mouth is flat, with two longitudinal ridges, the sides ascending;
the posterior aperture of the nares oblong, 4 twelfths long, with an
anterior fissure. The tongue is 7-1/2 twelfths long, deeply emarginate
and papillate at the base, flattish above, with a faint median groove,
the sides parallel, the tip narrowed and emarginate. The mouth is
very wide, measuring 1 inch and 1-1/2 twelfth. The œsophagus is 5-1/2
inches long, of nearly uniform diameter throughout, as in all other
Owls, its breadth being 1 inch. The proventricular glandules form a
belt 9 twelfths in diameter. The stomach is large, round, 1 inch 9
twelfths long, 1 inch 7 twelfths broad, its walls thin, its muscular
coat composed of rather coarse fasciculi, but without distinction into
lateral muscles, the tendinous spaces circular, and about 8 twelfths in
diameter; its epithelium soft and rugous. The duodenum is 3 twelfths in
diameter, and curves at the distance of 3 inches from the pylorus. The
intestine is 23 inches long, its smallest diameter only 1 twelfth. The
cœca, Fig. 2, are in this individual unequal, as they very frequently
are in Owls; the largest being 2 inches 10 twelfths in length, their
greatest diameter 5-1/2 twelfths, their distance from the anus 3 inches
and a quarter. The cloaca is of an enormous size, ovate, 2 inches long,
1 inch 2 twelfths broad. It contains a calculous concretion 9 twelfths
long, 7 twelfths broad, and 3 twelfths thick.
The trachea, which is 3 inches long, is 3-1/2 twelfths in breadth
at the upper part, 2-1/2 twelfths in the middle, and 3 twelfths at
its lower extremity; its rings about 75 in number, cartilaginous,
and considerably flattened. The lateral muscles are strong, the
sterno-tracheal moderate, and there is a single pair of very slender
inferior laryngeal muscles. Five of the lower rings are elongated,
arched, and slit. The bronchi are rather long, of 12 half rings.
The conch of the ear, Fig. 1, is of enormous size, extending from the
level of the forehead over the eye to the chin, in a semilunar form, of
which the posterior curve is 3 inches, and the distance between the two
extremities in a direct line 1 inch and a half. There is an anterior
semicircular flap in its whole length, 5 twelfths in breadth at the
middle. The aperture or meatus externus is of a rhomboidal form 4-1/2
twelfths in length, 3-1/2 twelfths broad, bounded anteriorly by the
eye, posteriorly by a ligament extended along the edge of the occipital
bone, above by a ligament stretching to the operculum, below the
articulation of the lower jaw. Above the meatus is a deep depression
covered with skin, above which another ligament stretches across to the
operculum.
In another specimen, a female, the œsophagus is 5-1/2 inches long, its
average diameter 11 twelfths. The intestine is 21 inches long, from
2-1/2 twelfths to 1 twelfth in diameter; the cœca are 2-1/4 inches in
length; their greatest diameter 4 twelfths; the cloaca still larger
than that of the other individuals, being 2 inches long.
[Illustration: _Fig. 1._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 2._]
BLACK-THROATED BUNTING.
_EMBERIZA AMERICANA_, GMEL.
PLATE CCCLXXXIV. MALE AND FEMALE.
Although this handsome Bunting may be said to be abundant in our middle
Atlantic districts, it is there much less so than in the vast prairies
of the south-west; and I consider those of the Texas to afford the
localities best adapted to its habits. There, as my companions and I
were returning from the capital of the infant republic, Houston, we
were surprised to see how very numerous the Black-throated Buntings
were in every open piece of ground covered by tufts of tall grass. They
are also abundant on the open lands of Missouri and Illinois: but rarer
in Ohio, and scarce in Kentucky. They are rarely observed to pass over
South Carolina, but in Pennsylvania they are plentiful, and there breed
in every field covered with grass or grain. I have also met with them
in Massachusetts, but beyond this they are not seen to the eastward.
At the approach of the period of their removal from our Middle States
southward, the Black-throated Buntings congregate in particular
localities, as if to consult regarding their future proceedings.
At this season I once went from Philadelphia in search of them,
accompanied by my friend EDWARD HARRIS, and my son JOHN WOODHOUSE.
