between latitudes 30° and 45°. It frequents either fresh or salt water.
Near Maldonado (in May), on the borders of a lake, which had been nearly
drained, and which in consequence swarmed with small fry, I watched many
of these birds flying backwards and forwards for hours together, close
to its surface. They kept their bills wide open, and with the lower
mandible half buried in the water. Thus skimming the surface, generally
in small flocks, they ploughed it in their course; the water was quite
smooth, and it formed a most curious spectacle, to behold a flock, each
bird leaving its narrow wake on the mirror-like surface. In their flight
they often twisted about with extreme rapidity, and so dexterously
managed, that they ploughed up small fish with their projecting lower
mandibles, and secured them with the upper half of their scissor-like
bills. This fact I repeatedly witnessed, as, like swallows, they
continued to fly backwards and forwards, close before me. Occasionally,
when leaving the surface of the water, their flight was wild, irregular,
and rapid; they then also uttered loud harsh cries. When these birds
were seen fishing, it was obvious that the length of the primary
feathers was quite necessary in order to keep their wings dry. When thus
employed, their forms resembled the symbol, by which many artists
represent marine birds. The tail is much used in steering their
irregular course.
These birds are common far inland, along the course of the Rio Parana;
and it is said they remain there during the whole year, and that they
breed in the marshes. During the day they rest in flocks on the grassy
plains, at some distance from the water. Being at anchor in a small
vessel, in one of the deep creeks between the islands in the Parana, as
the evening drew to a close, one of these scissor-beaks suddenly
appeared. The water was quite still, and many little fish were rising.
The bird continued for a long time to skim the surface; flying in its
wild and irregular manner up and down the narrow canal, now dark with
the growing night and the shadows of the overhanging trees. At Monte
Video, I observed that large flocks remained during the day on the mud
banks, at the head of the harbour; in the same manner as those which I
observed on the grassy plains near the Parana. Every evening they took
flight in a straight line seaward. From these facts, 1 suspect, that the
Rhynchops frequently fishes by night, at which time, many of the lower
animals come more abundantly to the surface than during the day. I was
led by these facts to speculate on the possibility of the bill of the
Rhynchops, which is so pliable, being a delicate organ of touch. But Mr.
Owen, who was kind enough to examine the head of one, which I brought
home in spirits, writes to me, (August 7, 1837,) that—
“The result of the dissection of the head of the _Rhynchops_,
comparatively with that of the head of the duck, is not what you
anticipated. The facial, or sensitive branches of the fifth pair of
nerves, are very small; the third division in particular, is
filamentary, and I have not been able to trace it beyond the soft
integument at the angles of the mouth. After removing with care, the
thin horny covering of the beak, I cannot perceive any trace of those
nervous expansions which are so remarkable in the lamelli-rostral
aquatic birds; and which in them supply the tooth-like process, and soft
marginal covering of the mandibles. Nevertheless, when we remember how
sensitive a hair is, through the nerve situated at its base, though
without any in its substance, it would not be safe to deny altogether, a
sensitive faculty in the beak of the Rhynchops.”
M. Lesson (Manuel d’Ornithologie, vol. ii. p. 385.) has stated, that he
has seen these birds opening the shells of the Mactræ, buried in the
sandbanks on the coast of Chile. From their weak bills, with the lower
mandible so much produced, their short legs and long wings, it seems
very improbable that this can be a general habit, although it may
sometimes be resorted to. Wilson, who was well acquainted with this
bird, does not believe “the report of its frequenting oyster beds, and
feeding on these fish.” The existence, however, of this same report in
the United States, makes the question, whether the Rhynchops does not
sometimes turn the peculiar structure of its beak to this purpose,
worthy of further investigation.
VIRALVA ARANEA. _G. R. Gray._
Sterna aranea, _Wils._ Am. Orn. pl. 72. f. 6.
