Chapter XXII: Part 22

“During the winter of 1834, many species of the northern birds were more than usually abundant in the province of Nova Scotia, being driven, no doubt, from their customary places of resort by the cold which was very intense at the commencement of the season. Large flocks of the _Loxia Enucleator_ appeared in every part of the country, while the _Fringilla Linaria_, of which we had not seen a single specimen for upwards of two years, could be shot at almost any hour of the day, in the streets of Pictou; and we were often told of birds being seen, which from the description we could not recognise as belonging to any species with which we were already acquainted. The first day of the year having proved uncommonly mild, I went out, accompanied by my father, with the expectation of obtaining something new for our collection of birds. We had scarcely left our own door when we observed a small flock alight in a thicket of evergreens a short distance from where we stood. Thinking they were Pine Grosbeaks, we directed the man who was with us to push on and obtain a shot. He did so, and we just arrived in time to pick up a pair of birds which he had killed. One glance was sufficient to shew us that they were not what we had supposed, but a species we had never previously seen or heard of as visiting that portion of the Continent. You, my dear Sir, have often enjoyed such moments, and therefore can easily conceive the intense delight with which we surveyed our prize, and how anxiously we watched the progress of the remainder, as they flew to an adjoining thicket, where one immediately disappeared, while the other took its station on the top of a spruce, from which its simple _tze tze tze_ was uttered with the greatest vehemence, as if calling on its companions to hasten from the danger which it had recently escaped. Seeing the bird so very watchful, we made a small circuit with the view of diverting its attention, and at the same time of looking for the one by which it was accompanied, as I conceived it to be severely wounded, from the apparent difficulty of its flight. After a careful examination of the bush we at length observed it upon a low twig, and from its inattention to the calls of its mate, and the cowering position in which it sat, I concluded that it was unable to make another attempt to escape. Giving it an occasional glance, we turned towards the other, which still retained its former station on the top of the spruce, though its uneasiness seemed to increase at every step. While the man was cautiously working his way through the thick alder, in order to get within shot, I carefully examined the bird, which certainly presented a very interesting object. It stood almost as upright as the top on which it was perched, its height being much increased by its long and graceful crest being quite erect, while at the same time its wings were kept in a constant jerking motion, as if in readiness to remove at a moment’s notice. Independent of the mere beauty of the bird, there was something deeply interesting in the anxiety for the safety of its mate, so touchingly displayed by the force and rapidity of its simple but affectionate warning. The motion of the alders frightened the bird, and I had the mortification of seeing it rise in the air, as if about to commence a lofty and long-continued flight. Unwilling to give it up, I watched its progress with longing eyes, but at last, when about turning away in despair, it suddenly wheeled about, dashed by with great velocity, gently brushed its companion, and thus by dispelling its stupor induced it to make another effort to escape the danger which threatened its destruction. Though surprised and delighted with this singular display of fidelity and affection, I felt not a little disappointed to see them both about to elude our grasp. The weakness of the wounded bird, however, soon induced it to seek concealment in another thicket, while the other, still faithful to a friend in distress, alighted as formerly on a spruce top, whence it could both see and warn it of approaching danger. As we again drew near, its anxiety seemed to be redoubled, while its notes were uttered with corresponding quickness and energy; but before we could get within reach, it again launched into the air, and made off, calling on the other to follow with all possible speed. After flying for some time, and finding itself unattended, it again returned and alighted on a top near the one it had just left. The opportunity was too good to be lost, and notwithstanding our admiration of this additional instance of its fidelity, we shot it down, affection for its species being the occasion of its ruin. These, my dear Sir, are all the observations I was enabled to make upon these interesting birds, during the short and only time they ever came under my notice. From the man I learned that before the first shot they were quite mute, and unsuspicious of danger. Some days after these were obtained, a single one was observed by my father repeatedly to come and sit for a considerable time on some willows at the bottom of our garden, but not being accustomed to the use of a gun, he did not procure it. Whether this was the wounded one or not, we could not tell, but from the affection of the bird for its kind, we thought that possibly it might be that one in search of its lost companions.”

AMPELIS GARRULUS, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 297.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 363.

BOMBYCILLA GARRULA, _Ch. Bonap._ Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. pl.
16, fig. 2.—Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 438.

BOMBYCILLA GARRULA, _Richards. and Swains._ Fauna
Bor.-Americana, vol. ii. p. 237.

EUROPEAN WAXEN-CHATTERER, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 579.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXIII. Fig. 1.

Bill short, rather stout, straightish, broader than high at the base, compressed towards the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line convex and declinate towards the tip, which is deflected, narrow, and rather acute, its sides convex, its edges sharp and overlapping, with a distinct notch; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex and ascending, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip very small, acute, ascending, with a small sinus behind. Gape-line nearly straight, the upper mandible having a wide festoon near the base. Nasal membrane large, feathered; nostrils oval, partially concealed.

Head ovate, of ordinary size; neck short; body full. Feet rather short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed, with six anterior scutella, and two plates behind, meeting so as to form an edge, except at the lower part; toes of moderate size, first stout, third and fourth slightly connected at the base; inner toe a little shorter than outer; third much longer. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute.

Plumage blended, very soft, silky, but with little gloss. A tuft of linear, oblong, erectile, decurved feathers on the head; no bristles at the base of the bill. Wings rather long, broad, and pointed; first quill longest, the second slightly shorter, the other primaries pretty equally graduated; secondaries, excepting the inner two, broad and abruptly rounded, with the shaft projecting and enlarged into a flat, oblong, horny appendage, of the colour of red sealing-wax. Tail of moderate length, even, or very slightly emarginate, the middle feathers being shorter, by a twelfth of an inch, than the one next the lateral.

