flocks for the purpose of reproducing, and betake themselves to large
sand-bars or mud-flats at low water, where their cacklings may be
heard at a great distance. With the aid of a glass you may see them
going through their courtships; the males swell their throats, walk
about proudly, throw their heads upwards, and emit their love notes.
These general meetings take place at all hours of the day, according
to the state of the tide, and continue for about a fortnight, when
they all depart and betake themselves to the islands on which they
breed. Several of these are situated near the one mentioned, and there
is one near Cape Sable, a few miles from the most southern point of
Nova Scotia, on which we saw thousands alighted on the trees as we
were sailing along that coast on our way to Labrador. Some individuals
begin to lay about the 19th of May or a few days earlier, while others
have not finished the process until the middle of June. During this
period they resort at certain hours to bare rocky islets, on which
they copulate. At White Head Island, while we were seated on the edge
of a beautiful sand-bar eating our dinner, we saw, on one of these
rocks, a vast number forming as it were a dense mass, which covered
about half an acre. At twelve o’clock, we observed that all those
which were not sitting on their eggs, flew over us and alighted on
the sea, about half a mile from the shore, where they remained upwards
of an hour, swimming gracefully but in silence all the while. A seal
happening to raise its head above the water frightened them, and
all raised their wings as if about to fly. Soon after they rose all
at once, separated, and went off in search of food, but returned in
less than an hour to the island, flying high and cackling loudly. A
little before sunset all those unoccupied with incubation went off
to the same rocky islands to roost, flying in silence, and mostly in
files. It was curious to observe that, whenever a large flock made
towards the sea cackling, all the ducks about immediately flew off to
a considerable distance, as if afraid of them; and we saw that these
Gulls, although timorous in the presence of man, shew great courage
in attacking predatory birds, such as Jays, Crows, Ravens, and even
Hawks, which they pursued and forced into the deep woods, or drove
away from the vicinity of their nests.
Shy and wary nearly in as great a degree as the Black-backed Gull,
they were with difficulty obtained, unless we approached them under
cover. The least noise made them instantly leave their perch, and
although there were six of us, each furnished with a good gun, and
some sufficiently expert, not more than a dozen were killed that
day, and all of them while flying. The moment one started, it would
sound an alarm, on which hundreds would rise and sail over us, at
such a height that it was useless to shoot at them. Now and then,
one accidentally passing low over the woods, was brought down. While
returning in the evening we shot one at a great height, having merely
broken the tip of its wing. Having caught it, we placed it on the
narrow path, on which it ran before us nearly to the house of the
Governor, as Captain FRANKLAND is called. It offered no resistance,
but bit severely, and now and then lay down to rest for a few moments.
It ran fast enough to keep several yards before us, cackling all the
while, and once suddenly made off from the path at a rapid rate.
Their flight is as strong as that of the Great Black-backed Gull,
but more buoyant as well as graceful. During the love season their
aërial evolutions are extremely beautiful; they pass through the air
in wide circlings, at a great height, and then come down in curious
zigzags until near the tops of the trees, or the surface of the
sea. While in pursuit of fish, they dart in curved lines with great
rapidity, frequently wheeling suddenly when over their prey, and
falling towards it. When travelling, they pass indifferently over the
land or the water, but generally at a considerable height. Their food
consists principally of herrings, of which they destroy great numbers,
following the shoals. They also feed on other fishes of small size,
shrimps, crabs, and shell-fish, as well as on young birds and small
quadrupeds, and suck all the eggs they can find. The rocky shores of
the islands on which I found them breeding are covered with multitudes
of sea-urchins, having short greenish spines, which give them the
semblance of a ball of moss. At low water the Herring Gulls frequently
devour these animals, thrusting their bill through the shell, and
sucking its contents. They also take up shells in the air, and drop
them on the rocks to break them. We saw one that had met with a very
hard mussel, take it up and drop it three times in succession, before
it succeeded in breaking it, and I was much pleased to see the bird
let it fall each succeeding time from a greater height than before.
They seem to go out to sea in search of food at particular periods,
setting out at the first ebb and returning to the shore as the tide
rises.
The young are at first fed chiefly with shrimps and other small
crustacea, which are picked up from the mud-bars or along the shores.
