slender and compressed. Feet very long; tibia elongated, its lower half
bare, very slender, covered all round with angular scales, of which the
posterior are large; tarsus elongated, slender, compressed, anteriorly
covered with numerous broad scutella, laterally and behind with
angular scales. Toes long, slender, with numerous broad scutella above,
flattened and reticularly granulate beneath. Claws rather long, arched,
compressed, acute, that of hind toe much larger and more curved, the
inner edge of that of the third finely and regularly pectinate.
Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare. Plumage
soft, thin, and blended. Feathers of the upper and hind part of
the head very long, linear, with loose barbs; of the sides of the
neck loose and inclined obliquely backwards, of its lower part much
elongated, narrow, and tapering to a point; of the middle of the back
extremely long, linear, acuminate, their tips projecting about five
inches beyond the tail. Wings long, and very broad; primaries broad,
tapering, and rounded, the first, second and third almost equal, the
latter being only a twelfth of an inch longer; secondaries broad and
rounded; some of the inner only half an inch shorter than the longest
primary, when the wing is closed. Tail very short, small, even, of
twelve rather weak feathers.
Bill ultramarine blue at the base, gradually shaded into black towards
the point; the bare space between it and the eye, as well as the edges
of the eyelids, ultramarine. Iris pale yellow. Legs, tarsi, toes,
and claws, black. Head and neck of a rich deep purple, inclining to
vinaceous; the lower part of the neck and all the other parts deep
greyish-blue, the edges of the feathers lighter.
Length to end of tail 24-1/2 inches, to end of wings 25, to end of
elongated dorsal feathers 26-1/2, to end of claws 30-3/4; wing from
flexure 11-1/2; tail 4-2/12; extent of wings 42; bill along the ridge
3-4/12 along the edge of lower mandible 4; bare part of tibia 2-2/12;
tarsus 3-5/12; first toe 11/12, its claw 2/12; middle toe 2-1/4, its
claw 7/12. Weight 1 lb.
The female is similar to the male, but smaller. Weight 11 oz.
The young are at first sparely covered with yellowish-white down. When
a fortnight old, the bill is yellow, with the tips greenish-black; the
feet greenish-yellow, the claws dusky, with the tips greyish-yellow.
The general colour of the plumage is pure white, but the down which
tips the feathers of the head is brownish-white; two of the alular
feathers are tinged with dull bluish-grey, and the outer seven or eight
primaries are broadly margined on both sides to the length of about an
inch and a half with the same colour of a deeper tint, the extreme tip
white.
When fully fledged, the bare parts at the base of the bill, and the
basal half of the upper mandible, are light greenish-blue, the rest
black; the lower mandible yellow, with a patch of black, an inch and
a quarter in length on each side at the end. Legs, tarsi, and toes
greenish-blue, the sides yellowish; claws dusky. The feathers of the
head are slightly elongated; those of the back are also elongated, but
much broader and shorter than in the adult. The feathers on the upper
part of the head are of a faint bluish-grey; and the alular feathers
and eight outer primaries are tinged with the same colour. At this
period, the length to the end of the tail is 22 inches, to end of claws
28-1/2; bill along the ridge 2-7/8; wing from flexure 11; tail 4-2/12.
In November, when the moult is advanced. The bill is black, dull blue
at the base. The feet are nearly black, as are the claws. The occipital
feathers are now two inches and a half in length, and some of the
dorsal feathers extend as far as the tips of the wings; those of the
lower part of the neck have also a length of about three inches. The
general colour of the plumage is white; the upper part of the head, the
hind neck, back, anterior edge of the wing, and outer primaries at the
end, of a faint bluish-grey tint; some of the elongated feathers of the
back darker.
Length to end of tail 22 inches; to end of claws 29-1/2; bill 3; wing
from flexure 11-1/4.
A year old. Bill nearly as in the adult; feet bluish-black, the plumage
is white, with the upper parts pale greyish-blue as in November, but
the whole interspersed with numerous feathers of a deep greyish-blue,
similar to that of the adult; the primaries and tail being still white.
Length to end of tail 23-1/4; extent of wings 32-1/2; bill 3-1/8.
Weight 9 oz.
At the age of a year the bird propagates, so that individuals in the
white, mottled, or blue plumage, may be seen breeding together.
