and woe to the man or dog who incautiously comes within reach of
its powerful bill, for that instant he is sure to receive a severe
wound, and the risk is so much the greater that birds of this species
commonly aim at the eye. If beaten with a pole or long stick, they
throw themselves on their back, cry aloud, and strike with their bill
and claws with great force. I have shot some on trees, which, although
quite dead, clung by their claws for a considerable time before they
fell. I have also seen the Blue Heron giving chase to a Fish Hawk,
whilst the latter was pursuing its way through the air towards a
place where it could feed on the fish which it bore in its talons.
The Heron soon overtook the Hawk, and at the very first lounge made
by it, the latter dropped its quarry, when the Heron sailed slowly
towards the ground, where it no doubt found the fish. On one occasion
of this kind, the Hawk dropped the fish in the water, when the Heron,
as if vexed that it was lost to him, continued to harass the Hawk,
and forced it into the woods.
The flight of the Great Blue Heron is even, powerful, and capable of
being protracted to a great distance. On rising from the ground or
on leaving its perch, it goes off in silence with extended neck and
dangling legs, for eight or ten yards, after which it draws back its
neck, extends its feet in a straight line behind, and with easy and
measured flappings continues its course, at times flying low over the
marshes, and again, as if suspecting danger, at a considerable height
over the land or the forest. It removes from one pond or creek, or
even from one marsh to another, in a direct manner, deviating only on
apprehending danger. When about to alight, it now and then sails in a
circular direction, and when near the spot it extends its legs, and
keeps its wings stretched out until it has effected a footing. The
same method is employed when it alights on a tree, where, however,
it does not appear to be as much at its ease as on the ground. When
suddenly surprised by an enemy, it utters several loud discordant
notes, and mutes the moment it flies off.
This species takes three years in attaining maturity, and even after
that period it still increases in size and weight. When just hatched
they have a very uncouth appearance, the legs and neck being very
long, as well as the bill. By the end of a-week the head and neck
are sparingly covered with long tufts of silky down, of a dark grey
colour, and the body exhibits young feathers, the quills large with
soft blue sheaths. The tibio-tarsal joints appear monstrous, and at
this period the bones of the leg are so soft, that one may bend them
to a considerable extent without breaking them. At the end of four
weeks, the body and wings are well covered with feathers of a dark
slate colour, broadly margined with ferruginous, the latter colour
shewing plainly on the thighs and the flexure of the wing; the bill
has grown wonderfully, the legs would not now easily break, and the
birds are able to stand erect on the nest or on the objects near it.
They are now seldom fed oftener than once a-day, as if their parents
were intent on teaching them that abstinence without which it would
often be difficult for them to subsist in their after life. At the
age of six or seven weeks they fly off, and at once go in search of
food, each by itself.
In the following spring, at which time they have grown much, the
elongated feathers of the breast and shoulders are seen, the males
shew the commencement of the pendent crest, and the top of the head
has become white. None breed at this age, in so far as I have been
able to observe. The second spring, they have a handsome appearance,
the upper parts have become light, the black and white marks are
much purer, and some have the crest three or four inches in length.
Some breed at this age. The third spring, the Great Blue Heron is as
represented in the plate.
The males are somewhat larger than the females, but there is very
little difference between the sexes in external appearance. This
species moults in the Southern States about the beginning of May,
or as soon as the young are hatched, and one month after the pendent
crest is dropped, and much of the beauty of the bird is gone for the
season. The weight of a full grown Heron of this kind, when it is
in good condition, is about eight pounds; but this varies very much
according to circumstances, and I have found some having all the
appearance of old birds that did not exceed six pounds. The stomach
consists of a long bag, thinly covered by a muscular coat, and is
capable of containing several fishes at a time. The intestine is not
thicker than the quill of a swan, and measures from eight and a half
to nine feet in length.
ARDEA HERODIAS, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 237.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 692.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. p.
304.
GREAT HERON, ARDEA HERODIAS, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol.
vii. p. 106. pl. 61. Fig. 1.—_Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p.
42.
Adult Male in spring. Plate CCXI.
