The VINOUS GROSBEAK, or, as it is sometimes called the DESERT TRUMPETER
(_Bucanetes gilhagincus_), is met with both in Egypt and Nubia, where
we have killed many specimens; but for all this we cannot pretend to as
intimate an acquaintance with it as Bolle, who has made it the subject
of one of his most animated descriptions. We much regret that our space
does not admit of its insertion at full length, and we must, therefore,
present it to our readers much curtailed, and intermixed with such
observations of our own as are likely to add force to his statements.
"Far beyond the fruitful coast of North-eastern Africa, and far beyond
the Atlas Mountains, we find a new kingdom lying in the desert occupied
by few but strange inhabitants. All is not dead and silent in this
dreary waste, nor are its waves of sand for ever untouched except by
the breath of the death-bearing simoom. It has its wells, where the
feet of the caravan have made their path, its little oases, sheltered
by the clustering palm, and its valleys rich in brooklets filled with
water collected from the winter rains. Within the heart of the Sahara,
and not merely on its borders, we occasionally find deep glens planted
with the tamarind and mimosa, and the most unlikely places, at certain
seasons of the year, produce plants peculiar to the desert. Even in these
dreary regions, where vegetation struggles with difficulty through the
sun-burnt soil, we need not seek in vain for animal life. This immense
expanse, extending, as it does, from the Euphrates to the Senegal, has
been branded by nature as an unfruitful wilderness, and all its living
inhabitants are formed to harmonise with the desolate plains that they
inhabit." We will not follow Bolle through all his illustrations of the
suitability of the creatures found in the desert to the localities in
which they are placed, but will proceed at once to his description of the
Desert Trumpeter. "The Desert Trumpeter, the 'STONE BIRD' of the Arabs,
the 'MOROS' of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands, is a lively and
beautiful bullfinch, of about the size of our canary bird. Its body is
compact, and its scarlet beak, owing to its parrot-like shape, appears
somewhat thick, but not sufficiently so to interfere with the elegance
of its form. The feet are remarkably delicate for a creature that passes
so much of its time upon the stony ground. The plumage is comparatively
rich, the bridal attire of the old male bird being a mixture of rose-red
and satin-like white feathers, the former colour increasing in extent
and depth of hue as the bird becomes older; it is darkest in the spring,
when the plumage is of a deep rich crimson. These colours, however,
become much paler towards the autumn, at which season the tints of the
male closely resemble those of the female, whose coat is of a dull
yellowish red. Many varieties of shade are seen in this species, some
males presenting the appearance of having been dipped in blood, whilst
others are of a greyish hue. The red colour is not confined to the
plumage, but spreads over the whole body, so that a Desert Trumpeter,
when plucked, might properly be termed a little _Red-skin_! During
the spring the top of the head and neck are a pale ash-grey, with a
brilliant gloss, the shoulders and neck being a brownish ash-grey, with
a reddish tinge produced by the red-coloured borders of the feathers.
The large wing-covers are pale brown, edged with bright rose colour, and
carmine red on the outer web. The female is of a brownish grey over the
whole of the upper part of the body, and on the lower parts light grey
marked with red; the belly is of a dirty white." Those who would become
acquainted with the home of this species must wander into the desert to
which it properly belongs. Bolle found it breeding on the Canary Islands,
principally upon the most eastern, namely Lanzarote, Fuerta-ventura, and
the Great Canary. We ourselves have met with it all over the greater part
of Upper Egypt and Nubia, as far even as the Steppes, where it entirely
disappears. We also found it in the desert parts of Arabia. From these
regions this bird has been known to reach the Greek Islands, and even
Provence and Tuscany. In Malta it may frequently be seen during the
winter. The places frequented by the Desert Trumpeter are barren spots
exposed to the hottest rays of the sun; it prefers arid and stony places,
where scorching heat blazes down upon the burning rock, and seems to
luxuriate in glare and dazzling brightness that are perfectly blinding
to the traveller upon these treeless wastes. The favourite haunts of the
Desert Trumpeter yield but few blades of parched, dry grass, and the
stunted shrubs to please its taste must be few and far between. On such
a spot it delights to dwell, hopping from stone to stone, or gliding
along near the ground on noiseless wings. It is seldom possible to follow
the course of this bird to any distance, for the reddish grey of its
plumage blends as perfectly with the surrounding stones and leafless
shrubs as do the paler tints of the young with the colour of the sand,
tufa, or chalk. To this difficulty is added that of the dazzling and
deceptive play of light so common in these deserts, which teaches us to
appreciate the delightful relief that grass and foliage afford to the
weary eye. We should soon lose the object of our pursuit were it not
for its voice, which constitutes its most remarkable feature, and will
prove our best guide in this search. Hark! a sound like that of a tiny
trumpet is ringing through the air; it swells and trembles, and if our
ear is acute enough we shall find that this strange clang is preluded
or followed by a few light silvery tones, which fall, bell-like, upon
the desert silence, much resembling almost inaudible notes struck upon a
musical glass by an invisible hand. At other times the sound it produces
is extraordinarily deep, and not unlike that made by the tree-frog of the
Canary Islands, consisting of a few harsh notes rapidly repeated, and
which, strangely enough, are answered by the little creature itself, the
second sound being produced by a sort of ventriloquism, and appearing to
come from some distance. Few things are more difficult than to attempt
to render the note of a bird through the medium of our alphabet, and
in this case it would be particularly so, for the voice of the Desert
Trumpeter consists of tones entirely different from those to which we
are accustomed, and must be heard before it can be imagined. No one
would expect to find a singing bird in such localities as those above
described, and the fantastic voice of this creature appears well suited
to the places it inhabits. The cry mentioned above is often followed by
a succession of crowing, rattling sounds, which, like its trumpet-call,
seem by their strangeness so completely in unison with the surrounding
scenery, that we always stood to listen to them with pleasure, and wished
to hear them recommence. In such places as are entirely covered with
moving sands the Desert Trumpeter is never met with, as it is not fitted
like a Curlew or Courser to run with ease over loose ground; it frequents
the barren lava streams upon which not a blade of grass could grow,
and in such fissures and holes as these places offer it finds a hiding
or resting place, but is never seen upon a shrub or tree. In inhabited
districts the Desert Trumpeter is very shy, only seeming to have full
confidence when surrounded by silence and solitude; but in its native
haunts the young may be often seen perched close beside their parents,
and when a traveller approaches them they only acknowledge his presence
by staring calmly in his face with their bright little black eyes.