Having reached Salem in New Jersey, we rambled some time in the
neighbourhood, and found an elevated piece of ground, closely covered
with high rank weeds, among which a great number of these birds had
assembled. It being late in July, the males were moulting, or had
already acquired their new plumage; the young, although full grown,
had not yet assumed their second clothing, in which the sexes are
distinguished; and the females were generally ragged. The birds were
at first quite gentle, but after we had fired a few times they all
flew off to a considerable distance, from which, however, they soon
returned. On our continuing to harass them, however, they rose high
in the air, and flew out of our sight in a southward direction. They
had then undoubtedly begun migrating. These birds are very partial to
particular localities. Sandy soil, unmixed with clay or earth, is not
favourable to them; and it is probably for this reason that none are
found in any purely sandy part of the State of New Jersey.
The Black-throated Buntings reach our Middle States about the 10th
or 15th of May, and at once betake themselves to the dry meadow lands
and grain fields, where they soon after begin to breed. The males are
often observed perched on the top branches of the shade trees found in
those places, and engaged in delighting their mates with their simple
ditty, which, according to my learned friend Mr NUTTALL, resembles
_’tic ’tic-tshĕ tshĕ tshĕ tshe_, and _tship tship_, _tschĕ tschĕ tschĕ
tschip_. To my ears the notes of our Black-throated Bunting so much
resemble those of the Corn Bunting of Europe, _Emberiza Miliaria_, that
I have often been reminded of the one by hearing the song of the other.
These unmusical notes are almost continuously uttered from sunrise to
sunset, and all this while the female is snugly seated on her eggs, and
listening to her beloved. He often visits her, alighting within a few
yards of where she is concealed, and then cautiously proceeding toward
the spot on foot, through the grass. When the bird leaves the nest, it
creeps along to some distance, and then flies off low over the ground.
About the first of June the nest is formed. It is constructed of
fine grass neatly woven in a circular form, and is partly imbedded
in the soil, and sheltered or concealed by a tuft of herbage. The
eggs, usually five, are six and a half eighths in length, four and
three-fourths in breadth, of a sullied white, generally sprinkled with
faint touches of different tints of umber. In Pennsylvania, it seldom
rears more than one brood in the season; but in the Texas, I have
reason to believe that it raises two.
The flight of this bird, when it has settled in a place, is usually
of short extent. The male, while passing to and fro from the nest,
exhibits a quivering motion of the wings. The female seldom shews this,
unless when her property is in danger from intruders. While travelling,
which they always do by day, they pass high over the trees, in flocks
of thirty or forty, which suddenly alight at the approach of night,
and throw themselves into the most thickly-leaved trees, where they
repose until dawn. I have surprised them in such situations both in
Kentucky and in Louisiana, and on shooting into the place to which they
had betaken themselves, although I could not see them, have procured
several at one discharge; which proved in one instance to be males, and
in the other females, thus shewing that the sexes travel separately.
On such occasions, the survivors would sally forth, make a few rapid
evolutions, and alight on the same tree.
In spring, I have found them, on two or three occasions, near Natchez,
in the State of Mississippi, in meadows, in company with Bob-o-links,
_Emberiza Oryzivora_. On the ground they leap or hop, but never walk.
Their flesh is good, especially that of the young birds.
EMBERIZA AMERICANA, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.
872.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 411.
BLACK-THROATED BUNTING, EMBERIZA AMERICANA, _Wils._ Amer.
Ornith. vol. i. p. 54, pl. 3, fig. 2, male.
FRINGILLA AMERICANA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 107.
BLACK-THROATED BUNTING, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 461.
Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXXIV. Fig. 1.
Bill of moderate length, stout, conical, compressed toward the end;
upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly declinate and convex,
the ridge indistinct, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected,
ascending to beneath the nostrils, then descending, with a slight
notch close to the narrow tip: lower mandible with the angle short and
wide, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the ridge
broad at the base, the sides convex, the edges ascending at the base,
then straight and involute to the end, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal,
roundish in the fore part of the very short and wide nasal depression.
Head large, ovate; neck very short; body rather stout. Feet of moderate
length, rather strong; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with
seven anterior scutella, thin-edged behind; toes rather large; the hind
one strong and longer than the lateral, which are equal, the third much
longer, and united to the fourth at the base. Claws long, arched, much
compressed, acute.
