33d Congress, ) 2d Session. ) HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. j Ex. Doc. 1 No. 91. REPORTS EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS, ASCERTAIN THE MOST PRACTICABLE AND ECONOMICAL ROUTE FOR A RAILROAD FROM THE MISSISSIPPI E1YER TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. MADE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, IN 1853-6, ACCORDING TO ACTS OP CONGRESS OF MARCH 0, 1858, MAI 81, 1854, AND AUGUST 5, 1854. VOLUME IX. WASHINGTON : A. 0. P. NICHOLSON, PRINTER. 1 8 5 8.IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES—February 14, 1855. Resolved, That there he printed, for the use of the House, ten thousand copies of the reports of surveys for a railroad to the Pacific, made under the direction of the Secretary of War, embracing the report of F. W. Lander, civil engineer, of a survey of a railroad route from Puget’s Sound, by Fort Hall and the Great Salt lake, to the Mississippi river; and the report of J. C. Fre'mont, of a route for a railroad from the headwaters of the Arkansas river into the State ©f California; together with the maps and plates accompanying each of said reports necessary to illustrate them. Attest: J. W. FORNEY, * Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States. THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION—Chapter 98. Sect. 10. And he it further enacted, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby authorized, under the direction of the President of the United States, to employ such portion of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, and such other persons as he may deem necessary, to make such explorations and surveys as he may deem advisable, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, and that the sum of one hundred and fifty- thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expense of such explorations and surveys. Approved March 3, 1853. THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION—Chapter 60. Appropriation: For deficiencies for the railroad surveys between the Mississippi river and the Pacific ocean, forty thou- sand dollars. Approved May 31, 1854. THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION—Chapter 267. Appropriation : For continuing the explorations and surveys to ascertain the best route for a railway to the Pacific, and for completing the reports of surveys already made, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Approved August 5, 1854.6'Si,J U'-V-V 3 ^ V. ? CONTENTS OF VOLUME II. PART II.—GENERAL REPORT UPON THE ZOOLOGY OF THE SEVERAL PACIFIC RAILROAD ROUTES, s'V 777CmLETTER TO CAPTAIN HUMPHREYS, TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, March 1, 1856. Sir : During the first organization of the parties for the survey of a railroad route to the Pacific, application was made to the Smithsonian Institution, by the officers in charge, for in- structions and suggestions in reference to the investigation of the Natural History of their respective lines. These were cheerfully furnished, as in accordance with the objects of an establishment intended for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The specimens in Zoology, as collected, were transmitted from time to time to the Institution, and properly preserved until the return of the parties. A series of special reports was prepared by the naturalists of the expeditions; but as these were necessarily disconnected and incomplete, it was deemed advisable to furnish a general systematic report upon the collections as a whole ; and this being sanctioned by the War Department, the materials were entrusted to competent individuals for this purpose, the necessary drawings being made by a skilful artist within the walls of the Institution. The first part of the general report having been already furnished, I now transmit the remainder, with the hope that its execution will be satisfactory to the Department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary Smithsonian Institution. Captain A. A. Humphreys, Topographical Engineers, In charge qf Office of Explorations and Surveys, War Department.PART II.EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR A RAILROAD ROUTE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN, WAR DEPARTMENT. BIRDS: BY SPENCER P. BAIRD. ASSISTANT SECRETARY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. WITH THE CO-OPERATION OP JOHN CASSIN AND GEORGE N. LAWRENCE. WASHINGTON, D. 0 1 8 5 8 .CONTENTS. Preface..........-......-..............—______________... Systematic list of the higher groups_______________________ List of species —______________________-___________________ Introductory remarks__________________________-____________ Order Raptores_________________________-___________________ Order Scansores._______________________-___________________ Order Insessores___________-__________________-_______-____ Order Rasores_________________________________...._________ Order Grallatores _________________________________________ Order Natatores_________- *________________________________ Appendix A. Additional remarks on North American birds Appendix B. Birds found at Fort Bridger, Utah........... — Appendix C. List of authorities...............-............ Index of common names______________________________________ Index of scientific names.................................. Page. XIII XYII xxv 1 3 65 126 593 650 754 921 926 928 955 963PREFACE. The present report is a continuation of a systematic account of the vertebrate animals of North America, collected or observed by the different parties organized under the direction of the War Department for ascertaining the best route for a railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean. The collections of these expeditions having been deposited with the Smithsonian Institution by the War Department, in compliance with an act of Congress, the undersigned was charged by the Secretary of the Institution with the duty of furnishing the series of general reports upon them, as called for by the Department. The account of the mammals having been published in 1857, that of the birds is herewith furnished, prepared according to the plan announced in the preface to that volume. As in the volume on the mammals, by the insertion of the comparatively few species not noticed by the expeditions, this report becomes an exposition of the present state of our knowledge of the birds of North America, north of Mexico. This addition, while rendering the work more valuable to the reader, was absolutely necessary for the proper understanding of the western fauna, the species of which are generally so closely allied to the eastern forms as to require in most cases more minute and detailed descriptions of the latter than have been published. Certain portions of the report have been prepared by Mr. John Cassin, of Philadelphia, and Mr. George N. Lawrence, of New York, well known as the leading ornithologists of the United States. Mr. Cassin has furnished the entire account of the Baptores, from p. 4 to 64, of the Grallae from p. 689 to 753, and of the Alcidae from p. 900 to 918, in all about 135 pages. Mr. Lawrence has written the article on the Longipennes, otipalmes, and Golymbidae, from page 820 to 900, making 80 pages. To Mr. P. L. Sclater, of London, acknowledgments are due for the examination of certain specimens in European museums, and for other valuable aid in determining points of synonymy ; some of his notes received too late for insertion in their proper places will be found in Appendix A. Much assistance has also been rendered in various ways by Dr. J. G. Cooper. In the introduction to the general report upon the mammals will be found a detailed account of the different railroad surveying parties from which zoological collections were received, with their respective routes. For the proper understanding of the subject, however, it will be necessary to present a brief recapitulation in this place. 1. Line oe the 47th parallel, under Governor 1.1. Stevens.—This consisted of two principal parties, one under Governor Stevens, passing from St. Paul, Minnesota, to the Pacific, accompanied by Dr. George Suckley, U. S. A, as surgeon and naturalist, the other under Captain G. B. M'Clellan, proceeding from Vancouver to the Cascade mountains, accompanied byXIV PREFACE. Dr. J. G. Cooper. After the termination of their official duties with the survey, Dr. Suckley made a very extensive collection of birds at the Dalles, and on Puget's Sound, and Dr. Cooper at Shoalwater bay, on Puget's Sound, and at Santa Clara, California. 2. 38th and 39th parallels, under Captain J. W. Gunnison, and the 41st, under Captain E. G. Beckwith.—The duties of naturalist were performed by Mr. Kreuzfeldt until his death, afterwards by Mr. Snyder, of Captain Beckwith's party. 3. 35th parallel, under Captain A. W. Whipple.—This party was at first divided into two, one under Captain Whipple, starting at Fort Smith, accompanied by Mr. H. B. Mollhausen, as naturalist; the other under Lieutenant Ives, from San Antonio, Texas, with Dr. Kennerly. Both parties met at Albuquerque, and proceeded together to the Pacific. 4. California line, under Lieutenant Williamson.—This party, with Dr. Heermann as naturalist, explored the country from San Francisco to the Tejon Pass and the Colorado river. 5. 32d parallel west, under Lieutenant J. G. Parke.—Lieutenant Parke's party, with Dr. Heermann as naturalist, traversed the route from Fort Yuma to El Paso, and thence through Texas. 6. 32d parallel east, under Captain J. Pope.—From El Paso to Preston, on Bed river. Captain Pope's collections include the very extensive series of birds gathered by Dr. T. C. Henry, U. S. A., at Fort Thorn and on the Mimbres. The preceding lines were organized in 1853 ; the following was sent out subsequently : 7. California and Oregon line, under Lieutenant Williamson.—This party explored the Cascade mountains of California and Oregon. The zoological collections were made by Dr. J. S. Newberry, geologist of the expedition. In addition to the preceding Bailroad explorations, the results of the following miscellaneous government expeditions, made under the War Department, have been embodied in the report: 8. Exploration of the Llano Estacado, in 1854 and 1856, by Captain Pope. 10. Exploration of the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone in 1856, under Lieut. G. K. War- ren.—Very large collections of birds were made by this party, of which Dr. F. Y. Hayden was surgeon and naturalist. 10. Exploration of the north side of the Platte river and Loup Fork in 1857, under Lieut. G. K. Warren.—On this second expedition of Lieut. Warren, (Dr. Hayden naturalist,) large collections of birds were made, especially on Laramie Peak and Loup Fork. 11. Wagon road from Fort Biley to Bridger's Pass, under Lieut. F. T. Bryan.—This party, with W. S. Wood as collector and naturalist, was out two seasons, 1856 and 1857, and made very large collections. 12. Survey of the Colorado river in 1857-8, under Lieut. J. C. Ives.—H. B. Mollhausen, zoologist, aided by Dr. J. S. Newberry, geologist. A small portion only of the collections have yet been received. The following expeditions, under the Department of the Interior, have also furnished important materials: 13. Survey of the United States and Mexican Boundary Line in 1851 to 1855.—The collec- tions of this survey were made while Mr. John B. Bartlett, Mr, B. B. Campbell, and Major W. H. Emory, U.S.A., were commissioners; and Colonel J. D. Graham, U.S.A., and Major Emory, U.S.A., were in charge of the scientific department. The collections were made by Messrs. John H. Clark, Arthur Schott, Charles Wright, Dr. T. H. Webb, and Dr. C. B. Kennerly.PREFACE. XV 14. Fort Kearney, South Pass and Honey Lake Wagon Road, Eastern Division, under W. M. F. Magraw.—On this route large collections were made by Dr. J. G. Cooper, surgeon of the party, as far as Fort Laramie, in 1857, and on his return eastward. His assistant, Mr. C. Drexler, visited Fort Bridger, Utah, in March, 1858, and mainly through the countenance of General A. S. Johnston, commander of the United States forces stationed there, was enabled to make a very large collection of the birds of that region. His collections were received too late for mention in their proper places, but are given in Appendix B. Parties fitted out by the State Department: 15. Survey of the Northwestern Boundary, tjnder Archibald Campbell.—Occasional refer- ences!awillj be found to collections received from this party, of which Dr. C. B. Kennerly is surgeon and naturalist, made chiefly at Simeahmoo bay, Puget's Sound, near the mouth of Fraser’s river. The following less! official collections from the west and south have been used in the prepara- tion of the report. From the Pacific slope.—The very large private collections of Dr. Suckley, in Washington and Oregon Territories, and of Dr. Cooper, in Washington Territory and California, already referred to. Also,, additional collections of great magnitude made along the whole Pacific coast of the United States by Lieut. W.“P. Trowbridge, while engaged on Coast Survey duty; by Mr. E. Samuels, at Petaluma, California, and by Mr. John Xantus de Yesey, at Fort Tejon, Likewise collections of greater or less extent made by Dr. John Potts, U. S. A., Mr. A. J. Grayson, Dr. John F. Hammond, U. S. A., Richard D. Cutts, Mr. A. Cassidy, Dr. W. F. Tolmie, Dr. Yollum, U. S. A., and Dr. W. S. King, U. S. A. From the Rocky mountain regions.—The very complete collection of birds of Fort Thorn and the adjacent regions, made by Dr. T. C. Henry, U. S. A.; also, collection from Fort Massa- chusetts, New Mexico, made by Dr. D. W. C. Peters, U. S. A.; at Cantonment Burgwyn, New Mexico,by Dr. W. W. Anderson, U. S. A.; and by Captain R. B. Marcy, near Cochetope pass. From Texas and Mexico.—The large collection of Lieut. D. N. Couch, U. S. A., in Texas and northern Mexico ; of Captain S. Yan Yliet, U. S. A., at Brownsville ; of Dr. Swift, U. S. A., at Fort Chadbourne, Texas, and of Drs. Foard and Crawford, U. S. A.; also, of Mr. Gustavus Wurdemann, of the United States Coast Survey, on the coast of Texas. The further collec- tions of this gentleman on the coast of Louisiana, of Florida, and among the Florida Keys, have contained several new species, and many species new to the fauna of the United States. From Nebraska, Kansas, and elsewhere.—Collections made in Kansas and Nebraska by Dr, W. A. Hammond, U. S. A., and Mr. John Xantus de Yesey; by Dr. Hayden, Colonel Alfred Yaughan, Indian agent, and Dr. J. Evans. On Red river of the North by Donald Gunn, esq. Also large collections made in Minnesota and Illinois by Mr. R. Kennicott, partly under the auspices of the Northwestern University of Evanston, Illinois; others made in Wisconsin by Dr. Hoy and Mr. Barry ; in Ohio by Dr. J. P. Kirtland; and near Chicago by Mr. Thomas E. Blackney. Also collections made fin Georgia by Professor Joseph Leconte. A collection of about 150 species received from Mr. John Gould, of London, contains many rare birds from the northwest and Arctic regions, (some of them types of the “ Fauna Boreali- Americana,”) as well as others from. Mexico and Guatemala. The latter have proved of greatXVI PREFACE. service for comparison with, closely allied species of the United States, as have also specimens from Mr. P. L. Sclater, of London, Mr. J. P. Yerreaux, of Paris, and Messrs. J. H. G-urney and Alfred Newton, of Norwich, England. The types of eastern birds have been furnished by the collection of the author deposited in the Smithsonian Institution. This consists of a full collection of birds of Central Pennsylvania, with sex, date, and measurements before skinning. It also embraces a large number of Mr. Audubon's typical specimens used in the preparation of his “ Birds of America," including many of those from the Columbia river and Eocky mountains, furnished him by Mr. J. K. Townsend. In addition to the collections just mentioned, with others not enumerated, all in charge of the Smithsonian Institution, and amounting to over 12,000 specimens, types have been supplied for the occasion by Mr. Cassin, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. John G-. Bell, Dr. Michener, and others. The ornithological gallery of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, believed to be the richest in the world, has also furnished the means of making many essential comparisons. The measurements of the specimens have usually been made in hundredths of the English inch1, mostly with the dividers. All the measurements in the list of specimens are as made before the bird was skinned, each collector being responsible for the accuracy of his work. The comparative tables of measurements show, in many cases, the change of dimensions produced in the dried skin. S. F. B. Washington, October 20, 1853. The English inch is about equal to 11.26 French lines, .9383 French inches, or to 25.40 millimetres.I. TABLE OF THE HIGHER GROUPS Order I. EAPTOKES. (Page 3.) Family/ 1. Vulturidae., 2. Falconidae., 3. Strigidae. 47 Sub-family. Cathartinae.. Falconinae .. Accipitrinae Buteonmae.. Milvinae . Aquilinae.. Polyborinae. Striginae ... Buboninae., Syrniinae.. Atheninae. Nycteinae. 36 41 Section. Genus. 1. Cathartes, 111. 2. Falco, Linn.. 3. Astur, Lac..... 4. Accipiter, Bnss 5. Buteo, Cuv..... 6. Archibuteo, Brehm 7. Asturina, Vieill.... 8. Nauclerus, Vig.... 9. Elanus, Sav....... 10. Ictinia, Vieill.. 11. Rostrhamus, Less. 12. Circus, Lacep...... 13. Aquila, Moehr .... 14. Haliaetus, Sav...., 15. Pandion, Sav ...... 16. Polyborus, Vieill.. 17. Craxirex, Gould..., 18. Strix, Linn........ 19. Bubo, Cuv......... 20. Scops, Sav......... 21. Otus, Cuv......... 22. Brachyotus, Gould. 23. Syrnium, Sav-..... 24. Nyctale, Brehm... 25. Athene, Boie....... 26. Glaucidium, Boie.. 27. Nyctea, Steph.... 28. Surnia, Bum...... Sub-genus. Pi Species examined and identified. 1 apecies not examined nor | identified. Extra limital species. Current number of first species mentioned. 29. Columbidae 595 Columbinae...... 596 159. Columba, L 596 Columba, L 596 2 445 Patagioenas, Reich.. . 596 1 447 160. Ectopistes, Sw.... 599 1 448 Zenaidinae 600 Zenaideae....... 600 161. Zenaida, Ron 601 1 449 162. Melopelia, Bon.... 602 1 450 163. Zenaidura, Bon.... 603 ] 451 Chamaepelieae 164. Seardafella, Bon... 605 1 452 165, Chamaepelia, Sw.. 606 1 453 Starnoenadeae 166. Oreopeleia, Reich . 607 1 454 167. Starnoenas, Bon... 608 1 455 Sub-Order B. GALLINAE. (Page 609.) 30. Penelopidae 610 168. Ortalida, Merrem.. 610 1 456 31, Phasianidae..... 613 Meleagrinae 613 169. Meleagris, Linn... 613 2 457 32. Tetraonidae. ... 619 170. Tetrao, Linn 620 3 459 171. Centrocercus, Sw. 624 1 462 172. Pedioecetes, Bd... 625 1 463 173. Cupidonia, Reich.. 627 1 464 174. Bonasa, Steph 629 2 465 175. Lagopus, Yieill.... 632 3 1 467 33. Perdicidae....... 638 Ortvginae,....... 638 176. Ort.yx, Steph ..... 639 2 471 177. Oreortyx, Baird ... 642 1 473 178. Lophortyx, Bon. .. 643 2 474 179. Callipepla,Wagler.. 646 1 476 180. Cyrtonyx, Gould .. 647 1 477 Order V. GRALLATORES. (Page 650.) Sub-Order A. HERODIONES. (Page 651.) 34. Gruidae 652 181. Grus, Linn 653 3 35. Aramidae....... 657 182. Aramus, Yieill 657 36. Ardeidae.., 659 Ardeinae 659 Ardeae 659 183. Demiegretta, Blyth. 660 3 184. Garzetta, Bon 664 1 185. Herodias, Boie .... 666 1 186. Ardea, Linn 667 2 187. Audubonia, Bp.... 670 ] 188. Florida, Bd 671 1 Botaureae 659 189. Ardetta, Gray 672 1 190. Botaurus, Steph. .. 674 1 Nycticoraceae. .. 660 191. Butorides, Blyth... 676 [ 1 192. Nyctiardea, S w.... 678 1 193. Nyctherodius,Reic. 679 1 37. Tantalidae...... 681 Tantalinae 681 194. Tantalus, Linn.... 682 1 Ibinae. 681 195. Ibis, Moehr........ 682 This, Moehr1(1 2 Falcinellus, Bon 1 38. Plataleidae...... 686 196. Plat.alea, L 686 1 39. Phoenicopteridae 687 197. Phoenicopterus, L. 687 l 478 480 482 485 486 487 489 490 491 492 493 495 496 497 498 500 501 502XXII TABLE OF THE HIGHER GROUPS, Order Y. GEALLATOEES—Continued. Sub-Order B. GRALLAE. (Page 688.) Tribe 1. LIMICOLAE. (Page 688.) Family. Page. Sub-family. 0) be o3 CLi Section. o be tas Genus. bo ci Pm Sub-family. £ bfl Section. Page. Genus. Page. Sub-genus. <13 ei ft* Species examined and identified. Species not examined nor identified. Extra limital species. . Current number of first species mentioned. 46, Anatidae 756 Cvgninae.,,..... 757 23ft. f!yfmns,.Linn...... 757 Olor, Wngler f 757 2 561 Anserinae 759 759 231. Anser, T,inn 760 Chen, Boie 757 2 563 Anser, Linn 757 2 .... 565 232. Bernicla, Steph.... 763 Leucoblepharon, Bd. 763 3 .... 567 Bernicla, Steph 763 2 570 Leucopareia, Rch 763 1 .... 572 233. Chloephaga, Eyton. 769 1 573 Dendrocygneae .. 759 234. Dendrocygna, Sw.. 769 2 574 Anatinae 77*2 235. Anas,Linn........ 773 2 576 236. Dafila, Leach 774 1 578 237. Nettion, Kaup..... 777 2 579 238. Querquedula,Steph. 779 2 581 239. Spatula, JBoie 781 1 583 240. Chaulelasmus,Gray 782 1 584 241. Mareca, Steph 783 2 585 242. Aix, Boie 785 587 Fuligulinae...... 786 243. Fulix, Sund 790 3 588 244. Ay thy a, Boie 793 2 591 245. Bucephala, Bd.... 795 3 593 246. Histrionicus, Less. 798 ] 596 247. Harelda, Leach... 800 . •.. 1 597 248. Polysticta, Eyton.. 801 1 598 249. Lampronetta, Brdt. 802 1 599 250. Camptolaemus, Gr. 803 1 600 251. Melanetta, Boie... 804 1 601 252. Pelionetta, Kaup.. 804 2 602 253. Oidemia, Flem.... 804 1 1 604 254. Somateria, Leach. 808 2 1 606 Erismaturinae ... 811 255. Erismatura, Bon.. 811 1 1 609 1VTerginae. - - - , 812 256. Mergus, Linn 813 2 611 257, Lophodytes, Reich 815 1 613 * 258. Mergellus, Selby.. 817 1 614 Sub-order B. GAYIAE. (Page 818.) Tribe 1. TOTIPALMI. (Page 819.) 47. Pelecanidae 868 259. Pelecanus, L 868 Cyrtopelicanus, Rch.. 868 1 615 Onocrotalus, Wagl... 870 1 616 48. Snlirlae . T, 111T. 871 260. Sula, Br Snla, Br 871 1 617 DysporuSjIll. 872 1 • »»« 618 49. Tachypetidae... 873 261. Tachypetes, Vieill. 873 1 619 50. Phalaerocoraci- rlae T,,,T. 875 262. Graeiilns, L. t.,, T. 875 Phalacrocorax, Br.... 876 1 2 620 Graculus, Bon ....... 877 3 |(M 623 Urile, Bon 880 2 .,.. 626 61. Plotidae ........ 883 Plofinae 883 263. Plof.us, L 883 1 628 52. Phaetonidae .... 885 Phaeton inae 885 264. Phaeton, Linn .... 885 1 629 XXIV TABLE OF THE HIGHER GROUPS, Tribe 2. LONGIPENNES. (Page 819.) Family. a> be ■c3 Ph Sub-family. Page. Section. OJ bn a Hi Genus. a> too «3 Sub-genus. alustris, (Wils.) Baird. Swamp Sparrow. Eastern United States from the Atlantic to the Missouri......................... 483 370. Peucaea aestivalis, (Licht.) Cab. Bachman's Finch. Georgia......................... 484 371. Peucaea cassinii, (Woodh.) Baird. San Antonio, Texas, to Los Nogales, Sonora* 485 372. Peucaea ruficeps, (Cass.) Baird. Coast of California............................... 486 373. Embernagra rufivirgata, Lawr. Yalley of the Rio Grande and probably of Gila, southward. Mazatlan, Mexico...................................... 487 374. Passerella iliaca, (Merrem,) Sw. Fox-colored Sparrow. Eastern United States to the Mississippi. * *..............*........................... 488 375. Passerella townsendii, (Aud.) Nutt. Pacific coast of United States as far south as Sacramento. Fort Tejon??.................*....................... 489 376. Passerella schistacea, Baird. Head-waters of Platte and Fort Bridger to Fort Tejon, California. Perhaps another species, P. megarhynchus, (App.)-490, 925 377. Calamospiza bicolor, (Towns.) Bon. Lark Bunting. High central plains to the Rocky mountains ; southwesterly to valley of Mimbres and Sonora 492 378. Euspiza americana, (Gm.) Bon. Black-throated Bunting. United States from the Atlantic to the border of the high central plains............ 494LIST OF SPECIES. XLI Page. 3T9. Euspiza townsendii, (Aud.) Bon. Townsend’s Bunting. Chester county, Pennsyl- vania. But one specimen known••••...................................................... 495 380. Guiraca (Goniaphea) ludovic/iana, (Linn.) Sw. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Eastern United States to the Missouri plains ; south to Guatemala*..... 497 381. Guivaca (Goniaphea) melanocephala, Sw. Black-headed Grosbeak. High Central plains from Yellow Stone to the Pacific ; Table lands of Mexico 498 382. Gmraca caerulea, (Linn.) Sw, Blue Grosbeak. More Southern United States from Atlantic to Pacific j south to Mexico......«.............. • • 499 383. Gyanospizaparellina, (Bon.) Baird. Northeastern Mexico to the Rio Grande - • • • 502 384. Gyanospiza ciris, (Linn.) Baird. Painted Bunting. South Atlantic and Gulf States to the Pecos river, Texas ; south into Mexico - .......... 503 385. Gyanospiza versicolor, (Bon.) Baird. Northeastern Mexico, probably to the Rio Grande ; Peru.......................................... 503 386. Gyanospiza amoena, (Say,) Baird, Lazuli Pinch. High Central Plains to the Pacific • • ................................................... 504 387. Gyanospiza cyanea, (Linn.) Baird. Indigo Bird. Eastern United States to the Missouri ; south to Guatemala...............«.................. 505 388. Spermophila mordeti% Pucheran. Rio Grande of Texas ; south to Honduras -..... 506 389. Pyrrlmloxia sinuata, Bon. Valley of the Rio Grande of Texas............ * 508 390. Cardinalis virginianus, Bonaparte. Red Bird. More southern portions of the United States to the Missouri; probably along valley of Rio Grande to Rocky mountains *.................................... 509 391. Pipilo erythrophthalmus, (Linn.) VieilL Ground Robin. Eastern United States to the Missouri river..................... .................... 512 392. Pipilo oregonus, Bell. Oregon Ground Robin. Coast of Oregon and Washington Territories ................................................... 513 393. Pipilo arcticus, Sw. High Central Plains of Upper Missouri, Yellowstone, and Platte; Fort Bridger •. ....................................... 514 394. Pipilo megalonyx, Baird. Southern coast of California and across through vallies of Gila and Rio Grande *....................................... 515 395. Pipilo abertii, Baird. Base of Rocky mountains in New Mexico ; Valley of Gila and Colorado.................................................. 516 396. Pipilo fuscus, Sw. Coast region of California.................................... 517 397. Pipilo mesoleucus, Baird. Valley of Upper Rio Grande and across to the Gila river ; East to Santa Caterina, New Leon....................... 518 398. Pipilo chlorurus1 (Towns.) Baird. Blanding’s Finch. Valley of Rio Grande and Gila. Rocky mountains north to the South Pass; south to Mexico ............................*............*.............. 519 399. Dolichonyx oryzivorus, (Linn.) Sw. Boblink. Eastern United States to Fort Bridger, Utah «* .............................................. 522 400. Mohthrus pecoris, (Gm.) Sw. Cow Bird. United States from the Atlantic to California • Fort Bridger...................524 401. Agdaius phoeniceus, (Linn.) Vieill. Swamp Blackbird. United States from Atlantic to Pacific..............*,,,. " . 526 b6*XLII LIST OF SPECIES. Page. 402. Agelaius gubernator, (Wagl.) Bon. Bed-shouldered Blackbird. Pacific coast ot United States ; Colorado river.................................. 529 403. Agelaius tricolor, (Nutt.) Bon. Red and White-shouldered Blackbird. Coast of California ; Colorado river...................*................. 530 404. Xanthocepliolus icterocephalus, (Bon.) Baird. Yellow-headed Blackbird. Western America, from Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Red river to California ; south into Mexico j Greenland................... 531 (405.) Trupialis militarise (Linn.) Bonap. Red-breasted Lark. Western coast of South America ; around to Falkland Islands ; perhaps in Brazil.; coast of California?................................................. ......................... 633 406. Sturndla magna, (Linn.) Sw. Meadow Lark. Eastern United States to the high central plains ; south to Mexico ; Cuba? * •• •............ • • • • \ • 535 407. Sturndla neglecta, Aud. Western Lark. Western America, from high central plains to the Pacific ; east to Pembina, and perhaps to Wisconsin- 537 408. Icterus vulgaris, (Linn.) Daudin. Troupial. Northern South America and West Indies ; accidental on the southern coast of United States...... 542 409. Icterus audubonii, Giraud. Audubon’s Oriole. Valley of the Lower Rio Grande of Texas, southward............................................. 542 (410.) Icterus melanocephalus, (Wagl.) Gray. Warm parts of Mexico....................... 543 411. Icterus parisorum, Bon. Valley of the Rio Grande, south to Guatemala; in Texas, found on the Pecos...............................*.......... 644 412. Icterus wagleri, Sclater. Northeastern Mexico to Rio Grande valley ; south to Guatemala..................• • •..............*................. 645 413. Icterus cucullatus, Swain. Hooded Oriole. Valley of the Lowrer Rio Grande, southward • ...........................* «. ............*....... 646 414. Icterus spurius, (Linn.) Bon. Orchard Oriole. United States, from the Atlantic to the high central plains ; probably throughout Texas ; south to Guatemala --•••• • .......................................... 647 415. Icterus baltimore, (Linn.) Daudin. Baltimore Oriole. From Atlantic coast to the high central plains, and in their borders ; south to Guatemala • • 548 416. Icterus bullockii, (Sw.) Bon. Bullock’s Oriole. High central plains to the Pacific ; rare on upper Missouri; south into Mexico •....................... 649 417. Scolecopliagus ferruginous, (Gm.) Sw. Rusty Blackbird. From Atlantic coast to the Missouri • • •..................*........................... 651 418. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus, (Wagl.) Cab. Brewer’s Blackbird. High central plains to the Pacific ; south to Mexico ; Pembina, Minnesota- - - 552 419. Quiscalus macrourus, Sw. Great-tailed Grakle. Valley of the Lowrer Rio Grande of Texas, southward ............................................* ’ 553 420. Quiscalus major, (Wils.) Vieill. Boat-tailed Grakle. Southern Atlantic and Gulf Coast; mouth of Rio Grande, Texas............................... 555 421. Quiscalus versicolor. (Linn.) Vieill. Crow Blackbird. Atlantic to high central plains ; Fort Bridger ......................... * .............. 655 422. Quiscalus baritus, (Linn.) Vieill. Florida coast and West Indies.......9 ........ 556 423. Corvus carnivorus, Bartram. American Raven. Entire continent of North America ; rare east of the Mississippi........................... * 660 424. Corvus cacalotl, Wagl. Colorado Raven. Colorado river of California, southward - - 563LIST OF SPECIES* XLIII Page 425. Corvus cryptoleueus, Couch. White-necked Crow. Valley of Rio Grande and Gila ; abundant on the Llano Estacado................................... 565 426. Corvus americanus, Aud. Common Crow. North America to the Missouri region ; also on the coast of California? (Not found on the high central plains?).............................. *.................. “ . • 566 427. Corvus americanus, var. floridanus, Baird. Florida Crow. Southern peninsula of Florida • • ■ • •................................................ 568 428. Corvus caurinus, Baird. Northwestern Fish Crow. Washington Territory and northwest coast.................................................. 569 429. Corvus ossifragus, Wilson. Fish Crow. South Atlantic (and Gulf?) coast............ 571 430. Picicorvus columbianus, (Wils.) Bon. Clark's Crow. From Rocky mountains to Pacific ; east to Fort Kearney................................... 573 431. Gymnohitta cyanocephala, Pr. Max. Maximilian's Jay. Rocky mountains to Cas- cades of California and Oregon. Not on the Pacific coast......... 574 432. Pica hudsonica, (Sabine,) Bon. Magpie. Arctic regions of North America ; the United States from the High Central Plains to the Pacific north of California................*.....................■ ♦ •......... 576 433. Pica nuttalM, Aud. Yellow-billed Magpie. Coast of California........................ 578 434. Cyanura cristata, (Linn.) Sw. Blue Jay. Eastern North America; west to the Missouri............• • • ......................................... 580 435. Cyanura stelleri, (Gm.) Sw. Steller's Jay. Pacific coast of North America ; east to St. Mary's mission, Rocky mountains.........................> • • • 581 436. Cyanura macrolophus, Baird. Long-crested Jay. Central line of Rocky moun- tains to the table lands of Mexico................................ • 582 437. Cyanocitta californica, (Vigors,) Strick. California Jay. Pacific coast from Co- lumbia river, south ; not in the interior..........-............. 584 438. Cyanocitta woodhousii, Baird. Woodhouse's Jay. Central line of Rocky moun- tains to the table lands of Mexico............................... 585 439. Cyanocitta florida,na, (Bartram,) Bon. Florida Jay. Florida ........................ 586 440. Cyanocitta sordida, (Sw.) Baird. Mimbres region of Rocky mountains, and south to table lands of Mexico - • • .................................. 587 441. Cyanocitta ultramarina, (Bon.) Strickl. Ultramarine Jay. South side of valley of Rio Grande, near the coast and southward...........*............. 588 442. Xanthoura luxuosa, (Lesson,) Bon. Green Jay. Valley of Rio Grande of Texas, and southward- ........................................... 589 443. Perisoreus canadensis, (Linn.) Bon. Canada Jay. Northern America into the northern parts of United States from Atlantic to Pacific ; farther south in Rocky mountains .......... ............................. 590 444. Psilorhinus morio, (Wagler,) Gray. Rio Grande valley of Texas, southward ••• • 592 445. Columba (Columba) fasciata, Say. Band-tailed Pigeon. Rocky mountains to Pacific coast; south to New Leon, Mexico...................... • • • • .. 597 446. Columba (Columba) flavirostris, Wagl. Red-billed Dove. Lower Rio Grande ••• • 598 447. Columba (Patagioenas) leucocepliala, Linn. White-headed Pigeon. Indian Key and other southern keys of Florida; not on main land; West Indies generally..............? r ?..................................... 599XLXY LIST OF SPECIES. Page. 448. Ectopistes migratoria, (Linn.) Sw. Wild Pigeon. North America to high central plains c............................... ....................... 600 449. Zenaida amabiMs, Bonap. ZenaidaDove. Florida Keys; chiefly on or near Indian Key and the West Indies........................................ 602 450. Melopelia leucoptera, (Linn.) Bon. White-winged Dove. Yalley of Rio Grande, southward ; California; West Indies.......*.................... 603 451. Zenaidura carolinensis, (Linn.) Bon. Common Dove. Throughout United States, from Atlantic to Pacific; Cuba * ............................ 604 452. ScardafeUa squamosa, (Temm.) Bon. Scaly Dove. South side of valley of Bio Grande, southward; perhaps 3. inca, Bon........................ 605 453. Chamaepelia passerina, (Linn.) Sw. Ground Dove. Sonth Atlantic and Gnlf coasts, Lower California; accidental near Washington, D. C • • . 606 454. Oreopeleia martinica, (Gm.) Reich. Key West Pigeon. Key West, Florida, and West Indies...............• • • •••■•• .»»•.• .......*......... 607 455. Starnoenas cyanocephala, (Linn.) Bon. Bine-headed Pigeon. West India islands; occasionally at Key West, Florida, and other southern Keys • • - 608 456. Ortalida m7c cadi, Baird. Chiacalacca. New Mexico ...... ............ .... 611 457. Meleagris gallopavo, Linn. Wild Turkey. United States . ................ < • • • • • • • • 615 458. Meleagris mexicana, Gould. Mexican Turkey. Mexico..........-.................... 618 459. Tetrao obscurus, Say. Dusky Grouse. Black Hills of Nebraska to Cascade mount- ains of Oregon and Washington »......................• • • • 620 460. Tetrao canadensis, Linn. Spruce Partridge. Spruce forests and swamps of , northern United States to the Arctic seas; west nearly to the Rocky mountains........ ..........................-.........- • - • 622 461. Tetrao franklinii, Douglas. Franklin7 s Grouse. Northern Rocky mountains, and west . * • .......... • • • * * • ............... .............. 623 462. Centroceraus urophasianus, (Bon.) Sw. Cock of the Plains. Sage plains of the northwest • • *................. *............................. 624 463. Pedioecetes phasianellus, (Linn.) Baird. Sharp-tailed Grouse. Northern prairies and plains, from Wisconsin to Cascades of Oregon and Wash- ington...................................................... 626 464. Cupidonia cupido, (Linn.) Baird. Prairie Hen. Western prairies and plains, within the limits of the United States east of the Rocky Moun- tains; southeast to Calcasieu, Louisiana; east to Pocono moun- tains, Pennsylvania, Long Island, and eastern coast.......* * 628 465. Bonasa umbellus, (Linn.) Steph. Ruffed Grouse. Wooded portions of eastern United States towards the Rocky mountains • • • • ■.• • • * — - 630 465. * Bonasa, var. umbelloides, (Douglas,) Baird. Gray Mountain Grouse. Northern valleys of Rocky mountains • ••'•■......... • ........... ...... 630 466. Bonasa sahinii, (Douglas,) Baird. Oregon Grouse. Rocky mountains, to Pacific coast of Oregon and Washington...........• • •............... 631 467. Lagopus dibus, (Gm.) Aud. White Ptarmigan. Northern America; rare in the northern parts of United States • • •........................ 633 468. Lagopus mpestris, (Gm.) Leach. Ptarmigan. Arctic America. .................... 635LIST OF SPECIES. XLY Page. 469. Lagopus leucurus, Sw. White-tailed Ptarmigan. Northern America to the west; southward along Rocky mountains to Cochetope pass, in latitude 39°................................-.............................. 636 470. Lagopus americanus, Aud. American Ptarmigan. Arctic America......................... 637 471. Ortyx virginianus, (Linn.) Bon. Partridge; Quail. Eastern United States, to the high central plains................................................. 640 472. Ortyx texanus, Lawr. Southern Texas and valley of Rio Grande > - -.................. 641 473. Oreortyxpictus, (Douglas,) Baird. Plumed Partridge. Mountain ranges of Cali- fornia and Oregon towards the coast.............................» 642 474. Lophortyx californicus, (Shaw,) Bon. California Quail. Plains and lowlands of California and Oregon towards the coast; Mohave river........- ♦. 644 475. Lophortyx gambelii, Nutt. GambeFs Partridge. Upper Rio Grande and Gila, to the Colorado of California......................................... 645 476. Callipepla&squamata, (Vigors,) Gray. Scaled or Blue Partridge. Valley of Rio Grande of Texas. Not yet detected further west. Most abundant on the high broken table lands and mezquite plains................ 646 477. Cyrtonyx massena, (Lesson,) Gould. Massena Partridge. Chiefly on the upper Rio Grande, from the high plains of the Pecos..........*.......... 647 478. Grus americanus, (Linn.) Qrd. Whooping Crane. Florida and Texas; stragglers in Mississippi valley...........-................................. . 654 479. Grus canadensis, (Linn.) Temm. Sand-hill Crane. Whole of western regions of United States; Florida.........................'.......... 655 480. Grus frater cuius, Cassin. New Mexico................................ .............. 656 481. Aramus giganteus, (Bon.) Baird. Crying Bird. Florida and West Indies...... 657 482. Demiegrettapealii, (Bon.) Baird. Peale’s Egret. Seacoast of south Florida- » . 661 483. Demiegretta rufa, (Bodd.) Baird. Reddish Egret. Coast of south Florida and Gulf of Mexico to mouth of Rio Grande; Cuba- * - -.............. 662 484. Demiegretta ludoviciana, (Wils.) Baird. Louisiana Heron. Coast of South Atlantic and Gulf States..............................*.................... 663 485. Garzetta candidissima, (Jacquin,) Bon. Snowy Heron. Coast of middle and Gulf States, and across to California.................................. 665 486. Herodias egretta, (Gmel.) Gray. White Heron. Southern portions of the United States; straggling to Massachusetts •............................. 666 486. * Herodias egretta, var. californica, Baird. Coast of southern California, and per- haps the Rio Grande’ of Texas..................................... 667 487. Ardea herodias, Linn. Great Blue Heron. Throughout the entire territory of the United States; West Indies........................................ 668 488. Ardea wurdemannii, Baird. Florida Heron. South Florida.......................... 669 489. Audubonia occidenialis, (Aud.) Bon. Great White Heron. South Florida and Cuba - • • ...........................- - --- - -................... 670 490. Florida caerulea, (Linn.) Baird. Blue Heron. South Atlantic and Gulf coast to Mexico...................*........................................ 671 491. Ardetta exilis, (Gmel.) Gray. Least Bittern. Throughout the United States, from Atlantic to Pacific - - - -....................................... 073 492. Botaurus lentiginosus, Steph. Bittern. Entire continent of North America............ 674XLYI LIST OF SPECIES. Page. 493. Butorides virescens, (Linn.) Bon. Green Heron. United States generally...... 676 494. Butorides hrunnescens, (Cab.) Cuba; Florida?....................................... 676 495. Nyctiardea gardenir (Gmelin,) Baird. Night Heron. United States generally. . 678 496. Nyctherodius violaceus, (Linn.) Reich. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. South Atlantic and Gulf States ; South America......................... 679 497. Tantalus loculator, (Linn.) Wood Ibis. South Atlantic and Gulf States and across to the Colorado river ; as far north as North Carolina and mouth of Ohio........... • *............................................ . 682 498. Ibis rubra, (Linn.) Yieillot. Red or Scarlet Ibis. South America and West Indies. Very rare or accidental in the United States............. 683 499. Ibis alba, (Linn.) Vieillot. White Ibis. South Atlantic and Gulf States § straggling occasionally northward................................ 684 500. Ibis (Falcinellus) ordii, Bonaparte. Glossy Ibis. Found singly and at inter- vals over the whole United States................................ 685 501. Platalea ajaja, Linn. Rosy Spoonbill. South Atlantic and Gulf States............... 686 502. Phoenieopterus rub&r, Linn. Flamingo. Warm parts of America. Rare on the Florida Keys....................................................... 687 503. Gharadrius virginicus, Borck. Golden Plover. All of North America, South America, Northern Asia, Europe..............*...................., 690 504. Aegialitis (Oxyechus) vociferus, (Linn.) Cassin. Killdeer. North America to the Arctic regions; Mexico; South America............................ 692 505. Aegialitis (Oxyechus) montanus, (Towns.) Cassin. Mountain Plover. Western .North America ; Fort Bridger, and Fort Tejon.................... 693 506. Aegialitis (Ochtliodromus) wilsonius, (Ord,) Cassin. Wilson’s Plover. Middle and Southern States on the Atlantic, and the Atlantic coast of South America.................................................... 693 507. Aegialitis (Aegialeus) semipalmatus, (Bon.) Cab. Semipalmated Plover. The whole of temperate North America. Common on the Atlantic - • 694 508. Aegialitis (Aegialeus) melodics, (Ord,) Cab. Piping Plover. Eastern coast of North America ; Nebraska ; Louisiana............................ 695 509. Aegialitis (Leucopolius) nivosa, Cassin. Presidio, (near San Francisco,) California- 695 510. Squatarola helvetica, (Linn.) Cuv. Black-bellied Plover. All of North America. The seacoasts of nearly all countries of the world................. 697 511. Aphriza virgata, (Gmelin,) Gray. Surf Bird. Pacific coast of North America? South America; Sandwich Islands.....................•............ 698 512. Haematopus palliatus, Temm. Oyster Catcher. Coast of Atlantic ocean; States on the Pacific? Florida • * ........................................ 699 513. Haematopus niger, Pallas. Bachman’s Oyster Catcher. Western coast of the United States; Kurile islands ................................... 700 (514)? Haematopus ater, Vieillot. Western coast of the United States? South America; coast of Chile.........................*.......................... ♦ 700 515. Strepsilas inter pres, (Linn.) Illig. Turnstone. Shores of the Atlantic and Pacific, throughout North America. One of the most widely diffused of birds, being found in nearly all parts of the world - * ....• • 701 516. Strepsilas melanoceplialns, Vigors. Black Turnstone. Western North America - • 702LIST OF SPECIES. XLYII Page. 517. Recurvirostra americana, Gm. American Avoset. All of temperate North America; Florida....................................................... 703 518. Himantopus nigricollis, Vieillot. Black-necked Stilt. United States generally* ♦ • • 704 519. Phalaropus tvilsonii, Sab. Wilson7 s Phalarope. Entire temperate regions of north America; New Mexico.............* *........................... 705 520. Phalaropus hyperboreus, (Linn.) Temm. Northern Phalarope. The whole of temperate North America; Europe; Japan; San Francisco, Cal......... 706 521. Phalaropus fulicarius, (Linn.) Bon. Red Phalarope. Entire temperate regions of North America; Asia; Europe......................... 707 522. Philohela minor, (Gm.) Gray. American Woodcock. Eastern North America • • 709 523. Oallinago wilsonii, (Temm.) Bon. English Snipe. Entire temperate regions of North America; California...................................... 710 524. Macrorhamphus griseus, (Gm.) Leach. Red-breasted Snipe. Entire temperate regions of North America ..................................... 712 525. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus1 (Say,) Lawrence. Entire temperate regions of North America; Washington Territory; New York ......................... 712 526. Tringa (Tringa) canutus, Linn. Gray Back. Eastern North America; Europe •• 715 527. Tringa (Tringa) cooperi, Baird. Long Island..................................... 716 528. Tringa (Arquatdla) maritima1 Briinnich. Purple Sandpiper. Eastern North America; Europe...............................................• 717 529. Tringa (Erolia) subarquata, (Gould,) Temm. Curlew Sandpiper. Atlantic coast of the United States; rare; Europe; Asia; Africa.......... 718 530. Tringa (Schoeniclus) alpina, var. americana, Cassin. Red-backed Sandpiper. Entire temperate regions of North America........................719 531. Tringa (Actodromas) maculata, Vieill. Jack Snipe. North America generally. South America. Accidental in Europe......................... 720 532. Tringa (Actodromas) wilsonii, Nuttall. Least Sandpiper. Entire temperate North America.............* • *..................................... 721 533. Tringa (Actodromas) bonapartii, Schlegel. North America east of the Rocky mounains........................* »• • • • .............. 722 534. Galidris arenaria, (Linn.) Illiger. Sanderling. Entire temperate regions of North America ; South America; Europe ........................ 723 535. Ereunetes petrificatus, 111. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Entire temperate regions of North America ; South America ; varying much in size.......... 724 536. Micropalama himantopus, (Bon.) Baird. Stilt Sandpiper. Eastern North America- 726 537. Symphemia semipalmaia, (Gm.) Hartlaub. Willet. Entire temperate regions of North America ; South America................................. 729 538. Glottis floridanus, Bon. Florida Greenshank. Florida............................ 730 539. Gambetta melanoleuca, (Gm.) Bon. Tell-tale. Stone Snipe. Entire temperate regions of North America. Mexico.............................. 731 540. Gambettaflavipes, (Gm.) Bon. Yellow Legs. Eastern North America ; western? 732 541. Rhyacophilus solitarius1 (Wils.) Bon. Solitary Sandpiper. Entire temperate re- gions of North America. Mexico.............................. 733 542. Heieroscelus hrevipes, (Vieill.) Baird. Wandering Tatler. Washington Territory. Islands in the Pacific. South America. Northeastern Asia. Japan................................................^........ 734XL VIII LIST OP SPECIES. Page 543. Tringoides maeularius, (Linn.) Gray. Spotted Sandpiper. Entire temperate North America ; Oregon. Accidental in Europe.................... 735 544. Philomachus pugnax, (Linn.) Gray. Ruff. Northern Europe and Asia. Acci- dental on Long Island..............•...........*................ 737 545. Actiturus bartramius, (Wils.) Bon. Field Plover. Eastern North America; South America. Europe........................................... 737 546. Tryngites rufescens, (Vieillot,) Cab. Buff-breasted Sandpiper* All of North America ; South America ; Europe............• *................. 739 547. Limosa fedoct, (Linn.) Ord. Entire temperate regions of North America. South America...............*.........* .............................. 740 548. Limosa hudsonica, (Lath.) Sw. Northern and eastern North America; New Jersey........ *................................................ 741 549. Numenius (Numenius) longirostris, Wilson. Long-billed Curlew. The entire tem- perate regions of North America. Perhaps two or more species included ■ ■......................... .........* ♦ -............ 743 550. Numenius (Phaeopus) hudsonicus, Latham. Hudsonian Curlew. Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. California..................... 744 551. Numenius {Phaeopus) borealis, (Forst.) Latham. Esquimaux Curlew. Eastern and northern North America............. ..............*............. 744 552. Rallus elegans, Aud. Marsh Hen. Middle and Southern States on the Atlantic Ocean ; California •»*.......*............................«..... 746 553. Radius crepitans, Gm. Clapper Rail. Middle and southern coast of the States on the Atlantic Ocean ; South America.............................. 747 554. Radius virginianus, Linn. Virginia Rail. The entire temperate regions of North America ; New Mexico, California, Oregon • • • -............ 748 555. Porzana (Porzana) Carolina, Vieill. Common Rail. Entire temperate regions of North America ...........................* *..............*..... 749 556. Porzana (Oreciscus) jamaicensis, (Gm.) Little Black Rail. Middle and Southern States on the Atlantic Ocean • • .........................*..... 749 557. Porzana (Coturnicops) noveboracensis, (Gm.) Yellow Rail. Eastern North America ................................................ 750 558. Grex pratensis, Bechst. Corn-crake. Europe ; Greenland. Accidental on the At- lantic coast of the United States •••••••••• * .• ••••••-••• *• • • 751 559. Fulica americana, Gmelin. Coot. Entire temperate regions of North America- • 751 560. Gallinula (Gadlinula) galeata, (Licht.) Bon. Florida Gallinule. Southern coun- tries of North America ; accidental in Middle and Northern States...................................*.....* *........... 752 561. Gallinula {Porphyruda) martinica^ (Linn.) Lath. Purple Gallinule. Southern States of North America, Louisiana, Florida, Accidental in the middle and northern United States- • • • • . ............. 753 561. Cygnus americanus, Sharpless. American Swan. Continent of North America- • • 758 562. Cygnus buccinator, Rich. Trumpeter Swan. Western America, from the Missis- sippi valley to the Pacific....................................... 758 563. Anser (Chen) hyperboreus, Pallas. Snow Goose. Whole of North America, Per- haps a vsecond species, (A. adbaius)- .......................... • 760LIST OF SPECIES* XLIX Page. §64. Anser {Chen) caerulescens, Linn. White-headed Goose. North America- •••?•••• 761 565. Anser (Anser) gambelii, Hartlaub. White Fronted Goose. Whole of North Ame- rica -.................. • .................................... 761 566. Anser frontalis, Baird. Interior of North America 762 567. Bernicla (Leucoblepharon) canadensis, (Linn.) Boie. Canada Goose. Whole of North America. Accidental in Europe ........................... 764 568. Bernicla (Leucoblepharon) leucopareia, (Brandt,) Cassin. White-cheeked Goose. West coast of America. Perhaps mixed with B. occidentalis * - » » 765 569. Bernicla (Leucoblepharon) hutchinsii, (Rich.) Bonap. Huctchin’s Goose. Northern and western regions of North America . • ......... 765 570. Bernicla (Bernicla) brenta, Steph. Brant. Eastern or Atlantic coast of North America ; Europe. Not yet observed on the Pacific side of the continent ................................................. 767 571. Bernicla (Bernicla) nigricans, (Lawr.) Cassin. Black Brant. Pacific coast of North America. Yery rare on the Atlantic coast-.................. 767 572. Bernicla (Leucopareia) leucopsis, (Linn.) Barnacle Goose. Yery doubtful as an inhabitant of North America • • • ........................ 768 573. Chloephaya canagica1 (Sewast.) Bon. Painted Goose. Aleutian Islands - ....... 768 574. Dendrocygna autumnalis, (Linn.)Eyton. Long-legged Duck. Yalley of Rio Grande, Texas ; also in South America and West Indies - • • • •'.... 770 575. Dendrocygna fulva, (Gmelin,) Burm. Fort Tejon, California, and south into Brazil ...............................-...................— • 770 576. Anas boschas, Linn. Mallard. Entire continent of North America and greater part of Old World...... ....................................... 774 577. Anas obscura, Gm. Black Duck. Atlantic region of North America.- Not yet detected on the Pacific, nor in Europe........ ................ 775 578. Dafila acida, (Linn.) Jenyns. Sprig-tail; Pin-tail. Whole of North America and Europe .................................................... 776 579. Nettion carolinensis% (Gm.) Baird. Green-winged Teal. Whole of North America; accidental in Europe ....................... 777 580. Nettion crecca^ (Linn.) Kaup. English Teal. Europe; accidental on the eastern coast of the United States...................................... • 778 581. Querquedula discors, (Linn.) Steph. Blue-winged Teal. Eastern North America to Rocky mountains. Not yet found on the Pacific coast, nor in Europe ........................................................ 779 582. Querquedula cyanoptera, (Yieill.) Baird. Red-breasted Teal. Rocky mountains to Pacific ; accidental in Louisiana ; spread over most of western South America.................................................. 780 583. Spatula dypeata, (Linn.) Boie. Shoveller. Continent of North America ; abun- dant in Europe -............................................ 781 584. Chaulelasmus streperus, (Linn.) Gray. Gadwall. North America generally, and Europe......................................................... 882 585. Mareca americana, (Gm.) Stephens. Baldpate; American Widgeon. Continent of North America ; accidental in Europe • ........................ 783 b 7*L LIST OF SPECIES. Page. 586. Mareca penelope, (Linn.) Bon. English Widgeon. Old World ; accidental on the Atlantic coast of United States ; Greenland ..................... 784 587. Aix sponsa, (Linn.) Boie. Summer Duck. Continent of North America • ...... 785 588. Fulix rnarila, (Linn.) Baird. Big Black-head. Whole of North America and Europe............................................................ 791 589. Fulix affinis, (Forster,) Baird. Little Black-head. Whole of North America; accidental in Europe.............................................. 791 590. Fulix collar is, (Donovan,) Baird. Ring-necked Duck. Whole of North America ; accidental in Europe............................................ . 792 591. Aythya americana, (Eyton,) Bon. Red-head. Whole of North America.................... 793 592. Aythya vallisneria, (Wils.) Bon. Canvas-back. Whole of North America • • •• • 794 593. Encephala americana, (Bon.) Baird. Golden Eye. Whole of North America............ 796 594. Encephala islandica, (Gm.) Baird. Barrow’s Golden Eye. Iceland and northern parts of America; in winter, not rare on the St. Lawrence...... 796 595. Encephala alheola, (Linn.) Baird. Butter Ball. Whole of North America-........... 797 596. Histrionicus torquatus, (Linn.) Bon. Harlequin Duck. Northern seacoast of north- ern hemisphere............-.................................... 799 597. Harelda glaciolis, (Linn.) Leach. South Southerly. Near both coasts of North America; Europe................................................ 800 598. Polysticta stelleri, (Pallas,) Eyton. Stellerbs Duck. Northeastern Asia; accidental (?) on northwest coast of America, and in Europe................... 801 599. Lampronettafischeri, Brandt. Spectacled Eider. Norton sound, Russian America, 63J N. L ...................................................... 803 600. Camptolaemus labradorius, (Gm.) Gray. Labrador Duck. Northeastern coast of North America.................*................................ 803 601. Melanetta velvetina, (Cassin,) Baird. Velvet Duck. Near both coasts of North America, to the north; perhaps M. ca/rbo, of Pallas............ 805 602. Pelionetia perspiicllata, (Linn.) Kaup. Surf Duck. On and near seacoast of North America ; quite far south in winter; accidental in Europe...... 806 603. Pelionetia trowbridgii, Baird. Long-billed Scoter. Coast of southern California in winter......................................................... 806 604. Oidemia americana, Swains. Scoter, Seacoast of North America..................... 807 605. Oidemia (Pelionetia) bimacidata, Baird. Huron Scoter. Lake Huron and adjacent waters in fall and winter • * • *........* • .................. 808 606. Somateria mollissima, (Linn.) Leach. Eider Duck. Atlantic and Arctic coasts of northern hemisphere; Pacific coast, N. A - • • • -........... 809 607. Somateria Vnigra, Gray. Pacific Eider. Kotzbue sound, N. W. coast of America 810 608. Somateria spectabilis, (Linn.) Leach. King Eider. Arctic regions of northern hemisphere; Pacific coast...................................... 810 609. Erismatura rubida, (Wils.) Bon. Ruddy Duck. Whole of North America; abund: ant throughout the interior................*................... 811 610. Erismatura dominica, (Linn.) Eyton. Black Masked Duck. West Indies; accidental on Lake Champlain ........................... -................ 811LIST OP SPECIES. 1*1 Page, 611. Mergus americanus, Cass. Sheldrake. Whole of North America.......................* 813 612. Mergus serrator, Linn. Red-breasted Merganser. Whole of North America and Enrope * • ■ • *................................................. 814 613. Lophodytes cucullatus, (Linn.) Reich. Hooded Merganser. Whole of North America • • • • ................................*............. • * • • 816 614. Mergellus albellus, (Linn.) Selby. Smew. Northern parts of Old World very accidental in America............................................ JU7 615. Peleeanus (Gyrlopebcanus) erythrorhynclms, Gmelin. American Pelican. North America generally, on both shores and in the interior . ......- 868 616. Pebcamis (Onocrotalus) fuscus, Linn. Brown Pelican. South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States ; coast of California................ 870 617. Sula (Sula) bassana, Briss. Common Gannet: Solan Goose. Atlantic coast of North America and Europe • ♦ .................................... 871 618. Sula (Dysporus) fiber, (Linn.) Booby Gannet. South Atlantic and Gulf coast of United States..................................................... 872 619. Tachypetes aqidlus, (Linn.) Vieillot, Frigate Pelican : Man-of-war Bird. South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of United States and southern coast of California, Generally distributed in tropical regions............... 873 620. Graculus (PJialacrocorax) carlo, (Linn.) Gray. Common Cormorant. Atlantic coast of North America to New Jersey, (in winter) and Europe* * 876 621. Graculus (PJialacrocorax) perspicillatus, (Pallas,) Lawrence. Pallas’s Cormorant, Russian America..................................................... 877 622. Graculus (PJialacrocorax) cincinnatus, (Brandt,) Gray. Tufted Cormorant. Sitka, Russian America • • *.............................................. 877 623. Graculus dilopJius, (Sw.) Gray. Double Crested Cormorant. Arctic North America ; south to Carolina and California in winter............. 877 624. Graculus floridanus, (Aud.) Bon. Florida Cormorant. South Atlantic and Gulf coasts of United States and some distance inland................. 879 625. Graculus mexicanus, (Brandt,) Bon. Mexican Cormorant. Coast of Texas and Rio Grande; Cuba......................................... • • *.... * • • 879 626. Graculus (Urile) penicillatus, (Brandt,) Bonap. Brandt’s Cormorant. West coast of North America................................................. 880 627. Graculus (Urile) violaceus, (Gmelin,) Gray. Violet Green Cormorant, West coast of North America........................................:*• 881 628. Plotus anJiinga, Linn. Snake Bird : Water Turkey. Fresh waters of South Atlantic and Gulf States......................................... 883 629. Phaeton fiavirostris, Brandt, Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. Tropical regions of the Atlantic seas.......................* • * *...................... 855 630. Diomedea (Diomedea) exulans, Linn. The Wandering Albatros. Pacific ocean - * • 821 631. Diomedea (Phoebastria) brafiiyura, Temm. The Short-tailed Albatros. North Pacific ; coasts of California and Oregon........................ 822 632. Diomedea (Tlialassarche) chlororjiyneha, Gmel. The Yellow-nosed Albatross. Pa- cific ocean ; coast of Oregon...................................... 822 633. Diomedea (PJioebetria)fiuliginosa, Gmel. The Sooty Albatross. Pacific coasts of California and Oregon ..................................... * ... 823LII LIST OF SPECIES. Pag©. 634. Procellaria (Ossi/ragus) gigantea, GmeL The Gigantic Fulmar. Pacific ocean, off Columbia river * — — . 825 635. Procellaria (Fulmarus) glacialis, Linn. The Fulmar Petrel. Northern Atlantic- • 825 636. Procellaria pacifica, Aud. The Pacific Fulmar. Pacific coasts of North America • 826 637. Procellaria (Thalassoica) tenuirostris, Aud. The Slender-billed Fulmar. Pacific coast; Columbia river — — ———— — —————— — —— — — 826 638. Procellaria (Aestrelata) meridionalis, Lawrence. The Tropical Fulmar. Atlantic coast, from Florida to New York — — ...... .... .............. 827 639. Daption capensis, (Linn.) Steph. The Pintado Petrel. Off the coast of California” 828 640. Thalassidroma ( Oceanodroma) furcata, (Gmel.) Gould. Fork-tailed Petrel. Coasts of Oregon and Russian America ...... .... ...... ...... ...... 829 641. Thalassidroma (Oceanodroma) hornbyi, Gray. Hornby’s Petrel. Northwest coast of America .............................................. 829 642. Thalassidroma leachii, Temm. Leach’s Petrel. Atlantic coast, from Massachu- setts to Baffin’s bay....................................... 83Q 643. Thalassidroma melania, Bon. The Black Stormy Petrel. Coast of California—— 830 644. Thalassidroma (Oceanites) ivilsoni, Bon. Wilson’s Stormy Petrel. Off the Atlantic coast, from the Gulf of Mexico to Baffin’s bay — — ...... ...... 831 645. Thalassidroma (Procellaria) pelagica, (Linn.) Bon. Mother Cary’s Chicken. At- lantic ocean, banks of Newfoundland ........... ............ 831 646. Fregetta lawrencii, Bonap. The Black and White Stormy Petrel. Florida coast— 832 647. Puffinus (Ardenna) major, Faber. The Greater Shearwater. Atlantic ocean. Florida coast to the Gulf of St. Lawrence .................... 833 648. Puffinus (Nectris) fuliginosus, Strick. The Sooty Shearwater. Atlantic coast of the Northern States. Banks of Newfoundland ............... 834 649. Puffinus anglorum, Temm. The Mank’s Shearwater. Coast of New Jersey to Labrador .......................— — — — 834 650. Puffinus obscurus, (Gmel.) Lath. The Ducky Shearwater. Southern coast of the United States ; Gulf of Mexico ............................. 835 651. Puffinus (Adamastor) cinereus, Gmel. The Cinereous Petrel. Pacific ocean, off the California coast — — — — — — ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... 835 652. Ster cor arius catarractes, (Linn.) Temm. The Common Skua. Coast of California” 838 653. Ster cor arius pomarinus, Temm. The Pomarine Skua. Labrador; as far south as New York in winter —............ 838 654. Ster cor arius parasiticus, (Linn.) Temm. The Arctic Skua. Arctic America; coast of United States from New York, northwest — — — ...... ...... 839 655. Ster cor arius cepphus, (Briinn.) Buffon’s Skua. Arctic seacoasts of America; Baf- fin’ s bay.............— ———— — —— — —— — — .7 — — . . 840 656. Larus glaucus, Briinn. The Glaucous Gull. Arctic seas, Labrador, New York in winter, rarely. — —........................................ 842 657. Larus glaucescens, Licht. The Glaucous-winged Gull. ^Northwest coast of North America........................................... 842 658. Larus leucopter us, Faber. The White-winged Gull. Arctic seas; Baffin’s Bay; Labrador 843 659. Larus chalcopterus, (Bruch,) Lawr. The Gray-winged Gull. American coast of Behring’s Straits, and Greenland• — — — — ................. . 843LIST OF SPECIES. LUX Page. 660. Larus marinus, Linn. The Great Black-backed Gull. North Atlantic, Labrador; as far south as Florida in winter •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 844 661. Larus argentatus, Briinn. The Herring Gull. Atlantic coast, from Texas to New- foundland; western .States, Ohio and Mississippi rivers......... 844 662. Larus occidentalism And. The Western Gull. Northwest coast of America* ...... 845 663. Larus californicus, Lawr. The California Gull. West coast of North America - - * 846 664. Larus delawarensis, Ord. The Ring-billed Gull. Arctic America; Texas to La- brador; western rivers; northwest coast..................... 846 665. Larus suckleyi, Lawr. Suckley’s Gull. Pacific coast, Puget’s Sound........... . 848 666. Blasipus heermanni, (Cass.) Bon. The White-headed Gull. Coast of California* 848 667. Chroicocephalus atricilla, Linn. The Laughing Gull. Texas to Massachusetts • • • * 850 668. Chroicocephalusfrankling (Rich.) Bruch. Franklin7s Rosy Gull. Missouri river; interior of fur countries ...................... ..... ........ . 951 669. Chroicocephalus cucullatus, (Licht.) Bruch. The Hooded Gull. Panama, Louisiana 851 670. Chroicocephalus Philadelphia, (Ord,) Lawrence. Bonaparte7s Gull. Texas to Nova Scotia; Mississippi river; fur countries, Pacific coast of North. America............ .......... 852 671. Chroicocephalus minutus, (Pallas,) Bruch. The Little Gull. Arctic America,? Europe ...................... • ... 853 672. Bissa tridactyla, (Linn.) Bonap. The Kittiwake GulL Fur countries, Labrador; southern coast in winter ................................... 854 673. Bissa septentrionalis, Lawr. The North Pacific Kittiwake. Pacific coast of North America, Puget7 s Sound 854 674. Bissa brevirostris, Brandt. The Short-billed Kittiwake. Northwest coast of North America .................................................... 855 675. Bissa nivea, (Pallas,) Bruch. The Yellow-billed Gull. Russian America- ...... 855 676. Pagophila eburnea, (Gm.) Kaup. The Ivory GulL Coasts of arctic America, Labrador, Newfoundland .................................. 856 677. Pagophila brachytarsi, Hollb. The Short-legged GulL Greenland ............. 856 678. Bhodostethia rosea, (Jard.) The Wedge-tailed GulL Arctic seas • • • • • • * • ....... 857 679. Greagrus furcatus, (Neboux,) Bon. The swallow-tailed GulL California- - - - .. 857 680. Xema sabinii, (Sabine,) Bon. The Fork-tailed GulL Nova Scotia, northward; arctic seas ^ . 857 681. Sterna aranea, Wils. The Marsh Tern. Coast of the United States, as far north as Connecticut...... .... ...... .... .... ...... ...... ........ 859 682. Sterna caspia, Pallas. The Caspian Tern. Coast of New Jersey, northward- • • • • 859 683. Sterna regia, Gambel. The Royal Tern. Atlantic coast of tl^e southern and mid- dle States, and California....... 859 684. Sterna elegans, Gambel. The Elegant Tern. Coast of South California- • • • . . • • 860 685. Sterna acuflavicla, Cabot. Cabot’s Tern. Texas to Florida*..................... 860 686. Sterna havelli, Aud. Havell’s Tern. Texas to S<@uth Carolina- • • • • ...... ...... 861 687. Sterna trudeauii, Aud. Trudeau’s Tern. Coasts of New Jersey and Long Island- 861 688. Sterna fuliginosa, Gmelin. The Sooty Tern. Texas to Florida ...... ...... .... 861 689. Sterna wilsoni, Bon. Wilson’s Tern. Texas to Labrador-................... .... 861LIST OF SPECIES, LIV Page. 690. Sterna macroura, Naum. The Arctic Tern. Coast of the New England States to the Arctic seas; fur countries........ ......................... 862 691. Sterna forsteri, Nutt. Forster?s Tern. Louisiana to Florida; New York; fur countries, and California • * • ................................ 862 692. Sterna paradisea, Brunn. The Roseate Tern. Florida to New York..................... 863 693. Sterna piled, Lawr. The Slender-billed Tern. Coast of California....................... 863 694. Sternafrenedei, Gambel. The Least Tern. Texas to Labrador; western rivers •• 864 695. Hydrochelielon plumbea, (Wils.) The Short-tailed Tern. Texas to the New England States; Mississippi rivers and tributaries; fur countries*...... 864 696. Anotis stolidus, (Linn.) Leach. Noddy Tern. Texas to Florida....................... 865 697. Bhynchops nigra, Linn. Black Skimmer. From Texas to New Jersey * • - • ............ 866 698. Colymbus tor quakes, Brunnich. Loon ; Northern Diver. Northern regions of northern hemisphere............................................... 888 699. Colymbus arctieus, Linn. Black-throated Diver. Arctic regions of northern hemis- phere....................*...................................... 888 700. Colymbus pacifccus, Lawrence. Pacific Diver. Pacific coast of United States* * • • 889 701. Colymbus septentrionedis, Linn. Red-throated Diver. Northern hemisphere............ 890 702. Podiceps griseigena, (Bodd.) Gray. Red-necked Grebe. Northern hemisphere. ' American bird perhaps distinct..................................... 892 703. Podiceps mistakes, (Linn.) Lath. Crested Grebe. Northern hemisphere. Per- haps a second species on Pacific coast, (P. cooperi.)........... 893 704. Podiceps occidentalis, Lawr. Western Grebe. Pacific coast of United States *•• • 894 705. Podiceps darTcii, Lawr. Clark’s Grebe. New Mexico and California....................... 895 706. Podiceps cornutus, (Gm.) Latham. Horned Grebe. North America................ 895 707. Podiceps californicus, Heermann. California Grebe. Western North America- * • 896 708. Podiceps cmritus, (Linn.) Lath. Eared Grebe. Northern Europe; accidental (?) in North America.................................................. 897 709. Podylimbus podiceps, (Linn.) Lawr. North America...........*......................... 898 710. Aha (Chenedopex) impennis, Linn. Great Auk. Arctic Seas; south to Newfoundland. 900 711. Alca ( Utamcmia) torda, Linn. Razor-billed Auk. Arctic Seas ; south to New Jersey • 901 713. Mormon (Lunda) cirrhata, (Pallas,) Bon. Tufted Puffin. North Pacific Ocean ; Arctic Seas, south to California............. .................. 902 713. Mormon (Fratercula) corniculata, Naumann. The Horned Puffin. Northern Seas* 902 814. Mormon (Frcdercula) glacicdis, Leach. Sea Parrot; Puffin. Northern Seas................. 903 715. Mormon (Fratercula) arctica, (Linn,) Illiger. Puffin. North Atlantic................ 903 716. Sagmedorrhina labradoria, (Gmelin,) Cassin. North Pacific............................. 904 717. Cevorhina monocerata, (Pallas,) Cassin. North Pacific Coasts; south to California- 905 718. Gerorhina sucldeyi, Cassin. Puget Sound....................................*........... 906 719. Phederis (Simorhynchus) cristcitdlus, (Pallas,) Bon. Coasts of North Pacific ••**•• 906 720. Phederis (Tylorhamphus) tetraada, (Pallas,) Stephens. Coasts of North Pacific* • • • 907 721. Phederis (Tylorhamphus) camtschatisa, (Lepechin,) Cassin. Coasts of North America 908 722. Phederis (Oiceronia) microceros, Brandt. Coasts of North Pacific....................... 908 723. Phederis (Ciceronia) ptisidus, Pallas. Asiatic coast of North Pacific; American do* 909 724. Ptychorhamphus edeuticus, (Pallas,) Brandt. American Coast of North Pacific, south to California.....................................*.............. 910LIST OS’ SPECIES. LV Page. 725. Ornbria psittacula, (Pallas,) Eschsch. Coast of North Pacific.................... 910 726. Uria (Uria) grylle, (Linnaeus,) Latham. Guillemot. Arctic and Northern Seas. South to New Jersey........................... ............... • • ■ 911 727. Uria (Uria) columba, (Pallas,) Cassin. Coasts of North Pacific.............. 912 728. Uria (Uria) carbo, Pallas. Northern coasts of North Pacific...................... 913 729. Uria (Cedarcictes) lomvia, Briinnich. Foolish Guillemot. Arctic Seas and North * Atlantic........................................................ 913 730. Uria (Cedareictes) rinejvia, Briinnich. Murre. Arctic and Northern Seas; south to California.........*........................................ 914 731. Uria (Ccdaractes) arra, Pallas. Thick-billed Guillemot. Arctic Seas and North Atlantic ; south to New Jersey................................. 915 732. Brachyrhamplms (Apobapton) marmoratus, (Gmelin,) Brandt. Marbled Guillemot. American coasts of North Pacific. California .................. 915 733. Brachyrhamplms (Apobapton) lorangdii, Brandt. Aleutian Islands............... 917 734. Brachyrhamplms (Apobeipton) breichypterus, Brandt. Unalaschka....................... 917 735. Breichyrhamphus (Apobeipton) kittlitdi, Brandt. Kamtschatka; North Pacific....... 917 736. Brachyrhamplms (Synthliborhcimplms) emtiquus, (Gmelin,) Brandt. Gray-headed Auk. Northwestern coast, America....................................... 916 737. Brcicliyrheimphus (Apobeipton) temminckii, Brandt. Coast of North Pacific ; Puget’s sound............................................................. 916 738. Meregulus eiUe, (Linnaeus,) Yieillot. Sea Dove. Dove-kie. Arctic Seas and North Atlantic ; south to New Jersey............................ 918 The following birds are enumerated in the preceding list which are not legitimately entitled to a place in the fauna of North America, (exclusive of Mexico.) Some of them have been described in the report for the purpose of comparison with closely allied species of the United States ; others are mentioned because introduced by previous writers, though probably on erroneous data. Future investigations will doubtless result in the removal of others from the list now retained there: No. 4. Cathartes burrovianus, Ceissin. Mexico, 63, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha, Bon. Mexico. 71. *Campephilus imperialis, Gray. Mexico. Dryotomus lineatus. (x) Mexico ; South America. 129. *Tyrannus melancholicus, Vieill. South Mexico. 132. Myiarchus cooperi, Baird. Mexico. 171. *Geothlypis velatus, Cab. Southern West Indies and South America. 216. Oardellina rubra, Bonap. Mexico. 219. Setophaga miniata, Sw. Mexico. 224. Euphonia elegantissima, Gray. Mexico. 244. "Vireo virescens, VieiJI. (r) South America, (?) 292. Parus meridionalis, Sclater. South Mexico. 297. Psaltriparus melanotus, Bon, Guatemala. 298. Carpodacus haemorrhous, Sclater. Mexico, 311. *Chrysomitris stanleyi, Bonap. South America. 1 No North American specimens seen..LY1 LIST OP SPECIES. 312. *Chrysomitris yarrelli, Bonap. South America. 350. Junco cinereus, Sclater, Mexico. 405. Trupialis militaris, South America. 408. ^Icterus vulgaris, Daud.Q) South America. 410. Icterus melanocephalus, Gray, Mexico.. 494. Butorides brunnescens, Baird. Cuba. 498. *Ibis rubra, L.Q) West Indies, Cuba, and South America. 514. *Haematopus ater, Vieill South America. Total of species, 23 ; of which one is not mentioned in the list, leaving 22. Of the 23 species, nine marked with an asterisk are given by Mr. Audubon. The following species, claiming to be actually inhabitants of North America, have not been described from the specimens, none having been procurable for the purpose. Of several of them no specimens are known in any collection : Haliaelitus washingtonii. Regulus cuvierii. Dendroica montana. carbon ata. Myiodioctes minutus. bonapartii. iEgiothus canescens. Leucosticte griseinucha. arctous. Lagopus americanus. Chloephaga canagica. Polysticta stelleri.^) Oidemia bimaculata. Somateria v-nigra. Graculus perspicillatus. cincinnatus. Thalassidroma hornbyi. melania. Larus chalcopterus. Rissa brevirostris. nivea. Pagophila brachytarsi. Rhodostethia rosea. Creagrus furcatus. Xema sabinni. Chroicocephalus minutus^1) Podiceps auritus. (*) Sagmatorhina labradoria. Brachyrhamphus kittlitzii. wrangelii. brachypterus. Total—31 species. The following species are probably accidental visitors only, and are not yet entitled to a permanent place in our fauna : Milvulus tyrannus. Heliornis surinamensis.(2) Saxicola oenanthe. Mareca penelope. Chrysomitris magelianicus. Nettion creeca. Philomachus pugnax. Erismatura dominica. Crex pratensis. Mergellus albellus.—Total, 10 species. SUMMAEY. Species enumerated in the list • • ................................ 738 Of these, extralimital............................................. 22 Total of North American species(3) 716 North American birds given by Wilson in 1814- • • ............ 283 North American birds given by Bonaparte, 1838 ...................... 471 North American birds given by Audubon in 1844 506 1 No North American specimen seen. 2 Not enumerated in the list. 3 Of these no specimens at all, of 28 species, were to be procured in this country for examination, and extralimital ones only of 3 others. Many supposed species are referred to in different parts of the report; some of which may prove genuine.INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The classification of birds, both in reference to the higher groups and to their subdivisons, is a subject which has engaged the attention of a large number of naturalists, although until within a comparatively short time there has not been any very great difference in the systems adopted by the leading writers on general ornithology. The more commonly received basis has been the character of the bill and the shape and general structure of the feet, as expressed in the terms Raptores, Insessores, Scansores, Rasores, Cursores, Grallatores, and Natatores of most authors ; the Insessores again divided into Fissirostres, Tenuirostres, Dentirostres, and Goniros- tres, and, according to some systems, including, also, the Scansores as a subdivision, instead of that group being of higher independent rank. Within a few years, however, a great change has taken place in the methods of ornithological classification^ and most continental authorities have abandoned the old arrangement of the non- rapacious land birds, as based on the shape and character of the bill, and substituted a much more natural system. The principal agents in this reform have been Nitzsch,1 Andreas Wagner, Sundevall,2 Keyserling and Blasius,3 J. Muller,4 Cabanis,5 Bonaparte,6 Reichenbach,7 Hart- laub, Burmeister,8 and several other systematic writers, all contributing more or less to the final result. The most important step was the discovery announced by Muller in reference to the presence or absence of certain peculiar vocal muscles, which proved the key-note to an entirely new arrangement. In addition to this there has been latterly taken into account the number of primary quills, (or quills on the first joint of the wing,) whether ten or nine, and if ten whether the first be about as long as the second, about half as long, or very rudimentary; also the character of the feet, whether the toes be three anterior and one pos- terior, or two anterior and two posterior, (and if so, whether the inner or the outer anterior toe be reversible,) or four more or less anterior. Particular reference is also made to the peculiarities of the scales on the legs, the position of the hind toe in relation to the plane of the others, the extent of feathering on the legs, the amount of webbing between the toes, the number of tail feathers, &c. In the following report I have followed very closely the outlines given by Cabanis, in the “ Ornithologische Notizen,” already quoted, although obliged, in most cases, to construct the 1 System der Pterylographie, verfasst yon Herm. Burmeister. Halle, 1840. 2 Konglig. Vetensk. Akad. Handlingar, 1835 and 1843. Stockholm. 3 Wirbelthiere Europas. Braunschweig, 1842. 4 Ueber die bisher unbekannten typische Verschiedenheiten der Stimmorgane der Passerinen. Abhandl. K. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, for 1845, 321. Berlin, 1847. 5 Ornithologische Notizen, I, II, in Wiegmann’s Archiv fur Haturgeschichte, 1847. 6 Conspectus generum avium, Leyden, 1850 and 1857, and various papers since 1850, in Comptes Bendus, and elsewhere. y Avium systema naturale, and Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie. 8 Systematische Uebersicht der Thiere Brasiliens ; Dritter Theil. (Vogel.) Berlin, 1856. 1 b2 U. S. P. E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. characters of many of the subdivisions for myself. In the discussion of the higher groups I have however derived invaluable assistance from the work of Burmeister. I have also made constant use of the diagnoses of Keyserling and Blasius, which are pre-eminent for acuteness and precision. The following synopsis of the orders of birds, taken partly from Keyserling and Blasius, will serve to illustrate the characteristics of the higher groups in American Ornithology. A.—Hind toe on the same level with the anterior ones. a.—Posterior face or the sides of the tarsus more or less reticulated, granulated, or with scales more numerous or smaller than in front; sometimes naked. Anterior face of the tarsus never in one unbroken plate. Larynx without complex vocal muscles. Order I.—Raptores. Base of the upper mandible with a soft skin or cere. Upper man- dible compressed; its point curving down over that of the lower, forming a strong, sharp hook. Claws generally retractile. Toes never two behind. Birds usually of large size, and of powerful frame, embracing the so-called birds of prey. Order II.—Scansores. Toes in pairs ; two in front and two behind, the outer anterior being usually directed backwards, (the inner in Trogonidae.) Tail feathers eight to twelve. Order III.—Strisores. Toes either three anterior and one behind, (or lateral) or four anterior ; the hinder one is, however, usually versatile, or capable of direction more or less laterally forward. Tail feathers never more than ten. Primaries always ten, the first long. Order IY.—Clamatores. Toes, three anterior and one posterior, (not versatile.) Pri- maries always ten, the first nearly as long as the second. Tail feathers usually twelve. &.—Anterior face^of the tarsus in one continuous plate, or divided transversely into large quadrate scales. Plates on either the posterior serface of the tarsus or the sides, without sub- divisions, never both divided together ; when divided the divisions correspond with the anterior ones. Larynx with peculiar complex singing muscles. Order V.—Oscines. Toes, three anterior, one posterior. Primaries either nine only, or if ten the first usually short or spurious. . B.—Hind toe raised above the level of the rest. Order YI.—Rasores. Nostrils arched over by an incumbent thick, fleshy valve. Bill not longer than the head, obtuse anteriorly. Nails broad, obtusely rounded. Order YII.—Grallatores. Legs lengthened, adapted for walking, naked above the knee. Nostrils naked. Thighs usually quite free from the body. Toes not connected by a membrane, or for a short distance only; sometimes with a lobed margin. Order YIII.—Natatores. Adapted for swimming. Legs generally short. Toes united by a continuous membrane. Thighs mostly buried in the muscles of the body. Fuller explanations of the characters of these orders will be found under their proper heads in the following pages.ORDER I. RAPTORES. The peculiarities already given of the order Baptores are sufficient to define it among the others mentioned, although many additional features might be named. The order embraces three families, which are characterized by Keyserling and Blasius as follows : A.—Diurnal birds of prey. Eyes lateral, with lashes, surrounded by a naked or woolly orbital circle ; the feathers above, below, and behind the eyes directed backwards, as on the rest of the head ; anterior to the eye the lore imperfectly clothed with a radiating star of bristles, or with scale-like feathers. The inner toe without the nail, shorter, or as long as the outer. Nostrils opening in the cere. Vulturidae. Bill contracted or indented on the anterior border of the cere, so that the culmen is bow shaped, or ascending anterior to it. Eyes lying on a level with the sides of the head. Head sparsely covered with downy feathers only, or partially naked. Claws weak, rather slender, and only moderately curved; the tarsi and bases of the toes reticulated. Ealconidae. The bill not contracted, nor the culmen ascending anterior to the cere. Eyes sunken. The head completely covered with compact, perfect feathers. Claws strong. B.—Nocturnal birds of prey. Strigidae. Eyes directed forwards; more or less completely surrounded by a crown of radiating bristly feathers. Lores and base of bill densely covered with bristly feathers directed forwards. The nostrils opening on the anterior edge of the cere. The inner toe without its claw longer than the outer, which is versatile. A crown of peculiarly formed feathers on the side of the head, and above the throat. Head fully feathered. Plumage very soft and downy. The different families of Baptores have much the same character throughout the world, with the exception of the Vulturidae, in which the species of America or Gathartinae, are distinguish- able from the old world Vulturinae by narrow, elongated, and perforate nostrils, those of oppo- site sides not separated by a partition; the toes are longer, with a greater extent of web between the three anterior ones ; the neck shows single patches of perfectly naked skin. The tail con- sists of but twelve feathers, &c. (Burmeister.) Note.—The following article on the rapacious birds has been prepared by Mr. John Cassin, of Philadelphia.—S. F. B.U. S. P. P. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Family VULTURIDAE. The Vultures. CATHARTES, Illiger. OATHARTES AURA. (Linnaeus.) The Turkey Buzzard—The Turkey Vulture. Vultur auray Linn, Syst. Nat. I, 122. (1766.) Cathartes septentrionalis, De Wied, Beise, I, 162. (1839.) Figures.—Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina I, pi. 6; Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. 1, pi. 2 ; Wilson Am. Orn. IX, pi. 75, fig. 1; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 151: Oct. ed. I, pi. 2. Entire plumage brownish black, darkest on the back and tail above, and with a purplish lustre, many feathers having pale borders. Bill yellowish ; head and neck in living bird bright red. Plumage commencing on the neck with a circular ruff of projecting feathers. Head and upper part of neck naked, or with a few scattering hair-like feathers, and with the skin wrinkled. Nostrils large, oval, communicating with each other • tail rather long, rounded. Total length about 30 inches, wing 23, tail 12 inches. Hab. All of North America, except the Arctic regions. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, .and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. Specimens from tlie States and Territories on the Pacific are quite identical with the common bird of the States on the Atlantic. On the Pacific, and throughout a vast extent of the central parts of this republic, the summer range of this vulture extends northwardly into the British possessions, though in the northeastern States it is rarely seen north of New York. This apparent difference of locality, though at present impossible to be accounted for, may be regarded as fully established by recent observation in the western Territories. The turkey vulture is, however, well known to be much more of a southern than a northern species. In the present collection, specimens are from California and Nebraska; and it appears to have been observed in abundance in New Mexico by the surveying party in charge of Captain John Pope, U. S. Army, all the specimens obtained by which are labelled as collected at the junction of the Pecos and Delaware rivers, New Mexico, June, 1855. List of specimens. Catalogue number.3 ! Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original number. Collected by— Measurements. Point of bill to end of tail. Between tips of out- stretched wings. Wing from carpal joint. 3825 Eutaw, Alabama _ _ _ _ Feb., 1853 Prof. A. Winch ell __ 8498 Bois de Sioux, Minnesota. Governor Stevens __ 17 Dr. Suckley 4603 Cedar island, Missouri river May 14, 1856. Lt. G. K. Warren._ Dr. Hayden 26. 50 72. 00 20. 50 Mouth of Delaware creek, 4983 Texas _ June 14, 1855. Captain J. Pope 98 Mouth of Delaware creek, 4981 Texa.s _ _ June 14, 1855. Captain J. Pope ... 99 8497 Ma,tarn ora,s Mexico Lieut. Couch Dr. Berlandiere . 8499 Fort Steilacoom W. T Governor Stevens.. 102 Dr. Suckley A P^taLim3' flalifnrma, January, 1856. E. Samuels 27. 00 69. 00 21. 00 o 1 Cathartes, Illiger, Prodromus, p. 236. 1811.BIRDS—VTJLTURIDAE—CATHARTES ATRATUS 5 CATHARTES CALIFORNIANUS, Shaw The California Vulture. Vultur calif or nianus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. IX, 1, pi. 301 (1779). Vultur columbianus, Ord, Guthrie’s Geog. II, 315 (1815). Cathartes vulturinus, Temm. Pla. col. I, pi. 31 (1820). Figures.—And. B. of Am. pi. 411, Oct. ed. I, pi. 1; Gray, Gen. of Birds, I, pi. 2. The largest rapacious bird of North America. Head and neck bare, with a semicircular spot of short black feathers at the base of the upper mandible, and a few straggling, short, or hair-like feathers on other parts of the head. Plumage commencing on the neck, near the body, with a ruff of long lanceolate feathers continued on the breast. Entire plumage black, lustrous on the upper parts, duller below; secondary quills with a grayish tinge ; greater wing coverts tipped with white, forming a transverse band on the wing. Bill yellowish white; iris carmine ; head and neck in living bird orange yellow and red. Total length 45 to 50 inches, wing 30 to 35, tail 15 to 18 inches. Hab. Western North America. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. This large vulture is inferior in size only to the gigantic condor of the mountains of South America. It appears to he restricted to the countries west of the Rocky Mountains, where it is occasionally observed in abundance, especially in the vicinity of the rivers. It is represented, however, as more cautious in its disposition than the smaller vultures of North America, though much resembling them in its habits. A single specimen in the National Museum was collected at the mouth of the Columbia river by J. K. Townsend. CATHARTES ATRATUS, B a r t r a m . Tlie Black Vulture—Tlie Carrion Crow Vultur atratus, Bartram, Travels, p. 289. (1791.) Vultur urubuy Vieillot, Ois. d’Am. Septent. I, 53. (1807.) Figures.—Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. I, pi. 2 ; Wilson Am. Orn. IX, pi. 75, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 106 : Oct. ed. I, pi. 3. Entire plumage deep uniform black, frequently with a bluish gloss on the back and wings. Shafts of quills white above and below, quills on their under surface pale, in some specimens nearly white. Head and neck brownish or bluish black ; bill dark, yellowish at the end. Plumage commencing higher on the back of the neck than on its sides or in front Head and naked portion of the neck warted or corrugated, and with a few hair-like feathers ; bill rather long ; nostrils large and communicating with each other ; tail rather short, truncate or even at the end, legs rather long. Total length, about 23 inches ; wing, 16| inches ; tail, 8| inches. Hab. Southern North America, Central America, Nort South America, Chile. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. Abundant in the Southern States and gregarious at all seasons, congregating in large numbers in the cities, where they are of great service in the destruction of all descriptions of waste or dead animal substances. Found also in Central and Northern South America. On the western coast of North America the occurrence of this vulture is doubtful, and no specimens are in the collections of the surveying and exploring expeditions. The specimens in the National Museum are from the Southern Atlantic States.6 U. 8. P. R. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. CATHARTES BURROYIANUS, 0 a s s i n. Burronglx’s Vulture. Cathartes hurrovianus, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philada. II, 212. (1845.) The smallest of all vultures. Resembling C. aura, but smaller and without a ruff on the neck, as in that species. Plumage on the neck ascending behind, as in C. atratus, but rather short, wings long, tail rounded, rather long. Entire plumage deep uniform black, deeper and more uniform than in C. auray shafts of quills white, head and neck red. Total length, about 22 inches ; wing, 18 inches ; tail 85 inches. Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz ; Mazatlan, Lower California. Spec, in Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. This little vulture, the smallest of the entire group of vultures, is an inhabitant of the coasts of Mexico and Lower California, of the former both on the Pacific ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and very likely extends its range along the shores of the Pacific into the territory of the United States. It can readily be distinguished by its small size, and the ascending feathers on the back of the neck, totally unlike the ruff of (7. aura, which, in general aspect, it resembles. The above four species are all the vultures ascertained to inhabit the United States. In addition to them, it is quite likely that the king vulture of South America, Sarcoramphus papa, may venture occasionally into the States on the southern frontier, being known to appear at times in Mexico. The sacred vulture of Bartram, Sarcorhamphus sacer, is a species described by that author, in the last century, as abundant in Florida, but has not been observed or identified anywhere since his time. This has tended to throw a doubt on its existence, but recent information renders it probable that this, or at least a species different from the vultures just described, is found about Lake Okechobee, in Southern Florida, where it is called king buzzard. The verification of this statement by actual specimens would be one of the most important discoveries yet to be made in North American ornithology. The following is Bartram's description : “ Bill long and straight almost to the point, where it is hooked or bent suddenly down, and sharp ; the head and neck bare of feathers nearly down to the stomach, when the feathers begin to cover the skin, and soon become long and of a soft texture, forming a ruff or tippet, in which the bird, by contracting his neck, can hide that as well as his head ; the bare skin on the neck appears loose and wrinkled, which is of a bright yellow color, intermixed with coral red ; the hinder part of the neck is nearly covered with short stiff hair; and the skin of this part of the neck is of a dense purple color, gradually becoming red as i approaches the yellow of the sides and fore part. The crown of the head is red ; there are lobed lappets of a reddish orange color, which lay on the base of the upper mandible. The plumage of the bird is generally white or cream color, except the quill feathers of the wings and two or three rows of the coverts, which are beautiful dark brown ; the tail, which is rather large and white, is tipped with this dark brown or black ; the legs and feet of a clear white ; the eye is encircled with a gold colored iris, the pupil black.”—Bartram, Travels in Florida, fyc. 1791, p. 150.BIRDS--FALCONIDAE—FALCO ANATUM. 7 Family FALCONIDAE* The Falcons. Sub-family FALCONINAE. FALCO, Linnaeus. Falco, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 124, (1766.) General form robust and compact. Bill short, curved strongly from the base to the point, which is very sharp, and near which is a distinct and generally prominent tooth ; nostrils circular, with a central tubercle. Wings long, pointed, formed for vigorous, rapid, and long-continued flight; tail rather long and wide ; tarsi short, robust, covered with circular or hexagonal scales ; middle toe long ; claws large, strong, curved, and very sharp. This genus, as restricted, contains species found in all parts of the world, and easily distin- guished from all other birds of this group by the prominent tooth in the upper mandible. They are justly regarded by naturalists as the typical or most highly or completely organized of rapacious birds. They are remarkable for exceedingly rapid flight, and great boldness in the attack and capture of small quadrupeds and birds, on which they subsist. Sub-genus Falco. FALCO ANATUM, Bonaparte, The Duck Hawk. Falco anatum, Bonap. Comp. List, p. 4. (1838.) “ Falco peregrinus,” Wilson, Audubon and other authors. Figures.—Wils. Am. Orn. IX, pi. 76; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 16: Oct. ed. I, pi. 20; Lembeye B. of Cuba, pi. l,fig. 2; De Kay, Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 3, fig. 8. Mult.—Frontal band white. Entire upper parts bluish cinereous, with transverse bands of brownish black, lighter on the rump. Under parts yellowish white, with cordate and circular spots of black on the breast and abdomen, and transverse bands of black on the sides, under tail coverts and tibiae ; quills and tail brownish black, the latter with transverse bars of pale cinereous. Cheeks with a patch of black ; bill light blue ; legs and toes yellow. Sexes alike. Younger.—Entire upper parts brownish black, frontal spot obscure, large space on the cheeks black. Under parts dull yellowish white, darker than in adult, and with longitudinal stripes of brownish black ; tarsi and toes bluish lead color. Total length 18 to 20 inches, wing 14 to 15, tail 7 to 8 inches. Hab. North America, west of the Rocky mountains. Specimens in National Musuem, Washington, and Museum Academy, Philadelphia. One specimen of this kind only is in the collections made by the expeditions, the results of which are embraced in the present report. This species is apparently restricted to that portion of North America east of the Kocky mountains, being replaced in the western countries of our continent by the smaller Falco nigriceps. We have never seen the present bird from any locality on the western coast of the United States, though on the eastern it ranges throughout the extent of the coast from Green- land to Cuba. The specimen now before us is of especial interest, having been obtained at the most western locality yet ascertained for this species, and demonstrating a vast range of longitude, in local- ities which it never before was known to inhabit. It was obtained on the Vermilion river, in Nebraska T rritory, by Lieutenant Warren’s expedition.8 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Catalogue No. Locality/ When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— 5166 Mouth, of Vermilion river, Upper Missouri „ October 25,1856- Lieut. G-. El. Warren - Dr. F. V. Hayden J FALCO NIORICEPS, Oassin. Falco nigriceps, Cassia, B. of Cal. and Texas I, p. 87. (1853.)—Ib. in Gilliss’ XJ. S. Astron. Exped. II, 1855 pi. xiv. Resembling the preceding, but smaller and with the bill disproportionately weaker. Mult.—Frontal band white, narrow Head and neck above black tinged with cinereous ; other upper parts bluish cinereous, with transverse bands of brownish black. Quills brownish black ; tail bluish cinereous, with transverse bands of black. Under parts reddish white, with circular spots and transverse bands of black. Cheeks with a large space of black. Younger.—Upper plumage dark brown; tail above brown, barred wi rufous on the inner webs of the feathers. Under part Aull reddish yellow, paler on the throat, and with broad longitudinal ^tripes of black ; flanks and under wing coverts with transverse bars and circular spots of reddish white. Bill bluish, legs and toes'yellow. Total length 15 to 17 inches, wing 11 to 12, tail 6 to inches. Hab. Western North and South America. Specimens in National Museum, Washington, and Museum Academy* Philadelphia. Like its relative of the eastern States of the Union, F. anatum, this species does not appear to he abundant on the western coast; or if so, like its eastern congener, it is not easily obtained. Three specimens only are in the collections made by the expeditions. This is one of the rather numerous species which bear more or less intimate relationship to the Falco peregrinus of the old world, and to Falco anatum of the United States. It is uniformly smaller than both, though most resembling the former, especially specimens from Asia. This bird is as yet known only as an inhabitant of the western countries of the continent f America from Oregon to Chi e. List of specimens. Catalogue number. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original number. Collected by— Point of bill to end of tail. | o c Between tips of out- g stretched wings. S’ 4307 A Puget’s Sound, W. T. Sept. 26,1854- Dr. Suckley _ 183 Qeo. Gibbs 16. 50 39. 00 8501 D Shoalwater Bay, W. T Mar. 21, 1854. Governor Stevens- 63 Dr. Cooper 17. 50 30. 50 8500 Q Bodega, California - Jan., 1855 Lieut. Trowbridge T. A. Szabo Chile Lieut. Gilliss BIRDS—FALCONINAE—FALCO COLUMBARIUS. 9 Sub-Genus Hypotriorchis. FALCO COLUMBARIUS, Linnaeus. Pigeon Hawk* Falco colurribarius, Linn. Syst. Nat 1,128, (1766.) Falco intermiztus, Datidin, Traite d'Orn. II, 141, (1800.) Falco temerarius, Audubon, Ora. Biog. I, 381, (1831.) Falco Auduboni, Blackwall, Researches, Zool. 1834. Figures —Catesby’s Carolina, pi. 3 ; Vieill. Ois. d’Am., Sept. pi. 11; Wilson Am. Orn. II, pi. 15, fig. 3 ; Swains. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, pi 25 ; And. B. of Am., pi. 75, 92, oct. ed. I, ph 21; De Kay Nat. Hist., N.Y., Birds, pi. 4, fig. 9. Adult Male. Entire upper parts bluish slate color, every feather with a black longitudinal line ; forehead and throat white, other under parts pale yellowish or reddish white; every feather with a longitudinal line of brownish black ; tibiie light ferruginous, with lines of black. Quills black, tipped with ashy white; tail light bluish ashy, tipped with white and with a wide subterminal band of black, and with several other transverse narrower bands of black; inner webs nearly white ; cere and legs yellow ; bill blue. Younger. Entire upper plumage dusky brown, quite light in some specimens, and with a tinge of ashy ; head above, with narrow stripes of dark brown and ferruginous, and in some specimens many irrugular spots and edgings of the latter color on the other upper parts. Forehead and entire under parts dull white, the latter with longitudinal stripes of light brown; sides and flanks light brown, with pairs of circular spots of white ; tibise dull white, with dashes of brown ; tail pale brown, with about six transverse bands of white. Cere and legs greenish yellow. Young. Upper plumage brownish black, white of the forehead and under parts more deeply tinged with reddish yellow; dark stripes wider than in preceding; sides and flanks with wide transverse bands of brownish black, and with circular spots of yellowish white. Quills black ; tail brownish black, tipped with white, and with about four bands of white ; cere and feet greenish yellow. Total length. Female, 12 to 14 inches; wing, 8 to 9 inches ; tail, 5 to 5J inches. Male, total length, 10 to 11 inches; wing, 7£ to 8 inches ; tail, 5 inches. Ilab. Temperate North America, Mexico, Central America, Northern South America. Spec, in Nat. Mus., Washington, and Mus. Acad., Philadalphia. Specimens in tlie present collection show that this little hawk inhabits the entire coast of the possessions of the United States on the Pacific ocean. Being, also, one of the most abundant species of its family in the States on the Atlantic, its locality may be stated as the whole of temperate North America. This bird presents the usual variations in plumage which prevail in nearly all the birds of the family Falconidae, and render the determining of species frequently perplexing and difficult. There are, however, three well-defined stages exhibited in a large number of specimens now before me, including the specimens in the present collection, as given above, and others from various parts of the United States. Of these the adult is easily distinguished, and is very nearly as figured by Audubon, under the name Falco temerarius, but of the other two plumages we cannot at present determine which is the more mature. One of the latter is dull brown, as figured in Fauna Boreali Americana, as above, and the other much darker and nearly black, as in the plates of Wilson Am. Orn., and Aud. B. of Am., as above cited. The darkest colored specimens that we have ever seen are in this collection, and so different from the adult as to readily suggest doubts of their specific identity. Both males and females are clear brownish black, and in one specimen, a male obtained by Dr. Cooper, at Shoalwater bay, Washington Territory, the tail is without a vestige of the spots usually to be noticed, and there are very few on the primaries. This is probably the youngest plumage. Another plumage is uniformly dull and frequently pale brown above, with nearly every 2 b10 U. 8. P. R. R, EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. feather edged with rufous. This stage is represented in Swainson’s plate in Fauna Boreali— Americana. The adult has the upper parts entirely light bluish slate color; nearly every feather with a black central line, and is even lighter colored and of more delicate and handsome shades than as given by Audubon. Between these well-defined and easily recognized stages there are other intermediate plumages impossible to describe, except in general terms. List of specimens. Catalogue number. <33 SP § X « Ol Locality. When collected. Whence and how obtained. Original number. Collected by— Measurements. Point of bill to end of tail. Between the tips o outstretched wings. Wing from carpal joint. 6909 Nelson river, H. B D. Gunn 5170 q Mouth Vermilion, on Mo_. Oct. 25, 1856 Lt. Warren Dr. Hayden 12.75 26. 75 9. 00 5171 $ ..do do 11. 75 23.75 8. 00 4130 Q Tamaulipas, Mexico -- Lt. Couch 12. 00 25. 00 8. 50 5505 El Paso, Texas Major Emory J. H. Clark 4476 Puget’s Sound, W. T Dr. Cooper 4459 Cape Flattery, W. T Lt. Trowbridge 4477 Shoal water Bay, W. T Dr. Cooper 5831 Fort Steilacoom, W. T. _ Oct. 1, 1856 Dr. Suckley 598 5829 Sept. 1, 1856 _ do- 548 5828 . do 549 12. 00 25. 50 5833 Q do 546 13. 00 26.13 5832 547 13. 50 26. 25 4588 do do Dr. Potts 4500 San Francisco, Cal Lt. Williamson Dr. Newberry--- 6875 s California Dr. Heerman 5483 s Petaluma, Cal E. Samuels 4475 Santa Clara, Cal Dr. Cooper 4615 Colorado river, Cal Major Emory _ 53 A. Schott _ _ _ 7998 Mexico-- J. Gould FALCO ATTRANTIUS, Gm. Falco aurantius, Gm., Syst. Nat. I, 283. (1788.) Falco rufigularis, Daudin, Trait d’Orn. II. 131. (1800.) Falco thoracicus, Donovan, Naturalists’ Repository, II, (not paged, 1824.) Falco cucullatus, Swainson, Cab. Cy. p. 340. (1838.) Falco ddroleucus, Temminck. Figures. —Temm. PI. Col. 348 ; Donovan, Nat. Rep. II, pi. 45. About the size of, or rather smaller than F. columbarius. Entire upper parts bluish slate color, many feathers having darker centres, and concealed transverse bands of black. Throat, neck before, and breast yellowish white ; body beneath, black, with numerous transverse narrow bands of white ; abdomen, tibias, and under tail coverts dark rufous. Under wing coverts black, with numerous transverse bands and circular spots of white ; quills ashy black, with transverse bands of white on their inner webs ; tail black, the two middle feathers tinged with ashy, narrowly tipped with white, and with about seven irregular transverse bands of white ; bill horn color ; legs yellow. Total length—male—9J to 10 inches, wing 7J to 8, tail 4 to 4J inches. Female larger. Hab. Mexico, Texas, South America. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia.BIRDS-FALCONINAE—FALCO FEMORALIS. 11 This handsome little hawk was noticed by Lieutenant Couch in the State of New Leon, Mexico, on the Eio Grande, and undoubtedly is properly to be regarded as a bird of Texas. It is well known as a South American species, and is diffused over a vast extent of the continent of America, having very probably for the most northerly limit of its range the State just mentioned. The specimen brought by Lieutenant Couch is in quite mature plumage, and is now in the National Museum. List of specimens. 0 © 0 bO o Locality. Whence and how obtained. rO I 0 Nature of specimen. Measurements. o ™ ,° bo .2 E, t •J3 rd 0 rj © O ^ -g o .2 bo 0 4129 New Leon, Mexico.. . Lieutenant Couch , 145 Eyes, brown; feet, orange; bill, lead and slate....... 23.00 7. 75 FALCO FEMORALIS, Temminck. Falco femoralis, Temm, PL col. I. (liv. 21.) Falco thoracicus, (III.) Licht. Verz. p. 62, (1823.) Larger than the preceding, but somewhat resembling it in color. Head above, and entire upper parts light cinereous ; darker, and with transverse bars of white on the upper tail coverts; front and line over the eye to the back of the neck white, tinged with orange on the latter ; a wide band under and behind the eye, and another short band running down- wards from the base of the under mandible, dark cinereous. Throat and breast very pale yellowish white ; a wide band across the body, beneath black, with narrow transverse stripes of white ; abdomen, tibise, and under tail coverts light rufous. Under wing coverts pale yellowish white, spotted with black; primaries ashy black, with numerous transverse bands of white on their inner webs; secondaries light cinereous, tipped with white ; two middle feathers of the tail light cinereous, with transverse bands of ashy white; other feathers of the tail brownish black, tipped with white, and having about eight transverse bands of white. Bill yellow at base, tipped with light bluish horn color ; legs yellow. Total length about 15 inches, wing 10J, tail 7J inches. Hab. New Mexico, Mexico, South America. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. A fine specimen of this species is in the collection made by Dr. A. L. Heermann while attached to the party in charge of Lieutenant J. G-. Parke. It is in mature plumage* and is strictly identical with South American specimens. This bird was obtained in New Mexico. It is a common species of South America.12 u. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. Sub-Genus Gennaia. FALCO POLYAGRUS, Gas si n, Falco polyagrus, Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, X, p. 88. (1853.) Figures.—Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, pi. 16. Narrow frontal band, line over the eye and entire under parts white; stripe from the corner of the mouth running downwards, dark brown ; breast and abdomen with longitudinal stripes and spots of brown, which color forms a large and conspicuous spot on the flank. Upper parts brown, paler on the rump; tail above pale grayish brown, narrowly tipped with white, and with transverse bands of white; quills dark greyish brown ; edge of wing at the shoulder and below white, spotted with brown. Bill bluish ; under mandible yellow at base ; space around the eye bare, with a narrow edging of brown on the first plumage around it, the brown of the back extending somewhat on to the breast at the wing. Younger. Frontal band nearly obsolete ; upper parts uniform pale brown, with narrow rufous stripes on the head ; under arts white, tinged with dull yellow, nearly every feather having a longitudinal stripe of dark brown ; large spaces on the flanks brown ; tarsi and toes lead colored. Total length 18 to 20 inches, wing 13 to 14, tail 7J to 8 inches. Hab. Western North America. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. This is exclusively a species of Western North America, but extending its range east of the Rocky mountains, several specimens having been obtained during the exploration of the upper Missouri and Yellow Stone rivers by the party commanded by Lieutenant G-. K. Warren, United States army. A specimen of this species has, also, been recently procured in western Illinois by Mr. J. D. Sergeant, of Philadelphia. Adults of both sexes are very similar, in fact not differing except in size, and are almost pre„ cisely as described and figured by us as above. It is possible that this may be the specices described as Falco mexicanus in 1850 by Schlegel, but I have been unable to make a reference to his article. List of specimens. Catalogue number. a? SP a a x 25, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am., pi. 117 : Oct. ed. 1, pi. 17. Adult.—Upper parts of body dark lead color, nearly black on the rump ; head and under parts cinereous, darkest on the abdomen ; quills and tail brownish black, the latter with a bluish or purplish lustre ; tips of secondary quills ashy white ; a longitudinal stripe on each web of the primaries, chestnut rufous. Young.