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THE

CABINET CYCLOPADIA.

LonpDoN :

Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE,
New -Street-Square.

THE

CABINET CYCLOP/ADIA.

CONDUCTED BY THE

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M.R.ILA. F.R.A.S. F.LS, F.Z.S. Hon. F.C.P.S. &¢. &c.

ASSISTED BY

EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN. .

Patural Histarp.

ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

BY

WILLIAM SWAINSON, A.C.G. F.R.S. L.S.

VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, ETC.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR
LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS,
PATERNOSTER-ROW ;

AND: JOHN TAYLOR,
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1838."

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CONTENTS.

PAICT 1.

MENAGERIE OF QUADRUPEDS, Pp. Ite

oe ATS,
Page
Diana Monkey : = 4Q
Mona Monkey : - 3
Red or Patras Monkey = to
Common Green Monkey~ - 6
Vaulting or Lesser White-
nosed Monkey . - 7d
Dog-tailed Baboon Ss tase aay
White-eyelid Monkey = 8
Lion-tailed Monkey = 9
Entellus Monkey - - 10
Negro Monkey - 12
Chestnut Long-armed Monkey 14
Black-crested Monkey - 5
Crested Monkey 2 = “6
Barbary Ape 2 - 18
Black Ape - 19
Mandriil, or Ribbed-nose ane
boon 20
Bear-like Howling Monkey - 21
Marimond, or White-bellied
Howling Monkey = R23,
Horned Monkey - -) 24,
Widow Monkey 2 - 25
Squirrel Monkey - = 496
Three-striped Monkey ~) i,
Hand-drinking Monkey = 2
Black-headed Monkey = 2129
Little Striated Monkey - 30
Silky Monkey , - - ~§82
Slow-paced Lemur -- 384
Red Lemur - 36
White-fronted Lemur - 38
Woolly Lemur - - 939
Ruffed Lemur - - 40
Ring-tailed Lemur - 4l
Dwarf Lemur - - 42
Barbastel Bat - - 3
Javanese Vampire - - 45
Russian Desman - - 48
Shrew Mole - =" ‘50
European Brown Bear aol
Barren Ground Bear - 54
Black European Bear =) 50

Black American Bear
Grisly Bear -
Polar or Sea Bear -
Malay Bear -
Thick-lipped Bear
Common Racoon -
Atnerican Badger
Javanese Badger -
Brazilian Racoon, or Coati

Mondi - -
Potto - - -
Wolverine, or Glutton -
Banded or South American

Wolverine | - - -
Rattel, or Cape Wolverine -
Minx, or Vison Weasel -
Pekan, or Fisher Weasel -
Hudson’s Bay Weasel, or

Skunk - - -
Ermine, or Stoat - -
Canadian Otter - -
Brazilian Otter -

Javanese or Slender- clawed
Otter - -
Pine Marten - -

Javanese Genett -
Javanese Ichneumon= -
Sable - - -
Weasel-Cat -
Civet - -
Zibett - - - -
Bengal Tiger -
Puma, or American Lion
Jaguar, or American Once
Leopard - -
Panther - -
Panther of the Antients
True Ocelot - -
Greyish Ocelot - -
Small-spotted Ocelot
Clouded Tiger - -
Once - -
Serval - - - -

vi

Linked Ocelot -
Chati Tiger-Cat - e
Long-tailed Tiger-Cat
Lineated Cat - -
Javan Cat - -
Sumatran Cat = c
Diard’s Java Cat
American Beaver -
Whistling Marmot ~
American Hare =

CONTENTS.

Page
125 Polar Hare
126 American Woodland Rene
197 deer - oe
128 Barren Ground Reindeer -
129 Wapiti Elk - - - -
130 American Moose Deer -
130 Axis Deer - - - .
131 Black-tailed Deer = =
134 Prong-horned Antelope ¢ -
135 European Roebuck -
PART #1.
ei

ON LIVING OR DOMESTICATED BIRDS, SUITABLE FOR AVIARIES
PRESERVES, p. 147.

OR

White-headed Eagle
Common Peacock =
Java Peacock -
Refulgent Lancecrest
Ring-necked Pheasant
Golden Pheasant =
Silver Pheasant is
Hondiras Turkey — =
Crested Curassow es
Globe-billed Curassow
Red Curassow =
Wattled Curassow is
Helmet Curassow -
Red-billed Curassow
Red-knobbed Curassow
Wild Swan *) phy
Tame Swan es
Bewick’s Swan
Trumpeter Swan -
Black Swan -
Canada Goose =
Hutchins Goose -
Snow Goose -
Loggerhead Goose -
Hybrid Goose a
Chilian Goose -
Southern Goose -
Bustard Goose -

160 Cream-coloured Goose -
163 Pigeon Goose g S
168 Semipalmated Goose -
170 Red-billed Whistling Se A -
172 Common Sheldrake =
173 Musk Duck - s
176 Summer or Tree Duck <
177 Mandarine, or Chinese Sum-
179 mer Duck = =
180 American Widgeon — -
182 Mallard, or Common Duck - -
183 Blue-win ed Duck = 3
184 Gargany Duck - .
187 Beautiful Duck “ -
188 Javanese Duck - 2 =
190 Common Gadwall = -
193 Eider Duck = - s
197 King Eider = -s Z
198 Red-headed Pochard - -
200 Canvas-back Duck - af
201 Common or 'Golden- ate Gar-
207 rot
209 Barrow’s or Rocky Mountain :
213 Garrot io = si
215 Harlequin Duck -
Q15 Buffel-headed or Spirit Garrot
216 Pink-headed Duck - =
216 Pelican = = ‘
PART Tr

TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER OF BIRDS, EITHER NEW,
OR HITHERTO IMPERFECTLY DESCRIBED - -

Q17

281

-ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

fede Wd ipa ip

MENAGERIE OF QUADRUPEDS.

Tue subject to which this volume is devoted, accord-
ing to the original plan, is one in which little of novelty
can be expected. The institution of Zoological Gardens,
for the reception and exhibition of living animals, has
given birth to several popular accounts, under the same
title as this, in which the objects usually seen in such
collections have been repeatedly described, and anecdotes
of their habits and manners in a state of nature intro-
duced. The same plan will be here pursued ; for the
scientific naturalist, who has not had a living specimen
under his eye, can only speak of its manners from the
accounts of others.

The best account of animals in menageries, so far as
their peculiarities in such a state are concerned, would
come from the keepers themselves, if such persons were
as skilful in writing upon, as they are in managing, their
charges. ‘For, after all, what can a systematic naturalist
or a field obsérver do on a subject of this kind, but take
for granted what he hears from others? He is almost
_debarred from the power of giving original observations,
unless upon such native animals as he is acquainted
with. “ Dead men tell no tales ;” and so is it with confined
beasts, If he has merely to describe a preserved animal,
he may find something new, or something requiring
illustration, in its structure or its colour; and if he
writes with nature before him, his account is original ;
but, when he comes to touch upon its manners and

B

Z ANIMALS IN. MENAGERIES.

habits, he must, in almost every instance, have recourse
to others: he is absolutely shut out from all other
sources of information ; and he is, from necessity, often
obliged to avail himself of resources used. by others on
similar occasions. Nevertheless, if he judiciously select
from the best authorities, and reject those which he con-
siders questionable, he at least may do some good, by
discountenancing what has not the appearance of truth,
and thus purifying animal biography from some of its
numerous errors. Besides, the stream of discovery is
constantly bringing within our reach morsels of truth and
of veracious anecdote, which require adding tothe general
stock of knowledge ; and these will sometimes so alter
the former history of an animal *, as to give it an en-
tirely new character.

The scientific ornithologist will, we hope, be satisfied
by the description of more than two hundred new or
little known birds contained in the Third Part; being ,
that portion of our ornithological labours which want
of space obliged us to omit in a former volume, and of
which, in fact, it should be viewed as an Appendix.

Such a considerable number of quadrupeds have been,
at different times, imported into England, and exhibited
in menageries, that it became absolutely necessary to
make a selection. We have, therefore, omitted the ele-
phant, the rhinoceros, the oran-outang, and a few
others of the best known ; since their histories have been
so often repeated, that they must be in the hands of
almost every one. This has given us more space for the
introduction of others, whose natural history has been
illustrated by the observations of recent travellers.

Tue Diana Monkey.

Cercopithecus Diana, Geoff. Simia Diana, Linn. La Diane,
Audub. Palatine Monkey, Pennant. (Fig. 1.)

The Diana monkey derives its name from its frontal
crescent-shaped band, as resembling that ornament

* As in the case of the glutton, Gulo Iuscus.

OS!

MONA MONKEY. 3

which poets and mytholo-
gists assign to the goddess
fm of hunting. It is one of the
{7 most gentle .and_ graceful
monkeys usually seen in
menageries. Of its habits
in a state of nature we know
nothing. A living specimen,
» in the Zoological Gardens,
SN is described as ‘* moderately
playful, and quite familiar.” It is a native of Western
Africa, and is stated, by Marcgrave and the older na-
turalists, to inhabit the forests of Congo and Guinea.
In size, the Diana monkey is about eighteen inches
in length, without reckoning the tail, which is very
long, and measures nearly two feet. Its colouring is
peculiarly varied and graceful: the head, neck, sides,
and middle of the body beneath, are of a dark ash-colour,
which becomes gradually darker on the outside of the
limbs and tail, and is finally converted into a deep black
at the extremities. The face and ears are intensely
black. Besides the white frontal band before alluded to,
there are broad bushy tufts of white hairs on the sides of
the face and on the chin, which is thus ornamented by
a flat beard, two or three inches long: the chest and
inside of the arms is covered by a well defined patch of
white, and another, of a light orange, is on the belly.*

Tue Mona Monkey.
Cercopithecus Mona, Geoff:, Griff. Cuv. i. 268. Zool. Gard.
Tihs

There isa general resemblance between this and the
Diana monkey ; but the Mona is still more beautiful in
its colours, and more elegant in its form. It appears, in
short, to exhibit a superiority of sagacity, of penetration,
and of gentleness, far above any other species of its
tribe. It seems to be a native more of Northern than
of Tropical Africa. We owe to M. F. Cuvier the fol-

* Zool. Gard. ii. 35,
B 2

af

A. ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

lowing interesting account of an individual which was
long a favourite at the Paris menagerie: — Upon his
first arrival he was extremely young ; and his gentle-
ness, and total want of malice and petulance, insured
him the free range of the apartment. Age did not
alter his excellent disposition ; and, as he increased in
size and strength, his address and agility became un-
paralleled. Yet all his motions were gentle, and his
actions circumspect: he was persevering in his wants
and wishes, but never violent in the attempt to enforce
them. When, after considerable solicitation, his requests
were still refused, he would go off in a gambol, and find
entertainment in some new object. He had no idea of
property, but took every thing that pleased him, even
such articles as had previously caused his punishment ;
and he executed his thefts with dexterity and silence.
He would open locks wherein the key had been left,
untie knots, open the links of a chain, and search pockets
with so much address that you did not feel his hand
there, although conscious he was in the act of thieving.
The examination, indeed, of pockets was his favourite
occupation ; doubtless from expecting to find articles of
food. He was not very conspicuous for affection ; but
when tranquil, and not engaged, he received caresses with
pleasure. When tempted to play, he signified his assent
by many graceful motions: he would throw himself into
all possible attitudes, bite gently, press himself against
the person, and accompany all these little gambols with
a soft and gentle cry, which appeared to be his ex-
pression of joy. He never made grimaces ; but, on the
contrary, his countenance was always calm, and fre-
quently serious.

But monkeys, like other animals, vary in their temper ;
and a specimen of the Mona, kept at the Zoological
Gardens, ‘ occasionally exhibits a temper as capricious
and as savage as is possessed by almost any of the tribe.”

The colouring of the Mona is particularly beautiful.
The hair is of a brilliant golden green ; while the back
and sides are of a rich marroun, variegated with black :

RED MONKEY. 5

the outer portions of; the limbs and tail are of a delicate
slate-coloured grey ; while the neck, chest, belly, and
the internal facing of the limbs, are pure and shining
white. The cheeks are thickly tufted with straw-co-
loured hairs; above the eyebrows is a transverse black
band, extending on each side as far as the ears, and
surmounted by a crescent-shaped stripe of grey: the
ears and hands are of a livid flesh-colour.

Tue Rep or Parras Monkey.

Cercopithecus ruber, Geoff. Simia rubra, Linn. Le Patras,
Buff. Red Monkey, Pennant, Zool. Gard. vi. 137.

The delicate red colour which predominates over the
upper parts of this monkey, renders it of easy cognis-
ance. It is also one of those frequently seen in col-
lections, and it is particularly common in the forests of
Senegal. In confinement, it is described as vicious, vin-
dictive, and full of mischief, evincing little or no attach-
ment even to the hand that feeds it. Bruce gives an
interesting description of their manners in a state of
nature. They descended in troops from the tops of
the trees to the extremities of the branches, earnestly
noticing, and apparently much amused by, the boats, as
they passed along the river. They then began to take
courage, and pelt at the passengers with pieces of wood,
&c.; thus provoking a most unequal combat. When
fired upon, they uttered the most frightful cries; and
although many fell, the survivors appeared by no means
willing to relinquish the contest: on the contrary,
they redoubled their efforts: some flung stones at their
adversaries, while others collected excrements for a
similar purpose ; all, in short, displayed a determination
of spirit which must at all times render them formidable
to opponents of weaker powers than those of men.

The general colour or tint of the upper parts of the
body is reddish fawn-colour, while those beneath and
on the inner surface of the limbs is dull whitish:
above the eyes there is a black band, which is some-
times margined above by another of white.

B 3

6 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue Common GREEN MonkeEY.

Cercopithecus Sabeeus, Geoff. Simia Sabexa, Linn. Singe
vert, Briss. Callitriche, Buffon, Zool. Gard. x. 303.

' This is one of the most common monkeys seen in
menageries and shows ; yet so deficient are we in animal
biographies, that the celebrated Adanson is the only
writer who gives any account of its natural habits. This
enterprising traveller found the green monkey in im-
mense numbers in the forests of Senegal: they remain
on the trees in large troops ; and preserve the most pro-
found silence, even when they are wounded. ‘Totally
unconscious of being surrounded by these, mischievous
little animals, the first intimation that our traveller had
of their presence was, by being pelted with dead
branches of trees, which they flung upon him from
above on every side; nor were they to be intimidated
by the discharge of his gun: they returned to the
attack, and twenty-three were killed in less than an
hour. M. F. Cuvier speaks of one which was at the
Paris menagerie, as remarkably beautiful and gentle. It
was fond of being caressed by those whom it knew, and
seldom evinced any desire to hurt. When contented,
its satisfaction was expressed by a peculiar gentle grunt.

The size of the Callitriv, or green monkey, seems to
vary. One writer describes it as from sixteen to eighteen
inches long ; another, from twenty-one to twenty-two
inches ; both measurements excluding the tail, which is
much longer. The upper parts of the body are of a
greenish yellow, resulting from a combination of yellow
and black rings upon the hair, in which, however, the
yellow predominates: the external facing of the limbs is
more greyish: the tail ends in a parcel of long yellow
hairs: the lower parts of the body, limbs, &c. are grey-
ish; and the face, ears, and skin of the hands are
black: in some, the neck and chest are white.

" DOG-TAILED BABOON.

~J

Tue Vau.tine or Lessrr WuITE-NosED Monkey.
Cercopithecus petaurista, Geoff., Zool. Gard. vi. 137.

This very elegant little species is seldom seen in our
menageries. Two, however, have been at different
times in the possession of the Zoological Society, and
have been thus described. The Blane Nez, or white-
nosed monkey, is one of the smallest, and at the same
time one of the most curiously marked, among its own
tribe. It may always be recognised at the first glance
by the white patch which occupies the extremity of its
nose, and which occurs only in one other species, the
C. nictitans, or white-nosed monkey of Pennant. In
manners and disposition it is lively, active, and gene-
rally good tempered: it was, however, by no means
familiar, and appeared to be particularly anxious to
conceal its face; crying out and kicking with all its
might, when handled for the purpose of inspection. It
is a native of Guinea, and seems to be peculiarly sus-
ceptible of cold ; seldom bearing, for any length of time,
the rigour of a European climate.

Tue Dog-TaILeD BABoon.

Cercocebus cynosurus, Geoff: Malbrouc, Buffon, xiv. Dog-
faced Baboon, Shaw, i. 32. Audub. Hist. 4. § 2. f. 5, Mal-
brouck, Griff. Cuv. i. 266.

This animal, called by the French the Malbrouck, is
sometimes seen in our menageries, although neither his
appearance nor disposition place him in competition
with the more elegant and docile species of this family.
The length of the hinder limbs evinces the peculiar
adaption of his structure for climbing and living among
trees ; this disproportion of hands and feet, while it
renders his progress upon the ground slow and awkward,
is no impediment in climbing, but imparts, on the con-
trary, a wonderful degree of agility in leaping from
branch to branch, and from tree to tree. . In a state of
nature, these animals congregate in large troops, and live
in the thick virgin forests of Tropical Asia. They are
said to annoy the traveller both by the petulance of their

. B 4

§ ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

motions, and the incessant iteration of their cries ; while
their amazing agility is well calculated to excite his
wonder. This celerity of motion is even conspicucus
under confinement: they are said, even then, to shoot
forward with such sustained vigour, as to make several
turnings in their course as if flying, sustained in the
air only by the impulse which they may receive from
striking the walls of their cage. This assertion, however,
may be reasonably doubted. When in captivity, their
voice is seldom heard, and then only in a dull feeble
sort of grunt. When young, they are docile, particularly
the females ; but in adult age they become excessively
malicious: this extreme irritability prevents the species
from ever being completely tamed: gentleness fails, and,
if treated with violence or unkindness, he becomes
melancholy and soon dies. The extraordinary dexterity
of this species is shown in the use of their hands. If
a man, by any accident, loses his thumb, we see that the
main power of the hand is gone; yet, notwithstanding
the extreme shortness of this member in the Malbrouc,
it can seize, between the thumb and the fore-finger, the
smallest object with the most wonderful facility. In eat-
ing fruits or roots, these monkeys pull them with their
teeth, and smell every article of food before it is devoured ;
in drinking, they suck: their senses, in all respects, are
extremely good, without being remarkably delicate, and
they are evidently gifted with great powers of sight.

The colour of the upper parts of the Malbrouc is olive
brown; and of the under, including the throat, chest,
body, and internal parts of the limbs, dull white: there
is also a whitish band over the eyes. _ The buttocks
have very large callosities: the tail is longer than the
body, and the cheek pouches are distinct.

Toe WuHaitr-EYELID MonKeEY.

Cereocebus AEthiops, Geoff. Simia Athiops, Linn. Man-
gabey, Buff., Audub. White-eyelid Monkey, Pennant.

Of this monkey there appears to be two races, oF
possibly (according to Geoffroy) two species. Theix

LION-TAILED MONKEY. 9

manners and disposition, however, are confessedly so
much alike, that one description is applicable to both.
They are more docile and less mischievous than the
common green monkey ; but like them are constantly
in motion, and assuming strange grotesque attitudes.
M. F. Cuvier remarks, that, from the wonderful vi-
vacity of their motions, an observer would almost
imagine that their limbs were stronger, and furnished
with more joints, than those of ordinary monkeys. The
females, as is generally the case, are more docile and gentle
than the males. They have asingular mode of expressing
their feelings, by raising their lips, and showing their
teeth ; and they exhibit another peculiarity in always
carrying their tails completely reversed — that is,in nearly
a parallel line with the back. Both these races occur inthe
same regions, and appear confined to Tropical Africa.

. The colours of the two races generally called by this
name, are very similar. In that called by M. Geoffroy
the Smoke-coloured Monkey (C. fuliginosus), the pre-
valent tint is grey slate-brown, without any spot on the
head or neck, while the other has the fur of a vinaceous
brown, which becomes red on the crown of the head :
there is also a white band between the eyes, which is
continued to each side of the back of the neck. In both,
however, the upper eyelid is white. To this latter, the
original name of AXthiops is more strictly applied.

Tae Lion-TrarneEp Monkey.

Cercocebus Silenus, Jiliger. Simia Silenus, Linn. Occan-
derou, Buff. Papio Silenus, Geoff. Lion-taiied Baboon,

Pennant,

The tufted tail of this animal, by some called a
monkey, and by others a baboon, has procured it the
trivial name of Lion-tailed ; and perhaps to the same
cause, as well as to the malicious character assigned to
the species by Buffon, we may attribute its more classic
name of Satyrus. The species is mentioned by many
of the old travellers; and although not very common
in our menageries, it is sometimes brought alive to

10 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Europe. It appears to inhabit the forests of Ceylon,
but of its natural habits we are altogether ignorant.
In captivity, it as been described as a most vicious and
malignant animal; and such was the character of two
individuals mentioned by Buffon: yet another, formerly
at Exeter Change, seems to have been much the reverse,
and not to have possessed any bad qualities; while a
fourth, observed by Mr. Griffiths in Wombwell’s col-
lection, ‘was so far gentle and sociable, as not to be
confined within a cage, but merely fastened by a light
chain of some length. In this situation, had the
animal been so disposed, it might have found oppor-
tunities of gratifying those malicious and savage inclin-
ations which have been attributed to the whole race.
The same writer very justly observes, “ that it is at all
times difficult to discover the real character of a species,
from a few individuals. Their dispositions undergo
changes, equally great with their persons, at different
periods of their existence; so that both the personal
and moral character of an animal may be widely dif-
ferent, and equally true, when taken during the young,
adolescent, or aged period of its life.”

M. F. Cuvier describes a female, as then living in
the Paris menagerie. The length of the body was about
eighteen French inches; that of the tail, ten. The whole
animal was of a very fine deep black, excepting the belly,
breast, and a circle or ruff of long hairs round the head,
all which parts were white: the face and hands were also
black ; but the callosities on the buttocks were reddish.
This is probably the Full-bottom Monkey of Dr. Shaw.

Tue Entetius Monkey.
Semnopithecus entellus, Cuv., Zool. Gard. iv. 82.

Living specimens of this monkey are rarely seen in
the menageries of Europe, and even preserved skins are
seldom to be met with in our museums. Designed by
nature to inhabit the hottest regions of Tropical India,
it is peculiarly suceptible of a lower temperature ; since
it is related that one, in the possession of the celebrated

ENTELLUS MONKEY. If

traveller Thunberg, died from cold in the temperate
latitudes of Southern Africa. The specimens both of
the Paris and Zoological menageries did not, in fact.
long survive their arrival in Europe. Thunberg, who
had an opportunity of seeing these animals on the island
of Ceylon, says that they are by no means uncommon, and
that the natives have such a superstitious feeling towards
them, that they are treated with respect: tame indi-
viduals are seen in the houses ; and these are often visited
by their wilder brethren of the woods. The latter, it is
true, are scared away by the natives, but never de-
stroyed. ‘‘ Emboldened by this impunity, the monkeys
come down from the woods in large herds, and take
possession of the produce of the husbandman’s toil with
as little ceremony as though it had been collected for
their use: with a degree of taste that does them credit,
they prefer the cultivated fruits of the orchard to the
wild ones of their native forests. Figs, cocoa-nuts,
apples, pears, and even cabbages and potatoes (yams ?),
form their favourite food. The numbers in which they

assemble render it impossible for the sufferer to drive
them away, without some more effectual means than he
is willing to employ. He is thus compelled to remain
a quiet spectator of the devastation, and to submit with-
out repining to his fate.” The scientific history of this
species is amply illustrated in the work which has fur-
nished the above extract. We must likewise notice a
very remarkable circumstance connected with the change
of form which this monkey and several of its congeners
undergoes in the shape of the cranium, or skull, between
the period of early youth and matured age, since it il-
lustrates the truth of one of the primary axioms of the
phrenologists. ‘In the early stages of their growth,”
observes Mr. Bennett, ‘“‘ the forehead is broad and
elevated, the cavity of the cranium proportionally large,
and the muzzle but slightly prominent ; but as they
advance in age, the forehead gradually diminishes in
size, contracting in a remarkable degree the dimensions
of the cavity within, and the muzzle is prolonged to a
considerable extent. These changes, which are common

12 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

to the whole tribe, but are peculiarly striking in the
present genus, in consequence of the prominence of their
foreheads in a young state, are accompanied by a cor-
responding change in the habits of the animals. When
taken at an early age they are readily tamed, become
playful and familiar, are extremely agile, although ge-
nerally calm and circumspect in their motions, and learn
to perform a variety of tricks, which they execute with
no little cunning and address. After a time, however,
their playfulness wears off ; their confidence is succeeded
by mistrust; their agility settles down into a listless
apathy ; and instead of resorting, as before, to the re-
sources of their ingenuity for carrying any particular
point, they have recourse to the brute force which they
have acquired in its stead. At length they become as
mischievous, and sometimes even as dangerous, as any
of those monkeys which in their young state offer no
such indications of good temper and intelligence.” *

The height of the living specimen, formerly at the
Zoological Gardens, when in a sitting position, exceeded
two feet ; and the length of the tail, which was usually
curled in a single coil, measured nearly three. The
upper parts of the body in this species are uniform ashy
grey, darkest on the tail, which is throughout of equal
thickness. The under parts are dingy yellowish white:
the arms, hands, and feet are dusky black; the face is
also blackish: above the eye-brows is a line of long,
stiff, projecting, black hairs: a greyish white beard
passes round the face, and extends upwards in front of
the ears, which are long and prominent, and black ;
this beard is not pendent, but protrudes forward: the
tail is tipped with a few long hairs.

Tur Necro Monkey.

Semnopithecus Maurus, Cuv. Simia Maura, Linn. Guénon
Négre, Buff. Negro Monkey, Pennant.

The veracious Edwards was the first British natural-
ist who recorded this species as being in the menageries

* Zool, Gard. vi. p. 84.

NEGRO MONKEY. 138

of this country ; and since his time it has been occa-
sionally in the travelling collections ; while to Dr. Hors-
field we are indebted for the only account of its na-
tural habits yet given to the public. ‘“‘ It is found in
abundance in the extensive forests of Java, where it
forms its dwellings on trees, and associates in numerous
societies : troops, consisting of more than fifty indi-
viduals, are often found together ; so that, on meeting
them in the forests, it is prudent to observe them at a
distance. On the approach of man, they emit loud
screams ; and by the violent bustle and commotion ex-
cited by their movements, branches of decayed trees are
frequently detached and precipitated on the spectators
below. Their fur is so much esteemed by the natives,
that they are looked upon as beasts of the chase ; in
these pursuits, which are generally ordered and attended
by the chiefs, the animals are attacked with cudgels and
stones, and cruelly destroyed in great numbers. The
skins are prepared by asimple process, which the natives
have acquired from the Europeans ; and they conduct it
at present with great skill. It affords a fur of a jet
black colour, covered with long silky hairs, which is
usefully employed both by the natives and Europeans
in preparing riding equipages and military decorations.
When young, the negro monkey feeds on tender leaves
of plants and trees ; and when adult, it has a plentiful
and varied repast in the abundance of wild fruits which
are produced in its native forests. The Javanese,
although partial to some of their native monkeys, as
domestic animals, appear to have a peculiar dislike to
this, which they neglect and despise: its disposition,
indeed, may have caused this prejudice. Dr. Hors-
field observes, that, in confinement, it requires much
patience to improve, in any degree, the natural sullen-
ness of its temper: it will remain for many months
grave and morose ; and as it contributes nothing to the
amusement of the natives, it is rarely found in the

villages or about the dwellings. The Javanese name is
Budeng.

*

14 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

The colour of the fur, as already intimated, is of a
jet black above, and grey beneath; but this belongs
only to the full-grown adult. Immediately after birth,
the young are of a fulvous or reddish yellow colour ;
this gradually changes to a mixed grey, and this again
as gradually attains the deep black of the full-grown
animal. The most striking characteristic of the negro
monkey is the great length of the extremities: the arms
and fore-arms are particularly slender ;'so that, in its
ordinary movements, the rump is considerably elevated.
It is very doubtful, after all, if the middle-sized black
monkey of Edwards is really the same as that from
Java; but another which he alludes to, is in all proba-
bility this species.

Tue Caestnut Lone-ARMED Monkey.

Semnopithecus Pyrrhus, Horsf. Zoological Researches in Java.

We know not whether living examples of this more
recently discovered species, which inhabits the same
region and the same forests as the last, have yet reached
this country ; but, as it may be transported with equal
facility, we may confidently expect it will not long re-
main a stranger to our menageries. Dr. Horsfield, who
is its first describer, states that it agrees in all points of
structure with the species last noticed, but that it is con-
stantly and permanently distinguished by its reddish
brown colour. Its peculiarities, indeed, appear to be
well known to the Javanese, who give it the distinct
name of Lutung, in opposition to that of Bubeng, which
is conferred alone upon the negro, or black long-armed
monkey of their forests. The latter is much more
abundant in Java than the present, which is, moreover,
a great favourite of the natives, on account of its variety
and comparative beauty. Whenever an individual is
captured, the greatest care is taken in its domestication, _
and it is uniformly treated with kindness and attention ;
while the black species, or Bubeng, as before remarked,
is neglected and despised except for the value of its

BLACK-CRESTED MONKEY. Pa

fur. Several preserved specimens are contained in the
honourable East India company’s museum.

The fur, like that of the Bubeng, is long, delicate,
soft, and silky: while the colour in the latter is in-
tensely black, in this it is reddish brown, with a beauti-
ful golden gloss on the back, head, tail, and extremities,
gradually changing into a pale yellowish underneath,
where, however, the golden gloss is still preserved: the
fur above is long, shaggy, and thick ; but on the under
parts it is thin, curled, silky, and of a very delicate tex-
ture.

Tue Buack-crestep MonkKeEY.

Semnopithecus melalophus, F. Cuvier. Simia melalophus,
Raffies. Sempai, of the Javanese. .( Fig. 2.)

This very singularly formed species was first de-
scribed by sir Stamford Raffles * as a native of Suma-
tra, where, in the neighbourhood of Bencoolen, it is not
unfrequent. We have not yet heard of living specimens
having been brought to this country ; but our zoological
importations are now so numerous that every month
brings some novelty; while, on the other hand, the
coldness and humidity of our climate occasion a constant
mortality, in the winter, among those animals which
naturally inhabit the tropics. The species before us, with
a few others, is remarkable for the great length of its
hinder legs, in comparison to its arms or fore legs; a

* Trans. of Linn. Soviety, xiii. 245.

16 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

structure the very reverse of the gibbons ( Hylobates IIl.),
or long-armed apes of the Indian continent, which, as
their name implies, have the fore legs disproportionably
longer than the hinder. What peculiarities of habit
result from this structure, in the present animal, we
know not; for sir Stamford’s account is entirely confined
to the following description of its colour: —

The general form and appearance nearly resembles
that of the Simia cristata Raffl.; but it is a little
longer, and of a very different colour ; being of a bright
fawn, mixed with black; on the head, back, and
shoulders, white: the whole of the under parts are
nearly white. The head and face are small: the hairs
are long, diverging round the face, and form a long and
distinct crest on the head, composed of black hairs ;
while on each cheek there is a tuft of fawn-coloured
hairs, which graduate into white: the forehead, below
the crest, is of a light fawn-colour : the beard is scanty:
the face is naked, slightly wrinkled, and of a bluish
colour ; and the facial line is so remarkably straight as to
be almost perpendicular: the palms and soles of the
feet are black ; the thumbs of the hands very small, and
the callosities large: the tail is very long and tapering,
and exceeds thirty inches in length: the hair is long,
soft, and silky.

Tue Crestep Monkey. d

Semnopithecus cristatus, Sw. Simia cristata, Raffles, Linn.
Tr. xiii. Semnopithecus comatus? F. Cuvier, Mam., Des-
marest.

This is another very remarkable monkey from Su-
matra, also described by sir Stamford Raffles. It seems
to be the same as the Semnopithecus comatus of the two
French collectors, MM. Diard and Duvaucel: these
gentlemen were employed by our illustrious countrymen
as his assistants ; but, availing themselves, most impro-
perly, of this patronage, they endeavoured, in many
instances, to anticipate the discoveries of sir Stamford,
by sending to Europe descriptions and specimens of new

CRESTED MONKEY. 17

animals first discovered by their patron. Whether this
was done, however, in the present instance, is somewhat
uncertain ; but the general fact is unquestionable, and
will serve to explain why
nearly all the new quadru-
peds of Sumatra, discovered
by sir Stamford Raffles, have
received different names
from his French assistants.
M. F. Cuvier, in his beau-
tiful, but not very scien-
tific, work on quadrupeds,
has figured the S. comatus
(of which the head alone is
here copied, fig. 3.) ; while
the description of sir Stam-
ford’s S. cristata is nearly
as follows :—

The length of the body is about two feet; the tail
measuring near two and a half: when the animal stands
on all fours, it is fourteen inches high. The colour is
dark grey ; the hairs being in general black with white
points. The face, fore arms, hands, feet, back, and
upper part of the body is pale. (The same colour, in a
horse, would be called iron-grey, or grey with black
points.) The disposition of the hairs on the head is
peculiar ; they are long, and diverge round the face,
forming on the top a kind of crest: the beard is scanty:
face and ears naked, and nearly black: orbits large :
nose rather elevated between the orbits, but quite flat
at the nostrils, which are situated at some distance above
the upper lip, and open laterally: the head and face are
small ; the ears large and rounded ; the canines long ;
the neck short ; and the tail thin, tapering, and without
a tuft: the fore thumbs are remarkably short; and the
whole form light and slender. The young are of a red-
dish fawn-colour; forming a singular contrast to the
dark-coloured adults.

18 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

This species is frequent in the forests round Ben-
coolen, in Sumatra. Pig

Tue Barpary APE.
Cercocebus Sylvanus, Geoff. Simia inuus, Linn.

The only part of Europe which comes within those
geographic limits assigned by Providence to the family
of monkeys, is the rock, or rather the mountain, of
Gibraltar,—that south-western extremity of the con-
tinent, which almost encroaches upon the African shore.
In the lofty and almost inaccessible fastnesses of this
mountain, the Barbary apes have lived, in perfect se-
curity, from time immemorial. What they subsist
upon we know not, except it may be upon the fleshy
roots of several species of asphodel, which constitutes
the principal, yet scanty clothing of these arid rocks,
which are only here and there relieved by a stunted
olive. Small companies of these apes are sometimes
seen perched up among the heights, or scrambling like
goats from crag to crag; yet so sagacious are they,
that we could not hear of a single instance where the
shooting parties, formed by the garrison officers, had ever
returned with an ape, alive or dead. It is said by M.
F. Cuvier, that the Magot (by which name the French
distinguish this species), when in a state of liberty, is
peculiarly active and intelligent ; that they assemble in
numerous troops, and openly attack their enemies. Their
most dangerous foes seem to be the middle-sized species
of wild cats; who possessing, like themselves, the
faculty of climbing, often surprise them in the silence
and obscurity of night. Like others of his family, the
Barbary ape lives, in a state of nature, on fruits, roots,
and leaves ; and even when in confinement, these are
his favourite aliments, but he is easily habituated to take
other nourishment. In losing his liberty, however, his
disposition undergoes a complete change: nor can this
be wondered at; for what is more dear to all animals

BLACK APE. 19

than liberty? Alike incapable, in his gloomy prison, of
confidence or of fear, he evinces nothing but a desire
to be free; and this appears to be his only want. The
painful state into which this feeling throws him, espe-
cailly when it is strongly excited by severity, soon pro-
duces a settled melancholy, which is generally followed
by consumption and death. If gentleness be used, he
becomes, indeed, accustomed to his prison, but loses all
his natural activity : he remains seated upon the ground,
his arms leaning on his knees, and his hands pendent ;
he looks stupidly at what is passing round him; and,
unless when occasionally drawn from this lethargy by
the pressing calls of nature, he appears to pass his life
in a sort of intermediate state between the existence of
animals and plants.*

The usual dimensions of the Barbary ape are those
of a middle-sized dog, measuring from two feet to two
and a half in length. The outer surface of the body
and limbs is of a light yellowish brown, deeper on the
head and round the cheeks: the under parts are whitish ;
and the face, ears, and other naked parts are flesh-
coloured. ‘The tail is so short as to appear more like
a tubercle; it is, in fact, but a short skinny process.

Tue Buackx Apr.

Cercocebus niger, Geoff

The uniform black colour which spreads over every
part of this species, distinguishes it at first sight from
all others of its own tribe. It is seldom seen alive in
Europe ; but two specimens have been recorded, of late
years, as livingin England,—one in the Tower menagerie,
the other in that of the Zoological Society. So little is
known of its natural habits, that its native region is
even uncertain. M. Desmarest, who first described it
from a skin in the Paris Museum, was informed that it
came from one of the islands of the Indian Archi-

* Griff. Cuv.
C 9)

~

20 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

pelago ; and M. Cuvier, upon what authority is not
mentioned, states it to inhabit the Philippine Islands.
The expression of its physiognomy is described as
peculiarly cunning. That at the Zoological Gardens
“seems to be rather violent in its temper, and tyran-
nises not a little over the quiet grey gibbon, which is
at present confined in the same cage.”

The body is covered with long woolly hair, which
becomes shorter on the limbs. Its ears are small; and
its tail is a mere tubercle, less than an inch in length.
On the top of the head it has a broad tuft of long
hairs, falling backwards and forming a very remarkable
crest.

Tue Manprinz, or Ripspep-NosE Basoon.

Papio Mormon, Cuv. Simia Mormon, Linn. Mandril, Buffon.
Ribbed-nose Baboon, Pennant.

The baboons, of all the races of monkeys, are the
most hideous and disgusting in appearance, and the
most ferocious and malignant in disposition. The pre-
sent species, however, is more remarkable for its extra-
ordinary form, since it is described as less savage than
many of its brethren. M. Cuvier says, that it is not
possible to conceive an animal more extraordinary and
more hideous. When full grown, the mandrill very
nearly attains the height of man; and it is held in much
dread by the natives of Guinea, where it resides in
impenetrable forests. Its violet-blue furrowed cheeks
immediately point it out to the most superficial observer ;
and it is one of the most common animals of the public
menageries. The great baboon of Pennant is no other
than the same species in a different stage of growth.
Nearly the whole tribe of baboons inhabit the tropical
regions of Africa; two or three only being found in
the Indian Archipelago, and not one in the New World.
The manners of all these extraordinary animals, in a
state of nature, are totally unknown; we shall not,
therefore, fill our pages with mere technical descriptions
of other species, frequently seen in shows.

BEAR-LIKE HOWLING MONKEY. Zk

The general colour above is greyish brown, inclining
to olive, the chin being furnished with a sharp-pointed
beard of a pale orange colour: the cheeks are naked,
deeply furrowed, and of a bright violet-blue- this
colour forms a striking contrast to the nose, which, in
adult males, becomes of a bright scarlet, particularly
towards the end: the naked, callous patch upon the
buttocks is also of a beautiful violet. The tail is very
short.

Tue Bear-~tikE Howiine Monkey.

Mycetus Ursinus, [/liger. Simia Ursina, Araguato, Humboldt.
Mycetes Ursinus, Desmarest. Stentor Stramineus, Geoffroy
St. Hillaire.

Although the tropical forests of the New World,
are destitute of those disgusting baboons which abound
in those of Western Africa, yet they are not without a
peculiar tribe of the same family which are equally ter-
rific, if not in appearance, at least in the horrid tones of
their voices. Hence this division of the family have
been called the Howling apes. ‘There are several spe-
cies to which this name has been indiscriminately ap-
plied ; but that which we shall more particularly notice,
is the Araguato of Humboldt,—an animal which has
been sometimes brought to Europe, and of whose extra-
ordinary powers of voice this celebrated traveller thus
writes: — “ After having landed at Cumana, in the
province of New Andalusia, we saw for the first time
the araguato, or howling monkeys, in the journey
which we made to the mountains of Cacola and the
caverns of Guacharo. Although the convent of Caripé
is situated in a valley, the bottom of which is elevated
more than 4000 toises above the level of the sea, and
the neighbourhood is consequently very cold, the sur-
rounding forests abound in howling monkeys, whose
melancholy note is heard nearly two miles off, especially
when the weather is open.”

The economy of the howling monkeys presents so
many interesting peculiarities, and the species appear to

c 3

29 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

be so very similar in their general manners to each other,
that we shall here condense what has been written upon
them by travellers. Like most other monkeys, they
are awkward and decrepit upon the ground ; but the
moment they begin climbing, their wonderful activity
and celerity becomes apparent ; they leap with perfect
ease from the loftiest overhanging branches of one tree
upon those of another, and hang suspended in air by
their tail alone, from twigs which the spectator would
imagine could scarcely sustain their weight. The
social principle in them appears to be very strong ; they
live in numerous troops, and all unite in one common
defence at the moment of danger. In those immense
and almost boundless forests, which are rarely trodden by
the foot of man, the howling monkeys are said to be so
fearless of his presence, as to pelt the intruder with
branches of trees. They seem to do this without anger,
and merely to drive away an object to the sight of which
they have not been accustomed. When hunted, and
one of their party is wounded, the rest spring to the top-
most branches, from which they send forth the most
piteous cries: nor is the behaviour of the wounded in-
dividual less touching ; he puts his finger to the wound,
and looks steadily at the flowing life-blood, until con-
sciousness is lost in death ; even then the hunter very
frequently loses his victim ; since its prehensile tail is
generally coiled round some branch, from which, by
its peculiar organisation, it does not loosen, even after
life has quitted the body. This member, indeed, consti-
tutes a particular feature in the structure of the howl-
ing monkeys generally, and serves at once to distinguish
them from all those of the Old World: it is always long ;
but that of the Coaita howling monkey ( Ate/es paniscus)
is more than two feet long, or nearly twice the length of
the body. Its use to this, and to all the species gene-
rally, is most important ; since it gives a support and se-
curity to the exertions of all the other limbs: it is con-
stantly brought into action with them, being entwined
round the object nearest to the animal ; thus acting as

MARIMOND. ; 93

van anchor, and giving a perfect security, even if the
twigs upon which the feet are placed should give way
with the weight of the body. That part of the tail
which more especially is used as a coil is naked, and
is described as having a second covering of very delicate
skin, which forms an organ of touch as perfect and as
discriminating as the hands. Nearly the whole of the
division of howling monkeys, unlike their African bre-
thren, are easily domesticated, and, if kindly treated,
become attached and playful with those they live with.
In a state of liberty, most of the species are said to be
nocturnal ; but this, strictly speaking, may be doubted.
We were long in the habit of hearing the howling mon-
keys of Brazil, whose dreadful yells generally began
about two hours before sunset, but invariably ceased
soon after twilight.

The general colour of this species is of a uniform yel.-
lowish red or golden chestnut. The face is thinly covered
with hair, and it hasa thick beard. The only authentic
figure hitherto published is that given by Humboldt:
it represents the animal sitting on the branch of a tree,
with a banana fruit in one hand.

Tue Marimonp or WHiTE-BELLIED How.Line
3
Monkey.

Ateles Beelzebuth, Geoff: Le Belzebuth, Brisson. Coaita
a ventre blanc, Cuvier.

This is one of the most singular species among the
American monkeys. The hair on the back and top of the
head is reversed or directed forward, while that on the
forehead is directed on the contrary way, thus pro-
ducing a top-knot upon the crown. M. Humboldt
observed this curious animal very frequently in those
provinces bordering the great river Orinoco; and al-
though we have no certain information of any living
specimen being in now England, we doubt not that,
ere long, its singular appearance will induce some of
our countrymen now settled in the Columbian States,

c 4

Q4 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

to send it us from its native country. Its disposition is
said to be timid and melancholy ; at times, in the ex-
cess of its fear, it is even said to bite those who caress
it: its anger is merely expressed by closing the lips,
and uttering a guttural cry resembling o7e-o. When in
a state of freedom, this species frequently collects in
considerable numbers ; they are then said to embrace
each other in a very grotesque way, and form them-
selves into an idle party: at such times they bask and
stretch themselves in the sun, in perfect idleness; and
in so doing, assume so many strange attitudes, that a
spectator would believe, from the suppleness of their
limbs, that the joints were dislocated: at other times,
when exposed to the meridian sun, they lie on their
back, fold their arms, look upwards, and in this extra-
ordinary position will remain perfectly listless and im-
moveable for hours.

The general size is that of the last described; and its
height, when erect, is about two feet nine inches. The fur
on the upper parts of the body is of a deep blackish brown,
very glossy on the back and outer sides of the limbs;
while that of the belly, inner surface of the limbs, and
beneath the tail, is reddish yellow, or dirty yellowish
white, glossed with a slight golden tint. Its prehensile
tail is much developed.

Tue Hornep Monkey.
Cebus fatuellus, Jlliger. (Fig. 4.)

A living specimen of this grotesque animal in the
king’s menagerie at Paris enabled M. Brisson to be-
come its first describer. Another healthy individual
was in the same collection in the year 1820, which has
been particularly described by M. F. Cuvier. It
has obtained the name of Horned monkey, not from
possessing those appendages usually denominated horns,
but from two tufts of hairs which bear that resem-
blance, and which rise immediately above the ears. The
hairs of the forehead, in fact, instead of being directed

WIDOW MONKEY. 25

backwards, as is usual in

allanimals, rise vertically,

and thus forms what M.

Cuvier terms a bandeau ;

and at each extremity

arises one of the above-
, mentioned tufts of hairs,
‘which are much longer
‘“ than the rest. In the
season of winter, when
the fur of the animal is
longest, these tufts be-
come very prominent ;
but they do not appear in the young animal, until it has
cut the canine teeth. In confinement, this species is
said to be mild and affectionate.

The exact size has not been stated, but it is rather
above the middle-sized monkeys. The prevalent colour
is a very dark brown, nearly black on the head and
limbs, and somewhat lighter on the shoulders; the
cheeks are surrounded by a narrow line of white hairs,
which meet at the chin; the face, and all the naked
parts, are violet.

Tuer Winow Monkey.
Callithrix lugens, Geoff:

This rare and pretty little animal has been compared,
and not unaptly, to a diminutive black dog with a white
face. Its whole colour, in fact, is of a uniform shining
blackness, with the exception of the face, neck, and
arms, which are dull white; the former being sur-
rounded with a narrow band of pure white. This re-
markable disposition of colour has obtained for it, from
the Creoles, the fanciful name of the Widow monkey ;
the whiteness of the face, neck, and arms being com-
pared to~-the veil, analeer chick and gloves worn in
its native country by widows. It is described as par-
ticularly gentle and timid, except when a small bird,

26 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

its natural food, is placed in its sight ; it then becomes
animated and eager, darts at it like a rat, and devours it
in an instant: at other times it will remain motionless
for hours, attentively watching whatever is going on.
It seems, however, to have a particular aversion to its
hands being touched, since they are immediately with-
drawn and hid under its belly. It evinces a great dread
of other monkeys, but not those of its own species.
Of its native history we are entirely ignorant.

The usual length of the body is net more than one
foot. ‘The head is round, the muzzie short, and the
general expression of its physiognomy is agreeable.
The colours we have already noticed. The nose is short
and flat, and the ears are almost naked ; the hands are
nearly white on the outside, but black within; and the
hinder hands, or more properly the feet, are entirely
black ; the tail is also black, and a little longer than
the body.

Tuer Seuirret Monkey.

Callithrix sciureus, Cuv. Simia sciureus, Linn. Carmiri,
Buffon. Titi, Humboldt. Squirrel Monkey, Pennant.

The golden yellow or reddish colour of the fur, or
probably the size and activity of the animal, may have
occasioned this pretty little monkey to be likened to a
squirrel. Its physiognomy has been termed infantine,
having an expression of innocence, and as sometimes
exhibiting the same rapid transition from joy to sadness.
** If it cannot laungh—the peculiar faculty of man—it can
weep ; since, when its fears are excited, the eyes become
suddenly suffused with tears, and it seems to appeal only
to the softer passions for impunity and protection ;” it
is, indeed, seldom to be irritated. All its movements
are rapid, light, airy, and graceful. It has a habit of
steadfastly watching the mouth of a person while speak-
ing; and if it be allowed to sit on the shoulder, will
frequently touch the lips, teeth, or tongue of its master.
Like many of the small American monkeys, it is ex-

+

THREE-STRIPED MONKEY. 27

tremely fond of insects. During damp or cold weather,
in a state of nature, or when several are confined in a
cage, they crowd as closely together as possible, em-
bracing each other with their arms and tails: this latter
member, however, is not prehensile. Their great sus-
ceptibility to cold renders them, in fact, extremely dif-
ficult to be preserved alive; and they are very seldom
brought to our misty islands. We have only once seen
a living specimen, then in the possession of a lady at
Leamington. Its native country is on the banks of the
Orinoco.

THREE-sTRIPED MONKEY.

Aotus trivirgatus, Humboldt.

This is another of the interesting subjects first made
known to us by the researches of M. Humboldt, who
describes it as one of the most remarkable monkeys of
South America. According to the account of this well-
known traveller, its habits are completely nocturnal ;
wandering about only during the night, and retiring
into hollow trees, or rather recesses, to sleep away the
day. In captivity, it generally composes itself to rest
at nine in the morning, and continues in that state until
seven in the evening: if, during this period, it is
awakened, it becomes melancholy, listless, and stupid,
and seems to have much difficulty in opening its large
owl-like eyes. M. Humboldt’s figure, the only authentic
one hitherto published, represents the animal dormant.
No sooner, however, does the setting sun bring the re-
turn of twilight, which to him is his “ opening day,”
than our little monkey becomes all life and impetuosity ;
he then commences his hunt, if unconfined, after small
birds, insects, and probably fruits, since he shows no
objection to the latter aliment in a state of captivity.
This carnivorous disposition may probably account for
the extreme difficulty with which this species is tamed.
An individual in the possession of our traveller, and
which he kept for nearly five months, could not be re-

a
28 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

conciled to captivity: it slept during the day, hiding
itself in the darkest recess it could find: it seldom played
with its master during its waking hours, but showed
particular cleverness in capturing flies ; and if irritated,
it hissed and struck with its paw like a cat, the throat
being at the same time inflated. Its voice, for so small
an animal, is extremely powerful: at times, it is de-
scribed as much resembling the howl of the American
tiger or jaguar ; and, at others, to be a kind of mew,
accompanied by a disagreeable guttural sound.

The hair is grey, mixed with white, and glossed
with a silvery lustre: the centre of the back is marked
by a brown line; and on the head and forehead. are
three others, diverging, and of a black colour: the
chest, belly, and under surface of the limbs are yellowish
orange. The face resembles that of a cat, and is
covered with blackish hairs: the eyes are very large,
and the ridges of a bright yellow. The tail is bushy,
and half as long again as the body, which measured
nine inches a half,

Tue Hanp-pRINKING MonkKEY.

Pithecia chiropotes, Humb. Capucin de \l’Ormogue, Jb.
Pithecia chiropotes, Geoff:

Of all the numerous monkeys of the New World,
this, in the opinion of Humboldt, its first describer,
makes the nearest approach to the human form ; not so
much, indeed, in its size, which is scarcely above the
middle standard, but in the facial angle of its head be-
ing apparently much less than it really is, from the chin
being hid in a long and bushy beard. ‘“‘ It is a robust,
active, fierce, and untameable animal ; when irritated, it
raises itself on the hinder extremities, grinds its teeth,
rubs the end of the beard violently, and darts upon the
person who has excited its displeasure. In confinement
it is habitually melancholy ; it is never excited to gaiety,
except at the moment of receiving its favourite food :
it seldom drinks; but when it does, the operation is per-

BLACK-HEADED MONKEY. 29

formed in a very peculiar manner ; instead of putting its
lips, like other monkeys, to the liquor, or to the vessel which
contains it, this species conveys it to the mouth in the
hollow of its hand, at the same time inclining the head
upon the shoulders. It is not easy, however, to witness
this singular trait of character, since the animal is un-
willing to satisfy his thirst when watched or likely to
be observed :”’ as connected with this, it has been ob-
served that it has an extreme aversion to its beard being
wetted. In their native forests, the hand-drinking
monkeys live only in pairs. The voice, which is seldom
heard, is a disagreeable grunt.