They are then of a deep rusty colour all over, and when fully feathered
they retain a good deal of that hue, but the feathers are edged with
light grey or brown; the feet and legs are of a greenish-blue colour,
inclining to purple; the bill dusky or nearly black. In spring they
acquire their full size, but still retain the grey and rusty plumage.
The next year they shew much light ash-grey and white about the
head, neck, and lower parts, the orange spot appears on the bill,
the feet and legs are flesh-coloured, the tail still partially banded
towards the extremity. At this age, however, I believe they breed, as
I observed some coloured in the manner described, mated with older
birds. The third spring they acquire the colouring represented in
the plate.
I found no other species breeding on the same islands. Old and young
associate together all the year round, excepting during the breeding
season, when the latter separate and pursue their avocations together.
The cry or cackling of this species, which is heard at a considerable
distance, may be imitated by pronouncing the syllables _hac_, _hac_,
_hac_, _cah_, _cah_, _cah_.
The Herring Gull has a greater range of migration along our coast and
in the interior than any other American species. I have found it on
our great lakes, and on the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi, down to
the Gulf of Mexico, during the autumnal months, and in winter along
the shores of the latter, and all our eastern coasts. It may be said
to be resident in the United States, as it breeds from off Boston to
Eastport in Maine; but the greater number go farther north. We found
the nests of some on the bare rocks of the Seal Islands off Labrador,
but not on the coast itself. They were composed of dry plants and moss
brought from the mainland. The birds kept by themselves, and appeared
to be completely mastered by the Great Black-backed Gulls. On our
return we saw old and young on the northern coast of Newfoundland,
and on the different bays over which we passed.
I have represented an adult male, but not one of the largest, and a
young bird shot in winter, which I have placed on a bunch of Racoon
oysters, where it was standing when shot.
LARUS ARGENTATUS, _Temm._ Man. d’Ornith. part ii. p. 764.
LARUS ARGENTATUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
the United States, p. 360.
LARUS ARGENTATOIDES, _Ibidem_.
Adult Male in spring. Plate CCXCI. Fig. 1.
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,
arcuato-declinate towards the end, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal
groove rather long and narrow; nostril in its fore part, lateral,
longitudinal, linear oblong, wider anteriorly, pervious. Lower mandible
with the angle long and narrow, the outline of the crura curved, the
dorsal line beyond the prominence slightly concave, the sides erect
and nearly flat, the edges sharp and inflected.
Head rather large, oblong, narrowed anteriorly. Neck of moderate
length, strong. Body full. 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 rectangular 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 thick narrow membrane. Claws small, slightly arched, depressed,
rounded, that of the middle toe with an expanded thin 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
and second quills nearly equal, 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, with a large orange-red patch inclining to carmine
towards the end of the lower mandible. Edges of eyelids gamboge; iris
silvery white. Feet flesh-coloured; claws brownish-black. The head,
neck, lower parts, rump and tail, are pure white; the back and wings
pearl-grey or light bluish-grey, very slightly tinged with purple;
the edges of the wing and the extremities of all the quills, are
white. The first six quills are brownish-black towards the end, that
colour including the outer webs and the greater part of the inner of
the two first, and on the rest gradually diminishing, so as on the
sixth merely to form a bar; first quill with a patch of white about
an inch and a half long on both webs near the end; second with a
circular white patch on the inner web, the tips of all white.
Length to end of tail 23 inches, to end of wings 24-1/2, to end of claws
21-1/2; extent of wings 53; wing from flexure 18; tail 7-1/4; bill along
the ridge 2-1/2, along the edge of lower mandible 3; its depth at the
angle 3/4; tarsus 2-1/2; middle toe 2-1/4, its claw (4-1/2)/12. Weight
1 lb. 10 oz.
The Female is similar to the male, but somewhat less.
Young in November. Plate CCXCI. Fig. 2.
Bill brownish-black, paler at the base of the lower mandible. Edges
of eyelids greenish-grey; iris hazel. Feet purplish flesh-colour;
claws brownish-black. The general colour of the whole plumage is
light purplish-grey, the upper part of the head darker, the lower
parts minutely mottled with pale yellowish-grey; the feathers of the
upper parts, and the upper tail-coverts, irregularly edged and barred
with greyish-white. Primary quills greyish-brown, their inner webs
paler, their tips whitish; tail of the same colour, its base and outer
webs of lateral feathers irregularly mottled with whitish, the tips
brownish-white.
