cinerascenti-olivaceo; caudâ et alis nigrescenti brunneis; singulis
plumis caudæ et alarum, cinereo-marginatis; lateribus olivaceis,
fusco guttatis; abdomine et crisso albis, rostro et pedibus
nigrescenti-brunneis._
Long. tot. 4 unc.; _alæ_, 2⅜; _caudæ_, 1½; _tarsi_, ¾; _rostri_, ⅜;
alt. _rost._ ⁵⁄₁₆.
Fœm. _Summo capite et dorso cinerascenti-brunneis, gutture, pectore,
abdomine crissoque pallidè cinereis, stramineo tinctis._
The head, throat, and back, sooty black; the lower part of the back
cinereous olive; the tail and wings blackish brown, margined with
cinereous; the sides olive with fuscous spots; the abdomen and under
tail-coverts white; the bill and feet blackish brown.
Female: The upper surface cinereous brown; the throat, breast,
abdomen, and the under tail coverts, pale cinereous tinged with
straw colour.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (James’ Island.)
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 39._
_Geospiza parvula._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 40._
_Camarhynchus psittaculus._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 41._
_Camarhynchus crassirostris._
]
8. GEOSPIZA DUBIA. _Gould._
_G._ (Fœm. Mas ignot.) _summo capite et corpore suprà fuscis, singulis
plumis cinerascenti-olivaceo marginatis; strigâ superciliari, genis,
gutture, corpore infrà cinerascenti-olivaceis, singulis plumis notâ
centrali fuscâ; alis caudâque brunneis singulis plumis
olivaceo-cinereo marginatis; rostro sordidè albo, pedibus obscurè
fuscis._
Long. tot. 3⅜ unc.; _alæ_, 2¾; _caudæ_, 1⅝; _tarsi_, ⅞; _rostri_, ⅝;
alt. _rostri_, ⅜.
Upper surface fuscous, with each feather margined with cinereous
olive; the streak above the eye, cheeks, throat, and beneath the
body, cinereous olive, with the middle of each feather fuscous; the
wings and tail brown, with each feather margined with cinereous ash;
the bill white, and the feet obscure fuscous.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (Chatham Island.)
SUB-GENUS.—CAMARHYNCHUS. _Gould._
CAMARHYNCHUS _differt a genere_ GEOSPIZA, _rostro debiliore, margine
mandibulæ superioris minùs indentato; culmine minùs elevato in
frontem et plus arcuato; lateribus tumidioribus; mandibulâ inferiore
minus in genas tendente._
_Camarhynchus psittaculus_ is the typical species.
1. CAMARHYNCHUS PSITTACULUS. _Gould._
PLATE XL.
_C._ (Fœm.) _summo capite corporeque superiore fuscis; alis caudâque
obscurioribus; gutture corporeque inferiore, cinerascenti-albis,
stramineo tinctis; rostro pallidè flavescenti-fusco; pedibus
fuscis._
Long. tot. 4¾ unc.; _alæ_, 2¾: _caudæ_, 1¾; _tarsi_, ⅞; _rostri_ ½;
alt. _rostri_, ½.
The upper part of the head and body fuscous; the wing and tail darker;
the throat, and beneath the body cinereous white, tinged with straw
colour; the bill pale yellowish fuscous, and the feet fuscous.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (James’ Island.)
The species of Camarhynchus do not differ in habits from those of
Geospiza; and the _C. psittaculus_ might often be seen mingled in
considerable numbers in the same flock with the latter. Mr. Bynoe
procured a blackish specimen, which, doubtless, was an old male; I saw
several somewhat dusky, especially about the head.
2. CAMARHYNCHUS CRASSIROSTRIS. _Gould._
PLATE XLI.
_C._ (Mas jun. et Fœm.) _corpore superiore intensè brunneo, singulis
plumis cinerascenti-olivaceo marginatis; gutture pectoreque
cinerascenti-olivaceis, singulis in medio plumis obscurioribus;
abdomine, lateribus crissoque cinereis stramineo tinctis._
Long. tot. 5½ unc.; _alæ_, 3¾; _caudæ_, 2; _tarsi_, 1⅛; _rostri_, ½;
alt. _rostri_, ½.
