along with the Snow Geese, but keep in separate flocks. In this
order they have been observed travelling over the fur countries by
Dr RICHARDSON, who informs us that they breed in the woody districts
skirting Mackenzie’s River to the north of the sixty-seventh parallel,
and also on the islands of the Arctic Sea; but that they are not common
about Hudson’s Bay. The egg of this Goose measures two inches and
three-quarters in length, by one and three-quarters in breadth. The
shell is smooth, of a dull yellowish-green, with indistinct patches
of a darker tint of the same colour.
ANAS ALBIFRONS, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 509.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 842.
ANSER ALBIFRONS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of the
United States, p. 376.—_Swains. and Richards._ Fauna Bor.
Amer. part ii. p. 456.
WHITE-FRONTED OR LAUGHING GOOSE, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol.
ii. p. 346.
Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXVI. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, much higher than broad at the base,
somewhat conical, depressed towards the end, rounded at the tip. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge broad and flattened,
but slightly convex, the sides sloping, the edges with twenty-eight
oblique lamellæ, the unguis circular, convex, obscurely denticulate
along the edge. Nasal groove oblong, parallel to the ridge, filled by
the soft membrane of the bill; nostrils medial, lateral, longitudinal,
narrow-elliptical, open, pervious. Lower mandible nearly straight,
with the angle very long and rather narrow, the edges soft and obtuse,
with about forty oblique, slightly recurved lamellæ.
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long and
slender. Body full, slightly depressed. Feet rather short, strong,
placed rather behind the centre of the body; legs bare a little above
the joint; tarsus rather short, a little compressed, covered all
round with angular reticulated scales, which are smaller behind; hind
toe very small, with a narrow membrane; third toe longest, fourth
considerably shorter, but longer than second; all the toes reticulated
above at the base, but with narrow transverse scutella towards the
end; the three anterior connected by a reticulated membrane, the
outer having a thick margin, the inner with the margin extended into
a two-lobed web; claws small, arched, rather compressed, obtuse,
that of the middle toe bent obliquely outwards and depressed, with
a curved edge.
Plumage close, full, compact above, blended on the neck and lower part
of the body, very short on the head. Feathers of the head and neck
very narrow, on the latter part disposed in oblique series separated
by grooves, of the back very broad and abrupt, of the breast and
belly broadly rounded. Wings rather long, broad; primaries incurved,
broad, towards the end tapering, the second longest, first and third
about equal, first and second sinuate on the inner web, second and
third on the outer; secondaries long, very broad, rounded. Tail very
short, rounded, of sixteen broad rounded feathers.
Bill carmine-red, the unguis of both mandibles white. Edges of eyelids
dull orange; iris hazel. Feet orange, webs lighter; claws white. Head
and neck rich greyish-brown, the upper part of the former darker;
a white band, margined behind with blackish-brown on the anterior
part of the forehead along the bill. The general colour of the back
is deep grey, the feathers of its fore part broadly tipped with
greyish-brown, the rest with greyish-white; the hind part of the back
pure deep grey. Wings greyish-brown, but towards the edge ash-grey,
as are the primary coverts, and outer webs of the primaries; the rest
of the primaries and the secondaries are greyish-black, the latter
with a narrow edge of greyish-white, the former edged and tipped
with white. Breast, abdomen, lower tail-coverts, sides of the rump
and upper tail-coverts, white, but the breast and sides patched with
brownish-black; on the latter intermixed with greyish-brown feathers.
Length to end of tail 27-1/4 inches, to end of wings 26, to end of
claws 28-7/8; extent of wings 60; wing from flexure 14-1/2; tail
4-3/4; bill along the back 1-8/12, along the edge of lower mandible
1-7/12; tarsus 2-1/4; middle toe 2-4/12, its claw 5/12. Weight 5-1/4
lb.
Adult Female. Plate CCLXXXVI. Fig. 2.
The Female, which is somewhat smaller, resembles the male; the white
margins of the wing-feathers not so distinct. Weight 4 lb. 4 oz.
The gizzard is very large, its muscular coat an inch and a half thick
at the lower extremity, the cuticular lining thick, very hard, and
denticulate on one side. The intestine seven feet long, the cœca
twelve inches and placed at the distance of one foot from the anus.
