of the United States, whereas the other species are only autumnal and
winter visitors. It is well known by the inhabitants of Charleston
that it breeds on the islands on the coast of South Carolina; and
my friend the Reverend JOHN BACHMAN has been at their breeding
grounds. That some individuals go far north to breed, is possible
enough, but we have no authentic account of such an occurrence,
although many _suppositions_ have been recorded. All that I have to
say on this subject is, that the bird in question is quite unknown
in the Magdeleine Islands, where, notwithstanding the assertions of
the fishermen, they acknowledged that they had mistaken Godwits for
Curlews. In Newfoundland, I met with a well-informed English gentleman,
who had resided in that island upwards of twenty years, and described
the Common Curlew of Europe with accuracy, but who assured me that
he had observed only two species of Curlew there, one about the size
of the Whimbrel—the _Numenius hudsonicus_, the other smaller—the _N.
borealis_, and that only in August and the beginning of September,
when they spend a few days in that country, feed on berries, and then
retire southward. Mr JONES of Labrador, and his brother-in-law, who
is a Scotch gentleman, a scholar, and a sportsman, gave me the same
account. None of my party observed an individual of the species in
the course of our three months’ stay in the country, although we saw
great numbers of the true Esquimaux Curlew, _N. borealis_. Yet I would
not have you to suppose that I do not give credit to the reports of
some travellers, who have said that the Long-billed Curlew is found
in the fur countries during summer. This may be true enough; but none
of the great northern travellers, such as RICHARDSON, ROSS, PARRY,
or FRANKLIN, have asserted this as a fact. Therefore if the bird of
which I speak has been seen far north, it was in all probability a
few stragglers that had perhaps been enticed to follow some other
species. I am well aware of the propensity it has to ramble, as I have
shot some in Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi;
but the birds thus obtained were rare in those districts, where the
species only appears at remote periods; and in every instance of
the kind I have found the individuals much less shy than usual, and
apparently more perplexed than frightened by the sight of man.
Until my learned friend, Prince CHARLES BONAPARTE, corrected the
errors which had been made respecting the Curlews of North America,
hardly one of these birds was known from another by any naturalist,
American or European. To WILSON, however, is due the merit of having
first published an account of the Long-billed Curlew as a species
distinct from the Common Curlew of Europe.
This bird is the largest of the genus found in North America. The
great length of its bill is of itself sufficient to distinguish it
from every other. The bill, however, in all the species, differs
greatly, according to the age of the individual, and in the present
Curlew I have seen it in some birds nearly three inches shorter than
in others, although all were full grown. In many of its habits, the
Long-billed Curlew is closely allied to the smaller species of Ibis;
its flight and manner of feeding are similar, and it has the same
number of eggs. Unlike the Ibis, however, which always breeds on trees,
and forms a large nest, the Curlew breeds on the ground, forming a
scanty receptacle for its eggs; yet, according to my friend BACHMAN,
the latter, like the former, places its nests “so close together,
that it is almost impossible for a man to walk between them, without
injuring the eggs.”
The Long-billed Curlew spends the day in the sea-marshes, from which
it returns at the approach of night, to the sandy beaches of the
sea-shores, where it rests until dawn. As the sun sinks beneath the
horizon, the Curlews rise from their feeding-grounds in small parties,
seldom exceeding fifteen or twenty, and more usually composed of
only five or six individuals. The flocks enlarge, however, as they
proceed, and in the course of an hour or so the number of birds that
collect in the place selected for their nightly retreat, sometimes
amounts to several thousands. As it was my good fortune to witness
their departures and arrivals, in the company of my friend BACHMAN,
I will here describe them.