Bill black, the base of the lower mandible whitish. Iris hazel. Feet and claws black. The general colour of both surfaces is ash-grey, becoming more tinged anteriorly with brownish-orange, of which colour are the forehead, a patch on each side of the throat near the base of the bill, and the feathers under the tail. A band of deep black from the nasal membrane, along the lore, and over the eye, to the top of the head, where it is concealed by the crest; feathers at the base of the lower mandible, and a narrow streak below the eye white; the upper part of the throat deep black. Alula, primary coverts, and quills greyish-black, the secondaries more grey; the primary coverts largely tipped with white, the primary quills with a bright yellow, the secondary with a white elongated spot at the end of the outer web. Tail light grey at the base, gradually shaded into deep black, with a broad terminal band of bright yellow.

Length to end of tail 9-3/4 inches; extent of wings 16-1/4; wing from flexure 4-8/12; tail 3; bill along the ridge 6/12, along the edge of lower mandible 9/12; tarsus (9-1/2)/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw (3-1/2)/12.

Female. Plate CCCLXIII. Fig. 2.

The Female is similar to the male, but somewhat smaller.

The wax-like appendages vary from seven, which is the greatest number, to four or three, and are sometimes wanting, especially in young birds, of which, however, some possess them. In some specimens the yellow tips of the tail-feathers and primary quills are very pale yellow or whitish.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.

_LOXIA LEUCOPTERA_, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXIV. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.

I found this species quite common on the islands near the entrance of the Bay of Fundy, which I visited early in May 1833. They were then journeying northwards, although many pass the whole year in the northern parts of the State of Maine, and the British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where, however, they seem to have been overlooked, or confounded with our Common American Crossbill. Those which I met with on the islands mentioned above were observed on their margins, some having alighted on the bare rocks, and all those which were alarmed immediately took to wing, rose to a moderate height, and flew directly eastward. On my passage across the Gulf of St Laurence to Labrador, in the same month, about a dozen White-winged Crossbills, and as many Mealy Redpolls, one day alighted on the top-yards of the Ripley; but before we could bring our guns from below, they all left us, and flew ahead of the vessel, as if intent on pointing out to us the place to which we were bound. On the 30th of June, a beautiful male was shot, on a bunch of grass growing out of the fissure of a rock, on a small island a few miles from the coast of Labrador; and on the 23d of July, my young friend Dr GEORGE SHATTUCK, procured a fine adult female on the Murre Islands, whilst she was feeding among the scanty herbage.

Within the limits of the United States, I have obtained some during winter along the hilly shores of the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania; also in New Jersey, and in one instance in Maryland, a few miles from Baltimore, beyond which southward I have never met with this species, nor have I heard of any having been seen there. According to Dr TOWNSEND, who resided about four years on the Columbia River, none are met with in that region. As it appears that individuals accidentally visit Europe, I am led to think that the true summer haunts of this species are as yet not better known than those of the Bohemian Chatterer and Common Crossbill. The latter has been shot in winter by my son JOHN WOODHOUSE, within a few miles of Charleston in South Carolina, where several were seen, and the specimen he procured there is now in the collection of my friend the Reverend JOHN BACHMAN.

The southward migration of this Crossbill, as well as of the other, is extremely irregular. Being evidently hardy birds, they appear to prefer northern to temperate climates, and to shift their station only during the most severe cold. The comparatively small number that spend the year in Maine and the British Provinces adjoining, may be forced to do so by wounds or other accidents, as in general I have found them moving toward the north as soon as the chill blasts of winter were tempered by the warmer rays of the vernal sun.

The habits of the White-winged Crossbill are in general similar to those of our common species. Its flight is well sustained and undulated; it is easily approached, is fond of saline substances, uses its bill and feet in the manner of Parrots, and procures its food from the cones of pines. Its song is at times mellow and agreeable, and in captivity it becomes gentle and familiar.

Mr HUTCHINS says that this species reaches Hudson’s Bay in the month of March, and breeds in May, forming a nest of grass, mud, and feathers, about midway up pine trees, and laying five white eggs, marked with yellowish spots. The young are abroad in the end of June, and the species remains in that country until the latter part of November. Dr RICHARDSON states that it “inhabits the dense white spruce forests of the Fur Countries, feeding principally on the seeds of cones. It ranges through the whole breadth of the continent, and probably up to the sixty-eighth parallel, where the woods terminate, though it was not observed by us higher than the sixty-second. It is mostly seen on the upper branches of the trees, and, when wounded, clings so fast, that it will remain suspended after death. In September it collects in small flocks, which fly from tree to tree, making a chattering noise; and in the depth of winter it retires from the coast to the thick woods of the interior.”

LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, _Gmel._ _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 844.

LOXIA FALCIROSTRA, _Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 371.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, _Wils._ Amer.
Ornith. vol. iv. p. 48, pl. 41, fig. 4. Male.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Amer. Ornith vol.
ii. pl. 14, fig. 3. Female.

LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of
United States, p. 117.

LOXIA LEUCOPTERA, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, _Richards. and
Swains._ Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 263.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 540.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXIV. Figs. 1, 2.

Bill rather long, stout at the base, where it is higher than broad, extremely compressed toward the end, the mandibles towards their extremity deflected to opposite sides, so as to cross each other. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and deflected, the sides slightly convex, the edges sharp, and towards the end united, as in _Rhynchops nigra_ the tip excessively compressed, decurved, and extending far beyond that of the other. Lower mandible with its angle very short and broad, the dorsal outline ascending and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and approximated at the tip, which is extremely acute. Nostrils small, basal, round, covered by the short, bristly feathers.

