sheets lately received, this new treatise by Dr. Coues will occupy a
previously unclaimed place among ornithological works; for, as its title
indicates, it is much more than a catalogue of North American birds. Its
novel feature is a dictionary of etymology, orthography and orthoëpy of
scientific names, to which is devoted the lower portion of each page of
the running list. In this department the generic, specific and varietal
names—duplicated from the text above with the addition of the
diacritical marks for quantities, accents and division of syllables—are
exhaustively treated; their derivation and meaning being explained,
their construction scrutinized, their spelling revised, and their
applicability in each particular case carefully considered. The
erudition and scholarly research involved in this undertaking must be
apparent to the most casual reader. The practical value of the work is
equally plain, and perhaps it is not too much to say that it calls for a
fuller measure of gratitude on the part of ornithologists than anything
which its versatile author has hitherto produced.
A detailed consideration of the Check List proper must necessarily be
deferred until the appearance of the complete work; pending this, we may
simply say that the plan followed by Dr. Coues is essentially to make a
second edition of his original list, with all the required additions and
corrections to date, and such revision of nomenclature as seemed
desirable and practicable. Ten species are subtracted, and one hundred
and twenty added, while names are changed for various reasons in
probably more than a hundred cases. A simple system of reference numbers
forms a concordance of the present and original edition, as well as with
Baird’s list of 1858 and Ridgway’s of 1880. The total number of species
and varieties enumerated is eight hundred and eighty-eight.
It should be mentioned that the introductory portion of the work
includes an analysis of the present list as compared with that of 1874,
and an important chapter entitled “Remarks on the use of names.” The
latter is devoted to a general consideration of the technique of Greek
and Latin scientific names and the principles governing their
derivation, spelling and pronunciation.
The book ends with a catalogue complete to date of the author’s
ornithological publications. We understand that the edition will be
offered to the public before the close of the present month. May it meet
with the cordial reception which it so richly merits.—W. B.
NESTS AND EGGS OF OHIO BIRDS.—It is always a pleasure to record the
progress of this notably meritorious work—a pleasure which we trust will
be ours until the completion of the design which the authors have thus
far carried out so successfully. As we have before remarked, there has
been nothing since Audubon in the way of pictorial illustration of
American Ornithology to compare with the present work—nothing to claim
the union of an equal degree of artistic skill and scientific accuracy.
We have no knowledge of the financial aspects of the case; but, as such
a work is necessarily expensive, we can only trust that it continues to
receive the support it so richly deserves. It is, we believe, sold only
by subscription. The last number which has reached us is a double one,
being parts 10 and 11, dating Oct. 1881 and Jan. 1882, containing Plates
XXVIII-XXXIII, and pages 107–118. Plate 18 is perhaps the first in which
the authors have introduced a bird—being the head of the Purple Martin
protruding from the orifice of the C gourds so frequently put up in the
South for its accommodation. This figure shows that Mrs. Jones can draw
and paint a bird as well as its nest and eggs—and we should not be
surprised if other birds appeared with their nests in future numbers.
The temptation thus to enlarge upon the original plan of the work must
be at times almost irresistible. Plate 29 is _Euspiza americana_, the
simple nest of which gives less scope for the artist’s skill than the
elaborately finished surroundings of the Song Sparrow’s nest of Plate
30. The extremes of size and coloring of the eggs of _Melospiza_ are
well portrayed, as are those of the Thrasher, the rough exterior of
whose nest fairly bristles on Plate 31. One of the most artistic
pictures of the whole series is the lowly nest of _Helminthophaga pinus_
(Plate 32), with its characteristic surroundings at the foot of a slight
bush clump. It is interesting to note in this case the curious
“protective mimicry” by which the nest resembles a bunch of dead leaves
and dried bark strips blown and caught among the roots of a bramble. One
would have sharp eyes who would at first glance see it was something
else. The last plate (33) represents the nest of the Summer Tanager,
furnishing a good illustration of a “saddled” nest—by which we mean one
placed directly upon a large horizontal bough, only confined by a few
slight upright twigs. The text consists, as usually heretofore, of a
folio to each plate, and continues to be prepared by Dr. Howard E.
Jones. We find it to be a perfectly reliable account of the objects
represented. The authors evidently have spared no pains or expense in
maintaining the high standard of excellence they set for themselves at
the beginning.—E. C.