The colour of the body above is reddish brown, and
the hair is long and smooth: the forehead and crown
are covered with long thick hair, directed forward, and
parted above the eyes into two thick distinct tufts ; this
division is formed by a longitudinal line destitute of
hair: the beard is long, thick, and bushy ; and the
canine teeth are of an enormous length and size. The
tail is not so long as the body, bushy, and deep brown.

Tue Bruack-HEADED MonkKEY.

Pithecia melanocephala, Geoff:

This, like the last, must be enumerated among the
more remarkable monkeys of the New World, from all
of which it is to be immediately distinguished by the
extreme shortness of the tail ; a structure which would
seem to make it the representative of the baboons of the
Old Continent. It is, in fact, the only one hitherto dis-
covered in America, whose tail does not exceed three
inches in length. Itis altogether a small species; that
described by Humboldt measuring little more than
one foot five inches from the head to the feet; in its
adult state, however, it is described as reaching the
length of another foot. Its disposition is inactive, phleg-
matic, but very docile. It eats with avidity all sorts
of fruits, sweet or sour: these it will seize by stretching
out both its hands at once, bending the back and body

30 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES,

at the same time in a forward attitude, as represented
in the figure given by Humboldt.

The physiognomy has a much more human expres-
sion than that of the generality of monkeys, particularly
in the face, which is naked and black: its profile is not
much unlike the Ethiopian ; the head is oval, but flat-
tened on the sides: on the eyelids, mouth, and chin
there are a few stiff hairs, but the chin has no beard :
the ears are large, and, like those of the human subject,
are naked. ‘The fur is long, shining, and of a nearly
uniform yellowish brown colour over the whole of the
body. The fingers are much lengthened ; the nails rather
flat; and the tail, notwithstanding its shortness, is thick,
and almost naked towards its extremity.

Tar Lirtrite Srriatrep Monkey.

Jacchus vulgaris, Desmarest. Simia Jacchus, Linn. Hapales
Jacchus, Jiliger. Striated Monkey, Pennant.

This pretty little monkey, the most common of all
those which are brought from Tropical America, not
only endures the variable temperature of the European
climate, but has been known even to give birth to its
offspring under the careful management of the Parisian
keepers. M. F. Cuvier has given us an animated and
interesting account of this circumstance, from which the
following particulars are taken. — On coming into the
worl’, the young had their eyes open, and their skins
were covered with very smooth hair, of a deep grey
colour, but which was scarcely perceptible upon the
tail. They instantly attached themselves to the mother,
embracing her closely, and hiding themselves in her
fur. Prompted, however, by that most-unaccountable
and unnatural instinct, which the rabbit and some other
animals in a state of confinement so frequently exhibit,
the mother, in the present instance, was impelled to de-
stroy one of its offspring, and she actually ate off its
head before the poor little thing began to suck. The
two others (for there were three in the litter) took to

LITTLE STRIATED MONKEY. 31

the breast ; and this act seems to have destroyed the
monstrous and perverted feelings of the mother, as
from that moment she bestowed upon them the natural
affection of a parent. The father also joined her in her
cares ; for, when the female was fatigued by carrying
the little ones, she would approach the male, sending
forth a gently plaintive cry. He seemed perfectly con-
scious of her meaning, for he would immediately hasten
to relieve her: taking their offspring gently in his arms,
he would place them upon his belly or upon his back,
where they seemed to cling with perfect security ; and
in this manner he would carry them about until they
again wanted an infant's food. This was constantly re-
peated: the father, in short, seemed to take nearly all
their burthen upon himself, while the mother merely
gave them support. Unfortunately, however, this in-
teresting scene was cut short by the death of both ; ori-
ginating in the mother losing her natural supply of food.
Every attempt was made to rear the little strangers by
hand, but without success. Although, from its diminu-
tive size, and facility of living in confinement, the
striated monkey is a favourite with many, it seems in-
capable of affection, even to the hand that feeds it.
It mistrusts all ; and menaces indifferently those whom
one would think it well knew, and those who are
strangers. Neither does it show much intelligence,
although it is attentive and suspicious of every thing
which is passing. When under the influence of fear,
it strives to conceal itself, uttering a short but piercing
ery; at other times it hisses. In confinement, it has
been stated, that these individuals exhibited but little
vivacity or agility of motion, and that they use much
precaution in ascending and descending in their cage: it
is thence inferred that the striated monkey is much in-
ferior, in point of activity, to the squirrel. ‘This infer-
ence, however, is perfectively deceptive. We have
personally seen this animal in its native forests: it lives
only among the loftiest trees, and always in societies of
six or seven. So rapidly do they bound from branch to

32 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

branch, and from tree to tree, that the eye cannot
follow them ; they appear, in short, to fly; and when
thus scouring the forests, it is totally impossible for the
hunter to take aim at them with his gun. To us, their
movements seemed far superior in swiftness and elas-
ticity to that of the squirrel. It is known among the
Portuguese by the name of Sanglinu. Edwards says of
one individual that belonged to a Mrs. Kinnon,
‘¢ formerly midwife to the Royal Family,” (this was in
1758,) — ‘‘ that once, when let loose, it suddenly
snatched a Chinese goldfish out of a basin of water,
which it killed and greedily devoured; after which she
gave him small live eels, which frightened him at first by
their twisting round his neck, but he soon mastered and
ate them.” *

The size is about that of our squirrel. On each side
of the head, and round the ears, is a tuft of long white
hair, standing out in a remarkable manner ; the rest of
the face and head are black: the hair of the body is
darkish brown, with deeper transverse shades ; each hair
being dusky at its root, reddish in the middle, and tipt
with grey. The tail is very long, bushy, and alter-
nately annulated with light ash-coloured and ‘black
rings. The head is very small, and the face of a dark
flesh colour.

Tuer Smxy Monkey.
Midas rosalia, Geoff. (Fig. 5.)

This, perhaps, is the most beautiful of all the little
monkeys brought from Brazil; yet, although by no means
uncommon in its native country, it is so much affected by
the ungenial climate of Europe, and its existence is so
frequently terminated by the humidity and coldness of
our winters, even with the most scrupulous care, that it
seldom survives the change many months. _ Its delicacy
of constitution is extended to its habits under confine-
ment, which are described as unusually neat and clean.

* Edwards’s Gleanings, p. 218.

SILKY MONKEY. $$

Naturally gregarious, like
the striated monkey last de-
scribed, they cannot live
alone. The most certain
means of preserving them is
in pairs, particularly if of
opposite sexes. They show
a liking for milk, boiled rice,
Indian corn, &c.; but prefer
ripe fruits, as more in unison
with their natural food. The
individual described by M.
F. Cuvier as then in the
Paris managerie, would con-
ceal himself when in the
least frightened, and express his fears by a prolonged
hissing noise. He loved to receive caresses, yet never
returned them ; and although he testified some affec-
tion for those who attended him, it was always mixed
with a lurking mistrust, or more probably fear. He
would come when called by those he knew, but avoided
and chattered in anger at all strangers. As in his
native state he preferred tops of high trees, so in
eonfinement he always remained at the top of his cage.
When descending, which was done but rarely, he al-
ways climbed down backwards: he never walked up-
right, and his tail was always pendent. We have
occasionally seen this pretty little species in small parties
in the forests of Brazil, — where their manners seemed
to resemble those of the striated monkey,—bounding with
incredible rapidity from tree to tree, uttering sharp but
weak cries of alarm, and apparently dispersing at the
first appearance of strangers.

The silky monkey scarcely measures, in total length,
two feet, of which the tail alone occupies one. The
whole of the hair is of a bright yellow colour, resembling
yellow silk, and is of a very fine, soft, and long texture :
round the face it is much lengthened, and thus forms a
mane, not unlike that of a lion in miniature ; near the

D

34 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

face this mane is of a reddish colour, but as it recedes
from the cheeks it becomes paler ; and the face itself, as
also the hands and feet, are of a dusky purple. The ears
are round and naked; the claws are small and sharp;
and the tail rather bushy at its extremity. The gloss
upon the fur is particularly rich when held in the sun.

Tue Siow-pacep Lemur.

Stenops tardigradus, Jiliger, Lemur tardigradus, Linn. Loris
tardigradus, Nycticebus tardigradus, Geoffroy. Nycticebus
Bengalensis, Desmarest.

This is, perhaps, the best known species of the very
singular group of animals we shall now notice: it is cer-
tainly, at present, the most interesting, from its manners
having been detailed by several agreeable writers. From
these we shall select that from the pen of sir William
. Jones, as being written with that elegance and _ taste
which distinguishes all the productions of that great
man. ‘* The manners of my little favourite,’ observes
sir William, “ were for the most part gentle, except in
the cold season, when his temper seemed wholly changed.
His Creator, who made him so sensible of cold, to which
he must have been often exposed in his native forests,
probably, for this reason, gave him a thick coat of fur.
To me he was at all times grateful; but when I dis. ©
turbed him in winter, he was usually indignant, and
seemed to reproach me with the uneasiness he felt,
although every possible precaution to insure him warmth
was taken. He was at all times pleased with being
stroked; but his temper, which was usually quick, was
so irritable under the effects of cold, that he would then
become, if repeatedly disturbed, quite fierce. From a
little after sunrise until sunset he rolled himself up like
a hedgehog, and slept without intermission. So soon as
he awoke, his first occupation was licking and dressing
himself like a cat; after which he took what was to him
a breakfast, consisting either of bananas, mangos, or
some other native fruits: milk he lapped eagerly, but

SLOW-PACED LEMUR. 35

was-usually. contented with plain water, When the sun
was quite set, he became amazingly active. He was
more especially fond of grasshoppers; and passed the
whole night, in the heat of summer, in prowling after
them. When one of these insects alighted within his
reach, his eyes immediately kindled with uncommon
animation, and drawing himself back to spring on it
with greater force, he seized the prey with both his
paws, and held it in one while he devoured it. For other
purposes he would sometimes use all his paws indiffer-
ently as hands. The posture of which he seemed fondest
was to cling with all his four feet to the upper wires of
his ample cage, his body being inverted : in the evening
he usually stood erect for many minutes, playing on the
wires with his fingers, and rapidly moving his body
from side to side, as if he had found the utility of exer-
cise in his unnatural state of confinement. A little be-
fore daybreak he seemed to solicit my attention, and if
I presented my finger to him, he licked or nibbled it
with great gentleness ; but eagerly took fruit when |
offered it, though he seldom ate much at his morning’s
repast. When the day brought back his night, his eyes
lost their lustre and their strength, and he composed
himself to profound sleep. My little friend,” concludes
sir William, ‘ was, on the whole, very engaging ; and
when he was found lifeless, in the same posture in which
he would naturally have slept, I consoled myself with
believing that he had died without pain, and that he
had lived with as much pleasure as he could have en-
joyed in a state of captivity.” A living specimen in
the menagerie of the Zoological Society has furnished
some additional traits in its character. ‘‘ In its motions
it is excessively slow and languid. When on the ground
its posture is constrained, and apparently unnatural, and
it rather drags itself along than walks. On a tree, or
in mounting the bars of its cage, it seems more at ease,
yet still moves with slow and cautious regularity ; grasp-
ing a branch or a bar lightly with one of its fore paws,
it gradually fixes the other, and then advances its hinder
D 2

36 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

hands with equal slowness and precision, never quitting
its hold with the one until it has ascertained the firm-
ness of its grasp with the other.” *

In its dimensions this curious animal is about the
size of a small cat, but it is entirely destitute of any tail.
Its body is completely covered, except upon the face and
paws, with long, close-set, woolly hair, of an elegant pale
brown or mouse colour: the eyes are yellowish brown,
very large, and so extremely prominent, as to appear in
the living animal like perfect hemispheres ; they are sur-
rounded “by well defined circles of dark brown, which
are united above the nose, and are not unlike a pair of
spectacles ; these circles are connected with a band of
the same colour, which is continued along the centre of
the back.

Tue Rep Lemur.

Lemur ruber, Péron and Le Sueur, Geoffroy. Maki roux, F,
Cuvier. (Fig. 5.)

The two indefatigable naturalists, MM. Péron and
Le Sueur, who accompanied one of the French cireum-
navigating expeditions, were the first to bring home a
skin of this very rare animal. Mr. Griffiths notices
another specimen formerly in Bullock’s Museum, and a
living individual seems to have been once at Exeter
Change, and more recently another has been recorded as
belonging to the Zoological Society. It appears, there-
fore, not to be a species of unusual rarity, even in this
country. The French menagerie seems to have had
it more than once, and it is consequently figured and
described in the valuable work of M. Fred. Cuvier.
Notwithstanding, however, these many opportunities of
attentively observing and recording its peculiar traits of
character, at least in confinement, our materials are poor
and scanty. Mr. Griffiths, alluding, perhaps, to the spe-
cimen he saw alive, observes, that it is easily tamed, and
of a gentle disposition ; but, notwithstanding its great

* Zool. Gard, vi. 144,

WHITE-FRONTED LEMUR. 37

agility, it is habitually melancholy and sleepy. It passes
the day rolled up, witheits head between its legs, and
seems never to awake, except at the call of hunger.*
The manners of that now living (1830) at the Zoc-
logical menagerie have been described, in a general
way, as similar to most other ‘lemurs. “ In captivity
they are generally good tempered, but do not exhibit
much playfulness or intelligence ; after a time, however,
they become familiar with those who have the care of
them, towards whom they will sometimes evince a con-
siderable degree of affection. Fruits and roots form the
principal part of their nutriment; but dressed meat, or
even raw fish, appear to be not unwelcome additions
to their vegetable diet. Notwithstanding the thickness
of their coats, they are extremely chilly, and are very
fond of basking in the sun, or couching by the fireside.
In walking or leaping they usually raise their long
bushy tails above the level of their backs ; but when at
rest, they either suffer them to hang down, or coil them
round their bodies to retain the warmth.” +

In size, this species measures, in total length, more
than four feet ; but the body alone is not quite half this
length. Its general colour above is bright rufous brown,
while that beneath is deep black : the face and paws,
which are naked, and the long bushy tail, are also of a
deep black: the neck is marked above by a large oval
white patch, which, from the figures published, appears
to advance nearly round the neck in the shape of a
collar. The hair of the body and of the tail is ex-
tremely long, soft, and woolly.

Tur Wuite-rronteD Lemur.
Lemur albifrons, Maki Angouan, Geoffroy, Audebert.
By the observations of M. Fred. Cuvier, made at the

French menagerie from the living animals, it appears
to us completely established, that the female of this

* Griff. Cuv. i. 325. + Zool. Gard. vi. 148.
dD 3

38 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

species differs from the male in having those parts deep
grey, which in the other sex is white. Like all the
other genuine lemurs, this remarkable species inhabits
the forests of Madagascar ; but nothing has yet reached
us relative to its natural history. In speaking of the
female, which brought forth and suckled its young at
the Garden of Plants, M. Fred. Cuvier observes, that
the mother had been remarkable for her gentleness and
familiarity previous to this event, for she would con-
stantly approach to receive the caresses and lick the hands
of her visiters. But after the birth of her young one,
she became suspicious, avoided observation, and even
menaced those who came near her. In _ proportion,
however, as her maternal cares ceased to be necessary,
this mistrust subsided, and she gradually, towards the
end of the third month, regained her former gentleness
and familiarity. It was curious, during the latter part of
this time, to watch the timidity of the young one, who
now would occasionally quit its mother, and move
about the cage by itself; but the slightest noise, or the
appearance of a stranger, would prompt it immediately
to seek the only security it knew of, and it hastened to
take shelter, and almost hide itself, in the warm fur of
its mother.

The colour of the male (which is the Angowan of
Geoffroy), is of a grizzled brown, tinged with reddish,
becoming nearly black on the hinder part of the head.
The face and ears are encircled by a broad white band
of woolly hairs which meet across the forehead ; and
this white colour extends to the neck and inner sides of
the fore legs: the muzzle and paws are purplish black :
one third of the tail, towards its extremity, is also black ;
the rest resembling the colour of the body. In the
female, which seems to be the Lemur collaris or Maki
d’ Anjouan of Geoffroy, the sides of the face are iron
grey, and the general colour somewhat lighter.* There
appears, however, to be still some confusion on this

* Zool. Gard. x. 300.

WOOLLY LEMUR. 39

subject, which can only be cleared up by a personal
examination of the original Parisian specimens.

THe Wootty Lemur.

Lemur laniger, Lemur Mongooz, Linn. Mongous, Buffon.
Mongooz, Edwards. Woolly Macaco, Pennant.

This animal seems to have been known in our mena-
geries since the time of Edwards, who, in his valuable
Gleanings of Natural History, printed in 1758, gives
a yery good representation of a living individual “ then in
the house of the obliging Mrs. Kinnon, midwife to her
Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, who invited me,”
says Edwards, “‘ to take a drawing of it.” Authors de-
scribe it as a very inoffensive and remarkably timid
animal, easily tamed, but not capable of much attach-
ment. It is, like most other lemurs, partly nocturnal,
sleeping during the greatest part of the day, rolled up into
the shape of a ball ; the tail passing between the hind
legs, and finally round the neck. Awkward and feeble
when, walking upon the ground, these animals, like
monkeys, seem peculiarly formed for climbing and jump-
ing: they are said to make prodigious bounds, fre-
quently leaping ten feet from the ground; and they will
traverse all parts of a tree with astonishing celerity. In
their actions, likewise, they show a considerable resem-
blance to the lesser monkeys: they use their hands to
convey food to the mouth, in the same manner ; and
also drink by suction. When tranquil they grunt feebly;
but when frightened or otherwise moved they are said to
roar in concert, and to produce an insupportable noise’
When two individuals are accustomed to each other in
confinement, they appear to get on very well and very
lovingly together, living in peace and sleeping together
in a mutual embrace; but if they are strangers, a des-
perate fight ensues. M. Fred. Cuvier had two pairs
not accustomed to each other; and whenever he removed
the partition which separated their cages, they were
seized with unaccountable fury: on those occasions they

dD 4

40 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

uttered sharp and quickly repeated cries, and, but for
the intervention of the iron bars of the cage, would have
done each other serious injury. Their mutual affection
is expressed in an odd manner, by scratching and clean-
ing each other's feet with their teeth.

The usual size is rather less than that of a small cat.
The head is shaped much like that of a fox, and is en-
tirely covered with hair, which is black round the eyes;
and this colour forms a line joining to the tip of the
nose, which is also black ; between the nose, however,
and the eyes there is a space of pure white ; the cheeks
and sides of the face are also whitish: all the upper
parts of the body and limbs are dark brownish ash-
colour ; the under, white. The tail is longer than the
body, and the hair thick, woolly, and soft.

Tue Rurrep Lemur.

Lemur Macaco, Linn. Vari, Buffon. Ruffed Lemur,
Pennant.

This seems to be a species subject to much variation
in point of colour. Edwards describes an individual,
then living in London, as entirely of a deep black colour ;
while we possess a beautifully preserved skin of another
individual, sent from Madagascar, which is entirely
patched with large black and white spots ; thus agreeing
with all the specimens we have yet seen. Buffon de-
scribes this as a fierce and almost untameable species ;
an assertion altogether without proof, and highly impro-
bable. Our own veracious Edwards, on the contrary,
assures his readers that it is ‘‘a very sociable, gentle,
harmless-natured animal, without any of the cunning
or mischievousness of the monkey kind.”* This spe-
cies, however, is chiefly remarkable for the astonishing
power of its voice, which is said to be so loud and
dreadful as to strike astonishment into those who hear
it, resembling, in this respect, the howling monkeys of
South America. The French natural biographer, ever
prone to catch hold of a theory, no doubt concluded,

* Edw. Glean. p. 217.

RING-TAILED LEMUR. 4]

that an animal which could howl much louder than
a bear was, of necessity, a most fierce and formidable
creature, When feeding, it sits up like a monkey, hold-
ing its food in its hands.

“The size of the specimen examined by Edwards, was
that of the smaller sort of house cat ; the tail was longer
than the whole body, and the whole animal of a deep
black.

Tue Rine-tTartEeD Lemur.

Lemur Catta, Linn. Mococo, Buffon. The Maucauco,
Edwards. Ring-tailed Macauco, Pennant.

The ring-tailed lemur is confessedly by far the most
elegant of the whole tribe. It seems also to be a rare
animal, at least in our menageries, since it does not yet
appear in the collection of the Zoological Society. Ed-
wards has given a very accurate figure and description
of an individual which was brought from Madagascar

_by his friend captain Worth, and which Edwards ‘‘ kept
alive at his house for some time.” Independent of its
rarity and beauty, its character is particularly confiding
and affectionate, while its motions are described as hav-
ing an ease and elegance surpassing almost every other
quadruped. In their native state, these animals live in
societies, aud are seen in troops of thirty or forty to-
gether in the woods, where they feed principally upon
fruits. In captivity it delights in sunshine, and in sit-
ting before a fire: its general attitude at such times is
similar to that of a squirrel when feeding, sitting up-
right, and often extending forwards its spread hands.
The palm of the hand is stated to possess a peculiar
organisation ; it is extended by a straight line concealed
under the hair as far as the middle of the arm, where
it appears uncovered: by means of this, when the arms
are extended, the fingers necessarily close; and this ac-
counts for the facility with which these animals suspend
themselves from the branches of trees.* Its pur is not

* The singular formation of the arm, above stated, is deserving of great
attention, not merely as an isolated fact explaining the habits of this par-

42 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

unlike that of a cat; to which its general size may be
compared.

The colouring of the ring-tailed lemur is peculiarly
elegant. The face is deep black and pure white; the
first colour forming a broad ring round each eye, and
covering the muzzle and the forehead, while all the rest
of the head, ears, and cheeks are white: the back and
sides of the body are reddish ash-colour, but the outside
of the legs are of a lighter grey: all the under parts are
white. The tail is very long, and elegantly ringed with
black and white, the colours being alternate. The hair
of the whole body is very soft and delicate to the touch,
rather standing erect like the pile of velvet, than lying
down sleek. Edwards remarks, that when it plays,

“it uses a sort of galloping, with its tail raised over its
back.”

Tue Dwarr Lemur.

Seartes murinus, Nob. Otolicnus pusillus, Zliger, Lemur
murinus, Gmelin. Little Lemur, Brown. Rat de Mada-

gascar, Buffon. Little Macauco, Pennant, Maki nain,
Cuvier.

Although our countryman Peter Brown figured this
pretty little animal from a living specimen then in Eng-
Jand, it does not appear to have fallen under the subse-
quent observation of any of our own naturalists. M.
Fred, Cuvier, however, has supplied some very interest-
ing particulars regarding one which lived in the Garden
of Plants, and from whose account we shall now extract
a short notice. Like others of its family, the dwarf
lemur is completely a nocturnal animal. He passed the

ticular animal, but in connection with those wonderful and beautiful
analogies by which beings the most opposite in form are yet obviously
made to represent each other. We have not yet had an opportunity of ex-
amining into the correctness of this statement, nor does Mr. Griffiths state
from what author he has taken it ; but, presuming upon its correctness, we
feel not the slightest doubt that the arms of the other lemurs will be found
exhibiting a similar structure, and that therefore this family, in all pro-
bability, represents the family of Mantid@ among the Piilota, or insects,
and the mantis-like crabs among the Crustacea, in the next circle of Ap-
terous insects.

BARBASTEL BAT. 43

whole of the day in a warm nest of hay, rolled up, and
in profound slumber. Towards twilight, however, he
awoke; and so soon as it was dark he sallied from his
retreat, and continued in active motion until morning.
He would traverse his cage with a rapidity similar to
the flight of a bird, and leap vertically from the ground
to the height of six or eight feet ; his power of spring--
ing, indeed, is very great. As a proof of the perfect
sight enjoyed by this animal, and no doubt by all the
nocturnal Jemurs, even in total darkness, M. Cuvier
mentions the fact of two of them, having escaped from
their cage, traversing the room, which was filled with a
. crowd of. other cages and animals, and re-entering by
the little hole whence they had escaped: this they
did without suffering the least accident, though in pro-
found darkness, — all the window-shutters being closed.
Pennant says that it eats and holds its food in its fore
paws, in the manner and attitude of a squirrel.

The specimen figured by Brown was less in size than
a rat; the ordinary length appears to be from ten to
eleven inches. The fur is thick, soft, and silky. The
upper surface of the body is of a uniform greyish fawn-
colour, and the under parts are white ; the face and
paws being flesh-coloured : between the eyes there is a
longitudinal white spot, bordered on each side with a
shade of black. The ears are large, roundish, and
naked ; and the tail of the same length as the body.

Tue Barsastet Bart,
Plecotus Barbastellus, Geoff. Vespertilio Barbastellus, Gmelin.

The family of bats, although very extensive, and
possessing many species of much popular interest, seems
to be less capable of confinement or of domestication
than almost any other race of quadrupeds. They ap-
pear, in short, almost destitute of any artificial im-
provement,—remaining in slumber during the day, and
only exercising their physical powers when mankind are
asleep ; hence it is that we seldom see these animals in

44, ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

menageries, where, indeed, from the impossibility of ex-
ercise, and of taking their natural food, they seldom live
for any length of time. Our notices on this singular
race of animals will, therefore, be brief, and confined to
two species.

The manners of the Barbastel have been well ilus-
trated by M. Fred. Cuvier, who seems to have kept one
alive for a short time. Upon first being taken, it was
shut up ina glazed press, furnished with several shelves,
all of which it traversed, passing through the smallest
passages, and at length retired into the most obscure
corner. When the animal stood, the entire sole of its
foot, its wrist, and its thumb, were placed upon the
ground ; the cther fingers were raised in a contrary di-
rection to the fore leg ; a position by which they were
prevented from rubbing against the ground: the tail
was bent underneath, and the membrane which enve-
loped it was folded so as only to occupy the least pos-
sible space. In walking, the limbs moved alternately,
as in other quadrupeds, but the fingers generally remained
united as when the animal stood. Like other bats, it
slept suspended, with the head downwards. To accom-
plish this, after finding a suitable place, it would fix its
thumbs where the nails of its hinder feet should be
hooked, and for this purpose the slightest inequality was
sufficient ; it would then detach one of its thumbs, and
turning its body, would bring the hind foot of the same
side to the spot which the thumb had just occupied :
the nails being properly fixed, it would let go its other
thumb ; and this movement, by leaving the body to its
natural weight, carried the head downwards, and
brought the second foot close to the first, where it be-
came hooked in the same manner. When desirous of
flying, if it was resting upon a horizontal surface, it
would make a perpendicular spring, and suddenly ex-
tend its wings; but if it was suspended, it would quit
its hold, and unfurl its wings while in the act of falling.
This little prisoner thus continued to afford matter of
specuiation to its learned master for eight days, without

- JAVANESE VAMPIRE. 45

taking any nourishment ; until at last, in full daylight,
it fell upon a plate of chopped meat, which it had hi-
therto neglected, and devoured the whole. When a
piece was too large, it would fix it to the ground
with its wrist, and cut it with its side teeth; but if
these teeth got engaged with the meat, or any morsel
adhered to them, it would not use its feet to get
rid of the embarrassment, but would seek for some pro-
jecting spot, against which it would rub its muzzle.

Cleanliness appeared a very peculiar characteristic of this
animal: with its hinder feet it would rub all the parts
of its body ; and cleanse its nails, fingers, and the mem-
brane forming its wings, very dexterously with its
mouth : the motions of its head indicated quickness and
vivacity. It seems, however, notwithstanding its hearty
meal of chopped meat, to have died soon after. The
Barbastel bat, although found both in France and Ger-
many is unknown in England.

_ The total length is about two inches, and. its extent
nearly ten. The fur of the upper part of the body is
dusky brown ; the under part ash-coloured. The ears
are remarkably broad and long, so that the lower part of
the inner sides touch each other, and nearly conceal the
face, when viewed in front: the nose is short, the
cheeks full, and the end of the nose is flattened.

Tse JAVANESE VAMPIRE.
Pteropus Javanicus, Horsf.

It would be as useless, as it is perhaps impossible, to
trace which was the particular species of bat termed by
Linneus and his followers the Vampire, since it appears
to have been applied, with little discrimination, to all
those very large species termed by the French Rousettes,
which inhabit the hot latitudes of India and America,
and derive much of their nourishment from sucking
the blood of other animals. The explanation of the
word Vampire, however, is interesting, and has thus been
given by Dr.Shaw.—‘ A vampire,” observes the doctor,

46 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

“is an imaginary monster, supposed to suck the blood
of sleeping persons. It also alludes to one of the most
absurd superstitions that ever entered into the human
mind. About the year 1732, an idea arose among the
vulgar in some parts of Poland and Hungary, that cer-
tain bodies, when interred, became possessed of the
power of absorbing blood from those who were so unfor-
tunate as to pass over or to stand near their graves: it
was therefore supposed necessary to disinter such bodies,
and wound them with a sword ; by which means this
pernicious power was supposed to be put a stop to, and
the blood they had so unjustly gained was evacuated.
Astonishing as this folly may appear, it is yet more
astonishing that a great many treatises were written on
the subject, and that some considerable time elapsed
before the superstition was completely destroyed.”

The Javanese vampire appears to have been once in
the possession of Mr. Cross, the very respectable and
intelligent proprietor of the menagerie at Exeter Change ;
since we possess a sketch, by Howitt, drawn from a
living specimen seen there by the artist. Dr. Horsfield,
in his valuable work on the animals of Java, gives us
some interesting particulars of its habits in a state of
nature, which we shall here condense. It may be pre-
mised, that this is one of the largest bats yet discovered,
being no less than one foot long, and covering an ex-
tent, when its wings are spread, of more than five feet.
In its habits it is completely gregarious, uniformly
living in society. Numerous individuals select a large
tree for a resort, where they suspend themselves from
the naked branches, often in companies of several hun-
dreds, and present a most singular spectacle. During
the greatest part of the day they are asleep: at such
times they are ranged in succession, in rows, with the
head downwards; and, being in close contact one to the
other, they have so little resemblance to living beings,
that a stranger would readily mistake them for a part of
the tree, or for a fruit of uncommon size suspended from
the branches. In general these societies, during the day,

JAVANESE VAMPIRE. 47

preserve a profound silence; but if they are disturbed, or
a contention arises among them, they emit sharp piercing
shrieks, while their awkward attempts to extricate them-
selves, when oppressed by the light of the sun, exhibit
a ludicrous spectacle. In consequence of the sharp-
ness of their claws, their hold is so firm, that they cannot
easily loosen themselves without the assistance of their
wings ; and if suddenly killed in their hanging position
during the day, they continue suspended after death.
Soon after sunset they gradually awaken, quit their hold,
and commence their nocturnal flight in quest of food.
By an unerring instinct, they direct their course to the
forests, villages, and plantations, attacking and devour-
ing indiscriminately every kind of fruit; thus occasioning
incalculable mischief. So great, indeed, is the devas-
tation they inflict upon the orchards and gardens, that
the European residents find it necessary to secure the
fruits by different artifices. The more delicate sorts,
such as mangos, jamboos, lausas, &c., as they approach
to maturity, are ingeniously secured by means of a loose
net or basket, skilfully constructed of split bamboo:
without these and other precautions, little or no fruit
would escape these depredators.

The flight of these animals is also curious. There are
few situations in the lower parts of Java where this night
wanderer is not constantly observed. As soon as the
light of the sun has retired, one animal is seen to follow
another at small but irregular distances, and this ‘‘ long-
drawn file” continues uninterrupted until darkness ob-
structs the view. Their flight is slow and steady, pur-
sued in a right line, and capable of long continuance.
The colonists and inhabitants occasionally form shooting
parties for the destruction of this animal, during moon-
light nights, which in this climate are uncommonly se-
rene: he is watched in his descent to the fruit trees, and a
discharge of small shot readily brings him to the ground. *

The size has been already mentioned. The general
colour is blackish, with the upper part of the neck yel-

* Horsf. Zool. Researches.

48 4s ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

lowish chestnut, and the fur of the back slightly varied
with white: the colours, however, are subject to vari-
ation; Dr. Horsfield describes a variety wherein there
is a collar of a lighter brown, inclining to chestnut, and
extending entirely round the neck. The head, from the
figure given by Dr. Horsfield, has a much greater re-
semblance to that of a sheep than to any of the true
bats; the muzzle is much prolonged; and the ears, in
comparison, are very small.

Tue Russian Dersman.
Mygale Muscovita, Cuv.

Of the desman, or, as it has been called by Pennant,
the Musk Shrew, it is now ascertained that two species
have been confounded under one. The original species
is now designated after its native country, Russia; while
the second, which seems to have a much more limited
range, has hitherto been found only at the foot of the
Pyrenees, near Tarbes. The habits of the Russian des-
man are so essentially aquatic, that it is not adapted to
live in ordinary menageries ; yet it might very well be
introduced in such inclosed parts of the Garden of
Plants as contain ponds, or in the Zoological Gardens.

The Russian musk shrew passes the greatest part of
its life either in or beneath the water, never choosing a
dry piace of residence; and if they proceed from one
pond to another, they generally do so by forming a sub-
terraneous passage, or by passing along ditches which
connect both. Although they inhabit, generally, the
sides of ponds, lakes, and stagnant water, they seem to
evince a decided preference ae low inundated grounds,
surrounded by banks, as it is in these latter that their
burrows invariably occur. Their mode of constructing
these habitations is curious: they make an entrance to
the intended burrow under the water; from this point
they dig on in a slanting direction upwards, elevating
their work, by degrees, in multiplied and lengthened
windings, which sometimes are so extended as to occupy

RUSSIAN DESMAN. 4G

on extent of more than twenty feet. They live, how-
ever, only in that part of the burrow which is under
water. During winter it seems that they do not become
torpid, — a circumstance which is said to expose them to
inevitable and serious evil. The ice, which in their
native country lasts for so long a period, imprisons them
under water, and it would appear that they then endure
a state of the most cruel torment; for, if there are any
fissures or holes through which they can respire, they
run thither to thrust out their proboscis; but should
they fail in this, they can only exist on the small quan-
tity of air contained within their burrow. A trifling
number thus survive; but the others perish by suffo-
cation. Their attempts to release themselves, which we
have just noticed, are more numerous in proportion to
the duration of the cold season.

The foregoing account we met with in Mr. Griffiths’
ingenious compilation, without any allusion to the au-
thority from which it is derived. It may be generally
correct ; but nature, or rather a merciful Providence,
has never made “ cruel torment” to be the condition of
existence to any one of its creatures. ‘That many in-
dividuals may suffer in the manner and from the causes
described, during winters of uncommon severity, is very
possible ; but that by far the greater part survive, is more
than probable. Their burrows are stated to spread over
a very wide surface; and it is clear that those parts which
the animal does not inhabit, are appropriated to lay in
stores of food for the winter. So far, then, we see only
the same benevolent gift of instinct, and the same powers
granted for resisting the effects of winter, as is so ge-
nerally given to the mouse family: the air, and the
food, contained in their dwellings, we should consider
quite sufficient for the ordinary wants of nature ; and so
far from the desmans being condemned to “ cruel tor-
ments,” we should rather fancy they would be very
warmly and comfortably housed in their winter quarters.

50 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

THE SHREW Mote.

Sealops Canadensis, Cuv. Sorex aquaticus, Linn. Musarayne-
taupe, Cuvier. Scalope de Canada, ditto. Brown Rat,
Pennant.

This curious American animal, which closely re-
sembles the European mole, not only bears confine-
ment, but seems to become, under a kind master, a
very domestic little creature. Dr. Richardson *, on
the authority of Dr. Godman, particularly alludes to
one which was domesticated by Mr. T. Peale of Phi-
ladelphia: it devoured considerable quantities of fresh
meat either cooked or raw, drank freely, and was
remarkably active and playful. The eyes, like those
of the mole, are so extremely minute, that Dr. Godman
positively says that, in the fresh animal, the aperture
in the skin is just big enough to admit the passage
of an ordinary human—hair! Yet, notwithstanding this
deprivation of sight, Mr. Peale’s favourite would follow
the hand of its master ; an exquisite sense of smell sup-
plying the want of vision. It was fond of burrowing
for a short distance in the loose earth; and after making
a small circle, would return for more food. When en-
gaged in eating, it employed its flexible snout in a
singular manner to thrust its food into the mouth, —
doubling it so as to force it directly backwards. In a
state of nature, these animals are most active early in
the morning, at mid-day, and in the evening. They
are well known to have the remarkable custom of coming
daily to the surface exactly at noon; at such times they
mav be taken alive, by thrusting a spade beneath them
and throwing them on the surface. In their general habits
they resemble the common European moles, — leading,
like them, a subterraneous life, forming galleries,
throwing up little hillocks, and feeding principally on
earthworms and grubs.

The length is rather more than seven inches. The
fur resembles that of the common mole, and is nearly
of a uniform brownish black.

* Northern Zool, i. 12.

EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR. 51

Tue European Brown Bear.
Ursus Arctos, Linn.

Tt appears singular that a family of animals like the
bears, which not only endure confinement, but thrive
and sometimes grow enormously fat under the restraint
of man, should nevertheless continue to preserve their
savage disposition and manners, in nearly the same de-
gree as when in a State of nature, even after years spent
in unavailing efforts to domesticate them. It may be
said, indeed, that this is in part accomplished, by their
having been taught to dance ; and so far the objection is
not valid ; but it must be remembered, that even those
which have been thus far tutored, or rather tortured, to
perform such antics, are yet firmly muzzled. Nor have
we ever heard of a bear, however docile under the rod
of his keeper, so far trusted as to be allowed the free
use of his mouth.

The different species of this group are among the
most attractive subjects in the menageries. We shall
therefore enumerate all those whose manners have been
witnessed in a state of nature, or whose peculiarities in
confinement are in any degree interesting. There ap-
pears to be about nine distinct species ; six being dis-
tributed in the colder regions of Europe and America,
while the remaining three have only been detected in the
mountainous parts of India.

The European brown bear appears to have been
formerly spread over the whole of Europe ; but it is now
confined almost entirely to the vast forests of Germany,
Hungary, and Russia: from the latter empire, also, it
spreads over the uncultivated wilds of Siberia; but
whether the brown bear of Arctic America is identically
the same species as they, may be reasonably doubted.
The habits of this species in a state of nature are de-
scribed as solitary, wandering about during the greatest
part of the year, and retiring to pass the winter in such
sheltered retreats as are afforded by the hollows of trees
or the cavities of rocks. This season, in fact, is passed

E 2 iene

52 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. -

in a state of lethargy, which lasts until spring, when the
sexes meet but for a short time; the male abandoning
the young entirely to the care of their mother. Formed
to derive its sustenance both from the animal and ve-
getable world, the brown bear does not attack man un-
less provoked, or under an unusual and extraordinary
pressure of hunger. It is remarkable for longevity ;
instances being upon record of individuals attaining to
the respective ages of thirty-one and forty-seven years.

One of the most remarkable brown bears that have
been of late years killed in Europe, is thus mentioned by
major Hamilton Smith, who saw the animal preserved
at Buda in Hungary, in which kingdom it appeared,
about forty years ago, on the shores of the Danube.
This animal was of an uncommonly large size, and had
proved so destructive to the cattle, that every effort was
made to destroy it: ordinary shot appeared to take no
effect upon him; and, when hard pressed, he would
swim to the other side of the Danube, and resume his
depredations there, until he was chased back again. In
this manner he was fairly hunted into Lower Hungary,
having traversed most of his way by water. From
Semlin he was chased beyond Belgrade, but the Turkish
peasantry drove him back, and it was many months
before he was killed. Besides the peculiarity of his
excessive bulk, his colour was purplish, and several balls
were found lodged in his skin. Although the bear is
not uncommon in Hungary, the extraordinary colour
and size of this individual excited so much curiosity,
that he was stuffed and preserved at Buda.

An adult brown bear from the Alps has thus been
described by M. Fred. Cuvier : — The body was covered
with very thick, long, and rather soft fur, generally of
a maroon brown, dark upon the shoulder, back, thighs,
and legs, but tinged with yellow on the sides of the
head, ears, and fianks: on the paws the hair became
short and nearly black ; as also on the muzzle, where,
however, it retained rather more of the brown colour of
the head.

EUROPEAN BROWN BEAR. 53

Major H. Smith describes a remarkable European
bear, which he saw at Dresden, and “ which seems to
be, if not a distinct species, at least a strongly marked
variety. It was about four feet high at the shoulders.
The physiognomy differed from that of the common
bear ; the ears were small and round, and the facial
angle was greatly depressed at the junction of the nasal
and frontal bones. The colour was a fiery yellow on
the head and back, passing into chestnut and red on the
sides and hams: the belly and paws were brown ; and
there was a dark streak upon the nose, spreading into
branches towards the orbit.”

M. Cuvier considers that the true distinction of the
common or brown bear of Europe is in the form of its
skull, the upper portion of which is always arched in
every part; the forehead forming part of the same
curve which runs from the muzzle to the occiput: it is
arched also from right to left in the same style as in its
length ; and there is no clear distinction between the
forehead, the middle portion of the parietal bones, and
the temporal fosses. The sagittal crest only begins to be
sensibly marked very near the occipital.

The following description of the brown bears in the
Zoological Gardens enables us to bring together the
most authentic accounts of this species, and which will
serve as valuable points of comparison with what will
subsequently be said of the American bears. ‘* The fur
is thick, long, soft, and woolly. In younger individuals,
the colour is deep brown, with a tinge of grey on the
body, which becomes nearly black on the legs and feet ;
while in the adult it is mixed with yellowish grey and
fawn-colour, giving the fur a grizzled appearance.
The forehead rises suddenly from behind the eyes,
assuming a regular convex form” (as noticed in the
preceding observations of M. Cuvier), “‘ but not ele-
vated to any great extent. The usual size of the adult
is about four feet long, and two and a half high. The
length of the head is about a foot, that of the fore feet
eight inches, and that of the hinder feet something

E 3

54 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

greater, reckoning from the heel to the extremity of the
claws; the latter are fully two inches in length, con-
siderably curved, and nearly equal at either extremity.”
This was brought from Russia by the marquis of
Hertford. Regarding another individual, stated to be a
native of America, Mr. Bennett makes the following
observations : — ‘‘ It resembles the adult Alpine bear so
closely in its form, in its fur, in its physiognomy, and
in its manners, that we have little hesitation in referring
it to the same species. Notwithstanding the wide dif-
ference in geographic position, we see no incongruity in
such a union ; on the contrary, it would strike us as a
very peculiar and surprising fact, that so excellent a
swimmer, and so essentially migratory a beast as the
brown bear, should present almost a solitary exception
to the general rule, which renders most of the animals
inhabiting the arctic circle, common to the two con-
tinents.” * It must, however, be remembered, that in
this attempt to prove the brown bear of Europe and
that of America to be the same species, the whole force
of the argument rests upon the mere supposition that
this young bear did actually come from America. This
seems to be uncertain, and therefore nothing conclusive
can be arrived at.

Tue Barren Grounp Berar.

Ursus Richardsoni, Swainson. Ursus Arctos? Americanus,
Barren Ground Bear, Richardson, North. Zool. i. 21.

The discovery of this bear, which, in all probability,
is a distinct species from the last described, is due to
the intrepid navigators under the command of captain
Franklin and Dr. Richardson ; and it has been described
by the latter in the interesting and valuable volume on
the Quadrupeds of British America, which is entirely
from that gentleman’s pen. We know not whether living
specimens have as yet reached Europe; but as it is
highly probable they will, we shall give Dr. Richardson’s
account nearly in his own words. ‘ The barren lands,”

* Zool. Gard, iv. 106.

BARREN GROUND BEAR. 5S

says this accurate observer, ‘ lying to the northward and
eastward of Great Slave Lake, and extending to the Arctic
Sea, are frequented by a species of bear which differs
trom the American black bear in its greater size, profile,
physiognomy, longer soles, and tail ; and from the grisly
bear also in colour, and the comparative smallness of its
claws. Its greatest affinity is with the brown bear of
Norway ; but its identity with that species has not been
established by actual comparison. It frequents the sea
coast in the autumn, in considerable numbers, for the
purpose of feeding on fish. They are frequently called
White bears by the Indians and interpreters, probably
from the circumstance of its long hair, during summer,
frequently becoming very pale towards the tips. This
bear resorts to the shore of the Arctic Sea in August,
and preys indiscriminately upon animals and vegetables.
Although much dreaded by the Copper Indians, who
cautioned our travellers against these ‘ white bears ’
of the barren lands, all the individuals that were en-
countered, fled from the party at once. The Indians
avoid burning bones in their encampments, lest the smell
should attract the bears.”

The following anecdote of an encounter between one
of these animals and an old hunter, given by Dr. Richard-
son, is too amusing to be omitted. ‘* Reskarrah, an
aged Indian, was seated at the door of his tent, pitched
by a small stream not far from Fort Enterprise, when a
large bear came to the opposite bank, and remained for
some time, apparently surveying him. Reskarrah con-
sidered himself in great danger ; and having no one to
assist him but his aged wife, made a speech to the fol-
lowing effeet : —‘ Oh, bear! I never did you any harm ;
I have always had the highest respect for you and your
relations ; and never killed any of them except through
necessity. Go away, good bear, and let me alone, and
I promise not to molest you.’ The bear walked off;
and the old man, fancying that he owed his safety to
his eloquence, favoured us, on his arrival at the fort,
with his speech at length.”

E 4

56 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

The colour of an old male, killed on the shores of the
Arctic Sea, was nearly of a uniform yellowish brown,
except on the forehead and back, where the tips of the
fur were paler. The fur, which was straight, and of
the fineness of coarse wool, was giving place to a thin
coat of blackish hair. Its forehead was broad and
slightly convex, and the arch of the orbit rose conspi-
cuously at the root of the nose, which was straight:
the legs were long, and the size of the claws inter-
mediate between those of the black and the grisly bears ;
they projected beyond the hairs, and were more pointed
than those of the latter. The following were the prin-
cipal dimensions : — From the nose to the root of the
‘tail, five feet two inches ; the tail, six inches: height,
from the sole of the fore foot to the top of the shoulder,
two feet nine inches; the hind quarters were three
inches lower.* We are principally induced to consider
this a distinct species, and to name it accordingly, from
the difference between the profile as above stated, and
that of the European brown bear, indicating a corre-
sponding diversity in the form of their skulls.

Tue Buack Evropran Bear.

Ursus Europezus, Cuvier.

The black bear, the second species found on the
continent of Europe, was long confounded with another
of a similar colour, but which is now ascertained to be
peculiar to America. From this cause, we can find no
authentic documents to illustrate the history of the pre-
sent species, since naturalists, in describing its manners,
&e., have blended it with the black bear of America,
subsequently noticed ; neither do we find any mention
of the particular parts of the continent of Europe where
it now exists.

M. Cuvier states, that he never saw more than a
single living individual, which he afterwards dissected.
It was of considerable magnitude. The colour of the

* North. Zool.

BLACK AMERICAN BEAR. SF

fur was brownish black, rough, partly woolly, and
rather long, especially on the belly and thighs. The
upper part of the nose was a clear fawn-colour, and the
remainder of the muzzle of a brownish red fawn.
This the baron believes to be the bear which naturalists
term the black bear of Europe; which he considers
distinct from that of America, whose fur is_ black,
pliant, and shining. The peculiar flattened form of
the cranium can be perceived through the hairs which
cover it, quite sufficiently to distinguish the animal
from the common brown bear.*

The peculiarities of the skull are thus stated by
M. Cuvier : —“ The frontal portion is flattened, and
even concave, especially across; the two ridges which
separate it from the fosse temporales are strongly
marked, and form, behind, an acute angle, prolonged
into a very elevated sagittal crest, which is not marked
until it meets the occiput.” The well-marked depression
and ridges of the cranium, giving lodgment and origin
to the strong muscles of the lower jaw, show that this
species is more decidedly a beast of prey than the
brown one; in which respect they differ from the bears
of corresponding colours which inhabit the New World.t

Tue Bruack American Bear.

Ursus Americanus, Pallas. Ursus Americanus, American
Black Bear, Richardson. Ours d’ Amérique, Cuvier. Black
Bear, Pennant. Tass, Chepewyan Indians. Musquaw, Cree
Indians, North. Zool. i. 14. (Fig.6.)

Although the merit of being the first to distinguish
this animal belongs to Pallas, yet Dr. Richardson is the
only naturalist who has studied it in its native wilds ;
and whose account, which we shall now condense, will
consequently supersede all others. It is smaller than
the other American bears ; it is also of a milder dispo-
sition, and lives more on vegetable substances than the
black bear of Europe. Its favourite food, in fact, is

* Griff. Cuv. + North. Zool. i. 14.

58 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

berries of various kinds; in default of which, it eats
roots, insects, fish, eggs, and
such birds and quadrupeds
as it can surprise. So partial
is it, indeed, to vegetables,
that, when it can procure
them in abundance, it will
pass the carcass of a deer
without touching it. It is
rather a timid animal, and
willseldom face a man, unless
compelled by necessity, or when urged by affection to de-
fend its young. In such cases it is a dangerous assailant.
I have known, continues Dr. Richardson, the female
boldly to confront her enemy until she has seen her
eubs attain the upper branches of a tree, when she made
off, evidently considering them to be in safety, but, in
fact, leaving them an easy prey to the hunter. Its speed
when in pursuit is not great; and I have been told that
a man may escape, particularly if he runs into a willow
grove, or among long grass; for the caution of the bear
urges it to stop frequently, and rise on its hind legs, for
the purpose of reconnoitring. I have, however, seen a
black bear make off with a speed which would have
baffled the fleetest runner, and ascend a nearly perpen-
dicular cliff with a facility that a cat might envy. Its
strength and agility, indeed, together with its remark-
able tenacity of life, renders an attack upon it at all
times hazardous ; and its chase is always considered by
the rude in habitants of the northern regions as a matter
of the highest importance.

The veneration in which the bear is held by the North
American Indians is highly curious: Dr. Richardson
thinks it may have arisen from the ability and pertinacity
with which it defends itself. Many of the native tribes
will not join the chase, until they have propitiated the
whole race of bears by certain speeches and ceremonies ;
and when the animal is slain, they treat it with the ut-—
most respect, speak of it as of a relation, offer it a pipe

Nidh 7 IS ) ‘
We Ay AN = ho ,
~ Congas

eS NS “3

BLACK AMERICAN BEAR. 59

to smoke, and seldom fail to make a speech in excul-
pation of the act of violence they have committed in
slaying it. Similar superstitions are prevalent among
the Laplanders and other northern nations. Pennant*
assures us, that the bear is the great master of the
Kamtskatkans in medicine, surgery, and the polite arts :
these people observe the herbs he has recourse to when
ill or wounded, and acknowledge him as their dancing
master, mimicking his attitudes and graces with great
aptness. Bear dances, as Dr. Richardson observes, in
which the gestures of the animals are copied, are also
common with the North American Indians. Bear
hunts are attended with certain curious ceremonies, for
which we must refer the reader to Northern Zoology,
vol. i. p. 18. The women of some of the tribes will
not touch a bear’s skin, or even step over it, so that one
spread at the door of a tent is an effectual bar against
female intruders; and even the men of some of the
tribes will refuse to eat the flesh.

During winter this species invariably hybernates, and
about 1000 skins are annually procured by the Hudson’s
Bay company from black bears destroyed in their
winter retreats. It generally selects a spot for its den
under a fallen tree, and having scratched away a portion
of the soil, retires to it at the commencement of a snow-
storm, when the snow soon furnishes it with a close,
warm covering. Its breath makes a small opening in the
den, and the quantity of hoar frost which occasionally
gathers round the aperture serves to betray its retreat to
the hunter: in more southern districts they often shelter
themselves in hollow trees. The Indians remark that a
bear never retires to its den until it has acquired a thick
coat of fat; and it is remarkable, that when it comes
abroad in the spring it is equally fat, though in a few
days after it becomes very lean. The females retire at
once to their dens, and conceal themselves so carefully,
that even an Indian hunter can rarely detect them: but
the males, exhausted by the pursuit of the other sex,

* Arctic Zool. i. 65.

