Chapter XXI: Part 21

“During my residence at Spring Vale in the vicinity of Hammersmith, I was amusing myself one afternoon with the movements of a pair of Water-hens, which were flirting about the edge of the tall reeds so abundant in that neighbourhood, when my attention was arrested by a Wren, carrying a straw, darting into a small hedge directly beneath the window at which I stood. In a few minutes the bird reappeared, and flew to a piece of old thatch which was lying near, and having disengaged another straw he immediately returned with it to the place in which the first had been deposited. For about two hours this operation was continued by the bird with the greatest diligence. He then abandoned his task, and ascending the highest twig of the hedge, he poured forth his sweet and merry notes, until driven away by some person passing near. For the remainder of the evening I saw no more of the little architect, but on the following morning, being drawn to the window by his song, I observed him leave his favourite perch and resume with ardour the employment of the previous day. During the forenoon I was not able to pay much attention to the movements of the Wren, but from an occasional glance I observed that his task, with the exception of a few intervals of relaxation, when his merry warble fell upon the ear, was plied with a degree of bustling activity which was worthy of the important undertaking. On examining his labours at the close of the second day, I observed that the exterior of a large spherical nest was nearly finished, and that from the old thatch, though exceedingly moist and black from decay, all the materials had been obtained. By the afternoon of the ensuing day his visits to the thatch were discontinued, and he kept bustling and flirting about the spot. He seemed from his lengthened intervals of song rather to be exulting in the progress, than to be making any addition to the work. In the evening I inspected the nest, and found the exterior complete, and by carefully inserting my finger, I ascertained that no lining had yet been applied, in consequence most probably of the moisture which still remained in the straw. Returning to the spot in about half an hour afterwards, with one of my cousins, to look at the nest, I observed with no small surprise that the little bird had not only resented the intrusion by closing up the aperture, but also had opened another passage from the opposite side of the hedge. The aperture was closed with pieces of the old thatch, and the work was so neatly executed that no traces of the former entrance were perceptible. The nest was altogether the work of one bird, and during the time he spent in building we never observed another Wren in his company. In the choice of the materials, as well as in the situation of the nest, there was something exceedingly curious. Though the bottom and sides of the garden were enclosed by a thick hedge, in which he could have built in perfect security, and where, from the vicinity of the stables, abundance of fresh materials could have been easily obtained, yet the old thatch and the hedge at the head of the garden were preferred. This part of the hedge was young and thin, and separated from the buildings by a narrow path, which was constantly frequented by the servants of the establishment. Interruptions from this source, however, he did not seem to mind, for though often driven from his task he returned the next moment with as much confidence as if he had never been disturbed. Even when his nest was destroyed by the wantonness of a stranger, he did not abandon the place, but continued to carry straws from the old thatch with as much diligence as before. From the extreme caution, however, which he subsequently displayed, and the circuitous routes which he took, I never could discover the spot which he selected for his second nest.”

The Winter Wren so closely resembles the European Wren, that I was long persuaded of their identity; but a careful comparison of a great number of specimens, has convinced me that permanent differences in colouring may be pointed out, although still, I am not by any means persuaded that they are specifically different.

TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS, _Vieill._ Encyl. Meth., ii. p. 470.

TROGLODYTES EUROPÆUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 93.

WINTER WREN, SYLVIA TROGLODYTES, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol.
i. p. 139, pl. 8, fig. 6.

TROGLODYTES HYEMALIS, WINTER WREN, _Richards. and Swains._
Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 318.

WINTER WREN, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 427.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLX. Fig 1.

Bill rather long, slender, tapering, acute, nearly straight, subtrigonal at the base, compressed towards the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal outline slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping at the base, towards the end slightly convex and erect, the edges sharp, direct, without notæ; lower mandible with the angle narrow and rather acute, the dorsal outline straight, the back narrow, the edges sharp, and inflected, the tip very narrow; the gape-line very slightly arched. Nostrils linear-oblong, basal.

Head ovate, of moderate size, neck short; body ovate. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella, of which the upper are indistinct; toes rather large compressed; first large, and much longer than the two lateral which are equal, the third much longer; the third and fourth coherent as far as the second joint of the latter. Claws long, arched, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, acute.

Plumage soft and blended; no bristle-feathers at the base of the bill. Wing shortish, broad, much rounded; first quill very small, being little more than half the length of the second, which is 2-1/4 twelfths shorter than the third; the fourth longest, and exceeding the third by half a twelfth, and the fourth by somewhat less; secondaries long, rounded. Tail short, much rounded, of twelve slightly arched, weak rounded feathers.

Bill dusky brown, with the basal edges of the upper and two-thirds of the lower mandible paler. Iris brown. Tarsi and toes pale greenish-brown, as are the claws. The general colour of the upper parts is reddish-brown, darker on the head, brighter on the tail-coverts, quills, and tail. There is a white spot near the tips of the posterior dorsal feathers. The secondary coverts, and the first small coverts, have each a white spot at the tip. The wing-coverts and quills banded with blackish-brown and brownish-red, the bands of the latter colour becoming reddish-white on the outer five quills. Tail with twelve dusky-bands. The dorsal feathers and scapulars are more faintly barred in the same manner. A brownish-white band from the upper mandible over the eye; the cheeks brown, spotted with brownish-white, the margins of the feathers being of the former colour; the lower parts pale reddish-brown, the sides and abdomen barred with brownish-black and greyish-white; the fore neck and breast more faintly barred; the lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white, barred with dusky; the lower tail-coverts brownish-red, barred with dusky and having the tip white.

