But let us again resume the subject of the rattle snake; a wonderful
creature, when we consider his form, nature, and disposition. It is
certain that he is capable by a puncture or scratch of one of his
fangs, not only to kill the largest animal in America, and that in a
few minutes time, but to turn the whole body into corruption; but such
is the nature of this dreaded reptile, that he cannot run or creep
faster than a man or child can walk, and he is never known to strike
until he is first assaulted or fears himself in danger, and even then
always gives the earliest warning by the rattles at the extremity of
his tail. I have in the course of my travels in the Southern states
(where they are the largest, most numerous and supposed to be the most
venemous and vindictive) stept unknowingly so close as almost to touch
one of them with my feet, and when I perceived him he was already drawn
up in circular coils ready for a blow. But, however incredible it may
appear, the generous, I may say magnanimous creature lay as still and
motionless as if inanimate, his head crouched in, his eyes almost shut.
I precipitately withdrew, unless when I have been so shocked with
surprise and horror as to be in a manner rivetted to the spot, for a
short time not having strength to go away; when he often slowly extends
himself and quietly moves off in a direct line, unless pursued, when he
erects his tail as far as the rattles extend, and gives the warning
alarm by intervals. But if you pursue and overtake him with a show of
enmity, he instantly throws himself into the spiral coil; his tail by
the rapidity of its motion appears like a vapour, making a quick
tremulous sound; his whole body swells through rage, continually rising
and falling as a bellows; his beautiful particoloured skin becomes
speckled and rough by dilatation; his head and neck are flattened, his
cheeks swollen and his lips constricted, discovering his mortal fangs;
his eyes red as burning coals, and his brandishing forked tongue of the
colour of the hottest flame, continually menaces death and destruction,
yet never strikes unless sure of his mark.
The rattle snake is the largest serpent yet known to exist in North
America. I have heard of their having been seen formerly, at the first
settling of Georgia, seven, eight, and even ten feet in length, and six
or eight inches diameter; but there are none of that size now to be
seen; yet I have seen them above six feet in length, and about six
inches in thickness, or as large as a man’s leg, but their general size
is four, five, and six feet in length. They are supposed to have the
power of fascination in an eminent degree, so as to inthral their prey.
It is generally believed that they charm birds, rabbits, squirrels and
other animals, and by stedfastly looking at them possess them with
infatuation: be the cause what it may, the miserable creatures
undoubtedly strive by every possible means to escape, but alas! their
endeavours are in vain, they at last lose the power of resistance, and
flutter or move slowly, but reluctantly towards the yawning jaws of
their devourers, and creep into their mouths, or lie down and suffer
themselves to be taken and swallowed.
Since, within the circle of my acquaintance, I am known to be an
advocate or vindicator of the benevolent and peaceable disposition of
animal creation in general, not only towards mankind, whom they seem to
venerate, but also towards one another, except where hunger or the
rational and necessary provocations of the sensual appetites interfere.
I shall mention a few instances, amongst many, which I have had an
opportunity of remarking during my travels, particularly with regard to
the animal I have been treating of. I shall strictly confine myself to
facts.
When on the sea coast of Georgia, I consented, with a few friends, to
make a party of amusement at fishing and fowling on Sapello, one of the
sea coast islands. We accordingly descended the Alatamaha, crossed the
sound and landed on the North end of the island, near the inlet, fixing
our encampment at a pleasant situation, under the shade of a grove of
Live Oaks and Laurels[42], on the high banks of a creek which we
ascended, winding through a salt marsh, which had its source from a
swamp and savanna in the island: our situation elevated and open,
commanded a comprehensive landscape; the great ocean, the foaming surf
breaking on the sandy beach, the snowy breakers on the bar, the endless
chain of islands, checkered sound and high continent all appearing
before us. The diverting toils of the day were not fruitless, affording
us opportunities of furnishing ourselves plentifully with a variety of
game, fish and oysters for our supper.
About two hundred yards from our camp was a cool spring, amidst a grove
of the odoriferous Myrica: the winding path to this salubrious fountain
led through a grassy savanna. I visited the spring several times in the
night, but little did I know, or any of my careless drowsy companions,
that every time we visited the fountain we were in imminent danger, as
I am going to relate. Early in the morning, excited by unconquerable
thirst, I arose and went to the spring; and having, thoughtless of harm
or danger, nearly half past the dewy vale, along the serpentine
foot-path, my hasty steps were suddenly stopped by the sight of a
hideous serpent, the formidable rattle snake, in a high spiral coil,
forming a circular mound half the height of my knees, within six inches
of the narrow path. As soon as I recovered my senses and strength from
so sudden a surprise, I started back out of his reach, where I stood to
view him: he lay quiet whilst I surveyed him, appearing no way
surprised or disturbed, but kept his half-shut eyes fixed on me. My
imagination and spirits were in a tumult, almost equally divided
betwixt thanksgiving to the Supreme Creator and Preserver, and the
dignified nature of the generous though terrible creature, who had
suffered us all to pass many times by him during the night, without
injuring us in the least, although we must have touched him, or our
steps guided therefrom by a supreme guardian spirit. I hastened back to
acquaint my associates, but with a determination to protect the life of
the generous serpent. I presently brought my companions to the place,
who were, beyond expression, surprised and terrified at the sight of
the animal, and in a moment acknowledged their escape from destruction
to be miraculous; and I am proud to assert, that all of us, except one
person, agreed to let him lie undisturbed, and that person was at
length prevailed upon to suffer him to escape.
Again, when in my youth, attending my father on a journey to the
Catskill Mountains, in the government of New-York; having nearly
ascended the peak of Giliad, being youthful and vigorous in the pursuit
of botanical and novel objects, I had gained the summit of a steep
rocky precipice, ahead of our guide; when just entering a shady vale, I
saw, at the root of a small shrub, a singular and beautiful appearance,
which I remember to have instantly apprehended to be a large kind of
Fungus which we call Jews ears, and was just drawing back my foot to
kick it over, when at the instant, my father being near, cried out, “A
rattle snake my son!” and jerked me back, which probably saved my life.
I had never before seen one. This was of the kind which our guide
called a yellow one, it was very beautiful, speckled and clouded. My
father plead for his life, but our guide was inexorable, saying he
never spared the life of a rattle snake, and killed him; my father took
his skin and fangs.