PROF. MACOUN’S REPORT OF EXPLORATION.[53]—We hear so seldom from our
friends of the Dominion, as far as ornithology is concerned, that the
present contribution would be welcome as an index of their activity,
even were it of less importance than we find it to be. It is difficult
to cite the brochure correctly, as it has no title-page and bears no
date or place of publication, and may be an “extra” of a portion of some
more extensive government publication. However this may be, the pamphlet
which reaches us through Professor Macoun’s kind attentions is the
report of the Surveyor General to the Minister of the Interior,
consisting chiefly (pp. 8–40) of Professor Macoun’s own report of his
explorations during the summer of 1880 of that portion of the Souris
River Valley lying within British Territory and of the adjoining region
to the west and north—that is to say, north of our territories of Dakota
and Montana. The region is one seldom examined even incidentally in the
interests of ornithology, and the present paper possesses decided value,
as the observer appeared to have paid special attention to the
distribution of birds in the wide area traversed. After a résumé of the
leading ornithological features of the region is presented an annotated
list of the species secured, 109 in number. This list may be profitably
examined in connection with the article on the birds observed along the
parallel of 49° by the Northern Boundary Commission in 1873 and 1874. We
feel at liberty to call attention to some manuscript alterations made by
the author in our copy. For _Coturniculus passerinus_ read _Zonotrichia
albicollis_; for _Myiarchus crinitus_, read _Tyrannus verticalis_; for
_Archibuteo lagopus_, read _A. ferrugineus_, the range of which is thus
carried beyond any point hitherto given; for _Tringa canutus_ read _T.
bairdi_; for _Podilymbus podiceps_, read _Podiceps californicus_. We
could wish the report were better printed; but poor presswork is the
usual fate of public documents, English or American.—E. C.
KNOWLTON’S REVISED LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BRANDON, VERMONT.[54]—This is a
briefly annotated list of 149 species occurring in the immediate
vicinity of Brandon. The author says: “A few more species doubtless
occur, especially among the Waders and Swimmers, but as they have never
been actually noted, they have been rigidly excluded.” An examination of
the List shows that, with perhaps one or two exceptions, he has
succeeded in adhering to this principle, the result being a very
reliable list as far as it goes. The further application of this rule
doubtless accounts for the fact that many of the species are not stated
to breed that yet no doubt do so.
The chief interest of the List lies in its bearing upon the extent of
the Alleghanian fauna in the Champlain valley. The breeding of such
species as _Dendrœca striata_ and _Zonotrichia leucophrys_, the
occurrence of _Perisoreus canadensis_ and _Picoides arcticus_, and the
absence of _Ortyx virginiana_ and one or two other species, are almost
the only exceptions to an otherwise strictly Alleghanian fauna.
A number of species, especially among the migrants, would seem, from
what the writer says, to be by no means numerous at this locality, and
no doubt his statements are strictly in accordance with his experience.
We have reason to believe, however, that a more thorough search might
reveal greater numbers of some of these species.
It is to be regretted that Mr. Knowlton’s List could not have appeared
elsewhere than in the columns of a newspaper, both for the sake of
giving it a more permanent form, and of avoiding the typographical
errors inevitable under such circumstances. It may be worth while here
to mention that by a slip of the pen Mr. Knowlton has recorded Wilson’s
Plover (_Ochthodromus wilsonius_) instead of Wilson’s Snipe.—C. F. B.
KRUKENBERG ON THE COLORING MATTER OF FEATHERS.[55]—This paper, the first
of a series, seems to be the product of more careful work than previous
publications on the subject. The author first states positively that the
color may change after growth, the feather becoming lighter or darker as
the case may be, but postpones deciding whether the change is the result
of external or internal causes. Judging from the effects of stimulants
upon Canaries with _fully_ grown feathers, I have no doubt that internal
changes play an important part. At least, almost white Canaries will
become very yellow, gray sometimes appearing, if properly fed.
Turacin, a red or purple-violet pigment, found in the feathers of the
_Musophagidæ_ is first considered. Attention was first called to this
pigment by Verreaux, who found that the purple-violet in the wing
feathers of _Corythaix albicristatus_ was destroyed by wetting, but
returned on drying. Later it was observed that the water in which these
birds bathed became colored dark red. Facts worthy of consideration by
all systematic ornithologists. Turacin is soluble in weak alkalies,
insoluble in acids, and slightly soluble in water, especially if warm.
It may be precipitated as an amorphous red powder by the action of
acids. In solution the spectrum of Turacin is marked by two absorption
bands, between D and E, much resembling those of oxyhemoglobin. Carbon
dioxide and oxygen, however, have no effect on the color or the
spectrum. As to its chemical composition the author differs from his
predecessors in that he denies the presence of nitrogen, though copper
and iron are both present in considerable quantities. By the action of
concentrated sulphuric acid two products are formed, named α Turaceïn
and β Turaceïn by the author.