—Upper parts brownish black mixed with dull rufous and white ; head and under parts dull yellowish white, with longitudinal stripes of reddish brown, darker and more numerous on the head, lighter and frequently clear rufous on the abdomen. Total length, female, about 15 inches ; wing, 11 to 11 § inches ; tail, 6| inches. Male, total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 11 inches ; tail, 6 inches. Hab —Southern States, Texas, and New Mexico, (Woodhouse.)38 U. S. P. B. E. EXP. AND SUBVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. Only inhabits the southern States of North America, and probably Mexico and Central America. In the southern division of this continent this bird is represented by another species with which it has been confounded. ROSTRHAMUS, Lesson. Rostrhamus, Lesson, Traite d’Orn. I, p. 55, (1831.) Bill long, very slender, hooked and sharp at the tip; wings long, pointed ; tail rather long, emarginated ; tarsi and toes rather long ; claws very long, slender, acute. The present is the only species. ROSTRHAMUS SOCIABILIS, Vieillot. Herpetetheres sociabilis, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XVIII, 318, (1817.) Cymindis leucopygius, Spix, Av. Bras. I, p. 7, (1824.) Rostrhamus niger, Lesson, Traite, I, 56, (T831.) Falco hamatus, Illiger. Figures.—Temm. PI. Col. 61, 231; Spix. Av. Bras. 1, pi. 2. Jidult.—Tail at base and under tail coverts white, all other parts black. Naked space before the eye yellow ; bill and claws black ; feet yellow. Quills and tail black, the latter narrowly tipped with ashy white. Younger.—Throat and line over and behind the eye dull yellowish white ; all other parts brownish black, mixed with dull yellowish wThite on the under parts. Young.—Front stripe behind the eye and throat dull reddish white ; upper parts brown ; many feathers edged with pale ferruginous ; under parts yellowish, with longitudinal stripes of black ; tail at the tip and at base and under tail coverts dull yellowish white ; tarsi yellowish green. Total length, female, about 16 inches ; wing, 14 inches ; tail, 7| inches. Male rather smaller. Hab>—Florida, (Mr. Edward Harris, Dr. Heermann.) Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philada. This is a well known South American bird, first ascertained to inhabit Florida by Mr. Edward Harris, and subsequently by Dr. Heermann and Mr. Krider. It is remarkable for its very slender and hooked bill, unlike that of any other falcon, and can very easily be identified by that character. This bird undoubtedly breeds in Florida, as young specimens were obtained by Mr. Harris. It has not been ascertained to inhabit any other part of the United States. CIRCUS, Lacepede. Circus, Lacepede, Mem. d’Inst. Paris, III, CXI, 506, (1803.) Face partially encircled by a ring or ruff of short projecting feathers, as in the owls. Head rather large ; bill short, com- pressed, curved from the base ; nostrils large ; wings long, pointed ; tail rather long, wide ; tarsi long and slender ; toes mod- erate ; claws rather slender and weak. This genus embraces about fifteen species, inhabiting all parts of the world, some of which much resemble each other. One species only is known to inhabit North America. CIRCUS HUDSONIUS, L innasus . The Harrier»-The Marsh Hawk# Falco hudsonius, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 128, (1766.) Falco uliginosus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 278, (1788.) Falco uropogistus, Daudin, Traite d’Orn. II, 110, (1800.) “ Falco uliginosus,” Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, 67. “ Falco cyaneus,” Audubon, Orn. Biog. IV, 396.BIRDS—BUTEONINAE—CIRCUS HUDSONIUS. 39 Figures.—Yieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. pi. 9 ; Wilson Am. Orn. VI, pi. 51, fig. 2; Bonap. Am. Orn. II, pi. 12 ; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 356 ; Oct. ed I, pi. 26 ; Sw. & Rich. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, pi. 29. Adult.—Form rather long and slender ; tarsi long ; ruff quite distinct on the neck in front. Entire upper parts, head and breast, pale bluish cinereous ; on the back of the head mixed with dark fulvous ; upper tail coverts white. Under parts white, with small cordate or hastate spots of light ferruginous ; quills brownish black, with their outer webs tinged with ashy, and a large portion of their inner webs white ; tail light cinereous, nearly white on the inner webs of the feathers, and with obscure transverse bands of brown ; under surface silky white ; under wing coverts white. Younger.—Entire upper parts dull umber brown, many feathers edged with dull rufous, especially on the neck ; under parts dull reddish white, with longitudinal stripes of brown, most numerous on the throat and neck before ; tibise tinged with reddish ; upper tail coverts white. Young—Entire upper parts dark umber brown ; upper tail coverts white. Under parts rufous, with longitudinal stripes of brown on the breast and sides ; tail reddish brown, with about three wide bands of dark fulvous, paler on the inner webs. Tarsi and toes yellow. Total length, female, 19 to 21 inches ; wing 15|, tail 10 inches. Male, total length 16 to 18 inches ; wing 14|, tail 8J to 9 inches* Hob.—All of North America and Cuba, (Mr. Lembeye.) Of this species, well known as one of the most common hawks inhabiting the States of the Atlantic, there are no less than fifty specimens in the collections made by the surveying and exploring expeditions. These were obtained, as will be seen below, at various points in the western States and Territories of the republic, and other localities in North America, and show conclusively that this species is equally abundant on the coasts of the Pacific as on those of the Atlantic ocean. It inhabits also, very probably, the entire intermediate country, and may, therefore, be regarded as diffused over the whole of North America from Mexico to the Arctic regions. , Specimens from all parts of the United States are precisely the same specifically, and con- stantly present the entirely different colors of the adult and young birds. Several fine speci- mens of the former are in the present collection, all of which have the under parts nearly pure white, with more or less cordate and sagittate spots of reddish fulvous^, varying considerably in size and number. One specimen, No. 5161, has those spots so large and numerous on the breast and sides that they give the predominating color to those parts. This specimen was obtained at Fort Randall, on the Missouri river, in October, 1856,, by Lieutenant Gr. K. Warrei^ United States army, and is marked as a female. The flanks and under tail coverts ha ye alsq large cordate spots of the same color.40 U, S P. K. E. EXP. AND SOBVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL EEPOET, 3 List of specimens. 6 *c3 Is O ! Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Measurements. +=> bO a of Am. pi. 392 : Oct. ed. I, pi. 5 ; Tschudi, FaunaPer. Orn. pi. 1? ; Yoy. Beagle, Birds, pi. 2? Mult.—Shoulders, wing coverts, and tibiae reddish chestnut; upper and under tail coverts white, tail white at base and tipped with white, presenting the appearance of a very wide band between of brownish black with a violet tinge. Body above and below dark brown, in some specimens nearly black on the under parts. Younger.—Upper parts dull umber brown, much mixed with fulvous ; shoulders chestnut red, spotted with dark brown ; entire under parts yellowish white, with large oblong and circular spots of brown ; upper and under tail coverts white; tail brown, with many bands of a deeper shade of the same color, and with the inner webs yellowish and reddish white ; base and tip of tail yellowish white. Total length, female, 22 to 24 inches ; wing, 15 inches ; tail, 10 inches. Male, total length, 20 inches; wing, 13 to 14 inches ; tail, 9 to 9i inches. Hah.—Southern States, Mexico, South America. Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philada. The observations of naturalists attached to the late expeditions demonstrate this bird to be of common occurrence in Texas, on the Rio Grande. It is a dull and heavy bird in its habits, and subsists for the greater part on dead animals. This bird appears to belong to the genus Craxirex, as given by Mr. Gould, if not identical with his species.BIRDS—STRIGINAE—STRIX PRATINCOLA. 47 List of specimens. o & "e3 -+3 o3 O Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Measurements. Length. Extent. Wing. 4123 9135 m 9134 Brownsville, Texas _ Oyster Point,Texas - New Mexico Lieut. Couch Sept., 1853 Major Emory Feb. 27, 1854... Lieut. Whipple 179 Kennerly and Mollhausen. j Family STHIGIDAE. The Owls. Form usually short and heavy, with the head disproportionately large, and frequently furnished with erectile tufts of feathers resembling the ears of quadrupeds. General organization adapted to vigorous and noiseless but not rapid flight, and to the capture of animals in the morning and evening twilight. Eyes usually very large, directed forwards, and in the greater number of species formed for seeing by twilight, or in the night. Bill rather strong, curved, nearly concealed by projecting bristle-like feathers; wings generally long; outer edges of primary quills fringed ; legs generally rather short, and in all species, except in one Asiatic genus, (Ketupa,) more or less feathered, generally densely. Cavity of the ear very large. Face encircled by a more or less perfect disc of short rigid feathers, which, with the large eyes, gives to those birds an entirely peculiar and frequently cat-like expression. Female larg?r than the male. There are about one hundred and fifty species of owls, which are found in all parts of the world, of which about forty are inhabitants of the continent of America and its islands. The larger species subsist on small quadrupeds and birds, but much the majority almost exclusively prey on insects. Though much the larger number are nocturnal, a few species are strictly diurnal, and in their habits seem to approach the birds of the preceding family. Sub-Family STRIGINAE.—T y pi c a 1 Owls. Size medium, never very large. Head large; facial disc perfect; bill rather long ; eyes rather small for this family ; legs rather long, fully feathered to the toes. STEIX, Linnaeu . Strix, Linnaeus, I, p. 131, (1766,) Head large, without ear tufts ; eyes rather small; facial disc perfect, and very conspicuous ; wings long; tarsi long ; tail rather short ; toes and claws rather long. This genus contains about twelve species of all parts of the world. STEIX PRATINCOLA, Bonaparte. The Bam Owl. Strix pratincola, Bonap. Comp. List, p. 7, (1838.) Strix Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, p. 421, (1834, not of Gmelin 1788.) Figures.—Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, pi. 50, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am., pi. 171: Oct. ed. I, pi. 34 ; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 13, fig. 28.48 U. S P. R. R EXP, AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Entire upper parts pale fawn color, or tawny brownish yellow, frequently very pale, nearly every feather with a small sub- terminal black spot succeeded by another of white. Under parts generally pale fawn color, but frequently pure white, with small lanceolate and circular spots of brownish black ; under coverts of wings and tail white ; quills fawn colored ; primaries with about five irregular transverse bars of brownish black ; tail with about four or five bands of dark brown. Face white ; spots of dark chestnut brown around the eyes. Irides brownish black ; bill, toes, and claws light yellowish. Total length, female, 16 inches, wing 13, tail 5f inches. Male rather smaller. Hab.—Throughout temperate North America. Spec, in Nat. Mus., Washington. All the specimens in the present collection are from California. They exhibit the variety in shades of color, especially on the under parts of the body, which is usually to be observed in this species; some specimens having these parts perfectly white, and others different shades of pale buff or fawn color. There is, however, no American species of this family more easily recognized. Some specimens from the western countries of North America which have come under our notice have the greater portion of the quills very pale colored, occasionally nearly white; and these specimens have, too, usually the under parts white. This is the case with specimens No. 4349 in Lieutenant Trowbridge's collection, and No. 6885 in that of Lieutenant Williamson. This bird, in the plumage just referred to, approximates quite closely to Strix furcata> (Tern- minck PI. Col, 432,) a species from the West India islands, and cannot readily be distinguished from it by any character, except a greater degree of whiteness in the West India bird. The two species, if such they are, will, however, bear careful comparison. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Measurements. rd -t-3 bn d 3 +3 d •+3 X w th d % 4349 Presidio, Cal Lieut. Trowbridge - 4194 San Francisco, Cal- Winter 1853- 54. R. D. Cutts 4133 $ Monterey, Mexico - Lieut. Couch 170 17.00 35.00 6884 s Tejon valley, Cal_- Lt. R.S. Williamson. Dr. Heermann 4626 San Miguel, Cal do 4910 San Diego, Cal Dr. J. F. Hammond. 16.75 44.25 12.75 6885 Tejon valley, Cal -- Lt. R. S. Williamson. Dr. Heermann- _ _ 5036 Dona Ana, N. M Nov. 9,1855 Capt. J. Pope 8701 $ Texas Maj. W. H. Emory _ A. Schott 9132 s Texas J. H. Cl k 15.50 45.00 14.00 8003 Mexico Sept., 1856 John Gould John Taylor ---- Sub-Family BUBONINAE.—The HornedOwls. Head large, with erectile and prominent ear tufts. Eyes large ; facial disc not complete above the eyes and bill; legs, feet, and claws usually very strong. This division contains numerous species, some of which are very large, but the greater number as medium sized or small. They inhabit all parts of the world, except Australia.BIRDS—STRIGTNAE—BUBO VIRGINIANUS. 49 BUBO, Cuvier. Bubo, Cuyier, Regne Animal, I, p. 331, (1817.) Size large ; general form very robust and powerful. Head large, with conspicuous ear tufts *, eyes very large ; wings long; tail short; legs and toes very strong, densely feathered ; claws very strong ; bill rather short, strong, curved, covered at base by projecting feathers. This genus includes the large horned owls, or cat owls, as they are sometimes called. These birds are most numerous in Asia and Africa, and there are in all countries abcoit fifteen species. BUBO VIRGINIANUS, Gmelin. The Great Homed Owl. Strix virginiana, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 287, (1788.) Strix pythaules, Bartram, Travels, p. 289, (1791.) Bubo ludoviciam, Daudin, Traite d’Orn. II, p. 210, (1800.) . Bubo pinicola, Vieill Ois. d’Am. Sept. I, p. 51, (1807.) Bubo arcticus, Swains. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 86, (1831.) Bubo sub-arcticus, Hoy, Proc. Acad. Philada. VI, p. 211, (1852.) Bubo septentrionaliSy Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 120, (1831?) St7'ix scandiaca, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 132, (1766) ? Strix magellanicus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 286, (1788) ? Strix nacurutu, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. VII, p. 44, (1817) ? Figures.—Edward’s Birds II, pi. 60; Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. I, pi. 19 ; Wilson Am. Orn. VII, pi. 50, fig. 1 ; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 61: Oct. ed. I, pi. 39 ; Nat. Hist. New York, pi. 30, fig. 22 ; Fauna Bor. Am. Birds, pi. 30. JldulL—Large and very strongly organized ; ear tufts large, erectile ; bill strong, fully curved : wing rather long ; third quill usually longest; tail short ; legs and toes very robust, and densely covered with short downy feathers ; claws very strong, sharp, curved. Very variable in plumage, from nearly white to dark brown ; usually with the upper parts dark brown, every feather mottled and with irregular transverse lines of pale ashy and reddish fulvous, the latter being the color of all the plumage at the bases of the feathers. Ear tufts dark brown, nearly black, edged on their inner webs with dark fulvous ; a black spot above the eye ; radiating feathers behind the eye, varying in color from nearly white to dark reddish fulvous, usually the latter; feathers of the facial disc tipped with black. Throat and neck before white ; breast with wide longitudinal stripes of black ; other under parts variegated with white and fulvous, and every feather having transverse narrow lines of dark brown. Middle of the abdomen frequently, but not always, white. Legs and toes varying from white to dark fulvous, usually pale fulvous ; in most specimens unspotted, but frequently, and probably always in fully mature specimens, with transvere narrow bars of dark brown. Quills brown, with wide transverse bands of cinereous, and usually tinged on the inner webs with pale fulvous ; tail the same, with the fulvous predominating on the outer feathers ; iris yellow ; bill and claws bluish black. Dimensions.—Female, length 21 to 25 inches, wing 14f to 16, tail 10 inches. Male, 18 to 21 inches, wing 14 to 15, tail 9 inches. The smallest specimen of the variety Pacificus. Hob.—The whole of North America, and probably South America. Variety.—Bubo virginianus atlanticus, Oassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, p. 178. Dark colored, as described above. Feathers of the face behind the eye always bright reddish fulvous, and the entire plumage more marked with that color than in the other varieties below. This variety is found throughout the temperate regions of North America, and we have never known any other to he noticed in the States on the Atlantic ocean, though the variety Arcticus may occur. This is the true B. virginianus of authors, and is figured by Wilson, Audubon, and others. Variety.—Bubo virginianus pacificus, Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, p. 178. Dark colored, as above. Feathers of the face behind the eye ashy, generally, however, tinged with fulvous. General color less tinged with fulvous than in the preceding variety, and frequently much paler, and approximating to the variety arcticus. 7 b50 XL S. P. R. Ri EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY----------------GENERAL REPORT. This variety appears to be restricted to western North America, and is represented by the majority of the specimens in the present collection. So far as can he determined from prepared skins, the average of these specimens would he rather smaller than in the preceding, hut there are some quite as large as we have ever seen of that variety. This variety can readily be distinguished from the preceding hy the facial disk being ashy, instead of fulvous. Variety.—Bubo virginianus ardicus, C assin. Bubo arcticus, Swainson, Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 86. (1831.) Bubo sub-arcticus, Hoy, Proc. Acad. Phila., VI. p. 211. (1852.) Bubo septentrionaliSf Brehm? Strix scandiaca, Linnaeus ? Figure.—Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, pi. 30. Light colored, frequently nearly white. General plumage of a predominating pale yellowish white, or cream color, of various shades, from nearly pure white to nearly the color of the two preceding varieties. Under parts generally lighter than the upper, and always throughout the plumage marked and barred with brown, frequently pale and indistinct, but in the same general manner as in the preceding. Tarsi and toes generally very light, frequently nearly pure white. Size generally about the same as that of variety atlanticus, and the plumage with more or less of the same reddish fulvous at the bases of the feathers. Feathers of the face pure white, or pale cream color, sometimes tinged with fulvous and cinereous. This variety appears to inhabit the northern and western countries of North America, and probably occasionally all other parts of that portion of the continent. Mr. Swainson’s figure, above cited, represents an unusually white specimen, though we have seen such, and from that shade to but slightly lighter than the common variety. So far as we regard ourselves compe- tent to judge, this variety is better entitled to be regarded as a distinct species than any other. Variety.—Bubo virginianus magellanicus, Cassin. Strix magellanicus, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 286. (1788.) Strix nacurutUf Vieill. Nouv. Diet. VII, I, p. 44. (1817.) Bubo ludovicianusy Daudin, Traite d’Orn. II, p. 210. ^ Figure.—BufFon PI Enl. 385. Very variable in color, but generally darker than either of the preceding ; plumage at base fulvous. Feathers of the face usually pale cinereous, more or less tinged with fulvous ; size about the same as the preceding, or rather larger. This variety inhabits, apparently, South America, and perhaps Mexico, and the extreme south of the United States. Of this we have seen specimens darker than of either of the preceding varieties, and more resembling Mr. Audubon’s figures than are usually met with in northern localities. This fine species is either subject to considerable variety in the color of its plumage, or there are several species, some of which have been named by naturalists, as cited above, in our syno- nymies. But with no less than thirty specimens now before us, from nearly all parts of North America, we confess ourselves quite unable to detect characters sufficient to distinguish more than one species. We have, therefore, to regard them all as Bubo virginianus, and to attribute the differences in their colors to variety only, either local or caused by accidental circumstances. With but a single well characterized specimen each of perhaps four varieties, the inducement would be strong to regard them as distinct species, so different are their colors ; but with an extended series, like the present, all the characters exist in such various degrees of modification, and are so blended that it is to us quite impossible. We have designated the varieties of this species in Birds of California and Texas, I, p. 178, and have no reason to change our views from the examination of the present collection, except that these varieties are evidently not to be regardedBIRDS—STRIGINAE—SCOPS ASIO. 51 as at all strictly geographical, nor not so much so as intimated in our notice of them alluded to above. We have, for instance, in this collection the variety Bubo virgiriianus dtlanticus, from Bodega, California, (in the collection made by the party commanded by Lieutenant W. P. Trowbridge, United States army,) and the variety arcticus 7from various localities in California and New Mexico. The variety atlanticus, from California, we cannot distinguish from the common bird of the States on the Atlantic seaboard. List of specimens. 6 o bo a Locality. Whence obtained. o Collected by—- Measurements. Remarks. {5 73 6 H3 ' a a K a> 03 When collected. 73 g 's? O Length. • Extent. Wing. 9155 * Steilacoom t T.. t Gov. 1.1. Stevens.. 135 Dr. Suckley Var, paeifions 9161 O 136 .... Do... 5854 9 O do.. August, 1856 Dr. Geo. Suckley .. Gov. 1.1. Stevens 535 do 9159 Okanagan.. Tt, T Dr. Cooper do 4513 V $ 9 Fort Reading, Cal Lt. R. S. Williamson Lt.W. P. Trowbridge Lt. R. S. Williamson Dr. Newberry... *.. Bodega, Cal January, 1853 do Sacramento. Dr. Heermann Var. atlanticus 8006 California John Gould 5006 D. Douglas......... 4613 Colorado river, Cal March 31,1855 Major Emory A. Schott......... 4423 9 * San Diego, Cal T.t. Trowhridge.... A. Cassidy......... Var. pacificus Little Colorado Lt. A. W. Whipple. do Kenn. & Moll...... 9154 O £ No. 98 46 Do Iris chrome yellow; var. arcticus Var. arcticus..... ... o A New Mexico Capt. John Pope, l T T 5181 o A Fort Union Lt. G. K. Warren Dr. Hayden 20.25 47.04 14.00 Iris yellow; var. arc- ticus do do 5180 o o Fort Union Lt. G. K. Warren 21.25 51.50 14.75 5589 V Medicine Bow Creek .... Aug. 25, 1856 Novemb’r,1854 Lt. F. T. Bryan Major Emory , 299 W. S. Wood 9157 Devil’s river, Texas 3 Dr. Kennerly 19.00 48.00 15.00 9172 Mimbres to Rio Grande Dr. Henry. ..... A. Schott. 9158 6th camp, Little Colorado Monterey, Mexico Dec’r 15, 1853 Lt. Whipple 37 Kenn. & Moll 4137 Lt. Couch .... -.... 18.00 35.00 9.25 Eyes yellow; var. arc- ticus 8007 Mexico Sept’r, 1836 John Gould .T. Taylor .... ... SCOPS, Savigny. Savigny, Nat. Hist. Egypt, I, p. 105, (1809.) Size small; ear tufts conspicuous. Head large ; facial disc imperfect in front and about the eyes ; bill short, nearly covered by projecting feathers; wings long; tail rather short, and frequently curved inwards; tarsi rather long, more or less fully covered with short feathers; toes long, generally partially covered with hair like feathers ; head large. General form short and compact. This genus contains twenty-five to thirty species of small owls, inhabiting all parts of the world except Australia. SCOPS ASIO, Linn. The Mottled Owl; the Screech Owl. Strix asio, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 132, (1766.) Strix naevia, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 289, (1788.) Bubo striatus, Yieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept, I, p. 54, (1808.) Figures.—Catesby’s Nat..Hist. Carolina I, pi. 7 ; Yieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. I, pi. 21 ; Temm. pi. col. 80 ; Wilson Am. Orn. pL 19, fig. 1, pi. 42, fig. 1; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 97 : Oct. ed. I, pi. 40 ; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 12, figs. 25, 26. Short and compact; ear tufts prominent; tail short ; tarsi rather long. Jldult*—Upper parts pale ashy brown with longitudinal lines of brownish black, and mottled irregularly with the same, and52 U S P. E. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEBAL REPORT. with cinereous. Under parts ashy white with longitudinal stripes of brownish black, and with transverse lines of the same color ; face, throat and tarsi, ashy white, irregularly lined and mottled with pale brownish ; quills brown with transverse bands, nearly white on the outer webs ; tail pale ashy brown with about ten transverse narrow bands of pale cinereous ; under wing coverts white, the larger tipped with black ; bill and claws light horn color ; irides yellow. Younger.—Entire upper parts pale brownish red, with longitudinal lines of brownish black, especially on the head and scapulars ; face, throat, under wing coverts and tarsi, reddish white ; quills reddish brown ; tail rufous, with bands of brown, darker on the inner webs. Young.—Entire plumage transversely striped with ashy white and pale brown ; wings and tail pale rufous. Total length 9| to 10 inches, wing 7, tail 3| inches. Sexes nearly alike in size and color. Hab.—The whole of temperate North America, Greenland, (Fabricius.) Spec, in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad. Philadelphia. This is the most abundant of the owls inhabiting the States on the Atlantic, and appears to inhabit the entire territory of the United States and the more northern countries of this continent within the temperate zone. In the present collections we find the first specimens that we have ever seen from western North America. One specimen (No. 4530) from Washington Territory, and others from California, in the collections made by Mr. Cutts and Mr. Samuels, (Nos. 4195, 5847,) are in the mottled or adult plumage; and one from Sacramento Valley, in Lieutenant Williamson's collection, is in the red, or that of the immature bird. These specimens differ in no respect from those of the eastern States. The two stages of plumage described above have been regarded as characterizing distinct species, and they do present a problem scarcely to be considered as fully solved. This bird pairs, and rears young, while in the red plumage ; and it is not unusual to find a mottled male and red female associated, or the reverse. The two stages of plumage, or varieties, are very similar to those of the Syrnium aluco of Europe, and of which there are other instances in this family of birds. Unlike nearly all other rapacious birds, this owl holds its place throughout the country, notwithstanding the destruction of the forest, or the denseness of the population ; and, though well known to our rural population, and scarcely regarded favorably, is seldom molested. Its food is principally insects. List*of specimens. Catal. No. j Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Nature of speci- men. Measurements. Length. Extent. Wing. 4530 Puget’s Sound Dr. Geo. Suckley.. Mottled 9. 00 20.50 6. 50 5487 A Petaluma, Cal _. « _ _ E. Samuels 4195 u San Francisco. .__, M. R. D. Cutts Mottled 6887 Sacramento valley. Lieut. Williamson . Red SCOPS McCALLII, Cassin. The Western Mottled Owl. Scops McCallii, Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, I, p. 180. (1,854.) In form and general characters much resembling Scops asio, but smaller ; form, stout and short; wing rather long, with the fourth quill longest; tail short, slightly curved inwards ; tarsi rather long, fully covered ; toes partially covered, with long hair-like feathers. Adult.—Ashy brown ; darker on the upper parts, and every feather with a longitudinal stripe of brownish black, and withBIRDS—STRIGINAE—OTUS WILSONIANUS. 53 numerous irregular transverse lines and points of the same. Under parts paler or ashy white, with longitudinal stripes of brownish black, and with irregular lines of the same ; flanks and sides, tinged with pale fulvous. Quills brown, with several transverse bands of pale reddish white, assuming the form of quadrangular spots on the outer webs, and pale reddish ashy on the inner webs. Tail ashy brown, with about ten narrow transverse bands on all, except the two central feathers, well defined on the outer webs ; scapular feathers and some of the greater coverts of the wings edged with white ; bill greenish horn color ; tip yellowish ; irides yellow. Young.—Entire plumage rufous ; darker on the head, with longitudinal stripes of brownish black ; middle of the abdomen, and under tail coverts white *, tarsi rufous. Dimensions.—Total length 7§ to 8 inches, wing 6, tail 3 inches. Hab.—Western and Southern North America. This species is not only related to the common Scops asio of North America, hut also to Scops choliba of South America, and other species of this continent. From S. asio, it can readily he distinguished by its smaller size and the different shade of color and style of markings, being darker above, and having the transverse lines on the under surface better defined and more numerous. In the present collection are two specimens only of this interesting species, both from Texas, and in mottled plumage. In the collection made by the Mexican Boundary Commission there is a specimen of this bird in red plumage, like that of S. asio, and is that above described. A red specimen from Florida we doubtfully refer to the same species. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Measurements. Length. Extent. ' Wing. 5857 Indian river Fla G. Wurdemann 9171 Sept. 9, 1853 ... Major Emory- -- A. Schott 9147 Camp 118 - Feb. 10, 1854... Lieut. A. Whipple- Kennerly& Moll- 8. 18.50 6. 00 OTUS, Cuvier. Otus, Cuvier, R&gne Animal, 1, p. 327. (1817.) General form longer and more slender than in the preceding genera. Head moderate; ear tufts long, erectile ; bill rather short, curved from the base ; facial disc more perfect than in the preceding. Wings long ; tail moderate ; tarsi and toes covered with short feathers ; claws long, curved. Eyes rather small, and surrounded by radiating feathers. This genus contains ten or twelve species of various countries ; all of which are more hand- some birds than are usually met with in this family. OTUS WILSONIANUS, Lesson. The IiCing-tlared Owl. Otus WilsonianuSf Lesson, Traite d’Orn. I, p. 110. (1831.) Otus Americanus, Bonap. Comp. List, p. 7. (1838.) Strix Americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 288. (1788?)* Strix perigrinator, Bartram, Travels, p. 289. (1790?) Figures.—Wilson Am. Orn. VI, pi. 51, fig. 1; Aud. B. of Am., pi. 383 : Oct. ed. I, pi. 37 : Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 11, fig. 24. Ear tufts long and conspicuous ; eyes rather small; wings long ; tarsi and toes densely feathered. Upper parts mottled with54 U. S. P. R R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. brownish black, fulvous, and ashy * white ; the former predominating. Breast pale fulvous, with longitudinal stripes of brownish black ; abdomen white ; every feather with a wide longitudinal stripe, and with transverse stripes o>f brownish black ; legs and toes pale fulvous, usually unspotted, but frequently with irregular narrow transverse stripes of dark brown. Eye nearly encircled with black ; other feathers of the face ashy white, with minute lines of black ; ear tufts brownish black, edged with fulvous and ashy white ; quills pale fulvous at their bases, with irregular transverse bands of brown ; inferior coverts of the wing pale fulvous, frequently nearly white ; the larger widely tipped with black ; tail brown, with several irregular trans- verse bands of ashy fulvous, which are mottled, as on the quills ; bill and claws dark ; irides yellow. Total length, female, about fifteen inches ; wing 11 to 11 § ; tail 6 inches. Male, rather smaller. Hab.—The whole of temperate North America. Spec, in Nat..Mus., Washington, and Mus. Acad., Philada. One of the most numerous of the owls of the Atlantic States, and not much less so on the Pacific. It bears a strong resemblance to the European Otus vulgaris, with which it has been considered identical by some American authors. We find nothing unusual in the specimens of the present collection, all being quite identical with the well known bird of the eastern States. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Measurements. Remarks. Length. Extent. Wing. 9143 9144 9145 9146 9142 8243 4536 4538 4537 6916 8635 9 9 S S s 9 John Day’s river, W. T .. Bodega, Cal............. Nov’r 12, 1853 Gov. 1.1. Stevens.. Lt.W. P. Trowbridge 19 Dr. Suekley Fort. Fillmore, N. M Dr. T C. Henry..., Coehetope pass, R. M Capt. Beckwith.... Rio Grande valley........ Eye with orange bor- der Eyes yellow.......... Camp 107, New Mexico .. Fort Renton Jan’y 28, 1854 Lt. Whipple Gov. Stevens Wm. M. Magraw... Lt. Warren... 57 225 Kennerly and Moll- hansen Dr. Snekley. 100 miles E. Ft. Kearney. White river, Neh, T.,. . Oct’r 28, 1857 Oct’r 8, 1855 Dr. Cooper......... 14.50 37.50 12.00 Iris yellow; bill bluish; feet gray. & c? 9 Dr. Hayden........ ttrtltdnfttf,,,,,, ; do Fort Pierre . . T Oet’r 21, 1855 Selkirk settlement, H.B.T. Raeine, Wis . Donald Gunn R. Kennicott Cape Florida. ..... G. Wurdeman..... BRACHYOTUS, Gould. Brachyotus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1837, p. 10. Ear tufts very short and inconspicuous. General form rather strong ; wings long ; tail moderate ; legs rather long, which, with the toes, are fully covered with short feathers ; claws long, very sharp, and rather slender. Head moderate ; eyes rather small, surrounded by radiating feathers ; facial disc imperfect on the forehead and above the eyes ; tail moderate. This^genus contains four or five species only, the two best known of which are the European Brachyotus palustris and the succeeding. BRACHYOTUS CASSINII, Brewer. The Short Eared Owl. Brachyotus Cassinii, Brewer, Proc. Boston Soc. N. H. Strix brachyotus, Forster, Phil. Trans. London, LXII, p. 384, (1772.) Brachyotuspalustris americanus, Bonap. Consp. Av. p. 51, (1849.) Figures.—Wilson Am. Orn. IV, pi. 33, fig. 3 ; Aud B. of Am. pi. 410 : Oct. ed. I, pi .38 ; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 12, fig. 27.BIBDS—BYRNINAE-—SYRNIUM 55 Ear tufts very short. Entire plumage buff or pale fulvous ; every feather on the upper parts with a wide longitudinal stripe of dark brown, which color predominates on the back. Under parts paler, frequently nearly white on the abdomen, with longitudinal stripes of brownish black most numerous on the breast; very narrow and less numerous on the abdomen and flanks legs and toes usually of a deeper shade of the same color as the abdomen. Quills pale, reddish fulvous at their bases; brown at their ends, with wide irregular bands and large spots of reddish fulvous; tail pale reddish fulvous, with about five irregular transverse bands of dark brown, which color predominates on the two central feathers ; under tail coverts usually nearly white. Throat white ; eyes enclosed by large spots of brownish black ; ear tufts brown, edged with fulvous ; bill and claws dark ; irides yellow. ..... Total length, female, about 15 inches ; wing, 12 ; tail 6 inches. Male, rather smaller. flak—The whole of temperate North America, Greenland, (Hollboll,) Cuba, (Lembeye.) Spec, in Nat. Mus., Washington, and Mus. Acad., Philadelphia. • This owl is of frequent occurrence in the Atlantic States, especially in the winter ; and at that season appears to prefer meadows and marshes in the vicinity of rivers, or other streams of water. In the present collection the specimens tend to demonstrate that it is equally abundant on the Pacific, and we detect no differences in specimens from the opposite coasts of our continent. List of specimens. 6 fc 73 Rj o Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Measurements. Remarks. Length. Extent. Wing. 4539 4634 4354 8791 9140 9139 6888 5485 rt Piprrp _ _ r _ _ . T. t T . _.. Col. A. Vaughan.. Lt. G. K. Warren .. Dr. Hayden........ 5183 a 5 oo£-£-oo*i'-CNiooc? O iO 00 00 kO 00 to J> O CD O ID i> « « (M 5) id o o o 00 00 Oi kO ko o (H C) H CO ifl « M « « M « Tt< CM 00 00 5 £ p p £ ^ W J P H fl 5 g 'S3 fa n • ^ fa QG fa § s F g o3 a US o ^ P Q ooooooooooo ’O'd'd'Cfl'O'O’d’D'O'O S 8 00 00 CD CO ID ID 00 OO s £ P< Oh < < P g o' M .§ -K a o O fa A t ^ -ti -d -o >d CO ^ 00 OS o 05 CD O O — 00 00 CO CO CO OCIYOCObfflOOBIRDS—TROGONIDAE—TROGON MEXICANUS. 69 Family TROGONIDAE. The Trogoris. In continuation of the diagnosis already given of this family, it may he stated that the hill is much shorter than the head, broadly triangular, with the tip hooked and dentate. Nasal fossae concealed ; the base of both mandibles with long, stiff bristles directed forwards ; the eyelids, also, with similar bristles. Wings short, rounded ; the quills falcate, much graduated. Tail elongated ; the feathers broad. Legs very feeble ; the tarsus short, and hidden in the plumage. The inner anterior toe is versatile, or directed backwards, instead of the outer, as in all other Scansores. TROGON, Moehring. Trogon “ Moehring, Genera Avium, 1752.” Bill broad, both mandibles with the cutting edge serrated ; plumage soft and lax, the upper tail coverts not reaching beyond the middle of the tail and but little beyond the tip of the folded wing. The wing coverts are short; the lateral tail feathers gradu- ated. Anterior toes united beyond the first joint. The genus Trogon, as above characterized, is distinguished from Galurus (Pharomacrus) by the short upper tail coverts, which do not project in a long train far beyond the true tail. The even tail feathers distinguish it from Temnurus, its other American ally. TROGON MEXIOANUS, Swains on. Mexican Trogon* Trogon mexicanus, Swainson, Syn. Birds Mex. Taylor’s Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 440.—Wagler, Isis, 1831, 524.— Gould, Mon. Trogonidae, 1838 ; pi. i, adult male, and pi. ii, female and young male. Sp. Ch.—Golden green above and on the neck all around. Forehead, chin, and side of head, black. Under parts carmine red ; a narrow pectoral collar and the edges of the wings white. Outer tail feathers white, their middle portion dotted or barred with black. Middle feathers coppery, with or without a terminal bar of black. Length, 10 75 ; wing, 5.25 ; tail, 6.75. Hab.—Northeastern Mexico to Rio Grande. 4338.—The entire upper parts of this species, with the neck and upper part of the breast, are of a rich lustrous metallic golden green, with occasional coppery reflections, especially on the scapulars. The forehead, sides of the head around the eyes, the chin, and upper part of the throat, are dull black, with perhaps a bluish shade. The wing coverts are finely mottled black and white; the quills are brown, with the outer webs edged with white. The entire under parts are of a rich carmine red; the feathers with concealed white just below the red; a narrow white collar separates the green of the breast from the carmine. The outer three tail feathers are white for most of their length, and dusky towards the base, especially on the inner webs. For about the terminal inch the white is pure, elsewhere it is finely dotted with black. The two middle feathers are greenish coppery, abruptly tipped for about an inch with black ; the remaining ones are similar, but with more of a violet tinge. A second specimen (4339) has rather more white on the breast. The middle tail feathers lack the terminal band of black. The external tail feathers, (except the second,) instead of being finely mottled, are barred transversely with black. The feathers on the rump of this and probably other species of Trogon have the shafts70 U. S. P, R. R. EXP AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY---GENERAL REPORT. thickened and stiffened so as even to be spinous, this character perceptible in the feathers on the hack, though diminishing towards the head. According to Gould,'fully adult specimens of this species have the three outer tail feathers entirely black, with white tips, the narrow bars being characteristic of immaturity, as are also a greater distinctness of the freckles on the wing and the white edgings to the primaries not found in the adult. In the female the green tints are said to he replaced by brownish, as also the upper part of the carmine ; the hinder portion of the under parts is as in the male. The white pectoral crescent is also indicated by grayish. The Trogon elegans is somewhat similar to this species, hut has a longer tail. In the monograph of Trogonidae, Gould figures his Trogon ambiguus from northern Mexico, distinguished by the finer mottling on the wing and the replacing of the narrow bars on the tail feathers by black dottings. This is precisely the character of No. 4338, which would, therefore, if distinct, bear this name. As, however, the other characters are so similar, it would seem as if the ambiguus were merely another stage of plumage of T. mexicanus. A speci- men labelled Trogcn ambiguus, in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, differs, however, in having a much greener gloss to the feathers of the body. The black of the forehead extends further on the crown. The middle tail feathers are more green than coppery ; the carmine of the belly is less intense. The mottling of the wings and tail is much the same. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence ob- tained. Orig. No. L’gth. Ex- tent. Wing. Tail. Tar- sus. Mid’le toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. Remarks. 4338 do 4339 do c? Boquillo, New Leon, Mex. do April, 1853 Lt. Couch ... 138 10.75 11.50 11.25 12.00 16.25 5.25 5.10 5.00 5.00 Fresh.... Iris br’wn, bill yel’w. Dry skin. 6 75 .61 .90 .26 .65 .85 3 do April, 1853 Lt. Couch ... 145 14.25 Fresh.... 6.75 .60 .70 Dry skin. BIRDS—CUCULIDAE—CROTOPHAGA RUGIROSTRIS. 71 Family CUCULIDAE. The Cuckoos. Bill compressed, gently curved, sometimes attenuated, and generally lengthened. A few bristles at the base of the bill or none. Tarsi lengthened ; toes rather short. Tail long and soft, of 8 to 12 feathers. The preceding diagnosis covers a great variety of forms, although those found within the United States embrace but three genera, which may be indicated as follows, each forming the type of a sub-family : A. Tail feathers eight; face naked. Crotophaga.—Bill shorter than the head. Very high, and much compressed. B. Tail feathers ten ; face covered with feathers. Geococcyx.—Bill longer than the head. Loral feathers stiff, bristly. Tarsi much longer than the toes. Live on the ground. Coccygus.—Bill not as long as the head. Loral feathers soft. Tarsi shorter than the toes. Live on trees. * CROTOPHAGA^ Linnaeus. Crotophaga, Linnjsus, Systema Naturse, 1756. Bill as long as the head, very much compressed ; the culmen elevated into a high crest, extending above the level of the forehead. Nostrils exposed, elongated. Point of bill much decurved. Wings lengthened, extending beyond the base of the tail, the fourth or fifth quill longest. Tail lengthened, of eight graduated feathers. Toes long, with well developed claws. The feathers in this genus are entirely black ; those on the head and neck with a peculiar stiffened, metallic or scale-like border. The species are not numerous, and are entirely confined to America. For a number of years the occurrence of specimens of Crotophaga at various points on our sea border has been recorded, but the genus has never been formally introduced into our fauna. There is, however, no reason to doubt its existence as a regular summer visitor on the keys and shores of Florida, as well as at various points on the Gulf of Mexico. In the following pages I describe two species, and it is quite possible that others may occasionally occur within our limits. CROTOPHAGA RUGIROSTRIS, Sw. Ani; Black Parrot, (Florida.) Crotophaga rugirostra, Sw. Cent, in Anim. in Menag. 1838, 321, fig. 65, b. (bill;)—“ Jardine & Selby, IIP Orn. pi. 41.” Crotophaga rugirostris, Burmeister, Thiere Bras. II, Vogel, 1856, 255. Bill with faint wrinkles transverse to the culmen, which is gently decurved from a point above, or a little posterior to the nostrils. The highest portion of the crest obtusely angular, rounded ; no portion parallel to the commissure. Nostrils situated nearly in the middle of the lower half of the lateral outline of the upper mandible. Color black, with bluish reflections above. Pointed feathers of the head and neck with a bronzed metallic border. Length about 15 inches ; wing, 6 ; tail, 8. Hah.—Florida to Brazil. Bill at the nostrils nearly twice as high as broad; the nostrils elliptical, a little oblique, situated in the middle of the lower half of the upper mandible. Gonys nearly straight. In- dications of faint transverse wrinkles along the upper portion of the bill, nearly perpendicular to the culmen. Legs stout; tarsus longer than middle toe, with seven broad scutellae anteriorly72 U. S. P. R R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY---GENERAL REPORT. extending round to the middle of each side; the remaining or posterior portion of each side with a series of quadrangular plates, corresponding nearly to the anterior ones, the series meeting behind in a sharp ridge. The wings reach over the basal third of the tail. The primary quills are broad and acute, the fourth longest; the first about equal to the tertials. The tail is graduated, the outer about one and a half inch shorter than the middle ones. The color generally is black, with steel blue reflections above, changing sometimes into violet; duller beneath. The pointed feathers of the head, neck, and breast, with a bronzy metallic border, appearing also to some extent on the wing coverts and upper part of back. The determination of the species of Crotophaga is a matter of much difficulty, owing to their close relationship and the uncertainty as to the permanency of the characters usually assigned. The present bird, however, agrees most closely with the G, rugirostra of Swainson, in having indication of transverse wrinklings or grooves, although much less than those given in the description of this author. It is much smaller than G. major, and lacks the peculiar concavity of the culmen on the anterior extremity of the vertical crest, which, besides, is distinct only on the posterior half of the bill. G. major likewise has a long sulcus from the nostril nearly to the tip of the bill, which is but little decurved. The entire absence of longitudinal grooves along the side of the crest distinguishes it from G. sulcirostris. In this latter species, also, the nostrils are situated high up, their upper edge on a line midway between the culmen and commissure. In G. rugirostris and ani they are considerably below this level, or on the inferior third of the side of the bill. The differences between G. rugirostris and ani are more difficult of expression. The bill of the latter is, however, entirely smooth, and the profile of the crest is more abrupt. Thus a line from the highest point of the culmen, perpendicular to the culmen, falls considerably anterior •to the nostrils, while in G. rugirostris this line would fall through, or a little behind, the nostrils. The C. rugirostris of Swainson has usually been considered as the same with G. casasii of Lesson. A specimen of the latter, in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, is, however, very different in a much lower bill, with scarcely any crest. The size is much less. The G. rugirostris probably occurs in other parts of the United States besides Florida. Jt is an inhabitant of the West Indies, and appears to extend as far south as Brazil. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. Remarks. 8639 do & Tortugas, Florida. June 24,1857 G.Wiirdemann... 13.20 15,00 6.04 6.00 8.30 1.48 1.30 0.36 1.30 1.10 Skin .... 18.00 Fresh ... Iris brown. CROTOPHAGA ANI, L. Ani* Crotophaga ani, L. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 154.—Burmeister, Thiere Bras. Vogel, 1856, 254. Bill smooth ; the culmen abruptly decurved ; the highest point anterior to the nostrils. The highest portion of the cresj. nearly straight, and parallel with the commissure. Length, 12 inches ; wing, 6.10 ; tail, 7.75. Hah. Maritime parts of the southeastern United States, and south to Brazil. A Crotophaga, killed near Philadelphia, and now in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, appears to be a typical (7. ani (as described by Burmeister) in the smoothness of theBIRDS—CUCULIDAE--GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNICUS. 73 bill and other peculiarities. It is decidedly smaller t'lmnrugirostris, the culmen straight at its highest point, the anterior extremities of this nearly straight portion anterior to the nostril. The colors are, however, almost precisely the same with those of rugirostris. Length, 12 inches: wing, 6.10; tail, 7.75; tarsus, 1.25; chord of culmen, 1.15. GEOCOCCYX, Wagler. Geococcyx, Wagler, Isis, 1831, 524. Leptostoma, Swainson, Classification Birds, II, 1837, 325. Bill long and strong, slightly compressed, and at least as long as the head ; head crested; loral feathers, and those at base of bill stiffened and bristly. Nostrils elongated, linear. A naked colored skin around and behind the eye; the eyelids ciliated. Tarsi longer than the toes ; very stout. Wings very short and concave ; the tertials as long as the primries. Tail longer than the head and body ; composed of ten narrow, much graduated feathers. This remarkable genus is represented in the United States by a single species known as the Paisano, Chapparal Cock, or sometimes Road Runner, on account of its frequenting public highways. Its very long legs enable it to run with very great rapidity, faster even than a very fleet horse. A second species occurs in Mexico, the G. affinis of Hartlaub. This is smaller and differently proportioned, as shown by the following table of measurement: Comparative measurements of species. Catalogue number. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 6187 9081 Gr. californianus G-. affinis. San Diego Mexico . r. Hooper 103 Dr. Cooper 6.75 11.50 Iris reddish brown 6100 Steilacoom, W. T...... Oct,. —, 1855 Dr. Suck ley 132 4574 O fTn^t Dalles; D. T1 Feb. —, 1855 do 154 6099 o fH r t T f t do ... . Nov. 10, 1854 145 7.00 12.00 4.00 4593 V o St. Helen’s, O. T 207 Dr. Suckley "*7.00 12.37 3.87 4594 V p> V. do 204 6.75 12.12 3.75 4595 V ■7\ do Jan. 27, 1856 ,do 206 6.75 12.12 3.75 4598 o o do 203 6.75 12.12 3.75 4598 V -7\ ,.,.. do . _ T.. T. Jan. 27,1856 205 6.50 12.00 3.75 5499 6 ■ pPtalnn>a, Dal E. Samuels........ 162 6098 O Sacrampnfn, Cal Lieut. Williamson.. Dr. Heermann JP. meridionalis, Heermann 6097 S Pi San Francisco R. D. Cutts 3905 (California Dr. Heermann ..... 3898 V tv do. 5632 6 p Laramie river, K. T • Aug. —, 1856 Lieut. Bryan 209 W. S. Wood 6.37 4.40 8232 V Fort Laramie ’ Oct. 28, 1857 W. M. Magraw 214 Dr. Cooper 7.25 12.75 4.40 BIRDS —P1CIDAE—PIOUS NtJTTALLI. 93 PIOUS NUTTALLI, Gambel. Nuttall’s Woodpecker. Pious nuttalli, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. I, April, 1843, 259, (Los Angeles, Cal.) Pious scalaris, (Wagl.) Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. Ph., 2d ser. I, Dec. 1847, 55 ; pi. 9, f. 2, 3, (not of Wagler.) Pious wilsonii, Malherbe, Rev. Zoo]. 1849, 529.—Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 138. Pious (Trichopicus) wilsoniif Bonap. Consp. Zyg. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. Sp. Ch.—Back black, banded transversely with white ; not, however, as far forward as the neck. Crown black, with white spots. Occiput and nape crimson. Tufts of leathers at the base of the bill white. Sides of the head black with two white stripes, one above the eye and passing down on the side of the neck, the other below and interrupted by the black. Under parts smoky yellowish white, spotted on the sides of the head with black. Predominant character of the three outer tail feathers white, with three, two, or one spots on the outer web near the end. Length about 7 inches ; wing, 4|. Female with the top of the head uniform black. Hab.—Coast region of California. Third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal and longest; second intermediate between the seventh and eighth. General color above black, barred transversely with white on the back, rump, and flanks ; the upper surface of tail and tail coverts, and a broad patch, on the upper part of the back about half an inch long, pure black. The white bands measure about .12ths of an inch, the black about twice, as much. The top of the head is black, each feather with a short streak of white ; on the extreme occiput and the nape is a transverse patch of crimson, each feather having a white spot just below the crimson. The criffison patch is usually as far from the base of the bill above, as this is from its point. The sides of the head may be described as black; a white stripe commences on the upper edge of the eye, and passing backwards margins the crimson, and extends on down the side of the neck to a patch of white, apparently connected with its fellow on the opposite side by white spots. Another narrow white stripe commences at the nostrils, (the bristles of which are whitish,) and passes as far as the occiput, where it ceases in the middle of the black of the cheeks. There are thus two white streaks on the side of the head bordering a black one passing through the eye. The under parts generally are white, with a dirty yellow tinge. The sides of the breast and body are faintly streaked with black ; the flanks barred with the same. The under coverts are barred with black. The three outer tail feathers are yellowish white, with two or three interrupted bars of black on the posterior fourth. The other feathers are black. The female has the crown entirely black, without red or white spots. In one specimen only, (4471,) possibly a young male, the black of the crown is spotted with white. In another, (6116,) doubtless a young male, the whole crown is red, spotted with white. One specimen (5400,) from Petaluma, has the black of the back and sides of the head much more intense, encroaching very greatly on the white markings, which are much reduced. The spots on the sides of the breast are also larger and darker. Specimens vary a good deal in the length of the wing. This species has some resemblance to Pious borealis, in the transverse white bands on the back and the black spots of the breast. The latter is, however, much larger; the sides of the head white, with a black stripe from the bill, the crown pure black, with only a slight trace of crimson on the side of the occiput. The immature bird, apparently of both sexes, has the feathers of the crown tipped with red, as in most young woodpeckers, with or without white at the base of the red. In this stage of plumage it has much resemblance to Pious scalaris, but is otherwise distinct. The light94 U, S. P. R. R. EXP. AND 8URTEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. yellowish or whitish color of the bristly frontal feathers, in marked contrast with the forehead, instead of a smoky brown, will readily distinguish them, independently of the loose downy texture of the belly feathers, so characteristic of young woodpeckers. This species was first described by Dr. Grambel as P. nuttalli, who subsequently referred it erroneously to P. scalaris. It appears to be confined to the region in California west of the coast range, and extending at least as far south as San Diego. In this distribution it rep. resents the P. borealis of the South Atlantic States. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained, Collected by— 3337 California __ Dr. Wilson.,.... Dr. Grambel 3338 u Q do - - . do 4482 Santa Clara. Oal_ Nov. —, 1855 Dr. J. G. Cooper .... - 5965 (J O do .do do. 6116 ¥ s San Francisco «... R. D. Cutts. 5400 Q Petaluma, Cal - May —, 1856 E. Samuels 6117 ¥ Q Bodega, Cal_ _ Jan. —, 1855 Lieut. Trowbridge Mr. Szabo 4472 V s Yreka. Cal _ Aug. —, 1855 Lieut. Williamson Dr. Newberry ’ # 4471 Q TTmpqua river, 0. T__ _ do. do .... do ¥ P1CUS SCALARIS, Wagler. » Picus scalaris, Wagler, Isis, 1829, Y, 511. (Mexico.)—Bonap. Consp. 1850, 138. Picus (Dyctiopicus) scalaris, Bon. Consp. Zygod. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. Picus gracilis, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, 90. (Mexico.) Picus parvus, Cabot, Boston Jour. N. H. V, 1845, 90. (Sisal, Yucatan.) Sp. Ch.—Back banded transversely with black and white to the neck. Crown crimson spotted with white, from the bill to the nape ; tuft of feathers at the base of the bill brown. A white stripe above the eye, continued on the side of the neck ; another under the eye, interrupted by the black of the side of the head. Under parts smoky brownish white, spotted on the sides of the breast, and banded on the flank with black. Predominating color of the three outer tail feathers black, with white bands chiefly on the outer webs. Length about inches ; v/ing 4|. Female without red on the head. Hob.—Rocky mountains and its slopes, south of 35th parallel, to Yucatan. This species is among the smallest of all the North American species, and has been but recently introduced into the fauna of the United States. The wings are long, reaching as far as the short feathers of the tail. The third and fourth quills are longest, the second and then the fifth a little shorter. The upper parts generally are black, on the back, rump, and exposed feathers of the wings, banded narrowly and transversely with white; the primaries spotted with the same on both webs. The upper tail coverts and two inner tail feathers on either side are black. The white bands of the back extend all the way up to the neck, without any interscapular interruption. The under parts are of a pale smoky brownish white, almost with a lilac tinge ; on the sides of the breast and belly are a few scattered short, but elongated spots. The posterior part of the sides under the wing and the under tail coverts are obscurely banded transversely with black. The top of the head, extending from the very base of the bill to a short, broad nuchal crest, is crimson in the male, each feather with a white spot between the crimson andBIRDS—PICIDAE—PICUS SCALARIS. 95 the dark brown of the base of the feather. In the female the top of the head is uniformly black, with a tinge of brownish anteriorly. The side of the head is black, with two white stripes, the latter color predominating. One white stripe begins above the eye, and, margining the crown, passes into a white patch on the lower part of the side of the neck. A second stripe begins at the posterior portion of the upper mandible, and, passing backwards under the eye, appears to stop short in the black. The tuft of feathers and bristles over the nostrils, are dirty brown, scarcely different from the feathers of the crown. The predominant character of all the tail feathers is black, of which color are the bases of all. The outer feather bas four white bands on the inner web, and a fifth and sixth basal ones on the outer. The second feather has the same number on the outer web, (six,) besides a white tip, but only three on the inner on the terminal half. The third has five white spots on the outer web, with a trace of a second one at the end of the inner. There is a little variation in the size of different specimens of this species, but no other of importance. The black spots of the breast are sometimes darker, and more abundant. This species is closely related to the Ficus nuttalli, but may be readily distinguished. Both have the back banded transversely with black and white, and the breast spotted, the pattern of stripes on the side of the head similar, &c. The Ficus scalaris is, however, smaller ; the entire top of the head is crimson, instead of the posterior half only; the tufts of feathers at the base of the bill are brown, scarcely different from that which suffuses the forehead, instead of being clear yellowish white in marked contrast. The white bands of the back come up to the neck, instead of ceasing on the upper part of the back. The wjiite of the side of the head is in much greater proportion. The under parts are browner, the spots smaller. The predominating char- acter of the outer tail feathers is black, with six white bands on the outer webs of the first and second, dividing them nearly equally, and five on the third, and four, three, and one band or spot respectively on the inner webs of the first, second, and third. In P. nuttalli these feathers are nearly all white; the outer webs of the first, second, and third feathers respectively with three, two, and one black bar towards the end. This species is confined to the central portions of the western country, from the Bio Grande to the Colorado, southward along the highlands of Mexico to Yucatan. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4217 9 n Chihuahua,1 Mex.. T. r.... Oct. 16, 1854 •T. Potts........ 6106 Rop.a Grande, Affix Major Emory ...... 35 Dr. Kennerly ...... 6.50 12.00 * 6107 V Espia, Mfix 52 6.50 13.00 4.00 4594 O o Colorado river, Cal 40 A. Schott.......... A brown variety. 4605 V A Cila river, IV. M Dec. 24, 1854 54 6115 0 o Colorado river, Cal Feb. 15, 1854 Lieut. Whipple .... 165 Dr. Kennerly 6.50 11.50 4.00 ...... do.......... 6108 V A Rio Grande, Mex . Dr. T. C. Henry ... 6110 o A do Capt. J. Pope 6114 o A Rio Grande, Texas....... Major Emory 27 J. H. Clark 7.25 13.25 4.00 6113 u Q San Pedro, Texas.. Sept. 10, 1853 6103 hp S Texas ................... 19 7.50 13.00 3.75 6104 Q Texas Lieut. Parke....... Dr. Heennann 6105 Hr $ Tamanlipas, Mex.... T.,. Lieut. Couch 4040 9 New Leon, Mex 76 6.00 12.00 4.00 Eyes dark purple, bill slate, feet lead color . 4039 S New Leon, Mex.... 75 6.50 12.00 4.00 do L98 . U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. PIOUS BOREALIS, Vieill. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Pirns borealis, Vieillot, Oss. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 66 ; pi. 122.—Stephens in SH&w’s Gen. Zool. IX, 1817, 174. Picus querulusy Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 103 ; pi. xv, f. 1.—Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 21.—Ib. Isis, 1829, 510.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Y, 1839, 12 ; pi. 389.—Ib. Birds America, IY, 1842, 254 ; pi. 264.—Bp. Consp. 1850, 137. Picus (Phrenopicus) querulus, Bp. Consp. Zyg. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. Picus leucotis, Illiger, (fide Lichtenstein in letter to Wagler ; perhaps only a catalogue name.)—Licht. Yerzeich. 1823, 12, No. 81. Picus vieillotiij Wagler, Syst. Ay. 1827, No. 20. Sp. Ch.—Fourth quill longest. Upper parts, with top and sides of the head, black. Back, rump, and scapulars banded transversely with white ; webs of quills spotted with white. Bristles of bill, under parts generally, and a silky patch on the side of the head, white. Sides of breast streaked with black. First and second outer tail feathers white, barred with black. Outer web of the third mostly white. A short, very inconspicuous narrow streak of silky scarlet on the side of the head a short distance behind the eye, along the junction of the white and black ; this is wanting in the female. Length about 71 inches : wing, 4|. Hab.—Southern States. This species is chiefly confined to the southern Atlantic States, being rarely seen as far north as Pennsylvania. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 1878 o Southern States, _ _ _ S. F. Baird - 511 V do 3057 o 9 Liberty county, Ga 1846 do 8. 00 15.00 4. 58 2392 o Savfvrmfl.h rta, do .... Jos. Leconte V PIOUS ALBOLARVATUS. White-headed Woodpecker. Leuconerpes albolarvatus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. Y, Oct. 1850, 106. California. Melanerpes albolarvatus, Cassin, Jour. A. N. Sc, 2d series, II, Jan. 1853, 257 ; pi. 22.—Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Oreg. Route, 9, Rep. P. R. R. VI, 1857. Leuconerpes albolarvatus, Bonap. Consp. Zyg. At. Ital. 1854, 10. Picus (Xenopicus) albolarvatus, Baird. Sp. Ch.—Fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Entirely bluish black, excepting the head and outer edges, with the entire basal portion, of the primaries, which are white. Length about 9 inches ; wing, 5|. Male with a narrow line of red on the nape. Hob.—Cascade mountains of Oregon and southward into California. This woodpecker is more simple in its colors than any other North American species. The sixth quill is a little shorter than the fifth ; the third again a little less. The second is inter- mediate between the seventh and eight. There is no white on the first primary, except on the extreme and concealed basal portion. The white on the outer webs does not extend to within an inch of the end. There is no white whatever on the tail. On the side of the head theBIRDS—PICIDAE—PICOIDES. 97 black of the occiput appears to extend to the eye in an angle. The white of the head scarcely extends down on the neck. The P. albolarvatus was first described by Mr. Cassin from specimens collected in California by J. Gf. Bell. It is an exceedingly rare species, not more than three or four skins being known to exist in collections. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 6041 4474 Q* Q? Spokan river, W. T Cascade mountains, 0. T., fifty miles south of Columbia river. Sept. 28,1853 Sept. 28,1855 Gov. Stevens Lieut. Williamson 16 Dr. Cooper - Dr. Newberry PICOIDES, La cep. Picoides, Lacep. Mem. Inst. 1799. Tridactylia, Steph. Shaw, Gen. Zool. 1815. JUpternus, Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 311. Bill about as long as the head, very much depressed at the base ; the outlines nearly straight; the lateral ridge at its base much nearer the commissure than the culmen, so as to bring the large rather linear nostrils closeto the edge of the commissure. The gonys very long, equal to the distance from the nostrils to the tip of the bill. Feet with only three toes ; the outer lateral a little longer than the inner, but slightly exceeded by the hind toe, which is about equal to the tarsus. Wings very long, reaching beyond the middle of the tail; 4th and 5th quills longest. Color black, with a broad patch of yellow on the crown ; transversely banded on the sides. Quills with round spots. The peculiarities of this genus consist in the absence of the inner hind toe and the great depression of the bill. The American species of Picoides (and to a considerable extent the European) agree in being black above and white beneath ; the crown with a square yellow patch ; a white stripe behind the eye, and another from the loral region beneath the eye ; the quills (but not the coverts) spotted with white; the sides banded transversely with black. The diagnostic characters (including the European species) are as follows: A. Middle of back not varied with white. Back uniformly black.............................................................,p. arcticus. B. Middle of back varied with white. Back with transverse bands of white, "White stripes on side of head narrow, incon- spicuous. Crissum but slightly banded with black. Two inner tail feathers ........................................................................P. hirsutus, Back streaked longitudinally with white. Sides banded with black. Crissum pure white0 Two inner tail feathers black.................................................p# dorsalis, Back streaked longitudinally with white, the sides with black. White lines on the side of head very conspicuous. Three inner tail feathers black. Crissum much varied with black....................................................................P. tridactylus. 13 b98 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Extent. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 483 Picoides, arcticus... Eanada Picus atrothorax, Lesson. Traite d’Ornithologie, I, 1831, 229.—Ib. Pucheran, Rev. Zool. YII, 1855, 21. (Refers it to Picus varius.) Yellow-bellied woodpecker, Pennant, Latham. Sp. Ch. Fourth quill longest; third a little shorter; fourth considerably shorter. General color above black, much variegated with white. Feathers of the back and rump brownish white, spotted with black. Crown scarlet, bordered by black on the sides of the head and nape. A streak from above the eye, and another from the bristles of the bill, passing below the eye, and into the yellowish of the belly, and a stripe along the edges of the wing coverts white. A triangular broad patch of scarlet on the chin, bordered on each side by black stripes from the lower mandible, which meet behind, and extend into a large quadrate spot on the breast. Rest of under parts yellowish white, streaked on the sides with black. Inner web of inner tail feather white, spotted with black. Outer feathers black, edged and spotted with white. Length 8.25 inches ; wing about 4.75 ; tail 3.30. Female with the red of the throat replaced by white. Young male without black on the breast, or red on top of the head. Hab.—Atlantic ocean to the eastern slopes of Rocky mountains ; Greenland. Variety nuchalis.—The black occipital transverse band succeeded by a nuchal one of scarlet, instead of brownish white (New Mexico.) The brownish white stripes behind the eye are confluent on the nape, and are separated by a black occipital band from the red of the top of head. It then may be traced downwards in two branches over the scapular region, and meeting on the rump. The feathers involved are whitish, with spots and transverse bands of black. The feathers of the middle of the back are somewhat similar, but with more black. The white of the wing coverts is confined to the outermost middle and greater ones. All the quills are spotted with white on the edges of both webs, quite conspicuously so on the inner edges of innermost secondaries. The under tail coverts are whitish, with concealed Y-shaped bands of brown. The rump feathers are white, the lateral ones with outer edges marked with black. The three outer tail feathers (not counting the spurious one) are black, terminally edged and spotted with white ; the fourth has a small white spot; the fifth or innermost is as described. The white cheek stripe extends along the whole neck, and runs into the yellow of the sides and belly. There is a very curious variety of this species, which I have only seen from the southern Eocky mountains, in which the nuchal brownish white band formed by the confluence of the two post ocular stripes is red, like the crown, and separated from it by the black occipital band. The yellow bordering the black pectoral patch is also tinged with red. I have never seen more than a trace of this in eastern specimens, as in 4632 and 2101. The name of nuchalis may be applied to this variety. There is an occasional variation in the markings of the tail feathers. Thus in No. *782, from Carlisle, the innermost one is entirely black, while in 4631, from the upper Missouri, the outer web of the same feather has nearly, and in 2107, from Carlisle, it has quite, as much white as the inner web. The outer webs do not appear to vary so much. With the great variations with age and sex exhibited by this species, it is a little remarkable that it has so few synonyms. The Picus atrothorax of Lesson, among these, was first shown to belong to S. varius, by Pucheran, in his critical studies of the types of French zoologists contained in the Paris Museum of Natural History.104 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. This species is found throughout the eastern portion of North America, from the Atlantic coast to the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains. The Fort Yuma specimen, (6046,) if no mistake has been made in the locality, is the only far western point on record. The variety nuchalis has hitherto only been noticed from New Mexico. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Extent. Wing. Remarks. 6935 o Selkirk settlement, H.BJL Donald Gunn Racine, Wis Dr. Hoy............ 1334 Q Carlisle, Pennsylvania.... April 5,1844 S. F. Baird 2076 8 do April —, 1845 8.33 15.33 4.92 1342 Q April 10,1844 8.25 15.25 4.83 2598 O do May 8,1846 8.33 15.50 5. 2107 hf Q April 15,1845 do 8.33 15.25 5. 1332 s do May 5,1844 8.50 14.75 5. 782 8 do October 7,1842 do 8.25 15.75 5. 1333 8 April 5,1844 8.67 15.75 5. 2101 A do April 12,1845 do. 4635 vj 8 Mouth of Platte river,N.T. April 26,1856 Lt. G. K. Warren.. 47 4632 80 mis. ab. Council Bluffs. April 29,1856 do 7.37 14. 4.87 4631 o Q Big Sioux river, N. T* May 3,1856 do Dr. Hayden 7.75 13. 4.75 4633 Jr o do do 8.37 15.25 5. 4634 V 8 do .. do do 7.32 14.75 5. 4636 A Above Council Bluffs 7.62 14. 5. 4637 o s o ... do May 17, 7.75 14. 4.75 5621 Medicine Bow river, K. T. August 9,1856 Lieut. Bryan.... 233 W. S. Wood 7.87 13.87 5. 8807 V o Laramie Peak August 24,1857 Lieut. Warren...“... Dr. Hayden 8.75 15.25 4.50 Iris, light gray. 6042 V Mimbres river, New Mex. Dr.T.C.Henry,U.S.A. 6046 Q ? Port Yuma, California Lieut. Williamson.. Dr. Heermann SPHYRAPICUS RUBER, Baird. Red-breasted Woodpecker. Picus ruber, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 429.—Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 151.—Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 179 ; pi. 416.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 261 ; pi. 266. Melanerpes ruber, Rich. List, Pr. Br. Assoc, for 1835.—Bonap. List, 1838.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 115. Pilumnus ruber, Bon. Consp. Zyg. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. Picus jlaviventris, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 67. Sp. Ch.—Fourth quill longest; third intermediate between fourth and fifth. Bill brown wax color. Head and neck all round and breast carmine red. Above black, central line of back from nape to rump spotted with whitish *, rump, wing coverts, and inner web of the inner tail feathers white, the latter with a series of round black spots. Belly sulphur yellow, streaked with brown on the sides. Narrow space around and a little in front of the eye black. A narrow yellowish stripe from the nostrils, a short distance below and behind the eye. Length about 8.50 inches ; wing, 5 inches ; tail, 3.40 inches. Hab.—Pacific slope of the United States. The red of the breast and belly extends over half the distance from chin to end of lower tail coverts. The tail feathers are immaculate black, except as described. All the wing quills have both webs spotted with white. The white of the upper tail coverts is streaked with black. The white spots on the back are elongated, mostly on the end of the inner webs of the feathers, and are tinged with red. Specimens vary considerably in size ; one (5959) from Olympia is much larger than the rest, measuring 9| inches ; the wing over 5 inches. The colors are unusually bright and pure, but no other difference is noticeable.B*RDS--PICIDAE—SPHYRAPICUS WILLIAMSONII. 105 The shade of red sometimes varies to a more purplish tinge. The white on the wing is confined to the outermost middle and greater coverts ; the quills spotted on both webs except the innermost and outermost ones. The under wing coverts are white, slightly spotted (not banded) with black. List of specimens. Catai. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 5959 ‘ 6040 2796 2797 1938 3896 6038 6039 Olympia, W. T 1 Mar. —, 1855 Oct. —, 1854 Oct. 28, 1835 Dr. J. G. Cooper Shoalwater bay, W. T.... Columbia river do . 9.25 15.75 5.37 Iris, bill, and feet pale brown $ S. F. Baird J. K. Townsend do do 9 July 8, 1835 1853 San Francisco, Cal Dr. Heermann Sacramento, Cal Lieut. Williamson.... Dr. Heermann do SPHYRAPICUS WILLI AMSONII, Baird. Williamson’s Woodpecker# Picus williamsonii, Newberry, Zool. California and Oregon Route, 89 : P. R. R. Repts. YI, 1857 ; pi. xxxiv, fig. 1. Melanerpes rubrigularis, Sclater, Annals and Mag. N. H. 3d series, 1, Feb. 1858, 127. Sp. Ch.—Black ; middle line of belly yellow ; central line of chin and throat above red. A large patch on the wing, rump, and upper tail coverts, a line from the forehead beneath the eye, and another from its upper border, white. Tail entirely black. Exposed surface of wing without any white, except on the outer primaries. Female with the chin white instead of red. Length 9 inches ; wing, 5 inches ; tail, 4.70 inches. Hab.—Rocky mountains to the Cascade mountains. Head and neck all round, sides of breast and body, upper parts generally, wings, and tail glossy greenish black. A well defined white stripe from the nostrils, (including the bristly nasal feathers,) passing backwards under the eye; another nearly parallel starting at the upper part of the eye, and nearly meeting its fellow on the occiput. Chin and throat red along their central line. A large patch on the wing, including the exposed portions of the middle and greater coverts, white, although the anterior lesser coverts are black. The inner face of the wings is white, banded transversely with white ; the sides of body behind and under tail coverts white, with broadly Y-shaped bands of black, which color on the latter occupies the whole central portion of the feathers. Rump and upper tail coverts pure white ; back with a few indistinct and concealed spots of the same. Quills black; the margins of exterior primaries spotted with white, the inner margins only of the remaining quills, with similar but larger and more transverse blotches. Middle of the body, from the breast to the vent, sulphur yellow. Female similar, but with the chin white instead of red. This beautiful species of woodpecker was first collected by Dr. Newberry, August 23, 1855, on the shores of Klamath lake, southern Oregon. The specimen—a female—was badly shot, and thrown into alcohol, which extracted the yellow color of the belly, leaving it a dull white. In this state it was figured and published in Dru Newberry's report, in 1857, made to Lieutenant Abbot. A male in good plumage was, however, taken by Dr. Hayden, on the 24th of August, 1857, on Laramie Peak. u b106 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Mr. Th mas Bridges more recently collected a male specimen in northern California, and sent it to London, where it was described by Mr. Sclater, in February, 1858, as quoted above. As Dr. Newberry's report and plate were published in 1857, and the species there named P. williamsonii by him, he has, of course, the priority. This one species is so entirely different from any other American bird as to require no special comparison. It has as yet only been found in the Kocky mountains, about latitude 40°, and westward. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 9344 8804 9 Shores of Klamath lake, O. T. Laramie ppak f.t..rTT Aug. 23,1855 Aug. 24,1851 Lieut. Williamson.. Tiient. Warren Dr. J. S. Newberry. Dr. Hayden , 9.00 15.25 5.00 Dried entire from alcohol. SPHYRAPICUS THYROIDEUS, Baird. Brown-headed Woodpecker. Picus thyroideus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Dec. 1851, 349, (California.)—Heermann, J. A. N. Sc. Ph. 2d ser. JJ9 1853, 270. Melanerpes thyroideus, Cassin, 111. I, 1854, 201 ; pi. xxxii. Pilumnus thyroideus, Bon. Consp. Zygod. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. ?? Picus nataliae, Malherbe, Cab. Journ. f. Ornith. 1854, 171. Sp. Ch.—About the size of P. varius. Head dark ashy brown ; rest of body apparently encircled by narrow transverse and continuous bands crossing the wings, of black and brownish white, except a large, round, black patch on the breast; and the central line of the body from the crest to the vent, which is the color of roll sulphur. No red on the head. Female with rather duller color. Length about 9 inches ; wing, 5 inches ; tail, 4.10 inches. Hab.—Cascade and Coast ranges of California and Oregon. This species, but recently added to our Fauna, is quite different in its colors from the other North American species. In addition to the characters already assigned, the crown of the head is obscurely streaked or spotted with black. Th6 transverse and well defined narrow bands on the back, breast, and sides of the body are very peculiar. The rump and upper tail coverts are white, with a few spots of black ; the under coverts are barred with black. The tail feathers are black, the inner and outer barred transversely with white on both webs, the shafts, however, entirely black. The quills are all spotted with white on both webs. The sexes of the specimens collected have not been indicated sufficiently to show whether the absence of Ted about the head in all of them applies to the male as well as the female. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 3903 9 California Dr. Heennann 6047 Rio Grande, N. M Dr. Henry, U. S. A 8803 9 Laramie peak Aug. 24,1857 Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden 9.00 19.00 5.25 Iris dark brown..BIRDS—PICIDAE--HYLATOMUS PILEATUS, 107 HYLATOMUS, Baird. Dryotomus, Malherbe, Mem. Ac. Metz, 1849, 322. (N©t of Swainson, 1831.) Dryopicus, Bonap. Consp. Zygod. in Aten. Ital. May, 1854. (Not of Malherbe.) Bill a little longer that the head ; considerably depressed, or broader than high at the base. Shaped much as in Campephilus, except shorter, and without the bristly feathers directed forwards at the base of the lower jaw. Gonys about half the length of the commissure. Tarsus shorter than any toe, except the inner posterior. Outer posterior toe shorter than the outer anterior, and a little longer than the inner anterior. Inner posterior very short; not half the outer anterior; about half the inner anterior one. Tail long, graduated ; the longer feathers much incurved at the tip. Wing longer than the tail, reaching to the middle..of the exposed surface of tail; considerably graduated, though pointed ; the fourth and fifth quills longest. Color uniform black, with white patches on the side of the head. Head with pointed crest This genus is very similar to Campephilus, hut differs chiefly in the less development of the outer hind toe, which is about exactly intermediate between the outer and inner anterior, the outer largest; instead of being longest, and having the outer anterior intermediate between it and the inner. The bill is shorter ; the gonys fully half the length of the commissure. HYLATOMUS PILEATUS, Baird. Black Wood Cock; Log Cock. Picus pileatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 173.—Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 58 ; pi. cx.—Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, 1811, 27 ; pi. xxix, f 2.—Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 2.— Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 74 : V, 533 ; pi. 111.—Ib. Birds Amer. IY, 1842, 266 ; pi. 257. Picus (Dryotomus) pileatus, Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 304. Dryotomus pileatus, Bp. List. 1838. Dryocopus pileatus, Bonap. Consp. Av. 1850, 132. Dryopicus pileatus, Bon. Consp. Zyg. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. Pileated woodpecker, Pennant.—Latham. Sp. Ch.—Fourth and fifth quills equal and longest; third intermediate between sixth and seventh. Bill blue black. General color of body, wings, and tail dull greenish black. A narrow white streak from just above the eye to the occiput; a wider one from the nostril feathers (inclusive) under the eye and along the side of the head and neck ; sides of the breast, (concealed by the wing,) axillaries, and under wing coverts, and concealed bases of all the quills, with chin and beneath the head, white, tinged with sulphur yellow. Entire crown from the base of the bill to a well developed occipital crest, as also a patch on the ramus of the lower jaw, scarlet red. A few fair t white crescents on the sides of the body and on the abdomen. Length, about 18 inches ; wing, 9|. Female without the red on the cheek, and the anterior half of that on the top of the head replaced by black. Hdb.—North America from Atlantic to Pacific. Specimens of this species from the southern States are considerably smaller than Pennsylvania and Oregon ones. The wing of a male (4925) from the St. John’s river, Florida, is nearly an inch shorter than the northern average. There is no appreciable difference in western and eastern ones. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. . Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 6931 Nelson river, H. B. T Donald Gnnn John Is bister 174 r s North Platte river Aug. 12, 1856 253 do. MELAEERPES FORMICIVORUS, Bonap. California Woodpecker, Picus formicivorus, Swainson, Birds Mex. in Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 439, (Mexico.)—Vigors, Zool. Blossom, 1839, 23, (Monterey.)—Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840. Melanerpes formicivorus, Bp. Conspectus, 1850, 115.—Heermann, J. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2d series, II, 1853, 270.— Cassin, Illust. II, 1853, 11 ; pi. ii.—Newberry, Zool. Cal. &. Oregon Route, 90 ; P. R. R. Surv. VI, 1857. Picus melanopogon, Temminck, PI. Color. IV, (1829?) pi. 451—Wagler, Isis, 1829, v, 515. }MelampicusJlavigula, Malherbe, Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1849, 542. Sp. Ch.—Fourth quill longest, third a little shorter. Above and on the anteriot half of the body glossy bluish or greenish black ; the top of the head and a short occipital crest red. A white patch on the forehead, connected with a broad crescentic collar on the upper part of the neck by a narrow isthmus, white tinged with sulphur yellow. Belly, rump, bases of primaries, and inner edges of the outer quills, white. Tail feathers uniform black. Female with the red confined to the occipital crest, the rest replaced by greenish black ; the three patches white, black, and red, very sharply defined. Length about 9 inches ; wing about 5. Hab.—Coast region of California and south ; in northern Mexico, eastward almost to the Gulf of Mexico ; also on Upper Rio Grande. In most specimens one or two red feathers may be detected in the black of the breast just behind the sulphur yellow crescent. The white of the breast is streaked with black; the posterior portion of the black of the breast and anterior belly streaked with white. The white of the wing only shows externally as a patch at the base of the primaries.BIRDS--PXCIDAE—MELANEEPES TOEQUATUS. 115 Specimens vary in the gloss on the black of the upper parts, which is sometimes green, sometimes bluish. The young male is exactly like the adult; the only evidence of immaturity being in the shorter and more curved hill, as well as the smaller size. Specimens from New Leon are much smaller than those from California, as shown by a male, (4033,) in which the wing is half an inch shorter than in California specimens. Many speci- mens have a few red tipped feathers in the posterior edge of the pectoral collar, but it is not found in all. Specimens from the Coppermines are about the size of Californian. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orign’l No. Collected by— Length. Extent. Wing. 4464 Umpqua valley, O. T. Suisun village, Cal. - _ , 1855 Lt. Williamson Dr. Newberry. 4463 5495 PaI At* A"P Vvrfc ✓>|r* WIT n GnOnA AT Olivnppmist crrppn _ _ Purplish brown e# ooior oi ucicis? witjuL Djjd>u.<3 ui — ------ m— NUMBER AND LOCALITY OF SPECIMENS. 0. auratus. G. mexicanus. 5224. White Earth river, Nebraska. 5225. Fort Pierre. 8863. Loup fork KCftQ T.ifflo "Rlnp rivpv ’NTpLraelra. _ . 6a. b. c. d. e -. a. b. c. d. e b. c. 2d. e. a 91 /L "NTpar TTr»r+, Piprrp . _ _ _ _ a*, d 6158 Milk river Nebraska - - ------- b. e a*, c. d— — « 4638 Fort Pi err'1 f^mala n.pby t,broa.t ------ a', b. d. e a b. c a 9.19 Vpllowaforip - _ _ ------ a. b. d, e a. 5b. c. - 5213 Yellowst^nA _ _ d. e aP. b. c 5211 Fort Tinian „ _ _ _ a. d. e a. b. c. 2d 8258 Fort Larfonia - c. d a. b. e 5601. Fort Laramie-—| e---| <*■ A c■ d. e- * The slighest possible trace of black on the cheeks. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 4638 4639 4641 5214 5225 5222 5223 5220 5215 5216 5217 5218 5219 5217 5224 6158 5603 8863 8869 8258 5601 4640 5211 5212 5213 O^o ^ o o*0 0^00*0*0*0 0 o . o o o Yellow predominating on shafts. Fifty miles west of Fort Pierre, Nebraska. April 10,1855 Dr. Hayden.......... * (Ini. A. Vaughan Dr. Hayden.. ..... .dn do.,,,, April 18, 1855 May *30, 1856 .. do ......do Fort Piorrp. Lient.. Warren ....... ...... do 13.12 12.50 19.50 19.50 6.50 6.25 Np»r Fort. Pierre. ...... do SqilRW Futfe preek^ Nebraska,...... .... July 4,1856 . do.... do do do , r, _, do do ,,, ... do , T., do ,.. : do do Powd ■ r rivp.r^ Nphraska....... ,..T Aug. 1, 1856 July 23, 1856 Aug. 19, 1856 Aug. 22, 1856 Aug. 23, 1856 Aug. 19,1856 Sept. 6,1856 Aug. 31, 1853 July 7, 1856 July 27, 1857 July 2,1857 Sept. 1,1857 Oct. 1, 1856 April 10,1855 J.ly 19,1856 July 28,1856 July 25, 1856 do do Fort Union ,ttITT T-,-, ,,,,,„ do do 13.00 20.50 6.00 Vpllowst.one river. ...... do do T do do do ,,,,,, do T. -. ..T do do 12.25 12.00 20.12 20.50 6.25 7.00 White Farfh river T ,, do TVTilk river^ TVebraska.. .... r fj-ov. fUevens Dr. Suckley. Littlp JUMP, Nphraska -Tt ,, T,,. T.ient. Rryan , r T,. 73 W. S. Wood r.onp fork, Nebraska Lieut. Warren Dr. I ayden........ 12.00 11.10 20.50 17.75 6.50 5.50 Fifty miles above month of Platte ...... do ....... .do Orange predominating on shafts, Fort. Laramie ,r,.T.... ...... W. M. Magra w ... Dr. Cooper 3 Rppnbliean fork Lieut. Rryan 366 W. S. Wood. Fifty miles west, of Fort. Pierre.......... Col. A. Vauohan Dr. Hayden 3 9 3 Fort Union, Nebraska Lieut. Warren ... ...do 12.50 12.37 13.00 20.00 20.12 2.08 6.37 6.37 6.37 Yellowstone .... , T T do do do t„t,tdo * t * ♦»t- *1*- BIRDS--PICIDAE--COLAPTES CHRYSOIDES. 125 COLAPTES CHRYSOIDES. Geopicus chrysoides, Malherbe, Rev. et. Mag. Zool. IV, 1852, 553. An immature Colaptes (4569) with yellow shafts, no nuchal collar, and ash colored throat, was collected somewhere on the Mexican boundary line, by Mr. Schott. The precise locality is not known, and the specimen is not perfect enough to show whether it is a distinct species or a hybrid. It is much smaller than the corresponding age of C. auratus, the wing measuring but 5J inches. The probabilities are that it is a permanent and perhaps distinct species. It may possibly be the G. chrysoides of Malberbe, agreeing with this in the absence of a red nape. There is a slight tinge of orange in the yellow of the shafts. Note.—The preceeding pages embrace all the Scansores usually assigned to North America, either as good and distinct species or as synonymes. The only ones not given are : 1st, the Ficus leucurus, Hartlaub, Naumania, II, 1854, 55. This is a species with entirely white tail, said to have been discovered by Prince Paul of Wurttemberg, in the Rocky mountains. Nothing further is mentioned concerning it than the color of the tail, as stated in a note from the Prince. 2d, the Dryotomus delattri of Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1854. This, though assigned to California, appears to be really Central American. 3d, Ficus lineatus. This is given by Mr. Audubon as sent from the Columbia river by Dr. Gairdner, but there is no evi- dence that such was really the case, or that it ever comes within many hundred miles of our line. Campephilus imperialism although given in the preceding pages, has really no claim to a place in our fauna.ORDER II . INSESSORES.1 In accordance with, the views of many systematic writers, it may perhaps he as well to retain an order Insessores, and to place in it the Strisores, Clamatores, and Oscines as sub-orders. The - characters of the order will then consist chiefly in the possession of three toes in front and one behind, (or at least never with two toes directed backwards,) as in Scansores. The claws are not retractile, nor the hill with a cere, as in the Baptores ; nor is the hind toe situated appreci- ably above the plane of the others, as in Basores, Grallatores, and Natatores. The hind toe of the Insessores corresponds to the thumb or inner toe of the mammals, and is usually quite short. The joints of the anterior toes generally follow the law of number charac- teristic of birds, namely, two to the hinder, three to the inner, four to the middle, and five to the outer toes ; but a deviation is seen in some Strisores where there are sometimes but three joints each to the anterior toes, and sometimes only four in the outer. The tarsi are generally covered anteriorly with plates, and furnished behind with granulations or small scales, or else with two long plates covering the sides, the latter feature especially characteristic of the Oscines, or singing birds ; in the latter alone is the tarsus sometimes covered anteriorly with a single plate. Sometimes the tarsus is entirely or partly naked, or destitute of plates altogether. The carpal joint or the hand part of the wing is in most Insessores furnished with ten quills.? (primaries,) although the first quill is sometimes very short or even entirely wanting, as in many Oscines. The fore arm has from six (in the humming birds) to thirteen quills, the average being eight or nine. There are certain peculiarities in the arrangement of the wing coverts of the different sub- orders of Insessores, constituting important distinctive features. Some of these will be hereafter referred to. The tail of the Insessores exhibits considerable differences. The number of feathers is usually twelve ; sometimes ten only, as in the Strisores. The different groups of the order Insessores are subject to considerable variations in respect to the structure of the lower larynx attached to the trachea or wind pipe just anterior to its division into the two bronchial tubes. Cuvier long since showed that the true singing birds had the larynx provided with a peculiar apparatus for the purpose of effecting a modulation of the voice, composed of five pairs of muscles, of which other birds were destitute in greater part or entirely. The characteristic of the groups Strisores, Clamatores, and Oscines, and of their sub-divisions, as will be shown hereafter, depend very much on these peculiarities of the larynx. The tongue of the Insessores varies to a considerable degree. In the humming birds it is thread-like and bifurcated. In most other insessorial or perching birds it is long or short, flat, 1 The following remarks on the general characters of the Insessores are derived chiefly from Burmeister’s Thiere Brasiliens, Vogel, page 305.BIRDS—INSESSORES. 127 and triangular, the posterior extremity biiobed, the anterior usually with the tip horny, serrated, or with fibres ; more rarely smooth. These furnish important characteristics for the division into families and even genera, the variations being quite considerable. In dividing the Insessores into Strisores, Clamatores and Oscines, I have followed Cabanis instead of Burmeister, who makes Clamatores and Oscines the sub-orders, and gives Strisores and Tracheophones as tribes of the former. The Strisores of Burmeister are not exactly coequal with those of Cabanis, as they embrace the Halcedinidae and Prionitidae, which by Cabanis are placed among the Clamatores. I am not able to say which classification is the more natural; that of Cabanis, however, answers all my present purposes, besides having been in my mind while preparing the present report, and before becoming acquainted with Burmeister’s valuable work.SUB-ORDER STRISORES. The essential characters of this sub-order are presented in the general table at the beginning of the report. Cabanis divides the Strisores into the Macrochires, including the Trochilidae, the Gypselidae, and the Oaprimulgidae, and into the Amphibolae, embracing Opisthocomidae and Musophagidae. The first division is well represented in the United States, the second not at all. A more recent article by Burmeister includes the Balcyonidcie and Prionitidae with the Strisores, taking them from the Glamatores, where Cabanis placed them. A division of the American forms might then be made into Macrochires, with the wings long and pointed, the fore arm shortened ; and into Orthochires, with the wings moderate and the fore arm rather long. They agree in having the muscles of the lower larynx thin, flat, or entirely wanting, the voice incapable of modulation, &c. As, however, the precise limits and characteristics, external and internal, of these families have not yet been fully settled, I prefer to use Cabanis' arrange- ment for the present, at least, and with him shall consider the Anisodactyli as Glamatores rather than Strisores. Of the three families of Macrochires, the Trochilidae are easily recognized by the long, subulate, very slender, and acute bill, but little cleft at the base, and the peculiar tongue, as well as by the excessively diminutive size and gorgeously metallic plumage. The remaining families agree in having the bill very short, triangular, and weak; the gape very long and wide, extending to beneath the eyes, and the culmen much shorter than half the gape; the nostrils opening upwards; the outer toe usually with an incomplete number of joints. The Gypselidae, however, have the plumage compact, the bill entirely without bristles, the middle toe scarcely longer than the lateral, the claw without any serration, the anterior toes all cleft to the base, the fore arm short, the colors uniform, &c. In the Gaprimulgidae the plumage is soft, loose, and downy, as in the owls; the bill with bristles, even around the nostrils; the middle toe considerably longer than the lateral, and the claw serrated, or at least much extended, on its inner edge; the toes with a web at the base, the fore arm long, and the colors mottled. The following schemes of the families are taken from Burmeister ; the common characters of the Macrochires being: wings long and pointed, the arm portion more or less shortened, the middle and outer toes not closely united: A. Bill long and thin. Tongue long, divided, thread-like. Trochilidae.—Secondaries six in number. B. Bill short, and very broad at the base. Tongue short, flat, three-sided. Secondaries more than six. Cypselidae.—Plumage unicolor. Fore arm short. Oaprimulgidae.—Plumage spotted and marbled. Fore arm moderately long.BIKDS—TROCHILIDAE. 129 Family TROCHILIDAE* The Humming Birds. There is no group of birds so interesting to the ornithologist or to the casual observer as the humming birds, at once the smallest in size, the most gorgeously beautiful in color, and almost the most abundant in species of any single family of birds. They are strictly confined to the con- tinent and islands of America, and are most abundant in the Central American States, though single species range almost to the Arctic regions on the north and to Patagonia on the south, as well as from the seacoast to the frozen summits of the Andes. The number of known species considerably exceeds 300, and new ones are being constantly brought to light; so that an estimate of 400 species is, perhaps, not too large. Many are very limited in their range ; some confined to particular islands, even though of small dimensions. The bill of the humming bird is awl-shaped or subulate, thin, and sharp pointed; straight or curved; sometimes as long as the head; sometimes much longer. The mandibles are exca- vated*^ the tip for the lodgment of the tongue, and form a tube by the close apposition of their cutting edges. There is no indication of stiff bristly feathers at the base of the mouth. The tongue has some resemblance to that of the woodpeckers in the elongation of the cornua backwards, so as to pass round the back of the skull, and then anteriorly to the base of the bill. The tongue itself is of very peculiar structure, consisting anteriorly of two hollow threads closed at the ends and united behind. The food of the humming bird consists almost entirely of insects, which are captured by protruding the tongue into flowers of various shapes without opening the bill very wide. The wings of the humming birds are long and falcate ; the shafts very strong ; the primaries usually ten in number, the first always longest; there are six secondaries. The tail has but ten feathers. The feet are small; the claws very sharp and strong.1 The species now known to inhabit the United States, though few, are yet nearly twice as many as given by Mr. Audubon. It is probable that additional ones will hereafter be detected, particularly on our southern borders. The different authors who have made a speciality of the humming birds have named a great many sub-families and genera, but there has as yet been no published systematic description of the higher groups. It is probable that the North American species belong to two different sub-families—the Lampornithinae and the Trochilinae—and to at least four genera; but the precise character and limits of these I am unable to give. The following remarks, however, may serve to sketch out the characters of the North American species : A. Edges of mandible serrated near the end. Throat without metallic scale-like feathers. Lampornis.—Bill depressed, slightly curved. Tail broad, slightly emarginate; the outer feather as broad as the rest. Wings reaching the tip of tail. No metallic feathers on the throat. B. Edges of mandible nearly even towards the tip, without distinct serrations. Throat with metallic scale-like feathers. Trochilus.—Feathers of throat but little elongated laterally. Lateral tail feathers but little narrower than the others, and lanceolate acute. Tail forked. ’■Most of the above general remarks are borrowed from Burmeister, (Thiere Brasiliens, Vogel, 311.) to which I would refer for an excellent article on the structure and habits of humming birds. 17 b130 U S. P. R. R EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Selasphorus.—Feathers of the throat much elongated laterally into a ruff. Lateral tail feathers much narrower than the middle ones, and linear in shape, or with the sides parallel to the end, which is rounded. Tail graduated or cuneate. Outer primary attenuated at the tip. Crown without red metallic scales. Atthis.—Similar to the last, but the top of the head with metallic scales like the throat. The outer primary not attenuated. Tail emarginated or deeply forked. The following table exhibits the comparative measurements of the different North American species of humming bird : Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings, Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill above. Specimen measured. Remarks. 523 2697 1843 997 Orig. 563 2^96 1943 6058 6057 9007 Orig. 197 6086 5501 6052 6073 6074 7967 Lampornis mango .do TrnphihlS pnliihris. f t T T. South Amftrifa, tTT.„., 3 9 3 9 4.52 4.46 3.14 3 26 3.75 3.32 3.46 3 54 3.24 3.24 3.32 2.50 2.64 1.56 1.74 1.83 ; i.64 1.54 1.78 1.60 1.52 1.94 1.70 1.72 1.26 1.16 0.90 0.92 0.70 0.80 Skin do Washington. tlt Skin ...... Skin ...... do . . rjn t T t - - * - - -. UJarlislpj pa TrTI Tt-. Skin 4.17 Fresh..... *. Trochilus alexandri.... riffifsa T . . Port Tpjon^ C!al 3 3 o 3 1.14 1.32 1.24 1.32 1.24 1.44 0.82 0.68 0.80 0.70 0.76 0.80 Skin 'Q/ilumhia^ rivpir,,, T T, t Skin Skin tf<#t tttt t.t. ...... do do Selasphorus platycereus Steilacoom, W. T ..... Skin Skin ...... IVfpYlPO - ilT1I - T-,-.-..- 3 Skin ..... Skin Bill broken .... ^|hia anna m t San Francisco. 3 3 9 3 9 3 3.64 3.60 3.84 3.15 3.05 3.30 1.92 1.96 1.96 1.76 1.80 1.78 1.46 1.50 1.31 1.06 0.80 0.82 0.82 0.70 0.73 0.72 Skin ...... .do Pptahima3 f!al Skin do AtP1'® ,, ,, 11 San Pranp.ispo. Skin ...... New MftxiftO. 0.15 Skin ...... do , tT do 11tt rjnafpmala TtT1t. .t.TT. LAMPORNIS, Swain son. Lampornis, Swains on, Zoological Journal, 1827, 358. The single species of this genus assigned to the United States is readily distinguished by its generic characters from any other belonging to the same region. # LAMPORNIS MANGO, S w a i n s o n . Black-throated Humming Bird. Trochilus mango, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 171.—Audubon, Orn. Biog. II, 1834,486 ; pi. 184.—Ib. Birds America IV, 1842, 186 ; pi. 251. Lampornis mango, Swainson, Zool. Journal, 1827, 358. Above and on the sides metallic green and golden. Beneath opaque velvety bluish black, this color narrowed on the breast by the encroachment of the green of the sides. Upper surface of wings and tail purplish black ; the latter with greenish reflections. All the tail feathers except the innermost purplish violet, abruptly margined with blackish. A tuft of downy white feathers under the wings, and around the tibia. Female quite similar, the black of the under parts replaced by white, with a narrow stripe of black down the midale of Ih© hroat and belly. Length 4 50 inches ; wing 2.60 ; tail 1.7 The female of this species is quite similar to the male, except as described. The tail isBIRDS —TROCHILIDAE-TROCHILUS COLUBRIS. 131 much the same, except that the feathers are rather narrower, and less rounded at the tip. They are also margined more broadly with black. The claim of the Mango humming bird to a place in the fauna of the United States rests on the capture of a specimen at Key West, Florida, by Dr. Strobel, many years ago. The speci- mens described here are from South America. TROCHILUS, Linnaeus. Trochilus, Linnaeus, Systema Naturae ,1748. (Agassiz.) I have nothing to add to the diagnosis of the genus Trochilus already given on a preceding page, except to remark that in the North American species the female has the outer tail feathers lanceolate, as in the male, though much broader. The outer feathers are broad to the terminal thirds where they become rapidly pointed, the tip only somewhat rounded ; the sides of this attenuated portion (one or other, or both) broadly and concavely emarginated, which dis- tinguishes them from the females of Selasjphorus and Atthis, in which the tail is broadly linear to near the end, which is much rounded without any distinct concavity. The following diagnosis will serve to distinguish the species found in the United States. Common Characters.—Above and on the sides metallic green. A ruff of metallic feathers from the bill to the breast, behind which is a whitish collar, confluent with a narrow abdominal stripe ; a white spot behind the eye. Tail feathers without light margins. Tail deeply forked, (.30 of an inch.) Throat bright coppery red from the chin. Tail of female rounded, emarginated.........................................T, colubris. Larger. Tail slightly forked, (.10 of an inch.) Throat gorget with violet, steel green, or blue reflections behind; anteriorly opaque velvety black. Tail of female graduated; not emarginated.....................................................T. Alexandri, TROCHILUS COLUBRIS, Linnaeus. Uuby-throated Humming Bird. Trochilus colubris, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 191.—Wilson. Am. Orn. II, 1810, 26 ; pi. x.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 248 ; pi. 47.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 190 ; pi. 253. Ornismya colubris9 Deville, Rev. et. Mag. Zool. May, 1852, (habits.) Sp. Ch.—Tail in the male deeply forked ; the feathers all narrow lanceolate-acute. In the female slightly rounded and emarginate ; the feathers broader, though pointed. Male, uniform metallic green above ; a ruby red gorget with no conspicuous ruff; a white collar on the throat; sides of body greenish ;Atail feathers uniformly brownish violet. Female, without the red on the throat; the tail is rounded and emarginate, the inner feathers shorter than the outer ; the tail feathers banded with black, and the outer tipped with white ; no rufous nor cinnamon on the tail in either sex. Length 3.25 ; wing 1.60 ; tail 1.25 ; bill .65. Hab.—Eastern North America to the high central plains ; south to Brazil. The bill of this species is slightly depressed, subcylindrical, very little decurved, and conically pointed at the end. Measured along the gape it is about half as long as the wing, which is falcate. In the male the outer tail feathers are all a little curved, the concavity inward ; the feathers are narrow and lanceolate-pointed, especially the exterior, which is only .16 of an inch wide ; the others are successively a little broader. The tail is rather deeply forked ; the exterior a very little shorter than the second ; the rest becoming rapidly shorter. The longest132 U S. P. R. R EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT tail feather exceeds the shortest by about .21 of an inch. The innermost tail feather is very broad; a little longer than the lower coverts. In the female the tail feathers are still more curved, and considerably broader, and more rounded at the end, but still decidedly lanceolate, not linear. The taih, instead of being-deeply forked, is only slightly emarginated ; the outer feather rather shorter than the second. The greatest width of the outer feather is about .26 of an inch. In the male the entire upper parts, (including the crown,) with the sides of the body along the wings, are of a rich metallic green. The metallic scale-like feathers of the chin and throat are of a bright ruby red. These extend from the base of the bill (where the color is quite dull) over the throat, the posterior lateral ones not projecting more than .15 of an inch behind the middle ones. Immediately posterior to the metallic gorget is a collar of dirty white, which is continued along the median line, where it is tinged with brown, to the tail coverts, the centres of which show a little metallic green, and the exterior a little pale rufous. There is a rather purer white around the legs, and a very indistinct spot of the same just behind the eye. The tail feathers are uniform brownish purple ; the wings are similar, with less purple. The adult female is similar to the male in the colors of the back and wings, with the white spot behind the eye. The entire under parts are of a dirty white, tinged with brownish on the throat and sides. The outer three tail feathers on either side have their central third of a purplish black ; the terminal portion white. The fourth feather is black at the end, with a very slight white tip. In all, the basal half of the upper surface (and of the lower in the fourth) is green like the back. The innermost has an indistinct subterminal bar of blackish. There is no rufous on any part of the tail feathers in either male or female. The young male is like the female beneath, except that the throat feathers are spotted in the centre, and some show a trace of the metallic red. The tail is mostly like the male. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 997 1168 1296 1100 2713 1297 1101 6968 5040 3962 3963 5041 7985 9 O 3 s 3 $ 9 9 3 3 Carlisle, Pa •_ _ _1 May 20, 1843 Aug. —, 1843 1843 S. F. Baird m 3.75 3. 67 4. 33 4. 25 1.83 1. 67 do do Washington J. K. Townsend. _do _ _ 1843 do_ __ _ 1843 do 1343 ......do 1843 do 4 Salt creek, K. T. May 25, 1857 Feb. 12, 1855 Lieut. Bryan Capt. Pope 104 W. S. Wood .. Indianola. .......... Brownsville, Texas. .. Lieut Couch Santa Catarina, Mex do 179 9 Devil’s river, Texas.- Guatemala .......... May 1, 1855 Capt. Pope...... J. Gould BIRDS—TROCHILIDAE—SELASPHORUS. 133 TROCHILUS ALEXANDRA Bourc. & Mulsant. Black-chinned Humming Bird. Trochilus alexandri, Bourcier Mulsant, Ann. de la Soc. d’Agric. de Lyons, IX, 1846, 330.—HeeRmann, Jour. A. N. Sc. Phila. 2d ser. II, 1853, 269.—Cassin, 111. N. Am. Birds, I, v, 1854, 141 ; pi. xxii.—Gould, Mon. Trochilidae, xiv, Sep 1857. Plate. Sp. Ch.—Very similar to Trochilus colubris. Tail slightly forked; the chin and upper part of the throat opaque velvety black, without metallic reflections, which are confined to the posterior border of the gorget, and are violet, changing to steel blue or green, instead of coppery red. Female without the metallic scales ; the tail feathers tipped with white ; the tail graduated, not emarginat d ; the innermost feather among the longest. Length of male 3.30 ; wing 1.70 ; tail 1.26 ; bill .75. Hab.