Head large, broadly ovate; eyes small; neck short; body compact. Feet rather short, strong; tarsus short, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two posterior plates meeting so as to form a thin edge; toes of moderate size, the outer united at the base, the first strong, the lateral toes nearly equal, the third much longer; the pads and papillæ of the soles very large. Claws long, arched, very slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point

Plumage blended. Wings of ordinary length, pointed, the outer three primaries longest (in one specimen the first longest, in three the second); secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail of moderate length, deeply emarginate, the feathers curved outwards at the point.

Bill dusky, tinged with greyish-blue, especially on the edges. Iris hazel. Feet dark reddish-brown. The general colour of the plumage is rich carmine, inclining to crimson; the feathers on the fore part and middle of the back dusky, excepting the tips; the scapulars, wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail black; two broad bands of white on the wing, the anterior formed by the first row of small coverts and several of those adjoining, the other by the secondary coverts, of which the basal half only is black; the inner secondaries are tipped with white, as are the tail-coverts, and the quills and tail-feathers are very slightly margined with whitish. Bristly feathers at the base of the bill yellowish-white; sides brownish, and streaked with dusky, axillar feathers whitish; lower tail-coverts brownish-black, broadly margined with reddish-white.

Length to end of tail 6-1/2 inches, to end of wings 5-1/4, to end of claws 5; extent of wings 10-5/8; bill along the ridge (8-3/4)/12, along the edge of lower mandible 7/12; wing from flexure 3-7/12; tail 2-7/12; tarsus (7-1/2)/12; hind toe (3-1/2)/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe 5/12, its claw 5/12.

Female. Plate CCCLXIV. Fig. 3.

The female has the upper parts dusky, the feathers margined with greyish-yellow, the rump wax-yellow; the lower parts are yellowish-grey, streaked with dusky, the fore part of the breast wax-yellow; the wings and tail are as in the male, but paler, and with the white bands on the former of less breadth. Bill and feet darker than those of the male.

Length to end of tail 6-1/4 inches, to end of wings 5, to end of claws 5-1/4; extent of wings 10.

Young. Plate CCCLXIV. Fig. 4.

The young resemble the female, but the lower parts are dull yellowish-grey, spotted and streaked with dark brown.

After the first moult the male still resembles the female, but is more yellow. At the next moult it acquires the red colour, which becomes richer and purer the older the bird.

In this species there are three longitudinal ridges on the roof of the mouth, and the palate is bent in the same manner as in Buntings. The tongue is of the same general form as that of the Pine Grosbeak, 3-1/2 twelfths long, compressed and slender at the base, with the basi-hyoid bone of a similar form, concave above, dilated and rounded at the end, so as to resemble a scoop or spoon. The œsophagus, _b c d e_, is 2 inches and 8 twelfths long, when dilated forms a crop of vast size, _c d_, which lies chiefly on the right side of the neck, but also passes behind so as to appear on the left side. This form occurs equally in the Common Crossbill, and seems to be peculiar to this genus. The greatest breadth of the crop is 10 twelfths. On entering the thorax, the œsophagus contracts to 2 twelfths. The proventriculus, _e_, is bulbiform, with a diameter of 3 twelfths. The stomach, _f_, is a strong gizzard of rather small size, somewhat bent in the same manner as that of the Pine Grosbeak, 4-3/4 twelfths long, 6 twelfths broad; its muscles distinct; the cuticular lining very firm but thin, longitudinally rugous, and of a light red colour. The intestine, _g h i j k_, is 10-1/2 inches long, its greatest diameter 2 twelfths, its least 1-1/2 twelfth. The rectum, _j k_, is 1 inch 2 twelfths long, including the cloaca. The cœca, _j_, are 1-1/4 twelfth long, and 1/4 twelfth broad.

The trachea is 1 inch 9 twelfths long, 1-1/2 twelfth broad at the upper part, gradually diminishing to 1 twelfth; its rings firm, and about 75 in number. The inferior laryngeal muscles are large. The bronchi are formed of about 15 half-rings.

The twigs represented in the plate are those of a species of Alder common in Newfoundland.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

_EMBERIZA LAPPONICA_, NILSSON.

PLATE CCCLXV. MALE AND FEMALE.

My first acquaintance with this species took place on the 15th of February 1819. Walking with my wife, on the afternoon of that day, in the neighbourhood of Henderson, in Kentucky, I saw immense flocks scattered over the open grounds on the elevated grassy banks of the Ohio. Having my gun with me, as usual, I procured more than sixty in a few minutes. All the youths of the village turned out on this occasion, and a relative of mine, in the course of the next day killed about six hundred. Although in rather poor condition, we found them excellent eating. Three days after they disappeared as suddenly as they had arrived, for although on the previous evening they seemed as numerous as ever, none but wounded birds were to be seen in the morning. Whilst at Shippingport, near Louisville, in the same State, I found a good number of these birds on the commons, feeding in company with Shore Larks and Snow Buntings, and obtained some dozens. Among all the specimens which I procured in that part of the country, none were in perfect or summer plumage, most of them being in the garb of the male, as represented by the second figure of my plate.

