me by a Newhaven fisher-boy, who mentioned that it had been picked
up at sea, about the mouth of the Frith of Forth. The bird was not
then fully fledged: it was quite uninjured: it quickly learned to
feed on potatoes and kitchen refuse, along with some ducks; and it
soon became more familiar than they, often peeping in at the kitchen
window in hopes of getting a bit of fat meat, which it relished
highly. It used to follow my servant PEGGY OLIVER about the doors,
expanding its wings and vociferating for food. After two moults I
was agreeably surprised to find it assuming the dark plumage of the
back, and the shape and colour of the bill of the _Larus marinus_,
or Great Black-backed Gull; for I had hitherto regarded it as merely
a large specimen of the Lesser Black-backed (_L. fuscus_), a pair of
which I then possessed, but which had never allowed the new comer to
associate with them. The bird being perfectly tame, we did not take
the precaution of keeping the quills of one wing cut short, so as to
prevent flight; indeed, as it was often praised as a remarkably large
and noble looking Sea-maw, we did not like to disfigure it. In the
winter 1821-2, it got a companion in a cock-heron, which had been
wounded in Coldinghame Muir, brought to Edinburgh alive, and kept
for some weeks in a cellar in the old College, and then presented
to me by the late Mr JOHN WILSON, the janitor,—a person remarkably
distinguished for his attachment to natural history pursuits. This
Heron we succeeded in taming completely, and it still (1835) remains
with me, having the whole garden to range in, the trees to roost upon,
and access to the Loch at pleasure, the loch being the boundary of my
garden. Some time in the spring of 1822, the large Gull was amissing;
and we ascertained (in some way that has now escaped my memory) that
it had not been stolen, nor killed, as we at first supposed, but had
taken flight, passing northwards over the village, and had probably
therefore gone to sea. Of course I gave up all expectation of ever
hearing more of it. It was not without surprise, therefore, that on
going home one day in the end of October of that year, I heard my
servant calling out with great exultation, “Sir, Big Gull is come
back!” I accordingly found him walking about in his old haunts in the
garden, in company with, and recognising (as I am firmly persuaded)
his old friend the Heron. He disappeared in the evening, and returned
in the morning, for several days; when PEGGY OLIVER thought it best to
secure him. He evidently did not like confinement, and it was concerted
that he should be allowed his liberty, although he ran much risk of
being shot on the mill-pond by youthful sportsmen from Edinburgh.
After this temporary captivity, he was more cautious and shy than
formerly; but still he made almost daily visits to the garden, and
picked up herrings or other food laid down for him. In the beginning
of March 1823 his visits ceased; and we saw no more of him till late
in the autumn of that year. These winter visits to Canonmills, and
summer excursions to the unknown breeding-place, were continued for
years with great uniformity: only I remarked that after the Gull
lost his protectress, who died in 1828[A], he became more distant
in his manners. In my note-book, under date of 26th October 1829, I
find this entry: ‘Old PEGGY’s Great Black-backed Gull arrived at the
pond this morning, the seventh (or eighth) winter he has regularly
returned. He had a scorie with him, which was soon shot on the loch,
by some cockney sportsman.’ The young bird, doubtless one of his
offspring, had its wing shattered, and continued alive in the middle
of the pond, occasionally screaming piteously, for two or three days,
till relieved by death. The old Gull immediately abandoned the place
for that winter, as if reproaching us for cruelty. By next autumn,
however, he seemed to have forgotten the injury; for, according to
my record, ‘30th October 1830. The Great Black-backed Gull once more
arrived at Canonmills garden.’ The periods of arrival, residence, and
departure were nearly similar in the following year. But in 1832, not
only October, but the months of November and December passed away
without Gull’s making his appearance, and I of course despaired of
again seeing him. He did, however, at length arrive. The following
is the entry in my common-place book: ‘Sunday, 6th January 1833. This
day the Great Black-back returned to the mill-pond, for (I think) the
eleventh season. He used to re-appear in October in former years, and
I concluded him dead or shot. He recognised my voice, and hovered over
my head.’ He disappeared early in March as usual, and re-appeared
at Canonmills on 23d December 1833, being a fortnight earlier than
the date of his arrival in the preceding season, but six weeks later
than the original period of re-appearance. He left in the beginning
of March as usual, and I find from my notes that he ‘reappeared on
30th December 1834 for the season, first hovering around and then
alighting on the pond as in former years.’ The latest entry is, ‘11th
March 1835: The Black-backed Gull was here yesterday, but has not
been seen to-day; nor do I expect to see him till November.’