THE IVORY GULL.
_LARUS EBURNEUS_, PHIPPS.
PLATE CCLXXXVII. ADULT AND YOUNG.
Having ascertained that this beautiful species visits the southern
coast of Labrador and Newfoundland every winter, I have thought it
probable that it occasionally extends its rambles as far as our eastern
shores, and therefore determined to include it in my Illustrations.
The figures in the plate were taken from two specimens procured by
Captain JAMES CLARK ROSS, one of which was an adult male, the other
a young bird in its second year. Captain SABINE says that the Ivory
Gulls are attracted in considerable numbers by whale blubber, are
therefore usually found in company with the _Procellaria glacialis_,
and are easily killed, being by no means shy. Dr RICHARDSON informs
us that they were observed breeding in great numbers on the high
perforated cliffs which form the extremity of Cape Parry, in latitude
70°.
LARUS EBURNEUS, _Phipps’s Voyage_, p. 187.—_Lath._ Ind.
Ornith. vol. ii. p. 816.—_Swains. and Richards._ Fauna
Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 419.
IVORY GULL, _Lath._ Synops. vol. vi. p. 377.—_Nuttall_,
Manual, vol. ii. p. 301.
Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXVII. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, robust, nearly straight, compressed. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight at the base, arched
and declinate towards the end, the ridge convex, the sides slightly
so, the edges sharp, a little inflected, somewhat arched, the tip
rather obtuse. Nasal groove rather long and narrow; nostrils in its
fore part, lateral, longitudinal, linear, wider anteriorly, pervious.
Lower mandible with a prominence at the end of the angle, which is
long and narrow, the dorsal line slightly concave and ascending, the
sides flattened, the edges sharp and inflected.
Head rather large. Neck of moderate length, strong. Body rather full.
Feet of moderate length, stout; tibia bare below; tarsus somewhat
compressed, covered before with numerous scutella, on the sides and
behind with series of small angular scales; the hind toe very small
and elevated, the fore toes of moderate length, the fourth much
longer than the second, the third longest, the hind one with a single
scutellum and three transverse series of scales, the rest scutellate
above and connected by reticulate membranes having a concave margin,
the lateral toes margined externally with a narrow membrane. Claws
stout, rather large, arched, compressed, rather obtuse, that of middle
toe with an enlarged inner edge.
The plumage in general is close, full, elastic, soft and blended, on
the back rather compact. Wings very long, rather broad, acute, the
first quill longest, the other primaries rapidly graduated; secondaries
broad and rounded, the inner tapering but rounded. Tail of moderate
length, even, of twelve rather broad rounded feathers.
Bill bright yellow, greenish dusky at the base. Iris brown, edges of
eyelids vermilion. Feet and claws black. The whole of the plumage is
pure white.
Length to end of tail 19 inches, to end of wings 20-1/2; extent of
wings 41; wing from flexure 13-1/2; tail 6-1/4; bill along the back
1-5/12, along the edge of lower mandible 2; tarsus 1-7/12; middle
toe 1-2/12, its claw (5-1/2)/12. Weight 20 oz.
Young of the second year, killed in September. Plate CCLXXXVII. Fig. 2.
After the second moult, the bill is pale yellow at the end, dusky
at the base for two-thirds of its length; the edges of the eyelids
vermilion, the iris brown, the feet black. The plumage is white; the
forehead and sides of the head mottled with leaden-grey; most of the
wing-coverts have towards the end a spot of greyish-black, and the
quills, large coverts, and tail-feathers are similarly marked, the
markings on the tail forming a subterminal bar.
THE YELLOWSHANK.
_TOTANUS FLAVIPES_, VIEILL.
PLATE CCLXXXVIII. MALE.
The Yellowshank is much more abundant in the interior, or to the
westward of the Alleghany Mountains than along our Atlantic coast,
although it is also met with in the whole extent of the latter, from
Florida to Maine. It exceeds the Tell-tale Godwit in numbers on the
shores of the Ohio, as well as on the margins of the numerous ponds
and lakes in the vicinity of the Mississippi, from the mouth of the
river just mentioned to New Orleans, and beyond that city southward.