—Coast of California, southward. This species is very similar in color to the common ruby-throated humming bird of the eastern United States, and represents it on the west coast. The upper parts and sides are of the same metallic golden green, the gorget of much the same extent, bordered behind by whitish, which (less pure) extends alon^ the middle of the belly, and involving the crissum, the feathers of which are greenish in the ce ire. There is the same white spot behind the eye. T. alexandri is, however, rather the larger of the two ; the bill nearly one-tenth of an inch longer. The tail is much less deeply forked, in fact the outer feather is a little shorter than the second, and the innermost broad green one only about .10 of an inch shorter than the longest, instead of about .30. There is a tinge of metallic green to the tips of the tail feathers much less distinct in T' colubris. The whitish collar behind the metallic feathers of the throat, usually considered as a specific character, I find to be shared almost equally well by T. colubris. The chief distinc- tions between the two species are to be found in the violet steel blue or steel green reflections of the hinder part of the gorget, varying with the situation of the feathers and the specimen, as distinguished from the bright fiery or coppery red of the other. The chin and upper part of the throat extending beneath the eyes are opaque velvety or greenish black, without metallic lustre, while in T. colubris it is only the extreme chin wjiich is thus dull in appearance. It is exceedingly difficult to distinguish the female of this species from that of T. colubris. The size is rather larger, and the tail rounded, without any emargination ; the middle feathers being .15 of an inch longer than the lateral ones, instead of actually shorter. The color is much the same. In both species the outer tail eathers, though broader than in the male, are quite acutely pointed on the terminal third, one side or the other of which is slightly concave, instead of being linear to near the end, and rounded without any concavity, as in Selasphorus and Atthis. The preceding description of this species is taken from specimens belonging to the very extensive collection of birds of the vicinity of Fort Tejon, made by Mr. John Xantus de Yesey. SELASPHORUS, Swain son. Selasphorus, Swainson, Faun. Bor. Amer. II, 1831. After separating the North American species usually called Selasphorus, with red metallic scales on the crown, and the outer primary not attenuated at the top, there remainbut two belong- ing to the restricted genus. Even in these there are some differences of form, but they may be considered in the present instance as specific characters.134 U, S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Tail strongly cuneate, the middle feather much longest and very broad ; the outer very narrow, one-fifth the width of the middle. Body chiefly cinnamon colored ; throat feathers a coppery red ; top of head, and an occasional gloss on the hack, green....................S. rufus. Tail rounded ; the middle feather a little shorter than the next one ; the outer rather broad, more than one-half the width of the middle one. Above, and on the sides below, green. Throat feathers purple. Edges of some tail feathers cinnamon brown..................S. platycercus. SELASPHORUS RUFUS, Swains on. Red-backed Humming Bird. Trochilus rvfus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 497.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 555 ; pi. 372. Selasphorus rufus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 324.—Ib. Aud. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 200 ; pi. 254. ? Trochilus ruber, L.—Orn, I, 1788, 499. (Fide Bonaparte.) Trochilus collaris, Lath. (Bonaparte.) Trochilus sitkensis^Rathke. (Bonapaite.) Ornysmia sasin, Lesson. (Bonaparte.) Sp. Ch.—Tail strongly cuneate and wedge-shaped. Upper parts, lower tail coverts, and breast cinnamon. A trace of metallic green on the crown, which sometimes extends over the back ; never on the belly. Throat coppery red, with a well developed ruff of the same ; below this a white collar. Tail feathers cinnamon, edged or streaked at the end with purplish brown. Female with the rufous of the back covered or replaced with green ; less cinnamon on the breast. Traces only of metallic feathers on the throat. Tail rufous, banded with black and tipped with white ; middle feathers glossed with green at the end. Tail still cuneate. Length of male, 3.50 ; wing, 1.55 ; tail, 1.30. Hob.—West coast of North America, and across from Gulf of California to the Upper Rio Grande Valley. This species is about the size of the common ruby-throated humming bird, which it resembles also in many respects. The bill is rather narrower. The wings are long and falcate ; the two first primaries elongated and acutely lanceolate, but not attenuated as abruptly as in platycercus; the third is also acute. In most of the other species the first quill is much more linear than the second, and less acute than in this. The tail is strongly cuneate; the outer feather .40 of an inch shorter than the middle, which projects .14 of an inch beyond the rest. The outer feather is very narrow, not exceeding .11 of an inch in width ; the rest widen and lengthen rapidly to the central one, which is very broad, (.35 of an inch ;) the central feathers are all ovate acuminate. In the female the primaries are less acutely falcate than in the male. The tail also, though cuneate, is less acutely so than in the male; the outer feathers broader and less acutely pointed. In the male, in its highest plumage, the entire upper parts, excepting the crown and the wing, (but including the tail,) the sides of the body under the wings, and a broad band across the breast and abdomen, with the lower wing coverts, cinnamon brown, rather paler beneath. The crown is obscurely golden green, not well defined. The entire throat, including a short ruff on the side of the neck, (about .40 of an inch long,) is metallic red, of the same shade as in the ruby-throat, although with brassy reflections in some lights. The sides of the neck beneath the ruff, the upper part of the breast, the anal region, and a small spot behind the eye are dull white. The wings are violaceous brown, their coverts metallic green. The tail feathers are cinnamon, with the outer webs near the tips violaceous brown ; this gradually becoming central instead of on the outer side. In some specimens, probably immature, the back shows spots of metallic green, while in others (as 6059) it is entirely covered with this color, except on the tail. The female is entirely of a metallic green above, with, however, more or less of a cinnamonBIRDS—TROCHILIDAE---SELASPHORUS PLATYCERCUS. 135 shade on the covered edges of the feathers on the lower part of the back and rump. The sides of the body along the wings and the under tail coverts are pale cinnamon; the throat with occasional spots of green and metallic red ; the rest of the under surface dull white tinged with brown across the breast. The tail feathers are cinnamon at the base, then violaceous black ; all are tipped with white, except the middle one, on either side, which is golden green to near the black tip. There is also an indication of green between the black and cinnamon of the other feathers. In both male and female there is a concealed tuft of white feathers near the insertion of the leg. This species is entirely dissimilar from any other North American humming bird, and is perhaps the only one without indication of metallic green on the belly. The rufous feathers of both sexes readily distinguish it from any other North American species. There is, however, a closely allied South Mexican species, Selasphorus scintilla of Gould, from Veragua, (Proceed- ings Zool. Soc. 1850, 162,) which is very similar, differing chiefly in the smaller size. I cannot discover in the Trochilus ruber of Linnaeus the exclusive characters of the present species. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orign’l No. Collected by— Length. Extent. 6058 Steilacoom, W. T_ _ _ April 26,1856 Dr. Suckley 332 6059 O do do 6060 8 .. do do 6061 $ do April 21,1856 do 333 6062 8 do April 28,1856 do 6063 8 do do ...do 331 3. 87 3. 94 6064 o do --do do 330 3. 87 4. 69 6065 >r 8 ------do - - .do 311 3. 92 4. 25 1943 o 8 Columbia river May 29,1835 J. K. Townsend _ 2896 8 do__ .do ..do--- 1198 Q do do 1268 $ California .. . S. F. Baird. 6057 $ San Francisco - Winter’53-54 R. D. Cutts Fort Tejon, Cal. J. X. DeVesey.. _ 6067 El Paso, Texas Maj. Emory J. H. Clark 7981 9 Mexico J. Gould SELASPHORUS PLATYCERCUS, Gould. Broad-tailed Humming Bird* Trochilus platycercus, Sw. Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 441, (Mexico.) Selasphorus platycercus, Gould, Mon. Trochilid. or Humming Birds, iii, May, 1852. Ornismia tricolor, Lesson, Colibris, 125, (no date) ; pi. xiv, (Brazil.)—Is. Trochilidees, 1831, 156 ; pi. lx, (Mexico.) Jardine,. Nat. Lib. II, 77 ; pi. xiii. Ornismya montana, Les Trochilid. 1831, 161 ; pi. lxiii, adult, and 163 ; pi. lxiv, young, (Mexico.) Sp. Ch.—Outer primaries greatly attenuated at the end. Outer tail feathers nearly linear, but widening a little from the base ; its width .20 of an inch. Tail slightly graduated and emarginate. Male above and on the sides metallic green ; chin and throat light reddish purple, behind which, and along the belly to the tail, is a good deal of white. Wings and tail dusky purplish ; the tail feathers, excepting the internal and external ones, edged towards the base with light cinnamon. Length, 3.50 ; wing, 1.92 ; tail, 1.40. Bill, gape, .80. Hah.—Mexico, as far north as El Paso, Texas, hitherto the only known locality in the United States.136 U. S. P R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. In this species the metallic scales of the throat extend about as far back as in the Trochilus colubris. The tail feathers are all broad ; the outer one is rounded at the end and widens from the base ; the next succeeding feathers have the edges parallel at the base, and the tips rather acute. vThe innermost feather is a little shorter than the longest (by about .05 of an inch) ; the outermost about .15 shorter ; and the tail is thus moderately graduated and slightly emarginate. The general appearance of this bird is not unlike that of the common ruby-throated T, colubris, although the two are distinguishable by generic peculiarities. 8. platycercus is the larger bird, although the bill, if anything, is a little smaller. The graduated tail, with the broad, rounded, almost oblanceolate outer feather, is, however, in strong contrast to the deeply forked tail, with the acutely tapering outer tail feather of T. colubris. A remarkable peculiarity in this species (shared by G. rufus) is seen in the outermost primary. This is narrower and more linear than in most of our other species, as well as straighter or less falcate. The terminal half inch is abruptly attenuated and linear, so as not to exceed .03 of an inch in width. The green of the throat in this species is purer and less mixed with golden than in the T. colubris. The throat has a violet purple reflection instead of a fiery copper red. The crissum and breast are of a purer white. All the tail feathers, except the innermost, (which is like the back,) have a cinnamon edging on the inner edge, except at the extreme tip ; this is seen on both webs of all, except the first, where it is confined to the inner. This border is very conspicuous on the outer edge of the fourth feather. I have no female of this species before me, but a specimen in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, supposed to belong here, has no rufous on the tail. In comparing specimens in the Philadelphia Academy, as well as that from El Paso, with Gould's figure, this is seen to indicate a much larger bird, (nearly 4^ inches long,) with longer tail and broader feathers, the external more pointed. Whether this would indicate the fact of a confounding of two species I am unprepared to say. His figure of the female shows very distinctly a rufous margin to the tail feathers. For the determination of this species, now for the first time introduced into the fauna of the United States, I am indebted to Mr. John Gould, who identified it when examining the speci- mens of Humming Birds preserved in the Smithsonian Institution. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— 6066 9007 Jardine, Nat. Lib. Humming Birds, I, 93 *, pi. vi.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Y, 1839, 428 ; pi. 428.—Ib. Birds America, IY, 1842, 188 ; pi. 252. Calliphlox anna, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. PhiJ. Ill, 1846, 3.—Ib. Journ. 2d ser. I, 1847, 32. Trochilus (Jltthis) anna, Reichenbach, Cab. Jour. Extraheft for 1853, 1854, app. 12. Trochilus icterocephalus, Nuttall, Manual, I, 2d ed., 1840, 712. (Male with forehead covered with yellow pollen.) Sp. Ch.—Tail deeply forked ; external feather narrow, linear. Top of the head, throat, and a moderate ruff metallic red, with purple reflections. Rest of upper parts and a band across the breast green. Tail feathers purplish brown, darkest centrally. In the fepiale the tail is slightly rounded, not emarginate ; the scales of the head and throat are wanting. Tail barred with black, and tipped with white. Length, about 3.60 inches ; wing, 2.00 ; tail, 1.45. Hab.—Coast region of California. This species is considerably larger than the ruby-throated humming bird, but the bill is of much the same shape. The wings are long and considerably falcated ; the first primary much the most so; its sides are nearly parallel to the end, which is rounded or obtusely pointed. The tail in the male is decidedly forked. The second feather is a little longer than the first, and is about 0.16 of an inch longer than the third, and about 0.32 longer than the fourth. The fifth feather (resembling an upper tail covert) is a little longer than the fourth, (by about' 0.03.) The exterior feather is narrow and linear to the end, which is rounded ; it is about 0.12 of an inch wide. The next feather is one-half wider ; the others increasing still more. The feathers are all rather blunt at the end, or obtusely acute, with the point rounded. In the female the tail feathers are all broader, the outer one especially, although still with parallel sides; the tail itself is slightly rounded, all the feathers being of nearly the same length, except the lateral, which is about 0.10 of an inch shorter. In this species the top of the head, the chin, and throat, with a conspicuous, though obtuse, ruff on each side of the throat, (about 0.40 of an inch long,) are of a rich purplish red, with an occasional violaceous shade, and on some scales of the top of the head and in the ruff, with steel blue reflections. The remaining upper parts, except the wings, are metallic green, glossed with gold. The under parts are similar, except that the color is not so continuous, much more so, however, than in the other American species ; even the centres of the under tail coverts are green. The lower part of the throat just behind the collar is dirty whitish. The wings and tail feathers are purplish brown ; the latter darkest centrally, with an occasional gloss of green. The central feather on either side is golden green, like the back. The female is entirely metallic green above, with a tinge of dull brownish grey on the head. Beneath spotted with green, except on the throat, which is brownish white ; the feathers with 18 b138 U. S. P. R. R, EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. darker centres* The tail feathers are black in their middle portion and tipped with white, this decreasing until there is none in the median ones. Two males, apparently not quite mature, (3942, 6050,) have the ruff shorter; the scale feathers dimmer and more of an orange red. They are also rather smaller than the others. Sometimes the metallic scales encroach on the sides of the head, so as apparently to cover them. There is, however, always a narrow plain line behind the eye. The ruff varies consid- erably in length with the specimen. There is no trace of cinnamon or rufous on any of the feathers in either sex. The only North American species to which the male of this bird bears any resemblance is the A. costae, which has the same metallic crown and other generic features. The latter, however, is much smaller ; has the metallic reflections varied chiefly violet, instead of nearly uniform purplish red. The tail is much less deeply forked, the depth being only about 0.10 of an inch, instead of 0.32 ; the outer feather is much narrower. The females of the two, however, appear to be distinguishable only by their relative size. The absence of rufous and the rounded, not graduated, tail always separates the female of anna from that of 8. rufus. The larger size is the chief distinction trom the female A. costae, while the size and less acutely pointed outer tail feathers distinguish it from the female T. colubris. List of specimens. Catal No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orign’l No. Collected by— 5501 $ Petaluma, California E. Samuels 282 6051 $ San Francisco Winter of ’ 53 -* 54 R D Cutts 6052 o S do - do do 6054 Q 6050 Hr 8 Cosumnes river, California Lt. Wih iamson _ Dr. Heermann 8942 Fort Tejon, California 1857 John Nantus de Vcsey ATTIIIS COSTAE, Reich enbach. Ornism,yacostae> Bourcier, Rev. Zool. Oct. 1839, 294. (Lower California.)—Ib. Ann. Sc. Phys. et d’Hist. Nat. de Lyon, 1840, 225 ; tab. ii.—Prevost & Des Murs, Voyage de la Venus, Zool. I, 1855, 194. Atlas, tab. ii, f. 1, 2. Selasphorus costae, Bon. Conspectus Avium, I, 1850, 82. Jltthis costae, Reichenbach, Cab. Jour, fur Orn. Extraheft, 1853, 1854. « Calypte costae, Gould, Mon. Humming Birds. Sp. Ch.—Tail very slightly emarginated and rounded ; exterior feather very narrow, and linear. A very long ruff on each side of the throat. Head above and below, with the ruff, covered with metallic red, purple, violet, and steel green. Remaining upper parts and sides of the body green. Throat under and between the ruffs, side of head behind the eye, anal region and under tail coverts whitish Female with the tail rounded, scarcely emarginate; barred with black, and tipped with white The metallic colors of the head wanting. Length, 3.20 inches; wing, 1.75 ; tail, 1.10 ; bill, .68. Hab.—Southern California and Colorado Basin, (Monterey, BjTeboux.) Of this beautiful humming bird only a single pair has hitherto been collected by any of the expeditions, and these are not sufficiently perfect to furnish a satisfactory description. The size u about that of the common ruby-throated humming bird. The bill is, however, longer and more slender every way. The wings are falcate ; the first quill especially curved, although its outlines are parallel to near the tip, which is not acuminate. In the male the tail is slightlyBIRDS—TROCHILIDAE—ATTHIS COSTAE, 139 emarginated ; the first or outer feather very little shorter than the second and third, which are about equal. The middle feathers are about 0.12 of an inch shorter than the second. The outer feather is very narrow and linear, about 0.06 wide ; the next is twice as wide ; all are rather linear rounded, or but little acute at the end. In the female the tail is rounded. The feathers broader. The top of the head and the occiput of this species, with the throat and a long ruff on each side, about 0.60 of an inch long, are covered with brilliant metallic scales, having various reflections of light purple, violet, and steel blue and green, the steel green predominating on the points of the ruff. The rest of the upper parts, with the wing coverts, and the sides of the body and breast, are metallic green. The throat behind the scales and between the ruffs, the sides of the head behind the eye, the upper part of the breast, the middle of the belly, the space around the legs, the vent and under tail coverts, are whitish ; the latter with some green spots. The wings and tail feathers are brown ; the latter darker towards the end. The central ones are green on their upper surface. The female is green above and on the sides of the body. The under parts are whitish, with brownish spots on the throat. The top of the head is likewise tinged with brown. The tail feathers are black in the middle, all tipped with white, though the amount of white rapidly decreases from the exterior to the centre. This species is readily distinguished from the others belonging to the fauna of the United States, excepting A. anna, by the metallic scales of the tip of the head. It is much smaller than the last mentioned species ; the ruff is much longer, and with the other scales on the head of a different color, being purplish violet, not purple red, and the former species being destitute of the metallic green reflections. The white behind the eye and bordering the ruff is much less distinct in anna. The female of this species differs much from the male in the absence of the metallic scales on the head and throat. It has a close resemblance to the female T. colubris, although the bill is smaller and narrower. The tail feathers are narrower, more linear, and less acutely pointed at the tip. The black on the outer tail feathers, instead of extending very nearly to the base, is confined to the terminal half, the basal portion being green. All the tail feathers are terminated by white, although that on the fourth and fifth is very narrow. In T. colubris this color is confined to the three outer ones. The much smaller size alone appears to distinguish it from the female of A. anna. The specimen (6073) from New Mexico is decidedly different from others I have seen from California and Guatemala, in the great length of the ruff, which reaches back 1.66 of an inch from the base of the bill, instead of 1.45 or 1.50 ; the tips posteriorly having steel blue and green reflections, instead of being uniform purplish violet. This may, however, be indicative of a greater degree of maturity. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orign’l No. Collected by— 6073 m j Wing. | Tail. j Tarsus. Middle toe. Claw alone. Bill above. 0. r bo bo G O < Specimen measured 1010 9 Carlisle, Pa May 22, 1843 S. F. Baird 5.25 12.50 5.17 Fresh.*., 6485 Philadelphia C. Drexler... ... 4.75 5.12 2.20 0.55 0.50 0.20 0.21 0.67 Skin •... 4781 Bijoux Hill, N. T May 15,1856 Lt. G. K. Warren Dr. Hayden 4.87 12.50 5.17 7526 Independence, Mo 1857 W. M. Magraw.. Dr. Cooper 8317 * do. Mar. 29, 1857 do 34 5.00 12.25 5.25 O * Iris dark brown.BIRDS—CYPSELIDAE—CHAETURA VAIOTI.1 145 CHAETURA VAUXII, DeKay. *• Oregon Swifts Cypselus vauxiit, Townsend, J. A. N. Sc. VIII, 1839, 148, (Col. river.)—Ib. Narrative, 1839. Chaetura vauxii, DeKay, N. Y. Zool. II, 1844, 36. Jlcanthylis vauxii, Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1854; notes Delattre, 90.—Cassin, 111. I, 1855, 250.— Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, 78 ; P. R. R. Surv. VI, 1857. Sp. Ch—Light sooty brown; rump and under parts paler ; lightest on the chin and throat. Length, 4.50 inches; wing, 4.75 ; tail, 1.90. Hah.—Pacific coast, from Puget’s Sound to California. This species bears a very close resemblance to the common chimney birds of the eastern States, being only readily distinguishable by its much smaller size, less than 4J inches instead of 5J. The wing, too, is nearly an inch shorter. The tarsus and the middle toe, however, seem absolutely longer. The rump is a little paler than in (7. pelasgia, as well as the under parts, where the chin and throat are lighter,"almost dirty white, and gradually becoming a little darker behind, although even the hinder part of the belly is much lighter than the back, instead of being of the same color with it. This species, though probably not rare on the western coast, has only been collected by J. K. Townsend (his specimen in the Phila. Academy) and by Dr. Kennerly of American explorers. Delattre, however, brought it from California. It is very closely allied to several small South American species, and may have been described under another if not a prior name. List of specimens, Catal. No. j Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence ob- tained. Original No. Collected by— | Length. Extent. W) s s Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. its claw alone. j Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 8411 Q- Simiahmoo bay, W. T July 5,1857 A. Campbell... 10 Dr. Kennerly... 4.50 10.75 4.50 Fresh.... do do do do 4.40 4.70 1.70 .50 .61 .25 .20 .56 Skin Oregon. (Specimen of J. K. 4.15 4.75 1.90 .40 .20 .51 Mounted. Townsend.) 19 b14f> U. 8. P. R E. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. Family CAPRIMULGIDAE. The Goat-suckers. « Sub-Family CAPRIMULGINAE. Ch.—Bill very short, triangular, the culmen less than one-sixth the gape. The anterior toes united at the base by a membrane. The inner anterior toe with three joints, the others with four ; all with distinct scutellae above. The toe much elongated, its middle claw pectinated on the inner edge. Hind toe directed a little more than half forwards. Tarsi partly feathered superiorly. The bill more or less bristled ; the nostrils separated, rather nearer the commissure than the culmen. :> mage soft, lax, and owl-like. The Caprimulgidae have quite a close resemblance to the owls in the color and texture of the plumage, as -well as in the broad head, although, of course, readily distinguishable by unmis- takable characters. The closest relationships are to the Cypselidae. The primary quills are ten in number, the secondaries eleven or twelve. The latter are much longer than in the Cypselidae, covering more than half the primaries. The middle toe is much longer than in the Cypselidae, and its claw is usually provided with a comb-like edge on one side. The anterior toes are united by a membrane, the inner and middle usually more so than the middle and outer. The inner toe is small, and the outer is usually so, having generally only four joints instead of the normal five. The tarsi are covered with short scales anteriorly, their upper portion generally clothed with feathers. The Caprimulgidae are divided into two sub-families, the Steatorninae and Caprimulginae, the former having the inner edge of the middle anterior claw expanded, but not pectinated. A third sub-family Podagerinae is sometimes added. The Caprimulginae alone are represented in the United States, and by two genera, Antrostomus and Chordeiles, which may readily be distinguished as follows: Antrostomus.—Bill with conspicuous bristles. Wings short, rounded; tail broad, graduated; plumage very lax. Chordeiles.—Bill without bristles ; wings very long and pointed; tail narrow, forked ; plumage compact. ANTROSTOMUS, Gould. Antrostomus, Gould, leones Avium, 1838, (Agassiz.) Ch.—Bill remarkably small, with tubular nostrils, and the gape with long stiff, sometimes pectinated, bristles. Wings long, somewhat rounded, second quill longest, the primaries emarginated. Tail rounded. Plumage loose and soft. The present genus embraces the North American analogues of the European goat-suckers— namely, the chuck-will's widow and the two species of whippoorwill. Of these, the former, or A. carolinensis, is much the largest, with the long stiff bristles of the bill provided with lateral filaments ; these are wanting in the A. vociferus and A. nuttalli. In vociferus, which is much the larger of the two last, the throat has a narrow white collar, and the lower terminal half of the tail is white; the head longitudinally streaked. In nuttalli the throat has a large white patch ; the under surface of the tail a small one, and the crown is banded transversely, not longitudinally.147 BIRDS—OAPRIMULGIDAE—ANTROSTOMUS CAROLINENSIS. Comparative measurements of species. Orig. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Extent. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 6493 Antrostomus carolinensis, Torfugns, Fla nni^tt - T i - ' __gin very small, the gape with very short feeble bristles. Wings very long and pointed, with the first quill nearly or quite equal to the second, and the primaries not emarginated on the inner edge. Tail long; slightly forked in the North American species ; plumage^rather compact. The described North American species of this genus are three in number, the smaller readily distinguishable by the rounded rufous spots on the webs of the quills, (<7. texensis.) The others are larger and more closely related. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. Remarks. 1605 Chordeiles virginianus . Carlisle, Pa $ 8.70 8.10 4.72 0.62 0.80 0.28 0.34 0.98 Skin .... /-I A 11 do ,tTt * tint 9.50 24.50 8.30 Fresh ... do. g f t f dO , f. *tt*t*a Q 8.66 7.80 4.60 0.60 0.74 0.24 0.26 0.94 Skin .... 1522 /I A d(> . * 1 , t 1 r • » T -f 9.50 23.60 8.16 Fresh ... * do. rnni do , T, T T- Above Fort Pierre.. 3 9.10 7.56^ 4.58 0.52 0.68 0.20 0.80 Skin .... Point of bill broken. do r 9.25 22.25 7.75 Fresh ... do. T>tA /IranrlA YhllAIf O 7.80 5.18 0.54 0.70 0.20 0.28 1.08 Skin ... 6698 6010 Chordeiles henryi...... Chordeiles texensis .... XviU VJTcU-lUv/ Valley • • El Paso, Texas V 0 8.30 7.54 4.84 0.50 0.68 0.20 0.24 0.82 Skin .... do. 4578 Ar\ do r • i 1 itiii 7.87 19 12 7.87 Fresh ... - dO -»■**•* tatt Colorado river, Cal. 8.30 6.90 4.60 0.52 0.64 0.18 0.22 0.84 Skin .... Head off; (very do. poor specimen.) CA1 1 Eagle pass, Texas 8,30 6.50 4.16 0.52 0.74 0.19 0.26 0.70 OU11 3957 do Sta. Catarina, Mex. «••••» 8.22 7.00 4.30 0.52 0.74 0.22 0.24 0.80 Skin .... do. 8.75 19.00 7.00 Fresh ... BIRDS—CAPRIMUIGIDAE—CHORDEILES POPETUE. 151 CHORDEILES POPETUE. Night Hawk; Bull Bat. Caprimulgus popetue, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 56 ; pi. xxiv. (Q).—Bonap. Obs. Wilson, 1825, 177, from J. A. N. Sc. Phila. YI. Caprimulgus americanus, Wilson, V, 1812, 65 ; pi. cxl. f. 1, 2. Chordeiles americanus, De Kay, N. Y. Zool. II, 1844, 34 ; pi. xxvii. Caprimulgus virginianus, Brisson, II, 1760, 477. (In part only.)—Bonap. Synopsis, 62.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 273 ; pi. 147. Caprimulgus (Chordeiles) virginianus, Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 62. Chordeiles virginianus, Bon. List. 1838.—Aud. Birds Am. I, 1840, 159 ; pi. 43.—Cassin, 111. I, 1855, 238.—New- berry, Zool. Cal. and Oregon Route, 79; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. YI, 1857. Long-winged goat-sucker, Pennant, Arctic Zool. II, 1785, 337. Sp. Ch.—Male, above greenish black, with but little mottling on the head and back. Wing coverts varied with grayish ; scapulars with yellowish rufous. A nuchal band of fine gray mottling, behind which is another coarser one of rufous spots. A white Y-shaped mark on the throat; behind this a collar of pale rufous blotches, and another on the breast of grayish mottling. Under parts banded transversely with dull yellowish or reddish white and brown. Wing quills quite uniformly brown. The five outer primaries with a white blotch midway between the tip and carpal joint, not extending on the outer web of the outer quill. Tail with a terminal white patch. Female, without the caudal white patch, the white of the throat mixed with reddish. Length of male, 9.50 ; wing, 8.20. Hob.—North America generally. Specimen from Pennsyvania, (1605.)—Wings long and acutely pointed ; within an inch as long (measured from the carpal joint) as the body itself. First quill longest, the rest successively shorter. Tail acutely emarginate ; the first outer feather very little longer than the second ; the remaining ones successively shorter, until the two middle ones are about three quarters of an inch shorter than the exterior. Bill short; the bristles simple. The prevailing color of the upper parts of this species is a lustrous greenish black, with a little mottling of pale rusty on the head, back, and scapulars, and of gray on the wing coverts. At first sight the crown seems do have but little mottling, this being apparently confined to a median line of yellowish rusty edging to the feathers. On raising the ends of these, however, they are found to be more blotched towards their bases. On the nape the blotches are more terminal and of a grayish color, forming an indistinct transverse band. Here they are quite small, and confined to the exterior or extremity of the feathers. Immediately succeeding this, however, is a second indistinct transverse band in which the blotches are much larger, occupy- ing the median line of the feather, and of a more rusty hue. On the middle of the back again the blotches are even grayer and less conspicuous than on the nape, while the blotches on the scapulars are larger and more rusty. The wing coverts are finely mottled with grayish, especially the innermost ones. The primary coverts have comparatively few blotches. The sides of the head and lower jaw are like the top, only more blotched, and with yellowish rusty. There is a pure white Y-shaped mark on the throat, commencing about a quarter of an inch behind the base of the lower mandible, the acute angle anterior, the branches curving back on each side to a point beneath and posterior to the eye. The angle of this mark is filled up with rusty-tipped black feathers. Behind it on the upper part of the breast, and extending to the tail, the feathers begin to be banded transversely several times on their terminal half with dark brown and dirty yellowish white, much less conspicuous on the upper part of the breast and lower throat, where the predominant color of the feathers is dark brown, with the ends grayish. The quills are throughout of a uniform dark brown, with an obscure lightening on the inner edges of the innermost primaries towards the ends. The ends of the secondaries are quite152 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL, REPORT. white, forming a conspicuous band. There is, however, one very decided mark in a white patch on the five outer primaries situated about half way between the carpal joint and the tip of the wing. This commences on the inner vane of the first primary, without involving or crossing the rib, along which it extends for less than half an inch, widening inwards to three quarters of an inch on the inner edge. On the second primary there is a white blotch on the outer vane, opposite the large spot on the inner, which involves the rib. The third, fourth, and fifth primaries have the blotch passing continuously across from inner to outer edge of the quill. The tail feathers are dark brown, with about eight or ten transverse and rather irregular bands of mottling, which below are nearly white, above of a light brownish gray. The termi- nal blotch on all but the two inner feathers (one on each side) is white on both surfaces, larger and more quadrate, and scarcely reaches to the outer edges of the feathers. The female is similar in general characteristics, except that the Y-shaped mark on the throat is yellowish rusty instead of white, the white patch on the wing rather less conspicuous, and the quadrate terminal white spots on the end of the four exterior tail feathers (on either side) are wanting. There is also appreciably more rusty in all the grayish or light tints. In a large series of skins before me I find considerable geographical differences when com- pared with the typical Pennsylvania specimens. Thus, in skins from the upper Missouri and Platte, as also from Bridger’s Pass, (5594,) the general colors are lighter, owing to the much greater amount of grayish mottling on the back and the wing coverts, as well as the scapulars. The color of the upper parts, in fact, exhibits but little of that decided impression of black pre- viously described. The white spot in the middle of the wing is considerably larger, and in most cases crosses the midrib to the outer edge of the first primary. The feet appear shorter; the wings and tail about the same length. All the eastern specimens before me agree in their dark colors. Specimens from Steilacoom are as dark, however, as those from Pennsylvania, and not distinguishable from them. The same may be said of a pair from the Cosumnes river, California. Still another series, chiefly from southern Texas and New Mexico, is characterized by a great preponderance of pale rufous spotting on the back. The characters in this respect are much as in (7. texensis, almost every feather on the back having a reddish spot. The size is rather less than in more northern specimens. There is, however, so imperceptible a gradation into the lighter northern series, and from this into the dark eastern ones, that I confess my inability to define any permanent specific differences. The skin described as (7. henryi belongs to the most rufous type, and may possibly be distinct. With reference to the others, however, I feel in very great doubt. It is much to be regretted that the name of Vieillot should be of so barbarous a character, since it is the first one that can be used. The Caprimulgus virginianus of Brisson includes both this and Antrostomus vodferus, and cannot be retained, and with it fall the names of Gmelin and others based upon it. The mistake was first committed by Catesby, whose figure is an unnatural association of the two species. In two specimens (8224, 8225,) from Fort Laramie, collected by Doctor Cooper, the wing and tail feathers are not fully grown out; but independently of this, the size appears much less than in any others from the same latitude, smaller even than in (7. texensis. The middle toe and claw measure but .60 of an inch. The color is very gray, without any conspicuous rufous mottling.153 BIRDS—CAPRIMULGIDAE—CHORDEILES HENRYL As a summary of the whole subject, I am inclined to think that all the varieties described belong to one species, varying somewhat with the locality, those from the Atlantic and, perhaps, Pacific regions being darkest, without much mottling ; those from the interior province, or from the Missouri to the Eocky Mountains, being much more varied, with a tendency to pale grayish tints in northern localities, and reddish in more southern, the latter of smaller size. In this generalization I would scarcely except the G. henryi. The G. texensis is, however, quite different. List of specimens. Catal No. Sex. Locality. When collected. .Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Extent. Wing. Remarks. *■ Dark variety. 4292 Calcasieu, La............ G. Wurdeman 1522 Carlisle, Pa May 16,1846 S. F. Baird 9.50 25.67 8.17 1605 June 10,1844 do 9.50 24.50 8.33 6964 Q St. Louis... May 13,1857 Lt. Bryan, U.S.A.. 74 W. S. Wood 5592 ¥ Kansas do 8.00 7529 Independence, Mo.. . t T, .. ,1857 W- M. Magraw Dr. J. G. Cooper... 10.00 24.25 8.25 6006 Port Steilacoom, W. T.... Dr. Suckley,U.S.A.. 3 8.20 6007 Cosumnes river, Cal Lt. Williamson 5 Dr. Heermann. ... 7.50 6008 Tulare valley, Cal. 7 7.70 Pale variety. i 6555 Port Riley Dr. W.A.Hammond 7.70 5595 beautifully variegated, much as in some of the waders, the pattern very irregular and scarcely capable of definition. There are, however, a good many large round spots of pale yellowish rusty, very conspicuous among the other markings. There is quite a large blotch of white on the wing, situated considerably nearer the tip than the carpal joint. It only involves four primaries and extends across both outer and inner webs. The four first primaries anterior to the white blotches, and the remaining ones, nearly from their tips, exhibit a series of large round rufous spots not seen in the other North American species. The other wing quills have also similar markings. There is a large V-shaped white mark on the throat, as in G. virginianus, though rather larger proportionally. Posterior to this there are some rather conspicuous blotches of rufous, behind which is the obscure finely mottled collar of gray and brown already referred to. The breast and remaining under parts are dull white transversely banded with brown, with a strong tinge of yellowish rufous on the abdomen, about the vent, and on the under tail coverts. The tail is dark brown with about eight transverse bars of lighter ; the last are white and extending across both vanes ; the others less continuous, and yellowish rufous beneath as well as above, especially on the inner vane. There is some variation in different specimens, especially as to the intensity of the rufous tints. The Santa Caterina specimen is larger than those from the lower Rio Grande* while No. 6010, from El Paso, is considerably larger than either, the wing measuring inches. There is, however, no other appreciable difference. The females differ, as far as indicated by the specimens before me, chiefly in lacking the white spot on the tail. The throat spot is rather smaller, but is almost pure white. The rufous markings are rather deeper. This species is readily distinguished from G. virginianus by its much smaller size, four prima- ries crossed with white, instead of five, the round rufous spots on the wing quills, the rufous tinge on the abdomen, and other characters. It, however, seems to present parallel variations of color and size with those described under G. virginianus. I am unable to say whether the subject of the present article be really distinct or not from G. sapiti, of Bonaparte, and G. brasilianus, of Gmelin. As Mr. Lawrence has given it a new name, I have adopted it provisionally, leaving the final decision to be made by some one having the proper materials before him. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. When col- lected. I Whence obtained. 1 Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 3951 Santa Catarina,Mexico... Ringgold barracks, Texas. Eagle Pass, Texas Aug. —,1853 July —,1853 Lieut. Couch, IT. S. A.. 186 8.75 19.00 7.00 Eyes blue black; bill black; feet purple. 6009 Major Emory, U. S. A.. J. H. Clark ........ 6.80 6010 1 A. Schott. 6.70 6012 6 ...... do 6.80 6010 El Paso, Texas J. H. Clark ........ 7.70 4578? Colorado river, California. A. Schott.......... | 6.90 SUB-ORDER CLAMATORES. In tlie present state of our knowledge of the subject, it is a matter of some uncertainty whether the North American Anisodactyle birds, viz : the Alcedinidae and Prionitidae, belong more naturally to the Strisores or to the Clamatores of Cabanis’ arrangement, (Slrisores and Tracheophones of Burmeister.) However, although in some respects of closer affinities to the former, I propose to keep them with the Clamatores, in accordance with the views of Cabanis. They may he grouped as Anisodactyli, in distinction from the remaining families of the sub-order, or Tracheophones, although neither of these names is to be taken in the extended signification given it by Muller and others, but merely as having provisional reference to the North American species alone. The muscles of the lower larynx, in some families, are weak and simple as in the Strisores; in others again they form a powerful fleshy body, which covers the first bronchial ring. These birds have a harsh voice, capable of but little modulation. The following schedule will be sufficient to indicate the general characters of the different families of this sub-order found in North America, although there are many others from other parts of the world not taken into account: ANISODACTYLI. Outer toe much longer than the inner; united for half its length to the middle so as to have a common sole to this extent. Sole of the hind toe widened and continuous internally with that of the inner toe. Tail usually with twelve feathers, sometimes with ten. Alcedinidae.—Tongue small, rudimentary. Tarsi very short. Edge of bill plain. Pbionitidae.—Tongue of normal size. Tarsi rather long. Cutting edge of bill dentated. TRACHEOPHONES. Feet and wings much as in the lowest Oscines. Lateral toes usually nearly equal. Tail generally of twelve feathers. Coloptebidae.—Tarsus more or less enveloped by scutellae. Posterior portion of the tarsus with small plates, sometimes partly naked. Wings sometimes with peculiarly abbreviated primaries. Bill short, conical, and usually depressed, the tip sometimes abruptly hooked.BIRDS--ALCEDINIDAE. 157 Family ALCEDINIDAE. Kingfishers. Head large ; bill long, strong, straight, and sub-pyramidal, usually longer than the head. Tongue very small. Wings short; legs small; the outer and middle toes united to their middle. Toes with the usual number of joints, (2, 3, 4, 5.) The gape of the bill in the kingfishers is large, reaching to beneath the eyes. The third primary is generally longest; the first decidedly shorter ; the secondaries vary from twelve to fifteen in number, all nearly equal. The secondaries cover at least three quarters of the wing. The tail is short, the feathers twelve in number ; they are rather narrow; the outer usually shorter. The lower part of the tibia is bare, leaving the joint and the tarsus uncovered. The tarsus is covered anteriorly with plates ; behind it is shagreen-like or granulated.. The hind toe is connected with the inner, so as to form with it and the others a regular sole, which extends unbroken beneath the middle and outer as far as the latter are united. The inner toe is much shorter than the outer. The claws are sharp ; the middle expanded on its inner edge, but not pectinated. The North .American species of kingfisher belong to the sub-family Gerylinae, characterized by the crested head, and the plumage varying with sex and age. The single genus Ceryle includes two types, Megaceryle and Ghloroceryle. CERYLE, Boie. Ceryle, Boie, Isis, 1828, 316, type C. rudis? Ispida, Sw. Birds, II, 1837, 336, (type C. alcyon.) Sp. Ch.—Bill long, straight, and strong, the culmen slightly advancing on the forehead and sloping to the acute tip ; the sides much compressed ; the lateral margins rather dilated at the base, and straight to the tip ; the gonys long and ascending. Tail father long and broad. Tarsi short and stout. This genus is distinguished from the typical Alcedo (confined to the Old World) by the longer tail, an indented groove on each side the culmen, inner toe much longer than the hinder instead of equal, &c. The two species of North American kingfishers belong to two different genera of modern systematists, the one to Megaceryle, Reich, the other to Ghloroceryle, Kaup. The characters of these sub-genera are as follows: Megaceryle, Reichenbach.—Bill very stout and thick. Tarsus about equal to the hind toe ; much shorter than the inner anterior ; scarcely as long as the lower jaw is deep. Plumage without metallic gloss; the occipital feathers much elongated, linear, and distinct................................................................M. alcyon. Chloroceryle, Kaup.—Size smaller and shape more slender than in preceding. Bill long, thin. Tarsi longer than hind toe; almost or quite as long as the inner anterior. Plumage with a green metallic gloss above; the occiput with a crest of rather short, indistinct feathers. ................................................C. americana. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch ofwings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw along. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 1640 Ceryle alcyon Carlisle o 11.28 6.16 4.24 0.42 0.84 0.28 2.20 2.60 do. 13.25 22.00 6.15 617 Ch.—Head with a long crest. Above blue, without metallic lustre. Beneath, with a concealed band across the occiput, and a spot anterior to the eye, pure white. A band across the breast, and the sides of the body under the wings, like the back. Primaries white on the basal half, the terminal unspotted. Tail with transverse bands and spots of white. Young with the sides of body and a transverse band across the belly below the pectoral one, light chestnut; the pectoral band more or less tinged with the same. Length of adult about 12| inches ; wing, 6 or more. Hab,—-The entire continent of North America. The above diagnosis will serve to identify the present species sufficiently for all practical purposes. The length of the bill and the other dimensions vary quite considerably, and, as a general rule, specimens from the Pacific coast are appreciably larger than eastern ones, though I have been unable to detect any difference of coloration. Mr. Bell, of New York, says that the difference in size between living birds of New York and California is very striking. The comparative table of measurements will serve to illustrate these differences. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No.- Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. fiQOQ Nelson river, H. B. T Donald Gunn Jno. Tsbister Selkirk spttl^m^nt do oyoo fil 7 Carlisle Pa ,,,a, tTTtt_ April 17,1842 S. F. Baird 12.75 22.00 Ol / 1640 Hn July 18, 1844 . 13.25 22.00 6.17 1641 vJ t Ho TT,Tt. 12.25 20.75 5.92 6520 O JfjspaynPj Fla . G. Wurdeman ..... 5234 Yellowstone river, N.T. July 25, 1856 Lieut. G. K. Warren Dr. Hayden.... Littlp ]Vfl«srmri Col. A. Vaughan 5867 Fort Riley, K. T Dr. Hammond & J. Xantus de Vesey. 5625 nrini t t - - - - - - Feb. 15, 1854 Gov. Stevens ...... 38 Dr. Suckley ... 11.50 19.00 6.75 0157/4 Hf) ^ - ., , , Jan. 20, 1854 16 oiyo A 1 Qrt U Arlonro f!nl Jan. —, 1855 Lieut. Trowbridge . T. A. Szabo.... oiyu AT Q1 HO ^ ... do do oiyi Qon *01 porn .. „, . „.. A. Cassidy 12.00 6189 4587 riAlAyQflA rilTAI4 rial Major Emory...... A. Schott...... BIRDS—ALCEBINIDAE—CERYLE AMERICANA. 159 CERYLE AMERICANA, Bo e. Texas Kingfisher. Jllcedo americana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat.-I, 1788, 451. Ceryle americana, Boie, Isis, 1828, 316.—Lawrence, Annals, N. Y. Lyceum,V, 1851, 118. (First introduction into the fauna of United States.)—Cassin, Illustrations, I, 1855, 255.—Brewer, N. Am. Oology, I, 1857, 3 ; pi. iv, f. 53, (Egg.) Chloroceryle americana, Reichenb. Handb. Sp. Orn. I, ii, 1851, 27 ; pi. 413, f. 3112—s15. Jllcedo viridis, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XIX, 1818, 413, (Cassin.) Sp. Ch.—Head slightly crested. Upper parts with a pectoral and abdominal band of blotches, glossy green, as also a line on each side the throat. Under parts generally, a collar on the back of the neck, and a double series of spots on the quills, white ; a chestnut band across the breast in some skins. Length, about 8 inches ; wing, 3|. Hab.—Rio Grande region of Texas and southward. This species is very much smaller than the eommon northern kingfisher, the body scarcely exceeding in size that of the downy woodpecker. The third quill is longest; the second and fourth scarcely shorter. The fifth is intermediate between the fifth and sixth. The tail is considerably rounded ; the lateral feathers about half an inch shorter than the middle ones. The general color of the upper parts in this species is a rich glossy or metallic green; of the lower,-white. The white of the throat is continued across the back of the neck, and enlarges somewhat on the upper part of the back. There is a transverse band across the upper part of the breast formed by crescentic spots of green like that of the back ; there is a second transverse band with the spots more distinct and rounded; similar spots are seen on the side of the body. There is also a line of green commencing on each side of the throat below the eye, and running into the pectoral band. The wing when folded exhibits four transverse rows of spots on the outer webs of the wing feathers, faint traces of a fifth and sixth being visible on the ends of the primaries. The inner webs of the quills are similarly spotted. The middle tail feathers are like the back ; the rest have the extremities green, the basal portion white, with various white blotches elsewhere, especially on the inner webs. The bill and feet are black. There is a good deal of white on the basal portion of the dorsal and scapular feathers. The specimens before me do not exhibit much variation. In the most mature the top of the head is uniformly green ; in the others it is faintly spotted with whitish. In one specimen there is an indication of white feathers on the lower eyelid. There is no appreciable difference in color between sexes, as marked on the labels. Two specimens (*7104 and 7102, female) have the bill much shorter than in the adult, the culmen being not much longer than the head, and the lower mandible yellow at the base and tip, instead of black. The green of the head above is much duller, and more spotted with brownish white. T cannot say whether this is indicative of immaturity or of the female. Of the half dozen specimens before me, only one (7103) has the pectoral chestnut colored band, described as characteristic of the adult. This is about an inch wide, and replaces the anterior band of green spots. A specimen from Guatemala, without chestnut pectoral band, agrees in every respect with those from Texas.160 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT List of specimens. Catal. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig’l Collected by— Length. Extent. Wing. Remarks. No. No. 3951 9 New Leon, Mexico. .,. August —, 1853 Lieut. Couch 134 6.75 9.75 3.50 Eyes brown, bill black,feet slate color. 6194 O Nueces river, Texas Lieut. J. G. Parke.. Dr. Heermann..... 5042 HF Devil’s river, 'Texas . T. r. r May 2,1853 Captain J. Pope 7.50 12.00 Eyes black, feet green, gums white. 7102 Q Western Texas ,1851 Col. J. D. Graham.. 9 J. H. Clark 8.75 12.00 3.50 7103 s 9 do 8.50 12.00 3.50 7987 Guatemala. J. Gould BIRDS —PRIONITIDAE—MOMOTUS CAERULICEPS. 161 Family PRIONITIDAE* The Sawbills. The sawbills or motmots have by most authors been placed as a sub-family with the Cora- cianae of the Ooraciadae, but latterly each has been raised to independent family rank. With somewhat-similar characters, the serration, or rather dentation, of the cutting edges of the bill and the extent of fusion of the outer and middle toes at once distinguish the Prionitidae. The bill is as long as the head ; gently decurved near the tip, but not hooked. The nostrils are small, circular, and close to the frontal feathers. The wings are rather short; the inner secondaries in the closed wing reaching the tip of the primaries. Of the ten primaries, the exposed portion of the first is scarcely more than half that of the fourth or longest. The secondaries are ten or twelve in number. The tail consists either of ten or twelve feathers ; the middle feathers are frequently spatulate, or with a portion of the lateral web wanting. The feet are large; the middle and outer toes connate for more than half their length, the tip of the inner claw reaching to the base of the outer. The toes have the normal number of joints, (2, 3, 4, 5.) The tarsi are clothed anteriorly with short half rings ; the sides with a series of plates, more or less broken up into smaller ones. The middle claw has its inner face extended into a sharp but not pectinated edge. Of the three genera—Crypticus, Momotus, and Hylomanes—constituting this family, only one, Momotus, has any representative near or within the borders of the United States. MOMOTUS, Latham. Momotus, Latham, Ind. Ora. I, 1790, 110. Prionites, Illiger, Prodromus, 1811, 224. Bill as long as the head, a little higher than broad ; only moderately broad at the basej and tapering gently to a somewhat rounded tip. Both mandibles with the cutting edges dentated, except at the tip and base. Tail very long. The preceding diagnosis sufficiently expresses the characters of the genus, although som others might be added. The connate toes and toothed or dentate bill are characters which belong to the family. MOMOTUS CAERULICEPS, Gould. Sawbill. Momotus caeruliceps, Gtould, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1836, 18.—Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1857, 253. Prionites caeruliceps, Bp. Consp. 1850, 165.—Ib. Consp. Vol. Anisod. 1854, 8. Prionites caeruleocephalus, Jard. & Selby, 111. Orn.; pi. 42. “ Momotus subhutu, Less. Desc. Mammif. et Ois. 1847, 265,” (fide Sclater.) Sp. Ch.—General color yellowish green. Top of the head and occipital crest bright blue, encircled with black, of which color are also the lores, whiskers, and several elongated narrow feathers on the throat. Length, 15 inches ; wing, 5|. Hab.—Mexico. The bill of this species is conical, slightly decurved, the upper edge angular. The cutting edges of the mandibles are provided with rounded notches, except near the tip, which is without any notch. The tarsi are rather long ; considerably longer than the middle toe and claw. The anterior three toes are connate at the base ; the outer and middle united as far as the penultimate articulation of the latter. The wings are short, broad, and much rounded when closed; the secondaries as long as the 21 b162 U. S. P. R. R EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. primaries. The first quill is scarcely more than two-thirds the fourth, (which is longest,) both measured from the carpal joint. It is more than an inch shorter than the second, which, in urn, is half an inch shorter than the third. The tail is long, hut, in the specimen before me, too much mutilated to furnish a satisfactory description. The body generally is grten, with a yellowish or, perhaps, fulvous shade, especially on the anterior half of the body. The lower parts are rather paler. The wings and tail are of a purer green; the outer webs of the primaries and the ends of the tail feathers with a bluish shade. The top of the head, with the short occipital crest, are bright blue, most vivid poste- riorly ; anteriorly paler, and on the front and above the eye tinged with greenish yellow. The forehead along the base of the bill, the lores, region around the eye, and a series of pointed whisker-like feathers below the eye, are black ; the latter margined above and below by greenish blue, like that on the top of the head, and separated from it by the color of the back. The occipital crest is also margined with black. On the middle of the throat are three or four much elongated compact feathers, which are black, with greenish blue margins near the base. The inside of the wing, especially the inner webs of the quills, are strongly tinged with yellowish rufous. In life the iris was yellow, the bill black, the feet dark chestnut. List of specimens. Catal. Sex. Locality. When Whence ob- Orig’l Length. Extent. Wing. Tarsus. Middle Its claw. Bill Specimen Remarks. No. collected. tained. No. toe. above. measured. 4337 Neh Aug. 27,1857 Wm. M. Magraw 70 Dr. T. G .Coop- 8.75 14*75 5 >00 Iris brown, bill and er. feet grayish black. 5633 3 Pole er^k TVpb., T T T T July 29,1856 Tiip.nf. Bryan.. 173 W. S. Wood.... 7082 9 dOt to,, •»»t * f 11 1111 Jo do do 5632 Q Jo July 28,1856 do 169 .50 5634 o do* • ••••«•••••••«* July 29,1858 177 do 8. 5056 San Pedro river, Texas.... May 1,1855 Captain Popp.. r,, , .... 57 9. 14. 5. 5057 o Crossing of Perns ........ Sept. 1,1855 135 8.50 14.50 5. Eyes brown 7385 Mimbre« tft Rio firandp.,, Dr. Henry 5906 O Fort Pt^da^oniy* W. T.., Dr. Cooper...... .... 8.75 15.00 5907 HP 3 dn.. , f . .. dn. . , f T t, do 9 50 5905 o o do, , ,, - - r • do T T do 9. CO 15.50 5908 V , Jo -.., - - T . do. 4378 jjVv-t Oregon . .. r T, . May 2,1855 Dr. Ruck ley 162 9. 16. 5.37 5506 O PHtal'im3 flalifnmia. ,.,, R. Samuels 537 5507 V jnn California John Xantus de Vesey. TYEANNUS VOCIFEEANS, Swain son. Cassin’s Flycatcher. Tyrannus voctferans, Swains on, Mop. Tyrant Shrikes in Quarterly Journal Sc. XX, Jan. 1826, 273-—Ib. Philos. Mag. I, 1827,368. Tyrannus cassinii, Lawrence, Ann NT. Y. Lyceum, N. H. V, 1852, 39 ; pi. iii, %. 2, (Texas.) Sp. Ch.—Bill from the forehead about as long as 'he head. Tail even or slightly rounded. Outer five primaries attenuated ; the first four abruptly and deeply emarginated ; third quill longest, second and fourth a little less, first shorter than the sixth, and half an inch less than the longest. Head and neck above and on the sides rather dark bluish ash ; the throat and breast similar, and only a little paler. Rest of upper parts olive green tinged with gray, mixed with brown on the rump ; the upper tail coverts and surface of the tail nearly black ; the outer web of the external feather and the tips of all pale brown. The chin is white, in strong contrast to the dark ash of the throat; the rest of the under parts bright sulphur yellow, (the sides olivaceous;) palest on the under tail coverts and inside of wing. A concealed vermilion patch in the crown, bordered by straw yellow. Wing feathers orown, tinged with olive, becoming paler towards the edge. Length, 8.80 inches ; wing, 5.25 ; tail, 4.25. Hah.—Valley of Gila, eastward to Pecos river, Texas, and into Mexico, on table lassds.BIRDS--TYRANNINAE--TYRANNUS COUCHII. 175 This species bears a close relationship to the T. verticalis, although the differences are readily appreciable on comparison. The bill is rather larger; the legs considerably more so; the quills are much more abruptly attenuated, and this near the tip, (within half an inch,) instead of being gradually emarginated. The tail is more even, and in some specimens slightly rounded. In respect to coloration, the ash of the head is considerably darker, that of the throat and breast much more so, making a very conspicuous contrast with the white of the throat and yellow of the belly ; the yellow beneath is brighter. The shoulders are more olivaceous. A very appre- ciable character is seen in the tail. The whole outer web of the external feather, including the shaft, in T. verticalis is purely and abruptly yellowish white, the extreme tips of all a little brownish. In the present species the shaft of the outer tail feather is dark brown, its outer webs and a rather broad band at the end of the other feathers rather light brown, with the extreme edges only of this color of a rather pure yellowish white. The identification of Tyrannus vociferans, Sw., with the present species, rather than with verticalis, is rendered necessary by the statement of the author, that the bill is larger than that of the king bird, instead of equal; the primary quills abruptly pointed, instead of very gradually attenuated; the head, neck, and breast pure slate, with the chin white, in decided contrast, instead of light ash, and the chin scarcely different. The absence of any mention of the white outer web to the external tail feather is also very conclusive as to the name not being referable to verticalis. The tail is said to’be even. Mr. Swainson’s specimen came from Temiscaltepec, and one from a locality not very remote, presented by Mr. Gould, agrees precisely with skins from the United States. The only discrepancy in Swainson’s description is in speaking of the tail and covert as deep black, instead of brownish black. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. .Remarks. 7389 7390 4579 7204 7387 5055 7938 7939 Q S ? oramento valley ...... Lieut. Williamson.. Dr. Heermann..... ? Fort. Tejon do Colorado river, Cal Major Emory A. Schott. Los Nogales, iVIex Jan. —, 1855 Dr. Kennerly ...... Fort Thorn, N.M........ Dr. T. C. Henry Pfipns^ TVxns April 23, 1856 Capt. Pope ... .... J. Gould 191 9.00 15.00 5.00 Eyes brown.... Mexico do •••* TYRANNUS; COUCHII, Baird. Couch’s Flycatcher. Sp. Ch.—Bill as long as the head. Feet stout. Five outer primaries abruptly attenuated at the end ; the third and fourth longest ; the first a little longer than the sixth. Tail considerably forked ; (depth of fork about .30 of an inch.) Top and sides of the head and neck light bluish ash ; rest of upper parts olivaceous green, tinged with ash, less of the olive on the rump ; a concealed patch of red on the crown. Chin white, passing insensibly into an ashy tinge on the fore part of the breast ; rest of under parts generally bright yellow, almost gamboge on the belly. The quills and toil feathers are of about the same shade of brown, not at all black ; in fact, the primaries are darkest; the upper tail coverts are lighter brown than the tail ; the edges of the wing feathers, except the primaries, are paler ; of the secondaries and tertials almost white. The tail feathers externally are like the back ; internally and at the tip they are brownish white. The external web of the outer tail feather is like the internal, the extreme edge only paler. The shafts of all are white beneath. Length 9.00 ; wing, 5.00 ; tail, 4.70. flab .-—Northeastern Mexico to Rio (3-rande.176 U S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS----ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. This species, though otherwise similar, is readily distinguished from T. verticalis and vociferans by the absence of the very dark brown, almost black, of the tail and its upper coverts, as well as by the pale external edges to all the tail feathers. The yellow is much brighter ; the chin and throat with more white, and the ashy tinge on the breast is much lighter than even in T. verticalis, and does not extend so far down. The inner surface of the wing is very pure yellow. The red in the crown has more of an orange shade. The bill is much larger and the tail much more deeply forked than in either of the species mentioned. The shafts of the tail feathers are white beneath, not brown. The differences from T. melancholicus will be found detailed under that species. A Tyrannus sulphuraceus from Cuba and Hayti is indicated in Naumannia by Hartlaub, from the MSS. of Prince Paul, of Wurtemberg, and subsequently referred to by Cabanis, in Journal fur Ornith. 1855, 479. The T' couchii, however, has no white stripe under the eye ; the crest is not golden yellow ; the tail feathers not pale yellowish beneath, &c. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4001 3 New Leon# Mexico Lt. D. N. Couch 99 9.00 15.00 s.eo Eyes dark brown bill and feet black.............. 4002 San Diego, Mexico March—, 1853 111 9.00 15.00 5.00 # T # T f|o r ¥ - - t ,- t ,»i ttitt i 4003 A April —, 1853 .... do 126 9.50 15.50 5.00 rln T. . t o TYEANNUS MELANCHOLICUS, Vieillot. Tyrannus melancholicus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. N. H. XXXV, 1819, 84.—Tschudi, Fauna Per. 1844-546, 151.— Burm. Th. Bras. Vogel, 1856, 464. Muscicapa despotes, Licht. Verz. Doubl. 1823, No. 567, a. Muscicapafurcata, Spix, Av. Bras. II tab. xix. Tyrannus crudelis, SwAinson, Mon. Tyrant Shrikes Quart. Jour. XX, Jan. 1826, 275, (Brazil.) gP. cH.—Bill very large. Quills moderately but abruptly emarginate and attenuated at the end ; the third and fourth longest; the first rather shorter than the sixth. Tail quite deeply forked, (depth of fork half an inch.) Top and sides of the head and neck light bluish ash ; rest of upper parts bright olive ; browner on the upper tail coverts. Chin whitish, passing gradually into pale ash (considerably lighter than above) on the throat, and on the fore part of breast tinged with olive green; rest of lower parts bright gamboge yellow. Wing and tail feathers dark brown ; the tips of the primaries and tail almost black ; all, except the primaries, edged with olivaceous gray, which in the secondaries and tertials has a strong tinge of sulphur yellow ; edge of outer tail feathers pale brown, and narrow tips of all brownish white. Crown with a vermilion patch encircled by yellow. Length, 9.00 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 4.20. Hab>—Southern Mexico, Central and South America. I have described this species, although as yet not found near our territory, for the purpose of aiding in the determination of the species of this most difficult group, by showing the peculiar characteristics of some closely allied species. It has the general appearance of the three species just described, but the tail is much more deeply forked than in either verticalis or vociferans, although it is almost as black. It differs from both in the laxly fibred olivaceous outer edges to the tail feathers, instead of a compact uniform brownish black, without any colored margin. The ash color does not extend so far on the breast, which is more tinged with olive ; the yellow is more intense ; the light edgings of the wings are olivaceous, instead of grayish white. The bill is much larger ; the attenuation of the primaries less. In reality, however, nothing moreBIRDS—TYRANNINAE—MYIARCHUS. 177 is needed to separate it from T. verticalis than its brown outer margin to the tail, nor from vouferans than its deeply forked tail and paler ash of the throat and olivaceous breast. Its resemblance to T. couchii (4003) is much closer. Both have a deep fork to the tail; bright gamboge yellow belly ; the bill of nearly the same size ; the shafts of the tail feathers white beneath, &c. The tail is, however, more deeply forked, and much darker, nearly black ; the feathers narrower ; the upper tail coverts darker ; the edgings on the wing yellowish, not grayish white, &c. It is barely possible that the two may be the same, but at present I see sufficient differences to distinguish them. Among a series of specimens otherwise quite similar, I find some difference in the depth of the fork of the tail, which in one is as much as .80 of an inch. The bills vary considerably, both in size and proportions. All, however, agree well both with the T. melancliolicus and T. crudelis. Should two be distinguished, Swainson’s name may be applied to the more northern one. In my description I have taken the specimen from Yera Cruz as the type. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. 8101 4524 8102 8103 8104 C'pnT: Mexico S. F. Baird Pan am a _ Dec. 28, 1855 Dr. Suckley 198 Amfirira. S. F. Baird do __ MYIARCHUS, Cab an is. Myiarchus, Cabanis, Fauna Peruana 1844-’6, 152.—Burmeister, Thiere Brasiliens, II, Vogel, 1856, 469. Tarsus equal to or not longer than the middle toe, which is decidedly longer than the hinder one. Bill wider at base than half the culmen. Tail broad, long, even, or slightly rounded, about equal to the wings, which scarcely reach the middle of the tail; the first primary shorter than the sixth. Head with elongated lanceolate distinct feathers. Above brownish olive, throat ash, belly yellow. Tail and wing feathers varied with rufous. This genus is well marked among the American flycatchers, and constitutes what Bonaparte called Ultimi Tyrannorum sive Tyrannularum primae. The type is the Muscicapa ferox of Gmelin, which, as identified by Cabanis and Burmeister as above, appears to resemble our species very closely. The following analysis exhibits the peculiarities of the latter, including a closely allied Mexican form : A. Inner web of tail feathers broadly rufous to the extreme tip. Bill broad ; its width at base two thirds the culmen. Colors darker. Brown stripe along the inside of shafts of tail feathers very inconspicuous and narrow. Tarsus .84 of an inch.......................M. crinitus. Colors paler. Brown stripe on inside of shafts of tail feathers very distinct, and on the outer one broader than the outer web. Tarsus .95 of an inch....ilf. cooperi. B. Inner web of tail feathers broadly rufous only to near the tip, which is brown. Colors pale. Tarsus .90 of an inch. Bill at base little more than one-half the culmen...........................................................M. mexicanus. 23 b178 U. S. P. R. R EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY----GENERAL REPORT. 0. Inner web of tail feathers entirely brown, with only a narrow edging of rufous. Ouler primary edged with rufous. First primary shorter than secondaries. No whitish bands on wing..................................................,Jf. lawrencii. Comparative measurements of the species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. Remarks. 1449 Myiarchus crinitus Carlisle, Pa A 7.80 4.12 4.06 0.80 0.70 0.26 0.72 0.98 Dry do .... do do 0 8.75 13.66 4.25 Fresh ... 1426 ....do. do ... do O 7.38 3.90 3.82 0.84 0.64 0.24 0.76 1.06 Drv do .... do do . ..... V 8.75 13.25 4.08 Fresh 9100 Myiarchus cooperi Mexico 8.30 4.06 4.10 0.90 0.70 0.26 0.80 1.12 Dry 5509 Myiarchus mexieanus.... Petaluma, Cal s 7.80 4.00 4.24 0.95 0.70 0.24 0.76 1.00 Dry 7940 .... do do Mexico.. 4.02 4.16 0.86 0,50 0.20 0.70 0.96 Dry Head off; feet broken. 3918 ....do. do ....... California 7.64 3.96 4.06 0.90 0.70 0.22 0.74 1.04 Dry ..... 10028 Myiarchus lawrencii New Leon,Mex., San Diego 9 6.62 3.28 3.50 0.74 0.62 0.24 0.66 0.92 Dry MYIABCHUS CKINITUS, Cab an is. Great Crested Flycatcher* Muscicapa crinita, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 325.—Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 75 ; pi. xiii.—Licht. Verzeichniss Doubl. 1823, No. 559.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 176: V, 423 ; pi. ]29.—Ib. Birds Amer. I, 1840, 209; pi. 57. Tyrannus crinitus, Swainson, Mon. Tyrant Shrikes in Quarterly Journal, XX. Jan. 1826, 271.—Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 302. Myiobius crinitus, Gray, Genera, I, 248. Tyrannula crinita, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 189.—Kaup, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1851, 51. Myiarchus crinitus, Cabanis, Journ. fur Ornith. Ill, 1855, 479. Muscicapa ludovicianat Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 934.—Latham Ind. Tyrannus ludovicianust Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807 ; pi. 45. “ Tyrannus irritabilis> Vieillot.99 Muscicapa virginiana cristata, Brisson, II, 1760, 412. Crested flycatcher, Pennant, Latham. Figure, Buffon Enl. 569, fig. 1. Sp Ch.—Head with a depressed crest. Third quill longest; fourth and second successively but little shorter ; first a little longer than seventh ; much shorter than sixth. Tail decidedly rounded or even graduated ; the lateral feather about .25 of an inch shorter. Upper parts dull greenish olive, with the feathers of the crown and to some extent of the back showing their brown centres; upper tail coverts turning to pale rusty brown. Small feathers at the base of the bill, ceres, sides of the head as high as the upper eyelid, sides of the neck, throat, and forepart of the breast bluish ashy ; the rest of the lower parts, including axillaries and lower wing coverts, bright sulphur yellow ; a pale ring round the eye. Sides of the breast and body tinged with olivaceous. The wings brown ; the first and second rows of coverts, with the secondary and tertial quills, margined externally with dull white, or on the latter slightly tinged with olivaceous yellow. Primaries margined externally for more than half their length from the base with ferruginous ; great portion of the inner webs of all the quills very pale ferruginous. The two middle tail feathers light brown, shafts paler ; the rest have the outer web and a narrow line on the inner sides of the shaft brown, pale olivaceous on the outer edge ; the remainder ferruginous to the very tip. Outer web of exterior feather dull brownish yellow. Feet black. Bill dark brown above and at the tip below; paler towards the base. Length, 8.75 inches; wing, 4.25; tail, 4.10 ; tarsus, .85. ** Hab.—Eastern North America to the Missouri and south to eastern Texas, (not yet observed further west.) The female appears to have no brown on the inner web of the quills along the shaft, or else it is confined chiefly to the outer feathers.BIRDS--TYRANNINAE--MYIARCHUS MEXICANUS. 179 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wii^s. Wing. 1449 A Carlisle, Pa May 4, 1844 S. F. Baird. 8.75 13.66 4.25 1523 o A . T T T,. do t--i- May 16, 1844 do 9.00 13.50 4.25 2634 o A ... do •. T May 11, 1846 do 9.00 13.16 4.25 2539 o A May 5,1844 do 9.00 13.50 4.25 1020 o s n do May 24, 1843 do 8.08 13.41 4.00 1426 T.. do ,,,,,, May 2, 1844 8.75 13.25 4.08 7414 V Cleveland, Oliio Dr. Kirtland. o Smith rilinoi« - t T - , , , ,, May 11, 1844 R Kennieott. T. T 6970 V A St. TjOuis, Mo May 8, 1857 Lieut.. F. T. Bryan 33 W. S. Wood 7532 o Independence, Mo. Wm. M. Magraw ............ Dr. J. G. Cooper 8.25 12.50 4.00 8398 A do T1 T. July 1, 1857 do 108 8.60 12.70 4.10 V Red fork of Arkansas Capt. Sitgreaves Dr. Woodhonse 7201 Texas Capt. Pope 7202 ... do . . ..■ do MYIARCHUS MEXICANUS, Baird. Ash-throated Flycatcher Tyrannula mexicana, Kaijp, Pr. Zool. Soc. Feb. 1851, 51. Tyrannula cinerascens, Lawrence, Annals N. Y. Lyc. N. Hist. Y, Sept. 1851, 109. Sp. Ch.—Bill black, the width opposite the nostrils not half the length of culmen. Head crested. Tail even, the lateral feathers slightly shorter. Second, third, and fourth quills longest; first rather shorter than the seventh. Above dull greyish olive ; the centres of the feathers rather darker ; the crown, rump, and upper tail coverts tinged with brownish. The fore.head and sides of the head and neck grayish ash *, the chin, throat, and fore part of the breast ashy white ; the middle of the breast white ; the rest of the under parts very pale sulphur yellow ; wings and tail brown. Two bands across the wing, with outer edges of secondaries and tertials dull white ; the outer edges of the primaries light chestnut brown (except towards the tip and on the outer feather ;) the inner edges tinged with the same. Whole of middle tail feathers, with the outer webs (only) ajid the ends of the others brown ; the rest of the inner webs reddish chestnut, the outer web of exterior feather yellowish white. Legs and bill black ; lower mandible brownish at the base. Length about 8 inches ; wing, 4 : tail, 4.10 ; tarsus, .90. Hab.—Coast of California, and across by valley of Gila and Rio Grande to northeastern Mexico. Seen as far north in Texas as San Antonio. In a young specimen the crown is more tinged with brown ; the upper tail coverts and the middle tail feathers are chestnut, and, in fact, all the tail feathers are of this color, except along both sides of the shaft on the central feathers, and along its outer side in the lateral ones. The relationships of this species are clearly with M. crinitus, although the differences are readily appreciable. The size is much the same ; the hill narrower and blacker ; the tarsi much longer ; the wings not so much pointed. The colors of the upper parts are quite the same ; beneath, however, the throat and middle of the fore breast are nearly white (quite white behind) instead of ash, and the sulphur yellow of the remaining under parts is exceedingly pale, instead of very intense. The wings are similar, but the chestnut brown of the inner web is deeper and more abruptly defined in crinitus. In the lateral tail feathers of mexicanus the brown does not cross the shaft from the outer webs, but is continued rather broadly round the tips ; while in the other the inner side of the shaft is bordered by brown, but the inner web is chesnut to the extreme end. This species is but briefly described by Kaup, as quoted above, still his comparisons of size &c., with its allies leave no doubt as to the identity with Tyrannula cinerascens of Lawrence. A Mexican specimen is a little larger than usual, but otherwise the same.180 U. S P. B. E. EXP. AND STJEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEBAL EEPOET. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 5508 3 Petaluma, Sonoma Co., Cal E. Samuels 681 5509 $ do April —, 1856 663 7*207 San Francisco, Cal R. D. Cutts........ 7209 4946 San Jose, Cal A. J. Grayson 2 , 3720. ■ Q.' Los Angeles, Cal W. Hutton .,7210 o. (?,. Pospitrv do. ....do.. ....do do..... 5.91 8.50 2.75 Fresh . _ T. _ T 1025 do $ 5.04 2.86 2.62 0.64 0.54 0.18 0.46 0.63 do. ....do.. do 5.91 9.33 2.91 Fpsh _ , 693 do.. do $ 5.54 2.84 2.68 0.64 0.52 0.20 0.44 0.64 7252 Emnidonax misillus. A 5.06 2.78 2.70 0.64 0.58 0.20 0.50 0.70 Dfv . . do. ....do.. 5.50 3. uiy •«•••• m Fresh 10077 .. ..do.. ....do FortTejon, Cal.... A 5.20 2.80 2.56 0.68 0.50 0.16 0.50 0.70 do. .... do.. ....do 5.75 8.75 3.75 Fresh . T _. f t 7244 .... do.. ....do Los Nogales, Mex 5.84 2.56 2.54 0.68 0.52 0.20 0.48 0.66 495 ....do.. do Rocky mountains... ' 3 5.10 2.64 2.50 0-65 0.52 0.20 0.48 0.68 T>rv.... 2563 Emoidonax minimus Carlisle, Pa O 4.46 2.40 2.40 0.60 0.44 0.18 .038 0.54 ■LJkJ •••• •••• T>rv do. ....do,. V 5.41 8. 2.50 Fresh 1415 .... do.. .... .do . A 4.82 2.66 2.54 0.64 0.54 0.20 0.40 0.56 do. ....do.. ....do do O 5.58 8.58 2.88 Fresh 7932 Emoidonax acadieus Pennsylvania 5.50 3.00 2.62 0.58 0.48 0.16 0.42 0.68 500 do.. Chester county, Pa.. A 5.48 3.82 2.62 0.60 0.50 0.18 0.50 0.66 TJrv 9099 Emoidonax flaviventris. .. Coban, Cent. Am u 5.20 2.70 2.38 0.66 0.52 0.16 0.40 0.55 T)rv do. ....do.. Racine, Wisconsin.. 2.74 2.42 0.64 0.50 0.18 0.42 0.58 XJiy «M« MM T> rv 2339 ....do.. ..... do.... Carlisle, Pa........ Q 4.24 2.50 2.18 0.65 0.50 0.18 0.40 ,0.60 y • T)rv 985 ....do.. Hr A 4.86 2.76 2.42 0.66 0.50 0.18 0.42 0.60 "Hrv. do. ....do.. o 5.16 8.83 2.83 - Fresh . T T t,, 5920 Empidonax difficilis Ft. Steilacoom,W.T. 4.86 2.64 2.44 0.63 0.50 0.18 0.41 0.58 T>rv 10079 Emnidonax hammondii. Fort Tejon A 4.90 2.78 2.50 0.62 0.50 0.18 0.40 0.52 do. ....do.. o 5.50 9. uiy • • • • • .v* • Fresh ... 10080 ....do.. ... .do..... do O 4.90 2.74 2.50 0.64 0.52 0.18 0.43 0.58 do. do,. do 5.50 8. Fresh , t 7237 Emnidonax nhsn.urus. El Paso, Texas $ 5.14 2.83 2.76 0,72 0.54 0.16 0.46 0.60 Dnr . do. .... do., ...do ........... do 5.37 8.50 2.87 Fresh . T r t,, EMPIDOXAX TRAILLII, Baird. Traill’s Flycatcher. Muscicapa traillii, Audubon, Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 236 : V, 1839, 426 ; pi. 45.—1b, Syn. 1839, 43 —Ib. Birds Amer. I 1840,234; pi. 65. Tyrannula trailliiy Rich. List, 1837.—Bonap. List, 1838. Tyrannus traillii> Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 323. Sp. Ch.—Third quill longest; second scarcely shorter than fourth; first shorter than fifth, about .35 shorter than the longest. Primaries about .75 of an inch longer than secondaries. Tail even. Upper parts dark olive green; lighter under the wings, and duller and morte tinged with ash on nape and sides of the neck. Centre of the crown feathers brown. A pale yellowish white ring (in some specimens altogether white) round the eye. Loral feathers mixed with white. Chin and throat white ; the breast and sides of throat light ash tinged with olive, its intensity varying in individuals, the former sometimes faintly tinged with olive. Sides of the breast much like the back. Middle of the belly nearly white ; sides of the belly, abdomen, and the lower tail coverts sulphur yellow. The quills and tail feathers dark brown, as dark (if not more so) as these parts in C. virens. Two olivaceous yellow white bands on the wing, formed by the tips of the first and second coverts, succeeded by a brown one ; the edge of the first primary and of secondaries and tertials a little lighter shade of the same. The outer edge of the tail feathers like the back ; that of the lateral one rather lighter. Bill above dark brown; dull brownish beneath. Length nearly 6 inches ; wing, 2.90 ; tail, 2.60. Hab.—Eastern United States and south to Mexico. The young bird is similar, but the colors are duller. The markings on the wings are more ochraceous. The body in this species is stout; tail short, very nearly even ; feathers broad, distinctly194 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS---ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. pointed, and acuminate. Differs from E. minimus in larger size and proportions of tlie quills. The middle of the hack is the same color in both, but instead of becoming lighter and tinged with ash on the rump and upper tail coverts, these parts very rarely differ in color from the hack. The markings on the wings, instead of being dirty white, are decidedly olivaceous yellow. The yellow of the lower parts is deeper. The tail feathers are rather broad, acuminate, and pointed ; in minima they are narrow and more rounded. Tho bill is larger and fuller. The legs are decidedly shorter in proportion. This species is somewhat like E. acadicus in the proportions of the quills, but the wing is con- siderably shorter. The precise differences will be found detailed in the article on acadicus. The proportions of the quills are generally as detailed under the specific character ; the first quill .30 of an inch less than the longest, and intermediate between the fourth and fifth ; the primaries about .70 of an inch longer than the first secondary. In one specimen the second, third, and fourth are nearly equal; the other proportions the same. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Length. Extent. Wing. 2968 9 New Hampshire E. Harris 1026 Carlisle, Pennsylvania May 26,1843 S. F. Baird 5.75 8.75 2.66 1025 $ 5.91 9.33 2.91 2345 9 May 26,1845 5.83 8.41 2.66 433 May 31,1841 do*. 5.33 8.00 2310 May 21,1845 5.91 8.50 2.75 2347 May 26,1845 do 2340 9 5.91 8.75 2.75 9104 Mexico M. Verreanx ...trtl, 29928 EMPIDONAX PUSILLUS, 0 a b a n i s. ? Platyrhynchus pusillus, Swaistson, Phil. Mag. I, May, 1827, 366. Tyrannulapusilla, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 144; pi.—Rich. App. Back’s Voyage, 1834-’36, 144.—Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ill, 1847, 156. Muscicapa pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 288 ; pi. 434.—Ib. Birds Amer. I, 1840, 236 ; pi. 66. Tyrannus pusilla, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840. Sp. Ch.—Second, third, and fourth quills longest; first shorter than the sixth. Bill rather broad ; yellow beneath. Tail even. Tarsi rather long. Above dirty olive brown, paler and more tinged with brown towards the tail. Throat and breast white, tinged with grayish olive on the sides, shading across the breast; belly and under tail coverts very pale sulphur yellow. Wings with two dirty narrow brownish white bands slightly tinged with olive ; the secondaries and tertials narrowly and incon- spicuously margined with the same. First primary faintly edged with whitish ; the outer web of first tail feather paler than the inner, but not white. Under wing coverts reddish ochraceous yellow. A whitish ring round the eye. Length, 5.50 inches ; wing, 2.80 ; tail, 2.75. Hob.—High central plains to the Pacific. Fur countries. Southward into Mexico. In examining carefully a large collection of skins of the small American flycatchers, I have found it necessary to separate a western series intermediate between E. traillii and minimus, typical specimens of the two latter species being without any representatives from the region beyond the Missouri plains. Although the differences are quite appreciable in the comparison, I yet find it exceedingly difficult to characterize a species so as to carry the same impression of diversity to others as I have experienced myself. The bird is about the size of E. traillii, or a little less, but has more the colors of minimus. It agrees with the latter in becoming lighterBIRDS—TYRANNINAE—EMPIDONAX MINIMUS. 195 towards tlie rump, but this and the upper tail coverts and, indeed, the upper parts generally, are of a soiled brownish tinge, taking considerably from the purity of the olive. The under wing coverts have also a decided shade of brownish ochraceous in the yellow. There is much less white in the wing. The tail feathers are narrow and rounded as in minimus. The quills are broad and rounded; the second, third, and fourth about equal; the fifth nearly intermediate between the fourth and sixth; the first shorter than the sixth; the primaries are about .65 longer than the first secondary. The legs are of about the same length as in minimus. The bill is much larger than in minimus, the ridge of the lower mandible measuring .35 of an inch instead of .30 ; the color yellow instead of brownish. From traillii it differs in the brownish tinge of the under wing coverts, the browner upper parts, and the less amount of white on the wings; the first primary shorter than the sixth instead of the fifth. The tarsi are longer ; the bill appears rather longer. This species appears to agree rather better than any before me with the Tyrannula pusilla of Swainson, in F. Bor. Am., and I have accordingly adopted the name. His figure differs materially from the description, and is certainly improperly colored, as is also that of richardsonii of the same plate. In some respects E. minimus, Baird, agrees with T. pusilla of Swainson, but a female of the species I here describe would answer quite as well in general, and if, in the present monograph, I have' succeeded in fixing the species of small Tyrannulas with any degree of precision, it may be best to assign the synonymy as I have done. It is not likely that the E. pusilla of Cabanis belongs here. Young birds have a good deal of reddish brown on the rump and upper tail coverts, and two bands of the same across the wings. The inner wing coverts are as in the adult. List of specimens. Catal. No.^ Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Length. Extent. Wing. 7253 Fort. Steilacoom . , August 1, 1856 Dr. Suekley. .... 510 7254 do 505 7242 do 105 10076 Fort Tejon, Cal , 1857 J. Xantus de Vesey 277 10077 w do do 623 7244 Los'Nogales, Mexico. June —5 1855 Major Emory T 74 Dr. Kennerly 7252 s Rio Nasas, Durango June —? 1853 Lieut. Couch 240 5.50 7.25 ? 3.00 > 495 Rocky mountains ..... May —, 1855 S. F. Baird Dr. Trudeau EMPIDONAX MINIMUS, Baird. Least Flycatcher. Tyrannula minima, Wm. M. and S. F. Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. I, July 1843, 284.—In. Sillim. Am. Jour. Sc. July, 1844.— Audubon, Birds Amer. VII, 1844, 343 ; pi. 491. Sp. Ch.—Second quill longest; third and fourth but little shorter ; fifth a little less ; first intermediate between fifth and sixth. Tail even. Above olive brown, darker on the head, becoming paler on the rump and upper tail coverts. The middle of the back most strongly olivaceous. . The nape (in some individuals) and sides of the head tinged with ash. A ring round the eye and some of the loral feathers white ; the chin and throat white. The sides of the throat and across the breast dull ash, the color on the latter sometimes nearly obsolete ; sides of the breast similar to the back, but of a lighter tint; middle of the belly very pale yellowish white, turning to pale sulphur yellow on the sides of the belly, abdomen, and lower tail coverts. Wings brown ; two narrow white bands on wing formed by the tips of the first and second coverts, succeeded by one of brown. The edge of the first primary, and of the secondaries and tertials, white. Tail rather lighter brown, edged externally like the back. Feathers narrow, not acuminate, with the ends rather blunt. In autumn tlie white parts are strongly tinged with yellow. Length, about 5 inches ; wing, 2.65 ; tail, 2.50. Hub.—Eastern United States to Missouri plains. *196 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. As stated under the head of E. traillii, E. minimus differs from it in its smaller size, and more ashy tinge on the sides of the head, the nape, and rump. The tail feathers are narrower, more rounded at the end, and less acuminate. The tarsi are one-tenth of an inch longer, though the bird is considerably smaller ; the claws also are larger. The second, third, and fourth quills are generally nearly equal, the latter always considerably exceeding the first, as does the fifth also ; in trailli the fifth is usually nearly the length of the first, or but slightly different from it. One of the most appreciable differences between the two species lies in the two bands of the wing. These, with the other edgings of the wings in minimus, are dirty grayish white; in traillii they are strongly tinged with grayish olive. Both have the outer primary edged with yellowish white, and the first tail feather with its outer web paler brownish than elsewhere, but not approaching to white. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 2709 Philadelphia S.F. Baird-.- 2450 Carlisle, Pa_ « Sept. 10, *1845 do 5. 33 8 25 2. 50 2274 s do. May 17, 1845 ..-do 5. 33 8.25 2. 58 2132 April 23, 1845 do_.» 5. 50 8. 25 2. 58 3371 $ May 3, 1847 do 5. 50 8. 50 2. 75 1415 & May 1, 1844 ......do ------ 5.58 8.58 2.66 726 Sept, 16, 1842 do 5. 25 8. 00 1486 s do -------- May 8, 1844 do 5.41 3. 50 3. 66 2563 Q do May 5, 1846 .do ------ 5.41 8.00 2. 50 2254 +• Q _ do May 12, 1845 do - 5. 58 7.83 *2. 41 2348 HF do May 26, 1845 do. _ 5.16 7.41 2. 33 2163 April 29, 1845 do 5. 50 8. 25 2. 58 2133 April 23, 1845 do 5 50 8.41 2. 50 2624 May 11, 1846 do 5. 33 8. 25 2. 58 2650 May 12, 1846 do 5. 33 “ 8.16 2. 50 2649 do 5. 50 8. 00 2. 50 1672 Aug. 12, 1844 nr.' do 5. 41 8. 00 2.41 7415 Cleveland, Ohio- Dr Kirtland Chicago, 111 May 2, 1855 R. Kennicott Racine, Wis Ttfnr+,h wp«if;prn TTrnv - 7415 Cleveland, Ohio----- iel vl III YY Vo l/vl i-l KJ i-li V • Dr. Kirtland 5270 s Near Powder river. -_ Aug. 4, 1856 lit' Warren Dr. Hayden 5. 00 7. 75 2.50 4700 s Eau qui court------- May 15, 1856 do 5.50 8. 25 2. 75 4699 Q ------do- . do do do.--------- 5. 25 7. 62 2. 75 4701 do. _ do do do 5.25 8. 50 2. 75 4702 S Vermilion. --------- May 6, 1856 do do 5. 37 8. 00 2. 62 4698 O Nebraska- ----- May 11, 1856 ------do do - 4. 87 7. 50 2. 75 ¥ BIRDS—TYRANNINAE—EMPIDONAX ACADICUS. 197 EMPIDONAX ACADICUS, Baird. Small Green-crested Flycatcher. ?Muscicapa acadica, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 947.—Latham, Index Orn. II, 1790, 489.—Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 71, (from Latham).—Audubon, Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 256: Y, 1839, 429 ; pi. 144.—Ib. Birds Amer. 1,1840, 221; pi. 62.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 208.—Giraud, Birds L. Island, 1844, 40. Muscicapa querula, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 77 ; pi. xiii, f. 3, (not of Vieillot.) “ Platyrhynchus virescens, Vieillot.” Tyrannula acadica, Richardson, ? Bon. List. Tyrannus acadica, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 320. Sp. Ch.—The second and third quills are longest, and about equal ; the fourth a little shorter ; the first about equal to the fifth, and about .35 less than the longest. Tail even. The upper parts, with sides of the head and neck, olive green ; the crown very little if any darker. A yellowish white ring round the eye. The sides of the body under the wings like the back, but fainter olive ; a tinge of the same across the breast ; the chin, throat, and middle of the belly white ; the abdomen, lower tail and wing coverts, and sides of the body not covered by the wings pale greenish yellow. Edges of the first primary, seconda- ries, and tertials margined with dull yellowish white, most broadly on the latter. Two transverse bands of pale yellowish across the wings formed by the tips of the secondary and primary coverts, succeeded by a brown one. Tail light brown, mar- gined externally like the back. Upper mandible light brown above ; pale yellow beneath. In autumn the lower parts are more yellow* Length, 5.65 ; wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.75. Hab.—Eastern United States to the Mississip . In this species the wing is rather long and quite acute, reaching about to the middle of the tail; the primaries about .90 of an inch shorter than the secondaries. The proportions do not vary much from that described, although the third quill is sometimes longest. The tail is almost exactly even, a little rounded on the sides. The tarsi are rather long, exceeding the middle toe. There is generally a tinge of reddish in the yellow bands of the wings, although most marked in autumn specimens. The under wing coverts are pale sulphur yellow, and the tertials and secondaries have the basal portion of the inner web entirely sulphur yellow. The yellow edges to the lesser quills do not extend as far as the wing coverts, but leave a well defined band of brown just below the yellowish. This species is very similar to E. traillii, but the upper parts are of a brighter and more uniform olive green, much like that of Vireo olivaceus. The feathers of the crown lack the darker centre. There is less of the olivaceous ash across the breast. The bands across the wing are brighter yellow. There is much more yellow at the base of the lesser quills. The wings are longer, both proportionally and absolutely. The primaries exceed the secondaries by nearly an inch, instead of by only about .70 ; the proportions of the quills are much the same. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex n ag. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 1824 Philadelphia ft. F. Baird 1089 do Spring of 1843 1225 500 $ Chester county, Pa__ Washington, D. C... Savannah, Gu 1841 7589 Q April 29, 1845 1845 Wm. Hutton 2395 Hr o Q S. F. Baird J. Leconte 5. 60 8. 50 2. 70 2396 HP $ do 1845 ..-..-do 5. 90 9.00 2.90 7416 Cleveland, Ohio Dr. J. P. Kirtland. 198 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS-ZOOLOGY--GENEEAL EEPOET. EMPIDONAX FLAVIVENTRIS, Baird. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Tyrannula flaviventris, Wm. M. and S. F. Baird, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc.Phila. I, July, 1843,283_Ib. Am. Journ. Science, April, 1844.—Audubon, Birds Amer. VII, 1844, 341 ; pi. 490. Tyrannula pusilla, (Swainson) Reinhardt, Vidensk. Meddel. for 1853 1854, 82.—GLOGER,;Cab. Jour. 1854, 426. Empidonax hypoxanthus, Baird, (Provisional name for eastern specimens.) Empidonax difficilis, Baird, (Provisional name for western.) Sp. Ch.—Second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal; first intermediate between fifth and sixth. Tail nearly even, slightly rounded. Tarsi long. Above bright olive green; (very similar to the back of Vireo noveboracensis;) crown rather darker. A broad yellow ring round the eye. The sides of the head, neck, breast and body, and a band across the breast like the back, but lighter ; the rest of the lower parts bright sulphur yellow ; no white or ashy anywhere on the body. Quills dark brown ; two bands on the wing formed by the tips of the primary and secondary coverts, the outer edge of the first primary and of the secondaries and tertials pale yellow, or greenish yellow. The tail feathers brown, with the exterior edges like the back. The bill dark brown above, yellow beneath. The feet black. In the autumn the colors are purer, the yellow is deeper, and the markings on the wings of an ochry tint. Length, 5.15 inches ; wing, 2.83 ; tail, 2.45. Hah.—Eastern United States generally. Probably replaced on the Pacific by a closely allied species. This species is thick set in form ; the wings long, reaching as far as the middle of the tail, or to the end of the upper coverts. The relative proportions of the second, third, and fourth quills vary somewhat; the third is, however, mostly a little the longest. The first is generally a very little longer than the sixth ; considerably shorter than the fifth ; it is about .40 shorter than the longest, which exceeds the secondaries by about .65 of an inch. The tail feathers are rather narrow, and rather acute ; the lateral ones a little shortest. The bill is rather broad. This species is about the size of E. minimus, though rather stouter. The bill is broader ; the colors are different, minimus not having the bright olive green of the back and yellow of the under parts, even on the throat, which instead is whitish. In respect to color, flaviventris differs materially from all our North American species. This species differs from some North American flycatchers in not having the uppermost tarsal scutellae to envelope the outside of the bone, but reach only half way round, where the edge of another series is seen opposite the first. The lower scales, however, follow the usual rule. There is no naked space on the inner face of the tarsus. Although the specimens from the west coast are not sufficiently perfect to allow of a full criticism, I am inclined to think that they are really distinct, and that they will not constitute almost the single exception to the fact that no flycatcher is common to both east and west coasts. The colors are lighter, and duller ; the olive more yellowish, and the bands and edges of the wings narrower and less distinct. The forehead has av peculiar hoary appearance. The first quill is intermediate between the sixth and seventh, and half an inch less than the longest; the second considerably shorter than the fourth. In flaviventris the first is rather longer than the sixth ; the second and fourth equal. In view of all these circumstances, there- fore, it may be well to give it provisionally a new name, and none would be more appropriate than that of Empidonax difficilis. The Muscicapa flaviventris of Vieillot (Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 70) is clearly distinct in the larger size, rufous tinge above, absence of yellowish on the throat and breast, &c. What the species really is is not well ascertained, nor whether it actually belongs to this group. It is spoken of as inhabiting St. Domingo. Should it prove to be of the same genus the present species may be called hypoxanthus in allusion to the yellow of the under parts.BIRDS—TYRANNINAE—EMPIDONAX HAMMONDII. 199 That this species is not the T. pusilla of Swainson is sufficiently evident from the fact that the hands on the wing in the latter are said to he grayish white, the throat ash gray, a whitish ring round the eye, &c.; ajl these parts in flaviventris being strongly tinged with yellowish. The proportions of the quills, too, are different. I have quoted Tyrannula pusilla of Eeinhardt and G-loger, a species captured in 1853 in the Godthaab district of Greenland, as coming much nearer to the present species than to pusilla of Swainson. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Original No. Length. Extent. Wing. Remarks. 1951 2339 985 2972 2352 2351 2350 2428 2302 i^aynnr fiminfl T.rmnr Telnnd Aug. 4, 1831 May 24, 1845 May 18, 1843 May 18, 1846 May 26, 1845 S. F. Baird 9 3 9 flnvliclp. Pn. _ . tllll, Ho (Jo , Il1f T.rln tt**** 5.16 8.83 2.83 _do T do 5.50 8.25 2.50 . do . do 5.50 ■ 9. 2.75 O 9 3 t tfttHo ,,,,,,,v» ........... 5.41 8.08 2.50 do T. do do 5.54 8.58 2.75 Sept. 4, 1845 May —, 1845 May 19, 1855 do ...... 5.25 8.50 2.58 O (Jo t , t _. do . T ........ 5.25 8. 2.58 West Northfield Illinois • r, Kennicott. , T,.. . do 5920 7243 Port Stpilapnnrn t - - T . Dr. (hooper. ................. 5.60 8.50 Iris Brown....... ^hnnlwnfpr Rny,, ,,, ri1 ,,t, July 4, 1854 do . 84 5.50 8.50 Iris brown TTripf Tf'jDti f'Jnlifnrj'p^ -, - t J. Xantus de Vesey.......... 7099 nnhnr^ . , - t - i M- V^rroaiiT, , , .tTT... 32613 EMPIDOXAX HAMMONDII, Baird. Tyrannula hammondii, De Vesey, Pr. A. N. Sc. May, 1858. Sp. Ch.—Tail moderately forked ; the feathers acutely pointed. Third quill longest; second and then fourth a little shorter. First much shorter than fifth, a little longer than sixth. Bill very slender, dark brown. Above dark olive green, consider- ably darker on the head. Breast and sides of the body light olive green, the throat grayish white; the rest of under parts bright sulphur yellow. A whitish ring round the eye. Wings and tail dark brown ; the former with two olivaceous gray bands across the coverts; the latter with the outer edge a little paler than elsewhere, but not at all white. Length, 5.50 ; wing, 2.80 ; tail, 2.50 ; tarsus, .67. Hab,—Vicinity of Fort Tejon to Los Angeles. In this species the olive green on the sides is scarcely distinguishable from that on the back, although becoming more yellow on the middle of the breast. There is a decided ashy shade on the whole head. The only light edging to the quills is seen on the terminal half of the secondaries. The upper mandible and feet are black; the tip of the lower (and in one specimen the whole) dark brown. The fork of the tail measures a quarter of an inch in depth; the longest quill exceeds the first by .40. This species is at once distinguishable from all the North American Tyrannulas, except obscurus, by the extreme narrowness of the bill. This is only .25 of an inch wide at the posterior angle of the mouth, and only .19 at the nostrils. Its colors above are those of acadicus, while the general effect is much more that of flaviventris, although less brightly olive. The throat is grayish, not of the same yellow with the belly ; the ring round the eye white, not yellow ; the olive of the breast much more continuous and distinct; the bands on the wings dull grayish instead of clear greenish yellow. The tail, instead of being nearly even, is quite deeply forked. The bill is scarcely half as wide, and brownish, not yellow, beneath. • The tarsus has the same peculiar scutellation. The differences from T' obscurus are less easily expressed. It is, however, considerably200 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. smaller, and more olivaceous above and below ; the tarsi very much shorter ; the most tangible character is seen in the absence of the white on the outer web of the external tail feather, which is only a little paler brown than elsewhere. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. 7236 10079 10080 Monterey, Cal. - W. Hutton s 9 Fort Tejon, Cal ..... John Xantus de Vesey _ _ EMPIDONAX OBSCURUS, Baird. ?Tyrannula obscura, Swainson, Syn. Mex. Birds, in Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 367. Sp. Ch.—Bill very narrow. Tarsi long. Second, third, and fourth quills longest; first shorter than sixth. Tail rounded. Above dull brownish olive, paler on the rump, tinged with gray on the head. Loral region and space round the eye whitish. Throat and fore part of the breast grayish white, slightly tinged with olive across the latter ; the rest of the under parts pale yellowish. Wings and tail brown ; the former with two conspicuous bands of brownish white ; the outer primary edged, the secondaries and tertials edged and tipped with the same. The outer web of the external tail feather white, in strong contrast. Length, 5.75 ; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 2.55 ; tarsus, .70. Hab.—Rocky mountains of Texas. In this species the primaries are about .55 of an inch longer than the secondaries ; the first quill about .35 of an inch shorter than the longest. There is a decided tendency to grayish white edgings to the quill and tail feathers. The most decided character of this species is seen in the combination of the narrow hill and the white outer margin of the external tail feather, together with the long tarsi. The colors are otherwise much like those of minimus and traillii; the yellow beneath is, however, more ochraceous. The hill measured across opposite the middle of the nostrils is less than half its length from the forehead, instead of being considerably more, as in nearly all the other North American species, except hammondii. The only description I can find which applies approximately to this species is that of T. obscura of Swainson, Syn. birds Mexico, in Philos. Magazine, 1827, No. 10, which is stated to be: “ Above olive gray, beneath yellowish white; wings short, brown, with two whitish bands; tail brown, even, with a pale yellow margin. Length, 5.25 ; bill nearly .70 ; wings and tail, 2.50 ; tarsi, .60.” The present species agrees in the white margin of the tail, but the under parts are gray anteriorly; the tail slightly rounded; the wings 2.75 inches; the tarsi .70, and thus much longer; the bill only .50. The differences of measurement may, however, be more accidental and real, and the smaller size the result of the more southern locality on the table lands of Mexico. For the present, therefore, I retain the name obscurus, but should this prove distinct, shall claim that of E. wrightii, the discoverer, by which I had provisionally designated it. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. 7234 7237 « J§ io 10 »o to W £ <1 fi .S» o £ *25 • * • © • oa © . a> • • 03 * * 2 : : B3 ^5 o : b S3 d o 2 3 § £ -ST o * a a d >* •c CD e3 O C? O ^ ^ ^ O ’X) 1*0 a ^ ^ ^ 73 6 o o? >-t © i IS - S3 S S$ 3 §SUB-ORDER OSCINES. Singing Birds. Ch.—Toes, three anterior, one behind ; all at the same level, and none versatile, the outer anterior never entirely free to the base. Tail feathers, twelve. Primaries, either nine only, or else the first is spurious or much shorter than the second, making the tenth. Tail feathers usually twelve. Tarsi feathered to the knee ; the plates on the anterior face either fused into one, or with distinct divisions ; the posterior portion of the sides covered by one continuous plate on either side, meeting in a sharp edge behind, or with only a few divisions inferiorly. Occasionally the hinder side has transverse plates, corresponding in number to the anterior, but there are then usually none on the sides. Larynx provided with a peculiar muscular apparatus for singing, composed of five pairs of muscles. The preceding diagnosis, mainly derived from Dr. Oabanis, expresses the chief characteristics of such land birds as are provided with a peculiar apparatus for producing song. Birds of other orders may have more or less agreeable notes, but it is among the Oscines that we find the delightful and varied melody we are accustomed to consider as the “singing'? of birds. It is, indeed, seldom, as Cabanis justly remarks, that so great a change has been produced in the sys- tematic arrangement of a class by the discovery of a single fact, as has been the case in orni- thology since the announcement that some birds have a peculiar muscular vocal apparatus, denied to others. It is to Cabanis himself, howsver, that is chiefly due the merit of having been among the first to discover appreciable external characters corresponding to these anatomical peculiarities, and of defining the boundaries of the families as rearranged. The most natural arrangement of the Oscines, or singing birds, is a matter of much uncer- tainty, and can only be settled by the careful examination, external and internal, of a great number of types. As the birds of North America lack representatives of many sub-families, and even of families, I have done little more than to follow Dr. Cabanis in his Ornithologische Notizen,1 and Museum Heineanum, making here and there a slight transposition where it seemed necessary. The characters of some of the families, and of nearly all the sub-families, I have been obliged to work out for myself, owing to the very meagre indications given by the above mentioned author. According to Cabanis, the fusion of all the scutellae of the tarsus into one continuous envelope without indications of division, (called “boot” by the German ornithologists,) is to be con- sidered as indicating the highest type of ornithological structure, and the position of the different families and genera in the scale, to be mainly regulated by their approach to this character. With this, however, are to be combined the hints afforded by the greater or less development of the first primary, the elevation in rank being also, to a considerable degree, proportional to the tendency to a reduction of this quill in size, and to its gradual suppression entirely. The families of North American Oscines embrace a large proportion of those that have been established ; but some have no representatives whatever, such as the typical Muscicapidae, the JNectarinidae, the Melliphagidae, the Ploceidae, the Sturnidae, and the Paradiseidae. Many sub-families are wanting, too, of families which have other representatives. 1 Wiegmann’s Archiv fur Naturgesehichte 1847, i, 186, 308.204 U. S. P. R. R, EXP. AND SURVEYS----ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. In preparing the following diagnoses and descriptions of the families, sub-families, and genera of American Oscines, I have, as already stated, been mainly obliged to make up the characters for myself by personal examination of the species. Without the time or the immediate oppor- tunity to extend this criticism to the exotic forms, I have not succeeded as well as I could have wished, but it cannot be long before some one will take up the subject on the new basis, and work out the details into an acceptable system. The work of Burmeister on the birds of Brazil, containing many original and important remarks on the subject, did not reach me until too late a period to make the use of it I could have wished, although I have derived many valuable hints from it. The following synopsis may serve to facilitate the determination of the families, and a conse- quent reference to the page where they are described in rather more detail. A. Primaries, nine. Outer primary nearly as long as, or more than half, the next. Legs scutellate anteriorly. а. Commissure straight. Hirundinidae.—Bill very broad, short, and much depressed; the culmen less than half the commissure, which opens to beneath the eye. Rictus smooth. Wings very long, greatly exceeding the tail; the first primary longest. Tarsi shorter than the lateral toes. Sylvicolidae.—Bill usually slender, conical, elongated, and acute ; or, if broad and depressed, the culmen more than half the gape or commissure, and the rictus with bristles. Tarsus always longer than the lateral toes. Wings rather short, never much longer than the tail. First primary generally shorter than second. б. Commissure angulated at base. Fringillidae.—Bill much shorter than the head; thick, conical, the tip usually notched, and the rictus with bristles. Icteridae.—Bill nearly as long as, or longer than, the head, without notch or bristles. B. Primaries, ten. First primary very short, (spurious,) the second nearly as long as the third. Bill, with the culmen gently curved, and the upper mandible notched at tip. a. Lateral toes about equal. Basal joint of middle toe mostly free internally. Turdidae.—Tarsi encased in one heavy “boot,” without scutellae; posterior edge acute ; hind claw curved. Alaudidae.—Tarsi blunt behind; scutellate anteriorly and posteriorly, but not laterally. Spurious primary sometimes wanting. Hind claw long, nearly straight. b. Outer lateral toe much longest. Basal joint of middle united throughout. Certhiadae.—Legs scutellate anteriorly. Hind toe very long. Claw curved. C. Primaries, ten. The first spurious, sometimes wanting, or less .than half the second. Bill, with both mandibles, abruptly hooked, and conspicuously notched at the tip, with a tooth behind the notch above. Bombycillidae.—Bill broad, depressed, weak, moderately hooked. Tarsi shorter than middle toe. Laniidae.—Bill narrow, much compressed, and very powerful, strongly hooked. Tarsus longer than middle toe.# BIRDS—OSCINES. 205 D. Primaries, ten, the first nearly half as long as the second. The bill gently curved and moderately notched, or without notch, at the tip. a. "Nostrils uncovered by bristly feathers. Liotrichidae.