Genus Cardellina. Bonaparte, Cons. Av. p. 312.
General form rather lengthened and slender; bill moderate, with several
pairs of slender bristles at the base of the upper mandible; wings
rather long, with the third quill longest; tail long; tarsi and toes
moderate, rather slender, the latter rather short; colors bright and
showy. Two American birds only are classed in this genus.
Cardellina rubra. (Swainson.)
Setophaga rubra. Swainson, Philos. Mag. I., new series, p. 367.
(1827.)
Sylvia miniata. La Fresnaye, Guerin’s Mag. de Zool., 1836 (not paged).
Parus leucotis. Giraud, Sixteen new species N. A. Birds, 1841 (not
paged).
“Sylvia argyrotis. Illiger.” Bonap. Cons. Av. p. 312.
Form. Bill somewhat subulate, sharp; wing with the third quill longest;
tail long, emarginate; tarsi slender; toes rather short; claws fully
curved, compressed, acute.
Dimensions. Total length of skin, male, 5 inches; wing, 2½; tail, 2¾
inches.
Colors. Male.—A well-defined large space behind the eye, fine silky
white; quills and tail-feathers light hair-brown, with a tinge of
cinereous and margined externally with dark red; entire other plumage
above and below bright vermilion, lighter on the under-parts, and tinged
with purple on the back; inferior coverts of the wings and axillary
feathers pale reddish white; bill and tarsi light colored (yellow?).
Hab. Texas and Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.
Obs. This little Flycatcher is of the same general form as the Redstart
(_Setophaga ruticilla_) of the United States, and evidently belongs to
the same family, though apparently presenting sufficiently distinct
generic characters. It has nearer relatives than our northern species,
inhabiting Mexico and Central America, very nearly all of which are
clothed in plumage of gay and beautiful colors.
This bird does not resemble any other species with which we are
acquainted in such degree as to render especial comparison necessary,
and is very easily recognised.
[Illustration: Plate 44
The Texan Guan
Ortalida poliocephala (_Wagler_)]
ORTALIDA POLIOCEPHALA.—(Wagler.)
The Texan Guan.
PLATE XLIV. Adult Male.
This bird is the only one yet discovered in the United States, of a
family of Gallinaceous Birds, of which numerous species are found in the
warmer countries of America. Various species inhabit Mexico and Central
America, some of which, including that now before us, appear to be
readily domesticated, and in Mexico especially, may frequently be seen
amongst the usual feathered denizens of the farm-yard.
The birds of this group, known by the names of Guans, Curassow birds,
and Mexican Turkeys, and the Turkeys proper, are two families of the
Gallinaceous birds that are peculiarly American, and not distantly
related to each other. Of the Turkeys, two species are known, the most
numerous of which is the Wild Turkey of North America. The other, even
more handsome in its plumage than the former, has as yet only been found
in Central America, and is known as the Honduras Turkey. It is by no
means well established that the Domestic Turkey is descended from the
wild species of North America. Its origin probably has not yet been
discovered.
The family to which our present species belongs (_Cracidæ_), contains
birds that for the greater part live in the forests, and are remarkable
for habitually frequenting trees to a much greater extent than is usual
amongst the larger Gallinaceous birds, and constructing their nests in
the branches much in the same style as the smaller perching birds.
Several species, amongst which is the bird now before us, have very loud
and discordant voices.
The Curassow Birds (Genus _Crax_) are the best known of this family.
They are generally of black or dark red plumage, more or less varied
with white, and have very curious and handsome crests, of stiff,
recurved feathers. These birds are frequently domesticated in Mexico and
the other countries that they inhabit, and a species or two are
contained in almost every menagerie of any considerable pretensions in
the United States.
The species now before us was first noticed as a bird of the United
States, by Col. McCall, who observed it in Texas. Since that period, it
has been repeatedly obtained by American naturalists either in that
country or in New Mexico.
With that ability and courtesy which has added so much to the interest
of the present volume, Col. McCall has furnished the following for our
article on this interesting bird:—
“This very gallant-looking and spirited bird I saw, for the first time
within our territory, in the extensive forest of _chaparral_ which
envelopes the _Resaca de la Palma_, a stream rendered famous in the
history of our country by the victory achieved by the American forces
under Gen. Taylor. Here, and for miles along the lower Rio Grande, the
_poliocephala_ was abundant; and throughout this region, the remarkable
and sonorous cry of the male bird could not fail to attract and fix the
attention of the most obtuse or listless wanderer who might chance to
approach its abode.
