lavato; alis nigrescentibus, tectricibus notâ albescente terminali
fascias tres transversas facientibus; rectricibus caudæ duabus
intermediis nigrescentibus, reliquis ad apicem pallidioribus; plumis
auricularibus, strigâ superciliari, gulâ, et corpore subtùs albis,
lateribus notis guttisque fuscis ornatis; rostro pedibusque nigris._
Long. tot. 10⅝ unc.; _rost._ 1⅜; _alæ_, 5; _caudæ_, 5½; _tarsi_, 1¾.
The vertex, nape of the neck and the back, blackish; with the lower
part of the back tinged with pale rufous; the wings blackish, with
the tips of the wing coverts white, forming three transverse bands;
the tail with the two intermediate feathers black, with the tips of
the others much paler; the auricular feathers with a streak above
the eyes, throat, and beneath the abdomen white; the flanks
ornamented with fuscous marks and spots.
Habitat, Charles Island, Galapagos Archipelago. (_October_).
5. MIMUS MELANOTIS. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XVII.
Orpheus melanotis, _Gould_, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part v. 1837, p. 27.
_M. vertice, nuchâ, dorsoque pallidè fuscis; plumis capitis et dorsi
ad medium colore saturatiore; alis intensè fuscis, singulis plumis
ad marginem pallidioribus, secundariis, tectricibusque majoribus
notâ albâ terminali, fascias duas transversas facientibus; caudæ
rectricibus nigrescenti-fuscis ad apicem albis, loro, plumisque
auricularibus nigrescenti-fuscis; laterum plumis notâ fuscâ
centrali, abdomine albo; rostro pedibusque nigris._
Long tot. 9½ unc.; _rost._ 1¼; _alæ_, 4½; _caudæ_, 4½; _tarsi_, 1⅜.
The vertex, nape of the neck and the back, pale brown; the feathers of
the head and the back, as far as the middle, of a darker colour; the
wings intensely brown, with the margins of each of the feathers
paler; the secondaries and the greater wing-coverts terminated with
white marks, giving the appearance of two transverse bands; the
feathers of the tail blackish brown, with the tips white; the lores
and the feathers of the ears blackish brown, the feathers of the
sides with a central brown mark, the abdomen white; the bill and
feet black.
Habitat, Chatham and James’s Islands, Galapagos Archipelago.
(_October._)
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 16._
_Mimus trifasciatus._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 17._
_Mimus melanotis._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 18._
_Mimus parvulus._
]
6. MIMUS PARVULUS. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XVIII.
Orpheus parvulus. _Gould_, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part v. 1837, p. 27.
_M. vertice, nuchâ caudâque intensè fuscis, hujus rectricibus ad
apicem albo notatis; alis fuscis secundariis tectricibusque notâ
albâ apicali fascias duas transversas facientibus; loro plumisque
auricularibus nigrescentibus; gulâ, colli lateribus, pectore, et
abdomine albescentibus; plumis laterum notis fuscis per medium
longitudinaliter excurrentibus._
Long. tot. 8⅛ unc.; _rost._ 1; _alæ_, 3⅝; _caudæ_, 3¾; _tarsi_, 1¼.
The vertex, the nape of the neck, and the tail intensely black; with
the tips of the tail feathers marked with white; the wings brown
with the secondaries and coverts tipped with white marks, giving the
appearance of two transverse hands; the lores and the feathers of
the ears black; the throat, the sides of the neck, breast, and the
abdomen white; the flanks marked longitudinally with brown.
Habitat, Albemarle Island, Galapagos Archipelago. (_October._)
It will be seen, that the three last species of the genus Mimus, were
procured from the Galapagos Archipelago; and as there is a fact,
connected with their geographical distribution, which appears to me of
the highest interest, I have had these three figured. There are five
large islands in this Archipelago, and several smaller ones. I
fortunately happened to observe, that the specimens which I collected in
the two first islands we visited, differed from each other, and this
made me pay particular attention to their collection. I found that all
in Charles Island belonged to _M. trifasciatus_; all in Albemarle Island
to _M. parvulus_, and all in Chatham and James’s Islands to _M.
melanotus_. I do not rest this fact solely on my own observation, but
several specimens were brought home in the Beagle, and they were found,
according to their species, to have come from the islands as above
named. Charles Island is distant fifty miles from Chatham Island, and
thirty-two from Albemarle Island. This latter is only ten miles from
James Island, yet the many specimens procured from both belonged
respectively to different species. James and Chatham, which possess the
same species, are seventy miles apart, but Indefatigable Island is
situated between them, which perhaps, has afforded a means of
communication. The fact, that islands in sight of each other, should
thus possess peculiar species, would be scarcely credible, if it were
not supported by some others of an analogous nature, which I have
mentioned in my Journal of the Voyage of the Beagle. I may observe, that
as some naturalists may be inclined to attribute these differences to
local varieties; that if birds so different as _O. trifasciatus_, and
_O. parvulus_, can be considered as varieties of one species, then the
experience of all the best ornithologists must be given up, and whole
genera must be blended into one species. I cannot myself doubt that _M.
trifasciatus_, and _M. parvulus_ are as distinct species as any that can
be named in one restricted genus.