Upper part of the body deep brown, with each feather margined with
cinereous olive; the throat and breast cinereous olive, with the
middle of each feather darker; the abdomen, sides, and under tail
coverts cinereous tinged with straw colour.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (Charles Island?)
I am nearly certain that this species is not found in James Island. I
believe it came from Charles Island, and probably there replaces the _C.
psittaculus_ of James Island. I obtained three specimens, one male, and
two females; from the analogy of so many species in this group, I do not
doubt the old male would be black.
SUB-GENUS.—CACTORNIS. _Gould._
CACTORNIS _differt a genere_ GEOSPIZA _rostro elongato, acuto,
compresso, longitudine altitudinem excellente; mandibulæ superioris
margine vix indentato; naribus basalibus et vix tectis; tarsis
brevioribus, unguibus majoribus et plus curvatis._
_Cactornis scandens_ is the typical species.
1. CACTORNIS SCANDENS. _Gould._
PLATE XLII.
_C. intensè fuliginosa, crisso albo; rostro et pedibus
nigrescenti-brunneis._
Long. tot. 5 unc.; _rostri_, ¾; _alæ_, 2⅝; _caudæ_, 1¾; _tarsi_, ¾.
Fœm. _Corpore superiore, gutture pectoreque intensè brunneis, singulis
plumis pallidiorè marginatis; abdomine crissoque cinereis, stramineo
tinctis; rostro pallidè fusco; pedibus nigrescenti-fuscis._
Deep sooty black, with the under tail-coverts white; the bill and feet
blackish brown.
Female: Upper surface of the body, throat and breast intensely brown,
with the margins of each feather paler; the abdomen and the under
tail coverts cinereous, tinged with straw colour; the bill pale
fuscous, and the feet blackish fuscous.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (James’ Island.)
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 42._
_Cactornis scandens._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 43._
_Cactornis assimilis._
]
The species of this sub-genus alone can be distinguished in habits from
the several foregoing ones belonging to Geospiza and Camarhynchus. Their
most frequent resort is the _Opuntia Galapageia_, about the fleshy
leaves of which they hop and climb, even with their back downwards,
whilst feeding with their sharp beaks, both on the fruit and flowers.
Often, however, they alight on the ground, and mingled with the flock of
the above mentioned species, they search for seeds in the parched
volcanic soil. The extreme scarceness of the jet black specimens, which
I mentioned under the head of the genus _Geospiza_, is well exemplified
in the case of the _C. scandens_, for although I daily saw many brown
coloured ones, (and two collectors were looking out for them), only one,
besides that which is figured, was procured, and I did not see a second.
2. CACTORNIS ASSIMILIS. _Gould._
PLATE XLIII.
TISSERIN DES GALLAPAGOS, (île St. Charles,) _Neboux_, Revue
Zoologique, 1840, p. 291.
_C._ Mas (jun?) _corpore suprà fuliginoso, (gutture abdomineque
exceptis,) cinereo marginatis; rostro pallidè rufescenti-brunneo;
pedibus nigrescenti-brunneis._
Long. tot. 5½ unc.; _rostri_, ¾; _alæ_, 2¾; _caudæ_, 1¾; _tarsi_, ¾.
Upper surface of the body sooty black, margined with cinereous, as
well as the throat and abdomen; the bill pale rufous brown; the feet
blackish brown.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.
I do not know from which island of the group this species was procured;
almost certainly not from James Island. Analogy would in this case, as
in that of _Camarhynchus crassirostris_, lead to the belief that the old
male would be jet black. By a mistake this bird has been figured
standing on the _Opuntia Darwinii_, a plant from Patagonia, instead of
the _O. Galapageia_. I may here mention that a third and well
characterized species of Cactornis has lately been sent by Captain
Belcher, R.N. to the Zoological Society; as Capt. Belcher visited Cocos
Island, which is the nearest land to the Galapagos Archipelago, being
less than 400 miles distant, it is very probable that the species came
thence.
