obtained by him at Var-
nell's Station, in Northern (Jeorgia, June a, 1800, is large and i)eculiar in its
construction. It is nearly spherical in shape, with an entrance i)artially on
one side and nearly archetl over. The peri,.!iery of this nest is comjHJsed
exclusively of ])artially decayed deciduous leaves, imi)acted together, ^d
somewhat loosely. Within tiiis outer coveving is a fine framework of sten)S,
twigs, and rootlets, and within this a snug, compact lining of hair and finer
rootlets and fibres. This nest is six inches in diameter and five in height.
It contained four egg.s.
These eggs havt! an avenig*' length of .(i!) of an inch and a breadth of .50
of an inch. They hiive an oltlong-oval slia])e, a crystalline-white ground, and
the entire surl'ace is s]>rinkled over with fine dots of red and reddish-brown.
The.se, though most abundant about the larger end, are nowhere confluent,
autl do not form a crown.
8YLVIC0LII)/K — THE \VAKHI,KH8. 295
A nest of this liinl fro.ii Chester CounJ;^, 1*01111., is a very flat structure,
tiviilently Iniilt in a hed of fallen leaves. It has a diameter nf si.x inches and
a height of only two. The cup is a mere depression only half an incii in
deptli. Its base is loosely constructed of dried leaves, upon which is inter-
woven a coarse lining of long, dry, and wiry rootlets and stems of plants.
Tt was given to ^Ir. J. P. Norris, from whom I received it, and it is now in
the Boston collection.
At
Mr. liobort llidgway I'urnislies the following valuable information in regard
to the abundance and general habits of this sjjecies as observed in Southern
Illinois : " It is a very common summer bird in Southern Illinois, where it
arrives in the Wabash Valley towards the last of April. It is a wood-loving
species, and of terrestrial habits, like the Sciu/'ns inirunijii/lus, but generally I're-
queiits rather different situations froJii the latter l)ird, liking better the under-
growth of ' bottom ' woods tiian that of dry forests. In all its manners it
closely resembles the Sriitri, especially the two atpiatic species, liulovicianus
and novchoraccnsts, having tiie same tilting motion of the body, and horizontal
attitude when per(;hiiig, so characteristic of these birds. The nest I have
never found, thougii well aware of its -actual situation. I knew of one some-
where among the ' top ' of a fallen tree, but it was so well concealed that
the closest search did not enable me to discover it. In most cases the nest is
proljably on the ground, among the rubbish of fallen tree-tops, or low brush-
wood.
" The usual note of this "Warbler is a sharp fnhiji, almost precisely like that
of the Pewee (Sai/or/n.'ifiiscn:<), uttered as tlie bird perches on a twig near the
ground, continnally tilting its body, or is changed into a sharp rapid twitter
as one chases another through the thicket. Their song is very pretty, con-
sisting of a fine whistle, ilelivered very much in the style of the Cardinal
Grosbeak (C'ltrduia/ia vinjini(inu>i), though finer in tone, and weaker."
Dr. Coues found this \Varl)ler rare at Washington, and chiefly in low
woods with thick undergrowth, and in ravines. They were very silent, but
not shy, and a few breed there.
SEtTioN GEOTHLYPE/E.
Genis GEOTHLTFlil^, ( aban.
Trichns, Swainsdx, Zoiil. .Iimrn. Ill, .July, 1827, 107 (ii^t of (Jlogcr, March, 1827, eciiial to
Criiiiiier, Teiiiiii.).
OciitJdiipi.s, Vaua^ih, Wiei,'iimiiti's Arcliiv, 1847, I, 316, 349. — In. Sithoiiibiirgk'.s Heisu,
Guiann, 1848.
Gkx. Ciiau. Bill sylvicolino, ratlioi- (li'P''>'i*'*<''l. ""'1 ilistiiictly notched ; riotal hristli's very
short or wanting. Winc-s siiort. roundiMl, scai-cdy lonfrcr than the lail; iho (irst <inill
sliorter than the fourth. Tail lon.ir; niiu^h roinitled oi' ^fraduiited. bejrs .-iloiil ; tar.-ii elon-
gated, as long as the head. Olive-green above, lieliy yell(jw. Tail-lealliers ininiaeulate.
Legs yellow.
296 Noirni amkuk.an hjijds.
Synopsis of Species.
Throat yellow . . o . .
Ihroiitnsh .... ., . . ,
Irenes 11.
Sciien I.
A. Blnok mask oxtondinp: benonth the oyo and on the aiiriculars.
1. O. trlchas. lilack mask liortlered along it.s jKistciior edge with pale a.shy
01- whitish: maxiliiu black. .Soxes dissimilai-. ?. Olive-brown above";
throat only, distinctly yell,.w; no black mask. J„r. Without either black
or j)iire yellow; above oiive-brown, like ?, beneath pale oehraceous-bufl-.
Abdom.'ii almost always whitish ; oeeipnt russet-olive. Hill. Croni
nostril, .30; tarsiLs,. 70; wing, 2.2o; tail, 2.1-,. J/ub. Whole of Tniied
States; in winter most of West Indie.'*, and Middle Amcriea, north to
Guatemala .... ^ ■ i
, . •••... var. t r If h ii n .
Colors snmlar; abdomen yellow. Bill, .4r) ; tarsus, .00; win" 2.50-
tail, 2.;-i0. //aft. Nassau; New Provi.lence; liahamas .' vm'. ro^Uruta ^
Abdomen bright yellow ; oeeijiut whitish-ash tinged with yellow. ]5ill,
.32; tarsus, .75; wing, 2.45; tail, 2.50. JJub. 'Eastern iM.'xieo f,Ta-
lapa?) , ,
r, „ ^■'"'- me la no IIS.'
2. O. asquinoctialis. Itlack mask not bordered posteriorly by ashy or
\ylnlish; much narrower on tbivhead than on anriculars; inaxillic yellow.
Sexes similar.
Black of the anriculars bordered posteriorly liy th(> olive-green of th(!
neck. Bill. .17 deep; wing, 2.50 ; tail. 2.35. Hab. Xortheast South
Atnerica (Cayenne, Trinidad, etc.) .... xav. w.jui n o ct iali s.'
Black of the auricnlars bordered posteriorly by the ash of the crown.
Bill, .14 deep; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.50. //r,6. Brazil . . vav.velata.*
B. Black ma.sk not extending underneath the eye, but confined to lores and
frontlet.
3. G. poliocephala. Bill much as in Gramilelhis. Above olive-green ; the
crown light ash ; beneath yellow. 8exi>s dissimilar.
Eyelids white; nape and anriculars (.live-gre<'n ; alMlnmen whitish.
Bill, ..30, .15 deep; wing, .2.20 ; tail. 2..-.0. Hab. West i[exico (Ma-
'^"''"",* \nv. poli ore jihnhi?
Eyelids black; nape and au'.iciilars ashy; alulomen wholly yellow.
Bill, .3,5, .18 deep ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, 2..50. Ilab. Guatemala (Hetalu-
'^'"•' ■ var. caiiiniicha.'
Series If.
4. G. philaaelphia. Head all round ashy ; lores only, black. Sexes nearly
similar.
1 aeothhiim rosfmlm, niiYANT, Pr. Host. Soc. N. H. Maroli, 18(57, (i7, liiagua.
'•* ','<-u//iliijiis 111,'bninps, lUiHi), Review Am. Hi \, I, Ajail, 180.5, p. 222.
3 '■•inf/ili/pis aiiiiiimlialis H'\n\s\!i), B.uisn, Kev. I, p. 221. {Muhidlla im. (iMi:i,i.N S \
I, 17.S,S, <t72.) •, ■ . .
♦ Oeollilii/m vclala (Cailvxis), Baiiid, Rev. I, 223. (Salvia vcl. ViKii.L. Oi.s. Am Sept II
1807, 22, 1,1. Ix.xiv.) • ' '
* a,n/lif,f,iis),u/i,ii;/il,„/,i, |Jaii!I>, Review Am. nirds, I, April, 18(i5, p. 22.',.
■ • Geothljijiis jinliiHVjihiiln, var. mniiiiir/ni, RtiHiWAV.
The a. s/,,rios,i, Sci,. (!'. 7. ir 417; and llUKi., Rev. ISfil, p. 22.'?), from Mexico, and
O. semi/l,,n,s, Sc... (P. Z. .S. !«-> . ,;i, 2!.l. -- Haiud, Rev. I, 18til, 223), fron. Ecuador, are
species allied t<, O. tnvhis, and ,M,..sil.ly ivfcrable to it. The original descriptions afford no
tangible distinctive character.s. It is barely possible, however, that they an; distinct.
SYLVICOLIDJ'; — THE WARBLERS,
297
Eyelids dusky (oxropt in 9); a hlaok jiatoli on jn;j;iiliiiii of ^. 9.
Tluoat tinjioil witli yellow. l[(ih. Easloni Province of Noriii America;
in winter south to Panama \iu: ph Had i"'/) li i k .
Eyelids white; no lilack patch on jnfrnlum. 9. Tin-oat not tiiifjcil
with yellow. Ifal>. Western and Middle Province of United States ;
in winter south to Costa Rica (Western Coast) . var. muc<i illivray i.
26017
Geothljrpis trichas, ('ai$a\.
HABTLAKO TELIOW-THBOAT ; BLACK-MASKED GROUND WABBLEB.
Tiirdua trichnx, I,ixn. >S. N. UtJti, 2113. Si/hi'i trkluis, Lath. ; Am., etc. Oenlhli/phi
triclws, Caii. Mus. Hein. 18.iO, 16. — Haieiii, Birds N. Am. 241; IJev. 220. — Ousn-
LA(Mi, Cab. .lour. 1861, 326 (Culm). — Sci.ATKit, Catal. 1861, 27, no. 167. — Makcii,
Pr. A. N. Sc. 1863, 293. — Loim), Pr. K. Art. Inst. Woolwich, IV, 1864, 115 (X. W.
Boundary). —,lo.\K.s, Nat. Bcninida, 29. — Samuels, 205. — CoopKit, Orn. Cal. I,
1870, 95. Si/lvia marUundkn, Wil.sox. Tricluis mar. Bon. Jiegu/11.1 mystaccus,
SiKi'iiKNs. Trkluis pcrsonatm, Swainson. Sylvia roseoe, Aud. Trkluis brac/iyduc-
lylus. Swains.
Other localities ([uotcd : Xiilnpa, Onxnea, Cordova, ScL. OuaUmala, S('l.. & Sacv. Balm-
mas, Bryant, t'o.t/n Jlka, Caii. ; Lawk. Orhidn (autumn). Sum. Yitaitan, Lawk.
Figures: Vii.:ii,i,. Ois. II, pi. xxviii, xxi.x. — Aui>. Orn. Biog. I, II, V, pi. xxiii, cii, ccxl.
— \Vii.s. I, pi. vi, tig. 1. — BUKKON, PI. enl. 709, fig. 2.
8p. Char. (No. 20,024 <J.) Win;,'s a little .shorter than the somewhat graduated tail.
Bill .slender, the dejjtli contained about two anil a half
times in distance from nostrils to tip. First qnill about
equal to seventh. Forehead to above the anterior edj^e
of the eye, and across the entire clu'eks, ears, and jaws,
and ending in an angle on sides of neck, black, with a
.suflusion of hoary bluish-gray behind it on the crown and
^ides of neck ; the occii)ital and inu^hal region grayish-
brown, pa.ssing insensibly into the olive-green of the up-
per parts. Chin, throat, jugulum, edge of wing and cris-
snm ricli yellow (the latter p.iler) ; rest of under part.s,
with lining of w ings, yellowish-white, the sides tinged GcoMyph trhhas.
with browni.sh ; outer i)riniary edged with whitish, the others with olive-green. Rill black ;
legs y.'Uowish. Total length, 4.40 ; wing, 2 lo ; tail, 2.;30 ; graduation, .2.-) ; width of outer
tail-feather, .28; diU'erence lietween fii'st and third quills, .15; length of bill from forehead,
..52 ; from nostril. .:iO ; along gape, .(50 ; tarsn.s, .7') ; middUi too and claw, .00; claw alone',
.18 ; hind toe ami claw, .48 ; elaw alone, .20.
Male in winter, and the female, without the black mask; the forehead tinged with
brown, the yellow of the throat less extended, the eyelids whitish, and a yellowish super-
ciliary line.
Had. The whole United States, from Atlantic to Pucino, and .south to Costa Rica; Ber-
mnda (Octol)cr) ; Bahanms ; Cul)a ; .Jamaica.
The young hird is browni.sli-olive above, becoming more vireseent on the
rump and tail ; eyelids, and whole lower jiarts, soft light buff, with a faint
tinge of yellow on the brea.st and lower tail-coverts.
Tliere is very much variation niiinifested in a large series (containing more
than one hundred and thirty specimens, pruiciptdly North American), though
38
298 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
but very little that accords with any distinctifnis of haliitat. As a nilo,
however, those from the Atlantic Stiites arc tiu; smallest of the series, and
have most white on the abdomen, the yellow l)eing restricted to the tliroat
and juguliim, and tiie lower tail-coverts. In most specimens from the Mis-
sissippi Valley the yellow beneath is quite continuous, and the size consid-
erably larger tlian in the series above mentioned, in tliese respects ajiproacli-
ing the G. mdaiiops from Eastern Mexico, in wliich the yellow pervades tlie
whole surface beneath ; but in tiiis the
wliitish border above the black mask is
extended over the whole crown, leaving
the nape only distinctly brownish, and
the size larger tlian the average of
the series alluded to. However, No.
(1 1,135 (?, Liberty County, Ga., has even
more white on top of the head, the whole
occiput being of tliis color ; while No.
7,922 <J , i'rom Ifacine, Wis., is quite as
'^Zhiypis trichas^ lo"K '^^ ^^"^ ^ypc of milmwps (the tail
only, shorter), and there is nearly as
much yellow beneath. The Georgia specimen, however, in other resi)ects,
is most like the Atlantic style. Specimens from the Pacific coast have just
appreciably longer tails tlian Eastern ones, and the olive-green above is
brighter. Jamaican and Guatemalan specimens are identical with many from
the United States. Tlie (f. rostra his of Hryfint, from the iJahamas, ajipears
to be merely a gigantic insidar race of the common species.
Habits. This well-known and beautiful little Ground Warbler is a com-
mon, abundant, and widely diffused species, occurring througliout the Ignited
States from ocean to ocean, and from the Gulf of ^lexico to Canada and
Nova Scotia. It is found, during the winter months, in Cul)a, Jamaica, ^fex-
ico, Yucatan, Guatemala, Costa Kica, the Bahamas, and, in the i'all, in Ber-
muda. On the Pacific coast it has been found from Cape St. Lucas to the
British territories. It breeds from Northern (Jeorgia to Halifax, inclusive.
In Central America, JMr. Salvin states that this Warbler is by far the most
connnon of the MinotiHulm, but is wholly niigratf)ry. It was usually found
in the neighborhood of water, fre(pienting tlie reeds that surrounded Lake
Puenas, and the bushes on tlie banks of its outlet. It was also taken l)y
Mr. Poucard at Totontopec, among the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico.
It was observed as far to tiie north as Lake of the Woods, by Mr. Kenni-
cott. Sevenil were there observed, botli males and females, May 2'.). It is
everywhere (juite connnon, and is, I think, as numerous in New England as
in the Middle States.
For the most part it seems to prefer wild lands, especially those overgrown
with briers and low bushes, to o])en or cultivated grounds. Yet this prefer-
ence is not exclusive, as I liave known a pair, or their offspring, to visit the
SYLVICULID.E — THE VVAUULER8. 299
s.arne garden nine or ten successive sunnuers. It is also more generally found
in low lands than in high, and is prolja!)ly attracted to moist tliiekets of
briers and underbrush by the greater abundance ot its favorite food. This
Warbler is eminently terrestrial in its habits, never l)eing found among higher
limbs, but always either on the ground or among the lower branches of
bushes, vines, and weeds. It is a diligent rather than an active or nimble
bird, is always on the move, and incessantly in search of its food. This con-
sists of insects in all their forms, but more particularly of larva}, small
beetles, and sjiiders. They are of great service in the destruction of several
forms of injurious grubs, and but that their mode of life exjjoses them to
destruction by prowling cats, I doubt not they would readily adapt themselves
to living in our gardens. Occasionally they are found in iields of grain,
where their i)resence is due to the abundance of destructive in.sects.
The Yellow-Throat ap])ears shy and retiring because it prefers to move back
and forth among low shrul)s and brambles, where it most readily procures its
food, but it is not a timid bird. They are unsuspecting, and will as readily
permit as fly from the near presence of man. I have frecjuently had them
approach within a few feet, especially- when at rest ; and even when in mo-
tion they will continue th(iir lively song, as they move about from twig to
twig. Though aide to capture an insect on the wing, they are not expert fly-
catchers, and chiefly take their prey when it is at n-st.
Their song is a very lively and agreeable refrain, easily recognized, though
exhibiting at times marked dilferences, and occasionally clo.sely resembling
the song of the Summer Yellow-lJird. The same brief series of notes, usually
sounding like lohi-ti-tee-fT'?, is constantly repeated at short intervals, while
the singer continues his perpetual hunt for insects.
The male is very affectionate and devoted to both mate and offspring. The
pair are never far ajtart, and during incubation the male is assiduous in the
collection of food, feeding its mate, and afterwards assisting in collecting for
their young. They rely upon concealment for the protection of their nest, and
rarely show any open solicitude until it is discovered. Then they will make
the most vehement demonstrations of alarm and distress, flying about the
intruder and fearlessly apin-oaching hira to within a few feet. In Mas.sachu-
setts they rarely, if ever, have more than one brood in a season. The young
are able to take care of themselves early in July. At that time the song of
the male ceases, or is abbreviated to a single v:hit, and parents and young
form a family group and together hunt in the more secluded thickets, the
edges of wooils, and other retired places, for their food. Early in September
they take their dei)arture.
The Yellow-Throat is distributed, in suitable localities, over a large area,
and wherever found is apparently e([ually common. Dr. Gerhardt found it
quite abundant in Northern Cleorgia. Wilson and Audubon thought it more
common in the ^liddle States than farther north, but I have found it quite as
numerous about Halifax and Eastport as 1 have at Washington. Dr. Cooper
300 NORTH AMERICAN KIRD8.
speaks of it as " very conimon " in Washiiijfton Territory, tliough not so
almiulant as MctJillivmy's Warbler. The same writer also states it to be a
"very common bird" in California. Tiieir earliest arrival at San Dieyo was
on the 17th of Ain-il, about tlie time they reach I'ennsylvauin, Tiiey ai)]jear
in New England early in May.
Tlieir nest is almost invariably upon the ground, usually in a thick bed
of fallen leaves, a clump of grass or weeds, at the roots of low bushes or
briers, or undei' the shelter of a brush-pile. Occasionally it has been found
among high weeds, built in a matted cluster of branches, four or live I'eet
from the ground. Sometimes it is sunk in a depression in tlie ground, and
often its top is covered by loose overlying leaves. I have never found this
top interwoven with or forming any part of the nest itself.
The nest is usually both large and deep for the size of the bird, its loose
peri])hery of leaves and dry sedges adding to its size, and it often has a depth
of from five to six inches from its rim to its base. The cavity is usually
three inches deep and two and a quarter wide. CJenerally these nests are
constructed on a base of dry leaves. An external framework, rudely put to-
gether, of dry grasses, sedge leaves, strips of dry bark, twigs, and decaying
vegetables, co\ers an inner nest, or lining, of finer materials, and more care-
fully woven. At the rim of the nest these materials sometimes project like
a rude palisade or hedge. Usually the lining is of line grasses, without hair
or feathers of any kind.
In some nests the outer portion and base are composed almost entirely of
fine dry strips of the inner bark of the wild grape.
The eggs vary from four to six in number, and also differ greatly in
their size, so much so that the question has arisen if there are not two species,
closely resembling, but differing chiefly in their size. Of this, however, there
is no evidence other than in tlie.se marked variations in the eggs.
In the Great Basin, Mr. IJidgway found this bird abundant in all the
bushy localities in the vicinity of water, but it was cnntined to the lower
]wrtions, never being seen high up on the mountains, uor even in the lower
portions of the mountain canons.
Their eggs exhilut a variation in length of from .55 to .72 of an inch, and
in breadth Irom .48 to .58 of an inch ; the smallest being from Georgia, and
the largest from Kansas. They are of a beautiful clear crystalline-white
ground, and are dotted, blotched, and marbled around the larger end with
purple, reddish-brown, and dark umber.
SYLVICOI.ID.E — THE WARIiLEKS. gQl
Geothlypis Philadelphia, Haiud.
MOUBNINa WAHBLEB.
Si/loia iMluUel/ihia, Wii.s. Am. (tin. II, hSlo, 101, pi. xiv; Ari). ; Nrrr. rriclin.i pliih-
iMiihid, .lAiii). ~ li'KiMiAiiDr, Vidriisk. iMcddt-l. lor IS.'ia, iukI Iliis, mn, (i ((iirn-
liiiitl). aailJili/iiis /i/ii/ii. llAiKi), lliid.s N. Aim. 18ri8, 243, pi. l.'c.\i.\, li^. 3; Ufv. -I'M.
— ScLATKli, Catal. 1801, -Zl (Orizalia). — La\vi'>,n<i:, Ann. N. Y. I,yc. ISOl, ;i-J2
(I'liniima). — .Sa.miti-,i..s, 207. - Dui:s.si:ii, llil.s, l>sti.-,; trii.
FiKurra : WiLs. Am. Oiii. II, pi. .\iv. — Ai,i). liiids Am. II, pi. ci.
Sp. Ciiau. Wings hut iitllf Iom-it than the tail, iviiching hut litllo h.'yond its ha.sc.
Adult mule. Iffacl and ncrk all round, with throat and Ibrqiart <if brca.st, ash-irray. pak-r
honeath. Thu toathcMs of llu; I'hin, throat, and Coro hroii.Kt in reality hlack, hut with nar-
row nshy nnirf;in8 nioru or less concealinfr tlio hlai'k, cxc-pl on the hiva.st. Lores and rcfrion
roinid Ihc eye dusky, without any trace of a pale ring. Upper part.s and sides of the
hndy clear olive-green ; the under parts bright yellow. Tail-feathers uuilbrm olive; lir.st
primary, with the outer half of the outer web, nearly wliite. Fcmnh- with the gray of the
crown glossed with olive ; tlu; chin and throat jialer centrally, and tinged with fulvous; a
dull whitish ring rounil the eye. Length, o.no; wing, 2.4'/; tail, 2:S>. Y„iiii,/ not seen.
ILui. Eastern I'roviuce of United States to IJriti.sh America; Urreeiilaiid ; Southeastern
Mexico, I'ainimivH. K., and Colombia. Not rcjcorded from West Indies or (iuatemala.
Costa Rica (Lawu.).
Specimens vary in the amount of black on ilie jugulum, and tiie purity
of the ii,sh of the throat. The specie.s is often confounded witli Oporornis
(ujUis, to which the resemhlance is (piite close. They may, li(j\ve\'er, be dis-
tiiij,niishe(l by tlie much longer tind more pointed wings, iiiul more even tail,
shorter legs, etc., of (((jilis. The wliite ring round the eye in the female
philiiddphia increases the ditKculty of separation.
The adult male in autumn is sctircely dill'erent h\m\ the spring bird, tliere
being merely a iaiut olive-tinge to the asii on top of tlie head, and the black
jugular patch more restricted, being more concealed by tlie ashy b(jrd(.'rs to
the featliers ; the yellow beneath somewhat deeper.
Haiwts. The Mourning Warbler was first di.'iicovered and described by
Wilson, who captured it in the early part of June, on tiie borders of a marsh,
witliin a few miles of I'hiladelpliia. This was tlje only specimen lie ever
met with. He found it Hitting from one low bu,sh to anotlier in search of
insects. It had a sprigiitly and pleasant warbling song, tiie novelty of wliicli
first attracted his attention. For a long while Wilson's single bini reniiiined
unitxue, and from its excessive rarity Bonaparte conjectured that it might
be an accidental variety of the Yellow-Throat. At ])resent, though still
of unfretpient occurrence, it is by wo meiins a doubtful, though generally
a comparatively rare species. Audubon mentions having received several
specimens of this Warbler, procured in the neigliborhood of Philadelphia,
New York, and A'^ermont, all of which were obtained in the sjiring or sum-
mer months. He met witli a single specimen in Louisiana, and thinks its
habits closely resemble those of the Maryland Yellow-Throat.
302 NOUTII AMKUK'AN lURUS.
Nuttall met with what hu pivsunu's to have Ixsoii oiiu of thrae l)ii'(la in tin;
ISotaiiical CiariU'U at t 'aiiiliritl^fu. It hatl all the juauuL'rs of the Velluw-Throat,
was husy in the search ol' inserts in the low hushes, and, at intervals, wariiled
out some very jtleasant notes, which partly resemliled the lively chant of the
Trlilms, and in some dej,'ree the sony of the Summer Velhiw-lJird.
I'rofessor lieinliardt states that two individuals of this species have heen
taken in (ireenlaiul, — one in Fiskenicsset, in 1840, and the other at Julian-
hiuil), in IHoii.
Mr. Turni)ull "{ives it ns still <iuitc rare in Kastern rennsylvania, arriviiifj
there in the middle of ^lay on its way I'arther north. Mr. Liwrence includes
it in his list of the hirds of New Vork. Mr. Dres.ser olitained five speci-
mens early in May, in Southern Texas.
It has been met with as far to the north as Greenland hy lieinliardt, and
in Selkirk Settlement hy Donald tiunn. It has been i)rocured in Kastern
Mexico, in I'anama, in ("arli.sle, I'enn., Southern Illinois, ^lissouri, Nova
Scotia, and various other places. It has been known to breed in Waterville,
Me., and is not uncommon in Northwestern and Northern New Vork. A
sin',de specimen of this bird was obtained at Ocaua, in Colombia, South
America, by Mr. C. AV. Wyatt.
Late in May, 1838, I have a note of havinj,' met with this species in Mount
Auburn. The bird was fearless and unsuspecting, busily engaged, among
some h)w shrubbery, in search of in.sects. It suffered our near i)resence, was
often within a few feet, and was so readily distinguishable that my compan-
ion, with no acciiuiintance with birds, at once recognized it from Audubon's
plates. Its habits were the exact counteri)art of those of the Yellow-Throat.
We did not notice its song.
Mr. Maynard states that, May 21, 1800, !Mr. William Ihewster shot a male
of this species in Cambridge, on the top of a tall tree. Another si»ecimen
was taken at Franconia Mountains, New Hamjishire, August 3,1807. It was
in company with four fully Hedged young, which it was feeding. The young
Mere shy, and could not be procured. The old bird was catching Hies, alter
the manner of Flycatchers. Mr. ^laynard has met this species but once in
Massachusetts, and then in JNIay, among low bushes and in a swampy place.
He has since found it rather common at Lake Umbagog, Maine, in June, where
it breeds, lie states that it frequents the bushes ahuig fences, stone walls, and
the edges of woods. The male often perches and sings in the early morning
on the top rail of a fence, or the dcivd branch of a tree. Its song he speaks
of as loud and clear, somewhat resembling that of the Seinrus iioveboracaisis.
Mr. Paine considers this AVarbler to be very rare in Vermont. He once
observed a pair, with their young, at Randolph. The male was singing a
quite! pleasing, though somewhat monotonous song.
Mr. George Welch met with these birds in the Adirondack region. New
York, in June, 1870. They .seemed rather abundant, and were evidently
breeding there. He olitained a single specimen.
SYI.VICOLID.K — THE WAHUMiRS. 303
Mr. John I5uiToii,y;li.s, of Wiishiiijrtiui, was so fortiinato as to olitaiii llio
nest and oui;s of tliis Warhlcr Udur lliu lii-ad-watcrs of tho Dclawavo IJivor,
in ]{oxl)iiry, Dolawari! ('(tiinty, N. V. "The nost," he \vnt(;.s luc, " was
in tiie (!(lHr(. of an old l)ai'k-i)eelinL(, in a hemlock wood, and was placed in
some ferns ahont om; foot from the jfround. The nest was iiuite massive, its
outer portions heing eomposed of small dry stalks and leaves. The cavity
was very deep, and was lined with tine black roots. I have freciuently
observed this Warbler in that .section. About the head of the Neversink
and Ksopus, in the northwest part of I'lster (,'ounty, New York, they are the
prevailing Warbler, and tlieir song may be heard all day long. Their song
suggests tiiat of the Kentucky (Jround Warbler, but is not so loud an»l fine."
iMr. lUirroughs states elsewhere that " tiie eggs, three in number, were of
light llesh-color, uniforndy sj)eckled with tine brown speck.s. The cavity of
the nest was so deep that the back of the sitting bird sank below the edge."
Their eggs are of an oblong-oval shape, ])ointed at one end. They measure
.75 l)y .5.') of an inch. Their ground-color is a pinkish-white, and they are
marked with dots and blotehes, of varying size, of dark i)urplish-browii.
Geothlypis macgillivrayi, r.Ainn.
HACGILLIVRATS 6K0UND WABBLER.
Sijlvia mncriillirmyi, Ari). Oni. Mioj,'. V, ]83it, 7.'), iil. cci'xci.x. Trichns macr/. .Am.
(}c(ilh!i/j>i.s iiiiifff. UAiiiD, liirds N. Am. 18.58, 244, pi. l.\xi.\, tig. 4 ; Ucv. 2-J7. — .Sci.atkii,
Cntal. 18fi], 27 (.Iiilapa and (!uat.). — In. l\ 'L. S. 1859, 3(i3, 373 (Xalapa, Oaxaca). —
C.ui. .lour. 1801, 84 (Costa liira). — Cooi-kk & Sucki.kv, P. II. R. Rcj). XII, 11, 18r)!>,
177. - t'()Ol>i:i!, Oiii. Cal. I, 187(1, !)(!. Sjilcicohi maqi. Max. Cab. Jour. VI, 185s!
118. Siiilvia Mmiivi, ToWN.s. .1. A. N. Si!. 1839. Tric/uts lolmieci, Nirrr. Afaii. I.
Trichds vnjr/a (Licht.), I5p. t'onsp. ISr.O, 310 ; Jide Cab. .lour. ISCl, 84 (Mexic^o).
Sp. Char. AihiH muh. Heail ami nock all round, throat .and forepart of tlio breast,
dark ash-eolor; a narrow frontlet, loral region, and »[>iiw round the eye (scareely eompleto
bohuid), blaek. Tiie eyelids above and below the eye (not in .1 eontinnous ring) white.
Tlie leather.-* of the chin, throat, and fore breast really black, with ashy-gray tips more or
les,s concealing the black. Rest of upper p.arts dark olive-green (sides under the wings
paler); of lower, bright yellow. Feiiinle with the throat paler and without any blaek.
Length of male, 5 inches; wing, 2.4;'); tail, 2.45. Young not !>L'm.
Had. Western and Middle Provinces of United States, to northern boundary ; j.-ast to
Fort Laramie; south to Costa Rica.
The white eyelids of this species distinguish its males from those of (,'.
Ithiktdelphia, in which there is a black jugular i)atch not seen in the present
species. The females can only be known l)y the slenderer bill and more
rounded wing, the first quill being intermediate between the fifth and sixth,
instead of being considerably hniger than the fifth.
The autinnnal adult male is as described al)ove, except that there is a faint
tinge of green on the crown, and the ashy borders to feathers of throat and
304 NOUTll AMi;Ul(,'AN BIHDS.
juj,'uluiu liroadw, ('niiccaliiii,' iiinrc tlic IdiicI;. Tlic (ulult rciiiiilc in aiitninii
is (Min.sicloiiilily uioii' dully jdIoiciI than in sjirinj,'.
JIaiuts. This conipunitivt'ly n(!\v Waihlor was first in(it with l»y Town-
send, and dt'Si lilted by Audnlton in thi'. last voluniu of his ()rnith(il()j,'icnl
ISioi^raiihy. ll nas since ln-cn tonnd to have a wide ianj;ii liirimj^diont the
western portion of North America, I'rom ('a)ic St. Lucas to llrilish Amer-
ica, and from the I'lains to the Pacific It lias also lieeii ohtained at Choa-
])iin in the .State of Orizalia, ^fexico, liy Mr. Jloucard, and in (iuatemahi liy
Mr. Salvin, who states that throuj^hout the district lietween tlie vcdeanoes of
Agua and Fuej,'o this was a common .sjiecies, I'reijnentinjf the ouiskirts of tlu^
forests and the edj;es of tlu; clearin<,'.s. It lireeds in aliundance in I'tali,
Mf)ntana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington Territory, and prolialily also in North-
ern ( 'alifornia.
Townsend first met with it on the banks of the Columbia, lie states that
it was mostly solitary and extremely wary, keejiing chiefiy in tlie most im-
penotraWe thickets, and gliding through them in a cautious an'' suspicious
manner. Sometimes it might be .seen, at midday, ])erched ujton a dead twig,
over its favorite places ol' concealment, ai siu'h times warbling a very sjtrightly
and jtleasant little song, raising its head until its bill is nearly vertical.
Mr. Nuttall informed ]\Ir. Audubon that this AVarbler is one of the most
common summer residents of the woods and plains of the Columbia, where
it ai)pears early in May, and remains until the approach of winter. It
keeps near the ground, and gleans its subsistence among the low liushes. It
is shy, and when surpris(^d or closely watcluHl it immet'. tely skulks oil', often
uttering a loud clirl: Its notes, he stat(!S, resemble tliose of the SiiiiruK
avrnnipilhia. On the 12th of June a nest Mas lirought to Mr. Xuttall, con-
taining two young birds quite iledged, in the jilumage of the mother. The
nest was chiefly made of stri])s oi' the inner bark of tlie Thnjn ovriilcnUilis,
lined with .slender wiry stalks. It was built near the ground in the dc^ad,
moss-covered limbs of a fallen oak, and was partly hidden by long tufts of
vmien. It was less artificial than the Yellow-Throat's nest, but was of the
same general appearance. On his restoring the nest to its place, the parents
immediately approached to feed their charge.
Dr. Suckley found this Warbler very abundant between the Cascade Moun-
tains and the Pacific coast. Like all (Iround Warblers it was entirely insec-
tivoHJUS, all the stomachs examined containing coleo]itera and other insects.
He did not find them shy, but as they freiiuented thick brush they were very
difficult to procure.
Dr, Coo])er found this species very common about Puget Sound, fre»pient-
ing the underbrush in dry woods, occasionally singing a song from a low tree,
similar to that of the Yellow-Throat. He found its nest built in a bush, a
foot from the ground. It was of straw, loosely made, and without any soft
lining. Dr. Cooper i'ound this species as far east as Fort Laramie, in Wyo-
ming. They reach the Columbia liiver by the od of May.
SYLVICOLID.K — THE WARllLERS'. 305
TIio saino writer noticed llie lirsl (if tills siiocit'.s iit Fort Afojuvi', A^tril L'4,
IIu re},'iinle(l tlicir liiiKils us viuyiii^' in sonio respects IVoni tlioso ot'tlio Triihns,
as tliey prel'or dry loeulities, uiul hunt for insects not only in low bushes l.ut
also in trees, like the Dimlivinr. Dr. Coojier twice descrilies their e;^';^s as
white, which is inaccurate. Ho thinks that some of them winter in the
warmer portions of California. He rej,'ards them as shy, if watched, seekin;.,'
the densest thicket.s, but brou;j;ht out again by their curiosity if a jiensoii
waits for tiiem, and the birds will apimjach within a few i'eel, keei)ing up a
scohling chir[).
The nests of this species ol)tained by Dr. Kennerly from Puget Sound
were all built on the ground, and were constructed almost e.\(dusivi'ly of
beautifully delicate inos.ses, jieculiar to that country. They are shallow ne.st.s,
with a diameter of four and a height of two inches, the cavity occupying a
hirgo proportion of the nest. Its walls and base are of uniform thickness,
averaging about one inch. The nests are lined with finer mosses and a few
slender stems and fibres.
Air. Uidgway found tliese Warl)lers breeding in great nunibers, Juno 23,
ISC!), at Parley's Park, Utah, among the Wahsatch Mountains. One of
these nests (S. I., ir),2.'i8) was in a bunch of weeils, among the underlirush
of a willow -thicket ahing a canon stream. It was situated about eight inches
from the ground, is cu])like in shape, two inches in height, three in diameter,
and somewhat lo(jsely constructed of slender strips of bark, decayed stalks ol'
plants, dry grasses, intermi.xed with a few fine roots, and lined with finer
materials of the same. The cavity is one and a half inches in depth, and two
in diameter at the rim.
The eggs, four in number, are .7') of an inch in length and .50 in
breadth. Their ground-color is a pinkish-white, marbleil and spotted with
purple, lilac, reddish-brown, and dark brown, a])i)roaching black. The blotches
of the last color vary much in size, in one instance having a length of .21
of an inch, and having the appearance of hieroglyphics. When these spots
are large, they are very sparse.
"This species," Mr. lUdgway writes, "inhabits exclusively the brush-
wood along the streams of the mountain canons and ravines. Among
the weetls in such localities numerous nests were found. In no case were
they on the ground, though they were always near it ; being fi.xed between
upright stalks of herbs, occasionally, jterhaps, in a brier, fnjm about one to
two feet above the gi-ound. The note of the parent l)ird, when a nest was
disturbed, was a strong chij), much like that of the Ci/anoxpiza iimn'na or 0.
ci/anca." He also states that it was abundant in the East Humboldt Aloun-
tains in August and in September, and also throughout the summer. A
pair of fully fledged young was caught on the 21st of July
306
XORTir AMERICAN "niRDS.
Subfamily ICTERIAN^.
Sect.on ICTERIE/E.
In this section there are two Aniericiiu oeiiera ; one found in the United
States, the otlier not. Tlie diagnoses are as I'olknvs :
Sizo large (about 8 inclK's). Lower jaw not deeper than u|)pei- anterior to nostrils.
^ Tail moderate. Partly yellow l)eneatli, olive-green above .... Jcferia
Size smaller (about G inelie.^;. Lower jaw tleeper than upper. Tail almost fan-
shaped. Partly red beneath, plumbeous-blue above .... GruimteUus}
Genus ICTBRIA, Vieill.
Ictcrm, ViElLLoT, Ois. Am. Sept. I, lso7, iii and 85.
Turdus vireiis, Linn.)
(Type, Miisciciipa viridis. t!M.
Gkn. Ciiak. Bill broad at base, but contracting rapidly and becoming attenuated when
I- --_ viewed from iibove ; high at the base
(higher than broad opposite the nostrils) ;
the eulmen and coninii.ssure much curved
from ba.se; the gony.s stra'ght. TT])per jaw
deeper than the loi'cr: bill without notch
or rictal l)ristle.<. Nostrils circular, edged
above with membrane, the feathers clo-so
to their borders. Wings shorter than tail.
con.«iderably rounded ; (irst quill rather
shorter than the si.xth. Tail moderately
graduated ; the feathers rounded, but nar-
row. .Middle toe without claw about
two thirds the length of tarsus, which has
Icteria virens.
the scutellaB fused externally in part into one plate.
The precise .systematic position of the genus Ictcria'is a matter of mucli
contrariety of opinion among ornitliologists ; Imt we have little iiositation in
including it among tlie Si/hia,lida: It litis been most freciuently assigned
to the Virconida; hut differs essentially in the deeply cleft inner toe (not
half united as in Virco), the partially booted tarsi, the lengthened middle
toe, the slightly curved claws, the entire iibsence of notch or hook in the bill,
and the short, rounded wing with oidy nine primaries. The wing of Vlrco,
when much rounded, has ten primaries, — nine only being met with when
the wing is very long and pointed.
Of this genus only one species is known Hhough two races are recog-
nized by naturalists, differing in the length ( tin; tail.
» OrannMlm, DlTnirs. Baird, R(!v. Am. Uii<l.s, hSiiS, 2;i(). (Type, O. tnnistm, DuBUS.)
SYLVrCOLID/l'] — TTII<; WARIU.EIIS.
307
I. virens. Above olivc-j;i-('(>ii ; lienoiitU fi:iuiil)()p;('-y('llow tor tlio antpi-ioi- half,
ami wliilo lor the pcistorioi-. A white sliipe over the eye.
Length ol' tail, ;!.30 inches. Huh. Eastern United States to the I'lains; in
winter throni,'h Kiislern Mexico to (inateniala .... var. r ire its.
Length of tail, o.TO inclu's. Huh. Western United States Irom the Plains to
the Pacilic ; W'estern Mexico in winter var. lo ii i/i cu iid a .
Icteria virens, Baiku.
TELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
Tin-dm virnm, I.inn. Syst. Nat. l(»tli cil. 17r.>s, 171, no. 10 (liascd on (EmintlM nmcricfiiin,
pir/dir lutrn, Yellow-breasted Chat, Ca iKsiiv, I'arol. 1, tab. SO), hkria vimix, It.vmn,
Hev. Am. H. 18tU, 228. Mumaiim viriilix, fi.Mui.is, Syst. Nut. I, 1788, i)3(i. Ii-ln-iu
viiklis, Hon.; Ai'I). Orn. Bioj,'. H, pi. cxxxvii. — IUiiu>, Hirds N. Am. LS.'kS, 248.
Icteria diimecnhi, ViKll.L. Pipru iinlijijiillii, W'li.s. ! lelcria vclasqiiexi, IJoN. 1'. Z. S.
1837, 117 (Mexico). —Sci,ArKR& S.u.v. Ibis, I, 18.'.i>, 12 ((iuatemak).
Localities ([uott'd : <-Wrt A'/iv/, ('auan. Orizahu {wintft), ti^vM. YuaiUii), Lawk.
Sr. CiiAH. Third and I'onrth ipiills longest ; second and fifth little shorter ; first nearly equal
to the sixth. Tail graduated. lT]iper ])arts" uniform olive-greon ; under parts, including
the inside of wing, gainlioge-ycllow as far as nearly half-way from the point of the bill to
the tip of the tail; rest ol under i)arls white, tingcil with brown on the sides; the outer
side of the tibiie phnnbeons; a slight tinge of orange across the breast. Forehead and
sides of the head ash, the lores and region below the eye blackish. A white stripe from
the nostrils over the eye and involving the upper eyelid ; a patch on the lower lid, and a
short stripe from the side of the lower mandible, and running to a point opposite the hinder
border of the eye, white. \\\\[ black; feet brown. Female like the male, but smaller;
the markings indistinct; the lower mandible not pure black. Length. 7.40; wing, 3.25;
tail, .'i.aO. Xest in thickets, near the ground. Eggs white, spotted with rcddi.sh.
ILvii. Eastern United States, west to Arkansas; rare north of Pennsylvania; south to
Eastern Mexico and (Juatcmala. Not noticed in West Indies.
Both sexes in winter appiirently have the
base of lower mandible light-colored, tlie
olive more brown, the sido.s and crissiim
witli a strong ocln-aceoiis tinoe. It is this
plumage that has l)een recognized as I. vc-
Insqufzi.
H.VHlTS. The Yellow-breasted Chat is
Ibnnd tliroughout the Eastern United States,
from '.ssaclnisetts to Florida, and as i'ar to
the WLst as Kort liiley and Kastern Kansas.
Mr. Say nuit with it among the Itocky ^^olUl-
tains its far north as the sources of tlie Arkan-
sas. It is not very rare in Massiicliusetts, but
a few breed in that State as i'ar north as Lyiui. It has been found in Mexico
and (iuatemala, but not, so far as I am aware, in the West Indies.
Probably no one of (»ur birds has more distinctly marked or greater pecu-
Irtfria virrns
308 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
liiirities of voice, inaniiors, and liahits than this very singular bird. It is
somewhat tern'striai in its life, ti'U(|iienting tangled liiiekets of vines, In-iers,
and brambles, and keeping itself very carefully concealed. It i.s noisy and
vociferous, constantly changing its position and moving from place to place.
It is not abundant north of I'enn.sylvania, where it arrives early in May
and leaves the last of August. The males are said always to arrive three or
four days before their mates.
Tliis s]tecies is described by Wilson as very much attached to certain
localities wliere they have once taken up their residence, a])])earing very
jealous, and offended at the least intrusion They scold vehemently at
every t)ne who a])i)roaches or even passes by their ])laces of I'etreat, giving
utterance to a great variety of odd and uncouth soiuids. AVilson states that
these sounds may be easily imitated, so as to deceive the bird itself, and to
draw it alter one ; the bird following repeating its cries, but never permit-
ting itself to be seen. Such responses he describes as con.stant and nijiid,
and strongly expressive both of anger and anxiety, tlnnr voice, as it shifts,
unseen, from place to place, seeming to be mcn-e like that of a s]»irit than a
bird. These sounds Wilson compares to the whistling of the wings of a
duck, being re])etitions of short notes, beginning louil and rapid, and fall-
ing lower and lower. Again a succession of other notes, said to closely
resendjle the barking of young pupjiies, is follovjd by a variety of hollow,
guttural sounds, each eight or ten times repeated, at times resembling the
mewing of a cat, only hoarser, — all of these, as he states, uttered with
great vehemence, in dill'erent keys and with jieculiar modulations, now as if
at a considerable distance, and the next moment as if close by your side ;
so that, l)y these tricks of ventrihxjuism, one is utterly at a loss to ascertain
from what particular ([uarter they ])roceed. In mild weatlier this strange
melody of sounds is kejjt up throughout the night during the first of the
pairing-season, but ceases as soon as incubation commences.
They con.struct their nest about the middle of May. These are placed
within a few feet of the ground, in the midst of low brambles, vines, and
bu.shes, generally in a tangled tliicket. They build a rude but strongly woven
nest, the outer portions more loo.sely made of dry leaves ; within these are
interwoven thin strips of the bark of the wild grape, fibrous roots, and fine
dry grasses.
Tiie eggs, four or five in number, are usually hatched out within twelve
day.s, and in alxtut as many more the young are ready to leave their nest.
While the female is sitting, and still more after the young are hatched, the
cries of the male are loud and incessant whim his nest is a])proached. He
no longer seeks to conceal hini.self, lait ri.ses in the air, his legs dangling in a
peculiar manner, ascending and descending in sudden jerks that betray his
great irritation.
Tlie food of this bird consists chiefly of beetles and other in.sects, and
of different kinds of berries and small fruit, and it said to be especially fond
of wild strawberries.
SYLVTCOLl D.K — THE WAHHLERS.
309
Audubon states tliat in their migrations tliey niovt; from bu.sli to bu.sli l)y
day, and frequently continue their march by niglit. Their flight at all times
is short and irregular. He also states that when on the ground they stjuat
jerk their tails, sja-ing on their legs, and are ever in a state of great activ-
ity. Although the existence of tiiis bird north of I'enn.sylvania is generally
disputed, I have no doubt that it has always been, and .still i.s, a constant
visitor of Massachusetts, and has been found to within a score of miles of
the New Hampshire line. Among my notes 1 find tiiat a nest was found
in Brook-line, in 1852, by Mr. Theodore hyman ;. in Dauvers, by Mr. J'.yron
Goodale ; in Lynn, by Messrs. Vickary and Welch ; and in many other parts
of the State. It certainly breeds as far south as < Jeorgia on the coast, and
ni Louisiana and Texas in the southwest. On the I'acilic coast it is replaced
by the long-tailed variety, lowjimuda.
A nest of this species from Concord, Mass., oljlained by Mr. P.. V. Maun
and now in the collection of the Boston Xatuial History Scjciety, has a
diameter of four inches and a height of three and a half The cavity has a
depth of two and a quarter inches, and is two and a half wide. This is built
upon a base of coarse skeleton leaves,-and is made of coarse sedges, dried
grasses, and stems of ])lants, and lined with long, dry, aud wiry stems of
plants, resembling pine-needles. Another from I'omiret, ("onn., obtained by
Mr. Sessions, is a much larger nest, measuring live inches in diameter and
three and three quarters in height. The cup is two and a half inches deep
by three in width. It is nuide of an interweaving of leaves," l)ark of the
grapevine, aud stems of plants, anil is lined with fine, long wiry stems and
pine-needles.
Their eggs are of a slightly rouiuled oval shape, vary in length from .8.5
to .95 of an inch, and in breadth irom .05 to .70. Thev have a white ground
with a very slight tinge of yellow, aud are marked with reddish-brown and
a few fainter purplish and lilac spots.
Icteria virens, var. longicauda, Lawk
LONG-TAILED CHAT.
Mcria hngkamla, Lawrmn,-,.;, Ann. N. V. Iav. VI, .April, is.l.'t, 4. - Baiup ninls N
An>. 1858, 24!), pi. .v.x.viv, lis. •-' ; Uov. 2;iO. - .Srr.ATi-.ii, Catal. 42, no 2.-;:! ^FiN.ri,'
Abh. Nat. Hirm. 1870, xn (.Mnzatlan). ^Cnon,,,, (),„. Cal. I, l,s7(., !.,s > Mn-ia
a\irkollis{lAv\vv. Mus. liciH, Mun. Consp. ]sr,(i, ;t:n.
Sp. Char. Similar to vur. vim,.^. F„M.th .piill 1,„ ,.vst ; thjnl an<l lilth short,-; Irst
-shorter than tho ..ovonth. .Vhovc asli-color, liiij;...! with oliv oi, tiio hack ami neck • tiio
outer .surface of th<. wiu-s ami tail olive. Th.. un.lcr |.,nts a.s far as the M.i,|,il.- .if the hellv
l.nght fra.nhofro-yellow, witli .•, tin-e oCoran^v ; Ihe rcnaliiiiin- portions white The ^nu^l
ciliary ami maxillary white ..tripes exteml some .listamv hcliiml tin- eye. Outer e<lf,'o of
the fust primary white. Leiifrtli. 7 inches: wim.s ;!.'_>0 ; tail. :!.70.
Youug (8,841, boup Fork of I'latle, August :> ; F. V. IIay,l,'.n).' Ahove liglit grayish-
310 NORTH AMERICAN "BIRDS.
brown ; hencath yollow on antoiior half as in adult, l)tit yellow loss pure; rest of under
parts (exeept abdomen) oelirareous ; markings on head obsolete, llio eyelids oidy being
distinctly white.
IIao. Western and Middle Provinces of I'nited States, east to Missouri River and
Texas; Cape St. Lucas and Western Mexico.
The iiio.st tangible diilerenco between tliis bird and typical vircns con-
sists in the longer tail. In addition, the njiper ]>luniage is grayish, with
h"" Uy any olive tinge, and the white maxillary stripe extends I'artlier back ;
tlie bill is not so deep as that of the Eastern bird. All these difl'erences,
however, are in strict accordance witli various laws ; the more grayisli cast
of plnmage is Mhat we should expect in birds from the ^liddle Province,
while the restriction of the yellow from the maxilhr we see also in Western
specimens of Heiminthophaua rttJicdpiIJa ; the longer tail, also, is a well-
known characteristic of Western birds, as distinguished from Eastern of the
same species.
Upon the whole, therefore, taking into consideration the absolute iden-
tity of their habits and notes, we can only consider the /. lon(jirai(da and
/. viriiis as restricted, as being merely geographical races of one species.
This variety, as well as the Eastern, has in autumn and winter a slightly
different plumage. A pair (53,048 $ , and '>'.'t,''A7 9 , West Huml)oldt Moun-
tains, Nevada) obtained .Septeml)er 4 differ in the following respects from
spring adults : the ujjper plumage is decidedly In'own, with even a russet
tinge, — not gray, witli a greenish wash ; the lores are less ]>iu-ely black, and
the sides and crissuni are deep cream-color, instead of pure white ; the I'emale
has a shade of olive across the jugulum ; both male and female have the
lower mandible almost wholly white, and the commissure broadly edged with
the same.
Xo. .■W,402 (J, 'aramie Peak, June, Juis the throat and jugulum strongly
stained with deep cadmium-orange.
Habits. The AVestern or Long-tailed Chat lias an exclusively Western dis-
tribution, and has been found from Mexico and Cape St. Lucas to Oregon, on
the Pacific ■ oast, and as tar to the east as tlie Ui)])er Missouri.
According j) Dr. Cooper, tliese birds a]»pear in San Diego and at Fort
Mojave in the latter jiart of A])ri]. They are said to inhabit chiefly tiie
warmer valleys near streams and marshes, rarely on the coast. At Fort Mo-
jaAe, Dr. Cooper fouiul a nest of this bird May 1!>, btiilt in a dense thicket of
.ilgarobia. It contaiiuul three eggs, and one of the Miiiotliru^. The nest was
built of slender green twigs and leaves, liiied witii grass and hair. The eggs
were white, sjn-inkled with ciniiiimon, somewhat in the form of a ring near
the larger end, and measured .T.") by .(!4 of an incli.
These nests were usually very closely concealeil, but one that he found at
Santa Cruz, near the coast, was in a very ojjen sitimtion, only two feet above
the ground. When the nest is a]iproac]ied, tiie old birds are very bold, keep-
ing u]) a constant scolding, and almost flying in the lace of an intruder. At
SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. ^n
other times they are very sliy. Tlie notes ami sounds uttered by the West-
ern bird J)r Cooper states to be the same as those of the Eastern species,
anil witii the same grotesqueness. They leave the State of California on or
bei'ore the first of September.
Dr. Gambel states that tiie Chat appears in California about the middle of
April, resorting to the hedges, vineyards, and bushy portions of gardens to
breed.
Mr. Xantus found a nest of this bird (S. I., 89(i) at Fort Tejon, California,
in May. It is a very symmetrical and exactly circular nest, six inches wide
and three in height. Tlie cavity has a diameter of three inches at the brim,
and a depth of two. It is built of soft strips of bark, large stems, and
brandies of dry plants, leaves, twigs, and other vegetable substances. Tiiese
are very neatly and compactly iuterwo\en. The nest is elaborately lined with
finer stems and flexible grasses. Another nest (S. I., 181G), obtained at Xeo-
sho Falls, Kansas, by Mr. B. F. Goss, is of irregular shape. Its height is four
inches, and its diameter varies from tliree and three quarters to five inches.
It was built in a depression in tlie grouml, and its shape adapted to its loca-
tion. The base is conipo.sed entirely of leaves, impacted when in a moist and
decaying condition. Witliin these is interwoven a strong basket-like struc-
ture, made of long and slender stems, strips of bark, and fine rootlets, lined
witli finer grasses and stems of plants.
A nest of this species from Sacramento is composed, externally, of fine
strips of inner bark of tlie grape and of deciduous trees, coarse straws, stems
of plants, twigs, and dried remains of weed.s, etc. It is lined with finer
stems and long wiry roots, resembling hair. Tliis nest has a diameter of four
inches and a height of three. The cavity has a diameter of three inches at
tiie rim, and a depth of two.
In regard to tliis variety.fllr. Ridgway writes : •'♦ In no ^respect that I could
discover does this Western bird diHer from tlie Eastern in habits, manners,
or notes. Tlie nesting-liabits arcs exactly the same."
The eggs of this species are, for the most jjart, larger tlian are those of tlie
vircns. They vary in length from .95 to l.Ol) of an inch, and have an aver-
age breadth of .70 of an inch. Their markings do not differ essentially in
shadings from those of the common species.
Subfamily SET OPH AGIN JE.
GEV.CnAR. Sylvinolino hirtlswitl. the ol.aractors ..f-Flvcatdiors; the bill notrlicrl at
tip, depres.scd and bma.l at the base, tho,,.], quite .leep ; the rielns with well-.leveloped
bristle., reaolun- beyon.l tl„. nostril.., .sometimes to the end of the bill. First quill rather
e.... than the (;,urth, or still shorter. Si.e of the species rarely exceeding six inohes.
Colors red, yellow, and olive.
The species of this section resemble the small Flycatchers of the family
312 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
TyrnnnidcB in the structure of the bill, etc., and in the habit of capturing
insects more or less on the winj,', though they are more restless in their
movements, seeking their jM-ey among ti(;es or in bushes, rapidly changing
their place, instuad of occupying a perch and returning to it after pursuing
an insect through the air. The yellow or orange crown found in many spe-
cies also can-ies out the analogy ; but the sti'ctly Oschie characters of the
tarsal scutelliu and the nine primaries will serve to distinguish them.
The Settqjhaghm have their greatest development in Middle and South
America, no less than nine genera and subgenera being on record, of which
only two extend into the United States. Of one of these, Sctojjhaf/n, we
have only a single species of the many described ; the other, Mijiodiodes,
has no members other than those found in the United States.
The following diagnosis is prepared to distinguish our genera from the
South American : —
A. "Wings pointed , the fir.st quill lonjrer than the fifth; the third as long a.s or
longer than the fourth. Tail nearly even, or slightly rounded (the difl'ercnce of the
leathers less than .20) ; the feathers broad and firm ; the outer webs of e.xterior
leathers narrow at base, but widening to nearly double the width near the end.
1. Bill from gape nearly as long as .skull, broad at base and much depressed;
rictal bristles reaching half-way from nostrils to tip. Culmen and commi.s-
sne nearly straight. Wings equal to the tail. Tarsi long; toes short; mid-
dle too without claw, about half the tarsus Setophw/a.
2. Bill from gape nearly as long as skull, broad at base, but deep and more
sylvicoline ; rictal bristles reaching but little beyond nostrils. Culmen and
conunissure straight to the tip. Wings longer than the almost even tail.
Middle toe without claw, three; fifths the tarsus .... Mijiodioclvs.
',). Bill from gape much shorter than head, wide at base, but compressed
and high ; the culmen and commissure much curved from base, scarcely
notchei; at tiii; rictaj bristles ri inching nearly Ualf-way from n(*»rils rfp tip. ♦
Wings about equal to the almost even tail. Middle toe without (.'law, about
three fifths the rather short tarsus CanlelUna.
B. Wings rounded ; the first (|uill shortci- than in the preceding section ; alwa3-s
less than the fifth. South American genera."
Se\eral species of ScfojiJuif/iiw have, on not very well established grounds,
been assigned to the southern borders of the United States. They are as
i'ellows : —
CardelUna rubra, B.uiin, Rev. Am. Birds, ISfi'). 204. (Sefophaga rxhrn, Pwainsox.)
PiiiKx kiicfifi.i, (iiRAVU, Birds Texas. Ilnb. Mexico. Rich carmine-red. Wing and
tail-feathers brown. Ear-coverts silvery white. Length, 4.70 ; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.55.
Basileuterus culicivoruB, Baihd, Rev. Am. Birds, 180.5, 24G. (Sylria culicivora,
LicuT.) J/H.sr(V((^w ft/wsiV,/, flntAtM), Texas Birds. ITah. Southern Mexico ; Guatemala
and Costa Rica. Top of head with two black stripes enclosing a median of yellow.
Back olivaceous- asli. Beneath entirely yellow. No rufous on side of head. Length,
4.00; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.25.
> Genera Jhiiohnniii, Eidlili/pis, Myiolhli/pis, Basileuterus, Idiutes, and Ergaticus. All Middle
and South Amoriea.
SYLVrCOLID^E — THE WAKBLEUS.
313
BasUeuteruB beUi, Baird, Rev. Am. Birds, 1805, 247. Afxxricpa belli, GiiiAun, Texas
Birds. IJuh. Mexico tilid Omiteinala. Top of lieml and fact" eliestnut. A yellow .super-
ciliary stripe bordered above by dusky. Back olive ; beneath yellow. LeiiKtli '> Ul •
wing, 2.28; tail, 2.oO.
(jfE.Nus M7IODIOCTES, Aud.
Myindioctcs, Arm-noN, Synopsis, 1839, 48. (Type, Mutucilla mitrata, Gm.) - I5aihi> Birds
N. Am. 1838, 291.
WiUonia, IJoxap. List. 1838 (prcoccupiiMl in botany).
Milioctonus, C'AliA.Nis, xMus. Hcin. 1850, 18. (Type, Mntncilla inilmta.)
Gen. Char. Bill broad, depressed ; the lateral outlines a little concave ; tlio bristles
reaching not quite hall-way from nostrils to tip.
Cuhiien and conunissuro nearly straight to near the
tip. Nostrils oval, with membrane above. Win"s
pointed, rather longer than tlie nearly even but
shghtly rounded tail; first quill shorter than the
fourth, much longer than the liftli ; the second and
third quills longest. Tarsi rather lengthened, the
.soutellar divisions rather indistinct; the middle toe
without claw, about three fifths the tarsus.
Mi/iotliortt's mitratits.
Tliis genus is distingui.slied from Sctojihiu/a
mainly by stouter feet and longer toes ; sliort-
er and more even tail, narrower bill, etc. The species are decidedly mns-
cicajiine in general appearance, as sho\\-n by the depressed bill witli bristly
rictus. Tlie type M. mitratus is very similar in character of bill to Dcn-
droiai caManca, but the wings are much shorter ; the tail longer and more
graduated ; the legs and hind toe longer, and the first primary siiorter than
the fourth (.15 of an inch less than the longest), not almost e(pial to tlie
longest. The* species ♦aJe plain Oiive or plumbeous above, and yellow be-
neath. Tliey may be grouped as follows : —
A. Tail with white patches on the inner feathers.
1. M. mitratus. Head and neck black. Front, cheeki?, and under parts
yellow. Back olive-green. Ilab. Eastern Province of United States, south
to Panama and West Indies.
2. M. minutus. Olive above ; yellowish beneath. Two white b.ands on
the wings, ffab. Eastern United States.
B. Tail without white patch on the outer feathers.
3. M. pusiUus. Crown black. Forehcnul, cheeks, and under parts yellow.
Back olive.
Yellow of foreh(>ad without an orange tinge ; upper parts dull olive-
green ; pileum with very dull steel-blue lustre. Ilah. Eastern Province
and Rocky Mountains of North America, south to Costa Rica. var. p ii s illn s .
Yellow of forehead with an orange ca,st ; upper i)arts bright yellowish-
green ; pilemn with a bright steel-blue lustre. Ifab. Pacilic Province
of North America, from Sitka to Costa Rica . . . var. pileolut <i
4. M. canadensis. Streaks on the crown, strijjes on sides of head and
neck, with pectoral collar of streaks, black. Rest of under parts, and line
to and around the eye, yellow. Back blui.sh. Hob. Eastern Province of
United States, south to Ecuador.
40
314
NORTH AilEHICAN UlRDS.
Myiodioctes mitratus, Aud.
HOODED WABBLEB.
MolaciUii mifrii/ii, Omkltn, S. N. I, 17H8, 'JDJi. i>!jh-io in. Laih. ; VlF.ilx. ; Ron. ; Nrrr. ;
Ari). Oni, liiof,'. II, pi. ex. Si/lficalu m. Max. Sijli-iinin m. Nitiam., Mini. I, 1840,
'M'i. tiiiojihiimi III. J\\u>. U'ihiiiiia III. Wis. ISys. — Ai.I.K.n, I'r. K.s.scx lii.st. 18(14.
MyiMlimlin III. Ari). Syii. 183!), 48. — In. ISinl.s Am. II, [il. l.\.\i. — Scm.atki!, V. Z. W.
1850, 2itl (Cordova) ; 1858, a;i8 (Iloinima.^). — Baiuii, lUnls N. Am. 18,'>8, 292 ; Ki'V.
230. — .loNKs, Nut. Hfiimula, 18;')!), 2ti (March). — S(1..\tk1! k Sai.vix, ll.is, 18j<i, 11
((iiiati'iiinhO. — Lawkknck, Ann. N. Y. Lye. Vlll, 03 (I'anama U. ]{.). — (!i'si(t,A(ii,
C'al). Jour. 18fil, 320 (Culia). — Samtki-s, 24.'i. Mijwcliniiis m. Caii. Mus. Hciii. 18.'>1.
— 111. .iDnr. OiM. HI, 185,"), 472 (Cuba). Miisciciijin lUculltiUi, Wii..so.\, III, jil. .\.\vi,
fig. 3. Musciaiiiii srlhiji, AuD. Oin. Hiog. I, jil. i.\.
pp. CiiAH. Mule. J5ill black ; ft'ct [lale yullow. Head and nock all round and forepart
of the breast black. A broad patch on tiie Iniehead e.vtcndiiii,' roniul on the entire clieeks
and ear-coverts, wit!) the under parts, brij,'l.t yellow. T'lijier parts and sides of the body
olive-frreen. Greater portion of inner web of outer three tail-feathers white.
Feniii/e similar, but without the black ; the '"dwn like the bac.'k ; the forehead yellow-
ish ; the sides of the head yellow, tinged with o.ivc on tlic lores and ear-coverts. Throat
bright yellow.
Length, o.OO ; wing, 2.7') ; tail, S-f);"). (Skin.)
Had. Eastern Province of ITiiitccl States, ratliiM" southern ; Bermuda; Cuba; Jamaica;
Eastern Mexico; iloiidiiras and Guatemala to Panama It, U. Orizaba (autmnn, Su.mi-
ciikast) ; Yucatan (Lawuk.nck).
A young male in second year (2,245, Carlisle, I'enn., May) i.s similar to
the femiile, but the hood is sharply deliued anteriorly, though only bordered
with black, the olive-green reaching forward almost to the yellow ; there are
only very slight indications of black ort the throat. Apjiarently tiie male of
tliis species does not attain the full plumage until at least the third year, as
is the case with Setophac/a rnfici/fn.
Habits. Tliis beautiful and singularly marked Warbler is a Southern spe-
cies, tlioiigh not exclusively so. It is
more abundant in Houtli Carolina than
any other State, so far as I am aware.
It is, however, found as iar to tlu; north
as Northern New .Jersey aud l*enn.syl-
vania, and Southern New York, and,
farther west, as far north as the shores
of Lake Erie. It has also been found in
Bernuidii, Cuba, Jamaica, Eastern Mexi-
co, Honduras, and tluatemala. Through-
out Central America it appears to be abundant during the winter.
Mr. Audubon also states tliat it abounds in Louisiana and along the banks
of the Mississippi and the Ohio. It occurs on the Hudson to some distance
above New York. It apjiears from the South early in jNfarch, and has young
already hatched, in Louisiana, early in May.
Mf/iodiorti s pufiillus.
SYLVKJOLID.K -THE WAUHLKIJS. 315
It is said to he one of thu liveliest of its trilie, iui(i to Ih; ulninst euiistiintly
in inotiun. It is roml of sceliuled places, and is e([iially eoiuiuon in the tliiek
canebrakcs, both of the hij^h and the low lands, and in tiie tani;led under-
growth of impenetralde swani])s. It has a peculiarly j^'racu'ful manner of
closing and opening its liroad tail, tiiat at once distinguishes it from every
other bird, as it gamliols from tree to tree, now in sight, and now hid from
the eye, but ever witiiin hearing.
Mr. Audubon adds that its call-note so closely resembles that of the
Sjtiza ririn that it re(|uire3 a pmctised ear to distinguish them. Jjut its song
is very diH'erent. This consists of three notes, and is loud, lively, and pleas-
ing. This song is said to be made of sounds resembling the syllables inrf,
nrct, nrctee. E.xtremely vocal in the early spring, it Ijccomes nearly silent
as soon as its brood is hatched. It resumes its song when its mate is again
sitting on her eggs, as they have more than one brdnd in a season.
They are described as expert flycatchers, i'uU of activity and spirit, flying
swiftly after their insect prey, and catching the greater part on the wing.
Their flight is low, gliding, and often ]ir()tracted.
]\Ir. Bachman narrates a striking instance of its courage and conjugal devo-
tion. While a pair of these Warblers wei-e constructing a nest, a Sharp-
shinned Hawk ])ounced upon and bore ofl' the female. Tlie male followed
close after the Hawk, (lying within a few inches and darting at him in all
directions, and so continued until quite out of sight.
Wilson states that it builds a very neat and compact nest, generally in the
fork of a small bush. It is formed of moss and flaxen filires of jdants, and
lined with hair or feathers. The eggs, five in number, he describes as of a
grayish-white, with red spots at the larger end. He noticed its arrival at
Savannah as early as the 2()lh of March. Mr. Audubon adds that these
nests are always placed in low situations, a few feet from the ground.
The late Dr. (Jerhardt, of Varnell's Station, Georgia, informed me, by let-
ter, that the Hooded Warbler deposits her eggs about the middle of May,
laying four. The nest is not unlike that of the Spiza ri/anai, but is larger.
It is constructed of dry leaves and coarse grass on the outside, and within
of dry pine-needles, interwoven with long yellow grasses and sometimes with
horsehair. They are built, for the most part, in the neighborhood of brooks
and creeks, in oak bushes, four or five feet from the ground. The female
sits so closely, and is so tearless, that Dr. Gerhardt states he has sometimes
nearly caught her in his hand.
In another letter Dr. Oerhardt describes a nest of this species as measur-
ing three inches in height, three in external diameter, and an inch and a
([uarter in the depth of its cavity. Externally it was built of dry leaves and
coarse grasses, lined inside with hor.sehair, fine leaves of j)ine, and dry slender
grasses. It was constructed on a small oak growing in low bottom-land, and
was three feet from tiie ground. The complement of eggs is four.
Mr. liidgway states that this s})ecies is a common summer resident in the
316 NORTH AMERICAN UlRDB.
bottoni-lamls along the Lower Wabash, in Soiitlieru Illinois, inhabiting the
caiie-brai\os anil tiie margins oC bushy swamps.
The I'ggs of this \Varl)lur are oval in H]ia])e, with one end quite pointed.
They measure .7U by .50 of an ineli. Their ground-color is a beautiful briglit
white, when the egg is fresh, strongly tinged with Hesh-color. The spots are
of a fine red, with a few markings of a subdued purple.
Msriodioctes minutus, liAma
SHAIL-HEASED FLYCATCHEB.
Mimeienpa minuta, Wilson, Am. Oni. VI, 1812, 02, pi. 1, fig. 5. — AuD. Oin. Biog. V, pi.
cci'c.xx.xiv, lig. 3. — 111, Biitls Am. I, pi. Ixvii. Si/h-ia ■miiiiiln, Hon. in/miiiu m.
Bon. List, 1S38. Afi/iotliuctcs minutus, Baiud, Hev. Am. Birds, 1864, 241. Sylvania
2)umiliii, Nuir. Miin. I, 1840, 334.
Sp. Char. Wings short, tlio second qnills lonjrcst. Tail of modorato len<Tth, even.
General color of upper parts light green ish-hrown ; wings and tail dark olivo-brown, the
outer leathers of the latter with a terminal white spot on the inner web; a narrow white
ring surrounding the eye; two bands of dull white on the wings; sides of the head and
neck greenish-yellow ; the rest of the lower parts jiale yellow, grudnally fading into white
behind. Male, ") inches long; extent, 8.25 inclies.
Had. Eastern United States.
Habits. All that is known in regard to this species we receive from
Wilson and Audubon, and there is a decided (li.screpancy in their several
statements. Wilson s:ate9 that his figure was taken from a young male
shot on the 24tb of April, but in what locality he does not mention. He
adds that he afterwards shot .several individuals in various parts of New
Jersey, particularly in swamps. He found these in June, and has no doubt
they breed there.
Auduljon claims that Wilson's drawing was a cojiy from liis own of a bird
shot by him ni Kentucky on the margin of a pond. He tin-ows a doubt as
to the correctness of W^ilson's statement that they have been found in New
Jersey, as no one else lias ever met with any there. That may be, however,
and Wilson's statement yet be correct. The same iirgument carried out would
reject the very existence of the bird itself, as no well-authenticated records
of its occurrence since then can l)e found. They are at least too doubtful
to be received as unquestionable until the genuine bird can be i)roduced. Mr.
Nuttall, it is true, states that ^Ir. Charles I'icke lag obtained a specimen of
this bird many years ago, near Salem, Mass., and that lie had himself also
seen it in the same State, at the approach of winter. In the fall of 1830,
Avhen the writer resided in IJo.xbury, a cat caught and brought into the
house ii small Flycatcher, which was supposed to l)e of this species. It was
given to INIr. Audubon, who assented to its correct identification, but after-
wards made no mention of it. The presumption, therefore, is that we may
have been mistaken.
SYLVICOLIDJ-: — THE WARBMiUa 31 it
In reganl to its luil.its, Wils..n roinvsciils it as " ronmrkably activo, nm-
niug.cliiubinjr. and darting abuiit among iho (.i.cning bnds and blossoi.is'with
extraordinary agility." Audubon states that in its habits it is closely allied
with tiie iniHilhi, and the niilmlm, being fond of low tliiek coverts in swamps
and by the margin of 1.00k He also attributes to it a song of ratiier pleas-
mg notes, enunciated at regular intervals, loud enougii to bo lieard at the dis-
tance of sixty yards. These i)eculiarities seem to separate it from the true
Flycatchers and to jJace it among the Warblers.
Myiodioctes pusillus, IJoxap.
OBEER BLACK-CAFFEO FLTCATCHEB.
misckapapnsilh, W....s.,n, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 103, pi. xxvi, tig. 4. irif,,nna jn,.. liov
hylvanm ims. Xirr. Mi/iodinvtes pus. Bon. Coiisp. 1850. 31,'i. -Sci viir 1' Z .S
1850 2!)Hror,lovn) ; 1858, 2!m (Oa.xaca Mt.s. ; Due.); 1859, 303 (Xah.m) ; 373.'- l'„'
(atal. 1801, 34, no. 203. _ IUhm., liii.ls N. An.. 1858, 293 (i,. pa.-t) ; l£ev. 240 (i„
l.art)^-Sr. A-n^i; & .Sai.vi.n, Ibi.s, 185!., 11 ((!uato,..aIa). -Sa.vi-kls, 21(i. M,,iuel.„n,,
mis. ( Ai.. M. H. l,s.-,l. 18. - In. Jou.'. 18(10, 325 (Costa Itica). Salvia wihoni, H„v •
mrrr Mu.cic.,,,„ wihnni, Auu. On.. Biog. II, ,,I. cxxiv. Sctophuya wilsoni, Ja.m.'
^rtl'odioct^s mlsoui. Auu. Birds Am. II, pi. Ixxv. Hylvia pctu,„Ues. L.cur. P.eis-
V orz, looO.
Sp. C..AH. ForolM.a.l, li.ie ovr an.l aron.,,1 tl.u oy.,-, and imder parts penorallv, l.ngl.t
yvlUnv. L,,p,.,. pa.-t oLvu-jriv..,, ; u scp.a.e pafl. on the crown lustrou.s-black. Si.kvs ol'
.oWy and ..hook,, th.god with oHvc. No whi,.. on wing., o,- tail. Fonudo .si,..ila,- the
black of the c-own roplaccl by olivo-gica.... Length, 4.75 ; wi„,^ 2.25 ; tail, 2.;J0.
1 A... Ea..k.,„ po.-t>o.,s of United Rtates, west to the Snake and Ilnn.l.oldt Rive.-.s •
no,tl. to Ala.ska, south through Ea.te.-n Mexico and Guatemala to Costa llica ; Chirioui
(OALVIN^. *
Habits. Wils<jn's llkick-Cap is found throughout the United States from
ocean to ocean, an.l as far to the north as Alaska and the Arctic shores
where, however, it is not common. Mr. Dall shot a s,.ecimen, May 30, on the
\ ukon Kiver, where it was breeding. lAfr. Tischoff' obtained others with nests
and eggs at Sitka, and afterwards found it more abundant at Kodiak On the
I acihc coast Dr. Suckley found it very abundant in the neighborhood of Fort
Stedacoom, where it fre.iuented thickets and small scrub-oak groves in its
habits resembling the Hdminthoplnuja cclaU,, Hitting about am<.ng the dense
foliage of bushes and low trees in a busy, restless manner. He describes its
cry as a short cldt-rhnt call. In (■alif<.rnia, Dr. Cooper notes their iirst arrival
etirly in May, and states that they migrate along the coast, up at least to
the Straits of Fuca. At Santa Cruz he noted their arrival, in 180G, about
the 20th of April. They were then gathering materials for a nest, the male
bird singing merrily during his employment. As tiiey have been observed
ill Oregon as early as this, it has been conjectured that some may remain all
winter among the dense shrubbery of the forests.
318 NOIM'll AMKKICA.V IMUDS.
Tliis bird winters in U\v<io. niinilicis in Central Ainericii, wliere it is ii])])ar-
entiy very genen Uy distrilmted. Mr. Salvin I'uuiiil it very coniinnn at l)n-
enas. It was taken ut Tutontepee, aiuonj,' the niouutuins of Oaxaeii, Mexico,
liy Mr. Iidiieard.
Air. Iiidgway IViund it very eonnuon during tiie .summer and autumn
months among tiie willows of the fertile river valley.s, and among the rank
shrubbery bordering upon the streams of tlu! eanons of the higher interior
range of mountain.s. It was found in similar situations with Um JJiitflroim
os/ira, but it was mueh more numerous. During Septendjer it was most
abundant among the thiekets and eopses of the East Ihunboldt Mountains,
and in lluby Valley, ut all altitudes, frequenting the bushes along the sti'eams,
from their sourees in the snow to the valleys.
Wilson first met with and described this species from specimens obtained
in Delaware and New .Jersey., lie regarded it as an inhabitant of the swam])3
of the .Southern States, and chariieterized its .song as "a sharp, s(jueaking
note, in no wise musical." It is said by him to leave the Southern States in
October.
Audubon states that it is never found in the Southern States in the sum-
mer month.s, but passes rapidly through them on its way to the northern dis-
tricts, where it breeds, reacliing Labrador early in June and returning by the
middle of August. He describes it as having all the habits of a true Fly-
catcher, feeding on small insects, which it catches on the wing, snapjting its
bill with a sharp clicking sound. It frequents the borders of lakes and
streams fringed with low Itushes.
Mr. Xuttall observed this species in Oregon, where it arrived early in May.
He calls it a " little cheerful songster, the very counterpart of our In-illiant
and cheerful Yellow-Iiird." Their song he describes as like 'tHh-'tsh-'tsh-tshea,
Their call is brief, and not so loud. It appeared familiar and nnsus])icious,
kept in bushes busily collecting its insect fare, and only varied its employ-
ment by an occasional and earnest warlde. l}y the 12th of May some were
already i'eeding their full-tledged young. Yet on the 10th of the sanie month
he found a uest containing ibur eggs with iticubation only j\ist commenced.
This nest was in a branch of a small service-bush, laid very adroitly, as to
concealment, upon a mass of Uxiim. It was built chiefly of hypnum mosses,
witli a thick lining of dry, wiry, slentler grasses. The female, when ap-
proached, slipi»ed off the nest, and ran along the ground like a mouse. The
eggs were very similar to those of Dendroica a'diva, with spots of a pale
olive-brown, confluent at the greater end.
A nest found by Audubon in Labi'ador was placed on the extremity of a
small horizontal branch, among the thick foliage of a dwarf fir, a few feet
from the ground and in the very centre of a thicket. It was made of bits of
dry mosses and delicate pine twigs, agglutinated together and to the branches
and leaves around it, from which it was suspended. It was lined with fine
vegetable fibres. The diameter of the nest was three and a half and the
SYLVICOLID-K-THK WAinilJlRS. tj^j,
(lopth one uiid a lisill' iiicli(;,s. Uv (lL'sciilii..s l\u> h'^'^h, wliicli wvw. lour, as
wliitc, spotUMl Willi riiddish mnt Imwii dots, tlu; iimrkings Iming piiiicipally
iinmiid till! larj,'iT t-nd, Innniiij,' ii uirclu, Ibiiviu},' tho extri'iuity pluiii.
Ill tliis instiiiico IIr! paiviits sliowod imicli uiiciisiiifs.s at tlu- appioiiuli of
iiilnidcrs, nioviii- iiliDiit aiiK.iin; tlui t\vi>, siiajipiiin' their l.ills, uiid utlcriii;,'
a plaintive noto. In Xcwlouiidlaiid tliusu liiids Inul aliuady JR-jruii tn mi"
aniU'. (ui tliu L'Otii ol' All-list. ]Ic met with thiMii in cDiLsidnmldc! niinilnTs
in Xoithoni Maiiit! in (kuAm; l,S;!2. Mr. Tiindmll inciitiuiiH it as a nithiM-
almiidant bird of Kastuni IVnnsylvaiiia, apiuiariiiM; thi.Ti) eaily in May, ///
Iraiisifii, and ai^ain in Ot'toltur.
Mr. T. M. Tiippc has oh.s..rvcd thi.s spcfi.'s at Orange, \. J., from the lilth
to till! ;;(ltii of May. It is .said to ki-cp low down in the trees, and is fond
of liiuinting thickets and open hriisli tiidd.s. Oceasionally he has lieiird it
utter a loud chatterini^ .soiij,', which it re[)eats at siiort intervals.
A nest of this Hpeeies from Fort Yukon (Smith. Coll., l:!,:!4(;), ol.tained
May 20, l)y Mr. .McDoujral, contained four eg.g.s. The.se varied from .(11) to
.(;:? of an inch in len-:tli, and from .45 to .4!) in breadth. Tiiey were ohovate
in shaiie, their ground-color was a ]mre white; this was (iiiel) sjirinkled
round the larger end with lirowiiish-riHl and lihic. Xo mention is made of
the position of the nest, hut it is [m ible this bird builds on tiie "round.
Msriodioctes pusillus, var. pileolatus, Ridgway.
JtM,ia7h j,il,;,M„, I'am.as, Zo..-. I!,w,so Asiat. I, 1831, 4!)7 (llnssian America). M,iw,li,„:
tiH inisillils, var. /ii/rat,i/,i, lillMiw.W, liciioit U. H. (irol. Ivxpl. -loth I'ur. Mijiwlin-ks
l»isi7/,ix, An-r. (all citations from I'acilio coast of Nortli and Micl.lji' Amtaica). — L<ii!ii
I'r. K. An. Inst. Woohv. IV, 1804, 115 (I5r. Col.). -D.u.i, Jt Hanmsteu (Alaska). -
I'liiii'Kii, Orn. C'al. I, 1870, Idl.
Sp. CnAii. Siniiliir to var. jnisi/his, liiit iiiiicli riclicr yellow, .sparcplv tinged with olivo
laterally, and deepened into an almost orange sliade on the front and eliin. "Above nuieli
brighter and more yellowish olive-green. The black i)ileinn will, a blighter yteel-blno
glos.s. Bill mueh narrower, and deep, light brown above, inst.Nid of nearly blaek. IMeas-
nr.'s (4,'J22 ^, San Franei.sco, ("al.;, wing, '2.1") ; tail, 2.(ll>.
Hah. I'aeilie cnasl, region of \orth Anieriea, from Kodiak (Ala.-^ka) ; sonth throim-h
AVe.^erii Mexi(>o (and tower Califoriiia) to f'o.>Jfa Hiea. °
Tills is an appreciably diflerent race from that inhabiting the eastern
division of the continent; the dillerence.s, tested by a large series of speci-
mens, being very constant.
A Costa-Uicau specimen before me is almost exactly like specimens from
California.
Habits. The remark in the preceding article relative to specimeus from
the Pacific coast belong tu this variety.
320 KORTII AMERICAN JiiUDS.
Myiodioctes canadensis, Aid.
CANADA FLYCATCHER.
Miim-ifiipa canittkiisis, I, inn. Syst. Nat. I, 17titi, 'Ail. (.Uii.ii'ici/xi miiinlniKi.i rinn-m, nitis-
SON, II, UHl, till), y.i, li},'. 4.) —ti.Mi:i,iN. — Wilson, 111, pi. xxvi, li';. 'J. — Aid. Oni.
liiiif,'. II, pi. ciii. Stinitluiijii can. Sw.mns. ; Itirii. ; (iii.vv. Mi/iii(h'iictes cuii. Aiu.
Minis Am. II, pi. dii. — Hi;i;\vi.:i!, I'r. liost. Sur. VI, ;'. ^m■.st inid cj^^^'.s). ■Sii,.vn:i!,
r. Z. S. lSi)i, in (iMimiliii' ; wiiitcH; 18.5.'), 143 (Hiigotii) ; 1858, 451 (Kcmulort. —
In. (.'iital. 181)1, ;i4, IK). -^(14. — ScLATKll .t Sai.vin, ll)is, 185!1, 11 (Uimti'malii). —
Lawi!i:n( i:, Ann N. Y. I.vc VI, ISil.'. - ISaiim), lUnls N. Am. 1858, •_'!)4 ; Uvv. y:!!).
— Samii'.i.s, 247. Kidliliiiiix cini. Caii. Jlus. llciii. 1850, 1851, 18 : .lour. Oiii. 18()0,
32(i (Costa Hioa). Si/lrid jKin/ii/inii, Mdn. ; Nurr. Siilriaila pun/a /iiia, Mdn. Mi/ii'-
tliiic/fs jiiii-ila/iiiii, l>()N. .' J/iiscicujiu liiiiKi/iuiii'i, Ari). (»rii. liiof,'. I, 18;il, 27, )il. v.
Si-liiplidiia hiiii. Iilcli. ll'ilsoiiiit litm. I'xin. Siiteiniia Inm. 'Hvtv. / Mi/inilidcfcs Imii.
All). Syii. — III. niidsAm. II, 1841, 17, pi. .wil. — liAiiiD, lliids N. Am. 1858, 295.
Si/oji/iii(j(i iiiijriciiii-f(t, TiAl'M!. lli'v. Zoiil. 1843, 2!I2 ; 1841, 7!».
8p. f'liAR. rjipci- part l)liii.sli-asli ; a viiif;- avomiil IIkm'Vo, witli a line ruiniiiij; to the
lioslrils. ami lluMvliolo iiiidcr jiail (except the tail-eoveils, wliieli are white), liiiulil yellow.
Centres of the feathers in the anterior half of the erouii, the cheeks, eonlinnoiis with a
line on the .side of llie neck to the hreast, and a .series of spots acro.ss lli(> llncparl of the
breast, hlaek. Tail-leathers unspotted. Female similar, with the hlaelv ol' the head and
hreast lo.ss distinet. Jn the ^()(///(/ oh.solete. Leiiijlh. 5.,'} 1 ; wiiifr, 2.(i7 ; tail, 2.50.
IIaii. Whole Kastern rrovinee of I'liiled States, west to the Missouri ; north to Lake
Winnipeg; Kaslcrn ;\iexico to Guateinala, and .south to iJogota and Eeuador (Sci.atku).
Not noted from West Indies.
Hauits. Tliis is a mierratory species, iilnmdant (liirin;^ its juissago, in
most of tlie Atlantic States. It broi'ds, tliouoji not nluindantly, in New
York and ^rassaclnisetts, and in tlio reoions north of latitude 42°. How far
northward it is fonnd is not wtiU ascortainod, jirohalily tis far, however, as the
wooded country e.\tends. It was met with on Winncpejv liiver, by Mr. Kcn-
iiicott, the .second of June. It winters in Central and in Nortliein Soutli
America, liaving hoen procured at IJogota, in (Jiiateinala, tind in Costa Kica,
in large nuinhors.
Mr. Audubon states that lie found this bird breeding in tlie mountainous
regions of rennsyl^ ania, and afterwards in .Abune, Xew r.runswick. Nova
Scotia, Newfoundland, and J.abrador. Although he describes with some mi-
nuteness its nests, yet his de.scriiitioii of their jiosition and .structure is so
entirely different in all res]iects from those that have l)een found in Massa-
chusetts, that J am constrained to believe he has been mistaken in his ideii-
tilications, and that those he siqiposed to belong to tliis species were really
the nests of a difi'erent bird.
"Tn Vermont," Mr. Cliarles S. Paine, of IJandoljih, informs me, "the Can-
ada Flycatcher is a summer visitant, and is first .seen about the IStii of May.
Tiiey do not s])read Ihemselves over tlie woods, like most of our small lly-
r itching birds, but kec]) near the borders, wiiere there is a low growth of
bushes, and where they may be heard throughout the day singing their regu-
SYLVI('OJ,II),E — TIIK \VAUl!l,i:i;s. 321
lar cliiuit. A lew ])airs iniiy (K-casioiiuIIy lio loiiiid in tlic same iicinliboilioiMl.
At other times-; only a single pair can lie Inuiid in ([nite a, wide extent of ter-
iit(tiy (if similar eliaracter. They build their nests, as well as 1 eau Jnd-e,
aliDiit the lirst of dune, as the ymm- are hatched out and on the win,^- ahout
the last of tiiat month, or the lirst of duly. 1 have never found a nest, hut
I think they are built on the around. Tiiey are silent afti'r the first of July,
iind are rarely to be : .en after that i)erie.l." The son.i,' of this bird is a very
pleasing' one, thou^^h heard but seldom, and only in a few luealities in Alas-
sachusetts.
Near Washington Dr. ('(uies found tla; ('anada Klyeateher only a spring
and autunmal visitant, at wiiieh .si'asons they were abundant. Tluy fre-
([uented hioji open woods, and ke|)t mostly in the lower l>ranehes of the trees,
and also in the more open undergrowth of marshy jdaces. They arrive the
last w<'ek in Ai)ril and remain about two wetdvs, arriving in fall the lirst
week in Septendier, and rciuiaining nntil the last of that month.
The lirst well-identilied nest of this bird that eame to my knowledge was
obtaiiied in Lynn, Mas.s., by Mr. Ceorge O. Weleli, in June, l.S,-.(i. U was
built in a tu.ssoek of gra.ss, in swanii)y woods, concealed by the surrounding
rank vegetation, in the midst of whicli it was placed. It was constructed
entirely of i)ine-needles and a few fragments of .leuayed leaves, grai)evine
bark, line stems, and rootlets. These were so loosely interwoven that the
nest could not be removed without great care to keep its several jwrtions
together. Its diameter was three and a half inches, ami if was very nearly
Mat. Its greatest depth, at Ihe centre of its depression, was hardly half an
inch. It contained four y<aing, and an nnhatched eug.
Ant.fher nest found in June, I S(14, by the same ob.serving naturalist, was also
obtained in the neighborhood. This was built in a tns.sock of meadow-grass,
ill the midst of a small iioggy jiiece of swamp, in which were a few scat"tered
trees and bushes. The ground was so marsliy that it could be cro.ssed only
with dillicnlty, and by stepping from one tu.ssoek of ri'edy herbage to another.
In the c(!ntre of one of the.se bunches the nest was concealed. " It measures
si.x inches in its larger diameter, and has a height of two and a (,uarter
inches. The cavity of this nest is two and fjiree .p.arters inciies wi.le,
and one and three (piarters deej). It is very str<Migly consfriu'ted of pine-
needle.s, iiderwoven with line strips of Imrk.dry deciduous leaves, .stems of dry
gra.sses, .sedges, etc. The whole is lirndy and compactly interwoven with and
strengthened around the rim of the cavity by stnuig, wiry, and fibrous roots.
The nest is very carefully and elaborately lined wilii the' black tibrmis roots
"I some plant. The eggs, wjiich were five in number, measure .72 of an inch
in length by M in breadth. Their ground-cohn- is a clear and brilliant
white, and this is beautifully marked with dots and small blotches of blended
I'lown, purple, and vi.det, varying in shades and tints, and -rouped iu a
wreath around the larger end.
41
322
NORTH AMERICAN U'lliDti.
(Jenus SETOPHAG-A, Swainh.
Setophaga, Swainson, Zciiil. Jour. HI, Due. lSi7, 3t)0. (Tyi"'. ■Viisciaipa ruticilla, L.) —
If-ViKi), IJiids N. Am. IS.^S, 2S»7. Hylvania, Nuttall, Aliiii. Oni. 1, 1832. (Samo tyiic)
Gkn. ("iiAU. Rill iiuicli depressoil, the lateral outlines straight towards ti]). Bristles
reach half-way irom nostril to tip. Culin<'ii almost
straight to near the ti|); conmiissiire verv slightly
eurvcd. Nostrils oval, with membrane above them.
Wings I'ather longer than tail, pointed ; seeond, third,
and Ibnith M< nearly etpial ; liist intermediate
betwa-en fbmth .md lil'lh. Tail ather long, rather
rounded; the feathers broad, and widening at ends,
the outer web narrow. Tarsi with scutellar divis-
ions indistinct externally. Legs slender; toes short,
inner cleft nearly to base of lirst joint, outer with
first joint adherent ; middle toe without claw, not
„ , , quite half the tarsus.
>yUup/uit/a nitictlta, h\v.
The genus Srfoji/idi/a is very largely represented in America, although of
the many species scarcely tmy agree exactly in form with the type. In the
following diagnosis I gi\e several species, referred to, })erhiips erroneously, us
occiu'ring in Texas.
Belly white. End of lateral tail-feathers black. Sexes dissimilar.
Ground-color lilack, without vertex spot. Sides of breast and bases of quills
and tail-feathers reddish-orange in male, yellowish in female . . . rulicilld.
Belly vermilion or carmine red. Lateral tail-feathers, including their tips, while.
Sexes similar.
Entirely lustrous black, including head and neck. Xo vertex spot. A
white ])atch on th(> wings .......... piclu.^
Pluinbeous-ash, including head and neck. A chestnut-brown vertex spot.
No white on wings miniata.''
Setophaga ruticilla, Swains.
AMEBICAN BEDSTABT.
Mutni'ilhi rvlii-nin, LiNX. Syst. Nat. ]t)th cd. ]7r<8, ISti (Catcsliy, Car. tab. C7). Mmciaijia
riillillld, Linn.; (I.mki.in ; ViKiLl.or ; Wits.; Hon.- Aid. Orii. Hiog. 1, pi. xl.
Sr/ii/i/iiicjii i-til. Swains. Zoill. Jour. IH, 1827, S.'iS. — l!oN. ; Ai'li. Birds Am. —
Sci.AriMi, I'. Z. S. (Kcuailor, 15ogota, Conlovn, Oaxaca, City of Mexico). — Sclatkh &
Sai.vin, Ibis, 18')!), 12 (Guatemala). ^ liAii;i), liinls X. Am. ISnS, 2'J7 ; Rev. a.lt!. —
Max. ; Sai.i.i:;, P. Z. S. 18,".7 (St. Dciiiiiiigo). Ni:\vidN, Hii.s, ISait, 14:! (-'^t. I'luix ;
winter). —Caii. Jour, l.^.'ili, 172 (Cuba); IXtiO, 'Mi, (Costa liica). - (1i;niiI.A( ll, ib.
1801, »2(i (Cuba). - MiiVANT, I'r. lio.st. Soc. VII, KS.MI (Maliamas). — LAWiiKNcK, Ann.
N. Y. Lye. 18iil, 322 (Panama R. !{.).- SamI'KI.s, 21i». Sjilviviin rut. NfiTAl.L,
Man. I, 1832, 291 (type of genus). Motiidlla flavicinuLt, Gmelin, I, 1788, 997 (?).
' Setop/iiiijii pii-tii (SwAlNsoN), Uaiiu), Ucv. 18t)5, 2r)0. MiLScimpu hiicnmus, CilllArii, Texas
Hirds. Hah. Mexico and (luatemala.
'■' Sr/tjiliriga inliuiilii (Swain.son), Uaiiiu, Uev. 1805, 2;';). Mksi'icujxi ikrhumi, (illiAlli,
Texas ','irds. lluh. Mexico.
SYLVICOLin.K — THK WAUHLKUS.
823
Si'. Chau. Mule. Prcviiilini^M'olor liliirlc. A cciitial line (in llu? liroiist, tlii' aluloincn,
and under tail-coverts wliile ; »ouw Irallicrs in (he latter stroiiuly tin<;f(l witn dark bri)wn.
Bases of all the (luill.-! except tli(' inner and ouler, and liasal hall'iifall the lail-leathers ex-
cept the middle one. a patch on i>ach side of Ihe breast, and the; axillary rejrion, oran'/e-ri'd,
of a vermilion shade on the breast. Fcnnilc with the l>laelv replace<l by olive-green above
by brownish-wlnto beneath, the red rei)laced by yellow ; the head tini,red with ash ; a
gMyish-wdiite lore and ring roinid the eye. Length, ').25 ; wing, 2.")(l ; tail, 2.45.
llAt!. Eastern and in part Middle Provinces of .Xortli .\inerica to Kort Simpson, west to
Great Salt Lake-; Kort Laraini(;; Denver City ; most of tlie West Indies; .Mexico to Ecnador.
The yomiy malti in early iuitiinin greatly resembles in pliunage the utliilt
female, but has the upper tail-coverts ami tail deep black, .sharply contrasted
with the olive of the rump, instead of having tlie ujjper tail-coverts olive, the
tail sim])ly dusky ; in addition the back is more greenish-olive, and the
alxlonien and crissum ])ure wiute. The nitile docs not obtain the perfect
adult plumage until about the third yetir.
Habits. The so-called Hcdstiirt has an extended distribution from the
Atliuitic to the liocky Mountains, and
from Florida to high nortliern latitudes,
having been found brceiling at Fort
Simpson by ^Mr. Hoss, and tit Fort
Iicsolution by Mr. Kennicott and Mr.
Lockliart. It is generally abundant in
suitidde localities, and probably breeds
wherever found north of the Potomac.
It winters in large nunil)ers in (iuate-
mahi and in other jiarts of Central
America, as well iis in the West Indies.
It is common in St. Croi.x in the sMring,
and is especially seen about houses, according to Newton,
there until the end of April.
Eichard.son found this species abundant on the Saskatchewan, as far to the
north as the Hfty-eighth parallel. It appeared there the last of May, ti; d
left early in Se])teniber. He found it frequenting moist, shady hinds. Hit-
ting about iimong the moss-oiown and twisted stems of the tall willows that
skirt the marshes. It wa.s easily recognized by the red lining of its wings
as it Hitted through the gloomy shades in pursint of mosquitoes and other
winged insects.
Among the memoranda of the late Mr. Kennicott, we find two to the effect
that on the 2()th of May he found both males and females of this species
common netir litiiny Lake, tind that on the (ith of June he also observed
these birds near Lake Winnepeg. June 14, at Fort L'esolution, he rditained
a female Redstart with nest and four eggs. The nest wtis built in the fork
of a willow, in a thick but low wood of alder and willow. It was entirely
unprotected by leaves or branches. The female was taken on tiie nest.
The Newtons found this a very common .species in St, Croix, in the sj)ring
Setoplta^a ruticilla.
It remains
324 iSOUTll AMERICAN lURDS.
of tlio year, and it was ("spepially seen alxmt houses. For about a week, at
tlie end ol' April, IS.")?, they wore extremely luinierous. On their return iVoni
their suninier (quarters, they were first oljserved Sejjteniber G. Mr. Taylor
also mentions them as conniion in Trinidad. Mr. ilidgway found it a com-
mon species amon,L; the willow thickets of the river valleys, west as far as
the Cireat Salt Lake.
This s])eeics, in its spring and autumnal migrations, is alnuidant in Louisi-
ana and Te.\as, as well as in the Gulf Stivtcs. Wilson speaks of meeting
with it in the then " ^li.ssissipjti Territory." Audubon gives it as abundant
in Louisiana, and Nuttall as found throughout Louisiana and Arkansas into
Mexico. ^Ir. l)re.s.ser also mentions it as very common near San Antonio in
the .siu'ing and autunni, arriving on the ^fedina the 27th of Ajn-il.
J)r. Coues says that the iictlstart near Washington is chietly a spring and
autumnal visitant, and l)ut very few remain to lireed. In the spring it is
very abundant from April 2") to May 2<>, and in the fall from the 1st to the
20th of Sejitemljer, in all Mdody and swampy situations. He found it in
the habit of ruiming along slender twigs, sideways, and having a note very
similar to that of D. (v.stiva.
Although placed among the 0.sr//(f.>.', where, as an excellent singer, it clearly
has a good right to be cla.ssed, it is yet also a true Flycatcher in habits and
manners. It is a lively, active bird, ever on the wing, and continually in
pursuit of in.sect.s. In tliis pursuit it never awaits the apiiroach of its jirey,
but, espying them at a distance, darts with great velocity in pursuit, and the
continued c'ieks of its bill attest the ra})idity and friMpu'ncy with which it
will overtake and catch insect alter insect. Even when lamenting the loss
of a part of its brood, and living around with cries of distress, the sight of
passing insects is a temptation not to l)e resisted, and the parent bird will
stop her lamentations t(» catch small ilies.
Its notes are a varied twittei', rather than a song, a repetition of two simple
notes, uttered every few .seconds as it seeks its prey. Hying among the thick
foliage usually in dense groves. Its common haliit is to glide along a branch,
between its smaller twigs, at times darting forth into more ojien siiaces in
quest of insects it has (;spied.
Their nests are usually, though not always, built in a low branch, eight or
ten feet from the ground, in the midst of a thick grove. I have known it
to build in an o]K'n iield and in close ])roximity to a dwelling. It keeps to
groves and thickets, and frei[uents moi.st ])laces rather than dry, evidently
because of the greater abundance of insects, and not because of timid or
retiring habits. It is indeed far from being timid, and will permit a near
ajtproach without any exhibitions of uneasiness. When its nest is visited,
the male bird manifests great disturlianee, and tlies back and forth around the
head of the intruder with ci'ies of distress. The female is iiir less demon-
strative, and even when hei- nest is desjxnled before her eyes is (piite moder-
ate in the exjiression of her grief.
SVI.VICOLID.'K — TlIK WAHlSLEIiS.
325
Its fli<,'lit is graceful, oasy, and vajiid, varied by circumstaiires as it glides
in its intricate course ainoiig small interlacing liranclies, or darts rapidly i'ortli
into more open space. As it moves, it is continually opening out, closing, or
llirting from side to side its cousiiicuous tail, the white spots in its expanded
feathers constantly appearing and disa])peariiig.
In the construction of the nest there is a general uniformity of character,
although the materials differ and the localities are far ajiart. Tiiey are never
]>endcnt, but are placed among thww or more small u])riglit branches, around
which it is lirmly woven with vegetable flax-like fibres. A nest obtained in
Lynn, by Afr. George 0. Welch (S. I. :i,778), in June, measures two inches
!!• height by three in diamet(ir. It is a snrall, conii)act, and homogeneous
nest, com]>ii,scd almost entirely of shreds of .savin-bark intermixed witii soft
\egetable wool. Within are loosely intertwined minute vegetable Hl)res and
strii)s of bark, and a lining of horsehair, tine june leaves, ami dry gras.ses.
Tiie ne.st contained four eggs. Another nest found in Crand Menan, June
L'4, liS")!, was very similar in size, structure, and materials. It was in the
centre of a thick, swan^jy thicket, five feet from the grounti, and contained
five eggs.
Another nest of this bird, obtained in Lynn by Mv. Welch, is only a
reconstruction of a nest iiegun l)y a ])air of Dcmlrou-.a os/ini, and either
abandoned by them, or from whicii they had l)een driven. Above the origi-
nal ne.st of the Warbler the itedstarts had constructed their own. The base
is composed of the downy covering of the under sides of the leaves of ferns,
mixed with a few herbaceous stems and leaves. "Within this was built an
entirely distinct nest, composed of long and slender strijjs of bark, pine-
needles, and stems of grasses. These are Hrmly and elaborately interwoven
together.
A nest found in Hingham, built in a tree in an ojien space near a dwell-
ing, was seven feet from the ground, and of the usual si/e and shape. In
this the more usual strips of l)ark were replactnl by hempen fibres of vegc-
tal)le.s, thistle-down, bits of newspaper, and other fragments. Within is a
stri>ng lining of hair and fine stems of gra.sse.s. In tliis nest tliere were two
young, about half Ik'dgeil, and two eggs nearly fresh. The latter wen; taken,
the female parent being present and making only a very slight ])rotest,
stojjping, from time to time, to catcii insects.
The eggs of the Rtidstart vary considerably in thcur si/e and in their gen-
eral apjiearance, but resemble .somewhat tho.se of tJie connnon Summer
VeUow-lJird. They vary in length from .ri.l to .('nS of an inch, and in their
lu-eadtli from .4.") to f/X Their grouml-color is a grayish-white, blotched
and dotted with purple, lilac, ami ijrown.
326 ^UJlTIl AMERICAN BIRDS.
Family HIRUNDINID^ffil. — Tiik Swallows.
CnAi?. T?ill short, irimifruliU', vciy hroail at base (nearly ns wido as long) and much de-
prosst'd, narrowinu: rapidly to a (■oiii])r(.'.<sc'd, not(;licd tip ; mouth opcniiijr nearly to the
eyes. Primaries nine, irraduatinr^ rapidly less Irom thu exterior one ; tail-feathers twelve.
Feet weak ; tarsi .scutellate, .shorter than middle toe and (daw. Numlx.T of joints in toes
normal ; basal joint of middle too partially or entirely adherent to lateral toes. Wings
long, lideate. Tail forked. Eyes small. Plumage eompaet, usually Instron.s. All the
Ameriean .speeies with u white patch on the sides under the wing, and with the irids
hazel or brown.
The Kirnnilinida'. form a very well marked group of birds easily di.stin-
gui.slied from all others. They exhibit a close reseuddaucc, in external ap-
pearance and ]ial)its, to tlie Cypwlid^r. ; from which, apiirt from the internal
structure, they are readily distino'-.i.Miod l)y the possession of nine, instead of
ten primaries ; twelve, instead of ten tail-feathers ; scutellate tarsi, toes with
normal nund)er of joints (1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, exclusive of ungual
phalanges), instead of a ditlereut ]iro])ortion ; diH'erently shaped nostrils, etc.
In both families the wings are develo])ed to an extraordinary degree ; the
outer primary nearly twice or more than twice the length of the inner, and
enabling its possessor to sustain tlight almost indefinitely. Tlie relations of
the family among the ttsv/wcs apjiear cdosest to the Old World Mimricnpida'.
In comparing the wings of the HiraiuUiiidw with those of the C//psc/ida',
we readily notice one of the essential chtiracters of the Oscinr% namely, that
the greater wing-coverts hide only half or less than half of the secondary
quills, instead of reaching much beyond their middle, or nearly to the end.
(See Sundevall, Ornith. Syst.)
The precise character of scutcllation of tarsus is somewhat difflcidt to
make out, owing to a tendency to fusion of the ] dates, although not essen-
tially ditferent from most Oschws. There is a series of scntelhv. along the
anterior iace of the tarsus, tind a longitudinal plate on each side, meeting, but
not ct)alescing, behind. The anterior scutelhe sometimes ajipear to fuse into
the outer lateral i)late ; or sometimes the latter is more or less subdivided ;
the inner plate is generally more distinct from tlie anterior scutelhe, and
usuidly entire, exce])t ))erhaps at the lower extremity.
Genera of North American Hirundinidse.
A. Nostrils broadly oval, or circular ; opening upwards and forward, and expcscd ;
without ovinhanging mcudu'ane.
a. Edge of wing smooth. Tarsus short, stout; equal to middle toe without
claw; leathered on the inner side aliovc. Nostrils almost or entirely without
membrane.
Bill stout; cnlmen and commissure nmeh curved. Frontal feathers
without bristles. Tail deeply forked. Color lustrous-black ; belly and
crissum sometimes white Pmi/iic.
lIIKUNDlxXID.E — THE SWALLOWS.
327
Bill rntlier weaker; cominissuro and culiin'ii nearly straifrlit to near tip.
Frontal t'eatlii'1-.s bristly. Tail nearly even. Tinoal, rump, and crissuni,
and usinilly IbrelR'ad, rufous ; belly wliiti' .... Ptlrovhrliilitii.
h. Edge of win^' smooth. Tai-sus loiifjer than in last ; equal to niiddh; toe
and lialf tlie elaw. Nostrils boidered alon;,' posterior half by membrane,
but not overhuni,' internally. J!ill very small. Tail Ibrked. Crissum dusky
except in NcvcMidon fuc(tt<i. Various i,'eneru and subgenera, none Xorth
AmiM'ican, as Attlmra, Xdiiwhelidoii, \enr!ie!i<lon, and Pi/yochflidnn.
r. Edge of wing armed with still" i-ecurvcd hooks. Tarsus h'^ in preceding
(tarsus and toes nuuOi as in Pi/ijochelidun). Jiill larger and more depressed.
T;iil eiuarginate only. Crissum white Slctyido/)len/.i:
B. Nostrils lateral; bordered behind and inside, or overhung by membrane, the
outer edge of whieh i.s straight, and directed either parallel with axis of bill or
diverging from it.
a. Tarsus short; about equal to middle toe without claw. Tibial joint feath-
ered ; feathers extending along inside of upper end of tarsus.
Tarsus bare at lower end. Lateral claws reaching only to base of
middle.
Tail very deeply forked, much longer than closed wings ; lateral
feathers linear and very narrow at end, twice the length of central.
ITpper i)arts and pectoral cou.n- steel-blue ; front and throat, some-
times under parts, rufous. Tail-li'athers with large spots . Hinindo.
Tail with .shallow fork, not exceeding half an inch, shorter than
clo.sed wings. Fiiathers bro.id. Color blue or green above, with
or without white rump; white bem ii. Tail-feathers without
spots Tnclu/ciiielu.
Tarsus with a tuft of feathers at lower end. Lateral claws lengthened,
reaching beyond ba.so of middle claw.
Tail slightly forked. Color dull-brown above; beneath white.
with brown pectoral collar Coli/le.
h. Tarsus long; equal to middle toe and half claw : entirely bare. Tail con-
siderably forked, about equal to closed wing. Color green above ; white
Iji-'ueath Callifhelidon}
Gexuh FROGNE, 1?oie.
Fmriiie, BoiK, Isia, 1826, 971. (Type, Iliruiuh purpurea vel suhui, L.) — B.uiM), Birds
N. Am. 1858, 311.
Gen. Cu.Mi. Hody stout. Hill robust, lengthened ; lower or commissural edge of max-
illa sinualed, decidedly convex for basal half, then as concave to the tip, the lower man-
dible falling within its chord. Xoslrils supei'ior, broadly oiieii. and nearly circular, wilhont
any adjacent membrane, the edges romnlcd. Legs stout. Tarsus equal to middle toe
without claw; the joint feathered ; lateral toes about equal ; the liasal joint of the mid-
dle toe half free internally, rather less so externally. Claws strong, uuich curved. Nest
in hollow trees. Eggs white.
The s\H ies of this fjcim.s are tlio most powerful and robust of tlie Swal-
lows. Some are entirely glossy-lilack, others whitish helow. The following
1 Ilirwidv (CnlNc/irlidon) ci/niicoviridis {\UiYA\r), Baiim), Ucv. Am. Birds, IStiS, 303. Buha-
iinis. This spt'cies may yet be detected on the Florida coast.
328 XOllTII AMERICAN J5IHDS.
diagnosis will show the ivlatiousliip of the several forms usuully recognizod
as distinct species : —
Species and Varieties.
P. Bubis. Above lustroius liliiu-black ; beiioiilli lustrous bluo-black or lirown-
ish-frniy, unifoiin, or witli the iibiluuu'U and ciissum wliilu, or whitish. Femules
always with tlio throat anil jufrulum i^vny.
A. Adult males entirely steel-blue.
a. Females and younjj males with the abdomen pure whit(!.
Feathers (ihout the iiiiits .imokii-f/ni)/ beneath the surface.
Wing about 0.00; I'ork of tail, .80 deej). 9 and Jiw. Abdominal and
crissal leathers always with dusky sliai'ts, and with the eoncealed por-
tion grayish. Fori'head and nape hoary grayish. Jlah. Continental
North America, south into Northern Mexico .... x-M.siihin.
Wing, 5.25; fork of tail considerably less. 9 and ./nv. unknown.
Hub. Galapagos var. concolor}
Wing, 5.80; fork of tail. 1.10 <lee|). 9 and Jitv. unknown. Hub.
Chih \av. fiircuta."
Feathers about the anus snoinj-white beneath the siirfare.
Wing, 5.50; fork of tail, .00 deep. 9 and juv. Abdominal and cris-
sal feathers entirely snowy-white, — never with dusky sharts (except
$ juv. in transition). Forehead dusky grayish-brown; nape steel-
blue. //((6. Cuba and Florida Keys .... \M:cryptoleuca.
h. Females and young with the abdomen dusky gr.iyi.sh-brown.
Wing, 5.50; fork of tail, .80. 9. Lower parts dusky grayish-brown,
the feathers boidere<l with lighter grayish, producing a squamate a])-
pcarance. Jm. similar, but feathers of the upper parts bordered with
whitish, //ai. Paraguay (Vermejo River) . ■ \m: eletja n s:'
B. Adidt males with the abdomen and crissmn imre white.
a. Lower tail-coverts with the shafts pm-e white. $ (adult) with the
throat, jugulum, and sides steel-blue.
9 and juv. scarcely <listingnishable from those of criipioleuca. Hub.
Porto Kii'o and Jamaica (St. Domingo also ?) , . var. dominicensis.*
b. Lower tail-coverts with their shafts dusky. $ (adult) with throat, jugu-
lum, and .'jides brownish-gray.
Sides of the jugiilnm with a bluo-black patch in the $. Wing, 5..'i0 ;
fork of tail, .70 deep. VM. Bolivia .... \m: domestica .^
1 Prnijne suhis, vnr. cnm-olor. Ilirumlo concolor, OoHM), P. Z. S. 1837, 22 (James I., Cala-
pagos). rrorine c. llAllili, Rev. Am. 15. ISO'., 278. Profjiie. modesta, UoL'l.n, Birds BeagUs 3i),
pi. V. (Same s]ieeimi'n.)
^ Progne suliis, yar. f 11 rcntii. Proline furcalu, B.UUI), Hev. Am. 11. 18(55, 278. (Chile.)
» Profine subu, var. elnjans. Proijn,: tlctjittis, Baikd, Kev. Am. H. 18(5r), 275. (Verniejo
River. .? Prognc purpurea, Darwin, H. Beagle 38 (Montevideo, November), Baliia Bknca,
Buenos Ayris, Sej)tend)cr.)
* Prognc (subis var?) domimCKrt.iis. Hirwido doitiim'ren.ih, CrM. S. N. I, 1788, 1025. Proijne
d, Mauch, p. A. N. S. 1803, 295; Baiup, lU'v. Am. B. 18(i,5, 279.
6 Pro'im (suliis var?) domc.stica. Pmgnc domestica (ViKiix.) Baiud, Rev. Am. B. 1800, 282.
(Paraguay and Bolivia.) (llirundo domestica, Vilin.i,. Nouv. Diet, xiv, 1817, 521.)
IIIIIUNDIXID.K - THE SWALLOWS.
329
Sides of tlu-jugiiluin without a liliii'-hlack patfii in tia> $. Wiiifj, o.20 ;
folk- of tail, .55 dLV|.. //„/,. Miil.ll,. Aiiicriua, from Sontliurn Mi'xico to
New Granada , , . .
\ lif. I r lie II (/ an t e I.*
Progne subis, Baird.
FT7BFLE MABMN.
Ilirumh sKhh, Lix.N. S. N. Kitli ed. 17.58, 192 (//irun,/,, avruka cmmdcims, Ki.WAnr.s
Av. tul). 120, Hudsoii'.s Hay). J'ronnc milns, li.MiiD, Itev. Am. liiids, KS(J4, 274 j/
purpura,, Linn. S. JT. l-Jth ed. 17iiti, Mi (//. pur/iur,;,, CviKsiiv, Car. tab. r,I). -
Aui). Orn. Hi.-i,'. I, pi. x.xiii. - In. liirds .\ii,. I, pi. .\lv. - VAiii;i:i.i., lii-. Mlids. II,
232, 274(KiiKlaiul and Iivlaiid, Sept. ],S42). --.Io.nks, Nat. I!ciimi(la, Si (Sept.* 22,'
ISID). l'n>ii,i,- ,nnp„r,:,i, lion:, Isis, l,s2(i, !i71. - liiuowi;!!, N. Am. Ool. 1, 18r.7, 103,'
pi. IV, fig. 47 (rf^gs). — ll.vii;n, HinLs X. Am. IS.xs, ai4. — ('<ioim;u& Si:iki,|.;v, |>. |;. \{
R.').. XII, 2, Ifd (Foit Strilacoom). -Bi,AKlsloN, Ibis, ISOIJ, f)5 (Sa-skatclicwaii) -
CooiM-.l!, Oni. Cal. I, 1870, IKi. -Sa.MITIM.s, 2liO. Ilirumh violna;,, (Im. //. avrulen,
Vlliil.l,. //. nr.iicii/or, ViKil.l,. //. luihwiciuiiit, Ctiv.
Sp. Char. (No. 1,501 <y.) Entiivly liistroius .steul-biuo, with a purpli.sh gloss; the tail-
feathers and the wings, ...xc.pt tho li...s..r and middle coverts, and edge inside, dull black,
Froi^nr sithis.
.scarcely glos.sod. Tibiie dark bn. vnish. A .■ou.ral.Ml pafh of white on the sides under
the wuig.s. Concealed central portion of anal feathers light whitish-gray.
(.Xo. 1,129 ?.) Above somewhat similar, but much duller. Renealh smoky brown-
ish-gray, without lu.stre, paler behind, and heeomiug .sometimes cpiito whili.sh on belly and
" Pn,;„„; (si/hi.i var .') lriico,,„s/rr. /Vw/,„- InuVijHstcr, Haiim), Hov. Am. IV IStia, 280
{Southern iMexi.M, to ( artliagena.) h;ui„r ,ln,ni„i,r,ms and /'. ,-l,„bihc,i, \v,n. (nee Omki, )
From a caivful examiuat .f specimens ,,1 the above Conns, the o,.inion that thevare all Ineal
differentiations of one primitiv,. type at .,iiee pivsents itself The dillerenees from the typieal
xiihi. are not great, except in th.- white-bellied grou]. (domiiumisin and its allies), wliil." an
approach to the white belly of these is ,,lainly to be .s,.en in P. rnfpfnlcucn .• again, .some speci-
mens of clomhucemix liave the erissum ndxeil with blackish, while others have' it wholly snowy-
white. While the male of nyi/ih/rm;, is .scarcely .listingiiishablc, at first .si..ht, from that of
subis, the female is entiivly diUcient, hut, on the other hand, .scarcelv to b,. dfstiiigui.slied from
that ol ,hmi,ncn,sis ami k,„:„,,:,s/n: Adult males of the latter species are much like a.lult
icmales of ,/oini„>-a'„xi.i, while Florhlan (resi,l..i,t) specim.-ns of subis approach very decidedly to
the rather unique characters of ,'ln„n,s. It is therefore extremely probable that all are merely
local nioditications of one species.
42
f!30
XDHTll AMKKICAX BIRDS.
crissimi, Imt all the fcatlici-s alwiiys with ilu.sky shafts, and iiiciiv; or less i-IoikIimI wiili pray
centrally, even lliniiuli I'adinj,' into wliilisli to the I'lipcs. This is particnlaiiy u])[)roi;ialil(' in
the lonj,'i.'r ci-issal fi-alhers. The fdiri's of llu' dark d'alhcrs of throat anil JM,y:iihMii arc
usnally paler, iiiiiiartinj; somewhat of a hiMiilated appearanee, their centres sometimes
consiileralily ilarker, eausiiij; an appearance of obsolete spots. There is a londency to n
pravish collar on sides of neck, and generally traecaMe to the najic; this, in one specinicn
(5.4'.IL') from Calilornia, liciii^' hoary ^'ray, the forehead sinnlar.
Th(! yonii}; male of the st^cond year is similar to the female, with the steel-lilni' a|)peai'-
inp in patches.
Total lenirth (of 1.. ')((!). ".oil; win;.', (i.lKl; tail, ;!.l(l : dilfcrenco l)ctwcen inner and outer
feather, ."'); dilfefence hetween lirsl and ninth (piills, 'J.SS; Icnj^'tii of hill from forehead,
.">.") ; from nostril, .;i4 ; aioiif,' pape, .'.H : width of papc, .71; taisns, .01 : middle toe ami
claw, .80 ; claw alone, .'2ij ; hind toe and claw, M ; claw alone, .27.
Had. The whole of tlu! L'liited States and the Provinces; Saskatchewan; Ci\\-i>' St.
Lucas and Northern Mcxi(,'o (winter); Orizaba (Si'MTcnii,\ST) ; I!cinni<Ia. Accidental in
Kii;,dand. South American and West Indian liirds apparently bcloiii: to other races.
AFany WesttM-n tulult males tiro oonsitkn'alily loss violacentis than any East-
ern ono ; hilt tiicrc is so iniicli variation in this rcsjicct ainnnif spcciiucns from
one locality, that this dillerenco in lustre does not st-L-m of much im-
portance.
An adult female (Xo. ()1,3G1,G. A. lioardman) from Lake Harney, Florida,
is so uidike all other siieciinens in the collection as to almost wtirrant our
considcriiij,' it as representing a distinct local '.■•ice. It dillers from females
and young males of all tlic other races (except cki/ans, from which it differs
in other striking particulars) in the following resjiects : Above, the lustrous
sttel-lilue is uninterrupted, the forehead and nape iK.'ing uniform with the
otiier portions ; beneath, dark smoky-gray, inclining to whitish on the nuddle
of the abdomen ; the jugulum and crissum have a laint gloss of steel-blue,
the feathers of the latter bordcretl
with grayish-Avhite. The chief dilTer-
cnce I'roiu chijaHs is in lacking the
conspiciU)US grayish-white border to
the featiiers of the whole lower part,
the surfat'c being uniform instead of
conspicuously sipiamated. AVing, o.GO ;
tail, 3.0tl ; fork of tiiil, .80 dee)).
llAmrs. Tiie I'lirjile Martin is em-
]>hatically a bird connnon to the whoh^
of Xorth America. It breeds from
Florida to high northern latitudes,
and from the Atliintic to the Pacific.
It is very abundant in Florida, as it
is in various other ])arts of the country
fartl-er north, and the large flocks of migrating birds of tliis sjiecies which
pass through Eiislern Alassaciiusetts the last of Septend)er iittest its equal
abundance north of the latter State. It occurs in 15ermuda, is resident in the
Proi^ttf subis.
HIKUNDINIUvE — THE SWALLOWS. 33^
alpine ref,noiis of Mexico, and is also fbuiul at Ca|.u St. Lucas. Accidental
spccinjens liuvc heen dutectod in Knyland and in iicland. It is ahimdant
on tlic .Saskatchewan. IJiirnieister states that this species is ciuniiKin in the
vicinity oC K'io de Janeiro, and tliat it is distril.iitcd in nuulenitc almndance
tin'ou-li the whole of tro].ical Soutli America. Von rd/eln also cites it as
occurrin-,' on the Kio Xcjr,„ „nd at Manaiineri throii-h tiie three winter
months, nestinj,' in old l.uiidin-s and in holes in the rocks. It i.s, iiowever,
tiuite possihle tiiat tiiey refer to an allied hut distinct siiecies.
In a wild state tlie natural resort of tills species, for nestin-,' and shelter,
was to hollow trees and crevasses in rocks. The introduction of civilized'
hfe, and with it of other siifer and more convenient places, better adapted to
their wants, has wrought an entire eiian-e in its hid)its. It is now very
rarely known to resort to a hollow tree, thou,^]i it will do so where better
provision is not to be had. Comfortable and convenient lioxes, of various
devices, in our cities and large towns, attract them to buihl in small (iommu-
nities around the dwellings of man, where their .social, familiar, and conliding
disposition make them general favorites. There they find abundance of in"
sect food, and repay their benefactors by -the destruction of numi'rous injuri-
ous and noxious kind.s, and there, too, they are also comparatively .safe IVom
their own enemies. These conveniences vary from the elegant martin-
houses that adorn private grounds in our Eastern cities to the ruder gourds
and calabashes which ure said to be frequently placed near the humliler
cabins of tlie Southern negroes. In Washington the columns of the public
buildings, and the eaves and sheltered portions of the jiiazzas, afford a con-
venient i)rotection to large numbers around the Patent OtUce and the Post-
Ollice buildings.
The al)undance of this s]iecies varies in different i)arts of the country, from
causes not always apparent. In the vicinity of Boston it is quite unusual,
though said to have been, forty years since, quite common. There their
places are taken by the //. himlor, who occupy almost exclusively the mar-
tin-houses, and very rarely build in hollow trees.
Sir John llidiardson states tiiat it arri\es within the Arctic Circle earlier
than any other of its family. It made its first appearance at Great Bear
Lake as early as the 17th of :\ray, when the ground was covered with snow,
and the rivers and lakes wen; idl iceljound.
In the Southern States it is said to raise tliree broods in a season ; in its
more northe .1 di.stribution it raises but one. Their early migrations expose
the j\Iartins to severe exposure and suffering from changes'of weather, in
which large numl)ers have been known to perish. An occurrence of this
kind is said to have taken i)lac(! in Eastern jMassachusetts, whore nearly all
the birds of this sj)ecies were destroyed, and where to this day their places
have never l)een sujiplied.
Within its selected compartment the :\Iartin prepares a loose and irregular
nest. This is composed of various materials, such as fine dry lea\es, straws,
832 NOUTII AMKlilCAN lilKDS.
sloins of j,'rasse.s, tine twif,'s, bits of striiij,', Viijjs, etc. Tlii'su iire ciiridcssly
tlirowu tui^L'tlifr, ami tlu' wlmli! is usually warmly lini'd witli loatluM's or
otlior aoi't iimterials. Tiiis nest is dccupii'd year al'tiT year by tliu sauio ])air,
but with I'at'li iiuw brooil tlit! lu'st is tliniouj^lily roi)aii'eil, ami ol'tuu increasuil
in sizo liy tlio accumulatiou ol' nnw materials.
Tlu! Martins do not winter in tlio Uniti-d States, but enter the extreme
Southern portions early in February. Auilubon states that they ftrrivo often
in jirodi^ious ilocks. On the Ohio their advent is about the I'lth of ^huvli^
nnd in Missouri, Ohio, and I'ennsylvania aliout the Itlth of April. Alnait
Boston their app(!arance is from the LTith of Ajiril to the middle of ]\biy.
Mr. Audubon states that they all return to the Soutla^rn States about the
20th of Auj;;ust, but this is hardly correct. Their de])arture varies very nmch
with the .season. In the fall of 187l' they were to be found in large Hocks,
slowly moving southward, but often remaining several days at a tinu! at the
same place, and then proceeding to their next halt. Their favorite places for
such stoj)S are usually a high and uninhabited hillside wv.iw the .sea.
The Martin is a bold and courageous biid, ])rom])t to meet and repel dan-
gers, especially when threatened by winged enemies, never hesitating to at-
tack and ilrivo them away from its neighborhood. It is therefore a valuable
protection to the barnyard. Its I'ood is the laiger kinds of insects, especially
beetles, in destroying which it again does good service to the husbandman.
The song of the Martin is a succession of twitters, which, without being
nuisical, are far from being unpleasant ; they begin with the earliest dawn,
and during the earlier periods of incubation are almost incessantly repeated.
The eggs of the Purple Martin measure .'.'4 of an inch in length by .?!• in
breadth. They are of an oblong-oval shaj)e, are pointed at one end, are of
a uniform creamy-white, and are never s])otted. They are cpiite uniform
in size and shape. Eggs from Florida are proportionally smaller than those
from the Northern States.
Progne subis, \ar. cryptoleuca, Uaiud.
CUBAN HABTIN.
Prague cryptokvai, IJAnu), I'ev. Am. liinls, lSii4, L'"7. Hiritndo jmrpurrn, D'Oiin. Sagr.i's
Cuba, Ois. 1840, 9-1 (i'.\cl. syii.). Progne ptiqmren. Cad. Jour. IHM, 3. — Gundlacu,
Cab. Jour. ISCl.
Sp. CiiAlt. (No. .'i4,L'4'_', (J). Color niiich !i.< ill A .s'v'd'.s-. — rich ,-;t<'cl-l.liic, witli piiri)lu
or violet fjloss ; the win J,'.-; and tail, however, nnicli more ileeidedly ijlossed, and with u
sliadu of frreeiusli. The leathers around the anns and in the anterior portion of eris.smn
witli dark Ijhiish down at base, pure snowv-wliite in thcnnddle, luid then blackish, pa.ssiug
into the usual .steel-lilue. Tlie white is entirely concealed, and its amount and pui'ity
diminish as the featlier.s are more and more distant, until it fades into the usual gray
median portion of the feather. The usual concealed white ])ateli on the sides under tho
wings. Total length, 7.*>0; wiug, 5.r)0 ; tail, 3.40; perpendicular depth of fork, .80; dil-
uiHrNnixiD.H-rm'; s\vai,i,()\vs.
^^ii
I'O
leivn.v h,.tw,.,.„ first and niiill, priMmry. L'". : l,.M^MlM.n,ill r,„M, lo.vlM.ml, .-.:,; li-.m.
nustnl,..i4; nlm,- nnpc, .Ni; wi,|tli, ..".S; i,„-s,i, ..-,.); inHl.llc tor ,m,l .law, .711 ; ,.l,iw aloiif.
.'J I; hind loc lunl claw, ..Vj ; claw alone, .li'i.
I-hmfr (I7,7;J(», .M,.nic Wnic, Cnlm, .May li ; (J. \Vn,i,hi). AIm.v sIc..|-M,i,., less flossy
lliiin ni llic male, and Urmuuu-^ liislivl,.ss .lark sniolvy-hi-own ..n the lorehead Head
lalei-allyan.l I.^mmIIk wilh jn-nhini and sides, nnifonn l,r..wnish-i-av (with.,„t darker
sIimKs „r !if.i,ler l.or -s to feathers, as i„ .„/,/..) ; whole aluloiuen, anal rcfrion, and criss,,,,.
snowy-white, ineludin- ll„. shafts. Wiii^, .V-lil; tail, '.'^sil ; fork of tail, .70 deep.