Some years after this, when again in company with my father on a
journey into East Florida, on the banks of St. Juan, at Fort Picolata,
attending the congress at a treaty between that government and the
Creek Nation, for obtaining a territory from that people to annex to
the new government; after the Indians and a detachment from the
garrison of St. Augustine had arrived and encamped separately, near the
fort, some days elapsed before the business of the treaty came on,
waiting the arrival of a vessel from St. Augustine, on board of which
were the presents for the Indians. My father employed this time of
leisure in little excursions round about the fort; and one morning,
being the day the treaty commenced, I attended him on a botanical
excursion. Some time after we had been rambling in a swamp about a
quarter of a mile from the camp, I being ahead a few paces, my father
bid me observe the rattle snake before and just at my feet. I stopped
and saw the monster formed in a high spiral coil, not half his length
from my feet: another step forward would have put my life in his power,
as I must have touched if not stumbled over him. The fright and
perturbation of my spirits at once excited resentment; at that time I
was entirely insensible to gratitude or mercy. I instantly cut off a
little sapling, and soon dispatched him: this serpent was about six
feet in length, and as thick as an ordinary man’s leg. The rencounter
deterred us from proceeding on our researches for that day. So I cut
off a long tough withe or vine, which fastening round the neck of the
slain serpent, I dragged him after me, his scaly body sounding over the
ground, and entering the camp with him in triumph, was soon surrounded
by the amazed multitude, both Indians and my countrymen. The adventure
soon reached the ears of the commander, who sent an officer to request
that, if the snake had not bit himself, he might have him served up for
his dinner. I readily delivered up the body of the snake to the cooks,
and being that day invited to dine at the governor’s table, saw the
snake served up in several dishes; governor Grant being fond of the
flesh of the rattle snake. I tasted of it, but could not swallow it. I,
however, was sorry after killing the serpent, when cooly recollecting
every circumstance. He certainly had it in his power to kill me almost
instantly, and I make no doubt but that he was conscious of it. I
promised myself that I would never again be accessary to the death of a
rattle snake, which promise I have invaribly kept to. This dreaded
animal is easily killed; a stick no thicker than a man’s thumb is
sufficient to kill the largest at one stroke, if well directed, either
on the head or across the back; nor can they make their escape by
running off, nor indeed do they attempt it when attacked.
The moccasin snake is a large and horrid serpent to all appearance, and
there are very terrifying stories related of him by the inhabitants of
the Southern states, where they greatly abound, particularly in East
Florida: that their bite is always incurable, the flesh for a
considerable space about the wound rotting to the bone, which then
becomes carious and a general mortification ensues, which infallibly
destroys the patient; the members of the body rotting and dying by
piecemeal: and that there is no remedy to prevent a lingering miserable
death but by immediately cutting away the flesh to the bone, for some
distance round about the wound. In shape and proportion of parts they
much resemble the rattle snake, and are marked or clouded much after
the same manner, but their colours more dull and obscure; and in their
disposition seem to agree with that dreaded reptile, being slow of
progression, and throwing themselves in a spiral coil ready for a blow
when attacked. They have one peculiar quality, which is this, when
discovered, and observing their enemy to take notice of them, after
throwing themselves in a coil, they gradually raise their upper
mandible or jaw until it falls back nearly touching their neck, at the
same time slowly vibrating their long purple forked tongue, their
crooked poisonous fangs directed right at you, which gives the creature
a most terrifying appearance. They are from three to four and even five
feet in length, and as thick as a man’s leg; they are not numerous, yet
too common, and a sufficient terror to the miserable naked slaves, who
are compelled to labour in the swamps and low lands where only they
abound.
I never could find any that knew an instance of any person’s losing
their life from the bite of them, only by hearsay. Yet I am convinced
it is highly prudent for every person to be on their guard against
them. They appear to be of the viper tribe, from their swelling of
their body and flattening their neck when provoked, and from their
large poisonous fangs: their head, mouth and eyes are remarkably large.
There is another snake in Carolina and Florida called the moccasin,
very different from this, which is a very beautiful creature, and I
believe not of a destructive or vindictive nature. These when grown to
their greatest size are about five feet in length, and near as thick as
a man’s arm; their skin scaly but smooth and shining, of a pale grey
and sky colour ground, uniformly marked with transverse undulatory
ringlets or blotches of a deep nut brown, edged with red or bright
Spanish brown. They appear innocent, very active and swift,
endeavouring to escape from one; they have no poisonous fangs. These
are seen in high forest lands, about rotten logs or decayed fallen
limbs of trees, and they harbour about old log buildings. They seem to
be a species, if not the very same snake which in Pennsylvania and
Virginia is called the wampom snake; but here in warmer Southern climes
they grow to a much larger size, and from the same accident their
colour may be more variable and deeper. They are by the inhabitants
asserted to be dangerously venemous, their bite incurable, &c. But as I
could never learn an instance of their bite being mortal, or attended
with any dangerous consequence, and have had frequent opportunities of
observing their nature and disposition, I am inclined to pronounce them
an innocent creature, with respect to mankind.
The bastard rattle snake, by some called ground rattle snake, is a
dangerous little creature: their bite is certainly mortal if present
medical relief is not administered: they seem to be much of the nature
of the asp or adder of the old world.
This little viper is in form and colour much like the rattle snake, but
not so bright and uniformly marked: their head is broader and shorter
in proportion to the other parts of their body: their nose prominent
and turned upwards: their tail becomes suddenly small from the vent to
the extremity, which terminates with three minute articulations,
resembling rattles: when irritated they turn up their tail, which
vibrates so quick as to appear like a mist or vapour, but causes little
or no sound or noise; yet it is the common report of the inhabitants,
that they cause that remarkable vehement noise, so frequently observed
in forests in the heat of summer and autumn, very terrifying to
strangers, which is, probably, caused by a very sable small insect of
the genus cicadae, or which are called locusts in America; yet it is
possible I may be mistaken in this conjecture. This dangerous viper is
from eight to ten inches in length, and of proportionable thickness.
They are spiteful, snappish creatures; throwing themselves into a
little coil, they swell and flatten themselves, continually darting out
their head, and they seem capable of springing beyond their length.
They seem destitute of the pacific disposition and magnanimity of the
rattle snake, and are unworthy of an alliance with him. No man ever
saves their lives, yet they remain too numerous, even in the oldest
settled parts of the country.
The green snake is a beautiful innocent creature: they are from two to
three feet in length, but not so thick as a person’s little finger; of
the finest green colour. They are very abundant, commonly seen on the
limbs of trees and shrubs: they prey upon insects and reptiles,
particularly the little green chameleon; and the forked tailed hawk or
kite feeds on both of them, snatching them off the boughs of the trees.
The ribband snake is another very beautiful innocent serpent: they are
eighteen inches in length, and about the thickness of a man’s little
finger; the head is very small; the ground colour of a full, clear
vermilion, variegated with transverse bars or zones of a dark brown,
which people fancy represents a ribband wound round the creature’s
body: they are altogether inoffensive to man, and are in a manner
domestic, frequenting old wooden buildings, open grounds and
plantations.