When only a few weeks old, the serrature of the claw of the middle toe
is scarcely perceptible, exhibiting merely faint indications of points
upon a very slight margin. This margin enlarges, and when the bird is
completely fledged the serratures are perfectly formed.
In this bird, as in most other Herons, the crura of the lower mandible
are thin, flexible, and elastic, the angle filled by an elastic
membrane covered by the skin. The tongue is 1 inch long, sagittate
at the base, tapering to a point. The roof of the mouth has a median
prominent ridge, and two lateral lines; the palate is convex; the
posterior aperture of the nares 10 lines in length. The pharynx may be
dilated to 1-1/2 inch; the œsophagus, which is 12 inches long, is when
dilated 10 lines in diameter at its upper part, and gradually contracts
to 7 lines; at the curvature of the neck it lies directly behind,
having passed down on the left side, along with the trachea. Its walls
are extremely thin, contrasting in this respect with the œsophagus
of the Great Northern Diver and other swimming piscivorous birds. The
proventriculus is 1 inch long, its glandules cylindrical, and extremely
slender. The stomach seems as if it merely formed a basal sac to the
œsophagus, its muscles being extremely thin, its tendons circular and
half an inch in diameter; cuticular lining soft. The intestine is long
and very narrow, 5 feet 10 inches in length, 2 lines in diameter at
the upper part, 1-1/2 near the rectum, which is 2-3/4 inches long,
with a diameter of 4-1/2 lines, and terminates in a nipple-like cœcum,
projecting 3 lines beyond the entrance of the small intestine, but
having no appearance of the two lateral appendages usually called cœca.
In this respect, the Blue Heron agrees with others of the same family.
The cloaca is about an inch in length and breadth.
The trachea, when extended, is 8-3/4 inches long. The rings 170 in
number, are osseous and circular, so that the organ preserves its
cylindrical form under all circumstances. They are, like those of
all Herons, of equal breadth on both sides, not broad on one side and
narrow on the other, as has been represented. The contractor muscles
are very slender, as are the sterno-tracheal; the former send down
a slip on each side to the first bronchial ring. The diameter of the
trachea is 2 lines at the upper part, 1-1/2 at the lower. The bronchi
are short, wide, conical, of about 13 half rings.
The right lobe of the liver is 2-1/4 inches long, the left lobe 1-1/2;
the heart 1-1/4 in length, 8 lines broad, of an oblong conical form.
The stomach contained remains of insects and crustaceous animals,
together with a few seeds.
TELL-TALE GODWIT.
_TOTANUS MELANOLEUCUS_, VIEILL.
PLATE CCCVIII. MALE AND FEMALE.
It is my opinion that they who have given so much importance to the cry
of this bird, as to believe it to be mainly instrumental in ensuring
the safety of other species, and in particular of Ducks, have called in
the aid of their imagination to increase the interest of what requires
no such illustration. A person unacquainted with this Godwit would
believe, on reading its history as recorded in books, that the safety
of these birds depends on the friendly warning of their long-billed
and long-tongued neighbour. And yet it is at no season more noisy or
more vigilant than the Kildeer Plover, nor ever half so much so as the
Semipalmated species, the reiterated vociferations of which are so
annoying. It is true that the Tell-tale is quite loquacious enough;
nay, you, Reader, and I, may admit that it is a cunning and watchful
bird, ever willing to admonish you or me, or any other person whom
it may observe advancing towards it with no good intent, that it has
all along watched us. But then, when one has observed the habits of
this bird for a considerable time, in different situations, and when
no other feathered creatures are in sight, he will be convinced that
the Tell-tale merely intends by its cries to preserve itself, and not
generously to warn others of their danger. So you may safely banish
from your mind the apprehension, which the reading of books may have
caused, that duck-shooting in the marshes of our Middle Districts, is
as hopeless a pursuit as “a wild goose chase.”
The Tell-tale Godwit has a great range in the United States, where,
indeed, I have found it in almost every district, and at all seasons.