In their movements they resemble the Snow Bunting. They run and hop on the ground with ease and celerity, many making towards a tuft of withered grass at the same time, to search for the few seeds that may yet be procured around or beneath it, and all the while uttering a repetition of _chips_, in a rather low and plaintive accent. When on wing, to which they resorted after each discharge of the gun, or when nearly approached, they formed into compact bodies, wheeled and cut to and fro through the air, now high, now low, in the manner of Larks, alighting suddenly, and perhaps immediately flying off again to renew their curious evolutions. At times flocks composed of hundreds would settle on the top-rails of fences, or on the lower large branches of the trees in the fields; but on such occasions they appeared as much discontented as the Snow Buntings are, when they also alight on trees, fences, or houses.

The Lapland Longspur visits the neighbourhood of Louisville in Kentucky almost every year, but seldom appears when the weather is not intensely cold. I found it also in the vicinity of St Genevieve in Missouri; and it seems surprising that none were observed near the Columbia River by Dr TOWNSEND.

The best account of this species, as observed in the northern latitudes of America where it breeds, is that given by Dr RICHARDSON, in the Fauna Boreali-Americana. After stating that it is common in the northern regions of both continents, he says:—“I never met with this species in the interior of the Fur Countries during winter, and I suspect that its principal retreats in that season are on the borders of Lakes Huron and Superior, and in the country extending to the westward on the same parallel. In the year 1827, it appeared on the plains at Carlton House, about the middle of May, in very large flocks, among which were many Shore Larks (_Alauda alpestris_) and a few individuals of _Emberiza picta_. During their stay of ten or twelve days, they frequented open spots, where recent fires had destroyed the grass. They came to Cumberland House a few days later in the same season, and there kept constantly in the furrows of a newly ploughed field. In the preceding year they were seen, though in smaller flocks, in the vicinity of Fort Franklin (lat. 65-1/2°) in the beginning of May; and the crops of those that were then killed were filled with the seeds of the _Arbutus alpina_. They breed in the moist meadows on the shores of the Arctic Sea. The nest, placed on a small hillock, among moss and stones, is composed externally of the dry stems of grass, interwoven to a considerable thickness, and lined very neatly and compactly with Deer’s hair. The eggs, usually seven, are pale ochre-yellow, spotted with brown.”

The figure of the male in summer plumage represented in my plate, was drawn from a beautiful specimen in the collection of my esteemed friend, Captain JAMES ROSS of the British Navy.

FRINGILLA LAPPONICA, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.
317.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 440.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR, EMBERIZA LAPPONICA, _Ch. Bonaparte_. Amer.
Ornith. vol. i. p. 53, pl. 13, fig. 2, Male, fig. 3, Female.

EMBERIZA LAPPONICA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis, p. 440.

EMBERIZA (PLECTROPHANES) LAPPONICA, LAPLAND BUNTLING,
_Richards._ and _Swains._ Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 248.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 463.

Adult Male in Summer. Plate CCCLXV. Fig 1.

Bill short, robust, tapering, somewhat compressed; the upper mandible nearly as large as the lower, its dorsal outline very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the sharp edges inflected, the marginal outline slightly angulate; lower mandible broader, with involute sharp edges. The palate with a prominent knob. Nostrils basal, round, partly concealed by the feathers.

Head of moderate size, ovate; eyes rather small; neck short, body compact. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with seven large scutella, sharp behind; toes of moderate size; the lateral toes equal, the hind toe stout. Claws long, slightly arched, laterally grooved, compressed toward the end, very acute, that of the hind toe much elongated.

Plumage soft and blended, the feathers somewhat distinct on the back and wings. Wing long, pointed; first quill longest, second scarcely shorter; secondaries emarginate. Tail rather long, deeply emarginate.

Bill yellow tipped with dusky; iris hazel; feet and claws black. The head and fore part of the neck are black; a band of white passes from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, becomes broader, and, descending on the neck, margins the black of that part. The lower parts are white, the sides streaked with black. A brownish-red crescent on the hind neck; the feathers of the upper parts black, broadly margined with yellowish-red; the first row of smaller wing-coverts margined with white, the secondary coverts tipped with the same; the primary quills narrowly edged with reddish-white, the secondary with yellowish-red; as are the tail-feathers, of which the two outer have a wedge-shaped white spot at the end.

Length to end of tail 6-3/12 inches; wing from flexure 3-10/12; tail 2-1/12; bill along the ridge 6/12, along the edge of lower mandible 8/12; tarsus 9/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 7/12; middle toe (7-1/2)/12, its claw 4/12.

Male in winter. Plate CCCLXV. Fig. 2.

Bill dull yellow, tipped with dusky; feet and claws black. Upper part of the head black, the feathers edged with brownish-red; the cheeks greyish-brown; the throat, and fore part of the neck, greyish-white, a reddish-white band from the bill, over the eye, and down the side of the neck; the upper parts light brownish-red with black spots. The tips of the first row of small coverts, and of the secondary coverts, white; the quills and coverts blackish-brown, edged with light red; the tail brownish-black, the feathers edged with reddish-grey.

Female in summer. Plate CCCLXV. Fig. 3.

The female has the bill yellowish-brown, tipped with dusky, the feet and claws brownish-black, the upper part of the head, the hind neck, and the back, are reddish-grey, spotted with black; the wings and tail as in the male. A reddish-white band over the eye, and down the neck; the lore dusky; a black band from behind the eye; the cheeks light yellowish-brown; a black band from the lower mandible margining the throat, which is white; as are the lower parts generally; but the lower part of the neck is spotted with black, and the sides streaked with dusky.

Length to end of tail 5-9/12 inches; wing from flexure 3-8/12; tail 2.

ICELAND OR JER FALCON.

_FALCO ISLANDICUS_, LATH.

