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MAMMALOGY ANQ ORNITHOLOGY. m JOHN CASS IN, KKMBEB or IHB ACADEMY OF NATURAL 8CIENCK8 OF PBILADBLPHIA; OF THE AMEBIOAN PBILOSOPHICAL 80CIETT ; OF THE IfATIONAI. INSTITUTE ; OF THE NATUBAL HIgTORT gOOIETr OF CHARLESTON; OF THE LYCEUM OF NATURAL BISTORT OF NEW YORK; OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF MONTREAL; COBBBSPONDINO MEMBER OF THE COOLOOICAi SpCIETY OF LONDON ; HONORARY * MEMBER OF THE UNITED S0C|E3Y OF aEBI^AH 6rN• PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1858. >::> 530 \ G51 •• . ..< INTRODUCTION, In 1851 I was engaged, by the Honorable Joint Library Committee of Congress, to superintend the preparation of Plates for the Atlas of Mammalogy and Ornithology of the United States Exploring Expedi- tion; and subsequently to prepare the present volume. In both of these departments of Natural History, large and highly interesting collections were made, and much new and valuable information ob- tained by the naturalists of the Expedition. My object had been to notice, in this volume, every species of interest, with careful descrip- tions of such as were previously unknown; and to give all the infor- mation to be obtained from the recorded observations and journals of the naturalists, which have been at my disposal; and I have appended a complete Catalogue of the collections in these two classes of animals. Not having accompanied the Expedition, my sources of information have been exclusively those designated above, and especially I am in- debted to the kindness of Charles Pickering, M.D., one of the natu- ralists of the Expedition, whose volumes have added so much of the highest value to its series of publications. In addition to the branches of Natural History with which this distinguished naturalist was espe- cially charged, he made notes of observations in all other departments; from which has been derived some of the most valuable material of the present volume ; and with great liberality and kindness, he copied and collated, for my greater convenience, a large amount of manu- script notes on quadrupeds and birds, made on the voyage, and now VI INTRODUCTION. for the firat time published. Much of the most valuable portion of the present volume has been thus contributed by this gentleman. From the notes and observations of Mr. Titian B. Peale, another of the naturalists of the Expedition, much also has been derived; and in fact every facility has been most promptly afforded by all parties attached to the Expedition, or in charge of the collections. To the gentlemen of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and especially to Dr. Thomas B. Wilson, and to Professors Joseph Henry and Spencer F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, I avail myself of the present opportunity of tendering my deep sense of obligation for indispensable privileges and facilities in the libraries and museums of the Institutions mentioned, and personally for much valuable advice and assistance. The. Plates of the Atlas to the present volume were colored at the establishment of Mrs. Lavinia Bowen, Philadelphia, and I deem it but justice to say that they are, in the particular of representing the colors of species accurately, highly creditable. I most cheerfully bear testi- mony to her exceeding carefulness and ability in this important feature in zoological illustrations. Many of the drawings were made by Mr. Peale JOHN CASSIN. Academy of Natdral Sciences, Philadelphia, Maj 10th, 1838. CONTENTS. MAMMALOGY. ABOTOMrRinii!, Family, CANiPiE, Fahily, CASTOKiDiK, Family, CEKViDiS, Family, Cetacea, Order, Delphinid^, Family, Fer^, Order, Glires, Order, HYSTRiciDiE, Family, Mammalia, Class, MuRiDiE, Family, . PaociD^, Family, QrADRUMAKA, ORDEB, SciuRiDiE, Family, SoRECiDwE, Family, . Unoitlata, Order, Ursid^e, Family, . Vespebtilionid^ Family, Ptf* 85 16 83 65 21 27 18 83 51 8 87 25 8 49 23 55 18 3 ORNITHOLOGY. ALCiDiE, Family, . Ampelid^, Family, ANATiDiE, Family, . Aroeidjs, Family, Ates, Class, Caprimuloid^, Family, CharadriaDwB, Family, CoLUMBiDiB, Family, . CoLYMBiDiE, Family, CONIROSTBES, TrIBE, 346 160 332 294 69 187 325 251 346 114 viii CONTENTS. CvvvuvM, Familt, . Dentihohtreb, Tribe, . . Falconid^, Family, FiBBiROSTRBfl, Tribe, . i . Orallatoreb, Tribe, . . Halctomid^, Family, . . . HiRUNDiKiDJt, Family, . . ISSEBBOREB, ORDER, ., . . LkviAvx, Family, . ... Larid^e, Family, . . . MiRUPiDiB, Family, MOHOORAPH or THE GiNUB ToDIRAMPHUB] Mcac'icAPiD.«, Family, . . , Natatoreb, Tribe, . . . PATONiDiK, Family, . . FELECANIDiG, FAMILY, . . . P1CID.1E, Family, Fbittacid^, Family, . . . BALLiDiE, Family, . Baptores, Order, . . . Raboreb, Order, . ScANSoRES, Tribe, . > . ScuLoPACiDiE, Family, . . STRioiDiE, Family, . . . Strdthioxid^, Family, Sylviad^, Family, Synupbib of the American Viiltures< Tantalid.^, Family, . . . Tenuirobtreb, Tribe, Tetraonid^, Family, . TODIRAMPBUS, GbN'US, MoNOGRAPn OP, TROGONiDiE, Family, TuRDiDiE, Family, . VuLTURiDiE, Family, . Vultures, American', Synopsis of, Pt|t 244 140 88 181 294 191 181 114 140 377 228 202 144 332 289 355 242 230 303 69 251 230 310 103 292 163 77 301 168 283 202 229 157 69 77 MAMMALOGY. 1! li MAMMALOGY, 1. Class MAMMALIA. 1. Order QUADRUMANA.— The Four-handed Mammals. 1. Family VESPERTILIONIDiE.— The Bats. 1. Genus VESPERTILIO, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 46 (1766). 1. Vespebtilio californjcus, Bachman. Veipertilio cali/orntcm, Baciim. Jour. Acad. Philad. VIII, p. 285 (1842). Several specimens, which we consider as undoubtedly of this spe- cies, are in the collection of the E.xpedition, and were obtained in Oregon and California. Generally, they agree with the description by Dr. Bachman cited, but the largest sljgh^Jy .exceed Jiis measure- ments. '., : ; .'■.'; ". '••' *'.•'•...• • .•*.••. According to Mr. Peale, this bat was found iiV'Ji^l.'Pn'fts ot_Oi«gon visited by members of the Expedi^'iou, wj^iilso-nt Sad'.ipranciscd, Cali- fornia; but we find nothing recoraedbyeibiiei''of tI\§Wafi}vaU'sts;6f'.the Expedition relating, to its manners or habits. It appears' to belong strictly to the same group as V. subuhitus, Say, and may be a younger age of that species. ■B AMMALOOY. I I 2. Vespertilio semicaudatus, Psale. Vespm-tilio umtcaudatus, Pealb, Zoology, U. S. Exp. Exp. Yinccnneg, Quadrupeds, p. 23 (Ist ed. 1848). Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate I, Fig. 1. Adult. V. parvits, alia elongatis, membrana inter/emorali magna, oauda hrevi, fuligirumis, eubtus pallidior, membranis fuscia. Long. 3 unc. Form. — Small, but with the wings long, legs long, interfemoral mem- brane large, naked, and attached to the tail except at its end, which projects from the upper surface ; the tail extending across not more than half the width of this membrane. Muzzle blunt ; lips somewhat produced or pendant ; ears obovate, somewhat pointed ; tragus short, rounded ; fur dense, long. Dimensions. — Male. Total length (specimen in spirits), from tip of nose to outer edge of interfemoral membrane (which is beyond the end of the tail), about three inches ; from tip of nose to end of tail, two inches ; extent of wings, about nine inches ; leg, about one and a half inches ; tail, about six-tenths of an inch ; ear, about four-tenths of an inch. Colors. — Entire pilage sooty brown, with a tinge of dark fulvous, paler on the under parts, membranes pale brown. Iris black. Has. — Samoan or Navigator Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Wash- ington City. This bat is remarkable for its large interfemoral membrane, which may be said to almost completely absorb the tail. That appendage traces about h9l£ the* .U^idth of this membrane, and at its tip is de- tached- f|Miiri *ib* 611 'jjtie u^fiper surface, leaving about one-tenth of an inch free'." Fronl 'tBe point of de;tachment, two diverging lines are readily seen, in- ;l^e;pitej^redisp€;c1tnen, which continue to the outer edge of the' tiifeinbrftntf.' ' '• ' * ' We find nothing recorded by the naturalists of the Expedition, in relation to this remarkable bat, except that Mr. Peale observes: QUADRUMANA. '' This species was found at the Samoan Islands, and at Upolu was not uncommon." In addition to the preceding species of VesjperiiUonidce, other small species are noticed by both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Feale, as occurring at localities not previously ascertained to be inhabited by any known species of this family. At the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, a small bat is mentioned, but no specimens Were obtained. According to Mr. Feale, it appeared to be about eight inches in extent of wings, and was insectivorous. In the Island of Hawaii, another species was found to be common, though the naturalists of the Expedition were not successful in secur- ing specimens. Of this bat, Mr. Peale gives the following notice : "At Kaarla-kea-kua, on the Island of Hawaii, memorable as the pl.;ce where the renowned circumnavigator Cook perished, a species of bat, which we believe new to naturalists, was quite common ; it mea- sures about twelve inches across the wings, is of a ferrugineous gray color, the interfemoral membrane is large, and includes the tail, which is about the length of the body. It has the general aspect and color of Veapertilio noveboracensis, but is larger." Dr. Pickering also mentions bats, of which no specimens were ob- tained, noticed in the Island of Madeira, and at the Cape de Verd Islands. He records the fact, that a species of this family appeared around the vessels of the Expedition as they were approaching the latter, and at a distance irom them of forty miles. 2. Gends MOLOSSUS, Geoff. St. mi. Ann. Mub. Paris, VI, p. 150 (1805). 1. MOLOSSUS AURISPINOSUS (Rah). Dytopet aari»pino»u», Peale, V^oy. Vincennes and Peacock, Zoology, p. 21 (Ist ed.). Molouut ru(/osus, D'Orbiqny, Voy. dans I'Amer. Merid. Mammifdres, PI. X, fig. 3 ? Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate I, Fig. 2. Adult. Late casta neofuscii», subtus pallkh'or. Membranis pallide purpureo- brunneis, interfemorali sericea, brunnea, pedibue fere albis. Long. 4i MWC. 6 MAMMALOGY. Form. — Muzzle broad ; lips wrinkled and large ; nostrils round, each on the outer edge of a disk, which is edged with very short rigid bristles ; ears large, connected in front, rugose, and having each on its anterior margin, which is recurved, six or eight very short spine- like protuberances; wings long; toes of the hind feet with long re- curved bristles. Interfemoral membrane including nearly half of the tail, velvety ; tail moderate, or rather small. Teeth thirty : in- cisors in upper jaw, two; canines, one on each side; molars, five on each side. Lower jaw with four very small incisors; canines, one on each side ; molars, five on each side. Fur of the entire body short, dense, and very fine. Dimensions. — Total length, about four and a half inches ; extent of the wings, fourteen and a half inches ; tail, one and eight-tenths of an inch, of which about one inch is beyond the interfemoral membrane. Color, — Entire pilage, above and below, fine light chestnut-brown, or snuflf-color, lighter on the under parts of the body. Membranes of the wings light purplish-brown; ears light brown, with some parts purplish ; interfemoral membrane silky-brown. Bristles of the hind feet nearly white. The whole body having a silvery or frosty appear- ance in some lights. Has. — Brazil, Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. It is not without very considerable doubts and misgivings, that we retain the present bat as a previously undescribed species. It much resembles Molossus rugosus, as cited above, in all respects except color, in which, however, it does not difl'er from that species in a greater de- gree than we have seen specimens of the commv.n Molmsus rvfua of South America differ from each other. Our present specimen is, moreover, a male, and that described and figured by D'Orbigny as above, was a female. We retain it solely on account of its peculiarity of color. It is also evidently nearly related to Mdossua velox of authors, also a South American bpecies, and is very probably identical with one or the other of the species mentioned, though we have not at hand a sufficiently extensive collection in this difficult family for comparison or for deciding the question. Mr. Peale states, with reference to this species : QUADRUMANA. 7 " This remarkable bat flew on board the U. S. Ship Peacock, oflF the coast of Brazil, on the 18th of November, when the ship was about one hundred miles from land, south of Cape St. Roque. When caught, it did not utter any audible sound, but was violent in defend- ing itself at first ; soon, however, it became sufficiently tame to allow itself to be handled, provided no violence was offered; at night, it became much more active than it was during the day, and uttered a single sharp impatient squeak, whenever it found that it could not escape from the cage." Of the genus Moloaavs (Geoff. St. Hil.), to which this species belongs, there are not less than eighteen or twenty species, the greater part of which inhabit South America and the West Indies. There are others, which are natives of the old continent. They are designated by some authors, as *' Bulldog Bats," on account of the breadth and strength of their jaws and peculiar physiognomy. A few species have been ascertained to inhabit the Southern United States, and are described by Mr. William Cooper, in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, IV, p. 64, accompanied by figures (same volume, PI. III). Mr. Peale's name, aurispinosus we consider objectionable, as scarcely expressing the idea intended, which appears to have been spinous' eared. It is quite too near meaning golden-spined. Moreover, the spinous processes on the ears in this species, are by no means peculiar. In the plate of the species described by Mr. Cooper, in the Annals of the New York Lyceum, as above cited, this character is represented very conspicuously, and, undoubtedly, with the most entire truthful- ness. 8. Genus PTEROPUS, Brisson, Rfeg. Anim. (1756). General characters similar to those of other groups of the family Vespertilionidce, or bats. The species of this genus are, however, the largest of the animals of this family. 1. Pteropus samoensis, Psale. Pteropm iamoemh, Peale, ZooI. Exp. Exp. Vincennes, Quadrupeds, p. 20, 1st ed. (1848). g MAMMALOOr. Athva, Mammalogy, Plate II. Adult. P. pdvQcephalo affinia at minor. Capite brevimculo, griseo, fjiila occipi- teque aaturatioribue, dorso caataneo-fuaca, pilia elomjatia albidia, Jlavi- diaque intertnixtia, auhlua caaUxneo-fuecua, pilia flavidia. Aunculia parvia, obtitaia, ovatia. Resembling P. poliocephalua of Australia, but smaller. Form. — Head rather short ; ears small, ovate, obtusely pointed ; pilage coarse and wool-like, especially on the under parts. Wing-membranes slightly furred along the cou se of the bene, most observable on the under surface ; hind claws rather large, strongly curved, flattened. « Dimensions. — Male. Total length from tip of nose, about nine inches ; extent of wings, about forty inches ; forearm, five and a half inches; thumb with claw, two inches; tarsus, two and a half inches; longest toe with claw, nearly one and a half inches. Female smaller. Colors. — Entire head gray, darker on the throat and on the occiput running into the dark reddish fulvous of the neck behind and upper part of the back. Other upper parts, from a transverse line across the back at the insertion of the wings, dark chestnut-brown, the pilage mixed with long yellowish-white hairs. Entire under parts dark chestnut-brown, mixed with numerous yellowish hairs. Wing-mem- branes dark. Irides brown. Hab. — Samoan or Navigator Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. This species is nearly related to the Australian Pteropua polioce- phdua, Temminck, Mon. Mamm. II, p. 66, figured by Gould, in Mam- mals of Australia, I, PI. (plates not numbered), but is smaller and otherwise distinct. Numerous specimens of the present fine species are in the collection of the Expedition, and exhibit but slight differences among themselves in any character. In this species the fulvous ring, which entirely QUADRUMANA. encircles the neck in P. polwcepkalua, is interrupted in front and scarcely apparent, though as strongly defined on the neck behind as in that well-known species. It is about one-third smaller. Mr. Feale observes: " This species was first discovered in the Island of Tutuila, and, sub- sequently, in all the islands of the Samoan Group. We obtained numerous specimens, and found the young animals somewhat lighter- colored than the old ones, but in other respects there is but little variation in color or size. It is the least gregarious and most digrnal in its habits, of any of the genus which we saw ; they are frequently abroad at noonday, and fly with the two hind feet together, which makes them appear to have tails. They are very destructive to all kinds of fruit, and are usually silent when feeding." Respecting this species, we find the following in Dr. Pickering's journal : "Common eveijy where in the Islands of Manua, Tutuila, Upolu, and Savai, and according to report, very destructive to the bread- fruit. I have myself seen it feeding on the Bxpai/a {Carica pa- 2iaya), for though perhaps essentially a nocturnal animal, it is often abroad by daylight. Its flight is then seen to be very different from that of the smaller Cheiroptera, rather lofty, with slow flapping of the wings, much like that of a heron, and occasional short intervals of sailing. At a distance a stranger would hardly distinguish it from a large bird ; but on its alighting, the difference is very striking ; — it pitches over the branch so as to catch it with its hind feet, and, closing its wings, swings suspended with its head downwards. " I did not examine the stomachs of any specimens of this animal, but there is reason to suppose that its food is exclusively vegetable. In captivity it is exceedingly ferocious and untameable, and several that we had, died in a short time. In the evening, their quarrelsome screams may often be heard from the tops of the cocoa trees, sufficiently loud and harsh to be quite disagreeable. On one occasion, I witnessed a battle between one of these animals and a heron, which, however, was soon decided, the latter abandoning the contest." Having access to no specimens of Pteropiis poliocephalua, and having regarded it as possible that the present might be that species in an immature age, our examination has been greatly facilitated by the kindness of that accomplished and distinguished naturalist, John Gould, Esq., of London, who most liberally and promptly supplied 10 MAMMALOGY. Hpecimens at our request, and for which we beg leave to express our deep sense of obligation. Mr. Gould's specimens enabled us to fully determine the distinct character of the present species as above described. CRANIUM OF P. SAMOENalS. 2. Pteropus keraddrenius, Quoy and Gaimard. Pferojms Jtwaudren, QuoY and Oaim. Voy. Uranic, Mamm. p. 51 (1824) ; Voy. Uranie, Atlas, Zool. PI. 3. There is in the collection of the Expedition a single specimen which appears to be this species, though it is lighter in color than is repre- sented in the plate of Quoy and Gaimard above cited, and there is a mixture of gray in the pilage of the head not mentioned in their descrip- tion. We have, however, no doubt of its identity, and have, conse- quently, given it the present name without hesitation. It was obtained in the Feejee Islands. Of this species, Mr. Peale observes : " We found a species of bat very common at the Feejee Islands, which agrees with the descriptions above quoted ; — the native name is ' Beka,' which is also the name of a closely allied species inhabiting the Island of Tongatabu. " In habits and strong odor, nearly all the species of this genus are alike. Any of them may be discovered by the odor emitted as they hang pendant from the high branches of the trees in humid forests, this included, although it is not thought to be so disagreeably strong as that of the Island of Tongatabu." 3. Pteropus macklotii, Temmimk. Piei-opus macklotii, Temm. Mon. Mamm. II, p. 09, I'l. XXXV, fig. 5, head (1835 to 18 H). QUADRUMANA. 11 Pleropm voet/erut, Pkalk,* Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Vincennes, Quadrupeds, p. 10 (Ist ed. 1848). Though very considerable difficulties present themselves in the in- vestigation of the animals of this genus, we have no doubt of the identity of the species as above referred to. In allusion to this bat, Mr. Peale observes : "At the Island of Mungsi, in the Straits of Balabac, our atten- tion was arrested by the constant screams ci this animal, which sounded like the distress cry of a Norway rat, but louder, and soon led us to its diurnal resting-places, which were found to be amongst the lofty roots of a species of banyan or fig tree, fifty feet from the ground. There, secreted in holes or sometimes suspended, they spend the day, not quietly, but in constant quarrels, at the season we saw them, which was in the month of February, and the strong odor emitted by them was quite perceptible to us when passing the trees which they frequented." CRANIUM OF P. MACKI.OTII. Mr. Peale gives the following in relation to the habits and general history of the animals of this genus : * In the course of a long and laborious voyage among the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, we had frequent opportunities of * " Hair of the head, neck, and body, soft, woolly, and of a rufous brown color, darkest on the sides ; back, dark brown, the hair short, straight, and smooth. Wings gray in the middle, the bloodvessels darker and distinctly visible ; snout long, narrow ; the nostrils bifurcated ; cheek-pouches spacious ; no visible scrotum. Irides brown. "Total length from the end of the nose to the unus, eight inches ; extent of the wings, thirty-four and a half inches ; forearm, four and seven-tenths inches ; thumb, including the nail, two and three-tenths inches; nail, seven-tenths of an inch ; ear, one inch long, three-quarters of an inch wide. Male. "Dental formula: incisors, | ; canines, | ; molars, jS = 34." (Peale, as above.) 12 MAMMALOaY. becoming familinr with some of the bats belonging to the genus Ptero- pus (Roussettes of the French naturalists). In the Friendly, Feejee^ and Samoan or Navigator's Islands, they are numerous, each group having its peculiar species. Their spectral appearance is one of the characteristics in the wild and varied scenery ; their strong odor taints the atmosphere of the otherwise fragrant forests, and will always be remembered by persons who have visited their native haunts. " The Pteropi nre all more or less gregarious, most active in twilight, and when at rest, hang from the branches of trees with their heads downwards, using their wings as cloaks to shelter their bodies from the wind, rain, or sun. When they fly, as they have no interfemoral membrane, they hold their two hind feet together, which makes them appear to have a tail. They climb with great facility along the under side of the branches, and are very destructive to both wild and culti- vated fruits, tasting and rejecting until the ripest and best are found. We never heard any species accused of destroying animal life. The species of Australia are migratory, being seen only in those seasons when peaches and other fruits are ripe and abundant, but of them we did not obtain specimens. " At Singapore, we obtained some skins from the Malay peninsula, which are supposed to be P. javanicus, Desmarest, or P. edulis, Cuvier. They have a very small false molar tooth in the upper jaw, which, it seems, has not been observed in the specimens from the Island of Java. A specimen from that island was kept alive in the Philadelphia Museum for several years. It was perfectly tame and gentle towards persons whom it knew, but disliked strangers. During the voyage from Batavia to Philadelphia, it was fed on boiled rice sweetened with sugar, and on its arrival at the Museum, eat every kind of fruit that happened to be in season, and once in a while was indulged in picking the bones of a boiled fowl, which it did with avidity. It was always most active in the morning and evening, and slept at noon and midnight, never resting in any other position than with its head down- wards, hanging by its hind feet." F £ K i£> 18 2. Ordea FER^. — Rapacious Quadrupeds. — Beasts of Prey. 1. Familt URSIDiE.— Bears. 1. Gknus URSU8, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 69 (1766). 1. Ursus HORRiBiLis, Ord. — The Grizzly Bear. Ursxu korribilii, Ord, Guthrie's Oeog. 11, p. 291 (1815) ; Say, Long's Exp. II, p. 52 (1828). Ursua cinereus, Debmar. MaDim. p. 165 (1820). Unui candescens, H. Smith, Griff. Cuv. II, p. 229, V, No. 320 (1826). " Urtusferox, Lewis and Clarke," Ricbardson, Faun. Bor. Am. I, p. 24. Faun. Bor. Am. I, Plate I. Aud. and Bach. Quad, of N. A. Plate CXXXI; oct. ed. II, Plate CXXXI. This powerful and formidable animal, comparatively well known since the possession by the United States of California and Oregon, is frequently alluded to by the naturalists of the Expedition. Their notes now to be given possess high interest as contributions to the history of this species. We find in the journal of Dr. Pickering, several allusions to this animal, from which we introduce the following : " According to Dr. Marsh, the Grizzly Bear is the only species found here, but the Black Bear of the United States is occasionally met with in some parts of New Mexico, where the skin is highly prized. The food of the California Indians is almost the same as that of the bear, and varies with the season in the same manner. Skins are sometimes seen nearly or fully as lar^e as that of an ox. One lassoed, dragged three horses. '' Sometimes, it is said, this animal will not kill a man even after he is entirely in its power. Dr. Marsh states that it will rarely attack unless encountered unexpectedly in the brush. An anecdote is told of one which had seized a man and covered him with brush and leaves, only patting him down and covering him again as he attempted to rise, and after watching him awhile, finally went away, much to the 4 14 MAMMALOGY. gratification of the prisoner. It is a mistake to suppose that this bear does not climb, though apparently not very expert at it. It ascends the oaks in search of acorns, and will sometimes break off large branches. Dr. Marsh does not consider it by any means a dangerous animal, though possessing such great strength. The gait of the individual seen by myself was exceedingly clumsy, and well justified the common proverb, yet it made out to get over the ground with considerable rapidity. Sometimes, it is said, three, four, or a larger number are seen feeding together like so many horses. '* No one, it is confidently asserted, has ever seen a gravid female bear, and the young are unusually small in proportion to the si/e of the adult animal. Formerly, according to Dr. Marsh, the Grizzly Bear was very abundant in California, so much so, that it was to be found in almost every valley ; and in travelling, the Indians kept on the hills and other high ground, very carefully avoiding the favorite resorts of this animal. " This bear feeds on acorns and other fruits, and is said also to dig up the roots of the Tula (Scirinis lacustris). It is also said to feed at times on grass." Mr. Peale's observations on this animal are as follows : " It is curious that this animal should not be found on the Columbia River near its mouth. In our journey south through Oregon, the first seen were on the Umpqua River, from which they seemed to increase in numbers until we arrived in California. Six were killed in one day by our hunters as we descended the Sacramento River, although their meat was not wanted ; elk, deer, and antelopes being plentiful and affording much better food, unless the bear is very fat, which was not then the case. This destruction arose from a dislike to the animal justly considered the most dangerous on the continent. " The principal food of the Grizzly Bear in California, is acorns, which are abundant and appear to be very nutritious ; the Indians subsisting in a great measure on the same kind of food. Both Indians and bears ascend the trees to thrash down the acorns, which is about as effectually done by the one as the other. From the accounts of pre- vious travellers, it has been supposed that the Grizzly Bear could not climb : it will not perhaps attack a |)erson who has retreated for safety to a tree, but it certainly does sometimes climb and shakes the acorns from the trees, as we had frequent opportunities of witnessing the traces of destruction left, and there is little difficulty in distinguishing F E R ^. 16 the tracks of this species from those of the Blacic Bear (Uraua ameri- caniM), which is said to inhabit the same country ." 2. Grnu8 MELES, Bnu. Hbg. Animal (17A6). 1. Meles labraooria {Omelin). — Th9 American Badger. Urtui labradoriuB, Qm. Sygt. Nat. I, p. 102 (1788). Aud. and Bach. Quad, of N. A. Plate XLVII; oct. ed. I, Plate XL VII. Apparently a common animal of Oregon, though we have not the facilities for comparing specimens from the western and northern regions of the American continent. We find no specimens in the collection of the Expedition, and it is alluded to only in the journal of Dr. Pickering. Dr. Pickering gives the following interesting note on this species, under date of 7th of September, 1841 : " This day while on a short excursion alone, I fell in with a badger about sunset. It retreated across some marshy ground, and I fired at it without effect. After passing over some hills for about one-third of a mile, it turned and made a stand, and I thought would allow me to approach, but as I came near, it bristled up, yet made no threatening demonstrations and retreated backwards into its burrow, keeping just at a sufficient distance to be out of my reach. I now in my turn feigned a retreat, when it immediately came out again a few yards, affording another opportunity of a shot, but at too great a distance, and whether injured or not it regained its burrow and did not again appear. It uttered no cry whatever, and was bo slow in its move- ments that I found no difficulty in closely pursuing it, though over unfavorable ground. " Curiosity to observe the strange intruder on its solitary haunts, was evidently the motive that had wellnigh drawn this animal to destruction ; and I have had frequent opportunities of observing that the same indication of intelligence is much more strikingly exhibited by the Mammalia in general (even in the Cetacea and Phocidce), than in the other classes of the animal kingdom. " The white stripe down the middle of the face was very conspi- 16 MAMMALOGY. CU0U8 in this specimen, but its color seemed more brown than I re- membered to have seen in skins at home, and more resembling the color of the Ardomys empetra. When the animal bristled up, the hair on the shoulders and adjoining parts stood out laterally. Dr. Marsh confirms Richardson's account of the difficulty of drawing this animal out of its burrow, and states that unless quite dead it is almost impos- sible." 2. Family CANID^.— The Dogs.— The Wolves- 1. Gencs lupus, Sicaini-on, Cab. Cy. Quad. p. 360 (1850). 1. Lupus gigas, Toivnsend. — The Buffalo Wolf. Lupus ffiffas, TowNSEND, Jour. Acad. Philad. Quarto, II, p. 75 (1835). Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate III, Fig. 1. Adult. This wolf is described by Dr. Townsend, as a distinct species, as above, and apparently with entire propriety. It is larger than the common wolf of North America {L. occidentalis), and is, we believe, the largest species of the genus Lupus. This species is regarded by Mr. Peale as identical with L. occkleri' talis, and also by Audubon and Bachman, in Quadrupeds of North America, III, p. 281 (octavo edition III, p. 279; ; but its characters are too constant and strongly marked to justify the supposition that they are merely those of a variety, or derived from unusually large specimens of that species. That it is a distinct and comparatively well marked species, is the opinion of nearly all American naturalists ; amongst whom we have much satisfaction in designating Col. George A. McCall, late Inspector-General in the '^Jnited States Army, whose ample opportunities for observing this wolf in its native wilds, and whose accurate scientific knowledge, render his conclusion of especial value. Col. McCall's observations on this species, are published in both editions of Audubon and Bachman's Quadrupeds of North America as above cited, and with Dr. Townsend's paper in the Jour- nal of the Piiiladelphia Academy, and Mr. Peale's observations given below, embrace the history of this species, so far as has yet been given by naturalists. FER^. 17 The specimen in the collection of the Exploring Expedition is not so large as Dr. Townsend's specimens in the Museum of the Phila- delphia Academy, but is clearly the same animal. Like the common wolf of North America, this species varies much in color and presents nearly similar differences in specimens. Mr. Peale's description and remarks which we regard as rf^lating to this species, are as follows : " The size is greater than that of the Pyrenean Wolf, which it re- sembles. General color, brown ; fur beneath the hair, cinereous. Nose, back of the ears, front of the legs, and sides of the tail, ferruginous ; throat and abdomen, cinereous ; cheeks, light yellowish-gray ; forehead, darker gray ; the hairs black, with a white bar nearest the roots ; nape, pale ferruginous gray ; hairs of the back, white one-third of their length from their roots, the rest black, with an obscure fulvous bar ; tail, very dark above, and black at the tip, ferruginous beneath, paler on the sides; terminal hairs white at the roots, the rest glossy black. Fore legs tawny, in front ferruginous, with a narrow black line ; under part of feet and .:laws, blue-black; the nails short and but slightly bent. Hind legs and feet less robust; the flanks ferruginous ; whiskers sparse, black. Ears lined with cinereous hair. Teeth, large and strong; the two middle incisors of the upper jaw, trilobate; two outer incisors of the lower jaw, bilobate." " Total length (dried skin), five feet two inches; tail, one foot eight inches ; from the end of the nose to the eye, four and three-quarter inches ; nose to ear, nine and a half inches ; ear, four and a half inches ; terminal hairs of the tail, five inches ; claws of the fore feet, nine- tenths of an inch; spurious (thumb) nail, more curved, eight-tenths of an inch; claws of the hind feet, one inch; between the front angles of the ears, three and a half inches ; upper canine teeth, one and two-tenths of an inch ; lower canine teeth, one inch." " The drawing for Plate III, was taken from a specimen obtained at Puget Sound, Oregon. It had killed a calf by a single bite which had divided its spine, and was subsequently poisoned with strychnia or; its return to devour the victim. Figure 2, on the same plate, was drawn from a living animal taken when young in North Carolina ; both specimens were about the same size, and, notwithstanding the wide difference in locality (the entire continent of North America, from northwest to southeast), few persons, we believe, could distin- guish one from the other," 6 • * 18 MAMMALOGY. As we have said above, Dr. Townsend's specimens are the larger, but they preserve precisely the characters of those in the collection of the Expedition. All naturalists, except Mr. Peale, who have seen this animal in its native wilds, coincide in the conclusion that it is a species entirely distinct from the common Wolf of North America. CKAXICM OF LUPUS OICAS, 2. Lupus occidentalis (Richardsm). — The Common Wolf of North America. Cania IvpuB occidentalis, Rich. Faun. Bor. Am. Mamm. p. CO (1829). Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate III, Fig. 2. Adult. This well-known species is frequently alluded to by the nf'turalists of the Expedition, as occurring at various points in Oregon and Cali- fornia. It apparently inhabits the whole of the temperate regions of North America. Though, like its congener of the old world, present- ing much variety in color, no reliable characters of more than one species appear to have been determined by naturalists. In color and general appearance this wolf much resembles the pre- ceding, the most obvious difference being the greater size of the latter. The relative size of the two species may be readily perceived from the cuts of the crania here given. CKANUM OK 1,1 IMS OCC I 1) K N T A 1. 1 !i. F E R ^> 19 8. Lupus ochropus [Eschsch.). — The Coyote. — The Western Prairie Wolf. Canis ochropuK, EscHSOHOtTZ, Zool. Atlas, PI. Ill, p. 1 (1829), Zi/ciscu» cntti», Smith, Nat. Lib. Mamm. IX, p. 164 (1839). Canis Intra m, Say ? Eschsch. Zool. Atlas, Plate II. Nat. Lib. Mamra, IX, Plate VI. Voy. Sulphur, Zool. Mamm. Plate X. This is the Coyote, or Prairie Wolf of the countries wes'. of the Rocky Mountains, and is recognized by much the majority of late authors as a species distinct from the Lupiis latrans (Say), or Prairie Wolf of the countries ori the eastern slope of the great mountain range that we have just mentioned. The characters distinguishing the several re.al or supposed species of the wolves of North America, are apparently very obscure and unre- liable, and certainly not agreed on by naturalists. The diversity of opinion is so considerable as to be quite perplexing to one who is com- pelled to treat the subject gravely, and adopt a name peremptorily for a species before him. The late Dr. Samuel George Morton, a profound and most indefatigable naturalist, entertained an opinion that there were numerous species of wolves in North America, several of which had escaped the attention of zoologists ; in which he coincided with the views of various other writers. As an offset to that opinion, we here record the fact that, within the hour of writing this, we have had a conversation with one of the most accomplished naturalists* in America, and quite as well acquainted with American quadrupeds as Dr. Morton or any one else, in which he exprenwed a conviction that all the North American Wolves are varieties only of two species. There is, perhaps, in the Zoology of North America, no greater difficulty than in determining ihe species, if such they are, of the wolves. Whether that now before us is identical with the Canis hitrans of Say, or not, we shall not at present venture to decide ; pre- ferring, however, to give it as recognized by nearly all naturalists, as a distinct species. It is, nevertheless, certainly nearly allied to that animal, and may be identical specifically, but a marked variety. The naturalists of the Exploring Expedition differ in regard to the * Miijor John Lcconte, late of the United State.i Army. 20 MAMMALOGY. MP point to which we have alluded. Dr. Pickering regards the animal of Oregon and California now before us, as specifically distinct from the Canis latmns, but expresses a suspicion that it may be the young of the common wolf {Lupxts occidentalis) . He first mentions it at Puget Sound, under date of 21st of July, 1841 : "A third species, apparently of Lupus, is found here, and of which I have seen skins. It is called here * the Prairie Wolf,' but is not the species usually meant by that name {Lupus latrans). Its colors are much the same as in the large wolf, of which it may be the young." Under date of 22d of August, at which time a party to which he was attached from the Expedition were engaged in a boat voyage up the Sacramento River, he says : " A specimen of the Coyote was shot to-day by Mr. Hammersly. It is verj' similar to the small wolf of Oregon, but the head in this speci- men appears to be longer and the snout more pointed. The colors are very nearly the same, the tail reaches a little below the joint of the tibia and tarsus, and is blackish at the tip. The voice of this animal is a bark, very m. Heavi- sidii, Gray, and belongs to the same subgeneric group, if not speci- fically identical with one or the other. It more strongly resembles the latter, but we have failed to recognize it as a described species from the lower jaw above alluded to, and a drawing, from which our plate has been prepared. » I C E T A C R A. 99 3. Delpuinus albimanus, Rule. Zool. Exp. Exp. Miunm. p. 83 (Ist ed. 1848). Detphinut nova ztdandiai, QuoY and Q.viM. Voy. Astrolabe, Mamm. p. 149 (1830)? Atlae, Mammalogy, Plate VI, Fig. 1. This species was captured by the Expedition on the coast of Chili. Its locality, therefore, is widely different from that of the species of which we have cited the name provisionally and inquiringly as a eynonyme, and which, as its name implies, is from the coast of New Zealand. We are, however, inclined to suspect that they are identical, on grounds which will be apparent on comparison of our plate with that in the Zoological Atlas of the Voyage of the Astrolabe, Manuni- f^res, PI. XXVITI, fig. 1, 2, or in Schreber's Saugthiere, PI. CCCLVII. Tlie small circular openings on the throat of D. novas zeelandicv, repre- sented in the plate of the Voy. Astrolabe, just cited, and particularly in fig. 2, and called " pores," by Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard,* we re- gard as very probably the work of a parasitic animal infesting it. The fact that these orifices are placed with entire irregularity is, in our opinion, fatal to the supposition that they are a character of the animal. Their absence in the present species is probably a considera- tion of no moment in the question of identity. The dentition of the two species is stated by their describers as exactly the same. The following are Mr. Peale's description and remarks on this animal : " Snout, head, back, tail, and dorsal fin, blue-black ; belly and pec- toral fin, white ; sides, pale tawny ; eye, small, brown, and surrounded with a black ring which joins the black of the snout ; body, between the dorsal fin and tail, very much compressed. " Total length, six feet six inches ; snout, five and three-quarter inches ; dorsal fin, measured along the front edge, nine and a half inches ; along the posterior edge, nine inches ; tail, six inches long, sixteen and a half wide ; pectoral fin, eleven and a half inches long, four inches wide ; from the end of the snout to the eye, twelve inches ; * " On rcmarque, sous la mdchoire infereieure, des jwres formant de petits anneaux ; et sur le corps, do pctites plaques de stries blanokes assez rcgulierement contourDees." Voy. Astrolabe, Mamm. p. 150. 8 80 MAMMALOGY. body, six inches; above the tail, Avhen most compressecl, one and a half inches wide ; circumference in front of dorsal fin, forty and a half inches. "Dental formula: ^ I, ^?, = 180. " Weight estimated to be 150 pounds. " The specimen was a female. Its uterus contained a single foetus, wliich was a male, of a reddish flesh color, and about nine inches long. The stomach contained fragments of cephalopode moUusca only. It Wcis harpooned from the bows of the U. S. Ship Peacock, on the coast of Chili, latitude 27° 16' S., and longitude 75° 30' \7., on vhe twelfth of June." For the present we continue the name proposed by Mr. Peale fur this animal, but have little doubt that it ought to be superseded by the prior designation of Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard. I 4. Delphinus borealis {Peak). Delphinapterus borealis, Pealk, Zool. Exp. Exp. 3Iaium. p. 35 (1st ed. 1848). Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate Vll, Fig. 2. Forma elongata, rustro imrum prodncto. Color') in't/ro, macula hinccolata alha pectoraU, quco in Uneam ancjustam ad caudam proi.enditur. " Form, elongate ; snout, slightly produced ; color, black, with a white lanceolate spot on the breast, which is 'extended in a narrow line to the tail." "Length, four feet." Hab. — North Pacific Ocean. Having no specimens for examination, we cite Mi'. Pojile's doscrip- tioii of this interesting species. From his figures, however, to be found in the Atlas to the present volume as above cited, it appears to us pro- bable that it does not belong to the genus Drlp/uinqthnifi, cr to the group of which TJ. Peronii is the type. In color ai.d general appear- ance this species appears to resemble 1). liaHtatnu. F. Cuvier, Schreber, Saiigthiore, VIT, PI. CCCLI; lleichenbach, Cetacea:is, PI. X, fig. 20, C E T A C E A. 31 30, notwithstanding that it has no dorsal fin. It may be the young of a species of ]3eht muiculuii, Linn. Sjrst. Nal. I; p. 83 (1700). Like the common rat, the mouse is mentioned as having been noticed at nearly all points visited by the Expedition, and presents another remarkable instance of the adaptation of a species to a great variety of climates and temperatures. We find no specimens in the collection, but the obtaining of such, from various and widely distant localities, especially from those at which this ilttle animal had long since been introduced, would evidently be of high interest, as afford- ing precise demonstration of the real value of cliraatal and other extraneous influences. Mr, Peale mentions this animal as follows : " The common mouse seems to keep pace with the progress of civilization, and may be considered a parasite of our race. We saw it in Chili, in Peru, at the Sandwich Islands, New Zealand, and on the Columbia River, in Oregon. In all these localities, as with us in the United States, it frequents the habitations of mankind only, and that always to the exclusion of any small native species of mice, which may have previously partaken of the same abode." In addition to the localities given by Mr. Peale, this little animal is mentioned by Dr. Pickering as having been observed at the Feejee Islands, and at San Lorenzo, in Peru. 2. Genus IIESPEROMYS, Waterhousc. 1. Hesperomts leucopus {Rafinesque). — The White-footed Mouse. •■ '«! i'.^ Mmculns leucopus, Raf. Am. Month. Rev. Oct., 1818, p. 444. Mus fi/lmticus, Forster, Phil. Trans. London, LXII, p. 380 ? Aid. and Bach. Quad. N. A. pi. 40. There are, in the collection of the Expedition, various specimens from Oregon and California, all of which have been referred to this species by Mr. Peale. Though certainly partaking of the general characters of the animal of the Eastern States, we have doubts of their specific identity j nor can we, with any certainty, regard them G L I R E S. 48 ns either of the species described by that very accomplished manmialo- gist, Major John Le Conto, or other American naturalists. All the specimens of the Expedition are unfortunately in spirits ; immersion in which for nearly twenty years has, very probably, so nmto- rially injured the colors, that at present we do not deem it expedient to undertake an extended or minute comparison, for which, moreover, we have not the necessary collections nor experience in this depart- ment of Zoology. Examination of specimens of the animals of this group, from Western North America, will amply repay the naturalist. The following, by Mr. Peale, is the only notice we find on record by the naturalists of the Expedition : " This species of mouse was met with in considerable numbers on the west coast of America, from Puget's Sound in the north, to the Bay of San Francisco, in California, south. It probably inhabits the country much further in each direction." 3. Genus DllYiMOMYS, Tichuli, Fauna Peruana, Mainiu. p. 178 (1845). 1. Drymomys parvulus, TuchmU. Drymomys parvuhtu, TscH. Faun. Per. p. 178 (1845). Mus peruvianus, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Mamin. p. 51 (1st ed. 1848).* Tsch. Faun. Per. Mamm. pi. 13, Fig. 1. Several specimens from Peru present no characters other than as stated by Tschudi, but vary considerably in size. This animal appears to form a distinct genus or subgenus, as above designated, though, in general appearance, much resembling other animals of its family. Mr. Peale alludes to the present animal as follows : * " Upper parts yellowish-brown, inclining to tawny on tbe sides ; feet, throat, and under parts of the body, white ; tail long, slender, pale flesh-color, with a brown line on the upper surface ; eyes small, black ; ears large, round, and naked ; a small tuft of white fur behind the ears, which is invisilb when they are thrown back. The poste- rior extremity of the body small ; the tail long and slender ; presenting as a whole a peculiar contour. " Length of the bead and body, two and three-tenths inches ; tail, three and one- tenth inches; head, nine-tenths of an inch; ear, half an inch; forearm, half an inch; foot, three-tenths of an inch ; tibia, eight-tenths of an inch ; hind-foot, seven-tenths of an inch." (Peale, us above.) 44 M A M M A L G Y. " The specimens were obtained near Callao, Peru. Their nests were found in the fences, built of adobes or sun-dried bricks, and con- sisted of fine grass, feathers, &c." 4. Genus ARVICOLA, Lawpede (1S03).— The Field Mouse. 1. Arvicola occidentalis, Peiile. — The Western Field Mouse. Arvicola occidentalis, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Maium. p. 45 (1st cJ. 1S48). Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate VIII, Fig. 2. Adult. Pilis moILsimis et (enuissimis, extremitatihus Huperiorihns ruJiN sine ulla nigra admistione. Aurlhus snh i:>Ui8 occnUis, canda suhr-omprtssa, supra et snhtus concolore rnfa. Long, 6 tmc. Form. — Head large, blunt ; upper incisors not grooved ; eyes small ; ears rather large, but nearly concealed by the long hair ; antitragus rather small, semicircular. Thumb of fore foot rudimentary, with a compressed blunt nail ; third and fourth toes of the fore foot nearly equal ; fifth, shorter than the second. Hind foot with the thumb or first too about half as long as the second ; third and fourth, very nearly equal ; fifth, rather more than half the length of the fourth. Tail slightly compressed laterally and covered with short hair; bristles of the muzzle rather numerous and long. Ears covered with hair on their outside only. Feet covered with short hair. Hair, especially on the upper parts, very fine and soft. Dentition. — In the upper jaw, the first molar presents five triangles, one anterior, two exterior, and two interior ; the second presents four triangles, one anterior, two exterior, and one interior, with a posterior rounded lobe ; the third presents five triangles, one anterior, two exterior, very small, two interior, and ends in a trefie or three-lobed figure, the exterior lobe of which is nearly obliterated, and leaves a plane space from the eiid of the tooth to the posterior triangle. The line of teeth in the upper jaw exhibits, externally, nine salient and nine re-entering angles, the two last of each, small ; internally, ten G L I R E S. 45 salient and eight re-entering angles, exclusive of the interior emargi- nation of the trefle. In the lower jaw, the first molar commences with a trefle, then follow six triangles, two exterior, three interior, and oiiO posterior ; tho second presents five triangles, two exterior, two interior, and one posterior ; the third is narrowed anteriorly, and formed of five triangles, two exterior very small, two interior and one posterior. The line of teeth in the lower jaw presents externally eleven salient anglep, including the exterior lobe of the trefle, and nine re-eiiiering angles, including the concavity of the side of the trefle ; internally, eleven salient, the two penultimate very small, and eleven re-entering angles, including the interior lohe and the eraargination of the side of the trefle. This dentition is precisely similar to that of Arvicola riparius, Ord. Dimensions. — Total length (specimen in spirits), from tip of nose to end of tai!. about six inches; head, one inch and a quarter; fore leg, three-quaiters of an inch ; hind leg, one and a half inches ; tail, two inches. Colors. — Entire pilage of the upper parts glossy rufous, darkest on the middle of the head and back ; under parts grayish-white, palest on the abdomen. Pur on all parts dark-lead color at base, and only tipped with the colors just stated. Feet and tail reddish-bi'own, neai'ly uniform with the color of the upper parts of the body. Incisors, on their anterior surface, pale orange-yellow. Hab. — Puget Sound, Oregon. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. This is one of the most handsome little animals of its family, and bears some general resemblance to Arvicola riparlnn, but is very readily to be distinguished. We find in the notes of the naturalists of the Expedition nothing relating to it, further than that it was obtained at Puget's Sound, Oregon. 2. Arvicola californicus, Peale. — The California Field Mouse. Arvicola culi/oniicus, PiiAnE, Zool. Esp. Exp. Mninm. p. 46 (Ist eJ. 1848). Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate VIII, Fig. 1. Adult. Suhmriefjaim rufcscenti-fusco et tihp'o. Caqmre hrtvi et robusto, pilln 12 46 MAJIiJALOGY. Ill apeclem hirsutiei hahentihua, revera tamen mollihua et levibus. AiirU his mhmagnis, pene sub pilia occultia. Cauda 8V2>ra fuaca, euhlus fusco-dnerea. Long. 6 unc. Form. — Body short and thick ; head large, blunt ; upper incisors ' not grooved ; eyes small ; ears rounded^ rather large, but almost concealed under the fur; anti-tragus large and semicircular. Thumb of the fore-foot rudimentary, with a compressed blunt nail ; third and fourth toes of the fore foot, nearly equal ; fifth, rather shorter than the second. Hind foot, with the first toe, about half as long as the second ; third and fourth, very nearly equal ; fifth, rather more than half the length of the fourth. Tail cylindrical; feet and tail covered with short hair. Bristles of the muzzle or whiskers long and numerous. Pilage, especially on the upper parts, com- posed of long and rather coiirse hair and fur, and presenting a rather marked hirsute appearance. Dentition. — Generally similar to that of the preceding, but differs as follows : In the upper jaw, the second internal triangle of the first molar and the internal triangle of the second are each furnished with a small, sharp, posterior lobe. In the lower jaw, the first tooth is formed of nine triangles; one anterior, which may rather be called an oval, one posterior, three exterior, and four interior. The line of the teeth in the upper jaw differs in having internally nine salient and eight re- entering, and in the lower jaw in having externally ten salient and nine re-entering, and internally twelve salient and eleven re-entering angles. Dimensions. — Total length (specimen in spirits), from tip of nose to end of tail, about six inches ; fore leg, three-quarters of an inch ; hind leg, one and a half inches ; head, one and a quarter inches ; tail, one and three-quarter inches. , Colors. — Plumbeous at base of pilnge, very glossy ; above and on the sides uniform reddish-brown, mixed with black ; cheeks paler ; under parts much lighter and inclining to brownish-gray. Tail above, brown, beneath cinereous. Feet grayish-brown; incisors on their anterior surface pale orange-yellow ; whiskers pale-brov/n or gray. G L I B E S. 47 Hab. — San Francisco, California. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. About the size of the preceding, but very different in color. Of this species fine specimens are in the collection of the Expedition, and, like those of the preceding, are as yet the only ones that have found their way to our collections. Of this animal, Mr. Peale remarks : " It is not uncommon at the Bay of San Francisco, California, in all moist and grassy situations, but from the form of the tail we infer that it is not aquatic in its habits, like the Arvicola occidentalis, to which it is nearly allied." That this little species has escaped the attention of late naturalists and collectors, we regard as quite remarkable, especially seeing that the " Bay of San Francisco" has become rather a well-known locality, zoologically and otherwise, since the above was written. Such appears to be the fact, however, and we have, as yet, seen no other specimens than those in the collection of the Expedition. 3. Akvicola montanus, Peale. Arvicola montanus, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Mamm. p. 44 (1848). A species under this name is described by Mr. Peale, as above cited, but of whicl we find no specimens in the collt'otion of the Expedition, nor is there a drawing of it amongst thK^i^ made by him, nor a citation of a plate in his printed book. We suj^ j" ■ , tlierefore, that the speci- mens were lest, and can only, under the circumstances, quote the description alluded to : " A. forma rotundata, capita magno, auribna mediocrihun et vellere pane vestitiSf dentihus Jlavis, oculia parvis, nigris, pUis suhtiUhus 6erici,sqii<', in dorso hrunneis nigrisque intermixtis ; infra plumheis cam/a jiedi- husque brevi nitente pllo indutia, mystacibiia alhis nigrisque ; utammia octo, quaiuor in ahdomine, in pectore totidem. " Form rounded ; the head large ; ears moderate and nearly cf,v od with fur ; teeth yellow ; eyes small, black ; hair fine and .^Uky ; that of the back brown and black intermixed ; beneath, lead colored ; tail and feet covered with short, glossy hairs ; whiskers white and black ; teats eight in number, four pectoral and four abdominal." 48 MAMMALOGY. " Total length, six and one-eighth inches, including the tail, which is one and a half inches long. "Our specimen was obtained on the 4th of October, near the head waters of the Sacramento River, in California." 5. Genus PEROGNATIIUS, De Wkd. Cricetodipus, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Mamin. p. 52* (Ist ed. 1818). 1. Perognathus parvus {Peale). Cricetodipus parvus, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Mamm. p. 53 (1st ed. 1848). A single specimen of this species is in the collection, which, having remained in spirits for a length of time, very probably sufficient to affect its colors, we deem it most proper to transcribe the description by Mr. Peale : " Head ovate ; the snout elongate, pointed, and covered with hair, excepting the nostrils, which are small and convolute ; lips large, tumid, and covered with short hairs ; whiskers numerous, white ; a tuft of white hairs or bristles on the chin ; cheek-pouches spacious, opening outside of the mouth, and reaching from the upper lip to the throat, the cavity extending backwards to the ears, and lined with hair ; eyes medium-sized ; ears small, round, and fringed with hairs ; fore legs small ; the feet moderate, margined with bristly hairs ; the nails short, curved, excepting that of the thumb, which is orbicular, or resembling the human thumb nail; hind legs long; the feet larger and strong, five-toed, the middle one slightly longer than the rest, inner toe shortest, reaching only to the iiid ot ilie metatar.«.i; bo.ies of t)ie * " Head and body nearly equal in size ; spanious check-pouches outside of the mouth ; upper cutting teeth small, narrow, incurved and chunnelled longitudinally on the ex- terior; lower cutting teeth narrow, rounded, and approximating at the points; molars with six rounded tubercles on each; ears small, rounded; eyes medium sized; tore legs small, feet with four toes and a thumb, the latter having a fliittonod nail ; hind legs large, strong, the feet having five long toes, each with a distinct metatarsu.s, tail longer than the head and body. "Dental formula: incisors, '•; caijines, [| g; molars, J 5=10." 'Peale, as above.) G L I R E S. 49 others; all the nails short, pointed, and slightly curved; tail long, tapering, and clothed with short silky hairs. Color above sepia-brown, beneath white ; a dark line crosses the cheek beneath tlie eye. " Length of the head and body, one and nine-tenths of an inch ; head, from the nose to the occiput, nine-tenths of an inch ; ear, three- twentieths of an inch ; tail, two a.id three-tenths inches ; fore leg, from the elbow, nine-twentieths of an inch ; fore foot, three-tenths of an inch ; tibia, seven-tenths of an inoh ; hind foot, eight-tenths of an inch ; metatarsus, five-tenths of an inch. • " A single specimen of this singular animal was obtained in Oregon, but no notes were furnished by the person who obtained it. The formation of its hind legs leaves but little room to doubt that its habits are similar to those of the jumping mice, Meriones lahradorhi's (Richardson), which are inhabitants of the same rej^ion. Its singu- larly large head, which equals its body in bulk, its ample cheek- pouches, long hind legs, and long tail, present a general form which is peculiar and altogether very remarkable. On dissection, the stomach was found to contain a pulpy matter, which appeared to be the re- mains of a bulbous root. The liver is very large, and consists of five foliaceous lobes ; we were not able to detect any gall-bladder. The specimen is a female, and presents the rudiments of a fourth molar tooth in each side of the lower jaw, which would eventually have re- placed the front ones, already much worn." 4. Family SCIURIDiE.— The Squirrels. 1. Genus SCIURUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 86 (1766). 1. SciURUS FOSSOR, Rah. — The Digger Squirrel. Sri'urus/oisor, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Mamm. p. 55 (1st ed. 1848). Sciurm Heermanni, Leconte, Proc. Acad. Philad. VI, p. 149 (1852). Sciunti Clarkii, H. Smith, Oriff. Cuv. Ill, p. 189 (1827) ? Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate IX. Adult. S. supra e nigro alhoque intermlxtis grisetis, stihtus albiis, aurlbm magnlH 13 50 MAMMALOGY. breviter pilosis, naso nigro, cauda disticha, albomanjinata, corpore non breviore. FoKM. — Large and rather heavy, somewhat resembling S. cinereua. Hairs rather long and coarse; whiskers shorter than the head; ears large (not fringed), subtriangular, rounded at the tip, covered on both sides with short hair. Tail long ; legs strong and robust. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) from tip of nose to end of tail, including the hair on the latter, about twenty -six inches ; head, three and a quarter inches; tail including hair, fourteen inches; length of ear, one inch ; fore foot, two inches ; hind foot, three inches ; hair at end of tail, two and three-quarter inches. Incisors, two in each jaw; molars, five in the upper and four in the under jaw on each side. Colors. — Body above light gray; hairs gray at base, then black, with bands of white near the middle, becoming duller and gray towards the point, and some hairs pure black. A small spot towards the top of the nose and an obscure line over the eye, black ; whiskers black; ears gray; incisors on their exterior surface, dark orange, beneath white. Hair of the tail black, with gray at base and tipped with white, rather lighter on its under surface. Hab. — Oregon and California. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Philadel- phia, and Nat. Mus. Washington. This fine species h.as now been brought by several naturalists from California, the first of which was Dr. A. L. Heermann, whose speoi- n]en was described by our esteemed friend, Dr. John L. Leconte, one of the most accomplished and eminent of American naturalists, as above cited. There was at that time no copy of Mr. Peale's volume in the city of Philadelphii, and from the fact that a part only of the Government edition of one hundred copies was distributed and no other published, its contents were necessarily but little known. Dr. Leconte was, however, the first to inform us that his, and the species described by Mr. Peale, were identical. Mr. Peale observes with reference to this animal : '• In the southern parts of Oregon, there is a large species of pine G L I R E S. 51 (Hnua Lamberiii, Douglas), which produces a cone about fifteen inches long and eighteen in circumference. The gum or resin which exudes where this tree has been wounded, is sweet, tasting like manna, which it also resembles in appearance and in its gentle purgative qualities. The fruit of this pine furniahes food for the natives, as well as to the subject of this description, which is one of the largest of the American Squirrels. " This species was found by our party wherever we saw the above-mentioned pine. It digs holes in the ground, to which it re- treats when pursued or shot at, although it is able to climb with great facility. In this respect it greatly resembles our common ground squirrel (Tamias Lysteri, Ray), but does not so habitually live on the ground, being most frequently seen in the pine trees." Dr. Heermann's specimens, now in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, are rather smaller than those in the collection of the Expe- dition, but are evidently 1 "e same specifically. We entirely coincide in the suspicion expressed by Messrs. Audubon and Bachman, in Quadrupeds of Nortli America, III, p. 342, that tnis species may be Sciarus Clarkii, H. Smith, as above cited. 5. Family HYSTRIOID^.— The Porcupines. 1. Genus HYSTRIX, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 76 (1766). 1. HrsTRix DORSATA, Lhin. — The North American Porcupine. ni/strix dorsata, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 76 (1766). Hifstrix pihmts, Richardson, Faun. Bor. Am, Manim. p. 214 (1829). Ifi/slrix hiuhont'us, AucT. Aud. and Bach. Quad, of N. A. Plate X^X;VI.; oct. ed. I, Plate XXXVI. . ;;.._V.,U V W i\ .«_,.^ The North American PorcupjjiQ does not tippwi,r , to have been observed by the naturalists of tllb" .EKp^tJitlqh; but;9.,ccoJ:dii)g;tp,Mr. Peale its quills were obtained in Oregon. ""■;•• ^ .,;; , v Mr. Peale observes with reference to this species : " The ' quills' of this species of porcupine were obtained from some 62 MAMMALOGY. Indiaus, whom we met while crossing the Shasty Mountains, lying between Oregon and California. There can be little doubt of the animal's inhabiting that part of the continent near the Pacific Ocean, about the forty-second degree of latitude, although unknown to be there by the traders and trappers of fur-bearing animals, who occa- sionally cross that tract of country in search of beavers in Upper California. The Indians from whom we obtained the quills, are generally hostile to white people, and all the surrounding tribes of their own color, and we believe could not have obtained the porcupine quills in trade, because they are not used by the Indians in the south of Oregon for embroidery, as they are in the north." 2. Genus DOLICHOTIS, Besmarest, Mamm. p. 359, 3G0 note (1820). 1. DoLiCHOTis PATAcnoxicA (Sltaw). — The Patagonian Cavy. Cavia pntachonica, Shaw, Gen. Zool. II, p. 226 (1801). J/(im wjo^t//aH(ca, Lesson, Cent. Zool. p. 113 (1830). Shaw, Zool. II, Plate CLXV. Less. Cent. Plate XLII. Under date of January 30th, 1839, at the Rio Negro, in Patagonia, we find the following note relating to this little an'mal, in Dr. Picker- ing's journal : " The Patagonian Cavy is very common, and usually passes by tbo name of ' hare.' Its dentition does not differ materially from that of the other cavies (O/tloromi/s), at least in the upper jaw, except that the last molar has three lobes instead of two. " In one of my excursions, I started a party of six of these little animals, which ran away with considerable swiftness, and somewhat to my surprise, keeping strictly in single file. I was told by residents that this was:. flie'case.'Vvh^' found in companies, for the purpose of adhenftg' to the 'paths to' tlWit' burrows. This cavy was said, hov- ever, t6 be most 'u^nally fon^d in pairs, though perhaps not at the seasdii of -our visit.' Or! aflcWer occasion I found four together, two of •vvlirch took refuge in their burrows, while the others disappeared over a ridge. The gait of this animal reminded ine of that of a hare, but it has a peculiar and rather awkward limp. Its burrows are large, L I R E S. 53 and it frequently has for a companion h, species of burrowing owl, of which specimens have been obtained. " A young specimen brought living on board had a whistling cry, not loud. It made no attempt to bite." 8. Genus CAVIA, GmeliH. Syst. Nat. I, p. 120 (1788). 1. Cavia porcellus {Linn.). — The Guinea Pig. — The Variegated Cavy. Mu> porcellm, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 79 (1766). Cavia aperea, Erxleben, 3Iamra. p. 348 (1777). Cavia cohaya, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 122 (1788). Cavia obicura, LicuTS. Verz. p. 3 (1823). Dr. Pickering observes with reference to this animal : " From information derived from residents, I am inclined to suppose that the native country of the * cuy' or guinea pig, extends to the mountains or forests of Eastern Peru, and is not exclusively Guiana or Brazil, as has been supposed. It is a common domestic animal throughout Peru." 4. Genus LAGOTIS, Bennett, Trans. Zool. Soo. London, I, p. 59 (lSo5). 1. Lagotis pallipes, Bennett. — The Visacha. Lagotis pallipes, Benn. Trans. Zool. Soo. London, I, p. 332 (1836). Trans. Zool. Soc London, I, Pl-ite XLII. In relation to this species, we introduce the following from the journal of Dr. Pickering : " This animal is very common on all the barren stony hills of Western Peru, even in the immediate vicinity ol Lima, — so much so that it is difficult to determine how it finds sustenance, unless it re- sorts to roots, for instance, the deep-buried bulbs of the Amaryllis tribe. 14 64 MAMMALOGY. '• Its appearance is very nearly that which would be presented by a rabbit with a long tail. It forms burrows, which are frequently also tenanted by a species of burrowing owl. Though here commonly called * viscacha,' it is entirely diflerent from the animal bearing the same name on the plains of Buenos Ayres," 6. Genus DASYPUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 53 (1766). 1. Dasypus minutus, Desmaresi. — The Patagonian Armadillo. 7/a»y/jM8 mtn«/u«, Desm. Mamm. p. 371 (1820). From notes in Dr. Pickering's journal, made at the Rio Negro, Patagonia, we introduce the following relating to this species : "An armadillo is abundant, and is apparently the ' Tatou-pichy' of Azara. Several specitnens have been brought on board, which buried themselves in a cask of sand with great facility. They proved to be exceedingly quarrelsome, and fought each other almost incessantly, presenting in their battles some very peculiar and quite ludicrous features. The one likely to be overcome, rolled himself up as a last resort, and waited quietly until the victor desisted. They inflicted no inconsidcvable wounds with the nails of the fore feet, directing their exertio'.is to the skin between the dorsal bands, and endeavoring to bite each other's ears. At other times they were more peaceable, making no attempt to bite, and on the floor were rather disposed to be inactive. " These animals devoured meat with some voracity, masticating it apparently very effectually, and lapped water with the tongue, which is rather the contrary of Azara's observation. Another larger species was mentioned by residents, but not seen during the stay of the Expe- dition." ' U N G U L A T A. 65 5. Order UNGULATA.— The Hoofed Mammals. I 1. Family CEilVID/Il.— The Doers, Elks, Moose, &c. 1. Genus CERVUS, Linnceui, Syst. Nat. I, p. 92 (1766). 1. Cervus AMericanus {Jefferson). — The American Elk. Alces americanus, Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, p. 87 (London, 1787). Cervu$ stronijyloceros, ScHREBER, Saugthiere, V, p. 1074 (1836)? Cervut major, Ord. Guthrie's Geog. II, p. 292 (1815). Elaphus canadensii (Briss.), De Kay, Nat. Hist. New York, I, p. 118. Schreb. Saugth. V, Plate CCXLVII. Audubon and Bachman, Quad. N. A. Plate LXII; oct. ed. Ill, Plate LXXVI. This fine species, well known as the largest of the North American Cervidce, is frequently mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition as having been observed in Oregon and California. In the latter country it appears to be especially abundant, more so, perhaps, than in any other portion of the United States. Mr. Peale's remarks on this animal are as follows : "'Wapiti,' 'Wawaskiss,' * Waskeesews,' ' Wawaskeesho,' and as many other Indian names are applied to this animal, as there are tribes of Indians speaking different dialects of language, in the wide belt of country which it inhabits. Elk is the name universally adopted by all who speak the English language in the same districts, where the moose [Cervus alces, L.), known by the name of elk in Northern Europe, is seldom, if ever, found. " It still exists on the upper branches of the Susquehanna River, and thence westwardly, may occasionally be found in all favorable situations, in greater or less numbers, to the Pacific Ocean. Tho^e observed by the members of the Expedition on the mountains south of the Columbia River, were of unusual size and in considerable num- bers. 56 MAMMALOGY. "In California, this animal is very abundant, and commonly fre- quents the plains, as it does in the country on the upper parts of the Missouri River. Though not generally so large as when found in- habiting mountain districts, we can find no specific character to separate one from the other. Thsy all have the same strong, blunt, canine teeth in the upper jaw only, light-colored rumps, short tails, &c. They go in larger herds than any other deer in America, except- ing, perhaps, the caribou {Cervns tarandm, L.), and, notwithstanding the specific name, canadensis, must not be considered a northern species." Df. Pickering frequently mentions this animal in that portion of his journal which relates to California. We take the liberty of introduc- ing the following extracts, which are from his notes made during a boat-voyage up the Sacramento River : "August 27th, 1841. — At sunset, a bear having been seen on the bank, landed with Messrs. Alden, Sandford, Elliott, and Hammersly, when we immediately discovered a herd of elk, which we endeavored to approach within gunshot, abandoning our proposed search for the bear. " The herd consisted of perhaps thirty, principally females, or young males, and as they formed themselves into a group, apparently await- ing our arrival, presented a highly imposing appearance. The father or chieftain of the flock maintained in some measure a position in the centre, and his immense horns appeared almost to overshadow the party. At intervals they uttered a short kind of roar, more like barking than the voice of a hoofed animal, and our situation would have been exceedingly precarious, were it the instinct of this animal to attack man. They did not allow us to approach within the range of our fire-arms, but after turning and wheeling around several times, made off at such a rate that, considering the lateness of the hour, we did not deem it prudent to pursue. "September 2d. — Elk heard whistling, and a young male with two females noticed by a party which landed. Did not allow us to ap- proach within gunshot. " September 9th. — The velvety covering of the horns of the elk is stated by Dr. Richardson, in Fauna Boreali-Americana, to be rubbed off" in October. This is evidently dependent somewhat on locality, as here, in California, it was completely gone in the last week of August. U N G U L A T A. 6T " F. Cuvier's coniparinon of the cry of this animal to the pronuncin- tion of the vowels a-o-ii, is by no means inaccurate, especially if we suppose the sounds so shrill as almost to resemble whistling, by which name it is commonly alluded tu by residents and hunters. There is a popular notion here that it is produced through the lachrymal sac, which of course is erroneous. " The flesh of the elk is highly jjiized in California, and preferred to venison, notwithstanding statements of authors. F. Cuvier's dimen- sions of this animal seem to be too small. A specimen killed, ap- peared to me as fully equalling if not exceeding a cow in height and bulk. The back in this specimen was rubbed and sore from contact with the horns, carried backwards. Tail very short. It was not in my power to make an accurate measurement." Cervus macrotis, Suy. — The Mule Deer. Cervus macrotis, Say, Long's Exp. II, p. 88 (1823). Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate X. Adult. This species is now well established, though it does not appear to have been known to naturalists before the Expedition of Lewis and Clarke, and even since, has been frequently confounded with the pre- ceding and other species. It is apparently more an exclusive inhabi- tant of the interior of the continent than others. No specimen of the mule deer is in the present collection, nor does it appear to have been met with in the course of the voyage of the Expedition, but we cite Mr. Peale's description and remarks at length as being a detailed account of this species, the materials for which he evidently derives from observations made during Long's Expedition, to which he was attached. It will be observed, that he especially states the specimen described by him as the same which served for the description of Mr. Say, who was also attached to Major Long's party. The specimen alluded to, was, we believe, formerly in Peale's Museum in Philadelphia : " Rather larger than Cervus vinjinianus, and having more of the general aspect of C. canadensis, destitute of the black submaxillary marks which are always conspicuous in C. Lewisii and C virginiamts. 15 58 MAMMALOGY. Horns larger and more spreading, but having the points turned forward in the same manner; snout more arched, and the lac hrymal opening larger ; hoofs rounded, the under surface concave ; tail pale terruginous above, destitute of hair beneath, and having a tuft of black hair at the extremity. Color pale ferruginous, darkest on tiie back, lighter beneath ; chin, throat, inside of the thighs and belly, dirty white ; hair flattened and undulating ; eyelashes and whiskers black ; iridea dark brown; pupils blue-black and horizontally linear, ears large, almost naked, dark colored externally, and lined with scattered white hairs internally. " Total length, five feet seven inches ; tail, seven and a half inches ; black tuft, five and a half inches ; height at the shoulder, three feet ; at the rump, three feet four inches; circumference, breast, three feet three inches; abdomen, three feet nine inches; space between the horns, two and three-tenths inches ; length of the horns hy the curve, one foot four and a half inches ; lachrymal opening, one inch ; ear in length, ten inches ; width, four inches ; from the base of the ear to the shoulder, one foot ; fore leg from the carpal joint to the point of the hoof, one foot one inch ; hoof, one and six-tenths of an inch ; measured along the commissure beneath, two and a half inches ; in width, two inches; hind foot from the os calcis to the tip of the hoof, one foot six and a half inches; hoot, one and seven-tenths of an inch ; along the commissure beneath, two and a half inches ; width, one and six-tenths of an inch ; spurious hoofs, eight-tenths of an inch ; width, nine-tenths of an inch. " Dental formula : incisors, I ; canine, g I ; molars, § g = 32. " The specimen from which our description is taken, was killed on the 1st of August, and is consequently in summer hair. The horns woiv. not fully grown, but are carefully delineated in our plate, and will give a correct idea of their appearance when covered with ' velvet,' — a term used by hunters to express the nature of the sjiort liair which covers the horns of deer when they are growing. It is the sam*? specimen described by Mr. Say, and the drawing for Plate X, is finished from a sketch made on the spot. The landscape and backgromid of the plate being sketched at the same time, are given as characteristic of the country generally inhabited by the mule deer. " From observation, and all the information collected, we believe this species, in it.^ geographical range, is confined to the Rocky Moun- tains. It is most abundant on the eastern slope, and delights in rocky UNGULATA. 50 hills covered with cedar and pine trees. By the flattened and concave formation of its hoofs, it is enabled to climb the rocky steeps with much greater facility than other species of deer, and for the same reason we infer that it is more at ease in the snowy regions of the mountains." 3. Cervus Lewisii, Pisale. — The Black-tailed Deer. Cervu» Leieisii, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Mamm. p. 39 (1st ed. 1848). Cervus mavrotit, var. columhiana, Hichardson, Faun. Bor. Am. I, p. 257 (1829). Cervus macrourus, Ham Smith, Griff. Cuv. V, p. 316 (1827)!' Atlas, Mammalogy, Plate XI. Adult. Though known since the time of Lewis and Clarke, this species was first accurately described by Mr. Peale. Usually confounded by naturalists with the preceding and other species, it is clearly and evidently distinct, and apparently peculiar to the countries of North America west of the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Peale's description and observations are as follows : " Horns shaped like those of Cervus vlrgiiuamin, but more slender, and commonly without the basal antler. General form rounded and compact; color of the hair (in October), yellowi.