1837, I observed large flocks of this species on their way eastward.
They were still in their winter plumage, and it was pleasing to see
in how short a period that garb was changed, as we had opportunities
of observing during our progress. At Grande Terre, on the 4th, several
having reddish feathers scattered over their lower parts were procured.
On the 13th, at Cayo Island, the change of colour was very considerable
in some specimens, which I found to be old birds, while the younger
were quite grey above, and white beneath. At Derniere Isle on the
16th, several were shot in as fine plumage as that represented in my
plate, and few, even of the younger birds, were without some of the
markings peculiar to the summer dress. Their numbers were exceedingly
great, and continued without diminution until we reached Galveston Bay
in Texas, on the 26th of the same month. How far they proceed beyond
that place to spend the winter I am unable to say; but their range
over North America is known to be very extensive, as they have been
found on the Columbia River on the western coast, on the borders of the
great northern lakes, and over the whole extent of the Fur Countries,
from the time of their appearance in spring until that of their return
southward in autumn.
Although much more abundant along the coast, and in its vicinity,
the Red-breasted Snipe is not uncommon in many parts of the interior,
especially in autumn, and I have procured many individuals along the
muddy margins of lakes, more than three hundred miles in a direct
line from the sea. Its migratory movements are performed with uncommon
celerity, as many are observed along the coast of New Jersey early in
April, and afterwards on the borders of the arctic sea, in time to rear
young, and return to our Eastern and Middle Districts before the end of
August.
This bird exhibits at times a manner of feeding which appeared to me
singular, and which I repeatedly witnessed while at Grande Terre in
Louisiana. While watching their manner of walking and wading along
sand-bars and muddy flats, I saw that as long as the water was not
deeper than the length of their bills, they probed the ground beneath
them precisely in the manner of the American Snipe, _Scolopax Wilsoni_;
but when the water reached their bodies, they immersed the head and a
portion of the neck, and remained thus sufficiently long to satisfy me
that, while in this position, they probed several spots before raising
their head to breathe. On such grounds as are yet soft, although not
covered with water, they bore holes as deep as the soil will admit,
and this with surprising rapidity, occupying but a few moments in one
spot, and probing as they advance. I have watched some dozens at this
work for half an hour at a time, when I was completely concealed from
their view. Godwits, which are also borers, probe the mud or moist
earth often in an oblique direction, whilst the Woodcock, the Common
Snipe, and the present species, thrust in their bills perpendicularly.
The latter bird also seizes many sorts of insects, and at times small
fry, as well as the seeds of plants that have dropped into the water.
Dr RICHARDSON informs us that “individuals killed on the Saskatchewan
plains had the crops filled with leeches and fragments of coleoptera.”
The flight of this bird is rapid, strong, and remarkably
well-sustained. When rising in large numbers, which they usually do
simultaneously, they crowd together, are apt to launch upwards in the
air for a while, and after performing several evolutions in contrary
directions, glide towards the ground, and wend their way close to it,
until finding a suitable place, they alight in a very compact body,
and stand for a moment. Sometimes, as if alarmed, they recommence their
meandering flight, and after a while return to the same spot, alighting
in the same manner. Then is the time when the gunner may carry havoc
amongst them; but in two or three minutes they separate and search for
food, when you must either put them up to have a good shot, or wait the
arrival of another flock at the same place, which often happens, for
these birds seldom suffer any of their species to pass without sending
them a note of invitation. It is not at all uncommon to shoot twenty
or thirty of them at once. I have been present when 127 were killed by
discharging three barrels, and have heard of many dozens having been
procured at a shot. When wounded and brought to the water, they try
in vain to dive, and on reaching the nearest part of the shore, they
usually run a few steps and squat among the grass, when it becomes
difficult to find them. Those which have escaped unhurt often remain
looking upon their dead companions, sometimes waiting until shot at
a second time. When they are fat, they afford good eating, but their
flesh is at no time so savoury as that of the common American Snipe.
The cry of this species when on wing is a single and rather mellow
_weet_. When on the ground I have heard them emit a continued guttural
rolling sound, such as is on certain occasions given out by the species
last mentioned. Their call-note resembles the soft and pleasing sound
of a whistle; but I have never heard them emit it while travelling.