_ Von,,, n,.,h (l(),;!(;,S, Cap,, K|,„.i,|a, May IS, IS.'.S; f}. Wmdt mn). Si,„ilar to the
leniale, l.iit th.' st,.el-hlne above nmre hrillianl and c.iiliinioMs, the forehead and win..-s
beni- nearly as lustr.Mis as the hark ; throat, and JnMnlmn mixed with .steel-Mne lealheis
.m.lerwsMUi with so,,,.. i;.alh..is .,f sl.M.|-hl„.. honleiv.l with whitish, \Vi„.^ ,:,4U- fiii'
2.!)(); r.M'k ..f fail, .8(1 ,I,.,.p.
IIaii. (•,,ha, an. I Kloiida K.'vs? (P.'ihaps Ualianias.)
Tlii.s species litis ti close e.Kteiiiiil ivseiiihliiiin" to /'. snhi^, fur wliidi it has
usiiiilly been iiiistiikcii. It is ..f iictrly the same si/e, iiiit tlu; feet tire disimj-
liortioimtely siimller iin.l weiiker; while Mie wiiigs are shniter, the tail is as
loiit,' tiii.l more deeply IWike.l ; tlu! letttliers ennsi,|,.fal,ly i,aiT..\v,.iMiii.l more
iittemiated (the outer .40 wi.le, iiisfeiid of .4(1). Thi; eulois al.,)ve aiv iii.,ri
hrilliiiiit, luid e.xteiid more over the ,i,'reiiler wiiiir-eoverts and liiiino „f wino-s,
while the (piills and tiiil-ieiithers have ii richer j-lo.ss of i.urplish" chiinoii",o'
to ,e;reeiiish. An .ipptirently o-ood diiiono.stic feittiire is the coiicetiled pure
whitt! of the feiithers al.oiit the anal reojons, ivplaced in .sv/A/.s l,y orayisii,
rarely iipproximatine; to whitish.
A I'mpie eoUecteil i.y Mr. Wri-lit, at Monte Verde, is duller in color than
that from IJemedios, lint has .still more coiicaleil white l.elow, in the median
portion, not only of the anal feathers, l.iit of tlio,se of the entire cri.ssiun and
of the belly. A female bird, which I presume to be the same species, can
sciircely be <listinj,'tiished from the female of (hynrnnrensU, except in the
brownish shafts of the lonoer cri.s.sid feathers, and an almost imiu-rceptible
tin-e of brownish in the webs of the .stinic feathers. It is tdmost e.Ktictly
like the /'. Inuv(jiisl,'r of Mexico and Central America.
This species is included in the North American fauna in eoiise(pi(.iice of
the capture of a specimen (Ko, l(),;!(iS ^ j,n:, May l.S, I.Sn.Sj at Cape Flor-
ida, which is with scarcely a doiilit refertil,le to it. This spinmiien is a
youn- male in its second year, so thtit it is ditiicult to ascartain positively
Its relationshii. to the two idlied s])ecies ; but tis it a-rees perfectly in its pro-
portKms with vr!iptolcHm,-Am\ its j-himaoe dillcrs from the corresponding (uie
ot suhi>i m essential respects, we Iitive little hesitation in referriii-.- it to the
for liter. "
Nothing distinctive is recorded as to the habits of this bird.
334
XUUTII AilEiaCAX liiiins.
1M333
Gfnus PETROCHELIDON. ( auams.
Pctrochclidiw, V\\\. Miis. llciii. isrid, IS')!, 47. (Type, lliruinlii mcldwijaster. Swains.
•= ]'. KirdiiiMiiii, ScL. )
(li;x. CiiAli. Bill .-itoiit iiiul ilci'ii, soiiicwliiit iis iij Pnit/ne. Nostiil.f oiitirely snporior,
o|)oii, without o\xTliiuij,'iiij(
iiifiiiliriuu' on tlif iiiiKU' (or
iipiicr) sitlo, but .soinowlmt
ovorliiiii},' liy short hristlo.s,
si'i'ii also aliiiiif liiise of iiiiicr
niaiiilililo and in I'hin. Lc<,'s
stout ; the tarsi .short, not ox-
I'L'oilinj; the middle too exclu-
sive of its eluw ; leathered all
round liirliasal third or I'ourth,
thoMjih no I'ealliers are insert-
ed on the posterior liiee. Tail
I'allinjr slmi't of the closed winirs, nearly sipiare i^r slii^htly ennuyinatc ; the lateral leathers
broa<l to near the ends, and not attenuated.
Of tliis ejoims as rostrictod we liave but one .species in Xdith America,
nltli(iuj,']i several others occur in tlie AVest Indies iiiul the southern ^.arts of
liie continent. All have the back steel-blue, with concealed streaks of white ;
tlie runii), ciissuni, and a narrow nuchal btiiid, and usu.illy the foreiiead,
chestnut.
^:^»\ ^
Pi irnrh, Inlon luiiifruiix.
Petrochelidon lunifrons, R-vikd.
CLIFF SWALLOW; EAVE SWALLOW.
Iliriniilo hinifninx, .Say, I.eiifi's Exp. II, 18'J;!, 17 (Kocky Mts.). Cassin ; B:ir,wr,t!, X. A.
Oul. I, 18")7, !M, pi. V, no. (i8-7;! (i^Ks). - liAO!l>, Birds N. Ami. ISSS, 3119. — l-AW-
I!i:n(i;, Ann. N. Y. Eye. 1801, :!17 (I'iuiiniia I!. I!. ; wintcrK - Vi;iiiiii.r,, I'r. liost. N. II.,
iSdi'. l.'^iil, •i7i) (iiii.uratiiiii ami liisl(iry). — l.iuin, I'r. I!. A. Inst. Woohvirli, IV, 18(54,
]() (I'.r. I 'el. : nesting'). -Coiu'i;!! & Si-cKi.r.v, 1'. I!. I{. XII, ii, 184 (Wash. Terr.). —
Dai.i. & liANNisrii!, •J7!> (Alaska). -- Coon-.i;, Orn. Cal. I, 187(), 104. — Samii-i.s, 2r.().
Pctriichdidon I. Baiiih, Heview, 18()4, ;288. //. o/ii/i.i; t'l.isro.N, 18-24. //. rcn/iiih-
liaiiKi, Afl). 18''4. Il.fiih-ii, l!ox. (not of Vii'.ii.i.or). — Acii. Orn iliof;. 1, pi. Iviii.
— lu. Birds Am. I, pi. xlvii. —Maxim. Vi\h. .lour. VI, 18r)8, 100.
Sp. f'llAR. (Xo. lS,:i22 (J.) Top of lie;id i;lossy Mack, with fri-ccnish lustre; hack and
scapulars similar, hut rather duller, ami somewhat sln^akeil hy the appearance (jf the white
sides of the feathers, — the bases of the Icallicrs, however, beiuii; phnnbeous. Chin, throat,
r.nd sides of head, ehestnut-l)rown, this oxtcndinu: round on the nape as a distinct con-
tinuous collar, whirh is bounde(l postei'iorly by dull L'rayish. The (■h<'stniit- dark''st on the
ehin, with a lich ])urplish tinuc. Riunp above and on sides palci' chesliml (sometimes fail-
infr iido whitish). rp|ici- tail-coverts <.'|-avish-br(iwn, eilLfed will: p.'dcr, liLrliler than the
plain brown of the wiiiLis and tail. Forehead, for the li'iij^th of the bill, ercamy-white,
somewhat lunate, or exti-ndiiif,' in an acute aii<,de, a little over the eye ; .i very narrow
blackish frontlet ; loral region dusky to the bill. A patt-'h of (flossy bluek in the lower part
HIIlUNDIXin.'K — TIII'J SWALLOWS, •^}^-y
of the breast, and n few Mack li'allu'is in tlic cxlrciiic diiii, llic latter soniPtiinc-i scarcclv
aiipi'cciablc. I'liilri' parls cliill wliili'. tiuLTril willi leililish-ui'av mi llic sMcs ami inside ol'
till' wiiij^s. Fcallicis ot'ciissuiii liiowiiish-uniy. cil^cil wilii wliitisii, with a liiiire otriilims
aiitcriorly (soiiicliiiics aiiiidst iiia|i|)r('i'ialiii'). Xcst ni' ii.iid, lined; luiill a^aiiisl rocks or
licaiiis; opening: sometimes circular, on the side ; somelimes open aliove ; e;,'L's spotted.
Total lon.s;lli, 5.1(1; winu', 4SM; tail, "J. Id, neaily even: ililVerencc of primary ipiills,
2.10; lenjrlli ofliill I'rom loreliead, .:!S. I'roni nostril. ."_'."), alomr j.'ape, .(id, wiillli, ."iO ; tarsu.s,
.48: niidtlli' toe and claw, .7-; claw alone, .22; himl toe and claw. .11 ; claw alone, .20.
II.vi!. i'lnlire I'niled Slates from Atlantic lo I'ai'ilic, mid aloin;- cenlral re;.noii lo Arctii;
Oi'caii anil Fort Yukon ; I'anaiua in winli'r. .Nol iioleil .at Cape St. Lucas, in Mexico, or
in West Indies.
TIrto is no (liirfi'dice iKitwocu flic sc.xij.s, Init tlm yomic; liinl is vci'v ilif-
t'ciiMit i'niiu till! luliilL 111 llii! lullowiiio jKirticiilars : the, slucl-liliu' aiioM'
is rt'iilacod liy n lustR'ies'^ (lusky-liruwn, llic rcutliers (cxccpl uii iicad)
liciiig mai'.i^iiKHl witli a ci'caiiiy tint ; tiic neck merely liiiocd with iiircms ;
the, throat lias only a diisUy sull'iision, and the chin is nuicli iiii.xcd willi
white ; the tVonlal jiatcii is oli.s(dcte.
A closely allied species tVom ATexico, /*. siniinsoiii (sixi Hainl, \U'\. Am.
IJii'ds, bSt;."), 211(1), po.ssibly yet to he i'ouiid near otir southern iiorder, dill'ers
as I'ollows : —
Frontlf't re<lilisli-white, with narrow band of likiek aloiiir iii>pci- iiiandililc . hnv/roiiK.
Frontlet chestnut-brown, without black at liii>e of iip|ier niaiidible. Size .smaller.
mriiiiisDiii.
Sonie<inies fas in 11,(127 9 iiiid 11,02.". <^ , Fort Rridoer) tin- Idack patch
extends iijiward, soiiiewiiat lirokcn, liow(!vcr, lo the liill.
Haiuts. The ciirly history ol' the (liiV Swallow must always remain in-
volved in sonic ohsciirity, so I'ar as concerns its nunilieis and distri'iiition
liet'oi'c the tirst scttlenieiit ol' the coiinlry, and c\cii down to the early }iortioii
of the present century. Its existciuH^ was unknown to Mr. Wilson, and it
was unknown to oliuu- naturalists until olitaincd iiy Say, in Lono;'s expedi-
tion to the liocky Mountains in 1S20. It is now known to occur nearly
tlirou,tj;hoiit Nortli Anieiica, and to breed IVom rennsylvania to the Arctic
reoions, and t'roni the .Vtlantic to the I'acilic. ^'ct to many parts ol' the
country it is a ""W-cc er, where, a few years since, it vas uitindy un-
known. It .seems to li> irohalilc thai at lirsl this specie -was to lie t'lMind
only in certain localities tiiai olfcrcd lavoialtlc jilaccs whcrcoii to I'oiistriict
tlieir nests. Where liioli linicstone cjills aiMuiml, these birds may have
always occurred, altlicu.uii esca]>in,o' idiscrvatioii.
in tlu' sanio yea.' that I.ono discovered this species amoiij.; tlu^ I'ocky
Mountains ( iS20), Sir .iolin Franklin's ]iarty also met with it between the
Cunilierlaiid Mouse and ImmI Knler|irise, and on the banks of Point Fake, in
latitude (lo". In .luiie, ISii.'i, a niimlicr id' these birds made their tirst aji-
pearance at Fort ('hijipewyan, and btiilt their nests under the eaves ot the
liou.«a This fort had then existed many years, and tri>diiio;-])osts had been
in existence a century and a hall, and yet this was the lirst inslance of its
336 XORTH AMKUICAN JUliDS.
])liiciii,n' itsolf iiiidcr tlio ]ir(itc(ti(in dl' man tliionyliont Mint wide cxtont of
tciTitoiy. Mv. Aii(liili(iii met witli tliis s[iecies iit llemleisuii, 0:1 tlie Ohio, in
ISl'). Two yi'ius liitei' lie I'uiind 11 colony breeding in Newport, Ky., which
dated baek to the same year. Several other colonies in that nci.n'hhorliood
also first appeared in the .same year. In 1837 i reei'ived their e,u;j;s from
Coventry, \'t., at which 'ime they were a new species to me. They were
there known as the '" I-lave Swallow," and the time of their first apjiearance
could not he determined. I first met with them in 18:!!), at JaflVey, X. II.,
where they had made their first apiH'arance the year hef'ore, anil were not
then known to be anywhere t-lse in that vicinity. The same year I r.ter-
wards foinul them in lUirliiij^ton, Vt., where they had been known only for
three years. When or where they first appealed in ^lassiiclmsetts is not
known. I first observed a larye colony of tiiem in Attlelioroiifih in 1842.
Its size imlicatcd the existence of these liirds in that ])lace for .several years.
Tlic same year they also ai)peared, apjiareiitly for the first time, in Ijoston,
llinyham, and in other ]ila('es in the iiei,niiborlioo('.
In 1824, l)e Witt Clinton read a paper to the New York Lyceum, stating
that he had met with the.se birds at Whitehall, X. Y., at the southern end of
Lake Chaiii]ilain, in 1817, alxmt the time of their first a])iieaiance on the
Ohio; and li\'v. Zadock Thompson met with tluiiii in Randolph, Yt., at about
the same period. (Jeneral Dearliorn noticed them for the first time in Win-
throp. Me., in ISod. They first apj'cared at Carlisle, Penn., in 1841.
Professor Yerrill discovered, in 18(11, a large colony of these birds breeding
on the high limestone cliffs of Anticosti, appari'iitly in their original condi-
tion, and entirely removed frnin the influences of man. Tliis suggested an
in([uiry as to their early ]ireseiK'e in Xortheasteru .Viiieiica. from the in-
formati<in he received, lu^ was led t(,) (Mjiicludc! tiiat tliis Swalhnv was known
to certain ]iai'ls of Maiiu^ earlier than its first discovery anywhere in the
We.st. AVliether these birds were indigenous to the West t>v not cannot now
be determined. That they wert! discovered tiiere only so reciuitly as 1820
|)rovcs iiiithing. U'e only know that in certain Incalities — such as llock
liivcn" <in the ^fississippi, and at Anticosti on tiie St. Lawreiire — their occur-
rence in large nnmliers i'l their former nornial condilion of independence
suggests in either locality an ecpially remote liegiuning. It is ]iossible, and
even iiroliable, tliat in favoralile localities in various parts of the country they
existed in isolated colonies. The sctllement of the country, and the multi-
])lication of convenieiii, sheltered, and safe jilaces fbr their nests, gradually
wrought a cliangi' in their liabits, and greatly multiplied tiieir niimliers. At
St. Stephen, X. I'., and in that neiglib(uliood, Mr. Pioardiiian found this
s]iecies as abundant in 1828 as they have been at any time since. They wen;
then very plentiful under the eaves of several olil barns in that jiart of the
country. Yet twelve years afterward they were entirely unknown on the
lower Keiinebeclc.
Ih'. Coojier fonud this to be an abundant s])ecies in California, on the
HIIUTNDINID.l': — THE SWAIJ.OWS. 337
mast, wlipre tlicv ln'cod on tlio clills, iiiid liavc^ nil tlic iipiPi'avaiici' nf Ikmii^-
iii(li;4eiK)U.s. Tlicy ii]i]ieiii- iit San Difyn as eaily as Mairli !."), a wtx'k l)i>f'or(!
the IJurn Swallow, and do not iwivc nnlil OcIoIkt. Tlioy Imild men in tlio
noisy streets of San Fnuicisco. I)r. ('o(]])er observed lliciu calcliiiiL^' yonni,'
grasslio]i])ers, wliich is certainly niinsnal food lor Swallows, and one Uiat lias
proved fatal to yonnj; IJarn Swallows wlieii fed to tlie latter in continenienl.
At Santa Cruz they bred as early as April 12, and had second liroods July '>.
The nests of this Swallow, when built on the side of a elilV or in any ex-
j)osed position, are eonstrneted in the sha])e of a retort, the lar.uer [lortiou
adhering to the wall, arched over at the toj) and projectin.^' in front, witli a
covered passage-way o])ening at the tiottoni. The normal original nest, in a
state of nature, is an elaborate and remarkably ingenious structure shelter-
ing its inmates from the weathe. and from their many enemies. Since they
]iave sought the shelter of man and built under the eaves of barns and houses,
the old style of their nests has been greatly changed, and the riitort-like shape
has nearly disapi)eared.
In building and in re])airing their nests they work with great industry, and
often conii)lete their task with wonderful celeiity. Where they exist in a
large colony, it is not an uncomnuni thing to see several birds at work ui)ou
the same nest, — one liird, aj)parenlly the female owner, always assisting and
directing the whole. After the work of coristruction has gone so far as to
permit the occujiation of the nest, it is ofttui to be observed tliat tlie task of
completing and improving the, structure is kept up by tlu; male. In a large
eoh)ny of these Swallows, whose nests wen; built iinder the projecting roof
of a barn in a small island in tlu^ Hay of I'Vudy, every nesi was as open as are
those of the ISarn Swallow. These liirds hail been eneouiagtMl to build liy
the owner, and boai'ds had been ]ilaced almve and lielowtlieir nests, of which
they at once took advantage to build an unusual nest. These nests are
made of various kinds of adhesive earth and mud. They are neatly and
warmly lined with line dry grasses and leaves, intermingled willi I'eatheis,
woo], and other soft, warm substances. It has been thoughl that the mud
of which these nests are composed is agglutinated liy the saliva of tlie
birds; lint of this I liavi' ne\ei' lieen able to detect any exideiice in ihe nests
themselves, the criimliling nature oj' wiiich wiieii dry is against this supposi-
tion ; and tlu^ birds tiienisehes ai'e of en to \n'. seen about puddles of water,
apparently gathering materials.
When the nests of a large colony are in\aded,the birds manifest great un-
easiness, collecting in a swarm over the head of I lie intruder, wheeling around
in circles, uttering loud outcries, and e\-en Hying close to his head, as if to
attack him, with loud snap]ping of the liills.
The song of this Swallow is an unmusical creak, radier tlian a twitter,
I'recpuMit rathe)' tha 1 loud, and occasionally harsh, yet so earnest and genial
in its expression that its effect is far from being unpleasant.
The ground-cuh)r of their eggs is while, and they are marked with dots,
■i;i
338
XORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
blotches, and points of nMldish-brown. These markings vary greatly in size,
number, and distribution. Tiiey are usually chiefly about the larger end.
In .shape they are u.sually less elongated than those of the liarn Swallow, and
their markings are larger. This is not, however, invariable, and the two
kinds are not always distinguishable. In length they vary from .875 of an
inch to .75, and their average breadth is .60.
(J EX us HIRUNDO, Linn.
Ilirundo, LlSN. Sy.st. Xat. 1, Idth .mI. 17.58, 191. (Type, 77. rmlim, I, inn.)
Under the generic head of Hirurulo I propose to combine several groups
of American Swallows
agreeing in moderate,
dei)ressed bill, with
straight commissure,
and lateral nostrils
overhung by mem-
brane; the tarsi feath-
ered only at the upper
end, or else entirely
bare; the lateral claws
moderate, not extend-
ing lieyond the base
of the median ; the edge of the outer primary ^vithout hooks ; the tail varia-
ble in cliaracter, from a very deep fork to a slight emargination only.
Subgenera.
Tarsi sli<:litly foathero.l m, inner faro at upp'T end ; equal ii, length to niidcUe toe
without elaw. ,„ ,
Tail verv deeply lork(>il .....■•
Tail .sh.Lihtly forked or einarirmate ..•■•■• ' ■>
Tar.=i entirelv naked; lenplhened equid to middli" toe and half its elaw.
Tail cousidei-ablv lorked ...••■•
Uininilo horrfoTinn.
SuHdKxrs HIRUNDO, bixN-
Okv. CnAR. Xostrils lateral. Tarsi .short, not exeeodinfr niiddl.' toe without its elaw ;
the upper joint .'oveivd with feathers, whii'h extend a short distance along the iunor faeo
of tarsus. ' Tail very deepiv forked; the lateral feather niueh attenuated, twice M lon/r a.s
the middle. Hasai joint i.f mid.lle toe free for terminal fourth on outside, for halt on
inside. Nest partly of muil. and lined with feathers; eir^'s spoiled.
In type, and in Ameriean .speei.^s. the lorohead and thnuil rufons; a I. lack pectoral collar ;
tail-feathers with lar^o li.irht spots on inner wehs.
1 ('. ,;i<i,inn-ii-idls, liiiVANT ; I'.Mlin, Hev. :'.o:! (lialiamas).
HIIiUNUINID.K— Tin: SWALLOWS. 3;^(j
Iiut one sj)ecies, so tar as known, of tliis ,snl>^cnus as restricted, lu'lonj^s
to America. There are, however, qnite a niunber known in tlie Old World.
Hirundo horreorum, Uakton.
BARN SWALLOW,
Iliruudo hirrrcorinii, IJakton, Fnigim'iit.s X. 11. I'cmiii. 17!i!>, 17. — H.viui), IJiids N. Am.
1858, :W8; licv. 294. —A. & K. XKwroN, Ibis, l^.-iil, (5(i (.Stii. Ciiiz ; tiiuisicut). —
SiLATF.i! & S.vi.viN, lliis, 18,'iy, 13 ((luatiMiialiO. — S( LviKli, r. Z. S. 18(U, 173 (City
dl' Me.\.) — Lawuk.ni i;, \\\\\. N. Y. Vac. I8t!l, .!ltj ( I'liiiiiina). — Cnni'KU & .Sicki.kv,
1'. U. K. licii. XH, 11, 184 (south of Colutiibia liivvi). - DAi.t. >t 1!a\msti:ii, U7y
(Aliiska). — CoiifKli, Orii. < 'al. \, 1870, l(l;i. — .Sa.ml-ki.s, 254. Uii'iindo ni/n, Vli;iLl,.
— Cassis, HI. — lii!i;\vi-.i;, X. Am. Ool. I, 1857, 91, (il. v, li-;. t):{-(i7 (I'g'^'s). — C'au.
Juiir. IV, 1850, 3 (Cuba ; siniiig and aiitmmi). - I!i:iniiai;iit, Iliis, 18(>1, 5 ((iicciilaiiil ;
two .speeiiuciis). — OfMiE.Arii, Cab. .lour. 18i!l, 328 (Culia ; coimiuou). Uiruiiil.o
amn- k(i lut, Wihsos ; I'lcii ; La.mhioyi;, Avcs dc Cuba, lS5o, 44, laiu. vii, lig. 2. //('•
rundu riisliai, Ari). Oiii. lUog. II, jil. cLxxiii. In. liiiils \m. I, jil. .\lviii. — Jones,
Nat. Hist. Boriiiuila, 34 (Ik'i'iuudas ; .Vug. and Sept.).
Sp. Char. Tail very ilfcply fdi-kcil ; oulur t'catliuf.s suvt.Tid u.idiu.s loiiguf than the iiiiioi',
very iianow towaids tho oiid. Above _._
glossy bhio, with coiiccaUMl white in
the niiddl<' ol'tlie bark. Tlii'oat eliest-
iiut ; rest of lower paft reddish-whife,
not (.'onspicuously dilVeielit. A .steel-
blue eollar on the upper part of the
breast, interrupted in tho middle. Tiiil-
lealheis with a white .spot near the
luiddk', on the iiuief web. Female
with the oiitei- tail-ti'athei- not cpiite
so long. Length, (i.DO inches; wing,
5.00 ; tail, 4.50.
Hah. Whole of the I'niled States; ^ i^fci^^"^ "^^
noi'th to Foi't liae, Slavi; Lake; (ii-een- ^^*^^tt^|E^?^"^° '°^^'-^\J?[. ]^^?^^^
land; south in wintei-toCeiitial .\ineri- irimmin hnrmmnn.
ea and West Indies ; I'anatua (Lawk.);
rialeau of .Mexico (liieed.s, Sl-.MicMi!A>;r) ; Vei'agua, Chii'iipii (Saiain). Not found at Cape
St. Lucas. South Anu'ricay
In younj,' Inrds, tho frontal chustiuit hand is smaller and loss distinct.
It Is still a ([iiestion whether a South American resident si)ecies (//. a-if-
thriHjoder) is identical or not. The only two specimens of the latter (21,007
and iU,008, Vermejo, Feb., IHGO ; ('. Wooil) have a very nuich less violaceous
upper jdnmage than ^'ortll American e.\ami)lcs, the blue above having
even a oreeni.di tinge. They are moalting, unfortunately, so tliat they cannot
be satisfactorily com]iared ; except in the resjiect iiointed out, however, they
appear to be identical witli Nortli An.crican exam])les.
The European H. rHx1iv(t is ])crfectly distiiut, thougli closely allied. It
dill'era essentially from the ximericau //. horreorum iu much longer outer
340 NiiUTIl A.Mi;i{l('AN lilUDS.
tail- It'll tliors, and in Iiavinij; a very lnoad, continiKiits ndlar of sti-fd-bliiu
across till' juyiiliiiii, ciitiridy isoliiling tlio cdicstnut ol' tlai tiiroal ; tliu abdo-
iiicii a|i|)('ais to lie imu'li iiiori! wliitisli tlian in tlic Anu'i'icau species.
Many s|)ecina'ns of H. Iiurrcoritin show a conlinudus cii'lar, but tlien tlie
twolaleral iicsfents arc liiit just barely conncctetl. lu No. :>.,\\)\ 9,('arli.sle,
I'enn., J\lay, llien! is an indication of as broad a collar as in tlie Kuro|ieaii
sjiccies; but tiu! aica, lliou.^li sliarjily iioiinded, is nut uniformly black, beinj,'
niucli nn.xcd centrally witli lij^lit rufous.
Specimens of IF. /lormiriuit from both coasts of North America appear to
be perl'ectly identical.
JI.MilTs. No one of all our Xortli American birds is more widely dilfused,
more iicnerally aliun<lant, wherever found, or better known, than the graceful
and familiar IJaiii Swallow. ^Vnil no one is nioi'e iiuiversuUy or more
deservedly a fa\iirite. Found throughout >i'orth America from Florida to
tlreenland and I'rom ocean to ocean, and breeding nearly throughout the
same wide e.vtent, its distribution is nnixersal. W'litui'ing with a confiding
trust into our crowded cities, and l)uilding their ehiborute nests in the
porches of the dwellings, as well as entering in greater numbers the barns
and farm-])uildings of the agriculturists and placing them.selves under
the ]irotectiou of man, thtty rarely fail to win for themselves the inti'rest and
good-will they .so well deserve. Innocent and blameless in tlu'ir lives, there
is no evil blended with the many btMiefits they cmiier on num. They are his
evei'-constaut benefactor and friend, and are never known, even indirectly, to
do him any injury. For their daily IVxxl, and for that of their offspring,
they destroy the in.sects that annoy his cattle, injure liis fruit-tree.s, sting
his fruit, or molest his person. Social, affectionate, and kind in their inter-
course with each other ; faithful and devoted in the discharge of their conju-
gal and parental duties ; exemplary, watchful, and tender alike to their own
family and to all their race ; .syni]iathizing and benevolent wlicn their fel-
lows arc in any trouble, — tliese lovely and beautiful l)irds are l)right e.\am-
]ilcs to all, in their blameless and useful lives.
'i'his Swallow passes the winter mnnlhs in Central and South America as
far south as ihiizil and I'aiaguay, and tiie West Indies, and is found through-
out lh«'ycar in tiie Plateau of Me.vico. It appears in the Southern States
in .March, and in the Central States early in April. In the latter ])artof this
month it reaches New York and Xew Kngland, becoming abundant near
liosioii aliout the first of May. Sir dohn Itichardson found tiiem breeding
as far noith as latitude (17° :'>(•'. They reacheil Fort Chippewyan, latitude
57', as eaily as the l.^lh o|' ,M ay, taking possession of their nests. It has
been found tliroiigli<iut Canada and in all the British Provinces, has been
met with in New Mexico, and is comm<in in certain ])ortions of Texas and
the Indian 'rcriil(ay. I »r. Cooper states it to be less abundant on the I'acitic
than on the Kastcrn coast, — a fact altril)Uta!ile to the lack of suitable places
in which to Imild. A;o .settlements have multiplied, tiiese birds liiive gradu-
HIIUINDINID.K- Tin: SWALLOWS. 34I
ally increased uliuiit t'linii.s iiciiv tlie coiist. In the wild districts tliey build
in the caves llialalimind in the lilulls alunj;- the .sea-shore I'nmi San Domingo
to ('i)lund)ia liivin-. Dr. Suckley I'ound tlieni also moderately almndant
aliout tiu! hasidtic clitVs, near Kort Dalles, Oregon. They are nmch more
abundant aliout the coast than t'artlier inland.
Mr. Iiidgway I'onnd tliis Swallow a very common s])ecies in all the rocky
localities in the vicinity of water, lait not .so numerous as tlie liinij'rona.
In May it was particularly numerous in the neighborhood of I'ynimid
Lake, where its nests wi-re biiilt among the " tufa domes," attached to the
roofs of the caves. It was .seldom tliat more than one or two j)airs were
found togetiier.
In July he found a ne.st that contained young, in a cave among the lime-
stone dill's of the cafnais of the Ivist Humboldt Mountains, at an altitude
of about eight thousand feet. Many of their nests were fouml in May, in
the caves of the tufa rocks, on the shores of ryramid Lake, as well as on
the ishinds in tlie lake.
Mr. Hepburn writes that he found this Swallow widely dilfused along the
Pacilic coast, as far to the nortli as Sitka. In ("alifornia he found it very
local, common near the coast, rare inland. Its earliest a])])carance is March
2(j, the great bulk leave iu August, and the last stragglers are gone before
the last of September. They breed iu caves and crevices of rocks, and also
under the sides of the wooden bridges that span the gullies at San Francisco.
Two broods are hatched in a year. The earliest egg was found on the .'lOth
of April, l)ut tlu'v are usually a fortnight later. The second laying is about
the first of July, and no eggs were found later than the 4tli of August. It
is at all times (|uite conuuon to iind nests with fresh eggs close to others
with half-grown young.
Mr. J. K. Lord publishes an interesting account of a visit made by a s(di-
tary pair of liarn Swallows to his jiarty when encamped at Schyakwateen,
in IJritish Colundiia. A small shanty, loo.sely built of ])oles, and tightly
rool'ed, was in constant use as a lilacksmith's sliojt. Early one summer
m<u-ning late in ,\\\\\v, a pair of Swallows juMclied on the roof of this siied,
without exhibiting the slightest fear of the noise made by tlie bellows or the
showers of sparks tliat Hew all around. I'ri'sently they entered tlie house
and carel'uUy examined the roof and its supporting poles, twittering to each
other all the wliile in the mo.st excited manner. At length the impculant
(piestion ap])eared to be setthd, and the I'oUowing day tliey commenced
building on one of the j)oles immediately over the anvil. Tlumgh the ham-
mer was constantly ])assing close to their structure, these birds kt.'jjt steadily
at their work. In about three tlays the rough outline of the nest had been
constructed. Curious to see Irom whence they procuretl their materials, jMr.
Lord tracked them to the stream where, on its edge, they worked up the
clay and tine sand into a kind of mortar with their beaks. They worked
incessantly, and in a few days their nest was tiuished, the mud walls having
342 NOKTII AMKUICAN IflRDS.
tiiiiilly Lei'ii waniily liiiod witli soft dry ji;rii.sse.s ami tin; loiitliurs iukI down
of ducks and ^'I'u.st'. Tliis tiustlul ]iair seoiiiiMl to know no Icar. Tlio
narrator often stood on a loi,' to watdi tlicni, witli liis face ko near that
tliL'ir foatliurs fri'ijiicntly lini.slicd against it as tlicy toikul at tlaur work.
Soon the nest was completed. Five ej^'j^s were laid, wiucli were never left
oneo uncovered until they were hateheil, the female sitting the j,'reater i)art
of the time. They were fed witli great assiduity by the ])arents, and grew
ra]>idly. In leaving tlie nest, two of tlie young hirds fell to the ground, hut
were jiicked u\) by the hlacksnuth, and jdaced with tiie others on tlieir
roosting-i)lace. A few ilay.s' training taught them the use of their wings,
and they soon after took their de]>arture.
Professor Keinliardt records its occurrence in (Jreenland, at Fiskemussct
and at Xenontalik.
The natural l>reeding-]>laees of ihese lards, before the settlement of the
country, were eaves, overhanging rocky elill's, and similar localities. Swal-
low Cave, at Xahant, was once a favorite place of resort, and in the unsettled
portions of llu^ country they are only I'ound in such situations. As the
country is settled they I'orsake these places i'or the buildings of the farm,
and tlieir nninliers rajiidly increase. In the fur countries and in all the
Pacific coast, they still breed in and inhabit caves, chiefly among limestone
rocks.
Wlien^ the op])ortunity oflers, they ]>refer to iilace their nests on the hori-
zontal rafttds of barns. P)uilt in this situation, flie nests have an average
height and a breadtli of aiuiut fi\e inches. The cavity is fwo inches deep
ami three! inches wide, at the rim. TIk; nests arc. constructed of distinct
layers of mud, from ten to twelve in number, and each .sejiarated by strata
of fine dry grasses, 'i'liese layers are each made up of small jiellets of mud,
that have been worked over by the birils and jilaced one by one in ju.xtaposi-
tiiai until eacli layer is complete. The.se mud walls are an inch in thickness.
When (hey are com]ileted, they are warmly .stuffed with fine soft grasses
and lined with downy featliers. \\'lien iaiilt against the side of a Ikjusc, a
strong foundation of mud is tii'.st constructed, up(ai which the nest is erected.
In this case the nest is much more elongate in shape and more strongly
made.
A striking peculiarity of tlie.st! nests is freciuently an extra jdatform, built
against, but distinct from tlie nest itself, designed as a roosting-place for
the parents, used liy one during incubation at night or wiien not engaged in
procuring food, and by liofli \\lieM th(i young aiv; large enougli to occupy the
wliolc nest. One of thi'se I found to be a separiile structiin; from tlu; iiest,
but of similar materials, tliree inches in length and one and a half in breadth.
This nest had been for several years occupied by the same pair, tiiough ntaie
of their ofl'spring ever returned to the same roof to breed in tlieir turn. Yet
in some instances a.-< many as fifty i)airs have been known to occujiy the
rafters of the same barn.
inUUXDINin.K - TIIK S\V.\I,I,()\VS .....
Til one iiistniico Ur. Allen luis known n ])iiir „C (lu-sc Swallows to take
possession of tlie nest, of a pair of ('lilf Swallows, i)Iacu(l niidcr tlif caves
of a l.ai'11, (Irivino off the ri,iilitfnl owners. The next year lliev iaiilt a nest
in tlie same plaee, the (.Id one liavin^ fallen (h.wn. Mut .leh inslanees are
rare, and tiu! atteni|)t is often a i'ailnre.
Tlu^ wonderful aetivity of iliis hird, its rapidity and jtowers of flinlit, are
too strikiiin; a ].eeuliarity of tiiis species not to lie mentioned. Kurini,^ iheir
.stay \vith us, i'roni l\Iay to Septcinlicr, from morn to ni^lit tliey .seem to he
ever in motion, csjiccially .so before iiiculiation, or after their youii;,' have
flown. The rapidity of their tortuous evolutions, their intricate, involved,
iind re])eated y.h^y.nn lliuhts, are alto-ether inde.serihal.le, and mu.st he wit-
nessed to be a])preciated. Wilson estiniateil that these birds (ly at the rate
of a mile a minute, but any one m'Iio has witne.s.sed the ease and celerity with
which they seem to deli,L;Iit in ovci'takin|.r, i.assin,^, and rejiassiiig a train of
cars moviuj.' at the rate of tin'rty miles an hour must ivalize tiiat this esti-
mate is far from doin,i;- full justice to their real speed.
The son,^ of this Swallow, especially when on the wing, is very ploasinir
and sin'ij^htly. It is a succession of twitteriuu- notes uttered with great
rapidity and animation. Wlien alighted, their notes are delivered more
slowly and with mucli less animati(Mi.
The ..' eiitioii oftlie.se birds to each other when sitting ui.on the nest, and
to their young when hatched, is unremitting. The estimated numbers of
small insects they coHect for their own consumption ami that of their nest-
lings is almo.st incredible. Wlien the pmng are ohl enough to leave their
nests the maiKcuvres of the parents to draw them out, and tiicir assi.stancc
to them when jmictising their first short llights, an; among the most curi-
ous and interesting .scenes one can witness in his ornithological experi-
ences. ; but space wouhl fail me were I to attempt their details."
The number of the young is fnun four to six, and there are often two
broods in a. season. As soon as the second brood can lly, or early in Septem-
ber, they i.ll prepare to leave. They usually collect in flocks of from one
to .several hundred, and dejiart within a few days of their Hrst assembling,
r^rge Hocks pass along the coast of Massachusetts, from the north and eas't,
early iii .September, often uniting us they meet, and passing rapidly on.
Their eggs have a ground-color of clear wiiite, with a ro.s(.ate tint when
nublown. They tire marked witii spots of reddish and ].urplish-browii, vary-
ing in size and number, and chiefly at tlu^ larger end. Tlu.y are smaller and
niore elongate than those of the /i'inj)vtis,;un\ the markings are usually finer.
Their greatest length is .!)4 of an inch, their least .7^, and their mean .78.
Tiieir mean breadth is .5(j of an inch, the greatest .(lL^ and the least .5U.
344
NORTri AMEUIUAN BIRDS.
^'^^-- ■ " ISO;.
Ilinni'ln l/iiitasuhin.
SiM.M.:.M-s TACHYCINETA, r.vn.
T<,r/n,,n„>„, Cah. .M„s. Urhu Ur.n, 18,1], 48. (Typr, //. /M„ssi„„, Sw.)
r.FN. ('MAM, .Voslrils l„t,.n,l, ov..,Im„,,. or l,„n|pro,l int,.m«lly l,y in..Mn,l„.nt. M,<.ml,rnnP.
Tiiisi with tlic tibial Joint covoivd l.y ovorlmii.i,'-
iiiu' Ibiitlicis, lulliurciit. u siiort (li.stan<'<' nloMfr
iiiMiM- liic<., about 0(|iial to middln too without
'law. I,atonil toes o(|iinl. A<llicsioii of basal
Joint or iniiMIc toe variablo. Tnil cniarfrinato
> 1^ "Illy, oi-slio-hily i;,rl^,„l ; tbi-|< not t'x,;-i;\\w^ half
\ an inch in depth. Color blue or ^-ccn above.
with or without uu'tallic^ yloss ; with or witli-
v,,„ „ . , , , '"" ''■'''"■ '■"'"!'• Kiitiivly while bonuath,
Act nsnally in linlo.. of trc.s or ronks; r.^<r^ pun. while, unspotted.
or this ,.ection there are two Nortli Aineri,;an .species, difleriiijr as follows
l-iotli l)eiiig <,'reeii above ami wliite lieiieatli : —
Species.
Plumn-e nbove .«,{) and v..|v.>ty wilhoiii mctalH,. .-loss. Side, of head <,paoe
nniiiud eyes, and whol.. under part.., while ; with the feathers all pliuubeou.s at
I'aso. iMMiiale duller in pliuna.Lre. Yoini- with ba.ses of throat-feathers L'rav to
roots. *' •
T. thalassina. .Vbove velvety--reeii, with various shades and tin-es of
violet and purple. '"
Pluinnn-e above eonipaet, ami with ri,-h -.ven inetallin .jloss. Sides of head to
line with eys like its upper part, lieiiealh while; tjie (i.athers of eliin and
tIn-oat and nvuerally of erissuin, white to base. A ..oueealed .spot in ju-uluiu.
J-oniale .hill.'r. Vouucf Avith bases of thmat-feathers pinv white to roots.'
T. bicolor. Above inetallic-reen. Inside of wings aii,l a.xillars asli-,..olor.
Hirundo bicolor, Vwah.
WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW.
//mn,an hichr, V.kim,. (Us. .Am,. Sq.t. I, 181.7, Ol, ,.1. xxxi.-Arn, On, Hio-- I pi
.xevui. -In. Muds Am. I, pi. .xhi. -Cassin. - linKWKii, N. ,\m. ()„1. I, isr??, loi)
pi. IV, li;;. 17 (e.i,'j,'s). - I,r:.Miu.vi:, Avcs de Ciihn, LSod, 4(>, lam. vii, \v, '•> - |i\,ri,'
nnils \. A,i,. ]S.-,8, :iin. - I.om,, l>r, 1!. A. Inst. Wo.ihviel,. IV. ]8ii4, h", (lir. c.j,,',,,'
Ilia; ii'-^ti»K)-— Jo.SKs, l!,.,niiida.s, :j((Scpt. 22, 1840). — t'ooi'i;i!.t.Si-eK,,i V p ]{ l;
II'P. XII, n, lS4.-I)A,,i,.t ManxisikI!, 27i) (.\laska). .Samiki.s, 2.-;7. - - c'mm'i-ii'
"ill. C'al. 1, 1870, 10(i. J'i/i-»c/it-h;ij,it hiru/iir, Si'\,wKV., V.'/j.S 18.".7 ''()] -I,, IS",!)'
■I.i4 (.\alap„V _ Sei.ATKii /c .Sai.vin, Ibis, IS.",!., 1:! ((iuatmnda). r„'h,a„r/„ /,/,.,X'
Cam. Mus. Hein. 1S.-;(I, 48 ; .lour. Oin. 18,1(i, 4 (C.ilia). - (!rM„,Arn, ,Ioiir. On, I8.il'
;!--iO (.■..iiiiimii ill Cnba). /finnulo {rm-l,,/an^/n) hichn; Haiiii., liev. Am. 1?. lS.i4|
296. lliriimlo riri.li.i, Wn.s. llinuidu Iciicoijaster, .Stki-iik.ss.
S,. CuAii. (;iossy inetalli- bluish-reen above ; ..nlirely white lieneath. Female duller
111 <'olor. I.eiijrili, (i,2.-, iii,.|„,,;;; „.|,,„,^ ,-0,). ,,,i|^.j,i5_
Young bird dull .sooty-gray above, mueh lik.. that of //. thalnH^ma ; but may rea.lily b.-
HIRUNUINID.E — TIIK SWALLOWS.
345
Hiriiiidii biailor*
(listinffiiislicil liy tin" fi'alli<'rs nl' llic lliront licintr imic wijiU' to tlicii' rncils, instead ol'luiv-
inif llio coiicfiilcil liasi's o|-ayisli as in that sprcii's.
k Had. Wliolc Lliiiti'il States, ami liollli tn Slave I.aUe, sniitli to (iiialeliiala; Ueiiiiiida ;
('uba, coiiimoii in wiiilei'. lirceds on talije-lands dl' Mexieo.
lI.MiiT.s. This Swallow litis (|iiiU' tin (jxtt'iiiluil distribution. Found
throu;,diout Xnrtli Anieriua in tlio sua.sons of its niijfnitions, or Ijivediny, it is
only ii littlo less riislrirtcd in its iirca of noslinj,' tluui the inccuding spucies.
It bi'oc'ds from Lititnde ;>.S' to
high Arctic, rej,'ions, and is tilso
rosidiMit thr(Ui<ilioiit tlio yctir in
the Plateau of Mexico. It is
abundant in winter in tiie West
Indies, in (Vntnil Anicricn, tmd
in Xorthern South Ameiica. It
is a coninion bird tibout IJoston,
whore it rcjJaces the Piir])le
Martin, and is even more abun-
dant in the liritish Provinces.
Dr. Cooi)er tilso found it a very
(joninion species in the western
portions of Washington Territory, where it was invariably found to breed
in hollow trees. In Ciiliforniii he states it to be a more or le.ss constant
resident, a few wintering in the .southern portion of the State. He met with
it both at Siui Diego tiud at Stockton, in Fi^bruary. He regiirds them as
the hardiest of the Swallows, preferring the coast and the mountain-tops
for their residence in thtit State. At Santa Cru/ live or si.\ pairs in l.S'iCi
were resident throtigii the winter, where he stiw them in Jiiiuiary during
the coldest of the se.ison. Tliey roosted in the knot-holes in the houses
in which they had ])reviously niised their young.
Tills Swallow, in tiie more thickly .settled ])ortions of the country in which
it breeds, exliil)its a marked depiirture in mtuiy of its habits from those
observed in wilder regions. In the latter jilaces we liiid it a comiiaratively
wild siiecies, avoiding the society of iiiaii, and breeding exclusively in hollow
trees iind stumps, and deserving the uaine l>y which it is known in tlu^ Brit-
ish Provinces, of the " Wood Swallow." In the islands of (iniiiil Meiian,
in 1851, where repeated attempts had been niiide to induce tliese hirds to
build in martin-boxes, the endeavor had l)een entirely unsuccessful. Yet the
birds weir so aliundant that hardly ii hollow tree or stum]!, on ccrtiiin of the
smaller isltuids, C(aild be found, thtit did not contain a nest of this species.
This is still the case on the Patfilic coast, though not exclusively so. It
was not until after the publication of his Ornithological P.iogr;i])hy that Au-
dubon was aware of any tU'imrture from this mode of nesting on the jtart of
this Swidlow, although it had not escaped the notice of AVilson.
In Eastern Massachusetts these birds have undergone an entire chtuige of
44
346 NORTH AMEIUCAN BIRDS.
habit, breeding Ihero oxcbisively in iniirtiu-boxes, iind iiiroly, if ever, nesting
in lidllow trees, — a tact iierliap.s attribiUalile to the scarcity ol' these opportu-
nities along the sea-coast, where this bird is principally found. In Wesi.rn
Massachusetts, Mr. AUcu states tliem to be not very common and the least
abundant of the Sw.dlow.s. Any sheltered and accessible l)o.\, however rough
it may be, will answer its iiiiri)ose. whether tlie more elaborate martin-house,
or a mere candle-bo.\ with an open end. Mr. Audubon ha.s known them to
drive away a Uarn Swallow from its nest, and to take possession, but this
was probably exceptional. In one ca.sc, two small houses Ibr birds put up in
the same yard were taken possession of by a single ])aii' of Swallows, and
nests built in each ; only one, however, of these was made use of. Whether
this freak was the result (;f indecision or from a grasping selfishness, it is
not po.ssible to conclude, but a]i[)areully the foriuer.
In the rural districts, even on the coast, these birds are not so abundant as
in the cities, as in the latter they are les^ annoyed by other birds. Tiie com-
mon liobiu is often especially aggressive, seeking to drive them olf his as-
sumed prenii.ses. In one in.stance the liol)iii has been known to .station him-
self on a platform in front of its nest for hours, and persistently refuse to
permit its visits. A.ssistance was sougiil, and all the Swallows in the neigh-
boriiood came to tlie rescue. They sailed with angry cries over the head of
the ollender, at times darting down ujion him as if to strike at him, but
accomjtlishing nothing. Tlie besieger maintained his ground until the writer
intervened and drove him away, when the Swallows once more took posses-
sion, and fed their hungry nestlings in ])eace.
This sjiecies Ijreeds from about latitudt! 08° to the extreme northern regions,
and along the Arctic seas, where\ ci' iacilities for nesting are found, liichard-
son found them lireediug in hollow trees on the Mackenzie IJiver, in latitude
G.j°. Everywhere on both coasts lliey are very connnon, but are less numer-
ous in the interior. Mr. Dall found it in Alaska from Fort Yukon to the seii.
It was known to the Kussians as the Iii^'cr Swidlow. It was also met with
in Sitka, by Uisciiolf. It has not been observed in (ireenland.
During the breeding-season this s])ecies is more (piarrelsome than any of
its kindred, and is often more than a n)atch for larger birds. Coming earlier
in the season than the I'urple Martin, it will often intrude itself into its
premises and maintain possession. They are devotedly attached to their off-
.sjn'ing, and i)ewail any accidents to them or any tlnvatened peril. The same
pair will return year aftiu- year to the same ]u-einises, an<I they soon become
on familiar terms with th'> memlu": s of a family they freiiuently meet, so
much so as to watcii, when they have received materials for their nests, for a
further sup])ly, and will lly cdo.se to the |ierson from whom they receive them.
A ])air which had thus, year alter year, received sup])lies of leathers for their
nests from the younger members of the family in wiiose yard their lU'st was
built, would almost take, them from thii hands of their providers. This ])air
sat so close as to permit themselves to be taken from their nest, and when
ITTRTJXDINIDyK — THE SWAIil-OWS. 347
rclciiriC'd would at oiicci ily luick to tluiir brood. Tliey build a loose, .soft, and
vv-arui lU'st of iiuo soft loaves and hay, aliuudautly lined with down a\id
feathers, with wliicli the ei^gs are not unfre(iuei,''ly covered. The addition
of st)ft and warm materials is oi'ten made iluring incubation, and the nest
is thorouL;hly repaired bel'ore it is used for a second brood, of which they
usually have two in a season.
The eggs are of a unilorni pure white, and are never spotted. They liave
a delicate pinkish shade l)efore tiiey are blown. Tliey are of an ol)long-ovid
sliajjc, one end more j.-inted than the other, and they vary considerably in
size. They vaiy in length from .75 to .875 of an inch, and in breadth from
.50 to .5().
Mr. Hepburn states that the great mass of tliese birds leave California in
August, lint that a few are resident during tlie winter. The |)rincipal acces-
sion to their numbers takes place about the end of February, and tiiey l)e-
come ([uite abundant by the end of March. In V^ancouver they are a month
later. In l.S5;> Mr. Ilepl)urn states that a. pair constructed tiieir nest in a
piece of canvass at the end of the yard-arm of a store-ship that lay off the
levee at Sacramento. He first noticed them on the 28tii of A]iril, when the
nest had already made some jirogress. V,y tlie lOth of j\Iay there were seven
eggs in it wliicli were sliglitly incul)ated. The Jiest was a great inass of
hay and dried grasses, in the midst of wliich was a cup shajied depression
very neatly lined witii feathers, sonu; ol' which bent over, forming a slight
dome.
Hirundo thalassina, Swains.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.
Iliriindn thnhisnuin, Swainsdn, IMiil. Miij;. I, 18-27, 3fi,') (^[l•xico). — Arn. — BiiEWF.R, N.
A. Oiil. 1, 1857, 102 (tlif lig. pi. V, lij;. Ixxiv of egi; licloiij,'s to nnolluT species). —
nAii;i>, lliiils N. Am. IS.'i!*, 311. — I.ohd, I'r. It. A. Inst. Woohvieli, IV, ISiU, U')
(Vuiiccmver Isl. ; nests in holes of trees). — ('(>(iri:it& Sii'ki.kv, P. R. K. It'^p. XII,
n, 185 (W. T.). — Cooi'Ell, Oi-n. Cal. I, 1870, 107. Chi-Hil,m tlwhiss.'ioi, BoiK, Isis,
1844, 171. Ttdlnicincfii thalit,isi)i(i,V\\\. Mus. tleiu. 1850, 48. /finiiiilo [Tuc/ii/ciiu/d)
thfilii/ifiui'i, li.Miii), liev. Am. H. 1804, 2!»i). I'd rm-lnUdnu thahissinn, Sclatkh &. Sal-
vix. Ibis, 1850, 13 (Ouiitenmk). — In. P. Z. S. 18i)4, 173 (t'ity of M(X.).
Sp. CllAi!. Tiiil aoiitcly cninrjriiiiitc. Heiiciith pure wiiitc. .Miovc .^ol't velvcty-srrcon,
willi a vory t'iiiut slindu <)l'piir]ilisli-vii)let conci'iili-iiicd aw tlie iiiipc into 11 tr!iiisvcr.s(' liiiml.
R\inip rallii'i' lining vivid given; tiiil-cnverts slmwiiit;- a jinod dcnl of pin'|ili'. Ciilors (if
feniiile iiiiieli more oliseiii'(>. Iipni;tli, 4.7"> ; 1 iiiu:, 4.50; liiil, li.OO.
IJAii. Western and Middle Pioviiiees of t iiited Sl.ites., smith to (liiiitiMUida, cast to the
I'piier Missouri. lireeds on Plntean of Mexieo (SfMteiinAST).
Young birds are of a dull velvety grayish-brown, not unlike the shade of
color of L'Dfjilc riparlii, )»ut may be distinguislied by the absence of the tult
of feathers at base of toes, and the gray (not white) bases of tiie feathers of
under jiarts. There is only an ashy shiule across the breast, not a pectoral
band.
348 NORTH A^fERICAN BIRDS.
Tliure is nuicli variation aiiKing iiulividiials roj,'ai'(liiii,' the distribution of
the peiiii-UKitallic tints of the ii])[)('r jjarts ; <i;eiK'rally the whoh'. dorsal region
is overhiid by a " (histing," as it were, of soft browiiisli-purple ; in sneitimens
colored thus, the n])per tail-eoverls are ])ure dark-green, without a linge of
purido. In other speeiniens, on the contrary, the dorsal region is nearly
pure green, that of the njiper tail-coverts less golden, and mixed with a very
beautiful rieli soft violet.
Winter specimens from Guatemala and Mexico have the upper secon-
daries very sharply and l)roadly liordered terminally with pure white.
H.vlilTs. The A'iolet-green Swallow is a common bird, from the central
plains of Xorth America to the J'acitic coast, and is found at dilferent sea-
sons from Washington Territory to Soutli Anu'rica. It lias been found as far
east as Xcbraska, and in abundance at Fort Uridger, in Utah.
As oliserved, in Washington Territory, by Drs. Snckley and Cooper, it is
said to arrive at I'nget Sound early in May, ami to frequent entirely tlie high
prairies bordered with oak and other deciduous trees, in the knot-holes of
which, or in deserted Woodpeckers' holes, it breeds. Its song is descril)ed as
l»leasing and vaiied, I ait rather weak. They found it to be (piite abundant
in the interior of Oregon and of Washington Territiny, and in its habits and
mode of tiight hardly ilistiuguishable from the hiculov.
In (,'alifornia, according to the oliservations of Dr. Cooper, it arrives in
Santa Clara Valley as early as ^fareh 1."), where it chiefly frecpients the groves
of oaks along tlie sides of the valleys, ac'ross the whole Coast Ifange, excepting
in the immediate neigliborhood of the .sea. Their nest, so far as known, is
always in the knot-holes of oaks, and they have never been known to breed in
th'' inunediate vicinity of dwell ing.s, e.vcepting .only when tlieir favorite trees
were so situated. It is generally in an inaccessible place, and their eggs
are not often ol)tained. These are lau'c white, resemliling tlio.se of the
hico/or and the ripufin. Town.seiid states that he found them nesting in the
deserted nests of the IF. /luiij'roii.-i, but in this he may have been mistaken.
The eggs he gave to ^Ir. Audulion as tlio.se of tliis sjiecies undonbtedly
belonged to the btnij'rdiin. They leave Califoinia for the south in Sep-
tember.
Dr. Cones filso found this Swallow in Arizona, wiiere it was the most
abundant and characteristic Swallow of the pine regions of that Territory.
It is a summer resident at Fort Whipjtle, where it arrives about March 2(1,
and remains until late in September.
In the Province of Vera Crn/, ^Ir. Sumichra.st found this Swallow resident,
not only in the hot belt of tlie coast, but also in the temperate region and
througiioul the jilatcau, at almost all heights, and was almost everywhere
very common.
Mr. Salvin also states that early in March great numbers occur near Du-
enas, (Uiateniala, where tliey rtuuain for a .short time. During that time they
are to be found Hying over tlui open land to the south of the Lake of Puenas,
HIRTTNDIXID.E- THE SWALLOWS. 349
Mr. Heplmrn stat.is tl.at this Swallow l.as .p.ito an oxtonsive vai.-o alon-
the I'acili.s coast, l)iit is irstricteil as to tlu; h.caiiti,.s it inhal.its. ^ At llm
Pul-as lianche, near Sau Francisco, it is oven more common than tlie hin>/„r,
while a few miles from thence not one is to he seen, ilc has also seen it on'
the hank.s of the Fresno, near its junction witli the San Joaquin Itiver an.l
again in the Yoscniite Valley, without nieetin- witli a sin-lc specimen in tlie
intervening country. About Victoria this was the [.nnaiiing species. These
Swallows, so iiir as Mv. Hepburn obscrv..!, always l)uikl in holes of trees
Their nest, he states, is formed of a few line dry .stems of grass, j.laced at the
bottom ot the hole, c.nered over with a thick ma.ss of leathers. Tlie e-s
he adds, are pure white, large for the si/e of tlu3 bird, measuring .Sl'Tjf'
an inch in length by .50 iu brea.lth. These Swallows have two broods in a
season. In ISli-l he noted their arrival in San xMateo County on the 2Sth of
March.
]\rr. lii.lgway writes that he first met with the; Violct-given Swallow in
May, on the islands in Pyramid Lake, Jl,. there found it verv abundant
among the dills of calcareous tufa of whi,.], tlu" island was comp(',s,Ml. They
were seen to enter the fissures of the rock to their nests witliin, which it was
lound imi.ossil,lc to reach. Tliey were again seen in Julv amono the lime-
stone cldls along the canons of tiie East irnmb.,ldt M.iuntains^ associated
with the White-throated Swift, buil.liiig like them in the small h..nz..ntal
crevices or fissuivs on the face of the precipice. He was not able to <n't at
more than two of their nests, tlie first in a horizontal fissure just wide enou<.]i
to admit the hand, and about eight in.'hes from th.; entrance. It contained
five young. Tiie nest was siunlar to that .>f the I'.ank SwaUow, and was
composed of sticks, straws, and feathers. I,, the other the femah, was dead
on her nest, and the eggs were broken. They were white, like those of the
ff. h;rolo):
In its flight this bird is .said to greatly resemble the White-liellied Swal-
low, but is distinguishable by the contmst of the three colors of its up].er
plumage. These two .si)ecies are rarely to be .seen in the same localities the
Imolor lu'eferrmg wooded, and this species rockv h)calities.
Mr. Lord states that this beautiful Swallow was common from the coast
along the entire course ..f the bonmlary line, to tiie .summit of the Ifockv
Mountain.s. They were among the earli..st visitors at ('olviUe, arriving in
small Hocks in March, but in greater numbers in May and June They Imihl
111 Jnne, making their nests in holes in dead trees as hiuh as thev can -^..f
and lay four or five eggs. The nest is made ..f feathers and soft hair. Th..y
ass(-mble m la.ge flocks before migrating in September. Mr. Lord f.'lt iiirttV
sure their nesting-lmles were excavated in the soft woo.l by themselves
though their soft beak seems ill adapted to perform such labor.
350
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
322C9
Genmts STELGIDOPTERYX, Raiud.
fitfl(ji(hj)trrji.r, BAinn, liinls X. Am. 18J8, :112. Olyi"', llininilo scrripcnnix, Aid. )
Okx, riiAK. Bill riitliur .'<iii!ill ; nostiil.'^ oval, siipcrinr, iiiarfrinod lichind, but srarcely
lali'iiilly l)y mi'iiilininc, liiit not at all ovt'itiung;
the axes of llio outliiii; ciinvciiriiijr. Frontal
Icatlier.-i soft, and, like chin, without bri.-itics.
Taisi ('(pial lo middle toe without claw; the
upper end covcncil with featheis all round,
none at lower end. I{a.<al j(,iiit of middle toe
adherent externally nearly to end; internall)',
scarcely half. Lateral toes about eiiiial, their
claws not reaching; ')eyond base of middle daw.
Tail slinfhtly eniar^inale ; the feathers broad, and oliliipiely roun(le(l at end. Kdjre of the
winjj lough to the touch; the .shafts of the librilhe of outer web of outer primary pro-
lonfjed and bent at right angles into a short stilfhook. Nest (of S. sern'pennin) in holes
in banks ; eggs pure white, unspotted.
Color dull brown above.
The great peculiarity of this penu.s cnnsist.s in the remarkable rou^lincss
of the edge of the wing, said to occur al.so in Psitlidoprociu-, Cva Tiie ob-
ject is uncertain, but is probably to enable the bird to secure a foothold on
vertical or inclined rock.s, among or on wliich it makes its nest. A favorite
breeding-place of »S'. xn-ripciitiifi is in the piers and alaitments of bridges, and
these hooks might render essential aid in entering into their Iioles.
The birds of this genus have usually been referred to Cofi//r, which, how-
ever, they resemble only in color. The nostrils arc* exjiosed, instead ot being
overhung; the tarsus is bare below, not leathered, and the lateral claws are
considerably curved, and not reaching beyond the base of the lateral, as in
Coti/lr. The structure of the wing is very dillerent.
There are at least five species or races of tliis geiuis in America, although
only one belongs with certainty to the I'nited States. A .second, liowevcr,
(S.fiilripc7nm), Mexican and Guatemalan, is not unlikely to occur in Arizona
or Xew Mexico. This differs in having the chin and throat reddish-fidvous,
not mouse-gray ; the belly tinged with yellow.
Stelgidopterjrx serripennis, Bairp.
BOTTOH-WINGED SWALLOW.
Ilmnidi) serriiiennU, Arn. Orii. Tiing. IV, 1838, filKi. — In. Hirds Am. I, 1840. Ifl3, pi. li.
Coljih s. Box. f'onsp. 1S')0, 342. — Cassin. _IJiiF,wi:i!, N. Am. Oiil. I, IS;".", lOii,
pi. iv, fig. M (eggs). — liAiiiD, liinls X. Am. ISr.H. 313. - F-onn, I'r. li. A. Inst. IV,
18(i4, IKMHr. (Dhniihia). — CooPKR&SicKi.KV, 1'. [!. I!. licp. XII, ii, ISii (W. Terr.).
— Ukkiimann, W W. Ii. X ; Willinn.son's licp. 3(i (.Sun .Xntonio, Tex. ; bnciling). —
Cooi'Klt, Oru. Cid. I, 1870. 110. Sleltiidoiilrnjj- s. lUlltn, Itird.s N. Am. IS.'iS, 312;
Rev. 314.
HIRUNDINID.E - THE SWALLOWS. 35I
Sp. Ciiau. (No. ;i2.2(ii) (J.) .Minvi- siiiokv-ln'own, liillicr dccpiM' 011 tlic licsid, pi'ihaps
a litlle paler on tlio iiiiii|i. Liu-nvi- ((iiills and tail-IWitlii-is diisky-lirown ; the .socondarics
and j;r('ali'r covci Is .soiiiL'tinii's lif^litcr nlon;; their I'xteiiial edyes. The under paits (for
alioiit hah' the total length) lioni hill to and inehiding bieast, witii the t:ide.s of body and
lining of wings, luonse-gi-ay, ratluT liglilei' along the throat; ihe rest of under parts, in-
elnding erissnni, white, th(^ latter with the shal'ls sometimes dusky, and very rarely with
dusky blotehes at the ends of the longer leathers.
Young birds fas in 1,120) ditl'er in a tinge of reddish-fulvons on lh(> upper parts; the
wing- 'overts, secondaries, and imier [n'imaries margined more or less broadly with a
brighter shade of the same. The gray of tin; under [)arts is also washed v/itli this color,
especially on the eliin and across the breast. The hooks of the edge of the wing have not
yet become developed.
(\o. 32,2i>!) (J, fresh spi'cimen before being skiimeil.) Total length, 5.40 ; expanse of
wings, 12.20; wing from carpal j<iint, 4.")0.
(No. ;i2,2(i'.) ^, prejiared specimen.) Total length, 0.20; wing, 4.')0; tail, 2.25, depth
ol' fork, .1."); dilfercMice of primai-ies, 2.2S ; length of bill frcjin forehead, .40, from nostril,
.24, along gajte, .Gt!, width of gape, .4.'); tarsus, .45; middle toe and claw, .57 ; claw alone,
.10 ; hind too and claw, .41 ; claw alone, .lii.
Hah. Whole United States (exclusive of Northeastern States ?) south to Central
Mexico.
Haiuts. The Eoiigli-winged Swallow wns fir.st met with by Amliibon, in
Louisiana, but desciil)e(l by hiiu i'loui .spceinious afterwards jn'ocured near
Charleston, S. (.'. He knew nuthino in regiird to its habits, and its distribu-
tion was et[ually unknown to liini. It has since been found, l)ut nowhere very
abundantly, in various parts of the United States. It has not been met with
on the Atlantic coast farther to the north tliaii Mew Jersey and rennsylvania.
On the Pacific coast it is more common. Dr. Suckley sjjcaks of it as quite
abundant both in Oreoon and in Washington Territory. J)r. Cooper, in his
Zoidogy of Washington Territory, siietiks of it as common about the sandy
elilfs of the bays and iidets of that coast, arriving near the Columbia in
May, and remaining oidy until the middle of August, when all these Swal-
lows go southwards, though their last brood is hardly able to tiy. He says
that they burrow holes in the soft sandy banks near the tops of elifl's, and
have generally the same habits tis the connuon Uank Swallow. They have
no song, only a few chirping calls.
Dr. Cooper, in his lieport on tiie birds of California, further states that this
Swallow, iu summer, is found throughout tlie lower ])ortions of that State.
He saw them at Fort ^lojave as i!arly as the 27th of February, and as he has
met with them at San Diego iu Novend)er, and also in Jamiary, he thinks
they may winter within the State. He describes their burrows iu the sandy
banks of rivers as being to the d('])th of three feet, crowded very near
together, and near the u])])er edge of the bank, in no wise diil'orent from the
nesting of the common V. ripariu. The ne.sts tire composed chietly of dry
grasses, with a few feathers, and contain (ive white eggs. Occasionally, how-
ever, they resort to natural clefts in the bank or iu l)uildings, and to knot-
holes iu trees. In the fall they congregate in great nundvirs about certain
I'avorite spots, and keep much together iu Hocks. At night they roost iu
352 NORTH AMEIUCAN JJIKDS.
tlioir huii'OMs. Ill Arizoim, lU'covdiii^- to ]^r. Coiios, tlicy aro suininer resi-
dents, broeiliiig al)iiiiiliiiitly, arriving hile in April ami remaining until iiearly
tiie last of Supteiiil )('!■.
At Kagle I'ass, Mr. Dnssser met these birds, arriving from the Soiitli, on
tlie 2 1st of Fcliruary. Tiieiv, and also at .San Antonio, they were very com-
mon, liiccdiiig in tlie towns, malving their nests under the eaves and in holes
ill tlie old walls, de]tositiiig their eggs by the 25th of Ajnil. Dr. Kennerly
also foMiid this Swallow very abundant along the Colorado IJiver in Febru-
ary. Its lliglit si'emed to him to he like that of the common IJarii Swallow.
Dr. Ilceiiiiaiiii frcMiuently met Milii lliis species during the journey from the
junction of the (iila and Colorado liivers through Mexico, New Mexico, and
Texas, to San Antonio. In the latter jdace lie ibund them breeding almcst
entirely in crevices in the walls of houses.
In the vicinity of Washington, Dr. Coues found this Swallow a summer
resident, but rather rare, arriving in the third week of April, and leaving
about the middle of Seitteiuber.
Mr. Itidgway speaks of this bird as one of the most abundant Swallows
of the West, inhabiting the river valleys, and breeding in holes in the banks
of the rivers. He .siys that in Soutliern Illinois it is much more abundant
than the 0. riparUt, though both nest in the same banks.
This sjiecies was first found breeding in Carlisle, reiin., by Professor Kaird,
in the summer of \SA?>. The following year I visited this locality early in
June, and had an o])])ortunity to study its habits during its breed ing-.seasoii.
AVe found the bird rather cominoii, and examined a number of their nests.
Koiie that we met with were in places that had been excavated by the birds,
although the ju'evious season several had been found that had apparently
been excavated in banks in the same manner with the Uank Swallow. All
the ucsts (seven in iiumber) tliat wo then met with were in situations acci-
dentally adajited to their need, and all were directly over running water.
Some were constructed in crevices between the stones in the walls and arches
of bridges. In several instances the nests were luit little above the surface
of the stream. In one, the lirst hiyiiig had been flooded, and the eggs chilled.
The liirds had constructed another nest aV)ove the first one, in which were
six fresh eggs, as many as in the other. One nest had been built between
the stones of the wall that funned one of the sides of the Hume of a mill.
Two feet above it was a freijueiited footpath, and, at the same distance below,
the water of the mill-stream. Another ne.st was between the boartls of a
small building in which revolved a water-wheel. The entrance to it was
throiigli a knot-hole in the outer partition, and the nest rested on a small
rafter between the outer and tin; inner boardings.
The nests were similar in their construction to those of the Bank Swal-
low, composed of dry grasses, straws, and leaves, and lined with a few feathers ;
but a much greater amount of material was maele use of, owing, perhaps, to
the exposed positions in which they were built.
IirnCXDIXID.K — TMK SWALLOWS.
353
The e<;jrs, six in mmilMT, in .'vcry iiistixiici! that wc notiocd, w.iv piiiv white
about the size cf tliose of the npari>,, l.nt ii litt'e more imih.nnly nl.hm- in'
sliape and pointed at one end. Their h-n-th varies from .7S to .09 of an iiieli
the average being .75. Their averagi; breadtli is .5;{ of an inch.
Gfa'is COTYLB, Boie.
r„/,if,; Hoik, Lsis, 1822, 550. (Type, /tin,,,,/,, ri/mrm, L.)
Tten. CitAii. Bill ..mall ; nostril.s lateral, ovcrhuno- l.y a .-^liai<rht-oclgc<l membrano Tai--
sus al,o„t ,.(,ual to ,„i,l.ll.- t,.,- without ..law ; li-atluMv,! at upper on.l, ..specially on inuor
Ince, ami havin^r al,<., a ..n.all tuft of f.Mth.Ts alta.;h,.,l to post..,ior .xlf^c near ti,e Imul toe
Mi.I.ll.. t.w with Imsal joint a.lhe.ent o.xten.ally to n.'ai- tl,.. ..n.l, liMI-way internally the
.•aw.. ..on>i.aratively little c, ve.l, the lateral reaehin- heyon.l the l,ase of th.. n,i,l,lle. Tail
sh-htly loik.MJ. Cloi- .lull lustreless brown above, in ripuria white beneath with grav
peetoral band. Nests in holes in banks; cfrrrs white.
aiany American birds have been referred to Cofi/lc, but tlie only one really
belonging to tlie genus is the cosmo-
pnlitan 0. ripari,,. The i)eculiarity of
tiie genus consists essentially in tlie
tuft of tarsal featliers at the base of
the Iiind ;<e, and the unusual leimth
of the late. 1 claws, combined witli
the lateral nosiii'- overlmng by mem- '"""//<• ">,w«.
braue. IJy these characters the genus is very easily tlistinguished from
C'tilgidopknj.r.
Cotyle riparia, Bote.
BAKK SWAUOW; SAND MABTIN.
Hirundoripar^ L.nn. S. N. I, I7.i<i, 344. -W,..s. ; Art. - LKvnKVK. .\v,.s ,1,. Cuba,
1850 47 lam. v„, |,g. ,'i. - Jox,.:.., N,.t. Hist. I!..r„,„.la, 34 (u.rasi„„al, Auj;. an.l
Sl'*"ln-f '■'''''"'■'"' """■• ''■•'• ^'"' ^'^'"'— t'ASS.N-.-l!,MCWKU, N. A. Oiil. 1,
«r!' ,?? '' ; "• "^'- ^^ ^"^^^- - ^''^"- •'"'"•• ^''■"'' ■' (•'"l'">- - '5AMM.. l!ir.ls N. A,.,.
8.,8, .il ; li,.v. 18fi4, :!ir.. In. 18.11, (.3 (Costa IJiea [>.]). -- .;,.Nh,,.v.„, Cab. .lour.
1801, u.iO (v..ry rar.. m Cuba). -^ M.m;,„. IV. A. X. S... lS.i3, 2!l- (.lan,„i,a ; v.mv rar..)
H!.:k...mann, p. I{. H. X, 3.i (CalitWnia ; abu.ulaut /). ^ Dam, ><: l!vNN,sri.V -SO
(Al.UKka).--Coo,.K.!, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 110. - .Sami'KI.s, 258. Ilinn,d., ci..r„.
>IKIM,. JJinoii/o ripariii iiiiicriciiiKi, .Max. '
Sp, TiiAn. A<h,!f. Above prayi.sh-hrown, somewhat lulisrin.nis, with a t.-uih^ney to paler
inarfrms of the leathers. |!..neath pur.- white, with a ban.l a.-n.ss th.. breast au,l the ' i,l..s
ol th.!bo<lylik th.^iaek. L.^n^nh, 4.75 ; win,?, 4.O0 ; tail, 2.00.
Youufr binls hav,. l,.ss ou.ai-inat.. tails, an.l the leathers .".f ba.'k, rump, an.l win-s ...bre.l
with whitish. f- n
Hah. The whole .)f North Anu.ri.'a; B..rum.las ; Greater Antill..s; C.sta IJiea • W.^st-
orn Brazil (Pki.z.). Also foun.l in the northern parts .)C the Old World,
4''*
354
XOHTII AMKHK'AX UiltUS.
A (Titif'iil oxaiiiiiiiitidii lias liiilcil to reveal any diflmv 3 between Euro-
pean antl Anieriean siieciniens of tins liinl.
Hauits. The connnon liank Swallow as we know it, or Sand Martin as
it is called in England, is nearly or
iliiiteeosniopolitan in its distribution.
Found throughout Europe in the sea-
son of reproduction, and in portions
of Africa in tiic winter months, it is
ecpially common througiiout Nortli
America in the summer, and prol)-
ably winters in Mexico and in Cen-
tral and South America, thouj^fli it is
not mentioned by Sumichrast as a
liird of Vera Cruz. It is said to oc-
cur in various parts of the continent
of Afiica, and in Europe it extends
its mii^rations to the extreme north-
ern regions. It lias also been jnet
oiijf ripana. with iu Iiiilia aiul in Siberia. ]\Ir.
Salvin obtained several specimens at Duenas, (iuatemala, in September,
1.S(j1, having ])reviously oliserveil it about the Lake of Yzabah.
On both continents it is somewliat local in its distribution, in favorable
localities being (|uite al)uudaiit, and in others not known to exi.st. It is an
early spring visitant wherever found, ai)])earing in England by the 24th of
March, and even in our higli Arctic regions early iu May, often in such in-
clement weatiier that it is oliliged to take refuge in holes. Mr. Dall met
with this s])ecies in Alaska, in favorable situations, in immense numbers.
He counted on the face of one .saiul-l)luir over .seven hundred ne.st-lioles
made by tliese birds, and all (jf them api)arently occupied, so that the
blulV iircsenfed the appearance of an immense honeycomb alive with bees.
lie states that it takes the bird four days to excavate its nest. liev. F. 0.
Morris, on the other hand, who has closely watched their operations in Eng-
land, says that it re([uires a fortnight, and that the weight of sand a pair
of these birds removes is twenty ounces in a day. Pebbles of more than two
ounces in weight have been known to be taken out by them.
The lliglitof this sjiecies is rapid, but unsteady and flickering. In search-
ing for their food thi'y skim low over the surface of both land and water,
drojiiiing upon the latter, as they fly, to drink or to bathe. Their food
consists of the smaller kinds of winged insects, which they pursue and cap-
ture, dashing at them at times even on the water. They usually feed their
young with larger kinds than they eat themselves.
It has not been observed in (Jreenland, but Iticiiardson found it in colonies
of thousands at the mouth of Mackenzie's IJiver, in the OSth parallel. It is
a very social bird, usually breeding together iu large communities, and is
HIRTTXr)I\ir).K-!';iK S\VAI,I,()\VS or-
• Of)'J
more iiulependciit of niun tliaii iiu.st of its fiiinily, owino I,!,,, ,„, „ti„.r lavors
tliaii lliost! iiicidont to cxciUiitioiis tlmm-li sun, l-l.anks, uf wliicli it avails
itsulf. The iiosks of thcsf Swallows arc placed in excavations made \>y
them in tlio l)aiikH ol' rivers, eJills hy the sea-shore, and similar lavorahie
situations. These are usually as near the surface of the -round as tlie
nature of the soil pernnts to he readily lu'netrated, thou-ii tiie l.ird has
hoon known to work its way even tlirou-h hard ,i,Tavel. Their deptii varies
Irom fourteen inches to four feet, thounli (wo feet is the usual distance.
Mr. Au<,qistus Fowler nuMitions a remarkahle instaiini of sa-acity and
provident forethou',dit in tiiese l.irds, not easily separable from mison. In
the town of Ueverly, in a stratum of sandy loam, he olwrved each sea.son a
colony of .some twenty or thirty pairs ol' these l.irds. In this j.lace the.se
birds never burrowed more than two or three feet. Within a ndle of this
idace another colmiy excavated a bank in whicii the layer of loam was nd.ved
with small stones. In this baid< they excavated to the dei.th of live, .seven,
and even nine feet. Why was there this extmordinary ditference' in the'
length of burrows made l.y the .same species, in situations not more than a
mile apart? The rea.son for this dilference, upon examination, became very
obvious. We <<ive the explanation in Mr. Fowler's own words: "In one
bank, where the earth was of a linii sandy loam, easily jierforated, from the
entmnce to the extrendty the burrows did not exceed" three feet in length ;
while in the other baidc, with harder loam to work in, one burrow was I'lmnd
nine feet in length. After examining six holes of nearly equal length, it
appeared that these little birds had sullicicnt reason for exten.ling llieirlab'or.s
so far into the earth. In every inslauce, where; they met witli a spot free
from stones they finished their burrows ; thus sla.wing great care for the
welfare of their eggs or young by avoiding, in the .stony soil, a cataslrojihe so
great as would befall their treasures if by accident one'of tiiese stones should
fall upon them."
The work of perforation they ])erform with their closed bill, swaying the
body round on the feet, beginning at the centre and working outwards. '''I'his
long and often winding gallery gradually expands into a small spherical
apartment, on the floor of which they form a iiide nest of straw and leatli-
ers. The time occupied in making thes(! excavations varies grciitly with tiie
nature of the soil, from four or five days to twice that nund.er.
Their eggs are five in nund.er, pure white, and when unblown have a line
roseate hue. They are oval in sliai-e, larger at one end. and pointed at
the smaller. Their average length is .72 of an incii, and their aveia-e
breadth .47.
350 NOUTIl AMKUICAX UIKDS.
Wo now come to th'.\ (•(uisitlciation of tliroe families of Oseine hirds, of
lue-eiiiiiu'iitly deiitinistiiil type, liiiviiig certain connuon characters by wliich
they are ilistinj^iiishalile, with but little (hHiculty, from all others. In their
close relationshij) it lias been (lueslioneil by many whether they do not all
belong under one head, Itut they are more generally considered ilistinct.
The common characters, and those jjeculiar Ut each, are as follows : —
Common ("iiahactkhs. Hill stout, iiinl coiisiilcriilily liookcil iit lip, or wiili tlic ]ioinl lit'iit
aliniptly (lo\viiwai-<l ; Avitli ii (li'i'|) iioU'ii, niiil soiui'linios a tooth or loliu just bfliiud tliu
iioU'li; tlir lip of'"" lower uiauiliWlo liki'wisc! Irdiuoutly bout up, and with a notch
licliind it. Tile nostrils lalcral, tho hrisllos ol' tlio luoiilii frcnorally well dcvclopcil. The
primaries are ten (exeepi in a lew Virms), the outer I'loni one fourth to one hall' liie sec-
ond. Tail variable. Tarsi senh'llale anteriorly ; sonielimes wilh a leudeuey lo division ou
the lateral plales; hillierlo not met with. Basal joints of toes more adherent. Separated
I'rom TitnliiliV by i^roater adhesiou of toes ; lh)ni 'rroijlixli/lidif by notelied and hooked
bill, et(;.
A. liasal phalanx of anterior toes abbreviated ; that of median toe deeidedly .shorter than
the l)asal of inner, or the two biisal of outer, and adherent for its whole length on both
sides to llie lateral (i. e. not free at all). Lateral plates of tarsus undivided, e.'cept at
e.\trenie lower end.
Vireonidae. fronys more than half the lenjjtli of lower jaw (from tip to nnjrle of
mouliij, usually louf^er than width ol' mouth, which is nairow. Hill eouieal, much
eompiessed, deeurved at end and notehed, bnt seareely toothed. Frontal feathers
l>ristly and erect, or bent but .slif;htiy forward. Nostrils overhuii}; by mend)raue.
Tarsus Ioniser Ihau middle toe anil elaw. Lateral toes fjeuerally uneipial ; outer claw
reaehinp; half-way aloiii; middle elaw.
B> Itasal phalanx of middle toe about as lonjj as Ihe basal of iimer, or the two basal of
outer; fret^ (■xternaily. at least for about one third its lenfrlh, internally for about one
half. Lateral plates of tarsus with deeided tendency to subdivision (except iu Mijiudes-
liiitr).
Ampelidae. (Jouys deeide<lly less Ihau half the len^'th of lower jaw, or than width
of mouth, wliieh is very broad and dee|ily eleft. Bill Iriaufjidar, much di'in'e.'^setl, de-
eurvcil at end and uolehed, with moderale thoufrli deeided tooth. Frontal feathers
rather .soft, .scarcely bristly or erect. Nostrils overhun^j by membrane. Tarsus equal
to or shorter than middle lot; and claw. Lateral toes nearly eipud; outer elaw reach-
inir only to base of middle elaw.
Laiiiidae. (Jonys about half the lenu:lh of lower jaw ; about ocpial to width of niouth.
Bill very powerful and raploiial, mneh compressed, wilh a strongly marked hook,
noleli, and tooth at end. Frontal feathers very bristly, and directed forw.ard.s, so ns
to conceal nostrils and biise of bill. Nostrils with bony walls, except behind. Tarsus
lonijfer than middle toe and claw, sometimes much scutcUate on sides. Lateral claws
nearly eciual ; outer claw rcauhiuf!: a little beyoud base of middle claw.
VIRl.;0XIDyE-THE VIUEOS. ggK
Family VIREONID^. — The Vikkos.
The essential reat.ne. „f thi.s family appear to c.nsist in the conibi..ation
of the clent.mstral bill, notehed in bc.th nmn.lible.s ; the ten i.rinmries (except
Fmosf/lviu), oi winch the m.ter i.s usually IVoni .,ne fourth to one half the
socoml; the rather .short, nearly e v.-. ail, with narrow leathers, an.l the
,.eat amount of adhesion of the anterior toes, - the whole basal joint of
Ihonnddle ben,j. j^enerally united on both sides to the adjacent joints and
decidedly shorter than the basal oi' inner or two b,usal of outer, 'ihe outer
latera toe is j^enerally aj.preciably longer than the inner, reaching con-
siderably beyond the base of the middle claw. The tarsi are always dis-
Unctly scute late anteriorly. The young .,. never .spotted, or streaked as
m the Ihrushes; nor, i.uleed, do the adults e.vhibit such markings
riie Vireonidcv are peculiar to the New World, and are widely"distributed
although but one genus belongs to the United States.
Gexls VIRBO, Vikill.
Virco, Vmu.. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 83. (Type, ^hc..cky,^ v,,rh,nur,,.is, r.^,.)
No great violence will be done by considering all the American Vireos as
belonging to one ge.i«,s, divisible into three subgen.M'a, as, however dilferent
the extremes of the series may be from each other, the gradation is .,uite
complete. '■
The North American species take a wide range during their .southern
winter migration, only paralleled in this respect by the ,S>/lvi,v/id„- ■ they do
not visit the ^\est Indies, save as very rare stragglers to Cuba ( K o/ivumts
M,nu.,flov,from, and novcboracenxi.). They all have a melodious son-r and
so ar as known, make a deej) nest, snspen.led by its up,,er edge between the'
forks of a horizontal twig. The eggs are white, generally with a lew reduish
or brown blotches.
Quite a number are characterized by having the eyes white, red or
yellow. '
£abgenera.
Vireosylvia. IJill c<mipiv,.s..,l, nam.w ; culnu.n and commk«nro strai-rht
the t>p al.n.ptly cuiv.,! (or, if thi.s i.s not iIk- ca.so, thoro i.s no truco of light
bands on the wn.fr; sec sce.ion "6"). Snpereiliary .stripe continued baek to
the occiput. i\o trace of hght han.l. on the wing. x\o conspicuous ring round
n. Xo .spurious primary. Bill compressed, its tip abruptly hooVed ; culmeP
and coannissurc straight Crown decidetlly more ashy than tlu; back.
b. An acute .spurious primary. Bill .leprc.ssed, the tip orly slightly hooked ;
culmen slightly curved. Crown .scarcely more ashy than back' ." . Sp. ,,ih;,..
358
KOlVni AMERICAN BIRDS.
Lanivireo. ]Jill compressed, stout ; culnieii aielied IVoiii the base, oommis-
suru curved. Sujteiciliarv stii|ie stopping at posterior angle of the eye and
curving under it, enelosing (lie eye in a conspicuous orbital nng, interrupted only
in front. Two conspicuous wliite bands on the wing.
a. No spurious primary Sp. flavifrons.
b. Vi'ith an acute spurious primary .... Sp. solitai-iits, plumbeu.i.
Vireo. Bill stout, scarcely compressed, sub-cylindrical. First primary not
spurious, or, if so, not acute.
(/. Two cons])icuous light bands on wing . Sp. atricapillnn, novcboraceii.ii.i, hutloni.
h. One distinct light band on wing, and this not sharply dclincd, the anterior
one being almost obsolete Sp. belli, pusiltus, vicinior.
Sub(;enus VIREOSYLVIA, Bon.
Vircoxtilvia, Hon. Oeog. Coiiip. List, 1838. (Type, Mnsckapa oUuacca, LiN.)
riujlliimaws, V\\\. Arcli. 1847, 1, 321. (No type meiitioucd ; uaiue propo.si'd as substitute
I'ur Vircosijlviu.)
Gv.-n. CiiAR. Wings long and pointed, one third or one fourth longer than the nearly
even or slightly rounded tail. First quill very snuiU (less than one third the second), some-
times apparently wanting. Second quill longer than tlio seventh, much longer than the
VirfO olivareus.
secondaries. Tarsi short (.scarcely exceeding .70 of an inch) ; toes rather long. Hody
slender and elongated. Bill slender, narrow, straight ; the culmen straight for its basal
half, the commissure quite straight ; light horn-color, paier beneath. Feet weak. Type,
V. oUvaceus.
Species and Varieties.
C0M.M0N CiiAHACTERS. All .species olive above, white or yellowish beneath.
.An ashy or brownish cap, contrasting more or less abruptly with the olivo back.
A whitish superciliary stripe extending to the na[)e, and a dusky one to ami lie-
hind the eye. No light l)an(ls on the coverts. Inside of wings (Hanks some-
times) and erissum yellowish, otherwise usually white beneath.
No spurious primary Serien I.
A spurious primary ... Series II.
Series I. (Xo spurious priiiiiirt/.)
A. A dusky " mustache " or cheek stri|)e along each side of the throat.
1. V. caUdris. Eyes red?
Q. No distinct dusky line along side of llie crown.
Light stripes of the head dingy lirownish-bulT; crown scarcely
ashy; l>aek olive-brown ; cri.ssum and lining of the wing pure pale
VliaiOXID.E — THE VIKKOH. o.-q
yellow. Win- 3.20 ; tail, •2.2.-, ; Wll, .42. Hah. Jamaica; Santo
Doniiiigo. Porto Iliuo, Santa C'lnz, St. Thomas, and Sonili
lii'cro.
var. c II I id c/.s'.'
Light stripes of the head diiifry grdyish-wlilte ; crown distinctly
ashy ; hack j,'rayish-olive ; crissiim and linin- of the win., scarcely
yellow. Win- 3.20; tail, 2.3:,; bill, .42. " Ilab. Cuba, Bahamas,
and South Florida . . ,..,,. , , , ,
... \fii. (> II r bal III UK .
0. A distinct dusky lino along each side ol' crown.
Colors as in harhatuht, but " mustache " broader and more con-
.spicuou.s and crown much purer ash. Wing, 3..30; tail 2..-,0- bill
« M .< f\ ""'• ^'"■'''•"•'-'' • • • . . . var.i;,-6<;,/e«,,..«
M. No " mustache."
a. A dusky lino .niong each side of crown.
2. V. olivaceus. Grayish olive-green above; beneath white, tin-e.l
laterally with dull olive; crissum and lining of wing scarcely ycll.nv ;
inner edges of quills white. Eyes red.
1. Wing, 3.J0; tail, 2.40;" bill, .38. Hah. Eastern Provinc.. of
North America, .south to Northern South America . var olhutcfu^
2. Wing, 2.50; tail, 1.80; bill, ,33. Huh. Eastern South AiucrL^a.
3. V. flavoviridis. Yellowi,.h olive-green above ; beneath white mwli- " " '"' '
ally, bright greenish olive-yellow laterally ; crissum, lining of win-s and
inner edges of quills, light yc^llow. Eyes yellow. ' '
1. Wing, 3.ir, ; tail, 2.55 ; bill, .41. Hub. Middle Anieri.'a north of
Panama . . . ^, • . , .
„ „.. '^■M\ Jlavovtriihii.
2. \\uig, 2..^0; tail, 2.25; bill, 3G. Hah. South America, froni
Buenos Ayrcs northward; Guatemala .... var. an His*
b. No dusky lino on side of crowi..
4. V. magister.' Large. Above sooty-olive, more vireseent posterior-
ly; crown without ashy tinge. Beneath similar, but liahter, whiti.sh
medially. Cri.ssnm .ind lining of wing very faintly yellow ; inner eil.^es
of quills white. Eyes? Wing, .3.05 ; tail, 2.40 ; bill, .45. Hab. Hon-
duras fHclize).
5. V. philadelphicus. Sm.all. Above gray i.sh-green; .•row u a.^hy.
Beneath light yellow, deepest on the jiignlum, whitish on bell v Eyes ?
Wing, 2.70; tail, 1.95; bill, .27. Hab. Eastern Province 'of North
America; in winter south to Costa iliea.
Series II. (.1 .ymrinim priiiiiiry.)
C. No dnsky line along side of crown. No " mustache."
0. V. gilva. Eyes hazel (in all ?).
a. Crown nearly like the back.
Above olive-grav, rump more vire.scent; crown more n.shy. Be-
neath dingy whitish, with a strong tinge of dingy bulf from bill
lolh^od?'""'"'"'"^' "'"""' ''*''■ *^"'' '"''''' ^^"^' ^^^' ^^'^''"^'"" '"''■'''■'■'' L- Syi^t. Nat.
^ K. cir I iiir is xiiv. barlKidauie, Hi no way.
J" r. oUmcea var. chivi. Fim,si,lvia chii-i, IVuim, li.-v. 327. {Si,h-ia ehiri, Vnu.l. Nouv
Diet. XI, 1817, 174.)
♦ r.Jhnvviriilis var. „,„ris. rircosylviu agilis, Uaiiu., liev. 33S. iLiviius anilis, Ll.iiT
Vm. Doubl., 18'.'3, no. 62(J.) y . ■ "i.
' V. muijislci; IJaiiu).
360
NORTH AMKIIICAN UIHDS.
iiloiii^ sides aiul ai'i'nss lircast. Hill, .14 deep, .:!0 loiifr ; wiiijr, 2.S5 ;
tail, 12.05. //(//;. Kiistciii Fioviiicc of I'liiti'd Slates . var. i/ilrim.
Similar, lint aliove moiv fj;rayisli, and beiii'atli with the Imfl" tinge
almost al)sent, Hill, .11 deep, and .'22 loiijr ; wiiiir, 2.80; tail, 2.iri.
Ilah. Western I'rovinee of Unitc^d Stales . , var. n ira in son i.
h. Crown very dillereiit IVoiu the back (dark lirown).
Above olive-brown; nnnp more vireseeut; crown dark .snull-
brown. Beneath nniliirm li;Trht yellow, throat whitish. Hill, An
deep, .30 long ; wing, 2.(iO ; tail, 2.10. Ilah. Middle Ameriea, Iroin
Ecuador to Honduras xuy. Jo Kep h k.'
Vireosylvia calidris, var. barbatulus, IJaikd.
FLORIDA OBEENLET.
P/i;/llt)iiia7ic.<il)iirhrihihi><,C\ii. .Unir. HI, lS,"i5, 4ti7 (Cuba). — (JfNlil.Acil, ("ab. ,Iour. ISfil,
324 (Cuba). — III. Krpi'rtoiiii, Cidia, 18t)."). rirejiii/fciii liiirl/ti/ii/d., Haiiid, Kcv. Am.
B. lS(i4, 3:n. riiro (il/ih'iniis, (iA.MliKl,, I'r. A. X. Sr. MHi<, l-_'7 (Florida). — lUlim,
Birds N. Am. IS'iS, 354 (Florida). Viiro.vilvin (illiloqim, Cassin, I'r. A. N. Sc. 1851,
152. — lli. Illust. 1S54, 8, and 221, pi. .\x.\vii (Florida). -- Bkvant, Pr. Bost. Soc. V,
1850, 113 (Bahamas). — Lawukxck, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1800 (Cuba).
Sp. C'mai!. (Xo. 2r),9r)8 (J, Cuba.) I'roportion of quills as in var. rnliilfis, 2 = .'!, 4, 1, /i,
but the tips of the ([uills elosser together, and the lirst. tpiill aliout half 'iv a little less
than half the distance between (illh
and fourth ; the quills narrower.
Cdlois similar to tlio.se of var. ralidris,
but of a purer and paler olive aliove ;
the liaek tinged with ai<h ; the cap
purer ash, and hotter defined, without
olivareiius wa.sh. its dusky edge more
distiiiet. The supeicMliary stripe wliit-
i.sh or grayi.sli, with the cheeks paler,
and both, a.s well as the chin, with-
out till! bull' tinge. Under jiarts nearly pure white, very faintly tinged across the breast
with ashy: the sides olivaceous: the cri.ssum and axillars pale sulphur-yellow. Total
length, .'i.'iO ; wing, .'i.l"); tail, 2."j0 ; dillereiicu of first and ."second quills, .18; of lifth
and secdud, .22 ; length ol' bill from forehead, .82, from nostril, .40, along gape, .8!) ; tarsus,
72; middle toe and claw, .(50 : claw alone, .21 ; hind toe and claw, .50 ; claw alone, .23,
Hah. Cuba; the Jialiainas; and Charlotte H.irbor, Florida. (Western Coast.)
This rinv lia.s hecn taken several time.s at Cliarlotte Harlior, in Florida,
' /'. ijihn \-,ix. jdsiplin: I'hrtisylviii jnsepjia; IIaikIi, liiv. lH(i5, 344 ( f'/rm jmcy/Aii', Scr.A rr.li,
r. Z. 8. 185!), 137, 111. cliv). C(Piii|iariiig typicid examples nf this " spnics " with those ot
(jilriis from North America, they a|ipi'ar very widely dillcivnt indeed, .so far as coloration is
i;oiiL'criied, though nearly identical in form. But a s|)cciiiii'ii from an iiitcriiicdiate locality
(54,2112, Orizaba, >[cxiio, F. Sl'MlcllUA.vr) ciniihiiics .so iH'rl'i'dly all the characters of the twi),
that it would be impossible to ri'lcr it to oiii' or the other as distinct species. It therefore
lici^oiiics necessary to assume that the /'. jusijihir is a permanently resident tropical racM' of n
sjM'cics of which /'. (li/riis is the iiortlicin representative ; wliich tlieory is strciigtlieiicd by the
fact that of the latter there aiv no sjieciinens fomid south of the riiited States, indieating that
in winter it does not pass bi-yond their limit, or at least not tUr to the soiiihward.
Viriostjivia ttarhntttltts.
VIHE;)\II)vE — TFIK VIIM'IOS. ggl
iiiiil is tlms eiititlod to a ])lii('(! in our fiiuiiii. Its (listiiiction I'roia a closely
alliwl race in Jamaica, llayti, etc., var. mlidrix, is shown on paj^o lifjQ.
A specimen belonjfing to ,Mr. Salvin (" No. 187 "), from " Istlunus of I'ana-
ma," we cannot distinguish satisfactorily i'roui typical examples ol' tlu* jiresent
race, with which it is to lie compared, and not with nilit/ri^. Tlie colors are
quite identical witli tliose of hiirlm/iih's In si/e it is .'iliLditly larj,'er, the
wing ineasurin.t,' 0.20 instead of :>.l.-) ; tiie tail 2.50, instead of 2.l').'i (from
exposed biv.se of feathers) ; the hill is 'Ididvcr, lieiiiu' .2(1 instead of .18 dceji ;
tlie third (piill is lonj^est, the second interinediati! Iietwci'u it and tlie fourth;
the first intermediate lietween tiie fourth and tiflh. In />^(////'/«/«.s tlie .second
is longest, the third and fourth successively a little shorter. It is not
improliable that other s])ecimens fi'oni that locality niny show greater difl'er-
ences, as the specimen under examination is in rathei worn ]tlumage, and
has the tip of the bill broken olV.
ILviiiTS. This species imly claims a place in oin- .ivifauna on the ground
of its presence in Florida. How abundaut it is theri; is not determined, fur-
ther than it has been olwerved within a restricted locality by Dr. Heernuinn.
This Avas at Charlotte Harbor, on tlie southwestern coast. They ajipeared
to be visitors only, from a more .southern clinie. They reached Florida in
their northern migrations, remaining only for a short season, but evidently
staying long enough to breed. Dr. Hecrmaiin states that this sjiecies resem-
bles, in manners and in appearance, the common I{e<l-eyed X'ireo of the
more northern States. He descrilies its song as clear and musical, and very
distinctly uttered. It was constantly on the search for insect.s, and apjKN'ired
even more active than any of the northern species, darting among the foliage,
peering into cievices and cobwebs, susiiended i'roni brandies with its kick
downward, and occasionally chasing a Hying insect in the manner of a true
Flycatcher. These movements were usually accom]ianied by a song. This
species was not abundant, though Dr. Heermaim .saw it frequently, and
obtained .sevevil fijjecimens.
Dr. Bryant found this sjiecies very almndant at tlie P>aliamaR, arriving
there alxmt the first of May. All tlie specimens he obtained were males,
the females not arriving there until after the l:U!i of .May. The notes of
tho'se birds, he states, vary, though the most common one resembles v/iJj>
torn JM/p phi'un, iironounciiig the first Mord distinctly.
This bird,i in Brown's History of Jamaica, is called " Whip-tom-kelly,"
from the suitposed resemblance of its notes to tliesii articulate sounds, and
this pojiular ajijiellatioii has been given it by various other writers. Mr.
(losse, however, in his Birds of Jamaica, calls this bird " John-to-whit," and
can find no resemblance in its notes to the words referred to. He describes
its song as uttered with incessant iteration and untiring energy, and as
resendiling Siarf-Jdhn ! Joint, to irliit ! surct John to vliif ! After July the
' The Jiuimican liiril is V'. ra/iilrii, imt hdrhnliihi.i. In all luolmlnlily, liowevcr, tlicy (li> nut
(lill'cr in habits and notes. 15. K.
4G
362 NORTH AMEllICAN -BIKDS.
notes cliange to to-vhil-to-wlnni, and sonuitiini's to a soil, sin^ple chirp, whis-
pered so gently as scarcely to l)e audible. The name of Wliip-tom-kelly
Mr. CJossc never heard applied to it in Jamaica. Yet it is a bird olteu heard,
and one whose notes liave a similarity to articulate sounds, and naturally
8uj,'<i[est a common appellation. It is ver vociferous and ])ertinacious in its
calls, repeatinf,' them with enerjfy every two or three secoiuls.
This species, he states, does not ordinarily sit on a i)rcminent twig, or d.art
out after insects, thouj^h it has been seen in eager pursuit of a butterfly. It
seems to live in the centre of thick woods. It does not pass the winter in
Jamaica, but leaves at the beginning of October, returning as early as the
2ilth of March. Its food he states to be both animal auv. vegetable, as he
found in its stomach the seeds of the tropical plants and jerries. In April,
Mr. (Josse observed it hunting insects by the borders of tl;e rJuetields IJiver,
and so intent u])on its o(!cupat)on as to aUow of a very near approach. It
sought insects among the grass and low herbage, perching cm the stalks of
weeds, and darting out after both vagrant and stationary prey. They incu-
bate in June and July.
Like all this genus the Long-billed Vireo builds a pensile nest of great
architectural ingenuity and beauty. It is a deep cup, usually about two
thirds of a sjihere in shajic, truncated at the top. The materials of which
it is made are often somewhat coarse. Mr. (iosse describes it as about as
large as an ordinary teacup, narrowed at the mouth, conipo.sed of dry grasses,
silk, cotton, lichens, and spiders'-web. It is usually suspended from the fork
of two twigs, the margin very neatly overwoven to embrace them. The
materials are well interwoven, and the walls firm and close, though not very
thick. The whole is smoothly lined with slender veiietable fibres resembling;
human hair. One nest had its cavity nearly fdled with a mass of white cot-
ton, interwoven with the other materials, wliich, being picked cotton, had
evidently been tak(in from some yard or building.
The eggs of this species are three in number, of a brilliant white, deli-
cately tinted with pink, and marked with a few line red and red-brown
spots, usually about the larger end.
An egg of the variety from (Juba is of an oblong-oval shape, slightly
pointed at one end, and the markings of faint ])urple and of dark ])urplish-
brown, in bold dashes, are all about the larger end. Another from the same
locality is more distinctly rounded at one and pointed at tlu; other end, and
is marked with fine brown dots distributed over the whole egg. These eggs
measure, one .825 by .5") of an inch, and the other .78 by .55. An egg from
Jamaica is of an extremely oblong-oval, measuring .88 by .55 of an inch, and
is boldly marked more or less over the entire egg with large blotches of pur-
plish-brown.
The Messr.s. Newton describe the nest of the caliihu of St. Croix as a beau-
tiful structure, shaped like an inverted cone, composed outwardly of dried
blades of grass, dried leaves, and wool, woven round the twigs, to which it
VIREONID.E — THE VIHEOS.
363
was attaclied with spi.lers'-wobs, line.l iii.siile willi finor l.lades of gniss ami
about three inehes and a half in diameter, an.l five in hei-ht. The o<m.s
throe in number, were white, with a few black spots, chieflv disposed about
the larger end
Vireosylvia olivaceus, Bonap.
BES-&TED GBEENLET.
Mvsck;,pa olivu.-e^, L,nn. Syst. XmI. I, 17(iG, :i27 (I.i.s.mI on Ei.waim.s, tnl>. 2.-.;i, andCArKs-
liV, |>1. liv). — Wii.s. Ln.iiis ulicacuiH, Ll.ilT. Viiz. ISiiS, 4<) (N. A.nci-.K I'mo olh;,-
.r«.v, ViKii,,,. ; Bon. ; Swains. II. - All.. - lUni.,, IJir.ls N. Am. 18:^8, 331. - Sam-
ri;i,s, Birds N. Kn^-. 270. nmsiih-l,, olio. Box. (Jcog. Comi.. I^i.st, 1838. —In. t'oii.s]..
1850, 329. -UKiNiiAlil.T, Vid. M..d. r. 1853, 1854, 82 ((irecuhuid). - In. Ibis, III, 7.
— ScLATKR, I'. Z. S. 1855, 151 (Bos.ita) ; lS5i», 137, 3(i3 (XalaiPiO. -^ A. & K. Nkwtox,
Ibis, 1859, 145. — ScLATK I! & SA1.VIN, Ibi.s, 1859, 12 ((limt.-nuila). - Lawiuonck, Aim.
N. Y. Lyo. VII, 18(iO, 24ti (Cuba).- t Ibi.s, 1804, 394 (Dfiby, Kn-l. Jlav, 1859). - Baiku,
Rov. Am. B. 1804, 333. J'/n,/lom,ni<Kii!lr. Cad. Mils. Hciii. 1850 51, 63. — lu. Jour.
18(i0, 404 fCo,sta Kica). — (iiNl.L. t'ab. Jour. ISlil, 324 (Cuba; very rare), t rircu
vircscem, Yiv.iu.. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 84, y\. liii iPcnua.). -? Uiiav, Genmi, I,
2()7, 1)1. Ixv. Vino hoijulcnxis, Biiyant, i'r. Bo.st. Sue. VII, 18C0, 227 (Bogota). —
Lawuknck, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1803 (Birds I'anama, IV, Xo. 378).
Si'. CiiAH. (Xo. 1,418 $, CailisI,., P,Min., May, 1844.) Uppor parts olivo-<rrwn. Top
of head, Irorii bill to nape, lusli-color. A wliito line from nostrils aljove and beyond the
eye, bordered above by a dusky lino forming the edge of the ashy cap, and bJlow by a
similar, perhaps paler, loral and post-ocular cheek-stripe. Heneatli, 'iMchiding tibia-, white,
with perhaps a tinge of olivaceous-ash across the breast; the sides of the ueek like the
100S9
Virea olivaceus.
back; sides of the body with a faint wasji of olive. Axillars and crissuin faintly tinged
with sulphur-yellow; lining of wings and its edge, the lalter especially, nearlv wldte.
guills blacki.sh-brown, edged c.Mernally, except at ends ol' primaries, with" olive, iiiternally
with wliite. Tail-feathers lightci- brown, (Mlged exlernally like the back, internally Avith
pale olivaecous-white. l?ill dusky abov, pale below ; tarsi plumbeous ; iris red. Length,
0.33; extent of wings, 10.2."); wing, 3.3.! ; tail, '_'.">().
Female similar, but duller in phima,i;e.
ILvn. Whole of Eastern .\orth America (Greenland. Halifax, Fort Simp,«oii), west to
hase of Rocky irounlains, rea.'bing Fort Hridger, and still lartluM' northward to Bitterroot
Mountains and Ivootenay ; south to Fanama and Bogota, in winter (Xalapa only in Afex-
ico) ; very rare in Cuba (only West In.lian locality). Accidental in England. " Trinidad.
(FiNSCII.)
364
NORTH AMKUK'AN lilUDS.
Vino nlirareits.
Haiuts. Till! I'oiniiioii Ilod-oycd ViriMi is an almndaiit s])ocii'a tliroufvlioiit
Eiistuni North America, t'loiii Kluricla to Nova Scotia on tlu' iiortlKiast, to
Lai<o WiiiiiL'iieg on tlic; noilliwi'st, and as I'ar west as the Itoeky Mountains.
It aitpareiitly l)reeds wherever found, and in especial abundance in the Central
States. It is a I'aniiliar and tearless s])eci(>s, olten found, like the Warl)ling
Vireo, in the very midst of crowded cities,
and making its lively and pleasant notes
heard in tiieir public scpiares and private
gardens, amid the ruder sounds of the
neighboring streets. It breeds in Texas
and Louisiana, at the Southwest, and also
in abundance, at least as far as Halifax,
in the opposite direction. At Fort Reso-
lution, at the Cumberland House, and at
Fort Simpson, the nests and eggs of this
S])ecies were procured by Keiniicott and
Iioss. A single specimen of the bird has
been procured in Greenland, and another
accidental specimen was shot in England. Specimens have also been pro-
cured in Central America.
This Vireo, like all of its peculiar and well-marked genus, prefers the
forests or tiie tops of large and shady trees, obtains its food usually among
their upper branches, and very rarely approaches the ground. It is not ex-
clusively sylvan, as at times it nuiy be found around dwellings, hunting
for insects and sjjiders ; and although it hunts for food atnong the tree-tops,
its nest is not always in such liigh situations, often not more than four or
five feet from the ground.
In their migrations these birds enter the T'niteil States early in March, but
do not make their ai)pearance in IVnnsylvai.la until the last of April, or in
New England until tiie nuddle of May.
The Yireos procure their food, for tiie most part, by moving about and
along branches, and among the twigs of trees, hojiping from one position to
another, and securing their prey without the dick of a Flycatcher. The in-
sects they capture are usually not in motion, though occasionally they will
take them on the wing. They also feed on several kinds of ripe berries in
the autunni.
The song of this Vireo is loud, musical, simple, and ])leasing. It is uttered
in short, emphatic bars, and at times has a very marked resemblance to the
melodious chant of the liobin, though withoiit its volume and power. This
Vireo is one of the earliest of our spring musicians, as it is also one of the
most constant and untiring in its song, continuing to sing long ai'ter most of
the other vocalists liave liecome silent, and even until it is about to leave
us, at the close of September. The tender and ])athetic utterances of this
Vireo, uttered with so much apparent animation, to judge from their sound,
VlREONID^i; — THE VIREOS. 365
are in striking contrast to the apparent inclifl'urence or unconsciousness of the
little vocalist wlio, while thus delighting the ear of tlie listener, seems to be
all the while ciiietiy bent on procuring its daily supply of food, which it
pursues with unalnitod ardoi-.
This Vireo builds the neat pensile nest of its race, suspending it from the
fork of two or more twigs of a forest tree, at various heights of from five to
fifty feet from the ground. It is cup-like in shape, and always depruulent
from small twigs, around which its upper edges are firmly bouiul. Exter-
nally it is woven of various miitiaials, fine strips of bark, the hempen fibres
of vegetables, and webs of spiders and of various caterpillai-s. These are
comj)actly pressed and woven, and, as some su])p()se, agglutinated by the
saliva of the builder. Sometimes the unmanageable materials give to the
outside of the nest a rude and unfinished appearance, at others they are
evenly and smoothly wrought. They are very strong, uninjured by the
storms of winter, and are often made use of by other birds, by mice, ami
even by the same bird a second season.
A nest of this bird (S. I. Coll., 3,1553) was obtained at the Cumberland
House by Mr. Kennicott. It is pensile, like all others, but is composed
almost exclusively of pine-needles, — a dry and hard material, difficult of
management in making such a nest. With these are intermingled a few bits
of moss, fine strips of bark, and fiax-like vegetable fibres. Within this rude
basket is an inner nest, made up tif fine dry grasses, strips of bark, and pine
leaves. The external fabric is loosely put together, — an unusual feature, —
but the inner portion, in the firmness and stivngth with which it was made,
is in remarkable contrast.
The Ited-eyed Vireo's nest is often chosen by the Cowbird for the deposi-
tion of her parasitic eggs, and these foster -i)arents are singularly devoted in
the care of their alien guests, mIioui they tenderly nurture, even to the neg-
lect of their own ofl'spring. In one instance three eggs of a Cowbird were
deposited in the nest of the Yireo before any of her own, and, without laying
any, the female Yireo proceeded to sit upon and hatch the intruders. In
another case, where two of the Vireo's had been laid, two (,'owbird's eggs
were added. The Vireo stojiped laying, and proceeded to incubate. In each
instance the female Vireo seemed to forego her own natural aspirations, and
at once conform to the new situation.
The male Vireo often evinces great courage and spirit in the defence of his
nest, when the young are hatched driving away intrudei-s, and even Hying in
the face of a man who approaches too near.
jMr. Nuttall states that the young of the Ilcd-eyed ^'ireo feed eagerly upon
the berries of the cornel and the Vibiiniinii dcntidum, and other shrubs. A
young bird kept in confinement soon became very gentle, and readily ate flies
and grasshoppers from his hand, and viburnum lierries. A tame Kingbird
in the same room was very jea^)us of and tyrannized over him, so as to
compel him to seek protection from his captor. The Vircos, like Flycatcher.s,
oG6
NORTH AMKRirAN UIKDS.
liavo the power to reyui'sitiite by the bill jjcllcts of indigestible portions of
their lood.
The eggs of this Vireo vary greatly in size, iiccon.ing to the locality; the
farther soutli the smaller they fire found. One, ma'-ked on the shell East
Tennessee, June 1, ISiiS, Alex. (Jerhardt, measures .1C by .52 of an inch,
while one from Halifa.x, Nova Scotia, measures .95 by 05. Ti.e ground-
color of all is a clear crystal-white, and they are marked *■' ' itly at the larmier
end with si)ots and finer dots of n^tl-brown.
Mr. liobert Kennicott, in his notes, s[ieaks of findin;,' a nest of the Red-
eyed Vireo at the Cumberland House, Saskatcliewan, June li8. Incubation
had not yet commenced. The pensile and neatly built nest was suspended
about four feet from the ground, upon a hazel-bush. The ]>arent, when
scared from it, remained near until she was killed.
Vireosylvia flavoviridis, Cassin.
TELLOW-GBEEN VIBEO.
Vii-eosjilma flav. Ca.s»ix, Pr. A. N. Sl-. V, Feb. 1851, mi. — In. VI. pi. ii (raiiama). —
S<L.\TKI!, r. Z. S. 185(), 298 (Cordova). — 1 B. U ;"<!», 37;') (Oa.vaoa ; April). — In. Catal.
1801, 44, no. ^(U. — .Sci,.vrKU & S.M.viN, lliis, I, 1859, 12 ((iuateniahO. — lUlKl), licv.
3'it). Fireo jhiv. IUii!i», Uirds N. Am. 1858, 332. I'hijllumaiics Jtao. t'.vu. Jour.
18U1, 93 (Costa Hica).
Sp. Char. (N"o. 3,976 ^.) Above olive-groeii ; the whole top of head and nape ash-
color, the edges of this cap and a loral line dusky, but not very decidedly so. A grayish-
white lino from nostrils over the eye.
Beneath white, the sides of the neck,
breast, and body bright olivaceous-yel-
low ; the a.xillars and erissuni rich sul-
phur-yellow. On the breast the 3'ellow
ext<'nds almost to the median line, the
color of opposite sides .separated by a
narrow interval. Quills dusky-brown ;
margined exti'mully, except at ends of
primaries, with olive-green, internally
with grayish-white of a deciiled yellow
shade. Tail-feathers dark olivaceous-brown, bright olive externally, internally olivaceous-
yellow. Iris yellow or " red."
Bill horn-color, paler below. Legs plumbeous. Wings long and pointed. Second and
third quills nearly equal; fourth a little less; first about intermediate between fourth and
liilh. Total length, G.OO ; wing, 3.20 ; tail, 2.0t).
ILvn. From northern border of Mexico to Isthmus of Panama, especially on west side.
This species has not yet been recorded as taken within the limits of the
United States, but it comes so near to our southern border that it doubtless
sometimes crosses the line. Nothing distinctive ajipoars to be known of its
habits.
Vireo Jlavoviriilis.
VIRKOXID.K-TIIK VIHEOS. 3,jj
Vireosylvia philadelphicus, Cassin.
PHILADELPHIA OREENLET.
VirensyhmphiMfllihicn, Cassis, I'r. A. X. Sr. V, Fob. l,sr.7. 1.'.3. — In. VI, pi i li- 1
(l'luhi,l.l,,l>i,0. --S.:i,AT|.;u& Sai.mx, Ibis, I, 1850, 12 ((Juafinala). - 'lU.Kl.', Krv.
Am. Bulls, -AM. firco phila,Hi,hi,;ix, liAini), Hlnls X. Am. 18.->.s, ;i;).-,, pi. Ixxviii,
fig. ;i. Viiroxyh-h colmnensis, .Sci.atkii, V. /,. S. 18(iO, 4(53 (C'obaii).'— In. Ann'
Mag. N. II. ISO], ;)28.
Sp.Char. (No. 20,(M;J^J.) Ab„v.- .lark oliv.-m.,,, lin.irr'.l ,vitl. plMmb.>o„.-asl, ex-
cept on the rump; lop of head anil nap.' purer plumbeous-ash, not e.l-...l wilh .lusky, tlu,
lino of (leniarcation indistinct. Beni>ath lij,dit
sulphur-yellow, paler and almost whit." on eiiin
and middle of abdomen ; si.l.\s niori; olivaceou.s.
A whitish .stripe from bill over ey.', lus also a
patch beneath it fin.l the eyelids. A dusky
loral and post-ocular spot. Quills an.l rcctrics
brown, edge.l cxtornally with olive, internally
with whitish; the larjrer coverts with paler
outer edges. Bill blacki.sh, paler plumbeous
below. Legs plumbeous. .Spurious outer or (irsi .piill (.seen in r/ilra) wanting; the out.T
about etiual to lil'th; thir.1 longest; .seeon.l and Iburth not much shorter. Total Lm.-ili
4.80 ; wing, 2.G") ; tail, 2.2;"). '' '
IlAn. Eastern North America to Hudson's Bay and ^fain.-, .south (in winter) to Costa
Rica and Guatemala. Veragua (Salvi.v). Not recorded from Jlexico or West In.lie.s.
Specimens vary .somewliat in purity of tints, and especially in intensity
of yellow of under parts, which color is deeper in autumnal skins.
Specimens from Costa IJica and Guatemala, bein<>- merely winter visitors
to that region, are .piite identical with North American e.\amples.
irAr.lT^-,. This but little known S])ecies was first described by .Afr. Ca.ssin,
in LSr.l, from a s])ecimeu shot by him in some woods near riiiladelphia nine
years previously, which was then iinique, and remained so for some time iifter.
This fact, and its resemblance to F. ffi/va, led to the impression that it mi.i^ht
be only a variety of that species. Since the i)ublication of the descriptTon
other specimens have been procured from different localities,— Moose Fac-
tory, Maine, Oiiio, Wisconsin, ( 'osta liica, and ( hiatemala. llut little is as yet
known in regard to its habits or its (listril)ution. It is quite iibundaut in the
s])ring in Southern AViscoiisin, where it appears only as a migrant passing
north, none remaining to breed. As it makes its api)earance late in Alay, and
usually ])asses rapidly on, it seems natural to infer that it cannot be far from
its breeding-place at the period of its appearance. The specimen obtained
by m- Cassin was .sliot in September, on its southward journey. It was in
the upper branches of a high tree, capturing insects ; and his attention was
drawn to it by its slow and deliberate movements.
Mr. Thure Kumlien, of Dane County, Wis., informs me that he has been
familiar with this Vireo since 1849, and has collected it every year since
368 NOUTII AMERICAN BIRDS.
tliat period, finding it both in tlio spring and fall. It appears occasionally
as early as tlic lotli of May, the time varying with the season frcjni the Idtli
to the liTth. In IS'iT, when the season was very backward and May very
cold, they did not arrive until June 2. They were unusually numerous, and
remained only a ilay or two. So far as he has been able to ascertain, none
stop to lireed. They are very c[uiet, iiave no song at the time they are pass-
ing, and .seem only intent on collecting their food and in proceeding on tiieir
way. They are very tame and unsuspecting, and one can readily get to
within a few feet of them. In the i'all they are returning south from the 7th
to the lltth of Septemlier.
The nest and eggs remain to bo obtained.
Vireosylvia gilvus, Cassin.
WABBLING OBEENLET.
Mttscicnpit gih-ft, Vir.ii.i,. Ois. I, 1807, (>."), pi. xxxiv. !'iirn fiilni.i, Hon. Ol)s. Wils. 182,'),
no. 12.'t. — All). Oni. liiog. II, )il. c.wiii. — In. Hiids Am. IV, |il. ('(xii. — ISaiui),
Uinls N. .Aim. 1858, ;!3.'). — JSAMrr.i.s, liiiils X. Kiig. 273. J'irwui/lfia ijitcn, (:)a.s.sis,
Pr. A. N. Sc. 18,-)], 1,')3. — .Scr.AiKi!, I*. Z. .S. 18,->t), 208 (( 'onlova) ; (0 lS.-)8, ;i02
(Oa.xiKii ; .luiic) (iicrliiips J', siniiiisuiii). — lUiui), licv. Am. 15. 342. Muscimpa mc-
liiiliii, Wil.s. Am. Oiii. V, 1812, 85, pi. xlii, lij,'. 2.
Sp. CiiArt. (Xo. 1,0179 •) Alxivo oiivL'-nrrccii, .-itroiiiily fjlossod with asliy; flio hotxil
aiul nape iibovo inoro disliiictly aaliy, but, witliDiii, dcM'idoil line of dcmarcntion l)('liiiHl, and
witliout dusky cdpto ; rump pure olive.
- ^__Tr-^ ___ " " "y Stripe from nosstrils over eye to nape,
\ / ^^'^ eyelids •'""1 .«p,ice below eye, croaniy-
\ '"'' — ^-^ —^^^^^"^ wliite. A rather du.sky po.^t-ocnlar an<l
A A X A _^^;:==^ loral .spot, the latter not e.xtendinj,' to the
/ \ "^ / \ — '~Z^^}k "*"* '''"■ f^'i'l'''" parts white, with tinge of
'|i r» r\ -^^yyh green ish-yellow (oeeasionally of creamy
fulvons or bull'), e.speeially on i)reaf!t ; .sides
more olivaeeouis. Cri.<.sum and a.xillars
.scareely more yellowish. Quills and ree-
triees wood-lirown, edged infernallj' with whitish, externally with olivaceous, exeept per-
haps on longer priniarie.s. Edge of wing white. Larger wing-eoverts gr.iyi.sh-brown, with
paler edge.s, and no tr.ice of olivaceous. Bill horn-eolor above, paler below.
First quill very .short or .spurious ; .seeond about equal to, generally rather longer than
sixlli; third longest ; lourth, then lil'th a little shorter.
Eresh specimen: Total length, r),;!3; expanse of wings, 8.;5."); wing from carpal joint
2.8"). Prepared .specimen : Total length, 4..S() ; wing, 2.7o; tail, 2.2,"). Sexes alike. Iris
lirown.
IIah. Eastern North Ameri<'a to Fort Simpson, Cordova and Oaxaca only southern
localities recorded. Not West Indian.
Xirto ^ilvitx
A very young bird has a very cottony plumage, and differs in tints, having
the top of the iiead and the nape a soft whitish isabella-color, this tingeing
the back ; the lower j)arts are wholly unsoiled white ; tiie middle and sec-
VIREONrD.E — TIIK VIKKOS. 3f)9
ondarj' covorts aro ol)scui(:ly tiiipud with liji;lit Ipi'dwh, turiuiiij; two indistinct
liunils iici'Dss till) wing.
A spci'inu'n (Nit. ,")4,l.'(lli) IVoni Oiizalia is, in jiositivdy iivi-ry rospcot,
exactly intenniMliuto Itetwci'n tliis spci'it's and l'. Juscji/hv of Custa Itica,
Ecuador, etc. (Sec footnote on jiaj^c IKKt.j The crown is brown, decidedly
darker than, and difl'orent in tint from, the liack, but less so than injo.scjili<r;
the back is less olive than in the hitter, and less gray than in the former.
The lower parts arc more yellow than in //i/ni.f, and less so than in jamplnv,
the superciliary stripe whiter and extending farther back than in the former,
and less pure white and shorter than hi the latter, etc.
Habits. The Warbling Vireo has only a slightly less extended distribu-
tion than the Iicd-eyed, being found throughout all Kastcrn Xortli America,
as far ninth as Fort Simpson and Selkirk Settlement, and west to the Mis-
souri lliver, and breeding as far south as Louisiana. It is stated by Audu-
bon to be found on the t'olumbia lliver, but in this he probal)ly referred to
the Western race, V. sivninsoni. That writer never observed this species
in Louisiana or Kentucky, nor in the maritime part of (leorgia, and its man-
ner of entering the United States he was unable to ascertain. AVhere it
moves to in the \ 'tter is also unknown, none having been met with in the
West Indies, and only at a few jujints in ^lexico, Cordova, Oaxaca, and the
State of A'era ("ruz. It was, liowever, found breeding at Calcasieu, Lt)uis-
iana, by ^Ir. Wiirdemann.
It breeds abnixlantly from Virginia to Xcn-a Scotia, and throughout the
Northwestern States. West of the Hocky Mountains it is replaced by a
closely allied S[)ecies, the V. .Hwaiitsoiii. This N'ireo, more than any other of
its genus, if not exclusively, is to a large extent a resident of villages, towns,
and even cities. It is by far the sweetest singer that ventures within tiieir
crowded streets and public .sipiares, — although Mr. ("assin gives his prefer-
ence to the notes of the lied-eyed, — and the melody of it.^ song is excjuis-
itely soft and beautiful. It is chielly to be found among the tall trees, in
the vicinity of dwellings, where it .seems to delight to stay, and from their
highest tops to suspend its pensile nest. It is especially abundant among
the elms on Boston Common, where at almost any hour of the day, from
early in the month of May until long after summer has gone, may be heard
the prolonged notes of this, one of the sweetest and most constant of our
singers. Its voice is not powerful, but its melody is tlute-like and tender.
Throughout the last of May, and in June and July, their charming song may
be heard amid the din of the city from esirliest dawn till nightfall, and rarely
ceases even in the noontide heat, when all other birds are silent. It is ever
in motion, while thus singing ; and its sweetest notes are given forth as it
moves among the tree-tops in search of insects. It is not only one of our
most constant singers, but it remains musical almost until its departure for
the South in October.
The Warbling Vireo appears in the Middle States about the IStli of iVpril,
47
370 NORTH AMI'JIUCAN niUD.S.
iiiiil roaolipa Xow Enu'land cailv in ^fay- TIio pntli of its iinrtliciii mif^m-
tidiis, iiiid III' its ri'tiini, is soiiit'w liiil in doiilit. It is abuiuliiiit in winter,
aoconlinj^' to Sumichrast, about Ori/.alia, and probably enters Texa" and
passes north and uastalon*; the Mississippi and tlie Oliio Itivers. In certain
portions of tiie conntry tiiis species is evith'ntly on the inrreaso, beeoinin<i(
more and more common as the country is settled, and towns and villaj,'us
spring up.
T!ie Warbling Virco builds its nest usually in more elevated positions than
any others of this family. For tlie most part in the vicinity of dwellings,
often over freiiuented streets, they suspend their elaboratidy wo\ :'n and beau-
tiful little bnsket-like nest, secure from intrusion from their human neighlnirs,
and i)rotC('ted by the near jjreseuce of man from all their more dreaded enc;-
mies. Audubon narrates, in an interesting maimer, the buihling of their nest
by a ]tair of these birds on a poplar-tree, near his window, in Caimleii, N. .1.
It M'as suspended between the body of the tree and a branch coming out at
an acute angle. The ])air were at work, morning and evening, eight days,
tirst attaching slender blades of grass to the knots on tlui Iminch and the
l)ark of the trunk, and thence working downward and outward. They varied
their materials, from time to time, until at last he traced them, after a pro-
longed al)sence, to a distant haystack, from which they l)rought fine, slender,
dry grasses, with which they completed and lined their nest.
The nests of the Warbling A'ireo, while they resemble closely those of the
other species in all the characteristics of this well-marked family, are yet, as a
rule, more carefully, neatly, and closely iiuilt. They are usually suspended at
the height of from thirty to fifty feet, in the fork of twigs, under and near the
extremity of the tree-top, often an elm, protected from the sun and storm
by a canopy of leaves, and quite out of reach of most enemies. They vary
little in size, being about two inches in height and three and a half in their
greatest dianuiter, narrowing, toward their Junction with the twigs, to two
inches. They are all secured in a very lirm manner to the twigs from which
they are suspended by a I'elting of various materials, chiefly soft, flexible,
flax-like strips of vegetalile fibres, leaves, stems of plants, and strips of bark.
With these are interwoven, and carried out around the outer portions of the
nest, long strips of soft flexible bark of deciduous trees. They are softly and
compactly filled in and lined with fine .stems of plants.
The eggs are usually five in number, and, like those of all the Vireos, are
of a brilliant crystal-white, sparingly spotted at the larger end with markings
of dark brown, and others of a lighter shade. They are less marked with
si)ots than usual in the genus, and are often entirely unspotted, and pure
white. Occasionally, however, they are found with well-niarked blotches
of reddish -brown. They vary in length from .75 to .70 of an inch, and
average about .55 in their breadth.
VIUEONID.^i-TllH VUims. gi^j
Vireosyivia gilvus, vai swainaoni, Baiuu.
WESTEBN WAHBLINO OBBEKLOT.
Firco>„vau.,oni, lU.,..., Iiir.ls N. A.m. Xxt.H, W.I (l-,„.i,i,. ..,.,..0. -Ku.u,y, 111,,., Mi,.,|,
IN. A. I. vii ; m:,..,,/n„. ,v«vn«,v,„u, ItAllil., iirv. Am. I!. ;i|.(. rinus^lri., ,„/„, v,„-
ivn ....- ■ ' ' ' i'n,/„ni,;i.iiu, Sw.u.SsuN, F. U. A. II,
ISJl, J.).) (Ml [lait ; sjicr. Iiulii ruliiiiil,ia l!i\i>i' !).