Length to end of tail 18-3/4 inches, to end of wings 20; extent of wings
51; wing from flexure 16; tail 6; bill along the ridge 2, along the
edge of lower mandible 2-1/2; tarsus 2-1/4; middle toe 2, its claw
(4-1/2)/12. Weight 22 oz.
From the examination of individuals of this species, it would appear
that little reliance can be placed on the markings of the quills as
affording a specific character. Four undoubted specimens of _Larus
argentatus_ now before me, have a white spot, varying in length from
one to two inches, and including both webs, near the end of the _first_
quill. One has no spot on the _second_ quill; another has a spot on
both webs of the _second_ quill of one wing, and a smaller spot on
part of the inner web of the same quill of the other wing; the third
has a very small spot on part of the inner web of the same quill of
both wings; the fourth has a large circular spot on the inner web of
that quill also in both wings.
THE CRESTED GREBE.
_PODICEPS CRISTATUS_, LATH.
PLATE CCXCII. MALE AND FEMALE.
This beautiful species returns from its northern places of residence,
and passes over the Western Country, about the beginning of September.
A few remain on the lower parts of the Ohio, on the Mississippi,
and the lakes in their neighbourhood, but the greater number proceed
towards the Mexican territories. They pass swiftly through the air,
at a height of about a hundred yards, in flocks of from seven or
eight to fifty or more, proceeding in a loose body, and propelling
themselves by continued flappings, their necks and feet stretched out
to their full length. I have observed them thus passing in autumn,
for several years in succession, over different parts of the Ohio, at
all hours of the day. On such occasions I could readily distinguish
the old from the young, the former being in many instances still
adorned with their summer head-dress. I never saw this species near
the sea-coast, where, on the contrary, I have met with the Red-necked
Grebe.
When about to alight on the water, these birds glide swiftly downward,
with their wings half-closed, and produce a sound not unlike that of
a hawk stooping towards its prey. Their velocity is so great at this
moment, that on alighting, they glide on the surface of the water
for twenty or thirty yards, leaving a furrow in their wake. In a
few moments they are all engaged in washing and cleaning themselves,
after which they dive in pursuit of the fishes on which they feed,
and which they secure by following them in the manner of Divers and
Cormorants. They are exceedingly quick-sighted, and frequently elude
by diving the shot intended for their destruction, seldom after being
chased raising more than their bill above the water, but rarely making
for the shore unless when nearly exhausted.
When in ponds, they may easily be caught with fishing hooks placed
on lines near the bottom; but if the lines are not closely attended
to, or held from a place of concealment, where you may feel that
they are hooked, and at once haul them out, the birds drown in a very
short time. On catching two or three in this manner, I found the pond
deserted the following morning and for several days after. They very
rarely fly in your presence, and they leave the ponds at night. If
forced to rise on wing, they run paddling on the water for several
yards before they rise, and fly several times round a pond of thirty
or forty yards before they attain the level of the tree-tops, for
they never fly through the woods. When once high in the air, they
move in a direct course and with speed, towards some other pond or
the nearest river. I do not remember to have ever met with a bird
of this species on a narrow creek or bayou, or on muddy waters; and
on the Ohio’s rising I have observed that they abandon the river and
betake themselves to the clear ponds of the interior.
By the 1st of October, scarcely any difference can be perceived between
the young and the old birds with respect to plumage, only the latter
have the under surface of the wings still dashed with the reddish
colour of the summer dress. I am not able to say from observation
how long the young are in attaining maturity; but European writers
assert that they take three or four years. When these birds leave
the southern waters about the beginning of April, the old already
shew their summer head-dress, but seldom have it so perfect as is
represented in the plate.