«h-brown, lighter beneath, not flattened, but slightly undulating, a black or dark-brown band encircling the nose and under jaw ; chin, belly, and inside of the legs yellowish-white ; a dark line along the middle of the breast ; tail curved, covered with hair at all seasons, tufted towards the extremity, black above, and yellowish-white beneath. Feet pale, raw, sienna- colored ; hoofs bluish Ijorn-color, narrow and small. " Dental formula : incisors, ^ ; canines, ^ '^ ; molars, g g = 32. " Specimen killed on Feather River, Upper California : total length, including the tail, six feet one and a half inches; tail, ten inches; height at the shoulder, three feet two inches ; at the rump, three feet three inches ; from the shoulder to the tail, three feet .si.x inches ; from the lower jaw tt> the shouldor, one loot one inch ; ear, length, ten inches; width, three and three-quarter inches; circumference of the neck, one foot ; of the chest, three foot eight inches ; nose to tlie occiput, twelve and three-quartor inches; nose to the horns, nine 60 MAMMALOGY. m inches ; to the eye, seven inches ; lachrymal sinus in length, one inch ; in depth, seven-eighths of an inch. " This specimen was of full size, but had small horns and one basal antler on the right side, which was about three inches long, situated inside and directed upwards and backwards. The skin was lost in descending the Sacramento River. " Specimen killed at the Bay of San Francisco : horns two-pronged, separated at the base, two inches ; at the points, eight and one-quarter inches ; length by the curve, fifteen and a half inches ; first antler, nine inches ; second, two and a quarter inches ; fore hoof, in length, two and a half inches ; width, one and four-fifths of an inch ; hind hoof, in length, two and a half inches ; width, one and four-fifths of an inch ; spurious hoofs, fore feet, one inch ; in width, three-quarters of an inch ; spurious hoofs, hind feet, seven-eighths of an inch ; in width, three-quarters of an inch. " This species has a glandular sac, about an inch and a quarter long, opening on the outside of the hind legs, half way between the as calcis and the spurious hoof, similar to that in Cervua virginiamis. " This deer was first seen and described by our adventurous country- men, Captains Lewis and Clarke, whose description, published in their journal, in the year 1807, ia so accurate, that we subjoin it entire, adding only the scientific names of the other species with which they compared it : " * The black-tailed fallow deer are peculiar to this coast, and are a distinct species; partaking equally of the qualities of the mule dtor [Ccrvtis macrotin), and the common deer (C. virginianus). Their ears are longer than those of the common deer. The receptacle of the eye is more conspicuous, their legs shorter, and their bodies thicker and larger. The tail is of the same length with that of the common deer; the hair on the under side is white, and on its sides and top of a deen ietty black ; the hams resemble in form and color those of the mule deer, which they likewise resemble in gait. " ' The black-tailed deer never runs at full speed, but bounds with every foot from the ground at the same time, like the mule deer. He sometimes inhabits the woodlands, but more often the prairies and open grounds. It may generally be said that he is a size larger than the common deer and less than the mule deer. The llesh is seldom fat, and in flavor is far inferior to any other species.' " We propose the name Liwml, from the conviction that the above UNGULATA. 61 description, written forty years since on the Columbia River, was in- tended for the animal now before us. In courtesy, we should have called it Golumhiana, as suggested by Dr. Richardson, in Fauna Boreali Americana, but that name would imply locality, and he has not chosen a correct one. " The geographic range of this species, by our own observations, appears to be limited on the north by the Columbia River, where a few are sometimes found. South of the Umpqua River, it occupies the country to the entire exclusion of the Virginia deer. It is seldom seen east of the Cascade range of mountains, but abounds in Cali- fornia. " The black-tailed deer never ca 'ries its tail erect when running, and, viewed from behind, shows two narrow white lines of hair, instead of the large, white, and elevated tail c^ the Virginia deer, seen in the same position. When on i he prairies, in long grass, it has c» habit which is somewhat peculiar, — that of frequently springing up to a con- siderable height to get sight of its pursuers. Most of the bucks killed in the mountainous regions of the southern part of Oregon had a basal antler on the inner side of the horn, which was directed upwards and backwards ; those killed on the plains in California seldom had it." PORK FOOT OF C. MAfROTIS. KORE FOOT OP C. I.EWISII. 4. Cervus VIRGINIA nus, Qmelin. — The Common Deer. Cervm virginianus, Qm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 179 (1788). Cervtu amertcanm, Erxleben, Syst. Regn. Ac. I, p. 312 (1777). Cervut mexicanuK, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 179 (1788) ? Cervus clavatus, Ham. Smith, Griff. Cuv. V, No. 793 (1827) ? Cervut kucurus, Douolas ? Ti" 62 MAMMALOGY. Aud. and Bach. Quad, of N. A. Plates LXXXI, CXXXVI. This species, perhaps the most interesting of all the quadrupeds of North America, appears to extend its range throughout the entire temperate regions of North America. Tliough now comparatively rare in the more thickly populated portions of the United States, it is of frequent occurrence wherever the primitive forest affords it the necessary protection, and is highly valuable and important as food to the pioneer settler, or to the traveller. In Oregon, this species is mentioned by the naturalists of the Ex- pedition as having been frequently seen ; and we find no circumstances tending to excite a suspicion that there is any difference specifically, between the animals of the western and the eastern shores of the con- tinent. Mr. Peale's remarks are as follows : ■ *' Numbers of deer were seen and killed at different times, by the members of the Expedition, while in Oregon. They were found most numerous near the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where their range is up to the fiftieth degree of latitude, and probably much further north. At the Umpqua River, in latitude 43°, they give place to the black- tailed deer [Gervm lewisii), our preceding species, which occupies the country south of that parallel, to the almost entire exclusion of the present animal. " We believe that the same species of deer inhabits all the timbered or partially timbered country, between the coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They vary in size, as all the animals of this genus do, in different feeding-grounds, but they are specifically the same. The names of animals, unless they have some peculiarities of voice, vary among different tribes of Indians, as among white people ; but it is curious that the ' sign* for this species is everywhere the same, and equally understood by the Indians of Maine, Florida, and Oregon. It is founded on one of its characteristic actions. When alarmed, this animal always erects its tail, which, being white beneath, is a conspi- cuous object ; and when running, the tail is still kept erect and wagged from side to side. Hence, the sign made by all the Indians who cannot express themselves by words, is to raise the finger or hand to a perpendicular position, and imitating the wagging motion alluded to, — a coincidence observed in Maine and Florida on the east, aud on the coast of the Pacific Ocean on the west." r N G U L A T A. 68 2. Genus ANTILOCAPRA, Ord. Jour, du Phys. (1818). 1. Antilocapra AMERICANA {Ord.). — The American Antelope. Antihpe americana, Ord. Guthrio'B Geography, II, p. 292 (1815). Cfirvus hamalus, Blainville, Nouv. Bull. Soc. Philad. Paris, p. 10 (1816). Ant Hope furci/er, Hamilton Smith, Trans. Linn. Soo. London, XIII, p. 28 (1822), Faun. Bor. Am. Mamm. Plate XXI. Audubon and Bachraan, Quad, of N. A. Plate LXXVII; octavo edition, III, Plate LXXVII. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XIII, Plate II. We find several allusions to this interesting animal in the notes of Dr. Pickering. Under date of 24th of August, 1841, in California, he says : " To-day, a small herd of antelopes was seen, and allowed me to approach within gunshot. This animal when living is scarcely so light and graceful as its name would lead us to expect, and, in fact, appeared to me to much resemble the deer in its movements ; but its horns look larger proportionately. Of those seen to-day, one only had horns, and nearly all the others appeared to be young. Color the same as in the Missouri species, and apparently in all respects the same animal." Subsequently, he observes : " Dr. Marsh assures me that the horns of this animal are shed annually like those of the deer. The small figure representing a front view of this animal, in Fauna Boreali Americana, is good, and gives a much better idea of it than the larger. The running figure is bad. Hernanc'az gives a good description under the name of Teuthtlal- macume. The hair is remarkably coarse, and as if inflated, and is easily detached from the skin. It certainly forms a genus distinct from any of the antelopes of the Old World that I have ever had an opportunity of seeing," 64 MAMMALOGY. 3. Genus BOS, Linn. Sjst. Nat. I, p. 98 (1766). 1. Bos BUBALis, lAnn. — The Indian Buffalo. Boi bubalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 99 (1766). Schreber Saugth. V, Plate CCC. In that portion of his journal kept at the Philippine Islands, in January, 1842, Dr. Pickering has the following observations relating to this animal : • " The buffalo is an animal very useful to the natives in these islands, as a beast of burden, and is so employed extensively. Though probably not originally found here, it is said to have escaped to the woods, and to have now become wild. It appears to have been long domesticated by the Malays. " In form, this animal, though not so tall, is much stouter propor- tionately and more massive than the ox, and carries its head much lower, in fact, half way to the ground. The horns are differently directed, not rising upwards, and approaching very near to each other at their origin. Its voice is entirely different, and much lower, re- minding me in some measure of that of a young colt. The skin is covered with thin straight hair, frequently scarcely perceptible. It is frequently to be seen incrusted with mire, in which it appears to be as fond of rolling as the hog, and is also exceedingly fond of the water. Indeed, it seemed to ' " the practice to allow it daily the luxury of bathing, which it did by going into the water until almost completely submerged. " In the Philippines, this animal is led or guided by a cord through its nose, and is used £ot riding upon as well as in carts. It is appa- rently very docile generally, under the management of the natives, though occasional exceptions occur. I saw a Malay who had been seriously injured by the horn of a buffalo. It is said to be especially ill-natUred towards white men. Its flesh is stated to be hard and coarse, and much inferior to that of the ox. UNOULATA. 65 4. Genus AUCHENIA, llliyer, Prodromus, p. 103 (1811). 1. AucHENiA LAMA {Linn). — The Llama. — The Guanaco. Camelu» Glama, LiNN. Sjst. Nat. I, p. 91 (1766). Though several species of this genus have been indicated by natu- ralists, we are at present unable to determine to which of them the notes in Dr. Pickering's journal, now about to be given, are appli- cable ; and insert them, therefore, as the species was regarded by the earlier naturalists, under the name above given. We find notes at various points in South America, the first of which is at the Rio Negro: " A species of guanaco is found here, though not mentioned by Azara. Several robes have been obtained, and a living specimen of the young was brought on board, but died almost immediately after its arrival." Also at Tierra del Fuego : " Skins of a guanaco were worn by the natives at Good Success Bay, but it was not ascertained that the animal inhabited this region, and probably is not found south of the Straits of Magellan." Subsequently, in Chili, the species inhabiting that country, probably different from that alluded to at the Rio Negro, came under Dr. Pickering's personal observation in its native wilds ; with reference to which we introduce the following from his journal : " The Chilian guanaco inhabits a district which may aptly be termed the Alpine desert of the Cordilleras, in which cold and desolate region the herbage is so scanty, that it has very few or no rivals. We saw this animal in large numbers, looking down at us as we passed along the valleys, and apparently scolding in a very peculiar and remarkable voice, which reminded me of a toy called the ' parchment rattle,' and * locust,' by the boys in Philadelphia. " This animal was by no means shy, and an instance occurred in which one approached within pistol-shot, from no other motive than curiosity, that I could assign. On another occasion, two crossed my path at about the same distance. The Chilian guanaco appears to me to be an entirely diffi rent species from that of the Rio Negro, and 17 66 MAMMALOGY. appears to be considerably larger, face blackish, wool on the back very coarse." In Peru, Dr. Pickering states that although the gnanaco was said to be common about the ridges and summits of the Cordilleras, it did not come under bis notice. ORNITHOLOGY. ORNITHOLOGY. 2. Class AYES-BIRDS. 1. Order RAPTORES.— Rapacious Birds. 1. Family VULTURIDiE.— The Vultures. 1. Genus SARCORAMPHUS, Dumeril, Analyse, p. 32 (1806). 1. SARCORAMPHUS GRYPHUS {Linn.). — The Condor. Vultur gryphus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 121 (1766). Vultiir magellanicus, Shaw, Mus. Lever, p. 1, pi. I (1792). Vultur condor, SiiAW, Gen. Zool. I, p. 2 (1809). Bonap. Am. Orn. IV, Plate XXII ; Temm. PI. Col. 133, 408, 464 ; Zool. Voy. Bonit^, Plate II ; Ilumb. Obs. Zool. Plate VIII, IX. The Condor was frequently seen by the naturalists attached to the Expedition, and tlie note-book of Dr. Pickering contains observations relating to its history and general habits, which are of much interest. Availing ourselves of the permission kindly granted by this learned gentleman, we have introduced the following extracts : " Valparaiso, April, 1839. Two condors, soaring high in the air, were seen during an excursion to Santiago." This is the first notice that occurs in Dr. Pickering s Journal ; afterwards he says, under this date : " Callao, May 22d, 1839. In its proper home, and where it presents itself in the character of the bold and fearless bird described by writers, 18 m 70 OUNITHOLOGY. I first observed the condor in the higher valleys of the Cordilleras. Subsequently, I repeatedly observed it among the Ainancaes Moun- tains, near Lima ; occasionally, along the sea-shoro, and once saw not less than twenty perched together on the ground, near the city just mentioned. " The flight, or rather the sailing of the condor is exceedingly ma- jostlc, and frequently so slow that its progression is scarcely perceptible; the bird, in the meantime, is perfectly motionless, and apparently makes no exertion whatever, unless to turn its head or incline its tail in chang- ing its course. In this manner, the condor proceeds slowly through the valleys, often sailing within a short distance of the ground, and appar- ently little regardijig the presence of man. At times, however, it soars to a great height. " There is a iieculiarity in the flight of this bird which I do not remember to have seen noticed, which is, that the primaries are spread out and more reflexed than in any other bird that I have observed, and almost gives to the fully expanded wing a dislocated aspect. I have never seen it flap its wings, except on arising from the ground. " T'.u condor was said by the inhabitants to feed only on recently dead animals." But the most interesting of Dr. Pickering's notes relate to an ad- venture with a condor, near Banos, in the Andes, to which an excursion was made, from Callao, by several of the naturalists and artists connected with the Expedition. We shall, however, continue to transcribe from his journal : " Banos is at the limit of cultivation, and contains perhaps a couple of dozen of scattering houses and a church. The ravine in which it is situated is very narrow, and its bordering mountains are very much elevated, and so rugged and steep that, as one of our party observed, it almost appeared that the cattle grazing on their sides would fall oft". '• Having concluded to remain here for the day, we separated into two parties, Messrs. Rich and Agate directing their steps down a stream of water, and Mr. Breckenridge and myself taking another direction. We ascended some distance on the heights to the left, and met with some success in collecting plants. Having become sepa- rated from my companion, I continued ascending leisurely, principally observing the plants by the way, and the acclivity gradually became steeper, until by noon I had reached a very considerable elevation. About this time, I noticed a condor sailing down the valley, in its R A P T O R E 8. 71 usual stately and composed manner, and I stopped to observe it. Much to my ustonishment, it quickened its pace, and made a turn around mo, then a second, and a third ; the hist time so near that I began to think an attack was seriously meditated. I was in an ex- ceedingly unfavorable condition for so tbrmidable a conflict, being con- siderably fatigued by climbing up the steep ascent, and my right hand partially disabled from an accident, to say nothing of the nature of the ground. Upon its continuing to approach, as it made the third circle around me, I seated myself, and drew my knife, at the moment of doing which, as though it understood my intentions, it suddenly wheeled off in a different direction and quickly disappeared, and I confess that, however humiliating the acknowledgment, 1 was, at that time, very well satisfied with its determination." The condor has been given by the Prince lionaparte (Continuation of Wilson's American Ornithology, IV, p. 1), and by Mr. Nuttall (Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada, T, p. 35), as a bird of North America, but we suspect upon insufficient evidence. A bill and a single quill-feather were brought by the famous explorers, Lewis and Clark, which were supposed to have belonged to this species, but it does not seem improbable that these remains ought really to have been attributed to the California Vultm-e [Citthartes caUfornianus), which is also a large species. No other tra- vellers have met with the condor, either in the districts visited by Lewis and Clark or elsewhere, in any part of the territory of tlie United States. The best descriptions and histories of this celebrated bird are those by Humboldt, in Zoological Observations, I, p. 26 (Rocueil d'Observa- tiones de Zoologie et d'Anatomie comparee, Paris, quarto, 1811), and by Darwin, in the Zt)ology of the Voyage of the Beagle, Birds, p. 3 (London, 1841), and by the same author, in Voyage of a Naturalist, I, p. 234, 238 (American edition, New York, 1846, duodecimo). 2. Sarcobamphus papa {Linn.). — The King Vulture. Vulturpapa, LiNN. Syst.' Nat. I, p. 122 (17GG). Buff. PI. Enl. 428 ; Vieill. Gal. I, Plate III ; Spix, Av. Bras. I, Plate I. 72 ORNITHOLOGY. This fine species, the only biru of its family possessing beauty of plumage, is abundant in some districts of South and Central America. It is also an inhabitant of the southern parts of Mexico. But, although admitted as a bird of the United states by Mr. Nuttall, no authentic instance of its having been observed is on record or has otherwise come to our knowledge. This bird is noticed once only by Dr. Pickering, from whose journal we make this extract, interesting on account of its allusion to the rapid flight of the species : " The King Vulture was seen two or three times in the vicinity of Valparaiso. Once, with its broad wings half closed and all motion in them entirely suspended, I observed it dartinr,' with amazing velocity towards some object that had attracted lis attention, and it soon dis- appeared." GENU8 CATHARTES, Illl(jcr, Prcdromus, p. 236 (1811). 1. Cathartes californianus {Shaio). — The California Vulture. Vultur caN/ornianus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. IX, p. 1 (1797). ' Vultiir columbianus, Ord. Guthrie's Geog. II, p. 315 (1815). Cathurlcs vulturinus, TjEMM. PI. Col. I, PI. XXXI (1820). Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCXI ; Oct. ed. I, Plate I ; Gray, Genera of Birds, I, Plate II. Noticed occasionally by Dr. Pickering in California. In one instance he records the appearance of several individuals of this species " so very suddenly on the death of an animal, that they seemed to have come down from the upper regions of the atmosphere." One of the several allusions to this bird by Dr. Pickering involves a point not well understood, and is given under date of October 16th : " A specimen, apparently of Cathartes calif or nianus, seen to-day, had the baro nkin of the head and neck black, and it had, too, less white in its plumage than any that I have seen before. Other specimens in the neigb -jorhoud had the head and neck red as usual." Of this highly interesting fact, which has been noticed by several naturalists, we can at presont give explanation ; but it is possible that the color of the RAPT0RE8. 73 bare space may be a character dependent on age, as in numerous other species of birds. In the plumage alluded to, this bird is CatJiartes viiUurimis, Temm., as above cited. It will be seen below, that Mr. Peale attributes this variation to age exclusively. The following memoranda, also relating to this species, we introduce from Mr. Peale : " This cannot be considered a common bird in Oregon. We first saw it on the plains of the Willamette River, but subsequently observed that it was much more numercuf; in California, from the fact that the carcasses of large animals are more abundant, which this bird certainly prefers to the dead fishes on which it is obliged to feed in Oregon and all the countries north of the Spanish settlements in California. Pre- cisely the same change takes place from youth to maturity, in this species, which is known to take place in the turkey buzzard {CatJiartes atim), the young having black or brownish heads, which become red as they grow older." 2. Cathartes aura {Linn.). — The Turkey Buzzard. Viilfur aura, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 122 (17GG). Cathartes sepleiitrionalis, De Wied, Roiso, I, p. 162 (1830). Cat. Car. I, Plate VI; Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, Plate II; Wilson, Am. Orn. IX, Plate LXXV, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CLI ; Oct. ed. I, Plate II. A fine specimen, from Oregon, is in the collection of the Expedition. It is absolutely identical with the common turkey buzzard of the States on the Atlantic seaboard, and the species may therefore be regarded as inhabiting the entire temperate and warmer regions of North America. In Dr. Pickering's notes wo find this vulture frequently mentioned, as having been of common occurrence at points visited in Western North America, particularly in California. Mr. Peale states that this bird is " quite common in Oregon and California." 3. Cathartes jota {Molina) . — The Turkey Buzzard of South America. Vulturjotu, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Cliili (1782), 2d edit. p. 220 (1810). 19 74 ORNITHOLOGY. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate I. Adult. This is a species nearly allied to the preceding, and appears to represent it in the southern portion of the continent of America. Respecting this bird there have existed considerable misapprehensions on the part of writers on North American Ornithology, and consequent confusion in their works. It has been usually regarded as identical with the common black vulture or carrion crow of the Southern States of this Union, but erroneously, as is now readily demonstrable from specimens contained in the National Collection. Of these, a specimen from Tierradel Fuego was brought by the Expedition. Specimens obtained in Chili, and belonging to the vary fine collection made by Lieut. Gilliss, of the U. S. Navy, were uniformly labelled " Jota," as the name by which the bird was known in its native country, thus coinciding with a statement made by Molina, in his descrip- tion above cited. From Dr. Pickering's notes we make the following extract, relative to tliis species : " Tlie turkey buzzard was generally met with in the country, some miles from the cities, though I did, occasionally, see it venturing into the outskirts of Callao, in company with the bhick vulture {G. hrasili- ensis). Wlien flying, it is readily distinguished from the latter by the absence of the light-colored spot on the wing, and, on a nearer approach, by the red skin of the head and neck. On the ground it does not at- tempt to run or leap about like the black vulture, owing apparently to the shortness of its legs, and it may, perhaps, in some me?\siire bo on this account that it does not venture into the streets, for it is by no means shy, though scarcely permitting so close an approach as the other. The inferior coverts of the wings are jet black ; other parts of the under surface of the body dusky brown. Common throughout Western Peru." ,m ■''■I 4. Cathartes atratus {Bartmm). — The Black Vulture. Carrion Crow. The ViiUur atratun, Baktram, Trav. p. 289 (1791). Viiflur uniLu, ViEiLL. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, p. 53 (1807). RAPTORES. 75 Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, Plate 11? Wilson, Am. Orn. IX, Plate LXXV, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CVI ; Oct ed. I, Plate III. The collection of the Expedition contains no specimen of this bird from the western countries of North America, but it is mentioned by Mr. Peale as having been noticed by him in both Oregon and Cali- fornia, as follows : " We did not observe this bird to be common in Oregon, but saw it more frequently in California. It seeras generally to acorn pany the preceding species {Gathartes aura), but is more familiar in its habitb, It is the more plentiful of the two species in the warmer parts of both North and South America, and decreases in numbers as we approach the colder latitudes, where the C. aura is the more abundant." The South American bird is regarded by ornithologists as a distinct though similar species, and is alluded to in the next article. Unless there is some mistake in Mr. Peale's obser\ation, this species inhabits a much higher latitude on the western than on the eastern side of the continent. There is, however, no other reoord of this bird having been observed in Oregon, so far as our knowledge extends. Dr. Pickering expressly mentions that he did not see it either in Oregon or in California. This species is found also in the northern and western countries of South America, and there is in the National Museum a well-charac- terized specimen, which was brought from Chili by the tTnited States Naval Astronomical Expedition, commanded by Lieut. Giliiss. 5. Gathartes brasiliensis [Bonaparte). — The South American Black Vulture. Cathartes Inutliensis, UoNAP. Cons. Av. p. 9 (1848). BuflF. PI. Enl. 187. Of this bird, which appears to be very abundant in the southwestern countries of the American continent, there are specimens in the collec- tion of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. It is smaller than the C. at rat us of the United States, and has the head much less corrugated, but is, however, very similar to that species, and has usu- ally been regarded as the siime. 79 ORNITHOLOGY. Dr. Pickering's notes, which we have no doubt relate to this species, are dated at " Callao, May, 1839," and are as follows : " I had seen a few specimens of the black vulture in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, and was informed that it sometimes came into the city, but it was only in Peru that I observed this bird abundant in the towns and cities, as has frequently been described. It is exceedingly common in all Western Peru, in the cities, villages, and about habitations in the country, in fact is abundant everywhere. " Great numbers may always be seen at Callao and Lima, in the streets, perched on the house-tops or soaring above, frequently at a great height. In the streets they allow you to pass within a few feet of them, and I observed that they did not scruple to wade into the water to pick up floating substances. The gait of this bird on the ground is a sort of gallop or succession of short leaps, as may be seen particularly when it is disturbed or about to take flight. In the streets it feeds at all times or whenever opportunity is presented, but the general feast appears to be in the morning, before sunrise, when prodigious numbers are to be seen throughout the city. " I did not see this species above \ aso, on our journey to the Cor- dilleras, but was informed by Mr. Rich that on the occasion of the slaughtering of a bullock in the square at Obrajillo, it made its appear- ance in considerable numbers, in company with condors." In addition to the preceding seven species, there are three others of the same genera, which inhabit the continent of America and its islands. These are : C'nthartes whicola, Des Murs, Rev. et Mag. de Zoo). April, 1853 (Paris), CatJiartts hurrovianus, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada. II, p. 212 (1845), and /Scircomin/Jius sacer (Bartram), VuUur sacra, Bar- tram, Travels in Florida, p. 150 (1791). The last is a doubtful species, though apparently very carefully described by Bartram from recent or living specimens. It is only known, however, by that description, never having been observed since by any naturalist or traveller. RAPTORES. 77 SYNOPSIS OF THE AMERICAN VULTURES. 1. Genus SARCORAMPHUS, Dumeril, Analyse, p. 32 (1806). 1. SARCORAMPrcjs GRYPnus (Xm?iaet %V^; « ^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 UilM lU |50 ^^" M^B 14 III'-' 6" FhotogFaphic Sciences Corporation <* >^ ^»>v\ 23 WIST MAIN STillT vyiBSTIR.NY UStO (7(^! «7a-4503 '4^ f ^ V i 84 ORNITHOLOGY. Hab. — South America. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. Obs. — All the specimens that we have seen of this vulture are from Western and Southern South America, and at present we are not in- formed whether it inhabits the countries on the Atlantic or not. This species is an exceedingly near relative of the common turkey buzzard of North America, and is only to be distinguished on careful compari- son. So far as can be judged from prepared skins, the present is a more slender and rather smaller bird in all its measurements ; with compara- tively longer wings and shorter tail. Its general appearance and appa- rently its habits also are very similar to the northecn species. 5. Cathartes burrovianus, Caaain. — Burrough's Vulture. Cathartet burrovianui, Gassin, Proo. Acad. Fhilada. II, p. 212 (1845). Not figured. The smallest of all vultures. Resembling C. aura and C. Jota, but bmaller, and without a rufi" on the neck, as in those species. Plumage on the neck ascending behind, as in G. atratus; bill rather hort; aper- tures of nostrils large ; wings long ; tail roundp^, rather long. Entire plumage deep uniform black ; more uniform than in either C. aura or C. jota. Shafts of quills white. Head and neck red. Total length about twenty-two inches j wing eighteen inches ; tail eight and a half inches. Hab. — Mexico, Vera Cruz, Mazatlan, Lower California. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. Obs. — Though European ornithologists have been rather disposed to regard this species as identical with G. jota, it is really quite distinct from both that and G. aura, more so, in fact, than they are distinct from each other. The present bird may very readily be distinguished by its small size and general resemblance to G. aura, but with the re- markable character of the plumage ascending to a point on the back of the neck, as in G. atratua. All the specimens of this bird that we have RAPT0RE8. 85 ever seen are of more deep and uniform black than is usually to be seen in oither C. aura or C. jota. This little vulture, the smallest of the entire group of vultures, is an inhabitant of the coasts of Mexico and of Lower California, of the former both on the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and very probably extends its range along the shores of the Pacific into the territory of the United States. The specimen first described by us was sent to the Aca- demy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, in a collection made at Vera Cruz by Mannaduke Burrough, M.D., then United States Consul at that city, and a distinguished and useful member of the Philadelphia Aca- demy. Since then, we have seen other specimens from Mexico. 6. Cathartes atratus (Bartram). — The Black Vulture. Carrion Crow. The Vultur atratus, Bartram, Travels, p. 289 (1791). Vultur urulu, ViEiLLOT, Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, p. 53 (1807). Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, Plate II ; Wilson, Am. Orn. IX, Plate LXXV, fig. 2 ; Audubon, Birds of Am. Plate CVI ; octavo edition, I, Plate III. Plumage commencing higher on the back of the neck than on its sides or in front, and there consisting of short feathers. Head and naked portion of neck warted or corrugated, and with a few hair-like feathers; bill rather long; nostrils large and communicating with each other ; tail truncate or even at the end ; legs rather long. Entire plumage deep uniform black, frequently with a bluish gloss on the back and quills. Shafts of quills white above and below; quills, on their under surface, pale, in some specimens nearly white. Head f ad neck brownish or bluish-black ; bill dark, yellowish at the tip. Total length about twenty-three inches ; wing sixteen and a half inches ; tail eight and a half inches. Hab. — Southern United States, Mexico, and Central America, Northern South America, Chili. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. 22 P?TT^T^T'7J'^!PTr7T^TT' !?n w/^."-«f;i.i»Hi ■••rvr-'-Tr ''^^'^y^i'^^Pfjrl'fTr^ ,1J!..| J. II, ..JJRfl se ORNITHOLOGY. Obs. — Very abundant in all the Southern United States, and thence to Chili, very fine and well-characterized specimens from the latter country having been brought by the United States Astronomical Ex- pedition, under Lieut. Gilliss, and are now in the National Museum. No instance of the occurrence of the black vulture as far north as Penn- sylvania has ever come to our knowledge. Though met with constantly in the rural districts of the Southern States, this bird shows great partiality for the cities, resorting to them at all seasons in large numbers, and is protected in his avocation as scavenger by the popular opinion of his usefulness. It rears its young in the forests, making merely an excavation for its eggs in a dead log, stump, or on the ground. 7. Cathartes brasiliensis, Bmaparte. — The Black Vulture of South America. Cathartet hrcuilienm, Bonap. Goosp. Aviam. p. 9 (1860). " Vultur bratilietuis, Rat." — BoNAP. as above. Cathartet foetem, Illioeb. Buffon, PI. Enl. 187. Very similar to the preceding, but smaller. Head generally not so much warted as the preceding, and frequently nearly smooth. Wings long; tail rather short, truncate, or equal at the end; legs rather long. Plumage ascending on the back of the neck. Entire plumage deep-black ; shafts of quills white ; under surface of quills pale, nearly white ; head and legs dark ; bill dusky, yellowish at tip. Total length about twenty inches ; wing fifteen and a half inches ; tail seven and a half inches. Hab. — South America. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. Obs. — All the specimens of this bird that have come under our notice have been from the Pacific coast of South America, and it is not in our power at present to say whether it inhabits also the countries on the Atlantic. Though apparently constantly smaller than C. atra- ^nmm-^tl^mm RAPT ORES. «7 tu8, this species is a very near relative, and might readily be mistaken for it by any observer not having the facilities for close comparison. The habits and manners of this vulture are in all respects very simi- lar to those of the North American species, -which it resembles. The notes, by Dr. Pickering, given by us in a preceding page, are valuable contributions to its history. The preceding are all the birds of the family of vultures known to inhabit the continent of America or its islands. l!^^ww 88 ORNITHOLOGY. 2. Familt FALCONID^.— The Falcons, Hawks, and Eagles. 1. Genus FALCO, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 124 (1766). 1. Falco polyagrus, Gaadn. — The American Lanier Falcon. Falco polyagrui, Gassin, Birds of Gal. and Texas, I, p. 88 (18£^). Cassin, B. of Cal. and Tex. I, Plate XVI. This large falcon was described and figured by us, as above, fVom specimens obtained in Oregon and California, by the late Dr. J. K. Townsend, and by Dr. A. L. Heennann, both distinguished as scientific travellers in those countries. The collection of the Expedition contains a fine specimen, which we regard as a young female of this species, and is the only one, in that stage of plumage, that has yet come under our notice. This bird is remarkable as being the only representative in America of a group of falcons well known as inhabiting the Old World, and which have received the designation of " Laniers." The birds of this group are invariably characterize'! by light-colored plumage, generally cinereous and white, and possess f .11 the characters of the typical falcons. The European and Asiatic species were highly valued in the art of falconr r. In a mc~'ograph of the Falconidse, in Jardine's Contributions to Orni- thology (1850, p. 55), Dr. Kaup, an eminent German naturalist, pro- poses the group to which this species belongs as a subgenus of the typical genus Falco, under the name of Oennaia. It includes Falco laniarius, Falco jugger, and other species of Europe and Asia, of which this bird is the only representative, so far as known, in the continent of America. In form and general appearance, the bird now before us singularly resembles the most common Asiatic species of this group, — Falco Jugger, RAPTOBES. 89 Gray, 111. of Indian Zoology, II, Plate XXVI. It is, however, larger, and, in all points of organization, a more robust and powerful species. Young birds having been brought from California, by Dr. Heermann, it is certainly a species which permanently inhabits Western America. According to Mr. Peale, the specimen in the collection of the Expedi- tion was obtained at Puget's Sound, and the same species was seen rearing its young in Oregon. '4 2. Genus TINNUNCULUS, rieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, p. 39 (1807). 1. TiNNUNCULUS SPARVERius {Linn.). — The Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparveriui, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 128 (1766). Fako dommicensis, Qu. Syst. Nat. I, p. 285 (1788.) Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, Plate XII, XIII ; Buff. PI. Enl. 465 ; Wil( on, Am. Orn. II, Plate XVI, fig. 4, Plate XXXII, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate XLII; Oct. ed. I, Plate XXII. This beautiful little hawk appears to inhabit the entire continent of America. It was observed by the naturalists of the Expedition to be common in Oregon and California, and also in Brazil and other parts of South America. All the specimens in the collection appear to be strictly identical with the species of the United States. 8. Genus IERACIDEA, GoulfJ, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1837, p. 140. 1. Iebacidea nova zealandi^ {Gmelin). — The New Zealand Falcon. Falco nova zealandice, Om. Syst. Nat. I, p. 268 (1788). Falco brunneut, GouLD, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1837, p. 139. Falco harpe, FoRSTER, Dcsc. An. p. 68 (1844). Falco ferox, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 67 (Ist edition, 1848).* Falco australis, HoHB. et Jacq. Ann. des Sci. Nat. XYI, p. 312 (1841). * " Head and back of a uniform dark sepia-brown ; tail of the same color, having six very narrow, pale, tawny bars ; feathers of the crown and nape light-cinereous at the base, which gradually runs into the dark sepia of the surface ; brow ferruginous ; auri- cular brown ; the lower feathers edged with ferruginous ; throat pale-buff, nearly white ; 23 90 ORNITHOLOGY. Voy. Astrolabe et Ze\e6, Oia. Plate I, fig. 1. A species which appears to be peculiar to the Island of New Zealand, and to which naturalists have applied various names. Though belong- ing to the restricted group of typical falcons, it presents characters different from those of the northern genera, and has been properly re- garded as the type of a distinct genus. Mr. Peale's note relating to this bird is : " At the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, we found several interesting birds, and amongst them this graceful falcon. It flew with great vigor, and appeared to create great terror in all the little birds of the neighborhood. When alighting on the branch of a tree, it had the habit of jutting its tail, like the sparrow hawk of North America {F. sparverim)." " - 4. Genus ACCIPITER, Briston, Orn. I, p. 310 (1760). 1. ACCIPITER RUFITORQUES (Rale). Astur rufitorqueg, Feale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 68 (1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate II, fig. 1, adult male; fig. 2, young female. A. supra totua coerulescente-cinereus, gutture dlho, infra palllde fusees- centi-ruhe,, immnculatus. Remiges et rectricea coerulescente-cirwrei, tectricea inferhrea alarum caudaque albi. Long'. 12 poUicea. breast and belly striped and spotted with brown, on a reddish-buff ground ; vent buff, striped with brown; thighs and under tail-coverts ferruginous; the centre of each feather shaded with a dprk sepia line along the shaft ; primaries and tail beneath plumbeous, barred with white, and having the shafts white beneath, and black on the upper surface ; third quill longest ; first and fifth equal ; small under coverts buff color, with brown centres ; tail rounded, composed of twelve feathers, the shafts of which are dark-brown above, dusky-white beneath ; the light bars broadest and most conspicuous near the body, and becoming less conspicuous towards the extremity of the tail; cere and feet pale-blub ; irides brown. " Total length fourteen and a half inches ; wing, from the flexure or ca? lal joint, nine inches; tail six inches; bill eight-tenths of an inch; tarsi two and one-tenth inches." RAPT0RE8. 91 Form. — Bill rather large and strong, with the cere and apertures of the nostrils large; upper mandible with a large rounded lobe, tip attenu< ated, and very acute ; lower mandible rather small, somewhat flat- tened and rounded at its tip. Wings moderate, with the first primary short, and the fourth longest; third, fourth, and fifth primaries sinu- ated on their external webs, which, in all the primaries, are wide ; secondaries emarginated at their tips, and with their shafts slightly prolonged or mucronate. Tail rather short, composed of twelve feathers of nearly uniform length ; tarsi and feet moderate. Dimensions. — Adult male. Total length (of skin), from tip of bill to end of tail, about twelve inches ; wing eight inches; tail six inches; tarsus two and one-fourth inches. Adult female rather larger. Colors. — Adult male. Head, body, wings, and tail above, uniform light bluish-cinereous ; throat white ; entire plumage of the under sur- face of the body, tibia, and narrow collar encircling the neck behind, pale brownish-red, tinged with ashy, and deepest on the collar around the neck ; under tail-coverts white, slightly tinged with the same brown- ish-red of the other plumage of the under parts. Under surface of the external tail-feathers very pale, nearly white ; others the same on their inner webs. Inner coverts of the wings white, and all the quills very pale on their inferior surfaces. Bill and claws bluish-black; cere, eye- lids, and tarsi gamboge-yellow ; irides orange. Young male and young female. Entire plumage of the upper parts of the head, body, wings, and tail umber-brown ; many of the feathers on the back and wings edged and narrowly tipped with ferruginous, and, on the neck behind, white at their bases. Throat white ; nearly all the feathers having very narrow, longitudinal, dark lines ; breast, abdomen, flanks, and under coverts of the tail white ; every feather longitudinally striped with umber-brown, broad, and inclined to form rounded spots on the breast, and transverse stripes on the flanks, slight on the under coverts of the tail. Plumage of the tibia pale brownish- red, with transverse stripes of a deepei- shade of the same color. Toil above umber-brown, very pale, and tinged with reddish on the edges of the inner webs of the feathers, and with about ten to twelve trans- verse bands of brownish-black, and narrowly tipped with pale reddish- white ; inferior surface of the tail nearly white, tinged with brownish- 92 OBNITHOLOOY. red, and showing very conspicuously the dark transverse stripes. Bill and claws black; cere, eyelids, and tarsi greenish-yellow; irides brown. Hab. — Feejee Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. According to Mr. Peale, this bird was found in all of the Feejee Islands, where it was known to the natives by the name of " Manu levu or great bird, and is remarkable for its courage in attacking pigeons and other birds equal to itself in size." The specimens figured were killed near the town of Levuka, in the Island of Ovolau. They are represented about two-thirds of the natural size. This handsome hawk is also figured in the Atlas to the Voyage of the Astrolabe and Zelee, Birds, Plate II, fig. 2 (Paris, folio). In Con- spectus Avium, p. 33, the Prince of Canino cites this figure as repre- senting Falco hiogaater, Miiller, Verhandlingen, p. 110, but erroneously, as we have readily determined from having compared specimens of the latter, in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, with those of the present bird, in the National Collection, brought by the present Expe- dition in the Vincennes and Peacock. The two species are, however, stri; ' ngeneric, but A. hiogaater is the larger, and of a difierent shaa >lor on the lower parts. Both are remarkable for the entirely uniform color of the upper and also of the under parts, without spots or stripes of any kind whatever. 5. Genus BUTEO, Cuvier, Regn. An. I, p. 323 (1817). 1. BUTEO VABIDS, Qould. Buteo variuB, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1837, p. 10. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate III, fig. 1. Form. — Wings rather long, and reaching within two inches of the end of the tail ; fourth quill longest ; secondaries and tertiaries remark- ably uniform in their length. Tail, containing twelve feathers, rather short ; bill, tarsi, and feet moderate, both of the latter very distinctly scaled ; tarsus feathered about an inch below the joint. RAPT0RE8. 93 Dimensions. — Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about nineteen inches; wing fifteen inches; tail nine and a half inches; tarsus about three and one-fourth inches. Colors. — Throat brownish-black, unspotted. Entire plumage of the head above, back, rump, wings, and coverts deep sepia-brown ; many of the feathers tipped and edged with reddish-ferruginous, especially on the wing-coverts and rump, and almost predominating on the latter. Secondaries and some of the primaries tipped with pale reddish-white, and distinctly marked with several transverse bars of a deeper shade of the same brown. Outer primaries brownish-black, with their inter- nal webs more or less marked with white, very conspicuous upon view- ing the inferior surface of the wing. Under parts pale reddish-white; every feather longitudinally marked with brownish-black ; tinged with rufous on the flanks and abdomen, and with that color predominating on the tibia. Tail above cinereous, becoming white on the inner edges of the feathers, and every feather crossed with many narrow bands of brown ; under surface of the tail white. Hab. — South America, Patagonia, Chili. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. This buzzard appears to be extensively diffused, the collection of the Expedition containing specimens from Patagonia and Chili. They are very similar to each other in color and other characters, and are con- stantly characterized by the black throat, as described by Mr. Gould, and as represented in our plate. Although we think it quite probable that this bird assumes a very different plumage when adult, and that it may be the young of a pre- viously known species, yet we have not succeeded in so referring it with any degree of satisfaction. It has been regarded as the young of Buteo erythronotua (King), which is Buteo tricolor, D'Orbigny, and is cited as a synonyme in Gray's Genera of Birds, I, p. 12, Bonaparte's Conspectus Avium, p. 17, and in Kaup's Arrangement of the Falconidae. We have had ample opportunities of examining specimens of that species in various stages of plumage, in the collection of the Philadel- phia Academy, and of comparing them with those of the present bird, in the collection of the Expedition, but have not been able to trace a 24 94 ORNITHOLOGY. succeBsion of plumages sufficient to justify the conclusion which the distinguished ornithologists, above referred to, have adopted. At present, we can only consider it as different from any other species known to us, though probably our specimens are in young plumage. Mr. Peale observes with reference to tlie bird now before us : " On the Rio Negro, Patagonia, this species is common. We saw it near the mouth of the river, sitting on the pinnacles of bare sand-hills or on low bushes (that part of Patagonia being destitute of trees), watch- ing for small birds and lizards, on which they feed. We saw them ugaiu at Orange Bay and near Valparaiso." 2. BUTEO VENTRALIS, Oould. * • Buleo venlraliB, Gould, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1837, p. 10. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate III, fig. 2. Form. — Wing moderate or rather long, with the fourth quill slightly longest; tertiaries m^oh longer than the secondaries; tail moderate; tarsi rather short, robust, and with the toes very distinctly scaled. Bill rather short and weak. General form robust and strong. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), from tip of bill to end of tail, about twenty-two inches ; wing sixteen and a half inches ; tail ten inches ; tarsus about three inches. Colors. — Throat and other under parts pale yellowish- white ; many of the feathers, especially on the throat and sides of the breast, with longitudinal stripes of brown, most numerous and widest on the latter. A wide band across the abdominal region, composed of longitudinal and transverse marks on every feather, light brownish-ferruginous ; thighs and under tail-coverts with transverse bands of a paler shade of the same color, but nearly obsolete on the latter. Head above, back, rump, and coverts of the wings dark sepia-brown ; many feathers tipped and edged with rufous, especially on the head, neck, and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts, at their bases, with bars and rounded spots of white. Quills brown, with transverse bars of a deeper shade of the same color, and tinged with cinereous on their RAPT0RE8. 95 outer webs, and all of them widely bordered mth white on their inner webs, conspicuous when the wing is viewed from below. Tail above cinereous, with transverse stripes of brown, and all the feathers, except the two in the middle, bordered with vhite on their inner webs ; infe- rior surface white. Hab. — Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Wash- ington. One very fine specimen, from Orange Bay, Tierra del Fuego, in the collection of the Expedition, is all that we have ever seen of this bird. Late authors, for the greater part, have cuiiHidered it as the young of the common Buteo borealis, of North America, with which conclusion we cannot at present coincide. It may, however, be the young of the western Buteo montamts, Nuttall, but not having within our reach sufficient evidence, we must regard it as a distinct species. It is about the same size as the female of the bird mentioned, and considerably resembles the young of that species figured by Audubon, in Birds of America, Plate CCCLXXII (Octavo edition, I, Plate VI), but is not 80 dark colored in the plumage of the superior parts. 6. Gends HALIAETUS, Savigny, Hist. Nat. d'Egypt, I, p. 85 (1809). 1. Haliaetus leucocephalus {Linn.). — The White-headed Eagle. The Bald Eagle. Fako leucocephalus, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 124 (1766). Faki py(jar(ju», Daudin, Traite, II, p. 02 (1800). Fako o»»ifra(ju», WiLSON, Am. Orn. VII, p. 16 (1813). Catesby, Car. I, Plate I; Buff. PI. Enl. 411; Vieill. Ois. d'Am.Sept. I, Plate III ; Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, Plate XXXVI ; VII, Plate LV ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate XXXI, CXXVI; Oct. edition, I, Plate XIV. This fine species, well known as an inhabitant of the States of this Confederacy, on the Atlantic and in the interior, is also a common bird of the shores of the Pacific. It appears in fact to be diffused through- out North America, from Mexico to the confines of the perpetual frost. 96 ORNITHOLOGY. Mr. Peale says : " Eagles are numerous on the northwest coast of America, particularly so along the banks of the Columbia River, where fishes, their favorite food, are plentiful at all seasons." This bird is mentioned by Dr. Pickering as occurring at almost every point visited by the Expedition in Oregon and California. 7. Genus PANDION, Saviyny, Hist. Nat. d'Egypt, I, p. 95 (1809). 1. Pandion carolinensis (Gmclin). — The Fish Hawk. The American Osprey. Fako carolinemis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 263 (1788). Aqnila piscatrix, ViEiLL. Ois. Am. Sept. I, p. 29 (1807). Pandion americanus, VlElLL. Gal. I, p. 33 (1825). Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, Plate IV ; Cat. Car. I, Plate II; Wilson, Am. Orn. V, Plate XXXVII ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate LXXXI ; Oct. ed. I, Plate XV. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition, from Oregon, are pre- cisely similar, so far as we can see, to the well-known bird of the coast of the Atlantic States. It is, therefore, another of the species of rapa- cious birds, which is extensively diffused. According to Mr. Peale, "the fish hawk is abundant along the coasts of Oregon and California, though not so numerous as on the Atlantic coast. On the Columbia River, they appeared to be annoyed by the great numbers of eagles, which are constantly plundering them of their food, and, in consequence, they are obliged to seek more retired fishing ground.s.'' Dr. Pickering notices this bird as especially abundant on the Sacra- mento River, but also frequently observed elsewhere, at the various points visited by the naturalists of the Expedition. 2. Pandion haliaetus {Linn.), — The Osprey. Falco haliaetus, Linn. Syst, Nat. I, p. 129 (17G6). J'untlioH indicus, HoDOSON, Jour. As. Soo. Bengal, VI, p. 3G6 (1837). Gould, B. of Eur. I, Plate XII. RAPTORES. 97 Mentioned by Dr. Pickering as having been noticed in the harbor of Singapore. We fail to detect any characters by which Asiatic speci- mens can be distinguished from those of Europe, in the fine series now before us, belonging to the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, and in fact either can be distinguished only with difficulty from the com- mon bird of the United States. 3. Pandion solitarius {Peale). Bxiteo solitarius, Peale, Zool. U. S. Ezp. Exp. Birds, p. 62 (1st edition, 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate IV. Adult. P. caput et corpus totum infra flavencenti-alba, dorsum^ alae caudaque umbrina. Hujua generis minimus. Long. 17 poll ices. Form. — The smallest of this genus. Bill rather long, compressed, con- spicuously lobed, and attenuated at the end ; wing long, with the third, fourth, and fifth quills longest and nearly equal ; tail mode- rate, rather short, even at the tip, containing twelve feathers ; tarsi robust, covered in front and behind with rather broad transverse scales ; toes strong and rather lengthened, their under surfaces strongly corrugated or pustulated; claws very large, long, and curved. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin, sex unknown), from tip of bill to end of tail, about seventeen inches ; wing twelve inches ; tail seven and a half inches ; bill, from gape to the point of the upper mandible, one and a half inches ; tarsus two and three-fourths inches ; hind toe and claw one and three-fourths inches. Colors. — Sex unknown. Head, and entire under parts, and upper tail-coverts yellowish-white, all the feathers being pure white at their bases, and widely terminated with pale yellowish, most distinct on the breast and tibioQ. Occiput and neck behind with oblong longitudinal spots of umber-brown, which is the color also of all the upper surface of the body, wing?, and tail. Shafts of quills reddish-chestnut on their upper surface, white beneath ; inner webs of quills widely edged with , ^ 98 ORNITHOLOGY. white. Tail beneath silky-white, tinged with yellowish. Bill and claws dark (in skin). Hab. — Hawaii, Sandwich Islands. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Phila- delphia. This rather singular species appears to belong to a group which con- tains several species of fishing-eagles, some of which are of much larger size than the present bird. In form and general appearance it much resembles P. ichthyaelm (Horsfield), and P. humilis (Mtiller), though smaller, and we have never seen in either of those species, so far as specimens have come under our notice, the yellowish or pale buflf color of the plumage of the head and under parts, which prevails in the bird now described. Both of the species mentioned inhabit islands of the Malay Archipelago ; the present bird was noticed only at the Sand- wich Islands. No specimen of this bird is in the collection of the Expedition. That originally described by Mr. Peale is in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, to which it was presented by John K. Townsend, M.D. It was obtained near Karakakoa Bay, in the Island of Hawaii, and sent to Dr. Townsend by the Rev. Mr. Forbes, who was attached to the Presbyterian Mission to the Sand- wich Islands. It is the only specimen that we have seen, and for its use, in the preparation of our plate and the present description, we are indebted to the kindness of the gentlemen of the Academy. This bird is strictly a member of a subgenus of the generic group Rvulion, designated PAioaetna, by Dr. Kaup (Jardine's Contributions to Ornithology, 1850, p. 72), and is much the smallest of the species, being even smaller than P. humilis. The same group has been called Ichihyaetiis, by the Baron de La Fresnaye, a distinguished French ornithologist. 8. Genus HALIA8TUR, Sdby (1840). 1. Haliastur INDUS (Bxhhiert). — The Brahmin Kite. The Pondiclierry Eagle, Falroindus, BoDD. Tab. des PI. Enl. Buff-p.'25 (1783). /'ky beneath ; third quill longest, first and sixth nearly equal, first four with deeply indented inner webs, and slightly barred on the under side with tawny. " Total length, nineteen and a half inches ; wing from the flexure, fifteen and three- quarter inches; tail, eight and a half inches; tarsi, three and a half inches; middle toe including the nail, one and three-quarter inches; nail, seven-tenths of an inch; bill, one and three-tenths of an inch. Male.'' RAPTORES. 108 On careful and minute examination of several specimens from Cali- fornia and Oregon, in the collection of the Expedition and others, we find them to be strictly identical with the common bird of the States on the Atlantic. This species has, therefore, a very extensive range of locality, embracing nearly the whole of North America. Numerous specimens from a variety of localities west of the Mississippi River, collected by the parties that surveyed routes for a railroad to the Pacific Ocean, are now also in the National Museum. Though considered by ornithologists generally as identical with the European Circxis cyaneua, this bird is really very different, and, of course, fully entitled to a specific designation. In fact, no person accustomed to making investigations in Zoology, would, for a moment, suspect the identity of these two species, with facilities before him for comparing them. 8. Family STRIGID.^.— The Owls. 1. Genus STRIX, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 131 (1760). 1. Strix perlata, Lichtemtein. Sirix perlata, LicHT. Verz. p. 59 (1823). This is one of several species of owls, which bear more or less inti- mate resemblance to the common barn owls of Europe and North America, Strix flammea and pratincola, and appears, in fact, to re- present the group now regarded as forming the typical genus Strix, in South America. The species of this eminently natural group are for the greater part only to be distinguished by rather minute and fre- quently apparently unimportant characters, which are, however, found to be constant and characteristic. To these characters, different natu- ralists ascribe very different >grees of value. • Of this South American species, which we regard as distinct from any other, notwithstanding the opinions of nearly all the late autho- rities, several specinjens are in the collection of the Expedition. It is smaller than its near relative of North America, Strix pratincola, Bonaparte, and is more nearly the size of Strix Jiammea, Linn., of the old world, which otherwise also it much resembles. BVom the latter. 104 ORNITHOLOGY. however, it can be readily diatinguisked by its much longer tarsi ; a character especially mentioned in the original description by Professor Lichtenstein, in his Catalogue of the Duplicates in the Berlin Museum, p. 59. (Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums der Kiinigl. Universitat zu Berlin, 1823.) This species is quite distinct from the Strix /urcaia, Temm. (PI. Col. 432), of which we have seen specimens from the West Indies. The latter, so far as shown in the specimens to which we allude, may always be recognized by its white quill-feathers, and generally more light-colored plumtige and emarginate tail. That bird {S. farcitta), is the most handsome species of its genus. 2. Strix pkatincola, Bonaparte. Strix prattncola, BoNAP. Comp. List. p. 7 (1838). Strix americana, AuD. Orn. Biog. II, p. 421 (1834, but not of Gmelin, 1788). Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, Plate L, fig. 2; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CLXXl ; Oct. ed. l) Plate XXXIV. Mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition as having been ob- served in Oregon. Specimens from that country which we have ex- amined, present no material variations from the bird of the States on the Atlantic, unless it is a tendency to the white color in the quills which characterizes Strix furcata oi the West Indies, alluded to in the preceding article. In specimens from California, it is quite usual to find the quills very light-colored, but, perhaps, never forming such a strong character in that respect, as in the West India bird, just men- tioned. This bird, from any locality in North America, is, however, very liable to variation in the shades of its colors, though it will be ascertained by sufficiently extensive examination, that the pattern of the markings always remains the same. Such is the case, too, in all the species of this difficult genus, and in fact, in much the greater part of all others. The present bird is larger than its near relative of Europe, Strix flammea, with which it was considered identical by the earlier Ameri- can naturalists, and is fully entitled to be regarded as a distinct species. It is much more abundant in the Southern than in the Northern R A P T R E 8. ^06 States, and is of rare occurrence in the vicinity of Philadelphia. On the Pacific coast, it is one of numerous species that venture much farther north than on the coast of the Atlantic. 3. Strix oelicatuta, Oould. Slrtx delicatula, QoULO, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1886, p. 140. Slrix lulu, Peaub, Zoology, U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 71 (Ist edition, 1848).* Gould, B. of Aust. I, Plate XXXI. This species, which is another of those that considerably resemble Strix Jiammea of Europe, and Strix pratincola of North America, was observed principally in the Samoan Islands. It is, however, one of the best-defined aud easily recognized of the closely allied species alluded to, and is beautifully represented in Mr. Gould's Birds of Aus- tralia, as above cited. This bird may be readily distinguished by its light-gray color, singu> larly uniform for a species of this group, in all the specimens now before us, including several brought by the Expedition and the origi- nal specimens from Mr. Gould's collection, now in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy. According to the naturalists of the Expedi- tion, it is called Lulu by the inhabitants of Samoa. Mr. Peale's .observations on this bird are as follows : * " Like the foregoing (^Strix amencana, Aud.), but smaller, lighter colored, and having shorter wings. Top of the head, neck, back, upper surface of the wings, and tail light-gray, mottled with pale-brown, and having a slight tinge of tawny ; tho tip of each feather of the dorsal plumage having a black spot with a white centre ; tail consist- ing of twelve feathers, each with four brown bars, three only of which show on the under surface ; wings barred like the tail ; throat, breast, belly, thighs, and all the under parts, including the wings and tail, white; a few small black spots scattered over the under Wingcoverts, breast, and flanks ; plumage of the thighs and tarsi pure-white, and not so full nor descending as low as in the American species ; irides dark-brown ; bill and legs pale flesh-color ) the latter covered with brown scales. " Total length twelve and three-fourths inches ; extent of wings thirty-four and one- fourth inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, eleven and four-tenths inches; tail four and three-tenths inches; tarsi two and one-fourth inches ; middle toe, including the nail, one and nineteen-twentieths inches ; nail seven-tenths of an inch ; hind toe, including the nail, one and four-tenths inches ; nail seven-tenths of an inch. Female." 27 106 ORNITHOLOGY. " This species is quite common in the Island of Upolu, and other islands of the Samoan Group. It is frequently abroad during the day, and flies with ease and almost perfect silence. We obtained numer- ous specimens, which vary but little, though some are light-gray above, and snow-white beneath, while others are pale-tawny above, but having also white breasts. " A single specimen was obtained at the Island of Ovolau, one of the Feejee Group." 2. Genus CICCABA, Wagler, Isib, 1882, p. 1222. 1. CiCOABA MELANONOTA {Tichttdi). Noctua melanoaola, Tschudi, Faun. Peru. Aves, p. 114, PI. IV ([1846). The specimen in the collection, which appears to have been obtained in Brazil, differs from the figure and description given by M. Yon Tschudi (Fauna Peruana, Birds, p. 114, Plate IV), in having the brown color of the upper parts extended to the neck in front, and downwards on to the breast, somewhat broken on the neck in front by the partially white feathers of the facial disk or ruff. It is proba- bly a more mature specimen than that described by the discoverer of this species, tlie learned and indefatigable naturalist and traveller just mentioned. Plumage around the base of the bill and extending over the eyes yellowish-white. Entire plumage of the upper parts of the head and body, wings, and tail, dark umber-brown ; neck before with the feathers of the disk brown, mixed with white, and apparently forming an irregular band, immediately succeeded by a wide transverse band of brown across the breast. Abdomen, legs, and under tail-coverts pale- reddish or rusty-white, many feathers having transverse bars of red- dish-brown ; under wing-coverts pale reddish-yellow. Tail umber- brown, with about four narrow transverse bars of white, and tipped with white. Total length about sixteen inches ; wing twelve inches ; tail seven and a half inches. This species, of which this is the only specimen that we have seen, is strictly congeneric with Ciccaba torquata, Daudin, but can readily R APT0BE8. 107 be distinguished. The specimen now before us, which is in excellent plumage and preservation, we regard as one of the most interesting in the collection of the Expedition or in the National Museum, and there is no other, so far as we know, in any other collection in this country. 8. Genus SCOPS, Savigny, Hist. Nat. d'Egypt, I, p. 105 (1809). 1. Scops sunia {Hodgean). Scopi funia, Hodgson, Ab. Res. XIX, p. 175 (1886). Jerdon, 111. Ind. Zool. Plate XLI. The only specimen of this species that we have ever seen, in mottled brown and white plumage, is in the collection of the Expedi- tion. This is one of several species which present very nearly the same variations of color as the common red and mottled owls of the United States {E. naevia and asio). Of two specimens from Malacca, in the collection, one is in the red plumage, as originally described by Mr. Hodgson, as above cited, and as figured by Mr. Jerdon in illustra- tions of Indian Zoology, Plate XLI ; the other has the entire plumage mottled brownish and black, with white spots, the last predominating on the under parts of the body. The group to which this little owl belongs, which is mainly com- posed of nearly allied Asiatic species, is, however, one of the most difficult in Ornithology. We cannot pretend to trace the synonymes of this species, therefore, on the present occasion. 4. Genhb BRACHYOTUS, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 18.37, p. 10. 1. Brachyotus galapagoensis {Gould). OluB galapagoensis, GouLD, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1837, p. 10. Strix sandwichemis, BjCoxham, Voy. Blonde, p. 250 (1826). ? Strtx georgica, Latuam, Ind. Orn. Supp. p. 15 (1801).? For the first time, we have an opportunity of examining specimens 108 ORNITHOLOGY. from the Sandwich IsIaAdfl, in the collection of the Expedition. They are larger and darker colored than the bird of North America ; and, after careful examination, appear to us to be Btrictly identical with the bird from the Oallapagos Islands, described by Mr. Gould as above. They are, moreover, identical with others that we have seen from Western South America, of which very fine specimens are in Lieut. Oillis's collection, made in Chili, now in the National Museum. According to Mr. Peale, this bird was found in all the Hawaiian Islands, visited by the naturalists of the Expedition, and like its rela- tive of North America, inhabited "grassy or reedy plains or marshes, where there are but few trees." The name given by Bloxham, as above, applies about as well to this species, as any other, but is of no value nor authority ; his descrip- tion being so short and unsatisfactory as to be entirely useless in the recognition of the intended species. Specimens in the collection are in good plumage and preservation. 2. Brachtotus Cassinii, Brewer. — The Short-eared Owl. The Marsh Owl. Brachyotut Caitinii, BaiWER, Proo. Nat. Hist. Soo. Boston, Vr, p. 321 (1856). Sirix hrachyotoi, Fobsteb, Philos. Trans. London, LXII, p. 384 (1772), Wilson, Am. Om. IV, Plate XXXIII, fig. 3 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCX ; Oct. ed. I, Plate XXXVIII. According to Mr. Peale, " not uncommon in the prairies of Oregon and California." Numerous specimens from the same countries are in the collections made by the Pacific Railroad Surveying and Exploring Expeditions. This species being of frequent occurrence, also, on the Atlantic seaboard, may very safely be stated to inhabit the whole of North America to the confines of the Arctic Zone, though rare in the Southern States. Our esteemed friend, Dr. Brewer, who has done us the honor of applying our name to this bird, has very fully and correctly pointed out its specific characters in his description above cited, and in his very valuable work. North American Oology, Part I, p. 68 (in Smith- sonian Contributions). It difiers from the European and Asiatic spe- RAPTORES. 109 oies in being constantly larger and darker colored, and we fully coin- cide in the propriety of its being regarded as a distinct species. The conclusions, however, of Dr. Brewer, we beg leave to say, are always entitled to the greatest consideration and respect from his masterly ability and long experience as an ornithologist, and exceeding careful- ness of observation. The Short-eared Owl is not uncommon in the Northern and Middle States in the winter season, and is almost exclusively to be found in the vicinity of marshes or swamps, or near streams of water. It raises its young principally in the far North, though occasionally a few re- main during the summer within the limits of the United States. 5. Oenub ATHrNE, Bok, lais, 1822, p. 549. 1. Athene htpug(ea {Bmap.). — The Burrowing Owl. Strix hypvgcea, BoNAP. Am. I, p. 72 (1825). Athene $ociali$, Qaubel, Proo. Acad. Pbilad. Ill, p. 47 (1846). Bonap. Am. Orn. I, Plate VII, fig. 2; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCXXXII, fig. 1 ; Oot. ed. I, Plate XXXI. Specimens in the collection are from the Columbia River, above the mouth of the Wallawalla. According to Mr. Peale, this bird "was not found on the coast (of the Pacific), nor in that country lying be- tween the Columbia River and California." He states, too) respecting this and the succeeding species: "This entire sub-genus, as far as opportunities were offered to observe the species during the progress of the Expedition, was found to be diurnal, and their food to consist almost entirely of insects and lizards, but principally the former. They all avoid the forests, and live entirely in the pampas or prairies." 2. Athene cunicularia {Molina). — The South American Burrowing Owl. Strix cunicularia, Moi.. Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili (1782). Strix cali/omica, AuD. B. of Am. PL CCCCXXXII, fig. .2 (name on plato). 28 IIQ ORNITHOLOGY. Athene patagonica, Pealk, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 78 (1848).* This is the largest of the species of buri' )\ving owls recognized by naturalists, and is well represented in the plate of Mr. Audubon's work, cited above, which was prepared from specimens supposed to be North American, but were really from Chili. They belonged to the collection made by the late John K. Townsend, M.D. All of the above species very considerably resemble each other, but appear to us to present constant specific characteristics as described by the distinguislied authors whom we have cited. In relation to the specie.^ now before us, Mr. Peale's obsjtA'vations are as follows : " Should the traveller, who has crot-sed the prairies of the Arkansas and Missouri Rivers, ever vi.sit Patagonia, he will find in that country many points of striking analogy to the interior of North America. '• The face of the country {pampas being prairies under a different name), bears a strong resemblance, cavies take the place of hares, larks {iSturmts militaris) , like those of the North, are seen, having red instead of yellow breasts [Sturmif ludovirianiis), but alike in vo/'ce and habits. Every now and then, too, he will meet with subterranean villages, or little societies of armadilloes [Dasypns minutus, Desm.), whose social habits and abodes are like those ;f the prairie dog (Ardomi/s ludovi- ciainis, Ord.), a species of marmot of the Northern Hemisphere. '• In these societies of Armadilloes, there may be heard a kind of barking, like that produced by some of the German toy dogs; the same sound which has given to our marmot the name of 'prairie dog,' * " Above brown, spotted with tawny ; beneath pale buff, with brown bars crossing the breast and flanks; lesser wing-coverts, umber-brown, with two buff-colored spots on the outer, and one on the inner web ; third (|uill longest, first and fifth equal; outer webs brown, crossed by five fulvous bands ; inner webs pale buff, escupt towards the extre- mities, where they arc brown ; a black ba ' crosses at the bases of the quills, otherwise the whole wing beneath is of yellowish-white; tail, excepting the two outer feathers, brown, with a whitish tip and five fulvous bars; outer feathers yellowi!ua iilhis, irklilnie aurantm, rostra el pedibus miturate cornels. Long, tot. «k. INSESSORES. 12^7 Much resembling the preceding {A. marginata) but smaller, and with the bill shorter ; plumage of the head above equally scale-like, but narrower and more poiiited. Wings rather long; tail short and even. Entire plumage above, sepia-brown, very dark, and having a purplish metallic lustre on the head, greater wing-coverts, and primaries. Secondaries narrowly edged with white on their outer webs. Under parts brownish cinereous, tinged with yellowish, nearly every feather having a longitudinal central line of white. Iris bright orange ; bill and feet reddish horn-color. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about six and three-fourths inches ; wing four and one-fourth inches ; tail two and a half inches. " Extent of wings twelve and a half inches" (Peale) . Hab. — Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. This species is nearly related to the preceding, and only differs mate- rially in size. It is another of the instances of the near relationship of species, which appear to be peculiar to different islands. The specimens in the collection, like those of the preceding, have not to us the appearance of maturity. This bird inhabits the Samoan Islands, and, according to Mr. Peale, is possessed of considerable musical powers ; out we regret to say, that we find no other memoranda, by either of the naturalists of the Expe- dition, relating to its history or habits. 9. Genus AGELAIUS, Vieill. Aualjse, p. 33 (181G). 1. Agelaius gubernator (Watjler). Pmrocolim gubernator, Waqler, Isis, 1832, p. 281. Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCXX, fig. 1 ; oct. ed. IV, Plate CCXV. This handsome species appears to be peculiar to Western North America, and fine specimens of adult and of young birds are in the collection of the Expedition. According to Mr. Peale, this species n 'I I) '!' 128 ORNITHOLOGY. was observed in small parties about the middle of July, near the mouth of the Columbia River, and in large flocks, in the succeeding October, in California. i 2. Agelaics tricolor {Audubon). — The Western Red-wing. /c^cr us ntrc; wings and upper part of the tail, ashy-brown ; greater wing-coverts margined with fer- ruginous; fourth and fifth quills cfjual and I'mgest, first, half tho length of 'he second; tail consisting of twelve feathers, nearly even at the end; s'littts r.hite; irides brown; bill black ; legs horn-colur. " Total length, nine and stven-tentb? inchcn ; wing, from the carpal joint, five and three-tenths inches; tail, four and two-tenths inches; tarsi, one and three-twentieths of an inch; middle toe, including the claw, nine-tenths of an inch; claw, three-tenths of an inch ; hind too, including the claw, seven-twentieths of an inch ; bill, Hcvcn-teuths of an inch ; to the angle of the mouth, one and one-twentieth of an inch. " Uur specimen was obtained in the month of May, near Valparaiso ; its actions wcro like the Hobin of North America (^Turdu» mii/nitoriKu), to which its voice also had a distant rcsen.blance, and whenever it uttered its call note, it -vus attended with a jerk of the tail, in thi? characteristic manner of the Northern llobiu. ' INSES80RE8. 143 other species of its genus in Western South America, hy any natu- ralist. The present specimen is in very nearly that stage of plumage de- scribed by Mr. Swainson, as above, as CoUuricinda strigata, of which numerous specimens from Mr. Gould's Australian collection are in the Museum of the Fhilac'elphia Academy. ^. Genus IRENA, Ilorg/. Tr*\ns. Linn. Soo. London, XIII, p. 1.53 (1820). 1. Ibena cyanogastra, Vigors. Trena cyanogaitra. Vigors, Proo. Zool. Soc. London, 1831, p. 97. Gray, Gen. of Birds, I, Plate LXX. A very fine specimen from the Island of Panay, one of the Philip- pines. 4. Genus LALAGE, Bote, Isis, 1826, p. 973. 1. Lalage terat (Boihlaert). Turdiii terat, BoDD. Tub. PI, Enl. p. 17 (1783). Tnrdus oricntalis, Gil. Syst. Nat. I, p. 821 (1788). CuUurlcwrla maculosa, Pkale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 81 (Isted. 1848).* Buff. PI. Enl. 273, fig. 3. '*' "Crown and occiput black, with a slight greenish gloss; frontal feathers slightly edged with white ; brow, sides of neck, throat, breast, under wing-coverts, under tail- coverts, and all tho lower parts white, the feathers lead-colored at their roots ; a black line runs from tho front of the eye to tho occiput ; back and lesser wing-coverts, black ; rump cinereous, clouded \vith black ; wings pointed, tho first quill narrow and but half the length of tho second, tbird and fourth equal and longest, black, basal half of the inner webs white, the outer edges margined with yellowish-white; greater wing-coverts white, with a pointed black line down the middle ; tail rounded, black, tipped with white, but slightly on the middle feathers, tho outer ones margined with white half their length ; bill and feet black; iridcs brown. Adult male. "Total length, seven and two-tenths inches; wing, from the carpal joint, four and three-tenths inches; tail, two and eight-tenths inches; tarsus, one inch; middle toe, in- cluding tho nail, eight-tenths of an inch ; bind toe, including the nail, six-tenths of an inch ; nuil, one-fourth of an inch ; bill, half an inch ; to tho corner of the mouth eight- tenths of an inch." •u#| 144 ORNITHOLOGY. Specimens in the collection are from the Feejee and Samoan Islands, and are, to us, not distinguishable from others from various islands of the Malay Archipelago. This common species has evidently a very extended range of locality. Mr. Peale remarks of this bird : " The voice of this species is a shrill whistle, and it mostly frequents open grounds where there are a few scattered Pandanua trees, which it seems to prefer. It is a common species on all the islands of the Feejee Group. One specimen was obtained at Upolu, one of the Samoan Islands. " The young birds differ from the adults in being of an umber-brown color above, and in having numerous waved lines across the breast and abdomen." Numerous specimens in good plumage and condition are in the col- lection of the Expedition. W- 2. Family MUSCICAPIDJE. 1. Genus MUSCIPETA, Vuvier, Reg. An. I, p. 344 (1817). J' 1. MUSCIPETA RUFA (67. -R. 6rra?/). Tchictrea rii/a, 0. R. Gray, Aunals and Magazine of Natural History, XI, p. 371 (1843). Gray, Gen. of Birds, I, Plate LXIV. Form. — ^Bill long, wide at base and strong; upper mandible at the base with six or seven pairs of rather stiff, long bristles ; wing long, fourth primary longest; tail long, with the central feathers but slightly exceeding the others ; tarsi and toes, rather strong ; claws rather strong, curved. Feathers of the head above somewhat rigid and scale-like, probably erectile. , Dimensions. — Total length, about eight and a half inches; wing, three and three-fourths inches ; tail, four and a half inches ; bill, from the gape, one inch. M m INSESSORES. 