“By the Mexicans it is called _Chiac-chia-lacca_, an Indian name, and
doubtlessly derived from the peculiar cry of the bird, which strikingly
resembles a repetition of those syllables. And when I assure you that
its voice in compass is equal to that of the Guinea-fowl, and in
harshness but little inferior, you may form some idea of the chorus with
which the forest is made to ring at the hour of sunrise. At that hour,
in the month of April, I have observed a proud and stately fellow
descend from the tree on which he had roosted, and mounting upon an old
log or stump, commence his clear shrill cry. This was soon responded to,
in a lower tone, by the female, the latter always taking up the strain
as soon as the importunate call of her mate had ceased.
“Thus alternating, one pair after another would join in the matinal
chorus, and before the rising sun had fairly lighted up their close
retreat, the woods would ring with the din of an hundred voices, as the
happy couples met after the period of separation and repose.
“When at length all this clatter had terminated, the parties quietly
betook themselves to their morning-meal. If surprised while thus
employed, they would fly into the trees above, whence, peering down with
stretched necks and heads turned sideways to the ground, they would
challenge the intruder with a singular and oft-repeated croaking note,
of which it would be difficult to give any adequate idea with words
alone.
“Indeed, the volubility and singularity of voice of the _poliocephala_
is perhaps its most striking and remarkable trait—at least, it so
appeared to me. In illustration of which I will state that, while on the
march from Matamoras to Tampico, we had encamped on the 30th December,
at the spring of _Encinal_, whence, a short time before sunset, I rode
out in company with an officer in search of game. We were passing
through a woodland near the stream, when our ears were saluted with a
strange sound that resembled somewhat the cry of the panther (_Felis
onca_). We stopped our horses and listened—the cry was repeated, and we
were completely at a loss to what animal to ascribe it. I dismounted,
and having crawled cautiously through the thicket for some distance,
came upon an opening where there were some larger trees; from the lower
branches of one of which I now ascertained that the sound proceeded. In
a moment or two I discovered a large male _poliocephala_ ascending
towards the top of the tree, and uttering this hitherto unheard sound as
he sprang from branch to branch in mounting to his roost. He seemed to
be much occupied with his own thoughts, and did not observe me; and
therefore I was enabled to watch his movements. In a few moments his
call was answered from a distance, and soon afterwards he was joined by
a bird of the year. Others followed, coming in from different quarters;
and there were, in a little while, five or six of them upon the tree.
One of these now discovered me, and the alarm was given. The singular
cry of the old bird ceased, and they all began to exhibit uneasiness and
a disposition to fly; whereupon I shot the old bird, as I had resolved
to secure him at all events. On rejoining my companion, he could not at
first believe me to be serious, when I told him the sound we had heard
had proceeded from the old cock that I presented to him, and who had
been calling his family together at the close of day in the manner I
have described. On my return to camp, I entered in my note-book the
following description which I took from this bird:—
“Length 23 inches, 6 lines; alar stretch, 26 inches; tail, 11 inches;
tarsus, 2 inches, 7 lines. The bill similar to that of the common fowl,
but longer on the ridge and more curved at the point; the upper mandible
light slate blue, the lower yellowish, but brown near the base; legs and
feet blackish slate color; the nails black; the irides dark hazel; the
chin devoid of feathers, and its skin, which is of an orange-red color,
approximating in looseness to the gills of the common fowl; general
color above, a brownish olive, with dark green reflections, deepest on
the head; breast and belly light rufous, with whitish longitudinal
pencillings; tail (of twelve feathers) darker than the back, and with a
broad terminal band of dull white; wings dusky olive. A male; a very
fine specimen, killed near Encinal, Dec. 30, 1846.
“A remarkable feature in the _poliocephala_ is the eye, which in the
living bird is full of courage and animation—it is equal, in fact, in
brilliancy to that of the finest game cock.
“I frequently noticed this bird domesticated by the Mexicans at
Matamoras, Monterey, &c., and going at large about their gardens. I was
assured that in this condition it not unfrequently crossed with the
common fowl; but I did not see the progeny.
“In the wild state, the eggs are from six to eight, never exceeding the
last number. They are white, without spots; and rather smaller than a
pullet’s egg. The nest is usually made on the ground, at the root of a
large tree, or at the side of an old log, where a hole several inches
deep is scratched in the ground; this is lined with leaves, and the eggs
are always carefully covered with the same when the female leaves them
for the purpose of feeding. If disturbed while on her nest, she flies at
the intruder with all the spirit and determination of the common
domestic hen, whose retreat has been invaded.”
This species has been noticed by several of the naturalists who have
recently made such important contributions to the ornithology of the
southwestern frontier of the United States. Specimens brought by Mr.
John H. Clark, were obtained near Ringgold Barracks, Texas. The fine
collection made in Texas and Mexico, by Lieut. D. N. Couch, of the
United States Army, contained specimens obtained in the State of New
Leon, in the latter country.