Plumage soft and blended, but firm. Wings of moderate length, acute;
the first quill longest, the second slightly shorter, the other
primaries graduated; secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail of moderate
length, emarginate, of twelve rather narrow, obliquely pointed
feathers.
Bill light blue; iris hazel; feet light brownish-red, claws of the
same colour. The upper part of the head, the cheeks and the hind
neck are ash-grey, the feathers on the head with a central blackish
streak; loral space, a band over the eye, and a shorter one beneath
it, bright yellow. The fore part of the back greyish-brown, with
longitudinal streaks of brownish-black; the hind parts brownish-grey.
The smaller wing-coverts are bright chestnut, the quills and large
coverts blackish-brown, the primaries narrowly, the secondaries and
their coverts broadly edged with pale greyish-brown. The tail is dark
greyish-brown, the feathers faintly margined with paler. The fore neck
is light yellow, the throat at first white, then with a large patch
of black; the breast, sides, abdomen, legs and lower tail-coverts
white, the breast tinged with yellow, the sides with grey; the lower
wing-coverts yellow.
Length to end of tail 6-1/2 inches, to end of wings 5, to end of claws
6-1/4; extent of wings 10-3/8; wing from flexure 3-3/8; tail 2-1/2;
bill along the ridge 7/12, along the edge of lower mandible 8/12;
tarsus (10-1/2)/12; hind toe (4-1/2)/12, its claw (5-1/2)/12,; middle
toe 8/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12.
Adult Female. Plate CCCLXXXIV. Fig. 2.
The Female has the upper parts coloured as in the male, but paler;
the lower parts are also similar, but in place of the black patch on
the throat, there are only two dusky lines from the base of the lower
mandible, and some faint streaks on the lower part of the neck and the
sides.
Length to end of tail 6, to end of wings 4, to end of claws 5-7/8;
extent of wings 9; wing from flexure 3; tail 2-5/12; bill along the
ridge (6-1/2)/12; tarsus (10-1/2)/12; hind toe (4-1/2)/12, its claw
5/12; middle toe 3/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.
In an adult male, the roof of the mouth has anteriorly three
longitudinal ridges, and two lateral grooves; the palate descends
obliquely, and at its anterior part has a distinct prominence of a
softish texture; from which there passes backwards and outwards, a
large soft ridge on each side of the nasal aperture; which is linear
and papillate. The tongue is 5-1/2 twelfths long, narrow, deep,
trigonal, deeply emarginate and papillate at the base, soft for
half its length, convex and hard towards the end, which terminates
with bristly points. The œsophagus, _a b c d_, is 2-1/2 inches long,
dilated along the greater part of the neck into a kind of crop, _b_, 5
twelfths in diameter, lying on the right side along with the trachea.
The proventriculus, _c d_, is not much enlarged. The stomach, _e f_,
is a strong gizzard, of a broad elliptical form, 7-1/2 twelfths in
length, 6-1/2 twelfths in breadth. Its contents are small hard seeds,
a few remains of insects, and some particles of sand. The epithelium is
very tough, longitudinally rugous, and of a dark reddish-brown colour.
The intestine, _f g h_, is 8-1/2 inches long, its greatest diameter
2 twelfths. The rectum, _j k l_, is 9 twelfths long; the cœca, _j_,
extremely small, being 1-1/2 twelfth long and 1/2 twelfth in diameter.
[Illustration]
The trachea, which is 1 inch 10 twelfths long, is rather wide,
flattened, of uniform diameter, measuring 1-3/4 inch across, the
rings about 55, and ossified. The contractor muscles are of moderate
strength; the sterno-tracheal slender; and there are four pairs of
inferior laryngeal. The bronchi have about 15 half rings.
In its habits, this bird closely resembles the Common or Corn Bunting
of Europe, its flight and notes being almost the same. Like it, our
bird alights on walls, fences, detached rocks, or eminences of any
kind, where it is often seen even in the immediate neighbourhood of
our cities. Indeed, I have found it in full song perched on the trees
that ornament the squares of Washington city. In the form of its bill
it also agrees with the Buntings, although that organ is proportionally
longer and less attenuated toward the end. If, on the principle of
minute division, it is not admitted into the genus _Emberiza_, it must
at least occupy a place in its immediate proximity.