Length to end of tail 3-7/8 inches, to end of wings 3-1/8, to end of claws 4-3/8; extent of wings 6-(1-1/2)/8; wing from flexure 1-7/8; tail 1-5/12; bill along the ridge 5/12; tarsus 8/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 6/12, its claw (2-3/4)/12. Weight 6 dr.

Female. Plate CCCLX. Fig. 2.

The Female is somewhat smaller than the male.

Length to end of tail 3-5/8 inches, to end of wings 3, to end of claws 4-2/8; extent of wings 5-3/8; wing from flexure 1-7/8; tail 1-4/12. Weight 4 dr.

Young in Autumn. Plate CCCLX. Fig. 3.

The upper parts are much darker than in the adult; the lower parts of a deeper tint.

Length to end of tail 3-1/2 inches, to end of wings 3-1/8, to end of claws 4-1/8; extent of wings 5-3/8; wing from flexure 1-(5-1/2)/8.

The young bird just ready to fly, has the bill bright yellow, excepting the ridge of the upper mandible, which is brown; the feet yellowish-brown. The upper parts are reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky; the wings as in the adult, but the secondary coverts with only a very small dull white spot at the tip, and the first row of coverts with a line of the same colour along the shaft. The lower parts are dull greyish-brown, with the terminal margin of each feather darker, and the sides and hind parts barred with dusky.

On comparing numerous specimens of American and European birds, it is found that the proportions of the parts are nearly the same, and the colours generally similar. But the American birds generally have the lower parts more tinged with red, their general colour being pale reddish-brown, whereas those of the European birds are pale greyish-brown; in the former the bars on the sides and hind parts are much darker, advance farther on the breast, and in some specimens are seen even on the neck; in the latter the bars are dusky, and never appear on the middle of the breast, much less on the neck. In old European birds, the axillars and lower wing-coverts are greyish-white, without spots; in old American birds, even those of which the neck is unbarred, the axillars and lower wing-coverts are always barred with dusky. As to the two rows of white spots on the wings, they seem to be quite similar in the birds of both continents, and in those of each exhibit variations in form, sometimes being short and somewhat triangular, sometimes also extending along the shaft. The tarsi, toes, and claws are precisely similar, as are the wings, and it does not appear that in the American bird the claws are larger, or the wings longer, as might be supposed by a person desirous of proving the one to be more scansorial and migratory than the other. Perhaps the European bird is somewhat larger, and it certainly differs a little in colour. After one has studied the differences, he can easily select from a promiscuous assemblage of skins the European or the American specimens. But, after all, the differences are very slight, and certainly not such as to form good essential characters. Were the two species to be comparatively characterized, they might be described as follows.

_T. europæa._ In the male the upper parts reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky, the lower parts pale greyish-brown, the sides and abdomen barred with dusky and greyish-white, the fore neck and breast without bars, the lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white.

_T. hyemalis._ In the male the upper parts reddish-brown, faintly barred with dusky, the lower parts pale reddish-brown, the sides and abdomen barred with brownish-black and greyish-white, the fore neck and breast more faintly barred, the lower wing-coverts and axillars greyish-white, barred with dusky.

The following is a comparative view of the measurements of several American and European birds.

American.

M. M. F.
Length to end of tail, 3-7/8 3-11/12 3-5/8
.... wings, 3-1/8 — 3-1/8
.... claws, 4-3/8 — 4-2/8
Extent of wings, 6-(1-1/2)/8 — 5-3/8
Wing from flexure, 1-7/8 1-11/12 1-7/8
Tail, 1-5/8 1-3/12 1-4/12
Bill, 5/12 5/12 (4-3/4)/12
Tarsus, 8/12 (8-1/2)/12 8/12
Hind toe, 4/12 (4-1/2)/12 4/12
Its claw, 4/12 (3-1/2)/12 3/12
Middle toe, 6/12 (6-1/2)/12 5-3/4)/12
Its claw, (2-3/4)/12 (2-1/2)/12 2/12

European.

M. M. F.
Length to end of tail, 4 4-1/4 3-6/8
.... wings, 3-1/4 — 3-1/8
.... claws, 4-1/2 — 4-1/4
Extent of wings, 5-7/8 6-1/2 5-3/4
Wing from flexure, 1-7/8 1-11/12 1-7/8
Tail, 1-(5-1/2)/12 1-1/2 1-4/12
Bill, 5/12 (5-1/2)/12 5/12
Tarsus, 8/12 8/12 8/12
Hind toe, 4/12 (4-1/2)/12 4/12
Its claw, (3-1/2)/12 4/12 3/12
Middle toe, 6/12 (6-1/2)/12 6/12
Its claw, (2-1/2)/12 (2-1/4)/12 (2-1/4)/12

In a male shot at Charleston in January, the upper mandible has a prominent median line beneath, the palate is flat, the mouth 2-3/4 twelfths in breadth. The tongue is 5 twelfths long, emarginate and papillate at the base, slender, flattened, very narrow, tapering to a lacerated point. The œsophagus, _a_, _b_, _c_, is 1-1/2 inch long, of uniform diameter, being 1-1/2 twelfths in breadth. The stomach, _d_, _e_, is oblong, 5 twelfths in length, 3-1/2 twelfths in breadth, its muscles of moderate strength, the lower not distinct from the right; the cuticular lining longitudinally rugous, and of a dark brown colour. The intestine, _f_, _g_, _h_, is 8 inches long, the duodenum 2 twelfths in diameter; the cœca 1 twelfth long, 1-1/4 twelfth broad; the neck 9 twelfths long; the cloaca large, globular, 3 twelfths in diameter.