The chicken snake is a large, strong and swift serpent, six or seven
feet in length, but scarcely so thick as a man’s wrist; they are of a
cinereous, earthy colour, and striped longitudinally with broad lines
or lists, of a dusky or blackish colour. They are a domestic snake,
haunting about houses and plantations; and would be useful to man if
tamed and properly tutored, being great devourers of rats, but they are
apt to disturb hen-roosts and prey upon chickens. They are as innocent
as a worm with respect to venom, are easily tamed and soon become very
familiar.
The pine or bull snake is very large and inoffensive with respect to
mankind, but devours squirrels, birds, rabbits, and every other
creature they can take as food. They are the largest snake yet known in
North America, except the rattle snake, and perhaps exceed him in
length: they are pied black and white: they utter a terrible loud
hissing noise, sounding very hollow and like distant thunder, when
irritated, or at the time of incubation, when the males contend with
each other for the desired female. These serpents are also called horn
snakes, from their tail terminating with a hard, horny spur, which they
vibrate very quick when disturbed, but they never attempt to strike
with it; they have dens in the earth, whither they retreat
precipitately when apprehensive of danger.
There are many other species of snakes in the regions of Florida and
Carolina; as the water snake, black snake, garter snake, copper belly,
ring neck and two or three varieties of vipers, besides those already
noticed in my journal. Since I have begun to mention the animals of
these regions, this may be a proper place to enumerate the other tribes
which I observed during my peregrinations. I shall begin with the frogs
(RANAE.)
(1) The largest frog known in Florida and on the sea coast of Carolina,
is about eight or nine inches in length from the nose to the extremity
of the toes: they are of a dusky brown or black colour on the upper
side, and their belly or under side white, spotted and clouded with
dusky spots of various size and figure; their legs and thighs also are
variegated with transverse ringlets, of dark brown or black; and they
are yellow and green about their mouth and lips. They live in wet
swamps and marshes, on the shores of large rivers and lakes; their
voice is loud and hideous, greatly resembling the grunting of a swine;
but not near as loud as the voice of the bull frog of Virginia and
Pennsylvania: neither do they arrive to half their size, the bull frog
being frequently eighteen inches in length, and their roaring as loud
as that of a bull.
(2) The bell frog, so called because their voice is fancied to be
exactly like the sound of a loud cow bell. This tribe being very
numerous, and uttering their voices in companies or by large districts,
when one begins another answers; thus the sound is caught and repeated
from one to another, to a great distance round about, causing a
surprising noise for a few minutes, rising and sinking according as the
wind sits, when it nearly dies away, or is softly kept up by distant
disricts or communities: thus the noise is repeated continually, and as
one becomes familiarised to it, is not unmusical, though at first, to
strangers, it seems clamorous and disgusting.
(3) A beautiful green frog inhabits the grassy, marshy shores of these
large rivers. They are very numerous, and their noise exactly resembles
the barking of little dogs, or the yelping of puppies: these likewise
make a great clamour, but as their notes are fine, and uttered in
chorus, by separate bands or communities, far and near, rising and
falling with the gentle breezes, affords a pleasing kind of music.
(4) There is besides this a less green frog, which are very common
about houses: their notes are remarkably like that of young chickens:
these raise their chorus immediately preceding a shower of rain, with
which they seem delighted.
(5) A little grey speckled frog are in prodigious numbers in and about
the ponds and savannas on high land, particularly in Pine forests:
their language or noise is also uttered in chorus, by large communities
or separate bands; each particular note resembles the noise made by
striking two pebbles together under the surface of the water, which
when thousands near you utter their notes at the same time, and is
wafted to your ears by a sudden flow of wind, is very surprising, and
does not ill resemble the rushing noise made by a vast quantity of
gravel and pebbles together, at once precipitated from a great height.
(6) There is yet an extreme diminutive species of frogs, which inhabits
the grassy verges of ponds in savannas: these are called savanna
crickets, are of a dark ash or dusky colour, and have a very picked
nose. At the times of very great rains, in the autumn, when the
savannas are in a manner inundated, they are to be seen in incredible
multitudes clambering up the tall grass, weed, &c. round the verges of
the savannas, bordering on the higher ground; and by an inattentive
person might be taken for spiders or other insects. Their note is very
feeble, not unlike the chattering of young birds or crickets.
(7) The shad frog, so called in Pennsylvania from their appearing and
croaking in the spring season, at the time the people fish for shad:
this is a beautiful spotted frog, of a slender form, five or six inches
in length from the nose to the extremities; of a dark olive green,
blotched with clouds and ringlets of a dusky colour: these are
remarkable jumpers and enterprising hunters, leaving their ponds to a
great distance in search of prey. They abound in rivers, swamps and
marshes, in the Southern regions; in the evening and sultry summer
days, particularly in times of drought, are very noisy, and at some
distance one would be almost persuaded that there were assemblies of
men in serious debate. These have also a sucking or clucking noise,
like that which is made by sucking in the tongue under the roof of the
mouth. These are the kinds of water frogs that have come under my
observation, yet I am persuaded that there are yet remaining several
other species.
(8) The high land frogs, commonly called toads, are of two species, the
red and black. The former, which is of a reddish brown or brick colour,
is the largest, and may weigh upwards of one pound when full grown:
they have a disagreeable look, and when irritated, they swell and raise
themselves up on their four legs and croak, but are no ways venomous or
hurtful to man. The other species are one third less, and of a black
and dark dusky colour. The legs and thighs of both are marked with
blotches and ringlets of a darker colour, which appear more conspicuous
when provoked: the smaller black species are the most numerous. Early
in the spring season, they assemble by numberless multitudes in the
drains and ponds, when their universal croaking and shouts are great
indeed, yet in some degree not unharmonious. After this breeding time
they crawl out of the water and spread themselves all over the country.
Their spawn being hatched in the warm water, the larva is there
nourished, passing through the like metamorphoses as the water frogs;
and as soon as they obtain four feet, whilst yet no larger than
crickets, they leave the fluid nursery-bed, and hop over the dry land
after their parents.
The food of these amphibious creatures, when out of the water, is every
kind of insect, reptile, &c. they can take, even ants and spiders,
nature having furnished them with an extreme long tongue, which exudes
a viscid or glutinous liquid, they being secreted under covert, spring
suddenly upon their prey, or dart forth their tongues as quick as
lightning, and instrantly drag into their devouring jaws the unwary
insect. But whether they prey upon one another as the water frogs do, I
know not.
There are several species of the lizard kind besides the alligator,
which is by naturalist allowed to be a species of that genus.
The green lizard or little green chameleon is a pretty innocent
creature: the largest I have seen were not more than seven inches in
length: they appear commonly of a fine green colour, having a large red
gill under their throat: they have the faculty of changing colour,
which, notwithstanding the specious reasoning of physiologists, is a
very surprising phenomenon. The striped lizard, called scorpion, and
the blue bellied squamous lizards I have already mentioned. There is a
large copper coloured lizard, and a very slender one of a fine blue
colour, and very swift; the tail of this last, which is very long and
slender, is as subject to be broken off as that of the glass snake.