The habits of these three species are similar, and they evidently
replace each other in the natural economy of the different islands; nor
can I point out any difference between their habits and those of _M.
Thenca_ of Chile; I imagined, however, that the tone of their voice was
slightly different. They are lively, inquisitive, active birds, and
_run_ fast; (I cannot assert, positively, that _M. Thenca runs_). They
are so extremely tame, a character in common with the other birds of
this Archipelago, that one alighted on a cup of water which I held in my
hand, and drank out of it. They sing pleasantly; their nest is said to
be simple and open. They seem to prefer the dry sterile regions nearer
the coast, but they are likewise found in the higher, damper and more
fertile parts of the islands. To these latter situations, however, they
seem chiefly attracted by the houses and cleared ground of the
colonists. I repeatedly saw the _M. melanotis_ at James Island, tearing
bits of meat from the flesh of the tortoise, which was cut into strips
and suspended to dry, precisely in the same manner as I have so often
observed the _M. Orpheus_, in La Plata, attacking the meat hung up near
the Estancias.
1. FURNARIUS RUFUS. _Vieill._
Furnarius rufus, _Vieill._, Ency. Meth. 513.
Merops rufus, _Gmel._ Pl. enl. 739.
Opetiorhynchus rufus, _Tem._ Man.
Turdus vadius, _Licht._ Cat.
Figulus albogularis, _Spix_, Av. pl. lxxviii. f. 1 & 2.
Fournier, _Buff._, _Azara_, No. 221.
This bird is common in Banda Oriental, on the banks of the Plata; but I
did not see it further southward. It is called by the Spaniards Casaro,
or housebuilder, from the very singular nest which it constructs. The
most exposed situation, as on the top of a post, the stem of an opuntia,
or bare rock, is chosen. The nest consists of mud and bits of straw; it
is very strong, and the sides are thick; in shape it resembles a
depressed beehive or oven, and hence the name of the genus. Directly in
front of the mouth of the nest, which is large and arched, there is a
partition, which reaches nearly to the roof, thus forming a passage or
ante-chamber to the true nest. At Maldonado, in the end of May, the bird
was busy in building. The Furnarius is very common in Banda Oriental; it
often haunts the bushes in the neighbourhood of houses; it is an active
bird, and both _walks_ and _runs_ quickly, and generally by starts; it
feeds chiefly on Coleoptera; it often utters a peculiar, loud, shrill,
and quickly reiterated cry.
2. FURNARIUS CUNICULARIUS. _G. R. Gray_.
Alauda cunicularia, _Vieill._
Alauda fissirostra, _Kittl._ Mem. l’Acad. St. Peters, ii. pl. 3.
Certhilauda cunicularia, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool.
This bird has a considerable geographical range. On the eastern side of
the continent it is found from about 40° (for I never saw one in the
southern districts of Patagonia) northward to at least 30°, and perhaps
much further. On the western side its southern limit is the
neighbourhood of Concepcion, where the country becomes dry and open, and
it ranges throughout Chile (specimens were procured from Valparaiso) to
at least as far north as Lima, in lat. 12°, on the coast of Peru. I may
here observe, that the northern limit of all birds, which are lovers of
dry countries, such as this Furnarius and some of the species of Mimus,
is not probably at Lima but near Cape Blanco, 10° south of the Equator,
where the open and parched land of Peru blends (as it was described to
me) rather suddenly into the magnificent forests of Guayaquil. This
Furnarius constantly haunts the driest and most open districts; and
hence sand-dunes near the coast afford it a favourite resort. In La
Plata, in Northern Patagonia, and in Central Chile, it is abundant: in
the former country it is called Casarita, a name which has evidently
been given from its relationship with the Casaro, or _Furnarius rufus_,
for, as we shall see, its nidification is very different. It is a very
tame, most quiet, solitary little bird, and like the English robin
(_Sylvia rubecula_) it is usually most active early in the morning and
late in the evening. When disturbed it flies only to a short distance;
it is fond of dusting itself on the roads; it walks and runs (but not
very quickly), and generally by starts. I opened the stomachs of some,
and found in them remains of Coleoptera, and chiefly Carabidæ. At
certain seasons it frequently utters a peculiar, shrill but gentle,
reiterated cry, which is so quickly repeated as to produce one running
sound. In this respect, and in its manner of walking on the ground, and
in its food, this species closely resembles the Casaro, but in its quiet
manners it differs widely from that active bird. Its nidification is
likewise different, for it builds its nest at the bottom of a narrow
cylindrical hole, which is said to extend horizontally to nearly six
feet under ground. Several of the country people told me, that when
boys, they had attempted to dig out the nest, but had scarcely ever
succeeded in getting to the end. The bird chooses any low bank of firm
sandy soil by the side of a road or stream. At the settlement of Bahia
Blanca the walls are built of hardened mud; and I noticed one, enclosing
a courtyard, where I lodged, which was penetrated by round holes in a
score of places. On asking the owner the cause of this, he bitterly
complained of the little Casarita, several of which I afterwards
observed at work. It is rather curious, that as these birds were
constantly flitting backwards and forwards over the low wall, they must
be quite incapable of judging of distance or thickness even after the
shortest circuitous route, for otherwise they would not have made so
many vain attempts.