(No. '',■•'-' '^.) Sin.ilar U, V. ,,iln,, l„,t .s,„aller; coiur.s paler. IJiil ...uro .lquc...sc.e!.
Lpiiei'iiiiiiiiliiiNMiiiuo.sl lilack. Socoiiil (iiiill '
luiicli .slioitei- limn si.xll,. Total lenjrtli, 4.7o;
will},', 2.71; tail, 'i..'!") ; dillm'iicu bc'twmi
tuiitli quill unci louircst, .r>S; fxpo.si'd poition
of liist pfimary, S,^, of second, 1.82, of
longest (nii'asurcd I'loin exposed base ol' ^ \ ' " j \ Z^ 18801
lirst pritnnry), 2.10; length of l)ill r,(„n
forehead, .'M, (Vom nostril, .2!), along gape,
.Go; depth of hill, .1,3; tar.sus, .70; middle ,.
toe and elaw, .50; hind (c2 and daw, .|,t.
Had. United States, from Kooky Moinitains to Pacific coast.
In the pmsent bird the bill is darkor in color, much smaller, and more
depressed, the depth at the base belt,.,' less than the width, instead of bein.^
equta to It as in var. ;,ihu.. The wing is more rot.nded, tlte second ouill
much shorter than the si.xth, generally shorter or but little longer than the
seventh. In var. y//.«,,, the .second .p.ill is «bout etiual to the sixth The
second (luill is about .30 of an inch (or more) shorter than the lon-'-est in
swamso7ii, whUe in uihns it is only about .2(1 shorter. The feet of .wran^ou i
arc weaker, and the colors generally paler and grayer. The iris, according to
Loues, is dark brown. °
Young birds in tintumnal plumage have the crown decidedly ash the sides
more g,-nish; the wing-coverts pass terminally into u light brownish tint
prochicing an mconspicuous band.
Habits. This Western representative of the Warbling Vireo is found
tl.roughout the western portions of our Union, from the Gretit I'lains to the
racific, and from Arizona to the extreme northern boundary of Washington
Territory. "
Dr. Cooper characterizes this as a li\-ely and familiar songster. It arrives
he states, at San Diego ahout April 10, and reaches Puget Sound toward the
middle of May, occupying nearly all the intermediate country throuohout
the summer. It frequents the deciduous trees along the borders of streams
and prairies, coming into gardens and orchards with familiar confidence
wherever cultivation has reclaimed the wilderness. Like its Eastern proto-
type, Its cheerful and varied song is heard all day long until quite late in the
autumn. They too build their nests in the shade-trees of the parks of busy
cities singing ever Mieir delightful strains, unconscious of the busy and noisy
crowd that throngs the neighboring streets.
372 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Dr. ('(ini)er states that its nests are i)omleiit from tlui forks of a branch
lii,nh ultove tlie around, sometiiiu's to the hei<j;lit of a hiuuh'cd feet.
Mr. Uidgway, who observed tlie habits of this apucies in Utah and Ne-
vada, sjieaks of it as the cliaracteristic Vireo of the West. It was found by
liini in all the I'ertile localities, and was one of the most common birds in the
wooded reyions. lie found it vevy ;j;enerally distributed through the sum-
mer, inhaliitinj; the copses along the streams of the mountain canons, and
the open groves of the parks, as well ivs the cottonwooils and willows of the
river valleys. In the fall the berries of a species of the cornel that grows
along the mountain streams constitute its princijjal food. Its notes and man-
ners are identical with those of the Eastern species.
The nests of this species are not distinguishable, except in the necessarily
varying materials, from those of the Eastern bird,s. In position, size, and shape
they are the same. The eggs, four or five in number, are white, spotted with
brown and reddish-brown, and measure .78 by .58 of an inch. The spots are
somewhat darker than those of the V. (jilvus, and the shape more of an ob-
long-oval, in all that 1 have seen. But this dill'ereuce may disajjpear in the
examination of a larger number.
A nest found by ]Mr. Kidgway near Eort Churchill, Nevada, June 24, was
susjjended from the extremity of a twig of a sapling of the cottonwood,
in a copse of the same growing in a river-bottom. It has a height of two
and a half inches, and a diameter of three. It is composed externally of
an elaborate interweaving of spiders'-webs, willow and cottonwood down,
and strong cord-like strips of tine inner bark. These are strongly bound
around the twigs from which the nest is suspended. It is one of the most
elaborately interwoven, homogeneous, and well-felted nests of this bird I
have ever met with. Another nest, from I'arley's Park, Utah, obtained June
28, differs in having the external jjortion woven almost exclusively of fine
strips of bleached bark, and is lined ■.vith fine wiry grasses. In each of these
the eggs were lour in number, all oblong-oval in shape, but much more
]iointed at one end in the latter nest.
This sjtecies was ibund breeding in Napa Valley, Cal., by Mr. A. J. Gray-
sun, and at Fort Tejon by Mr. Xautus.
Subgenus jjANIVIREO, Hauiu.
Cii.ut. Body stout, lioad Itroiid. Bill .sliort niid ,<itout, liroiid iit tlio lin.w, the imltncn
cnrvcd from tlie base, tlie eoiumi.s.-iiiro considerably urched. Bill bluc-blauk. I'oet stout.
Type, 1' JktviJ'rons, For figure, .sue page 379.
Species and Varieties.
Common CiiAKA('Ti:iis<. A broiid stripe froiu bill to and around, but not beyond,
the eye. Two brnad white banils across the wings. Bill pluuiboous-blue, black
toward culuien. Iris brown in all .species?
VIREONID.'E — THE VIREOS. 373
1. L. Bolitarius. Spurious pi-imiry exposed. Throat and orbital ring wliite.
a. Si)urious primary well developed, — .(10 or more long, .10 broad.
Nape and side of neck plumbeous; iipper tail-eoverUs olive-green.
Crissum tinged with yellow, but none on side of throat, nor aeross
breast. Win};, ;?.0.') ; tail, 2.40 ; bill, from nostril, .27 ; tarsus, .C(). Hub.
Eastern Province of fniled Stal"s, straggling westward to the I'acilie
Coast, esi)eeially in its migration southward into Mexico, where it pene-
trates in winter as far as (iuatemala vai: solilari ux.
Ab-n-o continuous olive-l..,)wn ; below ochraeeous-white, with a butl'y
thige across breast, and deeply olivaceous along sides. Crissum tinged
with yellow. Wing, 2.80; tail, 2.15 ; bill, 30 ; tarsus, CO. Hab. I'acilie
Province of Uiiited States, straggling in aulunui eastward into the
Middle Province var. cassiiii.
Above continuous ashy-plumbeous. Beneath pure white, ashy along
sides, and very slightly so across breast. A'ing, ;{.2o ; tail, '.iltO ; bill,
.30 ; tarsus, .GO. Hab. Middle Province of United States, co.^th, in win-
ter, through Western .Mexico to Colir.ia .... var. ^j^M wtc H .V.
6. Spurious primary very minute, — about .30 long by .O-l wide.
Nape and side of neck olive-preen; upper tail-eovertvS plumbeous.
Crissum not tinged with yellow, but sides of the throat ami aeross the
breast are. Wing, 3.10 ; tail, 2.20; bill, .20; tarsus, .04. Hab. Coban,
Vera Cruz, Guatemala ; resuUnit? \iiv. propimj ii as '
2. It. flavifrons. Spurious primary concealeil. Throat and orbital ring yellow.
Anterior half of body olive-green above, lemon-yt^llow below ; pos-
terior hall plumbeous-ash above, while below. Wing, 3.00 ; tail, 1.00 ;
bill, .32 ; tarsus, .70. Hah. Eastern Province of Uuited States, south,
in winter, to Costa Rica, and very rare in Cuba.
Lanivireo solitarius, 1>aird.
BLVE-HEASED VIBEO.
Muscicapa solitaria, WiLS. Am. Orn. II, 1810, ll;i, pi. xvii, fig. (i. Virto mUtnriH.% Vieill.
— Aim. I. — Cassin, Sc. — Sci..vrKii, P. 'A. S. Ks.-,ti, 'JlkStCordnvii) ; 18.'>i), ;i()y(.\iilaprt);
375 (Oaxaca?). — Sci.atku & Sai.vin, Ibis, ISliO, 31 ((Jiiati'iiiala). — Caii. .lour. Ill,
408 (Cuba). — GuNDLAill, Cab. Jour. 1801, 324 (I'uba ; very rare). -"SAMina.s, Birds
N. Eng. 277. Vireo (Laniciiro) sol. IJaiimi, liirds N. .Vui. 18;")8, 32S). Viirosijh-ia
(Lanivireo) soUttiria, BAiltl), Itev. Am. 15. 1S04, 347.
Sp. Cmak. (No. 300 J.) Above olive-green, including upper tail-coverts; the top
and sides of head and nape ashj^-pluudn'oiis ; siiles of the neck phunbeous-olive. Broad
liue from nostrils to and around eye, involving the whole lower eyelid, white. A loral lino
' Vifcosylvia propinqnn, Uaiiu), TJi'v. 18()."i, p. 348. This ai)p('ars to be mrrdy a ptMiiiaiient
resident race of nolitariua, which itsi'lf visits (iunlcnmla only in winter. Closely ri'siMubling the
latter, it dillers essentially in the respects jioinled out above. The ililleienee in <'oloration is
jirodueed by a shifting, as it were, toward the head of th(^ yellow and olive, leaving the ujiper
tail-coverts clear ash, and the lower pure white, and eneroacliing upon the a.sh anteriorly to thn
orown ami ear-eoverts, and the white alongside of the throat. In the V. plnmbcus these tints
are simply almost entindy removed, leaving eh'ar ash and pure white, with a tinge, however, of
olive on the riunp and of yellow on the sides. In /'. oissiui the tints ari^ darkened and biowued
by the peculiar iidhienec of the region whei-c found, there being neither clear ash, nor olivo-groeu,
uor pure yellow or white, iu the pluniiigo.
20274
Lanioireo soiitariui.
374 NOUTIl AMERICAN piKDS.
involving the edge of the eyoHd, and a space beneath the eye, dusky phnnbcous. Beneath
white; tlie sides yellow, overlaid with olive, tliis color not extending anterior to the
breiu^t. Axillars and base of crissuin
pale sulpinn--yellow, the long feathers
of the latter much paler or nearly
white. Wings with two bands and
outer edges of innermost secondaries
olivaceous-white ; the quills dark
brown, edged externally with olive-
green, internally with white; tail-feath-
ers similarly marked, except that the
lateral feather is edged externally also with white, the central without internal border.
Hill and legs blaekish-phunbeous. Iris brown.
First quill spurious, rather more than one fifth the second, which is intormediate be-
tween the fifth and sixth ; third longest.
Fresh specimen : Total length, rj.40 ; expanse of wing, 9.00. Prepared specimen : To-
tal length, 5.25 ; wing, 2.95 : tail, 2.35.
H.\D. United States, from Atlantic to Pacific ; Cape St. Lucas. Not recorded from
Southern Rocky Mountains, where replaced by L. jilumbeits. South to Mexico and Gua-
temala. Vera Cruz (winter, Su.micurast). Very rare in Cuba.
Spring specimens show sometimes a gloss of plumbeous on the back,
obscuring the olive, the contrast of colors being greater in the autumnal and
young birds. Sometimes the crissum appears nearly white. The length of
the spurious primary varies considerably, from .45 to .75 of an inch.
In autumn the colors are similar, but slightly duller and less sharply de-
fined, while the back is considerably tinged with ashy.
Habits. The Solitary Vireo appears to be found, irregularly, throughout
the United States. Nowhere abundant, so far as I am aware, it seems to be
more connuon in California than on the Atlantic, while there are also large
tracks of intervening territory in which we Iiave no knowledge of its pres-
ence. On the Atlantic it has been met with from Georgia ti he Bay of
Fundy. In ^lassaclmsetts it has been found in a few restricted localities ;
in one or two of tliem, they are as abundant as the White-eyed. Mr. Dresser
found it in Texas, near San Antonio, late in the autunm, and early in
spring, but none remained to breed. Mr. Boardman gives them as a summer
visitant at Calais, but not common, and Professor Verrill mfikes a similar
statement for Western Maine, where it arrives in the second week of May.
jVccording to Mr. Allen, it reaches Western Massadmsetts by May 1,
but it is there quite rare. A few are ])rcsumed to stop and breed.
In California, Mr. Gambel states that it is (juite abundant in the latter
l)art of summer, and throughout tlio winter, ireipienting low buslies and
thickets. Dr. Heermann also frequently met witli it. Botli at the East and
the West it is undoubtedly only migratory to about tlie 40th parallel, and
does not, except in mountainous localities, breed south of that line. Pro-
fessor Baird found it breeding in the South ^lountains, near Carlisle, Peun.,
in May, 1844. It occurs in Guatemala in the winter.
VIRE0NID.1?. — THE VIREOS. 375
Dr. Cooper states that it roaches Pnget Sound by the first of May, and he
has also observed it in tlie Colorado Valley, alter the 14th, wiiere tlujy made
tlieniselves conspicuous by their song, but in a few days had all passed
northward. He has met tliem nesting in ^lay at the eastern base of the
Coast IJange, and has also found them quite common, in summer, on the
Columbia River. Their favorite resorts are the deciduous oaks.
These birds were found breeding at Fort Tejon by JNIr. Xantus, and at
Vancouver by Mr. Hepburn.
jNIr. liidgway met with a few in September, in the thickets along the
streams flowing from the Clover Mountains.
This species was taken in winter by Mr. Boucard, at Talew, in the State
of Oa.xaca, Mexico.
Mr. Aiulubon's statement that this bird is rather abundant, and that it
breeds in Louisiana, is undoubtedly incorrect, and his description of its nest
and eggs belongs rather to the Yellow-th>.iated, and agrees with none that
I have ever seen of tliis species. That he found them abundant in Maine,
and ti-aced them as far north as Pictou, Nova Scotia, is more probable. Dr.
Bachman speaks of this species becoming each year more abundant in South
Carolina, coming in February and remaining through March.
jMr. Nuttall, who met with this species on the Columbia, about the begin-
ning of ^lay, describes its song as a plaintive, deliberate warble, interme-
diate between the song of the olivarcus and the Jltxi-ifroHH. Mr. Burroughs
describes the love-notes of these birds as being inexjiressibly sweet and ten-
der in both sexes. The song of tlie male, as I have heard it, bears no resem-
blance to that of any other Vireo. It i.s a prolonged and very i)eculiar ditty,
repeated at frequent intervals and always identical. It begins with a lively
and pleasant warble, of a gradually ascending scale, which at a certain pitcli
suddenly breaks down into a falsetto note The song then rises again in a
single high note, and ceases. For several summers the same bird has been
heard, near my house in Hingb.am, in a wild pasture, on the edge of a wood,
always singing the same singular refrain, divring the montii of June.
Mr. Nuttall found a nest of this species suspended from the forked twig
of a wild crab-tree, about ten feet from the ground. The chief materials
were u, id and withered grasses, with some- cobwebs agglutinated together,
externally partially covered with a few shreds of hypnum, assimilating it
to the branch on wliich it hung, intermingled with a few white paper-like
capsules of the spiders' nests, and lined with a few blades of grass and
slender root-fibres.
Seven nests of this species, found in Lynn and Hingham, Mass., exhibit
peculiarities of structure substantially identical. In comparison with the
nests of other Vireos, they are all loosely constructed, and seem to be not so
securel; •'astened to the twigs, from which they are suspended. One of these
nests, typical of the general character, olttained in Lynn, May 27, ISriO, by
Mr. George O. Welch, was suspended from the branches of a young oak,
376 NORTH AMERICAN- BIRDS.
about twelve feet from the ground. The external depth of this nest was
only two and a half inches, tlie diameter three and a quarter, and its cavity
one and three quarters inches deep, and two inches wide at the rim. It was
constructed externally of strips of yellow and of gray birch-bark, intermin-
gled with bits of wool and dry grasses. The external jiortion was quite
loosely put togetlier, but was lined, in a more compact manner, with dry
leaves of tlie white pine, arranged in layers. Anotiier nest, found in Hing-
ham, was but two feet from the grounil, on a branch of a hickory sapling.
In its general structure it was tlie same, only differing in shape, being made
to conform to its position, and being twice as long as it was broad. It con-
tained four young, when found, about the 10th of June. One nest alone,
built on a bush in Lynn, exhibits even an average degree of compactness in
its external structure. '''Iiis is largely composed of cocoons, which are
woven together into a .somewhat homogeneous and cloth-like substance.
Within, decayed stems of grasses take the jdace of the usual pine-needles.
In the summer of 1870 a ])air built their nest in a dwarf ])ear-tree, within
a few rods of my house. They were at first very shy and would not permit
themselves to be seen at tlieir work, and suspended all labor when any one
was occupied near their cliosen tree. Soon alter the construction of the nest
two Cowbird's eggs were deposited, which I removed, although the female
only laid two of her own before she began to sit upon them. By this time
she became more i'amiliar, and would not leave her nest unless T attempted
to lay hands upon her. She made no complaints in the manner of the
White-eyed, nor sought to attack like the Yellow-throated, but kept witliin
a few feet, and watclied me with eager eyes, until T left her. Unfortunately,
her nest was pillagetl by a I'lack-billed Cuckcjo, and I was unable to observe
her feed her young, as I had hoped to do.
Tlie eggs are of an oblong-oval sliape, moderately pointed at one end, and
of a white ground, less crystalline than in the otiier species of its kind. They
are spotted pretty uniformly over tlie entire egg with dots of dark red and
reddish-brown. They are usually five in number.
Lanivireo solitarius, var. cassini, Baird.
CASSIirS VIKEO.
Vireo cassini, Xantus, Pr. A. N. S. Phil. Mny, 1858, 117.-11x11(0, Birds N. Am. 1858,
340, pi. Ixxviii, fig. 1 ; Review Am. B. I, 1865, 347 (sub F. soliUiria), Ridoway.
Sp. Char. Third and fourth quills nonrly pqnal, fifth shorter, second lonjrer tlmn
seventh. Spurious primary very narrow, falcate, acute ; less than one third the second quill,
and a little more than one fourth the third. Aliove, inchulinjr edges of winji; and tail-
feather.s, clear olive-gre(Mi, becoiniufj; dusky asliy on the top and sides of hea<l. Beneath
fulvous-white, tinged with ill-defmcd olive-greim on the sides (scarcely on the crissum).
Two broad hands on the wing-coverts and the outer edges of the innermost sec-
ondaries greenish-white ; the outer edge of outer tail-fei'ther, with a broad ring round
VIREONID.E — THE VIIJEOS. ..77
the eye, extending to a liontal bmul, dull wl.ite. L,.„j;th about o inohes; winc^ 2 70'
tail, 2..'50. ' "^ '
Il.vn. Eon IVJon, Cal. ( Xami;..) ; West, lliiniliol.U, Mountains, X<n-ada (liri.nvAV).
Since the type of tlii.s vaii.>ty was ol.taim-d, two other specimens (Nos
53,418 9, and r,:i,4l!) ^, ,S(3,,teuil.er, 1,S(;7 ; II h'id-way) have hcen secured
by the I nited States Geological .Survey of tiic 4utli I'arallel, in conuuand of
Mr. Clarence Kin-, in the West Humboldt Mountains, Nevada. These
specimens are even more ditlcrcnt from true m/ifarias tlian is the type of this
race, showing that it is really distinct, as a variety. In the sanu> tliickets
at the same season, perfectly typical specimens of V. Holitarim were obtained :
the latter having, no doubt, come from their more northern sunmier home
on their pas.sage southward into ]Mexico.
In ilie Humboldt Mountain sjiecimens the crown shows no trace of ash,
and is even darker and more brownish than the back. In fact, the relation
of the V. casKlni to F. xolitaru, is an almost exact parallel to that of V.
josqyha' to V. i/ihiis, as lar as c(.loration is concerned, in each case tlie ex-
treme being widely dilferent, but connected by specimens showing inter-
mediate characters.
Nothing is known of the habits of this race.
Lanivireo solitarius, \ar. plumbeus, Coues.
LEAD-COLOBED VIBEO.
Viro>.sylvia phimh,;,, Cori.;s, P,-. A. N. .S,-. I'liila. IS.iii (Fort Whipple, near Pmscott .\ri-
zona). -Cooi-Ki;, Om. Cal. J, 1870, 119. - Elliot, Ulust. IJinl.s N. A. I, vii. V.
{Lanivireo) p/idiilmi, HAiiiD, l!cv. 349.
Sp. C[tAR. (No. ;!7,()1 1.) Who!., upper i)aits and sides of liead uniform plumbeous • the
lower part of the back wit), a faint wash of olivaceous. A white line from bill to and
around eye; a dusky lin.> (rem eonier of eye to bill. Sides of bieast and (lanks ph;ni-
beou.s, paler than the baek : the llaid<s veiv sli-htly tinned will, olive-green Rest of
under parts white; the a.xillars a.shy, edged with white. \Vings above with two conspie-
uoiLS white bauds; the innermost quills ..dged externally and the lonu'er ones internally
with white, the latter edge.l .■xternally will, light ash. ]iill and legs dark pltnnbeon.s.
'• Tris hazel." Tail-feathers narrowly edged all n.un.l with white, narrowest internally, and
niereasing from eeutial I., lal.Tal li.athers. fpper tail-coverta clear ash.
As the specimen in linest plumage
(described above) is moulting the
quills, th(> measurements are taken
from another (,^7.01()). In this the
first qnill is not quite one third the
second, wliieh equals the sixth, the
third and fourth longest.
(No. ;!7,01^).) Fresh specimen:
Totallength, 0.10; expanse of winu's Vinosylvia plumbta.
10.80. Prepared speeimeu : Total length. 5.75; wing, .3.25 ; tail, 2.70 ; dilTeroncc between
tenth and longest quill, .05 ; exj.o.sed portion of lirst primary, .75, of second *> 34 of lou-
48 . , . ,
378 Nt)RTii amp:iu('an birds.
gest, third (measured from exposed base of first priiniiry), 2.54; length of bill from fore-
head, .05, from nostril, .Jil. aloiijr f^iipi', .70; tarsus, .7."> ; iiiiddlc toe and claw, .GO, claw
aloiio, .21 ; hind toe and claw, .50, daw alone, .23.
IIah. Sontliein Uoeky Monntains; East Humboldt Mountains, Nevada (Hidowav),
In winter to Coliinu, Mexico.
While the pattern of coloration is precisely similar to that of Lanivirco
solitarius, the diflbrence in tlie colors upp(;ars to be occasioned merely by re-
moving, a^ it were, tlie yellow stain, wliich on the plnmbeous i)ro(liices the
olive-green tinge, and exists in a purer tint along the sides, leaving, essentially,
only clear plundjemis and pnre wliite ; there is, however, in the most typical
specimens, always a faint tinge of green on the rump, and a stain of yellow
along tiie side. Though identical with so/itariuti in most of its proportions,
tiie wings and tail are considerably longer than in the average of that form.
There are many specimens from the llocky Mountains and westward that
are so decidedly intermediate between solifariiis and plumhcuH, that, consider-
ing also the lack of essential ilifl'erence in foj'm and coloration between the
two, we do not hesitiite to consider them, along with cussuii and propinqiias
(see page 373), as races of a single species, of which each is the representa-
tive in a jxirticular region. Thus, V. solitarius breeds in the Eastern Prov-
ince of the United States (and possibly in the Western, following tlie same
route far to the northward that many Eastern birds pursue in straggling
westward), and migrates in winter into Middle America as far as Guatemala ;
those wliich breed in the Xorthwest pass directly southward, thus crossing the
region where mssiiii and ijlioitbcus breed, which accounts for their being ob-
tained together. V. cassini is the representative on the ojiposite side of the
continent ; but the history of its migrations is yet obscure. V. phnnhcns is
the Middle Province and Kocky Mountain representative, breeding alone in
that region, and in winter migrating southward througli Western Mexico as
far as Colima. V. j)vopinquus is anotlier permanent race, but a local one, be-
ing resident in the coimtry where found, though mixed in winter with visitors
of solitarius from the North.
Habits. Of this very recently discovered race, very little is at present
known. It was first described by Dr. Coues, who met with it in Arizona,
near Fort Whipple. He says it is especially abundant in the northern part
of that Territory. It was by far the most common Vireo at Fort Whipple,
where it is a sunnner resident, arriving there about the 15th of April and
remaining until October.
It was found to be common about Laramie Peak, by Dr. R. Hitz, and was
also met with in winter on the plains at Colima, ^lexico, by Xantus.
It was seen in the summers of 1868 and 181)9, by Mr. Ridgway, among
the cedar and nut-pine woods on the slopes and among the brushwood in the
canons of the East Humboldt Mountains, being most partial to the former
situations. There, too, it undoubtedly breeds, as in tlie latter part of July
young birds, luiable to fly, were met with by him. He also states that the
VinEOXID^E — THE VIUEOS.
379
common notes of this Vireo very closely rescnil.le Iho.se of the Western Wood
VV reu (Tivi/ludi/ks jjudiuunni).
Vireosylvia flavifrons.
Lanivireo flavifrons, IJaiku.
YELLOW-THBOATED VIBEO.
Vireoflavifrmts,\n,iu.. Ois. A.n. Sept. 1. 1807. 85. pi. liv. - Aud. Om. Bio. II 1834
pl. C.V.X.-IU Bhcls. An.. IV. pi. c....x.xxviii. _ C..s,s,.s-, IV A. N. ^.^:^'^t
lbs. I, 18.9, 12(G,mt,.n,ak)._rA.K ,Io«r. III. 408 (Cuba ; wint,.,). - (irsm v,„
Cub. Jour. 801.324(Cuba; ,.a..).-C.vu..Iou,.. 18«0. 405 (Co.sta Hica . T/ <« ^ „ !
^^Jl^. 1U,K,,. H„..ls X An.. 1858. 341. nrcs.l.,. iL„.Uirc^ J„„frons, i^Z,
lt(^. o4b. Muscicapa sulvicula, WiLs. Am. Oiii. 11, iSKi. 117, j,i. vii, f. 3.
bnglu oIuo-gn.en. Lower buok, run.p. tail, and winfr-uov.rt. ashy. Win-^s brow, ^vitli
two white bands across the coverts, the in„s oiown, « ,tl,
outer edges of inner secon(hu-ies, and inner
edges of all the qtnlLs, with inside of wing,
white. Outer primaries edncd with grav.'
the inner with olive. Tail-feathers browli,'
entirely encirelwl liy a narrow edge of white!
Under parts to middle of body, a line from
nostrils over eye, eyelids, an.l patch be-
neath the eye (bordered behind by the olive
of neck) bright gamboge-yellow; rest of
;;;™be:s,:!f'"'^ ""^^ '^"""^■^'"^-" -"" -^'^- ^- ^^-^y- ^^^ -<> -^.^
No spnrimr. prin,ary evident : .second quill longest ; first a little shorter than third
ta«; ' "'"'''•""' ''"''•"" '""''•'^"'^^ •"■ '"■•"-' -' -~t quills .90;
Cuba."" ''''^'"" ""'"'"' '^'"'"' '"'"' '" "-'"^'^ ^'^" ''^"-''^"'^ («--•'«•)• ^'-y '-e iu
Autumnal birds, perhaps more especially the youn.sj, are more glossed with
olmiceous. winch nivades the ashy portions, and tinj,res the white
Habits All the older ornithological writers, in speaking of the Vellow-
throated Vireo, repeat each other in descrihing it as peculiarly attracted to
the iorest. seeking its solitudes and gleaning its food chieHy amon- its top-
most branches. Such has not been my experience with this interesting and
attractive little songster. I have found no one of this genus, n<.t even the
fva, so common in the vicinity of dwcdlings, or more familiar and fearless
m Its intercourse with man. All of its nests that I have ever met with have
been built ,n gardens an.l orchards, and in clo.se proximity to dwelling,s, and
they have also been exclusively in comparatively low positions In one of
the most recent instances a i,air of these birds built one of their beautiful
mo^s-covered nests in a low branch of an apple-tree that overhung the cro-
quet-ground, within a few rods of my house. It was first noticed iu conse-
380 xoHTii amf;uican .niitDs.
qiu'iico of its linkl litth; Itnildor flyiiit,' in my I'lin' wlii'iiovor I a|)])roacliod too
iioiir, oven bel'ore its nest coiitiiiiuMl any ejxjf.s. The j,'rmiii(l.s were in i'ret|ueiit
use, unci the jiair wen^ at first a j,'i)(k1 deal disluihed hy these constant inti'u-
si(ins, lint they sdcm liccanic icconcilcd to their company, and wonld not leave
their position, even thouji'h the j^ame was contested ininiediately under their
nest, which was thus often l)r(nij;ht within a foot nf the lii^ids of the. ])layers.
Before this nest was quite finished, the female hej^an her duties of inc^nbation.
Her assiduous mate was constantly tmjiaj^ed at first in com]iletiuf,' the ex-
ternal ornamentation of the nest with lichens and mosses, and then with a
renewid of his interrupted concerts of sonj,'. These duties he varied by
fre([Uent ca])tures of insects, wiuj^ed and creepinjf, most of which he duly
carried to his mate. His son^' was varied, sweet, and touchin^uly beautiful.
Less jiowerful than tlu! notes of several others of its family, except those of
the Warhiintj, I know of none more charminj;.
These birds reach New P^uuland about the lOth of May, and usually have
their nests constructed early in June. Their habits, in all essential respects,
are the same as those of all its family. They are somewhat contiiling and
trustful of man, are readily approached, and soon become so well acquainted
with those amon<f whom they have a luune as to fearlessly come to the win-
df)ws of the house in ]>ursuit of spiders or flies, and even to enter them. In
the latter case thi'y cannot readily make their exit, and soon lose their self-
possession, beatinjj; their heads ajjainst the walls and ceiling in vain attempts
to get out, unless caught and releascid. In one instance a young bird, that
had entered my barn-chaml)er, became so entangled in cobwebs, around his
wings and feet, as to be unable to escape again. When taken in the hand,
and his meshes one by one picked out from al)out his feet and (piills, he
was very docile, made no resistance or outcry, nor any attempt to escape,
until he was entirely freed i'rom his Ixjnds, although it required some time
and care to accomplish it. When entii'ely freed from these clogs, and ])er-
mitted to go, he llew away very deliberately to a short distance, and occupied
himself with dressing his disordered plumage.
The nest of this species is also a ])endent structure, and hemispherical in
shajx?. It may always be readily distinguished from any other nest of this
family by the profusion of lichens and mosses with which its outer portion
is jidorned and covered, giving it the appearance of a large moss-covered
knot.
In most of the towns in the vicinity of Boston this species, though not
abundant, is (|uite common. Their nests, built usually in low and rather
cons]ncuous positions for birds of this kind, occur most frequently in gardens
and orchards. One of these, found, suspended from a moss-covered branch
of an apple-tree in Iloxbiny, may be taken as typical of its kind. Its
rim was firmly bound around the fork of a branch by a continuation of the
materials that form the outside of the nest itself. These are an interweaving
of spiders'-webs, and silky threads from insect cocoons, largely intermingled
/ VIFlEONID.K-TiriO VFREOS. ggj
;yitli mosses and lidu.ns, an.l tlms made to ...mform closely in appeamnee to
the moss-Krown hark of tl.e tree. The u„.ler portion of tlie „est is strennth-
eiUHl l.y lonj,. strips of tlie inner hark of th., wild ^n-npe. Within i " an
inner nest made of fine grassy stems and hark. It forms exaetly a half-
sphere m shape ,s symmetrieal, an.l is very thoronj,ddy made. Its\liameter
's fonr, and its heij-ht two and one fonrtli in('he.s.
Mr Xnttall .le.scrihes a nest of this hini, Im.nd by him snspend.d from the
orked twig ol an oak, near a dweliin-house, as cated over with -reen
hehens attaehed very artfnlly hy a slender string of eaterpillars' silk^ tlu,
whole afterwards tied over hy alnu.st invisible threads ol' the same so niixdv
done as to appear to be glned on. The whole fabric was thus ma,le to rJ-
semble an accidental knot, of the tree, grown o^•er with moss. Another nest
observe.1 by the same writer, was fixed on the depen.ling branches of a wild
cherry and was fifty feet from the ground. So lofty a position as this is
probably very unusual. I have never met with any higher than ten feet
irom the ground.
The food of this Vireo is chiefly insects, and in the breeding-season is
a]to.g« her so. Later in the season they .mingle with these various kinds of
small berries.
The eggs of this species vary from .95 to .SS of an inch in length, and
from .65 to .60 in breadth. Their ground-color is white, often with a very
percep ible tint of ro.seate Avhen fresh. In this respect they differ in a very
marked nianner from the eggs of any other of this genus, except, perhaps,
the bnrbatnla, and may thus always be very easily recognized. They are
more or less boldly marked with blotches of a dark r.jseate-brown, also pe-
culiar to the eggs of this species, though varying greatly in their size and
depth of color.
This Vireo winters, in great numbers, in Central America, and was lar-ely
represented in the collection of Dr. Van Patten from Guatemala. It was
also found at Tirico, in Colombia, South America, by Mr. C W Wya't
It occurs in abundance as far to. the west as Crinnell, Iowa, where Mr."
W. H. Parker found it to be a very common summer resident.
382
NUUTII AilKlUCAN BIRDS.
SUUOKNUS VIREO, VlEll.U
Vii- ViKii,!., Ois. Am. Sept. 1, 1807, 83. (Tyix-, Musciaijui noveboracensh, O.m.)
CiiAH. Wiiijrs short uiul loiiiulud, a littlo longer tlum tlic tail, equal to it, or shorter.
Virpo iiovebnractnsis.
Fiist primary (li.stiiict ami larsrc, from two firtiis to half or more the length of the second,
shorter or not longer than the eighth.
Tlie characters of Virvo are essentially
those of VireoHijlvia ; the bill, however, is
shorter ; the first (|iiill always present, better
developed, sonietiuies more than half the
second. The wings are shorter, and more
rounded; the tarsi usually longer. The
Yireo noveboracensh. SeCtionS are aS foUoWS I
Vireo. Wing.s iminteil ; first quill less tlian half the .seooiid, which is about equal
to seventh or eighth, and decidedly longer than the tenth primary and the secondaries.
Type, V. novehnracenms.
VirecneUa. Wings rounded, scarcely longer than the tail ; the first quill half as long
as the second (or more than half), which is not longer than the tenth piimary and .secon-
daries, or even less. Bill and feet generally much stouter than the preceding. Type, V.
gundlachi
None of the species of Virconella are found in the United States.
Species.
C0M.M0N GiiARAOTKns. All the .species olivaceous or ashy above, beneath whit-
ish, or olivaceous-yellow. Wings with light bands. A light stripe from bill
over the eye, but not beyond it, except in carmioU. Iris brown, as far as known,
except in F. noveboracensis, where it is white.
A. Two conspicuous light bands mi wing.
a. Sexes dilfercnt. Whole lore white.
1 . V. atrlcapiUuB. Above olive-green, outer edges of tail-feathers
bright yellov/isli -green ; wing-bands greenish-white. Sides oliva-
ceous-jellow. Male. Head and neck (except lore, orbital ring, chin,
and throat) deep black ; lower parts pure white medially. Female
with the black replaced by dull .slate ; lower parts ochraceous-white
medially. Wing, 2.30; tail, 1.80; tarsus, .08; bill, from nostrU,
.24. Hab. Southern Texas ; llazatlan, Mexico.
b. Sexes alike. Lore dusky, with light mark above it.
VrRKOXID.K-TIIE VIRKoH.
2. V oarmloll- AI,ovo hiownisl. olivo-.n-on. I}o„..a,l,, with
sni-ra-lora stni,.., oH.ital ring, an.l ligl.t .narkings „„ ,1,,. .vings li.|,t
ocl.r..y-y,.|l„vv inoro whiti.sl. on the tl>ront. Wing, 2.or> ■ tail 2 00 •
taivsns, .00 ; bill, .20. //,,/,. c„sta Ri.a. ' ' '
3. V. noveboraoonsls. Alx.vo olivt.-gr,.,,n, a.I,y acros.s tin- nnpc.
feuiHa-lo.alstni,e and orl.italnMg,L...|, yellow. Bunoath ashy-wlL
on throat, purer white on al.clo.nun; .si.les, an.l a tinge ann.ss ti„.
brca.s, hght ydlow. Iris white. Wing, 2.40; tail, 2...0 ; tarsns,
.CJ , hil , .2 .. Ilah. La.stern Province of Unite.l .Stafs, south ,„>
wnner) to Guatemala (and Uogotuy) ; very rare in Cuba ; ah.n.lant
anil resident ni JJerniiida.
4. V. huttonl. Above grayish-olive, more olive-gre.., toward tail.
B.;low ,,a e gray,sh-bnir. Orbital ring very broad, yellowish-white.
? w '■ '■w'"' ""■""'•"■' ''"'- •24- //"*• (Mlbrnia; in
waiter, Western Mexico to Oaxaea.
B. Only one band on wing, and this indistinct,
5. V. belli. Above ashy-ohve, more viroscent posteriorly. Mark-
ings on s.le 01 head not well define.l. Below dull wluie, with a
slight buny tn>ge, strongly stained with yellow on sides an.l flanks.
Upper leathers of n.iddle row of wing-eoverts passing into paK-r at
tip, prodncmg an indication of an anterior band. Win.^ 2 •>0 • tail
h80; ta...s 09; bill, .2;^. JM. V.ains between thrMLi;sippi
Valley and he Iloeky Mountains, from Dakota to Te.xas ; in winter
south to Tehuantepe.!, Mexico.
C. V.pusillus. Abovegrayisl,.ash,very.slightly tinged with olive
on nunp. lie ow dull white, ashy laterally, the Hanks with the
sl-ghes possible tmge of y..llow. Wing, 2.;30; tail, 2.20; tarsus,
P V •' i; ''''''• ''"'■ •"•""•"'' ^•"^'" «'■ L-cas, Lowe;
California; Cahlorma north t.) Sacrninento City
7. V. vlcinior. Above bluish-ash, below ashy-white, .scarcely
more ashy laterally. Lores entirely ashy-white. Wing, 2.00; tail
2.40; tarsus, .67 ; bill, .20, .18 deep. Hub. Fort Whipple, Arizona.
383
Vireo atricapillus, Woodhouse.
BLACK-CAFPEO VISEO.
A.ri858 S r' :,t'~r"' I""'- ''''• '''' '"• --'•-»-^"">. Birds N.
Am. 1858, 337 ; Kev. 353. — Coopeii, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 121.
Sp. Char. (No 0,8ia) Top and sides of head and neck black ; rest of upper parUs olive-
proen. Wing and tad feathers almost bla.'k on
their upper surface, the quills and reetrices e.lged
with olive (paler on the exterior primaries), the
wing-coverts with two greenish-white banil's on
a blackish grouiiiL Broa.l line from bill to and
around eye (not meeting on forehead) with under
parts white; the .oi.Ies of bo.ly ..livaceous; the
axillars and inner wing-covertsOiorhaps crissum) nr^a,nrapiu,..
» Fireo earmioli, Baii.d, Review Am. B. I, 1865, p. 356. IM. Costa Ri,a.
6818
384 NOKTll AMKKICAN JHUDS.
j'i'llowisli. Hill Mai'k ; feel iiliiiiitii'diis ; iiis liii>.'lil ri'(l. First quill Ics.s lliaii half tho
si'ciiiiil, which alHiiil ('(|iials the Iciilh; lliiiil littlr NJioi'tcr than limilh (li>ii},'('st).
h'viHdle. With the lilacU ii'iilaccil hy dull slate; lowcf pailf oi'hiautMiii.s-whih' iiu'dially.
INissihly udisliiii't s|)t'cli's (Mazatlaii)-
(N'o. (!,81>^.) Fi't-'sh wpcciiiu'ii : Totalli'ii<,'lli, 4.7'); eximiisi' of wiiifjs, 7.1i"); \viii<;t from
carpal jniiit, 2.12. I'icpaivil .^ipt'ciiiicM : Tnlal li'iijrlh, 4. 10 ; win;,', 2.2"); tail, l.il").
\\\\\ Soutlierii bolder 111' We.'^leru Te.vas; .Ma/.allali.
Tlu) Mack lioiid of tlii.s .spwius, as far nn known, makes it niiitnie in tlio
yt'iius. It is nxtriMiiclv raro, Ijiit tlirce or four spticinu-ns beinj,' known.
We refer to tliis s])eeies a s]ieeiineii — probalily a female — obtained at
Afa/atlan, on the western eoast of Mexico, in April, by Colonel (Jraysun (S.
I., Xo. 7\'),{)\{)). This specimen dilll'rs from those from Texas in having the
black of the heati replaceil by a dull dark slate-color, the olive above ratlun*
less virescent, and the lower parts not pure while, Imt somewhat bully. A,s
all the other essential characters art; itleiitical, there boini,' in bolh the
white space coverinj,' tiie whole lore, and orbital riniii internipted on top, —
features not .seen in any other species, — we have little hesitation in con-
sidering; them the same ajjecies; which opinion is moreover strengthened by
the fact, that among the Texas s])ecimens, all with black caps, there are
no females.
Hahits. (.)f the geneml history and habits of this rare species very little
is known. It was first met with by Dr. Woodhouse, on the 2()th of May,
18;") I, in Western Texas. This was on the IJio San I'edro, within ten miles
of its source. He found it among some cedars, and was attracted by its very
singular notes. It was in continual motion, like a Wood Warbler, and was
by him at first supi)ose,d to be one of those birds. He obtained two speci-
mens, both of which ])roved to be males.
Mr. .lohn II. ('lark, the naturalist of the Mexican Boundary Conunission,
likewi.se found this s]iecies in Texas, and not far from the same locality in
which it was discovered i>y Dr. Woodhouse. His attention also was drawn
to the bird by its shrill (lis(!ordant chir]), whitdi it uttered incessantly in its
pursuit (jf in.sects. Thi'ee specimens only were seen, and all of them at one
locality, the valley of the Iiio San Pedro, to which it seemed to be confined.
It was not at all shy, and showed no concern when Mr. Clark ap])roaclied
within a few rods. Its constant motion, hopping incessantly from branch
to branch, made it a matter of some ditticidty to procure specimens. It
was found in June, and the single specimen shot by Mr. Clark was also a
male.
J \ lltKiiNID.i; — TIIK VlltKOS. 3g5
Vireo noveboracensis, I'iunap.
WHITE-EYEO VIREO.
Musricnitd iiinrliiiriifciiHls, Om. Sysl. Nut. I, 17XH, iM7 {(Inin Fhli'iitehcr, I'knnant, Arctic
Ziiiil. II, :i!S!t). I'iini //()<•.//. |l(i\. Olis. Wilson, IS'.Vi. Aril. ; C.xsMx. -lUiiiit,
llir.l.s N. Am. IHAH, WM ; Kcv. ;t.-i4. Max. — Sci.ur.li, I' /,. S. l,s-,7, l>()4 (Xalu|pa) ;
•J-J.'S (Vera fill/). — Sci.AiT.li & Sai.vin, IMh, II, l.sili), -.'74 (<'»liaii, (limt.). ,I<p\f,.s,
Nat. ISciimiila, IHr.it, 71 (icsiilciitK • fAli. .Imir. Ill, lii!i (( 'iilia). (IrNDi.Arii, Call,
.lour. ISlil, \S->\ (Ciilia ; iiirc). — Sa.mikl.s Itirils \. Kn;,'. •J7."i. I'irni iiiiisinis, Vii;ii.l,.
Ois. .\iii. Sept. I, l.S(i7, M, |il. liii. Miis<'ic<i,)i n: t„li-u; Wti.s. II, IMii, liiiii, pi. xviii.
Figures : Ani. Oiii. Itiiij,'. jil. I.\iii. - In. liinls N. A. IV, pi. ccxl.
Sp. CiiAit. (N'fi. l(),l!i;i ^. Illiiiiii-;.) First piiiuar.v iilunil liall' the Icii'-'lli til' .sccmuhI,
wliii'ii is IdiiLTtT lliiili .scciiiularii's, iiiiil al»iiit cipial in llic cinlitli; tiic roiMlli Iciiijji'st ; tliiiil
iiimI lil'lli littl(! shorter.
Aliovi! ipiili' olivr-^jrcon ; .siiK^.s ol' iiuck, mid it ^inss <iii its iipprr surliiiM", asliy. The
liiidillt! coiii'I'mIimI [mrliou ot' fciitlicrs of lower luiek and niiiip pale siilpliiir-velluwisli.
Ht'iiealli wliile; tlie eliili and lower clieeks with a j.'rayisli liiij;e; tlie sides ol' liicasl, and
body, with axillars and liase of eri-isiiiii (iiiore liiiiillyi, lirij.''ht yellow; (he inner winj;-
coverts atid rest of eris.suin iniicli jialrr, nlinost, wliiie. A liroiid yellow line lioni nostrils
to and eontiniions with a yt'""W 'il round the eye, whii'li is eneiicled exierioilj- liy
olivaceous; a '"iisky loiiil, lint no post-oeiilar spot. Wind's willi two I'overt-liiinds and
innermost .sec iiiliiries externally, liroadly yellowish-white; rest ol'iiiiills edired externally
with olive, except the two outer and lips ol'ollier primaries, which are frrayish. Rccliiccs
edged externally with olive, except outermost, which is liordered liy fjrayish. All the loii^r
quills hordered internally liy whitish, liill hlue-lilack, paler on the cd<;es ; Ic^'s dark
plumheon.s. Iris white. Total lenjrlli, 4.110 ; wing, '.i.lO ; tail. 2 'JO.
Hah. United State.s, west, to lia.se ol" Rocky Mountains; south to (iiiatemala; Bogota?
Very rare in Ciilia. Aliinidant and resilient in (he lieriiiiida.s.
SpcciineiLS vary slij,'litly in a ftroater aiufuuit of ashy on tlic hend, and less
brilliaiicv of the yellow of head ami sides. Sometimes tliere i,s a decided
iishy shade in the white of throat and jiigtihini, whicli aotiin lias ii very faint
tinpe of yellowi.sh.
Haiiits. Tiie White-eyed Vireo is one of the most common and one of
the most widely diffused of its .t,'ein.'i in all part.s of tht; Fiiited States east
of the liocky Mcmntains. It aiiiiaieiitly breeds in all parts nf the Union,
from Texas and the Indian Territory on the sonthwest to Iowa and ^Viscon-
.sin, and as far to the northeast as Massac^imsetts. Tn the last-named State
it becomes ex('eedinjj;ly rare, and beyond it is apparently not found, none
having been met with either by Messrs. Verrill or lioardinan in any jiart of
Maine. In Western IMassaehusetts it was not found by Mr. Allen, thougli
it occurs in the eastern jtart, along tlie coast. Mr. Dresser found it common
in Western Texas, many remaining there to breed, and Dr. Woodliou.se also
found it abundant in Texas, New Mexico, and the Indian Territory, when;
it fre([uented the thickets bordering on the streams. It breeds abundantly
i;i the Northwest States of Illinois, Iowa, and Wiscousiu. It also breeds in
the isliinds of Hermuda.
49
38g NOUTIl AMERICAN* BIRDS.
In tlio winter nidntlis tliis sjiecies retires to the more southern States, and
to Jikxieu and Conlral and Soiitli Anieriea, tiiough Suniiclirast dues nut give
it as occnrring in the J department of A'eni Cruz. Nuttall found it in South
Carolina in tlie middle of January, and Wilson met with them in full song in
( ieornia in February. The fact that it was seven weeks after this before they
made their ai)i)earance in rennsylvania is given by that writer as evidence
of the gradual progression made by ilii.i species in its movements northward,
re^^ulated by the devehjpment of the season. Audubon, however, states the
first of March as abiuit the time of its first appearance in Louisiana. He
also mentions that this species is a constant resident in the Floridas (hir-
ing winter, and also in the lower jioitions of Alabama and Georgia. A
large number also jiass farther south, as is shown by the abundance of the
arrivals in early spring on tlie coast of Texas. Mr. Audubon states also
that Townseud met with them on the Cohunbia River, and that he himself
found them along the coast in Elaine, Xova Scotia, and Labrador. This,
however, I am inclined to consider a misstatement, as they have not since
been detected either west of Dakota or north of the 42d parallel.
This Vin^o is <ine of the most conspicuous singers of this family. Its
songs are more earnest and louder than those of any of our Jlastern species,
and exhibit the greatest variations, beginning in tiie earlier part of the sea-
son with a simple low whistle, but changing in May into a very quaint and
peculiar succession of irregular notes. Some of these i.re very softly and
sweetly whistled, while others are uttered with a vehemence and shrillness
that .seen> hardly ])ossiblc in so small a bird.
This is an unsus]K'cting and familiar bird, permitting a near approiich, and
when whistled t(j will often stop and eye you with marked curiosity, and
even approach a little nearer, as if to obtain a better view, entirely uncon-
scious of any danger. This is not so", however, when they have a nest. On
this occasion they exhil)it great uneasiness when their nest is visited, ap-
proaching very near to the intruder, looking down u])on him with marked
expressions of uneasiness, and scolding all the while with great earnest-
ness, and with a hoarse mewing that is very peculiar. This disj)lay is
contnuied even after the fledglings are full grown anil able to take care of
themselves.
The food of this sjiecies in early summer is almost exclusively small in-
sects, which it gleans with great assiduity. In Eastern Massachusetts, like
all its kindred, it feeds eagerly ui)on the young larva; of the destructive
canker-worm, and doubtless, in tiie wilder jxn'tions of the country, is of con-
siderable service in restricting the increase of this scourge.
The AVhite-eyed Virco may usually l)e found in wild, swampy, open
grounds, near the edges of woods, and where tliere are small thickets of
smilax and other briers and wild vines, in the midst of which it often builds
its pensile nest. These nests are rarely, if ever, more tiian three or four feet
iVom the ground. Two nests of tliis liird, one from Neoslio Falls, Kansas,
VIREDXIDvK — THE VIREOS.
o87
the other from Lynn, Mass., iimy he tiikeu as c]iariieteri.stic of the sixicies.
They are ahnost exactly hemispherical in shape, tlieir hei<;lit and diameter
being the same, — tiiree indies. They were suspended from low huslu's,
hanging from the extreme ends of the twigs, among whicli tiie nests were
fastened l)y fine impacted masses of wood-mosses, wiiicli are very nicely and
elaborately interwoven witli the lower portions of tlie outer covering of the
nest. Tlie latter is composed of a singular medley of various materials,
among whicli may be noticed broken fragments of dry leaves, bits of de-
cayed wood and bark, cijarse blades of grass, various vegetable libre.s, lichens,
fragments of insects, mosses, straws, stems, etc. These are all wraj.pcd round'
and tirndy bound together with strong hempen filires of vegetables. AVithin
this outer enveloiie is an iinier nest, made of the liner stems of grasses
and dry needles of the wliite pine, tirudy interwoven. For the size d' the
bird, these nests are projwrtionally larger and dee])er than any others of the
conuuon kinds. The cavity is two or two and a half inches deep.
The eggs are usually live in nundier. One from (leorgia measures .77 by
.r.5 of an inch, and is of an oljlong-oval shai)e ; anotlier, from Massachusetts,
is nuich more broadly ovate, measuring .80 by .&! Their greatest breadth'
is .Go of an inch, and their length .80. They have a clear crystal-white
ground, spotted about the larger end with line dark-purple and redilish-brown
dots.
This species is one of the most common foster-parents of the Cowbird,
the eggs of whi-h are always lendcrly cured lor, and the offspring nurtured
by them, always to the destruction of their own nestlings.
Vireo huttoni, Cassin.
BUTTON'S VIHEO.
Vireo hutf on!, C.\ssix, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliila. 1851, If.O (Moiiteivy, Ca\.).^ In. 1832, pi. i,
tig. 1. — B.viiii), liinls N. Am. 1858, 33i), \<\. I.x.vviii, W'^ -i; l!,.v. :i57. SiLvrrii'
P. Z. S. 1858, ;iO-2 (Oa.xa.'^) ; 18(12, 1!) (La Paiucla). -lii. Catul. ISGl, 358, no. 25o!
— t'ooi'Eit, Oni. Cal. I, 1870, 121.
Sp. Cpar. (Xd. .3,725.) First (luill latli.T loss tliaii lialf.sooond. wliioh aixnit equals tlu>
tenth ; thinl a little ImigiT than sovonth ; fourth and ni'tli nuaily equal, uud longest. Tail
slightly rounded, shorter than wings. Bill very
small.
Aliovo olivc-grcoii ; liri.ditcst behind. csprcMal-
ly on rump i nd edfring of tail, duller and more
a.sliy towaids and on top an<l siiles ol' head
and neck. Wind's with two hand:, on eoveits,
and outer edi;es cif innermost secondaries ratlier
hroadly olivaeeous-wln'te ; other quills edi;ed e.x-
... II ..1 ,. , .' Viri-n huttoitu
teniiilly witli olivo-peen, paler towards outer
primary; internally with wlulish. Lateral lail-foathor ed^ed externally with yellowish-
white. Feathers of rump with much concealed yellowisli-gray.
388 NORTH AMKinCAN fllllDS.
I'lidur parts [lalc! i)liviirci)iis-\'t.'lli)wisli ; purest licliiiid, litrlitost on tho throat and iibdo-
nion ; llic lii<'ast nioro olivaceous, llu; sides slill dooper olivo-},'iueii, the :ist soiled with a
slii^ht bully liiii^e. Axillais and erissuui jellowisli ; the inside of \vini,'s whilisli. Loral
R'<j;ion and a narrow spaee around eye? dull-yellowish, in faint contrast to the olive of head.
Hill horn-eiilor above, paler lielow ; legs dusky.
Total lenuih, 4,7(1 ; wiiijr, 2.4(t; tail, li.d"); dilfereiu'e between tenth and lonjfest quills,
.43; exposed iiorlion of lirst primary, .7-, of seeuiid, 1.52, of longest, fourlli, and fd'th
(measured from e.xposed lia.se of (irsl j)riniary). !.!)(); length of bill from forehead, .45, from
nostril, .2!), along gape, .<it>; tarsu;;, .72; middle toe and claw, .50, elaw alone, .10; hind
toe and elaw, .45, elaw alone, .22.
IIah. California and Western -Me.xieo, to Oaxaea; La Parada (8cL.) ; Orizaba (alpine
region, resident, Si'Mieim.).
The description ,just <j;iven is Itased ii]i(m the ty])e specimen, ])iol)ably in
winter phiinagc. Sjn-ing specimens do not viiry miiterinlly except in oreater
purity of wliite edgings of the leathers. Two Mexican specimens are nitlier
larifer, tiie winij; measuring 1'. 50, the tail l'..")0. No other dill'erences are
ai»precialile. In oeneral tlie first jniniary is about half the second, sometimes
ratlier less.
This species is readily distinguished from other Vireos, excepting V.
modesfim, wliich it greatly resendtles in tlie small bill, form, coloration, and
size ; nor indceil is it easy to sejiarate tliem. In nioihstits, however, tlie
first quill is usually more than half tlie second, not less; the wing shorter,
and less pointed ; the tail longer. The U})])er jmrts are more uniform, not
much brighter towards rump.
H.viiiTs. Tliis species is one of comparatively recent origin, and of its his-
tory but little is as yet known. It was first descrilied hy ( 'as.sin, in ISal, from
a specimen obtained in ^lonterey, Cal. It has lieen found in various ]iarts
of California, in the valley of the (Jila, and in the northern and eastern por-
tions of Mexico. Mr. Sumichrast gives it as a resident of the alpine region
of the I)ei)artment of Vera Cruz.
iJr. Cooper has observed this Mrd near San Diego, late in February, where
he at first mistook it for the Iiuby-cr,)wned Wren, a bird that winters there
in .".ijundance, and which he states resembles this sjiecies closely in appear-
ance and habits. Two of them came to within a few feet of where he .sat,
scolding in a liarsli tone. lie recognized then tlieir larger size and different
lilumage, as well as their remarkably large eyes, and a peculiar slowness and
delilieiation in tiieir nlovement^ .s they searched the foliage for insects.
Dr. Cooper has since found t.iem wintering plentifully up to latitude 38°.
Having observed but few of them in the Coast IJange, in May, he thinks that
most of them go farther north in summer. At Sau Diego, however, he shot
a female, on tlie !)th of Marcii, containing an egg nearly ready to be laid,
lie had not been alile to find the nest, which is presumed to be built in the
dense shade of the evergreen oaks (Qitcirus tnjfijhlvt). Their song is .said to
consist of ii few short and tuiaint notes. Among the memoranda of Mr.
Xantus, made at Fort Tejoii, I find the following : (No. 1,827.) Nest and
VIREOMU.K — TIIK VlRKOy.
389
ej,'j>s of Virco huttoni, Ibiiiid May 8, one foot from the grouml, under liij-li
trees, suspeiuled from three hiyli stems of weeds, fastened to them, but very
loosely i)ut together. The eg<;s hud been incubated, lie furnished no fur-
ther description of nest or eggs.
192a
Vireo betlL
Vireo belli, ^Aud.
BELL'S VIBEO.
Vireo belli, Ai'i). lUids Am. VII, 1844, 333, pi. ccccl.x.wv (Missouri River). —C.\.ssis,
I'r. A. N. Sc. I'hilii. 18f)], 150. — Haikd, lUids N. Am. ISriS, 337; l!<v. 358.—
SiXATEIt, Ciital. IStil, 42, no. 258. — IJo.n. Coiis|i. 1850, 33U. — I'odI'i;!;, Oiii. t'lii. I,
1870. 123.
Sp. CiiAK. (Xo. 1,020.) Al)ovt; olive-frm'ii, biifrlitcst on till! riinip ; tinjriMl aiitorioily
with ashy ; llio top and sides of head ashy, in I'aint contrast. A line li-oin nostrils to cvo
(searocly beyond it), and eyelids very pale yellowisii-white; lores dnsky. Under parts,
inelnding inner wiiig-eovcrts, and
edjte of wing, ereaniy-white ; tho
sides, axillars, and cri-ssum pale yel-
low (sides of lower neek and of
breast glos.sed with olivaceous, laint-
est on the longer feathers of the lat-
ter. Two rather narrow bands on tho
wing-coverts, and the outer edges of
innermost secondaries white ; the
other (piills edged with faded olivaceous. Inner edges of quills whitish. Tail-feathers
brown, edged externally with olive; iulernally fading into paler l)rown. Median portion
of rump feathers concealed with pale yellowish. Bill horn-color above, pale below. Legs
plumlieous. •• Iris lirown."
Vir.st ipiill .spurious; not quite lialf the second, whicl. Is aliont equal to tho eighth ; tljjrd
and fourth ([uills longest ; lillh scarcely .shorter. Tail nearly even, or a little rounded, the
feathers narrow.
Total length, 4.20; wing, 2.18; tail, 1.90; tar.sns, .7o.
Had. United States, from Missouri Kiver to liase of IJocky Mountains; Tehuantepee,
Mexico (October, Su.michuast) ; Missoiu'i (IIovJ ; Iowa (Allkx) ; Southeast Illinois
(UlOCWAV).
The above description is taken frnin a type specimen received from Mr.
Audubon, and represent i l!>.e average si)ring plumage. Autumnal skins are
rather brighter, and there is occasionally an oclSaceous tinge on the white
of the under parts.
This species at first siglit ajipears like a miniature of V. ffi/rii.9, the head
being almost; exactly similar. The back is, however, much brigiiter olive,
the sides and crissum deejjer yellow. The superciliary light strijie is sliorter.
The white markings of tiie wings are wanting in i/i/nis. The wing, tail, tuid
feet are entirely tlifl'erent in their projjortions.
Hahits. This sjiecies was first imicured by 'Mr. Audubon's ])arty in the
excursion to the Yellowstone lUver, in what is now known as J)akota Ter-
390 NOUTIt AMERICAN BIRDS.
litoiy. In his account of it Mr. Audubon states that it is usually found in
tlie bottom-lands alonjf tlie shores of the Upper Missouri IJiver, from tlie
neij^liborhood of the Jilack Snake Hills, as i'ar as they ascended that river. In
its habits lie describes it as more nearly allied to the Wliite-eyed Vireo than
any other.
Dr. Woodhouse, in liis report of the Zufii Iiiver Kxpedition, mentions find-
ing this species alnnulant in Te.xas. Mr. Dresser also speaks of it as not
unconnnon, during the sunnner, near San Antonio, and remaining there to
breed. He mentions finding a nest on the 2d of duly in a ireaakhe bush
near the San Pedro, containing three eggs of tliis species and one of the Covv-
IJunting. IJeing an.xious t(» procure tlie parent bird ho left it, but on his
return the nest had been torn ai d the Vireo's eggs smashed. Dr. lleermann
found a nest on tlie Medina about tiie same time. Ho describes tliis nest as
beautifully formed of fine grasses, and hung from the small twigs of a tree.
Tlie eggs, four in number, were very small, white, with an occasional re<ldis]i
dot at the larger end. The nest found by Dr. lleermann was attached to the
pendent twigs of a willow. Tlie stomachs of these Vireos were found to
contain small green caterpillars.
Dr. Cones met with this species near Fort Riley, May 23. It appeared to
be quite common, and was found inhabiting tiiickets and clumps of bushes,
like V. noveboracensis, but having a very different song, the yteculiarity of
which first attracted his attention. Mr. IJidgway found it to be a common
summer resident in the thickets and copses of Southern Illinois, especially in
the prairie districts. He first met with it on the 8th of Ji'.ue, 1871, on Fox
Prairie, in Ilichlaud County. His attention was drawn to it by its peculiar
song, whicli has a general resemblance to that of the White-eyed Vireo, hav-
ing the same odd delivery, l)ut being more sputtering, reminding one some-
what of the song of Troi//o(ff/li's arfoii.
This Vireo appears to have quite an extended distribution during the
breeding-season, or from Texas to the Upper Missouri, and even as far as the
eastern edge of Southern Illinois. It breeds .also as far to the east as East-
ern Kansas. Its western limits are not so clearly defined. It was not found
by Mr. Ridgv.ay in Nevada or Utah, nor by Dr. Coues in Arizona.
A nest of this species, found in June, near Neosho Falls, Kansas, by Mr.
B. F. Go.ss (S. I. Coll., 1,875), is pensile ; suspendeil from two snudl twigs, which
make the basis of tliree fourtiis of its rim. Over tliese is strongly bound
a finely felted webbing of the ihix-like fibres of plants, interwoven with
slender stems. With these .are connected and interwoven also the materials
tliat m.ake up the ])eriphery of tlie nest itself. Tiiis is composed of long
and slender stri])3 of uark, friigments of dry leaves, bits of wood, and various
other fragmentary substances. The nest, unlike others of this family, is
lined with down, and the fine long hair of some aiiim.als, instead of with
vegetable stems. The diameter as well as the height ot this nest is about
two aud a half inches.
V IRE( )NrD.'I-: — THE VIREOS.
391
Ano Ijer nest fro.n West Texas, obtained by C'aptain Pope, is essen-
tially d, lerent ,n its general characteristics. It is three inches in diame-
ter, and but one incli and three quarters high. The opening is circular but
only one and a halt inches wi,le. Below the rim the cavity widens until
:s two and a halt inches in diameter. The outer nest is ma.le up o/a
interweaving of hne strips of bark and dry leaves, intermi.xed with and
hrmly bound around by strong Ha.x-like fibres of different plants. Within
It is lined with hue flexible grasses and steins of plants
The ,^ of' this .species are from .73 to .70 of an inch in length, and from
.02 to .5b m breadth. They are pure white, sparingly spotted wih fine r
dots distributed around the laroer end. o J- i t^u niic len
Vireo pusillus, Coles.
I.EAST VIREO.
nrcopusmu., r,H-Ks. P... A. N. Se. Phila. 1866. - n.uu. Rev. Am. R. 360. - Elliot,
Illu .^,,.d«^ A.I,vn.-C..o,.Ku, Om.Cal. I, 1370. Ui. > rirco helli, VooLl
Ti: Cal. Acad. 1S61, 122 (Fort iloliave). " ' ^"""•'''
but nallc . IM very .s,„all ; tar... lo,>Ktl..MCMl. AVi„,,s about equal t„ the tail, wbicl. i
lengtheue. , grac uate, au.l with tbo IL-athcs nanow and poiatui Exposed p rt J fir
prmiai-y about hair that of the sec- t-u pai i, oi ursi
end, which i.s intermediate between
.seventh and eighth ; the fourth and
fifth longe.st.
Above gniyish-ash, with a tinge of
olive behind. Beneath, including the
in.side of the wing.s, white, with a
soiled tinge on the .sides of the
throat and across the breast. Axil-
31893
Virrn pusillus.
IrZl,?'f ;r'""""^ " '?'"' '"""^ "'■ ^-^-'-y-""^-- Ey^-li'l^ and a short line fi-om
the nost, s to the eye wlnt.sh ; no other stripe apparent. A dusky loral spot. Prin.arv
CO er,s edged n.d.stn.cly with whitish, producing an obscure band (a second on the nZ
do coverts hanlly appreciable). Quills and tail-feathers edged externally with pale ^ra i -
ohve the nutennost secondaries with whitish. Ri.l dusk; above, whitish be ea h! i .
phn .beous. Ir,s o( two .specin,en.s n.arke.l as ' light brown," of another as '■ rufous.''
23 7«ri"4'8,)T'"*;""'V '7 ['■"'"''" -•V«--i. of color fron. No. 23,788: Length, of
?; lilllel! 7 -^-h, o sk.n,4.2o; wing, 2.2:^ ; tail, 2.25; bill above, .37; 'tardus,
i::!:c:So:i.r t^:^;S::::tr "" "" •"• '"'' ^"""' ■'' ' --' ^•""
(rHowa.?"' ^'' ^"'"'' ^"^ ^''"^" ' ^''"' ^^'"''"'"' "•"' •■^'•'^°"-''' Sacramento, California
This species scarcely needs comparison with any other, except, perhaps.
V pollens of Middle America, which, however, besi.les belongin-. to HrL
ne/fa and not ^o, as restricted, differs in many n.inor. but no less essential
points. The coloration of the two is remtirkably .similar, but pu^inns has
392 NORTH AMKHKJAN 151 KDS.
only one indistinct hintl on the wini,', instead of two sharply detined ones.
The bill is ninch sniuller, and the tail lon<;cr, tlian in pai/tnu. I', belli is
less ashy above and less pnie white beneath, the sides nmch more yellow-
ish ; the win<,' is also lonj^er, and the tail nuich shorter. V. viciniur is
much larger, with tlie wing longer than the tail, instead of shorter; the ash
above has a bluish instead of a greenish cast ; the lores are wholly grayish-
white, etc.
H.viiiTS. Tlie Least Virco is a recently described species of its genus, and
one in regard to whose history comparatively little has been ascertained. It
Avas first met with at Cape St. Lucas by Mr. Xuntus, and described by Dr.
Coues in ISGO. Dr. Cones assigns as its habitat Lower and Southern (.'ali-
fornia, Sonora, and Arizona, at least as far north as Fort Wliipple. Dr.
( 'ooper also found it at Fort Mohave. I )r. ( 'ones met with it fifty miles .south
of Fort 'VV'hip])le, where he found it breeding abundantly. He gives no in-
formation in regard to its habits. Dr. Cooper states that he found it rather
common along the ujipcr part of Mohave liivcr, in June, 1801 ; and in the
following si)ring, about Ajnil 2(1, they began to arrive at San Diego in con-
siderable numbers. In its habits Dr. Cooper thinks it greatly resembles V.
f/i/nis, though it differs entirely in its song. The notes of those that he heard
singing resembled very nmch tliose of the Polioptilus uttering a quaint rni.x-
ture of the notes of the Wrens, Swallows, and Yireos. They also .seem to
]iossess more! or less of imitative powers. At Sacramento he saw and heard,
in the willows along the river, individuals which, from their peculiar notes,
he had no doubt were of this sj)ecies, but he did not verify his conjectures.
His suppositions were confirmed later by the observations of Mr. Iiidgway,
who states that he found these birds the most abundant as well as the most
characteristic Crreenlet in the vicinity of Sacramento. It is a species, he
adds, easily recognized, being in all respects (piite distinct from any other.
The character of its notes, as well as its habits, .show it to be a true Vireo.
Its song, though weaker, bears a great resemblance to that of the White-eyed.
A nest of this species was found by him near Sacramento. It was placed
about three feet i'rom the groiuid, in a low bush in a copse of willows. Like
all the nests of this genus it was pensile, being attached to and su.s])ended
from the twigs of a branch.
Two nests of this interesting s])ecies were also obtained near (^amp Grant,
Arizona, in 1807, by Dr. E. I'almer. They are wrought like all the nests of
this kind, lielow the small forked branches of a tree, suspended from the ex-
tremity of its twigs. They each have a diameter of about three and a half
inches, a height of two, with a cavity an inch and a half decj) and two wide.
The external jiortion, like the nests of the /'! Ix'lli, is wrought witli wo\'en
hemp-like vegetable fibres, strongly bound around the ends of the twigs and
covering the entire exterior. Within tliis is placed a strong, fiindy made
basket, composed of .slender strips of bark and long, fine, and Hexil)le pine-
needles, with a lining of finer materials of the same. In one of these nests
VIRE()NID.E - THE VIREOS.
393
there were three eggs of the Yiroo, and one of a Mohthrm (ohson-m ?) The
onner were of a bright crystalHno whiteness, n.urkecl w,th very uanute and
hauUy Oscern, hie spots of red. and n.easure .60 by M of L inch. The
egg ot the 1/./„M,.«„ e.xcept in its nu.cli smaller size, is hardly distin-
guishable ironi those of the eonnnou M j^ccoris, and measures .75 by 50 of
an mch. j -^^ "•
In the other nest were also three eggs of the Vireo. They corres,.ond in
size, but are n.nch more distn.ctly n.arked with larger spots of a chrk red
and reddish-brown. In this nest there is a son.ewhat larger proportion of
hne strips ot nu.er bark, and mixed with these are also a lew silky inject
cocoons by means of MO.ich the nest is fa-mly hound around the twigs from
which the whole is suspended.
Vireo vicinior, Coue.s.
ABIZOKA VISEO.
ry..o .w«w. roTKs, p,, a. n. s.. riui«. i8««._B.vmn, Rcv. a,,,, b. sgi.
must. Liids >. A. I, vu.-C'u.ii.jii!, Oru. Cal. 1, 1870, 125.
-Kl.MOT,
Sp Chah. (No 40,09- J.) Bill stout, oonsideral.ly cou.prc.sod and deep. Wir,.s
than hall the .second, winch about equals
ninth and tlie .secondaries ; the fointli and
mid fiah lonprest. Tarsus considciahly
longer than middle toe and claw ; lateral
toes quite conspicuous for their dispropor-
tion, the inner claw reaching only tobaseof
outer, and falling short of base of middle;
the terminal digit of inner too reaching
only to end of second joint of middle toe.
Upper parts, with sides of hi'ad and
neck, ashy or light phnnbeous, faintly oli-
vaceous on rmnp. Beneath white ; slightly
ashy on sides of breast. Flaidvs and in-
side of wings .showing a faint trace of yel-
low, only appreciable on raising the wiiigs.
An obsolete line from bill to eye, and'' a
more distinct ring round the eye, white.
No bands on the wing, cxcvpt aVaint edging of wintish on the greater coverts ; the qnilk
E-:^'^:':.;'"" ^^'"-"- •"■•■■"-- "^-i— ,. Mouthiid,
Tol^t/7"-'in^ ''"'"' ''"^""' '""' "^'"""'' "'■"'"^^' ««'^- T-repared specimen-
Total lengh, o 0, w.ng, 2.50: tail, •>.«.), its graduation,.'.-: diirercnce of tenth an.l
ongest qu.lls, .4. ; e.vpo.sed portion of fn.t pri.nary, .80, of second, l.Go. of longest (meas-
o trd .32, along gape, .61 ; depth of bill, .IS: tar.sns, .72; middle toe and claw, .51
claw alone, .!(,; hmd toe and claw, .40, claw alone, .1!).
IIab, Prescott, Arizona.
60
40C07
Vireo vicinior.
394 NORTH AMERICAN. BIRDS.
Tliis species miglit at first sij,'lit be taken tVtr a small specimen of V. plum-
hcus, the colors, diameter of bill, etc., being very similar, except that tlie white
of lores and around eye is much less distinct, the lore without any blackish
before the eye, and there is only one fai!it band on wing, instead of two con-
spicuous ones ; the tail-feathers, too, lack the distinct white edgings. Tiie
much more rounded wing, and the first i)rimary half the second or more,
will, however, readily distinguish them. The form of the bird is very much
that of V. pimil/iis, which it resembles considembly also in color. The outer
quill is, however, longer, the bill deeper and more comi)res.sed, the inner lat-
eral toe considerably shorter, and the size larger. The colors are purer, with-
out the olive of the back or the yellowish of the under parts ; the bill, too,
is entirely dark plumbeous, instead of horn-color, whitish beneath. From
V. pallcns it is distinguished by a smaller, darker bill ; longer tail and wing ;
one wing-band, not two ; and purer colors.
Habits. In regard to the habits of this well-marked but very rare species
but little is as yet known. It was first described, in 18GG, by Dr. Coues,
from a single specimen obtained by him near Fort Whipple, Arizona. It
was shot May 4, 1865, and is supposed by Dr. Coues to be a sunnner resi-
dent of Arizona wintering in the Gila and the Lower Colorado Valleys, or in
Sonera.
AMPELlDJi — THE CHATTEliEKS. 395
Family AMPELIDJE. — The Chatterkrs.
The cliaracteristics of the Ampdidm have already been presented in the
synopsis of allied families ; chief amony them, the short, broad, depressed,
and triangular bill with short gonys, the deeply cleft mouth, the short tarsus,
and tiie tendency to subdivison of its lateral plates.
The South American genus, Dtdus, probably forms the type of a subfamily
Dulinw, characterized by the nmch arclied gape of mouth, the metatarsal
scutelliB in two series, and the body streaked beneath, as in young Ampclis.
The two other subfamilies may be defined as follows : —
Subfamilies.
Common Characters. Gapo of moulli nearly straight. Metatarsal scutellie in
three series. Body |)lain beneath.
Ampelinn. Wings very long and much pointed, longer than the short,
even tail. Firii, primary excessively rudimentary ; the outermost about the
longest. Gape without bristles. Frontal leathers extending forward beyond
the nostrils.
Ptilogonatin». Horny appendages like red sealing-wax at end of shaft of
>i eondaries. Wings rounded, shorter than the graduated tail. First primary
nearly half the second. Gape well bristled. Frontal feathers falling short of
the nostrils. No red horny ai)pendago to wing-feathers.
Rdbfamily AMFELIN.S1.
Char. Legs moderate. Nostrils elongated, linear, with the frontal feathers extending
close to the edge and to anterior extremity, concealing them ; the.se feathers short, vel-
vety, and erect, with few bristles. Wings very long and a. ute; outer or fn-st primary so
much reduced as to bo almost inai>preci.'iblG ; the second nearly the longest. Wing neaWy
twice the length of the .short, narrow, even tail. Under coverts of tail reaching almost to
its tip. Secondary quills with flat horny append.iges at end of shaft like red sealing-wax.
Young birds streaked beneath as in Biihts. Adults plain.
Of this family as restricted, we have but a single genus in America.
Genls AMPELIS, Linn.
Ampelh, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, 1766, 297. (Type, Lanius gamclus, L. Named
Linnseus in 1735.)
Gen. Char. Tail even. Tertials and secondaries with horny appendages like red seal-
ing-wax. A well-developed soft crest.
A more elaborate diagnosis of this genus could be readily given (see Eev.
Am. Birds, 404), but the above characters, as entirely peculiar, will serve to
establish it
396 NOinil AMHIIICAN IIIHD.S,
Species.
Common Ciiaractkrs. A U'li^rtlii'iuMl crest of sofi.lili'n(lo(l fi-atliors. Colors, soil
silky l)|-o\viiisli becoiuiiif,' liioiv viiiiiceoiis antcrioi'ly, and ashy iiostrrioily al)ove.
A Mack sti-i|H' on siilc of head, IVoni nasal leathcis across lores lhi'iiuy:li llie eye
and bciiind it henealh crest, and a pnlcli of the same on chin, with a whiter streak
between them, on side ol' lower jaw.
A. Win;,' varie^'ated. Lciwcr tail-coverts rnfous. Crest innch dt^veloped.
Forehead and side of head hri^dit pnriilisli-nil'ona. Black patch covering
wliolt! throat, and sharply delined. No white lino between black of lore,
etc., and brown of forehead. Inner web.s of priuiaries tipped narrowly with
white.
a. Terminal band of tail red.
A. phcenicopterum.' tJreater cov(.'rts tipped with red, producing
a band across the winu:. Xo yellow on tip8 of primaries. Hah.
Japan and Eastern Siberia.
h. Tcnninal Ijand of tail yollow.
A. garruIuB. Secondaries and primary coverts tipped with white,
forming' two broad short l)ands. Primaries with outer webs tipped
with yellow. Iluh. Arctic re^'ions of both hemispheres; in win-
ter south into northern United States, and alonjr Rocky Mountains
as far as Fort Massachnsetts, New Mexico.
B> Wind's unvaiie^ateil. Lower tail-eoverts white. Crest moderately de-
velojied. Forehead, etc., not dill'crent from crest. Chin only black, this
fading nrradually into the lirown of throat. A •.vliite lino between blank of
lore, etc., and brown of forehead. Inner webs of primaries not tipped with
white.
a. Terminal band of tail 3'ellow.
A. cedrorum. Wiiifr bluish-ashy. ILtb. Whole of North Amer-
ica, from 'yl° N., south (ia winter?) to Guatemala; Jamaica and
Cuba in winter.
Ampelis garrulus, Lixx.
NOBTHESN WAXWINO; BOHEMIAN CHATTEBEB.
Lanitis (jarnthi.i, Linn. " Fainia Suecien, 2, no. 82." — In. Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 17.58, 95.
AmiKliK (jKi-ndiiK, Ll NX. Syst. Nat. ]2tli (■<!. IVflti, 2!I7 (Emopc). — Baiiso, Birds N.
Am. 1858, 317 ; Hcv. Wa. — Boai-.dman, Pr. Bust. Soc. Nat. Hist. IX, 1802, 120
(Calais, Mc). — CitorKii, Pr. Cal. Acad. II, 1861 (18(i3), 122 (Fort Mohave, Ar.).
liumhiH-iUu ijiirruhi. Box. Zoiil. Jour. Ill, 1827, .50. — Rim.— Am. Orii. Bio^'. IV, 402,
1)1. cccl.xiii. — In. Bird.s Am. IV, 169, pi. ocxlvi. — Mavnaud, B. E. Mass, 107. — Dam,
& BANXlsri:it, 280 (Alaska). —Coopkr, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 127. — Samcei.s, Birds N.
Eii<;. 264. Ihimlijicilla (jdi-riiht, Ki;vs. & Bi.as. VVirb. Kuropas, 1840, 167. — Dkolaxh,
Ornith. Europ. I, 184f», 34!) (Europcnti). — Woi.i.kv, Pr. Z. S. 1857, 55 (iiest and orcffs).
— Nkwton, Ibis, 1861, 92, pi. iv (nesting). —Nokdm ANN, Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 307,
and VII, 1859, pi. i (iicstiiif,'). (European.)
Other figures : Bon. Am. Orn. Ill, pi. xvi.
1 Bombi/cWa phmnicnptcritm, Ti:mm. PI. Col. II, 183S ; pi. 4.50. Tho A. phmxirnp/rriim is
stated by Temminck to have the nasd seta; so .short as to leave the nostrils exposed, and to lack
the sealing-wax appendages ; the latter condition may, however, result from the immaturity of
the specimen, as it is very eonnuou to find the same thing in individuals of the other species.
AMPKMD.K — TlIK CIIATTKUKUS.
397
Sp. CiiAK. Crest l('nf,'tliiMic(l. liody ffciiiTiilly soU, silky lirDwnisli-iishy, willi ii ]iiii|)lisli
cast, the win^-i'ovfrts mill sciqiiilars uioic liidwiiisli, lii'i'oiniiij; iiiort' rt'ildish luiteiimiy
ftlid iisliy pnsti'iiorly ; tlic niin|i iiiid uihr'!' lail-i'dvcils, as well as llic sccDiidaiics, licinj;
nearly piiro asli. Anteriorly tin- edlur [lasses i,na(liially inin deep viiiaeeDiis-eliestiiiil on
till' Hireliead to beliiiid tlie eye and on llie ilieeks : alidimien yellnwisii-wiiile. Lower
tuil-eoverts deep chestuul. A siripe on siih' ol' lln' lieail, eoverinj; liie lores and nasal
Icutliera (scnreuly nieelinj,' across the Inrelii'ail), invoivinj; the eye and eontiinied liaek to-
ward llio oeeiput and lieiieatli the ei'est, with a larne patch eoverini,' the eliili and throat,
Ueupbluuk; a narrow cresueiit on lower eyeliil, antl u short stripu bctwoen the black ol'
the throat and that of the chin at the base of the lower niandiblc, two very broad bars on
the wing, one across ends of primary coverts, and the other across ends of secondaries (the
first ocenpying both webs, and the latter the onter), white. Primary coverts, primaries,
and tail slaty-blaek, the latter frrowiiif; gradually ashy basallv. A broad banil across end
of tail, and a longitudinal space along end of outer web of priinaiios. gaMil)oge-yellow, —
the marks on primaries, however, sometimes while, oidy stained with yellow. Each of the
.secondaries with an expanded continuation of the shaft, in form of flattened, very thin,
somewhat elliptical appendages, of a bright veiniilinn-icd resembling red sealing-wax. iMe.
with the white of outer web of primaries continued around end of inner welis also.
Female without white on terminal edge of inner webs of primaries, and with the "seal-
ing-wax " appendages smaller. F(i"»7 not seen. Length, 7.40; wing, 4. ;")(*; tail, 3.00.
Ham. Nortbt.'rn parts of Europe, Amerii'a, and .\sia. In America not hitherto found
in the Paeide Province. In winter extending along the Rocky Mountains and the Plains
as far south as Fort Massachusetts and Kort Uiley ; regular visitor to .shores of Lake Michi-
gan and Lake Erie. East of this rarely seen along the United States border. Fort Mo-
have (???) (COOPKI!).
The specimen seen by Dr. Coo[)er, at Fort Mohave, if really of this spe-
cies, fixes the most western locality on record.
For many years anthentic eji^s of the Bohemian Chatterer were greatly
sought after, but it was not until IHHO that any were brmioht to the notice
of the scientific world, when the late Mr. H. Wolley di.scovered them in
Lapland. Early du))licates from his collection were sold at five guineas each,
and altiiough a good many have since been obtained, they are yet consid-
ered as great jirizes. A nest, with its eggs, of those collected by Mr. Wol-
ley, has been presented to the Smithsonian Institution by Mr. Alfred Newton.
The only instances on record of their discovery in America are of a nest and
one egg by Mr. Kennicott, on the Yukon, in 1861, and a nest and single egg
'^\)^ NOUTll AMHIIICAN-HIIJDS.
on tlie Audcrsou Jtivcr, liy Mr. MiiclMirltme, Itotli of which, witli tliu feiimlt'
1 111 routs, an; in tlio iKisscssioii of t\w, Institution. Altii(iujj;li there i.s fru-
(lUiMitly considuriiblo dillurunue bowoen inilivichiiils, there appears to bu mu
iliircrcMco iietweon those from the two continents.
llADirs. The Wa.xwin;; is, in many respects, one of tlio most interestinj,'
anil remarkahle of tlie hirtls of Xorth America. The rovini,' character of its
life, the mystery, still only imperfectly solveil, of its habits and residence
diirinj^ its breedin^f-season, and its somewhat cosmopolitan residence in Ku-
rojie, Asia, and America, impart to it an interest tiiat attaches to but few
otiier sjiecies. Thiiuj,'h not common in any portions of the Tnitcd States,
and only appearinj^ at all diirinj,' midwinter, yet in the more northern States,
in which it is occasionally found, it moves in such larj,'e Hocks, and is so
noticeable and con.spicnous a bird, that it never fails to make a lasting im-
pression, and hardly seems to us so very rare as it undoubtedly is.
In a single instance, in midwinter, somowhtro about 1H44, duriu},' a severe
snow-storm, a hirge Hock of these birds made their ajijiearance in lloston, and
alighted on a large horse-chestnut tree that stood in an open and retired
place. There were at least twenty or thirty in the flock ; they remained in
thei>' shelter undisturbed for sume time, and their true specific character
was plainly noticeable.
Several specimens were procured near Worcester, Mass., and given to Dr.
liryant. Eleven individuals of this species were shot in Bolton by Mr. S.
.Tillson, January, 1804, and others have since been noticed in Watertown by
Mr. William Drewster. They have also been obtained near Hartford, Conn.,
by Dr. Wfiod.
Prior to this, as ]\Ir. Audubon states, specimens had been procured near
riiiladeljihia, and in the winters of 1880 and 1832 several of these birds
were also shot on Long Island.
Mr. Uoardman mentions that they are occasional, in winter, near Calais ;
and Professor Verrill, who did not meet with it in Norway, Me., cites it as
accidental and rare in the State.
It is not common in the Arctic regions. Specimens of the bird were
obtained on Anderson Kiver, in 18()2, by Mr. MacFarlane, but he was not
able to find the nest. At Fort Yukon, July 4, Mr. Kennicott met with
tlie nest of this species. The nest, which contained but one egg, was about
eighteen feet from the ground, and was built on a side branch of a small
spruce that was growing at the outer edge of a clump of thick spruces, on
low ground. The nest was large, the base being made of small, dry sprnce
twigs. Internally it was constructed of fine gra.ss and moose-hair, and lined
thickly with large feathers. The female was shot, as she rose i'rom her nest,
by Mr. Kennicott's hunter, who had concealed himself near the spot for that
])urpose. Mr. Kennicott had seen the nest and both parents near it before
it w as taken, and had thoroughly satisfied himself as to its complete identi-
fication.
AMrKLII),K-TIIK CIIATTKIIKUS. 3()()
I^nss spenks nl' tliciii as not nirc tliioii^liuiit tlic distrirt m wliicli tlicy
winter, lull ynt not iiiiiiu'nuis. He lulds tluit at (livat IVar Lake tlicy avo
very iiliaitilul, and iliat they aru it'|)(iitL'il to lu'st tlicrc. Mr. I (all states
tliat they wero (iiiite eoiiinidii at Niilato, wlioru tliuy tlid not arrive lu'lore
.fuiu! Id, or later. Ho olitaiia-d a niindier of skins I'roni the Indians, taken
in ids al)senee. He adds thai it brouds, and its eggs have been obtained at
Fort Yukon.
Except in ii few instances, wliere Dr. Cooper noticed this sjK'cies, in
Septendier, at Fort Jjirande, and also when he obtained an individual mi
the (Njlorado, none of these birds have been seen west of tlie liocky Moun-
tains. The liird obtained l)y Dr. Cooper was, in iiis ojiinion, a straj,'j;ler from
some neij^hborinj^ uatuntain. It made its ap))earance January Id, altera
period of stormy weather, and was shot while fee'inj,' on the berries of the
nustletoe.
This bird was tii-st noticed in America, in the spring,' of IHlid, near tlie
sources of the Athaliasca Jiiver, by Mr. J)rumniond, and in the same season
by Sir John Itichardson, at (Jreat liear Lake, latitude O'l". In the latter
rej,'ion he states that they ap])eared in flocks about the li4th of ^lay. At
that time the sjning tliaw had exposed the berries of the A i but im and the
Vncciniiiin, that liad been covered during the winter. It stayed only a few
days, and none of the hulians knew where it l)red, or had ever seen its nest.
Afterwards, early in May, 1827, Sir John Itichardson saw a large Ihjok of three
or four huntlred individuals at Cailton House, on the Saskatchewan. They
all alighted in a grove of poplars, on one or two trees, making a loud twit-
tering noi.se. They stayed only about an hour in the morning, and were too
shy to be approached within gunshot.
In England they have been known to ap])ear as early as August. They
are always shy, and not easily apiiroached. In their activity and incessant
change of ])osilion and place, they are said to resemble the Titmice. They
feed on the berries of the mountain-ash, the hawthorn, and the ivy. They will
also feed on insects, catching them as dexterously as Flycatchers. Their call-
note is a single chirp, frequently re])eated.
Mr. McCulloch, writing to i'.r. Audubon, gives a touching account of the
devotion shown' by one of these birds to its wounded mate. The latter had
been so crippled that it was ha'.dly able to nu)ve. Its mate stationed itseli
on the top of the tree in which it had sought shelter, and Avith great vehe-
mence continually uttered the notes tzcr-tzM, in alarm and warning, and,
when danger ai)proached, flew against it and urged it on to flight, and
stayed to share its fate, rather than leave its partner.
The nest and eggs of this species remained entirely unknown until the
spring of ISoO, when the late Mr. John WoUey, an enthusiastic English
oologist, first discovered them in Lapland. The season was unusually back-
ward and cold, and the nests contained their full complement by the 1 2th
of June. One of the nests, obtained in Finland, June li), 1861 (S, I„ 5,327),
400 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
coiitiiiiu'd fivo pfrss. Tt is of rciiiiirkaUlo sizo in |)ro])()rtioii to that of its
Imilder, iiiu<isuriii,i,' oi^iil iiiclics in iliaiiit'ter. It is lliitteiieil in shape, and
its cavity, though hirgo, is not dnep. Tiio height of the nest is three and a
(quarter inelies, anil the depth of tlie base is fully two and a lialf inciies. The
eavity is less than an ineh deej), and is four inches in diameter. Tlu; base
and (uiter periphery of thi.s nest arc of a coarse interlacing of the small ends
of l)ranches of fir and sjiruce trees. Within this is built a. close, comjtact
inner nest, chieHy conijiosed of a lichen 2)eculiar to Arctic regions, called
tree-hair, which liangs abundantly iVom the brandies of trees in northern
forests. It resembles a mass of delicate black rootlets. These are not un-
common ingredients in the nests of northern birds, esjjecially of European.
In America, Arctic nests of the .1. ciirulinciifiis are occasionally built of simi-
lar materials. With these lichens are also mingled fragments of dry leaves
and soft dark-colored mosses. The rim of the nest is strongly made, almost
exclusively of these tine dark- colored lichens. This kind of liciieu is not
always black, but is often l»rown, and even whitish. In some of these
nests sih cry fibres of grass-leaves are mingled with the lichens, and in one
or two there is a slight lining of feathers.
The Lai)land nests were built on the branch of a tree, at a distance from
the trunk, and stood up from it unsupported by the surrounding twigs, and
at the height of from si.v to twelve I'eet from the ground. They were gener-
ally much exposed, and were, for the most jiart, built in the more open por-
tions of tlie forests. The general nundier of the eggs Wiis five, in one
instance it was six.
Tlie nest from the Yukon, obtained l>y Mr. Kennicott (S. Coll., 0,326), is
smaller, and bears but little resemblance to the Kuropean. It is but five
inches in diameter, of irregular sliape. In height and cavity it nearly cor-
responds. In place of the lichens of tht! Kuropean, this nest is made of fine
gra«s-stems, strijis of liark, and a few feathers.
The eggs of this bird, the gift of ^Ir. WoUey, measure an inch in length,
and from .70 to .07 of an inch in breadtii. Their ground-color varies from a
light slate to a yellowish stone-eolor. Tiiey are marked, blotched, and dotted
witli spots of various hues and size. These are chiefly of a dark jnirple, at
times ajiproaching black. Mingled with these are markings of a yeUowish-
brown. Nearly all these spots are surrounded by a jteculiar iieiiumlira, or
shading, such as forms so marked a feature in the eggs of the common
Cedar-lJird.
The egg obtained by Kennicott on t' Yukon is smaller than the EuiO-
pean sjieiiiinen, measuring .90 by .65 of an inch. Its ground is more of a
greenish-slate or stone-color, and the spots are of a dark brown, with a deep
violet shading.
AMI-KLIUJ-: — TlIK fJlATTERI'HS. 401
Ampelis cedrorum, Si i,.
SOTTTHEBN WAXWINO ; CEDAE-BIBO.
jimpilis gnrruhiti, viii-. (i, Linn. Syst. Nut. I, ITtili, i'-M. Jlomliiicilla ctdrorum, Vieili.ot,
Ois. Am. Sqit. I, 1807, SS, jil. Ivii. In. Uulnii' Oi.s. I, 1S34, 180, pi. cxviii. — C.VB.
■lour. IV, l.S'iO, :! (Ciilia). - (iiNi>l..\cil, Call. .lour. 1801, :!•_'!< (Cuba ; rare). Aiiipclh
ntli-iinim, Sci.Air.l!, ]'. 'A. S. IS.'ili, •2!(!»(('oiiluva) ; l.S.'.f*. :iO-J (dii.saca ; .laiiuaiji ; ISi'iO,
;«)4 (Xalapa ; Conlova) ; IMit, 17-J (<'iiy of Jlcxico). Sci.AlKK it Sai.vin, llii.s, ISSO,
la ((iuatcinaja). Uaiimi, liiixls N. Am. lsri«, ;US ; licv. H)!. -Tayi.ipk, lliis, 18(10,
111 (Honduras). - AIakiII, I'r. A. N. Sr. I'jiila. 18i!;!, 2!"t (,1a iial. - I.(il;l), Pr. li.
.Art. lu.st. Woolwich, IV, 110 (lirilisli Coluiiiliia ; ucsliuf^). ('(kH'KI! & Sicki.ky,
r. U. I!c|). XII, II, 187 (\Va.sliiiif,'toii Tcr.). — Coiin-.i!, Orii. Cal. I, 1S70, I'i!). -
Samimii.s, Uirils N. Kiih. M:>. .hn/uli.i iniin-ionin, Wii.s. Am. Orn. I, IHOS, 107, pi.
vii. Ikiinhin-illii iniiiritiiiiii, .loNK.s, N'at. licrmiKla, IK')".), 2iMwinti'r). - lilcli. Horn-
hiicilhi I'liniliiiiii.ii.i, ISki.ssiin, Oni. II, 1700, :!:17 (not liiiiomial). — Ai'i>. Orn. Hioj;. I,
1831, 2-.>7, pi. xliii. III. Hinls Am. IV, 1S4-J, lli.'., pi. ir.xlv. - Wacm:!!. .Impdi.i
ritroliiun.iin, (io.ssi;, Hinls ■laiuaioa, 1.''17, r.i7 (.laiiuary). — Hdn.
Sp. Ciiak. ('r<'.>;l inoilcrntc. 'iciK-nil I'oiiPi- soft viuaci'ous-i'iiiuaiiiiiii, ilccpt'st iintfiioily,
more olivactMiu.-i on hack, .scapul-irs ami wiiii^-rovfiis. pa.^siiij;- into jiiire \\\xh\ a.<li on llio
rump and upper tail-coverts, and into diiiiry yellow on lianks and iilidouii'ii. Lower tail-
coverts wliito. Whole oi'lhe wiiij;' posterior to tiie ;_'reater coverl.s ,<laty-asl), almost Mack
alon;^' end of inner wehs ol' primaries, the onlei' welis ol' which are narrowly eili;ei! with
hoary whitish. Tail slale passiui;' into lilaek lerminally. lippccl wilh a hroad. sharply
defined hand of fjiiml)Oj;e-yellow. A hroad siripe of inteii.><e velvely-hlaik on side of
head, startinp; from ncstril, pa.ssiiifi: across lore, and involviiiLr the eye. conliinied from i*
beneath tin? crest to the occiput ; chin dull hlack, hicndinjr f;radually into the hrowiiish of
the throat. A narrow white line acro.s^ the forehead and aioiij; side of crown, hetween
brown of crown and biai'k of lore, etc., a narrow ciesciMit on lower eyelid and a stripe
between blaek of lore and that of llii' throat, whiti-. .l/a'c wilii each secondary quill ter-
minated by a bright, red horny appendage to liie shaft. Fciiuilc witii tlicse very small and
few ill miniber, or entirely absent, ymiiii/. In gcncr.il appearance simii.ir to the adult
female. Colors more giayish, with obsolete concealed whitish streaks on nape and down
back, these stripes becoming xciy conspicuous on tlie sides and lianks ami across breast.
No blaek <ui ciiiu. Huni]) grayish-brown ; .ib(lonieii ami Hanks dingy whiti.sh. No appen-
dages to secondaries, anil the yellow band across end of tail nariower than in adult.
IIaii. Whole of North America as far north as Lake Winnipeg and Hudson's Ifay, south
brixnch of 8ii.sk.itehewaii, latitude "/J. V° (Uiciiauhson) ; south to (iiiiitemala; •Jamaion and
Ciibft in winler.
•A .siH'ciiiu'u IVoiii (itiiitoiiiiilii (No. ."i(l,4r»r) ^) is almnst idciiticiil with o.x-
iuii])l('s fnim till' Uiiitotl Stiitt'.s, Init (Utl'oi's in iiiiviiiji' o siiiiill sjiot of yoUow
at tlio tip of oacli }iiiinaiy ; also tliere arc rod aiiiii'iidagi's on tlic tip of i*
few tp.il-foatlii'is, as well ti.s tlif loiioi'st featlior of the liiwer tail-coverts.
Thi dors, ojciii'rally, arn .softor, the hrowii more purplish, and tlio ash finer
and niort! bluish, than in a tine spiino midc from Washinoton, 1>. C
A speciineii (Xo. ,">:', .".'.Mi J, Iltimboldt K'iver, Nevada, Septenilter 10, 1808,
C. Kino', }{. liidi,'\vayl IVoiii the Middle I'rovinee of the United Ktate.s, dif-
fers consideralily fruiii tiny other in the eolleetion. The colors are murh
paler, the anterior jiortions lioiiio almost oehracoous, tiie wlmle ahihanen
ol
402 NOR'"H AM KKICAN BIRDS.
nearly white. The wiiito baud iiciuss the IbreliuuJ is very broad ; the ex-
trenio point of the chin only black. Whether it is a representative of a style
peculiar to the Great Basin, or merely a bleaclied individual, cannot be de-
cided without additional specimens from tlio same regiciu.
There is so much variation in diherent specimens ii. regard to the red wax-
like appendages, that the Guatemalan specimen mentioned above can hardly
be considered as more tluui a very highly developed individual.
Habits. The habits of the common Cedar-Dird are eminently nomadic,
and, .so far as those of the Waxwiug are known, correspond in all respects,
except in the more general and especially the more soutliern distribution of
the present species. They are found throughout North America at least so
far as the wooded country cxtenils, anil they breed from Florida to tlie Rod
River country. They are a connnon bird in New England, and would be
much more so but that their fondness for cherries and other small fruits, and
their indifference to danger, makes them an easy and freipient mark for de-
struction. Their unpopularity has caused their numbers to be greatly reduced
of late years in the thickly settled portions of the country.
In Southern Texas Mr. Dresser found tliese ))irds very common during the
winter at San Antonio and Eagle Pass, but he observed none later than the
middle of April. They were seen in Tanuiulipas, by Lieutenant Couch, in
March, and afterwards in April at New Leon, Mexico. Sumichrast states tliat
these birds are found every wliere and in great abundance in winter through-
out Vera Cruz. They are tliere known as the Chinito, and are highly appre-
ciated by the Mexican epicures. They are ecjually abundant in northern
parts of South America, and also tlu'oughout Central America.
In Wasliington Territory and in Oregon Dr. Cocjper speaks of them as less
common than in tlie Atlantic States, and he oidy met with a few, in single
pairs, in the sunnner. Townsend states that lie found them in Oregon, but
Dr. Suckley never met with any west of the Rocky Mountains.
In California Dr. Cooper has seen small flocks in winter, as far south as
San Diego, feeding on the mistletoe berries. He found their nests at Fort
Vancouver, and has no doubt that they also breed in various parts of Cali-
fornia.
Mr. Robert Kennicott states, among other memoranda of his route, that,
May 31, on an island in Winnipeg River, lie saw a large flock of tliese
birds, iiunil)ering fifty or mo'-e.
With some irregularity as to their appearance, they are found throughout
the year in New England, their presence being usually regulated by tlieir
food. Tiiey are, by preference, eaters of berries and other vegetable food,
except in spring and early summer, wlien they eat insects almost exclusively,
feeding upon the larvie of the spanworm and the canker-worm, and small
caterpillars, and sup])lyiug these; to their young. They also feed their nest-
lings with various kinds of berries and small fruits, botli cultivated and wild.
They do not nest until late in .luue or eaily in July, and with so much
AMPELID.E— THE CHATTERERS. 4()3
irregularity that I have fouiul them sitting on their unhatched eggs as late
as the I2lh ol' (Jctoljer. They are a greedy bird, feeding voruuiously where
they have an opixjrtunity. They are very nv.ieh attached to ea ;h other and
to tlieir oil'spring. Once, when one liad been taken in a net spread over
strawberries, its mate reliiseil to leave it, sulVered itself to be taken l)y the
hand, in its anxiety to free its mate, and when set at liberty would not leave
until its mate had also been released and ])ermitted to go with it. In the
summer of 1870 a nestling, hardly half Hedged, fell from its nest, and was
found injured by its fall, taken into the house, and fed. Whenever exposed
in its cage its parents came about it, and supjjlied it with cherries and other
fruit, unmindful of tiie near presence of the family. The young bird lived,
and became perfectly tame, feeding from the hand, and preferring to be fed
rather than feed itself, liesides its low lisping call, tiiis bird had a regular
faint attempt at a song of several low notes, uttered in so lo^v a tone that it
would be almost inaiulible at even a short distance. It became jjerfectly
contented in contiuemeut, and appi;ared i'ond of such members of the family
as noticed it.
The noticeable feature of tlie Cedar-Bird, its crest, it has the power to
erect or depress at will. In confinement it generally keeps this depressed,
only erecting it when excited from any cause, such as alarm, or desire to
receive food.
Wilson states that in Pennsyhauia they collect in August in large flocks
and retire to the mountains, feeding on the fruit of the Vacciniitm uJirji-
nosum, which grows there in great abundance. Later in the season they
descend to the lowlands to feed on the berries of the sour-gum and the red-
cedar. In confinement they are very fond of apples, bread soaked in milk,
and almost any kind of soft food. They are also very fond of flies, and are
expert flycatchers, snapping at all that venture within tiie cage.
In their migrations their flight is graceful, easy, and continued, and is per-
formed at a considerable height.
It is unfortunntt! for the liorticulturist tliat this bird has done so much to
merit his prejudices and reprobation, anil t! .,'. lie does not apjireciate to the
full the innnense services it renders to him each spring in the destruction
of injurious insects. A flock of these birds will, in a short space of time,
devour an immense numlxM- of the larva^ of the destructive canker-worms
{P/mfaiio') that infest tlie a])ples and elms of Massachusetts, and, if ])er-
mitted, would soon greatly reduce their numbers. lUit these prejudices can-
not be softened by their good deeds, and the Cherry-Bird is still hunted and
destroyed.
Their nests are usually constructed late ii\ June or eiirly in July, and are
placed in various positions, sometimes in a low bush or tree not more than
three or four feet from the ground, and rarely more than twenty. Their
nests are large and bidky, but strongly made nf various materials. Gener-
ally tliey build a strong external framework, six or seven inches iu diameter,
404 NORTH AMERICAN UIRDS.
composed of the ends of twigs, course sterns of vejfetables, and grasses.
Within this they Imild a compact, well-made fabric of grasses, grapevine
bark, and other finer snbstances, lining the whole with leaves and fine root-
fibres. The cavity is large and deep for the bird. The parents are fourteen
days in incubating before the young are hatched out, and all this while are
remarkably silent, hardly uttering a sound, even their faintest lisping note,
when the nest is nreddled witii, though they evince great anxiety by their
fearless indifference to their own danger.
The eggs, usually five, sometimes .si.\, in number, have a marked resem-
blance to those of the Waxwing, but are smaller. Their ground-color varies
from a light slate-color to a deep shade of stone-color, tinged with olive.
These are marked with blotches of a dark purplish-brown, almost black,
lighter shades of a dark purple, and penumbrie of faint purple, sometimes
by themselves or surrounding and continuing the darker spots. They vary
in length from .80 to .88 of an inch, and average about .85. In breadth they
are from .00 to .70 of an inch, and in shape they diH'er also from an oblong-
oval to one of a ciuite rounded form.
Nests of these birds fnnn the Arctic regions are more elaborately built and
more warndy lined, being often largely made up of the line dark-colored
lichens that cover the forest trees of those regions.
SuRFAMii.Y PTILOGONATIN^.
CiiAK. Le^s modt'rate. Nostrils oval, with wide naked inenibrunL' above and to some
e.xtent behind them ; the frontal feathers not reaching to their border, and rather soil.
Wings graduated, shorter than the somewhat broad, fan-shaped tail ; the first quill nearly
half the second. Adults plain.
Althougli we find it conveinent for the ])resent to retain the genera Ptilo-
tjoHjis and Mijunlcatfa in the same sul)family, there seems little doubt that
they belong to very different fiiinilies, the'latter being more properly placed
in Tnnliiln', as shown in Ifev. Am. Fiirds. It is not necessary that the sub-
ject be discussed here, howevtn', and we merely give the diagnosis of the two
groups of which these genera are the types re.s])ectively : —
Ptilogonateae. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly ; not longer than middle toe and claw.
MyiadeatesB. Tarsi with a continuous plate anteriorly ; longer than middle toe and
claw.
SErxioN PI ILOGONATE/E.
Char. Tarsus stout, shorter, or not longer than the miildl'" toe and claw ; conspicuously
scutellatc anteriorly, and CiTMiucnlly on one or other or on both sides; sometimes with a
row of small plates beliiml. Wings much gra(luat(>d ; the .second quill not longer than
secondaries. Outline of lateral tail-feathers parallel or widening from ba.se to near tip.
Tail unvaried, or else inornate at end. Quills without light patch at base. Head crested.
Young birds not spotted. Not conspicuous f(U' .song.
, AMPKi.NI.K-TIIKCIIArrKliEllS. jnr
aC^r-™ '"" ""'""' "' ""' '""■"" ''»■'"»■ '" '■'■'«'■ "'« '""""ins «1».-
Ptilogonys.
■r.,e gem,, «,■/„,,„,„« ,,„, „,„ . ,„_^,
K.ca„, „e,tl,e,- »,„■„,. wi.Ni,, tl,„ li,„i,, „,■ tl.o U„i,«l Stuta. T ,ypT s
Genu.s PHJBNOPEPLA, Solatkr.
loja, oii. (ijpe, I'ldtoyomjsniUns, Swains.)
wider tow.,Hl.s e,„l. Bill le hi ' , ^"''^•'"'f;''. 'a-'^Lapod ; feathers very broad,
by frontal feather S ve ''?"'' ''"" '""'''""' ' "°^^"-*'« «°™«^vhat overhun.:
ilrwebsf'to!^::t^^:J^ """^ ""'^ ""'^'^' ^'"'"^^^'^'^ niedian white patch on
Jhe^si„,le known species is glossy black in the tnale; the female brown-
PLaenopepla nitens, Sclater.
SHnnWO-CEESTED FLYCATCHEE.
Jour. A. N. So. Plnln. t,, X^^ Str^^- '?f "T^- }^'' ''''■ -Hehumaxn.
«.XA.k. p. Z. S. 1858, 543 ; ,8,U. ,73 (fity of m;:L' - .S^i.. 'w'Z l/ iS
416. - C„o,.KH, Or„. Cal. I, 1870, 131. "Lcj>:rrus ,„k-utus, L.'i" ' ' ''"''
Sr.CuH. (xYo. 8.275^.) Tail hroad. almost fan-shaped : .nadnated «li..htlv nn, ,
ail emar;,„,ate, and longer than win.. First qnill broad sli.d.C ^e eS' T
atcd; n,ore than half the seeon.l, whieh about oouals he te 1 siv i, V ?'";
^ Jnnnature birds show every gradation of color between the two extren.es described
406
NORTH AMKRICAN HIRDS.
PhfFnupiptn nitins
Total leiijftli, 7.()0 ; winj,', 3.S0 ; tail, 4.35 ; length of bill from fbruhead, .40, from nostril
.31, along giipo, Mi ; tnrsii.-!, .70 ; niitUllu toe an<l cliiw, .05.
Had. ^louiitaiuous region of the
' southern portions of Western and Mid-
dle Provinces of United Stales, and
south to Orizaba; t'ape St. Lucas; IMa-
teau of Mexico (resident, Sumichkast).
Ha nil's. So I'ar as known, this
bird occurs in the moiiiitainous
portion.s ul' the I'uited States,
frniu Fort Tejon, Cal., to ^Me.vico,
and t'runi the IJio (Jrande to San
Diego. It is closely allied, in its
appearance, as also in numy of its
haltits, Itotii willi the Waxwings
and the Flycatchers.
This species was first detected
within the United States by (.'oloiu'l IMcf'all, wlio obtained it in California
in 18r(2. Its habits, as he observed tlieni, ))artook of those of the true Fly-
catcher. Tiiey are said to be remarkable for their slender, active form, in
wliich their long and ample tail, and the elongated feathers of their head,
ca](al)le of being erected into a crest, are conspicuous features. Colonel
McCall first met with them in a clump of trees on the borders of a mountain
brook, between Valliecita and El Chino. A number of them were to-
gether actively engaged in the pursuit of insects. They were light and
graceful on the wing, tliough le.ss swift and
decided in tlieir motions than the true Fly-
catcliers. In these evolutions the bright white
spot on the wing, visible only when tl,p Aviiig
is spre'ad, was cpiite conspicuous, and in fine
contrast with the glossy Itlack of the general
plumage. In his Journey Colonel ]\fcCall after-
wards met this bird several times, either in
small comj)anies or singly. They were always
eitlier on mountain sides, or in the timbered
borders of mountain streams.
Dr. Henry met with this species near the
Little Lagoon, on the Colorado I )esert. It was
perched on a mez(iuite-tree, jerking its tail
almost incessantly, as do other kinds of Fly-
catcliers, and, from time to time, dashing in irregular curves higli into the
air in pursuit of insects. It became ipiito altundiint as he apimmched the
Colorado, occurring in companies of twenty and thirty. At Fort Yuma he
also met with them in considerable numbers late in November, as they were
I^nopepla nitens.
AMPELID.E-THE CHATTERERS
407
mi^-ratinj,' southward. Dr. Ileiirv descril...^ ,>. . ,
of young U„|,. H , |i|(„„.j^ ,,,„, ,„,„, ' ;•"""""•> 'V lilKliiiK spcciinciis
«-- "' i™.iy o,. .,,0 It :;; ! , .'^r,: ::i:;:.:ir' ""■"*" """
OH'ct and jiHicI, rt'cinvPfl ..f>,.,. fi '^* "^ '^""""''^ 't« crest
ll.roiisl,o„t tlio Mate,,, „f M„.i V ' , '"' "' " """ 'K»lnU„»[
■» *■ " «" - To c:.: ™r;;,;:::f - « - '^ - "«"■ "
.iso^.,':?;:::::!;,';:: ,:'",: :""r''"T ■" ",""'■ "°"' "■« ' ■"■-"" "»
™er, ,■„.,„ Los A .^ o S , ,t^^^^ t"' "'° *''","°™ '"«'•■ "">' '" S"0.-
of tl,o S,,,„,,„i ,„v,,,-,.„„ ' * "' •" "'"'' ">«"<> ""'"»■■ to tl,„t
to«,ofu,o,.,.«,..,,o'::^;.i;:::-i;'.-;;««^-^i-
»u,.,i„. ,„ ,„«o ,„■ ,„o f,,,,to„ nyo„.„i,o« ;„;:»» : """'■ •'""""' "^
It was found bv FcihiM- -if ^^...^ <<,. i • * •,
".et ,vi.,. ,.o,„ t„.fo, J » v:, to ;l ,;:;i "■ '"'"'■ '"'•"■ ""' '- -' •-
out t ■»,:;; ;:;vK'i'^'"^ 'rTr- «» ^^ »fA„H,,™ w„t
- :xi t:z :: ■ ,r!::;r r "i '- r ^° ' " ^-
of henineu or flnv liU fi \ ^ '''' '"''^ '■' "'^^'<^ «I"'"«t '^"tirelv
of pia.,1: ::; s , ";::: S"' irrr™; t" ""^ ^■~' --»
atanco of „ ve..ol..l,lo oLaraoto """' "'"' " »'' •'"""J' '"l^-
green. Tl,„y .,. ^a.^J ,„, , ,* ; ,", ^ ' : ' ^ .T' ""'' " ^■':'""'"'"-
of l.,„l,Ii,l,-l,„,„,,, „,,„ ,„'"'" " ' f ' • '■"■"■ "'«"'■" P'"l>Ie ,0 .Ieo,,o.- tint,
<.» ap,«...,c„. ■„,,,- ,„:i;;tt, ,i',;,', :,™f ,-;« -.-'.- «- u....„o i„
«n.l a p„,n,„„o„t ,! it , ,:"' ™'>- "'"■"■'"'"Iv a littlo fartl.o,- soutl,,
---o.oponeri;'';:-;r:r:;tr-:--
408
NORTH AMERigAN UfRDS.
(lescriljes it as a sliy, wild, and restless bird, with a superb aon^, powerful
and finely modulated. Dr. Cones appears to think that this spiujies has but
little affinity with the forms with which it is usually grouped.
Section MYIADESTE>E.
Char. Tarsus slender, longer tliua middle too mid claw; undivided as in Tur-
didw. Toes deeply cleft. Win-s more pointed ; second quill much longer thnu seconda-
ries. Lateral tiul-leafhers cuneate, or narrowing from base towards lip ; generally wliitisii
at end of inner weh. Quills with their e-xtn-nie bases, ..-specially of inner webs, bully yel-
low, showmg a light patch inside. Head not crested, though ih.. leathers sometimes full
In the young all the feathers with liglit rounded spots. Pre-eminent as melodious singers.
Rut a single genus of this group lielongs to the United States, although
two others {Cicklojm.^ and PI at nr id, I a f) oceur in South America. As already
stated, the affinities of Mi/mhstccc are much closest to Turdidw, and this
woidd seem the proper family for it.
Ge.vus MYIADESTES, Swaixson.
MnindesU-s, Sw.vinson, Jar.l. Nat. Library, Xlll. Flycatel.,.rs, "1838," 132 (Type JA
fjcniluirbix, Sw.) • ' '
Gkn. Chak. Occipital feathers full and solt. Plumage rather loose. Bill weak much
depressed. Commissure nearly straight. Hind toe longer than inner lateral. Toes deeply
Mi/iaf/e.stps tnwnsemfi.
cleft. Closed wing externally with an exposed light band across the ba,se of the quills
and another nearer the end, separated by a darker one. Tail somewhat gra.luated on the
sides.
Of the ten or more described si)ecies of this genus, only one belongs to
AMl'iaiD/K-rilK CIIATTKRKItS. ,^,
the li,.nts of tl.e Unitel States, altlu.unl. sevontl ..tlu.r.s occpy adjac.ut tor
nUny in Mox.co. yove.al a,, p.ouliar to isla..,!, of tl.e We.st ludi"
llu, only two speci.-s d.-sc-ly relal ■! to the M. lo.rnsnuliavo. the M "nnkohr
^^oU^nrus, wh.h heh>n, to aex.eo. They n.ay he distin.u.^dt
^ An ocl.n..ous band across base of .econclanes an.l uppov pn -i,.. ..o„spic,.o,.s ,.„ o„te,.
No och.-ac.-<.ns on ouUt wol.s of si...,„ul,u-ic.s and priniai-i..s
IZ.TTT/, 'u'' """ "'"^^ ■■"'^■""""- "'^"^' -^ ^--"' ->'V. top of bead
lcop^^.ta>b. //„/.. Mountmn.sof.M..xicoan.lGn...tc.mala; Tres Marias" Island.
Myiadestes townsendi, Cabax.
TOWKSEHD'8 SOUTAISE.
Ptiliogonys townsendi, Aud. Oni. Hid.r V .],s>». .jnis ,i , c . ^
erenees s. Bi.,.s X. An,. 3.U-"xI;.Z;;k' i '-r;:"^' ^b ...fr"'"; "^f
82. Culicivova towns. Die Kav. N. V Zoiil H 184411 ./ ' , 'W'"-^ '^^'I'" ^""'•
l\, 110 (IJi. lol.). — Cooi-Eli, Oiii. CuL I, 1870, l;!4.
tbinl'.w'";',.'^''" '""r';'""'!'y '■"■■'^■'■''- Exposed portion of spurious .p.ill loss tban one
wi b ^ r"';' '' '■ '""''"'"''• ''"'"'• '"•""'"' ' "'"•'->'■ ^vinsr-coverts wbito. Quill
brown,sb,v..llow l,a,- at ,b. base ofbotb webs n.ostly eoneealed, but .low^" a
little below tbe jrieater eoveits an.l alula-; tbis sueceedod bv a bar of d,w Vv ...„.".
.t anotber of b,wnisl,-,eHow aeross the outer webs of J l^^X^' Zl
.ppo w.tb wb.te. Tail-fea,la.rs 1- brown ; tbo n.iddle ones n.ore like t c b Jk • it
round tbe eve. Lenjrtb, 8 niches; wninr, 4.50 ; tail, .3.85. (S -KU )
Younjj hir,ls have a lar«e triangular ,.ale-ochraceous li.rht spot on the end
of each feather (rather paler below, bonnded e.xternally by a narrow boiXr
of blacki.sh ; the (pnll and tail feathers a.s in the adult.
Haihts. The Hrst specimen of this somewhat remarkable bird was shot
by Captain Brotchie, at Fort (leoroe, Astoria, and presented to Mr. Townsend
and by the latter ,.ven to Mr. Audubon. For some tin.e this remained unique,
and S:!Sr"'"'"" ''^^^™"' '^"'"' ''-'■ ^^'- ''■'- ^-«' '■''■ ^'^- ^«"trul ^lexico
52
410
NoltTlI AMKIIK'AX I'.IIIDS.
iiiul tlin liiil)its of the sitocies nnknown. Tln()Uj,'li the goveviiiiiL'iit explora-
tions, Iiowovor, wo liiivi! Ijeeii luiidu more I'umiliar witli its liahits ami peuuli-
aritit's.
Dr. Xo\vl)i!rrv, in his rcjiurt nii th(! Ziiilliiny of Ufutcmmt WillianiHoii's
exiildratinns, nitMilinns lindiiij^f tliis l)ir(l viuy iiluindanL in tliu Dos Clnitus
IJasin. It (lid nut Iraiuent either dense forests or jirairit'S destitute of trees,
but seemed to select surfaces covered with a scattereil yrowtli of i)ine and
cedar. His jmrty tir.st met with it at the hase of Mount Jeffer.son, in the
canon of Mpto-ly-as lliver. In iiickinjf his way with intiiute dillicully down
this gorge, his attention was drawn by its new and attractive soiij^. There
were several of them in the jiines and cedars
growing (Ui the face of tiie dilf. He describes its
song as dear, full, and melodious, like that of a
true MiiiiKs. The next day, as he I'ollowed down
the river, in the bottom of the canon the deep
gorge was filled with a chorus of sweet sounds
from thousands of these bird.s. He describes
them as having a habit of sitting on the branch
of a t.ee ])rojectiug <j\er a stream, or hanging
from some in'ojecting crag, and at times Hying
out in narrow circles, after insects, precisely in
th(! miiun(!r of Flycatchers.
Atterwards, in another ciiflon, the terraced
baidvs of which were sparsely set with low trees
of the Western cedar, he again found these birds
qnite numeroii.s, and had every o])])ortunity l)oth of hearing and of seeing
them, watching them for hours while feeding and singing. They began their
songs with the first ilawn of day, and at sunri.se the valley was perfectly
vocal with their music. He describes their song as not greatly varied, but
speaks of all their notes as particularly clear and sweet, and with strains of
pure gashing melody that were both spontaneous and inspiring. At that
time, September :!(>, they wore i'eeding on tlu! berries of the cedar. They
were very shy, and coidd only be olitahied by stratagem.
Dr. Kennerly, in his llejtort on the birds ob.served in the explorati>'ns
under the charge of I.ientenant Whi)>ple, speaks of meeting witli these birds
in tho. liocky Mountains, in the vicinity of the Puebh) of Zuni, in New
Mexico. Thence, westward, he occasionally met with it, and usually in the
cedar thickets.
Dr. Suckley mentions, in his Ke])ort on the Zoidogy of Wa.shington Terri-
tory, ol)taining a sjiecimen of this species at Fort Steilacoom, April 28, I806.
It was very wihl and ditticult of a])proach. It was the only specimen ob-
tained, and he considered it accidentiil west of the Cascade Mountains. Dr.
Cooper, in the same h'eport, s])eaks of obtaining a specimen near Fort Lara-
mie in Octolier, where it seemed to be not uncommon.
lityinfUslfx ttnrnsi it<li.
AMI'KLID.K-TlfE CIIATTKHKH.S. ^jj
Dr. rcK^K.,.. i„ l.i. Hi,,,, ,.f (•.lilun.ia,chv.llH witl. n.ud. cMuj-LaHis upon
th .y,,l,ttu n.e ndy nl this .species. Jfuvin.n.hvuy.s Inun.l them sih.„,.aM.l
W..1. ha luts l,ke the KivcatciK.rs-, he wus .pute unprepare-l to he.,, the.a ^i,..'-
.n, .a tl.e S.emt Nevada, an.l, if he had not obtained the hinl. would not
have hel.eved that one of this fan.ily was eapahle of sin.in. with sueh
l-"er he.r.song. he says, ean he eon.imved with notiun,' uttere.l l.v any
ol the Moekn>y.|!M,l ,n sweetne,s.s, besides hein- entirelv ...i-nnal
He met with only a lew of this speeies an..n, s.ane juni,:.. on the west-
cm slope near the snn.nnt, ,n September, 18.;;!. He has always met with
then, nearly s.ugly. Dp. 1,.,.,^ found then, at Fort Webster, Xew Mexieo
in large mnnbers, both in fall and in winter. Their hon.e. Dr. Cooper thinks'
•sooms to be ,n the vu^inity of the great deserts of the central regions, or the'
cechir-covered niountanis that intersect them
l)...W,.odhouse obtained sevend speein.ens on the Zuni Mountains in
^e^ Mexico an.l from there westward found it e.vccding'v abundant. Its
food .seemed to be exclusnely berries, and chiefly those of the cedar
Dr.Coues also found these birds rare summer residents in Arizona and
con u.ns its possession of rare local powers, producing a rich, sweet, and
finely modulated song.
w,^!M^"^r? ';:''^" ;'^; "' •'<-"»l»"'yi"^ Mr. King's party of explorations,
M.ites that he found tins curious bir.l only occasionally, mo.st freonently
among the pines of the Sierra Nevada, and only once or t.ice among the
mountains east ol that range. In July, 18(i7, he found a ne,st of this bird
It was m a deep ravine on the western slo,.e of the Sierras, at an altitiule of
five thousand (eet. It was placed in a cavity of the rocks forming the per-
pendicular U].per bank of a sluice constructed for mining purpo,ses, throu-d.
which ran the waters of a considerable mountain stream. The nest was akmt
a foot above the water, and was as bulky as tiiat of the Hnrp„rh,nrhn. r.fn.
and similarly constructed, I)eing composed almost entirely of sticks It ,'
tamed four young. When he approached, the female was much ex,.ited iU
ing before, or running on the gromid in the manner of a true Thrush 'iMr
Itidgway makes no mention of its song.
MiN Lonl met with these binls only once, and then at Col vi lie, towards the
end of November. All the leaves had fallen, the ground was deeply covered
with snow and the cold was intense. His attenti<.n was first attracted by
hearing a low sweet song, not unlike that of the Song Thrush of Europe
which at that season was a most unusual sound. On looking around he
saw about twenty of these birds perched on the top sprays of some white
thorn-oushes. In their mode of darting off and returning again they re-
nunded him of a Shrike. He .shot six, and could ,leiect no material
diderence in plumage between males and females. In the stomachs of
hose he opened were the remains of small coleopterous insects and a few
liaws.
412
NOIiTIl A.MEUICAN mRDfl.
Family LANIIDJE. - Tiik SirniKKs.
CnAH Dill very pouo, Ihl, strong, «,„1 mud. comprcsso.l, th.. tip nbr.iptly hooko.l. .looply
otdH.,1, aiRl with a pn.iniiH.Mt t.-nth l„.l.in.l the- notcl, ; l,„th nm„,lil,l,.s,listinctlv not,.l 'o.l
ho uppc-r w.tl, « .iistiiu.t tontl, l,..|,i,„l, tho lower witl. tlu- point bent np. 'IWsi longer
"^•" the „„,l,lk. t,u, .tron.dy s,.nt,.|l,Ue. Prinmries ten; lirst prin.ary half the se.on.i, or
.^.ortcr ,o,...as,onaliy wantin;,;. Wn,^, short, ronn,le,l; tail long an.l niueh gra.Inate.l.
fellies of tarsi with the plates divided on the outside.
Of this family only a sinyle yenus is known in North America.
iiv.si-
COLLURIO, Viouiw.
Co!h,no, \ Hions, Vr. Z,„A. .S,„.. is;,], 42. ('!>., L.nnu.s ,:rn,l,i,o,; L.)
Lnniii.s, Al-<T. (not ef I.inn.kis, w1,„s.. tv]..' Ih /.. aM„h,s)
Vn/hn-in, O. It. OiiAY. liAii!!., Birds N. Am. 1858, 323
GeX. ClIAIt.
longer th.an the
reathers of forehea.l stilfened ; base of bill; including nostril.s, covered by
lirislly leathers directed ibrward. Bill
shorter than the head, much com-
pressed, and very powerful. Cnlinen
decurved liom base, the n idible ub-
rupliy bent down in a powerful liook
with an acute lobe near the tip. Tip
of lower inamlible lient upwards in a
liook ; the goiiy.s very convex. Rie-
tus with long bristles. Legs stout;
the tarsi rather .«hort, and longer than
the middle toe; the lateral equal;
the daws all very sharp and much
curved. Wings rounded; the first
primary about half the second, wliidi
is equal to the .sixth or .seventh. Tail
Cbllurin fxniMtoroirlfs.
wings, much graduated, the feathers I'.road.
Bitt few .spec.es of this yenus helong to America, and these are confined to
the northern portion. For the purjiose of more retulily identifyin-^ the spe-
cies we present a hrief dia,,nosis, and then furnish .Icscnptions of aU (itichul-
ing a European ally) in a single table. .
Species.
A. Outer webs of secondaries wholly white for basal half (mostly concealed
by coverts, however). Upper eyelid white.
C. excubitor.' Xasal tufts grayi.sh-white. fn other respects, as rec^ards
colors, hk-c rxcubitoroHk.. Wing, 4.2(J; tail, 4.00; tarsus itt 'ifab
Jiurope. I • •
1 iMiiiMwuhilnr, I, INS. .Syst. Nat. ed. lo, 94.
I.ANIUhK TIIKSIIKIKI-X
413
"■ ;:t,:;:':::::;:;;';r;ti;; ■'-""; ''T-'-'' '■
C.boreall«. I, r half „f nasal lulN u-hic Mlark s,,..,.., I i , ,
<'ov.M-,SH„p,.on..l.in,wl.ii Z^'" \.r:'-t: r'""' '''''-
t^;-^;;:::::r^^^^^^ -
C.l„aovioia„ua. n .,.,.„„,..., „„..,• „^.,„. ,_ .^^^^^^^^^^
'\kxiiI titjts eulirvhj hhirh ' '
i*:;:s,:";;;:„:; : 5 ?;-''-'"''"«"'-
Ulack of lores l.onl,r,.,l al.ovo hv lioarv-wliit si, T II • ,
-s.non,lan,.s as in e..Minroid.. ^,^7t,.J "T'^'""'-
of oar-..ov,.,.ts. Win., r.x... ,? I 'f- «^>'»'>t",u..s wanting, abov.) to .m..!
a white pa„.l, a,.,.osX; oS ■ ''"^"''^^ '""' »-' '''-k; the ib,™e,- wi.l.
tl.e secoLlane. ^.^^ H ^ ::■';^^:•T"'•^ r '"'"■'■^^•'"'^ of .eeon..a,.ios) ;
-ti.,.,.e.jL.n,.e;::";;,;i:a,::;,::;,x
\ar. r n h ii s t u s .
414 N'OKTll AMKUICAN' IMltDS.
Al>(>vc liulit Msh. I lipci- liiil-idvcils ;iiiil t'oii'liiMd iiincli ]i:il('r than t\w
liiiL'k, tlic iDiiiicr willidiil \viiv<mI lines. AxiUiiis wliilisli.
Inner welis of .seeonihnies paler Inwanl.s e(lui'>. Iml not i\\' well-
(li'lineil wliile. (,'iineealeil lia.--e.- of lail-l'ealliers. e.Nee|>t sixlli, wliile.