These two last are become very scarce, and when seen are discovered
about old log buildings.
Here are several species of the tortoise, besides those already
mentioned; as the small land tortoise, already described by every
traveller. There is a good figure and description of him in G.
Edwards’s Gl. Nat. Hist. vol. II. p. 205. There are two species of
fresh-water tortoises inhabiting the tide water rivers; one of which is
large, weighing ten or twelve pounds, the back shell of nearly an oval
form, and raised very high, the belly shell flat and entire, but deeply
scolloped opposite their legs. The other species are small,
comparatively, and the back shell lightly raised; both species are food
for mankind, and esteemed delicious.
Of beasts, the otter (lutra) is common, but more so in West-Florida,
towards the mountains. The several species of mustela are common; as
the mink, weasel and polecat (putorius). Racoons and opossums, are in
great abundance; these animals are esteemed delicious and healthy food.
There are two species of wild-rats, but neither of them near as large
as the European house rat, which are common enough in the settlements
of the white people. Here are very few mice; yet I have seen some,
particularly in Charleston. I saw two in a little wire cage, at a
gentleman’s house, which were as white as snow, and their eyes red.
There are yet a few beavers in East-Florida and Georgia, but they
abound most in the north of Georgia, and in West-Florida, near the
mountains. But the muskrat (castor cauda lanceolata) is never seen in
Carolina, Georgia or Florida, within one hundred miles of the sea
coast, and very few in the most northern parts of these regions; which
must be considered as a most favourable circumstance, by the people in
countries where there is so much banking and draining of the land, they
being the most destructive creatures to dykes.
The roe-buck I have already mentioned. The bears are yet too numerous:
they are a strong creature, and prey on the fruits of the country, and
will likewise devour young calves, swine and sheep; but I never could
learn a well attested instance of their attacking mankind. They weigh
from five hundred to six hundred weight when full grown and fat: their
flesh is greatly esteemed as food by the natives.
The wild cat, felis cauda truncata, (lynx) is common enough: it is a
fierce and bold little animal, preying on young pigs, fawns, turkeys,
&c. They are not half the size of a common cur dog, are generally of a
greyish colour, and somewhat tabbied; their sides bordering on the
belly are varied with yellowish brown spots, and almost black waving
streaks, and brindled. I have been credibly informed that the wolves
here are frequently seen pied, black and white, and of other mixed
colours. They assemble in companies in the night time, howl and bark
all together, especially in cold winter nights, which is terrifying to
the wandering bewildered traveller.
The foxes of Carolina and Florida are of the smaller red species; they
bark in the night round about plantations, but do not bark twice in the
same place; they move precipitately and in a few minutes are heard on
the opposite side of the plantation, or at a great distance: it is said
that dogs are terrified at the noise, and cannot be persuaded or
compelled to pursue them. They commit depredations on young pigs,
lambs, poultry, &c.
The mole is not so common here as in the northern states.
The bats of Florida seem to be the same species of those in
Pennsylvania and Virginia, and very little different from the European.
Here are several species of squirrels, (sciurus) peculiar to the lower
countries, or maritime parts of Carolina and the Floridas, and some of
them are very beautiful creatures.
The great black fox squirrel is above two feet in length from the nose
to the end of the tail, which for about two inches is milk white, as
are the ears and nose. The red fox squirrel is of the same size and
form, of a light reddish brown upper side, and white under side, the
ears and tip end of the tail white.
The grey fox squirrel is rather larger than either of the foregoing;
their belly white, as are the ears, nose, and tip of the tail. These
three seem to be varieties of the same species.
The common grey squirrel is about half the size of the preceding.
The black squirrel is about the same size, and all over of a shining
jet black.
The little grey squirrel is much less than either of the preceding
species; it is of a brownish grey upper side, and white belly.
The ground squirrel, or little striped squirrel of Pennsylvania and the
northern regions, is never seen here, and very rarely in the mountains
northwest of these territories; but the flying squirrel, (sciurus
volans) is very common.
The rabbit (lepus minor, cauda abrupta, pupillis atris) are pretty
common, and no ways differing from those of Pennsylvania and the
northern states.
Having mentioned most of the animals in these parts of America, which
are most remarkable or useful, there remains however yet some
observations on birds, which by some may be thought not impertinent.
There are but few that have fallen under my observation, but have been
mentioned by the zoologists, and most of them very well figured in
Catesby’s, or Edwards’s works.
But these authors have done very little towards elucidating the subject
of the migration of birds, or accounting for the annual appearance and
disappearance, and vanishing of these beautiful and entertaining
beings, who visit us at certain stated seasons. Catesby has said very
little on this curious subject, but Edwards more, and perhaps all, or
as much as could be said in truth, by the most able and ingenious, who
had not the advantage and opportunity of ocular observation, which can
only be acquired by travelling, and residing a whole year at least in
the various climates from north to south to the full extent of their
peregrinations, or minutely examining the tracts and observations of
curious and industrious travellers who have published their memoirs on
this subject. There may perhaps be some persons who consider this
enquiry not to be productive of any real benefit to mankind, and
pronounce such attention to natural history merely speculative, and
only fit to amuse and entertain the idle virtuoso; however the ancients
thought otherwise: for, with them, the knowledge of the passage of
birds was the study of their priests and philosophers, and was
considered a matter of real and indispensable use to the state, next to
astronomy, as we find their system and practice of agriculture was in a
great degree regulated by the arrival and disappearance of birds of
passage, and perhaps a calender under such a regulation at this time,
might be useful to the husbandman and gardener.
But however attentive and observant the ancients were on this branch of
science, they seem to have been very ignorant or erroneous in their
conjectures concerning what became of birds, after their disappearance,
until their return again. In the southern and temperate climates some
imagined they went to the moon: in the northern regions they supposed
that they retired to caves and hollow trees, for shelter and security,
where they remained in a dormant state during the cold seasons: and
even at this day, very celebrated men have asserted that swallows
(hirundo) at the approach of winter, voluntarily plunge into lakes and
rivers, descend to the bottom, and there creep into the mud and slime,
where they continue overwhelmed by ice in a torpid state, until the
returning summer warms them again into life; when they rise, return to
the surface of the water, immediately take wing, and again people the
air. This notion, though the latest, seems the most difficult to
reconcile to reason or common sense, that a bird so swift of flight
that can with ease and pleasure move through the air even swifter than
the winds, and in a few hours time shift themselves twenty degrees from
north to south, even from frozen regions to climes where frost is never
seen, and where the air and plains are replenished with flying insects
of infinite variety, their favourite and only food.