PLATE CCCLXVI. ADULT FEMALE.

The figures of the adult female of this superb Falcon now before you were taken from the bird described by Mr JOHN HEPPENSTALL, at page 554 of the second volume of this work. It was kept by him upwards of six years; and it was his intention to have sent it to me alive from Sheffield; but it died of an affection of the œsophagus, which had for some days rendered it unable to swallow its food. My kind and most worthy friend, however, sent it to me immediately, so that after having received it in good condition, I was enabled not only to make it the subject of the present plate, and to take accurate measurements of all its parts, but also to institute a comparison between it and one of the specimens obtained in Labrador, which, with its consort, is represented in Plate CXCVI.

In all essential respects it agrees with the Labrador bird. The festoon on the edge of the lower mandible is however more prominent, and on the other hand, the tooth which is prominent in the young bird from Labrador, is in the old Iceland bird broken off and worn on both sides. In like manner, several of the claws, which are larger and stronger in this individual, are worn and blunted. These are the accidents of domestication or long use, and shew that no dependence can be placed on the prominence of either the festoon or the tooth of the bill as indicating a difference of species. The tarsi, toes, their scales and scutella, are the same as in the Labrador specimen. The wing, however, is more pointed, although the feathers are of the same form; but this arises from the first quill of the Labrador bird not having completed its growth, as both it and some of the other quills are still sheathed at the base. In Mr HEPPENSTALL’s bird the second quill is longest, the third very little shorter, and the first nearly as long, and three quarters of an inch longer than the fourth. The tail is slightly rounded, as in the Labrador bird, the lateral feathers being three quarters of an inch shorter than the longest, and the feathers are similarly though less distinctly pointed, they having been considerably worn. The plumage is compact, and the feathers are of the same form in both birds, but those of the head are a little broader in the Iceland bird. On the whole, however, no differences are observable beyond what might be expected between a young and an old individual of the same species. The colouring of the Iceland bird, however, is very different.

The bill is very pale blue, the extremity of the upper mandible black, that of the lower yellowish; the eyes greyish-black; the cere, superciliary ridge, edges of eyelids, tarsi and toes, pale yellow; the eyelids pale blue; the claws black. The plumage is pure white, but all the feathers of the back and rump, the scapulars, the wing-coverts, and the secondary quills, have near their extremity a brownish-black spot, generally arrow-shaped. The anterior feathers of the back have, moreover, a black streak on the shaft, which on those farther back becomes larger and lanceolate, and on the rump is accompanied by a third spot; the larger coverts and secondary quills have also three or more spots, and the primary quills have seven spots or partial bars toward their extremity, besides a large subterminal black space, their tips however being white. On the inner margin of the two middle tail-feathers are eight, and on the outer four dusky spots, and their shafts are also dusky, as are those of all the quills on their upper surface. There are also a few slight lanceolate dark spots on the sides of the body, and on the tibial feathers.

Length to end of tail 23-1/2 inches, to end of wings 21-1/2, to end of claws 18-3/4, to carpal joint 5-1/2; extent of wings 51-1/4; breadth of gape 1-1/8; wing from flexure 17; tail 9-3/4; bill along the ridge 1-5/12; tarsus 2-4/12; hind toe 1-1/12, its claw 1-5/12; middle toe 2-1/12, its claw (worn) 11/12. Weight 2 lb., it being much emaciated.

The tongue, _a_, is 10-1/2 twelfths long, fleshy, deeply emarginate at the base, having on its upper surface numerous orifices of mucous crypts, towards the end narrowed, deeply concave, horny, with the extremity rounded and very slightly emarginate. The œsophagus, _b c d e_, is 7-1/2 inches long, wide, dilated into a large crop, _c d_, lying on the right side; the proventriculus, _f_, is 1/2 inch in diameter, with a belt of oblong glandules, arranged into four very prominent longitudinal ridges, with deep grooves between them. The stomach, _f g h_, is round, compressed, 1-1/2 inch in length, 1 inch 5 twelfths in breadth; its muscular coat thin, composed of large fasciculi, not arranged into distinct muscles; its inner coat soft, without horny epithelium, but irregularly rugous, especially towards the pylorus, which has three knobs or valves. The intestine, _h i j k_, is 36-1/2 inches long, 5 twelfths in diameter at its anterior part, gradually contracting to 4 twelfths. The rectum is 3-1/2 inches long, 1/2 inch in diameter at the commencement; the cœca 2 twelfths long, 1-1/2 twelfth in diameter; the cloaca, _l m_, globular. The right lobe of the liver is 2 inches 4 twelfths long, the left 2 inches 1 twelfth; the gall-bladder large.

The crop or dilatation of the œsophagus was nearly filled by two excrescences from its inner surface, of a soft spongy texture, but not ulcerated, or in any part scirrhous. The inner surface of the stomach was similarly affected, but in a much less degree, and the pyloric region was indurated. The intestines quite sound.

The trachea, _m n o_, is 6 inches long, considerably flattened, 5-1/2 twelfths, in breadth at the upper part, gradually diminishing to 4 twelfths. Its rings, about 78 in number, are ossified, the last large, divided, arched, and with a broad membrane, _o_, intervening between them and the first bronchial ring. The lateral or contractor muscles, _p_, are very strong, as are the sterno-tracheal, _q r_, and there is a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles, _s_, inserted into the membrane between the last ring of the trachea and the first of the bronchi. The bronchial half rings 15, slender and cartilaginous.

BAND-TAILED PIGEON.

_COLUMBA FASCIATA_, SAY.

PLATE CCCLXVII. MALE AND FEMALE.

