A
Acanthylis, genus Page 249
Accipiter, genus 94
Ammodromus, genus 136
“ ruficeps pl. 20, 135
“ rostratus pl. 38, 226
Antrostomus, genus 235
Aquila, genus 109
Archibuteo, genus 103, 161
“ ferrugineus pl. 26, 159
Astur, genus 93
Athene, genus 188
B
Bernicla, genus 54
“ nigricans pl. 10, 52
“ leucopareia pl. 45, 272
Bubo, genus 177
Buteo, genus 97
“ Bairdii pl. 41, 99, 257
“ insignatus pl. 31, 102, 198
C
Callipepla, genus 50
“ Gambelii pl. 9, 45
“ squamata pl. 19, 129
Caprimulgidæ, family 235
Carpodacus, genus 78
“ familiaris pl. 13, 73
Cardinalis, genus 206
“ sinuatus pl. 33, 204
Cardinella, genus 266
“ rubra pl. 43, 265
Cathartes, genus 56
Ceryle, genus 254
Chamæa, genus 40
“ fasciata pl. 7, 39
Chordeiles, genus 237
Circus, genus 108
Cotyle, genus 247
Culicivora, genus 164
“ mexicana pl. 27, 163
Cyanocorax, genus 5
“ luxuosus pl. 1, 1
Cypselus, genus 248
Cyrtonyx, genus 25
“ Massena pl. 4, 21
D
Diomedea, genus 211
“ brachyura pl. 50, 289
“ nigripes pl. 35, 210
Dryotomus, genus 287
“ imperialis pl. 49, 285
E
Elanus, genus 106
Emberiza, genus 153
“ bilineata pl. 23, 150
Embernagra, genus 71
“ Blandingiana pl. 12, 70
F
Failconidæ family 85
Falco genus 85, 122
“ polyagrus pl. 16, 88, 121
Fissirostres 235
G
Geococcyx, genus 219
“ mexicanus pl. 36, 213
Glaucidium, genus 189
Gymnokitta, genus 167
“ cyanocephala pl. 28, 165
H
Halcyonidæ, family 253
Haliaetus, genus 37, 109
“ pelagicus pl. 6, 31
Hierofalco, genus 89
Hirundinidæ, family 242
Hirundo, genus 242
Hypotriorchis, genus 90
I
Icterus, genus 43
“ cucullatus pl. 8, 42
“ melanocephalus pl. 21, 137
Ictinea, genus 106
Insessores, tribe 235
L
Larus, genus 29
“ Heermanni pl. 5, 28
Lophophanes, genus 18
“ atricristatus pl. 3, 13, 19
M
Melanerpes, genus 11
“ formicivorus pl. 2, 7
“ thyroideus pl. 32, 201
Morphnus, genus 114
N
Nauclerus, genus 105
Nyctale, genus 68, 185
“ Kirtlandii pl. 11, 63, 187
Nyctea, genus 190
O
Ortalida, genus 270
“ poliocephala pl. 44, 267
Otus, genus 181
P
Pandion, genus 112
Parinæ, sub-family 17
Parus, genus 17
“ septentrionalis pl. 14, 80
Petrochelidon, sub-genus 243
Picolaptes, genus 157
“ brunneicapillus pl. 25, 156
Pipilo, genus 126
“ fusca pl. 17, 124
Plectrophanes, genus 230
“ McCownii pl. 39, 228
Polyborus, genus 112
Progne, genus 245
Psaltria, genus 19
Ptilogonys, genus 171
“ nitens pl. 29, 169
Pyrocephalus, genus 128
“ rubineus pl. 18, 127
Q
Querquedula, genus 83
“ cyanoptera pl. 15, 82
R
Recurvirostra, genus 233
“ occidentalis pl. 40, 232
Rostrhamus, genus 107
S
Sarcoramphus, genus 59
Saxicola, genus 208
“ oenanthoides pl. 34, 207
Scops, genus 179
Strigidæ, family 175
Strix, genus 176
Surnia, genus 191
Sylvicola, genus 281
“ olivacea pl. 48, 283
“ Kirtlandii pl. 47, 278
Syrnium, genus 183
T
Thalassidroma, genus 277
“ furcata pl. 46, 274
Tinnunculus, genus 92
Toxostoma, genus 263
“ rediviva pl. 42, 260
Trochilus, genus 148
“ Alexandri pl. 22, 141
Troglodytes, genus 175
“ mexicanus pl. 30, 173
V
Vireo, genus 154
“ atricapillus pl. 24, 153
Vireosylvia, genus 224
“ altiloqua pl. 37, 221
Vulturidæ, family 56
ILLUSTRATIONS
OF
THE BIRDS
OF
CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, OREGON, AND BRITISH AND RUSSIAN AMERICA.