My specimen was procured at Bahia Blanca, in Northern Patagonia. I may
here observe, that many navigators have supposed that terns, when met
with out at sea, are a sure indication of land. But these birds seem not
unfrequently to be lost in the open ocean; thus one (_Megalopterus
stolidus_) flew on board the Beagle in the Pacific, when several hundred
miles from the Galapagos Archipelago. No doubt, the remark made by
navigators, with respect to the proximity of land where terns are seen,
refers to birds in a flock, fishing, or otherwise showing that they are
familiar with that part of the sea. I, therefore, more particularly
mention, that off the mouth of the Rio Negro, on the Patagonian shore, I
saw a flock (probably the _Viralva aranea_) fishing seventy miles from
land: and off the coast of Brazil a flock of another species, 120 from
the nearest part of the coast. The latter birds were in numbers, and
were busily engaged in dashing at their prey.
MEGALOPTERUS STOLIDUS. _Boie._
Sterna stolida, _Linn._ Syst. i. 227.
My specimens were procured from the Galapagos Archipelago. It is well
known to be an inhabitant of the seas in the warmer latitudes over the
whole world. The Rocks of St. Paul’s, nearly under the equator, in the
Atlantic ocean, were almost covered with the rude and simple nests of
this bird, made with a few pieces of sea-weed. The females were sitting
upon their eggs (in February), and by the side of many of their nests,
parts of flying-fish were placed, I suppose, by the male bird for his
partner to feed on during the labour of incubation.
PHALACROCORAX CARUNCULATUS. _Stephens._
Phalacrocorax carunculatus, _Steph._ Gen. Zool.
Pelecanus carunculatus, _Gm._ Syst. i. 576.
Phalacrocorax imperialis, _King_, Zool. Proc. vol. i. pt. 1. 30.
I procured a specimen of this bird at Port St. Julian, on the coast of
Patagonia, where, during January, many were building. I merely mention
it here, for the purpose of describing the singularly bright colours of
the naked skin about its head. Skin round the eyes “campanula blue;”
cockles at the base of the upper mandible, “saffron mixed with gamboge
yellow.” Marks between the eye and the corner of the mouth, “orpiment
orange;” tarsi scarlet.
FREGATA AQUILA. _Cuv._
Pelecanus Aquilus, _Linn._
I had an opportunity, at the Galapagos Archipelago, of watching, on
several occasions, the habits of this bird, which are very interesting
in relation to its peculiar structure. The Frigate bird, when it sees
any object on the surface of the water, descends from a great height, in
an inclined plane, head foremost, with the swiftness of an arrow; and at
the instant of seizing with its long beak and outstretched neck, the
floating morsel, it turns upwards, with extraordinary dexterity, by the
aid of its forked tail, and long, powerful wings. It never touches the
water with its wings, or even with its feet; indeed I have never heard
of one having been seen on the surface of the sea; and it appears that
the deeply indented web between its toes is of no more use to it, than
are the shrivelled wings beneath the wing cases of some coleopterous
beetles. The Frigate bird has a noble appearance when seen soaring in a
flock at a stupendous height (at which time it merits the name of the
Condor of the ocean), or when many together are dashing, in complicated
evolutions, but with the most admirable skill, at the same floating
object. They seem to scorn to take their food quietly, for between each
descent they raise themselves on high, and descend again with a swift
and true aim. If the object (such as offal thrown overboard) sink more
than six or eight inches beneath the surface, it is lost to the Frigate
bird. I was informed at Ascension, that when the little turtles break
through their shells, and run to the water’s edge, these birds attend in
numbers, and pick up the little animals (being thus very injurious to
the turtle fishery) off the sand, in the same manner as they would from
the sea.
APPENDIX.
Anatomical description of _Serpophaga albo-coronata_, _Furnarius
cunicularius_, _Uppucerthia dumetoria_, _Opetiorhynchus vulgaris_,
_O. antarcticus_, _O. Patagonicus_, _Pteroptochos Tarnii_, _P.
albicollis_, _Synallaxis maluroides_, _Phytotoma rara_, _Trochilus
gigas_, _Tinochorus rumicivorus_.[31]
BY T. C. EYTON, ESQ., F.L.S., &c.