Zoönerythrin, another red pigment of much wider distribution, is found
in red feathers, as those of the Flamingo and the Cardinal Grosbeak. It
is soluble in alcohol, ether, bisulphide of carbon, and the like, from
which it can be precipitated by evaporation. The solution of this
pigment is often favored by first digesting the feather in a trypsin or
pepsin solution. Unlike Turacin, Zoönerythrin has no absorption bands,
but all is absorbed beyond E.
Zoöfulvin, a yellow pigment of much the same solubility as the
preceding, occurs in the yellow feathers of the European Oriole, the
Canary, and the like. The spectrum has two bands between F and G which
vary in position according to the solvent used.
As yet Dr. Krukenberg has been unable to extract any green, blue, or
purple pigment from feathers, so that he agrees with Bogdanon that blue
feathers have no pigment as proved by transmitted light. Of this any one
can at once convince himself by holding the feather of a Bluebird
immersed in water between himself and a window.—J. AMORY JEFFRIES.
MINOR ORNITHOLOGICAL PAPERS.—161. _The Ruddy Duck_ (_Erismatura
rubida_). By Spencer Trotter, _Chicago Field_, Vol. XIII, p. 23.—Brief
general account, including reference to their occasional great abundance
in Chesapeake Bay.
162. _Bibliographical Manuals of American Naturalists. Chapter II. Dr.
Elliott Coues, U. S. A._ By William Hosea Ballou. _Ibid._, XIII, pp. 92,
103, 123, 189, 205, 221.—Rather more than 400 titles of papers and
works, relating mainly to ornithology.
163. _Nomenclature of the North American Grouse._ By Spencer Trotter.
_Ibid._, XIII. pp. 314, 315.—Common and scientific names of North
American Grouse, with their principal synonymy and habitats.
163. _The California Quails in Missouri._ By H. Clay Ewing. _Ibid._
XIII, p. 413.—Six or seven pairs, turned out near the junction of the
Missouri and Osage Rivers in March 1879, raised broods the following
season near where they were liberated.
164. _Bibliographical Manual of American Naturalists Chapter III. The
Literature of Prof. Edward D. Cope._ By Wm. Hosea Ballou. _Ibid._ XIV,
pp. 19, 20.—Contains a few ornithological titles.
165. _Can the Pinnated Grouse be successfully propagated?_ By H. W.
Merrill. _Forest and Stream_, XVI, Feb. 10, 1881, p. 28.—Believes they
can be “successfully propagated” with proper “regard to cover, food and
range.”
166. _Pine Grosbeak_ (_Pinicola enucleator_, L., V.) and _Robin_
(_Turdus migratorius_, L.) _in Winter_ [_in Nova Scotia_]. By. J.
Matthews Jones. _Ibid._, XVI. March 13, 1881, p. 86.—The former “quite
common”; small flocks of the latter frequent the spruce woods every
winter, in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax peninsula.
167. _The “Crane’s Back.”_ By J. C. Merrill. _Ibid._, XVI, March 10,
1881, p. 105.—A Cree Indian account of the _napite-shu-utle_, a bird
said to migrate by taking passage on the backs of Cranes. The bird is
believed to be a Grebe.
168. _A Hawk new to the United States._ By Robert Ridgway. _Ibid._, XVI,
Apr. 14, 1881, 206.—From Oyster Bay, Fla., provisionally referred to
_Buteo fuliginosus_. (See this _Bull._, VI, Oct. 1881, p. 207.)
169. _The Pine Grosbeak._ By Chas. E. Ingalls. _Ibid._, XVI. Apr. 14,
1881, pp. 206, 207.—Observations on its habits in winter in
Massachusetts.
170. _Our unique Spoon-billed Sandpiper_, _Eurinorhynchus pygmæus_
(Linn.). By Tarleton H. Bean. _Ibid._, XVI, Apr. 21. 1881, p. 225.—Brief
general history of the species, with record of its capture at Plover
Bay, Eastern Siberia, and Point Barrow, Alaska.
171. _Domesticated Quail._ By Henry Benbrook. _Ibid._, XVI, May 5, 1881,
p. 266.—_Ortyx virginianus_ successfully reared in captivity to the
third generation. Believes that under favorable circumstances they could
be bred “as easily as Turkeys.”
172. _Great Carolina Wren._ By William Dutcher. _Ibid._, XVI, July 14,
1881, p. 473.—Record of its capture at Greenville, N. J., within four
miles of New York City.
173. _The Rail we shoot._ [By George B. Grinnell.] _Ibid._. XVII, Sept.
22, 1881, pp. 146, 147.—Classification, diagnoses and habitats of the
_Rallidæ_ of the United States.
