Bill, conic, straight, or slightly curved, and entering the frontal
plumes, point acute, nostrils basal partly covered by a membrane. Wings,
rather long and pointed; tail, long; tarsi moderate, slender, covered
with scales. Colours, generally yellow and black. About twenty-five
species known, all of which are natives of America.
Icterus cucullatus. Swainson in Philos. Mag., 1827, p. 486.
Form. Slender and delicate; bill, very acute, curved; wing, rather
short, with the third quill longest; tail, rather long, graduated; tarsi
and feet, slender.
Dimensions. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail,
about 7½ inches; wing, 3½; tail, 4 inches; female, slightly smaller.
Colours. Male. Narrow frontal band, throat and neck in front, and space
extending to the eye, back, wings and tail, glossy black. External edges
of the quills, and tips of wing coverts white, the latter forming two
white bars on the wing. Upper part of the head and neck, rump and upper
tail coverts, and all the under parts, fine golden yellow, paler on the
abdomen. Inferior wing coverts, and tail feathers at their basis, pale
yellow. Bill, bluish horn colour.
Female. Entire upper parts, olive green, tinged with yellow on the head
and rump. Wings, pale brown; coverts, tipped with white, and quills
narrowly edged with white; tail, above, yellowish green. Entire under
parts, greenish yellow.
Hab. Texas and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.
Obs. This species does not intimately resemble any other of its group,
though partaking of their general style of colouring, and can be readily
recognized by the student. Very fine specimens were obtained in Texas by
Capt. McCown, which are now in the collection of Mr. George N. Lawrence,
of New York, to whom we are indebted for an opportunity to figure the
female. The latter does not resemble the male in colour.
Our figures are about two-thirds of the natural size.
[Illustration: Plate 9
Gambels Partridge
Callipepla Gambellii (_Nuttall_)]
CALLIPEPLA GAMBELII.—(Nuttall.)
Gambel’s Partridge.
PLATE IX.—Male and Young Female.
Mexico and the adjacent parts of the United States are particularly
productive of game birds, and amongst them are several species of
Partridges, unrivalled in beauty of plumage by those of any other
country of the world. Of those, some prefer fertile valleys, or grounds
under cultivation; others appear to live almost entirely in the barren
plains, or in the mountains.
Independently of the usefulness of those birds as food, to the citizens
of the States alluded to, and to those who, in future years, shall
occupy with their farms and homesteads districts yet unpeopled, the
numerous game birds must always be a source of constant interest and
amusement. Like the Deer, and like the Turkey, Grouse, and Partridge of
other States, their pursuit is not only an easily attainable amusement,
but serves also for the cultivation of a knowledge of, and expertness in
the use of firearms, which are peculiarly characteristic of our vigorous
and successful population, and have contributed in an important degree
to the formation of the character of the world-renowned citizen-soldier
of the United States.
Experience in hunter life, and the incidental influences of its
occupations and associations, are no inconsiderable features in American
education; and the invigorating and healthful pursuits of the youthful
hunter or trapper have always appeared to us to be no unimportant agents
in the development of his physical and of his intellectual constitution.
In large portions of every State of the Union, the gun or the rifle is
the favourite companion of almost every boy from the earliest period of
his competency for its management; and we have seen abundant instances,
in our early days, of very considerably forced presumption of
competency. In fact, the stranger, in very many of the rural districts
of the United States, might almost be tempted to conclude that the
famous ancient formula of early education had been adopted, with an
addition: “Learn to speak the truth and to swim”—and to shoot.
The beautiful Partridge now before us was discovered a few years since
in New Mexico, by Dr. William Gambel, in honor of whom it has been
named. The first description of it is in the Proceedings of the Academy
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, I. p. 260, April, 1843, and
afterwards was reprinted in the Journal of the same society, I. p. 219,
(Quarto.)
Since that period it has repeatedly been observed, and we have now the
gratification of being able to present to our readers a particular
history of this fine species.
Our friend, Captain S. G. French, of the United States Army, to whose
kindness we have previously been indebted, has favoured us with the
following interesting account:
“This species was found by me on the Rio Grande, some seventy miles
below El Paso; and from that point to the place just mentioned, the
numbers constantly increased. They seem to be partial to the abodes of
man, and are very numerous about the old and decayed buildings, gardens,
fields, and vineyards around Presidio, Isileta, and El Paso. During my
stay there in the summer of 1851, every morning and evening their
welcome call was heard around us, and at those early and late hours they
were constantly to be found in the sandy roads and paths near the
villages and farms. In the middle of the hot summer days, they rest in
the sand, under the shade and protection of the thick _chapparal_; and,
when disturbed, they glide through the bushes very swiftly, seldom
resorting to flight, and uttering all the while a peculiar chirping
note, by which they appear to be enabled to keep together. The parent
birds would utter the same chirp whenever I endeavoured to capture their
young. The male and female were always found with the young birds, and
showed much affection for them, even endeavoring to attract my attention
to themselves by their actions and cries.”
