Heron was killed, another shot should be fired exactly one minute
after, by which each party would be made aware of the success of the
other. Mr EGAN, pointing to a nest on which stood two small young
birds, desired to be landed near it. I proceeded into a narrow bayou,
where we remained quiet for about half an hour, when a Heron flew
over us and was shot. It was a very fine old male. Before firing my
signal shot, I heard a report from afar, and a little after mine was
discharged I heard another shot, so I felt assured that two birds
had been killed. When I reached the Captain’s boat I found that he
had in fact obtained two; but Mr EGAN had waited two hours in vain
near the nest, for none of the old birds came up. We took him from
his hiding place, and brought the Herons along with us. It was now
nearly high water. About a mile from us, more than a hundred Herons
stood on a mud-bar up to their bellies. The pilot said that now was
our best chance, as the tide would soon force them to fly, when they
would come to rest on the trees. So we divided, each choosing his own
place, and I went to the lowest end of the key, where it was separated
from another by a channel. I soon had the pleasure of observing all
the Herons take to wing, one after another, in quick succession. I
then heard my companions’ guns, but no signal of success. Obtaining
a good chance as I thought, I fired at a remarkably large bird, and
distinctly heard the shot strike it. The Heron merely croaked, and
pursued its course. Not another bird came near enough to be shot at,
although many had alighted on the neighbouring key, and stood perched
like so many newly finished statues of the purest alabaster, forming a
fine contrast to the deep blue sky. The boats joined us. Mr EGAN had
one bird, the Captain another, and both looked at me with surprise.
We now started for the next key, where we expected to see more. When
we had advanced several hundred yards along its low banks, we found
the bird at which I had shot lying with extended wings in the agonies
of death. It was from this specimen that the drawing was made. I was
satisfied with the fruits of this day’s excursion. On other occasions
I procured fifteen more birds, and judging that number sufficient,
I left the Herons to their occupations.
This species is extremely shy. Sometimes they would rise when at
the distance of half a mile from us, and fly quite out of sight. If
pursued, they would return to the very keys or mud-flats from which
they had risen, and it was almost impossible to approach one while
perched or standing in the water. Indeed, I have no doubt that half
a dozen specimens of _Ardea Herodias_ could be procured for one of
the present, in the same time and under similar circumstances.
The Great White Heron is a constant resident on the Florida Keys, where
it is found more abundant during the breeding season than anywhere
else. They rarely go as far eastward as Cape Florida, and are not
seen on the Tortugas, probably because these islands are destitute
of mangroves. They begin to pair early in March, but many do not lay
their eggs until the middle of April. Their courtships were represented
to me as similar to those of the Great Blue Heron. Their nests are at
times met with at considerable distances from each other, and although
many are found on the same keys, they are placed farther apart than
those of the species just mentioned. They are seldom more than a few
feet above high water-mark, which in the Floridas is so low, that
they look as if only a yard or two above the roots of the trees. From
twenty to thirty nests which I examined were thus placed. They were
large, about three feet in diameter, formed of sticks of different
sizes, but without any appearance of lining, and quite flat, being
several inches thick. The eggs are always three, measure two inches
and three quarters in length, one inch and eight-twelfths in breadth,
and have a rather thick shell, of a uniform plain light bluish-green
colour. Mr EGAN told me that incubation continues about thirty days,
that both birds sit, (the female, however, being most assiduous,) and
with their legs stretched out before them, in the same manner as the
young when two or three weeks old. The latter, of which I saw several
from ten days to a month old, were pure white, slightly tinged with
cream colour, and had no indications of a crest. Those which I carried
to Charleston, and which were kept for more than a year, exhibited
nothing of the kind. I am unable to say how long it is before they
attain their full plumage as represented in the plate, when, as you
see, the head is broadly but loosely and shortly tufted, the feathers
of the breast pendent, but not remarkably long, and there are none
of the narrow feathers seen in other species over the rump or wings.