The food of this species consists of fishes, aquatic insects, and
small reptiles, together with the seeds of water plants. Dr RICHARDSON
states that these birds are abundant in all the secluded lakes of
the mountainous districts of the fur countries, and adds that their
nests are formed of a large quantity of grass, placed among reeds
and carices, and rise and fall with the water. Mr YARRELL has kindly
furnished me with specimens of the eggs, which are generally four,
measure two inches and a quarter in length by one inch and a half,
have an oval form, and a smooth surface, of a uniform yellowish-white
colour.
PODICEPS CRISTATUS, _Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p.
780.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of the United
States, p. 417.
CRESTED GREBE, OR GAUNT, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 250.
Adult Male in spring. Plate CCXCII. Fig. 1.
Bill about the length of the head, straight, compressed, tapering.
Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, slightly declinate
towards the tip, the ridge convex, the sides convex, the edges
sharp and inflected, the tip rather sharp. Nasal groove rather
wide, extending to nearly half the length of the mandible; nostrils
linear-elliptical, basal, rather small, pervious. Lower mandible with
the angle long and extremely narrow; dorsal line beyond it ascending
and straight, sides erect, slightly convex, tip acuminate, edges sharp.
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck long, slender. Body
long and depressed. Feet short, large, placed close to the extremity of
the body; tibia feathered to the joint; tarsus extremely compressed;
its anterior edge with a row of small scutella, the sides with broad
scutella, behind which are some irregular scales, the posterior
ridge with a double line of small prominent scales; first toe very
small with a posterior membrane, fourth longest; the toes scutellate
above, connected at the base by a membrane, and having on both sides
an expanded web-like margin marked with oblique lines, and having a
crenated edge. Claws flat, that of third toe broadest.
Plumage very soft, blended, on the lower parts silky, on the back
glossy and rather compact. Two tufts of elongated feathers on the
occiput, and a large frill on the sides and anterior portion of the
neck at its upper part. Wings small, acute; primaries much curved,
second longest, first almost equal, the rest rapidly graduated;
secondaries short, rounded. Tail a slight tuft of loose feathers.
Bill blackish-brown tinged with carmine; bare loral space dusky
green, as is the edge of the eyelids. Iris bright carmine. Feet
greenish-black, the webs greyish-blue. Upper part of the head and
tufts greyish-black tinged with green, as is the hind part of the
ruff, its anterior part being brownish-red; sides of the head and
the throat white; fore neck white tinged with brown; breast silvery
white, sides reddish-brown with dusky streaks; the upper parts are
brownish-black, the feathers edged with lighter, the sides of the
neck tinged with reddish, as is the rump. Wing-coverts greyish-brown,
primary quills brownish-black, tips of the inner white, the middle
secondaries white.
Length to end of tail 24 inches, to end of wings 21, to end of claws
29; extent of wings 33; wing from flexure 7-1/2; bill along the ridge
2, along the edge of lower mandible 2-7/12; tarsus 2-1/2; third toe 3/4,
its claw 1/4. Weight 2 lb. 9 oz.
Adult Female in spring. Plate CCXCII. Fig. 2.
The Female has the occipital feathers a little elongated, but wants
the ruff on the neck. Bill dusky green; bare loral space, edges of
eyelids, and iris, as in the male. Upper part of head and hind neck
blackish-grey; back and wings as in the male, but more tinged with
grey; lower parts silvery white, the sides under the wings dusky.
Length to end of tail 19-1/2, to end of claws 24-1/4; extent of wings
30; bill along the back 2-1/4, along the edge of lower mandible 2-3/4;
tarsus 2-1/4; third toe 2-1/2, its claw 1/4. Weight 1 lb. 6-1/2 oz.
The following account of the digestive organs of this species was
taken from an adult male.
The œsophagus is nine and a half inches long; at its commencement,
and for an inch and a half, it has a diameter of half an inch, for
the next two inches only two-twelfths, towards the lower extremity
four-twelfths; this, however, in the contracted state, the specimen
having been kept in spirits. The mucous coat is raised into numerous
longitudinal folds.
The walls of the proventriculus are extremely thick, the glands
cylindrical, generally about a quarter of an inch long, and one-twelfth
in diameter. The stomach is roundish, compressed, the muscular coat
very thick, being that of a true gizzard, the tendons nearly half
an inch in diameter; the inner coat thick, the cuticular lining very
thick and rugous.