—Bill slender, nearly as long as the head,j#r much longer, gently or much curved. First quill more than half the second. Basal joint of middle toe usually free nearly to the base internally, and halfway externally. b. Nostrils usually covered with bristly feathers. Paridae.—Base of bill covered with rather broad bristly feathers directed forwards, with the shaft projecting anteriorly in a simple bristle, or the lateral branches elongated. Side of tarsi without any groove. Basal joint of middle toe united to lateral nearly its whole length. Bill mostly without terminal notch. First primary less than half the second. Corvidae.—Base of bill covered usually with narrow bristly feathers directed for- wards, with short branches to the very tip. Middle of sides of tarsi with a groove, usually more or less occupied by a row of small scales. Basal joint of middle toe united halfway only to the lateral. First primary more than half the second. Bill mostly notched. The preceding arrangement is not entirely natural, a less exceptionable order, perhaps, being that adopted in the succeeding pages, namely, Turdidae, Sylvicolidae, Hirundinidae, Bomby- cillidae, Laniidae, Liotrichidae, Certhiadae, Paridae, Alaudidae, Fringillidae, Icteridae, and Corvidae. It must be always borne in mind that one set of characters alone is rarely sufficient to establish zoological rank, but rather the varying combination of several sets. The grouping of the families of Oscines, as of other orders, will vary greatly with any change in the points of reference adopted. Thus, as to the character of the tarsus, it is very long in Turdus and Saxi- cola, and in most Liotrichidae; short in Bombycillidae, and excessively short in the swallows. The lateral toes are generally nearly equal, but they are very unequal in the Certhiadae. The basal joint of the middle toe is sometimes nearly free internally, and united externally by the basal third, as in Turdus, Geothlypis, and the Bombycillidae. In Begulus, Sialia, and Cinclus, the union externally is about one-half, while in Myiodioctes and Icteria it is nearly complete. In Toxostoma, Mimus, and Troglodytes, the union of this basal joint externally is about one-half, internally about one-third. In Campylorhynchus, Catherpes, and Thryothorus, the union is nearly two-thirds on both sides. In Salpinctes * and Lanius it is nearly complete externally. In the Certhiadae, Paridae, and, to «ome extent, in Vireo, the union of this basal joint is almost complete on both sides. As already stated, the tarsus is entirely without scutellae in the thrushes or in Turdus, Begulus, Sialia, Cinclus, &c., as also in Myiadestes. In all the others it is scutellate or divided into broad plates anteriorly; but in Icteria, Geothlypis, Myiodioctes, and Chamaea, there are no plates visible on the outer side at all, the division only commencing on the extreme anterior face, or towards its inner edge. The same is the case in Helmitherus swainsoni, and Seiurus nove- boracensis, but in S. aurocapillus the plates are more evident. In all the others the scutellae are well defined externally, near the median line of the outer side. The rest of the surface is generally undivided, each side being completed by a single plate, the two uniting behind in a sharp edge. Sometimes there is a tendency to division on the sides of the tarsi below, and in in Corvidae there is a row of small scales on the middle of one or both sides. In Lanius borealis and Ampelis garrulus there is a tendency to scales behind and on the sides, interiorly,206 U. S» P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. below. The peculiar condition of the posterior scutellae in Alaudidae will he found detailed hereafter. In none of these deviations from the highest character in the exhibition of lateral or posterior scales, however, is there any approach to the peculiarities of the Tracheophones, and the first primary is |^ways either short, spurious, or wanting. It is unnecessary to follow the bill or the tail through its modifications, as the characters of both are of secondary importance, and only available for purposes of generic distinction.BIRDS—TURBID AE. " 207 Family TURDIDAE. Primaries ten, of which the first is always very short, the second nearly equal to the longest, (except in Regulinae.) Wings her long. Tarsi usually rather long, without scutellae, or else having them indistinctly visible at the lower end alone, fc-^sal joint of middle toe united by its basal two-thirds to the outer, and by basal half to the inner toe. Lateral toes about equal. Bill notched at tip. The chief characteristics of this family are found in the association of a dentirostral bill, with legs destitute of scutellae or divided scales anteriorly, together with the very short or spurious first, and the rather long second primary. The North American species all have the tail short and rather even, or emarginate. The following is a synopsis of the sub-families : Turdinae.—Nostrils oval. Bristles along the base of the bill from gape to nostrils; those of rictus not reaching beyond nostrils. The loral feathers with bristly points. Second quill longer than sixth. Outer lateral toes longer. Wings long. Regulinae.—Nostrils oval. The frontal feathers elongated ; their bristl shafts with the rictal bristles extending beyond the nostrils, the former scale- like. Points of loral feathers bristly. Second quill shorter than sixth. Size very small. Cinclinae.—Nostrils linear. No bristles whatever about the rictus, nor bristly points to the loral and frontal feathers. Legs longer than head, reaching beyond the tip of the tail. Body stout the wings and tail very short. Sub-Family TURDINAE. The family of Turdinae, as constituted in the previous synopsis, entirely excludes the mocking birds belonging to the genera Mirrms, Toxostoma, &c. The true place of the last mentioned forms is very near the wrens, as insisted upon by Cabanis. The introduction of Sialia and Saxicola into this sub-family, instead of among the Saxico- linae, is contrary to the usual custom of ornithologists. I, however, am unable to appreciate any differences between it and Turdus, other than those of generic value, and, at any rate, they are all sufficiently allied to permit them to be combined. The genera to be referred to here are Turdus, Saxicola, and Sialia. The chief diagnostic characteristics of these are as follows : Turdus.—Tarsi long, exceeding the middle toe; wings reaching to the middle of the tail; which is about four-fifths the length of the wings. Bill stout; its upper outline convex toward the base. Second quill shorter than fifth. Saxicola.—Tarsi considerably longer than the middle toe, which reaches nearly to the tip of the tail. Tail short, even; two-thirds as long as the lengthened wings, which reach beyond the middle of the tail. Second quill longer than fifth. Bill attenuated; its upper outline concave towards the base. Sialia.—Tarsi short; about equal to the middle toe. Wings reaching beyond the middle of the tail. Bill thickened.208 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. TURDUS, Linngeu . Turdus, Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, 1735. (Type T. viscivorus, fide G. R. Gray.) Bill rather stout; commissure straight to near the tip, which is quite abruptly decurved, and usually distinctly notched ; eulmen gently convex from base. Bill shorter than the head ; both outlines curved. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Lateral toes nearly equal,'; outer longer. Wings much longer than the tail, pointed ; the first quill spurious and very small—not one- fourth the length of longest. Tail short, nearly even, or slightly emarginate. The essential characters of the true thrushes appear to consist in the long tarsi, without distinct scutellae ; the long pointed wings, with rather short second quill and the spurious primary ; and the moderately short, even tail. There are, however, several distinct groups among them, of which these in the following synopsis belong to North America. The Turdus naevius of authors is quite different from the other species in the more slender bill, longer gonys, and absence of any notch in the bill. The general appearance is, however, so thrush-like that I cannot see any reason for transferring it to a separate family, as Bonaparte has done. The structure of its bill assimilates it to Toxostoma; but it differs in shorter bill, even tail, booted tarsi, and long wings. The first primary is shorter also, though longer than in Turdus. There are few species of North American birds the synonymy of which has been in such a state of confusion as the small thrushes. Of these there may now be considered as well estab- lished T. mustelinus, fuscescens, ustulatiis, swainsonii, aliciae, pallasii, and nanus, to which may possibly have to be added T' silens of Swainson, coming between swainsonii and pallasii. In regard to mustelinus there has been no difficulty, the only synonym of note being melodus of Wilson. The case is, however, very different with the rest, and a brief sketch of the history of each species may not be out of place. It will be well to state, as a preliminary, that Turdus fuscescens and ustulatus have the upper parts throughout of a uniform reddish brown, without any shade of olive, the throat and breast brownish yellow; the former species with very obsolete spots in these regions, lighter than the ground color above ; the latter with the spots more distinct, and darker than the back. T. swainsonii has the back uniform olive brown, with a shade of green; the breast with distinct nearly black spots; the sides of head and the breast yel- lowish red. T. aliciae similar, but the sides of head gray, the breast white. T. pallasii and nanus have the back brown, with a faint tinge of reddish ; but the rump, upper coverts, and tail are quite foxy, considerably different from the back. The under parts are decidedly spotted. T. nanus is considerably the smaller of the two ; the color beneath purer ; the sides bluish ash, rather than yellowish bl own. T. silens, if really distinct from T. pallasii, is larger and more oliva- ceous on the back, with the same contrast of color on the tail. The Turdus fuscescens was described improperly by Wilson as T. mustelinus. Stephens, in 1817, first detected the error, and called the species T. fuscescens, which name, however, remained unnoticed until brought to light by Gray in the Genera of Birds. Bonaparte, in 1824, gave the name of wilsonii, by which the species has generally been known. Swainson, in the Fauna Boreali Americana, calls it T' minor after Gmelin, and applies the name wilsonii erroneously to T. swainsonii. The Turdus minor of Gmelin, in fact, applies in part to this species, but also includes characters of T. swainsonii, having been compounded of the descriptions of the little thrush of Latham and the little thrush of Pennant. He supposed them to be merely two different descriptions of one species, whereas that of Latham belonged to fuscescens, (“ above reddish brown or clay color, breast yellowish, with dusky spots,”) and that of Pennant to 1\ swainsonii, (“ above uniform209 BIRDS—TURDIDAE—TURDUS. brown, breast with large brown spots. ”) The large brown spots are not found in fuscescens. Gmelin describes T. minor as Uspadiceus, pectore fiavicante, maeulisatris,” (reddish brown, breast yellowish with black spots.) His name is, therefore, clearly to be set aside in the further discus- sion of the question. I have not now the means of verifying the accuracy of the reference of Turdus parvus of Selgimann to this species, made by me many years ago ; but if correct, then this name may have to take precedence, unless a true Turdus parvus had been previously described. Turdus ustulatm of Nuttall has been mentioned alone by him, and has no synonyms, as far as I can ascertain. By a typographical error the name was printed cestulatus. By a remarkable oversight the olive-backed thrush, (T. swainsonii,) though well known to all of the more recent school of American ornithologists, was not described by either Wilson or Audubon. It was given by Swainson as Merula wilsonii, erroneously supposing it to be the species referred to by Bonaparte under this name. His figure of M. solitaria is very probably this same species. The figure given by Wilson to accompany his description of Turdus solitarius (pallasii) unquestionably belongs to T. swainsonii. As previously stated, the T. minor of Gmelin applies in part to this species ; that of Yieillot to this species, in conjunction with T. pallasii. In the latter part of 1843 Mr. Giraud, a leading American ornithologist, and author of several important works, published the species as Turdus olivaceus ; and Dr. Brewer, without knowing the fact, gave it the same name in 1844. This has really priority, unless the Turdus brunneus of Boddaert, based on PI. enlum. 556, fig. 2, be really and incontestibly the present species, as claimed by Gray in the Genera of Birds. The term olivaceus, however, had pre- viously been used by Linnasus and Boddaert, as well as by Lichtenstein and others, in connexion with thrushes, and cannot be retained, unless these are shown to belong to genera other than that of the present species. Not having access at present to the Planches enluminees, I am unable to discuss the value of Boddaert"s name. In Tsehudi’s Fauna Peruana, published between 1844 and 1846, Cabanis gives accurate diagnoses of the American thrushes, showing their relations to each other, although in this he had been anticipated by Dr. Brewer in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History for July, 1844. He there applies the name of T. swainsonii to the olive-backed species, which, in the present state of our knowledge of the question, must be retained. The Turdus pallasii of Cabanis—T’. solitarius of Wilson—first received a distinctive name in Wiegmann’s Archiv, in 1847. Wilson’s name had previously been employed by Linneeus and others for a different thrush. The species was at first called T\ minor by Bonaparte and Audu- bon, erroneously supposing it to be the bird referred to by Gmelin ; in their later works, how- ever, these authors took Wilson’s name. In the article already referred to in Fauna Peruana^ Cabanis identified this species with Muscicapa guttata of Pallas, which, however, he afterwards found to be distinct. The Merula silens of Swainson, if really identical with the present species, will take priority over Cabanis’ name; but I am inclined to consider it distinct for reasons named elsewhere. The remaining species was named and described by Audubon as Turdus nanus. In his article in the Fauna Peruana, Cabanis considered the Turdus aonalaschka of Gmelin and Musci- capa guttata of Pallas as young birds of the Turdus solitarius of Wilson. The locality— Bussian America—and the small size clearly indicate that the names, if belonging to either, apply to the dwarf rather than to the hermit thrush. In the Muscicapa guttata of Pallas it is difficult to recognize even a young bird of this species—in the “ body brown above, spotted 27 b2f 0 U. S. P. B. B. EXP. AMD SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. with yellow; beneath, pale, variegated with black. Tail rufous. Eump rufous yellow, with transverse brown bands. Wings sparsely dotted. Breast white, with transverse bands of black. Length to the rump, 3| inches ; tail, 2 inches 7 lines ; wing, 3 inches 5 lines. Kodiak.” The Turdus aonalaschJca of Gmelin, based on a bird the c( size of a lark, crown and back brown, marked with obscure dusky spots ; breast yellow, spotted with black ; wing coverts, prime quills, and tail dusky, edged with testaceous ; hab. Aonalaschka, cabinet of Sir Joseph Banks,” of Latham and Pennant might possibly refer to a young bird of the present species ; but in the entire uncertainty in the case, and the possibility of their having some one of the similarly colored American sparrows before them, it may be best to retain Mr. Audubon's name. SYNOPSIS OF SUB-GENERA AND SPECIES. Turdus.—Tarsi elongated, considerably longer than the middle toe ; the scutellae not distinguishable. Tail feathers acuminate. Bill distinctly notched. Above plain olive or reddish, beneath white; the breast spotted. Rufous brown above, much brightest towards the head, becoming olivaceous on the tail; pure white beneath, thickly spotted on the whole breast and sides with blackish. mustelinus. Yellowish olive above, becoming decidedly rufous on the rump and tail. Beneath white, scarcely more yellow anteriorly ; breast with well defined spots like the back. Tibiae and sides yellowish olive brown............................................pallasii. Similar to the last, but smaller; the under parts purer white ; the tibiae and sides grayish olive brown.........................................................nanus. Similar to pallasii, but larger ; the back greenish, not yellow olive, passing into reddish on the tail.................................................................silens. Above uniform yellowish red ; throat and jugulum decidedly yellowish, the latter with very obsolete spots *...................................................fuscescens. Similar to the last, but more yellow olivaceous above, and the jugulum distinctly marked with spots like the back..................................................ustulatus. Above greenish olive, not appreciably lighter on the tail. Sides of the head with the breast and throat strongly tinged with reddish yellow, and a ring of the same round the eye. Breast with very distinct spots of dark brown..................swainsonii. Above greenish olive, not appreciably lighter on the tail. Sides of the head ashy ; ring round the eye, with the throat, and breast white. Breast with very distinct spots of dark brown, almost black.................................................aliciae. Planisticus.—Body stout; tarsi not much longer than the middle toe, the scutellae somewhat visible on the inside below. Tail feathers rather truncate. Bill distinctly notched. Above plain olive ; throat and chin alone white, streaked with black ; breast rufous. Above grayish olive ; top of head and the tail blackish. Beneath reddish brown ; the anal region and crissum, with eyelids, white...........................migratorius. Ixoreus.—Bill slender, elongated, nearly as long as the head; commissure curved; tip without any notch. Scutellae not distinguishable. Claws larger than in Planisticus. First primary about one-fourth the longest. Tail feathers acuminate. Throat and under parts entirely unspotted. Above dark plumbeous; beneath reddish brown, with a pectoral band of black; wings varied with reddish brown, and a stripe of the same behind the eye..........naeviMs.BIRDS-TURDIDAE—TURDUS 211 Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex and age. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen mea- sured. 1569 c? 7.20 4.06 3.06 1.28 1.02 0.24 0.72 1.04 Dry.... ....... do 8.08 13.41 4.25 Fresh lf>70 Q 7.10 4.30 3.20 1.20 0.98 0.24 0.68 0.98 Dry............ do. do 8.08 13.58 4.41 Fresh 8388 O 4.34 2.96 1.40 1.14 0,90 1.98 0.50 0.68 Dry..... 7950 7.14 4.02 3.20 1.18 0.90 0.22 0.60 0.78 Dry 2092 6.80 3.80 3.26 1.16 0.82 0.22 0.58 0.84 Dry do. do 7.50 11.83 3.83 Fresh........ . 7591 6 20 3.70 2.90 1.16 0.88 0.23 0.50 0.80 Dry 1375 O 6.40 3.64 3.02 1.16 0.82 0.22 0.54 0.78 Dry ........... do V 7.16 11.50 3.66 Fresh.......... 8170 do, Fronfera 2 6.56 3.52 2.90 1.10 0.84 0.24 0.54 0.82 Dry............ do. r t * f t. (Jo, f tT. do 6.50 2.56 Fresh 8168 Turd ns nanus Sacramento Valley. r? 6.34 3.34 2.90 1.08 0.80 0.22 0.52 0.74 Dry..., 2145 Turdus fuscescens. Carlisle, Pa.... .... D A 6.64 4.00 3.24 1.21 0.90 0.22 0.60 0.84 D ry do. do...... ... o 7.50 12.58 4.25 Fresh ...... 989 2 6.50 3.68 3.12 1.12 0.78 0.18 0.54 0.80 Dry do. do do ... 7.08 11.83 3.75 Fresh 2040 Turdus ustulatus .. Columbia river..... 7.20 3.70 3.04 1.10 0.98 0.20 0.58 0.82 Dry 980 Turdus swainsonii. Carlisle, Pa.... A 6.54 4.00 3.16 1.10 0.84 0.22 0.50 0.76 Dry do. o 7.00 12.50 4.16 Fresh 981 do do Q 6.06 3.60 2.90 1.04 0.80 0.20 0.52 0.76 Dry............ do. , do........... 6.50 11.50 3 56 Fresh T_ 5657 do........... Rep. Fork, 40 miles Ch.—Fourth quill longest; third and fourth a little shorter ; second about equal to the sixth ; about ,30 of an inch shorter than the longest. Tail slightly emargmate. Above light olive brown, with a scarcely perceptible shade of reddish, passing, however, into decided rufous on the rump, upper tail coverts, and tail, and to a less degree on the outer surface of the wings. Beneath white, with a scarcely appreciable shade of pale buff across the fore part of the breast, and sometimes on the throat; the sides of the throat and the fore part of the breast with rather sharply defineJ subtriangular spots o. dark olive brown ; the sides of the breast with paler and less distinct spots of the same. Sides of the body under the wings of a paler shade than the back. A whitish ring round the eye ; ear coverts very obscurely streaked with paler. Length, 7.50 inches; wing, 3.84 ; tail, 3.25 ; tarsus, 1.16; No. 2092. Hab.—Eastern North America to the Mississippi river.BIRDS—TURDIDAE—TURDUS NANUS. 213 Specimens vary somewhat in the intensity of the colors above, hnt the upper coverts and tail are always conspicuously more rufous than the hack, especially at the base of the tail. There is sometimes a faint indication of two lighter bars on the tips of the wing coverts. Sometimes the under coverts are tinged with huff. A specimen from Washington (*75-91) has the back nearly as bright as in T. wilsonii, and the bands on the wing unusually distinct, but the tail is conspicuously brighter, as usual. A Mexican specimen (No. 7950) received from Mr. Gould, compared with Pennsylvania ones, is a little more olivaceous on the hack, although hut little more so than is exhibited by skins from Carlisle. The wing is longer, however, measuring a little over four inches; the tail, 3.40 ; the tarsus, 1.18. The lateral toes are shorter and more unequal. The third quill is longer than the fifth ; the second .10 of an inch longer than the sixth. I am not prepared to say whether this is more than an extreme case of T, pallasii. Should this at any time prove a distinct species from solitarius, as it certainly is from nanus, it might bear Swainson’s name of T. silens1 as best agreeing with it, in spite of some discrepancies. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 2092 2146 1375 93 7591 7292 flnrlial a April 11, 1845 April 26, 1845 April 20, 1844 April 10, 1840 S. F. Baird 7.50 11.83 3.83 .9 9 8 rJr* 7,25 11.50 3. 75 rln _ 7.16 11. 50 3.66 do 37 ’’Waal-iincrt.rm d Wm. Hutton TJnAlmnrt Ohio . __ J. P. Kirtland TURDUS NANUS, Aud. Dwarf Thrush. Turdus nanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 201; pi. 419.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 32 ; pi. 147, (Columbia river.)— Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. I, 1843, 262. ? Turdus aonalaschka, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 808. ? ? Muscicapa guttata^ Pallas, Zool. Rosso. As. II, 1811, 465. ? Aonalaschka Thrush, Latham, Synopsis II, i, 1783, 23.—Penn. Arc. Zool. II, 1785, 338. Sp. Ch.—Similar to T. pallasii, but smaller. The white of the under parts purer ; the sides glossed with bluish ash instead of yellowish olive brown. The tail with a purple tinge. Length, 6.50 ; wing, 3.30 ; tail, 2.90 ; tarsus, 1.10. Hah.—Pacific coast of North America, and along valley of Gila to El Paso. This species, if really distinct, is so closely allied to T. pallasii as to render a separation of the two exceedingly difficult. There is the same shade of olive on the hack, passing into reddish on the upper coverts and tail, and to a less extent on the wings ; the pale huff tinge of the fore part of breast and sometimes of throat; the distinctly defined triangular dusky spots on the sides of the throat and across the breast; the less distinct and more rounded spots on the sides of the breast behind. Comparing typical specimens of the eastern series (T. pallasii) and the western (T. nanus) the differences appear to be as follows : 1Merula silens, Swainson, Syn. Birds Mex. in Philosophical Magazine I, 1827, 369.—Ib. F. Bor. Amer. II, 1831. Length, 7 inches ; bill, .75; wings, 3.75; tail, 3 ; tarsi, 1.214 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. The shade of the back is the same, perhaps a little more olive in T. nanus, in which the centres of the feathers of the crown are a little more dusky. There is also in nanus a slight purple tinge in the tail. The under parts show a purer white behind, and the.sides, axillaries, and under wing coverts show a bluish gray tinge rather than a pale brownish yellow. The under tail coverts are pure white, without the usual tinge of buff. There is no essential differ- ence in the proportion of the quills. The tail may possibly be more rounded in nanus. List of specimens. Gatal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Wing. 3895 California Dr. Heermann 4483 Santa Clara, Cal Dr. Cooper _ 6. 50 9. 25 5943 do Nov. 1855 do 7. 00 10. 50 8168 Sacramento valley ... - _ do. Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann 8169 Mimbres to Rio G-rande __ Dr. T. C. Henry 8170 Q Frontera, Texas May 8, 1851 C. Wright 6. 80 2.56 TXJRDUS ETJSCESCENS, Stephens. Wilson’s Thrush, Turdus fuscescens, Stephens, Shaw’s Zool. Birds, X, i, 1817, 182.—Gray, Genera, 1849. Turdus mustelinus, Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 98 ; pi. 43, (not of Gm.) Turdus wilsonii, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 73, (not of Swainson.)—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 271.—Nutt. Man. I, 1832, 349.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 362 : V, 446 ; pi. 166.—Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 27 ; pi. 145.—Brewer, Pr. Bost. N. H. Soc. I, 1844, 191.—Cabanis, in Tschudi Fauna Peruana, 1844- ’46, 205. Turdus minor, Gm. I, 1788, 809. (From Pennant and Latham, compounded of this and T. swainsonii.)—D’Orbigny, De la Sagra’s Cuba, Birds, 47 ; pi. v. Merula minor, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 179, (plate that of swainsonii.) Turdus iliacus carolinensis, Brisson, II, 1760, 212. ? Turdus parvus, (Edw.) Seligmann, Samml. VIII, 1775, pi. lxxxvi. Little Thrush, Latham, Synopsis II, i, 1783, 20. Sp. Ch.—Third quill longest; fourth a little shorter ; second nearly a quarter of an inch longer than the fifth. Above, and on sides of head and neck, nearly uniform light reddish brown, with a faint tendency to orange'on the crown and tail. Beneath, white ; the fore part of the breast and throat (paler on the chin) tinged with pale brownish yellow, in decided contrast to the white of the belly. The sides of the throat and the fore part of the breast as colored are marked with small triangular spots of light brownish, nearly like the back, but not well defined. There are a few obsolete blotches on the sides of the breast (in the white) of pale olivaceous; the sides of the body tinged with the same. Tibiae white. The lower mandible is brownish only at the tip. The lores are ash colored. Length, 7.50 ; wing, 4.25 ; tail, 3.20 ; tarsus, 1.20. jHob.—Eastern North America to the Missouri; north to fur countries. This species is well distinguished among the American thrushes by the indistinctness of the spots beneath, and their being confined mainly to the fore part of the breast. In some specimens there is a faint tendency to a more vivid color on the rump, but this is usually like the back, which is very nearly the color of the rump in T. pallasii. One specimen (6992) is quite remarkable for the shortness of the bill, which only measures half an inch above instead of .65 of an inch as in other specimens. I am, however, unable to apx reciate any other difference.BIRDS--TTJBDIDAE--TURDTJS USTULATUS. 215 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 989 2145 90 6949 6992 4713 9 S 1/ Hillcj . Sppt. 18.. ... 7.12 11.12 4.12 Iris light brown. S Fort Laramie, Nebraska.. Sept. 10,1857 Dr. J. G. Cooper. .. 197 7.37 12.00 4.00 BIRDS—TURDIDAE—TURDUS ALICIAE, 217 TURDUS ALICIAE, Baird. Gray-cheeked Thrush. Sp. Ch.—Third quill longest; fourth nearly equal; second not much longer than fifth. Above nearly pure dark olive green ; sides of the head ash gray ; the chin, throat, and under parts, with ring round the eye, white ; purest behind. Sides of throat and across the breast with arrow-shaped spots of dark plumbeous brown. Sides of body and axillaries dull grayish olivaceous. Tibiae plumbeous ; legs brown. Length, nearly 8 inches ; wing, 4.20 ; tail, 3.20 ; tarsus, 1.15. Hab.—Mississippi region to the Missouri. In this species the most striking feature next to the uniformly olivaceous hack is the grayish ashen character of the head, and the entire absence of any huff tinge of the breast and sides of the neck. These parts are not of as pure white as the belly, having the faintest possible shade of yellowish red, but it is barely appreciable, nor is it any more distinct in raising the feathers. There is the faintest possible shade of reddish in the tail and its coverts above, but this is only to be observed on a close examination. This species comes much nearest to Turdus swainsonii, the olive-backed thrush, agreeing with it in the dark greenish olive of the upper surface. This, however, is decidedly darker, and showing a clearer greenish than usual in the other. The absence of any buff on the throat, breast, and sides of the head, and the predominating ashy shade on the latter, with a white ring instead of reddish yellow round the eye, are strong points of distinction. The slight tinge of reddish yellow in the olivaceous of the sides, the inner surface of the wings, and the axillars of T. swainsonii, are here replaced by grayish olive. The under mandible is blacker, and the legs are decidedly dusky instead of yellowish. The bill appears more slender, and the whole bird is larger. The best specimens of this species before me are from Illinois, but several from the upper Missouri belonging to Lieutenant Warren’s collection agree with them, and I find no difficulty in distinguishing them at once from any other North American species by more tangible characters than are usually to be found in the small American thrushes. It is barely possible that it may constitute a variety only of T. swainsonii, but if so it is a very strongly marked one. The description by Gabanis of T' swainsonii in Fauna Peruana expressly dwells on the buff of the sides of the head and the breast, and consequently belongs to the preceding species. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collect- ed. Whence obtained. Collected by— Extent. Stretch of wing. Wing. Remarks. 10084 W. Northfield, 111 Alice Kennicott..... 10083 Near Cairo, 111 April 29,1857 R. Kennicott 4708 s Tipper Missouri T Lieut.. Warren Dr. F. V. Hayden.. 7.25 12.25 4.25 4709 8 Mouth of Vermilion May 8,1856 do 7.62 12.50 4.12 4712 s do 7.00 12.50 4.00 F.yes brown 4711 8 •Taeques river .... .do 7.50 12.62 4.25 Tris brown T.TTT1 218 U. S. P. E. B. EXP, AND SUBVEYS-----------ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. TURDUS (PLANESTICUS1) MIGRATORIUS, Linn. Robin. Turdus migratorius, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 292.—Forster, Philos. Trans. LXII, 1772, 382.—Vjeillot, Ois. Am. Sept II, 1807, 5; pi. lx, Ixi.—Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 35 ; pi. ii.—Doughty, Cab. Nat. Hist. I, 1830, 133 ; pi. xii.—Brehm, Handbuch Yog. Deutsch. 1831, 388, (European spec.)—Audubon,Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 190 ; pi. 131.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841,14 ; pi. 142.— Bonaparte, Conspectus, 1850, 272.—Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, 81; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. YI, 1857. Merula migratoria, Sw. & Rich, Fauna Bor. Amer. II, 1831, 176. Planesticus migratorius, Bonaparte. (?) Turdus canadensis, Brisson, Orn. II, 1760, 225. Sp. Ch.—Third and fourth quills about equal; fifth a little shorter ; second longer than sixth. Tail slightly rounded. Above olive gray ; top and sides of the head Mack. Chin and throat white, streaked with black. Eyelids, and a spot above the eye anteriorly, white. Under parts and inside of the wings, chestnut brown. The under tail coverts and anal region, with tibiae white, showing the plumbeous inner portions of the feathers. Wings dark brown, the feathers all edged more or less with pale ash. Tail still darker, the extreme feathers tipped with white. Bill yellow, dusky along the ridge and at the tip. Length, 9.75; wing, 5.43 ; tail, 4.75 ; tarsus, 1.25. Hob.—Continent of North America to Mexico. It is very seldom that specimens exhibit the colors exactly as described. Nearly always in winter, and in most cases at other times, the rufous feathers are margined with whitish, some- times quite obscuring the color. The black feathers of the head, too, have brownish edgings. The white spot above the eye sometimes extends forwards towards the nostrils, but is usually quite restricted. The white patches on the two eyelids are separated from each other, anteriorly and posteriorly. The young bird differs in having the back with transverse blackish bars, the underparts thickly marked with black in transversely elongated blackish spots. The chin and throat are white, with a maxillary brown streak only. The shafts of the lesser coverts are streaked with brownish yellow, and the back feathers with white. Sometimes, especially in winter specimens, the olive gray of the back is much glossed with yellowish brown. The shade of rufous beneath varies from light cinnamon to dark chestnut. I have never seen any approach in any of the many west coast specimens before me to the Turdus I'ufopalliatus of Lafresnaye, said to have been collected at Monterey, California, and suspect that this locality is erroneous, as many of those given for the collections of the “ Voyage delaYenus” certainly are. It probably was really taken at Acapulco or elsewhere, on the southern Mexican coast. ’ Planesticus, Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus, 1854, Notes Orn. Delattre, 27. According to Gray synonymous with Cichlopsis, Cabanis, 1850. (?)219 BIRDS—TURDID AE-—TURDUS NAEVIUS. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings Wing. Remarks. 2084 April 11,1845 S. F. Baird 10.58 16.25 5.33 853 O 'h Nov. 16,1842 9.75 16.25 5.63 1351 o do April 13,1844 do 10.25 16.50 5.16 1634 9 July 15,1844 do 9.46 16 5.33 7592 o 8383 3 Independence, Mo... June 20,1857 Wm. M. Magraw .... 87 Dr. Cooper 9 15.25 5.25 Iris brown, bill and feet black. 6:47 Fort Riley, K. T * Dr. Hammond 5655 Republican Fork Oct. 20,1856 Lieut. Bryan 386 W. S. Wood ......... 9.50 5656 O Oct. 21,1856 390 do 10.12 5281 Mo. R. Fort Pierre... Lieut. Warren....... Dr. Havden 9,50 5.50 4705 Q Blackbird Hill ... ... May 20 do 9.12 16 5 25 5282 9 10 miles north of Yel- July —,1856 do 11.75 16.75 5.75 low Stone. 5654 Q Blank Hills Aug. 3,1886 Lieut. Bryan 199 W. S. Wood 9.50 14 8492 Fort Mass. N. M Mar. 30,1856 Dr. Peters 19 10 15 8146 Fort Steilacoom...... Dr, Suckley 282 8148 do 238 8150 3 Gov. Stevens Dr. Suckley 8153 Fort Vancouver Feb. 3,1854 Dr. Cooper 10.75 16 8154 Bodega, Cal Jan. —,1855 Lieut. Trowbridge.... T. H.Szabo 5522 o Petaluma, Cal ....... E. Samuels 166 4215 San Francisco Winter, 1855 R. D. Cults 8144 3 SacramentoValIey,Cal Lieut. Williamson.,.. Dr. Heermann Fort Tejon, Cal J. Xantus de Vesey, 8145 Fort Vnma, Cal .. Lieut. Williamson Dr. Heermann....... 8155 Mimbres to Rio Grande Dr. Henry 7947 Mexico... .T. Gould 1 TUEDUS (IXOEEUS1) NAEVIUS, Gmelin. Varied Thrush. Turdus naevius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 817.—Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 10 ; pi. Ixvi.—Audubon, Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 489 : V, 1839, 284 ; pi. 369 and 433.—Is. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 22; pi. 143.— Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 271.—Cabot, Jour. Bost. Soc. N. H. Ill, 1848, 17. (Spec, shot near Boston.)—Lawrence, Annals N. Y. Lyc. V?%une, 1852, 221. (Spec, shot near New York.)— Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, 81 ; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857. Orpheus naevius, Rich, List, 1837. Ixoreus naevius, Bonap. Notes Orn. Delattre, in Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1854, 269. Orpheus meruloides, Rich. Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 1831, 187 ; pi. xxxviii. Sp. Ch.—Fourth quill longest; third and fifth a little shorter ; second much longer than sixth. Tail nearly even ; the lateral feather shorter. Above, rather dark bluish slate ; under parts generally, a patch on the upper eyelids continuous with a stripe behind it along the side of the head and neck, the lower eyelids, two bands across the wing coverts and the edges of the quills, in part, rufous orange brown ; middle of belly white. Sides of the head and neck continuous with a broad pectoral transverse band, black. Most of tail'feathers with a terminal patch of brownish white. Bill black. Feet yellow. Female more olivaceous above ; the white of the abdomen more extended ; the brown beneath paler ; the pectoral band obsolete. Length, 9.75 inches ; wing, 5.00 ; tail, 3.90 ; tarsus, 1.25. Hab.—Pacific coast North America. Accidental on Long Island and near Boston. This strongly marked species in general appearance hears a close resemblance to the American robin, but is readily distinguished by its coloration. In addition to the characters already given, it may be stated that the axillars are plumbeous, with a white patch at the base; the under wing coverts plumbeous, but broadly tipped with white. There is also an obscure whitish patch 1 Ixoreus, Bonaparte, Notes Orn. Delattre, 1854, 26. (Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1854.)220 U. S P. R. R EXP, AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. at the base of the inner webs of ‘all the quills, except the exterior, corresponding and opposite to orange brown patches on the outer webs. The sides are tinged with plumbeous ; many of the feathers margined with this color. List of specimens. Oatal. No. Sex. Locality. When collect- ed. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Remarks. 5998 Port Townsend, W. T.... • Jan. 8, 1857 Dr. Geo. Suckley .. 597 5997 do 596 5996 do 598 5941 Q March, 1855 Gov. Stevens Dr. Cooper 5940 55 & ’6 R. D. Cuffs 7632 Q Saprampntn Valley. Lt. R. S. Williamson Dr. Heermann ... . 7631 Hr 3 Tejon valley Dal do. 4575 Grila river New IMcxico Major Emory 24 Arthur Sehoff 7633 do 24 5051 Fort Fillmore, N. Mexico. Oct. 21,1855 Captain Pnpfi,..,.. 151 7.00 12.50 4.50 Bill and eye black ; gums yellowish. 7623 Mimbres to Rio Grande Dr. TTen ry . .... 5050 Organ Mts., New Mexico. Mar. 9,1856 Captain Pope.TT... 178 7.00 13.00 4.25 Bill, feet, and eyes black; gums bluish. 7624 TVenr fC° latitude..>,, .... do 7637 Camp 110, New Mexico.. jan. 31,1854 Lieut. Whipple .... 60 Renn & Moll ...... 4.00 Eyes black..... 7638 t r t t * t dn- r h t t t t , 7635 Fort Conrad, New Mexico. Oct., 1853 Lieut. Whipple.... 52 Dr. Kennerly .75 4020 Q Saltillo Mevipo . , May, 1853 T.ienf. Couch...... 6.75 11.50 4.50 Bill & ft. black. Hr SIALIA ARCTICA, Swain son. Rocky Mountain Blue Bird. Erythraca (Sialia) arctica, Swainson, F. Bor. Amer. II, 1831, 209 ; pi. xxxix. Erythraca arctica, Rich. List, 1837. Sialia arctica, Nuttall, Man. II, 1832, 573 ; I, 2d ed., 1840, 514.—Bonap. List, 1838.—Aud. Synopsis, 1839, 84.— Ib. Birds Amer. II, 1841, 178 ; pi. 136.—McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, June, 1851, 215. Sylvia arctica, Audubon, Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 38 ; pi. 373. Sialia macroptera, Baird, Stansbury Report Exp. Salt Lake, 1852, 314. Sp. Ch.—Azure blue above and below, brightest above ; the belly and under tail coverts white ; the latter tinged with blue at the ends. Female showing blue only on the rump, wings, and tail; a white ring round the eye ; the lores and sometimes a narrow front whitish ; elsewhere replaced by brown. Length, 6.25 ; wing, 4.36 ; tail, 3.00. (1875.) Hab.—High dry central plains ; Upper Missouri to Rocky mountains range and south to Mexico. Rare on the coast of California. In this species there is none of the reddish brown of the two other American blue birds, the color throughout being blue, except as mentioned. The shade of blue is much lighter, with more green in it, or smalts-color, especially on the crown, instead of the purplish blue of the others. The shade on the under parts is paler than above ; it extends entirely along the sides and to the abdomen. The female has the abdomen and under coverts like the male ; the remaining under parts, with the head, neck and back, are light brown, although a bluish shade is appreciable onBIBDS—TUBDIDAE—SIALIA ABC TIC A. 225 separating the feathers. The quills are much edged with paler. The young birds have this brown streaked with white,, except on the crown ; indeed, the under parts may be described sometimes as whitish, with narrow brownish edgings to the feathers on the under parts anteriorly. The bill of this species is much stouter than in mexicana, as well as longer than in sialis. The wings also are longer in proportion, reaching nearly to the end of the tail, which is more deeply forked than in either of the others. The male birds of the three species are readily dis- tinguishable ; the females are all much alike. The greener blue, the absence of rufous brown on either back or belly, and the longer wings, will serve to separate the latter. In the zoology of Stansbury’s report I characterize a species under the name of Sialia macrop- tera on the ground of the unusually long wings, the weak claws, and the different shade of blue. This specimen (3706, Salt Lake, March 21, 1851) still remains quite unique in these respects. I am, however, now inclined to consider it as only a larger race, because more northern, of the $. arctica, strengthening the general proposition of the greater size of resident winter or summer specimens in northern than southern localities. The weak claws may have been an individual peculiarity. All the specimens before me, nearly thirty in number, agree, with scarcely an exception, in the smaller size and shorter wings. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. J875 8885 8 2 2 Fort. Union. Noli July 1, 1843 Sept. 19, — S. F. Baird J. J. Audubon Rlaok Hills Lt. G. K. Warren Dr. Hayden 7.00 13.75 4.75 Iris dark brown.. 8888 do Sept. 13, Sept. 21, do 7.50 13.50 4.25 8883 do ...... do 7.00 13.50 4.50 3 2 8 (lamp 4 Sept. 7, 7.25 13.50 4.50 Iris dark brown.. 8890 Black IIills Sept. 18,— do 7.00 13.25 4.50 .do 8884 ..do 7.00 13.50 4.50 do 8889 Sept. 22, ......do 7.00 13.25 4.50 88S6 8887 8 ft1rt1do * ftt1 Sept. 20, . T do , 7.50 13.50 4.50 T,. T. do Sept. 14, do 6.50 13.25 4.50 5640 5636 6990 5639 5638 6691 7080 37C6 7606 8494 ""s" 8 o do Aug. 3,1856 Aug. 9,1856 July 20,1857 Aug. 6,1856 Aug. 9,1856 July 27,1857 July 28,1857 Mar. 21,1851 Lieut. F. T. Bryan.. 196 W. S. Wood Medicine Bow creek,Neb Cheyenne pass. .. . 232 do 298 do "V" 8 2’ 2 8 Main Fork,Laramie R.. Medicine Bow creek.... Medicine Bow mountains (Innppr’s creek .. T do 216 do do T r T. 235 do r 9 t , HO r-ttt t-TTt tait 335 do.., T ... T „. do 76 Dr. Hammond Salt Lake. City, .... Capt. Stansbury.... (loch p. to pc pass Lieut. Beckwith.... 20 8 Fort Mass. N. M....... Mar. 30,1856 Dr. Peters 20 7.25 10.00 I Eyes dark 7609 7612 7604 7605 Near lat. 32° W. Texas. Mimbres to Rio Grande. Fort Thorn , , , , , r T,.. . Capt. Pope Dr. Henry ......... 8 o 1 t n t • - flO 1,1- fl|tt tf)n, #,tt rtit rttit! do 7607 V 75 miles west of Albu- querque. F.-pia, Mex , Nov. —,1853 Mar. —,1853 Lieut. Whipple .... Maj. Emory... .... Lieut. Trowbridge 15 K>.nn. and Moll Eyes black 76C8 Dr. Kennedy ,. -.. San Diego, Cal A. Cassidy...... •.. 226 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Sub-Family REGULINAE. REGULUS,1 Cuvier. Regulusy Cuvier, Lemons d’Anat. Comp. 1799—1800, (Agassiz.) (Type Motacilla regulus, Linn., Regulus cristatus, Koch.) Ch.—-Bill slender, much shorter than the head, depressed at base, but becoming rapidly compressed ; moderately notched at tip. Culmen straight to near the tip, then gently curved. Commissure straight; gonys convex. Rictus well provided with bristles ; nostril covered by a single bristly feather directed forwards. Tarsi elongated, exceeding considerably the middle toe, and without scutellae. Lateral toes about equal; hind toe with the claw longer than the middle one, and about half the toe. Claws all much curved. First primary about one-third as long as the longest; second equal to fifth or six. Tail shorter than the wings, moderately forked, the feathers acuminate. Colors olive green above, whitish beneath. Size very small. I am unable to appreciate any such difference between the common North American Reguli as to warrant Cabanis in establishing the genus Phyllobasileus for the calendula. The bristly feather over the nostril is perhaps less compact and close, but it exists in a rudimentary condition. Crown in adult plain olivaceous, with a concealed patch of crimson........calendula. Forehead and line over the eye white, bordered inside by black, and within this again is yellow, embracing a central patch in the crown of orange.....................satrapa. Forehead and line through the eye black, bordered inside by whitish, and within this again by black, embracing an orange patch in the centre of the crown.........cuvieri. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex and age. Length. Stretch ofwings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 1343 Regulds calendula Carlisle, Pa 4.00 2.30 1.90 0,70 0.50 0.15 0.32 0.44 do. o 4,50 7.16 2,33 "FVpsh., t, T, t 2573 do O 2 yrs. 3.70 2.22 1.84 0.70 0.50 0.14 0.32 0.42 Drv do. 4.25 6.83 2.33 Prcsh 7180 Regulus satraua........ Fort Steilacoom.... Q 3.64 2.04 1,52 0.66 0.46 0.14 0.33 0.45 T)rv 1758 Carlisle, Pa o 3.76 2.14 1.90 0.68 0.50 0.15 0.32 0.44 T)rv do. .do V 4.16 6.50 2.25 Frpsh T 867 do do 3.76 2.32 1.92 0.70 0.54 0.14 0.36 0.50 Tirv. do. o A 3.91 7 2.37 **♦•••••• Erpsh.,, T T , , o REGULUS CALENDULA, Licht. Ruby« crowned Wren. Motacilla calendula, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 337.—Forster, Phil. Trans. LX1I, 1772, 383.—Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 994. Sylvia calendula, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 549.—Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 83 ; pi. v, f. 3.—Doughty, Cab. N. H. II, 1832, 61 ; pi. vi. Regulus calendula, Licht. Verzeich. 1823, Nos. 408-s9.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 415.—Audubon, Orn. Biog, II, 1834, 546 ; pi. 195.—Ib. Birds Amer. II, 1841, 168 ; pi. 133. Reguloides calendula, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 292. Phyllobasileus calendula, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850—51, 33. Regulus rubineus, Vieillot, Ois. Am. SegJ;. II, 1807, 49 ; pi. civ, cv. * ? Parus griseus, Gmelin, Latham. Calendula pennsylvanica, Brisson, III, 1760, 584. 1 Cabanis makes a genus Phyllobasileus for our R, calendula, replacing by it Reguloides of Blyth.—(Museum Heineanum, 1850,BIRDS—TURDJDAE--REGULUS SATRAPA. 227 Sp. Ch.—Above dark greenish olive, passing into bright olive green on the ramp and outer edges of the wings and tail* Crown with a large concealed patch of scarlet feathers, which are white at the base. The under parts are grayish white tinged with pale olive yellow, especially behind. A ring round the eye, two bands on the wing coverts, and the exterior of the inner tertials white. Young without the red on the crown. Length, 4.50 ; wing, 2.33 ; tail, 1.85. Hah.—United States from Atlantic to Pacific. The female differs very little in color. It is quite probable that the species does not attain tbe red patch in the crown until the second year, as the spring migrations of the species always embrace a considerable number with the head perfectly plain. The autumnal plumage differs from the vernal in a lighter olive tinge to the feathers of the bach, while the under parts are of a pale brownish yellow, brightest on the belly. There is a concealed yellowish bar across the quills immediately beneath the tips of the greater coverts, succeeded by an exposed bar of blackish, more or less conspicuous in different specimens. There is also some concealed white on the feathers of the rump. I am unable to perceive any tangible difference between eastern and western specimens. List of specimens. Catal. No Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— ' Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1349 rv do. S 5.75 8.00 2.50 1037 $ 4.56 2.30 2.14 0.82 0.66 0.20 0.41 0.54 ! Dry do. 5.33 9.66 2.17 i Fresh.... 1861 Geothlypis macgillivrayi Columbia river 3 5.04 2.38 2.32 0.78 0.66 0.18 0.42 0.56 ! Dry GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS, Cabanis. Maryland Yellow-throat* Turdus trichas, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 293.—Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788. Sylvia trichas, Latham, Irid. Orn. II, 1790.—Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 28 ; pl» xxviii & xxix.—Aud, Orn* Biog. I, 1832, 120 : Y, 1838, 463, pi. 23 & 240. Ficedula trichas, Brisson, Orn. Geothlypis trichas, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850, 16. Ficedula marilandica, Brisson, Orn. Ill, 1760, 506. Sylvia marilandica, Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 88 ; pi. vi, f 1. Trichas marilandica, Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 310.—Axm.’Syn. 1839, 65.—Ib, Orn. Biog. II, 1841, 78; pi. 102. Regulus mystaceus, Stephens, Shaw, Zool. Birds, XIII, n, 1826, 232. Trichas personatus, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 167. Sylvia roscoe, Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 124 ; pi. 24. (Young male.) Trichas roscoe, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 457. Trichas brachydactyla, Swainson, Anim. in Menag. 1838, 295. Buffon, PI. enl. 709, f. 2. Sp. Ch.—-Upper parts oliv8 green, tinged with brown towards the middle of the crown ; chin, throat, and breast as far as the middle of the body, with the under tail coverts blight yellow. Belly dull whitish buff. Sides of body strongly tinged with light olive brown ; under coverts glossed with the same. A band of black on the forehead, (about .20 of an inch wide in the middle,) passing backward so as to cover the cheek and ear coverts, and extending a little above the eye ; this band bordered behind by a suffusion of hoary ash, forming a distinct line above the eye, and widening behind the ear coverts into a larger patch, with a yellow tinge. In winter dress, and in the female, without the black mask, the forehead tinged with brown, the yellow ofthe throat less extended, the eyelids whitish, and an indistinct superciliary line yellowish. Length of male, 5.50 ; wing, 2.40 ; tail 2.20. Hab.—North America from Atlantic to Pacific. The wings of this species are short and much rounded ; they reach a little beyond the basal third of the tail. This is considerably graduated, the outer feather about .40 of an inch 31 b242 TJ. S. P. 11. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. shorter than the middle ones. The fourth quill is longest ; the first shorter than the fifth. The legs are long and of a yellow color. I have not found any specimens of this species agreeing with the Trichas personatus of Swainson as distinguished from his Tbrachydactylus. All before me have the short lateral toes dis- tinguishing the latter species. Should, therefore, there be really two, as suggested by Swainson, the new one will be that to which he has assigned the name of personatus. Among the specimens before me are several males in autumnal or winter dress in which the entire crown is pale reddish olive, except a very narrow black frontlet. The black of the cheeks is also considerably obscured. This agrees with the Sylvia roscoe of Audubon. There is a slight trace only of the conspicuous white ring round the eye, shown in the figure of roscoe, this is characteristic of the female ; nor is the olive of the back so dark. Specimens from the west appear larger than eastern ones, and the hoary suffusion back of the black on the head is more sharply defined and whiter. One skin from Eacine has the belly yellower than usual, and .thus more like G. velatus. This species is readily distinguishable from G. macgillivrayi and Philadelphia in the adult dress. The female and immature specimens of the latter may be distinguished by the bright yellow of the whole under surface of body and tail coverts, and the gray tinge on the neck and throat without the decided yellow of G. trichas. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age* Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 2178 s Carlisle, Pa.... April 30, 1845 S. F. Baird 4.75 6.91 2.25 2293 A May 20, 1845 5.C8 6 66 2.25 2572 o A do May 4, 1846 5.16 7.08 2.17 2656 o A May 12, 1846 do 5.08 7.08 2.17 2535 o A do April 30, 1846 5.50 7.43 2.43 2215 o A April 3, 1846 5.08 7.25 2.25 385 o 9 r\ April 15, 1846 5.00 6.91 2303 do May 21,1845 do 5.08 6.91 2.16 1105 V r\ do July 5, 1843 4.75 6.50 2.00 703 V "7\ Washington, D. C April 25, 1842 o 8655 Cape Florida O. Wurdemann.... 5.25 7.00 2.25 7370 Cleveland, Ohio Dr. J. P. Kirtland .. 7922 s Racine, Wis A. C. Rarry 5825 _t do Dr. P. R. Hoy 6 10152 $ $ West Northfield, 111 May 15, 1857 R. Kennicot.t 8313 Independence, Mo May 27, 1857 Win. M. Magravv... 30 Dr. Cooper .... 5.00 6.37 2.12 Iris brown ; bill black; feet flesh color. 3990 Brownsville, Texas..... Lieut. Couch 4.50 6.25 2.00 3992 4.50 6.50 2.00 4674 s Nebraska May 15 ...... Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden.,,. 5.37 7.00 2.50 4675 do May 12 4.75 7.00 8836 A TiOnp Fork...... ..... Aug. 6 2.25 7.12 2.25 Tris dark brown 8834 o TV do Aug. 3 5.25 7.00 2.25 8837 o . T.... do 5.00 7.00 2.25 Tris dark brown ... t T t 8835 o 4.75 6.75 2.25 5304 6 Blackfoot country...... Aug. 1, 1855 do 8227 o Fort Laramie, Neb Sept. 17,1855 Wm. M. Magraw... 209 Dr. Cooper .... 4.75 6.75 2.25 Iris brown; feet pale brown. 7915 A Fort. Steilacoom April 25, 1858 Dr. Sucldey 327 5.87 7.25 2.50 7916 o o do April 26, 1856 328 7917 V Shoal water bay Aug. 30, 1854 Gov. Stevens 87 Dr. Cooper T. 5.37 6.75 7921 5.50 7.25 4566 San Jos6, al.. A. J. Grayson..... 6 7920 >up Fork , t 11»- • 11 i Aug. 5, Lt. Warren Dr. Hayden r 7.00 9.50 2.75 Tris gray 8842 O —Eastern North America to the Missouri ; Greenland. (Reinhardt.) The bill is very acute; the wings long and pointed ; the tail emarginate, not rounded. In autumn the entire upper parts are olive green, tinged with yellowish on the rump, some- times with brownish on the head ; the patch on the crown more or less concealed. The female has the white on the middle of the belly more extended. This species is distinguished from celata by the ash of the head, and the much purer and more vivid gamboge (not greenish) yellow of the under parts. Although a smaller bird the wings are proportionately longer. The continuous yellowish ring round the eye and the absence of the superciliary stripe distinguish the species from both celata and peregrina. The latter, besides being larger, never has any approach to the bright yellow under parts, and more- over, has no concealed patch on the crown.BIRDS—H8YLVIC0LIBAE—HELMINTH0PHAGA CELATA. 257 List of specimens. JL Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 2150 S Carlisle, Pa April 26, 1845 ...... m- S. F. Baird ^ 4. 66 7. 50 2.41 958 S May 3, 1843 4. 66 7.75 , 2. 33 791 S do - * Oct. 10, 1842 4. 58 7. 08 2. 33 1699 Sept. 6 1844 . do , . __ 4. 83 7. 50 2. 41 768 Sept. 30 1842 do __ 4. 50 7.41 2. 33 2237 Q May 6 1845 do_ * _ 2457 o Sept. 12, 1845 ___ do ..... 7557 $ Washington, D. C - - - - W. Hutton - - Racine, Wisconsin. R. Kennicott 10157 $ Cairo, Illinois April 29, 1845 do HELMINTHOPHAGA CELATA, Baird. Orange-crowned Warbler. Sylvia celata, Bay, Long’s Exped. R» Mis. I, 1823, 169.—Bonap. Am. Orn. I, 1825, 45 ; pi. v, fv2.-~-BoN. Syn. 1828, 38.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 413, (Haems.)—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 449 *, pi. 178. Sylvicola celata, Rich. List, 1837. Fermivora celata, (Jardine,) Bonap. List, 1838. Helinaia celata, Atrt>. Syn. 1839, 69.—Is. Birds Am. II, 1841, ICO ; pi. 112. Helmitheros celata, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 315. Sp. Ch.—Above olive green, rather brighter on the rump. Beneath entirely greenish yellow, except a Jittle whitish about the anus ; the sides tinged with olivaceous. A concealed patch of pale brownish orange on the crown, hidden by the olivaceous tips to the feathers. Eyelids and an obscure superciliary line yellowish, a dusky obscure streak through the eye. No white spots on wings or tail of female, with little or none of the orange on the crown. Length, 4.70 ; wing, 2.25 ; tail, 2.00. Hob.—Mississippi river to the Pacific ; south to northern Mexico. In some specimens there is a narrow margin of whitish along the inner webs of the tail feathers. Sometimes, too, (3993,) the outer primary is edged with white. Some specimens appear to be without the orange crown. Occasionally there is a faint trace of obsolete olivaceous streaks on the breast. An immature specimen (10159) from Fort Umpqua, referred to this species, is much duller in plumage, and shows a trace of two brownish bands on the wings. 83 b258 U. S. P. R. R, EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex & age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— 1 Length. Stretch of wings. Wi ng. Remarks. 7925? 4672 4673 7697 3994 3995 3993 7692 7693 7694 7695 7696 2929 1912 4392 10159? 4221 2 Bon Homme Island.... Mouth of Big Sioux.... W. fpiras , . , . May n, T T , . Lieut.. Warren Dr. Hayden Columbia river S. F. Baird J. K. Townsend . .... do... Fort Dalles, Oregon.... Fort Umpqua, Oregon Dr. Snekley O Dr. Vollum.......... 7.37 2.50 San Francisco, f!al Winter ’53-’4 R. D. f!ut.t.s Fort. Tejon .T. "X. de Vesey....... • HELMINTHOPHAGA PEREGRINA, Oabanis. Tennessee Warbler* Sylvia peregrina, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811,83; pi. xxv, f. 2.—Bonap. Syn. 1828, 87.— Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 307 ; ph 154. Sylvia (Dacnis) peregrina, Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1826, No. 155.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 412. Sylvicola peregrina, Rich. List, 1837. Vermivora peregrina, Bonap. List, 1838. Helinaiaperegrina, Aud. Syn. 1839, 68.—Ib. Birds Am. II, 1841, 96 ; pi. 110. Ilelmitheros peregrina, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 315. Helminthophaga peregrina, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 20. “ Sylvia tennessaei, Vieillot,” Gray. Sp. Ch.—Top and sides of the head and neck ash gray; rest of upper parts olive green, brightest on the rump. Beneath dull white, faintly tinged in places, especially on the sides, with yellowish olive. Eyelids and a stripe over the eye whitish ; a dusky line from the eye to the bill. Outer tail feather with a white spot along the inner e.dge near the tip. Female with the ash of the head less conspicuous ; the under parts more tinged with olive yellow. Length, 4.50 ; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 1.85. Hab.—Eastern .United States to the Missouri. In this species the hill is small and quite acute. The wings are long, reaching beyond the middle of the tail, which is slightly emarginate. The second and third quills are longest; the first but little shorter, and longer than the fourth. It is very seldom that specimens are found with the gray neck and crown, this being gen- erally, especially in winter dress, of the same olive as the back, and the greenish yellow of the under parts much more conspicuous and extended. In this dress it becomes very difficult to distinguish it from autumnal specimens of H. celata. The under parts of the latter species are, however, generally of a brighter yellow, especially on the tail coverts, and the wing is consid- erably shorter; the superciliary stripe, too, is less distinct. Specimens from Pennsylvania appear to have the bill larger than more western ones. The Sylvia bicolor of Vieillot (Ois, Am. Sept. II, 1807, 32 ; pi. xc, bis) cannot belong to the SylviaBIRDS—SYLYICOLIDAE — SEIURUS 259 peregrina of Wilson, as intimated by Bonaparte, since the former is stated to have the upper parts, including the rump, pale blue. This is never the case in the latter species, where the rump is always green. The absence of white bands on the wing shows that it is not 8. coerulea of Wilson. The Eelinaia brevipennis of Giraud is quite similar, but has a much shorter wing. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 752 Q Carlisle, Pa Sept. 23, 1842 May 21, 1841 Oct. 10, 1842 S. F. Baird 4. 50 7. 25 2. 50 412 Hr Q do do 4. 75 7. 50 790 S _do do 4.83 7. 75 2.50 7399 Cleveland, Ohio Dr. Kirtla/nd Cairo, Illinois April 22, 1842 1843 N. W. University. . S. F. Baird Robt. Kennicott 1879 s Fort Union, Neb _« J. J. Audubon Section Sylvicoleae. Bill distinctly notched ; rictal bristles short or small, or wanting. Hind toe short, equal to the lateral; the claw as long as its digit. First quill scarcely shorter than longest. The following genera compose this section: Seiurus.—Legs stout, elongated ; tarsi longer than the skull. Colors olive above ; streaked beneath. Tail feathers unspotted. Legs yellow. Dendroica.—Legs slender ; tarsi scarcely equal to the skull. Bill variable. Colors of body brilliant and varied. Tail feathers always with a white patch on the inner web. Legs usually dusky. SEIURUS, Swainson. Seiurus, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 171. (Sufficiently distinct from Seiurus.) Type Motacilla aurocapilla, L. Henicocichla, Gray, List of Genera, 1840. Ch.—Bill rather sylvicoline, compressed, with a distinct notch. Gonys ascending. Rictal bristles very short. Wings mod- erate, about three-quarters of an inch longer than the tail; first quill scarcely shorter than the second. Tail slightly rounded ; feathers acuminate. Tarsi about as long as the skull, considerably exceeding the middle toe. Under tail coverts reaching within about half an inch of the end of the tail. Color above olivaceous ; beneath whitish, thickly streaked on the breast and sides. Wings and tail immaculate. This genus is decidedly sylvicoline in general appearance, although the spots on the breast resemble somewhat those of the thrushes. The three species may be grouped as follows : A. Middle of crown brownish orange, bordered by blackish. No white superciliary streak..............................................................................8. aurocapillus. B. Crown like the back. A well defined superciliary light stripe. Thickly streaked beneath, including crissum. Ground color and superciliary stripe yellowish. Bill small.......................................8. noveboracensis. Sparsely streaked beneath ; throat and crissum immaculate. Ground color and superciliary stripe white. Bill very large.,......,................ludovi&ianus.260 U. S. P. R. R. EXP, AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex and age. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 1433 Seiurus aurocapillus Carlisle, Pa...i O 5.10 2.74 2.22 0.91 0.68 0.16 0.48 0.58 Dry ...do.. do ... V 5.75 9.16 2.75 Fresh ... 6995 do St. Louis 6.02 3.06 2.44 0.86 0.71 0.16 0.44 0.54 Dry ..... 1502 Seiurus noveboracensis.,. Carlisle, Pa.,.. O A 5.40 2.96 2.36 0.82 0.72 0.19 0.46 0.66 Dry ...do.. do do 0 6.16 9.75 3.08 Fresh ... 10169 Northern Til.. T. 6.14 3.10 2.48 0.82 0.66 0.18 0.50 0.64 Dry 964 Seiurus ludovicianus..... Carlisle, Pa.... A 5.38 3.30 2.38 0.90 0.72 0.16 0.57 0.70 Dry..... . ..do.. do. . do. o 6.33 10.75 3.25 Fresh ... 9108 Mexico ""s' 5.40 3.26 2 40 0.90 0.74 0.16 0.56 0.72 Dry SEIUEUS AUEOCAPILLUS, Swainson. Oven bird; Golden-crowned Thrush, Motacilla aurocapilla, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 334.—Gmelin, I, 1788, 982. Turdus aurocapillus, Latham, Ind. Orn. 1,1790, 328.—Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 88 ; pi. xiv, f. 2.—Licht. Verzeich. 1823, No. 424.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 253 : V, 1839, 447 ; pi. cxliii. Sylvia aurocapillus, Bonap. Obs. Wills. J. A. N. S. IY, 1826, 35. Seiurus aurocapillus, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 171.—Ib. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 247.—Bon. List, 1838.— Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 306.—Aud. Syn. 1839, 93.—Ib. Birds Amer. Turdus (Seiurus) aurocapillus, Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 355. ' Jlccentor aurocapillus, Rich. List, 1837. Enicocichla aurocapilla, Gray, List Genera, 1840. Henicocichla aurocapilla, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 15. Turdus coronatus, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 8 ; pi. lxiv, Sp. Ch.—Above uniform olive green, with a tinge of yellow. Crown with two narrow streaks of black from the bill, enclosing a median and much broader one of brownish orange. Beneath white ; the breast, sides of the body, and a maxillary line streaked with black. The female and young of the year are not appreciably different. Length, 6.00 ; wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.40. Hab.—Eastern North America to the Missouri. The sides of the head are olivaceous, paler than the hack, with a superciliary hand of the same color outside the hlack. The loral space and a ring round the eye are whitish, the latter with a little yellow. The feet and maxilla are yellow; the mandible brownish. The brownish orange of the crown is usually obscured by olivaceous tips to the feathers, sometimes to such an extent as to hide it almost entirely from view, (4719.) A specimen of this species (838*7) from Independance is larger with longer wings than any others in the collection.BIRDS—SYLVIGOLIDAE—SEIURUS NOVEBORACENSIS. 261 List of specimens. Oatal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings?. Wing. Remarks. 1419 A Carlisle^ Pa T T, , May 1,1844 S. F. flaird 6.00 9.50 3.00 1433 V O do.. May 3,1844 do 5.75 9.16 2.16 1134 do July 24,1843 t,,Tt Bdo.,T,,ff t 7542 Washington^ Tl. C.,.. . Wm. Hutton....... flnnlr r*onnty^ Til A ngnst. t, T,, , T?.. TCennicot.t r? Union county, Til May 6 do 6995 o A pt. r.onis lYTo....... T T, May 15,1857 Lieut. Bryan....... W. p. Wood.... 8665 O o Cape Florida Sept. 24,1857 (4. Wurdemann 5.75 9.50 3.00 8666 V do Sept. 25,1857 6.00 9.50 3.00 8387 Q Independence, Mo.... Jan. 20,1857 Wm. M. Magraw... 83 Dr. Cooper 6.50 10.00 3.25 Iris brown; bill brown; feet flesh. 5287 A Medicine river, on Mo.. July 3,1856 Lient.. Warren Dr. Hayden.... 6.25 8.75 2.75 4720 A Vermilion river, Neb... May 6 do 6.25 9.00 3.00 4719 o T. do T May 11 5.87 9.37 2.87 4718 V A ltltl,do.,,Ttt ,tt. .tttf, May 6 5.37 9.50 3.00 4716 o A .Tames river, Neb May 8 do 6.00 9.87 3.25 4717 o Month of Platte April 27 6.25 9.62 3.12 Eves blue black...... 4714 O -a t r 11,. do. t . f r *, t .... .. do 6.50 9.00 3.00 do 4715 6 "A Paid island April 25,1856 do 6.00 9.75 3.12 Eyes black..... .... o SEIURUS NOVEBORACENSIS, Nut tall. Water Thrush* Motacilla novel or acensis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 958. Sylvia novel or acensis, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 518.—Vieillot, Ois. II, 1807, 26; pi. lxxxii.—Bon. Syn. 1828, 77. Turdus (Seiurus) noveloracensis, Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 353. Seiurus noveloracensis, Bonap. List, 1838.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 306.—Aud. Syn. 1839,03. Henicocichla noveloracensis, Cabanis, in Schomburgk’s Reise Guiana, III, 1848, 666, (Caraccas,Oct. 20.)—Ib. Mus. Hein. 1851, 16. Mniotilta noveloracensis, Gray. ? Sylvia tigrina, var. /?, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 537. Turdus aquaticus, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 66 ; pi. xxii, f. 5.—Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 284; pi. 433. Turdus aquaticus, Bonap. Obs. Wilson, J. A. N- S. IV, 1826, 34, (error.) Sylvia anthoides, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XI, 1817, 208. Seiurus tenuirostris, Swainson, Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 369.—Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. I, 1843, 261. ? Seiurus sulfurascens, D’Orbigny, in De la Sagra Cuba, Ois. 1840, 57 ; pi. vi. Sp. Ch.—Bill, from rictus, about the length of the skull. Above olive brown, with a shade of green ; beneath pale sulphur yellow, brightest on the abdomen. Region about the base of the lower mandible, and a superciliary line from the base of the bill to the nape, brownish yellow. A dusky line from the bill through the eye ; chin, and throat finely spotted. All the remaining under parts and sides of the body, except the abdomen, and including the under tail coverts, conspicuously and thickly streaked with olivaceous brown, almost black on the breast. Length, 6.15 ; wing, 3.12 ; tail, 2.40. Bill, from rictus, .64. Hal.—Eastern United States to the Missouri, and south to Guatemala, perhaps to Brazil. In this species the second and third quills are about equal, and a little longer than the first, which exceeds the fourth. The tail is slightly rounded, the feathers acuminate-acute. The feathers of the chin and throat have each a small triangular spot, the middle of the abdomen being the only immaculate region. In nearly all specimens there is a trace of a median light stripe on the crown, visible at the base of the bill; sometimes this being more or less distinctly traceable half way along the crown,262 U. S. P, R R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT (2159.) It is especially noticable in No. 8020, from Guatemala. This is also of an unusually dark olive, above. The female differs only in being a little smaller, and perhaps in having the spots beneath more restricted. Autumnal and winter specimens are decidedly more sulphury yellow beneath, and the spots less sharply defined. There is little variation in the size of bill and feet in individuals ofthe sam e sex. It is somewhat a question whether the Seiurus sulfurascens of authors be not merely the winter plumage, as observed in South America. This conclusion can only be avoided by showing that the sulphur-bellied bird breeds in South America in this plumage. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 2668 arlisle, Pa May 14, 1846 S. F. Baird 5.25 9.33 3.00 253L A Apl. 30, 1846 6.25 9.66 3.50 1501 O £ do May 10, 1844 6.25 9.83 3.16 1502 o A .... . do May 10, 1844 6.16 9.75 3.08 2434 o o do Sept. 8, 1845 5.91 9.41 3.00 2159 V p do Apl. 28,1845 5.50 8.75 2.75 3317 V Liberty county, Ga 1846 6.00 9.50 3.00 4304 o Calcasieu Pass, La 1854 G. Wurdemann... 8669 Pi Cape Florida, Fla Sept. 24,1857 6.00 10.00 3.00 Black hill 8668 V ...... do 7, .... Sept. 25,1857 do.... 6.00 9.00 3.00 Brown hill, light, feet 8667 Sept. 26,1857 5.25 9.50 3.00 Light brown legs, black eyes. 7358 L an sins, Mich Charles Fox...... 10J69 West Northfield, III R. Ivennicott 4721 Sept. 21, 1842 4.91 8.41 2. 75 1160 rln Aug. 16, 1843 5. 08 8. 33 2.83 7350 Cleveland Ohio J. P. Kirtland 3793 Pari lift Wis Dr. Hoy*,-- Q West Northfield, Ill__ May 3, 1855 R. Kennicott 6972 A St. Louis, Mo May 12, 1857 Lt. Bryan ... 62 W. S. Wood 6973 $ do - May 8, 1857 ------do . _ 39 4305 $ Calcasieu pass, La- 1854 G. Wurdemann 8008 Guatemala J. Gould 276 TJ. S. P. B. E. EXP. AND SOBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. DENDEOICA CASTANEA, Baird. Bay Breasted Warbler. Sylvia castanea, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 97; pi. xiv, f. 4.—Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1826, No. 139.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 382.—Audubon, Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 358 ; pi. 69. Sylvicola castanea, “ Swainson,” Jard. ed. Wilson, 1832.—Rich. List, 1837.—Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 308.—Aud. Syn. 1839, 53.—Ib. Birds Amer. II, 1841,34 ; pi. 80. Rhimanphus castaneus, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1850, 19. Sylvia autumnalis, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 65 ; pi. xxiii, f. 3.—Bon. Obs. 1826, No. 152.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 447; pi. 88.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 390. (Female or young in autumn.) Sp. Ch.—Male. Crown dark reddish chestnut; forehead and cheeks, including a space above the eye, black ; a patch of buff yellow behind the cheeks. Rest of upper parts bluish gray streaked with black, the edges of the interscapulars tinged with yellowish, of the scapulars with olivaceous. Primaries and tail feathers edged externally with bluish gray; the extreme cuter ones with white; the secondaries edged with olivaceous. Two bands on the wing and the edges of the tertials white. The under parts are whitish with a tinge of buff; the chin, throat, fore part of breast, and the sides, chestnut brown, lighter than the crown. Two outer tail feathers with a patch of white on the inner web near the end ; the others edged internally with the same. Female with the upper parts olive, streaked throughout with black, and an occasional tinge of chestnut on the crown. Lower parts with traces of ehqgtnut, but no stripes. Length of male, 5.00; wing, 3.05; tail, 2.40. Hab.—Eastern United States to the Missouri. South to Guatemala. The female appears nqt to be very constant in her markings ; sometimes the trace of chestnut on the crown is conspicuous ; sometimes it is entirely wanting. The extent, too, of the chest- nut beneath is subject to considerable variation. In the young bird and possibly in the adult in autumn, the upper parts and sides of the head and neck are of a bright though light olive green, obsoletely streaked with black, chiefly in the middle of the back, the rump with an ashy tinge. Beneath buff white, the sides tinged with brown, sometimes showing a trace of the chestnut of spring. Sometimes there is a greenish yellow tinge on the throat and breast. There is a pale line over the eye, and the eyelids are yellowish, the eye cut by a faint dusky bar from the base of the bill. This species is in many respects very closely allied to D. striata, and although the adults in spring are readily distinguishable, it becomes very difficult to separate them when in autumnal or immature plumage. They are of about the same size; the upper parts would be almost precisely the same, if the chestnut crown of D. castanea were replaced by black; the back of the neck in striata is streaked with white, and the back has a less yellow tinge. The females are still more similar above. The absence of streaks, however, on the under parts of 8. castanea would separate them in all cases, but for the fact that these sometimes are obsolete in young of D. striata. The bill of D. castanea is broader at the base and more bristled ; the tails are almost precisely the same; the inner borders of the quills of D. castanea are abruptly pure white, instead of gradually becoming lighter, as in the other. A careful comparison of an extensive series of immature specimens of the two species shows that in castanea the under parts are seldom washed uniformly on the throat and breast, with yellowish green ; but while this may be seen on the sides of the neck and breast, or even across the latter, the chin and throat are nearly white, the sides tinged with dirty brown, even if the (generally present) trace of chestnut be wanting on the sides. There is a buff tinge to the under tail coverts ; the quills are abruptly margined with white, and there are no traces (how- ever obsolete) of streaks on the breast. In D. striata the under parts are quite uniformly washed with greenish yellow nearly as far back as the vent, the sides of the breast and some- times of belly with obsolete streaks; no trace of the uniform dirty reddish brown on the sidesBIRDS—SYLVICOLIDAE—DENDROICA PINUS. 277 "behind and tinder tail coverts are pure white. The quills are only gradually paler towards the inner edge, not rather abruptly white. List of specimens. Catal No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 2231 rather lighter beneath. Tail dusky. To^ of head light grayish blue. Front, lore, cheek, and a stripe under the vfe7 black, running into a large triangular patch on the back between the wings, which is also black. Eyelids and a st^'P6 from the eye along the head white. Upper tail coverts blacik, some of the feathers tipped with grayish. Abdomen and lower tail coverts white. Rump and under parts, except as described, yellow. Lower throat, breast, and sides creaked with black ; the streaks closer on the lower throat and fore breast. Lesser wdng coverts, and edges of the winged tail bluish gray, the former spotted with black. Quills and tail almost black ; the latter -with a square patch of whhe on the inner webs of all the tail feathers (but the two inner) beyond the middle of the tail. Two wihite bandsBIRDS—SYLYICOLIDAE—DENDROICA MACULOSA, 285 across the wings, (sometimes coalesced into one,) formed by the small coverts and secondaries. Part of the edge of the inner webs of the quills white. Feathers margining the black patch on the back behind and on the sides tinged with greenish. Length, 5 inches ; wing, 2.50 ; tail, 2.25. Hob. —Eastern United States to the Missouri river ; south to Guatemala. Second and third quills longest; first shorter than fourth. Tail rounded, emarginate. Female, in spring,—In general appearance like the male, hut with the corresponding colors much duller. The black on the back reduced to a few large proximate spots. The spots on the under parts much fewer. Upper parts dirty ash, tinged with greenish on the lower back ; bn the rump dull yellow. Male, in autumn,— Bill brown, lighter along the edges and base of lower mandible. Head and hind neck dirty ash, tinged above with green. Back greenish yellow, obsoletely spotted with black. Eump yellow. Throat and breast yellow, obsoletely spotted with black ; strongly tinged with light ash on the lower throat. Eyelids dirty white. Differs from the spring plumage in being without the black on the back, front, sides of the head and cheeks, and in a great degree on the under parts. Much less white on the wing and side of the head. The colors generally also are duller. . * Female, in autumn.—‘Similar, generally, to the male in fall. Back greenish yellow, brighter on the rump ; rest of upper parts deep ash. Lower parts yellow, obsoletely streaked with black ; the light ash on the lower throat decided. The white on the wings reduced to two narrow bands. There is a continuous white ring round the eye. Bill light brown. Basal part of lower man- dible dirty white. Feet lighter brown. Specimens vary somewhat in the amount of black on the under parts. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex & age. Locality. When collected 760 1 n n lr Tlilld T.ient. Warren T... Dr. Hayden.... 7.25 11.75 3.50 Iris brown.... 7.00 11.00 3 50 Iris dark brown Frti'f T oramin l\Jph Ur. Hooper 188 7.25 11.50 4.00 Tris brown; bill black 211 7.75 11.50 3.50 and yellow; feet bl’k. 2 IijpiU Rryan , t , 300 W. S. Wood Medicine Bow river.... Mimbres to Rio Grande. Dr. T\ C. Henry.... 8264 5927 5928 5929 8262 8261 1881 A May —,1855 Gy P!nnppr . . 7.00 11.25 o c? A Steilacoom, W. T. r\c\ A • e » dO • • • • « o A /I A 1 Rnfi t t f T f T 1 . Dr Snekley. t 98 o o /I A Aug. —,1854 V 3 $ o 3 S s E Baird J. K. Townsend. 5514 8260 8259 May 13,1856 Lieut. Williamson. , do Dr. Heermann.. do........ Cjn lli AfVA 01 4907 EUPHONIA, Desm. Euphonia, Desm. Hist. Nat. des Tangaras, 1805.—Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1856,271. CH.__Bill short, widened or depressed ; the culmen curved ; gonys ascending; commissure notched at tip, and somewhat serrate. Wingslong ; tail short, quadrate. Colors black, blue, and yellowish. The hill of Euphonia is much shorter than the head, and very broad at the base. The two or three toothed lobes near the tip of cutting edge of the upper mandible are very distinct. The rictal bristles are very short. The tarsi are much shorter than the middle toe. The tail is very short, the feathers narrow. EUPHONIA ELEGANTISSIMA, Gray. Pipra elegantissima, Bonap. Pr. Zool. Soc. 1837, 112. Euphonia elegantissima, Gray, Genera, App. 17.—Bonap. Consp. 1850, 232.—-Dubus, Esq. Orn.—-Sclater, Gont. Orn. 1851, 83.—Ib. Pr. Zool. Soc. 1856, 273. Euphonia coelestis, Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1839, 39. Pipra galericulata, Giraud, 16 Sp. Birds Texas, 1841. gp# (}H.—Top of head and a half collar on the neck behind opaque blue. Sides of head and neck, chin, throat, and upper parts generally, steel bluish black. Beneath yellow brownish fulvous, tinged with dark brownish chestnut, especially on the forepart of the breast and towards the tail. Forehead dark chestnut, margined behind by black. Length, 4.70 ; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 1.80. jpaj)t—Northern Mexico to Guatemala. California? This is one of the species (Pipra galericulata) described by Mr. Girand in his “ Sixteen New Species of Texas Birds,” and the specimen 560 was obtained in the same locality with Mr. Giraud’s. It is, however, very probable that the sixteen were actually collected some distance to'the south of the Texas border, probably in the southern portion of the State of Tamaulipas. I am informed by Dr. Cooper that the same bird has been captured near San Francisco, and that the specimen is now in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of that city.BIRDS—SYLVICOLIDAE—CONCLUDING REMARKS. 305 The specimens before me differ a little from Mr. Sclater’s description of Euphonia elegantissima. Thus, the throat is of the same dull steel blue color with the back; the under parts have a strong tinge of chestnut. According to Mr. Sclater, the female is olive green, paler beneath; the crown blue; the forehead chestnut, margined behind with black, or much like the male. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. Whence obtained. Collected by— 560 Texas? (Northern Mexico) S. F. Baird J. G. Bell 7958 Guatemala - - J. Gould CONCLUDING REMARKS. Having thus passed in review the well established species of North American Sylvicolidae, it may be well to mention those which claim such a place with greater or less propriety. Chief among these are the species described by Mr. Giraud as having been received from Texas, but which were probably taken in a more southern latitude, possibly about that of Tampico. Most of these doubtless at times wander as far as the Rio Grande, and several are described in .the present report as having been taken on or near that river. 1. Dendroica olivacea, Baird. Sylvia olivacea, Giraud, Texas Birds, 1841; pi. vii.—Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 66. Sylvicola olivacea, Cassin, 111. I, 1855, 283 ; pi. xlviii. Sylvia taeniata, Dubus, Bull. Acad. Brux. XIV, 1847, 104.—Ib. Rev. Zool. 1848, 245. Sylvicola taeniata, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 309. 2. Aegithina leucoptera, Vieillot. Sylvia leucoptera, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 28; pi. Ixxxiv, (N. America.) Aegithina leucoptera, “ Vieillot,” Swainson, Birds, II, 1837, 246.—Bon. Consp. 1850, 311. Mniotilta leucoptera, Gray, Genera. 3. Pachysylvta decurtata, Bonap. Sylvia decurtata, Bon. Pr. Zool. Sog. 1837, 118, (Mexico.) Pachysylvia decurtata, Bon. Conspectus, 1850, 309. Helinai brevipennis, Giraud, Ann. N. V. Lyc. V, 1852, 40 ; pi. iii, f. 1. Texas ? and Mexico. 4. Basileuterus belli, Sclater. Muscicapa belli, Giraud, Texas Birds, 1841, pi. iv., f. 1. Basileuterus belli, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 65. Basileuterus chrysophrys, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 314. 39 b306 U. S. P. K. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 5. BASILEUTERUS BRASIERI, S c 1 a t e r. Muscicapa brasieri, Giraud, Texas Birds, 1841; pi. vi, f. 2. Basileuterus brasieri, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 66. “ Basileuterus culicivorus, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 66,” (Sclater.) 6. Cardellina rubrierons, Sclater. Muscicapa rubrifrons, Giraud, Tex. Birds, 1841, pi. vii, f. 1. Gardellina rubrifrons, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 66. Cardellina amicta, Dubus, Esq, Orn. 1850; pi. xxv.—Bonap. Consp. 1850, 312, (Sclater.) The following supposed Sylvicolinae, described by the older authors as North American, have not been fully identified, although most of them doubtless belong to species already referred to: 1. Motacilla auricollis, Gmelin, Syst. I, 984. Sylvia auricollis, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 536.—Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. X, na 1817, 735.—Nutt. I, 1832, 380. Sylvicola auricollis, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed., 1840, 431. 2. Sylvia carolinensis, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 551.—Stephens in Shaw's Zool. X, ii, 1817, 752. Mniotilta carolinensis, Gray, Genera. “ Motacilla rubiginosa, Pallas.” 3. Motacilla fulva, Gmelin, I, 1788, 973. Sylvia fulva, Latham, Ind. II, 1790, 542.—Stephens in Shaw's Zool. X, ii, 1817, 726. (Louisiana.) 4. Sylvia griseicollis, Vieillot, Ois. Am. II, 29.—Stephens in Shaw's Zool. X, n, 1817, 685. 5. Motacilla incana, Gmelin, I, 1788, 976. Sylvia incana, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 527.—Stephens in Shaw's Zool. X, ii, 1817, 628. (New York.) {Dendroica Blackburnia ?) 6. Motacilla ludoviciana, Gm. I, 1788, 983. Sylvia ludoviciana, Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 535.—Stephens in Shaw's Zool. X, ii, 1817, 713. (North America.) 7. Sylvia ochroleuca, Vieillot, Nouy. Diet. XI, 1817, 187. United States. Dull olive above, golden 3fellow on throat and side of head; breast beneath yellowish white. 8. Sylviapumila, Vieillot, Ois. Am. II, 1807; pi. c. Sylvicolapumila, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 308. 9. Sylvia russeicauda, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 17; pi. 71.—Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. X, n, 1817, 675. (North America.) 10. Sylvia semitorquata, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 542.—Stephens, Shaw's Zool. X, n, 1817, 594. (Louisiana.)BIRDS—HIRUNDINIDAE—HIRUNDO. 307 Family HIRUNDINIDAE. Sub-Family HIRUNDININAE. Bill triangular, very short and broad, much depressed ; the ridge much less than half the head ; the gonys two-thirds this jength; the gape extending to below the eye. Primaries nine; the first longest, and, with the second, considerably longer than the others ; the secondaries and tertials not reaching the middle of the primaries ; the secondaries deeply emarginate Wings very long, reaching beyond the commencement of the fork of the tail, which is generally more or less deep. Tarsi scutellate, very short, less than the lateral toes, the inner of which is more deeply cleft than the outer. The feet of the true swallows follow the general insessorial type in having three anterior toes and one posterior, none capable of being moved much from their normal position. This, with the much larger and differently shaped bill, as well as the nine primaries, instead of ten, readily distinguish them from the Cypselidae. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle Its claw alope. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 6019 Hirundo horreorum • •«, Sacramento valley. A 6.90 5.03 4.52 0.44 0 68 0.20 0.36 0.62 Dry....... 2284 Hirundo lunifr^n^ f, 11,t Plarlislp, Pa o o 4.88 4.38 2.20 0.50 ! 0.64 0.21 0.26 0.55 Dry 2284 11 do. t t a ~ do V 5 66 12.25 4.41 Fresh 2197 TTirnridn hienlnr,. do.. ., (? 5.48 4.92 2 66 0.49 0.63 0.19 0.32 0.54 Dry 2197 lit1lfln.tll1i 1(1 t do.. .T 6.25 12.25 5.00 Fresh 6494 f rfnt 11 11ttlt Pptalnma, Dal .... S 5.00 4.75 2.55 .46 .25 .44 Dry 1895 Hirundo , 11. flaliimhia rivpr. . T T . A 4.76 4.48 2.08 0.46 0.60 0.18 0.24 0.50 Dry....... 2209 Clntylp sprnppnniK Carlislp, Pa u A 4.52 4.28 2.23 0.40 0.58 0.20 0.28 0.50 Dry 5597 flnfylp vipnrin ( r T T . . . . Fi. of Pilpy's. 11. T t. o o 5.04 3.96 2.34 0.44 0.62 0.22 0.28 0.46 Dry 1692 do Carlisle, Pa V 4.46 3.98 2.00 0.41 0.56 0.19 0.27 0.44 Dry 1692 t do , . 4.75 10.83 4.00 Fresh 1561 Prr>£*p pnrpnrpa (llMtf|o.f , ..ttt $ 7.30 5.84 3.40 0.60 0.84 0.25 0.50 0.92 Dry 5493 Petalnma, Cal ..... s 7.44 6.04 3.66 0.58 0.92 0.26 0.52 0.90 Dry 5493 dn % i An. . { 8.25 15.66 5.54 Fresh 9112 Progne chalybea? Chili 3 8.20 5.48 3.76 0.58 0.92 0.25 0.46 0.84 Dry HIRUNDO, Linnaeus. Hirundo, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1735.—Gray, Genera, I, 1845. Ch.>—Nostrils basal, small, oblong, and covered partly by a membrane. Tail more or less forked ; the outer lateral feather sometimes greatly lengthened. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and scutellated. Tarsi naked. Toes long, slender, the lateral ones unequal. Claws moderate, curved, acute. Of this genus there are two well marked sections among the United States species—one with the tail excessively forked, owing to the great elongation of the lateral tail feathers; the other with the tail nearly square, or but slightly forked. The species will range as follows : Hirundo.—Tail excessively forked. Steel blue above; forehead and throat chestnut brown; belly reddish white.. .if. horreorum. Petrochelidon.—Tail nearly even, or moderately forked. Tail emarginate. Forehead, throat, and rump reddish brown ; throat with a large black spot.................... ......................................................P. lunifrons. Tail moderately forked. Beneath entirely white ; above opaque green ; upper tail coverts purple............ ............................................................... P. thalassina.308 U. S. P. R. R, EXP* AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Tail moderately forked. Beneath entirely white. Above uniform lustrous green. P. bicolor. Hirundo bicolor has by some authors been placed under Ghelidon, hut is readily distinguished by having the tarsi and toes smooth, instead of feathered. Cabanis has established a genus, Tachycineta,x for the violet green swallow, H. thalassina, on account of its rather forked tail and small bill, and the entire absence of gloss on the feathers. He, however, includes in it the H. bicolor, which is remarkable for the lustre of its dorsal plumage. For the purposes of the present report it will be sufficient to consider them under the same head. HIRUNDO HORREORUM,2 Barton. Barn Swallow. Hirundo horreorum, Barton, Fragments N. H. Penna. 1799,17. Hirundo rvfa, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 60 ; pi. xxx. (Not of Gmelin.)—Cassin, Ulust. I, 1855, 243.— Brewer, N. Am. Ool. I, 1857, 91; pi. v, f. 63—67, eggs. Hirundo americana, Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 34; pi. xxxviii, f. 1, 2. (Not of Gmelin.)—Rich. F. B. A. II, 1831,329. Hirundo rustica, Audubon, Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 413; pi. 173.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 35.—Ib. Birds Am. I, 1840, 181; pi. 48. ( Not of Linnaeus.) Se. Ch.—Tail very deeply forked ; outer feathers several inches longer than the inner, very narrow towards the end. Above glossy blue, with concealed white in the middle of the back. Throat chestnut; rest of lower part reddish white, not conspicu- ously different. A steel blue collar on the upper part of the breast, interrupted in the middle. Tail feathers with a white spot near the middle, on the inner web. Female with the outer tail feather not quite so long. Length, 6.90 inches ; wing, 5.00 ; tail, 4.50. Hab.—North America from Atlantic to Pacific. Specimens from the far west have the same general appearance as eastern ones, except that one (6619) from the Sacramento valley is the largest I have seen, with the tail half an inch longer than in Carlisle specimens. There is not much variation in skins of this species, except, perhaps, in the intensity of the coloration on the belly. In some specimens (1452) there is very little difference between the throat and abdomen, the former a little more chestnut. Sometimes the belly is nearly white with a slight tinge of brown. Occasionally the black collar on the throat is continuous across, along a single line of feathers. In one (2191) there is a broad collar across the throat as wide as in the European species, interrupted, however, in its central portion by dull chestnut. The female is much like the male, but has the external tail feathers less elongated. In the young the tail is simply deeply emarginate, not forked as in the adult. Specimens from Texas and northern Mexico are smaller than those found further north. This species resembles the European Barn Swallow; in which, however, the- pectoral collar is continuous across and quite broad, and the belly more rufous, with other differences. The determination of the true specific name of this species is a matter of some uncertainty, depending upon whether the South American bird be distinct from the North American or not. 1 Museum Heineanum, 1850, 48. 2 The following synonyms refer to the South American species : Hirundo erythrogaster, Boddaert, Tableau PI. enl. 724, f. 1, 1783, 45. Hirundo rufa, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 1018. Hirundo cyanopyrrha, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XIV, 1817, 510. Hirondelle a ventre roux de Cayenne, Buffon, Ois. VI, 607.—Ib. pi* enl. 724, f. 1.BIRDS—HIRUNDINIDAE—HIRUNDO LUNIFRONS. 309 The names both, of Boddaert and Gmelin appear to have been based chiefly upon the Hirondelle a ventre roux de Cayenne of Buffon, PI. enl. 724, f. 1, the former having priority. Should this species, therefore, as is probable from its much smaller size and more intensely rufous under parts, not he the North American one, the next in order will he Barton's H. horreorum. Burmeister (Thiere Brasiliens, Vogel, II, 1856, 149) makes two species, retaining U. rufa for the South American one. He is mistaken in saying the North American bird differs in having the belly white, and the tail not so deeply forked. The difference appears to lie in the much larger size, and less uniformly rufous belly. According to Burmeister, the length of a Brazilian species is 5.66 inches, (German); the culmen, .18; the wings, 4.25; the tail, 2.67; differences readily appreciable. He gives H. americana, Gmelin, 1017, for the North American bird; but this cannot be the case, since this species is described as having a rufous rump and even tail; locality, the La Plata. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1163 Carlisle, Pa Aug. 21,1843 S. F. Baird 5.92 13 4.67 Iris hazel T, T T T T 1122 o July 15 2191 Q May 1,1845 6.75 13.25 4.75 1452 A May 4,1846 7.25 12.83 4.83 8640 o Q Indian Key, Fla........ Aug. 28,1857 Gr. Wurdemann .. 6.10 12.10 4.50 5206 Yellowstone river, N. T. July 23,1856 Lt. O. K. Warren. Dr. Hayden.. 6.75 12.62 4.75 5207 do July 2,1857 do 7.75 12.75 4.50 Eyes black t 5208 do July —,1856 do do 6.50 12.25 4.50 do 4965 Fort Chadbourne, Tex . Dr, Swift, U. S. A. 5047 Pecos river, Tex July 11,1856 Capt. J. Pope 108 7 12 4.50 Bill black; gums bluish yellow; eyes brown; feet yellow. 5048 Aug. 20,1855 do 123 7 12 4.50 Feet gray; gums yellow.. 3956 San Diego, New Leon, Aug. 1,1853 Lieut. Couch .... 124 Eyes very dark brown ; Texas. bill black; feet slate color. 6019 $ Sacramento, Cal Lt. Williamson.. Dr. Heermann 6020 $ Benicia, Cal do HIRUNDO LUNIFRONS, Say. Cliff Swallow. Hirundo lunifrons, Say, Long’s Exped. R. Mts. II, 1823, 47.—Cassin, Illust. I, 1855, 243.—Brewer. N. Am. Ool. I, 1857, 94 ; pi. v, no. 68—73, egg. Hirundo opifex, Dewitt Clinton, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. I, 1824, 161. Hirundo respublicana, Audubon, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. I, 1824, 164. Hirundo fulva, Bonap. Am. Orn. I, 1825, 63; pi. ii. (Not ofVieillot.)—Audubon, Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 353; pi. 58.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 35.—Ib. Birds Am. I, 1840, 177; pi. 47. Hirundo melanogaster, Swainson, Philos. Mag. I, 1827, 366. Petrochelidon melanogastra, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 47. Sp. Ch.—Crown and back steel blue ; the upper part of the latter with concealed pale edges to the feathers. Chin, throat, and sides of the head dark chestnut; breast fuscous ; befiy white. A steel blue spot on throat. Rump light chestnut; fore- head brownish white ; a pale nuchal band. Tail slightly emarginate. Length about 5 inches ; wing, 4.40 ; tail, 2.20. Hab.—North America from Atlantic to Pacific. Entire crown of the head and the back steel blue, separated more or less broadly by a grayish collar. Chin and throat, with sides of the head below the eyes, dark purplish chestnut, this310 U. S. P. E. K. EXP. AND SURVEYS—-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. color extending a short distance around towards the nape. Rump light chestnut. Forehead and middle of belly brownish or dull yellow brownish white ; the upper part of the breast and the sides of the body light grayish brown. A large spot on the throat crossing the line of separation between the chestnut and brown, steel blue ; this sometimes seen in the chin. The lores and a very narrow line along the base of the bill are black. The feathers on the middle of the back exhibit whitish edges, more or less conspicuously. Wings and tail brown, the secondaries with lighter margins. The female is not appreciably different in color. The young lacks the frontal band, and the gray collar on the nape is only faintly indicated. There is usually a good deal of white on the throat, on the lower part of which the black spot is more extended and less distinct than in the adult. Specimens vary in the extent of chestnut on the rump, in the width and precise shade of the frontal patch, &c. This species differs from the true Hirundo fulva, Vieillot Encyclop. 527, of the West Indies, in the larger size, lighter colored rump, and in the presence of a black spot on the throat. List of specimens. 1 Catal. Sex and No. | age. i Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Original No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Oorliclp Pa .... Aug. 31,1841 S. F. Baird 5.75 12.50 TtU«> 2358 flO | I t | 1 f - r May 26, 1845 do 5.92 12.50 4.50 2284 O o May 17 5.67 12.25 4.42 2617 V ■ ,,,1,1 Itttvt ttfTt! May 11,1846 do 5.67 12.25 4.50 1565 o ■a May 22, 1844 do 5.83 12.08 4.92 685 o Aug. 21, 1842 1623 9 July 9, 1844 5.92 12.92 4.33 2616 9 May 11,1846 5.75 12.33 4.33 6487 9 Pliilnda]nbin C. Drexler..... ........ R. Kennicott. * PHaiiv TTill AT nr* May 20, 1856 Lieut G. K. Warren ... Dr. Hayden............ 5.87 12.25 4.50 4 / /O .4777 o /JO ■ ..... do...... 4/ i i 4778 O Ho - - ... .do 5.50 12.25 4.50 4/ to 4770 V A r|0 a it tlll ttttt May 10 do 5.75 12.25 4.50 4/ iu 47R0 o o ^O* % % • » • 4 • , t r t t * t * * ‘ ■ May 20 do 5.75 12.25 4.50 4/00 V Pnl o orAnt AT uh . ... - ... July 26, 1856 Lieut. Bryan 159 W. S. Wood 5.50 4.75 5598 kkqq A Ho ,, T, do...... do 158 5.50 4.50 D Q TAT TCtnvlr T.ovnmio piuHP July 22, 1857 Dr. W. A. Hammond... 58 7079 4394 A Tkalloa Cl T May —,1855 Dr. Suckley, U. S. A.... 178 5.62 4.37 o 7\ Pnyitrtio rial . . . . . . .• . Lieut. Williamson Dr. Heermann o ■A Ho r- - * 6022 6023 o May 8, 1855 Lieut. Trowbridge ..... 1 HIRUNDO BICOLOR, Yieillot. White-bellied SwalloAV# Hirundo bicolor, Vielliot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 61; pi. xxxi.—Audubon, Orn. Biog. 1831,491; pi. 98.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 35.—Ib. Birds Amer. I, 1840,175 ; pi. 46.—Cassin, Illust. I, 1855, 244.—Brewer, N. Am. Oology, I, 1857, 100 ; pi. iv, fig. 47. (Egg.) Tachycineta bicolor, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850-*51, 48. Herse bicolor, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 341. Hirundo viridis, Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 49 ; pi. xxxviii. Hirundo leucogaster, Stephens, Shaw, Zool. X, 1817, 105. jgp cH#__Glossy metallic green above ; entirely white beneath. Female much duller in color. Wing 5 inches. Length, 6.25 inches; wing, 5.00 ; tail, 2.65. Hab.—-North America from Atlantic to Pacific.BIRDS-HIRUNDINIDAE—HIRUNDO THALASSINA, 311 As a general thing specimens of this species from the extreme south of the United States, as Brownsville, Texas, and those from the western coast are considerably smaller than those from Pennsylvania. The female is duller in color than the male; the metallic tints of the hack much more obscure and less continuous. The shade is rather more violet. The young male of the year (164,) is entirely of a sooty grayish brown above and on the wings, with the faintest possible trace of purplish reflection on the head and back. The color is somewhat like that on the back of Cotyle riparia, but darker. It is not at all improbable that careful comparisons of many specimens may ultimately prove the existence of distinct species of white-bellied swallows on the two sides of the continent. The difference in size will be shown by the table of measurements. In two California specimens before me, one has the same greenish gloss as Pennsylvania skins ; in the other the lustre is more of a steel blue. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 2097 A Carlisle. Pa April 12, 1845 -. S. F. Baird - ---------- 6. 25 12. 25 5. 00 2341 o O do May 24, 1845--- do 5.33 12.25 4. 25 1164 ¥ O r? Aug. 22,1843.-- do 5.83 12. 50 4. 67 2342 Q May 24, 1845 ¥ Northern Illinois R. Kennicott - 4663 Matamoras Mex Lieut. Couch 4664 o do 4665 4666 vj r? 4667 (J r? 5913 vJ r? Steilacoom, W. T_ June, 1855 J. G. Cooper - 6. 00 12.50 6016 D S .do.-.- ----- 1854 Dr. Suckley, U. S. A- . _ 88 5. 00 12. 50 4.75 6015 $ Shoalwater bay, W. T._ May 2, 1854 J. G. Cooper.--- 76 5. 00 12. 50 4. 75 5494 a Petaluma, Cal-- -- -- -- - E. Samuels. 712 4200 O San Francisco, Cal- Winter, 1854 .- R. D. Cutts HIRUNDO THALASSINA, Swain son. Violet-Green Swallow. Hirundo thalassinay Swainson, Taylor’s Philos. Mag I, 1827, 365.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 597; pi. 385.— Ib. Birds Am. I, 1840, 186; pi. 40.—Cassin, lllust. I, 1855, 245.—Brewer, N. Am. Oology, 1,1857, 102; pi. y,f. 74. (Egg.) CheMdon thalassina, Boie, Isis, 1844, 171. Tachycineta thalassina, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850, 48. (Type.) Sp. Ch.—Tail acutely emarginate. Beneath pure white. Above soft velvety green, with a very faint shade of purplish violet concentrated on the nape into a transverse band. Rump rather more vivid green ; tail coverts showing a good deal of purple. Colors of female much more obscure. Length, 4.75 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 2. Hah.—Rocky Mountains to Pacific ; south to Mexico ; east to Saltillo, Mexico.312 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. In examining an extensive series of specimens I find some differences which, may be of importance. Thus, in the Columbia river specimens the entire hack and scapulars are nearly pure uniform green, with the faintest possible wash of purplish brown. The feathers on the rump are purplish violet, slightly glossed with green. In 6625, from the Copper mines, the back is purplish brown, with only a trace of green ; the rump nearly pure bluish green, with the merest trace of violet. In a specimen from Agua Eueva the colors are much as in the last, except that the purplish brown is more confined to the scapulars and the middle of the back, as in the Columbia river specimens. The wing is longer than in any I have seen, (4f inches.) In one specimen from Tejon Pass, apparently immature, the tertials are terminated broadly with pure white. The female differs in the much less brilliancy of color, especially that on top of head and rump, the former more brown. The under parts are dirty white. List of specimens. Catal. No. gfex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. *. 3954 A Salplln IVTpy ., T T,, Spring of 1853. Lt. Conch......... 229 Lt. Couch 5.00 12.00 4.75 Eyes dark br’n ; bill O black; feet light chesnut 3955 A .. do . do 230 >.... .do . 5.00 12.00 4.75 6024 o O "Rio rirandp XT. TVT Dr. Henry, U. S. A. 6025 A do 6965 0 9 a ■ • • t t t a Medicine Bow C’k, Neb. July 25, 1857 Lt. F. T. Bryan.... 330 W. S. Wood 6966 o Bridger’s Pass, Utah.... July 29, 1857 ,. T. 11 ri n t .. • a 11»♦»* 354 V 6026 Tpjn|] p^GC fl^l Lt. Williamson.... 1895 o £ July 12,1835 J. IC. Townsp.nH 1945 O $ : «do •••« •»#* do 5914 A * W. T , June —, 1855 Dr. J. G. Cooper 5.00 12.25 6027 o A Dr. Suckley, U. S.A. 110 6028 u A f _ B11 f 11 r T t T T _ do Mar. 1, 1854 do 43 6029 (J 9 Aug. 3, 1854 do 45 > COTTLE, Boi Cotyle, Boie, Isis, 1822, 550. (Type H. riparia.) Ch.__Bill very.flat, extremely broad at the base, and gradually narrowed towards the tip ; nostrils prominent and rounded. Tail moderate, nearly straight or somewhat emarginated. Tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe, slender and scutellated. Toes very slender, the claws slightly curved. Colors generally dull brown above, without gloss. This genus is distinguished from Hirundo by the slightly forked tail, rather long tarsi, very slender toes, and extremely dull colors. The two United States species are the smallest we have. Each will form the type of a special division, of at least sub-generic value, with the following characters: Cotyle, Boie.—Tarsi with a tuft of feathers near the toes, on the posterior face. Edges of outer primaries normal. Above grayish brown ; beneath white, with a well defined pectoral band.............G. riparia. Stelgibopteryx, Baird.—Tarsi naked. Edge of outer primary with the fibrillae converted into a series of stiffened recurved hooks. Above light sooty brown ; the under parts brownish ash, fading behind into white. S. serripennis.BIRDS—HIRUNDINIDAE—COTYLE SERRIPENNIS. 313 COTYLE RIPARIA, Boie. Bank Swallow. Hirundo riparia, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 344.—Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 46 ; pi. xxxviii.—Audubon, Orn Biog. IY, 1838, 584 ; pi. 385.—Ib, Syn. 1839.—Ib. Birds Am. I, 1840, 187 ; pL 50. Cotyle riparia, Boie, Isis, 1822, 550.—Bon. List, 1838.—Cassin, Illust. 1,1855, 247.—Brewer, N. Am. Ool. 1,1857, 105 ; pi. iv. fig. 49, (egg.) *‘ Hirundo cinerea, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XIY, 1817, 526.” Sp. Ch.—Smallest of American swallows. Tail slightly emarginate. Outer web of first primary soft, without hooks. Lower part of the tarsus with a few scattered feathers. Above grayish brown, somewhat fuliginous, with a tendency to paler margins to the feathers. Beneath pure white, with a band across the breast and sides of the body like the back. Length, 4.75; wing, 4.0; tail, 2.00. Hah.—North America generally. A specimen collected by Dr. Heermann in tbe Sacramento valley is rather smaller than Penn- sylvania ones, and the brown band across the throat is broader and more continuous. Skins from the Upper Missouri are rather larger than from either side of the continent, and the colors purer and more continuous ; the tail and wing feathers without the white edging. The young of the year are not conspicuously different from the adults, save in the greater amount of light edging to the feathers on the back. The tail is less emarginate. This species is supposed by most authors to be identical with the European bank swallow, careful comparisons having hitherto failed to exhibit any tangible difference. It furnishes almost a solitary instance, among land birds, of the same species inhabiting both continents permanently, and not as an accidental or occasional visitor on either. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1692 A Carlislp^ Pa Aug. 30,1844 S. F. Rainl 4.75 10.83 4.00 1165 o o . ...do Aug. 22,1844 do 4.67 10.67 3.83 1124 V t t<}n ,TtB intT, IIMII July 18,1843 do 4.83 10.42 3.83 5209 Q Yellowstone R., N. T. •. • • Aug. ,1856 Lt. G. K. Warren.. Dr. Hayden...... 5.00 11.25 4.00 Eyes black 5210 do July 23,1856 do ....do 5.12 10.12 3.37 Eyes black; inside of mouth yellow.. 5597 Q Past of Ft. Piloy, ., r, June 13,1856 Lt. F. F. Bryan 24 W. S. Wood 4.75 8.50 6030 & flfipj'nyppnto dal Tjt.. Williamson .... Dr. Heermann.... •*••••■ COTYLE SERRIPENNIS, Bo nap. Bough-winged Swallow. Hirundo serripennis, Aud. Orn. Bi g. 1Y, 1838, 593.— . Birds America, I, 1840, 193 ; pi. 51. Cotyle serripennis, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 342.—Cassin, Illust. I, 1855, 247.—Brewer, N. Am. Oology, I, 1857, 106 ; pi. iv, fig. 50, (egg.) Sp. Ch.—Tail slightly emarginate ; first primary with the pennulae of the outer web much stiffened, with their free extremities recurved into a hook very appreciable to the touch. No feathers on the tarsus and toes. Above rather light sooty brown, beneath whitish gray, or light brownish ash, becoming nearly pure white in the middle of the belly and on the under tail coverts. Length, 4.50; wing, 4.28; tail, 2.23. Hab.—United States from Atlantic to Pacific. Specimens vary in having the belly of a purer white, and in the greater or less intensity of the ashy brown of the throat and breast. 40 b314 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. In a female from New Leon the wing is half an inch less than in females from Carlisle. In a specimen from Charleston the colors of the throat and breast extend farther down on the belly. In the young of the year the wing feathers above are edged quite broadly with pale brownish rusty, the throat and breast are also tinged more or less with the same. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. .Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 2116 Q Pp . - April 16,1845 S. F. Baird 5.17 11.50 4.08 2621 o May 11,1846 do 5.33 11.50 4.08 2634 V O T ■ •••• attattvi May 24,1845 ,,,, do 2209 V A . , , r , , do May 3,1845 .... do ........... 3370 o o Ho . t, B , t ,, , , May 3,1847 do 1480 V o T11T t T do # t»t» t.t.*ttti. May 8,1844 .... do 5.58 12.00 4.42 2619 V n f , . t dfl , ffirTt - , t May 11,1846 ..„ „ do 5.58 12.50 4.50 1120 V • d^ • t r ? 7 July 15,1843 .... do 2620 A f11 _11do f tftTttTtl May 11,1846 ..do 5.17 12.50 4.50 1638 o Q do July 16,1844 do 5.42 11.50 4.50 Washinjrtr>n; D. C J. C* McGuire 2899 Charlpstnn fl . f. t1 , Mr. Audubon.... 8385 3 Independence .Mo June 20,1857 Wm. M. Magraw. 89 Dr. Cooper .... 5.13 12.00 4.63 Iris brown 8384 lt 11 do t lt(ltl t rt(flf June 22,1857 do 88 ...... do 5.75 12.50 4.62 .... do 8179 O Shawnee Mission, Kan. July 3,1857 f t, do., 11 t««* 11 115 do 5.50 12.12 4.50 .... do 3957 o Xfpw Tipnn. TVTpy 1 April —, 1853 Lieut. Couch .... 131 5.25 11.00 4.00 Eyes brown; bill black ; V feet reddish slate color.., 6033 ptp.ilapnnmj W. T1 Dr. Sockley...... 82 6034 Shoal water bay5 W, T,, June — * 1854 Dr. Cooper ...... 81 5.42 12.50 Iris br’n ; bill and feet bl’k. 6035 Mtt1doM flltll.rtt lttt - Bt1 „ do * 9 111 do. 81 5.42 12.50 6032 A ]3flf>rnmpnfn Cal Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann . 6031 o Ha m p 19.4 Feb. 21,1854 T,t.. Whipple .... 176 Dr. Kennerly... 5.25 11.00 4.37 PROGNE, Boie. Progne, Boie, Isis, 1826, 971. Type Hirundo purpurea, L. Ch.—Bill strong, short; the gape very wide ; the sides gradually compressed, the culmen and lateral margins arched to the tip ; the latter inflected ; the nostrils basal, lateral, open and rounded. Tail considerably forked. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe and claw, jibout equal to the toe alone. Toes long, strong ; lateral ones equal. # . The large size, very stout bill and feet, (for this family,) with the usually uniform black glossy plumage, readily distinguish this genus among the swallows. But one species is well established as North American. PROGNE PURPUREA, Boie. Purple Martin* . Hirundo purpurea, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 344.—-Audubon, Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 115; pi. xxiih—Ib. Birds Am. 1840, 170; pi. xlv. Progne purpurea, Boie, Isis, 1826, 971.—Bonap. List, 1838.—Cassin, Illust. I, 1855,245.—Brewer, N. Am. Oology, I, 1857, 103 ; pi. iv, fig. 47, (egg.) Hirundo subis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 344, (second year.) Hirundo violacea, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 1026. Hirundo carulea, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I7 1807, 57; pL xxvi. “ Hirundo versicolor, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XIV, 1817, 509,i7 64 Ilriindo ludoviciana, Cuvier, R. An. I, 1817,BIRDS—HIRUNDINIDAE------PROGNE PURPUREA. 315 Sp. Ch.—Largest of 1ST. American swallows. Closed wings rather longer than the deeply forked tail. Tarsi and toes naked. Color, in the old male, everywhere glossy steel blue, with purple and violet reflections. Female and immature male less brilliant above, pale brownish beneath, blotched with darker or with bluish. Length, 7.30 ; wing, 5.85 ; tail, 3.40, Hab.