SERPOPHAGA ALBO-CORONATA. _Gould._ (Male.)
Tongue pointed, furnished with a few short bristles at the sides near
the base. Trachea with the same muscles as among the warblers
generally. Æsophagus slightly funnel-shaped; proventriculus much
expanded at its entrance into the gizzard, which is rounded, not
very muscular, inner coat slightly hardened, smooth. Intestine of
moderate size, furnished with two rudimentary cæca.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus 1
of gizzard ⅜
Breadth of ditto ⁵⁄₁₆
Length of intestine from gizzard to cloaca 3¼
from cæca to cloaca 3¼
The skeleton of this bird is precisely that of the smaller and weaker
species of Laniadæ.
lines
Length of sternum 5
Breadth anteriorly 3
posteriorly 4¼
Width of fissures 1
Depth of ditto 1½
Depth of keel 2
Length of pelvis 5½
Width anteriorly 2½
posteriorly 5½
Length from occiput to point of bill 12
Breadth of head 5¾
Length of coracoids 4½
No of cervical vertebræ 11
dorsal ditto 7
sacral ditto 9
caudal ditto 6
——
Total 33
——
No. of false ribs 1 1?
true ditto 5
————
Total 7
————
FURNARIUS CUNICULARIUS. _G. R. Gray._ (Male.)
Tongue, trachea, and œsophagus, as in _Uppucerthia_. Proventriculus
longer, and slightly contracted at its entrance into the gizzard,
which is large, flattened, and muscular, more rounded than in
_Opetiorhynchus_, lined with a rugose hardened coat, and filled with
small seeds, and the remains of insects; intestines of small
diameter, and furnished with two rudimentary cæca.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus 1¾
of gizzard ¾
Breadth of ditto ⅝
Length from gizzard to cæca 5
cæca to cloaca 1½
Sternum of nearly equal breadth, both posteriorly and anteriorly, but
much narrowed in the middle, the portion to which the ribs are
attached much elongated beyond their junction; posterior margin
furnished with two deep fissures, slightly narrowed at their exit;
keel deep, slightly rounded on its inferior edge, and much scolloped
out anteriorly; pelvis broad and short, the os pubis projecting far
backwards; the ischium terminating posteriorly in an acute process.
Os furcatum thin, much arched, furnished with a flattened reflexed
process at its junction with the sternum; the points of the rami
bent forwards at their junction with the coracoids.
Coracoids of moderate size and length, inserted deeply into the
sternum; scapula of moderate size, broader near the extremity.
lines
Length of sternum 11
Breadth anteriorly 6¼
posteriorly 8¼
Depth of keel 4½
Length of pelvis 12
Width anteriorly 4½
posteriorly 11
Length from occiput to point of bill 19
Breadth of cranium 7½
Length of coracoids 8
No. of cervical vertebræ 12
dorsal ditto 7
sacral ditto 10
caudal ditto 7
———
Total 36
———
No. of true ribs 5
false ditto 2·1
———
Total 8
UPPUCERTHIA DUMETORIA. _Geoff. & D’Orb._ (Female.)
Tongue short, compared with the length of the bill, pointed, armed
with a few spines at the base; trachea of moderate size, acted upon
by one pair of sterno-tracheal muscles, which go off to the sternum,
about ⅛ of an inch above the inferior larynx; from the upper ring of
the bronchiæ on each side, a process proceeds upwards to the point
from which the muscles diverge, to which point only the rings of the
trachea are continued, two spaces therefore, one on the anterior,
the other on the posterior side of the trachea, immediately above
the bronchiæ, are left devoid of osseous matter, being bounded
laterally by the process above mentioned, inferiorly by the upper
rings of the bronchiæ, and superiorly by the lower ring of the
trachea, which is slightly enlarged; œsophagus small, slightly
dilated a little above the proventriculus, which is of moderate
size, and not contracted before entering the gizzard; gizzard large,
oval, very muscular, inner coat hardened, deeply furrowed
longitudinally, and filled with the remains of insects; intestinal
canal of moderate size, without cæca; rectum very slightly enlarged;
liver bilobed.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, including proventiculus 2
of gizzard ¾
Breadth of ditto ½
Length of intestinal canal 10
With the exception of being larger than _Furnarius cunicularius_, and in
having the bill more bent and longer, the skeleton presents no material
difference from that of the above-named bird.
