29, 1879.
180. =Gallinula galeata= _Bonap._ FLORIDA GALLINULE.—Common during the
breeding season in all marshes where reeds and bushes grow, but
especially so where the magnificent _Nymphæa odorata_ (Water-Lily)
opens its fragrant flowers, and where _Nuphar advena_ (Yellow Pond
Lily) and another beautiful aquatic, _Nelumbium luteum_ (Water
Chinquepin), are found; over the broad leaves of which plants the
little Florida Gallinule runs with exceeding quickness, searching for
water insects and other food.
181. =Fulica americana= _Gmel._ AMERICAN COOT; MUD HEN.—Decidedly more
numerous than the preceding. Especially common in the large prairie
swamps.
182. =Cygnus buccinator= _Rich._ TRUMPETER SWAN.—Every winter there
are large numbers on Galveston Bay and on the Gulf of Mexico near the
coast.
183. =Cygnus americanus= _Sharp._ AMERICAN or WHISTLING
SWAN.—Sometimes these birds winter abundantly on Galveston Bay.
184. =Anser hyperboreus= _Pall._ SNOW GOOSE; WHITE BRANT.—Exceedingly
abundant on Galveston Bay, also on the rivers and bayous near the Gulf
Coast in winter.
185. =Anser albifrons gambeli= _Coues_. AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE.—This is the first Goose to arrive from the north in autumn, but
they all migrate farther south.
186. =Bernicla canadensis= _Boie_. CANADA GOOSE.—Exceedingly abundant
during winter. Large flocks are to be observed on the wet prairies in
company with Cranes.
187. =Anas boscas= _Linn._ MALLARD.—Very common during migrations and
in winter.
188. =Anas obscura= _Gmel._ BLACK DUCK; DUSKY DUCK.—Common during the
breeding season. A pair of these Ducks are seen in almost every pond
among Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, Anhingas, Gallinules, and Blackbirds
(_Agelæus phœniceus_).
189. =Dafila acuta= _Bonap._ PINTAIL DUCK.—Common during migrations.
190. =Chaulelasmus streperus= _Gray._ GADWALL.—Exceedingly abundant
during winter.
191. =Mareca americana= _Steph._ AMERICAN WIDGEON.—Common during
migrations.
192. =Querquedula carolinensis= _Steph._ GREEN-WINGED TEAL.—Very
common in autumn and spring, rather rare in winter.
193. =Querquedula discors= _Steph._ BLUE-WINGED TEAL.—Very common
during migrations but all pass further south.
194. =Querquedula cyanoptera= _Cass._ CINNAMON TEAL.—Not common during
migrations; none remain to winter.
195. =Spatula clypeata= _Boie_. SHOVELLER; SPOON-BILL DUCK.—Abundant
in winter.
196. =Aix sponsa= _Boie_. WOOD DUCK; SUMMER DUCK.—Common during
migrations; some remain to breed.
197. =Fulix marila= _Bd._ SCAUP DUCK.—Common in winter on Galveston
Bay.
198. =Fulix affinis= _Bd._ LITTLE BLACK-HEAD.—Very common in winter.
199. =Aythya vallisneria= _Boie_. CANVAS-BACK.—Abundant in winter on
Galveston Bay and on all marshy districts near the Gulf Coast.
200. =Bucephala albeola= _Bd._ BUTTER-BALL; BUFFLE-HEAD.—Abundant in
winter near the coast.
201. =Erismatura rubida= _Bonap._ RUDDY DUCK.—Very common during
migrations; none remain to winter, but many breed.
202. =Pelecanus erythrorhynchus= _Gmel._ AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN.—Common during winter, especially near the coast.
203. =Pelecanus fuscus= _Linn._ BROWN PELICAN.—Common during the
breeding season on all the rivers, creeks, and bayous near the coast.
204. =Plotus anhinga= _Linn._ AMERICAN ANHINGA; SNAKE-BIRD; “WATER
TURKEY.”—Breeds in all marshy localities and is very common.
205. =Larus atricilla= _Linn._ LAUGHING GULL.—Abundant near the Gulf
Coast; breeds on the small sand islands in Galveston Bay.
206. =Sterna anglica= _Montag._ GULL-BILLED TERN.—Breeds abundantly on
the islands of Galveston Bay.
207. =Sterna regia= _Gambel._ ROYAL TERN.—Breeds in considerable
numbers on the islands of Galveston Bay.
