srereneaesteerere ys PTT eink seledetisie’> ranpr sinatra sjake elecereiretstety| epupesreterertee ita rt (eleqeceen(s sists Gaisleieieie Sagat slotees TT eis a wladatatet Dit etere(ete TESTU ET Th ts tate eh te sieisistecs Aaleisigteeeap ice Spe ep sietetriek aed et ele dane: Pet aiat a Teleco tated et eiad eis, eapeerprenprenbrestrerere tate Reteastsisisley af peprerereseroleierts [erated lovee ett sisiees ised SRST ial oiriedtses ts trie Tarte prorpapreabieyeuppa ETRIBIDAE Ord tbe Gibtan eae errr pepterests orererts jeteinincen tet porstabaretaseteresiers) Aalst STL Tel eved et eet st =f pravmeoreseree eles ei ttins prerorieteerearisr ee eit ry qelsuees tee eC nian s Cotneed uasearerereney prstserertatay reresereredi eisisingeinet ATi teenie : sislelelristebeued sd Hz47 eee sastedeleete (eteusdstetsd Sit Siatet alate A sleieee a iets esproresare yi stag taloer: Uisdelelelesetel roriey eee ehaltieiet Aeisieleletels a »y Me MA SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. SpeciaL Bunuetin No. 1. LIFE HISTORIES OF NOE ES 2Vitdin iC AUN Bh Ds WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR, BREEDING HABITS AND EGGS, WITH TWELVE LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, BY CHARLES BENDIRE, Capratin, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED), Honorary Curator of the Department of Odlogy, U. S. National Museum, Member of the American Ornithologists’ Union. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE LOO Ao IO VISIR TE Sle MAINT. This work (Special Bulletin No. 1) is one of a series of papers intended to illustrate the collections belonging to, or placed in charge ot, the Smithsonian Institution, and deposited in the U. 8. National Museum. The publications of the National Museum consist of two series: the Bulletin and the Proceedings. A small edition of each paper in the Proceedings is distributed in pamphlet form to specialists in advance of the publication of the bound volume. The Bulletin is issued only in volumes. Those hitherto pub- lished have been octavos, but it has been decided that for works of the size and character of the present Bulletin the quarto form is preferable. The Bulletin of the U.S. National Museum, the publication of which was commenced in 1875, consists of elaborate papers based upon the collections of the Museum, reports of expeditions, etc. The Proceedings are intended to facilitate the prompt publication of freshly acquired facts relating to biology, anthropology, and geology, descriptions of restricted groups of animals and plants, discussions of particular questions relative to the synonymy of species, and the diaries of minor expeditions. Other papers of more general popular interest are printed in the appendix to the annual report. Full lists of the publications.of the Museum may be found in the current catalogue of the publications of the Smithsonian Institution. Papers intended for publication in the Proceedings and Bulletin of the U.S. National Museum are referred to the Advisory Committee on Publications, com- posed as follows: 'T. H. Bean (chairman), A. Howard Clark, R. E. Earll, Otis T. Mason, Leonhard Stejneger, Frederick W. True, and Lester F. Ward. S. P. Laneney, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Wasuineron, D. C., May 6, 1892. 1 BV Ib Ore (CO IN IE BIN ITs: GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 0. Family TeTRaonipas. Grouse, Partridges, etc. Page, 1. Colinus virginianus..-.....-...--...----- LO) \iovting GPG IE Wt, 1D) sosc0s haoson beac ope Senses sese 1 2. Colinus virginianus floridanus...---.-.-- RloridayBob Wwhivese. ses sean es eecee eee eee cee 7 3. Colinus virginianus texanus .........---- ANGE IE MVNO) ooo h5c sodGasuedudodese seco Sad ous Secone 8 4. Colinus virginianus cubanensis ---..-.--. CubansbobaWwihitererpe testes serie see eames vo enes semua ye 9 ba Colimusiridowaydem=ss=eeee as ssc = see aa: Wlesieod ISO O ANN) ce. coseen Gecdcubasone edsees dobaseus 10 6. Oreortyx pictus ...--.....2...2........-- Mountain ge artrid ¢ eyrne sete eeee eee ee eae 13 7. Oreortyx pictus plumiferus .....--.---.-- Plumed Partridge (Pl. I, Figs. 2,3) ....-............-... 14 8. Oreortyx pictus confinis .....-..-.--.---- Sangbedrosrantridgerrern cece seers secesocace ose ee. n ae 17 9. Callipepla squamata...............-.---. Sealed Partridge (PI. I, Figs. 4,5) .-.-....-.-.........-. 18 10. Callipepla squamata castanogastris.--.-- Chestnut-bellied Scaled Partridge (Pl. I, Figs. 6,7) -.... 22 11. Callipepla californica.._.........--..---- California Partridge (Pl. I, Figs. 8-10) ......-..-....... 23 12. Callipepla californica vallicola..-....---- Walley Mrartrid@ess=sese sss seseeccse Staaten 26 13. Callipepla gambeli ..-.-...---..----.---- Gambel’s Partridge (Pl. I, Figs. 11-14) ...........2..... 29 14. Cyrtonyx montezume -.----.-..-.------- Massena Partridge (Pl. I, Fig. 15) -....-............... 35 15. Dendragapus obscurus...--...-.-..-.---- ID WEN CROWS) c coooeogbo sonqodadedar saan scoses soaues 41 16. Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus - .----- Sooty Grouse (Pl. I, Figs. 16-19)...........-.. 2.222.222. 43 17. Dendragapus obseurus richardsonii . ----- ichardsonis| Grouse mere eae eee eee ees eee eee een eee 50 18. Dendragapus canadensis. ...