In the course of Colonel SAY’s expedition to the Rocky Mountains, a single specimen of this large and handsome Pigeon was procured. This individual was afterwards figured in the continuation of WILSON’s American Ornithology. Many specimens however have more recently been obtained by Dr TOWNSEND, from whom I have procured three pairs of adult and some young birds. Comparing them with the figure above alluded to, I should consider it as having been taken from a young male. In my plate are represented two adult birds, placed on the branch of a superb species of Dogwood, discovered by my learned friend, THOMAS NUTTALL, Esq., when on his march toward the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and which I have graced with his name! The beautiful drawing of this branch was executed by Miss MARTIN, the amiable and accomplished sister of my friend Dr BACHMAN. Seeds of this new species of _Cornus_ were sent by me to Lord RAVENSWORTH, and have germinated, so that this beautiful production of the rich valley of the Columbia River may now be seen in the vicinity of London, and in the grounds of the nobleman just mentioned, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Dr TOWNSEND’s notice respecting the bird here spoken of is as follows:—

“The Band-tailed Pigeon is called by the Chinook Indians ‘_akoigh homin_.’ It ranges from the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains across to the Columbia River, where it is abundant. It arrived in 1836 in very great numbers, on the 17th of April, and continued in large flocks while breeding. Their breeding places are on the banks of the river. The eggs are placed on the ground, under small bushes, without a nest, where numbers congregate together. The eggs are two, of a yellowish-white colour, inclining to bluish-white, with minute spots at the great end. These Pigeons feed upon the berries of the black elder and the buds of the balsam poplar. When sitting in the trees, they huddle very close together in the manner of the Carolina Parrot, and many may be killed at a single discharge of the fowling-piece. The flesh is tender and juicy, and therefore fine eating.”

Mr NUTTALL has favoured me with an equally interesting notice. “This large and fine Pigeon, always moving about in flocks, keeps in Oregon only in the thick forests of the Columbia and the Wahlamet, and during the summer is more particularly abundant in the alluvial groves of the latter river, where throughout that season we constantly heard their cooing, or witnessed the swarming flocks feeding on the berries of the elder tree, those of the Great Cornel (_Cornus Nuttalli_), or, before the ripening of berries, on the seed-germs or the young pods of the Balsam poplar. The call of this species is somewhat similar to that of the Carolina Dove, but is readily distinguishable, sounding like a double suppressed syllable, as _h ’koo_, _h ’koo_, _h ’koo_, _h ’koo_, uttered at the usual intervals, and repeated an hour or two at a time, chiefly in the morning and evening. They are said to breed on the ground, or in the low bushes, but I did not find the nest, although I saw the birds feeding around every day near Watpatoo Island. During the whole of this time they keep in flocks, either in the poplars or elder bushes, and on being started, sweep about like flocks of domestic pigeons, soon returning to their fare, when they feed in silence, keeping a strict watch for intruders. They remain on the lower part of the Columbia nearly the whole year, late in the season (October and November) feeding mostly on the berries of the Tree Cornel, but still they seem to migrate some distance to the south, as the severity of the winter approaches.”

COLUMBA FASCIATA, _Say_, in Long’s Exped. to Rocky Mountains,
vol. ii. p. 10.

BAND-TAILED PIGEON, COLUMBA FASCIATA, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Amer.
Ornith. pl. viii, fig. 3, vol. i. p. 77.

COLUMBA FASCIATA, _Bonap._ Synops. p. 119.

BAND-TAILED PIGEON, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. i. p. 64.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXVII. Fig. 1.

Bill straight, rather short, slender, compressed; upper mandible with a tumid fleshy covering at the base, where it is straight in its dorsal outline, convex towards the end, with a sharp-edged, declinate, rather obtuse tip; lower mandible with the angle long and pointed, the sides erect at the base, sloping outwards toward the end, the edges sharp, the tip narrow but blunt. Nostrils medial, oblique, linear.

Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body full. Feet short, strong; tarsus very short, rounded, with two anterior rows of large hexagonal scales; the hind part fleshy with very small scales; toes broad and flat beneath, marginate, with large scutella above; the hind toe smallest, the lateral nearly equal, the middle toe much longer. Claws of moderate size, arched, compressed, grooved beneath, rather acute.

Plumage rather compact above, blended beneath, on the hind neck strong, with metallic gloss. Wings long, the second quill longest, the third only a twelfth of an inch shorter, the first six-twelfths shorter, and a little longer than the fourth, the rest rather quickly graduated; secondaries of moderate breadth and rounded. First quill with the outer web narrower at the base than toward the end, the second and third quills with their outer webs having a slight sinus and attenuated toward the end. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve broad abruptly rounded feathers, of which the lateral is half an inch shorter than the longest.

Bill yellow, with the tips black. Feet yellow, claws greyish-black. Bare space around the eyes carmine. The head, fore neck, and breast are of a light reddish-purple or wine-colour, which on the abdomen and lower tail-coverts fades into whitish; a narrow half-ring of white on the hind neck, the lower part of which is of a metallic brownish-green tint. The upper parts are greyish-blue, darker, and tinged with brown on the fore part of the back and scapulars; sides of the body and rump greyish-blue. Alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and outer secondaries brownish-black, very narrowly margined with brownish-white. Tail greyish-blue at the base, much paler and tinged with yellow toward the end, these colours being separated at the distance of two inches from the tip by a band of black.