208. =Sterna cantiaca acuflavida= _Ridgw._ CABOT’S TERN, and—
209. =Sterna forsteri= _Nutt._ FORSTER’S TERN.—These and a few other
Terns breed in abundance on the islands near the coast, especially on
the sand-bars of Galveston Bay, where they lay their eggs on the bare
sand. It was impossible for me to distinguish the eggs, as the birds
all leave the nests as soon as they are approached.
NOTES ON SOME BIRDS COLLECTED BY CAPT. CHARLES BENDIRE, AT FORT WALLA
WALLA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
BY WILLIAM BREWSTER.
The following paper is based on a collection of about two hundred and
fifty birds obtained in the immediate vicinity of Fort Walla Walla
during the autumn and winter of 1881–82, and submitted to me for
determination by Capt. Bendire, who has kindly consented to my
publishing any notes respecting them, that seem of sufficient interest.
As an exponent of the workings of geographical variation in species
easily modified by their surroundings, this material is especially
instructive. The region represented apparently constitutes a sort of
neutral ground between the Pacific and Middle Provinces and naturally
its fauna is a mixed one. Setting aside species not subject to
geographical modification, and migrants from the north which have only
an indirect bearing on the general question, we find the collection
divisible into three classes: (1) Forms identical with or most nearly
like Pacific coast types; (2) Forms about intermediate between
representatives inhabiting the Pacific and Middle Provinces; (3) Forms
to a certain extent intermediate between Pacific and Middle Province
representatives, but differing from both in certain original
characteristics. The locality seems to be nearly lacking in typical
representatives of the Middle Province; and its fauna, on the whole,
must be regarded as closely related to that of the coast region.
The third class, although least numerous, includes many of the most
interesting birds. The majority of these are resident forms, a fact
which sufficiently explains many of their peculiarities, for it is well
known that sedentary species are, of all others, the most subject to
local variation.
But while the philosophic bearing of this material is not doubtful,
there are certain systematic difficulties in the way of its satisfactory
presentation. I refer to the _naming_ of these intermediate forms. The
practice has been to use the name of the race to which the bird seems
most nearly related, and this I have been forced to adopt in default of
a better way. But the method obviously fails to meet the requirements of
such cases, while to a certain extent it is unscientific and inaccurate.
The evil, however, is not likely to be remedied, for it is difficult to
conceive of a system of nomenclature that would adequately designate the
numberless intermediate and local types.
In the present connection I would gratefully mention the assistance
received from my friend, Mr. Ridgway, who, during my study of the
collection, has given me every facility for examining the matchless
series in the National Museum, and to whom I am further indebted for
many valuable suggestions. My obligations to Capt. Bendire are greater
than I can adequately express, for, in addition to other kind
attentions, he has generously presented me with many valuable specimens
included among those about to be discussed.
List of Species and Varieties represented in the Collection.
1. _Turdus migratorius._[102]
2. _Turdus migratorius propinquus._
3. _Sialia arctica._
4. _Myiadestes townsendi._
5. _Regulus satrapa olivaceus._
6. _Parus atricapillus occidentalis._
7. _Telmatodytes palustris paludicola._
8. _Anthus ludovicianus._
9. _Lanius borealis._
10. _Ampelis garrulus._
11. _Ampelis cedrorum._
12. _Hesperophona vespertina._
13. _Chrysomitris tristis._
14. _Passerculus sandvicensis alaudinus._
15. _Zonotrichia gambeli intermedia._
16. _Spizella monticola ochracea._[103]
17. _Junco oregonus._
18. _Melospiza fasciata guttata._
19. _Pipilo maculatus megalonyx._[104]
20. _Agelæus phœniceus._
21. _Sturnella neglecta._
22. _Scolecophagus cyanocephalus._
23. _Corvus americanus._[105]
24. _Pica rustica hudsonica._
25. _Cyanocitta stelleri annectens._
26. _Eremophila alpestris._[106]
27. _Picus pubescens gairdneri._
28. _Melanerpes torquatus._
29. _Colaptes auratus hybridus._[107]
30. _Colaptes auratus mexicanus._
31. _Ceryle alcyon._
32. _Asio americanus._
33. _Asio accipitrinus._
34. _Scops asio kennicotti._[108]
35. _Bubo virginianus subarcticus._[109]
36. _Bubo virginianus saturatus._
37. _Nyctea scandiaca._
38. _Falco columbarius suckleyi._
39. _Falco richardsoni._
40. _Falco sparverius._
41. _Accipiter fuscus._
42. _Astur atricapillus._
43. _Astur atricapillus_ var. ——?[110]
44. _Buteo borealis calurus._
45. _Buteo swainsoni._
46. _Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis._
47. _Archibuteo ferrugineus._
48. _Zenaidura carolinensis._
49. _Bonasa umbella sabinii._
50. _Pediœcetes phasianellus columbianus._
51. _Charadrius dominicus._
SPECIES AND VARIETIES CALLING FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.