Pennsylvania and Virginia appear to me to be the climates in
North-America, where the greatest variety and abundance of these winged
emigrants choose to celebrate their nuptials, and rear their offspring,
which they annually return with, to their winter habitations in the
southern regions of N. America; and most of these beautiful creatures,
who annually people and harmonise our forests and groves, in the spring
and summer seasons, are birds of passage from the southward. The eagle,
i. e. falco leucocephalus, or bald eagle, falco maximus, or great grey
eagle, falco major cauda ferruginea, falco pullarius, falco
columbarius, strix pythaulis, strix acclamatus, strix assio, tetrao
tympanus, or pheasant of Pennsylvania, tetrao urogallus, or mountain
cock or grous of Pennsylvania, tetrao minor sive coturnix, or partridge
of Pennsylvania, picus, or woodpeckers of several species, corvus
carnivorus, or raven, corvus frugivora, or crow, corvus glandarius f.
corvus cristatus, or blue jay, alauda maxima, regulus atrofuscus minor,
or marsh wren, sitta, or nuthatch, meleagris, are perhaps nearly all
the land birds which continue the year round in Pennsylvania. I might
add to these the blue bird, motacilla fialis, mock bird, turdus
polyglottos, and sometimes the robin readbreast, turdus migratorius, in
extraordinary warm winters, and although I do not pretend to assert as
a known truth, yet it may be found on future observation that most of
these above mentioned are strangers, or not really bred where they
wintered, but are more northern families, or sojourners, bound
southerly to more temperate habitations; thus pushing each other
southerly, and possessing their vacated places, and then back again at
the return of spring.
Very few tribes of birds build, or rear their young, in the south or
maritime parts of Virginia and Carolina, Georgia and Florida; yet all
these numerous tribes, particularly of the soft billed kinds, which
breed in Pennsylvania, pass in the spring season through these regions
in a few weeks time, making but very short stages by the way; and
again, but few of them winter there, on their return southerly; and as
I have never travelled the continent south of New Orleans, or the point
of Florida, where few or none of them are to be seen in the winter, I
am entirely ignorant how far southward they continue their route during
their absence from Pennsylvania, but perhaps none of them pass the
tropic.
When in my residence in Carolina and Florida, I have seen vast flights
of the house swallow (hirundo pelasgia) and bank martin (hirundo
riparia) passing onward north toward Pennsylvania, where they breed in
the spring, about the middle of March, and likewise in the autumn in
September or October, and large flights on their return southward. And
it is observable that they always avail themselves of the advantage of
high and favourable winds, which likewise do all birds of passage. The
pewit, or black cap flycatcher, of Catesby, is the first bird of
passage which appears in the spring in Pennsylvania, which is generally
about the first, or middle of March, and then wherever they appear, we
may plant peas and beans in the open grounds, (vicia sativa) French
beans (phaseolus) sow raddishes, (raphanus) lettuce, (lactuca) onions,
(cepa) pastinaca, daucus, and almost every kind of esculent garden
seeds, without fear or danger from frosts; for although we have
sometimes frosts after their first appearance for a night or two, yet
not so severe as to injure the young plants.
In the spring of the year the small birds of passage appear very
suddenly in Pennsylvania, which is not a little surprising, and no less
pleasing: at once the woods, the groves, and meads, are filled with
their melody, as if they dropped down from the skies. The reason or
probable cause is their setting off with high and fair winds from the
southward; for a strong south and south-west wind about the beginning
of April never fails bringing millions of these welcome visitors.
Being willing to contribute my mite towards illustrating the subject of
the peregrination of the tribes of birds of N. America, I shall subjoin
a nomenclature of the birds of passage, agreeable to my observation,
when on my travels from New England to New-Orleans, on the Mississippi,
and point of Florida.
Land birds which are seen in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, from S.
Carolina, Georgia and Florida, N. and the sea coast Westward, to the
Apalachian mountains, viz.
❁ These arrive in Pennsylvania in the spring season from the South,
which after building nests, and rearing their young, return again
Southerly in the autumn.
† These arrive in Pennsylvania in the autumn, from the North, where
they continue during the winter, and return again the spring following,
I suppose to breed and rear their young; and these kinds continue their
journies as far as South Carolina and Florida.
‡ These arrive in the spring in Carolina and Florida from the South,
breed and rear their young, and return South again at the approach of
winter, but never reach Pennsylvania, or the Northern States.
|| These are natives of Carolina and Florida, where they breed and
|| continue
the year round.
¶ These breed and continue the year round in Pennsylvania.
STRIX. The OWL.
† Strix arcticus, capite levi, corpore toto niveo; the great white owl.
¶ Strix pythaules, capite aurito, corpore rufo; the great horned owl.
† Strix maximus, capite aurito, corpore niveo; the great horned white
owl.
¶ Strix acclamator, capite levi, corpore griseo; the whooting owl.
† Strix peregrinator, capite aurito, corpore versicolore; the sharp
winged owl.
¶ Strix assio, capite aurito, corpore ferrugineo; the little screech
owl.
VULTUR. The VULTURE.
|| Vultur aura; the turkey-buzzard.
|| Vultur sacra; the white tailed vulture.
|| Vultur atratus; black vulture, or carrion crow.
FALCO. Eagle and Hawk.
¶ Falco regalis; the great grey eagle.
¶ F. leucocephalus; the bald eagle.
❁ F. piscatorius; the fishing eagle.
¶ F. Aquilinus, cauda ferrug.; great eagle hawk.
¶ F. gallinarius; the hen hawk.
¶ F. pullarius; the chicken hawk.
❁ F. columbarius; the pigeon hawk.
¶ F. niger; the black hawk.
❁ F. ranivorus; the marsh hawk.
❁ F. sparverius; the least hawk or sparrow hawk.
MILVUS. Kite Hawk.[43]
|| Falco furcatus; the forked tail hawk, or kite.
|| F. glaucus; the sharp winged hawk, of a pale sky-blue colour, the
|| tip of
the wings black.
|| F. subceruleus; the sharp winged hawk, of a dark or dusky blue
|| colour.
|| Psittacus Caroliniensis; the parrot of Carolina, or parrakeet.
CORVUS. The Crow kind.
❁ Corvus carnivorus; the raven.
|| C. maritimus; the great sea-side crow, or rook.
¶ C. frugivorus; the common crow.
¶ C. cristatus, f. pica glandaria; the blue jay.
¶ C. Floridanus, pica glandaria minor; the little jay of Florida.[44]
¶ Gracula quiscula; the purple jackdaw of the sea coast.
❁ Gracula purpurea; the lesser purple jackdaw, or crow blackbird.
❁ Cuculus Caroliniensis; the cuckoo of Carolina.
PICUS. Woodpeckers.
|| Picus principalis; the greatest crested woodpecker, having a white
|| back.
❁ P. peilatus; the great red crested black woodpecker.
