travelling, fly in silence, and at a considerable height above the
trees. They alight on the topmost branches, so that it is difficult
to obtain them, unless one has a remarkably good gun. But, on waiting
a few minutes, you see the flock, usually composed of seven or eight
individuals, descend from branch to branch, and betake themselves to
the ground, where they pick up gravel, hop towards the nearest pool
or streamlet, and bathe by dipping their heads and scattering the
water over them, until they are quite wet; after which they fly to
the branches of low bushes, shake themselves with so much vigour as to
produce a smart rustling sound, and arrange their plumage. They then
search for food among the boughs of the taller trees.
LOXIA ENUCLEATOR, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 299.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 372.
PINE GROSBEAK, LOXIA ENUCLEATOR, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol.
i. p. 80, pl. 5, fig. 2.
PYRRHULA ENUCLEATOR, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 119.
PYRRHULA (CORYTHUS) ENUCLEATOR, _Richards. and Swains._ Fauna
Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 262.
PINE GROSBEAK or BULLFINCH, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p.
535.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLVIII. Fig. 1.
Bill short, robust, bulging at the base, conical, acute; upper mandible
with its dorsal outline convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp
and overlapping; lower mandible with the angle short and very broad,
the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the sides rounded, the
edges inflected; the acute decurved tip of the upper mandible extending
considerably beyond that of the lower; the gape-line deflected at the
base.
Head rather large, ovate, flattened above; neck short; body full.
Legs short, of moderate strength; tarsus short, compressed, with six
anterior scutella, and two plates behind, forming a thin edge; toes
short, the first proportionally stout, the third much longer than the
two lateral, which are about equal; their scutella large, their lower
surface with large pads covered with prominent papillæ. Claws rather
long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, and acute.
Plumage soft, full, rather blended, the feathers oblong. At the base
of the upper mandible are strong bristly feathers directed forwards.
The wings of moderate length; the primaries rounded, the second and
third longest, and with the fourth and fifth having their outer webs
slightly cut out. Tail rather long, emarginate, of twelve strong,
broad, obliquely rounded feathers.
Bill reddish-brown. Iris hazel. Feet blackish-brown, claws black.
The general colour of the plumage is bright carmine tinged with
vermilion; the feathers of the fore part of the back and the scapulars
greyish-brown in the centre; the bristly feathers at the base of the
bill blackish-brown; the middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower
tail-coverts, light grey, the latter with a central dusky streak. Wings
blackish-brown; the primaries and their coverts narrowly edged with
reddish-white, the secondaries more broadly with white; the secondary
coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with reddish-white, the
smaller coverts edged with red.
Length to end of tail 8-1/2 inches, to end of wings 6-1/4, to end of
claws 6-3/4; extent of wings 14; wing from flexure 4-3/4; tail 4; bill
along the ridge (7-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 7/12;
tarsus (9-1/2)/12; first toe (4-1/2)/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe
8/12, its claw 5/12.
Female. Plate CCCLVIII. Fig. 2.
The female is scarcely inferior to the male in size. The bill is dusky,
the feet as in the male. The upper part of the head and hind neck are
yellowish-brown, each feather with a central dusky streak; the rump
brownish-yellow; the rest of the upper parts light brownish-grey. Wings
and tail as in the male, the white edgings and the tips tinged with
grey; the cheeks and throat greyish-white or yellowish; the fore part
and sides of the neck, the breast, sides, and abdomen ash-grey, as are
the lower tail-coverts.
Length to end of tail 8-1/4 inches, to end of wings 6-1/4, to end of
claws 6-3/4; extent of wings 13-1/2; wing from flexure 4-1/2; tail
3-10/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; middle toe and claw 1-1/12.
Young fully fledged. Plate CCCLVIII. Fig. 3.
The young, when in full plumage, resemble the female, but are more
tinged with brown.
[Illustration: Fig. 1.]
[Illustration: Fig. 2.]
An adult male from Boston examined. The roof of the mouth is moderately
concave, its anterior horny part with five prominent ridges; the lower
mandible deeply concave. Tongue 4-1/2 twelfths long, firm, deflected
at the middle, deeper than broad, papillate at the base, with a median
groove; for the distal half of its length, it is cased with a firm
horny substance, and is then of an oblong shape, when viewed from
above, deeply concave, with two flattened prominences at the base,
the point rounded and thin, the back or lower surface convex. This
remarkable structure of the tongue appears to be intended for the
purpose of enabling the bird, when it has insinuated its bill between
the scales of a strobilus, to lay hold of the seed by pressing it
against the roof of the mandible. In the Crossbills, the tongue is
nearly of the same form, but more slender, and these birds feed in
the same manner, in so far as regards the prehension of the food. In
the present species, the tongue is much strengthened by the peculiar
form of the basi-hyoid bone, to which there is appended as it were
above a thin longitudinal crest, giving it great firmness in the
perpendicular movements of the organ. The œsophagus _a b c d_, Fig.