Col. George A. McCall, the accuracy of whose knowledge of the birds of
Western America is unrivalled, gives an interesting account of this bird
in his “Remarks on the habits, &c., of Birds met with in Western Texas,
between San Antonio and the Rio Grande, and in New Mexico,” published in
the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy, V. p. 213, (June, 1851):
“After losing sight of the Massena Partridge, I did not fall in with the
present species until we reached the Limpia river, about 100 miles west
of the Pecos.
“This beautiful bird, whose habits, in some respects, bear resemblance
to the common partridge, like that, seems to prefer a more genial and
hospitable region. In this part of the country, the Mesquite tree
(Acacia glandulosa) is more or less common; and the Mesquite grass, and
other plants bearing nutritious seeds, are abundant. Here, this
partridge increases rapidly in numbers, and becomes very fat; and, as I
afterwards ascertained, is much disposed to seek the farms, if any be
within reach, and to cultivate the acquaintance of man. About the rancho
of Mr. White, near El Paso, I found them very numerous; and here, in
flocks of fifty or a hundred, they resort, morning and evening, to the
barn-yard, and feed around the grain stacks, in company with the
poultry, where they receive their portion, as it is scattered amongst
them by the hand of the owner. I found them distributed through the
country from the Limpia to the Rio Grande, a range from east to west
exceeding one hundred miles; and along the Rio Grande, from Eagle Spring
Pass to Don Ana, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles. North of
this I did not see them. I was not among them during the season of
incubation.”
But the most comprehensive and complete account ever before published of
this Partridge, has been furnished by the same gentleman (Col. McCall)
for insertion into our present article; for which, and for many other
similar favours from him, we beg to tender our deep sense of obligation.
“Whilst in California, during the last summer, (1852,) I was enabled to
ascertain the western limit of this species as satisfactorily as I had
previously ascertained its eastern limit within the State of Texas. And,
although the extent of its range to the north is not yet clearly
established, it may be said that the portion of our territory inhabited
by this beautiful bird is a rather narrow belt of country, (say one
thousand miles long by two hundred broad,) embraced between the 31st and
34th parallels of north latitude, and extending from the Pecos river in
Texas to the Sierra Nevada and the contiguous desert in California. Be
it understood, however, that when I speak of a narrow belt of country
along a certain parallel, I do not intend to say that the _habitat_ of
the species does not extend beyond this belt into _Mexico_; but that the
river Gila being our southern boundary through the greater part of the
region referred to, the portion of our own territory inhabited by this
bird is confined to such a belt as I have indicated.
“First, then, with respect to its western limit. This species was
discovered by Dr. Gambel, ‘on the eastern side of the Californian range
of mountains, in 1841.’ He did not meet with it on the western side; nor
has it, as far as made known, been found there since that time by
others. During the last summer, search was made for it by several
gentlemen who were interested in the subject, as well as by myself, in
different localities from north to south along the Pacific slope, but in
every instance without success. Hence, the inference must be that this
Partridge has never crossed to the west of the Sierra, where, as we well
know, it is abundantly replaced by the closely allied species, the
‘_California Partridge_.’ Following down the Sierra Nevada to its
junction with the coast-range, you come upon a desert of sand of vast
extent; and as the snowy peaks of the Sierra had stopped the march of
this species above, so did the burning sands of the desert stop its
progress below, and effectually shut it out from the Pacific plain. It
is true I found it at _Alamo macho_ (cottonwood grove), which is 44
miles west of the Colorado river. Thus far it had penetrated into the
dreary waste, and had managed to find shelter and subsistence where
there is little to support animal life. But from this _oasis_ to
_Valle-cita_ (little valley), it is seventy miles. In this interval, a
vast ocean of sand presents a formidable barrier, as is but too plainly
indicated by the bleached bones of horses and mules scattered along the
route—and this barrier effectually separates the two congenerous species
of partridge: the range of _Gambel’s Partridge_ being confined to the
east of this desert, while the range of the _California Partridge_ is
confined to the west of it—although on both sides they approach to the
very edge, as I ascertained from personal observation.
“In the second place, with respect to its eastern limit—I have to repeat
that I did not meet with this species in Texas, either in going or
returning, anywhere east of the Pecos river; nor was it found by either
of three other parties who explored those regions, both previously and
subsequently, until after they had passed to the west of that river.
Here, again, a sandy desert, between the Pecos and Devil’s river, is the
barrier beyond which the species under consideration has not extended
its range to the eastward; and, as it is replaced beyond the Sierra and
the desert in the west by the _California Partridge_, so is it replaced
beyond the Pecos in the east by the _Massena Partridge_.