60 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

require ten or twelve days to recover their lost fat. The
number of cubs varies from one to five.

The geographic range of the black bear is stated by
Dr. Richardson to extend over all the wooded districts
of America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from
Carolina to the shores of the Arctic Sea. Authors men-
tion bears as inhabiting Persia; but whether, if such be
the fact, they belong to this species, may reasonably be
doubted.

There are several varieties of this animal, which sys-
tematists have fancied were distinct species. Thus, the
Cinnamon bear of the fur traders (an individual of
which was in the Tower menagerie) is considered, even
by the Indians, as an accidental variety ; and the same
may be said of the yellow bear, or Ursus luteolus, of
Carolina. A third is the Ours gulaire of M. Geoffroy
St. Hillaire, which has a white throat, analogous, as
Dr. Richardson remarks, to the white collar which many
of the European brown bears exhibit when young. A
fourth variety is mentioned by M. Cuvier, both sexes of
which were in the Paris menagerie. The general colour
was rich shining black, but the muzzle was deep brown
above, and greyish fawn-colour on the sides; there was
also a small fawn-coloured spot in front of the eye.
What appears to prove these latter, more especially, to
be mere varieties, is the fact of another, which had the
fur a little more brown and less smooth, and the spot
near the eye almost obsolete ; while a fourth, in the
same collection, was of the finest black, without any ap-
pearance of the spot. The muzzle of this latter was
brown above, and the breast was marked with two
whitish lines.

Regarding the Ursus luteolus, or yellow bear of
Carolina, major Smith notices some particulars which
must not be passed over in this place, since they go very
far to make us suspect the probability of its being a
distinct race. This naturalist had an opportunity of
comparing a living specimen with another of the common
black bear, both being in a menagerie at New York.

BLACK AMERICAN BEAR. 61

He particularly noticed that the ears of the yellow bear
stood much more backward than those of the other,
that they were not quite so large, and that their general
physiognomy was very different: there was also a much
greater convexity of forehead and a sharper nose than in
the black bear. It seems, also, that no doubt is enter-
tained of their being a distinct race of these animals,
They were formerly common in Virginia ; and they are
still abundant in North-western Louisiana, where they
are called white bears, —a name likewise given, as Dr.
Richardson observes, to the pale-coloured black bears of
Arctic America ; but it does not appear, from the rela-
tion of that traveller, that any animal answering to the
description of the yellow bear of Carolina has ever been
seen in those high northern latitudes.

In a commercial point of view, the skins of this spe-
cies formed, at one time, a most lucrative branch of
commerce to the fur traders, and is still so in a less de-
gree. Some idea may be formed of the exterminating
destruction that has been carried on against these ani-
mals, prompted by the avarice and the vitiated wants of
man, when it is stated, that, in the year 1783, no fewer
than 10,500 bearskins were imported into England from
the nerthem parts of America: this number gradually
increased until 1803, when it had reached 25,000, the
average value of each skin being estimated at forty shil-
lings. Did the Almighty create these creatures merely
to furnish hammercloths for the carriages of the great,
and military trappings for the “men of blood?” For-
tunately for the poor bears, who at this rate would very
soon have been exterminated from the earth, the de-
mand, as it is termed, for their skins is now very small.
Formerly, Dr. Richardson says, a skin with the fur in
prime order and the claws appended was worth from
twenty to forty guineas, and even more ; but, at present,
the best sells for less than forty shillings. We hope this
state of things may long continue.

62 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tur Gristy Bear.

Ursus ferox, Lewis and Clarke (1814). Ursus cinereus, Des-
marest (1820). Ursus horribilis, Say (1822). Ursus Ca-
nadensis, Hamilton Smith.(1826). Grisly Bear, Mackenzie.

(Fig. 7.)

The famous exploratory
expedition of captains
Lewis and Clarke, which
brought to light so many
of the zoological produc-
tions of N orthern Ame-
rica, first made natural-

ists distinctly acquainted
> with this new and ter-
rible bear, distinguished from all others of the New
Continent by its great strength and ferocity, and its
peculiar greediness for animal food. It had, however,
long been known to the Indians and fur traders as a
distinct species, and is even vaguely mentioned in several
of the early French accounts of the districts it inhabits.
Of this formidable animal there is now (1830) a fine
adult specimen living in the Tower menagerie, which was
caught as a young cub on the Rocky Mountains; and,
although sent home to England by the Hudson's Bay
company about eight years ago, this animal is said to be
very savage. The strength and ferocity of this species,
in its state of nature, is so great, that the Indian hunters
use much precaution in attacking it. Some idea of
its prodigious power may be formed from the fact of
its having been known to drag to a considerable distance
the carcass of a buffalo, weighing about 1000 pounds.
The grisly bear is reported to attain a weight exceeding
S00 pounds ; and captains Lewis and Clarke mention
one that measured nine feet long,—a size fully equal to
that of the largest polar or white bears.

The following anecdote, which well illustrates the
savage nature of this species, is given by Dr. Richardson,
who says it is well authenticated. ‘“‘ A party of voyagers

GRISLY BEAR, 63

had seated themselves in the twilight by a fire, and
were busy in preparing their supper, when a large
grisly bear sprang over their canoe, which was tilted
behind them, and seizing one of the party by the
shoulder, carried him off. The rest fled in terror, with
the exception of a Melif, named Bourasso, who, grasp-
ing his gun, followed the bear as he was retreating
leisurely with its prey. He called to his unfortunate
comrade, that he was afraid of hitting him if he fired
at the bear; but the latter intreated him to do so im-
mediately, as the bear was squeezing him to death. On
this he took a deliberate aim: his shot, providentially,
entered the body of the animal, which instantly dropped
its prey to pursue its new adversary: he escaped, how-
ever, with difficulty, and the bear ultimately retreated
to a thicket, where it was supposed to have died; but
this fact was not ascertained. The man who was rescued,
had his arm fractured, and was otherwise severely bitten,
although he finally recovered.”

The manners of these bears have been thus described
by Mr. Drummond, who frequently met them in his
excursions over the Rocky Mountains, when attached to
the northern expeditions. In these unfrequented so-
litudes it would often happen, that, in turning the point
of a rock, or sharp angle of a valley, our traveller would
suddenly come upon one or more of them. On such
occasions they reared on their hind legs, and made a loud
noise, like a person breathing quick, but much harsher.
Mr. Drummond, without attempting to molest them,
kept his ground ; while the bears, on their part, after at-
tentively regarding their intruder for some time, gene-
rally wheeled round and galloped off ; though, from their
known disposition, there is little doubt but he would have
been torn in pieces had he lost his presence of mind, and
attempted to fly. On other occasions, when he discovered
them from a distance, he generally frightened them away
by beating on a large tin box, in which he carried his
plants. He never saw more than four together; and
' they were generally single, or in pairs. On one occasion

64 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

only was he attacked, by a female anxious for the safety
of her cubs, and he had then a narrow escape: his gun,
unfortunately, missed fire ; but he managed to keep the
bear at bay with it until some of his companions came
up and drove her off.*

It is singular, that the young grisly bear can climb
trees with facility; but when full grown they are unable
to do so, as the Indians report, from the form of its
claws. Several instances are known, where a hunter has
been held a close prisoner for many hours by the in-
furiated animal keeping watch below. Several interest-
ing anecdotes of these contests are upon record, for which
the reader is referred to the narratives of Lewis and
Clarke, to major Longs, and to Gosia Natural
History ef America.

During winter the females and the young males
hibernate, but the older males often come abroad in
quest of food: they occasionally eat vegetables, but
show a decided preference for animal food. As this
bear quits its den be forethe snow disappears, its foot-
marks are frequently seen in the spring; and these,
being enlarged by the weight of the animal, and the
breaking of the crust of ice around, frequently appear
very large: these impressions, somewhat obscured by
partial thaw, have been thought to be the footsteps of
some enormously large quadruped ; and have given rise
to the idea of live mammoths existing in the solitary
ranges of the Rocky Mountains.

The geographical range of this species is very ex-
tensive. Dr. Richardson says it inhabits the Rocky
Mountains and the plains to the eastward, and lieutenant
Pike affirms that it extends southward as far as Mexico.

The fur is long, and mostly of a dark brown colour,
with paler tips; there is also a mixture of grey hairs
on the head. The muzzle is pale, without the dark
central stripe seen in the black species: it is further
distinguished, both from that and the brown bear, by
shorter and more conic ears, placed further apart; and

* North. Zool. i. 28,

POLAR BEAR. 65

by white, arched, and very long claws, compressed like
the cutting teeth of a squirrel. The tail is very short
so as to be hidden by the hair of the buttocks: this is
a peculiar distinction ; since that of the black species
is sufficiently conspicuous, and that of the barren
ground bear is even still longer.

Tue Ponar or Sea BEAR.

Ursus maritimus, Linn. L’Ours blane, Buffon. Ursus ma-
rinus, Pallas. Polar Bear, Pennant. (Fig. 8.)

This ferocious wanderer of the arctic circle is dis-
tinguished from all other bears by its small narrow head,
and lengthened muzzle. Its colour is invariably yel-
lowish white ; but this distinction is not to be entirely
depended upon, since other species are occasionally found
of the same colour towards the regions of eternal snow.
Eminently adapted, by his structure and his instinct, for
swimming and diving, the polar bear procures ample
sustenance in regions where man would perish from
hunger. He is the appointed inhabitant of those float-
ing fields of ice which stretch to the northern pole.
Here he carries on an almost constant warfare with fish,
seals, foxes ; and is known even to attack the formidable
walrus. He scents his prey at a vast distance, and
seems greedily to devour every thing that comes in his
way. He will frequently be carried on the ice from
Greenland to Iceland; where the white bears commit

F

66 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

such ravages on the flocks, that the inhabitants rise in
a body to destroy them. The manner in which he sur-
prises a seal has been thus described by captain Lyon.
— “The bear, on seeing his intended prey, gets
quietly into the water and swims to leeward of him ;
whence, by frequent short dives, he silently makes his
approaches, and so arranges his distance, that at the last
dive he comes to the spot where the seal is lying. If
the poor animal attempts to escape by rolling into the
water, he falls into the bear’s clutches ; if, on the con-
trary, he lies still, his destroyer makes a powerful spring,
kills him on the ice, and devours him at leisure.”” Cap-
tain Lyon describes the pace of the polar bear, when
at full speed, as a kind of shuffle, as quick as the sharp
gallop of a horse.

Of the amazing power of this animal many extra-
ordinary accounts have been told, which need not be
here repeated. We cannot, however, pass over the fol-
lowing, given by Mr. Churchill, and pointed out to us
by Dr. Richardson.—*‘ On the 6th of September, 1594,
part of the crew of Barentz’s vessel landed to search for
a certain sort of stone; during this search, two of the
party laid down together to sleep, when a white bear, very
lean, softly approached and seized one of them by the nape
of the neck. The poor man, not knowing what it was,
cried out, ‘ Who has seized me thus behind ?’ on which
his companion, raising his head, said, ‘ Holloa, mate, ’t is
a bear,’ and immediately ran away. The bear, having
dreadfully mangled the unfortunate man’s head, sucked
his blood : the rest of the party, to the number of twenty,
immediately ran with their arms, and found the bear de-
vouring the body; the bear, on seeing them, ran upon
them, and carrying another man away, tore him also to
pieces. This second adventure so terrified them, that
they all fled. They returned, however, with a rein-
forcement ; and the two pilots having fired three times
without hitting the animal, the purser approached a little
nearer, and shot the bear in the head close to the eye.
This did not cause him to quit his prey, for, holding the

POLAR BEAR. 67

body which he was devouring fast by the neck, he
carried it away, as yet quite entire. Nevertheless, they
then perceived that he began himself to totter ; and
the purser and a Scotchman going towards him, they
gave him several sabre wounds, and cut him to pieces,
without his abandoning his prey.” *

Another story, more amusing than serious, occurs in
a manuscript account of Hudson’s Bay, written in 1786,
by Mr. Andrew Graham, who assisted Pennant so much
in his Arctic Zoology. One of the company’s servants,
who was out procuring hares, having occasion to come
to the factory for a few necessaries, on his return to his
tent, passing through a thicket of willows, found him-
self close to a white bear lying asleep. As he had
nothing wherewith to defend himself, he took the bag
off his shoulder and held it before his breast, between the
bear and him. The animal arose on seeing the man,
stretched himself, and leisurely rubbed his nose ; and
having satisfied his curiosity by smelling at the bag,
which contained a loaf of bread and a flagon of beer,
relieved the poor man from his apprehensions, by turn-
ing round and walking quietly away.

During winter, the white bear, being always able to
fish and procure animal food, does not hybernate like
the other species ; but this must only be understood of
the males, since the pregnant females seclude themselves
in the usual manner. Hearne, whose observations in
general have been found pretty correct, states, that on
the setting in of winter, the females burrow in the deep
snow drifts, and there remain to bring forth their young;
but the males set out to leave the land, swimming to and
wandering upon the fields of ice, in search of seals, &c.

Of the manners of this species under confinement,
M. F. Cuvier has given a long account ; but, as we have
detailed its native habits at some length, we need not
fatigue the reader by describing the animal in its un-
natural state. The one that lived in the Paris me-
nagerie suffered so extremely from heat, that, for the

* Church. Coll. of Voy. i. 88. =
F 2

~

68 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

purpose of cooling him, the keepers would throw
buckets of water over his body: this seemed to give
him an extraordinary degree of pleasure.

Toe Manay Bear.
Ursus Malayanus, Raffles, Horsfield. Bruang, Malays. ( Fig.9.)}

An adult and healthy individual of this playful and
remarkably docile bear, was alive, six years ago, in the
Tower menagerie. As a species it was first made known
to naturalists by the late Sir Stamford Raffles; and
subsequently M. Duvaucel furnished us with a more
ample and satisfactory account. Dr. Horsfield has like-
wise explained its structure with his usual precision.
It seems, like all the other bears of India, to be entirely
destitute of that savage and ferocious disposition which
more or less belongs to all those species inhabiting colder
regions. Sir Stamford kept one of these animals in his
possession two years, and observes, that “‘ when young it
becomes very tame:” the individual alluded to ‘ was
brought up in the nursery with the children ; and when
admitted to my table, as was frequently the case, gave
a proof of his taste by refusing any wine but Cham-
pagne. The only time I ever knew him out of humour
was when no Champagne was forthcoming. He was natu-
rally so playful and affectionate, that it was never found
necessary to chain or to chastise him: it was usual for
this bear, the cat, the dog, and a small parrot to mess
together and eat out of the same dish. His favourite play-
fellow was the dog, whose teazing and worrying was al-
ways borne and returned with the utmost good humour and
playfulness. As he grew up he became a very powerful
animal, and in his rambles in the garden he would lay
hold of the largest plantains, the stems of which he could
scarcely embrace, and tear them up by the roots.” *

In a state of nature, M. Duvaucel remarks that this
species, although not very common in any part of India,

* Linn. Trans. xiii, 254,

MALAY BEAR. 69

has nevertheless a wide geographic range, and is sub-
ject to much variation in its colours. The smallest
race comes from Pegu, and the largest from the island
of Sumatra, where they are very common, and appear
to have migrated from the continent. It causes great
ravages in the island to the fruit ; climbing to the sum-
mit of the cocoa palms to drink the milk, after destroy-
ing the tops of the plant.

The individual in the
Tower is described as very
full of action, though its
movements may be called
slow and measured ; with
all its muscular clumsiness,
it appears to possess great
suppleness of joint, in
throwing itself into many
and very antic postures.
Its favourite position, how-
ever, is that here represented
by Mr. Landseer — sitting
on its haunches, and thrusting out its long narrow
tongue to a very extraordinary length. It eats about
two pounds of bread and milk a day.

In size, this is the smallest of the Indian bears,
measuring only three feet eight inches from the nose to
the root of the tail, which is remarkably short. Its
colour is jet black in every part, except the muzzle,
which is grey: the semilunar mark, so conspicuous on
the breast, is variable in colour; in a specimen at the
India House it is white, but M. Duvaucel describes it
as red; and that in the Tower is stated to be “ yellow
with a tinge of red;” its form is more constant, and
resembles that of a horseshoe. The whole of the fur
is short, fine, and glossy, lying close over the body as
well as on the head. In its figure it stands lower, but
is a stouter and a better proportioned animal than the
common bear.

F 3

70 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue THick-LIpPED BEAR.

Ursus labiatus, Blainville. |Bradypus ursinus, Shaw. Prochi-
lus ursinus, Jiliger. Melursus, Meyer.

In the year 1790, an old individual of this
species, which had lost its cutting teeth, was exhibited
in England, and although called a bear, was pro-
nounced by the scientific of those days to be a sloth:
it was accordingly described and figured by Dr. Shaw
under the name of Bradypus ursinus, or ursiform sloth ;
and the learned Illiger, deceived by this imperfect ac-
count of our countrymen, formed upon it his genus
Prochilus. This individual seems to have been the
first that had ever reached Europe. The species, how-
ever, has more lately become better known, and is found
to be a genuine bear, although possessing certain traits
of habit, which may in some degree account for the
want of tact in its first describer of recognising its true
station in nature. Mr. Buchanan Hamilton, in his
Indian travels, published in 1807, was the first to dis-
cover that this supposed sloth was a bear peculiar to
the mountains of India. It is the largest species of the
three now known to inhabit Continental India, and is
altogether superior to them in general intelligence and
docility. M. Duvaucel assures us it is often met with
in the mountains of Silhet; and that the natives declare
it is exclusively frugivorous, or living only upon fruits
and vegetables. As being the most common species in
Bengal, and possessing peculiar docility, it is frequently
educated by the Indian juggler, and taught to exhibit -
for the amusement of the vulgar. Its motions are easy,
as the body is long, and the limbs elevated. Nothing
further is known of its natural economy, and we are
uncertain whether any living specimen is existing at
this time in England.

COMMON RACOON. 71

Tue Common Racoon.

Procyon lotor, Cuv. North. Zool. i. 36. Ursus lotor, Linn.
Le Ratan, Buffon. Raccoon Bear, Pennant.

Although this animal has been long known to natu-
ralists, and is often seen in menageries, we are without
any very detailed information regarding its natural
habits. Dr. Richardson enumerates the racoon as inha-
biting the southern districts of the fur countries belong-
ing to British America; and although it does not appear
to have actually fallen under his observation, the short
account he was able to procure of it is most probably
authentic. In its native state it sleeps by day, comes
from its retreat in the evening, and prowls in the night
in search of roots and other vegetables, as well as _ birds
and insects ; although it is said merely to eat the brains
and suck the blood of such birds as it kills: at low water,
it frequents the sea shore, to feed on crabs and oysters :
it is fond of dipping its food into water before it eats,
whence its specific name. It is an animal with a fox~
like countenance, but with much of the gait of a bear ;
and, being partially plantigrade, it was classed by Lin-
neeus in the genus Ursus. It climbs trees with facility.
The fur is used in the manufacture of hats; and about
one hundred skins are annually imported from the Red
River, in lat. 50°, by the Hudson’s Bay company.

In captivity, the racoon, like all other nocturnal ani-
mals, is heavy and stupid during the day, when it rolls
itself up, placing the head between the thighs. It is
easily tamed, and soon becomes familiar, but does not
appear capable of much attachment or docility. The
racoon seems to be a well known inhabitant of the
greatest part of North America.

The total length is about two feet and a half. The
hair of the body is grizzled. The tail, which is about ten
inches long, is bushy like the brush of a fox: the feet
are short, and all the toes armed with long, strong claws,
fit for burrowing.

72 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue AMERICAN BADGER.

Meles Labradoria, Richardson. North. Zool. i. 37. Ursus
Labradoricus, Linn. Careajou, Buffon. American Badger,
Sabine. Brairo et Siffleur, French Canadians. (Fig. 10.)

The American badger differs totally from that of
Europe, which has a darker,
coarser, and much shorter
fur, and is marked with
well-defined lines of white
on the head: it is also a

= more carnivorous animal.
ae Its range to the north ex-
tends to the banks of the
Peace River, in lat. 58°, and it abounds on the plains
watered by the Missouri. Ina state of nature, it is a slow
and timid animal, taking to the first earth it reaches when
pursued ; but, as it burrows with great facility, it soon
places itself out of danger. The strength of its fore feet
and claws is so great, that one which had insinuated
only its head and shoulders into a hole, resisted the ut-
most efforts of two strong young men, who endeavoured
to drag it out by the hind legs and tail. The sandy
plains in the neighbourhood of the Saskatchewan River,
as Dr. Richardson observes, are so perforated by badger
holes, that they become a great annoyance to horsemen,
and are even dangerous when the ground is covered
with snow. These holes are partly dug by the badgers
for habitations ; but the greater number of them are
merely enlargements of the burrows formed by two
species of marmots (Arctomys Hoodii and Richardsonii),
which the badgers dig up and prey upon. When the
snow covers the ground, this animal rarely or never
quits its hole ; where, in fact, it passes the winter in a
torpid state: it does not lose much flesh during this
long hybernation, which usually lasts from November to
April ; for on coming abroad in the spring, it is gene-
rally fat. We know not of any living specimens now

JAVANESE BADGER. 73

in England, and cannot, therefore, speak of this species
in a state of confinement.

The size is rather less, and the form not so thick, as
that of the European badger. The fur is very soft and
fine. The general colour is hoary grey: the top of the
head is darker, divided by a narrow white line. The
usual length (including the tail, which is six inches)
does not exceed two feet and a half.*

Tue JAVANESE BADGER.

Meles Javanensis, Swainson. Mephitis Javanensis, Raffles. Le
Télegon, Fred. Cuvier. Mydaces miliceps, ditto, Horsfield.
Teledu, Javanese. Seng-gung, Sunda Javanese. ‘Teleggo,
Sumatrese,

The Javanese badger appears to be that connecting link
in the chain of nature by which she unites the mephitic
weasels with the true badgers. We shall therefore regard
it as belonging to the latter tribe, although it has been
elevated to the rank of a distinct genus. Dr. Hors-
field has given us some long and interesting details on
the structure and habits of this curious animal, but we
regret our limits will only admit of a few brief extracts.

In its natural state, the Javanese badger presents a
singular fact in its geographic distribution. It is con-
fined exclusively to those mountains in Java which
are elevated more than 7000 feet above the level of the
sea. On ascending these mountains, scattered over the
whole island, the traveller is sure to meet with this
animal, which is well known to the inhabitants of these
elevated regions ; whereas to those of the plains it is as
strange as any quadruped from a foreign country. In
the rich vegetable soil of these districts and elevated
valleys, most of the European pulse and fruit grow with
luxuriance, and it is here the badger holds its range as
the ancient proprietor of the soil; it is a great annoy-
ance to the inhabitants, from its destroying the roots of
young plants. It uses its nose, like the hog, to burrow

* North. Zool. i. 40.

74 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

in the earth; and as it feeds during the night, its track,
in the morning, may be traced by small ridges of mould
recently turned up.

Its dwelling is made in the earth, and with consifensals
ingenuity. It selects some spot bea the root of
a large tree; it here constructs a chamber beneath the
surface, of a globular form, and several feet in diameter ;
it makes the sides perfectly smooth and regular ; it then
proceeds to make a subterraneous conduit or avenue,
about six feet in length, the external entrance to which
is concealed with twigs and dry leaves. In this retreat,
like the badger, it remains concealed during the day,
issuing forth at night to search after insects and worms.
Of the latter it seems very fond; and it is, no doubt,
in searching after them that this animal injures the
seedling plants, without any intention of devouring the
latter. They live in pairs, and the female produces
two or three young at a birth. Like the mephitic
weasels, it possesses the power of ejecting an extremely
offensive odour, which spreads to so great a distance as
to infect the entire neighbourhood of a village; and in |
the immediate neighbourhood of the discharge it is so —
strong as often to produce syncope. It cannot, how-
ever, be propelled to a greater distance than about two
feet, which is a much weaker discharge than what can
be effected by the skunk weasel of America. When
the natives suddenly surprise this animal, the flesh is
scarcely impregnated with the offensive odour, and it is
then said to be very delicious.

In confinement, and when taken young, it is not fe-
rocious, and may be easily tamed. An individual kept
by Dr. Horsfield, soon became gentle, and was so well
reconciled to its situation as at no time to emit its of-
fensive fluid. While the doctor had it drawn, it was
tied to a small stake, about which it moved briskly, bur-
rowing the ground with its snout and feet as if in search
of food, without taking any notice of the bystanders.
On having some earthworms brought to it, the animal
fell on them voraciously, holding one extremity with its _

~

BRAZILIAN RACOON. 75

claws, while its teeth were employed to tear the other:
having consumed about ten or twelve, it became drowsy,
and making a small groove in the earth, in which it
seemed to place its snout for protection, it composed, it-
self very deliberately, and was soon sound asleep.

The appearance of this animal, from. the heavy form
of its body, the shortness and strength. of the neck, and
its obtuse snout, reminds the pfecaes of the figure of
ahog. The fur is warm, adapted to the cold regions
which the animal inhabits ; it is composed of long deli-
cate hairs, silky at the base, and very-closely set: the
colour is blackish brown, more or less intense,.on every
part of the body; but from the crown to the tip of the
tail is a broad streak of yellowish white. The tail is
scarcely half an inch long, but it is-bushy, and the hairs
being lengthened, makes it appear longer. The offensive
matter is contained in two glands near the extremity of
the rectum.

Tue BraziniaAn Racoon, or Coatr Monpt.

Procyon Nasua, Nob. Viverra Nasua, Gmelin. Nasua rufa
et fusca, Desmarest.

The Brazilian name of Coati Mondi, originally given
by Marcgrave to this animal, has been. preserved to it
by the common consent of showmen and. compilers.
We have already shown the inexpediency of naturalising
such names, not only as giving no definite ideas of the
animals so designated, but as leading to erroneous and
sometimes to palpably false conclusions. We have,
therefore, ventured to term the species now under con-
sideration, the Brazilian racoon, as appearing to asso-
ciate more naturally with that animal than with any
other ; and, although it has evidently some peculiarities,
we place it in the same genus, rather than form it into
a new one.

The Brazilian racoon, in its native state, is said to
live in small troops, in woods adjoining cultivated
grounds, particularly sugar plantations, where it causes

76 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

much injury to the canes. The sense of smell appears
to be particularly acute. M. Fred. Cuvier, speaking of
a living specimen which he describes in the Paris me-
nagerie, says, that its nose is in perpetual motion, as
it is applied to every object presented to its notice, as if
the animal intended to feel by it: the snout is obviously
of considerable use in assisting the animal to hunt after
earthworms and underground insects, in which occu-
pation he uses his fore paws for digging; with these also
he conveys his food to his mouth, not in the manner
of monkeys, but by digging his nails into the food. In
climbing, also, the fore paws are much used: in descend-
ing, he always came down head foremost, using the nails
of the hinder ones as hooks ; for which purpose they are
capable of being greatly bent inwards. Its voice is de-
scribed as like a gentle hissing when pleased, and as
very shrill and piercing when influenced: by pain or
displeasure. Its smell is strong and disagreeable. The
tail is always carried in an elevated position.

This species is subject to so much variation in colour,
that we see no evidence, sufficiently strong, for consider-
ing the red and the brown coati of the French writers
as distinct species. Even M. Fred. Cuvier, who appears
to have had living specimens of both before his eyes,
appears to us entirely to have failed in establishing a
specific difference ; indeed, this very able zoologist de-
clares, after the most minute comparison, that he can
detect no difference between them but colour. As to
the brown coati, it appears that it seldom happens that
two specimens are ever found alike; and every variety
of shade, between brown and fawn-colour, may be
traced : in most of these there is a white line along the
nose, and three other white spots round the eye. The
tail varies greatly ; it is sometimes entirely black, but
is more frequently covered with alternate rings of deep
brown and fawn-colour.

The fawn-coloured variety is chiefly found towards
Paraguay. A specimen then living in the Paris me-
nagerie enabled M. Cuvier to observe the following

POTTO. te

traits in its character:—It had previously enjoyed
complete liberty, and was found a useful inhabitant of
the barns and stables of its master, which it soon cleared
of rats and mice, which it caught with great dexterity ;
it would also search in the garden for worms and snails.
On being put under restraint, it bit at every person ;
but, as soon as it came to be regularly fed, it evinced
much docility ; it would thrust its long muzzle under a
sleeve or waistcoat, and utter alittle soft cry of pleasure.
When it scratched itself, it frequently made use of both
its fore paws at once; and it had a singular custom of
rubbing the base of its tail between its fore paws,—an
action which appeared quite inexplicable. It soon took
a fancy to a little dog; and, as the friendship seemed
mutual, they were both allowed to inhabit the same
cage.

Tue Porro.

Cercoleptes caudivolvulus, Jiliger. Viverra caudivolvula,
Schreber. Potat, Buffon. Yellow Macauco, Pennant.
Kinkajou, Desmarest.

This is one of the most singular and apparently ano-
malous quadrupeds we have yet mentioned. It is from
the forests of South America, and is by no means an
uncommon animal in the menageries of Europe. Its
general appearance is so much like that of a lemur, that
Pennant classed it, without hesitation, with that family,
while in its teeth and feet it shows a strong affinity to
the feline race ; from these last, however, it essentially
differs in having a long prehensile tail. Of its natural
habits little appears to be known. Baron Humboldt
affirms that it makes use of its long tongue to suck
honey, and hence is a great destroyer of the nests of
bees: this habit has procured for it, among the mis-
sionaries, the name of the Honey Bear.

M. Fred. Cuvier reeords some interesting particulars
of an individual in the Royal collection, which will tend
much to show the probable situation of this animal in

78 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

the circle of nature. Its size was that of a domestic
cat ; but its whole physiognomy was remarkably like
that of alemur. The fur also, in its smoothness, soft-
ness, and thickness, bore a strong resemblance to that
of the latter animal: it was not so high; but it had very
much of the same gait, especially behind, although it
walked altogether on the soles and the palms. It was slow
in its movements, which seemed executed with difficulty ;
(this, it is presumed, was when upon the ground only ;)
but when it sprang forward, or jumped, it seemed ex-
tremely active. Its large eyes, almost directed forward,
seemed to complete the resemblance which the animal
had to the family of lemurs.

In its disposition this individual was extremely mild,
and very fond of being caressed. It passed the entire
day, like the lemurs, in sleeping ; the head reclined on
the breast, and covered around by the arms. When
awakened in the day, it obviously suffered much distress
from the glare of light, and sought to conceal itself in
the darkest corner. By caresses, however, it would
sometimes be induced to play; but the moment they
ceased, the necessity of sleep seemed to overcome it.
As twilight advanced, it would gradually awaken, ad-
vance a few paces, utter a bleating sound, and throw
out its very long tongue: it would then drink, and take
its food, which consisted of bread, biscuit, and fruit. It
sometimes ate meat, but showed a decided partiality for
vegetable diet. The fore paws were generally used to
carry food to the mouth,—a character belonging to all the
lemurs. Like those animals, also, the potto climbed
with great dexterity; while, in descending, it would clasp
with its hind legs, so as completely to turn back the
foot,—an action which must depend upon a peculiar con-
formation of the leg. The prehensile tail was often used
to prevent falls, and even to draw objects towards the
animal which could not be reached by the hands, Its
voice, when placid, was a soft hiss ; but when irritated,
it resembled the barking of a young dog.

The general colour of the animal is yellowish grey,

WOLVERINE. 79

which is of a deeper cr more golden tint on the sides of
the head and the middle of the breast and body: the
eyes are large and black, and the ears and muzzle dull
violet. All the hairs of the fur are grey till within
one third of their length ; the latter portion being yel-
lowish: the tail, towards the end, is darker than the
colour of the body.

Tue WotverIne, or GLUTTON.

Gulo luscus, Sabine. Rich. North. Zool. i. 41. Ursus luseus,
Linneus. Gulo Arcticus, Desmarest. Wolverine, Pennant.
Kablee-arioo, Esquimaux Indians. Careajou, French
Canadians. Quickehatch, English Canadians.

The glutton, of which such strange and incredible
stories have been handed down by compilers of zoology
for the last hundred years, is supposed by Dr. Richard-
son, with every appearance of truth, to be no other than
the American wolverine; an animal, of which this
enterprising traveller was the first who has given us any
authentic history. From his observations, therefore,
contained in the admirable volume upon American qua-
drupeds, with which he has enriched science, we shall
extract the following account.

The wolverine was first described by La Hontan,
who says “it is very like a badger, but that it- is
larger and fiercer.” It is carnivorous, and feeds chiefly
upon the carcases of beasts that have been killed by ac-
cident. It has great strength, and annoys the natives
by destroying dheir hoards of provisions, and demolish-
ing their marten traps. It is nevertheless so suspicious,
as rarely to enter a trap itself; but, beginning behind,
pulls it to pieces, scatters the logs of which it is built,
and then runs off with the bait. In this respect its
manners are quite as singular as those with which it has
been invested by fiction, It feeds likewise upon mea-
dow mice, marmots, and other similar animals ; and it
will occasionally disable quadrupeds of:a much larger
size. ‘‘ I have seen one,” says Dr. Richardson, ‘ chas-

80 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

ing an American hare, which was at the same time pur-
sued by a snowy owl.” In its gait it resembles the
bear, and is not fleet ; but it is very industrious, and no
doubt feeds well, as it is generally fat. It is much
abroad during winter, and its track over the snow in a
single night, may be often traced for many miles, Its legs
being short, its progress through the loose snow is dif-
ficult; but when it falls upon the beaten track of a marten
trapper, it will pursue it for a long way. Mr. Graham
confirms this singular habit of the wolverine destroying
the traps, which it certainly could never have learned
before these regions were inhabited by the fur traders.
‘© The wolverines,” observes Mr. Graham, in his un-
published MSS.* ‘ are extremely mischievous, and do
more damage to the small fur trade, than all the other
rapacious animals conjointly. They will follow the
marten hunter’s path round a line of traps extending
forty, fifty, or sixty miles, merely to come at the baits,
and thus render the whole unserviceable. They are not
fond of the martens themselves, but never fail of tearing
them in pieces, or of burying them in the snow by the
side of the path, at a considerable distance from the
trap. Drifts of snow often conceal these repositories, thus
made by the martens, from the hunter; in which case
they furnish a regale to the hungry fox, whose saga-
cious nostri] guides him unerringly to the spot. Two
or three foxes are often seen following the wolverine
for this purpose.”

Dr. Richardson remarks, that the wolverine is said
to destroy great numbers of beavers; but it must be only
in the summer, when those industrious animals are at
work on land, that it can surprise them. An attempt
to break open their houses in winter, even supposing it
possible for the claws of a wolverine to penetrate the
thick mud walls when frozen as hard as stone, would
only have the effect of driving the beavers into the
water, to seek for shelter in their vaults on the borders
of the dam. The wolverine, although said to defend

* Cited by Dr. Richardson.

BANDED WOLVERINE. §1

itself with success against all other quadrupeds, fiies
from the face of man.

The geographic range of this animal is over the whole
northern part of America, from Labrador and Davis’s
Straits to the shores of the Pacific. Its bones have even
been found in Melville Island, and it is common in Ca-
nada.

The total length is a little more than three feet. The
head is broad, compact, and suddenly rounded off, while
in the shape of its jaws it resembles a dog. The whole
aspect indicates great strength, without much activity.
The fur greatly resembles that of the black bear, being
of a black or dark brown colour, with a paler band on
each side the flanks: there are some white marks also
on the throat and chest, which are not constant in their
shapes. The claws are strong and sharp.

Tur Banpep or Sours AmericAN WoLveERINE.

Gulo vittatus, Cuvier. Viverra vittata, Linn. Grison, Buffon.
Petit Fruret, Azara.

This may be considered the representative of the last
species, or common wolverine, in South America, since
it appears restricted to those latitudes south of the equi-
noctial line. According to Azara, it is very common in
Paraguay, but appears scarce in Surinam. We cannot
trace what are the intermediate countries it inhabits.
In a state of nature it is said to be a most ferocious
little animal, living entirely upon small quadrupeds,
birds, reptiles, &c.

In confinement it preserves its sanguinary disposition,
if not well supplied with food ; but it yet appears ca-
pable of a certain degree of domestication, and even of
docility. M. F. Cuvier gives the following account of
one which was then living in the Paris menagerie :—
“* Although it was so far tamed as to be fond of play,
it did not appear to recognise any person in particular.
It seemed to derive great pleasure from being stroked
down the back. When invited to play, it would turn

G

82 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

over, return with its paws the caresses it received, and
gently bite the fingers, but never so as to hurt or wound
them. It almost appeared as if the creature knew the ~
degree of resistance which the skin was capable of mak-
ing, and that it proportioned the force of its bite accord-
ingly, when it wished to express its joy ; it seemed also
to know the fingers of a person without seeing them.
It preserved, however, its natural thirst of blood for all
those living beings which could become its prey; since
one day it broke the bars of its cage to attack a lemur
that was within reach, and mortally wounded it. Upon
catching a bird, it killed it directly, and laid it by as if
for store; it did the same with such part of its usual
provisions as it did not appear immediately to want.”

The size of the Grison, as the French call this animal,
is rather small, the length measuring about eighteen
inches from nose to tail: the body is lengthened ; and
as the toes are half connected by a membrane, Dr. Trail
considers it as belonging to the otter genus. The co-
lour of the fur, unlike most other quadrupeds, is darker
underneath than upon the back: it is of a pale grey co-
lour, mixed with silky black; or, rather, each hair is
alternately coloured with black and yellowish white.
This is the upper colour; but that of the muzzle, lower
jaw, throat, chest, and body, is deep black: in addition
to this, there is a pale grey or whitish line, which springs
from between the eyes, and passes over the ears to the
sides of the neck, The tail is six inches long.

Tue Ratren, or CAPE WOLVERINE.

Gulo mellivora, Nobis. Viverra mellivora, Gmelin. Rattel,
Sparman. Fizzler Weasel, Pennant. Ratellus Ratel, Fred.
Cuvier.

This animal, which seems to have a close afiinity with
the preceding, is placed conditionally in the same genus.
It is sometimes brought from Southern Africa; but,
although by no means uncommon, we do not find any
record of living examples in our menageries.

MINX. 83

In its native country, as Mr. Daniel informs us*, the
choice food of the rattel is said to be honey ; and na-
ture has endowed it with a hide so very thick, that it
cannot be penetrated by the sting of a bee. It is so
particularly tenacious of life, that a dog with great diffi-
culty succeeds in killing it; and even wanton cruelty is
long in depriving him of existence.

The rattel is a thick, heavy shaped animal, with rather
a large head, and destitute of external ears. The fur is
long and rough. The upper parts of the head, neck, back,
and tail are ash-coloured, while the muzzle and all the
under parts are black; the two colours being separated by
a bright grey line.

Tue Minx, or Vison WeEasEL.

Mustela Vison, Linneus. Rich. North. Zool. i.48. Le Vison,
Buffon. Minx Otter, Pennant.

We now pass to such animals of the weasel tribe as
are most likely to come under common observation in
menageries ; or whose skins, as articles of dress or of
commerce, are in general use; and of which, con-
sequently, something should be known by every one.

The minx is one of the most common animals of the
fur countries of North America, and its habits have.
been thus detailed by Dr. Richardson. It is a much
more aquatic animal than others of its congeners, pass-
ing much of its time in the water, to which, when
pursued, it retreats, in preference to seeking its escape
by land. It walks slowly, but can swim and dive so
well as to remain a considerable time under water. Its
short fur, forming a smooth glossy coat, its tail, exactly
like that of an otter, and the shortness of its legs, denote
its aquatic habits. During summer it preys upon small
fish, spawn, shells, &c. ; but in winter, when its watery
haunts are frozen over, it will hunt mice on land, or
travel to a considerable distance, through the snow, in
search of a fall or rapid where the water has not yet been

* Daniel, African Scenery.

@.2

84 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

frozen. When irritated, it exhales, next to the skunk,
the most fetid smell of any animal in the fur countries :
this odour resides in a fluid, secreted by two glands —
situated behind. When in the water it betrays no
timidity, since it will approach a canoe, as if from cu-
riosity ; but the moment it perceives the fiash of a gun,
or any unusual movement, it instantly dives.

In confinement the minx is easily tamed, and is ca-
pable of strong attachment. In this state it is observed
to sleep much in the day, and to be fond of warmth.
Dr. Richardson mentions one which he saw in the pos-
session of a Canadian woman, and which passed the day
in her pocket, looking out occasionally when its attention
was roused by any unusual noise. Like the cat, how-
ever, this animal is easily offended, and will, on a sudden
provocation, bite those who are most kind to it, not-
withstanding its fondness for being caressed.

The fur, although very fine in texture, is so short as
to be of little value as an article of commerce ; so great
is the influence of fashion in preferring appearance to
use. Dr. Richardson even says, that at many of the re-
mote stations of the Hudson’s Bay company, these skins
are taken by the traders from the Indians, merely to
accommodate the latter, and afterwards burnt, because
they will not repay the expense of carriage! How
many hundreds of the lower orders of people in this
country might be made comfortable by these skins, were
they permitted to be sent us free of duty ?

The size is less than that of the pine marten, but,
from the great length of its neck, it is nearly as long.
The fur is of two sorts, — one a very dense down, the
other composed of longer and stronger hairs; these
latter form a smooth shining coat of a chocolate or
umber brown colour, and completely conceal the down
beneath: the head and the belly are paler; and the
lower jaw is white, with a narrow brown mark at the
end. ‘The whiskers are shorter than the head, and are
remarkably strong.

PEKAN. 85

Tur Pexan, or Fisner WRaASEL.

Mustela Canadensis, Linn. North. Zool. i. 52. Le Pekan,
Buff. Fisher, Pennant. Pennant’s Marten, Godman.
Otcheek, Cree Indians. Pekan, Canadian Voyagers. We-
jack, or Fisher, Fur Traders. | Woodshock, Hudson’s Bay
Company’s Sale Lists.

This animal was long confounded, both by voyagers
and naturalists, with the minx; so that, although
abundant in the fur countries towards Hudson's Bay,
Dr. Richardson appears to be the first writer who distinctly
described it. From the Northern Zoology, we learn
that it is a larger and stronger animal than any of the
varieties of the pine marten, but that its manners are
similar,—climbing trees with equal facility, and preying
chiefly upon mice. It lives in damp woods; in which
respect it differs from the martens, who prefer the dryest
places in the pine forests. The fisher is said to prey,
during summer, upon frogs; but it appears that its
favourite food is the Canadian porcupine, which it kills
by biting on the belly. It does not seek its food in the
water, although it is well known to plunder the hoards
of frozen fish laid up by the natives. Its geographic
range is very wide, extending from Pennsylvania to Great
Slave Lake, and completely across the continent.

The fur has a considerable resemblance to that of the
common pine marten in its summer dress; but it is
harsher, and much less valuable ; and the animal itself
is nearly twice the ordinary size of the other. Some
thousands are annually killed in the Hudson’s Bay
countries.

The general physiognomy of the pekan is very dif-
ferent from that of the marten: when the latter is
threatened, its features resemble those of an enraged
cat ; whereas the expression of the pekan more resembles
that of adog. The colour of the fur, outside, is blackish
brown, with a considerable lustre: the throat, belly, and
legs are brownish black ; sometimes there is a white
spot between the fore legs, or on the throat, and another

G 3

86 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

between the hind legs, but these marks are not constant.

The tail is clothed with long black hair. In the Hud-

son’s Bay museum there is a white variety of the pekan, -
having only the nose and feet brown ; but this colour is

rarely met with.

’ Tue Hunpson’s Bay Weasen, or Skunx.

Mephitis Hudsonica, Rich. North. Zool. i. 55. Mephitis
Americana, Sabine. Skunk Weasel, Pennant. Seecawk,
Cree Indians.

There exists, both in America and in Southern Africa,
a certain race of weasels, which are provided by nature
with a very singular, and even formidable, mode of self-
defence. This consists in the power of ejecting, at will,
a most insupportable and offensive stench, which is as
noxious to man, as it is to all other animals excepting
those of its own tribe. The history of these quadrupeds,
or, more properly, their specific distinctions, require
much investigation ; since they are all more or less black,
marked with very distinct white stripes. We shall,
therefore, confine our attention to that which is now
best known from the personal observations of Dr. Rich~
ardson, and which is, in all probability, a peculiar spe-
cies.

The skunk of Hudson’s Bay is not an uncommon
animal in the district it inhabits, chiefly frequenting the
rocky and woody parts. In summer it feeds upon frogs
and mice; but it passes the winter in a hole, seldom
stirring abroad, and then only for a short distance. It
has a slow gait, and can be overtaken without difficulty ;
it makes, in fact, but a poor attempt to escape, appa-
rently trusting to its power of discomfiting its pursuers
by the discharge of its noisome fluid.

The stench of this fluid is one of the most powerful
and disgusting in nature, and is so durable, that the
spot where a skunk has been killed will retain the taint
for many days. The liquor is contained in a small bag
placed at the root of the tail; it is of a deep yellow
colour ; and the animal can eject it to the distance of

ERMINE. 87

nearly four feet. Mr. Graham observes, that he knew
several Indians who lost their eyesight, in consequence of
inflammation from this cause; and Dr. Richardson says
that he has known a dead skunk, thrown over the stock-
ades of a trading port, produce instant nausea in several
women in a house with closed doors upwards of a hun-
dred yards distant.* Our traveller adds, ‘One may,
however, soon become familiarised with it; for, not-
withstanding the disgust it produces at first, 1 managed
to skin a couple of recent specimens, by recurring to
the task at intervals.” If the carease is not touched by
this fluid, the flesh is considered by the natives as ex-
cellent food.

In general appearance, the skunk is a very pretty
animal: it has a long bushy tail, and its aspect more
resembles that of a wolverine than of a marten: it
stands low on its legs, and has a broad, thick body, and
wide forehead ; the body is broadly striped by black
and white ; but the cheeks, and all the under parts, are
entirely black. The fur, although long, is coarse, and
is but little valued in commerce. The claws on the
fore feet are very strong and long, being adapted for
digging, and are very unlike those of the martens.

Tue Ermine, or Sroar.

Mustela erminea, Linneus. Stoat Weasel, Pennant. Puto-
rius erminea, Cuvier. Seegoos and Shacooshew, Cree In-
dians. Ferreeya, Esquimaux Indians. North. Zool. i. 46.

It may be needless to inform most of our readers
that the beautiful fur called ermine is the winter dress,
in high northern latitudes, of the common stoat, the pest
and detestation of those farmers upon whose prernises it
takes up its abode. Although, therefore, it is a British
animal, we introduce it here to enrich our pages with
some authentic accounts of its manners as witnessed in
America ; for, strange to say, our native Fauna has
been so much neglected, that we frequently are indebted

* North. Zool. i. 55.

G 4

8S ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

to foreigners or travellers for facts and anecdotes of those
animals which live under our very threshold. As with.
us, the ermine often domesticates itself in the habi- —
tations of the American fur traders, where it may be
heard the live-long night, pursuing the white-footed
mouse (Mus leucopus), a species peculiar to those coun-
tries. Captain Lyon, in his usual animated style, men-
tions his having seen an ermine track the steps of a
mouse, like a hound after a fox. “ I also observed,”
says he, “a curious kind of burrow in the snow, made
by the ermines, which was pushed up in the same man-
ner as the tracks of moles through the earth in Eng-
land. These passages run in a serpentine direction ;
and near the hole, or dwelling-place, the circles are mul-
tiplied, as if to render the approach more intricate.”
Captain Lyon also gives us the following amusing
sketch of an ermine he kept alive : — ‘‘ He was a fierce
little fellow ; and the instant he obtained daylight in his
new dwelling, he flew at the bars and shook them with
the greatest fury, uttering a very shrill, passionate cry, and
emitting a strong musky smell: no threats or teasing
would induce him to retire to the sleeping-place ; and
whenever he did so of his own accord, the slightest rub-
bing on the bars was sufficient to bring him out. He
soon took food from the hand, but not until he had first
used every exertion to reach and bite the fingers which
conveyed it.”

The fur, some twenty years ago, was one of the most
expensive sorts, —a small tippet being then sold at from
three to five guineas ; at present, however, its value is
considerably less, —indeed, so little, that Dr. Richardson
says the skins will not repay the Hudson’s Bay com-
pany the expense of collecting ; hence very few are
brought to England from that quarter.

The stoat is as common in America as it is in the
colder parts of Europe and of Asia, It was very common
near the Carleton House Station, and in the most remote
arctic districts, and extends to the middle parts of the
United States.

CANADIAN OTTER. 89

Tue CanapiAn OTTER.

-Lutra Canadensis, Rich. North. Zool. i. 57. Loutre de
Canada, Buffon. Common Otter, Pennant. Neeekek,
Cree Indians. Capucca, Nootka Sound Indians.

The otters may be called aquatic weasels, since they
both evince the same ferocity of disposition, are inces-
santly hunting small animals, and have the same length
and slenderness of body. It was long supposed that
the otter of Canada perfectly resembled that of Britain ;
but Buffon rightly conjectured that they were distinct ;
and it now appears that there is a third species, peculiar
to the warm latitudes of South America. The manners,
indeed, of the Canadian, are almost the same as those of
the European otter. It frequents the falls and rapids
of the rivers, to have the advantage of open water ;
and when its usual haunts are frozen over, it will
traverse the snow for a great distance in search of
such spots as may not yet be covered with ice. If
on these journeys it is seen and pursued, it will
throw itself forward on its belly and slide through the
snow for several yards, leaving a deep furrow behind it.
This movement is repeated with so much rapidity, that
even a swift runner on snow shoes has much trouble in
overtaking it. It also doubles on its track with much
cunning, and dives under the snow to elude its pursuers.
When closely pressed, it will turn and defend itself
with great obstinacy. In the spring of 1826, at Great
Bear Lake, the otters frequently robbed the fishing-nets
which were set under the ice at the distance of a few
yards from a piece of open water : they generally carried
off the heads of the fish, and left the bodies sticking in
the net.

The fur is an important article of commerce, seven
or eight thousand skins being annually imported into
England by the Hudson’s Bay company: it very much
resembles that of the beaver, having the same general
colour ; and is of the same texture, that is, composed of
very fine waved and shining down intermixed with longer

90 | ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

and coarser hairs. In summer, when the hair is very
short, it is almost black ; but, as the winter advances, it
turns to a beautiful reddish brown, except a spot under.
the chin, which is grey. Otter fur is nearly of the same
fineness with beaver wool ; but being shorter, and not so
well adapted for making felt, its price fluctuates more
with the fashion.

The size is larger than that of the European otter;
the adult is generally about five feet long, of which the
tail occupies about eighteen inches: it is further dis-
tinguished from the‘ ‘common species, by the colour of
the. belly being the same'as that of the back.

Tas aa OTTER.

Lutra Braziliensis, Ray. Mustela Braziliensis, Gmelin. Sars-
covienne dela Guyanne, Buffon. Brazilian Otter, Pennant.

We know very little of this species, as regards its
general history; nor is it certain that the otter of Para-
guay, described by Azara, is the-same as that found in
the rivers of Guiana.‘ Should this, however, be estab-
lished, it would appear to be an animal capable of much
docility, and worthy of being domesticated. Azara ob-
serves of one which was in confinement, that it ate fish,
meat, fruit, and bread very readily ; although the former,
from being its most natural food, was always preferred.
It was so very tame as to go about the streets, and re-
turn to its master’s house of its own accord: it knew all
the members of the family, and followed them with the
attachment of a dog, although a very little exercise was
sufficient to fatigue it: it knew and acknowledged its
name, and seemed fond of playing with the cats and
dogs of the house ; but as it sometimes bit very hard in
these frolics, no one seemed very willing to join in
them. It was never known to attack the poultry, or do
any mischief, except to a very young pig, which it
would have killed, had it not been prevented. In other
respects, the native manners of this and the European

JAVANESE OTTER.—PINE MARTEN. ~ Ol

species were almost precisely the same, except that this
is gregarious, living in small societies of its own kind.