1. is two inches 11 twelfths long, dilated on the middle of the neck
so as to form a kind of elongated dimidiate crop, 4 twelfths of an
inch in diameter, projecting to the right side, and with the trachea
passing along that side of the vertebræ. The proventriculus _c_, is
8 twelfths long, somewhat bulbiform, with numerous oblong glandules,
its greatest diameter 4-1/2 twelfths. A very curious peculiarity of
the stomach _e_, is, that in place of having its axis continuous with
that of the œsophagus or proventriculus, it bends to the right nearly
at a right angle. It is a very powerful gizzard, 8-1/2 twelfths long,
8 twelfths broad, with its lateral muscles 1/4 inch thick, the lower
very distinct, the epithelium longitudinally rugous, of a light reddish
colour. The duodenum, _f_, _g_, first curves backward to the length
of 1-1/4 inch, then folds in the usual manner, passing behind the
right lobe of the liver; the intestine then passes upwards and to the
left, curves along the left side, crosses to the right, forms about
ten circumvolutions, and above the stomach terminates in the rectum,
which is 11 twelfths long. The cœca are 1-1/4 twelfth in length and
1/4 twelfth in diameter. The entire length of the intestine from the
pylorus to the anus is 31-1/2 inches (in another male 31); its greatest
breadth in the duodenum 2-1/2 twelfths, gradually contracting to 1-1/4
twelfth. Fig. 2. represents the convoluted appearance of the intestine.
The œsophagus _a b c_; the gizzard _d_, turned forwards; the duodenum,
_e f_; the rest of the intestine, _g h_ the cœca, _i_; the rectum, _i
j_, which is much dilated at the end.
The trachea is 2 inches 2 twelfths long, of uniform diameter. 1-1/2
twelfth broad, with about 60 rings; its muscles like those of all the
other species of the Passerinæ or Fringillidæ.
In a female, the œsophagus is 2 inches 10 twelfths long; the intestine
31 inches long.
In all these individuals and several others, the stomach contained a
great quantity of particles of white quartz, with remains of seeds; and
in the œsophagus of one was an oat seed entire.
Although this bird is in its habits very similar to the Crossbills,
and feeds on the same sort of food, it differs from them in the form
and extent of its crop, in having the gizzard much larger, and the
intestines more than double the length, in proportion to the size of
the bird.
ARKANSAW FLYCATCHER.
_MUSCICAPA VERTICALIS_, BONAP.
PLATE CCCLIX. MALE AND FEMALE.
This species extends its range from the mouth of the Columbia River,
across our continent, to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico; but how far
north it may proceed is as yet unknown. On the 10th of April 1837,
whilst on Cayo Island, in the Bay of Mexico, I found a specimen of
this bird dead at the door of a deserted house, which had recently
been occupied by some salt-makers. From its freshness I supposed that
it had sought refuge in the house on the preceding evening, which
had been very cold for the season. Birds of several other species
we also found dead on the beaches. The individual thus met with
was emaciated, probably in consequence of a long journey and scanty
fare; but I was not the less pleased with it, as it afforded me the
means of taking measurements of a species not previously described
in full. In my possession are some remarkably fine skins, from Dr
TOWNSEND’s collection, which differ considerably from the figure given
by BONAPARTE, who first described the species. So nearly allied is it
to the Green-crested Flycatcher, _M. crinita_, that after finding the
dead bird, my son and I, seeing many individuals of that species on
the trees about the house mentioned, shot several of them, supposing
them, to be the same. We are indebted to the lamented THOMAS SAY for
the introduction of the Arkansaw Flycatcher into our Fauna. Mr NUTTALL
has supplied me with an account of its manners.