These Herons are sedate, quiet, and perhaps even less animated than
the _A. Herodias_. They walk majestically, with firmness and great
elegance. Unlike the species just named, they _flock_ at their feeding
grounds, sometimes a hundred or more being seen together; and what
is still more remarkable is, that they betake themselves to the
mud-flats or sand-bars at a distance from the Keys on which they roost
and breed. They seem, in so far as I could judge, to be diurnal, an
opinion corroborated by the testimony of Mr EGAN, a person of great
judgment, sagacity and integrity. While on these banks, they stand
motionless, rarely moving towards their prey, but waiting until it
comes near, when they strike it and swallow it alive, or when large
beat it on the water, or shake it violently, biting it severely all
the while. They never leave their feeding grounds until driven off
by the tide, remaining until the water reaches their body. So wary
are they, that although they may return to roost on the same keys,
they rarely alight on trees to which they have resorted before, and
if repeatedly disturbed they do not return, for many weeks at least.
When roosting, they generally stand on one foot, the other being
drawn up, and, unlike the Ibises, are never seen lying flat on trees,
where, however, they draw in their long neck, and place their head
under their wing.
I was often surprised to see that while a flock was resting by day
in the position just described, one or more stood with outstretched
necks, keenly eyeing all around, now and then suddenly starting at the
sight of a Porpoise or Shark in chase of some fish. The appearance
of a man or a boat, seemed to distract them; and yet I was told
that nobody ever goes in pursuit of them. If surprised, they leave
their perch with a rough croaking sound, and fly directly to a great
distance, but never inland.
The flight of the Great White Heron is firm, regular, and greatly
protracted. They propel themselves by regular slow flaps, the head
being drawn in after they have proceeded a few yards, and their legs
extended behind, as is the case with all other Herons. They also now
and then rise high in the air, where they sail in wide circles, and
they never alight without performing this circling flight, unless
when going to feeding grounds on which other individuals have already
settled. It is truly surprising that a bird of so powerful a flight
never visits Georgia or the Carolinas, nor goes to the Mainland. When
you see them about the middle of the day on their feeding grounds they
“loom” to about double their size, and present a singular appearance.
It is difficult to kill them unless with buck-shot, which we found
ourselves obliged to use.
When I left Key West, on our return towards Charleston, I took with me
two young birds that had been consigned to the care of my friend Dr
B. STROBEL, who assured me that they devoured more than their weight
of food per day. I had also two young birds of the _Ardea Herodias_
alive. After bringing them on board, I placed them all together in
a very large coop; but was soon obliged to separate the two species,
for the white birds would not be reconciled to the blue, which they
would have killed. While the former had the privilege of the deck
for a few minutes, they struck at the smaller species, such as the
young of _Ardea rufescens_ and _A. Ludoviciana_, some of which they
instantly killed and swallowed entire, although they were abundantly
fed on the flesh of green Turtles. None of the sailors succeeded in
making friends with them.
On reaching Indian Key, I found those which had been left with Mrs
EGAN, in excellent health and much increased in size, but to my
surprise observed that their bills were much broken, which she assured
me had been caused by the great force with which they struck at the
fishes thrown to them on the rocks of their enclosure,—a statement
which I found confirmed by my own observation in the course of the
day. It was almost as difficult to catch them in the yard, as if
they had never seen a man before, and we were obliged to tie their
bills fast, to avoid being wounded by them while carrying them on
board. They thrived well, and never manifested the least animosity
towards each other. One of them which accidentally walked before
the coop in which the Blue Herons were, thrust its bill between the
bars, and transfixed the head of one of these birds, so that it was
instantaneously killed.