-..---.------ Canada Grouse (Pl. I, Figs. 20-23)........-............- 51 19. Dendragapus franklinii ....-../.-....---- IDnera tS bias) COWS > cocaes So00 cosas sesons soca soaassose 56 20. Bonasa umbellus ...-....---. .----------- levine! Carnes (2, ING, Iter, Ib)) 325 socona condeecoonas cons 59 21. Bonasa umbellus togata.....--..----.---- Canadian Ruffed Grouse (Pl. II, Fig. 2) .-......-....... 64 22. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides .-..--..--.. Gray Ruffed Grouse (Pl: Il, Fig. 3). -22--22222.2-2 2h 67 23. Bonasa umbellus sabini -..-....-.---.---- OreronwhiuttediG rouse) Ge] anes hi ocd) ey ee eee 68 24, Lagopus lagopus. -----.-.-..--.----+------ Willow Ptarmigan (Pl. II, Figs. 5-10)...--............. 69 25. Lagopus lagopus alleni -...-.....-.-.---- INUGMS TMNT s sos soedeog cosas Seogcdeaan eooacasecs 15 26. Lagopus rupestris --.-.-..----...-.------ Rock Ptarmigan (Pl. II, Figs. 11-15) --................. 15 27. Lagopus rupestris reinhardti...-.....-.-- Rembhard tae tat mlo anaes pee renee ere a eee eae 18 28. Lagopus rupestris nelsoni.-...-.-..------ NGLIEOMS PIPING. ooosa0 coca descdo ese asco woonoASanaae 80 29. Lagopus rupestris atkhensis..........---- Murmernssetarmiloanere eee eee eee eee ee eee seen 81 +30) Wagopus welchi-: = 225-2. 222-2222. 22+ -2-- Wrelchissetarmiganteeeee rest terse i eeene eee e eee aeee 82 31. Lagopus leucurus.-..........-.-.---.-.-. White-tailed Ptarmigan (Pl. II, Figs. 16,17)..-......... 83 32. Tympanuchus americanus........--..---- ErairieyHen\ (pli phigs ol 8-20) pees ee saes anes sae ee 88 33. Tympanuchus cupido................---- lelornn Jaen (PL IDM, Wie 2) bans coos ccadsasace cacdorbeue 93 34. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus .............Lesser Prairie Hen (Pl. II, Fig. 1)...........-...------ 96 35. Pediocetes phasianellus.-.-...--.-.------ Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pl. III, Figs. 3-5).-...-...-....... 97 36. Pediocetes phasianellus columbianus. - -.. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pl. IIT, Figs. 6-8)...... 98 37. Pediocetes phasianellus campestris -....- Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse (Pl. III, Figs. 9,10).....-.-. 101 38. Centrocercus urophasianus......---.----- Sage Grouse (PI. III, Figs, 11-13),............-----.---- 106 Family PHASIANIDZ. Pheasants, etc. 39. Meleagris gallopavo......-....--- 5086 266 Murkceye (EAP E T o:set 4) ae seee are ey geeeceieia Oay 112 40, Meleagris gallopavo mexicana.......-.--- Mexican@Rurkey) (Pj MN, Wig) 15) eee see seen ce eercce 116 Family Cracip®. Curassows and Guans. 41. Ortalis vetula macealli.....-...--..-..-.. Chachalaca (Pl. III, Fig. 16).......- seco cssesesuss soonee 119 It IV TABLE OF CONTENTS. PIGEONS OR DOVES. Family CoLumBipa. Pigeons. 42. Columba fasciata .......-...------------- Band-tailed Pigeon (Pl. III, Fig. 17)..-....-..-....----- 43. Columba fasciata vioscw ...---........---Viosca’s Pigeon (PI. III, Fig. 18).........-....---...---- 44, Columba flavirostris ...-.........--..---- Red-billed' Pigeon (BIS DV, Wig. 2)is2225- -------2---- oe 45. Columba leucocephala .._--...---..--..-- White-crowned Pigeon (Pl. IV, Fig.4)...-....-.-.------ 46. Ectopistes migratorius.....-....--..----- Passenger Pigeon (Pl. IV, Wig. 6))222225--2-25-ses-5- oe 47. Zenaidura macroura -..-.-....--.-------- Mion IDOE CP, INV, IMGs, EO) coscse cconessteca cscs AS Lenaldaizenald Yer eee secre eee eee eee PAMEMOES IDOE (Lely IIS 1G PAD) ooo 56 socces coscec sous sos5 49. Engyptila albifrons...........----..----- White-fronted Dove (Pl. II, Fig. 22)...:........-...-..- 50. Melopelialeucoptera.......-.-...--..--.- Wihiteswinced Dove) (PII Milos 23) == senses eneeeeeeee 51. Columbigallina passerina ....-...---.---- Ground Doves Sos Sue Oa cyanate ie es rete epee rere 52. Columbigallina passerina pallescens..-.-.Mexican Ground Dove (PI. II, Fig. 24) .-.....-....-.--- Dowecardatellajin Capes seers eee eee eee Ibaeeh DOYS (CEL 10, Wie 2S) coos cocsco sauces soca aoeces 54. Geotrygon martinica.....-....-...------- LG? WES QUEM DOVGosa5 ssocoocacesecsoassoubes c60e4e 5d. Geotrygon montana....-....--..--------- Ruddy Quail-Dove (Pl. II, Fig. 26).-........-...---- Boe 56. Starneenas cyanocephala........----.---- Blue-headed Quail-Dove ..--...........-....----------- BIRDS OF PREY. Family CATHARTID2. American Vultures. 57. Pseudogryphus californianus........---.- California Valiture) (PVE Bio.|5)sassse sees eeeeeee eee is}; (Ch NAP IEEE. a ccodisoneds ceantio sosouses Awad, Winllim (2A INY, Wes, TB) cccsscanees Saco onscos 59. Catharista atrata ..---.-----....--..----- BlackeValturey (BV, Ei esi7,910)) eee eese eee eceeee Family FaLconip.2. Vultures, Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, ete. 60. Elanoides forficatus.........--....--.--.- Swallow-tailed Kite (Pl. V, Figs. 1,2)--..-.-..-.-.-.--.- Glee lanustleu CUnuUs meee eres se eee White-tailed Kite (Pl. V, Figs. 3,4).-..-..-.2.---------- 62. Ictinia mississippiensis .-...........----- Mississippi Kate (BI WV, iio 5) nes --- ea esesee easiest 63. Rostrhamus sociabilis...-....---..--.---- Everpladerkatey (eave Eos iG.) seeeeseee ae eeeeermeceee 64. Circus hudsonius -.....-.-.-.-.-.-.-.