“We first met with this bold and querulous species, early in July, in
the scanty woods which border the north-west branch of the Platte,
within the range of the Rocky Mountains; and from thence we saw
them to the forests of the Columbia and the Wahlamet, as well as in
all parts of Upper California, to latitude 32°. They are remarkably
noisy and quarrelsome with each other, and in the time of incubation,
like the King Bird, suffer nothing of the bird kind to approach them
without exhibiting their predilection for battle and dispute. About
the middle of June, in the dark swamped forests of the Wahlamet, we
every day heard the discordant clicking warble of this bird, somewhat
like _tsh’k_, _tsh’k_, _tshivait_, sounding almost like the creaking
of a rusty door-hinge, somewhat in the manner of the King Bird, with
a blending of the notes of the Blackbird or Common Grakle. Although I
saw these birds residing in the woods of the Columbia, and near the St
Diego in Upper California, I have not been able to find the nest, which
is probably made in low thickets, where it would be consequently easily
overlooked. In the Rocky Mountains they do not probably breed before
midsummer, as they are still together in noisy quarrelsome bands until
the middle of June.”
Dr TOWNSEND’s notice respecting it is as follows: “This is the
_Chlow-ish-pil_ of the Chinooks. It is numerous along the banks of
the Platte, particularly in the vicinity of trees and bushes. It is
found also, though not so abundantly, across the whole range of the
Rocky Mountains; and among the banks of the Columbia to the ocean,
it is a very common species. Its voice is much more musical than is
usual with birds of its genus, and its motions are remarkably quick
and graceful. Its flight is often long sustained, and like the Common
King Bird, with which it associates, it is frequently seen to rest in
the air, maintaining its position for a considerable time. The males
are wonderfully belligerent, fighting almost constantly, and with great
fury, and their loud notes of anger and defiance remind one strongly of
the discordant grating and creaking of a rusty door hinge. The Indians
of the Columbia accuse him of a propensity to destroy the young, and
eat the eggs of other birds.”
TYRANNUS VERTICALIS, _Say_, Long’s Exped. vol. ii. p. 60.
MUSICAPA VERTICALIS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 67.
ARKANSAW FLYCATCHER, MUSICAPA VERTICALIS, _Ch. Bonaparte_,
Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 18, pl. 2, fig. 2.
ARKANSAW FLYCATCHER, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 273.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 1.
Bill rather long, stout, tapering, broader than high, unless toward the
end. Upper mandible with its dorsal outline straight and declinate,
until at the tip, where it is deflected, the ridge narrow, the sides
convex, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the very narrow
tip. Lower mandible with the angle short and broad, the dorsal line
ascending and very slightly convex, the ridge broad and flat at the
base, the sides convex, the edges sharp, the tip acute. The gape-line
almost straight. Nostrils basal, elliptical, partly covered by the
bristly feathers.
Head rather large; neck short; body slender. Feet very short; tarsus
slender, compressed, with six anterior scutella, which are so large
below as almost to meet behind; toes free, slender, of moderate length.
Claws moderately arched, much compressed, acute.
Plumage soft and blended. Strong bristles along the basal margin of the
upper mandible, and over the nostrils. Wings rather long, broad; the
first five primaries much attenuated toward the end, the first more so,
the fifth least; this attenuation being chiefly produced by an incision
on the first web; the first four are nearly equal, the third longest,
the fourth half a twelfth shorter, the third one-twelfth shorter than
the hind, and exceeding the first by nearly two-twelfths; the other
primaries gradually broader and more rounded; outer secondaries abrupt
and slightly emarginate. Tail rather long, almost even, of twelve
broad, abruptly rounded and acuminate feathers.
Bill black. Iris brown. Feet and claws black. The general colour of the
upper parts is ash-grey, the back tinged with yellow; the wing-coverts
and quills chocolate-brown, with brownish-white edges, those of the
inner secondaries broader. Upper tail-coverts and tail black, excepting
the outer web of the lateral feather on each side, and the basal margin
of the next. There is a patch of bright vermilion on the top of the
head, tinged with orange-yellow behind. Throat greyish-white, the sides
and fore part of the neck pale ash-grey, shaded on the fore part of
the breast into pure yellow, which is the prevalent colour of the lower
parts; lower wing-coverts yellow, the middle ones tinged with grey.
Length to end of tail 9 inches, to end of wings 7, to end of claws
7, extent of wings 15-1/4; tail 3-7/8; wing from flexure 5-1/2; bill
along the ridge 9/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-1/12; tarsus
(8-1/2)/12; first toe (3-1/2)/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12; third toe 7/12,
its claw 4/12.
Adult Female. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 2.
The Female is rather smaller, but is similar to the male in colouring.
The young also is similar to the adult, but wants the red patch on the
head.