Bill much longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a
point, the mandibles nearly equal; upper mandible with the dorsal line
nearly straight, the ridge broadly convex at the base, narrowed towards
the end, a groove from the base to near the tip, beneath which the
sides are convex, the edges extremely thin and sharp, towards the end
broken into irregular serratures, the tip acute. Lower mandible with
the angle extremely narrow and elongated, the dorsal line beyond it
ascending, and slightly curved, the ridge convex, the sides flattish
and ascending, the edges as in the upper, the tip acuminate. Nostrils
basal, linear, longitudinal, with a membrane above and behind.
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and slender.
Body slender and compressed; wings large. Feet very long; tibia
elongated, its lower half bare, very slender, covered all round with
hexagonal scales; tarsus elongated, thicker than the lower part of the
tibia, compressed, covered anteriorly with large scutella, excepting at
the two extremities, where it is scaly, the sides and hind part with
angular scales. Toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate
above, reticularly granulate beneath, third toe much longer than
second and fourth, which are nearly equal, first shorter, but strong;
claws of moderate size, strong, compressed, arched, rather acute,
the thin inner edge of that of the third toe finely serrated.
Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare, as is
the lower half of the tibia. Plumage soft, generally loose. Feathers
of the upper part of the head long, tapering, decurved, two of them
extremely elongated; of the back long and loose, of the rump soft and
downy; scapulars with extremely long slender rather compact points.
Feathers of the fore neck much elongated and extremely slender, of the
sides of the breast anteriorly very large, curved and loose; of the
forepart of the breast narrower and elongated, as they are generally
on the rest of the lower surface; on the tibia short. Wings, large,
rounded; primaries curved, strong, broad, tapering towards the end, the
outer cut out on both margins, second and third longest; secondaries
very large, broad and rounded, extending beyond the primaries when
the wing is closed. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve rather
broad, rounded feathers.
Bill yellow, dusky green above, loral and orbital spaces light green.
Iris bright yellow. Feet olivaceous, paler above the tibio-tarsal
joints; claws black. Forehead pure white; the rest of the elongated
feathers bluish-black; throat white, neck pale purplish-brown,
the elongated feathers beneath greyish-white, part of their inner
webs purplish-blue. Upper parts in general light greyish-blue, the
elongated tips of the scapulars greyish-white, the edge of the wing,
some feathers at the base of the fore neck, and the tibial feathers,
brownish-orange. The two tufts of large curved feathers on the fore
part of the breast bluish-black, some of them with a central stripe of
white. Lower surface of the wings and the sides light greyish-blue;
elongated feathers of the breast white, their inner edge black, of
the abdomen chiefly black; lower tail-coverts white, some of them
with an oblique mark of black near the tip.
Length to end of tail 48 inches, to end of claws 63 inches, extent
of wings 72; bill 5-1/2, gape 7-4/12; tarsus 6-1/2, middle toe and
claw 5, hind toe and claw 2-1/4, naked part of tibia 4; wings from
flexure 20; tail 7.
The Female, when in full plumage, is precisely similar to the Male.
On Prince Edward’s Island, in the Gulf of St Lawrence, there is a
fine breeding-place of the Great Blue Heron, which is probably the
most northern on the Atlantic coast of North America. The birds there
are more shy than they usually are at the period of breeding, and in
the most cowardly manner abandon their young to the mercy of every
intruder. A friend of mine who visited this place for the purpose of
procuring adult birds in their best plumage, to add to his already
extensive collection, found it extremely difficult to obtain his
object, until he at length thought of covering himself with the hide
of an ox, under the disguise of which he readily got within shot of
the birds, which were completely deceived by the stratagem.
THE COMMON AMERICAN GULL.
_LARUS ZONORHYNCHUS_, RICHARDSON.
PLATE CCXII. ADULT MALE, AND YOUNG IN WINTER.