lines
Length of sternum 13
Breadth anteriorly 6
posteriorly 7¼
Depth of keel 4
of fissures 4
Breadth of ditto 1
Length of pelvis 14¼
Breadth anteriorly 4
posteriorly 9¼
Length from occiput to point of bill 27
Breadth of cranium 8
Length of coracoids 11
No. of cervical vertebræ 11
dorsal ditto 7
sacral ditto 11
caudal ditto 6
———
Total 35
No. of true ribs 5
false ditto 2·1
———
Total 8
OPETIORHYNCHUS VULGARIS. _Gray._ (Male.)
The structure of the soft parts, both in this species of
_Opetiorhynchus_, and the two following ones, so closely resemble that
of _Furnarius_ and _Uppucerthia_, that one description will almost serve
for the whole; those differences that do exist being not more than are
generally found in species of the same genus; the external characters
also being slight, I cannot but doubt the propriety of separating them;
the cæca are slightly developed in this species, measuring ⅛ inch in
length.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, proventriculus included 2½
of gizzard ⁶⁄₈
Breadth of ditto ½
Length of intestinal canal from gizzard to the cloaca 7½
from cæca to cloaca ⅞
Skeleton similar in form to that of _Furnarius cunicularius_.
lines
Length of sternum 11¾
Breadth anteriorly 5¼
posteriorly 7½
Depth of keel 3¾
of fissures 5
Breadth of ditto 1½
Length of pelvis 12²⁄₄
Breadth anteriorly 4
posteriorly 9¾
Length from occiput to point of bill 17
Breadth of cranium 7
Length of coracoids 8½
No. of cervical vertebræ 11
dorsal ditto 7
sacral ditto 11
caudal ditto 7
————
Total 36
No. of true ribs 5
false ditto 2·1
————
Total 8
OPETIORHYNCHUS ANTARCTICUS. _G. R. Gray._ (Male.)
Structure of the soft parts as in _O. vulgaris_, but with the rectum of
rather larger diameter, and the cæca very minute; gizzard filled with
the remains of insects.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus 2¼
gizzard ⁶⁄₈
Breadth of gizzard ½
Length of intestinal canal from gizzard to cloaca 7
Skeleton similar in form to _Furnarius cunicularius_, and the other
species of this genus.
lines
Length of sternum 11
Breadth anteriorly 6
posteriorly 7½
Depth of keel 4¾
of fissures 4
Breadth of ditto 1¾
Length of pelvis 12
Breadth anteriorly 3¾
posteriorly 10½
Length from occiput to point of bill 18
Breadth of cranium 7½
Length of coracoids 9
No. of cervical vertebræ 11
dorsal ditto 7
sacral ditto 12
caudal ditto 7
———
Total 37
No. of true ribs 5
false ditto 2·1
———
Total 8
OPETIORHYNCHUS PATAGONICUS. _G. R. Gray._ (Male.)
No difference in the structure of the soft parts from the other
species of the genus before spoken of. The trachea, however, does
not differ from the ordinary simple form found in most birds, but
differs from _O. vulgaris_ and _O. antarcticus_, in having the lower
rings continued to the bronchiæ it is acted upon by one pair of
muscles; no cæca are apparent.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus 2⅛
gizzard ½
Breadth of gizzard ⅜
Length of cutis from gizzard to cloaca 5½
Skeleton in form similar to that of _Furnarius cunicularius_, and the
other species of this genus.
lines
Length of sternum 13
Breadth anteriorly 6½
posteriorly 8½
Depth of keel 5
fissures 4
Breadth of ditto 1½
Length of pelvis 13½
Breadth anteriorly 5
posteriorly 10½
Length from occiput to point of bill 19
Breadth of cranium 8
Length of coracoids 10
No. of cervical vertebræ 11
dorsal ditto 7
sacral ditto 9
caudal ditto 6
———
Total 33
———
No. of true ribs 5
false ditto 2·1
———
Total 8
Remarks:—the last five species approach so nearly, that I doubt the
propriety of separating them generically. The skeletons are only
distinguishable with the exception of the form of the bill, by the
proportions between the different admeasurements.