In early autumn, when the sand-bars of the Ohio are left uncovered,
these active birds are seen upon them in small flocks, formed each
apparently of a single family, busily employed in searching for food,
and wading in the water up to the feathered part of their legs. When
the water is high, they resort to ponds and damp meadows intersected
by small rivulets. In the Carolinas and the Floridas they are pretty
numerous, in the former betaking themselves to the rice-fields, and in
the latter to the wet savannahs. They are equally fond of frequenting
the shores of our estuaries that are bordered by salt marshes, on
the muddy edges of which they find their food. I have also met with
them on the margins of clear streams in the interior of the States,
and indeed should hardly be able to mention a district in which the
species is not to be seen, from the beginning of September until
May, when the greater number retire northward, although some remain
and breed, even in our Middle States, as NUTTALL says they are seen
in the neighbourhood of Boston in the middle of June. I found a few
on the coast of Labrador, but did not succeed in discovering their
nests, which was the more surprising that these birds, according
to my friend THOMAS MACCULLOCH, breed in considerable numbers about
Pictou. He describes the nest as placed among the grass on the edges
of the rivers and large ponds of the interior.
The flight of the Yellowshank is very similar to that of the Tell-tale
Godwit. They generally run to some distance before they take to wing,
stop as if to discover your intention, vibrate their body backwards
and forwards, intimate by their cries the knowledge they have of
the nature of the weapon you carry, and, as if convinced that you
are bent on mischief, spring up, rise obliquely to some height, emit
louder notes, and with continued flappings pass around you, or remove
to some distant place. Their long yellow legs, which are stretched
out behind, are quite conspicuous when they are on wing. Should you
bring one to the ground wounded, it walks off leisurely, vibrates its
body, and emits plaintive cries; and should one fall into the water
under similar circumstances, it paddles its way towards the nearest
shore with considerable speed. If you approach it, it may immerse
its head, but it cannot dive to any depth.
In very dry weather, I have observed this species on the uplands
searching for grasshoppers and insects. It has been alleged that
when one is wounded, its companions hover around so as to be easily
shot; but this I have never observed, for although they are perhaps
less shy than the Tell-tales, on such occasions, I never found one
of them to remain; they seemed, on the contrary, to be well aware
of the danger, and would fly quite out of sight, rising high in the
air, and pursuing a direct course, emitting cries at intervals.
Along the shores of the sea, they are now and then seen in company
with other species, although they cannot be said actually to associate
with them. In autumn they become fat, and by many are considered good
eating, although they always have a kind of fishy taste not at all
agreeable to my palate. Their food consists of diminutive fishes,
shrimps, worms, and aquatic insects.
I have represented one of these birds on the fore ground of a little
piece of water a few miles distant from Charleston in South Carolina,
on the borders of which, in the company of my kind friend JOHN BACHMAN
and others, I have spent many a pleasant hour, while resting after
fatiguing rambles in the surrounding woods.
SCOLOPAX FLAVIPES, _Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 723.—_Ch.
Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 324.
YELLOWSHANKS SNIPE, SCOLOPAX FLAVIPES, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith.
vol. vii. p. 55. pl. 58. fig. 4.
TOTANUS FLAVIPES, YELLOWSHANKS TATLER, _Swains. and
Richards._ Fauna Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 390.
YELLOWSHANKS TATLER, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 152.
Adult Male in Summer. Plate CCLXXXVIII. Fig. 1.
Bill a little longer than the head, very slender, subcylindrical,
straight, flexible, compressed at the base, the point rather depressed
and obtuse. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge
convex, broader at the base, slightly depressed towards the end, the
sides sloping, towards the end convex, the edges soft and obtuse,
the tip slightly deflected. Nasal groove long and narrow, extending
to a little beyond the middle of the bill; nostrils basal, linear,
pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very long and extremely narrow,
the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, with a slight groove in
their basal half.
Head small, oblong, anteriorly narrowed. Eyes large. Neck rather long
and slender. Body slender. Feet very long, slender; tibia bare for
half its length, scutellate before and behind; tarsus also scutellate
before and behind; hind toe very small and elevated; fore toes of
moderate length, very slender, connected at the base by webs, of which
the outer is much larger; second or inner toe considerably shorter
than fourth, third longest; all scutellate above, flat and marginate
beneath. Claws small, slightly arched, much compressed, obtuse, that
of middle toe much larger, with the inner edge enlarged.