Nothing is known respecting their breeding, and yet there can be little
doubt that many of them must rear young within the limits of the Union.
By the Creoles of Louisiana the Red-breasted Snipe is named “Becassine
de Mer,” as well as “Carouk.” In South Carolina it is more abundant
in the autumnal months than in spring, when I should think they fly
directly across from the Floridas toward Cape Hatteras, as my friend
Dr BACHMAN informs me that he never saw one of them in spring in the
vicinity of Charleston.
SCOLOPAX NOVEBORACENSIS, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.
658.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 723.
SCOLOPAX GRISEA, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 658.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 724.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of
Birds of United States, p. 330.
RED-BREASTED SNIPE, _Wilson_, Amer. Ornith. vol. vii. p. 48,
p. 58, fig. 2. Summer.
SCOLOPAX NOVEBORACENSIS, NEW YORK GODWIT, _Richards. and
Swains._ Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 398.
BROWN or RED BREASTED SNIPE, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p.
181.
Adult Male in summer. Plate CCCXXXV. Fig. 1.
Bill twice as long as the head, subulate, straight, compressed for
more than half its length, depressed towards the end. Upper mandible
with the dorsal line declinate at the base, then straight, at the end
slightly arched, that part being considerably enlarged, the ridge
convex, towards the end flattened, the sides with a narrow groove
extending to near the tip, the edges soft and obtuse or flattened,
the tip narrowed but blunt. Nostrils basal, linear, very small. Lower
mandible with the angle extremely long and narrow, the sides nearly
erect, with a longitudinal groove, the edges flattened and directly
meeting those of the upper mandible, the extremity enlarged, the tip
contracted and rather blunt.
Head rather small, oblong, narrowed anteriorly, the forehead elevated
and rounded. Neck rather short. Body rather full. Legs of moderate
length, slender; tibia bare below, scutellate before and behind; tarsus
with numerous scutella before, smaller ones behind, and reticulated
sides; toes very slender, free, with numerous scutella above, flattened
and slightly marginate beneath; first very small and elevated, third
with its claw scarcely so long as the tarsus, lateral toes nearly
equal, the outer connected with the middle by a web. Claws small,
slightly arched, compressed, rather acute.
Plumage very soft, blended, rather dense, on the fore part of the
head very short. Wings long, narrow, pointed; primaries rather broad,
tapering to an obtuse point, the first longest, the rest rapidly
graduated; secondaries broad, obliquely terminated, with the inner
web projecting beyond the outer; the inner much elongated, one of them
reaching to half an inch of the tip of the wing when it is closed. Tail
moderate, nearly even, the middle feathers a little longer, of twelve
rounded feathers.
Bill dark olive. Iris reddish-hazel. Feet light yellowish-olive, claws
black. Upper parts brownish-black, variegated with light brownish-red,
the feathers being margined and the scapulars obliquely barred with
that colour. Hind part of back, upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers,
light reddish-buff, obliquely barred with black, the bars on the
tail seven or eight, and its tip white. Wing-coverts and secondaries
greyish-brown, margined with greyish-white; the secondary coverts
tipped with white, the quills tipped and obliquely banded with the
same; alula, primary coverts and quills brownish-black, the shaft
of the first quill white. From the base of the bill to the eye, and
surrounding it, a dull reddish-white band; loral space dusky;. All
the lower parts dull orange-red, with streaks and spots of black, more
numerous along the sides, and on the tail-coverts.
Length to end of tail 10-1/4 inches, to end of wings 10, to end of
claws 11-1/2; extent of wings 18-1/8; wing from flexure 6-1/8; tail
2-1/2; bill along the ridge 2-(1-1/2)/8; along the edge of lower
mandible (2-1/2)/8; bare part of tibia 1/2; tarsus 1-(2-1/2)/8; middle
toe and claw 1-(1-1/2)/8; hind toe and claw (3-1/2)/8. inner toe and
claw 1; outer toe and claw (7-1/2)/8. Weight 3-1/4 oz.
Adult in Winter. Plate CCCXXXV. Fig. 2.