---- Marsh Hawi (BID \V,, Bigs: 8-10) 222223222 see-s nesses Goa Alc cipitersviel oxseseeeiee= tees eee eee aes Sharp-shinned Hawk (Pl. V, Figs. 11-17)...-..-.-.------ 66S Accipitercoopentiesssss=s==-se ee eee ae Cooper’s Hawk (Pl. V, Figs. 18-20) .-2.-.-....-.---.---- 67. Accipiter atricapillus.....-........-.---- American Goshawk (Pl. VI, Fig. 1)-.---..--..-------2--- 68. Accipiter atricapillus striatulus --...----- Wiestern! Goshawik (PI Vil, Pio. 2)952222 ee ee ee ee 69. Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi....-...----- HWannis?s)Hawile: (Pi aVil iies304)sceaeeeee tee see eee iO buteovbuteotseee. soccer eee soem ee ITUMO MCR IWAN oo G case aocdes cote Seon gsuE bssuadsecs (Me sButeosborealisheeee see ee eae ene eee Red-tailed Hawls (PIS Vil Bio's 35;(6));sse see eeeeeeae eee 72. Buteo borealis kriderii -.-..-...-...--:-- Kariderisicba wiley sic ake ae age eras hee ree: ee 73. Buteo borealis calurus....-.-..---...---- Western Red-tail (Pl. VI, Figs. 7,8) .-.....--.---.------ 74. Buteo borealis lucasanus...--.---..------ Saintplbucashed-taileesssemere eae r ss sece eee eee seers 75. Buteo borealis harlani-..........-.....-- Marlan’s tela kot means sane ose eee ee Ee eee (owButeolineatusee- cesses ee eee eee Red-shouldered Hawk (Pl. VII, Figs. 1-5) .....-...----- 4%. Buteo lineatus)alleni.-----.----.---.----- Florida Red-shouldered Hawk ....-.-....-.-.---------- 78. Buteo lineatus elegans..-..._.........-.- Red-bellied @biawAki(PIh Val Ho. 9) eee es eee eee eee f9s-Buteorabbreviatusheces=-cse seer et ce ee Zone-tailed Hawk (Pl. VII, Fig. 6) --...-...-.--.------- 80. Buteo albicaudatus ...--...--.---------- White-tailed Hawk (Pl. VII, Figs. 8,9)-..-.-.--...----- Slee Buteo swalnsont 24). = ye eel a\e a Swainson’s Hawk (Pl. VIII, Figs. 1-6)..--..-..--..--.-- S2e-Buteolalissimuspreemen see ees eee Broad-winged Hawk (PI. VII, Figs. 10-13) -....-...---- $35 Buteosbrachyinusee esse see e oe ee sesee Short-tailed Hawk (Pl. VIII, Fig. 7) -.-..-.-...-..----- 84. Urubitinga anthracina..--.......--.-.-.. Mexican Black Hawk (PI. VIII, Figs. 8,9)-.---..---.---- 85. Asturina plagiata..........--..-.-..----- Mexican Goshawk (Pl. VII, Fig. 7) --.---.--..---------- . Archibuteo lagopus . Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis -. --- > Archibuteoferrugineus)--254-- 252-6 Rough-legged Hawk -American Rough-legged Hawk (PI. VIII, Figs, 10-12). -- Ferruginous Rough-leg (Pl. IX, Figs. 1, 2, 4) SoeAguilaichnysaetoses nesses. eerste e ees Goldenskialrle( (RI XeeBilost310) -eeeeeee eee eee ee eere SOS ehrasae tusthanpyal apne sess eerie Harpy, Miaalie ss gist ors tee on Ss ee esas Ses ee estos Reed Sieh stusial bicillae sees else ete eae Gray Sea iag lems ney eet aes arate eee ree ee ener 92. Halizétus leucocephalus .---....-...--.-- Baldi hace Cea exXeo bn oa) pee eeee eae eer eee eee O3eahlal conslandusmees ee eeece see eee eee Wihite) Gyrtalconseesa een eee eee ee eee ae eeeeee BLE AMMO TU GOOING Coe sobs hece asd. Cosa ouEeee Gray, iGyrfalconteseeen pease eee eaee Beeece eee 95. Falco rusticolus pyrfaleo -.-..-.--.------ Gya falcon (RIS Dxsnioss688.59) seen cere eee aeereee Page. 122 127 128 131 132 139 143 144 145 148 150 152 153 ‘154 156 157 161 165 168 173 177 180 183 186 192 196 199 202 205 206 212 213 217 217 219 224 226 228 234 236 241 246 248 251 255 256 259 263 270 272 274 281 283 283 TABLE OF CONTENTS. | Vv Page. 96. Falco rusticolus obsoletus....-...---.---- IBllevelke Enantnlloorm (Ie, dG INS, 1). osoo soca coco code seoaccue 286 ‘CO (Aelia Conmexd Camus peer ee access Pew IMO (IE, 65 WIGS 7) ooh e soS5 Soes coos occ oeuc 288 98. Falco peregrinus anatum .-.-.. .--------- IDwelke TRlemAke (GPM, 6, IG, BEM) coscce sosscacsus coco suaces 292 99: Falco peregrinus pealei =... ---.-----.---- IPERS WANGOM sssectos bpo5 Son0 cdc oneo cess ceccdoess anes 297 TOON Hal colcolamibaniussesssee =e eee eee eee Pie coms Elanwiks (eylepXey Bi OSs 4518) eee eee eee =e 298 101. Faleo columbarius suckleyi-----.-------- BlackiMerliny aoc se08 sce se = cee sa setem see cee somesc. 302 102 5eHal coppichards oni a= ses =e ae a TRi@lnanGls@nHs MIGMbIN 6 osossncces cosebo cose escens cose sass 303 103. Faleoregulus.-...--.------ So eau cee e eee Merlin eneese saeco eee tae seep ine Seema eete ses 304 104. Paleo fusco-ccerulescens..----.----------- Aplomado Falcon (PI. X, Figs.9, 10) ..------------------- 306 105. Falco tinnunculus - .-.--- Pa ee eee IGEN ce sage cannes coceas pede ddaescocoesusaccacacesesce 308 10G3e hal coyspanvyeriusse=-eeeseeeeeere eres American Sparrow Hawk (PI. X, Figs. 11-16) --..-.---.-- 309 1Ofeehial codominicensissssesee eee esas eee Cia Syopmeroyy Isle = scosenncoocc oceans Saacs]e Sasa Sone 314 108. Polyborus cheriway -..--.----------------- Audubon’s Caracara (PI. XI, Figs. 1-4) .........-.-.---.- 315 HOO Polyborus Mtosuseeeeee esse eee eseseeeee Guadalupe) Camacanaly ese = see = ieee ee 318 110. Pandion haliaétus carolinensis .......-.-.American Osprey (PI. X, Fig. 17; Pl. XI, Figs. 5-9).....--- 320 Family Striegipa. Barn Owls. iil, SHRI PORMHINCCNEY — cocoon sccacoascascsssese American Barn Owl (Pl. XII, Fig. 1) .---.-..------..---. 325 Family BuBontipa. Horned Owls, etc. 1s ASO WHIROMMMNUS scasesessossescososessee American Long-eared Owl (PI. XII, Fig.2) ....--...