Plumage very soft, blended, on the fore part of the head very
short. Wings long, narrow, pointed; primaries narrow and tapering,
first longest, second a little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated;
secondaries short, broad, incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner
elongated and tapering. Tail short, rounded, of twelve rounded
feathers.
Bill black. Iris dark brown; edges of eyelids dark grey. Feet bright
yellow, claws brownish-black. Upper part of the head, lores, cheeks,
neck, and sides of the neck deep brownish-grey, the edges of the
feathers greyish-white; a white line from the bill to the eye and over
it; upper part of throat white; fore neck greyish-white, streaked with
brownish-grey, as are the sides, the rest of the lower parts white,
the lower tail-coverts slightly marked with grey. The general colour
of the back and scapulars is olivaceous brown tinged with grey, the
feathers edged with small dusky and white spots. The wing-coverts
and inner secondary quills are similar, the marginal spots on the
latter forming bands; primary quills blackish-brown, the shaft of
the outer brownish-white, of the rest dark brown, the edges of the
inner, and of the middle secondaries white; hind part of back grey,
upper tail-coverts white, the larger obscurely barred with grey.
Length to end of tail 10-3/8 inches, to end of wings 11-2/12 to end of
claws 13-2/12, extent of wings 20; wing from flexure 6-9/12; tail 2-1/2;
bill along the back 1-5/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-5/12;
bare part of tibia 1-4/12; tarsus 1-11/12, middle toe 1-2/12, its claw
(2-1/2)/12. Weight 2-1/2 oz.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER.
_TOTANUS CHLOROPYGIUS_, VIEILL.
PLATE CCLXXXIX. MALE.
The only nest of this bird that I ever met with was placed in an
elevated part of the woods near Bayou Sara, on the margin of a
small pond scarcely ten yards broad, overgrown with low bushes, and
cumbered with fallen branches of trees. It was formed of grass and
withered leaves, arranged without much care, and contained three eggs.
Both birds were greatly disconcerted, ran round me, and frequently
alighted on the twigs and branches with all the nimbleness of land
birds, constantly throwing their heads forward and vibrating their
body and tail in the manner of the Louisiana Water Thrush. The eggs
measured one inch one eighth and a half in length, seven and a half
eighths in breadth; the colour was greenish-yellow, with spots and
patches of umber, more abundant around the crown, where the larger
marks formed a conspicuous circle. I carried one of the eggs home,
and, on returning a few days after to the spot, found one of the birds
sitting, which proved to me that the great anxiety shewn at my first
visit was chiefly because the female was about to lay her last egg.
The male was absent, nor did it shew itself during my stay. About a
fortnight after I found the wings of one of the birds near the place;
the eggs also were gone; and I concluded that some quadruped, probably
a racoon, had committed the havock. No bird of this species was in
the neighbourhood.
In the Fauna Boreali-Americana, Dr RICHARDSON says that in high
northern latitudes these birds deposit their eggs on the bare sand,
which is another proof in addition to the many already given, that
great differences as to the mode of nestling may exist in the same
species in different parts of the country. Indeed, almost all the
habits of this curious bird differ according to the locality. In the
Southern States, they are particularly fond of low flat lands among
deep woods and cane brakes, and rarely approach ponds of any great
extent, but prefer those which are small and most secluded. In the
Middle Districts I have found them along the Leighhigh, and in watery
places both on low and on elevated ground. In the State of Maine
they frequented similar localities. In the prairies of Indiana I have
seen them in early spring, during rainy weather, wading and running
through the water, on the very foot-path before me, for eight or ten
yards at a time. When flushed, they would fly in a semicircle close
over the ground, and re-alight at the distance of a hundred yards or
so on the same path. Not one of the species was observed in Labrador
or Newfoundland by my party; and my friend THOMAS MACCULLOCH informs
me that only a few single birds are seen near Pictou, and that in
autumn, when they keep in marshy grounds in the neighbourhood of the
sea.