The size appears nearly equal to that of the Canadian
otter; and the fur is described as brown, with the throat
generally white, or white tinged with yellow. Several
females are said to inhabit a single burrow, in which
they breed and rear their young.

Tue JAVANESE or SLENDER-CLAWED OTTER.

Lutra leptonyx, Horsfield. Melengsang, or Wargul, Javanese.
Anjing-ayer, of the Malays. Simung, of the Sumatrese.

The otter of Java and the Indian islands was first
discovered to be distinct from that of Europe by Dr.
Horsfield. Both in appearance and manners there is
a great resemblance between the two, but this appears a
much more ferocious animal; yet, if taken young, and
gently treated, it becomes mild and tractable, and in this
state it is occasionally seen in the dwellings of the na-
tives. In its wild state, it is found near the sea, on the
banks of all the Javanese rivers, but does not appear to
extend inland. If attacked, it is extremely ferocious,
and defends itself with great courage. Its voice is said
to resemble that of a human being when weeping, and
it shows great attachment to its young.

The size is smaller than either the European or Ca-
nadian otter ; but the fur has much the same character.
The colour, however, is of a lighter brown, and the
claws much more slender.

Tue Pine Marten.
Martes Abietinum, Ray. Rich. North. Zool. i. 51. Mustela
Martes, Linneus. La Marte, Buffon. Warpeestan, Cree
Indians. Wappanow, Monzonies. Wawbeechins, Algonguins.

Sable, American Fur Dealers. Marten, Hudson’sBay Sale
Lists.

Of the pine marten, although a native of Europe,
our information has been so trivial and defective, that

92 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

we are again indebted to Dr. Richardson for making us
better acquainted with a British quadruped by observing
its habits in America. It is one of the most important.
fur-bearing animals, in regard to commerce, in the ter-
ritories of British America, and we accordingly intro-
duce it into our “ menagerie,” as possessing general
interest.

The pine marten of Europe appears, in every re-
spect, to be the same species as that of America ; and it
is distributed on the latter continent, over all the
northern districts clothed with wood, from the Atlantic
to the Pacific ; it extends, in the same situations, over
the Asiatic side of Behring’s Straits ; but in both con-
tinents is either very rare, or entirely unknown, in such
parts as are destitute of wood. Particular breeds or
races appear to inhabit certain districts; that of Nipigan,
for instance, on the north of Lake Superior, has long
been noted for its black and valuable marten skins.

The habits of this animal are thus described by
Dr. Richardson: —In winter it preys upon mice, hares,
and partridges, and in summer upon eggs and small
birds. In severe seasons, and when pressed for food, it
does not reject carrion, and is very ingenious in disco-
vering the hoards of meat and fish laid up by the
natives, which it invariably pillages if the smallest
opening is left by which it can enter. When pursued and
its retreat cut off, it sets up its hair, arches its back, and
makes a hissing noise like a cat: it will seize a dog by
the nose, and bite so hard as frequently to deter its ad-
versary from pursuit. The marten may easily be tamed,
and it soon acquires an attachment for its master, but it
never becomes docile. The flesh is occasionally eaten,
but is not much esteemed. The females are smaller than
the males. They burrow in the ground.

The fur is fine, is much used for trimmings, and
is frequently dyed to imitate sable and other expensive.
sorts. Its importance as an article of commerce may
be estimated from the fact mentioned by Dr. Richardson,
that upwards of 100,000 skins have long been collected

JAVANESE GENETT. 93

annually in the fur countries. Its colour is a dull, pale,
greyish brown, or hair-brown, from the roots upwards ;
dull yellowish brown near the summit, and tipped with
dark brown or black ; the surface having a considerable
lustre: the hair of the tail is longer, coarser, and
darker. The yellowish white markings of the throat
vary in different individuals. Length of the head and
body from eighteen to twenty inches.

THe JAVANESE GENETT.

Viverra Musanga, Raffles, Horsfield. Musang-bulem, Malays.
; Luwak, Javanese.

There are circumstances connected with the economy
of this animal, which are peculiarly calculated to awaken
our attention, and to excite our admiration of those
means by which an Almighty Providence distributes the
productions of the earth for the benefit of man. We
know not, indeed, whether the living animal has been
brought to Europe; but, as it is of a race capable of
living in confinement, it might easily be introduced into
our menageries.

The native manners of the Javanese genett are very
similar to those of the common species. It is most
abundant near the villages adjoining large forests, where
it constructs a simple nest, like the squirrel, of dry leaves,
grass, or small twigs, on the fork of a branch, or in a
hollow trunk; hence it sallies forth at night to visit
the sheds and hen-roosts of the natives, which it
plunders of fowls and eggs. Its depredations are also
extended to the gardens and plantations, which it pil-
lages of nearly all kinds of fruit, particularly pine-
apples.

“The coffee plantations of Java,” observes Dr. Hors-
field, “ are so greatly infected by this animal, that it
has, on this account, obtained the name of the Coffee
Rat. It devours the berries in large quantities ; and its
visits are soon discovered by parcels of seeds which it
discharges unchanged. It selects only the ripest and

94 _ ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

most perfect fruits; and the seeds are eagerly collected
by the natives, as the coffee is thus obtained without the
tedious process of removing its membranaceous arillus, -
or covering.” But this is not all. The injury which
these animals occasion to the coffee plantations are,
however, fully counterbalanced in another manner. The
berries pass through the stomach of the animal without
the least injury to their vegetating powers: they are
thus conveyed to spots far distant from where they
originally came ; and having been selected, by the pecu-
liar instinct of the animal, from among the ripest and
best berries, they are more especially addpiel for taking
root when deposited on the ground, which is at ae
same time naturally manured for their reception: accord-
ingly, Dr. Horsfield found that this animal “ has prq-
pagated the coffee plant in various parts of the forests,
particularly on the declivities of the fertile hills. These
spontaneous groves,” he concludes, ‘‘ of a valuable fruit,
afford to the natives no inconsiderable harvest, while the
accidental discovery of them surprises and delights the
traveller in the most sequestered parts of the island.” *

Tut JAVANESE ICHNEUMON.

Herpestes Javanicus, Desmarest. Mangusta Javanica, Hors-
field. Manguste de Java, Fred.‘Cuvier. Garangan, Javanese.

The habits of this species have been given at some
length by Dr. Horsfield, who, during his residence in
Java, had frequent opportunities of studying them. It
seems a common animal, and is more particularly found
in the large teak forests of that island. Like the Egyp-
tian ichneumon, it attacks and kills serpents with ex-
cessive boldness, and its agility is greatly admired even
by the natives; it is no less expert in burrowing the
ground in pursuit of rats.

When domesticated by-being taken young, it is tame
and docile, possesses much natural sagacity, and evinces
great attachment to its master; whom it will follow like

* Zool. Researches.

SABLE, 95

a dog : it is fond of being caressed, and frequently places
itself erect on its hind legs, regarding every thing that
passes with great attention. Its disposition is very
restless; and it is constantly fond of carrying its food
into the most retired place to devour it: all its habits are
very cleanly. It is exclusively carnivorous, and is very
destructive to poultry ; employing great artifice in sur-
prising the chickens: on this account it is rarely domes-
ticated by the natives: its sanguinary character, more-
over, sometimes shows itself in a manner which renders
it rather a dangerous animal; and it indulges, at intervals,
in fits of excessive violence.

The size and general form are much like those of the
other ichneumons. The colour of the fur, throughout,
is chestnut brown, minutely dotted with yellowish whiteg
but the head and legs are more of a chestnut colour. T he
tail is equal in length to the body. It is the Zchneu-
mon Javanicus of Geoffroy St. Hillaire ; which generic
name, however, as belonging to a tribe of insects, cannot
be retained in this division of animals.

Tae SAaBLe.

Mustela Zibellina, Linneus. Sable Weasel, Shaw. Sobol,
Russians. Sabbol, Swedes, Griff. Cuv.

The animal which furnishes the beautiful and costly
fur, known as sable, appears confined to the north of
Europe and Asia; at least, it did not fall under the
observation of Dr. Richardson, during his long residence
in the fur countries of America. Like the pine marten
both in appearance and habits, it frequents only wooded
districts, and hunts during the night; but it lives in
hollow trees, and not in subterraneous burrows. Ina
wild state it devours the remnant of carcases left by
the bears and wolverines, but is also said to be fond of
the fruit of the wild service tree. If pressed by hunger,
it will attack and destroy hares, or other similar animals
larger than itself; and is said also to kill the ermine
and weasel.

96 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

In a state of confinement its docility has been illus-
trated by Steller, who mentions a sable, which he saw in
the palace of the archbishop of Tobolsk, which used to.
quit its master’s house, wander about the Streets, visit
such persons as kindly treated it, and return again to its
own home like a dog.

The costliness of its fur frequently tempts the dealers
to prepare that of the marten so as to imitate sable ;
there is, however, one simple method by which the
deception may be detected. Marten fur will only lie
smooth in one direction ; whereas that of the sable will
lie smooth in any way that the hairs may be placed.
The two animals, however, both in size and colour, are
much alike.

Tue WEASEL-CatT.

Prionodon gracilis, Horsfield. Felis gracilis, Horsfield. Viverra
Lesang, Hardwicke. Delundung, Javanese.

It is not to record this elegant and most interesting
quadruped as actually existing in our menageries, that we
introduce it in this place, but rather to awaken the at-
tention of those Europeans who may be living in its na-
tive country, to the scientific interest which would result
from a living specimen being sent to England. It seems
one of those important links in the chain of nature,
which appear to connect two families of animals other-
wise distinct, but which are thus brought into such close
contact, that even the scientific observer is almost per-
plexed to decide whether the characters of one family, or
those of the other, are most predominant.

The Delundung, by which name this quadruped is
known in Java, was first made known to Europeans by
the indefatigable exertions of General Hardwicke, who
considered it, although with doubt, as of the weasel tribe,
and placed it with those animals accordingly. Dr.
Horsfield adopted the same views; but, upon more ma-
tured consideration, this naturalist transferred it to the
tiger-cats. Still, however, by no means satisfied that

C1VET. O7

this was its true station, Dr. Horsfield subsequently re-
vised all his former opinions, and finally placed it as a
genus intermediate between the two. We cannot, in
this place, detail all the different points of structure in
which this animal resembles, and differs from, the wea-
‘sels and the tiger-cats; but a glance at its figure will
show, even to the inexperienced naturalist, how much
it resembles both, without having such decided cha-
racters as to induce us to place it with either. As we
have a particular aversion to names which mean nothing,
or at least convey no definite idea to the English reader,
we have ventured to call this the Weasel-Cat. In its
native state it inhabits the vast forests of the eastern ex-
tremity of Java: but even there it is of such rarity that
Dr. Horsfield was only able to procure two specimens ;
neither could he learn any thing of its manners or habits
from the natives.

The size is small: the body measures about one
foot three inches, and the tail something more than
another foot. Its body is slender, its head tapering,
and its muzzle sharp: the tail is long and thick, and
the limbs are slender and delicate. The whole animal is
elegantly marked with stripes and bands of deep brown
upon a pale yellowish white ground. There is a beau-
tiful specimen preserved in the East India company’s
museum, and which is figured in Dr. Horsfield’s
Researches.

Tue Civet.

Viverra Civetta, Gmelin. La Civette, Buffon. The Civet,
Pennant. (Fig. 11.) ‘

The cdoriferous
substance produced
saz by this animal, al-
though now scarce-
ly known among the
perfumes in use

98 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

with Europeans, is so much prized by the inhabitants
of the Kast, that it forms with them an important article
of commerce. Father Poncel affirms that he has seen, —
in Abyssinia, near 300 of these animals domesticated,
and in the possession of one merchant ; that the town
of Enfras is celebrated for this trade, and that im-
mense numbers of this animal are there domesticated.
It appears also, that, when this perfume was more in
demand, numbers of the civet were imported: into
Holland, and reared for the same purpose. Both trades,
however, so far as regards Europe, have very much de-
clined, and even the animal itself is not often seen in
menageries.

In confinement, the civet appears to be a remarkably
lethargic animal, being described as continually sleep-
ing, and as roused with much difficulty ; but this is
probably only during the day ; since nearly all the car-
nivorous animals of this tribe are nocturnal, and evince,
during the night, the greatest activity. When irritated,
the musky odour they send forth is very strong; and
from time to time the substance itself falls from the
pouch in small pieces, about the size of a nut.

The bag, which contains the perfumed substance, is
a remarkable peculiarity in the organisation of the civet ;
it opens immediately under the tail by a narrow slit,
which leads to two cavities, each large enough to contain
a nut: the internal surface is slightly clothed with fine
hairs, and perforated with small holes, each of which is
the orifice of an oval follicle, the surface of which is
again pierced with innumerable pores, from which issues
the perfumed substance. By means of certain muscles,
this substance is made to pass through all these cover-
ings, and finally can be ejected by the animal from the
first named orifice, when the secretion has been super-
abundant. These observations have been made by M.
Fred. Cuvier, from specimens which were dissected at
the Paris menagerie. :

The length of the civet is nearly two feet and a half,
the tail measuring one foot. The body is marked by

ZIBETT. 99

narrow transverse blackish bands upon a grey ground,
parallel on the shoulders, but larger and more irregular
on the body and thighs, where they sometimes assume
the form of those eye-like spots seen on the panther :
the neck has but three black stripes on a white ground ;
the muzzle is entirely black, except the upper lip, which
is white: the tail has only four or five rings of black,
and the end, for nearly six inches, is entirely black ;
while the tail of the zibett has eight or ten rings, and
the end is black for only two inches from its tip.

THE ZiBettT.
Viverra Zibetta, Linn., Gm. Zibet, Buffon.

This animal was long confounded with the true civet ;
but living specimens of both being in the Paris menagerie,
enabled M. Fred. Cuvier to state with precision the differ-
ences between them. Ina state of nature, it is believed
to prey upon the smaller quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles,
and occasionally to eat fruits. Like the civet, and
all nocturnal animals, it is heavy and stupid during
the day, but becomes active as the night approaches.
When irritated, it expresses its resentment in much
the same voice as that of a cat, bristling up its hairs,
and hissing. It seems much less widely distributed
than the last, although said to inhabit the same coun-
tries by writers‘who have evidently confounded the two
species. It secretes a substance equally strong, and by a
similar conformation, to that of the civet.

The colours differ from those of the true civet in
several respects. The body is covered with small, round,
black spots, upon a grey or brownish ground ; whereas
those marks in the civet assume the form of narrow,
transverse bands: the neck is marked on each side with
four black bands on a white ground; and the muzzle,
which in the former aniinal is entirely black, is, in this,
grey, with a conspicuous white spot over the eye, which
the civet does not possess: the tail is encircled with
eight or ten blackish rings, and the end is black for

H 2

100 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

about two inches only from its tip: these rings, in
the true civet, are only four, or, at most, five; and
the black at the end of the tail extends to about six —
inches. These distinctions are amply sufficient to prove
the two species to be naturally distinct,—at least, in the
opinion of any one who has gained some knowledge of
natural history from nature, rather than from books.

Tue Bencau Ticer.

Felis Tigris, Linn., Auctorum.

Of all those animals destined by Providence to sup-
port their own life by the destruction of others, the
tiger of Bengal is the most ferocious. Before, however,
we enter upon any particulars of its history, it may be
as well to take a slight survey of those habits and pro-
pensities which more,or less characterise the whole of
this formidable tribe: this will save much useless repe-
tition when subsequently noticing other species frequent
in our menageries : it will, besides, give the young student
a better insight into the history of this group of animals,
than were we to notice, in detached portions, those
habits which are alike common to all.

In our domestic cat we have an epitome of the whole
race. Elegance of form, gracefulness of attitude, and
beauty of colouring, distinguish this little tiger of our
kitchen ; and although the race has, probably, been do-
mesticated for centuries, that mistrust and wariness,
which is so essential to its native habits, has never been
eradicated in confinement. Between this little animal,
and the more formidable tigers of the tropics, there is
not, in point of structure, the least difference ; and when
we watch a cat hunting a mouse or a’ bird, we shall
have a perfect idea of a Bengal tiger pursuing its deadly
propensities in the jungles of Hindostan.

The whole race may be said to delight in butchery ;
since they will destroy from the mere love of destruc-
tion, long after their natural appetite has been sated.
Their whole organisation is wonderfully adapted for ra-

BENGAL TIGER. 101

pine. Their consummate cunning and address in ap-
proaching their prey amply compensates for their de-
ficiency of speed, or, at least, of enduring long continued
running: did they, indeed, possess the fleetness of the
hare or of the horse, no created being could escape
them ; but the endowments of Providence are always
justly balanced, and in proportion as some are developed,
others are withheld. It has been well observed, with
reference to this subject, that if the feline race possessed
the same social instinct as is seen in the dog, or even
the wolf, of herding together and hunting in unison,
what could resist such overwhelming destruction? The
earth would become almost a desert, and the human
race would be driven from some of its most fruitful
portions. Like robbers and murderers of the human
race, the tigers choose the night for their deeds of blood-
shed: at the close of day they quit the caverns or dark
recesses of the forest, and, with stealthy pace, prowl the
earth, and spring upon their prey with resistless force.
The night is no night to them, since their eyes are well
known to be brilliant in darkness; while their acute
sense of hearing and of smell, joined to the noiseless
tread of their feet, gives them every advantage which
their cruel instincts require.

The geographic distribution of the feline race is
marked by some singular facts connected with that of
other quadrupeds, which no writer, we believe, has yet
touched upon. There appears to be no question that
the continent of Africa is that, above all others, which
contains the largest number of quadrupeds, both as re-
gards bulk and numerical amount; Asia stands next
in the scale ; America is decidedly inferior to both, but
exceeds every other region in the surprising number and
variety of its birds ; while the European range possesses
fewer native quadrupeds than either of the preceding
divisions. Now, as the feline race are destined to prey,
exclusively, upon living animals, we find that they have
been distributed by Providence in an exact ratio to the
preceding scale. The lion, the most bold and powerful

H 3

102 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

of the whole tribe, is so scarce in Asia, as rarely to be
seen or even heard of ; but in Africa, all travellers agree
in representing it as peculiarly numerous, even at the —
present time ; and it must have been formerly much more
common, since the hundreds which were sent to Rome
by order of the barbaric emperors, were all drawn from
this continent. To Africa, also, is confined the species
or varieties of the panther and leopard, enumerated by
major Smith ; while the two tigers subsequently de-
scribed, are the only animals of an equal size that have
yet been found in Asia. Hence it appears, that al-
though both these continents are remarkable for large
quadrupeds, the preponderance both of the herbivorous
and the carnivorous races belongs to Africa. Did we
merely look to the number of species of the latter ani-
mals found in the New World, the inferences we have
drawn would appear fallacious; for, while not more than
eight or nine respectively occur in Africa and Asia,
there are no less than sixteen already described as na-
tives of America, exclusive of the lynxes: it will be
observed, however, that only three of these are of a
middling size ; and that they prey almost entirely upon
the smaller quadrupeds, birds, and fish. The herbi-
vorous Mammalia of this continent, in comparison to
those of the Old World, are few, and in the temperate and
tropical parts are but thinly dispersed. The rest of the
American species of Felis, amounting to thirteen, are
tiger-cats, living almost entirely upon the innumerable
birds of this continent of forests, and upon the boundless
profusion of fish which swarm in its numerous and
majestic rivers. Our own opinions on this head, the
result of our personal researches, are fully confirmed by
the sentiments of Mr. Burchell, who has explored, with
his usual enterprise and skill, a large portion of that
continent not visited by us. ‘Fhe American tiger-cats,
in fact, are more aquatic than those of any other con-
tinent: even the jaguar habitually frequents the neigh-
bourhood of great rivers, and is described as a useful
fisher. Mr. Burchell gives us the same account of a

BENGAL TIGER. 103

beautiful tiger-cat, at this time alive, and in his pos-
session, at Fulham, which this accomplished traveller
brought with him from Para. It is, therefore, obvious
that the distribution of these lesser feline animals is
proportioned by Nature to her distribution of birds ra-
ther than of quadrupeds. Nor is this theory alone ap-
plicable to the zoology of the New World. If we turn
to the Asiatic regions, and contemplate. the animals of
Java and Sumatra,—the islands which have been the best
explored,—we find the birds are much more numerous
in proportion than upon the continent ; while their na-
tural enemies, the tiger-cats, which seem almost ex-
cluded from the plains of Hindostan, are here found of
no less than four species. The same physical causes to
which baron Humboldt has traced the peculiar fertility
and the density of the forests in Tropical America, may
be traced in a less degree in these islands ; and we ac-
cordingly find that this similarity is discerned in their
leading zoological features.

It may appear inconsistent with the beneficence of
a merciful God, that a numerous race of animals should
be created apparently for the sole purpose of carrying
destruction and death into so many innocent tribes of
the animal kingdom, and should pursue, with equal fe-
rocity, that being whom He has placed as lord over
the whole. Were this assumed violation of justice and
of mercy apparent only in this case, we might reason-
ably be allowed to doubt the goodness of Providence.
But although the fact, in the present instance, comes be-
fore us in a more terrific shape, yet it is equally strong,
and equally apparent, in every part of creation. A mix-
ture of good and of evil is the condition of existence ;
and the same act which brought sin into the world, and
entailed upon man disquietude, disease, and sorrow, ter-
minating in an apparent death—that same act, as we
are told by Inspiration, brought with it disorder into
every part of creation, and rendered animals not less
free from pain, and suffering, and violence, than him

H 4

104 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

who has been endowed with higher perceptions, but
who is destined for nobler purposes.

The tiger of Bengal is at once distinguished from all
other ferocious animals, by its formidable size, and
its beautiful skin, marked throughout with narrow dark
stripes upon a yellowish buff ground. Beautiful as it
is in apppearance, it may be considered the emblem
of savageness and butchery, since it delights in slaughter
even after its hunger has been satisfied. It will kill as
many victims as come in its way, for the mere purpose
of sucking their blood ; and although instances are on
record, where, under peculiar circumstances, this monster
has been partially tamed, its natural disposition is al-
most incapable of improvement.

In its native state, the tiger is the scourge of India
and the adjacent islands. In size it is equal to the lion,
and it possesses both the courage and the ferocity to at-
tack that animal ; but, although the combat is sometimes
furious, the tiger generally falls a victim to its teme-
rity. Its swiftness and strength are so great, that it will
seize a mounted horseman, and drag, or rather carry,
him in its mouth, by bounds and leaps, into the forest,
in spite of all missiles short of musket balls: indeed,
the weight of a man, or even of a bulky quadruped,
in its mouth, does not appear to incommode or delay
the ordinary swiftness of this terrible creature. Mr.
Marsden, the enlightened and veracious author of The
History of Sumatra affirms that the tigers of that
island are fatal and destructive enemies to the natives,
not only in their journeys, but even while engaged in
their domestic occupations, so that the number of lives
so lost is almost incredible: whole villages, in fact, are
sometimes depopulated. The increase, however, of these
destructive beasts seems to be almost entirely owing to
the superstitious feelings of the natives, who are with
difficulty persuaded to destroy them, even by large re-
wards offered by the India company. It seems, how-
ever, that when roused, by sustaining injury in their
own family, these people contrive several ingenious

©

BENGAL TIGER. 105

modes of catching the tiger. One of these is a trap,
like a large strong cage with folding doors, into which
the animal is enticed by a small quadruped put in as a
bait. Another, very effectual, is made of a large beam
so constructed as to fall into a groove and break the tiger’s
back ; ora plank, nicely balanced, is placed in a sloping
direction, which, by turning when the animal has passed
the middle, precipitates him into a pit filled with sharp
stakes. The tigers of this island, which seem to be of an
unusually large size, are said to break the legs of a horse
or buffalo by a single stroke of the fore paw, and to
drag the body without difficulty into the forests.*

The manner in which the tiger seizes its prey, was
fully exemplified by a full grown individual, which,
Major Smith informs us+, was lately exhibited at Ma-
dras. The animal was so far tamed, as to be held
merely by a chain ; it was, indeed, kept muzzled, ex-
cept when it was occasionally allowed to make an
attack on some animal for the gratification of the spec-
tators. For this purpose, a sheep was fastened by a
cord to a stake. The tiger, upon being brought out,
instantly couched, and moving almost on its belly,
but slowly and cautiously, till within the distance of a
spring from its victim, leaped upon and struck it down
almost instantly to death, seizing it at the same moment
by the throat: the tiger would then roll round on its
back, holding the sheep on its breast; and fixing the
hind claws near the throat of the animal, would kick or
push them suddenly backwards, and tear it open in an
instant. Notwithstanding the natural ferocity of the
race, the individual in question was so far subjugated,
that while one keeper held the chain during this bloody
exhibition, another was enabled to get the carcase of
the sheep away, by throwing down a piece of meat.

When captured quite young, and judiciously treated,
some instances have occurred, where the tiger has ex-
hibited nearly as much gentleness as the lion under
similar circumstances. Three specimens in the Paris

* Major Smith, in Griff. Cuv. ii, 442. + Id. ibid.

106 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

menagerie, as well as others that have been in the
possession of Mr. Cross, have been cited as instances of
this, and as proofs that Buffon’s assertion of the tiger's —
untameable ferocity is rather an exaggeration. This
docility has been evinced by these animals showing an
obvious attachment to their keeper ; and in one instance
to a dog, which the tiger fostered and protected. The
females have been known ‘to’ breed in confinement ; and
even a hybrid race has been produced between the
African lion and the Indian tiger.

Tue Puma, or American Lion.

Felis concolor, Linneus. Le Congouar, Buffon. Gouazouara,
zara. Mitzli, Mexicans. Puma, Peruvians.

This animal, the largest of the carnivorous quadru-
peds of the New World, has received the name of the
American lion, more on account of its corresponding
uniformity of colour, than from any close resemblance
of structure, since it is entirely destitute both of a mane
and a tuft on the tail: its head also is small, and it
thus assumes all the form and contour of the generality
of the species: it is longer in the body, and lower on
the legs, than the lion ; and measures, from the nose to
the root of the tail, about five feet.

Our information on the native habits of the puma is
chiefly derived from‘the valuable notices of the Spanish
naturalist, Azara, who- describes it under the name of
Guazouara. He mentions it as less ferocious and for-
midable than the jaguar; and he considers it rather a
timid animal, since, so far from its being known to at-
tack either men, or even dogs, it avoids both. Its chief
prey consists of the smaller quadrupeds, as sheep or
calves; but against these it has a most ferocious nature :
it will destroy several, but will only carry off the body
of one. Like several other carnivorous animals, the
puma will conceal the overplus of its food for a second
repast; a peculiarity of economy which does not appear
to belong to the jaguar, the next in rank among the ra-

PUMA. LOE

pacious quadrupeds of the New World. Both these, as
will subsequently appear, seem to climb trees: although
Azara states that the puma alone ascends the highest
trees with celerity and ease ; he likewise considers it
more as an inhabitant of the plains than of the forests.

The following story is so totally irreconcileable with
the timidity of this animal towards man, attributed to it
by Azara, that we are much inclined to doubt whether
there may not be two distinct races, or varieties, per-
haps, of this species in America,—one inhabiting the
north, the other the south. The story, however, seems
well authenticated, since it has been given us by major
Smith, who saw the skin of the animal itself preserved
in Mr. Skudder’s museum at New York. It may be
thus abridged :—-Some few years back, two hunters,
each with a dog and gun, went on the Katskill Moun-
tains in pursuit of game. Arriving there, they agreed to
separate ; but settled that, so soon as one fired, the other
should join his companion as quickly as possible. Shortly
after this, one of the party, hearing the other fire, hast-
ened with all expedition to the spot: his companion,
however, could no where be found; but, after much
search, his dog was discovered dead, and dreadfully torn.
Becoming more alarmed for the fate of his companion,
the remaining hunter was continuing his search, when
his eyes were suddenly directed, by the deep growl of a
puma, to the large branch of a tree, where he saw the
animal couching on the mangled body of his friend,
while his eyes glared upon him, apparently hesitating
whether to attack the survivor, or to relinquish its prey
and take to flight. It was a moment of imminent danger ;
life or death seemed to hang upon the action of an in-
stant. Courage, however, did not forsake the hunter :
he fired; and the sanguinary murderer, still grasping his
prey, fell upon the ground mortally wounded. The
surviving dog immediately flew at the prostrate beast,
but was laid dead by its side, by a single blow of its
paw. In this state of things, —his comrade dead, and
the wounded animal still capable of inflicting such re-

108 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

venge,—the survivor hastened to procure assistance from
the nearest spot. Several persons accompanied him on
his return. They then found the unfortunate hunter.
_ the puma, and both of the dogs, all lying dead together.*

The ferocity of the puma in devouring its food has
been illustrated by major Smith, who cites the following
extraordinary.instance, which he himself witnessed: — A
puma, which had been taken and confined, was ordered
to be shot ; and the time fixed: upon was immediately
after the animal had received. its food. The first ball
went through its body.: the only notice he took of it
was bya shrill growl, at the same time doubling his ef-
forts to devour his food, which:he actually continued to
swallow, with quantities of his own blood, until he fell.

When taken captive at an early age and domesticated,
the puma, howe*er, seems capable of all the docility and
playfulness of a domestic cat. A tame one, mentioned
by Azara, was as gentle as any dog. It was fond of
play ; and if an orange was presented to it, would strike
it with its paw, push it away, and seize it again, as a
cat would play with a mouse. It had all the manners
of a cat when surprising a bird, not excepting the agi-
tation of the tail; and when caressed, it purred in the
same manner. Major Smith also mentions having seen
a puma which was particularly tame. It was merely
secured by a chain, and lived in a waggon, under the
seat of its keeper. When about to be fed, a piece of
meat was flung into a tree, and his chain being coiled,
the animal was desired to fetch his food: this task he
immediately performed with surprising ease and do-
cility, by two or three bounds. The same accurate
observer remarks, in drawing a comparison between the
physical powers of the jaguar and the puma of the New
World, that the latter is of the most cruel and sanguin-
ary disposition in a state of nature, though easy to be
tamed ; yet it is inferior to the jaguar in bodily powers,
and still more in energy and courage.

* Griff. Cuy. ii. 438.

JAGUAR. 109

Tue Jaguar, or American ONCE.
Felis Onca, Gmelin. (Fig. 12.)

This formidable species, the most powerful of all the
American carnivorous quadrupeds, is but little inferior
in size to the tiger of the Asiatic continent. In its
marking, however, it more resembles the panthers and
leopards of Africa, particularly in the spots or rings; but
those towards the back of the American animal have a
central black dot, which is never seen in the two former
animals. The tail also, in this, never reaches further
than to the ground; and this is considered by major
Smith as one of the best distinctions between these ani-
mals.

The native manners of the jaguar have been de-
scribed by various writers, but more especially by
Azara. It preys upon animals of the largest descrip-
tion, as cows and young bulls, but horses appear to be
its favourite game. It destroys these bulky quadru-
peds by leaping on their back ; and by placing one paw
on the muzzle and one upon the head, they exert such
force as to break the neck of their victim in a moment.
They will then drag the carcase with their teeth to their
den, which is often at a considerable distance. Like
most of the American Feline, the jaguar is described
as an excellent fisher: it is certain that it swims remark-
ably well; but we know not upon what authority it has
been stated that the jaguar will stand in the water, out
of the stream, and drop its saliva, which, floating on the

110 ANIMALS -IN. MENAGERIES.

surface, attracts the fish ; these are seized by the paw,
and thrown on shore for food.

Azara relates the following circumstance, as happening
in Paraguay :—Having been informed that a jaguar had
attacked a horse very near where he was, he hastened
to the spot. He found the horse not only dead, but par-
tially devoured ; although the jaguar, from having been
disturbed, had retired. Our historian directed the body
of the horse to be removed within musket-shot of a tree,
in which he intended to pass the. night, naturally sup-
posing that the jaguar would return towards evening
and carry away the carcase. Before this could be ar-
ranged, the animal actually made his appearance from
the opposite side of a broad and deep river, and, in the
sight of the person who was left in concealment to
watch the dead horse, seized it with its teeth, drew it
with ease to the river’s edge, swam across, and then
dragged it into a neighbouring forest. Azara likewise
mentions, ‘that the natives frequently fasten two horses
together while grazing, and that the jaguar will some-
times kill one, and, in spite of the exertions of the other,
draw both into the wood.

Of its habits in captivity we can find no authentic
records, although we believe it is by no means rare
in European menageries.

There seem to be two, if not three, varieties, some
of which may probably turn out to be distinct species.
The first of these, which major Smith considers to be
the Popé of Azara, measured two feet ten inches in
height at the shoulder: the lines of lengthened spots on
the back are not quite full, and the marks on the sides
are very irregular and indefinable. This description
was taken from an old male, killed in Surinam. The
second variety, or small jaguar, was two feet two
inches high: its general colour was paler and more
ashy than the last, and marked with five distinct rows
of large annulated spots on the sides. The third is a
black variety found in Brazil: it has the same spots
and marks as the others, on a ground of browner black ;

LEOPARD. 111

so that the markings are only visible on close inspection,
or in certain directions of light. Azara mentions a
white jaguar ; but this was accidental.

Mr. Waterton, in his amusing Wanderings, occa-
sionally mentions the jaguar, as an animal which rather
flies before the face of man, than as being prone to at-
tack him. Alluding to one which approached their fire
when encamped on the banks of the Essequibo, our
eccentric traveller thus continues: — “ Whenever the
fire got low, the jaguar came a little nearer ; and when
the Indian renewed it, he retired abruptly : sometimes
he would come within twenty yards ; and then we had
a view of him, sitting on his hind legs like a dog:
sometimes he moved slowly to and fro; and at other
times we could hear him mend his pace, as if im-
patient. At last the Indian, not relishing the idea of
having such company, set up a most tremendous yell.
The jaguar- bounded off like a racehorse, and returned
no more. It appeared by the print of his feet, next
morning, that he was a full grown one.”* This anecdote
sufficiently shows how much less ferocious is the jaguar,
when compared to the Asiatic tiger.

Ter Leroparp.
Leopard, Cuvier. Felis Leopardus, H. Smith, in Griff. Cuv.
(Fig. 13.)

Although the names
of leopard and panther
have been long familiar
in common language,
and have conveyed the
“4 idea of two distinct

@ species, yet it is per-
fectly clear that no sci-
entific writer of the last
generation either de-
scribed, or, indeed, ap-
peared to know, in what
respects the animals differed. It seems that numerous

* Wanderings in South America, p.223.

“aa >’
~

-

112 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

specimens of what is called the leopard, are in the
Zoological Gardens, and one has been figured in the
book so entitled; but Mr. Bennett has not made the.
slightest attempt to investigate the subject, or to throw
any light upon this difficult question. In this dilemma
we. shall therefore repose on the opinions of major
Hamilton Smith, whose long experience and accuracy
of observation are well known, and whose authority in
this department of nature deservedly ranks above that
of any other naturalist of this country.

The Leopard, as defined by major Smith, when com-
pared with the jaguar and the panther of naturalists, is
uniformly of a paler yellowish colour, rather smaller,
and the dots rose-formed, or consisting of several dots
partially united into a circular figure in some instances,
and into a quadrangular, triangular, or other less de-
terminate forms in others: there are also several single
isolated black spots, which more especially occur on the
outside of the limbs.

The Panther, according to professor Lichtenstein of
Berlin, ‘“‘ resembles the jaguar in having the same
number of rows of spots, but is distinguished by having
no full spots on the dorsal line.” But, as major Smith
observes, it does not appear that full spots on the dorsal
line always make a specific character of the jaguar; and
the Asiatic leopard is sometimes distinguished by this
peculiarity, though it does not in other respects resemble
the American animal. When, therefore, it is said that
the panther much resembles the jaguar, it is always
to be strongly suspected that the type, whence the
observations have been taken, is (in reality) an American
animal.

On the habits of the leopard, both in a state of
nature and in confinement, we have no precise inform-
ation otherwise than as relates to those traits common
to the whole family; but we may hope that the ob-
servations of Mr. Burchell and Dr. Andrew Smith, as
yet unpublished, on the quadrupeds of Africa, will supply
us with some authentic facts.

PANTHER. 113

The scientific description given by major Smith of
the leopard, is as follows: — ‘‘ Fur, bright yellow on
the upper part, white underneath, with at least ten
ranges of small black clusters of spots on each flank:
lower part of the tail, for about one third of its length,
black above, white underneath, with five or six white
annuli on the black part. Rather smaller than the
panther.” * Our own opinion on the specific dissimilarity
between the leopard and the panther, judging from what
has been written upon the subject, is in perfect unison
with that of major Smith ; while the following remark
of that observing naturalist, incidentally inserted in his
account of the panther of antiquity, seems to us almost
conclusive :—‘* The open spots which mark all the
panthers, have the inner surface of the annuli or rings
more fulvous (in other words, darker) than the general
colour of the sides: but in the leopard no such distinction
appears, nor is there room, as the small and more con-
gregated dots are too close to admit it.” In truth, if
there is any reliance to be placed in the most accurate
figures hitherto published, the small spots of the leopard,
and the large ones of the panther, must strike even a
casual observer, and lead him to believe that the two
animals were called by different names.

Tue PANTHER.

Kelis Pardus, Linn., Hamilton Smith. Panthére, Cuvier,
( Fig. 14.)

Bon
te

CEE eZ
S .

a

7 = —~_s SN
The panther and the leopard, as before observed, re-
semble each other so closely, that if professed naturalists

* Syn. of Mam. p. 165.
I

114 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

are unable to agree on their respective distinctions, it
cannot be expected that the ordinary visiters of menageries
will be rightly informed on the subject by the proprietors.
of such shows. Hence it follows that the American
jaguar is often called by these people a panther or
a leopard ; an error which even Buffon has himself com-
mitted. This, indeed, has long been rectified ; but until
better information comes before us, we shall adhere to
the opinion above expressed on the specific difference
of the panther from the leopard.

The panther, as defined by major Smith, from an
inspection of several contained in the Paris menagerie,
is much more closely marked with spots than the leopard ;
and the differences are further pointed out in the fol-
lowing specific character, which may be contrasted with
that assigned to the leopard. — Pale yellow above, with
six or seven lines of rose-formed dots, which form
clusters of five or six spots on each flank: tail longer
than that of the jaguar; with the latter part black
above, and white beneath ; having three or four white
annuli on the back part. Inhabits Northern Africa.

We earnestly recommend such of our readers as feel
an interest in the subject, and who may have the op-
portunity of seeing living or dead specimens, to ascer-
tain how far the above distinctions are to be relied upon ;
as well as those by which the next animal, supposed by
the same authority to constitute a third species, appears
separated from the two preceding.

PANTHER OF THE ANTIENTS.

Felis Pardus Antiquorum, Hamilton Smith, in Synopsis of
Griff. Cuv. p. 166.

This species, if such it really be, is supposed by
major Smith to be the animal known to ancient writers
by the name of Panthera. Itis, however, now so rare,
or has been so little distinguished, that major Smith is
only acquainted with one example, in the museum of
the elector of Hesse Cassel, in whose menagerie it had

PANTHER OF THE ANCIENTS. 115

probably lived. Nothing was known of its native
country or of its manners; but we introduce it here,
‘that our scientific readers may have the means of de-
tecting and investigating the external distinctions of
this and the two preceding animals.

Major Smith describes the length of this panther as
five feet three inches from the nose to the root of the
tail, and the height as two feet nine inches at the
shoulder: it thus stands higher than the great jaguar ;
but its form, from being more slender, assimilates to
that of the Felis Jubata, or hunting leopard, though it
is much larger in proportion. The head is smaller than
that of the jaguar ; thus agreeing with the usual charac-
ter of such species as belong to the Old World. The first
and great difference, however, which distinguishes this
from all its congeners, is the ground colour of the fur ;
the entire colour of the whole animal being buff yellow,
becoming darker, and approaching to red on the nose,
and to ochre on the back and sides: the belly and in-
sides of the limbs partake of this general colour, but
» are paler, there being no white part about the animal.
On the sides of the body are seven rows of imperfect
rings, the inner part of which are more fulvous than
the general ground colour of the fur where these spots
do not occur: the dorsal line is marked in the same man-
ner by open rings. These rings, or annuli, observes our
author, differ from those of the jaguar, to which they
otherwise beara general resemblance, in being all nearly
circular ; whereas those of the American species become
oblong as they approach the dorsal line: they are also
smaller when compared with the size of the animal, and
much more numerous,— covering not only the back, ribs,
and haunches, but descending on the outside of the
legs as far as the knees: the annuli, moreover, of the
jaguar have a spot in the centre, which these have not :
the tail of this is spotted from beginning to end — that
of the jaguar has open oblong marks some way down,
and is terminated by encircling annuli of black, yellow,
and white, To conclude, the forehead, cheeks, sides

12

116 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

of the neck, shoulders, throat, and inside of the limbs
are covered with numerous close small spots ; and there
is a narrow black bar crossinge th lower part of the:
throat. These characters are thus seen to be interme-
diate between the jaguar of America and the panthers
and leopards of the Old World.

Tue True Oce ror.
Felis Pardalis, Linn., H. Smith. (Fig. 15.¥

There seems to be as much uncertainty regarding the
different species or varieties of the ocelots, as that we
just noticed respecting the leopards and panthers. We
shall not, however, enter into lengthened scientifie de-
tails; but avail ourselves of the general observations
made upon the whole group by the accomplished natur-
alist, so often cited, who has so ably investigated this
family.

The ocelots in general, as a small but very natural
group among the middle-sized carnivorous animals, are
distinguished by yellow spots more or less oval, bor-
dered with black. Some writers, among whom is Azara,
consider that all may be referred to one species ; while
others, with major Smith, are more disposed to view them
as a group, composed of five or six permanent races. To
this latter opinion we are more disposed to agree than
to the former.

Major Smith gives us the following interesting ob-
servations upon these animals :—‘* My present views of
the ocelots are, that they form a subordinate group in
this family. I would describe them, generally, as
being of a middle size between the larger and the small

TRUE OCELOT. 5

eats ; of more slender and elegant proportions, without
tufts on the ears; the spots diverging more or less in
concatenations or streaks from the shoulders backwards
and downwards; and, as far as I have hitherto ob-
served, the pupil of the eye is round. They belong
to the New World; but there are two or three spe.
cies of the Old, that approach them in several parti-
culars, and therefore might make the next group.” *
After enumerating with great precision the external
markings of four differently coloured ocelots, our author
thus concludes : — “ Whether these are specifically dif-
ferent, or hereditary varieties, I do not mean to deter-
mine ; but, from the number of specimens of each that
have fallen under my observation, there seems little
doubt that one of the alternatives is correct, and that the
several figures are not mere individual differences.”

The true ocelot, according to these views, and to
which the original Linnean name of Pardalis is retained,
is very rare, since only two specimens have been seen
by major Smith ; one of these was formerly in Bul-
lock’s Museum, and was supposed to come from Southern
Mexico or Honduras. ‘This is considered to be one of
the animals mistaken by Buffon, and by the famous
compiler Dr. Shaw, for the American jaguar.

The colour on the nose is fulvous; and this tint
spreads over the forehead, shoulders, fore-arm, back,
rump, and paws: the temples are ochrey, and the
rest of the animal white. There are no black streaks
on the forehead; but a number of small round spots
cover the whole surface, and two broken streaks run
from the outer angle of the eye to below the ear: on
the shoulders and flanks there are four or five long,
open, fulvous spots, bordered with a chain of black: on
the rest of the body, back, and hams there are small
open spots: the tail is annulated, and the tip black : on
the fore legs and the lower part of the hind legs ate
small black spots.

These characters we shall condense in the following

* Griff. Cuv.
rs

118 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIJES.

specific character, which differs somewhat from that
proposed in the Synopsis : — Nose, paws, and upper por-
tion of the body and limbs fulvous: temples ochrey :
ground colour white: shoulders and flanks with four or
five long fulvous spots, margined with an interrupted
black border : back, rump, and hams with smaller and
more circular spots: forehead covered with numerous
small, black, entire spots.

Tue Grevisu OcELorT.

Felis canescens, Nobis. Felis Ocelot y, or Ocelot No. 3.,
of Hamilton Smith, Griff. Cuv. ii. 476. Felis Macrourus ?
Long-tailed Tiger-Cat, Swains. Zool. of Mexico, p. 5.
( Fig. 16.)

To this ocelot, described by major Smith, but merely
designated by a number, we have given, conditionaily,
a specific name, — a plan which is more convenient to
the zoologist, and preferable to the usual mode pursued on
these occasions ; since it will convey some idea of its pe-
culiarities, and may be retained either to designate it as
a species or asa variety. The whole of these beautiful,
and to a certain degree domestic, animals are highly
worthy of being imported into our menageries; and
considering the great number of our countrymen
now settled in various parts of South America, whence
all the ocelots yet known have been brought, we make
no apology for bringing them more immediately under
notice. There can be no doubt that several of these
smaller cats are fully capable of as much docility as that
species which has been so long domesticated ; and we
cannot conceive a more desirable naturalisation, than to

GREYVISH OCELOT. 119

see one of these beautiful animals reposing with equal
serenity upon our hearth.

The greyish ocelot is thus described by our author,
but the precise dimensions he does not mention. — It is
smaller than the F. mitis of Paraguay, and has the nose,
forehead, neck, back, shoulders, fore part of the fore legs,
and rump ashy, mixed with ochrey: the streak from the
inner angle of the eyes to the ears has only one row of
spots within it: the long open spots on the neck and back
are shorter, less diverging, fulvous within, but without
any spot on the fulvous: on the fore legs only there are
a few large spots ; on the hams there are some round,
open, and a few small, black, wavy spots: the tail is
altogether or nearly fulvous, ringed with black ; the tip is
white: the eye has a black ring; and there are two
black streaks on the nose: the cheeks have a large spot ;
and there are two bars, with white between them, run-
ning from the outer angle of the eye to below the ear:
across the throat, also, are four black bands.” Of this,
major Smith has examined five or six specimens.

A small tiger-cat, once in Bullock’s Mexican exhi-
bition, is considered by our author as a young female of
this species. The accuracy of this opinion we are dis-
posed, however, to question. It was our intention to
have published a scientific description of the whole of
the zoological subjects there collected ; but circum-
stances, not necessary to explain in this place, suspended
this design, which was only partially executed. The
individual alluded to by major Smith, we have, however,
described : it appeared tous, at the time, to agree more
with the account given of the long-tailed tiger-cat of
Brazil, than with any other, and we termed it so accord-
ingly. As very few copies of this incomplete work were
made public, we shall here repeat our former description,
which will be seen to differ very greatly from that given
by major Smith.

The long-tailed tiger-cat of Mexico is not much
larger than the domesticated species, and is remarkable
for the length of its tail. The head is small and short.

1 4

120 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

The ground colour of the upper parts of the body is pale
fawn, beautifully marked by about five series of spots on
each side: those nearest the back are entirely deep black,
but on the sides they are more oblong, and become
ocellated or ringed ; while on the shoulders they take
the form of three waved perpendicular ocellated stripes:
the legs are banded by small transverse spots, nearly
round. All the under parts are white, and covered
with small black spots, except the throat, which is
crossed by two black lines: the cheeks are white,
marked by black stripes: four other stripes are also on
the back of the neck, two of which commence from the
eyes: chin white, and unspotted. Tail eleven inches
long, and ringed with dusky white and black. The
whole animal stands but six inches high; and measures,
with the tail, two feet ten inches in extreme length.*
The collection was soon after dispersed ; and not know-
ing into whose hands this specimen has now passed,
we have lost all power of again investigating its cha-
racters.

Tre SmMALL-spoTTED OcELOT.
Felis Smithii, Nob. Ocelot No. 2., Hamilton Smith. ( Fig. 17.)

The third species of this beautiful group we wish to
designate by the name of that naturalist, whose intimate
acquaintance with the Mammalia generally, and with the
present family in particular, justly places him as the

* Zool. of Mexico Illustrated, p. 5.

-

CLOUDED TIGER. 121

first authority upon these subjects in this country. We
shall give its peculiar distinctions in his own words,
and trust that, ere long, we shall be able to record
something more of the native habits of the ocelots in
general than we can at present communicate.

** The size is about that of the Felis mitis of Desma-
rest (Ocelot No. 1.), but the rufous colour spreads over
a larger space on the back and hams, while the spots
on the shoulders are more numerous and smaller.
There is one large spot on the cheek, and four or five
small, open, chain-like spots on the hams: There are no
specks within the large streaks.” All the foregoing
species have been admirably etched by Mr. ‘I’. Landseer,
from the original drawings of major Smith.

Tue Cxioupep TicEr.

Felis nebulosa, H. Smith, cited in Griff. Carnivore, p. 37.
Nebulose or Clouded Tiger, Griff. Cuv. ii. 499. Felis
nebulosa, Griff. Syn. No. 420. Felis microcelis, Tem-
minck, Horsf., Zool. Journ. it, 542. Rimau-Dahan, of the
Sumatrese. ( Fig. 18.)

The Clouded Tiger of major Smith, we shall consider,
at present, as the same
species with that called
Rimau-Dahan by the
inhabitants of Sumatra.
) And, with this impres-
Se eegae sion, we shall condense
ij the interesting account
Of its manners given by sir Stamford Rafiles and Dr.
Horstield, in their notice of the rimau-dahan.

The mature size of this new and very remarkable
tiger has not been correctly ascertained, since the indi-
vidual examined and measured by Dr. Horsfield seems
only to have acquired about two thirds of its mature
size and bulk: if this calculation be correct, the full-
grown animal would measure about four feet from the
nose to the base of the tail ; the tail itself would be

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Sea Ss

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122 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

three feet six inches; and the greatest height, at the
shoulders, nearly one foot ten inches. It would thus be
much inferior to the full-grown tiger of Bengal; while
the following anecdotes will show how totally it differs
from that savage animal in disposition.

Sir Stamford kept two of these animals in confine-
ment; and both were so remarkable for good temper and
playfulness, that no domestic kitten could be more so ;
they were always courting intercourse with casual pas-
sengers ; and in the expression of their countenance,
which was always open and smniling, showed the greatest
delight when noticed,— throwing themselves on their
backs, and delighting in being tickled and rubbed. On
board the ship, which conveyed one of these to Eng-
land, was a small dog, which used to play round the
cage with the tiger ; and it was amusing to observe the
playfulness and tenderness with which the latter came
in contact with its little companion. When fed with a
fowl that had died, he seized the prey, sucked the
blood, and then threw the body about, in playfulness, for
hours, as a cat plays with a half-dead mouse. It never
seemed to look upon men or children as prey, but as
companions. It was constantly amusing itself, during
the voyage, by jumping and clinging to the top of the
cage, and throwing a somerset, or by twisting itself
round in the manner of a squirrel when confined,—the
tail being extended, and showing to great advantage when
so expanded. Dr. Horsfield continues the history of
this most interesting animal], by stating that, on its first
arrival at Exeter Change, and for about ten days after,
it was very shy, and showed considerable symptoms of
ferocity ; but the strangeness of its situation, the noise
it heard in the menagerie, the novelty of the scenes
around it, as well as of the attendants, doubtless influ-
enced its manners, alarmed it, and in some degree
caused it to resume a degree of fierceness, which had long
been subdued by kind treatment. It soon, however,
became mild and tractable, and even perfectly familiar :
it was very playful, and rolled itself about when noticed

CLOUDED TIGER. 123

or caressed. Unfortunately, however, it did not long
survive the ungenial effects of this climate, and its death
was hastened by disease connected with cutting its
teeth.

