head elongated and loose, with three very long, linear incurved
occipital feathers, having their webs inflected. The feathers of the
neck, especially of its lower part and sides, are also elongated, the
latter curved backwards. Wings of moderate length, broad, rounded;
primaries broad, rounded, the third longest, the first longer than
the fourth. Tail short, slightly rounded, of twelve broad, rounded
feathers.
Bill black. Bare loral space and eyelids yellowish-green; iris bright
red. Feet yellow; claws brown. Feathers on the upper part of the head,
the fore part of the back, and the scapulars, glossy blackish-green;
anterior part of forehead white; neck anteriorly white, on the sides
and behind shaded into pale lilac, the lower elongated feathers tinged
with cream-colour; breast and abdomen white, similarly tinged. Wings,
rump, and tail, light greyish-blue, tinged with lilac.
Length to end of tail 25-7/12 inches, to end of wings 25-10/12, to
end of claws 30-4/12; extent of wings 44; wing from flexure 13-3/4;
tail 5; bill along the ridge 3-2/12, along the edge of lower mandible
4-2/12; bare part of tibia 1-1/4; tarsus 3-1/4; middle toe 3, its claw
(7-1/2)/12. Weight 1 lb. 14 oz.
Young after first moult. Plate CCXXXVI. Fig. 2.
Bill and bare space about the eye yellowish-green, the ridge of the
upper mandible, and part of the lower towards the end, black. Iris
bright red. Feet pale greenish-yellow. At this period the occipital
feathers are not developed. The general colour of the upper parts
is light greyish-brown, the edges of the feathers paler; that of the
lower parts dull white, tinged with grey and cream colour, with the
central part of each feather greyish-brown; the feathers of the back
and wings, as well as the secondary quills, have a long triangular
spot of brownish-white at the end; the rump and tail more tinged with
bluish-grey.
The Adult Female resembles the Male.
* * * * *
AMARYLLIS ATAMASCO, _Willd._ Sp. Pl. vol. ii. p. 51. _Pursh_,
Flora Amer. Sept. vol. i. p. 222.
This species, which grows in swamps, and moist woods, in Virginia
and Carolina, is characterized by having an acute bifid spatha, an
erect funnel-shaped corolla of a pale rose-colour or pure white,
with a short tube at the base, the segments nearly equal, as are the
declinate stamens. It flowers in June and July, and attains a height
of from eight inches to a foot.
THE HUDSONIAN CURLEW.
_NUMENIUS HUDSONICUS_, LATH.
PLATE CCXXXVII. MALE.
The habits of this species, which until a few years ago was always
confounded with the Esquimaux Curlew, _Numenius borealis_, are yet
in a great measure unknown. Every person who writes on American birds
repeats, that it arrives at Hudson’s Bay, breeds farther north, &c.;
but none has yet given any of those details so necessary to enable the
student of nature to judge in what respects this species resembles, or
differs from others, at the season of reproduction. During my visit
to Labrador, I made diligent inquiry respecting it and the Esquimaux
Curlew, but I obtained no information farther than that the latter
is extremely abundant for a few weeks in early autumn, and that the
present species was entirely unknown. Even Mr JONES and his sons,
who had probably killed thousands of the species just mentioned, had
never seen it in the course of their long residence at Bras d’Or.
Nor is our information respecting their winter retreats much better,
for scarcely any of them are ever seen in the colder months within
the limits of the United States, and their movements during their
migrations are more rapid than those of most water birds. In short,
I am unable to present you with such an account of them as I could
have wished.
I have found this species abundant on the shores of New Jersey in the
month of May, and there they remain a few weeks. I once saw a large
flock of them near Charleston, in the month of December, and I have
found them in the Boston market in September. None were ever seen by
me in any part of the interior, where, indeed, it is probable they
very seldom make their appearance. As I have nothing of any importance
to add, I shall present you with a few extracts, from WILSON and
NUTTALL, both of whom have had opportunities of observing this species.