These birds may generally be met with all along the rocky shores of the
Nile, and from the valley of that river as far as the desert. In the
northern and middle parts of Nubia they alight upon the ground in parties
consisting of fifty to sixty, or fly over and about the rocks; indeed,
the steeper and more rugged these latter are the more attractive they
appear to be.
The food of the Desert Trumpeter consists almost exclusively of different
kinds of seeds, with probably a small quantity of leaves or buds. Water
is an indispensable requisite. However troubled, scanty, or lukewarm
the spring may be, these birds will visit it at least once in the day,
so that their appearance is ever a welcome sight to thirsty travellers.
They are always seen at the spring, both morning and evening, drinking
much and in long draughts, and frequently bathing in shallow water. The
breeding season commences in March, at which time the male has donned
his gala dress, and, with his chosen mate, has separated himself from
the flock; the little couples may very frequently be found perched
sociably near the clefts of the rocks, whilst through the air rises the
protracted trumpet-like call of the male, and the lark-like note of the
female. We saw a pair of these birds upon the banks of the Nile, busily
carrying away materials for their nest, but were unable to discover what
they consisted of, as the rocks on both sides of the stream offered far
too secure a brooding-place to allow us any chance of finding them; we
learned, however, from the goat-herds that the Desert Trumpeter builds in
the clefts and fissures of the blocks of lava, or under large overhanging
stones. The nest, we were told, is artistically constructed of large
blades of grass found in the desert, and lined with wool or feathers; in
this the three eggs that constitute the brood are laid. It is probable
that these birds breed twice in the year, and that they only again join
the flocks amongst which their young ones are already numbered, when
their parental duties are accomplished. During the autumn and winter
they wander to a considerable distance, appearing even in the Canary
Isles, and some instances have been known of their falling exhausted
upon the deck of ships, that were passing in that neighbourhood. They
are never molested by man, and were there no such creatures as Wild Cats
and Ichneumons, Falcons or Kites (the latter being very destructive to
them in their winter flight through the desert), these remarkable birds
might live an undisturbed and happy life. The naturalist may, with
care, capture them while drinking, and as many as heart can desire may
be obtained from among the stones. It is, however, difficult to take
them alive, as a decoy of the same species is indispensable for the
purpose. The latter should be fastened in some desert place, or on the
borders of a stubble-field, as far from trees or bushes as possible, in
such localities as they are known to frequent. The decoy-bird instantly
commences uttering its incessant call, and soon attracts large numbers
of its wild companions, who alight and hop, as though dancing from one
stone to another; they will linger for a moment at a distance, but come
near enough to be recognised by their plumage and the brightness of their
eyes; next they begin to peck up the food that is strewn about, and a
few hours later behold them captives in the net. At first the little
prisoners are wild and defiant, but soon become tractable, and eat the
canary-seed laid before them. The sport of catching these birds is one
that we have fully enjoyed, and may boast our skill in this respect.
What could be more exhilarating than an expedition, net in hand, during
the early morning, through those boundless plains, when, after a short
concealment behind a mass of rock, we emerge to find our labours so
richly rewarded? We brought ten Desert Trumpeters with us to Germany, and
feel fully entitled to speak as to their qualifications as domestic pets.
On their passage home we had a terrible storm, that lasted for many days,
and during the whole of that time the birds, in defiance of the cold,
continued to pour out their song.
The fact above recorded shows the Moros to be hardy, much-enduring birds,
which, though they love to seek shelter in a warm corner, can endure a
considerable degree of cold. Even in this severe climate they may be
kept in the open air from April to October, although they should not be
exposed to frost. Our own are very social, and fond of expressing their
confidence by the cheerfulness of their song--indeed, that of the male
may be heard late into the autumn and winter. Unlike other birds kept
in a room, they are most lively in the evening; no sooner is the lamp
lighted than the little captives begin to trumpet forth their cry. The
concerts with which we are entertained at these times are most amusing.