6. =Parus atricapillus occidentalis= (_Baird_) _Coues_. OREGON
CHICKADEE.—A series of six specimens furnishes satisfactory
proof—which I believe has been heretofore wanting—that _P.
occidentalis_ is simply a dark, geographical race of _P.
atricapillus_. One example is absolutely typical of _occidentalis_,
while the others grade evenly into a form that is essentially
undistinguishable from _atricapillus_. Indeed the lightest colored
specimen is so nearly like some Massachusetts birds taken at the same
season that I have been unable, after a most careful comparison, to
detect the slightest difference in either color or markings: the wing
of the Walla Walla skin, however, is slightly shorter. There are no
apparent approaches in this series to _P. septentrionalis_.
16. =Spizella monticola ochracea= var. nov. WESTERN TREE SPARROW.—Ch.
Subsp. ♂ ♀ Similis _S. monticolæ_, sed colore suprà dilutiore; strigis
dorsalibus rarioribus, angustioribus et magis acutè in tergo
pallidiore depictis; lateribus gulâque magis ochraceis; vertice, in
auctumnalibus quidem avibus, sæpissimè magis cinereo.
♂ (Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, Nov. 8, 1881. Capt.
Bendire.) Back and rump pale sandy-brown or brownish-ochraceous, the
back with sharply defined black streaks which, excepting on the
scapulars, have no chestnut bordering; crown invaded centrally, from
the nape, by a broad space of pale ash which tinges most of the
feathers to their bases and confines the usual chestnut to a small
area on the forehead and two narrow, lateral stripes; lores and sides
of head pale fulvous; entire under parts washed with warm ochraceous,
deepest on the sides and abdomen, palest on the throat where it only
partially conceals the ashy beneath. Otherwise similar to _S.
monticola_.
_Dimensions._ Wing, 2.94; tail, 2.73; culmen, .43.
_Habitat._ Western North America, east to Dakota, north to Arctic
Ocean: Alaska?
The specimen above described differs widely from its nearest
approaches among my eastern examples. The ground-color of the back is
decidedly paler, bringing out the dark streaks in sharper contrast,
which is heightened by the absence of their usual chestnut edging; the
ash of the throat and sides of the head is much fainter, and in many
places replaced by brownish-fulvous; the under parts, especially the
sides and abdomen, are more strongly ochraceous; and the broad, ashy
crown-patch gives the head a very different appearance.
Upon testing these characters by comparison with the extensive
material in the National Museum, I find the different ground-color and
markings of the back to be constant in western birds, while the
ochraceous tint of the throat and sides of the head, although most
conspicuous in fall and winter specimens, is also a good distinction;
the ashy hood is apparently confined to autumnal birds, and with these
is variable in extent, as well as sometimes wanting; but as it _never_
occurs in eastern examples it is not wholly lacking in diagnostic
value.
A comparison of measurements taken from a large number of specimens of
both races shows little average difference in size, although the
western birds usually have smaller and narrower bills.
18. =Melospiza fasciata guttata= (_Nutt._) _Ridgw._ RUSTY SONG
SPARROW.—The thirteen Song Sparrows sent me from Fort Walla Walla
represent a form very nearly intermediate between _fallax_ and
_guttata_. Most of these specimens are decidedly browner above and
more heavily streaked beneath than true _fallax_; but on the other
hand none of them are as dark as typical _guttata_, although several
closely approach that form. One of the lighter examples is even grayer
than a Utah skin, and, taken by itself would necessarily be referable
to _fallax_. But the series as a whole may perhaps best be referred to
_guttata_.
25. =Cyanocitta stelleri annectens= (_Baird_) _Ridgw._ BLACK-HEADED
JAY.—An interesting series of Jays collected by Capt. Bendire includes
five typical representatives of _annectens_, two nearly typical
_stelleri_ and four birds about intermediate between these forms. The
differential characteristics of the three styles may be briefly given
as follows: The first-named has a well-defined and conspicuous patch
of white over the eye; the second entirely lacks this marking; the
third has it merely indicated by a narrow gray line. In all, the crest
is glossy black; the rest of the head, with the breast anteriorly,
plumbeous-black; the back plumbeous-brown; and the throat streaked
with bluish-white. All have the head above more or less streaked with
blue, but the shade and extent of this marking bear no apparent
relation to the presence or absence of the white patch over the eyes.