[Illustration]
In the female mentioned above as having been found in Texas, the mouth
is half an inch wide, its roof anteriorly slightly concave, with three
median prominent lines, the palate flat, with its membrane or skin
diaphanous, as in Goatsuckers. The tongue is 7 twelfths long, deeply
emarginate and papillate at the base; triangular, extremely depressed,
tapering to a thin slit and bristly point. The posterior aperture of
the nares is 4 twelfths long, linear, papillate on the edges, ending
abruptly at its fore part, without a prolonged fissure. Œsophagus, _a_,
_a_, _b_, 2 inches 9 twelfths long, funnel-shaped for half an inch,
then cylindrical and nearly 4 twelfths in diameter, until it enters
the thorax. Proventriculus, _c_, 3-1/2 twelfths in diameter, and with a
belt of oblong glandules. Stomach _c_, _d_, elliptical, 7-1/2 twelfths
long, 6 twelfths broad, its lateral muscles of moderate strength, the
lower not distinct; the epithelium with broad longitudinal rugæ, and of
a dark reddish-brown colour. Intestine, _e_, _f_, _g_, 7 inches long,
its diameter at the anterior part 3-1/2 twelfths, gradually diminishing
to 1-1/2 twelfth. Cœca extremely small, 1 twelfth long, 1/2 twelfth
broad, and 1-1/4 inch distant from the anus; cloaca _i_, globular.
Trachea 1 inch 10 twelfths long, tapering from a diameter of 2 twelfths
to 1 twelfth; the rings ossified and firm, about 70 in number; the
lateral and sterno-tracheal muscles slender; the inferior laryngeal
muscles are strong but very short, forming a prominent knob, and
attached to the first bronchial ring. Bronchi wide, of about 20
half-rings.
The digestive organs of this bird, and of the Flycatchers in general,
do not differ materially from those of the Thrushes and Warblers. The
pharynx and œsophagus, however, are much wider.
SWALLOW-TAILED FLYCATCHER.
_MUSCICAPA FORFICATA_, GMEL.
PLATE CCCLIX. MALE.
Not having seen this handsome bird alive, I am unable to give you any
account of its habits from my own observation; but I have pleasure in
supplying the deficiency by extracting the following notice from the
“Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada,” by my
excellent friend THOMAS NUTTALL.
“This very beautiful and singular species of Flycatcher is
confined wholly to the open plains and scanty forests of the remote
south-western regions beyond the Mississippi, where they, in all
probability, extend their residence to the high plains of Mexico. I
found these birds rather common near the banks of Red River, about the
confluence of the Kiamesha. I again saw them more abundant, near the
Great Salt River of the Arkansa in the month of August, when the young
and old appeared, like our King Birds, assembling together previously
to their departure for the south. They alighted repeatedly on the tall
plants of the prairie, and were probably preying upon the grasshoppers,
which were now abundant. At this time also, they were wholly silent,
and flitted before our path with suspicion and timidity. A week or
two after, we saw them no more, having retired probably to tropical
winter-quarters.
“In the month of May, a pair, which I daily saw for three or four
weeks, had made a nest on the horizontal branch of an elm, probably
twelve or more feet from the ground. I did not examine it very near,
but it appeared externally composed of coarse dry grass. The female,
when first seen, was engaged in sitting, and her mate wildly attacked
every bird which approached their residence. The harsh chirping note of
the male, kept up at intervals, as remarked by Mr SAY, almost resembled
the barking of the Prairie Marmot, _’tsh_, _’tsh_, _’tsh_. His flowing
kite-like tail, spread or contracted at will while flying, is a
singular trait in his plumage, and rendered him conspicuously beautiful
to the most careless observer.”
MUSCICAPA FORFICATA _Gmel. Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.
931.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 485.—_Ch. Bonaparte_,
Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 275.
SWALLOW-TAILED FLYCATCHER, MUSCICAPA FORFICATA, _Bonap._
Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 15, pl. 2, fig. 1.
SWALLOW-TAILED FLYCATCHER, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 275.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 3.
Bill of moderate length, rather stout, subtrigonal, depressed at
the base, straight; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly
straight, and declinate, to near the tip, which is deflected, slender,
compressed, and acute, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight
notch close to the tip; lower mandible with the angle rather long
and wide, the back broad at the base, the dorsal line ascending and
very slightly convex, the edges sharp, the tip acute. Nostrils basal,
roundish, partly covered by the bristly feathers.
Head rather large; neck short; body ovate. Feet short; tarsus with six
anterior very broad scutella. Toes free, slender; the first stout, the
lateral equal; claws rather long, arched, slender, much compressed,
very acute.
Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of the upper mandible
strong. Wings rather long, the first four quills longest, with their
inner webs emarginate and attenuate at the end. Tail very long, deeply
forked, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.
Bill and feet black. Iris hazel. Upper part of the head, the cheeks,
and the hind part and sides of the neck, ash-grey; scapulars and
back darker and tinged with reddish-brown; the rump darker, the upper
tail-coverts black. Wings brownish black, all the feathers margined
with greyish-white, the anterior wing-coverts scarlet; tail-feathers
deep black, with their terminal margins white, the three outer on each
side pale rose-coloured to near the end. The throat, fore part of neck
and breast, pure white; the sides, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts,
and lower wing-coverts, pale rose-colour; the axillary feathers bright
scarlet.
Length to end of tail 11-1/2 inches, to end of wings 7-1/2; tail to the
fork 2-2/12, to the end 5-1/2; wing from flexure 5-1/8; bill along the
ridge 5/8, along the edge of lower mandible 7/8; tarsus 3/4; hind toe
3/8, its claw 4/12; middle toe (5-1/2)/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.
SAY’S FLYCATCHER.
_MUSCICAPA SAYA_, BONAP.
PLATE CCCLIX. MALE AND FEMALE.
This species was first discovered by TITIAN PEALE, Esq. of
Philadelphia, and named after Mr THOMAS SAY by BONAPARTE, who described
and figured it in his continuation of WILSON’s American Ornithology.
It appears to range over a very extensive portion of country, lying
between Mexico and the settlements of the British Fur Companies, a pair
having been procured at Carlton House, as mentioned by Dr RICHARDSON.
Little is yet known of the habits of this species, but it would seem,
from Mr NUTTALL’s remarks, to be a rupestrine Flycatcher, and not
strictly arboreal, as supposed by Mr SWAINSON.
“We first observed this bird,” says Mr NUTTALL, “in our route westward,
about the 14th of June, within the first range of the Rocky Mountains
called the Black Hills, and in the vicinity of that northern branch of
the Platte known by the name of Larimie’s Fork. At the time, we saw a
pair perched as usual on masses of rocks, from which, like the Pewee,
though occasionally alighted, they flew after passing insects, without
uttering any note that we heard; and from their predilection, it is
probable they inhabit among broken hills and barren rocks, where we
have scarcely a doubt, from their behaviour, they had at this time a
brood in a nest among these granite cliffs. They appeared very timorous
on our approach, and seemed very limited in their range. Except among
the Blue Mountains of the Columbia, we scarcely ever saw them again.
Their manners appear to be very much like those of the Common Pewee;
but they are much more silent and shy.”
MUSCICAPA SAYA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of United
States, p. 67.—Amer. Ornith. vol. i. p. 20, pl. 2, fig. 3.
TYRANNULA SAYA, _Richards. and Swains._ Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol.
ii. p. 142.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLIX. Fig. 4.
Bill of moderate length, rather slender, broader than high at the base,
straight; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight and
declinate, to near the tip, which is deflected, slender, compressed,
and acute, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch close
to the tip; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the back
broad, the dorsal line ascending and almost straight, the edges sharp,
the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, partly covered by the
bristly feathers.
Head of moderate size, ovate; neck of moderate length; body slender.
Feet short; tarsus with six very broad anterior scutella; toes free,
slender; the first stout, the lateral equal; claws long, arched,
slender, much compressed, very acute.
Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of the upper mandible
slender. Wings rather long, rounded; primaries tapering, rounded, the
outer not sinuated on the inner web, the first half an inch shorter
than the second, which is half a twelfth shorter than the third,
the fourth about the same length as the second, the rest moderately
graduated; secondaries long, broad, rounded. Tail rather long, very
slightly divaricate and emarginate, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill and feet black, basal margin of lower mandible yellow. Iris
hazel. Upper parts brownish-grey, the head more tinged with brown;
upper tail-coverts and tail brownish-black; wings of a darker tint
than the back, the feathers margined with greyish-white; a dusky spot
before the eye; fore part and sides of neck light brownish-grey, shaded
into pale brownish-red on the breast and abdomen; lower wing-coverts
reddish-white.
Length to end of tail 7 inches, to end of wings 5-8/12; wing from
flexure 4-2/12; tail 3-1/4; bill along the ridge (7-1/2)/12, along the
edge of lower mandible (10-1/2)/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; hind toe 3/12,
its claw 4/12; middle toe (5-1/2)/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.
WINTER WREN.
_TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS_, VIEILL.
PLATE CCCLX. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.