When we arrived at Charleston, four of them were still alive. They were
taken to my friend JOHN BACHMAN, who was glad to see them. He kept a
pair, and offered the other to our mutual friend Dr SAMUEL WILSON, who
accepted them, but soon afterwards gave them to Dr GIBBES of Columbia
College, merely because they had killed a number of Ducks. My friend
BACHMAN kept two of these birds for many months; but it was difficult
for him to procure fish enough for them, as they swallowed a bucketful
of mullets in a few minutes, each devouring about a gallon of these
fishes. They betook themselves to roosting in a beautiful arbour in
his garden; where at night they looked with their pure white plumage
like beings of another world. It is a curious fact, that the points of
their bills, of which an inch at least had been broken, grew again,
and were as regularly shaped at the end of six months as if nothing
had happened to them. In the evening or early in the morning, they
would frequently set, like pointer dogs, at moths which hovered over
the flowers, and with a well-directed stroke of their bill seize the
fluttering insect and instantly swallow it. On many occasions, they
also struck at chickens, grown fowls and ducks, which they would
tear up and devour. Once a cat which was asleep in the sunshine, on
the wooden steps of the viranda, was pinned through the body to the
boards, and killed by one of them. At last they began to pursue the
younger children of my worthy friend, who therefore ordered them to
be killed. One of them was beautifully mounted by my assistant Mr
HENRY WARD, and is now in the Museum of Charleston. Dr GIBBES was
obliged to treat his in the same manner; and I afterwards saw one of
them in his collection. Of the fifteen skins of this species which I
carried to Philadelphia, one was presented to the Academy of Natural
Sciences of that beautiful city, another was given in exchange for
various skins, and two I believe are now in the possession of GEORGE
COOPER, Esq. of New York. Two were sent along with other specimens to
Mr SELBY of Twizel House, Northumberland. On my arrival in England, I
presented a pair to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, who gave
them to the British Museum, where I have since seen them mounted. I
also presented a specimen to the Zoological Society of London.
Mr EGAN kept for about a year one of these birds, which he raised
from the nest, and which, when well grown, was allowed to ramble along
the shores of Indian Key in quest of food. One of the wings had been
cut, and the bird was known to all the resident inhabitants, but was
at last shot by some Indian Hunter, who had gone there to dispose of
a collection of sea shells.
Some of the Herons feed on the berries of certain trees during the
latter part of autumn and the beginning of winter. Dr B. B. STROBEL
observed the Night Heron eating those of the “Gobolimbo,” late in
September at Key West.
Among the varied and contradictory descriptions of Herons, you will
find it alleged that these birds seize fish while on wing by plunging
the head and neck into the water; but this seems to me extremely
doubtful. Nor, I believe, do they watch for their prey while perched
on trees. Another opinion is, that Herons are always thin, and unfit
for food. This, however, is by no means generally the case in America,
and I have thought these birds very good eating when not too old.
GREAT WHITE HERON, ARDEA OCCIDENTALIS.
Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXI.
Bill much longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to
a point, the mandibles nearly equal, but the point of the upper
considerably extended beyond that of the lower. Upper mandible with
the dorsal line nearly straight, the ridge broadly convex at the
base, convex and 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 ascending and slightly concave, the edges
as in the upper, the tip acuminate. Nostrils basal, linear-oblong,
longitudinal, with a membrane above and behind.
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck extremely long,
slender. Body slender and compressed; wings large. Feet very long;
tibia elongated, its lower half bare, very slender, covered all round
with large elongated hexagonal scales; tarsus long, thicker than the
lower part of the tibia, compressed, covered anteriorly with large
scutella, excepting at the two extremities where there are large
angular scales. Toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate
above, flattened, and reticularly granulate beneath, the thick margins
covered with small scales, the sides with larger; the third and fourth
toes connected at the base by a reticulated web; the third toe much
longer than the fourth, which is considerably longer than the second,
the first about half the length of the third; claws of moderate size,
strong, compressed, curved, obtuse, the first largest, the third next
in size, and with an inner regularly pectinated edge, all more or
less convex beneath.
Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, as well as
at the angle of the mouth bare, as is the lower half of the tibia.
Plumage soft, the edges of the feathers loose and blended. Feathers
of the upper part of the head and hind neck elongated and tapering;
of the back long and loose, of the rump soft and downy; scapulars
very long, rather compact, the upper loose. Feathers of the fore neck
elongated, of the sides of the breast anteriorly very long, loose
and tapering; of the rest of the lower parts broader but pointed; of
the tibia shortish. Wings large, rounded; primaries curved, strong,
broad, tapering, the three first slightly sinuate on the inner web;
third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, third almost as long as
fourth, first a quarter of an inch shorter; secondaries very large,
broad and rounded, the inner extending as far as the longest primary
when the wing is closed. Tail short, slightly rounded, of twelve
broad, rounded feathers.
Bill yellow, the upper mandible dusky green at its base; loral space
yellowish-green; orbital space light blue. Iris bright yellow. Tibia
and hind part of tarsus yellow; fore part of tibia and toes olivaceous,
sides of the latter greenish-yellow; claws light brown. The whole of
the plumage is pure white.