The bill, iris, and feet as in summer. Upper part of head and hind
neck dusky grey, with which the feathers of the fore part of the back,
scapulars and wing-coverts are margined, their central parts being
brownish-black. A white band from the bill over the eye; margins of
eyelids also white. Hind part of back and tail barred with dusky as in
summer. Quills as in summer, the inner marked with grey in place of
brownish-red. Loral space, cheeks, and sides of the neck, pale grey;
throat and lower parts white; the sides, axillary feathers, and lower
tail-feathers, barred with dusky; lower wing-coverts dusky, edged with
white, and having a central streak of the same. Individuals exhibit
great differences in the length of the bills and tarsi.
On the upper mandible internally are three series of minute papillæ
which become larger on the palate. While the upper mandible is flat
beneath, the lower is deeply concave, and its crura elastic and capable
of being separated near the base to the distance of three-fourths of
an inch. The tongue, which is 2-1/4 inches long, and of a slender form,
carinate beneath, with the tip pointed, lies in the deep hollow of the
lower mandible, and being deeply concave above, leaves a vacant space,
by which, when the bill is immersed in the mud and the tips separated,
the food-passes along. The œsophagus is 4-3/4 inches long, 1/4 inch
in diameter, and nearly uniform. The proventriculus, _a_, _b_, _c_, is
bulbiform, its diameter 6 twelfths. The stomach, _c_, _d_, _e_, _f_, is
an oblong gizzard of moderate strength, with the lateral and inferior
muscles decided, the tendons large, its length 1 inch, its breadth 8
twelfths. The epithelium is dense, tough, with numerous longitudinal
rugæ, and of a reddish colour. The contents of the stomach were very
small hard hemispherical seeds and vegetable fibres. The intestine,
_f_, _g_, _h_, 19-1/2 inches long, its diameter 3 twelfths in its upper
part; the cœca 1-3/4 inch long, and from 1 to 2 twelfths in diameter,
with the extremity obtuse.
[Illustration]
The trachea is wide, flattened, 3-1/2 inches long, 2-3/4 twelfths broad
at the top, gradually diminishing to 2 twelfths; the rings about 130.
The contractor muscles are very thin, the sterno-tracheal slender; and
there is a pair of inferior laryngeal. The bronchial half rings are
about 25.
YELLOW-CROWNED HERON.
_ARDEA VIOLACEA_, LINN.
PLATE CCCXXXVI. ADULT AND YOUNG.
The Yellow-crowned Heron, which is one of the handsomest species of
its tribe, is called “Cap-cap” by the Creoles of Lower Louisiana, in
which country it is watched and shot with great eagerness, on account
of the excellence of its flesh. It arrives about New Orleans toward the
end of March, and departs in the middle of October. On arriving, they
throw themselves among the thickets along the bayous, where they breed.
Like the Night Heron, this species may be enticed near by imitating its
cries, when it approaches, cutting many curious zigzags in the air,
and alights close by. It is a curious circumstance that when passing
over several gunners placed on the watch for them, they dive toward
the ground if shot at and missed, and this they do several times in
succession, according to the number of shots. It is in the evening and
at dawn that they are chiefly obtained. They are said not to travel in
boisterous weather, or when there is thunder; and I have heard the same
stated with regard to the Night Heron.
In some parts of the Southern States, this species is quite abundant,
while in the intermediate tracts it is seldom or never met with. Thus,
in the Floridas, I found great numbers on a bayou near Halifax River,
but afterwards saw none until I reached one of the keys, more than
two hundred miles distant, and farther south, where it was breeding in
society. The first of these flocks I saw in winter, the other on the
22d of May. Again, while proceeding toward the Texas, we saw a few on
an island in Bay Blanche, but met with none afterwards until we reached
Galveston Island, where they were plentiful. They seldom advance
eastward far beyond North Carolina, and I am not aware of any having
been seen farther than New Jersey. On the other hand, they are not
generally found on the Mississippi beyond Natchez, although stragglers
may sometimes be seen farther up.