The trachea is 1 inch 3 twelfths long, of nearly uniform diameter, 1-1/2 twelfths broad; the lateral muscles strong, sterno-tracheal, and four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles; the rings ossified.

ROCK WREN.

_TROGLODYTES OBSOLETUS_, SAY.

PLATE CCCLX. ADULT FEMALE.

This species was discovered by some of Major LONG’s exploring party, and first described by Mr THOMAS SAY. My friend THOMAS NUTTALL, who had opportunities of studying its habits, during his recent journey in company with Dr TOWNSEND, has assured me that they are very similar to those of the other Wrens. The figure in the plate was taken from an adult female, given to me by Mr NUTTALL; and I have since then obtained two males. In my drawing the bird was represented on a stone, but for the reasons mentioned in my Introduction, my son VICTOR GIFFORD attached it to the drawing of the Winter Wren, so that it now appears perched on a twig, which, however, is not a common practice with this species.

“On the 21st of June,” says Mr NUTTALL, “on the ledges of the bluffs which border the bottom of Hare’s Fork of the Siskadee (or Colorado of the West), I heard, and at length saw this curious Mountain Wren. Its actions are those of the Carolina species, _Troglodytes ludovicianus_. The old female (as I supposed) sat upon a ledge of rock at the head of a high ravine in the bluff, cocking her tail, and balancing herself, at the same time uttering a _tshurr_, _tshurr_, and _té aigh_, with a strong guttural accent, and now and then, when approached, like the common Short-billed Marsh Wren, _Troglodytes brevirostris_, a quick guttural _tshe de de_. It has also a shrill call at times, as it perches on a stone on the summit of some hill, again similar to the note of the Carolina Wren, occasionally interrupted by a _tshurr_. Among these arid and bare hills of the central table-land they were quite common. The old ones were feeding and watching a brood of four or five young, which, though fully grown, were protected and cherished with the querulous assiduity so characteristic of the other Wrens. They breed under the rocky ledges where we so constantly observed them, under which they skulk at once when surprised, and pertinaciously hide in security, like so many rats. Indeed so suddenly do they disappear among the rocks, and remain so silent in their retreat, that it is scarcely possible to believe them beneath your feet till after a lapse of a few minutes you begin to hear a low cautious chirp, and the next moment, at the head of the ravine, the old female probably again appears, scolding and jerking in the most angry attitudes she is capable of assuming. In the same rocky retreats they are commonly accompanied by a kind of small striped Ground Squirrel, like that of the eastern coast in many respects, but much smaller. These little animals, which are numerous, the White-chinned Buzzard, _Buteo vulgaris_ of RICHARDSON and SWAINSON, and the Raven frequently hover over and pounce upon. We met with this species as far west as the lowest falls of the Columbia, or within a few miles of Fort Van Couver, but among rocks and cliffs as usual.”

TROGLODYTES OBSOLETA, _Say_.

MYOTHERA OBSOLETA, _Ch. Bonap_. Amer. Ornith vol. i. p. 6,
pl. 1, fig. 2.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WREN, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 435.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLX Fig. 4.

Bill nearly as long as the head, slender, slightly arched, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the sides convex towards the end, flat and declinate at the base, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very slight notch close to the declinate tip; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the dorsal line very slightly concave, the sides sloping outwards and concave, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, basal, with a cartilaginous operculum, open and bare.

Head oblong; neck short; body slender. Legs of ordinary length; tarsus longer than the middle toe, compressed, with eight anterior distinct scutella, and two lateral plates forming a sharp edge behind. Toes of moderate size, the third and fourth united at the base, the first large, the outer considerably longer than the inner. Claws rather long, moderately arched, much compressed, with an abruptly tapering, very acute tip.

Plumage soft and loose. Wings of moderate length, convex, broad and rounded; the first quill very short, the second a quarter of an inch shorter than the third; the fourth longest, but scarcely exceeding the third and fifth. Tail rather long, much rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.

Bill dusky, with the edges pale yellow. Iris hazel. Feet dusky. Upper parts light dull yellowish-brown, and, excepting the rump, transversely barred with greyish-brown; the wings barred in the same manner, excepting the primaries, which are plain; the secondary coverts with a small white spot near the tip. Tail-coverts barred like the back, as are the two middle tail-feathers; the others broadly tipped with pale yellowish-red, undulated with dusky; behind which is a broad band of brownish-black; the remaining or basal part banded like the central feathers, the outer feather with four reddish-white spots or bars on the outer web, the intervals being brownish-black, and a spot of white on the inner web. The lower parts are greyish-white, tinged with sienna, the sides inclining to yellowish-red. The lower tail-coverts are barred with brownish-black.

Length to end of tail 6 inches, wing from flexure 2-11/12; tail 2-1/4; bill along the ridge (9-1/2)/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12; middle toe 6/12, its claw (2-1/4)/12.

DUSKY GROUS.

_TETRAO OBSCURUS_, SAY.

PLATE CCCLXI. MALE AND FEMALE.

As I have never seen this species in its native haunts, I am obliged to have recourse to the observations of those who have had opportunities of studying its habits. The only accounts that can be depended upon are those of Dr RICHARDSON, Dr TOWNSEND, and Mr NUTTALL, which I here give in order, beginning with what is stated respecting it in the Fauna Boreali-Americana by the first of these naturalists.