No country can afford greater facilities for the migration of
water-birds than the United States of America. Even the Gulls are
enabled to traverse their whole extent from north to south, and in the
contrary direction, without suffering from want of food or of proper
resting places. The Gull that has been bred in Labrador, or still
farther north, can reach the Gulf of Mexico without being seriously
incommoded by the storms that now and then rage along the Atlantic
coast. The broad waters of the St Lawrence leads it to our great
lakes, from which hundreds of streams conduct it to the head waters
of the Ohio or the Mississippi, by following the windings of which it
at length arrives in the warm regions of the Mexican Gulf, on whose
waters the traveller can spend the winter. That these advantages are
embraced by many species of Gull, there can be no doubt; and should
you, as I have done, repeatedly visit our broad lakes, or the great
rivers just mentioned, you would find there, at particular seasons,
not only this species, but several others, as well as various kinds
of Terns, but none of the genus Lestris. Lake Erie supplies with
food the _Larus marinus_, _L. argentatus_, _L. atricilla_, and some
others, as well as the Great, the Arctic, the Roseate, and the Black
Terns, all of which pass at times over to the Ohio, and from thence
to the ocean. During these inland movements, the birds seem to be
peculiarly attracted by certain places, at which they remain for a
while. Thus, at the Falls of the Ohio, some species remain for weeks,
and wherever much shipping occurs on that river or the Mississippi,
Gulls are sure to be seen gleaning the garbage that has been thrown
overboard, or seizing such fishes as rise incautiously to the surface
of the water. In the months of September and October, Gulls and Terns
might almost be said to abound on our great streams, and many return
thither during the spring months on their way northward. Nay, to some
species of Tern, the beautiful sand-bars and rocky beaches that occur
here and there, are so attractive as to induce a few to remain and
breed there. This is especially the case with the Black Terns, some
of which rear their young by the rapids of the Ohio below Louisville,
amidst the roaring sounds of which may be heard their shrill and
continued cries.
You must not suppose, however, that all the Gulls which migrate in that
country take the same route; for thousands follow the sinuosities of
our Atlantic coast, some of them perhaps proceeding as far south in
that direction as those which follow our rivers. My opinion is, that
the feebler individuals of the different species follow the inland
route, while the older and more hardy birds keep along the shores
of the ocean. The examination of numerous specimens on both of these
extensive tracks has almost rendered this a matter of certainty, yet
I should be much pleased to find this opinion corroborated by the
observations of any other student of nature.
While on the coast of Florida, in the winter of 1832-33, I every day
saw Gulls of many species, but among them all were no adult birds,
with the exception of the Black-headed Gull of WILSON, which was very
abundant. This greatly tended to strengthen my opinion, that the young
gulls are of more delicate constitution than their parents, which
are better enabled to stand the rigours of the winter in the Middle
States, where they are found equally abundant at that season. For
similar reasons, I also feel assured that the oldest birds are those
which go farthest north to breed, and that the older and stronger
individuals are larger, with more purely tinted plumage, and with
the colours of their legs, feet and bills, as well as of the circle
around the eye, more vivid, than those which, although found breeding,
yet have not acquired their full maturity. In consequence of these
circumstances, some species have been described as forming several,
and the great difference between the plumage of the young and the
old birds has led to similar errors.
Our Common Gull is seldom seen in the adult plumage of winter beyond
the shores of Maryland southward, or in full summer plumage beyond
the Bay of New York, and this rarely after the middle of April, as
at that period they gather into flocks, and remove farther north to
breed. The places to which this species resorts for that purpose,
and which I have visited, are several islands between Boston and
Eastport, another close to Grand Manan at the entrance of the Bay of
Fundy, the great Gannet Rock of the Gulf of St Lawrence, and certain
rocky isles in the deep bays on the coast of Labrador.
This species, although one of those most abundant on our coast, is so
well acquainted with the artifices of man, that it keeps more than
others beyond the reach of the gun. While in our harbours or rivers
it sails at a moderate height, sometimes mingling with the Silvery
Gull, or even with the Great Black-backed. Its movements are graceful
and easy, and it floats as it were in the air, whether proceeding in
a direct line, or in irregular curves, when, suddenly checking its
speed, it partially closes its wings, and descends with rapidity in
a spiral manner. As it approaches the water, it allows its legs to
hang, opens its bill, and while seizing its food, raises its wings
erect and flaps them quickly to support its body. Now with loaded
bill it sweeps off to some distance, alights, and devours its prey.