The plants represented are the _Phalaris arundinacea_ and _Antirrhinum
Linaria_, both common in many parts of the United States, as well
as in Europe; the former growing in wet meadows and by the sides of
rivers, the latter in fields and waste places, a troublesome weed, very
difficult to be extirpated.
BANK SWALLOW OR SAND MARTIN.
_HIRUNDO RIPARIA_, LINN.
PLATE CCCLXXXV. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.
Imagine, Reader, how delighted I was when, in East Florida, in the
winter of 1831, I found thousands of Bank Swallows gaily skimming over
the waters, and along the shores of the rivers and inlets. So numerous
indeed were they that I felt inclined to think that the greater part
of those which are in summer dispersed over the United States, and the
regions still farther north, must have congregated to form those vast
swarms. The first time I saw them was before sunrise, when I stood by
the side of Lieutenant PERCY of our Navy, on the deck of the United
States’ schooner the Spark, then at anchor opposite St Augustine.
The weather though warm, was thick and drizzly, so that we could not
see to a great distance; but as probably some hundreds of thousands
passed close to the vessel, in long and rather close flocks, I was well
enabled to assure myself that the birds were of this species. On my
expressing my surprise and delight at beholding so vast a concourse,
Lieutenant PERCY assured me, that he had seen them on all the streams
which he had visited south of where we then were. The weather cleared
up in a few hours, the sun shone brightly, and the little creatures
were seen all around, dipping into the water to wash themselves,
gambolling close over its surface, and busily engaged in procuring
insects, which in that country are always abundant. In the course of
the same season I also observed a good number of our Green-backed and
Barn Swallows, but few compared with what is seen about New Orleans.
We can thus account for the early appearance of the Bank Swallows in
our Middle Districts. That species always arrives there sooner than
the rest, sometimes preceding them by a fortnight, and keeping equally
in advance as far northward as its range extends. The Green-backed
Swallow, _Hirundo bicolor_, follows closely after it; then the Purple
Martin, _Hirundo purpurea_; after which are seen the Barn Swallow,
_Hirundo rustica_, and lastly, on our eastern Atlantic coasts, the
American Swift, _Cypselus Americanus_. It is probable that these
species extend their autumnal migrations southward in a degree
proportionate to the lateness of their appearance in Spring. I have
likewise observed the arrival of the Bank Swallows on the waters of
the Serpentine River and those of the Regent’s Park, in London, to be
in the same proportion earlier than that of the other species which
visit England in spring, and have thought that, as with us, the first
mentioned species retires to a less distance in winter than the rest.
The Bank Swallow has been observed on both sides of North America,
and in all intermediate places suited to its habits. This is easily
accounted for, when we reflect how easy it is for these birds to follow
our great water-courses to their very sources. Even the ponds and lakes
of our vast forests are at times visited by them; but no person seems
to have been aware of the existence of two species of Bank Swallows in
our country, which, however, I shall presently shew to be the case.
Wherever, throughout the United States, sand-banks or artificial
excavations occur, there is found the Bank Swallow during the breeding
season, in greater or smaller numbers, according to the advantages
presented by the different localities, not only along the shores of
our rivers and lakes, but also on the coasts of the Atlantic, and not
unfrequently in inland situations, at some distance from any water.
High banks, composed of softish sandy earth, on the shores of rivers,
lakes, or other waters, suit them best, and in such situations their
colonies are far more numerous than elsewhere. The banks of the Ohio,
and some parts of those of the Mississippi, called “Bluffs” have
appeared to me to be more resorted to by this species in our western
and southern districts, although I have met with considerable numbers
in every State of the Union.
In Louisiana this species begins to breed early in March, and generally
rears two, sometimes three broods in a season. In our Middle Districts
it commences about a month later, or about the period at which it
lays in Kentucky, and there produces two broods. In Newfoundland and
Labrador, it rarely begins to breed before the beginning of June, and
lays only once. Dr RICHARDSON states, that he saw “thousands of these
Swallows near the mouth of the Mackenzie, in the sixty-eighth parallel,
on the 4th of July,” and from the state of the weather at that period
supposed that they had arrived there at least a fortnight prior to that
date, but no specimens were brought to England, and the description
given in the Fauna Boreali-Americana is a mere transcript of that which
in itself is quite imperfect. Indeed, there is not in any work with
which I am acquainted an account of the Sand Swallow, sufficiently
minute and accurate to characterize in an adequate manner that very
common species.