Accompanied by several friends, I left Charleston one beautiful
morning, the 10th of November 1831, with a view to visit Cole’s Island,
about twenty miles distant. Our crew was good, and although our pilot
knew but little of the cuttings in and out of the numerous inlets and
channels in our way, we reached the island about noon. After shooting
various birds, examining the island, and depositing our provisions in
a small summer habitation then untenanted, we separated; some of the
servants went off to fish, others to gather oysters, and the gunners
placed themselves in readiness for the arrival of the Curlews. The sun
at length sunk beneath the water-line that here formed the horizon;
and we saw the birds making their first appearance. They were in small
parties of two, three, or five, and by no means shy. These seemed
to be the birds which we had observed near the salt-marshes, as we
were on our way. As the twilight became darker the number of Curlews
increased, and the flocks approached in quicker succession, until
they appeared to form a continuous procession, moving not in lines,
one after another, but in an extended mass, and with considerable
regularity, at a height of not more than thirty yards, the individuals
being a few feet apart. Not a single note or cry was heard as they
advanced. They moved for ten or more yards with regular flappings, and
then sailed for a few seconds, as is invariably the mode of flight of
this species, their long bills and legs stretched out to their full
extent. They flew directly towards their place of rest, called the
“Bird Banks,” and were seen to alight without performing any of the
evolutions which they exhibit when at their feeding-places, for they
had not been disturbed that season. But when we followed them to the
Bird Banks, which are sandy islands of small extent, the moment they
saw us land the congregated flocks, probably amounting to several
thousand individuals all standing close together, rose at once,
performed a few evolutions in perfect silence, and re-alighted as
if with one accord on the extreme margins of the sand-bank close to
tremendous breakers. It was now dark, and we left the place, although
some flocks were still arriving. The next morning we returned a little
before day; but again as we landed, they all rose a few yards in
the air, separated into numerous parties, and dispersing in various
directions, flew off towards their feeding-grounds, keeping low over
the waters, until they reached the shores, when they ascended to the
height of about a hundred yards, and soon disappeared.
Now, Reader, allow me to say a few words respecting our lodgings.
Fish, fowl, and oysters had been procured in abundance; and besides
these delicacies, we had taken with us from Charleston some steaks
of beef, and a sufficiency of good beverage. But we had no cook,
save your humble servant. A blazing fire warmed and lighted our only
apartment. The oysters and fish were thrown on the hot embers; the
steaks we stuck on sticks in front of them; and ere long every one felt
perfectly contented. It is true we had forgotten to bring salt with
us; but I soon proved to my merry companions that hunters can find
a good substitute in their powder-flasks. Our salt on this occasion
was gunpowder, as it has been with me many a time; and to our keen
appetites, the steaks thus salted were quite as savoury as any of us
ever found the best cooked at home. Our fingers and mouths, no doubt,
bore marks of the “villanous saltpetre,” or rather of the charcoal
with which it was mixed, for plates or forks we had none; but this
only increased our mirth. Supper over, we spread out our blankets on
the log floor, extended ourselves on them with our feet towards the
fire, and our arms under our heads for pillows. I need not tell you
how soundly we slept.
The Long-billed Curlews are in general easily shot, but take a good
charge. So long as life remains in them, they skulk off among the
thickest plants, remaining perfectly silent. Should they fall on
the water, they swim towards the shore. The birds that may have been
in company with a wounded one fly off uttering a few loud whistling
notes. In this respect, the species differs from all the others, which
commonly remain and fly about you. When on land, they are extremely
wary; and unless the plants are high, and you can conceal yourself
from them, it is very difficult to get near enough. Some one of the
flock, acting as sentinel, raises his wings, as if about to fly, and
sounds a note of alarm, on which they all raise their wings, close
them again, give over feeding, and watch all your motions. At times
a single step made by you beyond a certain distance is quite enough
to raise them, and the moment it takes place, they all scream and fly
off. You need not follow the flock. The best mode of shooting them is
to watch their course for several evenings in succession; for after
having chosen a resting place, they are sure to return to it by the
same route, until greatly annoyed.
The food of the Long-billed Curlews consists principally of the small
crabs called fiddlers, which they seize by running after them, or by
pulling them out of their burrows. They probe the wet sand to the full
length of their bill, in quest of sea-worms and other animals. They
are also fond of small salt-water shell-fish, insects, and worms of
any kind; but I have never seen them searching for berries on elevated
lands, as the Esquimaux Curlews are wont to do. Their flesh is by no
means so delicate as that of the species just mentioned, for it has
usually a fishy taste, and is rarely tender, although many persons
consider it good. They are sold at all seasons in the markets of
Charleston, at about twenty-five cents the pair.
