Genus Geococcyx. Wagler, Isis, 1831, p. 524.
General form lengthened and rather slender; bill long, straight, strong,
compressed, curved at the tip; wings short, rounded; fourth and fifth
primaries longest; first short; tail long, graduated; legs long,
especially the tibiæ; tarsi covered with wide transverse scales, very
distinct in front; toes moderate, covered with scales; claws curved,
flattened laterally. An American genus, containing two or three species
only, all of which inhabit California, Texas, and Mexico.
Geococcyx mexicanus. (Gmelin.)
Phasianus mexicanus. Gm., Syst. Nat., II. p. 741. (1788.)
Geococcyx variegatus. Wagler, Isis, 1831, p. 524.
Diplopterus viaticus. Boie, Isis, 1831, p. 541.
“Cuculus viaticus. Licht. Mus. Berol.” Wagler and Boie, as above.
Saurothera marginata. Kaup, Isis, 1832, p. 991, pl. 26.
Saurothera californiana. Less, Ann. du Mus., Paris, 1835, p. 121, pl.
9.
Leptostoma longicauda. Swains., Cab. Cy. Birds, II. p. 325. (1837.)
“Saurothera Bottæ. Blainville.”
Upupa mexicana. Gm., Syst. Nat., I. p. 467?
Form. Head above with elongated, erectile, crest-like feathers. A large
bare space around and behind the eye extending towards the occiput;
wings short; tail long; legs long, stout; tarsus with about eight or
nine wide and strong scales in front.
Dimensions. _Male._—Total length of skin, about 22 inches; wing, 6½;
tail, 11 inches. _Female_, smaller.
Colors. _Male._—Space around and behind the eye, in the living bird,
yellow, with a large red spot on its most posterior part; plumage of the
head above dark blue, with a metallic lustre, every feather edged with
reddish fulvous and white; entire other upper parts dark metallic green,
darkest on the neck behind and on the back; lightest on the wings and
central feathers of the tail; all the upper plumage edged with white,
and very narrowly with pale fulvous; primary quills dark brown, with a
green metallic lustre, and edged with white on their outer webs; upper
coverts of the tail and two central tail feathers green, with metallic
lustre, and edged with white; other feathers of the tail deep shining
blue, narrowly edged, and widely tipped with white, and having in some
lights a green lustre; under parts white, slightly tinged with ashy and
very pale yellowish; and on the throat and neck before with longitudinal
stripes of dark greenish-brown; bill and feet light bluish. _Female_
similar, but with the colors less vivid.
Hab. California, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad.,
Philada., and in Nat. Mus., Washington city.
Obs. As the reader will have discovered from our preceding synonymes, an
unusual superabundance of names has been proposed for this bird. We have
no doubt, however, that it is the _Hoitlallotl_ of Hernandez (Nova,
plantarum, animalium et mineralium Mexicanorum, Historia, p. 25. Folio,
Rome, 1651), whose description is cited by both Buffon and Latham. On
the faith of the notice by the latter (Synopsis of Birds, II. p. 723),
Gmelin gave the name _Phasianus mexicanus_ as cited above. The
description by Hernandez is short and not very accurate; but we could
mention many species of birds, the original descriptions of which are
quite as much so, both ancient and modern. Prof. Wagler, in his
description of _Geococcyx variegatus_, above alluded to, expresses the
opinion that his bird is the same as that described by Hernandez; and
Mr. Strickland, in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., VIII. p. 544 (1842),
arrives at the same conclusion.
We regard it as at least possible, too, that this bird is the _Upupa
mexicana_ (Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I. p. 467), which is the “Mexican
Promerops” (Latham, Syn., II. p. 691). The descriptions are founded on a
figure in Seba (pl. 45, fig. 3), that about as accurately represents
this species as any other; which can also be said of his description. In
Seba’s figure it will be observed that three toes are directed forward,
which might appear to be a difficulty; but in reference to that point we
ask attention to Col. McCall’s valuable contribution in a preceding
page. There is, too, some peculiarity intended or attempted to be
represented in the figure to which we allude.
The sexes of this bird differ in size very considerably; and there are,
also, variations in size and measurements, such as comparative lengths
of their bills and tails between different specimens. We have seen a
large number of specimens, from various localities, but of one species
only. Though we have been constantly on the watch for it, we have never
detected the smaller species alluded to by Captain McCown, which is very
probably _Geococcyx affinis_, described by Dr. George Hartlaub, of the
State Museum of Bremen, one of the most learned and accurate of European
ornithologists. That species may be more an inhabitant of the
mountainous or hilly country than the subject of our present article.