The sociability and gentleness of these birds, the lightness and
vigour with which they perform their various evolutions, the low and
unobtrusive twittering of their voice, in short, all their actions and
economy, are delightful to contemplate. Their flight is exceedingly
graceful, light, yet firm, and capable of great continuance. They seem
indeed as if created for the purpose of spending their time on wing,
for they alight less often to rest when full grown than any other
of our species, when not sitting on their eggs, and are seen abroad
searching for food later in the dusk, retiring for the night as late,
I think, as our Swift, _Cypselus Americanus_. As they procure their
food more commonly than the other species along the margins or over
the surface of pools, lakes, rivers, or even the sea, their flight
is generally performed at a small elevation, which is the case with
others only when the wind blows smartly, or the atmosphere is damp and
chill. The movements of their wings are those common to the family of
Swallows, which flap these members less frequently than perhaps any
other small land birds. The wings act on the hinge formed by the carpal
joint, opening and closing like the blades of scissors. Their sailings,
though frequent, are not extensive, and their tail appears to be of
great service to them, as you observe that on the least deviation from
a straight course, it becomes suddenly more or less closed or inclined
upward, downward, or sideways; and when you see some hundreds of pairs
about their breeding places, passing, repassing, and crossing each
other in various ways, you almost wonder that they never come into
collision with each other. The slightest movement in any direction
seems sufficient to enable them to overtake and secure their prey; and
they less frequently than any other species follow an insect upward to
any great distance. Like all other Swallows, they drink and bathe on
wing.
Their migrations are performed by day, although perhaps continued by
night, and their movements are more desultory and rather slower than
those of other Swallows. It is rare to observe them in great flocks
at that time, their associations not being apparently formed until
they reach the countries in which they spend the winter months. Their
flight, when they are thus travelling, is continued rather low over the
land or the water; and as in America they retire to a less distance
southward than our other Swallows, they are not unfrequently seen to
linger behind the rest. In South Carolina, indeed, I have seen some in
November.
In summer and autumn they roost in the holes excavated for their nests;
but in winter, at least in the Floridas, they always repose at night
among the tall grass of the salt marshes, making choice of situations
sheltered by the winds and not liable to be overflowed. At this time
they keep together in large bodies while searching for food. I have
several times accidentally crossed their roosting places, which I at
once recognised by the quantity of their dung attached to the blades,
and lying on the ground, and from which I infer that they rest clinging
to the plants.
At the first appearance of spring they leave their winter quarters
in pairs, or singly, or in very small flocks; but they follow each
other so closely in this manner as to form an almost continued line
of march. I had the pleasure of observing this to be the case with the
Barn Swallow also, whilst I was proceeding toward the Texas, when that
species was advancing in a contrary direction.
Although small, the Sand Swallow is a rather hardy bird: for I observed
that the transient cold weather that at times occurs in the Florida at
night, seldom forces them to remove farther south. On one occasion,
however, when the ice was about the thickness of a dollar, many
were found dead along the shores, as well as floating on the water,
whilst the rest appeared in great perturbation, wending their way in
a hurried manner toward the warmer parts of the country, and taking
advantage of every spot that afforded them more warmth, such as the
borders of woods, and high banks of streams. I am, however, of opinion
that the inclemency of the weather at times proves to be the greatest
evil these birds have to encounter, especially when in early spring
they are moving northward, and occasionally meet with a sudden change
from temperate to cold. Even in the places selected for their summer
residence, great numbers die in their holes, and many have been found
there in a state bordering on torpidity.
Their food, which consists of small insects, principally of the
hymenopterous kind, even during winter in the Floridas, is procured on
wing. They very seldom approach walls or the trunks of trees to seize
them, but frequently snatch them from the tops of grasses or other
plants on which they have alighted. They also seize small aquatic
insects; but, although, I suspect that they disgorge in pellets
the harder parts of these, I have no proof, obtained from actual
observation, that they do so.