Length to end of tail 16 inches, to end of wings 13-3/4; wing from flexure 9; tail 6-1/4; bill along the ridge 10/12, along the edge of lower mandible 1-1/12; tarsus 1-1/12; hind toe 8/12, its claw (5-1/2)/12; middle toe 1-(4-1/2)/12, its claw 7/12.

Adult Female. Plate CCCLXVII. Fig. 2.

The female differs from the male only in having the tints a little duller, and on the upper parts somewhat darker, with the black band on the tail less decided, the middle feathers being but faintly marked with it.

Length to end of tail 15-1/2 inches.

It was omitted to mention that the minute spots on the eggs are white.

NUTTALL’S DOG-WOOD.

CORNUS NUTTALLI, _Audubon_.

This very beautiful tree, which was discovered by Mr NUTTALL, on the Columbia River, attains a height of fifty feet or more, and is characterized by its smooth reddish-brown bark; large, ovate, acuminate leaves, and conspicuous flowers, with six obovate, acute, involucral bracteas, which are rose-coloured at the base, white towards the end, veined and reticulated with light purple. The berries are oblong, and of a bright carmine.

ROCK GROUS.

_TETRAO RUPESTRIS_, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXVIII. MALE AND FEMALE.

Whilst at Labrador, I was informed by Mr JONES, of whom I have made mention on several occasions, that a smaller species of Ptarmigan than that called the Willow Grous, _Tetrao Saliceti_, was abundant on all the hills around Bras d’Or, during the winter, when he and his son usually killed a great number, which they salted and otherwise preserved; and that in the beginning of summer they removed from the coast into the interior of the country, where they bred in open grounds, never, like the Willow Grous, retreating to the wooded parts. They seldom appear at Bras d’Or until the last of the Wild Geese have passed over, or before the cold has become intense, and the plains deeply covered with snow. While about his house, they repair to the most elevated hilltops, from which the violence of the winds has removed the snow. There they feed on the mosses and lichens attached to the rocks, as well as on the twigs and grasses scantily found in such places at that season. They keep in great packs, and when disturbed are apt to fly to a considerable distance, shifting from one hill to another often half a mile off.

Not having seen this species alive, and my drawing having been taken from specimens kindly presented to me by my friend Captain JAMES ROSS, R. N., I cannot do better than present you here with the observations of Dr RICHARDSON, as recorded in the Fauna Boreali-Americana. “HUTCHINS reports that the Rock Grous is numerous at the two extremities of Hudson’s Bay, but does not appear at the middle settlements (York and Severn Factories), except in very severe seasons, when the Willow Grous are scarce, and Captain SABINE informs us that they abound on Melville Peninsula, Lat. 74° to 75°, in the summer. It arrived there in its snow-white dress, on the 12th of May 1820; at the end of that month the females began to assume their coloured plumage, which was complete by the first week in June, the change at the latter period being only in its commencement with the males. Some of the males were killed as late as the middle of June in their unaltered winter plumage. In this respect the species differs from the Willow Grous whose males first assume the summer colour. The Rock Grous is found also on Melville Peninsula and the Barren Grounds, seldom going farther south in winter than latitude 63° in the interior, but descending along the coast of Hudson’s Bay to latitude 58°, and in severe seasons still farther to the southward. It also occurs on the Rocky Mountains as far south as latitude 55°. It exists in Greenland, is common in Norway, is known in Sweden by the name of _Sno Rissa_, and is the species most frequent in the Museums of France and Italy under the name of _Tetrao Lagopus_. It is not a native of Scotland. The Rock Grous in its manners and mode of living resembles the Willow Grous, except that it does not retire so far into the woody country in winter. Contrary, however, to what HEARNE says, it is frequent in open woods on the borders of lakes in that season, particularly in the 65th parallel of latitude, though perhaps the bulk of the species remains on the skirts of the Barren Grounds. It hatches in June. The ground colour of the egg is, according to Captain SABINE, a pale reddish-brown, and is irregularly spotted and blotched with darker brown.” Specimens in my possession, coloured as here described, average one inch and five-eighths in length, by an inch and an eighth in breadth.

TETRAO RUPESTRIS, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 751.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 640.

TETRAO (LAGOPUS) RUPESTRIS, _Richards. and Swains._ Fauna
Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 354.

ROCK GROUS, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 610.

Adult Male in Winter. Plate CCCLXVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill short, robust; upper mandible with the dorsal outline curved, the ridge and sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip declinate, thin edged, but rounded; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex, the back broadly convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip blunt. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by feathers.

Head small, ovate; neck of moderate length; body bulky. Feet of ordinary length, robust; tarsus feathered, as are the toes, the first toe very small, the middle toe much longer than the lateral, which are nearly equal, the inner being a little longer. Claws slightly arched, depressed, broad, with thin edges and rounded at the tip.

Plumage compact, the feathers generally ovate and rounded; those on the tarsi, toes, and soles oblong, with loose stiffish barbs. Wings rather short, concave; the primaries strong, narrow, tapering, pointed; the first an inch and seven-twelfths shorter than the second, which is four-twelfths shorter than the third, this being the longest, but only exceeding the fourth by a twelfth and a half. Tail rather short, nearly even, of sixteen broad feathers, of which two are incumbent, less strong, and longer than the rest by two-twelfths of an inch.

Bill black; superciliary membrane scarlet; claws dusky, towards the end yellowish. The plumage is pure white, with the exception of a broad band of black from the upper mandible to the eye, and for a short space behind it; the shafts of the six outer quills, which are brownish-black, and all the tail-feathers, the two middle excepted, they being of a deep greyish-black colour, with a terminal narrow band of white.

