Size small; bill lengthened, pointed; tip of upper mandible slightly
curved downwards; wings very short; the first primary shorter than the
succeeding four or five, which are nearly equal; tail moderate, or
rather long, with its feathers narrow; tarsi and toes rather long,
slender. An American genus, containing six or seven species.
Ammodromus ruficeps. Cassin, Proc. Acad., Philada., VI. p. 184. (Oct.,
1852.)
Form. Bill shorter than usual in this genus; wings short, rounded; tail
long; tarsi lengthened, slender.
Dimensions. Total length of skin, about 5¾ inches; wing, 2½; tail, 2¾
inches.
Colors. Head above chestnut-brown, which is also the prevailing color of
the back and rump, the feathers of both the latter edged with pale
cinereous, tinged with olive. Spot in front of the eye white, forming a
partial superciliary line. A narrow stripe of black from each side of
the lower mandible running downwards, above which is a stripe of white;
intermediate space on throat nearly white; other under parts pale ashy,
with a tinge of olive; quills brown; primaries edged externally with
ashy; secondaries with pale chestnut-brown; tail reddish-brown, with
crimped obscure transverse lines; bill dusky horn-color; feet pale.
Hab. California. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.
Obs. Resembles in some measure _A. palustris_, but can be easily
distinguished. It appears to be restricted to California, not having
been observed in New Mexico or Texas. Ammodramus is the original
orthography of the name of this genus given by Swainson as cited above,
but that here given is universally adopted, and is much the most usual
in generic names of similar derivation.
[Illustration: Plate 21
The Black-headed Oriole
Icterus melanocephalus (_Wagler_)]
ICTERUS MELANOCEPHALUS.—(Wagler.)
The Black-headed Oriole.
PLATE XXI.—Adult Male.
Again we portray an inhabitant of the land of the Mesquite and Mimosa.
This handsome, though plain Oriole, when compared with some of its
brilliant relatives of the same countries, is found throughout nearly
the whole of Mexico, and extends its range northwardly into Texas and
New Mexico. Mr. Pease, who accompanied the Army of the United States
under General Scott, in Mexico, in 1847, observed it at Jalapa, and in
the neighborhood of the city of Mexico, in considerable numbers.
As a bird of Texas, this species was first brought to notice by Mr.
Jacob P. Giraud, Jr., of New York, who received it in a collection of
birds from that State, in 1834, and published a description of it in his
“New Species of North American Birds,” p. 1 (1841). Since that time it
has been found within the limits of the United States by several
naturalists, but especially by Mr. John H. Clark, who, while attached as
zoologist to the commission for running the boundary line between the
United States and Mexico, neglected no opportunity of making
investigations which have contributed much to the natural history of the
regions necessarily passed through, and whose collection contained
specimens of this species. To Mr. Clark we are indebted for the
following note respecting this species:
“Approaching the lower Rio Grande from New Mexico, the Black-headed
Oriole was first seen near Ringgold Barracks, but not in abundance; and,
although of rich plumage, its quiet manners and secluded habits
prevented it from being very conspicuous. It was noticed most frequently
while feeding on the fruit of the hackberry; but whenever exposed in
picking off the berries, it always showed signs of uneasiness, and would
immediately seek refuge in places affording greater concealment.
“Usually, pairs were to be seen keeping close together, and they seemed
to prefer the thick foliage which occurs on the margins of the ponds or
in the old bed of the river. They did not appear to communicate with
each other by any note; indeed, I was struck with their silence, though
my opportunities for observation were limited. Their habits seemed to be
very different from those of any other Oriole with which I am
acquainted.”
This observation, by so accurate and careful an observer as Mr. Clark,
deserves especial attention. It is quite probable that this bird is the
type of a distinct group or sub-genus.
In the papers of Lieut. Couch, most kindly placed by him at our
disposal, we find the following in relation to the bird now before us:—
“The Black-headed Oriole was seen for the first time on the third of
March, 1853, at Santa Rosalio rancho, eight leagues west of Matamoras.