When in pursuit of a shoal of small fish, it assembles in flocks, keeps
up a constant yelping noise, dips every instant among the fry, and
continues to feed until so gorged as to be unable to fly. Alighting
in groups, they float with great buoyancy, and it is pleasant to
see them rising and falling alternately on the waves of a moderately
agitated sea, the snowy whiteness of their under parts contrasting
with the deep green water, and their elongated wings extending beyond
the tail, giving the appearance of lightness and agility to their form.
The flight of this species is light and long sustained, and the
circumstance of birds of this genus being able to find food almost
anywhere, induces them at times to proceed far out to sea; and I have
now and then been gratified by the sudden appearance of several birds
of the present species to the lee of the ship, on whose deck I was
with impatience watching for the sight of land. The winged pilgrims
would no sooner come up than they also would express their pleasure by
their cries, especially when they received from the passengers bits
of bread or such garbage as might be at hand. Once fed, they would
fly about us the whole day, and sometimes would be seen the next; and
then perhaps all at once, as if made aware of the existence of land
in a particular direction, they would fly off, and we would see no
more of them.
When spring has fairly commenced, our Common Gulls assemble in parties
of hundreds, and alight on mud flats or sandy beaches, in our eastern
estuaries and bays. For a while they regularly resort to these places,
which to the Gulls are what the scratching or tooting grounds are
to the Pinnated Grous. The male Gulls, however, although somewhat
pugnacious, are not very inveterate in their quarrels, making up by
clamour for the deficiency of prowess in their tournaments. The males
bow to the females with swollen throats, and walk round them with
many odd gesticulations. As soon as the birds are paired, they give
up their animosities, and for the rest of the season live together
on the best terms. After a few weeks spent in these preparatory
pleasures, the flocks take to wing, and betake themselves to their
breeding places.
On an island within a few miles of Eastport in Maine, I found these
birds breeding in great numbers in the beginning of May. Their nests
were there placed amid the scanty tufts of grass. On the Gannet Rock,
early in June, they were breeding on the shelves towards the summit,
along with the Guillemots, while the Kittiwakes had secured their
nests far below. The different species kept apart, but yet exhibited
no antipathy towards each other. On the 18th of July, we discovered a
low rocky island at the bottom of a bay ten miles from the open sea,
opposite the harbour of Little Macatina, on the coast of Labrador,
where we found upwards of two hundred nests, all containing eggs
with the chicks more or less advanced. The number of eggs in each
nest was three or four, more generally three. They resembled those
of the Great Black-backed Gull in form and colour, but were much
smaller, measuring two inches and three quarters in length, by one
and five and a half eighths in their greatest diameter. There was
considerable diversity both in the tint of their ground colour, and
in the number and size of the spots on them, as is the case with
the eggs of most water birds. In general, however, they were of a
dull dark cream-colour, thickly blotched, sprinkled and touched with
different shades of purple, umber, and black. When fresh, these eggs
are delicious food, as I have had abundant occasion to know. The nests
were in this place all situated on the bare rock, but in all other
respects resembled those found among the grass or on more elevated
rocks; they were formed of seaweeds, well constructed, about six
inches across within, and twelve in their greatest diameter. Some of
the nests were much thicker and larger than others; many were placed
within the distance of a foot from each other; and the whole place
was covered with feathers and dung, which emitted a very disagreeable
stench, proving to us that it was annually resorted to by these
birds. To our surprise the birds were very shy. Among those killed
by us were some having all the appearance of mature age, such as I
have mentioned above. The number of individuals among them having the
black ring on the bill was much greater than among those found near
Grand Manan; some, however, were without this ring, and on others
it was but partially marked. Some had no white on the tips of the
primaries, and differences were also observable in the length of the
tarsus and toes; but all had the same voice, and were actually of the
same species. We also found considerable differences in their size
and weight, even in individuals of the same sex, some weighing one
pound, others four ounces more, and some so much as one pound ten
ounces. The males, at an average, were larger than the females. Not
a bird of any other species was found there, or on the grassy islands.