Tarsus shorler llian llie ffape i>l nioulli. Len.^lli. lil.OO; extent,
H..")(); wini;-. 1.70: tail, 4.7(l; liiU above, .S,") ; tarsus,.!):! . . Ihiinilis
B« ]{la<'k I 1 l<-siri|i<> not involving' upper bonier of I've or upper eyelid,
which is \\ liiiisli, and not ineetini; ai'rnss the Ibrehead. its upper edi;e iie-
hind the eye with searei'ly a li;:liler border. No jiateli of white on lowei'
eyeliil. I'nder parts unvaried white; in I'eniali' obscurely waved, liase ol'
nilder luaiidilile wiiitish. Leiiulh about i) inches.
Above lij;ht ash. I'pper tail-c'overts and Ibr-ehcd deiidedly paler than
tlio back, .Vxillars whitish.
Inner wi'lis of all seecuidaries (except iiuierinosi) while to shall,
except Ibr le>s than li'rininal hall! which is black alolij;' the shall.
Concealed base of tail white, except on sixth li'ather. Tarsus eipial
to the j,''ape ...,,...,. ixrnhitdr.
C lilack check-stripes involvinu' upper eyelid, as in A, bin without jialcli
ol' while below tl ye: lui'i'tiui;- in a narrow, soinctiines iiicons])icnous, line
a<'ross the Ibi'i'hcail, its upper edi;-c lichind tin' eye not bordere(l by lii;liter.
]!eni'atli plain while, or veiy oliscurely waved in hidiiririiiinis {\\\r Icniale ?).
IJiil, wiieii nialnri', entirely black. lA'n;;lh about .S.rid inches.
Above <lark pluinlicous-asli. I'pper tail-coverls and t'oreliead .scarcely
paler thai the back, ."^ides anil breast linked with bliii.sh-jjray.
Hlai'k of lor.'d space rathi'r hoary alon.sr upper border. I'Voiilal
dark line inappreciable or wanliii;;-. Inner welis of .secondaries
paler only .-iloiifr the marginal half, and not aliruptly wiiito. Axil-
lars pluinlicous. Tail-li'athcrs. except the inneriuosl. with ,\ con-
cealed well-deline(l white patch at base, larjjcst on the more ex-
terior oiii'. Hill from nostiil, .od, I'nder piu-ls ofleii with verv
ob.se me faint w.ivcd lines (in tlu! female ';•). While patch on wini;-
reaohinj; alioul to middle of fn-sl piimary. Tarsus i^pial to the
■raiie. Leii>,'lh. 8..')0 ; wiuLj-. :!.7'i ; (ail, 4.10; liill above, ..'^'J ; tar-
sus, 1.00 Iiiilorlciiiiinn.
Hlac'k of lor.il space without any lii;-htenin;j' .above il. Frontal
black band Well inarkccl. Inni'rwebs of .secouilarics (except in-
neriuosl) pure while to shaft, except aloiiLT rallu'r nmre th.-in ler-
inin.il half, where the shaft is boi-dered by black, .\xillars whitish.
Tail-feathers black to base, except the loose fibres, which are i.'ray-
ish. Itill from nostril, .110, I'mler parts without waved llne.s.
White patili on win<^ reaeliinfi; nearly opposite to end of liist
primary. Tarsus about e(|iial to the i;ape. LciiL'th. S,7.") ; winir,
■l.'JO; tail, 1. 10: bill abovi', 1.00; tarsus, l.'JO .... cliyaiis.
.\liove liLihl ash-color. I'piiei' lail-coverls ami forehead much lii;hler
than the back, the former sometimes .almost uhite. Sides and breast
;j<'iierally nearly pure white.
Ulack of lord space with conspienous hoary m.arnin tdiovi' il.
Inner web of secondaries inueli as in ('. hiilnriridiiii.i. .\xillars
whitish. Tail-fi'athcrs with concealed white patch at bases of all
the feathers. Hill from nostril about ."lO. .Vo waved lini's beneath.
White jialch on winjr I'caehinL:' nearly opposite to end of lirsl pri-
mary. Tarsus lonu'cr than the t;ape. Ia'UciIi, .'^.."lO ; win;;, -l.O."i:
t.'iil, l.'J.'i; bill alio\'e, .s:] ; tarsil>, 1 . 1 'J .... c.iciihiloi'oiden.
r,.\.\III).K--TIIK SIIKIKKS.
4 IT)
CoUurio borealis, l!\ii;i.
GREAT NOBTHEEN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER-BIRD.
liiiiim hoi-riilh, Vikii.i.ut, His, Am. Srpl. I, i.xir, ski, |,1. 1. Sw. — Ani. Svii. - In.
Hiids Am. IV, lm-2, l;!ii, pi. oxx.vvi. Casmn. -Max, (ah. ,I(.im. VI, i.^r.S, liiu
(rplMTMUsoiiii). ,Imn|.;.s, Nat. |!,.|iiiii(la, }s:,:, .-,] (U'limula). l)|;i;ssi;i! & Sii.Uii'K,
1'. Z. S. 1870, SIM), t'li/h/n'ii Imtridis, 1!aii:|i, liinl.s \. Am. l.sr.,s, ;f-J|. ('(kipki! &
Si<-ki,i;y, v. I!. I!,.]). XII, ii, ISOd, ls."< (Wasliiimimi TiiiilmyK - Dam, .t lUsMsiKii,
2S0 lAla.ska). - Hamikl.s l'>inls N. Km- -Jil.S. fnlhirio horailis, ISamm., 1!,.v. .Vm. ]]',
18ti4, 4411. Liniiii.s r.ndhil,,,; Imuisiki;, I'liil. Tniiis. L.\||, 1771;, li.s-j ,,||,t „f l.rsN.Kr.s).
— \Vh,.siin, I, 1808, 74, pi. V, li^'. 1. hniiiis s,j,/,„fn'ii,i„!i.i, Hon. Syii. l.siS, 72 (not
ol'd.MHl.lN, wliifli i;aiiTi()t lie iilcntilicil a.s an .Vmcilian spicier). CikM'F.];, Orii. Ciil.
I, 187(1, l;i7. ~('Assi\, I'l. A. X. S,.. I8r,7, -Ji:!, -.Mini;AV, K,l, X,.«- I'liil. .I.air
XI, 18r.!l, 2-2;) (II. li. T.).
IlAli. WlidJL- of Aiun-ica ii.n'lii el' riiili'd Slalcs; \n \viiil,-i- s,,iilh U, Wa.-liiii^loii. St.
Lotii.s, rawult (Ai-i/.oiia). anil Norlli CaliloMiia ; iirrniinla (wiiiliT, .I(im:s).
Tlie (l.e.scrii)ti(iii of this iuid Uii' mioccodino- s|pwics will ii,. inuud on iva'^v
4IM. Ill wiiitiT, the colons, (;s]H'ciully of the iimniitmti Mids, aic (|inte
(lilfcnnit from Iho.sc (lu.scribcd. The ].liuiia,i;c of the iididt, in winter, dilfers
from that of s]mw^ as follows: the lores and iia.sal tidts are whiti.sh, instead
of pure, siiar])ly detined lilaek, with,
however, some of the hair-like Hlires
hlaekish. The ash uiiove is a little
less clear, the wlute lieneatli h^ss jmre;
the under mandihle whitish at the lia.se.
An imniature bird, in winter, has tiie ash
above overlaid by ii wash of reddish-
brown, pnnhieinj^' a j)revailiiiy uinforin
li<;iit-br(jwn tint ; the black on side of
head i.s reduced to an obsolete jmteh on
tiie ear-coverts. The; dull white beneath
is everywhere — sometimes even on the
hiwer tail-coverts — covered witii nu-
merous bars of dusky, more sharply
defined, and darker tiian in the adult.
Ka.stern sjiecimens ajipear to have as mncli white nn the rump as Western
ones.
llAlilTs. In tlie breed in^-sea.son this species of Shrike is found in all
North America north of the United States, and is .said to breed also witidn
our territory, in mountainous districts. Siu:h, at least, is the statement of
Mr. Andul)on, and Wilson leaves us to infer the same thiu"- bv uiviu"- a
minute desc,rii)tion of its nest and e.^i^s. Hut .ViKhilxiu may liave con-
founded this species with the (•,'r//('//7,(/„/,A,s, and Wd.sun. a|p])arenllv believing
our species and the f.rcHhittif oi Kurope to lie identical, may iiave had tlie
f 'offliriti I .rrithilnrniilt ,s.
416 NOIITII AMKHICAN IJIHDS.
iRst and c^i'^ii of the Europcau liinl iii view in his description. We know
of a single recent instance in \vliicli tliis bird has bred within the limits
of tlie I'nited States, Ihuuyh it may breed in Xorthern and Eastein Maine.
^Ir. r>uardinaii spoke of it as conniion onh' in winter, near Calais, l.)ut
lie has since met with its nest in Xew IJriinswick, witliin twelve miles
of St. Stephen. It was supposed liy his informant to be the nest of the
Canada Jay, but proved, on shootiny the pareut, to be that of the Xortli-
cru Shrike. When I'ound, it contained four e;j;;4S, but these had hatched
out bel'ore it was secured. Tlie nest was I'ound on the last of April, and
was built in a low spruce-tree. Mr. lioardman lias since seen these birds in
his neighborhood during the suuiuier. Professor Verrill thinks it is only
connuon in the autunni and winter in Western Maine, fn AVestern Massa-
chusetts, Mr. Allen cites it as uot very common, but a regular winter visit-
ant, from the last of October to the midille of A^iril.
Mr. liidgway met with it frci|uently in the neighborhood of Carson City
during the wiuter, among the willows bordering the streams that How fi-om
the mountains. Dr. Coues also i'ound it as far south as Arizona, though
Mr. Dresser did not meet with any in Te.xas, nor did Dr. AVoodhouse notice
any in his e.\])edition to the Zuni. Captain Feilner found this species com-
mon, in the colder months, in the northeastern portions of California, and
Dr. Cooper gives it as aliumhint at the Cobuubia Iliver in October.
Mr. Auduljon further states that in severe winters he has met with it as
far .south as Xatchez on the Mississi])])i. It is also not uncommon in Ken-
tucky during the same season, liut he never met with it near the seaboard.
Mr. Kennicott's memoranda in reference to this species are to the effect
that he observed one individual at Fort Simjison, September 23, and again
October 22, but on no other occasion. Hoth of these specimen.s, when first
observed, were singing. Their notes, he states, M'ere 1(jw and irregular, but
were varied and (piite nnisical. Captain Ulakiston found these birds winter
residents on the Saskatchewan.
In the fall and winter of IcSTl, a jiair of these birds was attracted to the
Common, in IJoston, by the large numlier of half-domesticated Kumpean
Sparrows. For a while they made daily inroads upon these favorites, killing
one or more for several days in succession. Tiiey apjteared to keej) them-
selves secreted most of the time, showing themselves each day e;irly in the
forenoon, and jiouncing ujion their victims, unaware of their near ])resence, in
the manner of a Hawk, aiming always at the heads, which were tiun olf and
devoured ; generally the iu^adh'ss remains were left uneaten. In one in-
stance where a Sparrow had been struck on the back, an ugly wound was
mad(!, the bird escaped alive, and was soon after seen, in the middle of Tre-
niont Street, apinirently not seriously injured. These Shrikes were so bold
and destructive that ]iaius had to be taken to watch for and shoot them.
Three were killed, on dilferent days, and each with a dead Si)arrovv in its
claws, upon which it was feasting when shot.
LANTID.E — TTIE SHRIKES. 417
Both ^Ir. Audubon and Mr. Nuthdl ivl'ir to tliis 81irike's imitating the.
cries ol' otluT l)ii'ds, aiipaii'ntly to decoy tlicni within its reiudi. The former
has heard it utter cries like tiiose ol' the Sparrow screaminjj; in the claws of
a Hawk, to induce; them to come out of their coverts and rescue their sufl'er-
ing fellows, and has sisen them dart suddenly into a thii'ket in jiursuit of oiu;,
from which would soon issue tlie real cries of the hird it had seized. Nuttall
states tiiat in some parts of Xew Kngland this Shrike is called a Mocking-
Ihrd, oii account of its inntations of tlie notes of smaller hird.s. Its more
usual note resendJes the discordant creaking of a signboard hinge. He also
states that it has been known to mimic the quacking of ducks, .so that
these would answer to it as t(j a decoy. He heard one of these birds, as
late as Noveml)er 1(1, uttering a h)w and soft warble, resendiling that of the
Song Sparrow, innncdiattdy after changing it to the notes of the Catbird.
When in pursuit of small l)irds, it will dart down with closed wings, in
the manner of a Hawk, and seldom fails to ol)tain the object of its pursuit,
following it with rapidity and ])ertinacity tiirough the thickets in whii^h it
seeks shelter. When it seizes its prey, it alights on its back, and tears open
its head.
Its bold audacity ami ))erseverance are quite remarkable, and arc often dis-
played, in (lu; fall, in the manner in which it will enter an a])artment
through an open wimhnv and attack a Canary, even in the i)reseiice of mem-
bers of the family. It randy fails, if it gains access to the cage, to destroy its
inmate before the latter can be rescued by the intervention of tho.se ])rcsent,
and only l\v great promi)tness in sheltering the cage. In one instance the
writer was sitting at a closed window reading, with a Canary Iianging above
him. Suihlcnly there was a .severe blow striu^k at the pane of glass near
the cage, and the frightened Canary uttered cries of alarm and fell to the
bottom of its cage The cause was soon ex]dained. A Shrike hail dashed
upon the bird, unt'onscious of the intervening glass, and was stretched upon
the snow under the window, stunned by tlie blow. He revived wlien taken
up, and livtul several days, was sidlen, but tanu', and utterly devoid of fear.
Ht; refused raw meat, but eagerly tore in pieces and devoured small l)irds
when given to him. His tameness and indiifereiu'C to our presence naiy have
been occasioned by stu])or arising from his injury. In another case a Shrike
mad(! a similar attack, lint escajfcd unharmed, and though he remainetl about
(he iiimse several days, was too wary to allow himself to be decoyed within
gunshot.
A nest of the Northern Shrike, containing six eggs, was obtained by
R. li. McFarlane, at Anderson IJiver Fort, duiu! 11, ISii:') This is in many
respects in striking contrast with the nests of its kindivd species of the
Southern States, far exceeding tlunn in its relative size, in elal)orate finish
and warmth. It is altogether a remarkable examjile of what are known as
felted nests, where various materials are most elaborately worked together
into a homojieneous and symmetrical wliole. It is seven inches in diameter
418 NORTH A.MKIUCAN lUKDS.
and three and a half in lieight. Tlic cavity is iiroiiortionately large and
deep, haviuy a diameter of fdiir and a half inches, and a dejjth of two.
Except tlie base, which is composed of a few twigs and stalks of coarser
plants, the nest is made entirely of warm and soft materials, most elalforately
interworked together. These materials are featiiers from varicjus birds, tine
down of the Eider and other ducks, line mosses and lichens, slender stems,
crasses, etc., and are skilfully and artistically wrought into a beautiful and
symmetrical nest, strengthened by the interposition of a few slender twigs
and stems without aflecting the general felt-like character of the whole. The
egg measures 1.10 inches by .8(1, ami is of a light greenish ground, marbled
and streaked with blotches of obscure-purple, clay-cohir, ami rufous-brown.
Sir John Jlichardson found this a by no means uncommon bird in the
woody districts, at least as far as the sixteenth parallel. On account
of its resemblance to the Canada .lay, the Indians called it the "While
Whiskey-John." It remains all winter in the fur regitms, but is nnieh more
numerous in summer, lie states that the nest is built in the fork of a tree,
of dry grass and lichens neatly intertwined, and lined with feathers.
Collurio ludovicianus, r..viRn.
SOTTTHEHN SHBIKE ; LOOOEBHEAD.
Lanhis ludovkianua, Linn. Syst. Nat. 17i)li, 134 (basud mi Laniii.'i hidovicianns, RltissoN,
II, 102, tab. .\v, lif,'. 2.) — Aui). Orn. IMog. I, 1S31, ItOO, pi. x.\xvii. — In. Binls Am.
IV, jil. ocx.xxvii. — ('.\.s,si\, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1S,'.7, 213. CoUiji-io Imhvkiiinus, Baiud,
Binls N. Am. 1».")8, 325. Collurio Iialoc. IJ.VU'.l), Iti'V. Am. 1$. 1864, 443. L'oiius
ardnshcfus, ViKii.i.nr, Ois. Am. Sept. I, IS07, 81, pi. li. Laniiis carolinensis, Wiw.
Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 57, pi. xxii, \\g. 5.
Hab. South Atlantii' (and Oiill'V) Slat.'s.
The young bird is (piite dilferent from the iidult, differing as does that of
cxcithitoroklts, but the colors are all darker than in the corresponding age of
that species.
Haiuts. This s])ecies, if we regard it as distinct from the excuhiforoidi\%
has apparently a very restricted distribution, ))eing confined to the South
Atlantic and (Julf Stiites. 1 am not aware that it has lieen found farther
norHi than Xortli Carolina. It is not common, according to Audubon,
either in Louisiana or Mississippi, and jirobalily only occurs there in the
winter. I have had its eggs from South Carolina, (ieorgia, and Florida.
Dre.sser speaks of this Shrike as common in Te.xas in summer, and Dr.
Woodhouse states that he found it very abundant in Texas and the Indian
Territory. These observations may probably apply to the kindred race, (■■>•-
cubiforoirh's, and not to this form.
It is said to be exclusively a liird of the lowlands, and never to be met
with iu the mountainous parts, even of its restricted habitat.
LAXIIDvE-THK SHRIKES. ^^g
lie
I). C.,ues found tlus «,„.,.,.« very conunon in tl.o noi,hl.orhood of Colun.
bi.i, S. L IrcMiuc.nting tl.o wnn.led st.v.ts and wa.sto fields of tl.at city On
one occasion he ohsened a Loggerhead la.sily l.,.a,in, ,W ilX e
gro..ds o, t e Capifol. F^on. the to,, of a tall la.h i^ wonl.l IZ^
.My uut, capture a htrge grassho,,., an<l .-any it to u tree near by u J
sharp tw,g,s. It wouhl then proceed to in.pale the insect on one of L^
I.oint,s reu.a,n awiule watching the result of its perfonnance. and the
sunie Its post on the bush, watching for u.ore grasshoppers, s^n.e of w i h
one by one, .t caught and nnpaled in like u.anner, oth.. it iue on U el ^ '
This curious habit of impaling inseC, more or less common to the nt re
annly of Shrikes, seems to admit of no satisfactory explanation. I, t
case the bird thus secnre.l them when apparently huiig;y, eatin. some d
3l;..^thers. .et, so fUr as I know, . never niake^ Ly us^f .l^t
Mr. Audubon states that in South Carolina it is quite eommon alon. the
f nces and hedges about the rice plantations at all seasons, and that t°r
ders good service to the planters in the destruction of field-mice, as wel s
o^ muiy o, the lai^er n.sects. He speaks of its song as consisti g only o
hull, clear, creaking, prolongcl notes, resembling the gratin-.- of a rusty
lunge. His account differs, in many respects, from the more n. in te J
exact descriptions of Rey. J)r. Uachman. In pursuing its prey e st.
that It uivariably strikes it with its bill befbre seizing i^with its daws
In reference to its song. Dr. Bachman states that it has other notes besides
the grating sound mentioned by Audubon, 1 )uri„g the breeding-.season ad
nearly all the summer, (he male bird posts itself at the top of some he
and makes an e( brt at a song, which he compares to the first attempts of a
oung I rown Thrush. This is a Labored efibrt, and at thnes the notes ar
not uniileasnig, but very irregular.
Dr. IJachman also claims tl.at the male evinces marked evidences of attach-
ment to Ins mate, carrying to her, every now an.l then, a grasshopper or a
cneket, an.l dnving away hawk or crow as they approach the nest
lie also states that he has usually found the nest on the outer limbs of
trees, often from hfteen to thirty feet from the ground, and only once on a
bash .so low as ton feet fn.m the ground. He has occasionally seen these
•n-ds feeding on mice, and also on bir.ls that had been aj.parently Mounded
.y tl.o sportsman. It will sometimes catch young uJL devour t!!em
but IS food consists chiefly of grasshoppers, crickets, coleopterous a.ul othe;
insects, including butterflies and moths, which it will pursue and capture
; ' tl'o -ng. Dr. IJachman has observed its habit of pinning insects on
thoriLS. In one mstan-.e he saw it ocipy it.self for hours in .stickin-r up in
this way, small hshes thrown on the shore, but he has never known them to
devour anything thus impaled.
This Shrike is partially migratory in South Carolina, as a few maybe
lonnd all winter, but only one tenth of those seen in siunmer. It is also
420 NORTH AMKRICAN HI UPS.
vt'iy loud of tlie little cliau^caljlL' ^rot-ii lizard, wliicli it pursues with <;reat
skill aud acti\ity, lait uot always with success.
It is said also to breed twice iu a season. Dr. I'lachnian deserilies their
ejijfs as white, aud Afr. Audubon sjjcaks of them as greenish-white. Neither
make any reference to their spots.
All the nests that I have ever seen of this species, in the simplicity of
their structure and in their lack of elaboration, are in remarkable contrast
with the nests of both the huiralix and the cirHhi/oiviilcs. They are flat,
shallow structures, with a hei^dit of aljout two inches and a diameter of five.
They are uiade e.vternally of long soft strips of tiie inner bark of the bass-
wood, strengthened on tiie sides with a few dry twigs, stems, aud roots.
Witiiin, it is lined with fine grasses and stems of herliace(ais plants.
The eggs, often si.x. in number, are in length from 1.02 to 1.U8 inches, and
from .72 to .78 of an inch in breadth ; their ground-color is a yellowish or
cLiyey-white, blotched aud marbled with dashes, more or less confluent, of
obscure purjde, light brown, and a purj dish-gray. The spots are usually
larger aud more scattered than in the eggs of 6'. horndin, and the ground-
color is a yellowish and uot a bluish white, as in the eggs of C. cxciihitoroidcs.
CoUurio ludovicianus, var, robustus, IVmrd.
WHITE-WINGED SHRIKE.
ft Laniii.ir/r,if,,i.i, Sw. F. B. A. II, l,s31, 122. — Nirr.u.i,, Man. 1, 1840, 2S7. — Cas.sin,
I'r. A. N. So. 18.')7, 213. — IJaiiid, IJints N. Am. 1S.')S, 327. Culhiriu cktjuiix, Baiiiu,
liirds N. Ain. ISoS, 328. Valliiriu clnjimx, lUlUD, IJev. Am. B. lStJ-4, ■14-t. — Cooi'EU,
Oni. ('ill. I, 1870, 110. (Ai'foiiliiij,' to IJur.ssi-i! & Siiai!IM'., P. Z. S. 1870, ri!)'.,
wlio liiivc cxaiiiiiKMl the tj-jH", tliv L. clojuns of Swiiiusou is the same as L. lahlont,
SvKlis, ol'Sibeiia.)
Ham. Caliloniia?
The description already given is taken from a specimen iu the collection of
the Philadelpiiia Academy, labelled as having been c(dlected in California by
Dr. (Jambel, and is very decidedly different from any of the recognized North
American species. Of nearly the size of C. cjviihitoi'oidcs and litdovicianus,
it has a bill even more powerful than that of C. bunudU. In its iiuwaved
under parts and uniform color of the entire ujjjter surface, except scapulars,
it differs from honvlia and e.irid/ifuruidi's, and resemldes li't/orivictniia. In the
extension of white over the inner webs of the secondaries, it clo.sely resem-
bles 0. (■jxi'lito): The great restriction of white at the base of tlie tail —
the four central featliers being entirely black, aud the bases of the others
grayish-ashy — is (juite peculiar to the species.
Tiie specimen iu tlie Philadelphia Ai ademy we originally referred to the
L. ilcjimiH of .Swaiusou, alleged to have come from the fur couutri(!S, as al-
though some appreciable dill'ereuces presented themselves, especially in the
LANIID.K — THE SlIllIKES. 421
coloration of the tail, these wuii; coiisidorecl as losulting from an imperfect
description. Messrs. .Sharpe and Dres.ser, however, as quoted above, show
that Swainson's type really belongs to L Inhtura, an Old World species.
We therefore find it expedient to give a new name to the variety, having no
reason to discredit tiie alleged locality .1" the specimen.
Collurio ludovicianus, var. excubitoroides, Baikd.
WESTEBN LOOOEBHEAS ; WHITE-HUMPED SHBIKE.
Lanius exciibitoioiilcs, Swainson, V. It. .\. II, ]»ai, lir, (.Sa.skatt:Iii'waii). - <;amiii;i,, Pr.
A. N. Se. 1847, :J(iO (Cahi.). —Cassis, IV. A. X. Sc. IS.''.-, 2ia. - - S.i.ati;!!, 1'. Z. S.
1864, 173 (City of Mcxko). Vulhirin e.,xiiliih<,;>iilfs, I!aii!I>, liinls N. Am. IS.'kS, '.vr,.
Culiui-w exciib. lUlKl), Kev. Am. li. 1804, 44.'). — Cdoi-i;!;, Oni. Cal. 1,- 1870, 1:18.
? jMiiiun mcximiiHs, Bkkii.M, Call. .lour. II, 1854, 145. — Sci.ATi.li, Catal. l.sUl, 4ii
(Mi'.\u'.o). Lditiii.i liKhviehnuK, JIax. Cab. Jour. 1858, I'Jl (Upjicr iiksoiiri). —
DliEssEli & SiiAUi'K, P. Z. S. 1870, 595.
Had. Western Province of Xortli Anioriea, as far north as Orc-ron ; Jliddlo Xoilli
America, to the Saskatchewan, anil cast to Wisconsin, Michii;an, and Ilhnois; .south to
Orizaba and Ouxaca, and City of Mexico ; Capi; St. Lucas.
The precise boundaries between this species and C. Indoviciamis are diffi-
cult of definition, as the transition is almost insensilile.
Tlie young bird is pale fulvous-ash above, everywhere with transverse
crescentic bars of dusky. Two l)ands of mottled pale iulvous across wings,
on tips of middle and greater coverts. Tail tip])ed with ochraceous, tiie
white featliers tinged with the same. P.reast and sides witli obsolete liars of
dusky. Black band on side of head rather olisolete.
In its extreme stage of coloration it dilfers from Iiiihvicinnm in paler and
purer color ; the asli of liack ligiiter ; the under jjarts brilliant wliite, not
decidedly plumbeous on tlie sides as in tiie other, and without so great a
tendency to the usual obsolete waved lines (imticed distinctly only in winter
or immature bird.s) ; the axillars Ijluisli-white, not ])lumbeous. Tiie white
of wings and tail is more extended ; the lioary of forehead and wliitish of
scapulars more distinct. Tlie bristles at base of bill somewhat involving the
feathers are black, forming a narrow frontal line, not seen in the other. The
nio.st .striking difference is in the rump and u])per tail-coverts, which are
always apprecialily and abruptly lighter than the back, sometimes white or
only faintly glo,ssed with plumbeous ; while in typical specimens of Imlo-
vicianiis these feathers arc scarcely lighter at all, and generally more or less
varied with bliickish spots at the end. The legs and tiiil are apparently longer,
the latter le.ss graduateil. These dilferences are, however, most a))preciable in
specimens from the Middle and Western Provinces. Those from the AVesteni
States, east of tlie Missouri IJiver, as far nortli as Wisconsin, are more iiitcr-
mediate between the two, although still nearest to the Kocky Mountain bird
422
NidtTii amkiu(;an nrRDR.
30138
iia dcscrihed ; tlio back diirkor, the ruini) and iixillars more pluiiibeoiis, the
sides more bluish. Tlicre is little doubt that the e.\aniinati(»u of series from
the States alouj,' the Mississi])pi will show a still closer reseiubhmce to typi-
cal C. hiiloviriiniiiti, and tiiat the jiradatiou l)etweeu the two extn^iues will be
I'uuud to be cimtiiiuous and unbroken. It therefore seems reiisoiiable to con-
sider them all as one species, varying with longitude and r, ^aon according
to the usual law, — the more western the lighter, with longer tail. The only
alternative is to suppo.se that two species, originally distinct, have hybridized
along the lino of junction of their resiiective provinces, as is certainly some-
times the case. The appro.vimation in many respects of coloration of the
Shrikes of the Pacific coast to those of the South Atlantic States is not with-
out its importance in the discussion of the subject. However it may be, it
is necessary to retain the name of cixa-
hitoroidvs, as representing, whether as
species or variety, a peculiar regional
form, which must be kept distinctly in
mind. The comparatively greatei' size
of the bill in the Cape St. Lucas s])eci-
mens is seen in other species from this
lo(;ality (Xo. 2G,4;i8 of adjacent figure).
The intensity of the black front in
this species varies considerably, being
sometimes very distinct, and again entirely wanting. This may ])robably
be a character of the breeding-season, the dulncss of black anterior to the eye
and the lighter color of the bill having a close relationship here, as in other
species, to maturity, sex, and season.
Haiuts. This variety was first described from specimens obtained in the
territory of the Hudson's Bay Co. J'ichardson states that it was not found
farther north than the fifty-fourth degriie, and there only in the warm and
sandy plain of the Saskatchewan. Its manners, he says, are precisely sinular
to those of the lorc(f/is, feeding chiefly on the grasshopi)ers, which were very
numerous on the plains. Mr. iJrummond found its nest in the beginning of
.Iiuie, in a bush of willow.s. It was built of the twigs of the Arfcitiisia and
dry grass, and lined with leathers. The eggs were six in nulnber, of a
]iale yellowish-gray color, with many irregular and confluent spots of oil-
green, mixed with a few of smoke-gray.
Mr. IJidgway met with it, in his Western explorations, in all localities, but
most frequently among the Artemisia ami in tlie meadow-tracts of the river
valleys. It is also seen on all j)arts of the mountains, among the cedar
groves, localities in which the ludoricittnns is said never to be found.
Dr. Cooper describes this bird as abundant in all the plains-region of Cali-
fornia, but not as far as the Columl)ia IJivei'. South of latitude 08", they reside
all the year. They were abundant aliout Fort Mohave all winter, and nested
as early as the IDth of March in a tiiorn-bush. They had young early in
LANIin.T-: — THK SlllUKKS. 423
April. At i^nn T)ie<,'n tlicy iicstt'il hUn; uliont Ajuil 20. Ho .speaks of their
singing iis an attempt at a smiji, tlie nutes being liaisli, like tliose of a Jay,
ijut not imitative. Tliey cateli birds, but ilo so very rarely, depending ujion
grasslioppers and other inseels.
Tile ne.sts ol' tlie (.iriihif(>f()l(fi.'<,>n> far as I have iiad any oi)])ortunity to ex-
amine them, always exhibit a very marked eontrast, in tiie elaborateness of
their structure, t(,> any of tlie liiduvind mix lUnt liave i'allen under my notice.
They re.send)le those of the buiralis in their size and the felted nature of their
walls, but are more coarsely and ru(Udy jait together. They liave an external
iliameter of about eight inidies, ami i height of four. The cavity is also
large and deep. These nests are alwiiy,' constructed with much artistic skill
and jiains. Tiie base is usually a chisely impacted ma.ss of hue grasses, lichens,
mosses, and leaves, intermingled with stout dry twig.H. Upon iliis is wrouglit
a strong fuln'ic of tine wood-mo.sses, tlaxen hbres of |)lants, leaves, gra.s.ses, fur
of quadrui)eds, and other substances. Intertwined witii these are a sullicient
number of slentler twigs and stems of phmts to give to tiie wiiole a remark-
able strength and llrmness. This is otten still further strengthened by an
external protection woven of stouter twigs and small ends of brandies,
stems, etc. The whole is tiien thoroughly and warmly lined with a soft
matting of the fur of several kinds of small animals, vegetable down, and a
few feathers.
The eggs, five or six in number, measure 1.01) l)y .7."'> of an inch, and strongly
resemble tho.se of both the hornilU and the hiihiriridiui^. Their ground-color
is pale greenish-white, over wiiicli are marks and l)lotclies, more or less con-
fluent, of lilac, purplish-brown, and ligiit umber.
Mr. liidgway, who is familiar with tiiis liird in .Southern Illinois, informs
me that in that section it is a resident species, being abundant during the
summer and by no means rare in the winter. It is there, strangely enough,
often called tlie Alockiiig-Uird, its similar a])pearauce and fondness for the
same locality leading some itersons to confound the.se very different birds.
In districts where tlie true Miimta is not common, young birds of this species
are freiiuently taken from their nests and innocently sold to unsuspecting
admirers of tiiat highly apjireciated songster.
This bird iniiabits, almost exclusively, open situations, being particularly
fond of waste fields where young honey-locusts {GMilxcliia (rinrmitJios) have
grown up. Among their thorny brandies its nests are almost utterly inac-
cessilile, if beyond the reacii of jioles. In sudi localities this bird may often
be seen perched in an upright iiositioii upon some thorn-bush, or a fence-
stake, (|uietly watdiing for its jn-ey, remaining nearly an hour at a time
motionless excejit for an occasional movtMiicnt of the head.
The flight of this bird, Mr. liidgway adds, is quite peculiar, utterly unlike
that of any other bird except the OreonropfCH vioiif(nni>i, which it only slightly
resembles. In leaving its ])erch it sinks nearly to the ground, describing a
curve as it descends, and, passing but a few feet above the surface, ascends in
424 NORTH AMERU.'AX BIRDS.
till' sumo manner to tlu- nlijcrt u]«in wliicli it is next tn li^'lit. TUv lli;,rlit is
]H>i'i'iii'm(Hl ill an iiiiiliiiatiii;^ manner, tla; liinl siisiaiiiin^ itsi^lf a siiort lime
by a rapitl iiutteriiii,' of tlio wind's, and sinkinj,' as tiiis iiKilidii is siisjteiuled.
As it tiies, the white ]iatch on tiie wiiij,', witii tlie general apiiearaiu'e of its
<,'i'ay anil wliite i>luina,i;e, inereases its resenililance to the Mockinjf-I'.inl.
Thoii^'ii very partial to thorn-trees (honey-locust), other trees havinj,' a
thick loliaLjo — as those canopied hy a tan,t,ded mass of wild j,'ra)>evines —
are frecpiently occupied as nestinj,'-])laces ; wiiile a jiair IVe(|uently niak(^
their home in an apple-orchard, selectini^f tlie old untrinimed trees. The
situation of the nest varies according to the character of the tree; if in a
thorn-bush, it is placed ne.\t the trunk, encased within jtrotectinj,' bundles of
thorns ; but if in an a]t])le-tree, it is situated, j,'eiierally, near the extremity of
a horizontal branch. The niimlier of e,u;jj;s is <;enerally si.\, liut ^fr. I{idj.nvay
1ms several times found seven in one nest. No bird is more intrepid in the
defence of its nest than the i)rest'nt one ; at such times it loses, apparently,
all fear, and beciunes almost frenzied with an.iicr, aliyhtin^' so near that one
might grasp it, were he (juick enough, and with open mouth and spriiad
wings and tail threatening the intruder, its attacks accompanied by a pecu-
liar crackling noise, interrupted by a harsh, grating qua, qua, qua, slowly
repeated, luit emphatically uttered.
The habit peculiar to the Shrikes of imjialing their victims Mr. IMdgway
has observed fretjuently in this species; fortius purpose the long and ex-
tremely .sharp thorns of the honey-locust .serve it admirably; and "spitted"
upon them he has found shrews, mice, grasshoppers, s]iiders, and even a
Chimney-Swallow [Cliafiira pclmjica); and, in another instance, but upon
the upright broken-off twig of a dead weed in a field, a large spider. He has
al.so known this l)ird to dart at the cage of a Canary- Uird, and frighten the
poor inmate so that it thrust its head between the wires, when it was imme-
diately torn otf by th(i powerful lieak of the IJutcher-nird.
The young of this species becomes a very pleasing and extremely docile
])et. Mr. liidgway has known one which, though fully grown, with power
of flight uninjured, and in possession of unrestrained freedom, came to its
po.sscs.sor at his call, and accompanied him through the tieUls, its attachment
being rewarded by frequent " do.ses " of grasshoppei-s, caught for it. It had
been fully feathered before taken from the nest. Unfortunately the vocal
cajiabilities of this Shrike are not suflicient to allow its becoming a gen-
end favorite as a jiet; for, although ])ossessiiig consideralde talent for
mimicry, it imitates only the rudest sounds, while its own notes, consist-
ing of a grating, sonorous qua and a peculiar creaking sound, each with
several variations, are anything but delightful.
C-KHKUn).!'; - TIIK CliKKI'KltS
11'. J
A.Mrt.v
CJEREBIDiEI. — TiiK CiiiiKi-Kits.
Aa iilmidy statcl nil ,„,.,. 177, iliciv is lilll.^ to distin-iuisli tlic r,.,v/,,V/rr
fn.ni tl.ci -SynV<;//,/.r, ,tx(T|.l l.v tlu, lnii-..r iin.l iwnv. |.n.ln,cl(.,l K ii<. im,l
l.y the mnnwv.v -apo in .s.,i,„. .,r tl„. Inniis. TIk^ o,,,u,,u Cni/uo/n, Cnrha
Diijloss,,, v.U:., lu.vc pe,-i.lin.iti,.s l.y wln,.|, tlicv niv nasilv ivn«„iz,,I ; luit
wIuMi wo anm U> sii.li ,mciii1.,.i.s ms /).>nu\ (',miros/nn>,. otc.,"it l.fci.mcs
vory (lillic.ill to sopanil.- llu'ii. IVuiu i\w, sU.n.Ua'-l.ill.Ml TanaKors, tlu; Wood
WarMiTs, and tluj //i7iiiiii//i(iji/iiii/(is.
AkI.ou-li till! lainily is on., widely dislHl.iKr.l, in nunuTous uvucni, over
Middle and South America, l>ur one, (',rthn,l„, holon-.s tu Xo.rii America
this heinu ivpresented hy a species, or mlher a race, alamdant in tlie i'.aha-
nias, and oc.Msionally nuit with in the I'lori.ia Keys. W,; shall thereloro
give only tlie dia,iinosis of this lamilv.
Ckni
, CERTHIO.L A, S 1 • n ni;v a i.r..
CM.,, SrN,.,:VA,.,„ V.t. \U.\. lla.Mll. S(.„:klu,ln,. is:i^, !•,.. ,Tv,„., C'crthl,, flaveoln,
Gkn. Crvii. Hill n...uly ms 1„„- a. the „] ; ,,. |,i,.-h as hroad at l.as.., olnn.ratc.l roriical
very acute, and .■.'ciitly (livnrv.M Irmii 1ms,. to tip.
Culiiicii iiiiill.niily convex ; u-imys coiieavc. N,.
lil-isilrsat l.asc of liill. Tail foiiiide,!. lallicr sluirtcr
tliaii the wiii-s. Tarsi li,ii.r,M- than the iiiiclilic toe.
Iris hiowM y Xest |.,Misili' ami aivlie.l. Mo-us with
yellowish ^n-oiiiiii iIwIIimI tlii.:ldy with nifoiis spots.
Orlliinlii Jliivcnlu, Suri.l.
This oeniis is one of tlios.i e.sjKu/iidly cliar-
iicterizin-,' the West Indies, almost" every
island as I'ar as known liavin.i;' its peculiar
species, diU'erinn', it is true, in very sliuht
cIiaractor.s l,„t always e.aistant to the iionnal typo. Cul.a alone has so far
Inrnishe.l no representative of this oenus, its place l.eim- supplied ap-
parently by Conha n,,n„,,. The sj-ecimens from St. Thomas I cannot
distinj^nsh irom those of !»■ rto Hico, hut this is, so far as the series l,ef\.re
nic indietites, the only ctise where one species occurs on two islands AH
the West Indian species, nine or ten it. nuinher. a-ree in havin- the whole
upper part netirly uniformly dusky or blackish; the het.d and' back bein-
concolore,!, while of the three or four South Amorictin all but one (C
lafcoh) have the back more .diva..eous, the hetul much darker Aoain
the West In.lian species, with a, sinnle exception (C. han.mirora), have both
webs ot lateral ttiil-fetithers broadly and aln.ut e.,ually tip,.ed with white-
w'lule in all the South American this white is more restricted on the inner
54
420
NoltTII AMKItlCAX IMIIDS,
C'rtliiolii fiai'tola.
well, uiiil nil till' niitcr rciluccil to a iinrniw linnlcr. ('. rtiho/i tVom ("nziiiiu'l,
near tlio wistiM'ii coast ol' N'licaiaii, cxliiliils tlic ( uiiliiu'iilal iiiiprt.'ss in pns-
st'ssiiij,' tlic I'liaiactcr las( luciitiuiu'il.
In all tliii sjiLrics IVniii tlir (Ircatrr Anlillcs and tlic |inrtinii of ( 'oi tinon-
tal America west and directly soiilli
of lliis j,'rou]), there is a distinct ex-
tc riial wliitc patch at liase of ([uills ;
M Idle this disaiipears in the sjiecics of
tiiu Lesser Antilles and eiisturii South
Anieriea, or is only faintly trae.ealilu.
Aj^aiii, in the species of the Lesser
Antilles, wilh the disapin'a ranee of the
white win;,'-pateli, the j,'reater and niid-
ille \vin^f-eo verts show a faint ed^in,u; of
lijiliter, liy which, as well as hy the darker hack, they are distin^adslied I'loiii
their South Aiiieiican allii's.
The slia]ie of the while patch at hase of thi^ (|uills on the outer weli liir-
iiishes, in eoniliiiuilion with the color of the throat, excelleiiL and p(!rniancnt.
sjK'cific characters. This in the Jamaican, ilaytfeii, and llahanian forms is
elonj^atcd, exteiidini,' };radiially and uniformly lieliind to the outer edge of
the ([uill, wliik^ in those of I'orto L'ico, St. Thomas, Cozuinel, and the Siaith
American species, where it exists, the posterior (uitlinu is nearly triiiisverse,
and only running out a little along outer web.
As a general rule Soiitii American species have shorter tails than the
West Indian.
It is a iiii'e ([iiestioii what are really s]pocies in tliis genus, and what merely
raci.'s or varieties ; hut it would proltalily ln' not far from correct to assume
that the various forms deserihed are simply nioditicatioiis of one jirimitive
s])eeies, jiroduced hy geographieal distribution and external jjliysical condi-
tions. In the foUowing diagnosis I shall treat all the varieties as oceujiying
tin; same rank, without attempting any discrimination. Altlaaigli but orie
of the.se belongs to the I'nited States, and that as a straggler from the Itaha-
nias, I give the talile of the whole, to show the interesting relationship be-
tween them.
("oMMox Cii.M!.\('TKiis. Aliovc iliiskv-olivc Or lilnikisli; llic ninip oliviiccnus or
yellowish : thu liciul iiinl cliccks iil\v:iys Mack, mid soincliiiiis diiikcr tlinii liack.
("hill and llnnal asiiy or lilack. fic^i nf iiiidcr part ycllnw, duller lichiiid. A
liroad while stripe I'lcnii liill ahove eyi' In nape. .V while patch at hase of pii-
Iliaiies : L'eliei'ally visihie extei'iially. soliM'tillies coiieealeil. I,ateral tail-l'eatheis
lip|ie(l with while. Hill lilai'k; k'f^s dusky.
A. Head iiiiiliiiin in eoloi- wilh rest of upper parts: dark sooty-hrowii tir lilackish.
lioth welis of outer lail-li>atlicr tipped with white (except in liilfulii). All West
Indian exee)it Ik/i'dIh. which, however, occurs in Tohajjo ami Trinidad, and }ren-
urally heloiiL's to the shores of the Carrihuan Sea.
1. A distinct and conspicuous external white patch at ba.se of prininries.
Wiiiif-eoverts not iuarfj:iiieil with paler.
tVKUKIllUvK- TIIK (IMiKI'KlJS. 427
(/. 'riii-i>:ii iiiiironiily l.iii iliM'idcil iliii'k ii>li-c(i|(ii', Miryiii^'iii .sliiulc, iMncr
I'liliicly liliick, liDwcvci', iKir iisliv-wliilc.
Tlii'Diit vi'jT dill k n-li, iKit rciiiliiistiii;j' or ii|ipi'iM'iiilil_v diU'ficiil liiiin
Miii'kisli ol' rlici'ks,
\\ iiit;— i|Mii cliincrau'cl ; llic wliitu niiiniiif,' out j,midiially niid
ulili(|ii('ly Iji'liiiid to lliL- outer edge of tin' priinary, riMi'liiiij,'
slmll of outer [H'itimry. Vellow orbruiust di'iidedly oelirmroiis.
llmiip lis liriijlit yellow lis (lie liclly, //ri/;. .Iiiiiuiieii . . Jlnvcnln}
White pule'' ol' wiii^' more i|Uiiilriite on eneli (piill ; ii'ims-
verse; not tiiperiny oil' ^'riidiiiilly mid nnilliriiily lieliiiid ; iml
reiieliinu' llie sluill on (iiiler priiuiiry. Jiii'iisl willioiii oelna-
eeous; I'liinp oliviii'eon--yi'llo\v ; the color iliU'elciil IVoui lliat
of lielly. Iliih. Siinlii L'ni/, nnr/nni.''
h. Chin and tliroat lii;iiter ash (Imt not iil all whitish); in decided and
iip|>iecialile eontiast with lilaukish ot'elieeks. Jn,i,'nlinn yellow, like iin-
(Kt [larls i.'-enei'ally.
Lali'ial tail-li'alher liroadly tipped >vi(li white on both welis.
lliiiiip oliviiccDiis-yi'llow.
U inj;-spot on each pfiniary neaily (inadrate, as in iit'irlimi.
/full. I'oiio IJico and St. Thomas .... j^'irlDn'rt'iisi.-i,''
l-iiteral tail-l'eallier with inner weli only liroadly lipped wilh
white. IJmnp lai^lit yellow like belly. Hill very small.
White ol' win;^' as \\\ jluri'iila. Iml less exteiidi'd. and mai',i;in-
inu- cdLi-e only of (iiili'r primary, llnli. Ilayliand Si, |)(iiniii-
""•■........ Iiiiitiiidcniut.*
AN'hile of wiiijr as in nrirlnni. Si/,e milch laii;-er ; <liirker
iihovc. //((/(, Tohajjo, Trinidad, ami nurlli shore of South
America Intciild?
c. Chin, throat, and Jii'j:nliini while, with a tini;!' ol' ashy. Yellow of
inider parts much rcslricli'd.
Dejilh of hill less than haU'distanee Iroin nostril to lip. Supercil-
iary stripe i-cachini;- to nape. Vellow of under part reslrieled to a
tiiangmlar patch on lireasl. While spot on wiie.^- lai'f^e, la|)erin,u' olf
gradually on each primary, as w jluirohi ; on the outer reachini;'
shaft, liolh wehs of outer tail-feather iiliout, eiiually tipped. J/nh.
Bahamas and Florida Keys ....... I,i(/iinneii>iis.'^
Depth of liill fully half dislanci! from nostril to tip. Siipci'ciliary
.stripe reaching; the oeci[iiil. only. Yellow of under parts more ex-
tended. White spot on winp^ i-estrieted : mori! (piadir.ie, as in hfir-
toiii ; edfre only of outer iiriinary involved. Oiiler welj of outer
tail-feather scarcely lipped, llah. (.'ozimiel IslamI, Viiealan . cuboti?
•_'. Xo external while patch at base of primary (|iiills. Winn-coverts ob-
scurely marj,'in<'d wilh paler, liolh webs of onlcr lail-fealhers lipped aliout
e(|iially with while, iliinip olivaceous; llii:, color of but sli^jhl e.Meiil.
' Ci-i-lhiit flaniihi, I, inn. Syst. Nat. cd. 10, U'lH, 11!).
'- >'. fl,nr(ilii, A. & !•;. N'i:wTo\, Ibis, IS.')!), 117. lliib. St. Croix. '"'. iinrtoni, H.uiil).
" a. Jlairiilii, var. partui-kvii.'ita, Ukyant, I'r. Bost. Snc X. \\. ,lnii. IStiti. Ihih. Porto l!ioo.
* Molucilla bawinirora, O.mki.in, Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, <).',]. {/innniiisic, null'oii, St. DoiiiiiiRO.)
* Caihinhi lutciihi, C.vii. M. II. ISal, 90. O. mnjnr, C.vn. ; C. minnr, Hon.
« Crrllihh b(,/i>niicii.si\ Kkicii. llaiidb. 1, ISOa, 253. C. jluvcuhi, li.viun, B. X. A. ; G.
btiiri/i, C.Mi.
' C. atlioli, jiAiiti), iMSS.
428 Nuirni amkijican- ihrds.
n. Throat Murk; (•(,nliini„Ms will, MmHv oI' , ■hecks ; ,„• olso very diirk
pllinilii-oiis, sriiivck disliimuishal.K' liom ll,,. chrcks.
Mi'iVum lino „r ll.nml while, \he sides l,|,„-k hke the cheeks; ,-|,ii,
aloi.L- hiaek. SupeicihaiT sliipes not culhieut antLTiDrlv. //„/,
.Mailiiii{iiie ... ■ ,• • ,
•..., , , , , , ■•••••. iiiiirliKicrnia.'
\\ hole liiio;it liluekisli. Xo while rroiilai Kjiiid ?
Will- 2..-)0 ineh.'s. IJelly „el,iaee,.iis. J/„l,. Domini,,, |s|-
1111,1, AVesI Iiidi,.s . . ; • • „
,,.. , . , • • . . . (llHIIII/ICtlllll.-
W ilig li.L'U inches. JJclly more yellow. JJah. IJaihadocs .
,,.. . , liiiilHii/ni.sin,^
Uliolu throat very dark i.lniiil„.,„is. A whitish Ironial Immd
band connecting the snpcrciliary siii|H.s which exleiid in front of
tliceye. //.I.. Anli,ua, \V,.sl liidi,.s ..... /ro„talis^
A grayish IW.nial ImihI : .-^npcrciliary .si ri-M's narrow; not eMe,,,!-'
mg 111 Irout ,.r eye. Tra.-e of while patch al hasc of primaries
B. Head blackhsh, m disinict ,.nii„,,sl i„ ihe iiioiv olivaea.voiis l,a,-k OuUt
taii-lcaliier with omI.t wl, s,.aiv,.|y ,i,,,„.,i .villi wliil,.. Win-.-overls n,.t mai-
pine,l with paler. Throat lighl ash, in disiincl ..ontrasi lo hia.'k of duvk.
1. A distinct external wliil,. wing-iiatr-h al base of priiiiari.^s.
liump oliv-Mivi'ii. Il„h. M.^xi,',. and (•.■nlial America, bnt
baldly reaehiii- hn,. of J'aiiaina I!. I!. . . . , „„:rirau(i?
liump ..liv,.-yel|,,w. Jluh. I'anama It. I!.; south ah.iig An-
des 1(1 j',.rii . '" .
-.- , , ■■••.... iivi-KnaiKi,'
a. Ao uxicrnal while wiiit:-|iaie||.
!;iiiiip,iliv,'-t;iv..n. Ilah. liiMzil and (Jiiiaiia . . . cl,/„rn/:i,,)„»
Tho preceding table i,s 1.asi.,l u,.,.,, a critical cxamiiiatioii of niaiiv luuulred
speciineu.s belonginjr to the Siuitli.s,.iiian hi,^litiiti,ai. ~ S. V. BAlliii.
Certhiola bahamensis, l{i;itii.
BAHAMA CB££FEB.
OTt/n„ ,fl,., ■„,/„, var. /i. blSN. .Sysl. Nal, d, 1-J, |, 17,;,!, IS?. r<'rflun" hnhn„n,si.
(ATKsiiv, Car. tall. Till. lialm.nas.) C, rll,i„l., Jhnrnh,, lUlIll), liiids \. .\i„. ],s.5S,
!l-'4, ]il. Ixxxiii, r. ;! (Indian Kc.v, Kia.). C.-llu,,!,, h„h„wnms, Wvmh. llaiiiUi. I, \^:,:\
253 (Caiksiiv, Car. lab. .-.O, Baliainas). — Casmn, I'l, ,■,. N. S. I'h. 1SU4, 271 ('
/«'/>,//, Caiums, .lour. Orn. iMi.-i, 41-> (C. ,//,/,■.„/.-, IJah,,,, Hiids X. A.).
Sp. Ci.ah. (ll.Or.l $, liahamas.) Ab.nv dark iliisi- --hrov ; sear.rlv .larki'r on the
head; the rump yclhiw. Ivlg,. of win,, aiul a Inangnlar ,.,1,1. wring Ihc from .if l,i,,,st
(li.e angle behii.O palc yellow ; (I,., ivsl of mi.ler parls pal,, as,,, ., ..ii,., purest on front
• V. >iir,r/i,iH;<„n, Itr.nMI. Ibnul. I, IS.V^, '>:,•>. C. <i/hi.jiil:; Itov.
- C. (hmnniaimi, Tavi.oi;, Ihis, Isiil, lij;.
^ ('. f)iir/.,ii/('ii.ii.i, I'lAiim, MSS.
* C. frontalis, DAnin, M.SS.
» '■. hirflwlrniic, SiNnKvAM, .'t .Si.aimim.'.nn, V,l,.iisk. Akad. I'eihaiidl. 18tii", (i2-.>.
" ('. iiii.n'nniii, .Sii.atkii, P. '/,. S. IS.'iil, ^Sii.
' r. /in;ir;,i,if>, CAii. ,r,iMni. is,;:,, WM P,Tliaps ,lilf,.|c,il.
« (.'. ,/,/,>n,ji!i,,„, Cam. M. 11. Is.'.l, ii". /,'. An,,s,y,V„,v,.v. IJr.
tM':iiEBrU.E--TIII'J CUEEl'KUS. 429
and sidos ol'npck nm\ im ci-issiini ; <m ll.-iiiks sdiiu'wIimI snilccl Mint I'iillicr (hirkcr. A Ipi-n; .1
supi'l-ciliill-y while .-iripr (lurl t-ic).ssiiig the I'urelieiid) Irmii l>ill td iiiipe, Iml hllle h,i;hlei'
lliiiii the lhl(i;il ; tlie hue of leathers iiiiiiiech:ilely liehiiid the iioslrils, iiiid a si ia!l palc'h at
hase 111' liiwer iiiaiiililile iiiitler llie tips, wilh ihe usual stripo IVdiii hill thniii.L;li lh<' eve,
heilij;- hlackisli. ^\'hite s|)ot at bast' of (piills very distiiiet exieilially ; Ihe postoridr oiil-
liue (111 eaeh oiitei' weh of the primaries iiol (piadiafe, hnl niniiili^' out olili([iiely liehiiid
and on ihe ouleiiiiost (|iiill reaehiiii;- the shall. Kdu'i's of (piills naiTDwly iiiaruiiieil wilh
,i;rayish-white ; on the seeoiidaries eonliniied round the lips. Xo disliuel l)an(ls on the
coverls. Diiler tail-tealhers liroadly lipped wilh while ; ihi- even iiivolvin;^- the iunurinost,
hut reduced to a narrow edn-e. Total lenijlh, 4.10 : wiiij;-, •_'.:!!» ; lidl, l..^(».
liill: Leiiglh li-oiii loreliead, .(ili ; from noslril, .11 ; alonj;' ua|ie, ."ji) ; depth at base. .17.
l.e.iis: Tarsus, .75; niiddlu toe and claw, ."i.S; elaw alone, .17; hind toe and elaw, .1.");
claw alone, .20.
ll.vii. 1' ..mas and Keys of .southeast (.^jast of Florichi.
A sjioeiiiuMi Iroiii tlio Florida Keys (10,:>(i7) is rather darker than those
Iroiii the rmhama.s, the white lews e.xtuiided, and not liuite reaching tlie shi'f's
in till', outer (jtiills.
li.MdTs. Tiiis .species, heh>ngiiio- properly to tlie Uahaniaii ofouji oi' tiio
West Iiiihaii I.shinds, was t'otind at Indian i\ey, Khi., January .■!!, ISo.S, hv
]\Ir. AViirdeiiiann, wliere it appeared ti» lie lait at all rare. Xothinn i.s i<ni)wn
of its iiahits, hut they an- douhtless nearly the same as tho.se of the iillied
S]ieeies. Tile ('. Jlanvhi is known in -laniaiea as the ISanaiia (j)iiit, Hdiiey-
Sueker, and lUaek and Yellow Creepier. Aeeordiiio' to tlie description of
them liiveii liy Mr. (lo.s.se, these hirds, scarcely larnvr than the llinnniin<.r-
J5ird.s, are often seen in coni])aiiy with them, jirohino- the flowers for similar
jmrposes, init in a very dill'ereut manner. In.stead of hovorino; like tlie lliim-
miii,!4-l)ird in front of tlie iilossoni, for wliieli its short wines would he in-
competent, tlie.se iiirds alioht on the tree and jiroceeil in a very Imsiness-like
manner. Jlo|i]iing from twig to twig in an active manner, they carefully
examine each lilo.ssoin. In doing this they throw their hodies into a variety
of ]iositi(iiis, often clinoing hy the feet with the ha(d< downwards, tlu; hetter
to reach the interior of a lilo.s.soin with their curved lieaks and peculiar tongue.
The olijects (d' these researches are the small insects wjiicli are alwavs found
in the interior of Uowers. This liird is unsuspecting and familiar and very
freely resorts to the hlossoming slirnhs of the gardens and yards. ;\Ir. (ios.se
mentions, in evidence of this familiarity, that a large inoringa-tree under his
window, as lie was writing, and which all throiiuh (he year was ]>riifiiselv .set
with fragrant lilossonis, and was a hivorite resort of these hirds, was lieing
carefully scrutini/ed hy two active little Creeper.s. Although within a few
feet of his window, they ]iursuetl their e.\aniiiiations, iierfectly uudistiirhed
iiy his h)oking on. As they move ahoiil they utter a soft sihilant note.
The nests of this little bird are usually imilt in those low trees and hushes
to which are fastened tlie nests of the hrown wasps, and in close contiguity
to iheni. Mr. (lo.sst^ regards this singular predilection as a remarkahle ex-
ercise of instinct, if not of leiison, as the evideirt object of it is the protection
430 NORTH A.MERICAX lilltDS.
tTflurcU'd by the presoiicn ol' tliosi' t'nrini(liil>l(' insects, tlinuiili u]inn wliat tonns
of iuiiity tliis di^l'eiisivi' alliiinco is kept dues not iipiieur.
These (.'reepers iiicubiite durini; the iiioiitlis of .May, .lune, and .Iidy. On
the 4th of May, ^Ir. (ioss(! ohseived one witii a liit of " silk-eotlon " in hiT
beaic, and foiuid the skeleton of the nest just eomnienced in a biisli of the Lan-
tana crniuird. It was evidently to be of dome shape, and so far had lieen con-
stnieted entirely of silk-eotton. The completed nests are juade in the form
of a ,t;lolie, witli a small opening below tlie side. The walls are very thick,
comixised of dry grasses intermixed irregularly with the down of ascle|iias.
One of these nests was fi.xcd between the twigs of a branch of a J'xtithiniK
jirojecting over a highway. Another, found tov ards the end of -June, was
built in a bush of Lmi/tuia, and of the same stnicturc. It contained two
eggs, greenish-white, thickly but indetinitely dashed with reddish at the
brger end. ]\Ir. Closse quotes a Mr. Itobinson as giving their dimensions at
.44 liy .."il of an inch, while his own specimens are nnieh larger tiian this,
measuring .(l.'j liy nearly .."iO. Two eggs of C. jlaviald, from Jamaica, in my
cabinet, nu;asure, .(18 ))y .7>\ and .(18 by .411 of an inch. In one tlie ground
is a dull white, so generally and thickly covered with ndnute but coidluent
dots of reddish-brown as to impart a ]iinkisii tinge to the whole egg. In the
other the ground is a dull white, sjiaringly marked with blotches of brown
over about three fourths of its surface, but at the larger end covered with a
crown of larger and confluent blotches of subdued purjile and dark undier,
intermingled w ith a few lines of a darker hue, almost lilack.
Two eggs ol' C. iKirfiijii, from St Croi.K, arc of a more rounded-oval shajpc,
and measure .Hi) by .4") and .(I'l liy .44 of an inch. They have a dull white
ground, lait tiiis is so uniforndy and generally covered witii conlhu'nt ivA-
disii-lirown markings as to be nowhere very distinct.
The St. Croi.x sjiecies is called the Sugar-iiird in that i.shuid, from its habit
of entering the iMiring-iiou.>^ s, through the barred windows, jiroliably attracted
thither by the swarms of Hies, it is a very familiar sjiecies, haunting gar-
dens, and ottcn entering houses, ami never jnanifcstiug any alarm. It kce]is
in pairs, and breeds from .March bi August. Mr. .N'ewton states that it liuilds
a domed and often pensile nest, with a small porch, or pent-house roof, over
the entrance, generally at the extremity of a leafy bongli. The nest is gen-
erally \i'rv untidy on llu^ outside, and is composed of coarsi; grass and cot-
ton, with feathers (m the inside. It deposits its eggs lieforc tiie co-niiletion
of the nest, "rather to the di.scomtitm'e of the oologist, who delays inserting
his finger intn the structure while he sees one or lioth of the bird'i busy with
a tnl't of grass or cotton in their iiills, until at last he finds their eggs already
hatched." Air. Newton observi'd one instance in Mhi( h ^wo broods wei'c
reared in the same nest, with only an interval of ten days between the time
the young left it and the laying of an egg.
TANAGIUD.E — THK TA\A(iEI!S.
431
Family TANAGRID^. — Tiik Ta\a(;i;i!.s.
CllAi!. Piiiiiiirics iiiiic. Mill iisiiiilly (•,,iiic:il, siiiii(.|iiii,.s (l,.|,ivssc(l iir iitlcimatiMl, usually
iMoiv „v li'ss Imu-ulai' Ml, liasc. iui.l willi tli,. cuttiu- cd.ws n<.l umi,-1i iullcci,.,! ; souiutinics
tootliud or iiotchoil. J.ogs short ; oliiws curvril ; culors usually hrilliaut.
AVe cniifcss our oiitiro iiial)ility t<i ]»re.s('iit ii diit-iidsis tliiit shall dctiiie
and S(>i)aral(' satistaclurily l>y external characters the closely allied laniilies
of Caruhii/a; Siilnmliihr, Tinntiiriilii , and Fn'ii;ji7/i(/(r, ai^reeiiio- as thev ilo in
the main in every respect. The only attempt at ilistinction is based upon
the shape of the hill, and this in what are -enerally called T<tnn,iridw pre-
sents every variety of slia|ie, iVoni the atteiniation seen in Dnidroin, to the
stoutest form of iliG Fri,i;/i7/u/,r. The Cnnhiihr have ])eculiarities of tiie
tono-ue, not apprecialile, however, in the skin. In view, therefore, of the dif-
ficulty in question, we sliall copy the conventional names and unsatisfactory
definitions of other authors, in our inability to present a satisfactory arran.ne-
ment (jf our own.
Cams and (Jersta'cker in Tfandbuch der Zooloyie, I, 277, adopt a classili-
cation of the Osvinrs based on the palatine bones in which Frunjilluhc and
TaiKiiirid'i' are distinguished fr<im tiie Siilricolidw as follows:
Pulionler OS('I\K,<. Scmikvam.. Of tli,. ten priiuancs. ilic lirst is short, rudinirntary,
or wautiuy:; the iiuuilicr of sccoiidarii's is rarely iiioro than nine. Tai.sus .Mitircly hooted,
orclse with an undividc.l plati-on the sides. Lower Ira.'hea eouii.lelely lormcd hy the
help of the trachea and hroiiehiie ; .generally with Iniu' pairs of ujuseles, distrihuted before
and behind.
Guoi'p I. SpFzoi .s-ATM.r.. Ouler lamella of the palatine bone developed in a verlii/al
plane, with tlie hinder b,,rd.>r more or less eniarj;inated ; ihe anterioi- palatine proecss
broad, and united by a truncaied border to the hi-h and broad upper mandible.
Famu.y 1. Phiniihv. Ten primaries.
^ Famu.y 2. FniKjWU'a: \\\\\ encireled liy a more or loss distiuet .swellin,;: at base.
Frontal f..alheis not formin.u' lateral angles. Eilovs of the jaws di'awu in .-is far iis (be .-or-
ner of the mouth ; nine [.i-imaries ; the lirst three usually h,n-est. Ia-s with undivided
plates liehincl.
Fa.mii.v ;i. TiiHwiniJo: Bill more or les< tri.ui-ular at llu' lias(\ Culiuen always more
or less eiu'ved. Frecpi.mily a ti.olh or noleb in ihe upper bill, somelimcs fnie serralions.
AViu-s moderate; .somewhat pointed; primaries nine. Tarsus and toes siM.rl am! sl,.ut.
Hind I'll' stout and loni;-. Claws eurxcd.
Ulioce II. roif.KouN.VTii.K. I'alatine bou, broad and rather Hat behind, ihe external
annies proh.n^vd, not extendi'd into .a verlieal plale. liase of bill M-eiiei.-dly narrower.
Primaiies nine or tiMi. This seeiioe cudiiaees. of North Anieiiean forms: —
-^biiotillida', ('a■■■ebida^ Cerlbii.la-.
Motaeillidie, Ilirnmlinida', I'arida-,
•^'"'•'li'liv, Anipeliila", lelerida-,
Sylvlidi-j, Laniida-, Cor.ida-!
Turdida-, Troulodylidre,
all of which have already been described in the [iresent work, witn ibe exeepliou of the
lust two.
432
XORTII AMKinc.VX IHRD,^.
TJ.0 family „f T,uiayer,s is i.eculiar tn ti.e Xew W..rl,l «l,i,.I. ,l i •
(lExn
PYRANGA, \
11:11,1,.
Pyranga, Vikii.lox, Ojs. Am SiMit I Tsi7 ;,- 1 . ,
I'hunisomn, Swainsox, Class. I'.inls, II, Ks;);, -.'SJ.
iii'MiiMMtcly curved; I'oiiiiiiksuiv
AvilhiuiR'diiiiiaiMilclnln.. \Viii<,',s
•.■lon-ai...! : tliu Innr (Irst jiH-
iiiiiri.'s loii,L--.-.st. Tiiil niodoniU',
>-liVl.ily H.il-,.d. ('„iors of til,'
male v\w-\\y j^carlel. of tlio fcmalc-
.vcllowisli.
Vit"fn::n nihrn.
Till! rictii.s i.s well jirnvid-
c(l witli luistles, wliieii Wm\
(lowiiwiird.s, hut iC biou-Iit
tbrwaid would reach the
nostrils. These are rouiid-
c>il, and are elosely crowded
by tlie frontal feathers. The
Ti°J ;:,■;;;:;:■::; •;:' ';■>';' ^v";' """'■■ '™^"" "• '"« -'"'
Species and Varieties.
^.::;;?f:::;;:!:rv;;,!:';:-i;r:;:i
"• I-.Iy and \n~M .vd in H,,. ^ ; y.lh.w i,, .1,,. 9 ' -••
. M... c?- rM„,,s,. ,„„.„ sn,,|„, : „.iM,.s and tail i„t.„,«o
b t ^;;";'';^;:'''''''^^''';''''''''''-^'-'^-"'i tail), pale .^^^^^^^^
11 I ' i' "-''^-J^''''"' "l^"v<'. .vell..«- l„.low; win-s ,„d tail
black, //ub. Ka«to.n I'n.vince or (:„i,„d ,S(ato...
he
Df
TA.NAiJluD.K — Tllh TAXA( iKKS. 4<..o
2. P. erythromelaena. Win,!,' with two biinds of pure wliiic. ^.
Bfij^lit .-(/iiilci : wiii-s, i;iil, iiiid lures inlciisc! hlack. 9. (»livc--rccn
aliovi', 3'olli)\v ln'iii'.-ilh ; wiii^s ami tail slalv.
l-'orchcad, fvclids, and anterior half nl' cliiM'ks vclvci v-lilack : ri'd
of a carnnnc shade. //,/li. Middle Anieriea, norlli lo .Mirador.
\ ai'. I' r II I h /■ II III I- 1 It II n }
Toi-eh. ad, eyelids, and anterior hall' of .'hd'hs searlel lores onlv
hlaek) ■ red of a scarlet .shade. Huh. .\oi(hern Soulh Anieriea.
var. (( /■ (/p // ,s .*
Wiiifis hriiinii's/i-(/iid\if in the ^ ,■ hm-k ttlrpuhnl iri'„ Ii/kiI,-.
•X P. bidentata.'' Win;:- with two h.inds of pinkisii-whiie ( ^ ). or vel-
lowish-while ( 9 ). ^. AIm)V<' reddi.sh-browii ; head and lienealh niiii-
iiini-.iearlct. 9. Aiiove olive-ereeii ■ head and heneatli yellow, /fob.
Middle Aniuriea (both coasts) fr Costa iiiea to .Middle Mexico.
b. [kidy tihvnys yellow ; bead vfi\ in the ^.
/.rasir ii'iiii/-iii:'('iis hlivl: or i'iix/,-1/.
4. P. ludovieiana. \\'\w^ with two liu'ht yellow band--. ^. Rack.
win.u-.«, ai.il tail intense black; bead crimson. 9. Above olivc-trreon
tilifrcd with ashy on the back; benealli pale irrceinsh-yellow ; winys
anil tail dusky olive-green : no leil on head. //iih. Western Province
of I'liited States.
I.e.inrv iriiuj-riivri-h iiikI miiliJIi' rm-n-ts i/rlhii;
r,. P. riibrioeps.' Wing without light bands. ^. liack and rump
olive-green: wings and tail black; head crimson, //nh. Xcw Tiranada.
B. Wing and tail reddish or gi.-of li. of the same gvneral coh^r of the upper
parts; wing with.mt .-iny light bands.
a. Wing. ;!.li(l. I'.oily always yellow ; bead red in the ^.
(i. P. erythrocephala.' Above olive-green, Ik ath yellow. (Jf. Head
red. Wing, :{.0U; tail, -J.Tlt. //.//-. .Mexico (Temiscaltipec).
b. Wing 3.50 or more. Body and head red in ^.
('iimmiSKIire wilh n ilisfiiirt tmith ; hill hliiinh.
7. p. hepatica. Bill .small, not swollen laieially ; ciilmeii gi'utly cm-ved
tenninally, straight ba.sally ; coiniiiis.snr.al tooth small. ^. Above re(l-
di.sh-a.shy, becoming brighter reddish on the head above; beneatb
niininm-.scarlct meilially. nmch tinged with ashy laterallv. 9. Ashv-
green and greenish-yellow, instead of reddish. Jni: ^. similar, but
throat tinged with orange-red.
' Pi/ni.iijii ci-jilUmiii-hviiii, .S<'i.ATl-.i;, I'. Z. i^. I.eiid. ISali, l-Jfi. (Tiiiiitijrii eri/f/iiviiifliifs,
Ijr'Mf. I'rcis.-Vcrz. d, Saiig. u, Vug, uit. i\'.' ; is:!l.i
- I':iriiii.iii iii-ilciis, Sci..\Ti;i;, 1', /. ,S, l,s.-,i;. i-,;. ( /■/„i,iisi, 1,111 m-diim, T.sciinu. Wic^^ A.uhiv,
IS 11, 'J(ir.»
" /'i/rn 111/11 liiili'iiliil.i, SwAlxs. I'hiles. Mug. bs-J7, .(-js,
•* Piii-iiiiijii riihri'ir/is, (!i;.vv, Ccn, li. Inl, p, :!ii-(, pb iNxxix, 184!i,
'^/'!li-'iiii,i, frii//irni;-/i„i,l„. BnsAf. 1(. Z, bS.-,l, 178. (S,,iriii,i,,nt fri/Z/nwr/iIi,,!,,, KwAlxs.
Phil. Mag. 1827, V.u. \\\ir it not lor the Miiall si/c, one would, witlioai seeing a specimen, be
iiicliucd to suspirt thi., as being a young male of /'. irs/h;,, whirli oft, 1: occurs in vcrv similar
plumage.
^^■* -^'"l;''''! A Mi;i; I CAN- |!,,i„s.
AMn,.,,lM,s.,..yi.l,|ik,.,l,,.,,,,.|,:,,,,,|i,,,,i^.|,,,., |,„,.,,,„
"s.:-::;,r;!;,::;;,,::;:,-.-i.::;;-
VUl'. llZ(t,-(l}
;••■;;""■"■"■'.■': ■ ^"'.^ ^-.i":;.": i:::: ;::;:t;::;;:"
yellow. ii],si,.a,l ,.(• iviMish. ■■■■uiiM , i,in-.;-
,''; "-;;'-> ';""lM,„lis,i,„,; lor.l,..„,,.o,„i,,,.,.,|,K.,,,i,,|,„.,,..,I-
'"'■';': ^■'■""7'"'-' '-i^- c?. ne.K..,i, „i,„„ ;, ..uinviv , .
"-'-.-aH,.,. 9. Ii,.,„.:„l, alM.os, wl.,.lly |„„. nni,,.'
AnM.n,.:Mli,-,,.ih.,„irnni,la,l) '' ^"•^'-"•^""'1'
; l'"',r r" "'■"; ":■ ' ^- "'•"'•^"" "■ •"^'■- -
: rrrV''''''-^'''^-- ?• ij--ii. rn,iia„-v..ii,.w
IlKill.illv, picriilsii iiltcra v. \Vi„„. ■--,|. ,,,;| .,.,,, , "
Ma..U,Co.a ..,.,..,,,,.,.,., a,.,, V..a„.a) ."/'"':;.?::,.,,„,
;;.,!;.^; 1 f ;.,::;."i;,:::;:f' '-'■•■"• "^" " "'"■^'' "■"■' '•-—
n... a,,o.. ,,,„,,,, ;^^ ■
-•Mo:: :r:.,::;: :;''•• n'":';'-^""'""'^-"^-"'"'-' '^'
o,, „ , ,' - '" '■''• I''''"'- •""' "'111' a ,li„,^.v l,„ll' li„..v -_ ,,,1,.,
- tl.. a,,,,ou,,.n, an,, .,.. .n-on,,v MK.H.M wi.h ,;,, a,.n,ss^,;.. ,i;;I:;
>i'£T''''^ ■•>•••-■. W,,.;,. K„.w.n.. , ........ X. s, ,,„„„. ., ,,,,,,..
i^;>m:';:; ;;t ■ '''-^'"^ ^ ^-•-^' ■■• ^- ^^ ^-'^ ^'^«. i;n,ow..v, r... a. n. «. ,,.„.,
TA X A( 1 Kl D.K — TIIK TA X A< i KIJS.
430
anil iiloii.^' side.-:. \Vh,,|,. pilciiiii, |'i-i,iii l,ill I,, ||;,|„, i,||,l il,,\v loll,,.
U|i|if|- fil,i;v III' l.iivs, i'\f^, MlJil wiiiiiMiliirs. wili'^s, iipprr l:iil-cn\ cii.. ainl
tail, (lark piiipjisji-icl. Wlmlc ihidai diliili.' vrriiiilidii, (ir r.»c-|iiiiU
sharply (Icliiicil; cjissiiiii mikI liiiiiiL' nl' winns a paU'i- sliailc iil'llu' same.
M'in.L', :!.ll.'); tail, -J.T."); Inll, Ihiin nostril, V> ; lis dcplli at the Ijiisr, .!((,
its liruadth, .30; larsirs .N(l. IJah. Vmalan.
Fyranga rubra, \'
I KILL.
THE SCARLET TANAGER.
'Tamuji-ii nilmi, Linn. I, HiKi, ;!M. (Imki.in, I, i, ,. SSIl. — Wii.sdS, .\im. Orii. II,
ISlli, l-J; pi. xi, r. ■■'., 1. - .\ri.. Oni. I'.in- IV, .:;s, ;iss ; pi. ,,,|iv. /',„•»„,/,',
rubi',i, \l|.;iLl.crr, (»is. .\ii,. S,.pl, I, l,S(i7, jv ; pi. i, l. I^ ,||,,;|,1.>. - Sw.uNsu.n, 1'.
Uor. Am. II, Lsil, :;7:i. - lid.N. Li.M. ls;!s. h, Cunspntus, l>.-,ii. - Aid. Svn.
1831), 13(1. - 111. Iiir.ls Am. II, 1SH, li'J.i ; pi. rri.v. ScL.vTKii, I'r. /.o,.l. So,'. ]s:,5,
15(i. - In. ISaO, T_>:i. - .Max. Ca!.. .I.air. VI, l.V.S, l'7(I. -- S.vmi ki.s, -J.-,!. r/,a;usumn
ruhni, S\v. liinls, II, l,s:i7, -JM. /'/-<■///,•.«•„„„, ,»/,/•,/, C.vn. .Mils, II, .in. ]s,-,l, -n,
I'lji-iiiKjd n-!illiriiiii<l<is, \\\:\\.\.in, "Kii, •>•,■. .M,'tli. Mm." In. Xuiiv. l)i,'t. XXVIII,
1817, 2i):J.
Sp. f'li.ui. liill .sli,)i't,.r than lh,> Ii,m,1. S,m',„i,| ,piili l,,iio-,.,si ; lirsl. an,l Ihinl a little
shorter. Tail liio,l,'ralcly liirkiMl. M.ilr. \Vli,,lc l,..;,,! niiil li,.(|y ,-,inliniioiis, pure, intuii.so
.scarlet, the rcuthcrs while heiieath the .siirllir,.. mii,| tirayish at Ih,' r,i,i|s. Winus ami tail,
with the .seapiilar.s. iinilonn inleii.se lilai'k: the mi, lille-,',. visits s,)meiimes partly red, Harm-
ing an interrnpteil haml. lanim;- i,!' v. inir while. A Ma,ki>h liiiM,' aluni;- si,le.s ol' ih,-
ruin]), eoneeiiled iiy win.ii-.s. liill p,-a--rei'ii; i-is lir,)wn; tarsi ami tci'sdnll hliie. /•;
Olive-green ahiive. ye;i,>wi.s|i lii'in'ath. Win- and tail lealii<'rs l.rown, edj;cil with uhva-
ceous. r,en,i;th, 7.10: win--. 4.(MI; uiil. .'!.IM).
IlAli. Easteiii I'riivini'e Xorlh America, north to Winnepe,;- (west to Kl Paso? I[kki!-
MANn). In winter, .south to I'Viiaihir (Rio Xap,', Sci..). Iio,;;ota (Sei,.) Ciiha (Scr,. &
(ii-NMi,.); .Tamaica (.<ci., k. Gossicj ; Panama (Lavvi;.); (Jo.sta llica (Lawi:.): Vera Criii!
(winter, Sc.MieiiKA.sT^
At leii.st tlireo yoars seem to li; re-
quired for llio as,sunij)tioii of tliu ])er-
fect ])luiuage of the i.'iale. In the fir.st
year tlie .youiio- male i.s like tlic female,
hut ha.s hlacU wiiios ami lail ; in t!ie
fall red feathers lieojn to make tlieir
a])i)earaiice, and the lnll(nvin,L>' .s[iriii,o'
the red ]iredoininates in ]iatelies.
llAmr.s. I'jie Searlet Tanaifcv is one
of the most eonsjiiciions and iirilliaiit
of all our suiUMier visitants. Kleeiuit
in its attire, retirino- and modest in
manners, sweet in sonu, and u.^eful in
its destrnction of Inirtlul inseets, it
well merits ii eordial welcome. Tiiis
Tana,t,'er is distrilmted over a wide extent of territory, from Te.xas to ^faine,
and from youth (.'arolina to the northern shores of Lake Huron, in all which
I'l/rnnan h/'/nririnnn.
436 NnUTII AMKliU'AN IJIUDS.
kii'iilities it breeds. A lew me Ibuiid oneo in a wliile iis fur cast as Calais, in
the siiriiig, and they are rather ueeasional than eomniiin in Kastern Massa-
ehusetts, hut are nmre idenliliil in the western ]iart nl' tlie State, Ipeeundn;.'
({uite ennnnon ahdut Spiiii^liehl, arriving May 1.1, and reniaininj^ ahmil luur
months, hietHJing in hii^h open woods and old orehai'ds. In South Carolina
it is almndant as a migrant, t]iou,uh a lew ri'Uiain and laceil in the higher
lands. Mr. Auchilion states, also, that a lew hreed in the higher portions of
Louisiana, and Dr. lieerniann found tlieni liieeding at Kl I'aso, in New Mex-
ico, They are far more almndant, liowever, in tiie Stales of IVnn.sylvania,
Now Jersey, Virginia, and tinuughout the ^lissi.ssi])pi Valley, arriving early
in May, and leaving in Oetolier. Tiuaigh oeeasionally found in the more
sparsely settled portions of the country, in orchards and retired gardens, they
are, as a rule, inhahitants of the edges of forests.
Tiieir more common notes are sim|ile and brief, resembling, according to
Wilson, the sounds r/n'/i-r/mn: Mr. Ilidgway repri'sents tluim liy cltiii-d-ni'-
rcc. This song it repeals at brief intervals and in a jiensive tone, and with
a singular faculty of causing it to seem to come from a greater tlian the real
distance. JU'sides this it also has a nioie varied and musical chant resem-
bling the mellow notes of the llaltimnri^ ( >riole. The female also utters simi-
lar nt)tes when her nest is ajiiaMached, and in their mating-seasoii, as they
move together through the bi'iinches, they both utter a low whispering war-
ble in a tone (jf great sweetness and tenderness. As a whole, this bird may
be regai'dcd as a musiial performer r" very respectable merit.s.
Tiie food of this species is chiefly gleaned among the up])er branches, and
consists of various coleopterous and other insects and their larvte. Later iii
the season tiiey consume various kinds of wild lierries.
Wlien their nest is apjiroaciied, the male bird usually kee])s at a cautions
distance, as if fearful of being seen, luit his mucii less gaudy mate hovers
al)out the intruder in the greatest distress. AVilson relates quite a touching
instance of the devotion of the parent of this si)ecies to its young. Having
taken a young bird from the nest, ami carried it to his friend, Mr. liartnim,
it was ])Iaced in a cage, and suspended near a nest ccjntaining young Orioles,
in hopes tiie parents of the latter would feed it, wjiich they did not do. Its
cries, however, attracted its own jmrent, who assiduously attended it and su]i-
plied it with ibod for several <lays, becanu! more and more .solicit(nis for its
liberatiiai, and constantly uttered cries of entreaty to its nllspijng to come
out (jf its prison. At last this was more tiian Mr. liartraui cnuld endure, aiai
he mounted to the cage, took out thi' jirisoner, and restored it to its parent,
who accom[)anied it in its llight to the woods with iU)tes of great exultation.
Early in August the male ln'gins to moult, and in tiu! course of a fc^w days,
dressed in the grcnish livery of the feni;de, lie is not distingui.shable from
her or his young family. Ii.' this liumi)le garb they leave us, and do not
resume their summer ]iluniage until just as they are re-entering our southern
l)orders, when they may lie .seiMi in variiuis stages of transformation.
TAN'ACIilD.K — TIIK TA.NA(iKlI.S. 437
This species is cxtiviin'ly susccptililo to cold, and in luto and iinusuiilly
cliilly seasons l;ii;ue muuhers often jterish in tlieir more noilhein liaunls, as
Miissacliusetts and Nijrtliern New \'()ik.
Tiie nests of tlie Scarlet Tana^ci' are Inult late in May, or early in Juno,
on tlie lioi'izontal l>rancli of a forest tree, usually on the. ed,n-e of a wood, hut
occasiomiUy in an orciianl. They are usually very nearly Hat, five or six
inches in diameter, and ahout two in height, with a dejiression of only ahout
half an inch. They are of somewhat irrej^iilar shape, or not (piite symmet-
rically circular. Their hase is somewhat loosely constructed of coarse stems
of ve«,'etrthles, strips of hark, and tlie rootlets of wooded ]ilants. f pon this
is wroui^ht, with more compactness and neatness, a framework, within which
is the linhig, of long slemh'r tihrous roots, inters] )ersed with which are .slender
stems of plants and a few strips of tine inner liark.
Mr. Xuttall describes a nest examined liy iiim as composed of rigid stalks
of weeds and slender lir-twigs tied together with narnnv strijjs of Jjior//-
nuiii ami i)ea-vine runners, and lined with slender wiry stalks of the IliHan-
thcmum, the whole ;:>o thinly plaited as readily to admit the light through
the interstices.
The eggs, four or five in inunl)er, vary in length from an inch to .90, and
have an average hreadth of .(Jo. Their ground-color varies from a well-
marked shade of greenish-hlue, to a dull white witii hardlv the least tinue
of blue. The spots vaiy in sixe, are more or less contluent, and are chielly
of a reddish or rufous brown, intermingled with a lew spots of a brownish
and obscure pur])le.
Pyranga ludoviciana, I'.hnap.
LOUISIANA TAKAGER.
Tanagra ht(loi-i,-lti,i(i, Wii.sun, Am. Orn. Ill, IMl, •I'i. 1. xx, f. 1. - linN. Ohs, 1S26,
it'i. — An.. Oni. liiiiK. IV, 1S:!S, 3S5 ; V, Is:!!', SKi, \\\. iv.liv, rr.'c. '/•■i,iinira
{Pimnujii) hiiliii-ii-iiniit, I'MiNAi'. Syii. 1S'2S, Id'.. — Xi •irAr.l., lluii. I, \x:V>, 471.
fin-i'iifin !ii</iirin'iiii<i, Itiii;. List. 1837. - linNAP. List, ls;iS. — Am. Syii. l.s:j<l, 137.
111. r.inls .\iii. III. T<ll. -Jll, |il. ci'x. -- .Sci.Aiia;, I'l'. 'Aii<\. S,»: is.'.ii, 12."). -
<'i Kir, Oiii. ('ill. I, ls7ii, II.".. Pitmihiii ( niHn'oiii^, Vii;ii.i.(.T, Xiiiiv. Diit. .\.\VIII,
1.^10, •2!tl. (" Tiiiiifti-ii r,,lii„il,;,,ii(i, ,lAiai. cil. Wii.soii, I, .'iU," iic.i-oivliiig to .Si-lalci-,
lint I t'liiiiiot liiicl siuh MMiiii'.l
Sp. CiiAi!. r.ill .shorter lliiin the lu'iid. T.iil .-iliulitiy forki'il : fiivt llirci. (niills nearly
eiinal. Muh: Vcllmv ; llic niiilillc (if llic hark, ihc wiiii;v. anil the liiil Mark IFeail ami
iicrk all iiiuiiil .-^l 11 ill Lily tiiii;-i'il willi rcil : ]yi\^\ so on llir .siile.s. .\ liiinil of vi'llow aiTo.-;.-!
till.' Miiclillc covnls. anil of yi'lli.wisli-wliili' ai-ro.^.s tlic .Li'iMitiT ones: the tiTlial.- aioi-c iw
le.ss c'llfTi'il wilh wliili,<li. /■'niKilr. Olivi'-uiTi'U aliovc, yclluwisli lii'iicalli ; tlir IralliiM-.s of
the inteisea|iiilar re.aioii iliisky, <inarj;iiiei| with olive. The wiiii;s ami tail lalher ilark
brown, the roriiier with the .-ianie mark.- a< the male. [.enL'th. T.'-'-'i : win^u. •'!.<'.i' ; tail, 2.8.").
IIau. We.-itern iioilion.-; of Ciiileil Slii!e.<. Ironi the Mis.-couri I'lain.-J to the Paeilie; north
to Foit Liaril. south to ('ape Si. I.iira.s. Oaxai/a (Sei,.); ( iiialeinala (.-^ci,.); ( )rizalja (^ScL.) ;
Vela (Jruz (winter, Sc.MMiuiA.sr).
438 Nni;ril AMKKK'AX lilRDS.
llAliiTs. Tliis liiid is uiii'dl' till' iiiiiiiy iustiuiccs i.i wliich Wilson lias Im'cii
niilurtuiialr in licsldw iiii; nimn liis new siiccics a j^uD.uiapliii'al nanic nut
iiintn)|niiitu iit llii; javHt-nl time. We liavo im I'vidcncc! that tliis l)iitl, (.'ailed
the Lonisiana raiia^ucr, is ever i'lUiml within the niodern limits of that State,
alth(iMj;h it oecnis trinn the (iieat Plains to the I'acilie, and IVom I'uvl JJard,
in the nnrthein liueky Munntains, to Mexico.
It was first met with liy Lewis and Clark's party, on the I'lijier Mi.ssonri,
a region then known as Louisiana Territory. They were said to inhahit the
extensive plains in what was then (■alle<l .Miss(airi Territory, laiildiiit,' tlieir
liests in low Imshes, and e\en aniiai.i^' the ^;rass, and deli.nhling in the \ariuus
kinds of lierries wilh whieli those fertile ]irairies were .said to ahound.
Mr. Nnttall, who met with these liirds in his Western e.xeiirsions, de.serihes
them as continually Hitting o'ver those vast downs, oceasionally ali<,'htin,if on
the stems of .some tall weed, or lla; hushes horderin:; the streams. Tlieir
haliits are very lerresl rial, and from this he infers that they derive their
food from the insects they tind near the ground, as well as from the seeds of
the herbage in which they chielly dwell, lie found them a ccjinmon and
uumerou.s .si)ccies, remaining in the country west of the ]Mississii)pi until the
ajiproaeh of ()ctol)er. In his first ohservations of them he .states that though
he had seen many of these hirds, yet he had no veeolleetiou of hearing them
utter any modulated or mnsicul .sounds. They appeared to him shy, Hitting,
and almost silent.
lie first oli.served these liinls in a thick helt of wood near Laramie's Fork
of the I'lalte, at a considerable distance east of the I'.laek Uills. He after-
wards found tiiem very abundant, in the sia'ing, in the forests of the Colum-
bia, below l''ort N'anciaiver. In these latter ol)servations he modified his
views as to their .song, and states that he coulil fre([Uently trace them by
their notes, wiiicli arc a loud, short, and .slow, but pleasing warble, not very
unlike tliat of the conuiion Jiobin, delivered fimu the to[is of lofly tir-trees.
Their music CMJiitinues, at short intervals, during the forenoon, and while
they are busily engaged in searching for larv;e and coleopterous insects, on
the small branches of the trees.
Dr. Siickley found tiiis Taiiager (juite aliundant at certain seasons in the
vicinity of Fort Steilacoom. In one year a very limiteil number were seen ;
in anotiicr they were very abundant. I'Voiu fixniueiit op])ortunities to exam-
ine and to study their habits, ho was :'nelined to discredit the statement of
Nuttall that they descend to low bushes, the reverse l)eiiig tlie rule, lie
found it very diliicult to meet with any suliicieiitly low down in the trees
for him to kill them with fiiu; shot. Their favorite abode, in the localities
where he ob.served tlicm, was amoie tlu; upjM'r branches of the tall Ahira
doiKjhissii. They prefer the eilgc! of thi; forests, rarely retiring to the depths.
Tn early summer, at Fort Steilacoom, they could be seen during tla; middle
of the day, sunning them.sclvcs in the firs, or darting from one of tliose trees
to another, or to some of the neighlxn-iug white oaks on the prairie. Later
T.\N.\(ii;il».K-TIIK TANAdKliS.
48!)
ill (lie SCllSdii t||,.y were In l.c seen ll.viim VCIT lirt ivcly llliuut ill (|llcsr, (if
iiistrl Innd loi'tlicir yimiiii. On ihc Hull I. r, Inly li,. s;i\v ouc cairyiii^' ii Wdpiu
ill iU niiiiitli, slKiwiii- lliiit ils yniiii.i,' were tlu'ii lialdu'd i.iit. Diirinn tlic
l)iV('iliii,L;-sciis(iii llicy iiic niiii'li less .siiy, the males riv(|ncnily siitino- ,,ii sniiic
low liiiil), iviidcriii- the iici-lili(irliuiM| j(iy,,ii.s with tiicir (Icii-iiiriil iiii-Ni(ly.
TJK'ir stDiiiaclis were ri.iin,! filled witli insects, ehielly e(.Ie(p|ptera ; aniuiiLf
tliese were many IVa-nieiits ol' th,. jar-e ,nn;eii /Ji'/irr.,/is, i\nmd nu U,,,
I'oiiglu.sis lii-livus.
Dr. ('o()])er adds to tliis accuunl, that this liird arrives at I'u-vt Smnid
alidut May l.'), and liecomes a lomninn summer resident in W'ashin-ton Tur-
rilory, especially near the river-hanks and anidiin the juairies, <m which aro
roiiiKl deciduous lives, lie coin]iares its si.n-' to thai (.(' ils iilack-wiii-vd
naativc (/'. /vJ/jv^), hein- of a tew notes only, whistle,! in the manner Of
the Jiohiii, and .soimdin.u as if the liird were (|uile distant, when in reality
it is very near. Me met with these birds east of the llockv .Mountains anil
U]i to the -I'.Uh |iarallel.
In Califoriiiii the same oliserver noticed their arrival near San Dieu'o,
in .sniull parties, aliuiil the l'4tli of April. Tlu! mah's c,Mue in advance of'
their mates, and are more bold and ccMispiciious, the femal.'s ]„-\nn ,a,.ely .seen.
lie saw none of them in the Coa.st Kan-e toward Santa Crii/, or at Santa
r.ar])iira, in summer, lie also found them in Septemlier, ISOd, in the hi-her
llocky Mountains, near the .sources of the Columliia, in lalitude 47'. hrthe
fall the youn- and the old a.s.sociate in families, all in the .same dull-nreenisli
lilumage, iV'edin-' on the berries of the elder, and other slirulis, without tlie
timidity they manifest in s|)rin,n-.
]\rr. J. K. Lord states that lie did not once meet with this speeies west of
the Ca.scade Mountains. He found them on the Spokan I'laiiis ami at Col-
ville, where they arrive in June. Male birds were the tirst to be seen. On
their arrival they pereli on the to])sof the highest pine-trees, and eontinually
utter a low jiiercin,-- chirp. They soon after pair, and di.sa])pear in tlui forest.
Where they breed, .Mr. Lord was not able to diseover, though he soimlit liii^di
and low for their nests. As he never succeeded in findin- them, he eonjirc-
tnred that they must breed on the tops of the loftiest pine-trees. They all
leave in Se])teml)er, ])ut do not as.semble in iloek.s.
The.se Tanairers breed at least as far to the .south as Arizona, Dr. Tones
having found them a suimner resident near Fort Whiiijile, thou-li rare.
They arrive there in the middle of Ajpril, and leave late in Se].teiiiber.
]\rr. Salvin .states that this Tanager was found between tlie volcanoes of
Agua and Fuego, at an elevation of about five thousand feet. Sjiecimeiis
were also received from the A'era I'az.
Specimens of this species were taken near Oaxaca, :\rexico, by ^h\ IJoucard,
where they are winter residents.
.Mr. Itidgway writiis that he first met witli these Tanagers in July, among
the pines of the Sierra Xevatla. There its sweet song tirst attracted his
440 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
attention, it being almost exactly similar to ^Iiat of its eastern relative
{P. nihrd). Alterwiinls lie continually met Mitli it in wooded portions,
■whether among the willows and cottonwood ol' tlie liver-valleys, or tlie
cedars and pinons of the mountains. In ]May, LSllS, among the willows
and Imil'alo-berry thickets of the Truckee Valley, near Pyramid Lake, it was
very abundant, in company with Grosbeaks and Orioles, feeding upon the
buds of the grease-wood (Obione), and later in the sununer among the cedars
and nut-i)ines of Ea.st Humboldt Mountains, where the peculiar notes of the
young arrested Ids attention, resembling the comjdaining notes of the I>lue-
bird, but louder and UKjre distinct. In Sejjtendjer he noticed them feeding,
among the thickets bordering the streams, upon the pulpy fruit of the
thorn-ap])le (J.'r((tin/iis) tliat grew plentifully in the thickets. To the ea.st-
ward it was continually met with, in all wooded portions, as far as they
explored.
In manners it is very similar to the /'. rnbra. The songs of both birds
arc very nearly alike, l)eing e(iually tine, l)ut that of this species is more sil-
very in tone, and uttered more falteringly. Its usual note ui jjlil-it is quite
dilferent from the r/iiji-ii-ffi'-nr of the J\ ruhni.
He met with their nest and eggs at Parley's Park, Utah, June 0, 1869.
The ;iest was on the extreme end of a horizontal branch of a ])ine, in a grove.
Hat, and with only a very sliglit depression, having a diameter of four and a
half inches, with a height of only au inch. It was composed externally of
only a few twigs and dry wiry stems, and lined almost entirely with fine
vegetable rootlets.
The eggs, usually three in number, lueasure .Do by .06 of an inch. In
form they are a roundeil-oval. Their ground-color is a light bluish-green,
sparingly speckLnl, chielly at the larger end, with marking of umber, inter-
mingled with a few dots of lilac.
Pjrringa hepatica, Swainsok.
ryi;ni(,a /iqio/i,;,, Swains,, n, I'liil. Mmj;. 1, l,s-J7, 124. — .S.i.atki!, IV Zolil. Soc. 18,-,(i,
124. - liAHio, Hints N. .\m. IS.VS, ;i(i2, pi. xxxi. — Ki-.NNiati.v, lai. — HoMnvAV, Pr.
A. X. .S. LSUit, Ki-i. — CoDi'i:!;, Oni. (',,1. I, 1870, 144. P/wn im.mmti //.■/m/icn, V.\n.
Mils, lli'iii. 1S,")1, L'.'i. J'ifmiiijtKn'inv, \Vii,,i)iii)usi:, Sitgii'iivo'-s Expl. Zuiii, 1853, 82
(not of iitlu'i- iiiitliors).
Si-. CiiAii. '• L,'ii,rtli. S.od"; win!.'. 4.12; tail. :!..'!(i; ciiliiH'n. .(W; tarsus. ..^1. Sucoml (luill
ioiiL:,'-t. Ili-st iiitfniii;,li;it,. 1m.|\v,m'11 foiirlli iiiiil lillli. Pill soiin'wliiit sli,,i-t,T tlinn that of
wsli'r.i, liui, li|-,)iiii;T 1111(1 lii;_'lioi- lU tlie liasc, liciMiniim' ,'om|iivssi.| l,),v;irl llic cii,! ; ii di.s-
tiiict iimiiiiiiiMit tixilh on ooiniiiissnn'; its ciil.ir ]iliMnlM',)ns-l,l!i,'l<, piilcr. ,)r iiidiv hhn'sli ])lnni-
bcoiLs on lower iiiiiiiilililc. ^^lll'■. Ilea,! aliov,' l,r,iwiiisli-iv,i, purer aut,'ri,irlv ; ivst of up-
per parts all,] si,|i's l,rowiiis|i-asliy. tiii.t't'ii with r.Mi,|isli ; clyvs ,,r |)riiii.-iri,'s, tipper tail-
coverts ami tail, luoic iv,|,|isli. li.'ui'atli. nu'ijially, line li'j-lit scarlet, most iiilense on tlie
throat, frrowinjj- frrailually paler posteriorly. Lores ami orliilal region grayish-while ; eyo-
liil.s pal,'-reil; ear-eoverts ashy-reil.
TANAGRID^ — THE TANACERS. 44 j
Female. Above ashy-n:rccnisli-..livacoous, brightest on forehead ; ed-ps of win-,
feathers, up.)er tuiUcovcits, and tail ni<:re ashy on tlie l.aek; beneath nearly unifoim
ohvaceous-ycllow, im,-,.,- medially ; lores ashy ; a .superciliary strii..- of oliyaecous-yello^v
lloumj male snndar to the female, but forehead and erown olivaeeoiis-oranc',. bri.ditest
anteriorly ; superciliary stripe bri-ht orange, \yhole turoat, abdomen, and brc^.s't niJilially
rich yello\v, most intense, and tin-ed with orange-chrome on throat.
Hah. Mountain regions of .Mexico and southern Ro.ky .Mouiilains of Tnited States
0a.xaca(0ct.,8cL.vTER); Xalapa (8cl.) ; Guatemala (Sclatku) ; Vera Uru. (not to alpine
regions, Sumicuuast).
TIiLs species differs from all tlie otliers in tlie oreat re.stiictinn of the red •
this beiny confined principally to tlie head ahu\e, and median lower surface,'
tiie lateral and ni)per parts being quite different reddi.sli-a^liy. Tlie shmh of'
red is also peculiar among tiie North American s])ecie.s, being very fine and
light, of a red-lead east, and most intense anteriorly.
Haiuts. a single female specimen in full plumtige of tlds l)cautiful bird
Avas obtained by Dr. Woodhouse in the San Francisco M.juutains of New
Mexico. It was an adult female, and so far is the only oue known to Iia\ e
been found within tlie limits of the United States, ft is not rare in the
highlands of Mexico, wlience it probably extends into the mountainous por-
tions of the United States.
Specimens have also been procured from Guatemala, and jMr. Boucard met
with it at Choapam, a mountainous district in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Nothing is known of its habits.
Fyranga cBstiva, var. sestiva ^'IEILL.
STTHUEB REDBIBD.
Muscicapa rtibra, Linn. Syst. Xat. 1, 1700, mi T,n,n,,m mticn, CJ.MiaiN, I, 1788, 889 _
Wilson, I, 1810, 95, pi. vi, f. 3. -Aid. Orn. Biog. I, isai, 232; V, isan, 518,
pi. xliv. Pi/mvga wstiva, Vikill. Nouv. Diet. .X.WIII, 1819, 291. — Hon.' List!
1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 18.50. — Arn. Syn. 1839, ]3tj. -In. I!i,ds Am. HI, ]84l'
222, pi. (■.■viii.-..Sci.ArKli, Pr. Z.ml. Soc. LSoo, 150. — In. lsr,o, V2X — liuiiD Birds
N. Am. 1858, 301.-Hi;ki!mann, P. I!. I!. X, p. 17. liiuuwAY, Pr. A.'n. S.
1869, 130. — MavnaiU), Hinls K. JIass. 1870, 109. ]%,;iisonm a:stiva, Sw. Birds, II,
1837, 284. Vhieniconnma (vstim, Caiianms, Mus. Hcin. 1,S.-,I, 25. ? Lo.via virginim,
Gmelin, I, 1788, 819. (Male changing.) 1 Tnnagmmiviisniiipkn^is, O.mki.i.n, I, 1788,
889. P,,Mnga mMHsi,,picmls, Max. Cab. .loiir. VI, 1858, 272. Tini„mi vn,'i,;j„((,'
La .11. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 422. (Mule changing.) Tungurc du MUsUsipm, Buffon!
Ola. V, 63, pi. enl. 741.
Sp. CnAn. Bill wt.Ay as long a.- the head, without any median tooth. Tail nearly
even, or slightly roi nded. Mule. Verniilion-re.l ; a little darker almye, and brightest on
the head. Quills brown, the outer webs like the back. Shalts only of the taiUfeathcrs
brown. Bill light horn-color, m,.re yellowish at the edges. Femule^ Olive above, yellow
beneath, with a tinge of reddish. Length, 7.20; wing, 3.7o; tail, 3.00; cnlm'en, .70,
tarsus, .68.
Hab. Ea.storn Province United States, north to about 40°, though occasionally strnyin.' as
far as Nova Scotia ; west to borders of the plains. In winter, s.aith through the whole of
Middle America (ex.vpt the Pacili .ast) as far as Ivnadnr au,l I'ern. Cuba; .Jamaica
50
442
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
i3ieo
SifS^i-l-
SORG'*
In the accompanyinj,' out wc •/wv, outliiio of the bill of the two varieties
of Pi/ninyii as/ini us < oinjuired witli a near ally, /'. naira, of South Amer-
ica. (I. ".,190, P. fist i VII ; ;U,:U4, J'. as/lri( var. Coojicri ; M,W-i, I', siiim.)
This species is one of wide distribution; its habitat in the United States
including the " Eastern Province," north
to Xf)va Scotia, and west toward tlie
liocky Mountains, along the streams
watering the jihiins, through Texas, into
Eastc^rn Mexico, Central America, ami
the northern ]iart of South America, as
well as some of the West India islands.
In the dillerent regions of its haliitat
the species undergoes consiilerable vari-
ations as regards shades of (iolor and
proportions. Specimens from Tiixas and
Eastern ^lexico exhibit a decided ten-
dency to longer bills and more slender
forms than those of the Eastern United
States ; the tails longer, and colors rather purer. In Central America and
New Granada the species acquires the greatest perfection in the intensity
and purity of the red tints, all specimens being in this respect noticeably
dillerent from tho.se of any other region.^
Specimens in tlir collection of the Smitlisouian Institution, from Peru
(39,S4'J <?, .•59,84!) c?,a!id :!!>,S.'.0 9, head-waters Ihiallaga liiver), are undis-
tingnisliable from those killed in the eastern United States.
The young male exhibits a variegated ])lumage, the re<l ap]iearing in
patches upon the other (-(dors of the female; in its changing plumage, the
red generally predominates on the head, and often individuals may be seen
with none anywhere else. In this condition there a]i])ears to be a great re-
send)huico to the /'. rr////iron/i/iii/ii (see .synoptical table), judging from the
descrii)tion, but whic^h appears to be considi'i'altly smaller, and perhaps has
the red of the head more continuous and sharply defined.
The young male in first summer resemiihis the female, but has the yellow
tints deeper, the lower tail-coverts a]i])roaehing orange.
Haiuts. The Summer liedbird is found chiefly in the Southern States, as
far north as Southern Xi-w -Fersey and Illinois. Mr. Audubon .speaks of their
occurring in Mas.sachusetts, but ]\Ir. Lawrence has never known of their hav-
ing been found farther north than the Magnolia Swanii)s near Atlantic City,
N. J. One or two recent instances of the capture of these birds in Massa-
chusetts, as also in New Urunswick and Nova Scotia, have occurred, but
these must be regarded as purely accidental.
' Of tills lif<;Iily roloiiil foiTii, the iivi'iagc Icii^'th of five RiMM'iiiiciis i.s 7..").5 ; in twolvo the
avciii^c is, wiiifi, ;!.07 : t'lil, 2.80 ; (Mlnii'ii, .(17. The Mil appi'ius tr) lie .stlirhtly iluiki'i- tliau in
Xoiili AiniM'ioiin c.xnniiili's.
TANAGKIJhK — TJIE TANAGKHS. 443
Tliis species is said ])y Mr. Sulvin to eiijuy an almost universal nin<,'e
throughout (iuateniala. Jt occurred in Decenilier at the mouth of the Uio
Uulce, in the pine ridges near (.hiisigua, and alng the whole road I'rom Isa-
hel to Guatemahi, a ilislanee of eighty leagues.
Mr. C W. \Vyatt met with these liirds also, in all varieties of jilumage,
throughout C'olondiia, South Aiiieriea, at llerradura, Coeuta \alley, and
Caiita. Mr. IJoueard obtained tiieni at I'laza N'ieente, Me.xico. Dr. "Wood-
house oljserved this .sjjeeies throughout the Indian Territory, Te.xa.s, and New
Me.xico, where it seemed solitary in its hal)its, frec^uenting the thick scruljhy
timber. It has been known to breed at various points in Floiida, (leor^ia
South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas. To the northward it breeds more or
less abundantly, as hir as Washington, D. C, on the east, and Southern Illi-
nois and Kansas on the we.st, being UHicli more common in tlie Mississippi
Valley than in the States on the Atlantic in the same jjarallel ol' latitude.
Mr. Dresser found it (piite common about Sun Antonio, Te.xas, during the
sunnner .season, arriving there about the michlle of Ai)ril, wliich is just about
the ])eriod at which the three specimens were taken near Jjoston. It is com-
paratively rare in Pennsylvania, thoi-.gh abundant in the southern counties
of Now Jersey, and in Delaware, Eastern j\raryland, and Virginia. It is
also abundant in the Carolinas, in (ieorgia, Florida, and the Gulf States.
Wilson, in describing the nest and eggs of this sjiecies, has evidently con-
founded them and some of their hal)its with those of the lUue (}rosl)eak.
Th(;ir eggs are not ligiit-l)lue, nor are the nests, so far as I know, as described
by him. Audubon and \uttall co])y std)stantially his errors.
The food of this s]iecies dining the sj^'ing and early summer is chiefly
various kinds of large coleojjterous insects, bees, wasps, and others. Later in
the season, when whortleberries are rijjc, they feed chiefly on these and other
small fruit. In taking its food it rarely alights on the ground, but prefers to
capture its insects while on tlie wing.
The usual note of this bird, which Mr. Audubon pronounces unmusical,
resembles the sounds " rli irhf-ch iirki/-,Ji nek" The same writer states that dur-
ing the spring this bird sings pleasantly for nearly half an hour in succi'ssion,
that its song reseml)les that of the IJed-eyed \'ireo, and that its notes are
sweeter and more varied and nearly e([ual to tho.se of the Orchard Oriole.
The late Dr. (lerhardt of ^'arIlel^s Station, in Northern Georgia, informed
me that these birds arc quite common in that section of country. The nest
is usually built on one of the lower limits of a post-oak, or in a pine sapling,
at a height of from six to twenty feet. They are usually constructed toward
the extremity of the limli, and so far from the trunk as to be very difficult of
access. They are generally built from the middle to the end of May. The
eggs are four in nund)er.
In SoutlicM-n Illinois, according to Mr. TJidgway, the Summer T^edbird
arrives about the 2()th of A]iril, staying until the last of Septemlier. It is
more abundant than the Scarlet Tanager, and imich less retiring in its habits,
444 NOUTll AMERICAN BIRDS.
frequenting the open groves instead of the deeper v/oods and the forests of
tlie bottoni-Jands, being especially attached to the parks and groves within the
towns. From its similarity in appearance, manners, and notes to the Scarlet
TiMiagcr. it is seldom distinguisiied by the connuon people from tiiat bird,
and those who notice the dilTerence in color between the two generally con-
sider this the younger stage of plumage of the black-winged species. Its
song is said to bo somewhat aft^sr the style of the liobin, but in a firmer
tone and more continued, It differs from the song of the P. rubra in being
more vigorous, and delivered in a manner less faltering. Its ordinary note of
anxiety when the nest is api)roached is a i)wn\vdv pa-chip it-tat-tat-tat, very
dillerent from the w(;aker chip'-itf, ra-ree of the F. rubra. The nest is placed
on a low horizontal or drooping branch, near its extremity, the tree being
generally an oak, or sometimes a i)ickory, and situated near the roadside or at
the edge of a grove. In its construction it is described as very thin, though
by no means frail, permitting the eggs to be seen through the interstices
from below. Mr. Kidgway never found m(n'e than three eggs in one nest.
A nest of this sjiecies (Smith. Coll., r.89) from Prairie Mer Itouge, Louisi-
ana, has a diameter of four inches and a height of two. Like all the nests
of this family, the cavity is very shallow, its deepest depiession being hardly
halt an inch. So far from corresponding with the descriptions generally
given of it, this nest is well and even strongly put together, although a por-
tion of the base; and some of tiie external parts are somewhat openly inter-
woven, as if for ventilation. These materials are fragments of plants, cat-
kins, leaves, stems, and grasses. These seem to constitute a distinct part of
the nest, and are of unequal thicknesses in different parts of the structure.
Within this external frame is a much more artistic and elaborately interwo-
ven basket, composed entirely of fine, slender, and dry gras.ses, homogeneous
ill cliaracter, and evidently gathered just at the time its seed was ripening.
It is of a bright straw-yellow, and forms the whole internal portion of tll'e
nest.
The eggs vary somewhat in size and shape, from an oblong to a rounded
oval. Their lengtli is from .80 of an inch to an inch, and their breadth
averages .68. Their color is a bright light ^hade of emerald-green, spotted,
umhhA, dotted, and blotched with various shades of lilac, brownish-purple,
and dark-brown. These are generaUy well diffuseil equally over the entire
eg'g.
Pyranga aestiva, var. cooperi, RincwAv.
P!/r,vn,,, coper i, linuavAV, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Pliihul. June, 1869, p. 130, fig. . -Cooi-ek,
Sp. Cn.ui. Lon?tli, 8.00 (fivsl, .spooimon) ; extent, UM; wiiifr, 4.24; tail, .l.fiS ; cal-
nu-n, .84 ; laisus, .80. JAr/r. C.vurvMy ri,,!, ,,„,,, v,,„„jli„„_ ,,i,„i|,, t„ .,,,„ „f ^,,.^,„^ ,,,,^
n.i^l.t.T, l„.,i.|it.-r tl„ui m ensUTi, ^.x.-unplos, an.l los.s n.sacoous tiian in Central Aniori-
can speuuuena. L'ppur surlaco scarcely darker than lower, the liead above being hardly
TANAGUID.E - TIIJ-; TANAGEUS. ^^g
diilerent n-om the throat, and abruptly light.T tlmn tl>e hack, wluH,, with the vi„.'s
and ta,I .8 of a ,nuch lighter dusky-r...! than m asNva ; ...xposcl ,i,,.s of pri.Marios pun-
slaty-umber, i.rimaries faintly „,arf,'in..d toriuinally with paler (in ti,e lyp,. thi. einr-
acter IS not apparent, owin- to the leathers bein.i,' .somewhat worn; in o,h,.r sp-rimens
however, ,1 is ,pnte a nuti,.eable feature, alti,o„Kh possibly not to be <.n(irely relied on)!
Female Above orange-olivaeeon.s, beneath mor,. lif^d.t yellowish, purest n.e.lially; cris-
suni noher yellow than other lower parts, being in some individ.ials (voun- males?)
nitense Imlian-yellow, with the i.mer webs of the tail-leathers murgi.ied with the sa.ue ;
quite distinet line of oranf;e-yellow over the lores.
Had. Upper Hio Grande and Colorado region of Southern Middle Province; south in
winter, along Pacific coast of Mexico as far as Colinia.
This bird, quite different from Eastern ccstiva, is. however, probably only a
representative form of the .same species in the Colorado ami Upper Hio
Grande region, migrating south in winter, through ^Vcstern Mexico to
Colima, as specimens from Texas and Middle Mexico appear to be quite
intermediate, at least in form.
HABIT.S. This is a new form, whose claim to distinctness was first made
k.,own by Mr. liidgway, in 1800. In appearance, it most resembles the F
(estiva, but IS larger. It has been found in the Middle Province of the United
States, from Fort Mohave at the nortli, to Colinui and Mazatlan in Mexico
Dr. Cooper found this bird quite common near Fort .Afohave, after Ai)ril
25, m the Colorado Valley, latitude :ir/. They chiefly frequented the tall
Cottonwood, feeding on insects, and occasionally Hew down to the Lnrm
bushes after a kind of bee found on them. He states also that they have
a call-note sounding like the words ke-M; which, in the laiigua-e of the
Mojave Indians, signiKes " come here." They sing in a loud, clear "tone and
in a style much like that of the Hobin, but with a power of ventriloquism
which makes the sound appear much more distant than it really is. The
only specimens of this species known to have been obtained in tlie United
States were taken tit Los Pinos, New Mexico, by Dr. Coucs, and at Fort
Mohave by Dr. Cooper. Other specimens have been procured from Western
Mexico.
446 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Family PRINGILLID^. — The Finchks.
Char. Primaries nine. Bill very short, iibruptly eoiiipal, and robust. Commissure
strongly anfrulated at ba.se of bill. Tarsi .icntellate anteriorly, but the si(le.s with two un-
divided plates meeting behind along the median line, as a shar|> posterior ridge. Eyes
hazel or brown, except in Pipilo, where they are reddish or yellowish. Nest and eggs
very variable as to eharacter and situation.
I still labor under the iiialjility e.\pres.se(l in Birds of North America
(p. 400), in 1858, to satisfactorily define and limit the subfamilies and genera
of the Friiit/iKiilce of North America, and can only hope that by the aid of
the figures of the present work no material ditiiculty will be experienced in
determining the species. The distinctions from the allied families are also
difficult to draw with precision. This is especially the case with the
Tana(jrid(r, where we have much the same external anatomy, including the
bill, nearly all the varying peculiarities of this member in the one being
repeated in the other. — S. F. B.
All the United States species may be provisionally divided into four sub-
families (the European House-Sparrow forming a fifth), briefly chaiuuterizable
as follows : —
Coccothraustinse. Bill variable, from enormously large to quite small ; the Lase
of the upper mandible almost always provided with a elose-pressed fringe of bristly
feathers (more or less conspicuous) concealing the nostrils. Wings very long and pointed,
usually one half to one third longer than the forked or emarginate tail. Tarsi short.
Fyrgitinae. Bill robust, swollen, ai-ched above without distinct ridge. Lower mandi-
ble at l)ase narrower than upjier. Nostrils covered ; side of ma.xilla with stiff" appressed
bristles. Tarri short, not longer than middle toe. Tail shorter than the somewhat
pointed wings. Back streaked; under parts not streaked.
Spizellinae. Embracing all the plain-colored sparrow-like species marked with longi-
tudinal stripes. Bill conical, always rather small; both mandibles about equal. Tarsi
lengthened. Wings and tail variable. Lateral clawa never reaching beyond the base of
the midille claw.
Fasserellinee. Sparrow-like species, with triangular spots beneath. Legs, toes, and
claws very stout; the lateral claws reaching nearly to the end of the middle ones.
Spizinae. Brightly colored species, usually without streaks. Bill usually very large
and much curved ; lower mandible wider than the upper. Wings moderately long. Tail
variable.
Subfamily COCCOTHRAUSTINjE. — The true Fixches.
CiiAU. Wings very long and much pointed ; generally one third longer than the more
or less forked tail ; first quill usually neai-ly as long as or longer than the second. Ter-
tiaries but little longer, or equal to the reoondaries, and always much exceeded by the
jiimaries. Bill very variable in .shape and size, the upper mandible, however, .is broad as
the lower ; nostrils rather more lateral than usual; and alw.ays more or less concealed by
a series of small bristly feathers applied along the base of the upper mandible ; no bristles
FRIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 447
at the base of the hill. Feet short and ratlier weak, lliml flaw usually considerably
longer than the middle anterior one ; sonielinieii nearly tlu! same size.
In the preceding diagnosis I have combined a numlier of forms, all agree-
ing in the lengtli and acuteness of the wing, tlio hristly feathoi-s along the
base of the bill, the absence of consiiicuoiis In-i.stles on the sides of the
moutli, and the sliortness of the feet. They are all strongly marked and
briglitly colored birds, and usually btjiong to the more northern regions.
The bill is very variable, even in the same genus, and its shape is to a
considerable extent of specific ratlier than of generic importance. The fringe
of short bristles along tlie base of the bill, concealing tlie nostrils, is not
appreciable in Plrctrophmicn (except in P. nivalis), but the other character-
istics given above are all present. ■
Genera.
A. Bill enormon.>;ly large and .stout ; the lateral outline as long as that of the
skull. Guhnen gently curved.
Colors green, yellow, and black:
Hesperiphona. First quill equal to the second. Wings one half longer
than the tail. Lateral elaw.s equiil, reaching to the base of the middle claw.
Claws nuich curved, ol)tuse ; hinder one but little longer than the middle.
B. Bill smaller, with the eiilmen more or lc.-<s curved; the laterd outline not an
long as the skull. Wings about one third longer than the tail, or a little more ;
first quill shorter than the second. Claws considerably curved and thickened ;
hinder most so, and almost inappreciably longer or even shorter than the middle
anterior one. Tarsus shorter than the middle toes. Lateral toes unequal.
a. Colors red, grni/, and black, never streakrd.
Pyrrhula. Bill excessively swollen ; as broad and as high as long, not half
length of head; upper outline much curved. Tail-coverts covering two thirds
the tail, which is nearly even, middle and hinder claws about equal.
b. Colors red arid gray, or streaked br-own and irhife.
Pinicola. Bill moderately swollen ; longer than high or broad, upper out-
lines much curved ; the lip hooked. Tail-covcrts reaching over basal half of
tail, which is nearly even. Middle claw longer than hind; outer lateral
claw extending beyond base of middle (reaching to it in Pyrrhula and
Carpodarns). 9 and juv. not streaked.
CarpodacuB. Bill variable, always more or less curved and s'vvoUen ; longer
• than high or broad; the tip not hooked. Tail -coverts reaching over two
thirds the tail, which is decidedly forl-ed. Middle and h'nd claw about
equal. 9 and^f/i'. streakeU.
c. Colors black and yellow.
Chrysomitris. Bill nearly straight. Hind claw stouter and more curved,
but scarcely longer than the middle anterior one. Outer lateral toe reaching
a little beyoiul the bas(! of the middle claw ; shorter than the hind toe.
AVings longer and more pointed. Tail quite deeply forked.
C. Hind claw consider.ably longer than the middle anterior one, with about the
same curvature; claws attenuated towards the point, and acute. Lateral toes
about equal. Wings usually almost one half longer than the tail, which is deeply
forked. Tarsus shorter than middle toe.
448
NOiiTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
(I. PnliilK nf mniuh'hlen nvcrlapping.
Curvirostra. Tarsus slidrtcr tlinii middlo toe. IJill much coinprpssed,
floiigiilL- liiluatc, with thi' jioints ci-ossiiifr lik(! tlio liliuli-s of scissors. Cliiwa
very hvrgo ; lateral oxtcndiii;,' iicyoiul the biuse of the middle. Colors red or
gray. Streaked in juv.
h. Points of mandibles not ovcrlrippinr/.
.2BgiothuB. Tarsus equal to the middle toe. Bill very acutely conical ; out-
lines and conuuissure perrectly straight. Lateral toes reacliiuj,' lieyond the
b.vse of the middle one. No ridf,'e on the side of the lower mandible.
Streaked ; a crimson pileum (exce])t in one .species).
Leucoaticte. Culmen sli<;litly deeurved ; commis-sure a little concave.
Bill obtusely conical ; not sharp-pointed. A conspicuous ri(l<,'e on the side
of the lower mandible. Claws large ; the Mvvn] not reaching l)eyond the
base of the middle one. Colors red and brown.
D. Hind claw much the largest; dijcidcdly letss curveil than the middle anterior
one. Tar.sus longer than the middle toe. Lateral toes ecjual; reaching about to
the base of the middle elaw. Hind toe as long or longer than the middle one.
Bill very variable ; .ilway.s more or less curved and blunted. Palate somewhat
tuborculate ; margins of lower jaw much inflexed. Tail slightly cmarginate or
even. Wings oii(> half longer than th(> tail. First quill as long as the second.
Plectrophanes. Colors black and white. With or without rufous nape or
elbows. Much white on tail.
Genus HESPCRIPHONA, Bonap.
HespcHphona, Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XXXI, Sept. 1850, 424. (Type, Fringilla vesper-
tina. )
Oen. Chat?. Bill largest and .stoutest of all the United States fringilline birds. Upper
mandible nnich vaulted ; culmen nearly straight, but arched towards the tip; commissure
concave. Lower jaw very large, but not broader than the upper, nor extending back, as in
iGTIO
1S50T
16770, Hesperiphona ve.iprrlina. 18597, Ciiccolliraiiales i-iilgaris,
Guirara ; considerably lower than the \ipp<'r jaw. Oonys unusually long. Feet .sl-.ort ; tarsus
less than the middle toe ; lateral toes nearly equ.il, and reaching to the b.ose of the mi Idle
Hn.\(i|IJJI).|.; -TIIK KINCIIKS. ,,,,
4 4 'J
:i;;s;::rr;a;: ■;;;::.-:„. ::- :::: s^zv— - -
Tins genus is allin.l to tho Enropoan C.rn,,nv..,.., ....t .limns in wantin.
the curious expansion of the inner secondaries, us sh,.vn in Fi. 18 "f
Spee.es are sai.I to occur in Asia, but we have only two in AnierL -Z
peciihar to Mexico (//. ./..////), the other //. rrs/.rriim.
The Aiuenean species may be tiuis distinguished : —
Species and Varieties.
...>h body ...mcolored, wth n.o,-.. .„• l.ss of u vvllowish ,i„... J> Body
iellowsl, „,oro o hvacoou.s ,.l,.,vo; no .hi,., at has. o(p,.i,nan..s. 9 nSy .. ^
^ .ncvly t.ngod with yellow ; a white .pot at I, J of ,n:u2. £.^Z
eggs unknown. ' '"'"
Lf ^T^Tl^ ^- 'I""' ""^-•■'■-'— ■-•• -if' n .Vllow h-ontal ..,.es-
," i' '•'-^;'-l'-»' P"'"l.- 9. Cown „hnnheons-h,.own ; a du.kv
1. die down s.de of the tlnoat ; upper tail-eoverts tipped with a whke
Yellow- frontal eres.vnt l„oad, as wi.le as ,1,.. l,la..k behind it; inner
webs of terfals partially blaek: seeondarie. an.l inn..- webs „f tail-
feathers tipped with white. /M. X,.,,„ern mountain regions of
United tMates and Ulterior of Hiitish Aineriea vnr res>ert '
Yellow frontal ereseent narrow, less than half as wide as the black '" "'
behind It; inner webs of the tertials without any l,laek; seeondaries
an.l nnier webs of tail-feathers without white tips. IM,, .qonthem
Rocky Mountains of United States, and niouiituiiis of Mexico.
2 aabeUlii.. <?.ITeadentirely blaek. sharply define.1. ? . Crow^" i^J" ^ " " "
wliite tips. JIab. Mountains of Guatemala and Southern Mexico.
Hesperiphona vespertina, Bonap.
EVENING 6B08BEAX.
Frii,gmave.y>a-fi,,o, fooiTli, Annals N..w York Ly,.p,im, N. H. I, „, 1825 g-'n (Snult
^. Mail..). A,.n. Orn. Riog. IV. ,838, ni5 ; V, 23., pi. ..oelxxii .^..i: 'rJ^^
(Uccnihramte.) vcspnihw. Hoy. Sy„. 1828, 113, - In. Am. Orn. II, „1 xv r, -1
llirn„sl,-s vcs,,n-lin.,, .Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 209. _ Am. Bir.ls Am. 111,1841 ni
pi. .-ov,, //,..,yv.n>/,o„„ ,v.sv„.,7/»„. Box. ro,„pt..s I{..n.Ius, X.XXI, Sept. 18.50. 424"-'
UiiM, Birds N. Am 1858, 409. _Co..,.kr & S,vki,,,v, 195. -Co.,n,H, Or,.. C,,,' ,
74. to,cMm.st,s hompavtii, Lk.s.s.)^, Ilh.st. do Z.,i,l. 1834, pi. xx.viv. O (.M,.lvill.' •
slan.l). /.„., ,„.,..pnrtu, T.kss. Bull. S... tab. xxv. ir..pn;>„L rr.,rrZy... Z
pntina, Kii„nvAY (new variety from Mexico and the .southern Uocky Mountuin.s).
1 CoccothmmtesahaUn, S.l.vtku. Oatal. Am. K 123 (Ouiraca abeilUi, Lksson)
57
450
N(»ltTII AMKKICAN IlIIiDS.
Si'. CiiAli. liill xrllowisli-u'ri'cii. cliisl<y iit till' liM-^i'. Aiiti'iiiir liiiir of the liddy iliisky
yi'll(i\vi.<li-()livi'. .>i|iiiiliiijr iiiio yi'lldw Id ilic i'iiiii|i uluivc, hikI ihc uinli'i' lail-cnviTls liclow.
Outer n'iipiiliifs, a bmiul rnnitiil IimimI ciiiiiiinird mi ciicli .■-iili' ovrr lln' eye. iixilliirics, iiml
tlliilillr ol' Ullilcr willfr-ciivcits yellow. I''e:illiels iiliilli,' tlie exil'eliie li,is<' (if (lie liill, the
cniwii, tiliiie, wiiiL's, upper lail-i'oveils, aiiil tail lilaek ; imiei' ;jicaler \\ inf;-<'iivei'ts ami
teitiaries wliite. I,eii.u;lli, T.^H" ; wiliL'. 4.:H» ; tail. li.T").
The leinale dilleis in haviliir the iicail iil' a (lull olivaeeipiis-lil'ciwii, whieii eolor also
friiisses file '"iei<. Tiie yelldW (if the niliip ami nthei' pai'ls is repiaceil hy a yeliowisii-asii.
Tlie ilppef laii-eovells are spiitte(| willi while. Tlie white ot'liie wilif^' is lllileli l-esl|-ii'te(l.
TheiH! is .111 nliseiire liiaeivish liiu! on eaeli .side of the eliiu.
IIaii. ( \ iir. ri's/ii'rliiiti,) I'aeilic eoast to lioei<y Momitains; Xoilliei'ii Aiiieriea east to
Like Superior. (\'ai- iiioiiluiiii.) Southern Hoeky Mountains ol' I'liited States into
Mexieo; Orizalia! (."^ei.ATKii. iMiO, 'J.">1); \'eia t'liiz (alpine legions, lueedinj;) Si-.mkiiuast,
Pr. Host. Sue. I,i>jl) ; (iiiateinala, .Salvin'.
Tlio vniifty \\ itii liroiid I'loiitiil liaiid mid iiicvoased amount of wliitc apjioais
to cliavactemo Northern .specimens, wliilc that with narrow frinitlet and thi;
-=r- «,'r('atest amount of hhick is found in
(Juatemala, Mo.xico, and the .soutliern
liocky ]\Ioiuitains, and may be called
iiitjiifatid.