Length to end of tail 54 inches, to end of wings 54, to end of claws
70; extent of wings 83; wing from flexure 19; tail 7; bill along the
back 6-3/4, along the edges 8-3/4; bare part of tibia 6; tarsus 8-1/2;
middle toe 4-10/12, its claw 10/12. Weight 9-1/2 lb.
The Female is smaller, but similar to the male. The dimensions of an
individual were as follows.
Length to end of tail 50, to end of wings 50, to end of claws 65;
extent of wings 75; wing from flexure 18-3/4; tail 6-3/4; bill along the
back 5-10/12, along the edges 7-3/4, its depth at base 1-5/12; tarsus
7-1/2; middle toe 4-1/4, its claw 9/12. Weight 7-1/4 lb.
The Young are at first covered with white down, and when fledged
are of the same colour. An individual just able to fly was of the
following dimensions.
Length to end of tail 43-1/2, to end of claws 56; wing from flexure 18;
bill 5-4/12; along the edge 7-1/4; tarsus 6-1/2; middle toe 4-1/4, its
claw 3/4. The serrature of the middle claw is distinct at this age.
In this species, the skin is uncommonly tender, and of a yellow colour.
THE WHITE-WINGED SILVERY GULL.
_LARUS LEUCOPTERUS_, FABER.
PLATE CCLXXXII. ADULT MALE, AND YOUNG.
I have not met with this species farther south than the Bay of New
York. During the winter it is not rare about Boston and farther
eastward. At the approach of summer, before the pairing of the Herring
Gull, _Larus argentatus_, the White-winged Gulls collect in flocks,
and set out for the distant north, where they breed.
The flight of this species so much resembles that of the Herring Gull,
that were it not for its smaller size, and the different colour of
its wings, it could not be distinguished from the other. It is less
shy, however, proceeds farther up the rivers and salt-water creeks,
and alights oftener on the water as well as on the salt-meadows, than
that species. While at Portland in Maine, I observed a good number
of these Gulls flying over the inner harbour close to the shores,
descending towards the water, and picking up garbage in the manner
of the Herring Gulls, with which they associated. Their notes were
not so loud, nor so often heard.
I was surprised to find but very few on the coast of Labrador, and
these did not seem to be breeding, for although we carefully watched
them, we did not succeed in finding any nests.
LARUS LEUCOPTERUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. of Birds of
the United States, p. 361.
LARUS LEUCOPTERUS, WHITE-WINGED SILVERY GULL, _Swains. and
Richards._ Fauna Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 418.
LARUS ARCTICUS, _Macgillivray_, Wern. Trans, vol. v. p. 268.
WHITE-WINGED SILVERY GULL, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p.
305.
Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXII. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, strong, nearly straight, compressed. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight at the base, arched
and decimate towards the end, the ridge convex, the sides slightly
convex, the edges sharp, nearly direct, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal
groove rather long and narrow; nostril 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 flat and slightly inclined, the edges sharp and inflected.
Head rather large. Neck of moderate length. Body rather full. Wings
very long. Feet of moderate length, rather slender; tibia bare
below; tarsus somewhat compressed, covered before with numerous broad
scutella, laterally and behind with roundish scales, on the outer side
also with a row of small scutella; toes of moderate length, rather
slender, all covered above with scutella; the anterior connected
by reticulated webs, the two lateral with an external thick margin;
the first extremely small, the third longest, the fourth longer than
second; claw of hind toe smallest, of third largest, with an inner
thin edge, of second next in size, all more or less compressed and
obtuse.
The plumage in general is close, elastic, very soft and blended, on
the back rather compact. Wings very long, broad, pointed; primaries
tapering, the first longest, the second slightly shorter, the rest
rapidly graduated; secondaries broad and rounded, the inner elongated
and rather narrow. Tail of moderate length, even, of twelve broad
feathers.
Bill gamboge-yellow, with a spot of orange-red near the end of lower
mandible; the angle of the mouth and the edges of the eyelids are
also orange-red. Iris pale yellow. Feet pale flesh-colour; claws
greyish-brown. The whole plumage is pure white, excepting the back
and upper surface of wings; the tips of the secondaries, the terminal
third or so of the primaries, their shafts, and the upper tail-coverts
also white.