CYANOCORAX LUXUOSUS.—(Lesson.)
The Mexican Jay.
PLATE I.—Adult Male.
The family of birds, familiarly known as Jays, is so extensively
diffused, that every country of the world produces species except Africa
south of the Great Desert, Australia, and the islands in the Pacific
ocean.
The European species are few in number, but that which is the most
common and well known by the name from which has been derived the
popular appellation now applied to nearly all of its more or less nearly
allied relatives, is justly regarded as one of the most remarkable of
the birds of that continent. It is the only species of this family which
inhabits central Europe and the British Islands, and is much admired on
account of the beauty of its plumage, which is for the greater part of a
very handsome light reddish brown, with its wings richly colored of a
beautiful light blue and a deep black. It is a cunning, cautious bird,
and possesses very considerable powers of imitation and of voice in
general. Nearly all the European ornithologists relate instances of
specimens which they had seen in a state of domestication, some of which
had been taught, not only to articulate words but also to imitate
various sounds and the cries of animals. Bewick mentions one which would
call a dog, and another which could imitate the noise made by a saw.
Others have heard it imitate the mewing of a cat, the notes of other
birds, and even the neighing of a horse. In Germany, where the taming
and rearing of birds is made a matter of business to a much greater
extent than we have any examples of in the United States, the Jay is a
great favorite on account of this talent, or in some measure for the
same reason that the Mocking bird is in this country. It does not
appear, however, to possess the talent for accurate imitation, nor the
taste nor talent for combination which is shown in such an eminent
degree by the famous songster of this country, but to evince imitative
instincts more similar to those of the Parrots.
Other Jays, of very handsome plumage, inhabit Asia, from the northern
regions of which continent, as well as from northern Africa, a few
species visit Europe. They are not abundant in either of the first
mentioned continents.
The birds of this group are most numerous in America. In the higher
northern latitudes and in the eastern parts of the United States, a few
species only are found; several others, of which some account will be
found in the present work, and some of which are very handsome and
remarkable species have as yet to be regarded as exclusively western,
having only been observed in the countries on the Pacific seaboard. We
beg the liberty of saying, however, in passing, that it is as yet quite
impossible to define, in any reliable manner, the limits of the range of
any of the birds usually regarded as exclusively inhabiting the Western
States and territories of the United States, so vast a central region
having been but very imperfectly explored, and which yet presents to the
enterprising scientific traveller one of the most interesting regions
for research on the face of the globe. It comprises the entire range of
country from the Mississippi river to beyond the Rocky Mountains, from
the northern to the southern limits of the United States.
In Mexico and thence southward to Brazil and Patagonia, and, in fact,
throughout South America, many species of Jays are to be met with in
abundance, and of such beautiful plumage and variety of tints as far
surpass those of any other country. The prevailing hues of the plumage
of the greater number of the American species are the different shades
of blue, from the most delicate ultramarine or azure to deep indigo,
generally variegated, in a very agreeable manner, with white, black or
yellow. Amongst the most handsome of these birds we may mention the
great crested Jay of South America and the West Indies, _Cyanocorax
pileatus_, a large and very showy species, the Mexican painted Jay,
_Cyanocitta_ _ornata_, which has the entire plumage of a deep blue color
beautifully relieved by a large patch of very pale bluish white on the
back part of the head and neck. Others, such as Beechey’s Jay of
California and Mexico, _Cyanocitta Beechii_, of which we shall give a
plate and description, have the plumage of fine silky blue above, and
deep black on the under part of the body. There are a few species in
which the prevailing color of the plumage is violet, as the _Cyanocorax
violaceus_, a native of the northern parts of South America, and
probably of Central America and Mexico. There are also a few species of
which the bird figured in our present plate is one, in which the plumage
is green, usually variegated with blue and yellow.
The Mexican species yet discovered are of very fine plumage, though
generally of smaller size than many of those of South America. Several
of the species of the southern portion of this continent are, in fact,
so large that they approach the stature of their relatives, the crows,
though clothed in a quite different style of vesture. In fact, some of
the larger species are known to collectors and travellers by such names
as the Blue crow, the Surinam crow, &c. The _Cyanocorax azureus_ of
South America is the “Blue Crow,” and is one of the largest species of
this family.
