Size small, in some species diminutive, and the smallest of birds; bill
slender, frequently straight, and also frequently curved, acute; wings
comparatively large, generally pointed and formed for rapid flight;
quills flattened, first primary longest, and curved inwards; tail
various; legs and feet very short and feeble. The birds of this group
are exclusively American.
Trochilus Alexandri. Bourcier and Mulsant, Annals of the Royal Society
of Physical and Natural Sciences of Lyons, IX. p. 330. (1846.)
Form. Small; bill long; nearly straight; wings rather short; first quill
longest, and somewhat curved; tail rather short, marginated, with its
feathers narrow and pointed; legs and feet very short and weak.
Dimensions. Total length of skin, about 3¼ inches; wing, 2¹/₁₀; tail, 1
inch.
Color. Entire upper parts golden green; dark on the head; wings and tail
brownish-black, except the central feathers of the latter, which are
green; throat brilliant purple, with violet reflections, which color is
succeeded by a broad transverse band of white; other under parts golden
green, mixed with pale brownish and ashy; bill and feet dark.
Hab. California and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.
Obs. This bird is about the size of, or slightly larger than the
ruby-throated Humming Bird (_T. colubris_) of North America, and
resembles it in the general distribution of its colors. Those of the
throat are, however, entirely different. The two species belong
evidently to the same subdivision of the old genus _Trochilus_, which
is, however, given so differently by late authors, that we have not at
present determined the relative claims of either. It is given by one as
belonging to the genus _Mellisuga_, and by another as _Trochilus_
proper, in a restricted sense.
The study of the Humming Birds, now difficult, will be rendered easy by
Mr. Gould’s great work on these birds, now in the course of publication.
All the known species are to be figured of the size of life; and in the
parts already published, the drawing and coloring is exceedingly
accurate, and magnificent beyond any precedent in the literature of
ornithology.
In the old world, the Humming Birds are represented by the Sun Birds
(genus _Cinnyris_, Cuvier; _Nectarinia_ of some authors), numerous
species of which inhabit Africa and Southern Asia. They partake in some
measure of the habits of the Humming Birds, and also of their lustrous
colors, many of the species being very beautiful.
Several naturalists and admirers of ornithology have formed special
collections of Humming Birds, and there are now extant several which
contain very nearly all the known species, of which may be mentioned
those of Mr. Edward Wilson, and Mr. John Gould, in England, and of
Messrs. Edward and Jules Verreaux, in Paris. That of the first named,
who is an American gentleman resident in England, is the most extensive
and complete, and includes several of the only specimens known of the
species which they represent. This gentleman and his brother, Dr. Thomas
B. Wilson, of Philadelphia, have won for themselves the imperishable
respect and gratitude of American naturalists, by forming in their
native city the most extensive library and collections in natural
history in America, and, in some departments, unrivalled by any in the
old world. For these, now constituting, mainly, the magnificent museum
and library of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, it is
indebted to the distinguished patrons of zoological science whom we have
just mentioned.
EMBERIZA BILINEATA.—Cassin.
The Black-throated Finch.
PLATE XXIII.—Adult Male.
This curious little Finch was discovered in Texas, in 1849, by Mr. John
W. Audubon, a son of the celebrated ornithologist, and himself a
naturalist and zoological draughtsman of high merit and accomplishments.
It appears to be extensively diffused throughout Mexico, Texas, and New
Mexico, and in the former country is a common species. In the States
last mentioned, it has been noticed by nearly all the naturalists who
have visited them; though, as a bird of the United States, little beyond
the fact of its existence in those regions has been placed on record, or
has otherwise come to our knowledge.
In Mexico, this bird was found by Lieut. Couch to be numerous in some
parts of Tamaulipas, Nueva Leon, Coahuila, and other States on the Rio
Grande, immediately south and west of the limits of the territory of the
United States. For our present article, this gentleman has very kindly
furnished the following interesting communication, for which and other
similar favors we beg to tender our grateful acknowledgments:—
“This bird was first seen at Santa Rosalio, and specimens were obtained.
Though a month had been spent at Brownsville, in Texas, only about
twenty miles distant, it had not been observed. At Charco Escondido,
forty miles farther in the interior, it was very plentiful, and early in
March, seemed to have already reared a breed of young; one specimen
procured, having the appearance of being a young bird but a few weeks
old.
“Its favourite home appears to be the scattered Mesquite or Acacias that
sprinkle the plains east of the Sierra Madre. Like many other birds of
its family, it does not seek the shade during the warmer hours of
mid-day, but may always be found chirping and hopping from one bush to
another, apparently as much for the pleasure of enjoying the society of
its fellows as to seek for food.
“After striking south from Cadorcita, this little bird suddenly
disappeared, much to my regret, as I had become so accustomed to seeing
it constantly during my daily marches, that I almost regarded it as a
travelling companion. But after nearly a month’s absence, I again
recognized it among some flowering _Leguminosa_, between Pesqueria and
Rinconada. I afterwards ascertained that it would thus be entirely
absent from districts of considerable extent, but always reappeared
again throughout my journey, and was always welcome.
[Illustration: Plate 23
The Black-throated Finch
Emberiza bilneata (_Cassin_)]
“The usual note of this bird at the season in which I saw it, is a
simple chirp; but one day, having halted during a _norther_, in the
State of Tamaulipas, I amused myself watching a party of adult and young
birds of this species, in the neighboring bushes. One gay little
black-throated fellow, who was probably the father, showed unusual
uneasiness at my presence, which fact led me particularly to observe
him. After carefully reconnoitering and apparently satisfying himself
that there was no immediate danger, he flew off a few yards to the top
of a yellow mimosa then in bloom, and, regardless of the bitter wind
still blowing, gave utterance to a strain of sprightly and sweet notes,
that would have compared favorably with those of many a more famed
songster of the feathered race. This was the only time that I ever heard
this species indulge in anything more than a single chirp.”
This little Finch was observed at various localities in Texas by
gentlemen attached to the commission for running the boundary line
between the United States and Mexico.
The figure in our plate, which is that of an adult male from Lieut.
Couch’s collection, is about two-thirds of the size of life.
The plant represented is _Spirea Douglasii_, a native of western North
America.