It had paired, and both male and female were very shy and secluded,
seeking insects on the _nopal_ (a species of prickly pear), or among the
low mimosa trees, never seeming to be at rest, but constantly on the
look-out for their favorite food.
“At Charco Escondido, farther in the interior of Tamaulipas, this bird
was well known to the _rancheros_, who were disposed to give it a bad
reputation, stating that it often came to the rancho to steal the
freshly-slaughtered beef, hung up to dry in the sun. Whether this was
true or not, I had no opportunity of ascertaining; but my acquaintance
with the Black-headed Oriole, at this place, I have a particular reason
for remembering. Early one morning, an old man, who had daily called on
me, with his wife and six nude pickaninnies, presented himself, and
wished as usual to take me to a spot where great numbers of rare birds
were to be found. Gladly assenting, we were out of sight of the rancho
at sunrise of one of the magnificent mornings only known in tropical
latitudes. It was the day after a severe _norther_, and the whole
feathered kingdom was in motion. My guide soon called my attention to
two _calandrias_, as these birds are called by the Mexicans, which were
quietly but actively seeking their breakfast. The male having been
brought down by my gun, the female flew to a neighboring tree,
apparently not having observed his fall; soon, however, she became aware
of her loss, and endeavored to recall him to her side with a simple
_pout pou-it_, uttered in a strain of such exquisite sadness, that I
could scarcely believe such notes to be produced by a bird, and so
greatly did they excite my sympathy, that I felt almost resolved to
desist from making further collections in natural history, which was one
of the principal objects of my journey into the country.
“Another species that takes the place of this bird, west of Monterey,
has a more powerful, varied, and artistic song, but I have never heard
the lay of any songster of the feathered tribe expressed more sweetly
than that of the present Oriole. At Monterey, it is a favorite
cage-bird. The notes of the male are more powerful than those of the
female.
“My stay in Mexico was not sufficiently protracted to enable me to study
the habits of this interesting bird as fully as I could have wished.
Generally, its flight is low and rapid, and it seemed to prefer the
shade of trees. It was observed almost invariably in pairs, and the male
and female showed for each other much tenderness and solicitude. If one
strayed from the other, a soft _pou-it_, soon brought them again
together.”
Nature has, for much the greater part, denied to birds of brilliant
plumage any remarkable powers of melody, and there are many birds of
great beauty, in which the voice is harsh and uninviting, if not
absolutely disagreeable. Occasional exceptions occur, particularly in
the families of Grosbeaks and Finches, species of which are capable of
producing short, though expressive and musical notes, sometimes uttered
in connection with each other, and forming a partial song. Such is the
case, too, with a few of the Orioles; but we should infer from the
interesting statement of Lieut. Couch, that the bird now before us is,
at least, one of the most gifted of its family, and we shall look
forward to his further investigations in Mexico, which he is now about
commencing, hoping for additional information in relation to this
remarkable species.
All the most celebrated songsters of the feathered kingdom are birds of
very plain plumage. The Nightingale, famed in all ages, and universally
admitted to be the most superior in vocal ability of all the birds of
the world, would attract no attention whatever from the general
observer, so modest and unpretending is its appearance. The Mocking Bird
of the United States, properly regarded as second only to the
Nightingale, is scarcely less so, and our other Thrushes, and the little
_Vireos_, very respectfully to be mentioned as vocalists, partake of the
same character.
Mr. Pease noticed the Black-headed Oriole not only at Jalapa, but also
on the _tierra caliente_, between that city and Vera Cruz. At the season
when observed by him, it fed principally on fruits, as noticed by Mr.
Clark, which fact does not conflict with Lieut. Couch’s statement, that
it is an insect-eater; as all the birds of the family to which this
species belongs, subsist on both fruits and insects, or are what are
termed omnivorous. At Jalapa, it was called by the Mexicans, _Calandria
iquimite_, the latter word being the name of a tree, of the fruit of
which it is said to be particularly fond.
Our plate represents the adult male, which is but little different from
the female. The figure is two-thirds of the natural size.