[Illustration: Plate 37
The Whip-Tom-Kelly
Vireosylvia altiloqua (_Vieillot_)]
VIREOSYLVIA ALTILOQUA.—(Vieillot.)
The Long-billed Flycatcher. The Whip-tom-kelly. The John-to-whit.
PLATE XXXVII. Adult Male.
This little bird is very similar in form and general appearance to the
Red-eyed Flycatcher (_Vireosylvia olivacea_), of the United States, but
is larger, and is distinctly characterized by the dark line on the side
of the neck. It appears to possess much the same habits as the common
species just mentioned, and others that inhabit the northern division of
the continent of America. Passing its life, for the greater part,
searching for insects amongst the thick foliage of the forest, in which
its color favors concealment, it utters its peculiar notes, evidently of
the same general character, but much louder and quite different from
those of either of its northern brethren.
Though long known as a bird of the West Indies, and represented by Mr.
Gosse to be abundant in the Island of Jamaica, it has but recently been
discovered within the limits of the United States. Vieillot, it is true,
gave it as a North American species, and in his fine work, which is of
standard value in the history of our birds, figures it accurately, but
from specimens obtained in the West Indies. It was first ascertained to
be a summer visitor in Florida, by Dr. A. L. Heermann, who observed it
in considerable numbers in that State, at a season when it was certainly
engaged in the duties of incubation; but it has as yet never been
noticed in any other part of the United States. It is probable, too,
that it inhabits Cuba, but the several able naturalists of that Island
have not detected it, or at least have not stated it to be different
from the common Red-eyed Flycatcher.
For our article on this bird, Dr. Heermann has, with great kindness,
furnished the following notice:—
“Charlotte Harbour is situated on the Gulf of Mexico, and is studded
with numerous small islands or keys, as they are called, on which grows
the cocoa-nut, said to be brought hither from the West Indies by the
tides, and being thrown on the shore, takes root and flourishes. Some of
these islands, during my visit, I may say almost swarmed with Herons,
Cormorants, Snake-birds, Spoonbills, and Pelicans, engaged in attending
to their nests, and raising their young. The wild fig, orange, lemon,
palmetto, and pine, abound—the first of which is the principal food of
several species of birds, while the large numbers of fishes everywhere
in the surrounding waters afford ample subsistence to those that I have
mentioned. On the sand-bars, various species of Terns were to be found
in abundance, also engaged in incubation, while the Fish Crow, ever on
the alert to seize the eggs or young, or the captured prey of any of
these species when left unguarded, was ever to be seen on the wing, and
at a distance, and not to be approached easily, I have frequently seen
flocks of Flamingoes dredging perseveringly for shell-fishes, or
standing in groups, looking almost like files of soldiers in red
uniforms.
“I mention these birds because, like the little Long-billed Flycatcher,
and like the cocoa-nut, too, if the prevailing belief is correct, they
appear to be visitors only from a more southern clime. They seem to have
reached Florida in the course of a northern migration, and although
remaining for a season, retire periodically, again to appear in due
time.
“In this vicinity, I met with the Long-billed Flycatcher, which, coming
with his larger and more conspicuous fellow-travellers, to which I have
alluded, appears to be a more transient visitant, performing the duties
of incubation on this the northern district of his range, and soon
retiring southwardly to the West Indies. This bird much resembles in
manners and appearance the Red-eyed Flycatcher of the Northern States,
but is not, I think, its equal as a vocalist. His notes, at the season
when I heard them, were not as numerous, nor his song so long-continued.
They are quite different from those of the Red-eye, but clear and
musical, and very distinctly uttered. He is constantly on the search for
insects, and appeared to me to be more active than either of the
northern species, darting about amongst the foliage, or peering into a
crevice or recess in a branch, or a spider’s web, with his back
downwards, like the warblers,—or occasionally chasing a flying insect,
in the manner of the Pewee Flycatchers. These actions were usually
accompanied by his song, as is the case with the Red-eye and the
Warbling Flycatchers. This species was not abundant, though I saw it
frequently, and obtained several specimens.”
The name, “Whip-tom-kelly,” is applied to this bird in Brown’s Jamaica,
one of the standard authorities on that Island (the Civil and Natural
History of Jamaica, by Patrick Brown, M. D., London, 1789, folio), as
its popular appellation, and has been transferred to the works of
various authors. Mr. Gosse, however, in his pleasant volume on the Birds
of Jamaica, mentions that he had never heard this designation.