145 Colors. — Entire plumage fine rufous, with the bases of the feathers paler, and with a tinge of purple, especially observable on the crest- like feathers of tl)e head. Inner webs of the primaries darker, inclin- ing to brown. Bill and legs dark. Hab. — Philippine Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. A fine specimen of this handsome fly-catcher is marked as having been obtained at the Philippines. It entirely agrees with all the cha- racters stated by Mr. Gray, or represented in his plate, as above cited, but the plumage is rather darker, and distinctly tinged with purple, especially on the head. The bill is remarkably large and broad, and the bristles at the base of the upper mandible are well developed, long, and rather rigid. We havn no information relating to the manners or history of this interesting species. 2. MusciPETA CYANiCEPS, Cassin. Muidpeta ct/aniceps, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philad. VII, p. 438 (1855). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate IX, fi^, 1. Adult. Form. — Bill moderately long, wide at base, rather abruptly compressed towards the end, and furnished with about six pairs of strong rigid bristles, some of which are nearly as long as the bill. Feathers of the head above but slightly elongated, and probably erectile ; wings rather long, with the fourth primary longest ; tail long, wide, cen- tral feathers but slightly exceeding others next to them; tarsi rather long ; toes short, feeble. Dimensions, — Total length, about six and one-fourth inches ; wing, three inches ; tail, three c.nd a half inches. Colors. — Entire head and breast dull blue, every feather having a longitudinal line of a paler shade or light-blue. Upper parts of the body, the abdomen, and several of the outer feathers of the tail, fine 37 ■iM" ■i^»-:*ii1 '%i 146 ORNITHOLOGY. rufous, palest on the abdomen ; quills dark-brown, secondaries edged with rufous. Central feathers of the tail dark-brown, which is the color also of the inner webs of the feathers next to them. Bill dark ; tarsi lighter. tiAB. — Philippine Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. This is a handsome small species, the only specimen of which, that we have ever seen, is in the collection of the Expedition, and labelled as having been obtained at the Philippine Islands. It bears a general resemblance to Muscicapa horhmka, Gm. Buff'. PI. Enl. 573, fig. 1, which is an inhabitant of the islands of Mauritius and Madagascar, but may easily be distinguished by the pale longitudinal lines on the centres of the blue parts of the plumage, in addition to which cha- racter, the present bird is the larger, and has the tail disproportion- ately longer. The naturalists of the Expedition record nothing in relation to this bird. ii 2. Genus MONARCIIA, Vi?qual ; tail moderate ; tarsi long, scaled ; toes rather long ; claws stror.g, fully curved. General form compact and robust. Dimensions. — Total length, six and a half to seven inches ; wing, three and a half inches ; tail, three inches. INSE8S0RES. 147 Color. — Adult male? Head and brenst black, terminal half of the quills dark-brown ; all other parts, including the back, coverts of the wings, ventral region, and tail, white. Secondaries edged with white ; bill and tarsi light horn-color. Younger male ? Entire plumage glossy black. Female. Rump, terminal thirt' of the quills and their inner webs and terminal half of the tail, dark-brown, tinged with reddish on the latter ; all otlier parts, including the head, back, basal portion of the tail, and entire under parts rufous, darker on the head above and back, and palest on the under parts and tail. Coverts of the wing and secondaries edged with rufous; inner webs of primaries edged with white, readily seen by examining the inferior surface of t'le wing. Had. — Society Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City, and Mus. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. We have introduced these descriptions of the supposed stages of plumage of this bird, for the purpose of expressing doubts as to the identity of the first described with the others. All three of them are well represented in the plate in the Zoological Atlas of the Voyage of the Coquille, above cited, and there and elsewhere, this species is de- scriljed as assuming the plumages given above. Were it not that these statements are made by naturalists who have enjoyed opportunities for observation, though perhaps not very ample, in the islands inhabited by these birds, we should not hesitate to pronounce them quite distinct. Of numerous specimens that we have examined in the collection of the Expedition and in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, the bird first described above is constantly larger, though the bill is rather narrower and scarcely so long and strongly developed as in that, the plumfige of which is entirely black. Having, however, the testimony of the naturalists above uUuded to, against us, we have not proposed a specific name at present, especially in consideration of the fact that it is rather well supplied already, and of the possibility, of course, of our being mistaken. Mr. Peale observes of this bird : "This is a very common species in ti.. Island of Tahiti." He states also: " Excepting' those specimens which are entirely black, we have not seen two out of twenty or thirty which were entirely alike. Deep black, with a metallic blue gloss, is probably the perfect dress of adult birds, but it is common to find theai variously spotted, black, brown. •-fH ^^ .^? Kfl 148 ORNITHOLOGY. and white, without regularity, although they may be paired and rais- ing their broods. Hence, we infer that they are subject to almost the same variations which are so remarkable in the nightingale of those islands {Thryothorua Olatare), and which we have never before ob- served birds to be subject to in their natural state, but is common in those that have been domesticated." When writing the last lines of .this paragraph, our author does not appear to have borne in mind the common ruff of Europe, Machetes piKjnax, the most remarkable instance of variableness in a species, perhaps, known to ornithologists. Of that bird, it is very unusual to find two adult males alike, and not only that, but specimens are usu- ally of entirely difierent colors in some parts of their plumage. 8. Genus MYIAORA, Vlg. and Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soo. London, XV, p. 250 (1825). 1. Myiagra vanikorensis {Quoy and Oaimard). ^ Pliilyrhymhos vantkoroms, QuoY and Gaimard, Voy. Astrolabe, Zoologie, I, p. 188 (1830;. Voy. Astrolabe, Ois. Plate V, fig. 1. Form. — Bill very wide, depressed ; ridge of the upper mandible dis- tinct ; apertures of the nostrils large and conspicuous ; gape with numerous pairs of short rigid bristles. Wings rather long, first primary rudimentary, third longest; tail moderate ; tarsi and toes slender. Dimensions. — Total length, about five and a half inches; wing, three inches ; tail, two and a half inches. Colors. — Male. Entire head and breast black, with a green lustre ; upper parts of the body, dark ashy-brown ; under parts, from the breast, reddish fulvous, darker on the lower part of the breast, and palest on the ventral region and under coverts of the tail. Quills brown ; secondaries narrowly edged with pale cinereous ; tail brown, paler beneath. Bill and tarsi dark. Inferior coverts of the wing white, barred and spotted with black. " The back of the female is «,-r|. 1N8ESS0RES. 149 cinereous ; the wings and tail brown ; the breast rufous ; the throat white; in other respects like the male" (Peale). Had. — Feejee Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. This little-known bird is strictly congeneric with Myimjra nidda and riihevnJa, Gould^ and other species of Australia. The figure in the Zoological Atlas of the Voyage of the Astrolabe, cited above, repre- sents it as smaller than the specimen now before us, which may be attributed either to such being the fact in the different locality at which the specimen figured was obtained, or to a difference merely in the preparation of the skin. All the characters are, however, well represented in the plate to which we have reference. Of this handsome species we have no account, other than a label stating the locality as above given. 2. Myiagba rubecula {Latham). Toilus rubecula, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. 32 (1801). Plalyrhynihus riijicollk and rubecula, VlKlLL. JUi/iai/ra rubeculuiiles, VIGORS & UoRSF. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XV, p. 253. Mi/iai/ra lutirostri's, Goui.D, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1840, p. 172. Pluti/rhj/nchut albiventris, Pealk, Zool. Exp. Exp. Vincennes, Birds, p. 102 (1st ed. 1848).* Mjjiagra nidda, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1837, p. 142 ? Gould, B. of Aust. II, Plate XCII; ibid. Plate XCI? Ililll Of this species, very accurately and handsomely figured by Mr. Gould, as above cited, specimens from the Samoan Islands cannot be *" Form more slender than P. Vaiiil-orcnsi's ; bill longer; all the lower parts from the breast down, white ; head and neck black ; lesser wing-covcrts and rump, dark asV color; wings and tail black; first quill less than half the length of the fourth, fourth quill longest; under coverts of the wings margined with white; throat and breast bright rufous; bill light-blue; legs black; iridcs brown. "Total length, five and seven-eighths inches; extent of wings, eight and five-eighths inches; wing, from the. carpal joint, two and nine-tenths inches; tail, two and four- tenths inches; tarsi, thirteen-twcntieths of an inch; middle toe, including the nail, eleven- twentieths of an inch; nail, three-twentieths of an inch ; hind toe, nine-twentieths of an inch ; nail, two-tenths of an inch ; bill, half an inch ; to the corners of the mouth, scven- tcnths of an inch ; width, three-tenths of an inch." (Peale, as above.) 8d M 150 OnNITHOLOOY. distinguished from others in the Australian collection of birds in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. There is, however, in diflerent specimens, a considerable variety in the shade and intensity of the color of the throat, most observable in specimens which have not the appearance of Injing in mature plumage. In adults, this color is deep rufous or russet, gradually becoming paler as it approaches the white of the breast and abdotncn. It is possible that some of the synonymes above given, may be more properly applicable to the females of other species of Australia, though all the measure- ments are those of this bird. Mr. Peale observes : " The two sexes vary but little, if at all, in size. The female has the head dark-gray, instead of black, also the rufous on the throat and breast is not so bright. This species is not uncommon at the Samoan Islands. It delights in thick shady forests, and patiently watches for insects, which it takes on the wing." 4. Genus RHIPIDURA, Viff. and lion/. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XV, p. 240 (18-25). 1. RniPIDURA ALBISCAPA, Goulll. lihlpiduru albi'tcapa, OouLD, Proo. Zool. Soc. London, 1840, p. 113. Gould, B. of Aust. II, Plate LXXXIII. Respecting this little species, specimens of which are from New Zealand ; the naturalists of the Expedition have some interesting ob- servations. Mr. Peale gives the following : *' This beautiful and familiar bird was quite common in all the forest districts around the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Whenever we entered a bushy and retired situation, we were sure to be attacked by numerous mosquitoes, and whenever so attacked, we were sure to hear the * Hee-waJca-tcaJca,' as this bird is there called from its cry ; it was almost certain to come to our relief, darting after the mo.squitoes within a few inches of our faces, then alighting on low branches, and skipping around, its wings drooping and beautiful fan-like tail carried nearly perpendicular over its back. I N 8 E S 8 R E 8. 161 " There is scarcely any difTerenco in the pluinngo of the two sexes ; both have it equally Hoft and lax, so much so, that it is exceedingly difficult to skin them iii such a manner as to make good specimens." Dr. Pickering mentions this bird as follows : " The * fan-tailed fly-catcher' was often met with in the woods. It is an exceedingly familiar bu'd, and will approach within a few feet of you, with its tail elevated and expanded, apparently attracted by curiosity. I saw it only flitting from branch to branch, keeping near the ground among the undergrowth, and never observed it taking short flights for the capture of insects in the usual manner of fly- catchers." This little bird belongs to a group of very graceful fly-catchers, forming the genus Hhijudum, of which the species are restricted to the islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are remarkable for long and fan-like tails, and hence have obtained the .designation as above given by Dr. Pickering. 2. Rhipidura nebulosa, Rale. Rhlpidura nehuhm Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 99 (Ist edition, 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate IX, fig. 2. Young. Toy. Ast. and Zel. Ois. Plate II, fig. 5 ? Tota fuUginosa, gulture et auribus alhis, crissis albis. Jie/ert R. alhls- capam. Long. tot. 5 J pollices. Form. — Generally much resembling that of E. olbiscapa. Tail long ; wings moderate or rather long; legs slender; bill wide; bristled at base. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about five and a half inches; wing, three inches; tail, three and one-fourth inches. Colors. — Under coverts of the tail white. All other parts of the plumage, dull fuliginous, darkest on the head, and lightest on the abdomen. Throat and obscure spot on the ear whitish ; shafts of the im IK' 152 ORNITHOLOGY. tail-feathers and a narrow edging at their tips, white. Bill dark; lower mandible white at its base ; legs dark. " Irides brown" (Peale) . Hab. — Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mi!«i. WashingtoP City. This is a species described by Mr. Peale as above, from a single specimen, not in good order, in the collection of the Expedition. This specimen, now before us, is evidently that of a young bird, and very probably not in the plumage assumed at maturity. It is not, there- fore, without hesitation, that wo have admitted it into our present volume a» a species hitherto undescribed, especially as it shows a near relationship to the species alluded to in the article immediately pre- ceding {li. albkcapa). The colors of the superior parts, in the present bii'd, are very nearly the same as those of B. alhhcapny but the under ports are of a color nearly uniform with the upper. In the last character it differs from any specimen of that species that we have seen. There is a distinct trace of white on t!ie throat and ears, and the shafts of the tail-feathers are white as in R. albiscapa. The bill in the present bird is slightly the larger. The figure in the Zoological Atlas of the Voyage of the Astrolabe and Zelee, cited above, may represent this bird, but it is without any of the white markings. Mr. Peale mentions this species as " found, in the month of October, inhabiting shady forests in the Island of Upolu, and not so familiar nor noisy as the New Zealand Fan-tails." The figure in our plate is of the natural size, and represents the only specimen in the collection of the Expedition. 5. Genus TYRANNUS, Cuvie.. Rogne Animal, I, p, 843 (1817). 1. Tyrannus verticalis (Siiy). — The Arkansas Fly-catcher. Mutckapa verticalis, Say, Long's Exp. to Rock. Mount. II, p. GO (1823). Bonap. Am. Orn. I, Plate II; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLIX, fig. I, 2 ; oct. ed. I, Plate LIV. INSESSORES. 153 Frequently noticed by Dr. Pickering as occurring in Oregon. It is also one of the most common fly-catchers of California, and is a rare straggler in the States on the Atlantic, having been obtained by Mr. Edward Harris, one of our most eminent ornithologists, in New Jersey. 2. Ttrannus borealis, Stoainson. Ti/rannus horealis, SwAlNS. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 141 (1831). Mimkapa Cooperi, Nutt. Man. Ora. I, p. 282 (1832). Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, Plate XXXV; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CLXXIV; oct. ed. I, Plate LVIII. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition were obtained in Oregon. This, though more especially a Western species, has fre- quently been captured in the Atlantic States, and in fact may be considered as becoming more common than formerly. It is a true Tyrannus, though little is known of its manners or history. The name given by Swainson to this bird as above, is undoubtedly entitled to be adopted on account of priorit3^ G. Genus TYllANNULA, Swai.is. Cab. Cy II, p. 225 (1837). 1. Tyrannula Saya {Bona}).). — Say's Fly-catcher. Mmcicapa Sat/a, BoNAP. Am. Orn. II, p. 20 (1825). Bonap. Am. Orn. II, Plate III ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLIX, fig. 4, 5 ; Oct. ed. I, Plate LIX. Mentioned by Dr. Pickering as having been observed in Oregon, nnd as being of common occurrence at weveral localities in that Territory. This appears to be one of the most abundant fly-catchers of Western North America, being brought by nearly all collectors in California and Oregon. 1 ■ .' :e:^z \k %W. 154 ORNITHOLOGY. 2. Tybannula albiceps {Lafr.etnOrh.), Muscipeta albiceps, Lafr. ot D'Obb. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 47. . ' Specimens in the collection are from Tierra del Fuego. • 3. Tybannula chbysoceps {Spix). Platyrltynchus chrytoceps, SPIX, Av. Braa. II, p. 10 (1825). 2j/rannu/a/err«^tnca, Swains. B. of Braz. p. 3 (1841). Spix. Av. Bras. XI, fig. 2; Sw. B. of Braz. Plate LIII. Specimens in the collection are labelled as having been obtained in Peru, and present the usual characters only of this well-marked spe- cies. 7. Genus FLUVICOLA, Swains. Cab. Cy. II, p. 256 (1837). 1. FlUVICOLA CYANIBOSTBIS (Vietll.). Mmclcapa cyanirostris, ViEiLL. Nour. Diet. XXI, p. 447. Gray, Gen. of Birds, I, Plate LXI. From Tierra del Fuego. 8. Genus PYROCEPHALUS, Gould, Zool. Voy. Beag'e, Birds, p. 44 (1841). ^ 1. Pybocepualus obscubus, Oould. Pyrocephalus obscurus, GouLD, Zool. Voy. Beagle, Birds, p. 45 (1841). Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are undoubtedly of the species described by Mr. Gould as above, though like his speci- mens, thoy are apparently in immature plumage. The species is, however, certainly different from either P. ruhineua or P. iMrviroatrie, INSESSORES. 155 and is very probably when adult of a different shade of red. From Peru. 9. Genus TAENIOPTERA, Bonaparte, Gray's Gen. of Birds, I, p. 241 (1847). 1. Taenioptera obscura {Omelin). Muscicupa obscura, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 945 (1788), Lath. Ind. Orn. II, p. 470. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate IX, fig. 3. Adult male. Form. — Compact and rather strong ; head broad ; aperture of the nos- tril large; membcane consp'cuous; wing with the first quill short ; fourth and fifth Ic ngest and n?arly equal ; tail moderate, wide, with its feathers pointed and mucronate ; tarsi long, rather slender ; scales in front obscure. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven inches; wing, four inches ; tail, three inches ; tarsus, one and a half inches. Colors. — Male. Entire plumage above, light reddish-brown or snuff color, most distinct on the back, and tinged with cinereous on the forehead. Under parts light ashy, palest on the flanks and abdo- men ; under tail-coverts yellowish-white. Quills and tail-feathers light brown, the former fulvous at their bases, and the shafts of the latter, on their under surfaces, white. Bill dark, tarsi lighter. Female. Quills bright fulvous at their bases, and edged on their outer webs with the same color. Under parts paler than in the male, white on the abdomen, outer feathers of the tail lighter. Had. — Sandwich Islands. Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington, and This remarkable species appears to have been lost sight of by modern ornithologists, and the specimen in the present collection, and another in that of the Philadelphia Academy, are the only ones that have come under our notice. T!ie male described above, which is in the collection of the Expedition, is in excellent plumage and preser- vation, and differs from the female in the more uniform and deeper W'' 156 OENITHOLOOr. cinereous of the under parts, and also in the fulvous portion of the quills at their bases being less extensive and not so conspicuous. In the female (the specimen of which, now before us, was brought from the Sandwich Islands by Dr. J. K. Townsend), these fulvous markings form a transverse bar obliquely across the folded wing, and the under parts of the body are nearly white. The tarsi are long, with the scales in front large, but very obscurely defined. This bird much resembles in general form several of the species included by the Prince Bona- parte in his genus Taeniopiera (Cons. Av. p. 165), but is different in color from any with which we are acquainted. We have, however, for the present, placed it in this genus. This interesting bird is represented in our plate the size of life. 10. Genus EUSCARTHMUS, De Wicd, Beitr. Zur. Naturg. Bras. Ill, p. 945 (1831). 1. EuSCARTHMUS PARULUS {KittUtz). Mmdcapn parula, KiTTLlTZ, Mem. Acad. St. Petersburg, I, p. 190 (1830). Iteijxdus jilumuhiMts, I'f.alk, Zool. Exp. Exp. Vincennes, Birds, p. 94 (1st ed. 1848).* Mem. Acad. St. Peterssburg, I, Plate 9. This remarkable little species appears to have been singularly over- looked by naturalists until described by Kittlitz, as above. It appears to be one of the most common birds of Chili, being brought in almost every collection from that country. The specimen in the collection of the Expedition is in adult plu- * " Plumage very soft and open in texture ; crest, crown, and cheeks black, the frontal feathers having a slight margin of white; back of the neck cinereous; back olive-gray; throat and breast white; abdomen pain-yellow, the feathers lincated along the centre with black; vent and under tail-coverts pale straw-color; wings dark p'ive-brown, the pri- maries, secondaries, and tcrtials edged with dirty white; tail slightly rounded, bipartite, and composed of twelve feathers of an olive-brown color, excepting the two outermost, which have the outer webs white; bill and legs black ; iridcs white. "Total length, four and ono-fourth inches; extent of wings, five and five-eighths inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, two and two-tenths inches ; tail, one and ninetecn- twrntieths of an inch; tarsi, seven-tenths of an inch; middle toe, including the claw, half an inch; claw, three-twentieths of an inch ; hind toe, four-tenths of an inch ; claw, two-tenths of an inch ; bill, tbrcc-tcnths of au inch ; to the corner of tko mouth half au inch." ¥^ K V ■ ,> \ ^J % \ INSESSORES. 157 mage, and according to Mr. Peale, was " killed near Valparaiso, on the twenty-eighth of May, whilst actively gleaning for insects among some low bushes ; it was alone, and excepting a faint stzee, stzee, silent." 3. Family TURDID^. 1. Genus MERULA, Ray. 1. Merdla migbatoria {Linn.). — The American Robin. Tardus migratorius, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 811 (1766). - Cat. Car. I, Plate XXIX ; Buff. PI. Enl. 556, fig. 1 ; Wilson, Am. Orn. I, Plate II; And. B. of Am. Plate CXXXI; oct. ed. Ill, Plate CXLII. Specimens of both sexes of this bird from Oregon, are similar in all respects to those of the Eastern United States. It is brought too in nearly all collections from California, and in the " Voyage en Islande et au Greenland sur la Corvette la Recherche," Zoology, p. 157 (Paris, 1851), this species is stated to be common in Iceland, in the summer. Its northern and western range is therefore very extensive, and it ap- pears, in fact, to inhabit the whole of North America, south of the limit of perpetual frost. 2. Merula falcklandica {Quoy and Gaimard). Tttrdm falckhmdkus, QcOY and Gaimard, "Voy. Uranie, Zoology, p. 104 (1824). Turdus magellanicus, Kino, Proo. Zool. See. London, I, p. 14 (1830). This bird is one of several of South America which more or less resemble in form and general appearance the common bird of North America immediately preceding. It appears to inhabit Western South America from Peru to Ca^T Horn, and is stated to be an abundant species. Respecting this bird, Mr. Peale observes : " The young of this species was found at Orange Bay, Tierra del , 40 r-. 3'M ^-i.j.; -^i^ 158 ORNITHOLOGY. Fuego, just fully grown in the month of February. Their size, voice, and general appearance are so much like the Robin of North America, that few of our officers could be persuaded that they were not identical." ■^ 3. Merula VANiKORENSis [Quoij ixnil (nunuird). TunJM vanifcorensis, QuoY AND Oaimaud, Voy. Astrolabe, Zoology I, p. 188 (1830). Voy. Astrolabe, Birds, Plate VII, fig. 2. Form. — Bill large, wide at base ; wing long, first primary rudimentary ; fourth slightly longest; tail moderate, rather short; tarsi and toes long ; claws strong, curved. General form short and compact. DiMEXSiONS. — Total length (of skin), about seven inches; wing, fo " inches ; tail, three inches. Colors. — Adult male. Entire plumage black, primaries slightly tinged and edged with brown. Bill, tarsi, and toes yellow. Had. — Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. A single specimen of this bird is in the collection of the Expedition. It is apparently in perfectly adult plumage, and as described above, is entirely black. The figure in the Atlas to the Zoology of the Voyage of the Astrolal oems to represent this species in a less mature stage of plumage, having the under parts more tinged with brown, and the inferior coverts of the tail with lines of white. In other characters and in general appearance the bird now before us agrees with the de- scription and figure alluded to. The bill in this bird is remarkably strong, and its tarsi more dis- proportionately lengthened than is usual in this genus. It is stated by Mr. Peale to have been obtained near the village of Alua, in the interior of the Island of Upolu, on the fifth of November. According to him, " It inhabits the shady and retired parts of the forests of the Samoan Islands, and is said to sing with a powerful and sweet voice." INSESSORES. 159 2. Genus MICROSCELIS, Gray, List, of Gen. Birds, p. 28 (1840). < 1- MiCROSCELIS TEISTIS {Bhjth). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate VII, fig. 4. Adult. Numerous specimens of this species are in the collection of the Ex- pedition, and appear to have been obtained at Malacca. We have no notes relating to it, nor do we notice anything peculiar in the speci- mens before us. This bird is given in our plate of the natural size. [Z. Genus TATAllE, Leswn, Traite d'Orn. I, p. 317 (1831). 1. Tatare otaitiensis, Lesson. Tatare olaitioiKts, Lesson, Traite d'Orn. I, p. 317 (1831). Sifta ofatare, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Zonlogie, I, p. OGG (1826). Tatare fuscm, A. Lesson, Rev. Zool. 184'2, p. 210. Turdus sandicichciisis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 813 (1788) ? Voy. Coquille, Zool. Plate XXIII, fig. 2. Of this bird, now well known as an inhabitant of the Sandwich Islands, numerous specimens are in the collection. These vary much in colors, and the general characters and form of this species are to us quite incongruous, though it probably belongs to the family of thru.'^hes. Respecting this species, Mr. Peale remarks : " We obtained specimens of this variable species at the Paumotu Islands, at Tahiti, at the Samoan Islands, at Tongatabu, and sundry other places in the South Pacific Ocean. It is the most widely spread of all the Polynesian land birds. " The most usual color is pale bull' beneath, brown wings and tail, the feathers of the latter tipped with buff, and the back and head mottled with brown and buff. We have not seen any two specimens exactly alike j they vary from a chocolate-brown to white ; in fact, ii& m «•'! ■'♦■jSn ■ m ^ -4 i£lS ;-^- m 160 ORNITHOLOGY. they vary in markings, color, and size, almost as much as domestic poultry, but their sprightly wren-like actions and sweet song are the same in all. They frequent close bushy patches of vegetation, and sometimes reedy marshes, are difficult to shoot, unless the hunter ex* cites their curiosity, when they will expose themselves." The specimens now before us, and others that have come under our notice, fully sustain Mr. Peale's statement respecting the variation of the colors in different specimens of this species. Each one is unlike the others, but we can detect no specific distinction between speci- mens from the various localities mentioned. This is one of the most abundant of the birds of the Pacific Islands, and inhabits a range of locality unusually extensive. The specimens in the collection of the Expedition are in excellent plumage and pre- servation. This bird is well represented in the plate of the Voyage of the Coquille, above cited. 4. Family AMPELlDiE. 1. Genus EOPSALTRIA, Swains. Cab. Cy. II, p. 250 (1837). 1. EOPSALTBIA FLAVIFRONS, Bsale. EopsaUria flavifrons, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Yincenncs, Birds, p. 96 (1st edition, 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate X, fig. 1. Fronie Jlavo, gutture albo, supra oUvaceo-fusca, siihtm JUiva. Lory. tot. 6 pollices. ^ Form. — Larger than E. australis and E. griseogularis, of Australia. Bill strong, curved, and sharp at the point, distinctly notched near the tip; wing rather long, fourth and fifth quills longest, and nearly equal ; tail moderate ; tarsi and toes rather long and slender. General form compact and strong. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about six inches; wing, three and a half inches ; tail, two and a half inches. tNSESSORES. 161 Colors. — Male. Front (or forehead) yellow ; throat white. Entire upper parts olive-brown, tinged with yellow on the back and rump ; quilla and tail brown, the former edged externally with ashy, and some of the outer feathers of the latter slightly edged with yellow. Under parts (except the throat), bright yellow ; bill and feet dark. Inferior coverts of the wing yellowish-white ; tibiaj olive-brown, many of the feathers tipped with yellow. Has. — Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. This is one of three closely allied species of Eopaaltria, of which specimens are contained in the collection of the Expedition, and were described by Mr. Peale in the first edition of the present volume. They present the typical characters of this genus, though larger, and with their bills more strongly developed than the species hitherto known as inhabiting Australia, though resembling them in general appearance. In allusion to the present species, Mr. Peale observes : " This is quite a common bird in the bushy grounds in the Island of Upolu ; it is named from its cry, Vaasi-vassi, which it utters in a clear full-toned whistle. Its general appearance and habits assimilate it to our yellow-breasted chat {Pipra polyglotta of Wilson), but is not so noisy or active." This bird is given in our plate, above cited, of the size of life. 'Mi 2. EOPSALTRIA ICTEROIDES, Piidle. Eopmltria icterofdesy Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Vincennes, Birds, p. 97 (Ist edition, 1848). Eopmltria diademala, PuciiERAN, Zool. Voy. Astrolabe and Zelee, III, p. 55 (1853). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate X, fig. 3. »if.i r\i Fronte, giiUure et corpore euhtuaflavia; supra oUvaceo-fusca. Long. tot. 6 polUces. Form. — Similar to the immediately preceding species, and in dimen- sions also very nearly the same. 41 162 ORNITHOLOGY. Colors. — Male. Front (or forehead) yellow ; throat and entire other under parts bright yellow. Entire upper parts dark olive-brown, very similar to the preceding species, but in the specimen before ns, not so much tinged with yellow on the back and rump. Inferior coverts of the wing yellowish-white ; tibiae brown, some feathers tipped with yellow. Hab. — Samoan Islands. — Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. This species only differs from the preceding in having the throat yellow, and uniform with the color of the other under parts of the body, instead of white. In all other respects it sufficiently resembles it to be regarded as specifically the same, and our own opinion would incline us so to consider it. Mr. Peale says of this bird : " Killed at the Samoan or Navigators Islands, with the last. It is considered to be a distinct species by t! :iatives." Our figure is of the natural size. 3. EOPSALTRIA ALBIFRONS, I^ule. Eopmltria albi/roru, Pkalg, Zool. Ezp. Esp. Vincenncs, Birdfl, p. 123 (1st edition, 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate X, fig. 2. Fronte et gutture albie, sttpra oUvaceo-fasca, subtue flava. Long. tot. 6 pollices. Form. — Very similar to the two preceding species, but apparently smaller. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about five and a half inches ; wing, three and one-fourth inches ; tail, two and a half inches. Colors — Male. Front (or forehead) white ; throat white. Entire upper parts dark olive-brown ; under parts, except the throat, bright- yellow. Much resembling in color generally the two preceding species. Had. — Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. INSESSORES. 163 This species differs from both of the preceding in having the fore- head white, and the specimen now described is rather smaller than either of them. If measured, however, minutely, or by tenths or twelfths of an inch, each one of the three specimens now before us would differ from the othcrn, but not to an extent unusual in different specimens of the same species in many families of birds. We much suspect that the three birds now described as distinct, are really one and the same species, variable perhaps in color, like some other species of the Pacific Islands. Of the last bird, Mr. Peale remarks : " Killed at the Samoan Islands, where it frequents bushy grounds, like the Vassi-vasai, but is not so common. All three of the last-de- scribed birds are closely allied, if not specifically the same, but as they are all considered to be different species bt/ the natives, who generally have a very correct knowledge of the products of their islands, and as they all differ in plumage, although killed in the same season (Oc- tober and November), we have thought it proper to present them to our readers as we found them ; expressing, at the same time, our sus- picions of their identity." This bird is given in our plate of the natural size. 5. Family SYLVIADiE. 1. Genus SAXICOLA, Bechstein, Orn. Tasch. p. 216 (1802). 1. Saxicola oenantue (Linn.). MolaciUa oenanthe, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 332 (1706). Gould, B. of Eur. Plate XC. Mr. Peale observes : " A male specimen, in beautiful condition, flew on board the U. S. Ship Pciicock, on the 19th of October, in latitude 6° 50' N., longitude 21° 38' W. of Greenwich. It was captured, but refusing the kind of food we were able to oft'or, it died soon afterwards." The land nearest to the point at which this bird was captured is the coast of Africa. 'I;..;'-' J, h '»■**> '•■J mm 164 ORNITHOLOGY. 2. O1NU8 SIALIA, Swai'ni. Faun. Bor. Am. II, p. 200 (1831). 1. SuuA MEXiCANA, Sivainson. — The Wcatcrn Bluebird. .ne-twcntieths of an inch; nail, two-tenths of an inch. Female." ''H. m INSESSORES. 167 6. Genus ZOSTEROPS, Viij. and Bon/. Trans. Linn. Soo. London, XV, p. 234 (1825). 1. ZoSTEROPS FLAVICEPS, Biale. Zoiterops Jlavkepi, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 95 (Ist ed. 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate X, fig. 4. Adult? Capite flavescenti-vlridi, (jutlure fiavo, 8npra cinereay suhtm cinerascenti alba. Rtfert Z. dorsalem. Long. tot. 4i itollicea. Form. — Much resembling that of Z. dorsalis and others of this genus. Bill rather long ; wing moderate, second quill slightly longest ; tail moderate or rather short ; legs slender ; clawt curved, rather large. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), four and a half inches; v^\\g^ two and a half inches ; tail, one and three-fourths of an inch. " Tota! length, five and one-tenth inches ; extent of wings, seven and a uulf inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, two and six-tenths inches" (Peale). Colors. — Head above yellowish-green, lighter in front; throat yel- low, tinged slightly with greenish. Back cinereous ; rump, wing- coverts, and outer odges of quills greenish-yellow, nearly uniform with the head. A circle of white around the eye; space in front of ii,, or lores, dark, nearly black. Breast and abdomen ashy-white, darker on the sides and inclined to pure white in the middle ; under coverts of the tail pale yellow. Quills light-brown, narrowly edged with white on their inner webs, and with greenish-yellow on their outer ; tail-feathers light-brown, edged on their outer webs with greenish-yellow. Bill and tarsi light- colored (in skin). "Bill and legs pale brownish-blue; irides light- brown" (Peale). Hah.— Feejee Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. The investigation of this species by us, is one of the instances which I6d ORNITHOLOGY. have repeatedly occurred in the course of our examination of the pre- sent collection, in which we have been under the necessity of deciding on the claims of a real or supposed species very nearly allied to another, without a sufficient number of specimens to warrant that our decision shall be either reliable or satisfactory even to ourselves. This bird is nearly related to the well-known Zosteropa dormlis, of Australia, and is about the same size. It has the same cinereous back, and a very similar general distribution of colors, but the yellow of the throat is more strongly marked and occupies a larger space ; the head above is of a lighter shade of yellowish-green, and in the only specimen of the present bird in the collection, there is but a faint tinge of the light- brown on the flanks so strongly marking Z. dorsalie. W^ regard these, however, as but slender grounds for the establishment of a species, especially in this, as it appears to us, intricate and difficult genus. The specimen before us, according to Mr. Peale, " was killed in a grove of Caeuarina trees, at Venua Levu, one of the Feejee Islands, on the fifteenth of June." i 3. TiuBE TENUmOSTRES. 1. Genus MOHO, Lesson, Traitfe d'Orn. I, p. 302 (1831). 1. MOHO ANGUSTIPLUMA (Jhiale). Entomiza angmtlplumu , I'eale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 147 ( 1848), Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XI, fig. 1. Adult? Supra fusca lineis JongiHuUnalihufi alhis, gviture Jiaveecenii-alho, 2t^tore ef (iMomine albis, fimv Uiieat'iH, crifntin ruJiH, alio et cuuda /tu/cis, linea subocuhtri nigra. Lung, tot. 13i poUices. F()R^f. — Rather slender ; bill curved ; wings rather long, with the fourth and filth primaries longest and nearly equal; tail long, wedge-shaped, the two central feathers exceeding the others ; legs and feet strong; plumage of the head, neck, and breast, with the webs of the feathers composed of few filaments, and presenting an open or skeleton-like texture ; many feathers of the throat terminated with bristles. v.- INSESSORES. 169 Colors. — Head and neck above dark brown, every feather having a longitudinal central stripe of dull white, tinged with greenish-yellow on the latter. Other upper parts, including wings and tail, brown ; on the back with longitudinal stripes of white ; quills and tail-feathers edged with olive-green on their outer webs ; rump tinged with olive. Wide stripe, from the base of the bill under the eye, ending in a large spot on the cheek, black. Throat dull white, tinged with yellow; breast and abdomen dull white, every feather margined with brown ; flanks and under tail-coverts dark rufous; bill and legs dark. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), thirteen and a half inches; wing, six inches ; tail, six and a hr^lf Inche? ; bill, from the anyle of the mouth, one and three-fourths inches ; tarsus, about one and three- fourths inches. Hab. — Island of Hawaii. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. Though we suspect that the bird above described is not in mature plumage, it appears to be a distinct species of the genus Moho, Lesson, of which the only species heretofore known are Moho nohills (Merrem), and probably the bird described as Certhia pacifica, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. ' I, p. 470 (Vieill. and Aud. Ois. Dor. Plate LXIII), and Moho hraccofa, Cassin. It does not appear to belong to the genus Stricjiccps, Less. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 2C6, tliough evidently related to it. The feathers of the head and breast in this bird present a remark- able character on account of the filaments composing the webs of the feathers being unusually few in number, and at such a distance from each other as not to touch, nor become adherent. This structure of the feathers gives to the plumage of the parts mentioned, a somewhat hairy appearance, and prevails also, in some measure, on the abdomen and other under parts of tiie body. Many of the feathers on the throat and neck in front terminate in bristles curved outwardly, and readily discernible on viewing the specimen in profile. Respecting this curious bird, Mr. Peale's remarks are as follows : " This rare species was obtained at the Island of Hawaii. It is very active and graceful in its motions, frequents the woody districts, and is disposed to be musical, having most of the habits of a MeVq)haga ; it is generally fount' about those trees which are in flower." — ^S 170 ORNITHOLOGY. Dr. Pickering mentions having seen this species " alighting in the tops of the trees and uttering a loud chuck." We regard this bird as one of the most interesting of the ornitholo- gical discoveries of the Expedition, and much regret to find a single specimen only in the collection. It is represented, in our plate above cited, of the size of life. 2. MoHO NOBiLis {Merrem). Gracula nnhid's, Merr. Beyt. zur. Besond. Gesoh. der Viigel, p. 8/ Plate II (1784, name on plate). ^f,'rops niijer, Gm. Syat. Nat. I, 465 (1788). Merops /uscictilatui, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, p. 275 (1790). Epimachut pacificui, LiCHT. Temra. PI. Col. 471. Reichenbach, Volst. Naturg. Birds, Plate DCIV, fig. 4098. The naturalists of the Expedition availed themselves of the oppor- tunity presented to them of making some interesting observations on this singular bird, and in the collection we find several fine specimens. Though apparently not very common in Museums, it is so well known to ornithologists that we have not deemed it necessary to append a detailed description. We may be allowed to observe, though, that it is not without some degree of repugnance that we adopt the generic name Muho, which is that having priority of several others. Names so singularly barbarous and in such bad taste ought scarcely to be tolerated, even on the ground of priority. This bird, the general plumage of which is deep glossy black, has a curious tuft of yellow feathers on each side near the shoulder, which was formerly highly valued by the Hawaiians, as has been related by various naturalists and voyagers, and as we find in the following ob- servations by Mr. Peale : " The yellow tufts of costal feathers in this beautiful bird furnished the material for the splendid and costly royal robes, capes, and * lei's' of the Hawaiians in former days. The bunches of feathers, called hulu, represented in the wood-cut at the end of this article, are still INSESSOBES. 171 prepared and received in payment of a poll-tax to the king ; they are afterwards made up principally in ' leiV or head-bands worn by the ladies, and are beautiful but costly ornaments ; but few can affi)rd to wear them. The mantles made of these feathers were, until lately, considered the principal treasures of the crown ; now they are not to be seen ; the labor of collecting the feathers and attaching them to a network base, a labor of years, being too great. European clothing has entirely superseded the former robes of state. " The ' Oo' is found in most of the woody districts of the Island of Hawaii ; it frequents the thick foliage of the loftiest trees ; in voice and mann^irs it has some resemblance to the Oriole of North America (Icterus RiUimore). The natives capture it by means of birdlime, and after plucking the yellow feathers from beneath the wings, restore it to liberty, until again wanted to assist in paying the royal tax. "Another bird is called Oo by the natives; it is the Certhia pacifica of Latham, and is found in the Island of Kauai, one of the same group. It also has tufts of yellow feathers which have been collected for the same purpose in former days; in it, the yellow feathers are on the thighs, not on the sides as in the genuine Oo ; they are smaller, much inferior in beautiful texture, and are no longer collected. Both species are black. We killed specimens at Hanalei, a department of the Island of Kauai, where they are found in the woody districts on the mountains." In Dr. Pickering's notes, we find this species frequently mentioned as occurring in difierent parts of the Island of Hawaii, and especially in the following : " Near the upper margin of the forest of Mauna l-Cea, this bird was commonly to be met with, and flew high, somewhat in the manner of the Boat-tailed Grakle of the United States. Its note was a loud cJiuck, repeated two or tljree times, and in its habits it reminded me of the Poi-bird of New Zealand. In mature specimens, the middle feathers of the tail are twisted spirally at their ends, and are considerably longer than the others." Tliough we are not disposed to regard the native names of avfiuials as entitled to much consideration, we may be allowed to observe that the name of this bird must sound quite differently to different persons. Mr. Peale, as above, is quite confident that it is Oo, which we should pronounce simply as double o. Mr Bloxham, in his Appendix on the Natural History of the Sandwich Islands, in the Voyage of the Blonde, ^1 ■.f ■ 1^* r w '^■y\ ' ( ;4,| % )#»l >^ U '5r I ■-. H ;■■ V^', ' ">'%. .-,-lll "» l\lj 4" '♦4 :;^ . !^-* 172 ORNITHOLOGY. p. 249 (London, 1826, quarto), says that it is " Uho" while M. Le&i son appears to have derived his generic designation from the same native name, and makes \\ " Moho." These names are of no zoological or other importance whatever, and are not worth mentioning, except to show that there is no reliance whatever to be placed in them. The other species, which, according to Mr. Peale, is also known to the natives by the name of Oo, M. Lesson calls " Hoho." We do not agree with Mr. Peale in the supposition that this second species mentioned by him is Certhia paciftca, Gra. It is Mohoa hraccata, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philadelphia, VII, p. 440 (1855), described by us from a speci- men brought by Dr. Townsend, now in the Museum of the Philadel- phia Academy. THE IIOVAL TAX OF TUB SANDWICH tSLANOB. 2. Genus LEPTORNIS, Jac et. Purh. Zool. Voy. Astrolabe and Zelee, Ois. p. 85 (1853). 1. Leptornis SAMOENSis (/7o»i6. an V V3 iVUT MAIN STRHT wnSTIR.N.V. MStO 178 ORNITHOLOOT. This beautiful little species appears to be one of the most abundant of the birds inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands, and is perhaps the most fre- quently met with in ornithological collections. Several specimens in excellent plu4nac;3 were obtained by the naturalists of ^he Expedition, and are now in the collection. Mr. Peale observes respecting this bird : '' This curious and highly colored bird is found inhabiting most of the Hawaiian group of islands, where it is one of the most common species. At Oahu, we found them generally about the gigantic ZoJe- lias which characterize the botany of that island. They extract their food from the flowers of the Lobelia, for which the singularly formed bill is admirably adapted. The red feathers of this' species were usually selected for the ornamental figures on the capes and robes of the ancient Hawaiians, but, by reason of their abundance, were not so highly valued as those of the Oo." 7. Genus HEMIGNATHUS, Lkhtenttein. 1. Hemignathus? obscurus {Gmelin). Certhia obicura, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 470 (1788). ' Aud. and Vieill. Ois. Dor. II, PI. LIII ; Lath. Gen. Syn. I, PI. XXXIII, fig. 1. A single specimen, and the only one that we have ever seen which is clearly the species described and figured by the authors above referred to, is in the collection of the Expedition. Though with a long, gradually curved bill, more as represented in the plate of Aud. and Vieill. than in that of Lath., as above, and with the inferior man- dible but little shorter than the superior, this bird appears to us to present very much the characters of Hemignathus. The color, too, is nearly the same. The shape of the bill in this bird is different from that in the genus Drepania {D. coccinea and D. eangidnea) . It either forms a distinct genus, or belongs to the genus Hemignathus, in our opinion to the lat- ter ; and the half-billed or Hemignathous character appears to us to be not completely characteristic. INSESSOBES. 179 Bill long, gradually curved, pointed ; wing moderate or rather long ; third quill slightly longest ; tail short, even ; legs rather long, strong ; toes moderate. Front, and line over the eye, pale greenish-yellow ; spot in font of the eye black. Entire upper parts olive-green, tinged with yeilow ; under parts greenish-yellow ; lighter on the throat and under tail-coverts. Bill and legs dark. Total length (of skin), about six inches; wing, three inches; tail, one and three-fourths inches ; bill, one and three-fourths inches. Hab. — Sandwich Islands. Specimen in Nat Mus. Washington. Of this interesting and little-known bird, Mr. Peale observes : " We obtained specimens of this curious bird at the Island of Hawaii only ; it was found inhabiting the thick woody districts, and according to our observation, does not inhabit Oahu, or the northern islands of the Hawaiian Group." A careful examination of Latham's figure, cited above, and compa- rison with that of Vieill. and Aud., may readily lead to some doubts of the identity of the birds represented. The former possibly repre- sents a true Hemignathxia, and not the present bird, but it is clearly that represented by the authors last mentioned. 2. HsMiGNATHUS OLivACEUS {Lofresnaije), Hettrorhynchxu olivaceuf, Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1889, p. 17. Guerin, Mag. de Zool. 1839, PI. X. In the collection of the Expedition we find specimens which appear to be the bird described and figured under this name by the Baron Lafresnaye, as above cited, though they are, we suspect, not in mature pluuiage. The specimens before us were obtained at the Sandwich Islands. Though given by Messrs. Prevost and Des Murs in Zoology of the Voyage of the Venus (Oiseaux, p. 192) as identical with the succeed- ing species, we regard it as quite difierent. 180 ORNITHOLOGY. 3. Hemignathus lucidus {lAchtemtein). Nectarima lucida, LiOHT. Mem. Acad. Berlin, 1839, p. 451. Mem. Acad. Berlin, 1839, PL V, fig. 2 ; Voy. Venus, Ois. PI. I. In the curious little birds of this genus there is quite an appreciable diversity in the thickness and degree of curve in the bill in different specimens of apparently the same species. This variation may be, and probably is, dependent in some measure on the age of the indivi- dual, and we suspect that the curve is greatest in adult birds. Nor are we sure that the half-billed character, indicated by the name of this genus, it strictly correct, for reasons mentioned in a preceding article. These birds appear to be restricted to the Sandwich Islands. We have now before us, from the collection of the Expedition, and from the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, several specimens which appear to be the present and preceding species. They bear a strong general resemblance to each other, but the present is the larger, and has the bill much stronger. It is not surprising that these two birds have been repeatedly mistaken for each other by authors, and they are in fact to be distinguished with difficulty by descriptions only. According to Mr. Peale, the three birds here included in the genus Hemignathm are very similar in their habits, and frequent the same description of locality. The bills in this bird, and that immediately preceding, are rarely exactly alike in any two specimens. The difference is in length and thickness and curve. In the specimens before us, very few have the bill curved at the same angle, or perhaps it would be more in accord- ance with the language of mathematics, to say that these bills describe arcs of different circles. We find nothing recorded by the naturalists of the Expedition in reference to the habits or history of this singular group of birds ; nor, we regret to say, elsewhere, except in the volume on the Quadrupeds and Birds of the Voyage of the Venus (p. 183, octavo, Paris, 1855). It is probably very nearly impossible to determine or reconcile with each other the synonyms of these two species, or the instances in which they have been mistaken for each other; but we have given them as they appear to us, and as represented in the plates cited. INSESSOUES. 181 4. Tribb FISSIROSTRES. 1, Family HIRUNDlNIDiB. 1. Genus PETROCHELIDON, Cabams, Museum Heineanum, p. 47 (1850). 1. Pethochelidon fulva {VieiU.). Birundo /ulva, ViEiLL. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, p. 62. IT'mndo pcEciloma, GossE, B. of Jamaica, p. 64 (1847). hirundo nificoUaria, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 175 (1st ed. 1848).* VieiU. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, Plate XXXII. Form. — Very similar to that of P. lunifrons (Say), but smaller. Com- pact and robust ; w ing long, first quill longest ; secondaries short, emargiuate ; tail rather short, truncate or slightly forked ; legs and toes slender. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about five inches; wing, four inches; tail, two inches. "Extent of wings, eleven and one-tenth inches" (Peale) ; "expanse eleven inches ' (Gosse). Colors. — Adult. (Specimen from Jamaica, which i's H. pceciloma, Gosse.) Forehead, ring around the back of the neck, and rump, * " Crown and head bltick, with blue reflections; wings and tail sepia-brown, even in length when closed ; tail nearly square, the two middle and two outer feathers being equal in length ; nuchal collar, rump, band across the breast and flanks rufous-brown ; throat and abdomen white ; under tail-coverts dusky, edged with white; bill black; feet dusky ; irides brown. "Total length, five and one-eighth inches; extent of wings, eleven and one-tenth inches; wing from the carpal joint, four and two-tenths inches ; tail, one and nine-tenths of an inch ; middle and outer feathers, one and eight-tenths of an inch ; tarsi, seven- twentieths of an inch,; middle toe, including the claw, eleven-twentieths of an inch ; claw, three-twentieths of an inch ; hind toe, four-tenths of an inch ; claw, three-twentieths of an inch ; bill, two-tenths of an inch ; to the angle of the mouth, eleven-twentieths of an inch. Male." 46 A'- 182 ORNITHOLOGY. chestnut-brown; head above and back black, with a bluish metallic lustre; quills and tail brownish-black. Throat, breast, and flanks, pale chestnut ; middle of the abdomen, and under tail-coverts white, the latter tinged with very pale chestnut. Bill black ; feet lighter. *' Irides dark-brown" (Gosse) . Some of the feathers of the back edged with white. Young (specimen from Peru, which is H. ruftcollaris, Peale). Upper parts same as in the specimen described above, but with the chestnut of the forehead nearly obsolete. Throat dull white; band across the breast and flanks pale chestnut ; abdomen white ; under tail-coverts dull white, tinged with pale chestnut, and with large subterminal spaces of dark-brown. " Bill black ; feet dusky ; irides brown. Male" (Peale). According to Mr. Peale, the specimen in the collection of the Ex- pedition was killed near Callao, Peru, on the twelfth of July. The two specimens now described, though presenting some differ- ences in the colors of the under parts, we regard as of the same species, and which is regarded by all late ornithologists as the true Hirundo /itlva of Vieillot. Both sufficiently resemble the figure in Ois. d'Am. Sept. in all respects, except that the tail is there represented as forked, but very probably erroneously by the artist, as it is not so stated in the description. The difference in the colors of these two birds is not greater than is usual in specimens of many species of the family Hirundinidce, and particularly in those like the common Hirumlo ruatka of Europe, or the Hirundo ru/a of North America, having the under parts more or less of a chestnut color. In I^trocheb'don luni/rons, a well-known spe- cies of the United States, and consii erably resembling the bird now before us, there is also much diversity in the extent and shade of the chestnut color c f the throat, though in adult specimens, it is nearly confined to that icjion. In young and immature birds it is quite ob- scure, and extends to the breast, mixed and shaded with pale brown. This bird has been mistaken for Hirundo luni/rone, Say, of North America, by several authors on American Ornithology, and its name bos accordingly been applied to that species erroneously (as in Audu- bon's Ornithological Biography, V, p. 415). The two species strictly belong to the same group, which is probably subgeneric only, but are so different as to be distinguished with no difficulty on comparison. Hirundo luni/rons is the larger, and may always be recognized by its INSESSOBES. 183 conspicuous frontal band of white, which is frequently slightly tinged with brownish, but is never of the dark chestnut found in H. fulva. In the specimens of the latter, now before us, there is no trace of the black of the throat which characterizes the former. As a bird of Western South America, we are not aware that this bird has been previously noticed. 2. Petrochelidon ctanoleuca {Vieill.). Hirundo cyanoleuca, ViElLl.. Nouv. Diet. XIV, p. 509. Hirundo minuta, De Wied, Beitr. II, p. 369. Hirundo tnelampyga, Light. Yerz. p. 57. Teram. PI. Col. 209, fig. 1. Several specimens are from Peru. Mr. Peale states : " We f nind this species very common in the month of July, about Lima anu Callao, in Peru. It was quite familiar, entering the court- yards of the houses, and coursing within a few feet of pedestrians." H'i'Pt 2. Genus COLLOCALIA, G. R. Gray, List. Gen. Birds, p. 8 (1840). 1. COLLOCALIA CINEREA {Gnu). Hirundo cinerea, Gm. Syst. Nat. II, p. 1026 (1788). , JUacrnpleryx leucophceug, Peale, Zool. Exp. £zp. Birds, p. 178 (let ed. 1848).* Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XII, fig. 4. Adult. This species is nearly related to the succeeding, and is most readily * " Pale soot-oolor ; beneath lighter ; crown, wings, and tail, darkest ; webs, of the greater wing-coverts, uncfu/afeff; bill very minute and delicate; forehead full, round ; eyes large ; irides dark brown ; feet dusky red ; tail slightly forked. " Total length, five and one-tenth inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, five and three- tenths inches ; tail, two.ftnd four-tenths inches ; tarsi, seven-twentieths of an inch ; middle toe, including the claw, four-tenths of an inch ; claw, three-twentioths of an inch ; hind toC; one-fourth of an inch ; claw, one-tenth of an inch ; bill, one-tenth of an inch ; to the corner of the mouth, nine-twentieths of an inch." w%. w^ ^m 184 ORNITHOLOGY. distinguished by its size, and by the rump being uniform in color with the other upper parts, and not cinereous as in the former. In other characters dependent on form the two species are very similar, and with the exception just stated, are similar also in color. The present bird is the larger of the two species. Mr. Peale observes of the present bird : '* This species was obtained at the Island of Tahiti, where it is not uncommon. Its flight and appearance towards evening, at which time it appears to be most active, is like that of the chimney-swallow of North America (Cha3tura pelasgia, Stev.), but the large and full tail of our bird, and its small bill and feet, destroy further analogy. It is probable that it breeds in caves, like the last-described species (the succeeding) to which it bears a family likeness, but we were not so fortunate as to discover its nest." Our figure above cited is of the natural size. 2. COLLOCALIA SPODIGPrOlA (Bsale). Marroptcryx sjiodiopj/(/ius, PEAtE, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 176 (1st ed. 1848). Hirundo /rancica, Gm. Sjrst. Nat. II, p. 1017 (1788) ? Plate XII, fig. 3. Adult. Tola fidujinosa, supra eaturatior, uropygio taenia transversa lata ctnera- scenti-alba. Long, tot. ^i pollices. Form. — Bill very short, weak ; wings long ; second quill longest ; tail rather long, wide; tarsi and toes slender; claws curved, rather strong. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about four and one-fourth inches ; wing, four and a half inches ; tail, two and one-fourth inches. Colors. — Rump with a wide transverse band of light cinereous. Entire other upper parts dark fuliginous ; lightest on the back, and nearly black on the head, wings, and tail. Under parts pale brownish, fuliginous ; lightest on the throat ; darker and nearly black on the ends of the under tail-coverts. '< Bill black ; tarsi dusky flesh-color ; extent of wings, ten and seven-eighths inches" (Peiile). ., =.-,.■, 1NSESS0BES. 185 Hab. — Upolu, Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Wash- ington City. The species of the genus of swallows to which this bird belongs, would be sufficiently difficult to distinguish, with all the appliances and means at hand, but with the brief descriptions of naturalists, and no figures worth mentioning, the case very nearly borders on the im- possible. And so, after having in vain examined all authorities within our reach, we are constrained to admit that we find ourselves at a loss to say whether the bird now before us has been previously described or not. In our catalogue of swallows, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (Proceedings, VI, July 1st, 1853), we cited Mr. Peale's name as a synonym for CoHocalia francica (Gm.), relying on the evident similarity of the Expedition's specimens with the description by Gmelin, and on European labels to specimens of a very similar if not identical species in the collection of the Academy. The latter bear as their locality " Mauritius." Gmelin compiles from Bufibn (Hist. Nat. des Ois. VI, p. 696), who gives the same locality, (Isle of France). The specimens in the collection of the Expedition are from the Samoan and the Feejee Islands, and are only rather darker in color than those to which we allude above. This character, however, and the widely different locality, have mainly induced us provisionally to regard the present bird as a distinct species. Mr. Peale's observations on this species are in a high degree inte- resting: " When the Expedition visited the Island of Upolu, in the month of November, 1839, Mr. Cunningham, acting British Vice-Consul, in- formed us that he had discovered in a cave on the south side of that island, some curious swallows, which had never been seen elsewhere, and that they were entirely subterranean, hatching their eggs and feeding and raising their young in the dark recesses of the earth. " We had previously seen both fishes and reptiles taken in such situations, but were not prepared to hear of subterranean birds. A journey was therefore made to the cave described by Mr. Cunningham. It rained the whole time, which was four days, occupied in going and returning across the mountains, but having become accustomed to marching in mud and water, we ei\joyed the tramp, and picked up, besides swallows, many interesting objects, which we saw in numbers every day that we stayed on the island. 47 186 ORNITHOLOGY. "On reaching the cuve, we found that it was one which was for- merly supposed to be the residence of one of the native gods, ' Moso.' Our Samoan companions pointed out the place, but declined entering, and we found that a wall had t)een built across the entrance, leaving but a narrow aperture through which the passage was given into utter darkness, but being prepared with matches, candles, and a lantern, we soon were on our way through a regularly formed volcanic tunnel, or passage, which was once an outlet by which lava in its molten state found its way from the mountains to the sea. " A sound like the rattling of small hard pebbles was heard, and soon traced to numerous swallows, which had been disturbed, by our lights, and many others were discovered sitting quietly on their nests placed on slight ridges of the lava. The nests were composed of moss, held together with glue incorporated with the moss in large quantities; like the walls of the cave, they were dripping with moisture ; each con- tained but one egg or young bird, and incubation did not appear to be confined to any particular season. Some were just building, while the young of others had quitted the nest, and were just beginning to fly. Old nests were repaired with new. moss, which made it appear that they used the same more than once. Some of the old birds were so unsu '.s that they allowed us to lift them off their egg with our hanu id they immediately returned when we were satisfied. The nests are nearly round, three inches in diameter, and about one and a half inches high. The eggs are pure white, one end nearly as small as the other, three-quarters of an inch long, and half an inch in diameter. " Notwithstanding that these swallows are known to Qy through long subterranean passages in total darkness, they may daily be seen abroad even in clear sunlight, collecting food for themselves and their young, so that it is probable there will be found on careful examina- tion, some anatomical structure which enables them to alter the form of their eyes, and to see in the dark and in tiie light. " The two sexes are alike in plumage, which the young also wear from the first moult. We had frequent opportunities of seeing this species at Upolu, and at Tutuila, of the Samoan Islands, and at several of the Feejees." This bird is represented in our plate of the natural size. I N S K S 8 1) R K S. 187 2. Family CAPUIMULGID^E. 1. Genus ANTUOSTOMUS, Goutd. 1. Antrostomus Nuttallii {Auduhon). CaprimufguB Nuttallii, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, p. 886 (1889). Aud. B. of Am. oct. ed. VII, Plato CCCCXCV. A single specimen is in the collection of the Expedition, which was obtained in Oregon. This remarkable and handsome little species is now frequently brought in collootions fi-om Western North America, though usually from California. 2. Antrostomus ocEi.LATUS (7?(c/»«f?«'). Caprimulijm ocellatus, TsoH. Gonsp. Woigni. Arohiv. 1844, p. 268. Tschudi, Faun. Per. Orn. Plato V, fig. 2. This handsome and strongly characterized species appears to be peculiar to the western countries of South America. Like the pre- ceding, it is one of the smallest of the birds of its genus, and perhaps ought to be regarded as presenting u subgeneric type. Specimens in the present collection are from Peru, in which country the species was originally discovered by the distinguished author above cited. Though placed by us at present in the genus Antroatonius, this bird is different in color from the North American species of this genus, and may be the type of a peculiar subgenerio group. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are in excellent plumage and preser- vation. f 188 ORNITHOLOGY. 2. G1N08 STENOPSIS, Cauin, Proo. Aoad. Pbilad. V, p. 170 (1851). 1. Stenopsis longirostris {BonajHirte).' Caprimuhjm hngirottrit, BoNAP. Jour. Acad. Philad. IV, p. 884 (1825). Caprimulgut li/aciatui, GoDLD, Proc. Zool. Soo. Jjondon, 1837> p. 22. Caprimulffus decuuatut, TsoilUDi, Consp. Av. p. 8. Caprimulgus conterminui, Peale, Zool. £zp. Exp. Birds, p. 109 (1848).* Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XIII, fig. 2. Adult. This is apparently one of the most common species of the family CaprimulgidcB, which inhabits the western countries of South America. The specimen described by Mr. Peale is not in adult plumage. Ac* cording to him, it was obtained near Valparaiso, Chili, in the month of May. " It was sitting on the ground when discovered, and uttered a cluck when flushed." The figure In our plate is of the natural size. 2. Stenopsis parvdlus (OouUl). Caprimulgut parvulm, QouLD, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1837, p. 22. Caprimulgut cfquicaudatut, Peale, Zool. Exp. Kxp. Birds, p. 168 (1848).f '*' " Head, back, and smaller wing-coverts rufous, mixed with gray, barred, and mi- nutely spotted with dark brown; scapulars with a black centre; Brst four quills dark brown, crossed in the middle by an oblique rufous bar ; secondaries crossed by five or six bars of rufous spots ; tail slightly rounded, the two centre feathers gray, crossed by eight indistinct and broken bars of dark brown, the rest brown, crossed by numerous broken bars and spots of rufous ; under coverts tawny ; gular spot rufous ; breast and abdomen rufous-gray, crossed by numerous small lines of dark brown ; legs reddish ; the toes dusky ; rictal bristles strong and glossy-black ; iridcs dark brown. " Total length, ten and three-tenths inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, six and nine- tentbs inches; tail, four and six-tenths inches; tarsi, olovon-tweittielhs of an inch; middle toe, including the nail, one inch ; nail, one-fourth of an inch ; hind toe, three- tenths of an inch ; nail, one-tenth of an inch ; bill, three-tenths of an inch ; to tho angle of the mouth, one and three-tenths of an inch ; second quill longest, third a triflo shorter." f " Head and back mottled with gray, dark brown, and rufous ; breast and abdomen tawny, crossed and spotted with small marks of dark brown and pale rufous ; gular spot '.i:v- INSESSORES. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XIII, fig. 1. Adult. 189 The specimens of this remarkable little species vary somewhat in size, but are undoubtedly this species. Tht larger, however, approach in some degree the preceding, and by descriptions only are difficult to be characterised so as to be readily distinguished. The present bird is the smaller, and is one of the smallest species of this family. According to Mr. Pealc, this bird was " found in considerable num- bers near Callao, Peru, in the month of July. It was always on the ground during the day, and never uttered any sound when flushed." Our figure above cited is of the natural size. 3. Genus CHOllDEILES, Swainson, Faun. Boi. Am. II, p. 466 (1831), 1. Chordeiles Acutipennis {Boddaert). Ctiprinwir/ui acutipennii, BoDD. Tab. PI. Enl. p. 46 (1783). Cnjirimuliju* acutun, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. II, p. 1031 (1788). Cajtn'iHufi/us exilit, Lesson, Rov. Zool. 1839, p. 44. Chonleiks htbeadalm, Jardink, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1840, p. 118. " Caprimufi/us setnitoryiualus, Linn. Gm. Pr. Max." — TscHUDi, Fauna Peruana, Orn. p. 21. Ciipri'mulijus pruinosus, TscHUDi, Av. Consp. p. 8. C/iorthiles pcrnvianm, P£ALE, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 172 (1848).* vliite ; wings dark brown ; the first four quills crossed by an oblique white line, which ia edged with rufous; secondaries with irregular bars of dark rufous; coverts, with a termi- nal spot of pale tawny, margined with dark brown ; tail even or ' square ;' four central feathers gray, crossed by seven irregular bars of dark brown ; the rest dark brown ; the inner webs tipped with white, and crossed by three bars of tawny near the body; outer web with eight or ten narrow, equidistant bars of pale rufous ; tarsi covered with feathers reaoiiing to the toes; irides brown, " Total length, eight and three-tenths inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, five and three-tenths inches ; tail, four inches; tarsi, thirteen-twenlieths of an inch; middle toe, including the nail, seventcen-twentiuths of an inch ; nail, three-twentieths of an inch ; bind too, two-tenths of an inch ; nail, one-twentieth of an inch ; bill, four-tenths of an inch ; to the angle of the mouth, one and two-tentiis inches." * " Head, back, scapulars, and two middle tail-feathers, light gray, mixed with tawny ; sagittal spot, on the -iippcr part of the throat, white ; beneath it, tawny, mottled with dusky ; breast gray, finely mottled ; belly, vent, and under tail-coverts pale tawny, with dusky bars ; wings dusky black ; the first four quills crossed at the middle by a white bar; second quill rather longer than the first; the third is shorter; tail notched, dusky; a 48. 'lii m ?^p h-;i«kJ ■% '%j9M 1^'^^ llp^^^ BBI?.'-ij ?^ jjiiH^ ^'fi^m 190 ORNITHOLOGY. Buff. PL Enl. 732, Tachudi, Faun. Per. Aves. PI. 6. Naturalists might safely desist from the further describing of this species. One of the reasons, however, of its having so many names, is the fact that the acuminations at the tips of the tail-feathers, from which its specific name is derived, are not always present. This cha- racter is represented very strongly in Buffon's plate, cited above, and is frequently to be found in specimens. Occasionally, too, the shafts of the tail-feathers terminate abruptly, as if broken off, and sometimes the tail is perfect. Mr. Peale states of this bird : "' It was found to be a common sjjecies near Callao, in Peru, during the month of July, and was seen resting on the ground only, never on fences or trees. It was not heard to utter any cry." 4. Gknus NYCTIBIUS, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 38 (181G). 1. Nyctibius uEthereus {De Wied). Caprimuhjus athereus, De Wied, Keise nach Brasilien, I, p. 236. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XIV. Adult. We find in the collection of the Expedition, a fine specimen of this large and well-marked species, which appears to have been obtained in Brazil. As stated by us in " Notes on the Caprimulgidce," in Pro- ceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, V, p. 185, this bird is quite distinct from Nyctibhin grandis, or any other species. It is one of the largest birds known of this family, being fully the size of the species just mentioned. ythite band crossing all except the two middle feathers ; near the tip, inside of this band, arc severiil gray mottled bars; beneath six decided white bars, the end one being the most conspicuous. " Total length, eight and one-tenth inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, six and nine- tenths inches ; tail, middle feathers, three and four-tenths inches ; outer feathers, four inches ; tarsi, half an inch ; middle toe, including; the claw, Hcven-tenths of an inch ; claw, two-tenths of an inch; pectination very conspicuous; hind too, one-fourth of an inch ; claw, one-twentieth of an inch; bill, two-tenths of an inch; to the angle of the mouth, nine-tenths of an inch." INSESS0RE8. 191 In the bird now before us, the ear-like tufts over the eye, which are to be founci in several others of this genus, are very obvious, and give to it an additional owUlike character. We are not aware that this species has ever before been figured. This remarkable bird is represented in our plate above cited, of the natural size. . ,; 8. Family HALCYONIDiE.— The Kingfishers. 1. Genus CERYLE, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 312. 1. Ceryle alcyon (Zmj«.). • Ahedo aht/on, LiNN. Sjst. Nat. I, p. 180 (1760). AUido ludoviciana, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 452 (1788). Alcedojaijuacati, DuMONT, Diet. Soi. Nat. I, p. 455 (1816). Buff. PI. Enl. 593, 715 ; Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, Plate XXIII, fig. 1; Aud. B. of Am. Plate LXXVII; oct. ad. IV, Plate CCLV. This species was observed by the naturalists of the Expedition in Oregon and California, occurring more commonly, according to Dr. Pickering, in the latter country. It inhabits, therefore, the entire continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and its r.ange of lati- tude very probably embraces the whole of temperate North America, Dr. Pickering occasionally mentions a bird of this group which he states wa.s apparently smaller than the present species. We have also had similar, representations made to us by other gentlemen who had visited California, but have never seen any species of kingfisher from that or any other country of Western North America, except the bird now before us. It is possible that it may be a species unknown to naturalists, or perhaps Ceryle americana, which has been found in Texas and Mexico, and is a small species. We have also seen Ceryle a.imzona from Mexico, which is, however, but slightly smaller than our present bird. Ceryle americana inhabits the shores of the Rio Grande, and very probably the whole of Mexico, and may extend its range of locality at least into Southern California. Notwithstanding, however, the :■; r''ii. 'ii^ifl 192 ORNITHOLOGY. recent extensive investigations and explorations in Western North America, the Zoology of that immense region is yet but fairly entered upon only, and very far from being exhausted. The existence of un- known species in any group of birds is by no means to be doubted, so far as relates to the immense regions between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. 2. Genus TODIRAMPHUS, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Zool. I, p. 684 (182G). 1. TODIRAMPHUS TUTA (Gmeliv). Aliedo tuta ft sacra, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 453 (1788). Alcedo collttrls, FoRSTKR, Deso. An. p. 102 (1844). Dacelo coronata, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Vincennes, Birds, p. 160 (1st edition, 1848).*. «' Alccih venerata, Gmelin," Pclzeln. Sitzungs. Akad. Vienna, XX, p. 503 (1850). Plate XV, fig. 1, Adult. 2, 3, Young. There is not, perhaps, in the entire circle of Birds, a genus, the species of which are more difficult to determine or more liable to be confounded, than those of the genus TcHlimmphua. In the colors of many of the species there is so much similarity that the consideration of form and measurements as specific characters becomes of a high de- gree of importance, and there are few groups in which these characters a.ssume such a great value. Several species present marked differ- * " Crown, back, wings, and tail blue; auriculars black, tipped with blue, a black line reaching from them around the back of the head; throat, coronal band,. collar, breast, belly, vent, and under tail-covert.s white; collar niar>:iiicd witii black and shaded with buflF; coronal band also edged with buff; under wing-coverts pale buff; quills dusky, the outer margins blue, shafts du.sky beneath, black above, third and fourth quills t'(iual, slightly longer than the second, &vsi and 6fih equal ; tail rounded, shafts dusky beneath, black above; bill nearly black; lower half of the under mandible white; legs dusky j irides brown. "Total lenirth, nine inches; extent of wings, thirteen and a half inches; wings, from the carpal joint, three and eight-tenths inches; tail, two and six-tenths inches; tarsi, six- tenlhs of an inch ; middle toe, including claw, seventecn-twcnticths of an inch; cluw, three-tenths of an inch ; hind toe, half an inch; claw, two-tenths of an inch ; bill, one and fiiur-tonths of an inch; to the angle of the mouth, one and nine-tenths of an inch. Adult male.'' INSES80RE8. ^193 ences in the plumage of the adult and young birds, scarcely possible in all probability to be accurately stated in many of them with our present knowledge, and there are also several species that show that almost peculiarly intimate relationship to which we have frequently alluded in the present volume, as being found to exist in birds inhabit- ing different islands or groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean. A close relationship appears as obvious in the present genus, as in any other with which we are acquainted. It is so great, that taking the Todiramphns cMorw (which is Alcedo chlorocepliala, Graelin), as a type of the genus, nearly all the other species so much resemble it, that they may almost be regarded as mere variations of the same form and colors, passing through various shades only of the latter, and modi- fications of size and the dimensions of the different parts of the body and its members. This geuus is what some naturalists would desig- nate a very natural group. The short and sometimes very imperfect descriptions of the birds of this genus, by the older naturalists, and the rarity of several species in museums on account of their native localities being comparatively seldom visited by voyagers, have rendered the determination of tl»e ■ synonomy, and in fact, the recognition of some described species of this group, a matter of no inconsiderable difficulty. From these causes, too, confusion has arisen in the works of recent learned and reliable ornithologists. In a future page w^e shall give the results of an attempt to arrange this group, not without being aware of its intricate character, as we hope to have shown to the reader and to our co-laborers in the great field of Zoological science. We have endeavored also to have our figures prepared with all possible accuracy. The bird now before the reader we regard as undoubtedly Alcedo tufa of Gmelin, and Alcedo sacra of the same author (Syst. Nat. I, p. 453), the former being the young (Plate XV, fig. 3, of the Atlas to the present volume), and the latter (fig. 1), the adult, or at least in as adult plumage as we have ever had an opportunity of examining. This bird (the adult), is the same species described and figured by Lesson as Alcedo mem, in Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris, III, PI. XI. Though Todiramphtis dicinus, of the same author (Memoires, as just cited, III, p. 422j PI. XII), bears a considerable resemblance to the young of the present species, it is quite distinct, and readily detected on comparison of specimens. These species have, however, been re- 49 "1j 194 ORNITHOLOGY. garded as the same by very competent authors, but evidently to us, erroneously. We regard the two species described and figured by M. Lesson, as above referred to, as clearly distinct from each other and well established. The error of authors has been mainly in mistaking the young of T. tuta for T. divinus, which it resembles. Professor Reichenbach in " Die Vollstandigste Naturgeschichte," Birds, Plate CCCCXXIII, figs. 5148, 49, 50, 51, has figured the two species here alluded to, under the names ToJiramplms sacer and (ntn. The latter apparently represents T. divinua (figs. 3150, 51), but the specimens figured in this great work, were not in nia'jre plumage. Several species figured by this author and arranged in Todiramphus, do not belong to this genus (for instance. Halcyon hizidi and H. diops). This is also the case in Bonaparte's Conspectus Avium, p. 156. In an interesting and ^ aluable paper on little-known species of birds described by various authors, the types of which are in the Imperial Museum at Vienna, in " Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der WiLsenschaften," XX, p. 492, by M. Von Pelzeln, of the Imperial Museum, the original specimen of Alcedo venerata, Gmelin, from the Leverian Museum is re-described. It appears to have been acquired by the Austrian Government at the public sale of the Leverian Museum in 1806, and its examination and description by M. Von Pelzeln, is in the highest degree interesting, and a valuable contri- bution to descriptive Ornithology. According to this description, it is evidently the young of the present bird, or in very nearly that stage of plumage which is Alcedo tufa, Gmelin. Dr. Pickering gives the following : " The Ornithology of these islands" (the Samoan or Navigator), " is much more rich and varied than is generally supposed, especially in the large Island of Savai, and we have reason to think that we have by no means exhausted it. It is remarkable that among land birds we did not find a olngle species common to this group and to the So- ciety Islands. The pigeons are still the prevailing family, and as in the group just mentioned, we notice no bird of the Falcon family. Sea birds do not seem abundant, probably as at Tahiti, on account of the coast being inhabited. " This kingfisher is common in the Islands of Tutuila and Upolu, and is generally seen sitting solitary and silent on a branch, or occa- sionally uttering a harsh note. Tongue very short and broad, and appareiHly fleshy to its apex." ' INSESSOBES. 