174. _Range and Rotary Movements of Limicolæ._ By W. Hapgood. _Ibid._,
XVII, Oct. 20, 1881, pp. 225–228.—An important and suggestive paper on
the migrations and range of American _Limicolæ_. The greater part of the
species of this group are noticed at length. The paper relates
especially to the winter haunts of these birds, and the conclusion is
pretty fairly sustained that many of them pass beyond the tropics to
winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
175. _Migration of Shore Birds._ By M. H. Simons. _Ibid._, XVII, Nov.
10, 1881, p. 288.—Apropos of Mr. Hapgood’s paper (see No. 174). the
writer calls attention to the fact that many kinds of Shore Birds winter
in Florida and the other Gulf States. “Didymus.” under the same caption,
has some pertinent suggestions in reference to Mr. Hapgood’s paper.
176. _The Herring Gull and the Ring-bill on Georgian Bay._ By Rev. J. A.
Langille. _Ibid._, XVII, Nov. 17, 1881, p. 307.—On the habits, etc., of
these species at their breeding haunts in Georgian Bay.
177. _Beechnuts and Woodpeckers._ By C. Hart Merriam, M.D. _Ibid._,
XVII, Dec. 1, 1881, p. 347.—A reply to several pseudonymous articles in
previous numbers of this journal (_Forest and Stream_) in reference to
the Red-headed Woodpecker’s habit of eating beechnuts. Other notes on
the same subject, by various contributors, follow in this and succeeding
numbers.
178. _The Enemies of Game Birds._ By Adolphe B. Covert [and others].
_Ibid._, XVII, Dec. 8, 1881, p. 366, Dec. 22, p. 407, and Dec. 29, p.
428.—Various enemies are mentioned, among whom the Red Squirrel is
prominent.
179. _Habits of Woodpeckers._ By W. Beeke [and others]. _Ibid._, XVII,
Dec. 15, 1881, p. 387.—In reference to their laying up stores of
beechnuts for winter use, particularly refers to the Red-headed
Woodpecker.
180. _Inquiries about the Snow Grouse_ [lege Goose]. By William Dutcher.
_Ibid._, XVII, Dec. 22, 1881, p. 407.—In reference to the distribution
of _Anser hyperboreus_ on the Atlantic coast, and to the change of
plumage in the Blue Goose (_A. cærulescens_) in captivity.
181. _The Sparrow Curse in Australia._ _Ibid._, XVII, Dec. 22, 1881, pp.
407, 408.—Abstract of a “progress report” of a government commission
appointed to investigate “alleged injuries caused to fruit growers,
gardeners, farmers and others by [the imported] Sparrows.” The analysis
of the testimony taken is suggestive reading in its bearing upon the
“Sparrow Pest” of our own country.
182. _The Snow Goose and Blue Goose._ By C. S. Wescott. _Ibid._, XVII,
Jan. 5, 1882, p. 447.—Respecting their specific diversity, and on the
occurrence of the Snow Goose in Delaware Bay. This is followed by a
communication (under the same caption) from Arthur Edward Brown, who
states that seven Blue Geese have lived seven years in the Philadelphia
Zoölogical Garden without showing any material change of color.
183. _Der Schwalbenweih_ (_Nauclerus forficatus_). Von H. Nehrling.
_Ornithologisches Centralblatt_, VI. No. 2, 15 Jan. 1881, pp. 9,
10.—Account of its habits, etc., as observed in Texas.
184. _Der Gelbkopfstärling oder Gelbkopftrupial_ (_Xanthocephalus
icterocephalus_ Baird). Von H. Nehrling. _Ibid._, VI, No. 11. 1 Juni,
1881, pp. 81–84, No. 13, 1 Juli, 1881, pp. 97, 98.—General history.
185. _Die Wandertaube_ [_Ectopistes migratorius_]. Von Chas L. Mann.
_Ibid._, VI, No. 21, 1 Nov. 1881, pp. 164–166. (Aus: _Jahresber. des
Naturhist. Vereins in Wisconsin 1880–81_.)—On the great numbers
destroyed by pigeon hunters for the market. Contains interesting
statistics of the slaughter and the manner in which it is prosecuted.
186. _Zwei amerikanische Prairiefinken._ Von H. Nehrling. _Monatsschrift
des Deutschen Vereins zum Schuke der Vogelwelt_, VI Jahrg., No. 3, März,
1881, pp. 58–64.—General account of the “Lerchenfink (_Chondestes
grammica_ Bp.)” and the “Savannenfink (_Passerculus savanna_ Bp.).”
187. _Ornithologische Beobachtungen aus Texas._ II. Von H. Nehrling.