❁ P. erythrocephalus; read headed woodpecker.
❁ P. auratus; the gold winged woodpecker.
¶ P. Carolinus; the red bellied woodpecker.
¶ P. pubescens; the least spotted woodpecker.
¶ P. villosus; the hairy, speckled and crested woodpecker.
¶ P. varius; yellow bellied woodpecker.
¶ Sitta Europea; grey black capped nuthatch.
† S. varia, ventre rubro; the black capped, red bellied nuthatch.
† Certhia rufa; little brown variegated creeper.
❁ C. pinus; the pine creeper.
❁ C. picta; blue and white striped or pied creeper.
❁ Alcedo alcyon; the great crested king-fisher.
❁ Trochilus colubris; the humming bird.
❁ Lanius griseus; the little grey butcher-bird of Pennsylvania.
❁ L. garrulus; the little black capped or butcher bird of Florida.
❁ L. tyrannus; the king bird.
❁ Muscicapa nunciola; the pewit, or black cap flycatcher.
❁ M. cristata; the great crested yellow bellied flycatcher.
❁ M. rapax; the lesser pewit, or brown and greenish flycatcher.
❁ M. subviridis; the little olive cold, flycatcher.
❁ Muscicapa cantatrix; the little domestic flycatcher, or green wren.
❁ M. sylvicola; the little red eyed flycatcher.
❁ Columba Caroliniensis, the turtle dove.
|| C. passerina; the dove.
|| C. migratoria; the pigeon of passage or wild pigeon.
❁ Alauda magna; the great meadow lark.
† A. campestris, gutture flavo; the sky lark.
† A. migratoria, corpore toto ferrugineo; the little brown lark.
¶ Turdus migratorius; the fieldfare, or robin redbreast.
❁ T. rufus; the great, or fox coloured thrush.
❁ T. polyglottos; the mocking bird.
❁ T. melodes; the wood thrush.
❁ T. minimus, vertice auro; the least golden crown thrush.
❁ Orioulus Baltimore; Baltimore bird or hang nest.
❁ O. spurius; the goldfinch or icterus minor.
❁ Merula flammula; sand-hill red bird of Carolina.
❁ M. Marilandica, the summer red bird.
❁ Garrulus australis; the yellow breasted chat.
❁ Lucar lividus, apice nigra; the cat bird, or chicken bird.
¶ Ampelis garrulus; crown bird. or cedar bird.
GRANIVOROUS TRIBES.
¶ Meleagris Americanus; the wild turkey.
¶ Tetrao lagopus; the mountain cock, or grous.
¶ T. tympanus; the pheasant of Pennsylvania.
¶ T. minor, s. coturnix; the quail or partridge.
¶ Loxia cardinalis; the red bird, or Virginia nightingale.
† L. rostro forficato; the cross beak.
❁ L. cerulea, the blue cross beak.
❁ Emberiza oryzivora; (1) the rice bird.[45]
† E. livida; the blue or slate coloured rice bird.
❁ E. varia; (2) the pied rice bird.
‡ Linaria ciris; the painted finch, or nonpareil.
❁ L. cyanea; the blue linnet.
¶ Carduelis Americanus; the goldfinch.
† C. minus; the lesser goldfinch.
† C. pusilus; the least finch.
❁ Fringilla erythrophthalma; the towhe bird.
† F. purpurea; the purple finch.
† F. canabina; the hemp bird.
† F. rusa; the red, or fox-coloured ground or hedge sparrow.
† F. Fusca; the large brown white throat sparrow.
❁ Passer domesticus; the little house sparrow or chipping bird.
❁ P. palustris; the reed sparrow.
❁ P. agrestis; the little field sparrow.
† P. nivalis; the snow bird.
❁ Calandra pratensis; the May bird.
❁ Sturuus predatorius; the red winged starling, or corn thief.
❁ S. stercorarius; the cowpen bird.
❁ Motacilla sialis; the blue bird. (Rubicula Americana, Cat.)
❁ M. fluviatilis; the water wagtail.
❁ M. domestica (regulus rufus); the house wren.
¶ ❁ M. palustris; (reg. minor) the marsh wren.
❁ M. Caroliniana; (reg. magnus) the great wren of Carolina, the body of
a dark brown, the throat and breast of a pale clay colour.
❁ Regulus griseus; the little bluish grey wren.
† R. cristatus; the golden crown wren.
† R. cristatus alter vertice rubini coloris; the ruby crown wren. (G.
Edwards.)
❁ R. peregrinus, gutture flavo; the olive coloured yellow throated
wren.
❁ Ruticilla Americana; the redstart.
❁ Luscinia, s. philomela Americana; the yellow hooded titmouse.
❁ Parus cristatus; bluish grey crested titmouse.
¶ P. Europæus; the black cap titmouse.
❁ P. luteus; the summer yellow bird.
❁ P. cedrus uropygio flavo; the yellow rump.
❁ P. varius; various coloured little finch creeper.
❁ P. peregrinus; little chocolate breast titmouse.
❁ P. aureus vertice rubro; the yellow red pole.
❁ P. aurio vertice; the golden crown flycatcher.
❁ P. viridis gutture nigro; the green black throated flycatcher.
❁ P. alis aureis; the golden winged flycatcher.
❁ P. aureus alis ceruleis; the blue winged yellow bird.
❁ P. griseus gutture luteo; the yellow throated creeper.
❁ Hirundo pelasgia cauda aculeata; the house swallow.
❁ H. purpurea; the great purple martin.
❁ H. riparia vertice purpurea; the bank martin.
❁ H. cerdo; the chimney swallow.
‡ Caprimulgus lucifugus; the great bat, or chuck wills widow.
❁ C. Americanus; night hawk, or whip poor will.
AMPHIBIOUS, or AQUATIC BIRDS,
Or such as obtain their food, and reside in, and near the water.
GRUS. The Crane.
|| Grus clamator, vertice papilloso, corpore niveo
remigibus nigris; the great whooping crane.
‡ G. Pratensis; corpore cinereo, vertice papilloso; the great savanna
crane.
ARDEA. The Heron.
¶ Ardea Herodias; the great bluish grey crested heron.
❁ A. immaculata; the great white river heron.
❁ A. alba minor; the little white heron.
‡ A. purpurea cristata; the little crested purple or blue heron.
❁ A. varia cristata; the grey white crested heron.
‡ A. maculata cristata; the speckled crested heron, or crabcatcher.
❁ A. mugitans; the marsh bittern, or Indian hen.
❁ A. clamator, corpore subcæruleo; the quaw bird, or frogcatcher.
‡ A. subfusca stillata; the little brownish spotted bittern.
‡ A. violacea; the crested blue bittern, (called poor Job.)
❁ A. viriscens; the green bittern or poke.
❁ A. viriscens minor; the lesser green bittern.