“This large Grous inhabits the Rocky Mountains from latitude 40° to 60°, and perhaps to a greater extent, for the limits of its range either northward or southward have not been ascertained. It has been known to the fur-traders for nearly thirty years; but it was first introduced to the scientific world by Mr SAY, who, in 1820, accompanied Major LONG to the source of the Missouri; and a female specimen, deposited by him in the Philadelphia Museum, has lately been figured by the Prince of MUSIGNANO in his continuation of Wilson’s Ornithology. I had no opportunity of observing the habits of this bird myself, but was informed by Mr DRUMMOND that, in the mornings during pairing time, usual station of the male is on some rocky eminence or large stone, where he sits swelling out the sides of his neck, spreading his tail, and repeating the cry of “Coombe, Coombe,” in a soft hollow tone. Its food consists of various berries, and its flesh is very palatable. Mr ALEXANDER STEWART, a chief-factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who has often crossed the mountains, informs me that the males of this species fight each other with such animosity, that a man may take one of them up in his hand before it will quit its antagonist.”

Dr RICHARDSON adds in a note, that “the description and figure of Mr SAY’s specimen agree so completely with our younger female specimens, that there can be no doubt of their specific identity; but it is proper to observe that there is some discrepancy in the dimensions. The Prince of MUSIGNANO states the total length of the bird to be eighteen inches, that of the wing nine inches and a half. The wing of the largest of our males is scarcely so long; while the biggest of our females, measuring twenty-one inches in total length, has a wing barely eight inches long. This, perhaps, merely indicates the uncertainty of measurements taken from prepared specimens. Mr DOUGLAS’s specimens in the Edinburgh Museum are of younger birds than ours, but evidently the same species.” These remarks correspond with what I have so often repeated, that age, sex, and different states of moult, produce disparities in individuals of the same species.

Dr TOWNSEND, in the notes with which he has favoured me, has the following observations:—“Dusky Grous, _Tetrao obscurus_. _Qul-al-lalleun_ of the Chinooks. First found in the Blue Mountains, near Wallah Wallah, in large flocks, in September. Keep in pine woods altogether, never found on the plains; they perch on the trees. Afterwards found on the Columbia River in pairs in May. The eggs are numerous, of a cinereous brown colour, blunt at both ends, and small for the size of the bird. The actions of the female, when the young are following her, are precisely the same as the Ruffed Grous, using all the arts of that bird in counterfeiting lameness, &c. Female smaller than the male, lighter coloured, and wants the yellow warty skin upon the sides of the neck.”

Mr NUTTALL’s notice is as follows:—“The Dusky Grous breeds in the shady forests of the Columbia, where we heard and saw them throughout the summer. The male at various times of the day makes a curious uncouth tooting, almost like the sound made by blowing into the bung-hole of a barrel, _boo wh’h_, _wh’h_, _wh’h_, _wh’h_, the last note descending into a kind of echo. We frequently tried to steal on the performer, but without success, as, in fact, the sound is so strangely managed that you may imagine it to come from the left or right indifferently. They breed on the ground, as usual, and the brood keep together nearly all winter. The Ruffed Grous also breeds here commonly, and I one day found the nest concealed near a fallen log, but it was at once forsaken after this intrusion, though I did not touch the eggs.”

From the examination of specimens in my possession, I am persuaded that this species, like _Tetrao Cupido_, has the means of inflating the sacs of bare skin on the sides of the neck, by means of which, in the breeding season, are produced the curious sounds above described.

TETRAO OBSCURUS, DUSKY GROUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Amer. Ornith.
vol. iii. pl. 18.—_Id._ Synopsis of Birds of United States,
p. 127.—_Richards. and Swains._ Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p.
344.

DUSKY GROUS, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 666.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXI. Fig. 1.

Bill short, robust, slightly arched, rather obtuse, the base covered by feathers. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate, the ridge convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip thin-edged and rounded; lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the ridge broad, the sides convex, the edges inflected, the tip rounded. Nostrils in the fore part of the large and feathered nasal depression, roundish.

Head small, ovate; neck of ordinary length; body large and full. Feet stout, of moderate length; tarsus short, feathered; toes stout; the first very small, the lateral about equal, and much shorter than the third; the anterior toes connected by basal scaly membranes, partially covered with feathers; all with broad and short scutella, margined, but scarcely pectinate, the lateral scales not being prominent. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, rather obtuse.

Plumage full, soft, rather blended, the feathers broad and rounded. A bare papillate space around the eye. Feathers on the upper part of the head narrow and elongated. Wings rather short, convex, much rounded; the quills very strong; the third longest, the fourth next, the third and sixth about equal, as are the first and seventh. Tail large, of ordinary length, rounded, of twenty feathers, which are broader toward the end, and abruptly rounded.

Bill brownish-black, lighter at the base. Iris dark hazel. Toes bluish-grey, claws wood-brown. Papillar space around the eye vermilion. Upper parts blackish-brown, the wings lighter. The elongated feathers on the head greyish-brown; the hind neck minutely undulated with bluish-grey; the scapulars, inner secondaries, and smaller wing-coverts also minutely undulated with grey and brownish-red, and most of the latter with a small greyish tip; the rump and upper tail-coverts obscurely undulated with grey. Alula, primary coverts and quills, clove-brown, the secondaries bordered and tipped with yellowish-grey; the primaries mottled with grey on their outer webs. The tail is black. The sides of the head, fore part and sides of the neck, and fore part of the breast greyish-black; the lore and throat are barred with white; the greyish-black of the breast passes into blackish-grey, and finally into dull bluish-grey; the feathers of the abdomen tipped with greyish-white, as are the lower rump and tail-coverts, which have moreover one or two narrow bars of the same; the flanks undulated with black and marked with an elongated white spot along the central part and on the tip; axillary feathers white, as are the inner wing-coverts; the tarsal feathers brownish-grey. The concealed part of the plumage is light grey, unless on the feathers around the bare space on each side of the neck, which is of an orange colour, and which the bird inflates.