PTEROPTOCHOS TARNII. _G. R. Gray._ (Female.)
Tongue pointed, armed with two strong lateral spines, and a few
intermediate smaller ones at the base; œsophagus largest at the
upper extremity, and gradually becoming smaller towards the
proventriculus; no vestige of a craw; proventriculus of moderate
size, not much contracted towards the gizzard, which is also of
moderate size, and much flattened; not very muscular, and lined with
a hardened coat, rugose longitudinally; the gizzard was filled with
small pebbles, and a coarse black powder, probably the remains of
insects; intestinal canal small; cæca rudimental; rectum large,
becoming more expanded towards the cloaca, which is also large;
trachea of equal diameter throughout, furnished with one pair of
sterno-tracheal muscles, a portion of each of which is continued
downwards to the upper rings of the bronchiæ, on which it expands;
liver two-lobed.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus 3½
of intestinal canal, from gizzard to cloaca 18
of rectum 2¼
Diameter of gizzard ⁹⁄₁₀
Length of ditto 1
The pelvis and ribs of this bird were much damaged; sternum of equal
breadth posteriorly and anteriorly, slightly contracted on its
lateral edge, near the middle indented on its posterior margin with
four deep fissures, the outer ones largest; a large triangular
process projecting forwards between the junctions of the coracoids,
bifid at the apex; the coracoids themselves very strongly
articulated to the sternum, the sides of the sternum to which the
ribs are articulated projecting in the form of a process far beyond
the junction of the coracoids; the sternal keel is narrow, and has
its edge straight; the coracoids are long, thin, with very slight
external lateral processes at their junction with the sternum; os
furcatum very thin, roundish, a very slight process on the point at
which it approaches nearest to the sternum, very slightly arched.
Scapula broad, flattened, much widened at about one-third of its
length from the hinder extremity; wing bones short, and weak; leg
bones long, and strong; the fibula much developed.
lines
Length of sternum 15
Greatest breadth of sternum 9½
Breadth at the narrowest part 7
Width of external fissure 1½
Depth of ditto 6
Width of internal ditto 1¼
Depth of ditto 6½
Depth of keel 3
Length from occiput to point of bill 22¼
Breadth of cranium 10½
Length of coracoids 11
Breadth of scapula in the broadest part 2
Cervical vertebræ 12
Dorsal ditto 6
Sacral, damaged.
Caudal, damaged.
PTEROTOCHOS ALBICOLLIS. _Kittl._ (Male.)
Trachea, tongue, œsophagus, gizzard, and liver of the same form as in
_Pterotochos Tarnii_. The contents of the gizzard also did not
differ.
Inches
Length of intestinal canal 14½
from cæca to cloaca 2½
Length of gizzard ¾
Breadth of ditto ⅝
Only the body, after skinning, of the species, was brought home by Mr.
Darwin.
The skeleton of this species does not differ in anything but
admeasurements from that of _Pterotochos Tarnii_; the pelvis, however,
being so much damaged in that species, that I was not able to make many
notes upon it, I shall give a description of that part in the present
one.
Pelvis of moderate size; the ossa pubis and ischium much expanded, and
elongated posteriorly, and placed nearly perpendicular to the plane
of the ilium, ischiatic foramina large; two large processes arise on
the ilium on each side of the junction of the caudal vertebræ for
the attachment of the levator muscles of the tail.
lines
Length of pelvis 14
Breadth posteriorly 8½
anteriorly 4
Length of sternum 9½
Breadth of ditto 7
In the narrowest part 5½
Depth of keel 2½
Length of coracoids 7½
Breadth of scapula in the widest part 1
No. of cervical vertebræ, wanting.
dorsal ditto, wanting.
sacral ditto 9
caudal ditto, wanting.