SUB-GENUS.—CERTHIDEA. _Gould._
CERTHIDEA _differt a genere_ GEOSPIZA _rostro graciliore et acutiore;
naribus basalibus et non tectis; mandibulæ superioris margine recto;
tarsis longioribus et gracilioribus._
Of the foregoing sub-genera, Geospiza, Camarhynchus and Cactornis belong
to one type, but with regard to Certhidea, although Mr. Gould
confidently believes it should also be referred to the same division,
yet as in its slighter form and weaker bill, it has so much the
appearance of a member of the _Sylviadæ_, he would by no means insist
upon the above view being adopted, until the matter shall have been more
fully investigated.
CERTHIDEA OLIVACEA. _Gould._
PLATE XLIV.
_C. summo capite, corpore superiore, alis caudâque olivaceo-brunneis;
gutture et corpore infra cinereis; rostro pedibusque pallidè
brunneis._
Long. tot. 4 unc.; _rostri_, ½; _alæ_, 2; _caudæ_, 1½; _tarsi_, ¾.
Upper part of the head, body, wings and tail, olivaceous brown; the
throat, and beneath the body, cinereous; the bill and feet pale
brown.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (Chatham and James Island).
I believe my specimens, which include both sexes, were procured from
Chatham and James Islands; it is certainly found at the latter.
PHYTOTOMA RARA. _Mol._
P. Bloxami, _Children_, Jard. and Selby’s Ill.
P. rutila, _Vieill._ Mag. de Zool. 1832, ii. pl. 5.
P. silens, _Kittl._ Mem. de l’Acad. des Sci. de St. Petersb.
This is not a very uncommon bird in Central Chile: the farmers complain
that it is very destructive to the buds of fruit trees. It is quiet and
solitary, and haunts hedge-rows or bushes; its manners are similar to
those of our bullfinch, (_Loxia Pyrrhula_). Iris bright scarlet. Mr.
Eyton has given an anatomical description of this bird in the Appendix.
DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS. _Swains._
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, _Swains._ Faun. Bor. Am. 2. 278.
Emberiza oryzivorus, _Linn._
This one specimen only was seen at James Island, in the Galapagos
Archipelago, during the beginning of October. It is remarkable that a
bird migrating, according to Richardson, as far as 54° N. in North
America, and generally inhabiting marshy grounds, should be found on
these dry rocky islands under the equator. Mr. Gray and myself carefully
compared this specimen with one from North America, and we could not
perceive the slightest difference.
1. XANTHORNUS CHRYSOPTERUS. _G. R. Gray._
Oriolus cayennensis, _Linn._ Syst. 1. 168 ?
Agelaius chrysopterus, _Vieill._
Psarocolius chrysopterus, _Wagl._ Syst. Av. p.
This bird generally frequents marshy grounds. I procured specimens from
La Plata and from Chile; in the latter country it extends at least as
far north as the valley of Copiapo, in 27° 20′: on the eastern plains it
does not range, according to Azara, north of 28°. It builds in reeds.
Molina says it is called by the Indians Thili, or Chile—hence he derives
the name of the country.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 44._
_Certhidea olivacea._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 45._
_Xanthornus flaviceps._
]
2. XANTHORNUS FLAVUS. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XLV.
Oriolus flavus, _Gmel._
Psarocolius flaviceps, _Wagl._ Syst. Avium.
Troupiale à tête jaune, _Azara_, No. 66.
This species is common at Maldonado in large flocks.
LEISTES ANTICUS. _G. R. Gray._
Icterus anticus, _Licht._ Cat. p. 19.
Agelaius virescens, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. 543.
Psarocolius anticus, _Wagl._
Le Dragon, _Azara_, No. 65.