In .size it is also a little .smaller. Speci-
mens from Mirador (wliero Iweeding) and
those from Xew Mexico are nearly iden-
tical in size, proportions, and colors.
H.visiT.s. This reinarkiible (iio.slteak
was first described by Mr. William Cooper,
from specimens obtained by Mr. Scliool-
craft in A]iril, 182:5, near tlie Sault Sainte
Marie, in Miciiio;an. Sir Joim Itichaid-
son soon after found it to lie a common
inhabitant of the ma]ile gi'oviis on th(i
jilains of the Saskatciiewan, M'here it is
called by the Indians tiie " Snoj-ir-Hird." He states that it fre((uents tlie
liorders of Ljike Superior also, and the ea.;ern declivity of tlie Ivocky Moun-
tains, in latitude ."iii°.
Captain Jjlakistmi did not iiiid this (Jrosl)eak on tiie Saskatciiewan during
the .summer, but only noti<-ed it tliere durino; the winter. He saw none iifter
the 22(1 of A])ril, and not aoaiu until the niicUlle of Novenilier. Tiiey were
seen in company with the I'ine (irosbeak, feeding on the keys of tlie ash-
leaved majile. He tulds tluit it has a sharp clear note in winter, and is an
active bird.
Dr. Cooper, in his Xotes on tlie Zoiilogy of Washington Territory, states
that tills siiecies is a comnioii resident in its forests, but adds that as it fre-
quents the summits of the tallest trees, its habits have been but little
observed. In January, 1804, during a .snow-.storni, a Hock descemled tn some
Hesperiphotia vespertina.
I'llLXdlLLlD.K THE I'LNCIIKS. 45]
low biislies [xt VaiK'niiviT, and Ijcj^iui Ui I'iit tliu seeds. Sineo tlioii ho Imd
uidy se(\ii lliciu tlyiiiu liijili amoiiLi; tlie tops of tlie iK>]ilars, u]>()ii tlie seeds of
wliicli tlit-y I'eed. 'I'liey were iiUeriiij,' tlieir loud, shrill call-notes as tiioy Hew.
Tho .same writer, in his Keport on the birds of Calihmiia, makes mention
of the ocenrrencH! of this (Irosheak at Mieliij,Mn I'hill's, in Placer < 'oiinty, in
about latitude :)!l°. S^iecimens were obtained l)y Mr. V. (Iruber, and were
la'oliably the variety designated as iiinn/niut. The same form doul)tless
occurs along tlai summits ol' tlai .'-^ierra Nevada, and they have been traced
among the Jtocky .Mountains to Fort Tliorn in New Mexico.
These birds do not come down near the sea-coast even at the mouth of
the Cohunbia, and in California have not been met with in the Coa.st Ifaiige
They art; said to feed chieHy on the seeds of the i)ine, spruce, and cotton-
wood trees, occasionally seeking other seeds near tlu^ ground. They are
silent when feeding, but utter a loud call-note as they ily iVoni ))lace to
place. In spring. Dr. Cooper states, they have a short Ijut melodious song,
resembling that of the Kobin or lllaek-headed Crosljeak. He afterwards
met with a tlock in the winter near Santa Cruz, where they remained until
the end of April. Their favorite resort was a small grove of alders and wil-
lows, close to the town, where their loud call-notes could be heard at all
times of the day, though he never heard them sing. In the early spring
their favorite food was the yoiuig leaves of various wild plants that grew
under the trees. They also led on the Imds of tlic Xi(ji'iido, and frecpiented
the large pear-trees in the old mission garden. They were very tame, and
allowed an approach to within a few yards, when feeding. .Mr. Townsend, in
18:i(), found this Grosbeak almndant about the Columbia liiver. Late in
May they were ([uite numerous in the pine woods. They were very unsus-
picious and tame. Under the impression that these birds were only nuisical
towards night, they have been styled the Kvening Grosbeak. But this, ac-
cording to Mr. Townsend, is a misnomer. He also contraviirts several oilier
statements made in rei'erence to their haliits. He found them remarkably
noisy from morning until night, when they (piietly retire like other l)irds,
and are not heard from until the next day-dawn. They go in large Hocks,
and are rarely met with singly. As they feed upon the s(!eds of the i>ine and
other trees, thoy ])roceed by u succession of hops to the extremities of the
branches. They also i'eed largely on the larv.e of the large black ant, for
which object they frequent the to])s of the low oaks on the edges of the
forests. Their ordinary voice is said to be a single screaming note, uttered
while feeding. At times, about midday, the male attemjits a song, which Mr.
Townsend descriljes as a miserable failure. It is a single note, a warbling
cidl like the first note of the Kobin, Init not .so sweet, and suddenly checked,
as if the ])erformer were out of breath.
Mr. Sumichrast met with the viiriety of this species designated as mmitana,
May, ISoT, in the pine woods of Monte Alto, about twelve leagues from
Mexico ; and although he has never found it in the alpine region of Vera
452 NORTH AMKPJCAN BIRDS.
Cruz, lie thinks it lu'olmble it will be fimiid to be a resident of that dis-
trict.
Liike Superior has been stated to be its most eastern point of (jccurrenct ,
but, though this may lie true as a general rule, several instances of the
acciilental appearance of this nomadic species nnich farther to the east are
known. On P\'bruary 14, 1871, Mr. Kundien, while out in the woods with
his son, saw a small Hock of these birds in Dane County, Wisconsin. There
were six of them, but, having no gun, he did not procure any. Later in the
season he again met with and secured siiecimens. In the following March,
Dr. Hoy of liacine also obtained several near that city. He also inlbrms me
that during the winter of 1870-71 there were large Hocks of these birds
near Freejwrt, 111. One ])erson procured twenty-four sjiecimens. One season
he noticed them as late as May. They fretiuent the maple wood.s, and feed
on the seeds fallen on the ground. They also eat the buds of the wild cherry.
Their visits are made at irregular intervals. In some years not a single indi-
vidual can be seen, while in others they make their appearance in December
and continue through the whole winter.
Specimens have also been obtained near Cleveland, Ohio, and at Hamilton,
Canada ; and Mr. Thomas Mcllwraith states that Mr. T. J. Cottle of Wood-
stock, Ontario, shot several of those birds in his orchard in the month of
May. They were quite numerous, and remained about the place several
days.
Gkmts PINICOLA, Vikiu.
I'ininild, ViEiM.or, Ois. .\iii. Si'iit. I, ISd", 4, |il. i, 1'. la.
'•Slnibiliijihiiyii, Vikili.ipt, .\iiiil.vsi', ]S]il
"Ciiriil/iiis, CrviKii, 1{. All. 1817."
CliAii. Hill slidit. noai'ly iis liiirli a.slonjr; upper oiitlino imu.'li oiirvcil (Voiii tlio linso ;
tlio iiiiir^'iiis of till- iiiiiii(lilili's idiiiidi'd ; the coiiiiiiissuro gently eoiicave, and abniplly clcr-
He.xed at tlie tip; liase of tlie iijiper iiiaii<lilile iinieli eoneealed by tlio bri.-stly feattier.-i eov-
ciiii},' tlie liasal tliinl. Tarsus rather .sliorter than the middle too ; Iiiter.il toes .short, Imt.
their long claws reach the ba.so of the middle one, which is longer than the hind claw.
Wings moderate ; the lirsl cpiili rather shorter than the .second, third, and Ibiirth. Tail
rather shorter than the wings ; nearly even.
Of this genus one sjiccies is found in nortliern America, and is now pon-
dered
World.
sidered as identi^uil with that lielongiug to the northern regions of the Old
KKI XU ILLI D.E — THE FINCHES.
453
Pinicola enucleator, cahams.
THE PINE GROSBEAK.
Cvcco/hnuis/i'
./»•„»*,, „,„mfc„,s/,s |lK..ss.,N, On,. Ill, U,iO, ,>nO, ,,1. xii, f. 3. "Conif/u,. no,.,!a,s-l,,
l.ia-.HM, \„g..l nriltsrhl«„,ls"(lS31 /). /'/««„/» w,„„/,,,.s/.v, Cauams, Mus \U'in lx',1
«cix. -15''N. & Scn,.K.iic.„ Mo„, ,K.s I.uxi.ns, ]S;;o. !., ,.1. ix, xi, xii. --1),.:,„,ax,: &
(.KUMK, Orn. Kur,.,,. I, -^hS. /v»/,W„ e»»<Vm^«,. t'AiiAMs, Mus. Ilci,.. I, ]8r,l, 107.
Sp.Cau. Bill .,,,1 k..s l,!...k. J/,,/,.. Go.u.rnl ..olor li.ht ,.anniMo-n.,l or rose not
cou.muous alH.v.., however, ex.rept on the head; the leathers showin,^ hn.unish eei.tre
on the haek, wh..,e, too, M.e re.l is darker. Loral region, has,, of lower jaw all ro,n„l, si.les
(under the wnij;), abdomen, and posterior part of the bclv. with nnd,', tail-.-overts ashy
Pinirofn rvurffnfnt.
whitest behind. Win? with two white ban.ls across the lips of the greater and ini.Mle
coverts; the outer edjres of the (piills also white, broadest on the t.^rliaries. on s Midarics
tni.ired with red. Fewale ashy, brownish above, tiiifred with Jireenish-yellow beneath-
top of he.ad, rump, and tip]ier tail-e,,ver(s brownish frainbo<;-e-vel]ow. \Vin"s nnieh as in
tiio male. Len-th abont 8.r,(l ; win- 4.oO ; tail. 4.(1(1. y,un,;,'\\\<v leinale, but more a.shy.
Haii. Aretic America, south to I'liited States in .severe winters.
A careful conipurison of Aincricnn with iMn-opomi sjjocimeii.s of tlie Tiiic
(!msl)eak does not i.ro.sciit any taii,irihl,. p.iint, of (li,stii,cti..M, aiul it iii.|i('ar,s
inexpedient to preserve tlie name of nuioilnisis for the l,inl of the Xew
World. There is considerable ditlereiice in (lie si/.e, the proportions of the
l)ill, and the color of dilferent specimens, l.ut nom^ of apprecial.le geojiraph-
ical value.
454
NoliTll AMKUK'AN lilliDS.
PiiiUola tnucUnlor.
A considornlile niimliei' nl' sin'ciiiicns fniiii KiMliak (jiorlKips to I)i> foniid in
otliei' localities on tlu; iioi'tliwc' coast) L'oinpun'd with iMsteni have coiispic-
uously laryer l)ill.s, almost t'(|ual to nrrdiiiK/is in this rospect. In No. r»4,4l>r)
tlic. lon.irtii tVuni luroliead is .SO ; from no.stril, .oO ; from ^aju', .))(! : Ljonys, .40 ;
greatest depth, ..")!. lu ,i l>rooklyn
skin (ll',84()) the same measiiiements
are from forehead, .OO; from nostril,
.44 ; from gajje, .GO ; gonys, .:\4 ; great-
est deptli, .40. A Saskatchewan skin
is intermediate. A European s])eci-
nien has the hill as long as that from
Kodiak, but less swollen. A Hima-
layan species ((.'. atihliiindrluth'tt) is
nuicli smallei', and dilferently coh)red.
Tliese Kodiak si)ecimens ap})roach
the Kurofjcan l)ird more nearly in
form of the hill, in which there is a
tendency to a more ahrui)tly hooked
upper niandihlo than in the birds
from the eastern jiortions of British
America. As a general thing, the
reil tint is lirighter in American thai in European birds.
H.viiiT.-;. The i'ine (irosbeak is, to a large extent, a resident of the por-
tions of North America north of the United States. In the northern pai'ta
of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and ^Nlaine, as well as in western
America, it is found throughout the ycai' in the dark evergreen lon^sts. In
the winter it is an irregular visitant as far soutii as I'iiiladelithia, being in
some seasons very abundant, and again for .several winters (juite rare.
jNFr. I'oardman mentions it as abiuidant, in the winter, aliout Calais, mid
Mr. Verrill gives it as (piito common in the vicinity of Norway. It is
found every winter more or less freipiently in Eastern IMassachusetts, though
]\Ir. Allen regards it as rare in the vicinity of Sj)ringfield. It is not cited
by Dr. Cooper as a bird of Washington Territory, Imt he mentions it as
not nncommon near tiie summits of the Sierra Nevada, latitude .'VJ°, in Sep-
tendier. It proliably breeds there, as he found two birds in that region in
the young plumage. They were feeding on si)ruc(i .seeds when lie first saw
tlieni, and lingered even alter their compuiions had 1)een sliot, and allowed
him to apju'oacli witlun a few fet't of tliem.
Mr. li. Lirown (ll)is, 18(')<S) states that during the winter of liSllO, while
snow was lying on the ground, two pairs of this species were siiot at Fort
Hupert, \'anconver Island.
Wilson met witli occasional specimens of the.se birds in the vicinity of
Philadeli)iiia, generally in immature jilmnage, and kept one several months,
to note any cluinge in its plumage. In the summer it h)st all its red colora
FRINGILLIU.K — THE KI NCI IKS, 455
anfl liecame of a jivi'ciiisli-vellnw. Tii ^Liy and Juno, its sont;, tlioujili
not so loud as that of sonii; liirds, was i-xircniely <'k'ar, nu'Uow, and sweet.
Tliis sonj;' it warbled out lor the wliole niornin<f, and also imitated the notes
of a Cardinal, that hun.u' near it. II liecaiiiu exeeedin^dy tame and laniitiar,
and when in want of loud or water, uttered a eontinual melanelioly and
anxious note.
In the winter of IR'M], and for several i'ollowino; seasons, tliese lards were
exceedingly abundant in tlie vieinity of lioston. Tliey a[)]ieared early in
Decendier, and remained until (piite late in ^lareh, I'eeding ehieily cai the
berries of the red cedar. They were .so un.su.specting and iamiliar that it was
often possilile to capture them alive in butterfly-nets, and to knoek them down
with poles. Large numbers were destroyed and brought to market, and many
were taken alive anil caged. They were tame, but uidiap]iy in confinement,
uttering mournful cries as the warm weather ajtproaclied. In the winter
of 1S(V,l-70 they again made tlieir appearance in extraowlinary nundicrs,
in a few localities on the sea-coast of Massachusetts, where they ilid con-
siilerable damage to the fruit-buds of the ajtple and ]iear.
Sir John Jtichardson states tjait this bird was not observed by his ex])cdi-
tion higher than the (JOtli parallel. Itlives, for the most part, a very retired
life, in the deepest recesses of the pine forests, where it passes the entire
year, having been found by Mr. Drage, near York Fort, on the '2Mh of Janu-
ary, 1.747. INchardson adds that it Iniilds its nest on tin; hjwer branches of
trees, and feeds chielly on the seeds o( tlie white spruce.
J)r. Cones speaks of it as not at all rare along the coast of T-abrador, where
he obtained several specimens. It was confined entirely to the thick woods
and patches of scrubby Juin])er. A female ri'mained unconcernedly on a
twig after he hail shot her mate, uttering continually a low soft s/h/i, like
that of the Fox-colored S])arrow. Another note Mas a jn-olonged whirring
chirrup, uttered in a rather low tone, apjiarently a note of recognition.
A lady resident in Xewfcamdland informed Mr. Aiidulion thai she had
kept several of these (Irosbeaks in confinement, that they soon became very
familiar, would sing during the night, feeding, during the summer, on all
kinds of fruit and berries, and in the winter on different seeds. Mr. Audu-
bon also often observed that, when tiring at one of their number, the others,
instead of Hying away, would umve towards him, often to within a few feet,
and remain on the U)wer liranciies of tiie trees, ga/ing at him in curiosity,
entirely unmingled with any sense of their own dangiir. Mr. Audulmn ip\'ites
from Mr. ^leCuIloch, of I'ictou, an iutere.sting account of the habits of one
of these birds, kept in confinement. The winter had been very severe, the
storms violent, and, in con.seiiucnce of the depth of snow, many birds had
l)erished frcmi hunger and cold. The (irosbeaks, driven from the woods,
sought food around the barns and outhouses, and crowded the streets of
I'ictou. One of these, taken in a starving ciaidition, soon became .so lame as
to feed from his hand, lived at large in his chamber, and would awaken him
45(i N'OUTII AMHKICAN lUHDHl.
t
caily in the inoriiiiij;- to rocLMve liis iillowimce of soecl. As s])riiijr approacliod,
lie li('<iaii to wliisilu in tlio morning, ami his notes were exceediii.ulv rich and
I'nll. As the time eame when his mates were movin.ij' north, iiis familiarity
iitiivly disaji|ieared, and he soiiglit constantly, liy day and hy nii,dit, to escape
l>y dashinif against the window-panes, and dnring the day filled the house
with his i)iteous wailing cries, refusing his food, so that in pity he was let
out. Hut no sooner was he thus reli^ased than he seemed inditferent to the
privilege, and kept about the door so jH'rsistently that he had at last to be
driven away, lest some accident should befall lu!u.
The I'iiK" (iroslieaks were found by nisehofl' at Sitka and at Kodiak, and
are said by :Mr. Dall to be extremely common near Xulato, and wherever
there are trees throMglnait the Yukon Territory. They treijuent groves of
vvillow and jjoplar, near open jilaces, and c-ipecially tiie water-side in winter,
and in summer seek more retired places for bree<ling. Their crops, when
oi)ened, were alway? found to i-oMtain the hearts of the buds of po])lars, with
the external coverings carefully rejected, and were never found to include
anything else. Mr. J )all noticed no song, only a twitter and a long chirp. He
found tliem excellent as an article of food. Euro])ean eggs of this bird, taken
by Mr. Wolley in Kinland in IS.kS, are of an oblong-oval shape, and have a
light slate-colored ground with a marked tinge of greenish, broadly marked
and plashed with faint, subdued cloudy ])atches of brownish-purple, and spar-
ingly spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with blackish-brown and dark purj)le.
They nu'asure 1.02 inche.--. in length by .70 in breadth.
Xo positively identified eggs of the American I'ine Orosbeak are as
yet known in collections, but ^Ir. lioardman has found a nest, near Calais,
about which there can be little doulit, although the parent was not seen.
This was ]ilaced in an alder-bush in a wet meadow, and was about four
feet from the ground. It was compo.sed entirely of coarse green mosses.
The eggs were two, and were not distinguisimble from those of the
European oiudintor.
(Jkxus PYRRHULA, I'.Mj.As.
I'urrhuhi, " Ufus.son, Orn. 1760." P.\ij,as.
Grx. Cii.vK. fiill very slioit iiinl thick, liiirher than loiifr, .«wolIoii. Lower jaw broader
lit hiisc than upixTJaw, ,iii(i 1' nadrr than lriiijl]i or,iroiiy,«. Nostril.^; .ami hasc'of inaiidililo
foiK.valcd hy a thick lid> .alhcr xo[\ rcatlier,>^. Tail ii.'ai-ly oven, .xlinrlei- than tlie
l^oinied winir,-* ; iippor eovui., roacliing over nearly two tliii'ds liie tail. Mi.ldle and hind
claws alioiit c(|iial.
This genus is clo.sely related fo /'iulm/ii, but has a more swollen ami much
shoi'ter bill, the lower jaw dispro])ortionately larger, and wider than long along
gonys, instead of being about e.|ual. The nasal tuft is thicker and more
feathery and hiSs bristly than in J'i/ncola. The upper tail-coverts are much
FKINGJ LLID.E - THE FlXCIIEs
457
l^nser. the tail l.ss nna.^inate. father d (loroncos exist in the grooves and
i.s .luout equiiJ to Imid elaw ;
not longer, as in J'inieola.
'Hm'^iinuHl'i/rrhiila ;san Old
World one ; extending aeniss
i'roni tiie Atlantic to the Pacific,
six or eiglit s])(ujies or varieties
lieing recognized ])y naturalists.
All have the luick ash-coloretl ;
the wings and tail, with to]) of
head, lustrous Mack ; the under
parts asli, generally witli \ci'- P„rr/„„„ „,„,•„;.
rnalion on the cheeks and chin, son.et.ues extending over the .hole under
sinlace, the nunp and crissunr white : the females sinnlar, hut laekin.^ the
vennihon. Its .ntroduetion into the Xorth An^erican fauna rests on the col-
lecting I,y the naturalists of the Russian Telegraph Expedition in Alaska of
a specunen which -if a full-plun.aged nude, as stated - dillers from all of
Its cougeuers lu the entire absence of any vermilion tint.
Pyrrhula cassini, Baikd.
CASSIN'S BTTLLFINCH.
P. cnr,;;,ca, var. <».«/»/, nAiia., Tmns. ('hiniK-., A.. S... I. ISO!., ii, p. 316 - Dvu &
Baxnistkh, T-.n,i,. a. 1 18.;!., .S, (Alaska). ,, ...,,, T.a.' ham. Ibis, 187^
2J1.— FiNscii, Onufh. X. W. Am(-iika.s, 1S7-J, 54.
Sp. C„ a,;^ D...,.,ipli„„ of spoein.,.,, Xo. 40,055 : Tpp.,. pa,-,. ..U..,- ash-prav, as are tl.c
alula, and ll,o kvsser an,l nii,l<llo ......o.i.la.j an.l tlu. priai.ury wi„o-,.ovorLs. TJihIo.- parts
aiiU the siilcs (iflicad I'innaiiioii-MTav ; the
iiisitlo (if wiiiu-s anil axillars, anal rVo-ien
(ibia. ci-issnni, and rinnp wliili'; wini;s
and tail, indndinu- upper tail-i'ovcrl.s tlie
entire top of liead (lo level of eyes), the
ha.«e of hill all round, and llio chin, lus-
trous violet -lilaok, Oreateiwinp-ooverts
I'laek-, will, a li,-oad baud of ashy-white
acoss the ends; outer ])riniaries, exter-
nally, with a narrow boi-der of frravish-
while near the ends; iinier edges suf-
fused with the same. Outer tail-feathers
tcrminil half .,1„„„- ,1 > i n i . . , • ^^''"' "" '''""f-'^f'''' P-i''''' '^1" ""hite in the'
tcrnunal half ,.lo„n ,l,o shah, but not .-ear-hin. ,|,o ,ip. Bin ,,,„,,, ; li.et dnskv
Din.ens.ons (prepared speei.nen) : Total length. 0.50; wiu^r, ;5.55 ; tail, ;).25' Evpo...]
1^.- .on o„,.st pr,n.ary, 2m. 1.11 : Len„h tron. (o.-ehead. .44 ; from nostril, '.S^T^'
laKsu.s, wo; elaw alone, .20 ; hind toe and claw, .45 ; elaw alone ."5
58
•158 North American hirds.
No. 49,!)o'), luliilt male. Niiliit.i, Yiikdii River, Alaskii. January 10, 18G7. W. 11.
Dali, (No. ■).'.;!)•
Tl»e specimen referred ti) above is the first record of the occurrence in
America of a genus heretofore considered iis ));!h)n>fiug exclusively to the
Old World.
Tliis hird was described in 1809 as a possible; variety of P. coicinca of
Europe. On sul)mittiiig the typical s])ecimens to Mr. H. B. Tristram of
England, it was decided to be a well-mai ked and distinct species, as ex-
plained in till! lolldwing extract from a letter received from him.
"The coloration of the back is the .same as in males of P. coecinea and
P. riihicilla,{im\ diilers from the coloration of the 9 in fill three sj)ecies. In
all the 9 has the back brown instead of slate-colored. Your bird, however,
dilfers from P. cocciiicn in having the under parts of the same cohn' as the ^
of P. griscivintrls with a slightly redder hue on the flanks, while P. eoccinca
is a brilliant blazing red. In this your bird is like P. mwina of the Azores,
but that has no white on the rump.
" Nor can it be ^ juv. of P. cocci imt, because it has the black head, and the
young assumes the black head and red breast sinniltiineously, or rather the
red begins first. It diilers from P. uipaleims in having a black head and
broatl white rump, as well as in size."
Dr. O. Finsch, of Bremen, agrees with Mr. Tristram in considering it as
specifically distinct, and says that the long white shaft -streak on the outer-
most tail-feather is to be considered as one of the peculiar characters, and
that in general it resembles the female of P. griscivcntris, Lxvii., but differs
in having the back beautiful ash-gray.
HAiU'r.s. This new species of Bullfinch, having a close resemblance to the
P. eoccinca of Eurojie, was obtained by Mr. iJall, near Nulato, Alaska, January
10, 1807. An Indian brought it in alive, but badly wounded, having shot it
from a small tree near the fort. He had never seen anything like it before,
nor had any of the liussians. Captain Everett Smith had, however, met with
several flocks of the same species near Ulukiik. This sj)eciim'n was a male,
with black eyes, feet, and bill, ami was the only bird of the kind met with
by Mr. Dall.
In size it is a'.iout equal to F. eoccinca, which is now quite generally con-
sidered to be simply a large race of the common riuUtinch {P. vu/f/aris), and
the haliits of the American bird are doubtless similar to those of its c(m-
geners. The Euroj)ean races inhabit tlu; mountainous regions of Northern
and Central Europe, apjiearing in large flocks in December and January in
the more southern regions. In their return in sjiring to their summer (piar-
ters, they move in siuailcr numbers. They nest in the mountain forests, on
trees or bushes. Their nest is usually but a few feet from the ground, is
beautifully wrought in a cup shape, made externally of small twigs, blades of
grass, and rootlets, lined with coarse hair. The)' lay five eggs, the ground-
color of which shades from a light blue to a bluish or a greenish white, with
FHINGILLIU.K - THE FIXCIIES.
459
brown anil violot-colored s])f)t,s, tliat usually form a rinjr aronnd the larj^i^r
end. Tiioir I'ood is grain and small seeds, and, in sprinj^, the Inids of certain
trees.
The P>ulllinch is a favorite cai;e-bird, soon reconciled to cont^.ncment, and
capable of bein-^ taught to whistle whole airs of opera music with wonderful
exactness and beauty.
Genus CARPODACUS, Kaup.
Ctirimlacu.1, Kaii', "Kiitw. Euioi.. Tlii.Tw. 1820." (Tyiie, Loxiti n-jithrimi, I'ali..)
ErijthroKpixd, Bonapautk, Sai,'Kio di una (list. met. 1831.
llmmori-hous, Swainson, Class. Hiids, II, 1837, •!<.)'>. (V\\w, Frlmjilla jmrjuom, Cmki.ix.)
Ciiah. Bill short, stout, vaulted ; the culinen duoiirvi'd towuids tlio oiul ; the i;otniiii.ssiu-e
nearly straii;lit to the .'ilijflitly deeurved
end. A .'slight development of hristly
feathers along the sides of the liill, oon-
cealing the nostrils. Tarsus .shorter
than the middle toe ; lateral elaws
reaching to the base of the middle one.
Claw of hind toe nnioh curved, smaller
than the middle one, and rather le.is
than the digital portion. Wings long
and pointed, reaching to the middh^ of
the tail, which is considerably shorter
than tlie wing, and moderately forked.
Colors red, or red and brown. FemitJe
with the red rejilaced by brown. Carpodncus fmitnih
The genus Carpodacii.% including the American Purple Finches, is com-
posed of sjiecies the males of which are more or less red in full ])lumagc,
while the females are broM-n-streaked. They are spread o\er Xorth America,
and species also occur m considerable numbers in Northern Europe and
Asia.
Species and Varieties.
A. Culinen only slightly curved. Tail and wing feathers edged with reddish in
tlic male.
a. (J. Crown much I)righter purple than the rump or throat. ?. Without
lighter superoral and ma.\illary stripes, the whole head being pretty uni-
formly streaked.
1. C. caasini. ^. Crown bright crimson; re.st of head, bren.st, rump,
etc., much lighter purple-pink; hurer tdil-mverfu irilh a shaft line nf
(Imhj. Hab. Mountain regions of the Middle Province, .south, through
the table-lauds and alpine regions of Mexico, to Mirador.
h. $. Crown scarcely brighter purple than tlie rump or throat. 9. With
conspicuous superoi'al and ma.xillary strii>es.
2. C. purpureuB. Ciown purjile ; rest of head, briMst, rump, etc.,
nearly similar in tint; hirer tuil-coverh withoiit dn.sky shaft-lines.
Purple tints of a rosy carmine cast ; first quill longer tlian the
fourth. Hah. Eastern Province of Xorth America . \ar. j) u r j> 11 r r n .1 .
460 NORTH A.vIEKICAX lUIlDS.
Purple tints of a (laikci' piirplisli-mse ciust ; first (luill slioricr than
tliu fdiulli. Ifith. I'iiciliclVoviiico ol' North AniiM-ica Viir. r„li /•» r iii c us.
B. Culmon niurh ourvcd. Tail and wii ;,' Coathois (•(1i,'i,m1 with jfravish in ilie
male.
;i. C. frontalis. ^. l-. '-onlal and superciliary hand ol' (•linison; a
patch of same on the rump, and another on tlic tinoat u.id juguliim ; ah-
donicn and crissum streaked with dn.sky.
$■ Hcd restricted to tiie ])orti(ins mentioned ahove.
Ih'd of ,\n inten.-ic carmine tint, sharply defined, and stri(;tly
restricted within the limits indicated. Uab. I'latoan vT Mexico
var. /( IV m i> r rho iin .'
Red of a lighter carmine, and with a irreator or less tendencv
to e.^^cape its liouudaries. //nb. Middle I'rovinee of the I'nited
S'"'^'S ynv. fro Ufa I is.
i- Red not restricted, hut .spiead over tlu; erown, lingeinj;' the
back and other poi'tion.'*, exceptinj; wings and tail.
Red tint varying iiom scarlet to wine-red. Hah. Taeific
Province of Uniteil State.s, including the peninsula of Lower
Cal'fo'-iii'i vm: rhodocolpus.
Carpodacus cassini, ]'.aird.
CASSIN'S PURPLE nKCH.
Cariwdacus camui, U.uiii., Pr. A. X. S. Philad. VII, .Time, ISM, 110 ; Birds, N. Am. 1858,
414, pi. x.vvii, f. 1. _ Lo,t„, Pr. ]{, a. Inst, iv, 18.14, 11!) (Mr. Col. hftwwii Rocky
Mts. and Cascades). - Kk.nnkuly, P. 1{. 1{. X, pi. xxvii, f. 1. — Coopkh, Orn. Cal. I,
Iflu.
Si>. Cn.Mt. Larger than C. imrpurfus. Bill, .n.", of an inch above. Second an.l third
qudls longest ; first longer than fourth. AMe. Above x^.^V- grayish-brown, the (Withers
streaked with darker brown, and with only an occasional gloss of reddish, except on the
erown, which is unilbrm deep crimson, and on the rnmp. Sides of the head and neek
throat, ami upper part of brea.st with mini), pale "-osi-color : rest of under parts white'
very faintly an.l sparsely streaked with brown. Fanale witlmut any re.l. an.l streaked on
the he.id ami nn.l.'r ii.arts with biwvn. Length, ().50; wing, ;{.(i(); tail, L'.CIO.
Hah. Mountain.ms regions of Mi.ldle Province of Uniteil St.it.-s. fi-om R.i.^ky Moun-
tains to S.erra Nevada. Rritish Columbia (Lorn.). City of Mexico (Sclatku k Salv.n
1869, 3G2). Breeils in pine region of Mt. Orizaba.
This .species, tlioiioh somewhat resembling C. pin-pumis, may be easily
ilistingiiislied from it l)y tiie streake.l lower tail-coverts (of both'se.ves), ami
by tlie pileum being much more intensely red than any other portion in
the male. The female resembles more iu markings that of fronfa/is, but
has an entirely different shajted bill, and is mucli larger; the 'streaks above
very con.spicuoiis, instead of nearly obsolete. The side of the head lacks
the conspicuous liglit and dark l.mgitudinal areas observable in pi>rp»reus.
The young of both sexes resemble the adult female, but the streaks are
> Carpodacus frmiMh, var. /uvmon-hoii.i, Carpodacm hwmorrhous, Sclateh, P. Z. S. 185G
304. (Fringilla hceiiwrr/ioiis, Liciir. Vciz. 1831.) '
FUINKIIJ.IDJ'; — TIIK FIXCIIKS.
461
Carpof/nrus frontnlis.
less sliar])ly dcfiiu'd, and the \viiig-featliL'r,s av(> l.ioadlv ed-jed with light
oartli-liiowu.
Ill auluiim and winter, as in all the other si)ecios, tho rod tints aro softer
and mori' juiriilisli liian in spiiiii; md suiana'r.
ir.\iiirs. Tas.sin'.s l'iu'i>lu Finfii is tiiu largest of tho American birds of
this gi'iHis, and is jiot only consi)icuously
diilerent I'roni all in size, but also othor
resiKH'ts. It is found lietween tho ■•roivu Cen-
tral I'lains and tho coast ranj^'o of mountains,
being Olio of tho common Iiirds of ('(dorado,
Utah, Nevada, and Kastorn Cidifornia. J)r.
Coojier found these liirds in largo numbers
about Lake Talioe in California. They were
ixll in their brown jdumago, and seemed so
much like the C. vafi/urnirHs in their habits
that he mistook them for that siiecies. lie
noticed in them a very peculiar call-note as
they (lew, reminding him of that of J'l/raiif/a,
and quite different from the other Varpoduci. The song of these Itirds,
as he afterwards heard it, was much louder and finer than that of C. cali-
fornirus, and more original in style. Ho is not familiar with their other
haliits, and has never mot with them in the Colorado N'alloy. They have
been iirocurod from Fort Thorne, I'ueblo Creek, and Alber-iuonnie, New
jMexico. Mr. IJidgway met with these birds in the AVahsatch :^[ountains,
Juno 20, 1809, in I'arley's Tark, I'tah, where ho found them breeding!
Their nest was in the top of a cottonwood-treo near the canon stream, about
forty feet from the ground. It is a soft liomogenof)us structure, Hattened in
shajie, and with only a slight depression. It is compo.sed principally of roots
and twigs, lined with softer materials of the same, i liters] )ersed with moss,
cott<jn, and other soft substances. It is two inches in luMght with a width
of four and a half inches. The cavity is about an inch deep.
Ill his Keport on the Iiirds of Mr. King's survey, Mr. IJidgway states that
ho found this Linnet in the greatest abundance among the ](iiies of the Sierra
Nevada, near Carson City. It Avas next seen among the cedars and nut-] tines
of the East Humboldt Mountains, and again in the pine woods and cotton-
wood-troos along tho streams on the Walisatch Mountains. It breeds in all
these localities, and is in its habits essentially, though not exclusively, resi-
dent among the pines. March 21, 18(J8, :Mr. Hidgway observed flocks of
these birds near Carson City. They were found in every portion of the
woods, feeding among the branches of the pine-trees. They were all in full
song, the females as well as the males. A week later ho again found them
common among the isolated pines in the fields at the foot of the Sierras,
alighting on the trees in companies. Their notes resemble the song of the C.
purpurcns, but are finer and more musical. They have a great resemblance
402 NORTH AMKKK'AN lilKDS.
to tlio warDliii<,'s of the Vino Jlnri/nnis, Imt tlic piissiij^t's in its snn^ as much
cxcol tliosc of till' Viivo ill swcctiii'ss us llicy iiiu .siir|iiissLMl in ridiiit'sis by
thi) Wiirhliii^s of tiic liitlor. WIkmi oho of two friiiiilcs of this siK'cics liad
bi'i'u killcil, tlit^ survivor, missiiij,' licr i'oiii|niiiioii, rclunied iiiiiiu'diiiluly to
thi; tiHM! 1111(1 hojipi'd from lininch to liriiiK'h, ami tlicii ali,i,diti'd on the <,'ronnd
l>y till! sidi! of lior doad associatt', laiiicnting lu'r in swert and iilaiiitivo erica.
r>y the 4th of April tlii' piiir-tivi'S about Carson City were alivu with
tliest) handsome iiirds, all of whom were in full soiii,'. So many were singing
sinuiltancuusly that the ulioriis was almost deafoning, yet was most exiiuisitely
p] easing.
The nests of tliis bird were found liy ^fr. Ii'idgway in various situations,
such as a bo.\-elder bush, the tops of eottinnvooil and aspen trees, and simi-
lar situations. The eggs, four in number, are in size .82 by .03 of an inch,
oval in shape, pointed at the smaller end, of a light bluish-green ground, dot-
ted around the larger end with slate, lilac, and a blaekish-brown.
.Specimens were ol)tained by Dr. Sartoriii.s, during the breeding-season
(June, 18()4), in the ])ine f<irests of Mt. Orizaba. A careful comparison
shows no difl'erence from birds procured in the same month in Nevada.
Carpodacus purpureas, Gray.
EASTERN PUBPLE HNCH.
FrmjiUa iuirpurea, Omki.is, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 923. — WlL.sn.v, Am. Oiii. I, 1808, 119,
pi. vii, f. 4. — III. V, 1812, 87, pi. .\lii, f. 3. — Am. Orn. Miof?. I, 1831, 24; V, 200,
pi. iv. JftviiKirrliiiKs jiiirjiiircii, SwainsdS", liinls, II, 1837, 295. Ei'iilhrnspiza pur-
purea, ViV. List, 1838. — Aril. Birds .Vm. HI, 1811, 170, pi. cxcvi. Carpmhtciia pur-
punus, (iiiAv's fienorn, 1844-49. — Bon. k Sciii.F.dKL, Moii. des Loxipiis, 14, tub. xv.
— Haiud, Birds X. Am. 18."i8, 412. — iSAMVni.s, Birds N. Kii}?. 285. ! Liu- in violacm,
Ll.NS. .Sy.st. Nat. 17»i<5, 300, 43. (Very uiiccrtain.) Purple Fiuch, C'atksuy, Pkn-
NANT, Latii. Ifriii/i-J!iri/, Bartua.m.
Sp. CiiAit. Second ([uill longest ; (irst shorter than third, considerably longer thnn the
fourth. J{ody erim.soii, pale.-st on the rump and breast, darkest across the middle of back
and wing-eovert.s, where the feathcr.s have dusky centn's. The red extends below coii-
tinuonsly to the lower part of the breast, and in si)ots to the tibiie. The belly and under
tail-covcrts white, streaked faintly with brown, except in the very middle. Edges of
wings and tail-feathers brownisli-red ; les.ser coverts like the back. Two reddish bands
across the wings (over the ends of the middle and greater coverts). Lores dull grayi.sh.
Length, 0.2.') inches; wing, ;5.;U; tail, 2.r)0; bill above, .4(5. Female. Olivaceous-brown
above; brighter on the rninp. IJeiie.ath wliite; all the feathers everywhere streaked w^ith
brown, except on the middle of the belly and under coverts. A superciliary light stripe.
Had. North America, I'rom Atlantic to the high Central Plains.
Habits. The Purple Finch is a common species from Georgia to the
plains of the Saskatchewan, and as far west ius the Great I'lains, 1)eyond which
it seems to be replticed by another race, or closely allied s]iecies. It breeds
from about latitude 40° to perhaps 60°, and in most parts between these
FU1N(.11I,LIU.K-T11H I'lNCllES. 40ij
])arivllols is ii nitliiT (•uimnoii liinl in siiitiihlo iDculitics. A fuw am (tcciisidii-
iilly loiiiul (liiiiiii; till! wiiitiT ill MiissaciiiiscUs, Imt usually tlit'V all jiass i'ar-
tlier siailli. In the Statu of Suiilli Cainliiia Lliry aro csin'cially abundant
throuj;liiait the winter, nr I'nan Octtiliui' \intil April.
l)r. Coui'S states that the rurpli' Finch is a very alaindant winter resident
near Washiiij^tun, arriviii;,' early in Octoher and reiuainiii;;' until May, beiiij,'
eminently gregarious. Stragglers were .seen until nearly .lune, luit the major-
ity had de])arted as tlit! leaves expanded. They were mo.st conniion in high
open woods, and were oliserveil to IcimI chietly on tender young buds oi' trees.
They were in i'ull .song betbrt; they took tlii'ir departure.
They make their first ai)pearanee in regular migrations, in Massaehusetta,
from the lOth to the lilttli of May, luul oceasionally a few are seen earlier.
They are often unweleome visitors to the fruit-growi'rs, having a great fond-
ness for the bhwsonis of the peaeli, elierry, plum, ami apjile. They will also
feed upon other kinds of buils and bl((.ssoms. 'I'hey have a great predilec-
tion for evergreen trees, especially the lir, the spruce, and the red cedar,
and mo.st generally build their nests in these trees. In summer they feed on
seeils, insects, and bc.'rries (jf the honeysuckle and other shrubs.
The I'urple Finch, or, as it is geneialiy known in New luigland, the Linnet,
is one of our sweetest, best, and most constant songsters, and is ftften tiapped
and sold as caged birds. They soon become aecustiuned and jiartially recon-
ciled to their coniinement, but sing only during a small part of the year.
When one of these birds, coniiiied in a cage, is hung outside the house,
in tlui country, he is sure tft tlraw around him cpiite a number of his species,
and this furnishes the dealer a ready means of capturing them.
This Finch was once regarded as ipiite rare in the vicinity of I'.oston, so
much so that during a four years' residence in Cambridge, when collections
of nests and eggs had many votaries, not a single nest of this s:;)ecies was
obtained by any one. Since then, from some cause, probably the increase of
gardens, groves of evergreens, and other localities favorable for their preserva-
tion and reproduction, these graceful little F'inehes have become (juite abun-
dant in places ]tro]iitious for their lesidence. No less than seven jiairs of
these favorite .songsters took up the.i abode in my grounds at lliiigham in a
single suiiuner, and two had nests in the .same tree, one of which was at least
sixty feet from the ground, on the very top of a tall tir. These several ])airs,
as a general thing, lived together very harmoniously, save only when one
would ap])roach too near the favorite station of another, when the latter
would begin to bristle up his crest, and give very evident hints that his near
presence was not agreeable. The extreme southern end of the ridge-jjole of
the house had been, for several summers, the favorite post for the patriarch
of the Hock, from which at morning and at evening he made the neighbor-
hood vocal with his melody. If in his absence any other of these birds
ventured to occupy his position, there was always sure to be a distiu'bance on
his return, if it was not instantly vacated. These encounters were freiiueiit,
404 NOIITII AMKItlCAN IMKDS.
and always vnry aimisiiijjj. Discrctidu usually Un>\<. ilic |iliu'(! of valur mi llio
iKiii III' till' iiitnidiT.
Tilt' siiiij,' ()(' the I'ui'liln KiuL'ii M'SL'iiilili's tliiil (if till' Caiiiiry, and tli(in;,di
less varii'd and powcrrul, is sol'lcr, Hwuefer, and nioiv Uaa-iun;,' aiul ]>lcasing.
Tiu! noti'H of this s|iuc'i('s may lie iu'.U'd I'mni the last ol' .May until late in
S('|)t(Mnl)i'i', and in tlic long sunmicr nvcnings arc often cnnlinui'd until alter
it is {[uitc dark. Their song has all the heauty and pathos of the Warbling
Vireo, and greatly resenddes it, hut is luon^ powiuiul and full in tone. It is
a very iuleresting sight to watch one of ihesi- litth^ perforintn's in the midst
of his song. He. iippears perfei'tly alisorlied in his wia'lc, his jorni dilates,
his crest is e 'cted, his throat e.xpamls, and he seems to he ulti^rly uncon-
scious of all around him. Ihit let an intruth^r of his own race ajipear within
a few feet of the singiir, ami the .song instantly ceases, and in a violent lit
of indignation lie chases him away.
The flight of the I'urpie Finch is said hy Mr. Auduh.n to resenihle that
of the Oreen Finch of Kuro])e. They ily in compact Docks, with an undu-
lating motion, alighting all at once, and then instantly, as if suddenly
alarmed, take again to flight only to return to the same tree. They then
immediately make each his .separate way to the end.s of the la'anches, and
commence eating tla? laids. The food they take to their young is juicy ber-
ries and the softer jiortions of the young cones of the fir ami spruce.
They ne.st generally in firs, si)ruces, or cedar-trees, though occasionally on
the upper branches of a high aiii)le-tree. Their nests are usually placed upon
a branch, rather than interlaced between iis forked twigs. I have known
them not more than live feet from tiie ground, and at other times on the higii-
est point of a hil'ty lir-tree. The nests are, I'or tiie most part, .somewhat ilat
and shallow structure.s, not more than two and a half inches in height, and
about three and a half in breadth. The walls of the nest average less than
an inch, and the cavity corresponds to its general shape anil form. The
framework of the nest is usually made of small denuded vegetable fibres,
stems of grasses, strips of bark, and .voody Iragments. The upjier rim of the
nest is often a curious intertwining of dry herbaceiais stems, the ends of which
project above the nest itself in the manner of a low palisade. The inner nest
is made up of minute vegetable fibres, closely interwoven. There is usually no
other lining than this. At other times tlie.se nests are largely made up of .small
dark-coldied rootlets of wooded ])lants, lined with liner materials of the same,
occasionally mingled with the down of liirds and the fur of small animal.s.
The eggs of the I'urple Finch vary greatly in size, and somewhat in shajie.
Generally they are of an oblong oval, jtointed considerably at one end. Their
length varies from .92 to .81 of an inch, and their breadth from .70 to .00.
Their eohn- is a pale shade of emerald-green, spott,ed with dark brown, almost
black, chiefly about the larger eml. The gi-ound-color is much brighter when
the eggs are fresh, and soon fades upon exposure to light, and even when kept
in a close drawer.
FIMNdll.l.lD.K — TFIK KINTIIKS ,-.-
Carpodaous purpureus, \a. californicus, r.Aim..
THE CALIFOBMIA PURPLE FINCH,
C„r,ml„em a.lijhmivu.s, lUiun, liii.ls \. Am. l«,-,». m, j,!. Ixxii, I' "'S -(■„,„,, .
•MUKLKY, VJii. CCHII'KI!, Olll. (.'al. I, Ijl,
Sr Cm.. SinnlMr U, inu-i^urus. Tl.inl ,,,nll l,„„vst; lirsl shorter than ih,. r,„n,l,.
lurplc. ol l,c.a.l an.l luM.p mmmI, ,h,rk..r tlmu iu C ynovHor.,, ; .h. houcl with a l.n.a.l
.si.i.i-a-,„l,ilal lat..,al I.uimI .nh^Uur purpl... LcUKth 0.20; wiuK, 3.20; tail ''.(iO
ll.vti. Pacilic I'rciviiKv of I'liitoil Stulos.
The lunmle cf tlio wt-sU'ru tyne .lillbrs lr„m tluit ..f tlio castcni in
bum- inoro ..livucciis al,nv, an.l in liavin^ Uu, .stmiiv.s l.cl..w mdi.T lai-^r
and not so wdl .Idined. Tiu-n. appears to l,o a dillMcnc,. in ll,.. niaikin.'
ot tho wings, in eastern C. p>u-p,n;s llu-re is nsaallv a well-mark,.! wlni"
ish hand acros.s tho ends ..f the n.i.ldle eoverts, while the gr.iater coverts
thouj.], nuuKino.! externally l.y paler, have a still lij^hter bar across the pos-
terior uxtrunntv, which is not .s,.en in the western l.inl.
JlviiiTs. Tho Calilornian I'nrple Kind, is iVmnd throu-hout tho Pacific
coast, inmi tho Straits ol' Fnea to ( ■alilornia. as far s.M.th as ]\Ionterey. I )r
Coo].er states that this species is rather a n..rthern Iiird, boini; eonmion at the
Columbia Ifivor, and even farther north, while in ('alilornia it has not been
found south Of Monterey on the coast, and Fort Tejon in the Sierra Nevada
In summer thoy frequent tho mountain forests, especially those in j.art coin-
po.sed of Coni/nv: In winter they descend to tho valloys, where they nn'
found as.sociating Mith the more eonuin.n and familiar O./ron/o/U He met
with them in May on the summits of the coast ranj,'e toward Santa ( 'niz
but they Avere m)t very numerous. Thoy then had nests, though ho did not
succeed in finding them.
The song of the California Limu't is quite loud and varied, often resem-
bling that of other birds, especially /7/vvw and Dnu/mmr, [\n- which Dr.
Cooper has often mi.stakcn it. Their food consists of seeds, lierries, ai,(l the
buds of trees. Their nest and eggs ai'o unknown, but probably resemble
those of C. piiypiDrus.
Carpodacus frontalis, Scfater.
HOUSE LINNET; CEIMSON-FRONTED FINCH; BUBION.
FrinyiU,, frouMis; Say, l-.m-'s E.xpe.l. K. Mts. II, 1824, 40. (For othor .syiionvn„.» sec
undor the (lillcreiit varictii's. )
Sr. rii.vn. Bill short, nearly as deep a.s liroad ; culnion much curved, e.iinmissare aivhed •
lower n.iui.hl.le nearly as .leep as the upper. Tail more than three fourths as 1 as
wing, slightly en.arginaled. Wing and tail feathers without reddi.sh edges ; lower l.ul-
59
466 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
coverts aid nli(lniin;ii with l)ri>iul streaks of dusky. Oeiienil color above, iiieludiiig wings,
tail, and upper tail-covi'ris. lirownisli-giay, the leathers with iif,'hter edije.s. Heneath
white, each leather with a medial streak ol dusky. Male. A hroad frontal ereseent, ex-
tiMidiiig baek in a siipereiiiary slri]>e to the occiput, a patch on the rump (not the upper tail-
eoverts), and an area eoveriuf; cheeks, chin, tiiroat, and juguhnn red, — bright scarlet in
spring, rosy in fall. Female without tlu! red, which is replaced by a nniforin streaking.
YimiHf resembling tlic I'enude, but streaks le.-is sharply delincd ; those above more dis-
tinct. Wiug-eoverts broadly edged with light earth-brown.
Tliis siK'cios iiilmbits tlio western regions of North America, irom tlie
Uocky Miimitiiiiis to tlie I'acifie ; aiul Ale.xico, e.xeept, perluips, the eastern
portion. In this range of tlistril)ntion it oecnrs in three races, whicli, taking
e.vtrenie extiniith's, are well marked, but when a large series is extimined are
fonnil to grade insensil)ly into each other.
The above description is genertil, being inoditied oidy by atlditiomtl charac-
ters in the several races. The normal pliiniiige is perliai)s rejircseiited in tlie
central race, — tlie true frvji/til is, as restricted, — whicli inluibits the ^Middle
Province of the United States, ;ind is nearly its described tibove ; the red of
the male of this style is of a bright scarlet tint, ami in nciirly all specimens
shows a tendency to escape the boundaries iibove indicated. As we go south
into Mexico, we find the red strictly contiiied within those limits, very siiarply
defined; and, under the tropical influence, intensified into a very bright car-
mine tint; this latter is tiie C. hoiiwrvhons of authors. Following the var.
froiUaliii westward, we find it gradually changing, the red invading more and
more the other portions, until, in s])ecimens from the coast of (Jalifornia and
from Caj)e St. Liu.-is, it is si)rciid over all [xtrtions, except the anal region,
wing, and tail, — tliough .ilways brightest within those outlines which con-
fine it in the two preceding varieties. In extreme examples of the latter
race, — the C. rhodocolpiis of Cabanis, — the red even obliterates the streaks
on the abdomen. Tiie s])reading of tlie red is seen in other birds of the IV
citic region, this case being exactl}' paralleled by the Sphnropkm ruber, iu its
relation to S. nucha/ in or *S'. varius.
The females and young of the three racer, arc quite difficult to distinguish
from each other, the loctility being the best means of identifying them.
Carpodacus frontalis, xar. frontalis, TrKVY.
CRIXSON-FRONTED FINCH; BUBION.
Friiigilla frontalis, Say, Long's Kxp. II, 1824, 4n. — (?K\rn. Orn. liing. V, 1839,230,
pi. c'cco.xxiv. Piirrhnla t: Hon at. Ami. Oru. I, 182,'), 49, pi. vi. KriiHirmpixn f. IJox.
List, 1838. — In. P. Z. S. 1837, 112. — (?) Ai-n. Syn. 183<», 12,-). —In. IJirds \m. Ill,
1841, 175, pi. cxcvii. — Oamh. .1. A. N. S. 2d scries, I, 1847, .')3. Frimiilln {Pijrrhitia)
f. (iAMii. P. A. N. S. !, 1843, 2()2. Ciir/xxliic'ii/. (JiiAV, (ien. 184 1- 49. — Mcl'AU,,
P. A. X. S. V, IS.Il, 219. — nAllil), Birds X. Am. IS.xS, 41.'). f Cnr/mila-un ohsritrus;
MeCAi.r,, P. A. N. .S. V, .luiio, 18r)l, 221), .Santa Fc, N. M. (yariMilaaia familiari.%
McCai.1., p. a. N. S. VII, April, 1852, (II, Santa Fo, N. M.
FU1N(}1LLID.K — THE FIXCIIES.
467
8p. CiiAii. ((J r„V„S.), Giv.itSalt l,ak.-("ity, rtali, .Innc 1, ISfiD.) Aliov biownish-
{rray, Ihiiilly ^rh.ssed with icl on tlio w.qw luid back ; win- uii.l tail luatlicis passinj,' into
li-iiI.Toii th.'ii- cl-cs, and dorsal fcatlu.fs with ubsolcle shaft-stivaks ofdai-kcr. A IW.ntal
band, abont as widf as lli,. l,.n,!j;lb nl' li,.. .Mdni.^n, .•..ntinnin^' back in a sniicrciliai-y stripe
to tiio occiput, tliroat, jn,u:nlnni, and a pal.ii on tbc iow.'r i)art of the nunp (but not
on upper lail-cov<.rls) cannine-scarlct. l;,.si „r lower parts white, each leather with a
"ledial streak of brown like tlu- back. Wiuj.-, :!.|(l; tail, 2.(iO ; euliuen, MS; tarsus, .do;
ni
middle toe, .5
(9 58,000, Salt Lake City, .lune lil, lS(i!).) .Similar, but red eidirely absent, the throat
and juguhnn beinj; white streak.Ml with brown, an.l the trout, rump, et<'., grayish, obso-
letely streaked with d.irker. Winu'. .'i.OK ; t.iil, '_'. It).
{Jhv. 40,790, Fort Whipple, Arizona, June 5, ISt!",.) Oenerally similar to the ad. 9 , but
more brownish, and the wing-leathers passing into dull bnlly-oehraceous on th-ir ed'-es ;
streak.s beneath narrower and l(>.ss distinct.
In winter the red is softer and less sharply dofmed, and u.snallv of a more purplish tint-
tlie markings generally more blended. ' '
Hah. .Middle Proviueo of the United States, fr.mi Rocky Mountains to tlu' inte-ior
valli-ys of California.
Hahits. Tliis form of the Ilou.se Fiucli tippeaivs to be a very common liird
tliroii^'lioiit tlie interior region of the Tnited Stiite.s, extending to Xew Mex-
ico and Arizonii on the south and .soutlieast, and jn-ohiddy to INfe-xico. On
the I'acilic cotist it is replaced by anotlier and chjsely tillied variety.
J)r. Woodhouse states that liis attention was first wdled to tliis interesting
little songster while at Saute Fe. It was there known to tlie American resi"
dents as the "Adobe Finch." I?y the Mexictius they were called Burimcs.
lie found them exceedingly tame, building iil)out tiie dwellings, churdics,
and other buildings, in every nook iind corner, and even entering tiie houses
to pick up crumbs. They are never disturbed l)y tlie inhabi^^.nts. He tidds
that at tlie first dawn of the morinng tliey commence a veiy sweet tiud clear
warlile, which lie was quite unable to do justice to by any verbal descrijition.
He has often in the early morning listened witli admiration and gratification
to the song of this bird, which is deservedly ti great favorite. He found it
throughout New Mexico, and beyond. He did not distinguish it from the
coast Viiriety.
Dr. (Jones also found this bird very abundant in Arizona, where it is a
permanent resitlent, but most abundant in spring and fall. He describes it as
eminently gregarious. He found it in all situations, but most common in the
spring among tlie groves of willows and poplars, on tlie buds of wiiidi it feed.s.
He met with this species all the way tioin the I?i(, Grande tlirough New
Mexico and Arizona to California, and appears to have noted no difrerences
between this form and the coast variety. He also mentions fiiuling, during a
few days' sttvy in the New Mexican village of Los Pinos, near Albenpienpie,
on tlie Jlio (Iriinde, tliis pretty little Finch the most connnon and character-
istic of the local birds. It was there breediug indifferently in tlie court-
yards, sheds, under i)orticos or eaves, and idso in tlie forks of trees in
the streets. It had shar]) conflicts with the Harn Swallows, whose nests it
4G8 NORTH AMEllICAX BIRDS.
often took possession of, and was a lively and most agreeable leaturo in the
dirty towns wliicli it honored witli its presence ; and its songs were at once
sweet, clear, and exquisitely melodious.
Dr. Coojier met with tliese birtls anK)ng the barren and rocky hills near
the (Colorado.
Mr. Kiilgway, who found these birds breeding in large numbers at Pyra-
mid Lake, informs me lliat their nests Avere usually placed in clefts in rocks,
or in a cave. Near Salt Lake City they were also very common, building
their nests among the slirubs known as the wild mahogany, on the hills, but
never freipieuting the higiier regions of the mountains.
The eggs of tliis bird, which are not distinguisliable from those of the
Pacific coast form, have a delicate pale-blue ground-color, which is very
fugitive, and fades e\en in the drawers of a cabinet. They are sparingly
marked, chielly around the more obtuse end, with sjujts and lines of black
and a dark brown. They are of o\al sliape, elongate and pointed at one end,
and measure .HU of an incli in h^ngth by .GO in breadth.
Carpodacus froutalis, \ar. rhodocolpus, Caban.
CALIFOSNIA HOUSE-FINCH ; BED-HEADED LINNET ; BTJSION.
.' Pijrrhiihi cniciitalii, I,i>si)N, Hi'V. Zoiil. ISail, 1(»1. C'lirpnddcii.i rhndncojpus, Oahanir,
Mils, lluiii. ISfil, lt>(j. — Sci.ATEH, r. Z. S. 1856, 304. Curpodtcus fnmtnUit, lios.
& Siiii.Kc. .Moil. (U'.s I.c)x. ISfjO, tab. .xvi, 1'. 1. —In. Coiisp. 18.50, 533. — Baikd, Rinls
N. Am. 1858, 415 (in ]mrt). — (1cioim;ii, Oni. C'lil. I, ISO. Ifnuxe Fhich, OuaysoN,
Hi'.spt'iiiiii, 11, 185!), 7, i>Uitt'. ViifjioilHeHs/aviUiaris, Hekiiman.v, X, 50 (iicst).
Sp. (.'mar. ((J 12.97:5, Ciipo St. Lui'iis.) Hi'iid, lu'ck, jiif,niluni, Itivast, upper p.irt of
alultmii'ii 1111(1 siili's, ami niiiip, luig-lit (•iiiiiiiuc-scailct, (liillcst on the rciitro of the riown
ami aiiiiculiirs ; iv.st of the upper jiarl-s bimviiisli-frra^', ifloswed with reil excein, on tlio
wing.'*, whieh have the feathers with distinctly lijrhli'r edfre.s Anal rcfrion, flnnks, and
cris.suin white, the featlier.s with sliaft-stieaks of brown. Wing, 3.00; tail, 2.U0; uuliuuii,
.45; tarsu.'<, .02; luiddlc toe, ..")(t.
Female and Jiu\ .similar to var. /roiiliiU.i. hut colors darker.
IIaii. Coast region of I'acilio Province, and peiiinsulii of Lower California.
The male descrilied above represents about the average ]ilumage of this
form ; an extreme example is No. 20,04(1, Cape St. Lucas, wliich is almost
entirely of a wine-red color, this covering the whole lower parts, excejjt the
anal region, and obliterating tlie streaks ; tlie wings even are tinged Avith
red. Still, on tlie head tlie red fa wine-jmrple tint) is brightest within those
limits to which it is confined in the normal plumage.
Habits. This variety of the House Finch is a very common bird through-
out the Pacific coast, from Oregon to Mexico. ]\Ir. Pidgway states that he
found this sjiecies the most common and familiar of all the birds of the Sac-
ramento Valley. It is a very connnon cage-bird, being highly prized for its
song, which in powjr is hardly inferior to that of the Canary, while it far
FRINGILLID.E— THE FINCHES. 4(39
surpasses it in sweetness. Its beiiutUul plumage .alyo rentiers it still mure
attractive. Tlie peculiarly solt and nmsical turd of this bird is also very
similar to that of the Canary, and is very different from the connnon note of
the I'urple Einch. This bird breeds very luimerously among the shade-trees
in the streets of Sacramento, as well as among the oak groves on the out-
skirts of that city. The males are very shy, but the females, when tlieir nest
is disturbed, keep up a lively chiri)ing in an adjoining tree. Tlie nest is gen-
erally situated near the extremity of a horizontal branch of a small oak,
usually in a gi'ove, occasionally in an isolated tree. In one inst.'ince it made
use of an abandoned nest of a Bullock's Oriole, and in another of that of a
Cliff Swallow.
Dr. Coo])er speaks of this bird as being especially abundant in all the
southern portions of California, and also, according to Dr. Newdjcrry, through-
out all the valleys northward into Oregon. It is a si)eci'js tiiat is every-
where peculiar to the valleys, MJiile the others of this genus are eijually
confined to the wooded mountains. Dr. ( 'ooper als* met with this si)ecies
in the plains near the coast, where there are no plants higher than the wild
mustard, on the seeds of which they feed. Tliey also iietjuent the groves
and the open forests on tiie summits of the coast range, but in small num-
bers, in c(mipany with the C. vitUforuicKs. They at times feed on buds of
trees, and seeds of the cottonwood and other i)lants. It is most abundant
among ranches and gardens where. Dr. Cooper states, it does nnich mischief
by destroying seeds and young i)lants, fruit and buds. For tliese depreda-
tions even its cheerful and constant song is not regarded as an adcciuate com-
pensation ; and unlike the New-^Iexicans in their treatment of its kindred
race, the California cultivators wage an unrelenting war upon these birds.
At San Diego, Dr. Cooper found them buililing as early as the loth of
Man-h, and even a little earlier. IJoth tlie situation and the materials of
their nest vary. He has found them nest ' ; in trees, on logs and rocks, on
the top rail of a picket fence, inside a window-shutter, in the holes of walls,
under tiles, on the thatch of a roof, in barns and haystacks, and even be-
tween the interstices in the sticks of which the nest of a Hawk had been
made, and once in the old nest of an Oriole. About dwellings they always
seek the protection of man, and seem to be (piite unconscious of having
deserved or incurred liis enmity. The materials of their nests are usually
coarse grasses ami weeds, with a lining of hair and line roots. They rui.se
two, sometimes three, broods in a season, and in the autunni assemble in
large flocks, but migrate very little, if any, to the south.
Dr. Cooper states that their songs are very diH'erent from those of the
other sjK'cies. Tiiey are very varied and veiy lively, and are heard througli-
out the year. They are easily ke])t as cage-birds, Ijut soon lose the beauty
of their plumage in confinement, their bright purple colors changing to a
dirty yellow.
Nuttall did not observe any of this species in Oregon.
470
NORTH AXfERTCAN BIRDS.
The eggs of tliis bird vary tioin ibur to six in iiuiiiber, and are of a pale blue
wliich readily liidos into u bluish-white, and are marked witli spots and lines
of a dark brown or black. They are of an elongate-oval shape, and measure
from .82 to .73 of an inch in length, with an average breadth of .GO.
Gkxis CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie.
Chri/.iom i/rln, Boik, Isis, 1828, 32-.'. (Typt', FrimjiUn .iphiiii, \ass.)
Astrnijnliniis, V.\i\. Mus. Ilciii. 18.51, l;".!!. (Typf, Fihigilla trislU, LiNN.)
lli/pacaii/him, Cab. Mus. Hiiu. 1851, 101. ^Ty^MJ, Cardudis spinoidcs.)
Gkx. Char. Bill ratlu-r acutely conic, the tip not very .sharp ; the oulmon .slightly convex
at the tip; the conimi,«sure gently eurvetl.
No.stril.s concealed. Obsolete ridges on the
up|)er niandiljle. Tarsi .shorter than the
middle toe ; outer toe rather the longer,
rea(;liing to the base of the middle one.
CI i\v of hind toe shorter than the digital
portion. Wing.s and tail as in Aiyiothm.
The colors are generally yellow, with
black on th' crown, throai, back, wings,
and tail, varied sometimes with white.
The females want the bright markings
Chrijsomitris trislis. of the male.
Tills genus diifers from yEf/ioihus in a less acute and more curved bill, a
much less development of the bristly feathers at the base of tlie bill, tlie
claw of the hind toe shorter than its digital portion, the claws shorter and
less curved and attenuated, and the outer lateral toes not extending beyond
the base of the middle claw.
The species exhiljit many differences among themselves, especially in the
size and shape of the bill, wiiich liave been made the basis of generic dis-
tinctions. They may be distinguished as follows : —
Species and Varieties.
A. No streaks anywhere on phnnago ; base of tail-feathers black or white.
Se.xcs dissimil.'u-. (C'lii\i/son.ilr{.i.)
a. No yellow on the wings.
1. C. tristis. Inner webs rf tail-feathers always wliiti.sli torminallj
(except in Jill'.). $. Fuioiiead and crown, wings and tail, deep black;
rest of plumage, ini'li.ding the back, rich Icmon-yellow ; tail-coverts
white. 9. Body grayish above, dingy whitish beneath, stained witli
yellow ; no black on head ; wings and tail duller black. Juv. Pulvous-
umlier above, with markings of reddi.sh-ochraccous on the wings ; be-
neath, dilute-yellow wa.shed with fulvou.s. Hah, Whole of temperate
and warm North America.
2. C. psaltria. Inner webs of tail-feathers never whiti.sli terminally.
$. Beneath yellow, indiKling the lower tnil-coverls ; above lil.nck, with
or without olive-green on the back. 9. Without any black, the yellow
duller.
, FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 47^
Tail with ir/iile on inner webs; tertiah with large white spots.
$. Auriciilaivs, iiiipi-, Ijiifk, luul ruini) olivc-groon. Hah. Rocky
MoiiiiUiiis of UiiiUnl States \a.r. ]i sal tr ia .
^. Auriciilms lilack; iiajii', back, and ruini> grueii cloiulod with
hV.wk. Hah. Arizona var. arizonw.
$. Anriculais, nape, liack, and rump entirely black. Ilah. Mid-
dle Anjenca . var. m ex ic a n a .
Tail without any white on inner webs ; t-rtiah luithout white spots.
$. Aurieulars, nape, back, and rump wholly black. Hah. Pan-
ama and New Granada \-m: colnmhiana.
h. Terminal half of outer wcb.s of wiiif^-coverts and secondaries yellow.
3. C. lawrenoii. Prevailing color ashy, lighter beneath. $. A largo
patch on the breast, the rump, and most of tlu; outer surface of the
A ing, yellow ; forehead, crown, Icjres, all round base of bill, chin, wings
(beneath the yellow), and tail black. 9 . Lacking the black, and with
the yellow only indicated. Huh. Calilbrniu and Southwestern Arizona.
B. Whole body and head thickly streaked ; bases of tail-feathers yellow. Sexes
alike. {Astragali nu.^.)
4. C. pinuB. Aliove brownish-gray, Ijimeath white, with conspicuous
dusky streaks everywhere; two light bands on the wing; bases of
secondaries and primaries yellow. Hah. Whole of North America.
Three species of Chryaomitris, given by ^Ir. Aiulubon, are to be erased
from tlie list: C. ufanki/i, C. yarrelU, and C. mctgdldiiim. If, as he states,
he killed specimens of the latter in Kentucky, they must have belonged to
tlie C. notata of Dubns, a Mexican species, not since met with in our limits.
The otlier two were given him as coming from Calil'ornia, — a statement we
now know to be incorrect, both belonging to South America.
Chrysomitris tristis, Bon.
YELLOW-BIBD; THISTLE-BIBD.
PringHln tristis, Linn, Syst. Nat. I, 17»>(i, 320. — Wii.s. Am. (1rii. \, 1808, 20, pi. i, f. 2.
— Alfn. Orn. l?ing. 1, 1831, 172; V, .510, pi. x\.\iii. Cunliides fri.'ili.i, Hon. Obs.
Wils. 182.5, No. 96. — Aui). Rmls Am. II, 18tl, 120, i<\. dxxxi. ~ Max. V-.th. .bmrn,
vi, 1858, 281. Chrnsiiiailri.i Iri.-ilis, BoN. Li.st, 1838. — Nl'.wiir.iiuv, Zoiil. C,d. & Or.
Route ; Rep. P. R. R. Sinv. A'll, iv, 1857, 87. — H.\ii!l>, Birds N. Am. It.S, 421.—
Cooper & SrrKi.KV, 197. — t'ciopni!, Orn. Cal. 1, 167. ,!str<i;ialiiii(s tristis, C'aiianis,
Mus. lli'in. 1851, 159 (type). rtinliicHs (imericmin, (Edwaimis,') Sw. & Rich. V. B. A.
II, 1831, 268. Githlin Fim-h, Pr.NNANT. Amirican Onhljiiich, KnwAKUS. ('Ininliiu-
ncrrt jiniiic ; Chirdounrnidii ('iinadu : Turin dc In Xniinllr Vorck, BuFFO.v. — III. PI.
enl., pL ccii, f. 2, pi. ccxcii, f. 1. — Samuels, Bird.s N. Eiig. 288.
Sp. Ciiau. ^fale. Bright gamboge-yellow ; crown, wings, and tail black. Lessor
wing-covert.«, band .across the end of greater ones, ends of secondaries and tertiaries, inner
margins of tail-fiNVlhers, upper and inider tail-coverts, and tibia white. Length, .'').2o
inches; wing, .'i.OO. Fcniuli: Yellowish-gray abov(> ; greenish-yellow below. No black
on forehead. Wing and tail niuoh as in the male. Young. Reddish-olive above; fulvous-
472
NOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Ctirysomilris tristis.
yellow lit'low; two l)roiid Imiulti luiross! covi'its, aiRl broad cdgus to last half" of secondaries
imlo rulbus.
IIab. North America jrciu^rally.
In winter tlio yellow is replaced by a yellowish-brown ; the black of the
crown wanting, that of wings and tail browner. The tin'oat is generally
yellowish; the under parts ashy-brown, passing behind into white.
Tlicre. are no (ihserval)le dillerences between eastern and western speci-
mens.
llAUiTS. The common American CJoldtinch is i'ound throughont the
greater portion of North America, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. Sir .Fohn
liichardson met with it in the fur re-
gions, where it is one of the tardiest of
the summer visitors, and whence it de-
parts early in Se^jtcmber. The speci-
men described by him was taken June
2'.). At the extreme South it is not
uncommon, accoixling to Dresser, around
San Antonio, and Dr. Woodhouse found
it abundant botli in Te.xas and in tiie
liulian Territory. Dr. Cones did not
find it in Arizona, nor does Sumichrast
give it as a bird of Vera Cruz. Dr. Newberry found tliis Finch quite com-
mon tin'oughout liis route to the Columl)ia, this sweet songster, he states,
having been a constant source of pleasure iu the interior both of California
and Oregon, far from the haunts of men, where everything else was new and
strange. l!ut Dr. Suckley, tliough he looked carefully fm' tliis species alxiut
Paget Sound, iu the most ai)i)ropi'iate situations, was unaltle to find any, and
did not believe tliat any e.\isted there. Dr. Cooj)er states that it is, however,
(piite al)undant on the Cohunbia and along the coast near its mouth.
The last-named writer states tliat this si)ecies is a constant resident in all
tlie western parts of California, but he met with none on the C'olorado. They
become rare on the coast at the Columbia, but farther in. the interior are
found as far north as latitude 49°, Tliey breed as far sout!\ as San Diego,
but seem to avoid the hot interior valleys, as well as the mountains. Their
favorite resorts are where thistles and other composite plants abound, and
also groves of willow and cottonwood, up(jn the seeds of which they feed
largely. In winter the seeds of the buttonwood supply their chief sub-
sistence.
The common (roldfinch was seen in abundance by ^Ir. I'idgway only in
the vicinity of Sacramento City, aasociatetl witli the Carjmldciis fronfalis,
and often nesting in the sanu; tree. In tlie interior this sjjecies was rarely
seen, and only one specimen was .secured in the Truckee Valley in May, and
U'.- noticed afterwards. It was, however, found breeding iu the Uintah
KIllXCILLID.E — THE FIN'dlES. 473
Monnttains, where its nest tiiul ej^'us were obtained. The nests procured by
Mr. liid<;way were all lonnd alxmL June (i, e.xeejit one, ten days later, .show-
ing that these birds are four or five weeks earlier in tlieir breeding on the
Pacitic than on the Atlantie coast. In the Uintah Mountains they were
breeding, as at tiie Kast, in duly.
The tJoldllnch is to a large extent gregarious and noniadii; in its habits,
and only Ibr a short ]K)rtion of the yc^ar do these Inrds separate into }iairs I'or
the purp(jses of reproduction. During at least three iburths of the yeai' they
associate in small tlocks, and wander about in an irregular and uncertain
manner in (juest of their food. They are resident througiiont l\\v year in
New England, and also throughout the greater portion of the country, their
presence or absence being regulated to a hirge e.xtent liy the abundance,
scarcity, or ab.sence of their favorite kinds of food. In the winter, the seeds
of the taller weeds are their principal means of subsistence. In tlie sum-
mer, the seeds of the thistle and other plants and weeds are sought out
by these interesting and busy gleaners. They are abundant in gardens, and
as a general thing do xuvy little harm, and a vast amount of benefit in the
destruction of the seeds of troublesome weeds. As, however, they do not
always discriminate between seeds that are troublesome and those that are
desirable, the (loldtinches are unwelcome visitors to the farmers who seek to
raise their own seeds of the lettuce, tiirnij), and oilier similar vegetables.
They are also very fond of the seeds of the sunllower.
Owing possibly to the scarcity of proper food for their young in the early
summer, the Ooldfinclies are ([uite late before they mate and raise their single
brood. It is usually jiasl the lUtli of July l)efore their nests are constructed,
and often Sejjtember before their broods are ready to Hy.
The song of the Goldfinch — very different from their usual plaintive cry
or call-note, uttered as they are flying or when they are feeding — is very
sweet, brilliant, and pleasing; most so, indeed, when given as a solo, with no
other of its kindred within hearing. 1 know of none of our connnon singers
that excel it in either res))ect. Its notes are higher and more ilute-like, and
its song is more jtrolonged than that of the rurjjle Finch. AVhere large
flocks are found in the spring or early summer, the males often Join in a very
curious and remarkable concert, in which the voices of the several jjcrformers
do not always accord. In spite of (his fretjuent want of harmony, these con-
certs are varied and jjleasing, now ringing like the loud voices of the Canary,
and now sinking into a low soft warble.
During the warm summer weather the (lohlHnch is very fond of bathing,
and the sandy shelving margins of brooks are always their favorite places
of resort for this purpose. I do not think they ever raise more than a single
brood in a season in New England, and are in this somewhat irregular, de-
positing their eggs from July 10 to September, as it may happen.
They usually select a small upright tree, such as a young elm, ap])le, or
pear, or a tall shrub, for their nest, which they rarely place higher than ten
474 NORTH A^rERTCAX BIRDS.
feet from the grouiicl. Tlian the uest of our GoUlfinch we have no more beau-
tiful specimen either of the basket in sliape or the felted in structure. Sym-
metrical in form, delicately iind bciuitil'uUy woven, and ingeniously anj firmly
fastened around the forked twigs with wliich it is interlaced, it is an exqui-
site example of architectural beauty and finish. A beautiful .specimen from
Wi.sconsin may be taken as ty])ical. It measures three inches in diameter
and two in lieight. Tiie cavity is one and a lialf inches wide at the rim, and
tlie deptli is tlie same. Tlie lia.se of this nest is a connningling of soft vege-
table wool, very fine stems of dried gras.ses, and fine strips of bark, all being
in very fine shreds. The sides, rim, and general exterior of the nest is made
up, to a largo extent, of fine sleiuler vegetalile fibres, interwrought with
winte and maroon-colored vegetable wool. These materials are closely and
densely felted together. The inner nest is softly and thorougldy lined with
a softer felting niade of tlie plumose appendages or pappus of the seeds of
composite plants.
The eggs, usually five, rarely six in number, are of a uniform bluish-white,
sharply pointed at one and roimded at tlie other end. They measure from
.65 to .67 of an inch in length and from .50 to .55 in breadth. Dr. Cooper
gives their measurement as .00 by .50 ; but of tlie contents of seven nests
before me not an egg is less than .Go in length, and but one so small as .50
in breadth.
A nest of this Finch, built in a young elm-tree in Hingham, eight feet from
the ground, was begun July 27, finished and the first egg laid August 1. By
the 4tli five eggs had been deposited, and on the 16th they had all been
hatched.
Chrysomitris psaltria, var. psaltria, Boxap.
BOCKT M OUKTAIK GOIDFINCH ; ABKANSA8 GOLDFINCH.
Frinriilla pmUriii, Say, Long's Exped. K. Mts. II, 1823, 40. — Aud. Oiii. Riog. V, 1839,
85, pi. cco.xciv. Friiiijilla {Cdrdiieli.i) jtsdilria, Bon. Am. Orn. I, 1825, 54, pi. vi, f. 3.
Carduelispsnltrui, Aun. Syii. 1839, 117. — In. Binls Am. Ill, 1841, 134, pi. clxxxiii.
Chrysomitris psdllria, Br. list, 1838. — In. f'on.sp. 1850, 51(5. — OAMnia,, .Tour. A. N.
S. 2il scries 1, 1847, 52 (female). — Baiku, Birds N. Am. 1858, 422. — Uoopeu, Orn.
Cal. I, 168.
Sp. Char. Male. Tipper pnrt.<! and sides of head and neck olive-fjroen. Hood, but
not side.s ol" head below eyes, lores (or aurieulars?), upjjer tail-covert.s, winps, and tail black.
Beneath liriglit yellow. A band across the tips of the greater coverts, the ends of nearly
all the ((nills, the onter edees of the tertiaries, the extreme liases of all the primaries ex-
cept the outer two, and a long rectanffular patch on the imier webs of the outer thi'ce
tail-feathers near the middle, white. Female with the upper parts {generally, and the sifles
olive-jfreen ; the winars and tail brown, their white marks as in the male. Length, 4.25 ;
wing, 2.40 ; tail, I.S."). Yointcj llkt,' the female, In i wing-bands more fulvous.
Had. Southern Rocky Mountains to the coast of California; north to Salt Lake City
(.Tune 10; Rinr.wAv), and Siskiyou Co., Cal. (Vuii.i.k) ; south to Souora (Arispe, Feb.
2G ; E. S. Wakkkiki.d).
FRIXGILLID.E — TUIi FINCHES. 475
With ([uite a siimll series of sjieciiuens, u jiert'ect tninsitinii can be shown
from the typical C. jisdltrlo, as abuvu deserili'd, tn tlie C ivlntnbianus, the
opposite extreme (see tahle, jiage 471). Tiie I'urmer is tlie must northern,
the hitter tlie most southern I'orm ; ctrizomr and mc.iicdnii, intermediate
in haliitat, are also as ,strikinj,dy so in ]ilumaj,'e. The dill'erence is in liie
quantitji of the black, this color i»redominating over the olive of the back
and the white of winj,'s and tail, in projwrtion as we go southward. There
cannot, upon the whole, be any doubt that they are all specifically the same.
The females can .scarcely be distinguished.
Haiuts. The Arkansas Finch was lirst discovered in Long's expedition to
the Uocky ^lountains, and described by Say in 1823. It has since been met
with in New Mexico and in various jjarts of California. Dr. Cooper did not
find this species in the Colorado Valley, although Dr. Kennerly met with
it along Williams Fork, in New Mexico. Dr. Woodhouse did not see it in
his route to the Zuni I'iver, either in New Mexico or the Indian Territory.
Dr. Kennerly met with these birds in the monlii of Feltruary. He found
them very abundant all along the banks of the Iiill Williams Fork. They
were feeding on the young I)uds of the cottonwood trees. A that season
they were in small Hocks, and the only note he heard from them was a short
chirp, as they hojijied from twig to twig, or flew from one tree to another.
Dr. Ileermann states that he found these Finches abundant in the northern
mining regions of California, freciu'.-nting and feeding in the same localities
with the C. latvrcncii, and often associated with the Pine Finch. He adds
that, wliile thus associated, he shot a large number of both si)ecies. They
seemed to be emi)loyed, at the time, in ])icking out the tine gravel mixed in
the nnul used as mortar for a chimney, flying away at each discharge of the
gun, but returning, in a few minutes, to the same jilace.
Mr. Audubon regarded this species as accidental in Louisiana, having
procured individuals a few miles from IJayou Sara.
The Arkan,sas Goldfinch was found by Mr. IJidgway among the Walisatch
Mountains, his attention being at once drawn to it by its curious not<!s. He
first met with it in " (!ity-Creek Canon," near Salt Lake City, where indi-
viduals of it were fre([uently found mixed in with flocks of C. j>ini(s. The
note of this bird is remarkable for its power and very sad tone. The ordi-
nary note is a plaintive, mellow, whistling call, imjiossible to describe, and
.so inflected as to produce a very mournful efl'ect. When the bird take.s to
flight, it is changed to a simple cheer, similar to the anxious notes of the male
Agelaiiis plweniccvs, uttered when its nest is disturbed. This species was
quite rare, not being so common as either C. pinus or C. tristis. Its nest
was found in Parley's Park, Wahsatch Mountains, June 22, in the top of a
willow-bush near a stream.
At San Diego, and along the whole coast border of California, Dr. Cooper
thinks that this Finch is rather rare. In the interior valleys they seem to
be quite common. They also breed in small numbers in the Coast Kange,
476 NORTH AMEUICAN lilUDS.
near Hiinta Cruz. Uv states tliat their lialiits are very similar to tliose of the
C. friiiti/i, though tliey I'eed iimre on the j^roiuul, and more upon weeds tlian
on trees, and are even more j^rcjiarious, rcmaininj; associated in iloeks uj) to
the first of .Mine. Their song greatly resembles tiiat of the common (Jold-
fincli, hut is much fainter.
Dr. Coo]ier never mot with their nest, nor has ho received any description
of it. Mr. Xantus found one, containing four eggs, on the branch of an
Obionc, alumt ten feet from tiio ground. This was at Fort T«!Jon, the first of
]May. Dr. Canfield has also found their nests, in considerable numbers, near
Monterey. They are built in the forks of trees, in the same manner with
the trLsti.i, are structures of remarkable beauty, and evince great skill in the
architects. They contain usually four or five eggs. Except in size, their
eggs greatly resemble those of the C. trLsds, being of a uniform greenish-
white, unspotted, of a rounded-oval shape, sharply pointed at one end. They
measure .Ut) by .5U of an inch.
Chrysomitris psaltria, var. arizonss, Coues.
ARIZONA GOLDFINCH.
Chrysomitris mexkana, var. arizonw, Cun:s, P. A. N. S. 180(5. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 170.
Sp. Chad. ( $ .'i7,0!)'2. Fort Wingate, Arizona, June 28, ISGl.) Above, inoliKlinp: aiiriou-
Inrs, glossy Miu-k, willi ii faint l)lnisli rcllcction ; ']a|)(', 1), k, and niiiii) mni'li mixed with
olive-green, this rather predominating; larger cov 'rts bro.idly tipped with grayish-wliito;
tertials, with almost the entire exi)osed portion of the outer webs, white; a pateh on
base of primaries, and the inner webs of the tail-fealhi'rs, except the ends, white. Be-
neath entirely lemon-yellow. Wing, 2.")0 ; tail, 1.70; culmen, .3.") ; tarsus, .oO.
IIah. Southern boundary of Arizona and New Mexieo, extending southward into
Mexico, and gradually changing into mcxicuua, and northward mlo psuHria.
The specimen described above is from a series collected in Arizona by Dr.
Coues : these examples vary in the relative amount of black and olive on
the back, some having one, and others the other color predominating ; the
type selected is one which represents about the average plumage of this
species from Arizona.
Hadits. Dr. Coues found these birds abundant summer residents of Ari-
zona, where they are .said to arrive the last of April and to remain until the
middle of Sei)tembcr. In August the males are .stated to assume the dull
plumage of the females. In autumn they become decidedly gregarious, and
feed almost exclusively upon buds and seeds. He thinks tiu;y are not so
numerous in the southern portions of the Territory. In a letter received
from him he remarks : —
" This bird was found to be common in New Mexico near Fort Wingate,
at the eastern ba.se of the main chain of moiuitains. I first observed it on the
28tli of June, when I found tj^uite a number together, and secured several
FIUN(iILI,lI).K-TllK FINCIIEH. 477
specimens. Tliey wiuo in sniiill ti'Of)ps on a nigj^ed hillside covered with a
sparse yrowtli of jiiniiiers iiiid sUiuted pines, Iccilinj,' in company with the
I'ouapixa hiliiiiiitn. AwV^wv^ from their actions, and from the fact that none
but males were taken, 1 presume they were hrecaliiij;' in the vicinity. I found
.some dilHculty in .securini,' specimens, partly owinij; to the broken nature of
the locality, and partly to ihi! birds' timidity in the unaccustomed presence
of man. Those that were shctt were all found to have the iusophaj^ns as well
as the gizzard crammed with .seeds. They constantly uttered a ]ilaintivo
lisping whistle as they gathered food, or as they Hew from one tri'c to anotlicr,
but their song did not strike my ear as precisely the same as that of the
Goldfinch. These specimens were idl in what 1 take to lu; perfect phunage,
although the back was mi.xed with olive and black in nearly e([nal jnojior-
tioiis, and the black of the pilcum did not reach below the eyes to cit oil"
the yellow under eyelid from the other yellowish parts of the head ; thus
closely resembling true 2>snltriti.
" Upon my arrival at Fort Whipide in July, I found birds of this type
abundant, and took a good many during the two following months, wIkmi
they disappeared, and I saw none until about the iirst of May. A small
ravine close by the fort, choked with a rank growth of weeds, was a favorite
resort; there the birds coidd be found at nearly all times in .season, in large
troops, feeding in company with Chijjping Sj)arrows, and the S^ii'-d/u alrii/n-
laris. They were very tame during the latter part of the summer, would
only rise when very olosely approached, when they flew in a hesitating man-
ner a short distance, and then i)itched down again among the weeds to
resume their bu.sy search for food. In their undulating flight they utter
their peculiar note, generally with each impulse of the wings, and keep up
a continual chirping when feeding ; but 1 did not hear their true song at this
season. Some of the specimens taken were very young birds, and the spe-
cies unciuestiouably breeds here, although I never succeeded in lindiny a
nest.
"I .should not omit to add, that whilst at Santa Fe, New Mexico, I saw
caged birds tliat were thri\ing well, and apparently reconciled to confine-
ment."
A nest of this bird, obtained near Camp Grant, Arizona, by Dr. Palmer, is
a flat and shallow structure, having a diameter of three inches, and a height
of one and a (piarter. The cavity is only a slight de))ression. Tliis nest is
made of a felting of various materials, chiefly the cotton-like down of the
cottonwood-tree and other soft vegetable matter, fine stems of grasses, frag-
ments of mosses, and various other similar materials, lined with liner mate-
rials of the same. Except in their slightly smaller size, the eggs are not
distinguisliably dilTereut from the preceding.
478 Nl>RTII AMKIUOAN HIHDS.
Chrysomitris psaltria, Mir. mexicana, Bonap.
BLACK OOLDFIHOH; MEXICAN GOLDFINCH.
Canluelis mcxicanits, Swmss. Syn. Ilinls Mcx. I'liil. Miij;. 1.H'27, 4;ir.. — Waoi.kh, IhIs,
1831, fi'ij. ChriimimilriD mciiniiiHn, 111', (.'uiis]). Av. ISSO, 51(1 (iiuotrs Ai'U. tab,
427). — Daiud, liirds N. Am. l»."i», i'i'i, pi. liv, f. 1. AsliuKjaliniis mcxiaiiiiis, (.'ah.
Mu8. Ilfiii. ISSl, Kiy. — 111. .louni. I'iir Orii. 1801, 7 iwitli syiioiiyiny). — C'oukh,
r. A. N. S. 18(>(!, 8'J. Fi-iiiiiilhi infill iiiLiiiiithd (Licirr.l, \Vaiii.i;i!, Isis, 1831, r)25.
? FiiiiiiiUit ciiliiliil, (i.M. Syst. Nut. I, 1788, 1114. Fiiiiijil/n liMii.iin, (iiiiAru, l(i Sp.
lUnLs Ti'.x. 1841, pi. v. (. 1 (yives wliitu ln-lly). — Cooi-iiit, Orn. C'al. 1, KiS).
Sp. Ciiah. Upper parts t:oiitiiiniinsly iiiiil t'liliivly Mack ; llic R'allicrs of tlic rump white
suliteriniiiaily, ami showing this tliiDiiijli thelilack; ii I'uw of the leatlR-rt with frreeiiish-
yellow betwi'fii the whitu and the black ; a I'uw, peiiiapfi, without black tips. The bases of
the tliinl to seventh primaries, ami the ends of the tertiaries externally while. The tail is
black, c.xceiit the outer tiiree I'eatner.s, in which the outer webs ami tiiis only are this color;
the rest while. Insiile of winu; lilaek. Under parts of body pale yellow. Female with
the black of the head and body replaced by olive-green. Length, 4.12 inches; wing, 2.25;
tail, 2.00.
Had. Mexican side of the valley of the Rio Grande, southward ; Oaxaca, .luue (ScL.
1858, 302) ; Cordova (ricL. 1850, 3t>;j) ; (iuateniala (Scu Ibis 1, It)) ; Costa liica (Cab.
J, 18G1, 7); Panama (Lawr. N. Y. Lye. 18C1, 331 ; winter).
Habits. Tlie Mexican Goldfinch is distributed from the western side
of the Ivio (Jrando, through Mexico and Central America, to Panama.
Suniicln-ast mentions it as i'ound throughout tlie State of Vera Cruz, but
most abundant in the temperate region. It breeds in the vicinity of
Orizaba. It was taken in Central America, by Mr. Skinner, and has been
re])orted from Costa Iiica, and from Panama in tlie winter. Of its distinc-
tive peculiarities we have no information, but they probably do not differ
from those of the other forms of C. psaltria.
Chrysomitris lawrenoii, Bonap.
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH.
Carduclis lawrcncii, Oassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Oct. 1850, 105, pi. v (California). Chrysomi-
tris laurciicii, Bo.v. Coiiiptcs Ucndus, Dec. 1853, 913. — Baihd, Birds N. Am. 1858,
424. — HicKKM. X, S, 50 (nest). — Elliot, lllust. Am. B. I, pi. viii. — Cooper, Orn.
Cal. I, 171.
Sp. Char, Male. Hood, sides of head anterior to the middle of the eye, chin, and
upper part of throat, black. Sides of head, neck, and body, upper part of neck and the
back, and upper tail-coverts, ash-color. Hump and lesser wing-coverts yellowish-gn.-en.
Throat below th(! black, breast, and outer edges of all the quills (except the first primary,
and passing into white behind), hright greenish-yellow. Wings black. Tail-feathers
black, with a whit(! srpiaro patch on the inner web, near the end ; outer edges grayish ;
quills black. Female similar, with the black of the head replaced by ash. Length, .iboiit
4.70; wing, 2.75; tail, 2.30. Young like the female, but wing-bands pale f' Ivous, in-
stead of yellow.
Had. Coast of California; Fort Whipple, Arizona (Cooes, P. A. N. S. 18GC, 83).
FIMNT.ILLID.K — THK FINCHES. 471)
Habits. Tliis s]«>cii's, now known to 1m> so common tlironghunt tlio <^i('iitt'r
portion of Ciiliroiiiiii, wii.s first dcsc rilmd liy Mr. Ciissin in IS'iO. Dr. Ilccr-
n)cinn iii'terwiirds i'ountl Ihcni very iiltundiint tliroiighout tlio nortliorn mining
regions of Ciiliforniii, I'roijnonting the hillsides covered with brnsh, the scieds
and Imd;) oi" which thoy eiit with great avidity. Later in the Hea.son he t'oniid
them at San Diego, in quest of grass-seeds on the level plains. They were
in large Hocks, and ,so closely [tacked that he shot thirteen at one discharge.
Their nests, he states, are Imilt in the fork of a bush or stunted oak, and are
composed of line grasses, lined with hair and feathers. They contain four or
five pure white eggs.
Mr. L'idgway only met with this Goldfinch near the foot of the western
slope of the Sierra Nevada.
Dr. Cooper met with a few of this species at Fort Mohave, on the Colorado,
but found them more nuua'rous near tiie coast as i'lir latrth as San Francisco,
at least, and also in the more northern mining regions, lie lias seen them
about .San Francisco in December, and has no doubt that they remain all the
winter throughout the lower country. They seem to avoid the mountainous
regions, and have not been met with in Oregon.
Their habits and their song are, in general respects, similar to those of the
Goldfinch (C. tri.sfis), but tlieir voice is much weaker, and is higher in its
pitch. Their nests, Dr. Cooper thinks, are placed, in jtreierence, on the live-
oaks ; at least, he has never met with them in any other situation. They are
built very much in the style of tho.se of the Goldfinch, but are much smaller,
the cavity measuring only an incli in depth and one and a half in breadth.
TJie eggs he describes as four or five in number, ])ure white, and measuring
.80 by .40 of an inch. He adds tluit they sometimes feed on the ground, on
grass-seeils, as well as on buds and seeds of various weeds and trees. They
were regarded by him as more of a .sylvan species than the Goldfinch, and
not so fond of willows and other trees growing along streams and in ^vet
places. In the Colorado Valley they feed on the seeds of the artemisia. He
did not notice any there after the middle of April. Kggs, in my own cabi-
net, from Monterey, identified by Dr. Canfield, are of a uniform greenish-
white, exactly similar to those of C. psaKria and trinfis, and measure only
.58 by .45 of an inch, or less in length by .22 than as given l)y Dr. Cooper.
Three nests of this species obtained at Mftntcrey, Cal., by Dr. Canfield, all
exhibit more or less variations as to material and style of make. They are
all more or less felted, and beautifully wrought, fully equal in artistic skill to
the nests of the Goldfinch. They are about one and a half inches in height
and three in diameter, and tlie cavity is an inch in depth and one and three
quarters in diameter. Tiie walls of the.se nests are soft, warm, and thick,
composed of wool, both vegetable and animal, fine stems of grasses, down,
feathers, and other materials, all closely matted together, and lined with
the long hair of the larger animals. One of these nests is madci up entirely
of the finer grasses, strongly matted together.
480
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
Chrysomitris pinus, Woy.w.
FINE GOLDFINCH.
Fringilla pinii/t, Wii.son', Am. Oiii. II, 1810, 133, pi. xvii, f. 1. — Aun. Orn. Rioj». 11,
1834, 45") ; V, r>0!», pi. rl.\.\.\. ViimjiUa (ViinUtdis) pimi.i, Hon. Obs. Wil.s. 182'),
No. 103. Liiinrid piiiiis, AliD. Synopsis, 1839,115. — III. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 125,
pi. t'lx.x.x. Clirijmiiiitris jriniis, Uon.M'. C'oiisp. 1850, 515. — Baikd, Hirils N. Am.
1858, 425. — CooPEU & Sccki.ky, 1!»7. — CooPKit, Orn. Ciil. I, 172. — S.\mi'ki,.s, 290.
.'.' Oifi/.iiiiiu'/ri.i mticmplcni, Di:ULs, Esij. Orn. tab. 23 (Mexico). — Ijr. ConsiM.'ctus,
1850, 515.
Sp. Cii.vr. Tail deeply forkoil. Above browni.sh-olive. Beneath whitish, every feather
streaked distinctly with dusky. Conceal'j !
bases of tail-feathers anil quills, together with
tiieir inner edges, sidphur-yellow. Outer
edges ot ([uills and tail-feathers yellowisii-
green. Two brownisli-wiiito bands on the
wing. Length, 4.75 ; wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.20.
Sexes alike. Younrj similar, but the white
below tinged with yellow, the npper parts
with reddish-brown, and there are two pale
oehrac.'eous band.s on the wing.
Chrysomitris pinus. IIaii. North America from Atlantic to
Piicific; Vera Cruz, plateau and alpine region (Simiciiu.vst, I, .juO).
Specimens from all parts of North America appear to be the same, but
there is a ijreat deal of variation among individuals. No. 10,225 ,y,Fort
Tejon, California, and 51,036, Colorado Territory, are almost entirely white
beneath, the streaks being hardly observable. 32,705, Mexico, and 9,524,
"NVasliington Territcny, are nnstreaked medially. No. 11,090, Fort Bridger,
has the streaks on the sides nnusually broad, and very black.
In autumn and winter a reddisli-brown tinge overspreads the upper parts.
Hahits. Though classed with the Goldfinches of this country, the Pine
Finch, in many respects more nearly resembles, in its habits and nidification,
the Carpo(h(ci. It is found throughout the United States, from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. In the winter it extends its irregular migrations into the Cen-
tral States, as f\ir as Northern California on the Pacific, and Southern Penn-
sylvania on the Atlantic. It breeds throughout tlie Pritiah Provinces,
Northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Yorlc, Michigan, and
thence to Washington Territory, in all the evergreen forests.
At Calais, Me., it is resident throughout the year, and breeds there, but is
much more common in the winter than in the summer. In Western Maine,
Professor Verrill observed it very common, both in the s])ring and in the
fall, but never found it breeding. He found it very abundant about the
Umbagog lakes in Jidy, where it was evidently breeding. It breeds also
abundantly among tlie White Mountain.s.
Mr. liidgway first saw the I'ine Finch on the East Humboldt Mountains,
FUINGILLIU.K- THE FINCHES. 4^j
wl.oro, through July au.l August, it M-as .luite (•..nnn.-n, mul where un.loul.t-
edly It breeds, as a young bird unable to fly was obtaine.l. On the Wahsatch
Mountains it was a very iibundaiit si)ecies, inhabiting the pines as well as the
groves of aspens in the alpine regions. Is is gregarious at all times Hyin-^
111 roving, sereeehiug tloeks. The notes it utters on all occasions re!scnible
a very peculiar pr<.nunciation of sirc-cr, given in a very sharj. tone \\'hoii
the flock sud.leniy takes to flight, tliis is clianged to a more rattlin.r outcry
A nest, containing no eggs, was found in an aspen-tree; and another con-
taining one egg, similar to those described elsewhere, was found in a fir-tree
(Abirs) situated near the extremity of a horizontal branch about twenty feet
from the ground.
The I'iiio Finch is also a very common and resident l)ird in the ])lateau
of Mexico and in the alpine regions of the State of \'era Cruz. Its common
name there is Dominif/ul/o montcro. In the alpine regions Sumichrast states
tiiat It IS found to the height of six thousand five hundred feet, and does not
to his knowledge, descend below three thousand feet. It most esi.eciallv
frequents the i)lateau.
Cai)tain Blakiston met with this, species on tlie plains .if the Saskatche-
wan, near the I{ocky Mountains, August (J, l.Sr.8.
In the eastern i)ortion of .Massachusetts it is somcwliat irregular in its
movements and apj.earance, which are sui.]iosed to be affected by the abun-
dance or scarcity of its food elsewhere. Here it feeds chiefly on seeds of
grasses and weeds, probably only after the seeds of the hemlock and other
forest trees have failed it. They arc usually most aliundant h.te in the
season and after heavy falls of snow farther north have diminished their
means of subsistence. .Air. Maynard found it very numerous in the winter
of 1859-00, remaining until quite late in the season, and again in the win-
ter of 18G8-tiU, remaining until the last week in .May. In \Vestern iAIas-
sachusetts, according to Mr. Allen, it is a regular winter visitant, but never
abundant. It arrives early in October, and may b.; seen in small flocks from
that time to the third week in .Alay. It sometimes freiiuents the apple-
orchards, where it feeds on the Aphiiks. According to Dr. Coues, this si)e-
cies occasionally strays as far to the south as the Carolinas, but' it is not
common there.
Wilson observed these birds near Philadelphia, where they were feeding on
the seeds of the abler. Later in the season they collecteil in larger flocks
and took lip their abode among the pine woods. In one particular locality,
he states, a flock of two or three hundred of these birds regularly wintered, for
many years in succession, where noble avenues of ],ines furnished them with
ai)undant food throughout the season. Early in Alarch they all disappeared.
While there, they were so tame as to allow a person to approach within a
few yards. They fluttered among the branches, frequently hanging from the
cones, at the same time uttering notes cdosely resembling those of the (Jold-
fiuch.
ei
482 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
In severe winters Mr. Audubon lias met witli the Pine Fincli as far south
as Henderson, Ky., and Charleston, S. ('., but such visits were always briel'.
In August, l8iH2, he met with Hocks of these birds in Lilmulor. They were
in company with the Crossbill, and were feeding on the seeds of the lir-trees,
and also on those of the thistle. AV'hen at the Magdalen Islands he frequently
saw Hocks moving from various directions. At Ihas d'Or, towards the end of
July, they were in great numbers, and the old birds were acconijianied by
their young. They fretjuented thickets of willows and elders in the vicinity
of water, and were very fearless and gentle. According to his account they
sing while on the wing, and their notes are sweet, varied, clear, and mellow,
and, while somewhat resembling the song of the C. tridis, are perfectly dis-
tinct from it. Its Hight is exactly similar, both gliding through the air in
graceful and deep curves.
In Washington Territory Dr. Cooper I'ound this Finch an abundant and
constant resident, migrating to the coast in winter, where it feeds on the seeds
of the alder. In Si:!:;iuer they were gregarious, even when occupied with
their nesls and young. He has never met with any in Calif(irni.% not oven
in the Sierra Nevada, though they iiave been found by others along its
whole western slope, as far south as Fort Tejon. They feed on the seeds
of both coniferous and detiiduous trees.
Early in May, IHoil, a i)air of these birds built their nest in the garden of
Professor Benjamin Peirce, in Cambridge, Mass., near the colleges. It was
found on the 9th by Mr. Frederick Ware, and already contained its full
complenuiit of four eggs, iiartly incubated. This nest was three inches
in height and four in diameter. The depth of the cavity, as well as its
diameter at the rim, was two inches. The base of this nest was a mass
of loose materials, and the lower jtortions of the sides were hardly differ-
ent. The upper and the inner portions of this fabric were much more com-
pactly and neatly woven, or rather felted together. The outer layers con-
sisted of small twigs of the Thuja, dried stems and ends of pine twigs,
grasses, sedges, stalks of small vegetables, fine roots, bits of wool, and coarse
hair. The whole was very closely lined with fine dry roots of herbaceous
plants and the hair of small quadru)»eds.
The eggs are of an oblong-oval sliai)e,of a light gr<:>en grouu'. -color, spotted,
chiefly at the larger end, with markings of a light rusty-brown. They meas-
ure .71 by .50 of an inch. They have a marked resenil)lance to the eggs of
the Linarice, but the grounil-color is of a slightly lighter shade.
A nest of this s])ecies, found May 1"), 1868, at Hrunich, Canada, was com-
jjosed almost entirely of pine twigs interlaced in a very neat and artistic
niannei'. Its diameter was three and a half inches, and its heigh.t two inches.
It was line<l with hair. The cavity was one and a half inches deep and two
inches wide.
KlilNOILLID.E - TllK laNCllES.
483
GlONL-S LOXIA, LlNX.KUS.
L<ma, LlNN^:us, Syst. Nat. f.l. Id, 75S. (Tvi.e, Loria e.nreiroslra, L.)
VuroiroKtra, ".Scui'.ii.i, 1777." (Type, L. circiro.ttra.)
Gen. Char. Man.lil.hvs ,„ucl. olongute.l, coinpres.,.,! ami attenuated ; greatly curved
or lak'iitc, the poiuts crossing or
ovcrlaiijiing to a greater or less
degree. Tarsi very short ; claws
all very long, the latei'al extend-
ing beyond the middle of the
central; hind claw longer than
its digit. Wings very long and
pointed, reaching beyond the mid-
dle of the narrow, forked tail.
Colors reddish in the male.
Loxia itmericana
The elongated, compre.s.sed,
falcato-ciirvod, and overlap-
ping mandibles readily cliaracterize this genus among birds. Tiiis feature,
however, only belongs to grown speciinens, the young having a straight bil{
as in other Fint'he.s.
The United States species ol' Uria are readily distinguisiied by the
presence of white bands on the wing in kiwopkra and their absence in
umerimna. Neither form, howe\-er, is to be considered as specifically dis-
tinct from their European tdlics. The diflereuces are as follows : —
Species and Varieties.
L. cuivirostra. Wings dusky, without white bands.
1. ]$ill from forehead, .74; wing, .'i.no ; tail, 2.40. Lower mandible much
weaker than the upper, //rrft. Europe .... xay.cnrvirostra}
2. Bill from forehead, .80 or more; wing, 4.00; tail, 2.50. Lower mandible
as strong as the ujiper. Ilab. P^ocky Mountains of United States, and
mountainous regions of Me.vico yi^r. mexica nu .
3. Bill Irom forehead, .GO or less; wing, 3.;iO; (ail, 2.20. Hub. North
America generally . vt^v. „ mer ! vanu .
li. leucoptera. Wmgs deep black, with two liroad white bauds.
1. Body and Lead poiuegrauate-red ; l)lack of .■<eapulars nearly meeting
across fiwer back. //«6. Northern North America ; "IIiinala3-as" ; " Ja"
'^"" var. I euro pi, ,-t! .
2. Body, etc., ciimabar-red ; back nearly wholly red. Ilab. Eifrojie.
var. h t'fdsc in la .'
' Lo3-ia curviro-ilnr, I,inn., Sy.st. Nat. 200.
••' luxia bifascUiUi, Di; SF.i.vs-Lo.s.iciiAMl-s, Faune Helgo, 7«. DoNAf. k Sciilkokl, Moii.
ni's Loxicus, 7.
484
NOKTll AMEUU'AN BIRDS.
Loxia curvirostra var. americana, Baiup.
RED OBOSSBILL.
Ctirvirostra nmerianiii, Wil.s. Am. Oiii. IV, 1811, 44, pi. xx.xi, f. 1, 2. — Baihd, Birds N.
Am. ISnS, 4'2t5. — C<>oi'i:!t & Siiki,ky, 198. — D.VM. & U.vnnistkr, Tr. Cli. Ac. I,
18G9, 281 (Ala.skii). — I'cidi'KI!, Orii. t'al. I, 148.— S.vmvkls, 291. Loxia amerkam,
Bon. List, 1838. — Box. & Scmlkgki,, Moii. Loxicii.s, .'>, tab. vi. — Nkwdkishy, Zoiil.
California ami Oregon Uoutf, P. R. 1!. lU-p. VI, iv, 1857, 87. — Bon. & Schi.kgki,,
Moil. Lox. .'■>, ]il. vi. Liixia ciirvirostrn, FousTKit, I'hil. Trans. LXII, 1772, No. 23.
Aui). Biog. II, 1834, .Wn ; V, 511, 1>1. ixcvii. — In. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 186, pi. cc.
" Laviii piisilhi, Illigek" (Bp.). "Loxia fituca, Vieillot" (Bp.).
Sp. Ciiah. Old male dull red (the shade dideniifr in the specimen, sometimes brick-rod,
sometimes vermilion, etc.) ; darkest across the back ; wings and tail dark blackish-
brown. YoiiMj male yellowish. Female
dull grccni.sh-olive above, each feather with
a dusky centre ; rump and crown bright
green isli-yellow. Beneath grayish ; tinged,
especially on the sides of the body, with
greenish-yellow, Fw'/»(7 olive above; whit-
ish beneath, conspicuously streaked above
and below with blackish. Male about G
inches; wing, 3.;]0; tail, 2.25.
Il.vn. Northern America generally, com-
ing southwanl in winter. Resident in the
Alleghany and Rocky Mountains.
Tliere are coiisicUnable diflerences
both ill color and size, especially of
bill, in sj)cciineiis from various ])arts
of North America, and to a loss dt'oree from the same locality. While
those of the Atlantic and Pacific coast have bills of much tlie same size, in
skins from tiie mountains of California this niemlxir is much stouter; in
this character ai)]iroachin<j tiie L. mc.rivnna of Strickland,
in wiiich the bill presents its maxinnim of tlie North
American form.
It would not probably be far out of the way to consider
the European and all tlie American common Crossbills as
the same species, ditferin"; only as races, a d perhaps in-
cluding L. himalai/ana, wiiich is smaller even tiian amcri-
canu.
We have not okservcd any American Crossbills with two
reddish bands across the win_L(-covcrts, corresponding to the
variety ruhrifasciata of Europe,
L. jn/fiopsitf.iici(s of Europe is .cli the largest of all the
species, measitriii.o: seven incJKfs i.i IcnniJi, jind witii the bill
seven lines liigli at base.
fMjriti n/nrricana.
California.
PRINaiLLID.E — TIIK KIXCflES.
485
In the inteii.sity, as well as tlio shade of tho red in the males, tlien; is a
great range of variation. Generally it is of a tint almost precisely like
that of L. (uin-iroiitrd, though deei)er. The most higldy colored specimen
is o-i.Tl).""), Pliiladelphia (J. 11. Mcllvaine), whieli is entirely continuous deep
tile-red, api)roaching vermilion on the rump. The al)doinen and crissuni
are ligiit pinkish. In No. 31,45!), Fort IJae, April, the red is of a curious
and very unusual purjdish wine-red sliade.
The average of western si)ecimens, particularly those from the northwest
coast of the Unite<l States, have bills scarcely larger than in the avcra-c uf
eastern examples; thus, 18,u:37, Fort Crook, N. Cal., has the bill of the°ame
size as No. r.,8u:3, Philadelphia, while No. 53,482. East Humboldt Mountains,
has the bill smaller than any other in the collectiijii.
In color, there are scarcely any tau^dble differences between tiie Fun.pean
Loxia curvirostra and the two American varieties, the distinctive chaiacter
being 111 the form of the bill and the size; the 0. mMmna is the hirgest of
the three, and the bill is ciuite peculiar in form, the h)wer mandible almost
equalling the upper in length, and exceeiling it in thickness. L. cnrcirmtm
IS slightly smaller, and has the lower mandible much smaller and less power-
ful than the upper, being inferior to it both in length, breadth, and thickness.
The colors also appear to be rather less intense tlian in C. mcimna.
The 6'. amcrimna is in every way, the bill especially, smaller than either
of the preceding. The lower mandible, although but slightly shorter than
the upper, is still much weaker, as in the European bird. The majority of
western birds have the bill but slightly larger than casteru, and most of
those with large bills are only intermediate between amc-icana and nivA-
cana. In some specimens the bill, although almost e(iualling in length
that of the latler, has yet the form of the former ; on the other hand, there
are specimens with the proportions of the mandibles as in mcdvuuu, while
the size is intermediate.
Tlie following figures will illustrate the dilferences in the size of the bills
of the dillerent races.
Viir. infirirnnn.
a)(03cr..'«<!Xko.
Var. curi'i'nntni.
17010 cf.EumiH!
Vnr. nmrrirnnn v.-ir, amerirnnn.
mm ,Y, CiUiforiiiu. 6803 J, Pliilmlclphia.
Specimens from the Columbia Hiver region and northwest coast of the
United States appear to have the red more rosaceous and the bill more
slender than the tyi)ical style. One specimen (No. .31,450, Fort l!ae) is alto-
gether a very peculiar one ; the shadt* of red is ditterent from that of any
other specimen, being a dark niaroon-oarniMie, with a dear ash suirusii-n on
the back. There are two distinct dusky strijics on the clieek, one o\er tho
486 NOKTII A.MEUICAX UIRDS.
ui)])er edge of tlie ear-covi'rts, tlie otlna- ivl()ii>j; tlio lower eilj^'o. Tin; lining
of the wing is witiiout iiny roil tinge, seen in iiU specimens ul' tlie true
aiiuricKiia anil mi.'u-diui ; tlie wings and tail are pnre sepia-brown, (juite dif-
ferent from tlie others; and the feathers show no red margins. The lower
niandilile is very niiieh curved. (AFay not this be like some Siberian style Q
No 21,8()8, from Wasiiington Territory, lias the bill ueai'ly as slender as in
C. lciin)/)hnt, lint there is nothing else peculiar.
llAlilTS. The common IJed Crossbill of America is a bird of very irreg-
ular distriliution,al)undaiit in .some places at certain sea.S(ms, and again rarely
seen for several years. It is a Northern species, found in summer chieily
in the more northern jiortions of the United States, and also found through-
out tiie year in the Alleghanies, in Pennsylvania, ^laryhind, and Virginia, to
Georgia. A closely allied variety is also found in the alpine regions of Vera
Cruz and other departments of Mexico.
Dr. Suckley found this species (piite abundant at Puget Sound, in cei'tain
seasons. Tiiis was especially so in the spring of IHoi, tiiough afterwards he
met with but few. He noticed a pair on the ground near a pool of rain-water.
Tho.y were very tame, and allowed a near approacii. Dr. Cooper found it \ery
abundant near the coast, where it feeds, in winter, on the seeds of the black
spruce, retiring in summer to the mountains to breed, but returning in Sep-
temlier. He never oliserved any in the fir forests of the Coast liaiige. In
the Sierra Nevada, latitude 39°, Dr. Cooper found these birds in considerable
numbers, September, 1803, and in winter they have been obtained about San
Francisco. They seem to be most attracted to the forests of spruces, cyjiresses,
and red-woods, the cones of which are most readily broken. They occasion-
ally descend to the ground, in the liocky Mountains, in search of the seeds
of small ])lants, and also for water.
Mr. DLscholf obtained specimens of this species at Sitka, but it was not
noticed in the territory of the Yukon IJiver by Mv. Dall, or any of his party,
and it was met with by Mr. Itidgway on the East Humboldt Mountains only.
There they were occasionally seen among the willows and small as})eiis bor-
dering the streams. Their common note was a fine and fretjuently repeated
chick-chii'k-chick, very different from the plaintive n(jtes of the C. Icucoptera.
In New England they are of somewluat irregular occurrence, though in
Maine and in the northern portions of Vermont and New Hani|)siiire they
are more or less resident. In Eastern Massachusetts they are comparatively
rare, excepting that, at irregular intervals, they come in large Hocks during
tlie winter. This was so to a remarkalile degree in the winter of 1832, and
more recently in 18G2, when, Mr. Maynard states, they remained until April.
They were then in their summer plumage, and also in full song. In August,
18G8, tiiey again became (juite numerous, and had just before appeared in
large numbers in Western Maine, doing great damage to the oats, and disap-
pearing as soon as tiiese had been harvested. Mr. ^laynard thinks tliat tliese
birds were the same witli those afterwards so numerous in Massachusetts.
FKIXGILLID.K- THE FINCHES. 4y-
The same poculifiritics cf invgiilar i.])ix>aranco have I)oen ol)servc(l by iMv
Allon. in Spiinglidil, wliere it is olten a very al.mi.hmt visitor, but "nn-
erally not so common. In the winter of 185<J-ti() the pine woods in"the
vicniity of that city abounded witii thorn, and in February tiiev wen; already
in full song. They are at all times gregarious, and iue sometimes seen in
large flocks.
They liave, as they fly, a loud, peculiar, and not unmusical cry. This call-
note they do not utter \\hen at rest or when feeding. Their song in the spriu"
and summer is varied and pleasing, but is not powerful, or in any respe(°t
remarkable. Tiiis song is especially noticeable in caged bird.s, who soon Ijc-
come very tame, an<l feed readily In.ni the hand, even when taken at an
adult age. Their manners in confinement are very like those of the Parrots
clinging to the top of the wires with their claws, hanging with their heads
downward, and, when feeding, holding their food in one claw. On the trees,
their habits and manner are also said to be similar to those of I'arrots.
Mr. Audulj(jn has found these birds, in August, in the j.ine woods of Tenn-
sylvania, and inferred that they l)reed there. This .h)es not necessarily fol-
low. They bred ,so early at the nortli as to give ample time lor their
migrations, even in midsummer, to remote places. Professor I5aird, how-
ever, informs me that during a summer spent in the mountains of Schuylkill
County, I'enn., in the coal region, he saw them nearly every dav, moviu-r
al)out or feeding, in pairs. " "
The Ciussbills are extremely gentle and social, are easily approached,
caught in traps, and even knocked down with sticks. Tlieir food is chiefly
tiie seeds of the Conifcva; and also those of plants. Audubon's statement that
they destroy apples merely to secure the seeds is hardly accurate. They
are extravagantly fond of this fruit, and prefer the flesh to its seeds. Tlieir
llight is undulating, somewhat in the manner of the (;oldhiich, firm, swift,
and often ]irotracted. As they fly, they always keep up the litteraiice of
their loud, clear call-notes. -They move readily on the ground, uj) or down
the trunks and limbs of trees, and stand as readily with their heads down-
ward as upright.
Wilson states that in the interior of Pennsylvania this species appears in
large flocks in the winter, and during the prevalence of deep snows they
keep al)out the doors of dwellings, pick ofl" the clay with whicli these huts
are plastered, and are exceedingly tame and not easily driven off.
So far as is known, these Crossbills breed in midwinter, or very early in
the spring, when the weather is the most inclement. The nest and e"<'S
ot tins sjiecies were procured by jNFr. Charles S. Paine, in East ];aiulol])h, Vt.,
early in the month of March. The nest was built in an ujiper briinch of an
elm, — which, of course, was leafless, — the ground was covered witli snow,
and the weather severe. The birds were very tame and fearless, refusing to
leave their eggs, and had to be several times taken off by the hand. After
its nest had been t?aken, and as Mr. I'aine was descending with it in his hand,
488 NURTll AMElilCAN niKDS.
tlic female again resumed lier place upon it, to protect her eggs from the
biting frost. The eggs were four in number, and measured .8u by .51$ of
an inch. Tiiey have a greenish-white ground and arc beautifully blotched,
marbled, and dotted with various shades of lilac and jiurplish-brown.
Loxia curvirostra, vnr. mexicana, Strickland.
MEXICAN CBOSSBILL.
Loxia mexicana, Srr.li'Kl..\xi), .Fiiidiiii! Coiitrib. Orii. IS.'il, 43. — Si'I.atf.u, P. Z. S. 1859,
SO;"). — In. 1804, 174, City of Jlexico. --Salvi.v, Ibis, 1866, 193 (Ouatemalii).
Si". Char. Colors of amcrimiin, but red I)iMglitc'r, luort' soarlct. Bill very larfic, the
lower iiianiliblo nearly or (luite oqual to tlio iipi)or in streiiglli ami knigth. Wing, 4.00;
tail, 2.')0 ; bill (tioiii Corelieiiil) .82.
IIah. Aloiintaiiious region.s of SoiUlieni North Ameiiea, from Guatemala, north into
Rocky Mountains of United States; Mexico, Orizaba.
This bird is quite as well marked as any of the plain-winged " species,"
differing from curvirostra and nmericana quite as much as they do from each
otlier.
All sjiecimens from Me.xico, as well as from the Central Tlocky Mountains
of the United States, are referrible to this form, thougii in winter the amcri-
cana may also be found in the latter region, as a migrant from the north.
Habits. The occurrence of this well-marked race among the mountain-
ous districts of Me.xico is a very interesting and suggestive fact in regard to
the distribution of birds, demonstrating, as it does, tiie close connection be-
tween higii latitudes and high elevations as favoring similar forms. It was
first described by Strickland from sj)ecimcns obtained on tlie plateau near
the city of Mexico. Anotlier specimen is referred to by Mr. Sclater as
having been received from Jalapa, Me.xico ; and Mr. Sumichnist obtivined
also a single spiscimen of tliis species at Moyoa])am, in the alpine region of
Ori}!al)a, where it is known as tiie Pico cruzado. It was taken at an eleva-
tion of about 7,500 feet. Mr. Sinnichrast wiis unable to determine whether
this bird was resident, or only a migratory visitant in the winter. I can find
no reference to any distinctive peculiarities of habits
Loxia leucoptera, CrMKUN.
WHITE-WINOED CB08SBIIX.
Loxia. Intcoptcra, Om. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 540. — Aid. Orn. Hiog. IV, 1838, 467, pi.
ceelxiv. — In. IHnls Am. Ill, 1841, 190, pi. cci. — Hon. & S(;nr,. Mon. Loxicn.s, 1850,
8, pi. ix. — Oot'i.i), H. (it. Hritiiiii, V, 1804 (killed England, Sept. 17). Gitrvirostra
Icuciip/erii, Wii.s. Am. Orn. IV, 1811, 48, pi. xxxi, I'. 3. — BAlun, Hird.s N. Am. 1858,
427. — Dam, & lUNMsri-,u, Tr, Ch. Ac. I, 18()9, 281 (Ala.ska), — CooPKn, Orn, f'al, I,
149, — Sa.mi'ki.s, 293, Cniriro.i/nt hiicop/n-a, Hitr.n.M, Xauniannia, I, 1853, 254, tig,
20, Loxia /ilk i rostra. Lath, Index, Orn, 1, 1790, 371,
; i^'RINGILLID^:_TIlE FINCHES. ^^,j
Sp. Char. Hill jrrontly ci.ni.n.sso.I, an.) a.;,.!., h.uanis il,,. point Mai,. ,..„.,„;, , i
.ngcl wal. .lusKy a..oss the l,aH<; ,),.. si,,., of body und-.A; wi'^ . ™ Ji;
brown; Irom ,1,., nn,I,||,. of Im.IIv ,o ,l„. .ail-.ovorrs whi.isi, ,!„. h .:, ^ . • '
brown 8cap,.la,.swi.,s,an.nail .,)..,<; ,wo .,...1 l.an.ls on w 1 a ^ ^i , ^l !
" f^--'"*:"' ':•"' ' ''^'" '•"v-'t^ = wl.i,,. spots on ,1.0 ., r ,|M. inn..,- ,;,, i l' !
brown.!,, tn.gecl wi,l. olive-,,-...,, in pla.-.-s; ..a,,,..,, o,' ,|... 1.,,. .! , ^ i,,,': ^
en ,-c.s; n.n.p l„.i„,t In-ownish-ydlow. L..,.„|, , ,., ..,5, wi,.,, .... | > '
IlA... No,.H..,.,. parts of X..,.„, A,„..,.i..a ,..„....ally ; fl..o....la„d7KK,N, 1 ^ ' moi
8); Lnglan.], (Sq.ton.l,..,- 17, Gor,.,., JJj.-.l.s (;,,at. U,-i,ai,.). ' ' '
The white Lands ,.„ tl.o winj^s distinguisl. tl.is speci;s fro.n the pvo-
cocln,. aIth.,UKli there arc ,s,„ue other dillen.n.H.s in form of l.il .et
w.ng, etc. There is le,ss variation in forn, and color an,on. .speein.ens th.,n
n. the ,n.cedn.g. It diflers fron. the European analo,„e:Z. ..y;. V L "
conhn, to author,, in the n.ore sh.der hody and hiii, a,..! in ha i l' tie
baly pon.egranate-red, with hlackish hack, instead of cinnahar-re.I, ^s t
cur.>ro.frc, and anuria... J>.onaparte an.l Schleo.-] .^uote the Anu.ri.an
speces as occurnng in the Ilin.alaya Mountains, and perhaps Ja, ,
throw douhts on the s.ipposed European localities
Habits. Jioth the distribution and hahits of this species are prohal.ly in
all essential respects, the san.e with tho.se of the preceding. It is if a.y-
m.^ a n.ore n..thern l.ird, and it has not been detected J-ywlu-n; ,u. tiL
ac.hc coast south ot I5„tish An.erica. It was found in the^Arctic rcnon!
by S.r John Ihchurd.son, where the other species was not obscrve.1 «
found It inhabiting the dense white-spruce forests of the fur country, fc-din-.
pnncpally on the seeds of their .-ones. Up to the sixty-eighth pa alle e
found them rang.ng through the whole breadth of the c.fntimM.t. It is sup-
posed o go as far as these woods extend, though it has not bc-en traced 'f-.r
lier han the si.xty-sccond .legree. It was found fee.ling on the upper
branches chngn.g to then, when wounded, an.l remaining suspended i^en
after death In September they collected in small Hocks, and ilew from tree
to tree with a chattering noise. In the depth of winter they retire from the
coast to the thick woods of the interior.
A few individuals of this species are reconled by Profes.so'r Ileinhardt as
having been taken in South (hecnland.
In Penn.sylvania this species is much more rare than the nmnirana and
Wilson only met with a few specimens. .Since his .lay it has been f u d
more abundantly, occasionally in the neighborhood of L>hiladclphia
wln^v 1 "'"'T ""' """ '•'"'■' """ ""' "'"«""»"" '-- ^^^"I'^to in the
winte &evc.-al specimens were obtained in February and April. Xone
were iound there in the summer. He speaks of thei/great e.xpertiiess in
opening the .spruce cones with their curved bills, an.l ext^cting the seeds
Its appearance m Eastern Massachusetts is much more irregular b..th as to
1808 and 18G9 they were uiH-ommonly abundant, appearing early in the fall
and remanung until duite late in the spring. They were even more fearless
490 NOHTII A.MHKICAN lURDS.
nntl tame than the amcrinnin, aiul in one instance a pair were taken liy tlie
hand, and ulterwanls kept in conlinement. Tiiey ajipeurod around linston in
large Hocks, and remained through April. One was shf)t in Newton by Mr.
Maynard, June I'.i. It was I'ound in an ai)ple-tree, and its crop was lull of
canker-worms. In Eastern Afaine it is resident throughout the year, and,
like the other species, breeds in winter. In Western Maine I'rol'essor Verrill
has i'ound it a common winter visitant, but it is not known to bo resi-
dent.
Near Springfield Mr. Allen considered this species a much less I'rccpient
visitor than the preceding. In the winters of 1804 and 1800 he found them
very abundant, occurring in large Hocks.
Mr. Audubon, on his way to Labrador in 1833, found those birds quite
conunon, in May, among the islands of the Bay of Fundy, evidently migrat-
ing, on their way to more northern regions. I, however, obs(;rved none there
during my visits in the summers of 18a0 and 1851, although a specimen was
afterwards obtained on the Murre Islands, on the 30th of June.
So far as they are known, the habits of this species are exactly similar to
those of the preceding. They feed in the same manner and upon like food.
Their flight is undulating and well sustained, and their movemejits in the
trees are not perceptibly diflerent.
In the spring of 1809, Mr. Jillson, of Hudson, Mass., sent me a pair of
these birds which he had captured the preceding autumn. They were very
tame, and were exceedingly interesting little pets. Their movements in the
cage were like those of caged parrots in every respect, except that they
were far more easy and rapid. They clung to the sides and upper wires of
the cage with their feet, hung down from them, and seemed to enjoy the
practice of walking with their head downward. They were in full song, and
both the male and the female were quite good singers. Their songs were
irregular and varied, but sweet and musical. They ate almost every kind of
food, but were especially eager for slices of raw apples. An occasional larch
cone was also a great treat to them. Although while they lived they were
continually bickering over their food, yet when the i'emale was accidentally
choked by a bit of eggshell her mate was inconsolable, ceased to sing, re-
fused his food, and died of grief in a very few days.
The White-winged Crossbill was seen more fre(piently by Mr. llidgway
among the East Humboldt Mountains than the other species. It was first
noticed on the 12th of August among the cedars on the mountains. Its fine
plaintive cry of " week " was entirely diderent from the hurriedly uttered
notes of the C. aincricanct.
Several specimens of this Crossbill have been taken in Eurojie, where
their occurrence is of course accidental, irregular, and rare.
A nest of this species (S. I., 13,4r)2), taken at Fredericton, New Brunswick,
by Dr. A. Adams, in 1808, is deeply .saucer-shaped, and composed of a rather
thin wall of fibrous pale-green lichens, encased on the outside with spruce
l''ltIN(HLLll).l.; - THE FINCHES.
491
Wigs and tluuly lincnl with coarse l.airs an.l fino sl.reds of inner Inirk
. ox ornal dmn.eter i.s a little less than four inches, the rim being aln st
l.e.fectly cucular; the cavity is an inch and a half deep by two and a half
The one egg is ,mle blue, the large end rather thickly spattered with fine
ots 01 black and ashy-lilac ; is regularly or rather slightly elongate-ova
U.e^nall end rather obtuse. It n.casures .80 of an incl^in length ly;^^
Genus iBOIOTHUS, C'.vdan.
co^Li;;;: .:™:7 *r tT'"* -"■ •"•■ -"" - - "■"-—■ "-
upper mmiiliblu aiu] tlie iiostiils cou-
cealed by .stilT, apprcssoil bristly fuatheivs ;
midtllo of the mnndible Imviiinr .several
ridgo.s parallel with the (■iiliiieii. In-
ner lateral toe rather the Ioiijkm-, its
claw reachinrr the inidillo of the'^iiii'ddlo
claw; the hind toe latlier lonjjer, its
claw longer than the din-ital jwrtion.
AVinn:s very long, reaehinjr the middle
of the tail; second quill a little longer
than the first and third. Tail deeply
fiarked. -X^htUus Ihmrius.