Rambling birds of this species are sometimes seen as far as the
neighbourhood of Boston; for my learned friend THOMAS NUTTALL says in
his Manual, that “they get so remarkably fat, at times, as to burst
the skin in falling to the ground, and are then superior in flavour
to almost any other game bird of the season. In the market of Boston,
they are seen as early as the 8th of August.” I found them rather rare
in East Florida in winter and spring. They were there seen either on
large savannahs, or along the sea shore, mixed with marbled Godwits,
Tell-tales, and other species.
NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. of Birds
of the United States, p. 314.—_Richards. and Swains._
Fauna Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 376.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW, NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS, _Wils._ Amer.
Ornith. vol. viii. p. 23. pl. 64. fig. 1. adult.—_Nuttall_,
Manual, vol. ii. p. 94.
Adult Male. Plate CCXXXI. Fig. 1.
Bill excessively elongated, being more than four times the length
of head, very slender, subcylindrical, slightly compressed, nearly
straight to the middle, beyond which it is slightly curved. Upper
mandible with the ridge broad and flat at the base, broad and rounded
in the rest of its extent, a deep groove running from the nostrils
to near the tip, which is decurved, enlarged so as to form an oblong
obtuse knob, projecting beyond the point of the lower mandible, the
edges rounded, the inner surface with a deep narrow groove. Nostrils
basal, lateral, longitudinal, linear, pervious. Lower mandible
similar in its curvature to the upper, its angle extremely narrow,
and extending to near the middle, the ridge rounded, the sides with
a shallow groove to near the end, the edges directly meeting those
of the upper mandible, the tip obtuse.
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck long and slender. Body
rather slender. Feet long and rather stout. Toes rather small,
scutellate above; first very small, second and fourth about equal,
third considerably longer, flat beneath and broadly marginate, the
three anterior connected by short webs, of which the outer is much
larger. Bare part of tibia covered with transverse series of angular
scales, as is the upper part of the tarsus, its lower two-thirds with
scutella in front. Claws small, compressed, blunt, that of middle
toe largest, curved outwards, with a sharp dilated inner edge.
Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short.
Wings long, very acute, narrow, the first quill longest, the second
a little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries of moderate
length, slightly incurved, narrowly rounded, some of the inner greatly
elongated and tapering. Tail short, much rounded, of twelve rounded
feathers.
Upper mandible of a rich deep brown in its whole extent, as is the
lower in its terminal half, its basal portion being flesh colour tinged
with brown. Iris hazel. Feet light greyish-blue; claws dusky. The
ground colour of the plumage is light yellowish-red; the head marked
with oblong spots, the back with spots and bars of brownish-black.
Alula and outer webs of first four quills deep brown, the rest of the
quills of the general colour, barred on both webs with dark brown, as
are the tail feathers. Chin or upper part of throat white, as is the
lower eyelid; neck marked with longitudinal lines of brownish-black;
sides barred with the same, as are the lower larger wing-coverts; the
rest of the lower parts unspotted, the sides and under wing-coverts
of a richer yellowish-red than the rest.
Length to end of tail 26 inches, to end of wings 25, to end of claws
29; extent of wings 40; wing from flexure 11-1/2; tail 4-1/4; bill
along the back 8-1/2; along the edge of lower mandible 8; bare part of
tibia 2; tarsus 3-7/12; middle toe 1-10/12 its claw (3-1/2)/12. Weight
1-3/4 lb.
Adult Female. Plate CCXXXI. Fig. 2.
The Female cannot be distinguished from the Male by external appearance.
The bill varies in length from 7 to 9 inches. It has been remarked
that the tarsus of this species is scutellate anteriorly in its whole
length, whereas that of _N. arquata_ is scutellate on its lower half
only; but this is incorrect; for both species have transverse series
of small scales on the upper third of the tarsus.
THE HOODED MERGANSER.
_MERGUS CUCULLATUS_, LINN.
PLATE CCXXXII. MALE AND FEMALE.