Thus examples of each style have the forehead and crown, to a point
half an inch behind the eye, thickly marked with blue or bluish-white,
while with all there is a more or less complete gradation from this
pattern to one in which a few pale streaks are confined to the
forehead. Similarly, the greater wing-coverts are distinctly barred
with black, faintly crossed with fine dark lines, or entirely
immaculate, without regard to the character of the features already
mentioned.
The above evidence clearly goes to show that _annectens_ grades
directly into _stelleri_; but it does not necessarily preclude the
recognition of the former as a well-defined geographical race, for the
locality under consideration abounds in similarly intermediate forms.
33. =Asio accipitrinus= (_Pall._) _Newton_. SHORT-EARED OWL.—A female,
taken Oct 7, has the ground-color of the plumage, both above and
beneath, rich, almost rusty, ochraceous; the markings, also, are
unusually dark and broad. Three males represent the other extreme,
their coloring, especially beneath, being remarkably pale and almost
free from any ochraceous tinge.
36. =Bubo virginianus saturatus=[111] _Ridgw._ DUSKY HORNED
OWL.—During the autumn of 1881 Great Horned Owls were unusually
abundant about Fort Walla Walla, and Capt. Bendire secured no less
than fourteen specimens, of which twelve are now before me. In a
general way these are referable as follows: eight to _saturatus_, two
to _subarcticus_, and two to a form apparently about intermediate
between these races. Five of the representatives of _saturatus_ are
typical, while the remaining three grade into the intermediate form
which, in turn, approaches one of the light specimens referred to
_subarcticus_. The latter example is not typical, but its companion
differs from an Arizona skin only in having slightly darker dorsal
markings and a little stronger rufous cast about the face and across
the breast, the color and markings elsewhere being essentially the
same.
The occurrence of these three forms together is not remarkable, for
two of them may reasonably be regarded as migrants from distant and
probably widely separated regions. The third possibly represents a
resident type, but on this point I have no direct evidence.
38. =Falco columbarius suckleyi?= _Ridgw._ BLACK MERLIN.—A beautiful
adult male Pigeon Hawk, taken at Fort Walla Walla Oct. 18, 1881,
presents such a puzzling combination of characters that, after
carefully comparing it with all the material available, I am still
at a loss for a definite opinion regarding its precise identity or
relationship. It most closely resembles highly colored, autumnal
adults of _F. columbarius_, but the under parts, excepting the
throat and a small central space on the abdomen, are rich
rusty-ochraceous—almost orange-chestnut on the breast and tibiæ,
while the usual cinereous above is intensified on the back to a
nearly pure plumbeous; the markings of the under parts, also, are
unusually coarse and numerous. In these respects it agrees with a
bird in the National Museum from Santa Clara, California, but it
differs from this specimen, as well as from every other adult that I
have seen, in having the outer webs of all the primaries, excepting
the first two, conspicuously marked with rounded spots of pale
ochraceous.
With _F. richardsoni_ it cannot be consistently associated, for the
adult, as well as the young of that species, always has six distinct
light bars on the tail, while the example under consideration
possesses but five. Moreover, the adult male of _richardsoni_ is very
much lighter colored than the adult of _columbarius_, whereas the
present bird is decidedly darker. The adult of _suckleyi_ is unknown,
but we should expect to find it, like the young, with sparse,
inconspicuous spotting on the lining of the wings. In the Walla Walla
bird these markings are as numerous and well-defined as in
_columbarius_.
Taking all these considerations into account, and bearing in mind the
unstable character of so many of the types furnished by this locality,
it seems most reasonable to assume that Capt. Bendire’s specimen
represents the adult plumage of a form which, although referable to
_suckleyi_, is more or less intermediate between that race and true
_columbarius_. But additional material must be forthcoming before the
question can be definitely settled.