The naturalists of Jamaica and Cuba appear to have considered this bird
as identical with the Red-eyed Flycatcher. The latter may be a visitor,
most probably, in the winter, to these islands, but the present is
undoubtedly the resident summer species, at least in Jamaica. The figure
in Edward’s Gleanings of Natural History (V. pl. 253), is particularly
stated to have been made from Dr. Brown’s specimen brought from Jamaica,
and clearly represents the present bird. Mr. Swainson, in Fauna Boreali
Americana, Birds, p. 237, in his description of _Vireo longirostris_,
which is this bird, mentions having received specimens from the Islands
of Jamaica and St. Vincent.
As a bird of Jamaica, this little Flycatcher is described in his usually
agreeable manner, by Mr. Gosse, in his work above alluded to. Holding
ourselves in duty bound, we take the liberty of transcribing from his
pages as followeth, premising that he calls this bird the
“John-to-whit:”—
“Much oftener heard than seen, though not unfamiliar to either sense,
this sober-colored bird is one of those whose notes have such a
similarity to articulations as to procure them a common appellation. The
Flycatchers, in general, are not very vociferous, but this is
pertinacious in its tritonous call, repeating it with energy every two
or three seconds. It does not ordinarily sit on a prominent twig, or
dart out after insects, though I have seen one in eager but unsuccessful
pursuit of a butterfly (_Terias_); but it seems to love the centre of
thick woods, where it sits announcing its presence, or flits from bough
to bough as you approach, so that it is not easy to get a sight of it.
“This bird does not winter with us, but leaves with the Grey Petchary
(_Tyrannus Dominicensis_), at the beginning of October. It returns
early—and like the bird just named, evidently makes an eastward
progress, arriving at the southwest end of the island first. On the 26th
of March, on my return to Bluefields, after a visit to Spanishtown, I
heard its well-known voice, but my lad had noticed it a week before.
From this time, every grove, I might almost say every tree, had its
bird, uttering, with incessant iteration and untiring energy, from its
umbrageous concealment,
’_Sweet-John!—John-to-whit!—Sweet-John-to-whit!—John-t’-whit!—Sweet-John-to—whit!_’
I can scarcely understand how the call can be written ‘Whip-tom-kelly,’
as the accent, if I may so say, is most energetic on the last syllable.
Nor have I ever heard this appellation given to it in Jamaica. After
July, we rarely hear ‘_John-to-whit_’—but, ‘_to-whit—to-whoo_,’ and
sometimes a soft, simple chirp, or _sip, sip_, whispered so gently as
scarcely to be audible. This, however, I have reason to believe is the
note of the young, for I have heard young ones repeatedly utter it, when
sitting on a twig, receiving from time to time, with gaping beak and
quivering wing, the food contributed by the dam.
“The food of the John-to-whit is both animal and vegetable. In March, I
have found in its stomach the seeds of the tropic birch, and in April,
the berries of sweet-wood, in an unripe state. In the same month, I
observed one hunting insects by the borders of Bluefields rivulet, in
which I was bathing, and so intent was it upon its occupation, that it
allowed me to approach within a foot of it before it flew. It sought
insects successfully among the grass and low herbage, perching on the
stalks of the weeds, and jumping out after stationary, as well as
vagrant, prey. I observed it eat two spider’s nests, which it masticated
as if peculiarly savory. As it sat, it vomited a little white body,
which I found to be the globose seed of the misletoe berry.
“Incubation takes place in June and July. The nest is rather a neat
structure, though made of coarse materials. It is a deep cup, about as
large as an ordinary tea-cup, narrowed at the mouth, composed of dried
grass, intermixed with silk-cotton, and sparingly with lichen and
spiders’ nests, and lined with thatch-threads. It is usually suspended
between two twigs, or in the fork of one, the margin being over-woven so
as to embrace the twigs. This is very neatly performed. Specimens vary
much in beauty,—one before me is particularly neat and compact, being
almost globular in form, except that about one-fourth of the globe is
wanting, as it is a cup. Though the walls are not thick, they are very
firm and close, the materials being well woven. These are fibres of
grass-like plants, moss, a few dry leaves, flat papery spiders’ nests,
with a little cotton or down for the over-binding of the edges. It is
lined smoothly with fibres, I know not of what plant, as slender as
human hair. Another nest, similarly formed, has the cavity almost filled
with a mass of white cotton, which looks as if thrust in by man, but
that those filaments of the mass that are in contact with the sides, are
interwoven with the other materials. As it is picked cotton, it must be
a bit stolen from some house or yard, not plucked by the bird from the
capsule. The eggs, commonly three in number, are delicately white, with
a few small red-brown spots thinly scattered over the surface, sometimes
very minute and few. Their form is a somewhat pointed oval, measuring
nine-tenths of an inch by rather less than thirteen-twentieths.”
Our figure is about three-fourths of the size of life, and represents
the adult male from one of Dr. Heermann’s specimens obtained in Florida.