----- 328 1H}, ASO ACC on. 55555 sseoceeseonsee saee Snorerecamed! Onl (eb YOU IMS) sscoscooosssssouoKee séce 332 TL, Shyam THE) NOUS case case cseescsasesss BeynReel Oral (JPL WUE WeSC) oe coo coe pecesesaacss oco5 ce56 335 1S, Gyan melynilosmmn Hes 3 5 soos cone loa, Ieee! Oyyal soe cosSocesg s55eas oaecos secSacaseese 333 1G, Shyaminim, @CCIGlonMMW. -cocseasaass s5e5 5058 Spool OXndl seas caccsccs tn0ces coacss soon 520055 sae Se88 bye IDET SOOM DIO CUNORED = ogseso sesaaaesaa ces nan Chem Cory Ovrl GAL XGUG Wi B)) S.s5c656 Sosasnceosessaos 345 118. Scotiaptex cinerea lapponica -....-------- Ibe ON. odosess cscs coceds c6bo55 DoncosoSSseSses cso5es 346 119. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni -.---.---- Richardsonss Only Cel pxel ls hhio 6) pease eee eee eee 347 12D, INN OUR, MONGNOA, 5 scases oaodeeassses sshse5 CPinveardnar Orval (el; .aUt, IMs 7) Son seodcee cscs seesesonse 350 1G, MGS ASOO OS AHO. cosencosaasee seacsesacesS Soreaoln Ox! (el, .GUl, Iie pcos coonse capeceosonecasesa5 354 122. Megascops asio floridanus ..--..---------- Talonnclay Srorea@ln Oral oso ooscsas Keo cotsospccoas cecsbes6 358 123. Megascops asio mccallii .--.......-------- Itexenn Seneeeln OX, sons soscccddos8e cose cseosocdscosecus 360 124. Megascops asio hendirei......---.-------- Chilton Semeseln Owwits cosd esos cconas odasoods dbsc00 550¢ 361 125. Megascops asio kennicottil .---.--...----- Kennicoutisiscreech: Owl eee eee se eee ieee eee nee 363 126. Megascops asio maxwellim .....-----.---- Rocky Mountain Screech Owl (PI. XII, Fig. 10).-....---- 363 127. Megascops asio trichopsis -....-.--------- Mexican Screech Owl (Pl. XII, Fig.11).-.-......-...---- 368 128. Megascops asio aikeni..----.------...2-.. Ault Sera n Oil ¢secqskosocce ones ec cosa deceusseeces 370 129. Megascops asio macfarlanei-.--...----.---- MacFarlane’s Screech Owl (PI. XII, Fig. 9)-.-..--..-.-- Zen” Srl 130. Megascops asio saturatus.--.--..--------- Ruvet Sound Sereech! O wilt rer cet a) ee 373 131. Megascops flammeolus -.--.-...---------- Flammulated Screech Owl (PI. XII, Fig. 15)..----...---- 374 132. Megascops flammeolus idahoensis. .... .... Dwarf Sereech Owl --..---.---------------------------- 376 188}, TBHOO WnINTEMAMNS <6 6 2558 cane sesSecocosee Great) Homed! Owl! (PIXE Bie w2)\ 25225. ses aes. aa 376 134. Bubo virginianus subareticus --..-------- Westen Ilomne@l Owl. coos coco sone peooeaco seca cosesoceass 383 IGG, LB) Wane AUS CNKOAMOUS soo 6 seo ence ene uRRING leloanedl OW aloe osc ao ceecce cess s4sesa se5ac5 S555 50n6 386 136. Bubo virginianus saturatus -.------------ IDwalsy le@ane@l Owl ssoccocosocesces cosa ses cogs ceescees 387 IGT, INVOTER MVC c ctoe code coos soos seme asecosMOuny Olt CEG OU Ines, I) oeScco caes co seesccourc cass 389 1B}R, Save) Wl sccagecase ssacce dosece bec ese Iplohivlie Ovals soaaeasa sooo desoosasss sane eiswneeleeejem sisters cleta 392 139. Surnia ulula caparoch --..--..-...-...--: ‘American Hawk Owl (Pl. XII, Fig. 18) -......----------- 393 140. Speotyto cunicularia hypogvea -.--------- Burrowing Owl (PIXIT, Pig. 14) ----- ee 395 141. Speotyto cunicularia floridana ...-.-.---- Florida Burrowing Owl (PI. XII, Fig. 16) ........--....- 400 142. Glaucidium gnoma. .......-..-.----.----- IPs, ON ooo son cod as ono cou sae coec eonocosSuocescds 403 143. Glaucidium gnoma californicum. .-------- Calitormiapesys miyg Ojwilleeeemereeeeanesrieeerecer eee ee 407 144. Glaucidium gnoma hoskinsii ------------- Blo tabs IAAT? OW, co50 cane Sooo 5ece cosbececeocs doaces 408 145. Glaucidium phalenoides -.-...-.----.---- Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (PI. XII, Fig.17) --..---------- 409 146. Micropallas whitneyi ..--..--.----------- MEO al (als SOUS TPiey, 13) soge coos acon cnemss Aeon ecebaeds 411 CIN IETS @ IDC TE WON. This work on the Life Histories of North American Birds is based largely upon the collections in the U 8. National Museum. It was the wish of the late Prof. Spencer F. Baird that a comprehensive work on this subject should be published, bringing together the great advances in our knowledge made during the past few years. This wish was also shared by Prof. Langley and Dr. Goode, and with their concurrence the present work has been written. Since the publication by the Smithsonian Institution in 1857 of an initial volume on North American Oslogy, by the late Dr. T. M. Brewer—which work was not finished owing to lack of material—and of Baird, Brewer and Ridgway’s “History of North American Birds” in 1874, no systematic and comprehensive work on the odlogy of this country has appeared. Large collections have been brought together during the last three decades, and great advances, only rendered possible by the more general interest that the subject has attracted, have been made. It is not intended that this work shall consist merely of descriptions ot nests and eggs. Special attention has been given to the life history, the migratory and breeding ranges, and food of each species. In this connection the latest information, including the field notes made by myself and others and hitherto unpublished, has been freely used. Although involving considerably more labor and a certain amount of repeti- tion, I treat each species and subspecies separately, and endeavor to define the “breeding