—North America generally. Specimens of this species from Petaluma, California, are not appreciably different. The gloss of the upper as well as«the lower parts is rather more greenish, and less purple. The bills are the same, as well as the size every way. Specimens from Coahuila, Mexico, are more like Pennsylvania ones. In those from the Upper Missouri the gloss is more like that of the Petaluma specimen. In one from Sacramento city again the colors have the usual purplish gloss. A female from Petaluma has a very distinct grayish white collar across the nape, and the entire forehead is of a similar color. I have never seen any specimens from the west coast agreeing with Mr. Cassin’s description of P. clialybea, in the larger and longer bill and smaller size. An adult Progne, from Chili, labelled P. chalybea, by Mr. Yerreaux, is exactly like the North American P. purpurea in size, lustre, &c; the only difference being, apparently, a narrower bill. Number 4l7f73, from the Upper Missouri, is, however, like it in this respect. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex &age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1561 Ppnp T May 22,1844 S. F. Baird 1596 O June 5, 1844 8.17 16.58 6. 1607 O £ lltir tll (^n June 15, 1844 ...... do.......... 8.08 16.25 5.83 1636 O T T t tHn July 16,1844 7.75 15.75 5.59 1129 O r\ tdo»«•« ••••••«,.• July, 1843 7.83 16.50 5.92 4505 2 Cedar Island, Neb#*«. May, 1854.... Col. A. Vaughan Dr. Hayden.. 4506 . T TBtf dn ltlTtt _ t ri1. do.. do 4507 T T t T fl , dO, - do 11, do 4508 do.... ... . . „ T t* do,11r f T r t 4769 r\ |t, ,dni aiiirt tttr May 19, 1854 Lt. Cr. K. Warren. 8. 16.12 4770 Q Vermillion RiTCfj Neb. May 8,1854 do„T 18 ...... do 7.62 15.37 4771 S May 15 1854 do 7.87 15. 4772 6 •a , T - , , ripdnv Jsland^ Vph , , T . ......do 8. 16. 4773 o 'A April 23 Lt. Warren .. 7.50 16. 5.75 Eyes dark.. 4774 o o 17 do...... 7.75 15.25 6. 4775 V Tnwa pnint i .. T t .April 23 do 7.50 16. 5.75 Eves dark... 5204 V J* Port TTninn; Nph . r, r July, 1856 Dr. Hayden.. 8. 16.25 5.25 '5205 O o Blaekfoot country .... .Inly, 1855 do 5596 V A Pnrf TJilpy fCT T’ June 20, 1856 Lt. F. T. Bryan.. 35 W. S. Wood. 8.25 14. 5049 o 8 Indianola, Texas Mar. 12,1855 Capt. J. Pope 28. Capt. Pope... 6. 16. 6. Eyes dark; gums rose-colored ; feet black; bill black. 3952 •A Ooalmila., Max........ May, 1853.... Lt. Couch 231 Eyes dark brown; bill black ; O feet very dark chestnut. 3953 8 do . do 232 7.75 15. 5.87 Eyes dark brown; bill black; feet very dark chestnut. 5492 O Ppfalnma3 rial T,,, , n,, April, 1856... H. Sa.mnp.ls ...... 607 5493 s ......do do.. 576 8.25 15.25 5.50 6014 $ Sar.rament.o Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann 316* U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Family BOMB YCILLID AE. Primaries ten ; the first very short or moderate, always less than half the second. Bill short, broad, triangular, much depressed ; gape opening nearly to the eyes; twice the length of the culmen. Both mandibles notched, the upper with a tooth behind the notch. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly, with indications also of scales inferiorly on the#ides, (except in Myiadestes?) ; shorter than the middle toe. Outer lateral toe longest. Toes unequally cleft. Head generally crested. The waxwings and their natural allies, the Ptiliogonidinaey have been variously placed by different authors, Cabanis constituting them a sub-family of Muscicapidae. The differences from the typical muscicapas are very great however, and as none of the latter are found in the United States I have thought it best to raise them to the rank of a distinct family, for the present at least. The relationships of the group to the Laniadae are very close, and if it be a sub-family merely it would seem to go more appropriately there than in Muscicapidae. Both have the notch at the tip of the lower mandible very distinct. The two sub-families are known by the long pointed wings, much longer than the even tail ; the very rudimentary first primary and the horny tip to the tertials of Bombycillinae, are distinguished from the much longer forked or rounded tail and the shorter wings with longer first primary and plain tertials of Ptiliogonidinae. Sub-Family BOMBYCILLINAE. Wings very long and pointed, reaching nearly to the tip of the short tail. First primary excessively rudimentary, scarcely appreciable ; second about the longest. Rictus without bristles. The frontal feathers extending forward on the bill beyond the nostrils. Of this sub-family there is but a single representative in the United States, with the following characters : Ampelis.—Tail even. Tertials with horny appendages, like red sealing wax. AMPELIS, Linnaeus. Ampelis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1735. Type A garrulus. Bombycilla, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 88. Type B. cedrorum. Ch.—-Head with a broad depressed crest. Bill very broad, opening nearly to the eye ; a series of short velvety feathers at the base of the bill, with bristles directed forwards and covering the nostrils, but none along the rictus. Commissure straight. Culmen and gonys curved, convex ; both mandibles notched at tip. Legs stout; tarsi shorter than the middle toe ; scutellate anteriorly, and slightly on the lower half on the sides behind; slightly feathered above. Hind toe shorter than the lateral, which are equal. Wings very long, pointed, reaching almost to the tip of the nearly even tail. First primary so short as to be with difficulty discernible ; the second quill longest. Tips of secondary quills with horny appendages, like sealing wax. The most essential characters of the genus are to be found in the short, even tail, and the red horny appendages to the tips of the tertials. The two species found in North America have the body of a tint approaching to yellowish cinnamon, becoming plumbeous behind ; the tail tipped with yellow ; the chin, forehead, and a band from this above and behind the eye, black. There is also a white maxillary patch. The specific characters are as follows : Large ; chin and throat black ; crissum orange brown ; two white bands on the wing, and a white line along the tips of the primaries........................................garrulus. Small; chin only black ; crissum whitish ; no white on the wing...........^. .... cedrorum. t:BIRDS—BOMBYCILLIDAE-—AMPELIS GARRULA. 317 Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail.^ Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured 1617 Ampelis cedrorum Carlisle, Pa A 5.82 3.80 2.59 0.68 0.80 0.22 0.44 0.66 Dry do. do do O 7.25 12.00 4.00 Fresh.... 3958. “Tamaulipas. O 6.10 3.64 2.58 0.64 0.70 0.20 0.39 0.64 Dry do. V 6.00 11.00 3.75 Fresh.... 5818 Ampelis garrulus Racine, Wis 6.78 4.68 3.10 0.76 0.90 0.27 0.46 0.76 Dry AMPELIS GARRULUS, Linn, Wax-wing ? Bohemian Chatterer. m ii Lanius garrulus, Linn. Fauna Suecica, 2, No. 82.” Ampelis garrulus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 297.—Bonap. 2d List, 1842.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 336. Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 50.—Ib. Synopsis, 1828, 438.—Ib. Am. Orn. Ill, 1828, pi. xvi.— Rich. F. B. A. II, 1831, 237.—Aud. Orn. Biog IY, 1838, 462 ; pi. 363.-—Ib. Birds Amer. IY, 3842, 169; pi. 246.—Keys, and Blas. Wirb. Europas, I, 1840, 167. Sp. Ch.—Highly crested. General color brownish ash, with a faint shade of reddish, especially anteriorly ; the forehead, sides of the head, and under tail coverts, brownish orange ; the hinder parts purer ash; the region about the vent white. Primaries and tail feathers plumbeous black, especially towards the tips ; the tail with a terminal band of yellow. A narrow frontal line passing backward and involving the eye, and extending above and behind it. Chin and upper part of throat black. Tips of the secondary coverts, and a spot on the end of the outer webs of all the quills, white ; those on the inner primaries glossed with yellow. Secondaries with red horny tips, like sealing wax. Side of the lower jaw whitish. Length, 7.40 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 3. Hah.—Northern parts of both continents, Seen in the United States only in severe winters, except along the great lakes . In the Mississippi valley south to Fort Riley. This species, with the general appearance of the cedar bird, is readily distinguished by its superior size; much larger crest; black chin and throat, instead of chin alone; brownish chestnut under tail coverts, instead of white, and the white marks on the wing not found at all in the other. In the closed wing, the white on the ends of the primaries forms a continuous narrow stripe nearly parallel with the outer edge of the wing. The specimen from Fort Riley is probably the most southwestern one on record in North America. X have no authentic skins of the European Bombycilla garrula before me, but as many careful comparisons have been made between specimens from the two continents, they may be pretty fairly considered as identical. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. 5810 Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 327.—Gm. 1, 1788, 938.—Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 55 ; pi. xii, f. 3. Lanins olivaceus, Licht. Yerzeich. 1823, 49, No. 525. Vireo olivaceus, “ Vieillot,” Bon. Obs. Wilson, 1826, No. 124.'—Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831, 233.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 312.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 287 : Y, 430 ; pi. 150.—Ib. Syn. 1839,162.—Ib. Birds Amer. IY, 1842, 155; pi. 243. Vireosylvia olivacea, Bon. Geog. & Comp. List, 1838.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 329.—Reinhardt, Vid. Med. f. 1853, 1854, 82. Phyllomanes olivaceus, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1850-’51, 63. Red-eye flycatcher, Pennant, Catesby, Latham. Sp. Ch.—Second and third quills about equal, and longest; first a little shorter than the fourth, but considerably longer than the fifth. Back, rump, and edges of wing and tail feathers, bright olivaceous green. Side of head and neck paler. Crown dark ash, sharply defined. A well defined whitish line from the bill over the eye, nearly to the occiput ; a dark line separating it above from the ashy crown. A dusky line through the eye. Beneath white ; under tail coverts pale sulphur yellow. Length, about 6.50 inches ; wing, 3.50. Iris red. Hab.—Eastern United States to the Missouri; in Texas to Devil’s river ; south to Guatemala. Greenland, (Reinhardt.) This is among the largest of the North American Vireos, and is of very plain colors. The bill is long and nearly straight to the abruptly curved tip. There is no spurious primary ; the second332 V. S. P. R, R EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. quill is longest; the third, fourth, and first, successively, shorter. The tail is slightly ernar- ginate; the lateral feathers very little shorter. The ash color of the crown does not extend beyond the occiput. The sides of the head and neck are lighter olivaceous than the back. The space around the lower eyelid is very little paler. The sides of the body are light olivaceous green ; the under wing coverts and axillaries sulphur yellow. There are no whitish edgings whatever on the wings and tail; externally they are margined with the green of the back ; the inner margins of the tail feathers similar, but lighter. There is no indication of a line of black feathers on each side of the chin. Specimens from Texas are smaller, but otherwise similar. The female it smaller than the male. There is a slight difference in the colors of the under tail coverts. These, sometimes, are almost entirely white, at other times with decided tinge of greenish yellow, as in 75.70. In no North American specimens before me, however, are there any of the characters of Vireo bartramii, as given by Swainson. The proportions of the quills vary somewhat; the first quill sometimes equal to and sometimes a little shorter than the fourth, but it is always decidedly longer than the fifth. The second and third quills are generally nearly equal; the former is sometimes the longer. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 1418 S Carlisle, Pa May 1, 1844 S. F. Baird - 6. 33 10. 25 3.33 1435 s ... do - May 3, 1844 do __ 6. 50 10. 50 3. 50 1440 9 do _ _ do __do 6. 00 9. 75 2.17 4325 Calcasieu, La G. Wurdemann _ _ 6847 Eockport, Ohio J. B. Kirtland -- 5650 Kansas Lt. Bryan „ W. S. Wood 7510 Independence Mo Wm. M. Magraw. 74 Dr. Cooper_ 6. 25 9. 90 3. 50 7511 do 106 5.90 9. 60 3. 00 6814 Western Texas Capt. Pope 6815 do 6813 c? Devil’s river, Texas __ Col. J. D» Graham 16 .L IT. Clark 6. 00 9. 50 2. 75 8049 Guatemala J. Gould YIREO ELAYOYIRIDIS, Cassin. Vireosylvia jlavoviridiS) Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Feb. 1851, 152.—Ib. VI; pi. ii. (Panama.) Sp. Ch.-—Second and third quills decidedly longest—equal; first about intermediate between fourth and fifth, but considerably longer than the latter. Above very light yellowish green. The sides of the body greenish yellow, in strong contrast to the almost pure white of the under parts. The under tail and wing coverts and axillaries bright sulphur yellow. Crown ash color, bordered on either side by a brown line, below which is a bluish gray line from the bill over the eye to the side of the occiput ; a dusky line from the bill through and behind the eye. Length, 6 inches ; wing, 3.25. Hah.—Northeastern Mexico to Panama. This species is of the same size with and somewhat similar to V. olivaceus, but may be readily distinguished by the much brighter and more sulphur green colors of the upper parts ; theBIRDS—LANIIDAE—VIREO VIRESCENS, 333 strongly marked greenish yellow of the sides in strong contrast to the white, which, on the breast, is only half an inch wide; the bright sulphur yellow of the under wing instead of very pale sulphury white ; the color of the tail coverts is also characteristic. The whitish line over the eye has a much grayer cast. The resemblance to V. virescens is closer than to olivaceus; it is, however, considerably larger ; the dark and light lines over the eye less sharply defined. The shade of green above is much the same in both. The under parts, from bill to vent, are purer white and more strongly marked against the greenish yellow not yellow green sides. The under wing and tail coverts are bright sulphur yellow, without any tinge of green. The quills are very different. As in V. olivaceus, virescens, phUadelphicus, and flavifrons, this species has no spurious primary. The specimens are marked as having the iris yellow ; the bill lead color. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. * Whence obtained. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 3776 3977 3 3 Monterey, Mex „ „ _ do Lieut. Couch do 5.75 6. 00 9.75 9.25 3. 25 3. 25 Eyes yellow, bill and feet lead. Bill slate, feet lead VIREO VIRESCENS, Vieillot. Bartram’s Vireo. ? Vireo virescens, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 84 ; pi. liii. ?? Sylvia chivi, Vieill. “ Encyclop. 437”—Nouv. Diet. XI, 1817, 174. ? Phytic.nanes chivi, Cabanis, Mas. Hein. 1850-*51, 63. Lani sagilis, Licht. Doubl. 1823, No. 526. T amnophilus agilis, Spix, Av. Bras. II, tab. xxxiv,f. 1. Phyllomanes agilis, Burm. Th. Bras. Vogel, II, 1856, 108. Vireo bartramii, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 235.—?? Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839,296 ; pi. 434, f. 4.—Tb. Syn. 1839, 161.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 153 ; pi. 242.—Nuttall, Man. Orn. I, (2d ed.) 1840, 358. Sp. Ch.—Second, third, and fourth quills about equal; first intermediate between fifth and sixth decidedly shorter than the former. Smaller than V. olivaceus. Above bright olive green. Crown ash. A. greenish white line from the bill over the eye to the side of the occiput, bordered by a dark brown line above. A dusky line from the bill through and behind the eye. Under parts whitish ; the sides strongly yellowish green ; the under tail coverts greenish yellow. Length, 5.25 ; wing, 2.75. Hob.—Central and eastern South America ; Atlantic United States ? The specimen before me comes from Brazil, and may, possibly, not be the true F. lartramius, although resembling it very closely. The bill is gently curved from the base, not so straight in its uppei outline as in olivaceus. The second and third quills are longest; the fourth scarcely shorter ; the first considerably shorter than the fifth. There is no spurious primary. This species is smaller than F. olivaceus, but very similar. The colors are much brighter green, however. The ash of the nape has a browner tinge. The light line over the eye is narrower, and more greenish white than white ; the dark line above it more distinctly marked. The white of the under parts is more restricted, and the strongly marked yellow olive of the sides is scarcely seen in F. olivaceus. The under coverts and inner edges of the tail feathers are much deeper greenish yellow. The sides of the neck and outer margins of the wings and tail are purer olive greenish.334 XL S, P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. The upper outlines of the hill is considerably more curved. The first primary is a good deal shorter. The tail feathers are more acuminate, the inner webs slightly concave at the ends. The differences most strongly insisted on by Swainson are in the wings, which here are shorter and more rounded; the first quill considerably shorter instead of decidedly longer than the fifth. Specimens labelled Phyllomanes chivi, (Lanins agilis, Licht.) by Cabanis, and received from him, appear precisely the same in every respect. This species, if found in the United States, is certainly very rare. I have never seen a speci- men, nor do I know of any preserved in any cabinet. It is not impossible, but, on the contrary, very likely, that the u young bird” mentioned by Swainson as found on the banks of the Columbia may have been the V. gilvus which occurs there, and which was otherwise unknown to the author. The description is made from his Brazilian specimen. It is quite difficult to say which is the proper name of the present species, before ascertaining whether more than one species be contained in the synonymy quoted above. The descriptions of neither F. virescens nor chivi contain any positive specific indications, while agilis seems unquestionably the same with the bartramius, of Swainson, from Brazil, and in any event will have priority over it. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. Whence obtained. 2934 Brazil _ ; Jas. Taylor. .... 10174 Southern Brazil. Dr. J. Cabanis »_ 10173 Bahia 8050 Guatemala - ■-c c e H; YIEEO ALTILOQUUS, Gray. Whip Tom Kelly. Musdcctpa altiloqua, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 67; pi. xxxviii. Vireo altiloquus, Gray, Genera.—Gambel. Pr. A. N. Sc. IV, 1848, 127. (Florida.) Vireosylvia altiloqua, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 330.—Cassin, Pr. A. N. S. V, Feb. 1851, 152.—Ib. 111. N. Am. Birds, I, 1853, 8 and 221, pi. xxxvii. Vireo longirostris, Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 237.—Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 359. ? Phyllomanes mystacalis, Cabanis, Ornith. Not. in Wiegmann’s Archiv, 1847, i, 348. ? Vireosylvia olivacea, Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 194. ? Vireosylvia frenata, Dubus, Bull. Acad. Belg. XXII, i, 1855, 150. Sp. Ch.—Very similar to V. olivaceus, but with a short dusky maxillary line. Bill longer. Hob.—The coast of Southern Florida and the West Indies. This species is very similar to the V. olivaceus in the olivaceous upper parts, and ashy crown bordered on each side by a darker shade along the whitish superciliary stripe ; the plumbeous stripe from the bill through and behind the eye ; the under parts white, with a faint tinge only of yellow on the under tail coverts, and a stronger tinge of olivaceous on the sides. There is, however, in addition to this, a narrow line of dusky ash or plumbeous, continuous with the under side of the rami of the lower jaw, and extending back as far as the somewhat similar stripe through the eye does. The tail is nearly even; the second quill appears to be the335 BIRDS—LANIIDAE—YIREO GIL YUS. longest The bill is decidedly longer and stouter than that of V, olivaceus, measuring above about .61 of an inch instead of .54. It is also narrow towards the end. The size, however, is considerably less, the wings being a quarter of an inch shorter. The ash of the. crown is not so well defined. The Phyllomanes barbatulus of Cabanis, from Cuba, (Journal fur Ornithologie, 1855, 467,) is very closely allied to the present bird. VIREO PHILADELPHICUS, C a s s i n . Vireosylvia philadelphica, Cassin, Pi\ A. N. Sc. Phila. V, Feb. 1851, 153.—1b. VI; pi. i, f. 1* Philadelphia. Sp. Ch.—-Without any spurious primary. Second and third quills longest; fourth a little shorter; first about .20 of an inch shorter than second, and about equal to the fifth. Above dark olive green, slightly inclining to ashy on the crown; beneath pale sulphur yellow, brightest on the throat and breast. A white line from the bill over the eye, and an obscure white spot below it. A dusky line from the commissure through and behind the eye. Length about 5 inches; wing, 2.75; tail, 2.10 ; tarsus, .65 . Hab.—Pennsylvania to Wisconsin. This rare species resembles very closely in size and general appearance the V. gilvus, especially those with a decidedly yellow tinge beneath. It will he, however, at once distin- guished by the absence of the spurious primary. The under parts are very strongly sulphur yellow instead of almost white; the upper are darker and purer green; the markings about the head are better defined. The hill is smaller. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. 4364 4333 4334 6842 6841 Cleveland, Ohio__ __ Dr. Kirtland Dane county, Wis do 1854 T. M. Brewer. ... 1854 - do ..do 50 9.00 Iris hazel 6823 <3 $ May 30,1856 do 358 5.12 8.25 3.00 VIREO CASSINII, De Vesey. Cassin’s Vireo. Vireo cassinii, De Yeset, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. May, 1858. Sp. Ch.—Third and fourth quills nearly equal, fifth shorter, second longer than seventh. Spurious primary very narrow, falcate acute ; less than one-third the second quill, and a little more than one-fourth the third. Above, including edges of wing and tail feathers, clear olive green, becoming dusky ashy on the top and sides of head. Beneath fulvous white, tinged with ill-defined olive green on the sides, (scarcely on the crissum.) Two broad bands on the wing coverts and the outer edges of the innermost secondaries greenish white ; the outer edge of outer tail feather, with a broad ring round the eye, extending to a rental band, dull white. Length about 5 inches ; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 2.30. Hah.—Fort Tejon, Cal.BIRDS—LANIIDAE-—VIREO FLAVIFRONS. 341 The outer primaries are edged externally with grayish white; the inner and secondaries with yellowish green, (extending fully to the lower wing hand,) which gradually changes to broad yellowish white on the innermost quills. The under parts are white, tinged with fulvous, least so on the chin and abdomen. The sides are yellowish olive, lighter than the back, and fading gently into the brownish white under parts ; the under tail coverts have only a trace of greenish. The quills and tail feathers are dark brown ; the outermost of the latter edged ex- ternally with white on half the web. The ring round the eye is much broader above than below ; the lores and feathers at the base of the bill also dull whitish. This species bears so close a relationship to Vireo huttoni, Cassin, as to render it quite difficult to distinguish them apart by color alone. The size, however, is considerably greater, the bill much larger, the culmen and commissure much more curved and more equably, the gonys straighter. The most striking difference is in the wing, which is much more pointed ; the primaries .70 of an inch longer than the secondaries, instead of about .45. The spurious primary is very slender and short, not one-third the second, instead of large, broad, and nearly half the second. The second quill is about equal to the sixth, instead of not longer than the secondaries. The colors are much the same ; the under parts with less olive, none on the breast and under tail coverts, as in huttoni. The ring round the eye has none of the greenish yellow tinge of the latter species. The olive green edgings of the secondaries extend to the lower wing band, instead of ceasing below it, leaving a dusky spot. This species is about the size of V. noveboracensis, and has a somewhat similar bill, but larger. The wings are much longer and more pointed, the spurious quill smaller. There is nothing of the sharply defined light greenish yellow of the sides and ophthalmic and frontal region. The outer tail feather is edged with white. In external form the relationship is closest to V. solitarius, which has the wing almost pre- cisely similar. It, however, lacks the pure white of the chin and throat, the clear ash of the top and sides of the head, and the bright, sharply defined light greenish yellow of the sides of body and the under tail coverts. The white bands on the wings, too, are much broader. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 10229 Fort Tejon, Cal„ J. Xantus de Vesey „ 479 YIEEO FLAVIFRONS, Vieill. Yellow-throated Flycatcher. Vireoflavifrons, Vieill. Ois. Am. I, 1807, 85 ; pi. liv.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 119 : Y, 428; pi. 119.—Ib. Syn.—* Xb. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 141 ; pi. 238. Muscicapa sylvicola, Wils. Am. Orn. II, 1810, 117; pi. vii, f. 3. Sp. Ch.—No spurious quill; the first and fourth equal. From bill to middle of back, sides of head, neck, and fore part of breast olive green ; beneath, from bill to middle of belly, with a ring round the eyes, sulphur yellow. Lores dusky ; rest of under parts white ; of upper, ashy blue, tinged with green. Two white bands on the wing; tertiaries edged with white, other quills with greenish; outer tail feathers edged with yellowish white ; the outer web of first feather entirely of this color, except near the end. Length, nearly 6 inches ; wing, 3.20. Hab.—Eastern United States to the Missouri ; south to Central America. Second and third quills longest; first and fourth about equal, and almost .20 of an inch shorter.342 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT, List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 2216 r? Carlisle, Pa...... May 3,1845 S. F. Baird ........ 5.50 10.00 3.25 2591 u s do May 6,1846 do 5.83 9.75 3.16 3397 do May 7,1847 do 2217 o o May 3,1845 do 5.33 9.50 3.16 7571 V Washington, D. C W. Hutton 7423 Cleveland, Ohio Dr. Kir Man d Union co., Illinois R. Kennicott 8342 A Independence June 13,1857 Wm. Magraw 67 Dr. Cooper 5.12 8.25 2.75 Iris brown; bill and o feet lead color. 8340 S do do 65 do 5.50 9.00 3.00 1911 r do.. t., t, T 8048 Guatemala John Gould 9113 8 Coban M. Verreaux 32614 BIRDS—LIOTRICHIDAE—MIMUS 343 Family LIOTEICHID AE . Wings short, concave, and rounded, the outer four or five primaries graduated ; the first usually more than half the second. Tarsi long and generally very strongly scutellate ; the basal joint of the middle toe free nearly to the base internally, and half way externally. Bill slender, straight or curved, generally as long as or longer than the head ; but little notched, or not at all. This extensive family embraces many forms highly varied in character, and distributed originally very widely in ornithological systems. The credit of rearranging these in a natural series is, in a great measure, due to Dr. Cabanis. The following sub-families are included in the North American species of this family : Miminae.—Tail long, vaulted at the base ; the feathers more or less graduated. Size large ; general appearance Thrush-like. Eictus with distinct bristles. Frontal feathers normal, directed backwards. Anterior half of outer side of tarsi distinctly scutellate. Campylorhynchinae.—Size medium. Tail feathers broad, plane ; tail rounded; rictus without bristles. Troglodytinae.—Size very small. Tail graduated, convex above. Eictus without bristles. Chamaeanae.—Size small. Tail very greatly graduated, much longer than the wings. Eictus with long bristles ; frontal feathers bristly, directed forward. Whole outer side of tarsi continuous and undivided. Sub-Family MIMINAE. The Miminae are all of large size, and, as already stated, have a Thrush-like appearance, which has caused them to be placed by most authors among the Turdidae. From these, how- ever, they are readily distinguished by the usually much longer, or decurved bill, the short and graduated wings, the long graduated tail, and the strongly scutellate legs. The frontal feathers, and, to a certain extent, the loral, are all soft, compact, and, like the rest, without any inversion or extension into bristly points. As in the wrens (but not in Chamaea,) the entire anterior half of the tarsi is embraced by a succession of scutellae which bend round to the middle of the sides, where their lateral margins are distinctly defined. It is very difficult to draw the line between this sub-family and the wrens ; the chief difference lies in the larger size and bristled gape. The nostrils are round or broadly oval, with but little of a membrane above them, such as is seen in the wrens, where the nostrils are more linear. Of the subdivisions of this group, Mimus has a bill shorter, or not longer than the head, and distinctly notched ; while in Harporhynchus and its sub-genera the bill is longer, more decurved, and without notch. Oroscoptes differs from both in the longer and more pointed wings, and much less graduated tail. MIMUS, Boie. Mimus, Boie, Isis, Oct. 1826, 972. Type Turdus polyglottus, Otpheus, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1827, 167. Same type. Ch.—Bill shorter than the head, decurved from the base ; distinctly notched at tip. Tarsi longer than the middle toe ; lateral toes equal, not reaching the base of the middle claw, and shorter than the hind toe, the claw of which is half the total length. Tail variable ; equal to or longer than the wings, moderately graduated. Wings rounded ; the exposed portion of the first nearly or quite half that of the second, which is considerably shorter than the third. This genus is distinguished from Harporhynchus by the shorter bill, (less than the length of the head,) and with a more distinct notch. The lower Jaw is smooth, without the distinct344 U. S. P. E. R EXP, AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. longitudinal ridges seen in most of the species of Harporhynchus. The tail is less graduated and shorter ; the feet appear less stout; the wings are rather longer. The sub-genera are as follows : Mimus.—Culmen much curved from the base. Wings considerably shorter than the tail, which is a good deal graduated. First primary half the second. Olive gray above ; beneath whitish ; wings and tail black; the base of primaries and the tips of the tail white......................................................polyglottus. G-aleoscoptbs.—Much like Mimus. Wings a little shorter than the tail. Plumbeous, paler beneath; crissum brownish orange. Top of head and tail blackish brown........................................................................carolinensis. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 3867 IVlirrms pnlyorlnttns Louisiana. 9.16 4.30 5.14 1.18 1.08 0 28 0.72 0.94 Dry 8167 ....do do Washington, D.C. 9 8.76 4.00 4.52 1.22 1.08 0.27 0.68 0.96 Dry 6516 do do Indian Key Fla.. A 8.10 3.90 4.72 1.18 1.04 0.24 0.68 0.90 Dry 8159 "" do do Los Angeles val.. O A 10.10 4.58 5.78 1.30 1.14 0.30 0.72 1.00 Dry 8129 (Jr* yprmf- Pan Tlipfro o A 7.90 4.06 4.08 1.13 0.92 0.24 0.68 0.96 Dry 8143 ....do do Los Angeles val.. o 9 8.00 3.82 3.80 1.17 0.94 0.24 0.64 0.96 Dry 2596 do carolinensis ■ • flarlislp Pa ? Cal Lt. Trowbridge __ California. Dr. Heermann Santa Clara Ca.l Got. 29, 1855 do Dr. Cooper 13 13 — San Cal A. J. Grayson o Sacramento valley Lt. Williamson.. Dr. Heermann ._ Corf, TVjon Ca.l J. X. de Vesey.. Dr. J.F. Hammond 52 San Diego Cal. 12. 25 12. 62 HAKPOKHYNCHUS LECONTII, Bonap. Toxostoma lecontii, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. V, Sept. 1851, 109. (Fort Yuma.) Harporhynchus lecontii, Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1854, 57 ; Notes Orn. Delattre, 39- Sp. Ch.—Bill much curved. Second quill about equal to the tenth ; exposed portion of the first more than half the longest; outer tail feather an inch shortest. General color above light grayish ash, beneath much paler; the chin and throat above almost white ; the sides behind brownish yellow or pale rusty yellow ash, of which color is the crissum and anal region. Tail feathers rather dark brown on the under surface, lighter above; the outer edges and tips of exterior ones obscurely paler. Quills nearly like the back. Hab.—Frot Yuma, California. This species in form, shape, and curvature of hill and general appearance, is so much like the H. redivivus as to render it extremely likely that it will prove only one of those light races or varieties so often met with in birds of the lower Grila river. The size is smaller, but this might be merely the result of its more southern habitat. The colors above are much lighter than in II. redivivus. The contrast between the body of the tail feathers and their obsoletely lighter edges is rather more decided than in the other species. The second quill is longer, and the first is fully half the longest instead of less than half. The bill in curvature and general shape is exactly like that of H. redivivus. List of specimens. Locality. Whence obtained. Fort Yuma, Gila river.* George N. Lawrence ........ BIRDS—LIOTRICHIDAE—HARPORHYNCHUS CURYIROSTRIS. 351 HARPORHYNCHUS CEISSALIS, Henry. Harporhynchus crissalis, Henry, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. May, 1858. Sp. Ch.—Second quill about as long as the secondaries. Bill much curved; longer than the head. Above olive brown, with a faint shade of gray ; beneath nearly uniform brownish gray, much paler than the back, passing insensibly into white on the chin ; but the under tail coverts dark brownish rufous, and abruptly defined. There is a black maxillary stripe cutting off a white one above it. There do not appear to be any other stripes about the head. There are no bands on the wings, and the tips and outer edges of the tail feathers are very inconspicuously lighter than the remaining portion. Length, 11 inches ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 5.80 ; tarsus, 1.25. Hah.—Southern Rocky Mountains. This species in general appearance resembles the H. redivivus, but is smaller, and may be at once distinguished by the chestnut under tail coverts in marked contrast with the brownish gray of the under parts. The contrast is nearly as marked as in Mimus carolinensis, or the cat bird, and the shade of color only a little lighter. The upper parts are paler than in the other species, and the tail and upper coverts are uniform with the back. There is no pectoral band, but the entire under parts are uniform, without any trace of the cinnamon color. The black maxillary stripe cuts off a white one, which is not the case in the other species, where the whole maxillary space is dusky. The character of margination in the tail is very similar. The bill and feet are black. The lateral tail feathers are about 1.35 inches the shortest. List of specimens. Catalogue number. Locality. Whence obtained. 8127 Mimbres to Rio Grande Dr. T. C. Henry XL S. A HARPORHYNCHUS CURYIROSTRIS, Cab an is. Orpheus curvirosiris, Swainson^ Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 369.—M’Call, Pr. A. N. Sc. IV, May, 1G48, 63. Mimus curvirosiris, Gray, Genera, 1844~’49. . Toxostoma curvirostris, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 277. Harporhynchus curvirosiris, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 81. ? Toxostoma vetula, Wagler, Isis, 1831, 528. ? u Pomatorhinus turdinus, Temm. PI. Col. 441.” Sp. Ch.—Second quill equal to the eighth ; considerably longer than the secondaries. Exposed portion of the bill about as long as the head ; considerably decurved. Above uniform grayish brown, or light ash ; beneath dull white ; the anal region and under tail coverts tinged with brownish yellow. The under parts generally, except the chin, throat, middle of the belly and under coverts, with rounded sub-triangular, quite well defined, spots, much like the back. These are quite confluent on thebreast. Two narrow bands on the wing coverts, and the edges of primaries and alulae, are white. The tail feathers, except the middle, are conspicuously tipped with white. Length of female, 10 inches ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 4.55 ; tarsus, 1.20. Hob.—Lower Rio Grande. This species, with some relationships to the H. redivivus, is readily distinguished by its smaller size, shorter tail, and white under parts, with distinct spots ; these, anteriorly, are rather arrow- shaped, but become more rounded behind, and exhibit a tendency fco confluence on the breast. The sides are tinged with brown. The chin is white. The sides of the head ash color, without stripes, although the feathers of the cheeks and before the eye are whitish. The edge of the shoulder is white. The bands on the wing vary in extent, though that on the lower coverts is generally most distinct. The white tips to the tail feathers are very conspicuous, compared with H.352 U. S. P. R, R, EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. redivivus ; the outer tail feather is also narrowly margined with white. The difference in length of the second quill in being decidely longer than the secondaries instead of shorter, is very conspicuous. In the collection before me is a specimen (8128) which I find it difficult to refer to any of the species here described. The upper parts are most like those of curvirostris, being of the same grayish brown; there is, however, a very faint trace of the white bands.on the wings. The under parts, however, show more of the decided whitish of curvirostris, the breast being strongly tinged with ash as far as the belly, which is lighter, and shows some obsolete rounded spots. The under tail coverts and anal region are darker than in curvirostris, but less rufous than in redivivus. The tail lacks the white tips of curvirostris, although absolutely lighter at the end. The wings are, however, similar, even to the whitish flexure and tips of coverts. It is possible that this specimen may belong to a different species from any I here describe. The bill has the moderate curvature of T. curvirostris. In general characters it comes nearest to the Toxostoma veiula, of Wagler, Isis, 1831, 528. The diagnosis would be as follows : Above ash gray; sides and beneath, similar, but a little paler. Throat whitish. Crissum brownish yellow, becoming lighter on the abdomen. Belly with very obscure spots. Tail with indistinctly lighter tips. Bend of the wing and narrow tips to greater coverts whitish. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 7101 7200 4023 4022 ? 8128 Eat/le pass, Texas Maj. Emory A. Schott.... 3 9 9 Ringgold barracks, Tex. Brownsville, Texas .... IWevien . do 24 J. H. Clark .. 11.50 10.00 10.00 14.50 12.50 11.75 4.50 4.12 3.75 Feb.—, 1853 Lieut. Coach Eyes yellow, bill dark lead, feet lead color. do TVjAyipr* t t 0 t f T * Tiient, Parke Dr. Heermann HARPORHYNCHUS LONGIROSTRIS, 0 a b . Orpheus longirostris, Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool. I, April, 1838, 55.—Ib. Mag. de Zool. 1839 ; Oiseaux, pi. i. Toxostoma longirostre, Cabanis, Wiegmann’s Archiv, 1847, i, 207.—(longirostris) Bonap. Consp. 1850, 277. Mimus longirostris, Gray, Genera, 1844-’49. Harporhynchus longirostris, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 81. Sp. Ch.—Similar to H. rufus. Wings much rounded ; second quill shorter than the secondaries. Exposed portion of the bill.as long as the head ; the lower edge decidedly decurved or concave. Above rather dark brownish rufous ; beneath pale rufous white; streaked on the sides of the neck and body, and across the breast, with very dark brownish black, nearly uniform throughout. Two rather narrow white bands on the wings. The concealed portion of the quills dark brown. Length, 10.50 ; wing, 4.00; tail, 5.00 ; tarsus, 1.40. Hah.—Lower Rio Grande. South through Eastern Mexico. This species is very similar to the LI. rufus, but may be readily distinguished by well marked characters. The feet and bill are decidedly longer ; the latter measuring 1.15 inches instead of about .95 ; it is also much more curved, the lower edge being concave or bow shaped, instead of straight. The wings and tail, on the other hand, are shorter ; the former much more rounded. The rufous of the back is considerably darker ; the stripes beneath are larger and almost uniform black, instead of partly rufous. The hinder part of the breast and the central portion of the abdomen are much more unspotted. A specimen of this species from Xalapa, belonging to Mr. Lawrence, is very similar to those from Brownsville, the bill perhaps a little longer ; the white bands on the wings narrower.BIRDS —LIOTRICHIDAE—HARPORHYNCHUS RUFUS. 353 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Orig. : No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4016 8139 8 Brownsville, Tex.. Lower Rio Grande. Xalapa, Mexico Lt. Couch i 10.25 12.00 4.00 Eyes brinish yellow. Maj or Em ory _ _ A. Schotts G. N. Lawrence HARPORHYNCHUS RUFUS, Cab. Brown Thrush. Turdus rufus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. X, 1766, 293.—Vieillot, OisA Am. Sept. II, 1807, 4; pi. lix.—'Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 83 ; pi. xiv.—Aud. Ora, Biog. II, 1834, 102: V, 1839, 441; pi. 116. Orpheus rufus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 181.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 328.—-Awd. Syn. 1839, 88.—Ib. Birds Amer. Minius rufus, Gray, Genera, 1844-?49. Toxostoma rvfum, Cabanis, Wiegm. Archiv, 1847, i, 207 * Methriopterus, Reichenbach, Av. Syst. Nat. 1850, pi. lv. (Figure taken from this species according to Gray.) Harporhynchus rufus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 82. Thrasher ; Sandy Mocker; French Mocking Bird ; Yulgo. Sp. Ch.—Fifth quill longest; the third, fourth, and sixth, little shorter ; second equal to ninth. Exposed portion of the bill shorter than the head. Outline of lower mandible straight. Above light cinnamon red; beneath pale rufous white with longitudinal streaks of dark brown, excepting on the chin, throat, middle of the belly, and under tail coverts. These spots ante- riorly, are reddish brown in their terminal portion. The inner surface of the wing and the inner edges of the primaries are cinnamon; the concealed portion of the quills otherwise is dark brown. The median and greater wdng coverts become blackish brown towards the end, followed by white, producing two conspicuous bands. The tail feathers are all rufous,4he external ones obscurely tipped with whitish; the shafts of the same color with the vanes. Length, 11.15 ; wing, 4.15; tail, 5.20 ; tarsus, 1.30. Hab.—Eastern N. America to Missouri river, and perhaps to high central plains. Among the series before me are several specimens (5651, 5652, 4703) differing in some notice- able points. They are considerably larger than Pennsylvania ones, with decidedly longer tail and wings. The under parts are more decidedly rufous white ; the white band on the wings tinged with the same. The concealed portion of the quills (including the shafts) is much darker brown, and the shafts of the tail feathers are dark brown, conspicuously different from the vanes. The spots on the breast are considerably darker, showing little, if any, of the reddish brown. Length, 11.50 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 5.75 ; tarsus., 1.35. These specimens are associated with others from the same locality, precisely similar to Penn- sylvania ones. They are different from H. longirostris, though intermediate between this and rufus. Whether it be proper or not to erect them into a different species from the latter, as they certainly are from the former, is a question that I am not prepared to decide. A similar relation between eastern and western races is referred to under the head of the mocking bird, (Mimus polyglottus.) As a strongly marked variety, at least, it may be well to call it H. longi- cauda. Young birds are much as in the adult, the back sometimes streaked obsoletely with dusky.354 U. S. P. B. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY--GENEEAL EEPOET, List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex, Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 9261 Q Gnrlislp Pa. , .... May 16,1845 g. F. Baird 9.75 13.43 4.25 1377 8 do April 22, 1844 11.16 13.16 3.16 4433 Quasqueton, Iowa E. C. Bid well 6948 Red river; T-L R Donald Gunn 8292 Independence, Mo... May 26, 1857 Wrn. M. Magraw.. 5 Dr. Cooper .... 12.75 13.00 4,50 Iris orange, feet pale gray. 8231 s do May 29, 1857 do 4553 Q Missouri river June 8,1857 Lieut. Warren ..... Dr. Hayden 52S4 A Fort Lookout. June 18, 1856 do 11.25 12.25 4.50 Eyes yellow 5283 o A t # 11. # do. ,.,, June 22,1856 do do 9.75 13.50 4.25 4703 o Running Water May —, 1856 8819 T.oup Forks Aug. 6, 1857 12.00 14.00 4.50 Tris yellow 8820 do 9.50 12.25 3.50 do 5652 s Republican Fork Sept. 26, 1856 Lieut. Bryan 351 W. S. Wood ... 5651 o rt tll.rln . „ do 358 do 5653 V o Independence creek, July 14, 1856 67 V 130 miles west of Fort Riley, Neb. Sub-Family CAMPYLORHYNCHINAE. Tail plane ; nearly even or slightly rounded ; the first and second feathers slightly graduated ; the feathers very broad, the longest with the width about one-fifth the length. Size medium. The following genera are included in the sub-family : A. —Hind toe and claw much longer than the outer lateral, shorter than the middle. Feet stout. Campylorhynchus.—Bill about equal to the head. Lateral toes nearly equal ; their claws reaching to the base of the middle claw. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. Wings as long as the tail. Back brown, streaked with white. Catherpes.—Bill longer than the head. Outer lateral toe much longer than the inner, reaching the base-of the middle claw. Tarsus short, equal to the middle toe. Wings a little longer than the tail. Back brown, spotted with white. B. —Hind toe and claw about equal to the outer lateral, shorter than the middle toe. Feet weak. Salpinctes.—Bill as long as the head. Outer lateral toe considerably longer than the inner. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. Wings rather pointed ; decidedly longer than the tail. Back brown, spotted with white. CAMPYLORHYNCHUS, Spix. Campylorhynchus, Spix, Av. Bras. 1824. (Agassiz.) Ch.—Bill as long as the head; not notched; compressed. Culmen and commissure both gently decurved ; gonys nearly straight. Tarsus longer than middle toe, distinctly scutellate; inner lateral toe a little the longer ; hind toe reaching nearly t0 the middle of the middle claw ; shorter than its digit. Wings about as long as tail; exposed portion of first quill about two- thirds that of second, and rather more than half the longest, or fourth. Tail feathers very broad, plane ; the longest, nearly even, with the width about one-fifth its length ; the two lateral graduated ; the outer about five-sixths the middle. Plumage soft and loose. Color brown ; streaks on the body. Wings and tail transversely barred. Of this genus the United States possesses hut a single species, as far as known, confined to the southern borders.BIRDS—LXOTRICHIDAE—CAMPYLORHYNCHUS BRUNNEICAPILLUS. 855 Comparative measurements. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 7149 Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus. Mohave desert... 8 7.90 3.24 3.52 1.16 1.00 0.26 0.96 1.20 Skin .... 7150 Los Angelos Val. 9 7.50 3.30 3.60 ] .08 0.92 0.24 0.86 1.02 Skin .... CAMPYLORHYNCHUS BRUNNEICAPILLUS, Gray. Picolaptes brunneicapillus, Lafresnaye, Guerin Mag. de Zooh 1835, 61 ; pi. xlvii. California.—Lawrence, Annals N. Y. Lyc. Y, May, 1851, 114. Texas.—Heermann, J. A. N. Sc. Ph. 2d ser. II, Jan. 1853, 263.—Cassin, Illust. I, 1854, 156 ; pi. xxv. Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, Gray, Genera, I, March, 1847, 159.—Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 223. Sp. Ch.—Bill as long as the head. Above brown ; darkest on the head, which is unspotted. Feathers on the back streaked centrally with white. Beneath whitish, tinged with rusty on the belly ; the feathers of the throat and upper parts, and under tail coverts, with large rounded black spots ; those of the remaining under parts with smaller, more linear ones. Chin and line over the eye white. Tail feathers black beneath, barred subterminally (the outer one throughout) with white. Length, 8 inches ; wing, 3.40 ; tail, 3.55 inches. Hab.—Yalleys of Rio Grande and Gila. Southward. (7149.) This, the largest wren found in the United States, hears a slight resemblance to the common creeper, Certhia americana, but differs greatly in all essential features. The bill, from the base of the skull, is about the length of the latter, and is considerably compressed and slightly decurved. The tail is long and broad, about equal to the wings. The black spotting on the throat is very conspicuous, relieved only slightly by the white edges of the feathers. There is a black maxillary stripe. Each feather on the back, including the wing coverts, may be said to have two whitish spots strung along the white midrib, the light portion bordered by a duskier shade than the extreme margin of the feather. The outer edges of the quills are indented by triangular spots of whitish ; the basal portion of the inner webs somewhat similarly marked. The two middle tail feathers are brown, some- what like the crown, but with indistinct bands of darker ; the others are as described. Specimens vary considerably in the length of the bill, and in the amount of black spotting on the throat. In a female, 7150, the white streaks on the back are somewhat wider. The second tail feather is sometimes banded almost as much as the first, and the inner tail feathers are distinctly and narrowly banded with whitish and black, instead of dark brown, and lighter. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 7148 3966 7151 7150 7149 Ringgold barracks, Texas... Monterev. Mexico Major Emory Lieut.. Couch Mr Clark s 8.00 10.75 3.50 Bill slate, eyes reddish yellow, feet lead.< Fort Yuma, California. Major Emory A. Schott...... Los Angeles valley T . T _, T/ient. Williamson . . T ., Dr. Heermann. 8 California 356 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS-ZOOLOGY--GENEBAL BEPOBT, CATHERPES, Baird. Ch.—Bill longer than the head, slender; all the outlines nearly straight to the tip, then gently decurved, gonys least so ; nostrils linear ; tarsus short, about equal to the middle toe, which reaches to the middle of the middle claw. Outer toe considerably longer than the inner, reaching beyond the base of the middle claw. Wings a little longer than the tail ; the exposed portion of the first primary about half that of the fourth and fifth. Tail feathers very broad and perfectly plane ; tail nearly even ; the two lateral graduated ; the outer about eleven-twelfths of the middle. This genus agrees with Salpinctes in the broad, plane tail feathers, but the bill is much longer, the nostrils linear, not oval, the feet much stouter, the outer toe rather longer ; the tarsus shorter, being equal to the middle toe, not longer ; the hind toe much longer than the outer lateral, instead of equal to it. The wings are but little longer than the tail, and less pointed and shorter than in Salpinctes, Cabanis, in establishing this genus on the broad tail feathers and long wings, includes S. obsoletus and mexicanus. In this, however, he overlooks the remarkable differences in the feet and wings of the two species. His type being obsoletus, the new genus belongs to mexicanus. Comparative measurements of species. X Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 3969 Catherpes mexicanus. New Leon, Mex , 8 5.70 2.48 2.38 0.74 0.74 0.20 0.92 1.20 Skin .... do. 6.50 7.75 2 50 Fresh ... 3968 Patos Coahuila Alex 5,00 2.36 2,40 0.70 0.70 , 0.20 0.80 0,96 Skin do. 5.75 7.37 2.37 Fresh ... 7157 Salpinctes obsoletus.. Tejon Valiev 8 5.76 2.74 2.36 0.86 0.76 0.18 0.72 0.92 Skin .... 7158 do El Paso, Mex 9 5.74 2.78 2.24 0.79 0.70 0.18 0.70 0.86 Skin .... do. 5.12 8.00 3.00 Fresh ... CATHERPES MEXICANUS, Baird. White-throated Wren. Thryothorus mexicanus, Swainson, Zool. Illustrations, 2d series, I, 1829, pi. xi. Real del Monte. Salpinctes mexicanus, Cabanis, Wiegmann’s Archiv, 1847, i, 323.—Ib. Mus. Hein. 1851, 78.—Bon. Consp. 1850,224. Troglodytes mexicanus, Gray, Genera, I, 1847, 159.—Heermann, J. A. JNT. Sc. 2d ser. II, 1853, 263.—Cassin, Illust. I, vi, 1854, 173 ; pi. xxx. “Troglodytes albicollis, Cuvier, Gal. de Paris, Can. No. 3.”—“Lesson, Compl. VI, 1829, 188.55 ? “ Troglodytes murarius, Licht. Deppe & Schiede, Preis Yerz. ” (I cannot find that any description was published.) ? Salpinctes murarius, Cabanis, Nomenclator Av. Mus. Berol, 1854, 35. Certhia albifrons, Giraud, 16 Sp. Texan Birds, 1841; pi. viii. Thryothorus guttulatus, Lafresnaye, Rev. Zool. 1839,99. Sp. Ch.—Bill considerably longer than the head ; claws large. Head and neck above dark ashy brown, passing gradually into light rusty brown on the rump ; the sides of the body, belly, and under tail coverts similar, all these regions marked with small rounded white and dusky spots, the latter in the form of waved bars on the feathers of the back ; an obscure white line over the eye. Chin, throat, and upper part of the breast pure white. Tail feathers rusty red on both sides, with six or eight narrow transverse bars of black. Length, 6.50 ; wing, 2.50 ; tail, 2.50. (3969.) Hab.—Valley of Rio Grande, Colorado, and Gila, (but not on the coast of California ?) South into Mexico. This species, first added to the fauna of the United States by Dr. Augustus L. Heermann, is the most handsomely marked of all the American wrens. In addition to the characters given above. It may be stated that the rufous color of the upper and under tail coverts is of about theBIRDS—LIOTRICHIDAE—SALPINCTES OBSOLETUS. 857 same shade ; the tail rather lighter ; the latter nearly similar on both sides, the bars showing with equal distinctness. The dark spots on the feathers are just anterior to the light ones ; sometimes they follow as well as precede the white ones. The reddish outer surface of the wings is about the shade of the middle of the back. There are no transverse dusky bars across the quills, the outer webs only showing an alternation of dusky and reddish spots. The wing is rather short; the first and second quills are graduated, the latter about equal to the secondaries; the third is but little shorter than the fourth, fifth, sixth, all nearly equal. The tail feathers are very broad (half an inch,) the tail plane, and moderately graduated (on the sides only ;) the lateral feathers about .20 of an inch less than the longest, Different specimens vary a little in the width of the black bars of the tail feathers ; those on the inner feathers are usually narrower than on the outer, where they are about .05 of an inch broad. A specimen, 3968, probably a female, is smaller, with the bill appreciably shorter. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 3968 Patos,Coahuila,Mex. Lieut. Couch.... 236 5.75 7.62 2.37 Eyes dark brown; bill slate and white. 3969 Var. y, Gmelin, Syst. Nat I, 1788, 994. Sylvia ludoviciana, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 548, No. 150. Troglodytes ludovicmnus, Licht. Yerz. Doubl. 1823, 35.—Bon. Obs. Wilson, 1824, No. 65.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 399 : Y, 1839, 466 ; pi. 78.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 74.—Ib. Birds Amer. II, 1841,116,; pi. 117. Thryothorus ludovicianus, Bonap. List, 1838.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 220.—Ib. Comptes Rendus, XXVIII, 1854, 57 : Notes Delattre, 41. Troglodytes arundinaceus, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 55 ; pi. cviii. The habits as detailed are those of T. palustris. Description certainly refers to the present species, Thryoihori%s arundinaceus, Lesson, Rev. Zool> 1840, 263, (but not his synonym.es.) Certhia caroliniana, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 61 ; pi. xii, f. 5. Thryothorus littoralis, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XXXIV, 1819, 56. Thryothorus louisianae, Lesson, Rev. Zool 1840, 262. Sp. Ch —Exposed portion of the bill shorter than the head. Above reddish brown, most vivid on the rump. A whitish streak over the eye, bordered above with dark brown. Throat whitish ; rest of under parts pale yellow rusty, darkest towards the under tail coverts, which are conspicuously barred with black. Exposed surface of the wings and tail (including the upper coverts) barred throughout with brown, the outer edges of tail feathers and quills showing series of alternating whitish and dusky spots. Legs flesh colored. Length, 6 inches ; wing, 2.60 ; tail, 2.45. Hab.—Eastern United States to the Missouri; north to Pennsylvania. In Texas to upper Rio Grande. The bill, measured to the forehead, is about as long as the head ; the culmen moderately curved ; the inferior outline nearly straight. The wings are short, reaching over the posterior third of the tail, hut not to the ends of the coverts. The under parts are entirely destitute of any trace of bars except on the tail coverts. The brown of the back assumes rather a grayish shade on the crown. As usual there is a good deal of concealed white on the rump. The tail feathers are all similar in color and uniform close barring, the exterior only having rather more dusky and whitish. The middle and secondary coverts have each a light spot at the end, said to be wanting in the female. The shafts of the interscapular feathers are paler than the remaining portion. The white streak over the eye is very conspicuous, and extends down the side of the neck ; beneath this streak and behind the eye is a patch like the back 5 the rest of the side of the head is grayish white, streaked with dusky. Specimens vary considerably in the intensity of color, the under parts being sometimes but little tinged with the pale rusty, except on the sides and towards the tail. The under tail coverts are frequently almost pure white, conspicuously barred with black ; generally, however, they have a rusty tinge. In one specimen (7121) the under coverts are without any bars. The only specimen I have seen from regions west of the Missouri is that collected at Fort Thorn by Dr. Henry. 46 b362 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings, Wing. 7114 1785 1097 7120 10204 7118 7119 7117 Philadelphia John Cassin - Maryland S. F. Baird - ... John TCrider c? Washington, D. C Rockport, Ohio June 12, 1843 Jan. 3, 1852 May 9 do W. M. Baird 6. 00 8.25 2.50 Dr. Kirtland a Dr. Suckley 353 6. 00 10. 50 6809 do 1854 Gov. Stevens. 104 Dr. Suckley 6810 do Dr. Suckley 4. 87? 9.50 6811 _do . _ ...do 258 * 6812 do 208 6. 00 10. 00 5502 Petaluma, Cal - E. Samuels.- 280 6806 San Francisco R. D. Cutts 4944 San Josd, Cal- A. J. Grayson 4492 .do - ....... Lt. Williamson.... J. S. Newherry_ 10209 A Fort Tejon J. X. de Vesey 1268 10210 vJ 9 do 875 6807 100 miles W. of A1 uquerque Lt. Whipple - - - 26 Kenn. & Moll SITTA CANADENSIS, Linn. Red-bellied Nuthatch. Sitta canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 177.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 583.—Atjd. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 24: V, 474 ; pi. 108.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 179 ; pi. 248.—Bon. Consp. 1850, 227. Sitta varia, Wils. Am. Orn. I, 1808, 40 ; pi. ii. Sitta stulta, Vieill. Nouv. Dict.(?) St. Ch.—Above ashy blue. Top of head black ; a white line above and a black one through the eye. Chin white ; rest of under parts brownish rusty. Length about 4| inches ; wing, 2|. Hob.—North America to the Rocky mountains. Probably also to the Pacific. Fourth, quill longest; third a little shorter, hut longer than fifth; second intermediate between sixth and seventh. Above ashy blue. Top of head from bill to occiput deep black ; sides of head and chin white, with a narrow black band from the bill through the eye ; under parts generally yellowish rusty, deepest towards the tail. Under wing coverts tinged with black. Wing feathers brown, edged with the color of the back, and without white or black marking. Tail feathers narrowly tipped with bluish ; central one like the black ; rest of feathers black ; the first and second with a subterminal, the third with a terminal bar of white. The female has the black of the head tinged, with dark ash ; the under surfaces lighter, more of a muddy white. I am unable to detect any difference between eastern and western specimens. One of the latter* (6839) has the bill much stouter than any others I have seen from either side of the continent, being quite as broad at the base as in a much larger S. carolinensis from Pennsylvania. The rusty belly and white streak over the eye, with the black one through it, will readily distinguish this from any other North American species. .BIRDS—CERTHIADAE—SITTA PUSILLA. 377 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch -of wings. Wing. 6937 Selkirk Settlement. Dr. Gunn 818 3 Caplisl e, Pa „ .. Oct. 19, 1842 April 5, 1845 1856 S. F. Baird 4. 16 8. 50 2. 66 2073 do do. 4.58 8. 12 2. 58 5280 S Cedar island, Mo.. Black Hills, Neb .. do Lieut. Warren ..... Dr. Hayden .... 8890 Sept. 30, 1857 do __ __do ... do... 4. 50 8. 38 2. 50 8889 __ __do_ __ _ _ _rlo 4. 25 7. 50 2.57 6838 Sacramento valley. Lieut. Williamson_ Dr. Heermann 6839 do SITTA PUSILLA, Latham. Brown-headed Nuthatch. Sitta pusilla, Lath. Index Orn. I, 1790, 263.—Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 105 ; pi. xv.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 584.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 151 ; pi. 125.—Is. Birds Amer: IV, 1842, 181 ; pi. 249—Bon. Obs. Wilson, 1825, No. 61.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 227. Sp. Ch.—Above ashy blue ; top of head and upper part of neck rather light hair brown, divided on the nape by white. Eye involved in the brown, which is deeper on the lower border. Beneath muddy whitish ; sides and behind paler than the back. Middle tail feathers almost entirely like the back. Length of female 4 inches ; wing, 2|. Ilab.—South Atlantic (and Gulf?) States. Third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal, although the fourth is longest; second shorter than seventh. Above ashy blue; the top of the head and upper part of nape brown, the middle of the latter interrupted by a large whitish spot; the lower edge of the brown involving the lower edge of the eye, and of a darker color than elsewhere. Chin and sides of head and throat below the brown white. Best of under parts pale bluish ash, lighter than on the back, and tinged with dirty white on the throat, breast, and middle of abdomen. No white markings on the wings. Feathers of tail tipped with bluish; innermost feather like the back; others black; the two outer with a subterminal bar of pale whitish. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. 2398 Savannah, Ga S. F. Baird .... Jos. Lennnte 3086 Q Liberty county, Ga .. 1846 W. L. Jones 4. 00 7. 50 3090 3 1846 do 4. 40 q on 3091 3 1846 do 4.20 o. uu 8.50 48 b378 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. SITTA PYGMAEA, Vigors. California Nuthatch. Bilta pygmaca, Vigors, Zool. Beechey’s Voyage, 1839, 25 ; pi. iv.—Audubon, Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 63 ; pi. 415.—Is. Syn. 1839,168.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 184 ; pi. 250.—Newberry, Zool. Cal. Or. Route ; P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 1857, 79. Sp. Ch._Above ashy blue; head and upper part of neck greenish ashy brown, its lower border passing a little below the eye, where it is darker ; nape with an obscure whitish spot Chin and throat whitish ; rest of lower parts brownish white ; the sides and behind like the back, but paler. Middle tail feather like the back ; its basal half with a long white spot; its outer web edged with black at the base. Length about 4 inches ; wing, 2.40. Hab.—Pacific coast and towards Rocky mountains. Third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal and longest. General color above ashy blue. Top of head and nape and sides of head ashy brown, with a greenish tinge, the lower portion (passing through the eye) of a purer brown and darker. Chin, upper part of throat, sides of head, and an obscure spot on the nape dividing the brown, white ; sides of body like the hack, hut paler ; rest of under parts pale rusty or brownish white. Inner tail feathers like the hack, hut with a long white spot at the base ; all the feathers tipped with ashy blue ; rest of feathers black ; the first and second with a subterminal oblique bar of white. This species is closely related to Sitta pusilla of the southern States. The brown of the head has, however, an olivaceous green tinge not seen in the other ; the white spot on the nape less distinct. The middle tail feather has its basal half white and the outer web edged with black at the base. This black edging is never seen in the other, and the white patch reduced to a faint trace, only visible in very high plumaged specimens. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 3312 3729 6840 6804 6803 California, _ S. F. Baird- Dr. Gambel do W. Hutton Ft. Colville, W. T. Oct. —, 1853 ... Nov. 17, 1853-.- Dec. 27, 1853--. I. I. Stevens Dr. Cooper _ _ _ _ Cold Spring, R. Mts Sa.n Francisco Mts Lieut. Whipple 22 Kennerly and Mollhausen. do BIRDS--PARIDAE—POLIOPTILA. 379 Family PARIDAE. First primary very short, generally less than half the second, which is considerably less than the third. Tarsus longer than the middle toe, strongly scutellate anteriorly ; hind toe rather shorter than the middle. Entire basal joint of middle toe united to the lateral toes. Bill short, straight, conical, usually without notch. Wings short; tail rather long, rounded, or graduated. In the limited number of forms of this family in North America, I am unable to define the sub-families with any degree of precision, except to state that Polioptila appears to belong to one, and the true titmice to another. In Polioptila the bill is long, slender, and distinctly notched, the nostrils open, while in the titmice the bill is shorter, more conical, entirely without notch, and the nostrils concealed by feathers. Other differences will be found mentioned under the respective genera. Polioptilinae.—Bill slender, elongated, distinctly notched; nostrils not covered by bristly feathers, but exposed ; nostrils elongated. Parinae.—Bill short, conical, without indication of notch; nostrils rounded, completely concealed by elongated bristly feathers directed forwards. POLIOPTILA, Sola ter. Polioptila, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 11. Type Motacilla caerulea* Culicivora, Swainson, Class. Birds,II, 1837, 243. Type C. atricapilla. Not Culicivora (type stenura) of Swainson’s Zool. Jour. Iir, 1827, 359. Ch.—Bill slender, attenuated, but depressed at the base; nearly as long as the head, distinctly notched at the tip, and provided with moderate rictal bristles. Nostrils rather elongated, not concealed, but anterior to the frontal feathers. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, distinctly scutellate ; the toes small; the hinder one scarcely longer than the lateral; its claw scarcely longer than the middle. Outer lateral toe longer than the inner. First primary about one-third the longest; second equal to the seventh. Tail a little longer than the wings, moderately graduated ; the feathers rounded. The species all lead color above ; white beneath, and to a greater or less extent on the exterior of the tail, the rest of which is black. Size very small. Two species of this interesting genus are now known to belong to the United States in addition to the one described by Wilson and Audubon. Synopsis of species. Two outer tail feathers entirely white. A narrow frontal line, extending back over the eye, .............................*............ ...........................................P. caerulea. Outer tail feather, with the whole of the outer web (only) white. No black on the forehead, but a stripe oyer the eye above one of whitish........................................... P. plumbea. Edge only of outer web of outer tail feather white. Entire top of head from the bill black. P. melanura.380 U. S. P, R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. 1 Bill above. Along gape. 10214 Polioptila- caerulea South Illinois.... 3 o 4.60 2.06 2.10 0.62 0.44 0.12 0.38 0.52 616 Washington, L).C 4.50 2.10 2.38 0.68 0.46 0.14 0.43 0.54 V ; 4.60 6.50 2.10 2.26 0.67 0.48 0.14 0.42 0.56 7191 Polioptila mplanura San Diego 6 A 4.16 1.84 2.04 0.70 0.44 0.13 0.38 0.50 7192 do. Fort Yuma o 2 4.20 1.80 2.18 0.71 0.47 0.12 0.42 0,52 7187 Polioptiia plurnbea Boca Grande,Mex 4.50 1.83 2.20 0.64 0.43 0.13 0 40 0.46 do. do 5.00 8.00 2.00 71 9 Camp 119 4.49 1.80 2.14 0.65 0.44 0.12 0.38 0.45 do. do 4.00 5.00 2.00 9110 Polioptila bilineata Mexico 4.44 1.91 1.97 0.71 0.47 0.11 0.44 0.56 Specimen •measured. Skin. Skin., Fresh Skin., Skin., Skin., Fresh, Skin.. Fresh, Skin.. POLIOPTILA CAERULEA, Sola ter. Blue-Gray Flycatcher. Motacilla caerulea, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1, 1766, 43.—Gmelin, I, 1788, 992. Sylvia caerulea, Lath. ind. Orn. II, 1790.—Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 30; pi. Ixxxviii.—Bon. Obs; Wils. 1825, No. 119. Muscicapa caerulea, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 164; pi. xviii, f. 3.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831,431 ; pi. 84.— Nuttall, I, 1832, 297. Culicivora caerulea. Bon List, 1838 —Ib. Consp. 1850—Aud. Syn. 1839, 42.—Ib. Birds Amer. I, 1840, 244 ; pi. 70. Sylvania caerulea, Nuttali., Man. I. 2d ed. 1840, 337. Polioptila caerulea, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 11. Motacilla cana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 973. Sylvia cana, Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 543. ? Culicivora mexicana, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 316. Female. (Not of Cassin.) Sp. Ch.—Above grayish blue, gradually becoming bright blue on the crown. A narrow frontal band of black extending backwards over the eye. Under parts and lores bluish white tinged with lead color on the sides. First and second tail feathers white except at the extreme base, which is black, the color extending obliquely forward on the inner web : third and fourth black, with white tip, very slight on the latter ; fifth and sixth entirely black. Upper tail coverts blackish plumbeous. Quills edged externally with pale bluish gray, which is much broader and nearly white on the tertials. Female without any black on the head. Length, 4.30 ; wing, 2.15 ; tail, 2.25. (Skin.) Hob.—United States from Atlantic to Missouri, and on the southern border from the Gulf of Mexico to the coast mountains of California. South to Guatemala. In addition to tlie above characters there is a narrow white ring round the eye. The lores are rather paler than the cheeks. The black above the eye runs out into a point a little behind it. The exposed portion of the first or spurious quill is less than half that of the second. This is intermediate between the seventh and eighth. The fourth quill is rather longer than the third and fifth. The narrow tail feathers are long and linear. They are moderately graduated; the outer about a quarter of an inch less than the middle. Specimens vary somewhat in the amount of black on the forehead, as well as the purity of the whitish on the tertiaries. All the white feathers of the tail have black shafts, sometimes the white tip of the fourth feather is wanting. The feathers of the rump are decidedly whitish towards their base, though this is not visible except when they are separated. Some entirely white are concealed by the others. Specimens from Tamaulipas differ in a more attenuated bill, and in having the black super- ciliary line bordered below on the lores and before and above the eyes by bluish white, ratherBIRDS—PARIDAE—POLIOPTILA CAERULEA. 381 more conspicuous than in eastern specimens, although some from Illinois come quite near to it. Skins from the Mimbres, however, appear precisely similar to eastern ones. Occasionally, especially in winter skins, (7194,) the black advances further along the inner web of the second tail feather, and has a more transverse outline. This is the case in one specimen from Fort Thorn, while another is like eastern ones. The same is the case in Nos. 7193 and 7194, from the Organ mountains. These specimens are smaller than usual, with shorter wings; hut I am unable to observe any other characters of difference. In the collection before me is a specimen from the Colorado river, California, (4593,) which is very similar to eastern specimens, although it is of large size, and has rather more black on the tail. It is, however, in too imperfect condition (in addition to being probably a female) to exhibit its complete characteristics. A female Polioptila, probably P. bilineata of Bonaparte,1 labelled, by Mr. Yerreaux, P. mexicana, Bonap., and atricapilla, Yieill., and received from him, is very similar to the female of P. caerulca, but differs in having the sides of the head as white as the throat; this color seen above the eye as a well marked line. Nothing like it is seen in the female of the other species, where there is a narrow whitish ring round the eye but no superciliary white, the whole sides of the head plumbeous, nearly as dark as the crown. The outer two tail feathers are white, as in caerulea. The spurious primary is much larger than in caerulea, being more than half the second quill. It is unquestionably distinct from any of the known species of the United States. It differs from P. melanura and plumbea in the white outer tail feathers, and from caerulea in the white cheeks and large first primary. It agrees pretty well with (7. bili- neata of Bonap. Gundlach describes a Culicivora (Polioptila) lembeyi from Cuba, (Annals N. Y. Lyc. Feb. 1858,) differing from the caerulea, in having a black line extending from behind the eye around the ear coverts. The outer tail feathers have more black on them. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’J No. Collected by— Length Stretch of wings. Wing Remarks. 616 Q Washington, D. C April 5,1842 S. F. Baird Wm. M. Baird... 615 3 do 7563 Wrn. Hutton 10213 Union county, 111 April 20, 1857 N. W. University .... R. Kennicott..... 10214 3 South Illinois May 15, 1857 do 2401 $ Savannah. Ga 1845 S. F. Baird Jos. Leconte..... 8671 3 Indian Key, Fla .. Aug. 27, 1857 G. Wurdernann 5.50 6.50 2.00 Black eyes legs ♦ bill blackish.... 4682 3 Bald island, Neb April 25, 1855 Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden 4.50 6.50 2.25 F.yes blat'k 5641 3 ? East of Fort Riley June 16, 18 j6 Lieut. Bryan 15 W. S. Wood 7103 Q Organ mountains, Tex. Major Emory J. H. Clark 5.00 6.50 2.01 7104 V o do 5.00 6.50 2.04 7188 V Fort Thorn, N. M Or. T. C. Henry 3985 3 Tamaulipas, Mex 1853 Lieut. Couch 3984 Q do 1853 do 4.00 2.00 Eyes dark brown. 4593 2 Colorado river, Cal,.... Major Emory A. Schott... Fort Tejon J X. de Vesey 9223 Mexico John Gould 9222 Guatemala 1 Polioptila bilineata, Sclater. Culicivora bilineata, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 316. Polioptila bilineata, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 12.382 U. S P. K. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. POLIOPTILA PLUMBEA, Baird. Culicivora plumbea, Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. VII, June, 1854, 118. Sp. Ch.—Above bluish gray; the forehead uniform with the crown. Eyelids white. A pale grayish white line over the eye ; above which is another of black, much concealed by the feathers, and which does not reach to the bill. Under parts dull white, tinged with bluish on the sides, and with brownish behind. Tail feathers black ; the first and second edged and tipped with white ; involving the entire outer web of the first, and most of that of the second ; the third with.only a very faint edging of the same. Female without the black superciliary line. Length, 4.40 ; wing, 1.80 ; tail, 2.30. (7189.) Hob.—Valley of Colorado and Gila. The lail of this species is considerably graduated, the outer feather being nearly .40 of an inch shorter than the middle one. The bill is rather short and broad at the base. The wings are short; the exposed portion of the first primary more than half as long as the second, which is rather shorter than the secondary quill; the third quill is about equal to the sixth, and con- siderably shorter (.14 inch) than the fourth and fifth, which are equal. There is a good deal of brown in the bluish of the back; the quills are all margined with paler blue, which becomes whitish on the tertiaries. This species is about the size of P. caerulea, but rather larger. The bluish above is not so pure, having a dirty olivaceous tinge. Both have the black streak over the eye; but this in caerulea is continuous with a black frontal band, while in plumbea the forehead is like the crown, and the superciliary line does not extend over the lores. The light superciliary line is also more distinct. The under parts are of about the same color in both species. The tail is very different,, the feathers being entirely blade:, the exterior edged only with white instead of having the two outer almost entirely white, as in caerulea. From P. melanura this species differs in lacking the black crown. It is larger, the under parts are purer white. The tails are somewhat alike, but the entire outer web of the first and generally the second feather in plumbea are white, instead of being only narrowly edged with this color. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex & age. Local tity. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Remarks. 7189 s Camp 119, Bill Williams’ Fork. Feb. 11, 1854 Lt. Whipple .... 91 Kenn. and Moll . Eye black a Camp 113 . „ . „ . Feb. 5, 1854 do 70 do 7187 Q Boca Grande, Mex_ Mar. —, 1855 Maj. Emory 38 Dr. Kennerly POLIOPTILA MELANUKA, Lawrence. Culicivora atricapilla, Lawrence, Ann. 1ST. Y. Lyceum, V, Sept, 1851, 124. Not of Swainson. Culicivora mexicana, Cassin, Illust. I, vi, 1854, 164 ; pi. xxvii. Not of Bonaparte. Polioptila melanura, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. VI, Dec. 1856, 168. Sp. Ch.—Above ashy blue ; whole crown to bill and eyes, and tail feathers lustrous greenish black. Beneath pale bluish gray, almost white in the middle of the belly ; the sides behind, with anal region and under coverts tinged with brown. Edge of eyelids and the margin and tip of the outer web of first and second tail feathers white. Female without the black head. Length, 4.15 ; wing, 1.85 ; tail, 2.10. Hab.—Valley of the Rio Grande and Gila. West to San Diego.383 BIRDS—-PARIDAE—LOPHOPHANES. The tail feathers of this species are entirely black except as stated, and exhibit a crimped appearance. The size of the species is decidedly less than in P. caerulea. The tail is more graduated, the outer feathers being about .35 of an inch shorter than the middle. The wings are more rounded; the second quill considerably shorter than the secondaries, the third scarcely longer ; very different from caerulea. The exposed portion of the first primary is half that of the second. The edges of the quills are paler than the ground color, but the tertials do not have the decided white of caerulea. The synonymy of Swainson’s species will be found in the accompanying foot note.1 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. Whence and how obtained. Coilected by— 7191 $ San Diego, Oal__ _ _ _ Lieut. Williamson Dr. Heermann 7192 9 Fort Yuma, dal_ • do „ do _ Sub-Family PARINAE. LOPHOPHANES, Kaup. Lophophanes, Kaup, Entw. Gesch. Europ. Thierwelt, 1829, (Agassiz.) Typo Parus cristatus. Baeolophus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850-’51, 91. Type Parus bicolor. Ch.—Crown with a conspicuous crest. Bill conical; both upper and lower outlines convex. Wings graduated ; first quill very short. Tail moderately long and rounded. Of this genus there are several North American species, all agreeing in general characters. One of these, the L. wollweberi, is given by Cabanis as typical, while he separates the L. bicolor generically under the name of Baeoloplms, as having a rather different form of crest, stouter bill and feet, and longer wings. All of our species, however, vary in these characters, each one showing a different combination, so that I prefer to consider all as belonging to the same genus with P. cristatus. The species, all of which have the under parts uniform whitish, may be arranged as follows : Above plumbeous ; forehead black; crown much like the back......................L. bicolor. Above plumbeous ; forehead whitish; crown black.............................L. atricristatus. Above olivaceous ; forehead and crown like the back,.........................L. inornatus. Sides of head banded black and white ; crown ash ; throat black.............L. wollweberi. 1 The following is the synonymy of Swainson’s species which has the two outer tail feathers white : POLIOPTJLA LEUCOGASTRA, Sclater. Sylvia leucogastra, Maxim. Beitrage, III, 1830, 710. Polioptila leucogastra, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 12. Culicivora leucogastra, Burmeister, Th. Bras. Vogel, 1856, 111. Oulicivora atricapilla, Swainson, Zool 111. N. Ser. pi. lvii. (Not of Lawrence.) Culicivora dumecola, Bp. Oonspeetus, 1850, 316. Not Sylvia dumeeola of Vieillot,384 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. J Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 823 Lophophanes bicolor. Carlisle, Pa T. 8 5.92 3.12 3.20 0.82 0.76 j 0.24 0.46 0.52 Skin .... do. 6.25 10.00 3.16 Fresh ... 10118 „do.. Washington, 11. C o 5.60 3.00 2.90 0.80 0.66 I 0.20 0.48 0.50 Skin 6752 Fort Lpavenworth...... V 6.60 3.32 3.30 0.82 0.74 I 0.24 0,49 0.54 6757 Lophophanes atricristatus Fort Clarke, Texas. 5.30 2.80 2.80 0.76 0.66 0.22 0.46 0.52 Skin .... 5515 Lophophanes inornatus.. Petaluma, Cal... 8 5.00 2.55 2.46 0.80 0.74 | 0.22 0.44 0.46 Skin .... do. 5.54 7.00 2.75 Fresh ,.. 3340 do , California 5.04 2.56 2.52 0.78 0.70 0.23 0.42 0.48 Skin 9220 Lophophanes cristatus ... Europe A 4.70 2.52 2.20 0.71 0.52 0.16 0.36 0.40 Skin ...» 9221 Lophophanes wollweberi. Mexico D 4.80 2.54 2.48 0.63 0.50 0.18 0.35 0.37 • Skin .... 6797 Fort. Thorn 4.40 2.52 2.43 0.67 0.58 0.18 0.34 0.35 Skin .... LOPHOPHANES BICOLOR, Bon. Tufted Titmouse. Parus bicolor, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 340.—Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 137 ; pi. viii, f. 5.—Bonap. Obs. Wils. J. A. N. S. IV, 1825, 225.—Ib. List, 1838.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 199 : V, 1839, 472 ; pi. 301.—Ib. Birds America, II, 1841, 143 ; pi. 125. Lophophanes bicolor, Bp. List Birds Europe, 1842.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 228.—Cassin, Illust. T, 1853, 18. Baedophus bicolort Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851,91. Type. Sp. Ch.—Above ashy black ; a frontal band. Beneath dull whitish ; sides brownish chestnut, of more or less intensity. Length, 6.25 inches ; wing, 3.17. Hob.—Eastern North America to the Missouri river. Feathers of the crown elongated into a flattened crest, which extends back as far as the occiput. Bill conical; lower edge of upper mandible nearly straight at the base. Fourth and fifth quills equal; third a little shorter than seventh; second rather shorter than the secondaries. Tail nearly even, the outer about .20 of an inch shorter than the longest. Upper parts ash color, with a tinge of olivaceous. Forehead dark sooty brown. The feathers of the upper part of the head and crest obscurely streaked with lighter brown. Under parts of head and body, sides of head, including auriculars, and a narrow space above the eye, dirty yellowish white, tinged with brown ; purest on the side of head, the white very distinct in the loral region, and including the tuft of bristly feathers over the nostrils, excepting the tips of those in contact with the bill, which are blackish. The sides of the body and the under tail coverts are tinged with yellowish brown. The quills and tail feathers are edged with the color of the back, without any whitish. Bill black. Feet lead color. Specimens from the west differ from eastern ones almost enough to constitute distinct species. They are considerably larger ; the crest longer. The bill is blacker and more sinuate along the cutting edge of the upper mandible. The black of the forehead is deeper and more sharply defined. The brownish rusty of the sides is much more conspicuous, while the under tail coverts are much lighter, almost pure white. Should these be considered as sufficiently distinctive characters by ornithologists, the species might bear the name of Lophophanes missouriensis, from the river on or near which all the specimens before me were collected.BIRDS-PARIDAE—LOPHOPHANES ATRICRISTATUS. 385 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 7579 Washington, D. C Wm. Hutton 823 8 Carlisle, Pa Oct. 2,1842 S. F. Eaird 6. 30 10. 00 3. 17 1292 Q Mar. 11, 1844 do 5. 67 9.67 3.08 6987 8 St. Louis, Mo May 13, 1857 Lt. F. T. Bryan _ _ 83 W. S. Wood 4731 St. Joseph, Mo April 22, 1856 Lt. Warren 6. 37 10. 50 3. 25 4730 Fort Leavenworth April 21, 1856 Lieut. Couch 5 6752 Jan. 20, 1855 do 7514 — Independence, Mo June—, 1857 W M..Magraw 60 Dr. Cooper 6. 25 10.00 3.25 Northern Illinois Winter R. Kennicott 8 | Union county, 111 April 8, 1857 N. W. University R. Kennicott LOPHOPHANES ATRICRISTATUS, Casein. Black-crested Tit. Parus atricristatus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila. V, Oct. 1850, 103 ; pi. ii. Texas. Lophophanes atricristatus, Cassin, Illust. I, 1853, 13 ; pi. iii. Sp Ch. Crest very long and pointed, (1.25 inches). Above ash colored. A broad band on the forehead dirty white, rest of head above, with crest, black, tinged with ash on the sides. Color of the back shading insensibly into the dull ashy white of the under parts. Sides of body pale brownish chestnut. Female with the crest duller black. Iris dark brown. Length, about 5.25 inches; wing, 3.00. Hob.—Valley of the Rio Grande and south. This species is smaller than L. bicolor, but the ashy of the back is of much the same shade. The frontal white band is quite conspicuous. The tail is a little rounded. The bill is a good deal sinuated on the edge of the upper mandible ; its color is black ; the legs dark plumbeous. This species is easily distinguished from L. bicolor by the white forehead and black crest. It has the same rusty sides. L. inornatus differs in the plain crest, and less conspicuous frontal light band, the more olivaceous tinge above, and the absence or mere trace of the brownish rusty of the sides. The crest of atricristatus is much longer, narrower, and more pointed than in the other two species. The bill is black, not horn color. As usual the southernmost specimens are smallest. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 3974 3975 6"56 6757 9111 8 9 New Leon, Mex Lieut. Couch ■ 96 97 5.25 4.75 8.00 7.50 3.00 2.50 Eyes dark br’n; bill black. ...... do TTTTdn.. do Fort Clarke, Tex. Lieut. Paike Dr. Heermann do Mexico M. Verreaux........... >9713 386 U. S P. E. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. LOPHOPHANES INORNATUS, Cass in. Parus inornatus, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. II, Aug. 1845, 265, (Upper California.)—Ib. Ill, Feb. 1847, 154.—Ib. Jour. Ac. N. Sc. Phila. 2d Series, I, Dec. 1847, 35 ; pL viii. * Lophophanes ino7'natus} Cassin, 111. I, 1853, 19. Sp. Ch.—Crest elongated. Color above olivaceous ashy, beneath whitish. Sides of body and under tail coverts very faintly tinged with brownish, scarcely appreciable. Sides of head scarcely different from the crown. Forehead obscurely whitish. Length, 5 inches; wing, 2.55. Hub,—Coast of California and southern Rocky Mountains. The hill and feet of this species are lead color. The third, fourth, and fifth quills are longest; the third and eighth about equal; the second is shorter than the shortest primaries. The lateral tail feathers are a little shorter than the others. A specimen from Fort Thorn has the crest longer than in other specimens before me, measuring 1.35 inches from base of bill to its tip. This may be a characteristic of the male, the sexes being otherwise alike. This species differs from L. bicolor in having a whitish instead of black front, a more oliva- ceous back, and in lacking the ferruginous tint of the sides. The size is considerably less. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 3923 California - Dr. Heermann * 3340 do, S. F. Baird Dr. Gambel...... 55151 c? Petaluma. Cal E. Samuels 59252 Santa Clara, Cal ... Gov. Stevens. Dr. Cooper 5923 4951 San Jose, Cal_ A. J. Grayson 18 6754 Tejon valley.. ... Lt. Williamson .... Dr. Heermann _ Fort Tejon.. ........ John Xanthus de Yesey 6755 3 Sacramento valley _ _ do 6753 Mimbres to Rio Grande Dr. Henry 1 Shot October, 1855. Length, 5.12; extent, 8.50. 2 Length, 5.60; extent, 8.50. Feet pale blue. LOPHOPHANES WOLLWEBERI, Bon. Lophophanes wollweberi, Bon. Comptes Rendus, XXXI, Sept. 1850, 478.—Westermann, Bijdragen tot de Dier- kunde, III, 1851, 15, Plate.—Cassin, 111. I, 1853, 19. Pams annexus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. Y, Oct. 1850, 103 ; pi. i. (Texas.) Lophophanes galeatus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1850—’1, 90. Sp. Ch.—Central portion of crest ash, encircled by black, commencing as a frontal band, and passing over the eye. Chin, throat, and a line from behind the eye and curving round the auriculars to the throat, (bordered behind by white,) as also some occipital feathers, black. A white line from above the eye margining the crest, with the cheeks below the eye and under parts generally white. A black half collar on the nape. Upper parts of body ashy. Length, about 4.50 ; wing, 2.50. Hab.—Southern Rocky mountains, and south into Mexico on the Table lands. This is the most variegated species of its genus in North America, and is readily distinguished from the others. I regret, however, that none of the specimens before me exhibit the bird in its perfect plumage. The elongation of the feathers of the head extends quite to the occiput. The feathers on the anterior half of the crown are ashy; their extreme base black. The feathers composing theBIRDS—PARIDAE--PARUS. 387 black frontal band, too, have a few of these short, pale, ashy white tips. The posterior elongated feathers of the crown and the short feathers of the occiput are black. The lateral feathers behind, however, are white, in continuation of the streak over the eye. In most specimens the black crescentic line behind the eye is much broken by white. There does not appear to be any rusty tinge on the sides, as in L. bicolor. The black post-auricular crescent is bordered behind by white, running into a whitish collar just behind the black of the throat. The nape below the crest is black, this dividing and passing around the upper half of the neck as a half collar posterior to the white. The bill is very short and conical. The second primary quill is longer than the secondaries ; the third is intermediate between the eighth and ninth. The upper parts are of much the same tinge of olivaceous as in L. inornatus. The young birds differ in having the black less intense, especially on the throat. Poor specimens have a slight resemblance to Pams montanus. This, however, lacks the crest; the forehead is white, not black ; the middle of the crown is black, not ash colored ; the white of the cheeks is not bordered behind by a black crescent, connecting the stripe behind the eye with the throat. This species is much more like the European L. cristatus than any other American titmouse. It differs in the much stouter bill, absence of rufous on the sides, more black on the throat, the feathers of the crown ash, like the back, instead of being black, edged with whitish. The black crescent behind the eye runs into the black of the throat, instead of stopping in the white cheeks. The posterior cervical half collar of black is cut off from that of the throat, instead of being continuous with it. The resemblance of the two species would be much strengthened if the posterior black collar were made to run into the neck, and the crescent on the cheeks inter- rupted below. Cabanis, in Mus. Heineanum, places this species in the same genus with the typical L. cristatus, and separates the L. bicolor, as type of a. new genus, on account of the stouter bill, difference in character of crest, longer wings, &c. The other American crested titmice, how- ever, exhibit a very gentle gradation between the two, while the bill of L. wollweberi is even stouter in proportion than in L. bicolor. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wirfg. 6794 6796 6797 6795 9 Copper mines do do 3 J. H. Clark- 5/00 8.00 2. 50 ---- Mimbres to R. Grande Pueblo creek, N. M__ Mexico- Dr. Henry Jan. 22, 1854: Lt. Whipple J. Gould - „ „ 50 Kenn. and Moll . PARUS, Linnaeus. Pams, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1735. (Agassiz.) Type P. major. Ch.—Head not crested. Body and head stout. Tail moderately long, and slightly rounded. Bill conical, not very stout; the upper and under outlines very gently and slightly convex. Tarsus but little longer than middle toe. Crown and throat generally black.388 U. S P R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS----------ZOOLOGY-----GENERAL REPORT. In the group, as defined above, are embraced several genera of modern systematists. Thus the true black-capped American titmice are placed under Poecile of Kaup, where possibly they belong. The species may be arranged as follows ; A. Head and neck above and below entirely* black ; their sides white. {Poecile.) Outer tail feathers and the tertiaries conspicuously edged with white. Outer edges of greater wing coverts also nearly white. Largest. Wing, 2.70 inches; tail much rounded, or even graduated, exceeding 3.00, or longer than wings...........................................P. septentrionalis. Wing and tail about 2.50 inches, and nearly equal.1 Tail nearly even. Body beneath white, tinged on the sides with brownish yellow...........P. atricapillus. Size and shape much like the last. Tail more rounded. Beneath pale yellowish rufous brown, lighter only along the median line..................P. occidentalism Outer tail feathers and the tertiaries pale grayish, not white. Greater wing coverts without paler edges. Tail nearly even, shorter than the wing. Wing, about 2.60 inches; tail, 2.45. Beneath plumbeous; similar to the back, only paler,.....................................................P. meridionalis. Smaller. Beneath white, faintly tinged with reddish brown, conspicuously different from the back...........................................P. carolinensis. B. Crown and throat black, with white frontal and superciliary stripe. Above plumbeous; beneath white......................................P. montanus. C. Throat sooty brownish ; sides of body bright reddish brown. Back and wing coverts chestnut brown; crown not very different from the throat............................................................P. rufescens. Back grayish olive brown. Crown similar,............................P. Jmdsonius. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. . Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. | Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape Specimen measured. 3704 Parus septentrionalis... Salt Lake city. 5.40 2.72 2.96 0.68 0.58 0.18 0.34 0.40 Skin 6766 New Mexico. 5.80 2.52 3.00 Leo-s broken. 0.40 0.42 Skin*.... 8827 Black Hills, Neb 5.30 2.64 2.86 0.64 0.60 0.22 0.38 0.46 Skin. .... do. 5.75 8.25 2.75 Fresh.... 8493 Fort Mass., N. M... Q 5.32 2.62 2.98 0.64 0.58 0.18 0.34 0.40 Skin 830 Parus atricapillus ' Carlisle. Pa. ¥ 9 4.80 2.50 2.50 0.62 0.55 0.18 0.36 0.40 Skin..... do. do 5.00 7.75 2.50 Fresh.... 803 4.74 2.50 2.44 0.60 0.56 0.20 0.36 0.42 Skin..... do. do * 4.91 7,75 2.41 Fresh.... 6762 Pams occidentals ..... Fort Vancouver.... 5.00 2.46 2.50 0.64 0.56 0.20 0.36 0.42 Skin do. 4.50 7.50 Fresh.... 6763 .... ....do Shoal water bay 5.00 2.42 2.52 0.66 0.60 0.20 0.36 0.44 Skin do. ..., ... do 5.00 7.50 Fresh ... 10203 Parus meridionalis ..... Mexico 5.00 2.60 2.54 0.68 0.56 0.18 0.36 0.42 Skin..... 706 Parus carolinensis...... Washington, D. C.. s 4.60 2,50 2.50 0.60 0.54 0.20 0.32 0.38 Skin do. do 4.62 7.00 Fresh.... . 5643 Parus montanus........ Medicine Bow cr’k. 9 5.50 2.90 2.90 0.78 0.58 0.20 0.44 0.50 Skin .... 3894 do California ..... .... 5.00 2.58 2.44 0.64 0.64 0.21 0 42 0.42 Skin 982 Fort Tej on ........ 9 4.80 2.70 2.58 0.72 0.60 0.22 0.42 0.44 Skin do. 5.00 8.00 Fresh.... 6786 Parus ;ufescens........ Fort Vancouver.... 4.46 2.38 2.16 0.64 0.60 0.18 0.35 0.40 Skin.... do. 4.75 7.50 Fresh.... 6784 San Francisco 4.44 2.42 2.30 0.64 0.56 0.18 0.40 0,44 Skin...., 2926 Parus hudsonicus Canada i .......... 5.14 2.40 2.66 0,70 0.55 0.19 0.38 0„44 Skin * Very poor specimen.389 # BIRDS—PARIDAE—PARC'S SEPTENTRIONALIS. PARUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Harris. Long-tailed Chickadee. Parus septentrionalis, Harris, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. II, 1845, 300. (Upper Missouri.)—Cassin, Illusfc. I, i, 1853, 17.—Ib . I, in, 1852, 80 ; pi. xiv. Sp. Ch.—Length, about 5.50 inches ; wing, 2.70 ; tail, about 3 inches. Head above and below black, separated by white on the sides of the head > back brownish ash. Beneath white, tinged with pale brownish white on the sides. Outer tail feathers, primaries, and secondaries broadly edged with white, involving nearly the whole outer web of outer tail feather. Tail much graduated ; the outer feather about .30 of an inch shorter than the middle. Second quill about as long as the secondaries. Hab.—Missouri river to the Rocky mountains, This species is similar in general characters to the P. atricapillus, hut is considerably larger, with proportionately longer tail. The fifth and sixth quills are equal, the fourth scarcely shorter, the third about equal to the seventh, the second about the length of the secondaries. The tail is long, considerably rounded ; the outer abruptly shorter than the second. The greatest difference in the length of the tail feathers is .30 of an inch ; in some specimens almost half an inch. The difference between primaries and secondaries amounts to .41 of an inch. The top of the head and nape, with the chin and throat, are black; the space between the two white. The middle of breast and belly are dirty white. The sides strongly tinged with yellowish brown, as are also the under tail coverts. The upper parts, except as described, are grayish ash, washed with yellowish brown, especially on the rump. The third to the seventh primaries and the inner secondaries are edged with ashy white; the latter conspicuously so. The outer webs of the outer three tail feathers edged with whitish, almost white on the first one, where the line of demarkation is quite distinct. All the tail feathers, indeed, have more or less of a light edging, which on the outermost edge of the inner is plumbeous. In a considerable series of specimens before me of this species, all agreeing very nearly in size, there is one (6776) from New Mexico possessing all the characteristics of the species in an exaggerated degree, even more so than Mr. Harris' typical specimen. It is larger ; the tail more graduated ; the upper parts are more yellowish ; the black of head and neck is less exten- sive. The white margins of the primaries and secondaries are very conspicuous, and the entire outer web of the exterior tail feather is white, except towards the base? This species is very similar to the P. atricapillus, but differs from it somewhat as atricapillus does from carolinensis. Its size is much greater; the tail proportionately longer, and much more graduated ; the white of wing and tail purer and more extended. The bill appears to be stouter and more conical. The back has, perhaps, a little more yellowish. The spurious or first primary is larger. A specimen from Fort Massachusetts (8193) agrees in general characteristics of form, but differs in having a sooty tinge in all the white parts, above and below. This is analogous to conditions frequently seen in other species, and may be either an actual tendency to melanism, or the result of ^actual soiling of the feathers wich the carbonaceous matter of burnt trees, or from other causes, ~ *390 U. S. P. E. K. EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—-GENEEAL EEPOET. .List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length Stretch if wings. Wing. Remarks. Racine, Wis N. W. University Dr. Hoy 7513 4732 6765 5574 5873 5872 5644 4733 6766 6769 8828 8827 8493 6. 17 10.50 3. 33 796 o A veil lliolv ^ X Cv« Oct. 14, 1842 5. 83 9. 83 3. 17 1380 o O do April 22, 1844 6.42 10.33 3. 17 2138 ¥ 3 do April 23, 1845 6. 17 9. 83 3. 17 797 do Oct. 14, 1842 do 5. 83 10.17 3. 17 2139 r? _ do - _ April 23,1845 6.42 10.17 3. 17 309 KJ A „__do _ April —, 1841 do 6. 00 10. 00 931 (j O do April 28,1843 7040 V X Sf. T,rvmc! TVTa Mav 15 1857 Lieut. Bryan . W S Wood 4853 0 Q kJU* JUUUlDj ItXU • « « « « « « Vermilion river, Neb. lUdj iUj lOd 1 May 8, 1856 Dr. Hayden Lt. Warren 6.00 10. 00 3. 62 CARPODACUS CALIFORNICUS, Baird. Western Purple Finch. Sp. Ch. —Similar to purpureus. Third quill longest; first shorter than the fourth. Purple of head and rump much darker than in C. purpureus; the head with a broad supraorbital lateral band of lighter purple. Length, 6.25 ; wing, 3.20 ; tail, 2.60. Hub.—Pacific coast of United States. In the examination of a large series of skins (over sixty in number) of the western purple finch, I have found differences which indicate either a decided geographical variety, or a distinct species from the typical eastern C. purpureus. The size appears somewhat less. The upper mandible appears lower in proportion to the inferior one, and is darker than in eastern specimens. The culmen is more curved, and lacks the gentle concavity on the basal portion. The male is of a considerably darker purple, especially on the head and the rump ; that on the former in quite strong and abrupt contrast to the back, instead of fading gently into it. The sides of the crown are of a lighter purple than elsewhere, giving rise to quite a conspicuousv supraorbital stripe, scarcely or not at all appreciable in eastern skins. The female of the western type differs from that of the eastern in being more olivaceous above, and in having the streaks below rather larger, and not so well defined. There appears to be a difference in the marking of the wings. In eastern (7. purpureus there is usually a well marked whitish band across the ends of the middle coverts, while the greater coverts, though margined externally by paler, have a still lighter bar across the posterior extremity, which is not seen in the western bird. The wing formula of the two species differs very greatly, the third quill in the western bird being generally longest, instead of the second; the first shorter than the fourth, instead of much longer, and shorter than the third.414 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Remarks. 4488 Q March, 1855 6.00 9.50 4489 $ do 6.25 9.75 4490 O 6412 A Vnrf Sfpilar'nnm April, 1854. Dr. G. Suckley. ... 72 6433 o t, f , dn iitl . T do...... 66 6414 o o rjn t TfT.T. 1., .. do do., . T 80 6415 V o T t T t rfo , r, tfltt April 10,1858 291 6.50 10.00 6416 V do 294 6.23 10.12 6417 6 t f 111 itl TTtut TtIT do Aug. 1, 1856 do 516 4536 3 W Tprri^nry r 1856 _ t T , , fJfL T * t r , * , t , f 4537 S do ...... do. 4535 3 tttt .. do do 6411 A Fort Vancouver, W. T.. Jan. 18, 1854 Gov. Stevens 13 Dr. Cooper 6.50 9.50 Iris brown, bill and feet paler. 6418 o A Cal Lt. Williamson Dr. Heerman. 6419 o o f!nsnp^npt| riypr f!nl.... - T do 4491 V pSnnfa Olavp - i - - Nov. 1855.... Dr. J. G. Cooper 4492 do do 4493 do , tT do . do 4494 ......do 4495 • • do «••• «••••• do 4496 do do 3731 s MnntAr*y a,,, , 11. .Ian. 251 W. Hnt.t.on 'ppjnp Cal , , , r . , J. X. de Vesey..... CARPODACUS CASSINII, Baird. Cassin9s Purple Fineli. Carpodacus cassinii, Baird, Pr. Ac. .Nat. Sc. Phila. VII, June, 1854, 119. Colorado River. Sp. Ch.—Larger than C. purpureus. Bill .55 of an inch above. Second and third quills longest; first longer than fourth. Above pale grayish brown, the feathers streaked with darker brown, and with only an occasional gloss of reddish, except on the crown, which is uniform deep crimson, and on the rump. Sides of the head and neck, throat and upper part of breast with rump, pale rose color ; rest of under parts white, very faintly and sparsely streaked with brown. Female without any red, and streaked on the head and under parts with brown. Length, 6.50 ; wing, 3.60 ; tail, 2.60. Hab.—Rocky mountains and valley of the Colorado. This is the largest of the American purple finches, and is conspicuously different from the others in the size and unusual elongation of the bill. This is very nearly straight above to within one-third or fourth of the end, and then curves gently to the tip ; the cutting edge of the mandible is sinuated in the middle. The proportions of the quills, as given above, are pretty constant, although sometimes the second quill is longest, and sometimes the first as long as the second. The tail is moderately forked ; the feathers broad. There is rather more of red on the nape than on the back, where this color is only occasionally visible. The rose of the breast is not abruptly defined, but passes gradually into the white of the belly. This species is more like 0. purpureus than the other North American purple finches, but is larger and otherwise easily distinguished. The bill is much larger, and longer proportionally. The proportions of the quills are different; the tail less deeply forked, and the feathers broader. The crimson of the head is brighter; there is much less red on the back, although the crown and rump patches are not abruptly defined. The streaks on the back are darker and more conspic- uous. The red of the throat and breast is much paler and does not extend so far back ; thereBIRDS--FRINGILLIDAE—CARPODACUS FRONTALIS. 415 is no red at all on the belly. The under tail coverts are white, with narrow dark streaks. There are two pale hands across the wings, rather more distinct than in purpureus. The loral region is grayish. The females of the two species are very similar, that of (7. cassinii only to be readily distin- guished by the larger size and larger and longer bill. The streaks on the breast appear to be rather narrower and better defined. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 6420 $ Pueblo creek, N. Jan, 22,1854 Lt. Whipple 48 Dr. Kennerly _.do 5. 50 10. 00 6421 s 52 5.50 9.00 6422 Alberquerque, N. _ Fort Thome, N. M Nov. 15,1855 .do 16 6423 Dr. T. C. Henry- 6424 6425 CARPODACUS FRONTALIS, Gray. Burion; House Finch. Fringilla frontalis, Say, Long’s Exped. II, 1824, 40.—(?) Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 230 ; pi. 424. Pyrrhula frontalis, Bon. Am. Orn. I, 1825, 49 ; pi. vi. Erythrospizafrontalis, Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Pr. Zool. Soc. 1837, 112—?Aud. Syn, 1839, 125.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 175 ; pi. 197.—Gambel, Jour. A. N. S. 2d Series, I, 1847, 53. Fringilla (Pyrrhula) frontalis, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. I, 1843, 262. Carpodacus frontalis, Gray, Genera, 1844—’49.—M’Call, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, 1851, 219. ? Carpodacus obscurus, M’Call, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, June 1851, 220. Sante Fe. Carpodacusfamiliaris, M’Call, Pr. A. N. Sc. VII, April 1852, 61. Santa Fe. Red-breasted variety. ? Pyrrhula cruentata, Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1839, 101. ? Carpodacus rhodocolpus, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 166.—Sclater. Pr. Zool. Soc. 1856, 304. Carpodacus frontalis, Bon. & Schlegel, Mon, of Loxiens, 1850, tab. xvi, f. 1.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 533. Sp. Ch.—6426.—Bill short, much curved. Forehead for nearly the length of the bill, a broad superciliary stripe extending to the nape, side of lower jaw, chin, throat, and upper part of the breast, crimson red ; rump, paler. Rest of upper parts with sides of neck grayish brown, with an occasional gloss of red externally on the crown, and with scarcely appreciable darker brown towards the centres of the feathers. Belly, under tail coverts, and sides, whitish, conspicuously streaked with light brown ; sometimes red to the middle of the former. Length, 5.75 ; wing, 3.25 ; tail, 2.80. Hab.—Rocky mountains to the Pacific. This species is quite remarkable for the very great variation in the shade of red in the different regions of the body. Thus the specimen selected as the basis of the description (6426, May 4, El Paso) has this color a bright crimson red ; the rump scarcely different; the throat and breast almost as bright as the head. The lower part of the red on the breast is tinged with orange—a character seen also in 6431. The red does not extend beneath the closed wings, (the entire sides of body being like the belly,) and fades rather gradually into the white belly; it extends about as far as the end of the breast hone. The upper tail coverts are like the hack ; the hack cannot at all he called streaked, the feathers being merely brown, fading very416 U. So P, R. Ro EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. slightly to the exterior. There is no indication of red on the edges of wing and tail, which are pale whitish brown. There is a faint trace of narrow lightish bands across the wings. The streaks on the belly, sides, and under tail coverts are narrow, long, and well defined. The red gloss on the back is confined to the middle of the interscapular region; the middle of the crown and the nape have the feathers tipped with crimson like the crown, obscuring the outline of the frontal and superciliary band. The loral region, space immediately around and under the eye, the ear coverts, and thence along the sides of the neck, are grayish brown, the lores lighter. The red extends for about .15 of an inch along the upper edge of the lower jaw, then passes obliquely to the throat, leaving the ear coverts untouched. In 6432 the red on the rump is wanting ; the superciliary stripe better defined, owing to the greater lack of red tips to the feathers of the crown. In 6434 the shade of red in the crown is the same, that on the throat paler, that on the rump entirely different, being more of a rose color. In 6433 the red on the head and throat is much more orange. In No. 4085 (Monterey, Mexico, April 16, spring plumage) the red, instead of being bright crimson, is almost a dark purple red; every where of the same tint. No. 5547, from Petaluma, California, is precisely similar in color. In . some full winter specimens the rump is more rosy; the crown more mixed with red ; the back considerably glossed with the same. I have been a good deal perplexed in the determination of the small California Garpodaci in the series before me. These, as a general rule, have the middle of the crown rather more thickly filled with red; in one, indeed, (6428, from Los Angeles,) this color is almost as con- tinuous as in G. purpureus. No. 5547, from Petaluma, California, is somewhat similar in this respect, but the red is much more purple. In both there is a strong tendency to red on the side of the head and neck. In one specimen (5548) there is a very close resemblance to C. purpureus in the shade of red, and this extends to the upper part of the belly. The middle of the crown is strongly tinged with red; the entire sides of the head, too, are as red as in G. purpureus. The bill, wings without any reddish, &c., are those of G. frontalis. Other specimens, from Santa Clara, California, are similar, but the red does not extend as far on the belly ; nor is it seen on the sides of the head. It would seem very probable that in the gradual transition in California specimens from the peculiar characters of G. purpureus or C. californieus to those of G. frontalis, we may have hybrids between the two, where they are associated, like those ef Golaptes auratus and mexicanus, on the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone. If there be a third permanent species, I am unable to fix its characters. The Erythrospiza frontalis of Audubon seems larger than that from the upper Eio Grande, and I am inclined to think that his figure and description were taken from a specimen now before me, (2886,) marked as received from Mr. J. Gould, probably from Mexico. This lacks the wings, but the tail is much longer, measuring 3.30 inches instead of less than three ; the feathers, too, are considerably broader. It resembles California more than New Mexican skins. A specimen from the city of Mexico (2706) is larger than New Mexican ones, and has the red more restricted to the upper part of the breast. The red of the frontal and superciliary stripes is better defined, as also that of the rump, which is unusually extended. A skin (4568) received from Dr. Hartlaub, of Bremen, as the Fringilla haemorrhous of Lichtenstein, from Mexico, has the red of the crown, throat, and rump, much brighter, deeper, and very sharply defined and restricted. That on the throat is confined to it, and does not extend at all on the breast. TheBIRDS—FEINGILLID AE—OARPODACUS FRONTALIS. 