Length to end of tail 13-1/2 inches, to end of wings 12; wing from flexure 8; tail 4-1/2; tarsus 1-2/12; hind toe 2/12, its claw 5/12; middle toe 11/12, its claw 8/12.

Male in Summer. Plate CCCLXVIII. Fig. 2.

In summer, the plumage differs little in texture, with the exception of that on the feet, which is short and thin on the tarsi, worn on the base of the toes, of which the soles and half of the upper surface are denuded. The bill and claws are of the same colour as in winter; but the plumage is variegated with black, reddish-yellow, and white. The upper parts may be described as black, transversely and irregularly banded and spotted with yellowish-red, the feather terminally margined with white, there being on each feather several bars of yellowish-red running from the margin inwards, but leaving a black space in the centre. The lower parts are lighter, more broadly and regularly barred with brownish-black and light reddish-yellow. The feathers along the edge of the wing, the alula, primary coverts, nearly all the secondary coverts, primaries and outer secondaries, white; as are the lower surface of the wing, the axillar feathers, and some of the feathers on the abdomen, as well as those on the feet, the latter being soiled or tinged with yellowish or grey. The shafts of the primaries are brownish-black, and the tail is black as in winter, tipped with white, and with the lateral feathers having part of their outer web white; the two middle feathers barred like the back. The dimensions of an individual are as follows:

Length to end of tail 13-1/2 inches, to end of wings 11-1/2; wing from flexure 7-10/12; tail 4-1/2; bill along the ridge 7/12; tarsus 1-2/12; middle toe (1-1/2)/12, its claw 6/12.

Female in Summer. Plate CCCLXVIII. Fig. 3.

The female does not differ materially from the male, the yellow bands being only broader and lighter.

Very great differences are observed in the length and form of the claws, they being in some individuals very long, thin-edged, and tapering, to a rounded point; in others very short, being worn down to the stump. This species is considerably smaller than the Ptarmigan of Scotland, which it precisely resembles in its winter plumage. In its summer plumage, however, it differs in having the markings larger; and as yet no specimens have been obtained marked with undulated slender, ash-grey, and dusky lines, in any degree approaching those characteristic of the British bird in its autumnal plumage. The bill of the Rock Grous is shorter and thicker than that of the Ptarmigan, although the reverse has been alleged.

MOUNTAIN MOCKING BIRD.

_TURDUS MONTANUS._

PLATE CCCLXIX. MALE.

This interesting and hitherto unfigured species was procured on the Rocky Mountains by Dr TOWNSEND, who forwarded a single specimen to Philadelphia, where I made a drawing of it. The following notice by Mr NUTTALL shews that it is nearly allied in its habits to the Mocking Bird:—

“On the arid plains of the central table-land, betwixt the northern sources of the Platte and the Colorado of the West, in the month of June, we frequently heard the cheering song of this delightful species, whose notes considerably resemble those of the Brown Thrush, with some of the imitative powers of the Mocking Bird. For a great part of the day, and especially early and late, its song resounds through the desert plains, as it warbles to its mate from some tall weed or bush of wormwood, and continues with little interruption nearly for an hour at a time. We met with it in the plains exclusively, till our arrival at Wallah Wallah, but we are not certain of having seen it in any part of California, it being apparently entirely confined to the cooler and open regions of the Rocky Mountains. Just before arriving at Sandy Creek of the Colorado, while resting for refreshment at noon, I had the good fortune to find the nest in a wormwood bush, on the margin of a ravine, from whence the male was singing with its unusual energy. It contained four almost emerald green eggs, spotted with dark olive of two shades, more numerous towards the greater end, the spots large and roundish. The nest itself was made of small twigs and rough stalks, lined with stripes of bark and bison wool. The female flew off to a little distance, and looked on her unwelcome and unexpected visitor, without uttering either call or complaint.”

ORPHEUS MONTANUS, MOUNTAIN MOCKING BIRD, _Townsend_, Journal
of Acad. of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 192.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXIX. Fig. 1.

Bill of moderate length, rather slender, compressed, straightish, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly declinato-arcuate, the sides convex toward the end, the edges sharp, with a slight sinus close to the narrow declinate tip; lower mandible with the angle short and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the edges sharp and a little declinate at the end, the tip narrow; the gape-line very slightly arched.

Head oblong, of ordinary size; neck rather short, but somewhat slender. Feet longish, rather strong; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with seven large scutella, sharp-edged behind; toes of moderate length, slender, the hind toe stout, the lateral nearly equal, the anterior united for a short space at the base. Claws slender, arched, compressed, acute.

Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rounded, the first quill short, the third and fourth longest, the second and fifth equal, and about a quarter of an inch shorter than the fourth. Tail long, rounded, of twelve rather narrow rounded feathers.

Bill dark-brown, the base of the lower mandible paler. Feet yellowish-brown, claws dusky. The general colour of the upper parts is greyish-brown, the tips of the secondary coverts, the edges of the primary quills, and a large spot at the end of the three lateral tail-feathers, white; the lower parts whitish, marked with triangular dusky spots, of which there is a distinct line from the base of the bill; the throat, the middle of the breast, the abdomen, and lower tail-coverts unspotted.

Length to end of tail 8 inches, to end of wings 5-3/4; wing from flexure 3-9/12; tail 3-1/2; bill along the ridge (7-1/2)/12; tarsus 1-2/12; hind toe 4/12, its claw 4/12; middle toe 8/12, its claw (3-1/4)/12.

VARIED THRUSH.

_TURDUS NÆVIUS_, GMEL.

PLATE CCCLXIX. ADULT MALE.