The Jays must be regarded as highly organized birds, and are possessed
of a superior order of instincts. However deficient in melody or compass
of voice, there are few other birds in which are found combined so many
characters or bird-like qualities. Delicacy of form, beauty of plumage,
vigorous and enduring powers of flight, are united with much liveliness
of disposition, unusual instincts of precaution and self-preservation,
and the ability to subsist on very diversified descriptions of both
animal and vegetable food. They are accordingly entitled to a superior
position in any system of classification, based, as all zoological
systems should be, on the knowledge of functional as well as of organic
characters;—on the observations of the naturalist in the field or
forest, not less than on the conclusions or discoveries of the
anatomist.
Nearly all the species of this group of birds appear to partake to a
considerable extent of the cunning, though not unpleasant nor unsociable
habits of the Blue Jay of the United States, and like it they feed
indiscriminately on seeds or fruits, worms, insects, and even small
quadrupeds, or on other birds. They live principally in the forests,
though several of the fine species of South America and all the species
of North America frequently resort to the orchards and fields, or
approach the habitations of men, and when captured young are readily
domesticated.
The very handsome bird which, in our first plate, we present to our
readers, is a recent addition to the Ornithology of the United States,
having been observed in Texas, though previously known as a bird of
Mexico. It is nearly related to the Peruvian Jay, _C. yucas_, Boddaert,
or _C. peruvianus_, Gmelin, which is a native of the countries of
western South America. It is, however, considerably smaller, and is
differently colored on the inferior parts of the body, having there a
prevailing tint of green instead of the clear yellow of that also
handsome bird, and other characters tending to establish a clear
specific difference.
This bird is abundant in Mexico. It was observed to be quite numerous on
the _tierra templada_ or table lands, and in the hills bounding the
plains of Perote and Puebla on the east, by Mr. William S. Pease, an
enterprising naturalist, who accompanied the army of the United States,
under General Scott, throughout its campaign in Mexico. Mr. Pease
learned that it lived on the sides of the hills throughout the year, and
was called by the inhabitants, the _pepe verde_. His collection, now
included in that of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,
contained very fine specimens of both sexes, though his notes contain
little information respecting them.
M. Lesson, an eminent French naturalist, was the first to describe this
species. His description, from a Mexican specimen, is in the Révue
Zoologique for 1839, p. 100. (Paris.) The first published notice of it
as a Texan species is by Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence, in the Annals of the New
York Lyceum of Natural History, vol. v., p. 115.
The credit of having first discovered it within the limits of the United
States is due to Col. George A. M‘Call, Inspector General of the United
States Army, who sent specimens to the Philadelphia Academy, from Texas,
several years since, and who has most kindly favored us with the
following note:
“The first specimens of this Jay that I saw within the territory of the
United States, were in the forests that border the Rio Grande, on the
south-western frontier of Texas. There they were mated in the month of
May, and no doubt had their nests in the extensive and almost
impenetrable thickets of _Mimosæ_, which are commonly denominated
_Chaparral_. Of the number of their eggs, or the description of their
nests, I learned nothing, not having been able to discover their abode,
precisely; but from the jealousy and pugnacity which they manifested on
the approach or appearance of the large boat-tailed blackbird of that
country (_Quiscalus macrourus_,) which was nesting in great numbers in
the vicinity, I felt satisfied that the Jays were, at the time, also
engaged in the duties of incubation and rearing their young. In
character or temperament they appeared to be very active and lively,
though less noisy than some other species of their family, and their gay
plumage was exhibited to advantage as they flitted from tree to tree, or
dashed boldly in pursuit of such of their more plainly attired neighbors
as ventured to intrude upon their domain.”
Captain J. P. M‘Cown, another accomplished officer of the United States
Army, also observed this bird in Texas, to the natural history of which
country he has contributed a large amount of most valuable information.
From the interesting memoranda which he has very generously and promptly
furnished for our use in the present work, we make the following
extract:
“During the several years that I was in Texas, I frequently saw this
Jay, but never above Ringgold Barracks or north of the woods which skirt
the Rio Grande. It appeared to prefer the Acacia groves which have
sprung up where the ground has been overflowed. Though I have shot
numerous specimens it is rather a cautious bird. I have seen nests high
up in the trees alluded to, and always supposed them to belong to this
species, but was never clearly satisfied, though I have no doubt that it
breeds in Texas.”
The figure in our plate is about three-fourths of the natural size.
The plant represented is the _Salvia coccinea_, which is a native of the
southern parts of North America.