UPPUCERTHIA DUMETORIA. _J. Geoffr. & D’Orb._
PLATE XIX.
Uppucerthia dumetoria, _J. Geoffr. & D’Orb._ Ann. du Mus. i. 393 and
394.
Furnarius dumetorum, _D’Orb._ MS.
Uppucerthia dumetorum, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 20.
This bird is an inhabitant of extremely sterile regions. I saw several
at the Rio Negro, but at Port Desire they were, perhaps, more numerous.
I did not observe it near Valparaiso, in Central Chile, but I procured
specimens of it from Coquimbo, where the country is more desert. It
frequents open places, in which a few bushes grow. It hops very quickly,
and often flies quietly from one place to another. It may often be seen
turning over and picking dry pieces of dung. It is a remarkable
circumstance, that in the three specimens which I brought home, from
different localities, namely the Rio Negro, Port Desire, and Coquimbo,
the beak varies considerably in length: in that from Port Desire in
Patagonia it is three-eighths of an inch shorter than in that from
Coquimbo in Chile; whilst the Rio Negro specimen is intermediate between
them. Mr. G. R. Gray has pointed out to me that Latham long since
observed a great variation in the beak of the Patagonian warbler,
_Opetiorhynchus Patagonicus_.
1. OPETIORHYNCHUS VULGARIS. _G. R. Gray._
Uppucerthia vulgaris, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 23.
This bird in general habits has several points of resemblance with the
_Furnarius cunicularius_, but differs in some other respects. Its flight
is somewhat similar, but it shows two red bands on its wings, instead of
one, by which it can be distinguished at a distance: instead of walking
it only hops; it feeds entirely on the ground, and in its stomach I
found scarcely anything but Coleopterous insects, and of these many were
fungi feeders. It often frequents the borders of lakes, where the water
has thrown up leaves and other refuse. It likewise may be met with in
all parts of the open grassy plains of Banda Oriental, where (like the
_Uppucerthia_ at the Rio Negro) it often turns over dry dung. Its note
is very like that of the _F. cunicularius_, but more acute, and consists
of a shrill cry, quickly reiterated so as to make a running sound. I was
informed that, like that bird, it builds its nest at the bottom of a
deep burrow. This species is common in La Plata, the Falkland Islands,
and Tierra del Fuego; in the latter it frequents the higher parts of the
mountains, or those exposed to the western gales, which are free from
forests, for it is a bird that exclusively lives in open countries and
on the ground. I believe it is not found in Chile; nor is it common on
the coast of Patagonia. This species in its habits is very different
from the three following closely allied ones, since the latter never, or
most rarely, leave the sea beach, whilst this bird, excepting by chance,
is never seen there, but always in the interior country. Nevertheless
with this marked difference in habits, (there are several other points
beside that of the station frequented), if the preserved skins of _O.
parvulus_ and _O. vulgaris_ were placed in the hands of any one, even
perhaps of a practised ornithologist, he would at first hesitate to
consider them distinct, although upon closer examination he would find
many points of difference,—of which the much greater strength of the
feet and the greater length of the tarsus are conspicuous in those
species, which live amongst the stones on the sea beach.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 19._
_Upercerthia dumetaria._
]
2. OPETIORHYNCHUS PATAGONICUS. _G. R. Gray._
Patagonian Warbler, _Lath._ Syn. iv. p. 434.