Whatever opinion may be held as to the synonyms of this Gull, I am
perfectly assured of the above mentioned variations in the colour,
size, and markings of the younger and older birds. I am equally sure
that no individuals acquire the full beauty of their plumage before
the third spring. The young are at first of a dull greenish-yellow,
spotted with dark brown on the head and rump. In a very few days they
leave the nest, ramble about in its vicinity, waiting the arrival of
their parents with food, and conceal themselves under stones or in
crevices at the appearance of danger. When a few weeks old, they do
not hesitate, on being pursued, to betake themselves to the water,
where they swim with great lightness. When about the size of pigeons,
they assume a brownish colour, each feather being broadly banded or
tipped with light ferruginous and grey. At this season, the fishermen
of Labrador and Newfoundland kill them in great numbers, and pack
them in salt for winter use. I was much surprised one morning while
at Labrador, to see one of the barges of the Gulnare come alongside
of the Ripley after a long cruize, when officers and men were glad
to have a good mess of these young Gulls in the bow of their boat,
they having run short of provisions.
LARUS ZONORHYNCHUS, _Swains. and Richards._ Fauna Bor.
Amer. part ii. p. 421.
RING-BILLED MEW-GULL, LARUS ZONORHYNCHUS, _Nuttall_, Manual,
vol. ii. p. 300.
Adult Male in summer plumage. Plate CCXII. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, robust, nearly straight, compressed. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight at the base, arched
and declinate towards the end, the ridge convex, the sides slightly
convex, the edges sharp inflected, arched, the tip rather obtuse.
Nasal groove rather long and narrow; nostrils in its fore part,
lateral, longitudinal, linear, wider anteriorly, open, and pervious.
Lower mandible with a prominence at the end of the angle, which is
long and narrow, the dorsal line then nearly straight and ascending,
the sides convex, the edges sharp and inflected.
Head rather large. Neck of moderate length. Body rather full. Wings
long. Feet of moderate length, rather slender; tibia bare below; tarsus
somewhat compressed, covered before and behind with numerous broad
scutella, the sides reticulated; hind toe very small and elevated,
the fore toes rather long and slender, the fourth longer than the
second, the third longest, all scutellate above, and connected by
reticulated entire membranes, the lateral toes margined externally
with a narrow membrane. Claws small, compressed, slightly arched,
rather obtuse.
The plumage in general is close, elastic, very soft and blended, on
the back rather compact. Wings very long, rather broad, acute, the
first quill longest, the other primaries rapidly graduated; secondaries
broad and rounded, the inner elongated and narrow. Tail of moderate
length, even, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill marked opposite the angle with a broad transverse band of
brownish-black, between which and the base it is light greenish-yellow,
the tips orange-yellow. Edges of eyelids greenish-yellow; iris bright
yellow. Feet greenish-yellow, the webs tinged with orange; claws
black. The general colour of the plumage is pure white, excepting the
back and wings, which are light pearl-grey. The first six quills are
black towards their extremities, the first and second being almost
entirely so, the sixth with only a small spot. The tips of these
feathers are white, that of the first having merely a narrow margin of
that colour, which gradually enlarges on the rest, the first moreover
has near the end a long patch of white, the second a smaller one on
the inner web. The proportional size of the white marks on the outer
primaries varies in individuals. The other quills and secondaries
are all white at the ends.
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 22-1/4, to end of claws
20-1/2; extent of wings 48; wing from flexure 15-1/2, tail 6;
bill along the back 1-3/4, along the edge 2-5/8, depth at the base
(8-3/4)/12, depth at the prominence 1/2; bare part of the tibia 3/4,
tarsus 2; middle toe 1-3/12, its claw (2-1/2)/12; hind toe (2-1/2)/12,
its claw 3/12. Weight 1-1/2 lb.
Young bird, after first moult, shot on 26th November. Plate CCXII.
Fig. 2.