In its native state, the clouded tiger is neither an
object of terror nor of apprehension. Sir 8. Rafiles says
that the natives of Sumatra assured him that it lives
principally upon poultry, birds, and small deer. It is
not found in numbers ; and may be considered rather a
rare animal, even in the southern part of Sumatra, It
is generally found in the vicinity of villages, where it
is only annoying to the natives in so far as it may
destroy their poultry. The natives assert that they
sleep, and often lay wait for their prey, in trees: from
this circumstance they derive the name of Dahan, which
signifies the fork formed by the branch of a tree, across
which they are said to rest, and occasionally stretch them-
selves.

The following short description, abridged from the
more ample one given by Dr. Horsfield, will sufficiently
distinguish this species from any other: — The ground
colour of the Rimau-Dahan is whitish grey, inclining
to cinereous or to brownish grey ; one of the chief pe-
culiarities being the almost entire absence of yellow
or red in the external tint. The marks on the body
are oblong, irregular, very broad, and transversely dis-
posed and connected on the shoulders, but interrupted
and angular on the sides and flanks: all these, however,
have their posterior edge margined only by a deep velvet-
black line. This peculiarity alone will enable a common
observer immediately to recognise the animal.

The tortoiseshell or clouded tiger (Felis nebulosa) of
major Hamilton Smith and Mr. Griffiths, is considered
by Dr. Horsfield as, in all probability, a distinct species
from the rimau-dahan of Sumatra, to which he there-
fore gives a new naine, borrowed from M. Temminck.
Mr. Griffiths, on the part of major Smith, has entered
into some very sensible observations on the subject.
Until better evidence comes before us, we are clearly of

124 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

opinion with this gentleman, that the two animals, at
best, are but slight varieties; and, with this feel-
ing, we cannot but adopt the prior name given by
major Smith, in preference to the new one of Tem-
minck. Major Smith, indeed, expressly states *, that
M. Temminck acknowledged having received the first
information of the existence of this species from him,
although the professor chooses to impose upon it a new
name of hisown. This is not the only instance, we
may observe, of M.Temminck appropriating to him-
self the discoveries of others. ‘‘ But should the identity
of these two animals be established, it is obvious that,
though the first detailed description of it is due to Dr.
Horsfield and sir Stamford Raffles, the first notice and
liberal communication of its figure to zoologists, long
before, both here and on the Continent, is attributable to
major Smith. [t would, therefore, be a slight and an
injustice done to him, to cancel the name of nebulosa,
and with it the memorial of his first knowledge and
drawing of the animal.”

Tae ONcE.
Felis Uncia, Gmelin. Once, Buffon, H. Smith.

The Once or Ounce of Buffon bears such a close re-
semblance to some of the varieties of the panther, that
M. Cuvier does not consider it in any other light. But
major Smith, whose researches seem to have been un-
wearied, discovered an animal in the Tower menagerie,
which corresponds both with Buffon’s figure and with
the subsequent accounts of the ounce. It was brought
from the Gulf of Persia, and was ‘“ very distinct from
all other species in make, mark, and in general appear-
ance.” It is much to be regretted that this able zoologist
has not entered into further particulars; but, judging
from the figure engraved from his drawing, we should
term it a lower and more thick-set animal than the
panther ; the spots larger, more irregular, and much

* Griff, Cnv. il. 453. + See Griff Cuv. ii. 454. note.

SERVAL.— LINKED OCELOT. 125

fewer ; but differing more especially in having the tail
decidedly annulated with black rings, while those of all
the panthers are spotted: the body is described as
whitish ; while yellow or fawn-colour is the universal
tint both of the panthers and leopards.

Tue Serva.
Felis Serval, Gmelin, Cuvier. Chat-Pard, Perrault.

As the serval is one of the very few species belong-
ing to the group of ocelots which has yet been dis-
covered in Africa, we deem a slight notice of it will not
be unacceptable. It is the Chat-Pard of the French, and
the tiger-cat of the English furriers; and M. Cuvier
incidentally mentions that hundreds of its skins are im-
ported from Southern Africa. Strange! that, of an
animal so common, not the least information exists of
its habits or manners.

The size of the serval ranks it with the middle-sized
species, — being about two feet and a half long, without
the tail, which is nine or ten inches. The ground
colour of the fur is bright yellow, or fulvous, more or
less inclined to grey, and yellowish round the tips; the
under parts are whitish: the bands and spots are larger
or smaller, and more or less numerous, in different in-
dividuals.

Tue Linxep Ocetor.
Felis catenata, H. Smith. Griff. Cuv. Syn. p. 168. (Fig. 19.)

Major Smith was the first naturalist who made us
acquainted with this
very elegant ocelot,
which had probably
been in some of our
travelling menageries
unknown to science,
and subsequently
found its way into
Bullock’s Museum, where this acute observer detected

126 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

he also met with another specimen in the Berlin
Museum, and made it known to the Prussian pro-
fessors. Landseer has executed a masterly etching of
it, from the major’s drawing, which will be found in
the work above referred to.

Size of the wild cat.— General proportions shorter
and heavier than those of the true ocelot. The upper
parts and sides reddish yellow, the lower white ; tem-
ples ochrey. Several rows of black spots converge from
the ears to the forehead. On the shoulders, back, side,
rump, and hams, are long chain-like streaks of black
and reddish brown intermixed. The belly and throat
have black streaks; and the tail has imperfect black
rings.

Tue Cuati Ticer-Car.
Felis Wiedii, Sching. Chati, F. Cuvier. (Fig. 20.)

If, as Cuvier supposes, the species of tiger-cat, called
by his brother the
Chati, is the same as
that discovered by
Prince Maximilian of
Neuwied, in Brazil,
and named, in his
honour, by Sching,
that name should,
without doubt, be re-
tained ; not, however, ee the means of establighing
this supposed identity, we shall confine our notice to the
description of Frederick Cuvier’s Chati, and which he
has figured in his folio lithographic work on quadrupeds.
It is stated to be more than one fourth less than the
Felis mitis of Desmarest, and is even less than the com-
mon wild cat: the head measures only four inches and
a half, the body eighteen, and the tail ten; the height
being eleven inches.

The ground colour of the fur is brownish grey, paler

LONG~-TAILED TIGER-CAT. 197

on the flanks, and white on the cheeks and belly: the
head and ears have black and white spots, and three
series of the former pass down the back ; those of the
flanks, shoulders, and crupper are deep yellow, bordered
all round with black, except at the anterior edge; and of
these there are seven or eight; while some of the
shoulder spots unite, and form an oblique band ; those
on the feet are smaller, and they disappear altogether
upon the toes ; but the spots on the belly are full and
cloudy: the tail has ten or eleven black rings.

Tue Lone-tTaitEp Tigkr-Cat.

Felis Macrourus, Prince Maximilian, H. Smith. (Fig.21.
9 g

SA Sm

Z Fa
eat =

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Ly

The remarkable length of tail seems to be the most
striking characteristic of this species, discovered by the
Prince of Neuwied, during his researches in Brazil.
We have not ourselves seen an authentic specimen ;
but, as the above structure was equally apparent in an
individual brought from Mexico, we are still disposed
to consider our designation of this latter animal, already
alluded to, as correct. Major Smith appears, however,
to have examined two undoubted specimens of the
Brazilian race ; and his description may be compared
with ours. It seems to be little larger than the common
domestic cat.

The neck is long and thick; the face very short ;
and the tail about a fourth longer than that of the
inked ocelot. The face, neck, back, shoulders, rump,
and hams are ochrey grey, streaked and marked with

128 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

from three to four rows of large black spots, describing
somewhat irregular figures. The tail is semi-annulated,
with the tip black. Two streaks under each eye run to
the angle of the jaw ; and one above, to the ear. There
are some spots on the forehead and cheeks ; and others,
still larger, on the paws.

On comparing the above description with that of
our long-tailed Mexican tiger-cat, we certainly consider
that each relates to a different species. The chief
difference is in the spots, which, in that from Mexico,
are ocellated, or forming irregular rings; while those
of the Brazilian species are in masses: in this latter,
also, the spots on the feet or paws are described as
large ; whereas in the other they are small. The length
of tail, judging from the figure of Macrowrus, is less
than in that of the Mexican animal; but as major Smith
has not given any dimensions, this point is uncertain.

Tue Lineatep Cart.

Felis lineata, Nobis. Felis colocolo, H. Smith. Colocolo?
Mollini.

This is one of the most beautiful animals of the
whole family, and is so remarkable in its external ap-
pearance, that it would be immediately recognised by
a common observer. It seems also to be a rare species;
and thus deserves, in every way, a particular notice.

This fierce animal, observes major Smith, was shot in
the interior of Guiana, by an officer of a rifle corps,
and was by him stuffed and sent to England. <A
whimsical occurrence took place with it: — The officer
who had shot it, placed it on the awning of the boat to
air, as he descended the river Parimaribo: the boat
often passed under the branches of large trees which
overhung the water, and which were much resorted to
by monkeys: the vessel, on other occasions, would have
excited but little attention; but no sooner did these cun.
ning little creatures espy the stuffed specimen, than the
whole community trooped off with prodigious screams

JAVAN CAT. 129

and howlings. It was of course surmised, from the
excessive terror of these animals, that this was one of
their most inveterate enemies.

In size, according to major Smith, this species is
larger than the wild cat: the head being remarkably
flat and broad, the body slender, but the legs very
strong: the tail just touched the ground ; and the ears
were large and round. .The ground colour of the
neck and back was whitish grey; and_ the. head,
shoulders, throat, sides, belly, and inside of the limbs,
white. The back was marked with lengthened streaks
of black, edged with tawny; but those towards the
shoulders and thighs were entirely of the latter colour.
From the corners of the eyes to the jaws was a black
streak ; and on the forehead were some “ barry”’ marks.
tail semi-annulated with black; the tip black. The
legs, as far as the knees, were all of a very dark grey
colour. As major Smith throws some doubt upon this
being the Colocolo of Mollini, we hope he will excuse
us for not adopting that as a specific name, objection-
able as it is in every way.

Tue JAVAN CAT.

Felis Javanensis, Horsfield. Kenank, Javanese.

While some of the largest feline species evince a
gentleness and a docility which is not exceeded by our
domestic cat, there are others, not surpassing the latter
animal in the smallness of their dimensions, which
seem to possess all the ferocity of the Bengal tiger.
Such is the character of the Javanese wild cat, dis-
‘covered by Dr. Horsfield, who informs us that it is
perfectly untameable,—its natural fierceness being never
subdued by confinement. It inhabits all the large
forests of Java; retreating into the hollows of trees
during the day, and sallying forth at night in quest of
food: it visits the neighbouring villages, and commits
great depredations among the poultry. The natives
ascribe to it an uncommon sagacity ; asserting, that in

K

130 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

order to approach the fowls unsuspected, and to sur-
prise them, it imitates their voice. It feeds chiefly on
fowls, birds, and small quadrupeds ; but, if pressed by
hunger, will devour carrion.

This species may be thus shortly described:— General
colour, greyish brown; greyer on the body, neck, and
limbs; deeper and more tawny towards the back, and
whitish beneath. The ears are very small. Four re-
gular series of elongated spots pass from the head to
the tail ; and the sides are covered with regular smaller
spots. The extreme length of the body is near two
feet, and the tail is about eight inches more,

Tue Sumatran Cart.
Felis Sumatrana, Horsf. Rimau bulu, of the Malays. ~

Of this species, which seems to be the wild cat of
Sumatra, and peculiar to that island, a living specimen
was brought home by sir Stamford Raffles. No inform-
ation, however, seems to have been obtained of its native
habits, neither do we know if the animal is still in ex-
istence. In its general size and proportions, as well as
the shortness of the tail, it agrees with the wild cat of
Java, last described ; but it exhibits many peculiarities
in the form and disposition of its marking, which are
much better comprehended by a glance at the figure,
than by the most lengthened description.

The general colour is ferruginous, inclining to yel-
lowish grey: the spots on the body are angular, and
scattered without regularity, and very different from the
longitudinal and nearly parallel lines of the Javan cat ;
the colour of these spots is intensely brown, inclining to

black.

Drarp’s Java Cat.
Felis Diardi, Cuvier, Griff. 11. 484.
A short notice of this, the third species of wild cat

inhabiting the Javanese islands, will complete our list
of those belonging to the Indian Archipelago. It was

AMERICAN BEAVER. 131

first made known by M. Cuvier, who gave it the name
of its discoverer, M. Diard. It is described as much
larger than the two last, and very remarkable for the
beautiful regularity of its spots. We know not whether
it has yet been brought alive into this country.

The size equals that of the ocelot. Ground colour of
the body yellowish grey: throat and back covered with
black spots, disposed in longitudinal bands ; while other
similar spots descend down the shoulders perpendicular
to the preceding: thighs, and part of the flanks,
marked by black open rings, with the centres grey :
legs with black full spots. The yellowish grey, and the
black of the tail, form some dusky rings.

Tue AMERICAN BEAVER.

Castor fiber, Linn. Castor Americanus, Cuvier. The Beaver,
Pennant. Ammisk, Cree Indians. Ttsoulayé, Huron
Indians.

The social instinct, which impels man to seek the
society and participate in the labours of his fellows, is
equally manifested among several tribes of those in-
ferior beings over which he has been placed by their
common Creator. Among insects, the bee and the ant
will occur to‘every one; and if we look to quadrupeds,
in no tribe is this instinct more developed than in beavers,
whose history we shall now shortly illustrate. It is a
fact worth observing, that nearly all such animals as
possess the social feeling to any great extent, are pecu-
liarly remarkable for their skill and ingenuity; as if
they were gifted with a higher degree of instinct, ap-
proaching to that reason which man is conscious of pos-
sessing, but which he is totally unable to define.

The beaver is as remarkable for its skill as for its
docility. Some authors have doubted whether the spe-
cies still found in Europe, and that so common in North
America, are distinct ; but M. Cuvier considers that they
are really so: we shall therefore view them in this light.

The habits of the beaver are aquatic: they live on the
banks of the great rivers, ane wooded morasses, where

K &@ ’

132 ANIMALS IN MSNAGERIES.

they may be said to erect villages: they prefer fixing
the site of their common habitation where they can have
deep water, and a current sufficiently strong to aid their
efforts in conveying wood and other suitable necessaries.
They seem also to be aware that, by selecting such spots,
the water is never frozen to the very bottom, even in the
most severe winters. Those communities, however,
which are established in small creeks, or rivers, in which
water is liable to be drained off, are endowed with a
wonderful instinct in providing againt the evil. They
erect a dam, at a convenient distance, quite across the
river, and vary its construction according to the nature
of the stream. If the water has little motion, the dam
is nearly straight; but when the current is more rapid,
it is always made with a considerable curve, and convex
towards the stream, which has thus but little power to
destroy the works. The materials employed are large
and small pieces of wood, willow twigs, mud, and stones,
all intermixed in such a way as to give an equal strength
to all the parts. These dams, when not disturbed, be-
come, in process of time, solid banks, capable of resist-
ing a great force; and as the sprigs of willow, and other
trees, which are used, generally take root and shoot up,
they form a kind of regular planted hedge, which Hearne
mentions as having seen so tall, that birds have laid their
nests among the branches.

The beaver houses, continues Hearne, are built of the
same materials as their dams ; the size is proportioned
to the number of inhabitants, which seldom exceeds
four that are old, and six or eight young ones. A
common roof contains several apartments, which have
no internal communication, and are each entered by a
door from the water. Hearne remarks, that the only
convenience which the beaver seeks to enjoy, is a dry
place to lie upon, and where it can take its food. ‘ In
building their houses, the beavers lay most of the wood
crosswise and nearly horizontal, taking care to leave a
hollow or cavity in the middle ; and when any unne-
cessary branches project inward, they cut them off with.

AMERICAN BEAVER. 133

their teeth. It has been erroneously supposed that the
wood.work is first completed and then plastered ; but
this is not the case; as our traveller observes that the
whole is one mass of wood, mud, and stones. The two
latter materials are conveyed by these little architects in
their paws, and are held close under their throat; but
the wood is always dragged by the aid of their power-
ful teeth. All these works are executed in the night ;
and with so much expedition, that in the course of one
night they will collect many thousands of their little
handfuls. When a new habitation is to be erected,
the beavers begin to fell the necessary wood early in
summer; and although they commence building towards
autumn, they never completely finish the roof until the
cold weather has set in. Their instinct in this latter
occupation is really astonishing. They add a fresh
coat of mud to the roof every autumn ; but they delay
this operation as long as possible, as if they were per-
fectly conscious of the security which their work would
derive from the effects of the first frost, which, by
freezing the newly tempered mud, renders it as hard as
a stone, and prevents their common enemy, the wol-
verine, from disturbing them during the approaching
winter. . They are frequently seen to walk over their
work, as if to ascertain its stability, and sometimes to
give it a flap with their tail.

Their food chiefly consists of the large roots of the
yellow water-lily (Nuphar luteum), and the bark of
trees, both which are hoarded during summer as pro-
visions for the winter. In spring they leave their
houses; and after roaming about during summer, feeding
upon berries and herbage, return to their habitation a
little before the fall of the leaf.

In a domesticated state, the beaver is a particularly
engaging animal. Mr. Hearne mentions having kept
several which learned to answer to their names, and
to follow those to whom they were attached, precisely
like a dog, and they were equally fond of being caressed.
In cold weather, continues our traveller, “‘ they were kept

K 3

134 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

in my own sitting-room, where they were the constant
companions of the Indian women and children; and
were so fond of their company, that when the Indians
were absent for any considerable time, the beavers
evinced great signs of uneasiness ; while on their return
they showed equal marksof pleasure, by fondling on them,
crawling into their laps, lying on their backs, sitting
erect like a squirrel, and behaving, in short, like
children who see their parents but seldom.” Mr. Brode-
rip has also given an interesting account of a favourite
beaver named Binny, which he had in his possession
some time: we regret our space will not permit of its
insertion, and it is too well written to bear abridgment.

The skins of the beaver are well known to be an
important article of commerce. The destruction of
these poor animals was so great in 1743, that 26,750
skins were sold by the Hudson’s Bay company, and
127,000 were imported unto Rochelle. But in 1827,
although the quantity sent to London was collected
from an extent of country four times larger than that
hunted over in 1743, the number imported did not
much exceed 50,000.* i

Toe Wurstuinc MArRmot.

Arctomys pruinosus, Rich. Hoary Marmot, Pennant. Souffleur,
or Mountain Badger, Fur Traders.

The American marmots have recently been illustrated
with much skill by Dr. Richardson +, who enumerates no
less than five species; while two only are found in Europe.
They all, however, seem capable of being domesticated,
and well deserve a place in our menageries. The present
species is about the size of a badger, has a long bushy tail,
and is covered with lengthened hair of a beautiful silver-
grey colour. But it is chieflyremarkable for the following
habits, observed by Mr. Harmon :—It burrows on sandy
soil, near grassy hills, and during autumn may be fre-
quently seen cutting hay, to be employed or devoured

* North. Zool. i. 108. + Ibid. i.

AMERICAN HARE. 135

ir” heir burrows. While a party of them are thus oc-~
cupied, they leave a sentinel, who takes his station on
an eminence, and at the approach of danger utters a
shrill whistle, which may be heard at a great distance :
the signal is repeated from one to another along the
whole line of their habitations, and thus timely security
is sought. They feed on roots and herbs, and do not
come abroad during winter.

Toe American Hare.

Lepus Americanus, Richardson, North. Zool. i. 217. Lepus
Hudsonius, Pallas. Lepus Americanus, Hralebein. Ame-
rican Hare, Pennant. Rabbit, Hudson’s Bay Residents. Le
Lapin, French Canadians.

It is interesting to trace those shades of variation in
habits, by which Nature marks the distinction of one
species from another, even more than by external ap-
pearance. The American hare well illustrates this
truth. “‘ It is,” says Dr. Richardson, ‘so like the
common European rabbit, that it goes by that name
among all the English residents at Hudson’s Bay. It
seems a common animal in all the woody districts of
North America ; but in the barren grounds, and on the
plains of the Missouri, it is replaced by other and larger
species.

The habits of the American hare, notwithstanding its
similitude to our rabbit, are very peculiar. It does not
burrow like that animal, but resides mostly in thickets,
or in woods having an underwood of willows and dwarf
birch. In summer it eats grass, and in winter the bark
of willows: it is likewise said to do much damage to the
cabbage and turnip fields. In the Hare-Indian country,
where, during winter, large animals are scarce, these
hares form the chief food of the natives. Unless dis-
turbed, it never runs about during the day, since its
enemies are numerous. In high northern latitudes it
becomes, during winter, of a pure white.

The mode of hunting the hare pursued by the
Indians, is nothing more than destructive poaching.

K 4

E3Ge =" ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

They beat a circular path in the snow where the hares
abound, over which these simple animals will not readily
jump ; snares are then set in all the hedge-gaps, after
which the Indians beat about with their dogs to drive the
hares into the nooses. The supper of a whole horde
will often depend upon the success of this operation ;
since, with the usual improvidence of a hunter’s life,
these Indians seldom keep any store of provisions. The
average weight of the American hare is only four pounds.

Tue Ponrar Hare.

Lepus glacialis, Leach. Rich. North. Zool. i. 221. Varying
Hare, Pennant. Rekaleek, Greenlanders.

The beauty of this species, which appears to preserve
the delicate whiteness of its fur during the greater part
of the year, renders it a desirable acquisition to the
parks or preserves in the northern islands of Scotland:
in size, also, it is superior to the alpine or varying
hare of that country, and its flesh is white and well
flavoured. * Its habits are well suited also to districts
which are destitute of wood; since it seems to aveid
such situations, and to seek the sides of hills, where
the wind prevents the snow from accumulating, and
where, even in winter, it can procure berries and leaves
of evergreens. It does not dig burrows, but shelters
itself among large stones, or in the hollows of rocks.
Although not a very shy animal, it eludes, with un-
common vigilance, the deadly aim of the hunter. Dr.
Richardson gives us a singular instance of this, in the
following anecdote :—‘‘ In the late boat voyage along
the northern coast of America, we landed on a rocky
islet off Cape Parry, which, although not above three
hundred yards in diameter, was tenanted by a solitary
alpine hare. The whole party went in pursuit of this
poor animal; but it availed itself so skilfully of the
shelter of the rocks, and retreated with so much cun-
ning activity from stone to stone, that none of us could

* North. Zool.

AMERICAN WOODLAND REINDEER. 137

obtain a shot at it, although it was never able to con-
ceal itself from our search for more than a minute or
two at a time.”

The fur in winter is of a snow-white colour, and
bears a strong resemblance to swansdown: it is in prime
order (in latitude 65°) about the end of October ; and
begins to be replaced in the following April by the
summer coat, which is more or less coloured. In
higher latitudes, however, this change does not take
place, since Otho Fabricius informs us that in Green-
land its colour is at all times white.

Tue American WoopLanp REINDEER.

Cervus (Tarandus) sylvestris, Richardson. Caribou, American

Voyagers. Attehk, Cree Indians. 'Tantseeah, Copper Indians.

It has been customary, not only with compilers of
Natural Histories, but even with professed zcologists,
who should know better, to mix together all the inform-
ation they can find, narrated by travellers, regarding
the reindeer of the two continents, and to blend the
whole in one narrative, taking for granted the accuracy
of a point, which has never been proved, or even pro-
perly investigated, that the reindeer of America and
of Europe are of the same species. This plan we shall
not adopt. It has been well observed by Dr. Rich-
ardson*, that neither of the two ‘“‘ permanent va-
rieties’’ of the American reindeer have as yet been
properly compared with the European or Asiatic races ;
and the distinguishing characters, if any exist, are
still unknown. With the remarkable fact before us,
that it is only within the last six years (1830) the elk of
Sweden has been discovered to be distinct from the elk
of America, we may reasonably doubt if similar differ-
ences do not exist in other species of animals, hitherte
supposed to inhabit both continents in common. The
history of the European reindeer has been frequently
given, and is to be found in the narratives of so many
travellers, that we shall not here repeat what is so gene-

* North. Zool. i. 238,

138 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

rally known. But the manners of the American races
have only been furnished to us by Dr. Richardson.
His observations, therefore, possess both novelty and
value, as being the result of a long residence, and of
attentive observation made, in the native regions of
these interesting animals.

The large size of the woodland reindeer, or Caribou
of the American voyagers, distinguishes it, at first sight,
from that race or variety which lives in the plains.
Although so much superior in size, its horns are much
smaller ; and even when in good condition, its flesh is
vastly inferior. Its geographic range, as observed by
Dr. Richardson, is confined to a stripe of low, primitive,
woody rocks, about 100 miles wide, and nearly as many
broad, between the shores of Hudson’s Bay and Lake
Superior. Contrary to the other race, they traverse to
the southward in spring. These migrations are per-
formed in herds of such immense numbers, that they
will sometimes occupy several hours in crossing the river
near York Factory, in a crowded phalanx: this takes
place in May; they pass the summer on the marshy
shores of James Bay, and return northward in Septem-
ber. Their numbers, on these occasions, may be judged
of, when Mr. Hutchins asserts that he had seen eighty
head of deer brought in one day to York Factory, and
many others were refused for want of salt to preserve
the flesh: the natives, in fact, continued to destroy the
poor animals merely for the sake of their skins. The
same writer says that the fawns, when taken young,
soon become as tame as pet lambs.

A peculiarity in the anatomical structure of the buck,
noticed by Mr. Hutchins, deserves investigation ; it is a
peculiar bag, or cyst, in the lower part of the neck, about
the size of a crown piece, filled with fine flaxen
hair, neatly coiled round to the thickness of an inch ;
it then communicates to an opening through the skin
placed near the head. Dr. Richardson remarks upon this
fact, that Camper found a membranaceous cyst in the
European reindeer, above the thyroid cartilage, and

BARREN GROUND REINDEER. 139

opening into the larynx: but I have met with no
account of a cyst with a duct opening externally, like
that described by Mr. Hutchins; and, unfortunately,
Dr. R. was not aware of the alleged fact until his return
to England. If future investigation establishes the
fact of a different formation in these parts in the Eu-
ropean and the American reindeer, their distinction as
species will, in our opinion, be established beyond all
controversy.

Tue BARREN GrouND REINDEER.

Cervus (Tarandus) arctica, Richardson. Common Deer, Hearne.
Took-too, E'squimaux. Tukta, Greenlanders.

This is the second race of reindeer found in the
arctic regions of America, first distinctly made known
by Dr. Richardson, who says it is so small, and weighs
so little, “ that I have seen a Canadian voyager throw a
full-grown doe over his shoulders, and carry it as an
English butcher would a sheep.” Neither this nor the
woodland race have ever been domesticated ; while the
European reindeer is well known to be the most do-
mestic animal of our northern nations. The habits and
the locality of this small animal are very different from
those of the woodland species last described: it only
retires to the woods in winter ; and passes the summer
on the coasts of the Arctic Sea, and on the barren
grounds, where it feeds upon various lichens. In
May the females proceed towards the sea coast, and are
followed by the males during the next month: the sun
having then dried up the lichens on the barren grounds,
the deer frequent the moist valleys of the arctic coast,
and pasture on the withered grass or hay of the preced-
ing year: this spring journey is performed partly on the
snow, and partly, after that has disappeared, on the ice.
In September they commence their return to the south,
and they reach the woods during the next month.
During this journey, which is performed after the snows
have fallen, a bountiful Providence provides them with

140 . ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

a peculiar food, and endows them with the instinct to
discover it. The lichens at this season are, as Dr.
Richardson observes, uncommonly tender and pulpy,
being preserved moist and unfrozen by the heat still
remaining in the earth: the deer seem to be aware
of this, and propelled by instinct to such spots as are
congenial to the growth of their favourite food ; but
where it is entirely concealed, they procure a certain
supply of it by scraping away the snow with their feet.

The exquisite adaptation of the fur of the reindeer
to resist cold, has been the general subject of admiration
with all travellers. Dr. Richardson says, that from the
closeness of the hair, and the lightness of the skin, it is
the most appropriate clothing that can be used in the
arctic latitudes. It is, in short, so impervious to cold,
that, with the addition of a blanket of the same material,
any one so clothed may bivouae on the snow with
safety, in the most intense cold of an arctic winter's
night. Sir A. Brooke observes, “ that the hairs com-
posing their coat are indeed so thick, that it is hardly
possible, by separating them in any way, to discern the
least portion of their naked hide.”

The colour of this reindeer, in its summer dress, is
of a clove brown, mingled with deep reddish and yellow-
ish browns ; the under surface of the neck, the limbs,
and the belly being white: the hoofs are very large,
and greatly spread ; and the posterior ones make a loud
clattering noise when the animal runs. In regard to
the characters which some naturalists have attempted to
draw, from the configuration of the horns, of the Ame-
rican and European races, the remarks of Dr. Richard-
son impress us with a belief that they are altogether
futile: this opinion, in fact, had been expressed by
baron Cuvier, who seems to think that the only cha-
racter common to all he has examined (including, as we
presume, both the American and the European races),
is the smoothness and compression of the horns in every
part, except in the very small portion connected to the
burr.

WAPITI ELK. 141

On the introduction of the reindeer in the High-
lands of Scotland, the following judicious observations
have been made by Mr. Bennett * : —‘‘ Several attempts
have been made of late years, all which, if we mistake
not, have failed; since one of the most striking pecu-
liarities in their habits appears to have been lost sight
of: we allude to their migratory disposition, for which
no allowance has been made: those which have been
introduced, appear to have been turned out into a park
or inclosed ground, in which their natural food, the
lichen, was supposed to be sufficiently abundant, and
there left to take their chance.” We believe, that, of
all the attempts to acclimate the reindeer, none has
been more successful than that made at the gardens of
the Society, where a single female, of the white variety
(European or American?), has lived through two
Winters, without suffering any apparent inconvenience ;
her food has been uniformly dry provender.”

THe Wapiti Ex.

Cervus Strongyloceros, Rich. North. Zool. i. 251.

Many of our readers may probably recollect the exhi-
bition, at the Egptian Hall, of several of these stately
looking animals, several years ago, where they excited
universal curiosity in the town, from the enormous size
of their antlers. They were brought from the plains
of the Missouri, and were finally turned out into some
of the royal private parks, where it is said they have
propagated, although great care is required for their
preservation. They live, in their native state, in
small families of six or seven individuals. They
would seem to fight with great fury ; since two males
were found, near Edmonton House, lying dead, with
their horns locked into each other: it is said, also, that
the moose and rein deer are occasionally found dead
under similar circumstances. The horns acquire an
immense size; and major Smith observes, that at one
* Zool. Gard. ix. 25L.

4

142 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

period they expand with such rapidity, that their growth
exceeds an inch and a half per day. In an individual
he alludes to, the horns. of six antlers each, measured
three feet long; another, five feet ; and one mentioned by
M. Cuvier, even exceeded six feet. Authors seem to
be of opinion that the Canadian stag (C. Canadensis) is
a small variety of the wapiti; but we by no means
consider that this fact is established, notwithstanding the
comparisons made of their horns by baron Cuvier. In
the size, and in the locality of the two animals, there is
an essential difference: the Canadian stag is always
smaller, and lives in deep forests and rocky mountains ;
while the wapiti is admitted by major Smith to be
“* heavier in body, his legs shorter, his horns longer and
slenderer, and he lives in the savannahs and plains of
the interior.” * ‘All the true wapitis seen by major Smith,
had the tail very short ; but some writers, who mention
the Canadian stag and the wapiti as one, say that the tail
varies from two to four inches: this difference will pro-
bably be found hereafter to be specific.

Tue American Moose DeEer.

Cervus (Alces), North. Zool. 1. 232. Americans.

Dr. Richardson and major Smith appear to be the
only naturalists who have expressed a suspicion that the
American moose was a different animal to the European
elk. The imperfect state, however, of our national
museums, rendered it impossible for these naturalists to
ascertain the fact by any difference of outward structure,
since no preserved specimens of the two kinds could be
consulted. It has therefore been left, as is usually the
case, for a foreigner to establish the distinction. We
had the pleasure of seeing this gentleman, when he came
to the British Museum, in the hopes of satisfying his
inquiries ; but, alas! no elk, either European or Ame-
rican, was to be seen. We remember he pointed out
the distinctions of the two with great judgment and skill ;

* Griff Cuv. iv. 497.

_AMERICAN MOOSE DEER. 143

and we have since heard, that, by prosecuting his
. researches at the French Museum, he has favoured
the scientific world with the result of his observations.
How long are our public sources of zoological study
thus to excite the surprise, if not the contempt, of
foreigners? When the officers of the British Museum
are labouring to impress this truth upon the higher
powers, and when they possess every requisite in zeal
and devotion to their duties, it is really a national
reproach that their representations are not sufficiently
attended to.

Living specimens of this noble animal have been oc-
casionally brought to England, and one was sent to
George the Third from Hudson’s Bay. Its manners
present many peculiarities, differing from those of the
other American deer. In general, it is a solitary ani-
mal, and hence is endowed with a most exquisite sense
of hearing ; it is, in short, the most shy and wary of
all its congeners, so that moose hunting is the greatest
accomplishment of an Indian. From the length of its
legs, and the shortness of its neck, the moose cannot
graze, like other animals, upon level ground ; it there-
fore browses on the tops of plants and the leaves of trees
in summer, and on those of willows and birch in winter:
these the animal often crops as if they had been cut
by a gardener’s shears.

The moose, when not provoked, is an inoffensive
animal. ‘The young ones, in particular,” says Hearne,
‘fare so simple, that I have seen an Indian paddle his
canoe to one in the water, and take it by the poll, with-
out any opposition ; the poor harmless animal seeming
as contented as if swimming by the side of its dam,
looking up in our faces with the same fearless innocence
as a house lamb would, making use of its fore feet every
instant to clear its eyes of mosquitoes.”” The moose is
the largest of the deer kind, being higher at the shoulders
than the horse ; and it is, of all others, the most easy to
tame and domesticate.

144 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue Axis Derr.
Cervus Axis, Auct. Axis, Pliny, Buffon. Parrah, Hindostan.

The elegant spotted markings of the Axis deer, spread
over all parts of the body, will immediately enable an
observer to distinguish it from the fallow deer. It be-
longs to.a particular race of this family, chiefly found
in India; and the present, which is the best known ex-
ample of the group, is common in the plains and jungles
of India and the neighbouring islands. They have long
been great favourites in European menageries, where they
breed ; and, in favourable situations, are said to pro-
pagate freely in open parks. Timid and gentle in their
natural disposition, they are said to be particularly mild
and quiet in captivity. Authors attribute to this, and
to several other kinds of deer, such an extreme sen-
sibility both of taste and smell, that, although fond of
bread, they will not touch it if it has previously been
blown upon. The Axis very closely resembles the
fallow deer in size, form, and even in colour ; but the
buttocks of this is destitute of the broad white patch
which nearly covers that part in the fallow deer.

Tuer BuAcK-TAILED DEER.

Cervus Macrotis, Say. Great-eared Deer, H. Smith. Cerf
mulet, Desmarest. Jumping Deer, Hudson’s Bay Residents.

We owe the first indication of this species,—peculiar,
as it would seem, to the plains of the Missouri and the
Columbia, —to the exploratory expedition of Lewis and
Clarke. Dr. Richardson could not obtain any specimens,
but fortunately met with one preserved in England, from
which Mr. Landseer has made an admirable figure. In-
habiting a climate congenial to our own, the present
seems an animal well worthy of general introduction.
Its manners, in one respect, are peculiar ; when roused,
it makes off by uninterrupted bounds, raising all its
feet from the ground at once, and vibrating its black-
tipt tail from side to side. From living on the eastern

,
PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE. 145

side of the Rocky Mountains, in the great Buffalo dis-
tricts, where there are abundance of large moose and
- wapiti, this species has hitherto attracted little attention
either from the hunters or residents. Its length is about
two feet and a half.

Tur PrRonc-HORNED ANTELOPE.

Dicranocerus furcifer, Smith. Antilope Americana, Ord.
Antilope palmata, Desmarest.

The prong-horned antelope is another of those deer,
which, inhabiting the colder regions of North America,
appear well fitted to give interest and variety to the
parks of our nobility. Its form, as described by Dr.
Richardson, is particularly graceful, — having a slender
head, large eyes, and long, delicate limbs. It stands
about three feet from the ground, and the fur is of a
clear yellowish brown, darkest on the back. It is either
solitary, or lives in small herds; and appears to be com-
mon on the open plains and low hills at the foot of
the Rocky Mountains, in lat. 53° N., which is its most
northern range.

The mode of hunting this animal by the Indians is
curious, and is thus alluded to by Dr. Richardson :—
“The Indian hunters have no difficulty in bringing an
antelope within gunshot, by various stratagems, such
as lying down on their backs and kicking their heels in
the air, holding up a white rag, or clothing themselves
in a white shirt, and showing themselves only at in-
tervals. By these and similar manceuvres, the curiosity
of the herd is so much roused, that they wheel round
the object of their attention, and at length come within
reach of the hunter’s shot: this disposition, in the
present species, is remarkably strong.*

* North. Zool. i, 163,

146 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tae European Rorsuck.

Capreolus Europzus, Smith. Cervus Capreolus, Linn. Chev-.
reuil, Buffon. Roebuck, Pennant. Rehe, Redbock, German.
Kosa, Dikaja, Russian. Ibec, Tartare. |

The roebucks generally, according to the views of
major Smith, form a little group in the family of deer,
exclusively belonging to the Old World, where they repre-
sent the Mazama deer of North America, and the brockets
(Subulo) of Brazil and Paraguay. The common roe is
the smallest of European deer, being about four feet
long, and not standing higher than two feet eight inches
at the shoulders. There appears to be three varieties ;
one very red. another yellowish brown grey, and a third
nearly black: all these, however, have a white disk
upon the buttocks, at the root of the tail ; but this dis-
appears in their summer dress. Roebucks are found
over the greatest part of Europe, and the North of Asia ;
they are not uncommon in Scotland, but are scarcer in
England. It is an extremely graceful, active, and beau-
tiful animal: its eye is full of fire, and its limbs are
remarkably pliant: it loves elevated spots on the borders
of woods, and leaps with great vigour. As it leaves a
strong scent, advantageous to the hunter, it is endowed
with peculiar sagacity to baffle the dogs. It begins,
after a first dash forward, to double over its track, and
mislead the hounds; then breaks the scent by taking
some predigious bounds ; and springing off towards a
cover, lies down, and lets the chase pass. The black va-
riety is confined to the duchy of Luneburg in Hanover.

PART II.

ON LIVING OR DOMESTICATED BIRDS, SUITABLE FOR
AVIARIES OR PRESERVES.

In determining the plan most advisable to be pur-
sued in this division of our volume, much difficulty has
been experienced. Our first idea was to have drawn up
as complete a catalogue as possible of all such foreign
birds as were to be met with in our public or private
menageries, distinguishing such as were known to have
bred in confinement, and had consequently become do-
mesticated, from such as were merely acclimated, or
accustomed to our climate. This, without doubt, would
have been the most desirable plan of proceeding, and
would have given that information to the lovers of
aviaries, which is now so much wanted ; but further in-
quiry showed us the utter impossibility of doing this,
from the total absence of the necessary materials. It has
not been heretofore the custom of recording, in print,
information of this nature. Those persons whose trade
lies in the buying and selling of living birds, and of which
there are several in London, are not persons capable of
writing upon such matters, even had they the inclination
to reveal what they no doubt consider the secrets of
their craft. The Zoological Society, on the other hand,
by embracing within its objects the whole animal king-
dom, has hitherto found itself so occupied, and its atten-
tions so distracted by the multiplicity of its concerns,
and the paucity of its working members, that nothing
worth mentioning has been communicated to the public
on this interesting subject. However desirable, there-
fore, such an exposition as we at first contemplated
would be, it never can be carried into execution, unless
L 2

148 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

by the powerful and united assistance of those who di-
rect their time and attention almost exclusively to the
rearing and management of birds. .
The second plan that suggested itself, was to write a
popular account of those birds only which were usually
seen in menageries, and which, with few exceptions,
would comprise the most remarkable in the feathered
creation: but this is the sort of selection commonly
made in all popular histories of birds, whether large or
small, and would have been somewhat unsuited to the
nature of these Treatises. The histories of such birds
as the ostrich, eagle, vulture, nightingale, &c. &c. are
now so well known, that, through the pages of the
«Penny Magazines,” they are already in the hands of half
the artisans in the kingdom ; and the subject has been
so exhausted, that the ablest pen could only repeat,
under a different form of words, the same anecdotes and
the same facts that the public are now pretty well tired
of hearihg. The biography of birds, no less than of
quadrupeds, is a distinct branch of Natural History. A
writer in this department can only give original inform.
ation, when he treats of subjects which he has seen in a
state of nature: he has nothing to do with science,
properly so called ; his business lies only with facts, and
these he is to go out in the fields and gather as best he
can. Now, in regard to the native birds, this is a
matter of no great difficulty, as the materials for original
remarks are all before him. With him, indeed, Natural
History is a pursuit of observation, and nothing else.
But if he wishes to extend his sphere, and to describe
the manners of birds he has never seen, from that mo-
ment he must virtually become nothing more than a
compiler: his subject is one which not only precludes,
but absolutely forbids, all deviation from the materials
he may gather from others; he has to pin his faith on
the statements that have been already made, and merely
become an arranger and narrator of other men’s say-
ings. Compilations, therefore, on the natural histories of
birds, and, indeed, of animals generally, are innumerable,

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 149

and require not to be increased by a volume, upon this
plan, in the Casinet or Naturat History.

, Seeing, therefore, that of the two plans already mention-
ed, one was impracticable, and the other uncalled for, a
third suggested itself as not only useful, but, in some
respects, original. Without altogether rejecting the in-
troduction of those species usually seen in menageries,
— an omission which would belie the title of our volume,
—we have been guided in the rest of our selection by
introducing such birds as are adapted both for small
and large collections; giving the preference to those
species that can be kept in compartments of the plea-
sure grounds, or in inclosed canals, ponds, or other
fresh waters. This part of our volume will, therefore,
not be so much a guide to the visiters of aviaries as to
those who desire to be themselves the possessors of one,
however small. There are few private gentlemen in
this kingdom, living in the country, or on their own
estates, who do not possess a fenced inclosure, a poultry-
yard, or a pond, — one or all of which, with very little
trouble, will be sufficient to contain a few of these birds,
the number and variety of which may be regulated ac-
cording to circumstances, and may be increased, as capa-
bilities exist for their accommodation, to any extent.
We think that this mode of ornamenting our grounds,
and of exciting an additional interest both to their pro-
prietors and their visiters, has been very much neglected.
To us, indeed, the sight of a bird in a confined cage,
however we may admire it, always excites an unpleasant
feeling of captivity, which does not force itself on the
mind if the same bird is seen withina large inclosure it.
the open air, or swimming at ease in its native elemenn
We have not, however, in the following selection, merely
brought before the reader a portion of such birds as
have been already introduced into this country ; but
many others are noticed, which, from the nature of
their food or habits, joined to their beauty or variety,
seem equally calculated to bear our climate. Among
these are several which we merely know from the de-

L 3

150 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

scriptions given of them in systematic works: but as
their native countries are pointed out, an opportunity
may thus be given to such of our countrymen as are
residing abroad, to procure them: at all events, they will
know what birds will be most esteemed in this country,
of such as are here described, and whether they are
worth the trouble and expense of sending them alive from
any great distance.

The aquatic birds of the rasorial division (which
includes the whole of the swans, geese, and ducks)
| have more especially claimed our attention ; and this,
for several reasons. In the first place, a very large
proportion are of species which will freely live upon
ponds, and such other small pieces of water as are
always to be met with in the country, and are therefore
more adapted as ornaments te the residences of pri-
vate gentlemen. To these birds, also, there is generally
some little history attached, beyond a mere description
of their plumage, elucidating the economy of the species
themselves ina state of nature, and guiding the amateur
in many things connected with their proper management.
Secondly, the majority of these birds are so hardy ‘as
to need no other care than shelter during frost, —a pro-
tection which can generally be given them in the
outbuildings of a gentleman’s establishment, where a
common stove would keep the air sufficiently warm to
prevent injury to the birds. Thirdly, the aquatic
and the rasorial orders are those only, with very few
exceptions, which breed in confinement; and _ this
faculty opens a fresh source of interest and delight to
their possessor—enabling him not only to increase his
own stock, but to exchange or distribute the eggs and
young among his friends and neighbours. We grant,
that the numerous species of cage birds, particularly of
the family of parrots, are more brilliant in their plumage,
and may, among our female amateurs, receive the pre-
ference ; but these birds, generally sold at high prices,
have nothing but their simple beauty to recommend
them: they do not increase and multiply under our
eyes: we know nothing of their history, but their name

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. © 151

and the country they inhabit ; and had they been more
prominently noticed in this selection, our descriptions
would have assumed all the technicality of a scientific
treatise, instead of detached pieces of ornithological
biography. To those, however, who desire a short
compendium upon the parrots alone, the interesting
volume by Mr. Selby*, on this family, is the best they
can procure.

Nearly the whole of the rasorial birds are well known
to be eminently capable of domestication ; and we should
feel regret at our limits not allowing us to treat of them
in more detail, but that a small volume upon. this
ordert has already appeared, which will in a great
measure supply the deficiencies of this: it will also put
the reader in possession of a number of coloured figures
of the principal species, which could not be here intro-
duced under any circumstances. With the exception of
some few groups, such as the true grouse, the sand
grouse, the bustards, and a very few others of minor
note, the whole of the Rasores may be considered as
adapted to our menageries ; while those which, in their
own circles, are also rasorial types, live and propagate
almost as wellas in a state of nature. To have intro-
duced all these, however, into our present list, (such as
the genus Phasianus, Numida, Gallus, &c.) would have
been quite impossible, seeing that they would almost fil
an entire volume.

According to a list just published by the Zoological
Society, as a guide to their menagerie, the following
species appear now to be in their possession in a living
state: —

Phasianus colchicus Linn. Common Pheasant.”
torquatus Tem. Chinese ring-necked ditto.
Nycthemerus pictus Sw. Gold Pheasant.
argentatus Sw. Silver ditto.
Phasianus Reevesii Hardw. | Reeves’s ditto.
pectoralis Purple-breasted ditto.

Ceriornis Temminckii Sw. Temminck’s Satyr.

* Naturalist’s Library, vol. xv. + Ibid. vol. v.3

L 4

152 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Gallus Sonneratii Tem.

Pavo Javensis

Numida meleagris.

Colomba Cinas Linn.
palumbus Linn.

[No systematic Names affixed. ]

Peristera chalcoptera Sw.
Columba mystacea Tem.
cruenta Lath.
risoria Linn.
turtur Linn.
Corensis Gm.
leucocephala Linn.
Nicobarica Linn.
Ectopistes migratoria Sw.
Ortyx Virginianus Steph.
Coturnix Chinensis Cuv.
Crax alector Linn.
globifera Linn.
Yarrellii Benn.
rubra, Linn.
Ourax erythrorynchus Sw.
Lophocerus galeata Sw.
Dromiceus Australis Sw
Struthio Camelus Linn.
Casuarius galeatus
Rhea Americana Vieil.

Sonnerat’s Jungle Fowl.
Javanese Peacock.
Common Guinea Fowl.
Stock Dove.
Woodpigeon.

Aureted or Mountain Doves.
Zenaida ditto.
Barred Turtle.
Scolloped-necked ditto.
Triangular-spot Pigeons,
Necklace Pigeon.
Russet Pigeons.
Bronze-winged Pigeons.
Moustached ditto.
Red-breasted Pigeon.
Collared Turtle Doves.
Common Turtle.

Cora Dove.
White-crowned Pigeon.
Nicobar Pigeons.
Passenger Pigeon.
Virginian Quail.
Chinese Quail.

Crested Curassow.
Globose Curassow.
Yarrell’s ditto. |

Red ditto.
Razor-bellied ditto.
Galeated ditto.

Emu.

Ostrich.

Cassowary.

Rhea.

Considering the vast number of rasorial birds which,
there is every reason to believe, might live healthily and
freely in our aviaries, the above appears to us a very
scanty list, not at all commensurate to what the Society
might possess, had their plans not embraced such a
diversity of objects; and yet this collection of the
Rasores is probably equal to any at present existing in
this country.*

The experience of every day, indeed, shows the in-

* The collection of living birds in the possession of the earl of Derby is
said to be very large; but I know nothing of it beyond this report.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 153

calculable advantages of a division of ‘labour, in the
most comprehensive sense of the principle. Before the
institution of the Zoological Society, we question whe-
ther such an assemblage of rasorial birds existed in this
kingdom ; but now that we have another society, re-
stricting itself alone to this branch of zoology, it is
natural to suppose that, in a short time, we may find
that the number of the Rasores alive in their collection
will be doubled, or perhaps trebled, to those we now
possess.

From what we have seen of the manner of keeping
the rasorial and the cage birds in the two Zoological
Gardens of the metropolis, it appears to us that both
are open to much improvement. The paramount object
should be, as we conceive, to give them as great an
appearance of being in a natural habitation as the cir-
cumstances of their confinement will possibly admit,
and to preserve all the exotic species securely sheltered
from those sudden changes in the atmosphere which are,
unfortunately, the great characteristic of this country.
The misery which these poor little birds exhibit in
themselves, with their feathers ruffled, and their heads
drawn up between their shoulders, in the spring and
autumn, when exposed in open cages, is really me-
lancholy to witness ; and takes away more than half the
pleasure the spectator would otherwise feel: instead of
life, activity, and animation, we plainly see misery and
wretchedness exhibited in the deportment of all but
our native hardy birds, which nobody cares to look at,
because they may be seen every where. The only way
to remedy this, is to have the whole collection of exotic
birds under glass, on the same principle as the admirable
and elegant building erected by Mr. Cross at the Surrey
Gardens for his quadrupeds, and which, being pro-
perly ventilated, might easily be kept, during the colder
months, at a fixed temperature. In lieu, also, of the
formal straight perches, and gravelled bottoms to the
separate cages, shrubs of different kinds might be intro-
duced, either permanently or in pots, capable of being

154 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

occasionally removed when they had grown too large,
upon which the birds might sport about as in a state of
liberty: the gravelled bottoms of the cages, also, are
very objectionable. In the first place, they are often
very injurious to the feet of many birds, who, in a state
of nature, are accustomed to run upon the green sward,
but who are now compelled to walk upon what is, to
them, pointed and sharpened flints: there are numbers
of our native creeping plants which would grow at the
bottoms of their cages in any soil, and. thus always
cover them with a carpet of green, pleasing to the
eye of the spectator, and doubly pleasing to the poor
birds, who would thus run or walk with pleasure to
themselves, and with more life and agility. Such spe-
cies, again, as show the least disposition to breed, (and
many, we have no doubt, would do this, if their habi-
tations were constructed on the principle we are now
advocating,) should be more particularly supplied by
natural shelter ; that is, the shelter of leaves and branches:
dwarf trees or shrubs, having dense foliage, should be
put in their inclosures, within which the nests may be
constructed among the branches, and the females screened
from observation. The parrots, nearly all of which
build in hollow trees, might have such retreats provided
for incubation. The present mode of putting boxes
and pigeon-holes into all aviaries, without regard to the
different nature of the birds, is but a rude and in-
adequate substitute for more appropriate contrivances.
In short, we consider that the art of preserving and
rearing foreign birds in this country, is quite in its
infancy ; and our only surprise is, that, with the in-
adequate means that are employed, any species are
kept alive more than a few months after their being
consigned to such comfortless habitations. We re-
member to have seen, not long ago, in the Zoological
Gardens, early in the spring, when the cutting north
winds made us glad of a great coat, the Senegal turacco
(Corythaix Senegalensis) drooping in the same open
cage as contained a collection of English finches, and

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, 155

other of the commonest and most hardy birds: now
the Corythaix, in its natural state, is well known to
inhabit the hottest parts of Africa, and is so litttle
adapted to this climate, that it has never been known to
breed ; it consequently requires perpetual warmth, even
for the comfortable enjoyment of existence. Can it be
wondered at, therefore, that so much mortality takes
place in the Society’s collection? and not only in theirs,
but in all others? It may, indeed, be urged, that es-
tablishments like those of the Surrey Gardens and the
Regent’s Park are so much occupied in attending to the
general interests of their concerns, that they have
neither the time, the funds, nor the assistance to render
any one department more efficient than it now is ; more
especially as, in addition to the immense and complicated
concerns of their gardens, the Zoological Society’s mu-
seum is now of such magnitude, as almost to require a
separate Society to conduct its management, and render
it of that effectual service to science, which, under
adequate management and an enlarged establishment, it
is so well calculated to prove.