“The Short-billed Curlew,” says the former, “arrives in large flocks
on the sea-coast of New Jersey early in May, from the south, frequents
the salt-marshes, muddy shores, and inlets, feeding on small worms
and minute shell-fish. They are most commonly seen on mud-flats at
low water, in company with various other waders; and at high water
roam along the marshes. They fly high, and with great rapidity. A
few are seen in June, and as late as the beginning of July, when
they generally move off toward the north. Their appearance on these
occasions is very interesting: they collect together from the marshes
as if by premeditated design, rise to a great height in the air,
usually an hour before sunset, and, forming in one vast line, keep up
a constant whistling on their way to the north, as if conversing with
one another to render the journey more agreeable. Their flight is then
more slow and regular, that the feeblest may keep up with the line
of march; while the glittering of their beautifully speckled wings,
sparkling in the sun, produces altogether a very pleasing spectacle.
“In the month of June, while the dewberries are ripe, these birds
sometimes frequent the fields, in company with the Long-billed
Curlews, where brambles abound; soon get very fat, and are at that
time excellent eating.”
Nuttall says, “From the middle of August to the beginning of September,
they arrive in the vicinity of Massachusetts Bay, and other parts of
New England, frequenting the pastures as well as marshes, and fatten
on grasshoppers and berries, till the time of their departure, about
the close of September; and they wholly disappear from New Jersey,
on their way to the south, early in the month of November.”
I have only to add, that, having compared specimens of the present
species with the Whimbrel of Europe, _Numenius Phæopus_, I am satisfied
that they are perfectly distinct.
NUMENIUS HUDSONICUS, _Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p.
712.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. of Birds of the United States,
p. 314.—_Swains. and Richards._ Fauna Bor. Amer. part ii.
p. 377.
ESQUIMAUX CURLEW, SCOLOPAX BOREALIS, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith.
vol. vii. p. 92. pl. 59. fig. 1.
ESQUIMAUX CURLEW, NUMENIUS HUDSONICUS, _Nuttall_, Manual,
vol. ii. p. 97.
Adult Male. Plate CCXXXVII.
Bill much longer than the head, very slender, subcylindrical,
compressed, slightly arched. Upper mandible with the dorsal line
slightly arched, the sides, excepting at the base, rounded, and
marked with a narrow groove extending more than two-thirds of its
length, the ridge rather flattened at the base, convex and narrower
towards the end, the edges rather obtuse. Nostrils basal, lateral,
longitudinal, linear. Lower mandible with the dorsal line arched, or
nearly parallel to that of the upper, the angle extremely narrow and
extended to near the end, the sides at the base nearly erect with a
shallow groove close to the rather obtuse edge; the tips obtuse, and
about equal in length.
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long, slender.
Body rather full. Feet of moderate length, slender. Tibia bare a
considerable way above the joint; tarsus with numerous anterior
scutella, excepting in its upper fourth, where, and on the sides,
it is reticulated. Toes small, scutellate above; first very small,
second and fourth about equal, third considerably longer; the anterior
toes marginate, and connected at the base by short webs, of which the
outer is larger. Claws small, compressed, obtuse, that of middle toe
much larger, curved outwards, with a sharp dilated inner edge.
Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short;
the feathers in general small, oblong or ovate and rounded. Wings
rather long, very acute, narrow, the primaries tapering, the first
longest, the second a little shorter, the rest regularly and rapidly
graduated; secondaries short, incurved, rounded, excepting some of
the inner, which are greatly elongated and tapering. Tail short,
rounded, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill brownish-black, the basal half of lower mandible flesh colour.
Iris dark brown. Feet greyish-blue, claws black. The upper part of
the head is deep brown, with a central longitudinal line of white,
and a broader lateral one of the same over each eye; a brown line
from the bill to the eye, and another extending behind the latter.
The neck all round is pale yellowish-grey, longitudinally streaked
with brown, excepting the chin or upper part of the throat, which is
greyish-white. The upper parts in general are blackish-brown, marked
with numerous spots of brownish-white, there being several along the
margins of each feather; the wings and rump are lighter, the upper
tail-coverts and tail barred with brown and yellowish-grey, the latter
tipped with white. Primaries and their coverts brownish-black, the
outer unspotted on their outer web; all with transverse light markings
on the inner; the secondaries like the smaller coverts. Breast and
abdomen greyish-white, the sides tinged with cream-colour, and barred
with pale greyish-brown; the outer lower tail-coverts with a few
brown marks.