[A] “PEGGY OLIVER was remarkable far the zeal and taste
she displayed in the domesticating of uncommon animals, as
well as in the culture of plants: her expertness in the
latter department is noticed and praised by Mr LOUDON in
his Gardener’s Magazine. Her funeral was attended by some of
the most distinguished naturalists here, and, among others,
by your friend Dr MACCULLOCH of Pictou, who happened to be
in Edinburgh at the time, and whose friendship I have also
the happiness to enjoy.”
“This Gull has often attracted the attention of persons passing the
village of Canonmills, by reason of its sweeping along so low or near
the ground, and on account of the wide expanse of wing which it thus
displays. It is well known to the boys of the village as “NEILL’s
Gull,” and has, I am aware, owed its safety more than once to their
interference, in informing passing sportsmen of its history. When it
first arrives in the autumn, it is in the regular habit of making
many circular sweeps around the pond and garden, at a considerable
elevation, as if reconnoitring; it then gradually lowers its flight,
and gently alights about the centre of the pond. Upon the gardener’s
mounting the garden-wall with a fish in his hand, the Gull moves
towards the overhanging spray of some large willow-trees, so as to
catch what may be thrown to him, before it sinks in the water. There
can be no doubt whatever of the identity of the bird. Indeed, he
unequivocally shews that he recognises my voice when I call aloud
‘Gull, Gull;’ for whether he be on wing or afloat, he immediately
approaches me.
“A few pairs of the Great Black-backed Gull breed at the Bass Rock
yearly, and it seems highly probable that my specimen had originally
been hatched there. If I may be allowed a conjecture, I would suppose
that, after attaining maturity, he for some years resorted to the
same spot for the purpose of breeding; but that of late years, having
lost his mate or encountered some other disaster, he has extended his
migration for that purpose to some very distant locality, which has
rendered his return to winter quarters six weeks later than formerly.”
LARUS MARINUS, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 225.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 813.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of
Birds of the United States, p. 362.
BLACK-BACKED GULL, or COBB, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p.
308.
Adult Male in Summer. Plate CCXLI.
Bill shorter than the head, robust, compressed, higher near the
end than at the base. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly
straight at the base, declinate and arched towards the end, the
ridge convex, the sides slightly convex, the edges sharp, inflected,
arcuate-declinate towards the end, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal
groove rather long and narrow; nostril in its fore part, lateral,
longitudinal, linear, wider anteriorly, pervious. Lower mandible with
the angle long and narrow, the outline of the crura rather concave,
as is that of the remaining part of the mandible, a prominent angle
being formed at their meeting, the sides nearly flat, the edges sharp
and inflected.
Head rather large, oblong, narrowed anteriorly. Neck of moderate
length, strong. Body full. Wings long. Feet of moderate length,
rather slender; tibia bare below; tarsus somewhat compressed, covered
anteriorly with numerous scutella, laterally with angular scales,
behind with numerous small oblong scales; hind toe very small and
elevated, the fore toes of moderate length, rather 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, slightly arched,
depressed, rounded, that of middle toe with an expanded inner margin.