Difficult as it sometimes is to define with precision the characters of closely
allied spec.es of birds, there are few genera where this is the case more
tnkn.gly ban in .Egiothu.. Leaving out of view the peculiar European
species. It has been a mooted question whether North America, including.
Greenland, possesses one. two. or six species, owing to the strictly boreal
distribution of these birds, and the fact
tliiit their summer resorts are seldom in-
vaded by the naturalist. The necessary
means of determining the proper distri-
bution of the forms and the variations
witli season, locality, and sex, are scarce-
ly to be met with in any public mu-
seum, that of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, however, being the most complete in
this respect.
he most satisftxctory indications of the diflerent species and varieties his
papers in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
JEiiioihm llnarius.
402 NOin'lI AMKUICAN hiuds.
(18t;i, ;?7r); lSfi3, 4(l; mid 18(li», 180) ]mn'^ iiiodcls of nniitlinl()j,ri,.al criti-
cism and discuHsioii. His lalmrs iiaw; niiaMi'd us to tUiline with prt'ci.sioii tiio
various forms, botli Kuroiican and American, found in this gunus, and nave
brought us to satisfactory conclusions in reference to their limitations.
Mr. Ifidgwuy lias hit made a careful revision of the specimens of ^h't/iu-
thiis in the Sinithsouian collection, and wilii a general cuiuairrence in the
conclusions of Ih: Coues in regard to the dilfereneea observable, he sug-
gests, as an ajiplicatioii of tlie laws more recently .eritied by bim and myself
in our examination of the North American land-birds, that we may best con-
sider the actual species to be two in numlier, namely, cauencr.ns and linuriim,
ranging the other forms under these, either as geographical races or as sea-
sonal stages. Hearing in mind the general law that the more boreal or
Greenliind-born specimens should be larger than the more southern or Con-
tinental, and that the jjctndiar ilark plumage of fmconxiiH and rostrtitus
only occurs in summer breeding specimens, he considers the.se as identical
with liii'iriiis and Imlholli ; the winter ]>lumages respectively of the same tv o
races of one species, /ijuirins; the latter race, liolholli, being the larger or
Greenland form. If /iisrcsirna be darker than summer liiiariHn Irom Eu-
rope, it is simply another instance of the darktsr tints of Arctic American
birds as compared with Kuroj)ean.
jiJyiuthioi rancscfUH and (.'■i/ijws Mr. llidgway considers as the Cfreenland
(larger) and Continental (smaller) races of one species, which perhaps do not
ditl'er so nnich with .season as do those of iinarius. The diH'erences in the
size and proooitions of bill, and ])erliaps of feet, Afr. liidgway does not think
of nuich im])ortance, as great variations are observalile in this respect in
specimens from the same locality, and the actual difterences of the bill are
obscured by the greater length of the bristly feathers around its base in
winter, making it appear considerably shorter. Indeed, Professor Alfred
Newton maintains that the same bird will have the bill considerably longer
in summer, after living on soft insect food, and shorter in winter when worn
down by use on hard seeds. Mr. llidgway finds, too, that specimens of Iina-
rius from Kodiak dilfer in a much longer and more slender bill than usual,
in this resjiect resembling Alaska specimens t)f .several other Fringillida;.
The folk)wing synopsis expresses Mr. Iiidgway's views as indicated above :
a critical examination of a series of more than two hundred specimens, in
the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, being the basis of his con-
clusions. — S. R B.
Species asd Varieties.
Common Ciiar.\ctehs. Adiill. Above streaked with Ansky upon .1 lirownisli,
or bmwn and whitish, ground; wing-coverts tipped with wliitish or pale brown.
Bciieatli whitish, .streaked on the sides with dusky. An indistiiiet, ligliter super-
ciliary .stripe. Mah. Rnnip tin.<re<l with rose-pink. Female. Rump not tinged
with pinkish. Juv. Without any red, and with the wliolo lower parts thickly
streaked.
FRIX(!II,LIDvE-TllE FIN'CIIKS. 4(jy
A. rn>wii witli u (iiiiidnit.. |.,ilcli of .liiMsoii, in adult ; lliront mid chin with
lldiKsIxy «|),.t; ,,iii||sui„l liul-r,Mihcr.s i,„L fd-rd cousimciumisIv wiUi whit,.
S Willi tlic liivasl (ill;.,.,! Willi hmI.
1. A. oaiieaoeilB. ltiiin|. UMstrfid<(Ml while (holh sexes, nl all seii-
«OMs); Ih.' Unu-v tuil-covoits with while shalls ; Ih,. red thige ,mi tli..
breiust ill the j, id' u delieato pale losa iis i)iid< liiil.
Itill vei-y short and thielv, ils hi'i.L'hl lliroii,t.'h the liase neaily
equalling th.^ leuKlh of the eulii.eii. Winj;, .'i.'^O ; tail. li.d.-,. Mill-
culnien, .r.; hei-hl, ..!(». /A,i. (Jivenland . . \,u: ca ,] enc e n r.
Bill nnieh sinaller, more acute, its height (hion-h Ih.. base nnicli
less than ihe length of Ih.' cnlnicn. Wing, 3.00; tail, 2.r.0. Hill •
cnhncii, .;J0; height, .22. Hub. Coiuinental uivtic Amciica
o A ij ^"''* '•>' >f i l>f:
i. A. UnariUB. Kinnp always .streaked ; h>wer lail-covcrls with dusky
Bhall -streaks; the red tinge on thu breiust of Ih,' $ ol' a rosa.roiis-
cariiiinu lint.
liill al.oiil .;i.-. hi U'liglh l,y .22 h, I .^ght ; wing, 2.80; tail,
2.10. //„/;. Coniinenlal arctic and col.l tenii)enite .North America
,,.,, var. // 1) <i r i ■: s.
Hill about .40, or more, in liMigih, by .30 in h.ighl ; wing, 3.20;
tad, 2.(10. Huh. (iiiviilaml in summer, and Continental arctic aii(i
cohl lem])orato North America in winter . . . vm l,o/hd/li
B. Crown without any red ; throat and chin wilhoiil luiv duskv sim.i ; ,,Mills
aiKl tail-leatlu.rs of adult male edgvd coils,, icuonsly with while. J wilh-
out red linge on the breast.
3. A. flavlrostris. Hump rosc-piuk in the ^. brown .streaked will,
dusky in 9. jV(, h;\ on crown or breast.
9. Above umbcr-brown streaked with dusky; ground-color of
rump light brown; throat and jngulum strongly ochraceous-biiir.
Hub. Eiirone . . . ,..,,. /;,.„,• , •
• ...... \ar. Jld rir(j s /ris,
9. Above olive-brown streake<l with dusky; ground-color of
rump .sulpliur-yollow : throat and jngulum faintlv siilphnr-vcll,.w,
tinged with buff. //<(A. North America . .' . viii: b re ,r steri
iBgiothus linarius, Cabaxis.
LESSER BED-POLL.
FnnffiHn Unaria, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 17<iti, 322. -Arn. Orn. Riog. IV, 1S38, .-.SR pt
cppIxxv. Friwim,,. {Jcnnthis) limirio, Kkvs. .t Mi.as. Will,. Kinoi>. 1S4(),' Xc. '115]
page \6^.—Acnnlhi.1 rimnw, Bi-. Conspectus, 18f)(), .'•,41. .Kt/in/htis Ihutri,,', Cuiwis'
-Mus. Ilcin. ISill, IC,].- lUiitn, Birds N. Am. 18;-„s, 428. — Coii;s, Pr. A. N. S. Nov.
1861, 382. — CoopKR & SrcKLEY, 1!»8. — Sami-kl.s 2!)4. - Mavnaki), B. E Mas.s
1870, no. — Ham, k BASMsricii, Tr. Chie. Acad. I, 1809, 281. - Cooi.,-.!,, (),,,. fa).
I, ISO. Linariii miiwr, Sw. V. Bor. Am. II, is:il, 207. - Ari). Syn 1830 114
-III. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 122, pi. dxxix. /Lim,n,> hMnlli, Bimih.m, Vogd Dc'utsch^
lands. Ao,„thmhm)!i, Br. k Schi.koki,, Mon. Loxicns, 1850, 50, \^\. liii. ,E,,hlhHS
Iwlbolli, C0UK.S Pr. A. N. Sc. 1861, 385. Linaria americnwi, Max. Cab. Journ. VI,
1858, 338. ^■KoiothKx/Ksccsccus, Cori;s, P. A. N. S. Aug. 1801, 222 (Labrador ; breed'
mg dress). — Id. p. 380. A^iih.llniH ros/m/iif,, Ei,i.i,,t, lllust. H. Am I pi ix —
CouEs, P. A. N. S. Nov. 1861, 378 (Greenland). - Elliot, lllust. Birds N A I
pi. X. '
494 NORTH AMKIUCAN IJIRDS.
T. f>iin'iii/ iivd Winter Plnmaye
8r. CiiAU. Aihill. Oromnl-ctiliir of llio ouciput, niii)i', scapulars, aiifl interscapulars,
brownisli-wliitc, each leatliur willi medial streak of dusky-lirowu ; runip and upper tail-
coverts white, with the streaks in shar]ier contrast. Winjj;s clear brownish-dusky with two
conspicuous white bands, Ibrnied by tips of middle and secondary coverts ; tertials broadly,
and secondaries narrowly, edged with white; tail-feathers narrowly edged with wliite,
this broader on inner webs. A narrow frontal liand (tinged with brownish), an ol)scuro
superciliary stripe, and the lower parts in general, white; sides streaked with dusky, and
lower tail-eovcrts each with a medial streak of the same. On the tbrchead and vertex a
somewhat quadrate patch of inten.so carmine. Na.sal plunndi, lores, and a small, somewhat
quadrate, gular spot, d.ark silky-brown. Bill yellow, the cidmen and gonys lilack.
$. Throat, jugulum, and breast, rosaceou.s-carminc (extending upward over the max-
illa', and backward over the sides almost to the Hanks) ; rump tinged with the same.
Var. / ( u a r in s (21,077, Philadelphia). AVing, 2.SI); tail, 2.35 ; bill, .3.") and .22 ; tarsus,
.55 ; middle toe, .;i().
Var. holbOIti (;i!),2G3, Quebec). Wing, 3.00; tail, 2.40; bill, .42 and .29; tarsu.s, .(10;
middle toe, ..'!7.
A'ar. /(«)//< o//// (52,457, Kodiak). Wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.40 ; bill, .47 and .25; tarsus,.55;
middle toe, .35.
9. No red except on the crown, where its tint is less intense; dusky gular spot larger,
extending farther on to the throat.
Var. 1 i n a riu a C.)02, T'enn.). Wing, 2.70; tail, 2.30; bill, .32 and .23; tarsus, .55;
middle toe, .32.
Var. holholli (39,302, Quebec). Wing, 3.10; t.ail, 2..')0; bill, .42 and .29 ; tar.sns, .01 ;
middle toe, .39.
Var holholli? (52,4GO, Kodiak). Wing, 2.80; tail, 2..30; bill, .39 and .23; tarsus,
.54 ; middle toe, 32.
II. Summer or Breeiliiu; Plumage.
The pattern the .'-ame as above, but the dark tint intensified and spread so as to almost
entirely obliterate any lighter markings, except the streaks on the rump ; the wing-bands
as well as the dorsal streaks obsolete'; streaks on the sides broader; frontal band dusky
like the occiput. I'ed tints .slightly intensilied. Bill wholly dusky.
^. Throat, jug.dum, breast, and tinge on sides and rump, ro.sy-carmine.
Var. Una r i u s (type of '• /imcescen.f "). Wing, 2.80 ; tail, 2.30 ; bill, .30 and .25 ; tarsus,
..53 ; middle toe, .33.
Var. holholli (type of '' roslnifiis"). Wing, 3.00; tail, 2.35; bill, .41 and .30; tar-
sus, .00 ; middle toe, .40.
A'ar. holholli f v'^Au, Kodiak, July). Wing, 2.90; tail, 2.20; bill, .40 and .25;
tarsus, .50; middle toe, ..32.
9. Mo red exce]>t on the crown.
Var. linariu.i (9 type of "fuKce.icots"). Wing, 2.S0 ; tail, 2..30; bill, .35 and .25;
tarsus, .52 ; middle toe, .34.
Young (fu'st plnm.agc). (54,478, Kodiak, .July.) Streaks covering whole head, neck,
nml breast ; no red (Rmcw.w).
II.Mi. Circumjiolar regions. In North Anu'rica breeding in the sub-arelic regions, and
in winter descending into the northern United States.
The two races of y^'. luuirius are ([iiite diirorontly colored in siiinnier and
in winter. In the latter sea.son the jdiiniaoe is .sorte- .iid more la.\, tuid the
markings Letter deliiicd, tliotioh in iitittiinn witli a ,.onsi(leritlile (ichraoeons
sull'usiun. In spring the colors are purer, and the markings most shar]»]y
FRIXGILLID.K — THE KIXCIIKS. 495
defined ; in the brood in,Lj-s(>ason tlio iiliiinajxo assunios a burnt aiipoaranoo,
the dark tints intonsiryand s])read, so that soniotinu's the inipor parts appoar
almost nnitbrndy dusky; the liill appoars lar;j;or, in consoiiuence of the h'ss
devekiinucnt of its basal tut'ts, tiian in winter. In tliis ihisky suiuuior ('(uidi-
tion those birds I'orni the vA'. fii>:irs(riin and ./i'. rasfntfuti of Couos, tlu' latter
being the sunnner plumage of var. /lullxV/i, tlie former that of var. /iiicrii's.
In the series of over two hundred examples examined, all niidsnnnner spoti-
meiis are in the plumage of fnaccsa'iix or rotilmtus, while the latter is not
seen in any autunnial, winter, or sjiring birds.
Speeiniens of tiie var. ImlhuUi have been received from Quebec, collected
by Mr. W. Couper.
Haijits. Accepting as variations due either to looality, latitude, or seascm
the differences already reforri'd to in tlie |ilumage of this siiecios, it is not
neces.sary to consider the (juestion of races in connection with our story of
their habits. We jtossess but very little information as to thoir jieouliarities
as races in these respects. Treating, thci, tlie Lesser liod-1'oll, thougli a])-
pearing in hmr dilfering i)ha.ses, as one spocies, we claim it to be common to
the northern portions of botli hemi.'jpheres.
It is found throughout northern North America from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, is abundant in the boreal regions of Kurope, and ]irobably of Asia
also. On the Pacific coast, Dr. ('oo])er has ob.sorved it only as far south as
AVashington Territory. Farther nortii it is nnich more abiuidant. Mr. P>an-
nister found it common at St. jMichaels, both in summer and in winter. At
Nulato INfr. Dall found this sju'cies very common in Mintor, and very lilth^
less so in sunnner. He states that tlie nest is usually lined with liair, and
covered externally witli moss, dry grass, and like materials, built in bushes,
near the ground. They begin to build thi! ir)th of May. Tlu; eggs are laid
about the 1st of dune, and the young are flying near the end of July.
The young of the fii>it year are dark, with a small patch of laown on tlie
breast. After their sei'ond year the males increase tlie amount of rose-
color on the head and breast, and the very old birds are (piite brilliant in the
breeding-sea,son. At St. Michaels, wliore there are no trees and very few
bushes, these birds froipiently build tlii'ir nests in the gras.s.
Mr. Dall states that this bird has no song, but that tlu'ir cheerful twitter-
ing and chirping, tlieir fearless and socialilo ways, their bright ])lumage and
elegant nests, are iiuite enough to make tliem giuieral favorites.
liiehardson found ''is neat and liardy little bird one of the few jiormanent
residents of the fur c iitries, whore it was seen, in the coldest wiiather, on the
banks of lakes and rivers, ho])])ing among the reeds or clinging to their sialk.s.
Mr Lord found this sjiooios a rare bird in Iiritish Columbia. It was found
in swampy placijs, wliere the alders grew thickly, and Mlien; there wore large
water-])lants. To tiiose it clings, pecking at their seed-jiods, or, searcliing the
remaining flowors, feiuls ujion anv insects they may contain, 'i'lioir song he
describes as a soft and pretty warble, coming in bursts, tlie singor jiercliing
41)0 NOliTH AMEUrUAX BIRDS.
liiiusclf boldly on the top of a plant, as if to be more plainly heard by his
companions. In early sjirinj;' they feed on the catkins of the alder and
hazel. They winter in small Hocks in Vancouver's Island.
HoIImiH .states that tiiis .species is found irregularly distributed over Green-
land, coming always in the tir.st half of Ajiril, a little later than tiie Snow-
lUiiiting. It migrates to OreenLmd from America, and is much i-arer in Ice-
land. In June it is found nesting near the shore, and, contrary to the usual
nature of liirds, is very wihl, tiiough at all times el.se it is very iearless. At
this time ll.u male loses its beautiful crimson breast, re.seiid)les tiie female,
and is nnich less gorgeous than in winter. It nests in birches, alders, or
willows, and lays five bluisii-white eggs, spotted with lear brown. Towards
the end of August and in Sei)tendK!r they are .seen in small Hocks about the
settlements, the male resuming its red breast, and all, both old and young,
being very fearless. In confinement they soon became very tame, and in a
few days would perch upon his hand and struggle with each other for the
hemp-seed that he iield to them, though there was plenty of food in their
cage. They feed on seeds and the tops of lichens. IJy October they all
disapi)ear, and are not seen in (heenland in the winter.
AVilson states tliat, in his day, these birds were \ery common in North-
western Xew York, where they appeared always with the tirst deep snow,
and were, on that account, called Snow-Rirds. In severe winters tliey were
occasionally, though very rarely, seen in the neighborhood of Philadelphia,
where they were very fond ot liie seeds of the connnon alder, and hung head
downwards while feeding, in tiie manner of our (ioldtinch. They were very
unsus]iieious, and permitted a near approach witliout manifesting any signs
of alarm. Mr. Ord, in a subseipumt edition of AVilson, states that these
bivds rarely visit I'liiladelphia, and that it was many years l>efore he could
procure specimens. In the winter of LSI:} - 14 they appeared in a flock of
learly a hundred, and were so intent in feeding u|)ou the .«eeds of the Atri-
plcv hastata that they could be closely approached. Their call exactly re-
sembled that of the (Joldfinch. The.se birds lingered in that neighborhood
until about the middle of April.
Their migration soutiiward in winter is evidently caused more by want of
food than by tiie state of the temperature. They remain in high northern
regions in the most inclement weather, and often appear among us in seasons
not reniarkaljly cold, and remain until late in tlie spring. In LSM.'i, by the
7tli of November, the weather still being (piitc; mild, Nuttall states, they ap-
peared in Massachusetts in considerable flocks. Tiiey regularly assendded in
the birch-trees every morning to feed on the seeds, and were so intent on
their emidoyment that it was often ])ossible to a])])roach the .shmder trees on
which they were feeding, and strike them off, before they would take wing.
They hung on the twigs with great tenacity, and moved ubout in reversed
positions, in the manner of the Chickadees. They are described by him as
having a (piailing call, similar to that of the Goldfinch, and when crowding
FRINGILLID^E — THE FIXCIIRa 497
together, in Hij^ht, as luakinj,' a coiil'usc.d (■,liirj)iiig, Avilli a rattliii,i,' noise, and
niovinj; oil' willi a sinmltaneous tuittor. They were attracted to tlie jiineH liy
the Cr()ssl)ill.s, and were liusily eniiduyeil in coUectinjf tiie seeds, dro]iped from
the cones as tiui ('rossl)ills open^ ' them. They at times fed on the Inids of
fruit-trees. They were always found to he I'at, even on tlieir first arrival,
and there were no obvious reasons lor their movements.
Mr. Boarihnan speaks of them as eommon at C.'ahiis by the first of the
winter. At Norway, Me., Professor Verrill found them very eommnn in fall,
winter, and sprinj;-, and most aliundant in Mareh and April. In Springfield
they are, aceorduig to Mr. Allen, an irregular and occasional visitant, com-
ing in very hirge lloeks one year, and again not seen lor several years. In a
more recent paper (1X70) Mr. Allen states that during 'he iireceiling li\-e years
these birds iiave been several times very luimerous in Massachu.setts, ajiiiear-
iug in cjuite large flocks.
Mr. Audubon met with these birds in Labrador the last of July, and ob-
tained specimens of dilferent ages. He thinks their notes more like those
of the Siskin of Europe than of our GohUinch, uttered both when the birds
are on tiie wing and when they have alighted. They were in small parties of
seven or eiglit, evidently mendjcrs of the same family. They w(!re tame and
familiar, and fearlessly returned to the same spot after having been shot
at. They were also remarkably affectionate, and he fre(piently observed them
passing seeds one to the other in the most loving manner.
Dr. Coues also observed this bird in Lalirador, and described it as ^-A'. fas-
ccscens. He found it abumlant along the c(jast, and was struck with its re-
sendjlance, in habits, to the Chrijsomitrix irisfi.H. It was remarkably unsus-
liicious and familiar, and showed no signs of fear even when v(!ry closely
approached. It freiiuented, almost exclusively, the scruliby junipers that
grow everywhere in open places in thick impenetrable patches. He describes
its flight as irregular, rising and ialling in curves, and seldom protracted to
any great distance. While ])assing overhead, it uttered a jjcculiar rattling
chirj). He thinks it has no song.
Dr. Ivirtland informs me that early in the winter of 18(]8 his grandson
picked \\\) a wing-broken male lJed-1'oll, and placed it in his greenliou.se. It
began at once to feed on crund)s of bread and hay-seed, and raiiidly recovered.
It soon acduired the iiabitof leajnng from slu'lf to shelf, among thephmts.aud
was finally .seen climbing up sonu! stately rc/Kiydiiium shrub,s,and suspending
itself, i)arrot-likc, by its feet from the limbs, ca])turing aphides. Krom that
time it took no other food, living exclusively on the i>arasitic insects of the
jilants. So active was it in capturing these, that for two ni )nths it was not
necessary to fumigate the greenhou.se to destroy them. From day to day a
female Eed-Poll hovered over the buihling, and her calls were responded to
by the invalid. Later in the season he escaped from his confinement, and
was seen to rejoin ids faithful mate, which had remained near him all the
winter. As in Europe, this s]i('cies in the Arctic regions of America has been
found nesting in low trees and bushes, from two to si.\ feet liom the ground.
498 NORTH AMKHICAN BIRDS.
TIk! Iiabits and iipiiuariiuce of tlio liirds observed in Europe ftiii)ear identi-
cal witii tliose of our own. Mr. Yarrell .states that of all birds these are the
most easily tamed, and can be readily made to breed in continement. In
Scotland and in parts of Kngland it is resident throughout the year, in the
summer retiring to the leases of the mountains, and there br(;eding in the un-
derwood that skirts the banks of the mountain streams. It nests in bushes
or low trees, such as the alder and the willow. These are constructed of
mosses am\ Jie stems of dry grasses, intermingled with down from the catkins
of the willow, and lined with the same, making them soft and warm. The
young are jtroduceil late in the season, and are seldom able to lly before the
first of J>dy. The ])arent birds are devoted in their attachment. I'ennant
relates that in one instance where this l)ird was sitting on four eggs, she was
so tenacious of her nest as to sutler him to take her off with his hand, and
after having been released she still refused to leave it. In the winter they
descend to the lower grounds, and there feed on the buds of the birch and
alder, to reach which they are oliligeil, like the Titmice, to hang from the
ends of the l)ranches, with their backs downward. So intent are they on
their work that they are easily taken alive by means of a long stick smeared
with birdlime. Mr. Sell)y states that its notes during the breeding-season,
though not delivered in a continuous song, are sweet and pleasing. Captain
Scoresby relates that in his apjiroach to Si)itybergen .several of these birds
alighted on his ship. They were so wearied with their long journey as to be
e.isily cauglit by the hand. The distance of the nearest point of Norway
renders it dillicult to imagine how so delicate a bird can perform this journey,
or why it should seek such a cold and barren country. European eggs are
five in number, of a pale bluish-green, spotted with orange-brown, princi-
pally about the larger end. They measure .05 by .51) of an inch.
American eggs of this species average .05 by .53 of an inch. Their
color is a light bluish-white, which varies considerably in the depth of its
shading, and this tinge is e.\ceedingl}' fugitive, it» being ditHcult to preserve
it even in a cabinet. The eggs are generally and finely dotted with a rusty-
nrown, and are of a rather rounded oval shape.
iEgiothus canescens, cauanis.
MEALY RED-FOLL.
Linaria cancscnm, (lori.n, " Birds Kiirii]ic, pi. cxciii." Linota canrsccns, Bon.M'. List, 1838.
^IcdiilJiis cdiir.fcciin, IJdN. ('(msi)c(tii.s, 1850, 541. — l!(is. & S('iii,i;i!i;i,, Moii. Lo.xifiis,
1850, 47, tiil>. li. — li<iss, Ktl. I'iiil. .lour. 1861, 103. AJijiot/ui.t aine.iccn.i, ('.miasms,
Mils. Hciii. 1851, 1(11. — Haiiu), liir.l.s N. Am. 1858, 42!>. — ("duk.s, V. A. N. S. 1801,
388. — Sami'Kls, ays. "Friiiijillit Immilix, Tkmmixck, 1835. Not of Vicillot."
lioiiiiliiuti'. .' Fi-iiujilhi li(iiriilU, All). Orii. Itioj?- V, 183it, 87, ))1. occc. .' Liimria
hiirvolis. All). liiidsAm. ill, ISll, VJO, pi. ilxxviii. " LiiKiria /nifiiniiiDiiii, Hi)l.liiJl,l.,
Kioycr Niil. 'I'iilskr. 1843." .h'niiilliii.s crilijira, (.'(Hi;.s, I'r. A. N. Sc. Nov. 1801, 385.
— Ki.i.lor, Illust. N. Am. Birds, i, pi. ix.
1'"KIN(;1M,1I).K — TllH riNCIIKS. 499
Sp. CiiAH. Autumnal female, flrcenlanil race {eanencens). (ti:i, 1)77, (irccnland, Univ.
Zoiil. Mii.s. Copciiliageii.) In general ap|)t'araii('e like the ('orrespoiidiiij; pluinajre ofy/i.
liixiriu.i, but the whole I'uiiip iinmaeiihite white; lioiital hand more than twiee as wiile as
in liiiarius, and better deCnied ; lower lail-eoverts without streaks, their shafts even beinj);
white. Carmine vertical pateli only alillle wider than the whitish frontal patch ; head
with a stroiij; ochraecons sull'iision. Winii', 3..jO ; tail, 2.90 ; bill, .3.j an<l JJO ; tarsus, .00 ;
middle toe, .32. Win^'-foruuila, 1, 2, and 3.
IIai!. Greenland. V'ariatious with .season probal>ly as in smaller Contiuculal race.
Aihilt of both sejcs in sprimj. Continental race {^r.nlipvx). As described for the (Irccn-
land form, l)nt without the ochraoeous .sulVusion. Sides very sparsely streaked.
Mnh in sprini). Breast only tin<;ed with dcdic^ato peacli-lilossoui-pink, M/s crfeiiillitf/
farther hack medially than laterullij, — just the reveiso of Ai. litiarins ; a ver}' faint tin;^e
of tlie same in the white of the rump. Measurements (Xo. 19,(iS(;, Fort Simpson. Ai>ril
30,1800; B. R. Ros.'s, CouKs's type) : Wing, 3.00; tail. 2 ")5 ; bill, .29 and .25 ; tarsus, .iVi;
middle toe, .30; wing-formula, 2, 1, 3, 4.
Female in spring. Similar, but lacking all red except that of the pilcinn, which is less
intense, though not more restricted, than in the mide. ^reasurciiicnts (.No. I!),7ti0, Fort
Simpson, April 28; B. R. Ross): Wing, 2.80; tail, 2.;5r) ; bill, .25 and .22; tarsus, .51;
middle toe, .30.
/loth nexes in autumn. (9, I'ort Rae.) The white of the whole plumage, except on the
rump, overspread by a wash of pale ochraeeous, this deepest aiit(riorly ; on the anterior
upper ])arts a deep tint of ochraeeous entirely replacing the white; wiiig-markiugs broader
and more ochraeeous than in the spring pliMuagcs Wing, 2.85; tail, 2.50; bill, .30 and .25;
tarsus, .51 ; middle toe, .30.
IIaii. Continentid arctic America. In winter south into the United Stales (as far as
Mount Carroll, Ulinoi.s).
Thouoli yE. rnnn^rrna is noavly identical with ^E. /Iiinriii.'^ in si/o, liicsc two
sjH'cies may always bo (li.stiiij^iiisiicd IVum oae.li titlicr l)y ccfliiin wdll-niaiked
and constant ditlercnces in colomtion ; the princi]iiil of tlicsi' liiivc Ih'cii nieii-
tioned in tlie synoptical tiible, l)ut a few otlier points may lie n(tte<l iitn'c. In
spvine; males of mwrwvH.s the delicate r()sace(>us-i)iiik of the breast dnt^s not
extend, np on to the clieeks, and bii#,'kward it extends fait^ier medially tlian
laterally, scarcely tingeing the sides at all ; \.hile in ^E. /in<iriii'< the intensely
rosaceons, almost carmine, tint covers the clieeks, and extends backward
much larther lateiully thtm medially, covering nearly the wiiolo sides.
Though the weakness, or shortness, of the toes comiKired with tlie tarsus,
is a feature distinguishing, upon tilmost microscopical c(un])arison, the yE. co-
itearnu^ in its two races from the races of yE. linarius, it will not by any means
serve to distinguish cdiK'-iccns and c/'tV/yx'.s-, since, as will be seen by the meas-
urements <fii-:n, the ]iro])ortion of the toes to the tarsus is a specific, and not
a race, character. (Uidgway.)
H.XBITS. The history of tht ^foaly l{ed-Poll can only be jn-esented with
some doubts and uncertainties. We cannot always dcteiiiiine how fiir tlie
accounts given by others may have belonged to this species, ami we can only
accept, with some reserve, their statements.
This form, wlicther species or race, is known to inhtibit (Ireenland, where,
according to Dr. IJeinhardt, it is constantly resilient, and I iiavo received its
5(J(J NORTH AMKUrCAN lilKDS.
e{,'gs from tliat ('(luiitry, wlicio its idcutiiii'iitidii was apparetitly comjtlete.
Wlietlicr this bird is resilient in, roj^ularly migratory to, or only accidental
in, Europe, is us yet a ([uestion liy no means fully settled. Deyland gives
it as resident in Oreenland only, and as accidental in (Jerniany, Belgium,
and the north of France. He states that it is known to nest in shrubs
and in low trees, and that, in all essential respects, its manners are identical
with the common Ked-1'oll. One of these birds wiis taken alive in a snare
in the vic.'inity of Abbeville, and kept in a cage, making part of the collec-
tion of M. Uaillon.
Yarrell thought that suihcient evidence c.xi.sted of its specific distinctness,
but Mr. Gould regarded it as a matter of doulit whether the birds found in
Europe were natives, fir only arrivals from nortliern America. He states that
among the Loiulon dealers this bird, called by them the Stone lied-Poll, is
well known, and is considered distinct, but that its occurrence is very rare.
Occasionally, at great intervals, they are said to have been abundant.
Mr. IJoubleday, of Epping, procured several sjieciinens of this bird in Col-
chester, in January, 18o(j, and afterwards obtained a living pair, which he
kept for some time. Their notes were much sharper than thn.se of the lina-
rius. Its occurrence was most frctiuent in winter, many specimens having
been obtained in England, and some also in Scotland. Its hal>its throughout
the year are sujijiosed to be very similar to those of the common lled-l'oU.
Its food is said to be chiefly the seeds of various forest trees.
^[r. Temminck describes what is undoubtedly this sj)ecies, under the title
of boreal is. H' this supjiosition bo admitted to be correct, its geographical
distribution becomes much more clearly defined. He states that it is found
during the summer in Norway and Sweden, aiul is resident of the Arctic
Circle throughout the year, ami is also found in Northern Asia, as well as in
America and in other parts of Europe. He has received specimens from
(.Treenland, and tdso from Japan, difVeriug in no respect from these found in
Europe.
Audubon states that he procured four s]ieciinens of this bird in Newfound-
land. In their habits he could see no difference between them and the com-
mon Ued-1'oll, l)ut did observe a noticeable difference in tiieir song. He
also states that one was shot by Mr. Edward Harris near Moorestown, N. J.
Mr. John WoUey, in his expeditions to Lajdand, found tliere only one
species of this genns which was clearly referrible to the Mealy l!ed-Poll, and
was a common resident l)ird. One of tiiese eggs from Lapland is larger
and a nnich lighter-c(jlored egg, than any of the common Imarius. Tiie
ground is a greenish-wliite, sparingly spotted with dark reddish-brown about
tiie larger end. Its measurement is .8(1 by .oS of an inch. An egg from
Greenland is not jterceptilily different in size, color, or markings.
Holbiill, in his papers on the fauna of (ireeidand, demonstrates very dis-
tinctly the s])ecific dideniuces ln'tween tliis liird and tiu> /imiriiis. These
are its stringer and bnjader bill, the diHeience in colors at every age, its
FUIXGlLMIhK -TIIK FINf'HE.S. gaj
much oreater si/., its voiy .lillnvnt n„t«.s, an.l its ,,„it(, .lilH-ront n.o.lcs of
lile. tlie r,n,r.ans being a slrietly rcsulcnt si.ed.s, and the linartns hdiv
uiigmtoiy. "
In Mr. sun.MH.r this s,.oci..s is toi.n.l t.. ti.e ext.vnio nortli nf (Im-nland
and has never been ki.uwn t,, nest laithor sonth than the (lilth parallel It
IS more muuerous in X..rth (Iroenland than the Ihiann., which is rare at ti.e
extreme north, wluie this is very eonunon even at latitu.le 7.r. This bird
biukk .ts i.ests m bushes in the san.e n.anner with /uurrlus, and its c-s
closely resenibl. those of that bird. Its notes, he adds, do not at all 7e-
senible those of the Ked-I'oll, b„t are like those of the A.>p,n. <,„rr,In.
It ,s a resident of ( Jre<.nland throughout the year, and in the winter kee,,s
on the n.ountains in the interior, but is n.uch n.ore nunu-ruus at latitude G6°
than iarther south. In February, 182(i, H..lboll .saw n.:my Hocks on the
moun an.s between IJitenlKtnk an.l Ou.anak, and in the journey taken in
l.S.iO by a merchant fron. Holsteinborg into the interior of the country a
great nuu.y Hocks were observed. They are also frcjueutlv met with 'by
rem.leer-Imnters, who go far into the interior. It is rarely Vound in South
l^reenland at any time, an.l never in the sunnuer. In mild winters they
sometimes come ali.n.t the settlements, as happened in the winter of 1828- '^9
and agam in 18;;7 - :!8. I„ the intervening winters it was not seen at (Jod-
liaab, and n, severe winters it is never to be found near the coast, only sin-de
sj)ecnnens occurring there in sj)ring and autumn. °
Mr. :\IacKarlane thinks this si)ecies spends the winter at Fort Anderson as
lie has met with it as late as December and as early as February, and believes
It to have been present in the vicinity in the interval It nests in May
Mr Harriott found one ..f its nests on the branch of a tree, about five ieet
from the ground. It cDiitained five eggs.
Tlie egg of this speeies reseftifcles th^t of the Hnarlis except in size ami its
lighter ground-color. The ground is a bluish or greenish white, dotted witii
a tawny-brown. The egg is ..f a more oval shape, and measures .75 by (JO
of an inch. ''
^giothus flavirostris,' var. brewsteri, llmawAY.
BHEWSTEB'S LINNET,
Sp. CiiMi. G.'noral arpcaianoo ..oincwliat tl.at of .E. limrim. l.ut no ro^l on tho rroM i,
and IlK- .v„los mul nn.ii. tinov.l will, .snlplnn'-yollow ; no Mack cr„Iar spot. 9 ,uJ (Jrouii.l-
«<>l-r alu.vo lif^ht u.nhor, homuins s„lpl,nr-y,.|lo«- on tl,.. r.nnp, ."ad, li,atlK.r, own on tlic
«i<.wn, w,th a distinct medial streak of dusky. l!..neath wlnto, tin-od with rnivons-yd.
low .■nilcnoHy an,l alon- the sides; si.les and eii.ssuni slrrake,! will, ,lnskv. Win-, nn.l
taiidnsk-y; the fonner will, two pale fulvous bands ; the seeomlaries, pnmaries, and tail-
V,l,T""i""" 'r'""''"' ?■""■ ^'"■''' "'"• '^^■'■'' '"^ <"°* "f TA„,««s). "Fn„oilla „,fc.ce„s,
\ .KM.,. I..„„. F,a.„;. tah. 41, I. 1." ,Juota montUcm, Hi-. & Sci.LKOKl, Mou. l,ox. 18f.o' '^lI
Harm flavirostris, HiiEilil."
502
NOUTII AMERICAN BIRDS.
feathers narrowly skirted with wliilisli siilpliiir-ycllow. A dusky loral spot, nnd n rntlier
distinct iifjlitcr supcMviiiary stripe. Wiiij?, 3.(10 ; tail, 2.50; tnrsiis, ..^O ; iniddio toe, .30.
Winfj-foriiiMlii, 1, '2, 3, etc.
Hah. Massiu'husetts.
As tlie present article on yEyiothiis is goin<r to press, we have received,
tlnou<j;li the kindness of Dr. Ikewer, a specimen of wliat appears to be a
tliird si>ecies ul'.fJr/iofJins, ullit.'d to the .K. Jtavlrosfr is of Europe, obtained
in Waltlmni, Mass., by Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge. Tiiis bird
was killed in a flock of yE. linarius, of which five were iilso shot at the
same discharge. None of the others, nor indeed of any of ninety specimens
prepared by ISIr. Brewster dnring the winter, were at all like the present one,
which is entirely different from anything we have ever seen from North
America.
The relationship of this bird ajipears to be nearest to the uE. flavirostrvi of
Europe, with the 9 of which it agrees in many respects, as distinguished
from linarius and cancsccns. The European bird, however, lacks the sul-
phur-yellow tinge (which gives it somewhat the appearance of Chrysomitris
pinus), has the throat and jugulum strongly redci sh-buff, instead of dingy
yellowish-wliite, and is nnich browner above ; besides which the tail is longer
and loss deeply forked, with narrower feathers.
Habits. Nothing distinctive was observed by Mr. Brewster in regard to
the habits of the specimen killed by him.
Uknus LEUCOSTICTB, Swainso;;
Leimsticlc, Sw.UNsnx, Fauini 15or. Am. II, 18:?!, 265. (Typo, Limiria tephrocnth, Sw.)
("iKN-. CiiAH. Bill conicid, roimdod, ratliL'r l.liiiit at the tip ; the oidmen slightly convex ;
the commissure .slightly concave; the nostrils and 'la.se of commissure concealed by
Ij-iicoslirte Irphrocotis
deprcs.sed hristly feathers ; a depressed ridge exten.ling about parallel with the culmen
above the middle of the bill. Another more conspicuously angulatcd one extending
FRINOILMDyE _ tHK KINCIIES.
503
u .lu.,..ny.s. Ta,.s,..s al,„„t ...p.al ,o ,1„. n,i,l,ll.. „... ,.,..1 .law. Inn.,. C al „ L
onger, >.s daw not .vaclnnj, l,eyo,„l ,1k. l.aso of ,1... „,i,l,ll.. .„„, „i,„| ,0. r.aU.r 1,. „ "
.18 claw ion,..,, than tl.o digital portion. U'in.s vo.y Ion,; ,h.st ,,nill Ion. ' 'l u-
prminnes longer than the .sfuondan..,s. Tail fo.ku.l. '^".'.t, all tiu
Tl.i.s genus diflers fro,„ .Jiyio/kns in tlto more „l,tuse an.l.curvecl l.ill the
les.s developntent of l.ristly feathers at the base, the ri.lge on the lower man-
dible the ateral toe not reaching beyond the base of the niid.lle one un.l
possibly a longer hind toe. Its relationship to the other tillies will be fonnd
exi)ressed m the synoptical table of Convthmiistuuv
_ The number of American species, or at least races, of th-s genus has been
increased consi.lerably since the publication of JJirds of North Ameri... live
n^w belonging to the American fauna, instead of tiie three there mentioned
01 the species usually assigned to the genus, one, Z. ur.ioa, is .p.ite dilferent
in form, lacking the ndge of the mandible, etc., and in having the ends of the
secondaries graduated in tlie closed
wing, instead of being all on tlie same
line. The colors, too, are normally
different ; in arctoa being dusky,
with silvory-gray wings and tail,
without rose tips to the leathers of
the posterior i)art of l)ody; and in
LcHcostide. proper, the wings and tail
being dark-brown narrowly edged
with whitish, or more broadly, like
the ends of tlie feathers of the body
behind, with rose-color. For the
present, however, we shall combine the species, not liaving before us any
American specimens of L. arctoa.
From the regular gradation of each form into tlie other — the extremes
being thus connected by an unbroken chain of intermediate forms — it seems
reasonable to consider all the North American forms as referable to one spe-
cies (Z. tephrocotis, Sw., 1831) as geographical races. They may be distin-
guished as follows : —
Common Characters. Body anteriorly chocolate-lM-own ; po..toriorlv tin-e.l
with rose-rod. Wing-coverts (broadly) an.l <,uills edged with the same. Head
above hght ashy or silvery-gray, as are also the feathers aroun.l the base of nnpor
niandibl,; ; the forehead and a patch on crown blackish. Throat dn^^ky.
Additional Characters. The chocolate-colore.l feathers an.l tiu- secondary qnills
somotmies the tail-feathers and greater wing-eoverts, edged with pale brownish-
wlnteor fnlvons ; the interseapnlars with darker centres. Rose of nnnp and
upper tad-coverts in r.,rin of transverse bands at end of feathers, that of ab.lon.en
more a contninons wash. Lining of wings and axillars white, tin-ed will, rose
at ends of feather... Feathers of crissum dark brown, edge.l with wbiiish some-
times Unged with rose. Hill generally reddish or yellowish, will, blackish tip
Leiicosticle Uplirocolis.
504 NOin'II AMKUKJAM KIllDS.
A. Aiiriciiliira choculiiU'-lnciw ii.
1. Whole sidu of lusiid below tlio oyo, iiicliiiliiip tlio aurionlnrs, Hioco-
latc-lirown. Chin not. Iiordored nnti-rioily with iish. In the liicecjin^r-
scnson, heiid dailu'i- and iish wiiiitin;,'. Wiiif;, 4.l}o ; tail, 11.00; hill .U ;
taisiis, .72. llah. Intii'ioi re^'iona of N'oilli Anieriea. . var. I /■ p li luira / i s .
2. Cheeks, lores, and anterioi' lionlerciC the ehin asli-eolor, Wiiifr, -1.00;
tail, 2.80; bill, .44; tiiraus, .70. Hah. Colorado anil Wyoining Terri-
tories var. (•(tinjiCHtris.
!!• Anrieiilars a.sli-eolor.
3. Wing, 4.;J0; tail, IJ.OO; hill, .40; tarsus (?). Choeolate ol'th(! breast,
etc., lifjht, exactly as in lejilimcofin ; rose beneath restricted to the alidn-
mee ; lores and ehin li<rbt ash. Hah, Northwest eoast from Kodiak to
Fort Sini|)son, east to Wyoinini,' Ti'iritory . . . \iiv, li I tor a I i n.
4. Win^', 4.(iO ; tail, 3.40 ; bill, .40 ; tarsus, .IH. Choeolate very daik,
ineliniii^' to sepia; rose extending forward on to the breast; lores blaek-
isli ; chin dusky j^ray . ffah. Aleutian Islands (St. (J<'orge's, I'nalaschka,
and Kodiak) \nv. y r isei ii ii c li <( .
A clcsely alliutl species ' iVoin Kaiutschatkii ami tlie Kiirile I.slniul (litters
mainly in liaviny the nasal feathers as well as the head blackish, but with-
out distinct patch on the tojt, and the najJC rtisty, in contrast with the back.
It is about the size of L. (q)hrocotis. This species may yet be delected in
the westernmost Aleutians.
Leucosticte tephrocotis,'' Swainson.
ORAT-CROWNED FINCH.
Linaria (LcuaisHdc) kphramlis, i'.w. V. !?or. Am. II, ]8:}1, 2").'), pi. 1. LtncnMietc tephro-
colis, Sw. Uirds II, l»;j7. — Hon. Consp. 1800, 530. -- 1!aii;u, Staiisbury's Salt Lake,
18r>-2, 317.— 111. Birds X. Am. ]».')8, 430. — ('<poim;i!, Orn. Cal. I, 104. Eriilhrdspiza
lc])/iri)c,di.s, 15nx. List, lS3t<. — .\ri>. Syii. 1839. - III. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 170, pL
c.xeviii. Frinijilla kphrocufh, .\iii. Orii. Uio^^ V, 1839, '232, pi. ccccxxiv.
Sp. Ciiak. (No. 19,2"i.j.) Male in irhiler. General color dark ehnoolate-brown or
umber, lij^hter and more chestnut l)eli)W : the feathers to a considerable dejrrec with paler
edfies (most evident in inmiatnro .fpeeimens), those of back with darker centres. N.isal
bristly feathers, ami those along base of maxilla, and the hind head to nape ash-gray, this
color forming a square patch on top of head, and not extending below level of eyes. A
1 Lciicostif/i; hrnnneinuchn. Frhujilhi {Liii'irla) brinnicinnclm, T?i!AN'lvr, Hull. Acnd. St.
IVtcrshurg, 1841, 3."). Mimlifrinijilla (LcKcdnlicIc) liruniietHnc/ni, Hon. & .Scu i.kci'.i,, Men.
Loxi(!iis, ISi'iO, 30, pi. xlii.
'^ As this sheet is going through the ]>ross, we have Iw-en pemiitted by Mr. J. A. Allen to
exan.''U' a series of liird.s, obtained by liiiii in Julj% 1871, on Mt. Liueidn, Colorado, above the
timber line, where they were breeding abnndaiitly. Alt'ioiif,'li veiy dillen'iit from winter L.
tephrocoli.i, they yet strongly .suggest the idea of their l)eing that species in summer dress. They
present the following chameteristies : —
Breeding pi umaijc. Dilfering from the stngt^ first described .ibove, in entire al)seMct' of any ash
about tlie h<'ail, and in deep black, instead of yer.'iwi.sh bill. $ with the red tints intense
carmine, in.stead of ])eacli-blossoni jank, that of the abdomen extending fartlier forward. 9 hi^^k-
ing the red, or with oidy a tiuge of it. Hood da'k vandyke-biuwn, becoming nearly black on
i''i{iNaiM,ii>.fi — TiiK FfxriiKs. 505
I'rontiil liluckisli piitrli I'xii'iKliii;^ tWnii luisc oC liill (i'.\i'i'|itiii^ llu! lirislly Ci'ulla'i'M iiiiiiie-
(liiili'ly acljiK'ciit 111 it), ami ifiu'liiii^' sdint'wlmt licyciml tlic liiii' ol' iln- eyes, willi coii-
vl'X outliiic licliind, 1111(1 fxteiiiiiii;,' Ics.- distinctly mi lliu loiai iv^iioii. t'liiii ami liii'oat
liaikcr cliL'stimt, iiiil jriayi.-^ii aiiltiicjily. liudy buliiiid dusky; IIk; reathcrs of alHloiiioii
and lliuiks wusIilmI, and of I'lissiiiii, luinp, mid iilipfl' tuil-covorU tijipcd, with rosc-rfil ;
wiiif,'-(;oVL'rts, and Ik sonic cxlcnl (|uiils, oil;.'c(l with tiif same", olhciwisc with white.
Hill ycllowisii, with dusky tip; feel lijai'k. lA'n;,'lli lict'ori- skinning', O.oO; extent, I I.'jO.
Skin; Lciijith, (i,r.O; wiii^', •1.30 ; tail, 3.00.
Yiiiiii;/. Pattern ol' coloration as in Ihc adult of A. le/ilinicolis ; asii similarly restiicted,
hut with the lilack liontal patch liadly dcliiicd. The lirowii of tiie pluiiiai,'e, however, is
of an eiilircly diU'ciciil slia<lc lioin liiat of adult specimens ol' tcjilirocitlis, l)ein<j of a lilack-
ish-sei)ia east, imieli darker, even, than in i/riseiiiiiilut ; each feather also broadly hordered
terminally with paler, these borders beiiij; whitish on the throat and breast, brownish on
the nape and hack, and light rose (broadly) on the scapnlais. The whole aliiloinen,
flunks, and crissum are nearly eontinnously iicach-lilossoni pink, which, with that of the
lesser and middle winn;-eoverts and rump, is of a liner and bri;,diter tint than in adults.
The other edgings to wings are pale oelnw.'eons ; under side of wing pure while. ]5ill dull
yellow, dusky toward tii(. Wing, 1.20; tail, 3.S0. (liU,li;!S, I'iiitah Mountains, L'tah,
September liO, 1870; Du. F. V. Havdkn.)
The young specimen ilcscribotl was obtained during the siininicr of 1871
in tlie Uintali Mountains ; and wore it not unniislaiviilily a bird of the year,
it would be considered almost a distinct species, .so dill'erent is it from
adult specimens of tcphrovotis.
Habits. Of the history tind habits of this well-marked and strikingly
peculiar bird, but little is known. It was tirst described by Swainson from
a single specimen, obtained on the Saskatchewan I'lains, in ^lay, by Dr.
Eichardson's party. Specimens were afterwards procured in Cai)tain Stans-
bury's expedition, near Salt Lake City, Utah, in March, 1850. Dr. Hayden
found them very abundant on the Laramie Plains during the winter season,
and Mr. Pearsall obtained numbers about Fort lienton. Dr. Cooper has iilso
seen one specimen brought from somewhere east of Lake Tahoe, in Washoe,
by Mr. R Gruber. They were said to be ])lentiful tliere in the cold winter
of 18G1-G2. Dr. Cooper thinks it probable tliat they visit the similar
country east of the northern Sierra Nevada, in California.
A single flock of what is presumed to have been thi;.: species was seen by
Mr. liidgway, on the 5tli of January, in the outskirts of Virginia City, Ne-
tlu^ forehead ; rest of head light chocolati'-hrowii, siiifilar to, but inure faded than, that of the
winter phniiage ; nasal tufts grayish-wliite.
Ten speeimens collected by Mr. Allen all agive in the eharaeters pointed out, by whieli they
differ from the winter ]iluniage of L. leplifamtis. Taking into eoiisiileration the fact of their
black instead of yellowish bill, more intense red, and generally more dusky colors, as well as
the other points of distinction from the previously known plumages of /,. lefjlimmtis, and also
that they are identical in size and proportion, while specimens of L. kphrocnlh in the breeding
plumage have not before been seen, it seems very reasonable to .su]ppo.se that these specimens
rein-eseiit the breeding plumage of that s|iecies. Tliere i.s some resemlilanee to L. brnnncinucha,
which, from the plate in Bonaparte anil Sehlegid's monograph of the Coccolhntiuilinw, seems to
differ mainly in being lighter eolnred. ilr. Allen says that these birds were breeding abundantly
iu the locality where they were found.
U4
506 NORTH AMKIIICAN lUIU)!^.
viulii. Tlio flock WHS llittiiij,' loslk'ssly over tlie snow in tlio niunnor of tlio
J'fir/riiphinifs.
Nothing lias Itet'ti nsrcr'ainiitl.Ro far as wonre now inlbrnjod.as to its nest,
eggs, or gciu'ial distiihution (lining the breiiding-season.
Mr. .1. K. Lord states that he met with a flock of these rare and l)eantiful
birds on the siunniit of tlie Cascade Mountains. It was late in October, and
he observed a flock of nine or ten birds pecking along the ground, and feed-
ing somewhat in the manner of Larks. Puzzled to know what birds they
could be at such an altitiule so late in the year, ho fired among them and
secured three, a female and two males in fine plumage. (I'erhaiw var. littor-
al is.)
In July of the following summer, on the summit of the Kocky Mountains,
near the Kootaiiie Pass, he again saw these birds feeding on the ground. He
shot several, but they were all young birds of the year. It is therefore ren-
dered probable that these P'inclies breed on the Cascade and Ilocky Moun-
tains, in both at about the same altitude, or seven thousand feet, coming
into the lowlands during the winter, as it is not likely that they could endure
the cold of tiie summits, or find there a sufticiency of food, the winter being
very severe, and the snow three feet or more in depth.
^[r. Charles N. Ilolden, a promising young ornithologist of Chicago, who
observed these birds among the Black Hills, near Sherman, at an altitude
of eight thousand feet above the sea, has furnished me with interesting
observations in regard to them. He informs me tliat he did not meet with
these birds there in summer. They came in small flocks in the coldest part
of winter. Their food consisted of small seeds and insects. In some in-
stances he found the crops so distended with seeds as to distort their shape.
They l>ecome very fat, and are excellent eating. In one si)t!cimen, a young
male, the plumage was almost black, as described at the beginning of this
article. These liirds were quite numerous, and nearly forty specimens were
secured. Ho was not able to learn anything in reference to their breeding-
]>laces. Except by dissection, he found it difficult to distinguish between a
young male of the first year and a female.
If the .specimen referred to in the foot-note at the beginning of this arti-
cle as collected by Mr. Allen on Mount Lincoln be really this si)ecip.s, an im-
])ortant advance in its history will have been reached, showing tliat their
summers are si)ent in the high mountain summits, and that the rest of the
year is passed low(U' down on the plains.
FIUXOILUD.K TIIK riN'ClIIX 507
Leucosticte tephroootis, var. campestris, IIaiiiu.
THE OBAT-CHEEKED FIHCH.
Leucudidc camii'xlris, Haiiui, Cimi'KU, Orii. Ciil. I, 1(13, 1870.
Sr. CllAli. lioily lijrlit clioi'i)lntc-lii()Wii, the t'catlR'rs cdf.'cd with imlci'. tliosc (if llic
bnck Willi nillicr (InrkiT (■(•iitri's. Koiitlicrs oriiiml ifj^'ioii, Hanks licliiud, t'lissiiin, iiiiiip,
and uiipei- tail-uov('rts, wiiix-fovcrts, and primary (luills, edged willi losc-rcd ; secoiidaiy
qniils and tail-t'eatliLTs with paii- fiilvoiiM; iitlhi or no trnco of rose on nmlcr wind's. Fore-
head and paleli on crown hlaekisii ; the liind iiead to nape, cheeks inilnechalely nnder tlic
eye (hut not ineiiidini,' the aurieidars, e.\ee|)t, perliaps, tii(! most anterior) ami liasc of
lower mandible all round, ashy-gray. Throat dusky. JJili yellowish, with dusky lip.
hii\!,!i dusky.
No. 41,527, near Denver City, Col., .lanuary, 18(i2 (Du. C. Wkhnkik). Length, 7.00;
wing, 4.00; tail, 3 00; exposed iwrtioii of lirst primary, ;5.U/. Hill from forehead, .(iO;
from no.'stril, .40 ; tarsus, ."o ; middle loe and elaw, .80; claw alone, :1\\ hind toe and
claw, .80 ; claw alone, .37.
Had. Colorado Territory (Dii. Wkhniok) ; Wyoming Territory (Mii. II. 1{. Duukrk).
Tlii.s form Itears ii close mseiiiblaiicc to L. frji/irom/ is, and iiiiiv, iiidocd, l)c
a variety of it ; but as it (liU'cr-s in the chaiuetcfs that appear ^(eiierally to lie
those most constant in Litivstictr, ami as, in lil'ty skins of the /ijiJuvcotiH
from one locality, we have seen nothin<f like it, wt; aii', inclined to consider
them distinct. The sizes and j^eneral appearance iire much the same, tlie
difference licinjf that in irjihrocut is the whole cheeks are cliocolate below tlie
level of the eye, the chin without any pay ; while in ni mimlrii^ the sides
of head below the eye, but not including the ears, with a narrow border of
the chin, a'-e of tiiis color.
From liUomli>i this form may be distingiii.sh -d by the less extent of ash
on the clieeks, which in littoraliH covers the whole ears, and extenils back
fartlier on the head all round. L. grixnunrhu is marked like littoralis, and
is much larger than either. Possi'ily it may be well to entertain the idea
of its being a hybrid between ti'phrocotia and /if torn/ is w ijrifsciniiihd.
The .specimen described was pr(?sented to the Smithsonian Institution by
Dr. Wernigk, and at the time was supposed to bo L. ff/ihrorDtis.
Of this form, nothing as to its habits is known with certainty. It proba-
bly does not diHer in any important resi)ect from the allied races.
Leucosticte tephrocotis, var. littoralis, Haird.
HEPBVBirS FINCH.
Leucosticte griseinvrhct, Er.MOT, Illust. Birds Am. X. Lciicos/ic/e li/tnrah's, Baiki), Tr. C'h.
A. S. 1, 1869, 318, pi. x.vviii, f. 1. — Dai.i, & Basn-lsteii, lb. p. 282. — Cooi-Kli, Orii.
Cal. I, 162.
Sp. Chah. Body chocolate-brown, the leather.s narrowly margined with paler, those of
the back with rather darker centres Abdomen, llaiik.s, cri.ssum, rump, upper tail-eovcrts,
508 NOltTH AMKUICAX UIKDS.
win|?-roverts, iiinl (|iiills oilj^'cd with rosi'-iv(|, luoru ni' less coiitiiiiKiiis (Icust so on the
rump); tlic outer edges of seeoiularies anil tail-t'eiilhei's [lali! I'lilvous, tlie latter witli a rosy
shade. Head silver) -i,'nvy ; the forehead and paleh on erown hlaek ; the eliin fjray, eon-
tinuous with that of cheek ; the throat dark brown, shadiiif;: into tlio chocolate of breast.
Bill yellowish, the extreme tip dusky. Nasal leathers while. Fiength, 7.10 ; wing. 4.:iO;
tail, ;{.10 ; exposed portion of lirsl primary, .'i.lO. Length of liill from furehead, .(lU ; from
nostril, .35. Tarsu.s, .70.
IIab. Kodiak (Hlsciioif) ; Sitka (nrseiioFK) : Fort Simiison, Ihilish Columbia (Ukp-
■in) ; Gilmer, Wyoming (.Di'itKKK).
Tliis ra(!C, wliich we believe to be the Southern eoast representiitivc oigrisci-
niichti, bears much resoinblaiifo to thiit birtl, but is considerably smaller ; the
colors are briojiter and lighter, more like those of tiiihrorutit<, tind the bill is
shorter iind more conictd, the dark jnitcli on tlie heiul more restricted, the cliin
more ashy, tind the brown of the head not so ftn- forward. From tcphrorotis
it is distinguislied by the extension of the ash of lieail below the eye ; and from
cnnijH'sfria by having the ciir-coverts ashy, insteail of the anterior portion of
the cheeks only ; ami there is a])])iirently ii greater e.xtent of gmy on the chin.
Si)ecimens obtained at Kodiak in Fel)ruary arc distinguishable from speci-
mens of griticini(r/u(, ol)tiiined witii them at the same jilace, only by their
much smaller size, iind lighter chocolate tints. Tiie occurrence of both these
races at the same ])lace, at tlie same time, is a suliject for specultttion. A
perfectly typicid specimen (No. nO.'JUO) ia in the collection from (Jilmer,
Wyoming Territory, obtained by jMr. II. II. Durkee, ii frequent contributor
to the collections of the Smithsonian Institution, tind sent by him idong witli
numerous specimens of L. Iqi/trucutts, with which it appears to l;ave been
mixed.
Leucosticte tephrocotis, vur. griseinucha, liAiitn.
THE OBAT-EABED FINCH.
Passer niv/nti.i, var. y, Pai.i.as, Zoiig. IJnsso-asiat. II (WU), 2:(. Fn'iifilNi' {Linorin) prisei-
niH-hn, IlKANirr, Hull. Acad. St. rctcrshurg, Nov. 1841, Sli. Mont ifriiujiUa (Leucos-
ticte) (iriseintichi. Box. & Sen I,. Moil. Loxiciis (isno), S.'i, ])l. xli. Lem-nstiete. t/nsei-
nueliii, MAiiin, liirds N. Am. 4:in. — Kirri.rrz, Di'iikwiirdigkcitim (18,'i8), 1, aid. —
Dam, it liANMsTKi;, Tr. Ch. Ar. .S,;. I, istiSt, :>.s-J. - liAiiiu, 111. 11. ;il7, pi. xxviii,
f. 2. — Kl.l.lor, IlluNt \iii. 15. pi. xi. — t'ooi'Kl!, (»iii. t'al. 1, Itil. Leucosticte
yriseiijciii/s, (lon.D, Voy. Sulphur.
Sp. Char. Deseripiion of spoeimen No. 54,240: (xcnpi-al eolor dark brownish-choco-
late anteriorly, the feathers of back rather darker in the centre, and with ]ialcr edges.
Forehead and crown lilack ; rest of the head, iii"'"diiig the cheeks and cars, of a rather
silvery gray ; throat bla^'kish, .^hading oil" insensibly into the chocolate of Incast. Featiicrs
of abdomen (and hinder part of breast to a less degree), Hanks and cri.>vsnm, with the rump
mill upiier tail-coverts, and les.-ier and middle wing-coverts, tipped with dark pomegranate
or rose-red, allowing mor ■ or less of thin dusky ba.ses to be seen, espeeiallv above, wdiero
there is an aiipearancc of bars. Wing and tail feathers brown, iie,ii-ly all, including the
greater wing-coverts, edged with pale yellowish-gray u ilh only a faint tinge of ro.sc. Bill
dusky ; da' 'ce.st at tip. Legs black.
FUINOlLLlIhK — TIIH IMNCIIKS. 5Q()
Dimensions: Total luiii,'!!!, T.HO ; wiutr, •l.'^i'; (nil, '■>.'>*>. Ivxnoscd [Hirtion of liist |iii-
niiiiy, .'i.")!). JJill, IriPiu I'oifiieiwl, .(JU ; iVom lutstril, .I'J. Li'i^s : tarsus, .1)."); luiildlc loc
iiiul claw, .02; claw alinic, ..'J'/ ; himl toe and claw, .()!): claw alone, .;i.S.
IIau. Al<Milian Islands (Hi. (!coi'gi''s and riiahuschka).
This is coiisiilunibly tlio largest of tiiu Aiiu'rican siiccics di' Liinvnllrlf, ami
lias a longer bill. It also has the chocolatu and rose color darker, and the
rose extending iarther forward ou the breast than in other species. It could
only lie conlbunded with C. llf/orniis as to color, both having the liead abdve,
and on tiie sides, a.shy, covering the whole ear-coverts; but the dusky patch
on the crown is more extended, the ash of chin iiKire restricteil, and the
throat darker. The rose extends iarther along the breast, and the tints arc
diflerent. Tiie size is much larger.
A specimen, apparently young, jierhaps a female, differs in didler tints,
and a tinge of ochreous-yeHow on the middle of tiie alidonien and crLssuni.
The lining of the wings is without tiny rose-color.
IJonaparte and Schlegel describe the young of this sj)ecies as without rose-
color.
Specimens of this bird were obtained at St. (leorgo's Island, Avith the eggs
(which are white), 1)y Afr. W. IF. J)all. J)r. Minor found it at Tnalaschka.
II.ABITS. Tiie (Iray-eared Finch is the largest s]iecies of this remarkable
genus known to inhabit North America. Tlius far, excejit in onc^ instance, it
has been met with only in the Aleutian Islands and I'nalasclika. In the latter
jilace they were met with by Dr. T. T. Elinor, and in the former liy .Mr. I tail.
JNfr. Ii. lirown (Ibis, IHOH, ]i. 41':^) states that a single s|iecinien of this
very rare bird was taken at Fort L'upert, Vancouver Island, in June, 18(12^
by Mr. I'. M. C.'ompton, the officer in charge of that station. Tiiis, however,
may have belonged to the var. /l//(ir(i/is.
"Mr. Dall states that they abound on the Pribylow and the other Aleutian
Islands, A nnmlier of sjiecimens were obtaiiu^d on tlie St. (Jeorge's in Au-
gust, though at that time they were moulting. At that season tiiis bird
had no ,song exce])t a clear chir]), .sounding like mrZ-fi urif-d-irc'r-ircrf. It
was on the wing a gretit ])art of the time, rarely alighting on the ground, but
darting ra])idly in a series of descending and ascending curves. At one time
it would sM'ing on the ln'oad to]> of an umbelliferous plant, and at another
alight on .son;e ledge of tlie jierjiendicular liluff, Juinjnng from ]inint to ])oint,
as if delighting to test its own agility. Mr. Dall adds that its nest is a
sini])le hollow on one of the ledges, ])rovided with a few straws or a bit of
mos.s. They deposit their eggs in May, and these are four in number. In
August tlieir young were fully fledged.
They feed on the siseds of grasses and other small iilants, but in the cro])
of one Mr. Dall found two or three small beetle.^. They were also received
from Kodiak, through Mr. I>isclioff.
Their eggs are of a grayisli-white, with a slight tinge of yellowish, and
measure .Oo by .?(• of an inch.
51U
NORTH AMKKICAN lilliUS.
Gknus FLECTROPHANES, Mkyer.
Phrt ropha lies, tilF.YKn, " Tascliciiluu^li, ISIO." Afjassiz. {Tyyo, Einhfrhn nivdiji.)
CcnlniphniKK, KAur, " Kiitw. Ucscli. l'',iii'o]>. Tliierwelt, 1621)." Agiissiz. (Tyi*> E. Inp-
pan iai. )
Gkn. CiiAii. Bill variable ; conical; tli(! lower mandible higher than the upper; the
sides of l)()tli iiiMiidililcs (in the typical spe<ies) ifuarded by a closely applied brush oC
stid'eued bristly leather.-! directed forwards, and in the upper jivw concealing tho nostrils;
<r
Vttrirophaius nivalis.
the outlines of the bill nearly straight, or slightly ciuved ; the lower jaw considerably
broa-'er at tiie base than the upper, ami wider than the gonys is long. Tarsi considerably
longer than the middle toe; llie lulciid toes nearly eijual (the inner claw largest), and
rcftciiing to the liase of the middle elaw. The hinder claw very long, moderately curved
and acute, considerably longer than it.s t<ie ; the toe and claw together reaching to the middle
of the middle <law, or beyond its tip. Wings very long and much pointed, reaching
nearly to tlie end of the tail ; the lirst (piill longest; the others rapidly graduated ; the
tertiaries a little longer than the seeondaries. Tail moderate, about two thirds as long as
tiie wings; nearly even, or slightly eniarginated.
The species of this genus are esseiititilly boreal and cosmopolitan, altliough
America jwssesses four species
not found, like her two others,
in the Old World. Tliey are
all ground-birds, collecting in
large flocks, iii autumn and
winter, on prairies and plains,
some of the sjjccies passing far
to tlie soutliward. There is
much variation in the color, and
in tlie details of structure of
bill and feet. In P. nivalis
alone is the fringe of bristly
feathers idong tlie side of tlie bill very distinct. The gonys idso is excep-
tiouidly short, being less than half the length of the culmeu.
P'lrlri'itliinifs nil'nlis
FUINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 511
The females are less stroii^'ly inarkcd tliaii tlie iiialt'S, lackinjj; tlio distinct
patches of black (which, however, are nearly always faintly imlicateil), and
other characters, and are streaked like the tipizdiina:
Species and Varieties.
A< Prevailinjr color wliito.
1. P. nivalis. $. Racik, scnpulars, oiiils of tortialw, alula, torniinal half of
priniarlfs ami tlio iniddlu tail-li-atliers, docp black ; otherwise pure white.
9. The lilaek rei)laced hy grayish with lilack spots; crown frrayisli
spotted with lilack. Yoiuii,' <'onsidcral(ly tinged with ochraccoiis.
ll(tb. Cireiiinpolar regions: south ii; winter into the I'niled States.
B. Ahove brown, spotted with black. ,J. Crown blai'k.
a. Six to ten middle tail-feathers almost wholly black; the rest without
bliiek ends. ^ with a inichal collar of rufous or bull", and without rid'ous
on the wings.
2. P. lapponicuB. $. Head, all round, and jugulum, deep black; a
post-oi.'ular stripe, running downward behind the bhick jugular patch,
and entire lower parts from the jugulum, white. Xuchal collar chestiuit-
rufous. 9 with the black areas merely indicateil by a dusky clouding,
and merely a tinge of rufous round the nape. Huh. ('in'unipolar
regions; south in winter into the United States.
3. P. pictUB. f. Head above and laterally deep black, Ijordcred
anteriorly and below with white; a post-ocular stripe, and an ovate
auricular spot of the same. Nuchal enUar and culire lower surface
bright bud". 9- ''"''- grayish-biifl', darker above ; above distinctly, and
on the jugulum obsoletely, streaked with black. //'(/'. Interior iilains
of North America, jiorth to Aretii; Ocean.
4. P. ornatUB. $. Head above, an<l whole breast and abdomen,
black; a superciliary strijie, side of head, chin, throat, anal region and
crissum, white ; nuchal collar rufou.s. 9 tiaidly distinguishable from
that of P. pictus.
a. Leiwcr wing-coverts brow!ii.sh-g''ay ; lilack l-eathers of brea.st,
etc., without riilbu.^ edges. Ihib. Interior plains of I'liitcd Stales.
var. o )• II ft t us.
b. Lesser wing-covert.s black; black fcatluMs of breiust, etc., with
rufous edges, /fiib. Southern pliiius of North America, and table-
land of Mexico var. mefuiiumiin.
h. Only two middle tail-feathers almo.st wholly l)lack; the ri.vst with black
ends. ^ without a luichal collar of rufous or bull', and with rufous on the
wings.
,'). P. maccowni. ^. Crown, and a broad crescent on the jugulum,
black; rest of head ami neck ashy, approaching white on the throat
and over the eye; beneath white, above grayish-brown, streaked with
black; middle wing-eovcrts rufous. 9. Above yellowi.sh-umbcr, be-
neath yellowish-white; thii.'kly streaked above, nnstreaked beneath.
No rufous on wings, and no black on head or jugulum. /Mi. I'lains,
from Texas, northward.
There seems to be no siipcitil reason for subdividiiiif tliis {•onus, altluiii};li
this has been done, — /*. niritlis liein^ alone retained in I'/crtru/i/uiiirn ; P.
maccowni formino; the type and sole member of the genus Jihi/iico^j/uincs
512 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
(IJaird, 1858), and the rest coming under Centrophntufi (Kauj)). The cliar-
acters upon which these are billed tire very trivial, lieiiig mainly the varying
degree of si/e of tlie hill and lengtli of tli(! liind daw. In tliis latter respect
there is too much individual variation in the same s])ecies to admit of this
being available as a specitic, much less as a subgeneric character, while the
size of the bill is uot of more than specific importance.
Flectrophanes nivalis, Mkykr.
SKOW-BtrilTINO.
Emhtrha nii-nlis, Lixs. Syst. Niit. I, 17C(i, 308 (not Frini/i!fa in'rnli.i, \,A. — FoiisTF.r,,
riiilii. TiaiiH. LXIl, 177-J, 403. — Wii.sdx, Am. Urn. Ill, 1.^11, HO, jil. xxi. — Aru.
Oni. Itioi,'. II, 1S3J, 575; V, ]83it, 4iMi, pi. lS!i. Kuiiicrhii {I'/ie/nijilxiiw.t) nivnlis,
15oN. ()l)s. 182,'>, No. 8i». " Pkclroplui MS nivnlis, Mkyki:." — I'.o.n. !,ist, 1838. — Arn.
Syii. 1S3U, 103. — 111. Biid.s Am. Ill, 1841, 55, pi. 15.-). — M.\x. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 345
(Si.itzlifigcii). — lUiiiD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 432. — Newton, IWs, 1805, 502. — Dai.l
k Hanxisteh, Tr. CIi. A. S. I, 1S(UI, 282 (Alaska). — Cooi-eu, Oni. Cal. I, 177.—
Samuels, 296. Embcrim monknut, (!.mi;i.in, Syst. 1, 1788, 8(37, 25. Embcri^a music-
linn, Omei.in, Syst. I, 1788, 807, 7. Einbiriz(iij/((ciiilis, L.viilA.M, liul. Oiii. 1, 17!)0, 398.
Sp. Ciiah. Afdlc Coldi's. in spi-iiiir pluiniitjo, ciitiivly black iiiiil white. Middle of back
between .scapulars, terminal half of primaries and teitiaiie.s, and two innermost tail-
fcalliers, black ; elscwlier(i pure white. Legs l)lack at all .seasons. In winter dres.s white
beneath; the head and rnmp yellowi.sh-brown, as also some blotches on the side of the
breast; middle of liack brown, streaked with black; while on winf;s and tail much more
restricted. Length about 0.7."); wing.s, 4.;!;-); tail, .'!.l),-); Hrst quill long(!st. Female,
Spring, contiiuioiis white beneath only; above entirely streaked, the feathers having
blai.'kisli eentre.s ar a whitish edges; the black streak.s prcilominate on the back and
crown. YoviKj. Light gray above with ol)soleto dusky streaks on the back; throat and
juguhnii |)alcr gray, the latter with ob.solete streaks; rest of lower parts dull white.
\Ving-eovert.s, secondaries, and tail-feathers broadly ctlged with light ochracoous-brown.
IIam. Northern America from Atlantic to Paeilic ; south into the United States in
winter, as far as Georgia and Southern Illinois.
S])ecimens from North America and Europe ajipear to be (|uite idciutical ;
there is, however, a great amount of vnrialion iimong individuals.
Haiuts. The connnon Snow liunting is found throughout northern North
Americii to the shores of the Arctic Seti, and in the winter months extends
its migrations into the United States as indicated aliove.
Mr. J)all states that in Alaska, when observed, they went altogether in
flocks. It was at times excessively common, iuul at others entirely absent.
It builds its nests on the hillside, generally on the ground, under the lee of
a stone, lie obtained a large inimber of these birds at Nulalo, in the winter
of l.S()7 - OS. It was much more common there than the /'. /iipjionicKs, which
wiis only seen in the s])ring, while this bird was there all the year round. ]\Ir.
Dall also met with these liirds on St. (ieoigtj's Island, tind Mr. iiischolf ob-
tained them at Sitka. According to Mr. Bannister's observiitions it was
altogether less abundant than the J'. iKpiiunuiia, and seemed to prefer rather
FIUNGILLIILK — TIIK FIXCIIl'X 513
dinuront situntior.s. On St. Alicliiicl's Islmul lie never s;i\v one uf this .s])e-
cies lar iVoni llie .slinre, wliile the oilier species wiis alnniilanl cverywliero in
tlio interior oF the ishuid. Dnrini;' tiie snninier he never saw more than one
or two of these liirds at one.e, nor anywhere excopt on I'ocky [loints or on
small roeky islands near tiie shore. These localities they .seemed to slmre
with the li'avens and I'utlins. In tiie autumn they are more ,ure;;arious, Imt
still seem to prei'er the vicinity oi' water. Mr. Bunnister also observed this
bird at I'nalaklik, where it is common
Wilson was of the opinion that tliese binls derive a considerable part of
their food from tlie seeds of certain aipiatic plants, and tins liesn]pposi'd one
of the principal reasons wliy tliey prefer remote ucjrtliern regions intersected
with streams, ponds, lakes, antl arms of the sea, aboundin,ii; with such ])lants.
On Seneca liiver, near J.ake Ontario, in Octol)er, he met with a lari,'e Hock
feeding on the surface of the water, supported on the elo.se tops of weeds tliat
rose i'roni the bottom. They were running aliont with great activity, and
the stomachs of those he shot were tilled not only with the seeds of that
plant, but also with nnnnte shell-iisli that adhered to the leaves.
Iiiehardson states that this sj)ecit's breeds in the most northern of our
Arctic islands, and on all the shores of the continent, from Chesterfield's Inlet
to Behring Strait. The most southerly of its breeding-iilaces known to him
was Southampton Lsland, in fla; (iL'd jiarallel, where Captain Lyons found
a nest on the grave <tf an Ks(piin)aux ciuld. Its nest was usually maile
of dry grass, neatly lined with deer's hair and a few leathers, and is gen-
erally fixed in the crevice of ii rock, or in a loo.se pile of tindiers or stones.
The eggs are described as of a greenish-white, with a circle of irregidar
umber-bi'own spots round the larger end, with numerous blotches of subducil
lavender-jjurple. didy L'2, in removing some drift timber on a beach at
Cape I'arry, he disco\ered a nest on th(! ground, containing tour young Snow-
birds. Care was taken not to injure them, and while they were .seated at
breakfast, at a distance of only two or three feet, the ])arent birds made fre-
quent visits to their oifspring, each time bringing grubs v.i their Idlls. The
Snctwbirds are in no apparent haste to leave for tiie South on the ap]iroach
of whiter, lait linger about the forts and open places, jiicking up .seeds, until
the snow heccnnes too tleej). It is not until Decendier or January that they
retire to the south of the Saskatchewan. It returns to that river about the
middle of February, by April it has reached the (ioth parallel, and by the
beginning of May it is hiund on the shores of the Polar Sea. At this period
it feeds on the buds of the Sarifrdi/n <i/iiiiisl/ij'i}/itt, one of the earliest of the
Arctic jdants. The young are fed with insects.
The Snow lUmting is also an iidiabitant, during the breeding-season, of
the Arctic regions of Kurope and Asia, and the islands of ihe Arctic Sea.
Scoresby states tiiat it resorts in large Hocks lo the shores of Spitzbergen, and
Cajjtain Sabine includes it among the birds of <Jreenland and the Xortli
(Jeorgiau Islands, where it is among the earliest arrivals. Mr. I'roctor, who
514 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
visited Iceland in 18l?7, Ibund the Snowbird Ineoding there in June. He
found their ne.sts placed among Lirge .stoncss or in the fissures of rocks, com-
posed of dry grass lined with liaii" and feathers. Tlie eggs were I'rom four
to six in iiumher. Tiie male attends the female during incubation. Mr.
Proctor states that he has seen this bird, wiien coming fnjni the nest, rise u]i
in the air and sing sweetly, with its wings and tail spread in tlie manner of
the Tree Pipit. Linnaeus, in !)is Tour in Lapland, mentions seeing these birds
in that country about the end of May, and also in 'luly. He also mentions
that this bird is tho only living thing that has been .seen two thousand feet
above the line of perpetual snow in the Lapland Alps. This bird also breeds
on the B'aroe Lslands. Mr. Hewitson found its nest in Norway. It contained
young, and was built under some loose stones. Young birds have also been
noticed early in August among the Grampiims, in Scothuul, rendering it prob-
able that they breed in that locality, and perhaps in considerable numbers.
As the severity of winter increases, they leave the heaths where tiiey have
fed upon the seeds of gra,sses, and descend to the lowlands, frequenting the
oat-stubbles, and, when the snow is deep, approaching the coast. Their call-
note is pleasing, and is often repeated during their flight, which they make
in a very compact body. Bt'fore settling on the ground they make sudden
wheels, coming almost into collision with each other, uttering at tiie same
time a ]ieculiar guttural note. They run on the giound witli all the ea.se of
Larks, and rarely perch. Temminck states that they are very abundant in
winter along the sea-coast of Holland.
Their apjiearance in Massachu.setts is usually with the first Iwavy falls of
snow, in December and January. They are most abundant in the open
places near the sea-coast, and formerly were \cry numerous in tlu; marshes
between Boston and IJrooldine. A wounded male in full adult plumage was
taken by me, in 18;>8, and kept .some time in confmenient. It would not
accustom itself to a cage, and a large box was prej)ared in which it could
run more iit large. It fed readily on grain and cracked corn, delighted to
bathe itself several times in the day, liut would not lie reconciled to my near
presence. On my a]i])roach it would rush about its prison, uttering its
peculiar call-notes, blending with thorn a hnid guttural cry of alarm. As the
spring approached, it warbled occasionally a few notes, but uttered from time
to time such mournl'ul cries, as if bewailing its cajjfivity, that it would have
been released, had its crippled condition jiormitfed it to take can- of itself
It was given in charge of a friend, but did not live through the heat of the
ensuing sunnner.
It is stated that a nest of this bird was found among the White IVIoun-
tains by Mr. Kirk Poott, of Hoston, in the summer of l.S.'U. It contained
young birds. Tins, if the identification was correct, was ])robably an acci-
dental occurrence. None iiave betMi noticed there since, nor have I ever been
able to find any of the ])erinanont residents among tlie mountains that have
met with these birds in that riigiou, except in winter.
FRINGILLIDyE — THE FIXCHES. 515
The only antlienlieateil nost and egi,'9 (10,4o3) in tlio Sniithsonian collec-
tion WL'io received I'roni Mr. U. AlacFarhinc, with the parent, taken on tlie
Arctic coast cast oi' Fort Anderson, and luivinj,' on the lalud, " Nest situated
in a cave in a sand-luuik." The nest is deeply saucer-siiaped, and composed
of wiry grass-stems, witli ii lew featliors in the lining; external dianiet(>r
3.75 indies, internal almut :!.()() ; depth, 2.50 e.\ternally and 1.50 internally.
The eggs, five in number, are of a dull white, with perhaps a faint bluish
cast, sjirinkled and spatti-red with dilute yidlowish-rufous, tiie markings most
numerous towai'd the larger end ; tliey measure .\)'j of an inch in length by .64
in breadtli.
Flectrophanes lapponicus, Si.i.by.
LAPLAND LONQSFUB.
"PringiUnlappomcK, Lisx. Fiuiiia Siurini, 17ii], .s)). '235." — In. Sy.st. Ifnt. I, 1766, 317.
FoKSTKK, Phil. Traii.s. LXII, 1772, lill. Kmhn-iyi (P/<r/ivi)liuiirs) lnjrimHicci, Sw.
F. a Am. II, 1831, 248, pi. xlviii. Eiiihvrha lai>pnnica, Ann. Oiii. Hiog. IV, 1838,
473, 1)1. 30'). Phclniphancsldji/iiminis, "Ski.iiy," Hon. List, lS:i8. — AlM). Syii. 1S39,
98. — lu. Birds Am. Ill, ISll, .")(l, (il. I'i2. - JUriii), liiriis N. Am. 1S.')8, 433.—
Dali, & Bann'i.si'eu, Tr. Cli. A. S. I, iMiH, •>:! (Ala.skiO. • ('ouiM'.i!, Orii. Cal. I, 178.
— Samtkls, 300. " Ceiilriiphuiu'^ lii/i/iiniii-iiN, K.Ml', Kntw. (!i'si-li. Kmopc Tliicrw.
1829." — Cahani.s, Mils. Hoin. ISni, 127. '• Fri,i,ii//,i r.,l,;irutii, Pali.. Itiii. 710,
sp. 20," Fmioli pj. Ill, 1793, 4i)4, pi. i. ''nilm/ihn, .nloird/un, GltAY, Li.st
Gen. 1841, App. 1842, 11.
Sp. Chai!. ,!/((?<>. iroml all round, and nuuk blank, c.xtondinff on tlu^ jiisiilum in a
crcscentic patch; a broad lino iVom above and behind \\u) eve, sides of neck, a patch
in the black of hind head, and whole inider part.-*, white ; the .sides of body streaked
broadly with black. A liroad half-collar of chestnut on back of neck, s(>parated from
tli(! hood narrowly, and from the ivuricidars and throat broadly, by the white stripe from
the eye. Above l)rownish-l)lack, the feathers .sliarply edged with brownish-yellow. Outer
tail-feathers white, except the basal ])ortii)M of inner wel), and a .shaft streak at end;
next feather with a Avhite streak in end, rest black. Lejrs black : bill yellow, tipjied with
l)lack. In wint<'r phuna,!>-e the l)lack and other markings overlaid by rusty and fulvous;
beneath liy whitish. Female with the black feath-
cis of hea<l edp;ed with yellowish-rusl y ; the throat
white, l)ordcred on the sides and behind by blackish ;
feathers e(hj;c(l witii grayish-wbite, the rufous of nape
ob.scnre, and streak<'d with blackish. Length of male,
().2"); winir, ;!.!)0 ; tail, 2.S().
TTaii. Xorthern portions of the Old and the New
Wiirld; lircedini; in arctic and subarctic rei^ion.s, and
in winter deseendiiif,' .southward, as far at least as New York, Southern Illinois, and Fort
Garland, New Mexico.
Autumnal s])Ccimoiis, of both sexes, differ in having the piattern of colora-
tion obscured by och iceous borders to the feathers, and a general rusty cast
to the plumage.
There appears to be no dilfeniuoe between North American and European
specimens of this bird.
510 Noimi AMihacAN juitDi^.
Habits. Tln! Laplaiul Loiit^spur is an Aiclic ri'sidoiit, l»eloii<,'ing etiually
to tlio two coiitiiioiils, rarely dt'scfiidinj,' even in wiiitor to tcMiUK-rate ro>,'ions,
and then chiolly in its inunaturc [)liiniai;i'. In iMiropo, aeco. ling to Varrull,
only a few spccinions liavu lii'on found in tlu; Uritish Islands, and tlirse
were single individuals, mostly found in coniiPiiny wilii Larks. Tliey havo
also been taken in France, in Helgiuni, and in dill'erent parts of Geriuany.
Degland states that these hirds are oceasinnally snared on the coast at Dun-
kirk, and in the neighborhood of Antwerp, but these are always young
males in their winter jilumage.
Pennant states that it is found in Siberia, and near the Ural Mountains,
migrating in the winter as far .south as Switzerland ; and, according to
Necker, they have also been taken, always in company witii Larks, in the
vicinity of (ieneva. It inhabits Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Spitz-
bergen, Iceland, and (Jreenland, in the summer.
Iiichardson mentions that the Lapland Hunting is connnon in the fur re-
gions, wintering on the coast ol' Hudson's IJay. During its stay it feeds on
grass-seed, the fruit of the juniper, and the pines. As he never met with
these l)irds during the winter, he suspects that their princijial retreats are on
the borders of Lakes Huion and Superior, and the country westward. In
1827 they apiieared on the ]ilains, at the (,'arlton House, about the middle
of May, in very large Hocks, in com|)any with Shore Larks and the P. jncia,
liequenting the o]ien sjjots where the fires had destroyed the grass. In
the same season they came a few days later to the Cumberland H(jiise, and
kept constantly about the furrows of the new-ploughed fields. Tiie year
betbre they had been, in smaller flocks, in the vicinity of Fort Franklin,
latitude 65°, in the Ijeginning of May. Their croj)s were found filled with
seeds of the aljiine arbutus.
Mr. Audul)on met with them in enormous flocks in Kentucky, about Feb-
ruary If), ISU). They were in company with the Shore Larks and the Snow
Buntings. Xone of these were in perfect plumage.
^Ir. liidgway cites this as a common winter visitant in Southern Illinois,
abundant in unusually severe winters, either in large flocks l)y itself, or a
few individuals mixed up in flocks of Shore Larks.
^Ir. Dall gives ^lay 12 as the date of the first arrival of these birds at
Xulato, and adds that it is not at any time a very common bird. He was
not able to find its nest at Xulato, Init was informed by tiie Indians that it
builds on the bare hillsides, in hillocks of grass, and that it does not leave the
nest when any one approaches, but sits jierfectly still, and thus often escapes
detection. He considers it a very fhie singer. Spetnniens W(>re received from
Sitka, obtained by Bischoff. To this account Mr. Bannister a(hls that it is
by far the most abundant of the land-birds found at St. Michael's. It aji-
])eare(l on that island about the (Uh of INIay, and from that time until about
the middle or latter ])art of September they were observcil in great numbers
all over the island. He, too, was not succt;ssful in finding its nest, though
FUIN(iH,Lri).K- THE FINCIIKS. 517
the birds wun; stiiitetl up liy liiiiidrutls un t^very walk over llio isliiiid. Krom
this he inters tluil they iiiiist lie very curetully coneeided. lie (tlleii searehed
i'or Uu!in, lull always with llie same result. Mr. iSaiiiiisler regarded thi.s
speeies as deeidi'dly tla^ best songster of ' s t'aiiiily.
In tiie far Xurlli it is an extremely al)undanl spcHnes t'rum one iMcan to
the other, in the winter mo\ing t'artlier south, to the United States, in Lirge
tloeks. It has not been I'ouuil in ('alit'orniii, iuit in the eentral and eastern
regions has been obtained as I'ar soutii as lA'avenwortii, Kan., Kaeine, Wis.,
Hoston, and New York. It is stated Ity dillerent oii.servers, that, like the
Lark, it sings only while in motion in the air, or while .suspended, and that
its notes are agreeable an<l melodious.
According to liichardson, tliey breed in moist meadows on the shores of
the Arctic Sea, the nest being placed in a small hillock, among mo.ss and
stones. It is comjiosed externally of <lry .stems of grass, interwoven to a
consideriible thickness, and lined very neatly and com|ia('tly with deer's hair.
The eggs, seven in nuinl)er, he de.scrilies as i)ale oclire-yellow, spotted with
brown. .Sir James l!o.ss found them liy no means numerous in the higher
northern latitudes, and obtained one nest, containing five egg.s, in -luly.
According to Ilolbiill, this bird is connnon ah)ng the shores of lM)tli Xorth
and South (Jreenlaial. They reach (iodliaab in tlie beginning of May, and
Godhaven a month later. Their migrations do not take jilaee all at once,
but they are constantly arriving during the month. It remains in South
Greenland until the beginning of Septend)er, and longer if the dee]) snows
do not tlrive it away. This bird is never met on slii])lKiard until the vessels
are in Davis Strait, ])roving that their migrations nmst be from America.
The Greenlanders call it Narksamatak (inhaliitant of the ]ilainsj, — an aj)-
ju'ojn'iate name, as it only lives on tlie lowlands near the ,sea-sliore, where it
buihls its nest in the manni'r of the Lark, in the grass, or among the lidu'ns.
Its live eggs, of a dirty olive-color spotted with brown, are smaller than those
of P. iiiralis. The song of the male bird, as it hovers in the air or rocks on
a swaying twig, is very clear and meh dious. It is even known as the l!reen-
land Nightingah^ Its food is seeds, and it is not known to seek insect-
larva; on the houses of the Greenlanders, as does tlie /'. iiini/is. In their
winter dress they all res(>mble the femide in her summer i)lumage, only in
the male some black is seen in the head-feathers.
Fabricius descril)es its eggs as five or si.x in lunnber, of a reddisli-gray
with brownish spots. Degland describes their ground-coliu' as an asliy-gray,
eov(!red with spots of light brown, with lines and spots of deep brown, and
also of clear black.
Kggs from Anilerson IJiver exhibit great variations in their a]>i)earance,
more from the diU'erence in the distribution of their s])ots than from varia-
tions in colors. Where distinctly visilile, the ground-color appears to be of
yellowish-gray, frequently .so thickly spotted as not to be recogni/alile. The
blotches are of various shades of Ijrown, with .shadings of olive, ])ur[)le, or
518 NOIITII AMKRICAN BIUU8.
ivil, iiiid lit times iiliiiost lilack. In somu, tine olivc-lirown dots covit tlio o^^g
so coinplL'toly as to maivc it aiijicar as of mu! unitorni dci'ii cnitir. In titlior.s
till) lii'owii is li_nlit('r and mttw. ui' a rcddisli line, and a;;ain in otliisrs tlio
niiukinj^s iiru in inc^uliir distribnlion, anil of dilliavnt sliadrs. Tiii-y nitus-
nro .Hit iiy .(io of an iin-li.
Nest witli oj^ys (7414), eoUoctod on Aiidi'vsnn iJivor, Franlvlin I'my, June
27, l)y 11. MiicFarlani', was luiilt on the j^round, und is deeply saiieui-sliuped,
nieasiirinj,' '.\~'> in external and 'I.'.W in iiileriial dianieler ; tlie depth 2.75
exteriorly and l.od interiorly. It is coinposed of coar.se wiry gras.s-stems,
and .softly lined with feathers of Lin/tijiiis. The o^gs, five in number, have
the ground-eolor liuht umlier-druii, this faintly blotched with deeper livid
slate, and with a few stra^ugly lilaek lines, niueii as in certain Ichriild and
in C/ioiitfcstdi. Thoy measure .8ti of an inch in length by .(i'.i in breadth.
Flectrophanes pictus, Swainhon.
SMITH'S BUNTIKO ; FAINTED LONOSPVB.
Emlieriza (P/eetroplitnici) /)ii/ii, Sw. V. I!. Am. II, 1S31, 250, jil. 4i» (.spring). — Nutt.
Man. II, 58!). /'/,drii/il(inii.'< j;'rhi.i. All). Syii. IMi'.l, '.Ml. — III. iiiid.s Am. Ill, 1841,
52, pi. I'liii (liicliiirilMin'.s spiiinicii). — U.viuif, liiids N. Am. l!«,'.8, 4;i4. — D.m.i, &
H.WNi.-iiKi;, Ti'. ell. A. .S. I, isil'.i, 28;! (AliisliiO. /uiihcrhn pir/n, Aid. Oiii. Ww^. V,
18;)!l, !tl, pi. rcci-. ('(ii/i-ii/)liiiiii:s /lirhi.i, ( '.Mi. Mils, llcin. 1851, 127. I'kdroplMtlcS
xmithi, Aril. Birds Am. VII, 1844, ;i;!7, jil. (•(•ccl.xxxvii oviiitci).
Sp. Cii.Mi. }f<ilo, Spiiiiir. Top anil .>;i(l('s of licml liliick. A line from liiil ov(>r the
eve. loi'i's. lower anil |io.<tciior boriliT «il' the liliii'k i-lii'cks, t'ais (cni'ircli'd liy lilack), ami a
small pati'li in llic nape, white. Miitiic iimler parL-^. and extendimj: lotmd neck to iiapo
(wliiTo it lioiinds abniplly the lilaek of liead), lnill' or liudit einiiaiiion-yellow ; tin; iindor
tail-covert ]inler ; tlie inside of wiiiLis. wliile. Featliors of iippc'r siirlhcos lilack, edjj;e J
with yellowish-irrav ; shoiilders or lesser coverts and the j^reater lilack; iiiiddlc white,
InrminLr a eonspicuoiis jiatcli. (Quills eilL;eil e.xlernally with white, this involviiiL!- iho
whole outer weh cif outermost primary. Whole of outer anil most of second tail-tealher
white. IJill dusky; lower inandilile and lei;s yellowish. Leii^'tli, 5.50; wini!-. Ji.'iO ;
tail. 2.7") ; hill, A'>.
Feinitle. The iiiarkings ol' male (iiintly indicated, but the Mack and hiifV wanting.
Head aliovo hrowii, streaked centrally with paler. A narrow dark line on each sido the
throat, and hrownish streaks acro.«s the jiigiihim, and alouu- sides of liodv. Traces visible
of the whitt! marks of the head. Bill and feel as in the male.
n.AR. Prairies of Illinois and Missouri Plains, in winter; in snminer north to the
Arctic Ocean.
This sjiccies is quite similar in form to P. /tippoiiirufi, althouoh with slen-
derer bill, itnd perhaps lonoer hind claw. While the colors of adult males
are very ditl'erent, the females have a decided resemblance; they may, how-
ever, be distinguished in all stages by the black oi' dusky legs of lapponieiis
and the yellow of pictus, and perhajis by the more dusky upper mandible of
the latter.
l-'IMN(HM,in.K — TIIK I'lN'CllKS. 519
IIaiui's. Tliis species wiis lirst olitiiiiied hy Sir Joliii Ifieliiirdsiin's |Piirty
aiul (leserilied hy Swniiismi in llie Fkhihi I'unriilt-.inii rlrmui. It Wiis oh-
sei'ved assotiiatinj,' willi llie Lnplaiid IJiintiiijis on the lianks df tlie Saskatclie-
waii, l)iit IK) iid'iiniiatii)ii was niitaiiKMl in regard tn its lu'eedin.^'-liiiliils, No
specimens in tlie matiiiv plnniai,'"' iire kmiwii Id have lieun olitained in tiie
I'nited States, lint liirds in the inimatnn! plnina^c are not iinlreiiuent, in
early spring, tliri>nj,'h(int Illiimis. Mr. Audubon, in company with Mr. Har-
ris and Mr. IJell, obtained specimens of these liirds near Kdwardsv ille, and
descrilied them as a nt'w species. Mr. iiell states, in reemd to these birds,
tluit ho I'onnil them very abundant on th(! low ^irairie near a lake, a lew miles
rriini Kdwardsville. They were generally in larye Hocks, and wiien once;
on till' ground they bewail to separate. They ran very nimbly, in a manner
resembling that ot' the, (ira.ss Finch, and when {\\v.\ arose, whicii they rarely
did unless they woro nearly approaclie<l, they uttered a sharji click, repeated
scvoral times in quick succession, and moved with an easy nndnlating motion
for a short distance and then alighted very suddenly, st'eniiiig to iall jierpen-
dienlarly several feet bi the ground. They jiret'erred the spots wlicre tlic
grass was shortest. When in the air they Hew in circles, to and fro, lor a few
minutes, and then alighted, keeping up a constant chirping or call, .somewhat
like that of IIk; IJed-l'oll.
These, birds wei'e ob.served in large nnmlMMs at Tort Anderson, and on the
Lower Ander.son Kiver, by Mr. MacFarlane, and a large nnndicr of their
nests obtained. These were all on the giniiiid, and usually in open spaces,
but also in the vicinity of trees. The usual mnnber of eggs found in a nest
ajipoars to have been lour. 'I'he nests, for the most part, were censtrucled
of fine dry gras.ses, carefully arranged, and lined with down, feathers, or liner
materials similar to tho.se of the outer jiortions. In a few there were no feath-
ers ; in others, feathers in dilferent ]iroportions ; and in a few the down and
feathers eomjiosed the chief jiortion of tlie nest, with only a few leaves as a
base to the nest. They were .sometimes sunk in e.\cavations made by the
birds, or placed in a tu.ssock of grass, and, in one instance, [tlaced in the
midst of a bed of Labrador tea.
They were also olitained at Fort Yukon, at the mouth of Porcupine Kiver,
by St rachan Jones. They were nuich more abundant in tlu' Mackenzie lliver
district.
Specimens of this bird, in the fall plumage, were obtained from Fort
Sim])son, w\w.w. Mr. I*. W. Koss states that it a]i]iears on its way north in
May. They resort to the fields around the fort in search of grain. Although
these birds kec]) entirely apart from the /'. nlra/i-'i, Mr. IJoss has fretjuently
ol)sorved stiveral 7*. /iqijuiniiiis associating with thiMii.
When their nests are apjiroached, the female ([uietly slips off, while the
male bird may be seen hojiping or flying from tree to tree in the neighbor-
hood of the nest, and will at times do all he can to induce intruders to with-
draw from the neiuhborhood.
520 NORTH AMKI!I("AN lllltKS.
Till) e^'ys, fivo in nmiiln'r, hnvv n Ii;,'lit cliiy-tuilorod frronnd, aro ninrkofl
with oliscuic lilcitclics ol' liivcinior iiml ilaikcr lines, dots, ami lilotclios of
(liu'k [(Uiiilisli-liriiwn. Tliny lueasuro .SO hy .tia of an iucli.
Plectrophanes ornatus, TmvNs.
OHESTNUT-COLLABED BUNTING ; BLACK-BELUED LONOSPVB.
/'l,cli:i/>/i'ni suiiiiiliis, T(i\vnm;mi, .1. A.'. Niil. Sc. VII, l.s;i7, 1M». — 111. NniTiitivc, l,s;l!), 344.
— Alil>. Syii. 18;!!», !i!i. 111. jtiiils Am. Ill, 1.S41, 5:1, pi. iliv. — NuiT. Man. I, (M
vi].,) 184(1, ".37. - lUiiai, liiids N. Am. ^s:,H, 4:).'.. ICmli, rixn <„;i,i/,i, Ain. Oni. Hin^.
V, l^;!<,l, 44, |)I. cnxiiv, I'. 1. CiHlrn/iliitiics di-iiii/ks, Caiiamn, Miis. Ili'iii. 1)S51, l'i7.
SrCaAii. r>ill cliiik |)IiiiiiIm'i>iis. .I/k/c. Ciowii, ii iiiiiiiiw (rcscciit on tiic ,'<i(|(' ol' tliu
\h',u\. with II liiii' naiiiiiiL' iiiin it IVniii lu'liimi tlic eye, cnlii'i.' lirnist iiiiil apper jmrt of
liclly nil roiaiil, liliii'k : llinuit iiml .-iiilrs of the lioiul, lower part of Imlly and andor tnil-
onvcrt.*, with lia.scs of llii' lail-fciitlii'is, while. The white on tiie tail-l'('ather.< raiis for-
ward as .'111 iieate point. A ehe.stnat hand on the hack of the iieek exleadinir ronnd on
the .-iides. Hesl of upper pails -jray isli-liiown, slreakeij with darker. iMiddii! coverts
with a white paleli. Li'sser w iiii;-eoverts like llie hack. l-i'j;-< ihi.sky, hill hliii', darker at
tip. Leiiu'lh aliDiit ."i.'J.") inches ; win;;-, ;{.2(l ; lail, 2.:!0 ; tarsus, ."o.
FfiiKilc lacking' llie hliick and chestnut colors; the hlack of thu breast indicated by
dasky streaks iiad u line of streaks each side of the throat.
IIaii. Plains of the Upper Mi.s.soiiii. San Antonio, Texas, sprinp; (Dresskr, Ihi>s, 1805,
48(!).
Habits. This .spocics was first (lisoovcrtHl by ^fr. Townsend, wlio pro-
cnivd a single specimen, a male, on the I'pper Missonri Hiver. He de.scribi'S
it as liy no means a common bird, keejiine; in jiairs and liviiig e.xclnsivoly on
the ground. It was remarkably shy, and Mr. Townsend wtis not able to pro-
cure more than a single specimen.
]Mr. Xnttall states that he met with thi.s bird early in May, on the wide
gras.sy jilains of the IMatte. The birds were already paired for thi! season.
He heard Ihein utter no notes other than a chirp, as they kept busily foraging
for their siilisistence.
]Mr. J. A. Allen (.American Xaturalist, i\Iay, 1872) speaks of this bird and
the Lark ]>unting as by far the most interesting species seen by him in
Western Kansas. They were not only characteristic of the region, but were
also among tlui few birds strictly confined to the arid plains. They were
(Utile abundant, but were only met with on tli(( high ridgtss and dry jdateaus,
where they seemed to live .somewhat in colonies. At a few localities they
were always numerous, but elsewhere would be freiiuently not met with in
a wholt! day's drive. They were very wary and tenacious of life, often flying
a long distance after having been sliftt through vital parts. Most of the
specimens had to be killed on the wing, at fi long range. Tluiy are strong
fliers, and seem to delight in flying in the .strongest gales, when all the other
liirds a]ipear to move with difficulty, and to keep themselves concealed among
the grass. 'I'liis bird sings while on the wing.
KI!IN(ilM.II),K TIIK KINCIIKH. 521
Mr. H. E. Diwaor, in his papor on tlio liinls of SouIIumh 'IVxiis, niiintions
tindinij; tiic, ('lii'sfnut-cdiliinii Muniiiij,' in flocks i-iirly in tlio sprin;,', on llio
pi'iiiriL's near San Anlunio, but it was not a nunin m liinl tiiori'.
Dr. Woodlioiiso found this spc^cios (piite rare in tlic Indian Territory, wlioro
he wii.s only alilo to socuru n Hiu<<h spocininn.
Captain IJIakiston mot wilii tiiis species on tiio Sa.skatcliewan I'lains on
tlio lutii of May, 1838, — a hiyiier range than lias been noticed iiy any one
else.
13r. llcerninnn, while on a trip to the IJocky Mountains in IS4.S, met witii
this species in small flocks and pairs, seatfered over tin; prairies of the I'latte
Ikiver, and was so fortunale ns to meet with one of its nests. It was built
on the ground, and was made of an interweavin;,' of fine j,'rasses and lined
with hair. He describes the e<j[f,'s, which were four in number, as havinf; a
white j,'round, with black lines at the larjffu- end, and a few faint blotches of
a neutral tint scattered over their whole surface.
This description does not quite correspond with the e,<,'i,'s collected by Mr.
Audulion on the Upj)er Missouri. These have a clay-colored <>round with the
slightest possible tinge of green, and are marked with fine dots of purplish-
brown, and larger markings, blotches, and short lines of dark brown. They
measure .70 by .");> of an inch, anil have a strong resemblance to the eggs of
both 7*. 2>tr(i'f< and J', inum ■rui.
Five eggs of this si)ecies, obtained at Fort Hays, Kansas, .June I, 1871, by
Mr. J. A. Allen, measure .7r> of an inch in length by .08 in breadth. They
are small in proportion to the bird, and are somewhat jjointed at one end.
Their ground is a gray or grayish-white shade of stone-color, and this is
somewhat sparingly marked with blotches of dark brown, almost black, and
lighter markings of innplish-brown. The nest was placed on the ground, and
was comix)sed altt)gether of fine stems of grasses.
Flectrophanes omatus, var. melanomus, lUmu.
BLACK-SHOULDERED LONGSPUR.
ricctnphancs melanomus, liAUU), Birds N. Am. 1858, 436, pi. l.xxiv, I'. 2. — JIkkkmanx,
.\, 0, 13.
8p. Ciiah. Bill yellowisli, diirk limwu .iloiif;; tlio onlnioii. ifnU: Crown, a .short .stripe
behind the eye, ivnrl a short crescent liehiiid the ear-eoverts, entire Ijreast a.s far back a.s
the tiiighs, and the les-ser winjr-eoverts. bliiek. The black on the breast margined with
dark cinnamon. Sides of head, chin, throat, and region behind the black of tlie belly,
white. A broad iialf-colliir of dark cinnamon-brown on the liaek of the neck. Tail-
feathers mostly white ; the innermost tipped with dark brown ; the white ending in an
acute angle. Length, 'kIJO; wing, 3.40; tail, 2.<i(). (No. G,2!)0.)
Hab. Eastern slope of the Ro(;ky Mountains, Mexico, on the table-lands, north to
Tipper Mis,souri. Orizaba (Sci.atku, 1800, 251); San Antonio, Texas, spring (Duksskh,
Ibis, ISO"), 480); Fort Whip|)le, Arizona (Cocks, 1'. A. X. S. ISOti, 81); Vera Cruz,
plateau, breeding (Sit.miciiuast, 1, iwl).
0«
522 NORTH AMKRTOAX lUUDS.
As already stated, this bird is very similar to /'. oruafus. It appears to
be a very little larj^er, or, at any rati', witii considerably lonjior wings.
The bill, however, is shorter and stouter; the hind claw (U'.eidcdly longer.
The chestnut of the back of the neck is darker. Tiie white on tlie outer
web of the tertiaries and secondaries is nnich ])urer and widi'r. The
rufous margins of tiie pectoral feathers we have never seen in /'. onmtiDi.
The most striking j)eculiarity, however, is in having the shoidders black,
instead of brown like the rest of the wing-ieatliers, edged with paler. JJoth
have tiie white posterior row of lesser wing-coverts.
An in mature male (O.liill) has the black of the head mixed with brown,
and a maxillary series of spots on each side of tl-' throat. A female has a
similar series of spots ; the under parts generally being brownish-white, the
shafts across the breast and along the sides streaked with brown, the con-
cealed portions of the feathers light l)rown, fading out to the whitish e.xterior.
Then; is no black on the shoidder, nor chestnut on the na])e.
P^iUy mature s])ecimens of this bird and of orimfns are .so rare in collec-
tions as to render it dillicnlt to decide positively as to their true relationship.
It is by no means impossible that they merely represent different conditions
of piuniage of one species, but for the presi?nt, at least, we prefer to con-
sider them as distinct. Tlie J\ me/anoitiKs is resident on the tal)le-lands of
Mexico.
Hauit.s. Of the habits and general histoiy of this species, very little
is known. Its clo.se resenililanc(^ to J', onutfiis is suggestive of its probaltly
etpially close similarity in nesting, eggs, and manner of feeding. Spe(umens
have been received from Mexico, from Fort Tiiorn, from Xew Mexico, I'ole
Creek, and tiie Ulack Hills. From the last-named jjlaees they were obtained
in Augn.st and September.
Dr. lieerniann, in his h'eport on the liirds ob.served in Lieutenant Parke's
routf near the 'A2i\ parallel, mentions having met witii tliese birds, which
1.0 calls the lUack-shouldercd Longspiir, at a large ])rairie-dog vilhige some
miles west of Tiuirto del Dado. They were in flocks, and were associated
with J'. niKcivicni. From that jioint to the ifio (irande he found both of
tliese species abundant wherever tiiey struck isolated water-holes, these being
the only places fca- niih's around w here drink can be ])rocuri'd. When shot
at, they ri.se as if to go away, liut are forced to return, afti'r descriliing a few
curves, to the only spot wher" they can ])r(MMire tiieir necessary drink. Tiiey
may thus be killed in great niiinbers. Dr. Heermann states that he has seen
from a liundred to a hundred and fifty thus brought down in four or five
discharges of a gun.
Mr. Dresser states that on the 4t]i of April a small flock <if what was
at first supposed to be the J\ onintus was noticed near the town of San
Antonio. They were ]nirsiicd, and found on the banks of the San Pedro.
They were not very shy, and siiocimens were jn'oiaired whiitii pnvcd to \)v
of this species. Tiiis is the (Uily time that tliey have been observed in
FlUXn ILLID.K — T[1E KINCIIES.
523
that ]mit of th(( coiintry, tlM)ii_i,'li they may liavo Iwen mistaken I'or other
species.
Di. ("ones mi'iition., tlie takiiiu ol' a siiij^le specimen of liiis species, Octo-
ber 17, on the ojicn j^rassy jilains of Arizona.
This species is also j,Mven l)y ^Ir. Snmichrast as ii resident throughout the
year of the great phiins of tiie phiteaii of Mexico. From tliem it occasion-
ally tlesccncls to the distant intervals, as far as Orizaba, or ut the elevation,
above the gulf-level, of 1,220 metres.
Plectrophanes maccowni, T.Awiti'Xrr;.
CHESTNUT-SHOULDEBEO LONOSFUK ; MACCOWN'S BUNTIKO.
I'lii/ni/iliiiiifs miicrairni, I,.\\vi!r.xiK, Aim. X. Y. I.vi'. V, Sept. IS.'il, 1'i'J. AVcstcvn Texas.
Ca.ssin, llliist. 1, viii, IS;')."), -J^S, 1)1. .\.\xi.\. — IIkkiim, X, i', \i. 13. — 1!aii:i), ISii'ds
N. .\ni. 18M, iil.
Sr. CiiAii. Mdlf ill spriiiij. Tup of liciiil. ii lnoad .stripe ciich side llic throat I'rom
lower luiiiiilililc, ami a liroad en'sceiil -on Juj^'iiluiii,
l)la<'k ; .siili- of licail iiicliidiiiu; lores and hand ahovc
the oj'c, throat, and under parts, ashy-white ; ear-
I'overts bordered above and behind by blaekish, nin-
niii}; out at tlu; niaNillary stripe. Hreastjnst behind tiie
blauk crcseent and sides, showinir dark bases of leath-
ers. I'pper parts asliy, lini:ed with yellowish on tlie
inandil)le. and .streaked with dusky ; least so on nape
and rump. Les.ser wiuj;-eoverts ashy ; median ehest-
iHit-brown, with blaekish bases sometimes evi.l.Mil; '■'■'"•'■J''"'"'"'"'""'™''
the (piills all bordered broadly e.xteriially with whitish, beeomini; more ashy on .seeondaries.
Tail-leathers white c.xeept at the eoneealed bases and the eii<ls, whieh haveatransver.se
(not obli(pie) tip of blaekish : the ontermost while to th(> end; the two central like the
\n\vk. Hill dark plumbeous; leu's blackish. In winter the markinj.'s nioic or less
obscm'cil ; the bill and Icirs niori' yellowish.
Ffiiiiilr lacks the black markini;s, which, however, are indicated obsolcli'ly as in other
/'li'iiro/iliiiiici ; there is no trace of chestiMit on the wini^.s, no streaks on the breast,
[.enjith, ;V)0; wiuir, ii.dO; tail, L'..")!) ; bill, .K!.
Hah. Kastern slopes of Itoekv Monii' 'ins, from Texas to I'ppcr .Missouri.
This species varies; cousiderabu ' •liirking.s, lint io readily recognized
among other J'/rc/rojilKdw-'i in tdl stages by short hind toe, very stout bill,
and the tranavei-se dark bar at t)ie end of all ttiil-feathers except the inner
and (Miter.
IIaihts. Mac'.'owiiV (.ark Itiinting is yet anntherof the various R])ecies
of our birds whose history is \cry little known, tind in regard to which the
most we arc id)le to state, at present, is that they a]i])ear in did'ercnt iiarts
of the inti'rior ]ilaiiis of the United States, between the Uocky ^baintains
and tiio Missouri iiixc;' tind tlm lower tributiuies of the ^lississippi,
extending from New Mexico and Texas u ' iliward, during the breeding-
524 NUUTII A.Mf:iMCAN BIRDS.
season, to tlie nortlieni bouiidaiy of (lio riiitod States. It was first discov-
ered by Captain Maccown, wlio obtained it in Texas, where he t'onnd it
in company with a Hock of Shore J.arks, and wliere it winters in eonsider-
able numbers. Mv. Dresser afterward met with it in small Hocks, early in
A]>ril, on the prairies near San Ant- ;'io. It was not very common, and he
was only able to obtain two specimens during his stay in that section.
Dr. Heermann found tiii;, species congregated in large flocks, in company
with the lUack-shouldered Bunting. They were engaged in gleaning the
seeds from the .scanty grass, on the vast arid plains of New Mexico. Insects
and berries formed also a part of their ibod ; in search of these they showed
great activity, running about with celerity and ease. In the spring, large
flocks were seen at Fort Thorn, having migrated thither from the Xorth
the previous fall. With the return of n)ild weather they again departed
for the North for the purjKJses ol' incubation. Among these large flocks Dr.
Heermann noticed also the Shore Lark, but they formed only a small pro-
portion of the whole nundjcr.
In a letter to Mr. ('assin. Dr. Heermann states that lit found this species
congregated with large nundiers of other birds about the isolatetl water-holes
in the barren plains of New Mexic(j.
jMr. J. A. Allen states (Am. Xat., May, 1872) that, during a few weeks' stay
near Fort Hays in midwinter, he found Macct)wn's Longspur tolerably fre-
cpient in that vicinity.
An egg of this species, in the coUectitn of the late Dr. Henvy Bryant,
measures .80 by .0(1 of an inch. Its ground-color is a light })luish clay-color,
marbled, dotted, blotched, and lined with light neutral tints of lavender and
darker markings of puri)lisli and reddish brown. The nest was placed on
the ground, and is comi)osed entirely of coarse grass-stems (Xo. 1^,521, J.
Pearsall, Fort IJenton).
Sunr-VMiiA- PYRGITIN.ffi!.
The introduction into tiie United States, at .so many di.stant points, of the
Kuropean House Sparrow (I'lpyitn domcsfica) renders it necessary to intro-
duce it with any work treating of tlie liirds of North America, although
totally different in so many features from our own native forms. I fol-
low Degland and (ierbc in placing the genus I'l/rr/ifu in a se|)arate sub-
family {Pjinjitimr, see jiage 44()), without any distinct idea of its true
aflinities, as it does not come legitimately witiiin any of the sul)f'aniilies
estalilished for the American genera. In some res]iects similar to certain
CoiTolhrausfinfl', in the short tarsi and covered nostrils, the wings are shorter
and more rounded, the sides of tlie bill with .stiff bristh^s, etc. Tiie much
larger, more vaulted bill, weaker feet, and covered nostrils, distinguish it from
Si)izclli)uv.
Kill XGILLIJJ.K — THE FLNCllES.
525
Gknus PYRGITA, Cu viKii.
Pyrrjilii, Citvif.I!, H. A. 1817. (Type, Fiiixjilht doimslicn, LlNX.^
I'a.sser, ItuissuN, tJin. 17t)l). .Sum ■ type. Dkgi.and & Gi;i!lii:, Oiii. Kurop. I, lSfi7, 'JliO.
Gkn". Ciiau. Bill mbiit^t, swolli'ii, without any distinct ridi^o ; u]);)t>r iiiul midiT DUlliiius
curvod ; luai-gin.s iiillexcd; piihiU,' viiultcd, without any kuoli ; nostrils covfivd hy sparse,
short, iii(.'Uinljuiit leathers; side of bill with still', ai)pi'essod bristles. Taisi short and stout,
about o(iual to or shorter than the middle toes; claws short, stout, and considerably curved.
Wings longer than tail ; somewhat pointed. Tail nearly even, einarginated, and slightly
rounded.
P3rrgita domestica, Cuv.
THE HOUSE SFASBOW.
Fringilln domestica, Lixn. Syst. Nat. l^th cd. iSi, 17t)t). Pyrijitu dumcslu-n, Vvv. Itcg.
All. 2il ed. (18'2i)), 1, 439. /'«.«.•(:;• daineduuti, Dkulaxd & Uiniui:, Oriiitli. Kiuop. 1,
1.S67, 241.
Sp. CiiAU. Millie. Above chestnut-brrrwn ; the intersrapulai- leal hers slrcaUed by blacU
on inner wel)s; the tup ol'head and nape, lower
back, rump, and tail-cover'.s i)lain ashy ; narrow
frontal line, lores, chin, throat, and jugidiun
black; rest of inider parts grayish, nearly white
along median region. A broad chestnut-brown
."trijie from behind eye. rnmiing into the chest-
nut of back ; checks and sides of neck ■white;
outside of dosed wing, pale chestnut-brown,
with a broad white lian<l on the middle cov-
erts, and behind showing the brown ipiills;
the lcs^■^^ coverts dark chestmit like the h<'ad
stripe. Tail dark brown, edged with pale
chestnut. Hill black ; feet rc(ldish. Iris
brown.
FcmiiJi: DmIIci' of color, and licking lln; black of face and throat; liicast ami alidoiiiru
reddish-ash; checks ashy ; a ycllow-oclire band above and behind the eyes, aiwl across
I he wings. Head and neck above lirownish-ash ; body above reddish-ash, streaked lon-
gitudinally with black.
il/a/e in iriulcr. The ciilors generally K'ss disliiict. Length, fJ.tIO; wing, "2.8") ; tail,
'21)0; tarsus, .70; middle toe and claw, .(id.
Tlic irou.'^o Spiirrow of ]Mir<i]M' has liceii iiitrodiici'd intn .so nniny pnrts
of tliL' Fiiiteil States as to roiiik'i' it jirohalile that at no distaul day it
will have lujcome one of our most fanuliar species. Brotijilit ovit to tiie
New World within a eoniparatively few years it has coiniueneed to inul-
ti])iy about tlie larger cities, especially in tlie environs of Xew York, as also
about Tortland, Uoston, Newark, and riiiladelphia. Tiio liv-'t ellort made to
natunili/e it about Washin^l m i'ailed in conse([ueiice of the death of three
hundred individuals imported iiy the Smithsonian Institution. A second.
Pyriiitti itoifuslica.
526 NOimi AMKRICAX lUllDS.
liowcver, in 1871, was mnre sucocssrul. One, thnusiiiid liinls wciiv let loose
in the imlilic sciiuircs of riiiladclpliiii in tliu spring of ISd!). In and about
Havana it is said to l)o coninioii, as also about (ireat Salt Lake, wjiero it
was locently introduced by the Murnions, according to ^Ir. J. A. Allen.
Habits. The coiamon House .Simrrow of Europe has, witliin the jiast few
yoar.s, achieved a right to a place in the
avi-liuina of Xorth America by its com-
plete introduction, and its reproduction in
large miniliers, in various parts of the
country, from Portland, ^le., to Washing-
ton City, as also al)out Salt Lake.
The tir.st attem])t to introduce these
Ijirds, within my knowk'dge, was made
bv a gentleman named Deblois, in I'ort-
i',r,',t„ ,/o„usnr„. liind.'Me,, in tiie fall of 1S.-.8. Six birds
were set fit liberty in a large garden in the central part of the city.
They remaineil in the neighborhood through tiie winter, and in the siiel-
teriug porch of a neighlioring church they found ])laces of sheltei' and
security. In the following sju'ing three nests weie l)uilt in dwarf pear-
trees in the garden in which tliey were lirst set at lilierty. One, at
least, of these nests, was suci'essl'ully ()ccupie<l, and si.x young birds were
reared from it. A second nest, with four young, was also hatcheil by the
same i)air. Neitlier of tiiese nests wiis glolinlar in shape, but open and
coarse, built of Iriy and straws. Tliese nests were taken, after their use, and
came into my ])os.session. Since tluni I k.ave been informed tliat these birds
increased and multiplied, and for a while were (piite almnelant in that portion
of tlie city, and a large colony of this Sparrow appeared in the winter of
1871 in liockland, V..^
Two years later, Mr. Kugene ScJiielfelin, of Xew York, ini])orled and set
at liberty, near Madison S(piare, in that city, twelve ol' tlii^se birds, and this
he repealed for several successive summei's. In 180-1, fourteen birds were
set at lil)erty in t'ential Park, by tht; Conimissioners. Other birds were also
brought from Kngland, by ditfereut ])arties, in the Cunard steamers, and re-
lea.se(l at .'ersey City. These liave increased very hirgely, and have sju'ead
to tiie adjoining cities, until these liinls have become familiar and .social resi-
dents in all the large citit'S and towns within an e.xtentled area around New
York, as well as in all parts of that city.
Tliey were introduce(l into liostou by the City C.overnnu'ut in 1S()8. Two
hundred birds were ]iurchased in (leniiany, Imt unfortunately all died on
their passage exce]it al)out a score. These were set at lilierty in .Fune, but,
weakened by tlieir sea-\dyage, several of them Mere found ilead in th(! deer-
park, and the rt!st di.sappeared. The I'ollowing sunnner more were imported,
hut all died e.xcejit ten. These were well cared for, and oidy released
Avheu in excellent condition. For .some months nothing was seen of these
I''ltIN(llLI.II).K — TIIK I'INCIII'X 527
birds, and the ('X]i('iiiiu'iit wiis siijijmjsciI ti> lio a i'ailuii', wlieu it was asccr-
taiiKMl tliat tlioy had ln'taki'ii thiMiisolves to the \iciiiity til' stables in the
southern part of tlie city, had iiiereu-^ed and niulli])Ht'd in hirij;c niiniliers,
rea|i]iearin|;' in the winter to the number of one liundred and lifty. They
were rej^ularly fed by tlu! t'ity Ibrester each day in thi' di'er-])aiU, and roosted
at nij,'ht in the Ihatcli of the roofs of tlie iniihlings. Since then tliey liavc-
very lar^uely increased. Aliout twenty, that same suninier, were set at lilierty
in ^lonument Sc^uare, ( harlestown.
Tn lcS(i!l about one thousand birds were imjHjrted, ])y the City (iovern-
ment, into I'hiladelpiiia. Fortunately they canu' in ^ood condition, and beintf
released early in May inuuediately sejiaraled into scattered parties and pre-
jiared for themselves now homes. Some appeared in Morristown and other
distant towns in New -lersey. Others wandered to (lermantown, and the
remoter suburbs of riuladeli)liia, where they found tlie elierry-trees in lull
blossom, and where their exploits in slripiiin;^ tlu^ blooms from the trees
gave a not very favorable tirst im]iression of these new-comers.
it has been exceedinL;ly interesting to watch the manners and lial)its of
these strangers in their new homes. They have, liecome (|uite tame, are fear-
less and gentle, and as they have been very kindly trci>ted live '.n a condition
of semi-dome.stieation. At first they built their nests, and ])a.ssed their win-
ters, ill Xew York, among the thick ivies that cover the walls of .so many
churches, in such eases building globular n.ests. As .soon, however, as suit-
able l)oxes wen^ prepared for tlu^m in sulVicient (piantities, these were taken
pos.sossion. of in preference to anything elsi'.
At the time of their introduction the shade-trees in the parks and .scjuares
of Xew York, l'hiladeli)hia, ISrooklyn, Xewark.and otlier ]ilaces, were greatly
infeste<l with the larva' of the na'asure-wornis thai destroyed tlieir foliage.
Since then these worms have almost mtirely disappeared. A doulit has
been expressed whether the Sjjarrows destroy these insects. That they
eat them in the larva' form I do not know, liut to their destruction of the
chrysalis, the moth, anil the egg.s, 1 can testify, having been eye-witness
to the act.
Aj)i»rehensioiis have been ex])ressed lest these new-comers may molest and
drive away <mu' own native liirds. How this may be when the Sparrows
become more numerous cannot now be determined, but so far they manifest
no such disiK)sition. Since their introduction into lUiston tiie Ciiippiug
Sparrows ajjpear to have increased, and to associate by ]ireference with their
Kuro])ean visitors, feeding with them unmolested. I have been unable to
detect a single instance in which they have been molested, in any manner,
liy their larger eompaniou.s. Tiu'ir ]iredatory aguressjous, however, upon tiie
rights of the common lioliin have been noticed, ami deserve mention. The
Sparrows appear to be extravagantly fond of eartiiwonns, b\it not able to
hunt for them them.selves. Tliey have learne(l to watcli tiu' l!(d)in as it
forages ibi these worms, keejiing around, at a respectful distance, and as soon
528 Noirni amkkican biuus.
as Olio, with iimdi toil, liiis (Iraggod a worm from its place of concealment,
down swoops the bird and impudently carries it oil'. The poor bewildered
and pUnulored Jfobin essays a late and vain attempt to protect its food.
The Sjuirrow is too nimble, and the worm is gone before its rightful owner
can turn to face the robber.
The S])arrows endure the severest of the winter weather without any
apparent inconvenience, appearing as cheerful, contented, and noisy with the
thermometer at zero as at any other time. They are (piite fearless, esiiecially
in Xew Yori<, running about under the feet of the passers-by with perfecit
indilference and confidence. In Boston I have noticed their nests in con-
venient places, a few feet above crowded sidewalks. In winter they come
regularly about the houses to be fed.
The House Sparrow has also been introduced into Australia, where it has
become acclimated, and was, at the last accounts, rapidly increasing in that
quarter. It is likewise very common about Havana, Cuba.
In the Old World this bird has a widely extended area of distribution, and
is resident whei'ever found. It is very abundant in the British Islands and
throughout the northern and centrcal 2wrtions of Europe. In Spain and in
Italy it is replaced by two clo.sely allied species or races. This bird, how-
ever, is also found in No. h Africa, in the Levant, at Trebizonde, and among
the mountains of Xubia. Specimens have also been received from ■:he Him-
alayas, from Xepaul, and the vicinity of ( "alcutta.
Ijoth in Europe and in this country the Sparrows ])air early in the season.
I have known tliem sitting on their eggs, in lloston, in ]March. Tiiey are
very prolific, have broods of five, six, and even seven at a time, three or four
times in a season. They are full of life and animation, somewhat disposed
to brief and noisy quarrels, which are always harmless.
Their great attachment and devotion to tlit ir young is dwelt upon by all
English writers as quite remarkable. They evince a great i)artiality for
warmth, and even in midsummer line their nests with all the feathers they
can pick uj). In New York it is a favorite amu.sement with the children to
carry with them to the public ])arks ([uantities of feathers, which they throw,
one Ijy one, to the Sparrows, to witness their anuising contests for possession.
The eggs of this bird are oval in shape, jiointed at one enil, with a ground
of a light ashen color, Ijlotched, dotted, and streaked with various shades of
ashy and dusky brown. They measure from .85 to .95 of au inch in length,
and from .00 to .05 in breadth.
Subfamily SPIZELLINiE.— The Sparrows.
Char. Bill variable, usually almo.st .straight; somplimcs curved. Commissure gener-
ally iieai'ly .^^tniiu'lit, or sliirlitly eonoavn. Upper man(lil)le wider tlian lower. Nostrils
exposed. Wings modeiati' ; the outer iiriniaries not niuuh rounded. Tail variable.
Feet large; tarsi mostly longer than the middle toe.
FKIXUILLIDvE — THE FrXCIIES. 529
The species arc usually small, and of dull color, though Iraiuently liaiul-
sonioly marked. Nearly all are streaked ou the hack and crown, often on
the belly. None of the Tnited States spwies liave any red, hhie, or orani,'c,
and tiie yellow, when jm.'sent, is as a .superciliary .streak, or on the elhow
edge of tiu! winj;'.
In the arrangement of this sidifaniily, as of the others belonging to the
Friiiijillidiv, we do not profess to give anything like a natural system, but
merely an attempt at a convenient artilicial .scheme by which the determina-
tion of tiie genera may be facilitated.
\t Tail small and .'iliorl ; consiiliM'iilily m- ilociclcilly .sliortcr lliaii tlio wiiijrs,
owing e'itlii'r to tin- elongation ol' tin' wing or tlie .^lioitLMiinjr of tlio tail. Lateral
toe.< slioitcr than tlic niiddli^ without its claw. Spci'ics .streaked above and
below. (Passerculeae.)