In the following pages we have noticed several of
those rasorial birds belonging to the genus Crax, which,
from their affinity to the domestic fowl, might be suc-
cessfully introduced into our aviaries, or kept in separate
inclosures of the poultry-yard. It does not appear
that the Society has yet succeeded in breeding these
birds, although their management is so well under-
stood in Holland, that they have been reared there
with the same ease as common poultry. So much
confusion, however, seems to exist among the species
of these birds, as they now stand, that, in pointing
out such as are likely to succeed in Britain, we have
thought it best to adhere to the nomenclature and
descriptions of M. Temminck, in whose admirable
volumes the reader will find much more respecting
them, than we can afford space for in this. The
native fowls, with those two most elegant Oriental
pheasants, Nycthemerus pictus and Nye. argentatus

156 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

(the gold and the silver), together with the different
species of curassow birds, are those most likely to breed,
and perpetuate their kinds, under the management of
those who will sedulously persevere in using “ all
appliances and means to boot” to effect such an object :
when once these means are discovered, all the real
difficulty ceases ; and with the fact upon record, that a
Dutch amateur could desire his cook to kill a curassow
bird, with the same ease as if he ordered a turkey or a
fowl, we need not despair of being able eventually to
do the same thing in England.

Let us now turn to the aquatic birds, or rather to
those which are of the rasorial division of that order ;
and these are all comprised in the family of the
Anatide, or ducks, collectively so called. Most of those
we have included in our selection are much more hardy
than the generality of the foreign gallinaceous birds,
requiring less care in every way, and are therefore more
adapted for private collections ; this is one of the rea-
sons that have induced us to give them so prominent a
place in our list. Some of these may be kept by any
person, from the gentleman farmer who has a duck-
pond in his fields, to the wealthy owner of a country
seat, whose grounds are watered by a river or artificial
canal. To these might be added other well known
aquatic fowls, not particularly described in this work ;
such as the water-hen, coot, dab-chick, &c. ; which, if
once located, and kept perfectly undisturbed by dogs,
&c., would soon increase without further care, trouble,
or expense. For the other hardy species, food and
shelter during the depth- of winter seems to be all that
is necessary ; while, if the sides of the pond are inclosed
by a properly constructed iron fence, little danger might
be apprehended either from dogs or other enemies.

It appears from the Guide to the Zoological Society’s
Gardens,” published under their authority, that the fol-
lowing species are now (August, 1837) living in their
menageries : —

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 157

Swans.

Tame Swan.
Wild Swan.
. Black Swan.

Cygnus olor Briss.
ferus Briss.
atratus Meyer.

GEESE.

Cereopsis Australis Sw.

Anser leucopsis Bechst.
bernicla
Canadensis
cygnoides
Gambiensis Ray.
Sandvicensis Vig.
Egyptiacus Briss.

Pigeon Goose.

Brent Goose.
Barnacle Goose.
Canada ditto.

Chinese ditto.
Spur-winged ditto.
Sandwich Island ditto.
Egyptian ditto.

‘2 ‘throrynel
rat gnus erythrorynchus ) Red-hilled’ Tred) Dick:

FresuwaterR Ducks. Anatine.

American Summer Duck.
Mandarin Duck.
Common Wild Duck.
Beautiful Teal.

erecca Sw. Common Teal.
Anas clypeata Linn. Common Shoveller.
Dafila acuta Leach. Pintail.
Chauliodus Strepera Sw. Gadwall.

Dendronessa sponsa Sv.
galericulata Sw.
Boschas domestica Lin.
formosa Sw.

Sea Ducks. Fuliguline.

f Common, or Golden-eye
Garrot.

Tufted Duck.

Clangula vulgaris Leach.

Fuligula cristata Leach.

Considering that the aquatic species necessarily form
but a portion of the general collection, and that the
attention of the Society is not directed to any one par-
ticular family of birds, but is spread over the whole,
the foregoing list may be considered a fair proportion-
ate amount of species; and yet, when we view it in
reference to the number of the Anatide that are known
to bear confinement, or whose habits give every reason
to believe that they are fitted for partial domestication,

158 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES

the collection is a very small one. In the General His-
tory of Birds, Dr. Latham enumerates no less than 145
species of this family ; and although he makes no dis-
tinction between the freshwater ducks and those which
more peculiarly inhabit the sea, yet the average number
of the latter cannot be taken at more than one third ;
seeing that in the other two thirds we should include
not only the ducks, but the swans and geese. Hence
it results, that there are probably little short of 100
species of this family which may be supposed capable
of being acclimated, or domesticated, if the especial atten-
tion of any influential Society were directed more to this
family than to any other. But to do this effectually, much
more time, trouble, and expense must be devoted to
them, than has hitherto been the custom,— at least in
the aviaries of this country. Many of the most beau-
tiful species, from being peculiar to warm climates,
must be sheltered, and kept in an artificial temperature,
nearly one half of the year, and the greater part enjoy
the same comfort during the winter. To accomplish
this, there appears no other effectual means than in-
closing them in large glass preserves, something similar
to that at the Surrey Zoological Gardens; one being
devoted to the tropical Anatida, or those of a more
tender constitution ; the other to such as merely require
protection from frost. The expense of such buildings,
it may be urged, would be very great: but then it
should be remembered, that, when once erected, they
would endure for years; they would be permanent re-
sidences, and insure a success in the preservation and
rearing of living birds we know not how to accom-
plish by any other means.

The recent establishment of the Ornithological Society
of& London, whose objects are entirely limited to the
feathered creation, and more especially to the rasorial
order and its representatives, promises to realise all that
we have said on this interesting subject. The peculiar
privilege possessed by this Society, of using the noble
canals in the royal parks as their aquatic preserves, gives

_ INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 159

them advantages in this respect, which no other Society
can enjoy without an expense that would be altogether
chimerical. These wide expanses of water, although
situated almost close to the densely peopled quarters of
the metropolis, are yet of such extent, that, by their
sides being judiciously planted with aquatic plants and
shrubs, they are sufficient to contain hundreds of
aquatic birds, who might securely breed in the shelter
of its banks when sufficiently clothed with plants ;
while from these preserves, in a few years, the eggs and
voung of the most domesticated sorts might be distri-
uted and dispersed to those of the nobility and gentry
throughout the kingdom. The same results, although
in a less degree, may reasonably be expected from their
intention of cultivating and propagating the true
rasorial birds. The rapid increase of this Society, in-
deed, is very remarkable. 'I'welve months have scarcely
elapsed since it merely consisted of a few public-
spirited individuals, who justly conceived, that to bring
under the eye of the multitude an “untaxed” display
of animated nature, would contribute to soften and hu-
manise the lower orders, and to interest the intelligent.
Nor has this expectation been disappointed: their
motives have been appreciated, and their exertions se~
conded so promptly, that in these few months the
Society now numbers near 200 members, including all
the most eminent or ‘nithologists ; while it is patronised by
the highest ranks in the kingdom. Thus encouraged,
their plans have been Shlarsedt and as their aatidel in-
crease, they propose ae a museum of preserved
birds and a library of ornithological works. It is with
great pleasure that we can state, that in these most
- desirable intentions they have received the support of
the Zoological Society ; from whose extensive museum,
already overburthened with duplicates, a liberal donation
of specimens, as it is understood, will be presented.
We cannot sufficiently extol such liberal feeling, and
such a course of sound policy as regards the advance-
ment of science; an advancement which can never be

160 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

so much accelerated as by this division of labour. It
is chiefly, however, to its foreign correspondents and
active well-wishers that the Society must look for the
acquisition of those species which are not indigenous ;
and for those, also, which have not been yet imported alive
into this country; for the amount of the annual sub-
scription is so small, that the funds of the Society will not
admit of expensive purchases from the ordinary dealers
in birds; and a considerable outlay must be made in the
erection of suitable aviaries, &c., which are absolutely
necessary for ulterior success. We trust, therefore,
that our countrymen in all parts of the colonies, as
well as those who are residing in foreign climates, will
second the objects of the Society, by donations of those
domesticated or other birds, which can be procured in
the countries where they are now residing.*

Tue WHitE-HEADED EAGLE.
Aquila leucocephalus, Auct. (Fig. 22.)

This majestic bird is chiefly confined to the colder
latitudes of the New World, where it seems to represent
the golden eagle ; its appearance in the North of Europe
is rare, and probably accidental. Like others of its
tribe, the plumage, in youth and in mature age, is essen-
tially different. Until the third year, the general colour
is uniform brown ; it then begins to show a few white
feathers on the head; and finally, by the end of the
fourth year, the whole head, neck, and tail becomes
pure white. Eminently distinguished by all the strength,
the courage, and the tyranny of his congeners; and ac-
customed, in his native wilds, to soar in mid air, plunge
into the falling cataract, and give chase to others less

* Communications may be addressed to Harry Chester, Esq., Hon.
Secretary, at the Society’s Rooms, Pall Mall, London.

WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 161

powerful than himself; the
white-headed eagle must not
be judged of as he appears in
captivity, mewed up in the
narrow confines of a cell.
Let us, then, turn to the
delightful volumes of the
American Ornithology for his
true character.

“This distinguished bird,”
says Wilson, “ as he is the
most beautiful of his tribe,
and the adopted emblem of
- our country, is entitled to
-. particular notice. Formed
*, by nature for braving the
" severest cold; feeding equally
on the produce of the sea and of the land ; possessing
powers of flight capable of outstripping even the tem-
pests ; unawed by any thing but man ; and, from the
etherial heights to which he soars, looking abroad, at
one glance, on an immeasurable expanse of forests, fields,
lakes, and ocean, deep below him ; he appears indifferent
to the little vicissitudes of change of season, as, in a few
minutes, he can pass from summer to winter, from the
lowest to the highest regions of the atmosphere: he is,
therefore, found at all seasons in the countries he in-
habits; but prefers the shores of sea coasts, and the larger
rivers and lakes, from the great partiality he has for
fish. In procuring these, he displays, in a singular
_ manner, the genius and energy of his character ; which
is fierce, contemplative, daring, and tyrannical, — attri-
butes not exerted but on particular occasions, but, when
put forth, overpowering all opposition. Elevated on the
high dead limb of some gigantic tree, he seems calmly
to contemplate the motions of the various feathered tribes
below, pursuing their busy avocations ;—the snow-white
gulls winnowing the air—the busy 7'ringa coursing along
the sands — trains of ducks, streaming over the sur-
M

462 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

face—silent and watchful cranes, intent and wading—

elamorous crows, and all the winged multitudes that

subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of
nature. High over all these, hovers one whose action
instantly arrests his attention. By his wide curvature

of wing, and sudden suspension in the air, he knows

him to be the fish-hawk, settling over some devoted

victim of the deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and,

balancing himself with half-opened wings on the branch,

he watches the result. Down, rapid as an arrow from

heaven, descends the object of his attention ; the roar of
its wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep,

making the surges foam around! At this moment, the

eager looks of the eagle are all ardour, and, levelling his

neck for flight, he sees the fish-hawk once more emerge,

struggling with his prey, and mounting im the air with

screams of exultation. These are the signal for our

hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase,

and soon gains on the fish-hawk. Each exerts his ut-

most to mount above the other; displaying, in these

rencontres, the most sublime aérial evolutions. The

unencumbered eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the

point of reaching his opponent, when, with a. sudden

scream, probably of despair and honest execration, the

latter drops his fish. The eagle, poising himself for a

moment, as if to take a more certain aim, descends like

a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp ere it reaches the.
water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently away to
the woods.”

Many of the habits of this powerful robber are al-
together cowardly and ignoble: if pressed for food, he
devours carrion, which he steals in the same manner
from the black American vulture. Dr. Richardson re-
marks, that “‘ the industry with which the parents pro-
vide their young with food, is often attested by the air
being tainted, to a considerable distance from the nest,
by the smell of the fish that they are unable to consume.

That simple and matter-of-fact philosopher, Dr.
Frankland, views the habits of this bird under a dif-

COMMON PRACOCK. 163

ferent light. “ For my own part,” says the doctor, “ I
wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the repre-
sentative of our country: he is a bird of a bad moral
character ; he does not get his living honestly : you may
have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too
lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labour of the
tishing hawk ; and when that diligent bird has at length
taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the sup-
port of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues
him and takes it from him. With all this injustice, h
is never in good case ; but, like those among men who
live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and
often very lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward: the
little king-bird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him
boldly, and drives him out of the district. He is, there-
fore, by no means a proper emblem for the brave and
honest Cincinnati of America. I am, on this account,
not displeased that the figure is not known as the bald
eagle, but looks more like a turkey.”’

The Americans call this, very improperly, the bald
eagle, from its white head: in its young state, it can
scarcely be distinguished from the cinereous eagle of
Europe (A. aibicella) ; and both are among the most
common birds of our menageries.

Tur Common PEAcOcK.

Pavo cristatus, Linn.

All that is beauteous in the tints of the rainbow, or
refulgent in the gems of the earth, and all that is splen-
did and dazzling in the feathered nation, is concentrated
in this queen of birds ; for the beauty of the peacock is
truly feminine. The smallness of the head, adorned with
what appears to be an artificial rather than a natural
crest, the length and delicacy of her neck, the gentle swell-
ing of her breast, and her Argus robe of many tints,
— all conspire to give this impression to her beholder ;
and yet there are hundreds, nay thousands, who will pass
such a paragon of loveliness with no other than an idle

M 2

164 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

glance, — whose souls seem incapable of embracing the
true idea of perfect beauty, and who only appreciate that
which is uncommon. Were it known that a paradise
or a humming bird could be seen alive in any of our
zoological gardens, — birds which, however beautiful, sink
into insignificance before this, — half London would
flock to see them: nay, if one of those monstrous abor-
tions —a double-headed chicken, which we have more
than once read of — could have been fed and reared, the
owner would have made his fortune! Thus does curi-
osity, in minds essentially vulgar, predominate over the
lasting sense of beauty ; and the glories of the visible
heavens, no less than the splendour of the peacock, are
passed with indifference by unreflecting millions, be-
cause both are every-day sights.

The native regions of the domestic or common pea-~
cock are in the southern provinces of Asia, whence it was
imported, ‘in the ships of Tarshish *,” so far back as
the reign of king Solomon. The gluttonous and de-
based Romans seem to have prized them more for the
fancied delicacy of their tongues than for any thing else, —
a part of the bird which no one in modern times would
think of eating. The noble bird, however, was held in
far different estimation by the Greeks, who considered it
a fit emblem and companion of their fabulous queen of
heaven ; and Juno was always represented accompanied
by her peacock.

The habits of these birds in a state of nature have
been thus described by an eye-witness: — They abound
chiefly in close wooded tracts, particularly where there
is an extent of long grass for them to range in. They are
very thirsty birds, and will remain only where they can
have easy access to water. If there be trees near such
spots, the peacocks may be seen mounting into them to
roost, every evening towards dusk: here they continue
until the sun rises, when they descend to feed ; and pass
the mid-day in the heavy covers. They are very fear-
ful of all quadrupeds, especially of dogs, since they are

* 2 Chron. ix. 21. 1 Kings, x. 22.

”

COMMON PEACOCK, 165

preyed upon by jackals, and probably by tigers. Their
nest is made on the ground, commonly on a bank
slightly raised above the surrounding level, where, in
some appropriate bush, they collect leaves, small sticks,
&c. ; and sit so close as not to be scared even by passen-
gers whom they can see: they hatch from twelve to
fifteen eggs, and the old birds attend and lead out the
young in the same way as our domestic fowls.

The peacock is not found within a considerable dis-
tance round Calcutta ; but, according to captain Wil-
liamson, whom we are now quoting, their general ren-
dezvous seems to be in the Junglelerry district : all the
woods in the nabob of Oude’s territories are full of
them. ‘In the passes of the former district,” observes
our author, “I have seen such quantities of pea-~
fowls as have absolutely surprised me : whole woods were
covered with their beautiful plumage, to which a rising
sun imparted additional brilliancy! the small patches of
plain among the long grass, most of them cultivated,
and with mustard then in bloom, which induced the
birds to feed, increased the beauty of the scene. I
speak within bounds, when I assert that there could
not be less than 1200 to 1500 individuals, of various
sizes, within sight at once. Quite fascinated with so
grand a display, I refrained from disturbing them, I
have frequently seen great numbers assembled, but
nothing to compare to what I witnessed on this occasion,
where one might have thought all the peacocks within
fifty miles had assembled by common consent.* ‘The:
female peacock, like several other rasorial birds, after
ceasing to lay eggs, not unfrequently assumes the
plumage of the male; and in an instance which fell
under the personal knowledge of Dr. Latham, the de-
ception as to sex was so perfect, that the old femaie, at
the time of her death, appeared in the plumage of a young
male, In former times, the feathers were much valued as
ornaments, and the crest was used as an ornament by the
higher ranks both in India and in this country. In the

* Oriental Field Sports, ii. 61. General Hist. of Birds, viii. 113.

M 3

166 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

reign of king John, a fine was levied on one Ernald de
Aclent, among which peacocks’ feathers formed one of
the items ; and even so late as queen Elizabeth’s reign,
the ocellated feathers of the train were made into costly
fans: the price, however, doubtless, depended more
upon the value of the handles, which were generally of
silver, and sometimes of gold, than upon the feathers.
Albinos, or white peacocks, are not uncommon; yet,
even in these the ocellated spots may still be traced by a
different undulation in their shade. It has been said by
Dr. Latham, that the peacock has also been found in a
wild state in Africa ; but there seems no good authority
for this assertion, and we do not believe it ; still less do
we attach any credit to that by the same writer, of its
being ‘‘ found wild at St. Helena, also at Barbadoes, and
other West India islands:” such localities appear to us
as improbable, as that England was one of the native
regions of the American humming-birds.
Peacock-shooting is one of the field sports of our
countrymen in India. It is somewhat dangerous, how-
ever, inasmuch as the places they inhabit are also
such as are in general most frequented by the tiger.
When numbers are scattered in a jungle, it is easy to
get a shot; but captain Williamson says he always
found much difficulty when the birds unite in flocks of
forty or fifty together, as at such times they suddenly
become extremely shy, they will not then rise on the
wing, and they run so remarkably fast, that a heavy
spaniel or pointer can seldom catch them. When on
the wing, like nearly all rasorial birds, they fly strong,
but very heavy; and if merely winged, they soon re-
cover their fall, take to their legs, and generally escape.
The most certain mode of killing one or two birds, is
by stealing under the trees at night, particularly when
the moon is sufficiently bright to enable the birds to be
clearly distinguished and easily shot. They may also
be run down by horsemen. When a bird is discovered
in a tree, which is frequently the case in those districts
where they are plentiful, a person on an active and

COMMON PEACOCK. 167

ciocile horse, being provided with a long whip, may
eventually so completely fatigue it as to lash it down,
or twirl the whip round its neck. In other parts of ©
India, as one of our old travellers assert*, the natives
catch them by carrying lights to the trees upon which
they roost, holding up, at the same time, painted re-
presentations of the bird ; and when the peacocks stretch
out their neck to look at the figure, a noose is passed
over their head by which they are secured. The age of
the peacock is stated in some instances to be very great.
Aristotle mentions twenty-five years ; but one is re-
corded + which belonged to Mr. Hinwood, of Cordenham
in Cornwall, which, after attaining to the alleged age
of ninety, was accidentally killed.

The peacock, as a domestic bird, is now more orna-
mental than useful: although formerly they were much
more valued for the table than they are now, yet at the
present day they are esteemed, when young, as a great
delicacy. The young may be fed upon curd and barley-
meal, and similar substances: in five or six months
they attain to their full size, but do not acquire the
perfect brilliancy of their plumage until the third year.

The expansive power of the train is well known:
most persons, indeed, believe this is the tail; but the true
tail consists of brownish, plain coloured feathers, not
more than eighteen inches long ; whereas those gorgeous
plumes, which generally bear this name, are no other
than the upper tail covers, developed to an unpre-
cedented length, and which, when expanded, are sup-
ported from behind by the real tail. There are several
instances of this developement, although in a less degree,
among rasorial birds, no less than in their repre-
sentatives: the most remarkable of these, among the
latter, is our Calurus resplendens, or resplendent trogon
of tropical America.

A lengthened description of a bird so well known, is
entirely unnecessary in this place ; yet a brief notice of

* Tavernier, iii. 57. + Lath. Gen. Hist.

Mm 4

168 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

its general characteristics may properly be added. The
crest has twenty-four lance-shaped feathers, of which
the naked shafts represent the handles, and the webbed |
tips the heads. The body, above, is golden green, glossed
with brassy : the wing covers are green gold with brassy
reflections ; the under parts of the body being dusky,
varied with green gold: the sides of the head have two
narrow white stripes —one above, the other below the eye.
The superb ocellated spots of the tail covers commence
at the lower part of the back; and the feathers gradually
become longer and longer, until they sometimes reach a
length of four feet and a half; in addition to this or-
nament, the male is distinguished by a strong sharp spur
on the tarsus, nearly an inch long. The female is ra-
ther less in size; its crest is shorter ; and the tail covers
are not only destitute of those resplendent spots seen in
the other sex, but they are even shorter than, the tail
itself,

: Tur Java Pracock.
Pavo Javanicus, Horsf. (Fig. 23.)

This, which is the only other species of peacock yet
discovered, is a much rarer bird than that we have just
described: so rare, indeed, that although the naturalists
of Europe had acquired some ideas of it from the im~
perfect account of Aldrovandus, its positive existence
only became authenticated at the commencement of the
present century ; nor was it until within these few years,
that two living specimens, sent from the Burmese terri-
tory, were presented by lord Holmesdale to the menagerie
of the Zoological Society of London. Aldrovandus, in
fact, acquired all his knowledge of this interesting bird
from two drawings which were among the presents sent
by the then emperor of Japan to the pope. Another
drawing, also made in the same country, was sent to
Dr. Shaw, who published it in his Naturalist’s Miscellany.
But still no specimen of the bird itself was known to
exist in Europe, until Dr. Horsfield procured it in Java.

JAVA PEACOCK. 169

Linneus, deceived by the im-

perfect accounts then existing
of the bird, was led to believe
the male was destitute of spurs,
and hence called it Pavo mu-
ticus: this name, however, has
now been very properlychanged
for that of Dr. Horsfield, under
which it now appears. Mr.
Bennett* remarks, that, incon-
finement, the pair in the Zoo-
logical Gardens are nearly si~
milar in their manners to the
common sort; and we are quite
ignorant of their habits in a
state of nature.

In general size and structure,
there is little to distinguish the
present from the preceding spe-
cies ; they are both nearly of

the same size; but the Javanese
peacock is readily distinguished by having a crest
double the length of the other, and by the feathers
themselves being barbed or webbed for their entire
length, and of equal breadth throughout. The head
and crest alternately reflect blue and green ; the sides
of the head, including the region of the eye and ears,
are naked, and are light yellow, passing into blue green :
the feathers of the neck and breast are scale-like, of a
rich blue green colour, edged with a broad metallic
border: the wing covers are like the back, but deeper;
but the quills are light chestnut: the tail feathers, and
their elongated covers, are of a splendid metallic brown,
glossed with dark green ; the barbs or webs are ex-
tremely long, silky, and discomposed, terminating, as in
the common peacock, in beautiful ocellated spots. It is
to be hoped that this species may soon become better

* Gardens of the Zool. Society, ii. 270.

170 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

known in our parks and menageries than it is at
present.

REFULGENT LANCECREST.
Lophophorus refulgens, Temminck.

Phasianus Impeyanus, Latham, Ind. Orn. ii. 632. Tmpeyan
Pheasant, Lath. Syn. Supp. 208. pl.114. Lophophorus
resplendens, Temminck, Pig. et Gal. ii. 355.

Although this truly refulgent bird has never yet, so
far as we are informed, been brought to England alive,
there seems to be no valid reason why the attempt
would not, with sufficient care, succeed. It is true that
lady Impey, many years ago, attempted to bring some
over with her from India to this country ; yet, although
the trial was unsuccessful, we apprehend the failure
was more likely to have been caused by _ incidental
than by insuperable difficulties. A voyage from India,
forty years ago, was a very different thing to what it is
now, both as to time, and comfort, and convenience ;
and the few slight notices we possess of the species in
question, so far from being unfavourable to the idea of
its not enduring the climate of this country, are of a
directly opposite tendency. According to Dr. Latham *,
who seems to have derived his information from lady
Impey herself, these birds only inhabit the mountains
in Northern Hindostan; so that, when brought to the
plains of Calcutta, they were regarded as a curiosity :
hence they bear cold very well, but are said to be
impatient of heat; and although wild in their native
state, they soon became reconciled to confinement.
Lady Impey’s specimens were fed upon rice in the
husk, upon which, it seems, they thrived very well for
two months of the voyage; and their death was alto-
gether attributed to a disorder caught from the other
poultry in the ship. With these facts upon record, we
trust that such friends or members of our new Orni-
thological Society as may be in India, will use their

* Gen. Hist. of Birds, p. 211,

REFULGENT LANCECREST, er

best endeavours to accomplish so desirable an object ;
and that, ere long, we may be in possession of living
specimens of the superb creature we shall now describe.

The size of the male is rather larger than the common
domestic cock. On the head is a Jance-shaped crest of
seventeen or eighteen feathers of different lengths ; but
the longest does not exceed three inches and a half.
The feathers of the head, neck and throat, are lan-
ceolate and pointed ; and are of the richest green bronze,
changing to deep purple towards the middle of the
neck: this colour again blends into a golden copper
hue ; but these colours are so exceedingly brilliant, and
so changed by every different reflection of light, that it
is almost impossible to give an exact description of
them. The back and wing covers are rich purple,
edged with a brilliant greenish bronze colour ; but the
quills are entirely black: the under plumage, from
the chin downwards as far as the vent, is of a dull
black, partially glossed with green: the legs are fea-
thered just below the knees, and are of the same colour :
the tail is of a beautiful and delicate cinnamon colour,
verging towards orange ; it has fourteen feathers, slightly
rounded, and rather darker at their tips. The tarsus has
one strong spur.

The female is somewhat smaller than the male, and
does not appear to have the resplendent crest which
ornaments that sex; its colours, likewise, are totally
different. The upper plumage is dark brown; each
feather being pale fulvous in the middle, mottled with
the general hue of the back, in such a way as not to be
greatly different, as Dr. Latham remarks, to those on
the back of the great eared owl: beneath the eye is
a broad dusky white: stripe. The quill feathers are
black ; but the lesser are banded also with ferruginous :
the tail is brown, and hardly exceeds the wings ; while
the legs have only a tubercle in place of the spur seen
in the male.

172 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue Ring-NEcKED PHEASANT.

Phasianus torquatus, Temm. (Fig. 24.)

~~ 04.

M. Temminck, who has paid much attention to the
rasorial birds, was the first to point out the distinctions
between the genuine ring-necked pheasant of China,
and those hybrid races, which, from having originated
from crosses with the common species, had induced
ornithologists to believe that the species itself was a
mere variety. It should, and we believe it will, be one
of the primary objects of the Ornithological Society
to preserve all those real species of rasorial birds which
may come into their possession, pure and distinct ; so
that, whatever hybrid races may arise from crossing the
different breeds, examples of the true species may be
always seen and consulted.

This elegant bird is stated to be very common in the
northern provinces of the Chinese empire, where it is
found in the same districts and places as the common
European species ; with which, however, in a state of
nature, it does not associate. Independently of its pecu-
liarities of plumage, the eggs of the ringed pheasant are
bluish green, variegated with small spots of a deeper
tint ; whereas those of the common species are of a very
pale olive, without spots.

M. Temminck, upon whose authority these two
pheasants were first separated, observes, that the present
species is always less, the expanse of its wings smaller.

GOLDEN PHEASANT. 173

and the tail comparatively shorter. The upper part of the
head is tawny, with a greenish gloss; above the eye are
two white stripes, and the rest of the head and neck are
of a deep and brilliant green, glossed with violet ; this
colour being terminated abruptly by a snow-white collar
just above the breast: the feathers of the back have
their centres black, and surrounded with an undulated
whitish band, the tip terminating in a black arrow-
shaped spot: the shoulder feathers are black at the base ;
marked in the centre with a whitish pupil surrounded
by a black ring; and chestnut, with a purple gloss,
towards their tips: the tail covers are light green, with
loose silky barbs: the breast is of a brilliant reddish
purple, having the sides pale yellow : the under plumage
and thighs are black, glossed with violet ; and the tail
feathers are olive green in the middle, the edges shaded
with violet red, and crossed with broad black bands.
The female differs considerably from that of the common
species, in having a stripe of very short dusky feathers
beneath each eye ; the plumage, also, is duller, and the
breast is remarkable by being considerably spotted: the
black bars on the tail are much more conspicuous in
this than in the male sex.

The ring-necked pheasant, so common in aviaries, is al-
most always of a hybrid race, produced between this and
the common species: it unites, in a greater or a less de-
gree, the characters of both ; but the white ring is always
much narrower than in the pure species, and is frequently
almost obliterated.

Tue Goitpen PHEASANT.
Nycthemerus pictus, Sw. (Fig. 25.)
Phasianus pictus, Linn. Nyethemerus pictus, Class. of Birds,
li. p. 341. Painted Pheasant, Edwards, pl. 68, 69.
The species of this subgenus of pheasants are dis-
tinguished from those of Phasianus, by the head being

more or less naked, and, in the males, possessing either a
fleshy or a feathered crest ; thus forming a link of con-

174 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

nexion between the common pheasants and the domestic
fowls.

ome es

This is one of the most magnificent as well as the
most common species seen in our aviaries, where it has
been long since introduced from the East: in a wild state
it is chiefly found in China. Although it is well known
to breed in this country, this is attended with much
difficulty, and requires great care and attention.* Ac-
cording to the opinion of M. Temminck, this difficulty
partially originates in the close confinement in which
these birds are usually kept, and in the very precautions
that are taken to preserve them from the effects of cold.
He advises that they should be gradually habituated,
like the common pheasant, to the large preserves in
which the latter are kept: the experiment, he assures us,
has already been made in Germany, where they have
been kept at perfect liberty in an open pheasantry, in
company with the common species, and suffered no
greater inconvenience than the latter from the change of
the seasons. This experiment is well worth trying in
this country ; and was projected, in 1851, by the Zoolo-
gical Society, but with what success we have not heard.

The male bird, when in adult plumage, is nearly three
feet long, of which the tail alone generally occupies two
feet. The crown is adorned with an elegant pendent
crest of long, silky, bright yellow feathers ; while those
on the back of the neck are brilliant orange, marked
with transverse black bars: these feathers are also elong~

* Bennett, Zool. Gardens, ii, 62.

GOLDEN PHEASANT, 175

ated, and hang over the sides of the neck; and, like the
crest, they are also capable of being elevated or depressed
at pleasure : the cheeks are livid, and are only partially
furnished with a few short hairs: the feathers on the
back of the neck are tinged with a mixture of green and
gold, bordered with black: the back and the upper tail
covers are bright yellow; the latter being terminated by
a black border: over the base of each wing is a broad
patch of deep blue, passing into a violet tinge: the wing
covers and secondary quill feathers have various shades
of chestnut and brown: the tail feathers are varied with
chestnut and black ; the colours being disposed in oblique
rays upon the lateral quills: immediately above the base
of the tail, the feathers are of a beautiful scarlet : the
throat is dusky brown ; and all the rest of the under
plumage bright scarlet : the legs, bill, and irides are pure
yellow. The tarsi are armed with moderate-sized spurs.

The female, like all others of the rasorial group, is
much plainer coloured than the male. The upper plumage
is rusty brown; the under, marked with deep brown
spots on a lighter ground : the throat is whitish; and the
Wings are crossed with black bars: the head is crested,
but the feathers are brown, and shorter: the tail, also, is
much less developed than in the male. .

The eggs are said to resemble those of the Guinea-
fowl ; being redder than those of the pheasant. The
food given to these birds in confinement, is various sorts
of grain, as rice, hemp, wheat, &c.; but they will also
eat cabbages, herbs, leaves, fruits, especially plums (?),
and insects: the latter, it is said, is their favourite food ;
and the difficulty of procuring a sufficiency is thought
to be one of the causes of disease. ‘The female deposits
her eggs about March; and the young, which are hatched
in twenty-three days, require three years to attain their
perfect or adult plumage.

176 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue Sinrver PHEASANT.
Nycthemerus argentatus, Sw.

Phasianus Nycthemerus, Linn., Auctorum. Faisan noir et blane,
Buffon, Pl. Eni. p\.123. male, 124. female. Black and white
Pheasant, Edwards, pl. 66. Pencilled Pheasant, Lath. Silver

Pheasant, Zool. Gard. ii. pl. at p. 63.

The silver pheasant is, perhaps, a more elegant, al-
though certainly a less showy, species than the last, with
which it has been long domesticated in our aviaries and
preserves. From being a native of the more northern
provinces of China, its constitution is more hardy, and
- it is found to breed much easier with us, than the golden
species ; so much so, indeed, that Mr. Bennett is of
opinion “‘ it may be reduced to a state of domestication
almost equal to that of the common fowl:” he further
adds,— it thrives even better in domestication than the
common pheasant, and breeds with tolerable facility ; so
that it might, in all probability, be readily propagated in
the open country. We believe that this has been in
some instances attempted with success.” *

The size of the male is about that of the golden
species, and the tails of both are equally long. The bill
and irides are yellow ; but the legs are red, and armed
with a white spur: the sides of the head are a bare,
warted, crimson skin, capable of distention ; it is pro-
longed above the eyes in the shape of a comb, and falls
on each side of the mouth so as to form two wattles:
on the head is a long pendent crest of loose webbed
feathers of a deep purple: all the upper plumage is
white ; each feather being marked, in the most elegant
manner, with delicate undulated lines running parallel
to the margin: this forms a beautiful contrast to the
under plumage of the neck and body, which is of a
uniform purplish black: the tail is marked like the
feathers of the back, excepting the two middle pair,
which are plain white.

The female differs very considerably from the male.

* Zool. Gardens, ii. 64.

HONDURAS TURKEY. ET?

The whole of the upper plumage, together with the neck
and part of the breast, are of an earthy brown : from the
lower part of the breast, to the under tail covers, the
ground colour is dull white, irregularly varied with
brown, and crossed by transverse blackish lines: the
eyes are surrounded: with a naked red skin, but much
narrower and less bright than in the male: the tail is
brown, much shorter than in the other sex, and having
the lateral feathers mixed with white, and obliquely
striped with black. The eggs are from eight to four-
teen, and are generally laid in April; their colour is
reddish yellow, varied with white, and sprinkled with a
few small brown spots. The young are hatched in
twenty-six days.

Tue Honnuras TuRKEY.

Meleagris ocellata, Cuvier.

Primary quills white, spotted with black: tail, and the
upper covers ornamented with ocellated iridescent
spots.

Meleagris ocellata, Cuv., Mus. Paris. Temminck, Pl. Col, 112.
Plate.in Griff. Cuv. by Hamilton Smith.*

The common wild turkey of America, the origin of
our domestic race, has been so repeatedly and so fully
described, that its introduction here would be altogether
superfluous. Not so, however, with the present species,
which we believe has never yet been seen alive in
Europe, and is even so rare in our museums, that only
one specimen, now in that of Paris, is known to exist
Of its natural history, we absolutely know nothing
more than that it inhabits the woods of Honduras. We
can, therefore, merely give a short accountof its plumage ;
chiefly with a view of calling the attention of our coun-

o

* We quote this figure as by far the best, and as having been drawn by
major H. Smith, from the life, at Honduras,—a fact sufficiently vouched-for
by the natural ease of the attitude, and the correctness of the details; and
yet, strange to say, there is not one word inserted in the text relative to its
habits, &c., something of which might have been procured from the ac-
complished naturalist, who had drawn it on the spot from a living specimen.

N

173 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

trymen, stationed at that settlement, to the existence of
a bird in the neighbouring tracts, which would be the
most valuable addition that any menagerie or museum.
in Europe, could receive.

In general size, structure, and proportions, this mag-
nificent bird resembles the common species: the head
and neck are eyually naked and carunculated, but there
does not appear any tuft of hairy feathers on the
middle of the neck. The feathers of the lower part
of the neck, the interscapulars, the scapulars, and of the
under plumage, are of a rich green bronze, with a line
of black, and another of copper green, at the edge of
each. This colouring becomes more brilliant towards
the rump, where the bronzed green changes to a fine
sapphire blue, but in some lights to an emerald green ;
the bronzed border gradually becoming broader: these
parts also reflect a brilliant copper red, rendered more
striking by a velvet-black line, which divides it from
the green and blue tints. The upper tail covers and
the tail itself have an ocellated spot, partly blue and
green, surrounded by a black circle, and edged on the
side of the tip with a broad band of golden copper :
there are about four ranges of these ocellated spots,
separated by a grey space marked by dusky brown lines.
The flank feathers are like those of the rump, but they
are of a deeper green, and the golden line is more ru-
fous: the lesser .wing covers are emerald green, with a
narrow velvet-black band; the next range are golden
copper: spurious wing and greater wing covers brown,
with transverse white bands ; quills the same; but the
outer margin of the shorter primaries, and nearly all
the secondaries, are white, forming a band. Legs ele-
vated, and apparently red in the living bird: the spurs
stronger and sharper than in the common species.

CRESTED CURASSOW. 179

Crestep CurRassow.
Crax Alector, Linn.

Bedy, above and beneath, black; the belly white:
cere yellow, united to the naked sides of the head.

Crax Alector, Linn., Auct., Temminck, Index, p. 689. Hoeco
de la Guiane, Buffon, Pl. Enl. Hoco Moluporanga, Temm.
Gallin. iii. 2’7.

This appears to be the most common, and the most
easily domesticated, of all the species of curassow;
but it seems to us that the accounts which authors
continue to copy from each other as to its natural history,
are in many respects erroneous. It is said, ‘‘ that they
are tolerably plentiful, and make a considerable part
of the food of the planters, and the Indian hunters take
them in great quantities, as they are so tame that they
will scarcely tly away when several of the flock are shot,
—the noise of the gun not in the least alarming them ;”
and that ‘‘ in many parts of South America they have
long been reclaimed.”’ That these birds might have
been as common as is here stated, a century ago, when
the soil of Guiana and Brazil had just begun to be
cultivated, is very possible; but such a state of things
has long ceased to exist. Through all the tracts in the
latter country, and in its different provinces, which we
traversed, solely with a view of collecting its zoological
productions, we found all the large game exceedingly
scarce ; nor were we fortunate in precuring a single
specimen of the Crax Alector, although we some-
times heard of its being occasionally seen by the remote
planters located on the verge of the unoccupied tracts.
As to this or any other species being kept in the poultry-
yards of the native Brazilians, we never saw a single
reclaimed specimen, through a tract of territory which
we traversed, extending some hundreds of miles. In
(suiana, these birds have long become so scarce, that in
a collection of many hundreds made in that country by

n 2

~

180 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Mr. Schomberg, there are not three specimens of the
whole genus.

The species now before us, has the whole upper plum- —
age, including the head, neck, breast, wings, and tail,
of a deep and uniform black, glossed with green: the bill,
vent, and under tail covers, however, are invariably white ;
and this latter colour generally tips the tail feathers.
The crest on the crown is very remarkable, and unlike
that of nearly all other birds ; the feathers are from two
to three inches long, rather narrow, and twisted at their
extremities so as to resemble little balls; in the young
males they are much shorter: the sides of the head are
naked, and the skin is yellowish, but not near so bright
as that upon the cere, which covers more than half the
base of the bill.

Numerous specimens of this species have been at va-
rious times sent to the Zoological Society ; but it does
not. appear that the keepers have been successful in
breeding them, as was formerly, and, as we hear, is now,
practised in Holland. We hope and trust, however, still
to hear this object has been accomplished.

GLOBE-BILLED CuRASsOW.
Crax globicera, Linn. (Fig. 26.)

Body, above and beneath, black ; abdomen white: bill
with a gibbous protuberance in front ; orbits slightly
naked and black, divided from the yellow cere.

Crax globicera, Linn., Auct., Temminck, Gall. Ind. 686. Hoeco
Fencholi, Temm. Gall. iii. 12. Hoceo, Buffon, Pl. Enl. 86.
young. Curassow Cock, Edwards, 295. fig. 1.

According to the description of the authors above
quoted, the plumage of this species is precisely the same
as that of the last ; the difference between them chiefly,
if not exclusively, consisting in this having a globular
tubercle, about the size of a hazel nut, or cherry, at the
base of the bill, which is covered in that part, as in the
last species, by a lively yellow skin: the naked part of

GLOBE-BILLED CURASSOW. 181

the head, around the eye, is
very small, and is black in-
stead of yellow; it is also
separated from the cere by
feathers, instead of forming
one continuous naked space,
joining the bill: the nostrils
are placed in the cere, and
are situated before and below
the tubercle ; the rest of the
bill, and also the legs, are
horn colour. The female is
stated to be almost exactly
like the male; and both ap-
pear to have a_ similarly
formed crest to the last. In
the young, the tubercle only assumes the shape of a
slight prominence ; and the plumage is of a duller black,
transversely lineated with white ; these lines disappear-~
ing as the bird advances in age. The adult plumage is
generally acquired in the second year.

Between this species and the next we shall describe,
namely, the Crax rubra, a hybrid breed is said to have
been produced, having the following colours: — The
plumage, in general, was dull blackish brown ; the ab-
domen rufous, where C. glabicera is white; the crest
varied with black and white ; the tail black, tipt with
white ; and the rest of the plumage marked with slender
transverse bars of white. The bill had no appearance of
tubercles. Such was the plumage in a young state:
when more advanced in age, the head and hind part of
the neck became deep black; the crest black, with a
white band ; the upper part of the belly white; the
lower part, vent, and thighs pale yellowish brown.

This species is said’ to inhabit Guiana. Temminck
describes the two following as hybrids, but upon what
authority does not appear. The first is dull brown,
having the upper part of the belly white ; the last black,
with four white bands, and the feathers of the crest

wn 3

182 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

tipt with white. The second has the body black, banded
with rufous; the crest white, tipt with black ; and the
neck alternately banded with white and black.

Tur Rep Curassow.

Crax rubra, Lian.

Plumage chestnut ; neck transversely lineated with white
and black ; tail banded with whitish ; cere black ;
sides of the head feathered. ‘

Crax rubra, Linn., Auct., Temminck, Gall. Ind. 687. Hoeco
Coaclitli, Temminck, Gall. iii. 21. Hoceco de Pérou, Buffon,
Pl. Enl. 125. (Fig. 27.)

This species, which, like the two preceding, is of the
size of a turkey, may be at once known by its chestnut
plumage: whether or no the other birds, placed by
M. Temminck as hybrids, and by Dr. Latham as varieties,
are really such, or distinct species, there are at present
no means of determining.

The red curassow has the crest black, with a band of
white in the middle: the forehead, sides of the head,
and the top of the neck are pure white, each feather
being fringed or edged with black: the. whole of the
body, both above and below, is of a uniform chestnut
brown ; the tail is the same, crossed with eight or nine
yellowish white bars, freckled with minute dusky spots,

‘

WATTLED CURASSOW. 185

and bounded above and beneath with blackish: the legs
are yellow. Dr. Latham says that the base of the bill,
over which the cere extends, is gibbous, but varies
greatly in degree according to the age of the bird ; and
that it is always smallest in the females: he further
adds, that the space round the eye is not always the
same; as in some birds it is bare, while in others it is
covered with short feathers. The first variety, or hy-
brid, differs in having the lower part of the belly and
vent white, and the tail without any bands: the second
is confessedly a young bird, which was hatched in the
menagerie at Osterly Park *, and was barred all over
with cream-colour: the third is described by Latham as
follows :—Cheeks naked: bill horn colour; crest white,
with the end black ; head, neck, breast, and upper part
of the back plain black ; wings, quills, and upper tail
covers marked with pale rufous and black bars ; tail
black, crossed with distant yellowish white bands, and
tipt with the same; under plumage pale yellowish
rufous.

WaAtTTLED CuRASsow.

Crax carunculata, Temminck.
Pig. et Gail, ii. pl. 4. f. 3. the bill.

We insert this rare species, as it has been described
by M. Temminck, that the attention of Englishmen, re-
sident in Brazil, may be directed to it ; for, at present,
it is only known from a single stuffed specimen pre-
served in that country, which is probably now in M.
Temminck’s collection in Holland.

The whole plumage, with the exception of the ab-
domen, which is chestnut, is uniform black, glossed with
green; the legs alone being brown. It chiefly differs
from all others, however, in its bill, which is shorter
and stronger than in C. Alector, and it has the upper
mandible more elevated ; the cere at the base is red, and
it is prolonged on each side of the under mandible, ’

* Lath. Gen. Hist. viii. 154.
N 4

184 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

where it forms a small rounded wattle: the orbits are
naked, but the lores feathered: the head is ornamented
with the same sort of crest as is common to all the.
preceding species.

Heimer Curassow.
Lophocerus galeata, Sw. (Fig. 28.)

Body black, glossed with green ; belly and tips of the
tail white: base of the beak with a horny blye
pear-shaped tubercle. .

Crax Pauxi, Linn., Auct., Lathum, &e. Crax Galeata, Lath.
Ind. Orn. ii. 624. Le Purre de Cayenne, Pl. Enl. 78.
Cushew Curassow, Edwards, pl. 292. f. 2. The Galeated

' Curassow, Bennett, Zool. Gard. ii. 65. Ourase Pauxi, Cuv.
Reg. Anim.

The form of this extraordinary bird is, perhaps, the
most interesting to the scientific ornithologist of any in
the whole genus of curassow birds, inasmuch as it is
that which makes the nearest approach to the Guinea-
fowls, by possessing that singular horny process on
the head for which those birds, as well as the cassowary,
are alike distinguished. These processes on the heads
of birds are unquestionably analogous to the horns of
quadrupeds ; and as they are only found in those birds
which belong to the rasorial type, so are horns only

HELMET CURASSOW. 185

found among those quadrupeds which belong to the
ruminating order. This analogy we have so amply
and repeatedly verified in our former volumes, that
nothing more need be said upon the subject in this.
In enumerating the five types of the genus Crax *, an
experienced ornithologist will perceive that, without
exactly designating them as representatives of the five
types of the Animal Kingdom, we have so arranged
them that the series form a circle,— Crazr being the first,
and Lophocerus the last: hence it results, that, if Craw
be the pre-eminently typical, Lophocerus must be the
rasorial. Now, this is borne out in a remarkable manner
by the structure, both external and internal, of the
latter. Lophocerus has the outward form of the rasorial
type in its helmet-like bill; and it has that peculiar
developement of the windpipe, which is not only an
indication of the same type, but is a character also
which brings it into immediate junction with Craw
Alector, —the only two birds of this circular group
which anatomists have yet discovered to possess this
particular formation: thus is the circle of the Cracide
classed. But another affinity of equal importance results
from this view of the subject. The Cracide and the
Pavonida, as we have elsewhere shown. blend into each
other ; but the difficulty has hitherto been where to
find the links of connection. A careful analysis of the
two groups, undertaken with the sole object of ascer-
taining this question, showed us that, in the series of
forms among the rasorial groups, no birds came so near
to the Lophocerus galeata, as those of the genus Numida,
or Guinea-fowls: these have been placed by all writers
close to the turkeys; and the Honduras turkey is se
close to the genus Pavo, that it actually seems half a
peacock. The series, therefore, between the Cracide
and the Pavonide being so obviously complete, it follows
that the five great divisions of the whole order Rasores
constitute a circle, of which the helmet Guinea-fowl is
the first link, and the helmet curassow is the last. We

* Classification of Birds, ii. 352.

186 _ ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

have thought it expedient to introduce this subject on
the present occasion, since our space on a former |
would not allow of its exposition. Not having a spe-
cimen of this rare bird before us, we shall adopt
Mr. Bennett’s description, taken from a living example
which was then in the Zoological Gardens.

The size is about equal to that of the crested cu-
rassow. “* Its head and neck are covered with short
black velvety feathers ; and all the rest of the plumage,
with the exception of the whole abdomen and under
tail covers, are of a brilliant black, exhibiting in certain
positions a tinge of green: the tail feathers are tipt
with white: the legs are red; the claws yellow; and
the iris brown. The bill is of a bright red; and the
protuberance by which it is surmounted (which is
rounded in the young birds, and pear-shaped in the
adult males), is of a livid slate colour. This remarkable
projection is more than two inches in length, when
fully developed ; it is hard and bony externally, and
internally cellular, — the cells communicating with the
cavity of the mouth: it is not visible until after the
first moulting, when it begins in the form of a small
tubercle: it becomes much larger in the male than in
the female. In other respects the sexes are nearly the
same: the young are only distinguished by a browner
tinge. The windpipe descends for a considerable dis-
tance in front of the sternum, immediately beneath the
skin, and makes no less than three distinet convolutions
before passing into the cavity of the chest.” These
birds, continues Mr. Bennett *, “ are natives of Mexico,
and live in large bands, perching upon the trees, but
more commonly building their nests upon the ground.
The females lead their young about in the same manner
as the common hen. They subsist at first upon worms
and insects; but, as they grow older, they feed a’so
upon fruits and seeds. They are easily domesticated,
even when taken adult; and appear to be equally

* No authority is cited for this statement, which of course does not rest
on personal knowledge.

RED-BILLED CURASSOW.— 187

capable of being acclimated in Europe, with any of
the other curassows. M. Temminck enumerates them
among the birds which bred abundantly in the me-
nagerie of M. Ameshoff, prior to the breaking out of
the French revolution.”

Rep-BitLED CuRAssoOw.

Ourax erythrorynchus, Sw.
¥

Glossy blue black: belly and under tail covers rufous:
head with short frontal crest; bill and feet bright red.

Crax Mitu, Linn., Auct. Crax Alector 8, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii.
623. Pauxi Mitu, Temminck, Gall. iii. 8. pl. 4. f. 2.
the bill. Ourax Mitu, Cuv., Temm. Pl. Col. Crested Cu-
rassow, Crested Pauxi, of British Authors.

Specimens of this rare species were found by Mr.
Schomberg in the interior parts of Guiana, bordering
the River Tokoto ; and he subsequently had an op-
portunity, as he informs us, of observing it in a
domesticated state at the residence of one of the
planters. It was so perfectly tame as to walk about
the room, and receive its food from the hand of its
owner. It took great pleasure in contemplating itself
in the mirror which was placed in the room, and
seemed to turn round in admiration of its own beau-
tiful glossy plumage and graceful motions. Towards
the other domesticated birds of its master, it asserted a
kind of sovereignty to which they all appeared to
submit. In a wild state, its note resembles a low
moan, which is heard from the forest soon after sun-
rise. This notice is very interesting, particularly as it
relates to a bird of whose manners nothing has yet
been recorded beyond the information of its inhabiting
Brazil ; from which part, however, we have never seen
or heard of a specimen.