The plumage in general is close, full, elastic, very soft and blended,
on the back rather compact. Wings very long, broad, acute, the first
quill longest, the second scarcely shorter, the rest of the primaries
rather rapidly graduated; secondaries broad and rounded, the inner
narrower. Tail of moderate length, even, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill gamboge-yellow, the lower mandible bright carmine towards the
end. Edges of eyelids bright carmine, iris silvery. Feet yellow, claws
black. The head, neck, and all the lower parts, pure white; back and
wings deep blackish-grey tinged with purple, or dark slate-colour; the
rump and tail white, as are the edges of the wing, and a large portion
of the extremities of all the quills; the second, third, fourth,
and fifth primaries have a broad band of black across their ends,
the inner web only of the second being so marked, in some specimens
however both webs. The œsophagus is very large, the gizzard small,
the intestine four feet long, and about the thickness of a goose quill.
Length to end of tail 29-3/4 inches, to end of wings 31-1/2, to end of
claws 29-1/4; extent of wings 67; wing from flexure 20; tail 9; bill
along the ridge 2-10/12, along the edge of lower mandible 3-9/12; its
depth at the angle 1, at the base 11/12; tarsus 3-2/12; middle toe
2-1/2, its claw 1/2. Weight 3 lb.
The Female is similar to the Male, but considerably less.
The Young when fledged have the bill brownish-black, the iris dark
brown, the feet as in the adult. The head and neck are greyish-white,
streaked with pale brownish-grey; the upper parts mottled with
brownish-black, brownish-grey, and dull white, the rump paler. The
primary quills blackish-brown, slightly tipped with brownish-white;
the tail-feathers white, with a large brownish-black patch towards
the end, larger on the middle feathers, which are also barred towards
the base with dusky. The lower parts are greyish-white, the sides
and lower tail-coverts obscurely mottled with greyish-brown.
THE SNOWY HERON.
_ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA_, GMEL.
PLATE CCXLII. MALE.
This beautiful species is a constant resident in Florida and
Louisiana, where thousands are seen during winter, and where many
remain during the breeding season. It is perhaps of a still more
delicate constitution than the Blue Heron, _Ardea cœrulea_, as no
individuals remain in the neighbourhood of Charleston when the winter
happens to be rather colder than usual. In its migrations eastward
it rarely proceeds farther than Long Island in the State of New
York; few are seen in Massachusetts, and none farther to the east.
My friend Professor MACCULLOCH never heard of it in Nova Scotia, and
I cannot imagine on what authority WILSON stated that it inhabits
the sea-coast of North America to the Gulf of St Lawrence. My friend
NUTTALL also asserts, without mentioning on what evidence, that, by
pursuing an inland course, it reaches its final destination in the
wilds of Canada. It has not been observed in any part of the western
country; nay, it rarely ascends the Mississippi as high as Memphis,
or about two hundred miles from the mouth of the Ohio, and cannot
be said to be at all abundant much farther up the great river than
Natchez. In fact, the maritime districts furnish its favourite places
of resort, and it rarely proceeds farther inland than fifty or sixty
miles, not only in the flat portions of the Carolinas, but even in the
Middle States, where it prefers the islands along the Atlantic coast.
While I was at Charleston, in March 1831, few had arrived from the
Floridas by the 18th of that month, but on the 25th thousands were
seen in the marshes and rice fields, all in full plumage. They reach
the shores of New Jersey about the first week of May, when they may
be seen on all parts of the coast between that district and the Gulf
of Mexico. On the Mississippi, they seldom reach the low grounds about
Natchez, where they also breed, earlier than the period at which they
appear in the Middle States.
While migrating, they fly both by night and by day, in loose flocks of
from twenty to a hundred individuals, sometimes arranging themselves
in a broad front, then forming lines, and again proceeding in a
straggling manner. They keep perfectly silent, and move at a height
seldom exceeding a hundred yards. Their flight is light, undetermined
as it were, yet well sustained, and performed by regular flappings,
as in other birds of the tribe. When they have arrived at their
destination, they often go to considerable distances to feed during
the day, regularly returning at the approach of night to their roosts
on the low trees and bushes bordering the marshes, swamps, and ponds.