«. TliieUly .•streaked overvwiieic almve. on llir sides, and across tiie breast.
Wing iiointed ; longest jii-iniaries eonsiderably longer than the .secondaiies.
Tail forked.
Ceiitronyx. Hind i^law very laige; rather longer than its digit. The
hiiul toe and elaw, together, as long as or longi'r than the middle toe
and elaw. (Jther toes as in Passerciiliis, Claws gently enrved. Terlials
sliorler than the secondaries. Tail I'oiked, l)nt the lateral feathers
shortei'.
Fasserculus. Hind elaw as long as its digit: the toe ei|ual to the
middle one williout i,-; claw ; lateral toes falling eonsiderably short of
the middle elaw. AViiigs very long; lirsl primary longest. Tertials as
long as the primaries. T.ail linked; leathers aeule.
Fooceetes. Hind elaw shortei' than its digit; the whole toe less tlian
the middle too without its elaw. Lateral toi's nearly e(iual to th(?
middle one, without its elaw. Tertials Imt little longer than seeou-
daries. Tail stitl'ened, forked; feathers acute, outer ones white.
/'. Moderately streaked above, on the si<les, and on the breast, the latter
sometime.'? nnstreaked ; the dorsal streaks broader, the others fainter than in
the la.st. Wings short, reaching a little beyond the base of the tail. N'ot
nnu'h difVerenoe between the prinuuies and seeondai'ies. Tail short, grad-
uated, and the feathei-s lanceolate, acute.
CoturniculuB. Dill shoit; thick. Tertials almost ecpial to the pri-
maries; truncate at the end. Claws sn\all, weak ; hinder one shoitei'
than its digit. ( )nt.stretelie(l feet not |-eaehing the U[> of the tail. Tail-
leathers not slill'eiied. (bi one species tail nearly eipud to the wing.)
AmmodromuB. Hill .slender, .small at base, and elongated. 'I'l'rtials
not longi'r than the secondaries; rounded at the tip. Claws large,
hinder one equal to its digit. Outstretched toes reacliHig considerably
beyond the end of the stilVened, almost sransorial tail.
B. Tail longer ami liroader : nearly or quite as long as, .sometimes a very little
longer than, the wings, which are rather lengthened. The primaiies c<insiderably
longer tlian the .secondaries. Xoiie of the species streaked beneath, and the
back alone streakeil above. (Spizelleae.)
a. Tail romided or .slightly giadiiatcd.
Chondestes. Tail <'onsideralily griiduated, not emtirginatecl. Lateral
toes considerably shorter than the middle toe. without its claw. Wings
very long, decidedly longer than the tail, reaching llu" middle of the
li7
530 NORTH AMK.IIICAN lilUI^S.
tiiil. Vii'sl c|iiill IdiiucsI. IIiikI .stri|)iM|. linck sliciikcd. Wliito
boncatli. A wliilc Mulcli on llu' ciiil ol' the liiil-lrallicrs.
Zonotrichia. Tiiil iiiiKlciuti'ly jj;nuliiiitiMl. Wiii^'^ nuMliTatc, iilioiu us
loiij,^ iis llif tail, rcacliiii;,' almiil over tli(> liasil loilPlli ol' llic tail; lilsl
iiuill li'ss than the si'coiid tn lointli. Feel, lai;;i'. Head siriiicd with
Mack niid white, or with lii't)\vii and dchrai't'oiis. Hack .sticakcd.
Junco. Tail very ncailv c(|nal to the wings, slightly cinarginatc, and
decidedly roundi.'d. Outer toe lalher longer than inner, reaching the
middle claw. Xo streaks anywhci'e exce|tl in yonng ; l)laek or ash-
color ahove ; belly white; with or without a rufous back and sides.
Outer tail-leathers while.
Foospiza. Tail U'nglhcued, slightly graduated; tlio leathers unusually
broad to the end. Itill slender. Wings about as long as the tail, reach-
ing lint little beyond its external base. Tertials bi'oad, and, with the
secondaries, rather lengthened. Heconil to litlli f|nills nearly e<inal, and
longest. Hill dark lead-color. Tail black. rnilbrni ashy-brown
aliovo; white beneath. Sides of head \\ilh stripes of black and white.
h. Tail decidedly forkcil ; a little shorter than the wing, .souietinies a little
longer.
Spizella. Size rather small. AViugs long. Lower mandible largest,
rniforni beneath, or with a jx'ctoi'al spot or the chin black.
C Tail leugtliened and graduated ; ilecidedly longer than the wings, which are
very short, seari'ely extending beyond the external base ol' the tail. Keet reach-
ing l)iit little beyond the middle of the tail. Species all streaked above; streakeil
or nearly nnicolor beneath. \o wliiti' on wings or tail. Outer lateral toe llie
longer, rirst ipiill not the shortest of thi' ])iimarios. (Melospizeae.)
Melospiza. ("ulnicn and connnissurc nearly straight. Claws stout ;
hinder one as large as iis digit. Tail-feathers ratln'r broad. Body
streaked beiiealh.
Peucaea. Culmcn and connnissurc cnived. Claws weak ; hinder one
not nnicli cuiveil, decidedly shorter than its digit. Tail-feathers narrow.
Without .streaks beneath, oxce|)ting a mu'row maxillary stripe.
D. Tail rather .slioi't, and much graduated ; longer than the wings; the midrib
more median. Culmcn curvi'd. Tarsus considerably longer than middle too.
Outer toe longer. Jhit, little dilference in the length of the ([uills; the onler
ones much Duinleil; even the second tpiill is shorter than any other primary
except the lirst.
Embernagra. Coloi' olive-green above.
Gfais CENTRONYX, 15a Hit).
Ccntroivj.v, B.mud, Birds X. Am. IS'iS, 44ii. (Type, Kmhi'ciyi Immli, Xvw.)
(iKN. CiiAit. IJill elongated; the lowei' Uiandilile .smaller: outlines nearly straight.
Tarsus lengthened, considerably exceeding the mitldle toe. Latcr.il toes iMpial. not reach-
ing the liaso of the middle elaw. Hind toe veiy largi'; the claw rather longer than its
digit. an<l in its elongation resembling Plcr/rii/iJiiiiii'n, but nior<' curved: the digit and claw
togetln-r rather longer than the middle toe and elaw. Wings very long, I'cachiug beyond
the middle of the tail, and Ijoyond the end of the I'ovcils. Tertials shorter than the
piiinaries, and but little longer than the secondaries. T.iil short, much less than from the
carpal joint to end of .secondaries; little more than two thirds the entire' wing. It is
FKIX(iIM,ll).K TIIK KINCUKS.
5,31
sli<;litly foikcil, and inoilciiitcly iiniiidi'il liilcrally ; tlio luatlicis all annto. Cdlorsimu'what
as ill l'ii.i!ii'irii/n.i.
This j^'i'ims diU'crs ('mm Pdxxiirii/ns, as statod in tlio (U'scri])ti(iii of tlio
species IiuIIkt dm. It wduld lie, tai<eii fur ricilnipliaius on accoii'.t ul' its
lengthened liind claw, wliicli, however, is more curved than in that j^cnns ;
the tarsi are much longer, the tertials less elongated, and tlie coloration dif-
ferent, tliough closely resenililiiig that of the female J'lccttvp/tuncs. liut one
siieeies has thus fur been recognized.
Centronyx bairdi, r.\inn.
BAIBD'S BUNTING.
Emhcrhit ludrdl, Aii>. IMnls Am. Vll, 1S|:!, :i."i!i, pi. il. Ci/nnikiilus bainlt, linN. Syn.
185(1, 481. C'ciili-11,1,1..- Iiidnli, lUiiii), IJiril.s N. Am. I.SjS, 411.
Si'. Ca.M!. Soiiii'wiiat siinilai- in ijcncr-al iiiipcMrancc tn /'n.i.in-rnhi.i siivdiniii. Hack
rrriiyisli, .■streaked Avitli dusky. Cniwii lU'Mi'ly ciivci'cd liy lijack streaks, liiil <livi(l(Ml liy
a liroad nifdian liand of Ijiowiiisli-ycllow.
Ky('li<ls and a Cainl siipciciliary slript> yi-l-
liiuish-wliitc. IJcncalli while, wilii a nia.K-
iiliirv lilackisli stripe and smne narrow
streaks (in the upper pait dl' the lireasi, and
sides of till' tlirnat ai: . liody. Outer edj;-es
and tips of tail-featliers white; the two
(inter feathers olisoletely white. ISend of
wing white. Luin^th, 1.75; wiiijr, '.i.lSI); tail,
2.20.
Il.vn. Month of liie Yellowstone Uiver.
t)nu speeimt'ii only known.
(Vntn'iij/,r hatf'Ut litin/.
Tiiis s|)(H'ios has somewhat of the general apiiearauce of I'nn.'icrnihis
si'vanim, hut with imiiortiint dil'.eri'iicc^' lioth of form and color. The iiill
is nnicli longer, tind more slender in ])i'0])ortion. The wings are (piite un-
usuidl}' long; tlie jirimaries more
than lialf an inch longer than tlie
tertiaries ; the first (|uill as h)ng as
till fourth, iind hut little less than
the second and tliird. The tail is
very short; the featlu'rs narrow
and ipointed. Tlie feet are large;
tlie hind claw very long and con-
sidcrahly cin-ved, as are the otlier
claws generally.
The s]ieeies was hasod by Mr.
Audubon on a skin iu'ougiit by him from the nioutli of tlie Yellowstone
Kiver, in \M'.\, in rather defective and worn plumage. Tliis has hitlierto
Ctnlroniix bninli.
532
NORTH AMLIUICAN nillDS.
served as tlio basis ol' all tlie (lescriptions nf tlio specii's wliidi is Justly
consiili'R'd one of tlie raicsl in the North American I'ainia.
Haiuts. In rejj;anl to tiie luihits, distribution, or jfener:'' history of this
very mre species, hut little is known, only one sjiecinien havinj; been met
with. This was procured l>y Mr. Audubon's party to the Yellowstone lliver,
in Dakota, on the last day of .Inly, iS4:>. Tiiat it is a resident where ob-
taine<l, certainly during the breeilinj^-season, is a natural int'erenee from the
circumstances of its capture. That it may l)e a common Itird in certain
other ]H)rtions of the rej,'ion, innnediately nortli of Dakota, is (juite proliable.
Its clo.se habits, as described liy Mr. Audubon, favor its escapinj^ notice wher-
ever it may c.\ist.
The specimen was mot with in a wet place, overfjrown closely by a kind
of slender rush-like jira.ss, from the midst of wliich the notes of these birds
were heard, and at lii'st mi.staken for those of the Marsii Wren. A search
was innnediately instituted for the sinj^ers, which Mr. IJell soon ascertained
could not be the Wren in (picstion, tiie notes bein^- much softer and more
prolonged. Much dillicnlty was encountered in tiie endeavor to raise them
from the long close grass to which they closely confined them.selves, and
they were several times nearly trodden on lieibre they Mould take wing,
almo.st instantaneously realighting within a few .steps, and running like mice
through the grass. After a while two were .shot while on the wing, and
proved to be adult male and female. The i)arty found this species quite
abundant in all such situations, and there seems to have been no doubt that
it was breeding.
Gexis PASSERCULUS, Honap.
Pa.i.wivii!i/n, iioNAi'. ('0111]). lAat IJiiils, lS;iS. (Tyi)i', FfiiKjIlhi mirriiina.)
Okx. Tirvn. Rill iiioili'r.itcly coiiiriil ; the lower iiiaiKlililc siii;ill('i- ; lintli outlines nearly
.^Jtraiglit. Tar.sns aliiMit equal to tlic niiildle
tor. Latoriil toes aliont eiiual, their claw.'*
I'aiiinp; far sliort of tlio niiddlo one. Hind
toe niiieli lonpror tlian tlie lateral one.«, rcaoli-
inp: ns far as llie nii(l<llu of the midille claw ;
f^i^ ___— ■ y^ -^r: -^-^ "'•"' <'liiws nuxlerately eiu'ved. Winp's '.nnisu-
^ ■< '=^ ally lonsr. rcachinfj: to the inidille of the tail,
and almost to the end of tlie niiper eoverts.
The tertials nt'arly or (|iiite a.< long as the
jiriiiiarie.s; the tir.st primary longest. The
tail is quite .short, eonsidcrahly shorter than
tliowinsis; as lonii; as from the eariial joint
to the end ot the seeondarius. it is eiiiar-
giuate, and .slightly rounded ; the foathors pointed and narrow.
The essential chtiracters of this well-marked genus lie in the elongated
wings, longer than tiie tail, the tertiaries equal to the ])rinuu'ies, the first
iM;i.\(!ii.i.in.K — TiiM KiN("iii:s. 53;-}
quill almost l(>ii;,'c'st. The Icljs aw \<n\<i, tiie oiitstri'U'lu'd lues i'ciU'liiii,i; U-
tlu! oml of Uk; tail ; tiic liitciiil too coiisiilonilply sliditi'i' liiaii tlic iiiiddlc,
wliicli is nut iiuuii l(iii,i,'('i' tluiu tlie liimlui'. Tlio tail is .sIkhI, iiaiTDW, iiiid
tiiiiiiij;iiiato ; the. ruallit^is aiiiitu.
Specios and Varieties.
Common C'liAit.vcTiMis. Aliovr L'tnyisli-Kiuwii, ImmicmIm wliiic ; wlioli' upiiur
siirliicf. as well ,i.< iln' \nvn>\ iiml siili -s. siiciUcd wMli dusky. Alight siiiier-
ciliiiry stiipc, iiiul ,a wliilisli iiiiixilliiry one, tin' latter hordi'ivd aljovc and liclow
by .stl'i|>cs ol' cdalcsi'iMl dusky si leaks.
A. Itill small, tlio fiilnicii slightly (•(Hhmvi' in ihu iiiiddlu portion; a iHc(liaii
light stfipc on the <To\vii.
I. P. savanna. Snpci-ciliary stripe yellow iinteriorly ; streaks on iho
hack lilaekisli, sharply ili'lined.
Til run I (I lid iijijirr jiiirt 0/ iiliilomcn iinsfrrill.iil ; vrrli:r-.ilriiir iril/i-
imf ifi Ihiir liiH/i',
T'ill .;! I IVom llii'ehead ami ."J.") in depth at the liase; wing, 'J.S.'i;
tail, 'J.-'jII. Colois deep; outei' snrliic'e ol' wing (in spring) deeideilly
reddisli. //((/(. Eastern I'rovin C N'urlli .Vinerii'a . \nv. xn rn ii n a .
Uill, .;!2 ami ,20, or less; wing, *2.7."); tail, L'.lO. Colors very pale ;
outer sniliK'u of wing (in spring) pale nshy. //((ft. Western I'rov-
inee of .North AiniMiea, e.\eepl coast ol' Calilnrnia, where replaced
\iy \i\v. aiilliiiius Mu-. al 11 It il i u II s.
J5ill. .;>" and .27, or eonsidei-alily more; wing. li.lO; tail, 2.10.
Colors as in mvuuuu. IliiU. Xorthwust coast, of Xorth .\meriea
var. .V (( /( (/ "■ / (■ /( p II .s' / .« .
Tliroot ttiiil upper part of abdomen flrtnlid ; ri'rle.r-sln'/ie kIiiuiiiIi/
fiiiijed ivitli i/ilhiir,
rSill, .;i;! and .10; wing, 2..')l); tail, l.iio. CoWa darker than vtn-.
saraiiiia, the groinid-eolor imue nnii'urni, and the lilaek streaks
heavier and more nninerous. Iliih. Coast of California. var, (iii I li in ii s.
2. P. princeps. Superciliary stripe white nntoriorly ; streaks on ilic
back .sandy-l)r<iwn, liadly defined. Wing. .">.2') ; tail. 2.ti0; lull. .4") and
.2:5; tarsu.s, .!),') ; middle toe. .StI. //ab. Kasterii Ma.s.'^achii.sctts (north-
ern regions in sinnmer?).
B« Bill robust, the enlnien arched ; no mpflian light stripe on the crown.
Siiiieri'iliary stri[)o white anteriorly ; streaks on the back .Kandy-browii,
ob.'iolet<'.
3. P. rostratus.
Bill, .4.'! aid .nO; wing, 2.00; tail. 2.2."). O round-color aliovc
fulvous-gray, beneath white; the streaks, aliove and below, sandy-
l)rown. Colors mncli as in /'. priiirriis. Huh. Coast of Cali-
fornia, to the niotilh of the Colorailo lliver; Cape St. Lucas in
winter ......... var. ro.i I r<i f n s.
Bill, .3.'5 and .22; wing, 2.")'); tail, 2.00. (iioinid-eolor above
phinibeons-gray ; lieneath white ; streaks tilackish-lirown. Ilah.
Cape St. Lucas (resident?) vav- (j n t tn t ii.i.
A careful cxauiiiintiou of the very larL^e series of FKAnnrii/xx tillied to
savanna iu the museuiu of the Suiithsouiau Institution, recently made,
534
NORTH AMERICAN IJIUDS.
briii^is lis to the Sfime coiK'lu.sion as that nwhod in ISfiS, namely, that,
<,'ranting' a single species extoiKling over tlie whole of Xoith America, there
are several yeoj;rai)hical races in (lillerent
regions. Thus, taking the eastern bird
as the standard, with its darlc coh)rs,
reddish wint.s, anil deep yellow super-
ciliary stripe, and the comparative or
entire absence of spots on the lower part
of breast, we havt; in tlie middle prov-
ince, and to smne extent in tiie western,
a race rather smaller, with more attenu-
ated and htnger bill, and i)aler colors ;
the wings grayish, tiie yellow of head
•being scarcely appreciable (var. nUituli-
nns). On the coast of California, an-
other series of the size and prnjiorfions of the last, liut with dark yeUow
superciliary stripe, — the vertex-stripe even yellowish, — dark colors, and
the lower part of breast, as well as the tiiroat, decidedly streaked, as well
as the jugulum (var. anthinn^) ; and finally on the northwest coast, from
I'uget Sound to Kodiak, a fnurth race, mnch larger than typical 7*. nKvainia,
but al)solutely umlistingui.shable in color, proportion of bill, etc. (var. sand-
vnrhnixis). P. ant/ihiiia is not found north of (.'alifornia, but the other two
of the western race may occur together at any point of the coast north,
perhajis, of the (Joliimbia liiver.
Pax<frnihis savn)mfi.
Passerculus savanna, Bonap.
SAVANNA SPABBOW.
FmiriUla unvnnnn, Wilson, Am. Orii. Ill, 1811, 5'), pi. xxii, f. 2. — lit. IV, 1811, 72,
1)1. x.\.\iv, f. i. —Am. Oni. liioK. II, lSa4, (i;! ; V, 1839, 516, [il. cix. Pimnwdui
siii;i,(,iii, lluN. List, 1838. — III. (.'oiispi'ctus, 1850, 480. — Cam. Mils. IMii. 1851, 131.
— Haiku, IJiid.s N. Am. IS.'.S, 442. — Cocks, P. A. N. S. 18t;i, 22:(. — Sa.ml'ki.s,
301. Emhm-,1 suvfimui, Aid. Syn. 1839, 103. — In. Mints Am. Ill, 1841, 08, j.l.
clx. ? Fn'ii;/il/ii hycmclis, (!.M. I, 1788, 922. — Liciit. Vi'i/ii.liiiiss, 1S23, No. 250.
Omi'liii's ctcsi ii|)li(ni, liascd on Pcinii'iit .Xntii' Zoiil. 11, 370 (wiiiti'r Fiiu-li), iipplii-s
n|Uiilly well to ii liiigu nuiiilier of spciics. Linuria savanna, UlcilAUDsnx, List, 1837,
Sp. CiiAit. I'ViitluT.-* of till' upper parts f^onornlly with a. fciitral streak of liliirkisli-
browii ; tli(! .xlivaks of iIk- hack with a slight niibiis .siifl'iisioii latuially ; the fcathora
iMltrcil witii gray, which l.s lightest, on tho .•<i'apiilar.s, and t'oiiii.s lhcu> two gray stripes.
Crown with a lnoad inc'(liaii sliip(> of yclhjwish-gray. .\ snpcri'iliary siroak from tho t)ill
to tlie hai'k of the hoad. cyiMids, and edge of tho olbow, yollow, paliM' boliind. A yullow-
i,sli-vviiiti! numdihiilar stripe curving behind the ear-cov(!rts, and inarginoil above and
below by brown. Tlie lower margin is a scries of thickly crowded spots on thi," sides of
tli(' throat, wliii'li are also found on the sides of the neck, across the upper ]iart of the
breast, and on iIk' sides of liody, a dusky line liack of the eye, in;ikiiiir tlire<' on the side
of head (iiuhidiug the two inandibulaij. A few faint spots on liie throat and eliin. Rest
FKL\(ilLLIlhE — THE HNCllEti.
585
■ A);
of un.loi' parts wliito. Outer tnil-rcatlicrs and primiirics oajrcd with wliitc Luii^tli, 0.
winj;-, 2.70; tuil, 2.1(1.
Young. Grouiiil-i-clor of tliu upper p:-'s (;excupt win.^s and tail) light odirap«oiis,
more brownish on top of head, n|)iR'r part of baek, and on upper tail-coverts ; the streaks
blacker and more eonspienoiis than in the aibilt. lieneath with an oehraceoiis tinge
anteriorly, the streaks liroader, and deeper blaek, than in the adnlt, tliongh less sharpK-
delincd. The infra-nnixillary streak <'Xpaiided into a broad blarkish elongated l)lotch.
Haii. Eastern North Anu'iiea to l\n- Missouri plains, and northwest to Alaska. Cuba,
winter (Cab. Jonr. IV, (J).
Si)ecinieiiH vary C(iiisi(loral)ly in size, color, and .shape of iiill, l.nt the
average is a.s tlescrilied. Spriiio- birds have the niarkinj^.s .sltarper and
clearer, the dark streaks with little ur no snd'nsion of rufous.
II.VBIT.S. The Savanna Sparrow is an abundant .species throuoliout North
America, from the Atliintic sea-board to tlie (Jreat Plains. It is, however,
everywhere iiuicii less common in tlie -interior tiiiin nearer tiie shore. The
Smith.soniiin specimens tire from points its iar south as Gcorj-ia and Loiiisi-
anii, and as far west its the Dlack Hills of Wyomin---. It passes north throiioh
Mas.sacliii.setts, from the first to tiie middle of April, and some remain to lireed
in the eastern part of the State. Mr. Maynard sjieaks of it as a common
summer resident. Tliis, h(j\vever, is true only of n few restricted maritime
localities, but is not .so of tlie entire eastern ]iortion of the Stale. It occurs
l)oth in the sidt inar.slies of C'liarles liiver and in the vicinity of Fresli Toiid,
but I cotdd never trace it in any of the neigid)oring towns. ?t is occtision-
ally met with in inland situations where we would not naturally look for it.
In the summer of ISG'.l, :Mr. William I'.rcwster found quite a colony of tlieso
birds in an open field near the (ileii Hou.se, at tlie foot of Ml. Wasliington.
They had nests with eggs the last of July and the first of August.
In Western Massachusetts, according to Mr. Allen, it rarely or iie\er stops
to breed. In Western i\Iaiiie, Mr. Verrill mentions it as a common summer
visitant, and as lireeding tlicre in the latter part of May. In the vicinity of
Eastport, and in all the i.slands of the (irand Menan group, I found these
Sparrow.s very abundant. Tliey almost invariably built tlieir nests in ile-
pressions on the edge or just under the projecting tops of high bliitfs of liiiid
near the sea. They were liy far the most abundant of the land-birds, and it
Wiis quite common to find their nests in close jiro-ximity one to anotlier. •
Tliey arrive there in April, an,! leave in September, passing slowly south
more in reference to the abundance tjf their Ibod than the severity of the
season, luitil the weather becomes very .severe, when they all disappear. Tliey
v'nter in liie Southern States, from Virginia to (Jeorgia, and are especially
abundant in the Carolintis. Dr. C'oues states that they were very common
about Columbia from October to April, moving in large flocks and associ-
ating with other s])ecies. Wilson states that he met with this species, from
Savannah to Xew York, in all the low country, and regtirded it as resident
in those jdaces, but nirely found at a distance from the sea-shore. He found
them e.s])eeially numerous at (Jreat Egg Harbor, N J.
536 NdllTlI AMKKICA.N JUIiDS.
Dr. Cones, in liis visit to r/il)nuliii', in ISfJO, found tiiis Sjiarrow almndant
in tliiit reyion in low moist niciulow.s and inaishy tracts near the soa-slioro,
liut never noticed it in any other situations. He fre(|uently observed it there
f'eedin,n on tlie beds of dried eel-grass along tlie rocky shores, searching for
food in conii)any with tlie Titlarks and small Sandpipers.
During my visits to the islaiuls of the ]>ay of Fundy, in one of which I
remained a number of days, I had a good opportunity to notice these birds.
In many respects their habits undergo noticeable changes during the breed-
ing-season. As they j.ass north or soutii in their migrations, they are not
l)articularly shy or ditlicidt to api)roacii, but when they liad nests they seemed
to become particularly cautious and mistrustful. The male and female sat
by turns upon their eggs, b\it generally one remained witliin hailing distance,
and always gave promptly a signal of danger when the nest was approached,
at which the other would glide from the nest, running off on the ground like
a niou.se. I found it impossiljle to identify by shooting the parent on the
nest, and only accomplislied its identification by means of snares. When
once lost in the tall grass, it was impossible to find it again, or if it reap-
peared it was impossible to tell which of the many chirping Sparrows, all of
them out of reacli of shot, and keeping a sharp lookout on my movements,
liad any coiniection with tlie nest. This manu'uvre was gone through with
in every nest 1 found, but 1 soon learned to distinguish them without the
need of gun or snare.
This Sparrow is eminently terrestrial, confining itself almost entirely to
tlie ground, and rarely alighting on anything even so high as a fence.
Though frequenting low moLst ground.s, its nest is always in a dry spot and
usually somewliat elevated. The nest is almost always sunk into tlie groird,
is made very simply and loosely of dry grasses, with a lining of softer mate-
rials of the same. I have never found any other material than this in the
many nests I have examined, although nests of var. itlaiuliniifi, in the vicin-
ity of Fort Anderson, are freipiently lined with feathere or deers' hair,
according to MacFarlaue.
The eggs, five or six in nundior, vary consideraldy in their appearance. In
siiape they are a rounded oval, one end being much more pointed than the
other. Tiiey measure .68 by ftn of an inch. In some the ground-color,
wliich is of a greenish-white, is plainly visible, being only ])artially covered
by l)lotches of lirown, shaded with red and i)ur}ile. These blotches are more
numerous aljout the larger end, becoming continent and forming a corona.
In others, the ground-color is entirely concealed by confiuent ferruginous
fine dots, over which are darker markings of brown and purple and a still
darker ring of the same about the larger end.
FJ^INGILLID.K — THE FINCriES. Qgi,
Passerculus savanna, mu. alaudinus, Bonap.
WEST .RN SAVANNA SPAHROW.
Pnssercuh,, ,ihni,lhu,s, lip. Coini.tMs R.n.lus, XXXVII, !),.,-. 1853, OlS, Palifomia —In
Notes ()initl,ol,>:,ri,j,„., Ivjattiv, l.sr,4, IS (ivpHnt of preciMliiiK). - nAllin, Hinls X Am'
ISA 44.!, pi. .xlvi. -('..oi-Kii & Sr.Ki.KY, 197. pi. xxviii, f. 2. - Elmot, Illust. An>
B. MI.- l)Ar,..>^ liA.NMsiKii, Tr. Ch. Act. I, I8(i9, 284 (Alaska). -Copkh, Oin. Cal.
I, 181. l-us^n-nihi.H mcauna and P. anl/iinus, Dall & Banmstek, Tr. (Jh Ac I
186!), pp. 28.!, 284. • • '.
Sp. C..AU. Similar t„ /'. .~,„rrnu,o. hut Mnall.-r; the bill ..l.Mi.loror an,l more olon-atod.
Littlo of yellow lu the .sui.orcMliary strip,- (must ,listiiK-t anteriorly); the re.st of the'head
without any t,n,i;e of the ..an.e. (Jeneral ••olor mueh paler an.l -rayer than in P. suvmnm
lireast with only a lew .spots. Length, 0.2.1 ; wing, l'.?,"); tail, 2 ;j()
Hah. Mi,l,lle an.l \Ve.slern Provin.'es of North' Anieri... ;'.s"o,uh to Onzaha, north to
Ahusk-a (Kodiak) and the Aretic coast, Oaxaca (Scl. Oct.); Vera Cru. (winter, Sumi-
C'IIKAST).
This wo.stern race of P. srmmna i.s .sninller, considerably paler in general
colors, tiie sii].er(Mliary stripe, with little yellow in it, and the l-ill more
slender, and longer. In coloiation, some Atlantic coast specimens often
exhibit an ai)pr...ximati.)n, especially in the pale tint of the sni-erciliary
stripe; but the l)ill is always decidedly m„re attenuated in (>/,nt,/iHits.
The "Western Savanna Sj)arrow is a common .species throu-^hout the West-
ern Province of North America, from the i-lains to California, and from
Alaska to Mexico. In California it appears to be replace! alony the Pacific
coast by the variety ,ni//,hn>.^, a (luite diflerent and very local form. In
Alaska, specimens were obtained by the natiu'alists of the Itussian Tele-
graph Expedition at various localities, chiefly in the interior, and on the
Yukon it was obtained by :\rr. Lockhart. Dr. Cooi)er found it at Fort
Steilacoom, in Wa.shington Teriifoiy, where it was in company with P.mnd-
wirhemis, in the wet meadows. In California this species inhabits chiefly,
according to Dr. Cooper, the dry plains of the interior of the State. The
statement of the occurrence of this form anywliere along the coast of Cali-
fornia should be received with considerable doubt, since in the laige series
of these birds all specimens from this region are of the variety anthinus,
an exclusively littoral type.
^ Hahits. Tlie Western Savanna Spnrrow was found throughout the C.reat
I'.asin, by Mr. K'idgway, in all wet, grassy situation.s, in whicii prererence it
is like its eastern relative. It was very abundant at Carson City, inhabiting
exclusively the meadows. At Salt Lake City it was also very abundant'^
fretpienting the wet meadows near the Jordan.
This bird was idso ol)tained at Sitkii by ISischolf, and was found on the
Yukon by ]\Ir. Lockhart. It is the only .sjn'cies found in tlu! Valley of the
Mackenzie, uji to tlie Arctic c.iast.
Dr. Cooper also met witli it annuig tlie low meadows of Washington Ter-
G8
538 NORTH AMERICAN B-IRDS.
ritory, wlierc thoy arrived in March, and remained until late in October.
Tiiey were usually found anion^ii tiic grass, from which they rarely rise,
except to sing their faint and lisjiing trill from a weed or some low Imsh.
Mr. liidgway represents this song as corresjjonding with the syllables witz-
tvitz-wiH-tzuH. This, he states, is uttered in a weak and lisping manner, as
the bird perches on a bush beside the brook, or on a fence, or as it nestles
among the grass on the ground.
Dr. Cooper speaks of them as only winter visitants in Calil'ornia, and
there residing only on the dry interior plains, as far south as San Diego,
where they remain in large flocks until April. He has never met with
this bird during the summer months, though some are supposed to remain
and breed in the high prairies. He did not meet with any about the sum-
mits of the Sierra Nevada, in September. They api)eared to prel'er the dry
rolling prairies to marshes, though they were occasionally found in the
latter.
This species is also a migratory visitant to the Department of Vera Cruz,
Mexico, where they are said l)y Sumichrast to pass the winter.
Their nests are built upon the ground, and are comjiosed almost entirely
of the dry stems of grasses, and are lined with finer materials of the same.
Their eggs measure .75 of an inch in length by .52 in br(!adth, have a
greenish-white ground, over which are distributed numerous markings, spots,
and blotches of various sizes, of a light purjilish-brown and a deeper red-
brown, confluent about the larger end, where they form a crown.
Near Fort Auderscm nests were found in great numbers, no le.ss than two
hundred and four having been obtained during four summers in that locality.
These nests were all taken on the ground, under low grass, in dry sjwts in
a large marshy prairie, and it is stated that they were ne\er found in any
other situation or locality.
Fasserculus savanna, var. sandwichensis, Baird.
NOBTHWESTEBN SAVANNA 8FABR0W.
Emberizn simdwicheiixiy, Om. I, 1788, 875. Emhrrhn nrefien, L.\rii.\M, Iiid. Orn. I, 1790,
414. Frincfilhi tnrlicn, Viooits, Zoiil. of Hlossoiii, 18;ii(, 20 (pciliiilis one of tlic smaller
species). — " BliA.NDT, Icon. Ross. "J, (i." Eiispiza iircliai. Up. Conspeetiis, IH.in, iii'.*.
Zaiwtrichia arctiai, KiNsiii, 187"i. Eiiiherizii chrfimpn, Pai.i.a«, Zoiif;. Rosso-As. II,
1811, 4.'i, tab. xlviii, fif;. 1 (I'niilii.skiO. Situihrich Ilini/liuj, Latii. Syii. II, 1783, 202.
Uiiiilrtskii liuiitimj, I'knnant, Arctic Zoiil. II, 'MV\ ;<20, Xo. 229 (not of |i. 3(i4, N'o.
233). I'tismrciilun siniilirif/iniiiix, Haikd, IJiids N. Ami. Ifj.'if*, 444. — I)ai,i. & Bansls-
TEii, Tr. Cli. Ac. I, 18C9, 284. — Coupkii, Oni. Ciil. I, 180. P(i,ise.rc.ulm rnvdiiiui,
Dall k Banslstku, Tr. C'h. Ac. 1, 18ti9, 283.
Sp. CllAR. Almost o.Kiiotly lik(? /'. stircnna, but half an iiicii li)ii,i.'i'r, with niueli larfjcr
bill. liOiiirth, (). 12 iiichc.<; \viii;r, ;i,0(>| tail, 'J.')"). Bill above, .50 ; below, .;i(i ; i,'ai)e, .50 ;
depth, .27.
Uab, Northwe.'iterii con-st from the Columbia Itiver lu Kiis.siiiM .\nicrict..
FRINGILLID/K — THE FINCHES. 539
Specimens of tliis race from Sitkn, are absolutely mHlistingiiishable from
eastern R mvuitiui except in size ; tiie colors and jiroportion of bill being
the same. A yonnj,' bird (from Kodiak) differs from that of soranna in
larger size, and a brigiit redilish-fnlvous tinj^'e to upper parts, and a deep
yellowish-fulvous tinjic on Jnj^'ulum and along tlie sides.
JLvuiTH. Tliis variety is the north west -coast form of the common Savan-
na Sparrow, and is found during the sunnner from Oregon to Alaska. Ur.
Suckley states that he found this s])eeies an abundant spring visitor at Fort
Steilacoom. J)r. Cooper, in his Zoiilogy of Wasliington Territory, states it to
be only a passenger tlnviigh tiiat section, migrating nortliward, at the end of
April, in i)airs, and not returning until tlie end of Seiitember. They come
back in Hocks, and frequent the shores and prairies along the sea-coast. Their
plumage seems to lu; the same at all seasons. Xothing is known of their
note. They are sujiposed to spend their winters in Soutiiern Oregon and
California, though tiieir actual ja-esence has not been detected in either State.
They do not remain (hning the sunur.er near the Columl)ia, but pass to the
north, or to the interior plains east of the Cascade IJange. Dr. Cooper states
that their habits closely resemble tiiose of /'. (nit/nnim.
Mr. Dall states that two specimens of this species were taken at Sitka by
^fr. liischoff:
Passerculus savanna, var. anthinus, Bonap.
CAUFOBNIA SHOBE SFAKBOW.
Pnimroihi.idiil/ihiiis, Ijonap. Comptos Itoiulu.s, X.KVll, Dec. isr)3, 919, Russian Ami-rica.l
— In. Notes Oriiitli. Dclattiv, 1854, 19. — Baird, Birds N. Am. I808, p. 445.—
CooiM-.i!, Oiii. ('al. I, 1870, 183.
Si'. CiiAii. Similar to /'. saruniK/, but smaller. Beneath tinned with reddi.sh. Breast
and upper part of belly tliiel<ly spotted with sharply defined sajrilfato brown .'jpotf,
e.vhibiting a teiideney to ajTgregation on the niiildle of the belly. Superciliary stripe and
one in the middle of Ihe erown <k'cided trreenish-yellow, the head jreiierally tinged with
the .'same, a,*; also the baek ami sides of the neuiv. tender tail-eoverts somewhat streaked.
Lenirtli, 5.00; wing, 2.()(i; tail, •_'.'_'4.
ILvn. Coast of CaHfornia, neai- San l'rancisc:o ; " Russian America. Kodiak " (Bonapautk).
This is the most strongly marked of tlie several races of P. ,wr«?i?jn, dif-
fering from all the otiiers in several important respects. The markings be-
neath are more generally disi)er,sed, extending l)ack upon the lower part of
the breast, and forward o\er the throat ; the lower tail-coverts have distinct
medial blackish streaks, though they are somewhat concealed. The median
strijie on the crown is decidedly greenish-yellow, not pale ashy ; the whitish
edges to the intersca])ular feathers, ,so conspicuous in the otiier races, are more
concealed, presenting a more uniformly brown surface above, with broader
> From tlio fact that this form is not fouiul in any part of .Maska, nor, indeed, north of ralifor-
iiia, it is ])robalile tliat the loc.ahlies of aiUliinus and ulaudiniis were transposed in Bonaparte's
original descriptions.
540 NOimi AMERICAN- ItllUW.
liluL'k strijje.s. The Inoud latoval stripes of tlie crowii are deep olive or hair-
brown, witli narrow, sliari)ly (IcfiniMl, intense black streaks, insteail of ])alo
j,'ra3'isli as in (ilniti/iiins (sprinji (hess), or light brown as in xdnntiiK (spring),
with broader, less dee]), black streaks.
IIaiuts. The Shori' Sparrow of California is said to be, to a remarkable
degree, the peeuliar marsh species of the Pacitie coast of that State. Dr.
Cooper states that he very rarely met with these birds ont of the salt marshes,
where they lie so close and run so stealthily among the weeds that they are
Hushed with dillicnlty. They ri.se only to Hy a few rods, and drop again
into their covert. They are not at all gregarious, except when migrating, ami
are found singly or by pairs. They are abundant about San Francisco in the
winter, though Dr. Coo])er is not sure that any are i'ound so far south in the
snmmer. Near San J)iego, in February, they had already begun to utter
their short and pleasant song, as they jterched on the top of some tall weed.
Dr. Coojter observed them in that neighitorhood into April, but did not
succeed in finding any of their nests, nor was he ever able to meet with this
sjiecies at San I'edro in sunnuer.
Dr. Cones speaks of (Ibis, 1 8(5(1, p. 208) finding three species of the diffi-
cult group oi Fiooiercnli, and all of them very abundant, in Southern Calilbr-
nia in November. These were /'. roxtnt/iis, P. (ilnndinm, ami V. inithiniii^.
The antln'iiiis seemed confined to the moist salt gmss and sedgy weeds of the
sea-shore it.self. It was llushe<l with great difficult} and then its ilight was
very rapid and irregular. It would alight again almost immediatel}', and run
with great celerity among the roots of the thick grasses, and was therefore
exceedingly difficult to procure. /'. alinuliniai was common two or three
miles away from the coast, but Dr. Coui's did not find one mixing with
P. anthiiiiid. It was a brush and weed, rather than a gra.ss, species, associating
with Anthus ludoviciaims and Zoiiotrichia eoronata.
Fasserculus princeps, Mavxaud.
IPSWICH SFARBOW.
Ccntronijr bairdi, Mavnaiu), Natiirnli.st's Oiiiili-, 1870, 117, froiitispinee (Ipswii'li, Mas.s.).
Passerciiltiy. princeps, May.naiiii, Aiiidiiiiin Naturalist, 1872.
Sp. Ciiau. Bill sin.ill, exactly tlic sanio in furni and size as that of Cdilrm))/.r. bnirdi,
but [jioportioiially sinalliM- ; tcrtials scarcely exceeding; llic sccoiiiiarics ; tail ciiiai'fiiiiatc,
the IcalluM-s acute, the intermedia' atteiniatcil teiiniiially. Oiitstrelclicil feet reaeliiiifj;
about lialf-way to the t'liil of the tail. In coloi- almost exactly like /'. roslvatuii, but dif-
fei-ciU ill inaikin};s. Above ligiit ashy, the dorsal feathers li^dit saiidy-l)i'own centrally,
producing an obsoletely spotted appearance; shafts of dorsal feathers black. Outer snr-
fac<! of tlu- winirs pale sandy-biown. the feathers darker centrally; terti.ils with their
outer \vcl)s whitish, and with a coiispicnoiis black central area. Crown becouiiilir darker
liiown anteriorly, where it is divided by a rather indistinct line of ochraciiins-white ; an
mdistinct siiperciliai-y stripe", and a very conspicnons maxillary stripe of the same; thu
latter bordered above, from the rictus to the end of the am'iculars, by a mwrow stripe of
l'IUN(i[l,LII).K_TlI|.: FrxniLX r.1
')4 1
dusky: lores a„.1 snl,-..,l.ilal nyion like th.. supoiviliniT slri,...; auriclars |mI.. l„nw„i.l,
hketlu. .TowM, lM,nl,.n.,l .lon.u Ih- „,,p,.r ,n„l lo«vr ..,|,v will, a ,|uskv tow strip,.
n.M„-atl, wh,„., sl,,-l„lv (i,,,v,l will, „sl,y „„ th.. Ih.„ks: si.i.s ..f ,1,.. ,|,,„,;, wl,„|,. 1,,....,.,
si.l,.s,a,„l (lanks, w„h m„,t„w slr,.ak.s ,.1' san,ly-l,r,.WM, nmro hla,.kisl, i„war,l tl„. .|,.,|, •
I'l- om,.„, cnss,,,,,, a,„l li„i„n. .,r ,l,„ „.i„j,, i„„„a,.„lat,.; tl.n.at with a U.w ini,,,,... s,'„.,.k.'
i'lit ah.iio; ,.a,.h si,lo bonier,.,! I.v a " hri.il,. " ,,f siilliis,.,! stn'aks.
^^ (Coll....,„r's X.,. 1,7.14, Ipswi,.!,, Mass. I),.,.. 1. ISdS; , '. .1. M„v„„,,.) \vi„...
.i.-.; taikJ.(.(l; ,iihiioii, .4..; tarsus..!).-,; iiii,l,ll,. I,,,.. .S(l ; hjml .law 4(t'
9. ((;.>ll..(.t.,r's X„. (V_'4,1, Ipsw h. (»,.t. 1,-., 1S7I ; C. .1. M.) \Vh,^^ _'.!.(.; tail •'4..-
eiiliiuMi, ...(I; tarsus, .85; i„j,l,ll,. t.M, .(!.-,: hiii.l ,. law. .:!(!. ' "' '
(C„l!,.,.t„r's X„. (VJ24, Fpswi,!,. (),.|. 14, 1S7I : ( '. .1. M., Wi,,. ;j.,)0; „ul li.K.- ..„).
nifii, .,!(); tarsii.s, .85; mi, Ml,, t,,,.. .(it); hill,!, .law. .:!!). '
TI.e ai.ecimen.s <lt"scril.o.l t.lM.ve w.to at first, supiM.,...,! t.. be ('n,troH>p-
hairdi, luivinu. sevon.l points „f n.,^,.ml.la.ia! t.. that s,aHm.s, u I'Mniimiisuu
with the typi! m l'r,.te,H.s,„. IJainl's .■ull(...ti..n at (irst railin.ir t,. .stal.li.sl, a .lif-
terence, as it was in laiUul and iiiucli \v„n, suinmcr i)lunia^r,., wl,il,. n.e .Mas-
sacliusotta specimens w.to in i.erle.^t, l.len.le.l fall .Imss, .so'tiiat ti satisfattory
.'oinparison was almost imi.ossil.le. A mure recent examination, l.owrver,
with the a.lvanta,y;."ortwo additional specimens oftlieMassaelmsettslnr,] lias
full.y convinced Mr. .Alaynard that his specimens are not Cnih-oin/.r iJirdi
and that, indeed, they are relerrihle in all respects to the ofims J'assnni/as '
In careliilly cxaminin^r tJie typo of ('rnfn»i>/.r hairdi/M is seen that its
cliara..teristic features are the iollowin-: Outstretched feet reachin- In^yond
the end of the tail ; hind claw as Ion,- as its digit.and much curved ; — whereas
in ]\Ir. IMaynard's specimens the ontstretclied feet reach to only ai.oiit the
middie of the tail, while the hind claw is much shorter than its di"it and
only slightly curved. With a wiii^; .1 (I to .4r. of an inch loiiL^er, they laive the
tarsus not any longer, and im.portionally more slender. In colorati.ui they aiv
still more dideront. The most strikin,iv feature in V. hamli is ti l.ioad and
very conspicuous median stripe ..f ochrace.ais-hnir on the cn.wn, lumh-red o'l
each side by an aggregation of black streaks, which form the predominating
color of the lateral stripes; of this median strijie there is scarcely any trace
in the specimens under consideration, while the crown generally' is -.rayish-
brown, with small dusky .streaks; (I hainii has broad, conspicuous, black
stripes on the back, while P. nmipmrdi has obsolete sandy-brown ones; in
a hairdi there are only a few simdl stretiks of black atiross the juguliun
and along the aides and flanks, while in /'. mnniKirdi the whole I'.ivast, as
well as the sides and flanks, are thickly streaked with laoader marks'of
sandy-lu'owii.
In point of coloration, as well as in the feet, there is in reality a much
closer resemblanc(! U^ Ris^nrnlm ws/mfii.'^; but in this the v(.ry' diflerent
bill and dilieront arrangement of markings are sullicient distinctive charac-
ters.
Upon the whole, therefore, tiiere can l)e little doubt that the present birds
are well entitled to the name, which Mv. Mayiiiird has given them ; for after
542 NORTH AMERKWN JIIRDS.
iiiakiiiji all possililo allowaiico lor seasonal difrcivDces in coloration, we liavo
i'oiiiiil it inipossihio to rccoMcilo tlieni witli tlu; ('. Inilnli.
In this spufius there is a slij^lit siiperticiiii resiMnhlaiice to I'oorntcs ffra-
iin'iiciis; liiit upon comparison it will lie i'ound to lie entirely diHerent: tiuis,
/'. ijrii in incus lacks the median litiht stripe on tlie crown, has the lessor wing-
coverts rni'ons and the lateral tail-leathers white, wliile tlie streaks are all
blackish and the gnnnid-cohtr diflerent; tlie generic details, too, are ijuite
diflerent.
llAiiiTS. Tliis species has been olitaiiied only in Eastern Massachusetts,
where, in the neigldiorhood of Ijiswicli, it was i'ound among tiie sand-hills by
the sea-sliore. Tlie jdace wliere the individuals taken were met with is a
rather remarkable tract, three miles in lengtii and nearly one in bre.adth. It
is as treeless as the (!reat I'lains, and as bleak and barren, with no vegetation
excej)t a scant growth ol' coarse grass. ]\Ir. iMaynard obtained ids first speci-
men early in Decendjer, 18(18. Although others were seen, yet this was all
he was then able to obtain. He lias since taken others in the same place
and season. Nothing is known as to its habits. It uttered, as it rose, a siiort
chirp ol' alarm.
Passerculus rostratus, Raiud.
BAN DI£60 SFABEOW.
EmhtrizK rnntrn/a, Cvssin, I'l-. A. N. Si'. VI, 1852, 348. Ammodrmmis rostratus, C'as.sin,
111. I, ISiiu, '2'2(i, pi. x.xxviii. I'usscrculus rostmlus, ISaiiiu, IJirds X. Aiu. 185ii, 44(5.
— Cool'Kli, Oni. Cal. 1, LS70, 1S4.
Si'. ("fi.\h. Bill very loiipj (.5") nf an inch aliovc). W'lioln iippci' part.s and sidos of
head and nock pule bi'ownish-ffiiiy (alniD.-Jt I'ulvou.s), nearly every li'atliei' witli a darker
central bloli.li, darki'st aloui;- the AiaW. A .^'aieelv appieciablc central .stripe in the
crown, an oliscurc y<'ll()\vi.>h-\vliit(! .su]H'r<'iliarv, and a whilish maxillary one. Under
part.-! ])nro while; strc.nkcd on the breast and th(^ .sides of throat and body with dark
brown (the streak paler externally). Under tail-covert.s nnspotted white. Tail and
win^' leathers and winjjs niaririneil with the <'i)lor of the back; the edges of tert'arius
rather paler. Leni;th, 5..'50; winjr, L'.ilO; tail, 2.;!().
II.\n. Coa.st of C'alilbrnia, .south to Cape St. Lucas; month of Colorado River (Dit
Uai.,mi;i!).
The bill of this species is very long and conical, the cutting edge nearly
stniight. Tlie wings arii rtithcr long, the tertiaries nearly as h)ng in the
closed wing its the ]iriiiiaries ; the second, third, and fourth tpiills longest,
the first rather h)nger than the fifth. The tail is short and emarginate, tiio
fenthers ntirrow, acute, and moderately stilf. The tarsi are long ; the claws
little curved.
This species resembles the P<is<inrii!iis .lavrnini. rather more than any of
the other sparrows witli spiitted lireasts ; the bill is, however, very much
longer and larger, exceeding any of our American sjiecies of its size, the
upper outline more convex. Its cohus are much paler, and it lacks the
] • I ! I \ ( i I L L I DJE - T 1 1 1-: VI XC 11 IvS. 54 3
yellow on tlio liui> ' mul wiiij.'. Tlic nmcli sliorter tail and entire absence of
nitbiis di.stii)<,qii,sli it IVoni tlie spotted Mr/asjii-dK In sIiajK! tlie liili is jiku
that of Aiamudruiitus cuaduvutus, but it is laryur; the head lucks tlie yel-
low, etc.
In .s(jine specimens the streaks on the l)ack are almost obsolete.
IIauits. .So liir as is known, this lard seems to ha\ e a soniewluit restricted
habitat, being ap]iarently contined to the sea-coast of Southern ( 'alilornia.
There it was first met with' by Dr. Ileermaun, in tlie neighborhood nf San
J)iego, and was desciibed by Mr. Cassin as an Aiiuiwi/roiiiiix, with which
genu.s of birds it seemed to have many jjeculiarities in common. Dr. Ileer-
mann first met with this bird in Usr.l, on the siiores of the bay of San Diego,
in company with other species, api)arently in search of grass-seed. After-
wards, in the I'acilic l.'ailroad Survey, witii Lieutenant Williaui.son, he again
met with these birds in considerable nund)ers at Santa liarbara and San !'((-
dro. In all the places in whicli he met with it he found it frwpicnting low
sandy beaches, and the heavy sedge-grass which abounds on the shores. On
the former it seemed to l)e feeding on marine insects and seeds thrown up
by the tide, and in the latter to tind places for easy and immediate conceal-
ment when alarmed or pursued. Naturally it appeared to be a quiet and
unsu.spicious bird. He heard it utter no other note than a .short sliarj) chirp.
J)r. Cooper thinks this sjiecies has a nnicli greater ailinity to the Aunno-
drami thiui to the 7'^^s•.^rr(7^//, both in its bill and claw.s, as well as in its
habits. He found them very abundant, lioth at San Pedro and San Diego,
at all seasons, and he does not think that they migrate at all from those
localities. He found them frecpienting the .shores of the bays and the ,sea-
beache.s. They also came confidently and familiarly about the buildings near
the water, feeding on any seeds or insects they could find. On the beacli
they run along the sand, in the rows of drifted sea-weeds, seeking their
food, and rarely take to flight unless surjiriscd, and then oidy fly a short
distance. Dr. Cooper has never known them to alight on any bush, nor does
he think that they have any song. The only note he has ever heanl them
utter is a short chirp. At San Pedro he saw them, in July, feeding their
young, but he has never found a nest that he was certain belonged to this
si:)ecies.
Dr. Cones found this bird abundant in Southern California, where it kept
among the thick weeds of the dry plain, and was much on the ground, where
it ran as easily as a ripilo, often flying up into the bushes and resting there
(piietly. They were to be seen also in great nundiers .sunning them.selves
and catching Hies on the piles of lumber on tlie wharf, so tame as to be almost
liable to be struck by a cane.
It is a winter I'esident at Cape St. Lucas, where Mr. Xantus found them
abundant. They were not seen there in summer, though it is ])robalile they
reside on the shores in its neighborhood. Their nest and eggs remain
unknown.
544 NOKTII A.MEUKJAN lilllUii.
Fasserculus rostratus, vur. guttatus, l.vwii.
BT. LUCAS SPABBOW.
/'a.i.iiri-(ilii.i ijiil/iitiiii, I,awiii;nck, Aim. X. Y. I-yi:. VIM, lH(i7, 473. — ('"orr.li, Orn. Onl.
I, 185.
8r. Cirvi!. AIkivc pliiinlicoiif-Lrrny; tlu' ('(Mtlici'.i of tlic ));u'l\ with (lii.«ky Rontrcs and
pnlcr l'iIkl'.s ; the tojx)!' huad also .stivakcil with ilii^ky ami wit i an alnuist. iiiappiufialili.'
iiuMllaii stripe dI' lifriitef. Upper tail-coverta siifjhtly darker in ihi' centre. No rul'oiis
edirin^'s to the feathers. IIinmI with a pale yellowisli-wiiite liainl I'roin liill over the eye;
and a niandihidar one, nearly white, liordered aliove and lielow liy the du.sky line of
other /'(mscrfuliis. I'lider parts white, thi<'kly streaked on jiif;uliiin, hreast, luul Hanks
with dusky, liiintly on inidi'r tail-i'overt.s. liill and lefjs rather dusky ; iris lirown. Lenj,'tli,
o.iH) ; Willi;, 2..")(t; tail, l.!t."); taisn.s, .80; middle toe and claw, .75; bill above, .51 ; gape,
.51) ; greatest height, .'J5.
IIah. Cajie St. Lucas (Dec, 185U;.
This liinl, of wliicli a sinjflo .specimen only is .so far known, is very closely
reliiteil to J', ivn/ni/ns, tliouoli very easily distiiigiiislKHl from it. It is con-
sitleralily smtiUev than rotitmtm, the bill more slender, the ujjper parts much
darker, lieiiij; pliimheous, not .sandy-colored; the stripes beneath darker; the
bill and le.gs more du.sky. Tliest^ diiferenees n)iiy not iinlieate a distinct
species, l)ut as tiie .siiecimen here described differs entirely from all the speci-
mens of a large nnmlu'r of /'. rust vn In a, it is yet entitled to consideration tis
ii marked variety, — jirobidily the resident race at Cape St. Lucas, where the
Viir. nisfratns is merely a winter visitor.
llAiiiTs. Tin; St. Lucas Finch is a new species, in regard to the habits
of which nothing whatever is as yet known. It was obtained at San Jos(5,
in Lower (,'aliforniii, l)y Mr. .Tohn Xantus, in Decendier, 18;")!). It was found
in comjiany with a ilock of I'onsn-rii/iis rn,sfr(ifiis,a,nd the presumption is that
its habits may resemble those of that little-known species.
Gk.vus P00C2iTES, n.\niD.
Poncii/cs, Baiim), Hints N. Am. 1858, 447. (Type, Friiiail/n grnmhica, Gm.)
Gex. riiAH. Hill rather largo ; upper outline .slightly deonrved towards the end, lower
straight; eijniinissiire slightly eoneave. Tarsus about eipial to the middle toe; outer toe
II little longer than the inner, its olaw reaching to the eoneealed base of the middh^ claw ;
hind toe reaching to the nii<ldle of the middle I'law. Wings unusually long, re.'icliing to
the middle of the tail as far as the coverl.s, and pointed; the |)riiuaries considerably longer
than the secondaries, which are not much surpas.sed by tlu? tertiaries; second and third
quills longest ; (irst little shorter, about eijiial to the fourth, .shortc'r than the tail ; the outer
feathers .scarcely .shorter; the feathers rather still"; each one acuminate and sharply point-
ed ; the feathers broad nearly to the end, when they are obli(piely trniicale. Streaked
with brown above everywhere; beneath, on the breast and sides. The lateral tail-feather
is white. Shoulder chesluut-ljiow n.
FUINOILLIIXK — TIIK I'INCIIK.S.
545
TIio cssontiiil oliiiractcr of the jj;nmis coiisi-slis in tlio loiif; Uiid jxiiiitcd w iiij^'s,
longiT tliiiii tli(i tail and witliout long Icrtials; and tlic nitlier still, lurked
tail, with its acnto luathui's. JUil uno species is reeuguized at present.
Fooceetes gramineus, l-Aiin
OBASS SFABBOW ; BAY-WIKOED BUNTINQ.
Vnr. icriiiiiliieii8>
FrliKjiJhi iiriiiiniiai, Gm. Syst. Xat. I, 17SS, i)^L». — Ari). Oiii. Bi >«. I, 1S:J1, 473; V, 502,
|il. xc. Kmhcn'zii (iriimiiiai, Wil.siiN, Am. Oni. IV, 1811, .ll, jil. xxxi, 1'. .I. —Am.
Syii. 183U, 102. -III. IJiid.s Am. Ill, 1841, 05, pi. cllx. — .M.vx. C'lili. .Tour, vi, 1858,
342. Ffiiiijilhi. (/iiiiiiliii-hM iirtniiiiH'ti, Swainson, V. H. Am. II, 1831, 254. Zinio-
Irifhiii ijniiiiliicii, IJo.N. last, 1838. ---Ir. ('Diisiicctus, 1850, 478. I'lmcaJcs (jnun incus,
li.UKl), nird.sN. Am. 18,'i8, 447. - Samiki.s, 3(I3.
Above lijjlit j'l'Uowisli-lirown ; llip i'ciiliiors
Vonratt'S i^miniiifiis.
Sp. Chah. Tiiii-rciiilins riitiicr iicutc.
overywlieru .struiikL'd iibiupily with
(lark lirown, even on the .^lidcs of the
nei'k, \vhi<'h are iiiilor. lieiioutli ycl-
lowisih (soincliiiics reddish) \vliil<';
on the jujfulum iiiul .side.-< ol" neck
and body .streaked with brown. A
faint light ."iiperciiiary and maxillary
.stri|)e ; the latter niari;lned above
and below with dark brown : the \\\>-
per stripe contiimed around the ear-
coverts, which are darker than the
lirown color elsewhere. Winf:s with
the shoulder light ehestiuit-brown,
and with two dull whitish l)ands along the ends of the eovert.s ; the outer edge of the
secondaries also i.s while. Kxin)sed ;iortion of outer tail-feather, and edge and tip of the
second, white, fiength, abo\it (i.'Jo ; wing, ii.lO; tail, 2.")(); liiJI, .;i;5 from frontal fealiiers
to point, by .33 in depth at ba.se ; tarsus, .72. Bill yellow, dusky above ; legs yellow.
(Measurement of No. 10,147 $, Wa.shington, D. C.)
Had. Ea.stern Province of United States.
Var. conflnis.
Pooccrtrs firi(miiieii.i, vnr. aoifitiix, liAiiMi, liinls N. Am. 1858, p. 448 (hi text under P. r/m-
miiifiis). Poolw/ch ijnniiiiicKs, Codi'r.i; & Sitklkv, 200. — Coon- ii, Oru. t'al. 1, ISO.
Sp. CliAii. Resembling P. iirmniiieiis, \m{ colors paler, the dark streaks narrower.
Bill more slender, tarsi longer. (Measurement of 40,803 ^, Fort WhipiiU-, Arizona:
Bill, .30 from point of frontal feathers by .25 in depth through base; tiusu.s, .78; wing,
3.3."} ; tail, 2.80).
ILvn. Westi'rn and Middle Provinces of United States, south into ilexico; Oaxaca
(Sci,. 1859, 370 ; March).
Tliis .sjiecies is readily identified by the absence of a median stripe on the
head, the chestnut-brown of the shoulder, and the white lateral tail-feathers.
The young birds have the ground-color above more whitish, the streaks
blacker, in sharper contrast ; the streaks on jugul'.an, etc., less sharply de-
00
546
NORTH AMKRICAN BIRDS.
Ml?-N-5j'.\l;C/;f\ '. iV* A, 1 '
.^W
fined ; the jj;oneml appoarniiet', liowevov, is not different from the adnlt. Some-
times there is a doeidetl cinnamon wash beneatli. Western specimens (var.
(wijiiiia) ai)iiear to be paler, witli longer wings, and longer and more slender
hills, in this respect vesemliling other Finches {Mc/onpi::!, '*''.'«c?r«/«.s, etc.).
All specimens from west of the llocky Mountains are to be referred to
var. tviijinis.
Hauits. The Lay-winged or Grass Finch is a very abundant species
wherever found, and has a very ex-
tended distribution. Accepting as
one species the slightly variant
Tcices above indicated, thi.s bird
extends from Floritla and ^lexico,
on the south, to the STth parallel
of latitude, and from tlie eastern to
tlie western shonfs. It was found by
liichardson frequenting the plains
of the Saskatchewan, v;here it ar-
rives early in May and leaves in
September, and where it nests
abundantly in the short withered grass of that sterile region. Richardson
did not trace it farther nortli than the 57th parallel, and it was not obtained
on the Yukon or i\nderson liivers by Mr. IMacFarliuie or Mr. Lockhart. It
breeds from Northern Virginia north.
In the Middle States it is partially resident, a portion remaining all the
winter. South ol' Washington it is chiefly migratory, only found, in any
nund)ers, from Xovendier to Miircli, and probably but few remaining to breed.
Audubon states tliat he never saw any of this species in any portion of Lou-
isiana, Missouri, Kentucky, or Ohio. Air. Dresser, on the other hand, found
them connnon about San Antonio in August and Sci)tember, and also in May
and June, and had no doubt that some remain to breed.
It is very abundant tlu'oughout New England, arriving in some seasons as
early as March 11, and remaining until (piite late in the fall, often through
Novendicr. It is found chiefly in dry open fields and ptistures, where it
nests, with no pains at concealment, on the ground, in dei)ressions made by
its own work. It is an unsuspicious and fearless species, neither seeking
nor avoiding the companionship of man. It does not usually build near
houses, yet is not unfreiiuently known to do so. It may be often found
perched on fences along the roadside, chanting its simple and pleasing lay,
and quite as fre(iuently in the road feeding and dusting itself The latter
operation it is very fond of ])i'actising, and almost any day in tlie summer
these birds may be found in such situations.
West of the Great Plains is found a marked variety of this species, differ-
ing in many respects from the eastern. The western species or race of this
Finch, Mr. Kidgwuy states, is an abundant summer bird in all the elevated
Kill XGILMIXE — Tin.; FINCHES. 547
grassy portions of the Wost. It is ospccially ciiiuMctiiristic of tlie liiyher
grassy slopes of tiio elevated mountains, jiarticularly in the liocky Mountain
regions, and its sweet and simple song is one of tlie pleasant associations of
those regions. It descends, in the autunui, to the lower districts, having been
observed during Septemlter in the. greatest abundance .imong the " vye-grass"
meadows of Senot Valley, at the northern end of the Kast Humboldt liange.
It nests on the ground in grassy banks, in various situations.
Dr. Suckley found this bird abundant on the Xi.squally Plains, about
Puget Sound; and Dr. Cooi)er says it is common, in sunnner, on tlie ])rairi('s
of the interior of Washington Territory. Dr. Cooper also found it wintering
in the Colorado Valley, in considerable numbers, but all disap])eared in
April. He thinks they breed in Northern California, though he has never
found them doing so. Dr. Newberry states that they are common in the
Sacramento Valley, both in the summer and in the fall. It was found by
Mr. Boucard, in winter, near Oaxaca, Mexico.
Their song is a very simi)le and ]ileasant succession oi .soft notes, resem-
bling that of the Canary, but thinner and feeliler. It is begun early in the
morning and continued a fev/ hours, and then renewed at sunset and kept np
often until after dark. It is also not unlike the song of the Song Sparrow,
but is neither so varied nor no loud and strong. It continues to sing until
late in the season.
They feed in the road, eating insects, seeds, and grain. They are Ibnd of
searching also in ploughed fields, and keej) principally upon the ground, ex-
clusively so when they are searching for tlieir food.
Although as unsns])icious as the Song Sparrow or tlie Chipping Sparrow,
this Fincli rai'ely, like them, conies about the house for crumbs of bread, but
seems to prefer to forage for itself in the fields and by the roadside. Taken
from the nest, these birds may be readily tamed, and soon become very in-
teresting and familiar little pets, thougli Nuttall states that where several
are thus kept they become very jealous of each other, and quarrelsome.
Their nest is always jilaced ujion the ground, and is very simi)ly con-
structed of dry stems of grasses, with no other lining than soft tine materials
of the same. They have two, and sometimes three, broods in a season.
When their nest is a])i)roaclied, they make use of various artiticos to draw
away the intruder, and often vary their devices in a very striking manner.
In May, 1830, crossing a field within a few rods of my home in Eoxbury, I
nearly ste]>ped upon a female sitting ujotu her nest. Slu' imnjediately tum-
bled forward towards me, counterfeiting tlie most extraordinary lameness,
so much so that I siqiposed that I had really ste])pe(l upon and severely
injured her. I stooped to pick np what I sujiposed to be a wounded bird,
and found her nest and four eggs. Visiting her nest again, as I api)r(«ichcd
she flew from it quietly and silently, and immediately began the same ma-
u'.euvres, at some little distance from her nest, which she discontinued as
soon as she noticed that I was examining her treasures. These devices she
648
NORTH AMERICAN. BIRDS.
variod soveral times in a very rcinarkalile maiuiev. In Massaclnisetts I have
known tins sj)L'cius to liavt; its coniplunient of eggs l»y tlie lotii of April.
Tiic eggs of tiiis ijpecie.s are nsually Hve, ulten fonr, and rarely si.x in
number. Tliey are ol' an olilong-oval slia])e, the smaller enil but slightly
more jjointed tlian tiic otlier. Tlicy vary - latly in size, ranging from .'JO to
.80 of an ineh in length, and averaging aliout A\~t in breadtli. Tlieir ground-
color is a jiale greenish-white, marked with spots, lines, dots, and blotehes
of various shades of reddish and purplisii brown. In some eggs the spots
are few and small, eliieHy eonlhient in a ring about the larger end, while the
ground-color is very plainly distinguisiiable. In others the ground is nearly
concealed by the abundance of the spots.
Colnniicitiiis passcrinii.s.
Gems COTURNICULUS, Bonap.
Coturniciilii.i, lidNAi". (icof?. List, 1838. (Tyjic, Friii<ji/la ptisseriiui, Wils.)
Gen. CiiAii. Bill very largo and stout, (oxcopt in f. lecontei) ; the unilur mandible
lii'diulcr, but lower than tho nppei-, which is deci-
dedly convex at the basal portion of its upper
onthne. begs moderate, apparently not reaching
to the end of the tail. The tarsus appreciably
longer than the middle toe; the lateral toes equal,
and witii tlieir claws falling decidedly .short of tiie
nnddlo claw ; the hind too iuterniediate between
the two. The wings are short and rounded,
reaching to the base of tin; tail ; the tertiaries
almost .IS long as the primaries ; not much dill'er-
enee in length in the priin.aries, althougli the
outer three or four arc slightly graduate<l. The
tail is short and narrow, shorter than the wing
(except in C. lecontei), graduated laterally, bill slightly eiuarginate ; the feathers all lanceo-
late ind acute, but not stifl'ened, as in Aiinuoilromus.
Tliis genus agrees with Pam^i'voihn^ in the short and narrow tail. The
wings are much shorter and more rounded ; the feet shorter, especially the
middle toe, which is not as long as tlie tarsus. The tail-feathers are more
lanceolate. The bill is much larger, and more swollen at the base.
The essential characters of this genus consist in the swollen convex bill ;
the short toes, com))ared with tiie tarsus; the short and rounded wings; and
the very small, narrow, slightly graduated tail, with its lanceolate acute
feathers (except in the South American C, nuinixihc).
In some respects there is a resemblance to Ammorl roviv)^, in which, how-
ever, the bill is very much more slender ; the wings still shorter, tind more
rounded; the tail-feathers much stiller, and evcai more lanceolate; the toes
extending l)eyond the tij) of the tail ; the middle toe rather longer than the
tarsus, instead of considerably shorter.
C. lecontei has the same general form, but a much smaller bill.
FKINGILLIDJi-TlIK FINCHES. 54Q
Synopsis of Species.
_ Common Charactkh.. Cmwn and \nu-k .treak,.,! with bia.,.- npon an a.l.y olivo or
cnestnut gmnn,l ; bcMu.atl, wl,iti.h, tingcMl across the breast wi,n odna.:.,.,;' or a^hv
plan, or wtl. l.la.k.sli streaks 0,1 tl.e brea.st. A liffht suporeilia.y strip...
A. l\ul-leathurs attenuato.l, acute at (.■mis, innd. graduated. ()„ tbe crown
a median liglit stripe.
«. A dusky streak on ,.ach side oC the throat, and one above the h-ht
ocliraceons inaxiilary stripe. '^
i. C. henslowi. itill very robust, .35 alonj? ctthnen by .30 deep •
at base W n,;r, '.'.•25; tail, l.'.2l). Head oehraeeous or greenish
ohve, hghter on the throat; a blackish stripe on each si.le .,(' tlie
crown, lireast streaked with black at .all ages. /lab. Eastern
1 rovinco of United States.
ft. Ko dusky streak <,n si.le of throat nor above the tnaxilhu.
2. C. leoontei. Bill very narrow, only .10 broad by .20 deep at
base. AIe.l,an stripe of tl,e crown ochrac..ous Ibr anterior third
the remaining part ashy-white; snpeiriliary strip-i wholly oehra-
eeous; edge of wing white; breast sparsely sticuked in the .i.lult
J^Vmg, 2.1-), tail, -.'.I'O. JM. Plains west of the Missouri, from
Texas to Dakot.a.
3. C. passerinuB. Bill robust, .23, or in..re, broa.l, by .24, or more,
deep at base. Median strii)c of the crown ochr.aceous through-
out; superciliary stripe yellow anteriorly, ashy jiosteriorly ; e.h'e
of wing bright yellow, breast nnsticakod in th.; adult, strJaked hi
the yonng, in which tlie head stripes arc ashy, with no yellow on
wing or over lore.
Colors dark, the black markings predominating above. Ad.
Anterior lower parls deep l)uff at all seasons. Juv. Dusky
streaks ou bivast very distinct. Bill, .33 and .30 ; wing, 2.00;
tail, 1.90. Hub. Eastern I'roviiice of United States, an.l
West Indies . . ,..,,. „,„
Colors pale, the light markings pre.lominating abf)vo. Ad.
Buff of the breast scaiTcly ol)servable in siininicr. ./hi: Dusky
streaks on breast scarcely appreciable. Bill, .33 an.l .24 ; wing,
2.G0 ; tail, 1.90. Ilab. Western Province of United States
B. lail-feathcrs broa.l, rounded at en.ls; only slightly rounded. Crown not
divided by a median strip.\
4. C. manimbe. Head clear nshy, whitish on throat; crown uni-
formly streaked with bla.l-. Supr.i-loral streak and e.lge of wing
bright yellow. Xo streaks on breast in adult.
Breast tinge.l with .ishy ; black streaks on upper parts iniieli
narrower than the intervening ones of the ashy grouiul-color ;
dorsal feathers rufescont-uml)er medially, c g.-.i with ashy, and
with a shaa-streak of black. Wing, 2.3.')'; tail. 2.00. J/ub.
^''^^•^^ . v.ir. VI a II im be.
Breast tinged with oehraeeous; black stivaks on upp.'r parls
much bro.a.ler than the ashy oni's of the groun.l-eolor ; .lor^^al
feathers bla.-k, edge.l with ashy; wing, '/•:.■); tail, 1.90. /f„l,.
Buenos Ay res and Uruguay var. d o r .v ,/ lis.
550
NURTU AMERICAN BIRDS.
Coturniculus henslowi, Bunap.
HENSLOVS BUNTIVO.
Embcrhd haishnri, Ann. Orii. liioj;. T, 1831, 3i'.0, pi. Ixxvii. - In. Syn. 18;i0, 104. -In.
Dinis Am. Ill, 1841, 75, pi. clxiii. — NrnAi.i., Man. I, 1832, App. Coluntiinilus
hiuishiiri, l?iiN. List, 1838. — In. Conspectus, 1850, 481. — Baiiid, Hiiils N. Am. 1858,
451. — M.\YNAl!i), Minis K. Muss. 1870, 117. — Sa.\iuki,s, 30G. Friiujilla hemluwi,
NuiTAiL, iMaii. I, (2a ed.,) 1840, 571.
Si'. CiiAK. Upper \)i\v\» ^-ellowisli liiown, tlit; 'lood, neck, ami upper parts of liaek
tiiifreil with prwni.-^li-j'ullow. Iiiter.s(.'a))iilar leathers
dark brown, .^ulliused externally with luiglit browni.'^li-
reil; cacli fcMtlier witli jirayi.sh borders. Terliaries,
rnnip, and tail-featliers aliriii>tly dark ehe.stinit-brown,
darkest eenti'ally, paler externally, and narrowly inar-
ginctl with frray. Crown with a broad Iilaek .^potted
sstripe on each side ; these s])ots continned down to the
back. Two narrow blaek mandibular .stripes and one
]>ost-oeular on each side of tlie head, and an obscure
l)lack ereseent or spot behind the auricuhus. Under
parts li,u;ht lirowiiish-yellow, paler on the throat and
abdouien. The juf^uluni, upper part of the breast, and
tlie .sides of the body, eonspieuously streaked with
blaek. Edjje of wing yellow. A strong tinge of
pale ehe.stnut on the wings and tail. The median
tail-feathers and upper coverts ches nut or rufous
brown, with .sliar])ly delined .shaft-.streaks of blaek. Length, 5.25; wing, 2.15; tail, 2.15.
Hau. Eastern United States ius liir north as M.i.ssaehuselts ; westward to the Loup
Fork of Platte.
Tliis species is related to C. jmascrinns, but readily distiiiguishetl by tlio
Avoll-niarked strijies on bieiist and sides, tlie oreoiiisli-yellow, not chestnut-
brown, of iiead iind nii])e, and the two mandibular dusky stripes. The mid-
dle tail-feathers are reddish with only a very narrow sliiirply defined median
sliaft-stretik of liluck, instead of having the greater jiortiou of the centre
dusky with .scnllojnHl edges. I have not seeu young bird.s, but tiiey probtibly
dillur little from the adiilt.s.
Habits. Tlie history and general distribution of Ilenslow's Bunt inn is
still somewhat imperfectly known. Mr. Audubon first met with it, in 1820,
in Kentucky, nearly opposite to (^'inciimiiti. It was seen on the ground,
? inongst the tall grass, ami is said to have exhibited all the ]toculiarities of
Ills tribe. He was afterwards informed that this bird is abundant in the
ritate of New Jersey, and that it breeds there ; and in evidence of this he
mentions receiving a si)ecimen from J)r. Trudeau, obtained by that gentle-
man himself. Mr. Audubon also mentions that both J)r. Bachman iind he
ha\'e procured a gretit number in Scjuth Ctu-olina, where they abound, in the
latter part of autunm, and where, also, a portion remain during the winter.
In Florida, ^Ir. Audubon again met with tliese birds in the winter. They
Coturniculus jtafS' ritiiis.
FRTNr,TT.LID/E — THE FINCHES. 551
were in j^reat mun'tors in nil the pine harnMis of that State, in light and
sandy suil, and in >.'ouds but thinly overgrown I)y tall pines. They never
alight on trees, hut sjiend their time ou the ground, running with great ra-
pidity through the grass, in the maimer of a mouse.
In New Jersey they were found in ])loughed fields, where th"y are pre-
sumed to ha\e been ovt!rluoke<l and mistaken for the VeUow-winged S[)ar-
row. Jklr. Auddjon. supposed that they were not found farther eastward
than that State.
Specimens in the Smithsonian collection have been procured indeorgia
in December ; in Maryland in July ; at i'ort Jtiley, Kansas, Southern Illi-
nois, and in Xebrf '; i, in June.
In Massachusc ' ts they are regular summer visitants, though as yet they
have been met wiMi in only a few instances and in a somewhat restricted
locality. They 're now met with nearly every year, and several nests have
been taken. Mr. Maynard obtained two specimens, May 10, in a wet
meadow in Newton. Their song-note he describes as like the syllables see-
wid; the first syllable prolonged, the latter given (piickly. This bird was
first obtained in Berlin, in that State, by ^Fr. E. S. Wheeler, who discovered
its nest and eggs. It was mistaken for Bachman's Finch, and was at first
so placed on the record, though the error was immediately corrected. Since
then, in that town, and in one or two others in its neighborhood, other nests
have been met with. Mr. William Brewster obtained several specimens in
Lexington, May 14, 1872. It is quite probable that it has been confounded
with C. 2>(i-'^scrinits, and it is now supi)o.sed to be more common in the eastern
part of the State than that bird.
One specimen of this Bunting was taken near Washington, during the
summer .season, from which circumstance Dr. Cones gives it as an exceed-
ingly rare summer resident of the District of Coliunbia.
In 1.S71, INIr. Bidgway ascertained that, so far from being rare, Henslow's
Bunting is very abundant on the prairies of Southern Illinois, as well as the
Yellow-winged species, but far exceeding the latter in numbers. Though
entirely similar to that bird in habits and manners, it may be veadily distin-
guished by its note, which is said to bean abrupt 2»7-/?(/, much more like the
common summer-call of the Shore Lark than the lisped gmsshoiiper-liko
chirp of the 0. pamrinvs, and to be uttered as the bird perches on the sum-
mit of a tall weed, the tail being depressed, and the head thrown back at
each utterance. A number of unidentified eggs were sent to me several
years since, by Mr. Kennicott, from near Chicago. They resembletl some-
what the eggs of C. jmsticrinus, but were not the eggs of that species. I
have now no doubt they belonged to this bird.
The nest is built in the ground, in a depression, or apparently an excava-
tion scratched out by the bird itself, and is a well-made structure of coarse,
dry, and soft reeds and gras.ses, well lined with finer materials of the same
descri])tion. The eggs, five or six in number, somewhat resemble those of
552 NOHTIl AMKIUCAN 15IRD.S.
tlu; ('. ])(is.<!rriiius. Tlioir j,n'(Mn)(l-c(ili)r is a cluar l)ii^flit wliitc, and tlicy are
spottcil with well-(U'fiiit'(l icddisli-lirowii inaiki:igs, and more subdued tints
of purple. The niarkinjj;s, su lav as I liave seen tlieir eggs, are finer and
fewer than thuse of ^'.^)(^s,^r;■/««.s, and are distiibuted more excUisively around
tlie hirger end. The eggs niea.sure .7iS by .GU of an incli, and are of a more
oblong-oval than thuse of the common Vellow-Wiiig.
Coturniculus lecontei, Boxap.
LECONTE'S BUNTING.
Embcrha kcmitd, Arn. Minis Am. VII, lSi3, 338, pi. (■ceol.xxxviil. - Max. t'al). Jour. VI,
1858, 340. Coturniculus lecontei, Box. Conspectus, 1850, 481. — IJauii.', Birds N. Am.
18.'i8, 452.
Sp. Char. Bill much luoio slenilor than in C. heiislowi. First (piill the longest, tlio rest
(liniinisiliinfr rapidly. Tail cinargiiiate and roumled, with the foathors acMitu. Upper parts
light yellowish-red, streaked with brownish-blaek ; the margins of the feathers and
.seapnlar.s pale yellowish-white. Tuil-lbathers dtisky, margined with light-yellowi.sh.
Lower parts, with the eheeks and a broad band over the eyes, line buft". Medial line
yellowi.sli anteriorly, nearly white behind. The bull" extending to the femorals and along
the siiles, streaked with brownish-blaek. Throat, neck, and upper parts of the breast,
without any streaks, and plain bull". Length, 4.40; wing, 2.13; bill along ridge, .37;
edge, .")(). Logs fle.sh-color ; bill dark blue.
Had. ilouth of Yellowstone, to Texas.
Since the regret ex]iressed in tlie Birds of North America (1858) at the
loss of the single specimen known of this species, another has been received
by the Smithsonian Institution from Washington Co., Te.xas, collected by
Dr. Lincecnm. It is in very poor condition, having been skinned for an
alcoholic preparation, and does not admit of a satisfactory description of the
colors. In its unspotted breast, the rufous feathers of tlie hind neck, the
absence of maxillary stripes, and apparently in the markings of the wings, it
is most like C. jjasKcriiivs. Although the inner tail-feathei's have the narrow
stripe of luns/owi, tiie hill is nuich smaller, as stated by Andubon, than in
the others, and is apparently bluish, not yellow. Tlie vertical stripe is
deep buff anteriorly, and pale ashy posteriorly, instead of buff throughout,
and the superciliary stripe is continuously buff, instead of yellow anterior to,
and ashy behind, the eye. In the comparative length of wing and ttiil, it is
most nearly related to hcnslovi, but the bill is very much narrower than in
either. Ujion the whole, there can be no doubt of its actual specific distinct-
ness from both its allies.
Hahits. T.,econte's Sharp-tailed Sparrow was procured by Audubon in
his expedition to the Yellowstone. He speaks of its having very curious
notes, which he describes as of a sharp, querulous nature, and a general habit
of keeping only among the long, slender green grasses that here and there
grew up in patches along the margins of the creeks. So closely did it keep
KUI N(il LLID.K — THE FJN( 'I I KS. 5r)8
ill the coverts to wliii-li it rosoited, tliat it wiis v»mv difHcult to IVuce il tn
rise oil till! wiii^, Mlifii mily it cmilil \n' pnu'iiri'd. Mr. Audulion did not
meiit with its iR'st, or yoiiiiji, iiiid they rciimin univiiown.
Tins type siieeiniun was presented liy .hidiilH)!! to Trofessor IJaird. A
second was sent to the .Smithsonian Institution, i'lom Texas, by Dr. Lince-
ceuiii.
Coturniculus passerinus, Hoxap.
TELLOW-WINOED BUNTINO.
FriiigiUa]jn3Si.'n'ii'i, Wii.scin, Am. Oiii. Ill, 1811. 7il, \i\. savi, I". 5. —Arn. Oni. l5io<;. II,
1834, 180 ; V, 4!»7, 1>I. exxx. Fiimjillii (S/iiyi) iHmerimt, Bos. Olis. Wils. 1825,
Xo. 111. Coliiniiculiis jKiswriitii, Ucix. List, 1838. — In. Consixrtus, IS.'iO, 481.-
HaikI), Hinls N. Am. 18.18, 450. — Samtkls, 305. /Ciiilicfizn /)(is.si:n,iti. All). Syii.
1839. — III. Binl.sAin. Ill, 1841, 73, Jil. ulxii. Ftinijilhi niirininniin, ((iM.) Xittai.i,,
Man. I, 1832, 404. In. (M ed.) 1840, 570. — ((isiKMS, Sy.st. Xiit. I. 1788, '.fJl /r
? f FriiKji/lii iiittihcutit, Lath. IikI. Oin. I, 1700, 450. - XriT. Man. I, 183-2, 5li,".
f PiinniriiKi pni/iiisis, ViKll.LoT. Vol iin) kill lis lij-icriis, (Jossk.
LocALrnK.s : Oaxaca, March (Sci,. 1859, 370). C.uateinnia (Sci.. Ilii.s, I, IS). Ciilia (winter,
loimiioii, '.'All. Jourii. IV, 7). (.'onta Hica (("All. .loiiru. VIII, 1800, 411 ; Lawi:. IX,
103). Vera Cruz (\vinti!r, Sit.m. Mimii. Ho.st. Soc. I, 552).
Sp. Ciiau. Feathens of the upper part's l)ro\vni.>ih-rulbu.s or nlicstnut-lirown. iiiar^'iiK'il
narrowly ami abruptly with ash-color; reddest on the lower part of the back and ruiiip ;
the l'uather.s all abruptly black in the central portion; thi.s (>olor visible on the interscapu-
lar region, where the rufou.s is more restricted. Crown bhutkish, with a central and super-
ciliary stripe of yellowi.^h tinged with brown, brightest in front of the eye. llend of the
wing bright yellow ; le.'sser coverts tinged with greenish-yellow. Quills and tail-leathers
edged with whitish ; tcrtiaries much variegated. Lower parts brownish-yellow or buff,
nearly white on the middle of the belly, darkest on the juguliim. The feathers of the
upper breast .and sides of the body with obsoletely darker centres, the.se sometimes
wanting. Sides of breast against bend of wing with a few black streaks, usually con-
cealed. Length about 5 inches ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, .2.00.
I'\B. Eastern United States; .south to Guatemala; .Jamaica, resident; Porto Rico.
The young of this species liave tlie juguhnn and sides of the bresist
.streaked with black, much more distinct than in the adult, and e.xhiliiting a
slight resemblance to C. hcnsIovH. The ujiper parts are less varied.
Specimens from the Far West have the bill more slender, the reddish of tlio
back considerably paler, the dark markings of the back restricted, the liglit
stripe on the head with scarcely any yellow, a deciiled spot in front of the
eye (juite yellow, and little or no ochraceous on the breast.
Tlie young bird, with streaked jugulum, may be most leadily distinguished
from C. licndinoi by the grayer plumage without any shade of chestnut or
greenisli-yellow, the sparseness of stretiks on the side, the absence of the
two mandibular dusky stripes, and the broad dusky centres of the middle
tail-feathers.
Quite a fine series of specimens from Jamaica and other West India Isl-
ands aftbrds ample material to judge of the validity of the C. tivicrioi of
70
554 Noin'ii AMi:i!i('.\N. liiitns.
Gosso. Tt is scarcoly possilile to (listiii,u:iiisli tlii'so Janiiiicnn ajieoiinens from
tiXiiiiipli's lit 111 the Kiistt'iii l*i(i\ iiicc (if llic I'liitcd Stati'H, tlioiigli inimite
(lilVcri'iicc's niv. ulisfrviilili". Tlirir .sizi; is .soiiU'wiiat sinalli-r, l)iit tliciy uiv, resi-
dent III till' region wliero alitaii't^d ■ and (lie sliail<'s of cidor arc, just appre-
cialdy darivor. Tlioi'c, arc, liducs-cr, no dilfcrouces sutlieicnt to justify retaiii-
inj^ the name /i.rimis, to dcsi^nutc even a variety.
All tiic spccinu'iis in tin; collection fioin Ah'xico and (Juateniala arc in
the autumnal or winter dress, so that it is prolialde that they are not resi-
dent there ; they appear to he identical with North American specimens, and
rcferrihle to the varii-ty p((xsii-liiii.i as restricted.
IJetwi'.'n Slimmer and winter .specimens ;4reat diflerences are oh.servahle ;
in the former season the edges of the feathers heconie worn, so that ollen the
chestnut spots disajipear entirely, while the other nmrkings become poorly
defined, leaving the Idack Wotciics ])red(imiiiant.
II.MMTS. The comniiin Yellow-winged Sparrow appears to he n bird of
irregular and unequal distrilmtion, found in certain localities in great abun-
dance, and not seen in the intervening districts. According to some writers,
it is partial to .sandy places near the sea, and this is certainly true of the
neighborhood of Xew York City, and also of a large portion of the New
Jersey coast. It is likewi.se the case in certain portions of Eastern Massa-
chusetts, as, according to Mr. ]\raynard, this species is very numerous in
Nantucket, where it breeds abundantly. I have never met with this Sparrow
in Massachusetts, exciipt in a single instance, near I'xistoii, nor in any collec-
tions of eggs have I seen any that I suppo.sed coiiM be tlio.se of this .sjiecies;
yet ill the western part of the State, according to Mr. Allen, it is an abun-
dant Slimmer visitant, arriving there al)out the first week in ^fay, and leav-
ing early in September, breeding in dry fields and iiastures, and raising two
broods in a season. According to Mr. Hoardman, it is an occasional visitant
in tlic neighborhood of Calais, yet rare ; arriving there the first of April, five
weeks earlier than it shows itself in Springfield. Yet that this bird has
ever been met with lietween lioston and Calais does not appear. It was not
seen in Western Maine by Professor Yerrill.
In the vicinity of Hartford, Conn., this bird appears also to be a not un-
conimon summer resident. In 18(50, I received from Mr. T. S. Ihandigee
several nests found in tiiat neighborhood. Tiicy were all constructed on the
ground, in a field of thin grass, and their tops were all nearly covered over.
Dr. Ileermann states that he found this bird a not uncommon species, in
the sumiiKT season, near San Antonio ; and Mr. Dres.ser also jirocured a speci-
men there in the early summer. Dr. Lincecum mentions it as a common
resident in Washington (.'ounty, in the same State. He de.scribes it as a
close-hiding ( Jrass Sparrow, running on the ground in the manner of a mouse,
and never seen to alight on trees. ])r. C'oues speaks of it as a resident
species in South Carolina, especially abundant during the period of migra-
tion.
FI!l.\(ill,I.II)J.:_THK FFNCIIKS r--
000
Tt has l,o,M. iumul ^imw. rmnnnu, dnviw^ tluMvintu' muntl.H, i„ (Vntnl
A,u.rK.a, s,,.,.Muons Intvin^ Lc-.u pronuv,! tla-.v I.y SoHor Con.stan.Ma Mr
Mr. \utta;i an.l .Mr. Aud.il,..,, sp.-ak' <,f it as cK■,.urrin^r in ()r.-.,„ I,„t Dr
toopor .1.1 net n.ec.t ni,h it un tl.o I'acific coast. I,,.. K„„,,,u^ „,;,,„,,, ,
s.n.le s,,ocn„ov n .no of the inrks of the Colorado, in Fehruarv.^ Mr IMd.-
way H'et w.th e wostc-rn Torn, of ihi.s .species, in snitablo pla.es h. tl^
^Zr '""' '"'""'' "'^'"•""' '"•"•'•"^^'^ '••■■ '^ tlJnan.e oo""
rn the vu^inity oC Newark. X. .1., . have lo„n<I this speeies apparentlv one
of t e nK.st ahundant n. that nei,hhorhoo.,, havi„. ohtaine.l here in the
month of June n.ore eggs of this than of any othe, .speeies
In XorthtieUl, III near the lake shon, Mr. i;oh..rt K.nni.ott n.et with
the nests ot these bn.ls in great ala.ndanee. Fron. the.se faets I infer th.
It IS not necessarily or e.xelusively a l.ird of the .sea-shore, la.t that in eer-
am hworn^ae loeaJ^ties it is as ahnn.lan, in ti... interior as on the eoa ^1
A ■;Lr:rt •'"''' '";'"^^^''' ''"'" '''-^'^^ •■• Maine.an.lin.n;th
Atlantic to the interior, nearly or .piite to the I'aeiKc coast
In Jamaica. Mr. March states, this species is not uncon.nion in the savan-
nas and grass lands near Spanish Town. It is a resident in that island
K breeds there in eonsi<lerable numbers, nesting in tufts of grass-roots."
It IS only common in certain localities.
I have never heard its note to know it. Wilson speaks of it as a short
weak, nitorrupted chirp. Acconling to Mr. Hidgway. it bears a .dose resem-
blance to the note ..f a grasshop,,er. Nuttall says thoy sing in an a^n-eeable
voice something like that of the Purple Finch, though less vigorouJ^;^ and
Audubon characterizes it as an unmusical ditty, composed of a few notes
weakly enunciated at intervals.
Tt is terrestrial in its habits, li^ ing, nesting, and feeding on or near the
gi-oun.l. It subsists on larvae, insects, and the seeds of grasses and small
This bird builds its nest on the groun.l, usuallv in a small tuft of -rass or
n. a cluster of plants. It is made of dry grasses, and is lined with line bent
and hoi'sehair. The y..ung are said to follow their parents for a short time
but soon separate, an.l learn to take care of themselves. This speeies is not
Un^wious, and is never seen in flocks, not even when just about to mi-rate
Wilson ami Nuttall .lescribe the eggs as grayish-white, sprinkled "wit I,
l^own. Audulu.n says they are dingy-white, sprinkled with brown spots
1 ns IS not accurate. The grouu.l-color is a clear crvstalline white, beau-
tifully dashed and marbled with bol.l markings of an almost golden brown
niose spots vary in size, are often .piite large, an.l occasionally make a
••orona about the larger en.l. The eggs are of a rounded oval, almost sphcri-
cuJ, shape, measuring .75 by .03 of an inch.
550
NOHTII AMKKICA-N ItlliDS.
Coturniculus passerinus, var. perpallidus, limcwAY.
WESTERN YELLOW-WINGED BUNTINO.
CohnniiculiM fMsseriniis, var. jur/xil/iiliin, ItiixiwAV, l{('|ioit (if F. S. Cinil. Kx|il. loili Par.
Ciiliiriiii'Klii.i jia-sstriiius, CiMii'Kii, (tin. I'al. I, IMO.
Rr. CiiAit. Adiilf (Xo. r>H.w:> jj, Antclopi- 1., fiicut Suit Lake, .lime 4, IW!!); T. S.
Ocol. Exjil. 4(ltli piiriillil) siiiiiliir to var. /in.ineriiin.i, Init the lij;lit tints uIhivc prfvailiu},',
lliL' ^'roiind a [mk' asli-nolor, ami the (•licstiiut spots in t-xooss ol' tiic Ulack oni'8. Spt'cks
on the naju! very minute. Hnll' tinfre to ("hooks, throat, and jnj,'uhini so Taint a.i to bo
scai'coly api)ro(Malile. Winjr, 'i.tiO; tail, !.!)(); hill, .;5;! (Voni tVontal toathors l)y .24 in
(Icptii at base; tarsus, .70. YDinii/ (Xo. ").'!.!)42 Hnhy Valley, Nov., July 22, 18(!H) dilloriuf,'
from 3'ounf,' ot" vai'. paxKeriniin in a predoniinaiico ol' tho lifjfht, instead of the dark, mark-
ings on uppei' surliiee, streaks across hreasl so faint as to he just approciaWe, instuad of
distinft, and nearly hlaek.
Hai!. AVostorn Provim.'u of I'nited ritules, tioni eastern hiusu of Hooky Mountain.s to
the I'aeilie.
This very apin-ecialily (liflerent raro roplaces the restricted viir. pnsHi'riinis,
ill tlie Western Province of the United States. In its paler colors aiul
iinu'li more slender l)ill than its eastern rejtreseiitative, it agrees with J^tsscr-
ciiIhs ahnnllniiii, J'oucwffn con/ini.s, etc., as coiniKiretl with P. savuiiiui, P. gra-
minrns, etc. It is to this race that the l)i;)orapliical notes in the preceding
article refer, as far as based on western specimens.
Gkni-s AMMODROMUS, Swaixson.
Ammndromua, Swain.son, Zoiil. .lour. Ill, 1827. (Tyjif, OriohiH oiuiittcutu.i, Om.)
Gkn'. Cuah. Hill very lonfr, slender, and iittenuatcd. eonsidorahly cin'vod towards the
tip above. Tiie i^niiys straij,dit. A decided lobe in middio of cutting edge of upper bill.
Tile lejrs and toes are veiy long, and reach considerably beyond the tip of the short tail.
Tlie tarsus is a1)oMt equal to the elongal(Ml middle toe; the lateral toes ei|nal, their claws
tiilhng consideralily short of the base of tlic niidclle one; the liinil claw equal to the
lateral one. Wings .short, reaching only to the base of the tail; much rounded; the
.secondari(!.s tuid tertials etpial, and not tnucli
.shorter than the primaries. The tail is rather
xliortcM- lliim the wings, and graduided laterally ;
each feather still'eneii, lanceolate, iuid ai'iite.
Color. Streaked alioveaiid acioss the breast;
verv faintlv on the sides.
The essentiiil characters consist in the
slender and eloiigated hill ; tiie long legs
reaching considenihly Ixiyond the tail,
with the lateral claws falling considera-
bly short of the middle one ; and the
very .short rounded wings, rtither longer than the ciineate tail, with its stif-
fened and lanceolate feathers.
Atmnnilrnmvs caiulacutus.
KIMNOIM.IO.K — TIIK FINCHKS.
00 1
Common CllAliACTKUS. Aliovc olivacroiis av asliy, the crown waslicd willi
lirowii latfially. tlio dorsiil liallnis ilarUcr iciilrallv ; lnMii'alli wliilc, tiii^cil
ai riiss I 111' jii;.'iiImiii with ocliraccoiis orasliy ; jiif^iiliiiii sli-caktMl; a iliisky " I iridic "
on cacli side ol liiidal ; almvc it a maxillary slri|ii' ol' ocliraccoiis or while.
1. A. caudaoutuc. Ail. Aliovc olivi'. tiic ilorsal I'callici'.i dnrkiH' and cd^'cd
willi wliitisli-ochfaccons; sn|icrciliai'V and Tiiaxillary stripes deep ochraceons;
jnjrnlMni and sides linj;ed with tlie same, and sharply streaked wilh Mack.
Jill'. Wholly ochraceons, ilarker ahove; ( rown and hack streaked wilh
hiack, the Conner divided ni'diaily hy a pale-hrowii stripe; hreasl and sides
streaked with hluek. /fuli. Alliuilic coast of United States.
'2. A. maritimuB. Ad. Ahove ashy, the dorsal leathers ohsoletely darker
centrally; superciliary stripe yellowish-ashy, hri^'hl yellow over the lores;
maxillary stripo white; jii},'ulniii and sides tingud with ashy, the lormer
ohsoletely streak<'d with dark ashy. Jnv. Ahovi^ olivaceous, the crown ami
hack streaked wilh lilaik, ihe liiriner not divided hy a li^dilcr median line;
hrenst uiid sides washed wilh ochraceons and dislinelly stieaked with Mack.
Hub. Alluntiu coast of United States.
Ammodromus caudacutus, SwAixsny.
SHARP-TAILED BXTNTINO.
Oriohin rniiiliinihis, (Imi-.i.in, I, I'.s.s, ;i!M. - I.aiiiam, Iml. Oni. I, I'Oii, lS(i (not
Fi-iiiijilla ciitiiliiciilii, I.ATll.). Friiii/il/ii cii iiilm-utit, Wii.,so\, Am. Oiii. IV. l.Sll, 7",
pi, .\.\xiv, I", ;i. — Ani. Orn. Ww^. 11, 1834, 281 ; V, 41t!t, pi. cxlix. Ju-iniilll'i (.s>//:-/)
mudnciitii, Hon. .Syn. 182S, llil. /'(m-vic/hc cinnliinitu, ViKii.i.or. Aniiii'iilrniiiiis
ciiudid-ulus, SwAix.sox, Birds, II, lS;i7, l!8it. —Am. .^^yiiopsis, Ks:i!l, 111. In. I'.irds
Am. Ill, 1811, 1(18, pi. clxxiv. — Uonap. Cmispntus, 18.5(p, 48'2. l?Ali;i), Hiids N.
Am. 18;kS, 4.'.:!. — .Samiki.s, :jii7. Fn'ii'ji/ln llifi>niH.'\ NrrrAi.i,, .Man. I, \x:i2, Mi
(2d cd. 184n, ."lUO). Sliiii-p-liiiliil (h-iiik, I'ksna.nt, Antic /<iiil. II, 2i'>l, New York.
Sp. CiiAK. Upper parts hrownisli-olivaceons. Head lirownish. sticakecl wilh M
the sides, and a hroad ec^ntral slri|i<' ol' ashy. Ba<'k Molched wilh darker; edirc-
terseapnlar ti'athers and inner secondaiics whitish, just exterior to a lila<'kish sii
A broad superciliary and maxillary stripe, nieetini,' behind tlit; ashy ear-coverts,
h.'incl across the upper breast, bufl'-yellow. The siiles of the throat with a brown
the upper part of the breast and the sides of the body streaked with black; i
under parts whitish. Iv|ii-c of wiinj' yel-
low i.sh-white. Bill yellowish below; dusky
above. The female appears to have more
bulT on th(! breast than the male. liciigtli,
5 inches; wiiifr, 2.l!n.
H<tb. Atlantic coast of the Unite(l
States.
ack on
: of in-
ll'nsion.
and a
stripe ;
est of
Till! yoiiiio; i.s of n mow. ycllowisli
tiiioo above and lieU>w; the streaks
on the back more con.spieiioiis ; tlie
sciiimlar leathers without the whitish
edoino. '■" "■■ ■
Ill auttuniial and winter speciinen.s the buff tints are iiiuuh deeper than in
Aminivlrnmiis raiirtttnitiis.
558 NORTH AMKKICAM lilliDS.
s|iriiij,'; tlio sides of tlir crown, n.s well us tlic dark luiirkiiij^'S on tlio l)a('k,
nioro iiitensilird, and in ^'router contriist with llio lif,ditor iLsliy and olive
tint.s.
IlAItlTS. Thu Sliarji-tailed Fincii is one ol llie most Htrikinj^ ami well-
characterized of laud-liirds, and as pecidiar to the seashore as tlie '/'riiii/ir.
In habits it very chtsely resemhles the wiioh; family of Waders in many
striking respects. Like thorn it feeds upon small crustaceans and minute
marine insects, keeping ahont the water's edge, walking uimju the lloating
weeds and other substances raised by th(! tide, pn'l'eri'ing this mode of life
to a more inland residence, and only resorting to the uplands to feed upon
the s(ieds of grasses and sedges when their food fails them at the watei's
edge.
Dr. Coue.s is of the o])iniou tliat this l)ird does not breed in the neighbor-
hood of IJeaufort, N. ("., and that it leaves for the Xorth in iMay, having
a more northeiii habitat than A. miiri/itiin. He does not coincide with those
who detect a resemblance between tiie actions of the Aiiitnodrinui and of
the Sandpipers. He thinks the manner in which they climb the reeds, slide
uj) and down, and hang from them in various attitudes, is more like that
of Nuthatches and Titmice. On the ground they seem to him unmistakably
spari'ow-like.
This Sharp-tailed Fincli is abundant along the coasts of Connecticut and
J{hode Island, and is also found in Massachusetts, though s])aringly, and only
in a few congenial localities. In the marslies of Charles lUver, near Boston,
this species is occasionally common in the breeding-season. In the summer
of 18(19, Mr. II. W. Ilenshaw found quite a number of their nests. Mr.
Alaynard has also taken it among the niarshes of Ipswich, which is probably
about its extreme northern limit. It has not, so far as I am aware, been
traced to Maine. In these localities it probably raises two broods in a sea-
son, as it appears there in May, and remains until into October. They are
eminently terrestrial, run on the ground like mice, are difficult to Hush, and
can only be shot while on the wing. They lie close to the gi'ound, and con-
ceal themselves in the grass.
They are also very numerous in the marshes in the neighborhood of New
York, and especiall}'^ so in New Jersey, breeding along that coast to Cape
May. How much farther south than this they are found 1 cannot state, but
I did not meet with any at Cape Charles, when; tlie maritimus was very
abundant.
In the winter this species is found in large flocks along the shores of South
Carolina and Georgia. jNIr. Audubon, however, did not find any in Florida.
In the marshes near Charleston they are found in immense flocks, so nnich
so that Audubon has known of forty being killed at a single shot. They
search in the sedgy marshes for their food when the tide is out, and, on the
approach of the returning waters, retreat to the higher shores and to the
rice embankments.
Fill N(! 1 1,1,1 1). K TIIK h'lNCUKS. 551)
Till' llii,'lit of tliis spceicH is (|iiitc dill'iiriMit rnmi Uiiit, of aiiy otlior bir(l,iui(l
by it llu^y iiiiiy ii( diicc In- iccdj^'iiizt'd. In llyiii^', tlicy ulso ilidp tlii'ir tiiils
very low.
Mr. Audubon states lliat diiiinj,' tlii^ winter tlie Sliarp-tailnd Finrli is
rurni.shud with an o.Ktra (inantity oi' Icatlusrs on tlic rMmp, for which hv. tinds
it dillicult to account.
Thii.si- birds are essentially niariliuie, are found only in the vicinity of the
soa, an<l alway.s kee|) iiumediately about the water, exeept wlu'ii the inclcni-
oncy of the weather drives them to the hijj;h ^'ra.ss of the uphual.s for .shelter.
They walk and ru.i, or remain feedini^ on the lloatin<; wee(ls and other siili-
stunces raised by the tide, with all tlie ea.se and fearle.s9nes,s with which they
move on the land. They are jj;reyariou.s in the winter, and in the Southern
marshes are found feeding in comiianies. During the breoding-.season they
keep more in pairs, and are found more isolated. At this time they are also
shy, and dillicult to delect. Their usual call-note is only a single /nrrt, and
in the love-season their series of twitters Mr. Audubon thiidvs hardly wor-
thy to be called a .song. They feed indi.scriminutely on .seeds, in.sects, small
crustaceans, and various forms of refuse matter floated or thrown u^i by the
tides.
On the coast of New Jersey, where these birds are found in the greate,st
abundance, they have at least two broods in a season. Their nest is on the
ground, in a smidl tu.ssoek of grass or sedges, l)ut little removed from the,
reach of the tide, and is placed in a depression apparently e.xcavated for the
[)urpose. They are loosely made of soft and slender grasses, arranged in a
circular form. The nest is laige for the bird, sfjacious and deep, and is softly
lined with finer and similar materials.
Their eggs, five or six in nund)er, are of a somewhat rounded oval .shape,
having an average breadth of ..'>9 of an inch, and vary in length from .7H to
.70. Their ground-color is a light green, occasionally a dull white, with
hardly a jierceptible ting(! of greeni.sh, thickly sprinkled CMpially over the en-
tire egg, with tine rusty-brown d(jts. These are of various sizes, but all lino.
In a few the larger dots arc conHuent in a iir.g an and the larger end; in
others, the finer dots are so small as to Ijc only tli.stin:;uisliable under a glass,
concealing the grouu<l-color, and giving to the egg ai) almost uniform rusty
color. These eggs vary but little in shape, and are nearly equally rounded
at either end, though never entirely so.
500 NOKTIl AMKlilCAN lilUDS.
Ammodromus maritimus, swainsox.
SEASIDE BUNTING.
Frhiijilld iiiiiiiliiiKi, Wii.SdN, Am. t)rii. IV, 1811, t!8, |)1. xxxiv, f. 2. - Al'i). Orii.
Hiofj. I, 1831, |il. xciii. ^imiiiiHlrdiiiiis mariliiniii, S\v. Zuiil. Jour. IJI, 1.^27, ;i2S.
— BiiNAi'. List, IMJS. - In. Coiis|). ISfid, l^-J. - Am. Syiuijisis, 183"), llo. -In.
Birds Am. Ill, 18(1, 103, pi. clxxii. - I!aii;ii, Binls X. Am. 18r>S, 454. — Samikl-s,
308. Frhiiiilla (Ammuilromus\ marilivin, XriT. Aliiii. I, (2il cd.,) 1840, 5y2. Friu-
ijilh iiiiiqiillirmiii, Am. Oni. Hiof;. II, 1834, 285 ; IV, 1838, 3!»4 ; V, 183i), 499, \\.
ccclv. .liiiiiiiKlromui niiKyillivmiii, I'niN. Mut, 1838. — 111. C'oiis|icctu.s, 18,')0, 482. —
Ari>. Syn. 1839. — III. Minis Am. Ill, 1841, 100, |il. clxxiii. FriiniUh< (Ammoilm-
inus) mnniillivriii/i, Nl n'Al.l., Man. I, (2il cd.,) 1840, WA.
Sp. Ciiah. AliDVo oliviioeoiis a.'^liy-bi'own ; iii'iiily unifonn. Iml willi tlu? centres of in-
tcr.sciipiilnr li'iilluMS darker and edf:;ed Ikintly witli paler; very obsoletely, almost inap-
preeiably streaked elsewhere, especially on the head, which has a faintly defniod median
stripe of pnrer a.shy. Beneath white ; the breast and sides and under tail-coverts witii
rather indistinct streaks of dark a,shy-t)rown. tendinfr to form a larj^e s|)ot in centre of
breast; an ashy mandibular .stripe eonliiuied into the a.shy sides of neck, and outtini; oil'
and enclosing a white stripe above it. A spot of yellow anterior to eye, contimicil over
it as an almost inappreciable grayish stripi\ Edge of wing snlpliur-yellow. Bill lead-
color ; leel dusky. Length about (i inches ; wing, '2.50. In autunui the brea.st and sides
tinged with fulvous; the liaek with rufou.s.
Young birds (.1. mirn/illivnii/if) have markings unich more distinct, and clo.sely resem-
ble A. aii((l(iriil(i, tiiough larger. They will be most rciidiiy distiugni.shed by the absence
of the fulvous superciliary stripe.
IIah. Atlantic sea-coast of United States, uorthwiuil to Long Tslaml Sound.
The siiiiie sea-soiial ilin'ereiices in colorati(jii are observable in this species
as in A. vandiiciUKn.
Haiuts. Tlie Seaside Finch has very nearly the same distribution, hab-
its, and manners of life, as the Sharii-tailed species, and the description of
these in one wonld ans\V(!r almost e(|ually well for the other. There are,
however, certain shades of dilference in several respects to be observed.
This bird is, if anything;, more southern in its distribution tlian the other,
and does not extend its visits in summer so far north. While the Sharj)-
taihid Fincli is not an uncommon bird on tiie siiores of the New I'^ngland
States, as far to the north as Tp.swich, the Seaside Finch is comparatively
rare, much more so now than it was formerly. Mr. Maynard states tiiat he
lias searched carefully for it froi" the Merrimack to the extreme southern
shores of Massiichusetts without finding any specimens, nor could lie find
any on the island of Nantucket, a very naturiil and cono;enial locality. Dr.
Cones states that it is abundant on the New nam])shire coast, but recent
eiuleavors hav(! failed to detect it. In IH.'ill and 18:^7 a few isolated pairs
built in the marshes of Stony l$rook, near Jioston, above tide-water, iiestino;
not on the o;round, but in low bushes. Tiiey were identified by Mr. Audubon.
In the summer of 1852 I found this species very abundant on the low
sandy islands of Cape Charles, Va. TIhmv, in every instance, their neste
l-'i;i.N(ill-MI).K Till'; KIXCIIKS. 5(31
well' ill low hnsluis, iiliout ii I'imiI, IVoim tliu ,<;r()uinl. I'lify wcru the only luml-
birds fouml on tlicsc islands.
llcv. ('. M. .louos inroiMiH nw. tlial at Mailisuii, Conn., on tliu coast, tlui
Suasidu and tlic Sliarp-tailod Finclu's ocenr in about C(iual nunilniis in tlie
salt niai'sho.s. llo was iiv)t ablo to obsi-rvn any spociiic (litVcivnci' in their
modi! of iicstin".;', ox("i'iit that tlu^ iiuiri/iiitus snenu'd to lie inor,' (-oninion in
that part of the marsh nearest the shore, while the nindintitii^ was more
abundant furtiier back towards the hinidands, though this was not the inva-
riable rule. He sometimes found the nests suspended in the salt grass, the
latter being interwoven with the other materials. Tu all .sncli cases the en-
trance was on the side (tf tiie nest, in the manner of the Marsh AVren. At
other times he found the nest placed under a i^uantity of lodged grass, but
resting on a portion still lower. In such cases it is generally open at the tnj).
He has also found theai on the ground, and, wlien thus placed, always much
more bulky than when l)uilt as above, a consideraiile (piantity of dead gra.ss
being laid down to keep the nest above the wet, though not always \\ith
success. On CoblVs Island, \-a., Air. Jones only found the m(iriliiii>i!<, the
nests of which were in liushcs, from one foot to eighteen inelies fi.im the
ground.
The call-note of this species is said to l»e a monotonous chiri), and its song
hardly to deserve that name. The notes t)f winch it is comitosed are few,
and have neither variety, emphasis, nor attractiveness.
Dr. Cones states thiit this Fincli begins to sing whtiu mating, and is after-
wards, during the incubating, i)articularly earnest and ]u'rsevering about it.
Each jiair usually claims some particular cojjse, and tlie male usually has his
favorite singing-post, to which it coiitinually resorts. He adds that its
simple song is something like that (»f the Yellow diouldered Sparrow, begin-
ning with a few slow notes, then a rapid trill, finally slurred, till it .sounds
like the noise made by some of the grasshojipers.
These l)irds are at all times shy and dillicult to l)e ajiproaehed. When
their nest is visited, the parents leave it and seerete themselves, and cannot
be tmced without great ditliculty. When llnis hidden, they will almost
suller themselves to be trodden upon before they will ily up.
Mr. Audubon thinks they iiavo two broods, their tirst being liatched out
early in June. Their nests, he states, are usually placed ne.\t to the ground,
but not sunk in it. Their footl consists of marine in.sects, small crabs, and
snails, as well as small sand-beetles and seeds. Tlieir flesh has a rank, un-
savory flavor, so nmch .so that, having had some made into a pie, he could
not eat it. He states also that they are resident in the Southern States, and
are found along the (iulf coast as far as Texas.
The nest is strongly but coarsely woven of dry sedges, stems, and grasses,
and is lined with similar but flner materials. The eggs are live in number,
have a grayish-white groiuid, and are s])otted and blotched with reddi.sh-
brown. Tilt! blotches are distril)uted over th(> entire egg, and are niudi
71
.■)()2
NORTH AMIilflCAN HIItDS.
liu'i^LT lliaii in tlio rinii/niittii>i. There is, indeed, no similarity between the
two eggs. Tliey nieasnre .SH by .ti.S of an inch.
r>r,r,i S
Gkni's CHCNDESTES, Swaixson.
Cl(,)ii(h:i/cs, SwAlNsoN, riiil. Mii'i- '. I''*-'', 435. — In. Kiiuiui Bor.-Aiii. II, 1831. (Tyi)c.
f'hamlish.i .ilriijiidis, Sw,, (Mnial to Fn'iiijiHii ijnuiuiidca. Say.)
CIkx. CuAii. Bill .swollen ; l)Otli outlines frciitly curved ; liie lower iiiiiinlihlu as liiph as
liie upper; the eoiiiiuissui'e aniru-
lateil at the ba.se, and then sliirhtly
siuuateil. Lower luaudilile latliei'
narrower at the lia.se than the leniftli
of the j,'onys ; broader than the
upper. Tarsi nioderate, about ecpuit
to \\w middle toe ; lateral toes e(|ual
and very short, reachinj; but :ittlu
lieyoud the middle of the peiiulti-
uiate joint of the middle toe. and
falling eonsiderably .short of the
base of midille i^law. AVings, lonp;,
pointed, reaching nearly to the mid-
dle of I he tail ; the tertials not
longer than the seeondaries ; the
first quill shorter than the seeuiid and third, which arc equal. The tail is moderately
long, considerably giadnati-d. the li'atliers rather narrow, and elliptically rounded at the
end.
Stieaked on the back. Head with well-delired large stripes. Beneath white, with a
pectoral spot. Only one species recognized.
Chiiivhsl' N unninnnni.
Ghondestes grammaca, Bonap.
LABK SPABBOW.
Frinijilh fjrfiminiioi, Sav, in I.mig's Exped. K. Mts. I, 1823, 139. — Bon. Am. Orii. 1,
182'), 47, ]il. V, f. 3. — Ain. Oni. Hiog. V, 1839, 17, pi. cirxe. Chnn'k.i/rs (jmmmaat,
Box. List, 1838. — In. C'onspwtu.s, 1850, 479. — Baiiiu, Birds N. Am. 1858, 4.5(5.—
L'ooi'Kii & SrcKi.KV, 200. --Mavxaud, Birds K. Mass. 1870, 112 (Massachusetts).—
Cooi'Kit, Oni. t'al. 1, 193. Embcriza tjiinnimicii, AuD. Synopsis, 1839, 101. — lu.
Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 03, pi. clviii. — Max. Cab. .lour. VI, 1858, 343. Clwndestcs
stri'iiitK.i, SwAlx.soN, I'hilos. Mag. 1, 1827, 435.
Si'. CuAH. Hood chestnut, tinged with lilack towards the forehead, and with a median
stripe anil superciliary stripe of dirty whitish. Rest of upper parts pale grayish-olive, the
interscapular region alone streaked with dark brown. Beneath white, a round spot on the
upper part of the breast, a liroail maxillary stripe cutting off a white stripe above, and a
.short line from the liill to the eve. continued liiintly behinil it, black. A white crescent
under the eye, btu'dered lielow liy black and behind by ehestimt, on the ear-coverts. Tail-
feathers dark brown, the outermost eilged externally and with more than terminal third
white, with transverse outhne ; the whit'; decreasing to the next to innermost, tipped
broadly with white. Length, (i inches ; wing. ."i. 30.
FHINOILLIDJ'; — TllH FINCIIliti. 5G3
Haii. From Wisconsin nnil Illinois (also in Micliigan and Oliio) to the Pacific coast;
Cape 8t. Tineas, soutli to Texas anil Mi'xifd. Uaxaca (Sn,. 18.')!», .'!7!)) ; Vera Ci'n/ (winter,
SuMicnuAST, iVyj); Kiislern Massaclinsetls, aceiilental (Mavxaimi).
The colors of the loinalo are duller than in the male, the chestnut less
lu'ijiht, the hlack not so intense ; the pattern, however, is the same.
The young bird has tlie Ineast and
throat with a good many spots of dark
brown instead ol' the single large one
on the breast. The other markings are
more obscure.
IIauith. The Lark Finch is i'mnul
from Eastern Illinois to the racific, and
from Oregon to Texas. Within this wide
area of distribution it is everywhere
abundant in the open prairies and
plains. It is not found in wooded re-
gions. This bird was described by >Say,
and was first met with by Longs expe-
dition to the Missouri Itiver. It was not known to either Wilson or Au-
dubon, and its habits were very imperfectly known to Xutlall.
Mr. Dresser found this bird very abundant in Texas throughout the sum-
mer, arriving in the neighborhood of Sau Antonio in March, and leaving
there early in October. He found their iiest.^ quite conuiion, and u.-^tially
built in a mes(ptite tree or bush, of Hue roots and grasses. ')r. Heermann
also found it abundant in Xew Mexico. In Arizona, Dr. Cones found it,
chiefly in .spring and autunni, a migrant, and, at those seiisons, \i'ry mimer-
ous. Many remain during the .summer to In-eed, and a fiw are found in the
winter. It was met with near New Leon, Mexico, In- Lieutenant Couch, but
was not obtained in ^'era Cruz by Sumichrast. It was taken near Oiixaca,
Mexico, by ^Ir. Boucaid. A single s]iecimen was obtained al Kort Dalles in
Oregon, by Dr. Suckley, but it was not met with 1»v him west of the (.'ascade
Mountains. Mr. Townsend states that he also found it in that region.
Dr. Cooper did not find this species in the Colorado ValL'v, tlnmgh it has
been obtained at Fort Yuma in December; and. as he has met with them in
large flocks in the valleys of San Diego in Febrnsiry, he concbi(h's that they
winter in the southern part of California. They breed from San Diego
throughout California, and as far north as the Columbia, where they arrive
early in May. Dr. Cooper has never found their nest in CV.lifornia, but
has frtiquently met with it in Kansas and Nebraska in May ami June.
He found them on the ground, and their nests were constructed chiefly of
grass.
He speaks of them as singing very sweetly, and states that in their song
they resendde the Canary more than any other bird. They freiiuent the
open ])lains, usually in the neighborhood of trees, u]Min which they often
504 NORTH AMEHirAN l?IRnS.
alight in flocks. Tlioir food consists of tin.- soeils of gi-ass and other small
plants, which they collect on the jj;roun(l.
A single specimen of this hird was siiot in Massaclmsetts in 1845, by Mr.
Samuel Jillson. It was taken in (iloucester, on tlu^ coast, where its appear-
ance was, of course, jiurely accitlental.
We are indebted to the careful ol)servations of Mr. Ridgway for tiie prin-
cipal portion of our knowledge of the manners and mode of life of this
species, which he has recently ascertained to be an abundant summer resi-
dent in Southern Illinois. It is probably equally abundant throughout the
State, and is i'onnd as far east as (Jhio, where it becomes rare.
The Prairie Lark-Finch was found by that accurate observer very abundant
at Sacramento, Cal., where it frequented alike the oak groves, the cottonwood
and willow copses, and the weedy fields and meadows. At Sacr.unento it was
eminently arboreal, ({uite in contrast with its habits as observed in Illinois. It
was also met with in the interior, wherever the locality was suited to it. Near
Salt Lake City it is one of the most numerous oi' the birds inhabiting the
artemisia grounds, in the outskirts of the town, in company with Poospiza
hilinenta and Spizdla hrnocri. It is called by the Utah l)oys the Snake-Iiird,
from the supposed rose .iblance of its striped head to that of a snake. At
Sacramento it is greatly prized as a cage-bird, and young l)irds readily sell
there for four dollars a pair. He states that the delightful song of this bird
has no jiarallel among the North American Frivffillida; and claims that in
this respect it is pre-eminently superior to that of all the other members of
this family. As it perches ujion the summit of a small tree, on the telegraph
wire, or upon a fence, its notes may be heard throughout the day, in the
morning before those of any others, and late in the evening, when all except
for this irrepressible songster is silence.
The song of this species is described as composed of regularly divided
parts, almost perfect in compass, in vigor and continuity unsuriuis.sed, if not
une(jualled, by any other North American species. It begins with a series
of chants, the style reminiling one somewhat of the Cyanonpiza cyanea, but
each .syllable loud, rich, and clear, and uttered with a peculiar emotional trill,
the whole seemingly delivered in a hurried manner, in one continuous gush
of sprightly silvery notes, each accompanied by a metallic tremolo. As if
exhausted, the singer falters, and the notes become scarcely audible, then
suddenly reviving, as if in great joy, the song is resumed in all its vivacity,
until the bird at last really appears to be overcome by its efforts.
Dr. Coues met with this s])ecies in Arizona in the winter. He writes me
as follows : " The most eastern point where I observed this sp(3cies was at
St. Louis, Mo. I saw a good many in the suburbs of that city in May, 1865.
It is one of the most abundant Sparrows about Fort Whipple, ]mrticularly
(luring the migrations ; the majority pass northward in April and May, but
many lireed in the vicinity, and some pass the winter in sheltered situations.
It is generally seen in com])anies, frequenting the skirts of woods, the under-
KUIX({II,I,II).K — TIIH FIXrriKS.
565
brusli alonjr inouutain rivulets, and similar situations, wliere the seeds of
various plants arc ]ir()ciiral)l(f ; its },'eneral habits resemble those of the species
of Zoiuilrichiar
The nests were found by Mr. Riilyway in various situations; the lari,'er
nundier were upon the ground, but several were in trees varying in li(>ight
from six to twenty feet troni the ground. They were found "frf)ni the latt(!r
part of May through June. A nest olttained in Southern Wisconsin l)y Mr.
Thure Kumlien is very homogeneous in structure, consisting entirely of
loosely intertwined stems of dry grasses, sedges, and cariees. ft was imilt
on the ground, is nearly hat, and has only a very shallow cavity. Its entire
height is less than two inches, and the depth of its depression not half an
inch. The diameter of tiie nest is three and a half inches, and that of the
cavity at the rim three inches.
The maxinuuu number of their eggs is five. Their average measurement
is .85 by .65 of an inch. The ground-color is usually a grayish-white,
rarely a light brown, marlded and streaked with waving lines, and a few dots'
of black or a blackish-brown.
Genus ZONOTRICHIA, Swaixson.
ZomtrkhUt, HwAiNsoN, Fauna Roi.-Aiii. II, 1S31. (Type, Emhenza letujophrya.)
Gen. Chak. Body rather stout. Bill conical, sli.ditly notoiied, soincwliat coiupn.sse.l.
excavated inside; the lower mandible rather lower than the upper; <roiiys slifrhtly
convex; commissuie neai'ly straight. Feet stout; tarsus rather lonjrer than middle'^ to.;";
the lateral toes very nearly equal. Hind toe lon.irer than the lateral one.s; their claws
just reaching to base of middle one. Inner claw contained twice in its toe proper;
claws all slender and consideralily curved. Wings moderate, not reaching to the miildle
of the tail, but beyond the rump; secondaries and tertials ciiual and considerably less
than longest primaries ; second and
third <|nills longest; first about equal
to the fifth, nuich longer than tertials.
Tail rather long, moderately rounded;
the leathers not very broad.
Back streaked. Rump and under
parts immaculate, except in young.
Head black, or with white streaks,
entirely difl'erent Irom the back.
This genus embraces somt' of
the most beautiful of American
Sparrows, all of the Itirgost
size in their subfamily. xonuiruiim i,ucnji/,n/s.
All the species properly belonging to tiiis genus tire North American;
several South American species, have, however, been assigned to it; but
they are none of tlicin strictly congeneric with those given below.
5(i() NOirril AMElilCAN lUUDS.
I'oMMON CliAHACTKiis. Ffiillicrs of iiitoisciipiiliir rpprioii liliu;kisli centrally, pass-
iiij? into nifoiis-lu-own and imIucI with pal.T. llunip and iippm- tail-Vovort.s
iniii'onii oliviiCL'ous-asliy blown. Two wiiito bands on the wings; the tertials
cdfrcil with iiilbiis. lionfiiih without stivaks. Head above marked with blaok,
and generally with white. Cheeks plumbeons.
A. Black of the ciown divided by a median light stripe. Juguluni ashy.
a. Throat ashy, unii'orm with the brciust
1. Z. leucophrys. Median stripe of the crown wliite. A black
stripe from behind the eye, and a white superciliary stripe.
a. A black stripe from the eye to forehead, across lore. I fab.
Eastern Province of North America, west throughout Rocky
Mountains; Cape St. LucHs in winter vnr. le ii cophrys .
^. No black streak in front of eye, the lores being wholly
n.shy. Ilah. Western I'lovince North America, t>ast to Rocky
Mountains \M:yambeli.
2. Z. coroiiata. ^Median stripe of ei-own yellow foi' anterior and
ash lor posteiior half. Black of crown conn'ng down to eye and
ear covert.s, leaving no light superciliary stripe. Ilah. Pacific
Province of North America; accidental east of 8icrra Nevada.
i). Throat pin'e white, in sharp contrast with the dark ash of cheeks
and jugulum.
3. Z. albicoXlis. Median stripe of crown white. A light super-
ciliary strijie, yellow antci^ior to the eye, and white behind it; a
black streak along upper edge of car-coverts. Ilab. Eastern Prov-
ince of North America.
B. Black of the crown not divided, but continuou.^;. Jugulum white.
4. Z. querula. Lores, forepart of cheeks, with the chin and
throat, deep black; whole side of head behind the eye, ashy.
Lower parts pure white;. Hub. Missouri Plains.
Zonotrichia leucophrys, Sw.unson.
WHITE-CEOWNED SPABBOW.
Eiiiberim Uucophnjx, Foi;.sti.:ii, Pliilos. Trans. LXII, 1772, 382, 426. — Omklik, Syst Nat.
I, 1788, 874. - Wir.soN, Am. Orii. IV, 1811, 1!), pi. .vx.vi, f. 4. Frhuiilln {Z,molndmi\
leuo,,,hr,is, Sw. F. H. Am. II, 1831, 25.5. Znnntrkhia leucophn/s, Ilox. List, 1838 -
IH. (V.nsp. lS.-)0, 478.-1UII!!., Birds N. Am. IS.-iS, 4.18, pi. Ixi.x, f. 2.-Coitk.s,
P. A. X. S. 18(il, 224. — M,\vNAi!i>, Birds E. Ma.s.s. lS7(t, 118. — Coopkii, Orn. Tal. \,
19ti. — Sa.muki,s, 30i). FriiKji/lii /i-iimp/iri/s, Aun. Orn. Biog, II, 1834, 88- V .''.15
pi. .•xiv.-lB. Sy,,. 1830, 121.-1... Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 157, pi. c.xcii. ' > Sptella
vm.,im„, BoNAi'. Comp. Rond. 1853 (cith.-r this or Z. gtunbdi). iniitc-crnvncd
Sparroii; ri;xx.\NT.
Figured ill Hiiffox, Ois. IV, 192, pi. ccxxiii, f. 2, Winter.
Si>. Char. Head aliove, upper half of loral region from the bill, and a narrow line
through and behind the eye to the occiput, black; a hmgiludimd patch in the mid.lle of
the crown, and a short line from above the anterior corn.'r of the eve, the two confluent
on the occiput, wliite. Si.les of the head, forepart of breast, and lower neck all round,
pale ash, lightest beneath, and shading insensibly into the whiti.sh of the belly and chin \
sides of belly and under tiiil-cov.'rls tinged with yellowish-brown. Inter.scapular region
streaked broadly with dark eliestnut-brownish. Edges of the tertiaries brownish-chestnut.
Two white bauds on the wing.
l>'UlN(ilLI-ll).l<; — TIIK I'lNCIlKS.
o()7
Ziinnlrir/iiil fmrnplinjs.