“With regard to the northern and southern limits of this species, less
is known. I found it in 1850, on the Limpia creek, in N. Lat. 31°—thence
to the Rio Grande, and up that river to Don Ana, Lat. 33°. But I found
it nowhere beyond that point, either near the river or among the hills
as far back as the foot of the Sierra de los Mimbres, and I passed up
and down between El Paso and Santa Fe at different seasons of the year;
yet through all this country I met with the _Blue Partridge_ (C.
squamata). The species in question, however, is known to be abundant in
the country around the sources of the Gila river. It has also been found
along that river, from the Pimo villages to its mouth; and there is no
doubt it inhabits the entire valley of the Gila. It was common along the
Colorado river, as far up as Camp Yuma (mouth of Gila), and it has been
met with in that valley as high up as Yampai creek, N. Lat. 34°, but I
have no information of its having been found north of that parallel.
“The habits of this species are, in most respects, similar to those of
the California Partridge; but it has always appeared to me less vigilant
and wild. I was not so fortunate, however, as to discover its nest; nor
did I gather from others any information as to its eggs—their colour or
their markings. I frequently heard the call or song of the male bird
during the period of nesting, which, from some cause or other not
apparent to me, was later than that of its congener. As early as June
4th, I found covies of the young of the _California Partridge_ large
enough to fly—say one-fourth grown; whilst all the birds of this species
(and I saw many,) as late as June 16th, were still without their young.
But the voice of the male, as I was about to remark, is, at this season,
strikingly rich and full. A very good idea may be formed of his cry by
slowly pronouncing, in a low tone, the syllables ‘_kaa-wale_,’
‘_kaa-wale_.’ These notes, when uttered close at hand, are by no means
loud; yet it is perfectly astonishing to what a distance they may be
heard when the day is calm and still. There was to me something
extremely plaintive in this simple love-song, which I heard for the
first time during a day of burning heat passed upon the desert. I had
reached the well at _Alamo mucho_ before noon, and had halted to rest my
jaded mules after their toilsome march. Here is, in truth, a
desert!—figure to yourself, if you can, a portion of this fair earth,
where, for some hundreds of miles, the whole crust seems to have been
reduced to ashes by the action of internal fires; behold a vast plain of
desolation, surrounded, and, at intervals, intersected by abrupt
mountain ranges, which are little better than gigantic heaps of scoria;
imagine this scenery to be actually glowing under the direct rays of a
midsummer sun, and you may have some idea of the prospect that meets the
eye of the traveller who looks out upon the desert from the well of the
Alamo. You may perceive in his rear a few stunted cottonwood-trees
scattered along the edge of a channel, in which, apparently, water once
_was_, but now is not; whilst around him, here and there, is a
light-leafed mesquite that stretches forth its slender arms, and appears
to invite him to a shade which is but a mockery. Here it was that I
first heard the plaintive voice of this bird as he strove to cheer his
mate whilst occupied in the tedious task of incubation.
“I had passed the hours of noon stretched upon the sand near the well:
the thermometer, in the best shade to be obtained, indicating a
temperature of 140° to 150°, (_Fahrenheit_); and as the sun began to
decline towards the horizon, the first wakeful sound of animal life that
greeted my ear was the soft ‘_kaa-wale_,’ ‘_kaa-wale_,’ of this
beautiful bird. I turned towards a cluster of mesquite, at the distance
of some two hundred yards from which the call seemed to come, but could
discern no object in motion. This song was continued, at short
intervals, for about an hour; when, at last, one of the birds came forth
upon the sand, and was soon followed by its mate. They ran lightly over
the sand, and glided into the gully, where they began to search for
their evening meal. I followed with my gun and secured them both—they
were a male and female, the skins of which I have preserved. This was
June 8th.
“Later in the season, when a covey is dispersed, the cry for assembling
is ‘_qua-el_,’ ‘_qua-el_.’ The voice at all seasons bears much
resemblance to that of the _California Partridge_—having, in its
intonation, no similarity to the whistle of the Virginia or common
partridge.
“The crops of those killed at the Alamo, and thence to the Colorado,
were filled with the leaves of the mesquite, which seemed to be their
principal food, though in some were found remains of coleopterous
insects. In some of those killed near the river I found the wild
gooseberry.
“The dimensions of this species, given by Gould in his ‘Odontophorinæ,’
are, (? skin) length 9¾ inches; wing, 4½; tail, 4. By Dr. Gambel, (Proc.
Acad. Nat. Sci., Philada., I. p. 260,) length, over 10 inches; wing, 4½;
tail, 4½.
“Those I obtained in California were as follows, (measured immediately
when killed):
“♂ length, 10½ to 11⅜; wing, 4½; tail, 4½.
“♀ “ 10⅜ to 10⅝; wing, 4½; tail, 4½.”
The identical pair of birds alluded to in this excellent and
satisfactory history is represented in our plate; and the specimens,
with many others collected by this gentleman, are now in the collection
of the Philadelphia Academy.
Fine specimens of this bird are also now in the national collection at
Washington, and were collected by Dr. Woodhouse, while attached to the
party under command of Captain Sitgreaves, which surveyed the rivers
Zunia and the Colorado of the west.