This bird is exceedingly abundant in large flocks on the grassy plains
of La Plata. It is noisy, and in its habits resembles our starling.
1. AGELAIUS FRINGILLARIUS. _G. R. Gray._
Icterus fringillarius, _Spix_, Av. Sp. No. 1. t. lxv. fig. 1 & 2. p. 68.
Psarocolius sericeus, juv., _Wagl._
This species is rare at Maldonado, but appears more common on the banks
of Parana in Lat. 31°. S. Spix says (vol. i. p. 68, Birds of Brazil), it
is found in Minas Geraes.
2. AGELAIUS CHOPI. _Vieill._
Turdus curæus, _Gmel._
Le Chopi, _Azara_, No. 62.
Icterus unicolor, _Licht._
Icterus sulcirostris, _Spix_, Av. Br. pl. 64. f. 2.
This species is common in flocks on the pasture grounds of Chile, and
along the whole western shore of the southern part of the continent. In
Chile it is called, according to Molina, “cureu.” It is a noisy,
chattering bird, and runs in the manner of our starlings. It can be
taught to speak, and is sometimes kept in cages. It builds in bushes.
MOLOTHRUS NIGER. _Gould._
Tanagra bonariensis, _Gmel._
Icterus niger, _Dand._
Passerina discolor, _Vieill._
Icterus maxillaris, _D’Orb. & Lafr._
Icterus sericeus, _Licht._
Psarocolius sericeus, _Wagl._
This Molothrus is common in large flocks on the grassy plains of La
Plata, and is often mingled with the _Leistes anticus_, and other birds.
In the same flock with the usual black kind, there were generally a few
dull brown coloured ones, (_Icterus sericeus_ of _Licht._) which I
presume are the young. Azara states that the brown coloured birds are
smaller than the black glossy ones, and that they sometimes form
one-tenth of the whole number in a flock. In the single specimen which I
brought home, the size, with the exception of the length of the wing, is
only a very little less. Sonnini, in his notes to Azara, considers the
brown birds as the females; I can, however, scarcely believe that so
obvious a solution of the difficulty could have escaped so accurate an
observer as Azara. These birds in La Plata often may be seen standing on
the back of a cow or horse. While perched on a hedge, and pluming
themselves in the sun, they sometimes attempt to sing or rather to hiss:
the noise is very peculiar; it resembles that of bubbles of air passing
rapidly from a small orifice under water, so as to produce an acute
sound. Azara states that this bird, like the cuckoo, deposits its eggs
in other birds’ nests. I was several times told by the country people,
that there was some bird which had this habit; and my assistant in
collecting, who is a very accurate person, found in the nest of the
_Zonotrichia ruficollis_ (a bird which occupies in the ornithology of S.
America the place of the common sparrow of Europe), one egg larger than
the others, and of a different colour and shape. This egg is rather less
than that of the missel-thrush, being ·93 of an inch in length, and ·78
in breadth; it is of a bulky form, thick in the middle. The ground
colour is a pale pinkish white, with irregular spots and blotches of a
bright reddish brown, and others less distinct of a greyish hue. This
species is evidently a very close analogue of the _M. pecoris_ of North
America, from which, however it may at once be distinguished by the
absence of the glossy brown on the head, neck, and upper breast,—by the
metallic blueness of its plumage in the place of a green tinge, and by
its somewhat greater size in all its proportions. The young or brown
coloured specimens of these Molothri resemble each other more closely;
that of the _M. pecoris_ is of a lighter brown, especially under the
throat, and the small feathers on its breast and abdomen have each an
obscure dark central streak. The eggs of the Molothri, although having
the same general character, differ considerably; that of the _M.
pecoris_ being smaller and less swollen in the middle; it is ·85 of an
inch in length, and ·78 in breadth. Its colour cannot be better
described than in the words of Dr. Richardson[15]—it is “of a greenish
white, with rather small crowded and confluent irregular spots of pale
liver brown, intermixed with others of subdued purplish grey.” From this
description it is obvious that the egg of _M. niger_ is larger and of a
much redder tint; the more prominent spots also are larger, the subdued
grey being quite similar in both.