It spends the winter along the shores of our estuaries, rivers, and
ponds, and in the rice-fields, from Maryland to Mexico. It is abundant
then in South Carolina, the Floridas, and along the shores of the Gulf
of Mexico, as far as Texas, where I found it in considerable numbers
and paired, in the months of April and May, along with the Yellow-shank
Snipe, _Totanus flavipes_. It is also met with in spring and autumn
over the whole interior of the country, and I have found it quite
abundant at those seasons along the entire length of the Mississippi,
Ohio, and Missouri rivers, as well as on the Arkansas. They congregate
in great numbers in the inland marshes of Florida, and along its
rivers, during the winter. I found them near Eastport, in the State of
Maine, on the 11th of May 1833; and on the coast of Labrador, on the
18th of June of the same year. In Newfoundland, on the 11th of August,
the young were equal in size to their parents, and being extremely
fat, tender, and juicy, afforded excellent eating. In general, however,
these birds are thin and have a fishy taste.
In the State of Maine and the province of New Brunswick, the Tell-tale
is known by the name of “Humility,” which, however, is an appellation
that ill accords with its vociferous habits. The Creoles of New Orleans
call it “Clou-clou;” and were these syllables rapidly enunciated from
two to five times in succession, the sounds would have some resemblance
to the usual notes of the species.
When these Godwits arrive in the vicinity of New Orleans about the
middle of March, they appear in considerable flocks. They retire,
however, in the beginning of May, and return about the first of July,
from which time they continue there until the end of autumn, some
indeed remaining all winter. It seems, that at the period of their
disappearance at New Orleans, they retire to the vast marshes near
the sea-shore, and there breed, for I have found them abundant near
the passes or mouths of the Mississippi in pairs, on the first of
April, when the air is warmer than in the interior. They are said to
breed in the marshes along the coast of New Jersey, where, according
to Wilson, they arrive early in April, and continue until November.
It is a curious fact that the Tell-tale Godwit, as well as some other
birds of similar habits, is of very rare occurrence along the shores
of Massachusetts and Maine. This, however, seems to be accounted for by
the absence there of the large spongy marshes, to which these birds are
fond of resorting.
Although found in the vicinity of both salt and fresh water, at all
seasons, it usually prefers the latter, and the spots which appear to
be best adapted to its nature are ponds of which the water is shallow
and the shores muddy, so that they can walk and wade at ease upon them.
Wherever such ponds occur, whether in plantations or in the interior
of forests, or on extensive savannahs or prairies, there you will find
them actively employed, wading so far into the water as to seem as if
they were swimming. If just alighted after ever so short a flight, they
hold their wings upright for a considerable time, as if doubtful of
not having obtained good footing. Closing their wings, they then move
nimbly about the pool, and are seen catching small fishes, insects,
worms, or snails, which they do with rapidity and a considerable degree
of grace, for their steps are light, and the balancing or vibratory
motion of their body, while their head is gently moved backwards and
forwards, is very pleasing to the eye.
I have often observed these birds on large logs floating on the
Mississippi, and moving gently with the current, and this sometimes in
company with the Snowy Heron, _Ardea candidissima_, or the American
Crow, _Corvus Americanus_. In such situations, they procure shrimps
and the fry of fishes. In autumn, they are extremely prone to betake
themselves to the margins of our most sequestered lakes in the interior
of Louisiana and Kentucky, where the summer heat has left exposed great
flats of soft sandy mud abounding with food suited to their appetite,
and where they are much less likely to be disturbed than when on the
marshes on the sea-shore, or on the margins of rivers. When they have
been some time in the salt-marshes, and have eaten indiscriminately
small shell-fish, worms, and fry, they acquire a disagreeable fishy
taste, and being at the same time less fat, are scarcely fit for
the table. They are social birds, and frequently mingle with other
waders, as well as with the smaller ducks, such as the Blue-winged and
Green-winged Teals. In the salt-marshes they associate with Curlews,
Willets, and other species, with which they live in peace, and on the
watchfulness of which they depend quite as much as on their own.
The flight of the Tell-tale Godwit, or “Great Yellow-Shank,” as it is
generally named in the Western Country, is swift, at times elevated,
and, when necessary, sustained. They pass through the air with their
necks and legs stretched to their full length, and roam over the places
which they select several times before they alight, emitting their
well-known and easily imitated whistling notes, should any suspicious
object be in sight, or if they are anxious to receive the answer of
some of their own tribe that have already alighted. At such times,
any person who can imitate their cries can easily check their flight,
and in a few moments induce them to pass or to alight within shooting
distance. This I have not unfrequently succeeded in doing, when they
were, at the commencement of my calls, almost half a mile distant. Nay,
I have sometimes seen them so gentle, that on my killing several in a
flock, the rest would only remove a few yards.