Length to end of tail 19 inches, to end of wings 18, to end of claws
21; wing from flexure 9-1/4; tail 4; extent of wings 33; bill along the
back 4-1/4, along the edge of lower mandible 4-1/2; tarsus 2-4/12,
middle toe 1-5/12, its claw 3-(1-1/2)/12. Weight 1 lb. 1-1/4 oz.
The Female resembles the male.
The bill varies greatly in length: in a specimen now before me, it
is 2-10/12, in another 2-9/12, while in the individual figured it was
4-1/4.
THE GREAT MARBLED GODWIT.
_LIMOSA FEDOA_, VIEILL.
PLATE CCXXXVIII. MALE AND FEMALE.
This fine bird is found during winter on all the large muddy flats of
the coast of Florida that are intermixed with beds of racoon oysters.
As the tide rises it approaches the shores, and betakes itself to
the wet savannahs. At this season it is generally seen in flocks of
five or six, searching for food in company with the Tell-tale, the
Yellow-shanks, the Long-billed Curlew, and the White Ibis. While
feeding, it probes the mud and wet sand, often plunging its bill to its
whole length, in the manner of the Common Snipe and the Woodcock. It
is fond of the small crabs called fiddlers, many of which it obtains
both by probing their burrows, and running after them along the edges
of the salt meadows and marshes. Sometimes you see it wading in the
water up to its body, and when about to lose ground, it rises and
extends its wings, still continuing to search for fry, until forced to
fly off by the increased depth of the water, when it alights on the
shore and recommences its operations. While feeding on the banks, it
appears to search for food between and under the oysters with singular
care, at times pushing the bill sidewise into the soft mud beneath
the shells. Towards the middle of the day, the separate flocks come
together, assembling on some large sand-bar, where they remain for
hours, trimming their plumage, after which many of them continue some
time motionless, standing on one leg. Suddenly, however, they are all
seen to stretch their wings upwards, their bleating notes are heard,
and the next moment the flock rises, and disperses in small parties,
each of which proceeds in a different direction in search of food.
Few birds are more shy or vigilant than the Great Marbled Godwit. It
watches the movements of the gunner with extreme care, particularly
while in small flocks, in which case it rarely happens that one can
approach them, and they are more commonly shot by coming unawares
over the concealed sportsman. When in large flocks I have known them
to be neared, and killed in great numbers. On such occasions, they
walk towards each other, until they are quite close, when they stand
still. Then is the time for the gunner, who has driven them before
him as it were, to the extremity of a mud or sand-bar, to fire with
a certainty of obtaining something worth his trouble, for besides the
number killed by his first shot, he is likely to commit equal havock
with the second, as they fly off in a dense mass.
On the 31st of May 1832, I saw an immense number of these birds on
an extensive mud-bar bordering one of the Keys of Florida, about six
miles south of Cape Sable. When I landed with my party, the whole,
amounting to some thousands, collected in the manner mentioned above.
Four or five guns were fired at once, and the slaughter was such, that
I was quite satisfied with the number obtained, both for specimens and
for food. For this reason, we refrained from firing at them again,
although the temptation was at times great, as they flew over and
wheeled round us for a while, until at length they alighted at some
distance and began to feed. Those which we killed were plump, and
afforded excellent eating. I was much surprised to find these Godwits
so far south, but next morning, when none were to be seen excepting
some wounded birds which we had not pursued, I concluded that the
flock, which was the largest I have seen, had merely alighted there
for the day.
The flight of this bird is regular and rather quick, although in the
latter respect not to be compared with that of the Curlews. When flying
to a considerable distance, or migrating, they usually proceed in
extended lines, presenting an irregular front, which rarely preserves
its continuity for any length of time, but undulates and breaks as
the birds advance. The beat of their wings is regular, and they rarely
utter any cries on such occasions.
This species enters the United States, on its return from its northern
breeding-grounds, about the middle of August, and probably travels
along the coast at that period as well as when proceeding northward,
none having been seen by me or my party in Labrador or Newfoundland,
and their passage having been observed only on the Atlantic shores
of Nova Scotia, and the whole line of our coast, on different parts
of which some of the flocks alight, and rest for a few weeks, both
in spring and in autumn. I may add, that I never saw one of these
birds beyond the distance of a few miles from the sea-shore.