The plumage is sufficiently described in the above
specific character ; although it may be added, that the
Guiana specimens do not exhibit any white tips on the tail
feathers. ‘This circumstance, together with the absence

—_7”° '

188 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

of any elevated sharp ridge on the culmen, near the
front, would almost make us believe that the bird
received from Mr. Schomberg was different from that.
described by authors and figured by M. Temminck,
had it not been mentioned that the young of their
bird, has “ the bill of a paler red, and the elevation
upon it much smaller.” The question, however, is by
no means decided ; and we.should not be surprised if
the Guiana bird turns out to be a distinct species. To
facilitate further comparisons, we shall here insert its
dimensions :-— Total length about 31 inches ;_ bill,
from the gape 14; Height at the base 1-4, ; wings 14 ;
tail, beyond, 104 i ditto, from the base 13 ; tarsus 4;
‘hind toe and claw 1 i; middle ditto 34 ; lateral ditto 2
The tertial quills are aS long as the primaries ; pe
sixth quill is the eee Tail rounded: toes half-
webbed for about ,{; of an inch from their base.
Specimens appear to be now alive in the Zoological
Gardens, but whether young or old is not stated.

Ture Rep-KNoBBED CuRASSOW.
Crax Yarrellii, Benn. Zool..Gardens, ii. pi. 226. ( Fig. 29.)

The first account, as-we believe, of this species of
curassow, quite distinct from any that have yet been

RED-KNOBBED CURASSOW. 18G

brought to this country, was given by our late friend
Mr. Bennett, in his elegant work above quoted ; and it
is accompanied by a figure, which, however forced and
unnatural in its attitude, and quite belying the graceful
form of the bird, is yet sufficient to show some of its
peculiarities. The name he has bestowed upon it is
most appropriate ; for no ornithologist in this country
has investigated the comparative anatomy of the rasorial
and natatorial birds with such eminent success, and with
such skilful tact, as Mr. Yarrell; and every one who
desires to see honour given where it is really due, will
preserve the original name imposed upon this interesting
species. .

Not having ourselves examined this species, we must
depend upon Mr. Bennett for the exactitude of the
following account. He describes the bird, excepting
in its bill, as having little to distinguish it from the
globose curassow already mentioned, although it is some-
what smaller in size. The whole plumage, in fact, is
deep glossy black, with the exception of the belly, the
vent, and the posterior parts of the legs, all of which
are white. The crest is the same as in the other species :
but the cere, instead of being yellow, is deep crimson,
surmounted by an elevated prominence, much smaller
than that of the globose species, and enlarged beneath, on
each side the lower mandible, by a peculiar gibbous pro-
jection, which is not met with in any other species: the
space between the eyes and the bill is feathered, leaving
the naked skin round the eyes of the same deep black
with the plumage of the head, from which it is hardly
to be distinguished: these gibbous tubercles only be-
come developed by age ; for when the specimen was first
obtained, there was only a slight prominence above,
and none beneath the bill. Another specimen, which
seems to be in the Tower menagerie, is smaller, and may
be either a young male or the female: it has the
under parts of a light brown, instead of pure white.

This bird is obviously allied to M. Temminck’s Crax
earunculata; but in the figure he has given, as Mr.

190 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Bennett justly observes, there is nothing of the knob-like
elevation in front, seen in this; ‘on the other hand,
the enlargement of the cere beneath the lower mandible.
appears to be nearly similar: but in the living bird it bears
no resemblance to a wattle ; and consequently the names
of barbillon and carunculata, given to M. Temminck’s
species, are totally inapplicable to this.” This species
is said to have been brought to England from the coun-
try bordering the east of Peru and the western confines
of Brazil.

Tue Wixp Swan.

Cygnus ferus, Ray.

Entirely white, without any protuberance at the base of
the bill: cere pale yellow, encircling the eye.

Cygnus ferus, Ray. Syn.136. a. Selby, 278. Cygne a bee
noir, Temm. Man. ii. 828. Pl. Enl. 913.

There is so little external difference between the wild
and the domestic swan, that ordinary observers, net
accustomed to understand the value that often attaches
to slight scientific distinctions, would almost suppose
they were the same; and indeed, when such men as
Linneus and Buffon have fallen into the error of
regarding these two species as mere varieties, it cannot
be surprising that others have done the same. Their
distinction, however, is now rendered unquestionable.
The wild swan is entirely destitute of that prominence
or protuberance at the base of the bill, adjoining the
nostrils, which is a sure characteristic of the tame
species: the colours of the bill are also different ; for, in
this, the yellow parts are at the base, while the re-
maining portion is black ; as for the rest, the plumage
is pure white, with an occasional tint of greyish yellow.
In such birds as are in full maturity, — a state which is
only reached in the fourth year, — the region of the eyes
is bright yellow the eyes themseives are brown, and
the feet black.

WILD SWAN. 191

The flight of the wild swan is lofty, bold, and rapid,
particularly when sailing before the wind. According
to Hearne, the best authority we can quote, they arrive
in Hudson’s Bay before any of the other aquatic fowl.
When fiying with the wind, they are extremely difficult
to be shot ; and they make their way so rapidly, that the
sportsman must aim ten or twelve feet before their heads.
Our author estimates, that, in a brisk gale, these birds
cannot fly at a less rate than 100 miles an hour; but
when fiying across the wind, or against it, they make but
slow progress, and are then a noble shot. The Indians
and settlers prize them much, both for their flesh, their
quills, and their down. The former is considered ex-
cellent eating, and, when roasted, is equal in flavour to
young beef; and the cygnets are considered a great
delicacy. When the rivers are frozen, they resort to
the falls and rapids ; where, from being more concen-
trated, they are shot with more certainty, and in larger
numbers. ‘They moult in July and August; and are
then run down by the natives, although with much
difficulty, as they make their way with great swiftness
on the surface of the water. At these seasons they are
hunted in Iceland, and other parts of Asiatic Russia,
by horsemen and dogs, much in the same manner as
hares. The nest is usually built in little islets sur-
rounded with water: it generally contains about half a
dozen eggs, of a dirty white, shaded with olive green ;
and so large, that one of them is enough for a moderate

man, without bread, or any other addition.
‘ The wild swan does not appear to have been met
with by Dr. Richardson, or, at least, it is not mentioned
in his account of the birds of Arctic America; but
Mr. Selby, with his usual accuracy and precision, has
given us much valuable information on those which
visit the British islands. In the Orkneys and Western
Islands of Scotland it seems to be a regular winter
visiter ; but in England its appearance is not so certain,
being influenced by the state of the season. It is only,
in fact, during very severe winters, that the swaus

192 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

extend their migrations southward, and beyond their
ordinary limits. In such seasons they usually come to
England, in small flocks, from five to thirty together:
they take up their abode upon the lakes, rivers and
inundated meadows; where, if undisturbed, they will
remain until the following March, and then return again
to the north. It seems, from the accounts already
quoted from Hearne, that this species breeds only in
very high northern latitudes; but according to Mr. Selby,
a few pair, it is said, occasionally remain upon some of
the outer Orkney Islands, and there breed on the
margins of the freshwater lochs.

The syren song of the swan before its death, which
has been the theme of so much beautiful poetry, is now
well known to be fabulous; for the voice of this, and all
other rasorial types, is only remarkable for its harshness.
Mr. Selby observes, — we have not heard it ourselves,—
that it consists of two notes ; and has, not unaptly, been
compared to the discordant union of the modulation of
the cuckoo with the scream of the gull, or the sound
of the clarionet in the hands of a beginner. Some,
however, still assert, that, when on the wing, in large
flocks, or resting on the water, their united cries, be-
coming softened by distance, are not unpleasant to the ear.
“* This,” observes Mr. Selby, “ I can readily believe; for,
under such circumstances, I have ever found the incon-
gruous mixture of sound from gulls, guillemots, and
other tribes of sea fowl (when collected about their
breeding places), mixed with the whistling of the breeze, |
and the murmurs of the intervening water, to reach the
ear, not very dissimilar to that of a band of martial
music.*

The wild swan evinces as great an aptitude for
domestication as the tame species. When caught alive,
it soon becomes very tame; and when provided with a
spacious piece of water, naturally furnished with its
proper food, it will thrive equally well. It feeds upon
the roots, stems, and leaves of aquatic plants; for pro-

* Ill. of Brit. Birds, ii. 281.

TAME SWAN. 193

curing which, its long neck, as in other birds of its
own family, is absolutely necessary. When swimming,
it carries its neck much more upright than does the
common swan, with little of that graceful arch for
which the latter is distinguished. It walks, also,
heavily and awkwardly, with the head lowered, and the
neck reclining over the back.

Tue Tame Swan.

Cygnus mansuetus, Ray.

Entirely white: bill with a black protuberance at its
base.

Cygnus mansuetus, Ray. Syn. 136. a. i. Linn., Auct. Le

Cygne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 913. Cygne tubereulé, Temm. Man.

ii. 830. Tame Swan, Edwards, pl. 150. Mute Swan, Pen-
nant, Latham, &c.

The countries inhabited by this majestic and well-
known species in a wild state, are in a directly opposite
situation to those of the wild species: the one living
in the frigid regions of Europe, the other in the genial
latitudes of the eastern provinces of that continent,
but more particularly the great inland seas and lakes
bordering upon Asia; where, according to modern tra-
vellers, the tame swan is still found in its native
freedom. At what period it became domesticated, is
wholly uncertain ; but it has, for many centuries, been
spread over all parts of civilised Europe; and of all
the natatorial birds yet domesticated, it is justly es-
teemed the most graceful and imposing. Some writers
mention that the tame swan is particularly abundant in
Siberia*; but it is more than probable that they have
mistaken the wild northern swans, C. ferus and Bewickii,
for the tame one. Statements of this sort, made by
travellers who are not naturalists, must always be
received with suspicion, more especially in cases like the
present, where even ornithologists themselves, by con-

* Zoo]. Gardens, i. 167.
0

194 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

founding all these three species together, have thrown
doubt and difficulty on their several and peculiar habits
and geographic ranges.

To expatiate upon the graceful and majestic move-
ments of this noble bird, when slowly sailing upon the
water, is quite unnecessary: it may literally be said to
sail on the glassy element; for at such times its wings
are gently raised, and the feathers sufficiently ruffled to
eatch the wind, and to perform the office of sails.
Why their propagation has of late years been neg-
lected, more especially on our public waters, it is
difficult to say ; but it must be a subject of great regret
to every admirer of what is lovely and beautiful.
There is, indeed, a vulgar error, which, in some measure,
may account for this; namely, that the swan, in ad-
dition to its animal food of frogs and aquatic insects,
likewise feeds upon fish; and hence it has been banished
from many pieces of water where the preservation of
the finny inhabitants was considered of more import-
ance. But no fancy or assertion can be more un-
founded than this, although gravely asserted even by
ornithological writers. * It is not only contradicted by
the well-known fact of these birds not causing the
slightest diminution of fish in ponds where they have
been kept for some time; but one of our best orni-
thologists has absolutely declared that he has never
found, in the stomachs of any of the numerous indi.
viduals he has dissected, the least vestige of such a
diet. +

Of the habits of swans in a state of nature, nothing
of importance appears to be known; but the author
of The Zoological Gardens, has made some remarks
upon the domesticated race, which, as being useful to
persons possessing these birds, we shall here repeat. —
“To protect the tame birds from the severity of winter,
it is usual to drive: them into the same houses as the
ducks and geese ; but in such strict confinement they

* Latham, Gen. Hist. x. 225.
+ Mr. Yarrell; see Zool. Gard. ii. 167.

TAME SWAN. 195

entirely lose their spirits, become melancholy and dis-
eased, and are constantly making attempts to escape.
It is, therefore, much better, whenever it is possible,
both with them and with the common sort of wild fowl,
to leave them at liberty upon a piece of water ; which,
if their number is at all considerable, they will always
keep open by their continual motion, without any risk
of freezing their feet. Swans kept in this manner
during the winter, are generally in much better con-
dition at the return of spring, than those which have
been confined to the house. During the greater part of
the year, they will feed upon those plants, roots, and
reptiles which are common to the sides of waters; but
in winter they accommodate themselves to the same
sort of artificial diet as it is usual to give to ducks and
geese when under shelter. The nest of the swan is
composed externally of the rudest materials, but is
lined with the soft feathers and down of the parent
birds. The female selects the most-secluded situations
on the banks of those waters which she frequents: she
usually sits upon six or seven eggs, of a greyish colour,
early in the spring ; and when the young are hatched,
the parents carry them to the water upon their backs ;
and this is continued for two or three weeks. Even
when able to shift for themselves, the young continue
with the parents until the next spring; when they are
driven away by the old males.

The docility and gentleness of the swan is well
known to all those who have witnessed the confiding
manner in which it will receive its food from the hand ;
but, if treated with wanton cruelty or harshness, it is
by no means a despicable enemy: the strength and
muscular power of its wings is very great, and might
endanger the fracture of a limb to those who wantonly
assail it. The males, at the breeding season, like all
other animals, whether docile or savage, when under
that particular influence, will fight desperately, and fre-
quently to the destruction of one of the combatants.
Dr. Latham affirms, that he has known full-grown boys

0 2

196 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

of fifteen or sixteen injured by the attack of one; and
it must be a powerful man who is able to withstand an
encounter with an enraged male: even a horse has been
lamed by one of these furious birds, when feeding along
the edge of the water near which a female was sitting.
** At Pewsy, in Buckinghamshire,” continues the doctor,
‘while a swan was on the nest, she observed a fox
swimming towards her from the opposite shore ; when
she darted into the water, and having kept the fox at
bay for a considerable time with her wings, at last
succeeded in drowning him, in the sight of several
spectators.”’ *

Swans, as before remarked, were greatly admired and
esteemed by our ancestors: they were then, however,
considered more an appendage to the establishment of
the aristocracy ; for Edward IV. enacted, that no one,
possessing a freehold of less than the clear yearly value
of five marks, would be permitted to keep these birds.
Stealing swans that had been marked, or nicked, was
then a felony. This process was performed on the
bill of the bird with a hot iron ; and the number, di-
rection, and shape of these nicks indicated the noble
family to which it belonged: three vertical marks cha-
racterised such as belonged to the ‘* King’s Highness ;”
and an old manuscript is said to exist in one of the
libraries at Oxford, designating the swans’ nicks of 304
families. Mr. Weston, in a curious paper upon swansf,
conjectures, with every probability of reason, that the
Swan with two Necks, — a well known sign in London
and elsewhere,—is but a corruption of the swan with two
nicks.

Abbotsbury, in Dorsetshire, was formerly, as it still
is, famous for the multitude of its swans: this is men-
tioned both by Dr. Malone, and by colonel Montagu {,
who says there were still between 600 and 700, although
formerly there were as many thousands.

Swans are well known to be long-lived ; but much

* Gen. Hist. of Birds, x. 222. + Archeologia, xxi. 163.
t Orn. Dict. vol. iii. or Supp.

BEWICK'S SWAN. 197

uncertainty hangs on the precise number of years to
which they attain. Some content themselves with
stating this period at thirty years ; while others, adopt-
ing more marvellous reports, assert that there are many
authenticated instances of swans living to the age of
a century. The former may be believed ; but the latter
seems all but incredible.

Bewick’s Swan.
Cygnus Bewickii, Varrell. (Fig. 30.)

Cygnus Bewickii, Linn. Trans. xvi. 446.

Until within these few years it was never suspected
that, among the wild swans inhabiting our islands, there
were two distinct species, confounded by all systematic
writers under one name ; or that this second species, to
which the name of Bewick has been so justly attached,
was also a native of Arctic America. In the Journal of
Lewis and Clarke, it is more than probable that the
small swan alluded to in the following extract, refers to
that now before us :—‘* The swans are of two kinds ; the
large and the small. The large swan is the same as the
one common in the Atlantic States: the small differs
from the large only in size and note ; it is about one
fourth less, and its note is entirely different. These
birds were first found below the great narrows of the
Columbia, near the Chilluc-keti-quaw nation ; they are

0 3

198 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

very abundant in this neighbourhood, and remained
with the party all winter ; and in number they exceed
those of the larger species in the proportion of five to.
one.” It thus seems to winter not further north than the
mouth of the Columbia River. Dr. Richardson observes,
that it breeds on the sea coast, within the arctic circle,
and is only seen in the interior of the fur countries
during the season of its passage. It makes its appear-
ance in spring amongst the latest of the migratory birds ;
while the trumpeter swans, with the exception of the
eagles, are the earliest. Captain Lyon describes its nest
as built of moss-peat, near six feet long, four and three
quarters wide, and two feet high on the outside ; the
eavity being a foot and a half in diameter. The eggs are
brownish white, slightly clouded with a darker tint.
The plumage is entirely pure white, except the crown,
nape, and upper parts of the neck, which are deeply
tinged with reddish orange; and the belly, which is
slightly tinted with the same: the bill and feet are
black ; but the cere and irides are orange. Old birds
are said to be entirely white; while the young ones are
grey. The second and third quills are the longest, and-ef
equal length: the tail is wedge-shaped, and of eighteen
feathers. The total length is about fifty-five inches, of
which the wings occupy a little more than twenty.

Tue TRUMPETER SWAN.

Cygnus buccinator, Richardson.

White ; head glossed above with chestnut: bill entirely
black, with a tubercle: tail feathers 24: feet black.

Cygnus buecinator, Rich., in Northern Zoology, ii. 464.

Obscure intimations of this singular bird appear to
have been given by some of the North American travel-~
lers of the last century ; but it was only distinctly cha~
racterised as a species by Dr. Richardson, in his account
of the birds of Arctic America, where it chiefly breeds.
Whether the excessive cold of its natural haunts would

TRUMPETER SWAN. 199

preclude its propagation in Britain, has not yet been
ascertained ; since no living specimen, so far as we can
learn, has yet been brought to England: the experiment,
at all events, is worth trying; particularly as, from its
being, according to Dr. Richardson, the most common
swan in the interior of the fur countries, specimens
might be procured with facility through the Hudson's
Bay company.

This is probably one of the two sorts of swan which
Lawson observes are found in Carolina; the largest of
which he calls, from its note, the Trumpeter. Hearne
also says,—‘‘ I have heard them, in serene evenings, after
sunset, make a noise not very unlike that of a French-
horn, but so entirely divested of every note that consti-
tuted melody, that I have often been sorry it did not
forebode their death.”” Dr. Richardson is of opinion
that the greater part of the swanskins annually imported
by the Hudson’s Bay company, belong to this species.
it breeds as far south as lat. 61°, but principally within
the arctic circle ; and, in its migrations, generally pre-
cedes the geese a few days. ;

The trumpeter swan is about ten inches longer than
the Cygnus ferus: its bill resembles that bird, also, in
its general form ; but it is rather more lengthened and
depressed. The general colour of the plumage is white ;
the forehead alone being tinged with orange red: the
bill, cere, and legs are entirely black; and the third pri-
mary quill is the longest. A fold of the windpipe enters
a protuberance on the dorsal or interior side of the
sternum, at its upper part, which is wanting in our two
species of British swans, the ferus and Bewickii; in
other respects, the windpipe is distributed through the
sternum almost the same as in the latter of these birds.
Dr. Richardson refers to a skin belonging to the Zoolo-
gical Society, as having the crown and cheeks bright
chestnut.

200 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue Buack Swan.

Cygnus atratus, Meyer.

Entirely black, with the bill red, and the legs flesh-
coloured.

Anas plutonia, Shaw, Nat. Mis. pl. 103. Anas atrata, the
Black Swan, Lath. Synop. of Birds, Supp. 343. Gen. Hist. x.
234. Phillips, Voy. p. 96. White's Voy. p. 137.

The black swan is as characteristic of the Austra-
lian continent, as the white ones are of the northern
hemisphere ; and yet, in every thing but colour, the two
species have a very close resemblance. The discovery
of the black swan must have been almost as early as
the discovery of the great south land which it inhabits ;
for it seems to be abundantly dispersed over all the rivers
of Australia, so that our early navigators could not
have failed to see if Accordingly, we find that, about
the year 1698, . Lister, the most celebrated na-
turalist of that eae ees to the Royal Society, that
“here is returned a ship, which by our East India
company was sent to the south land, called Hollandia
Nova, bringing the news that black swans, parrots, and
many sea-cows were found there.’ And long before
our circumnavigators had actually brought the spoils of
these strange coloured birds to Europe, two of them
had been imported alive to Batavia, by some of the
Dutch vessels, where they were seen by the naturalist
Valentyn ; in whose curious book they are represented
as swimming upon a lake, and one being caught by a
sailor.

This species generally associates in small flocks of
eight or twelve, on the sides and mouths of rivers, or
in salt-water laepoue Dr. White, who accompanied
the first fleet of convicts to New South Wales, saw
nine of them swimming together: but although the
party fired upon them, all the birds flew towards the
sea, which was very near, in the same order as wild

CANADA GOOSE. 201

geese generally preserve; the one before the other.*
Sometimes, however, they are seen in much greater
numbers; for captain Bass counted upwards of 300
within a quarter of a mile, on a river near Port Dal-
rymple, in Bass Straights. It feeds chiefly on grass
and aquatic plants; and its note has been compared to
the creaking of a rusty sign on a windy day.

The size of the black swan is rather smaller than
the tame one ; and it has this peculiarity in its external
structure, —that the tertials of the male, when in full
plumage, are curved upwards, in the same manner as
we see some of the ducks ; the bill of this sex, also, is
furnished with a prominent tubercle, which the other
has not: in both, however, the colour is bright red
above, but paler at the tip, and crossed towards the
middle by a whitish. band: the primary quills, and
part of the secondaries, are pure white ; but the rest of
the plumage is of a deep glossy black, somewhat paler
on the belly and thighs. We believe this species, now
among the most common birds of our menageries, might
be bred in this country without much difficulty.

Tue Canapa Goose.
Anser Canadensis, Richardson. (Fig. 31.)

Canada Goose, Edwards, pl. 151. Pennant’s Arctic Zool, ii. 544.
Wilson,-viii. 53. pl. 67. f. 4. Anser Canadensis, Bonap. Syn.
p- 377. North. Zool. ii. 468.

The bird whose natural history we shall now narrate,
is not only the most common of the wild geese found in
North America, but by far the most important ; since,
without the enormous supply of provisions which its
‘innumerable flocks annually afford to the inhabitants of
large provinces, thousands of families, in all probability,
would be abridged of that food absolutely necessary for
life. The history of such a bird is entitled to more
than ordinary attention ; but it can only be learned from

* Voy. p. 137.

202 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Y aE
1.4 KS

those who have lived in the countries it inhabits. For-
tunately, however, the respective accounts of Wilson and
Richardson supply ample materials for this purpose ;
and these we shall now, with very little verbal alter-
ation, lay before the reader. The narrative will be still
further interesting, as the species has long been domes-
ticated in this country, and may be seen in many private
poultry-yards, and in almost every menagerie.

The regular periodical migrations of the Canadian
goose to and from the arctic regions are the sure signals,
as Wilson observes, of returning spring, or of approach-
ing winter. The tracts of their vast journeys are not
confined to the sea coast, or its vicinity. In their aérial
voyages to and from the North, these winged pilgrims
pass over the interior on both sides of the moun tains, so
far west, that Wilson never visited any quarter of the
country where he did not hear of them. ‘The general
opinion of the common people of the States is, that the
geese, when flying northward, are going to the Canadian
lakes to breed; but the people of that province are
equally ignorant on this subject ; and it was only until
the more recent researches of Dr. Richardson, which
will be subsequently detailed, that the supposition enter-
tained by Wilson, of these birds extending their mi-
grations “ under the very pole itself,” was proved to be
erroneous. Hearne asserts that he saw them in large
flocks within the arctic circle, still pursuing their way
further north. But whether it was really this species,

CANADA GOOSE. 203

or some other, may be fairly questioned, since Dr. Rich-
ardson states that they breed “ between the 50th and
67th parallels.”

So soon as the young are reared, and are sufficiently
strong for the journey, these vast congregated flocks
begin their migration southward. It is then that, like
the quails of Egypt, they bring food and plenty to the
poor inhabitants, and enable them to lay up a store of
provisions for a considerable part of the year. The na-
tives and English at Hudson’s Bay, according to the
information communicated by Mr. Hutchins to Pennant,
depend greatly for support upon the geese; and in fa-
vourable years, three or four thousand birds, independ-
ent of those consumed fresh, are preserved in barrels,
and kept for store provisions. Masters and servants,
Indians and Europeans, all join in securing as plentiful
a harvest as possible, by shooting and snaring the game.
For the latter purpose they form huts, made of boughs,
at musket-shot distance from each other, and place them
in a line across the vast marshes of the country; each
stand, or hut, being occupied by a single sportsman.
These watch the flight of the birds, and imitate their
cackle so well that the geese will answer, wheel about,
and come near. Meantime the sportsman, on his knees,
keeps motionless, with his gun cocked, but does not fire
until he can see the eyes of the birds. One discharge
is followed by that of another gun, kept ready for the
purpose. He then proceeds to pick up the birds: these
he sets upon sticks or otherwise, as if alive: but a more
efficacious snare is, to have some well-stuffed specimens
ready prepared for this purpose; and then the wild birds
are again attracted, and more secured. In this way, if
the day be fine and the birds plentiful, a single Indian
will kill upwards of two hundred; for, besides being
good shots, they are excellent mimics, and imitate the
distinct notes of all these aquatic birds of game to great
perfection. After such prodigious havoc as there ap-
pears to be made among these birds ; and their running
the gauntlet, as it were, for many hundreds of miles,

204 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES,

tlirough such destructive fires; no wonder, says Wilson,
they should have become more scarce, as well as shy, by
the time they reach the shores and marshes of the
United States.

The autumnal flight lasts from the middle of August
to the middle of October: those which are taken in this
season, when the frost begins, are preserved in their
feathers, and left to be frozen, for the fresh provisions
of the winter stock ; the feathers being sent to England.
Their first appearance coincides with the thawing of the
swamps, when they are very lean. But their arrival
from the south is impatiently looked for, as it is the
harbinger of spring, and this period is called the Goose
moon by the Indians, They appear usually at their
(the Hudson’s Bay?) settlements about St. George's day,
O.S., and fiy northward to nestle in security. Thus far
is the substance of the account given by Mr. Hutchins,
who, as an officer of the Hudson’s Bay company, con-
fined his information, no doubt, to what he had ac-
tually witnessed in. that district.

The first arrival of the geese at New Jersey, accord-
ing to Wilson, is early in October ; and their first nu-
merous appearance is the sure prognostic of severe
_weather.* Those which continue all winter, frequent
the shallow bays and marsh islands, and feed on the
roots and leaves of aquatic plants, which they tear up
with their bills: but, at intervals of a few days, they re-
gularly make an excursion to the inlets on the sea beach
for gravel. They cross, indiscriminately, over land or
water, generally taking the nearest course to their object.
They swim well; and if wounded on the wing, dive
and swim a great way under water, to the no small fa-
tigue and perplexity of the sportsman. Except in very
calm weather, they rarely sleep on the water, but roost
all night in the marshes. When the shallow bays are
frozen, they seek the mouths of inlets near the sea.

The flight of the Canadian goose is heavy and labo-

* The birds are then evidently returning southward, after their breeding,
to avoid the excessive cold of the north, which must then be fast increasing.

CANADA GOOSE. 205

rious, generally in a straight line, or in two lines united
in front like the letter >. In both cases, the van is led
by an old gander, who every now and then pipes his
well-known honk, as if to ask how they come on; and
the honk of “ all’s well,” is generally returned by some
of the party. Their course is in a straight. line,
with the exception of the undulations of their flight.
When bewildered in foggy weather, they appear to be
sometimes in great distress, flying about in an irregular
manner, and for a considerable time over the same
quarter, making a great clamour. On these occasions,
should they approach the earth, and alight to rest or
refresh themselves, they are sure to assemble the whole
neighbourhood in arms around them.

It is by no means a difficult matter to domesticate
such birds as have been slightly wounded, and they
readily pair with the “ tame grey geese*:” the offspring
are said to be larger than either ; but the characteristic
marks of the wild goose still predominate. The gunners
on the sea-shore have long been in the practice of
taming the wounded of both sexes ; and have sometimes
succeeded in getting them to pair and produce. The
female always seeks out the most solitary place for her
nest, not far from the water. On the approach of
every spring, however, these birds exhibit symptoms of
great uneasiness, frequently looking up in the air, and at-
tempting to go off. Some, whose wings have been closely
cut, have traversed on foot in a northern direction, and
have been found at a distance of several miles from
home. They hail every flock that passes over head ;
and the salute is sure to be returned by the voyagers, who
are only prevented from alighting among them by the
presence and habitations of man. The sportsmen gene-
rally take one or two of the domesticated geese with
them to those parts of the marshes over which the wild
ones fly, and conceal themselves within gunshot ; which
is no sooner perceived by the decoy geese, than they

eet leaves us to conjecture of what species this ‘* tame grey goose”
really is.

206 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

begin calling aloud, until the whole fiock approaches
‘so near as to give them an opportunity to fire two and
sometimes three loaded muskets among them, by which
great havoc is made.

‘In reference to the extraordinary instinct of the
wounded wild -goose to join the migrating flocks in the
spring, Wilson affirms, that instances have come to his
“knowledge, where, in birds but slightly injured, this has
actually taken place ; the birds having perfectly succeed-
ed in mounting into the higher regions of the air, and
joining a passing flock which was on its way northward.
Still more extraordinary is the fact, attested by several
respectable eye-witnesses, of instances where these half-
domesticated birds, after they performed their northern
migrations, have actually returned to their former
habitations. But we have already extended the limits
of this article, however interesting, to such an unusual
length, that we must advert to the subject on a future
occasion.

According to Dr. Richardson, the arrival of this
well-known bird in the fur countries is anxiously looked
for, and hailed with great joy, by the natives of the
woody and swampy districts, who depend principally
upon it for subsistence during the summer. It makes
its first appearance in flocks of twenty or thirty; and
these are regularly decoyed within gunshot by the
hunters, who set up stakes, and imitate their call. Two
or three or more are so frequently killed at a single
shot, that the usual price of a goose is a charge of am-
munition. One goose, which, when fat, weighs about
nine pounds, is the daily ration for one of the Hud-
son’s Bay company’s servants during the season, and is
reckoned equivalent to two snow geese, or three ducks,
or eight pounds of buffalo and moose meat, or two
pounds of pemmican, or a pint of maize and four ounces
of suet. About three weeks after their first appearance,
the Canada geese disperse in pairs throughout the coun-
try, between the 50th and 67th parallels, to breed ;- at
which time they retire from the shores of Hudson’s

HUTCHINS GOOSE. 207

Bay, and they are seldom or ever seen on the shores of the
Arctic Sea. In July, after the young birds are hatched,
the parents moult, and vast quantities are killed in the
rivers and small lakes before they are able to fly. When
chased by a canoe, and obliged to dive frequently, they
soon become fatigued, and make for the shore with the
intention of hiding themselves ; but as they are not fleet,
they fall an easy prey to their pursuers. In the autumn,
they again assemble in flocks, on the shores of Hudson’s
Bay, for three weeks or a month previous to their de-
parture southward. In these migrations, the geese are
observed annually to resort to certain passes and resting
places; some of which are frequented both in the spring
and autumn, and others only in the spring.

A short description of this remarkable bird will alone
be necessary. Length three feet. Bill black ; irides
dark hazel: the upper half of the neck is black, marked
round the chin with a transverse band of white: the
back and wing covers are brown, each feather being tipt
with whitish ; but the rump and tail are black: vent
and tail covers white: the primary quills are black, and
reach to the end of the tail: legs and feet greyish black.
Both sexes are exactly alike.

The nest is generally built on the ground; but some
occasionally breed in trees, depositing their eggs in the
deserted nests of ravens and fishing eagles.

Hutcuins Goose.

Anser Hutchinsonii, Richardson.

Bill black, less than an inch and a half in length: the
throat with a white kidney-shaped patch : upper part
of the neck black: the breast white.

Anser Hutchinsonii, Rich. North. Zool. ii. 47.

This new American goose, first discovered by Dr.
Richardson, has not yet been added to our domestic-
ated list; and we have some doubts, indeed, whether,
from its marine habits, and its food consisting, as

~

208 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Dr. Richardson says, of sea-weed, &c., it could be do-
mesticated and bred like the Canadian goose, with
which, until these few years, it has been confounded by _
all writers. According to Dr. Richardson, these geese
are well known in Hudson’s Bay, by the Cree Indian
name of Apistiskeesh; and they are generally thought~
by the residents to be merely a small kind of the Cana-
dian goose, as they have the white kidney-shaped patch
on the throat which is thought peculiar to that species.
Their habits, however, are dissimilar; the Canada
goose frequenting the freshwater lakes and rivers of the
interior, and feeding chiefly on herbage ; while the pre-
sent species is always found on the sea coast, feeding on
the marine plants and the mollusee which adhere to
them, whence their flesh derives a strong fishy taste.
In form, size, and general colour, this species, however,
more nearly resembles the brent than the Canada
goose: nevertheless, it differs from the former in hay-
ing the white kidney-shaped patch on the throat and
cheeks; in wanting the spotted white marks on the sides
of the neck; in the black colour terminating four inches
higher, instead of including the swell of the upper parts
of the back and breast; and in the white of the vent
being more extended. It is totaliy unlike Anse Jeu-
copsis in plumage, and has a longer bill.

The colour of the head, neck, rump, and tail is pitch
black : back and both surfaces of the wings clove brown ;
the edges of the feathers yellowish grey, and worn. The
white colour is distributed in the following way :—1. A
speck before the eye: 2. The under eyelid: 3. A kid-
ney-shaped patch on the throat, similar to that of the
Canada goose, and which terminates acutely on each side
of the hind head: 4. A band which passes: over the
upper tail covers, and forward by the sides of the rump:
the breast, vent, and under tail covers are also white:
the abdomen is yellowish grey, edged with white; and
the flanks are transversely barred with bluish grey and
white: the bill and feet are black.

SNOW GOOSE. 209

Tue Snow Goose.
Anser Hyperboreus, Pallas.

Plumage of the adult bird, pure white, with a red bill
and bluish tip: orbits and feet red: fore part of the
head fulvous.

Apu.t. — Anser Hyperboreus, Pallas, Spec. Zool. vi. 26.
North. Zool. ii, Anas Hyperborea, Wilson, pl. 68. f. 5.,
male. J’emminck, Man. 11. 816. Snow Goose, Pennant, Arct.
Zool. ii. 479. Wilson, villi. 76. Oie Hyperborée, ou de
Niéege, Temm. Man. ii. 816.

Youne. — Anas cerulescens, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. Gmelin, i.
513. Latham, Index Orn. ii. 836. Blue-winged Goose,
Edwards, pl. 152. Pennant, Arct. Zool. uu. 474. Latham,
Gen. Syn. vi. 469. Gen. Hist. x. 232. Young of the Snow
Goose, Wilson, pl. 59. f. 5.

Although this goose extends its range into the northern
countries of Europe, it seems much more common in
Arctic America. M.Temminck and others mention it
as one of the regular migrators into the eastern parts of
Europe ; although it is but an occasional visiter in
Prussia and Austria, and has never been found in Hol-
land. Wilson says that the Americans call it the red
goose, probably from the colour of its bill and feet. It
seems to leave its breeding places in the arctic regions
of North America in September, and arrives in the River
Delaware, sometimes in considerable flocks, early in
November: they are then very noisy, for their notes
are shriller and more squeaking than those of the Cana-
dian species. On their first arrival they make but a
short stay, proceeding further to the south as the depth
of winter approaches ; but from the middle of February
until the ice breaks up in March, they are often abun-
dant on the shores of the Delaware, where they feed
upon the roots of the reeds, which they tear up from the
marshes like hogs. Latham, who derived his inform-
ation from that little known, but far better ornithologist,
Mr. Hutchins, says that this species is very numerous
in Hudson’s Bay; that they visit Severn River in May,

P

210 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

and, after remaining a fortnight, proceed further north
to their breeding places ; which, as subsequently ascer-
tained by Dr. Richardson, are the barren grounds of
the arctic region: the birds return to Severn River the
beginning of September ; and after staying abouta month,
depart for the south, attended by their young, in innu-
merable fiocks.

Some very interesting remarks by Dr. Richardson,
alike applicable to this and the two other species of
geese of North America, are so appropriate to our pre-
sent purpose, that we shall here introduce them. The
arrival of the different species of geese in the fur
countries, marks the return of spring, and diffuses as
much joy among the wandering hunters of the arctic -
regions, as the harvest or vintage excites in more genial
climes. It is an event of great importance to the
natives, as it affords them a supply of food at a season
when the moose and deer hunting is impeded by the
floods of melted snow. The larger species of Anas, or
the geese, are chiefly attended to ; and they are observed
to follow determinate routes in their progress northward,
and to halt regularly at certain stations. Their return in
autumn is also by passes well known to the natives ;
but not always in the same line with their summer
movements. Actuated, in the beginning of the season,
by an impulse which hurries them to the breeding sta-
tions, they remain at their resting places only long
enough to admit of the country to the northward being
properly thawed for their reception ; but during these
rests, which are seldom prolonged beyond eight or ten
days, they become very fat, although on their first ar-
rival they are always lean. Their movements to the
northward are sometimes premature ; and after having
left a station, they occasionally return to it for a few
days: such an event is always followed by cold frosty
weather, or severe snow storms. When they return in
autumn, their migrations being more exclusively regu-
lated by the supplies of food they can obtain, their halt
in the marshy districts, through which the Saskatchewan

SNOW GOOSE. Qtt

and its continuation, Nelson’s River, flow, and on the
low shores of the southern parts of Hudson’s Bay, is
more considerable, and is terminated by the freezing of
the marshes. This period forms the principal goose-
hunt of the Cree Indians, who are the only natives who
frequent these swampy districts. In the barren grounds,
on the other hand, frequented by the northern Indians,
or Chepewyans, the spring goose-hunt is the most pro-
ductive.

The only geese seen in any great numbers in the
interior of the country, are the Canada goose (Anser
Canadensis), the laughing goose (Anser albifrons), and
the snow goose (Anser Hyperboreus). The different
notes of these three species are well imitated by the In-
dians ; who thus are very successful, during the spring
migration, in bringisg them within gunshot. In the
autumn, the geese do not so readily answer the call ;
and it is necessary that the sportsman should conceal
himself, and use some dead birds as a decoy.

Dr. Richardson further observes, that this speeies
breeds in great numbers in those dreary tracts of Arctic
America, called the Barren Grounds. The eggs are of
a yellowish white colour, and of a regularly oval form,
about three inches long, and two broad. The young are
able to fly about the end of August ; and, about two or
three weeks afterwards, the parent birds and their breods
migrate to the south. — It is supposed that the young do
not attain their full or adult plumage until the fourth
year, aud before which they appear to keep in dis-
tinct flocks by themselves: such flocks are numerous
at Albany Fort, in the southern part of Hudson's Bay,
where the old birds are rarely seen ; while, on the other
hand, the old birds visit York Factory, during their mi-
gration, in great abundance, but are seldom accom-
panied by the younger birds. Their food is rushes and
insects ; and in the autumn they devour berries.

All writers, before Wilson, had described the young
of this species as perfectly distinct, under the name of
the Blue~winged Goose, accurately figured by Edwards,

P 2

212 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

as already quoted. There seems some difference of
opinion, as to whether the young birds keep in flocks by
themselves, or whether they accompany their parents :
the former is stated to be the case by Dr. Richardson ; the
latter, which seems the most natural, is affirmed by Wil-
son, in the following passage : —‘‘ The snow geese pass
along our coasts, and settle in our rivers every autumn.”

In a flock of thirty or forty, there are seldom more
than six or eight pure white: the rest vary so much,
that no two are exactly alike; yet all bear the most evi-
dent marks, in the particular structure of their bills, of
being the same identical species. The following de-
scription is applicable to the generality of the young
birds; the greater or less degree of white upon the
plumage indicating the progress it has made towards
assuming the dress of the adult. The whole of the
head, and half of the neck, white ; the rest of the neck,
breast, and back purplish brown, darkest where it joins
the white ; all the feathers being finely tipt with pale
brown : wing covers light cinereous, or grey ; the quills
black ; the tertials being edged with cinereous or light
blue, but black in the middle: rump like the wing
covers: tail covers white: tail blackish, edged and
broadly tipt with white: belly and vent white, mixed
with cinereous: feet and bill light reddish purple or
pale lake ; the latter having the tips light blue.

The adult bird, as described by Wilson, is two feet
eight inches long: the bill being three inches, remark-
ably thick at the base, high on the forehead, but small
and compressed at the extremity, the nail or thickened
tip being whitish ; the colour of the rest of the bill is
purplish carmine ; the edges of the two mandibles sepa-
rate from each other for their whele length, and this
gibbosity is occupied by dentated rows resembling teeth ;
these, and the parts adjoining, being of a blackish
colour. The whole plumage is of a snowy whiteness,
except the fore part of the head, which is of a yellowish
rust colour ; and the nine exterior quill feathers, which
are black, shafted with white, and white at the root:

LOGGERHEAD GOOSE. 213

legs and feet like the bill: irides dark hazel. Tail
rounded, of nineteen feathers, and of nearly the same
length as the wings.

Tue LoceeRHEAD GOOsE.
Anas trachyptera, Latham.

Loggerhead Duck, Lath. Synop. of Birds, vi. 439. Gen. Hist.
x. 226.

One of the principal considerations that have guided
our present selection of birds, is that of calling the
attention of our readers to those imperfectly known
species, which seem to possess the properties of domes-
tication ; with the hope of inducing such persons, as
have the power, to clear up their history, and to at-
tempt, where practicable, the importation of living
specimens into this country. Our accounts of such
species will, of necessity, be taken from those authors
who have thus imperfectly mentioned them. But as
this volume will, in all probability, from its wide
circulation, fall into the hands of many of our country-
men now residing in or visiting the countries where
these species are-said to occur, we think much eventual
good will result from this plan. Amateurs are
frequently anxious to do something for Natural His-
tory, if they knew what to do; and, if they had a
friend who would guide their inquiries to a useful end,
exertions would often be made, and much valuable
information procured. Under this impression, we shall
here introduce the accounts of several little-known
species of the Anatine family, chiefly, as it is said,
inhabitants of South America, where so many of our
countrymen are now residing; and from whom the
Ornithological Society may hope to receive either pre-
served skins, for determining the species more correctly,
or living specimens for adding to their menagerie.

The first we shall notice is a most singular bird,
called by Dr. Latham, in one of his works, a Duck; but
in his last, a Goose, without any assigned reason for the

o

xe

Q14 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

change. He says*, without mentioning, as he usually
does, his authority, that it “ inhabits Falkland Islands,
and Staten Land, where it is seen in pairs, though some-
times*in large flocks. From the shortness of its wings,
this bird is unable to fly (?); but it makes considerable
use of them when in the water, on which it seems, as »
it were, to run; at least, it swims, with the assistance
of the wings used as oars, at an incredible rate, so
that in such situations it becomes extremely difficult to
shoot these birds. To remedy this, the sailors used to
surround a flock with boats, and drive them ashore ;
where, unable to raise themselves from the ground, they
ran very fast: but soon growing tired, and squatting
down to rest, they were easily overtaken and knocked
down with sticks. The flesh was sometimes eaten by
the sailors, in defect of that of the bustard goose; but
was not much relished, being rank and fishy; it was
thought, in fact, more proper for the hogs, which, after
it had been boiled in the copper, ate it up greedily, and
fattened well (upon it).”

Such is the strange account which the doctor gives
of its manners; and we shall now transcribe what he
says of its plumage ; observing, by the way, that no
figure of it has yet been published.

“Length thirty-two inches: weight from twenty to
thirty pounds. Bill three inches long ; colour orange ;
the top of the upper mandible brown at the base, and
black at the tip: irides orange, surrounded with black,
and again with orange: head and neck deep ash-colour ;
upper part of the body much the same: the edge of
the secondary quills white, forming a band of the same
on the wing: under parts of the body dusky down
the middle ; over the thighs cinereous blue: vent white:
quills and tail black ; the last short, and pointed in
shape ; the wings are likewise very short, not reaching
to the rump; on the bend of the wing a double yellow
knob, half an inch in length: legs brownish orange:
webs dusky: claws black.”

* Gen. Hist. of Birds, x. 226. Can this be some species of penguin with
a broad bill ?

HIYBRID GOOSE.—CHILIAN GOOSE. 915

Tur Hvysrip Goose.
Anas hybrida, Latham.

Plumage, white in the male, black in the female (?) :
bill and legs either red or yellow.

Anas hybrida, Latham, Gen. Synop. 2d Supp. 345. Mollin.
Chili, 383.

This goose is stated to “ inhabit the Archipelago of
Chioloé in South America, and may be called monoga-
mous, as the male and female are never found apart ; not
uniting in flocks as the other sorts: during the time of
incubation they retire to the rivers, where the female
generally lays about eight white eggs, in a hole formed
out of the sand.” Its description is stated as follows :
— ‘* Size of the domestic goose; but the neck somewhat
shorter, and the wings and tail longer. The male has
the plumage of a pure white throughout, with the bill
and legs yellow; the bill is semicylindrical, with a red
cere: the female is black, with some streaks of white,
arising from the tips of several of the feathers being
bordered with white: the bill and legs red: the legs
nearly the same as in the common goose.” Why this
should be called hybrida,—a name which no species can
bear with the least regard to sense, — does not appear.

Tue Cuin1an Goose.

Anas Coscaroba, Latham.
Entirely white: bill and legs red.

Coscaroba Goose, Lath. Synop. of Birds, 2d Supp. 345. Gen.
Fist. x. 228.

If this goose, as Dr. Latham states on the presumed
authority of Mollini, is a native of Chili, its acquisition
by some of our countrymen there would be a matter of
no great difficulty ; since the doctor goes on to say that
it is valuable for its extreme docility and tameness in
confinement, and particularly by attaching itself to the

Pp 4

216 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

person who supplies it with food. Méollini states it to

be of a large size; with the bill and legs red, the eyes of

a fine black, and the plumage entirely white. Nothing is -
said of the female. No figure exists ; nor does this bird

appear to be known to any of the ornithologists of

Europe.

Tue Sournern Goose,
Anas Antarctica, Latham.

Body blackish, crossed by transverse white lines, slender
on the head and neck, and broader beneath: wing
_ covers white ; speculum green, edged with white.

Antaretic Goose, Lath. Synop. of Birds, vi. 442. Gen. Hist.
x. 228.

This is another of the obscure geese of the southern
hemisphere, said to inhabit Christmas Sound in Terra
del Fuego, and is thus described by Latham : —

“Smaller than a tame goose ; weight sixteen (?) pounds.
Bill narrow, short, and black: the whole plumage of a
dazzling snowy whiteness. The female has a reddish
flesh-coloured bill: the head, neck, and body black,
crossed with transverse white lines; those of the head
and neck very minute, but grow broader as they pro-
ceed downwards: the middle of the back plain black ;
wing covers white: on the bend of the wing, a blunt
knob ; speculum green, edged outwardly with blue:
legs yellow.”

This must be a particularly beautiful bird ; and, from
its inhabiting the colder regions of America, might pro-
bably be acclimated in this country without much diffi-
culty.

Tne Bustarp Goose.
Anas leucoptera, Lath. Syn. of Birds, vi. 440. Gen. Hist.
x. 229.

As Brown, in his JZ/lustrations above cited, is the
only author as yet who appears to have figured this

CREAM-COLOURED GOOSE. 27

little-known goose, which he says inhabits the Falkland
Islands, we shall place his description before that of
Dr. Latham, which will be subsequently noticed.
Brown states the length of his bird to be three feet four
inches. The bill is small and dusky: the head, neck,
and all the under parts of the body are of a snowy
whiteness: the upper part of the back is barred with
black and white: the wing covers are white; the
secondaries marked with a dusky broad band, and an-
other of white: the speculum is green ; and the prima-
ries are dusky : the middle feathers of the tail are glossed
with green; the others are white: legs black.

Dr. Latham makes the above bird identical with the
bustard goose, of which he gives the following different
description : — Length, from thirty to forty inches. Bill
scarcely two inches long, and black: head, neck, lesser
wing covers, and under parts of the body white: lower
part of the neck behind, and as far as the middle of
the back, crossed by numerous dusky black lines ; sides,
over the thighs, the same: the greater wing covers
black, tipt with white, forming a bar of white on the
wing ; at the bend a blunt knob: second quills, part
black, part white ; prime ones dusky black: speculum
dark green: the two middle tail feathers black; the
others white.

This latter goose, the doctor observes, “ stands pretty
high on its legs, which serve to elevate it above the tall
grass ; and with the addition of its long neck, it is able
to observe any danger approaching. It walks and flies
with great ease, and has not that disagreeable cackling
cry peculiar to the rest of its kind. It generally lays
six eggs, The flesh was considered agreeable.’’

THe CREAM-COLOURED Goose.

¢
We insert the following short and unsatisfactory
notice of this goose, if such it be, in the precise words
of Dr. Latham, in his General History of Birds (x.
296.), with a view to call the attention of our Austra-

218 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

lian brethren to it, in the hopes that we may hereafter
be able to determine what it really is.

“* Size of a common goose. Bill very stout, deep red.
with a black tip: plumage in general whitish dun, or
cream-colour : across the shoulders two or three rows
of transverse dusky blotches, and a few of the same on
the wing covers: ends of the quills chocolate: tail

black: legs moderate in size, and red. Inhabits New
South Wales.” %

Tue Prieron Goose.
Cereopsis Australis, Sw. (Fig. 32.)

Cinereous grey : wing covers and lesser quills tipt with
dark roundish spots.

Cereopsis Nove Hollandizw, Latham, Ind. Ornith. Supp. \xvii.
Auct. Cereopsis, Bennett, in Zool. Gard. ii. $15. Anser
griseus, Vieillot. _Cereopsis cendre, Temm. Pl. Col. 206.
New Holland Cereopsis, Lath. Gen. Syn. li. 325.

The pigeon goose
(so called from the si-
milarity of its colour--
ing, no less than its
direct analogy to those
birds) remained for
many years so little
known to ornitholo-
gists, that only three
preserved specimens
were ascertained to
exist in the European
museums. One of
these, mutilated, was,
no doubt, the cause of
considerable error to
Dr. Latham, when he first separated this bird as the
type of his genus Cereopsis; a name, however, which,
from not being founded in fact, but tending to give a

PIGEON GOOSE. 219

false idea of its structure, is so objectionable, that we
trust some of our higher ornithologists will propose a
better.

Within these few years, however, the Cereopsis has
become not only a living inhabitant of our menageries,
but a perfectly naturalised species. The late Mr. Bennett,
who has very ably and ingeniously drawn up a complete
history of the bird, mentions that the Zoological Society,
in the year 1831, possessed no less than eight living
specimens; some of which belonged to George IV.’s
menagerie at Windsor, ‘* where they bred as freely as
the emus” and several other Australian animals; having
all descended from one pair originally brought to this
- country. They are perfectly tame, and in their manners
resemble geese, but show more disposition to become
familiar.

Its manners in a state of nature may be gathered
from the various accounts of voyagers ; for Mr. Bennett
has clearly shown that this bird has been indirectly
menticned in their narratives for upwards of thirty
years. From the notes of captain Flinders, it appears to
be partially migratory. Laballardiere tells us, that many
of those first seen by his crew, suffered themselves to be
taken by the hand; but. the rest became alarmed and
took to flight. Considerable numbers were taken by
captain Flinders’s crew, both at Lucky Bay and Goose
Island, by knocking them down with sticks ; some being
secured alive. According to M. Bailly, who met with
them at Preservation Island, the pigeon geese were so
abundant, and so tame, that his crew procured sufficient
to subsist upon during their stay there. All agree in
extolling the delicacy of its flesh.* It seems to confine
itself to the coast, and to feed chiefly upon grass; and
rarely takes to the water: its usual weight is from seven
to ten pounds. According to captain Bass, it has “a
deep, hoarse, clanging, and though a short, yet an in-
flexed voice ;” a description which Mr. Bennett says is
very accurate. With such a desirable bird for domes-

* Bennett, loc. cit.