Length to end of tail 22 inches, to end of wings 15-1/2, to end of claws 18-1/2; extent of wings 30; wing from flexure 9-1/2; tail 7-1/2; bill along the ridge 1, along the edge of lower mandible 1-(2-1/2)/12; tarsus 1-9/12; hind toe 6/12, its claw 6/12; second toe 1-2/12 its claw 7/12; third toe 1-10/12, its claw (8-1/2)/12; fourth toe 1-5/12, its claw (6-1/2)/12.

Female. Plate CCCLXI. Fig. 2.

The female is considerably smaller than the male. The bare papillar space over the eye is of much less extent, but, as well as the bill and feet, is coloured as in the male. The upper parts are dark greyish-brown, barred on the neck with grey, on the other parts barred and minutely undulated with yellowish-brown; the wings as in the male, but lighter and more mottled; the tail greyish-brown, becoming black toward the end, the middle feathers undulated like the back, and having four grey bands with a terminal white one. The sides of the head and the throat are greyish-white, undulatingly barred with brown; the general colour of the fore neck is greyish-brown, with pale sienna bands; on the breast the colour is brownish-grey, and the colours and markings of the rest of the under parts are as in the male, but paler.

Length to end of tail 19-1/4 inches; wing from flexure 9; tail 6-1/4; bill along the ridge 10/12.

In a specimen in my possession, killed by Dr TOWNSEND on the “Columbia River, Sept. 26. 1834,” the tail is considerably rounded, the lateral feathers being 7 twelfths shorter than the longest remaining, the middle feathers being lost. The tail is deep black, with a terminal band of ash-grey, half an inch in breadth. It is therefore probable, that when the tail is unworn, it is distinctly rounded, and tipped with grey.

YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE.

_CORVUS NUTTALLI._

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

I have conferred on this beautiful bird the name of a most zealous, learned, and enterprising naturalist, my friend THOMAS NUTTALL, Esq., to whom the scientific world is deeply indebted for the many additions to our zoological and botanical knowledge which have resulted from his labours. It is to him alone that we owe all that is known respecting the present species, which has not hitherto been portrayed. In a note inserted by him in my journal, he says:

“As we proceed to the south in Upper California, around the village of Sta. Barbara, we find the Common Magpie substituted by this remarkable species, which is much more shy and cautious, as well as more strictly insectivorous. It utters, however, nearly if not quite the same chatter. In the month of April they were everywhere mated, and had nearly completed their nests in the evergreen oaks of the vicinity (_Quercus agrifolia_). The only one I saw was situated on a rather high tree, towards the summit, and much concealed among the thick and dark branches. Their call was _pait_, _pait_; and on approaching each other, a low congratulatory chatter was heard. After being fired at once, it seemed nearly impossible again to approach them within gun-shot. When alighted in the thick oaks, they remained for a considerable time silent, and occasionally even wholly hid themselves; but after a while the call of recognition was again renewed, and if the pair then met, they would often fly off a mile or more, without stopping, in quest of insects. We often saw them on the ground, but never near the offal of the oxen, so attractive to the Crows and Ravens around.”

CORVUS NUTTALLI.

Adult. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 1.

Bill almost as long as the head, straight, robust, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate, the sides sloping and slightly convex, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the tip, which is rather sharp; lower mandible straight, the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal outline very slightly convex and ascending, the sides sloping outwards and slightly convex, the edges sharp and inclinate, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards.

Head large, ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus with seven large scutella in front, and two long plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella, and separated almost to the base; first very strong; lateral toes nearly equal, third considerably longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, sharp, the third with the inner edge somewhat dilated.

Plumage full, soft, blended; stiff bristly feathers, with disunited filaments over the nostrils, some of them extending nearly half the length of the bill; feathers on the throat with the shaft downy and prolonged. Wings of moderate length, much rounded; the first quill very short, extremely narrow, and falciform; the second two inches and four and a half twelfths longer, and a little longer than the ninth; the third an inch and one twelfth longer than the second, and three twelfths shorter than the fourth, which is the longest. The tail is very long, much graduated, the lateral feathers being four inches and seven twelfths shorter than the middle.

Bill pure yellow, as is a bare space under and behind the eye. Iris hazel. Feet black. The plumage of the head, neck, fore part of the breast and back, brownish-black, the feathers on the latter part being very long, those on the upper part of the head strongly glossed with green; the shafts of the throat-feathers greyish, and those of the feathers on the middle of the neck white. The feathers on the middle of the back are light grey, some of them whitish, and those behind tipped with black; rump and tail-coverts brownish-black. The scapulars are white; the smaller wing-coverts splendent with bronzed green; primaries black, glossed with shining green, their inner webs white, excepting at the end, and for some way along the margin; secondaries bright blue, changing to green, their inner webs greenish-black. Tail splendent with bright green, changing to greenish-yellow, purplish-red, bluish-purple, and dark green at the end; the inner webs chiefly greenish-black, but with various tints. The breast and sides are pure white; the legs, abdominal region, lower tail coverts, and lower wing-coverts, black.

Length to end of tail 18 inches, to end of wings 11-1/2; wing from flexure 7-3/4; tail 9-10/12; bill along the ridge 1-4/12; tarsus 1-11/12; first toe 7/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe 1-2/12, its claw 6/12.