If we were to judge from habits alone, the specific difference between
these two species of Molothrus might well be doubted; they seem closely
to resemble each other in general habits,—in manner of feeding,—in
associating in the same flock with other birds, and even in such
peculiarities as often alighting on the backs of cattle. The _M.
pecoris_, like the _M. niger_, utters strange noises, which Wilson[16]
describes “as a low spluttering note as if proceeding from the belly.”
It appears to me very interesting thus to find so close an agreement in
structure, and in habits, between allied species coming from opposite
parts of a great continent. Mr. Swainson[17] has remarked that with the
exception of the _Molothrus_, the cuckoos are the only birds which can
be called truly parasitical; namely, such as “fasten themselves, as it
were, on another living animal, whose animal heat brings their young
into life, whose food they alone live upon, and whose death would cause
theirs during the period of infancy.” It is very remarkable, that the
cuckoos and the molothri, although opposed to each other in almost every
habit, should agree in this strange one of their parasitical
propagation: the habit moreover is not universal in the species of
either tribe. The Molothrus, like our starling, is eminently sociable,
and lives on the open plains without art or disguise:[18] the cuckoo, as
every one knows, is a singularly shy bird; it frequents the most retired
thickets, and feeds on fruit and caterpillars.[19]
AMBLYRAMPHUS RUBER. _G. R. Gray._
Oriolus ruber, _Gmel._
Amblyramphus bicolor, _Leach._
Sturnus pyrrhocephalus, _Licht._
Sturnella rubra, _Vieill._
Leistes erythrocephala, _Swains._ Class. Birds.
This bird frequented marshy places in the neighbourhood of Maldonado,
but it was not common there. It is more solitary than the following
allied species; I have, however, seen it in a flock. Seated on a twig,
with its beak widely open, it often makes a shrill, but plaintive and
agreeable cry, which is sometimes single and sometimes reiterated. Its
flight is heavy. The young have their heads and thighs merely mottled
with scarlet.
STURNELLA MILITARIS. _Vieill._
Sturnus militaris, _Gmel._
Etourneau des terres Magellanique, Pl. enl. 113.
I met with specimens of this bird on the east coast of the continent
from the Falkland Islands to 31° S., and on the western coast from the
Strait of Magellan to Lima, a space of forty degrees of latitude.
FAMILY.—TROCHILIDÆ.
1. TROCHILUS FLAVIFRONS.
Monte Video.—November. Not abundant.
2. TROCHILUS FORFICATUS. _Lath._
_Edwards’_ Gleanings.
_Vieill._ Ois. dores, t. 1.
Ornismya Kingii, _Less._ Trochilidees, pl. 38.
This species is found over a space of 2,500 miles on the west coast,
from the hot dry country of Lima to the forests of Terra del Fuego,
where it has been described by Captain King as flitting about in a
snow-storm. In the wooded island of Chiloe, which has an extremely damp
climate, this little bird, skipping from side to side amidst the humid
foliage, and uttering its acute chirp, is perhaps more abundant than any
other kind. It there very commonly frequents open marshy ground, where a
kind of bromelia grows: hovering near the edge of the thick beds, it
every now and then dashes in close to the ground; but I could not see
whether it ever actually alighted. At that time of the year there were
very few flowers, and none whatever near the beds of bromelia. Hence, I
was quite sure that they did not live on honey; and on opening the
stomach and upper intestine, by the aid of a lens, I could plainly
distinguish in a yellow fluid, morsels of the wings of diptera,—probably
Tipulidæ. It is evident that these birds search for minute insects in
their winter quarters under the thick foliage. I opened the stomachs of
several specimens which were shot in different parts of the continent,
and in all remains of insects were numerous, forming a black comminuted
mass. In one killed at Valparaiso, I found portions of an ant. Amongst
the Chonos Islands, at a season when there were flowers in open places,
yet the damp recesses of the forests appeared their favourite haunt. In
central Chile these birds are migratory; they make their appearance
there in autumn; the first arrival which I observed was on the 14th of
April (corresponding to our October) but by the 20th they were numerous.