195 Mr. Peale observes of this bird : " The subjects of the present descriptions were killed at the Island of Tutuila, on the fourteenth of March ; they did not appear to be so numerous on the other islands of the Samoan Group, although it is believed they inhabit all. We found them frequenting the cocoanut and bread-fruit groves, always in the vicinity of the native habitations. They are now regarded by many as a sort of domestic appendage, but are not sacred as some of the genus were at the Society Islands M'hen first discovered. " The young birds of all the species of this genus which we have seen, have the upper mandible hooked ; the hook gradually wears away as the bill grows, until finally, by the time they are full grown and the birds have attained the plumage of the second year, there is no vestige of it left." In the plate of our Atlas, this bird is represented of the size of life. Fig. 1 is the adult male, figs. 2 and 3 are young birds ; the last is in the plumage described by Gmelin as Alcedo tuta, and which has been mistaken by authors for T. div'mua, Lesson, 2. ToDiRAMPHUS viTiENSis {Peole). Dacclo vitiensis, Pealg, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 15G (first edition, 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XVI. Adult, and young. Stqyra uliramarina, uropygio ad cobaltinum vertente, cbllari et corpore euhtua Jlavis abdomine saturatiore. Long. Sipollices. Form. — Short and robust ; bill strong ; wings short, second, third, and fourth quills longest and nearly equal ; tail short, rounded. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), adult, eight and one-fourth inches; wing, three and a half inches; tail, two and three-fourths inches. "Extent of wings, twelve and a half inches'* (Peale). Colors. — Stripe from the nostril over the eye to the occiput, light reddish-yellow (or sienna-yellow). Head above from the bill to the occiput, glossy ultramarine blue, changing to greeu in some lights, 196 ORNITHOLOGY. which color is inclosed, except in front, by the stripe from the nostril. At the base of the bill, slightly below the base of the lower mandible and behind the eye, a stripe of the same blue extends to the occiput, all the feathers of which (stripe) are black at their bases, readily showing that color when disarranged. Back blue, tinged with green ; rump blue (cobalt) ; wings and tail ultramarine. Entire under parts of the body, inferior coverts of the wings, and a narrow collar on the neck behind, 6ne sienna-yellow, palest and nearly white on the throat, and deepest on the abdomen and nuchal collar. Tibiae reddish-yellow, with a few brownish feathers ; bill dark, with a large light-colored spot at the base of the lower mandible. " Legs dusky flesh-color ; irides br^wn" (Peale). Hab. — Feejee Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus, Washington. One of the most handsome birds of this group, and which we have not been able to refer to any description with which we are acquainted. It resembles in a considerable measure, the preceding {T. tuta), but is suialler, and the under parts at all ages are handsome reddish-yellow, somewhat similar in shade to that color in T. vagans, but paler and more delicate. It is evidently a distinct species, and is apparently peculiar to the Feejee Islands. Several specimens of this bird are in the collection of the Expedi- tion. According to Mr. Peale : " This pretty species is distributed over a greater part of the Feejee Grocp of islands. It is solitary in its habits, frequents the mangroves which skirt the inner verge of the coral belts, and is most commonly found near the salt water, where fish and crabs abounding, would lead us to suppose that such were its foo ", but we never y-AW it capture anything but insects; fragments of grasshop- pers were the ordinary contents of the stomachs of those we dissected. We were not so fortunate as to find the nest or eggs of this species, but killed numbers of the birds, as they were quite common. The females scarcely difler from the males when in full plumage, but are not quite so richly colored." The fact that the birds of this genus are at least partially insect- eaters, and in some species perhaps mainly dependent on that descrip- tion of food, is well established by the observations of the naturalists of the Expedition. T. vwjaus, however, according to Dr. Pickering, INSESSOBES. 197 appears to be rather an exception, as will appear from his notes in our article on that species. It may be stated generally, that these birds do not capture fishes at all, nor do they show address and courage in plunging into the water like nearly all the birds of this family, but subsist mainly on the lower orders of animals, reptiles, Crustacea, and insects. Some species, it is stated, live exclusively in the forest, with- out even showing any considerable partiality for the vicinity of water. Our plate represents the adult male and young female of this species of the natural size. 3. TODIRAMPHUS VAGANS {L&tson). Ahrilo viiifanit, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Zool. I, p. 694 (1826). Akcilo vyunea, FoiisTER, Desc. An. p. 70 (1844). Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, Plate I ; Reichenbach, Birds, Plate CCCCXIX, figs. 3138, 39. Numerous specimens of this species are in the collection, all of which are from New Zealand. It is one of the handsomest of the birds of this difficult group, and is one of the most easy to be recognized, though presenting some sexual and other variations in plumage. It appears to have been the only species of the Genus Todiramphxis ob- served by the naturalists of the Expedition to prey on fishes. Of this species, Mr. Peale observes : " In the recesses between the numerous promontories in the Bay of Islands, extensive groves of trees [Abiesenia tomentosa), may be seen growing in the salt water, like mangroves, which are the resorts of ducks, cormorants, and other water-fowl, when the tide rises suffi- ciently to overUow the soil on which tiiey grow. In such localities we have seen the white-fronted Dacdo perched on a dead branch, patiently watching the small fishes. It would plunge into the water, seize and carry its struggling pu v to the nearest branch, and there swallow it whole, precisely in the same way and with as much skill as true kingfisher. At other times, we have followed and shot it in retired forests, where its food was insects." In Dr. Pickering's notes we find the following in allusion to the pre- sent species : 60 l;t.^d? im^ i 'ii ',. i;:^^| 1 ■;;;■' I ■••^ 198 ORNITHOLOGY. " On the shores of the Bay of Islands, this bird is frequently to be seen perched in the trees, and generally in the immediate vicinity of the water. I did not observe it in the interior of the island. It ap- pears to be solitary and usually silent, though it occasionally uttered a harsh note several times repeated. " Notwithstanding the fact that nearly related species previously seen by us live habitually in the forests and subsist on land animals, the New Zealand bird has entirely the habits of a kingfisher. I have myself seen it dart into the water after fishes in the same manner." I 4. ToDiRAMPHUS RECURViKOSTRis, Lafresnaije. fodlramphui renirv!rostr!», Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool, 1842, p. 134 (May). Hahyon plalyrostrix, GouLi>, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1842, p. 72 (June). Dacelo minima, Peal£, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 159 (Ut edition, 1848).* Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XV II, figs. 1, 2. Male and Female. Of this, the smallest species of this group yet known to naturalists, we have gi\ en figures of adults of both sexes, though well described by the distinguished authors above cited. Several specimens, all of which are from the Samoan Islands, are in the collection of the Expedition, and are generally in excellent plumage and good condition. * "Crown, back, wings, and tail, cobalt blue; rump lighter; scapulars with a slight tinge of green; collar buff, margined with black, just above it a white nuchal spot, not visible without raising the featiiers, which have a white band near the end ; auriculara black, tipped with blue, a piilo buff spot over each nostril, which joins a narrow super- ciliary line; throat white; breast, belly, vent, and under tail-coverts, buff or pale cinna- mon, darkest near the vent, and gradually fading into the white of the throat. Tail slightly rounded, consisting of twelve feathers, dark lead-color on the under surface, shafts white beneath, black above; wings rounded; primaries black, the outer edge blue, third longest, first and fifth equal; under wing-coverts buff; all the plumage except that of the throat, black near the skin ; bill much flattened and shaped like that of D. nulli' torquis; irides hazel; feet bluish lead-color. " Total length, seven and three-eighths inches ; extent of wings, eleven and a half inches ; wings, from the carpal joint, three and a half inches ; tarsi, half an inch ; middle toe including the nail, seven-tenths of an inch ; nail, one-fuurth of an inch, broad and flattened to a sharp edge inside; hind toe, four-tenths of an inch; claw, two-tenths of an inch ; tail, two and three-tenths inches ; bill, one and one-twentieth of an inch ; to the angle of the uioutb, one and a half inches. Male." INSESS0RE8. 199 The name recurvlrostris, applied to this little bird by the Baron Lafresnaye, is that entitled to adoption on account of a very short period of priority. It cannot be regarded, however, as appropriate in any very considerable degree, as the bill of this species is no more recurved than that of other species of this genus, and is only character- istic of young birds, to such extent as to warrant a special designation. The recurved character in adult birds of this group is of the lower mandible only, and very similar in various species. Mr. Peale's remarks on this bird are as follows : ' - " This is the smallest species of the genua observed by the members of the Expedition. It was found at the Island of Upolu, one of the Samoan or Navigator's Group, and there confined itself within the recesses of the forest. In manners it much resembles the jacamars {Galbulce), of South America, sitting for hours, as they frequently do, to watch for passing prey. It pi-efers the shady humid woods ; there the snap of its bill, while catching insects by darting from its perch, will probably first call the attention of the hunter to it. Like most of its congeners, it is noisy, but its notes have nothing but their pecu- liarity to recommend them. . /• " The females are similar to the males in dimensions and appearance, but they are not so deeply colored, and the blue inclines to a green." Our figures of this bird are of the size of life, and represent both Hexes. 5. TODIRAMPUUS DIVINUS, LessoH. Todiramphvs d!vinm, Less. Voy. Coquille, Zool. I, p. 667 (1826). Daielo nullilorquis, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 155 (1st ed. 1848).* Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XVIII, figs. 1, 2, Adults, 3, Young. * " Head, neck, back, and rump, olive-green; wings dusky verditer-blue, the inner webs of the quills black, third primary longest, under coverts white ; tail slightly rounded, above dusky verditer-blue, beneath black ; shafts dusky ; under coverts white ; throat, breast, and abdomen white ; bill black above, white beneath ; legs dusky red ; all the plumttgc bluck at the roots, excepting that of the throat, which is entirely white; irides brown. Mule. "Total length, seven and a half inches; bill, one and one-tenth of an inch; to the gape, one and four-tenths of an inch ; tarsi, eleven-twentieths of an inch ; middle toe, half an incu ; claw, one-fourth of an inch ; ttil, two and seven-tenths inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, four inches." 200 ORNITHOLOGY. Numerous specimens of this plain but interesting little species are in the collection, and are remarkably uniform in their characters, pre- senting only diflerenccs of minor importance. It appears to inhabit exclusively the Society Islands. This bird has frequently been confounded with the young of 7h(U- ramplius lata (Gmelin), which is the same as T. eacer, of the same author, and resembles it very considerably. The two species are, however, quite distinct, and are not difficult to distinguish from each other, on comparison, the present being the smaller. Other points we hope to /ender intelligible in a synopsis of the species of this genus in the pages succeeding, with the assistance of figures given in the Atlas to our present volume. In adult plumage, this is one of the most easily recognized birds of the genus Todlnimpfius, and is one of the plainest in plumage, having no pretensions to that beauty of plumage which characterizes nearly all the species of this group. It is, too, a species not very nearly re- sembling any other when adult, except as above stated, bearing some resemblance to the young of T. tula. Under the head of this species, Mr. Peale gives the following : " A party from the Exploring Squadron crossed the Island of Tahiti, from Point Venus, Matavai Bay, following the course of the River Popino, and crossing Lake Waharea to the opposite coast at Wairidi. Tlie route was both difficult and dangerous, owing to the incessant rains which fall on the upper parts of the mountains, and nourish a profuse vegetation on places so steep that it appears to us impossible that the heavy trunks of the /et'« or wild plantains, arborescent ferns, other plants, and even trees, should find sufficient soil to support their roots. By these, in some places, we were obliged to climb in positions which were really frightful, but were gratified by seeing the breeding- places of sundry sea-birds, including the vEthereal Tropic bird. Petrels, and the pretty T/tahissidroina padfica, all of which secure their eggs and young in holes, while on the less steep ridges, we found Wilkes's pigeon, doves, and many smaller birds. " In the secluded valleys, the dead silence which generally prevailed was now and then disturbed by the garrulity of a homely bird, the sul)ject of our present description, as it flew from one dead tree to another, where, watching for its prey, which consists of insects, it is usually silent." - We have to regret that we find so little recorded by the naturalists INSESSORRS. 201 of the Expedition in reference to thia curious nnd apparently commou species. It appears to bo, at luiutt to some extent, an insect^ater, though perhaps not exclusively. We have seen this singular little species only from the Society Islands, and almost without exception from the Island of Tahiti, though we have occasionally seen it cited as an inhabitant of the Sandwich Islands. It may inhabit the latter; but specimens have never come under our notice. This species may be regarded as the type of a peculiar group, pro- bably subgeneric in its character. It is one of the smallest, as well as plainest colored of the birds of this genus. The figures in our plate are of the size of life. The adult male and female are represented in figs. 1 and 2, the young in fig. 3. All are from specimens in the collection of the Expedition. SI 202 ORNITHOLOGY. AN ATTEMPT TO ARRANOE AND DESCRIBE THE SPECIES OF BIRDS OF THE GENUS TODIHAMPHUS, LESSON. Genus TODIRAMPHUS, Le»»n», Voy. Coquillc, Zoologio, I, p. 684 (Quarto, Paris, 1820). Orig. Desc. — {Types T. iuta and T. DmnuH.) " Gcs huUrampfiea out le hec droit, d, mandihule iitfvrienre trcad^j/^rement reiijiee, tr^s-depriniS, phiM lartje que hmt, sans ar^te, i\ mandibulcs /^i/aht, otttuses an ftout et ajtlaties, d, horda entidrement liaaea ; mwiiica Ixtaidea en Jisaure ohfique trh-peu apiMirente, bordeca par lea plumes dn front ; a ilea coiirtea, ar- rondiea, premih'e rentije plua courte, la quotri^nc, la plm lontjtte ; queue longue, tt rectricea ^yalea au nondtre de doiizc ; taraea alontj^a mediocrea, reticulea." Description by us. — Bill straight, brond and depressed, with the ridges of both mandibles more or less rounded and obscure or obsolete ; inferior mandible curved upwards fronj about its middle ; commissure nearly straight or slightly curved upwards. Nostrils small, basal ; in- serted obliquely. Wings short, rather rounded, first quill shortest, third and fourth usually longest; tail moderate, composed of twelve feathers, generally slightly rounded ; tarsi and feet weak, and covered with scales, the latter with the outer and middle toes united to their first joint ; claws rather large, curved. General form short and robust, allied to Halcyon, Sw., from which all the species that we have seen may readily be distinguished by the more flattened bill, in which the ridges arc scarcely discernible (com- pared with H. amyrnenaia, atiicaptllua,and cyanoccntrla). In Halcyon, the bill is nearly quadrangular, and the ridges of both mandibles strongly defined. Colors of the typical species, generally liglit-blue (ultramarine and cobalt), with various shades of green (mostly prussian-green), white, and fine orange or buff (sienna). Other species are deep brownish- green, and white ; and others of various shades of reddish-brown, green. I N S E S 8 R E S. 203 and white. Typical species, T. clihria, nnd others, intimately resem- bling each other. The orange or buff colors appear to prevail, espe- cially in the males when fully adult, but in some species in the young birds. Species of this gonus apparently inhabit all the many islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and some species bear intimate resemblance to each other, but are peculiar to different groups of islands. A. The species which are well established, and of all of which spe. cimens are now before us, are as follows ; 1. TODIRAMPIIUS CULORIS [Boihl.). Atceffo chlon's, BoDDAERT, Tab. de« PI. Enl. p. 40 (Folio, Utrecht, 1783). A/cedo collaris, ScoroLi, J)ol Flor. et Fuuu. Insub. pt. II, p. 90 (1780). Atciih chhrorephala, Omelin, Syst. Nat. I, p. 454 (1788). Tdiliramphui siqicrciliosa, Gray, Beicbenbach, VoUst. Naturg. PI. CCCCXVIII, figs. 81S4, 35. Buff. PI. Enl. 783, fig. 1 ; Swains. Zool. 111. I, Plate XXVII; Reich- enbach, Vollst. Naturg. Birds, Plate CCCCXVII, figs. 3128, 29. Form. — Bill rather compressed towards the point, and with the inferior mandible but slightly curved upwards. Wings with the third quill slightly longest, but with the fourth nearly equal ; tail distinctly rounded. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), from tip of bill to end of tail, about nine inches ; wing, four and one-fourth inches ; tail, two and three-fourths to three inches. Colors. — A distinct narrow stripe of white from the aperture of the nostril to the eye, and slightly over it, but in some specimens with difficulty traceable to the occiput, on which is a concealed transverse bar of white, formed by every feather having a subterminal bar of this color, and tipped with greenish-blue. Space between the eye and bill black. A broad band commencing at and slightly under the base of the lower mandible, extending to the occiput, composed of feathers which are black at their bases and narrowly tipped with blue. This u, a 204 ORNITHOLOGY. band appearing nearly black in some specimens ; in others, scarcely to be distinguished from the similt^r blue of the head. Head above and superior surface of the body, prussian-green, chang- ing to cobalt-blue on the rump, and ultramarine on the wings and tail. Entire inferior surface and broad ring around the neck, pure white. The white spot between the eye and the bill, slightly tinged with fulvous in some specimens, and the inferior surface of the body also very slightly so tinged occasionally, but no trace of fulvous on the occiput, nor of any decided or strong shade of this color on any part. Bill, with the ''.pper mandible and tip and edges of the under man- dible, dark brownish-black, other portion of the under mandible white. Tibia brown, with some bluish feathers. Young male? Siniilar to the adult, but with the white stripe from the nostril to the occiput well defined ; plumage of the breast narrowly tipped and edged with black ; wing-coverts edged with yellowish-white. In another nearly adult specimen from Timor, the superciliary stripe does not exist, and in other respects also it is precisely identical with specimens from Java. This stage of plumage appears to be the bird iigured by Reichenbach (PI. CCCCXVII!,figs. 3134, 35), as T. super- ciliosa, Gray. Ten specimens of this well-know.i spocies are before us, four of which are from the Island of Java, two from Borneo, three from un- knorai localities, and one represented to be from Abyssinia. This species appears to be widely distributed throughout the islands of the Malay Archipelago, and the Philippines. We cannot see that there are any differences in the descriptions or figures wJiich we have cited, sufficient to raise a presumption that they apply to distinct species. Ginelin's name is given on the faith of Buffon's descrip- tion and figure, who, although he first describes the bird as from the Cape of Good Hope, subsequent!^ in the same article states that it inhabits the Island of Bouro. Scopoli's name is given to a bird described and figured by Sonnerat, in " V^oyage a la Nouvelle Guini^e," III, p. 67., PI. XXXIII (Quarto, Paris, 1770). Sonnerat's figure is scarcely recognizable, which is the case with many others in his plates, but it and his description appear to be applicable to the same species described by Gmelin. There are very slight traces in any of the specimens that we have INSESSORES. 205 seen, of the fine sandy fulvous (sienna), superciliary, or occipital stripes, and none of that color on the under parts of the body, which prevail to a greater or less extent in several of the succeeding species described in this synopsis. There is no distinct superciliary white stripe from the bill over the eye to the occiput in specimens which appear to be adult, much less does that character appear well defined and conspi- cuous at all ages, as in several of the following, thougtx in general characters, they may be regarded as nearly allied to the present bird. It is possible, however, that the distinctness of the superciliary stripe may be more characteristic of the young of the present bird. The species now before .us, is the best known and apparently the most common and widely diffused bird of this genus. 2. TOWRAMPHUS OCCIPITALIS, Bhjth. Todiramphus occipitalis, Blyth, Jour. As. Soc. Bengal, XV, pp. 23, 51 (184G). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XIX, fig. 1. Adult. Very similar in form and colors to the preceding species {T. cidoris), but with rather a broad and well-defined stripe of white from the nostril over the eye to the occiput, which stripe in the young bird is tinged with fulvous. Adult. Entire upper parts of body, wings, and tiiil, blue, tinged on the back with dull green ; under parts white. A conspicuous stripe from the nostril over the eye to the occiput white, beneath which is another broad stripe, from the base of the bill, through and under the eye black, tinged with blue, both the white and black stripes very conspicuous on the occiput. Young, with the plumage of the upper parts more tinged with green, and the superciliary stripe and under parts tinged with fulvous. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about nine inches; wing, four and one-fourth inches; tail, three inches; bill, two and one-fourth inches. •i Hah. — Nicobar Islands. Timor. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Phila- delphia. sa 206 ORNITHOLOGY. Of this species, we have seen only a single specimen which is in nearly adult plumage; and is labelled as from the Island of Timor. It is very nearly related to T. cldoris, from which in fact it is difficult to distinguish it by any other character than its white superciliary stripe. We copy the description of the young bird from that by Mr. Blyth, as above cited, though all the characters are to be seen in the present specimen, though but faintly marked. Our plate represents this bird of the size of life. 3. TODIRAMPHUS TUTA {Gm.). .Ucfdo tufa e( sacra, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, p. 453 (1788); Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Zoologie, I, p. C8G, and Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris, III, p. 421, PI. XI (1827). Alcedo venerata, G.M. Syst. Nat. I, p. 453 ; Pelzeln, Sitzungs Akad. Vienna, 1856, p. 503, Ducelo coronata, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Kxp. Birds, p. 160 (1st edition, 1848). JMcelo albi/romi, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 1G2 (no description). Atla.s, Ornithology, Plate XV. ' Having before us fifteen specimens of this very difficult species, wo propose to describe the four stages of plumage into which they appear tg us to admit of division. Seven of these specimens are from Tutu- ila, one of the Samoan Islands, and belong to the collection made by the Expedition; two others, marked as from Viti, one of the Feejees, belong to the same. One other, the most adult, is from Tahiti, one of the Society Islands, and five others are from Borabora, another of the Society Islands. The latter belong to the collection of the Philadel- phia Acadejny. We may, perhaps, be excused for premising that the j'oung bird of this species bears a remarkable resemblance to ToiUram- jJius iJivinm, Lesson (described below), but is clearly distinct. The two specimens from Viti are the larger. Adult male, is Alcedo sacra, Gm. (PI. XV, fig. 1), which is described 8ub.sequently to A. tula, of the same author. Orig. Desc. — " A. ex dilute cacrideo virldh, sulfus alba, snpercdiia pallide /erruyineiui, rcm'uj'dnia caudaque nigricantibua. Habitat in inaulia Sucietatis." INSESSORES. 207 FoBM. — Compact and robust. Smaller than the preceding ; bill shorter j tarsi and toes more slender, and the latter shorter. Wings, with the third quill slightly longest, but nearly equalled by the second and fourth ; tail rounded. Dimensions. — Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about eight and a half inches ; wing, three and three-fourths inches ; tail, two and three-fourths inches. Colors. — A conspicuous band from the nostril over the eye to the occiput, white, tinged with orange. Head above from the bill to the occiput, fine blue, which color is completely inclosed, except at the base of the bill, by the white band commencing at the nostril, the orange tinge of which latter is most observable on the edges of this blue color. At the base of the bill, slightly under its base, and from behind the eye, a band of the same fine blue extends to the occij-'it, but the feathers of which are black at their bases ; back, rump, wings and tail blue, with a shade of prussian-green on the back, and inclin- ing to ultramarine on the wings and tail, and cobalt on the rump. Entire inferior surface of the body, and collar around the neck, white. Tibia blue ; bill, with the superior and point of the inferior mandible, brownish-black ; base of the inferior mandible white. Young male? is Dacelo coronata, Peale (PI. XV, fig. 2). Bill rather shorter than in the adult. Broad frontal band and wide stripe extending over the eye to the occiput, white, tinged with orange buff. Vertical spot fine blue, widely edged with the deep orange buff which fades into white ; band from behind the ear to the occiput nar- row, with the blue color distinct only immediately behind the eye, and nearly black thence to the occiput. This occipital band almost obsolete in some specimens, or its place only indicated by a band of pale orange. Entire inferior surface from the base of the under mandible and wide collar around the hind neck white, in some specimens, slightly tinged with very pale buff, and the collar on the neck behind, edged with a deeper tint of the same color. Back, rump, wings, and tail, as in the adult. Tibia bi-ownish, with some feathers of pale blue, and others of buff; bill as in the adult. Specimens from Tutuila, in the Samoan Islands. i\.; V %rSm 1 )■■ tt\.iiJfi|Q| h - !p. 'WHl 'f* ■ V ' ^HJJJk'af^l^ fc..^ ■"'^r^Bsi - .ji',?^^y|j !■ ■■''W^ V 't^\£i $ ijHLtt ' ■■" ''^M * . '■ ^kA«-^ Ik' ' 1w p ■ * ' iM ■i^■ ^0^ k- ■Mm fMi 208 ORNITHOLOGY. Male scarcely adult? is the bird described and figured by Lesson as Alcedo sacra, Gm. Similar to the immediately preceding (young male?), but with the frontal, superciliary and occipital band pure white, or so very slightly tinged as to be almost imperceptible ; under parts of the body white. Vertex and back with the green predominating, and in some (speci- mens, such is the case on the wings and tail ; rump blue, deeply tinged with green, and with a few whitish feathers. Tibia with brown and white plumage; bill as in preceding. In some specimens, the white color predominates on the head. Specimens from Borabora, in the Society Islands. Young, is Alcedo tuta, Gmelin (PI. XV, fig. 3). v Orig. Desc. — " A. macroura, supra oUvacea, auhtvs alba, superciliis albis, torque ex virescente nigro. Rostrum iiigrum, mandihula wferiore alba, pedes nigri. Habitat in iiieiUa Tahiti, incolis sacra, 8i pollices longa'* Stripe from the nostril over the eye to the occiput white, tinged with buff, and many feathers edged and tipped with greenish ; band from behind the eye to the occiput, brownish-black; collar on the neck behind, pale buff, every feather tipped with brownish-black. Head above brownish-green, which is also the color of the back, darker and inclining to brownish-black near the neck ; wings and tail deep prus- eian-green ; wing-coverts and feathers of the rump and upper tail- covorts, tipped and edged with yellowish-white. Breast, with an obscure transverse broad band of brownish-black, formed by the feathers having narrow tips of that color ; throat and other inferior parts of the body, white. Tibia brown and white ; bill as in the preceding. Specimens described are from Borabora, one of the Society Islands. This specicd, in this stage of plumage, resembles TixUramphus divi- )ius. Lesson. It is, however, much larger, exceeding that species upwards of an inch in its total length, and is of different colors. T. dici/ius has not the supercili.iry stripe which is very distinct in this species, in all of the plumages above described. This bird inhabits, apparently, the Samoan, Society, and Feojee Groups of Islands in the Pacific Ocean. fe-« INSESSORES. 209 The name " Dacelo alb} from, Peale, MSS.," as above cited, is given by Mr. Peale as a synonyme for Todiramphua vagana, but the speci- men in the collection of the Expedition to which this name is attached, is the young of the present species. 4. TODIRAMPHUS VITIENSIS {Rale). Dacelo vUiensis, Peale, Zool. Voy. Vincennes and Peacock, Birds, p. 15G (Ist ed. 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XVI. Of this species, which is nearly related to the last, we have seven specimens belonging to the collection made by the Expedition, and collected in the Feejee and Tonga Islands. They are invariably smaller than the species immediately preceding {T. tuta), and present other differences. Male, adult? from Venua Levu, one of the Feejee Islands. Form. — Short and robust ; wings short, with the second, third, and fourth quills very nearly equal and longest ; tail rounded. Dimensions. — Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about eight and one-fourth inches; wing, three and a half inches ; tail, two and three-fourths inches. Colors. — Stripe from the nostril over the eye to the occiput, fine orange buff. Head above from the bill to the occiput, fine blue (ultra- marine), with a shade of green, which color is inclosed, except in front at the base of the upper mandible, by the buff stripe commencing at the nostril. At the base of the bill, slightly under the lower mandi- ble and from behind the eye, a stripe of the same blue extends to the occipuL, all the feathers of which (stripe) are black at their bases, and appearing black when disarranged. Back blue, deeply tinged with prussian-green ; rump cobalt-blue ; wings and tail ultramarine. Entire inferior surface of the body, under wing-coverts, and narrow collar around the hind neck, fine buff or terra de sienna, palest and 53 H ■ .i '^jmi ^iiJl 210 ORNITHOLOGY. nearly white on the throat, and deepest on the abdomen and collar. Tibia buff, with a few brownish feathers. Bill dark, with a large white spot at the base of the lower mandible. Younger male, from Ovolau, in the Feejee Islands. ,, I' Superciliary stripe deep orange ; head and back more strongly tinged Avith green, and the stripe from behind the eye nearly black. Superior wing-coverts edged with buff. Inferior parts of the body abd collar on the neck behind nearly pure white ; plumage on the breast slightly margined with black. Tibia with more brown feathers than the last. Male ? from Viti Levu, one of the Feejee Islands. Superciliary stripe narrow, and much less tinged with orange ; in some specimens nearly white, and in others, almost obsolete. Back prussian-green. Inferior parts of the body and collar on the neck behind white ; plumage on the breast slightly margined with black. Tibia with the brown feathers predominating. There are in the collection of the Expedition two specimens, from a locality not stated, which I have, with some hesitation, concluded to refer to this species. They are both young birds, and present a remarkable character in the almost total obliteration of the superci- liary stripe which so strongly marks other stages of plumage of the species now under consideration. These two specimens bear a great general resemblance to the common T. chloria, of Java, but are much smaller. This is one of the most handsome species of this group, and in adult plumage is not difficult to recognize. The young, however, bears some resemblance to that of several other species, especially to the preceding. 5. ToDiRAMPHUS VAGANS (Lesson). Afcedo vai/ang, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Zoologie, I, p. 094 (1826). Alcedo cj/anea, FoRSTER, Deso. An. p. 76 (1844). Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, Plate I; Reichenbach, Vollst. Naturg. Birds, Plate CCCCXIX, figs. 3138-39. INSESSORES. 211 Form. — About the size of T. chloris; bill and wings shorter; bill rounded above, but not flattened ; ridge of the under mandible as- cending from near the base. Wing rather short, second quill slightly longest ; tertiaries nearly as long as the primaries ; tarsi and tjes short, moderate, or rather slender. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about eight and three-fourths inches 5 wing, three and three-fourths inches ; tail, two and ;:hree- fourths inches. # ■ Colors. — Adult. Head above, back, and scapulars, dull green, with a tinge of blue behind the eye and on the occiput ; wing-coverts, outer webs of quills, rump, and tail above, blue, lightest on the rump. Throat white ; wide collar around the back of the neck, spot before the eye, and entire under parts (except throat), fine dark buff. A narrow and short superciliary line, white ; a band from the base of the bill, under the eye to the occiput, black, tinged with greenish ; a partially concealed spot of white on the occiput. Inner webs of quills and tail beneath brownish-black ; quills edged with dull white on the inner webs. Younger. Head above, back, scapular, and wing-coverts, dull brownish-green, the last (wing-coverts) tipped with dull yellow- ish ; throat white ; other under parts dull yellowish or buff, paler than in the adult; feathers of the breast tipped with dark-biown, predomi- nating on the sides (of the breast). Had. — New .Zealand. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Fhilad., and Nat. Mus. Washington. A rather strongly marked species comparatively, and in adult plu- mage, or in that plumage represented in the plate of the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror, not difficult to recognize. The buff or sienna color in the adult of this bird is darker than in either of the preceding. It is very handsomely and correctly figured in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror, as above, and is apparently peculiar to the Island of New Zealand. We have before us, twelve specimens of this species from the collection of the Expedition, and from the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy. ' ■^?■■ ■-. ' ^^ 212 ORNITHOLOGY. 6. TODIRAMPHUS SORDIDUS {Qould). Halcyon sonlida, GouLD, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1842, p. 72. Gould, B. of Au8t. II, Plate XXIII ; Reichenbach, Vollst. Naturg. Birds, Plate CCCCXIX, figs. 3136-37. Form. — Size of T. chhris. Bill long ; ridge of upper mandible distinct, that of the under mandible curved and ascending towards the tip of the bill. Wing with the third and fourth quills longest and nearly equal; tail moderate; tarsi short, robust. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about nine inches; wing, four and one-fourth inches ; tail, three inches. Colors. — Adult from Northern Australia. Head above, back, scapu- lars, and wing-coverts, brownish-green. A band from the base of the bill under the eye to the occiput, brownish-black, some feathers of the occiput above the black band, white at their bases; outer webs of quills and tail above light greenish-blue. Collar around the back of the neck, small spot at the nostril, and entire under parts, white, very slightly tinged with dull yellow or buff. Bill dark ; base of lower mandible white; legs and feet dark. Under wing-coverts white, some of the feathers narrowly tipped with black. Sexes similar. Hab. — Northern Australia. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. About the size of, and of the same general form as T. chhris, but with the bill longer and not so robust. The colors of the upper parts in the present species are entirely different from those of the species mentioned. This species is well characterized and easily recognized. Two spe- cimens in Mr. Gould's collection, now in the Museum of the Philixdel- phia Academy, and which are the same as figured by him in Birds of Australia, are all that we have seen of this species. It cannot readily be confounded with any other bird of this group. INSESSORES. 213 7. TODIRAMPHUS SAUROPHAOUS (Qould), Halcyon taurophaga, OouLD, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1848, p. 108. "Alcedo eyanoleuca, Temm." Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 157 (not Vieillot). " Alcedo albkiUa, Cuv." Dumont, Diet, dos Soi. Nat. XXIX, p. 278 ? (1823). Todiramphut albicilla, Beiohenbaoh, VoUst. Naturg. Voy. Sulphur, Birds, Plate XIX; Reichenbach, VoUst. Naturg. Plate CCCCXVII, fig. 3130. Form. — The largest species of this genus. Bill long, very robust, wide ; ridge of upper mandible rounded and obscure, that of the under mandible ascending from the middle ; wing moderate ; second and third quills longest, and very nearly equal ; tail rather long ; tarsus short ; toes rather long. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about ten and a half inches; wing, five inches ; tail three and a half inches ; bill, to gape, two and three-fourths inches. Colors. — Adult. Head, neck, and entire under parts white, in some specimens with a very slight tinge of blue on the head. Upper parts of body, outer webs of quills, and tail above, light blue, tinged with green on the back and scapulars. In one specimen now before us, the green of the back is scarcely discernible, in a second, it is the pre- dominating color. A narrow band behind the eye blue. Inner webs of quills and tail beneath, brownish-black ; bill dark ; under mandible, for two-thirds of its length from the base, white ; feet dark. Under wing-coverts white. Hab. — New Guinea. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. The largest of the species of this genus, and in which only the head is entirely white. In this species, the bill is unusually long and wide, and approximates to that of Halcyon, the wings and tail are rather long, and its entire organization is robust. It appears to inhabit only the Island of New Guinea. 64 f,ri' *•:■ mi I p. ■*"* I ^%. 214 ORNITHOLOGY. Two specimene, described above, are all that we have seen, both of which belong to the collection of the Philadelphia Academy. This species is easily recognized, and is very handsomely figured by Mr. Gould, in the Voyage of the Sulphur, above cited. We regard it as by no means certain that the name Alcedo aJbicilla, Cuv'er, is applicable to this species, though adopted by Prof. Reichen- bach. In " Etudes sur les Types peu connus du Mus^e de Paris," in Guerin's Mag. de Zool. 1853, p. 38S, Dr. Pucheran states that A. albi- cilia is a distinct species, but in some respects resembling the present bird. 8. ToDiRAMPHUS SANCTUS, Yigors and Horsfield. Ilalcyon lanclut, Via. and Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soo. Londou, XV, p. 206 (1825). Gould, B. of Aust. IT, Plate XXI ; White, Voy. to New South Wales, Plate, p. 193; Philips Voy. to Botany Buy, Plate, p. 156; Reichenbach, VoUst. Naturg. Birds, Plate CCCCXVIII, figs. 3131, 32, 33. Form. — Smaller than either of the preceding. Bill having more dis- tinct ridges in both mandibles, rather long ; ridge of the under man- dible slightly ascending ; wing moderate ; second quill longest ; tail moderate ; tarsi short. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven inches; wing, three and a half to three and three-fourths inches ; tail, two and one- fourth to two and a half inches. Colors. — Adult, from Australia. Head above, back, scapulars, and lesser coverts of the wings, dull green, with a tinge of blue ; greater coverts of the wings, outer webs of quills, rump, and tail above, light blue ; a band from the eye to the occiput black, frequently with a gloss of blue or green ; a partially concealed spot on the occiput, white, (above the black band). Spot in front of the eye extending somewhat into a superciliary line, band inclosing the neck and entire under parts, buffer sienna, varying in shade in different specimens, generally paler and nearly white on the throat and deeper on the flanks, abdo- INSESSORES. 215 men, and under wing-coverts, Bomctimes nearly pure white on the entire under parts. Bill diirk, the basal portion of the under mandi- ble white ; tarsi and feet pale reddish. Younger. Spots at the base of the upper mandible (in front of the eye), flanks, and abdomen, deep orange ; throat white ; many feathers of the breast narrowly edged with brown. Another specimen, younger? Entire under parts dull white, slightly tinged with orange or buff; feathers of the breast very distinctly edged with pale brown ; wing- coverts edged with dull yellow. Had. — Australia. Borneo? Sumatra? Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philudolphta. A species subject to some variations in the colors of both the upper and under parts, but not sufficient to render it difficult to determine. Of twenty-four specimens now before us, probably representing all the shades of color and all ages, no one could readily be mistaken for another species, unless perhaps for the young of T. recurvirostria. The principal differences in specimens of this bird, are the greater or less intensity of the butf of the under parts, quite dark in some, and very light lu others, and in the darker or lighter shade, and greater or less extent of the green of the head and upper parts of the body. Speci- mens from tha collection of the Duke of Rivoli, now in the Museum of the Philadelpi\ia Academy, are labelled as from Borneo and Suma- tra. They do not differ from Australian specimens. In a catalogue of the family Ilalcyonidte, in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, we regarded this bird as Alcedo amtralmia, of Vieillot. According to Dr. Pucheran, however, in " Etudes sur les Types peu connus du Mu8»5o do Paris," in Guerin's Mag. de Zool. 1853, p. 389, that name is applicable to IMcyon cownatiis, Miiller, and not to this species. This bird appears to be of common occurrence throughout Australia, and is now one of the best-known species of this group. It is very handsomely and very accurately represented in Mr. Gould's plate, above cited. « 'it' Sl« ORNITHOLOGY. 9. ToDiRAMPUUS RECURViROSTRis, Lofrtmaye. Todiramphu$ reeurvintirii, Lafh. Rov. Zool. 1842, p. 184 (M>j). Halejfim platirottrit, OouLD, Proo. Zonl. Soo. Loudon, 1842, p. 72 (June). Dacelo minima, Peau, Zool. Voy. Vinoennei and Petoook, Birdi, p. 150 (1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XVII. Form. — About the size or rather smaller than 7! sanctxts. Bill un- usually Mride, flattened ; culmen nearly obsolete ; ridge of under mandible ascending from the middle ; >ving rather short ; third and fourth quills longest and very nearly equal; tail moderate; tarsi and toes short, and rather slender. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven inches; wing, three and one-fourth inches ; tail, two and three-fourths inches. Colors. — Head above, back, rump, wings, and tail, light blue, tinged with green on the head and back, and brightest on the rump. A band from behind and under the eye to the occiput black ; a partially con- cealed spot on the occiput, white above the black band. Small spot in front of the eye, collar around the back of tho neck, and entire under parts, white, tinged with dull yellow or buff on the flanks, ab- domen, collar, and under coverts of the wings. Tail beneath brown- ish-black ; bill dark ; base of lower mandible white ; feet dark. Hab. — Samoan or Navigator Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. Obs. — In general appearance thi>« jpecies somewhat resembles the common T. sandiia, of Australia, but has the bill much wider and flatter, and the ridge of the under mandible more distinctly curved upwards. The color of the upper parts is also of a more distinct shade of blue. This species appears to present the usual variety of shades of both the upper and under surfaces of the body, but is not difKcult to recog- nize. The only specimens that we have seen are three, in the collec- tion of the Exploring Expedition, now in the National Museum, and INSES80RE8. 217 one in Mr. Gould's collection, now in the Museum of the Philndelphia Academy, and which is the type of his description above cited. All are from the locality above given. Our figures are of the size of life, and are from specimens in the National Museum, brought by the Expedition in the Vincennes and Peacock. 10. ToDiRAMPHUS DiviNUS, Leseon. Tuilirnmphvi divinun, Lesson, Voy. Coquillo, Zonl. I, p. 687 (182G). Dtuelo niilliturquii, Pealg, Voy. ViDoennea and Peacock, Birds, p. 155 (1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XVIII. Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris, III, Plate XII. Form. — About the size of, or rather larger than T. sanclna. Bill rather short, wide ; ridge of both mandibles obscure, flattened ; wing moderate ; third and fourth quills longest and nearly equal ; tail moderate or rather longer than usual in this genus ; tarsus short. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven and one-fourth inches ; wing, three and a half tu three and three-fourths inches ; tail, two and three-fourths inches. Colors. — Adult male. Entire upper parts dull ^ea-green, lightest behind the eye, on the outer webs of the quills, and on the tail above ; a narrow band from the eye to the occiput black ; a partially concealed spot on the occiput white. Small spot before the eye, and entire under parts, white ; a few feathers on the breast tipped with dark brown ; under wing-coverts white ; bill dark ; base of under mandible white ; tarsus light. Female, adult? Like the preceding, but with a wide band or belt across the breast, brownish-black. Younger. Entire upper plumage dull greenish-brown ; pectoral band narrower, but well defined and conspicuous. Hab. — Tahiti, Society Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washing- ton, and Mus. Acad. Philadelf ' la. 55 n wm^L ^■^ rtim M'k ^«l 218 ORNITHOLOOT. The plainest colored and most inconspicuous in general appearance of all the species of this genus. In nearly all stages of plumage usually n «t with, the band across the breast is a character strongly marked, but is also present in the young of T. tvta, described in a preceding page, with which it has been confounded by some authors. This cha* racter, however, disappears in the adult male, and probably in the adults of both sexes. Differences between this species and the young of T. tuta are pointed out in our description of the latter, uud we have further endeavored to elucidate this point by giving figures of both in the Atlas accom- piinying the present volume. The present species apf jars to be pecu- liar to the Society Islands. We have before us, nine specimens, five of which belong to the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, and four to that of the Exploring Expedition, in the Vincennes and Pea- cock. These probably represent all the changes of plumage. Our figures are of the size of life. 11. TODIRAMPHUS PTRRHOPYGIUS {GouU). Ifidryon jiyrrhopygia, GouLD, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1840, p. 113. Gould, B. of Aust. II, Plate XXII; Foichenbach, VoUst. Naturg. Plate CCCCXX, fig. 3141. Form. — Bill moderate ; ridge of upper mandible obscure and flattened, that of under mandible slightly ascending towards the tip ; wing moderate; second quill longest ; tail n'oderate: tarsus short. Dimensions. — Total length (of sk'.n), about seven nnd one half inches ; wing, three and three-fcurths to four inches ; tail, two and three-fourths inches. Colors. — Adult. Back and rump light rufous. Head above, dull bluish-green, every feather edged with white. A stripe over the eye to the occiput white, another under and behind the eye to the occiput black, tinged with bluish; scapulars, wing-coverts, outer edges of quills, and tail, light blue, tinged with green on the scapulars and tail. Collar around the back of the neck and entire under parts white, IN8E8SORES. 219 except a large spot on the side under the wing, which is bluish-bhick. Bill dark; base of under mandible white; feet dark. Younger. Bill shorter ; head above, scapulars, and wing-coverts, dull green ; head more distinctly striped with white, some feathers of the breast edged with dark brown. Sexes alike. Hab. — Australia. Acad. Philadelphia. Specimen from Mr. Gould's collection in Mus. The color of the back and rump is a character in this species which distinguishes it from any other, and is present in all of the four speci- mens now before us, and of very nearly the same extent and shade. These specimens are from Mr. Gould's Australian collection, and the species appears to be restricted to that continent. It is beautifully figured in his great work on the Birds of Australia, cited above. 12. ToDiRAMPHUs coRONATUS (MuUer). Halcyon coronala, MuLL. Verb. Nat. Gesch. I, p. 175 (1844). Alcei'o austrulasia, ViEiLi. Nouv. Diet. XIX, p. 419 (1818). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XIX, fig. 1, Adult. Reichenbach, Vollst. Naturg. Plate CCCCXX, fig. 3142. Form. — Small, about the size of T. eanchts. Bill moderate ; ridge of uppor mandible rounded and rather obscure, that of the under man- dible ascending for about two-thirds of its length ; wing rather short ; second and third qnills longest and nearly equal; tertiaries long; tall moderate ; tarsus short. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven inches; wing; three and one-fourth inches ; tail, two and a half inches. Colors. — Head above and back dull green, the former tinged with blue ; wing-cov6rt8, outer edges of quills, and tail above, blue ; pri- maries and tail ! oneath brownish-black, the former edged with blue on their outer webs, and with dull yellow < n the inner. Wide band 220 ORNITHOLOGY. from before and through the eye to the oticiput, bright fulvous, inclining to rufous; another from the base of the bill, under the eye, around the back of the neck, black, tinged with greenish-blue under the eye ; below which black band is another on the upper part of the back of bright fulvous, uniting with the same color of the under parts of the body. Throat paler and nearly white in some specimens. Frontal feathers edged with fulvous. Upper mandible dark ; under mandible white, with the tip obscure brown. Hab. — Timor. Specimen in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. The parts which are frequently of various shades of buff or sienna i:i several other species of this genus, in the present bird are of a much deeper color, in fact, bright rufous, darker on the bands of the occiput and neck, and paler on the under parts of the body. This species if strongly characterized by the wide occipital band of rufous, und pre- sents, when viowed from behind, three wide and very distinct bands on the occiput, neck, and upper part of the buck, two of bright rufous with one intermediate of black. This bird approaches the genus Halcyon, in which it might be arranged with nearly equal propriety as iu ToLVnimphm. Two speci- mens only are in the collection of the Pfiladelphia Academy, both labelled as males, from Titnor, and aiffering in no important character. We insert the name Alccdo nustralasia, Vieill., as a synonyme for this species, on the authority of Dr. Pucheran, an eminent naturalist of Paris, who has rendered essential service in Ornithology, by determin- ing many obscure types from original specimens. His notic of this bird is in Guerin's Magazine, 1853, p. 389. As he observes, Vieillot's name ought not to be adopted, because it conveys an absolute error, though having priority. This bird is represented in our plute of the size of life. 13. ToDiRAMPHUS ciNNAMOMiNus {Swaitimn). HiilcyoH cinnamomtntu, SwAlNS. Zool. III. II, p. 1 (1821). " Ducelo rii/reps, Cuv." Label on spec, in RivoJi coll. (Mus. Acad. Philad.) "Ducflo riijitept, Cuv. Gal. du Mus." Les? >n, Traite, p. 247 (1831)? "Afeedo ni/cfp», Cuv." Duinont, Diet. Sci. Nat. XXIX, p. 273 (1823)? Todiramphut Reichenbachii, Hartlaub, Weigni. Archiv. 1852, p. 21? INSESSORES. 221 Swains. Zool. 111. II, Plate LXVII; Reichenbach, VoUst. Naturg. Birds, Plate CCCCXX, fig. 3140. Form. — About the size of T. chloris. Bill long, wide ; ridge of upper mandible flattened, obscuie; that of under manrlible ascending from the middle of its length ; wing moderate ; third and fourth quills longest and very nearly equal ; tail moderate ; tarsus short ; toes rather long. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about eight and three-fourths inches; wing, thiee and three-fourths to four inches; tail, three and one-fourth inches. Colors. — Adult? Head, neck, and entire under parts fawn, or cinnamon-color, lighter on the throat; a narrow band from behind and below the eye to the occiput, dark blue. Back, rump, wings, and tail above, blue, tinged with green on the back ; inner webs of quills and inferior surface of tail brownish-black ; bill dark ; a large space at the base of the under mandible white ; legs light-colored. Under wing- coverts dark fawn-color. Younger ? Head above and occipital band as in preceding. Back, wing-coverts, and rump, with the green pre- dominating ; entire under parts white, with an obscure band of fawn- color across the breast; under wing-coverts very pale buff; quills and tail as in preceding. Hab. — Ladrones or Marianna Islands. Philadelphia. Specimen in Mus. Acad. This is a species of very peculiar appearance, but presenting con- siderable variations in color. In four specimenb now before us, that described first above is apparently the most mature bird, and is pre- cisely as figured and described by Mr. Swainson, in Zoological Illustra- tions. Two others are of the same general colors, but have the fawn or cinnamon-color paler, while a fourth, undoubtedly the same species, has the entire under parts nearly pure white, with a badly defined band of buff or pale ftiwn on the breast. The last presents the ap- pearance of being the youngest bird, though possibly may be in a sea- sonal plumafje only different from that of the others. Specimens in the Rivoli collection now in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia, M 222 ORNITHOLOGY. II: ■ I are labelled as from the Ladrones or Marianna Islands, which is the locality given by M. Dumont, as above, for " Alcedo nijiceps, Cuv." Mr. Swainson gives the locality " New Zealand," probably erroneously. This bird appears to be "Dacelo ruficepa, Cuv.," as described by the authors above mentioned, but nowhere by Cuvier to our knowledge. In rather pale-colored plumage, as alluded to above; the name To- il iramplma Beichenbachii, appears to be applicable to the present spe- cies. This stage is figured by Reichenbach, as cited at the head of this article. 14. ToDiBAMPHUS TOROTORO {Lesson). Halcyon torotbro, Leh^ Coquille, Zool. I, p. 689 (1826). Si/ma Lesnonia, SwAiNS. ■ -b. Cy. Birds, II, p. 335. Halcyon flavirostrit, GoULD, Jard. Cont. Orn. 1850, p. 105. Gould, B. of Aust. Supp. Plate (not numbered), Voy. Coquille, Ois, Plate XXXI, fig. 1. Form. — About the size of T. aanctna. Bill moderate ; lidges of both mandibles well defined ; that of the under mandible ascending from the middle ; edges of both mandibles serrated in some specimens ; wing short; third quill slightly longest; tail moderate; tarsus short ; toes rather long. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven inches; wing, three inches ; tail, two and a half inches. Colors. — Much resembling those of the last {T. cinnamominus). Head, neck, and entire under parts, fawn or cinnamon-color, darker on the head above, and neck behind, and paler on the under parts ; nearly white on the throat and abdomen ; narrow ring nearly encir- cling the eye, black ; a band across the occiput bluish-black. Back and scapulars dull green ; wing-coverts, outer edges of quills, rump, and tail above, blue ; under wing-coverts fawu-color. Bill yellow ; upper mandible tipped with brown ; feet yellow. Other specimens (which are H. flavirostria), have the wing-coverts and outer edges of quills dull green ; bill shorter than in the preceding. Sexes alike. INSESSORES. 223 ' Had. — New Guinea. Northern Australia. Specimen in Mua. Acad. Philadelphia. This Bpecies is much smaller than T. cinnamomimia, but resembles it, especially the plumage of that stage described above as supposed to be the younger. Though to be distinguished immediately by their size, this similarity will explain M. Lesson's suspicion that the pre- sent bird is identical with Dacelo ruficepa, Cuv. (Lesson, Traits d'Orni- thologie, p. 247, and Manuel d'Ornithologie, II, p. 98), which, how- ever, is not the case. At present, we must regard specimens of H. flaviroatria, from Aus- tralia, now before us, as identical with others from New Guinea. The former appear to present only the characters of younger birds, having the upper parts rather more decidedly of a green color, including the wings, while those apparently adult, have the wing-coverts and edges of primaries blue. The preceding fourteen species include all that have come under our notice, belonging to the genus Todiramphus. B. The following species may be considered obscure or erroneously assigned to this genus. 1. Halcyon vabia, Ei/ton, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1839, p. 101. Todiramphus varius (Etton), Bljrth, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1839, p. 101. Orig. Desc. — " H. pectore, gala, ventre, atrigaque oculoa dngente ferru- gineia ; capite, nucha, et striga a mandibula inferiore ad capiatrum brunneia, aingulia pennia tamiia casruleia ornatia ; primariia, dorao, ecajmlaribuaque, brunneia, hia externejlavo marginalia, illia maculatia, roatro/lavo, culmine obacuro. Long. tot. 8i unc, roalri l\l, tarai 1^',. Native name, Kaing Kaing" Mr. Ey ton gives the above description in a " Catalogue of a Collec- tion of Birds from Malaya." In a paper entitled " Notices and De- scriptions of various New or Little-known Species of Birds, by Ed. Blyth, Curator of the Asiatic Society's Museum," in the Journal of '%-i R^'^p^ I 224 ORNITHOLOGY. the Asiatic Society of Bengal, XV, p. 11, we find a further description of apparently the same species : " Tvdirarnphis varius ; Halcyon varia, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 101. What I take to be the adult male (and perhaps the adult of either sex), of this species, is a beautiful bird, the coloring of which serves to connect Todiramphua (as exemplified by T. collar is and T. aacer), with Halcyon atricapillua {v. albiventer, of Scopoli, a name too inappro- priate to be retained), but the beak is strictly that of Todiramphua. " Length, about nine inches, or nearly so ; of wing, four inches, and tail, two and three-eighths ; bill to forehead (in rather the larger of two specimens), an inch and three-fourths, and to the gape two and one-fourth inches ; tarsus, five-eighths of an inch. Cap green, rufescent on forehead, and margined posteriorly with verditer ; a broad black stripe commences at the lores, and meets its opposite behind ; above this is a slight rufous supercilium, and below it a broad rufous streak, continued to the nape, and comprising the lower ear-coverts ; below this again, is a very large purplish-blue moustache, commencing at the base of the lower mandible ; the nape and breast are brilliant ferru- ginous, paling on the throat and belly ; and the mantle, wings, and tail, are deep purplish-blue, each feather touched with ultramarine blue on the wings, while the rump and upper tail-coverts are vivid verditer; bordering the ferruginous of the nape, is a band of deep black. Bill dusky above, the rest apparently bright yellow, and legs probably coral red. From Malacca." From the similarity of these descriptions, and the identity of th.^ localities given, it is very probable that the same species is alluded to, but we consider it as quite evident that it does not belong to the genus Todiramphua, as regarded by any ornithologist. This bird undoubtedly belongs to that group of the genus Halcyon, which embraces H. concreta (Temm.), H. Lindsay i (Vigors), H. mo- nacha, Bonap., and others, and the species is very probably Halcyon concreta, Temminck, described and figured by that celebrated natu- ralist in Planches Coloriees, IV, Livraison 58, PI. CCCXLVI, under the name Dacelo concreta. Whether the reader can coincide in this opinion or not, he can readily determine by comparing the description either by Eyton or Blyth, with the plate of Temminck, above cited, with or without specimens, especially that by Blyth, inserted in this article. INSES80RES. 225 2. TODIBAMPHUS FUNEBBIS (5I0WOJ).). " Balct/on/nnebrit, FoRST. Mus. Lugd." Bonap. Cons. Av. p. 157 (1850). Orig. Deso. — ** Nigroviridia, corona occipitali, oollan, corporeque auhtus alhia. Ex Celebes." Though possibly belonging to this genus, the species here indicated cannot be recognized from such a description, and it is for all practical purposes, useless. If properly arranged in the genus Todiraniphus, this is a remarkable species on account of its color. 3. ToDiRAMPHUS FoRSTENi (Bonap.). " Ualcyon Forsteni, Temm. Mus. Lugd." B)nap Cms. Av. p. 157 (1850). Orig. Peso. — " Ccerulea, stibtus alba, corona occipitall niyra, ex Celebes.'' Another useless indication, almost any species being referable to it, except in point of locality. 4. Alcedo albicilla, Cncier. " Alcedo albicilla, Cuv." Dumont, Diet, des Sci. Nat. XXIX, p. 273 (1823). " Alcedo (ilbicillu, Cuv." Pucheran, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1853, p. 388. Dacelo albicilla, Lesson, Traite d'Orn. I, p. 247 (1831). As we have stated under the head of Todiramphua saurophagtis, this species is regarded by Dr. Pucheran, a very competent naturalist of Paris, as distinct from all others. The following are his observa- tions and description, as above cited : " Like the preceding" {Todimmphns cinnamomeus), "this bird is a native of the Mariannes Islands, and was derived from the same Ex- pedition" (Voyage of the Uranie). " The head, the upper part of the neck, all the lower parts, the in- ferior wing-coverts, are v hite. A transverse black band occupies the 57 226 ORNITHOLOGY. upper part of the neck, e\tending from the posterior angle of one orbit to the other, and near the orbits is of a greenish-gray color ; the upper part of the back between the wings, the wing-coverts, and upper tail- coverts, are aquamarine green ; the first quill is black, the others are blue on the outer, and black on the inner webs ; but in proportion as the quill becomes more internal, the first of these colors encroaches upon the second, so much that it is very extensive on the internal webs of the secondaries ; the tail-feathers are black beneath and above, like the quills ; the lower mandible is yellowish ; the upper mandible brownish horn-color ; tarsi, toes, and nails, are the same color." Total length, about ten and a half inches {" 266 millimetres") ; tail, four inches (" 101 millimetres") ; bill, two inches (" 51 millime- tres") ; tarsus, eight-tenths of an inch (" 2 centimetres"). " We possess two young specimens, brought also from the Mariannes Islands, by Messrs. Quoy and Gaimard. Both are colored beneath like the adult, but in one the green of the back is deeper, in both, the head is green, with whit& spread here and there upon the feathers, and as this last color occupies a part of the upper part of the neck, it results that these two individuals have a cervical collar of a white color. " This species appears to me very exactly established. It has in- timate relations with that which Mr. Gould has more recently described und figured in the ornithological part of the Voyage of the Sulphur, under the name of Halcyon, murophaga. It is distinguished from it, among other characters, by rather smaller size and a shorter and nar- rower bill." Subsequently, in the same article, cited above, Pucheran states that Dacelo albicilla, Lesson, is the same bird, and that the varieties A and B, of that author (Traite d'Orn. p. 247), are the two young specimens alluded to by him, as above given. This species we have never seen. We do not, however, regard Cu- vier's name as entitled to any consideration, unless a description by him has been published, which is not the case to our knowledge, but would regard Lesson as the proper authority. For a similar reason we have not adopted Alcedo rujiceps, Cuv., for Halcyon cinnamomeus, Swainson. 5. The following species are included in the genus TodirampJiua by Bonaparte, in Conspectus Avium, p. 156, and by Reichenbach in VoU- standigste Naturgeschichte, but in our opinion, erroneously : INSESSORES. 227 Halcyon Macleatii, Jard. and Sdby, Gould, B. of Aust. II, Plate XXIV. Alcedo luzuli, TemmmcJe, PI. Col. 508. Alcedo diops, Temminch, PI. Col. 272. These species, with others, are very probably a subgeneric group of the typical genus Halcyon. At present we are acquainted with no other birds which are pro- perly included in the genus Todiramphm, nor with any others that have been assigned to it by authors. Specimens of all of the fourteen species described above, are in the Museum of the Philadelphia Aca- demy, and as stated in the preceding pages, this genus is also liberally represented in the collection of the Expedition. For the use of very fine specimens of various species, figured in the Atlas to the present volume, we are indebted to the liberality of the gentlemen of the Aca- demy. Availing ourselves of the present opportunity, we have had figured for our Atlas, all species of this genus not previously represented in the plates of authors, and whenever practicable, we have given all stages of plumage of which we have specimens. For much the gre cr part our figures satisfactorily represent the species intended, though in a few instances we could have wished for greater success. The coloring, however, which has been done under the immediate super- vision of that accomplished colorist, Mrs. Lavinia Bowen, of Phila- delphia, is unexceptionable. '^'}. ORNITHOLOGY. 3. 0ENU8 EURYST0MU8, Vieill. Analyse, p. 87 (1816). 1. EUBYSTOMUS OBIENTAUS (Linn.). Coraci'ai orieiitalii, LiNN. SyBt. Nat. I, p. 159 (1766). Euryttonws fuict'collis, et cyanocoUi*, ViElLL. Buff. PI. Enl. 619 ; Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. Plate XXX^L Specimens of this species from the PliiHppines, are in the collection of the Expedition. Mr. Peale notices it as follows : '' Our specimens of this beautiful bird were obtained in the Island of Mindanao. We observed them to frequent the banks of shady streams which run through the forests, sitting quietly on horizontal dead branches of trees at a considerable elevation, and watching for passing insects, which they caught on the wing. Their appearance when sitting on a branch, and their flight was so much like that of a kingfisher (Alcedo), that one of our specimens was thus shot by mistake." Dr. Pickering also records the occurrence of this bird in the same Island, and mentions that *' a specimen when wounded uttered a harsh cry, similar to that of some species of parrots." 4. Family MEROPID.E. ' 1. Gencs MEROPS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 182 (1760). 1. Merops PiiiLiPPiNUS, Linn. Merop$ philt'ppinus, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 183 (1766). Buff. H. Enl. 67 ; Le Vaill. Guep. Plate XIV. • This species was observed by the naturalists of the Expedition in INSRSSORES. 229 the Island of Mindanao, ono of the Pliilippines, and in the notes of Dr. Pickering we find the following : " Several specimens of thin Mi'rofis wore noticed on the border of an opening in the forest, and whun on the wing, reminded me very much of the North American Swallows, sailing somewhat in the same man- ner. The}' also appeared to be similar in their habits to the birds of the genus Oalbuia, in some measure. The tongue of this species is not exsertile, and presented no striking (leculiarity of formation." Numerous specimens of this bird are in the collection of the Expe- dition. 5. Family TROOONIDiE. 1. Genus HARPACTKa, ^Tirniniion, Cab. Cy. II, p. 337 (1837). 1. HarPAOTES ARDENS (T^mm.). Trwjon ardens, Tkmm. PI. Col. Ill, p. (liv. 68, about 1827). Ilarpactes rodiostemut, Pealr, Zoul. U. 8. Kxp. Exp. Birds, p. 166 (first edition, 1848).* Temm. PI. Col. 404 ; Gould, Mon. Trogon, Plate XXXV. Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Poalo mention the occurrence of this fine species in the Island of Mindanao, one of the Pliilippines. The latter remarks : I* " Head and throat dark vlnaooous. Cuculu* fucatut, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 130 (Ist edition, 1848).* * "Crown, back, and rump, dark ashy gray; wings, fuscous; aurioulars, throat, and breast, light cinereous-gray; abdomen aud under tnilooverts pale uchre-yellow, crossed by waving lines of black ; tail rounded, dusky, black at the end and outer margin ; each feather tipped with white, and having five or six lengthened white spots on the shafts, and more numerous notoh-like spots on the edge of the inner web ; wings long, pointed ; third quill longest, second and fourth equal ; primaries banded with white oti the inner webs; secondaries having the basal half of the inner webs white ; under coverts buff, crossed with black lines; irides light brown, eyulids and feet bright yellow; bill yellow at base; upper mandible olive, black at the tip ; lower mandible olive its whole length ; inside of the mouth orange. Male. "Total length, twelve inches; extent of wings, twenty inches; wings, from the carpal joint, seven and a half incnes; tail, five and seven-tenths inches; outer feathers, four und three-tenths inches; tarsi, thirtoen-twentioths of an inch ; middle toe, including the INSBSSORES. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXI, fig. 1. Adult. 245 Of the various species n? typical CucnJu/), all bearing more or less intimate affinity to the well-known European species and type of its genus {CuculiM canorus), we cannot at present undertake the difficult task of a critical examination. But we have seen a sufficient number of forms apparently distinct, and presenting remarkable general re- semblances to each other to enable us to infer that very considerable difficulties await the ornithologist in this complex group, and in fact, from the short and frequently Very imperfect descriptions on which he must rely, we deem it nearly impossible to identify some of the species mentioned in the works of authors. The bird now before us is one of those to which we allude, though it appears to be that described by Lesson, as above cited, in which conclusion we are confirmed by labels on specimens in the Rivoli col- lection, now a part of the Ornithological Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. A specimen of this species in the collection of the Expedition, was obtained in Mangsi, one of the Sooloo Islands, and is in good plumage and preservation. It is represented of the size of life in our plate, as above cited. 2. CucULUS siMUS, Ikale. Cuculus simm, Pbale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 131 (first edition, 184S) Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXI, fig. 2. Adult. C chiemscenti slmilis. Corpore supra saturate oUvaceo-fnsco, infra rufo- castaneo, guiture pallidiore. Long. tot. 9 J iwllices. Form. — Very similar to that of Cuculus cinerascens, Vig. and Horsf., but smaller. Bill rather thick, wide at base, curved ; wing mode- rate; third quill longest; tail rather long, graduated; middle feathers 4-.\ 11 ■m olaw, one inch ; claw, aeven-twentietha of an inch ; outer bind toe, eight-tenths of an inch ; claw, two-tenths of an inch ; bill, seven-tenths of an inch ; to the angle of the mouth, one and one-twentieth of an inch ; width at the nostrils, three-tenths of an inch." 62 1 f 246 ORNITHOLOGY. about one inch and a half longer than the lateral; legs rather short; toes long, slender. A smell bare space around the eye, and a dis- tinct naked membrane at the corner of the month. Bill wider at base, and thicker than that of C. cinemscens. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about nine and a half inches ; wing, five inches; tail, five and one-eighth inches. '^' Extent of wings, fourteen and a half inches" (Mr. Peale). Colors. — Head above, back, rump, and wings, dark olive-brown, with a faint greenish bronze-like lustre, darkest on the rump. Entire under parts ruous, pale on the throat and mixed with cinereous, darker, approaching chestnut-color on the abdomen and under coverts of the tail. Cheeks olive-brown, every feather with a central stripe of pale ashy white. Quills olive-brown, each with a large spot of white on its inner web, forming a conspicuous band running obliquoly across the wing, obvious on its under surface. Tail above brownish-black, with a faint purple lustre ; every feather tipped, and with either bands or pairs of spots of white. " Upper mandible dusky; lower mandible, and corners of the mouth orange ; eyelids and feet pale yellow ; iris light yellowish-brown; clr.,ws black. Male." (Mr. Peale.) Hab. — Feejee Islands. Specimen in Coll. Exp. Exp. Washington City. In general appearance, this Cuckoo considerably resembles the com- mon Australian species, above mentioned, from which it is, however, clearly distinct. The much wider and thicker bill on this bird is a strong distinctive character, in addition to which, it is smaller, and the colo. s darker, though bearing a strong general resemblance to those of the bird mentioned. Though presenting these points of resemblanci., it may easily Ije distinguished on comparison. One specimen only is ia the collection, and is that of an adult male, represented in our plate of the natural size. Of this bird Mr. Peale observes : " The specimen from which our description is drawn, was in perfect plumage when killed, at Sandalwood Bay, in the Feejee Islands, on the 20th of July. Its voice was not heard ; its actions were some- what remarkable, the common position when sitting on a branch being INSESSORES. 247 with the body almost perpendicular, its subcrest frequently raised after the manner of some of the hawks and tyrant flycatchers." 2. Genus COCCYZUS, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 28 (181G). 1. CoccYZUS MINOR (Gmelin). Citculus minor, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 411 (1788). Cucvlus seniculus, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, p. 219 (1790). BuflF. PI. Enl. 813. This species, of which a single specimen is in the collection of the Expedition, but of which we have seen many others, is quite distinct from the bird regarded as C. eenivulue, and figured by Audubon in Birds of America, Plate CLXIX (octavo edition, IV, PI.'CCLXXVII). Latham's name seniculus, is, however, a synomye for the bird now before us, having been avowt dly applied to it after it had been named by Gmelin, as above cited. The description by Latham, in Synopsis of Birds, I, p. 537 (Mangrove Cuckow),is compiled from Buflim, Hist. Nat. Ois. VI, p. 401, and from PI. Enl. VI, p. 464, PI. DCCCXIII. Gmelin's description is copied from Latham. It will be found that the original description is by BufTon, whose plate is cited by both of tlie authors mentioned, and is sufficiently accurate to serve for the identification of the species. It is of no consequi iice what errors may have been made by naturalists in referring other species to the descrip- tions of Gmelin and Latham, or in applying the names proposed by them to other birds than that figured and described by BufTon, as above; it is and must be regarded to the end of time as Cuculus minor, Gmelin, and Cucuhcs senkuhis, Latham. The bird figured by Audubon, as above cited, and regarded as G. fieniculus, is probably Cucidm r'ulihutnius, Gin. Syst. Nat. I, p. 414, a point which it is not within our province to determine at present, but which we shall examine in a future work. According to Mr. Peale, the specimen of this bird in the collection of the Expedition, was shot near Callao, Peru, and is a female. " Irides brown ; eyelids margined with yellow ; bill black ; total length, ten and a half inches ; extent of wings, thirteen and a half inches," t^.i^ii I;;! ■\2P^ i.?^i iOa: m 248 ORNITHOLOGY. 3. Genus EUDYNAMYS, Vig. and Eor»f. Trans. Linn. Soo. London, XV, p. 303 (1826). 1. EuDTNAMTS TAiTENSis [Sparrmmi). Cuculus taitensit, SPARRMAN, Muse. Carls. PI. XXXII (1787). Cuculus tahitius, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 412 (1788). Cuculus /asciatus, Forster, Desc. An. p. 160 (1844). Eudynamys cuneicawia, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 139 (Ist ed. 1848).* Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXII, fig. 2. Adult? The only specimen of this species in the collection of the Expedition, appears to us to be that of a young bird, and although slightly smaller than the average size of numerous other specimens now before us, from the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, it is apparently entirely identical. Our plate represents this bird about two-thirds of the natural size. The specimen in the collection was obtained in the Island of Ovolau, one of the Feejees. Its sex is not stated. * " Above, sepia-brown, with rufous lines on the crown, and white spots on the back ; beneath white, the feathers having central lines of sepia-brown ; superciliary line, band on the cheek, and throat, pale tawny ; wings moderate, pointed ; fourth quill L \gc8t, third nearly equal ; color, sepia-brown, banded with white ; shafts white ; under coverts white ; upper coverts sepia-brown, with a terminal round white spot ; scapulars banded with white, and having a terniinul white spot like the coverts ; tail cuneate, the feathers pointed, sepia-brown, crossed by numerous curved bars of while and pale tawny ; shafts brown above, white beneath; upper coverts brown, barred with white; lower coverts white; upper mandible brown ; lower mandible yellow; legs dusky. " Total length, fifteen and two-tenths inches ; wings, from the carpal joint, seven and two*'<''ths inches; tail, eight and one-tenth inches; outer fcathcrii, four and three-tenths inches ; tarsi, one and three-tenths of an inch ; middle toe, including the claw, one and one-fourth of an inch ; claw, four-tenths of an inch; outer hind toe, one and one-tenth of an inch ; claw, three-tenths of an inch ; inner hind toe, six-tenths of an inch ; cluw, three-tenths of an inch ; bill, nine-tenths of an inch ; to the angle of the mouth, one and four-tenths of an inch." (Mr. Peale, as above.) INSESSORES. 249 2, EuDYNAMYS ORiENTAus (lAnnaem). Cuculus orientalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 168 (1766). Cuculus scolopacetts, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 170. Cucultti mindanensis, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 169. Buflfon, PL Enl. 274, figs. 1, 277, 586 ; Edwards, Birds, II, Plate LIX. Specimens of this well-known Asiatic species are in the collection of the Expedition, from the Sooloo Islands. With reference to this bird, Mr. Peale observes : " A fine male of this species vas killed in the month of February, near Soung, the capita' of the Sooloo Islands. The plumage was very glossy, the iris bright r^d, and the bill and legs green, all of which is lost in the prepared skins. At the Island of Mangsi, we again saw it, during a heavy storm of rain and wind, when it uttered a loud and clear whistle, whenever disturbed by the firing of guns or the falling of trees. " A female, obtained at the same time and place, differs materially from Latham's description, being of a dark sepia-brown color above, beautifully spotted with rufous, with chestnut-colored lines on the head. Beneath, it is tawny, brightest on the breast, where it is line- ated with black, the ^\\y crossed with black bars; irides bright crim- son ; bill and legs blue-green." 4. Genus CENTROPUS, Illiger, Prodromus, p. 205 (1811). 1. Centropus melanops. Lesson. Centropus melanops, Lesson, Traite I, p. 137 (1831); Pucheran, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1852, p. 473. Centroput nxgrifrons, Peale, Zool. Esp. Exp. Birds, p. 137 (lat ed. 1848). 'fe, % Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXII, fig. 1. Adult. Form. — Typical ; bill somewhat curved and compressed ; wing rather short, rounded ; first quill short, subspurious, fifth longest ; tail long, 63 ■m 250 ORNITHOLOGY. graduated ; legs and toes strong, with very distinct scales ; claws strong. Feathers of the head and neck with their shafts stiff, almost spinous on the former, and with the filaments of thtir webs few and separated from each other, presenting an open or skeleton-like cha- racter. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), seventeen inches; wing, six and a half inches ; tail, nine and a half inches. Colors. — Forehead and space inclosing the eyes, black. Other parts of the head, the throat, neck, and breast, pale ochre-yellow, nearly white on the throat and breast. Wing-coverts and quills bright chestnut. Back, rump, abdomen, tibiae, and tail, black, with a green metallic lustre on the back and abdomen, and purple and blue on the tail. Bill dark ; tarsi lighter. "Irides crimson" (Peale). Had. — Mindanao, Philippine Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. A single specimen of this handsome bird was obtained near La Caldera, in the Island of Mindanao, and appears to be in plumage entirely adult. The feathers of the head and neck are remarkably rigid, and at the points of some of them almost aculeate or spinous. They are also unusually open or loose in their texture, the filaments of the webs being few and detached from each other. This species is apparently related to Centropus ateralbus, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Birds, Plate XXXIII, but in that bird all the parts are represented as pure white which in the present are dull yellow. The figure in our plate is about two-thirds of the size of life. Nothing re- lating to the habits of this species is recorded by the naturalists of the Expedition. B A S G R E S. 251 3. Order RASORES.— The Gallinaceous Birds. 1. Family COLUMBID^.— The Pigeons and Doves. 1. Genus COLUMBA, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 279 (1766). 1. CoLUMBA viTiENSis, Qmi/ and Gaimard. Columha vitiensts, QuoY and Oaimard, Voy. Astrolabe, Zoology, I, p. 246 (1830). Voy. Astrolabe, Ois. Plate XXVIII j Reichenbach, VoUst. Naturg. Birds, Plate CXXXIX, fig. 1288. Form. — Strong and robust; bill rather short; wing long, broad; second and third primaries longest and nearly equal ; outer webs of quills wide ; tail moderate, truncate or slightly rounded, containing twelve feathers. Legs short ; tarsus bare, showing in front about six transverse scales ; toes but slightly padded ; claws rather weak, curved. Dimensions. — Adult male. Total length (of skin), from tip of bill to end of tail, about fourteen inches ; wing, nine and a half inches ; tail, five inches; tarsus, one inch; bill, one and one-fourth of an inch. Colors. — Adult male. Entire plumage dark bluish ash-color, deepest on the upper parts, and lightest on the abdomci, ventral region, ana inferior coverts of the tail, and nearly black on the quills and tail. Large space on the throat, extending around under the eye, white. Head above, and neck, with a beautiful metallic purple lustre, changing to fine green in some lights ; back, rump, and breast, metallic green ; tertiary quills, wing-coverts, and upper tail-coverts, distinctly edged and tipped with the same. Bill and feet pale. Younger. Like the adult, L'lt with the head above, neck, rump, and breast, with a comparatively i.iint metallic green lustre. Bill and -til 252 ORNITHOLOGY. feet not so pure yellow. Throat white ; entire other plumage, dark bluish ash or slate-color. In this plumage, this bird is figured in Voy. Astrolabe, Birds, Plate XXVIII. Younger? Like the preceding two birds in general color and other \ ■ characters, but with the head above dull chestnut. Hab. — Feejee Islands. Celebes ? Specimen in Nat. Mus. Wash- ington. The specimen above described as the adult of this handsome Pigeon, is in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- phia, and is labelled as coming from the Celebes. Another specimen, very nearly in the plumage described and figured in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Astrolabe, as above cited, is in the collection of the Ex- pedition, and was obtained at the Feejee Islands. This bird belongs more properly to typical Golumha, than to the genus Garpophaga. It has been properly assigned by Reichenbach to his genus Janthaenas, and is congeneric with Golumha janthina, metal- Ika, and others of the same group. Respecting this bird, Mr. Peale observes : " Not uncommon at the Feejee Islands. We observed them during the month of June, in parties of three or four, and a few solitary, from which we were led to the conclusion that it was about the last of the breeding season, the parties being generally composed of two old and two young birds. The figure in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Astrolabe, appears to have been taken from a young male. A female measured, when killed, fourteen and a half inches long, and twenty- four and three-fourtl .iches across the wings ; irides yellowish-brown ; eyelids and feet dusky lake-red ; bill black." 2. COLUMBA CASTANEICEPS, Peak. Columba rattaneiceps, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Vincenncs, Birds, p. 187 (first edition, 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXIII. Adult ? R A S R E S. 253 C. vltiemi aimilis, Ckda alba, cajnte supra castaneo, corpore supra toto saturate cineraceo-fusco, alis caudaque prope nigris. Long. tot. 14 pollUxs. B'oRM. — Size and general form very 8imilar to the species immediately preceding. Bill moderate, rather slender ; wings long, broad ; second, third, and fourth primaries longest, and very nearly equal ; inner webs of quills wide; tail moderate, truncate, containing twelve feathers ; legs short ; tarsus naked, and presenting in front about six or seven transverse scales ; claws moderate or rather weak. Dimensions. — Male. Total length (of skin), from tip of bill to end of tail, about fourteen inches ; wing, eight and three-fourths inches ; tail, five and a half inches ; tarsus, one inch ; bill, to corner of the mouth, one and one-fourth of an inch. Colors. — Male. Large space on the throat, extending around, under, and beyond the eye, white. Head above, chestnut-color. Entire other plumage dark-brown, with an ashy tinge, darker above, and nearly block on the wings and tail, and lightest on the lower parts of the body. Plumage of the neck, back, and rump, edged with fine metallic green, on the breast with the same, and with rich purple. Inferior coverts of the wings, dark ashy-brown. " Irides dark-brown ; eyelids, bill, and feet, lake-red" (Peale). Female like the male, but with the colors duller. Hab. — Upolu, Samoan Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washing- ton. This bird is either the young or other immature plumage of the preceding {Cdumha vltiemis), or a very nearly allied species. We have, however, been under the necessity of resting satisfied with being able to determine but small distinguishing characters in species in- habiting the Islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, especially when they appeared to us to present these characters constantly, and to be distinct specifically. Though intimately resembling the preceding, the present bird may readily be distinguished by the chestnut-color, without metallic lustre of the top of the head, which appears to be much more distinct than in the young of that species. 64 m 'iM 254 ORNITHOLOGY. Mr. Peale gives the dimensions of this bird : " Total length, sixteen and one-fourth inches j extent of the wings, twenty-six and one-eighth inches," and observes that this species is "strictly arboreal, and was principally found in the dense forests which cover the mountains of Upolu, one of the Samoan Islands." ^ Like the preceding, this bird belongs to the group designated as the genus Janthaenaa, by Reichenbach, which is adopted by Bonaparte, in Conspectus Avium, vol. II, p. 44 (Leyden, 1857). 3. COLUMBA FASCIATA, Say. Columha fascialn, Say, in Long's Exp. II, p. 10 (1823). Columha monilis, Vigors. Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLXVII; oct. ed. IV, Plate CCLXXIX; Bonap. Am. Orn. I, plate VIII, fig. 3. This fine species is mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition as having been frequently met with in Oregon, and occasionally in large numbers. This bird belongs to a minor group of Columha, desig- nated by Reichenbach as the genus Chloroenas, which includes also the species immediately succeeding. 4. CoLUMBA ARAUCANA, Xcs«Wi. Columha araucana, Lesson, Voy. Coquillc, I, p. 706 (1820). Columha fleuist'a, Tkmm PI. Col. IV (liv. 86, about 1830). Columha Fitzroj/i, KiNO, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 92 (1828). V Voy. Coquille, Ois. Plate XL ; Temm. PI. Col. 502. A handsome and abundant bird of Chili, and of other countries of Western South America, of which numerous specimens are in the collection of the £xpeuition. R A S R E S. 255 2. Genus CARPOPHAGA, Selby, Naturalist's Library, Orn. V, p. 112 (1835). 1. CaRPOPUAGA novae ZEALANDIiE {Otnelin). Columha novae zeakmdice, Gm. Syst. Nut. I, p. 773 (1788). Columba spadUea el zealandicu, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, p. 003, and Supp. p. 60 (1790, 1801). Columha leucogastra, Wao^BR, Syst. Av. (not paged, 1827). Columha argelraea, FoRSTER, Deso. An. p. 80 (1844). Knip & Prev. Pig. II, Plate I ; Reichenbach, Vollst. Naturg. Birds, Plate CXXXVIII, fig. 1286, Plate CCCVII, fig. 2480. Specimens of this magnificent Pigeon are in the collection of the Expedition, and were obtained in New Zealand. On examination and close comparison with others in Mr. Gould's collection in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, from Australia and Norfolk Island, we can detect no differences sufficient, in our estimation, to induce a sus- picion that there is any specific distinction, though the New Zealand bird has been regarded as distinct by eminent and reliable ornitholo- gists. All the specimens to which we allude are, in our judgment, of one species only, and we regard all the names above given as syno- nymes. This fine species is the type of the genus Hemiphaga, established by the Prince Bonaparte in his Monograph in Conspectus Avium, II, p. 38. It is probably a subgeneric form, only of the genus Garpopliaga. Mr. Peale remarks in reference to this bird : " The Cucupyi, or Virgin, as this beautiful Pigeon is called by the natives, was observed in great numbers in the woody districts of the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. We never saw it alight on the ground, but observed that it preferred the hilly country and the dense foliage of the tall forest trees for its retreat. " The sexes differ but little from each other, the males being a trifle the larger, and more brilliant in golden and copper reflections. A female measured nineteen and one-eighth inches in length, and thirty- *4| 256 ORNITHOLOGY. two ftnd a half inches across the wings; irides, bill, and feet, lake-red, the tip of the bill orange color, shaded gradually into the red." Dr. Pickering also mentions having frequently noticed this bird : " generally solitary in the deep woods and high up among the branches. It did not appear to be very readily procured, though much sought for as a delicacy for the table." 2. Carpopdaga AURORiE, Hale. Carpophaga aurorir, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. ViDoennes, Birds, p. 201 (Ist ed. 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXIV. Adult male and female. Supra saturate'Coerttlea, metalico viriiU mlcante. Capite, collo, corpore- que infra pallide cinereia ; crissis saturf Pigeons, an-' is probably peculiar to the Society Islands, R A S R E S. 261 The dedication of this fine species to Captain Charles Wilkes, of the United States Navy, under whose command the voyage of the Explor- ing Expedition was performed, we regard as a just and suitable testi- monial to the valuable services to science of that distinguished officer. Our plate represents this bird about two-thirds of the size of life. 4. Cabpophaga latrans, Rale. CarpophcKja latrans, Peale, Zoology, Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 200 (Ist ed. 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXVI. Adults. Cauda supra vuhrchfusca. Corpore supra saturate fusco, capite et collo cinereis. Corpore i»fra cinereo-vinaceo, abdomine saturatiore, crissls flavescenti fuscis. Lony. tot. IQ poUices. Form. — Large, about the size of G. cinerojcea (Temm.). Bill rather long and slender (without a frontal protuberance, in the specimens here described) ; wing moderate ; third primary longest ; tail rather long, truncate, or slightly emarginate, containing fourteen feathers ; legs short ; tarsus feathered for more than half its length, and show- ing in front three broad scales; toes much flattened on their uiider surface ; hind toe, with a row of bristles on each side of the central row of scales throughout its length. Claws strong, curved, flattened. Dlmensions. — Male. Total length, from tip of bill to end of tail (of skin), about sixteen inches; wing, nine and a half inches ; tail, seven inches ; bill, to the corner of the mouth, one and a half inches ; tarsus, one and one-eighth of an inch. Colors. — Male. Tail above, glossy reddish-brown (or liver-brown) ; below much lighter, with a fine glaucous cast. Head and back ciiie- reous, tinged with reddish ; other upper parts dark-brown, glossy. Neck before, and breast, ashy purple (or vinaceous), which color blends into light reddish fulvous on the abdomen ; inferior tail-coverts pale jellov/ish-brown or tawny, every feather darker at its base, and delicately mottled and punctated with brown. Quills brownish-black, ft ■ i''t4 262 ORNITHOLOGY. tinged with ashy on their outer webs, and with their inner webs edged with deep rufous at their bases, most conspicuous seen from below. Inferior coverts of the wings dark rufous. Bill black ; " irides lake- red; eyelids carmine-red ; feet lake-red" (Peale). Female, rather lighter on the upper parts ; head and neck somewhat darker. Hab. — Feejee Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. This beautiful Pigeon is more nearly related to Carpophaga cine- racea (Temm. PI. Col. 563), than to any other species which has come under our notice. It does not, however, resemble that species to such an extent as to justify any suspicion of their identity, and the colors of the present bird, especially the fine brown of the tail, are sufficiently characteristic. Like the preceding two species, it .properly belongs to the typical genus Carpopharja. Mr. Peale observes : " This species was us'ially found in lofty forest trees with dense foliage, and bearing a fruit on which it feeds. Its voice is quite pecu- liar, consisting of a puflingblow, not unlike that uttered by a strutting turkey, followed by a whoo-wlux), at short intervals, sounding like the Ijarking of a dog, for which reason we have given the specific naine Jafrans. The native name appears somewhat similar, vhdiu being the Feejee for bird, and mmo, an imitation of its note. We did not see it anywhere but in mountainous districts of the Feejee Islands." Dr. Pickering also mentions the peculiar note of this species : " by which," he says, " I have repeatedly been deceived for a moment, mis- taking it for the barking of a small dog." According to him, it is cumraon in the deep woods of the Fecjees, and its note was h^ard in some localities almost constantly. This is another of the large and handsome Pigeons, in the discovery of which, the naturalists of the Exploring Expedition were peculiarly successful and fortunate. These discoveries are not only intrinsically of the highest interest, but afford an indication of the results to be obtained from the zoological exploration of the many islands in the Pacific Ocean, a portion only of which have as yet been investigated with that degree of attention which they deserve, by the naturalists of the present and a few other Expeilitions. There is no more inte- resting zoological, and especially ornithological region in the world, *? * R A S R E S. 263 than that comprising the numerouB islands and groups of islands to which we allude. This bird is represented in the plate of our Atlas, above cited, about three-fourths of the natural size. . 5. Carpophaga microcera {Bcmaparte). Glohicera microcera, BoNAP. Consp. Av. II, p. 31 (1854). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXIX. Adult. In the collection of the Expedition s.re severnl specimens from the Samoan or Navigator Islands, which appear to be this species. They are in mature plumage and good preservation, and constantly present the characters indicated in the Prince Bonaparte & description, espe- cially the uniform vinaceous coloring of the under parts of the body, and the deep chestnut of the under tail-coverts. This bird is evidently nearly related to Columba glohicera, Waaler, described also by Forster in Desc. An. p. 166. It has the appendage attached to the cere at the base of the bill, larger than would be in- ferred from Bonaparte's specific name, and probably nearly equal to that of any other species of this group. In this respect, the name microcera, is not entirely appropriate. This species appears to be restricted to the Samoan Islands, and is alluded to by Mr. Peale under the name Carpophaya oceanica, from which, however, it is quite distinct. In rekrence to this bird, Mr. Peale gives the following interesting particulars : " At the Samoan Islands, particularly Upolu, we saw this species in great abundance ; the woods abounded with them wherever fruit or berries occurred ; they were exceedingly ftit, and afforded us many delicious meals. At Tongatabu, we saw them, but jiot in such great numbers ; and again, a few were seen at the Ouke of York's Island. *' While crossing the Island of Upolu, we now and then saw little thatched houses of only four or five feet elevation, by six or seven long, which were built in open spaces on mountain promontories, and we were informed had been constructed as blinds or places of conceal- ment, from which 'Lupis wei*e caught with arrows. if n < "'i. Ml f. p 'I 11 %] ii.' ■''««.,.,; i ■■ a' ■*«, 264 ORNITHOLOGY. " The bows used for this purpose are short, not more than three or four feet long, but the arrows are six or seven feet, made of light cane, and having four pointed and barbed pieces of hard wood in- serted at the end, with their barbs pointing inwards ; these being slightly elastic, and wide enough between the points to receive the body of a Lupi, which is about the size of a domestic pigeon ; when the arrow is discharged from the bow, the chances are in favor of the bird being caught be- tween the points, and held there until taken out alive. " Much time is devoted to capturing and taming this beau- tiful species of Pigeon, which may be seen in almost every house, and even in their canoes, where perches are erected expressly for it. It is generally kept clean and in good condition. " The process of taming a wild bird occupies much time, and is accomplished by connecting the two feet by a hopple, made of fine cord wrapped with tap)a so as not to hurt it, which is joined to a cord twenty or thirty yards long, the opposite end of which is fastened to a perch. The bird is then thrown up, and flying to the length of the cord, is gently jerked back; the violence of the jerk being propor- tioned to the necessary discipline. The operation appears painful, and the distressed pupil is kept flying until it dis- covers that there is no resting-place but its master's hand or the perch. It soon gains confidence, and not being allowed to receive any food but chewed taro, or breadfruit from its master's mouth, becomes very tame. " While in port at the Samoan Islands, our ships were constantly surrounded by the canoes of the natives, in many of which roosts wore stuck up, and pigeons perched on them ; they had cords fastened to their feet, though they seldom attempted to fly, all appearing to be on the most familiar terms with their owners, who could seldom be induced to part with their pets. Doves {Ptilinopus fascUiUm), were frequently seen domesti- cated by the natives in the same manner, but they were not in as per- fect discipline, or so highly valued. " An average-sized male, killed at Upolu, was sixteen and a half inches long, by twenty-nine inches extent of wings. A female was fifteen and three-fourths inches long, and twenty-eight inches in extent across the wings. RASORES. 265 " The knob, or caruncle over the nostrils, was not seen rounded in the form figured by MM. Lesson and Garnot, in the Zoological Atlas to the Voyage of the CoqulUe, PI. XLI, but more in the form of the outline below the description of G. aurorce, which was sketched from a living specimen." According to Dr. Pickering, this species was common in the Islands of Tutuila, Upolu, and Savai, of the Samoan or Navigator Group. The knob at the base of the bill in this bird is not so greatly de- veloped as in some other species, at least this is the case in the speci- mens now before us, from the collection of the Expedition. This appendage occurs in several species of the group of fruit-eating Pigeons, and is we suspect, :..ot only peculiar to, or largest in the male bird, but also most observable at the commencement of the season of incu- bation, like the appendages on the head and neck, or wattles, of the turkey. The adult male of this species is represented in our plate rather smaller than the natural size. Ju^i SAMOAS PIOEOV ROOST. 6. Carpophaga bicolor (Scoiwll). Columba bkolor, Scop. Flor. et Faun. Insub. 11, p. 94 (1786). Varpophaija casta, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Vincennes, Birds, p. 204 'flrst edition, 1848).* * " IlcaJ, neck, body, half of the tail, wing-covcrts above and beneath, scapulars and tertiaries, of a delicate cream-color while the bird is living, but whioh changes to white in the dried skins. Spurious wings, primaries and secondaries, pure black, with black 07 ■^ Tilt H$^\ 26ft ORNITHOLOGY, Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXVIII. Adult male. Scopoli names this species in his Catalogue of the Animals described and figured in Sonnerat's Voyage to China and the East Indies ;* which catalogue is in Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae II, Pt. II p.- 84 (1786, Folio). His description is, however, scarcely sufficient to identify the species without Sonnerat's Plate (Voyage, vol. Ill, PI. CIII), which he evidently, in mistake, cites as representing his Co- lumba myrMeicora, omitting entirely the citation of any Plate of Son- nerat for the present bird. Columlm myristidvora, Scopoli, is repre- sented in Sonnerat's Plate CII, of vol. Ill ; Golumha hicolor, Scopoli, is Plate CIII, of the same volume ; and it will be found that Scopoli had already in his Catalogue cited " Plate CII," without mentioning the volume as Golumha chinensis, but that species is represented in Plate CII, of vol. II, to which he evidently meant to refer. This error, though it has led to confusion respecting the species described, is not important, so far as relates to the identification of the present bird, the colors of which being so easily found to agree with the de- scription and figure as to be immediately recognized. This species much resembles the Australian Carpoplimja luctuosa (Temm.), Gould's Birds of Australia, V, PI. LX, but differs in being rather smaller, and in the ventral region and under coverts of the tail being pure white, and not spotted with black as in G. luctuosa. It has, moreover, fourteen feathers in the tail instead of twelve, as in that species ; a character which, though very remarkable and liable ■ to be mistaken in prepared specimens, is constant in numerous speci- mens of both species now before us, including several from Mr. Gould's Australian collection. shafts; second quill longest; tail slightly rounded, consisting of fourteen feathers, the middle six black half way from their extremities; the others have the black gradually narrower, the outer two being merely tipped ; they are margined with black on their outer webs nearly to the body. Bill, eyelids, and feet pale blue; tip of the bill and claws black; irides brown. Male. " Total length, sixteen and one-half inches ; extent of wings, twenty-nine and one- fourth inches ; wings, from the carpal joint, ten and one-fourth inches ; tail, five and one- half inches; tarsi, one and three-twentieths of an inch; middle toe, including the claw, one and eight-tenths of an inch ; claw, one-half of an inch ; bill, nine-tenths of an inch ; from the corner of the mouth one and one-half inches." * "Specimen Zoologicum exhibens chaructores Genericos et specificos, necnon Nomina rriviulia novorum Animalium, quae Clarissimus Sonnerat, in China et iu Indiis orieu- talil)u.s nupcr detexit." Scopoli's Title, as above. R A S R E S. 267 Of the present bird one specimen in the collection of the Philadel- phia Academy is labelled as coming from the Island of Amboina. Others are without labels. A single specimen, in excellent plumage and preservation, in the collection of the Expedition, and represented in our plate, is from the Sooloo Islands. Mr. Peale's account of this bird is as follows : " This chaste and beautiful Pigeon was seen in large flocks near the town of Soung, the capital of the Sooloo Islands. The specimen from which our drawing was made, was killed on an island nearly opposite to Soung, where we found them, during the heat of the day, sitting quietly amongst the dense foliage of large trees bearing a fruit having the appearance of olives, but smaller. With this fruit their ciops were filled, and the birds were in excellent condition. Their voice is a tremulous and continued coo ; their flight rapid and dodging, like the domestic pigeons." This species belongs to the group to which Reichenbach has given the generic name Myristicivora, adopted in Bonaparte's Monograph (Consp. Av. II, p. 36). The regarding of this bird as identical with G. luctuosa, is an error into which that distinguished author has fallen with others, on account of the obscurity of Scopoli's description and citations of plates above alluded to, and his synonyms are conse- quently erroneous. We may also take the liberty of saying that . " the citations of plates of the Atlas to Mr. Peale's volume, given in Consp. A' ., vol. II, are also erroneous, because such Atlas never was published, nor were many of the plates engraved, until during the j^iuparation of the present volume. The Prince Bonaparte cites the plates without having seen them, as given in Mr. Peale's text. This bird is assuredly not that represented either in " Knip. Pig. II, t. 40," nor "Gould, Austr. V, t. 60," but is, notwithstanding, we think, the true Coi • mba bicolor, Scopoli. i*5 ■' ■■(;. < >J3 Our figure of this species is about three-fourths of the size of life, and represents the adult m«i«e. ^« 7. Carpophaga Pickeringii, Cassin. Carpnpharja PlrJceri'nffi'i, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada. VII, p. 228 (1854). Carjpophaija chalj/bura, Bonaparte, Comptes RenduB, 1854, p. 1074? Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXVII. Adult. 268 ORNITHOLOGY. Form. — About the size of G. cenea. No frontal knob ; bill moderate, rather slender; wings with the second and third quills longest, and nearly equal ; tail rather long, consisting of fourteen feathers ; legs moderate, or rather strong ; upper half of tarsus feathered ; lower half presenting in front three or four wide, transverse scales. Claws strong, compressed, curved. Dimensions. — Total length about fifteen and one-half inches; wing, nine and one-half inches ; tail, nine and one-half inches. Colors. — Under coverts of the tail light cinereous. Head, neck, and entire under parts purplish, cinereous, or vinaceous, darker, and with the purple most distinct on the top of the head, the breast, and the abdomen, the cinereous mingling gradually with the darker color of the back, which, with the rump, wings, and tail, are dark, ashy brown, with a green, metallic lustre, most brilliant on the tail. Under wing-coverts light cinereous ; under surface of the tail light glaucous, ashy. Bill and feet light-colored. Had. — Mangsi, Sooloo Islands. Spec, in Coll. Exp. Exp. Wash- ington City. This is a species resembling Carpopliaga cenea, a well-known bird of the large islands of the Malay Archipelago, and intimately allied to it in general characters. It differs, however, in having the under tail- coverts light cinereous, instead of dark chestnut ; the wings and tail are longer, and in size it appears to be rather larger. It is possible, also, that it is the bird described by the Prince Bonaparte as Carpo- phaga chalybura, as above cited, but does not present the characters relied on by that distinguished author, and comes from a different group of islands. The only specimens of this bird that we have ever seen, are in the collection of the Expedition, and are from the Sooloo Islands. We have represented the adult male in our plate rather smaller than the natural size. Mr. Peale observes with reference to this species : " This species was seen in abundance at Mangsi, one of the Sooloo Islands. Its cry is a single Iioot, repeated at intervals ; and when our R A S C R E S. 269 specimens were collected, in the month of January, they did not pre- sent any appearance of a knob on their bills. The irides are red; the bill is black, with a light blue tip ; the feet are dirty lake-red. " We found this bird generally amongst the thick foliage of the various species of Flctis, and other fruit trees." This bird is named in honor of Charles Pickering, M.D., one of the naturalists of the Exploring Expedition, and now highly distinguished as an American Zoologist. In addition to the valuable volumes of the series of the Expedition of which he is author. Dr. Pickering has contributed much of high interest to our present work, and which we have transferred from his manuscript journal, by his permission, most cheerfully and promptly given. 8. Genus PTILINOPUS, Swainson, Zool. Jour. I, p. 473 (1825). 1. Ptilinopus purpuratus {Omelin). Cblumba purpurata, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 784 (1788). Columba kurukuru, Bonnaterre, Ency. Meth. p. 240 (1st ed. 1790). Columba lailensia, Less. Zool. Coquille, Ois. I, p. 297 (1826). Ptilinopus furcatus, Pbale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 191 (Ist ed, 1848).* Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXX. Adult male and female. Excellent specimens of this very handsome species are in the col- * " General form rounded ; head, neck, and breast cinereous, tinged with green ; the bases of the feathers lead-color ; the tips oi those on the breast bifurcate ; a pale purple spot reaches from the bill to the vertex ; irides dark orange ; feet dusky purple ; back, rump, and wing-ooverts bronze-green ; wings blue, with green reflections ; plumbeous beneath ; the first quill six-tenths of an inch shorter than the others, and almost even throughout its length, or regularly narrowing towards the tip ; shafts black ; secondaries edged with palo yellow ; belly olive-green ; vent and under tail-coverts sulphur-yellow ; tail blue-green, with golden reflections ; a cinereous spot in each feather, near the tip (in somo specimens, it forms a distinct cinereous band) ; under parts of the tail plumbe> ous, with a cinereous terminal baud. " Total length nine and one-half inches ; tail three and four-tenths inches ; bill four- tenths of an inch ;. tarsi one inch ; extent of wings sixteen and three-fourths inches. Male. Killed in September. " The females vary but little from the males ; they are less brilliant in plumage, and have the same frontal spot, and the cinereous band on the tail." (Peale, as above.) 68 W;%\ 270 ORNITHOLOGY. lection of the Expedition, and were obtained in the Island of Tahiti. The difference between the sexes consists in the rather smaller size and less vivid colors of the female, though their general appearance is very similar. Mr. Pealo observes of this bird : " The voice of this species is a simple coocoo-coo, uttered slowly, at regular intervals, and is much softer than that of the Coral Island Dove. It is not so sprightly in its movements, and the forked tail immediately distinguishes it from all others. It delights in sitting on some dead branch, in the shady recesses of the woods, most commonly one overhanging a path in moist ground." This is the species properly entitled to the name Cdlnmba jnirjni- rata. It was first described by Latham, in Synopsis of Birds, II, pt. 11, p. G26, " from a specimen from Otaheite." Gmelin merely gave the scientific appellation, as above, on the faith of Latham's descrip- tion ; and, it is a matter of no consequence what errors may have been made subsequently by authors, or however inconvenient those may have been found by their successors, this name ought to stand good for this species and no other. The investigation of tlie group of Pigeons of this genus is undoubtedly sufficiently difficult on account of the resemblance of the species to each other, but naturalists have much increased it by hastily adopting names or applying new ones. To such extent, in fact, have these been practised in this group, that we have been almost inclined to despair of any approximation to success in an attempt to unravel the intricacies of the nomenclature of the few species in the collection of the Expedition. We feel rather well assured, however, that no author that we have yet met with has accomplished anything very considerable towards bringing together the synonyms, or in establishing the correct names in this group, and are by no means certain that the matter is improved at all by the Prince Bonaparte, in his late Monograph in Conspectus Avium. The original description of this bird is by Latham, as stated above, in General Synopsis of Birds, II, p. 626, in which he states explicitly, " this was described from a specimen from Otaheite." It is true that this author falls into error immediately when he says : " but I find of these birds great varieties, according to the diflerent islands from which they are brought, for they inhabit the whole of the Pacific Ocean within the tropics," but his description applies exactly to the R A S U E S. 271 present species. Oinolin's description also applies sufficiently well to this bird, and his mingling or confounding several species together, as varieties, does not, in the smallest degree, invalidate the application of his name to the species clearly indicated by Latham. 2. PxiLINOrUS FASCIATUS, Pbale. Ptllinopus fascHilHt, Pbalk, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Vinoennes, Birds, p. 193 (first edition, UiS)* Atlas, Ornithology, Plato XXXl. Adult male and female. Knip & Provost's Pigeons, II, Plato XXXIV. This bird, long known to naturaliatH, has been erroneously regarded as Columha pnrpurahiy Cunelin. It is figured in Knip and Prevost's Pigeons, II, PI. XXXIV, and is carefully and accurately described by them, and by Temminek, in Hist. Nat. des Pigeons et des Gallinaces, I, p. 280 (1813). With Temminek the error originated, the name, Columha purjmraht, having boon first applied by him to this species in his work, to which wo have roferrod, but which is properly appli- cable to the bird known aa hUhtopm (aiiensis, as can readily be ascer- tained on examination of the original description by Latham, in Synop- sisof Birds, II, pt. II, p. 020. Gmolin, apparently, merely gave the name parpurata on the faith of Latham'.s description, as stated in the preced- ing article. Notwithstanding that l)oth the present species and Plilinopus tai- * " General form rounded ; n rich purple spot reaching from the crown to the bill, slightly margined with yoUow ; head, nook, and breast cinereous (in young birds pale green), with a purple bar, fading into the yellow of the vent feathers, which are black at the base, and whito uonr tho tips. Rack and rump bronze-green ; wings and tail above clear golden-grcon ; tho scapulars and secondaries slightly edged with yellow ; under parts of tho wings and tail plumbeous ; quill-shafts black ; the web of the first primary very narrow at tho tip ; tail rounded ; feathers blue-green, with golden reflec- tions on the outer wob, black on tho inner, and tipped with yellow above, yellowish- white beneath ; shafts black ; lojjs covered with olive-green feathers ; feet dirty-lake ; bill cmerald-greon ; iridos yoUow. " Tclal length nino and ono-fourth inches ; extent of wings sixteen and one-fourth incb:^9; winps, from tho carpal joint, five and four-tenths inches; tail three and one- tentl inel':>; tarsi nino-tanths of an incli ; bill one-half an inch; to the angle of the moutL nluet'ion-twontiuths of au iuuh. Male." (Peale, as above.) mm J!*'-'*' \ « \'^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I l&ilM |25 IL25 iU Ii4 Sciences Corporation ¥l \ v V <> <(^ 6^ 33 WEST MAIN STRUT ♦(VSP'TMA.Y. U5M (y)>)t72-4S03 i f ■pp^p^i 272 ORNITHOLOGY. tends have been known to naturalists since the time of Latham and Gmelin, it doea rot appear that any name has been given to the former until described as a new discovery by Mr. Peale. as above cited. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are from the Samoan Islands. Our plate represents both sexes of this species of the size of life. In allusion to the present and other species of Doves which inhabit the Samoan Islands, Mr. Peale observes in his article on this bird : " The females vary but little from the males, being generally smaller, and not quite so brilliant in color. The young birds are entirely green until the fii-st moult. " The natives of the Samoan or Navigator's Group enumerate three Doves of this genus, inhabiting their islands; the most common is the Manvrtagi or Manu-tangi, \vhicb, in English, means crying-bird, and is described above ; the next, called Manu-rua, is about the same size, but entirely green. Having had the misfortune to lose our specimens by the wreck of the U. S. Ship Peacock, we are unable to give a draw- ing or further description of it. The third species is called Manu-ma, or shame-bird, and is the one we have called La Perouse's Dove. " The Manii-rua is not uncommon at the Island of Upolu." According to Mr. Peale, the Mantt-tagi (which is the bird now before us), is so called by the Samoans '' from its plaintive and distressiul note." As stated above, this bird is well known to naturalists. It has had undoubtedly other names given to it since the publication of Mr. Peale's description, above cited, and possibly before, but we cannot pretend, at present, to ascertain the synonymy of this species. Such an investigation would involve the examination of, and, in fact, a complete study of this entire group, many of the species of which intimately resemble each other, and have been constantly mistaken by authors. Our plate has been carefully prepared, and fairly repre- sents both sexes of this species. 3. Ptilinopus cokalensis, Peale, Plillnopu* coralennt, Feale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 190 (first edition, 1848). R A S B E S. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXII. Adult ? 273 Capitis fertile macula magna purpurea, flavo marginata. Chrpore supra aiiruto-viridi, capite, coUo et pectore viridescenti cinereis, ahd quently alighting on bushes." Like numerous other birds of the family of Pigeons and Doves, that described by Linnaeus as Columba mhuda, has been mistaken by authors, and confused with other species. The present bird, as stated by Mr. Peale, is of common occurrence on the western coast of South America, and is not rare in collections. It is undoubtedly the species designated by the Prince Bonaparte as above cited, though intimately related to others inhabiting various countries of South America. 8. Genus PLEIODUS, Reichenhach, loon. Av. Syn. (1847). 1. Pleiodus stbigirostris (Jardine). Reich. Neue. Vog. New Holl. II, p. 168. Gnathodon strigiroitris, Jardinb, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. XVI, p. 174 (1845). Didunculut tlrigiroslrit, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 209 (Ist ed. 1848). iA 280 ORNITHOLOGY. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXIV. Adult male. Gray, Gen. of Birds, II, Plate OXX; Reich. Vollst. Naturg. Colum- bidro, Plate CLXXVI, fig. 1528. Beichenbach, in " Die Neuendeckten Vogel Neu-hollands," II, p. 158, claims to have founded his genus Pleiodtis, on this very remark- able bird, in the Synopsis to his Icones Avium, in 1847. The latter, in which he gives a figure, well representing this bird, rather unfortu- nately bears no date, but as this distinguished author distinctly avows his claim and affirms the fact of prior publication, we see no reason that his veracity should be impeached, or that his name should not be adopted. The generic name, Oimthodon, proposed by Jardine, as above cited, was previously employed in another department of Natural His- tory, and Peale's name, Didunculus, was published in the first edition of the present volume, in 1848. We have, therefore, adopted Pleiodua. This is one of the most remarkable birds, the existence of which have been made known in the present century, and although it cannot properly be regarded as a discovery made by the Expedition, in the Vincennes and Peacock, yet, its proper locality was determined, and Mr. Peale has given some interesting particulars in relation to it, which will be inserted in our present article. It was first described by Sir Will ardine, as above cited, in 1845, from a collection purchased in tk. .^ity of Edinburgh, and containing mainly Australian species, which circumstance induced its describer to regard it as pro- bably a bird of that island. It is also given by Mr. Gould, in his great work on the birds of Australia, above cited. This bird is especially interesting on account of its affinity to several extinct species, such as the Dodo and others, now to be regarded as having, very probably, belonged to the family of Pigeons. At the time of its first having been brought to the attention of naturalists, it was the only species of its family showing such relationship, which must now, however, very probably, be shared with the curious species from the Marquesas Islands, described by the Prince Bonaparte, in the Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1856, p. 401, PI. XVIII, and named by him Serrisius galeatus. Of this extraordinary bird, two specimens are in the collection of the Expedition, both of which are in sufficiently good preservation to fairly represent the species. Mr. Peale's observations are as follows : R A S R E S. 281 " This bird formerly abounded in the Island of Upolu, one of the Samoan Islands, but now it is considered a rare species by the natives, and one which will be entirely destroyed in the course of a few years, if the same causes exist which are now operating to their destruction. They build their nests and pass most of the time on the ground, and flush like Partridges or Grouse, with a whirring sound, produced by their wings. Their food is mostly fruit, including a species of fig, growing in the mountainous regions which they inhabit. The tree called oica by the natives {Ficue prolixa? of botanists), producing the fig, is repre- sented in our plate with the bird ; it forms a remarkable feature in the Samoan scenery, its broad and ample branches spreading like umbrellas above all the other forest trees, many of which are gigantic, although covered, in a measure, by these enormous canopies. The trunks of the owa trees are little forests in themselves ; that from which our sketch was made measured one hundred and two feet in diameter, and about the same from the ground to the main branches. " The natives of the Samoan Islands, who spend much of their time indolently, are fond of pets, which are mostly Pigeons or Doves, their islands not affording suitable quadrupeds. A. few years since a passion arose for cats, and they were obtained by all possible means from the whale ships visiting the islands, were much esteemed for a while, until the other pets were devoured by them ; after which, PusHy (a name generally adopted by the Polynesians for cats), not liking yams and taro, the principal food of the islanders, preferred Manu-mea, and took to the mountains in pursuit of them. There the cats have multiplied, and become wild, and live upon our Didunculm, or little Dodo, the Manu-mea of the natives, which, it is believed, will, in a very few years, cease to be known, excepting by the miserable fragments now deposited in the National Museum, in the City of Washington, unless some more lucky collectors get them better than we did. They are, however, more perfect than the remains of the great Dodo {Didua inept^is, of Linnaeus), which are preserved in the Ashmolean and British Museums. We were enabled by great labor to obtain three specimens, one of which was lost by the wreck of our ship, the other two, deposited as stated, are male and female, but badly preserved. "At Tahiti, the Garnet-winged Pigeon {Columha erythroptera, of Latham), waa said to abound ; they have, in like manner, been de- stroyed by cats introduced by early navigators, and since become wild, though retaining their varied colors like those domesticated. 71 Til li I 282 ORNITHOLOGY. The Pigeons or Doves are now almost unknown, and the cats are driven to the necessity of feeding on lizards." This bird seems to have escaped the attention of voyagers, and its habits or history is yet but imperfectly known. In a communication by J. H. Gurney, Esq., of London, published in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, for May, 1852, there are some valuable and interesting particulars, derived by that eminent patron of zoologi- cal science from Lieut, the Hon. F. Walpole, of the Royal Navy. According to Lieut. Walpole, this bird is usually found in pairs or small flocks, the largest of which, seen by him, contained nine speci- mens, and is not strictly terrestrial in its habits, but was constantly seen perching on trees or flying. Its flight is limited " to a transit from wood to wood," and, " though inferior to that of most Pigeons, is of the same swooping and continuous character." The food of specimens examined was found to consist of the berries of a species of ash, which abounded in the localities frequented by this bird, though it is intimated that it also, very probably, obtains roots or other food by scratching. In the breeding season, it is stated, it retires to the interior of the islands, "where it nests amongst the rocks." Though this gentleman did not observe the nest nor the eggs, he states that " the young are naked and helpless." The male is larger than the female, and uoes not attain to full plumage until the second year. This bird, according to Lieut. Walpole, is tamed by the Samoan Islanders in the same manner as other species of Pigeons. The figure in our plate is rather smaller than the natural size. HEAD OF PLEI0DD8 STRI0IR08TRIS. R A S R E S. 283 2. Family TETRAONIDJE.— The Grouse, Partridges, and Quails. 1. Gknub TETRAO, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 2'3 (1706). 1. Tetrao umbellus, Linnaeus. — The Ruffed Grouse. The American Pheasant. Tetrao umbellui, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 275 (1766). Tetrao logatun, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 275 (1766). Tetrao umbelloidei, DouaiiAS, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XVI, p. 148 (1828) ? Buff. PI. Enl. 104 ; Wils. Am. Orn. VI, Plate aLIX ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate XLI ; Oct. ed. V, Plate CCXCIII. This species is mentioned by both Dr. Pickering aud Mr, Peale, as having been observed in Oregon, but unfortunately no specimens are preserved in the collection. This circumstance is the more to be regretted, as an opportunity would have been presented of comparing specimens from the opposite sides of the continent. The species inha- biting Oregon has been named umbelloides, by the celebrated traveller, Douglas, and differences, apparently quite sufficient to establish specific distinction, have been pointed out, in the journal above cited. The most important character is the larger size of the western bird ; " the northern bird" (obtained in Canada), he says, "is constantly one-third smaller." Dr. Pickering mentions this bird under date of the 22d of May, at Puget Sound, Oregon : " In specimens of Tetrao umhelhia, obtained here, I can see no mate- rial difference from the Ruffed Grouse of the United States. But the bird here appears to be much more arboreal in its habits, and is fre- quently to be observed in the tops of trees, which is very rarely the case, I believe, with the eastern bird. Iris brown ; wings concave, and quite short." Mr. Peale states : " Observed in abundance near the Columbia River, but not south of the Elk Mountains, lying north of the Umpqua River. It is subject 284 ORNITHOLOGY. to the same variations of plumage on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, which have been observed on the Atlantic coast; some specimens have the rump and tail gray, while others have those paits of a rich ferruginous'bro wn ." 2. Tetrao obscurus, Say. — The Blue Grouse. The Dusky Grouse. Tetrao olscuruK, Say, Long's Exp. II, p. 14 (1823). Tetrao Richardsonii, DouQ. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XVI, p. 141 (1828). Bonap. Am. Orn. Ill, Plate XVIII ; Rich. & Sw. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, Plate LIX, LX ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLXI ; Oct. ed. V, Plate CCXCV. This is strictly a western species, or, perhaps more properly, north- western, being best known as a bird of Oregon. Several specimens are in the collection of the Expedition, in which, however, we observe no characters other than have been given by previous writers. Under date of 27th of May, at Puget's Sound, Oregon, we find in Dr. Pickering's Journal, the following memorandum : " The Dusky Grouse, Tetrao obscurus, is not uncommon, and is mostly seen in the spruce trees. Loose skin on the side of the neck in the male, yellow. The nest is said to have been found on the ground, by the side of a small stream, but I did not see the eggs." Mr. Peale observes : " Common in Oregon, wherever coniferous evergreens occur, from the Rocky Mountains to the coast, and from Puget's Sound to the northern confines of California, but in this regfon is not so abundant south of the Umpqua River." 3. Tetrao phasi • nellus, Linnaeus. — The Sharp-tailed Grouse. Tetrao phaiianellw, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 273 (1766). Tetrao urophatianelluiy Doua. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XVI, p. 136 (1828). Bonap. Am. Orn. Ill, Plate XIX ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLXXXII ; Oct. ed. V, Plate CCXCVIII. R A S R E S. 285 Dr. Pickering notices this species as occurring in Oregon. " It appears to be partial," he says, " to grassy flats along the rivers and other streams, and is sometimes started up in company with Curlews and other waders. In flight, it makes a whirring noise." 4. Tetrad canadensis, lAnnaeua. — The Canada Grouse. Tetrm canadensis, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 274 (1766). Tefrao Franklinii, Douai.. Trans. Linn. Soo. London, XVI, p. 139 (1828). Bufl^. PI. Enl. 131, 132 ; Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, Plate LXI, LXII ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CLXXVI ; Oct. ed. V, Plate CCXCIV. Dr. Pickering also mentions a bird under this name, but with a question, indicating doubt as to the species. It inhabits, he states, spruce trees, in the more mountainous parts of Oregon. We find no specimens in the collection. 5. Tetrad urophasianus, Bonaparte. — The Cock of the Plains. 7\etrao urophasianus, BoNAP. Zool. Jour. Ill, p. 213 (1828). Bonap. Am. Orn. Ill, Plate XXI ; Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, Plate LVIII; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLXXI; Oct. ed. V, Plate CCXCVII. This species, the largest of the American Birds of this group, is but rarely mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition. Its proper locality is perhaps more the interior of the country than was visited. Mr. Peale observes : " The plains on the Wallawalla River appear to be the western limit of this species, and although over much country south, which seemeJ. to us to be favorable to it, we did not see a ' Cock of the Plains' on our way into California. Our specimens were obtained at Wallawalla." Excellent specimens of this fine species are in the collection of the Expedition, in good preservation. This bird is now comparatively 72 286 ORNITHOLOGY. well known, and frequently brought in collections, generally, however, from localities east of the Rocky Mountains. Next to the Wild Tur- key, this is the largest game-bird of the United States. 2. Genus CALLIPEPLA, Wagkr, Isii, 1832, p. 277. 1. Callipepla califobnica {Shaw). — The California Partridge. Tetrao caKfomicu*, Shaw, Nat. Misc. IX (not paged, 1798). Shaw, Nat. Misc. JX, Plate CCCXLV ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCXVIII ; Oct. ed. V, Plate CCXC ; Gould, Mon. Odont. Plate XVI. ' This fine species is frequently mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition, and numerous specimens are in the collection. It may now be said to be well known as a bird of California, but, as the researches of few of the American travellers and naturalists have extended to Oregon, this bird has been but little noticed in its northern district, and the notes of Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale are, therefore, of especial value. The former mentions this bird as re- peatedly occurring, and sometimes in large numbers. His observa- tions are, however, substantially the same as those of Mr. Peale, which are as follows : " This beautiful species was first observed by the Expedition in the mountainous regions of Southern Oregon, near the forty-third degree of north latitude, which may be considered as about its furthest northern range. There the flocks were snioU, but, as we proceeded south, they continued to increase, and in California great numbers were seen daily. Several flocks or coveys unite in the autumn months, and delight in bushy flats, near the banks of streams. During our march through the Indian countries, north of California, we frequently observed them collecting at night to roost in trees. At such times, their call-note was plaintive, and had a slight resemblance to the words cutrcutrcut me too. " This bird is hardy. A few specimens were kept alive by tho members of the Expedition, and brought to the City of Washington by a route equal to the circumference of the earth, having crossed the B A S B E S. 287 Equator twice. They have since produced one brood of young, but which unfortunately all died. " The young birds are mottled with pale tawny and brown ; the head is tawny, with a dark brown stripe reaching from the crown down the back of the neck to the shoulders ; each of the wing-cqverts has a light-colored tip, and a stripe down the middle." This species is peculiar to the countries of Western North America, though we see no reason why it might not be readily naturalized in any portion of this continent within the same ranges of latitude. 2. Callipepla piota {Douglas). — The Plumed Partridge. Orttfxpkta, Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soo. London, XVI, p. 143 (1828). (?.-tenths of an inch ; nail one-tonth of an inch. Male." 7a 290 ORNITHOLOGY. Variety, Oallua taltiticue, nobis. The Cock domesticated in the Philippine Islands, and, as was ascer- tained by the naturalists of the Exploring Expedition in the Vincennes and Peacock, in the Island of Tahiti also, is the nearest approach to the Jungle Cock of India {Oallua Bankiva), of any of the numerous domesticated varieties that have come under our notice. It appears, in fact, to be quite unmixed with any other species, and differs only from the parent bird in being of larger size and in having the comb larger and more deeply serrated. All the colors are very nearly abso- lutely identical. In the collection of the Exped tion we find a well-characterized specimen from Tahiti, and in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, another, which was received in a collection of birds front the Philippine Islands, recently presented by Mr. William W. Wood, of Manilla, long an energetic and most valuable member. These two specimens are almost precisely identical with each other, and show the slight remove from the Gallus Bankiva, to which we allude. We regard it as very probable that the same variety inhabits other islands, possibly coincident with the diffusion of the Malay race. The fact which appears from Mr. Peale's memoranda given below, that this Cock has again become wild in Tahiti, is of high interest. If retaining in its wild state, the marks which we now consider as indicating a domesticated variety only, its claims to be considered as a distinct species would be an interesting and somewhat novel pro- blem. The specimens before us are quite different from the domesticated variety known in this country, amongst fanciers as " the Malay." Under usual circumstances, this bird would probably be regarded as a distinct species. We introduce with much satisfaction the following interesting notes on this Cock by Mr. Peale : " Fowls are found wild in the unfrequented parts of the Island of Tahiti, which appear to be specifically tlie same with those held in a state of domestication by the natives at the time of their discovery by Europeans, and continued to the present day. They are less subject to variations of plumage than the domesticated fowls, and are said to retain a wild spirit which is not easily subdued. The young hatched from the eggs of wild hens take to the woods as soon as they are old B A S R E S. 291 enough to leave their foster-mothers, and should a domefltic fowl wander a sufficient distance from the dwelling of its master to be heard or seen by the wild ones, a battle ensues, which is almost always fatal to it. " The Tahitians often take advantage of this belligerent propensity, to obtain a meal of tough poultry, by tying a cord six or eight feet long to the leg of a dunghill bully, and carrying him to the mountains at early dawn ; the tame cock crows and is answered by the wild one, and from notes of defiance they are led to join in combat. The Tahitian conceals himself, until by the noise of wings he feels assured the strife has commenced, when he comes to the rescue, and generally finds the cord has bound the combatants together. Any person who has seen a cockfight, will readily understand how this has taken place. The wild fowl instantly loses his head, and the tame one renews the conflict with the next wild one within hearing of his notes of defiance. " This variety may be indigenous to the group of Society Islands, as it differs in some respects from those of the Indian Ocean, but we cannot but believe them to be specifically the same, and that they were introduced by the Malayan forefathers of the present Tahitians. They give a collateral proof that such was the origin of the human race in Polynesia." As stated above, this bird is larger than any specimens of the Asiatic Jungle Cock (6r. Bankiva), that we have ever seen, but is of the same colors and general characters. It is either a peculiar and well-marked variety, or a distinct species. -:W HBADS OF 0ALLU8 BANKIVA AND TAHITICU8, (Smaller, Battkiva, larger, TaJiitkus.) 202 ORNITHOLOGY. 2. Oknos ARGUS, Temm. Pig. et Gallin. Ill, p. 678 (1815). 1. Argus giganteus, Temminck. — The Argus Pheasant. ArguM giganteui, Temm. Pig. et Oall. Ill, p. 678 (1815). Argui pavoninxu, Vieill. Oall. II, p. 19 (1825). Phatianut Argut, LiNN. Syat. Nat. I, p. 272 (1766). Vieill. Gal. des Ois. II, Plate CCIV; Lath. Gen. Hist. VIII, Plate CXX. Some of the finest specimens that we have ever seen of this magni- ficent bird, are in the collection of the Expedition. We introduce it, however, for the purpose of giving a note from Dr. Pickering's journal, made at Singapore, by which it appears that this bird is occasionally brought alive to that city. " Sometimes brought living," he says, " to this place, but did not appear to be much admired by my informants, one of whom pronounced it ' an ungainly bird.' " 4. Family STRUTHIONID^.— The Ostriches. 1. Genus RHEA, Moehring, Avium Genera, p. 57 (1752). 1. Rhea Americana, Latham. — The South American Ostrich. Rhea amertcana, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, p. 665 (1790). Struthio Rhea, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 266 (1766). Buffon, PI. Enl. 224. This bird is mentioned in Dr. Pickering's journal under date of February 2d, 1839, at which time the Expedition was at the Rio Negro, Patagonia. In addition to its frequent occurrence at that point being recorded, we find memoranda of an examination of a spe- cimen as follows : '' This specimen had a row of cilias or eyelashes on the upper lid, wmm R A SORES. 2f9 tongue very short and fleshy. Two caeca, excessively voluminous and convoluted, and of a greater diameter than the rectum, from which they arise about eight inches from the vent. Gizzard large, quite muscular, containing grasshoppers and other insects, some grass, small roots, and seeds, spikes of Sdrpi, &c., but no lizards nor other reptiles. " Two large external glands at base of throat, and a mass of glands at base of oesopkagtia. Plates of the tarsus both before and behind strongly defined, and reminded me of the ventral plates of a serpent. Well-defined plates also on the phalanges above. A young bird." We find no specimen in the collection of the Expedition. 74 n "' 'is hi • Tp*?* 294 ORNITHOLOGY. 4. Order GRALLATORES.— The Wading Birds. 1. Family ARDEID.X.— The Herons and Cranes. 1. Genus QRUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. (first edition, 1735, not paged). 1. Grus canadensis (Linn.). — The Sandhill Crane. Ariieii canadentii, LiNN. Syit. Nat. I, 284 (17G6). Crru«;)o/i'uj)Aa«a, Waolkr, SjBt. Av. (not paged, 1827). Edwards, Birds, III, Plate CXXXIII ; Aud. B. of Am., Plato CCLXI; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXIV. This species is mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition as occurring in vast numbers in Oregon and California, and appears to have constantly presented the cinereous plumage by which it is cha- racterized and distinguished from the larger Qri,^ americana. This fact is particularly alluded to by Mr. Peale, whose observations are given below. That the present bird and the species just mentioned are specifically identical, which was conjectured only by Wilson, but asserted by Audubon evidently with the most entire sincerity, is an idea which may now be regarded as no longer entertained, the testimony ui' all the many intelligent observers who have visited the western countries of North America being against it, unanimously. The full investiga- tion of Grus americana, especially in its immature stages of plumage, however, must yet be considered a service to be performed in North American Ornithology. We have never seen that species in young plumage, but it will possibly be found to be in some degree similar to that of the adult of the bird now before us, and quite possibly, too, Audubon may have figured the adult and young of the same species. Mr. Peale's observations on this point are of much interest. In Western North America thif? is an abundant species, migrating southward in the autumn, and attracting attention by the large num- bers in which it appears. Its proper home appears to be the immense regions of this continent north of the territory of the United States. ORALLATORES. 205 We introduce the foUo'wing observations on this bird by Mr. Peale : " This species was found in great numbers in the latter part of July on the prairies of Oregon, and was seen almost daily in our journey to California. It prefers moist open grounds, and roosts generally on small sand-bars in the rivers where convenient, but never, that we learned, on trees. We do not agree with Wilson or with Audubon, in believing the * Sandhill' and * Whooping Cranes' to be the young and old of the same species. If it were so, we would expect to find at least one old bird in many thousand individuals seen by our parties in Oregon and California, but we did not observe a single specimen of the Whooping Crane {Gnia americana), although the bird was known to several persons of whom we made inquiry, as a rare vinitor on that side of the Rocky Mountains. Sandhill Cranes or Storks {Gh'us cana- densis), were familiar to every person, being known to breed in the country, and are very abundant. Indians, fur traders, trappers, and persons living in the forests and prairies, arc prone to be observers of natural objects, and are, generally speaking, correct in their know- ledge of the larger animals of the country where they range. They consider these two birds as distinct species, and we have no reason to disagree with them. " Orus americana is the larger of the two species, and when young, we believe, is of a dusky ferruginous color, having seen it in both stages of plumage in the salt marshes of Florida, and ou the prairies of the Missouri, but it is not common near the coast of the Pacific Ocean, while on the contrary, the Grus canadensis abounds there." Dr. Pickering also gives some interesting notes on this bird. The following occurs in his journal kept in Oregon : " The Sandhill Crane is quite common here, and its nest has been found near our camp. The egg appears to me to be nearly double the size of that of a goose, and is of a dirty white or rather light brown color, with reddish-brown spots, quite irregular in figure, and thinly scattered over its surface. " The note of this bird, especially during flight, is loud and very distinct, sounding something like the syllables bucJc-er-r-rup. It walks with great facility, and runs swiftly, though in observing its flight, I was constantly impressed with an apparent awkwardness of position, much more than in the Herons. Its flight has, however, a more vigorous character and is evidently capable of long continuance. This Crane alights habitually on dry plains and on the hills, in which re- 296 ORNITHOLOGY. spect it differs somewhat from the Herons, though I have never seen it perch on trees. It was found breeding at Port Discovery." Subsequently, Dr. Pickering frequently mentions the occurrence of this bird in large numbers in California, especially under date of 6th of September, 1841, on the Sacramento River. Specimens in unusually fine plumage and preservation are in the collection of the Expedition. 2. Qenus ARDEA, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 288 (1766). 1. Ardea jugdlaris, Forater. Ardea jvgularii, Forster, Doao. An. p. 172 (1844). " Herodicu Greyi, Orat," Oould> B. of Aust. VI (not paged)? Ardea tacra, Om. Syst. Nat. I, p. 640 (1788) ? Gould, B. of Aust. VI, Plote LX,— same, Plate LXI? Numerous specimens of this species, in brown plumage, are in the collection of the Expedition, and also specimens of the white-plumaged bird, which Mr. Gould has characterized as specifically distinct under the name cited above. Both extend their range of locality apparently over the same groups of islands, from the Paumotu and Samoan Groups, to Australia. In the latter country, they are described as abundant by Mr. Gould, as above, who produces also very respectable evidence of their non-identity. We have doubts of the identity of these birds, not only on account of their entire and unusual dissimilarity in color, but also because there is not in the whole collection, nor in any other collection to which we have access, a single specimen showing an intermediate stage of plumage. They are, however, very similar in their forms and general organization, and were considered identical by the natu> ralists of the Expedition, as will be seen in Mr. Feale's observations inserted in this article. The name Ardea aacra, Gmelin, may perhaps be applicable to this bird. It was given by Gmelin on tlie faith of a description by Latham, of a species designated by him as " the Sacred Heron," in General Synopsis of Birds, III, p. 92. Singularly enough, that description would apply only to an intermediate plumage, if at all to this species. Our inability to solve the problem here presented of the identity or ORALLATORES. 207 non*identity of these two birds, we much regret, as we probably have a larger number of specimens than has ever before been subjected to the examination of any one investigator. The uniform characters of each induce us to suspect that they are distinct, but we do not at pre- sent feel justified in adopting a conclusion. Mr. Peale mentions this species as follows : "This species was found to inhabit nearly all the intertropical islands of the Pacific Ocean. We first saw them at the Paumotu Group, then at Tahiti, the Samoan Islands, and subsequently at Ton- gatabu, and the Feejees. From all these places we have specimens, which, on comparison, are so much alike, that we are constrained to believe them identical. The young birds are generally, but not always, of a dark brownish slate-color, a few being white. The adults, on the contrary, are generally snow-white in plumage, but some, having the elongated back and breast plumes which indicate adult plumage, are found of a dark slate-color, thus indicating that the color depends on other causes, and is not, as in most cases, depending on the maturity of the bird. " A purple or dark slate-colored specimen, when killed at Carlshoflf Island, in September, had the under mandible green ; the upper black ; legs green ; iris yellow. A white specimen, in about the same state of plumage, each having long straight dorsal plumes, but much worn, had a yellow bill, and the legs yellow, tinged with green ; lores green- ish ; eyes bright yellow ; both specimens were females. Dimensions : twenty-four inches in length, and thirty-nine and a half inches in ex- tent of wings. In all states of dark plumage there is invariably a white line running perpendicularly along the throat." This widely diffused species is one of the most handsome birds of its group. Very fine specimens are in the collection of the Expedi- tion. 2. Ardea stagnalis, GoM. Ardea tta/jnalts, OouiD, Birds of Australia, VI (not paged, 1848). Anka palruelis, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 216 (Ist ed. 1848).* * " Id general appearance and size, this is like the Green Heron (^Ardea viresceiu) of North America, and in its voice it also resembles it. Subcrested, crown, back, and upper parts of the tail, green, all having cinereous or purple reflections when viewed at particular angles with the light; wing-coverts edged with rufous; primaries dark 75 298 ORNITHOLOGY. Gould, B. of Aust. VI, Plate LXVII. Specimens from Tahiti in the collection of the Expedition cannot be distinguished from others in the Museum of the Philadelphia Aca- demy, from Northern Australia. The latter are from Mr. Gould's collection, and are the types of his description and figure, above cited. In bis article on this species, in Birds of Australia, as cited above, Mr. Gould refers to a description in the Proceedings of the Zoological So- ciety of London, Nov. 1847, which we do not find in the copy to which we have access, and cite, therefore, his description in the work we have mentioned. Mr. Peale mentions this bird as " common at Tahiti along fresh water streams." 3. Ardea herodias, Linnaetu. — The Great Heron. Ardea lierodta$, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 237 (1766). Ardea hudsonia, LiNN. Sjst. Nat. I, p. ;i38. Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LXV, fig. 5; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXI; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXIX. A specimen in the collection from Oregon. This species is noticed by the naturalists of the Expedition as having baen seen in that country and in California. brownish-gray ; sbafts black ; the second quill longest, first and third equal ; tail rounded, the shafts black above, white beneath ; sides of the neck, breast, belly, and under taii- covcrts, tawny ash-color ; a white line in front of the neck, which reaches from the bill to the breast, near this the feathers have each a tawny spot on the tip ; under parts of the wings ash-colored, with a white margin in front ; bill above black, beneath yellow ; lores green, with a yellow spot in front of, and al 3 the eye; legs yellow; the claws pale brown. "Total length, sixteen inches; wing, from the carpal joint, seven and three-tenths inches; tail, two and eight-tenths inches; bill two and six-tenths inches; to the corners of tlie moath, three and a half inches; tarsi, one and eight-tenths of an inch; middle toe, including the claw, two inches ; claw, seven-twentieths of an inch. Male. " The females are somewhat larger, but in plumage resemble the males. The young birds have their sides, belly, and under tail-coverts of a ferruginous buff-color, which also descends from the head down the sides of the neck, each feather having longitudinal double lines of dusky black; legs dirty green." GRALLATORES. 299 4. Abdba virescens, Linnaeus. — The Green Heron. Ardea virescens, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 238 (1766). Ardea striata, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 288. Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LXI, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Aui. Plate CCCXXXIII; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXVII. Noticed by Dr. Pickering on the Sacramento River, California, on the 30th of August, 1841. This well-known species appears to inhabit the whole of the temperate regions of North America. 3. Genus EGBETTA, Bonap. Gomp. List. p. 47 (1838). 1. Egbetta candidissima {GmeUn). — The Snowy Heron. Ardea candidissima, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p, 633 (1788). Ardea tiivea, Jacquin, Beitr. p. 18 (1784) ? Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LXII, fig. 4 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXLII ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXXIV. Observed in California. 2. Egbetta thula {Molina). Ardea thula, Mot. Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili (1782). * . . . Specimens are in the collection from Chili. This species resembles the North American E. candidissima, but is, perhaps, properly to be regarded as distinct, being larger. It is, hovever, nearly related to that species. 3. Egbetta galatea, Molina. — The Greater White Heron. Ardea galatea, MoL. Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili (1782), 300 ORNITHOLOGY. Ardea egretta, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 629 (1778). Egretta leuce, BoNAP. Comp. List. p. 47 (1838). Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LXI, fig. 4 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCLXXXVI; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXX. Mentioned by Dr. Pickering as observed on the Sacramento River, California, on the 29th of August, 1841. 4. Genob NYCTICORAX, Stephens, Gen. Zool. XI, p. 592 (1819). 1. Nycticorax Gardeni {Gmelin), — The Night Heron. Ardea Gardeni, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 645 (1788). Nycticorax americanus, Bonap. Comp. List. p. 49 (1838). Ardea cyanocephala, MoL. Stor. Nat. Chili (1782) 7 Nycticorax ohtcurut, BoNAP. Consp. Av. II, p. 141 (1855) ? ' Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LXI, figs. 2, 3 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXXVI ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXIII. Numerous specimens from Peru and Chili, that we have examined, do not difier from the bird of North America, except perhaps in being rather larger. Specimens from Chili are in the collection of the Ex- pedition ; and this bird was observed also in Oregon. If to be regarded as distinct from the North American species, the proper name for the bird of Peru and Chili is that applied by Molina, as above cited. This species is mentioned by Dr. Pickering as occurring at Puget's Sound, Oregon, on the 22d of July, 1841. 5. Genub BOTAURUS, Stephens, Gen. Zool. XI, p. 592 (1810). 1. BoTAURUS EXiLis (G^neWn) ? Ardea exilis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 645 (1788) f ' Ardea erythrum€la$,Y \&1LL0t1 Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXV, fsg. 4 ? GRALLAT0RE8. 301 Under this name, but doubtfully, Mr. Peale mentions a bird observed at Oahu, of which we find no specimen in the collection. We give Mr. Peale's remarks : " When at Oahu, this species, or one closely allied to it, was ascer- tained to frequent the fresh-water streams and taro patches in the neighborhood of Pearl River, but having lost the specimens in the wreck of the U. S. Ship Peacock, it is now impossible to assert posi- tively that they are identical, but the resemblance is very close." BotauruB exilia inhabits North America, but we have never seen it from either of the islands in the Pacific, and therefore regard Mr. Peale's statement as possessing peculiar interest. The nearly allied South American bird is regarded as a distinct species, under the name Botaurus erythrotnelao (Vieillot). It is quite probable that the bird alluded to by Mr. Peale is unknown to naturalists. 2. Botaurus r j:ntiginosus [Montagu). — The American Bittern. Ardea lentiginota, Montagu, Orn. Diet. Supp. (not paged, 1813). Ardea minor, WiLSON, Am. Orn. VIII, p. 35 (1814). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXV, fig. 3 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXXXVII; oct ed. VI, Plate CCCLXV. Mentioned by Dr. Pickering as having been noticed on the Sacra- mento River, California, on the 27th of August, 1841. i 2. Family TANTALID^. 1. Qenos ibis, Moehrinj, Av. Gen. p. 71 (1752). 1. Ibis Ordii, Bmxtparte. — The Glossy Ibis. Ibis Ordii, BoNAP. Comp. List, p. 49 (1838). "i6««/afcjneWtt», Linn." Auct. American. Bonap. Am. Orn. IV, Plate XXIII, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of im. Plate CCCLXXXVII; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLVIII. 76 iM 302 ORNITHOLOGY. This bivndsome species is apparently a more northern bird than the succeeding, but the two have been constantly confounded with each other, and with Ibis falcinellua of the Old World, so much so, in fact, that it is almost impossible to separate their synonymy. This bird is larger than the South American species alluded to in the article immediately succeeding, and which appears to be a summer visitor to the southwestern countries of the United States. The pre- sent species we have never seen from South America. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are labelled as having been obtained in Oregon, into which country this species appears to extend its migration in summer, probably inhabiting the entire western coast of North America. This and allied species are regarded as form- ing the genu.^ Fahinellns, Becbstein, adopted by the Prince Bonaparte in hia Monograph of the family Tantalidce, in Conspectus Avium, II, p. 149. Dr. Pickering mentions this bird as occurring at Vancouver, Oregon. 2. Ibis guarauna (Linn.). Scolopax guarauna, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 242 (1766). Tantalus chakopterus, Tehm. PI. Col. V, p. (liv. 86). ii!itf brevirottrit, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 219 (first edition, 1848).