The flight of the Solitary Sandpiper is swift and protracted. It moves
in a zigzag manner, and at times makes its way through the woods with
surprising ease, seldom leaving the starting place without uttering
a clear and pleasant tweet. In re-alighting it pitches downwards
like the Common Snipe. On the ground they are very active, and at
times so indifferent to the approach of man, that they will merely
fly across or around a small pond for a considerable time, and, if
shot at and not touched, they will be sure to be found in the same
place a few hours after. Its alighting on trees has often appeared
to me as singular as that of Bartram’s Snipe and the Semipalmated
species. The Solitary Snipe is, however, the most expert at catching
insects on the wing, especially the smaller kinds of dragon-flies,
which it chases from the sticks on which they alight, and generally
seizes before they have flown across the little ponds, which are the
favourite place of resort of this species. I have found their stomachs
filled with aquatic insects, caterpillars of various kinds, and black
spiders of considerable size.
I consider this bird to be a constant resident in the United States,
although it ranges over a great space in summer and winter. Scarcely
any difference is observable in the sexes; and I am of opinion that
the young acquire their full plumage the first spring.
TOTANUS CHLOROPYGIUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds
of the United States, p. 325.—_Swains. and Richards._ Fauna
Bor. Amer. part ii. p. 393.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER, TRINGA SOLITARIA, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith.
vol. vii. p. 53. pl. 58. fig. 3.
GREEN-RUMP TATLER, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 159.
Adult Male. Plate CCLXXXIX. Fig. 1.
Bill a little longer than the head, very slender, subcylindrical,
straight, flexible, compressed at the base, the point rather depressed
and obtuse. Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge
convex, broader at the base, slightly depressed towards the end, the
sides sloping, towards the end convex, the edges soft and obtuse, the
tip very slightly deflected. Nasal groove long and narrow, extending
to a little beyond the middle of the bill; nostrils basal, linear,
pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very long and extremely narrow,
the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, with a slight groove in
their basal half.
Head small, oblong, anteriorly narrowed. Eyes large. Neck rather long
and slender. Body slender. Feet long and slender; tibia bare nearly
half its length, scutellate before and behind; tarsus also scutellate
before and behind; hind toe very small and elevated; fore toes rather
long, very slender, connected at the base by webs, of which the outer
is much larger; second or inner toe considerably shorter than fourth,
third longest; all scutellate above, flat and marginate beneath.
Claws small, slightly arched, much compressed, rather obtuse, that
of middle toe much larger, with the inner edge enlarged.
Plumage very soft, blended, on the fore part of the head very short.
Wings long, narrow, pointed; primaries rather narrow and tapering,
first and second equal, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries short,
broad, incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner elongated and tapering.
Tail rather short, slightly rounded, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill greenish-black. Iris brown; edges of eyelids dark grey. Feet
greenish-grey, claws brownish-black. Upper part of the head, lores,
cheeks, hind neck and sides of the neck deep brownish-grey, the edges
of the feathers brownish-white; a dull white line from the bill to
the eye; upper part of throat greyish-white; fore-neck of the same
colour, streaked with brownish-grey, as are the sides; the rest of
the lower parts greyish-white. The general colour of the back and
scapulars is deep greenish-brown, the feathers edged with a few small
spots of white and dusky, those on the inner secondaries more numerous.
Wing-coverts similar, excepting those along the edge of the wing, which
with the alula and primary coverts are deep brownish-black; primary
quills brownish-black, secondaries greyish-brown; lower wing-coverts
mottled with brownish-black and white, the axillar feathers barred
with greyish-white and dusky, as are the upper tail-coverts and the
tail-feathers, of which the two middle are merely spotted with white
on the edges.
Length to end of tail 8-1/2 inches, to end of wings 9, to end of claws
10; extent of wings 16-1/2; wing from flexure 5-1/4; tail 2; bill
along the back 1-2/12 along the edge of lower mandible 1-(2-1/2)/12;
tarsus 1-2/12; middle toe 11/12, its claw (2-1/2)/12 Weight 1-3/4 oz.
Adult Female. Plate CCLXXXIX. Fig. 2.
There is no decided difference between the sexes in the colouring,
but the female is somewhat larger. From the only instance in which
I found this species in the act of depositing its eggs, I conclude
that it generally forms its nest on the higher grounds or along the
declivities of hills.
THE RED-BACKED SANDPIPER.
_TRINGA ALPINA_, LINN.
PLATE CCXC. MALE IN SUMMER, AND ADULT IN WINTER.