In form, proportion, and size, this Magpie is precisely similar to the common species. Its bill has the sides less convex; the bare space under the eye is of much greater extent, and the feathers of the tail are much narrower. The colours are similar, and distributed in the same manner; but the bill of the present species is yellow, instead of black, and the black of the back and fore neck is tinged with brown. The two species are wonderfully closely allied; but on comparing my specimen with several others in the Museum of the Zoological Society of London, I found that they all precisely agreed with it.

I have represented in the plate a twig of a species of _Platanus_ discovered by the excellent naturalist after whom I have named the bird perched upon it.

STELLER’S JAY.

_CORVUS STELLERI_, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

Of this Jay, discovered by STELLER, whose name it bears, Dr RICHARDSON states that it “is not uncommon in the summer time on the Pacific coast of America, from the mouth of the Columbia to the 56th parallel. It also frequents the Rocky Mountains, where Mr DRUMMOND procured a specimen. In its manner it greatly resembles the _Garrulus cristatus_.” Mr NUTTALL’s account of it is as follows:—

“We first observed this bird in our Western route in the Blue Mountains of the Columbia, east of Wallah Wallah. Here they were scarce and shy, but we met them in sufficient abundance in the majestic pine forests of the Columbia, where, in autumn, their loud and trumpeting clangour was heard at all hours of the day, calling out _djay_, _djay_, and sometimes chattering and uttering a variety of other notes scarcely recognisable as distinct from the calls of our common Blue Jay. They are, however, far more bold, irritable, and familiar. Watchful as dogs, a stranger no sooner shews himself in their vicinity then they neglect all other employment to come round, follow, peep at and scold him, sometimes with such pertinacity and irritability as to provoke the sportsman intent on other game to level his gun against them in mere retaliation. At other times, stimulated by mere curiosity, they will be observed to follow you in perfect silence, until something arouses their ready ire, when the _djay_, _djay_, _pay_, _pay_, is poured upon you without intermission, till you are beyond their view. So intent are they on vociferating, that it is not uncommon to hear them busily scolding even while engaged with a large acorn in the mouth. Of their geographical limits we are as yet uncertain. They were first found by STELLER at Nootka; but they do not extend into upper California, and scarcely to the west as far as the most western of the true Rocky Mountain Chains. They feed on insects, acorns, and the seeds of the gigantic pines which form a belt along the Pacific and the rivers of the Oregon Territory. In the month of May, I found a nest of this species in a small sapling of Douglas’s Fir, on the borders of a dark and dense forest, and again some time after a second nest with young, in an elevated branch of the same pine, on the border of a rocky cliff. On approaching the nest, which contained four eggs, of a pale green colour, with small olive-brown specks, varied with others of rather a violet hue, both the male and female flew at me with the utmost anger and agitation, deafening me almost with their cries and entreaties. But though I took only two of their eggs, I found next day that they had forsaken the nest, being too fearful and jealous of the intrusion to remain any longer in the same place. The nest as usual was bulky, made of interlaced twigs, and roots, with a stout layer of mud, and lined with black root-fibres. I saw the nest about ten days previous to the time of taking two of the four eggs. On that occasion the female (probably) only followed me in silence.”

CORVUS STELLERI, _Gmel._ _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.
370.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 158.—_Ch. Bonaparte_,
Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 438.

STELLER’S JAY, GARRULUS STELLERI, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Amer.
Ornith. vol. ii. p. 44.

GARRULUS STELLERI, STELLER’S JAY, Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii.
p. 294.

STELLER’S JAY, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 229.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 2.

Bill shorter than the head, strong, straight, a little compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and convex toward the end, the sides sloping and becoming more convex toward the tip, which is declinate, thin edged and obtuse, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch; lower mandible straight, the angle short and broad, the dorsal outline ascending and slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and directed outwards, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, roundish, covered by reversed bristly feathers.

Head large, ovate, eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus much compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, and two long plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella, the outer adherent as far as its second joint to the middle toe; first very strong; lateral toes nearly equal, third much longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, sharp.

Plumage full, soft, blended; stiff bristly feathers with disunited barbs over the nostrils, some of them extending a third of the length of the bill; at the base of the upper mandible several longish slender bristles. The feathers on the top of the head and occiput linear-oblong, slightly recurved, and forming an erectile crest an inch and a half in length. Wings of moderate length, convex, and much rounded; the first quill very short, the second an inch and a quarter longer, the third nine-twelfths longer than the second, and three-twelfths shorter than the fourth, which is one-twelfth shorter than the fifth, the latter being the longest, although scarcely exceeding the sixth. Tail long, rounded, of twelve rather broad, rounded, and acuminate feathers, of which the shafts are undulated.

Bill and feet black. Iris hazel. Head and neck, with the fore part and middle of the back brownish-black, of a lighter tint on the back, and on the throat streaked with dull grey; the feathers on the forehead tipped with bright blue; the hind part of the back, the rump, and the upper tail-coverts, light blue; as are the lower tail-coverts, the sides and lower parts of the rump, the sides of the body, and the whole of the breast; the middle of the abdomen paler, the tibial feathers, and the lower wing-coverts dusky, tinged with blue. Wings blue, the secondary coverts and quills rich indigo and ultra-marine, narrowly barred with black, the outer coverts of the primaries pale; the inner webs of the primaries and outer secondaries dusky; tail blue with numerous narrow, inconspicuous dusky bars; the lower surface of the wings and tail dusky.

Length to end of tail 13 inches; bill along the ridge 1-(1-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-(4-1/2)/12; wing from flexure 5-11/12; tail 6; tarsus 1-8/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe 11/12, its claw 5/12.

The Female is similar to the male, and scarcely inferior in colouring, but somewhat smaller.

Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge 1-1/2; wing from flexure 5-1/2; tail 5-1/2; tarsus 1-8/12; middle toe 11/12 its claw 5/12.

Dr TOWNSEND informs me that it is called _Ass-ass_ by the Chinooks, who regard it with a superstitious feeling, believing that should a person hear it enunciating certain notes, which resemble the syllables _jaa-jaa_, he will shortly die, whereas its other notes, _kuc_, _kuc_, _kuc_, _kuc_, rapidly repeated, portend good. He further states that it is gregarious, like the Blue Jay, and corroborates some of the particulars above given.

Two eggs presented to me by Mr NUTTALL measure an inch and an eighth in length, and seven-eighths in breadth.

ULTRAMARINE JAY.

_CORVUS ULTRAMARINUS._

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

Although the Ultramarine Jay has been described by Mr SWAINSON, in his Synopsis of the Birds of Mexico, under the name of _Garrulus sordidus_, I retain the specific name “_ultramarinus_,” previously given by the Prince of MUSIGNANO. The only observations respecting its habits that I am aware of having been made, are the following, for which I am indebted to my friend THOMAS NUTTALL.

“Early in October, on arriving in the forests of the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver, an establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Company, we saw in the same situations with the Steller’s Jay, the present species. Its habits are much like those of the Common Jay. It usually flies out to the tops of the lofty pines, jerks its tail, and perches playfully on some extreme branch, where it utters at times, as if excited by petulant anger, a strong _whoit_, _woit_, _woit_, _woit_, after which expression it emits a sort of recognition-call at short intervals, _twee_, and sometimes a shorter _’twee ’twee_. When much pursued, it sits still in the concealing shade of the lofty branches on which it seeks refuge. It feeds on insects, acorns broken up, and probably pine seeds. They appear to associate in roving families throughout the fall and winter, like the other species, seldom if ever associating with the more Common Steller’s Jay, though now and then perhaps in the same tree. It is a graceful, active, and rather shy species, flying out straight from tree to tree, remarkable by its long tail and rather short wings; and its note is much less harsh and loud than that of Steller’s Jay. They breed in the dark pine woods probably where we so frequently saw them alight, and on the 15th of June they were feeding their fully fledged young, two of which I pursued for some time, but they skulked so effectually as to escape me after a long and doubtful chase. The young had a great predominance of grey on the back. The same species also extends into Upper California.”

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 3.

Bill shorter than the head, strong, straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and convex toward the end, the sides sloping and becoming convex toward the tip, which is declinate, thin-edged and obtuse, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a slight notch; lower mandible straight, the angle rather short and broad, the dorsal outline ascending and slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and directed outwards, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, roundish covered by the reversed bristly feathers.

Head large, ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus much compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, and two long plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella, the outer adherent as far as its second joint to the middle toe; first very strong; inner toe shorter than outer, third much longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage full, soft, blended. Stiff feathers with disunited barbs over the nostrils, the longest scarcely extending to a third of the length of the bill; at the base of the upper mandible several longish slender bristles. Wings of moderate length, convex, and much rounded; the first quill very short, an inch and two-twelfths shorter than the second, which is eight-twelfths shorter than the third, the fourth three-twelfths longer than the third, and a twelfth and a half shorter than the fifth, which is the longest, but scarcely exceeds the sixth. Tail long, much rounded, of twelve rather narrow, rounded and acuminate feathers, of which the lateral is an inch and a quarter shorter than the longest.

Bill and feet brownish-black. Iris hazel. Upper part of the head, sides and hind part of the neck, wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail, light blue; back light greyish-brown, the feathers of the rump whitish and tinged with blue at the end; the inner webs of the quills dusky; the tail transversely undulated, and having the appearance of being faintly barred with a darker tint. A white band over the eye formed by the tips of the feathers there; the cheeks dusky; the fore neck greyish-white faintly streaked with dusky; and bounded below by a narrow semilunar band of light blue continuous with that of the neck. The lower parts are pale purplish-grey, passing into white on the abdomen; lower tail-coverts tinged with blue.

Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge 1-(1-1/2)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-4/12; wing from flexure 5-8/12; tail 6-2/12; tarsus 1-8/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe 1-1/12, its claw (6-1/2)/12.

The Female is considerably smaller, but resembles the male in colour.

Length to end of tail 11-1/2 inches; wing from flexure 5-3/12; tail 6-2/12; tarsus 1-7/12; middle toe 1, its claw (6-1/2)/12.

The resemblance which this species bears to the Florida Jay is so close that one might readily confound the two. That species, however, is distinguishable by its smaller size and its more rounded tail; by its having a band of whitish across the forehead and extended over the eye, where it is not in dots as in the Ultramarine Jay.

CLARKE’S NUTCRACKER.

_NUCIFRAGA COLUMBIANA._

PLATE CCCLXII. ADULT.

No sooner had I examined perfect specimens of this somewhat singularly coloured bird, than I felt assured, more especially from the form of its bill, that it is with us a representative of the Nutcracker of Europe; and I was much surprised, on comparing it with the figure given of it by ALEXANDER WILSON, to find the latter very defective, the bill being nearly half an inch shorter than in four specimens which I have inspected. All that is known of its habits is contained in the following notes from Mr NUTTALL and Dr TOWNSEND.