Motacilla Patagonica, _Gmel._
Motacilla Gracula, _Forst._ Draw. No. 160.
Sylvia Patagonica, _Lath._ Index, ii. 517.
Furnarius Lessonii, _Dumont_.
—— Chilensis, _Less._ Voy. de la Coqu. i. p. 671, n. Tr. d’Ornith. p.
307, pl. 75, f. 1.
Opetiorhynchus rupestris, _Kittl._ Mem. de l’Acad. St. Petersb. i. p.
188, pl. viii.
Uppucerthia rupestris, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 21.
This bird is extremely common on the sea shore of all the bays and
channels of Tierra del Fuego; on the western coast it is replaced in
Northern Chile by the _O. nigrofumosus_, and in the Falkland Islands by
the _O. antarcticus_. As the habits of this species and those just named
are quite similar, I shall describe them all together under the head of
_O. nigrofumosus_. A specimen of _O. Patagonicus_ from Chiloe has a bill
rather more than two-tenths of an inch longer than in those from Tierra
del Fuego; but as no other difference can be perceived, I cannot allow
that this is a specific character any more than in the case of the
_Uppucerthia_.
3. OPETIORHYNCHUS ANTARCTICUS. _G. R. Gray._
Certhia antarctica, _Garn._ Ann. des Sc. Nat. 1826.
Furnarius fuliginosus, _Less._ Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. i. p. 670.
Patagonian Warbler, _Lath._ ♀ in Dixons Voy. App. No. 1, 359 and pl.
This species inhabits the Falkland Islands. My specimens were procured
at the east island, from which, also, those described by the French
naturalists came, and likewise that given in the Appendix to Dixon’s
Voyage. I have no doubt that it is peculiar to this group, for the
foregoing species, which in the neighbouring mainland of Tierra del
Fuego supplies its place and has precisely the same habits, has been
examined by Mr. Gould and is considered distinct. The _O. antarcticus_
has long been noticed by voyagers to the Falkland Islands from its
extreme tameness: in the year 1763 Pernety states it was so tame that it
would almost perch on his finger, and that in half an hour he killed ten
with a wand.
4. OPETIORHYNCHUS NIGROFUMOSUS. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XX.
Uppucerthia nigro-fumosa, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 23.
Opetiorhynchus lanceolatus, _Gould_, MS. and on plate XX.
My specimen was killed at Coquimbo, on the coast of Chile. It differs
from _O. Patagonicus_ in its larger size, much stronger feet and bill,
and more dusky plumage, and in the white streak over the eye being less
plainly marked. In this species the red band, which extends from the
body obliquely across the wings in all the species, reaches to the third
primary, whereas in _O. Patagonicus_, _O. vulgaris_, and _O.
antarcticus_, that feather is not marked, or so faintly, as scarcely to
be distinguishable. In the genus Furnarius, the wing feathers are marked
in an analogous manner. I saw this species (as I believe) on the coast
near the mouth of the valley of Copiapó.
I will now make a few remarks on the habits of these three coast
species. The first, _O. antarcticus_, is confined, as I have every
reason to believe, to the Falkland Islands. The second inhabits Tierra
del Fuego, and in Chiloe and Central Chile is replaced by the local
variety with a long beak, and this still further northward by the _O.
nigrofumosus_. On the east side of the continent I do not believe these
marine species extend so far northward. I never saw one on the shores of
the Plata, but they occur in Central Patagonia. These birds live almost
exclusively on the sea beach, whether formed of shingle or rock, and
feed just above the surf on the matter thrown up by the waves. The
pebbly beds of large rivers sometimes tempt a solitary pair to wander
far from the coast. Thus at Santa Cruz I saw one at least one hundred
miles inland, and I several times observed the same thing in Chile,
which has likewise been remarked by Kittlitz, who has given a very
faithful account of the habits of _O. Patagonicus_. I must add that I
also saw this bird in the stony and arid valleys in the Cordillera, at a
height of at least 8000 feet. In Tierra del Fuego I scarcely ever saw
one twenty yards from the beach, and both there and at the Falkland
Islands they may frequently be seen walking on the buoyant leaves of the
_Fucus giganteus_, at some little distance from the shore. In these
respects, the birds of this genus entirely replace in habits many
species of Tringa. In the stomachs of those I opened I found small crabs
and little shells, and one Buccinum even a quarter of an inch long:
Kittlitz says, he found in one, besides such objects, some small seeds.