417 under parts are much more streaked. These two specimens I am inclined to consider as distinct from G. frontalis, and probably entitled to the name of haemorrhous, Wagler.1 The Oarpodacus rhodocolpus of Cabanis resembles very closely some of those California speci- mens mentioned as so similar to O. purpureus. Should they be distinct, Cabanis’ name might with propriety be applied to them. I scarcely think, however, .that the name can stand. The Oarpodacus frontalis of New Mexico is readily distinguished from G. purpureus, by the fact that the middle of the crown is not continuously red, the ear coverts and under the eye brown, not red ; the back and wings are uniform brown, the feathers with lighter edges, the red of the rump quite sharply defined, instead of having the red over the back and wings The belly is strongly streaked with brown, instead of being nearly white. The size is considerably less ; the bill shorter, broader, and considerably more convex and curved. G. cassinii has the back more glossed with red and strongly streaked with dark brown, instead of being nearly uniform ; the belly is very little streaked, instead of strongly so. The size is much larger ; the bill larger, and straighter. Note.—A series of Oarpodacus frontalis recently collected at Fort Tejon, by Mr. Vesey, strengthens the impression that there is really but one species from the Kocky Mountains to the Pacific, and that this varies greatly in the tint and extent of the .red with age and season. Thus, in the most highly colored specimen, 10219, the back is so much tinged with red as to connect that on the head and rump, the centre of the crown being scarcely less intense than the sides and front. Beneath, the bright red extends to the middle of the belly, and farther back on the sides. In 10220 the back has only the faintest possible gloss of red ; the middle of the crown less deeply colored. No. 10221 has the red of the under parts restricted rather abruptly to the fore part of the breast. In 10222, a young male, the red extends further behind, but there is none on the rump. All these are summer skins. No. 10223, an autumnal skin, has the same distribution of red as in 10219, but it is as uniform and continuous to the middle of the belly as in the purple finch. The colors are duller, however, and the whole plumage has a softened character ; 10224 has the red on the belly more restricted, and almost none on the rump. 1 Oarpodacus haemorrhous, Sclater. Fringilla haemorrhoa, “Licht.” Wagler, Isis, 1831, 525. Licht. Preis-Verzeich. 1831, sp. 57. Pyrrhulinota haemorrhoa, Bp. Comptes Rendus, 1856. Oarpodacus haemorrhous, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1856, 304. Several specimens of Oarpodacus in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, probably from Mexico or Lower California, although labelled North America, agree with numbers 2706 and 4568 in the very precise and sharp definition of the red colors. The forehead for less than the length of the bill, a broad superciliary stripe extending as far behind the eye as the tip of the bill is in front of it, the base of the lower jaw, and the chin and throat, but not the breast, with the rump but not the upper tail coverts, are crimson. And no where else (in five specimens) is there any indication of a reddish gloss, not even in the middle of the crown, on the neck, or back. The width of the red on the throat is scarcely one-fourth the circumference of the neck. Upon a re-examination of the subject, I am by no means sure that the bird just referred to is the true Fringilla haemorrhous of Wagler, which seems nearer to the true frontalis. It may possibly not yet have received a name.418 U. S. P. R. K. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 5038 Doila Ana, N. M... Nov. 20, 1855 Capt. J. Pope 163 6.25 9.50 3.00 Bill light br’n; eyes dark br’n ; feet brown 6430 Fort Thorn, N. M Dr. T. C. Henry 64*26 —Colors, in full plumage, entirely black and white. Middle of back between scapulars, terminal half of primaries and tertiaries, and two innermost tail feathers, black ; elsewhere pure white. Legs black at all seasons. In winter dress white beneath ; the head and rump yellowish brown, as also some blotches on the side of the breast; middle of back brown, streaked with black ; white on wings and tail much more restricted. Length, about 6.75 ; wing, 4.35 ; tail, 3.05 ; first quill longest. Hah —Northern America from Atlantic to Pacific; south into the United States in winter. This species varies much in color, and the male in full plumage is seldom if ever seen within the limits of the United States. 1 It is my impression that Bonaparte has proposed a name for this section in removing it to another family, but I am unable to find it.BIBBS—FEIN6ILLIDAE—PLECTBOPHANBS LAPPONICUS. 483 List of specimens* Catal. No. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— 1889 7107 7425 9530 ITnlm AWh S. F. Baird - J. J. Audubon^ T-^h ii o d nl i o "Po Dr. Kirtland Simiahmoo bay, W. T November 9, 1857 A. Campbell - Dr. Kennerly 'PLECTROPHANES LAPPONICUS, Selby. Lapland Longspun «« Fringilla lapponica, LiNn. Fauna Suecica, 1761, sp. 235 55—Ib«, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 317.—Forster, Phib Trahs. LXII, 1772, 404. Emberiza (Plectrophanes) lapponica, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 248 •, pi. xlviii. Emberiza lapponica, Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 473 ; pi. 365. Plectrophanes lapponicus, “ Selby.55 Bon. List, 1838.—Aud. Syn. 1839, 98.—Ib. Birds Atner. Ill, 1841, 50 ; pi 152^ “Centrophanes lapponicus, Kaup, F.ntw. Gesch. Europe Xhierw. 1829.55—Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 127. ii Fringilla calcarata, Pall. Itin. 710, Sp. 20.55—French ed. Ill, 1793, 464 ; pi. i. Centrophanes calcaratus, Gray, List, Gen. 1841, app. 1842, 11. Sp. Ch.—First quill longest. Legs black. Head all round black, this extending as a semicircular patch to the upper part of breast; sides of lower neck and under parts white, with black streaks on .the sides, and spots on the side of the breast. A short brownish white streak back of the eye. A broad chestnut collar on the back of the neck. Rest of upper parts brownish yellow streaked with dark brown. Outer tail feathers white, except on the basal portion of the inner web. Length, about 6.25 inches ; wing, 3.30 ; tail, 2-8 . Hab*—Eastern Northern America into the United States in winter. Not found much west of the Missouri. This species is very seldom seen in full spring plumage in the United States. In perfect dress, the black of the throat probably extends further down over the breast. In winter the black is more or less concealed by whitish tips to the feathers beneath, and by yellowish brown on the crown. Some fall specimens, apparently females, show no black whatever on the throat, which, with the under parts generally are dull white, with a short black streak on each side of the throat. List of specimens. Cd-tSll • Sex. Locality. When col- Whence obtained. Orig. Collected by— Length. Stretch Wing. Remarks. No. lected. No. ofwings. 4345 6701 2714 536 Ranine, Wis Spring A. C. Barry A Dane county, Wis Th. Kttmlien O R os ton S. F. Baird S. Cabot. N ft w V ork do G. N, Lawrence , r? Pembina, Minn Sept. 26, 1857 Nov. 5,1857 N. W. University.. R. Kennicott 8245 o 50 miles west of Leav- Dr. J. G. Cooper... 227 6.12 10.75 3.75 Iris brown, bill pale brown, feet black. enworth, K. 8246 6.12 10.75 3.75 434 U. S. P. E. R. EXP. AND SDEYEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPOET, PLECTROPHANES PICTUS, Swain son. Smith’s Bunting* Eniberiza (Plectrophanes) picta, Sw« F. EL Am. II, 1831, 250 ; pi. , (spring.)—Nutt. Man. II, 589. Plectrophanespictus, Aud. Syn. 1839, 99.—Is. Birds Araer. Ill, 1841, 52 ; pi. 153, (Richardson's specimen*) Emberizapicta, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 91 ; pi. 400. Centrophanespictus, Cab. Mus. Hein, 1851, 12?. Plectrophanes smithii, Aud. Birds Amer. VII, 1844, 337 ; pi. 487, (winter.) gP> Ch4—Hood black ; a line passing over the eye, a small spot on the nape, another on the ears, and a large patch on the wings, white; nuchal collar and the whole under plumage brownish buff yellow. Legs flesh color. Length, 5.50 inches; wing, 3.50 ; tail, 2.?5 ; bill, 45. Uab.—Prairies of U’inois in winter ; in summer north to the Saskatchewan. In the absence of fully plumaged specimens of this bird, I have borrowed the above diagnosis from the Fauna boreali-americana, based on Saskatchewan specimens. As far as I know, none in this plumage have ever been taken in the United States, although immaturely marked ones are not unfreauent in early spring throughout Illinois. The specimen before me has the bill of the size and shape of that of P. lapponica ; the hind claw is, however, considerably smaller. The upper parts are yellowish brown, broadly streaked with dark brown ; there is a trace of a light line on the middle crown, and another on each side of it, as of a light spot on the nape ; the light spot on the ear covers is also obscurely indicated. There is also a trace of a light line along the scapular region. There is a maxillary row of spots ; the under parts generally are pale brownish yellow, streaked on the breast and sides with brown. The lesser wing coverts have the feathers partially tipped with white. The tail feathers are brown, except the outer, the exposed portion of which is white, with a brown streak on the outer web towards the end, and a narrow edging on the inner web at the base ; the second has a long narrow stripe of white along the inner border of the shaft. This character will distinguish the species from P. ornatus and maccozvnii, although something similar is seen in P. lapponicus. Its relationships generally are much closest to the latter species. The hind claw, however, is scarcely more than half as long ; the others also shorter. The bill is smaller. The covered portions of the jugular feathers show no black whatever ; the sides of the throat and the breast show short streaks of brown ; the under parts are more fulvous. The outer tail feathers show more white, there being as much on the second of pictus as on the first of lapponicus, the second of lapponicus having almost none at all, instead of most of the feathers being white. The light brownish flesh color of the legs instead of nearly black, is an important feature. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— 1941 1862 10254 10255 Edwardsville, Illinois do 1843 .. S. F. Baird . ,T. .L Audubon 1843. Ed. Harris. Salem, Illinois Pembina, Minn April 7,1857 Sept. —, 185? Northwestern University.. ..do R. Kennicott BIRDS—FRINGILLIDAE—PLECTROPHANES ORNATUS* 435 PLECTROPHANES ORNATUS, Towns. Chestnut-collared Bunting. Plectrophanes ornalus, Townsend, J. Ac. Nat. Sc. VII, 1837, 189.—Ib. Narrative, 1839, 344.—Aud. Syn. 1839, 99.—1b. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 53 ; pi. 154.—Nutt. Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 537. Emberiza ornata, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 44 ; pi. 394, f. 1. Centrophanes ornatus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 127.® Sp. Ch.—Bill dark plumbeous. Crown, a narrow crescent on the side of the head, with a line running into it from behind the eye, entire breast and upper part of belly all round, black ; throat and sides of the head, lower part of belly and under tail coverts, with bases of the tail feathers, white. The white on the tail feathers runs forward as an acute point. A chestnut band on the back of the neck extending round on the sides. Rest of upper parts grayish brown, streaked with darker. Lesser wing coverts like the back. Length about 5.25 inches ; wing, 3.20 ; tail, 2.30 ; tarsus, .75. Hab.—Plains of the Upper Missouri. In this species the line of demarcation between the white of the throat and the black of the breast is very strongly marked. The black of the crown is margined on the sides by the white of the head, and in some specimens there is an indication as if a narrow white line were continued round on the occiput so as to margin the black ; the black crescent may possibly be continued forward to near the base of the lower jaw, making the markings of the head very similar to those of P.pictus. There is a very faint indication of a white band along the edges of the lesser coverts, which, towards the elbow joint, increases considerably, but by its position is more or less concealed. There is, however, no tendency to black. The first and second tail feathers are entirely white, the latter with a faint trace only of brownish near the end externally; the third, fourth, and fifth have the tips and sides near the end brown; the innermost feather is white only near the basal portion of the inner edge. The white runs out to an elongated acute point in the feather. The wing feathers are edged with paler, but there is no white. Specimens not in full breeding plumage have the black feathers margined more or less with brownish white. A young bird probably of this species has the top of the head streaked like the back, and concealed traces only of the black of the breast. The female shows no black ; this is replaced below by brown streaks on brownish yellow ; there is a row of streaks on each side the throat. The top of the head is streaked like the back. The black breast, white throat, and chestnut collar sufficiently distinguish this species from its congeners, except P melanomus. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 1907 8 Fort Union, Neb June 21,1843 S. F. Baird J. J. Audubon 4827 8 Bijou Hills, Neb May 14, 1856 Lt. Warren Hr. Hayden 5917 o Fort Pierre June 26,1856 -..--.do do 5. 50 10. 12 5. 00 5378 8 Medicine Hill June 23,1856 5. 75 9. 87 q 9^ 5377 o 8 Medicine Butte _do do do 5. 37 10. 00 O. ZtO 3. 12 5379 U 3 Medicine creek,Neb-- June 12,1856 6. 25 10. 50 3. 25436 TJ. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. PLECTROPHANES MELANOMUS, Baird. Sp. Ch.—Bill yellowish, dark brown along the culmen. Crown, a short stripe behind the eye, and a short crescent behind the ear coverts, entire breast as far back as the thighs, and the lesser wing coverts, black. The black on the breast margined with dark cinnamon. Sides of head, chin, throat, and region behind the black of the belly, white. A broad half collar of dark cinnamon brown on the back of the neck. Tail feathers mostly white; the innermost tipped with dark brown ; the white ending in an acute angle. Length, 5.30 ; wing, 3.40 ; tail, 2.60. (No. 6290.) Hah.—Eastern slope of the Rocky mountains, Mexico, on the table lands. This species is exceedingly similar in size and color to the Plectrojphanes ornatus, although readily distinguished by certain characteristics. The bill, though slender, is rather short; the culmen and gonys gently curved. The tarsi are considerably longer than the middle toe ; the hind claw is gently curved, and rather longer than its toe ; the two about equal to or even a little longer than the middle toe. The wings are long and pointed, and reach about to the middle of the exposed portion of the tail; the second quill is longest; the first about equal to the fourth. The tail is considerably shorter than the wings and very nearly even; the feathers rather acute towards the ends, but rounded off at the tips. In addition to the colors already mentioned, there is a square white spot on the back of the head in the middle of the posterior edge of the black of the crown, as in most Plecirophanes. The white on the sides of the head is interrupted by the dark line behind the eye and the short crescent behind or a little below the ear coverts. There is a tinge of dirty brownish yellow on the white of the chin and upper part of the throat; on the lower part, however, the color is more pure, and occupies the inferior half of the neck, the chestnut half collar completing the zone. The black feathers on the middle region of the under surface of the body are all much margined and tipped with dark cinnamon brown, darker than that on the back of the neck ; the external black feathers all round are more or less margined with whitish, though this may be indicative of immaturity. There is a whitish patph on the side of the breast, covered by the bend of the wing. The lesser and middle wing coverts are black, although the posterior row of the former is white internally, or towards the back ; some of the innermost of the middle coverts, too, are edged with white. The general color of the upper parts is dirty brownish yellow, streaked centrally with dark brown. A considerable portion of the inner webs of the tertiaries and inner secondaries, with their tips, is white ; the outer edges of the primaries, with nearly the whole outer web of the first quill, are sharply white; the tertials just beyond the greater wing coverts are pale rufous. The outer two tail feathers on each side are entirely white, with a faint trace of dusky along the midrib near the end, most distinct on the upper surface. The rest are margined terminally and tipped with brown, the amount of this increasing towards the innermost feathers. As already stated, this species is very similar ot P. ornatus. It is, however, a very little larger, or, at any rate, with considerably longer wings. The bill, however, is shorter and stouter ; the hind claw decidedly longer. The chestnut of the back of the neck is darker. The white on the outer web of the tertiaries and secondaries is much purer and wider. The rufous margins of the pectoral feathers I have never seen in ornatus. The most striking peculiarity, however, is in having the shoulders black, instead of brown like the rest of the wingBIRDS—FRINGILLID AE—PLECTROPHANES MACCOWNII. 437 feathers, edged with paler. Both have the white posterior row of lesser wing coverts. The color of hill differs in each. An immature male (6291) has the black of the head mixed with brown, and a maxillary series of spots on each side the throat. A female has a similar series of spots ; the under parts generally being brownish white, the shafts across the breast and along sides streaked with brown, the concealed portions of the feathers light brown, fading out to the whitish exterior. There is no black on the shoulder, nor chestnut on the nape. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. I When col- J lected. ! Whence obtained. Orig. No; Collected by— , Length. Stretch of wings. Win . Remarks. 9115 Mexico M. Verreaux....... 29951 9218 6290 "Port Thorn ! Dr. Henry 6292 $ New Mexico 1854 Lieut. Parke. Dr. Heermann 6293 Q ... 1854 5717 Hr A Pole creek ,,.J Aug. 1,1856 Lieut. Brvan....... 187 W. S. Wood 8924 o Black Hills Sept. 20,1857 Lieut- Warren..... Dr. Hayden 6.00 10.75 3.50 Iris dark brown •«• • 8926 do 6.50 10.50 3.50 r m T,, t do. f, t . t • • 8925 o ‘Running’ water An?. 14.1857 6.00 10.50 3.25 Tris gray ,., PLECTROPHANE8 MACCOWNII, Lawrence. Plectrophanes maccownii, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. V, Sept. 1851, 122. Western Texas.—Cassin, Illust. I, yiii, 1855, 228; pi. xxxix. Sp. Ch.—Bill very stout and large. Head above, a sharply defined semi-lunar crescent on the upper part of the breast, and probably a short maxillary line on each side of the chin and throat, black ; rest of under parts, with a superciliary stripe, white; shoulders chestnut. Rest of upper parts yellowish brown, streaked with darker. External tail feather white ; the rest white, tipped and margined externally with brown, the white line of separation going almost transversely across the whole of the inner web, instead of running forward in an acute point. The innermost feather like the back. Length, about 5.50 ; wing 3.60 ; tail, 2.50 ; bill above .46. Hab.—Eastern slopes of Rocky Mountains ; from Fort Thorn, N. M., as far east as the Black Hills north of Platte. In this species the bill is considerably larger and stouter than in any other I have seen. It measures .46 of an inch above, and the distance between the basal portions of the upper and under outlines amounts to .31 of an inch. The tail is quite deeply forked. The claws appear to be straighter than in the other species ; the hinder one unusually short, measuring only .36 of an inch. The most perfect specimen before me does not appear to be quite mature, although the markings are pretty well indicated. There is only a faint trace of a black maxillary line. There is no trace of the chestnut or rufous collar seen in all the other North American species, excepting P. nivalis. The loral region and line over the eye are brownish white, purer behind. The upper rows of lesser coverts immediately along the edge of the wing are like the back, not chestnut, like the rest of these coverts. The peculiarity of the transverse termination of the white in the exterior tail feathers, I have seen in no other species. The innermost feather has438 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. no white at its base ; the next has the outer web and tip brown ; in all the rest the whole feather is white, the terminal half, or three quarters of an inch, alone being brown, this color extending furthest back on the outer web. A female specimen agrees in the characters of bill and tail. The black crown and pectoral crescent, with the chestnut shoulders, are wanting. The whole upper parts are brownish yellow, streaked with darker. There is a short maxillary stripe of brown dots. The chin, throat* and upper part of the breast are tinged in places with brownish. There are no brown streaks on the breast. The combination of the black pectoral crescent and crown, with the absence of a chestnut collar, and the chestnut shoulders will readily distinguish this species from any other. The female will be best known by the stout bill and transverse outline of the white on the tail feathers. The Plectrophanes maccownii is quite different from the other species of the genus in the enormously large bill and much shorter hind claw, so much so, in fact, that Bonaparte places it in an entirely different family. As, however, many of the characteristics are those of Plectro- phanes, and the general coloration especially so, I see no objection to keeping it in this genus for the present. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 5039 Ttl Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. ' Tarsus. Middle toe. ! Its claw alone. Hind toe and claw. Hind toe alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 6339 Passerenlus mstratns San Diego 3 5.30 2.62 2.27 0.85 0.79 0.20 0.60 0.29 0.50 0.54 Skin 6340 do do 3 5.30 2.82 2.36 0.89 0.84 0.20 0.61 0.28 0.52 0.56 Skin 10145 l • * t ■ t ...... do. savanna.... Washington,D. C...« 3 5.40 2.77 2.29 0.84 0.80 0.19 0.64 0.30 0.40 0.48 Skin _ _. _ T . 10260 do South Illinois........ O 5.40 2.65 2.13 0.78 0.76 0.21 0.61 0.30 0.41 0.46 Skin 780 do ....... do........ Carlisle, Pa Hr 2 4.84 2.53 2.14 0.76 0.73 0.17 0.60 0.30 0 39 0.44 Skin 780 do 5.25 8.57 2.64 Fresh ..,.. 781 s 5.06 2.65 2.12 0.78 0.78 0.18 0.62 0.28 0.40 0.56 Skin 10263 do, ,.. .sandwichensis Russian America 5.30 2.89 2.37 0.83 0.78 0.18 0.66 0.29 0.39 0.52 Skin 6343 do Shoalwater bay...... 3 5.60 2.80 2.33 0.86 0.86 0.24 0.50 0.52 Skin 6343 do ...... .do 6.12 9.25 Fresh 6345 do do Fort Steilacoom...... 5.64 2.95 2.57 0.85 0.82 0.22 0.66 0.34 0.43 0.48 Skin - -, f r 6345 do 6.12 9.37 Fresh .,.. 4341 do. ...alaudinus .... Tamaulipas, Mex.... 3 5.00 2.76 2.30 0.81 0.78 0.22 0,62 0.31 0.42 0.44 Skin 4341 do 3 5.25 9.00 2.25? Fresh 5554 do do Petaluma, Cal 3 5.14 2.90 2.37 0.84 0.77 0.18 0.63 0.30 0.40 0.45 Skin 4342 do do Tamaulipas, Mex .... 5.00 2.50 2.03 0.77 0.72 0.19 0.59 0.28 0.40 0.44 Skin 4342 do do.. 5.00 8.50 2.50 Fresh 5555 do. .. .anthinus ..... Petaluma, Cal $ 5.00 2.66 2.24 0.79 0.76 0.20 0.62 0.30 0.42 0.45 Skin ...... 6330 do. do? Benicia, Cal. s 4.90 2.56 2.110 0.80 0.78 0.20 0.62 0.27 0.42 0.50 Skin PASSERCULUS SAVANNA, Bonap. Savannah Sparrow. Fringilla savanna, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 55 ; pi. 22, f. 2.—Ib. IV, 1811, 72 ; pi. 34, f. 4.—A itd. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 63 : V, 1839, 516 ; pi. 109. Passer cuius savanna. Bon. List, 1838.—1b. Conspectus, 1850, 480.—Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 131. Emberiza savanna, Aud. Syn. 1839, 103.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 68 ; pi. 160. ? Fringilla hyemalis, Gm. I, 1788, 922.—Licht. Verzeichniss, 1823, No. 250. Gmelin’s description, based on Pennant Arctic Zool. II, 376, (winter finch,) applies equally well to a large number of species. Linaria savanna, Richardson, List, 1837.BIRDS—FRXNGILLIDAE—PASSERCULUS SAVANNA. 443 Sp. Ch.—Feathers of the upper parts generally with a central streak of blackish brown; the streaks of the back with a slight rufous suffusion laterally ; the feathers edged with gray, which is lightest on the scapulars. Crown with a broad median stripe of yellowish gray. A superciliary streak from the bill to the back of the head, eyelids, and edge of the elbow, yellow. A yellowish white maxillary stripe curving behind the ear coverts, and margined above and below by brown. The lower margin is a series of thickly crowded spots on the sides of the throat, which are also found on the sides of the neck, across the upper part of the breast, and on the sides of body. A few spots on the throat and chin. Rest of under parts white. Outer tail feather and primary edged with white. Length, 5.50 ; wing, 2.70 ; tail, 2.10. Hab.—Eastern North America to the Missouri plains. In this species the hill is rather short; the tarsus and middle toe with its claw about equal. The wing is acute ; the first quill longest; the tertiaries as long as the primaries. The tail is short and somewhat forked ; the feathers narrow and rather acute, hut rounded at the tips. The spots on the under parts of the body have a rufous suffusion externally, scarcely appre- ciable on the breast in spring specimens. The outside edges of all the wing feathers, excepting the primary quills have a yellowish rufous tinge more conspicuous than elsewhere on the body. There is sometimes a tinge of greenish on the smaller wing coverts. With a considerable number of specimens from the western coast at hand I have been much puzzled to decide how many species there are, and upon their relationship to P. savanna. One series from Oregon and Washington Territory is much the largest, considerably exceeding the P. savanna of the east. These agree exactly with a specimen from Sitka, collected by Wosnessjensky, the taxidermist of the St. Petersburg Academy, and labelled Zonotrichia chrysops, Pallas, probably by Brandt. Another series is composed of specimens that are smaller, though varying considerably in size, and the bill is generally slenderer. In one (5554) the superciliary stripe has only a faint tinge of yellow, and the colors are rather paler than common. The spots on the breast are rather sparser than usual. The bill is rather slenderer than in eastern specimens, but instead of being shorter is actually longer. This agrees with specimens from Northeastern Mexico in Lieutenant Couch’s collection. Other specimens have the yellow as bright, that on the axillaries even brighter, than in any eastern ones ; the spots blacker and more numerous, extending over the whole breast. In another, otherwise similar, the bill is unusually long, and the spots on the middle of the breast are aggregated into a larger one. Without feeling assured of an actual specific difference I shall follow Bonaparte in referring the large billed series to P. chrysops of Pallas, (sandwichensis;) that with the gray colors, few pectoral spots, whitish superciliary stripe, and attenuated bill to P. alaudinus ; and that with dark colors, yellow superciliary stripe, and numerous pectoral spots to P. anthinus.444 U. S. P. B, B. EXP. AND SUBYEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEBAL BEPOET. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 10241 10145 948 780 781 449 448 7108 4323 10260 10261 10262 6556 4807 4808? *8956? 8957? 8968? 8786? Liberty county Gu ,,,,,,,. Prof. Jos. Leconte 3 3 2 3 Washington, D. f!.......... .T. C. McGuire Carlisle, Pa. TtTTT, .... May 6,1843 Oct. 6, 1842 Oct. 7, 1842 Sept. 18, 1841 do S. F. Baird 5.50 5 25 9.17 8,58 2.83“ 2.67 do - T T ^ T. do., . f .... .....do. do. do 5.25 8.75 Philadelphia............... Calcasieu, La ... ...... South Illinois T. 1854 G. Wfirdemann.. 2 May 13, 1857 April 22, 1855 Sept. 10,1857 1857 N.W. University R.. Kennieott. North Illinois do do Red River settlement....... do Fort Riley, IC. T Dr. W. A. Hammond. Lieut. G. K. Warren . 3 Vermilion river, Neh May 8,1856 May 3, 1856 Sept. 20,1857 Sept. 11,1857 Sept. 10,1857 Aug. 19, 1857 Dr. Havden Mouth of Big Sioux, Neb... Black Hills, Neb 5.50 5.25 5.50 5.00 5.25 2.50 2.50 3.00 2.50 2.75 8.50 9.00 8.50 9.00 Iris brown......... do do do North fork of Platte W. M. Magraw Dr. J. G. Cooper. * These specimens, in autumnal plumage, scarcely admit of an accurate determination. PASSERCULUS SANDWICHENSIS, Baird. Emberiza sandwichensis, Gm. I, 1788, 875. x Emberiza arctica, Latham, Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 414. Fringilla arctica, Vigors, Zool. of Blossom, 1839, 20, (perhaps one of the smaller species.)—“ Brandt, Icon. Ross. 2, 6.” Euspiza arctica, Bp. Conspectus, 1850, 469. Emberiza chmjsops, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-As. II, 1811, 45 ; tab. xlviii; fig. 1, (Unalaschka ) Sandwich Bunting, Lath. Syn. II, 1783, 202. Unalascha Bunting, Pennant, Arctic Zool. II, 363, 320, No. 229. (Not of p, 364, No. 233.) Sp. CH.—Almost exactly like P. savanna, but half an inch larger, with much larger bill. Length, 6.12 inches : wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2 55. Hab.—Northwestern coast from the Columbia river to Russian America. This species is extremely similar to the P. savanna, and is only distinguishable by its greater size, and more western locality. The tail feathers also are rather more acutely pointed. There is also a greenish yellow shade on the top and sides of the head, brighter than that seen in P. savanna. The bill is considerably larger and longer, measuring .51 of an inch above instead of .44. The Sandwich Bunting .of Latham (Synopsis of birds) and the Unalascha Bunting of Pennant (page 363, No. 229) seem to belong unquestionably to this species, and as Gmelin bases his sandwichensis upon these descriptions, it must be retained. The name has no refer- ence to the Sandwich Islands but to Sandwich Sound, on the northwest coast. The Unalascha Bunting of Pennant, page 364, No. 233, is a different species. The “ temporibus atris” is not a very accurate expression in the species, but sufficiently near not to be inconsistent with it. At any rate, as the descriptions of sandwichensis, arctica, and chrysops, all seem to apply equally well, it will be best to take the oldest name as a provisional one at least.BIKDS—FRINGILL1DAE—PASSERCULUS ANTHINUS. 445 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Where obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Remarks. 10263 s Russian America Mar. 12, 1842 S. F. Baird ..... Wosnessjensky 6345 Fort Steilacoom, W. T.. April —, 1856 Dr. 0. Suckley... 308 6.12 9.37 6342 Q? Shoal water bay, W. T.. May 15,1854 Dr. J. G. Cooper. 73 6.12 9.25 Iris brown; feet brownish white. 6343 Feb. —, 1853 4.75 7.75 2.50 Eyes dark brown; bill and legs light brown.. s Mar. —, 1853 do 80 5.25 9.00 2.25 Eyes dark brown; bill slate; feet whitish ... Eyes dark brown 5.00 8.50 2.50 PASSEEOULUS EOSTEATUS, Baird. Emberiza rostrata, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. VI, 1852, 348. Jltmnodramus rostratus, Cassin, 111. I, 1855, 226 ; pi xxxviu, Sp. Ch.—Bill very long, (.55 of an inch above). Whole upper parts and sides of ead and neck pale grayish brown, nearly everv*feather with a darker central blotch, darkest along the shaft. A scarcely appreciable central stripe in the crown, and an obscure yellowish white superciliary, and a whitish maxillary one. Under parts pure white ; streaked on the breast and the sides of throat and body with dark brown, (the streak paler externally). Under tail coverts unspotted white. Tail and wing feathers and wings margined with the color of the back ; the edges of tertiaries rather paler. Length, 5.30 ; wing, 2.90 ; tail, 2.30. Hab.—Coast of California, near San Diego. The hill of this species.is very long and conical, the cutting edge nearly straight. The wings are rather long, the tertiaries nearly as long in the closed wing as the primaries ; the second, third, and fourth quills longest, the first rather longer than the fifth. The tail is short and emarginate, the feathers narrow, acute, and moderately stiff. The tarsi are long ; the claws little curved. This species resembles the Passerculus savanna rather more than any of the other sparrows with spotted breasts ; the bill is, however, very much longer and larger, exceeding any of ouv American species of its size. Its colors are much paler, and it lacks the yellow on the head and wing. The much shorter tail and entire absence of rufous distinguish it from the spotted Melospkas. The shape of the bill is like that of Ammodramus caudacutus, but larger; the head lacks the yellow, &c.BIRDS---FRINGILLIDAE—-P00C2ETES GRAMINEUS. 447 List of specimens. Oatal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Collected by— 6339 S San Diego, do .. Cal Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann „ 6340 A do _ „ „ do Vj POOC.ZETES, Baird. Ch.—Bill rather large; tipper outline slightly decurved towards the end, lower straight; commissure slightly concave. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe ; outer toe a little longer than the inner, its claw reaching to the concealed base of the middle claw ; hind toe reaching to the middle of the middle claw. Wings unusually long, reaching to the middle of the tail, as far as the coverts, and pointed ; the primaries considerably longer than the secondaries, which are not much surpassed by the tertiaries; second and third quills longest; first little shorter, about equal to the fourth, shorter than the tail; the outer feathers scarcely shorter ; the feathers rathers stiff ; each one acuminate and sharply pointed ; the feathers broad nearly to the end when they are obliquely truncate. Streaked with brown above everywhere ; beneath, on the breast and sides. The lateral tail feather is white. The essential character of the genus consists in the long and pointed wings, longer than the tail and without long tertials ; and the rather stiff, forked tail, with its acute feathers. In the long wings and short forked tail this form differs from our other plainly colored and streaked sparrows. It comes nearest to Pctsserculus, hut the tail is stiffer and more forked ; the feathers more acute. The tertiaries are hut little longer than the secondaries, instead of nearly or quite equal to the primaries. The middle toe is considerably shorter. Comparative measurements. Locality. Species. Washington, D. C 10347 10146 8945 8945 Poocretes grainineus ....... .do.......... Skin . Skin . Skin . Fresh. Loup Fork 10.75 POOCiETES GRAMINEUS, Baird. Grass Finch; Bay-winged Banting. Fringilla graminea, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 922.—A d. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 47.3 : V. 502 ; pi. 90. • Emberiza graminea, Wilson, Am. Orn. IV, 1811, 51; pi. xxxi, f. 5.—Aud. Syn. 1839, 102.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 65 ; pi. 159. Fringilla {Zonotrichia) graminea, Swainson, F. B. Am. II, 1831, 254. Zonotrichia graminea, Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 478. Sp. Ch.—Tail feathers rather acute. Above light yellowish brown; the feathers everywhere streaked abruptly with dark brown, even*on the sides of the neck, which are paler. Beneath yellowish white ; on the breast and sides of neck and body streaked with brown. A faint light superciliary and maxillary stripe ; the latter margined above and below with dark brown ; the upper stripe continued around the ear coverts, which are darker than the brown color elsewhere. Wings with the shoulder light chestnut brown, and with two dull whitish bands along the ends of the coverts ; the outer edge of the secondaries also is white. Outer tail feather, and edge and tip of the second white. Length, about 6.25 ; wing, 3.10. Hab.—United States from Atlantic to the Pacific ; or else one species to the high central plains, and another from this to the Pacific448 U. S- P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. In autumn the dark streaks are less sharply defined, and there is a tinge of very pale cinna- mon on the breast. The form of this species differs considerably from that of Melospiza melodia. The bill is less sinuated along the edge of the mandible. The wing is much longer, and more pointed ; the first quill nearly as long as the fourth; the second and third equal, and longest. The tail feathers are acuminate, pointed, and quite stiff; the toes are shorter; the claws rather straighter. I find a good deal of difference in specimens before me, but I am unable to say how important these are for want of a sufficient number of eastern skins to determine the limits of variation in the species. Western specimens, however, appear larger, grayer, and with fewer and narrower streaks on the breast; the legs in some appear longer ; the bill more slender. The colors generally are more gray. Young birds of the western variety are marked almost exactly like the adults, except that they are paler above ; the feathers edged broadly with light grayish. Without being assured that there is a difference of species, it may be as well to recognize a western variety confinis, characterised as grayer than the eastern species, legs and wings longer, bill more slender and straighter, streaks on the breast narrower. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. Red river, Min N. W. Universit}^.. R. Kennicott 10264 Union county, Illinois.. April 20,1857 do 713 Q Carlisle, Pa Sept. 8,1842 S. F. Baird 1047 ¥ oo Q June 3,1843 do 19 o Washington April 15,1842 Wm. M. Baird J. C. McGuire ... 10147 ¥ A do 10146 VJ o do 5408 V Yellowstone, Neb...... July 19,1854 Lt. G. K. Warien Dr. Harden 5407 53-4 Dr. Wilson ........ Dr. Gambel 4234 V San Francisco Jan., 1853 R,. D. Cutts 6206 May, 1853,... Lt. Trowbridge 6207 do May, 1855 5551 s Petaluma, California E. Samuels 293 5552 Q do April 27, 1855 608 7.17 10 3.25 4387 ¥ Fort Halles, O. T Dr. Suckley........ 158 6.75 9.50 3 6208 3 Fort Steilacoom, W. T, .. March, 1856.. do 87 6209 278 6211 April 19, 1856 do 313 6.50 10.75 6210 do March, 1856.. 284 6212 Shoalwater Bay, W. T. .. June 16,1854 Dr. Cooper 76 6.62 9.37 Bill yellow, tipped with brown; iris brown: legs yel- low. 6213 do 6.25 9 Thp «nmp 5978 Straits of Fuca, W. T April, 1855... 5979 do ZONOTRICHIA CORONATA, Baird. Golden-crowned Sparrow. Emberiza coronata, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. II, 1811, 44 ; plate. Emberiza atricapilla, A.ud. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 47 ; pi. 394 ; (not of Gmelin.) Fringilla atricapilla, Aud. Synopsis, 1839, 122.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 162; pi. 193. Fringilla aurocapilla, Nuttall, Man. I, (2d ed.) 1840, 555. Zonotrichia aurocapilla, Bon. Consp. 1850,478.—Newberry, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route, Rep. P.R.R.VI, iv, 1857, 88. • Emberiza atricapilla, Gm. I, 1788, 875, in part only.—Lath. Ind. 415. Black-crowned Bunting, Pennant, Arc. Zool. II, 364.—Lath. II, i, 202, 49 ; tab. Iv. Sp. Ch.—Hood, from bill to upper part of nape, pure black, the middle longitudinal third occupied by yellow on the anterior half, and pale ash on the posterior. Sides and under parts of head and neck, with upper part of breast, ash color, passing insensibly into whitish on the middle of the body ; sides and under tail coverts tinged with brownish. A yellowish spot above the eye, bounded anteriorly by a short black line from the eye to the black of the forehead. This yellow spot, however, reduced to a few feathers in spring dress. Interscapular region, with the feathers, streaked with dark brown, suffused with dark rufous externally. Two narrow white bands on the wings. Length, about 7 inches ; wing, 3.30. Hab.—Pacific coast from Russian America to southern California ; Black Hills of Rocky Mountains. ? In the Oregon specimen described above, (2180) and which served as the original of Mr. Audubon’s description and figure, the black stripes on the crown extend down as far as the pos- terior canthus of the eye, obliterating any black line behind it. In 5550, from Petaluma, Cali- fornia, however, there is an ashy streak above the eye bordering the black, similar to the pattern462 U. 8. P. R. R, EXP. ANB SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. in if* leucophrys, which, like the median stripe of the crown, is yellow anteriorly. There is a dusky line back of the eye. The.dark stripes on the crown are more brownish than black, and considerably narrower. An immature specimen (5980) has each feather of the crown streaked with blackish j. the forehead blackish ; the whole anterior portion of the crown yellowish, brightest over the eye. This species is very closely related to the Z. leucophrys, which it slightly exceeds in size. It is a little more rufous on the back, and has less ash on the nape. The patterh of coloration of the Petaluma specimen is precisely the same, the median stripe on the head being yellow anteriorly and grayish posteriorly, instead of pure white; in the one from Columbia river, the black on the sides of the crown passes outward so as to obliterate the light superciliary stripe, except in its anterior yellowish portion, as also the dark line behind the eye. This, however, is, I suspect, rather a question of coloration with season, the black in full spring dress being broader and purer, extending down to the eye, while in other seasons it is narrower, leaving a superciliary ashy streak. This is the case with all the California specimens before me, (amounting to over thirty, all in summer or fall dress,) while all those from Washington Territory have the purer and more extended black. In Lieutenant Bryan's collections are two young sparrows (7032, 7033,) which I am inclined to refer to this species. The back is more broadly streaked with black, the throat, breast, and sides beneath with distinct dusky streaks. The head above shows an obscure median whitish stripe and another superciliary one from above the eye ; the rest of the head above is spotted with blackish and brown. Latham (Synopsis II, 202,) describes a hlach-crowned Bunting from theSandwcih Islands, and incidentally mentions the present species as a variety from Hootka Sound. G-melin bases an Emberiza atricapilla upon that name, and includes both original and variety. If his name can be retained for either one, however, it must be for the Sandwich Island species, which is very different from ours. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 8216 6217 2780 4388 5550 6214 8215 5980 7032? 7033? 3 Fort Steilacoom, W. T Dr. Suckley 90 344 7.00 16.50 3.25 April 26, 1856 April —, 1836 May 11, 1855 3 Q 8 3 8 o o 0 Columbia liver'. S. F. Baird J K. Townsend Fort Dalles, O. T Dr. Suckley...... 174 281 7.00" 9.75 3.25 Iris dark hazel..» Petaluma, Cal F. Samuels Sacramento, Cal Lt. Williamson Dr. Heefmann do...... ..... do t.. f r ^ do* t tli9 Santa Clara, Cal Nov. —5 1855 Dr. J. G-. Cooper . J. X. de Vesey 7.25 9.75 j Bill, brown and ( flesh color. Fort Tejon, Cal W. Fork Med. Bow mount’s. do Aug. 5, 1857 Lt. F. T. Bryan.. 377 378 W. S. Wood. ... ZONOTRICHIA QUERULA, Gambel. Harris’s Finch. Fringilla querula, Nuttall, Man. I, (2d ed.) 1840, 555. (Westport, Mo.) Zonotrichia querula, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Ser. I, 1847, 51.—-Bonap. Consp. 1850, 478. Fringilla harrisiiy Aud. Birds Amer. VII, 1843, 331, pL 484. Fringilla comata, Pr. Max. Reise II, 1841. Zonotrichia comata, Bp. Consp. 1850, 479.BIRDS—FRINGILLIDAE--ZONOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS. 463 Sp. Ch.—Hood and nape, sides of head anterior to and including the eyes, chin, throat, and a few spots in the middle of the upper part of the breast and on its sides, black. Sides of head and neck ash gray, with the trace of a narrow crescent back of the ear coverts. Interscapular region of back, with the feathers reddish brown streaked with dark brown. Breast and belly clear white. Sides of body light brownish, streaked. Two narrow white bands across the greater and middle coverts. Length, about 7 inches ; wing, 3.40 ; tail, 3.65. Hab.■—Missouri river, above Fort Leavenworth. The hiil of this species appears to he yellowish red. More immature specimens vary in having the black of the head above more restricted. The nape and sides of the head to the bill pale reddish brown, lighter on the latter region. Others have the feathers of the anterior portion of the hood edged with whitish. In all there is generally a trace of black anterior to the eye. This species has a considerably larger bill than Z. leucophrys, the mandible especially. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 6218 $ Fort Leavenworth,K.T. Oct. 21,1854 Lt. Couch 2 4797 April 21, 1856 Lt. Warren Dr. Hayden.. 7.50 10.25 3.37 Flyp haypl 4798 Upper Missouri 7.25 10.37 3.12 Tris hrnwn 1940 a Kickapoo Co., Mo. R. May 5, 1843 S. F. Baird J. J. Audubon 4799 Bald Island., April 24, 1856 L . Warren....... Dr. Hayden .. 5400 s Medicine Creek, K.T. Oct. 8 .... .do do 7.50 10.75 3.25 ZONOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS, Bonap. White-throated Sparrow. Fringilla albicollis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 926.—Wilson, Am. Ora. Ill, 1811, 51; pi. xxii, f. 2 —Licht. Verz. Doubl. No. 247, (1823.) Zonotrichia albicollis, Bp. Consp. 1850, 478.—Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 132, Passer pennsylvaniens, Brisson, 1760. Appendix 77. Fringillapennsylvanica, Lath. Index, I, 1790, 445.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 42: V. 497 ; pi. 8.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 121.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 153 ; pi. 191. Fringilla (Zonotrichia) pennsylvanica, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 256. Zonotrichia pennsylvanica, Bon. List, 1838. Sp. Ch.—Two black stripes on the crown separated by a median one of white. A broad superciliary stripe from the base of the mandible to the occiput, yellow as far as the middle of the eye and white behind this. A broad black streak on the side of the head from behind the eye. Chin white, abruptly defined against the dark ash of the sides of the head and upper part of the breast, fading into white on the belly, and margined by a narrow black maxillary line. Edge of wing and axillaries yellow. Back and edges of secondaries rufous brown, the former streaked with dark brown. Two narrow white bands across the wing coverts. Length, 7 inches ; wing, 3.10 ; tail, 3.20. Hab.—Eastern United States to the Missouri. Female smaller, and the colors rather duller. Immature and winter specimens have the white chin patch less abruptly defined; the white markings on the top and sides of the head tinged with brown. Some specimens, apparently mature, show quite distinct streaks on the breasttand sides of throat and body. As Brisson’s nomenclature is not binomial, and his names merely literal translations into Latin from the French vernacular, consisting usually of three or more words, rather than two, I have followed Cabanis, Bonaparte, and most modern authors in rejecting them altogether.464 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT, List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings Wing. Remarks. 1434 S. F. Baird 7.00 9.75 3.08 1388 6 April 24, 1844 6.25 9.42 2.92 ,765 6 ......do Sept. 28, 1842 6.42 9.50 3.00 310 8 do.. April 26, 1841 6.80 9.42 8 859 3 do Nov. 15,1842 do 6.67 9.17 2.67 7544 Washington, T). C..... W. Hutton 5893 Prairie Mer Rouge, La. .T. Fairie 7391 fllpvp.land, Ohio Dr. Kirt.land 4790 * Big Nemaha R., Neb.. April 23, 1856 Lt. Gr. K. Warren.... Dr. Hayden..: 6.75 9.62 2.87 Iris brown 4791 O do .... do 6.75 9.62 2.87 do 4788 o ■ft Wood’s Bluff, Neb.... May 1, 1856 do 6.50 9.50 3.12 4787 o Black Bird Hill, Neb.. May 2, 1856 do do 6.50 9.50 3.25 4785 8 do May 2, 1856 6.00 10.00 3.25 4782 rf bjo o < Specimen measured. 871 Spizella monticola.... Carlisle, Penn A 5.80 3.02 3.04 0.79 0.74 0.20 0.54 0.24 0.35 0.41 Skin do. do O 6.25 9.66 3,08 Fresh... .. 10151 Spizella, pnsilla. Washington, T). C.. $ 5.30 2.61 2.93 0.67 0.66 0.18 0.48 0.21 0.39 0.40 Skin 824 do7 Carlisle, Penn.. 9 5.16 2.43 2.66 0.69 0.67 0.18 0.43 0.20 0.35 0.36 Skin.. do. do 5.25 7.75 2.42 Fresh 10150 Spizella eocialis Washington, D. C.. s 5.14 2.71 ; 2.41 0.65 0.60 0.15 0.46 0 20 0,36 0.40 Skin 5556 Petaluma, Cal A 5.14 2.74 2.60 0.62 0.62 0.17 0.44 0.20 0.48 0.42 Skin 10269 do........ (?)... Red river, Pembina . CJ 5.70 2.90 2.69 0.64 0 65 0.16 0.44 0.21 0.38 0.44 Skin....... 1937 Spizella pallida. Port Union, Neb 4.90 2.46 2.53 0.67 0.67 0.16 0.46 0.20 0.36 0.40 Skin. 2890 Spizella breweri...... Rocky Mountains r? 5.10 2.46 2.64 0.69 0.63 0.16 4.40 0.18 0.32 0.39 Skin 1905 do u O 5.04 2.53 2.62 0.70 0 60 0.14 0.42 0.17 0.35 0.34 Skin T.. 4335 Spizella atrigularis. .. AguaNueva, Coahuila ... V s 5.50 2.51 3.07 0.76 0.72 0.18 0.48 0.22 0.38 0.46 Skin. ... do. do do 5.42 7.75 2.50 Fresh SPIZELLA MONTICOLA, Baird. Tree Sparrow. Fringilla monticola, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 912. Zonotrichia monticola, Gray, Genera. Spinites monticolus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 134. Passer canadensis, Brisson, Orn. Ill, 1760, 102. Fringilla canadensis, Lath. Index, I, 1790, 434.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 511 : V, 504 ; pi. 188. Emberiza canadensis, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 252.—Aud. Syn. 1839.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 83 ; pi. 166. Spizella canadensis, Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 480. Fringilla arborea, Wils. Am. Orn II, 1810, 12 ; pi. xii, f. 3. Moineau du Canada, Buffon, PI. Enl. 223, f. 2. “ Mountain Finch, Lath. Syn. II, i, 265.” Sp. Ch.—Middle of back with the feathers dark brown centrally, then rufous, and edged with pale fulvous, (sometimes with whitish.) Hood and upper part of nape continuous chestnut; a line of the same from behind the eye. Sides of head and neck ashy. A broad light superciliary band. Beneath whitish, with a small circular blotch of brownish in the middle of the upper part of the breast. Edges of tail feathers, primary quills, and two bands across the tips of the secondaries, white. Tertiaries nearly black; edged externally with rufous, turning to white near the tips. Lower jaw yellow; upper black. Length, 6.25 inches ; wing, 3. Hab.—Eastern North America to the Missouri ; also on Pole creek and Little Colorado river, New Mexico. This species varies in the amount of whitish edging to the quills and tail. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1280 S Carlisle, Pa.. -.. f Feb. 28, 1844 S. F. Baird ........ 6.25 9.50 3.00 866 Q do. Nov. 22, 1842 6.00 8.83 2.75 871 ¥ A do do...... 6.25 9.67 3.08 7561 o Washington, T). 0.... Wm. Hutton....... 1591 Rost.on,Mass .... T.M. Brewer 10230 Sherburne, Mass. A. S. Babcock.... 6352 Fort Leavenworth.... Nov. 27, 1854 Lieut. Couch 11 6353 t. t.. do..' Jan. 20,1855 do 22 5409 Cedar Island, Neb.... Oct. 15, 1856 Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden.... 5.87 8.50 3 5410 A Medicine river. Oct. 8, 1856 do 6.12 9.25 3.25 F.yes brown 5710 u A Pole Creek, K. T Aug. 2,1856 Lieut. F. T. Bryan. 192 6. 9. 6354 o Little Col’do river,N.M Dec. 18, 1853 Lieut. Whipple Kennerly and 5.50 8.50 3 Molhausen. 6355 do Dec. 20,1853 39 5.50 8.50 3 BIRDS--FRINGILLIDAE—SPIZELLA SOCIALIS. 473 SPIZELLA PUSILLA, Bonap. Field Sparrow. Fringilla pusilla, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 121 ; pi. xvi, f. 2.—Licht. Verzeichn. Doubl. 1823, No. 252.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 299 ; pi. 139. Spizella pusilla, Bonap. List, 1838.—Is. Conspec. 1850,480. Emberiza pusilla, Aud. Syn. 1839, 104.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 77 ; pi. 164. Spinites pusillus, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 133. Fringilla juncorum, Nutt. Man. I, 1832, 499 ; 2d ed. 1840, 577. (Supposed by him to be Motacilla juncorum, Gmelin, I, 952 ; Sylvia juncorum, Latham, Ind. II, 511; Little Brown Sparrow, Catesby, Car. I, 35.) Sp. Ch.—Bill red. Crown continuous rufous red. Back somewhat similar, streaked with blackish. Sides of head and neck (including a superciliary stripe) ashy. Ear coverts rufous. Beneath white, tinged with yellowish anteriorly. Tail feathers and quills faintly edged with white. Two white bands across the wing coverts. Length, about 5.75 ; wing, 2.34. Hab.—Eastern North America to the Missouri river. This species is about the size of S. socialis, but is more rufous above ; lacks the black forehead and eye stripe ; has chestnut ears instead of ash ; has the bill red instead of black ; lacks the clear ash of the rump ; has a longer tail, &c. It is more like monticola, but is much smaller; lacks the spot on the breast, and the predominance of white on the wings, &c. The young have the breast and sides streaked. Although it is quite possible that the “ little brown sparrow/' of Catesby, refers to the present bird, yet “ small sparrow, entirely brown/' is scarcely a sufficient diagnosis upon which to found a species. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 436 S Carlisle, Pa. May 31,1841 S. F. Baird ...... 5.25 8.00 1378 Q April 22, 1844 5.17 7.75 2,33 824 ¥ O do Oct. 20, 1842 5.25 7.75 2.42 1374 A .Mltdn.,t1l. tTit tf mi April 19,1844 5.75 8.17 2.33 730 (J o do Sept. 20, 1842 ...... do 5.25 7.50 10151 V s W^hinffton.. T t T.... J. C. McGuire ... 1592 Poston, Mass S. F. Baird...... T. M. Brewer.... 8234 A Independence,Mo.. ....... June 6, 1857 W. M. Magraw,.. 57 Dr. Cooper ...... 5.75 8.50 2.75 - 4802 KJ Fort. Leavenworth April 21,1856 Lt. G. K. Warren. Dr. Hayden 4800 Pfg pinuv river, Neh. r . T T T _. May 3, 1856 do._ 5.87 8.25 2.75 F.yes dark . . 4801 ..,.. do May 24, 1856 5.50 8.12 2.50 5413 Q Fort. Lookout., Neb June 21, 1856 5.50 8.00 2.75 F,ye hlaek (?\ . 5412 HF Knife river, Neh Sept. —, 1856 5.25 8.50 2.75 SPIZELLA SOCIALIS, Bonap. Chipping Sparrow. Fringilla socialis, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 127; pi. xvi, f. 5.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 21 : V, 517 ; pi. 104. Spizella socialis, Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 480. Emberiza socialis, Aud. Syn. 1839.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 80 ; pi. 165. Spinites socialis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133. (Type.) Sp. Ch.—Rump, back of neck, and sides of neck and head, ashy. Interscapular region with black streaks, margined with pale rufous. Crown continuous and uniform chestnut. Forehead black, separated in the middle by white. A white streak over the eye, and a black one from the base of the bill through and behind the eye. Under parts unspotted whitish, tinned with ashy, especially across the upper breast. Tail feathers and primaries edged with paler, not white. Two narrow white bands across the wing coverts. Bill black. Length, 5.75 ; wing, nearly 3.00. Hab.—N/brth America, from Atlantic to Pacific. June IT, 1858. ' ’ • 60 b474 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. The young have the chestnut of the crown varied with narrow blackish lines, sometimes the chestnut little appreciable. The upper part of the breast and sides streaked with brown. This species is readily distinguished from #. monticola by its black bill and forehead j black line behind the eye instead of chestnut; absence of black spot on the breast, and of white on the tail, &c., as also by the much smaller size. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 10150 A Washimrfnn^ D. C . .T. C. MeGnire 1424 vJ A Carlisle^ Pa T May 2, 1844 S. F. Baird 5.67 8.75 2.92 721 u A Sept. 16,1842 t11T T f do. ,*•»*#•* *t 5.50 8.50 1106 o o o July 5, 1843 10269 ? Pembina. Sept. 26, 1857 N. W. University R. Kennicott... 4805 Bald TsTanrij Neb. April 25, 1857 Lt. Gr. K. Warren Dr. Hayden..., 5.00 8.00 2.62 Fjyes dark 5411 A Fort Lookout, Neb..... June —, 1856 5.25 8.50 2.75 5715 ? (J Pole oreek . Aug. —, 1856 Tit. Bryan T W. S. Wood. . 6348 s , Fort Steilacoom, W.T 1854 Dr. finekley.. t, T T r 92 6349 O do 1854 93 6350 9 »••• April —, 1856 do 298 5.50 9.00 5981 May —, 1855 Dr. J. G. Cooper 5.50 8.50 4417 o Fort Dalles, O. T. May 5, 1855 Dr. ,8nplrley... T... 165f 4383 V A do ...» May 2, 1855 T T # f 9 r dO. , , t T - r t T . 161 5.87 9.00 2.83 4384 o A May 4, 1855 do 165 5.62 8.75 5556 o 8 Petaluma, Hal May 24, 1855 Fi. Samuels.... 889 6346 Sap.ramfiTit.Oj dal. ... Tit. Williamson Dr. Heermann. 6347 Tejon Pass, Cal do Fort Tejon J. K. de Vesey..... 8054 Mexieo, „.„e J Gould SPIZELLA PALLIDA, Bonap. Clay-colored Bunting. Emberiza pallida, Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 251. (Not of Audubon.) Spizella pallida, Bonap. List, 1838. Spinites pallidus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133. Emberiza shattuckii, Aud. Birds Am. VII, 1843, 347 ; pi. 493. Spizella shattuckii, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 480. Sp. Ch.—Smaller than S. socialis. Back and sides of hind neck ashy. Prevailing color above pale brownish yellow, with a tinge of grayish. The feathers of back and crown streaked conspicuously with blackish. Crown with a median ashy and a lateral or superciliary ashy white stripe. Beneath whitish, tinged with brown on the breast and sides, and an indistinct narrow brown streak on the edge of the chin. Ear coverts brownish yellow, margined above and below by dark brown. Length, 4.75 ; wing, 2.55. Hob.—Upper Missouri river and High Central plains to the Saskatchewan country. The ashy collar is quite conspicuous, and streaked above with brown. The rump is immacu- late. The streaks on the feathers of the crown almost form continuous lines, about six in number. The brown line above the ear coverts is a post ocular one. The brown line on the side of the chin forms the lower border of a white maxillary stripe which widens and curves around behind the ear coverts, fading into the ashy of the neck. The wing feathers are all margined with paler, and there is an indication of two light bands across the ends of the coverts. The young of this species is thickly streaked beneath over the throat, breast, and belly, withBIRDS’—FRINGILLIDAE—SPIZELLA BREWERI. 475 brown, giving to it an entirely different appearance from the adult. The streaks in the upper parts, too, are darker and more conspicuous. The margins of the feathers rather more rusty. This species is readily distinguishable from the other American Spizellas, excepting S. breweri, (which see,) in the dark streaks and median ashy stripe on the crown, the paler tints, the dark line on the side of the chin, &c. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1858 1937 5414 5415 894 4804 4803 571.5 6359 4091 . 1 R43 S. F. Baird.. ...... TT rlo Ed. Harris 1 R43 . J. J. Audubon.. July 18, 1843 Lt. Oc. K. Warren.. Dr. Hayden .... 5.00 7.50 2.50 drt 0 , , (jO- titutrtf t (IhpypTVMP rivpr Sept. 10, 1857 May 14, 1857 do 5.00 7.00 Iris dark brown Rijnn’P Rfillc do.. 5.62 7.75 2.50 Iris hazel s s Nebraska * • •« 5.37 7.50 2.25 Pole Creek, K. T Aug. 1,1856 T.t 17* T Rnrau 184 W S Wenrl.,.. Li. r • a* jjijaiu .*»» Tamaulipas, Mex.... Mar. —, 1855 Tit. Don eh 73 4.75 7.25 2.25 Eyes dark brown; feet light ' j brown; bill slate. SPIZELLA BREWERI, C a s s i n . Brewer’s Sparrow. Emberizapallida, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 66; pi, 398, f. 2.—Ib. Synopsis, 1839.— Is. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 71 ; pi. 161. (Not of Swainson, 1831.) Spizella breweri, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. VIII, Feb. 1856, 40. Sp. Ch.—Similar to S. pallida; the markings more obsolete ; no distinct median and superciliary light stripes. The crown streaked with black. Some of the feathers on the sides with brown shafts. Length, 5 inches ; wing, 2.50. Hab.—Rocky mountains of United States to the Pacific coast. This species, if really distinct, is so very similar to the S. pallida as to require very close and critical comparison to separate it. One feature is the more obsolete character of the markings, which have not the sharpness and definition of pallida. The streaks on the hack are narrower, and the central ashy and lateral whitish stripes of the crown are scarcely, if at all, appreciable. The clear ash of the hack of the neck, too, is mostly wanting. The feathers along the sides of the body, near the tibia, and occasionally elsewhere on the sides, have brownish shafts, not found in the other. List of specimens. Catal. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. ^ Collected by— Length. Stretch Wing. No. No. of wings. 2890 A Rocky mountains June 15, 1834 8. E. Baird J. K. Townsend- 1905 Q 6361 $ Tejon valley Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann __ 6360 $ 6357 Boca Grande, Mex. _ „ Mar. —, 1855 Major Emory 40 Dr. Kennerly 6358 - « _ - Camp 127, N. M.,Bill Williams' Fork Feb. 26, 1854 Lt. Whippple 174 do 6356? 9 El Paso, Texas May 4, 1852 Col. Graham C. Wright 5.25 j 7.25 2.25476 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND STJEVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL BEPOKT. SPIZELLA ATRIGULARIS, Baird. Black-chinned Sparrow. Spinites atrigularis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133. Struthus atrimentaliSf Couch, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. VII, April, 1854, 67. Sp. Ch.—Tail elongated, deeply forked and divaricated. General color bluish ash, paler beneath, and turning to white on the middle of the belly. Interscapular region yellowish rusty, streaked with black. Forehead, loral region, apd side of head as far as eyes, chin, and upper part of throat black. Quills and tail feathers very dark brown, edged with ashy. Edges of coverts like the back. No white bands on the wings. Bill red. Length, 5.50 ; wing, 2.50 ; tail, 3.00. Hab.—Mexico just south of the Rio Grande. This species is about the size of S. pusilla and socialis, resembling the former most in its still longer tail. This is more deeply forked and divaricated with broader feathers than in either. The wing is much rounded ; the fourth quill longest; the first almost the shortest of the primaries. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4335 0 5 £» Along gape. Specimen measured. 1590 Melospiza melodist«• • Rnstnn Mass -1-1 . 6.42 2.62 3.08 0.84 0.80 0.20 0.54 0.26 0.47 0.45 / Skin 808 Carlisle; Pfinn , , T. Q 5.70 2.50 2.76 0.83 0.85 0.23 0.58 0.28 0.44 0.50 Skin. do. i - • i i r r- * Ho t do 6.08 8.33 2.43 Fresh ...... 2637 do <3 5.20 2.68 2.88 0.80 0.77 0.20 0.56 0.26 0.48 0.54 Skin.L.... do. f) A Hn 6.16 8.84 2.75 Fresh 9528 jVTf>]Acpi,7.fi riifina , r - ■ Plirrot. Sound . , .... Q 6.40 2.60 2.93 0.89 0.83 0.20 0.60 0.30 0.47 0.51 Skin 6227 Melospiza heermanni. Tejon Valley 3 6.22 2.54 2.94 0.92 0.87 0.23 0.66 0.30 0.49 0.50 Skin 10274 ,, , HO f . T , * f t , , f , r t - Fort.Tejon, Cal..... 3 5.00 2.42 2.78 0.86 0.82 0.24 9.64 0.31 0.44 0.51 Skin 8053 Melospiza gouldii.*•• California. 4.70 2.10 2.38 0.79 0.79 0.18 0.54 0.26 0.44 0.50 Skin 10281 TVT nlncjni 7 o fa 1! *4 y* Camp 106, Pueblo cr., N.M. 6.46 2.76 3.18 0.78 0.78 0.20 0.62 0.28 0.40 0.44 Skin 6225 ii(11 , (JnT - -- -- - -- t - . Mimbres to Rio Grande 5.50 2.71 3.24 0.86 0.82 0.22 0.58 0.26 0.44 0.46 Skin 934 Melospiza palustris... Carlisle, Penn... 3 5.26 2.33 2.54 0.82 0.78 0.18 0.62 0.28 0.44 0.47 Skin do. do 5.66 8.93 2.42 Fresh 375 f_ do do Q ? 5.30 2.20 2.41 0.79 0.74 0.17 0.56 0.25 0.41 0.44 Skin do. t f f § HO, - 5.50 9.50 937 Melospiza linoolni r... $ 5.24 2.60 2.42 0.76 0.82 0.20 0.58 0.26 0.44 0.48 Skin,...... do. .. do ... do 5.58 8.35 2.58 Fresh ...... 972 ..do Q 4.84 2.34 2.32 0.80 0.74 0.18 0 52 0.25 0.43 0.48 Skin do. do do ¥ 5.57 8.00 2.33 Fresh .. •.. ' MELOSPIZA MELODIA, Baird. Song sparrow. Fringilla melodia, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 125; pi. xvi, f. 4.—Licht. Verz. 1823, No. 249.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 126 : V, 507 ; pi 25.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 120.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 147 ; pi. 189. Zonotrichia melodia, Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 478. 77 Fringilla fasciata,1 Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 922.—Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 562. 77 Fringilla hyemalis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 922. Sp. Ch.—General tint of upper parts rufous brown, streaked with dark brown and ashy gray. The crown is rufous, with a superciliary and median stripe of dull gray, the former lighter; nearly white anteriorly, where it has a faint shade of yellow ; each feather of the crown with a narrow streak of dark brown. Interscapulars dark brown in the centre, then rufous, then grayish 1 The fasciated sparrow of Pennant, Arctic Zool. II, 375, upon which Gmelin’s name is based, answers pretty well for our species, but the tail is said to be crossed by numerous dusky bars, which is not the case with melodia. The winter sparrow of Pennant, II, 376, Fringilla hyemalis, Gmelin, is equally uncertain.478 U. S. P. E. Ei EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY'—GENERAL EEPOET. on the margin. Rump grayer than upper tail coverts, both with obsolete dark streaks. There is a whitish maxillary stripe, bordered above and below by one of dark rufous brown, with a similar one from behind the eye. The under parts are white ; the breast and sides of body and throat streaked with dark rufous, with a still darker central line. On the middle of the breast these marks are rather aggregated so as to form a spot. No distinct white on tail or wings. Length of male, 6.50 ; wing, 2.58 ; tail, 3. Hob.—Eastern United States to the High Central Plains. Specimens vary somewhat in having the streaks across the breast more or less sparse; the spot more or less distinct. In autumn the colors are more blended, the light maxillary stripe tinged with yellowish, the edges of the dusky streaks suffused with brownish rufous. The young bird has the upper parts paler, the streaks more distinct; the lines on the head scarcely appreciable. The under parts are yellowish ; the streaks narrower and more sharply defined dark brown. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1294 122 2637 1080 808 1147 1590 4817 8750? 6226? s Ooyl'f cjI a Ppnn Mar. 9, 1844 Oct. 13, 1840 xMay 11, 1846 June 2,1843 Oct. 17,1842 July 19,1843 P F Raird 6.08 8.25 2.58 do do. . 3 O 9 Oc? /j a . T1111 rjr>. 6.17 8.83 2.75 do •••• do do Cape May, N. J.... 6.08 8.33 2.42 rlo W. M. Baird T. M. Brewer 9 o Bald I., Neb Loup Fork of Platte. Boca Grande, Mex. April 25, 1856 Sept. 11, 1857 Mar. —, 1855 Lt. G. K. Warren. flft T 1 t * f t t t 1 Dr. Hayden.. do 6 8.50 2.50 Iris brown; pupil bluish .... Major Emory 39 Dr. Kennerly. 5.50 7.50 2.50 MELOSPIZA HBEEMANNI, Baird. Heermann’s Song Sparrow. SP. Ch.—Somewhat like melodia. The streaks on the back and under parts blacker, broader, more distinct, and scarcely- margined with reddish, except in winter plumage. General shade of coloration olivaceous gray rather than rusty. Length, 6.40 ; wing, 2.56 ; tail, 3. Hab.—Tejon Pass, California. In the collection of sparrows before me is a Melospiza from the Tejon valley (6221) (winter) labelled Zonotrichia guttata by Dr. Heermann, and resembling it somewhat, but differing very appreciably from a large number of specimens from Washington and Oregon Territories. It differs in having the bill considerably larger, broader, and more convex, and bulging laterally at the base; the commissure more sinuated; the tarsus shorter. The under parts are of a purer white; the streaks are less numerous, but larger and more sharply defined, being blackish brown anteriorly, with a slightly rufous edging in places. The sides and under tail coverts are yellowish brown, as in rufina, but with darker streaks. The ground color of the upper parts is nearly the same, (darker than in melodia,) but the streaks and blotches, instead of being obsolete, are strongly marked. The blotches on the upper surface are even darker than in melodia and more extended ; they are margined with darker and more brownish rufous, and lack the well defined grayish edges to the feathers. The spots on the under parts, too, are blacker and larger than in melodia, with less rusty brown on the sides ; the sides of body and under tail coverts are darker and more blotched. The black blotches on the breast distinguish this species from Z. fallax.BIRDS—FRINGILLIDAE-—MELOSPIZA GOULDII. 479 Although it is very difficult to express the characters of this sparrow by an absolute diagnosis, yet it will most probably prove permanently and specifically different from the more northern and typical guttata. The latter appears to be a northern species, several of the specimens having been collected on the Columbia river and northward in January and February, and con- sequently winter residents, while the locality of the other at Tejon Pass is nearly twelve degrees (or more than eight hundred miles) further south, with no intermediate localities recorded. After carefully considering the circumstances of the case, I have come to the conclusion that the species is worthy of specific separation, and have accordingly named it Melospiza heermanni, after its accomplished collector and discoverer. Since writing the preceding article, I have had the opportunity of examining a large collection of this same species made at Fort Tejon by Mr. De Yesey, and am still better satisfied of its claim to a specific separation. A spring bird has the spots on the breast and sides entirely black, without any rufous edging, as is also the case with those on the back. The feet are larger and the claws longer than in melodia. The tail feathers are much darker, and the tints above, instead of being light rufous, are decidedly grayish olivaceous. The differences from rufina consist in the much stouter and thicker bill, and the very distinct dark, usually black, streaks, instead of rufous brown. The colors of the winter specimens have the usual soft blended appearance peculiar to this season, but the spots still retain their well defined blackness, with only a slight tendency to passing externally into dark rufous. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 6127 8 Tejon valley, Cal Lt, Williamson Dr Heermann 10274 8 Fort Tejon J. X. de Vesey 38 10273 2 do MELOSPIZA GOULDII, Baird. Sp. Ch.—Similar to M. melodia, still more so to M. heermanni, but very much smaller. Breast and sides conspicuously streaked with black ; back and head above distinctly streaked. Length, 4.70 ; wing, 2.10 ; tail, 2.38. Hab.—California. In a collection of birds presented by Mr. John Gould to the Smithsonian Institution is a perfectly adult specimen (No. 8053) marked “ California,” which ha,s a certain resemblance to the song sparrow, but differs in being very much smaller, much less, in fact, than any other known species of the group. The difference in size is much greater than is usually allowed to exist in the same species. The wing measures only 2.10 inches, or less than in Ammodromus samuelis. The bill is a little more slender than in melodia, the legs mueh the same size, the wings and tail much shorter. The sides of the throat and body with the breast are distinctly streaked with black, which has a slightly rufous suffusion externally. The black streaks on the back are also well defined as in M. heermanni. The bill and feet are nearly as large as in this species, but the wings and tail are very much shorter. This disproportion of feet, with the difference in480 U. S. P. R. R, EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. size, leads me to consider tlie species as a good one, as, if it were merely a smaller race of another species, the general proportions would he retained. MELOSPIZA RUFINA, Baird. “ Emberiza rujina, Brandt, Desc. Av. Rossic. 1836, tab. ii, 5, Sitka.” Bonaparte, Passerella rujina, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 477. Fringilla cinerea, (Gm.) Aud. Orn. Biog. Y, 1839, 22; pi. 390.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 119.—1b. Birds America, III, 1841, 145; pi. 187. Passerella cinerea, Bp. List, 1839.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 477. ? Zonotrichia cinerea, Bp. Conspectus, 1850, 478. ?? Fringilla cinerea, Gmelin, I, 1788, 922. Fringilla (Passerella) guttata, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 581. Zonotrichia guttata, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. I, Dec. 1847, 50. Sp. Ch.—Bill slender. Similar in general appearance to M. melodia, but darker and much more rufous, the colors more blended. General appearance above light rufous brown, the interscapular region streaked very obsoletely with dark brownish rufous, the feathers of the crown similar, with still darker obsolete central streaks. A superciliary and very obscure median crown stripe, ashy. Under parts brownish whitish; the breast and sides of throat and body broadly streaked%mh dark brownish rufous ; darker in the centre. A light maxillary stripe. Sides of the body tinged strongly with the colors of the rump, and leaving only a narrow space of the belly white. Under coverts brown. Length, 6.75 ; wing, 2.70 ; tail, 3.00. Hab.—Pacific coast of the United States to Russian America. This species appears larger than M. melodia, and will be readily distinguished by the absence of the blackish brown centres to the brown streaks, and of any marked contrast of color in different parts of the feathers, as well as by the general dark rufous shades of color. There are no grayish edges to the feathers of the back, nor blackish streaks. The spots beneath are broader, more blended, and more thickly crowded; the sides and under tail coverts much darker. The bill is smaller and considerably more slender and conical. The light and dark markings about the head are less strongly contrasted. The color of the spots on the breast is much as in M. fallax; they are broader and much more numerous, however; the sides and under tail coverts much darker. The upper parts, too, are much darker and more rufous ; the feathers lacking the grayish edges, so conspicuous in fallax as well as in melodia. In fact, the upper parts are frequently so uniform as almost to resemble Passerella townsendii, there being only a faint trace of darker centres. The bill is more slender and attenuated than in any of our large song sparrows. The young has the head above olivaceous rufous without any streaks; the feathers of the back are brownish rufous with obsolete central blotches. The spotting is thus much less than in melodia. I do not agree with Nuttall in considering Fringilla cinerea of Gmelin so far removed from the present species; in fact, it is quite possibly the same, as based on the cinereous finch of Pennant.—(Arctic Zool. II, 378.) Still, as the species is not cinereous and there is yet much uncertainty about it, it may be best not to take Gmelin's name. The next name in order appears to be rufina of Brandt, which I identify from Bonaparte's description, not having the original reference at hand. There is yet much to be done in the determination and identification of the numerous spotted sparrows from the northwest coast, described by Pennant, Gmelin, and other authors.BIRDS—FRINGILLIDAE—MELOSPIZA FALLAX. 481 List' of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 5977 Straits of Fuca, W. T.. Mar. —, 1855 Dr. J. G. Cooper. 4540 Washington Territory.. , 1856 Dr. G. Suckley..... 4599 Steilacoom, W. T Feb. 5,1856 218 6.50 8.75 2,62 6231 247 7.00 9.00 6232 249 7.00 9.00 6233 255 7.00 9.00 6234 Mar. —, 1856 259 7.00 9.00 6235 262 6228 Shoalwater bay, W. T.. July 5, 1854 Dr. J. G. Cooper... 85 6.75 8.75 Tris brown 6229 6.75 8.75 t t • o • a dOt , 6230 o Sept. —, 1854 6.75 8.75 Iris brown,bill and feet the same. 1860 9 Columbia river Jan. 18, 1836 S. F. Baird 59 J. K. Townsend 1942 10275? 9 Fort Tejon, Cal J. X. de Vesey 861 1 MELOSPIZA FALLAX, Baird. Zonotrichiafallax, Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ph. VII, June, 1854, 119. (Pueblo creek, New Mexico.) ? Zonotrichia fasciata, (Gm.) Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. Ph. 2d Series, I, 1847, 49. Sp. Ch.—Similar to Z. melodia, but with wings and tail longer, and bill smaller. Dark centres to the brownish streaks of the feathers of upper and under surfaces obsolete or wanting. Superciliary light stripe ash color anteriorly. Length, 6.65 ; wing, 2.75; tail, 3,36. Hdb.—Rocky mountain region from Fort Thorn to the Colorado. Fort Tejon? Although this species is very similar to the M. melodia, yet, when specimens are compared with an extensive series of the last mentioned species, an impression of difference will at once be conveyed. The bird is rather larger, especially the tail, as shown by the accompanying table, while the feet and especially the bill are smaller. The line above the eye is grayish ash throughout, without the whitish immediately at the base of the bill. The dark brown centres in the brownish rufous streaks of the head, back, and under parts, are almost entirely wanting or very obsolete ; the color of the rufous streaks, too, is paler. I do not, however, feel sure that this species will stand as perfectly satisfactory, as there is a specimen (6226) from Boca Grande, Mexico, before me which has all the dark markings of eastern specimens, with a decidedly inferior bill. At any rate, I consider it as less strongly established than any of the others before me. It has certain relationships of coloration to the M. guttata, but is much grayer. As far as I can judge the middle toe and claw are proportionally longer than in AT. melodia. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality, When, collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 6225 10271? Pueblo creek, Camp 106,N.M. Fort Thorn, N. M _ Jan. 22, 1854 Lieut. Whipple Dr T C! T-Tfvnry 51 Kennerlyand Mollhausen- Fort Tejon, Cal _ _ •T X dft Vft8fty 656 61 b ' June 17, 1856.482 TJ. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. MELOSPIZA LINCOLNII, Baird. LmcoJn’s Finch. Fringilla lincolnii, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 539, pi. 193.—Nutt. Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 569. Linaria lincolnii, Rich. List, 1837. Passerculus lincolnii, Bonap. List, 1838. Peucaea lincolnii, Aud. Synopsis, 1839, 113.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 116, pi. 177.—Bonap. Consp. 1850, 481.— Ib. Comptes Rendus XXVII, 1854, 920. - Passerculus zonarius, (Bp.) Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1856, 305. Sp. Ch.—Crown chestnut, with a median and two lateral or superciliary ash colored stripes ; each feather above streaked centrally with black. Back with narrow streaks of black. Beneath white, with a maxillary stripe curving round behind the ear coverts, a well defined band across the breast, extending down the sides, and the under tail coverts, brownish yellow. The maxillary stripe margined above and below with lines of black spots. The throat, upper part of breast, and sides of the body, with streaks of black, smallest in the middle of the former. There is a chestnut stripe back of the ear, streaked with black. The pectoral bands are sometimes paler. Length, 5.60 ; wing, 2.60. Hab.—United States from Atlantic to Pacific, and south through Mexico to Guatemala. This species is easily known among the American sparrows by the well marked yellowish band across the breast and the maxillary stripe of brownish yellow relieved against the white of the under parts generally. Ammodromus caudacutus has these stripes somewhat similar; but the superciliary stripe is also yellowish, not ash color, and the middle of the throat is unspotted. The bill is much longer, and the generic characters otherwise different. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 937 s Carlisle, Pa May 4, 1843- S. F. Baird ...... 5.58 8.33 2.58 972 O .do.. May 16, 1843 do..... 5.58 8.00 2.33 4811 ¥ Iowa Point, Neb April 23, 1856 Lt. G. K. Warren. 16 Dr. Hayden 5.37 7.62 2.37 Iris very dull brown.... 4898 Bald island, Neb....... April 25. 1856 5.50 8.00 2.62 4809 s Platte river, Neb April 26, 1856 ...... do 52 ...... do....... . 5.75 8.37 2.62 4814 $ Big Sioux river, Neb... April 5,1856 do 5.50 9.50 3.00 4815 A Vermilion liver, Neb,.. April 8, 1856 5.37 8.00 2.50 4812 A do May 8,1856 6.00 8.00 2.50 Tris brown . 4813 o A ......do..... May 6,1856 5.50 8.12 2.75 4810 o 3 May 8, 1856 do 6.00 9.50 3.12 5416 Blackfoot country,Neb. July —, 1855 1864 Upper Missouri 1843.... S. F. Baird .T. .T. Audubon.... 8218 Fort Laramie Sept. 10,1857 W. M. Magraw.,. 198 Dr. Cooper....... 5.25 7.50 2.50 3703 Salt Lake city Mar. 21, 1850 Capt. Stansbury.. 4090 A Tamaulipas, Mex . Mar. —, 1853 Lt. Couch ....... 55 5.50 7.50 2.50 Eyes dark br’n, bill slate \J color, yellow at base. 4089 Brownsville, Texas.... 7 4.87 8.00 2.50 Eyes dark brown 4090 ...... do 9 4.75 6.50 2.50 6325 New Mexico,(Camp 121) Feb. —, 1854 Lt. Whipple 100 Kenn. and Moll. 6700 Tejon Pass. Lt. Williamson... Foil Tejon J. X. de Vesey 3904 California Dr. Heermann ... 6326 A do Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann 8051 u Mexico John Gould 8052 | Guatemala BIRDS —FRINGILLIDAE—MELOSPIZA PALUSTRIS. 488 MELOSPIZA PALUSTRIS, Baird. Swamp Sparrow. Fringilla palustris, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 49; pi. xxii, f. 1.—Audubon, Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 331: Y, 508; pi. 64. Fringilla (Spiza) palustris, Bonap. Obs. Wilson, 1825, No. 105. Passercuius palustris, Bonap. List, 1838.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 481. Ammo dr omus palustris, Aud. Syn. 1839.—Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 110 ; pi. 175. ? Fringilla georgiana, Eatii. Index Orn. I, 1790, 460. (May Peucoea aestivalis.)—Licht. Verz. 1823, No. 251. Fringilla (Ammodromus) georgianat Nutt. Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 588. Sp. Ch.—Middle of the crown uniform chestnut ; forehead black ; superciliary streak, sides of head and back and sides of neck, ash. A brown stripe behind the eye. Back broadly streaked with black. Beneath whitish, tinged with ashy anteriorly, especially across the breast, and washed with yellowish brown on the sides. A few obsolete streaks across the breast, which become distinct on its sides. Wings and tail strongly tinged with rufous ; the tertials black, the rufous .edgings changing abruptly to white towards the end. Length, 5.75; wing, 2.40 inches. Female with the crown scarcely reddish streaked with black, and divided by a light line. Hob.—Eastern United States from the Atlantic to the Missouri. In autumn the male of this species has the feathers of the crown each with a black streak; and the centre of the crown with an indistinct light stripe, materially changing its appearance. The forehead is usually more or less streaked with black. A supposed young of this species from the Missouri plains has the head above nearly uniform blackish ; the back pale yellowish brown streaked conspicuously with black, the under parts dirty white, the breast and sides distinctly streaked with black. In the uncertainty whether the Fringilla georgiana of Latham be not rather the Peucaea aestivalis than the swamp sparrow, I think it best to retain Wilson7s name. It certainly applies as well to the latter, which has the black sub-maxillary streak, and the chin and throat more mouse colored than in palustris. List of specimens. Oatal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 809 Cla.rlifdfi Pa, - - Oct. 17, 1842 S. F. Baird 5. 25 7. 75 2. 33 375 O „ do _ May 13, 1841 do 5. 50 7. 50 810 Independence, Mo •May 6,1857 Wm. M. Magraw. 55 Dr. Cooper 7.00 10.50 3.37 Iris brown, bill and feet V grayish. 8178 8 Shawnee mission, K. T. July -,1857 do 114 6.75 10.62 3.50 Iris br’n, bill bl’k, and flesh color, feet brown. 8182 Q July 3,1857 do 118 6.25 9.75 3.25 5380 A Fort Pierre, Neb June 18,1856 Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden ..... 6.00 9.75 3.37 Tris light, brown. 5381 O A Fort Lookout, Neb..... June 11,1856 do 6.25 10.00 3.00 9268 O £ July 10 6.25 9.75 3.00 9261 o A Loup Fork of Platte.... Aug. 30 7.00 10.50 3.37 9265 o A Aug. 3 6.75 10.25 3.25 9258 o o do July 29 ..... do 6.00 10.00 3.25 9263 V A _T t.. do 6.75 10.00 3.50 9260 o A 111 f, n do., t f . July 10 7.00 10.25 3.37 9254 o 6.37 10.00 3.25 9248 o o T t do July 24 ......do 6.00 9.75 3.00 9270 V O July 3 do 6.37 9.50 3.00 Tris dark brown 9269 V r? do July 1 ..... 6.62 10 50 3.50 9256 O A RJk TTorn river June 30 6.62 10.87 3.50 Tris dark brown . . . 9262 o 3 6.75 10.62 3.37 9264 do 6.37 10.75 3.50 9249 A do 6.37 10.50 3.37 Tris dark brown 9257 O Fremont on Platte ..... July 1 6.12 10.50 3.37 5702 0.94 0.25 0.60 0.26 0 64 0 75 1484 Guiraca caerulea Carlisle, Pa 3 6.20 3.33 2.79 0.80 0.84 0.20 0.57 0.23 0,63 0.69 do. ....do do 7.16 11.32 3.50 p 10139 ....do do Washington, D. C 9 5.90 3.15 2.75 0.80 0.90 0.30 0.60 0.28 0.59 0.60 Skin GUIRACA LUDOVICIANA, Swains on. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. , Loxia ludoviciana, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 306.—Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 135 ; pL xvii, f. 2. Guiraca ludoviciana, Swainson, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 438.—Bonap. List, 1838.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 501. Fringilla ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 166 : V, 513 ; pi. 127. Pyrrhula ludoviciana, Sab. Zool. App. Franklin’s Narr. Ceccothraustes ludoviciana, Rich. List, Pr. Br. Ass. 1837. Coccoborus ludovicianus, Aud. Syn. 1839, 133.—Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 209 ; pi. 205. “ Goniaphea ludoviciana, Bowdich.” Hedymeles ludoviciana, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851s, 153. Fringilla punicea, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 921. (Male.) Loxia obscura, Gmelin, I, 1788, 862. Loxia rosea, Wilson, Am. Orn. pi. xvii, f. 2. ' Coccothraustes rubricollis, Vieillot, Galeri des Ois. I, 1824, 67; pi. lviii. Sp. Ch.—Upper parts generally, with head and neck all round, glossy black. A broad crescent across the upper part of the breast, extending narrowly down to the belly, axillaries, and under wing coverts, carmine. Rest of under parts, rump and upper tail coverts, middle wing coverts, spots on the tertiaries and inner great wing coverts, basal half of primaries and secondaries, and a large patch on the ends of the inner webs of the outer three tail feathers, pure white. June 19, 1858. 63 b498 U. S P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. Female, without the white of quills, tail, and rump, and without any black or red. Above yellowish brown streaked with darker ; head with a central stripe above, and a superciliary on each sice, white. Beneath dirty white, streaked with brown on the breast and sides. Under wing coverts and axillars saffron yellow. Length, 8.50 inches ; wing, 4.15. Hab.—Eastern United States to the Missouri plains, south to Guatemala. In the male the black feathers of the hack and sides of the neck have a subterminal white bar. There are a few black spots on the sides of the breast just below the red. The young male of the year is like the female, except in having the axillaries, under wing coverts, and a trace of a patch on the breast, light rose red. The tint of carmine on the under parts varies a good deal in different specimens. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wing!?. Wing. Remarks. 6945 $ Selkirk Settlem’t., H.R.T. Donald Gunn 2425 9 8 Carlisle, Pa. Sept. 3,1845 Sept. —, 1840 Sept. 16,1842 April 28,1845 May -10,1844 June 18,1857 S. F. Baird 133 do do 722 do 8.00 12.75 2157 o 8 8 8 8 do do 8.00 12.75 4.00 1496 8348 8318 do 8.42 8.00 13.08 4.17 4.25 Tn depend onoe, TVTo. t,,, Wm. M. Ma^raw Dr. Cooper..... 12.25 do May 29,1857 May 12,1857 Sept. 8,1856 May 10,1856 May 12,1856 May 16,1856 35 do 7.37 12.00 4.00 Iris brown ; bill black 7013 4849 4848 St- T,nni uoaa 5395 5396 5397 5398 8948 5982 2870 4385 3897 5549 6269 O — Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 229. Icterus agripennis, Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1824, No. 87.—Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 283 : Y, 1839, 486 ; pi. 54.—Nutt. Man. I, 1832, 185. Icterus (Emberizoides) agripennis, Bon. Syn. 1828, 53. Dolichonyx agripennis, Rich. List, 1837. Psarocolius caudacutus9 Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, 32. Sp. Ch.—General color of male in spring black ; the nape brownish cream color ; a patch on the side of the breast, the scapulars and rump white, shading into light ash on the upper tail covers and the back below the interscapular region. The outer primaries sharply margined with yellowish white; the tertials less abruptly ; the tail feathers margined at the tips with pale brownish ash. Female yellowish beneath ; two stripes on the top of the head, and the upper parts throughout, except the back of the neck and rump, and including all the wing feathers generally, dark brown, all edged with brownish yellow, which becomes whiter near the tips of the quills. The sides sparsely streaked with dark brown, and a similar stripe behind the eye. There is a superciliary and a median band of yellow on the head. Length of male, 7.70 ; wing, 3.83 ; tail, 3.15. Hob.—Eastern United States to the high central plains. Seen 50 miles east of Laramie.BIRDS—ICTERIDAE--MOLOTHRUS. 523 This well known bird varies considerably in color, with differences in the maturity of plumage. Sometimes the black feathers generally have yellowish margins both above and below. The bill is generally bluish black, but in the specimens from Florida the lower mandible is white. The male maintains the black plumage for a comparatively short time. Shortly after mid- summer the female dress is assumed and kept until the ensuing spring. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1477 S Carlisle, Pa May 8,1844 S. F. Baird 7.66 12.41 3.91 977 s do.. May 17,1843 7.25 12.00 3.91 1517 s do May 15,1844 do 7.33 12.25 3.83 1174 Q Sept. 8,1843 6.58 11.00 3.41 6521 ¥ s Indian Key, Fla May 9,1857 Q-. Wiirdemann .... 7.50 12.00 4.00 6522 s do do.. 7.08 12.00 4.00 6523 o do 7.50 10.50 3.50 6524 o 7.50 10.50 3.50 c? North Illinois.......... Spring R. Kennicott ...... 5360 Fort Pierre June 25,1856 Lieut. Warren ..... Dr. Hayden 7.12 12.12 3.75 Red river, Minn N. W. University R. Kennicott ...... 8951 (? Loup fork of Platte.... July 11 Lieut. Warren ..... Dr. Hayden........ 7.00 12.00 4.00 Tris brown . ..., 8952 July 20 7.25 13.00 3.75 8990 50 miles E of Ft.Laramie Aug. 20 ..... Wm. M. Magraw .. 163 Dr. Cooper 7.25 12.00 4.00 MOLOTHRUS, Swain son. Molothrus, Swains on, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831,277; supposed by Cabanis to be meant for Moldbrus. Type Fringilla pecoris, Gm. Ch.—Bill short, stout, about two-thirds the length of head; the commissure straight, culmen and gonys slightly curved, convex, the former broad, rounded, convex, and running back on the head in a point. Lateral toes nearly equal, reaching the base of the middle one, which is shorter thap tarsus ; claws rather small. Tail nearly even ; wings long, pointed, the first quilj longest. The genus Molothrus has the bill intermediate between Dolichonyx and Agelaius. It has the culmen unusually broad between the nostrils, and it extends back some distance into the fore- head. The difference in the structure of the feet from Dolichonyx is very great. The genus Molothrus resembles some of the Fringillidae more than any other of the Icteridae. The bill is, however, more straight, the tip without notch; the culmen running back further on the forehead, the nostrils being situated fully one-third or more of the total length from its posterior extremity. This is seldom the case in the American families. The entire absence of notch in the bill and of bristles along the rictus are strong features. The nostrils are perfectly free from any overhanging feathers or bristles. The pointed wings, with the first quill longest, and the tail with its broad rounded feathers, shorter than the wings, are a dditional features to be specially noted. Of several species of the genus found in the New World, but one belongs to the United States. This, the well known cow bird, never incubates, but deposits its eggs in the nests of others, usually smaller birds, to be hatched out by them^as is done also by the European cuckoo. One at least of the South American species is known to possess the same habit, and it is probably the same with all of them. The measurements of M, pecoris will be found with Dolichonyx.524 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. MOLOTHRUS PECORIS, Swainson. Cow Black bird; Cow bird* Fringilla pecoris, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1,1788, 910, (female).—Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 443.—Licht. Verzeieh. 1823, Nos. 230, 231. Emberizapecoris, Wils. Am. Ora. II, 1810, 145; pi. xviii; f. 1, 2, 3. Icteru£ pecoris, Bonap. Obs. Wilson, 1824, No. 88.—Aud. Ora. Biog. 1,1831, 493 : V, 1839, 233, 490; pi. 99 and 424. Icterus {Emberizoides) pecoris, Bon. Syn. 1828, 53.—Ib. Specchio comp. No. 41.—Nutt. Man. I, 1832, 178; 2d ed. 190. Passerina pecoris, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XXV, 1819, 22. Psarocolius pecoris, Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 20. Molothrus pecoris, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II5 1831, 277.—Rich. List, 1837.—Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Consp. 1850, 436 —Aud. Syn. 1839,139.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 16; pi. 212.—Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 193. ? Oriolusfuscus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 393. ? Sturnus obscurus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 804. Evidently a Molothrus, and probably, but not certainly, the present species. “Icterus emberizoides, Daudu^. ” ? Sturnus junceti, Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 326, (same as Sturnus obscurus, Gm.) ? Fringilla ambigua, Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 484, (young). Sp. Ch.—Second quill longest; first scarcely shorter. Tail nearly even, or very slightly rounded. Male with the head, neck, and anterior half of the breast, light chocolate brown, rather lighter above; rest of body lustrous black, with a violet purple gloss next to the brown, of steel blue on the back, and of green elsewhere. Female light olivaceous brown all over, lighter on the head and beneath. Bill and feet black. Length 8 inches; wing, 4.42; tail, 3.40, Hab.—United States from the Atlantic to California; not found immediately on the coast of the Pacific ? The young bird of the year is brown above, brownish white beneath; the throat immaculate. A maxillary stripe and obscure streaks thickly crowded across the whole breast and sides. There is a faint indication of a paler superciliary stripe. The feathers of the upper parts are all margined with paler. There are also indications of the light bands on the wings. These markings are all obscure, but perfectly appreciable, and their existence in adult birds may be considered as embryonic, and showing an inferiority in degree to the species with the under parts perfectly plain. The Fringilla pecoris of Gmelin, from which the specific name of the bird is usually derived^ is based essentially on the Fringilla virginiana of Brisson. The description is cc brown, beneath paler, tail sub-bifurcated.” This is scarcely a satisfactory diagnosis, although the descriptions of Pennant and Latham, likewise quoted by Gmelin, are very accurate. The Sturnus obscurus of Gmelin is evidently a Molothrus, but described from Mexico, and may possibly not be the present species, although the chances are in its favor. The Oriolusfuscus of Gmelin is probably the present bird, but may be a Scolecophagus. Under the circumstances, therefore, it may be as well to retain the name of pecoris, about which, from the context there can be no doubt, in pre- ference to using any of the really prior names of fuscus or obscurus.BIRDS—ICTERIDAE—AGELAIUS. 525 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1405 $ April 30,1844 S. F. Baird 8.00 13.66 4.41 1559 $ May 20,1844 8.00 13.50 4.41 611 Q April 2,1842 6486 .. . T July 22,1856 ...... do........... t, T. t. do,. .. , 4655 A Fort Pierre r _ .. T _ May 2,1855 Col. Vanorhan T t m t f. do, 11111T 5327 o o Medicine TTill June 24,1856 T.t. Warren r 11 #,t do.,tT1tt, 7.75 12.75 4.00 5684 V Q Platte river July 16,1856 Tit. Bryan 117 W. S. Wood... 5681 Hr s do . . .do do 115 do 5678 s Pole creek, Neb. T. <> • • • July 24,1856 do.... T 149 5011 $ Pecos crossing, Texas.. May 8,1855 Capt.. Pope .., „. T T. 106 Eyes dark br’n ; gums yellow; feet gray. 5009 s Devil’s river, Texas.... May 4,1855 69 Eyes bl’k; gums blue; feet gray. 5013 Q B.io Frio Texas April 21,1855 ..do 49 4967 O Port Chadbourne, Texas Dr. Swift. 4966 hp Gm.) Yphantes solitaria, Vieill. c?. “ Pendulinus nigricollis, Vieill. O.-—viridis, Ib.” Oriolus mutatus, Wilson, Am. Orn. I, 1808, 64 ; pL 4, f. 1—4. Xanthornus affinis, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. N. H. V, May, 1851, 113. (Small race from Texas.) Sp. Ch.—Bill slender, attenuated, considerably decurved ; tail moderately graduated. Male.—Head and neck all round, wings, and interscapular region of back, with tail feathers, black. Rest of under parts, lower part of back to tail, and lesser upper wing coverts, with the lower one, brownish chestnut. A narrow line across the wing, and the extreme outer edges of quills, white. Female.—Uniform greenish yellow beneath, olivaceous above, and browner in the middle of the back ; two white bands on the wings. Young male like the female, with a broad black patch from the bill to the upper part of the breast, this color extending along the base of the bill so as to involve the eye and all anterior to it to the base of the bill. Length of Pennsylvania male specimens, 7.25 ; wing, 3.25. Hob.—United States from the Atlantic to the High Central Plains, probably throughout Texas ; south to Guatemala. In this species the hill is slender, attenuated, and a good deal decurved to the tip. The second and third quills are longest; the first intermediate between the fourth and fifth. The tail is rather long ; the feathers moderately graduated, the greatest difference in length amounting to half an inch. The black of the throat extends backwards as far as the bend of the wing, and ends as an obtuse angle. The tail feathers are entirely black, with dull whitish tips when not fully mature. Specimens are found in all stages between the characters given above. When nearly mature, some yellowish feathers are found mixed in with the chestnut ones. As in most birds with an extensive summer range, the specimens from southern limits are smaller than from northern. The difference is more strongly marked between skins from the lower Rio Grande of Texas and New York or Pennsylvania, and upon the former Mr. Lawrence has founded his Xanthornus affinis. The difference is not greater, however, than in nearly every other species of similar habits as to summer range. The table of measurements of species will illustrate the variations in size. The pattern of coloration in this species resembles that of L baltimore, but the orange red is replaced by dark chestnut; there is less white on the wing, and the tail is entirely black. The bill is considerably slenderer and more attenuated and curved. The tail also is more graduated.548 U. S. P. R. R, EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT, List of specimens. Catal N o. Sex and age Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4286 2 X/UIlCl xxUCtj X^l • IfXCAlCO « • T.nc AyictaIaq flfll Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann. o#uo AQd9 ftan Tnfift f!al . . A. J. Grayson.... 8711 san Pf^r)nispn f!nl. Lt. Williamson Dr. Heermann. R70Q ProciHtn . _ Lt. Trowbridge O/UU 5538 A Pptalninfl rial. T,,.. r,.. F. Samuels 125 11.00 15.00 5.00 8710 O A f T T Feb. ,1856 ...... do.......... 173 5.66 12.54 4.54 5539 V do May 10,1856 do 797 AQQi o Enrt "Halloa O HP May 9,1855 J)r. Snekley . ..,. 172 9.62 14.83 4.75 Iris hazel utOO 1 4382 V Dec. 29.1854 do 148 9.50 15.50 5.25 Iris light yellow.......... Pnrt Vancniiv^r W T Jan. 23,1854 Gov. Stevens.... 17 Dr. Cooper .... 9.75 16.25 O / UO 8707 o A1 Ui l V aULUUVv/1 y t t • x • * do. Jan. 20,1854 ......do......,... 18. do 9.50 14.75 8708 V o 18 do 9.50 14.75 V QUISCALUS, Vieillo t. Quiscalus, Vjeillot, Analyse, 1816- (Gray.) Type Gracula quiscala, L. Ch.—Bill as long as the head, the culmen slightly curved, the gonys almost straight; the edges of the bill inflected and rounded; the commissure quite strongly sinuated. Outlines of tarsal scutellae well defined on the sides ; wings shorter than the tail, sometimes much more so ; tail long, the feathers conspicuously and decidedly graduated. Colors black. The excessive graduation of the long tail, with the perfectly black color, at once distinguish this genus from any other in the United States. The species are best known by the compara- tive size and length of the tail, as shown in the following table of measurements. June 28, 1858.554 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND STJEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. 0.56 1, DU 1.26 1 . /o 1.46 Skin .... Skin .... do. 13.00 17.00 5 50 Fresh 4923 Quiscalus major Amelia Island, Fla.., 14.10 6.94 7.34 1.98 1.82 0.46 1.34 0.59 1.52 1.64 CJtrirr do. do... D 15 00 22.00 7.00 fcKin . *.. Fresh ... 2104 Quiscalus versicolor ... Carlisle, Penn $ 11.10 5.70 5.72 1.34 1.30 0.37 0.98 0.46 1.24 1.36 do. 13.00 18.00 6.00 Fresh ... 1363 S 11.40 5.60 5.54 1.46 1.32 0,34 l on A AR 1 04 1364 Q 10.04 4.96 4.86 1.28 1.14 0.30 1 . UU 0.88 U, *io O 1 TO 1, ol 1 oo Skin .... 6529 Quiscalus baritus Key Biscayne, Fla... Ib. Conspectus, 1840, 424.—Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 485.—Nuttall, Man. 1, 1832, 194.— Aud. Orn. Biog. 1,1831, 35 : V, 1838, 481 ; pi. vii.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 146.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 58; pi. 221. Gracula barita, Ord, J. A. N. Sc. I, 1818, 253. “ Quiscalus purpureus, Licht. 59 Quiscalus nitens, Licht. Verz. 1823, No. 164. Quiscalus purpuratus, Swainson, Anim. in Menag. 1838, No. 55. Purple Grakle, Pennant, Arctic ZooL II. Sp. Ch.—Bill above, about as long as the head, more than twice as long as high ; the commissure moderately sinuated and considerably decurved at tip. Tail a little shorter than the wing, much graduated, the lateral feathers 1.10 inches shorter. Third quill longest; first between fourth and fifth. Head and neck all round well defined steel blue ; the rest of the body with556 U. S. P. E. K. EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. varied reflections of bronze, golden, green, copper, and purple, the latter most conspicuous on the tail, the tail coverts, and wings. The edges of primaries and of tail greenish. Female similar, but smaller and duller, with, perhaps, more green on the head. Length, 13 inches ; wings, 6 ; tail, 5.80; bill above, 1.25. JHab.—From Atlantic to the Higli Central Plains. In No. 2104, as in other Pennsylvania specimens, there is a strong shade of violet just above the steel blue on the feathers of the neck. Specimens from the west have a more brassy shade on the blue of the neck, and the back is of a nearly uniform shade of greenish bronze. These differences appear to be nearly constant with the two localities. One specimen from Carlisle has the steel blue on the head replaced, in a great measure, by purple and violet, owing to the extension of this latter color to the tips of the feathers. It is probably to a specimen of this variety that Swainson applied the name of Quiscalus purpuratus. In a series of about thirty specimens there are two males, the bills of which are much shorter than in the majority, measuring barely over an inch, and shorter than the head, (Nos. 6558, 4763.) I find a somewhat similar condition in a specimen from Carlisle, (833,) and as the difference is unaccompanied by any other tangible character, I see no ground for specific distinction. The young of the year are throughout of a dull brown. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch ofwings. Wing. 2104 s Carlisle, Pa April 12, 1845 S. F. Baird 13.00 18.00 6.00 1363 S April 16, 1844 12.75 18.00 5.65 1364 o do 833 V ...... do... Oct. 24, 1842 do. 11.40 16.00 5.00 7581 Washington, D. C 1857 W. Hutton 4432 Quasquiton, Iowa.... E. C. Bidwell 6944 Red river, H. B. T D. Gunn 4761 "s Big Nemaha April 23, 1856 Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden 12.75 18.12 5.75 4762 $ Bald Island, Missouri river April 25, 1856 39 12.50 17.12 4766 Q .... ..do do 11.12 16.00 5.25 4758 A do 12.25 17.25 4760 o A 36 do 4767 o April —, 1856 11.50 16.50 5.25 4513 Cedar Island. Col. Vaughan 8312 A Independence May 27, 1857 Wm. M. Magraw 29 Dr. Cooper 12.50 18.00 5.75 6558 Fort Riley, K. T Dr. W. A. Hammond 5666 s Little Blue river, K. T July 4,1846 Lieut. Bryan.... 68 W. S. Wood 5665 ■ 9 Jenny Cr. of Republican July 2, 1856 QUISCALUS BAEITUS, Vieillot. Gracula barita, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 165, (based on Icterus niger, Br )—Gmelin, I, 1788, 396.—Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 191. Quiscalus baritus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XXVIII, 1819, 487.—D’Orb. De la Sagra Cuba, Aves, 95. Chalcophanes baritus, Wagler, Systema Avium, 1827, Gracula Expos. No. 4.—Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 197. ? Quiscalus crassirostris, Swainson, Anim. in Menag. 1838, 355.—Gosse, Birds Jamaica, 1847, 217. Sp. Ch.—Bill about three times as long as high, much longer than the head or the tarsus ; the commissure scarcely sinuated ; the tip lengthened and decurved. Tail about as long as the wing, considerably graduated ; the lateral feathers about .85 of an inch shorter. The second quill longest; first shorter than the fourth. The head steel blue, passing on the neck into decided purplish ; the body, wings, and tail bronze green, with a purplish violet shade on the tertials and rump. Length, 10.60 ; wing, 5 ; tail, 5 ; bill above, 1.40 ; tarsus, 1.40. Hob.—Florida coast and West Indies.BIRDS—ICTERIDAE—QUISCALUS BARITUS. 557 This species, now for the first time introduced into the fauna of the United States, from specimens collected at Key Biscayne by Mr. Wurdemann, in of April 1857 and ’58, is the smallest ofthe genus within our limits. The wing and tail each are about an inch shorter than in Q. versicolor. The bill, however, is much longer and more slender, and the tip considerably more produced and decurved. The feet are stouter and much coarser, the pads of the toes very scabrous as if to assist in holding slippery substances, a feature scarcely seen in versicolor. The second and third quills are longest; the first a little shorter only than the fourth. The colors are quite dissimilar to those of versicolor, a purplish violet predominating on the neck. The green of the back and belly is more decided as well as duller and darker than even in western specimens of versicolor. The gloss on the tail and most of the wings is green, not purplish violet. The general style of coloration is most like that of Quiscalus major, although the bird is much smaller. This species does not appear to be the Quiscalus baritus of the earlier authors, which is stated by Latham to be 13 inches long, the bill inches, consequently much larger. The colors, too, are chiefly purple, not green. Q. lugubris is smaller, the bill especially ; the lustre purple, not green. Q. minor of Cabanis is smaller still, with a violet blue lustre. The Quiscalus baritus of Vieillot comes nearer to it in size of body and bill, but is also said to have the body purplish instead of greenish, the wing coverts greenish instead of steel blue. It is possible that the species may really be the Q. crassirostris of Swainson, (2J cent. 355,) but I cannot identify it from his description. The size is considerably smaller, while the bill is larger than in the Florida bird. The female is smaller and rather duller in plumage. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence ob- tained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wings. Remarks. 6529 $ Kpy Riscaync., Fla. April 8,1857 G. Wurdemann G. Wurdemann.... 10335 A Cape Florida Mar. 31,1858 do 11.50 16.00 5.50 Bill and feet black ; iris light u yellow, 10336 April 15,1858 do 11.50 15.25 5.00 10337 s do do 12.00 15.50 5.00 10340 s . .do April 22,1858 do 12.00 16.50 5.12 10341 A do April 9,1858 11.09 15.25 5 25 10342 vJ A do May 18,1858 11.75 16.25 5.00 10339 o O Mar. 31,1858 10.25 13.75 4.75 10338 V o do April 22,1858 do 11.12 14.50 4.75 V 558 U. S. P. B. E. EXP. AND SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENEEAL EEPOET. Family CORVIDAE. Ch.—Primaries ten ; the first short, generally about half as long as the second (or a little more) ; the outer four sinuated on the inner edge. The nasal fossae and nostrils usually more or less concealed by narrow stiffened bristles, (or bristly feathers,) with short appressed lateral branches extending to the very tip, all directed forwards. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly, the sides undivided (except sometimes below) and separated from the anterior plates by a narrow naked strip, sometimes filled up with small scales. Basal joint of middle toe united about equally to the lateral, generally for about half the length. Bill generally notched. The preceding characters distinguish the family of crows quite markedly from all others. In some respects there is a resemblance to the Paridae or Titmice, especially among the garruline birds ; the nature of this relationship will hereafter be adverted to. The features of the bristles of the bill, and the separation of the lateral and anterior scales by a narrow interval, are worthy of particular attention. The commissure is without the obtusely angular bend near the base, seen in the Icteridae. There are some genera of Corvidae with the nostrils not covered by bristly feathers, such as Psilorhinm, Gymnorhinus, GymnoTcitta, &c. There are two sub-families of Corvidae represented in America, one embracing the true crows, the other the jays. They pass very insensibly into each other, and it is difficult to mark the dividing line. We may, perhaps, restrict the Corvinae to such forms as have a long bill, equal to the head ; the tail short, and nearly even ; the wings long and pointed, considerably longer than the tail, the tip formed by the third, fourth, and fifth quills. The Garrulinae are birds of smaller size, shorter wings, which do not exceed the graduated tail, and are sometimes much shorter ; the tip of the wing formed by the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills. Where GymnoTcitta should come is a little uncertain, but probably among the true crows. In most genera of Corvidae the inner lateral claw is a little larger than the outer, and pro- jects beyond it; in the true crows they reach about to the same point; generally the lateral claws extend as far as the base of the middle one ; the hinder is longer. The row of small scales is usually present on both sides of the tarsi in the Corvinae, but in the jays is generally restricted to the inner face. Sub-Family CORVINAE. Ch.—Wings long and pointed ; longer than the tail, and, when closed, reaching nearly to its tip, extending far beyond the under tail coverts ; the third, fourth, and fifth quills forming the tip of the wing. The character given by Swainson of lateral toes equal in Corvinae and unequal in Garrulinae, is subject to much uncertainty of determination. The features mentioned above, if not defining a natural sub-family, at least apply well to three genera of North American Corvidae. The following diagnosis may serve to distinguish them. A. Nostrils large, covered by bristly feathers ; wings reaching the tip of the rounded tail. Corvus.—Color throughout black. Bill thickened ; culmen very much curved. Bristly feathers at base of bill half as long as culmen. Picicorvus.—Color, grayish. Wnigs and tail above, black; lateral feathers white. Bill slender, attenuated, decurved. Bristly feathers at base of bill one-fourth the culmen. B. Nostrils small, completely exposed; wings reaching to the posterior fourth of the nearly even tail. Gymnokitta.—Color, nearly uniform dull blue.BIRDS--CORVIDAE—CORVUS. 