They are very gentle at this season, and at all periods keep in
flocks when not disturbed. At the approach of the breeding season,
many spend a great part of the day at their roosting places, perched
on the low trees principally growing in the water, when every now
and then they utter a rough guttural sort of sigh, raising at the
same moment their beautiful crest and loose recurved plumes, curving
the neck, and rising on their legs to their full height, as if about
to strut on the branches. They act in the same manner while on the
ground mating. Then the male, with great ardour, and with the most
graceful motions, passes and repasses for several minutes at a time
before and around the female, whose actions are similar, although she
displays less ardour. When disturbed on such occasions, they rise
high in the air, sail about and over the spot in perfect silence,
awaiting the departure of the intruder, then sweep along, exhibiting
the most singular movements, now and then tumbling over and over like
the Tumbler Pigeon, and at length alight on a tree. On the contrary,
when you intrude upon them while breeding, they rise silently on
wing, alight on the trees near, and remain there until you depart.
The Snowy Herons breed in large communities; and so very social are
they, that they do not appear even to attempt to disturb such other
birds as are wont to breed among them, the Night Herons, for instance,
the Green Herons, or the Boat-tailed Grakles. I have visited some of
their breeding grounds, where several hundred pairs were to be seen,
and several nests were placed on the branches of the same bush, so
low at times that I could easily see into them, although others were
situated at a height of ten or fifteen feet. In places where these
birds are often disturbed, they breed in taller trees, though rarely on
very high ones. In the Floridas I found their nests on low mangroves;
but wherever they are placed you find them fronting the water, over
which, indeed, these Herons seem fond of placing them. The nest, which
is formed of dry sticks, is rather small, and has a shallow cavity.
The eggs are three, one inch and five-eighths and a half in length,
one and a quarter across, of a broadly elliptical form, and having
a plain pale bluish-green colour. In the Middle Districts, the usual
time of laying is about the middle of May; in the Carolinas a month
sooner; and in the Floridas still earlier, as there, on the 19th of
May, I found the young in great numbers walking off their nests on
the mangrove branches, and, like those of the Louisiana Heron, which
also breeds in the same places, trying to escape by falling into
the water below, and swimming in search of hiding-places among the
roots and hanging branches. Both sexes incubate. Many of the eggs are
destroyed by Crows and Turkey Buzzards, which also devour the young,
and many are carried off by men.
The young acquire the full beauty of their plumage in the course of
the first spring, when they can no longer be distinguished from the
old birds. The legs and feet are at first of a darkish olive, as is
the bill, except at the base, where it is lighter, and inclining to
yellow. At the approach of autumn, the crest assumes a form, and the
feathers of the lower parts of the neck in front become considerably
lengthened, the feet acquire a yellow tint, and the legs are marked
with black on a yellowish ground; but the flowing feathers of the back
do not appear until the approach of spring, when they grow rapidly,
become recurved, and remain until the young are hatched, when they
fall off.
The Snowy Heron, while in the Carolinas, in the month of April, resorts
to the borders of the salt-water marshes, and feeds principally on
shrimps. Many individuals which I opened there contained nothing else
in their stomach. On the Mississippi, at the time when the shrimps
are ascending the stream, these birds are frequently seen standing on
floating logs, busily engaged in picking them up; and on such occasions
their pure white colour renders them conspicuous and highly pleasing
to the eye. At a later period, they feed on small fry, fiddlers,
snails, aquatic insects, occasionally small lizards and young frogs.
Their motions are generally quick and elegant, and, while pursuing
small fishes, they run swiftly through the shallows, throwing up their
wings. Twenty or thirty seen at once along the margins of a marsh or
a river, while engaged in procuring their food, form a most agreeable
sight. In autumn and early spring, they are fond of resorting to the
ditches of the rice fields, not unfrequently in company with the Blue
Herons. When, on being wounded in the wing one falls into the water,
it swims off towards the nearest shore, and runs to hide itself by
the side of some log, or towards a tree which if possible it climbs,
ascending to its very top. When seized, they peck at you with great
spirit, and are capable of inflicting a severe wound.