They are very quiet, tame and solitary, but they may not unfrequently be
seen in pairs. They hop and likewise _run_ quickly; in which latter
respect, and likewise in their greater tameness, they differ from the
_O. vulgaris_. Their cry is seldom uttered, but is a quick repetition of
a shrill note, like that of the last named bird, and of several species
of Furnarius.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 20._
_Opetiorhynchus lanceolatus._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 21._
_Eremobius phœnicurus._
]
On the 20th of September, I found, near Valparaiso, the nest of _O.
Patagonicus_, with young birds in it: it was placed in a small hole in
the roof of a deep cavern, not far from the bank of a pebbly stream.
Three months later in the summer I found, in the Chonos Archipelago
(Lat. 45°), a nest of this species, placed in a small hole beneath an
old tree, close to the sea beach. The nest was composed of coarse grass
and was untidily built. The egg rather elongated; length 1·11 of an
inch, width in broadest part ·8 of an inch; perfectly white.
GENUS.—EREMOBIUS. _Gould._
_Rostrum capitis longitudine seu longius, fere rectum, ad apicem
deorsum curvatum, haud emarginatum; naribus parvis, basalibus,
oblongis, in sulco positis_; Alæ _breves, remigibus primariis
secundariisque fere æqualibus, plumis 4, 5, 6-que subæqualibus
longissimisque_; Cauda _mediocris apice rotundato_; Tarsi _sublongi
anticè squamis ferè obsoletis induti, halluce digito medio breviore,
digitis lateralibus inæqualibus, internis brevioribus_.
EREMOBIUS PHŒNICURUS. _Gould._
PLATE XXI.
_E. fuscus, remigibus cinereo fusco marginatis, striâ superciliari
pone oculos extensâ cinereo-albâ; caudâ nigro-fuscâ basi castaneo
fuscâ; gulâ abdomineque medio cinereo albis; hypochondriis
tectricibusque caudalibus inferioribus pallide flavescentibus._
Long. tot. 6⁹⁄₁₂ unc.; _rost._ 1; _alæ_, 2⁹⁄₁₂; _caudæ_, 3; _tarsi_,
⁹⁄₁₂.
Head and all the upper surface brown; the primaries margined with
greyish brown; stripe over and behind the eye greyish white; tail
feathers chestnut brown at the base, and blackish brown for the
remainder of their length; throat and centre of the abdomen greyish
white, passing into pale buff on the flanks and under tail-coverts;
bill and feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Patagonia.
This bird, though forming a well-marked genus, is in many respects, even
in plumage, allied to Furnarius and Opetiorhynchus,—for instance, in the
streak over its eyes, in the red band on its wings extending obliquely
from the body to the third primary, and to some of the species of these
genera in its rather plumose feathers. In its general manners, the same
resemblance, together with some differences, always struck me. It lives
entirely on the ground, and generally in dry sterile situations, where
it haunts the scattered thickets, and often flies from one to another.
When skulking about the bushes it cocks up its tail, imitating in this
respect Pteroptochos and Rhinomya. Its cry is shrill, quickly
reiterated, and very similar to that of several species of Furnarius and
Opetiorhynchus. The stomach of one which I opened was full of
Coleoptera. I procured specimens from three places on the coast of
Patagonia; namely, Port Desire, St. Julian, and Santa Cruz; but it is
nowhere common. I likewise saw it at a considerable elevation in the
eastern valleys of the barren Cordillera, near Mendoza.
RHINOMYA LANCEOLATA. _Is. Geoffr. & D’Orb._
Rhinomya lanceolata. _Is. Geoffr. & D’Orb._ Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. pl. 7.
f. 1. 1832, cl. 11. pl. 3. id.—Mag. de Zool. 1832, 11. pl. 3. and
1837, p. 15.
I procured a specimen of this bird from the Rio Negro in Northern
Patagonia, and I never saw one any where else; and M. D’Orbigny makes
the same remark. On the Atlantic side of the continent, it replaces the
several species of _Pteroptochos_ which live on the shores of the
Pacific. Its habits, in some respects, are similar; it lives at the
bottom of hedges or thickets, where it runs with such quickness, that it
might easily be mistaken for a rat. It is very unwilling to take flight,
so that, I was assured by some of the inhabitants, that it could not
fly, which, however, is a mistake. It frequently utters a loud and very
singular cry. The Rhinomya is distantly allied to the _Eremobius
phœnicurus_, which is found in Southern Patagonia, whose habits in some
respects are similar.
1. PTEROPTOCHOS TARNII. _G. R. Gray._
Hylactes Tarnii. _Vigors_, Proc. Zool. 1830.
Megalonyx ruficeps. _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 15.
Leptonyx Tarnii. _D Orb. & Lafr._ Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. Av. p. 198, pl.
viii. f. 1.