“We first observed this species in a small pine grove, on the borders of Bear River, in the table-land of the Rocky Mountains, where they were probably breeding, in the month of July. We again saw a considerable flock of the young birds early in August, in a lofty ravine near the summit of one of the three belts or isolated mountains, about thirty or forty miles west of the Shoshonee River. They appeared somewhat shy, and scattered through a grove of aspens, flying with a slight chatter, scarcely a caw, from the tops of the bushes or trees, on to the ground, probably in quest of insect food. We never saw this species either on the lower plains or forests of the Columbia, or in any part of Upper California. It appears never to descend below the mountain plains.” T. N.

“CLARKE’s Crow, _Corvus columbianus_. First found on Bear River, and afterwards on the Blue Mountains, plentiful. Its flight is very unlike that of the Common Crow, being performed by jerks, like that of the Woodpecker. When sitting, it is almost constantly screaming; its voice is very harsh and grating, and consists of one rather prolonged note. It breeds here in very high pine trees. The White Pelican also seen here in July, no doubt breeds; also the Canvass-backed Duck, the Shoveller, and Dusky Duck; found young of all of them. The _Corvus columbianus_ is never seen within five hundred miles of the mouth of the Columbia. It appears generally to prefer a mountainous country and pine trees; and feeds chiefly on insects and their larvæ.” J. K. T.

CLARKE’S CROW, CORVUS COLUMBIANUS, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol.
iii. p. 29. pl. 20, fig. 2.

CORVUS COLUMBIANUS, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 57.

COLUMBIAN CROW, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 218.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 4.

Bill as long as the head, stout, somewhat conical, compressed, at the tip rather depressed. Upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides rounded, the edges sharp and overlapping, without notæ, the tip flattened and obtuse; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges sharp and a little inflexed, the tip flattened, and rather obtuse. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards.

Head large, broadly ovate; eyes of moderate size; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, stout; tarsus compressed, with seven large anterior scutella and two plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge. Toes stout, with large scutella; the first toe very large, the inner a little shorter than the outer, the hind much longer; the third and fourth united as far as the second joint of the latter. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage full, very soft and blended; the stiff bristly feathers over the nostrils extend about one-fifth of the length of the bill; and there are no distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible; the feathers on the head are very short. The wings are long, and much rounded; the first quill two inches shorter than the second, which is ten-twelfths shorter than the third, the latter exceeded two-twelfths by the fourth, which is the longest; the outer primaries being narrow, give the wing, when closed, the appearance of being pointed. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve rather broad feathers, of which the lateral is half an inch shorter than the middle.

Bill and feet brownish-black. Iris hazel. The general colour above and below is light brownish-grey, the forehead, throat, fore part of cheeks, and a space around the eye white, tinged with yellow. Wings black, glossed with blue; seven of the secondaries largely tipped with white, upper tail-coverts greyish-black; tail pure white, excepting the two middle feathers and the greater part of the inner webs of the next pair, which are black glossed with blue; lower wing-coverts dusky, some tipped with white; lower tail-coverts pure white.

Length to end of tail 12 inches; bill along the ridge 1-8/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-10/12; wing from flexure 7-11/12; tail 5-1/4; tarsus 1-4/12; hind toe (7-1/2)/12; its claw 8/12; middle toe 11/12, its claw 6/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 5.

The Female is similar to the male.

BOHEMIAN CHATTERER.

_BOMBYCILLA GARRULA_, VIEILL.

PLATE CCCLXIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

The first intimations of the occurrence of this beautiful bird in North America, were made by Mr DRUMMOND and Dr RICHARDSON, by the former of whom it was found in 1826, near the sources of the Athabasca, or Elk River, in the spring, and by the latter, in the same season, at Great Bear Lake, in latitude 50°. Dr RICHARDSON states, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana, that “specimens procured at the former place, and transmitted to England, by the servants of the Hudson’s Bay Company, were communicated, by Mr LEADBEATER to the Prince of MUSIGNANO, who had introduced the species into his great work on the Birds of the United States.” “In its autumn migration southwards,” he continues, “this bird must cross the territory of the United States, if it does not actually winter within it; but I have not heard of its having been hitherto seen in America to the southward of the fifty-fifth parallel of latitude. The mountainous nature of the country skirting the Northern Pacific Ocean being congenial to the habits of this species, it is probably more generally diffused in New Caledonia and the Russian American Territories, than to the eastward of the Rocky Mountain chain. It appears in flocks at Great Bear Lake about the 24th of May, when the spring thaw has exposed the berries of the alpine arbutus, marsh vaccinium, &c., that have been frozen and covered during winter. It stays only for a few days, and none of the Indians of that quarter with whom I conversed had seen its nests; but I have reason to believe, that it retires in the breeding season to the rugged and secluded mountain-limestone districts, in the sixty-seventh and sixty-eighth parallels, where it feeds on the fruit of the common juniper, which abounds in those places.” In a note, he further states:—“I observed a large flock, consisting of at least three or four hundred individuals, on the banks of the Saskatchewan at Carlton House, early in May 1827. They alighted in a grove of poplars, settling all on one or two trees, and making a loud twittering noise. They stayed only about one hour in the morning, and were too shy to allow me to approach within gunshot.”

I am informed by Dr TOWNSEND, who has spent about four years in the Columbia River district and on the Rocky Mountains, that he did not observe there a single bird of this species. In the autumn of 1832, whilst rambling near Boston, my sons saw a pair, which they pursued more than an hour, but without success. The most southern locality in which I have known it to be procured, is the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, where, as well as on Long Island, several were shot in 1830 and 1832. The specimens from which I made the figures of the male and female represented in the plate, were given to me by my friend THOMAS M’CULLOCH of Pictou, in Nova Scotia, who procured several others in the winter of 1834. The following account of the affection displayed by one towards its companion, with which he has also favoured me, will be found highly interesting.