There is no difference between the sexes as to plumage, but the male
is somewhat larger. When in good condition, its flesh is excellent
eating, especially in early autumn, when it is generally very fat.
Some may be seen for sale in the markets of New Orleans and other
southern cities. They return southward from the Middle Districts early
in October, but in the Carolinas they remain until the first frosts,
when they all depart for the Floridas, where I found them during the
whole winter in considerable numbers, associating with the Blue Herons.
ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. of Birds of
the United States, p. 305.
SNOWY HERON, ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol.
vii. p. 120. pl. 62. fig. 4.—_Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii.
p. 49.
Adult Male in full spring plumage. Plate CCXLII.
Bill longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a point,
the mandibles nearly equal. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly
straight, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, narrowed
towards the end, a groove from the base to two-thirds of its length,
beneath which the sides are convex, the edges thin and sharp, with
a slight notch close to the very acute tip. Nostrils basal, linear,
longitudinal, with a membrane above and behind. Lower mandible with
the angle extremely narrow and elongated, the dorsal line beyond it
ascending and almost straight, the edges sharp and slightly inflected,
the tip acuminate.
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and slender.
Body slender and compressed. Feet very long; tibia elongated, its
lower half bare, very slender, covered all round with angular scales,
of which the posterior are scutelliform; tarsus elongated, slender,
compressed, anteriorly covered with numerous scutella, laterally and
behind with angular scales. Toes of moderate length, rather slender,
scutellate above, reticularly granulate beneath; third toe much longer
than second, which is very little shorter than fourth, the hind toe
much shorter but strong. Claws rather small, arched, compressed,
acute, that of hind toe much larger, the inner edge of that of the
third regularly pectinate.
Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare, as is
the lower half of the tibia. Plumage soft and blended. Feathers of
the upper and hind part of the head, very long, loose, decurved; of
the sides, and especially of the lower part of the neck, also much
elongated; of the middle of the back very long, loose, and hanging
over the sides and rump, but with their extremities recurved. Wings of
moderate length; primaries tapering and rounded, the third longest, the
second very little shorter, first and fourth about equal; secondaries
broad and rounded, some of the inner as long as the longest primaries,
when the wing is closed. Tail very short, small, slightly rounded,
of twelve rather weak feathers.
Bill black, the bare space at its base yellow. Iris and edges of
eyelids yellow. Tibia and tarsus black, the lower part of the latter
behind and the toes bright yellow; claws bluish black. The plumage
is pure white.
Length to end of tail 22-1/2 inches, to end of wings 23, to end of
claws 30-1/2; extent of wings 38; wing from flexure 10-1/2; tail 3;
loose feathers 1-1/2 beyond the tail; bill along the ridge 3-2/12;
along the edge of lower mandible 3-3/4; bare part of tibia 2-1/2;
tarsus 3-11/12; middle toe 2-1/2, its claw 4/12. Weight 12 oz.
THE AMERICAN SNIPE.
_SCOLOPAX WILSONII_, TEMM.
PLATE CCXLIII. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG IN AUTUMN.
The summer range of the Common American Snipe extends northward to a
considerable distance beyond the limits of the United States. During
the breeding season it is not to be found in our Southern Districts,
much less does it breed on the borders of the Mississippi, as has been
alleged by some writers. It may indeed sometimes happen that a pair
is found during summer in the mountainous districts of the Carolinas;
but occurrences of this kind are rare, and are probably caused by one
of the birds being disabled, and so prevented from prosecuting its
journey farther northward, although not incapacitated for reproduction.
Some pairs are more frequently met with in Virginia, Maryland and
Pennsylvania, either with eggs or with young, but the great body of
this species goes farther north for the purpose of breeding. In the
State of Maine, they become tolerably abundant at this season, and as
you proceed eastward you find them more numerous. In Nova Scotia they
are plentiful during summer, and there they breed in all convenient
places.