range” of each as accurately as possible. This method is to some extent open to criticism, and especially so where a species is divided into several geographical races between the boundaries of whose ranges a neutral zone exists in which they intergrade. On account of the limited knowledge we possess of many of our birds, I am well aware that the information given under this head is more or less imperfect, but this is irremediable in many instances at present. The present volume relates only to land birds. The classification given in the Code and Check List of the American Ornithologists’ Union has been followed, and the synonymy and nomenclature used in this list have also been adopted, with the emendations that have been made up to date. VIL VIII INTRODUCTION. When it is not expressly stated to the contrary, the type specimens figured have been presented to the U.S. National Museum collection by the gentlemen whose names are given. Without mentioning each by name, my thanks are due to the many friends whose assistance has so greatly aided me in the preparation of this volume and added to its completeness, and whose codperation will, I hope, be continued until the work is finished. The original water-color drawings from which the plates have been repro- duced were made by Mr. John L. Ridgway, of Washington, D. C., to whose skill and painstaking care the excellence of the illustrations is largely due. The chromolithographic reproductions of these plates were made by the Ket- terlinus Printing Company, of Philadelphia, Pa., and it gives me pleasure to say that they are as faithful copies of the original drawings as it is possible to make. THe AuTHor. LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. By CHARLES BENDIRE, Captain U.S. Army (retired). GALLINACKOUS BIRDS. — Family TETRAONID. Grousn, Parrrincss, ETC. 1. Colinus virginianus (Linyzvs). BOB WHITE. Tetrao virginianus LINN AUS, Systema Naturee, ed. 10, 1, 1758, 161. Colinus virginianus STEJNEGER, Auk, 11, January 1885, 45. (B 471, C 389, R 480, C 571, U 289.) GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE: Hastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada; west to eastern Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Indian Territory, and eastern Texas ; south to Georgia, Alabama, and other Gulf States. This’ species, one of the most widely distributed of our game birds, is better known throughout the Northern and Middle States as the Quail, and under the name of Partridge or Virginia Partridge in the South. It is found everywhere, more or less abundantly in suitable localities within the United States, east of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, excepting in Florida, where it is replaced by the Florida Bob White, and in the northern portions of the New England States. In these, north of Massachusetts, it is rare, but occurs occasionally in the southern portions of Vermont and New Hampshire, and less frequently in Maine. In northern New York it is very rare. West of the Mis- sissippi it occurs in Louisiana, eastern Texas, the eastern part of the Indian Territory, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and the greater portion of Nebraska, where it has advanced beyond the central part of the State. Mr. W. M. Wolfe, of Kearney, Nebraska, informs me that the Bob Whites are becoming more and more abundant, and are now common as far west as Ogallala. Dr. T. E. Wilcox, surgeon U. 8. Army, writes me to the same effect from Fort Niobrara, Nebraska, saying it is steadily advancing westward and is now to be found 30 miles west of this post. It is also gradually advancing northward. Mr. W. W. Cooke states that in Minnesota it has followed up the settle- ments, and in the eastern part of the State has reached the line of the Northern 26957—Bull. 1——1 1 2 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Pacific Railroad, about latitude 46°; also that in South Dakota it is abundant, and has advanced to latitude 44° 30/7 North of the United States Mr. T. McIlwraith gives it as a permanent resi- dent in southern Ontario, Canada.’ At the present time the Bob Whites are most abundant in the Central and some of the Southern States. They have also been successfully introduced in various localities in the West. According to information received from Mr. Denis Gale, of Gold Hill, Boulder County, Colorado, it is now well established along the South Platte River and its tributaries in the vicinity of Denver, Colo- rado, and is known to occur also in portions of northern New Mexico. As early as 1872 Prof. J. A. Allen stated in the American Naturalist that these birds had recently been introduced in the Great Salt Lake Valley, Utah, and that in the summer of 1871 young had been raised and gave promise of multiplying rapidly and becoming thoroughly naturalized. At the present time they are common in various parts of Utah, and Professor Allen’s predictions have been fully verified. According to Mr. H. K. Taylor the Bob Whites are quite abundant about Gilroy, California.’ In the vicinity of Boisé City, Idaho, a few pairs were turned out some time in 1875. In the fall of 1878 I found them abundant between that point and Snake River, all along the Boisé River, and in 1882 they had spread to the west side of Snake River, fully 50 miles from where they were first liber- ated. Dr. T. E. Wilcox, U. 8. Army, who first noticed them there, says, “I never saw coveys so large and numerous as I found them about Boisé. Cover and food, as well as climate, are all favorable.”* They are also quite abundant now in portions of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, as well as on several islands in Puget Sound, Washington. In fact, they are well adapted for introduction into any country where the climate is not too severe in winter, and where suitable food and shelter are to be found, they seem to thrive and adapt themselves to the surroundings. Excepting, perhaps, in its extreme northern range, the Bob Whites are residents, and breed wherever found. They are partial to more or less open country. Fields and pastures, interspersed with small bodies of woodland, country roads, bordered by brush and briar patches, as well as the edges of meadow and lowlands, are its favorite abiding places. In southern Louisiana they are very partial to the borders of hammock land and open pine woods. They are never found in large packs; each covey generally keeps to itself, and rarely moves far from the place where it was raised. The mating season commences in April, when the coveys or such portions of them remaining begin to break up, each pair selecting a suitable nesting site. Nidification begins usually about May 1; in the Southern States somewhat earlier, and in 1 Report on Bird Migration of the Mississippi Valley, Bull. u, U.S. Dept. of Agric., Div. Economie Ornith., p. 102. 2 Birds of Ontario, pp. 140, 141. 3 Ornithologist and Odlogist, Vol, Iv, 1889, p. 93. 4 Auk, Vol. u, 1885, p. 315, THE BOB WHITE. 3 the more northern portions of their breeding range it is often delayed until June. The nest is always placed on the ground and is generally a very simple affair. A saucer-shaped cavity is excavated (occasionally quite a deep one) alongside a patch of overhanging weeds or a tall bunch of grass. Again, it may be placed under a small bush or in a briar patch, by the side of a fence, in cultivated fields or pastures, and even in gardens close to houses; and in the South, “Cotton rows” are favorite nesting sites. This cavity is lmed with dry grasses or bits of grain stubble. The nest is generally well hidden, arched over naturally by overhanging vines, bushes or weeds, and usually open on one side. Occasionally a nest is arched over artificially, but in most cases, where there is no natural cover existing, no dome is attempted. Judge John N. Clark, of Saybrook, Connecticut, writes me of having seen a male Bob White at work constructing a domed nest. He says: “In May, 1887, while on a hill back of my house one morning, I heard a Quail whistle, but the note, which was continually repeated, had a smothered sound. Track- ing the notes to their source, I found a male Bob White building a nest in a little patch of dewberry vines. He was busy carrying in the grasses and weav- ing a roof, as well as whistling at his work. The dome was very expertly fashioned, and fitted into its place without changing the surroundings, so that I believe I would never have observed it, had he kept quiet.” Another nest, found by Mr. G. E. Beyer, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was entirely constructed of pine needles, arched over, and the entrance probably afoot or more from the nest proper. In North Carolina, according to Mr. R. B. McLaughlin, the Bob Whites preferred to nest in sedge-fields, so very common in that region, and nearly all the nests observed by him were placed near paths and roads. The favorite materials used for lining the nest were the long dry blades from the sedge tussocks. Capt. B. F. Goss, of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has found these birds nesting in the open prairies, miles from timber and brush of any kind; but such instances are rather unusual. Among uncommon nesting sites the following deserves mention: Mr. Lynds Jones, of Grinnell, Iowa, found a nest of a pair of Bob Whites under the edge of a bridge, which contained nine eggs. It had been placed under a plank in the road, and during a heavy rainstorm was flooded and deserted. Prof. Robert Ridgway, of the Smithsonian Institution, found a Bob White's nest containing fresh eggs, on October 16, and Mr. H. C. Munger, of Jefferson City, Missouri, publishes in Forest and Stream, of March 6, 1879, a still more remarkable find. He writes as follows: ‘(JEFFERSON Ciry, Missouri, February 6, 1879. “Hiditor Forest aND STREAM: “T noticed an article in a local paper here yesterday, stating that a gentle- man while out hunting in Calaway County, a county adjoining this, in the month of January, found a Quail’s nest with fifteen or sixteen eggs, and the 4 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. mother bird sitting on the nest. After she flew off the nest, he examined it carefully, the bunch of grass covering it being filled with ice and frozen solid, leaving just space enough under it for the bird and her nest and a place of exit. A few days after finding it he and other parties went to examine it again. This time they found the bird still sitting on the nest but frozen to death. A portion of