❁ A. parva; the least brown and striped bittern.
❁ Platalea ajaja; the spoonbill, seen as far North as Alatamaha river
in Georgia.
TANTALUS. The Wood Pelican.
‡ Tantalus loculator; the wood Pelican.
‡ T. albus; the white Spanish curlew.
‡ T. fuscus; the dusky and white Spanish curlew.
|| T. pictus; (Ephouskyka Indian) the crying bird, beautifully
|| speckled.
|| T. Ichthyophagus; the gannet; perhaps little different from the
|| Ibis.
|| Numenius alba varia; the white godwit.
¶ N. pectore rufo; the great red breasted godwit.
¶ N. Americana; the greater godwit.
¶ N. fluvialis; the redshank or pool snipe.
¶ N. magnus rufus; the great sea coast curlew.
❁ N. minor campestris; the lesser field curlew.
¶ N. cinereus; the sea side lesser curlew.
❁ Scolopax Americana rufa; great red woodcock.
❁ S. minor arvensis; the meadow snipe.
❁ Tringa rufa, the red cootfooted tringa.
T. cinerea, gutture albo; the white throated cootfooted tringa.
T. vertice nigro; black cap cootfooted tringa.
¶ T. maculata; the spotted tringa.
¶ T. grisea; the little pond snipe.
¶ T. fusca; the little brown or ash coloured pool snipe.
¶ T. parva; the little tringa of the sea shore, called sand bird.
❁ Morinella Americana, the turnstone or dotrel.
† Cygnus ferus; the wild swan.
† Anser Canadensis; the Canadian goose.
† A. alis cærulis; the blue winged goose.
† A. fuscus maculatus; the laughing goose.
† A. branta, corpore albo, remigibus nigris; the white brant goose.
† A. branta grisea maculata; the great particoloured brant, or grey
goose.
† Anas fera torquata major, caput et collum viridi splendentia, dorsum
griseo fuscum, pectore rufescente, speculum violaceum; the great wild
duck, called duck and mallard.
† A. nigra maxima; the great black duck.
† A. bucephala; the bull-neck and buffaloe head.
† A. subcærulea; the blue bill.
† A. leucocephala; the black white faced duck.
† A. caudacuta; the sprig tail duck.
† A. rustica; the little brown and white duck.
† A. principalis, maculata; the various coloured duck, his neck and
breast as though ornamented with chains of beads.
† A. minor picta; the little black and white duck called butterback.
QUERQUEDULAE. Teal.
❁ Anas sponsa; the summer duck.
† A. discors; the blue winged teal.
† A. migratoria; the least green winged teal.
❁ A. fistulosa; whistling duck.
† Mergus major pectore rufo; great fishing duck
† M. cucullatus; the round crested duck.
❁ Colymbus migratorius; the eel crow.
|| C. Floridanus; the great black cormorant of Florida, having a red
|| beak.
¶ C. colubrinus, cauda elongata; the snake bird of Florida.
¶ C. musicus; the great black and white pied diver or loon.
† Colymbus arcticus; the great speckled diver.
¶ C. auritus et cornutus; the little eared brown dobchick.
¶ C. minor fuscus; little crested brown dobchick.
‡ Phaæton æthereus; the tropic bird.
¶ Larus albus; the great white gull.
¶ L. griseus, the great grey gull.
‡ L. albus minor; the little white river gull.
|| Onocratalus Americanus; the American sea pelican.
|| Petrella pintada; the pintada bird.
¶ Rynchops niger; the shearwater or razor bill.
‡ Pelicanus aquilus; the frigate, or man of war bird.
‡ P. sula; the booby.
† Sterna stolida; the sea swallow, or noddy.
CHARADRUS. The Plover Kind.
❁ Charadrus vociferus; the kildea or chattering plover.
❁ C. maculatus; the great field spotted plover.
❁ C. minor; the little seaside ring necked plover.
❁ Hæmatopus ostrealegus; the will willet or oyster catcher.
|| Fulica Floridana; the great blue or slate coloured coot of Florida.
❁ Rallus Virginianus; the soree bird or little brown rail, also called
widgeon in Pennsyl.
‡ R. aquaticus minor; the little dark blue water rail.
❁ R. rufus Americanus; the greater brown rail.
|| R. major subcæruleus; the blue or slate coloured water rail of
|| Florida.
❁ Phœnicopterus ruber; the flamingo, seen about the point of Florida,
rarely as far N. as St. Augustine.
I am convinced there are yet several kinds of land birds, and a great
number of aquatic fowl, that have not come under my particular notice;
therefore shall leave them to the investigation of future travelling
naturalists of greater ability and industry.
There yet remain some observations on the passage, and breeding of
birds, &c. which may be proper to notice in this place.
I shall first mention the rice bird, (emberiza oryzivora.) It is the
commonly received opinion that they are male and female of the same
species, i. e. the black pied rice bird the male, and a yellowish clay
coloured one the female: the last mentioned appearing only in the
autumn, when the oryza zizania are about ripening, yet in my opinion
there are some strong circumstances which seem to operate against such
a conjecture, though generally believed.
In the spring, about the middle of May, the black pied rice bird (which
is called the male) appears in Pennsylvania; at that time the great
yellow ephemera, called May fly, and a species of locusta appear in
incredible multitudes, the favourite delicious food of these birds,
when they are sprightly, vociferous, and pleasingly tuneful.
When I was at St. Augustine, in E. Florida, in the beginning of April,
the same species of grasshoppers were in multitudes on the fields and
commons about the town; when great flights of these male rice birds
suddenly arrived from the South, who by feeding on these insects became
extremely fat and delicious: they continued here two or three weeks,
until their food became scarce, when they disappeared, I suppose
pursuing their journey North after the locusta and ephemera; there were
a few of the yellow kind, or true rice bird, to be seen amongst them.
Now these pied rice birds seem to observe the same order and time in
their migrations Northerly, with the other spring birds of passage, and
are undoubtedly on their way to their breeding place; but then there
are no females with them, at least not one to ten thousand of the male
colour, which cannot be supposed are a sufficient number to pair and
breed by. Being in Charleston in the month of June, I observed at a
gentleman’s door, a cage full of rice birds, that is of the yellow or
female colour, who were very merry and vociferous, having the same
variable music with the pied or male kind, which I thought
extraordinary, and observing it to the gentleman, he assured me that
they were all of the male kind, taken the preceding spring, but had
changed their colour, and would be next spring of the colour of the
pied, thus changing colour with the seasons of the year. If this is
really the case, it appears they are both of the same species
intermixed, spring and fall. In the spring they are gay, vociferous and
tuneful birds.