39. =Falco richardsoni= _Ridgw._ RICHARDSON’S MERLIN.—Of this
well-marked species the collection contains two immature females,
dated respectively Oct. 13 and Oct. 21, 1881. Neither of these calls
for any special comment, but I take the present opportunity to
characterize the adult plumage of the male, which apparently has not
been previously described.[112]
_Falco richardsoni_, adult ♂ (author’s collection, Colorado Springs,
Colorado, C. E. Aiken). Above pale ashy-blue, most of the feathers of
the back, as well as the inner secondaries and many of the scapulars,
with fine, black shaft-lines; crown tinged with ochraceous (probably
wanting in the highest conditions of plumage), the black shaft-lines
here very numerous, each feather being conspicuously marked; forehead
and sides of head light ochraceous, the former with narrow black
streaks, the latter with broader brownish ones; a well-defined nuchal
collar of rusty-ochraceous with darker mottling; secondaries and
primary coverts concolor with the back, but with light bars on their
inner webs; primaries plumbeous-brown, margined with bluish-white and
marked conspicuously on both webs with the same color, the markings on
the inner webs being pure white and extending in transverse bars from
the shaft to the edge of the feather, those of the outer webs
ashy-white and in the form of conspicuous, rounded or quadrate spots;
tail crossed by five dark and six light bars, the last of the latter
terminal and pure white, the others more or less bordered by pale
ashy-blue; all of the dark bars clear black excepting the basal two,
which, on the central rectrices, are nearly uniform with the back, but
decidedly darker than the light ones with which they alternate; throat
pure white and immaculate; remainder of under parts pale ochraceous,
deepest on the tibiæ and crissum, where it is decidedly tinged with
rusty; feathers of the breast, abdomen, flanks and sides with median
stripes of clear reddish-brown, these stripes broadest on the flanks
(where they are sometimes actually transverse), narrowest across the
anterior part of the breast, and everywhere with fine but
inconspicuous dark shaft-lines; crissum entirely unmarked; under
tail-coverts and tibiæ with conspicuous shaft-lines of dark brown;
edges of wings pale ochraceous; under wing-coverts white, barred with
reddish-brown; all the markings of the primaries showing distinctly on
their under surfaces. _Dimensions._ Wing, 8.21; tail, 5.18; culmen
(from cere), .50.
Were further proof wanting to establish this Falcon’s specific
distinctness from _F. columbarius_, the difference in the adult
plumage of the two would settle the question. The adult male of _F.
richardsoni_ has the mantle almost as light as that of a Herring Gull,
while the conspicuous ashy-white spots on the outer webs of the
primaries and the six light tail bands constitute equally well-marked
characters. The specimen above described is essentially similar to
five examples in the National Museum.
42. =Astur atricapillus= (_Wils._) _Bonap._ AMERICAN GOSHAWK.—The
present collection includes four Goshawks, one an adult male, the
remaining three young, or at least immature, birds in brown plumage.
The adult is absolutely identical with Massachusetts specimens, and
must be considered typical _atricapillus_. Two of the young agree well
with Mr. Ridgway’s description of young _striatulus_,[113] but the
third does not have the markings either darker or more extensive than
do several of my New England examples, and the dorsal feathers have an
even broader light (_ochraceous_) edging; the under parts, also, are
strongly ochraceous, while the stripes on the flanks are neither
cordate nor transverse. The latter characters, however, are probably
worthless for they occur in a Tyngsboro (Mass.) bird.
Without going further into details I may sum up my conclusions as
follows: (1) That two of Capt. Bendire’s specimens (the adult and the
young bird just mentioned) are undistinguishable from typical
_atricapillus_; (2) That the other two examples (both young or
immature) differ from eastern birds in having broader, more linear
black markings beneath and a narrower light edging on the feathers
above, and are probably referable to a form more or less distinct from
_atricapillus_; (3) That true _atricapillus_ ranges westward at least
to Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory; (4) That _striatulus_, as
at present defined, is a doubtfully tenable variety.
I am not at liberty to pursue the subject further, for I understand
that Mr. Nelson is about to propose a new Pacific coast race which
occurs, at least as a migrant, in the Western United States, and upon
the young of which Mr. Ridgway apparently based his description of
young striatulus.[114]
49. =Bonasa umbella sabinii= (_Dougl._) _Coues_. OREGON RUFFED
GROUSE.—The series of Ruffed Grouse embraces twelve specimens, all
from the immediate vicinity of Fort Walla Walla. These birds
apparently represent a dark, or more properly speaking, non-rufescent
phase of _sabinii_, corresponding to the gray phase of _umbella_, and
bearing the same relation to typical _sabinii_ that the Walla Walla
_Scops_ does to what has been considered typical _S. kennicotti_. This
peculiar plumage may be characterized as follows:
Gray phase; adult ♂. Above with the ground-color clear, dark ash,
nearly uniform and unmixed with reddish even on the wings and tail;
throat and breast tinged with reddish-yellow; remainder of under parts
white, occasionally with a trace of ochraceous; markings as in typical
_sabinii_.