They stay throughout the winter, and begin to disappear in September: on
October 12th, in the course of a long walk, I saw only one individual.
During the period of their summer migration, nests were very common in
Chiloe and the Chonos Island, countries south of Chile. When this
species of _Trochilus_ migrates southward, it is replaced in Chile by a
larger kind, which will be presently described. The migration of the
humming birds on both the east[20] and west coasts of North America,
exactly corresponds to that which takes place in the southern half of
the continent. In both they move towards the tropic during the colder
parts of the year, and retreat poleward before the returning heat. Some,
however, remain during the whole year in Tierra del Fuego; and in
northern California,—which in the northern hemisphere, has this same
relative position which Tierra del Fuego has in the southern,—some,
according to Beechey, likewise remain. Near the south end of Chiloe, I
found on the 8th of December, a nest with eggs nearly hatched. It was of
the ordinary form of nests; rather more than an inch in internal
diameter, and not deep, composed externally of coarse and fine moss,
neatly woven together, and lined with dried confervæ, now forming a very
fine reddish fibrous mass. I feel no doubt regarding the nature of this
latter substance, as the transverse septa are yet quite distinct: hence
this humming bird builds its nest entirely of cryptogamic plants. Egg
perfectly white, elongated, or rather almost cylindrical, with rounded
ends; length ·557 of an inch, and transverse diameter ·352 of an inch.
In January, at the Chonos Islands, when there were young in the nest, a
considerable number of old birds were shot; of these, however, few or
scarcely any had the shining crest of the male. In the only specimen,
which I carefully examined, the metallic tips of the young feathers of
the crest, were just beginning to protrude. Several of these males
without their crest, had a yellowish gorge; and I saw some with a few
light brown feathers on their backs. I presume these appearances are
connected with their state of moult.
3. TROCHILUS GIGAS, _Vieill._
Orsimya tristis, _Less._, Oiseaux Mouches, pl. 3.
This species is common in central Chile. It is a large bird for the
delicate family to which it belongs. At Valparaiso, in the year 1834, I
saw several of these birds in the middle of August, and I was informed
they had only lately arrived from the parched deserts of the north.
Towards the middle of September (the vernal equinox) their numbers were
greatly increased. They breed in central Chile, and replace, as I have
before said, the foregoing species, which migrates southward for the
same purpose. The nest is deep in proportion to its width; externally
three inches and a half deep; internal depth a little under one inch and
three quarters; width within one inch and two-tenths; mouth slightly
contracted. Externally it is formed of fine fibrous grass woven
together, and attached by one side and bottom to some thin upright
twigs; internally it is thickly lined with a felt, formed of the pappus
of some composite flower. When on the wing, the appearance of this bird
is singular. Like others of the genus, it moves from place to place,
with a rapidity which may be compared to that of Syrphus amongst
diptera, and Sphinx among moths; but whilst hovering over a flower, it
flaps its wings with a very slow and powerful movement, totally
different from that vibratory one common to most of the species, which
produces the humming noise. I never saw any other bird, where the force
of its wings appeared (as in a butterfly) so powerful in proportion to
the weight of its body. When hovering by a flower, its tail is
constantly expanded and shut like a fan, the body being kept in a nearly
vertical position. This action appears to steady and support the bird,
between the slow movements of its wings. Although flying from flower to
flower in search of food, its stomach generally contained abundant
remains of insects, which, I suspect, are much more the object of its
search than honey is. The note of this species, like that of nearly the
whole family, is extremely shrill.
In the Appendix an anatomical description of this bird by Mr. Eyton is
given.
ORDER—SCANSORES.
1. CONURUS MURINUS, _Kuhl._
Psittacus murinus, _Gmel._
Perruche, _Pernet_, voy. 1. p. 312.