Ampelis garrulus; crown bird or cedar bird. These birds feed on various
sorts of succulent fruit and berries, associating in little flocks or
flights, and are to be seen in all the regions from Canada to New
Orleans on the Mississippi, and how much farther South and South-West I
know not. They observe no fixed time of appearance in Pennsylvania, but
are to be seen a few days every month of the year, so that it is
difficult to determine at what season they breed, or where. The longest
period of their appearance in Pennsylvania is in the spring and first
of June, at the time the early cherries are ripe, when they are
numerous; and in the autumn when the Cedar berries are ripe (Juniperus
Americana) they arrive in large flights, and, with the robins (turdus
migratorius) and yellow rump (parus cedrus) soon strip those trees of
their berries, after which they disappear again; but in November and
December they appear in smaller flights, feeding on the fruit of the
Persimon (Dyosperos Virginiana;) and some are seen till March,
subsisting upon Smilax berries, Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and other
permanent fruits; after which they disappear until May and June. I have
been informed by some people in Pennsylvania, that they have found
their nests at these seasons in Pennsylvania.
Linaria ciris (emberiza ciris Linn.) or painted finch, or nonpareil of
Catesby, is not seen North of Cape Fear, in North Carolina, and seldom
ten miles from the sea coast, or perhaps twenty or thirty miles, near
the banks of great rivers, in fragrant groves of the Orange (Citrus
aurantium) Zanthoxylon, Laurus Borbonia, Cassine, Sideroxylon, &c.
Linaria cyanea (tanagra Linn.) the blue linnet, is supposed by some to
be the nonpareil, in an early stage of life, not being yet arrived to
his brilliancy and variety of colours; but this is certainly a mistake,
for the blue linnet is longer and of a slenderer configuration, and
their notes more variable, vehement and sonorous. And they inhabit the
continent and sea coast islands from Mexico to Nova Scotia, from the
sea coast, west beyond the Apalachian and Cherokee mountains. The songs
of the nonpareil are remarkably low, soft and warbling, exceedingly
tender and soothing.
Catesby, in his history of Carolina, speaking of the cat-bird
(muscicapa vertice nigro) says, “They have but one note, which
resembles the mewing of a cat;” a mistake very injurious to the fame of
that bird; he, in reality, being one of our most eminent songsters,
little inferior to the philomela or mock-bird; and, in some remarkable
instances, perhaps, exceeds them both, in particular as a buffoon or
mimick. He endeavours to imitate every bird and animal, and in many
attempts does not ill succeed, even in rehearsing the songs, which he
attentively listens to, from the shepherdess and rural swain, and will
endeavour and succeed to admiration, in repeating the melodious and
variable airs from instrumental music, and this in his wild state of
nature. They are a kind of domestic bird during their spring and summer
residence in Pennsylvania, building their nests in gardens and
sheltering themselves in groves near the houses. They cause great
trouble and vexation to hens that have broods of chickens, by imitating
their distressing cries, in which they seem to enjoy much delight, and
cause some amusement to persons who are diverted at such incidents.
They are the first bird heard singing in the morning, even before break
of day.
They seem to be a tribe of birds separated by nature from the
motacillæ, with which the zoologists have classed them, and appear
allied to a tribe peculiar to America, to which Edwards has given the
name of manakin. In their nature they seem to take place between the
thrush (turdus) and motacilla, their beak being longer, stronger and
straighter than the motacilla, and formed for eating fruit, which is
their chief food; yet they will feed on reptile insects, but never
attempt to take their prey on the wing.
Catesby is chargeable with the like mistake with respect to the little
thrush (t. minor) and the fox coloured thrush (t. rufes) both eminent
singers, and the latter little inferior to the mock-bird. The former
for his shrill, sonorous and elevated strains in the high, shady
forests; and the latter for variety, softness and constant responses in
the hegdes and groves near houses.
But yet Catesby has some right of claim to our excuse and
justification, for his detraction of the fame due to these eminent
musicians of the groves and forests, when we consider that he resided
and made his collections and observations, in the regions which are the
winter retreats and residence of these birds, where they rarely sing,
as it is observable and most true, that it is only at the time of
incubation, that birds sing in their wild state of nature. The
cat-bird, great and less thrush and fieldfare seldom or never build in
Carolina beneath the mountains, except the great or fox coloured thrush
in a few instances; but all these breed in Pennsylvania.
The parakeet (psitacus Caroliniensis) never reach so far North as
Pennsylvania, which to me is unaccountable, considering they are a bird
of such singular rapid flight, they could easily perform the journey in
ten or twelve hours from North Carolina, where they are very numerous,
and we abound with all the fruits which they delight in.
I was assured in Carolina, that these birds, for a month or two in the
coldest winter weather, house themselves in hollow Cypress trees,
clinging fast to each other like bees in a hive, where they continue in
a torpid state until the warmth of the returning spring reanimates
them, when they issue forth from their late dark, cold winter
cloisters. But I lived several years in North Carolina, and never was
witness to an instance of it; yet I do not at all doubt but there have
been instances of belated flocks thus surprised by sudden severe cold,
and forced into such shelter, and the extraordinary severity and
perseverance of the season might have benumbed them into a torpid
sleepy state; but that they all willingly should yield to so
disagreeable and hazardous a situation does not seem reasonable or
natural, when we consider that they are a bird of the swiftest flight
and impatient of severe cold. They are easily tamed, when they become
docile and familiar, but never learn to imitate the human language.
Both species of the Baltimore bird (oriolus, Linn. icterus, Cat.) are
spring birds of passage and breed in Pennsylvania; they have loud and
musical notes.
The yellow breasted chat (oenanthe, Cat. motacilla trochilus, Linn.) is
in many instances a very singular bird; the variableness and mimickry
of his notes or speech, imitating various creatures; and a surprising
faculty of uttering a coarse, hollow sounding noise in their throats or
crops, which at times seems to be at a great distance, though uttered
by a bird very near, and vice versa. They arrive in Pennsylvania from
the South, late in the month of May, breed and return again early in
autumn.
It is a matter of enquiry, what should have induced the zoologists to
class this bird with the motacillæ, when they discover no one
characteristic to induce such an alliance; this bird having a
remarkable thick, strong bill, more like the frugivorous tribes: and in
my opinion they are guilty of the like oversight in classing the summer
red-bird with the muscicapa, this bird having a thick, strong bill,
approaching nearer the starling (sturnus.)
These historical observations being noted, we will will again resume
the subject of our journey.
[42] Magnolia grandiflora, called by the inhabitants the Laurel.
[43] Kite hawks These are characterised by having long sharp pointed
wings, being of swift flight, sailing without flapping their wings,
lean light bodies, and feeding out of their claws on the wing, as they
gently sail round and round.
[44] Pica glandaria cerulea non cristata, the little jay of East
Florida.
[45] (1, 2) Are generally supposed to be male and female of the same
species (2) or the pied rice bird, the male, and (1) or the yellow,
the female.