559 CORVUS, Linnaeus. Corvus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1735. Type Corvus corax, L. Ch__The nasal feathers lengthened, reaching to or beyond the middle of the bill. Nostrils large, circular, overhung behind by membrane, the edges rounded elsewhere. Rictus without bristles. Bill nearly as long as the tarsus, very stout; much higher than broad at the base ; culmen much arched. Wings reaching to or nearly to the tip of the tail. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, with a series of small scales on the middle of each side separating the anterior scutellate portion from the posterior con- tinuous plates. Side of the head occasionally with nearly naked patches. Tail graduated or rounded ; the outer four primaries sinuated internally. The true crows are readily distinguished from the other Corvidae by the characters assigned above, the Garruline forms, with long wings, being distinguishable by other characters. The feathers at the base of the bill completely conceal the nostrils, and extend over the basal half of the bill, or even more. The lateral toes are equal, and reach nearly to the base of the middle claw ; the hind toe a little further. The hind claw is a little shorter than its digit, but larger than the middle anterior claw. The lower parts of the postero-lateral plates of |he tarsus exhibits a few transverse scutellate divisions. The determination of the species of crows is a matter of much uncertainty, owing to the uniformity of their plumage, and the fact that it is difficult to find them with the feathers all fully developed at the same time. Nearly one half of all the specimens in the collection before me have some of the quills only partly grown out. There also appears to be much vari- ation in size with age and with locality, as well as in proportions, and I am inclined to think that, contrary to what has been observed to be the case in other families, the Corvidae of the same species in southern localities are larger than those from points further north. Should this be substantiated it may tend materially to reduce the number of North American species. Thus the Corvus cacalotl may be only a large southern carnivorus, the caurinus a northern, and var .floridanus a southern americanus. Four species are certainly permanently distinct: C. carnivorus, (7. cryptoleucus, (7. americanus, and C. ossifragus, whatever be the fate of the others. The following diagnosis may serve to distinguish the American crows from each other. A. Ravens.—Feathers of the chin and throat stiffened, elongated, narrow, lanceolate, and with their outlines very distinct. Length about 24.50 inches; wing about 17; tail, 10. Outer tail feathers about 1.60 to 1.90 inches shorter than the central one................................(7. carnivorus. Length about 24 inches ; wing near 18 ; tail, 10.50. Outer tail feather about 2,30 inches shorter than the central.*...................................................(7. cacalotl. Length about 21 inches; wing, 14; tail, 8.50. Outer tail feather about 1.25 inches shorter than the middle one. Feathers of the neck and breast pure snowy white at the base.................................................................(7. cryptoleucus. B. Crows.—Feathers of the chin and throat short, soft, broad, obtuse, and with the webs blended. Middle toe and claw rather shorter than the tarsus measured from the beginning of scu- tellae. Inner lateral claw reaching to the base of the middle. Black, with violet reflection on the belly. Length, 19.20 inches ; wing, 13 to 13.50 ; tail, 8 inches. (7. americanus. Similar to the preceding, but smaller. Length, 16 to 17 inches ; wing, 11 to 11.50 . tail about 8 inches.*.,......................................................(7. caurinus.560 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEYEYS---------ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. About tlie size of G. americanus of the north ; the tarsus much longer ; bill larger. 0. var. floridanus. Middle toe and claw decidedly longer than tarsus measured from the beginning of the scutellae. Inner lateral claw not reaching to the base of the middle. Black, with greenish reflection on the belly. Length 14 to 15 inches; wing, 10.50 ; tail, less than 1 inches.................................................................G. ossifragus. COR YUS OARNIYOBUS, Bar tram . American Raven. Corvus carnivorus, Bartram, Travels in E. Florida, 1793, 290. Corvus corax, Wilson, Am. Orn. IX, 1825, 136 ; pi lxxv, f. 3—Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 36.—Ib. Syn. 1828, 56.—Doughty, Cab. N. H. I, 1830, 270; pi. xxiv.—Rich. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 290.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 202.—Aud Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 476 ; pi. 101.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 150_: Ib. Birds Amer, IV, 1842, 78 ; pi. 224. Corvus cacalotl, “ Wagler,” ? Bonap. Pr. Zool. Soc. 1837, 115. (Perhaps true cacalotl.)—Ib. List, 1838. Probably not of Wagler.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 387.—Maximilian, Reise innere Nord Amer. II, 1841, 289. Does not consider it different from European.—Newberry, P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 1857, 82. Corvus lugubris, Agassiz, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. II, Dec. 1846, 188. Sp. Ch.—Fourth quill longest; third and fifth about equal ; second between fifth and sixth ; first nearly equal to the eighth. Length, about 24 or 25 inches ; extent, 50 to 51 ; wing, about 17 ; tail, 10. Tail moderately graduated ; the outer about 1.60 to 1.90 of an inch less than the middle. Entirely glossy black, with violet reflections. Hab.—Entire continent of North America. Rare east of the Mississippi. In this species the feathers of the head above and body are compact and blended ; those of the back of the neck are very smooth and even, but do not show the outlines of each separately as elsewhere. On the chin and throat the feathers are elongated and lanceolate, each one more or less pendent or free, with the outlines distinct to near the base. The bill is very long, (3 inches,) and considerably curved, the upper mandible extending considerably over the upper at the end. The feet appear very short and stout; the tarsi with but seven scutellae ; rather longer than the middle toe and claw ; the lateral claws about equal, and extending to a little beyond the base of the middle claw. The fourth quill is longest; the third about equal to the fifth ; the second considerably longer than the sixth ; the first about equal to the eighth primary. The distances in inches from the end of the longest primary to the tips of the others are as follows : > 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. 8th. 9th. 5186 5865 Upper Missouri Riley 5.65 5. 30 1. 60 1.50 .25 . 25 ------- .25 .29 2.80 2. 30 4. 35 3. 85 5. 45 5. 00 6. 40 5.70 The tail is quite considerably graduated, the ends of all the feathers being visible from below. The outer is about 1.66 inches shorter than the inner, in one specimen, (5865,) in another, it is 1.90, (5186.) The color is everywhere lustrous black, dullest on the belly and top of the head. There is generally a strong violet reflection on the lustrous feathers, more greenish t>n the outer primaries. In the series before me I find considerable variation in size and proportions, even in specimens from adjacent localities. Thus No. 5865, from Fort Riley, has the bill 1.08 inches high orBIKDS—CORVIDAE—COEVUS AMEEICANUS. 561 deep, while 5186, from the upper Missouri, has it only .91 of au inch. The amount of gradua- tion in the tail varies from 1.60 to 1.90 inches. A male bird, 5543, from Petaluma, California, compared with 5186, from Fort Randall, has a shorter wing, (one inch,) the first quill a little longer (equal to instead of a little shorter than the eighth.) In 5185, from the upper Missouri, however, the first quill is nearly a quarter of an inch longer than the eighth ; 6857, again, from Utah, has the first quill but little shorter than the seventh. In 4563, from Jamacha Ranch, California, the first quill is equal to the seventh. In fact, very few specimens exhibit precisely the same proportions of the quills, The southern specimens, upon the whole, appear smaller than northern, as will be seen by the table of measurements. No. 6856, from Steilacoom, has a curious attachment to the chin in the form of a curved horn, about an inch long, pendent from the middle of the chin between the rami of the maxilla, and about If inches from its point. As a general thing the thickness of the bill varies considerably ; the stoutest before me is from Fort Riley. Sometimes it is quite slender, especially in specimens from Oregon, where the upper mandible is more decurved, and its inferior edge much more concave than usual. This feature, however, is not seen in all, some being like the average of eastern specimens. I find it impossible to detect any tangible differences between the Pacific coast series and those from the Missouri, though it should be remarked that no comparisons are made with any from the Atlantic States, owing to the want of specimens, and that it is quite possible that the latter may be entirely distinct.1 In the next article I have separated a raven from Bill Williams' Fork of the Colorado of the west on account of its longer wings and more graduated tail. I am not very decided in the opinion that this is really distinct, and wait for further material to settle the question. In the accompanying table of measurements of the three ravens here described are columns numbered, successively, one to eight, and showing the progression of size of the different quills. Where two are in the same column it indicates that they are about equal. Thus No. 5185 has the third and fourth quills equal and longest, then, successively, come the fifth, second, sixth, seventh, first, and eighth.* The second is thus shorter than the fifth, but longer than the sixth ; the first shorter than the seventh, but longer than the eighth. The measurements of tarsus and middle toe cannot be regarded as very precise, the stiffness of the dried leg and the shortness of the basal joint of the toe, with its large overlapping scales rendering it very difficult to say where the tarsus ends and the toe begins. According to Prince Maximilian the only difference discernable to him between the European and American ravens is in the more slender bill of the latter. He finds the size, proportions, notes, and habits quite the same. I have not at hand specimens of the European raven for the purpose of making a critical comparison with our own, but most recent authors agree in considering them distinct, although Mr. Audubon maintained the contrary opinion. Bonaparte (though possibly with a Guatemala skin before him) states that in cacalotl the first quill is shorter than the seventh, the second and sixth equal, the third shorter than the 1 Since writing the preceding remarks I have had the opportunity of examining a skin of a raven from the coast of New Jersey, belonging to Mr. Lawrence. This is not in high plumage, the feathers without much lustre, and the indications generally are that it is a young bird just attaining maturity. Under the circumstances a fair comparison cannot readily be made. The first primary appears to be longer in proportion to the others ; the primaries generally broader, and more acutely pointed at the end. June 28, 1858. 71 bComparative measurements of species. 562 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUBVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. C © I 5 Qq£qq£qQq£qQQQQQQq5'Qq£ 00 05 05 I"- fr- l> 05 05 00 00 00 N h* N 05 00 05 05 oo r- oo oo t> CO 1> t*" to co co to to to to co to CO kO CO CO CM CM 03 CM CM CM CM CM CM ff! ff) « (S »o »o Co" ef kO kO «5 co' co' ft rTnirm TVTph. , 17.20 12.40 7.83 2.34 1 93 0.56 1.84 1.72 2.04 0.68 Dry ... do. do 19.50 36.00 13.00 Fresh , 10305 ? Tulare Valley 8 18.30 12.72 7 83 2.33 1.86 0.54 2.10 2.02 2.08 0.80 4 3,5 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry ,.. 10303? Ft. Vancouver,W. T. 17.10 ...... 12.10 7.74 2.25 1.90 0.56 1.80 1.73 1.99 0.72 4.5 3 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry ... 10304? Presidio, Cal 18.20 11.64 7.48 2.18 1.82 0.60 1.80 1.76 2.08 0.75 4 3,5 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry ... List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l .No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 4358 10092 9994 6919 6559 5192 5191 5190 5189 5188 10305 10304 6854? s VVaahir,gfnn D- O- ...... Feb. 13, 1855 Market 20 39.50 i ■«t,dot tm tItlt1 #tTT,#. J. C. McGuire Tpmnnt Tp , W. J. Shaw Nelson river, H. B.T Fort Riley, K. T ... 1857 Donald Gnnn...... Dr. W. A. Hammond 9 Vermilion river, Neb Fort Union Nph Oct. 25, 1856 July 19, 1856 111 % % t do. t t r Lieut. G. K. Warren Dr. Hayden do 19 19.50 37.00 36.00. 12.50 13.00 o o 0(J nnver W- V.T,T Gov. 1.1. Stevens 1 Dr. J. G. Cooper....... CORVUS AMERICANUS, var. FLORID ANUS, Baird. Florida Crow# Sp. Oh —About the size of C. americanus, but bill and feet larger. Tail less rounded. Third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal ; third rather longer than fifth. Color less violet above. Length, 19.50 ; wing, 12; tail, 7.70 ; tarsus, 2.60. Hab.— Southern peninsula of Florida. The reception of this bird, as the article on Corvus is going through the press, prevents any very elaborate criticism of its characters, but there are' so many peculiarities in it as clearly to show that it is, if not a distinct species from the common crow, at least a very remarkable variety. Although perhaps rather smaller than the O. americanus, the bill and feet, especially the latter, are very considerably larger. The nasal feathers extend over the basal two-fifths of the hill instead of the half. The proportions of the hill are about the same; in the Florida bird it is rather the longer. The greatest difference is in the feet. The tarsal joint of the tibia is bare, the feathers scarcely coming below it, even anteriorly, instead of projecting some distance. The tarsus is almost a quarter of an inch longer ; covered anteriorly by nine scutellae instead ofBIRDS---CORYIDAE—CORVUS GAURINUS. 569 eight. The outer lateral toe is shorter, not reaching the base of the middle claw. The middle toe and claw are considerably shorter than the tarsus ; the middle claw is shorter than in the northern bird. The wings formula differs somewhat; the third, fourth, and fifth quills are nearly equal, the third even longer than the fifth instead of shorter. The tail is short and very nearly even, the difference in length of feathers being less than half an inch instead of an inch. This, however, may in part be owing to the absence of the middle pair. The colors differ somewhat from those of the common crow. There is less violet, and the feathers of the back have almost a brassy gloss on their margins, as in Grotophaga. The specimen upon which these remarks are based, though apparently perfectly mature, is changing some of its feathers, such as the inner primaries, the middle tail feathers, and the greater coverts. The long primaries and ten tail feathers, however, are of full length. It is possible that the bird is really as large as the northern crow, although this is hardly probable. It was killed on the main land of the extreme southern portion of Florida, not far from Fort Dallas. No comparison of this bird is required with the fish crow, which has the middle toe and claw longer than the tarsus, not shorter, and the proportions much less. It is much larger than the curious little Corvus minutus of Cuba, a specimen of which has been supplied by Mr. Lawrence. The Corvus minutus1 is, of course, still smaller than the C. americanus, the bill stouter at the base ; tbe third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal and longest. The chin is more bristly, the feathers of the throat more distinctly defined. Although about the size of the fisb crow, it has much stouter bill and legs, and the tarsus is much longer than middle toe and claw, not shorter. The Corvus minutus and var. floridanus are more nearly allied in every respect than either is to C. americanus. Their measurement will be found in the accompanying table, the first specimen referring to the Florida bird, the second to the minutus. Bar tram, in his list of North American birds, (Travels in Florida,) mentions a “ Corvus maritimus, Great Seaside Crow," but without specifying locality or giving any description. If a Florida bird, it quite probably refers to the present species, which is doubtless quite maritime in its habits. Detailed measurements of species. Catalogue number. Locality. j Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill— Succession of quills from longest. Specimen measured. Along curve. In straight line. Gape. Height at base. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 10374 do, Florida (floridanus) $ . 19.50 15.10 36.00 12.30 12.00 10.00 7.68 2.60 1.90 0.52 2.10 1.94 2.22 0.80 4 3.5 2 7 8 ; i 9 Dry ... Fresh.. Dry.... Cuba, (minutus) . s 6.56 2.12 1.70 0.52 1.90 1.76 1.86 0.76 4 3.5 6 2 7 8 : 9 1 CORVUS CAURINUS, Baird. Northwestern Fish Crow. Sp. Ch.—Fourth quill longest; fifth and third about equal; second longer than sixth ; first shorter than ninth. Color black, glossed with purple. Tail nearly even. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Length about 16.50 inches ; wing about 11 ; tail about 7. Hah .-—Washington Territory and northwestern coast. By the above name I wish to indicate a small crow from the northwest coast, which, though 1 Corvus minutus, Gtundlach, Cabanis Journal fur Ornithologie, IY, March, 1856, 97. Cuba. June 39* 1858. 72 b570 U. S P. R. E» EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. not much like the eastern fish crow, appears to possess its peculiar habits. In all essential features it is like the common Corvus amtricanus; so much so, indeed, that but for the slight dif- ference in size it would he difficult to tell skins of the two apart. According to Drs. Cooper and Suckley, they are maritime, feeding on the sea beach at low tide, and coming about the settle- ments with considerable familiarity, being much less shy and suspicious than the common crow. The note, too, is said to be a little different. The species is readily distinguished from the eastern fish crow by the larger size, the absence of green gloss on the belly ; the tarsi longer than the middle toe and claw instead of shorter, and the second quill being generally shorter than the sixth instead of longer. It is so much like the Corvus americanus as to be only distinguishable by its inferior size and habits. Indeed, it is almost a question whether it be more than a dwarfed race of the other species. Crows from California and one from Vancouver (10303) agree, by their larger size, with the eastern Corvus americanus, and may thus be distinguished from the C. caurinus. Detailed measurements. Catalogue number. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. | Its claw alone. J Bill— Succession of quills from longest. i Specimen measured. 1 Along curve. In straight line. Gape. Height at base. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9811 Puget Sound .... 17.70 11.32 7.06 2.01 1.80 0.50 1.84 1.80 2.03 0.82 4 5.3 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry.... 10310 Fort Steilacoom.. 16.00 11.33 7.08 2.13 1.84 0.50 1.59 1.53 1.73 4 3.5 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry.... 10211 17.00 11.00 6.92 2 06 1.75 0.52 1.72 1.58 1.81 0.62 4 3.5 6 2 .7 8 9 1 Dry.... 10309 16.30 10.92 6.82 2.00 1.78 0.53 1.68 1.60 1.90 0.66 4 3.5 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry.... 10315 ....... do......... 3 10.90 6.70 2.10 1.88 0.53 1.78 1.70 1.98 0.70 4 3.5 6 2 ' 7 8 9 l Dry.... do 16.50 32.00 Fresh.. 10306 Shoal water bay.. .... 16.10 10.72 6.80 2.12 1.98 0.56 1.60 .1.56 1.90 0.64 4 3.5 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry do.. do 16.50 33 00 Fresh.. 10308 Fort Steilacoom.. 16.40 10.90 7.34 1.96 1.71 0.52 1.85 1.69 2.00 0.66 4 3.5 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry.... 10307 17.20 10.70 6.78 1.96 1.72 0.51 1.80 1.69 1.95 0.70 4 3.5 6 2 7 8 9 1 Dry.... List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained, Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. 9811 Simiahmoo bay, W. T. Dec. 20, 1857 A. Cnrnphell 87 Dr. TCermerly 10310 Steilacoom, W. T Feb. —, 1856 Dr. Suckley 230 10311 do April 25, 1856 _ _ . do 322 10308 _ _do__ March _do 241 10309 do February .do 231 10307 _do April 25, 1856 do 324 10312 A do do do 324 16. 50 32. 00 10306 vj Shoalwater bay, W. T. Sept. 14,1854 Dr Cooper „ 96 16. 50 33. 00 BIRDS—CORVIDAE—CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS. 571 CORVUS OSSIFRAGUS, Wilson. Fish Crow. Corvus ossifragus, Wilson, Am. Orn. V, 1812, 27 ; pi. xxxvii,f. 2.—Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 39.—Ib. Syn. 1828, 57.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850,385.—"Wagler, Syst. Avium, 1827, Corvus, No. 12,—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 216.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834,268: V, 479 ; pi. 146.—Ib. Syn. 1839, 151.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 94 ; pi. 226. Sp. Ch.—Fourth quill longest ; second rather longer than seventh ; first shorter than the ninth. Glossy black, with green and violet reflections; the gloss of the belly greenish. Length, about 15.50 inches; wing, 10.50; tail, less than 7 inches; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw. Hab.—South Atlantic (and Gulf?) coast. In this species the bill is shaped much as in the common crow, the upper outline perhaps a little more convex. The bristly feathers at the base of the bill reach nearly halfway to the tip. I find no bare space at the base of the lower mandible, although the feathers are not quite so thick there as in the common crow. The tarsus has eight transverse scutellae, and is decidedly shorter than the middle toe with its claw. The lateral claws do not reach within one-tenth of an inch of the base of the middle claw. The wings are long and acute ; the fourth is longest; next the third, fifth, second, and sixth; the first is about as long as the secondaries. The distances from the tip of the longest quill to each primary are as follows : Longest quill. 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. 8th. 9th. 4515 Washington 4th. 3.55 1.05 . 15 0. .25 1. 10 2. 10 2.85 3. 00 The four outer primaries are cut out on the inner web as in G. ctmericanus. The tail of the fish crow is nearly even, or only slightly rounded, the outer feathers about .40 of an inch less than the middle ones. The innermost tail feather has the webs on both sides nearly equal. This species is everywhere lustrous black, with a partly violet and partly green gloss on the back ; a decidedly green gloss on the belly. The fish crow of the Atlantic States is readily distinguishable from the common crow by the much smaller size, (16 inches instead of 20 ; wing about 11 inches instead of 13 ;) the bill is broader at the base and tapers more rapidly to the end ; the middle toe and claw are longer than the scutellate portion of the tarsus, not shorter, the inner claw not reaching to the base of the middle one. The tail is less rounded. The gloss on the belly is green instead of violet; that on the back is mixed with green, not entirely violet. Audubon and Wilson describe the fish crow as having a space bare of feathers at the base of the bill. This I have not found in any of the specimens before me, (all adult,) and am inclined to consider it a feature of the young, as shown in Mr. Audubon’s plate. In these adults the face is quite as fully feathered as ever in our common crow, which itself sometimes has the feathers in front of the eye, thickened and sparse.572 U. S. P. R. R EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Detailed measurements. Catalogue number. j i Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. The claw alone. Bill— Succession of quills from longest. Specimen measured. Along curve. [ On straight line. Gape. Height at base. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5, 6. 7. 8. 4515 Washington, D. C. 'CABAmsf Mus. Hein. 1851, 221. Same type. Ch.—Head without crest. Wings and tail blue, without any bands. Back with a gray patch, different from the head. Bill about as broad as high at the base, and the culmen a little shorter than the head. Nostrils large, nearly circular, and concealed. Tail shorter or nearly equal to the wings, lengthened, graduated. & This genus has much the general character of Gyanura or the blue jays, hut is readily distinguished by the absence of a crest and of black bars on the wings and tail. The wings generally are shorter ; the general characteristics, however, appear much the same. The G. ultramarina differs from the other species in having the wings considerably longer, or fully equal to the tail, which also is nearly even, instead of considerably graduated. Synopsis of species. Blue of sides of head extending over the sides of the breast to its middle. Chin, throat, and breast white; the feathers of the latter margined with blue. Interscapular gray patch conspicuously different from the head. A superciliary streak of white. Belly and under tail coverts dull white. Forehead blue. A well marked superciliary stripe.....................................................................G. californica. Belly light brownish ash ; under tail coverts blue. Forehead blue like the crown. Interscapular region glossed with blue. Superciliary stripe distinct.........G. woodhouseii. Belly brownish ash; under tail coverts blue. Forehead and sides of crown bluish hoary, conspicuously different from the blue crown, the superciliary stripe not well marked. G. floridana. Under parts without any bluish edges to the pectoral feathers ; breast bluish ash ; belly and crissum pure white. Interscapular region scarcely different from the remaining upper surfaces. Tail nearly even, considerably shorter than the wing...................G. ultramarina. Tail rounded, nearly as long as the wings..................................G. sordida. CYANOCITTA CALIFORNIA, Strickland. California Jay* Garrulus californicus, Vigors, Zool. Beechey’s Voyage, 1839, 21 ; pi. v. Cyanocitta californica, Strickland, Ann. Mag. XV, 1845, 342.—Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d series, I, Dec. 1847, 45.—Bon. Conspectus, 1850, 377.—Newberry, P. R. R. Rep. VI, iv, 1857, 85. Cyanocorax californicus, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ill, Ap. 1847, 201. Jlphelocoma californica, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 221.—Bon. Comptes Rendus, XXXVII, Nov. 1853, 828 ; Notes Orn. Delattre. Corvus ultramarinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 456 ; pi. 362. Not Garrulus ultramarinus, Bon. Garrulus ultramarinus, Aud. Syn. 1839, 154.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 115; pi. 232. Not of Bonaparte. Cyanocitta superciliosa, Strickland, Ann. Mag. XV, 1845, 260. Type of genus Cyanocitta. “ Corvus palliatus, Drapiez,” Bonap. Sp. Ch.—Width of bill at base ©f lower mandible rather more than half the length of culmen. Lateral tail feathers about an inch shortest. Tail an inch longer than the wings. General color above, including the surface of the wings, bright blue, without any bars. The whole back, including to some extent the interscapulars, brownish ash, very faintly glossed with blue in the adult. A streaked white superciliary line from a little anterior to the eye as far as the occiput. Sides of the head and neck blue, the region around and behind the eye, including lores and most of ear coverts, black. The blue of the sides of the neck extends across the fore part of the breast, forming a crescent, interrupted in the middle. The under parts anterior to theBIRDS—CORVIDAE—CYANOCITTA WOODHOUSEII. 585 crescent, white streaked with blue; behind it dull white; the sides tinged with brown. JLength, 12.25 ; wing, 5 ; tail, 6.15 ; tarsus, 1.55. (2841.) Hab.—Pacific coast from Columbia river south. Not in the interior. The forehead and nasal feathers are uniform blue with the crown. The blue extends on the fore part of the back ; it is scarcely found on the rump, although the upper tail coverts are like v the crown. There is no trace of blue on the belly, although a very faint wash is perceptible on the lower tail coverts. The blue streaks on and anterior to the pectoral collar are on the edges of the feathers, not the centres. I find considerable differences in size in different specimens of this bird. Thus, No. 8456, from San Francisco, measures nearly 14 inches; the wing, 5.25; the tail, 6,40. No. 8455, (male,) from Tejon Pass, on the contrary, measures 10.40 inches ; the wing, 4.65 ; the tail, 5.50. The more southern specimens are smaller, and have the ashy brown of the back less glossed with blue. In most specimens the tail feathers are nearly truncate ; in 2841, however, they are quite acute. In young birds the head is generally like the back, with only a faint shade of blue. There is a brownish pectoral collar, but no streaks of blue. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 2641 s Columbia river, O. T Oct. 11, 1834 S. F. Baird J. R. Townsend _ 8458 Bodega, Cal Jan. •—, 1855 Lt. Trowbridge ... T. A. Stfpi.hn 5542 $ Petaluma, Cal. E. Samuels 169 4225 San Francisco, Cal. .. Wint. 1853-’4 R. D. Cutts 5902 Santa Clara, Cal Dr. Cooper __ 5903 4949 San Jose, Cal. - A. J. Grayson- 6 8457 Presidio, Cal July 27, 1853 Lt. Trowbridge 3716 Monterey, Cal Aug. 24, 1857 W. Hutton 4565 San Pasqual, Cal Maj or Emory . _ _ 13 A Rehott 8455 s Tejon pass... Lt. Williamson Di\ Tfeermnnn Fort Tejon, Cal J. X. de Vesey. 8461 San Felipe, Cal. Major Emorv __ A. Sehntt 8462 Camp 149, Cal Mar. 16, 1854 Lt. Whipple 186 TCenn nnrl TVTaU • ctnu IiXUajl CYANOCITTA WOODHOUSEII, Baird. Woodhouse’s Jay. Sp. Ch.—Size and general appearance of C. californica. Graduation of tail one inch. Blue, with a very obscure ashy patch on the back. Sides of the head and neck and incomplete pectoral collar, blue ; throat streaked with the same. Breast and belly uniform brownish ash glossed with blue ; under tail coverts bright blue. Sides of head, including lores, black, glossed with blue below; a streaked white superciliary line. Length, 11.50 ; wing, 5.35 ; tail, 6.10 ; tarsus, 1.60. Hab.—Central line of Rocky mountains to table lands of Mexico. This species has so close a relationship to G. calif ornica that it may not seem proper to separate them, but the differences are readily perceptible in large series. All of the Rocky mountain July 15 1858. 74 b586 U. S. P. R. R. EXP, AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT specimens "have common characters in which they differ from California jays. The most striking of these differences is in the much "darker shade of the under parts, in which there is no white at all, except perhaps immediately around the anus. The under tail coverts are of a clear blue, almost as bright as that on the upper coverts, and there is a general faint gloss of blue beneath, especially along the middle of the body, while in californica there is only a faint trace of blue on the under coverts. The back is more strongly glossed with blue ; so much so as almost to take away the impression of any gray patch at all. The lores are quite black, without the mixture of hoary, seen in californica. The wing is rather longer in proportion ; the tail rather less graduated. The bill is more slender. A specimen, 8465, from Mexico, doubtfully referred here, is quite similar to those from the Rocky mountains; the tail is, however, rather less graduated, and the under tail coverts are white. There is little or no trace of the superciliary line of white spots. The bill is much shorter, broader, and more obtuse. List of specimens. Catal. No-* Sex. Locality. When collect- ed. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Extent. Stretch of wing. Wing. Remarks. 5035 8484 9345 8465? Independence Springs, N. M. “Fort Thorny N. M, T T,. Sept. 27,1855 Capt. J. Pope..., Dr. Henry 137 13,00 15.00 5.00 Bill and feet black; eye dark brown... San Francisco Mts.,N.M. Mcvipo Oct. 11,1851 Sept. —, 1836 Capt. Sitgreaves Dr. Woodhouse. John fJonld John Taylor... CYANOCITTA FLORIDANA, Bonap. Florida Jay. Corvus Jioridanus, Bartram, Travels, 1791, 291.—Aud. Orn. Biog. 1, 1831, 444 ; pi. 87. Garrulus jloridanus, Bon. Am. Orn. II, 1828, 11; pi. xi.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 230.—Aud. Syn. 1839,154.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 118; pi. 233. CyanurusJloridanus, Swainson, F. B. A. II, 1831, 495. Cyanocorax Jloridanus, Bon. List, 1838. Cyanocitta Jloridanat Bon. Consp. 1850, 377. Jlphelocoma Jloridana, Cabanis, Mus Hein. 1851, 22. Garrulus cyaneus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XII, 1817, 476. (Not described.) ? Garrulus caerulescens, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XII, 1817, 480.—Ord. J. A. N. Sc. I, 1818, 347. Pica caerulescens, Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, Pica, No. 11. Sp. Ch.—Tail much graduated ; lateral feathers more than one inch shortest Tail an inch longer than the wings. Above blue ; middle of the back brownish ash. Forehead and sides of the crown, including the nasal feathers, hoary white. Sides of head and neck, blue ; the former tinged with blackish, the latter sending a streaked collar of the same across the breast; region anterior to this collar dirty white streaked on the edges of the feathers with blue; rest of under parts dirty whitish brown ; under tail coverts blue, the tibia tinged with the same. Length, 10.50 ; wing, 4.40 ; tail, 5.70 ; tarsus, 1.45. This species is very similar to the Rocky mountain G. woodhouseii in the color of the under parts, including the brown belly, the blue crissum, the pectoral band, &c. The back, however, is much lighter and better defined grey, more so even than in G. californica. It differs from both species in the hoary on the forehead and sides of the crown, and in the absence of the superciliary line of white spots, as also in being considerably smaller.BIRDS—CORVIDAE--CYANOCITTA SORDID A. 587 List of specimens. Gatal. 3STo. Locality. Whence obtained. 1919 Florida S. F. Baird CYANOCITTA SOKDIDA, Baird. Garrulvs sordidus, Swainson, Philos. Mag. I, June, 1827, 437.—Ib. Zool. 111. N. S. tab. lxxxvi. Cyanogarrulus sordidus, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 378. Aphelocoma sordida, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 221. Pica sieberi, Wagler, Syst. Avium 1827, Pica, No. 23. Sp. Ch.—Bill short; thick ; half as high as long. Wings about as long or but little longer than the tail, which is graduated .85 of an inch. Above and on sides of head and neck bright blue, scarcely duller in the middle of the back. Beneath white ; the throat and breast tinged with very faint bluish, especially across the latter. Tibial feathers dull bluish ash ; crissum white, the tips of posterior feathers very faintly tinged with bluish grey. Length, 13 inches ; wing, 6.60 ; tail, 6.60 ; tarsus, 1.65 ; culmen, 1.00; height of bill at base .45. Hab — Mimbrer'* ^gion of Rocky mountains, and south to table lands of Mexico. Fourth and fifth quills longest, sixth little shorter; second quill a little longer than the secondaries. Tail lengthened, about equal to or a little shorter than the wings. Lateral feathers about .85 of an inch shorter than the middle. This species is very much like the G. ultramarina, having precisely the same coloration, except that the upper surface of the tail is more blue, and the middle of the back more like the rest of the upper surface. The form is, however, very different; the hill is much thicker at the base and the gonys curved nearly as much as the culmen, instead of much less. The size is larger, and while the wings are nearly the same length, the tail is an inch longer, and is decidedly graduated by almost an inch, instead of not more than one-fourth as much. The adult specimen described above is from Mexico, kindly furnished by Mr. Jules Verreaux, the only government skin before me being an immature bird from Fort Webster. This measured when fresh 13 inches; extent, 19 ; wing, 6.50; the tail about the same. The general style of coloration when mature is doubtless that of C. ultramarina, in the continuous blue of the upper surface, slightly duller on the back. The under parts are equally destitute of a pectoral collar or stripes; but the entire anterior half gives promise of being light blue, passing behind into pale ashy blue, more whitish about the anus. It differs from G. ultramarinus in the more graduated tail, the lateral feathers .75 of an inch shorter, larger size, especially of the tail; which is equal to the wing instead of shorter. There is more blue on the throat and breast, and a decided tinge of the same behind and under the wings. The lower mandible is yellowish at the base? bluish toward the tip. This bird appears to be the same with that described by Swainson as Garrulus sordidus, and by Wagler as Pica sieberi, apparently from the same specimen. I do not understand why the latter name should be preferred by some authors, as the date of publication is the same (1821 ;) while Swainson made his description from the specimen while in Bullock’s Museum of Mexican curiosities, before its dispersion, and Wagler after the collection in question had been broken up, and the specimen passed into Mr. Leadbeater’s hands.588 U. S. P. R. R EXP AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. • List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 8469 9095 3 3 Copper'Mines, N. M__ Mexico - 1851 Col. Graham M. Verreaux 8 17237 J. H. Clark 13. 00 19. 00 6. 50 CYANOCITTA ULTRAMARINA, Strickl. Ultramarine Jay. Garrulus ultramcirinus, Bonap. J. A. N. Sc. IV, 1825, 386. Not of Audubon. Cyanocitta ultramarina, Strickland, Ann. & Mag. XV, 1845, 260.—Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Ser. I, 1847, 45. Cyanogarrulus ultramarinus, Bon. Consp. 1850, 378 ; quotes PI. Col. 439. Sp. Ch.—Tail rounded, but little graduated ; lateral feather about a quarter of an inch shortest. Wings longer than the tail? when closed reaching nearly to its middle. Above and on sides of head and neck bright blue ; the lores blackish ; the middle of the back slightly duller, the tips of some of the feathers dark brown. Beneath brownish ash, paler on the chin and towards the anal region, which, with the crissum, is white. No trace of white or black on the sides of the head, nor of any streaks or collar on the breast. Length, (fresh,) 11.50 ; wing, 6 ; tail, (dried,) 5.40 ; tarsus, 1.50. Hah.—South side of valley of Rio Grande, near the coast, and southward. This well marked species is quite different in form from the (7. californica, having a shorter, more even tail, much longer wings, and stouter feet. The absence of any collar or streaks on the breast and throat, of black or white on the side of the head, and of decided ash on the back, are very well marked features. There is also much more green in the blue of the head. I am in considerable doubt whether this is the original Garrulus ultramarinus of Bonaparte, as the latter appears to be much larger than Lieut. Couch's bird ; the length amounting to 13 inches; the tail, 7 inches; the bill, 1,50 inches. The closed wings reach almost to the middle of the tail, which is perfectly even at the tip. Gambel says the wing is 7 inches long ; the tail, 6.75 ; tarsus, 1.75. The measurements given in Conspectus Avium, of length 11 inches, wing 5f, answer much better to the species here described. Should there be two species, therefore, and the smaller be not named, I shall propose to call it G. couchii, in honor of its indefatigable discoverer, Lieut. D. N. Couch, of the United States army, who, at his own risk and cost, undertook a journey into northern Mexico when the country was swarming with bands of marauders, and made large collections in all branches of zoology, which have furnished a great amount of information respecting the natural history of our borders and the geographical distribution of the vertebrata generally. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4112 3 Monterey, Mex Lt. Conch 156 11.50 18. 00 6. 00 Eyes dark brown ; bill and feet bl’k. 4113 S do April—, 1853 d0 157 11. 50 18. 00 6. 60 *BIRDS-CORVIDAE— XANTHOURA LUXUOSA. 589 XANTHOURA, Bonaparte. Xanthoura, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1850. Type Corvus peruvianus, Gm. Ch.—Head without crest. Throat black. Lateral tail feathers bright yellow. Bill very stout; rather higher than broad ; eulmen curved from the base. Nostrils rather small, oval, concealed. Tail longer than the wings ; graduated. The wings concave, rounded ; the secondaries nearly as long as the primaries. Legs very stout; hind claw about half the total length of the toe. This genus is most easily to be recognized by the prevailing green color of the body, the blue head, black throat, and yellow outer tail feathers. The bill is stouter and larger than in any of our other jays, and the eulmen more curved. The chief peculiarity of form is seen in the wings, in which the primaries are remarkably short, scarcely longer than the longest secondaries and tertials. They thus reach only about as far as the end of the upper tail coverts instead of much beyond them, a character quite peculiar among American Corvidae, except approximately in Psilorhinus• XANTHOURA LUXUOSA, Bonap. Rio Grande Jay. Garrulus luxuosus, Lesson, Rev. Zool. April 1839, 100. Cyanocorax luxuosus, Dubus, Esquisses Ornithologiques, iv, 1848 ; pi. xviii.—Cassin, llluat. I, 1853, I; pi. 1. Xanthoura luxuosa, Bon. Consp. 1850, 380.—Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 224. Pica chloronota, Wagler, Isis, 1829, 750. Young male. Name belongs to Corvus peruvianus, Gm. Cyanocorax cyanicapillus, Cabanis, Fauna Peruana, 1844-’46, 233. (Note.) Cyanocorax yucas} “ Boddaert,” Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. V, April, 1851, 115. First added here to fauna o United States. Name belongs to the C. peruvianus. Sp. Ch.—Wings shorter than the tail, which is much graduated, the lateral feathers 1.25 inches shorter. Above green ; beneath yellow, glossed with green ; inside of wings and outer four tail feathers straw yellow ; rest of tail feathers green, glossed with blue. Sides of the head, and beneath from the bill to the fore part of the breast, velvet black. Crown, nape, and a short maxillary stripe running up to the eye and involving the upper eyelid, brilliant blue ; the nostril feathers rather darker ; the sides of the forehead white. Bill black ; feet lead color. Length, 11 inches ; wing, 4.75 ; tail, 5.40 ; tarsus, 1.65. Hob.—Yalley of Rio Grande, of Texas, and southward. The blue maxillary patch is broadly truncated behind. The feathers of the forehead are yellowish at base. The green of the back is not uniform, but is glossed in the middle of the back with blue ; not so deep as that of the middle tail feathers. The feathers of the under parts are all yellow at base, which shows through the green, and is particularly distinct on the middle of the belly, and just below the black of the jugulum. The tibia are chiefly yellow. The white of the forehead borders the black as far as above the eye ; that of opposite sides meets along the middle of the forehead, but is there less conspicuous. Another specimen, 8365, is of a bright yellowish green above, with less blue on the tail. The blue of the head is much lighter, without any purplish shade; the light frontal bar is yellowish rather than white. There is more yellow visible beneath.11 In all the specimens I have seen, however, the green of the under parts is very decided. The description of Garrulus luxuosus by Lesson omits mention of the white frontal band. This species is closely related to Xanthoura peruviana, which, however, is pure yellow beneath, has a white patch on the crown, and is, besides, considerably larger. The X. guatemalensis} with a somewhat similar crown, has the abdomen bright yellow.590 U. S. P. E E. EXP. AND SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. List of specimens. Catab No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Length. Stretch of wings Wing. Remarks. 8365 Rio Grande, Tex Oct. 2, 1855 A. Schott 8357 Matamoras- L. Berlandier ...... 4052 3 N. Leon, San Diego- Mar. —, 1853 Lt. Couch 118 11.00 14. 25 4. 75 Eyes dark brown; feet lead color. 9094 Mexico M. Verreaux 29883 PERISOREUS, Bo nap. Perisoreus, Bonap. Saggio di una dist. met. 1831.- Type Corvus canadensis ? Dysornithia, Swainson, F. B. Am. II, 1831, 495. Same type. Ch.—Feathers lax and full, especially on the back, and of very dull colors, without any blue. Head without distinct crest. Bill very short; broader than high. Culmen scarcely half the length of the head ; straight to near the tip, then slightly curved ; gonys more curved than culmen. Bill notched at tip. Nostrils round, covered by bristly feathers. Tail about equal to the wings ; graduated. Tarsi rather short; but little longer than the middle toe. This genus includes the species of dullest colors among all of our jays. It has, too, the shortest bill, and with this feature bears a very strong resemblance in many respects to some of the titmice. The dates of the two names mentioned above are the same, but as Gray finds Perisoreus to possess actual priority I follow him in this, not having a copy of the “ Saggio’ ’ at hand. PERISOREUS CANADENSIS, Bonap. Canada Jay. Corvus canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 158.—Forster, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 382.—Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 33 ; pi. xxi.—Bon. Obs. 1824, No. 42.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 53 : V, 1839, 208 ; pi. 107. Garrulus canadensis, Bon, (Saggio, 1831?) Syn. 1828, 58.—Swainson, F.gBor. Am. II, 1831, 295.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 232.—Aud. Syn. 1839, 155.—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 121 ; pi. 234. Dysornithia canadensis, Swainson, F. Bor Am. II, 1831. Appendix. Perisoreus canadensis, Bon. List, 1838.—Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 375.—Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 219.—Newberry, Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857, 85. Garrulus fuscus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XII, 1817, 479. Pica nuchalis, Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827. Pica No. 14. Garrulus trachyrrhynchusy Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 296 ; pi. Iv. Young. “ Coracias mexicanusy Temminck,” Gray. Sp. Ch.—Tail graduated ; lateral feathers about one inch shortest. Wings a little shorter than the tail. Head and neck, and fore part of breast white. A plumbeous brown nuchal patch, becoming darker behind, from the middle of the crown to the back, from which it is separated by an interrupted whitish collar. Rest of upper parts ashy plumbeous ; the outer primaries margined, the secondaries, tertials, and tail feathers obscurely tipped with white. ^Beneath smoky gray." Crissura whitish. Bill and feet black. Length, 1040 ; wing, 5.75 ; tail, 6.00 ; tarsus, 1.40. Hob.—Northern America into the northern parts of United States from Atlantic to Pacific ; more south in Rocky mountains. The young of this species are everywhere of a dull sooty brown, lighter on the middle of the belly, and more plumbeous on the wings and tail. With increasing age the region about the base of the hill whitens, and this color gradually extends backwards until the whole head, excepting the occiput and nape, is white. The under parts are sometimes whiter than in the typical specimens.BIRDS—CORVIDAE—PSILORHINUS 591 List of specimens. 3atal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 530 N^rth^rn TTniffid Rentes, , t.. S. F. Baird 1920 o TVIirmpsntn Oct. 6. , N, W. University. R. Kennicott. 8850 o Rlack Hills,,,,, , ,, Sept. 13...... Tit. Warren Dr. Hayden.... 10.25 16.25 5.50 Iris brown 8854 V o t t % t n„ rjn. •, * t • T^ t.. Oct. 1 do do 10.25 17.00 5.50 8848 V o do. ..tttT..TTr Sept. 13..... do 11.25 18.50 6.00 Tris brown 8852 V Sept. 27 do 11.00 16.50 5.50 Eye black. 8849 do Oct. 1....... 11.00 17.12 5.75 8851 do.. . T. „, Sept. 27 11.25 17.50 5.50 8855 Oct. 1 10.75 15.50 5.50 8858 do 8847 ai Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. t Tail. Tarsus. 1 j Middle toe, i Its claw alone. ' Hind toe and claw. Hind claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 4114 Psilorhinus morio...... China, New Leon Q 15.20 7.16 8.53 1.80 1.48 0.44 1.42 1.48 1.20 0.56 Skin do. 15.17 22.00 7.12 Fresh 4116 Boqnilln, Mexico A 16.60 7.70 8.37 1.81 1.50 0.46 1,47 1.50 1.24 0.56 Skin . T ., T , do. vJ 16.00 24.00 8.00 Fresh ...., 4115 San Diego, New Leon 15.70 7.56 8.54 1.82 1.50 0.46 1.46 1.48 1.17 0.56 Skin , 1254 Caloeitta bullockii* .... Lower California 20.20 7.23 12.50 1.72 1.50 0.52 1.45 1.60 1.14 0.54 Skin Not of Audubon.592' U. 8. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT, PSILORHINUS MQRIO, Gray. Pica morio; Wagler, Isis, 1829, vii, 751.—Ib. Isis, 1831, 527.—Voyage de la Favorite, V, 1839, 54. Said to have been killed at San Francisco, Cal. by Botta. Psilorhinus movie > Gray, List, genera, 1841, 51.—Bonap. Consp. 1850, 381.—Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 226. “ Picafuliginosa, Lesson, Traite d’Orn. 1831, 333.” * Psilorhinus mexicanus, Ruppell, Mus. Senck. 1837 ; pi. xi, f. 2. • * Sp. Ch.—Tail much graduated ; the lateral feathers about two inches shortest. Second quill equal to the secondaries; third and fourth longest. General color dark smoky brown, becoming almost black on the head ; the breast brownish gray ; nearly white about the anus ; under tail coverts tinged with brown; the exposed portion of the tail with a decided gloss of blue ; bill and feet, ih some specimens, yellow, in others black. Length, 16.00 inches ; wing, 8.00 ; tail, 8.25 ; tarsus, 1.80. Hah.—Rio Grande valley of Texas southward. The difference in the color of the bill appears to be independent of sex. The feet of the yellow-billed birds are not of the same pure yellow. The Psilorhinus mexicanus of Riippel is described as having white tips to the tail feathers ; of these there is no trace in the adult specimens, male and female, before me. He speaks of a supposed young bird sent from Tamaulipas, by Lindheimer, as being without these white tips. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex.- Locality. Whence obtained. Grig. No. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4116 A Boquillo TVTcx Lieut. Cmic"h_ _ _ 4117 o o do do 140 16. 75 24. 00 7. 75 Bill and feet yellow ...» 4118 Sau Diego flfl.l __do 109 4114 9 China, N. Leon, Mex-„ 98 15. 25 22.00 7. 25 Eye black, bill slate, feet slate. The following species of jay have been improperly assigned a place in the fauna of the United States. 1. Calocitta colliaei, G-ray. Pica colliaei, Vigors, Zool. Jour. IV, Jan. 1829, 353.—Ib. Zool. of Blossom, 1839, 22 ; pi. vi. Oorvus bullockii, Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 483 ; pi. xcvi. Not Pica bullochii of Wagler. Pica bullockii, Aim. Syn. 1839, 152.—Ib. Birds Am IV, 1842, 105 ; pi. 229. This species belongs to the west coast of Mexico, and is erroneously credited to California and Oregon. 2. Cyanocorax geoeeroyi, Bonap. Cyanocorax geoffroyi, Bon. Rev. et Mag. Zool. II, 1850, 564. California. Not of United States. 3. ClSSILOPHA SANBL ASIAN A, Bon. Garrulus sanblasianus, Laer. Mag. Zool. 1842, Ois. tab. xxviii. Voyage de la Venus. Cissilopha sanblasiana, Bon. Consp. 1850, 380. Belongs to San Bias, Mexico. 4. Cyanocitta beecheyii, Bon. Pica beecheyii, Vigors, Zool. Jour. IV, Jan. 1829, 352.—Ib. Zool. of Blossom, 1839, 22; pi. vi.—Voyagede la Favorite, V, 1839, 52 ; pi. xx. Said to have been collected in California by Botta. Cyanocitta beachii} Bon. Consp. 1850, 378. Collected on the west coast of Mexico. (Montereale.)ORDER IY. RASORES. Ch.—Bill not longer than the head ; the terminal portion more or less vaulted, hard, with or without a soft skin intervening between it and the head. Nostril with an overlapping fleshy or leathery scale or valve extending over its upper edge. In the table on page 2 of the present report I have given a synoptical view of such orders as belong to the United States, borrowed chiefly from Keyserling and Blasius. This, however, will be found to contain several important errors, especially in reference to the position of the hind toe. This is stated to he raised above the level of the rest in Basores, Grallatores, and Naiatores, and such is generally the case; hut in the Columbae and Penelopidae, of the first order, and the Ardeadae, of the second, it is inserted either nearly or quite opposite the others. This is only one of the many illustrations of the difficulty of expressing the characters of the primary groups in ornithology by a single concise phrase, the transition from one to the other being so gradual as to render it almost impossible to say where one ends and another begins. In the table just referred to, and in the arrangement and succession of the higher divisions of the volume, I have not pretended to follow the more recent ideas of Bonaparte and others. My object was merely to indicate the North American species of birds, especially those collected by the government expeditions, with their range and distribution, and not to attempt any of the higher generalizations. For this reason I have followed the older division into orders, although that of Bonaparte in many respects is more philosophical. This author arranges birds into two sub-classes, called Altrices and Praecoces, accordingly as their young require to be brought up in the nest, or are able to run about immediately after birth and gather food for themselves. Each of these sub-classes is divided into orders, which range in parallel series, as shown in the accompanying table, taken from volume XXXYII of Gomptes Rendus, for October 31, 1853. It will be seen from the table that the Inepti (dodo, &c.,) of the Altrices represent the Stru- thiones (ostriches) of the Praecoces; the Gyrantes, or true doves, the gallinaceous birds ; the Herodiones, or herons, &c,, the Grallae (sandpipers, snipes, &c.); the Gaviae, or gulls, pelicans, &c., the Anseres, (ducks, grebes, penguins, &c.) The parallelism in this case corresponds, to a certain degree, with that which prevails in the mammals between the Marsupiata and the Placentalia, and the time will probably come when naturalists will as little think of mixing up the Altrices and Praecoces in the same order, as they now do a similar combination of the marsupial and non-marsupial mammals. The position of the hind toe seems to have a direct relationship to the mode of life of the bird. Those species which live on or among trees, and especially which nest and bring up their young there, have the hind toe elongated, and placed low down more or less on a level with the anterior ones, apparently to facilitate prehension. Such we see to be the case in the herons, and a few other arboricole waders, and in the Penelopidae and Megapodidae of the gallinaceous birds. Some of the doves exhibit a tendency to an elevation of the hind toe ; this, at any rate, appears to be the case in Starnoenas. July 1* 1858* 75 b594 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY--GENERAL REPORT. As already remarked, however, I shall not attempt to introduce any special innovation in the usual arrangement of the orders of American birds, but merely indicate what has been done by more modern writers. The combination of Golumbae and Gallinae in one order, (after Keyserling and Blasius,) is an unnatural one in some respects, but it makes little difference in the present case. Both have a peculiar character of plumage ; the feathers large and coarse, the shafts thickened, and inserted by a fine point, so as to be easily detached. Both have the short bill ; the hard vaulted apex of the bill, with its blunt point, and the nostril protected by a fleshy or leathery, sometimes tumid, scale, projecting over its upper edge, except in the Crypturidae and Megapodidae, where the nostrils are elongated and open. This latter exception is another instance of the difficulty of expressing the peculiarities of a group by a single character. The following characters will serve, in a general way, to distinguish the Golumbae from the Gallinae. * Golumbae.—Hind toe on the same level with the rest, and short. Toes free, or the membrane, when present, extending only between the middle and outer toes. Legs weak. Nasal valve and skin at base of bill soft. Feathers of forehead extending in a point on the base of bill along the culmen. Gallinae.—Hind toe usually elevated above the level of the rest; when on the same level much lengthened. Toes generally connected at base by a membrane. Legs very stout, and sometimes greatly lengthened. Nasal valve and base of bill hard. Feathers of forehead parted by the backward extension of the culmen. Table of orders of birds, ivith their parallelism, according to Bonaparte. ALTBICES. I. PSITTACI. American, II. Accipitres. III. Passeres. Old World: Oscines, XV. Golumbae. Inepfi. Gy r antes. . Volucres. V. Herodxones. VI. Gaviab. PKAECOCES. VII. Struthiones. VIII. Gallinae. Passeripedes, IX. Grallae. A Grallipedes. Cursoies, X. Anseres. Alectorides. Totipalmi, Longipennes. Lameilirostres, Urinatores, Ptilopteri.SUB-ORDER COLUMBAE. Ch.—The basal portion of the bill covered by a soft skin, in which are situated the nostrils, overhung by an incumbent fleshy valve5 the apical portion hard and convex. The hind toe on the same level with the rest ; the anterior toe without membrane at the base. Tarsi more or less naked ; covered laterally and behind with hexagonal scales. The preceding diagnosis expresses sufficiently the chief characters of this sub-order, or rather order, divided by Bonaparte into two tribes, one Pleiodi, including Didunculus, of Peale, the other Gyrantes, or true doves. The Gyrantes are divided by the same author into Treronidae, Columbidae, Caloenidae, and Gouridae, characterized as follows : Treronidae.—Bill robust, tumid ; rictus ample. Feet short, thick, half feathered ; toes fleshy ; claws strong, hooked. Tail feathers, 14. Feathers soft, without metallic lustre ; prevailing color green ; wing with a yellow band. The species are frugivorous and arboreal. They are confined entirely to the old world, and are especially abundant in the islands of the Pacific. Columbidae.—Bill horny at the tip. Tail feathers 12 ; only occasionally 14. Head smooth. Universally distributed. Caloenidae.—Bill lengthened ; cere swollen ; cervical feathers elongated, acute, pendulous. Dorsal accuminate. Tail feathers 12. The single species, Galoenas nicobariea, confined to the East India islands. Gouridae.—Head conspicuously crested ; tail feathers 16. The two species confined to New Guinea. The bill of the Columbae is always shorter than the head, thinnest in the middle ; the basal half covered by a soft skin ; the apical portion of both jaws hard ; the upper very convex, blunt, and broad at the tip, where it is also somewhat decurved. There is a long nasal groove, the posterior portion occupied by a cartilaginous scale, covered by a soft cere-like skin. The nostrils constitute an elongated slit in the lower border of the scale. The culmen is always depressed and convex. The bill is never notched in the true doves, though Didunculus shows well defined serrations. The tongue is small, soft, and somewhat fleshy. The wing has ten primaries, and eleven or twelve, rarely fifteen, secondaries, the latter broad, truncate, and of nearly equal length. The tail is rounded or cuneate, never forked. The tarsus is usually short, rarely longer than the middle toe, scutellate anteriorly, and with hexagonal plates laterally and behind ; sometimes naked. An inter-digital membrane is either wanting entirely, or else is very slightly indicated between the middle and outer toes.1 The valuable monograph of Bonaparte in the second part of Conspectus Avium renders the task of arranging the American Columbae in proper sequence and of determining their synonomy comparatively easy. He divides the family Columbidae, the only one with representatives in the new world, into Lopholaeminae, Columbinae, Turturinae, Zenaidinae, and Phapinae, the second and fourth alone occurring in North America. They may be briefly distinguished as follows : Columbinae.—Tarsi shorter than the lateral toe ; feathered above. Zenaidinae.—Tarsi stout, lengthened, longer than the lateral toes ; entirely bare of feathers. ^he preceding general remarks are taken chiefly from Burmeister, Thiere Brasiliens, Vogel, II, 289.536 U. S. P. E. K. EXP. AND SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. Sub-Family COLUMBINAE. Tarsi stout, short, with transverse scutellae anteriorly; feathered for the basal third above, but not at all behind. Toes lengthened, the lateral decidedly longer than the tarsus. Wings lengthened and pointed. Size large. Tail feathers 12. This section of doves embraces the largest North American species, and among them the more arboreal ones. The genera are as follow : Columba*—Head large ; tail short, broad, and rounded. Columba.— Lateral toes equal; bill rather short, stout. , Patagioenas.—Inner lateral toe the longer ; bill lengthened, compressed. Ectopistes.—Head very small; tail much lengthened, cuneate. Comparative measurements of species. Cat’! No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length Stretch of wings Wings. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimens measured. 8-123 Cnlnmha faspiata Simiahmoo bay . (Not Penelope poliocephala, Wagler, Isis, 1830, 1112.) Sp. Ch.—Body above dark greenish olive ; beneath brownish yellow, tinged with olive. Head and upper part of neck plumbeous. Tail feathers lustrous green, all tipped with white, except the middle one. Feathers along the middle of the throat black ; outer edge of primaries tinged with gray. Eyes brown. Bill and feet lead colored. Length, 23.50 ; wing, 8.50 ; tail, 11. The bill of this species is rather long and considerably decurved anterior to the nasal groove ; the commissure curved almost as much as the culmen. The tarsus is about equal to the middle toe ; the anterior half covered by a series of large transverse scutellae, with another series on each side meeting behind in a sharp ridge, except superiorly. These lateral series are separated from the anterior by a narrow strip of skin. The outer toe is rather longer than the inner ; the claw falling considerably short of the middle claw. Hind toe without its claw about one-third the middle toe and claw ; it is situated on the same level with the others. The feathers of the head are lengthened and pointed, producing a decided full crest. The side of the head is naked to behind the eyes; the chin is naked, with rather more than the central third longitudinally covered by black feathers, with stiffened shafts and abbreviated vanes. The tail is longer than the wings, broad and graduated; the lateral feather about three-fourths the middle, The secondary quills are long and broad, fully as long as the primaries. The wing is concave and much graduated ; the first and second quills much shorter than the secondaries. * I feel considerable uncertainty as to the specific name of the subject of the present article. The 0. vetula1 is said to be olivaceous ; the head and ears slaty gray ; the flanks, crissum, and tibia, brownish; the epigastrium and belly somewhat rufous; the tail feathers above bronze green, with white tips. The length, 18 inches ; longest tail feathers, 9.17 ; the shortest, 6.50. The adult O. poliocephala2 is olive gray; the head and upper part of neck slate color; the epigastrium, middle of belly, and tibia, white; the flanks and crissum fulvous; the tail feathers bronzed black, tipped with fulvous. The young has the head and occiput slate gray ; epigastrium, belly, and tibia brownish rufous; the tail like the adult, (tipped with fulvous.) Length, 23 inches ; tail, 11 inches. The specimen before me agrees with neither species as described by Wagler. It is most like the young of O. poliocephala as to size and general color, but the tail is tipped with white in all 1 Penelope vetula, Wagler, Isis, 1830, 1112, No. 14. Mexico. 2 Penelope poliocephala, Wagler, Isis. 1830, 1112, No. 15, Mexico.612 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. ages instead of the fulvous, so strongly insisted on by Wagler as occurring in both old and young. The size is considerably larger than that of 0. vetula; the flanks, tibia, and crissum are more fulvous than brownish, and the entire head and upper part of the neck are slaty instead of the head and ears only. More adult specimens than the one before me are said to be generally of a brownish olive, darker on the head, (probably somewhat slaty;) the breast and belly light rufous, with longitudinal whitish pencillings ; as nothing is said of the tibia, they are probably not white, but like the flanks. The irids are dark hazel; the naked skin of the chin orange red and loose. Upon the whole, I am inclined to believe that this bird is distinct from both vetula and poliocephala, and therefore propose for it the name of McCallii, after Colonel McCall, late inspector general of the United States army, whose admirable biographies of the animals of Texas and New Mexico have added so much to our knowledge of their natural history. His notes on the present species in Cassin’s Illustrations (I, 268) furnish all on record of its habits, and from his description has been derived the preceding account of the colors of the adult. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Length. Stretch of wings Wing. 14106 s Boquilla, New Leon Spring of 1853 Lieut. Couch - 137 23. 50 26.25 . 8.50 1 Eyes brown ; bill blue, lead color, and slate ; feet lead color.BIRDS—PHASIANIDAE—MELEAGRIS. 613 Family PHASIANIDAE. Ch.—Bill moderate; the legs, toes, and nasal fossae, bare ; the tarsus usually with one or more spurs, in the male. The hind toe elevated above the level of the others. Tail feathers more than twelve. Faei generally more or less naked. Of the entire family of Phasianidae, as above described, but a single genus, Meleagris, belongs to America, the others being found entirely in the Old World. It includes the different pheasants, Jungle fowl, the domestic chicken, the turkeys, the peacocks, and other well known birds, among them by far the most important and interesting species domesticated by man. The precise limits of the family vary with different authors, Gray making five sub-families, Pavoninae, Phasianinae, Gallinae, Meleagrinae, and Lophophorinae; while Bonaparte has quite a different arrangement. The family Numidinae of Beichenbach is equivalent to Meleagrinae of Gray, with the addition, however, of almost another entire family, Tinamidae, of the same author, the members all South American. It is not my place to attempt a reconciliation of these differing views of classification, although the association of Meleagris with Tinamus and others of this group seems not very unnatural. Sub-family MELEAGRINAE. Ch.—Tail moderate, truncate. Head and neck nearly naked, and more or less carunculated or with fleshy lobes. The preceding diagnosis is quite sufficient to distinguish the Meleagrinae of Gray from his other sub-families, the Pavonine,e having the tail and its coverts much developed and depressed, hut bread and rounded ; the Phasianinae have the tail greatly lengthened and attenuated, cuneate, compressed; the Gallinae have the tail moderate, arched, and compressed, the sides of the head only naked; and the Lophophorinae have the head feathered, except immediately around the eye; the tail moderate, broad, and rather depressed. The two principal genera of this sub-family, as described by Gray, are as follows: Meleagris.—Head and neck without feathers, but with scattered hairs. An extensible fleshy process on the forehead, but no development of the bone. Tarsi of the male provided with spurs. Tail nearly as long as the wing. Is o mid A.—Frontal bone much developed, producing a vertical crest. Lower jaw with two fleshy lobes. No spur on the tarsi in the male. Tail very short. The domestic turkey is the type of Meleagris, while the Guinea fowl or Pintado represents Numida, (N. meleagris.) The latter genus embraces five or six species, nearly every one the type of a distinct genus of some author, and all inhabitants of Africa. MELEAGRIS, Linnaeus. Meleagris, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1735. Type Meleagris gallopavo, Linn. Ch.—Legs with transverse scutellae before and behind; reticulated laterally. Tarsi with spurs.* Tail rounded, rather long, usually of eighteen feathers. Forehead with a depending fleshy cone. Head and the upper half of the neck without feathers. Breast of male in most species with a long tuft of bristles. The above diagnosis will be sufficient to distinguish the true turkeys from their allies, the nearest being Numida, according to most authors. In this, besides the differences already614 U. 8. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. mentioned, the tarsi have two series of scutellae before, instead of one ; the posterior and lateral surfaces reticulated. The tail is very short, and concealed by its coverts. The species of turkey have usually been considered as two, the North American wild bird, from which the domestic turkey was supposed to have descended, and the ocellated turkey, M. ocellatdy of Honduras, and other portions of Central America. The latter is one of the most beautiful of known birds, with numerous small fleshy tubercles on the head, different from those of the domestic turkey. The feathers exhibit reflections of metallic bronze, gold, green, and blue, while the tail coverts and tail exhibit four series of large ocellated spots. The tail is said to have but fourteen feathers. The question has been recently agitated whether the supposed single species of common turkey, tame and wild, is not really divisible into two or even three, and in the following pages the reasons will be presented upon which an opinion of the kind may be based. In the mean time, the following diagnoses will serve to show the differences which really appear to exist in the series of wild turkeys of the type of the North American bird. Common characters.—Head livid blue, legs red, general color copper bronze, with copper and green reflections, each feather with a velvet black margin ; all the quills brown, closely barred with white. Tail feathers chestnut, narrowly barred with black ; the tip with a very broad, subterminal black bar. Tail coverts dark purplish chestnut throughout, with the tips not lighter. Tip of tail feathers scarcely paler chestnut than the ground color...................,AT. gallopavo. Tail coverts chestnut, the tips much paler, sometimes almost white. Tip of tail feathers light brownish yellow; sometimes with the coverts broadly whitish........M. mexicanus. Comparative measurements of species. m Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex & age. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. L. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill from nostril. Along gape. Specimen measured. 5148 Meleagris mexicana.. Llano Estacado, Texas . $ *48.50 19.00 14.60 6.46 4.08 0.90 1.04 2.31 Skin 10030 do .......... Near 32° S Q *37.00 17.30 15.30 4.95 3.45 0.84 0.98 1.96 Skin .. T T, 5147 do Llano Estacado O *42.00 17.00 14.00 5.68 3.68 0.91 0.97 2.14 Skin ..... 10029 Meleagris gallopavo.. Red Fork of Arkansas.. A *44.70 . 20.00 15.50 6.54 4.50 0.80 1.05 2.23 Skin 5748 Republican River o o3 *34.80 18.80 14.00 6 45 4.00 0.84 1.06 1.90 Skin ..... do. do do 41.00 57.50 Fresh .... 1196 • * do Washington, D. C. .... A 47.00 21.00 17.50 6.00 4.28 0.90 1.05 2.16 Skin do. do 50.00 64.50 20.00 Fresh .... 10322 tttf tttttf do A 42 00 20.00 16.50 6.24 4.16 1.04 1.06 2.10 Skin D * About.BIRDS—PHASAIDIDAE—MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO. 615 MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO, L. Wild Turkey. * Meleagris gallopavot Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 268.—Gmelin, 1,1788, 732.—Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 618.— Wilson, Index, YI, 1812.—Stephens, in Shaw’s Zool. XI, i, 1819, 156, (domestic bird.)— Bonap. Am. Orn. 1, 1825,79; pi. ix.—Ib. Syn. 122.—Ib. List, 1838.—Aud. Orn. Biog. 1,1831, 1 and 33: Y, 1839, 559 ; pi. 1.—Ib. Syn. 1839.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 42, pi. 287, 288.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 630.—Reichenbach, Systema Av. 1851, pi. xxvi.—Ib. leones Av. tab. 289. Meleagris americana, Bartram, Travels, 1791, 290. Meleagris sylvestris, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. IX, 447. Gallopavo sylvestris, Leconte, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. 1857, 179. Meleagris fera f Vieillot, Galerie Ois. II, 1824, 10 ; pi. x. Wild turkey, Clayton, Philos. Trans. XVII, 1693, 992.—Pennant, Philos. Trans. LXXI, 1781, 67.—Ib. Arctic Zool. No. 178. •American turkey, Latham, Syn. IT, n, 676. Gallopavo sylvestris^ Novae angliae, Ray, Syn. 51. Gallopavo sylvestris, Catesby, Carol. I, 1730, App. p. xliv.—Brisson, Orn. V, 1760, 162. Bill elongated, slender; culmen rising a little at tlie base, then gently and equally convex to tbe tip. Commissure concave from the base. Nostrils elliptical, linear, much overhung by an incumbent scale ; about two-fifths its distaneg from the tip of the bill. Head and upper part of neck all round, as well as the whole throat, bare of feathers, and covered sparsely with short fleshy processes, placed transversely, scarcely to be seen on the under side. The feathers of the lower neck extend narrowly along the median line to the nape. The bare portion thinly covered with short, black hairs, or hair-like feathers. At the point of junction of the bill and head is a long fleshy process, capable of much erection and distension, and well covered with hairs. The jugulum of the male is provided with a close tuft of bristles six or eight inches long. The tarsus is long and stout, much longer than the middle toe and claw. It is entirely bare of feathers, including the superior joint of the tibia. Anteriorly it is covered by a double row of about eighteen pentagonal scales from tibial joint to the toes, embracing the anterior half, the lateral edges of these rows being straight. There is also a double row behind, the external extending nearly to the hind toe; the inner reaching to the spur. The space between these four rows of scales, and not occupied by them, is covered by small subhexagonal scales. There is in the male a large spur, its centre situated about four-tenths the length of the tarsus from its lower edge. It stands nearly perpedicular to the tarsus, directed postero-internally, is about an inch long, conical, and slightly curving upwards. The lateral toes are about equal, the claws not reaching the base of the middle. There is a membrane extending between the bases ♦ of the anterior toes, and slightly continuous between the inner and posterior. The hinder toe is situated about its length (excluding the claw) above the inferior edge of the tarsus. The wings are moderate ; when closed reaching nearly to the middle of the tail. They are rather rounded ; the first primary shorter than the tenth ; the sixth longest. The secondaries and tertials are long and broad; the longest reaching to the tip of the eighth primary, and much longer than the first. The tail is about as long as from the carpal joint to the end of the secondaries ; it is broad, the feathers all graduated quite evenly, and diminishing successively about half an inch. The616 U. S. P. R. B. EXP* AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT* feathers are eighteen in number, nearly truncate at tip; or obtusely angular, the corners rounded. The naked skin of the head and neck is blue; the excrescences purplish red. The legs are red. The feathers of the neck and body generally are very broad, abruptly truncate, and each one well defined and scale-like; the exposed portion coppery bronze, with a bright coppery reflection in some lights, in the specimens before me chiefly on the under parts. Each feather is abruptly margined with velvet black, the bronze assuming a greenish or purplish shade near the line of junction, and the bronze itself sometimes with a greenish reflection in some lights. The black is opaque, except along the extreme tip, where there is a metallic gloss. The feathers of the lower back and rump are black, with little or no copper gloss. The feathers of the sides behind, and the coverts, upper and under, are of a very dark purplish chestnut, with purplish metallic reflections near the end, and a subterminal bar of black ; the tips are of the opaque purplish chestnut referred to. The concealed portion of the coverts is dark chestnut barred rather finely with black ; the black wider than the interspaces. The tail feathers are dark brownish chestnut, with numerous transverse bars of black, which, when most distinct, are about a quarter of an inch wide and about double their interspaces; the extreme tip for about half an inch is plain chestnut, lighter than the ground color; and there is a broad subterminal bar of black about two inches wide on the outer feathers, and narrowing to about three-quarters of an inch to the central ones. The innermost pair scarcely shows this band, and the others are all much broken and confused. In addition to the black bars on each feather, the chestnut interspaces are sprinkled with black. The black bands are all most distinct on the inner webs ; the interspaces are considerably lighter below than above. There are no whitish tips whatever to the tail or its coverts. The feathers on the middle of the belly are downy, opaque, and tipped obscurely with rusty whitish. The wing coverts are like the back ; the quills, however, are blackish brown, with numerous transverse bars of white, half the width of the interspaces. The exposed surfaces of the wing, however, and most of the inner secondaries, are tinged with brownish rusty, the uppermost ones with a dull copper or greenish gloss. The female differs in smaller size, less brilliant colors, absence generally of bristles on the breast and of spur, and a much smaller fleshy process above the base of the bill. * The position of the spur in *the male varies somewhat in different specimens, and even at times in the two legs of the same bird. The wild turkey of eastern North America differs in several points, both of structure and manners, from the domesticated bird, as recently insisted on by Major Leconte. I have not at hand a skin of the barn yard turkey for comparison, and owing to the season they are not to be found in our markets; but according to Major Leconte, there is a great difference, in the possession by the latter of an enormous dewlap, extending from the base of the lower mandible to the large caruncles on the lower part of the neck, not found in the other. The color of the skin of the head and neck is not livid blue, but more of a fleshy tint, which in the breeding season of the male becomes fiery red, owing to the turgidity of the caruncles. This skin, too, appears to be more destitute of hairs. According to Bonaparte, the domestic turkey, even in those which have the closest resemblance to the wild bird, may always be distinguished by a whitish tip to the tail, and the tail coverts edged with whitish, never seen in the other.BIRDS—PHASIANIDAE—MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO. 617 Major Leconte states furthermore, that the wild turkey has never been so domesticated as to propagate its race in confinement, notwithstanding the many efforts made to accomplish this result. The difference in the color of the flesh of the two birds when cooked is quite appreciable, that of the wild bird being much darker. It is ’ upon the whole exceedingly probable that the two birds are specifically distinct. Whether the domestic species be descended from the one recently described by Mr. Gould, or not, remains to be ascertained. In the next article I describe skins which appear to be referable to Gould's M. mexicana, and this certainly indicates a near approach to the tamed turkey in the whitish bars of the tail coverts and the tail. The skin of the head, however, appears to be of the same color, and no difference in the carunculation of the throat was noticed, although this may have been obscured by drying. The skin of the head appeared more pilose, but there was the same caruncle at the base of the bill. If the dewlap be characteristic of a species at present only known in captivity, then, as Major Leconte remarks, it should bear the name of M. gallopavo, as based by Linnaeus essentially upon the description by Brisson of Gallopavo sylvestris, in which this dewlap is particularly mentioned. In this event our wild bird will be entitled to a new name, which might be that of Bartram, in 1791, Meleagris americana. Should the M. mexicana be the original of the domestic species, Gould's name will become a synonym, if it be proved that gallopavo refers to the same bird. In conclusion I venture to suggest the following hypothesis, which, however, is not original with myself: That there are really three species of turkey, besides the M. ocellata, a fourth species from Central America, entirely different from the rest. That one of these, M. americana, is, probably, peculiar to the eastern half of North America; another, M. mexicana, belongs to Mexico, and extends along the table lands to the Rocky mountains, the Gila, and the Llano Estacado, and a third is the M. gallopavo, or domesticated bird. That it is not at all improbable that the last was originally indigenous to some one or more of the West India islands, whence it was transplanted as tamed to Mexico and other parts of America, and from Mexico taken to Europe about A. D. 1520. Finally, that the wild turkeys were probably completely exterminated by the natives, as has been the case with equally large birds in other islands, as the dodo and solitaire. This hypothesis will explain the fact of our meeting nowhere at the present day any wild turkeys resembling the domestic one. I have an indistinct recollection of a statement that our barn yard turkey came originally from Bermuda or Jamaica, but I cannot speak positively in xegard to it. The entire subject is one of much interest, and deserves to be investigated thoroughly. It is quite possible that a careful examination of the external form and habits of the New Mexican bird may do much to throw full light on the whole question. 78 b July 3, 1858.618 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 10322 c? Washington, I). C- Mar. —, 1855 Wash, market... 1196 S do..... .... Dec. —, 1843 S. F. Baird 50. 00 64. 50 20. 00 10029 $ Bed fork of Arkansas - July —, 1850 Capt. Sitgreaves - Dr. Woodhouse.- 5748 A Republican river - - Oct. 16, 1856 Lieut. Bryan 381 W. S. Wood vJ MELEAGRIS MEXIOANA, Gould. Mexican Turkey. Meleagris mexxcam, Gould, Pr, Zool. Soc, 1856, 61, In the series of turkey skins before me, I find that all from the vicinity of the Rocky mountains differ strikingly from those east of the Mississippi in the feathers of the sides of the body behind, and in the upper and under tail coverts. These are all tipped with light brownish yellow for about half an inch, more or less, with the region, and the tail is tipped with the same. The chestnut ground of the tail and coverts is also considerably lighter. The gloss on the feathers of the rump is green, not purple. The coverts, too, lack in a measure the purple shade in the chestnut. The metallic reflections generally have rather more green than in the eastern bird. In one specimen (female, 10030, from Fort Thorn) the light edgings are almost white, and so much extended as to conceal the entire rump. All the feathers of the under parts of the body are edged broadly with white, and the tail is tipped with the same for more than an inch. This specimen also has the head considerably more hairy than in the eastern skins, but the others from the same region do not differ so much in this respect from eastern ones. Whether these differences can be considered as establishing a second species for the United States is a question yet to be decided. It is certain that these peculiarities are constant in all before me, while the eastern skins all agree precisely in their characteristics as described. The New Mexican turkeys, with white tips to the tail feathers and coverts, correspond, in a very striking degree, with the if, mexicana of Gould. List of specimens. : Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. 10030 5147 5148 Q? Fort Thorn, New Mexico-- Dr. T. C. Henry. ----- Llano Estacado __ Capt. Pope. ; . . . . . ... ..do ------ BIRD3—TETBA0NIDAE. 619 Family TETRAONIDAE. The Grouse. * As already stated, the Tetraonidae are pre-eminently characterised among gallinaceous birds by their densely feathered tarsi, and by the feathers of the nasal fossa or groove, which fill it completely, and conceal the nostrils. The toes are usually naked, (feathered to the claws in the ptarmigans,) and with pectinations of scales along the edges. The tail feathers vary from sixteen to eighteen and even twenty in number ; the tail is rounded, acute, or forked. The orbital region is generally somewhat bare, with a naked stripe above the upper eyelid, beset by short fringe-like processes. The following synoptical table will give a general view of the North American Tetraonidae, although the arrangement is probably much more artificial than natural. The species of Tetrao and Bonasa inhabit wooded regions; Lagopus belongs to the more arctic portions of the continent and the snowy ridges of the Bocky mountains, while the others are found in the great prairies of the west, Oentrocercus being confined to the sterile plains covered with sage or wormwood. Synopsis of genera. A. Legs feathered to and on th^ basal membrane of the toes,# No ruff on the side of the neck, which, however, has an extensible bare space. Tetrao.—Tail broad, nearly even, or truncate, and rounded laterally ; two-thirds the wing. Nasal fossae scarcely half the culmen. Oentrocercus.—Tail excessively lengthened and cuneate ; longer than the wings. Nasal fossae two-thirds the culmen. Shafts of feathers on the lower throat very spinous. Pediocaetes.—Tail very short, but graduated, and with the two middle feathers (perhaps tail coverts) lengthened beyond the rest, and two-thirds as long as the wing ; the next longest, half the wing. Nasal fossae not half the length of culmen. Shafts of throat feathers normal. B. Legs scarcely feathered to the extreme base of tarsus, the lower joint of which is bare, with large transverse scutellae. Cupidonia.—Tail very short, truncate, but laterally graduated ; half the wings. Sides of neck with long, pointed, or lanceolate, stiff feathers. Nasal fossae scarcely one- third the culmen. 0. Legs feathered to the claws. Lagopus.—Tail about two-thirds the wing, truncate ; of sixteen to eighteen feathers. Most species becoming white in winter ; none of the other genera exhibiting this peculiarity. D. Lower half of tarsi bare, with two rows of scutellae anteriorly. Bonasa.—Sides of neck with a ruff of broad, truncate, soft feathers. Tail very broad, square, as long as the wings.620 U. S. P. B. B, EXP. AND SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEBAL EEPOET. TETRAO, Linnaeus. m Tetrao, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1744. Type T. urogallus, L. (Gray.) Ch.—Tail lengthened, slightly narrowed to the square or somewhat rounded tip ; about two-thirds the wing *, the feathers with stiffened shafts. Tarsus feathered to and between the bases of the toes. No unusual feathers on the side of throat. Culmen between the nasal fossae nearly half the total length. Color mostly black. Inhabit wooded regions. The American wood-grouse do not belong strictly to the genus Telrao, as defined by later writers, with T. urogallus for type. This species differs chiefly in the pointed feathers of the chin, but in other respects comes quite close to T. obscurus. A genus, Canace, has been made for the American birds, but I see no special occasion to adopt it here. The following diagnosis will distinguish the species : Tail of twenty feathers. General color plumbeous above, with fine mottling. Chin and throat white and black. Tail uniform black, with slaty tip............................T. obscurus. Tail of sixteen feathers. Above banded with plumbeous. Beneath black, with some white on jugulum and sides of belly. Tail tipped with brownish orange. Upper coverts not tipped with white .....................................................................T\ canadensis. Similar to last. Tail without orange tip. Upper tail coverts banded terminally with white.....................................................j........................T. franklini. Comparative measurements of species. Catal No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings.- Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 4505 Tetrao obscurus.... Cascade mountains.... s 20.50 9.40 7.45 1.65 2.19 0.46 0.96 1.19 Skin . t 4398 Fort Steilacoom 8 18.60 8.90 6.86 1,66 2.26 0.56 0.80 1.05 ,Skin. ,, , do. 19.75 30.00 9.75 Fresh.... 5746 do Black Hills A 19.30 9.00 7.46 1.62 2,16 0.52 1.04 1.20 Skin 10013 Fort Steilacoom, W. T. o o 18.50 8.34 5.90 1.62 2,06 0.44 1.00 1.06 Skin _ T T. T do. V 19.00 27.00 8.75 Fresh«... 7046 do Black Hills o 17.64 8.40 6.16 1.61 2.06 0.46 0.92 1.14 Skin 478 Tetrao canadensis... Nova Scotia........... V A 16.20 6.70 5.44 1.54 1 86 0.48 0.85 0.98 Skin..... do. do u O 12.70 6.60 4.56 1.40 1.76 0.42 0.74 0.82 Skin. T.., 10025 Tetrao franklini*.... St. Mary’s, R. mts ¥ 7.35 5.62 1.38 1.83 0.45 0.84 0.92 Skin. 10026 do.* Q 6.90 4.52f Feet an d head wanting * Very poor specimen. TETRAO OBSCURUS, Say. . Dusky Grouse. Tetrao obscurus, Say, Long’s Exped. R. Mts. II, 1823, 14.—Bon. Syn. 1828,127.—Ib. Mon. Tetrao, Am. Phil. Trans. Ill, 1830, 391.—Ib. Am. Orn. Ill, 1830 *, pi. xviii.—Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831,344 ; pi. lix, lx.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 666.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 446 ; pi. 361—Ib. Syn. 1839, 283.-- Ib. Birds Amer. 1,1842, 89 ; pi. 295.—Newberry, Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857, 93. Canace obscura} Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XLV, 1857, 428. Tetrao richardsonii} Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 1829, 141. Sp. Ch.*—Sexes dissimilar. Tail of twenty feathers. Above bluish black ; plumbeous or black beneath. Tail uniform black, and finely and obscurely mottled above. Tail broadly tipped with light slate. Beneath uniform plumbeous. A dusky half collar on the throat. The chin and throat above white, varied with black. Tail about two-thirds the length of the wings, broad, rounded, com- posed of twenty broad, even, and truncated feathers. Tarsi feathered to the toes, the feathers extending along the sides of the basal half of the first joints of the toes. Pectinations on the sides of the toes very short. Length, 20.50 ; wing, 9.40; tail, 7.45. Hob.—Black Hills of Nebraska to Cascade mountains of Oregon and Washington.BIRDS—TETRAONIDAE—TETRAO OBSCURES. 621 The prevailing color of this species is dark brown above, with fine mottlings of plumbeous ; beneath nearly uniform plumbeous ; the sides, however, under the wings, the scapulars, and the outer surface of the wings are like the back, but also mottled finely with brown, with a tendency to light ashy towards the tips of the feathers, those of the sides streaked centrally, and terminated with white ; the chin and upper part of throat have the feathers white, barred terminally with black, and the loral feathers similarly marked; there is, however, a dark brown stripe from the bill beneath the eye and over the ear coverts, as well as a half collar on the lower part of the throat, of a dark plumbeous black. The tail feathers are lustrous black beneath ; slaty black above, with a terminal bar of ashy plumbeous, varying considerably in width. The under tail coverts are dark plumbeous, broadly tipped with white. All the feathers on the lower part of the neck are white, except at the tip. The female is somewhat similar, except that the feathers of the neck and fore part of the back have conspicuous transverse bars of brownish yellow. The outlines of the dark transverse pectoral collar are indistinct, and the dark streak beneath the orbits appears to be wanting. The plumbeous of the under parts is duller, and more obscured with white. The upper tail coverts and inner tail feathers are banded with grayish. There are considerable differences in different specimens of this species, varying with age and sex. In one specimen, 4505, from the Cascades, much the largest of all, the back is quite uniformly black, with scarcely any mottling, except on the rump and wings ; the under parts are dark continuous slate color, passing insensibly into the darker collar of the throat. The white of the^chin is much obscured. In another male (5746) the feathers beneath are all edged with whitish. This specimen (of August 3,) has the tarsi nearly bare. One specimen (2859) has the tail entirely black, without slaty tip. * List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 5747 s Rlack Hills, Neb....... Aug. 2,1856 Lieut. Bryan .... 193 W. S. Wood... Head 5746 A Aug. 3,1856 do 194 ...... do 19.00 27.00 7047? 0 do Aug. 9,1857 do 385 7046 9 do 8919 "Laramie Peak,Neb..... Aug. 24 ..... Lt. W arren...... Dr. Hayden.... 19.12 28.00 8.50 Tris brown TT T, T 8918 Aug. 18.50 27.00 8.75 8917 8920 18.00 28.00 9.00 8915 Aug. 25 20.00 29.50 9.50 8916 do Aug. 29 do 17.50 24.12 8.00 Tris hrnwnttl1tnnntt 10015 St. Mary’s Pass, R. mts Oct. 8,1853 Gov. Stevens Dr. Suckley , *0017 Roeky mountains.. ... Head .t.1f 4505 Cascade mountains Lt. Williamson... Dr. Newberry.. 10008 Fort. Dalles, Oregon. Dr. Suckley...... 387 19.00 26.12 10010 Oliokatat., W. T.. Aug. 4,1853 Gov. Stevens .... 22 Dr. Cooper 10011 Fort. Steilacoom........ July —,1856 Dr. Suckley ..... 532 10013 9' Aug, —,1854 Gov. Stevens .... 63 Dr. Suckley ... 19.00 27.00 9.75 10009 Aug. —,1856 Dr- Suckley 525 18.00 28.00 10012 Gov. Stevens .... 67 Dr. Suckley 4398 $ April 18,1855 Dr. Suckley ..... 194 19.75 30.00 9.75 10014 8 May 3,1856 ..... .do.......... 368 Dr. Suckley ... 20.00 30.00 10027 $ April —,1854 Gov. Stevens .... 62 .do 19.75 39.00 9.75 vj 622 U. S, P. E. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. TETRAO CANADENSIS, Linn. Spruce Partridge; Canada Grouse* Tetrao canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766,274.—Forster, Phil. Trans. LX1I, 1772, 389 —-Gmelin, I, 1788, 749.— Sabine, Zool. App. Franklin’s Exped. 683.—Bonaf. Syn. 1828,127.—Ib. Amer. Orn. Ill, 1830 ; pi. xxi, f. 2, Q.—Is. Am. Phil. Trans. Ill, N. S. 1830, 391.—Rich. F. Bor. Amer. II, 1831, 346 ; pi. lxii, female.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 667.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 437 : V, 1839, 563; pi. 176.—Ib. Syn. 203.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 83 ; pi. 294. Canace canadensis, Reich. Av. Syst. Nat. 1851, p. xxix. Type.—Bonap. Comptes Rendus,XLV, 1857, 428. Tetrao canace, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 275. Black Spotted Heathcock, Edwards, Glean, pi. cxviii. Spotted Grouse, Pennant. Sp. Ch.—Tail of sixteen feathers. Feathers above distinctly banded with plumbeous ; beneath uniform black, with a pectoral band of white, and white on the sides of the belly. Chin and throat above, black. Tail with a broad brownish orange terminal band. Length, 16.20 ; wing, 6.70 ; tail, 5.44. Hob.—Spruce forests and swamps of the northern United States to the Arctic seas ; west nearly to Rocky mountains. Bill rather slender. Eyebrows with the usual papillae. Tarsi densely feathered, the poste- rior edge bare; the feathers extending along the sides of the toes for half the basal joint. Pectination on the sides of the toes very conspicuous.- Tail as long as the wing from elbow to ends of secondaries ; nearly even ; the lateral feathers slightly graduated, (three quarters of an inch less than the longest;) the feathers truncate, rounded laterally, and sixteen in number. Middle toe and claw longer than the tarsus ; lateral equal, the claws not reaching the base of middle toe; the claws long and sharp. Prevailing color in the male black ; each feather of the head, neck, and upper parts generally, having its surface waved with plumbeous gray. This is in the form of two or three well- defined concentric bars parallel to each other, one along the exterior edge of the feather, the others behind it. The sides of the body, the scapulars, and outer surface of the wings are mottled like the back, but more irregularly, and with a browner shade of gray, the feathers with a central white streak expanding towards the tip, (on the wing these streaks seen only on some of the greater coverts.) There is no white above except as described. The under parts are mostly uniform black, the feathers of the sides of the belly and breast broadly tipped with white, which sometimes forms a pectoral band. There is a white bar across the feathers at the base of the upper mandible, usually interrupted above ; a white spot on the lower eyelid, and a white line beginning on the cheeks and running into a series of white spots in the feathers ot the throat, the lower feathers of this are banded terminally with whitish. The feathers at the base of the bill, and the head below the eyes and beneath, are pure black. The quills are dark brown, without any spots or bands, the outer edges only mottled with grayish. The tail feathe^ are similar, but darker, and the tail is tipped with a band of orange chestnut, nearly half an inch wide, obscured on the central feathers. The under tail coverts are black, broadly barred and tipped with white ; the feathers of tha legs mottled brown and whitish ; dirty white behind the tarsi. The bill is black. The female is smaller but somewhat similar, the black bars above broader, the inner gray bars of each feather, including the tail, replaced by broader ones of brownish orange. The under parts have the feathers black, barred with the brownish orange, which, on the tips of the belly feathers, is pure white. The clear continuous black of the head and breast are wanting. The scapulars, greater coverts, and sides, are streaked as in the male.BIRDS—-TETRAONIDAE—TETRAO FRANKLIN II. 623 List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. 478 Q Nova Scotia ?. S. F. Baird 479 s do 6921 9 Selkirk settlement D. Gunn 6920 s do - TETRAO FRANKLINII, Douglas. Franklin’s Grouse. Tetrao franhlinii, Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 1829, 139.—Rich. F. Bor. Am, II, 1831, 348 ; pi. Ixi. Tetrao canadensis, var. Bonap. Am, Orn. Ill, 1830, 47 ; pi. xx. ? Tetrao fusca, Ord, Guthrie’s Geog. 2d Am. ed. II, 1815, 317. Based on small brown pheasant of Lewis & Clark, II, 182, which very probably is this species. Sp. Ch.—Similar to T. canadensis, but with the tail feathers entirely black, without orange brown terminal band ; the upper tail coverts broadly tipped with white. Wing, 7.35 ; tail, 5.62. Hob.—Northern Rocky mountains, and west. The only specimens of this species before me are so much mutilated as to preclude any accurate description. The difference from canadensis, however, even in these, is sufficiently appreciable. This consists chiefly in the rather longer tail with broader feathers, which are pure black instead of very dark brown, and entirely without the orange terminal band. The white streaks on the scapulars are larger terminally and much more conspicuous, and the upper tail coverts are conspicuously barred terminally with white, not seen in the other. The female differs from that of canadensis in the white bars at the ends of the tail coverts, and in having the tail feathers tipped with whitish instead of orange brown. The male of this bird is described and figured by Bonaparte as that of the Canada grouse, T canadensis. Middendorff, in his Sibirische Reise, speaks of a grouse as occurring on the southern shores of the Sea of Ochotsk, which he considered the same as the North American Tetrao franhlini. Hartlaub, however, naturally disbelieving a statement so much at variance with what had been found to be the law in the distribution of the Oallinacea, made special efforts to procure specimens, and, on comparing them with skins of the American T. canadensis and description of T. franhlini, found that there was a very great difference in the primaries of the Siberian bird, to which, in consequence, he gave the name of T. falcipennis, In this the outer five primaries are emarginate internally and greatly falcate; the second and third most so, a character scarcely found elsewhere among Gallinacea, except in Penelope. There are many differences in color, such as the upper parts being black, spotted finely with brown, and the shafts streaked with lighter in falcipennis, instead of plain gray banded with black. Other differences might readily be indicated, but those just mentioned are quite sufficient to substantiate Dr. Hartlaub’s position.624 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEBAL EEPOET. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— 10026 Q St. Mary's, Rocky mountains-. do Gov. Stevens................ 142 Lt. Mullen, U.S. A 10025 ¥ ■S CENTROCERCUS, Swainson. Centrocercus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 496. Type Tetrao urophasianus, Bon. Ch.—Tail excessively lengthened, cuneate, longer than the wings, the feathers all lanceolate. Tarsi feathered to the joint and between the bases of the toes. Lower throat and its sides with stiffened spinous feathers. Nasal fossae extending very far forward ; the length of culmen between them two-thirds the total length. Color mottled yellowish above, with large black patches beneath. The single species of this genus inhabits exclusively the high and almost, desert sage plains of the far west, feeding on the Artemisia or wild sage which characterises those regions. Comparative measurements. • Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. j Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 10018 .Centrocercus uropliasianus. 12.60 12.20 2.14 2.52 0.58 1.64 1.34 m Skin... 10023 ace behind; the feathers extending on the sides of the toes for nearly half the length of the basal joint. Middle toe and claw a little longer than the tarsi, the sides of the toes extended and provided with a conspicuous pectination of linear processes. Tail long, cuneate, the feathers eighteen in number and all graduated ; the central pair elongated considerably beyond the rest, (one to one and a half inches.) The tail coverts reach nearly as far as the tips of the third innermost pair of tail feathers ; the whole tail is about two-thirds the length of wings. In form this species differs from cupido in the absence of the pointed feathers of the neck. The tail is of much the same shape, but the feathers more abruptly graduated; the outer about one- third the eighth and one-fourth the ninth; this may possibly prove to be an extended tail covert. The bill is much stouter, the culmen more convex and rising at the base. The pectinated processes of the toes are much longer, forming a broader base to the toes. The tarsi are more densely plumose, the feathers not stopping at the base of the toes, but extending beyond them. The general color above is light brownish yellow, varied with black; the wings with rounded spots of white. The under parts are pure white, the feathers on the breast and sides with a brown Y-shaped mark, the legs of which are nearly parallel with the outline of the feather. TheBIRDS—TETRAONIDAE——CUPIDONIA. 627 feathers of the sides of the belly have concealed marks of the same character. The feathers on the hack are blackish brown, variously spotted with brownish yellow, without any decided indi- cation of transverse bars. A usual marking towards the tip of the feathers is an undulating transverse yellowish bar, two opposite U-shaped brown bars, the convexities resting on the shaft and more or less confluent, the spaces between these and the tips of the feathers whitish. The wings are brownish grey, the coverts all with large spots of white ; both webs of the second- aries with conspicuous transverse bars, the outer webs of the primaries with spots of the same. The sides of the head and beneath are brownish yellow with a whitish superciliary band; there is a curved dusky line below the eye parallel with the orbits, and a dusky spot below this. The tail feathers are dotted brownish grey, becoming pure white externally and to the tip. The central elongated feathers (or coverts) are like the back. Specimens vary in the amount of black on the back, and in the extent of brownish yellow on the flanks. This species differs totally from the T. cupido in the Y-shaped marks on the breast and sides, instead of transverse bands ; the pure white belly ; the transverse white bands on the second- aries; the white spots on the wings; the lighter quills, and tail, independently of the more pointed tail, more feathered tarsi, absence of pointed feathers of the neck, stouter bill, &c. The tibial feathers are soiled white. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings Wing. Remarks. 10001 lVJnrtli Rp.fl river N. W. University.... R. Kennicott. 10000 R.p.rl river, Minn pp.pt. 25 1969 Unrf Union, Np.h S. F. Baird J. J. Audubon. 5420 dO Lieut,. Warren Dr. Hayden.... 18.00 26.00 8.25 4543 s j Port Pierre ,.., . Oct. 23, 1855 do Eyes black . T 4542 ' c.... .do.. Oct. 21, 1855 ...... do 5422 Q Mo. Vermilion river,. Oct. 25, 1856 18.00 28.75 8.25 Iris yellowish brown.... 5421 o Oct. 20, 1856 do 16.75 26.50 8.00 Iris dark 10002 V Snake river, Oregon.. Opt. 5 CS-ov. Stevens 140 Dr. Buckley 9999 Spokan river, W. T... Oct. 30, 1853 do.. . 21 Dr. flooper..... i CUPIDONIA, Reichenbach. Cupidonia, Reichenbach, Av. Syst. Nat. 1850, p. xxix. Type Tetrao cupido, L. Ch.—Tail short, half the lengthened wings; the feathers stiffened and more or less graduated. Bare space of the neck concealed by a tuft of lanceolate feathers. Tarsi feathered only to near the base, the lower joint scutellate. Culmen between the nasal fossae scarcely one-third the total length. This genus, as far as known, is entirely peculiar to North America. Its single species, (7. cupido, is the well known prairie chicken, or prairie hen, of the west, a bird in its abundance and importance as an article of food representing, in the prairies of the United States, the ptarmigan or snow grouse of the north. Comparative measurements. Catal. No. Locality. Sex. Length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimens measured. 10006 Tremont, Illinois s 16.60 8.80 4.70 2.02 2.35 0.62 0.87 1.09 Skin 10003 Q 14.00 8.10 4.30 1.86 2.03 0.42 0.84 1.09 Skin 10007 Near 32° L, Texas c?? 14.50 8.30 4.18 1.66 1.78 0.40 0.88 1.08 Skin ., < *,.,. 10005 QJ 14.80 7.80 3.42 1.59 1.76 0.34 0.90 1.14 Skin .., a,628 U. S. P. E. K. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. ♦ CUPID ONI A CUPIDO, Baird. Prairie Hen; Prairie Chicken; Pinnated Grouse. Tetrao cupido, Linn. Syst, Nat. 1,1766, 274.—Gm. I, 751.—Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 1790.—Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 3811 ? 104, pi. xxvii —Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 183.—Ib. Mon. Tetrao, Am. Phil. Trans. Ill, 1830, 392— Nuttall, Man. I, 662.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 490: V, 1839, 559 ; pi. 186—Ib. Birds Amer. Y, 1842, 93 ; pi. 296.—Koch, Wiegmann’s Archiv, 1836, i, 159. Bonasa cupido, Stephens, Shaw’s Gen. JZool. XI, 299. Cupidonia americana, Reich. Av. Syst. Nat. 1850, p. xxix.—Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XLV, 1857, 428. Sp. Ch.—Tail of eighteen feathers. Varied with whitish brown, and brownish yellow. Almost everywhere with well defined transverse bars of brown on the feathers. Length, 16.50 inches ; wing, 8.80 ; tail, 4.70. Hah.—Western prairies and plains within the limits of the United States, east of Roeky mountains ; southeast to Calcasieu, Louisiana ; east to Pocono mountains, Pennsylvania; Long Island, and eastern coast. Body stout, compact. A tuft of long pointed lanceolate feathers on each side of the neck, covering a hare space capable of much inflation. Tail short, truncate, much graduated, composed of eighteen feathers ; the lateral feathers about two-thirds the middle ; the feathers stiffened, nearly linear and truncate. The tail is scarcely longer than the coverts, and about half the length of the wing. Tarsi covered with feathers anteriorly and laterally to the toes, but bare, with hexagonal scutellae behind. The middle toe and claw longer than the tarsus ; the toes margined by pectinated processes. A space above the eye provided with a dense pecti- nated process in the breeding season ; sometimes separated from the eye by a superciliary space covered with feathers. Bands on the body transverse throughout. Lanceolate feathers of the throat black; the upper ones with a central yellowish stripe. Eyelids and a stripe from the nostril alongside the head, (interrupted above the eye,) brownish yellow; the sides of the head below a dusky infra- ocular stripe, with the chin and throat above, similar. Feathers of the body above and below brown, with a terminal and two transverse bands of well defined white; the brown almost black and the white tinged with rufous above. The scapular feathers sometimes showing more black. Wings banded like the back ; the primaries grayish brown, marked only on the outer webs with light spots ; the shafts black. Tail feathers sometimes uniform brown ; sometimes with rufous transverse bars. Under coverts marked like the back, with more white; sometimes (10006) entirely white. The membrane above the eye said to be scarlet, that of the sounding bladder dusky orange. The female lacks the pectinations of the space above the eye, and has but a short cervical tuft and naked space, but is similar in general markings. There is considerable variation in the colors of different specimens. In most cases there is an elongated dusky spot on the side of the lower jaw, separated from the dusky infra-orbital streak. Sometimes the colors are much darker. Texas specimens have the back more finely and uniformly barred, without any of the dorsal black spaces. A summer skin, from Calcasieu, Louisiana, has the tarsal feathers much reduced; and the tarsus bare all round for about half an inch from the toes. The range of this species was once much wider than at the present time. It scarcely seems to occur north of the United States line, nor, perhaps, beyond the beginning of the High Central Plains, Eastward it probably was onc$ abundant through the open country to the AtlanticBIRDS—TETRAONIDAE—BONASA. 62$ coast, but at the present day it is only found, and that very sparsely, on the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania, on Long Island, and on various other tracts of sea coast and island as far east as Maine, List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 4250 O flaleasien Pass, l.a, 1854.... G. Wiirdemann.. 4249 3 do i 1854.. do 10317 i Missouri T ' S. F. Baird 10003 TVemrmt. TIT ' W. .1. Shaw 10006 * do do 5423 o Moutli of Running Water... I Oct. 20,1856 Lieut. Warren«.. Hr. Hayden 17.50 28.00 8.75 Tris deep yellow........ 4541 V Rig SimiY , j Nov. 7,1858 do , 18.00 29.00 9.00 4540 s fin . i r!n do do 19.00 30.00 9.00 10007 Texas j........... .... Capt. Pope ! BONASA, Stephens. Bonasa, Stephens, Shaw’s Gen. ZooL XI, 1819. Type Tetrao bonasia, L. Tetrastes, Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Europ. 1840, p. Ixiv. Ch.—Tail widening to the end, its feathers very broad, as long as the wings ; the feathers soft, and eighteen in number. Tarsi naked in the lower half; covered with two rov/s of hexagonal scales anteriorly, as in the Ortyginae. Sides of toes strongly pectinated. Naked space on the side of throat covered by a tuft of broad soft feathers. Portion of culmen between the nasal fossae about one third the total length. Top of head with a soft crest. This genus, in its partly naked tarsi, with two rows of scutellae anteriorly, indicates a close approach to the American partridges, or quails. It has a single European representative. There seems a strong probability that the Pacific coast species is different from the Atlantic. The diagnosis will be as follows : Common characters.—Sexes nearly similar. Colors reddish or gray, white and black. Tuft on the sides of neck velvety black. Tail with a sub-terminal brown bar. Sides banded trans- versely with brown ; back with cordate spots of grey. Colors pale. Bands on the sides of body obscure brown. Under tail coverts white. Middle toe without claw shorter than tarsus...................................B. umbellus. Colors very dark. Bands on the sides sharply defined dark brown. Under tail coverts rufous, with terminal white spots. Middle toe without claw apparently longer than tarsus..............