Remarks:—Both this and the foregoing bird are most curious; it is
difficult to say in what order they ought to be placed, the external
form being equally ambiguous with the internal structure.
The digestive organs nearly agree with that of many insessorial birds;
the pelvis also approaches nearly in form to that of the thrush; the
sternum, however, differs altogether from any form found in that order,
and is precisely that of a _Picus_. The coracoids are lengthened; the os
furcatum is furnished with only a slight process where it approaches the
sternum, in which particulars, also in the form of the ribs, it agrees
with the _Picidæ_.
Having found the internal structure so curious, and so contrary to what
I expected, I was led to examine the external more minutely than I had
before done. The same form of claw is found in several species among the
cuckoos, in the genus _Pelophilus_, for instance; the two outer toes are
zygodactyle, being united together as far as the first joint; the bill,
at first sight, might be taken for that of a gallinaceous bird; but in
searching among the order _Scansores_, for some resemblance, I find the
same structure in several of the cuckoo family, with the exception of
the nostrils being nearer to the apex of the bill in _Pterotochos_. The
Australian genus _Menura_ is, probably, allied to this, but differs in
the structure of the nostrils.[32]
SYNALLAXIS MALUROIDES. _D’Orb._ (Female.)
Tongue pointed, furnished at the base with two strong spines, the
sides of which are armed with smaller ones; trachea, œsophagus, and
proventriculus as in _Furnarius_ and _Uppucerthia_; gizzard rounded,
not very muscular, lined with a slightly hardened smooth coat, and
filled with the remains of insects; intestinal canal of moderate
size and length, furnished with two rudimentary cæca.
Inches
Length of œsophagus and proventriculus 1⅛
gizzard ⅜
Breadth of ditto ⁵⁄₁₆
Length of intestinal canal from gizzard to cloaca 4¾
from cæca to cloaca ¾
The parts of the skeleton of this bird which I was able to preserve,
were more closely allied to the corresponding ones of Troglodytes than
to those of any other genus in my possession, but differ in the
following particulars: the lateral processes of the sternum bounding the
posterior fissures are not so much expanded, consequently the fissures
themselves are smaller; the keel is rather deeper; the portion to which
the ribs are attached does not project so far forwards, but the process
between the coracoids is rather longer; the interocular portion of the
cranium is also rather broader than in the above mentioned genus; the
pelvis, coracoids, and scapula agree both in shape and size with
Troglodytes.
lines
Length of sternum 6¼
Breadth anteriorly 4
posteriorly 4½
Greatest width of fissures ¾
Depth of ditto 2½
Length of occiput to point of bill 14¾
Breadth of cranium 5¾
Length of pelvis 9
Breadth of ditto posteriorly 5
anteriorly 1¾
No. of cervical vertebræ 12
PHYTOTOMA RARA. _Molina._
This bird being injured about the sexual organs, I could not ascertain
the sex. Tongue pointed, armed at the base on each side with a
flattened tricuspid spine; trachea small, of uniform diameter
throughout its whole length, acted upon by one pair of
sterno-tracheal muscles; œsophagus funnel-shaped at the upper
extremity, when distended capable of containing a common pencil, at
its junction with the proventriculus much smaller; proventriculus
scarcely perceptible; gizzard small, consisting of little more than
a thick skin, inner coat hardened; the entrance of the œsophagus,
and the exit of the intestine placed very near together at the upper
extremity of it; intestinal canal very short, and of large diameter,
entirely devoid of cæca; the whole length with the gizzard and
œsophagus distended with a stringy substance, resembling coarse spun
cotton cut into short lengths.
Inches
Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus 3
of intestinal canal 7½
Length of gizzard ⅝
Breadth of ditto ½