I have always found that the cries of this bird were louder and more
frequent during the period of its breeding, when scarcely any birds
were in the vicinity. I therefore conclude that its cries are then more
intended to draw you from the spot where its nest is concealed, than
for any other purpose, as on such occasions the bird either moves off
on foot, or flies away and alights at a short distance from the place
where its treasure lies.
When in Labrador, I found these birds breeding, two or three pairs
together, in the delightful quiet valleys bounded by rugged hills
of considerable height, and watered by limpid brooks. These valleys
exhibit, in June and July, the richest verdure, luxuriant grasses of
various species growing here and there in separate beds many yards in
extent, while the intervening spaces, which are comparatively bare, are
of that boggy nature so congenial to the habits of these species. In
one of those pleasing retreats my son found a pair of Tell-tales, in
the month of June, both of which were procured. The female was found to
contain a full-formed egg, and some more of the size of peas. The eggs
are four, pyriform, 2-1/4 inches long, 1-(4-1/2)/8 in their greatest
breadth, pale greenish-yellow, marked with blotches of umber and pale
purplish-grey.
The plumage of this bird has a very different appearance in autumn
and winter from that which it presents at the approach of the breeding
season. This has led some students of Nature in the United States to
suppose, that there exist two nearly allied species; but this, I am
confident, is not the case. The female is larger than the male, but
only in a slight degree.
Dr RICHARDSON has found this species on the Saskatchewan and Dr
TOWNSEND on the Columbia River.
TOTANUS MELANOLEUCUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 324.
TELL-TALE GODWIT or SNIPE, Scolopax vociferus, _Wils._ Amer.
Ornith. vol. vii. p. 57, pl. 58, fig. 5.
TELL-TALE, or GREATER YELLOW-SHANKS, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol.
ii. p. 148.
TOTANUS VOCIFERUS, _Tell-tale_, _Richards. and Swains._ Faun.
Bor. Amer. vol. ii. p. 389.
Adult male. Plate CCCVIII. Fig 1.
Bill much longer than the head, very slender, subcylindrical, straight,
flexible, compressed at the base, the point rather depressed and
obtuse. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge convex,
broader at the base beyond the nostrils blended with the sides, which
are convex, the edges thick, with a groove running their whole length,
the tip slightly deflected. Lower mandible with the angle very long
and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, with a slight
groove in their basal half, the sides convex, the edges grooved
longitudinally, the tip narrow. Nasal groove long and narrow, extending
to nearly half the length of the bill; nostrils basal, linear, direct,
pervious.
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed, eyes large. Neck rather long
and slender. Body slender. Feet very long and slender; tibia bare for
half its length, scutellate before and behind, tarsus compressed, also
scutellate before and behind; hind toe very small and elevated; fore
toes of moderate length, very slender, connected at the base by webs,
of which the outer is larger; second or inner toe considerably shorter
than fourth, which is in a similar degree exceeded by the third; all
covered with numerous scutella above, flattened beneath, and marginate.
Claws small, slightly arched, much compressed, rather obtuse, that of
the middle toe much larger, with the inner edge dilated.
Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short.
Wings long, narrow, pointed; primaries narrow and tapering, first
longest, second a little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated;
secondaries short, broad, incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner
elongated and tapering. Tail short, doubly emarginate in a slight
degree, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill black, tinged with bluish-grey at the base. Iris dark brown. Feet
bright yellow, claws brownish-black. Upper part of the head, lores,
cheeks, and the neck all round, excepting the throat, streaked with
brownish-black, on a white ground, tinged with grey on the head and
hind neck; the throat, breast, and abdomen, are pure white, the sides
and lower tail-coverts barred with brownish-black, as are the axillar
feathers and lower wing-coverts, the lower surface of the primaries
light grey, their shafts white. The upper parts generally are black,
glossed with green, each feather margined with white triangular spots.
The hind part of the rump and the upper tail-coverts white, barred with
dusky. The anterior smaller wing-coverts, alula, primary coverts, and
primary quills, brownish-black, without spots; shaft of first primary
white, of the rest brown. Tail-feathers white, with numerous bands of
dark greyish-brown, the middle six feathers more or less of a light
brownish-grey toward the end, the bars not extending over their central
part, their tips white. Length to end of tail 14 inches, to end of
wings 14, to end of claws 16; extent of wings 24-3/4; bill along the
ridge 2-3/12, along the edge of the lower mandible 2-5/12, wing from
flexure 8-2/12; tail 3-8/12; bare part of tibia 1-1/2; tarsus 2-5/12;
hind toe and claw (4-1/2)/12; middle toe and claw 1-(8-1/2)/12. Weight
6 oz.