the eggs had been hatched, but the young were also frozen. Was this not a a very singular occurrence? I should have been somewhat skeptical in regard to it if I had not met with very nearly a similar case while out quail shooting four years ago this winter, in company with a venerable sportsman, Mr. Pratt, of this place. Our dogs made a point. We flushed a single bird after consid- erable kicking around in the grass and snow, and found she had been sitting on her nest containing three apparently fresh eggs; but alas, she never returned to finish her maternal duties. It was too late when we found the cause of her reluctant flight.” The Bob White is unquestionably the most prolific of all our game birds, the number of eggs laid varying from twelve to eighteen to a clutch. Fifteen may be considered a fair average. As many as thirty-seven eggs have been found in one nest, unquestionably the product of two, or even three, hens. In such large sets the eggs are always placed in layers or tiers, the small or pointed ends usually toward the center. An egg is laid daily till the set is com- pleted. The late Dr. T. M. Brewer states that he “never found less than twenty- four eggs in a nest, and from that to thirty-two.”! If the eggs are all laid by a single bird, which I think is doubtful, such large sets as Dr. Brewer mentions may possibly be accounted for in the following manner: In Massachusetts and in other portions of its northern range the Bob Whites probably rear but one brood, and lay a larger number of eggs to a set than they do in the Middle and Southern States, where the fact seems to be pretty well established that two and even three broods are sometimes raised during a favorable season; parents with young of three different sizes having been met with now and then, which would tend to substantiate this assertion. Incu- bation lasts about twenty-four days, in which duty the male is said to assist, at times at least. Mr. Lynds Jones, who has had excellent opportunities to study the habits of the Bob White, writes me: “The female is seldom seen during the nesting season, while the male attracts our attention with his loud and fearless call, usually uttered from some fencepost or other elevated position. If driven from this, he darts into the grass or shrubbery and there repeats his call. I never succeeded in flushing the female at such times; she is shy and coy, while the male is bold and fearless. While I have never flushed the male from the nest, I have frequently found him near it. If the nest is disturbed while the set of eggs is still incomplete, the birds usually abandon it; but should incuba- tion be somewhat advanced they will return and hatch their brood. The male ‘ History North American Birds, Vol. 101, p. 472. THE BOB WHITE. 5 is very attentive to the setting hen, often making excursions into the grass after food, apparently for her benefit.” That the male Bob White takes the whole duty of incubation upon himself, should some accident befall the female, which unfortunately happens only too often, is conclusively proven by the following statement, from Dr. William C. Avery, of Greensboro, Alabama, who writes me as follows: “In June, 1886, while on a visit to Dr. J. M. Pickett, of Cedarville, Alabama, this gentleman informed me of having seen a male Bob White incubating; he had visited the nest at various times during the day, and on different days, and always found the male on the nest. Wishing to be an eye witness of so interesting a phe- nomenon, I rode several miles with the doctor to see this male Bob White on his nest. There we found him, faithfully warming his treasures, but not into life. The eggs were never hatched. Dr. Pickett went frequently to the place, until long after the period of incubation had elapsed, and finding that the eggs would not hatch, he destroyed them, to prevent the useless occupation of the nest by the male. The female had probably been dead some hours, and the eges were cold before the male took the nest, hence they did not hatch. How different is he in his nature from some other gallmaceous birds, which only seek the female when impelled by sexual desire. I know no other bird that will take the nest and faithfully brood upon the eggs when the female has been killed.” These birds are very sociable in disposition, and, when not constantly dis- turbed or shot at, become quite tame and may frequently be seen about dwell- ing houses, barns, and in gardens, especially during the late fall, winter, and early spring. As soon as the young are hatched they become more shy and retiring. The young leave the nest as soon as hatched, and have been seen running about with pieces of the shell sticking to them. They are faithfully eared for by both parents, who make use of all sorts of artifices, such as feign- ing lameness and fluttering along just out of reach of the intruder, to lure him away from the young brood; the young scattering, in the mean time, and hiding in the grass and under leaves at the danger signal of the parents, and remaining quiet until called together again by either of them, as soon as all danger is passed. When they are about two or three weeks old, the male takes charge of the first brood, while the female begins to lay her second clutch of eggs. This is usually a smaller one than the first, averaging only about twelve eggs. The young are at first exclusively fed on insect food, and later on small seeds, grains, and berries. Aside from insects of various kinds, the favorite food of the Bob White consists of buckwheat, wheat, rye, oats, the seed of the locust, wild pease, tick- trefoil (Desmodium), smartweeds (Polygonum), sunflower, and bitterweed, the partridge berry (Michella), wintergreen (Gaultheria), nannyberries (Viburnum), 1The fact that the male Bob White takes occasionally the entire duties of incubation on himself, should the female be killed, appears to be not an unusual occurrence with this species, at least two similar instances having come under the observation of other parties. 