_Ibid._, VI, No. 5, Mai, 1881, pp. 111–121. (See this Bulletin, VI, p.
109.)
188. _Nordamerikanische Vögel im Freileben geschildert._ Von H.
Nehrling. _Die gefiederte Welt. Zeitschrift für Vogelliebhaber, -Zuchter
und -Händler_, X Jahrg., 1881.—Under this title Dr. Nehrling contributes
a series of well-written popular articles on various North American
birds. In the present volume are the following: (1) Das
Rubingoldhähnchen (_Regulus calendula_ Lichtst.), _l. c._ pp. 14–16,
24–26. (2) Der blauköpfige oder Brewer’s Stärling, _Scolecophagus
Breweri_, Nehrl. (_S. cyanocephalus_ Cab....) pp. 44–46, 57, 58. (3) Der
Kentuckysänger oder Buschsänger (_Sylvia-Opornis_ [sic.]—_formosa_
Wils. ...), pp. 100–102. (4) Die Einfiedlerdrossel (_Turdus Pallasi_
Cab. ...), pp. 173, 174. (5) Der Gold- oder Kukukspecht (_Colaptes
auratus_ Swns. ...), pp. 228–230, 240, 241, 251–253, 265, 266. (6) Der
Scherentyrann, Scheren- oder Gabelschwanz (_Milvulus forficatus_,
Swains. ...), pp. 325, 326, 333–335. (7) Der blaugraue Fliegenfänger
oder Mückenfänger (_Polioptila cærulea_ Scl.), pp. 368–370, 380, 381,
393. (8) Der Satrap oder das Gelbkrongoldhähnchen (_Regulus satrapa_,
Lichsts. ...), pp. 435, 436. (9) Die Bergdrossel (_Oreoscoptes montanus_
Brd. ...), pp. 528–530.
189. _Rocky Mountains-Hüttensänger oder Steinschmätzer_ (... _Sialia
arctica_ Swns.) _Eine Vogelstudie aus den Felsingebergen_. Von Fr.
Trefz. _Ibid._, p. 81.
=General Notes.=
DESCRIPTION OF A NEST OF THE WATER OUZEL.—The nest of the Water Ouzel
(_Cinclus mexicanus_) is perhaps not so well known as to make the
following description of one wholly uninteresting. The nest when found
was in good condition, and had evidently been used the past season. It
was built under a slightly overhanging wall of limestone, on a ledge
projecting seven or eight inches from the wall, and about four feet
above low-water mark, the deepest part of a swift mountain stream
flowing directly beneath. The material of construction was a bright
green moss, forming a rather conspicuous object for some distance along
the opposite bank. The nest has a nearly spherical interior seven inches
in diameter. The entrance is triangular, one side of the triangle
forming the top and being three and one-half inches across and three
inches above the lower angle. The most exposed side of the nest varies
from three to four inches in thickness, the top and remainder being only
an inch and a half through. At time of finding, the interior of the nest
was perfectly clean, but outside, just below the opening, the rock was
discolored for some distance by excrement of the birds. Side by side
with this nest was an older one partially destroyed, and I fancied I
could see traces of still another on the same ledge not far off. The
birds had evidently lived in the locality for some time.—R. S. WILLIAMS,
_Gold Run, Montana_.
THE SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.—On the 24th of August,
1881, while investigating the recesses of a fresh water marsh at Rye
Beach, N. H., I found a colony of Short-billed Marsh Wrens (_Cistothorus
stellaris_) in a small meadow about a mile from the sea. One bird was
shot, and five or six others seen and heard.
Mr. Wm. Brewster in 1872 found this bird in the same vicinity, but in a
locality about five miles farther inland.
These two records extend the northern range of the Short-billed Marsh
Wren, and give it a place among the birds of New Hampshire.—HENRY M.
SPELMAN, _Cambridge, Mass._
EARLY ARRIVAL OF THE YELLOW-RUMP IN SOUTHERN MAINE.—This morning—March
21, 1882—I found a solitary Yellow-rumped Warbler (_Dendræca coronata_)
flitting about in a straggling growth of spruces, on Cape Elizabeth. His
arrival is unprecedentedly early for this vicinity. The Yellow-rumps
usually reach Portland in the last week of April, sometimes not until
after May 1, and up to to-day I have never seen one before April 21,
which was the date of their appearance in 1879. My little friend of this
morning was probably only an accidental and temporary visitor. Snow
still lies from two to three feet deep in the woods, and much
blustering, wintry weather must be expected, before the earliest
Warblers come to us in earnest.—NATHAN CLIFFORD BROWN, _Portland,
Maine_.