LIMOSA FEDOA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. of Birds of the
United States, p. 328.—_Swains. and Richards._ Fauna Bor.
Amer. part ii. p. 395.
GREAT MARBLED GODWIT, SCOLOPAX FEDOA, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith.
vol. vii. p. 30. pl. 56. fig. 4.—_Nuttall_, Manual, vol.
ii. p. 173.
Adult Male. Plate CCXXXVIII. Fig. 1.
Bill very long, slender, subcylindrical, tapering to the obtuse point,
slightly recurved. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly curved
upwards in its whole extent, the ridge convex, the sides with a narrow
groove extending almost to the point, the edges rather obtuse, the
tip very slightly enlarged. Nostrils basal, lateral, nearer the edge
than the dorsal line, small, linear, pervious. Lower mandible with
the angle very long and extremely narrow, the dorsal line slightly
recurved, the sides with a narrow groove extending almost to the end,
the edge rather blunt, the tip obtuse.
Head small, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long, slender. Body
slender. Feet long and slender. Tibia bare for about a third,
anteriorly scutellate; tarsus long, slender, covered anteriorly with
numerous scutella, scutellate behind also, laterally reticulate; toes
small, slender, scutellate above, flat beneath, broadly marginate, the
anterior connected at the base by webs, of which the outer is much
larger; first toe very small, second slightly shorter than fourth,
third little longer. Claws small, compressed, slightly arched, obtuse,
that of middle toe with the inner edge curved outwards and thin.
Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short,
on the neck short and almost downy, on the abdomen and sides full, on
the back moderate; all the feathers oblong and rounded. Wings rather
long, very acute, narrow; primaries tapering, the first longest,
the second little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries
incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail
short, even, of twelve narrow, rounded feathers.
Bill dull flesh-colour in its basal half, the rest blackish-brown.
Iris brown. Feet bluish-grey. The head and neck light yellowish-grey,
the throat without markings, the upper part of the head streaked with
blackish-brown, as is the hind-neck, the markings there being fainter.
The rest of the upper parts spotted and barred with brownish-black and
greyish-yellow. Alula and primary coverts brownish-black, as are the
outer webs of the three first quills, those of the other primaries,
and both webs of the secondaries, reddish-ochre, all more or less
mottled with dusky, and the primaries of that colour towards the end,
but with the terminal margins whitish; the inner secondaries barred
like the back, as are the tail-feathers. Breast, abdomen, and lower
surface of wings, light reddish-yellow, the axillar feathers of a
deeper tint, the sides faintly barred with dusky.
Length to end of tail 18-1/2 inches, to end of wings 19-1/2, to end of
claws 21; wing from flexure 9; tail 3-1/2; bill along the ridge 4-5/12,
along the edge of lower mandible 4-4/12; bare part of tibia 1-7/12;
tarsus 2-10/12; middle toe 1-8/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12.
Adult Female. Plate CCXXXVIII. Fig. 2.
The Female is considerably larger than the male, but is similar in
colouring, the lower parts of a less bright buff.
Length to end of tail 20-1/2 inches, to end of wings 21-1/2; bill 5.
The inner edge of the middle claw is usually broken, which is a
common circumstance in birds that have it very thin, but there are
no regular serratures or notches upon it.
THE AMERICAN COOT.
_FULICA AMERICANA_, GMEL.
PLATE CCXXXIX. MALE.
From November until the middle of April, the Coots are extremely
numerous in the southern parts of the Floridas, and the lower portions
of Louisiana. At that season they are seen in flocks of several
hundreds, following their avocations on all the secluded bayous,
grassy lakes, and inlets, which are so plentiful in those countries;
but after the period above mentioned none remain, and therefore it
is certain none can breed there, although such is asserted by Mr
BARTRAM, who no doubt mistook the Common Gallinule for the Coot,
that bird breeding in those places in considerable numbers. During
the month of September, the Coot is also abundant on all the western
waters, and its appearance in those districts being so much earlier
than in the Floridas, is a sure indication of the inland course of
its migrations. On the sea coast, in fact, it is comparatively rare.