Excepting the Smew or White Nun, the Hooded Merganser is the handsomest
of its family. Its broad and rounded crest of pure white, with an
edging of jetty black, and which it closes or spreads out at pleasure,
renders the male of this species conspicuous on the waters to which
it resorts. The activity of its motions, the rapidity of its flight,
and its other habits, contribute to render it a pleasing object to
the student of nature, not less than to the sportsman. Its flesh,
however, has a fishy taste and odour, although it is relished by
some persons. It seems to prefer fresh water, and is by no means
very frequent along the sea coast. Long, narrow, and moderately deep
creeks, or small ponds, are more frequented by it than large rivers
or lakes.
On the waters of the Western and Southern States, these Mergansers
are seen to arrive from the north early in October, but generally
later than many species of Ducks, although sooner than either the
Red-breasted Merganser or the Goosander. At the approach of night,
a person standing still on the banks of such a river as the Ohio,
first hears the well-known sound of wings whistling through the air,
presently after, a different noise, as if produced by an eagle stooping
on her prey, when gliding downwards with the rapidity of an arrow,
he dimly perceives the Hooded Mergansers sweeping past. Five or six,
perhaps ten, there are; with quick beats of their pinions, they fly
low over the waters in wide circles. Now they have spied the entrance
of a creek; there they shoot into it, and in a few seconds you hear
the rushing noise which they make as they alight on the bosom of the
still pool. How often have I enjoyed such scenes, when enticed abroad
by the clear light of the silvery moon, I have wandered on the shores
of _la belle rivière_, to indulge in the contemplation of nature!
Up the creek the Mergansers proceed, washing their bodies by short
plunges, and splashing up the water about them. Then they plume
themselves, and anoint their feathers, now and then emitting a low
grunting note of pleasure. And now they dive in search of minnows,
which they find in abundance, and which no doubt prove delicious food
to the hungry travellers. At length, having satisfied their appetite,
they rise on wing, fly low over the creek with almost incredible
velocity, return to the broad stream, rove along its margin until they
meet with a clean sand-beach, where they alight, and where, secure
from danger, they repose until the return of day. A sly Racoon may,
when in search of mussels, chance to meet with the sleeping birds,
and surprise one of them; but this rarely happens, for they are as
wary and vigilant as their enemy is cunning, and were the prowler to
depend upon Hooded Mergansers for food, he would be lean enough.
This bird ranges throughout the United States during winter, content
with the food it meets with in the bays and estuaries of the eastern
coast, and on the inland streams. The dam of the Pennsylvania miller
is as agreeable to it as that of the Carolina rice-planter. The Le
High and Brandy-wine Creek have their fishes, as well as the waters
of Bear Grass or Bayou Sara. Nay, the numerous streams and pools of
the interior of the Floridas are resorted to by this species, and
there I have found them full of life and gaiety, as well as on the
Missouri, and on our great lakes. When the weather proves too cold
for them they move southwards many of them removing towards Mexico.
The Hooded Merganser is a most expert diver, and so vigilant that at
times it escapes even from the best percussion gun. As to shooting
at it with a flint lock, you may save yourself the trouble unless
you prevent it from seeing the flash of the pan. If you wound one,
never follow it: the bird, when its strength is almost exhausted,
immerses its body, raises the point of its bill above the surface,
and in this manner makes its way among the plants, until finding some
safe retreat along the shore, it betakes itself to it, and there
remains, so that you may search for it in vain, unless you have a
good dog. Even on wing it is not easily shot. If on a creek ever so
narrow, it will fly directly towards its mouth, although you may be
standing knee-deep in the middle. It comes up like a ball, rises and
passes over head with astonishing speed, and if you shoot at it, do
not calculate upon a hit. You may guess how many one may shoot in a
day.
When I removed from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, the Hooded Merganser
was not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Louisville during summer,
and I told WILSON so. On several occasions I caught the young with
a partridge net; and let me assure you, Reader, that they are not
yellow, as is alleged by some writers, but very dark brown. Even when
feathered they retain the same colour until the beginning of August,
when they gradually change it for the dress of the adult female.