In these northern districts, the Snipe begins to lay its eggs in the
early part of June. The swampy parts of the extensive moss-covered
marshes in elevated situations afford it places of security and
comfort, in which it is not likely to be disturbed by man, and finds
immediately around it an abundance of food. The nest itself is a
mere hollow in the moss, scantily inlaid with a few grasses. The
eggs, which, like those of many of the Tringas, are four, and placed
with the small ends together, measure one inch and five-eighths by
one and one-eighth, being pyriform, with the tip somewhat inflated.
The ground colour is a yellowish-olive, pretty thickly spotted and
blotched with light and dark umber, the markings increasing in size
as they approach the large end, where they form a circle. The young,
like those of the Woodcock, leave the nests as soon as hatched, and so
resemble those of the Common Snipe of Europe, _Scolopax Gallinago_,
that the same description answers for both, they being covered with
down of different tints of brown and greyish-yellow. The bill is at
this age short, very soft and easily bent by the least pressure; nor
does it acquire its full growth before winter, and its length differs
in different apparently full grown individuals, by half an inch or
even three-fourths. They seem to feed at first on minute insects
collected on the surface of the mires, or amid the grass and moss;
but as they grow older, and the bill becomes firmer and larger, they
probe the ground like their parents, and soon become expert at this
operation, introducing the bill at every half inch or so of the oozy
mire, from which they principally obtain their food. In the Middle
States, this Snipe, however, has been found breeding in meadows, as
well as in the State of Maine; and it also nestles in the mountainous
districts of these parts of the Union. I never had the good fortune
to meet with a nest in Pennsylvania, although I have known several
instances of a pair breeding not far from Mill Grove on the Perkioming.
In the Western Country this bird arrives from the north early in
October, alighting in the low meadows watered by warm springs, and
along the borders of ponds and small secluded rivulets, sometimes in
the corn fields after a continuance of rainy weather, but never in
the woods or any place from which it cannot easily make its escape
when approached. In Kentucky it often remains all winter, and is at
times very abundant. Farther south, it is more plentiful, especially
in the lower parts of Louisiana, where it is named “_cache cache_”
by the Creoles, and over the whole country between that State and the
Carolinas. During winter, it is not uncommon in Louisiana to meet with
it in flocks of considerable numbers, as is also the case in South
Carolina, where the grounds of the rice-planter afford it abundance
of food. In some fields well known to my Charleston friends, as
winter retreats of the snipe, it is shot in great numbers. At times
it is so much less careful about concealing itself than at others,
that it is not at all uncommon to see it walking about over its wet
feeding-grounds, and on such occasions many are killed. In such places
I have found these birds by fifties and hundreds in fields of a few
acres. At the first shots, dozens in succession would take to wing,
each emitting its cry of _wau-aik_, after which they would rise in the
air, gradually collect, fly round a few times to the distance of some
hundred yards, and returning pitch towards the ground, and alight,
with the velocity of an arrow, not many yards from the spot where
they had previously been. In a few minutes they would all disperse,
to seek for food. So much are they at times attached to particular
spots, that the sportsmen continue to shoot them until their number
is reduced to a few, which having perhaps been several times shot at,
become extremely wary, and are left to entice others to join them, so
that another day’s sport may be obtained. It is not rare to find some
of these birds in the immediate vicinity of Charleston, when they are
pursued by the younger gunners, and sometimes by keen sportsmen. I
have known eight or ten procured by one person in a short time, between
that city and the race-ground, which is scarcely a mile distant. They
are also abundant in the wet savannahs in the Floridas, from which
they retire a few weeks earlier than from Louisiana and the Carolinas,
where some remain until the beginning of April. During the whole of
the winter months, these birds are observed to ramble from one place
to another, and a field which yesterday contained a good number, has
only a few to-day, and to-morrow may be quite deserted. But before
the end of a week, there you will find them again, as abundant as at
first. They rarely visit salt waters, and never resort to the interior
of the woods.