Adult Female. Plate CCCVIII. Fig. 2.
The female resembles the male.
Length to end of tail 13-3/4, to end of wings 14-1/2, to end of claws
17-3/4; extent of wings 25-1/2. Weight 6-1/2 oz.
Both sexes become darker on the upper parts, at the approach of spring.
This dark colour disappears after their autumnal moult.
The tongue is 1-2/12 inch in length, slender, sagittate and papillate
at the base, triangular, tapering to a fine point. On the roof of the
mouth are two rows of large blunt papillæ directed backwards; the edges
of the mandibles are thick and grooved; the posterior aperture of the
nares linear, 9/12 long. The œsophagus, 6-3/4 inches in length, passes
along the right side of the neck, and has a diameter of 3/12 of an inch
in its upper part, but is dilated to 5/12 before it enters the thorax.
The proventriculus is oblong, 8/12 in length, its glandules oblong. The
stomach is oblong, 1-2/12 inch in length, 8/12 in breadth, its lateral
muscles of moderate size, the tendons 5/12 in diameter, the cuticular
lining hard, with large longitudinal rugæ, and of a deep red colour.
The intestine 2 feet 8 inches long, varying in diameter from (2-1/2)/12
to 2/12. The rectum 1-9/12 inch long; the cæca 4 inches 5/12 long, of
an oblong form, with the extremity rounded, their diameter (1-1/2)/12.
In another individual, the œsophagus is 6-1/2 inches long; the stomach
1-9/12; the intestine 2 feet 3 inches; the rectum 1-9/12, the cæca
4-1/12, their diameter (1-1/2)/12.
The trachea, 4-8/12 inches long, (2-1/2)/12 in diameter above, 2/12
below; of 120 unossified rings; its contractor muscles feeble, the
sterno-tracheal moderate; a single pair of inferior laryngeal; the
bronchial rings about 15.
COMMON TERN.
_STERNA HIRUNDO_, LINN.
PLATE CCCIX. ADULT.
Although the Prince of Musignano has thought that the bird named
the Common Tern in America, differs from that bearing the same name
in Europe, and has in consequence changed its appellation to that
of Wilson’s Tern, I am of opinion that no difference exists between
the Common Terns of the two Continents. The cry of both is besides
precisely similar, so that with me there is no doubt whatever as
to their identity. Experience has shewn me that the markings or
white spots on the primary quills of Gulls, at one time assumed as
a criterion by which species might be distinguished, cannot in the
least be depended on, varying, as they always do, in individuals of
the same species, at almost each successive moult. Then why, Reader,
should not Terns exhibit analogous changes? The fact is, they do so;
and it is almost impossible, on closely inspecting a dozen or more
specimens procured at the same period, in either country, to find two
individuals exactly corresponding in every particular. Some have the
bill almost entirely black, while others have it more or less red and
black, and tipped with yellow. The length of the tail-feathers, that
of the tarsus, and the size of the inter-digital membranes, are all
found to differ in some degree, if minutely compared. If species are
to be founded on such slight differences, an ample field is open to
those who are ambitious of being discoverers. At all events, I cannot
help remarking here, that it seems to me improper to impose new names
on objects, until it is proved by undeniable facts that they present
permanent differences.
I have observed this species along the Atlantic coast of North
America, from Galveston Island in Texas to the Straits of Belle Isle
on the coast of Labrador, both in spring and in early autumn. But
when on the islands in Galveston Bay, in the month of April, I saw
only a few arriving there from the west; whereas, in the beginning
of May great numbers arrived there from the east, settled at once,
and commenced breeding. I felt convinced that the numbers which came
from the direction of the Floridas were much greater than those which
arrived from the westward, and judged it probable that vast numbers
had at the same time left the Peninsula on their way northward. Should
other travellers observe the same or similar phenomena at the season
mentioned, it will be proved that this species does not extend its
autumnal migration so far as several others, which I observed arriving
at Galveston Island from the south-west, for example, the Least Tern,
_Sterna minuta_, the Cayenne Tern, _St. cayana_, and the Black Tern,
_St. nigra_.