* Temm. PI. Col. V, Plate DXI; Shaw, Nat. Misc. XVII, Plate DCCV. This species inhabits apparently nearly the entire southwestern regions of the continent of America, from New Mexico and California, to Patagonia, It is of frequent occurrence in Peru and Chili, and, * " Head, neck, breast, belly, and thighs, sepia-brown, lightest near the head; feathers of the head finely edged with white ; back, wings, and tail, olive-groen, with a blue and purple gloss ; bill short, strong at the base, narrow at the tip, slightly curved, and of a dark brown color; legs very thick, tho toes short, and having short, straight black nails ; iridcH brown. Male. "Total length, twenty and seven-tenths inches; wing, from tho carpal joint, twelve inches ; tail, four atid three-twentieths inches ; tarsi, two and seventcen-twentieths inches; bare part of the tibia, one and one-fourth inches; middle toe, including tho nail, two and two-tenths inches; nail, fouv-tenths of an inch; hind toe, including tho nail, one inch; nail, seven-twentieths of an inch; bill, three and nine-twentieths inches; tu the corner of the month, three and one half inches." Peale, as above. ORALLATORES. 808 according to accurate and careful observers in the latter country, mi- grates further southward. Though bearing a general resemblance to the northern and eastern species, Ibis Ordii, Bonap., it is quite dis- tinct, and not difficult to recognize on comparison of specimens. It is frequently brought in collections from New Mexico and Southern California, the more so, perhaps, from the former. Mr. Peale states in allusion to the present species : " This interesting bird was observed in flocks of fifteen or twenty, along the banks of fresh-water streams and lakes in Chili, during the month of May. Their flight was easy and graceful. The only spe- cimen saved was in immature plumage, having the head, neck, and belly, sepia-brown, with a double line of white on each of the feathers of the head and neck ; bill brown ; legs dusky." The specimen here alluded to is not in mature plumage, but is ap- parently not so young as that described by Mr. Peale as Ibis breviros- tris, of which he mentions : " It was killed on the River Bimac, in Peru, in July. But few others were seen, and they were all solitary, and seemed to prefer thick reedy swamps, like the Rallidge." As a bird of North America, this species was first noticed by our friend, Dr. S. W. Woodhouse, who procured it on the Rio Zoquete, in Texas, while attached to the Expedition to the River Zuni, com- manded by Captain L. Sitgreaves, United States Army. It is included in his catalogue of birds collected during that Expedition, in the Re- port, p. 98. It 8. Family RALLIDiE. 1. Genus RALLUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 261 (1766). 1. Rallus pectoralis. Lesson. Rallus pectoralis, Lesson, Traite, p. 530 (1831). " Rallut pectoralis, Cvv. Gal. de Paris," Less, as above. Gould, B. of Aust. VI, Plate LXXVI, Of this handsome species, well known as a bird of Australia, nume- rous specimens are in the collection from various islands in the Pacific, S. 810 ORNITHOLOQY. " Inhabits ewampy grounds and taro ponds uf the Fcejcc Islands, and supposed to bo rare, as we obtained but two specimens." Specimens in the collection of the Expedition arc in good preser* vation. 4. Family SCOLOPACIDiE.— The Woodcocks iind Snipes. 1. Genus SCOLOPAX, Linn. Sjrat. Nat. I, p. 242 (1760). 1. ScOLOPAX MERIDIONALIS, l\alc. Scohpax meridionalii, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Bird*, p. 229 (l»t ed. 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXV, fig. 1. Adult. Suiva nigra ei ferruginea, capiie lincis duahua longitiMlinalibua nigris, auhttia pallide fulra lineia trausversis pro/nndc ftiscis. Long. tot. Hi poUicea. Form. — About the size of S. mturata, Horsfield. General form robust ; bill long, strong, thick at base ; wing moderate, second quill longest ; legs very strong ; tail short. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about eleven and a half inches ; wing, six and one-fourth inches ; tail, two and a half inches ; bill, three and one-fourth inches. Colors. — Entire upper parts black and ferruginous, the black form- ing two stripes on the head, with a narrow intermediate stripe of the latter. Every feather on the back and p<'apulars and the tertiaries, black, with somewhat semicircular or luiuited bands of ferruginous, paler on the edges. Rump and upper tail-coverts with irregular trans- verse bands of black and ferruginous. Quills light brown, the two first paler, and nearly white on their outer webs. Under parts pale fulvous, thickly spotted on the cheeks, neck, and breast, with dark brown ; fianks and sides irregularly barred transversely with dark brown; middle of abdomen unspotted. Tail dark brown, with irregular trans- R A L L A T R R 8. 311 veree bars of pale reddish-wliito. Bill dRtk brown, lighter at base of under mandible. " Irides dark brown ; legs pale red" (Peale). Hab. — Orange Bay, Tierra del Fiiego. Specimen in Nat. Mus, Washington City. This is a very remarkable species, the only specimen of which, that we have ever seen, is in the collection of the Expedition. It belongs to an intermediate group, partaking in almost equal proportions of the characters of the restricted genus Scolopax, or the Woodcocks (of which the European Scolopax rusticola is the type), and of the genus Oallinago, or the Snipes. Its thick and strong bill, and very robust legs, appear to us, however, to give it preferable claims to be regarded as a ScolojMix or Woodcock. Scolopax saturaia, Ilorsfield, figured in that eminent author's Zoolo- gical Researches in Java, approximates somewhat to the intermediate group to which we allude, and presents greater general resemblance to the present species, than any other with which we are acquainted. The stripes on the head, however, in the present bird, are longitudi- nal, as in Oallinago. The only specimens that we have ever seen of this interesting species, arc in the collection of the Expedition, and appear to be in mature plumage. The only note relating to this bird that we find, is by Mr. Peale, as follows : "This Woodcock is common in dainp thick forests, or moist bushy lands about Orange Bay, Tierra del I'uego. Wo never saw it on open marshy ground where the Magellanic Snipe is common." Our figure represents this bird of the natural size. 2. Scolopax aucklandica {0. R. Gray). Oallinago aucklandica, G. R. (iRAV, Zool. Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, p. 13 (1845). Scolopax Holmesii, I'kale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 229 (1st ed, 1848).* Zool. Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, Plate XIII. * Mr. Peale does not give a description of this species. ■R&a 312 ORNITHOLOGY. The only specimen of Ihit' interesting little species that we have ever scan, we find in the present collection. Though not belonging to the same group as the preceding, it appears to us to be more pro- perly arranged in Scolopax, than in Qallinago. The specimeii now before us appears to be younger than that represented in Mr. Gray's plate, though having both the black and the ferruginous markings on the upper parts much more strongly defined than as given in the plate alluded to, but with the bill scarcely as long nor so robust. In our specimen, the ferruginous is especially observable, and the black shows a tendency to form somewhat ovate or cordate spots and lint?s rather Irregularly distributed. We regret to find no notes relating to this species in the journals of the naturulists of the Expedition, Mr. Peale only mentioni^ig that a single specimen was obtained at Lord Auckland's Islands, by Dr. Holmes, of the United States Navy, to whom he dedicated it, but subsequently ascertained that he had been anticipated, as above. 2. Gbnus GALLINAGO, Leach. 1. GaLLINAOO PARAGUATiE {Vieill.). Scolopax paraguayiXf ViEiLL. Encj. Meth. Ill, p. IIGO (1823). Scolopax brasilientls, SWAINB. FauD. Bor. Am. II, p. 400 (1831). /&ofopax_pa/«t/o«a, Gm. Syst. Nat. r, p. 661 (1788)? Buflf. PI. Enl. 896? Several specimens from the vicinity of the City oi Rio de Janeiro, are in the present collection. Mr. Swa'nson's description, as cited above, is too short to be satisfactory, but applies apptirexily to this bird, and at present we regard it as the true S. paraguaycn, Vieillot. We are acquainted with no figure of this species, unless it is that re- presented in Buffon's plate, to which we refer above, and which, by the way, we think, not improbable. 2. Gallinago magellanica {King). Scolopax magellattcut, Kitio, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 93 (182?). Scolopax leucufU)., SwAiNs. Faun. Bor. Am. II; p. 501 (1831) f GRALLATOBES. Gray, Genera of Birds, III, Plate CLVII ? 313 Specimens from Orange Bay, Tierra del Fuego, where, according to Mr. Peale, it was observed to be of common occurrence. This species is larger than the preceding, and with the plumage of the upper parts lighter colored, though strictly belonging to the same generic group. It much resembles Mr. Gray's figure, as above cited, and is about the same size, but of the species there represented, S. leucurua, we have no specimens for comparison. 8. Gallinago stekuba {Temmimlc). Scohpax iteHura, TkMiM. Scolopax Hbrsfieldii, Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. 11 (name on plate, 1834). Scolopax bklavata, Hodgson, Proc. Zoul. Soc. London, 1837, p. 491. Scolopax pectenicai- M, Peale, Zool. U. S. Esp. Exp. Birds, p. 227 (Isted. 1848)/^ Gray,. 111. Ind. Zool. II, Plate LIV. Specimens in the collection are from Singapore. We find nothing in tiie notes of the naturalists of the Expedition in relation to this species. ■ * " Size and general appearance analogous to the foregoing (. brasiliensis, mageU fanicus, and avUralk), the tail-feathers presenting the only striking peculiarity ; they are twenty-six In number, the eight outer shafts on each side having very narrow webs, somewhat w'.aened at the ends ; the ground color of the head, neck, breast, back, and wing-covorts, pale ferruginous ; two stripes of brown pass over the crown, and another from the bill to the eye; neck-feathers lineated with brown; scapulars lineated rod barred with brown ; lesser wing-coverts barred ; under wing-coverts and flanks white, barred \^'itb black ; primaries brown, first longest ; shafts above pale brown, beneath white ; tail tipped with white, excepting the two centre feathers, within the white a nar- row durk brown band, and within that again, the eight centre feathers have a broad ferruginous band, from that to the roots all are brown, the outer ones being lightest. " Total length, ten and a half inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, five and eight-tenths inches ; bill, two and six-tenths inches ; to the corner of the mouth, two and a half inches; tarsi, one and three-tenths inches; middle toe, including the nail, one and eleven-twentieths inches; nail, one-fourth of an inch; hind toe, half an inch ; nail, three- twentieths of an inch ; tail/ one and six-tenths iu'^hss." n 814 ORNITHOLOGY. 8. Genus LIM08A, Brision, Orn. V, p. 261 (1760). 1. LiMOSA FEDOA (Zrmn.). — The Marbled Godwit. Scolopax/edoa, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 244 (1766). Edwards, Birds, III, Plate CXXXVII; Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LVI; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXXVIII; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXLVIII. According to Mr. Peale : " Observed on the northwest coast of America, at Puget's Sound, and in the interior of Oregon not uncommon." Dr. Pickering also mentions this bird as occurring on the Sacra- mento River, California, in September, 1841. It appears to be one of the species which wanders over the whole of temperate North America. 2. LiMOSA NOV.* zEALANDi.«:, t?. B. Gmy. Limosa novo; zealandia, G. B. Grav, Yoy. Erous and Terr. Birds, p. 13 (1845). Limosa lapponi'ca, var. nova- Zealand uf, G. B. Gray, ul nupra. Limosa Foxii, Peale, Zool. Voy. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 231 (Ist ed. 1848).* From the specimen in the collection of the Expedition, we do not feel justified in deciding on the absolute identity of this bird with Xi- mo' , lapponica (which is held to be the same as Limosa ru/a, and "* "Less than Limosa hudsonica. Color pale tawny-brown, lighter beneath; crown and back of the neck mottled with uniber ; breast and flankn slightly lineated ; back- feathers barred with umber; the wing-coverts have umber centres, and light tawny mar- gins; primaries and spurious wings fuliginous; first quill longest; tail light tawny, with eight pale umber bars ; it consists of twelve feathers ; bill slightly turned upwards, slender towards the point, and dilated at the tip ; tip black, the rest reddish ; legs nearly black. " Total length, fourteen and three-fourths inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, nine ftnd two-tenths inches; tail, three inches; bill, two and ninctecu-twentieths inches; to the corner of the mouth, three and one-tenth inches tarsi, two and one-twentieth inches ; middle toe, including the nail, one and seven-twentieths inches ; nail, one-fourth of an inch." GRALLATORES. 815 lemopTwea)^ but it is assuredly nearly related to it. It is, however, undoubtedly the bird referred to by Mr. Gray, in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror, as above. This bird was obtained at Hose Island, one of the Samoan Group. 4. Genus NUMENIUS, Moehring, Av. Gen. p. 74 (1752). 1. NuMENius LONGiROSTRis, Wileon. — The Long>billed Curlew. Numenius ImgirostrU, Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, p. 23 (1814). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXIV, fig. 4 ; Vieill. Gal. II, Plate CCXLV; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXXI; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLV. Observed, and specimens obtained in Oregon by the naturalists of the Expedition. Mr. Peale states that this bird is common on the prairies, from the Columbia River to California. Dr. Pickering mentions this bird as abundant in Oregon in the month of June, 1841. " Large numbers," he observes, " seem to have taken up their residence in the grassy flats and plains, and undoubt- edly breed here. Its note is a sort of whistle, not unlike the word Curlew, with the last syllable much prolonged, uttared more quickly, and in a more complaining tone when the bird is flying overhead. In one instance, during a rain, I noticed this bird alighting in the top of a tree, frequently repeating its note ; once, also, I saw it attack and chase a hawk, which retreated q < 9 precipitately. " This bird reminds me of the Cayenne Lapwing, seen in South America, and, indeed, the scenery here is not unl'ke the plains of Chili." Subsequently, in the month of October, he alludes to this bird as occurring in large numbers in California. 2. Numenius huijsonicus, Latham. — The Short-billed Curlew. Numeniut hudionicus, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, p. 712 (1790). Scolopax borealis. WiLSON, Am. Orn. VII, p. 22 (1813). Numenius rujiventris, VlaoRS, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 856 (1829) ? If" mm 316 ORNITHOLOGY. Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LVI; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXXVII; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLVI. South American specimens are in the present collection, but are un- fortunately not mature birds. So far as we can judge from them, this species appears to be correctly regarded by authors on Peruvian and Chilian Ornithology as Numenius hiidsonicus. This bird wanders, apparently, along the sea-coasts of both divisions of the continent of America, throughout almost its entire extent. The specimens in the collection of the Expedition were killed at the Island of San Lorenzo, Peru, in the month of June. 3. Nl. ius femoralis, i^a?e. Numenius femoralh, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 233 (Ist ed. 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXVII. Adult. N. hudsonico major, siipra pro/unde umhrinus, Uneis obscure /ulvis, sub- tU8 obscure Jlavescene, Uneis aiigustis fuscis. Psnnia tillalibua seta longa rujida termiuatis. Lang. tot. 16 pollices. Form. — Rather larger than N. hudsontciis. Bill thick at the base, moderately curved ; upper mandible deeply grooved in front of the nostril. Wing long, first primary longest; tertiaries long; tail rather short ; legs long ; tibia feathered for rather more than half its length, all the feathers of which terminate in long, somewhat rigid bristles. Tarsus long ; toes moderate. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about sixteen inches; wing, nine and one-fourth inches ; tail, four inches. Colors. — Upper coverts of the tail dull yellowish-white, unspotted ; tail yellowish-white, tinged with fulvous, and having about six or seven transverse narrow bands of brownish-black. Head above, with two wide stripes of dark umber-brown commencing at the base of the bill, and uniting on the occiput; a central stripe on the head, and ORALLATORES. 317 another through and behind the eye, light buff-color ; throat, neck before and behind, and entire under parts, dull yellowish-white (or buff-color), lightest and nearly pure white on the throat, darker on th abdomen, neck, and breast, with narrow longitudinal lines of brown ; sides and flanks with some transverse bars of brown ; abdo- men, tibiae, and under tail-coverts, unspotted. Back, rump, and wing- coverts, dark umber-brown, nearly every feather edged and spotted, especially on their inner webs, with dull fulvous. Quills brownish- black, with their shafts white, and with transverse imperfect bars of ashy white on their inner webs ; bill, with the upper mandible dark ; lower mandible light; legs dark ("pale blue," Peale). Hab. — ^Vincennes Island, one of the Paumotu Group. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. The most remarkable character of the bird here described, is the singular form of the feathers of the tibiae, from which Mr. Peale has given it the specific name, as above. The plumage of the upper por- tion of the tibiae is rather profuse and dense, and the shaft of each feather is continued beyond the end, forming a long, slender, and some- what rigid hair or bristle. This character is constant in all the spe- cimens in the collection, and is one which we have failed to detect in any other species of which we have specimens or descriptions. The present bird appears to be a smaller species than Numenius tahiticne (Gmelin). It belongs to the group or subgenus of the smaller Curlews, of which Numenius hudsonicus and Numenius phoeopus are the best-known species, and to them and others of the group, it bears a general resemblance. It is quite different from the bird regarded by us as K. tahiticus, in the collection made by the United States Expe- dition to Japan, and figured in our article on Birds, in the Report, by Commodore Perry, vol. II, PI. III. Mr. Peale observes of this species : " There does not appear to be any difference in the plumage of the two sexes, unless it be a slightly stronger ferruginous tint in the males. When flying, the pale buff tail-coverts, and lightxjolored tail, form a consp;cuou8 distinguishing character, and when killed, the remarkable form of the feathers on the thighs, which terminate in long bristles; a peculiarity which exists in all our specimens. " They were abundant on Vincennes Island, one of the Paumotu 80 i'^* •i}. N.ih *iiit it' m ORNITHOLOGY. Group, in the month of September, when they had become exceedingly fat by feeding on the berries of a species of Ganthium, then very plenty. They were rather tame, and uttered a clear plaintive whistle, when flushed." This is one of the most remarkable birds discovered during the voyage of the Expedition. It is represented in our plate, cited above, of the size of life. 5. Genus TOTANUS, Bcchstem, Ornith. Tasoh. p. 282 (1802). 1. ToTANUS ocEANicus, Lesson. Totanu$ oceankvs, Lesson, Comp. aux OJuv. do Buff. p. 244 (1847). Totanm polynesM, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 237 (1848). Tolanut pulverukntm, 31uLLER, YcrhandclingeD, p. 153 (1814)? Scolopax undulata, Forster, Disc. An. p. 173 (1844). Totanut fuliginogus, Gould, Voy. Beagle, Birds, p. 130 (1841) ? Temm. and Schleg. Faun. Japon. Birds, Plate LXV ? Of this species, specimens from various islands in the Pacific are in the collection, and though they vary somewhat in size, do not, to us, present any reliable distinctive characters. Nearly all of them are in immature plumage, but several specimens are very nearly as described by Lesson in his notice of this species, as above cited. Those having the appearance of the more mature plumage, are as follows : Entire upper parts, neck before, breast, and sides, dark lead- colored, uniform, and without white marks ; throat, middle of the abdomen, ventral region, and under tail-coverts, white. Under wing- coverts white, spotted, and barred with dark lead-color. A stripe of white running from the base of the bill over the eye ; lores dark ashy brown ; eye inclosed in a narrow circle of white. Quills dark brown ; shaft of the first primary white on its upper surface ; shafts of other primaries reddish-brown (on their upper surfaces), and of all on their under surfaces white. Tail lead-colored, uniform with the upper parts of the body ; shafts of the tail-feathers lead-colored above, white be- neath. Wings long, pointed, first primary longest ; secondaries short, truncate, emarginate ; tertiaries long ; tarsi and toes rather short ; tibia feathered for about two-thirds of its length. QRALLATORES. 319 Total length, about ten and a htilf inches ; wing, six and a half inches ; tail, three and one-fourth inches. Younger birds have the pUimage of the upper parts as above, but the entire under parts are transversely barred with white and dark ashy brown, the latter color predominating on the sides and flanks. Throat and middle of the abdomen nearly pure white. This species can scarcely be distinguished from Totanus pulveru- lentus, Miiller, if it is not absolutely identical. The only appreciable difference that we can perceive, is the slightly darker color of the pre- sent bird, as pointed out by Lesson, as above, and by Pucheran, in Guerin's Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1851, p. 571, with reference to this bird, and to the species immediately succeeding. From the succeeding bird, the present differs only in being some- what larger. We are not without a suspicion that the conclusion of the learned authors of the Fauna Japonica (in article on T. pulvendentua, Aves, p. 109), is correct. They regard this bird and the next as one species. The specimens in the collection of the Expedition are from the Feejee, Tahiti, and the Samoan Group. Recently, this bird has been found inhabiting Northwestern America, having been sent to the Na- tional Museum in the very interesting collection made by Dr. J. G. Cooper, who w^as attached as naturalist and surgeon to the party com- manded by Gov. I. I. Stevens, which surveyed the most northern proposed route for a railroad to the Pacific Ocean. Dr. Cooper's spe- cimens were obtained in Washington Territory. 2. Totanus brevipes, Vieilht. Totanxi» brevipes, ViEiLL. Nouv. Diet. VI, p. 410 (1816) ; PucHERAN, Rev, et Mag. Zool. 1850, p. 370. Totanus pedestris, Less. Traite, I, p. 52 (1831). Totanus griseopyijius, GoULD, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1848, p. 39 ? Siohpax padjlca, Foester, Desc. An. p. 174 (1844). 4m Gould, B. of Aust. V, Plate XXXVIII? The specimens that, we regard as this species, are from the Paumotu Group, and are in the plain unspotted plumage, very similar to that of the preceding species. We cannot distinguish them from speci- 1)| 820 ORNITHOLOGY. mens before us, from Mr. Gould's collection, of his Totanua griseopy- gius, except by a slight difference in size, and they are identical with others in the museum of the Philadelphia Academy, from the collec- tion of the Duke of Rivoli, and labelled Totanua hrevipea. It may be regarded as very probable that the present bird and the preceding are specifically identical, and that all the names given are synonymous. Specimens in the collection are in good preservation. 3. ToTANUs MELANOLEUcus {Qmelin). — The Greater Yellow-shanks Snipe. Scolopax melanoleuca, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 659 (1788). Scolopax voci/erut, Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, p. 57 (1818). Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LVIII, fig. 5 ; And. B. of Am. Plate CCCVIII; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXLV. Mentioned by Dr. Pickering under date of 3d of September, 1841, on the Sacramento River, Culifomia. 4. ToTANFS MACULARiDS (ZtnnaeM*) .— The Spotted Sandpiper. Tringa macularia, Linn. Sjst. Nat. I, p. 249 (1766). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LIX, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCX; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXLII. Mentioned by Dr. Pickering as occurring in Oregon, and subse- quently under date of 29th of August, 1841, on the Sacramento River, California. This species, and that immediately preceding, are com- mon birds of the coaat of the Atlantic, and probably inhabit the entire intermediate country to the Pacific Ocean. ORALLATORES. 321 6. Genus TRINGA, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 247 (1706). 1. Tringa parvirostris, Peale. Tringa parviroitrit, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 235 (1st ed. 1848). Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXVIII, fig. 2. Adult. Roetw brevi, recto, supra nmbrina, lineie pallide cinereis et rubescente- /ulvia, eubtus cinerascente-alba, vittia angttsiia transveraia profunde fuacia. Long. tot. 7i pollvcea. Bill short, straight, slender ; wings long, first, second, and third quills very nearly equal ; tertiaries but little longer than the secondaries ; tail rather long, wide, rounded ; legs and toes long, the former ro- bust; tibia feathered for more than half its length. A distinct stripe over and behind the eye ashy white. Entire upper parts umber-brown, unspotted on the top of the head, but on other upper parts edged and tipped with ashy white and reddish-fulvous. Tail- feathers umber-brown, with irregular and imperfect transverse nr row bands of ashy and pale reddish-white, and tipped with the same. Under parts white, with a tinge of ashy ; throat and middle of the abdomen unspotted ; breast, sides, and under coverts of the tail, spotted, and with irregular transverse bars of brown, the latter (bars) most apparent on the sides, flanks, and under coverts of the tail. Inferior coverts of the wing ashy white, irregularly spotted with brown. Bill greenish, darker at the tip ; legs dark green. " Irides dark brown" (Peale.) Sexes very nearly alike, female slightly paler. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), about seven and a half inches ; wing, four and one-fourth inches ; tail, two and a half inches ; " extent of wings, thirteen and a half inches" (Peale). Hab. — Paumotu Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington City. This remarkable species, which appears only to have been noticed by the naturalists of the Exploring Expedition, may be distinguished SI I yi mi 322 ORNITHOLOGY. at once from any other species known to us, by its small and slender bill. The legs and feet are, however, strong and fully developed, and the tail unusually long and wide. Several specimens in the collection of the Expedition are very simi- lar to each other in their colors and other characters, differing only slightly in the shade of the brown color of the upper parts, and in the greater or less prevalence of the brown spots and bars on the under parts. In dimensions they agree almost exactly. Our description is from the most mature specimens ; in others, the brown spots of the breast are more numerous, and extend further downwards, but in all, the throat and middle of the abdomen are white, as described above. To this bird, Mr. Peale alludes as follows: " Found in considerable abundance on Dog Island, one of the Pau- motu Group, on the 2l8t of August. At that time they had both eggs and young, and were so tame as almost to allow themselves to be taken by hand. They had a plaintive, wailing note, and alighted indiscriminately on bushes or on the ground. Their eggs were found in slight nests, constructed of pieces of broken corals and shells, on the ground, and are large in proportion to the size of the bird, much pointed at one end, and large at the other, of a pale brown ochre-color, spotted with sooty-black. " Subsequently, this bird was observed at Raraka, another island of the same group, but was not so plentiful." This singular little bird has the bill unusually short and straight, though it otherwise presents the characters of the genus Tringa. It is very probably entitled to a distinct generic or subgeneric designa- tion. Specimens in the collection are in good condition and mature plumage. Our plate represents this bird of the natural size, and was prepared from a specimen which we regard as an adult male. 7. Genus STBEPSILA8, llHger, ProdromuB, p. 263 (1811). 1. Strepsilas interpbes {Linn.). — The Turnstone. Trinya interpret, LiNN, SjBt. Nat. I, p. 248 (1706). Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LVII, fig. 1 j Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCIV; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXXIII. ORALLATORES. 323 This little bird is one of the very few species that appear to be at home in all the sea-coasts of the temperate and tropical regions of the globe. Minute and careful comparison of specimens from various lo- calities widely distant from each other, facilities for which are afforded in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, and that of the Expe- dition, have resulted in the detection of no appreciable difference whatever. According to Mr. Peale : " This species was found common on many of the islands of the Pacitic Ocean, north and south of the Equator, but none were seen in full plumage, and all appeared to be migrating. At Mathew's Island, one of the Kingsmill Group, near the Equator, it was seen in large flocks on the 24th of April. Nine specimens were killed at a single discharge from a small fowling-piece, and they were found to be ex- ceedingly fat. " The specimen exhibited in the National Gallery, was killed at Callao, Peru, in the month of June. It is a female, and has but a few ferruginous and black spots on the scapulars." In addition to the specimen from Peru, mentioned by Mr. Peale, there is another in the collection labelled as from the Feejee Islands. This bird is mentioned also by Dr. Pickering as occurring at various localities, including nearly all points visited by the Expedition in North and South America, and in the islands of the Pacific Ocean. 8. Genus PHALAROPUS, Briiion, Orn. VI, p. 12 (1760). 1. Phalaropus hyperbobeus {Linn.). — The Northern Phalarope. Tringa hyperhorea et lobata, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 249 (1766). Bonap. Am. Orn. IV, Plate XXV, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXV; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXL. Mentioned by both Mr. Peale and Dr. Pickering, as having been freqiiently observed in. Oregon. The former observes : " Common in Oregon. Our specimen was obtained on the Willa- 324 OBNITHOLOQY. mette River. It was shot while swimming lightly on the water, and throwing its head frequently forward, like some species of geese. " Large flocks of Phalaropes were seen about midway between the Sandwich Islands and the Columbia River. Their flight was wild and swift, and they frequently alighted on the surface of the sea. At a distance they resembled this species, but none allowed the ship to approach sufficiently near to ennble us to feel certain of their identity." Dr. Pickering notes the occurrence of this bird also on the Sacra- mento River, California. 9. Gbnus RECURVIROSTRA, Linnaeu$, Syst. Nut. I, p. 256 (1766). 1. Recurvirostra AMERICANA, QmeUii. — The American Avocet. Ruwvirottra americana, Om. Syat. Nat. I, p. 693 (1788). Wilson, Am. Om. VII, Plate LXIII, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXVIII ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLIII. Noticed by the naturalists of the Expedition in Oregon and Cali- fornia. Mr. Peale states that this bird is "not uncommon in Oregon, and is common in California. Young birds have the head, back of the neck, and part of the scapulars, pale cinereous." The young of this species he regards as identical with that immediately succeeding, in which conclusion, however, we do not coincide. • 2. Recurvirostra occidentalis, Viyors. — The White Avocet. Recurvirostra occidentalis, ViaoRS, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 356 (1829). Voy. Blossom, Birds, Plate XII ; Cossin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, Plate XL. Mentioned by Dr. Pickering as occurring in Oregon. This bird is easily recognized and distinguished from the preceding, by the pure white plumage of the head and tlie greater portion of the body. It is now a well-known species of Western North America. QRALLATORES. 325 10. Obnus HIMANTOPUS, Briuon, Orn. V, p. 88 (1760). 1. HiMANTOPUS NIGBICOLLIS, VteUlot. — The Stilt. Himantopui nigrxcollit, ViEiLi.. Nov. Diot. X, p. 42 (1817). Charadriut himantopui, LiNN. Syat. Nat. I, p. 255 (1766). Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LVIII, fig. 2; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXXVIII ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLIV. Mentioned by Dr. Pickering, under date of 25th of August, 1841, as occurring on the Sacramento River, California. 5. Family CHABADRIAD^.— The Plovers. 1. Genus CHARADRIUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 253 (1766). \. Chabadrius xanthocheilus, Waghr. Charadriui xanthocheilut, Waoler, Sjst. Av. (Charadrius, sp. 36) 1827. CharadriHi /uhu$, Om. Syst. Nat. I, p. 687 ? Gould, B. of Aust. V, Plate XIII. Specimens from the Feejee and Samoan Islands are identical with the Australian bird which Mr. Gould has figured and described in Birds of Australia, as cited above. All in the present collection are unfortunately in immature plumage, though several of them have the under parts so much spotted with black, as to leave no doubt that in the adult bird those parts are of that color. This is one of the species so nearly related to Gharadrivs pluvialisy and resembling also in general appearance Squatardla helvetica, as to be only distinguished with difficulty in several stages of plumage. The young of this bird strongly resembles the species first mentioned, but both, with their under parts glossy block, show great relationship to the last. Though we adopt the views of Mr. Gould, in referring »2 S26 ORNITHOLOGY. this bii'd to Gharadnua xanthocheilue, Wagler, it is in a great measure because we at present are acquainted with no other species from the Southern Islands in the Pacific Ocean to which this description can be applied, and not on account of any especial application of Wagler's description to this bird. One specimen from the Hawaiian Islands, in the collection of the Expedition, appears to be Charadriua fulvus, Gmelin. It is, like those above alluded to, in imperfect plumage, nnd its only peculiarity is a more uniform brown color on the breast and neck before ; in other re- spects it is similar, and we do not regard it as a distinct species. Under date of November 13th, 1841, at sea, between the coast of California and the Sandwich Islands, Dr. Pickering alludes to this species as follows : " A Golden Plover, which had been noticed flying around the ship, came on board towards evening and was captured. It was greatly fatigued, and evidently much out of its course, as we were nearly five hundred miled to the eastward of the Island of Oahu. As it came on board voluntarily, this circumstance was regarded as conclusive evidence of the non-existence of land in this vicinity. In this speci- men, the whitish band extending through the frontlet and over each eye, appeared to me as unusually distinct." Dr. Pickering again mentions this bird as being noticed flying around the vessels of the squadron, on the 22d of December, at sea, some degrees west c ". the Sandwich Islands. It is evidently widely diffused, and performs very extensive migrations. 2. Gbnub SQUATAROLA, Cuvitr, Reg. An. I, p. 467 (1817). 1. Squatarola helvetica {Linn.). — The Black-bellied Plover. Tringa helvetica et tquatarola, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 250, 252 (1766). Charadriut aprtcariut, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 254 (1766). Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LVII; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXXXIV ; octavo ed. V, Plate CCCXV. In the collection we find a specimen of this species from California ; and Dr. Pickering records its occurrence in both that country and aRALLATOBES. 327 Oregon. It is widely di£fused, being given by Mr. Gould as a bird uf Australia. 8. Genus HIATICULA, Moehring, Av. Gen. p. 75 (1752). 1. HuTicuLA vociFERA {Unn.). — The Killdeer. thuradriut voei/erut et torquatus, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, pp. 258, 256 (1766). Charadriu$jamuicen$i$, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 685 (1788). Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LIX ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXV ; octavo ed. V, Plate CCCXVII. This strongly marked and well-known bird appears to inhabit the whole of Noilh America except the Arctic regions, and is at least a winter visitor to the southern division also of this continent. Dr. Pickering notices this bird as having been observed in Oregon and in California, more abundantly in the latter country. One specimen in the collection was obtained in the vicinity of Callao, Peru, which, though apparently strictly identical with the northern species, Mr. Peale states, " had the eyelids yellow when fresh, aud not red like the northern birds, a difference arising probably from age." We can detect no material differences in specimens from North and South America. Dr. Pickering mentions this bird as especially abundant on the Sacramento River, California, in the month of September, and pre- viously at Puget Sound, Oregon, in the month of June, 1841. 2. HlATICULA FALKLANDIGA {Latham). Charadriui faiklandicut, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, p. ri7 (1790). Chiradriu* annuligerut, Waoler, Syst. Av. (rot paged, 1827). Charadriui trifatciatut, LiCHT. Verz. p. 71 (1328)? Portlock's Voyage, Plate at page 36. One specimen from Patagonia, which, though apparently in young 11 1^ ■'^■i-. 328 ORNITHOLOGY. plumage, is the species alluded to in the descriptions by Latham and Wagler, cited above. It appears to be rather a common bird of Western South America. 3. HiATICULA FUSCA (Oould). Squatarola fuKa, OouLD, Voy. Beagle, Birds, p. 126 (1841). Charadritu rubecola, King, Zool. Jour. lY, p. 96 (1828) ? From Tierra del Fuego. Specimens in the collection of the Expe- dition, and in that of the Philadelphia Academy, have to us the ap- pearance of young birds, though undoubtedly the species described by Mr. Gould, as above ; Gharadriua rvhecola, King, may be the adult of this bird, and, judging from the description, it is approached by one specimen in the present collection, in which the wide pectoral band assumes a light rufous color. It has also some indications of the black subpectoral band as described originally, as above cited. Though we have little doubt that the birds here alluded to are identical, and that the names above cited are synonymes, neither of them is, by any possibility, identical with Vanellua cinctvs, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Fl. XLIII, as has been supposed by several ornithologists. Of the last bird, specimens are in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy. 4. Gbnus SARCIOPHORUS, Strickland, Proc. Zool. Soo. London, 1841, p. 32. 1. SARCIOPHOBUS TRICOLOR (FmVfo/). Charadriui tricolor, Vieili. Ncuv. Diet. XXVII, p. 147 (1818). " Charadriui pecloralit, Ccv. Mus. Paris," Wagler Syst Av. (1827). Charadriu$ vanelloide*, Pbale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 240 (1st ed. 1848).*" * " In general aspect and habits, like the < Spar-wing Plovers' of South Amorioa and Australia ( Vanellui Caymtit and Gallinaveua), but not much more than half their size. Crown, suborbital stripe, and breast, black ; auricular stripe, throat, belly, thighs, and tail-coverts, white; back yellowish-brown, very pale on the back part of the neck, and darkening towards the ends of the scapulais, which are very long, and towards the ends of the greater wing-coverts, which are nsarly black, the whole glossed with delicate pur- GRALLA TORES. Gould, Birds of Aust. VI, Plate XI. 329 Specimens of this well-known bird in the collection of the Expedi- tion were obtained, according to Mr. Peale, " in the district of Argyle, New South Wales. They were not plentiful," he continues, " and seemed to prefer drier ground than the Spur-wing Plover ( Vamllut gaUinaceue), of Jardine and Selby, which is supposed to be the Wat- tled Sandpiper of Latham, a common bird in moist meadows of the same district of country." 5. Genus ESACUS, Lesson, Traite d'Orn. I, p. 547 (1831). 1. ESACCS MAGNIROSTRIS (Temm.). (Edicnemiu magnirottrit, Temm. PI. Col. V, p. (Ht. 65, about 1824). Temm. PI. Col. 387. Specimens from the Island of Mangsi. Mr. Peale says of this bird : " It is common in the Philippine and Sooloo Islands, where we saw it frequently. The two sexes are alike in size and plumage, they are not gregarious, but are usually seen in pnlvi?, or solitary. This species has all the habits and even the shrill voii '' the Oyster-catchers (Genus Hcematopus), and like them, it frequeni.^ only the shores where the water is salt, probing the sand and gravel beacli<'- tor crustacea, which seem to constitute the principal part of its food." pie; wings having a rudimentary spur on the carpal joint, and another, smaller, uu the next joint ; the first naked, the second covered by the feathers ; they are of a dark sepii' brown color, lighter beneath ; under coverts white; secondaries white, with hiack tips ; greater coverts dark brown, tipped with white ; tail slightly rounded, consist . ng of twelve feathers, white, with a black band near the tip ; bill and eyelids pale yellow ; irides yellow ; wattle in front of the eye lake red ; legs lake red, with sooty scales. "Total length, eleven inches; wing, from the carpal joint, seven and ninr tths inches; bill, seventeeu-twenticths of an inch ; to the corners of the mouth, J one- tenth inches; tarsi, one and seven-tenths inches; middle toe, including tUu uail, one inch ; nail, one-fourth of an inch ; tail, three and three-tenths inches. " The two sexes are nearly alike in size and plumage, the male being somewhat darker in color, and having the richer purple gloss." 83 ■''^m 330 ORNITHOLOGY. We observe nothing peculiar in the specimens before us, from the collection of the Expedition, and they are apparently exactly identical with others from various Asiatic localities. They are in mature plu- mage. 6. Genus HAEiVIATOPUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 257 (1706). 1. Haematopus palliatus, Temminck. — The American Oyster-catcher. ITaemctopus palliatut, Temm. Man. d'Orn. II, p. .532 (1820). HaenMtoput brasiltensis, LiOHT. Verz. p. 73 (1823). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXIV, fig. 2; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXIII; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXXIV ; Jard. and Selby, 111. of Orn. new series, I, Plate VII. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition from the coasts of Brazil and Peru, are precisely identical with the bird of the Atlantic coast of the United States. Mr. Peale mentions that this species was not noticed on the Pacific coast of North America. 2. Haematopus niger, Gavier. — The Black Oyster-catcher. Haemaloptu niger, Cuvier, Regne Animal, I, p. 4G9 (1817). Hacmatopm aier, ViEiLL. Gal. des. Ois. II, p. 88, PI. C(LXXX (1825). Baematoput Townfndii, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, p. 247 (1839). Quoyand Gaim. Voy. Uranie, Birds, I'lite XXXIV; A"d. B. Am. Plate CCCCXXVII, fig. 3 ; oct. ed. V, Plate CCCXXVI. This species is noticed by the naturalists of the Expedition as hav- ing been observed in abundance at Orange Bay, Tierra del Fuego, and on the coast of Chili. Young birds, according to Mr. Peale, have all the feathers tipped with rufous. If this bird v/as obtained in Oregon by Dr. Townsend, it inhabits nearly the entire western coast of the continent of ^ meiica, but of 0RALLAT0RE8. 331 this there is no evidence, Mr. Audubon merely stating that it came in Dr. Townsend's collection. He says, however, that he had seen other specimens from California. Dr. Townsend does not gi"e this species in his list of birds in the Narrative of his Journey. 8. Haematopds Bachmani, Aud%ibon. — Bachman's Oyster-catcher. Haemalopus Bachmani, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, p. 245 (1839). Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCXXVII, fig. 1 ; octavo edition, V, Plate CCCXXV. Observed, and specimens obtained at Puget Sound, Oregon. This species is in some respects similar to that immediately preceding, but is smaller, and otherwise quite distinct. It appears to be exclusively North American. Under date of 29th of July, 1841, at Puget Sound, this bird is alluded to by Dr. Pickering as follows : " A dark-colored Haematopus, very similar to a species seen by us in Chili, is of frequent occurrence here. Mr. Case has obtained the egg, as he felt quite assured from having noticed the birds in the im- mediate vicinity, and apparently the parents. It is rather smaller than that of a hen, and more spherical, of a dirty white or pale brown color, with numerous small blackish spots. It was found on a rock on the northern shore of the Straits, with a few sticks and grasses thrown together, scarcely to be called a nest." mi\ 332 ORNITHOLOGY. 5. Order NATATORES.— The Swimming Birds. 1. Fahilt ANATIDiG.—The Ducks, Geese, ko. 1. Genus PHOENICOPTERUS, Linn. Sy»t. Nat. I, p. 280 (1766). 1. PnoENicoPTERUS CHiLENSis, Molina, PhoenicopUrut ehilenttt, MoLlNA, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, p. 208 (2d ed. 1810). Photnicoptenu iynipallialui, Qtoft, et D'Obb. Mag. de Zool. 1888 (not paged). Gray's Genera of Birds, III, Plate CLXIII ; Guerin's Mag. de Zool. 1833, Ois. Plate II. This handsome species of Flamingo appears to be peculiar to the western countries of South America, and is especially numerous in Chili, from which country it is brought in nearly all collections. From the species inhabiting the Atlantic coast, and occasionally visiting Florida {Phoetticopterua ruber, Linn.), it is readily distinguishable by its comparatively pale colors, which, in fact, assimilate it much more greatly with the Flamingo of the Old World {P/ioenioopterus antiquo- rum, Temm.). It is one of several instances of birds inhabiting the western countries of the Continent of America, which bear greater re- semblance to species of Western Europe, than others of the same or nearly allied genera found in Eastern America. One of the most interesting of the specimens of this species in the present collection, is that of a young bird, the plumage of which differs in some points from that of the adult, and of which we append a de- scription : Head, neck, and under parts of body, white, with a tinge of brown on the head and upper part of neck ; back pale ashy brown, every feather edged or tipped with dull white, and with their shafts drrk brown; wing-coverts pale red at base, with their tips dark brown. Quills brownish-black; upper tail-coverts and tail, pale red- dish-white. On the wingcovcrts, the dark brown-color predominates, i NATATORES. 333 and the pale rosy tinge is only to be observed on examination, or when the feathers are displaced. This specimen has the plumage of the head and neck somewhat downy, and is evidently that of a young bird. The rose-red of the adult is in the young only to be seen on the wings, as above stated, and more clearly on the tail-coverts and tail. In the plumage here alluded to, this bird more nearly approaches the description by Molina, above cited, than any other specimen that has come under our notice, and we have accordingly adopted his name. In the study of, or re- adjustment of the species and names of the birds of this group, it must not be overlooked, however, that there are now two well-determined species of Flamingos which inhabit Chili and other countries of West- ern South America. The second species is Phoenkopterm andimis, Philippi, Annales de la Universidad de Chile, August, 1854, a transla- tion of the description of which is in Gilliss's Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, Vol. II, p. 198. 2. Genbs ANSER, Barrere, Oir- p 16 (1745). 1. Anser albatus, Camn. — The Western Snow Goose. Anttr albatus, Gassin, Proo. Acad. Philad. VIII, p. 41 (1856). This is a species related to the Snow Goose of Northern Europe and America, but uniformly smaller, and presenting other distinguishing characters. Though first described by us from specimens obtained on the coast of New Jersey, where it is a very rare visitant, it is, we sus- pect, much more abundant on the western coast of the United States. A single specimen is in the collection of the Expedition, which appears to be that of a male in nearly adult plumage. Smaller than Aiiser hyperhoreus, bill shorter; bare space at the base of the upper mandible not extending so far into the feathers (on the sides of the bill in front). Wing long, second quill longest; tail short, but comparatively rather longer than in A. hyperhorevs, which is also the case with the tarsus. Total length (of skiu), about twenty-five inches; wing, fifteen and three-fourths inches ; tail, five and three-fourths inches ; bill, two inches; tarsus, two inches. Female smaller. 84 % 334 ORNITHOLOGY. Entirt plumage white, except the primaries, which are pale cinere- ous at base, and black in the terminating two-thirds of their length. Front and cheeks spotted with ferruginous; bill and feet red. Young, with the primaries entirely cinereous, and the entire upper plumage of that color. This species has never been figured ; and five specimens, four of which are in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, and one in that of the present Expedition, are all that have come under our notice. Though allied to and resembling the Snow Goose of the Atlantic States, this bird is not difficult to distinguish on comparison. Under the name of Anser hyperhoreua, but in allusion, as we think, to the present bird, Mr. Peale gives the following : " It is quite impossible to convey to our readers an idea of the in- cessant clatter of sounds emitted by these, the two last-mentioned Geese" (the present and the White-fronted Goose), " and the Storks, or Sandhill Cranes, when disturbed at night by some prowling wolf, as they all roost on the ground in wet prairies. The old Snow Geese generally keep together, and their white plumage contrasted with the dark ground presents the appearance of snow banks. " Rarely seen in the water ; they remain all winter in California, and the southern parts of Oregon. When they first arrive from the north, they are very tame, allowing persons to approach very near, and a skilful rider on a horse is enabled to catch them with a lasso (the 'noose used by the Californians for catching cattle and horses). By this process, we have seen four that were taken i one afternoon, by a Californian." The occurrence of Geese in large numbers is also mentioned by Dr. Pickering, in Oregon and California. 2. Anser Gambelii, Hartlauh. — The American White-fronted Goose. An»er Gambelii, HARTLiCB, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1852, p. 7. " Anter albifroni, Gm." Auot. American. Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCLXXXVI ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXXX. This species appears to be quite distinct from that of Europe, with which it has been usually regarded as identical, a fact first pointed out NATATORES. 335 by our friend, Dr. Oustav Hartlaub, Director of the State Museum of the City of Bremen, and one of tu^ ro ist accomplished of European Ornithologists. The American bird is constantly the larger, and the greater length and thickness of the bill is a marked characteristic, as is correctly stated by Dr. Hartlaub, in his description, above cited. Dr. Pickering mentions the occurrence of immense numbers of Geese of various species, on the coasts of California and Oregon, in the month of April, and subsequently in October. He particularly mentions the present bird as observed in abundance, and seen either flyin^^ in lines generally bifurcating from a point, but frequently irregular, or walking on the ground in search of food. Mr. Peale observes of this species : " About the middle of October, vast numbers of White-fronted or- Laug! ing Geese arrive in Oregon and California from the north. They are generally found on moist prairies, and feed almost entirely on grass. None were seen that were black, except having patches of that color on the breast. The black color is probably that of the summer plu- mage of adult birds." 3. Gbnus BERNICLA, Stephens, Gen. Zool. XII, Pt. II, p. 45 (1824). 1. Bernicla canadensis {Linn.). — The Canada Goose. The Wild Goose. Ana» canademis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 198 (1766). Buff. PI. Enl. 346; Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXVII; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCI ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXXVI. m ■m Under the head of this species, Mr. Peale says : "A few were seen on our journey from the Columbia River to Cali- fornia. Most of that journey was remote from extensive sheets of water, and as this species is more aquatic in its habits than the follow- ing {A. Hutchinsii and A. albifrons), this may account for their being seen in the least numbers." On account of the fact that no specimens of this bird are in the col- lection of the Expedition, we have admitted it with hesitation, and 386 ORNITHOLOOY. especially as there is in the countries of Western North America, a species nearly related to the present bird, and readily to be confounded with it. It is smaller, and a strong character is to be found in the feet, which are disproportionately smaller. The species alluded to, was first described by us as Aneer parvipea, in Proceedings of the Aca- demy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, VI, p. 187 (1852). We have only seen the bird alluded to from the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Dr. Townsend also records having observed Anaer canadenns in Oregon (Narrative of a Journey across the Rocky Mountains, p.^ 336). 2. Bernicla Hutohinsii {Ricliardaon). — Hutchins' Goose. An$er Hutchintti, BiCH. Faun. Bor. Am. II, p. 470 (1831). Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCLXXVII ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXXVII. No specimens of this Goose being in the collection, for similar rea- sons to those mentioned in the preceding article, we admit it with doubt. All the specimens that we have ever seen from the Pacific coast, are Bernicla leucopareia, a species first pointed out as an inhabi- tant of Russian America, by Professor Brandt, an accomplished Rus- sian nat-tralist. It much resembles Hutchins' Goose^ but may readily be distinguished by a white ring around the neck at the junction of the black color with the lighter colors of the body. Bernicla leuco- pareia, is figured in our Birds of California and Texas, I, PI. XLV. Under the head of Anser Hutchinsii, Mr. Peale says : " This Goose was found in great numbers on the flat and wet prai- ries of Upper California, where they arrive from the north about the middle of October. They are generally seen in large flocks by them- selves, but sometimes are associated with the Snow Goose, and the White-fronted Goose." 3. Bernicla Antarctica (Gmelin). — The Antarctic Goose. Anai antarctica, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 505 (1788). Anas Candida, VlKlhL. '"'" " - ^na« ^anto, FoRST. Desc. An. p. 336 (1844). ■ - NATAT0RE8. 337 GilHss, Ast. Exp. to Chili, Birds, Plate XXIII ; Yoy. Coquille, Oie. Plate L (female). This beautiful species appears to be one which has a southwardly migration from the northern countries of South America, analogous to the well-known migrations of the species of North America. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition were obtained at Tierra del Fuego. The difference in the color of the sexes of this Goose is quite re- markable, the male being entirely white, and the female variegated and barred with black. According to Captain F. Bernsee, whose notes are published in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, YII, p. 288, this bird is partial to fresh waters, and was found by him abundant at the Falkland Islands, where he was wrecked. 4. Bebnigla maoellanioa {Omelin). — The Magellanic Goose. Anas magellanica, picta et leucoptera, Qm. Syst. Nat. I, pp. 504, 505 (1788). Gilliss's Ast. Exp. to Chili, Birds, Plate XXIV; Brown's 111. Plate XL; Buff. PI. Enl. 1006 (female). Specimens of this species are from Tierra del Fuego, and very fine specimens are also in Lieut. Gilliss's collection from Chili, made by the United States Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, under his charge. The male of this species is white, with transverse narrow bars of black, but the female is quite different, being of dark chestnut-brown, and somewhat resembling that immediately succeed- ing. According to Captain Bernsee, as above cited, this bird also was abundant at the Falkland Islands. 5. Bebnicla inornata (Mng). — The Brown Goose, Anaer inornatui, KiNQ, Proc. Zool. Soo. Loudon, 1830, p. 15. Gray, Gen. Ill, Plate CLXV. Also from Tierra del Fuego. This name inornata, deserves to be abolished on account of its singular inappropriateness, applied as it is to one of the handsomest of the South American Geese. 85 41 338 ORNITHOLOGY. All of the three preceding species are now well-known birds of the Pacific coast of South America, and future investigations may demon- strate a more northern range of locality. It would even be a matter of interest, to transplant them to the northern temperate zone. This species also was found by Captain Bernsee abundant at the Falkland Islands, and he states explicitly, that the male and female are alike in colors. 6. Bernicla sandwich ensis, Vigors. — The Sandwich Island Goose. Bemicla tandieichenn'M, Via. Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1884, p. 48. Anur hatoaiieniii, Eyd. and Soul. Voy. Bonite, Oisoaux, p. 104 (1841). Anur hawaieniii, PiALE, Zool U. 8. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 249 (1848). Voy. Bonite, Zool. Atlas, Ois. Plate X ; Jurd. and Selby, 111. Orn. n. s. Plate VIII. This remarkable and little-known Goose was repeatedly noticed by the naturalists of the Expedition, and is apparently peculiar to Hawaii, one of the Sandwich Islands. It belongs evidently, from the facts recorded of its habits, to a group characterized by the partiality of the species for fresh waters, and for the interior of the coimtries which they inhabit, and they are more decidedly terrestrial in their habits than any other. They appear to present strong analogies to the Tree Ducks (Genus Dendrocygna). Of the present species, Mr. Pcale states : " We observed it on the volcanic mountains of the Island of Hawaii, generally in pairs, at the season of our visit, in the month of November, but rarely four or five were seen together, feeding on the berries of a very abundant species of Vaccinum, growing on the old beds of lava. On these they had become very fat, and were delicious eating ; grass, however, appears to be their ordinary food. We never saw this bird near water, which is scarce in those regions, our party being obliged to carry the necessary supply for the journey in calabashes, but it is said to breed near shallow ponds, a few of which occur in the moun- tains. " What is most remarkable, is the statement made to us by the natives, and which we have every reason to believe is the fact, that NATATORES. 339 this Goose is limited to the single Island of Hawaii, rarely visiting any others of the group, though several are in sight. It bears confinement well, is hardy, and soon becomes domesticated. Its voice resembles that of the Snow Goose {Anaer hyperhoreua)" Dr. Pickering in his journal, now in our possession, mentions having seen this Goose in the mountains, especially numerous at a height which he estimates as having been about seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. He states thr.t it appeared to be much less sus- picious than other species with which he was acquainted, and when disturbed, flies off, near the surface of the ground, without rising in the air, like the species of North America. Dr. Pickering mentions hav- ing seen this bird feeding on berries. 4. Genus ANAS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 194 (1766). 1. Anas superciuosa, Qmelin, Ana» tupereiliota, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. (1788). Ana» leucophri/i, FoRSTER, Deso, An. p. 93 (1844). Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate IX. According to Mr. Peale : " This species was found abundant in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, wherever there was fresh water. Its habits and voice are much like those of the Mallard {Anas boscJiaa), the female of which it closely resembles, but is darker colored, and has a green instead of a blue speculum. In all the specimens obtained by the Expedition, the superciliary line and cheeks are of a pale fawn-color, and not white, as described by Dr. Latham. " We saw Ducks in most of the Polynesian Islands, the identity of which is doubtful, but they resemble the above species so closely, that for the present they are referred to it. They are uniformly darker colored, and want the white anterior margin to the speculum, which is conspicuous in the New Zealand birds, and also gradually decrease in size at each group of islands as we go north from Australia to the equator; the specimens obtained at Upolu, one of the Navigator Islands, being one-fifth smaller, but alike in plumage with others ob- I IH .■a Mf .»f'! 340 ORNITHOLOGY. tained in Australia. At the intermediate islands, Tongatabu, Feejee, and Tahiti, they were obtained and found to present variations only in size. North of the equator, this species was not seen." 2. Anas boschas, Linnaeus. — The Mallard. Anas lotchat, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 205 (1766). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXX, fig. 7 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXI ; oct. ee. VI, Plate CCCLXXXV. Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale notice the occurrence of this spe- cies abundantly in the fresh waters of Oregon and California. Speci- mens in the collection are strictly identical with the bird of Eastern America. The Mallard is mentioned by Dr. Pickering as having been noticed in a state of domestication at the Philippine Islands in unusual num- bers, and it is apparently a great favorite with the inhabitants. In his interesting and valuable notes we find the following : " This species is raised at the Philippine Islands in immense num- bers, and is doubtless of Malay introduction. One of the most curious sights to us along the river bank was the pens, about fifty feet square and extending part way into the river, inclosing Ducks. Frequently, several hundreds were contained in one inclosure, which, though per- haps not more than a foot high, appeared to be quite sufiicient. The Ducks seemed to be perfectly contented, and, so far as we observed, never attempted to exceed their limits; generally, however, their wings we; clipped, but even that would not have been an effectual preventative had the disposition been otherwise. Sometimes they could be seen swimming rapidly around in circles, perhaps for the sake of exercise. '* In th'^se inclosures, men were occasionally noticed lustily shovel- ling the water, apparently for the purpose of dissipating its impurities, or of assisting the current in carrying them off. In the course of the twenty-five miles to the * Laguna del Bay,' we must have passed many thousands of Ducks in inclosures of the description to which we allude." This well-knov; n species appears to be diffused throughout almost the entire northern hemisphere. Specimens from various localities in NATATORES. 341 Europe, Asia, and America, now before us, present no appreciable specific differences. 6. Genus DAFILA, Stephen*, Gen. Zool. XII, p. 126 (1824). 1. Dafila acuta {Linn.). — The Pintail Duck. Anas acuta, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 202 (1766). Buff. PL Enl. 954 ; Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXVIII, fig. 3 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXVII; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCXC. Dr. Pickering mentions having noticed this species on the coast of Oregon. It had been previously given as a bird of that country by Dr. Townsend, but is not in the collection of the Expedition. 2. Dafila bahahensis {Linn.). — The Bahama Pintail Duck. Anat bahamensit, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 199 (1766). Anat urophaiiantu, ViaoES, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 357 (1828). Catesby's Carolina, Birds, Plate XCIII; Ey ton's Monograph of Anatidaa, Plate XX. A fine specimen of this handsome species is in the collection, but is unfortunately without label, and we have not eucceeded in finding it mentioned in the notes or journals of the naturalists of the Expedi- tion. This species is well figured in Catesby's Carolina, as above cited, and stated to be an inhabitant of the Bahama Islands, but we have never seen a specimen obtained on the Atlantic coast of America. Mr. Vigors, in the paper above referred to, gives it as a bird of North- western America, and it has subsequently been observed on the coast of California. '5„ «c: 342 ORNITHOLOGY. 6. Genus MARECA, Stephen*, Gen. Zool. XII, p. 130 (1824). 1. Mareca AMERICANA {Gmeliii). — The American Widgeon. Anas americana, Gh. Syat. Nat. I, p. 526 (1788). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXIX, fig. 4 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXLV ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCLXXXIX. Mr. Peale states : " Was frequently seen on our route from the Columbia River to the Bay of San Francisco, in California, wherever we found fresh-water ponds." Strictly the same as the species of the Atlantic coast of the United States. 7. Gends QUERQUEDULA, Stephent, Gen. Zool. XII, p. 142 (1824). 1. QuERQUEDDLA CAROLiNENSis {Gmelin). — The Green-winged Teal. Anas carolinrmii, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 533 (1788). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXX, fig. 4 ; Aud. B. of Am. Fate CCXXVIII ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCXCII. This species is stated by both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale to be common in California and Oregon. The specimens in the collection of the Expedition apparently have a nearer relationship to the Querquedula crecaa, of the Old World, than : generally to be found in the American bird. This character, 1 owever, we have repeatedly noticed in specimens from Western America, of birds like the present having very similar European re- presentatives. NATATORES, 343 8. Genus SPATULA, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 564. 1. Spatula clypeata {Linn.). — The Shoveller, Ana$ clypeata, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 200 (1766). Buff. PI. Enl. 971, 972 ; Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXVII ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXXVll; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCXCIV. Specimens from Oregon are in the collection of the Expedition. According to Mr, Peale, this species was noticed also at the Islands of Hawaii and Oahu. 9. Genus FULIGIILA, Stephens, Gen. Zool. XII, p. 187 (1824). 1. FuLiGULA RUFITORQUES, Bonaparte. — The Ring-necked Duck. Fuliyxda rufitorque*, Bonap. Comp. List. p. 58 (1838). "Anas/vliyula," WiLSON, Am. Orn. VIII, p. 00. ' Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXVII, fig. 5 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXXIV; oct. ed. VI, Plate CUCXCVIII. Specimens from Oregon are precisely identical with others obtained on the coast of the Atlantic, Mr. Peale states that this bird did not appear to be common in Oregon. If it! 2. FuLiGULA MABiLA (/inn.). — The Scaup Duck. The Black-headed Duck. Anat marila, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 196 (1766). Buff. PI. Enl. 1002 ; Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXIX ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXXIX ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCXCVII. This species, according to Dr. Pickering, was noticed on the coast i'A r 844 ORNITHOLOGY. of Oregon, in October. No specimens being in the collection, it may be observed, however, that the smaller species {Fuligvla mariloides), nearly allied to this bird, has also been found on the western coast of North America, and is given in the Zoology of the Voyage ot the Blos- som, Ornithology, p. 31. Dr. Townsend gives Fvligula marUa, as a bird of Oregon. 10. GiNVB OIDEMIA, Fkminff, Phil. Zool. II, p. 260 (1822). 1. OiDEMiA PERSFiciLLATA {lAnti.). — The Surf Duck. Ana$ perspicittata, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 201 (1766). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXVII, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXVII ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCCII. On minute comparison between specimens from the Pacific, in the present collection, with others from the Atlantic coast, we find no dis- tinctive characters. Mr. Peale observes of this bird : " Common on the west coast of North America, with Oidemia fuaca, and extends its migrations further south. Never found but in the immediate vicinity of the sea, and as its name implies, generally in the surf." Dr. Pickering also records the occurrence of this species in Oregon. 2. Oidemia carbo {Ballaa). — The Velvet Duck. Ana$ carbo, Pallas, Zoog. Bosso-Asiatica, II, p. 244 (1881). Anui Deylandii, BoNAP. Oidemia velvetina, Oassin, Proo. Acad. Philad. V, p. 126 (1850). "Atuu/tuca, Linn." Anot. Amerioan. Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXXII, fig. 3; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXLVII ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCCI. Identical with the bird of the Atlantic coast, on comparison with specimens from Oregon in the collection of the Expedition. NATAT0RE8. 345 Mr. Peale states this species to be " common on the west coast of America, as far north as visited by the Expedition ; rare on the coast of California." This is the Duck alluded to by Mr. Peale in the preceding article as Oidemia fuaca. It is different from 0. fuaca, of the sea-coasts of Europe, but appears to be the species described by Pallas, as above, and which inhabits the coast of Northeastern Asia, and also of Northwestern America, as appears from the observations of the naturalists of the Exploring Expedition in the Yincennes and Peacock. 11. Genus MERGUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 207 (1766). 1. Mebgus Americanus, Gasain. — The American Merganser. The Shelldrake. Mergus AmericanHt, Oasbin, Proo. Acad. Philad. VI, p. 187 (1852). " Mergus merganter," Auct. Americas. Wilson, Am. Om. VIII, Plate LXVIII, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXXXI ; oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCCXI. f Dr. Pickering mentions the occurrence of this species on the coast of Oregon. 2. Mergus cucullatus, Linn. — The Hooded Merganser. Mergus cucullatus, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 207 (1766). Mergus fuscus, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, p. 832 (1790). Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, Plate LXIX, fig. 1 ; Aud. \.. of Am. Plate CCXXXII; Oct. ed. VI, Plate CCCCXIII. Relating to this bird, Mr. Peale states : " Observed from Puget's Sound on the northwest coast of America to San Francisco, in California. It may be said to be solitary in its habits, not more than a brooa .'sually remaining together. The young is covered with a rather coarse do.v i, of a sepiarbrowu color above, and white beneath ; the cheeks tawny ; bill green." 87 i I 346 ORNITHOLOGY. This is another of the rather numerous species which appear to in- habit the entire temperate regions of North America. It is now fre- quently brought in collections from California, and, from Mr. Peale's observations, is evidently a constant resident in the western countries of this continent. 2. Family COLYMBID^.— The Grebes, Divers, &c. 1. Genus PODICEPS, Latham, Ind. Om. II, p. 780 (1790). 1. PoDiCEPS CAUFOBNicus, Heermann. — The California Grebe. Pudiceps calt/omicus, Heermann, Proo. Acad. Philad. VII, p. 179 (1854). A specimen in the collection, like that described by Dr. Heermann, as above, is evidently in young plumage. The species, however, ap- pears to be quite distinct from any other of North America, and is, so far as we know, peculiar to the coasts of the Pacific. It has not been figured. The present specimen is labelled as having been obtained in Oregon, and this species is alluded to by Dr. Pickering as having been observed in the month of August, 1841. S. Family ALCIDiE. — The Auks, Guillemots, and Penguins. 1. Genus URIA, Moehring, Gen. Av. p. 67 (1752). 1. Uria columba {Bdlaa). — The Western Guillemot. Cepphui columba, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiatica, I, p. 348 (1811). , - " Uria griflle," AvoTonvii. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XXXVIII, fig. 1. Adult. ' Numerous fine specimens of this bird, from the coast of Oregon, are in the collection of the Expedition, and on comparison of them with NATATORES. 347 others of the Una grylle, from Northeastern America and Northern Europe, we find quite sufficient diflferences constantly presenting them- selves, to induce us to re-establish a species as distinct, under the name given by Pallas, as cited above. Though precisely of the same gene- ral colors as the European bird, and, so far as can be determined from skins, very nearly of the same size, the specimens now before us have the bill more slender, and the white patch on the wing is divided by a well-defined dark band from its lower edge, forming a conspicuous character, and to be instantly detected as peculiar to the present bird. The feet appear to be smaller, but in dried skins of swimming birds, we cannot regard this apparent character as reliable, unless very striking. The name given by the distinguished Russian naturalist, to whom we have alluded, there can be little doubt, applies to the species now before us. He states the locality as " In Oceano arctico, pariterque circa Camtscfiatcam et in omnifreto inter Siheriam et Americam, abundant, et uhique Jistulante voce exaudiunter," This bird appears to be of common occurrence on the northwestern coast of America. Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale record having observed it at various points, the latter also notices one of the charac- ters to which we have alluded. His observations are as follows : "Several specimens were obtained at Discovery Harbor, on the northwest coast of America, in May, at which time they were in sum- mer plumage, and agree with Mr. Audubon's description, excepting the greater wing-coverts, which are black at the base and tipped with white, which gives them an appearance of having two bars, one broad, and the other narrow, instead of a single white spot on the wings, as represented in his plate. This difierence is constant in all our speci- mens, and is found to be the same in others obtained on the Columbia River near its mouth." The figures in Mr. Audubon'^ plate (Birds of America, PI. CCXIX), represent specimens from Eastern America, and of Northern Europe. We give the present bird in our Atlas, rather smaller than the natu- ral size. Numerous specimens in the collection of the Expedition are in good preservation and mature plumage. m m 348 ORNITHOLOGY. 2. Gknus BRACHYRAMPHUS, Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Petersburg, I, p. (1887). 1. Brachtramphus antiquus (Omelin). — The Black-throated Guillemot. Alca anltqua, 6m. Syst. Nat. I, p. 554 (1788). Una Ktiicula, Pallas, Zoog. Ros. Asia, I, p. 367 (1811). Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCII, figs. 1, 2 ; oct. ed. VII, Plate CCCCLXX. In the collection of the Expedition, from the coast of Oregon. Dr. Pickering observes of this bird that it is a remarkably expert diver, remaining under the water for a length of time that would almost appear impossible. Excellent specimens are in the collection of the Expedition. 8. Gbnus FRATERCULA, Brisson, Orn. VI, p. 81 (1760). 1. Fratercula cirrhata {Omelin). — The Tufted Auk. Alca cirrhata, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 553 (1788). Buflf. PI. Enl. 761; Vieill. Gall. II, Plate CCXCIX; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCXLIX; oct. ed. VII, Plate CCCCLXII. Noticed by both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale as having been ob- served on the coast of Oregon, but not very frequently. The latter states : " Specimens of this singular bird were procured at Strawberry Bay, northwest coast of America, on the 29th of July. This is pro- bably the southern limit of this species in summer; further north it is more numerous. The feet and the anterior portion of the upper mandible in the living bird are rich orange-yellow color, the latter at the base olive ; lower mandible rich orange-red." Specimens of this bird, in the collection of the Expedition, appear to be identical with others from the northern shores of the Atlantic NATATORES. 349 Ocean. It appears to be widely diffused in the northern countries of both continents. 4. Genus OERATORHYNCHA, Bonaparte. 1. Ceratobhyncha monocerata {Pallaa). — The Horn-billed Guillemot. Alca monocerata, Fall. Zoog. Ross. Asiat. II, p. 862 (1811). Pkaieris cerorhyncha, BoNAP. Zool. Jour. Ill, p. 53 (1827). Cerorhyncha occidentalif, BoNAP. Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, II, p. 428 (1827). Ceratorhyncha occidentaKt, BoNAF. Comp. List. p. 66. Chimerina cornuta, EscHSOH. Zool. Atlas, Ft. Ill, p. 2 (1829). Eschscholtz, Zool. Atlas, Plate XII; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCCII, fig. 5; oct. ed. VII, CCCCLXXI. One specimen only of this bird, in immature plumage, is in the col- lection, and was obtained on the northwest coast of America. Mr. Peale notes, that the knob on the bill and lower mandible were orange color, " a black line along the culmen ; legs orange-colored, the toe membranes and nails black." Very fine specimens of this curious bird, now in the National Col- lection, were brought from Japan, by the United States Expedition to that Empire, commanded by Captain M. C. Perry, United States Navy. I I 6. Genob APTENODYTES, Fortler. m 1. Aptenodttes patachonica, Forster. — The Patagonian Penguin. The Great Penguin. Aptenodyte* patachonica, FoRSTER, Comment. Gottingensis, III, p. 137 (1781). " Aptenotlyles patagonCca, MiLLEB, III. Hist. Nat. tab. XX," Forster, ut tupra. Aptenodytet Fortteri, G. R. GRAY, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1844, p. 315. I'll m ?*&i Shaw and Mill. Cim. Phys. Plate XXIII (second edition) ; Shaw, 88 850 ORNITHOLOGY. Mus. Lev. Plate (not numbered) ; Penn. Gen. Plate XIV ; Forst. Coram. Gott. Ill, Plate II. A single specimen in the collection is of the species which appears to be that described by Forster, and to which Gray has given his name. It is in good preservation, and presents nothing unusual in its characters. Mr. Peale observes of this species : " Only one specimen of this bird was brought home. It was caught on the ice, in latitude 66° 52' S., longitude 160° 25' E. of Greenwich, on the 23d of January, 1840. Its stomach contained a quantity of basaltic pebbles, which were the first indication of Antarctic lands, at that time unknown." 6. Gbnus EUDYPTES, Vieillot, Anoljse, p. 67 (1816). 1. EuDYPTES PAPUA (Forfiffr). Aplenodjfte* papua, FoRST. Comment. Gott. Ill, p. 140 (1781). Aptenodyta Iceniata, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 264 (1848).* Coram. Gott. Ill, Plate III: VieiU. Gal. II, Plate CCXCIX; Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, Plate XXV. A specimen in the collection from Macquarie's Island, presents no other characters than have been described, and are represented in the figures cited above. It is in good plumage and preservation. Mr. Pecile remarks in allusion to this bird : * " Above block, mottled with blue-gray ; bcneutli white ; throat dark gray, a white spot above and behind each eye; bill slender, yellow ; feet yellowinh flcah-color; tail rather long, cuneate, composed of sixteen feathers, the four outer ones edged with white. " General aspect and size, that of the Long-tailed Penguin (A. longicauda), but the tail is not so long, the wings longer, and the bill couiparutively very long and slender; it has much larger feet and more slender nails. "Total length, thirty-three and nine-tenths inches; bill, two inches; along the com- missure, three and a half inches ; gonyx, four-fifths of an inch ; wings, ten and two- tenths inches long, two and two-tenths inches wide; tail, three and nine-tenths inches; outer feathers, two and two-tenths inches ; foot, five and two-tenths inches ; middle nail, eight tenths of an inch." NAT A TORE 8. 