/^ffHi((/e siiiiiliir. liiit siimllcr ; iiiiinainic liinls in liivt winter-, \\ itii llic lilack aiici wliilr
stripi'-i on the umwn rcpliici'il liy ilMi'k (•licslniil-liiown iiml luiiwnisli-ycllow. I,t'nf;tli,
7.10 inches; winij:, .'>.-■'>. Ynuiiij o/' /Ac //«(;• tliiei<ly slreaived willi (lnsl<y (in tlio lireast.
Tiie tateiiil slrijies of llie ciown dull lirown, tin- nu'ilian one stiviikeil wliilisji.
II.vi). United Slates I'loni the Atlanlie to iho Rocky Mountains, wlieie they Ipeeonie
associati'd with Z. i/itinhch'. Capo St. Lucas;
(Jrc.'enland (ItKiNil.MtDT, This, III, 7). Breed in
VValisatch Mountains (IJiuoway).
Tlio wliitc of tlio crown scjiai'atos two
Jiliick stripes on either sidt;, nit her niir-
rowtir tlum itself. The black line Itehiiitl
llie eye is coiitinuetl anterior to it into tiio
lilaek at tlie base of the bill. The lower
eyelid is white. There are some ol>sciirc
cltjudinj^s of darker on the neck above.
The rump is immaculate. No white on
tlie tail, except very obscure tips. The
white on the winifs crosses the ends of the midille and ,nreater coverts.
The character distinguishing the western representative {Z. (jumbcli) of
leucophri/s is ap})iirently \'ery trilling, Imt is very constant.
Habits. The White-crowned S])arro\v is found I'rom tlie liocky Moun-
tains eastwixrd to the Atlantic, tind in till the intervening territory, from the
Southern States to the Arctic region.s. In the high meadows of the
Wahsatch Mountains, Mr. IJidgway found this bird very abundant, and one
very characteristic, breeding there (juite as numerously as any other s[)eides.
In all that region Mr. Itidgway did not meet witii ii single individual of ^.
(jnmhdi, its western representative. At the encamjtment at i'iirley"s I'ark
these birds soon became on very familiar terms with the ptirty. 'i'hey were
very sociable, and paid fretpient visits to the cook's tent, and jiicked up, with-
out the slightest signs of feai", the crumbs from the ground. Their sweet
morning carol was, he stiites, delightful to the ear, and they were lield in
great favor by all. A nest of these birds was found on the ground, tit Parley's
Park, June 2(3. It was built in a bunch of Gii-nuunn. Specimens of this
species were obtained, iu winter, tit Ctipe St. Lucas, Lower California, by Mr.
Xantus.
Although iin eastern species, ptissing, in its migrations, tlirough the South-
ern Atlantic States to Labrador in the si)ring and returning in tiie ftdl, it is
a rare species in all New Piiigland. Mr. Doardman .says that it is not com-
mon in Eastern Mtiine, anil ^Ir. Verrill that it is rare in the western part of
thiit State. In Eastern Ma.ssiichusetts it is very rare. Mr. Maynard men-
tions obtaining a single specimen, May 27, and regards it as ([uite a rare
migrant. I have never met with the bird near Poston, and do not believe
that it is found there, except singly iind rarely. In the western ])iU't of tiie
State, though less rtirc, it is very far from being connnon. It is found there
in the spring, from the 20th to the 3Uth of May, and in October from the 1st
r,(;y Noinri amkiucan birds.
to tlio intli. Mr. Alien met witli it fioiii May 7 to .Tniie (1, in 18(11, when
tlioso birds were moro coninion tliiin usual. At this period, further \ve.st, in
Ohio, Western Pennsylvivnia, and New York, these hird.s are very abundant.
From April 10 to the latter portion ol' May, in 1852, they were abundant in
the nei},diborhood of Washinytou, the ('a])itol <irountls Ijeinj,' full of them.
They were familiar and feark's.s, aiul seemed to deligiit to search for food
under the large Norway spruces, branching down to the groinid. Their
abundance that si)ring may have lieen exceptional, as Wilson apj)ears to have
met with but very i'aw si)eciinens.
Mr. Aiulubon fVmntl these Spairows very al)undaut in Labrador, where
they were apparently late in breeding. Tt was not until the 0th of .luly that
he found one of their nests. This was placed among the moss at the foot of
a low fir. It was made externally of dry hypnum mosses, matted in Inuiches
like the coarse hair of some (|uadrui)ed, and internally of fine dry grasses,
arranged with great neatness, to the tiiickness of half an inch, with a full
lining of the delicate yellow fibrous roots of the Coptin frtfu/ia. The nest
was five inches in its external diameter, and two in depth, the cavity two and
a quarter wide and one and three (quarters deep. The eggs, five in nimiber,
he describes as of a light sea-green color, mottled towards the larger end
with brownish spots and blotches, a few spots of a lighter tint being dis-
persed over the whole. All the nests found were placed on the ground or
among the moss, and all were alike in their construction. I5y the beginnii g
of August the party met with young that were able to tiy. l?y the mitldle
of that month tliey had commenced their southern migrations.
Dr. Coues also found this Sparrow breeding in great lunnbers along the
entire coast of Labrador. Fouiul in all situations, it seemed to be particu-
larly fond (jf dee]), thickly wooded, and secluded ravines, surrounded by high
precipitous cliffs, and, when in more open districts, confining itself to tan-
gled patches of juni[)er and scrubby firs. He descril)es it as a very active
and .sprightly liird, almost continually in motion. It sehlom alights without
rapidly jerking and flirting its tail, and uttering its loud chirpings. While
the female is incubating, the male usually mounts to the top of the cliff or a
neigldioring tree, and repeats his loud and not unpleasing, though somewhat
monotonous, notes for the space of half an hour or more. He describes its
song as very similar to that of the White-throated Sparrow, consisting of
two long-drawn syllables with a rising intonation, then three more in a quick,
hurried manner, with a falling cadence, — pee-dee-de-de-de ; the whole is
delivered in a mellow whistle. If approached while thus engaged, the per-
former l)ecomes instantly silent, and dives hastily into the nearest cover.
The nest was always placed on the ground, and usually in little patches of
low heath, abundant wherever the ground was dry. He found a nest on the
23d of July, containing young just hatched. The female flutters off in
silence when her nest is disturbed, but the male bird vociferates his angry
remonstrance, flirting his tail aiul jerking his body in an energetic manner.
FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 569
The food of this bird, in Liibnidor, wus I'ouiid to consist of small coleop-
terous insucts, grass-seeds, a variety of berries, as well as minute shell-fish,
for which they searched the margins of ponds near tlie sea-shore. They
"vere also seen to pursue insects on tlie wing. Mr. Audubon .speaks of its
song as consisting of six or .seven notes, and describes it as loud, clear, and
musical, although of a plaintive nature, diminisliiiii; in power to the last note.
Its flight he describes as low, swift, and protracted.
Dr. (Joues did not find this bird abundant in South Carolina during the
winter, and conjectures that it does not go so far to the south. Its migrations
do not appear to be well defined, and nowhere is it known to be abundant
during this season. Lieutenant Couch met with it at IJrownville, Texas, and
Tamaulipes, Mexico, and at t^harco Escondido, in March, at whicli time tliey
were in fl()cks, indicating a more southern migration than is generally sup-
posed.
It extends its northern migrations to the extreme northern and northeast-
ern portions of the continent, and also to Greenland. On tlie Yukon and
Anderson Rivers it is n'placed by the Z. (jarnhdi. It is not abundant in
Greenland, llolbiill obtained a single .specimen only in August, and after-
wards met with a Hock of young- birds.. He infers that they breed in the
interior, but are restricted to a very narrow strip of territory.
Eggs of this species, from Wyoming Territory, measure from .HO to .05 of
an inch in length by .70 in breadth, and are of an oblong-oval shape. The
ground-color is a light greenish-white, thickly marked with reddish-brown
and lighter markings of an obscure purplish-brown. The intensity, depth of
coloring, and size of the darker brown markings, vary. They are princi-
pally disposed about the larger end.
Zonotrichia leucophrys var. gambeli, Gambel.
WESTEBir WHITB-CROWHED SFABROW.
Fringilla gnmbeli, Nurr. Man. I, (2(1 cil.,) 1840, 556. — G.v.MnF.L, I'r. A. N. St'. Pliila. I,
1843, 262 (Cnliforiiiii.) Zoiiulrichiti ijnmbeh', Ovmbki., ,I. A. N. Sc. 2(1 scrips, I, Dec.
1847, 50. — Baikd, Binls N. Am. 1838, 460, pi. l.xix, f. 1. — Loud, Pr. R. A. lust.
IV, 1864, 119 (British ColmiiWii). — Cooi'F.K & SucKi.RV, 201. — D.vll & Ba.nni.stek,
Tr. Cli. Ac. I, 1869, 284 (Alaska). -—Cooi-Eli, Orii. Cal. 1, 195. Zonotrichia leu-
cophn/s, Nkwueuuy, Zoiil. Cal. & Or. Route ; Rep. P. R. R. VII, iv, 1857, 87.
Sp. Char. Precisely similur to Z. leiirophrys, but rather smaller ; the lores are pjray
throughout, this color continuous with a white superciliary stripe along the side of the
head. Lenpth, 6.25 ; wing, 2.83 ; tail, 3.08.
Had. Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast, north to Nulato and Fort Kenai, east
tlirough the valley of the Mackenzie River, and south to Jalisco and Afazatlan. Mexico.
As stated in the previous article, the only appreciable and constant differ-
ence between this race and Z. Jevcophrys is found in the character of the
black stripe on the side of the crown. In leucophrys the black passes down
72
570 NORTH A.MEUICAN BIIIDS.
over the upijer liiilf of the l(jres, mid in front of tlie oyo, to a line continuous
with tlie cutting ed<»e of the bill, iind sends back a slioit lirancli to the eye,
which cuts oft' the white superciliary stripe. In fjamhili the superciliary
stripe passes continuously forward to the asliy lores, cutting oil' tlui black I' m
the eye. The lower edge of the black anteriorly is much higher than in
Icucophri/ii, and nearly on a line with the nostrils.
We cannot give any positive character by which immature specimens of
leucophr>/.i and (jumhcli may be distinguished, unless that tlie short dark line
from forehead to eye of the former is indicated by a greater amount of dusky
at the base of the feathers of that region.
The young of this species, like that of lniivjiJir//s, is streaked with black-
ish on side of the throat, across the breast, and on the sides of body, instead
of being entirely unmarked beneath, as in the adult.
One specimen, collected in the West Humboldt Mountains, connects this
form with leucophri/s, and may possibly be a hybrid. In tiiis tliere is a
black spot in front of the eye, but sej)arated from the black of the crown by
the usual light superciliary stripe ol' f/(imhcli.
Some specimens from the coast region of California have the ash of head
and breast duller, and with a brownish cast, and the spots on the back black
instead of deep dark brown.
Hadits. Tiie Western White-crowned Sparrow is found in great abun-
dance, from Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, between the Rocky Mountains and
the Pacific. Dr. Suckley found this bird very abundant at Fort Dalles
and at I'uget Souiit' at both of which jikces it is a c(uistant summer resi-
dent. It was i.lways found in excellent condition. He states that it makes
its nest in low bushes, among the stalks of lupins and other shrub-like
weeds. Dr. Cooper also mentions that this bird is very abundant in all the
prairie districts of Washington Territory, especially where there are low
bushes. Unlike most of the Sparrows, it was also common on the coast
prairies, where he found it breeding. They arrive at tlie Straits of Fuca at
the end of March in large numbers, and leave for the Soutli in October. He
afterwards found them at Fort Mohave, in the Colorado Valley, quite com-
mon throughout tiie winter, some remaining until the IStli of May, but he
does not think that any remain there to liived. They are also abundant, in
winter, from San Francisco south, through all the inhabitable country. In
summer they are found in the Sierra Nevada, to their summits, and are also
plentiful in the regions north of the Columbia. A few remain, during the
summer, in the cool district about San Francisco. In June, 1804, Dr. Cooper
met witli its nest near the mouth of the Columbia. It was built in a bush,
about a foot from the ground, formed of neatly interwoven grasses, and
lined with softer materials. He describes its song as loud, but short and
melancholy, heard at intervals during the whole year, and frequently at
night.
The Western White-crowned Sparrow was first met with by Mr. Kidgway,
FRINr.TM.ID.K — TIIK FINCIIEa. 571
at the Summit i^ItfiKlow.s, near the summit of Douner Lake Pass of the Sierra
Nevada, at an altitude of aliout seven thousand feet. It was there an abun-
dant and ( liaraileiistii; liirtl. Tiie males were in full son«{ in all ])arts of the
meadow, and were nestinj,' in such numl)ers that on the evenint; of .July 9,
on halting for the night, in a hurried search no less than twenty-seven of
their eggs were obtained within about fifteen minutes. In every instanco
the nests were endnidded under a speeies of dwarf-willow, with which the
ground was covered. The birds were extremely misuspicious, the male often
sitting on a bush witiiin a few feet of the collector, aiul chanting merrily as
the eggs were being Ijlown. In one instance, having occasion to rei)ass a spot
from which a nest had been taken, the female was found sitting in the cavity
from which its nest had been removed. Tiiis species is only a winter visitant
of the lower country, but is there universally distributed, and always found
in bushy localities.
Mr. IJannister states that this bird was tolerably abuiulant among the
alder-bushes in certain parts of St. iMichael's Island. Mr. Dall found it
common at Nulato, and es])ecially so at Fort Yukon. It arrived at Niilato
about May 2U. Its nests and eggs were obtained from Indians at Nowika-
kat, on the Yukon IJiver. Dr. Kennerly met with these birds, in February,
at White ( 'liif Creek, New Mexico. They were first observed on ajjproach-
ing the liig Sandy, and from thence to the Colorado they were I'ouiul in abun-
dance. They were mostly in tlocks, and were generally found among the
bushes, in the vicinity of water. He also met with it in the valley of the
liio ( Irande, Corralitos, and Janos Kivers. It .seemed to prefer the vicinity
of settlements, where it was always seen in greater numbers than else-
where.
Mr. Dresser found these birds common about San Antonio, Texas, during
the winter, arriving late in September. Some may remain and breed, as sev-
eral were observed there in June. Dr. Coues also found them abundant in
Arizona, where he first observed them September 15. After this they became
exceedingly numerous, and remained so until January. Later than this only
a few stragglers were seen, until April, when they again became abundant.
By far the greater part left, and i)roceeded north to breed.
These Sparrows were found l»reeding on the Yukon and at Fort Anderson
in great numbers by Messrs. MacFarlane, Lockhart, and Ross. Their nests
were in nearly all ca.ses fcniud upon the ground, often in tufts of grass,
clumps of Labrador tea, or other low bushes. Tiiey were composed of hay,
and, in nearly every instance, were lined with deer's hair, and in a few with
feathers. A few were without any lining. In selecting a situation for their
nests, they seemed generally to give the preference to open or thinly wooded
tracts. The male bird was usually seen, or its note heard, in the immediate
vicinity of the nest. The eggs were obtained from the 4th of June to the
1st of July. Their maximum number was six ; the most common, four.
Mr. B. II. Eoss states that this species arrives at the Arctic Circle from
572 NORTH AMKIUCAN UIllDS.
about the 15th to tlio 2()tli of Aliiy, and at Slave Ijiko only a few days
earlier. They are then no longer in fhxiks, Imt have already paireil. They
commence nesting almost innnodiately upon their arrival at the Yukon and
at Fort (lood lIo})e. Mr. Jtos.s I'ound ne.sts made as early as May 20 to 25,
wliilo there was still considerable snow ujton tiie ground. They mostly nest,
however, in the fust hall" of June, the young usually hatching between the
15th and .'}()th, and leaving the nests when less than a month old. They all
leave tlie Arctic t'ircle about the middle of Sejitendjer. A few were seen
at Fort Simpson in tlie lattei' part of that month. When starting, they
gather in small (locks. The nest is built on high ground, among low,
open bushes, always at the foot of some shrub or bush, and more or less
protected and concealed by grass. It is never placed in the edges of
nmrshes, like Meluniiiza linco/ni; nor on small prairies, like iliG Fa xscr cuius
savanna ; nor in thick woods, as does sometimes the Z. ulbicollis. The nest
is neatly built, is more compact and of tiner materials than that of the
latter. It is large and deep, formed externally of coarse grass, and lined
with finer materials.
When started from her nest, the female flies off a few yards and flutters
silently along the ground to divert attention. If unsuccessful, she flies
about her nest uttering sharj), harsh notes of anxiety. The male is less
bold on such occasions. Their favorite habitat is light open bushes, atl'ect-
ing neither open plains nor deej) woods and never perching so high as
twenty feet from the ground, and usually, in all their movements, keeping
close to the earth.
Its food, so far as could be observed, consisted almost wholly of seeds,
sought mostly on tlie ground. It hatches only a single brood in a year.
Mr. 13. 11. lioss adds that this is the most abundant Sparrow throughout
the Mackenzie liiver region, and also the most interesting. Through the
spring and summer its melodious song, which strongly calls to mind the
first notes of the old air, " O Dear ! what can the Matter be ? " may be
heard from every thicket, both night and day. When sleeping in the
woods, Mr. lioss states that he has often been awakened by several of
tiiese birds singing near him, answering each other, throughout the short
night, Avhen all the other birds were silent. On this account, but for the
richness and melody of its song the bird would have made itself quite
disagreeable.
The Cree Indians name this Sparrow Wnh-si-pis-chan, because they think
this resembles 'ts notes, the last of which are supposed to imitate the sound
of running water. It sings long after the breeding-season is past, and its
notes may be heai'd even into August.
The eggs measure .85 of an inch in length by .65 in breadth, and have a
ground of a greenish-white marked with a rusty-brown. They are of a
rounded-oval shape.
FUliSUlLLID.K — THE FINCilKS. 573
Zonotriohia coronata, Baird.
OOLOEH-CROWNED BPAHBOW.
Embcrha coroiiiild, Pai.i.as, Ziiilg, Kosso- AHiiit. II, 1811, 14, plain. Zumt rich inc., nAiiii>,
IlinlH N. Am. IS.IS, 4iil. — IIkkum X, S, 48 (nr,st). - Cdcii'KU k SrcKi.KV, aol. —
D.vi.i. & llANXiNTKii, Tr. t'h. Ac. I, ISiiii, 284 (Aliwkii). - ('c(i>n;ii, Oin. Cal. I, 1U7.
KiiilieriM iilricii/iil/ii, Alli. Orii. ItioK. V, 18;!i», 47, pi. I'c^c.xciv (nut of (Imi.I.IN). Fiiii-
ijilla atriciipilld, Aiii. Syinipsis, isau, 122. — li.. Hirds .Viii. Ill, 1841, lii2, (il. cxriii.
FriiKjillii iiurmii/iillii, Nri'lAI.!., Man. 1, (2il. I'll.,) 1S4(I, .l.'ir). Xniiiilriiliiii inirnfapilln,
Hon. t'oiiap. 185(t, 478. Nr.wiiKiiKV, Zoiil. ('ill. Jt Or. Ituiitf, Hi'i). I'. IJ. K. VI, iv.
1857, 88. Emherizii atriai/iilld, C<.\t. I, 1788, 87') (in pnrt only). — Latii. Ind. 415.
Mdck-aiiwnal BiiiiHiiij, I'i:nxaxt, Arc. Zuol. II, a64. — Lath. II, l, 202, 49, tab. Iv.
Sp. Ciiau. Hood, froiii Mil to iippci part ol' nape, piiro Mack, liic iniildli' lon^.'itudiiial
third ouciipied liy yellow on llio niitiMior liall, ami palu ash on the po.sli'iior. Sidtw and
under parts of head and nouk, with nppcr part of hrca.*!, n«h-color, piis.finf,' inscn.sibly into
whiti.sh on the middle; of tho body; sidus nml under tail-roverls tinj^i'd with browni.sh.
A yellowish spot above the uyc, bounded anteriorly by ii short blaek line from the eye to
the black of the li)relu;ad. Thi.s yellow spot, however, rediieed to n lew leathers in
spring dres.s. Inter.seapular rej^'ion, with the feathers, streaked with dark brown, suffused
with dark rufous e.xternally. Two narrow white bands on the wings. Bill dusky above,
paler beneath ; legs tlesh-color.
Autunmul specimens have more or less of the wliole top of head greenish-yellow ; the
feathers somewhat spotted with dusky ; the black stripe of the hood reduced to a narrow
superciliary line, or else to a spot anterior to the eye. Length about 7 inches ; wing,
3.30.
Had. Pacific coast from Ru.ssian America to Southern California; West Humboldt
Mountains, Nev. Black Hills of Rocky Mountains ?
Habits. This species, describctl and floured by Mr. Audubon as the Frin-
gilla atricapilla, is i'ouiid in western North America, from Alaska to South-
ern California and Cape St. Lucas, and is almost entirely confined to the
Pacific Province, being known east ol" the Cascade Alountitins and Sierra
Nevada only as stragglers. In its general habits it is said to greatly rescnil)le
the Z. (jumbdi. In the vicinity of Fort Dalles, and also in the neighboriiood
of Fort Steilacoom, Dr. Suckley found it quite abundant in the summer.
Dr. Coojier says that it is only a straggler in the forest regions west of the
Cascade Mountains, but that it probably migrates more abundantly to the
open plains eastward of them. He met with thorn but once near Puget
Sound, May 10, when they were apparently migrating. 1 )r. Cooper found a
few of this species wintering as far south as San Diego, associating with Z.
gamhelL They were much less familiar, did not come about the houses, but
kept among the dense thickets. They were then silent, nor has he ever
heard them utter any song. He met with none near the summit of the
Sierra Nevada.
Dr. Newberry found these birds abundant in the vicinity of San Francisco
in winter.
Mr. NuttaU met with the young birds of this species on the central table-
^>j^ NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
lauds of tlie Rocky Mountains, in tlie prairies. They were running on the
oround. He lieard no note Ironi them. He alterwurds saw a few stragfijlers,
in tlie early part of winter, in the thickets of the? forests of the ( •olumbia
River, near Fort Vancouver. He also met witli them, in the winter and
until late in the sprinj,', in the woods and thickets of California.
Dr. Heennann found this species very abumUiut in the fall season, gener-
ally associated witli tlie California Song Sjjarrow and the Z. gamhcU. It
resorts to the deep shady thickets and woods, where it ])asses the greater part
of its time. In the moimtainous districts it prefers the hillsides, covered
with dense undergrowtli. It occasionally breeds in California, as Dr. Heer-
mann I'ound its nest in a l)ush near Sacram(>nto City. It was composed of
coarse stalks of weeds, and lined internally with fine roots. The eggs were
four in nundjer, and are described as Iiaving been of an ashy-white ground,
with markings of brown uud)er, at times appearing almost black from the
dei)th of their shade. Tiiey were marked also with a few spots of a neutral
Lint.
Many of these biids were obtained in Sitka and in Kodiak, by Rischoff,
and also in British C)oUunbia l)y Elliot.
Only one specimen of this species was met with by Mr. Ridgway in his
explorations with ^Ir. Clarence King's survey. This was taken October 7,
1807, in the West Humboldt Mountains, in company with a Hock of Z.
yamhcli.
Zonotrichia albicollis, Konap.
WHXTE-THBOATED SFASBOW.
Friii'jilla albicollis, G.mki,in, .Syst. X.il. I, 1788. 92ti. — WiLoON, .Vin. Orn. HI, 1811, 51,
1)1. x.;ii, !'. 2. Licili'. Vciz. Doubl. Xo. 247 (1823). Zuiwtrichin ulhicoUis, Br.
Coiis|). 1850, 478. — ('ATI. Mils, llciii. 1851, i;!2. - li.\iiti>, ninls N. Am. 1858, 4«3.
— Sa.muels, 311. I'lissi-r pniiittiihmiticus, IJitissoN, 17<)0, Appendix, 77. Friiujilla
pennHjilmiiicit, Lath. Iiidi-x, 1. 1790, 445. — Aui). Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 42; V, 497,
pi. viii. — 111. Syn. 1839, 121. — In. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 153, pi. cxci. —Max. Uak
Jour. VI, 1858, 27ti. Frinijilla (ZomlriMii) peumyhnuiai, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831,
250. Zoiwtrivhia peaiisylvaniLii, BoN. List, 1838. .
Sr. CiiAii. Two black strijies on the crown, .separated l)y a median one of white, A
broad superciliary stripe from the Ijase of the mandible to the occinut, yellow as far as the
middle of the eye and white behind this. A broad black .streak on the side of the head
from behind the eye. Chin white, abrnptly dcjfmcd anfainst the dark ash of the sides of
the head and upper part of the breast, fading into white on the belly, and margined by a
narrow black maxillary line. Edge of wing and axillaries yellow. Back and edges of
secondaries rafon.s-browii, the former streaked with dark In-own. Two narrow white
bands across the wing-coverUs. Length, 7 inches; \v'ing, 3.10; tail, 3.20. Young of the
year not in the collection.
IIaii. Eastern Province of North America to th<; Missouri. Breeding in most ol' the
northern United States and British Provinces, and wintering in tiie I'liited States almost to
their .-southern limit Aberdineshirc, England, August 17, 18(!7 (Zoologist, Feb., 1809,
1547 ; P. Z. S. 1857, 52). Scotland (Xkwton, Pr. Zo61. Soc. 1870, 52).
Kin Xr.ILLID.'K — THE FIN(.'II KS. 57 r,
"Female sinallcr, and the colors ratlier duller. Tiiiinature and winter
specimens have the white cliin-i)atch less aliruptly defined, the white
niarkinjj;s on tlie top and sides of tlie head tinj,'ed witli hrown. Some
specimens, apjjarently mature, show ijuite distinct streaks on the breast and
sides of tliroat and hody.
IIauits. The Wiiite-throated S])arrow is, at certain seasons, an abundant
bird in all parts of North America, from tiie (!reat Plains to the ^Ulantic,
and from Georgia to tiie extreme Arctic regions. A few breed in favorable
situations in ^fassachusetts, esj>ecially in the extreme northwestern part of
the State. It breeds abundantly in Vermont, New ]Iami)shire, and Maine,
and in all the r>riti.sli Provinces.
Sir John liichardson states that they reach the Saskatchewan in the mid-
dle of j\Iay, and spread throu.uhout tlie fur countries, as far, at least, as the
Odtli parallel, to l)reed. He states that he .saw a female sittiu},' on seven
eggs near the Cumberland House, as early as June 4. Tlie nest was placed
under a fallen tree, was made of grass, lined with deer's hair and a few
feathers. Anothei, found at CJreat JJear's Lake, was lined with the si'tw of
the Bn/itin nfitjiuosuiii. He describes tlie eggs as of a pale mountain-green,
thickly marbled with reddish-brown. When the I'emale was disturbed, she
ran silently off in a crouching manner, like a Lark. He descril)es the note
of tiiis bird as a clear song of two or three notes, uttered very distinctly, but
without variety, — a very incomplete description.
Mr. Kennicott states that this species does not extend its migrations as
far to the north as Z. (jdmbfli, and is even much less numerous on the south
shores of the Slave Lake, wliere he did not observe half so many of this as
of the other. It also nests later, as he found the first nest 1 bserved on the
22d of June, with the eggs (juite fresh, incubation not having commenced,
and found others after that ilate. On English Ifiver he found two nests with
eggs on the Dtli and 17th of July, and one near tlie Cumbeilaiul House 011
the 30th of June. Two of these were in low swamjiy ground among huge
trees, the other on high ground among small bushes. They were constructed
on large bases of moss, and lined with soft grasses. When startled i'rom
her nest, the female always cnipt silently away through the grass.
He met with this species in considerable flocks, accomiianiud by small
numbers of Z. leiicophrjjH, on the north shore of Ijike Superior, on the 11th of
May. He .saw individuals on the I'Uth of May, near the Lake of the Woods,
and it doulitless breeds as far south as that region. In the fall it was not
seen at Fort Simpson later than the last of September. As it is a much
more eastern bird than ^. r/timhcli, it is probably in greater abundance on the
eastern end of Slave Lake. Its song he regards as by no means so attractive
as that of Z. ijtnnlwli or of Z. /rucojiliri/n. Its geneial habits are very much
like those of the former, and though by no means a strictly terrestrial bird,
it rarely perches high on trees, and generally Hies near the ground, except
in its long migratory flights.
576 NORTH A lERTCAN BIRDS.
Xotwithstandinp; the slighting manner in which the song of tliis bird is
spoken of by some writers, in certain parts of the country its clear, pro-
longed, and peculiar wliistle has given to it quite a local fame and popular-
ity. Among tlie White Mountains, where it breeds abundantly, it is known
as the Peabody Bird, and its remarkably clear whistle resounds in all their
glens and secluded recesses. Its song consists of twelve distinct notes, which
are not unfre(|uently interpreted into various ludicrous tmvesties. As this
song is repeated with no \ ariations, and quite frequently from early morning
until late in the evening, it soon becomes quite monotonous.
Among the White Mountains I have repeatedly found its nests. They
were always on the ground, usually sheltered by surrounding grass, and at
the foot of bushes or a tree, or in the woods under a fallen log. In that
region it retained all its wild, shy habits, rarely being found in the neigh-
borhood of dwellings or in cultivated grounds. Hut at Halifax this was
not so. There 1 found them breeding in gardens, on the edge of the city,
and in close proximity to houses, apparently not more shy than the common
Song Sparrow.
Wilson stiites that these birds winter in most of the States south of New
England, and he Ibund them particulai'ly numerous near the Koanoke River,
collecting in flocks on the borders of swampy thickets, among long rank
weeds, the seeds of which formed their principal food. He gives the 20th
of April as the date of their disappearance, but I have observed them lin-
gering in the Capitol grounds in Washington several weeks after that date.
They pass through Eastern Massachusetts from the 1 Uth to the 20th of May,
and repass early in October. A few stragglers sometimes appear at earlier
dates, but irregularly. In Western Maine, where it is quite common, Pro-
fessor A'errill states that it sometimes arrives by the middle of April. Near
Springfield, ]Mass., Mr. Allen noted their ajjpearance between the last of April
and the 20th of May ; in fall, from the last of September through October.
Their favorite haunts are moist thickets. The young males do not acquire
their full plumage until the second spring, but sing and breed in the plu-
mage of the females, as Mr. Allen ascertained by dissection. Mr. Fildreth
observed a pair near Springfield during three successive summers, and al-
though he could not find the nest, he saw them feeding their scarcely fledged
young birds.
At Columbia, S. C, Dr. Coues found these Spairov,-;, very abundant, from
October through April. They sing, more or less, all winter, and during the
last few weeks of their stay are quite nuisical. Many hundreds pass the
months of March and April in the gardens of that city, though during the
winter they were mostly to be found in thickets and fields, in company with
many other species.
A single specimen of this bird was killed in Aberdeenshire, August 17,
1867, and a second was lately captured alive neai- Brighton (P. Z. S., June
4, 1872).
FRINOlLLIDyE-TlIE I'INCHES. 51717
Arr. Audubon says tliat this l.ird visits Louisiana and all the Southern
districts m M-.nter, remaining li-oni November to March, in great numbers
iJiey lorm gr...,.s of from tliirty to fifty, and ^ive together in great harmony
feeding upon small seeds. At this time they are plump to exce«s, and are
regarded as a gi-eat delicacy.
When kept in confinement these binls become quite tame, and in the
spring will sing at all hours of the day or niglit.
The nest of this bird is usually, if not always, on the ground, but in
various situations, as I have found them on a*hillside, in the mi.lst of low
underbrush, in a swampy thicket, at the foot of some large tree in a garden
as at Halifax, by the edge of a small pond, or in a hollow and decayin.^
stump, llieir nest is large, deep, and capacious, with a base of moss or
coarse glasses, woven with finer stems above and lined with hair, a few
feathers, hne rootlets of plants or soft grasses. The eggs varv from four
to seven 111 number. Thoir ground-color is of a pale green or" a greenish-
white marked over tl,e entire egg with a fox-colored or rusty brown Ooca-
siona ly these markings are sparsely scattered, permitting the ground to be
plainly visible, but generally they are so very abundant as to cover the entire
egg so closely as to conceal all other shade, aqd give to the whole a deep
uniform rufous-brown hue, through which the under color of light green is
hardly distinguishable. They measure .90 by .08 of an inch.
Zonotrichia querula, Oambel.
HARBIS'S 8PAEHOW ; BLACK-HOODED 8PAKR0W.
Prinjillu quernla, NvrrA..,,, Man. I. (..1 o,l.,) 1840, .-i.'",.'; (Westport, Mo.). Zo„oMchia
guemlu GA^inKL, J. A. N. So. 2.1 So,-. 1, 1847, 51. - Honap. Consp. 1850. 478.-
Ba.ud, Hn■,ls^. Am. 1858, 462.-Am.kn, An,.,-. .Naturalist, May, 1872. FnnffiHa
han-,v Avi,. n„,Ls An,. VII, 1843, 331, pi. ..o,-..|.xxxiv. Fn;u,itl<' amata, P,t. Max
lie.se II, 1841. - I„. Cab. ,lo>..-. VI, 1858, 279. ZonoMchia corn,,/,,, B,.. Consp. 1850
Sp. Char. Hood and iiapc, .si.Ie.s of head ant.^rio,- to and inolmlin- the eye. chin
throat, and a few spots in the n.i.Idle ,.r the npper ,.a,-t of the l.r ,st' and on its side.,'
black. Snles of head and neck ash-gray, with the face of a na.Tow orescent l.ack of the
ear-eovert,s. Interscapular region of back with the feathers reddish-brown streaked with
dark brown. Breast and belly clear white. Sides of body light brownish streaked
Two narrow white bands aero.ss the g,-eater and .ni-ldle coverts. Lengt:: about 7 inches •
wnif, 3.40 ; tail, 3.05. ' '
Ha... Mi,ssou.-i Rive.-, above Fort Leavenwo.-th. ChilliTothe, Mo. (Hoy). Very coni-
mou in Eastern Kansas (Allkn). San Anto..io Texas, spring (Dhesskk, Ibis, 1865, 488).
The bill of this species appears to be yellowish-red. More immature
specimens vary in having the black of the head abox-e more restricted, the
nape and sides of the head to the bill pale reddish-brown, lighter on the latter
region. Others have the feathers of the anterior iwrtion of the hood edged
with whitish. In all there is generally a trace of black anterior to the eve
73
578
NOimi AMWIiKJAN lUKDA
This species has a considerably larger bill tliaii Z. lenvophrjis, the mandible
csiiccially.
Hahits. This species was first described in 1840, by Mr. Nuttall, from
specimens obtained liy him near Independence, Mo., near tlie close of the
month of April. He again mot with them on tlie following oth of May,
wlien not far from the banks of the Little Vermilion Kiver, a brancli of the
Kansas. He found them frequenting tiiickets, and uttering, cliieHy in tlie
early morning, but also occasionally at other parts of the day, a long, drawling,
faint, solemn, and monotonous succession of notes, re.semliling te-de-de-de.
Since tlien but little additional information lias been obtained in regard to
their general habits, their geographical distriljution, or their mode of breeding,
single specimens only having been taken at considerable intervals in tlie
valley of the Missouri and elsewhere until 1872. Two specimens were se-
cured by Mr. Dresser, near San Antonio, in Western Texas, occurring on the
Medina River during their spring migrations. More lecently this bird was
taken twice by Mr. H. W. Parker, in Jasper County, Iowa. The latest of
these was secured jNIay 19.
Professor F. H. Snow, in his List of Kansas Birds, published April, 1872,
enumerates this s])ecies as a bird frequently taken in Kansas in the winter,
and probably resident ; and Mr. J. A. Allen (American Naturalist, May,
1872) states that Harris's Finch was, next to the Cardinal, the most abundant
species of the family of Sparrows and Finches in the vicinity of Leaven-
worth, as it was also one of the largest and handsomest. He found it almost
exclusively frequenting the damper parts of the woods, associating with the
White-throated Sjtarrow, much resembling it both in habits and in song.
Nothing has so far been published respecting the nest and egg.s.
Genus JTJNCO, Wag leu.
Junto, Waolkh, Isis, 1831. (Type, Frimjilla cincmi, Sw.)
NiphoM, ArouDUN, Syii. 1839. (Type, Emberiza hycmnlin, 0.\i.)
(!i;n. Char. Bill .small, oonical ; culiiieu curvud at tlie tip ; th<' lower jaw (piite as high
lis till' iipiHT. Tarsus longer than the
middle tue ; outer toe longer than the
inner, l>arely rcaehing to the hase of the
middle claw ; hind toe reaching as Tar as
the middle of the latter; extended toes
reaching al)ont to the micldlo of the tail.
Wings rather .short; reaching over the
basal fourth of the exposed surfiiec of
the tail; primaries, however, considera-
bly longer than the secondaries and ter-
tial.s, which are nearly equal. The second
<iuill longest, the third to fifth succes,sive-
ly but little shorter ; first longer than
32.111 3
Jimco ongimus
.sixth, much exceeding secondaries. Tail moderate, a little .shorter than the wings ; slightly
FRINGILLID.E-TirK FINCHES. g.-,j
cinarginate and rounded. Foathers ratlicr nunow ; „\al al tl..; end. xVo streaks on the-
head or body; color above unilbrm on the head, baek, or r.nnp, separately or on all to-
gether. Belly white ; outer tail-feathers white. Youn- birds streaked above and below.
The essential clmracters of this jrenus are tiio middhi toe rather shorter
than the sliort tarsus ; tlie lateral toes slijvlitly unequal, tlie outer reacliinu
the base of the middle claw ; the tail a little shorter than tlie wings, slinjitly
eniarginate. In Junco cincrcus the claws are longer; the lower inandiWe a
little lower than the upper.
Species and Varieties.
CoMMOM CiiAUACTKRs. Prevailing eolor iilnnibeoMs ; aluiomen. crissnni, and
lateral tail-feathers white.
A. Bill entirely light flesli-colored, dusky only at extienie point. Color of
jugulum (deep ash or plumbeous-blaek) al)ruptly defined against the pure
white of the abdomen.
a. Posterior outline of the dark color of the jiigidurn convex ; sides
pinkish.
1. J. oregonus. Back and wings more or less ting.-d with dark
rusty, in sliari) contra.'^t with the black ( ^) or iisii (9) of the head
and neck. Hab. Pacific Province of Nortii Anieiica, from Sitka
southward ; east across the Middle Province of United States, to
the Rocky ^[ountains (where mixed with J. canicrp.s^) occa^ioiuilly
to the Plains (where mixed with J. hi/einalin').
b. Posterior outline of the dark (-olor of the juguliiiii concave ; sides ashy.
2. J. byemalis. Back and wings without rusty tinge.
Wing without any white; three outer tail-leathers only,
marked with white. Bill, .Ji I and .2"); wing, 3.10 ; tail, '2.80;
tarsu.s, .80. ^«6. Eastern Province North America. Straggling
west to Arizona (Coincs) ; in tlie northern Rocky Mountains"
miKQA w\ih J. Oregon HS vnr. h i/'em a lis .
Wing with two white bands (on tips of middle and greater
coverts); four outer tail-leathers marked with white. Bill, .50
and ..'iO; wing, ;!.40; tail, 3.20. Hab. High moimtains of
Colorado (El Paso Co., AiKKJj) .... \iii: a i hen i .
3. J. caniceps. Back (interscapulars) rufous: seapidars and wings
uniform ashy. Ilab. Central Rocky Mountains of United States.
(Along southern botnidary mixed with J. cinei-eun.')
1 Hybrid between oreffonus and ainicqw, = " anncclcns," liAiitn, Geol. Surv Cid f)rii I
p. 564. ■ ' '
Cll.vii. Pinkish sides and convex outline to ash of l)rpast, as in nrc/jmiiis; with the liriglit
rufous baek and lushy head, with black lor.'s of ctmieeps ; a tendency in the rufous of ba(!k"to
tinge the wings, as in oregonus. Ilnh. Southern Hoeky Alouutuins. (Fort Whippl.', Arizona,
Coi'KS ; Fort Bridger, Wyoming, Duexi,i:r ; Fort Murgwyn, Jlountains of Colorado, Aikex.)
" Hybrid between h;/em(ilis and oregonus,
CiiAn. Plumbeous baek of hi/emnli.s, witli pinkish sides of orcgnnus ; or else reddish hack of
oregonus and plumbeous sides of hgeimilis, or colors mixed both above and bolow. Huh. Snn
River, Dakota ; MeKenzie Hiver District ? Fort Whipple, Arizona ; and Fort Ihidger, Wyoming.
' Hybrid between caniceps and eincreiLi, = " dorsulis," Hr.Niiv, Pr. Phil. Ac. 18.58, 117;
Hauii), Hirds N. Am. 1858, 4()7.
C!hak. Rufous restricted to interscapular region, as in the former, with black upper mandible,
and palo ash throat of the latter. Hab. Fort Thoni, New Mexico.
580 NORTH AMElllCAN BIRDS,
B. Bill with the upper mandible black, the lower yollnw. Ash of the
juguluin fading gradually into tiie grayish-wliite of the abdomen.
4. J. oinereuB. Whole back, w'apnlars, wing-coverts, and tortiala
rufous.
Tlu'oat and juguluin pale ash ; back bright rufous. Wing,
3.10; tail, 3.00; bill, .3-1 and .25; tarsus, .80. Hah. Table-
lands an<l mountains ol' Mexico. . . . var. c t H erews.'
Throat and jugulum deep ash ; back dull, or olivaceous-
rufous. Wing, 3.15; tail, 3.10; bill, .44 and .34; tarsus, .90.
Hub, High mountains of (ruateniala. . . . var. alticola.*
Junco hyemalis, Si;later,
SNOWBntO.
Fringilla hyemalis, Linn. .Syst. Nat. I, (lOtli uil.,) 1758, 183 (not of Omelin or Latham).
— AuD. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 72 ; V, .'505, iil. xiii. — Max. Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 277.
Fringilla (ispiza) hyfmulis, lioN. Syn. 1828, lOi). Emberiza hyemalis, LiNN. Syst.
Nat. I, 176t), 308. Strulhus hiicmalis, Bon. List, 1838. — In. Consp. 1850, 475.
Nipheea hyemalis, AuD. Syiioi>.si.s, 1839, 106. — 1b. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 88, pi. clxvii.
Juneo hyemulin, Sclateu, Pr. Zoiil. Soc. 1857, 7. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 468.
— COUE.S, P. A. N. S. 1861, 224. — DALL& Bannlstek, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 284.—
SAMtiEi..s, 314. Fringilla hiidsonia, FoitsTEU, Philos. Trans. LXII, 1772, 428. —
Gmei.in, 1, 1788, 926. —Wilson's Index, VI, 1812, p. xiii. Fringilla nivalis,
Wii.suN, II, 1810, 129, pi. xvi, f. 6.
Sp. CiiAU. Everywlieic of a grayish or dark ashy-blaok, deepest anteriorly ; the mid-
dle of the breast behind and of tiie belly, the under tail-coverts, and first and second
external tail-feathers, white ; the third tail-feather white, margined with black. Length,
G.25 ; wing, about 3. Female paler. In winter washed with brownish. Young streaked
above and below.
Had. Eastern L^nited States to the Missoui'i, and as far west as Black Hills. Stragglers
at Fort Whipple, Arizona, and mountains of Colorado.
The wing is rounded ; the .second quill longest ; the third, fourth, and
(ifth, successively, a little shorter; the first longer than the sixth. Tail
slightly rounded, and a little emargiuate. Tn the full spring dress there is
' Junco cinereiis, Cauanis, Mexican Snowbird. Fringilla cincrea, Svv. Syn. Birds Mex. in
Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 435. Junco cinereits, CAnANis, Mus. Hoin. 1850, 134. — Bahid, Birds
N. Am. 1858, 465. "Fringilla rufidorais, Licnr.," Bonai'autr ; probably a catalogue name.
Junco phoMmlus, Waglek, Isis, 1831, 526.--- Bonap. Coniptes Rendus, XXXVII, 518.
Sr. CliAli. Ash-color above ; with a broad ipuidrate interscapular patch of rufous-chestnut,
this extending over the wing-coverts and inner secondaries. Beneath paler ash, lighter in
middle region below, but without distinct lino of demarcation. Lores and anterior region of eye
dusky ; in decided contrast. Outer three tail-feathers white, but dusky at base and on outer web
at end ; the amount increasing internally. Upper bill entirely black ; lower yellow. Length,
3.40; height of bill, .25; culmen, .46. Hah. Table-lands of Mexico.
^ Junco allicola, Salvin, Guatemalan Snowbird. Junco alticola, Sai.vin, P. Z. S. 1863, 189
(Higldands, Guatemala). — In. Ibis, 1866, 193.
Sp. (.'har. Similar to./, cincreu.% but darker than Mexican species, with less contrast between
tile rufous of l)aek and the ash of head. Tail with less white. Bill much larger : height, .34 ;
culmen, .56. /f<i.h. Highlands of (tualeniala. .
PRINGILLID.B — THE FINCHES. 581
no trace of any sect)nd color on the back, except an exceedingly faint and
scivrcely api)ieciable wash of dnll brownish over the whole upper parts.
Tlie markings of the third tail-feather vary
somewhat in specimens. Sometimes the ,^ JJ^-
whole tip is margined with brown; some- -^:. J^^^^^-'
times the white extends to tlie end ; some- ^- Jjd^^^^^^'
times both webs are margined with brown ; >.,^- - .^^^^^I^V "
sometimes the outer is white entirely ; ^'NiS^I^^^^^^^/
sometimes the brownisli wash on the back ii^B^^HP^^
is more distinct. ^R^B^^I^m
Some specimens (No. i>2,7(>2 and 52,701, -^^m^-^^^^^^^ms^
males) from Sun River, Dakota, appear to 'Mj^ ~ r^-^-'^'-r^^'BtT-
be hybrids with ortY/owMs. They have the '"-z= Jt/
general appearance of hyemalis, the back P '
being nearly uniform with the head (with •^"""' <"•'«<"""
a wasli of sepia-brown, however), and tlie head and neck of the same dark
plumbeous ; the sides, however, are pinkish, and the plumbeous on the
jugulum has its posterior outline "convex, as in orcffomis. If, as there is
every rea.son to believe, these specimens are really liybrids, then we have tlie
two extreme forms of the genus connected by specimens of sudi a condi-
tion ; thus, hyemalis with orcgonua, onyonns with caniceps (=(tHncdc)is,
Baird), and caniceps with cinereus (= dorsalis, Henry). It may perhaps be
considered a serious question whether all (including alticola) are not, in
reality, geographical races of one species. lIowe\er, as there is no possi-
bility of ever proving this, it may be best to consider them as representative
species, and tli se specimens of intermediate charactei-s as hybrids.
Habits. The common familiar Snowbird of tiie Eastern States is found
throughout all North America, east of the P»lack Hills, from Texas to the
Arctic regions. Wherever found, it is at certain seasons a very abundant
and an equally familiar bird.
It nests as far south, in mountainous regions, as Virginia, and thence to
New York and the northern parts of the New England States, breeding only
in the highlands, but descending more and more into tlie plains as we pro-
ceed north. As it is a very hardy bird, its migmtions are irregular and
uncertain. In some seasons I have observed but few at irregular intervals ;
and in others, in which the spring was cold and backward, I have met with
them in every month except July and August.
Mr. Kennicott found but few birds of this species breeding as far south as
Fort Kesolution or Slave Lake, and was unable to find any of their nests,
though he met with a few birds that were evidently breeding there. He
found it afterwards nesting in the greatest abundance aliout latitude 05°.
They were very numerous on the Yukon, and Mr. MacFarlane found them
breeding plentifully on the Anderson TJivcr, at the edge of the barren-ground
reiiion.
582 NORTH AMERICAN RIRI)8.
Tlie nests found \>y Air. Kcnnicott were all on the ground, more or loss
concealed in tufts of grass, dry leaves, or jn-ojecting roots. Some were in
tliick woods, others in more oi)en regions, and were lined with moose-hair.
Mr. lioss states that this species fretiiunts all the Mackenzie Iviver region
in summer, arriving alwut the 20th of April, and leaving ahout the 10th of
Octol)er. Besides its call-note, or chirp, it has a very i)retty song.
Mr. Dall also nemarks that tliey were (juite connnon at Nulato in the
spring, not arriving there, however, until ahout the first of .hine.
According to Mr. Dresser, it is found occasionally abinit San Antonio
in winter, and Dr. Woodhouse says tliat it is also common in the Indian
Territory in fall and winter. According to Mr. Audubon, it makes its
appearance in Louisiana in November, and remains there until early spring.
It is also abundant in South Carolina, arriving there in October and leaving
in April.
Tliis species was observed by Mr. Aiken in Colorado Territory for about
three weeks following March 20, after which they were seen no more.
It breeds more or less abundantly in the northern and eastern portions of
Maine. About Calais and in all the islands of the 15ay of Fundy, and
throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, I found this by i'ar the most
connnon and familiar species, especially at Pictou, where it abounded in
the gardens, in repeated instances coming within the outbuildings to build
its nests. In a woodslied connected with the dwelling of Mr. Dawson, my
attention was called to the nests of several of these birds, built within reach
of tlie hand, and in places where tiie family were passing and repassing
throughout the day. In I'ictou they were generally called tlie Bluebird l)y
the connnon people. On my ride from Ilalii'ax to Pictou, I also found these
birds breeding by the roadside, often under the shelter of a projecting bank,
in the manner of the Passaxulus savanna. I afterward found them nesting
in similar situations among the White Mountains, tlie roadsides seeming to
be a favorite situation. In habits and notes, at Pictou, they reminded me
of the connnon SinzcUa socialis, but were, if anything, more fearless and
confiding, coming into the room where the family were at their meals, and
only flyiiig away when they had seciu-ed a crumb of sutHcient size.
In Western Massachusetts they breed in all parts of the mnge of Oreen
Mountains, from Blandford to North Adams. They appear about Spring-
field in October and November, and are for a while abundant, and are then
gone until March, when they return in full song, and remain numerous into
April, and less common until into May. In tlie eastern part of the State
they are found from October to late in May, with some irregularity and in
varying numbers. Mr. Audubon did not meet with any on the coast of
Labrador, and Dr. Coues did not find them so abundant as he expected, and
did not observe any until the latter part of July, at which time the young
were already hatched, and they were associated in small companies. They
kept entirely in the thick woods, and seemed rather timid.
FRINGILLID/K — TIIK FINCHES. 583
Tlieir food is small borrioa, seeds of fjmsses and small plants, insects,
and larviu. Tlioy seek tlio latter on tlic gronnd, and in tlie winter are said
to frecinent tlui i)onltry-yards, and avail themselves of the services of the
fowls in turninjf n]) the earth. On tiie ground they liop al)nut in a peeuliai
manner, a])i)arently without movinj,' tlieir feet. At nigiit and during storms
they shelter tliemselves in tiie thielv branches of evergreens, and also in
stacks of hay and piles of brushwood.
During the winter the Snowliird appears to hi) rather more numerous in
the Middle and Soutliern States than in New England. In the former tlicy
ai)pear late in October, at first on the borders of woods, searching for food
among tiie fallen atul decaying leaves. Later in the season, as the weather
becomes colder, and tlie snow deprives them of this means of i'eeding,
they resort to the roadsides and feed on the seeds of the taller weeds,
and to tlie farm-houses and farm-yards, and even enter within the limits of
large cities, where they liecome very tame and familiar. They are much
exposed to attacks from several kinds of Hawks, and the ai)parent timidity
they evince at certain times and places is due to their ai)prehensions of
this danger. The sudden rustle of the wings of a harmless fowl will cause
the whole Hock to take at once to flight, returning as soon as their aliirm is
found to be needless, but repeated again and again when the same dreaded
sounds are heard.
Neither Wilson, Nuttall, nor Audulion appear to have ever met with the
nests or eggs of Am bird, though the flrst met with tliem breeding both
among the Alleghanies, in Virginia, and the highlands of rennsylvania and
New York. In Otsego County, in the latter State, Mr. Edward Ajipleton
was the first to discover and identify their nest and eggs, as cited by Mr.
Ainlubon in the third volume of his Birds of America. Tliey were found
in considerable numbers in the town of Otsego. Their nests were on
the ground in sheltered positions, some of them with covered entrances.
Their complement of eggs was four. One of their nests was sent me, and
was characteristic of all I have since seen, having an external diameter of
four and a half inches and a depth of two. The cavity was dec]) and capa-
cious for the bird. The base and periphery of the nest were made of slender
strips of bark, coarse straws, fine roots, and horsehair, lined with fine mosses
and the fur of smaller animals. The eggs were of a rounded-oval shape ;
their ground-color is a creamy yellowish-white, marked with spots and
blotches of a reddish-brown confluent around the larger portion of the egg,
but rarely covering either end. They measure .75 by .GO of an inch, not
varying in size from those of J. oregoiius.
584 NOR'I'Jl AMKIUCAN IJIRDH.
Junco hyemalis, vur. aikeni, ItiDowAV.
WHITE-WINOED SNOWBIRD.
Sp. Char. Gonorally siniilnr to J. hijemuUs, Init ooiisiderably Inrjjor, with moro robust
bill; two wliito bunds on tlu,' winfj, iinil liirco, instt'iul of two, outiT tiiil-fuiitlicis iintin^ly
white. No. (il,;U12 (J, El Pnso Co., Coloiwlo, Dwumber 11, 1871, C. E. Aikon : lloiul,
neck, jiifjiihnii, and entire upper parts elear ash ; the back with a bluish tin<,'e; the lores,
quills, and tail-feathers darker; middle and secondary wiuf^-coverts rallier broadly tipped
with white, fonninf? two conspicuous bands. Lower part of the breast, abdomen, and
crissmn pure white, the anterior outline af,'ainst the ash of the juguhnn convex ; sides
tinged with ash. Three lateral tail-feathers entirely white, the third, however, with a
narrow streak of dusky on the terminal third of the outer web; the next feather mostly
plumbeous, with the l)ivsal fourth of the outer web, and the; terminal half of the inner, along
the shaft, white. Wing, 3.40 ; tail, 3.20 ; cuhnen, .50 ; depth of bill at base, .30 ; tarsus, .80.
Hab. El Paso County, Colorado.
At first si<,flit, this l)ir(l appeare to be a very (li.stinct species, being larger
tliaii any otlier Nortli American form, and possessing in the wliite bands on
tlie wing cliaracters entirely peculiar. Its large .size, however, we can at-
tribute to its alpine habitat, agreeing in this respect, as compared with J.
hi/cmnlis. with the J. nltimla of Guatemala, which we can only consider an
alpine or somewliat local form of ./. viiicraiH. That tiie wliite bands on the
wing <lo not constitute a ciiaracter siitticiently imjiortant to be considered of
specific value is proved by the fact that in many specimens of /. oregonus,
and occasionally in J. hi/cmalin, there is sometimes quite a distinct tendency
to these baiuls in the form of obscure white tips to the coverts.
Habit.s. l>ut little is known as to tlie habits of this variety ; probably
tliey do not differ from tliose of its congeners. It was met with by Mr.
C. K. Aiken, near Fountain, El Paso County, in Colorado Territory, in the
winter of 1871 - 72. Tiiey were rare in tlie early winter, became rather
common during tlie latter part of February and the first of March, and had
all disappeared by the first of April. During winter only males were seen,
but, in the spring, the females were the most numerous. They were usually
seen singly, or in companies of two or three, and not, like the others, in
laryer flocks.
■D-
Junco oregonus, Sclater.
OBEGON SNOWBIBD.
FringUla oregona, Townseni), .1. A. N. Sc. VII, 1837, 188. —1b. Narrative, 1839, 345.—
AuD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 68, pi. cccxcviii. Strutlms oregonus, Bon. List, 1838. — In.
Consp. 1850, 475. — Newbeury, Zobl. Cal. & Or. Route ; Rep. P. R. R. VI, IV, 1857,
88. Niplum oregoiin, Arn. Syn. 1839, 107. — Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 91, pi. clxviii.
— Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 134. Junco nregnnm, Sci.atkk, Pr. Zool. Soo. 1857, 7. —
Baiui), Birils N. Atu. 1858, 466. — Loud, Pr. R. A. Inst. IV, 120 (British Columbia).
— CoorKi! k SiicKLEY, 202. — CoirK,s, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866, 85 (Arizona). —Dali, d,
I FRrN'UTLLID.K — TIIK I'INCIIKS. 5}^5
BaknisTI-.U, Tf. eh, A.'. I, ismi, 28». Cimut.ii, Om. ('ill. 1, li)!l. Friiiijilla liiiihniiii,
LloilT. IWit. Kami. Ciil. in AMi. Akml. Wiss. Ut'iliii, for 1838, 1831), 424 (not /'.
hiulioniit, FoilsiT.u). "Friiiijil/ii ulnita, IIkandt, Icon. Hosso-As. tiOi. ii, f. 8"
(Cau.).
Si". CiiAit. Ik'iid mill iit'ck all loiiml sooly-liliirk ; tlii.s oolor cxti'iMliu^' to tlii' upiicr
part of till! Ill-cast, but not aloiij,' tlii; .sides uiiik'i- the wiuf;s^ anil with convex outliiu'
iH'hind. Intci'scHiinlar rcfjion of the back and exposed siirtiice of the winp-eoveits and
.seeiiiidaries dark nil'ons-brown, I'orniiiig a square paleh. A lifihler, iiioie pinkish tint of
the same on the sides ol' breast and belly. Uesl cif iindei- parts dear white. Kiiiiip
brownish-n.sh. Upper tail-eoverls ihisky. Outer twd tail-li'athers white ; the third with
only an obscure streak of white. Bill llesh-color, dusky at tip. Legs (lesh-eolor. Length
ftboiit 0..')0 inches ; wing, 3.00.
Hah. I'aeilic emist of the United Slates to thi; eastern side nf the Kiii'ky Mountains,
and north to Alaska. Stragglers as tiir east as Fort Leaveiiwurth in winter ami (!ieat
JJend of Mis.souri.
Sitka aiifl Orcffoii specimens have the hack of a darker rtitbtis Mian th().se
from (.'alifornia and the jMiddk'. Pntvinee, in wiiicli thi.s portion <»f the lioiy,
as well a.s tiie sides, is jtaler, and in more tdiriipt contrast with the la^ad.
Immature and the mtijority of winter s])ecimens do not liave the Miick
of tile heail and neck so well detined, hut eil^'ed above more or less witli the
color of the liack, Itclow witli li<,dit asliy.
The Oregon Snowbird in full jduniage is readily distinguisliablu from the
eastern sjiecies liy the purer white of the belly ; tiie more sharply defined
outline of the black of the head passes directly across the upper jtart of tlie
breast, and is even convex in its posterifir outline, without extending down
the side of the breast, with its posterior outline strongly concave, as in In/r-
malis. The absence of black or ashy-brown under the wings, with the rufous
tinge, are highly characteristic of onyomis. Tiie head and neck are consid-
erably blacker; the I'ufous of tlie back and wings does not exist in tiie other.
Tiie wings and <juills are more ])ointed ; the second quill usually longest, in-
stead of the third, etc. Tiie dusky of the throat reaches in J. orvgunus only
to the tipper part of tiie breast; to its middle region in hi/otui/is.
Sometimes, in adult males, the middle and greater wing-coverts are faintly
tipped witli white, indicating two inconspicuous bands.
In a large series of Jniicos collected at Fort Whipple, Arizona, by Dr.
f'oues, are several specimens so decidedly intermediate Ijetween J. om/onus
and /. canieeps as to suggest the probability of tlieir being hybrids ; others,
from Fort Bui-gwyn and Fort Hridger, are exactly lil:e them. With the ashy
head and juguluni, and black lores, as well as bright rufous back, of the latter,
the sides are pinkish as in the former ; while, as in this too, the posterior out-
line of the ash on juguluni is convex, not concave, and the rufous of the back
has a tendency to tinge the wings, instead of being confined to the interscap-
ulars. (iSee foot-note to synoptictil table, p. 579.)
Haiuts. Dr. Suckley found this bird extremely abundant in Oregon and
Washington Territory, where it holds about the .same position that tlie hije-
74
r,8G NORTH AMEhlCAN UIRDS.
iniiH.'i (lues ill tlio KiiHterii Stiitcs. Dr. ('(lopcr stiites it to bo a very common
bird ill »\'a8liiiiti;toii Territorv, I'speciivlly in tliu wintor, when it cnim's almiit
Ilia lioiisos iiutl t'aniis witli iiruciscly the suiao liiihits hh tiui (jomnion Atliuitii!
s](('('iiis. In the NUinnun' it is seen iihoiit l'ii<,'t!t Soiiiiii, in wliich iiei;,'lihorii(io(l
it hrei'ds. He met with younj,' Hetl<,'ling.s us early as May 24. At timt season
llicy were not j,'regari()us, and were f'miiul prineipally ahout tlie edges of wood.s,
Air. iiiilgway also regards the western Snowbird as, in all appreciable
respects, an exact counterpart of the eastern lit/I'm a/ in. In siinniKn' he found
it inhabiting the jiiiie woods of the mountains, but in winter descending to
the lowlands, and entering the towns ami gardens in the same manner with
the enstern sjiecies.
Dr. Coojier states this species to be numerous in winter in nearly every
part of ("alifornia. In tlie summer it resides among the mountains down to
the .'52(1 parallel. On the coast he has not determined its residence farther
south than Monterey. The coolness of that locality, and its extensive for-
ests of pines extending to the coast, favor thr residence of such birds during
the summer. At San Diego he observed t'.em until the first of April, when
they retired to the neighboring mountains. A few also were found in the
Colorado Valley in the winter. On the Coast Mountains south of Santa
Clara he found them breeding in large numbers in May, 1864. One nest
contained young, just ready to fly, as early as May 18. This was built in a
cavity among the roots of a large tre«! on a steep liaiik. It was made of
leaves, grasses, and fine root-fibres. On the outside it was covered with an
abundant coating of green moss, raised above the surface of the ground. The
old birds lietrayed tiie presence <.,.' the nest by their extreme anxiety. On
the 20th he found another nest on the very summit of the mountains, sup-
posed to be a second laying, as it contained iiut three eggs. It was slightly
sunk in the ground under a fern, and formed like the other, but with less
moss around its edge. It was lined with cows' and horses' hair. The eggs
were bluish-white, with blackish-brown spots of various sizes thickly sprin-
kled around the larger end, and measuring .74 by .60 of an inch.
The only song Dr. Cooper noticed, of this species, was a faint trill much
like that of the Spizclla socialis, delivered I'rom the top of some low tree in
March and April. At other times they have only a sharp call-note, by which
they are distinguishable I'rom other Sparrows. While some migrate far to
the soutii in winter, others remain as far north as the Columbia Uiver, fre-
([uentiug, in large numbers, the vicinity of barns and houses, especially when
tlie snow is on the ground. They raise two broods in a season.
Dr. Coues found this species a very common winter resident in Arizona,
arriving at Fort Whipple about October 10, soon becoming very abundant,
and continuing so until the second week in April. Stragglers were seen until
May 10.
Dr. Woodhouse also observed numbers of the western Snowbird on the
San Francisco Mountains, in the month of October, where they were very
FRIXGILLID.!'; — TIIK FIXCFrEa. 687
abmulaiit, Many apcciiufjia wero iilituiiH'd in Sitkii l»y Mr. nischoll'. Nono
Imvi) HO t'lir bwn luctntUMl t'nmi tlio Aluiitiun Isliind.s.
Dr. Ki'unorly f'i'0([uently siiw tliosu birds ntiiir tim I'imiIjIo oI' /iini in New
Mexico; in tlio niontlis of October and Novend)er they \,ere very aliundniit
unioiij,' tlie cedars to the westward of that settlement us far as the Mtlhi
Colorado. Dr. Ilettrniann also met with them near Fort Yuma in l)ecend)er,
havinj,' previously noticed thorn during the fall, nugratinjj; in lar<,'o flocks.
Mr. Aiken frecjuently found this species throuj^hout the winter in Colo-
mdo. It was very common (hiring; March and tlu; first of Ajiril. Hy Abiy
only a few stragj^ling females weie seen, and then they all disapix-ared.
The nests of this species have a general resemblance in structure to those
of the common hjiemaiiH. They are well constructed and remarkably .sym-
metrical, made externally of mosses and other coarse materials, within which
is very nicely woven an inner nest of fine, l)ent stems of grasses, lined
with hair. The eggs, four or five in immber, re.semldo those of the lii/cinaliH,
but are lighter. They have a ground-color of greenish-white, marked about
the larger end with fine tlots of reddish-brown. Their measurement is .75
by .60 of an inch.
Junco caniceps, T^.mtid.
BED-BACKED 8V0WBIBD.
Struthus eaniccpa, WoomiOFsi:, Pr. A. N. So. I'liilu. VI, Dec. 18,''>2, 202 (Now Mexico mid
Tt'-Vtts). — lu. Sitgrcavcs's l{fj)ort Zuhi & Coloinilo, 18,'):!, 83, \i\. iii. Juncu ainiceps,
BAHti), Birds N. Am. IS-IS, 408, jd. l.\.\ii, f. 1. — ('(mi|.|;k, Orii. f'lil. I, 201.
Sp. Char. Bill yollowish; hlnck at tlic tip. Above wliy (of tin- <aiiH' slindu before
and Ijehiiid) ; the liead and iieoic all roiiiul of tliis (-(dor, which extends (paliiii,' a little)
nlonj; the sides, leaving the initldle of the belly and cri.'isnin qnite abruptly white. Lores
conspicuously but not very abruptly darker. Interscapular rej^ion abruptly reddish ehcst-
nut-browii, which does not extend on the wings, and makes a triangular patch. Two
outer tail-feathei-s entirely white ; third with a long white terminal stripe on the inner
web. Young .streaked with Idaeki.sli above; and lielow, except along "niddle of belly and
behind. Length, G.OO; wing, 3.23; tail, 3.04.
Haii. Rocky Mountains; from Black Hills to San Francisco S'.ountains, Arizona.
Wahsatch and Uintah Mountains (Ridgwav).
This species is similar to the common J. Jn/fmnlin in color, though jialer ;
the tint of the under parts and sides is not quite so dtirk, and is less iibriij)tly
defined against the white. The conspicuous chestnut patch on the back and
the dusky lores will distinguish them. The edge of the outer web of the
third tail-feather is brown, not white. It dift'ei's from oregoiius and cinenus in
having no chestnut on the wings, especially the tertials, and from the former
in the extension of the tish of the neck along the sides and nmch lighter head.
Young birds are streaked above and below a° in other specie.'^ ; they may
be distinguished from those of ciiiereus by the rufous being confined to the
interscapular region, the same as in the adult.
588 NOin'II AMKIUCAN BIUDS.
Tliu type skin of Jmiw (larmlui of Dr. Henry (see foot-note to synoptical
till lie, p. 580) (litters mainly in having tlie wliole upper mandible entirely
black, as in ./. cineimx ; and, as in tiiu latter, the jugulum is j)ale ash, fading
gradually into the white of the abdomen, instead of deep ash abruptly ile-
fined. It is \ery probalily, as suggested by Mr. Ridgway, a liybrid witii
J. cinercKs.
Hauits. This species was first discovered and described by Dr. Wood-
house from .specuniens obtained by him among the San Francis(M) Mountains
in Arizona. When procured, it was I'eeding in conijiany with the Junco ore-
ijonu^ and various species of Farm. Its hal)its appeared to be very similar
to those of the western Snowbird, as well as to those of the common ./.
hycmalis.
Dr. Coues states tliat he found tliis bird a not very common winter resi-
dent at Fort Whipple, wliere its times of arrival and departure, as well as its
general liabits, were identical witli tiiose of J. oreiiuiim, with wiiich it very
freely associated. From tliis we may naturally infer that in New Mexico
and Arizona it appears only as a winter visitant, and that in sunnner it goes
elsewliere to breed. Its summer resorts, as well as our knowledge of its
breeding-liabits, nest, and eggs, remain to be determined, or are only imper-
fectly known. It evidently retires to the highlands and to mountain regions
to breed, and probably has a nmch more e.xtended iiabitat tlian tluit of
wliicli we now have any knowledge. Ui)on this problem Mr. Kidgway's
observations have already slied some valualile and suggestive light. He
met with this bird only an)ong tlie pine woods of the Wahsatch Mountains,
wliere, however, it was a very common bird, and where it was also breeding.
Its manners and notes wore scarcely ditt'erent from those of J. oregoiivs. It
is, however, a shyer bird than the latter, and its song, which is only a simple
trill, is rather louder than that of either the hijemalvi or the orecionm.
Dr. (,'oues writes me that both "the (Jray-head and the Oregon Snowbirds
are conunon sjiecies about Fort Whijiple in winter, arriving about the middle
of October, and remaining in numbers until early in April, when tiiey thin
oif, although some may usually be observed during the month, and even a
part of the ne.xt. Orci/Diiiia far outnumbers catiireps. So far as I couM
see, their lial)its are precisely the same as those of the eastern Snowbinl.
During snow-storms they used to come i'amiliarly about oiir quarters, and I
once captured several of both species, enticing them into a tent in which
some barley had been strewn, and having the llap fixed so that it could be
pulled down with a string in a moment. They always associated together,
and once, on tiring into a Hock, I pickc^d up a number of each kind, and one
Junco hyemalvi. The latter can only be considered a straggler in this region,
although I secureil three sjiecimens one winter."
This species was v j rare in Colorado, according to Mr. Aiken, in the
winter ot l(S71-72, but became common in March, and a few remained up
to the .Sd of May. Xo females of this species were observed by him.
l-'UINrrlLLID.K — TlIU FINCIIKS.
589
Mr. .T. A. Allen mentions tirat mcetinj,' with this species at iui elevation
of seven tiiousand i'eet, unci from that heij^lit it was ennnnon, on the slopes
of Mount Lincoln, to the extreme liiuit of the timber line.
Gem's FOOSPIZA, Cahanis.
Puospiza, Cahanis, Wic},'iiiiuiii's Aicliiv, 1S47, l, 349. (Tjpi!, Kmbcrizu ni(jm-riij'a, D'Olin.,
or Pipilo ji')Kiinalti, Sw.)
■d. Il'iulcr Jaw willi tlic
Poonpizn hiliiienta.
Gkn. Ciiak. Bill .fk'iiilcr, I'miiciil, liolli outlines goutlv ciiivfil
edges coii.>ii<leriil)ly iulh^'liMl ; not .«> high a.s the up-
per. Tarsi elongated, slender ; eonsidei'al)ly longer
thiin the middle toe. Toes short, weak ; the outer
deeid(!diy longer liian the inner, Iml not reaching
to the base of the middle elaw. Hind toe about
equal to the middle wiliiout its elaw. All the
elaws eompressi'il and moderately (Mnvod. Wings
rather long, rcai ' uig about over the l)asal Iburth
of the e.xposed portion ol' the rather long tail.
Tertiaries and secondaries about equal,, and I'ot
much shorter than the lengthened primaries; the
seeond tt) lil'th about eqiud and longest; tlu; first
considerably shorter, and longer than the sev<'nth.
Tail long, slightly emarginate, graduated; the outer
feather abruptly shorter than the others. Feathers
broad, linear, and rather obliquely truncate at the ends, with the corners rounded.
Color. Uniform above, without streaks. l{eiieafli white, witli or without a lilack
throat. Black and white stripes on the head.
We are by no means sure tiiat the two Xorth Auieriean specimens here
indicated really belong to tiie genus PoiMpiza, but we know no better ])osition
for them. They may be distinguished as follows : —
Common Ciiaractkrs. Lores and Ix'ucatli the eye lilack, a white orbital ring,
white spot above the lore (in hilinedta conlimied back in a superciliary stripej;
awhile maxillary .'^'ripe. Lateral tail-feathers, with outer web. and Iciniinal
border of iimcr, hoary or pure white.
A> Throat black in adult: sid(>s not streaked.
.1 riiiilliiiions ir/iile xuiiorcilinri/ :ilrijtc.
1. P. bilineata. Black patch of throat covering juguluni, with a
convex outline behind. Crown and back without streaks, concolored.
Wing-coverts without white bands; lesser coverts ash. Wing, 2.75;
tail, 2.8o; liill, lioni no,.ti-il, .:>"; tarsus, .tio.
.\'(( (/'//iVc siiperrilitiri/ xlripe.
2. P. mystacaliB. Black patch of throat notcxtcnding on juguhnu;
it« posterior outlitie truncated. Crown an<l back with distinct black
streak.*!. Back scapulars and rump ruibus in contrast with the ash ol'
head and neck. Wing-covcrls with two nariow, sharply dclincd white
bands; le.s.ser coverts black. Wing, 2.811; tail. :i..')tl: bill, .40; tarsus,
.80. flab. Mexico.
590
NORTH AMilUICAN BIRDS.
B« Tliniiii wliite; sides streiikcd.
;!. P. belli. Xo white siiperi'iliarv stripe. A dusky spot in middle of
till' Ill-cast. Upper parts asliy, comtoloivd, witli indistinet streaks on tlio
liai'k. Wings somewiiat more brownisli, tlie coverts witii two indistinet
li^'iit (not wliilt?) bands.
a. Wing, 2.r)0; tail, '2M; bill, .31 ; tarsns, .74. Dorsal streaks
obsolete. Hah. Calilbrnia. var. helli.
/3. Wing, :!.20; tail, :!.20; bill, .;jo ; tarsus, .70. Dorsal streaks
distinct. Hah. Middle Province of United States. vox, n e vndensis.
Foonpiza bilineata, Sclateu.
BLACK-THROATED 8PABB0W.
Emhcrizu bilineata, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ph. V, Ort. 1850, 104, pi. iii, Texas. — In.
Illust. I, V, 18.54, 150, pi. .x.viii. Paospiai bilinatla, ScLATUU, I'r. Zoiil. Soc. 1857, 7.
— Haiki), IHrils N. Am. 1858, 470. - Id. Me.\. Bound. II, Birds, 15. — Hhku.m. X,
c. 14. — Cooi'Eit, Orn. C'al. I, 1870, 203.
Sp. CuAii. Above uniform unspotted a-sliy-gray, tinged with light brown ; purer and
more plumbeous anteriorly, and on sides of head and neck. Under parts white, tinged
with plnnilieous on the sides, and with
yellowish-brown about the thighs. A sharply
defined superciliary and maxillary stripe of
pure white, as also the lower eyelid, the
former margined internally with )>lack. Loral
region black, passing insensibly into dark
slate on the ears. Chin and throat between
the white ma.xillary stripes black, ending on
the upper part of the breast in a rounded
outline. Tail blac^k, the lateral feathers edged
externally and tipped on inner web with
white. Bill blue. Length, 5.40 ; wing, '2.7") ;
tail, 2.90. Sexes alike.
ITah. Middle Province of United States
noith to 40°, lietween Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. (As far west as Janos and
the Mohave villages.) Matamoras (rare at San Antonio: Drksskr, Ibi.s, 18(!5, 488).
This species in external form is very similar to 7'. hclli, and will probably
fall in the same ^'cnus. The cutting edges of tiie Vtill are much intlexed.
Tlie first (juill is shorter than the sixth. The tail is a good deal rounded ;
the feathers bi'oad.
The white maxillary stripe does not come (|uite to the Ijase of the under
jaw, which tliere is black. There is a hoary tinge on tlie forehead. The
white superciliary .stripes almost meet on the forehead.
In the iminivture bird the tln-oat is white with a dusky clouding along
each side ; the upper part of the breast strciiked with brcwn.
Habits. The Hlack-tiiroat"d Sparrow, generically associated with Bell's
Finch, has several well -marked distinctive peculiarities in habits. Their
eggs are also totally unlike those of the present species, being much more
Pons/iiza bilineata.
, FRINOILLinyE — TIIK FINCHES. 591
like those of the Pencart and of LeitroHtv-fi: griseimiclm, and, like them, white
and un.si»otted.
This species was fii-st doscM'ihed by ]\Ii'. Cassin'froni spcciniens obtiiined in
Wester" Texas by .lohn W. An(hil)on, and its habitat was at first supjiosed to
be restricted to the valleys of tlie l!io (irande and the (iila, but more recent
explorations sliow it to have a mudi wider distribution. It is found from
Western Texas througli part of Mexico, \ew Mexico, tlie Indian Territory,
and Arizona, to Southern California, and towards the north throuj^hout the
regi(m of tlie Clreat Basin to an extent not yet full} determined. In portions
at least of this territory it is migratory, and only resident in the summer
montlis.
Mr. Dresser found this Sparrow very abundant during July and August in
the me.s(juito thickets in the town of Matamoras. In l)ecenil)er it was
equally common at Eagle Pass, but at San Antonio it was (juite a rare bird.
He only observed it on two or three occasions at a rancho on tlie Medina
liiver, and late in June a nest and four eggs were obtained. IJetween Laredo
and Matamoras, after crossing the Nueces, he found these birds very numer-
ous, and near Laredo met with several nests, some containing young and some
eggs nearly hatched. One taken on the 2(*th of July contained tliree fresh
eggs, probably indicating a second laying. This nest was in a low bush,
carefully concealed. It was composed of straws and lined witli fine roots.
The eggs, when fresh, were nearly wliite, with a delicate bliiisli tinge. On
his journey down the rivcir lie found many nests, all euipty or containing
young. Some of these were jiartially lined with cotton. Tiiougli not wild,
the birds were so restless that he found it diihcult to shoot them. Dr.
Woodhouse obtained one specimen on tlie Kio Pedro, in Texas.
In Mexico this Sparrow was found by Lieutenant t'oucli to be numer-
ous in parts of Tamaulipas, Nueva Leon, Coahuila, and otiier States on tlie
Rio Grande, immediately south and west of the limits of the territory of the
United States. It was first seen at Santa I'o.salio, and specinauis obtained,
though none were noticed at Brownsville, only twenty miles east, during a
month's residence. At Charco Kscondido, forty miles farther in the interior,
it was very plentiful, and although it was early in lUarcli, liad already ri-areil
a brood of young, one specimen ai)pearing to be a young liird only a few
weeks old. Its favorite home ai)peared to be the scattered niest|uite, on
the plains east of the Sierra Madre. During ti.e warm hours of tlie day it
does not seek the siiade, but may always be foiini" jliirpiiigand liopjiiug from
one bush to another. South of Cadoreita tlie birds disajijieared, but after a
month's lo.ss of their company he ag lin met with them among some flowering
Lefjiiminosa, between Pescjuieria and Uiiiconada. He thu.s found it several
times entirely absent from districts of considerable extent, but alv ays reap-
pearing again tliroughout his journey. Tlie usual note of this bird, at the sea-
son in which he met witii it, was a simple cliirp ; but on one occasion, having
halted during a norther in Tamaulipiis, he heard a " gay little black-throated
592 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
fellow," regardless Of the l)itter wind, from the top of a yellow mimosa then
in bloom, give utterance to a strain of sprightly and sweet notes, that would
comi)are faxoraldy witli those of many more famed songsters.
Dr. Coues found this Sparrow very abundant in the southern and western
portions of Arizona, though rare at Fort Whipple, where the locality was
unsuited to it, as it seemed to prefer open plains, grassy or covered witii sage-
brush.
Mr. J. H. Clarke, wlio met with these birds in Tamaulipas, Texas, and
New Mexico, speaks of them as abundant and widely distributed. He
foimd them on the lower IJio (.Trande, but more abundantly in the interior,
seeming to prefer the stunted and .sparse vegetation of the sand-hills and
dry plains to the cottonwood groves and willow thickets of the river val-
leys, where they were never seen. They would be very inconspicuous did
not the male occasionally percli himself on some topmost branch and pour
fortli a continuous strain of music. In the more barren regions they were
the almost exclusive representatives of the feathered tribes.
Dr. Heermann first remarked this Finch near Tucson, in Arizona, where he
found it associated witli other Sparrows in large flocks. They were flying
from l)ush to bush, alighting on tlie ground to pick up grass-seeds and in-
sects. They were cpiite numerous, an«l he traced them as far into Texas as
the Dead Man's Hole, between El Paso and San Antonio.
Dr. Cooper found a few of these birds on the treeless and waterless moun-
tains that border the Colorado Valley, in pairs or in small companies, hopping
along the ground, under the scanty shrubbery. In crossing the Providence
Range, in May, Dr. Cooper found their nest, containing white eggs.
Both species of Poospiza, the helli and the hilineata, according to Mr.
Kidgway, are entirely peculiar in their manners, habits, and notes. Both, he
states, are birds characteristic of the arid artemisia plains of tlie Great Basin,
and, with the Ercmophila cornuta, are often the only birds met witli on those
de.sert wastes. The two species, he adds, are (juite uiilike in their habits and
manners. Tliey each have about the same extent of habitat, and even often
frequent the same locality. While the P. hilineata is partial to dry sandy
situations, inhabiting generally the arid mesa extending from the river val-
leys back to the mountains, the P. helli is almost (;onfined to the more
thrifty growth of the artemisia, as found in the damper valley portions.
Tlie P. helli is a resident species, and even through the severest winters is
found in abundance. The P. hilineata is exclusively a summer bird, one of
the latest to come from the South, and nnich the more shy of the two ;
its manners also are cjuite different.
Both birds have one common characteristic, which renders them worthy
of especial remark. This is the petniliar delivery and accent, and the strange
sad t(me of their spring song, wliicli, though unassuming and simple, is in-
dued strange in the effect it produces. This song, so plaintive and mournful,
harmonizes with the dull monotony of tlie desert landscape.
, FRINGrLLID.K- THE FINCHES. 593
^Ir. liiclgway states that the P. hilincata is not so abundant as the other
species, and is more retiring in its liahits. It principally tVeiiuents the desert
tracts and sandy wastes, on wiiich are i'ound only the most stunted forms of
sage-brusli. Its song, though (jnite simple, is exceedingly tine, its modula-
tion being somewhat lii<e a-Ht'-irut'-zc-c-c-r-c-r, the first two syllables being
uttered in a rich metallic tone, while the final trill is in a lower key, .u. , of
the most liquid and tremulous character imaginable. This simple chant is
repeated every few seconds, the singer being perched upon a busli. He adds
that this bird arrives on the Truckee Iteservation about the Kith of May.
The nest is built in sage-bushes, and the eggs are found from the 7th to
the 21st of June. The nests are usually about one foot from the ground, or
thereabouts.
The eggs vary in size from .70 by .oo of an inch to .75 by .60. They are
of a rounded-oval shape, and of a pme white with a slight tinge of blue,
somewhat resembling the eggs of the Bachraan Finch.
Poospiza belli, Sclater.
BELL'S SPARROW.
Emberim belli, Cas.sis, Pr. A. N. Sc. riiila. V, Oct. IbSO, 104, pi. iv (San Diego, Cal.).
Poospiza belli, Sn.ATKlt, Pr. Zoijl. Soc. LSi'iT, 7. — Haikd, Biiils N. Am. IS-iS, 470.—
Heerm. X, .s. J). 46. Zonotrichia belli, Ei.l.ior, lUu.st. Birds N. Am. I, pi. xiv. —
CoiU'Eii, Orii. Cal. I, 204.
Sp. CnAH. Tapper parts generally, with sides of heail and neck, nnilorin bluish-ash,
tinfred with yellowish-gray on the erown ami back, and with a Ccw very obsolete dusky
streaks on the inter.scapular region. T?eneath pure white, tinged with yellowi.sli-brown on
the sides and under the tail. Eyelids, short streak from the bill to above the eye, and small
median .spot at the ba.se of eulmen, white. A stripe on the sides of the throat and spot
on the upper part of the breast, with a few streaks on the sides, wi-th the loral space and
region round the eyes, plumbe«us-black. Tail-featiiers black ; the outer edged with white.
Wing-teathors all broadly edged with l)rownish-yellow ; the elbow-joint tingcil with
yellowish-green. Bill and feet blue. Length, 5.70; wing, 2.80; tail, 2.00. (Largest
.specimen, 0,338 ^, Cosumncs River).
Had. Southern California.
The colors are softer and more blended in the autumn; the young are
obsoletely streaked on the l)reast.
Habits. Bell's Finch has apparently a more restricted distril)ution tlian
tiio Black-throated species, and is resident wherever found. It has been met
with at Posa Creek, Cal., by Dr. Heermann, at Fort Thorn by Dr. T. C.
Henry, and along the Colorado Kiver l)y Drs. Kennerly and IMitllhausen.
It has likewise been i'ound in Southern California, as far north as Sacramento
Valley, and in the valley of the Gila.
Dr. Cooper states that all the extensive thickets throughout the south-
ern half of California are the favorite resorts of tiiis bird. There th(!y
apparently live upon small seeds and insects, indifferent as to water, or
73
594 NORTH A.\rEHrCAN BIRDS.
dcpendiii",' upon what thuy obtain from dews or fogs. They reside all the
year in the same localities, and were al.so numerous on the island of San
Nicolas, eighty miles from the mainland. In spring the mtvles utter, as Dr.
Cooper says, a low monotonous ditty, tiijin the top of some favorite shrub,
answering each other from long distances. Their nest he found about tinee
feet from the ground, composed of grasses and slender weeds, lined with
hair and other substances. Tlie eggs, four in nund)er, he describes as j>ale
greenish, thickly sprinkled over with reddish-brown dots. At San Diego he
found the young hatclied out by Mfiy 18, but thinks tliey are sometimes
earlier. It is also a common bird in the chaparral of Santa Clara Valley,
and also, according to Dr. Heermann, along the Cosumnes Eiver.
In Arizona, according to Dr. Coues, it is rather uncommon about Fort
Whipple, owing to the unsuitable nature of the locality, but is abundant
among tlie sage-brush of the Gila Valley, where it keeps much on the
ground, and where its movements are very much like those of a Fipilo.
Drs. Kennerly and jMoUhausen met with these Sparrows on the Little
Colorado liiver, in California, December 15. They were found during that
month along the banks of the river wherever the weeds and bushes were
tliick. It was never observed very far from the water, and its food, at that
season, seemed to consist of the seeds of various kinds of weeds. Its
motions were quick, and, when started up, its flight was short, rapid, and
near the earth.
Dr. Heermann states that in the fall of 1851 he found this species in the
mountains bordering the Cosumnes lliver, and afterwards on the broad tract
of arid land between Kerr Kiver and the Tejon Pass, and again on tlie desert
between that and the Mohave Eiver. He often found them wandering to a
great distance from water. With only a few exceptions, these were the only
bir/-,s inhabiting the desp^ale plains, vliere the arteir^'sia is the almost exclu-
sive vegetation. When undisturbed, it chants merrily from some bush-top,
but, at the approach of danger, drops at once to the ground and disappears
in the shrubbery or weeds. Its nest he found built in a bush, composed of
twigs and grasses, and lined with hair. The eggs, four in number, he
describes as of a light greenish-blue, marked with reddish-purple spots, dif-
fering in intensity of shade.
Foospiza belli, var. navadensis, Ridgway.
ABTEKISIA SPABBOW.
Poospiza belli, var. ncviidensis, Ridgway, Rciwrt on Birds of 40th Parallel.
Sp. Char. Resenihliiig P. belli, but purer ii.sliy above, with the rlonsal streaks very
distinct, instead of ahnost ol)solet('. Wing, 3.20 (instead of 2..')0) ; tail, ."5.20 (instead of
2.50); bill (from forehead), .35; tarsus, .7(5. (Type, No. 53,510 g, Western Humboldt
Mountains, Nev., United States Geol. Expl. 40th Par.)
FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES.
595
YoHiifi. Streaked above, the nrown obsoletely, the baek distinctly. Whole Ipi-ciist and
sides witli niunerons short (hisky streaks upon a white frround. Markings about the head
indistinct, wing-bands more distinct tliaii in tlie a(hdt.
Hab. Middle Province of United
States, north to beyond 4(t° (resi-
dent).
The difl'ereiice in size between
the race of the Great IJasin and
that of the southern Pacilic Prov-
ince, of this species, is quite re-
markable, being much greater
than in any other instance with-
in our knowledge. This may,
perhaps, be explained by the fact
that the former is not migratoiy, ''"""''''" '""'' "•"■ '"^'"•
but. resident even in the most northern part of its range ; while the Califor-
nia one is also resident, and an inhabitant of oidy tlie southern portion of the
coast region, not reaching nearly so .far north as the race of the interior.
The coloration of tlie two races is quite identical, though in all specimens
of var. belli the dorsal streaks are obsolete, sometimes even apparently
wanting, while in the var. nevadeiisis they are always conspicuous. The
former ai>pears to be more brownish above than the latter.
Habits. These birds, Mr. liidgway states, have a very general distribution,
extending as iar west as the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada. At Carson
City, February 27, he heard for the first time their sweet sad chant. A week
later he found the sage-brush full of tliese birds, the males being in full song
and answering one another from .ill directions. Iu»walking throvigli the sage-
brush these Sjiarrows wA-e seen on'every side, some running upon the ground
with their tails elevated, uttering a chipping twitter, as they sought to conceal
themselves behind the shrubs. Some were seen to alight upon the tops of
dead stalks, where they sit with their tails expanded almost precisely after
the manner of the Kingbird. The song of this bird is feeble, but is unsur-
passed for sweetness and sadness of tone. While its effect is very like the
song of a Meadow Lark singing afar off, there is, besides its peculiar sad-
ness, something quite unique in its modulation and delivery. It is a chant,
in style somewhat like the spring warbling of the Shore Lark.
On the 24th of March, at Carson City, he found these Sparrows very
abundant and everywhere the predominating species, as it was also the most
inisuspicious and familiar. It was even difficult to keep them from under
the feet. A pair would often run before him for a distance of several rods
with their unexpandeil tails elevated, and when too nearly approached would
only dodge in among the bushes instead of flying off.
On the 9th of April, walking among the sage-brush near Carson City, j\Ir.
Kidgway found several nests of this Span'ow, the female parent in each
gc,6 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
instance betrayin- tlie position of her nest by ninning out, as he ap-
proached, from the bush beneath whicli it was concealed. With elevated
tail running rapidly and silently away, they disappeared among the shrub-
liery In such cases a cai-eful examination of the spot was sure to result
in findiuu an artfully concealed nest, either embedded in the ground or a
few inches above it in the lower branches of the bush. He did not find this
species cast of the northern end of Great Salt Lake, nor was it seen in the
nei.diborhoo<l of Salt Lake City, where the other species was so abundant.
The e^-s of this species differ very essentially from those of the P. hlme-
ata The"y are oblong in shape, have a light greenish ground, marked all
over the e- with very fine dots of a reddish-brown, and around the larger
end with a'riiur of conHnent blotches of dark purple and lines of a darker
brown, almost black. They measure .80 by .60 of an inch. They resemble
very closely a not uncommon variety of the eggs of the Spizclla jnisiUa.
INDEX TO PLATES OF LAND BIRDS.
iSgiothus brewstcri, I,
exilipi's, (f "
fusci'sociis, (J "
<< 11
Agolniua gubcrnator (shouhk
guljcmator,
pliceiiiceHs,
" (shoulder)^
tricolor (shoulder),
5 "
<f "
9 "
<f "
<f "
d "
" 9 "
Alaiula nrvcnsis, "
AininodrnmuM caudacutus, I.
iiiaritiiDUH, "
Ampi'lis ceilroruin, cf "
gaiTiilua, cf "
AntKiior unit'iiictus, III.
Antluis liulovioiaiius, I.
pratt'iisis, "
Antrustonms caroliiiensis.
<f II.
nuttalli, cf "
voi;ileni.s, J "
Aquila canadensis, III.
Ai'cliibiit(!o fcrmgiiicus, "
sancti-jobannis, "
Astiii' atricapilhis, "
Asturina plagiatu, "
Atthis licloisa, cf II.
Auriparus llavicejis, I .
fiOl, pi. 22,
408, "
4U3, "
(I ((
lig. 6
" 2
" 3
" 5
Calaiiiosi)iza bicolor,
CalliiK'iila .s(iuaniata.
pi. 33,
163,
15it,
105,
130, pi. 32,
557, 1.1. 25,
500, "
4(11, j.l. 18,
3it0, "
250.
171, pi. 10,
173, "
410, pi. 46,
417, "
413, "
314.
300.
304.
237.
246.
465, pi. 47, '
1)1. 7, ■
Bouasa .sabinci,
umbclloides,
umbcUus,
n
Bubo arcticus,
paciticHs,
virgiiiianus,
Budytcs llava,
Buteo boreali.s,
calurus,
cooperi,
plegans,
harlani,
kriiluri,
lineatus,
lucasanus,
oxyptcrus,
pennsylvanicus,
swainsoni,
zonocercus,
III. 4.54.
" 453, pi. 61,
" 448, "
" 64.
" 65.
" 62.
I. 167, pi. 10,
III. 281.
" 286.
" 295.
" 277.
" 292.
" 284.
" 275.
" 285.
" 206.
" 2.59.
" 263.
" 272.
9 II.
c^lll.
CalyptcMinua, cf II.
(!OstlB, (f "
C'amiK'pliiliis principalis,
<f "
tt 9 *'
Canipylorhyiicbus alfinis,
lin
runncicapillui
Cunacc (canadensis.
fraiiklini,
I'uliginosus,
olisciuus,
((
riilmrdsoni,
Cardinalis coccincu.s,
ignciis,
lilid'iiiccus,
virginianus,
((
Carpodacus calil'orniciis
" 10
" 3
" 9
Calamospiza bicolor, <f II. 61, pi. 29, " 2
cassiui,
It
frontalis,
i<
Incinorrlious,
rliodocolpus,
purpniciis.
9
(f
S
S
9
cf
i
9
e
o
i
9
i
9
J
<f
d
9
III.
61, pi. 29,
'!?•
3
487, pi. 63,
454, pi 47,
7
457, '
8
496, pi. 49,
1
>i 11
2
133, pi. 8,
6
132, "
5
410, pi. 01,
5
" pL.W,
6
419,
495.
422,
427,
103,
100,
pi. 30,
, 465, pi. 21,
460, "
t( It
465, "
Catbari.sta at rata. III.
Cathcrpcs nic.xicunus, I.
Ccntroccrcus iiropliasianiis,
(fill,
" cf "
408,
402,
351.
139, pi
Centronyx bairdi,
Ceuturus aurifrons,
i(
carolinus,
tt
uropygialis,
Certhia amcricana,
incxicana,
Certhiola balmmensis,
Ceryle alcyon,
cabanisi,
Choetura pelagica,
vauxi,
Chania!a fasciata,
C'hanirepelia jjasscrina,
Chondestes graniniaca.
I.
II.
pi. 60,
429, pi. 61,
531, pi. 25,
557, pi. 52,
cflll.
(f II.
554, "
558, "
125, pi. 8,
128
428,' pi. 19,
392, pi. 45,
390, "
432, pi. 45,
435, "
84, pi. 6,
389, pi. 58,
562, pi. 31,
" 1
" 2
•' 4
" 8
"
" 9
"
" 7
" 10
" 11
" 4
" 5
" 3
"
" 12
•' 9
•' 7
" 8
11
5
6
9
7
11
INDEX TO PLATES OF LAND BIKDS.
C'horclcilcs lieiirvi, <t II. 4(i4, i>l. 40,
liiilictllc, " 1(17.
tixc'iisis, d " am, "
t'lnysoiiiitri.s lawrcnci, <f I. 47t<, \'\. 22,
iiiizciiiii", cf " 47ii, "
incxiiauii,
])iniiH,
n
tri.stis (mimmrr),
" (iriiilrr),
Cini'liKs im'xiiiiiiii.s,
Ciicus liiulsuiiiiis,
CistdthuniH piilusti'is,
stullai'is,
Coccygus aiucricniiiis,
(•rytliio])litlmlimi;
iniiior,
C'olai)t('.s auratus,
clirysoidt'8,
(f
Iiyliridus,
iiiuxicaiius,
9 "
<f "
rf "
9 "
<f "
cf "
Hi
1
n
cf II
Collmio borealis,
{Jav.) "
oxcubitoioulc'S, cf "
ludovioiaiius, <f "
robust u.s, "
Coliiniba i'a.sciata, cT II
llavirostiis, cf "
liuicoct'pliala, cf "
Coiitopu.s borealis, cf "
j)L'rtiiiax, cf "
richardsoni;, <f "
vireiis, tf "
Ooimniscaroliiioiisis, (.Id.)"
(Jttr.)''
Corviis ainericaiius, cf "
oarnivorus, 9 "
caiirimis, cf "
cryptolcucus, "
llorulanus, "
iiR'xicanus, cf "
o.ssii'nigiis, "
Cotuniiculu.s heiislowi, 9 1
Iccouti, 9 "
ocIiroe('i)Iialiis, 1 1
liasserimis, I
porpallidus, "
Cotylu riiiariu, cf "
Crotopbaga ani, 9 1 1
Cupiduiiia cu))ido. III
pallidic'ineta,
C'yaiiocatta arizoiui',
oalil'orniia,
couolii,
floridaim,
sordida,
suniicbrasti,
woodhou.sei,
Cyanospiza apicnim,
It
ciris.
cyanca,
cf
cf
:f
9
<f
9
4S(), "
474, "
471, "
no, pi. 5,
. -214.
. Kil, pi. 9,
. 477, pi. 4S,
4«4, "
48'J, "
S75, pi. 55,
It <i
083, pi. 54,
(( tt
582, "
578, pi. 55,
H It
. 415, pi. 1»,
421, "
418, "
420.
. 300, pi. 57,
3(i(>, "
303, "
353, pi. 44,
356, "
300, "
357, "
587, pi. 50,
tt ti
243, pi. 37,
234, "
248, "
242, "
247, "
233, "
251, "
. 553, pi. 25,
5.'')2, "
pi. 46,
. 553, pi. 25,
556.
353, pi. 16,
. 488, pi. 48,
. 440, pi. 61,
H tt
440.
. 292, pi. 41,
288, pi. 40,
293.
285, "
292, pi. 41,
pi. 40,
291 "
84! pi. 29,
tt (t
87, "
tt It
82, "
fig. 4
ryaiios]iiza cyanca,
piu'clliim,
versicolor,
tt
t'yanuru coroiuita,
crislatu,
frontalis,
niacroloplm,
stcUcri,
I'yrtonyx iimsaena.
Ucndroiia icstivu,
alliilora,
aiidilboiii,
blackburiiia',
11
ciernlea.
It
eairidcscens.
It
castanea.
It
cliiysopareia,
eoroiiata,
tt
discolor,
domiiiica,
gracia',
kirtlaiidi,
niaculusa,
UKiiitana,
nigrescens,
occidentali.s,
olivacea,
paluiarmii,
l)einisylvanica,
(J in:,
pinus,
striata,
11
townsendi,
virens,
Dolicbonyx orizy vonis,
9 II.
cf "
J "
9 "
cf "
cf
cf
cf
cf
82, pi. 29, fig. 14
" " 6
80, "
III
cf
9
cf
9
cf
9
cf
9
cf
9
cf
cf
9
cf
cf
(f
cf
(f
cf
cf
<f
cf
cf
cf
cf
cf
V
cf
cf
, cf
9
pi. 39,
273, 1)1. 42,
279, pi. 39.
281, "
277, "
492, pi. 61,
" pi. 64,
II
Ectopistc:3 migratoria, cf "
Klaniis Icucurus, III
Einbernagm nifivirgata, II.
Enipidoiiax acadicus, cf "
difiicilis,
flavivcntris, cf "
haniiiiondii, if "
niiiiiiuus, cf "
obscurus, cf "
pusillus, cf "
traillii, cf "
Erpmoj)liila cornutn, cf "
" iJtn:)"
Euspiza amcricaua, cf "
It 9 *'
townsendi, 9 "
Falco nnatuni,
candicans,
coluiiibarius,
femoral is,
isabellinus,
in.
.222, pi. 14,
240, "
229, pi. 13,
237, "
(( tt
235, "
tt It
254, pi. 12,
(( tt
251, pi. 13,
It it
260, pi. 12,
227, "
if tt
276, pi. 14,
240, "
243, "
272, "
232, "
271, "
258, pi. 12,
266, "
1.1. 14,
273, "
245, pi. 13,
it tt
268, "
248, "
(( tt
265, pi. 12,
201, "
. 149, pi. 32,
(I tt
368, pi. 57,
198.
47, pi. 28,
374, pi. 44,
380.
378, "
383, "
372, "
381, "
360, "
369, "
141, pi. 32,
«l (4
65, pi. 28,
(( tt
68, "
132.
111.
144.
155.
171.
" 9
" 10
" 4
" 3
" 2
" 3
" 1
" 2
" 3
" «
" 1
" 7
" I
" 2
" 3
" 10
" 11
" 10
" 11
" 4
" 5
" a
" 9
" 12
" 9
" 6
" 10
" 5
" 2
" 3
" 8
" 6
" 4
" 8
" 7
" 8
" 6
" 9
" 12
" 7
" 4
" 4
" 5
3
11
12
7
10
6
9
8
1
2
11
12
13
IXDKX TO PLATES OF LAND lURD.S.
Ill
Falen i8liiii(Ucu8, " 1U(.
liilinidoia, " 117.
iwiilci, " 137.
pi)lyaj,'riis, " \2\i.
I'icjiaidsoiii, " Its.
KHCC'l-, " 115.
siuu'vcrius, " 109.
Hucklcyi, " 147.
Oalc().sco])tc.i» cnroliiifiisU, I. .1:!, iil. 3,
Oeococoyx ciilitoiniiiims,
<f 11. 4i)2, 1)1. 48,
Ocotlilypi.s iiiaccillivnivi,
c? I. :!0:t, 1.1. 15,
9 " '•
philadelpliiii, cf " Mill, "
,, ' 5 << .1 •>
tiichas, rf " -'it?, "
,, ^ >> >> i>
Glauciilium ealilbniiniin. III. 81.
I'eiTugiiiiiuni, " 8,').
Guiraca ("iuniliMi, cf II. 77,1)1.29,
Gyinnokitta cyanoi'i'pliala,
cf " 200, pi. 38,
ilnliaiitu.s nlbicilla,
leiicoi'i'jilialuH,
1 FarporhyiK'lius oiiicreus,
oiissalis,
curvirostiis,
U'tontci,
loiigirostris,
paliiii'i'i,
rcdivivus,
riifus,
Hedymclcs ludovicinmis.
<f 11.
melanocephalns, <f "
n ? "
HidiopiEdicii xaiitu.si, cf "
Hclimiithoplmga bacliinaiii,
cf I .
oulata (vai: Cape Luca.s),
ti«-
111.
(4
324.
328.
I.
10, pi.
4,
47, '
(
41, pi.
3,
44, 1.1.
4,
39, pi.
3,
43.
1.-., pi.
4.
37, pi.
3,
{vnr. Florida), "
{var. Rocky Jits.)
70, pi. ;!0,
it ((
73, "
4C.7, pi. 47,
194, pi. 11,
204, "
202, "
cluysoptpra, cf " 192, "
luci.-c, " 2011, "
ppregriim {m n/iriii;!), " 205, "
" (innKtiimti),'
piiiu-s, cf " 195, "
lulienpilla, " 190, "
(wr. Calif.),"
Virginia!, "199, "
Helinitlu'ius swainsoiii, " 190, pi. 10,
vormivorii.s, " 187, "
Hespcriplioiia montana, " 449, pi. 22,
vcspertina, cf " " "
Hinindo lionoorum, cf " 339, pi. 10,
HylotoinH.s pilratus, 9 II. 550, pi. 50,
" cf " " "
Icteria longicauda,
vircns.
Icterus aiuiuboni,
haltimovc,
buUocki,
I. 309.
cf " 307, pi. 15,
cf 11. ISO, pi. 35,
cf " 195, "
cf " 199, pi. 34,
4
1
I
1
o
3
;i
4
5
2
9
10
11
1
7
8
12
9
10
4
1
9
4
5
12
1
Icterus liullc.iki,
('Ui.'ullaliis,
piiiisi.ruiu,
spiiriiis,
(Jiir.)
It
waftlcri,
II. 199, pi. 34, li-.
" I!):!, pl.:i5,
" l.SS,
•' 19(1, pi. 34,
Ictii.'ia iiiis.sis.sippiciisis. 111. 2(i3.
pi. 3,-.,
.Tuiico aiki'iii,
caiiii'c'i.s,
hycmalis,
(in'''oniis.
cf 1. 5SI, pl. 20,
cf " 5S7. ■'
cf " 5,8(1, •'
cf " 5s4, "
liiigopus allius. 111
" {nitiiniiir). -f "
" (ii-inlvr), t "
" {SKIIIIIIl'f), V ■'
U'Urunls {:illiiiniri'),(f "
rupcstris (iriiticr), cf "
" (^'unnmei'), 9 ''
Lauivirro russini, cf 1.
Iliiviriiiiis, cf ■'
pliinil.ca, cf ■■
solitaria, cf "
Lpucostiiti' aretons, "
aii4ralis, "
(;anip('stris, "
gri-iiiinK^lia, cf "
liltoralis, "
tppluwDtis, "
l,(.plioi)liano.s atricristatus, "
l.icolor, "
iiioniatiLs, "
wnllwcl.cri, "
Lopliortvx I'alironiiciis, III.
cf "
" 'l •'
gamheli, ' ' '
I.iixia aiuorieaiia, ' I.
li'ucoptora,
mcxicana,
l.'.7, pl. 01,
•■ pl. 02,
tl ti
l( it
■KM, **
It i*
370, pl. 17,
379, "
377, "
373, "
pl. 23,
507, "
5U3, "
507, "
504, "
90, pl. 0,
87, "
01, "
93, •'
479, pl. 01,
" j.l.Ol,
(( it
482, "
(< (t
484, pl. 23,
488, ••
Mi'lanerpea angu.stifrons,
cf
II.
crytlivoccplmlus, ' "
fbriiiicivoius, f "
9 "
torquatus, cf "
Mclra^'ris gallopavo. III
iiu'xii'aiia, "
Mi'lopi'li'ia Icucoptcra,
Mclospiza fallax,
guttata,
lu'crniaiiiii, cf "
insignis, "
linoc.lni, "
inclodia, "
palustris, cf "
II § II
nifiiia, "
sannu'lis, "
Mioratliciic wliitiipyi. 111
Milvulu.s I'l.rlicatu.s cf 11,
tyiaiiiiHs, "
Miiiius polyglottu.s, I.
11.573, pl. 53,
i< II it
" 5<i4, 1.1. 54,
" 500, pl. 53,
501, pl. 54,
404.
410.
370, pl. 58,
22, pl. 27,
27, "
24, "
.30, "
31, "
19 "
34,' pl. 28,
29, pl. 27,
20, "
87.
311, pl. 43,
309.
49, pl. 3,
Id
8
111
9
4
10
12
9
8
13
1
2
11
7
1
4
iv
INDEX TO I'LATKS OF LAND BIRDS.
MitiT|)lionispallpm;on.s, i
Miiidtiltii viii'iii, A-
Moliitliliis ih'l'oHh, V
9
olisciirus, tf
Motiicillii nihil,
.MviiulcHtcs tuu'iiNfiiili, <f
" (Jin.
MyiarcliiiH cincrnsfi'iis, cf
iTinitus, cf
liiwrciicii, cf
Myiiulioi^tt's caiiniloliaiH, i
iniimtiis,
mitriitius, cf
9
pilciilatus,
imsilluH, cf
9
II. a8«, I.I. 4», (Ik.
••■l. INii, i-l. 10, "
II. \:A, 1.1.32, "
t« 11 «< ••
I. Ki:., |.l. in, "
" \m, 111. IS, "
\ it 4i 4« tt
11.337, 1.1.43, "
(I n ..
t4 ti .1
I. 320, pi. 18, "
" 31(i, "
" 314, l-l. 1.1, "
" 319.
" 317, pi. Iti, "
Nnuc'lcriiH forlicatus,
Nt'ocoivH spnigiU'i,
N('|ili(i'C('ti's iiigi'i",
Nisiis cuoiiuri,
I'llSPllS,
nirxicamis,
Nyctalc! liclmiilsoni,
ncailica,
Nyctea .scaiulinca,
Oiiychotos gruberi,
Opororiiis agilis,
foininsa,
Oicopi'Icia luartiiiicft,
Oivoity.x jiiiitus,
Orcoscoptcs nioiitanu.s,
Ortaliila niaoiilli,
Ortyx ti'xumis,
i(
vii'giniamis,
Otus l.rachyotus,
wil.sMiiiaiiu.s,
III.
9 I.
9 II.
III.
a I,
9 "
cf "
cf III,
cf "
I
11
9 111.
cf "
cf "
9 "
Paiiilion cavolincii.si.s, "
I'anyptila inclaiioleuea.cf II.
Pariila aiiit'iicana, <S I.
I'nvus atricapillus, "
caiolim'iisi.s, "
hml.soiiicus, "
liiontaiuis, "
occiilentalis, "
rufi'.sci'iis, "
scptpiitrionnlis, "
Pa.ss('reuhi.s nlauiUnus, "
anthinus, "
caboti, 11'
guttatus, I.
princeps, "
rostr.'itiis, _ "
saiidwichensis, "
.savanna, "
Pa.ssei<.'lla iliaen, II.
megarrhyiicha, "
schlstacca, "
town-sendi, 9 "
Pcdia'cctcs cciluinbianus, III,
pha.siaiuilhis, "
Perisoieus canadensis, <f II
" (Juv.) "
]i)2.
l?."., pi. 10,
42i», pi. 45,
230.
224.
231.
40.
43.
70.
254.
290, pi. 15,
(1 t(
293, "
393, pi. 58,
475, pi. C3,
32, pi. 3,
398, pi. 57,
474, pi. <i3.
468,
22.
18.
184.
424, pi.
208, pi.
90, pi.
102,
10!),
95,
101,
104,
99,
537, pi.
539,
pi.
544, pi.
540,
542, pi.
638,
534,
50, pi.
57.
56.
53,
434, pi.
430,
299, yil.
pi.
45,
10,
7,
13
(I
6
7
8
1
5
6
8
7
9
U
2
10
11
3
4
Peiisnrons capitalis, cf II. 302, pi. 41, fig. 4
ol)Ni'iiru.s, " "
Pi'l'i,s,s(igl(i.s»a failioimta, I. 214, pi. 12, " 3
tigiina, cf " 21-', " " 1
,, 9 II 11 11 II 12
IVtiwlicliilonlnnifronH,cf " 334, pi. 1(1, "13
IVucii'a lustivalis, II. 39, j.l. 2S, " 4
aiizoniu, " 41.
caiiialis, " jil. 4(1, " 8
pa,s.sini, " 42, pi. 28. " '
nilic('p,s, " 4.'>, "
Phirnopcpla nilcnB, cf 1.405,1.1.18,
Phonipara zona.
cf
cf
cf
9
Pliyllcipiicn.stc boicalis.
Pica luulsonicn, cf
inittalli, cf
PicicorvnH colnmbinnus,
Pici.idi's iiniPiicHnus, cf
arc'tii'iis, cf
Picns nlbolarvatUH, cf
1 1. 03, pi. 29,
24,
46,
25,
24,
.(
,(
28,
(
K
60,
\i
41,
42,
5
7
1
4
7
5
3
(>
2
11
10
9
1
2
12
9
8
7
10
8
1
3
3
4
Ixircalis,
gnirdiici'i,
liarrisi,
liu'a.saiins,
nuttalli,
II
pubcsccns,
II
scalaris,
" (Juv.)
Pinicola cnudcator,
II
Pipilo abcrti,
albigula,
iillcni,
arcticus,
cf
9
cf
9
cf
9
cf
9
cf
cf
9
cf
cf
cf
9
cf
cf
dilonira,
(M'issalis,
erytliroi)lit!ialmn,s, cf
cf
niegalonyx, 9
nicsolciicu.s, cf
oivgonus, 9
Plcctroplmnes lupponicus,
niaccowni,
ni('laiioniu,s,
nivali.s,
ornatus,
pictus.
pi. .5,
266, pi. 38,
270, "
255, "
532, 111. 50,
530, "
52(1, "
II 4*
524, pi. 49,
512.
507.
519.
521, pi. 50,
It l(
509, 1)1. 4i),
K It
515, pi. 50,
It
503, pi. 49,
It It
il II
. 453, pi. 21,
II II
, 128, pi. 31,
127, "
112.
119, "
t( II
131, "
122, "
109, "
It II
113, "
12.-I, "
116, "
cf
I.
SI."),
pl.24.
cf
523,
cf
521,
cf
512,
cf
520,
cf
518,
9
l«
Polioptila o.Triilea,
niclannrn,
plumbca,
Polybonis iiudnboni,
Pooca'tcs gramincus,
Poos)iiza belli,
bilineata,
nnvadensis,
Progiie ciyptolcnca,
subis,
II
Protonotaria citrea,
111,
II.
9
cf
78, pi. 6,
81, "
80, "
178.
545, pi. 29,
593, pi. 20,
590, "
594.
332.
329, pi. 16,
II II
184, pi. 10,
(1
3
4
16
16
6
1
3
4
2
1
7
8
8
3
(i
6
7
4
5
3
4
5
1
2
7
\\
6
4
8
2
3
9
10
12
7
1
6
2
3
4
5
5
7
6
1
9
8
7
10
8
L\
ro]
3X TO PLATES OF LAND UIIU
).S.
V
Psaltripiiriis molanotis
t
I.
ins, pi. 7. fi
«■ s
Spi-otytn livpugita.
III.
00.
iiiiiiiiiiiis,
tt
Km, ■'
' '.I
S|H'rni(iplilla niorclctl,
cf
11.
in.
!>'
20, fif
-.17
|lllllIllll'II.S,
41
no, ••
' 10
Spliyrupliii.'i udilialis.
cf
"
542,
I'l
51, •
' 3
IViiilof;iy(iliU8 iialilorniiiniis,
"
9
"
'•
it 1
' 4
III
:i;t8.
riilu'r.
cf
'*
541,
tt t
'
I'siloiliimis iiinrio,
9
11.
aoi, pi. 42,
•
lliyroidcus,
cf
tt
517,
pl
:»<[. '
'
I'yiaiif^n ii'sliva,
cf
I.
441, pi. 2(1.
' r,
variu.s.
cf
'*
53!.,
I'l
.'U '
' 1
it
9
"
ti ..
' (1
"
9
"
it
tt i
t t)
coopi'vi,
9
it
(1
444, ••
tt 11
' 1
2
williiiMisnui,
•Spi/i'lhi ari/oniv.
9
..
54,5,
11.
ti (
' 5
lu-paticn,
<f
"
410, ••
• n
aU'iguliu'is,
cf
I.
15,
I'l
'2(i, '
' 11
It
9
tt
tt ..
• 10
"
cf
**
•*
ti i
' 12
ludovii'ianii,
<f
"
4:17, "
' 3
liri'wcri,
II.
13,
1-1
27, '
' 4
t*
'i
"
t( ti
' 4
in(inli<'cila,
"
3,
If i
' i'l
niliia,
<f
ft
435, "
■ 7
pallida.
'*
11,
It i
' 3
9
"
tt tt
' 8
IKisilla,
9
it
5,
1 1 t
' 2
Pyrgita dotiii'stica,
(1
.')25, pi. 23,
' 12
socialls.
it
7,
if t
' 1
Pviofi'iilialus iiicxicamis,
Starudiias cyanoccpliala,
'
rf
II.
3S7, pi. 44,
' .'.
cT
III.
3!»5,
1-1
58, ■
' 5
Pynliiila lassini,
cf
I.
4,'i7, pl. 23,
' 11
tSti'lgidoptcryx .serripeniiif
,
Pynhiiliixia sinuatn,
rf
11.
!»,'>, pl. 30,
' 3
cf
I.
;!50,
I'l
10, '
' 12
SlcUiila callinpi'.
cf
II.
445,
I'l
47, •
'
QiliscahiH reiimis,
(t
21 H.
Strtx pralini'iila,
Ill
13.
a;;la'iis,
cf
(i
221, 111. 37,
• *>
.Stunulla Miagua,
cf
11.
174,
I'l
31, '
t ,)
liiarroiinia,
cf
t(
22.'), pl. 30,
• 1
ni'glc'i'lii,
cf
tt
17(1,
t. I
' \
((
9
((
tt
' 2
Sturuiis viil,i,'aris.
cf
ft
22!t,
I'l
35, '
' 8
major,
cf
9
(1
t 1
222, "
tt ft
' 3
'. 4
•Siirnia iiliila,
.Syriiiinn linircuni,
III
tt
7.5.
30.
purpureus,
cf
*'
214, pl.37,
' 1
ncbiildsinii,
occidcutale,
tt
34.
38.
Rt'guluR imlendula,
I.
75, pl. 5.
' n
euvicri,
**
ti ,1
' 7
Tai'liycincta liieolor.
cf
1.
344,
I'l
10, '
' 8
satrapa,
((
73, ••
• 8
ilialas.siiiii,
</
"
317,
"
' 11
l!liiiini,'iy|ilius aura,
III
344.
Tliaunialias liiina'i,
II
4(i8.
liostrlianius Mxiabilis,
( (
2oy.
Thryiiiliiinis licrlaiidieri.
1
144,
I'l
'•', '
' 2
licwiiki,
cf
"
1 45,
tt t
' 3
Salpincti'S ol)S(ilt'tu.s
I.
13.-;, pl. 8,
' 3
It
tt
ft t
' 4
Naxii'ola (inaiitlic,
((
tiO, pl. 5,
• (!
liiu.'ogastcr.
**
147.
Sayornis I'usi'us,
cf
11.
343, pl. 45,
• 2
luildvicianus.
"
112,
ft t
' 1
nigricans.
cf
t(
340, "
• 1
s])iliiiiis.
it
147.
sayus,
cf
it
347, "
' 3
Troclilliis alcxaiidri,
cf
II.
450,
I'l
47, '
' 1
Soardaiilla iuoa.
(fill.
387, pl. 58,
■ 7
nilulnis,
cf
1 1
448,
ti i
f *}
Scok'ci-pliulus cyaiioci'
)lia
US,
Troglodylis ludou,
1.
110,
I'l
0, '
' 5
9
II.
206, pl. 35,
' 3
alasccMsi.s,
"
1.-.7,
(t f
' 8
ferruginous.
cf
tt
203, "
' 4
liycnialis.
"
155,
11 f
' 9
Scojis asio,
III
4ii.
liaiilious.
**
tt 1
' 10
llanmifdla,
n
.M.
parknianui.
tt
153.
lloridiiiia,
It
57.
Turd IIS aliria-.
tt
11.
I'l
1, '
' 3
krniiicoiti,
(i
53.
au<liil»ini.
It
21,
tt f
' 8
UKU'calli,
tt
52.
conlinis,
ft
'i7,
pl
2, '
' 1
Seiurus aurocapillus.
1.
280, pl. 14,
' 11
rusccsccns.
tt
!),
pl
1, '
' 5
hulovicinnus,
cf
ti
2S7, "
' 13
iliai'us.
*'
23,
pl
' 4
iiovfboraccnsis,
cf
k t
283, "
' 12
uiigralorius.
tt
25,
t f t
' 3
Selnspliorus pliitycercus.
mustolinus.
**
7,
''!
1, '
' 1
cf
II
4G2, pl. 47,
' 5
na;vius.
*'
2i>,
I'l
2, '
t *}
rul'us,
<f
tt
450, "
' 4
nanus.
*'
20,
pl
1. '
' 7
SL'tophaga picta.
<f
tt
pl. 40,
' 7
liallasi,
**
18,
11 f
'
li
cf
• t
pl. 5(1,
' 3
swainsoni,
'*
14,
1 1 t
' 4
rutieilla,
cf
1
322, pl.KI,
' 1
ustulatus.
ft
" '
' 2
It
9
t <
tt if
' i»
Tyrannus caroliuonsis
cf
11.
31(!,
pl
43, '
I 2
Sialia arctica,
tt
«7, pl. 5,
' 4
couidii.
cf
'*
320,
tt f
' (1
mcxioauiv,
tt
(}■<, "
t
dominii'cnsis.
cf
ft
310.
(t t
' 3
siali.s.
t(
(12, "
' .3
vcrtioalis,
cf
ft
321,
f i t
' 4
Sitta aculcutn.
tt
117.
vooileraus,
cf
<f
327,
tt f
' 5
canadensis,
cf
ft
118, pl. 8,
' 7
<t
9
tt
tt tt
' 8
Viri'o atricapillus,
cf
1.
383,
pl
1", '
' G
carolincn is,
(f
(f
114, "
' 1
liclli,
cf
ft
3^0,
tt f
' 13
(t
9
t(
(i t(
t 2
liuttDui,
cf
ft
3S7,
(t f
' 12
pusilla,
pygmsca,
ti
122, "
' 9
nov(')iorai't'n.sis.
cf
"
385,
(f f
' 11
<i
120, "
' 10
pusillus.
a-
it
391,
ft
' 14
VI
INDEX TO PLATES OF LAND BIRDS.
I. 393, pi. 17, fig. 7
Vireo vicinior, J
Vireosylvin ItiirbatuUi, cf
Hi'ivoriridis,
gilva,
olivneea,
philiiiU'lphica,
swuiiisoui.
Xanthoceiilialut icterocci>lmhi.s,
rf II. 167, pi. 32, " 9
" 9 " " pi. 33, " 9
Xanthoura luxuosa, " 29.5, pi. 42, " 1
<f
360, '
t t (
366.
cf
368, '
4 ((
d
363, '
367, '
( i4
;«7l
Zcnaida a-nabilis, <f HI. 379, pi. 58, fig. 3
/uimidura caroUnciisis, <f " 383, " 2
Zonotrichia albicoUis, d" I. 574, pi. 26,
coronata, <f " 573,
carabeli, rf " 569, pi. 25,
*' <• (Juv.)
Icucoyhrys, {Jw.) <f " 666, "
jf " " "
querula, {Ad.) <f " 577, pi. 26,
" {aiUumn) " " "
10
1
11
12
9
10
4
7
PLATE I.
1. Ttirdiis niitstcllnii<;, Om. IVnii., 1570.
2. " ustiiliitiis, A'/f//. (trtxnn, :a>4t.
3. " alici.Y, /tint,/. Itllhiiis, 100S4.
4. " swain<;inii, Cii^ Penn-.p"'-
5. Timlus Atscesccns, ^^t-ZA. D C, aSaji.
6. " pjillitsii, Cttf>. IVnn., 2146.
7. " nanus, .luif. C;ila., ij'Yiy.
& •' auduboni. A'.iMf. Kocky Mts., I0886.
PLATE 11.
ii
PLATE III.
H
3 'S
X 7.
1 S
II
PLATE IV.
. 'fi'-'P'^.^,.
\i
rt *
■8
U
1^'
■c -S
X
PLATE V.
1. Cinclus mexicanus, S7i'. S. M., 8496.
2. Sialia nicxicnna, Stv. Cnl., 10623.
3. " sialis, Baird. D. C, 2^245.
4. '* nrctica, Sw. Rocky Mts., 18319.
5. Phyllopneiiste hnrcalis. Alaska, 45909.
6. Saxicola icnantho, Brchst. I*"r.ince, 18059.
7. Rfffulus ciivii.*ri. .///.Y. (From Aud.'s plate.)
8. '* sntrapa. Litht. I). C , ii6i.
9. " calendula, Licht. I'cnn., 736.
PLATE VI.
I. Lopliophancs bicolor, Bm. ill.. ^,^
'■ _■' "tricrislalus. C«TT. Tex.. .3,07
* , '""'"■itiis, C,w. Cal., „„si
* wollwcberl, fl„,. Arii, 4074,
S ''olinptiU cx-tulCT, ,9i7. Ill, loa,^
6- " I'll""!'™, «„nC 'Ari/.. 1,34,.
7- •• mclnnura, /..m,-. Cal., 71,,.
8. Clianijca fasciata, <.„,«*. Cnl, 59=4.
PLATE VII.
Pnrus »tr{cn|>nius, l.tnu. cf N- York, 1^351
" -ttr. septcntrionalis. ftitrri\\. Mission \*.ilL'y
■■ T.ir. I LtiiKiit.ilis. li.itni. W ;\s\i\\\)^o\\ Ttrrilory,
" tari>lim.-tisis, .■tu<t. cf '*■ ^ > 7 >'»■
•' inoiiiiiiius, (iittnf-i-/. Ncv.i;i.i, sus^-
•' nifesci'ns. Towns. I'mifit i-".isi, 45946.
7. P.irus hu(lM)nit:iis, /-'.'rsf. S. Snni.i.
H. l*sattri|)Arus iial.motis, /•'<''/. Mi.'xko.
(). " niiiiiimis, T,m-ns. California, i''.'4i;
10. " t-fin plumhciis, Ktit'r.f. Arizona.
11. Aviriparus flnvictps Sumt 42210.
PLATE Vin.
I- Silt.i c,ir„li,n-nsis, r.,,,. cf I'a „„,
3. " •■ .. 6 ' ■* *
3. -''■ilpinclra nl„„K„„5, .5-,y,, inl., y,,;
4. Cltlurpes l.K-xic,i,uis, i,,.., ,,„..' M,..,. 5,^.,.
5. <-i'"l'yl'-'yi.cl,uslmnnRi,:.ipni„.. /.„/), cf' < ,,1 .,^^
affii.is. .r„„/,„. d' (■,,;,,, ;;,.',.',',,/„^.
7. Sitia canadensis, /.,„„. d" p„ 5,.
a " " .. O „ "
♦ 1.1 , 2U73.
» pusill.i, /.,.-//,. Ga., 19,3.
'"■ " Pt\'m.iM, ;vir Cal., 3,42.
II. Ccrtliia, .cricana. Aw, (f Pa., f,^.
PLATE IX.
>• Thry„,|,o„„ lu.lovicianus, Lall, V:x.. ,78+
'■ " Ijcrlamlieri, Cmuh. Texas
3- _'_• bc«-ickii. Au.i. <f r,,., ^^^
5. Troglodyta .Tclon, r/W//. I), r/^'
■ 1454-
6. Cisl.ilhorus palusiris, ir,;,, j.,^
'■ " s'cllnris, /.,,-/,/. (-.^ ^„.
_» ^^ Vcmalls, ,-,w//. c^Va.,,,"^'
'"'■ I'aciriais, j;,urj. W. T , ,J^,^^
PLATE X.
>^' ^'
■• Motacilli .-.ll,,,. /.,„„. J,
3. A„,l,„,,,„|„,i,i,„„^ <;„,. ,.„,,„,,„^; _^_
+ prateiisls, /.i„„, Eur.
5- ^<.■ocorys spraguci, .4i„f. J Uj^,
"■"P"--. 18590.
cC P.I., 5.)iSs.
Ota, 1884.
". .MniMtiha v.iria. /.,„„. ^ ma;.
7 I'.iriila .iiii.rk.ni.i. /.;«„.
8. I'rcil.mi.l.iri.i tilrt.i, /,',,,«. ||l., i„ii
9- Hflinilhcriis^wair,,,,,,!. ../,„/. s. C
■"54.
148.
PLATE xr.
PLATE Xir.
5"° 3
PLATK XIII.
d M ri
Ly
\>\, -
■ "o
"CO. S.
' ■ -I
I ! ■
i^
H
11
PLATE XIV.
PLATE XV.
PLATK XVI.
PLATE XVII.
i>
! /'■ ./.^
^
I
•3 >j y. -•
i i^ i
I -2 ^ i
o 2 V i
e .^ ^ 5.
.:/;C.i
a .'' 'J
.a I: 3"
5""
8S „
.s c
y
^;£ •
• "^ ;S ^
PLATE XVIII.
■ ' 1.',' ? '
^i:<.'^
i.
'
I
r* 4
PLATE XIX.
-.-.-^
'■;''V ,f AM
15
•o
3 C
r
u
PLATE XX.
I.
8.
•yr.inn
1 cnnpcri, Ki/trri: '^ N. Mcx.. 34^44.
luilmlclana, HiZr. cf Ncl)., 1818a
»
"
xbtivn, (;wf. cf Ca., 13190,
6. I'yr.in^ia ci'stiva, (7»i. 9.
7- " rubra, /./mh. <f lown, 34177.
8. 9.
9. " huitatica, S'ffaiMj. if Mci., aaiii.
la 9.
PLATE XXI.
8 i\>
"DO* I
tl
it
"cc*
S .5-
"DO
•* <^<ts
i 4
" 1
3
I
3.
PLATE XXII.
^•uc-l
- d -■; §
c .
*0 a" <? —
E '"D a
f- .: . 5
> K. S 3
S 2 S g
.1 2 •^ i
Is" 2 I
t| t
Q- .S : 5.
PLATE XXIII.
i ^ 3
^ tj ^
•2 i ^
i; i s
i: 3
» IS,
It:
11
"d 'in
•♦ lA J
nil
PLATE XXIV.
3-3
III
a S
i i
3=1
i. = r
2 = is
sua
II
t^ CO A
pa 3
■f i
•do i
< i
rt 3 a
a s s
PLATE XXV,
Z H ■
2 •!
Ill
S i 3
3 J
I -
E 1
a : 9
!l= S,
i.,
II
1^
a
u
S I- H
m
tfl ,y o
V ''a a
^c a J
PLATE XXVL