The performance begins with their loud and clear trumpet-call, changing
gradually into the protracted droning sound that mainly constitutes
their song; after which they give utterance to a variety of noises, some
of which are not unlike the mewing of a cat. At another time they will
commence with light clear notes, resembling those of a little silver
bell, and these are succeeded by an entirely different cry, which we
might compare to the song of a Bunting. Their quavering call is usually
followed by one much deeper and rapidly uttered, and their changes of
temper are expressed by various tones, which are poured forth with great
point and expression. The Moros are rarely heard to chatter amongst
themselves, as do the smaller kinds of parrots, but merely employ a sound
not unlike the cackling of a hen three or four times repeated, and their
cry when alarmed or surprised is quite peculiar. Should any one attempt
to catch them, they quaver forth a piteous sound, so full and expressive
that we are astonished that it can be produced by so small a creature.
The sound to which we allude is uttered with the head laid back and the
beak wide open, while the gentler notes, on the contrary, are produced
with the beak closed. During their song, and particularly in the breeding
season, these birds accompany themselves with a variety of the most
comical movements, dancing about their companions, and chasing each other
with great zeal. It is not unusual to see the male bird, with its body
erect and outspread wings, looking like the strange figures we employ as
armorial bearings.
When caged, the Moros still appear to prefer living upon the ground, over
which they hop rather than walk, and here they usually pass the night.
They will often conceal themselves, but never creep into holes that
have a narrow entrance. When a party of them is engaged in preening and
expanding their feathers in the sun, the spectacle they afford is very
striking and beautiful. Unfortunately, in captivity their plumage soon
loses its magnificent red colour, but, despite its loss, they always
present a pleasing appearance. The Desert Trumpeter should be fed, like
others of its species, upon seeds, in the choice of which it is far from
dainty, though it prefers hemp or millet, and will also eat the green
heads of the dandelion, the seeds of which it picks out most dexterously;
neither does it refuse ears of corn nor the leaves of some plants, such
as lettuce, cabbage, &c.; but it will not eat insects, with the exception
of the pupæ of ants. In fact, it is by no means particular as respects
diet, and is very easily reared. The Moro will frequently breed in
captivity, and with a little care and patience may be completely tamed;
it does not require any artificial warmth, for the scorching days and icy
cold nights of the Sahara seem to render it indifferent to any change of
temperature.
Should the Moro be separated from its species it will seek the society
of other birds, and we have known a case in which a Desert Trumpeter
mated with a small pigeon (_Columba passerina_) of twice its own size.
For the construction of the nest it prefers a cage that is hung up at
some height, the bars of which are rather wide apart, and will only
build with straw, which they collect by beakfuls at a time, but utterly
reject hay or moss as unfit for the purpose. The interior is lined with
feathers. The male bird carries some of the materials to the nest, but
it is constructed almost entirely by the female. The pair we observed
spent some time inside, one entering as the other left, and they appeared
occasionally to have considerable difficulty in managing the conveyance
of some of the long straws, with which they grappled. Our birds laid
their first egg in April, and another was daily added till there were
four. The mother, who but rarely left the nest, would probably have sat
upon her brood, had we not determined to sacrifice half her stock on
the altar of science. The remaining two eggs we placed in the care of a
canary that was an excellent sitter, and brought her young charges out
of the shell within a fortnight of their being placed under her. The
nestlings were by no means so unsightly as those of singing birds usually
are, and were covered with a thick, fine, white down, which formed a sort
of crest upon the head; the bare places on the neck, &c., were of a flesh
colour. In spite of the care taken of these young birds they died when
but a week old, and that without having grown much larger. Our Desert
Trumpeters soon proceeded to lay a second supply of eggs, and from the
third to the fifth of May were employed in the construction of another
nest, which, however, was not completed, as the little couple preferred
returning to their old home, after having put it thoroughly into repair.
On the ninth of May the first of three eggs was laid, but the female
became sickly, and, though we left her in quiet possession of her stock,
would not brood, but flew about the room with streaming plumage, as
though in search of some remedy that was suggested by her instinct, but
unattainable in captivity. During this time the male bird kept faithfully
by the side of his little mate, and after her death was inconsolable for
many days. The eggs are somewhat large considering the size of the parent
bird, and of a light sea-green, or even paler shade, sprinkled over with
a few reddish-brown spots or streaks, which sometimes form a kind of
wreath round the broadest end. This marking is occasionally varied by
delicate streaks, zig-zag lines, or large spots arranged in a somewhat
undulating manner, and placed principally over the most uniformly tinted
portion of the egg. It is much to be regretted that the excellent
capabilities of the Moro have not yet attained for it the place it merits
among our domestic pets, and that no European traveller has as yet given
particular attention to supplying us with living birds.
* * * * *
The Bullfinches we are next about to describe differ from those already
mentioned in the inferior richness of their plumage, which is neither so
varied nor so bright in its hues, although beautifully marked. Amongst
them we number