351 " Found breeding in great numbers on Macquarie's Island, in the month of January, with the Crested Penguin {A. chrysocome), but in separate communities. Lieutenant Eld, who procured the only speci- men brought home by the Expedition, says that the nests were so numerous as to cover many acres of ground, though placed close to- gether, and that the old birds were not willing or able to get out of the Wiiy, but would pick or bite the persons intruding. He thought it quite sufficient, after selecting specimens, to secure them by tying the legs of each one together, but in this he was disappointed, for in passing through the surf (as the boats could not land), his prisoners, all but one, escaped by swimming at a greater speed than their pur- suers could follow them in the boats, though their legs were well secured." 2. EuDYPTES ANTiPODA {Homh. and Jocq.). Calarrhactes antipodes, Homb. and Jacq. Ann. des Sci. Nat. XVI, p. 320 (1841), Aptenodyte»flavHarvata, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 260 (1848).* * " Subore8ted ; a yellow band crosses from the corner of the mouth to the occiput, which includes the eyes, and incloses the orown and front of tho head in the form of a mask} upper parts light blue-gray ; beneath white; bill and feet pale flesh-color ; tail short, cuneate, and consisting of twenty feathers ; bill moderately strong, the commis- sure nearly straight, but turning rather abruptly downwards at t uo corners of the mouth ; upper mandible compressed towards the ettremity and hooked, the edges much bent in- wards and sharp; nostrils not perceptible in the dried skin; under mandible compressed, slightly truncate; gonyx slightly rounded; eyes golden yellow; ophthalmic region covered with short orango-oolored feathers ; crown and front yellow; the shaft of each feather black, and elongated to a bristle-like appendage ; sides of the neck pale brown ; back blue-gray, the feathers having dark brown shafts ; wings the same color as the back, somewhat darker, and margined on both edges by a white line ; pure white beneath ; breast and belly pure white ; tail black, pointed, the shafts very flat and nearly as broad as the webs; legs and bill light pink or flesh-color, the nails red. Males and femalea alike in plumage, but differing in size, the female being largest. « Male. Total length, twenty-eight and six-tenths inches ; bill, one and nineteen- twentieths inches; along the commissure, three inches; wing, along the front edge, seven and nine-tenths inches ; foot, four and seven-tenths inches ; the fourth toe rudi- mentary, tho nail three-tenths of an inch ; long, slender, and curved ; the next toe shorter than the outer one. " Female. Total length, thirty-three and six-tenths inches; bill, two and three-tenths inches ; along the commissure, three and three-tenths inches ; wing, along the front edge, nine and two tenths inches ; tail, two and four-tenths inches ; the outer feathers, one inqh," m\ ^1. n 352 ORNITHOLOGY. Voyage Astrolabe and Zel^, Birds, Plate XXXIII, fig. 2. According to Mr. Peale : " This species was found in great numbers at the Auckland Islands, in the month of March. On shore, they were easily captured, and Dr. S. Holmes, of the U. S. Brig Porpoise, prepared the skins of a pair which ure now deposited with the National Collestions in the City of Washington." This is one of the finest species of this curious group of birds, and had singularly escaped the researches of voyagers and naturalists, until taken to Euroi^e by the naturalists of the Astrolabe and Zel^e, as above. It is handsomely nnd accurately figured in their Atlas, above cited. 3. EuDYPTES Adelia {BomJ}. and Jacq.). Calarrhactet Adelia, HoMB. and Jacq. Ann. Soi. Nat. XVI, p. 320 (1841). ApUnoiJj/te* lonijkaudata, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp, Birds, p. 261 (1848).'^ * " Throat, and all the upper parts blauk, beneath white ; tail long, cuneate, black, and consisting of fourteen feathers, which have strong, black, and elastic shafts ; bill stout, feathered nearly half its length ; commissure nearly straight ; upper mandible de- pressed, slightly hooked, and having a double cutting margin ; palate strongly armed with corneous pointed papilla;, directed towards the throat; under mandible compressed, slightly truncate ; nostrils membranous, valvular, and in the dried specimens scarcely discernible ; color reddish-brown ; piumoge dense, strong, glossy, about one inch and a half long, pointed ; the shafts very broad and flat ; white on the breast, and black on the back; back-feathers black at the extremities, and margined with blue; a very full coat of down envelopes the base of all the feathers; it is white on all the under parts, and fuliginous above ; wings black outside, with a white hinder margin, each feather edged with blue ; inside white, with a margin in front of black, scale-like plumage, which has merely a slight marginal web, not distinguishable by the unassisted eye ; feet flesh- colored ; the nails strong, rounded, rather blunt, and nearly straight, reddish-brown. " Total length, when killed, thirty-one inches (the stuffed skin measures thirty-three and a half inches) ; extent across the wings, twenty-three inches; bill, one and five-tenths inches; and from the feathers on the commissure and the under mandible, six-tenths of an inch beyond the feathers of the chin ; wings, seven inches long, two and two-tenths inches wide at elbow ; foot, four and one-tenth inches ; middle toe, including the nail, three inches ; nail, eight-tenths of an inch ; outer toe, half an inch longer than the inner, the fourth toe little more than a rudiment, half an inch long, including the nail, two- tenths of an inch ; tail, six and five-twentieths inches; the outer feathers two inches; the intermediate feathers regularly graduated. Male, obtained by Dr. S. Holmes, of the Brig Porpoise, lotitude 64° 40' S., and 103° 4' E. from Greenwich." NATATORES. 368 Voy. Ast. and Zel. Ois. Plate XXXIII, fig. 1. This is another of the most handsome birds of this group, and like the preceding, has only comparatively recently become known to naturalists. We much regret that we find so little in relation to these interesting and little-known birds recorded by the naturalists of the Expedition. They did not, however, accompany the Expedition on its cruise towards the South Pole, during which the great discovery was made of the Antarctic Continent, and on this cruise the birds now before us were noticed and specimens obtained. Mr. Peale observes with reference to this species : " These birds were not seen, excepting in the vicinity of ice in the Antarctic regions, south of the sixtieth degree of latitude. Their cry is loud, wild, and soniewhat human in sound. They frequently fol- lowed our vessels, apparently from motives of curiosity, making the most rapid progress beneath the surface, and frequently leaping en- tirely out of the water, and plunging again like porpoises, which in marks and actions they resemble. " Penguins generally, when migrating, have all the manners and appearance of small porpoises (Delphini). They pursue their course under water, rising to the surface to breathe, and frequently pitch themselves into the air above, falling head foremost into the sea again. They generally migrate in flocks." Numerous specimens in the collection of the Expedition are in ma- ture plumage and excellent preservation. This bird is very carefully represented in the Ornithological Atlas to the Voyage of the Astrolabe and Zel^e, as above cited. V. Genus SPHENISCUS, Briason, Orn. VI, p. 96 (1760). 1. Spheniscus magellanicus {ForsL). Aptenodytes magellam'cuii, FoBST. Comra. Gott. Ill, p. 143 (1781). Spheniicus Uumloldtii, Meyen, Nov. Act. XVI, p. 110, PI. XXI? Shaw and Mill. Cim. Phys. Plate XXXIV; Comm. Gott. Ill, Plate V. ''#1 '^sii In numerous specimens that we have examined of this bird, there 89 354 ORNITHOLOGY. is a marked difference in the size of the sexes, the female being the smaller. We regard it as probable that Sjtheniscxia Humhdldtii is the latter. Mr. Peile observes of this species : " Great numbers were seen at On nge Bay, and around Cape Horn. " They swim so deep in the water, that the black stripe along the sides rarely shows above the water-line. It is veiy difficult to kill them with shot, and quite impossible to catch them with a boat. " A female, fresh killed, measured two feet three inches long, and one foot eight and a half inches across the wings ; irides reddish-brown. The males are larger, and the young are without the black water-line. The voice of this species is powerful, and can be heard at great dis- tances, like that of the northern Loon (Cdi/mhus glacialis)." 2. Spheniscus demersus {Linn.). Diomedea demersa, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 214 (1766). Aptenodytea mngnirostru, Pkale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 263 (1848).* Edwards's Birds, Plate XCIV; Buff. PI. Enl. 382, 1005; D'Orb. Reg. An. Ois. Plate XC, fig. 3. ' ' . j| The only specimen of this species was obtained at Cape Horn, and is that of a young bird very nearly in the plumage represented in Edwards's Plate, cited above (fig, 2). We have, however, no doubt as to the ii'^x:ntity of the species. * " Bill large, fleshy near the base ; upper miindible with a short abrupt hook, fitting to a truncation at the extremity of the lower mandible ; goiiys short, black, the rest of the lower mandible brown, straight, and almost bare of feathers at base; above brown, beneath white ; throat light brown, a brown ring encircling the neck ; wings black above, white beneath, and having a black line on the radius ; feet cinereous, the nails large, strong, black, and much curved ; tail very short, consisting of sixteen feathers, which are hid by the coverts. "Total length, twenty-five and four-fifths inches; wing, along the front edge, eight and two-tenths inches; bill, along the keel, six and six-tenths inches; commissure, two and beven-tcnths inches; middle toe, including the nail, four inches; nail, eight-tenths of an inch '" NATATORES. 355 3. Spheniscus minob (Forster). Aptenodytes minor, FoRSTER, Comm. Gott. Ill, p. 147 (1781). Lath. Gen. Syn. Ill, Plate GUI ; Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plat© LXXXIV. Of this curious and handsome little Penguin, specimens of male and female are in the collection of the Expedition, though presenting no characters other than have i>een described by naturalists. It is one of the smallest of the birds of this group. Mr. Peale observes : " It is quite common in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand ; it is always to be found on salt water, and most plenty near the sea. It swims with greater velocity beneath the surface of the water than it does on it, which is not remarkable nor confined to this species, but is common to the genus. They subsist mostly on fishes, which have to be caught in their native element, so that the structure of the birl must be such as to enable it to pursue its prey with ease. Those killed by us were excessively fat." • According to Mr. Peale, this bird is called Korora by the natives. Sphe7ii8cu8 undina, Gould, though resembling the species now before us in general appearance, is smaller and entirely distinct. Specimens are in Mr. Gould's Australian collection, now in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, 4. Family PELECANID^.— The Pelicans, Cormorants, &c. 1. Gbnus PELECANUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 215 (17G6). 1. Pelecanus ertthrobiiynchds, Omelin. — The American White Pelican. Ml Pelecanus enjthrorhynchus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 571 (1788). Pekc.anm tmchyrhyavhxii, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, p. 884 (1790), Pelecunufi americanus, AuD. Orn. Biog. IV, p. 88 (1838). 356 ORNITHOLOGY. Museum Leverianum, Plate CCIX; Trans. Berlin Acad. 1838, Plate III; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCCXI; octavo edition, VII, Plate CCCCXXII. This bird, though of rare occurrence on the northern coasts of Eastern America, is not uncommon on the Pacific, throughout Cali- fornia and Oregon, at a higher latitude than it is commonly observed on the Atlantic. It was frequently noticed by the naturalists of the Expedition, and the specimens in the collection present no distinctive characters from others obtained in the Southern States on the At> lantic. Mr. Peale observes : " Specimens were obtained at Gray's Harbor, on the northwest coast of America, and this bird was again met with in the Bay of San Francisco, in California. Young birds are not purely white like the old ones, which have black primary quills, but they have more or less brown in their plumage, particularly on their wings. The young are destitute of the elevated ridge of the upper mandible, which in- creases with their age, and is a strong characteristic of the species." Dr. Pickering especially notices this bird as having been seen at the mouth of the Sacramento River, California, in considerable numbers. ' 2. Pelecanus Fnscus, Linn. — The Brown Pelican. Pclecanut fu»cu», LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 215 (1766). Felecanut carolinensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 571 (1788), ■ Edw. Birds, Plate XCIII ; Buff. PI. Enl. 957 ; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCLI, CCCCXXIj oct. ed. VII, Plates CCCCXXIII, CCCCXXIV. This species is also frequently mentioned by the naturalists of the Expedition, and appears to be abundant on the coast of the Pacific. Mr. Peale states with reference to this bird : *' Common on the northwest coast of America. We saw large flocks of this species in the Bay of San Francisco, in California, and also in the Bay of Calluo, in Peru. It may always be distinguished by its peculiar mode of plunging from th? air into the water, in pursuit of fishes, an exploit common in this bird, but which we have never seen NATATORES. 357 performed by the Rough-billed or White Pelican. It migrates iu flocks, which fly in diagonal lines." Dr. Pickering alludes to this species as having been observed in considerable numbers at the mouth of the Columbia River, usually in small flocks, and also in the Sacramento River. In his notes made during a boat-voyage up the latter, we find the following : " September 9th, 1841. Landed in various places, and once on a small rocky islet, where great numbers of Shags, Gulls, and Pelicans, had been disturbed at our approach. The last were not, however, so numerous as the former. Several Pelicans were seen fishing, which was accomplished with more grace and apparent success than would readily be supposed from tlie general appearance of this bird. In this instance, the wind was blowing rather freslily, and apparently somo what interfered with them. After sailing around a little while, the Pelican turns suddenly and darts obliquely into the water, appearing to use its pouch as a scoop. It does not dive deep, but reappears on the surface almost immediately. " The position of this bird when standing on the rocks sometimes seemed quite ludicrous, the neck being stretched upright as far as pos- sible, and the bill flexed vertically downwards. The neck and legs are not extended during flight, which somewhat reminded me of that of the Canada Goose, and the movement of the wings is in most respects similar, except the sailing at short intervals. All the Pelicans ob- served after passing a short distance up the Sacramento, appeared to be the Brown species, and I was rather surprised to see it abundant in a latitude so far north. " A pet Pelican spoken of by one of our party as having been kept on board of an American vessel, was represented as having been ex- ceedingly voracious and little less choice in its food than an Ostrich. It would swallow pieces of iron, stones, and other hard substances, and even though carefully watched, would sometimes steal the pork of a mess, and swallow the entire piece at once." 3, Pelecanus roseds, Omelin. — The East India Pelican. PekcanuB roseui, 6m. Syst. Nat. I, p. 670 (1788). Ftlrtnnus manUensix itphillppennis, Gm. Syat. Nat. I, p. 571 (1788). FilecaHUij'avanicus, IIoiisF. Traus. hiun. Soc. London, XIII, p. 197 (1822). Buff. PI. Enl. 9G5. 90 5f tl m m 358 ORNITHOLOGY. Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Feale mention having seen living spe- cimens of this fine species in confinement at Singapore. It appears to be abundant on the coasts of Asia and the Asiatic Islands. 2. Genus TACHYPETES, Vieill. Analyse, p. 68 (1816). 1. Tachypetes aquila {Linn.). — The Frigate Pelican. The Man-of-War Bird. Pfhcanui Aquilut, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 216 (1766). Buff. PI. Enl. 961; Spix. Av. Bras. II, Plate CV; Vieill. Gal. II, Plate CCLXXIV; And. B. of Am. Plate CCLXXI; octavo ed. VII, Plate CCCCXXI. m Though no specimen of this species is in the collection, it is fre- quently mentioned by the naturalists attached to the Expedition. This species is that which is found on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, from the coasts of the Southern United States and of the West Indies, thence throughout the entire extent of South America to Cape Horn. Its further range is yet undetermined ; the species which is the subject of our next article, having universally but erroneously been regarded as identical with the present bird by modern ornithologists and voyagers. The bird now before us is the largest of the species of this genus, and may readily be distinguished from others by this character, though in general form and in colors, there is almost complete similarity. In this bird the primary quills and feathers of the tail are remarkably wide, and the shafts strong. Dr. Pickering notices the bird now before us, as numerous at Rio de Janeiro. He observes : " This bird is common all over the Bay, presenting the appearance of a gigantic swallow, sailing leisurely around at no great height, occasionally Happing its wings, and sometimes descending not very gracefully, to pick up objects attracting its atten- tion on the surface of the water. It was by no means shy nor dlflicult to procure, and would frequently come down in the midst of the ship- ping lying at anchor, but would rise again immediately. It was not seen here outside of the Bay of Rio de Janeiro, on any occasion." #i NATATORES. . 359 2. Tachypetes Palmerstoni {Qmelin). — The Frigate Pelican of the Pacific. Pelecanut Palmerttoni, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 573 (1788). Form. — Generally similar to Tachypetes aquila, but rather smaller, and with the quills and feathers of the tail comparatively narrow. Gular pouch in males very large, pendant ; bill long, hooked ab- ruptly at the end, wide at base, somewhat depressed. Wings long, first primaries longest ; tail long, deeply forked ; feet and legs short, weak ; anterior toen united at base; tarsi very short; front feathers of the tibia long. Feathers of the neck behind and back long, lanceolate. Dimensions. — Male. Total length (of skin), about thirty -seven inches ; wing, twenty-one and a half inches ; tail, fifteen and a half inches ; bill, from corner of mouth directly to tip of upper man- dible, four and a half inches. Colors. — Adult male. Entire plumage black, with green, blue, and purple metallic lustre on the upper parts, especially observable on the back. Under parts paler, and without lustre. Quills black, tinged with ashy on their inner webs ; feathers of the tail black, slightly tinged above with ashy, paler beneath ; shafts of tail-feathers and of quills above and below, white at base. Bill (in dried skin), dark horn-color, tip yellowish-white. Gular pouch *' blood-red" (Peal6). Female. With a bare space on the throat, but without the gular pouch. Breast white. Other parts of plumage as in the male. Slightly larger than the male? Young. Head and neck white, strongly tinged with fulvous, espe- cially on the neck in front above the breast. Abdomen white ; breast black. Entire upper plumage of the body, the wings, and tail, black. Shoulders and some of the coverts of the wings paler and edged with ashy white. This species, which we have no hesitation in concluding to be that indicated by Gmelin and Latham, as .above cited, appears to be ex- clusively an inhabitant of the Pacific Ocean and its islands. In the collection of the Expedition, there are numerous specimens according m ■ ■m 360 ORNITHOLOGY. with each other exactly in their specific characters, and readily dis- tinguishable from the well-known species of the Atlantic coast. This bird was first described by Latham, from a specimen in the collection of Sir Joseph Banks, in General Synopsis of Birds, III, p. 592, as the " Palmerston Frigate Pelican," but without a systematic appellation. Subsequently, Gmelin named it I^lecanua Rilmeratoni, as above cited. Latham's specimen was evidently a female, and from the description, was quite identical with that sex of our present spe- cimens. From the preceding species, the bird now before us may be distin- guished by its inferior size, though not so small as Tachypetea Ariel, Gould. Its quill and tail feathers are much narrower, and its gular pouch much larger. The latter character may not, however, be en- tirely reliable specifically, as its greater development may be charac- teristic of the male of this species, and of others of its genus during the breeding season, and of a similar character to the increased size and apparently more excited condition of analogous appendages in various other birds at that period, as for instance, the domestic Turkey, and also the Wild Turkey of North America. Numerous birds have bare spaces and wattles on the head and neck, in all of which we sus- pect that the size, and in some measure the color of those appendages are dependent on the season. In the Pigeons of the Genus Carpo- phaga, the fleshy protuberances on the bill and its base, we much sus- pect, assume the sexual and seasonal character to which we allude. In a degree, this development of appendages in the breeding season, is iinalogous to the growth of horns in the Deers at the same period, and to be lost when it subsides. • Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale frequently allude to the present bird, and though generally under the head of Ihchypetee aquila, both intimate doubts respecting the identity of the birds of the Atlantic and of the Pacific Oceans. Mr. Peale's observations are especially in- teresting and valuable, and as they undoubtedly mainly relate to the species now before us, we lay them entire before the reader : " This remarkable bird seems to occupy the entire intertropical cir- cuit of the globe. We saw it at all the coral islets which we passed or visited in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is to be regretted that we have not the means of comparing specimens collected in different localities (ours were all collected in the Pacific Ocean) ; for, notwith- NATATORES. 361 standing the great similarity of appearance in those of the two great oceans, we think there is some difference in their habits." " On the east coast of America, the Frigate Pelican or Man-of-War Hawk, is a common scavenger in almost every harbor. It frequents the landing-places near the markets, and is most numerous near the haunts of man ; while in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, we observed it most plentiful on uninhabited islands. " At Honden or Dog Island, one of the Dangerous Archipelago, the numbers of birds of various kinds found breeding on the 20th of August, were so great, that our readers would doubt the enumeration, were it attempted. The nests were on the trees, bushes, ground, and even amongst the masses of broken coral thrown up by the sea. The birds were so unsuspicious, that in some instances we had to lift them off their nests with our hands, in order to examine the eggs ; the con- fusion of sounds made the place a perfect Babel. The most conspi- cuous were Frigate Birds, the nests of which, constructed of a few sticks only, covered many of the trees by their numbers. The hoarse croaking and screaming as we disturbed them, were incessant. Both males and females were observed sitting on their single egg, which is of a bluish-white color. The largest egg selected measures two and eight-tenths inches long, by one and eight-tenths inches in diameter ; the smallest two and four-tenths inches long, by one and seven-ten' inches in diameter. The males inflated their gular pouches to the size of a child'_. head, and flew with it inflated and pendent from their necks, presenting a r.iost singular appearance, the pouch being of a olood-red color; the voice is guttural, loud, and hoarse. The old males are of a uniform dark plumage, and can always be distinguished by the long pointed and iridescent plumage of their backs. The females have a white breast. The young have, in addition to the white breast of It/ c mother, a white head, which is usually tinged with ferruginous yellow ; those in the nests are covered with a fine snow-white down, sometimes stained yellowish about the bill ; the young feathers as they shoot through the down on their backs, bemg large and dark-colored, present a singular contrast to the white down. " Both sexes are very noisy when their nest is approached, yet at Honden Island, they suffered us to take them off the branches of the trees with our hands. From the weakness of their small feet and legs, when sitting on a branch, they are obliged to balance their bodies in a horizontal position. ^1 fS(' *.", ,irA\ i3 362 ORNITHOLOGY. pal " Frigate Pelicans were seen in the month of January, on Enderby's Island, and as it was destitute of trees, they had constructed their rude nests on the ground. We are led to conclude, from the fact that fresh eggs were obtained in each place, and young birds found in various stages of growth, in the months of January and August, besides others seen at intervening periods, that they have no fixed season devoted to their broods in equatorial regions. " Mr. Audubon, who visited the breeding-places of the Frigate Peli- cans, on the Florida Keys, which are coral islets analogous to those of the Pacific Ocean, did not observe the males in the breeding season to have the habit of inflaiing the gular pouch, a habit which struck all of us who visited their nests on the coral islets of the Pacific Ocean, as very remarkable, from their singular and bloody appearance. And as he remarks, * they are extremely silent,' we are led to believe that there may be specific differences between the Frigate Birds of the two great oceans, which have not yet been detected. They are the most noisy, excepting the Terns {Sterna), of all the birds we saw breeding on the coral islets of the Pacific Ocean. Their incubating a single egg in regions near the equator, and two or three, * more frequently the latter number,' as Mr. Audubon remarks, in Florida, may be in consequence of the variation of climate, which limits them to one breeding season; but the bloody-looking pouch, and the scolding croak, would always, we should suppose, betray the identity to per- sons visiting their nests. " The subjoined wood-cut is from a sketch of a male Tachypetea ob- tained at Honden Island, in the Pacific Ocean, and represents the ap- pearance of the gular pouch when inflated. The manner of inflation is like that of the Cropper Pigeon." Dr. Pickering notices this bird at various localities in the Pacific Ocean, and especially as occurring in large numbers at Wilkes's Island, and at Sydney Island, in addition to the localities given by Mr. Peale. He mentions having repeatedly observed it soaring at an immense height in the air. It is probable that besides the two species now given, the natural- ists of the Expedition may have seen another, the Tachypetea Ariel, Gould, though we are not able to determine that point from the notes and journals in our possession. Dr. Pickering does, however, in seve- ral instances, remark, that specimen^ seen by him were unusually small; and such may have been the species to which we now allude, NATATOBES. 363 the much smaller size than either of the preceding being its essential distinguishing character. Under date of July 19th, lat. 13° 38' S., long. 89° 24' W., we find the following in Dr. Pickering's Journal : "At 10 J A. M. two Frigate Birds were seen, which appeared desirous of alighting, but after hovering around the Vincennes and the Por- poise for some time, disappeared. We saw nothing of this bird at Cal- lao, nor at Valparaiso, and were at a loss to conjecture where they could have come from, as we had only heretofore noticed it in the vicinity of land. The species seemed to be different from the Bra- zilian, and smaller. The head and under parts of the body white in both specimens. Nearest land 660 miles." The small species alluded to above as Tachypetes Ariel, Gould, is very probably the same as Pehcanus minor, Graelin. BEAD OK TACHYPETES PALMERSTONI, 3. Genus SULA, Brhmn, Orn. VI, p. 495 (1760). 1. SuLA FIBER {Linn.). — The Brown Gannet. The Booby, Pclecanus Fiber, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 218 (1766). Pelecanut Sula, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 218 (1766). Pelecanus parvus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 579 (1788)? Sulafmca, ViElLL. Gal. II, p. 194 (1825). Sula brasilieims, Spix. Av. Bras. II, p. 83 (1825). Sula mutralis, Stephens, Gen. Zool. XIII, p. 104 (1826), Catesby's Carolina, Plate LXXXVII; Vieill. Gal. II, Plate 364 ORNITHOLOGY. m m CCLXXVII; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCVII; oot. ed. VII, Plate CCCCXXVIj Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LXXVIII. One of the most extensively diffused of aquatic birds, being found abundantly on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the southern portion of the continent of America, and throughout the Pacific Ocean to the coasts of Asia. It frequents the islands near the coast of Flo- rida, and others in the Gulf of Mexico in large numbers, and at those localities rears its young, and also quite as numerously and for the same purpose, many islands in the Pacific Ocean. After close examination of a large number of specimens from locali* ties widely remote from eich other, we find no specific difierences. This bird is thus mentioned by Mr. Peale : " Brown Boobies were found breeding on nearly all the coral islands visited by the Expedition, while in the Pacific Ocean. Their nests were constructed of sticks and weeds, on bushes and low trees, and were generally found to contain but one egg, of a bluish-white color. They take their food, which consists entirely of fishes, by plunging after it like the Terns (Sterna), and very frequently they are seen coursing the ocean at great distances from land, which renders the following incident the more remarkable. " While exploring Enderby's Island, which is of coral formation, we found a fiill-pluinaged bird of this species, that is, one having a white breast, which indicated that it was several years old, at least a quarter of a mile from the shore, and on picking it up, we were sur- prised to find that it had but one wing, the other having been, by some accident, taken off" close to the body. The wound was perfectly healed ; the bird in excellent health and very fat ! It was fed by its comrades, which were younger birds, as indicated by the brown plumage of their breasts, and they continued, while we were near, to display all the careful anxiety of parents." Dr. Pickering first mentions this species as having been noticed in the Bay of Kio de Janeiro. lie says it was "common near the mouth of the Bay, and apparently by no means deserving the name of * Booby,' which has been bestowed on it. Its flight is very easy, and it fre- quently dives directly into the water, disappearing entirely for some moments." He again notices it at various localities, and as particu- larly abundant at Aurora Island, in the month of September. On the Atlantic coast of North America, this species is found as far NATA TORES. 365 north as the coast of Georgia. Specimens from various localities are in the collection of the Expedition. The Prince Bonaparte, in his Monograph of the Pelecanidae, in Conspectus Avium, Vol. II, p. 164, regards this species as generically distinct from that immediately succeeding, and adopts for it the name Dysporxis, lUiger. He regards also the name Rlecanua parvus, Gme- lin, as applicable to the American Bird, the only difference between which and that of other countries, is stated to be the smaller size of the former. We have not succeeded in detecting any reliable distinc- tive characters in the specimens in our possession. 2. SuLA CAPENSis, Lkhtenstehi. " Suhi capensis, LiCHT." Bonap. Consp. Av. II, p. 165 (1855). " Suta melanura, Temm." Bonap. ut lupra. Reich. Vollst. Naturg. Birds, Plate LIV, figs. 2292, 2293. Dr. Pickering notices the occurrence of this species at the Cape of Good Hope. We do not find it in the collection of the Expedition, but specimens in various stages of plumage are in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, from Southern and Western Africa, all of which constantly present the specific characters relied on by natural- ists as distinguishing it from iSula bassana. The most obvious character is the color of the tail, which is black in the present species, and white in that just mentioned. In size and general appearance the two species much resemble each other. *■ ^ 33 WIST MAIN STRUT V"^Kfei.',N.Y. M5M (/t«) •72-4503 w i 366 ORNITHOLOGY. Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LXXIX; Reich. VoUst. Naturg. Birds, Plate LIII, fig. 853, Plate LV, fig. 2294. Specimens of this handsome Gannet, are in the collection of the Expedition, from several localities. They are in various stages of plu- mage, but are strictly the same specifically as Mr. Gould's specimens, now in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy. The latter are from Raine's Island, from Northern Australia, and other localities in the Pacific Ocean, and from China. Other specimens in the collection of the Academy are from the Indian Ocean, and were presented by its eminent member, Joseph Carson, M.D., Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Pennsylvania, who, during a voyage to China, made a valuable collection. This species has, therefore, evidently a very extensive range of locality, and is perhaps, the most widely diffused species of this genus, except the Brown Gannet {Sula fusca). It is represented as very abundant in and about the islands north and east of Australia, and we have ample evidence of its abundance also at numerous other locali- ties, as we shall show in the statements of the naturalists of the Ex- ploring Expedition in the course of the present article. Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale frequently note the occurrence of tbis bird, the latter of whom, who rather unaccountably regards it as an undescribed species, thus alludes to it : '' This is the most showy as well as the most common species of Booby, that occurs in the Pacific Ocean. It appeu:i to be confined to the intertropical regions, but ranges from the shores of America to those of Asia. white (which distinguishes it from S. piscator at first sight, its tail being black) ; bill deeply serrated, of a pale blue color, margined at the base by a bright red and wrinkled skin ; cheeks blue ; eyelids green ; irides brown ; gular pouch intense black ; feet bright vermilion-red ; middle toe-nail much flattened, curved laterally, and deeply pectinated on the inner edge. "Total length, twenty-eight and a half inches; extent of wings, fifty-nine inches; bill, three and two-tenths inches ; commissure, four and one-tenth inches ; tarsi, one and four-tenths inches; middle toe, including the nail, three inches; nail, seven-tenths of an inch ; tail, eight and a half inches ; outer feathers, four and three-tenths inches. << The young when first hatched are covered with a very white down ; their first plu- mage is entirely brown, clouded with hoary, but the color soon becomes lighter about the head, neck, breast, and tail. The neck and tail next become white, and finally the whole plumage, excepting the greater feathers of the wings. These changes require several years." it IS: NATAT0RR3. 367 " At Honden Island, we found them, on the 21st day of August, constructing their nests, in great numbers, on bushes from four to six feet above the ground, thj materials used were weeds, and the struc- ture w?i8 rude. They had not then began to lay their eggs, but were so unsuspicious that we took as many as were wanted, in different stages of plumage, from the bushes with our hands. Sometimes they fought, rather than leave their nests, uttering a hoarse grunting cry, and biting severely, and aiming their blows at our eyes when not carefully guarded. " Amongst many hundred pairs, at the island above named, all pre- paring to raise broods, we saw but about a dozen with the pure white plumage, which is the dress of the mature birds." " At Enderby's Island, we found them with nests on the bushes in the same manner as at Honden Island, but constructed of different materials, dry sticks being used in the place of weeds. It was in the month of January. Some of the nests contained a newly laid egg, others contained young birds in various stages of growth. It was very rarely that we found two young birds or two eggs in the same nest, but almost always a single one of either. " The young when first hatched are covered with a very white down ; their first plumage is entirely brown, clouded with hoary, but the color soon becomes lighter about the head, neck, breast, and tail. The neck and tail next become white, and finally the whole plumage, except the greater feathers of the wings ; these changes requiring several years." Dr. Pickering alludes to this bird as abundant at Gardner's Island, and as stated by Mr. Peale, always building its nest in trees or bushes. " The egg," he observes, " is single and smaller than that of the larger white species {Sula personata), and more elongated. It is white, with a bluish tint." He mentions it as abundant also at McKean's Island, at Sydney Island, and at Wake's Island, and as having been seen also at the Philippines. '.Numerous specimens, in adult and young plumage, and from various localities, are in the collection of the Expedition. This bird is very handsomely and accurately represented in Mr. Gould's plate in his splendid work on the Birds of Australia, cited above. 368 ORNITHOLOGY. 4. SuLA PERSOXATA, QouM. — The Masked Gannet. Snla personata, GouLD, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1846, p. 21. " Sula piscator, Lath." Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 278 (ed. 1848). " Sula cyanops, SuNDEVAL," Bonap. Consp. At. II, p. 166. Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LXXVII; Reich. Vollst. Naturg. Birds, Plate LIV, figs. 2289, 2290, 2291. This handsome species of Gannet, first brought to the notice of naturalists by the eminent English ornithologist, Mr. Gould, is men- tioned as having been observed in large numbers by the naturalists of the Expedition. Though noticed at various localities, it was found most abundant at Honden Island and Enderby's Island, in both of which it was engaged in the duties of incubation. Apparently, or so far as is known, this species inhabits an extent of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, of which Northern Australia is the southwestern limit, and is more abundant in the northern and eastern portion of its range, at least during the season devoted to rear- ing its young. It is possible, however, that it may occur as nume- rously on the eastern coast of Australia, the zoology of which has been but partially investigated. Specimens, in the collection of the Expedition, of this bira in various stages of plumage, precisely correspond with the originals from which were drawn Mr. Gould's description and figures, as above cited, and which are now in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Mr. Gould's specimens are marked as having been collected at Raine's Island,* in Torres' Straits, and are so alluded to in bis splendid and elaborate work, '' The Birds of Australia." Mr. Peale states with reference to this species : " This bird was first seen by the Expedition on the 20th of July, in latitude 13° 30' 28" S., and longitude 89° 25' W. One month after- wards, it was found in great numbers at Honden Island, one of the most eastern of the Paumotu Group. They were sitting on a single egg each, one bird only having two eggs ; they had no nest whatever, not even a cavity scratched in the sand. Flat, dry, sandy beaches ■•■ << A vegetated sandbank in the line of the Qreat Barrier Reef." Mr. McGillivray, iu Gould's Birds of Australia. NATAT0BE8. 369 were selected on the shores of the lagoons which are commonly found in coral islands, where, under some low bush, the female lays her egg on the bare ground, and is assisted by the male in the oflBce of incu- bation. They remain very gravely at their stations, disregarding the enormous land crabs, the Frigate Birds, or even man, who is the terror of most animals. We pushed many of these birds oflF their nests with the muzzles of our guns, to see whether they had more than one egg to each pair of birds ; they fought and scuffled with the offensive weapon, but returned the moment it was withdrawn. One or two were suffi- ciently cunning, after a first attempt, to bite our hands in place of the gun-barrel. They hissed like the domestic Goose, and have besides, a very coarse croaking voice. " The egg is two and six-tenths inches long, and one and eight-tenths inches in diameter, equally rounded at both ends in some, while others r t somewhat pointed at one end; the color is bluish-green inside, and covered outside with a dry, rough, white coating, showing the color of the interior through it. This outside coating is probably soft at first, because most of the eggs are coated more or less with coral sand, in- corporated with the surface of the shell. " The young of tl is species are covered with a fine white down, and when first hatched, resemble a powder-puff with a black handle, the latter being represented by their black bills. The feathers after- wards come out of an ash-color, and are not spotted with white, like the Gannets of the north {Sida bassamis). " The seasons for incubation do not seem to be very regular. We found them sitting and hatching, at Euderby's Island, in the month of January, and the same was observed at other places at intermediate seasons. " We never saw this bird construct a nest in trees like the following species, nor is it so numerous, ':ut is generally seen in the same parts of the Pacific Ocean lying between the Paumotu Islands, and the coast of Asia." This bird is frequently mentioned in Dr. Pickering's journal, and is particularly noticed by him as abundant at Gardner's Island, at McKean's Island, and at Wake's Island. At Gardner's Island he ob- serves that it was found in large numbers, and engaged in the duties of incubation. " Thp eggs were always laid on the ground with little or no semblance of a nest, and in one instance only, two eggs were observed together, and belonging to one female. In all other cases 93 ^m 370 ORNITHOLOGY. one egg or young bird only was observed, and tbe parent birds gene- rally would not leave their progeny unless compelled by force." Dr. Pickering also records having noticed this species at sea, after the Expedition left the Sandwich Islands, in longitude 167° SC west. This fact we are the more particular in stating, as this species may yet be found to be an inhabitant of the Pacific coast of the United States, the locality last mentioned being the nearest to the coast of North America, of any given by the naturalists of the Expedition. The Prince Bonaparte, in Conspectus Avium, II, p. 166, adopts for this species the name Sula cymiopa, Sundevall, in preference of Sula peraonata, Gould, intimating the priority of the former, but citing no description. We have not succeeded in finding any name for this bird previous to that proposed by Mr. Gould, as given at the head of the present article. 4. Qenvs CARBO, Lacepede. 1. Carbo magellanicus {Gmelin). — The Cape Horn Cormorant. Pelecanut magellanicm, Om. Syst. Nat. I, p. 576 (1788). Phalacrocorax erj/thropi, KlNG, Proo. Zool. Soo. Loudon, 1831, p. 30. *' Phalacrocorax leucotu, CuviER," Bonap. Gonsp. Av. II, p. 177. In the collection of the Expedition are several specimens, which ap- pear to be clearly this species, though presenting some striking varia- tions in plumage. This is the case, however, with so many species of Cormorants with which we are acquainted, that we regard the conclu- sion as inevitable, that changes in tic plumage of different ages of the same species, and sexual and seasonal changes also, take place to an unusual exten ; in this group. In the present bird, we can readily distinguish three 'vell-marked stages of plumage: First. Throat, with a white longitudinal band ; spot on the ears white. Head, neck, entire upper parts, sides (under the wings), large spot on the flanks, and tibiae, black, with a greenish and purple gloss, most observable on the head and back ; sides and flanks with white lines. Under parts from the neck white ; under tail-coverts black. Lores, space around the eyes, and at the base of the under mandible, naked. Total length of prepared specimen, about twenty-eight inches; wing, ten and a half inches ; tail, six inches. NATATORBS. 871 Thia appears to be the most mature plumage, and is that described by Gmelin and Latham (Gen. Synopsis, III, p. 604), King, as above, and Forster (Desc. An. p. 356). Second. Like the preceding in all respects, but without the white spots on the ears. Plumage not so glossy and tinged with brownish on the upper parts. Longitudinal band on the throat more restricted but well defined. Third. Entirely black ; abdomen with a few white feathers ; lon- gitudinal band of white on the throat well defined ; no white spots on the ears. Plumage glossy, as described above. Bare space at the base of the mandibles more limited. The last appears to be precisely identical specifically with both of the preceding, showing no other different character than that the under parts are black instead of white. In size and measurements of all the parts, these specimens correspond with each other. The black pluma3e of the under parts here alluded to, we have not seen pre- viously described as applicable to this species, Phalacrocorax niger, King, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 101, being clearly not this bird, but a much larger species. The present species inhabits the shores of Western and Southern South America, and, according to Dr. Pickering, was abundant at Orange Harbor, Tierra del Fuego. Perhaps no birds of the group of swimming birds, have been assigned to a greater number of genera, nor more variously and promiscuously named than the Cormorants. The present species has been regarded as belonging to the genera Pde-canvs, Pivalacrocorax, Hypoleucua, Carlo, and Oraculus, of authors, and ultimately is rated, by the Prince Bona- parte, as a recruit in his new genus Urile, Conspectus Avium, II, p. 175 (1855). This is the tenor of the latest advices on the subject. n 2. Cabbo atbiceps (King). Phitlacrocorax alriceps, King, Zool. Jour. IV, p. 102 (1828). Carbo Bowjainvillii, Lesson, Voy. Thetis and I'Esperance, II, p. 331 (1837) ? Reich. VoUst. Naturg. Birds, pi. LX, figs. 2309, 2310? Several specimens from Tierra del Fuego, in the collection, are of the species described by the authors whom we have cited. We can- 372 ORNITHOLOGY. not determine, however, that this species is identical with G. carun- culaluB (Gmelin), though such a conclusion has been adopted to some extent by ornithologists. This species is larger than the preceding, with a similar longitudi- nal stripe on the throat, but of greater extent. Under parts white, which color extends upwards on the neck, leaving between its termi- nation and that of the white stripe on the throat, a narrow, transverse band of glossy black, with a blue lustre, which is the color of the head and neck behind. Back, wing-coverts, and shorter quills brown, with a greenish and bronzed lustre ; middle of the back and rump, greenish-blue. Sides (under the wings), and large space on the flanks and tibiae, deep black, with a bluish lustre ; under tail-coverts black. Feet light colored. Total length of prepared specimen, about thirty- one inches; wing, eleven and a half inches; tail, four and a half inches. This is apparently a more mature plumage than the succeed- ing. Younger ? Under parts from the base of the lower mandible white. Upper parts like the preceding, but tinged with brown on the head and neck, and much less glossy. We find no notes, relating to either this bird or the preceding, placed on record by either of the naturalists of the Expedition, and like the preceding species, the present has not been figured in the plumages which we regard as most mature, and we have doubts whether the figures of Reichenbach, cited above, are really of this species. The description, however, of Garho Bougainvillii, as above, seems to be ap- plicable to our present bird, and the name synonymous with Phdla' crocorax atrkepe, as given at the head of this article. This species is arranged by the Prince Bonaparte, as belonging to his Genus Urile, in his Monograph of the Phalacrocoracidae, in Con- spectus Avium, II, p. 176. Specimens in good preservation are in the collection of the Expedition. 3. Carbo hypoleucus, 5m/jaf<. Carlo hypohucut, Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Petersburg, I, p. 55 (1837). P«/ecanu« j)ic-a, FoR8T£R, De8c. An. p. 105 (1844). Carbo /ucoBtu, Peale, Zool. Exp. Esp. Birds, p. 268 (first edition, 1848).'" *«Head, back of neck, and thighs, dark olive-green; cheeks, throat, and ail the under parts of the neck and body, white ; wings and scapulars gray, each feather edged NATATORBS. Gould, B. of AuBt. VII, Plate LXVIII. 373 Several specimens of this handsome species, from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, are in the collection. They are precisely as described by Mr. Gould, as above, and figured in his magnificent work on the Birds of Australia. We cannot coincide in the reference of this bird to Bilecanua varitta, Gmelin, which has been done by excellent authorities in Ornithology ; but to us, Gmelin and Latham's descriptions seem applicable, with a greater degree of propriety', to the succeeding. It is, however, referred to that species by both Bonaparte, in Conspectus Avium, and Beichen- bach, in Vollst. Naturg., and by other authors. It appears to be a common bird of the coasts of New Zealand and Australia. This bird is the type of the Genus Hypdeucw, Beichenbach, adopted by the Prince Bonaparte, in Conspectus Avium, II, p. 173. It is pos- sible that it is not specifically difierent from that immediately suc- ceeding, in which case, Gmelin's name is probably to be adopted. 4. Cabbo leucogasteb {Qould). Phalacrocorax kucogatter, GoULD, Proc. Zool. Soo. London, 1837, p. 15G. Pehcanui varius, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 676 (1788) ? Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LXIX. Very considerably resembling the preceding, but larger. The spe- cimen in the collection of the Expedition, as well as those in Mr. Gould's collection, now in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, have the appearance to us of being in immature plumage, from which fact we do not feel assured in attempting to point out distinguishing with dark olive-green ; tail dark gray, nearly black ; shafts black ; bill black, with a brown tip ; feet black ; irides green ; lores blue, with a yellow spot at the base of the bill ; corners of the mouth, base of the lower mandible, and pouch, red. " Total length, two feet five and a half inches ; extent of wings, three feet seven and one-fourth inches; wing, from the carpal joint, ten and eight-tenths inches ; tail, five and four-tenths inches ; tarsus, one and nine-tenths inches ; outer toe, three and a half inches; bill, two and four-tenths inches; to the angle of the mouth, three and six-tenths inches." Peale, as above. ^ 94 '1* ' 874 ORNITHOLOGY. charactera, or even in concluding that this bird is certainly different from the last. The specimens are, however, apparently constantly larger. To this bird, in immature plumage, Gmelin's name, cited above, ap- pears to be applicable. The present specimens are from New Zealand. Like the preceding, the present bird is included by the Prince Bona- parte in his recent Monograph, in the Genus Hf/pokuciu, Reichenbach. He regards this species, and not the preceding, as Carlo hypoleucua, Brandt. We have the misfortune of not coinciding in manner and form as the case stands, but we are not without a suspicion that both are correct, the difference being in names, or perhaps nominal species only. I 5. Carbo sulcirgstris, Brandt. Carlo lulcirontrit, Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Petersburg, I, p. 66 (18S7). Varbo purpuraijula, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 2G9 (first edition, 1848).* Microcarbo ttictocephalus, BoNAP. Consp. At. II, p. 178 (1855). Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LXVII. Spec in the collection of the Expedition are stated to have been kili^. ''at Manua Bay, New Zealand, in the month of March, where they frequent the fresh-water or brackish creeks." This note, by Mr. Peale, is the only reference to this interesting little species, that we find in the journals of the naturalists of the Expedition. This bird is regarded by the Prince Bonaparte, in his recent Mono- graph (Consp. Av. II, p. 178), as not the true Garbo eulciroatria, Brandt, and he accordingly proposes a new name for it, as above. We continue it, however, as given by Mr. Gould, in Birds of Australia, * " Head, nock, and body, black, with an olive-green metallio gloss; wings and tail black ; shafts black ; scapulars and wing-coverts purplish- gray, each feather edged with black ; secondaries having their webs waved, somewhat like the Darters (Plotua) ; bill bluish horn-color ; the upper mandible brownish ; eyelids and gular pouch purple ; irides green. " Total length, twenty-four inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, ten and three-tenths inches ; tail, five and three-tenths inches ; the outer feathers, three and eight-tenths inches ; bill, one and eight-tenths inches ; to the comers of the mouth, two and siz- tenths inches; tarsi, one and seven-tenths inches; outer toe, three inches; nail, three- tenths of an inch; hind toe, one and two-tenths inches ; nail, three-tenths of an inch." NATAT0RE8. 876 above referred to, but if this bird is erroneously designated aukiroatrU, the name having priority is that of Mr. Peale, above given. This species belongs to the group, probably subgeneric in value only, denominated Haliaeua or Microcarbo, by Bonaparte (" Haliaeus, Bp. ex 111. Microcarbo si videbitur"), Conspectus Avium, II, p. 177. It is one of the smallest species of the Cormorants. 6. Cabbo brevirostris {Qould), Phalaerocorax hrevirottrit, QouLD, Proc. Zool. Soo. London, 1887, p. 26. Carlo ftavagula, Feale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 270 (first ed. 1848).* Reich. VoUst. Naturg. Birds, Plate LX, fig. 2308. A very handsome small species, much resembling that immediately preceding, and from which we do not feel fully assured that it is dis- tinct. The present specimen is, however, clearly the species described by Mr. Gould, as above. According to Mr. Peale : " The specimens were procured at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, where we found them more common than the Purple-throated Cormo- rant, which was also observed there." This bird differs from the last mainly in the rather shorter bill, and the lighter colors of its plumage, but in size and other characters, it is quite similar. Specimens in the present collection, and in the Mu- seum of the Philadelphia Academy, have not, to us, tlie appearance of mature birds. Both this and the preceding species are mentioned by Dr. Pickering as having been observed at the Bay of Islands, and as frequenting the same description of locality, if not associating together. * " Head, neck, and body, dark sepia-brown ; wings dark gray, the primaries very much curved inwards, black, with a greenish gloss ; secondaries and coverts with the usual dark edges ; tail long, slender, rounded, the feathers attenuated at the tip, and pointed, black ; shafts black ; bill horn-color ; lores and pouch bright yellow ; irides brown ; feet black. " Total length, twenty-two and six-tenths inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, nine and four-tenths inches ; tail, six and four-tenths inches ; outer feathers, four and two- tenths inches ; bill, one and two-tenths inches ; to the corners of the mouth, three and three-tenths inches ; tarsi, one and three-tenths inches ; outer toe, including the nail, two and seven-tenths inches ; nail, three-tenths of an inch ; inner toe, including the nail, one and three-tenths inches ; nail, four-tenths of an inch." 87S ORNITHOLOGY. 7. Carbo' Oaimardii (69bmo<). i%fceaniij Oaimardii, Oarnot, Voy. Goquille, Zool. I, p. 601 (1826). Pkalaerocorax cirriger, KiMO, Zool.. Jour. IV, p. 108 (1828). Voy. Coquille, Birds, Plate XL VIII ; Reich. Vollst. Naturg. Birds, Plate LXI, fig. 370. Excellent specimens of this bird are in the collection of the Expe- dition. It is remarkable for the light and delicate ash-color of its plumage, and is now well known as a common species of Western South America, though it appears to have escaped the attention of the earlier naturalists. According to Dr. Pickering, this handsome Cormorant is of quite frequent occurrence on the coast of Chili and Peru, and breeds on the Island of San Lorenzo. With reference to the latter fact, we make the following extract from his journal : " We were surprised at the variety and great numbers of the sea- birds constantly to be seen in the harbor of Callao, attracted appa- rently by the abundance of fishes. On the south side of the Island of San Lorenzo, we found iV ' breeding-places of several of these birds, on clifis almost inaccessible. Each species seemed to have a village or district appropriated for itself. That of the iSkema inca was the most extensive, and it was most numerous. Next came the White- headed Booby, and further on to the westward, was the district of the Oarbo Oaimardii. Of this bird, some of the nests contained eggs, while in others were to be seen young birds in various stages, some half grown, and others just ready to fly ; always in pairs, so far as came under our observation." This is another of the species of Cormorants which have troubled orniihologists to provide for in generic arrangement. It has been yarioiisly assigned to the genera Bilecanus, Phalacrocorax, Oarbo, Qror^ culuB, and Hypoleucus, and is the type of the new Genus Slicticarbo, Bonaparte, Conspectus Avium, II, p. 174. In form and other general characters, it is very similar to several other and dark-colored species, and is probably only entitled to a subgeneric distinction. It is one of the most handsome birds of this family, and is accurately represented in the plate of the Zoology of the Voyage of the Coquille, above men- tioned. NATATaRES. 377 5. Fauilt LARID^.— The Qulls, Terns, Albatrosses, &o. 1. Genus LARUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 224 (1766). 1. Larus dominioanus, Lichtenetein, Larui domtntcanu$, LlOHT. Yen. p. 82 (1828). " Dominicattut Azarae, Less." Bonap. Consp. At. II, p. 214 (1856). Gray, Gen. Ill, Plate CLXXX. A large species, nearly related to Larus fuscm, but constantly pre- senting distinct characters. It is, apparently, peculiar to the coasts of South America, especially on the Pacific Ocean, but probably in- Iinbiting a more northern latitude than has yet been attributed as its locality, on which account it is of especial interest to the ornitholo- gists of the United States. It appears to be a common bird of the coast of Western South America. Several specimens of this bird are in the collection. It is stated, by Mr. Peale, to have been numerous on the coast of Chili, particularly about the Bay of Valparaiso, in the month of May, and is also men- tioned by Dr. Pickering, at Tierra del Fuego, and at Callao. We regard this bird as the true Larus dominicanus, of Lichtenstein, and that figured in Mr. Gray's valuable work, above cited. This name is, however, assigned to an African species by Bonaparte, in Conspec- tus Avium, II, p. 214, and the present species is named as above. It is arranged by him in the genus Dominlcanxis, Bruch. 2. Larus occidentalis, Audubon. Larui occidentalU, Add. Orn. Biog. V, p. 320 (1839). Larut niveui, Pallas,- Zoog. Rosa. As. II, p. 320 (1811)7 Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. Plate LXXXVI? 95 878 ORNITHOLOGY, Specimens, from the coast of Oregon, are in the collection, but we have, unfortunately, no memoranda nor notes relating to it. Very fine specimens have been brought home in the collections of natu- ralists who have visited California, especially in those made by Mr. J. G. Bell, of New York, and by Dr. Heermann, of Philadelphia, and it appears to be a common bird of the western coast of North America. Though much resembling Larua argentatm, this species constantly differs, sufficiently to be entitled to a separate designation. It is not impossible, however, that this bird is the Lanis nivetts, Pallas, as above cited, and, in fact, the description of the latter applies very nearly in all respects, except the color of the bill and of the feet, both of which are liable to variation, especitilly in preserved specimens. This fine species is not given in Audubon's Plates, nor are we acquainted with any figure of it, unless it is that of Pallas, above mentioned. It is regarded by late ornithologists as belonging to the genus Laroides, Brehm. 8. Larus fuliginosus, Gould. Larus /uliginotut, Gould, Voy. Beagle, Birds, p. 141 (1841). AJelarut Neptunut, BoNAP. Consp. Av. II, p. 282 (1856). Several specimens of this species, from the coast of Peru, vary con- siderably in the colors of their plumage, and are apparently immature. They are, however, all characterized by the fuliginous color of their plumage, which appears to be that of the young bird. Mr. Peale notices this bird as follows : " Was seen occasionally from Cape Horn to Callao, on the coast of Peru. Many specimens wore obtained, which vary much in plu- mage. The males are about one-fourth larger than the females, and sometimes hav the abdomen entirely white. The young birds are wholly fuliginous-brown, with yellowish edges to the dorsal feathers, wing-coverts, &c. Tail, in all stages of plumage, margined with white, which forms a conspicuous character." This Gull appears to be another of the common birds of this family, inhabiting the coasts of Western South America. It is found from Chili to Cape Horn, and probably extends its range more northwardly NATAT0RE8. 379 than has yet been determined. It is arranged by the Prince Bona* parte, in hie genus Leucophaem, Conspectus Avium, II, p. 231. 4. Larus albipennis, Bsale, Larus albipeiinis, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 288 (1848). " Laru$ albipennis, LiCHT." Gray, Gen. Ill, p. 654 ? Larui cirrocephalui, ViEitL. Nouv. Diet. XXI, p. 502 (1818) ? Gapite, collo et corpore suhtus albia, corpore supra cinereo, pennis prU mania quinqtte prioribtts alhis, intvs nigro marginaiis, cauda alba. Long. tot. li pollicea. Form. — Rather slender and graceful. Bill moderate or rather long ; wing long, extending, when closed, beyond the end of the tail, which is rather shorl^ Tarsi moderate, rather slender. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), fourteen inches ; wing, eleven inches ; tail, four and three-fourths inches. Colors. — Head, neck, and entire under parts, white. Back, wing- coverts, tertiaries, secondaries, and shorter primaries, light cinereous. First five primaries white, bordered with black ou their inner edges, nearly throughout their length ; first primary edged with black at its base, on its outer web. Tail white. " Bill and feet scarlet ; irides brown." Hab. — Coast of Chili. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. This is apparently the young bird of a species distinct from any other known to us, though probably the same as referred to by Lich- tenstein, under the same name, as above given. We have, however, not succeeded in finding a description under this name in any of the works of Lichtenstein to which we have access. It is cited as " X. albipennis, Licht. MSS.," by Mr. Gray, in " List of the Specimens of Birds in the Collection of the British Museum," Part III (London, 1844). and is not to be found at all in Prof. Lichtenstein's " Nomen- 380 ORNITHOLOGY. clator Avium Musei Zoologici Berolinensis" (Berlin, 1854), circum-' stances which induce us to suspect that there is no description extant. Having only young birds of the species now before us, we much regret our inability to determine its relationship to Larus cirrocepho' bts, Vieill., of which there are adult specimens in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, but our opinion is, at present, that it is not identical. The description, by Vieillot, and the specimens, in the Academy's collection, above alluded to, are, however, those of a bird nearly related to the present, and more like it than the species imme- diately succeeding. Two specimens of this bird are in the collection of the Expedition. They are very nearly similar in colors and other characters, but are considerably smaller in dimensions than as stated by Mr. Peale. We therefore give his measurements, with his observations on this species : " The specimens were obtained in the month of May, on the coast of Chili, at which season the heads of all were white, slightly clouded, in some, with pale lead color, which leads to the inference, that, at other seasons, their heads would be black or dark lead color. Great numbers were around the shipping, in the harbor of Valparaiso, and were very tame. " This species is closely allied to Xema cirrocephalum, but is rather less in size, and may at once be distinguished by the first four quills, which are white. In X. cirrocephalum, they are black, with white tips. " Total length sixteen and one-eighth inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, fourteen and one-tenth inches ; tail four and eight-tenths inches ; bill one and four-tenths inches ; to the angle of the mouth two and three-tenths inches; tarsi one and seventeen-twentieths inches; naked part of the leg, above the heel, one and one-tenth inches ; middle toe one and eight-tenths inches ; nail seven-twen- tieths of an inch. Male." These measurements agree with the specimens labelled by Mr. Peale, and now before us, in all points, except total length of the bird and the length of the wing, which arc as we have given above. The species alluded to by him as Xema cirrocephalum, is that now succeed- ing. NATATORY S. 381 6. Larus olaucotes, Meyen. Larui glaueotes, Meten, Nov. Aot. 1834, p. 116.. Xaruf maculipennis, LiOHT. Verjs. p. 83 (1823) ? «' Zema cirrocephalutn, G. R. Gbat," Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 289 (1848). Nov. Act. Acad. Caes. Leop. 1844, Plate XXIV. Very probably Lichtenstein s species, as above cited, and a common bird in collections from the coast of Chili. Our specimens measure, in total length, about eighteen inches, being unifoimly larger than those of the preceding species. This species is stated by Mr. Peale to have been obtained on the west coast of South America, as far north as Peru. 2. Genus STERNA, Xtnn. SjBt. Nat. 1, p. 227 (1766). 1. Sterna frontalis, O. R. Qray. Sterna frontalis, Gkat, Zool. Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, p. 19 (1845). • Sterna albi/rons, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 279 (1st edition, 1848).* Sterna striata, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 609 (1788) ? Lath. Gen. Syn. Ill, Plate XCVIII? Zool. Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, Plate XX. This species, so far as we can gather from the notes of the natu* ralists of the Expedition, was observed only at New Zealand. In the collection, we find adult specimens, presenting no peculiarities or characters not mentioned in the description first above cited. * " Back and wings pearl-gray ; front, throat, neck, all the body, and tail, white ; crown and occiput black ; bill black ; legs red ; claws black ; wings and tail equal ; first primary longest, its outer web black ; tail forked ; all, excepting the two centre feathers, pointed ; shafts white ; irides brown. " Total length fourteen and one-half inches ; wings, from the carpal joint, eleven inches ; tail six inches ; centre feathers two and six-touths inches ; bill one and nine- twantieths inches; to the. angle of the mouth two and one-tenth inches; tarsi thirteen- twentieths of an inch ; middle toe, including the nail, one inch ; nail three-tenths of an inch." 96 > Mi ^^f«^« ^41 1 ml S82 ORNITHOLOGY. Mr. Peale thus alludes to the present bird : " Our specimen was killed at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in the month of March. The species was then congregated in large flocks, and, on one occasion, six specimens were killed at one dis- charge of a fowling-piece. " Total length fourteen and a half inches ; wing, from carpal joint, eleven inches ; tail six inches ; centre feathers (of the tail), two and six-tenths of an inch." This handsome species is very accurately figured in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror, above cited. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are in good plumage and preservation. This, and other species of Sterna, are mentioned by Dr. Pickering as of common occ^urrence at the locality above given. Latham's plate, above cited, evidently represents a young bird; and, as the locality in the description accompanying it (Gen. Syn. Ill, p. 358), is given as New Zealand, and as both, moreover, might readily apply to the young of the present species, it is not improbal/le that Gmelin's name should be adopted. We leave it, however, as a pro- blem to be solved by the examination of the young bird, and com- parison with the figure and description to which we allude. Gmelin named this species on the faith of Latham's description, very probably never having seen a specimen. Mr. Peale's measurements, above given, appear to have been made from the recently killed bird. The preserved skin measures, in total length, about thirteen inches. 2. Sterna lunata, Biale. Sterna lunata, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 277 (1848). S. panayam refert sed major et pallidior. Corpore supra pallide cinereo, 8uhtu8 albo, fronte albo, capiie supra et linea ante oculoa nigra. Long, tot. \b poUicea. ,- i: 11: a ■■:ii If Form. — General form of, but rather larger than. Sterna panaya, Gm. (Gould, B. of Aust. VII, PI. XXXIII). Bill straight, rather wide at base, and thick ; wings long, first quill longest ; tail deeply forked, with the feathers pointed; outer feathers about two inches longest; NATAT0RE8. 383 feet and legs slender ; webs of the toes deeply incised in front ; claws rather strong. Dimensions. — Male. Total length (of skin), fifteen inches; wing, eleven inches; tail, eight and a half inches. Colors. — Generally resembling those of Sterna panaya, Gm., but much lighter. Front white, which color extends over the eyes ; head above, neck behind, and stripe before the eye, black. Entire upper parts light cinereous ; darker on the coverts of the wings. Quills cinereous, with a frosted or hoary aspect ; and ca their inner webs, with a wide longitudinal stripe of white. Outer web of first primary, black. Tail light cinereous ; outer feathers white, tinged with cinere- ous on their inner webs. Under wing-coverts, and entire other under parts, white. Bill and feet, black. Hab. — Vincennes Island, Paumotu Group. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. We had hoped that the necessity of describing forms as new, though intimately allied to long-known and well-established species, was at • an end, but iu the case of the bird now before us, after careful compa- rison, we give it the benefit of the doubt, and accordingly let it stand as described. The only difference to be regarded as important, between the bird now before us and Sterna panaya, is the lighter color of the former ; in addition to which, the longitudinal band or stripe on the itnier webs of the quills is more distinctly defined, and there are some other minor characters, which appear to be constant. It is, however, very similar to the well-known species just mentioned. There are in the collection of the Expedition, two specimens of this bird, both of which are from the Paumotu Islands, and are very simi' lar in plumage. In the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, amongst numerous specimens of Sterna panaya, from various localities, includ- ing Mr. Gould's from Australia, we find one specimen only of this species, which is labelled " des Mers de I'Oceanie," and was purchased in Paris. Although at present disposed to regard it as a distinct spe- cies, perhaps more local in its habitat than its near relative to which we have alluded, we shall not be surprised, if the present bird is de- 384 ORNITHOLOOT. monstrated, by future explorera, to be the same in a seasonal plumage not heretofore determined. Mr. Feale remarks of this species : " Our specimens were obtained, on the 2d September, at Vincennes Island, one of the Paumotu Group. In flight and general appearance this species much resembles the Sooty Tern {Sterna /uUginoaa), but besides the difference of color, is less in size and has a proportionately longer tail." We find this bird also mentioned by Dr. Pickering, as seen in large numbers at the locality just given. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are apparently in fully mature plumage, and are in good preservation. 3. Sterna poliocerca, Gould. Sterna poltocerea, GouLD, Proo. Zool. Soo. London, 1837, p. 26. Sterna rectirostris, PcALE, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 281 (1848).* Gould, B. of Aust. VII, PI. 24. vl? 1? ■'^l I *i i Hi 1 € ■\ '1 i> '.| 11 This species, of which the young bird is described by Mr. Peale as above, was observed by the naturalists of the Expedition, at the Feejee Islands, especially at Sandalwood Bay, in large numbers. We find a single specimen only, in the collection of the Expedition, which is in quite immature plumage, but is apparently Mr. Gould's species as above given, and is quite identical with his specimens now * " Neck, breast, and belly, white ; orown, occiput, and back, mottled with brown ; wings and tail, rery dark browniah-gray ; bill and legs, obscure bluish-green ; ^e latter being mottled with brown; wings white ; beneath, shafts white ; inner webs of the pri- maries black next the shafts, the rest white; outer webs dark gray; secondaries black, margined with white ; outer margin narrowest ; lesser coverts white, slightly tipped with brown ; those along the anterior margins of the wings plumbeous ; scapulars margined with brown; tail forked, the shafts white ; tips and outer webs, grayish-brown; inner webs white ; irides brown. " Total length, thirteen and one-half inches ; wing from the carpal joint, iwelre and seven-tenths inches ; tail, four and eight-tenths inches ; middle feathers, two and nine- tenths inches ; bill, one and six-tenths inches ; to the angle of the mouth, two and one- half inches ; tarsi, ninetesn-twentieths of an inch ; middle toe, one and two-tenths inches ; nail, three-tenths of an inch. Specimen, a young female." NATATORES. 385 in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy. It is apparently a species peculiar to the sea-coasts of the Southern Pacific Ocean. 4. Sterna heridionalis, Ntenths inches in diameter ; pointed at one end. "The bill, in adult birds, is scarlet, inclining to an orange-color; irides brown ; feet pale blue, with the toes black. Some specimens have the plumage silvery-white ; others of a pale ros&K2olor. The young birds have black or pale blue-black bills; all the dorsal plumage barred with black ; beneath white ; the long middle feathers of the tail are at first white, but assume their bright red color after the first moult." NATATORES. 397 " An old male, of a beautiful rose tint, suffered himself to be taken, by hand, off an egg. Many others were taken in the same manner, but they were generally females. This was at Honden Island, on the 21st of August, at which time, we found freshly-laid eggs and young birds just ready to fly, showing that the seasons of incubation of this species are not regular. '' Both this and the preceding species {P. cBthereua), take their food, which is generally living fishes, by diving after them, from the wing, in the same manner as the Terns." Mr. Peale's observations in reference to the color of the tail in the young of this bird is of much importance, and will account for the confusion that exists in ornithological works in relation to this and the preceding species. The two are, however, quite distinct, so much so in fact, that they have been assigned to separate genera by the Prince Bonaparte, in his Monograph of this group, in Conspectus Avium, II, p. 183. The preceding species, he regards as the type of the genus Phaeton, Linnaeus, and the latter as that of his new genus, Phoenicurua. Specimens, in excellent preservation and in various stages of plu- mage, are in the collection of the Expedition. 7. Genus DIOMEDEA, Linnceus, Syat. Nat. I, p. 214 (1766). 1. DiOMEDEA EXULANS, lAnn. — The Wandering Albatross. Diomedea exulans, Linn. Syst. Not. I, p. 214 (1766). Diomedea tpadicea, Qn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 568 (1788). Buff. PI. Enl. 237 ; Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate XXXVIII ; Vieill. Gal. II, Plate CCXCV. Of this well-known species, the largest of the searbirds, we find numerous specimens in the collection of the Expedition, from both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Its occurrence we find quite fre- queutly recorded, with great care, by Dr. Pickering, and it is evidently one of the most abundant and widely diffused species of its family. We introduce, from the Journal of Dr. Pickering, the following notices of this remarkable species : 100 398 ORNITHOLOGY. " Diomedea exulana was first seen in the Atlantic, on the 22d day of January, 1839, in latitude 40"* S., on the passage from Rio de Janeiro to the Bio Negro, and occasionally afterwards to Cape Horn, and as far south as the cruise extended. A smaller species of Albatross had previously been seen frequently. " This bird seemed much more common in the Pacific, especially on the passage to Callao ; and, on the 4th of April, in about latitude 42° south, in thick drizzling weather, numbers were taken with hooks and lines. Similar instances were spoken of by persons on board as having occurred in their experience, and our being on whaling-ground was the attributed cause of the abundance of this species." Under date of Ist of April, 1839, Dr. Pickering mentions : "A female specimen of the large Albatross, shot to-day, measured nine feet seven inches in extent of wings, and weighed eighteen pounds. Tongue short and fleshy, with lacinice pointed backwards ; stomach membranous only." On the 4th of April, he says : " Alba- trosses numerous, and several taken, the largest of which measured ten feet in extent of wings. All of them appeared to be entirely unable to walk or even to stand on the deck of the vessel. On differ- ent specimens were two species of JPsdiculua, one of which was large and very curious, having the fore feet very short ; length seven-twen- tieths of an inch. On one specimen were numerous specimens of the young of Anati/a, apparently just having attached themselves as the bird had been captured." Though admitted by Mr. Nuttall as a species of North America (Manual of the Ornithology of the U. S. and Canada, II, p. 340), no instance of this gigantic bird having been observed on the coast of the United States has ever come to our notice. It is possible, however, that it may yet be detected on the shores of California. 2. Diomedea bbachtura, Temminck. — The Short-tailed Albatross. Diomedea brachyura, Temm. PI. Col. V, p. (liv. 75, about 1828). Diomedea nigripe», AUD. Orn. Siog. V, p. 827 (1889). Temm. PI. Col. V, Plate DLIV; Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Japon. Plate LXXXVII ; Cassin, Birds of California and Texas, Plate XXXV, L; Gould, Birds of Aust. VII, Plate XXXIX. NATATORES. 