Length to end of tail 26 inches, to end of wings 28-1/4; extent of
wings 50; bill along the back 1-3/4, along the edges 2-1/2; tarsus
2-1/2, middle toe 2-1/12, its claw (4-1/2)/12; wing from flexure
17-1/2; tail 6-1/2.
Young in winter. Plate CCLXXXII. Fig. 2.
Bill yellow, the tips black. Edges of eyelids pale reddish-orange; iris
brown. Feet yellowish flesh colour; claws greyish-brown. The plumage is
yellowish-grey, marked on the head and neck with longitudinal streaks
of pale brown, on the back and wings with transverse undulations,
those on the tail much fainter; the first six quills destitute of
markings.
THE WANDERING SHEARWATER.
_PUFFINUS CINEREUS_, CUV.
PLATE CCLXXXIII. MALE.
I have found this species ranging from the Gulf of St Lawrence to
that of Mexico, but have very seldom seen it near the coast. While
sailing round Nova Scotia, on my way to Labrador, early in June, I
observed one evening about sunset, a great number flying from the
rocky shores, which induced me to think that they bred there. Scarcely
one was to be seen during the day, and this circumstance strengthened
my opinion, as I was aware that these birds are in the habit of
remaining about their nests at that time. In September the case is
very different; for they are then seen far out at sea, at all hours
by day and through the night.
In calm weather, they are fond of alighting on the water, in company
with the Fulmars, and are then easily approached. They swim buoyantly,
and have a graceful appearance while playing among themselves. Two
that had been caught with hooks, walked as well as Ducks, and made
no pretence of sitting on their rumps, as some writers have said
they do. On being approached, they opened their bills, raised their
feathers, and squirted an oily substance through their nostrils,
which they continued to do when held in the hand, at the same time
scratching with their sharp claws and bills. They refused all sorts
of food; and as they were unpleasant pets, they were set at liberty.
To my great surprise, instead of flying directly off, as I expected,
they launched toward the water, dived several yards obliquely, and
on coming to the surface, splashed and washed themselves for several
minutes before they took to wing, when they flew away with their
usual ease and grace.
The flight of this wanderer of the ocean is extremely rapid and
protracted. When it blows hard, it skims along the troughs of the
waves on extended wings in large curves, shewing its upper and lower
parts alternately, evidently with the view of being aided by the
wind. In calm weather its flight is much lower and less rapid, and
it rarely throws its body sideways, but seems to feed more abundantly
than during boisterous weather. Like the small Petrels, it frequently
uses its feet to support itself on the surface, without actually
alighting. In the stomach of those which I opened, I found fishes,
portions of crabs, sea-weeds, and oily substances. It does not appear
that this species goes far north, as was formerly supposed; for none
of the late northern voyagers mention having seen it, although they
found the Fulmar abundant.
PUFFINUS CINEREUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
the United States, p. 370.
PROCELLARIA CINEREA, _Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 10.
CINEREOUS PUFFIN, _Nuttall_, Manual, p. 334.
Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXIII.
Bill about the same length as the head, rather slender, nearly as deep
as broad at the base, compressed towards the end, slightly curved
upwards, with the tips decurved. Upper mandible with a cere at the
base extending narrow to the nostrils, which are placed above, each
covered with a lateral convex plate, and open anteriorly, with an
elliptical aperture; the dorsal line as far as the nostrils nearly
straight, then suddenly deflected, after which it is slightly concave,
but towards the tip incurved, the ridge very broad and convex at
the base, narrower beyond the nostrils, from which a groove proceeds
obliquely to the commencement of the hooked tip; the sides convex and
nearly erect, the edges sharp. Lower mandible with the angle very long
and narrow, the dorsal line beyond it, decurved, the sides sloping
outwards, the edges sharp and inflected, the curved tip grooved above.
Head rather large, oblong, rather compressed. Neck short and stout.
Body moderate, deeper than broad. Wings long. Feet rather large; tibia
bare for a short space below; tarsus of moderate length, compressed,
covered all round with angular scales, the hind ones much smaller;
hind toe obsolete, but with a small conical deflected claw; fore
toes long, slender, connected by reticulated webs, the lateral ones
with thin edges; outer toe slightly longer than the third, but with a
shorter claw, the first considerably shorter; toes scutellate above;
claws arched, compressed, acute, that of third toe with an enlarged
sharp edge.