Between the orifice of the œsophagus and the pylorus is a rounded lobe,
from the lower part of which the intestine comes off. The pylorus
has no valve, but a thick marginal rim. The intestine, immediately
after its commencement, dilates to the diameter of half an inch, and
continues of that size for twelve inches, then gradually contracts
for about six inches, when its diameter is four-twelfths, and again
within six inches of the cœca becomes enlarged. The cœca come off at
the distance of two inches from the anus, and are an inch and a half
in length, a little enlarged towards their extremity, and rounded. The
rectum is half an inch in diameter, the cloaca one inch. The entire
length of the intestine is forty-two inches.
The heart is conical, rather pointed, and slightly curved. The trachea
is flattened, of uniform diameter, the rings complete, 167 in number,
its transverse diameter two inches and half a twelfth, contracted at
the bifurcation to two-twelfths.
The tail of the Grebes is usually described as a small tuft of
feathers; but on carefully removing the coverts and downy parts,
the tail may be satisfactorily traced. In this species there are 14
feathers, on each side 7 arranged in a semicircular manner. The two
middle feathers are separated to the distance of about 2/12, and the
two outer or lateral approach each other below, leaving an interval
of about the same space. When the feathers are broken across near
their bases, which they frequently are, there is thus produced the
appearance of a small circular tuft. When perfect, they are about 1-1/2
inches long, arched, with loose barbs, downy at their extremities.
THE LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN.
_MORMON GLACIALIS_, LEACH.
PLATE CCXCIII. MALE.
Although my learned friend Prince CHARLES BONAPARTE says in his
Synopsis of the Birds of the United States, that this species is not
uncommon in winter on our coast, I have only once met with it, and
even then I rather supposed than was actually certain that the birds
observed were Large-billed Puffins. They occurred on the outer side
of the Island of Grand Manan, at the entrance of the Bay of Fundy.
None were seen by myself or my companions on our way to Labrador, or
in that country, so that I am unable to say any thing respecting the
habits of this remarkable bird. The specimens from which my figures
were taken were kindly lent to me by Mr GOULD of London, whose name
must be familiar to you as a successful cultivator of Ornithology.
MORMON GLACIALIS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synops. of Birds of the
United States, p. 430.
LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 541.
Adult Male. Plate CCXCIII. Fig. 1.
Bill about the length of the head, nearly as high as long, exceedingly
compressed, at the base higher than the head, obliquely furrowed on
the sides. Upper mandible with a horny rim along the incurved basal
margin, its dorsal line irregularly curved from the base, the ridge
very narrow but rounded, the sides rapidly sloping, and marked with
three curved oblique grooves, the edges strong, rather sharp, their
outline nearly straight, the tip deflected, very narrow, but obtuse.
Between the basal rim and the first groove is a triangular flat space,
in the lower part of which, close to the edge of the mandible, is
the linear direct nostril. Lower mandible with the angle narrow, and
so placed that the base is inflected much beyond the perpendicular,
the dorsal line irregularly curved, towards the end ascending and
nearly straight, the ridge narrow, broader about the middle, the sides
nearly flat and grooved, the edges strong, the tip very narrow. The
gape extends downwards a little beyond the base of the bill, and is
furnished with a soft corrugated extensible membrane.
Head large, oblong, anteriorly compressed. Eyes of moderate size,
with bare orbits; over the upper eyelid an oblong, tapering horny
body directed upwards and backwards, on the lower a linear body of a
similar nature over its whole length. Neck short and thick. Body full
and rounded. Feet short, rather stout; tibia bare for a short space
above the joint. Tarsus very short, little compressed, anteriorly
for three-fourths of its length with a series of small scutella,
the rest with reticular angular scales. Hind toe wanting, toes
rather long, and slender, scutellate above, connected by reticulated
entire membranes, the third and fourth toes about equal, the second
considerably shorter, with a narrow marginal web. Claws strong, of
moderate length, compressed, arched, that of the inner toe much curved
and acute.
Plumage close, blended, soft, very short on the head. Wings curved,
short, narrow, acute. Primary quills tapering, incurved, the first
longest, the second a little shorter, the rest regularly graduated;
secondaries very short and rounded. Tail very short, much rounded,
of sixteen rounded feathers.