This species is by no means entirely nocturnal, for I have seen it
searching for food among the roots of mangroves at all hours of the
day, and that as assiduously as any diurnal bird, following the margins
of rivers, and seizing on both aquatic and terrestrial animals. Whilst
at Galveston, I frequently saw a large flock similarly occupied. When
they had satisfied their hunger, they would quietly remove to some safe
distance toward the middle of an island, where, standing in a crouching
posture on the ground, they presented a very singular appearance. That
they are able to see to a considerable distance on fine clear nights,
I have no doubt, as I am confident that their migratory movements are
usually performed at such times, having seen them, as well as several
other species, come down from a considerable height in the air, after
sun-rise, for the purpose of resting and procuring food.
The flight of the Yellow-crowned Heron is rather slow, and less
protracted than that of the Night Heron, which it however somewhat
resembles. When in numbers, and surprised on their perches, they
usually rise almost perpendicularly for thirty or forty yards, and then
take a particular direction, leading them to some well-known place.
Whenever I have started them from the nest, especially on the Florida
Keys, they would sneak off on wing quite low, under cover of the
mangroves, and fly in this manner until they had performed the circuit
of the island, when they would alight close to me, as if to see whether
I had taken their eggs or young.
When on the ground, they exhibit little of the elegance displayed by
the Louisiana, the Reddish, the Blue, or the White Herons; they advance
with a less sedate pace, and seldom extend their neck much even when
about to seize their food, which they appear to do with little concern,
picking it up from the ground in the manner of a domestic fowl. Nor
are they at all delicate in the choice of their viands, but swallow
snails, fish, small snakes, crabs, crays, lizards, and leeches, as well
as small quadrupeds, and young birds that have fallen from their nests.
One which was killed by my friend EDWARD HARRIS, Esq., on the 19th of
April 1837, on an island in the Bay of Terre Blanche, about 4 o’clock
in the evening, was, when opened next morning, found to have swallowed
a terrapin, measuring about an inch and a half in length, by one in
breadth. It was still alive, and greatly surprised my companions as
well as myself by crawling about when liberated.
This species places its nest either high or low, according to the
nature of the place selected for it, and the abundance of food in the
neighbourhood. In the interior of swampy woods, in Lower Louisiana,
I have found the nests placed on the tops of the loftiest cypresses,
and on low bushes, but seldom so close together as those of many
other Herons. On the Florida Keys, where I have examined more of these
tenements than in any other part, I found them either on the tops of
mangroves, which there seldom attain a greater height than twenty-five
feet, or on their lowest branches, and not more than two or three
feet from the water. In the Carolinas, they usually resort to swamps,
nestling on the bushes along their margins. The nest is similar to
that of other Herons, being formed of dry sticks loosely put together,
a few weeds, with at times a scanty lining of fibrous roots. The eggs
are generally three, never, in as far as I have seen, more, of a pale
blue colour, inclining to green, thin-shelled, and averaging two inches
in length by an inch and three and a half eighths in their greatest
breadth. The young seldom remain in the nest until able to fly, as
is the case with those of some other species, but usually leave it
to follow their parents along the shores. If scared from the nest,
they scramble along the branches with considerable agility, and hide
whenever an opportunity occurs. I have given the figure of a young bird
procured in October.
The differences between the periods at which this bird breeds in
different latitudes, correspond with those observed with respect to
other species of the same tribe. Thus, eggs and young may be procured
on the Florida Keys six weeks sooner than in South Carolina, although
two broods are usually raised in both districts, the birds frequently
removing from one place to another for the purpose. The beautiful
slender plumes on the head and back generally fall off soon after
incubation commences, although I have on a few occasions found the male
still bearing these ornaments when the female was sitting on her second
set of eggs. When the young are just able to fly I have found them good
eating, but the old birds I never relished.
When wounded, the Yellow-crowned Heron defends itself vigorously
with its claws, the scratches inflicted by which are severe, and also
strikes with the bill. If not brought to the ground, in a place where
the trees are close and thickly branched, it is difficult to obtain
them without a second shot, for they scamper quickly from one twig to
another, and are very soon out of reach.
WILSON complains that the name “Yellow-crowned” should be given to this
species, and this would almost induce me to suppose that he had never
seen one in the breeding season, when the white of the head is strongly
tinged with yellow, which however disappears at the approach of autumn,
when the bird might with all propriety be named the White-crowned
Heron.