Like all the rest of the tribe, which, when far north, for the want
of hollow trees, breed on the moss or ground, the Hooded Mergansers
that remain with us nestle in the same kind of holes or hollows as
the Wood Ducks; at least I have found their nests in such situations
seven or eight times, although I never saw one of them alight on the
branch of a tree, as the birds just mentioned are wont to do. They
dive as it were directly into their wooden burrows, where on a few
dried weeds and feathers of different kinds, with a small quantity
of down from the breast of the female, the eggs are deposited. They
are from five to eight, measure one inch and three-fourths by one and
three-eighths, and in other respects perfectly resemble those of the
Red-breasted Merganser.
The young, like those of the Wood Duck, are conveyed to the water
by their mother, who carries them gently in her bill; for the male
takes no part in providing for his offspring, but abandons his mate
as soon as incubation has commenced. The affectionate mother leads her
young among the tall rank grasses which fill the shallow pools or the
borders of creeks, and teaches them to procure snails, tadpoles, and
insects. The eggs are laid in May, and the young are out some time
in June. On two occasions the parents would not abandon the young,
although I expected that the noises which I made would have induced
them to do so: they both followed their offspring into the net which
I had set for them. The young all died in two days, when I restored
the old birds to liberty.
The Hooded Merganser, as well as all the other species with which I am
acquainted, moves with ease on the ground, nay even runs with speed.
Those which leave the United States, take their departure from the
first of March to the middle of May; and I am induced to believe that
probably one-third of them tarry for the purpose of breeding on the
margins of several of our great lakes. When migrating, they fly at
a great height, in small loose flocks, without any regard to order.
Their notes consist of a kind of rough grunt, variously modulated,
but by no means musical, and resembling the syllables _croo, croo,
crooh_. The female repeats it six or seven times in succession, when
she sees her young in danger. The same noise is made by the male,
either when courting on the water, or as he passes on wing near the
hole where the female is laying one of her eggs.
The males do not acquire the full beauty of their plumage until the
third spring, but resemble the females for the first year. In the
course of the second, the crest becomes more developed, and the white
and black markings about the head and body are more distinct. The
third spring they are complete, such as you see the bird represented
in the plate.
MERGUS CUCULLATUS, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 207.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 830.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. of
Birds of the United States, p. 397.
HOODED MERGANSER, MERGUS CUCULLATUS, _Swains. and Richards._
Fauna Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 463.—_Nuttall_, Manual, vol.
ii. p. 465.
Adult Male. Plate CCXXXII. Fig. 1.
Bill about the length of the head, straight, somewhat cylindrical,
deeper than broad at the base. Upper mandible with the dorsal outline
sloping gently to the middle, then straight, along the unguis curved,
the ridge broad at the base, then convex, the sides sloping at
the base, convex towards the end, the edges serrated beneath, with
twenty-five tooth-like lamellæ directed backwards, the unguis oblong,
much curved, rounded at the end. Nasal groove oblong, subbasal, filled
by a soft membrane; nostrils linear-elliptical, submedial, direct,
pervious. Lower mandible, with the angle very narrow and extended to
the roundish unguis, the sides rounded, with a long narrow groove,
the edges with about twenty-five lamellæ.
Head of moderate size, compressed, oblong. Neck rather short, body
full and depressed. Wings small. Feet placed far behind, extremely
short; tibia bare for a short space above the joint; tarsus extremely
short, compressed, anteriorly covered with scutella, and another row
on the lower half externally, the sides reticulate. Hind toe very
small, with an inferior free membrane; anterior toes double the length
of the tarsus; second shorter than fourth, which is nearly as long as
the third, all connected by reticulated webs, of which the outer is
deeply cut; the outer toe slightly margined, the inner with a broad
marginal membrane. Claws short, considerably curved, compressed,
acute, that of the middle toe with a thin inner edge.
Plumage on the upper parts strong and imbricated, on the lower blended
and glossed; on the head and neck soft and blended, the feathers of
the upper part of the head elongated and capable of being erected
into a long compressed rounded crest, those of the shoulders very
broad and elongated. Wings very short, small, curved, and pointed;
primaries narrow, tapering, the first scarcely shorter than second,
the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries short, narrow, rounded,
the inner elongated and tapering. Tail short, graduated, of sixteen
rounded feathers.