6 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. wild grapes, and other small berries. In the late fall they often feed on the seeds of the skunk cabbage, acorns of different kinds, as well as on beech- nuts. Mr. W. M. Wolfe, of Kearney, Nebraska, writes me: ‘Here, the male takes the young to the wheat fields and stubble early in July; at first, they return to the brush for the night, but as soon as harvesting fairly commences they spend all their time in the fields, huddling together at night in the open. Here they form a circle with their heads out and crowd close together. The male remains outside the ring and close at hand. The female, after raising her second brood, takes the chicks to the stubble as soon as they are able to fly. The broods unite in September, and all care on the part of the parents ceases soon after, though they all remain together until the following spring.” Aside from the many enemies that the Bob White has to contend with during the breeding season, the mowing machine is probably one of the greatest factors of destruction, as many brooding birds and eggs are annually destroyed through its agency. The males commence singing about May 1; their song is the well-known “Bob White,” or “Ah, Bob White.” One of their love notes may be translated as ‘‘Pease most ripe,” another call as “No more wet,” or “More wet.” A shrill ‘“wee-teeh” is used as a note of warning, and one to assemble when the covey has dispersed resembles ‘‘Quoi-hee, quoi-hee.” A subdued clucking when undisturbed, and a rapidly repeated twitter when suddenly surprised, are fre- quently used as well. In the fall, in certain portions of the country, these birds, while not actually migratory, leave the localities where they raised their broods for others, possibly’ on account of the desire for some particular kind of food. Mr. G. E. Beyer writes me that in the vicinity of Madisonville, Louisiana, the Bob Whites leave the hammock lands in the fall and retreat considerable distances into the open pine woods, along small water courses, returning only when nesting time approaches. The eggs of the Bob White vary from a round ovate to subpyriform in shape, are dull white in color, slightly glossy, and often partially stained a buffy yellow by contact with the grass or soil on which they lie. The shell is smooth and remarkably strong and thick for the size of the egg. Their average size is about 30 by 24 millimetres, the largest ege in the U. S. National Museum collection measuring 32.5 by 25, the smallest 26 by 22.5 millimetres. The type specimen, No. 12786, Pl. 1, Fig. 1, selected from a set of ten egos, was collected by Dr. William Wood at East Windsor Hill, Connecticut, June 14, 1866. THE FLORIDA BOB WHITE. 7 2. Colinus virginianus floridanus (Couss). FLORIDA BOB WHITE. Ortyx virginianus var. floridanus Cours, Key to North American birds, 1872, 237. Colinus virgimanus floridanus STEJNEGER, Auk, 1, January, 1885, 45. (B—, C 389a, R 480a, C 572, U 2892.) GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE: Florida, except the extreme southern portion. This somewhat smaller and darker race is found only in Florida. Dr. W. L. Ralph, who has enjoyed excellent opportunities of studying the habits of the Florida Bob White, and is well known as a reliable and careful observer, writes me as follows: ‘It is still common throughout the northern and central parts of the State, and probably in the southern portions as well, but they are not nearly so abundant as formerly, owing to the persecution they receive from northern visitors and negroes, and to the want of efficient game laws. They are very tame and confiding, and when not molested prefer to live near man, probably on account of greater security from the attacks of beasts and birds of prey. They become much attached to the localities where they breed, and seldom wander far from these, even when much persecuted. I have known cases where they were hunted day after day until their number was reduced to two or three birds to each covey, yet those which were left could always be found at their old places of resort. The localities they like best are open woods grown up with saw palmettos or low bushes, or fields with woods near them, and they are partic- ularly fond of slovenly cultivated grounds that have bushes and weeds growing thickly along their borders.” The pairing season commences early. Mr. J. F. Menge writes me: “In Lee County, Florida, it nests sometimes as early as February 15.