The adult bird represented in the plate was shot by my friend Dr
BACHMAN, a few miles from Charleston, while I was in his company; and
the drawing of the plant was made by his amiable sister-in-law, MISS
MARTIN.
ARDEA VIOLACEA, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 268.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 690.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of
Birds of United States, p. 306.
YELLOW-CROWNED HERON, ARDEA VIOLACEA, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith.
vol. viii. p. 26, pl. 65, fig. 1. Adult.
WHITE-CROWNED HERON, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 52.
Adult Male in spring plumage. Plate CCCXXXVI. Fig. 1.
Bill a little longer than the head, strong, straight, moderately
compressed, tapering. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly
arched and declinate, the ridge broad, convex, the sides bulging, the
edges sharp and overlapping, the tip slender, with a distinct notch.
Nasal depression wide, with a broad shallow groove extending towards
the end of the mandible; nostrils basal, oblong, pervious. Lower
mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line straight
and sloping upwards, the sides sloping outwards and flat, the edges
sharp, obscurely serrulate, the tip slender.
Head large, oblong, compressed. Eyes large. Neck long. Body slender,
much compressed. Feet long, moderately stout; tibia bare at its lower
part, with reticular angular scales; tarsus covered anteriorly for more
than half its length with scutella, over the rest of its extent with
angular scales; toes long and rather slender, with numerous scutella
above, flat beneath, marginate; hind toe stout, fourth a little longer
than second, third much longer. Claws of moderate size, arched,
compressed, acute, that of middle toe beautifully pectinate on the
inner edge.
Plumage loose, soft, and blended; feathers on the upper part of the
head lanceolate and acuminate, those on the occiput very long, linear,
forming a pendant crest, which however is capable of being erected;
on the sides of the neck oblong, and directed obliquely backwards; on
the fore part of the back ovate-oblong; on the lower part generally
very long and loose. Between the scapulæ are two longitudinal series of
very elongated feathers, with loose margins, the longest extending far
beyond the end of the tail. Wings long, of great breadth, rounded; the
primaries broad and rounded, the third longest, the second and fourth
nearly equal, the first half an inch shorter than the longest, the rest
slowly graduated; secondaries very broad, rounded, the inner elongated,
some of them nearly as long as the outer primaries when the wing is
closed. Tail short, even, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.
Bill black. Iris reddish-orange; margins of eyelids and bare space
in front of the eye, dull yellowish-green. Tibia, upper part of the
tarsus, its hind part, and the soles, bright yellow; the scutella and
scales, the fore part of the tarsus, the toes, and the claws, black.
Upper part of the head pale reddish-yellow in front, white behind,
of which colour are most of the elongated crest feathers, as well as
an oblong patch extending from the corner of the mouth, beneath, to
behind the ear. The rest of the head, and a small portion of the neck
all round, bluish-black; that colour extending nearly half-way down the
neck behind. The rest of the neck all round, as well as the upper and
lower surface of the body, light greyish-blue; the feathers of the fore
part of the back, and wings, having their central parts bluish-black,
which is also the case with the elongated loose feathers, the dark
part margined with bluish-white. Alular, primary coverts, and primary
quills, dark bluish-grey; secondaries and tail-feathers of a lighter
tint.
Length to end of tail 23-1/2 inches, to end of wings 25, to end of
loose feathers 30, to end of claws 30-1/4, to carpal joint 12-1/4;
extent of wings 43-1/2; bill along the ridge 2-7/8, along the edge of
lower mandible 4; width of gape 1-1/4; depth of bill at base 7-(1/2)/8;
wing from flexure 12-1/2; bare part of tibia 2-1/4; tarsus 4-1/8;
middle toe 2-1/2, its claw 3/8; outer toe 1-7/8, its claw (2-1/2)/8;
inner toe 1-3/4, its claw (2-1/2)/8; hind toe 1, its claw 5/8; tail 5.
Weight 1 lb. 9 oz.
The Female resembles the male, but is somewhat smaller.
The Young in October. Plate CCCXXXVI. Fig. 2.