Although the curious form of their feet, and the situation of their
legs, might induce one to suppose these birds incapable of moving
on land with ease, experience proves the contrary, for they not only
walk with freedom, but can run with great speed when necessary. They
are accustomed to leave the water too, and resort to open lands on
the margins of streams and lakes, for the purpose of feeding, both
in the morning and in the evening. While ascending the Mississippi,
being about fifty miles above New Orleans, on the 21st of March 1822,
the weather cloudy, I had the pleasure of seeing about six or seven
hundreds of these birds feeding on the grass of a savannah bordering
the river. I took them while at some distance, for a great flock of
Guinea Fowls. Their movements were brisk, they often struck at each
other in the manner of the domestic fowl, and ran with surprising
celerity. As I approached nearer, I plainly saw them nibble the
tender grass, in the same manner as poultry; and having found a place
of concealment behind a rise of the ground, I laid myself flat, and
observed their motions at leisure; but during twenty minutes spent in
that situation, I did not hear a single note from the flock. I fired
among them, and killed five, on which the rest, after running a few
steps, all rose and flew off with speed towards the river, mounted
high in the air, came curving over me, their legs hanging behind,
their wings producing a constant whir, and at length alighted on a
narrow channel between the shore, where I was, and a small island.
Following them with caution, I got sufficiently near to some of them
to be able to see them leap from the water to seize the young leaves
of the willows that overhung the shores. While swimming, they moved
with ease, although not with much speed, and used a constantly repeated
movement of the head and neck, corresponding with that of the feet.
Now, twenty or thirty of them would close their ranks, and swim up
the stream in a lengthened body, when they would disperse, and pick
up the floating substances, not one of them diving all the time. On
firing at a large group of them that had approached me, they started
off in various directions, patting the water with their feet, and
rushing with extended wings, for thirty or forty yards, but without
actually flying. After this, they made towards the brushy shores, and
disappeared for about a quarter of an hour. The rest of the birds,
which were a few hundred yards off, scarcely took notice of the report
of the gun; and before I left the place, they had returned to the
shore, and walked into another savannah, where they probably remained
until night. The next morning not a single Coot could I find while
looking for them, for several miles along the river, and I concluded
that they had left the place, and continued their migratory journey
northward, this being about the beginning of the time of their general
departure.
Whilst at General HERNANDEZ’s, in East Florida, I found the Coot
abundant in every ditch, bayou, or pond. This was in December 1831,
and in the next month I saw great flocks of them near the plantation
of my friend JOHN BULLOW, Esq. Whilst on a visit to Spring Garden
springs, at the head of the St John’s River, I observed them to be
equally abundant along the grassy margins of the lagoons and lakes. On
my return from the upper parts of that river to St Augustine, on the
28th February, I saw large flocks of them already moving northward.
They had suddenly become shy, and would rise before our boat, at
a distance of a hundred yards or so, with apparently scarcely any
difficulty, and fly in loose flocks at a considerable height, half
a mile or more at a time, and without uttering a note. Indeed, the
only sound I ever heard these birds utter, is a rough guttural note,
somewhat resembling _cruck, cruck_, which they use when alarmed, or
when chasing each other on the water in anger. I am doubtful whether
our Coot cackles and cries by night and by day, as has been reported;
on the other hand, I am pretty well assured that Gallinules and
Rails of different species have been confounded with the Coot in this
respect.
I never saw this species dive for food, and the only fish that I ever
found in the many that I have opened, was very small minnows or fry,
which I think they catch along the shallow edges of the water. Indeed,
unless when wounded, our Coot feels great reluctance at immersing its
body in the water; at all events, it has not the quickness of any of
the diving birds, and rarely escapes the shot of a common flint gun
while attempting to get away. When wounded it dives to some distance,
but as soon as it reaches the grass or reeds, it contents itself with
lying flat on the water, and thus swimming to the nearest shore, on
reaching which it at once runs off and hides in the first convenient
place. When undisturbed, it feeds both by day and by night, and as
often on land as on the water. Its food consists of seeds, grasses,
small fishes, worms, snails, and insects, and along with these it
introduces into its stomach a good quantity of rather coarse sand.