*...........................................................B. sabini. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen- measured . 844 Bonasa umbellus... Carlisle, Pa. 15.50 7.21 6.92 1.66 1.85 0.43 0.84 1.06 Skin .... do. W 18.00 23.00 7.24 Fresh , 0330 do Georgia 2 14.60 7.00 5.50 1.62 1.90 0.46 0.80 0.90 Skin do. T f .do do 16.50 23.00 *7.00 8424 Rnna.sa. sabini Puget’s Sound T 16 50 7.30 6.71 1.74 2.42 0.50 0.94 1.00 Skin .... 9996 do Ft. Vancouver, W. T.... S 16.30 7.30 6.66 1.70 2.10 0.52 0.95 1.00 Skin .... do. do do 18.00 23.00 Fresh ... 630 U. S, P. E, K. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—^-GENEEAL EEPOET. BON ABA UMBELLUS, Stephens. Ruffed Grouse; Partridge; Pheasant. Tetrao umbellus, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1,1766,275, 6.—Gmelin, I, 782.—Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, 1812, 46 ; pi. xHx.—Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, 182.—Doughty, Cab. N. H. 1, 1830, 13 ; pi. ii.— Aud. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 211: V, 560 ; pi. 41.—Is* Syn. 1839, 202.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 72 ; pi. 293. Tetrao (Bonasia) umbellus, Bonap. Syn. 1828, 126.—Ib. Mon. Tetrao, Am. Phil. Trans. Ill, 1830, 389.—Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 657. Bonasa umbellus, Stephens, Shaw, Gen. Zool. XI, 1824, 300.—-Bonap. List, 1838.—-Ib. Comptes Rendus, XLV, 1857, 428. Tetrao togatus, Linn. I, 1766,275, 8.—Forster, Philos. Trans. LXII, 1772, 393. Tetrao iympanus, Bartram, Travels in E. Florida, 1791, 290. Ruffed Grouse, and Shoulder-Jcnot Grouse, Pennant and Latham. ?Tetrao umbelloides, Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. XYI, 1829, 148. Sp. Ch.—Tail of eighteen feathers. Reddish brown or grey above ; the back with cordate spots of lighter. Beneath whitish, transversely barred with dull brown. Tail tipped with gray, and with a subterminal bar of black. Broad feathers of the ruff black. Length, 18 inches ; wing, 7.20 ; tail, 7.00. Hob.-—Wooded portions of eastern United States towards the Rocky mountains. Tail lengthened ; nearly as long as the wing ; very broad, and moderately rounded ; the feathers very broad and truncate ; the tip slightly convex; eighteen in number. Upper half of tarsus only feathered; bare behind and below, with two rows of hexagonal scutellae anteriorly. A naked space on the side of the neck, concealed by an overhanging tuft of broad, truncate feathers. There are no pectinated processes above the eye, where the skin instead is clothed with short feathers. The prevailing color of this species above is sometimes grey, sometimes reddish. In one specimen, (344,) the prevailing color is chestnut, each feather of the back and rump with an elongated sub-cordate terminal large spot of reddish grey, and mottled finely with brown, most distinct in the cordate spot. The scapulars and coverts are streaked with light brownish yellow. The under parts are light brownish yellow, nearly white on the belly ; the feathers with transverse sub-terminal broad bars of obsolete brown ; the sides under the wings, however, streaked like the wing coverts. The broad cervical feathers are uniform dark brown, with a terminal gloss of metallic green. The quills are brown, the outer webs of secondaries mottled with rufous ; of the primaries pale brownish yellow, with bars of brown. The tail feathers are tipped with grey, and have a broad sub-terminal bar of black ; within this is a series of eight or ten narrow waved transverse bars, grey posteriorly, and black anteriorly. The entire feather is, besides, finely mottled. The upper tail coverts are marked like the tail feathers, except in lacking the sub-terminal black. There is an indication of a darker jugular band, owing to the deeper shade of brown in the sub-terminal bars of the feathers. The feathers on the side of the neck adjacent to the cervical tufts are tipped with white, and there is an approach to a whitish scapular band. The under tail coverts are almost clear immaculate in the exposed portion. Douglas speaks of a smaller and lighter variety of the ruffed grouse, found in the valleys of the Rocky mountains north, near 54° north latitude. This is of aa light mixed speckled grey, the ruffle consisting invariably of only twenty feathers, the crest feathers few and short.” It is difficult to say whether this is identical with either of the others or distinct,BIRDS—TETRAONIDAE—BONASA SABINII. 631 ♦ * List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 6922 Red river, H, B. T Donald Gunn _ 844 S Carlisle, Pa Oct. 29, 1842 S. F. Baird 18.00 23.00 7. 25 #1661 o Columbia, Pa_ .... .... ...do 10330 O Georgia _ _ Prof. Jos. Leconte „ _ _ 16. 50 23.00 7. 00 BONASA SABINII, Baird. Oregon Grouse, Tetrao sabinii, Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 1829, 137.—Rich. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 343. ? Tetrao umbellus, Rich. F. Bor. Am. [I, 1831, 342.—Newberry, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route, Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857, 94. Sp. Ch.—Similar to B. umbellus, but much darker. Middle toe longer. Length, about 18 inches ; wing, 7.30 ; tail, 6.70. Hab>—Rocky mountains to Pacific coast of Oregon and Washington. The specimens of ruffed grouse from the Pacific coast differ very greatly in much darker tints of coloration, although the pattern is apparently the same. There is no shade of grey anywhere. The upper parts are dark orange chestnut, mottled with black, the cordate light spots very distinct. The feathers of the breast are strongly tinged with reddish yellow; those of the sides marked with broad and conspicuous bars of black, instead of the obsolete brown. The under tail coverts are orange chestnut, with indistinct bars of black, and an angular terminal blotch of white. All the light brown blotches and edgings of the eastern variety are here dark brown or black. The jugular band between the ruffles is very conspicuously black. The greatest difference is seen in the middle toe, which is much longer than in umbellus, and even without its claw, exceeding the tarsus, instead of being shorter. I am inclined to consider this as a good species of grouse, and distinct from B. umbellus, on account of the difference in the length of the middle toes, although this elongation may some- times be found in B. umbellus. When Richardson found no difference between his T. umbellus and the T. sdbini of Douglas, it is not improbable, judging from the measurements, that he had sdbini before him instead of the other species. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. 8424 Simiahmoo, W. T Sept. 16,1857 A. Campbell Dr. Kennerly 9997 Fort Steilacoom, W. T April —, 1856 Dr. Suckley. 349 x9996 3 Fort Vancouver, W. T Jan. 13,1854 Gov. Stevens 11 Dr. Cooper 18. 00 23. 00 8087 Columbia river, O. T J. Gould D. Douglas _ 4443 Willamette valley Lt. Williamson Dr. Newberry _ 4439 Cascade mountains, O. T. - 4441 4446 Callapooya mountains 1 Iris "brown.632 U. S. P, R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. LAGOPUS, Vieillot. Lagopus, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816. Type Tetrao lagopust L. Ch.—Nasal groove densely clothed with feathers. Tail of sixteen or eighteen feathers. Legs closely feathered to the claws. Species snow white in winter. The ptarmigans inhabit the northern regions of both hemispheres, and with the arctic fo^ and hares, the lemmings, and a few other species, characterize the Arctic zone. They are of rare occurrence within the limits of the United States, though further north they become abundant. The species all become more white in winter, but in summer they are varied with brown, black, and gray, most of the wing remaining white. There is, generally, consid- erable difference between the male and female, the former having the mottling finer and the colors more blended; and in some species having a peculiar black stripe through the eye. As in most grouse there is a naked stripe above the eye, which is generally colored red, and exhibiting a series of fringed processes. There is some uncertainty as to the name proper to be used for this genus. Gray sets aside Lagopus of Vieillot, 1816, as not the same with Lagopus of Brisson, 1760. If, however, Bris- son be no authority for species, he may not be for genera; and, his name being disregarded, Vieillot’s Lagopus would retain its position. The study of the American ptarmigans is rendered very difficult by the extreme difficulty of procuring specimens in summer plumage, and with accurate indications of sex. European naturalists, many of whom live among the ptarmigan, have not yet come to a positive conclusion as to the number of species to be counted, whether two, three or more, while the investigation of our own species is complicated by the extreme rarity of good skins in collections, the imper- fect notice of locality and sex, and the remoteness from the localities where these birds abound. In the collection before me, made up chiefly of specimens kindly presented to the Smithsonian Institution by Mr. John Gould, and of others received from Mr. Audubon, some of them appa- rently types of his descriptions, are various stages of plumage and structure, which might throw considerable light on the subject, but for the unfortunate uncertainty, in some cases, as to whether they are European or American. There are in this series certainly three species, and indications of a fourth, possibly of a fifth, but I do not venture here to do more than indicate three. I find none which correspond with what Mr. Audubon has called L. americanus. The specimens vary considerably in the precise character of bill, which is more or less convex, but there is a decided difference in the average of the willow and the rock grouse. The size of the two species differs also. Both have the tail feathers black, and differing in this respect from the L. leucurus, in which they are white. I give the accompanying descriptions of North American ptarmigans, without much assurance of even approximate accuracy, in respect to the number, characters, and synonymy of the species. Their chief characters are expressed in the following synopsis : Tail feathers black. Bill stout, convex, broad at tip ; the distance from the nasal groove to the tip of bill equal to or less than the greatest height of both mandibles together. No black loral stripe in the male.,...,............................................................................L, albus.BIRDS—TETRAONIDAE—LAGOPUS ALBUS. 633 Size smaller. Bill slender, rather compressed at tip. The distance from the nasal groove to the tip of hill decidedly greater than the height of the bill. Male with a black stripe through the eye.....................................................................L. rupestris. Tail feathers entirely white. No black whatever in the winter bird........................ Comparative measurements of species. L. leucurus. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. o m s: t«. 0 c 1 * 02 bfl •S & ! Tail. I I Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. Remarks. 2852 Lagopus albus ... Labrador ? t? 18.10 8.10 5.02 1.56 1.74 0 52 6.88 0>6 Skin ... Summer „„ 60>0 .. ..do Hudson’s Bay 16.80 ...... 7.50 5.07 1.42 1.80 0.75 0.88 0.87 Skin ... Spsing. 1968 ......do......... A in eric a 7.70 5.34 1 50 1.52 0.35 0.80 0.88 Skin Summer. Very much stretched. 8084 ......do......... Hudson’s Bay 16 50 7.74 5.58 1.52 1.88 0.74 0.87 0.88 Skin Winter ,. 3887 do Trois Rivieres, between 14.00 7.80 5.33 1.49 1.88 0.68 0.76 0.83 Skin..... September..... Montreal and Quebec. 4520 do St. John’s, N. F. ..... 14.80 7.60 5.14 1.62 1.90 0.68 0.76 0.84 Skin February 4518 7.90 5.35 1.56 1.93 0.62 0.88 0.80 Skin. .. „ do. 15.20 24.50 7.50 Fresh 4519 13.00 7.16 4.76 1.40 1.78 0.58 0.75 0.78 Skin . dn do. 14.40 24.00 7.25 Fresh „.. 2031 .......do......... America. 18 00 8.20 5.48 1.57 1.80 0,68 0.77 0.80 "Winter,.... 6923 .......do Red river. Minn 17.80 8.50 5.90 1.57 1.90 0.74 0.77 0.84 Skin..-,,, Very much stretched 6924 .do Nelson river, H. B..... 16.20 7.60 5.02 1.42 1.88 0.85 0.76 0.84 Skin..... 8081 Lagopus alpinus ? Norway ? perhaps N. Am. ...... 15.00 8.10 5.05 1.30 . 1.52 0.60 0.70 0.80 Skin..... Spring. 8085 .......do Norway 14.90 7.50 4 50 1,30 1.50 0,60 0.67 0.80 Skin. „,, dn.. ,, 8086 .......do Europe , 7.70 4.60 1.25 1.32 0.44 0.70 0.84 Skin. .,, 2494 ......do Norway 8 14.00 7.70 4.64 1.25 0,68 0.78 Skin. . r Mid. claw wanting. 8083 Lagopus rupestris? N. W. coast America... 14.50 7.50 4.86 1.36 1.62 0.66 0.68 0 88 Skin 8082 do 13.60 7.70 5.43 1.34 1.50 0.64 0.70 0.86 Skin T . r 2854 do America? 12.80 7.80 4.82 1.10 1.37 0.64 0.66 0.80 Skin. f "Winter 2853 13.00 7.60 4.48 1.16 1.30 0.43 0.70 0.80 Skin 2855 13.50 7,00 4.50 1.32 0.50 0.70 0,78 Skin . t, 10082 Lagopus leucurus W. side Rocky mts.,... 7 10 4.20 1.23 1.48 0.52 0.70 0.79 Skin..,. . - _ 0 Very poor specimen. 10081 7.30 4.24 1.16 1.42 0,45 0.70 0.82 Skin ., T T _ Hr* do. 13.00 21.00 7.00 1269 Lagopus mutus.. Scotland.. ............ 15.00 7 54 5.00 1.28 0.66 0.84 Skin Slimmpv Plnisto ouimnut# vldW* wanting. LAGOPUS ALBUS, And. Willow Grouse; White Ptarmigan. Tetrao albus, G-melin, I, 1788, 750. (Hudson’a Bay.) Lagopus albus, Atjd. Syn. 1839, 207.—Is. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 114 ; pi. 299. Tetrao (Lagopus) albus, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 816* ? Tetrao lagopus, Forster, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 390. Tetrao saliceti, Sabine, App. Franklin’s Narr. 681 .—Rich,‘’App. Parry’s 2d Voyage, 347.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834.528; pi. 191. Tetrao (Lagopus) saliceti, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 351. White Grouse, Pennant. Sp. Oh.—Bill very stout. Bill as high as the distance from the nasal groove to its tip. In summer, rufous or orange chestnut on the head and neck ; the feathers of back black, barred rather closely with yellowish brown and chestnut. In winter, white; the tail black, but no black through the eye. Length, 15.50 ; wing about 8.00 ; tail about 5.00, Hob.—Northern America. Rare in northern parts of United States. July 7, 1858.634 U. S. P R. R. EXP. AND SGRYEY&—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Bill very stout and convex, much curved from the nostrils ; the distance from nostrils to the tip of bill a little less than the greatest depth of both mandibles taken together ; gonys a little less than the width of the lower mandible at the base ; upper mandibles depressed at the end, the gape considerably inflected. Claws very long; broad to near the end, where they are rapidly narrowed ; the middle one as long as the culmen. Toes feathered to the claws ; the feathers with rigid shafts. Upper tail coverts nearly as long as the median coverts, like tail feathers ; lower reaching to the white tips of tail feathers. Wings convex ; the first quill between sixth and seventh ; the third and fourth longest. Tail about two-thirds the wing, slightly rounded laterally ; the feathers of nearly uniform width. Color in winter pure white, without black loral stripe ; the bill black ; the tail feathers, except the two innermost, brownish black ; the exterior with a very narrow tip of white, which increases to nearly a quarter of an inch to the inner ones ; the innermost incumbent pair is entirely white; the latter, however, may really be coverts. The primaries have the shafts brown on the upper surface, except along the extreme edges, which are white. Summer. I have at hand no summer specimens which I can assert positively to be American ; but two before me, received from Mr. Audubon, I have no doubt are part of his Labrador collec- tion, and the originals of his plate. In one of these, corresponding to the male figure, (2852,) the head and neck all round are nearly uniform rufous chestnut; the back of the head and neck, with the feathers blackish, except on the margins. The rest of the upper plumage has each feather black, barred with a slightly varying shade of yellowish brown or chestnut, (different from the head,) and narrowly margined terminally with white. The subterminal yellowish brown bar is con- tinuous across, the others are more or less broken up, mixed, or interrupted towards the shafts. The jugulum is somewhat like the back, the bands less distinct; the sides of the body are similar to the back, the bands coarser. The wings, excepting some of the middle coverts, and the inferior surface of the body, except on the sides of the breast and the legs, are white. The toes are bare of feathers, except towards the base, as is also the posterior edge of the tarsus. There is only a trace of white at the tip of the tail feathers. The supposed female (1968) is quite similar, the mottling rather lighter, and the light bands rather broader. The head and neck have not the uniform rufous chestnut color of the other specimen, those parts being varied more like the back, or with spots of black; the throat, however, is rufous chestnut, with black spots, and no white edges. The colored feathers cover the whole belly, mixed with a good deal of white along the median line and behind. The tibial feathers are white, barred with brown; the tarsi and toes dirty white. The under tail coverts are like the breast. The coarsely mottled feathers of the breast are mixed with others more like those of the male, being more rufous, with the barring more broken, finer, and more obsolete. I find a considerable difference in different specimens of the large Ptarmigan before me. Those from eastern Labrador and Newfoundland appear to have decidedly broader, stouter, and more convex bills than those from the Hudson's Bay and more northern countries. I think it not improbable that there may be two species, but without summer specimens I cannot pretend to determine the question. In the entire uncertainty as to the true character of the American ptarmigans, I can quote only those descriptions that are based on American specimens. I have not at hand the meansBIRDS—TETRAONIDAE—LAGOPUS RUPESTRIS. 635 of settling the synonymy of the different species, and can only call this one Lagopus albus as a provisional appellation. Bonaparte, in his list of Tetraonidae, in Comptes Rendus XLY, Sept. 1857, 428, assigns to America three species: L. rupestris, Lath., with L. americanus, Aud., and lagopus of American “writers as synonyms ; A. groenlandicus, Brehm., with L. reinhardtii ? Brehm, as synonyms, and L. leucurus. The European white ptarmigans are given as L. albus, L. niutus, and L. islandorum, Faber, the latter differing from albus in the stouter bill. It will be noted that this difference of bill appears to characterise the Newfoundland ptarmigan as compared with those from Hudson's bay. As, however, the original Tetrao albus of G-melin is based primarily on descriptions of American specimens, such as Lagopede de la Bale de Hudson of Buffon, White partridge of Ellis, &c., it will be proper to use it here, whatever be its relationship to European forms. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 4520 4519 4518 1968? 2852? 3887 6923 6924 8084 8080 St. John’s, N. F Feb. —, 1856 Dr. Stabb 14. 40 15. 20 24.00 24.20 7. 25 7.50 3 9? Labrador Summer S. F. Baird J. J. Audubon do Trois Rivieres, Can Red river, H. B. T--.. Winter T. Broome Donald Gunn Nelson river, H. B. T _ Hudson bay Winter John Gould- 3 Summer LAGOPUS RUPESTRIS, Leach. Rock Ptarmigan. Tetrao rupestris, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 751. Based on rock grouse of Pennant.—Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 312.—Sabine, Supplem. Parry’s First Voyage, page cxcv.—Richardson, Append. Parry’s Second Voyage, 348.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 483 ; pi. 368. Lagopus rupestris, Leach, Zool. Misc. II, 290.—Bon. List, 1838.—Aud. Syn. 208.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 122 ; pi. 301. Tetro (Lagopus) rupestris, Swains, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 354; pi. Ixiv. Mtagen rupestris, Reich. Av. Syst. Nat. 1851, page xxix. Rock grouse, Pennant, Arctic Zool. II, 312. Sp. Ch.—Bill slender ; distance from the nasal groove to tip greater than height at base. In summer the feathers of back black, banded distinctly with yellowish brown and tipped with white. In winter white, the tail black ; the male with a black bar from bill through eye. Size considerably less than that of L. albus. Length about 14.50 inches ; wing, 7.50 ; tail, 4.50. Hah.—Arctic America. Bill from the nasal groove considerably longer than the greatest depth of both mandibles taken together. Gonys about equal to width of lower mandible below. First quill intermediate between sixth and seventh. Claws very large and broad, equal to the culmen. Tail of fourteen black feathers and four middle white ones. Tail about two-thirds the length of wings.636 th S. P* R* R* EXP. MB SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT, The male bird in winter is pure white throughout, except fourteen tail feathery which are black, narrowly tipped with white, and a black line through and behind the eye. The shafts of the larger primaries are browne xternally, except along the edges. The female is said to be similar, but without the black stripe through the eye. A supposed summer specimen of this species, probably a female, has the feathers of the-back black, with narrow transverse bars of yellowish brown and terminated by white. The brown bars are largest on the basal half; the terminal ones are usually interrupted towards the shaft; fhe last of all sometimes continuous, and separated from the white tip by black. Much the greater exposed portion of the feather is black. Beneath and to some extent on the head the brownish bars are lighter and much broader, imparting a yellowish tint. The chin is whitish, spotted with black. There is no trace of the black lore. The entire wing, excepting the middle coverts and tertials, are white, as is also the middle lore of the belly. The outer web of external tail feather is white towards the base. A specimen from the northwest coast of America, (8082,) presented by Mr. Gould, and perhaps a male of the rock grouse, has the feathers of a chestnut color mottled with black, and with little or no white edging. This may, however, he a distinct species, different, as it certainly is, from the common willow grouse. The differences between the American rock grouse and the willow grouse are to he found in the smaller size of the latter, and its slenderer, more elongated hill. The black stripe through the eye of the male is not found in the willow grouse in either sex. List of specimens. Catal. No. Age. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— 8082 Northwest coast America . John Gould-... - 8083 2853 America ?„ - Summer........ S. F. Baird- ------- .T. .1. Audubon 2854 Winter. 2855 o ..do ? - Summer. 2856 o ------do ...... LAGOPTJS LEUCXJRUS, 8 w a i n s o n . White»taiied Ptarmigan* Tetrao (Lagopus) leucurus, Swainson, Fauna Bor. Amer. II, 1831, 356; pi. Ixiii.—Nuttall, Man. II, 1834,612.— Ib. I, 2d ed. 1840,820. Tetrao leucurus, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 200; pi. 418. Lagopus leucurus, Aud. Syn. 1839.-13. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 125; ph 302. Sp. Ch.—Bill slender. Plumage in summer barred with brownish yellow. In winter pure white, including the tail feathers. Length, 13 inches ; wing, 7 *, tail, 4.25. Hob.—Northern America to the west. Southward along Rocky mountains to Cochetope Pass in latitude 39°. Bill rather slender; the length from the nasal groove considerably greater than the height of both mandibles together. Gonys longer than the width of lower jaw at the end of the lateralBIBBS—TETEAONIDAE—LAGOPUS AMEEXCANUS, 637 feathers ; the lower jaw with a prominent ridge on the sides below. Tail rather short, scarcely more than half the wings. First quill intermediate between sixth and seventh. Color in winter pure white with a faint rosy tint, even including the tail feathers, The shafts of the larger primaries brown. The only specimens I have seen are in winter dress. The summer plumage is said by Eichardson to be varied with blackish brown and ochraceous. The two skins of this bird before me, and probably the only ones in any American museum, were collected in January, 1858, by Captain R, B. Marcy, on his march from Fort Bridger across the Rocky mountains to Santa Fe, in search of provisions and animals for the Utah army, under Colonel Johnston. They were met with near the summit of the mountains, probably near the Oochetope Pass. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 10081 10082 West side Rocky mts., near Cochetope pass, lat. 39°._ .do Jan. —, 1858 Capt. Marcy, U. S. A. Dr. Anderson 13. 00 21. 00 7.00 LAGOPUS AMERICANUS? And. American Ptarmigan. Tetrao lagopus^ Sabine, E., Suppl. Parry’s 1st Voyage, p. cxcvii.—Sabine, J., Franklin’s Jour. 682.*—Rich. App. Parry’s 2d Voyage, 350.” Tetrao (Lagopus) mutus, Rica. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 350. Tetrao mutus, Aud. Orn. Riog. V, 1839, 198. Lagopus americanus, Aud. Syn. 1839, 207.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 119 ; pi. 300. A ptarmigan, supposed by some authors to he the Lagopus mutus or alpinus of Europe, is mentioned by authors as found on Baffin’s bay and Churchill river. Mr. Audubon, on an examination of specimens brought from those countries, considers them distinct, but gives no appreciable characters to separate them. The differences are probably very slight, if they really exist. The European or Scotch ptarmigan has the hill slenderer than in L. alhus, though the size is scarcely less. The summer plumage, however, is very different, the tints being mottled gray, without any of the reddish brown or yellow of the other. The winter dress is white ; the male with a black line from the hill through the eye. It is quite probable that some of the specimens enumerated under the head of L, rupestris really belong here.638 U. S. P. E. E, EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. Family PERDICIDAE. The Partridges. Ch.—Nostrils protected by a naked scale. The tarsi bare and scutellate. The Perdicidae differ from the grouse in the hare legs and naked nasal fossae. They are much smaller in size and more abundant in species. They are widely distributed over the surface of the globe, a large number belonging to America, where the sub-families have no old world representatives whatever. The head seldom if ever shows the naked space around and above the eye, so common in the Tetraonidae, and the sides of the toes, scarcely exhibit the peculiar pectination formed by a succession of small scales or plates. The various species of Perdicidae have been divided by Bonaparte into four sub-families, Perdicinae, Coiurnicinae, Turnicinae, and Ortyginae, while Gray unites the first two into one. The common gray partridge or English partridge, (Perdix cinerea,) with several other European 'species, belong to the first sub-family ; the common European quail (Ooturnix dactylisonans) to the second; the third embraces the bush quails of the old world, while the Ortyginae are entirely peculiar to the new world, which has no representatives in the other sub- families. ' Sub-Family ORTYGINAE. Ch.—Bill stout, the lower mandible more or less bidentate on each side near the end. The Ortyginae of Bonaparte, or Odontophorinae of other authors, arc characterized as a group by the bidentation on either side of the edge of lower mandible, usually concealed in the closed mouth and sometimes scarcely appreciable. The bill is short, and rather high at base; stouter and shorter than what is usually seen in Old World partridges. The culmen is curved from the base; the tip of the bill broad, and overlapping the end of the lower mandible. The nasal groove is short. The tail is rather broad and long. The species are quite numerous, the number known to naturalists being about forty. They occur mostly in Central America and Mexico, though the genus Odontophorus is chiefly com- posed of South American species. All the more important genera are represented within the limits of the United States, except- ing Odontophorus. The following synopsis will convey a general idea of their character: Synopsis of genera. a. Head without crest. Ortyx.—Tail not much more than half the wings; outstretched feet reaching beyond the tail. h. Head with a crest of a feio long narrow, heel-shaped feathers. Oreortyx.—Orest feathers very long, linear; tail scarcely more than half the wings; bill stout; claws blunt, the lateral not reaching the base of the middle claw. Toes of the out- stretched foot reaching beyond the tail. Lophortyx.—Crest feathers widening much at the ends. Tail nearly or quite as long as wings. Bill rather small. Claws acute, the lateral reaching to the base of middle one. Toes not reaching the tip of tail.BIRDS—PERDICIDAE—ORTYX 639 c. Orest softy full and tufted; composed of short, broad and depressed feathers. Callipepla.—Orest springing from the crown. Wing coverts normal. Tail stiffened, nearly as long as the wings. Claws small, acute, outstretched feet not reaching the tip of tail. Cyrtonyx.—Crest occipital. Wing coverts greatly developed. Tail very small and soft; half as long as the wings. Toes short; claws very long, blunted; outstretched feet reaching much beyond the tip of the tail. All the North American quails, except Cyrtonyx massena, have the inner tertiaries edged internally with whitish or buff, forming a conspicuous line on the back when the wings are closed. Comparative measurements of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Along gape. Specimens measured. 1714 Ortyx virginianus Carlisle, Pa. .... .... o 8.64 4.62 3.02 1.21 1.47 0.34 0.55 0.56 Skin do.. do V 10.50 15.16 4.64 Fresh.,.. 1715 do a 8.60 4.68 2.98 1.25 1.47 0.34 0.57 0.58 Skin do.. do 10.00 15.50 4.64 Fresh.,.. 2385 do. Savannah, Ga $ 8.00 4.44 2.70 1.24 1,40 0.30 0.55 0.56 Skin 9350 Ortyx texanus Devil’s river, Tex.... a 8.70 4.35 2.97 1.20 1.30 0.27 0.56 0.50 Skin do 9.00 14.00 4.00 Fresh.... 9354 do Q 9.00 4.50 2.86 1.22 1.40 0.29 0.54 0,60 Skin do do Hr 9.50 14.00 4.00 Fresh,... 9348 .do San Antonio, Tex.... s 7.76 4.35 2.73 1.20 1.38 0.27 0.55 0.60 Skin 9347 do Port Clark, Tex...... Q 7.75 4.20 2.66 1 .08 1.40 0.32 0.54 0.58 Skin 4099 New Leon, Mex Hr A 7.70 4.34 2.88 © < 1.28 0.27 0.53 0.57 Skin do.. D 9.00 13.50 4.50 Fresh..., 3935 Oreort.yx pictus California s 10.00 4.91 3.32 1.35 1.56 0.36 0.66 0.57 Skin 10321 Fort Tejon, Cal.. s 10.70 5.36 3.75 1.39 1.63 0.40 0.55 0.58 Skill. -1,, 9390 Lophortyx californicus..... Tulare valley , $ 9.50 4.32 4.12 1.16 1.50 0.40 0.55 0.60 Skin 3936 California 9 9.80 4.26 3.79 1.16 1.45 0.37 0.50 0.56 Skin 9378 Lophortyx gambelii New Mexico S 9.74 4.54 4.48 1.27 1.46 0.38 0.56 0.56 Skin 9361 do Gila river o 9.10 4.36 4.08 1.16 1.36 0.33 0.54 0.54 Skin 9386 Callipepla squamata New Mexico. A 9.30 4.74 3.82 1.20 1.37 0.37 0.50 0.56 Skin. f,, t 9387 G. Wurdemann-- 26. 00 41. 00 12. 00 Iris brown 8692 do 27. 50 44. 00 13. 00 do 10372 8 January 17, 1858. 26. 50 41.50 12. 00 10373 Q do February 2,1858. 25. 75 40. 00 12. 00 do_ __ BIRDS--ARDEIDAE. 659 Family ARDEIDAE. Ch.—Bill conical, acuminate, compressed, and acute; the edges usually nicked at the end ; the frontal feathers generally extending beyond the nostrils. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly ; the middle toe connected to the outer by a basal web. Claws acute ; the edge of the middle one serrated or pectinated on its inner edge. - The family is a well marked one, and is generally distributed throughout the globe, embracing a great number of species, a large proportion of them American. Bonaparte assigns to it but a single sub-family Ardeinae, making Gancroma, Scopus, and Euripya types of separate families. The following schedule will illustrate the principal characters of the genera belonging to the territories of the United States. The measurements of the species of each section will be found under the head of its first genus. Synopsis of genera. A. Ardeae.—Bill much longer than the head, acute, rather slender proportionately. Legs very long and slender ; tarsus much longer than middle toe ; anteriorly broadly scutellate to the base. Outer lateral toe always decidedly longer than inner. Tibiae lengthened, always bare for the lower third or half. Body moderately compressed. Neck very long, usually well eathered all round. Tail of twelve stiffened feathers. Middle of back with elongated plumes, their fibrillae distant. Demxegretta.—Plumes straight, fastigiate, depending, and elongated. Bfeathers of the head and entire neck lanceolate, narrow, and well defined, (in this differing from all our, other genera.) Toes very short; the lateral not more than half the tarsus, (a character entirely peculiar to this genus.) Garzetta.—Plumes reaching about to the tail, recurved at the end ; the fibrillae horizontal, but not fastigiate. A full occipital crest, and lower part of the throat with similar plumose feathers ; the fibrillae fastigiate. Color white.' Herodias.—Plumes reaching beyond the tail, straight, fastigiate, depending. Head perfectly smooth. Back without elongated plumes. Scapulars usually elongated. Ardea.—Occiput with greatly lengthened feathers, reaching far beyond the occipital crest. Scapulars equal to the tertials. Audubonia.—Head without much lengthened feathers. Scapulars scarcely elon- gated. Florida.—Head with occipital feathers moderately elongated; the webs decom- pounded; those of lower throat, lanceolate. Scapulars longer than the‘tail. Lower outline of bill nearly straight. B. Botaureae.—Bill rather slender, acute. Culmen very gently curved, gonys ascending. Tibia feathered nearly to the joint. Tarsi short, less than middle toe, broadly scutellate ante- riorly. Claws long, acute. Inner lateral toe longest. Tail of ten very soft feathers. Body much compressed. Neck short; bare interiorly behind. No crests nor plumes. Ardetta.—Size very small. Plumage compact, lustrous. Back unicolor. Botaurus.1—Size large. Plumage dull, loose, much spotted and streaked. * X cannot find any important feature of form by which to separate these two genera.660 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 0. Hycticoraceae.—Bill thick and stout, scarcely longer than head. Upper outlinede curved from base. Legs short,' stout. Tarsi stout, short, nearly as long or a littlelonger than the middle teo; the scutellation with a tendency to become hexagonal anteriorly .Lateral toes nearly equal, outer rather the longer. Claws short, much curved. Lower fourth of tibia bare. Head with much elongated occipital feathers. Ho dorsal plumes. Heck short; bare inferiorly behind. Tail of twelve stiff feathers. Butorides.—Bill small, rather slender, gently curved. Gonys straight, but ascending. Tarsus shorter than middle toe. Ho very long occipital plumes. Hyctiardea.—Large. Bill very stout; lower outline straight; gonys slightly concave. Tarsus about equal to middle toe. Occiput with an elongated plume. Scapulars not longer than the tertials. Hyctherodius.—Large. Bill stoutest and shortest of Horth American herons ; inferior outline convex and curving as much as the superior. Tarsus decidedly longer than the middle toe. Occiput with several much elongated feathers. Scapulars reaching the tip of tail. DEMIEGRETTA, Biyth. Demiegretta, “ Blyth, 184-,” perhaps described in Catalogue of Calcutta Museum, 280. Type Ardea jugularis, Biyth. Herodias, Bonaparte, Consp. II, 1855, 120. Not of Boie, which has Ardea egretla for type. Ch.—Bill narrow, slender ; both outlines rather concave to the terminal half, then uniformly convex. Tarsi very long, broadly scutellate ; toes very short ; the middle scarcely more than half the tarsus ; outer longest. Claws much curved, very short and blunt. Back of neck well feathered. Head with a full occipital crest of elongated lanceolate feathers ; the tip of all the neck feathers similar, as well as those on the lower part of the throat. Back with free fastigiate plumes longer than the tail. This genus is one of the most strongly marked among the entire family of herons, and in some respects exhibits a near approach to the cranes. The well defined lanceolate feathers and the short toes are quite peculiar features. There are three species belonging to the United States, which may be readily distinguished as follows: Plumage pure white. Bill flesh colored at the base, the terminal half abruptly black.. .D. pealeii9 Head and neck (even on the throat) uniform reddish brown tinged with lilac. Body generally grayish blue, paler beneath...........................................................D. rufa. Head, neck, and exposed upper parts slaty blue. Chin and central line of throat, with the under parts generally and rump, white.......*.................................D. ludoviciana. I cannot determine satisfactorily what this genus should be called. It is not Herodias, as stated by Bonaparte, since Boie’s name was based upon the Ardea egretta of Linnaeus, and consequently anticipates Egretta of Bonaparte. The only name I can find which has any reference to the group is Demiegretta of Biyth, with his Ardea jugularis1 as the type. I therefore adopt it, but with a strong suspicion that the American birds, with Ardea ludoviciana as type, are entitled to a new generic appellation, for which Hydranassa would be exceedingly appropriate. 1 Ardea jugularis, Blyth, Notes on the Fauna of Nicobar Islands, Jour. As. Soc. XV, 1846, 376.—Herodias concolor, Bon. Conspectus, II, 1855,121.BIRDS-ARDEIDAE—DEMIEGRETTA PEALII. 661 Comparative measurements of Ardeae. Calal, No. 2721 1988 4146 1978 8681 do. 1226 4274 4145 do. 8067 9469 2735 9299 10323 5108 do. 9298 5107 10324 5775 8066 9070 do. 4610 4524 9475 9472 4143 do. 1677 do. 9476 8065 8690 9479 6539 6540 1985 3040 do. 4554 8680 do. Species. Locality. Sex and age. Length. Stretch of wings. Eastern U. S 30.30 29.30 Mat.amoras Eastern TT. S 28.00 Cape Florida...... S 25.50 37.00 Eastern TT. S. 24.00 Calcasieu Pass, La 20.80 Oadereit.a, Mex $ 27.25 36.00 do Tamaulipas 26.00 Sacramento Valley ... $ 23.00 Herodias egretta Eastern TT. S 41.00 Prairie Mer Rouge,La 33.00 do Eastern TT. S. ..... Tndianola,Texas T, 14.70 do 39.00 57.00 Prairie Mer Rouge,La 33.30 Texas Texas , Kansas..... T 33.50 California ? .......... Herodias var. californica San Diego, Cal 43.00 43.00 60.00 do Ardea herodias Cape Flattery, W. T 43.70 Fort Steilacoom, W.T. 45.80 Sacramento Valley. "s" 42.20 Fort Brown, Texas do 42.00 65.00 Carlisle, Penn.... °Q 43.00 70.00 Mimbres to Rio Grande do Mexico 39.50 Ardea wurdemannii.... South Florida A *49.00 V Tndian Key, Fla o S Audubonia occidental^. Indian Key, Fla s 41.00 ,,,,,, Florida Florida coerulea Liberty county, Ga... s .do 22.00 36.00 do Florida.......... 21.50 Indian Key r? 19.80 19.50 39.50 Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bare part of tibia. Height of bill at base. Bill above. Along gape. Specimen measured. 13.50 4.66 5.70 3.30 0.45 3 86 0.63 4.02 4.90 Skin 13.00 5.06 4.84 3.16 0.46 3.38 0.76 3.80 4.90 Skin..... 12.50 5.20 5.42 3.26 0.50 3.40 0.69 3 50 4.54 Skin 10.70 3.70 3.86 3.02 0.46 4.74 0.60 4.04 4.64 Skin 10.26 3.60 4.00 3.22 0.52 2.66 0.60 3.94 4.50 Skin 10.50 Fresh,.., 30.20 4.00 3.93 2.90 0.44 3.62 0.54 3.14 3.60 Skin 9.60 3.70 3.08 2.64 0.39 2.10 0.47 2.94 3.54 Skin 10.00 4.12 3.46 2.60 2.34 0.49 3.06 3.42 Skin 10.12 Fresh.... 10.60 4 44 3.86 2.72 0.46 2.78 0.62 3.38 3.84 Skin 10.70 3.80 3.76 2.74 0.43 2.54 0.54 3.25 3.64 Skin 15.50 6.50 0.82 4.70 5.60 Skin , 14.00 5.92 5.35 4.05 0.63 3.64 0.70 4.28 5.28 Skin 14.80 6.34 5.70 4.20 0.50 3.70 0.66 4.25 5.20 Skin...,. 14.70 6.50 6.00 4.20 0.62 4.50 0.79 4.70 5.20 Skin 16.00 ? Fresh.... 14.20 6.04 6.00 4.50 0.64 4.00 0.86 4.50 5.25 Skin..... 14.00 6.00 5.50 4.10 0.60 3.60 0.70 4.10 5.00 Skin 15.20 6.20 6.30 4,50 0.62 4.42 0.76 4.34 5.46 Skin 15.00 6.00 5,85 4.65 0.65 4.20 0.86 4.25 5.30 Skin 15.70 7.00 6.10 4.70 0.62 4.06 0.82 4.40 5.54 Skin 17.00 6.30 6.70 4.80 0.62 4.40 0.80 4.55 5.71 Skin 17.00 Fresh..., 16.50 6.20 6.25 4.90 0.69 4.34 0.83 5.00 6/00 Skin 19.30 8.73 5.86 4.20 0.80 3.50 1.10 4.87 6.10 Skin 20.20 9.00 6.87 4.84 0.72 4.50 1.17 5.52 7.00 Skin 18.60 7.58 7.06 4.90 0.71 4.28 1.14 5.50 7.15 Skin 17.40 7.29 6.14 4.72 0.64 4.39 1.10 5.26 6.31 Skin 18.00 Fresh.... 18.30 6.84 6.23 4.52 0.56 3.52 1.00 5.95 6.09 Skin 18.50 Fresh.... 19.20 7.60 6.57, 5.00 0.66 4.36 1.14 5.46 7.02 Skin 17.60 7.20 5.96 4.13 0.53 3.36 1.00 4.36 5.70 Skin 20.70 7.40 7.94 5.66 0.90 5.36 1.24 6.48 8.14 Skin 19.70 7.92 9.10 5.60 0.74 6.22 1.25 6.16 7.50 Skin 7.70 5.20 0.61 4.60’ 1.18 5.20 6,00 Skin - ,.,, 19.50 8.00 8.80 5.62 0.74 5.88 1.26 6.50 8.00 Skin 18.00 6.80 5.04 0.70 4.32 1.19 5.50 7.10 Skin..... 11.00 4.58 3.52 3.00 0.50 2.48 0.62 3.00 3.42 Skin 12.00 Fresh.... 11.00 4.42 3.80 3.12 0.49 2,65 0.63 3.00 3.60 Skin 10.50 4.34 3.80 3.04 0.50 2.62 0.54 2.74 3.36 Skin 11.00 Fresh.... * About. DEMIEGrRETTA PEALII, Baird. Peale’s Egret. Jlrdeapealii, Bonap. Syn. 1828, 304.—Ib. Am. Orn. IV, 1833, 96 ; pi. xxvi, f. 1.—Ib. Oss. Cuv. 100.—Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 49. Egretta pealii, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. IV, 1848, 127. Sp. Ch.—Color pure white. Terminal half of bill black. Length about 30 inches ; wing, 13 ; tarsus, 5.70 ; bill above, 4 inches. Hab.—Seacoastof South Florida. Bill, with the culmen concave along the middle ; the gonys convex, and rising from662 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. the angle of the same ; both culmen and gonys quite convex towards the end. Legs lengthened ; the tibia bare for about half its length ; the middle toe short, about three-fifths the tarsus ; the outer lateral toe about one-half. The middle anterior claw short, stout, and blunt; the pectination reduced to a few obsolete notches. Occiput with a crest of long lanceolate firm feathers, shorter than the bill, and similar shaped ones on the whole neck, much elongated on the lower part of the throat; the pennules lax and free only at the base of the feathers. Back with long fastigiate, nearly straight, plumes, with the fibrillae elongated and distant, reaching the length of the tail beyond it. Color pure white. Bill flesh-colored, the terminal half abruptly black. Legs black in the dried specimen ; said to be dark olive green in life ; the soles greenish yellow. List of specimens, Catalogue number. Sex and age. Locality. Whence obtained. 2721 1988 A Florida > _ _ „ _ S. F. Baird - - o _ do _ do DEMIEGRETTA RUFA, Baird. Reddish Egret. Ardearufa, Boddaert, Tabl. PI. Enl. 1784. Ardea rufescens, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 628.—Latham, Ind. Orn. II, 1790, 694.—Wagler, Syst. Ay. 1827 ; Ardea No. 13.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 41] : V, 604 ; pi. 256.—Ib. Syn. 1839.—Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 139; pi. 371. Egretta rufescens, Bonap . List, 1838. Herodias rufescens, Bonap. Conspectus, II, 1855, 125.—Gundlach, Caban. Jour. IV, 1856, 341. Aigrette roitsse, Buffon, Ois. VIII, 378.—PI. Enl. 902. Reddish Egret, Pennant, II, 447. Sp. Ch.—Body grayish blue ; paler beneath. Head and neck all round uniform reddish brown, or rufous chestnut, without white on the throat. Bill black on the terminal third, loung similar, but duller. Length, about 30 inches ; wing, 12.50 ; tarsus, 5.72 ; bill above, 3.50. Hab.—Coast of South Florida and Gulf of Mexico to mouth of Rio Grande. Cuba, Gundlach. Middle toe about two-fifths the tarsus; outer lateral toe more than half the tarsus; inner, about half this length. Tibia bare for about one-half. Pectinations quite distinct. Bill com- pressed ; the outlines excavated, but becoming considerably convex at the tip. General external form that of H. pealeii. “ Bill black on its terminal third ; the rest, and the bare space on the head, pale flesh color. Iris white. Legs and feet ultramarine blue; the scutellae brownish black, as are the claws. Feathers of the head and neck all round light reddish brown, tinged with lilac, the tips fading into brownish white. Back and wings dull grayish blue, the long feathers of the train yellowish towards the tips ; all the lower parts grayish blue, paler than that of the upper.”—Audubon. Without an adult of this species before me, I copy the description of its colors from Mr. Audubon. A young bird has the plumage generally plumbeous gray ; the coverts, the throat, and the head tinged with reddish ; the back slightly glossed with the same. There is only a rudimentary occipital crest, and no dorsal one whatever. The differences in color from the adultm BIRDS—ARDEIDAE—DEMIEGRETTA LUDOVICIANA. 663 are chiefly in the duller blue of the body, and the absence of the decided reddish of the neck. The hill is black at the end and reddish at the base. Audubon and, latterly, Bonaparte, have united the H. pealeii and rufa into one, considering the former as the two-years stage of the latter, and, as such, capable of reproduction. I agree! with Dr. G-ambel in considering them to be distinct, as the immature H. rufescens is now well known as described above. Judging from the specimens before me, the pealeii has shorter toes and longer tarsi than the other. List of specimens. Catalogue number. Sex and age. Locality. Whence obtained. Collected by— 4146 o Matamoras, Texas Lieut. Couch „ « Dr. Berlandier ---------- DEMIE GTRETTA LUDOYICIANA, Baird. Louisiana Heron. Jirdea ludoviciana, Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814,13 ; pi. xvi, f. 1, (not of Linnaeus, which is Butorides virescens.)— Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 192.—Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 51.—Aun. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 136 : V, 605 ; pi. 217.—Ib. Syn. 266.—Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 156 ; pi. 373. Egretta ludoviciana, Bonap. List, 1838. Jirdea leucogaster, Oiu>ed. Wilson, VIII, 125, 13.—? Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 14. Egretta ruficollis, Grosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 338. ^ Herodias rujicollis, Cab. Cab. Jour. IV, 1856, 342. Herodias leucoprymna, “Licht.” Bonap. Consp. II, Jan. 1855, 124. Sp. Ch.—Slaty blue on head, neck, and exposed portion of body above ; lower back, rump, under parts, longest occipital leathers and the middle line of the throat, white ; occiput, nape, and neck behind, purplish. Bill brownish black above and at tip. Legs yellowish green. Young with the blue of head and neck replaced by purplish rufous, blotched with blue. Length, 25 ; wing, 10.50 ; tarsus, 4 ; bill above, 4. Hab.—Coast of South Atlantic and Gulf States. Bill very slender and much attenuated, as long as the tarsus; the upper and lower outlines nearly straight, or slightly concave to near the tip, when they become gently convex. Legs rather short; middle toe about three-fourths the tarsus ; inner lateral toe decidedly more than half the tarsus. Head with an elongated occipital crest, the longest feather the length of the toes ; the feathers composing it as well as those covering the neck all round, and the upper part of the back, are lanceolate, acute, and well defined in their outlines. The lower part of the back, with a plumose train of feathers with the fibrillae distant, elongated, fastigiate, and nearly straight, or curving gently downwards. In the specimen before me this train is a little longer than the tail, but, according to Mr. Audubon, it becomes sometimes lengthened to such a degree as to sweep the ground. The prevailing color of this species on the head, neck, wing, tail, and exposed portion of the body above, is slaty blue ; the occiput, nape, and lower part of neck, (except inferiorly,) purplish. The six or eight longest feathers of the occipital crest, the chin, and central line of the throat, and the entire body, white, except the interscapular region. The white of the lower back and rump is concealed by the train, the feathers of which have concealed white at the base, and are of light brownish, tinged with purple.# 664 TJ. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. The white of the throat is much concealed in its middle and inferior portion by blue edges of the feathers, and in places is spotted with purplish. The bill in life is said to he brownish black above and on the sides below towards the point; the rest yellow, as is the space round the eye. The iris bright red. Feet light yellowish green; the anterior scutellae dusky. A young bird differs in having the blue of the head and neck replaced by purplish rufous, blotched with blue ; the wing coverts edged with the same rufous. Most of the bill appears to be yellow ; the upper mandible dusky ; the tip black. There is no occasion to change Wilson’s name for this bird, on account of its having been employed by Linnaeus. The white Ardea ludoviciana is a synonym of Butorides virescens, a bird of very different genus. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex & age. Locality. Whence obtained. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 8681 1978 10326 10327 s Clapp Florida. r G-. Wurdemann.. * 25.50 37.00 10.50 Upper mandible greenish, with black end* Lower part brownish. Iris light yellow. T?1 avJ d o S F Baird ..... ... oQ oS Hnn vcri n Prof J09 Lpconto a 24.20 25.00 36.00 37.00 9.50 10.00 do . „ . ,.Tdo. ...t GABZETTA, B o n ap ar t e. Garzetta, Bonap. Consp. II, 1855, 118. Type Ardea garzetta, L. (whether of Kaup, 1829 ?) Oh.—Bill slender ; outlines nearly straight to near the tip, when they are about equally convex. Middle toe more than half the tarsus. Tarsi broadly scutellate anteriorly. Tibia denuded for about one half. Outer toe longest. Head with a full occipital crest of feathers having the webs decomposed, hair-like ; feathers of lower part of throat similar. Middle of back with long plumes reaching to the tail, recurving at tip. These plumes and the crest apparently permanent. Lower part of neck behind, bare of feathers. Colors, pure white in all ages. Of this genus but a single well-established species is found in the United States, a Chilian one, (possibly occurring in California,) Ardea thula of Molina, (Hist. Nat. Chile, 207,) is larger ; the tarsi shorter ; the bill yellow at the base instead of black. This genus is called Garzetta by Bonaparte, after Kaup of 1829. I have not the work of Kaup at hand to know what species is his type, but suspect it to be Ardea alba, L. Without Macgillivray’s British Birds before me, I am unable to say whether his Erodius belongs to this genus or to Herodias.665 ♦ BIRDS—ARDEIDAE—GARZETTA CANDIDISSIMA. * GARZETTA CANDIDISSIMA, Bo nap. Snowy Heron. Jtrdeanivea, Jaccwin, Beit. 1784, 18. Notof S. G. Gmelin of prior date, andsame genus.—Latham, Ind. II, 1790, 696, (in part.)—Licht. Verz. 1823, No. 795. Ardea candidissima, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. J, 1788, 633.—Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 120; pi. 62. Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 194.—Ib. Syn. 1828, 305.—Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, Ardea, No. 11.—Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 49.—Aud. Ora. Biog. Ill, 1835, 317: V, 1839, 606 ; pi. 242.—Ib. Syn. 269.— Ib. Birds Amer, VI, 1843, 163. Egretta candidissima, Bonap. List, 1838.—Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 336. Herodias candidissima, Gray, Genera.—Gundlach, Cab. Jour. IV, 1856, 342. Garzetta candidissima, Bonap. Consp. 1855, 119. Ardea carolinensis, Ord. ed. Wilson, VII, 1825, 125. Snowy heron, Latham. Sp. Ch.—Occiput much crested. Dorsal plumes reaching to the end of the tail. Colors pure white. Bill black ; the base yellow. Legs black. Length, 24 ; wing, 10.20 ; tarsus, 3.80 ; bill above, 3.15. Hob.— Coast of Middle and Gulf States, and across to California. Bill compressed; oilmen slightly concave in the basal two-thirds ; terminally more convex than the gonys. Middle toe, three-fonrths the tarsus. Tibia hare for nearly one-half. Occiput with a full crest of loosely fibred feathers as long as the bill; the feathers on the lower part of the throat somewhat similar. The middle of the back with a series of plumes, with the fibrillae distant and lengthened ; the plumes recurved at tip, where the fibrillae of opposite sides are horizontal, but approximated together in a vertical plane. They reach nearly to th6 tip of the tail, sometimes beyond it. Bill black, yellow at the base, including the loral region and around the eye, as also a larger basal portion of the lower mandible. Leg black ; the lower part of the tarsus behind and the toes yellow. Color of plumage throughout pure white. A specimen from California, 9469, has the occipital crest much elongated, considerably longer than the bill ; the other plumes also more developed. This species differs from the Garzetta egretta, Bon., of the Old World, in having the bill shorter than the tarsus, instead of equal. The crest in egretta is much smaller and less developed. Most authors quote Jacquin for the name candidissima of this species. A reference to this work shows, however, that he used the word nivea, already pre-occupied for the Ardea garzetta. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence ob- tained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1226 Eastern XT. States S. F. Baird 4275 Calcasieu Pass, La. 3854 G-. Wiirdemann. 4276 do.. 4274 do ....do 8067 Taraaulipas........ Feb. 13,1837 John Gould..,. 4145 dcwr. Ktovons .... „ T _. Dr. Suckley.... 9.75 1 2!. 75 9.25 do Tudiannln T^yjiq Mar. 15, 1856 Capt. Pope 7 9 TT*;}mnnlinas ATpyipa Tdmit.. Couch .... Eyes dark brown; feet dark slate. A Tndia - - S« F. Baird. o . do AEGIALITIS, Boie. %flegialitis, Boie, Isis, 1822, 558. Type Charadrius hiaticula, L, Aegialites, Kaup, 1829. Ch.—Plumage more or less uniform, without spots. Neck and head generally with dark bands. Front of the legs with plates arranged vertically, of which there are two or three in a transverse series. This genus, as far as North America is concerned, is distinguished from Charadrius by the generally lighter color and greater uniformity of the plumage ; by the absence of continuous black on the belly, and by the presence of dusky bands on the neck or head ; the size is smaller. The tarsi, in most species, have the front plates larger and conspicuously different in this respect from the posterior ones.692 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY--GENERAL REPORT. Oxyeehus, Reich.1 AEGIALITIS VOCIFERUS, (Linn.) Oassin. Kill-deer. ■ Charadrius vociferus, Linn, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 253—Wils Am. Orn, VII, 1813, 73; fig. pi. lix.~Nutt. Man. II, 22.—Aud. Ora. Biog. Ilf, 1835, 191: V, 577; pi. 225 —Is. Syn. 222.—Ib. Birds Am. V, 1842, 207, pi. 317. A'gialtes vociferus, Bon. List, 1838. Oxyeehus vociferus, Reich, Syst. Av. 1853, pi. xviii. Charadrius torquatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 255. Charadrius jamaicensis, Gm. I, 1788, 685. Figur.es.—Catesby’s Carolina, Birds, pi. 71.—Buff. PI. Enl.286 —Wilson’s Am. Orn. VII, pi. 59, fig. 6.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 225, oct. ed. V. pi. 317. Sp. Ch.—Wings long, reaching to the end of the tail, which is also rather long. Head above and upper parts of body light brown with a greenish tinge, rump and upper tail coverts rufous, lighter on the latter. Front and lines over and under the eye, white, another band of black in front above the white band ; stripe from the base of the bill towards the occiput, brownish black; ring encircling the neck and wide band on the breast, black ; throat white, which color extends upwards around the neck ; other under parts white. Quills brownish black with about half of their inner webs white, shorter primaries with a large spot of white on their outer webs, secondaries widely tipped or edged with white. Tail feathers pale rufous at base ; the four middle, light olive brown tipped with white and with a wide subterminal band of black ; lateral feathers widely tipped with white. Entire upper plumage frequently edged and tipped with rufous. Very young, have upper parts light gray with a longitudinal band on the head and back black ; under parts white. Total length about 9| inches, wing 6§ ; tail 3| inches. Hab.—North America to the Arctic regions, Mexico, South America. From its peculiar note, the “Killdeer” is one of the few birds of our country known to all classes and ages of the people. It is common throughout North America, wandering apparently in the winter season into the southern division of this continent, and to the islands of both the Atlantic and.Pacific oceans. • List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex and age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig’I No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1871 3 Carlisle. Pa.. April 7,1844 S. F. Baird 10.00 20.00 6.25 7601 ‘VYashingfni'q O, C Wm. Hutton....... 5429 Port. Pierre Lt. Warren Dr. Hayden..... 9.50 20.00 6.75 9054 3 liOiip Fork 10.00 20.50 6.25 Iris brown ; feet green- ish ; bill black. 9058 o July 30,1857 10.75 20.50 7.00 8188 3 Shawnee river, K. T.... do....... Win. M. Magraw Dr. Cooper 11.25 20.25 6.75 6591 Cedar creek. Neb ,;l,, June 24 Lt. Warren Dr. Hayden...... 9.75 18.75 6.50 4646 White river, Neb May 12,1856 Col. Vaughan ......do 5428 s Mouth of Yellowstone Tit. Warren 10.00 21.25 6.87 5752 s Platte river, Neb July 19,1856 Tit. Bryan. 122 W. S. Wood..... 5751 s Medicine Bow, Neb.... Aug. 10,1856 239 .do 5756 Platte river, Neb July 19,1856 126 5753 r\ Bryan’s Fork, 115 miles July '3,1856 do 61 do V W. of Fort Riley. oo$ Laramie river Aug. —,1856 ...... do 213 O 100 3707 Salt Lake Mar. —,1850 Capt. Stansbury.... 5093 Permanent camp, N. M. Capt. Pope 122 11.00 20.50 7.00 4181 3 Near Mata-moras, Mex Tit. Couch ......... 9.00 19.00 6.25 4958 Ft., fihadbonrne, Tex. .. Dr. Swift,U.S. A.. 6594 Eagle Pass, Tex Maj. Emory.... A. Schott........ 6590 Camp 121, N. M Lt. Whipple Kennerly & Moll- hausen. 6583 Boca Grande, Mex Mar. —,1855 Maj. Emory 36 Dr. Kennerly .... 6588 3 Los Angelos Yalley Tit. Williamson Dr. Heermann Fort Tejon, Cal J. Xantus de Vesey 6586 San Francisco, Cal.... R. D. Cntfs 6589 Bodega, Cal............ Dec. —,1854 Tit. Trowbridge T. A.Szabo 6587 Ft. Steilacoom, W. T... Gov. Stevens Dr. Snekley...... 5985 do........ Dr. Cooper. 6585 A Dr. SuckTey 366 9.40 18.80 ' O 6592 Dec. —, 1826 Gov. Stevens 8 Dr. Snekley 10.12 20.00 1 Oxyeehus, Reich. Syst. Av. 1853, Introd. xviii.BIRDS—CHARADRIDAE—AEGIALITIS WILSONIUS. 693 AEGIALITIS MONTANUS, (Towns.) Oassin. Mountain Plover. Charadrius montanus, Towns, J. A. N. Sc. VII, 3837, 192.—Ib. Narr. 1839 349.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 362; pi. 350.—Ib. Syn. 223.—Ib. Birds Am. V, 1842, 213 ; pi. 318. Jlegialtes montanus, Bon. List, 1838. Sp. Ch.—Forehead, stripe over the eye, and entire under parts, white, generally tinged with dull yellowish and ashy on the breast. Another band of black in front above the white band ; back of the neck and sides dull brownish fulvous ; other upper parts ashy brown, usually with many feathers edged and tipped with fulvous or rufous; upper tail coverts lighter. Quills dark brown with their shafts white, tail brown with a wide subterminal band of brownish black and tipped with white. Shorter primaries with a white space on their outer webs, forming a patch of white on the wing ; under wing coverts and axillary feathers pure silky white. Bill black, legs yellow. Younger, without the black band in front, and with the white band tinged with dull yellow, entire upper parts with the feathers edged and tipped with dull ashy rufous. Total length, about 9 inches ; wing, 6 ; tail, 3 inches. Hab.—Western North America. This bird is only known to inhabit the western countries of North America, Like other species of this group it migrates very probably into South America, List of specimens. Catalogue number. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. 6 525 #bi) 'C O Collected by— . / Length. *3 CD £ .a 2 £ m 9043 Loup fork of Platte, Neb_- Lieut. Warren Dr. Hayden 9044 6596 Mouth of Milk river Gov. Stevens Dr. Suck ley 5757 Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-As. II, 1811, 205. Phalaropusplatyrhynchus, Temm. Man. II, 712. Figures.—-Edwards, Birds, III, ph 142.—Vieill. Gal. Ois. II, pi. 270.—-Wilson, Am. Orn. IX, pi. 73, fig. 4.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 255 ; oct. ed. V, pi. 339.*—Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-As. II, pi. 63. Sp. Ch.—Bill strong, flattened, widened towards the end; wings long ; tail short; legs short ; plumage thick and compact, like the swimming birds. Adult. Head above, space around the base of the bill, throat, and back, brownish black, feathers of the last edged broadly with pale ochre yellow ; wings and tail ashy brown, paler on the wing coverts ; greater wing coverts widely tipped with white; stripe on the cheek white. Entire under parts deep brownish red, inclining to purple on the abdomen, and with a glaucous cast in very mature specimens ; under wing coverts and axillaries pure white ; bill greenish yellow ; feet dark bluish brown. Young. Entire upper parts light cinereous ; head above and wings darker, and mixed with blackish brown; head in front, and entire under parts white ; tips of greater wing coverts white. Total length, about 7§ inches ; wing, 5| *, tail, 2| ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, l inch. Hab.—Entire temperate regions of North America ; Asia ; Europe. List of specimens. Catal. No, Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Remarks. 2001 489 1245 6655 United States New York Spring S. F. Baird 1841 California do - Shoalwater bay, W. T. Nov. 24, 1854 Gov. Stevens 114 Dr. Cooper 8.75 16. 00 Iris dark brown, bill black and yellow.70S U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. Family SCOLOPACIDAE. On a preceding page will be found the principal character of the Scolopacidae as distinguished from the Charadridae, Haematopodidae, Recurvirostridae, and Rhalaropodidae. According to Bonaparte's arrangement, the Scolopacidae are divisible into two sub-families—Scolopacinae and Tringinae; the former with one tribe, Scolopaceae; the latter with four, Tringinae, Totaneae, Limosinae, and Numeninae. The arrangement of Keyserling and Blasius and of Burmeister, however, seems more natural in associating Tringeae with Scolopaceae under Scolopacinae. On this basis the two sub-families may be characterized as follows : Scolopacinae.—Bill covered with soft skin to the sensitive, vascular, thickened, or laterally expanded tip. Uncovered portion of tibia short. Body and legs rather stout. Neck rather short and stout. Toes generally cleft to the base, (not in Macrorhamphus and Micropalama, &c.) Gape of mouth very small, not extending beyond the base of culmen. Totaninae.—Bill covered with soft skin towards the base ; the terminal portion hard, horny, and more or less attenuated. Body more slender. Legs and neck slender and lengthened. Toes generally with a basal web. Gape of mouth larger, always extending beyond base of culmen, (except in Limosa.) Sub-Family SCOLOPACINAE. Ch.—Bill swollen at the end, and covered almost to the tip with a soft skin, the edges only of the rather vaulted tip horny. The end of the upper bill generally bent a little over the tip of lower. The jaw bone in typical genera finely porous, and perforated by vessels and nerves, imparting a high degree of sensibility to the bill, enabling it to find food in the mud. After death the end of bill is usually pitted. Legs rather stout; the naked portion of the tibia much abbreviated. The hind toe well developed and generally present; the toes usually without basal membrane, (except in Macrorhamphus, &c.) Under the head of Scolopacinae, as at present defined, I range two tribes, with the following brief diagnoses: A. Scolopaceae.—Bill much longer than the head or than the naked leg ; the end of upper jaw thickened and bent over beyond the tip of lower. Roof of mouth not excavated to the tip. A longitudinal furrow along the culmen towards the end. External ear placed beneath or anterior to the eye. Tail bonded ? B. Tringeae.—Bill shorter than the naked leg, widened or rather spoon-shaped at the end, with the edges not bent over. Roof of mouth excavated to the tip. No groove along the culmen. Ear behind the eye. Tail without bands ? Tribe SCOLOPACEAE. The general characters of the Scolopaceae have already been given. The genera found in North America belonging here are as follows : A. Toes cleft to the base. Tarsi shorter than middle toe/ Philohela.—Tibia feathered to the lower joint. Wings short, much graduated ; the three outer primaries much attenuated. Gallinago.—Lower part of tibia naked. Wings lengthened; the outer primaries longest. B. Toes united at the base. Tarsi longer than middle toe. Macrorhamphus.—Somewhat like Gallinago, but the middle and outer toes united to the first joint.BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—PHILOHELA MINOR. 709 PHILOHELA, G. R. Gray. Pliilohela, Gray, List of Genera, 1841. Type Scolopax minor, Gm. Rusticola, Gray, Genera, 1840, not of Moehring, 1752. Microptera, Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 192, not of Gravenhorst, 1802. Ch.—Body very full, and head, bill, and eyes very large. Tibia short, feathered to the joint. Toes cleft to base. Wings short, rounded. First three primaries very narrow and much attenuated ; the fourth and fifth equal and longest. Tarsi stout, shorter than the middle toe. Hind nail very short, conical, not extending beyond the toe. Tail of twelve feathers. The present genus, embracing a single species, the American woodcock, is much like Scolopax, with the European woodcock as type, in color and external appearance. The most striking difference is seen in the wings, which are short, rounded; the fourth and fifth primaries longest and the outer three attenuated, while in Scolopax the wings are long ; the first primary longest and more attenuated. PHILOHELA MINOR, (Gmelin,) Gray. American Woodcock* Scolopax minor, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 661.—Wils. Am. Orn. VI, 1812, 40; pi. 48.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1835, 474 ; pi. 268.—Doughty’s Cab. N. H. I, 1830, 158 ; pi. xiv. Rusticola minor, Vieillot, “ Analyse, 1816.”—Gal. Ois. II, 112 ; pi. ccxlii.—Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 194. Scolopax (Microptera) minor, Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 194. Philohela minor, Gray, List Genera, 1841. Microptera americana, Aud. Syn 1839, 250.—Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 15 ; pi. 352. Sp. Ch.—Bill long, compressed, punctulated and corrugated near the end ; upper mandible longer than the under, and fitted to it at the tip ; wings moderate, three first quills very narrow ; tail short; legs moderate ; eyes inserted unusually distant from the bill. Occiput with three transverse bands of black, alternating with three others of pale yellowish rufous ; upper parts of body variegated with pale ashy, rufous, or yellowish red of various shades, and black ; large space in front and throat reddish ashy ; line from the e)e to the bill, and another on the neck below the eye, brownish black ; entire under parts pale rufous, brighter on the sides and under wing coverts. Quills ashy brown ; tail feathers brownish black, tipped with ashy, darker on the upper surface, paler and frequently white on the under ; bill light brown, paler and yellowish at base ; legs pale reddish. Total length about 11 inches; wing, 5| ; tail, 2| ; bill, 2£ ; tarsus, 1| inches. Hab.—Eastern North America. List of specimens. Catal. ' No. Sex. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 852 .... 8.50 17.00 5.75 6690 PnSound 6691 May 5,1858 f#ITrTTdn., ,, „ r - -rfr-T. 373 6693 X U1 L O i/t»JLJ dLUUJ.II j YV * • drv ... do , „... 563 ! "‘e#* TRINGA WILSONII, Nut tall. Least Sandpiper. Tringa pusilla, Wilson, Am. Orn. Y, 1812, 32; pi. 37. Not of Linnaeus.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IY, 1838, 180; pi. 320.— Ib. Syn. 237.— Ib. Birds Am. Y, 1842, 280; pi. 337. Pelidnapnsilla, Bon, List, 1838. ? Tringa minutilla, Yieillot, Nouy. Diet. XXXIY, 1819, 466. Tringa wilsonii, Nuttall, Man. II, 1834, 121. Figures.—Wilson, Am. Orn Y, pi. 37, fig. 4.—Audubon’s B. of Am. pi. 320, oct. ed. Y, pi. 337. Sp. Qh.—'The smallest of all known species of this group found in North America. Bill about as long as the head, slightly curved towards the end, which is very slightly expanded; grooves in both mandibles to near the tip; wing long; tertiaries nearly as long as the primaries; tail short; middle feathers longest; outer feathers frequently longer than the intermediate; legs long ; lower third of the tibia naked; toes long, slender, margined and flattened beneath; hind toe small. Upper parts with nearly every feather having a large central spot of brownish black, and widely margined with ashy and bright brownish red; rump and middle of the upper tail coverts black; outer coverts white spotted with black. Stripe over the eye, throat, and breast pale ashy white, with numerous small longitudinal spots of ashy brown; abdomen and under tail coverts white. Quills dark brown with the shafts of the primaries white; tertiaries edged with reddish, Middle feathers of the tail brownish black; outer feathers light ashy white. Under surface of wing light brownish ashy, with a large spot of white near the shoulder; axillary feathers white; bill and legs greenish brown, the latter frequently yellowish green. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail about 5| to 6 inches; wing, 3£ to 3|; tail, If; bill to gape, f; tarsus, f inch. Hob.—Entire temperate North America. This little bird is apparently quite as abundant on the western as on the eastern coast of the republic. Specimens from western localities seem to be slightly larger, and perhaps a shade more ashy in color, but we can make out no specific distinction. August 5, 1858. 91 b722 U S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENEEAL EEPOET. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length, Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 1675 1509 1674 1510 1511 10443 1179 10416 3 S s Q flarlisie Pa .. r May 15 ..... S. F. Baird 5.88 11.16 3.50 t r . . „ . do. .... .... .-no-. do 5.80 11.16 3.50 Aug. 12,1844 May 15 ...... do 6.00 11.25 3.56 .. • • ,do. 6.16 11.80 3.80 5.80 11.50 3.64 S flapp May, N. .T do.. J. K. Townsend Washington, D. f! ......do......... Smith Illinois N. W. University. Lieut. Warren It. Kennicott.. 9046 8801 A T.onp fork, Platte Dr. Hayden.... Dr. Cooper .... 5.75 10.84 3.50 Tris deep brown u Scott’s Rluff, Noh.. Aug. 20 .... W. M. Magraw 5.84 11.12 3.50 8789 North fork of Platte.... 6.00 11.36 3.75 Iris brown; bill and feet 6686 5568 6679 Texas Oapt.. J, Pope.... black. A Petaluma, flal. T tT , . T.. F. Samuels 766 5.08 10.00 3.48 u Fort Steilacoom, W. T» May 5 Gov. Stevens 376 Dr. Suckley 6688 3 "Dr. Suckley 375 5.54 11.36 6681 6678 Gov. Stevens .... 89 Dr. Suckley 3 .do 377 6682 Pnp-et’s Sound Aug, —,1856 Dr. Suckley.... 561 . „ „. .do TRINGA BONAPARTII, Schlegel. Tringa schinzii, “ Brehm,” Bon. Syn. 1828, (not of Brehm.)—Ib. Am. Orn IY, 1832,69; pi. lxix.— Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 384.—Nutt. Man. II, 109.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 529; pi. 278.—Ib. Syn. 236.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 275; pi. 335. Pelidna schinzii, Bon. Comp. List, 1838. Tringa cinclus, var. Say, Long’s Exped. 1823. Tringa bonapartii, Schlegel, Rev. Crit. Ois. Eur. 1844, 89. ? Scolopax pusilla, Gm. Syst. I, 1788, 663. Figures — Bonap. Am. Orn. IV, pi. 24, fig. 2.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 278 ; oct. ed. V, pi 335.—-Gould B. of Eur, IV, pi. 330. Sp. Ch.—Smaller; bill slightly arched towards the tip, which is somewhat enlarged and flattened, about the length of the head ; grooves in both mandibles long and narrow ; wings long; secondary quills obliquely incised at the ends; tail rather longer than usual in this group, with the feathers broad; legs rather long and slender; toes free at base ; hind toe very small. Upper parts light ashy brown, darker on the rump; nearly all the feathers with ovate or wide lanceolate central spots of brownish black, and many of them edged with bright yellowish red; upper tail coverts white. Under parts white, with numerous small spots of dark brown on the neck before, breast, and sides, somewhat disposed to form transverse bands on the last. Quills brownish black, darker at the tips; shaft of outer primary white, of others light brown; middle feathers of tail brownish black; outer feathers lighter and edged with ashy white; under wing coverts and axillaries white; bill and feet greenish black. Total length about 7 inches; wing, 4|; tail, 2|; bill, 1; tarsus rather less than an inch. Bab.—North America, east of the Rocky mountains. This is an abundant little sandpiper, sadly misnamed by American ornithologists. It is really very little like Tringa schinzii, Brehm, (figured in Naumann’s Birds of Germany^ pi. 187,) which is merely a smaller variety, or perhaps only smaller specimens of the common Tringa aipina of Europe and America. This bird appears to be restricted to the countries east of the Rocky mountains.BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—CALIDRIS ARENARIA. 723 List of specimens. Gatal. number. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. 3451 New York 1846 „ S. F, Baird 4869 Omaha City 1 Lieutenant Warren _ _ 5442 Yellowstone river | do_. 8800 Fort Kearney to Laramie August, 1857 Dr. Cooper i CALIDRIS, Cuvier. Calidris, Cuvier, Anat. Comp. V, in chart, 1805. Type Tringa orenaria, L. Ch.—General characters of Tringa, hut without hind toe. Bill straight, rather longer than the head and tarsus, widened somewhat or spoon-shaped at the end. Tail doubly emarginate. Toes short; middle one scarcely two-thirds the tarsus. CALIDRIS ARENARIA, 111 i g e r. Sanderling* Tringa arenaria, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 251.—Aud. Orn. Biog.—Ib. Birds Amer, V, 1842, 287; pi. 338. Calidris arenaria, Illiger, Prod, 1811, 249.—Sw. F. B. Am. II, 366.—Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 4. Charadrius calidris, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 255.—Wils. Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 68; pi. lix. Charadrius rubidus, Gm. I, 1788, 688.—Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, IB 13, 129; pi. lxiii. Tringa tridaclyla, Pallas, Zoog. II, 1811, 198. Calidris tringoides, Vieillot, Gal. II, 1825, 95. Calidris americana, Brehm, Vogel Deutschl. 1831, 675.—Ib. Naumannia, I, 1850, 69. Figures.—Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 59, fig. 4, pi. 63, fig. 3.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 230; oct. ed V, pi, 338. Sp. Ch.—No hind toe; front toes moderate or rather long, flattened underneath; distinctly margined with a membrane. Bill rather longer than the head, straight, rather thick; ridge of upper mandible flattened ; nasal groove deep and nearly as long as the upper mandible, not so distinct in the lower; both mandibles widened and flattened at the tip; aperture of the nostril large and covered with a membrane. Wing long; tail short, with the middle feathers longest; under coverts long as the tail; legs moderate; lower third of the tibia naked. Upper parts light ashy, with lanceolate, hastate, and ovate spots of brownish black on the top of the head, on the back, scapulars, and shorter quills; rump and upper tail coverts with fine transverse lines of black. Under parts pure white. Shoulders brownish black, without spots; quills brownish black with their shafts white and much paler on their inner webs; greater wing coverts widely tipped with white; middle feathers of the tail ashy brown, edged with white; outer feathers paler; bill and legs greenish black. Sexes alike. In spring plumage the head, neck, and breast are tinged with pale yellowish red and spotted with dark brown; back and scapulars edged and tipped with yellowish red; rump and upper tail coverts ashy brown; under parts of the body pure white. Total length, 7| to 8 inches; wing, 5; tail, 2; bill about 1 inch; tarsus about 1 inch. Hah.—Entire temperate regions of North America, South America, Europe. An abundant species on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the republic* and extending its range in winter into South America. We can find no reliable distinction between the American and the European bird, though specimens differ quite materially in size and length, of bill.724 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Oatnl. No. Sex. Locality. When collect- ed. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch ofwings. Wing. Remarks. 1150 o Cape May, TV. J. July 20,1843 S/E. Baird 7.75 15.00 5.08 1351 V 7.64 14.50 4.89 2374 Marietta Pa .. T__. T, do. , „ _ _ T T. 8459 Florida G. Wurdemann.... 6883 Piippfs Pound W. T ... Aug. 26,1856 Dv. Rimklpy . , T T1 562 6680 Port. Steilaooom, W. TV . . (4ov. Rtevens .... 40 Dr. Suckley.... 9535 Simenhmoo, W. T Nov. 24,1857 A . riampbp.il. ,,,,,, Dr. Kennedy.. 6670 Shoalwater bay, W. T.... Mar. 2,1854 Gov. Stevens Dr. Cooper..... 8.00 15.50 Iris brown; bill and feet black. 6672 8.00 15.50 1788 Fngland.. S. F. Baird .... EREUNETES, Illiger. Ereunetes, Illiger, Prodromus, 1811, 262. JTemipalama, Bonap, Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 212. Type Tringa semipalmata, Not of Syn. 1828. Heteropoda, Nutt. Man. II, 1834. Not of Latreille, 1804. The genus Ereunetes of Illiger has for its type a species, called E. petrificatus by him, from Bahia, supposed to be identical with Tringa semipalmata, although the description, ce smaller than Actitis hypoleucus, the colors similar/' leaves much to be desired. The bill of our species of Ereunetes is quite stout and considerably expanded, by which it is readily distinguished from Actodromas wilsonii independently of the semipalmated feet. The tarsus and middle toe are about equal; the tibia denuded anteriorly for about two-thirds the length of tarsus. The basal membrane of toes is more scolloped out interiorly than exteriorly; the notch externally not quite as deep as to the first joint, although the membrane extends beyond the second. There is a tendency to hexagonal sub-division in the bare portion of tibia anteriorly. The tail is doubly emarginate. EREUNETES PETRIFICATUS, 111. Semipalmated Sandpiper. ? Tringa pusilla, Linn. Syst, Nat. I, 1766, 252. Ereunetes petrificatus, Illiger, Prod. 1811,262. (Proved identical with Tringa semipalmata, Wils. by Cabanis.) from actual examination of original specimen in Berlin Mus. Tringa semipalmataWilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 131; pi. lxiii.—Sw. F. B. A. II, 381.-—Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 111; pi. 408.—Ib. Syn. 236.,—Ib Birds Amer. V, 1842, 277; pi. 336. Tringa (Hemipalama) semipalmata, Bon. Obs. Wils 1825 ; No. 212. Tringa (Heteropoda) semipalmata, Nutt Man. II, 1834, 136. Heterepoda semipalmata, Bon. List, 1838. Ereunetes semipalmatus, Cab. Schomburgk’s Reise, III, 758.—Bon. Comptes Rendus, XLIII, Sept. 1856.—Cabants, Journ. Nov. 1856, 419. (Cuba.) Tringa brevirostris, Spix, Av. Bras. II, 1825, 76. ?Heteropoda mauri, Bon. Comp. List, 1838. M'eunetes mauri, Gundl. Cab. Jour. 1856. 419. JTemipalama minor, Gundlach, Lembeye, Av. Cuba. Figures —Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 63, fig. 4.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 405, oct. ed. V, pi. 336.—Spix, B. of Brazil, II, pi. 93.BIRDS—SCOLO PACIDAE---EKEUNETES PETKIFICATUS. 725 Sp. Ch.—^Smaller; bill about the length of the head ; rather thicker than usual in this group; both mandibles somewhat expanded and flattened at the tip, and minutely punctulated, as in the genera Scolopax and Gcillinago. Wings long ; legs moderate, rather slender; toes united at base by a membrane, which is large, between the outer and middle toes extending to the first joint; hind toe small; tail short, with the middle feathers longest; outer feathers frequently longer than the third, presenting a doubly emarginate character to the tail; under coverts nearly as long as the tail. Upper parts light brownish ashy, with lanceolate or ovate spots of brownish black in the middle of the feathers ; rump and upper tail coverts black. Front, band of the eye, and entire under parts, ashy white, with small spots on the breast of ashy brown; quills brownish black, lighter on their inner webs, and with their shafts white ; middle feathers of the tail brownish black; outer feathers pale brownish ashy; under wing coverts and axillaries white ; bill greenish black ; feet dark, the lo'wer part of the tarsus and toes frequently tinged with yellow. Upper parts in summer mixed with light reddish, Total length, about inches; wing, 3|; tail, If; bill from gape, f; tarsus, f to 1 inch. Hob —Entire temperate regions of North America, South America. This abundant little species is singularly variable in the length of its bill, so much so, in fact, that a student with two specimens representing extremes in this particular would deem it quite impossible that they could be identical specifically. We have before us, however, inter- mediates of quite a variety of dimensions. On shortness of bill as a character Prof. Gundlach founded his species minor, as above cited. The shortest billed specimen in the present collection is Mr. Kennicott’s, from Illinois. We have little doubt that this bird is the true Tringa pusilla of Linnaeus, as cited above, the proper locating of which name has puzzled naturalists not a little. This name is applied by Linnaeus to the bird described and figured by Brisson as above given, examination of whose figure will show that he was very careful in giving the toes united by membranes at base. This character exclusively characterizes the species before us, amongst all the smaller sandpipers of the continent of America, so far as our knowledge extends. Brisson describes, however, specimens from the island of Saint Domingo, from which, nor from any other island of the West Indies, we have never seen specimens. Specimens of this bird from various parts of South America are in the museum of the Philadelphia Academy. The Heterepoda mauri of Bonaparte appears to be merely a larger race of the present species. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. | Locality. When col - leeted. Whence obtained. Orig’l No. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Remarks. 708 9 Carlisle, Pa...... ...... Sept. 6,1842 S. F. Baird 1650 !, t....do July 27.1844 do.. _ _ ...... 6.56 12.25 3.80 1139 9 Cape IVTay, N. .T July 14,1843 5.64 10.87 3.56 10415 South Illinois N. W. University R. Kennicot.t 4870 Bijou Hill.. May 14,1856 Lieut Warren...... Dr. Hayden 9015 Q Loup fork of Platte .... 6.00 12,25 4.00 9047 o 6.60 12.25 3.75 9048 Q ...... d o July 8...... .. „.. do 8446 Puget’s Sound, W T A. Campbell ....... Dr. Kennedy.... 6.00 11.50 3.25 8444 9 do 6.00 11.12 5.60 6677 Shoal water hay 1V1 ay 3 Gov. Stevens 69 Dr. Cooper 7.50 12.50 Iris brown; bill and feet black. 6687 Presidio, Cal... Lieut. Trowbridge . 5567 . Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 483; pi. 269.—Ib. Syn. 244.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 321; pi. 346. Glottis floridanus, Bow. List, 1838, 51. gP Ch.—Very similar to T. glottis of Europe, but apparently rather smaller. Bill longer than the head, slender, and slightly curved upwards towards the end; wing rather long; legs long, rather stout; toes moderate, united at base, the larger membrane being between the outer and middle toes ; that between the inner and middle toes very small; hind toe small. Entire upper parts dark ashy, on the head with lines of dark brown; wing feather of the scapulars and greater coverts edged with pale ashy white and with a sub-edging line of brownish black; tertiaries dark ashy, with imperfect transverse baTS of black; back, rump, and upper tail coverts white, the last with transverse bars of brownish black. Tail white; two middle feathers and outer edges of others with lines of brown. Under parts white, tinged with ashy, and spotted with brown on the breast; under wing coverts and auxiliaries white. Bill greenish brown; legs dark green. Quills brownish black ; shaft of first primary white. Total length about 11 inches; wing, 7; tail, 3; bill, 2J; tarsus rather more than 21 inches. Hah.—Florida, (Mr. Audubon.) With the original specimen of Mr. Audubon before us, it is not without some hesitation that we admit this bird as distinct from the common European species, Totanus glottis; but it appears to he smaller in all its parts than any one of numerous specimens from the old world in the museum of the Philadelphia Academy. The hill especially is slender and recurved. This bird is only known to be entitled to a place in the North America fauna from the fact that it was obtained in Florida by Mr, Audubon.BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—GAMBETTA MELANOLEUCA, 731 GAMBETTA, Kaup. Gambetta, Kaup, Entw. Earop. TMerw. 1829. Type Scolopax calidris, L. (Gray.) Oh.—Bill much attenuated towards and tapering to the end, the extreme tip decurved, both culmen and gonys however, bent upwards from the middle; the lateral grooves of upper bill broad, shallow, and not extending to the middle; that of lower reaching about as far. Feathers on side of both mandibles extend to about the same point, but fall short of nostrils ; those on chin extend as far as middle of nostril. Bill nearly as long as the tarsus, which is \\ times the length of middle toe. Outer toe webbed to first joint; the inner web very short; bare portion of the tibia equal to the toes ; tip of tail about opposite the middle of outstretched tarsi; legs yellow. It is a question whether the American yellow legged sandpipers really belong to Gambetta or to Glottis. They agree with the latter in the upward bend of the bill, and with the former in not having the legs green. GAMBETTA MELANOLEUCA, (Gm.) Bon. Tell Tale; Stone Snipe. Scolopax melanoleucus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 659. Totanus melanoleucus, Yieillot, Nouv. Diet. 1816.—Licht. Yerz. 1823, No. 750.—Aud. Orn. Biog. IY, 1838,68; pi. 308, Gambetta melanoletica, Bon. Comptes Rendus, Sept. 1856, Scolopax vodfetrus, Wilson, Am. Orn. YII, 1813, 57; pi. iviii. Totanus vociferus, Aud. Syn. 244.—Ib. Birds Amer. Y, 1842, 316; pi. 345. Totanus sasashew, Yieillot, Diet. 1816. Sp. Ch.—Bill longer than the head, rather slender, curved towards the tip; wings rather long, first quill longest; tail short; neck and legs long; toes moderate, margined and flattened underneath, connected at base by membranes, the larger of which unites the outer and middle toe; hind toe small; claws short, blunt; grooves in both mandibles extending about half their length. Entire upper parts cinereous of various shades, dark in many specimens in full plumage, generally light with white lines on the head and neck and with spots and edgings of dull white on the other upper parts ; lower back brownish black; rump and upper tail coverts white, generally with more or less imperfect transverse narrow bands of brownish black; under parts white, with longitudinal narrow stripes on the neck and transverse crescent lanceolate and sagittate spots and stripes on the breast and sides ; abdomen pure white ; quills brownish black with a purplish lustre, shaft of first primary white, secondaries and tertiaries tipped and with transverse bars and spots of ashy white; tail white, with transverse narrow bands of brownish black, wider and darker on the two middle feathers ; bill brownish black, lighter at the base; legs yellow. Total length, about 14 inches; wing, 7J to 8; tail, 3^ to 3J; bill, 2J; tarsus, 2J inches. JEab—Entire temperate regions of North America; Mexico. A large and handsome species, abundant throughout the United States,732 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. List of specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. 201 Carlisle, Pa_ Oct. 26,1840 S. F. Baird 1301 $ d o _ _ Mar. 19,1844 do 13.75 301 Q do _ April 20,1841 do 14. 00 25. 00 10457 Hr 3 Cape May, N. .T May —,1842 John K. Townsend 4860 St. Joseph’s, Mo 1 Lieut. Warren _ _ _ Dr. Hayden 5435 Eort, "Rerihold Neh__ do _ _ 5760 Platte river, Neb Lieut. Brvan W. S. Wood 5759 Laramie river, Neb 6625 "Ra,vie Pa,ss Texa.s Major Emory A. Schott 6628 San Elizario Texas 4178 Brazos Santiago, Texas Captain Van Yliet 6627 Mohave river Ca.l Lieut. Whipple....--. Kenn. & Moll ------ 6631 San Diego, Cal Lieut. Trowbridge 6623 Suisun valley, Cal Lieut. Williamson Dr. Heermann 6626 Presidio, Cal 6624 Shoalwater bay, W. T Gov. Stevens Dr. Cooper 6629 Bitter Root river, W. T Dr. Sucklev ------ 6630 Fort Steilacoom, W. T do 4401 Puget’s Sound-„ Dr. Suckley GAMBETTA FLAYIPE8, (Gm .) Bon. Yellow Legs. Scolopax flavipes, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 659.—Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 55; pi. lviii. Totanus flavipes, Yieillot, Nouv. Diet. VI, 1816, 400.—Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 390.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 573: Y, 586; pi. 228.—Ib. Syn. 243.—Ib. Birds Amer. Y, 1842, 313 ; pi. 344. Gambetta flavipes, Bon. Comptes Rendus, Sept. 1S56. Totanus fuscocapillus, Yieill. Nouv. Diet. YI, 1816, 400. Totanus natator, Yieill. Nouv. Diet. YI, 1816, 409. Sp. Ch.—Bill rather longer than the head, straight, slender, compressed; wing long, pointed; tail short; legs long, lower half of the tibia naked; toes moderate, slender, margined, the outer and middle united at base ; rump and upper tail coverts white, the latter transversely barred with ashy brown; other upper parts ashy, many feathers having large arrowheads and irregular spots of brownish black and edged with ashy white; under parts white, with numerous longitudinal lines on the neck before, and arrowheads on the sides, of dark ashy brown; axillaries and under wing coverts white, with bands of ashy brown, very indistinct in many specimens, but generally well defined; quills brownish black; tail ashy white with transverse bands of dark brown, middle feathers darker ; bill greenish black ; legs yellow. Young. Entire upper plumage tinged with reddish brown, neck before with lines much less distinct and pale ashy. Total length about 10 to 10£ inches; wing, 6 to 6j ; tail, 2J ; bill, 1£; tarsus,2 inches. Bab.—Eastern North America; western ? One of the most abundant of the species of this group on the Atlantic slope of the United States. We have never seen this bird from South America, though numerous in the winter in Mexico and the states of Central America. It is very similar to the preceding, though smaller.BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—RHYACOPHILUS SOLITARIUS. 733 List of specimen^. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. When collected.. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wing. Wing. 1490 Totanus bartramius, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 209.—Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 391.—-Aud. Orn. Blog. IV, 1838,24; pi. 303. “ Actiturus bartramius, Bon. Saggio, 1831.”—Ib. List, 1838, 51. Tringa (Euliga) bartramia, Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 168. Tringoides bartramius, Gray, Genera. “ Tringa longicauda, Nilsson.—Bechst. Vogel Deiitschl.—-Naumann, Nachtrage ; pi. xxxviii,” (Dates unknown.) Totanus campestris, Vieill. Nquv. Diet. XXXIV, 1819, 454. ? Totanus melanopygius, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Totanus variegatus, Vieillot. “ Nouv. Diet. 2d ed. VI, 317.”—Ib. Galerie II, 1825, 107 ; pi. 239, Bartramia laticauda, Lesson, Traite d’Orn. 1831, 553 August 11, 1858. ■ 93 b73S TJ. S. P. E E. EXP. AND SUBVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. Figures.—Naumann, B. of Germany, pi. 196.—Gould, B. of Eur. IV, pi. 313.—Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 59, fig. 2.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 303 ; oet. ed. V, pi. 327. 8p. Ch.—Bill about as long as the head, rather wide and flattened at base, curved at the tip ; nostril with a large membrane ; nasal groove long ; wing long ; tail long for this group ; legs moderate or rather long; lower half of the tibia naked ; toes moderate, the outer and middle toe united by a membrane, inner and middle free to the base, hind toe small. General color of the upper parts brownish black, with a greenish lustre, and with the feathers edged with ashy white and yellowish, the latter especially on the wing coverts ; lower part of the back, rump, and upper tail coverts, brownish black ; lateral coverts of the tail yellowish white, with arrow-heads and irregular spots of black. Wide stripe over the eye and entire under parts very pale yellowish white, nearly pure white on the abdomen ; neck before with numerous longitudinal lines of brownish black ; breast and sides with waved and pointed transverse narrow bands of the same ; axillary feathers and under wing coverts pure white, with numerous nearly regular transverse narrow bands of black. Quills brownish black, with numerous transverse bands of white on their inner webs, very conspicuous on the under surface of the wing ; shaft of first primary white. Middle feathers of the tail same greenish brown as the back, with irregular and imperfect transverse bands of black ; outer feathers pale reddish yellow, edged and tipped with white, and with several irregular transverse bands and a large sub-terminal arrow-head of black. Bill greenish yellow, with the under mandible more clear yellow towards its base, tip brownish black ; legs light yellow ; toes darker. Total length, about 12 inches ; wing, 6| ; tail, 3| ; bill, Hab.—Eastern North America, South America, Europe. Everywhere in the interior of the States on the Atlantic this is the most abundant and best known species of this group. Unlike nearly all others, this bird prefers plains and cultivated fields, and is one of the species which has not decreased in numbers on account of the extension of cultivation and the settlement of the country. On the contrary it appears to be quite at home in the farm lands, and rears its young in the fields of grass and grain in the most populous rural districts of the country. It is, in a considerable measure, a favorite with the people and seldom molested. This species is extensively diffused, and though at home in* the northern division of this continent, wanders over nearly the whole of South America. It is well described by Azara as a bird of Paraguay. We have never seen this bird from west of the Eocky mountains. The generic name Bartramia, Lesson, Traite d’Orn. I, p. 553, (1831,) is that having priority of all others proposed for this species, and is a just compliment to one of the most liberal and accomplished of the earlier American naturalists. This name is, however, previously used in botany, and probably ought not to be again employed in zoology, though we confess to being strongly inclined to adopt it, notwithstanding, following in that respect the example of Mr. G-ray, of the British Museum, in his Catalogue of the Genera and Sub-genera of Birds, p. 117, (1855.) List of specimens. CataJ. No. Sex & age. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— Length. Stretch ofwings. Wing. Remarks. 2291 A Carlisle, Pa May 20, 1845 S. F. Baird ...... 11.00 21.25 6.56 1116 O Q do July 15, 1843 12.00 21.50 6.40 6536 Indian Key, Fla G. Wurdemann .. 8185 3 Shawnee Mission, K. T.. July 4, 1857 Wm. M. Magraw. 121 Dr. Cooper .... 11.75 21.00 7.00 Iris brown, bill bl’k & yellow, feet green. 7095 Q o Republican river June 15, 1857 Lieut. Bryan..... 5 W. S. Wood... 4868 Loop Fork Lieut. Warren..., Dr. Hayden.... 4629 " V Fort Pierre........ ..... April 26, 1855 Col. Vaughan 13.00 22.00 7.50 4633 Fort Union, Neb. ....«... July —, 1855 5432 A Medicine Hill Lieut. Warren.., 12.00 22.00 6.75 8988 o o T/onp Fork July 7 12.75 23.75 600 8891 V •A do .... Julv 21 12.00 23,00 6.25 8990 6 Platte river. July 7 12.25 22.50 6.50 Tris dark hrhwn , 8989 O 12.50 22.00 6.25 . do 7097 V o o Elk creek, Med. Bow ints. Aug. 4, 1857 | Lieut. Bryan.... 91 W. S. Wood. . BIRDS—SCOLOPACIDAE—TRYNGITES RUFESCENS. 739 TilYNGITES, Cabanis Tringites} Cab. Journ. fur. Orn. 1856, 418. Type Tringa rufescens, Vieill. Ch.—-Upper mandible grooved to about the terminal fourth ; the lower not quite so far. Culmen and gonys about straight. Mouth deeply cleft more than half way to the eye ; the culmen about two-thirds the commissure. Culmen much shorter than the head, and about equal to middle toe without claw. Tarsus about IJ as long as middle toe and claw. Bare part of tibia decidedly shorter than middle toe without claw. Toes cleft to the base, with only a very rudimentary web. Upper jaw feathered to the nostrils ; the side of the lower and beneath feathered much further, or to the end of the nostrils ; the inter- space of the rami entirely filled. Tail somewhat graduated, not half the wing. It is possible that the genus Prosobonia of Bonaparte, 1853, maybe identical with Tryngites of Cabanis, as based on Tringa leucoptera of Gmelin, I, 6*78 ; but until this is proved to be the case, it may be best to take the last mentioned name as a certainty. It is a little remarkable that Bonaparte makes no mention whatever of Tringa rufescens in his Catalogue in Comptes Bendus, Sept. 1856. TRYNGITES RUFESCENS, (Vieill.) Cab. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tringa rufescens, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XXXIX, 1819, 470. (Louisiana.)—Ib. Galerie Ois. II, 1825,105; pi. 238.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 113.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 451 ; pi. 265.—Ib. Syn. 235.—Ib. Birds Amer. V, 1842, 264 ; pi. 331.—Bon. List, 1838.—Jard. Br. Birds III, 235, (Am. sp.)—Yarrell, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 109 ; pi. ii, European sp. fJlcfidurus naevius, Heermann, Pr. Acad. N. S. Phil. VII, 1854,179. (Texas.) Figures.—-Trans. Linn. Soc. London, «£VI, pi. 2.—Gould, B. of Eur. IV, pi. 326.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 265 ; oct. ed. V, pi. 331.—Vieill. Gal. II, pi. 238. Sp. Oh.—Bill about the length of the head, straight, compressed, narrow at the point; nasal groove long ; wings very long ; first quill longest; tertiaries rather shorter ; tail moderate or longer than usual in this group ; legs rather long ; lower third of the tibia naked; toes free at base, flattened underneath, and slightly margined ; hind toe small. Upper parts pale and dull ashy brown with a yellowish tinge ; every feather with a large central, lanceolate, crescent-shaped, or oblong spot of black, frequently with a glossy green tinge, especially on the back and shorter tertiaries. Under parts light yellowish red, or pale fawn color ; many feathers tipped with white, and paler on the flanks and abdomen, on the breast with partially concealed small spots of black ; axillary feathers white. Quills with their outer webs light brown, inner webs ashy white marbled with black and narrowly tipped with white ; middle tail feathers brownish black ; outer feathers lighter, with transverse waved lines of black, and tipped with white ; bill greenish black ; legs greenish yellow. Total length, 7§ to 8 inches ; wing, 5| ; tail, 3 ; bill, from gape, 1 ; tarsus, 1| inches. Hab.— All of North America, South America, Europe. This is a little bird of rather peculiar style of form, and of remarkable and handsome plumage. Its relationship appears to be t Tail of eighteen feathers. Bill elongated ; as broad at the base as height of upper mandible. Length of culmen equal to the head, and nearly two-thirds the tarsus* which is equal to the middle toe without its claw. Under parts ashy brown, passing almost insensibly into white about anus. No white ring on throat.canadensis. * * Bill short; broader at the base than height of upper mandible. Oulmen shorter than head, about half the tarsus, which is longer than middle toe and claw. . Under parts dark brown, abruptly defined against white of the anal region. A distinct white ring on lower throat....................................leudopareia. Tail of sixteen feathers. . . • Similar to canadensis, but much smaller..............................*..,..„„hutchinsii. B. Bernicla, Steph.—Head, neck, and jugulum, black. Middle of neck with a white crescent oh each side. Bill shorter than the head. • Crescents of neck distinct. Upper parts brown, edged with paler. Beneath * ‘ grayish, sharply defined against the black of jugulum......■..............brenta. Crescents of neck confluent beneath. Above uniform brown ; belly nearly as black as jugulum...........;.......:.....?...............................nigricans. C. Leucopareia, Reich.—Head, neck, and jugulum, black. Forehead, cheeks, and chin, ' white. ' ' ■ ' * . * a ’ ‘ * * Feathers above ash color, terminated broadly with blackish add tipped with white. Under parts nearly pure white..................................leucopsis.764 U. S, P. E. E. EXP. . AND SUEVEYS ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. • Coftiparative measurements'of species. Catal. No. Species. Locality. Sex. Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. Tail. ' Tarsus.» Middle toe. Its claw alone. Bill above. Alonggape. Heigtiht of bill at base. Width of ! bill at base. Specimen measured* 2128 S' 17.75 <>.68 3.10 3.50 0.50 1.84 2.10 Skin do. 35.00 63.50 18.00 10402 do Salt Lake 36.50 19.50 >7.12 3 24 3.90 0.60 2.04 2.22 1.00 -1.00 Fresh ... 10401' $ 36.50 19,10 7.10 3.26 3.62 0.52 2.20 2.30 1.02 1.02 Fresh .., 9960 Rodega, dal about 37.00 17.75 6.7.0 3.31 3.60 0.44 1.92 2.01 1.00 ffoo ■Skin 9962 do .. ’ 20.75 7.54 3.62 3.64 0.60 2.02 2.20 1.02 1.02 Skin 1192 *do Potomac river O 36.00 18.00 6.84 3.16 3.22 0.40 2.00 2.30 1.02 1.02 Skin . .. T, do. ......do 37.50 63.50 18.00 Fresh ,.. 547 L do . r. Yellowstone 18.75 5*80 3.70 3.50 0.40 1.92 2.04 0.90 0.82 Skin .,., 9961 Frontera, Texas ........ 18.00 6.10 3.32 3*. 24 0.50 2.00 2.04 1.02 1.02 Skin 9954 Rio Rita, N. TVF. 30.00 18.00 5.80 3.06 3.06 0.42 4.70 1.84 0.92 0.-92 Skin 9554 ... ,*T... do Simiahmoo bay 27.50 16.50 5.54 2.74 2.60 0.42 1.50 1.60 .0.80 0 80 Skin 5994 Bernicla leucopareia... Port Townsend 18.00 6.30 3.44 3.30 0.46 1.62 1.90 0.80 0.90 Skin 4529 Bernicla hptcbinsii San Francisco 15.50 6.20 2.74 2.64 0.48 1.44 1.50 0.74 0.74 Skin do -Columbia river ?.... 30.00 15.80 5.60 2.70 2.50 0.44 1.62 1.76 Skin 9956 do ' Red river, Ii. B. T. 13 60 4.66 2.70 2.50 0.34 1.36 1.42 0.70 0.64 Skin 2727 ■Columbia liver i5.... •30.00 15.80 5.60 2.70 2.50 0.44 1.62 1.76 Skin __T 1199 Bernicla brenta East’n shore of Md. . 9 22.00 * 12.84 4.60’ 2.26 2.25 0.33- 1.32 1.40 Skin . ... T do. 23.50 45.50 12.75 Fresh ... 9965 Bernicla nigricans Bodega, Cal about 27.00 12.90 4.46- 2.30 2.20 0.34 1.22 1.50 Skin 9964 29.00 13.80 4.98 2.30 2.25 0.40 1.23 1.50 Skin. 1801 'Bernicla leucopsis Fill rope 28.20 17.00 4.14 2.76 2.42 0.36 1.40 1:40 Skin 1 * 1 1- BERNICLA CANADENSIS, Boie. Canada Goose. * Anas canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 198.—Forster, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 383.—Wils. Am. Om.-VIII, • * 1814, 52; pi. lvii. " Anser canadensis, Yieill. Nouv. Diet.—Sw. & Rich. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 468.—Nutt. Man. II, 349.—Aud. Orn. . ■ * Biog. Ill, 1835, 1: Y, 607 ; pi. 201.—Ib. Syn. 270.—Ib. Birds Amer. YI, 1843, 178; pi. 376. Gygnus canadensis, Steph. Shaw’s Zool. XII, ii, 1824,19. Bernicla canadensis, Boie, Isis, 1826, 921. ? Ansef joarvijpes, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. YI, Oct. 1852, 188. (Yera Cruz.) - Sp. Ch.—Tail of eighteen feathers. Head, neck, bill, and feet, deep black. A large triangular patch of white on the cheeks behind the eye; the two of opposite sides broadly confluent beneath, but not extending to the rami of lower jaw; a few whitish ♦feathers on lower eyelid. Upper parts brown, edged with paler. Under parts light, with a tinge of purple gray, sometimes a shade of smoky brown ; the edge* of the feathers paler; the color of the body'of the feathers, though similar, becoming deeper on'the sides, tibia, axillars, and inside of wings. The gray of the belly passes gradually into white on the* anal region and ^*nder coverts; the upper tail coverts are pure white. The primary quills and rump are very dark blackish brown; the tail feathers are black. Length, 35 ; wing, 18 ; tarsus, 3.10; commissure, 2.10. Ilab.—Whole of North America. Accidental in Europe. ‘ , * In -comparing quite large series of Canada geese together;, I • have found very great discrepancies in dimensions, as will he sufficiently evident from the table of measurements. I find almost every size between wide extremes, with great variations in size and proportions of the bill, as well*as much difference in the shade and continuity .of color. In several .InstancesBIRDS— ANSERINAE—BERNICLA LEUCOPAREIA. V65 # . * .the bill is shorter than the bead.. At present I do not see tbe wav clear tcqdo else than con- sider them as one species, leaving it for further materials to decide the question. One specimen, 9554, from Simiahmoo hay, is the smallest of all,. and would be taken for Bernida, liulchinsii, hut for the possession of eighteen’tail , feathers. In the yellowish color of the under parts,- the small hill and feet, and in its diminutive size, it approaches very closely to the Arisen parvipes of Cassin from Yera Cruz, and may possibly represent the same form or variety of B. canadensis, or even with it constitute a distinct species, which, however, I am scarcely inclined at present to admit. List of specimens’ Catal, No. . Sex. . Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by—' Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 2128 narlisle Pfirm S. F. Baird 35. 00 63.50 18.00 1192 o Q Pnf.nmai* rivpr D H Dec 1843-.- 37.50 63. 50 18. 00 99G1 TTmnfprpj, T'pvns Major Emory J. H. Clark.— 9954 "Rio "Ritxi Tito*iiit1ST TVT Nov., 1853 Lieut. Whipple Kenn. & Moll. - * 5471 -LbJLLI XvJLvcb^ ClliClij -La > ILL — — VaII nwfif.nn a Lieut. Warren - Dr. Hayden 10401 kutckinsii, Rich. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 470.—Nutt. Man. II, 362.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 526; pi. .277.—- 4 v •• . * Is.Syn. 271.—Ib. Birds Am. VI, 1843,198; pi. 377. Bernicla hutchinsii, Bon. List, 1838. . ^ Anas bernicla, var. (3 Rich. App. Parry 2d voyage, I, 368. * Bp. Ch.—Precisely similar to A. canadensis, but sjnaller. Tail of 16 feathers. Tarsus longer than middle foe and claw. Length, 30 inches; wing, 15.80 ; tarsus, 2.70; commissure, 1.76. Hab.—Northern and western regions of North America. • In the specimens of Hutchins' goose before me I can detect no difference of form from the Canada goose, excepting in the smaller size and less number of tail feathers. The toes are rather shorter. In one supposed specimen from California the white cheek patches are separated^ interiorly by black spottings. * There are some, discrepancies in the accounts of Richardson and of Audubon respecting this goose. According to the former, it has 14 tail feathers, and the wing measures 14 inches. Mr. Audubon's specimen had Id tail feathers, the wing measuring 16.75 inches. Of the skins enumerated in the accompanying table, *No. 9956 agrees very closely with Richardson's account,• • BIRDS—AN&ERINAE--BERNICLA NIGRICANS. 767 although it is my impression that it had 16 tail feathers. Mr. Audubon's collection, is much as described by him. « List of specimens. No. 2727, on the other hand, from Catal. No, Locality. % When collected. Whence obtained. Orig. No. Collected by— . 9952 2727. 4529 9956 TTn-r-f. SH".ckilar>rkn,m Or.tnbot 1 - Dr. Suckley 516 rinl i i rr» Tit q ri xf&Y ? - S. F. Baird J. I. Audubon Dr. Newberry - Scm T-Tva/n cr*r» Lt. Williamson North Red river, Minnesota September, 1857 N.W. University R. *Kennicott BERNICLA BRENTA, Steph. Brant. Anas bernicla, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1,1766, 198.—Wins. Am. Orn. VIII, 1814,131; pi. lxxii. Amer bernicla,f Bon. Syn. 1828, 378.—Sw. F. B. A. II, 1831,469,—Nutt. Man.II,359.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Y, 1831,24,610; pi. 391.—Ib. Birds Amer. YI, 1843,203 ; pi. 379. Bernicla brenta, Steph. Shaw’s Zool. XII, it, 1824,46.—Bon. List, 1838.—Eyton, Mon. Anat. 1839,85. Anser tor quota, Frisch.” Bernicla torquatus, Brehm, Nat. Yog. Deutsch. 1831, 848. * Sp. Ch.—Bill and feet, head, neck, and body anterior to the wings, primary quills, and tail black; the secondary quills nearly black. On each side of the middle of the neck is a small white crescent, streaked with black. The lower eyelids with a very- faint trace of white feathers. The-black of the jugulum is abruptly defined against the bluish silvery gray of the remaining tk under parts, the feathers of which have the basal portions bluish gray; the axillars and insides of the wings showing a darker tint of the same. The gray of the belly passes gradually into white behind, the tail being encircled all round and concealed by this color. The back and wing coverts are grayish blue, with slightly paler edges; the rump is of a similar, but darker and more uniform blue. The secondaries have some concealed whitish on the inner webs towards the base. Length, 23.50 ; wing, 12.75; tarsus, 2.26; commissure, 1.40. Bab.—Eastern or Atlantic coast of North America and Europe. Not yet observed on the Pacific side of the continent. * List of Specimens. Catal. No. Sex. Locality. Whence obtained. Length. Stretch Wing. of wings. 1199 9 Eastern shore of Maryland S.F. Baird 23. 50 45. 50 12.75 BERNICLA NIGRICANS, C a s s i n . Black Brant. ' Anser Ttigricans, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. IY, 1846, 171; plate. Bernicla nigricans, Cassin, 111. I, ii, 1853, 52; pi. x. Sp. Ch.—Head, neck, and body anterior to the wings deep b-'ack, passing into dark sooty plumbeous on the rest of the body; this color beneath extending nearly to the anus, and above shading insensibly into the black of the rump. Middle of the throat with a white patch extending round on the sides, and somewhat streaked with black. No white on the eyelids. Sides of rump and of base of tail, with upper and under tail coverts concealing the tail, and space across the anus, white; primary and768 U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEKS—ZOOLOGY-GENEEAL EEPOET. secondary quills and tail black. ‘Feathers on sides of body beneath wings like the belly, but with white tips. Length, 29 inches ; wing, 13.80 ; tarsus, 2.30 commissure, 1.50. Hab.—Pacific coast of North America. Very rare on the Atlantic coast. . m This species, with a general resemblance to the brant goose, is yet very, distinctly marked. The bill, though of the same length, is much wider. There is no conspicuous distinction between the black of neck and jugulum and the dark plumbeous brown of belly and back, the feathers of which have no lighter edges, but are perfectly uniform. The white patches on the sides of the neck are confluent below, not separated. List of specimens. Catal. No. Locality. When col- lected. Whence obtained. Collected by— Length. Stretch of wings. Wing. 9965 Bodega, Cal Dec. 1845 Li eut. Trowbridge T. A. Szabo 5995 Port Townsend, W. T Dr Buckley- __ _ 23.75 44. 75. 12.75 BERNICLA LEUCOPSIS. Barnacle Goose. Anas erythropus, Linn. I, 1766, 197.—Gmelin, I, 513.—Degland, Orn. Europ. II, 1849., 402. Bernicla erythropus, Steph. Shaw’s Zool. XII, 1824, 49. Anser leucopsis, Bechstein, Taschenbuch, II, 1810, 557.—Bon. Syn. 1828, 377.—Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 353.—Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 609; pi. 296.—Ib. Syn. 271.—Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 200 ; pi. 378. Bernicla leucopsis,-? Sp. Ch.—Forehead, cheeks, and under parts of the head white; the side of bill narrowly bordered with black. Crown, nape, lower part of neck, jugulum, fore part of back, rump, and tail black. Feathers of interscapulars and wings silvery bluish gray, passing into black towards the end, but with the extreme tip whitish gray. Nostrils similarly marked, bat without the pale tips. Under parts uniform bluish white, the feathers on the sides only showing a darker basal portion. Upper tail coverts and sides of the tail at the base white. Bill and legs black. Length, 28 ; wing, 17; tarsus, 2.76; commissure, 1.40. Hab.—Europe. Very doubtful as an inhabitant of North America. Although this species is abundant in Europe, its occurrence in North America is very doubtful, resting only on very insufficient evidence. Catal. Number. Locality. Whence obtained. 1801 Europe ; . ...... S. F. Baird - . CHLOEPHAGA CANAGICA, Bon. ‘ Painted Goose. Anas canagicus, Sewastianoff, Nova Acta Acad. St. Petersb. XIII, 1800, 316 ; pi. x. Anser canagicus, Brandt, Bull, Sc. St. Pet. 1,1836, 37.—Ib. Desc. et Icon. Anim, Ross. Aves, fasc. i, 1836,7; ph i Chloephaga canagica, Bon. Comptes Rendus, 1856. Anser pictus, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. II, 1811,233.BIRDS—AHSERINAE—D^NDROCYGNA.