899 This Albatross probably inhabits the entire extent of the Pacific Ocean, from the northern coasts of America and Asia to Australia, venturing, perhaps, farther northward than any other species of its genus. It was ascertained, by the naturalists of the Expedition, to be of frequent occurrence on the coasts of Oregon and California, and, for the first time, demonstrated to be entitled to a place in the Fauna of North America. It is given, by Mr. Gould, as a bird of Australia. Though much resembling the Wandering Albatross, and occasionally mistaken for that species, the present bird is constantly much smaller, and readily distinguished. It is, however, larger than any other of the species of this group. Diomedea nigripea, Aud., is, undoubtedly, the young bird of this species; and the change from the uniform dark-brown plumage of that age to the almost pure white of the adult probably requires several years, as stated by Mr. Peale, below. In the brown stage of plumage, this bird is represented in the plate in Temm. and Schleg., Fauna Japonica, above cited, and in our Birds of California and Texas, PI. XXXV. We introduce, with much pleasure, the following account of this bird by Mr. Peale : " Numbers of the Short-tailed Albatross were observed by the Expedition on the Northwest Coast of America, and it is probably an inhabitant of all of the Pacific Ocean, north of the Tropic of Cancer, It varies as much in the colors of its plumage as the Wandering Alba- tross, or perhaps more, and requires many years to attain its perfect dress. The changes are regularly progressive. Until the second year, the plumage remains of a dark sooty-brown color ; the bird has black feet, and a dirty flesh-colored bill (which becomes black when the skin is dried). In this state they pair and raise young. " After this stage, cloudy-white spots appear about the base of the bill, and over and under the eyes ; their rumps begin to show a con- spicuous spot of white ; the bill turns yellow, with a tinge of carmine, the tip bluish ; the legs are then flesh-color ; and finally, the back, wings, and tail become cinereous-brown ; rump, head, and all the under parts, pure white ; a white margin shows along the back edge of the wing as the bird flies, and a cloudy-black spot generally remains in front of the eye Thus, in some years, the plumage of the body is changed from nearly black to a pure snow-like white. " Usually, birds of this species are silent, but sometimes they quarrel i i 400 ORNITHOLOGY. over the offal thrown from the ship, then they ' bray' in much the same tone as the ass. They are easily caught with a hook and line, but, owing to their thick plumage and tenacity of life, it is difficult to kill them with shot. " On the 20th of December, we found this bird breeding at Wake's Island. The single egg of each pair was laid on the ground, in a slight concavity, without any lining material ; both sexes take turns in the labors of incubation, and neither the male nor the female aban- doned the nest on our approach, but walked around us in a very digni- fied manner, and made but a few demonstrations of defence with their bills when taken up in our arms. " The egg is white, of an oblong figure, with the ends nearly alike, and measures four and two-tenths inches long, and two and six-tenths inches in diameter. " The ^two sexes are alike in plumage, and do not vary much in size, the males being rather the larger, as will be seen from the following table of dimensions, made when the specimens were recently killed ; the sex was determined by dissection, after measurement : Adult, male, Young, male, Adult, female, Young, female Young, female, LtROTH, EXTtKT or WlHOS. 2 feet, 10 inches. 2 " 8} " 2 « 7} " 2 " 8J " 2 " 6* " 7 feet, 3 inches. 7 " 8 " 6 « 8 " 6 " 10 " 6 " 10 " " It was not our fortune to observe more than this one species of Albatross in the North Pacific. It is subject to great variations of plumage, but is very distinct from those of the Southern Hemisphere. The Wandering Albatross {Diomedea exulam), and the 'Yellow Nose' {D. chlororhyivchua), both of which, it has been asserted, have been sometimes found in the northern oceans, we believe, on the contrary, to be entirely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. We saw both of the last-named species and also the Sooty Albatross as far south as 57° 41', which appeared to be nearly their southern limit. Their northern limits of migration, on the Atlantic shores of South America, are somewhere about the Biver La Plata, and, on the Pacific coasts, about the southern parts of Peru." NATAT0RE3. 401 Dr. Pickering also mentions this species as occurring on the coast of Oregon, and as particularly abundant at sea, north of the Sandwich Islands. Under date of 10th of April, 1841, on the passage from Oahu to the Northwest Coast oi America, he states : " A small species of Diomedea is about us to-day and yesterday, skimming over the surface of the water, and bending its long wings, but not at so great an angle as is usual amongst birds. The rate at which this bird flies is surprising, though, at the same time, its wings may be without perceptible motion. It alights in the water, rather awkwardly, apparently, and seemed to take particular care to adjust, or, as the sailors termed it, to ' stow away' its long wings without wetting them. It swims with considerable rapidity. All the speci- mens yet seen are entirely blackish or of a dark dove-color, with a white frontlet, or a circle around the base of the bill. When first seen, these birds were mistaken for Boobies by experienced persons on board, but, on nearer approach or with good glasses, they were readily ascer- tained to be Albatrosses. I mention this fact, to show that reports of Boobies having been seen in the North Pacific should be received with caution." Under date of 13th of April, he says : " Calm during the whole day, but the Albatrosses are still flying around, notwithstanding that I have seen stated their inability to rise from the water during calms. They are, perhaps, under the necessity of flapping their wings more frequently than usual." On the 16th of April, latitude 30° 15' N., he says : " Albatrosses, the same species, still about us, alighting in the wake of the vessel, and picking up any substances, suitable for food, thrown overboard, in one case of compe- tition for which, an individual uttered a faint cry. This is the only instance that I now remember of ever having heard an Albatross utter a note or any cry whatever. It reminded me of neither the ' bleating of a sheep' nor the * honk of a goose,' but perhaps may re- semble something intermediate. The whole Petrel tribe seem to be remarkably silent." Dr. Pickering again mentions this bird on the coast of Oregon. Numerous specimens are in the collection of the Expedition, and exhibit the various stages and changes of plumage above mentioned. 101 m 402 ORNITHOLOGY. 8. GiNUS THALASSIDROMA, Viyori, Zool. Journ. II, p. 406 (1825). 1. THALASSIDROMA WiLSONii {Bmaparte). — Wilaon's Stormy Petrel, Mother Carey's Chicken. Procdlarxa Wiltonii, BoNAP. Jour. Acad. Philada. Ill, p. 281 (1824). " Procellaria pelagica," Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, p. 90. Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, Plate LX, fig. 6; Aud. B. of Am. Plate CCLXX; oct. ed. VII, Plate CCCCLX. This little bird and other species very similar in general appearance are of extensive diffusion, and are known to seamen as Stormy Petrels and Mother Carey's Chickens. The present species is abundant throughout almost the whole coast of the continent of America on the Atlantic, and is known also on the coasts of Europe, thus ranging over nearly the entire extent of the Atlantic Ocean. It has been observed also in the Pacific, and is given by Mr. Gould as a bird of the coast of Australia. This species is frequently mentioned by the naturalists of the Ex- pedition as occurring at various points, and we find in the collection numerous specimens. Through the kindness of Dr. Pickering, we are enabled to introduce the following note on this bird from his Journal, for which as well as many other favors we beg leave to express our deep sense of obligation. It occurs under date of October 24th, 1838, and, from the latitude and longitude given, the nearest land was the coast of Africa : " A Stormy Petrel taken, which proved to be Thalaaddroma Wihonii; and, although this species and others of its genus have been constantly seen during the voyage of the Expedition, this is the first specimen that has been captured without having been injured, thus affording whatever facilities can be obtained on shipboard for observ- ing its manners. " I was rather surprised to observe that this bird was not only entirely incapable of perching, but even of standing upright like birds in general, and as I have seen birds of this genus represented, unless by the aid of its wings. In standing or rather sitting, the whole of the tarsus (commonly mistaken for the leg), rests on the ground, and MATATORES. 403 it walks in the same awkward position, frequently being obliged to balance itself with its wings. With a more powerful exertion of its wings, however, it was enabled to run along on its toes, in the same manner that it does over the surface of the water. The absence of a hind toe, the nails being but slightly bent and flat, and, perhaps I may add, its evidently being unaccustomed to this description of locomotion, seemed to be the causes of its helplessness on its feet. " These birds have been numerous about us for some days past, and their coursing over the water with flitting wings reminds me of the actions of butterflies about a pool. One of them was seen swimming, or at least resting, on the surface. We have seen this species very frequently, indeed almost daily, since leaving America, and scarcely any other sea-birds, except in the immediate vicinity of the islands. It would seem that it scarcely ever visits the land, except for the purposes of incubation, and there can hardly be a better comment on its untiring power of wing than the popular fable amongst seamen, that it carries its egg and hatches its young while sitting in the water. It does not sail in the continued manner of the gulls and some other sea-birds, but moves by rapidly flexing its wings something like a bat, and was continually coursing around and in the wakes of the vessels, generally in considerable numbers, during much the greater part of the time that the Expedition was in the Atlantic Ocean." Subtesquently, we find in Dr. Pickering's Journal : " Thalixsaidroma Wihonii was taken in the Atlantic, in latitude 35° south, and was seen occasionally as far as Cape Horn. In the Pacific, it occurred at times until withiu a day's sail of Callao." Specimens, in good plumage and preservation, are in the collection, and are from various and widely remote localities. 2. Thalassipboma lineata, Psale, Thalamdroma lineata, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Bird.s, p. 293 (1st ed. 1848). Plate XXXIX. Adult. T. melanogastram i'e/ert. Saturate fuliginosa, tectridbxis caudae supe- rior ibua abdomineque albis, hoc lineoUs fuUginods notato. Long. tot. 7i pollices. 404 ORNITHOLOGY. FoBM. — About the size of and resembling T. melanogaatm, Gould. Bill moderate or rather short ; wing long ; second quill longest ; tail moderate, wide; legs long, rather slender; toes thick, flattened, fully webbed. DiMEKSiONS. — Total length (of skin), male, seven and one-fourth inches ; wing six and a half inches ; tail three inches. " Extent of wings fifteen and a half inches." (Peale.) Colors. — Male. Head, neck, breast, and entire upper parts, except the upper tail-coverts, dark fuliginous, nearly black on the head above and back, lighter on the breast. Upper tail-coverts white. Abdomen and under tail-coverts, white, every feather having a longitudinal and terminal line of dark fuliginous. Feathers of the throat white at base. Greater inferior wing-coverts light ashy or nearly white. Tail-feathers white on their inner webs for about half their length; outer webs and terminal half of both webs, dark fuliginous. " Bill and legs, including the toe-membranes, blue-block, without spots ; irides dark brown." (Peale.) Hab. — Pacific Ocean. Island of Upolu. This species, of which but a single specimen is in the collection of the Expedition, considerably resembles Thalamdroma melanogaatra, Gould, B. of Australia, VII, PI. LXII, the only material difierence being, that the present bird has each of the white feathers of the abdo- men and under tail-coverts marked with a dark fuliginous line, instead of having a longitudinal band on the abdomen, as in the species men- tioned. It is also apparently a shade darker in color ; the tibiae and tarsi are more robust, and the toes strong and flattened. The specimen now before us h?& not the appearance of a young bird ; and the species, so far as we caa judge from a single individual, is quite distinct, and, as such, wb accordingly give it, but without meaning to imply that we have fully investigated either the validity of the species of this genus or the extraordinary complexity and appa- rent confusion which evidently prevail in their synonymy. This bird is, however, very probably, a species restricted to the Southern Pacific Ocean, and hitherto unknown to naturalists. Of this bird, unfortunately, we find little recorded by either of the naturalists of the Expedition. Mr. Peale only observes : NATATORES. 406 " This bird was frequently seen within the torrid Kone, in the Pacific Ocean. A single specimen was obtained at the Island of Upolu, from a native, who represented to us that during the breeding season this species lives in holes, very high up in the mountains." The plate of our Atlas, cited above, represents this bird of the size of life. According to the Prince Bonaparte, this species belongs to the genus Oceanitee, Keyserling and Blasius, which includes also Thalaaaidroma Wilaoni. In his Monograph of this group, in ConspeC' tus Avium, II, p. 199, it is stated that specimens of the present species are in the Imperial Museum at Paris, having been brought from the South Pacific Ocean by the Expedition in the Astrolabe. One speci- men only is in the present collection. 3. Thalassidroma furcata (Om.). — The Fork-tailed Petrel. Proeellaria/urcata, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 561 (1788). ProctUaria orientali$, Pall. Zoog. Ross. As. II, p. 315 (1811). " Thalasiidrotna plumbea, Pkalb, MS." Peals, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 292 (1848). Gray, Gen. Ill, Plate CLXXVIII ; Cassin, B. of Cal. & Tex. I, Plate XLVI; Voy. Sulphur, Birds, Plate XXXIII. This handsome little Petrel though accurately described by Pen- nant, in Arctic Zoology, II, p. 255, and on the faith of whose descrip- tion Gmelin gave the scientific name as above, had been almost lost sight of by later ornithologists, until noticed by the naturalists of H. B. M. Ship Sulphur, and by those of the present Expedition in the Vincennes and Peacock. In the Zoology of the "Voyage of the Sulphur (Birds, p. 50, London, 1844), this bird is stated to have been obtained at Sitka, in Russian America, though nothing is given relating to its history. The speci- mens in the collection of the Expedition are from the coast of Oregon, where this species was observed not uncommonly, and therefore de- monstrated to be entitled to admission into the Ornithological Fauna of the United States. To Dr. Pickering we have again to acknowledge our obligations for a notice of this bird. First recording its occurrence on the 26th of 102 V,] 406 ORNITHOLOGY. H April, 1840, at sea, the listance from the coast of Oregon being about t\:o hundred miles, he mentions it more fully subsequently, under date of the 29th of the same month, as follows : " In sight of the coast of Oregon. Great numbers of tht Gray Tha- lassidroma are to-day flitting around and in the track of the vessel, very actively engaged in searching for particles of food thrown overboard. Generally, this bird reminds me of T. Wlhonii, but the wings seem longer and its movements appear to be more rapid, and in fact more like that of the larger Petrels {Procellaria) . Tl, occasionally sails in its flight, but, for the greater part, moves by very riplily flexing its wings, in the same manner as the species mentioned. " These birds proved not difficult to capture, and several specimens were taken with a hook and line. They would dive a foot or two after the bait, making use of their wings in and under the water, from which they apparently had not that difficulty in rising observable in the Albatrosses. Though their power of swimming seemed rather feeble, they alighted in the water without hesitation. The dead body of one of their companions being thrown overboard, they clustered around it with as much avidity as around any other food. " The specimens obtained agree generally in color of plumage, being nearly a uniform pale gray, with the abdomen paler and sometimes nearly white, and with generally a lighter bar across the wing, shown when expanded. Uttered a faint note when taken on board." The Prince Bonaparte regards this bird as generically distinct from the preceding. In his Monograph, in Conspectus Avium, II, p. 194, it is arranged in the genus OceiJiodroma, Reiohenbach, with Thalas- sidroma Horuhyi, Gray. It is exceedingly Uke the dark-colored species, well known as belonging to this group, in forui and other general cha- racters, but differs materially in colov. Mr. Peale inserts the following under the head of t'lis species : " We observed this species in numbers on the Northwest Coast ''f America, as far north as visited by the Expedition, but not farther south than the thirty-eighth degree of latitude. Our specimens were obtained on the coast of Oregon. " On reference to notes on this genus, made while in the Southern Hemisphere, we find that in the month of March, in latitude 62° S., longitude 77° W. of Greenwich, the following entry was made : A very pretty species of Fotrel has been following us for some days ; its voice, sizt and habits are the same as Wilson's {IVialassUhoma Wil- NATATORES. 407 aonii), but it is white beneath, from the breast down ; the under parts of the wings are white, with a dark bar in the middle, about the bill (the bill itself?), red; breast black. Another species, about the same size, is of a pale lead-color above, with a dark-colored bar on the wings, all white beneath. Its actions are more sprightly and swallow-like ; it flies around the ship, but does not so constantly follow the wake as the others. " We were not so fortunate as to obtain specimens of either of the last-noticed species, both of which are probably undescribed analogues of the northern Thalasaidromce. The first differs from T. oceanica in having a red bill, and the latter from T./wcata in being white, instead of lead-color beneath. T. cceanica, or a species bearing a strong resem- blance to it, was seen in various parts of the temperate regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but we did not succeed in obtaining speci- mens." The observations made by the naturalists of the Expedition on this handsome li'tle sea-bird, are of especial interest, being amongst the first notices that have ever been published of a species now undoubt- edly to be regarded as belonging to the Ornithological Fauna of the United States. Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are in good plumage and preservation. 9. Genus PROCELLARIA, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 212 (176C). 1. Procellaria GiGANTEA, Gmelin. — The Giant Petrel. P'jccllaria git/an(ea, 6m. Syst. Nat. I, p. 563 (1788). Lath. Syn. Plate C ; Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate XLV. This large species was frequently observed during the voyage of the Expedition, and is entitled to be regarded as a bird of North Ame- rica, specimens in the collection having been obtained on the coast of Oregon. Much larger than its immediate relatives in this group, it more resembles the Albatrosses in size and great powers of flight, though appa'-ently presenting little variation from the manners and habits of the ?raaller congeneric species. This bird is frequently mentioned by Dr. Pickering, from whose Journal we transcribe the following : 408 ORNITHOLOGY. " February 13th, 1839. A specimen of the large Petrel taken this morning. This bird we have seen occasionally since the 15th of Janu- ary, when we were in latitude 39°, in the Atlantic Ocean, and at first it was mistaken for an Albatross. Size as large as a Goose ; total length two feet, five inches ; expanse of wings six feet ; tail rounded, and consisting of sixteen feathers ; iris lake-brown. " This bird could run or stand for a few moments without expand- ing its wings, but was apparently very soon fatigued with such exer- tion, and almost immediately assumed a sitting position like Thalaaai- drama. Its wings were long and rather narrow, as in the Albatrosses, and in flight kept almost in a straight line, at right angles from the body. Its flight id chiefly sailing, and with great rapidity and appa- rent ease, though long continued. This bird was called a ' Molly Mock,' by the seamen, some of whom recognized it as an old acquain- tance. It is frequently seen alighting and resting on the water." Excellent specimens of this interesting species are in the oollectioi of the Expedition. This bird forms the genus Oasi/raga, Hombron & Jacquemont, which is adopted by the Prince Bonaparte, in liis Mono- graph of this group, in Conspectus Avium, II, p. 186. 2. Procellaria iciFiCA, Audubon, ProceVaria pacifica, AuD. Oru. Biog. V, p. 881 (1839). pi Specimens from the coast of Oregon, though, in general appearance, resembling Procellaria glacialis, are certainly distinct, as dt.cribed by Mr. Audubon. Young birds of this species, in the collection of the Expedition and in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, are uniformly of a datker cinereous than in the young plumage of P. ghicialia, and there is no vestige of the dark or nearly black spot before the eye, which is a character of the latter. The bill, us stated by Mr. Audubon, is much smaller and more compressed. Under date of 29th of April, 1841, on the coast of Orp"' ' we find this bird mentioned in the Journal of Dr. Pickering : " Several specimens of a Procellaria, resembling P. glacialis, were to-day taken with a hook and line. The plumage is ashy, somewhat mottled, and they are perhaps all young birds. One set at liberty on NATATORES. 409 deck was quite unable to ri.o from it, and was destitute of the power of standing, though it could run with the aid of its wings. " In alighting in the water, these birds take the same care in folding and adjusting their wings, vithcat wetting them, as the Albatrosses. One was observed to seize a Tlmlaasidrama violently, and to hold it under the water, as if for the purpose of drowning it, but whether the attempt succeeded or not was not noticed. On the other hand, the small Petrels do not appear to be afraid of this species." Specimens, in various stages of plumage, are in the collection of the Expedition. 3. Procellaria tenuirostris, Audubon. Procellaria tenutroilris, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, p. 333 (1839). Pvocellaria glacialoides, A. Smith, 111. S. Af. Zool. Aves (not paged, 1849). Smith, Zool. S. Af. Aves, Plate LI. This species, like the preceding, is related to and resembles, in gene- ral characters and appearance, the Procellaria gladalis. It may, how- ever, be readily distinguished from either that species or P.paci/tca by its lengthened and more slender bill, and all the specimens that we have seen are lighter in color. The name applied to this species by Mr. Audubon, as above cited, is entitled to be adopted as prior to that given by Dr. Smith, though the exact date of the latter we cannot, at present, ascertain. The title-page of the volume or TMvds of Dr. Smith's Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa, gives 1849 as the date of publication, but it is within the knowledge of all naturalists, that this very valuable work was published in parts, with the date on the cover only. In the copy to which we have access, which is bound and the covers destroyed, there is no means of ascertaining the precise date of publica- tion of any particular plate or description. It is, however, not pro- bable that Plate LI, which is of the bird now before us, or the text accompanying it, was published as early as 1839, which is the date of Mr. Audubon's description of P. tenuirostris. This species is one which has a most extensive range of locality, being known to frequent the coasts of the southern points of both of 103 410 ORNITHOLOGY. the great divisions of the globe, and those of Australia, and many other localities in the Pacific Ocean. To American naturalists it is especially interesting, from the fact that it was observed by Dr. Town- send, on the coast of Oregon, whose specimens were described by Mr. Audubon, as above. The only specimen in the collection of the Expedition is labelled as having been obtained on the coast of Orepron. 4. Procellaria molus, Gould. Procellaria mollis, Gould, Anu. & Mag. Nat. Hist. XIII, p. 363 (1844). Ptocellaria g-dl' '<, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 299 (first ed. 1848).* Gould, B. of Au II, Plate L. ■I 1 .. We find in the collection a single specimen in immature plumage, and which is quite identical with the young of P. mollis, of which numerous specimens, including those of Mr. Gould, are in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy. The present specimen appears to have been obtained further south than this species had been previously noticed. y Mr. Peale mentions it as follows : '^ This bird was found amidst icebergs, bu£feting the storms and fogs of the Antarctic regions. We saw but few of them, and obtained but a single specimen, on the 21st of March, while the Ship Peacock was enveloped in a fog, latitude 68° S., longitude 95° W. of Green- wich. Their flight was easy and not very rapid. They were silent, and alighted on the water to examine some slips of paper and chips purposely thrown from the boat." ♦"Color above cinereous-brown; tail and breast plumbeous; throat, under wing- coverts, and under tail-coverts, white ; primaries and spurious wings nearly black, with brown shafts ; tail light beneath ; the two outer feathers mottled with white ; all the sh«fts brown above, and white beneath ; the whole plumage white at the roots ; bill blue-black, much curved, very sharp-pointed, and much compressed near the tip ; first (juill longest. " Total length thirteen inches ; extent of wings thirty-four inches ; wing, from the carpal joint, ten and a half inches ; bill one inch ; nasal tubes three-fifths of an inch ; tarsi one and one-fifth inches ; outer too one and six-tenths inches ; tail three and four- tenths inches ; outer feathers two and seven-tenths inches. Male." Peale, as above. l\ NAT AT ORES. 411 5. Procellakia parvibostbis, Pxtle. Procellaria parviroitrU, PealEj Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 298 (1848). Plate XL. . Capite, collo, corporeqtie supra, fuliginosis, ahdomine crissoque albis. datura P. moUia. Long. tot. 12 pollicea. Form. — About the size of Procellaria mdllie, Gould, and resembling that species in form, but not in color. Bill rather slender ; wing long, reaching beyond the end of the tail ; first quill longest ; tail moderate, cuneate ; legs rather slender ; toes long, fully webbed. Dimensions. — Total length, male (of skin), about twelve inches ; wing eleven inches ; tail four and a hnlf inches. " Total length four- teen and a half inches ; extent of wings thirty-six inches." (Feale.) CoLOBS. — Head, neck, and entire upper parts, dark fuliginous, lighter on the neck before. Abdomen and under coverts of the tail white ; sides and flanks with some dashes of fuliginous ; quills and tail dark fuliginous; the former nearly black. Feathers on the throat and neck in front white at base. Bill black ; " irides dark brown ; feet bluish flesh-color ; the toes all black from the first joint." (Peale.) Hab. — Pacific Ocean. Washington. Honden Island. Specimen in Nat. Mus. This species, which we have not been able to identify with any other that we have found described, very considerably resembles Pro- cellaria mollis, Gould, in size, and all other characters derived from form and organization, but is totally different in color from any speci- men of that species that we have seen. The colors of the legs and feet are, however, in prepared specimens, precisely similar. For the reasons here indicated, it is not without doubt that we give this bird as a species. Mr. Peale states that this species " breeds on the Coral Islands. Our specimen was killed near Honden Island, of the Dangerous Archi- 412 ORNITHOLOGY. pelago, on the 20th of August. Its flight was rapid, and its general appearance and actions, when flying, is like a Leatris." One specimen only is in the collection. 6. Procellaria rostrata, Bsale. - Proeellaria rottrata, Pxale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, 296 (Ut ed. 1848). Plate XLI. . /^ Capite, collo, corporeqm supra, fuUginoaiaf abdomine crissoque albis, rostro magno, valido. Statura P. Leasonii. Long. tot. 14 pollicea. Form. — About the size of, and of general form of Procellaria Leasonii, Gamot, but not of the same color. Bill large, strong; wings long, reaching, when closed, beyond the end of the tail ; first quill longest. Tail moderate, graduated, or cuneate; tarsi moderate; toes long, fully webbed. Dimensions. — Total length, mule (of skin), about fouiteen inches ; wing eleven inches ; tail four and a half inches. " Extent of wings thirty-nine and a half inches." (Peale.) Coi/)RS. — Head, nook, and entire upper parts, fuliginous, light on the throat and neck before, dark on the back and head above. Abdo- men and under tail-coverts white. Wings and tail dark fuliginous ; the former nearly black ; bill black ; tarsi, and bare of inner toes, and membrane, pale yellow (in preserved specimen) ; terminal two-thirds of toes and membrane black. Hab. — Tahiti. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington. As with the preceding species, we are mystified somewhat with the present. It is exceedingly like Procellaria Leasonii in all respects, except color of plumage — that character (color) being the same though in the legs and feet. Our examination of the two species of Procellaria, now given under the names first applied to them by Mr. Peale, has led us to suspect NATATORES. 418 that these and other species of this genus undergo very material changes in the colors of their plumage, according, in all probability, to season. "We cannot, however, at present, give a precise or satis- factory account of this supposed change in any one species, and we have not, therefore, ventured to give the two birds now before us otherwise than as distinct species. The birds of this genus, in our opinion, require careful observation in their native localities, or inves- tigation in such extended series of specimens as can be attained only in time and with special attention. Under the head of the present species, Mr. Peale has the following observations : " At the Island of Tahiti, on mountains elevated about six thousand feet above the sea, this bird was found breeding in holes, in the month of October. It is decidedly nocturnal in its habits, a few only being now and then seen abroad in daylight. They sally forth from their subterranean abodes about sunset to collect food for their young far away at sea, being rarely found on the coast. " The specimen from which our drawing and description were taken was procured by Mr. Dana, while on a most perilous excursion to the summits of the volcanic peaks of the island. The natives who carried it, finding its bite too severe, submitted it to a most cruel remedy, often practised by the island bird-catchers, which is, to thrust the sharp point of the upper mandible through the lower, thus yoking it with its own jaw. In this state, it was kept until the party reached the coast. '* On the tops of the same mountains, we saw a small species of Petrel, resembling Thalassidroma oceanica, Bonaparte, Zool. Journal, Vol. Ill, p. 89, but rather larger, with all the under parts white. It appeared to have its nest there, though we did not succeed in finding any, nor in obtaining specimens of the birds which were flying around us, and when shot fell into the dense forests, thousands of feet below us. " The background in the drawing, is from a sketch taken at the only native settlement that we found in the interior, and represents the peaks in. which are the breeding-places of this and other oceanic birds, high up on the River Popino." A single specimen only of this species is in the collection of the Expedition. It is, apparently, in mature plumage, and is in good condition. It is represented in our plate rather smaller than the natural size. 104 414 ORNITHOLOGY. 7. Procellaria Cookii, Gray. . . Procellaria Cookii, G. R. Gray, Dieff. Trav. II, p. 199 (1843). Procellaria kucoplera, QouLD, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. XIII, p. 364 (1844). Procellaria brevipes, Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 294 (first ed. 1848).* Voy. Erebus & Terror, Birds, Plate XXXV ; Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LI. " Irides brown ; bill black ; feet pale flesh-color ; the toes black at their ends. Extent of wings twenty-four and one-fourth inches." (Peale.) The specimens of this bird, in the collection of the Expedition, are from a much more eastern locality than heretofore noticed, as will appear from the following note by Mr. Peale : " Two specimens were shot on the 21st of March, in latitude 68° S., longitude 95° W. Their flight was very swift, wild, and irregular, and they evinced no partiality for the vicinity of the ship, although she was lying-to in a dense fog, a time when Petrels generally collected around us to glean the offal thrown overboard." The locality here given is much ne&rer the continent of America than this bird has ever before been noticed by voyagers. We find the two specimens, above alluded to, in the collection of the Expedition, and, on comparison with others from Mr. Gould's collection, now in the Museum of the Philadelphia Academy, can distinguish them by no character whatever. * " Head and wings sooty-black ; back and tail gray; throat, breast, and belly, white, tinged with salmon-color when living, but changing to white after death ; an interrupted plumbeous band crosses the breast ; two outer tail-feathers light gray, white beneath, shafts white ; all the others brown ; under wing-eoverts white ; the lesser ones nearly black ; bill black ; feet pale flesh-color ; the toes black at their ends ; irides brown. "Total length ten and seven-tenths inches; extent of wings twenty-four and one- fourth inches ; bill, to the angle of the mouth, one and four-tenths inches ; over the culraen nineteen-twenticths of an inch ; middle toe, including the nail, one and three- tenths inches." N A T A T H E S. 415 8. Pbocellaria nivea, Qmelin. — The Snowy Petrel. Procellaria nivea, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 662 (1788) ? " Procellaria Candida, Peale, MSS." Peale, Zool. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 295 (1848). Voy. Erebus and Terror, Birds, Plate XXXIV. Atlas, Ornithology, Plate XLII. Adult, " IrMes brown ; feet bluish flesh-color. Total length fourteen and one-tenth inches ; extent of wings thirty inches." (Peale.) The Snowy Petrel appears to be one of the most abundant species frequenting the highest southern latitudes yet visited by voyagers. In those regions, in which the present Expedition, in the Vincennes and Peacock, made the extraordinary and most important discovery of a Polar Continent, this bird is one which presents the snowy whiteness of plumage known to prevail in animals whose peculiar habitat is the polar regions of the North. Of the Zoology of the Antarctic continent very little is known ; but, there is no reason why it should not be inhabited by a peculiar Fauna, analogous to, biit probably very different from, that of its antipodep of the North. No Bear, nor Walrus — no Snowy Owl, nor Arctic Fox, has yet been discovered, but, in the absence of investigation, an analogous Fauna may perhaps be safely supposed to exist. Of this especially Polar Fauna, the bird now before us possesses the high interest of being, as yet, the only known species of the Antarctic regions. Mr. Peale's observations on the present bird are as follows : " It inhabits the Ant.arctic regions. The specimens were obtained in latitude 64° S., and about 104° W. of Greenwich. We saw them only in the vicinity of ice, and whatever was thrown overboard from the ship they flew around to pick up, like ihe Cape Pigeons {Procel- laria capensis), but they were not so easily caught with a hook and line. A number of specimens were preserved, and all are of the same unspotted white, without any indication of black shafts to the feathers, which, having been given by Dr. Latham as a characteristic of the Snowy Petrel obtained by Captain Cook, we were induced, from this and some minor differences, to consider the present as a distinct species, until the excellent plate representing it was published in the Zoological Atlas of the Voyage of H. M. Ships Erebus and Terror." 416 ORNITHOLOGY. Not entirely uatisfied that this is the species meant by Gmelin and Latham, we give it provisionally only as Procellarla nivea, but should another white species, with the shafts of any of its feathers black, as described by those distinguished authors, become known,, this name must give place to that of Mr. Peale, above cited. Our plate represents this bird rather smaller than the size of life. 9. Procellaria capensis, Linnaeus. ■ Procellaria capentii, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 218 (1766). Buflfon, PI. Enl. 964 ; Gould, B. of Aust. VII, Plate LIII. Of this well-known bird we find numerous specimens in the collec- tion of the Expedition, and it is frequently mentioned in the Journal of Dr. Pickering. These specimens present no characters other than have long been known to naturalists. The first notice of this species, by Dr. Pickering, is on the 19th day of January, 1839, in latitude 39° S., in the Atlantic Ocean. Subse* quently, it is mentioned by him at various points, and, for the last time, on the 14th day of July, in the same year, on the western coast of South America, the day after sailing from the harbor of Callao, in about 12° S. latitude. CATALOGUES 0» MAMMALS AND BIRDS l.'ULLECTED UT THE UNITED STATES EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 103 PRELIMINARY NOTE. The succeeding Catalogues include all the species of which speci- mens are in the Collection, with the localities given, as determined by the naturalists of the Expedition, and generally stated by them in labels attached during the voyage. In some instances, however, it is quite impossible to give the exact locality, specimens having been obtained from naturalists, or from dealers or other persons, at places evidently not the habitat of the species. In such cases I have in- closed the locality in parentheses. J. C. MAMMALS. 109 CATALOGUE OF MAMMALS IN' THE COLLECTION OF THE UNITED STATES EXPLORING EXPEDITION. i» L Class MAMMALIA. ' ^' I. ORb£R QUADRUMANA, 1. Myoetes ursinus. (Humboldt.) Brazil. 2. Galeopithecus volans. (Linnaeus.) (Obtained at Singapore.) 3. Pteropus chrysoproctus. Teinminck. (Obtained at Malacca.) 4. Pteropus Maeklotii. Temniinck. Sooloo Islands. Pteropus vociferus. Peale. 5. Pteropus samoensis. Peale. Samoan Islands. 6. Pteropus tonganus. Quoy and G inl. Tongatabu. 7. Pteropus Kerandrenius. Quoy ai... i , mard. Feejee Islands. 8. Alolossus aurispinosus. f Peale.) Biu/.il. Molossus rugosus. D'Orbigny ? 9. Vespertilio californicus. Audubon and Bachnmn. ralifornia, 10. Vespertilio semicaudatus. Peale. 8amoan Islands. II. Orper ferae. 11. Lupus gigas. Tovrnsend. Oregon. 12. Lupus ochropus. (Eschscholtz.) Oregon. 13. Vulpos virginianus. (Schreber.) Oregon. 14. Vulpes magellanicus. (Gray.) Tierra del Fuego. 15. Vulpes Azarae. (De Weid.) Chili. 16. Martes flavigula. ' (Boddaert.) (Obtained at Singapore.) 17. Paguma leucomystax. (Gray)? (Obtained at Singapore.) 18. Putorius Cycognanii. Bonaparte. Oregon. 19. Putorius pusillus. (Aud. and Bach.) Oregon. 424 CATALOGUE OF MAMMALS. 20. Mephitis occidentalis. Baird. Oregon. 21. Ursus horribilJB. Ord. Californ;a^ \ 22. Procyon Hernandezii. Wagler. California. 23. Tiiylamys elegans. (Waterhouse.) Chili. 24. Daoyurus maculatus. (Shaw.) Australia. 25. Dasyurus viverrinus. (Shaw.) Australia. 26. Phascogale penicillata. (Shaw.) Australiu. 27. Gymnura Rafflesii. Lesson. (Obtained it Singapore.) 28. Scalops Townsendii. Bachnian. Oregon. 29. Scalops aeneus. Cassin. Oregon. 80. Clirysochloris villosa. A. Smith. South Africa. 31. Lcbodon carcinophaga. (Homb. and Jacq.) Deception Island. Halichoerus antarcticus. Peale. 82. Stenorhynchus leptonyx. (F. Cuvier.) Antaredo loe. III. Order CETACEA. 83. Delphinus albimanus. 84. Delphinus pectoralis. Peale. Coast of Chili. (Peale.) Coast of Hawaii. IV. Order UNGULATA. 86. Dicotyles kbiatus. Cuvier. Brazil. 36. Dasypus minutus. Desniarest. Patagonia. 37. Orycteropus capensis. (Linnaeus.) Ciipe of Good Hope. 38. Tatuandua tetradactyla. Lesson. Brazil. 39. Echidna Hystrix. Cuvier. Australia. 40. Ornithorhynchus anatinus. (Shaw.) Australia. 41. Bos taurus. Linnaeus. Cape of Good Hope. 42. Cervus amcricanus. (Jefferson.) Oregon. 43. Cervus Lewisii. Peale. Oregon. 44. Cervus cauipestris. F. Cuvier. Patagonia. 45. Cephalophorus coeruleus. H. Smith. Cape of Good Hope. 46. Tragelaphus sylvaticus. Sparniian. Cape of Good Hope. 47. Antilocapra ainericana. Ord. Oregon. 48. Tragulus javanieus. Pallas, ((ibtuined :it Malacca.) 49. Auchenio glania. (Linnucus.) Peru * V. Order GLIHES. 50. Sciurus fossor. Peale. Oregon. 51. Sciurus vittatus. Kaffiesi (Obtained at Singapore.) 52. Sciurus i'ffinis. liaffles? (Obtained at Singapore.) 53. 54. 55. 66. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. CATALOGUE OP MAMMALS. Sciurus Douglassii. Bachman. Oregon, Tamiaa quadrivittatus. Richardson. Oregon. Tamias Townsendii. Bachman. Oregon. Aplodontia leporina. Richardson. Oregon. Hesperomys Gambelii. Biird ? California. Perognathus parvus. (Peale.) Oregon. Society Islands. Feejte Islands. Tschud.. Peru. Peale. Cooper. Oregon. Chili. 425 Mus exulans. Peale. Mus vitiensis. Peale. Drymomys parrulus. Mus peruvianus. Neotoma occidentalis. Octodon Cumingii. Bennet. Arvicola occidentalis. Peale, Oregon. Arvicola caliibrnicus. Peale, California, Arvicola oregonus. Bachman. Oregon, Lepus campestris. Bachman. Oregon. Lepus Washingtonii, Baird. Oregon. Lepus artemisia. Bachman. Oregon, Dolichotis patachonicus. Desmarest. Patagonia. Petrogale penicillata, (Gray.) Australia. Phalangista vulpina, (Shaw.) Australia, Petauius Sciureus. (Shaw.) Australi.i. Petaurus australis, (Shaw.) Australia. Petaurista taguanoides. (Desmaregt.) Australia. 107 J--y--l,- IL BIRDS. CATALOGUE OF BIRDS IK THE COLLECTION OF THE UNITED STATES EXPLORING EXPEDITION. II. Class AVES. I. Order RAPTORES. 1. Cathartes aura. (Linnaeus.) Oregon. 2. Cathartes jota. (Molina.) Tierra del Fuego. 3. Polyborus tharus. (Molina.) Patagonia. 4. Polyborus australis. (Graelin.) Patagonia. 5. Milvago chimango. (Vieillot.) Patagonia. 6. Milvago chimachina. (Vieillot.) Brazil. 7. Buteo varius. Gould. Patagonia. 8. Buteo ventralis. Gould. Patagonia. 9. Buteo montanus. Nuttall. Oregon. 10. Asturina insectivora. (Spix.) Brazil. 11. Asturina leucorrhoa. (Quoy and Gaimard.) Brazil? 12. Haliastur inda. (Boddaert.) (Obtained at Malacca.) 13. Haliaetus leucocephalus. (Linnaeus.) Oregon. 14. Pandion caroiineusis. (Gmelin.) Oregon. 15. Pandion solitarius. (Peale.) Sandwich Islands. Buteo solitarius. Peale. 16. Elanus axillaris. (Lathaiu.) Aastralia. 17. Milvus sphenurus. Vieillot. Australia. 18. Circus hudsonius. (Linnaeus.) Oregon. 19. Circus assimilis. Jardine and Selby. Feejee Islands. Circus approximans. Peale. 20. Circus Jardinei. Gould. Australia. 21. Astur cruentus. Gould. Australia. i Astur ferox. Peale.* * This name is given by Mr. Peale, in his Catalogue, p. 308, without a description, and specimens in the collection are so labelled by him. 108 430 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 22. Astur approximans. (Vigors and Horefiold.) Australia. 23. Astur novao-hollandiae. (Gnielin.) Australia. 24. Accipiter rufitorques. (Pcnlo.) 8ainoan Islands. 25. Accipiter badius. (Gniolin.) (Obtained at Singapore.) Astur bifasciatus. Peale.* 26. Falco polyagrus. Gassin. Oregon. 27. Falco frontatus. Gould. Australia. " Falco poregrinoides ?" Peale. 28. Falco novae-zealandiao. Gmelin. New Zealand. Falco ferox. Peale. 29. Jorax coerulescens. (Linnaeus.) (Obtained at Malacca.) 30. Tinnunculus sparvcrius. (Linnaeus.) Oregon. 31. Tinnunculus cenchroides. (Vig- and Horsf.) Australia. 32. Strix pratincola. Bonaparte. Oregon. 33. Strix perlata. Licbtenstein. Brazil. 34. Strix delicatula. Gould. Samoan Islands. Strix lulu. Peale. 35. Brachyotus galapagoensis. Gould. Sandwich Islands. 36. Ketupa javanensis. Lesson. (Obtained at Malacca.) 37. Scops sunia. (Hodgson.) (Obtained at Malacca.) 88. Ciccaba melanonota. (Tschudy.) Brazil ? 89. Syrnium indranee. (Sykcs.) (Obtained at Malacca.) 40. Spiloglaux boobook. (Latham.) Australia. 41. Spiloglaux connivcns. (Latham.) Australia. 42. Athene novae-zealandiae. (Gmelin.) New Zealand. Noctua venatica. Peule. 48. Athene cunicularia. (Molina.) Oregon. Peru. Athene patagonica. Peale. 44. Athene grallaria. (Tcmminck.) Peru. 45. Athene ferruginea. (De Wied.) Brazil. 46. Bubo virglnianus. (Gmelin.) Oregon. 47. Bubo orientalis. (Uorsfield.) (Obtained at Malacca.) * " Back sepia-brown ; head darker, with a wliite, obscure nuchal spot and superciliary line. Wings .>epia-brown, banded with umber ; shaAs brown ; beneath yellowish-white, with con8i)iuiious brown bands; tail lighter than the wings, and having four conspicuous brown bands, the two outer feathers with double the number (whence our name); shafts, between the bars, white; throat and breast white, the feathers having a brown line along the centre of each ; belly, flanks, and thighs white, banded with brown, and tinged with ferruginous; under tailcoverts white; bill and claws dark brown; cere and legs dusky yellow, "Total length twelve and seven-tenths inches; wings, from the carpal joint, seven and seven-tenths mclies; tail, five and one-half inches; tarsi, one and eight-tenths inches; middle toe including the nail, one and six-tenths inches: nail, four-tenths of an inch ; hind toe, including the nail, one and one- twentieth inches; nail one-half of an inch.'' Peale, Zool. Exp. Kxp. Birds, p. 70. CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 431 II. Okdeb INSESSORES. 48. Corvus camivorus. Bartram. Oregon. 49. Corvua americanus. Audubon. Oregon. 50. Corvus coroneoidcs. Vig. and Horef. Australia. 51. Corvus ruficoilis. Lesson. Madeira. Corvus leptonyx. Pealo. 52. Cyanocorax Stclleri. (Pallas.) Oregon. 63. Cyanocorax cyanopogon. (Do Wiod.) Brazil. 54. Cyanocitta californica. (Vigors.) Oregon. 55. Pyroderus scutatus. (Shaw.) Brazil. 56. Barita louconota. (Gould.) Australia. 57. Strepera graculino. (Shaw.) Australia. 58. Strepera anaphonensis. Tcraminck. Australia. Baryta cinerea. Peale.* 69. Gracula roligiosa. Linnaeus. (Obtained at Singapore.) 60. Calornis oorvina. (Kittlitz.) Sanioan Islands. Lainprotornis atrifusca. Pealo. 61. Aplonis margirmta. Gould. Samoan Islands. Lauiprotornis ? fusca. Peale. ' 62. Aplonis brevirostrjs. (Peale.) Sanioan Islands. 63. Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus. Kuhl. Australia. 04. Lamprocolius chrysotis. (Swainson.) (Obtained at the Cape of Good Hope.) 65. Scolecophagus niger. (Gnielin.) Oregon. Gracula ferruginea. Wilson. 66. Scolecophagus niexicanus. Swainson. California. Quiscalus Breweri. Audubon. 67. Agelaius tricolor. Audubon. California. 68. Agelaius gubernator. Wagler. California, 69. Agelaius superciliaris. Bonaparte, Brazil. 70. Wolothrus bonariensis. (Omelin.) Brazil. 71. Molothrus scriceus. (Lichtenstein.) Brazil, ' 72. Psaracolius curaeus. (Molina.) Chili. 73. Amblyramphus ruber. (Gmelin.) Brazil, 74. Chrysonius flavus. (Gmelin.) Brazil. 75. Cassicus haemorrhous. (Linnaeus.) Brazil. 76. Cassicus uropygialis. Lafresnaye. Brazil. • 77. Cassicus cristatus. (Gmelin.) Brazil. 78. Sturnella neglecta. Audubon. Oregon. 79. Sturnella militaris. (Linnaeus.) Chili. 80. Sturnella loyca. (Molina.) Peru. 81. Sturnella Defillippii. Bonaparte. Brazil, 82. Oriolus viridis. (Latham.^ Australia. \ * This name is given, without a description, in Mr. Pcale's Catalogue, p. 315. 432 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 88. Serioulus mcllinus. (Latham.) Australia. , 84. Cyanulozia oyanca. (Linnaeua.) Brazil. 85. Sporophila torrida. (Qniolin.) Brazil. 86. CarpodacuB familioris. MoCall. Oregon. 87. Steganoplcuro raficauda. (Qould.) Aufltralia. 88. Sporothlastes castanotis. (Oould.) Australia. 80. Spermophila tclasco. (Lesson.) Peru. Cosmarhynchua loucoptcrus. Pcale. 90. Erythrura cyaneoTirens. Peale. Samoan Islands. Erythrura I^lcherani. Bonaparte ? 91. Erythrura Pealei. Hartlaub. Feejee Islands. Geospiza prasina. Pcalo. 02. Psittirostra pHittacca. (Latham.) Sandwich Islands. 98. Loxia amcricuna. Wilson. Oregon. 94. Phytotoma rara. Molina. Chili. 05. Ploccus philippinua. (Linnaeus.) (Obtained at Malacca.) 96. Passer jagoonsis. Gould. Cope de Verde Islands. 97. Zonotrichia matutina. (Lichtenstein.) Chili. Fringilla Mortoni. Audubon. 08, Spizella Breweri. Cassin. Oregon. 09. Passerculus alaudinus, Bonaparte. Oregon. 100. Yolatinia jacarina. (Linnaeus.) Peru. Geospiza pcruviensis. Peale. j 101. Estrelda astrilda. (Linnaeus.) (Obtained at the Island of St. Helena.) 102. Estrelda temporalis. (Ijatham.) Australia. 103. Phrygilus alaudina. (Kittlitz.) Chili. Fringilla laciniata. Pcale. 104. Euspiza diuca. (Molina.) Chili. Pipilo cinerca. Pcale. 105. Chrysomitris magellanicus. (Vieillot.) Brazil. 106. Sycttlis brasiliensis. (Graclin.) Brazil. 107. Serinus canicollis. (Swainson.) Cape of Good Hope. 108. Fringillaria capensis. (Linnaeus,) Cape of Good Hope. 100. Tanagra striata. Gmclin. Brazil. Tunagra Darwini. Bonaparte. * 110. Tanagra ornata. Sparrman. Brazil. Tanagra archiepiscopus. Desmarest. 111. Tanagra cyanoptera. (Vieillot.) Brazil. ■ Tanagra inornata. Swainson. Tanagra argentata. G. 11. Gray. 112. Pyranga ludovioiana. (Wilson.) Oregon. , 113. Orthogonys viridis. (Spix.) Brazil. 114. Bamphocelus brasilius. (Linnaeus.) Brazil. 115. Phoenicothraupis rubica. (Vieillot.) Brazil. Tanagra flamniiceps. Temniinck. 116. Tachyphonus cristtetus. (Gmelin.) Brazil. CATALOGUE OP BIRDS. 433 117. 118. lie. 120. 121. 122. 128. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 12U. 130. 181. 132. 183. 134. 186. 186. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. Taohyphonus ooronatus. (Vieillot.) Bruil. TBnagra coryphaeus. Lichtenstein. Tanagra Vigoraii. Swainion. Trioothraupis quadrioolor. (Vioillot.) Braiil. Ginopui Lcverianua. ^Qmelin.) Bnuil. Lanius pioatua. Latham. Calliste tricolor. (Qmelin.) Braiil. Calliste feativa. (Shaw.) Brazil. Calliste cyanoventrig. (Vieillot.) Braiil. Tanagra citrinella. Temminok. Calliite thoracica. (Temminok.) Brazil. Calliste flaTivcntris. (Vieillot.) Brazil. Pipridea melanonota. (Vieillot.) Brazil. Tanagra vittata. Temminok. StephanophoruB coeruleus. (Vieillot.) Brazil. Ghlorophonia viridis. (Vieillot.) Brazil. Euphonia violaeea. (Linnaeus.) Brazil. Euphonia rufiventris. (Vieillot.) Brazil. Euphonia chalybea. (Mikan.) Brazil. Euphonia nigricollis. (Vieillot.) Brazil. Tanagrella cyaDomelaa. (De Wicd.) Brazil. Nemoeia ruficapilla. Vieillot. Brazil. Pyrrhoooma ruficeps. (Strickland.) Brazil. Arremon silens. (Boddaert.) Brazil. Arremon torquatus. Vieillot. Pipilo oregona. Bell. Oregon. Pipilo thoracica. (Illiger.) Brazil. Pipilo nifitorques. Swainson. Golius striatus. Gmelin. Cape of Good Hope. Turaous albocristatus. Strickland. Cape of Qood Hope. Buceros rhinoceros. Linnaeus. (Obtained at Singapore.) Buoeros galeatus. Gmelin. (Obtained at Singapore.) Buceros pica. Scopoli. (Obtained at Singapore.) Buceros hydrocoraz. Linnaeus. Philippine Islands. Buceros obscurus. Peale.'" * "Head, neck, anil all the lower portion of the body and thighs, pale, tawny yellow; a few pale ohestnut^olored feathers on the breast and sides of the head ; back and rump pale chocolate-brown ; scapulars and wing-coverts pale chocolate, with tawny tips; wings rounded; quills dark brown, edged with tawny; fifth primary longest; the sixth and seventh nearly equal to the fifth, pointed, and the shafts dark-brown ; tail consisting of ten feathers, slightly rounded, tawny, with white shafts, the two middle feathers clouded with pale chocolate on the half nearest the body ; bill black, inflated to a rounded termination on the crown beyond the eyes; the front edge compressed to a narrow keel; irides crimson, feet the same, paler. Female." "Total length thirty-four and six-tenths inches; wing, from the carpal joint, fourteen and seven-tenths inches; tail, twelve and eight-tenths inches; tarsi, two and two-tenths inches; middle toe, including the claw, two and seven-tenths inches ; claw, nine-tenths of an inch ; hind toe, one and thirteen- twentieibs inches; claw, eight-tenths of an inch ; bill, measuring from the crown of the head over the 109 'Ti» m ■i:. ii* K 434 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 144. Tockus nnsutus. (LinnaeuB.) Cape of Good Hope. " 145. Lanius collaris. Linnaeus. Cape of Good Hope. V 14(). Laniua lathora. S^rkcs ? (Obtained at Malacca.) 147. Enneoctonus superciliosus. (Latham.) Obtained at Malacca 148. Tbamnnphilus undulatus. (31ikan.) Brazil. Tkamnophilus Vigorsii. Such. 149. Thamnophilus sevcrus. (Lichtenstcin.) Brazil. Thaninophilus nigcr. Such. Falcunculus frontatus. (Latham.) Australia. Cyclorhis guianensis. (Gniclin.) Brazil. Telophonus bacbakari. (Vieillot.) Cape of Good Hope. Lalage tcrat. (Boddacrt.) Fcujee and Samoan Islands. Colluricincia maculosa. Pealc. Lalage humeralis. Gould. Australia. Campophaga cacsia. (Lichtenstcin.) Cape of Good Hope. Ceblepyris cana. Ouvier. Graucalus melanops. (Latham.) Australia. Graucalus Swainsonii. Gould. Australia. Graucalus u'cntalis. Vigors and Horsfield. Australia. Artauius mentalis. Jardine. Feejee Islands. Ocypterus nientaiis. Peale. Artamus leucorhynchu.s. (Graelin.) Sooloo Islands. Artamua sordidus. (Latham.) Australia. Artamus superciliosus. Gould. Australia. Ocypterus superciliosus. Pcale. Dicrurus bracteatns. Gould. 164. Dicrurus viridescens. Gould. 165. Irena cyanogaster. Vigors. 166. Colluriciucla harmonica. (Latham.) Australia. Tardus pallidus. Pealc. (" Near Valparaiso," Peale.) 167. Cracticus torquatus. (Latham.) Australia. 168. '''vrannus borealis. Swainson. Oregon. Tyrannus Cooperi. Nuttall. 169. Tv mnus audux. (Gmelin.) Brazil. 170. Tyrannula cinerea. (Spix.) Brazil. 171. Tyrannula cayennensis. (Linnaeus.) Brazil. 172. [Tyrannula albiceps. (Lafres. and D'Orb ) Tierra del Fuego. 173. Tyrannula chrysoceps. (Spix.) Brazil. culmen, fibVdn and nine-tenllis inches; alonK the gonyx, Ave and three-tenths inches; along the com- missure, five and fourtenths inches ; wiiih, one and eight-tenths inches; depth, two and eight-tenths inches." " Near Sainbnangi., oi. the island o{ MIndoro, we saw large flocks of Hornbills, which frequented deep, shady forests ; some were of a brick-red color, and were probably the malei of the one now described." " Although several were shot, such was the nnlure of the jungle, that we succeeded in obtaining but a single specimen. All n{ its pluniqgu is fully developed, though srxnty, a wise provision in so hot a I'liniale, and is much worn, showing that our bird was fully grown. The voice is not unlike ri>c from Iniid calling, and was heard in the close forest a distance of half a mile or more." Pealc, Zool. U. S. Exp, Exp. Birds, p. ia5 (1st ed., ISIH). 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. Australia. (Obtained at Malacca.) Philippine Islands. CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 435 174. Milvulus tyrannus. (Linnaeus.) Brazil. 175. Pyroccphalus rubineus. (Boddaert.) Brazil. 17G. Pyrocephalus obscurus. Gould. Veru. 177. Muscivora rupestris. (Pe Wied.) Brazil. 178. Muscipeta ruf'a. (O. 11. Gray.) Philippine Islands. Tcbitrea rufa. G. 11. Gray. 179. Muscipeta cyaniceps. Cassin. Philippine Islands. ISO. Psophodcs crepitans. (Latham.) Australia. 181. Myiobius similis. (Spix.) Brazil. ' ' ' ' 182. Myiagra plumbca. Vig. and Horsf. Australia. 183. Myiagra latirostris. Gould. Sanioan Islands. Platyrhynclius albiventris. Peale. 184. Myiagra vanikorensis. Quoy and Gaimard. Feejoo Islands. 18.5. Megalophus regius. (Ginelin.) Brazil. 186. Rhipidura albiscapa. Gould. New Zealand. ^ 187. Rhipidura nebulosa. Pealc. Sanioan Islands. 188. Rhipidura rutifrons. Yig. and Horsf. Australia. 189. Rhipidura luotacilloides. Vig. and Horsf. Australia. 190. Fluvicola cyanirostris. (Vieillut ) Tierra del Fucgo. 191. Monarcha nigra. (Sparni:inn.) Society Islands.. 192. Monarcha carinata. Swaiiison. Australia. 193. Leucocerca Lessoni. (Gray.) Feejee Islands. Monarcha cinerca. Peale. 194. Conopophaga vulgaris. Menetrics, Brazil. 195. Todirostrum flavifrons. (Lafrosnaye.) Brazil. 196. Muscigralla brevicauda. D'Orb. and Lafr. Peru. Lepturus brevicaudus. J'eale.* 197. Ptyonura inentalis. (Lafresnaye.) Peru. Saxicola fumifrons. Peale. f • " Head and back cinereous olive-color ; feathers of the crown bright-yellow nt their bases; rump ferruginous ; thorax and superciliary line white ; abdomen and under tail-coverts pale biiB'; wings brown; the tertialj and greater coverts tipped with while, forming two linrs; imder coverts white; tail very chort, brownish-black, the feathers ferrujiinous at the roots and tips; legs long, slender, pale- brown, anil bare of feathers some distance above the heels, bill slender, black ; iriiles brown." "Total length, four and sixlenlhs inches; wing, from the cnrpal joint, two and eight-tenths inches ; tail, one and four-tenths inches ; tarsi, one inch ; bare space on the tibia, seven-twentieths of an inch j middle toe, including the claw, eight tenths of an inch ; claw, one-fourth of an inch ; Iiind toe, one-half of an inch ; nail, three-tenth« of an inch ; bill, four-tenths of nn inch ; to the angle of the mouth, seven- tenths of nn inch." Peale, Zool, U. S. Kxp. Kxp. liirds, p. loa (1st ed., 1848). f " Neck and back olive ash-color; breast, abdotni'ii, vi'nt, and under tai'-coverts pale ash-color, nearly white; head and tliroKt fcrrnginous, the throat imlining to ferruginous ; wings dark-brown, the quills rind coverts edged with olive; under pa.'s light asli-color; tall even, nearly black; the two outer feathers edged with while ; bill darkbroK n ; legs slender, black " "Total length, six and nine-tenlhs inches; wing, from the carpal joint, four and three-tenths inches; tail, two and seven-tenlhs iHches; tarsi, one and one-leiith inches; middle toe, including the claw, cightlenths of an inch ; claw, onefiMirth of an inch ; hind toe, six-tenths of an inch ; claw, very slen- eiirBnce of some of the 'Bustard' or upland geese ofCniw Horn. "Bill small, binck ; throat, homl, iiml buck of the neck black; sides of the neck tawny j breast, belly, and flanks |)hIu brown; the ftMithfr^s lifiiig cinereous at the roots, and having a pale, shaded umber bar near the tipi vent and under tnilcoverts white; back dark umber, the feathers edged with brown; rump nearly black; upper tail-coverts while; tail black; legs dusky; toes lung, semi-palmate; the nails slender, the midille ono'sharp on the inner edge; irides brown. "Total length, twenty-two ami a liiilf inches; bill, one and six-lenths inches; along the cominissure, one and thiiteen-twenli'Mli.x inches; tiir>i, two and eight-tenths inches; middle toe, three and one-tenth inches; nail, tlilrlcen-iweutieths of an inch; hind toe, nine-tenths uf an iuuli." Pe^le, Zool. U. 8. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. JIU. Iff 450 CATALOGUE OP BIRDS. 673. Erianiatura australis. Eyton. Australia. 674. Micropterus ciiiereus. (Gmelin.) Tierra del Fucgo. 675. Mergus cucullatus. Linnaeus. Oregon. 676. Podiceps californicua. Heennann. Oregon. 677. Uria coluniba. (Pallas.) Oregon. 678. Brachyraniphus antiquus. (Gmelin.) Oregont 679. Fratercula cirrhata. (Gmelin.) Oregon. 680. Ceratorliyncha monocerata. (Pallas.) Oregon. 681. Aptenodytcs patachonica. Forster. Antarctic Ice. 682. Spheniscus magcllanicus. (Forster.) Tierra del FuegO. 683. Spiieniscus demersus. (Linnaeus.) Tierra del Fuego. Aptenodytes magnirostris. Peale. 684. EudyptcB antipoda. (Homb. and Jacq.) Auckland Islands. Aptenodytes flavilnrvata. Peale. 685. Eudyptes Adeliae. (Iloiub. and Jacq.) Antarctic Ice. Aptenodytes lorigicaudata. Peale. 686. Eudyptes papua. (Forster.) Macquarie's Island. Aptenodytes taeniata. Peale. 687. Eudyptes minor. (Fors'ter.) New Zealand. 688. Pelecanus roseus. Gmelin. (Obtained at Singapore.) 689. Pelecanus conspicillatus. Temminck. Au.stralia. 6!)0. Pelecanus trachvrbvnchus. Lathnni. OreRon. 691. Pelecanus fuscus. Jiinnacus. Oregon. 692. Tachypetes aquila. (Linnaeus.) Patagonia. 693. Tachypetes Palmerstonii. (Gmelin.) Honden Island. 694. Carbo magcllanicus. ((jrmelin.) Tierra del Fucg'». 695. Carbo atriccps. (King.) Tierra del Fuego. 696. Carbo Icucogaster. ((iuuld.) New Zealand. 697. Carbo brasilianus. (Gmelin.) Chili. 698. Carbo Gaimardii. (Garnot.) Peru. 699. Carbo hypoleucus. Brandt. New Zealand. Carbo fucosus. I'eale. 700. Carbo sulcirostris. Brandt. New Zealand. Carbo purpuragub. Peale. 701. Carbo brevirostris. (Gould.) New Zealand. Carbo flavagula. Peale. 702. Plotus novae-hollandiae. Australia. 703. Sula fusca. Vieillot. liellinghausen's Island. 704. Sula personata. Gould. Paumotu Islands. 705. Sula piscator. (Linnaeus.) Honden Island. Sulu rubripeda._ Peale. 706. Sula fiber. (Linnaeus ) Enderby's Island. 707. Lestris antarcticus. Ijcsson. Tierra del Fuego. 708. Lestris. Tierra del Fuego. 709. Lurus domitiicanus. liichtenstein. Chili. 710. Larus fuliginosus. (lould. Peru. 711. Larus occidentalis. Audubon. Oregon. CATALOGUE OP BIRDS. 451 712. Liirus albipennis. Peak. Chili. 713. Larus glaucotes. Meyen. Chili. 714. Sterna pelecanoidea. Vigors. Patagonia. 715. Sterna fuliginosa. Gmelin. Paumotu Islands. 716. Sterna lunata. Peale. Pauiuotu Islands. 717. Sterna gracilis. Gould. Paumotu Inlands. 718. Sterna poliocerca. Gould. Feejee Islands. Sterna rectirostris. Peale. 719. Sterna frontalis. G. R. Gray. New Zealand. Sterna albifrons. Peule. 720. Sterna uieridionalis. Cassin. Tierra del Fuego. Sterna antarctica. Peale. 721. Anous stolidus. (Linnaeus.) 72*2. Anous leucocapillus. Gould. Paurnotu Islands. 723. Anous parvulus. Gould. Paumotu Islands. Megalopterus plumbeus. Peale. 724. Inca niysticalis. Jardine. Peru. 725. Gygis alba. (Sparrman.) Paumotu Islands. 726. Phaeton aethereus. Linnaeus. Paumotu Islands. 727. Phaeton rubricauda. Boddaert. Sumoan Islands. 728. llhyncops nigra. Linnaeus. Peru. 729. Diomedea exulans. Linnaeus. Pacific Ocean. 730. Diomedea chlororhyncha. Gmelin. Pacific Ocean. 731. Diomedea brachyura. Temminck. California. 732. Diomedea fuliginosa. Gmelin. Pacific Ocean. 733. Thalassidromu furcata. (Gmelin.) Oregon. Thalassidroma plumbea. Peale. 734. Thalassidroma lincata. Peale. Samoan Islands. 735. Thalassidroma AVilsonii. Bonaparte. Atlantic Ocean. 730. Procellaria Cookii. G. R. Gray. Antarctic Ice. Procellaria brcvicepa. Peale. 737 Procellaria nivea. Guielin. Antarctic Ice. Procellaria Candida. Peale.* 738. Procellaria parvirostris. Peale. Paumotu Islands. 739. Procellaria rostrata. Peale. Society Islands. 740. Procellaria mollis. Gould. Antarctic Ocean, Procellaria gularis. Peale. 741. Procellaria gigautea. Gmelin. Gupe Horn. • "The whole phimagc, including llio shafts of the quilla and featliers, pure white, covering a pluiTiheoiis down; tall slightly rounded, consisting of twelve feathers; the under coverts even with and Bometimes exceeding the tail in length; bill black, compressed, point slender; the under niandiliie ooinparatively strong; irides brown; feet bluish flesh-color; nails strong, flattened, the inner ones very sharp on the inner edge; first quill longest. "Total length, fourteen niid one-tenth inches; extent of the wings, thirty inches; tail, four and three- tenths inches; bill, to the iinglc of the mouth, one and four-tenths inches; along the culmen, seveii- tenths of an inch ; tarsi, one and foiirtenlhs of an infh ; iniddle toe, including the nail, one and six- tenths inches; nail, four-tonlhs of an inch." Pealo, Zool. IT, S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 'i'.>0. 452 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 742. Prooellaria capenais. Linnaeus. Cape Horn. 743. Procellaria glacialis. Linnaeus. Oregon. 744. Procellaria glacialoides. A. Smitli. Atlantic Ocean. 745. Procellaria antarctica. Gmelin. Antarctic Ocean. 746. Procellaria Lesson ii. Garnot. Tierra del Fuego. 747. Puffinus major. Faber. Tierra del Fuego. 748. Puffinuria Garnotii. Lesson. Peru. INDEX. Accipiiar, genus, 90. rufitorques, 90. acutipennis, Chordeiles, 189. aeneus, Scalops, 23. Agelaius, genus, 127. gubernator, 127. tricolor, 128. alai, Fulica, 306. albatus, Anser, 333. Alcedo albicilla, 226. Alcidae, family, 346. ; alcyon, Ceryle, 191. amazilia, Chamaepelia, 279. American Antelope, 63. Avocet, 324. Badger, 15. Beaver, 33. Crossbill, 136. Elk, 55. Osprey, 96. Ostrich, 292. Vultures, 77. Widgeon, 342. aniericana, Antilocapra, 63. -^ Loxia, 135. Rhea, 292. americanus. Castor, 33. Cervus, 55. Meigus, 346. Marecu, 342. Ampclidao, family, 160. Anas, genus, 339. boschas, 340. supertiliosa, 330. Anatidae, family, 332. Anna, Aprosmictus, 236. Anous, genus, 391. leucocapillus, 393. parvulus, 393. stolidus, 391. Anser, genus, 333. albatus, 333. Gambelii, 334. Antelope, American, 63. Antilocapra, genus, 63. nmericana, 63. Antrostomus, genus, 187. Nuttallii, 187. ocellatus, 187. Aplodontia, genus, 36. leporina, 36. Aplonis, genus, 125. brevirostris, 125. marginata, 125. Aprosmictus, genus, 234. Anna, 236. personatus, 238. splcndens, 237. tabuensis, 234. Aptenodytcs, genus, 349. patachonica, 349. Arctomuridae, family, 35. Arctomys, genus, 35. monax, 36. Ardea, genus, 296. herodias, 298. • jugularis, 296. Btagnalis, 297. tu 454 INDEX. Ardea, virescens, 299. Ardeidae, family, 294. Argus, genus, 292. giganteus, 292. Artamus, genus, 140. leucorhynobus, 140. mentalis, 141. Arvicola, genus, 44. californicus, 45. montanua, 47- occidentalis, 44. Athene, genus, 109. cunicularia, 109. grallaria. 111. hypugoea, 109. novae zealandiae, 112. stratus, Cathartes, 74, 85. atriceps, Carbo, 371. Auohenia, genus, 65. lama, 65. aura, Cathartes, 73, 82. aurorae, Carpophaga, 256. aurispinosus, Molossus, 5. australis, Coriphilus, 241. Polyborus, 101. Aves, class, 69. Badger, Ameriuan, 15. Bats, family of, 3. Beavers, family of, 33. Beaver, American, 33. Bernicla, gunus, 335. antarctica, 336. canadensis, 335. Hutchinsii, 336. inurnata, 337. magellanica, 337. sandwichensis, 338. bicolor, Carpophaga, 267. Birds, class of, 69. Black-tailed Deer, 59. boschas, Ana.s, 340. Bos, genus, 64. bubalis, 64. BotauruB, genus, 300. exilis, ? 300. Botaurus, lentiginosus, 301. Brachyotus, genus, 107. Cassinii, 107. galapagoensis, 107. Brachyramphus, genus, 348. antiquus, 348. brachyura, Diomedea, 398. brevipes. Tetanus, 319. brevirostris, Aplonis, 125. bubalis, Bos, 64. ' Burrough's Vulture, 84. Burrowing Owls, 109. Buteo, genus, 92. varius, 92. ventralis, 94. Cacatua, genus, 233. philippinarum, 233. Calacnas, genus, 276. nicobarica, 276. californicus, Cathartes, 72, 80. vespertilio, 3. ArvJcoIa, 45. Callipepla, genus, 286. californica, 286. picta, 287. • Calornis, genus, 124. corvina, 124. , Carbo, genus, 370. atriceps, 371. brevirostris, 375. Gaimardii, 376. hypoleucus, 372. leucogaster, 373. magellanicus, 370. sulcirostris, 374. Carpophaga, genus, 255. aurorae, 256. ^ bicolor, 265. f latrans, 261. microcera, 263, novae zealundiae, 255. Pipkeringii, 267. Wilkesii, 258. Carpodacus, genus, 134. familiaris, 134. INDEX. 455 oarunculata, Ptilotis, 178. castaneocepa, Columba, 252. Castoridae, family, 33. Castor, genus, 33. umericanus, 33. Cathartes, genus, 72, 80. aura, 73, 82. atratu!!, 74, 85. brasiliensis, 75, 86. BurroviunuB, 84. oalifornianus, 72, 80. jota, 73, 83. urbicola, 81, Cavia, genus, 53. porcellus, 53. Centropus, genus, 249. melanops, 249. Ceratorhyncha, genus, 349. monocerata, 349. Cervidae, family, 55. Cervus, genus, 55. amerioanus, 55, Lewisii, 59. macrotis, 57. virginianus, 61. Ceryle, genus, 191. alcyon, 191. Cctpcea, order, 26. Cbaruaepelia, genus, 279. amazilia, 279. Charadriadae, family, 325. Charadrius, genus, 825. xanthocbeilus, 325. cb'iris, Todiramphus, 203. ' nordciles, genus, 189. acutipennis, 189. chrysoceps, Tyrannula, 154. Ciccaba, genus, 106. melanonota, 106. oinerea, Cullocalia, 183. cinnamominus, Todiramphus, 220. Circus, genus, 101. assimilis, 101. hudsonicus, 102. coccinea, Drepanis, 177. Coccyzus, genus, 247. Coccyzus, minor, 247. Colaptes, genus, 243. mexicanus, 243. Collocalia, genus, 183. oinerea, 183. spodiopygia, 184. Colluricinola, genus, 142. harmonica, 142. Columbidae, family, 251. Columba, genus, 251. araucana, 254. castaneooeps, 252. fasciata, 254. vitiensis, 251. Colymbidae, family, 346, Condor, 69, 77. Conirostres, tribe, 114, Coriphilus, genus, 240. austral is, 241. cyaneus, 240. solitarius, 240. Corvus, genus, 114. americanus, 114, oarnivorus, 114. coroneoidcs, 115, hawaiiensis, 119. ruficoUis, 116. ossifragus, 115. Cotnrnix, genus, 288. communis, 288, Coyote, 19, Cuculidae, family, 244. Cuculus, genus, 244. simus, 245. tenuirostris, 244. cunicularia, Athene, 109. cyaneus, Coriphilus, 240. cyaniceps, Muscipeta, 145. Cyanocitta, genus, 122. californica, 122. Cyanocorax, genus, 122. Stelleri, 122. cyanogastra, Irena, 143. Cystophora, ? 26. Dafila, genus, 341. ^H . 466 Dafila acuta, 341. bahameiisis, 341. DosypuB, genus, 64. minutus, 54. Deers, 55. Delphinidae, family, 26. Delphinus, genus, 26. albimanus, 29. obscunis, 26. pectoralis, 28. Diomedia, genus, 397. brachyura, 398 > exulans, 397. diuca, Euspiza, 135. Dolichotis, genus, 52. patachonica, 52. Doves, 251. Dolphins, 26. Drepanis, genus, 177. coccinea, 177. Drymomys, genus, 43. parvulus, 43. Ectopistes, genus, 278. carolinensis, 278. Egrctta, genus, 299. candidissiiua, 299. galatea, 299. thula, 299. Elk, American, 55. Eopsaltria, genus, 160. albifrons, 163. flavifrons, 160. icteroides, 161. erythroptera, Peristera, 277. erythrorhynchus, Pelecanus, 355. Erythrura, genus, 137. cyanovirens, 137. Pealeii, 138: Estrelda, genus, 134. astrilda, 134. Esacus, genus, 329. magnirostris, 329. Eudynamys, genus, 248. orientalis, 249. taitcnsis, 249. INDEX. Eudyptes, genus, 350. Adeliae, 352. antipoda, 851. papua, 350. Eurystomus, genus, 228. orientalis, 228. Euscartbmus, genus, 156. parulus, 156. Euspiza, genus, 135. diuca, 135. exulans, Mus, 38. Diomedea, 897. Falconidae, family, 88. Falco, genus, 88. polyagrus, 88. falklandica, Merula, 157. fasciattts, Ptilinopus, 271. femoralis, Numenius, 316. Ferae, order, 13. fiber, Sula, 363. Fiber, genus, 84. zibethicus, 34. Fissirostres, 181. Fluvicola, genus, 154. cyaniroatria, 154. Foxes, the, 21. Fox, the gray, 21. the swift, 21. fossor, Sciurus, 49. flavifrons, Eopsaltria, 160. Fratercula, genus, 348. cirrhata, 348. Fulica, genus, 306. alai, 306. americana, 307. Fuligula, genus, 343. niarila, 343. rufitorques, 343. fusca, Hiaticula, 328. fuscus, Pelicanus, 356. Gaimardii, Carbo, 376. galapagoensis, Brachyotus, 107. Gallinago, genus, 312. magellanica, 312. INDEX. 467 Gallinago, paraguayae, 812. stenura, 813. ObHub, genua, 289. Bankiva, '289. tahiticus, 290. Gambelii, Anser, 834. giganteus, Argus, 292. Glires, order, 33. grallaria, Athene, 111. Grallatores, order, 294. Gray Fox, 21. Grizzly Bear, 13. Grus, genus, 294. ' canadensis, 294. Gurney, Esq., J. H., on Pleiodus strigiros- tris, 282. Gygis, genus, 389. alba, 389. Haematopus, genus, 330. Bachmanii, 331. niger, 330. paliiatus, 330. Haliactus, genus, 95. leucocephalus, 95. Hnlcyonidae, family, 191. Halcyon varia, 223. Haliastur, genus, 98. indus, 98. Harpactes, genus, 229. ardens, 229. helvetica, Squatarola, 826. Heniignathus, genus, 178. lucidus, 180. obscurus, 178. olivaceus, 170. Hesperomys, genus, 42. leucopus, 42. Hiaticula, genus, 327. falklandica, 327. fusca, 328. vocifera, 327. Himantopus, genus, 825. nigricollis, 325. Hirundinidae, family, 181. horribilis, Ursus, 13. hyperboreus, Phalaropus, 323. Hystrlcidae, family, 51. Hystrix, genus, 51. dorsata, 51. Ibis, genus, 301. guarauna, 302. Ordii, 301. ictcruidcs, Eopsaltria, 161. leracidea, genus, 89. novae zealandiae, 89. Inca, genus, 391. mysticalis, 391. indicus, Porphyrio, 308. Ingae, Thinocorus, 288. inornata, Bernicla, 837. Insessores, tribe, 114. Irena, genus, 143. cyanogaster, 143. jacarina, Yolatinia, 185. jota, Cathartes, 7ii, 83. jugularis, Myzomela, 177. Ardea, 296. labradoria, Meles, 15. Lagenorhynchus, genus, 81. coeruieoalbus, 31. Lagotis, genus, 53. pallipes, 53. Lalage, genus, 143. terat, 143. Laridae, family, 877. : Larus, genus, 377. albipennis, 379. dominicanus, 377. fuliginosus, 378. glaucotes, 381. occidentalis, 377. i Llaraa, 65. leporina, Aplodontia, 36. Leptornis, genus, 172. samoensis, 172. leucocapillus, Anous, 393. Leucocerca, genus, 165. Lessoni, 165. U6 458 INDEX. Lewisii, CervuR, 59. Idmosa, genus, 814. fedoa, 314. novae zelandiae, 814. Lobodon, genus, 25. oarcinophaga, 25. Lozia, genus, 185. aniericana, 185. luoidus, HemignathuB, 180. lunata, Sterna, 382. Lupus, genus, 16. gigas, 16. occidentalis, 18. ochropus, 19. Macklotii, Pteropus, 11. Mammalia, class, 3. Mareca, genus, 342. amcricana, 342. melanops, Gentropus, 249. Melancrpes, genus, 242. ruber, 242. torquutus, 242. Meles, genus, 15. labradoria, 15. meridionulis, Nestor, 234. Sterna, 385. Sootopax, 310. Mergus, genus, 345. americanus, 345. eucullatus, 346. Merops, genus, 228. philippinus, 228. Merula, genus, 157. fulklandica, 157. luigratoria, 157. vanikurensis, 157. Microscelis, genus, 159. tristis, 159. Milvago, genus, 99. cliiniachina, 99. chiinango, 99. militaris, Sturnella, 130. minor, Coccyzus, 247. Molio, genus, 168. angustiplunia, 168. Moho, nobilis, 170. Moles, 28. mollis, Procellaria, 410. MolusHUs, genus, 5. aurispinosus, 5. Monarcha, genus, 146. nigra, 146. monocerata, Ccratorhyncha, 349. Mule Deer, 57. Mus, genus, 37. decumanus, 37. exulans, 38. musculus, 42. vitiensis, 40. Musk-rat, 84. Muscicapidae, family, 148. Muscipeta, genus, 144. cyaniceps, 145. ru(a, 144. musculus, Mus, 42. mysticalis, Inca, 391. Myiagra, genus, 148. rubecula, 149. vanikorensis, 148. Myzomela genus, 175. jugularis, 177. nigriventris, 176. Natatores, order, 332. Nestor, genus, 234. meridionalis, 234. novae zealandiae, Athene, 112. Carpophaga, 255. leraoidea, 89. Limosa, 314. Prosthemadera, 175. Numenius, genus, 315. femoralis, 816. hudsonicus, 315. longirostris, 315. Nuttallii, Antrostomus, 187. Nyctibius, genus, 190. aethcreus, 190. Nycticorax, genus, 300. Gardeni, 300. Oidemia, genus, 344. INDEX. 459 Oidemia, carbo, 344. p«rspioilluta, S44. Ornithology, 07. Ordii, Ibis, 301. Osprey, 9tf. OwU, 103. Pandioii, genua, 06. carolineriHis, 06. haliaetuB, 06. palliatus, Haematopus, 330. papa, Sarfioramphus, 71, 78. papua, Eudyptes, 350. paraguayne, Scolopax, 312. Parrots, 230. parulus, Euscarthmus, 156. Passer, genus, 131. jagoensis, 131. Passerculus, genus, 132. alaudinus, 132. Pavonidae, family, 280. Peale, 3Ir. Titian R., on Accipiter ru6torques, 02. Anas boschas, 340. n supcrciliosus, 339. Anous Itiucocnpillus, 393. parvulus, 304. stolidus, 392. Anser albatus, 334. Ganibelii, 335. Aplonis brevirostris, 127. niarginata, 126. Aplodontia leporina, 36. Aprosmictus pcrsonatus, 289. gplendens, 238. tabuensis, 285. Aptenodytes patachonica, 350, Ardea jujiularis, 207. stagnalis, 208. Artamus mentalis, 141. Arvicola califurnicus, 47. niontanus, 47. Athene cunicularia, 110. grallaria. 111. hypugoea, 100. novae zealandiae, 112. Pcnlo, Mr. Titian R., on liernicla canadensis, 835. Hutchinsii, 3S6. sandwichensis, 338. Botaurus exilis (?), 301. Brachyotus Cassinii, 108. galapagoensis, 108. Calaenns nicobarica, 277. Callipepla oalifornica, 286. picta, 2S7. Calornis corvinus, 125. Carbo brevirostris, 375. sulcirostris, 374. Garpophaga aurorae, 257. bioolor, 267. latrans, 262. microcera, 263. novae zealandiae, 255. Pickeringii, 268. Wilkesii, 260. Cathartes atratus, 75. aura, 75. californianus, 73. Ceratorhyncha monocerata, 349. Cervus auiericanus, 55. Lewisii, 59. macrotis, 57. virginianus, 62. Chamaepelia auiazilia, 270, Chordeiles acutipennia, 100. Circus assiroilis, 102. Coccyzus minor, 247. Colaptes mesicanus, 244. Columba castaneiceps, 254. vitiensis, 252. CoUocalia cinerea, 185. spodiopygia, 185. Corvus carnivorus, 114. hawaiiensis, 120. ossifragus, 115. ruficollis, 118. Coturnix communis, 288. Cuculus simus, 245. Cyanocitta californica, 122, Delphinus albiinanus, 29. borealis, 30. s^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGr (MT-3) 1.0 I.I laiM |2.5 Ijo ^^ !■■ ■tt Bii |Z2 JM ug mm ^ U& 12.0 iJ£ |||'-25 ||||i.4 1 1.6 < 6" ► Photograpliic Sciences Corporalion 23 WiST MAIN STRUT WIBSrit.N.Y. MSM 7)6) •72-4503 ^ #^ >v \ \ ^.> <* ■<^ «^ ^^t ^^^ ^ \ 460 INDEX. Peale, Mr. Titian R., on Delphinos obscnnu, 27. pectoralis, 27. Diumedea brachyura, 899. Drepanis oocoinea, 178. Drymomyg parvulos, 43. Eopsaltria albifroos, 163. flavifronB, 161. ioteroides, 162. Erythmia ojanovirens, 138. Pealei, 189. Esacns mBgniro8tris> 829. Eudynamys orientalis) 249. Ettdyptes Adeliae, 853. antipoda, 852. paptta, 350. EUTystomUB orientalis, 228. EuBcarthmus parulas, 157. Euspiza dittoa, 186. Falco polyagrus, 89. Fiber aibethicus, 35> Fratercnia oirrhata, 348. Fulica alai, 807. Fuligula rufitorques, 843. Oallinago magellanica, 812. Gallns tahiticuB, 290. GidB canadensis, 294. Oygis alba, 389. Haematopufl Baohmanii, 881. niger, 830. palliatUB, 830. Harpactes ardena, 229. Haliaetus leucocephalaa, 96. Hemignathus lucidna, 180. HesperoniyB leucopuB, 48. Hiaticula vocifera, 827. Hystrix dorsata, 51. Ibis guarauna, 303. leracidea norae lealandiae, 89. Lalage terat, 144. LagenorhynchuB coeruleoalbus, 32. lateralis, 32. Larus alblpennis, 880. dominicanua, 877. fuliginoBUB, 878. glauootes, 881. Peale, Mr. Titian B., on Leptomis Bamoensis, 173. Lcucocerca Lessoni, 166. Limosa fedoa, 314. novae zelam'.'e, 314. Lobodon caroinopbaga, 26. Lupus gigas, 16. ochropus, 20. Mareca amerioana, 342. Melanerpes torquatus, 242. Mergtts cucullatus, 345. MerUla falklandioa, 157. Tanikorensis, 158. Milvago chimaebina, 09. cbimango, 100. MoloBsus aurispinosus, 6. Monarcha nigra, 147. Mobo anguatipluma, 169. nobilis, 170. Mtts decumanuB, 88. exulans, 38. musculus, 42. vitiensis, 40. Myiagra rubocula, 150. Myzomela nigrivontris, 176. jugularis, 177. Numenius femoralis, 817. longirofltris, 815. Oidemia carbo, 345. perBpicillata, 344. Pandion carolinensis, 96. Passer jagoensts, 131. PasservuluB alaudinuB, 182. Peristera erythroptera, 278. PelicanuB erythrorhynobus, 356. fuBous, 356. roseus, 858. PerognathuB parvus, 48. Petrocbelidon cyanoleuca, 183. Petrocbelidon fulva, 181. Petroica pusilla, 165. Pica Nuttallii, 121. Pipilo oregona, 140. Pbaeton aetherens, 398. rubrioauda, 896. PhalaropuB hypeiU>reu4, 328. m INDEX. 461 Peale, Mr. Titian R., on Phrygilus alaudinus, 137. Pleiodas strigirostri!), 28C. I-ol^borus australLs, lUl. i?orphyrio indicus, 308. viticnsis, 809. Procellaria Coopii, 414. mollis, 410. nivea, 415. parviroBtris, 411. Tostrata, 413. Psaraoolius curacus, 129. Pteropus, genus, 11. Kerandrenius, 10. Macklotii, 11. Samoensis, 9. Ptilinopus coralcnsis, 274. faaciatus, 272. Perousei, 275. parpuratus, 270. Ptilotus carunculatus, 174. Querquedula carolinensis, 342. Rallus pectoralis, 304. Becurvirostra americana, 824. Rhipidura aibisoapa, 150. nebulosa, 152. Saroiophorus tricolor, 329. Saxicola oenanthe, 163. Scalops Townsendii, 25. Sciurus fossor, 50. Scolecophagua uiexioanus, 128. Soolopax aucklandica, 312. meridionalig, 311. Sialia arctioa, 164. Spatula clypeata, 343. Spheniscus magelianious, 854. minor, 355. Spermophila telasco, 134. Stenopsis longirostris, 188. parvulus, 189. Sterna frontalis, 882. fuliginosa, 886. lunata, 384. mcridionalis, 386. poliooorea, 884. Strepsilus interpres, 823. Pcale, Mr. Titian R., on Strix delicatula, 105. Sturnella militaris, 130. neglecta, 180. Sula fiber, 363. personata, 868. pisoator, 866. Tacbypetes Palmerstoni, 860. Tatare otaitiensis, 159. Tetrao obscurus, 284. umbellus, 288. uropbasianus, 285. Tbalassidroma furcata, 406. lineata, 404. ' Tbinocorus Ingae, 289. Todiramphus divinus, 200. recurrirostris, 199. tuta, 195. vagans, 197. Titiensis, 196. Tringa parvirostris, 322. Uria columba, 847. Ursus borribilia, 14, varius, Buteo, 92. ventralis, Buteo, 94. Vespertilio californicus, 3. eemicaudatus, 4. (unknown species), 5, Volatinia jacarina, 135. Vulpes velox, 22. virginianus, 21. Zapornia umbrina, 305. Zonotrichia pileata, 132. Zosterops flaviceps, 168. pectoralis, Rallus, 303. Pelecanidae, family, 855. Pelecanus, genus, 355. fuscus, 356. erythrorbynchns, 355. roseus, 357. Perisorcus, genus, 128. canadensis, 128. Peristera, genus, 277. erythroptera, 277. perlata, Strix, 103. 116 wnnnm. 462 Peiognathna parros, 48. Petroohelidon, genus, 181. oyanolenoa, 188.,- Ailvit, 181. Petroioa pusiila, 164. Phaeton, genua, 894. aetherena, 894. rnbrioauda, 895. Phalaropus, genua, 828. hyperboreufe, 828. Phrjrg^IuB, genua, 186. alaudinua, 186. Phoenicopterna, genua, 882. andinna, 888. obilenaia, 882. Pies, genua, 121. Nuttallii, 121. Pickeringii, Garpophaga, 267. Pioioorrua, genua. 128. oolumbianua, 128. Pioidae, family, 242. Pickering, Oharlea, M.D., on Anaa boaohaa, 840. Anoua atolidua, 892. Ansor albatua, 884. Gambelii, 88S. Antilocapra americana, 68. Aplodontia leporina, 87. Argua giganteua, 292. Ardea viresoena, 299. Arotomya monax, 35. Athene grallaria, 112. novae aealandiae) 118. Auchenia llama, 65. Bate, 6. Berniola sandwiohenaia, 889. Boa bubalia, 64. Botaurus lentigincaua, 801. Brachyramphua antiquua, 848. Callipepla oalifornioa, 286. Gttlornia oorvina, 125. Carbo Gaimardii, 876. magellanicua, 871. Garpophaga latrana, 262. miorooeroa, 265. INDEX. Pickering, Chariea, M.D., on Garpophaga novae zoalandiae, 256. Gaator amerioanus, 84. Gathartea aura, 78. braailiensia, 76. californianua, 72. jota, 74. Gavia poroellua, 53. Gervua amerioanua, 56. Geryle alcyon, 191. Gharadriua zanthooheilua, 826. Goriphilua australia, 241. Gorvua americanua, 115. oamivoma, 114. Gyatophora (f), 26. Dafila acuta, 841. Daaypna minutus, 54. DelphinapteruB Peronii, 88. Diomedea.brachyura, 401. exulana, 897. Dolichotea pataohonica, 62. Egretta galatea, 300. Fratercula cirrhata, 848. Fulioa americana, 808. Fuligula marila, 848. Grus canadensis, 295. Gygis alba, 890. Haliaetus leucocephalus, 96. Haliastur indua, 99. Harp)icte8 ardena, 229. Hiaticula vocifera, 827. Himantornis nigricoUb, 825. Ibia Ordii, 802. Inca mysticalis, 391. Lagotia pallipes, 58. Larua dominicanus, 877. Limosa fedoa, 814. Lupua oohroptts, 20. Melea labradoria, 15. Mergus amerioanua, 845. Meropidae, family, 228. Meropa philippinus, 229. Moho angustipluma, 170. nobilia, 171. Neator meridionalis, 284. Numeniua loogiroatria, 315. w^ mt ■T> 'V»- .?',if.pi,tl^«.^i , 1^^ INDEX. 468 Pickering, Charles, M.D., on Nyoticoraz Garden!, 300. Pandion carolinensis, 96. haliaetos, 97. Pelicanu? erythrorbynchiu, 856. fuscus, 857. rosens, 858. Perisoreus canadensis, 123. Phalaropus hyperboreus, 824. Pliaeton aethereus, 395. rubricauda, 395. Picicorrus columbianis, 123. Podicepa californicus, 846. Polyboms thanis, 100. Procellaria eapensis, 416. gigantea, 407. pacifica, 408. Prosthemadera novae zealandiae, 175. Pteropus samoensis, 9. Qtierqu