290 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

tication as the Australian farmers possess in the pigeon
goose, which seems to be altogether much tamer than
ours, it is really surprising they have neglected its pro-
pagation: yet such seems to be the fact; for although
Mrs. Lewin, who had resided in Australia many years,
informed Dr. Latham, that, ‘ with little management,
it becomes very tame and familiar, so as to be domesti-
cated with our common goose,” its cultivation seems
to be so far abandoned, that the bird is spoken of by
naturalists who subsequently visited the colony, as very
rare ; they having only seen a single specimen in the
governor's garden.

We shall now give Mr. Bennett’s description of the
plumage, as it was no doubt taken from the living spe-
cimens before alluded to. ‘The pigeon goose ‘‘is about
the size of the common goose, which it resembles in its
form, excepting the comparative length of the bill and legs.
A broad patch on the top of the head is of a dull white ;
and the rest of the plumage of a dingy grey, deeper on
the upper than on the under parts; having the extremity
of each of the feathers of the back margined with a
lighter band; and most of the wing covers, and second-
ary quill feathers marked with rounded dusky spots
of from two to four lines in diameter: on the feathers
of the back and shoulders the spots are much larger,
assume an angular or semilunar form, and approach
more nearly the general colour of the plumage: the
quill feathers, both of the wings and tail, are dusky
black throughout the greater part of their extent: the
naked extremity of the bill is black; but the broadly
expanded cere of a light straw or lemon colour; and
the irides are light hazel: the naked parts of the legs
are reddish orange; but the toes, claws, and webs are
black ; this colour being continued in a stripe a little
way in front of the leg.

The ornithologist cannot fail to recognise, in the more
scientific characters of this remarkable bird, given else-
where*, the many extraordinary analogies it presents,

® Class. of Birds, ii, 191. 366. |

SEMIPALMATED GOOSE: 2907

in all parts of its structure and colours, to the tenui-
rostral type of the ‘class Avis ; for such do we consider
is the station it occupies in its own circle. It is the
most aberrant of all the geese, and consequently has the
toes but slightly webbed, the legs are unusually long,
and it seldom takes to the water; thus representing
the grallatorial waders. Like the pigeons, again, it has
the base of the bill excessively swollen, as if tumid ;
while its grey colour and spotted wing covers make it
almost a counterpart of some of the little ground doves
of America ; all these being representatives of one and
the same type—namely, the tenuirostral.

Tue SEMIPALMATED Goose.

Dendrocygna semipalmata, Sw.

Head, neck, wings, and middle of the back deep brown H
the rest of the plumage white: bill brown: legs
red.

Anas semipalmata, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. \xix. Semipalmated
Goose, Gen. Syn. il. 347. pl. 139. Gen. Hist. x. 295. pl.
178. (a repetition of the former plate). ‘

Whether this is a goose, or a duck, is altogether un-
certain ; but its singular conformation, no less than its
being an inhabitant of rivers, renders it a most desir-
able acquisition to our living collections of this family.
We therefore here introduce it, for the purpose of
calling the attention of our settlers in New South Wales
to the interest which attaches to the species. Dr. La-
tham, hitherto its only describer, gives the following
imperfect account : —

“This is nearly the size of the wild goose. Bill
brown ; the cere at the base passing on each side to the
eye: irides bluish: head, neck, and thighs brownish
black ; round the lower part of the neck white, ex-
tending to the beginning of the back, and all beneath :
the rump is also white: the rest of the back, and
wings, deep brown ; quills and tail darker, approaching

929. ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

to black: legs red ; toes webbed only for about half
way from the base. In some birds, the white sur-
rounds the neck as a collar; in others, it extends between
the shoulders to the back.

<‘TInhabits New Holland: found in flocks near Hawks-
bury river, and called New South \Wales goose: its
note said to be tuneful and melodious ; and is some-
times observed to perch in trees, in the manner of the
whistling duck. The native name is Newal Gang.”

The trachea of this species, independent of its
length, is singularly situated ; for, after passing down
on the fore part of the neck in the usual way, it makes
several folds on the outside of the breast, under the skin,
before it enters the cavity. Dr. Latham, however, seems
never to have seen the bird itself; for he expresses his
thanks to Mr. Lambert for the figure which is engraved
on his 178th plate ; and he intimates as much in regard
to the trachea, which he also figures. But the truth
is, the doctor’s style of writing is so vague, and at
times so careless and ungrammatical, that we are per-
petually at a loss to understand the meaning he intends
to convey.

Tue Rep-BItLeED Wuistiine Duck.

Dendrocygna erythroryncha, Sw.

Chestnut rufous: crown, body beneath, quills, and tail
black ; shoulder covers bright orange; greater and
lesser covers white: bill red: cheeks light ash.

Anas Autumnalis Linn., Auct. Siffleur a bee rouge, Buff.
Pl. Enl. 826. Red-billed Whistling Duck, Edwards, pl.
194. Gen. Syn. vi. 498.

Our menageries, so far as we can learn, are still
without this very interesting and, to us, rare species ;
for although it would appear to be well known in the
West Indies, and to be very common in New Grenada,
on the opposite part of the American continent, it is so
rare, even in museums, that we have not yet been able
to examine it. Edwards has figured it on his 194th

\

RED-BILLED WHISTLING DUCK. 993

plate ; and as his descriptions are always remarkably
exact, we shall here abridge what he says respecting it.
His specimen was alive, and had been brought from the
West Indies “by the name of the Whistling Duck.”
In the General Synopsis it is stated, but without the au-
thority being quoted, that ‘it is very common at New
Grenada, and frequently kept tame in the farm.yards
between the tropics ; but it is apt to be quarrelsome, and
will often flyaway. The Spaniards call it Pisesic, from
its voice ; it is known to the English by the name of
Spanish main duck, is now and then seen alive in our
menageries in Heslnnds and is said to have propagated in
an aviary at Schénbrun in Sweden.”

Edwards’s account:may be thus abridged :—Size of he
common tame duck, but the length of its legs makes it
much higher. Bill bright red, yellowish round the nos-
trils, and black at the point: iris dark hazel: sides of
the head and chin light ash ; crown and nape black ;
the neck, breast, and back are of a dull red or brick
colour, light on the breast, and darkest above ; spurious
wings and primaries black ; tertials dark brick-coloured
red: the greater and lesser wing covers are white, so as
to form a large white spot on the middle of the wing :
the shoulder covers, however, are bright orange colour ;
above which, and round the outer margin of the wing,
the feathers are black ; this colour being continued to the
spurious quills; the whole body and thighs are black ;
but where the red on the breast and the black on the
belly unite, these blended colours form a dusky ash: the
under tail covers are whitish, with small black marks
tending the lengthway of the feathers : the tail is black,
and a little pointed ; the rump and upper tail covers are
black. The legs are bare of feathers a little above the
knees: the toes are webbed as in other ducks, the inner
toes having lateral webs on their insides: legs and feet
fiesh-colour ; the claws black.

We are strongly disposed to join in the conjecture of
Edwards, that this bird is the female of his black-billed
whistling duck, which systematists have always kept

294 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

~

wo

distinct under the name of Anas arborea, and of which
the following account is given by Latham, probably
from the living specimen he subsequently mentions : —
** Less than a mallard. Bill black: irides hazel: crown
of the head dusky, somewhat crested at the back part,
and rufous brown: neck long and slender ; hind part of
it brown ; back and scapulars the same, but the margins
of the feathers rufous: sides of the head and throat
white: fore part of the neck white ; breast pale rufous ;
both the latter spotted with black: belly, thighs, and
vent like the neck ; but the spots are smaller, and most
numerous on the sides: wing covers rufous, spotted with
black :’ rump, and upper tail covers, dark brown, edged
with rufous ; quills and tail dusky: legs longer than in
the common duck, and lead-colour: claws black.

“ Inhabits Jamaica, where it is remarked for making
a whistling kind of noise, and is said to build in trees:
in some seasons migrates into Guinea, and other neigh-
bouring parts, and is valued for food. I once received,”
continues the doctor, ‘‘ a living specimen from Jamaica,
and kept it in my garden ; but it was in the highest
degree wild, and even ferocious ; it would by no means
become familiar, and rarely would take any food while
any one was near to observe it.” *

We are induced to suspect that the last described
bird is a female, chiefly on account of its plumage. It
rarely happens, either in the subfamily of Anserine, or
in that of Anatine, (the first comprehending the geese,
the latter the ducks,) that the males have not a distinct
and decided tone of colouring on their plumage, not
broken into spots of uniformly plain colours, as we see
in female birds, and in the supposed Anas arborea of
authors. Whether this bird, however, be the female of
the red-billed species, or of some other, must be still a
question. With so many of our countrymen in the
regions where these birds are found, we really hope
some further information may be sent of them to the
Ornithological Society.

* Gen. Hist. of Birds, x. 298.

COMMON SHELDRAKE. 225

Tae Common SHELDRAKE.
_Tadorna Bellonii, Leach. (Fig. 33.)

Head and neck greenish black: pectoral band, and under
tail covers, rufous: vent and abdominal band black :
bill red: legs flesh-colour.—The male.

Anas Tadorna, Linn., Auct. Tadorna Bellonii, Leach, Gen.
Zool. xii. 2.72. Tadorna Vulpanser, Selby, sll, of Brit. Orn.
ii. 289. Tadorne, Buff. Pl. Eni. 53. Canard tadorne,
Temm. Man. ii. 833. Sheldrake, or Burrow Sheldrake, of
British Authors.

The sheldrake, one of the most elegant of our native
ducks, deserves to be added to our list of tameable species ;
for although, in a state of nature, it is rarely seen on the
fresh waters of this country, it is well known, as Mr.
Selby says, to thrive very well when confined to fresh-
water ponds. Indeed, it is so much prized and sought
after for that purpose, that the inhabitants of the coast
are in the practice of watching the old birds to their
nests during the breeding season, and digging up the
eggs. These are placed under a hen or tame duck ; but
great care and attention are requisite in rearing the
young ; and it is seldom that above three or four sur-
vive from a hatching of adozen eggs. The young soon
become tolerably tame, and answer to the call of the
person who feeds them: when fully fledged, however,
being very active birds, they are apt to stray away; and
if left with their pinions unmutilated, generally, in time,
fly entirely off; although they sometimes return after an

Q

‘296 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

absence of many months.* They rarely breed in con-
finement ; but Mr. Selby has known one instance, and
Montagu mentions another, in which the birds, after
the lapse of some years, and having the range of an ex-
tensive piece of water, produced a brood of nine. The
eggs are of an oval form, both ends equally rounded;
and are either of a pure white, or with a very faint
tinge of green: they are usually hatched in thirty days.

The sheldrake enjoys a wide geographic range, being
found in all the temperate and northern parts of Europe :
it even extends to Iceland; but is there said to be only a
summer visiter : with us it remains during the whole
year, and does not, like so many others of its family,
quit its native haunts ; nor do they change their mates
at the breeding season. Naturally, the sheldrake is a
marine duck ; and Mr. Selby observes that it is very
common upon such parts of the Northumbrian coast as
abound in sand hills ; the numbers being cften consider-
ably increased by flocks which pass to and from the
more northerly parts of Europe: they delight in such
sandy tracts as abound in rabbit burrows— breeding in
such as have been deserted ; in these the females build
their nests of dried grass and fine down, often ten or
twelve feet from the entrance of the aperture. Their
natural food consists of small marine animals and sea
weeds, but when domesticated, or in captivity, they thrive
very well upon grain, and the usual food of ordinary
ducks.

The sheldrake is nearly two feet in length. The whole
of the bill is of a rich blood red: the irides are brown ;
and the feet flesh-coloured: head, and half of the neck,
dull green; the lower part being white: the wing covers,
the back, the sides, the rump, and the base of the tail
are also pure white: the scapulars, the quills, the vent,
and the tips of the tail are deep black ; and there is a
broad band on’ the middle of the belly of the same
colour: on the breast is another broad band of rufous
red, which reaches to the interscapulars: the under tail

* Selby, Illust. of Brit. Orn. ii, 291.

MUSK DUCK. go"

covers are also rufous: the speculum or mirror on the
wings is green, glossed with purple.

The female is rather smaller ; and has merely a small
whitish spot at the base of the bill, in lieu of the fleshy
protuberance possessed by the male: the band on the
breast is not so broad ; and the black one on the belly
is very straight, and is often variegated with irregular
whitish spots. The trachea of the male differs from
that of any European duck: it is furnished with a
labyrinth ccmposed of two roundish bladders of a most
delicate texture, one of which is larger than the other ;
both are uneven on the surface, and of so tender a fabric
as scarcely to bear the pressure of the finger without
fracture.

Tue Musk Duck.
Tadorna moschata, Sw.

Black, irregularly varied with white: bill with the base
and tip blue, and the middle red: skin round the eye
naked, red, and tuberculated.

Anas moschata, Linneus, Auct. Anas sylvestris Braziliensis,
Ray, Synop. 148.1, Le Canard musque, Buffon, Pl. Enl.
989. Le gran Canard, Azara, Voy. ed. Sonnini, iv. No.
427. p. 327. Muscovy Duck, Lath. Synop. vi. 476. Gen.
Hist. x. 268.

This singular species has long been a domesticated
tenant of our farm and poultry yards; although of late
years it is by no means so commonly seen as formerly.
It was well known to Willughby and Ray, — the fathers
of systematic ornithology, at least in this country, —as
a native of South America; but, by a singular fatality,
nearly all the writers who succeeded, got an idea that
it came originally from Russia; and hence the vulgar
and erroneous name of Muscovy duck. Such mistakes
among the writers of the last century were naturally to
be expected; but when we find, in the latest of our
compiled systems, that this tropical American bird “ is
said to be in a wild state about the Lake Baikal in

Q 2

228 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Asia,” we are led to distrust, and justly, all the other
localities that are mentioned by the writer.

Little or nothing worth repeating was known of the
habits of the musk duck, until the appearance of the ad-
mirable work by Azara, on the animals of Paraguay.
We are there informed, that it generally is found soli-
tary, or in pairs, but sometimes in flocks of from twenty
to thirty, although it never migrates. It feeds not
only on what it finds (des productions) in the rivers
and stagnant waters, but, according to: the general
opinion, on the roots of the manioc *, on maize, and
other vegetables, which it searches for during moonlight
nights. Although generally on the ground during the
day, it always roosts upon trees. It is very shy, ex-
cept at such times— generally at the break of day —as it
feeds, when it may be approached more readily. It be-
gins to lay in the beginning of September ; and generally
deposits ten or more eggs in the hollow of a tree, some-
what elevated from the ground, or sometimes in a fork
of its branches ; the nest, in this latter case, being lined
with the bird’s own feathers. When hatched, the mo-
ther conveys the young to the nearest water, by carry-
ing them, one by one, in her bill. Its note is low and
guttural, not unlike the syllable ha. It is the largest
species found in Paraguay, and is called Ypeguaza by
the Indians, and Pato reale o grande (Grand or Royal
Duck) by the Spaniards.

The musk duck, in its naturally wild state, according
to Azara, has the whole of the plumage entirely black,
varied with green and violet reflections: some indivi-
duals, however, have a few white dots on the hinder
part of the head, and on all the wing covers: the feet
are black; the irides yellow: the bill is black, with a
transverse band of cerulean blue close to the nostrils,
and a spot of the same at its tip; between these is another

* Tam inclined to doubt this fact very strongly : the root of this plant,
before the juices are artificially expressed, is a deadly poison, both to man
and beast. It is even a well-known fact, in Brazil, that if fowls or poultry

sip up the juice that runs from the pressing mill, they are sure to die. This,
indeed, I have witnessed.

SUMMER DUCK. 229

of red. The male measures 34 inches, but the female
only 263. The great peculiarity of the species is in
the naked warty skin surrounding the eye, which is of
a rich red, which exists in both sexes, but is more con-
spicuous in the female.

In a domesticated state, the sides of the head, throat,
and fore part of the neck are white, varied with black,
and having more or less white on all the under plumage :
the three first quills are also white ; the nine following
dusky brown, edged without, and tipt with green gold:
tail green gold ; the two outer feathers white.

It is said that the musk will pair with the common
duck, and produce a cross breed ; but we have a parti-
eular aversion to such mongrel things, which, where no
object of utility is gained, we look upon as the deform-
ities, rather than as exhibiting the beauties, of nature.
The fiesh of the musk duck is highly flavoured ; and,
from the size of the bird, it certainly is a species well
worthy of being more extensively propagated than it is
at present ; the singularity, also, of its tuberculated face
would render it a curious, if not an elegant, companion
among the more attractive ducks of our aquatic pre-
serves. It may here be mentioned, that its specific
name is derived from the whole bird possessing a slight
odour of musk,— a circumstance we have observed by no
means uncommon in those Brazilian woodpeckers consti-
tuting the typical species of the genus Malacolaphus.

Tue Summer or Tree Duck.
Dendronessa sponsa, Swains. (Fig. 34.)
Crest procumbent, varied with green, blue, and white.

Anas sponsa, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1.539. Latham, Ind. Orn. ii.
$71. Dendronessa sponsa, Sw. Northern Zool. ii. 446.
Canard huppé, Buffon, Pl. Eni. 980,981. Summer Duck,
Catesby’s Carolina, i. pl. 97. Edwards, pl. 101. Wilson, viii.
pl. 60. f. 3. Franklin's Journ. p. 702.

The exquisite beauty of this duck is only surpassed by
that of the Dendronessa galericulata, commonly, but

a

Q 09

230 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

very improperly, called the Chinese Tea/ ; and these two
form the only examples yet discovered of the raserial
type of the river ducks. Possessing this analogy, we
consequently find they are more easily tamed than most
others; and hence they have been long known as the
most elegant of those swimmers which thrive in our
menageries.

The summer duck is strictly confined to the New
World, where it represents that species which is equally
peculiar to the temperate regions of Asia. Its southern
range appears not to extend beyond Mexico ; while Dr.
Richardson met with it so far north as lat. 54°, in the
month of June. It does not appear, however, to be one
of those which invariably migrate northerly, for Wilson
says that many are occasionally seen during the whole of
the winter in those states that lie south of the Potowmac.
It is called the wood or tree duck, from its breeding in
hoilow trees ; and the summer duck, from remaining in
the warmer provinces during the whole of summer. It
seems to be almost an exclusive inhabitant of fresh
waters, as it rarely visits the shores of the salt marshes:
its favourite haunts are the solitary, deep, and muddy
creeks, ponds, and mill-dams of the interior. Its nest
is frequently made in old hollow trees overhanging the
water ; but instances have been known where the nest
was constructed of a few sticks laid in a fork of the
branches. Wilson mentions an instance of a nest built

SUMMER DUCK. 931

in an old white oak on the banks of a stream, whose
top had been torn off by a storm. In this hollow and
broken top, about six feet down, on the soft decayed
wood, lay thirteen eggs, snugly covered with down.
This tree had been oceupied, as there was reason to
suppose, by the same pair, for four successive years, A
person who had lived near the spot, said that he had
seen the female, the preceding spring, carry down thir-
teen young, one by one, in less than ten minutes:
she caught them in her bill by the wing or back of
the neck, and landed them safely at the foot of the
tree, whence she afterwards led them to the water.
The male usually perched upon an adjoining branch,
where he kept watch while the female was laying, and
often while she was sitting. A tame goose had chosen
a hollow space at the foot of the same tree, to lay and
hatch her young in.

The summer duck seldom associates in flocks of more
than three or four, and they are all probably of the same
family. The common note of the drake is peet, peet ;
but when, standing sentinel, he sees danger, he makes a
noise not unlike the crowing of a young cock, oe eck, oe
eek. Their chief food seems to be acorns, wild oats,
and insects. So very tame does this elegant bird be-
come when domesticated, that it will permit one to stroke
its back with the hand. Some time ago, an American
gentleman, who had a remarkable fondness for this
species, had a whole yard swarming with them ; they
had been so completely domesticated, that they bred, and
were as familiar as any other poultry. They are well
known in this country among the dealers in live birds ;
and may generally be procured, although at a somewhat
high price. It is much smaller than the common do-
mestic duck.

The colour of the male may be thus described :
— Upper part of the head and lores glossy dark green ;
cheeks, and a large patch on the sides of the
throat, purple, glossed with blue: from the hind head is
an elegant pendent crest of green and auricula purple,

Q 4

932 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

marked with two narrow white lines—one of which ter-
minates behind the eye, the other extends over the eye
to the bill: the sides of the neck are purplish red,
changing on the front of the neck and sides of the
breast to brown, and there spotted with white: the
scapulars, wings, and tail exhibit various beautiful re-
flections of duck-green, purple, blue, and velvet-black :
the interscapulars, lower part of the back, rump, and
upper tail covers are blackish green and dark purple ;
but several of the lateral covers are reddish orange: on
each side of the rump is a splendid reddish purple tuft ;
but the under covers are brown: the chin, throat, mid-
dle of the breast, and the whole of the abdomen, together
with a collar round the neck, and a crescent-shaped bar
on the ears, are all pure white: the flanks are delicately
undulated with black lines upon a yellowish grey ground ;
the tips of the longest feathers, and also those on the
shoulders, being broadly barred with white and black:
inner wing covers white, barred with brown. Nearly all
the coloured parts of the plumage are glossed with
metallic tints: the bill is red; the space between the
nostrils, the tip, the margins, and the whole of the
lower mandible being black: the legs and irides are of a
rich orange. The female differs but little from the male:
the crest is shorter, and the colours of the plumage are
less vivid ; the flanks are not undulated, and the tufts
on the sides of the rump are wanting.

According to Mr. Abbot, who communicated many of
his observations on the birds of Georgia to Dr. Latham,
the summer duck is very common there, and in Louisi-
ana, the whole winter, and sometimes breeds there. He
mentions a very singular faculty possessed by the young,
which admirably illustrates its analogy to the rasorial,
and consequently to the scansorial, type of nature; for,
says he, “if you put the young into a tub, they will
climb out by means of the bill and feet.” This species
is stated to inhabit Mexico and some of the West Indian
islands: this is probable, but we can find no proper
authority for these localities.

MANDARINE. 233

Tue Manparine, or CuineseE Summer Duck.
Dendronessa galericulata, Sw.

Anas galericulata, Linn. ed. Gmelin, i. 5382. Chinese Teal,
Edwards, pl. 102. Latham, Gen. Synop. vi. 548. Gen. Hist.
x. 363. Sarcelle de la ‘China, Buffon, pl. 805, 806. Kin-
modsui, Kempf. Jap. 129. pl. 10. fig. 3.

This superb and imposing bird is the most striking
in its appearance of all the ducks yet discovered. In
its native country, which is China and Japan, it is by
no means uncommon ; and it seems to be there as much
admired for the beauty of its plumage as it is in Europe.
In the markets of Canton they may be commonly seen
exposed for sale in cages, and sold at from six to ten
dollars a pair. They are purchased by Europeans, and
often arrive in this country alive ; but either from a pe-
culiar delicacy of constitution, or, what is more probable,
from ignorance or negligence in their management, they
have not yet been known to breed with us. It is pro-
bable, also, that, unless a genuine pair have been pro-
cured from an authentic source, the supposed female
may belong to the American summer duck ; since Dr.
Latham affirms that the latter is so like that of the
Chinese sort, as to be readily mistaken for it. The
Chinese draftsmen are very fond of representing this
species, both upon their paper-hangings and more finished
drawings. We know, as yet, nothing of its manners
either in its wild or captive state. But the following
description of its plumage will sufficiently distinguish
it from the American species.

The size is rather larger than our common teal. The
bill is pale flesh-colour, when the bird is alive ; but dull
red afterwards: the feathers on the hind part of the
head and nape férm a lengthened incumbent crest,
having a greenish black stripe on the top of the head
and the middle of the crown : the lores are pale rufous:
the sides of the head are occupied by a broad white
stripe, which narrows beyond the ear, and then passes
into the dark glossy green of the crest: the feathers

234 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

round the upper half of the neck and throat are long
and pointed, as in the domestic cock*, and dull orange ;
but the lower part of the neck, and part of the breast, is
chestnut : on each side of the breast are three trans-
verse black stripes, divided by two others of white ; the
scapulars also are black, margined with white: the back
and rump are dusky brown, glossed with green blue: the
Wing spot, or speculum, is blue green, bordered below
with white ; some of the secondary quills are singularly
formed, — the outer web being very broad and curved
upwards, so as to stand upright when the wing is closed ;
the broader web is pale chestnut, tipt with black ; but
the other web is narrow, and of the same dusky black
as the other quills: the tail is pointed, of a dull brown,
edged with blue green: the sides of the body are light
fulvous, crossed transversely with delicate lines of black:
lower part of the breast, and belly, white.

The female, according to Latham, is not unlike that
of the summer duck ; but has two bars of white upon
the wing: the breast seems more clouded with brown ;
and the spots are not of a triangular shape, but rounded:
at first sight, however, there appears very little differ-
enee between the females of the two species.

Tue AMERICAN WIDGEON.
Mareca Americana, Rich. (Fig. 35.)

Plumage waved with rufous and black; front and
crown cream-coloured white: behind the eyes a black
green stripe : wing covers white in the middle.

Mareca Americana, Rich. Northern Zoology, ii. 446. Anas
Americana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1.526. Latham, Index Orn.

ii. 361. Canard Jensen, Buff. Pl. Enl. 955. Amierican
Wigeon, Wilson’s Amer. Orn, vill. pl. 69. f. 4.

This is one of the most beautiful of the North
American ducks, and well deserves every effort being
made to render it as familiar an inhabitant of our

* This is another analogy to the rasorial order.
t+ Gen. Hist. x. 363.

r

/AMERICAN WIDGEON. 935

waters as the English species, Although long in-
corporated in our systems, its manners, which are very
peculiar, were first made known by Wilson. He says
that it is of a sprightly, frolicsome disposition, and,
with proper attention, might easily be domesticated.
It seems to be very common in winter, along the whole
coast of the United States, from Florida to Rhode
Island; but it is particularly abundant among the rice
plantations of Carolina. From some of these localities,
we trust, the transatlantic friends of the Ornithological
Society will soon transmit a few brace.

This widgeon is the constant companion of the well-
known canvas-backed duck of the American rivers, by
the aid of whose labour he procures his most favourite
food. The widgeon is extremely fond of the tender
roots of a particular aquatic plant on which the canvas-
back chiefly feeds, and for which that duck is in the
constant habit of diving. The widgeon, who cannot
dive, watches the moment of the canvas-back’s rising ;
and before he has, after his plunge, well opened his
eyes, suddenly snatches the prize from his mouth, and
makes off. On this account, the two species live in a
state of perpetual contention. The widgeon scarcely
feeds during the day ; but in the evening it comes out
from its hiding-place, and is then easily discovered by
its peculiar note, resembling a soft whistle, or the words
whew, whew. Although so abundant, they are not
known to breed in any part of the United States: to

236 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

perform this office, however, they depart northward in
April, and, according to Mr. Hutchins, appear upon
the coasts of Hudson's Bay in May, chiefly in pairs :
the female lays from six to eight eggs ; and after stng
their young, the whole depart in flocks to the southward
inthe autumn. Its most southern limits appear to be
the lakes of Mexico, from whence we have received spe-
cimens answering to those of the United States.

The following is the description of the male bird in
full plumage : — A white or cream-coloured band ex-
tends from the forehead to the nape, bounded behind
the eye by a broad dark-green patch, which ends in the
nuchal crest: the upper parts and sides of the breast are
deep vinaceous red, glossed with grey: base of the neck
above, interscapulars, scapulars, and flanks minutely
undulated with brownish red and black: hind part of
the back undulated in a similar manner with clove
brown and white; the latter colour prevailing on
the tail covers: lesser wing covers, primaries, and tail
dark brown; intermediate and greater covers, sides
of the rump, breast, and belly pure white: the wing
spot, or speculum, is velvet-black below, and duck
or rich green above, bounded on one side with
black, and on the other with white: the outer webs of
the tertials, and also the lateral and under tail covers,
are greenish black ; the former bordered with white :
bill bluish grey, bordered and tipped with black. The
female has the upper plumage dark liver brown, edged
and remotely crossed with pale brown and white: the
intermediate wing covers are merely edged with white ;
and the head is destitute of the green band seen in the
male. The tail of the male is acutely pointed ; but that
of the female is shorter, and not so tapering. The total
length of the male is almost two feet ; but that of the
female is nearly ten inches shorter: the bill is particu-
larly short, being not so long as the head; and the
lamina on the side are similar to those of the English
mallard, or wild duck.

MALLARD.

a2)
Se)
xj

Tue Mariarp, or Common Duck.

Boschas domestica, Sw.

Boschas major, Ray, Willughby, Synop. 150. A. i. Anas
domestica, Linn., Auct. Anas boschas, Bonaparte, Syn.
324, The Mallard, Pennant, Arct. Zool. ii. 536 Wilson,
viii. pl. 60. f. 7. Canard sauvage, (Anas boschas) Temm.
Manuel, ii. 835. Stock Duck, Hudson’s Bay Residents.

The common mallard, or wild duck, the rasorial type
of the genus Anas, and that from which all the va-
rieties of our domestic races have sprung, is so well
known, that it would not have been introduced in this
volume, but for the object of giving greater currency
to the methods employed in America, where it is equally
common, for securing it; and the more especially, as the
same plan might be pursued with equal advantage in
the capture of other species under like circumstances.
For this information we are indebted to Wilson, who, .
after giving a full account of the colours of the bird,
proving it to be identical with that of Europe, thus
proceeds : —

** The common wild duck is found in every freshwater
lake and river of the United States in winter ; but sel-
dom frequents the sea-shore or salt marshes. In summer,
they retire to the north ; although instances have been
known of some solitary pairs breeding in the United
States in autumn. The nest is usually placed in the
most solitary recesses of the marsh or bog, amidst the
grass or reeds; and generally contains from twelve to
sixteen eggs, of a dull greenish white. The young are
led and protected in the same manner as by the tame
duck ; but with a superior caution, a cunning, and
watchful vigilance peculiar to her situation. The mal-
lard is numerous in the rice plantations of the southern
States during winter; and as many of the fields are
then inundated, and the scattered grains of rice from
the late harvest float upon the surface, the ducks swim
about and feed at pleasure.”

The American method of decoying wild ducks is not

238 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

generally known, and is as follows: — ‘ In such pieces
of water as are frequented by these birds, five or six
wooden figures, cut and painted so as to resemble real
ducks, and sunk, by pieces of lead nailed on their
bottoms, so as to float at the usual depth on the surface,
are anchored in a favourable position for the gunner, \
who lies in concealment on shore: the appearance of
these usually attracts passing flocks, which alight, and
are shot down. Sometimes eight or ten of these painted
wooden ducks are fixed on a frame, in various swimming
positions, and secured to the bow of the gunner’s skiff,
projecting before it in such a manner that the weight
of the frame sinks the figures to their proper depth ; the
skiff is then dressed with sedge or coarse grass, in an
artful manner, as low as the water’s edge; and under
cover of this, which appears like a party of ducks
swimming by a small island, the gunner may float down
to the very skirts of a large flock, and pour in a de-
structive and repeated fire among them. In winter,
when detached pieces of ice are occasionally floating in
the rivers, some of the gunners on the Delaware paint
their whole skiff or canoe white ; and laying themselves
flat at the bottom, with their hand over the side, silently
managing a small paddle, direct it imperceptibly among
or close te a whole flock, before the birds have distin-
guished it from a floating mass of ice; and by this
artifice the gunners generally make great havoc among
them : indeed, a whole flock, in this manner, have been
suddenly surprised when asleep, with their heads under
their wings. On land, another stratagem is sometimes
practised with great success: a large tight hogshead is
sunk in the flat marsh, or mud, near the place were
ducks are accustomed to feed at low water, and where
otherwise there is no shelter; the edges and tops are
artfully concealed with tufts of long coarse grass and
reeds or sedges ; from within this, the gunner, unseen
and unsuspected, watches his collecting prey, and, when
a sufficient number offers, sweeps them down with great
effect.

MALLARD. 239

The Roan Duck of Abbot, slightly noticed by that
well known collector to Dr. Latham, and placed by
him as one of the varieties of the mallard, may pro-
bably be a distinct species ; and deserves to be imported
into this country, from Savannah in Georgia, where,
according to Abbot, they are in great plenty about the
beginning of November: they seem to differ from ours,
not only in size, being full twenty-six inches long, but
by having the head ash-coloured, mixed with dusky
spots: the wing spot, or speculum, is like that of the
mallard, but is not bounded by white; neither are there
any curled feathers in the tail. The common length of
the full grown wild duck of this country is twenty-four
inches,

The imposing accounts of the celebrated decoys in
Lincolnshire, given by Pennant and Bewick, and other
writers, and the enormous multitudes of birds which
were then taken, will soon become by-gone histories :
even Montagu, who wrote so far back as 1813, observes,
that the common duck, as well as other wild fowl,
becomes scarcer every year in a country like this, where
agriculture makes such rapid progress; few, compara-
tively, remain to breed with us, since the more extensive
fens have been drained and converted into pasture.
The great fenny tracts in Lincolnshire do not produce
a dozen broods of wild fowl at present ; where, half a
century back, as many thousands were hatched. In a
tour through that country, observes colonel Montagu,
during the incubating season, we observed that the
mallards congregated while the ducks were sitting; it
is therefore probable, that, like the domestic ones, they
are mostly polygamous.

940 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue Briur-wineep Duck.
Boschas discors, Sw. (Fig. 36.)

Anas discors, Linn., Gmelin, i. §35. Wilson, viii. pl. 68. f. 4.
North. Zool. ii. Sarcelle Soucrourou, Pl. Enl. 866. male,
403. female. White-faced Duck, Arctic Zool. i. 5038.
Lath, Gen. Syn. vi. 502. male. Blue-winged Teal, Lath,
Gen. Syn. vi. 503.

The blue-winged duck is one of the smallest and
most elegant of “the American freshwater ducks ; and
although we have no evidence of its having been in
any way domesticated, yet there is nothing in its history
to induce the belief that it would not thrive very well,
if not propagate, on our inclosed waters. Although
long known to naturalists, who had classed the sexes as
distinct species, we must have recourse to the celebrated
ornithologist of America, the immortal Wilson, for all
that is interesting in its natural history.

The blue-winged duck is the first of its tribe that
returns to the United States in the autumn, from its
breeding-place in the north. They are usually seen in
September, along the shores of the Delaware, sitting
on the mud close to the edge of the water, so crowded
together, that the gunners often kill great numbers at a
single shot. When a flock is discovered thus sitting
and sunning themselves, the experienced sportsman runs
his canoe ashore at some distance below or above them,
and getting out, pushes it before him over the slippery
mud, concealing himself all the time behind: by this

BLUE-WINGED DUCK. QA]

method, he can sometimes approach within twenty yards
of the flock, among which he generally makes great
slaughter. They fly rapidly ; and when they alight,
they drop down suddenly among the reeds, or on the
mud, like the snipe or woodcock. They feed chiefly
upon seeds; and are very fond of those of the reeds,
and of wild oats. Catesby observes, that they come
into Carolina in August, and feed on the rice, remaining
there till October ; and when the rice fails, they attack
the wild oats. This writer also adds, that they chiefly
frequent the ponds and fresh waters. Their flesh is ex-
cellent: and after their living, for a short time, among
the reeds or rice plantations, they become very fat. As
the first frosts come on, they proceed to the south ; for
their constitution seems delicate, and very susceptible of
cold. It appears, however*, that Dr. Richardson met
with them on the banks of the Saskatchewan, in the month
of June, where they were very plentiful ; but they were
not observed by the officers of the expedition further
north than the 58th parallel. They abound, as Wilson
says, in the inundated rice fields, in the Southern States,
where vast numbers are taken in traps placed on small
dry eminences that here and there rise above the water:
these places are strewed with rice ; and by the common
contrivance called a figure four, they are caught alive
in hollow traps. In the month of April, they pass
through Pennsylvannia for the north; but make little
stay at that season. On the Hudson River, opposite the
Katskill Mountains, they are very numerous. In all
localities it appears quite a river bird, for it rarely
visits the sea shore. We have received specimens from
the lakes of Mexico, which seem to be the only authen-
ticated limits of its southern range.

The male has the upper plumage on the head, and
under tail covers, brownish black, with a very conspi-
cuous broad white crescent-shaped spot from the fore-
head to the chin, bordered all round with black : sides of

* North. Zool. ii. 436. 444.
R

942 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

the throat, and adjoining half of the neck, bright lavender

purple: the base of the neck above, the back, the ter-

tials, and the tail covers brownish and blackish green :

the fore parts, including the shorter scapulars, margined
and marked with semi-ovate pale brown bars : the larger

scapulars are longitudinally and very elegantly striped

with blackish green, light sky-blue, and pale brown:

the whole of the shoulder and lesser wing covers are of
a pure light or sky-blue; but the greater covers are

white, with their bases brown: the wing spot is of a

rich dark green: the primaries, their covers, and the

tail are liver-brown: sides of the rump, the longest

of the under wing covers, and the axillary feathers are

pure white: the under plumage pale reddish brown,

glossed with chestnut on the breast, and thickly marked

throughout with round blackish spots, which are changed

to bars on the breast and tips of the long flank feathers :

the bill is bluish black ; and the feet are yellow.

The female is so unlike the male, that, before Wilson
ascertained its identity, it was always thought a distinct
species. It wants the white patch on the sides of the
rump, the crescent before the eyes, and the rich purple
tint on the head and neck : the upper plumage is brown,
and the pale bars are less distinct; the under plumage
is white and brown, with irregular blotches of a darker
colour, instead of neat round spots: the wings as in
the male. The young birds want the green speculum
on the wings ; and in other respects are like the female.
The total length of the full grown male is about eighteen
inches.

GARGANY DUCK. Q43

Tue GarcGany Duck.
Boschas circia, Sw. (Fig. 37.)

Grey, varied with black; with a white stripe beyond the
eye: wings with a green speculum.

Anas circia, Linn., Auct., Selby, plate 53. male and female.
Anas Querquedula, Temm Man. ii. 844. Querquedula
circia, Leach, Cat. Brit. Mus. Selby, ii. 318. La Carcelle
d’été, Pl. Enl. 946. Temm. Man, ii. 844. Gargany Teal,
Summer Teal, of British Authors.

The vernacular name of Teal seems a common de
signation for all ducks of a very small size; and has
been extended not only to those comprised in the re-
stricted genus Anas, but to many others, such as the
Dendronessa galericulata, or mandarine duck, without
any regard to the true characters of the birds. In our
former paper on this family, we endeavoured to show
that there were not sufficient marks of difference between
the domestic duck and the ordinary teal, to authorise
their separation, even as subgenera ; and we have not,
therefore, adopted that of Querquedula, since the cha-
racters that have been assigned to it appear to me by
no means sufficient to warrant its separation.

The gargany is the most beautiful, in the delicacy
and variety of its colours, of all the species found in
Europe ; and being not only a river duck, but one that
shows the greatest aptitude for domestication, it is pe-
culiarly adapted to enliven and ornament our aquatic

R2

244 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

preserves. The following notice of its manners, given
by Fresch, in his account of the birds of the Nether-
lands, is so appropriate to our present purpose, that we
shall at once transcribe it.

** Soon after two of them coming into my possession,
I presented different seeds to them, which they did not
eat; but scarcely had I set before them a basin filled
with millet, than they eagerly ran to it. At every
mouthful which they took, each went to the water ; and
they carried so much of it in a short time, as completely
to soak the millet: yet still the grain was not sufficiently
moistened to their mind, and I saw them busied in
carrying millet and water to the ground of their pen,
which was of clay; and when the bottom was sufficiently
softened and tempered, they began to dabble and make
a pretty deep cavity, in which they ate their millet
mixed with earth. I put them in a room; and in the
same way they carried the millet and water, though to
very little purpose, to the deal floor. I led them to the
grass, and they seemed to do nothing but dig for seeds,
without eating the blades, or even earthworms ; but they
pursued flies, and snapped at them like ducks.* When
I delayed to give them their accustomed food, they
called for it with a feeble hoarse cry, like quoak, re-
peated every minute. In the evening they lay in the
corner; and even during the day, when any person
went near them, they hid themselves in the narrowest
holes. They lived there till the approach of winter ; but
when the severe cold set in, they both died suddenly.’’t

This latter catastrophe might, of course, have been
easily prevented, had the birds been removed into 2 warm

* A beautiful illustration of the analogy which all broad-billed birds have
to the fly-catchers, and consequently to the Fissivostres.

+ I cannot refrain, in this place, from calling the attention, not only of
the naturalist, but of the most inexperienced amateur, to this simple yet
interesting specimen of ornithological biography. It is replete with facts
which indicate the true nature of the bird; and of the circumstances by
which its affinities, in a great measure, are to be decided. What a fund
of valuable information would a collection of such anecdotes contain, if
every one who kept living birds in their possession, would note their man-
ners in the same way, and in the same simplicity of style; and how much
might thus be done, more especially by persons abroad, to inform us of the
habits of exotic species, of which we as yet know absolutely nothing!

GARGANY DUCK. 245

dwelling, within a temperature above the freezing point.
The gargany seems to be abundant in Holland; and it
might, therefore, be imported in sufficient numbers to
guard against such casualties.

This species is no less delicate in its shape than in its
constitution; for it is quite unknown in the northern
regions, while on the warm shores of the Mediterranean
it is by no means uncommon: we frequently met with
it on the Faro lakes, or rather marshes, near Messina ;
and also on those of Leontini and Syracuse. In Britain,
it is so rare as to be considered only an occasional
visiter ; and, even then, seems only to be found in Norfolk
and the warmer counties; for we are unacquainted with
any authenticated instance of its having been found in
the North of England, far less in the Orkney Islands, as
some writers have intimated. In its food and manners
it seems to resemble the common teal; feeding, as it is
alleged, upon larva, slugs, and insects *, as well as upon
the seeds of different aquatic plants, which it sifts in the
usual manner. It breeds only in temperate climates;
building its nest among thick plants and shrubs, in low
and damp meadows or marshes: the eggs are about ten
or a dozen, and of a yellowish green colour.

The gargany is stated to be widely spread over the
northern parts of Asia, as far as the frigid regions of
Kamtschatka: but this we do not believe; for, certainly,
if it could endure such a climate, it would have been
found also in the North of England, and even in Scot-
land. We are confirmed in its being an extra-arctic
species, by the localities mentioned by Temminck, who
evidently considers it as spreading only to the central pro-
vinces of Europe; nor is it known in North America.
We rather think that the common teal, or some other
species, has been mistaken for this, by such persons as
have given it a northern habitation.

The plumage of the male is as follows :—Crown of
the head blackish ; which colour is deeper on the chin

* This alleged fact, however, seems to be disproved by the foregoing
observations of Fresch.
R 3

2946 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

and throat: a white stripe passes through the eye, and
extends over the ears to the nape: the head and neck
are brownish rufous, sprinkled with small white spots ;
but the lower part of the neck and breast are variegated
with black bands : a white band extends down the mid-
dle of the scapulars, which are narrow, lengthened, and
pointed. The wing covers are bluish ash or cinereous;
the speculum of the wings is of a rich green, with a
delicate cinereous gloss, and is bordered by two white
lines: the body beneath is yellowish white, with the
flanks marked by zigzag black transverse lines: the bill
is blackish ; and the legs are dull lead-colour.

In the female, the white bands on the head are varied
with black spots : throat white: upper plumage blackish
brown; the feathers with their margins paler: the spe-
culum on the wings is not so bright ; and the lower
parts of the breast and belly are white: the flanks and
abdomen are spotted with brown. The young male
birds, so soon as they begin to throw off the dress of the
female, at the beginning of winter, are stated to have
the white throat; white intermixed with some dark
feathers ; the white eye-band, spotted with brown ; and
- other indications of the male sex.

It is really surprising, that such an acute observer as
Montagu should have placed this bird as a variety of
the common teal ; an error which renders all he has said
of the manners of the two species, as thrown into one,
perfectly useless.

Tue Beavutiruyt Duck.
Boschas formosa, Sw. (ig. 38.)

Sides of the head pale buff: chin, and band from thence
to the eye, velvet-black: sides of the neck with a
green stripe, ending in black, and bordered by white :
crown black, margined by a white line.

Anas formosa, Baikal Teal, Lath. Synop. vi. 557.

We introduce the description of this most elegant bird,
to stimulate the efforts of our collectors to effect its intro-

BEAUTIFUL DUCK. Q47

duction into this country. We were favoured with an
inspection of very perfect skins of the male and female,
some years ago, by J. E. Gray, Esq.; and we executed
figures of them for one of that gentleman’s unpublished
works ; but these still remain unavailable to science ; and
as there are several inaccuracies in the only description
of this bird that has yet been giver to the world, we
shall here insert our own. Mr. Gray’s specimens, if we
remember right, came from China. But as Dr. Latham
says it is found in Russia, about the Lake Baikal, there
can be but little doubt of its living in this country, if
properly protected against the severe cold of our winters.
Nothing whatever is known of its manners.

The size of this lovely bird is equal to that of the
common teal ; and the structure, with some few excep-
tions, is similar: the bill is equally high at the base,
but considerably narrower: the tail is much longer,
and exceeds the under tail covers by a fullinch ; where-
as, in Boschas crecca, or the common teal, the covers
are as long as the tail: the first quill feather is rather
shorter than the second, which is the longest ; and the
outer web is suddenly narrowed near the end: the long
scapulars reposing on the tertials, are narrow, and re-
semble, both in form and colour, those of the pintail
duck, — an affinity further manifested by the length of
the tail: the hind head is subcrested, like that of the
common teal; and the lamine of the bill are scarcely
seen beyond the margins of the upper mandible.

R 4

IAS ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

_We shall now make an effort, assisted by the annexed
figure, to give an adequate idea of the extreme beauty
of the plumage. The crown of the head is occupied by
a patch of deep brown, which begins at the front, and —
terminates in a point at the hind head: the ground
colour of the sides of the head, chin, and part of the
throat, is of a delicate nankeen yellow, having a narrow
transverse band of velvet-black from the eye to the
middle of the chin, which is also black : a large crescent-
shaped spot of bright green then begins behind the eye,
and makes a curve half way down the throat, where it
changes into velvet-black, and ends in a point ; this is
separated from the brown patch on the crown by another
band of pure white on each side of the head, which
almost meet on the hind head, and then becomes sud-
denly broader, but still forming a margin to the green:
all the rest of the throat and breast is vinaceous red,
varied with small round black spots, one at the tip of
each feather: this red is blended, on the sides of the
neck and breast, into an undefined band of light grey
(undulated with delicate blackish lines), which also ex-
tends to the shoulder covers: the sides and flanks of the
body are also of the same colour, and similarly marked :
the middle of the neck above, the whole of the back,
rump, and upper tail covers, are rather light, or hair
brown : lesser scapulars and lesser wing covers the same ;
but the tips of the latter are ferruginous, and form the
anterior side of the mirror, or wing-spot : this mirror oc-
cupies the whole of the greater wing covers, and is black,

. glossed at the base with a beautiful green, and margined
towards the quills with white: the long scapulars are
narrow and pointed, black in the middle, ferruginous on
the outside, and white on the middle margin: the terminal
under tail covers are velvet-black, with a white band on
each side the base of the tail ; the lesser tail covers being
pale yellowish white: the quills and tail are nearly the
colour of the back; but some of the secondaries, just
above the mirror, have white and black stripes: bill and
feet dark lead-colour.

JAVANESE DUCK. 249

The dimensions of the male above alluded to, were as
follows: — Size and length of the common teal. Bill

11, ; wings, -2,; tail beyond, 1-%,, the same from the

Le Qo j 9
base 34; tarsus 1.,°, ; middle toe ;°.

Tue Javanese Duck.
Boschas Javanica, Sw. (Lig. 40.)

Plumage of the body undulated with black transverse
concentric lines: head and nuchal crest chestnut,
glossed with coppery green: chin and neck pure
white ; the latter with a glossy green collar.

Anas Javanensis, Lath. Gen. Hist.

This is evidently a river duck; and, from its sin-
gular beauty, should be a species of primary import-
ance to the preserves of the Ornithological Society,
whose objects are more especially devoted to the aquatic
tribes. A preserved skin was sent from China, along
with that of the beautiful duck just described ; and we
trust that, through the exertions of some of our active
countrymen resident in its native country, living ex-
amples will soon be imported.

Whether this is the Javanese Teal of the Zoological
Society’s Catalogue, I know not, for the name of “ Anas
formosa, Pallas,’”’ is attached to that specimen ; this
latter name being our Beautiful Teal, or Latham’s
Baikal Teal. The following description, taken from a

250 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

t

specimen sent to Mr. Gray, and figured at the same
time as the preceding, will at once show how very
different it is from the Anas formosa of Pallas.

In regard to form and structure, the bill, in breadth, ©

contour, and elevation, is much more like that of the
mallard than of the common teal, although much less in
proportionate size: it 1s consequently more depressed
than that of B. crecca or formosa, and the upper lamine
project rather more than in those birds: the nape is
very conspicuously crested ; the longest feathers mea-
suring fully two inches: the tail is short, not longer
than the under covers; and the two outer feathers are
alone graduated: the wings are rather long ; the first
and second quills nearly equal ; and the second is ex-
ternally sinuated near the end of the outer shafts.

The affinities of this species appear to us to be closer
to those of the common wild duck (B. domestica), than
to any other of the group: this is indicated by the form
of the bill, the white collar round the neck, and by the
long wings and short tails, almost hid by the under
covers. The subgenus Boschas represents, in its own
circle, the eiders; and this may account for the dependent
long scapular covers, so conspicuous in this elegant
bird. ;

The colouring of the male, —the only sex we have yet
seen, —is very peculiar. The sides and upper part of the
head, as well as the nape, areof a full dark chestnut, richly
glossed with coppery green ; but the chin, and all round
the neck for about a quarter of its length, is pure white,
encircled with a narrow glossy green collar: the whole
of the plumage beyond this (excepting the wings and
ail), both above and below, is cinereous white ; each
feather being marked with concentric lines of black,
which give to the feathers a scale-like appearance; these
are broadest and darkest on the neck and breast, and
lightest and narrowest on the tertials and belly: the
wings are cinereous grey; the mirror deep velvet-black,
bordered towards the tail by a line of white, and above
by some of the secondaries being rich glossy green : the

COMMON GADWALL. 251

wing covers have no concentric lines: the long scapulars,
or rather the tertials, are much developed, and hang
down on each side over the primary quills ; their bases
are white ; beyond which they become black, but edged,
and divided in the middle, by white lines: the rump is
dusky, changing to deep: black on the upper and under
tail covers: at the base of the tail, on each side, is a
large triangular cream-coloured spot, bordered by velvet-
black: the bill and feet are dull lead-colour.

Size, larger than the Beautiful Duck. Total length
16 inches ; bill 1,7,; the breadth 4%: wings 9, and
reaching to the end of the tail ; tail, from the base 23 ;
tarsus, 1-%,.

Tue Common GapwALu.

Chauliodus strepera, Sw.

Above, brown, with pale undulations ; beneath, varied
with grey and white: speculum white, edged with
rufous.

Anas strepera, Linn., Auct., Wilson, Am. Orn. pl. 71. f. 1.
Canard chipeau, Buffon, Pl. Enl. 958. Temm. Man. ii. 837.
Chauliodus strepera, Sw., Journ. Roy. Inst. ii. 19, Selby, ii.
301. Gadwell, or Grey, of British Authors.

Although the gadwall cannot be ranked among the
most ornamental of our ducks, it is nevertheless an
agreeable acquisition to our preserves, as adding to the
variety and contrast of colour so desirable in collections.
Although a rare visiter with us, it may easily be pro-
cured from Holland, through the London dealers ; for
M.Temminck states that it is abundant in the LowCoun-
tries, where it breeds in the great marshes and swampy
meadows. In this country it seems but an occasional
visiter, sometimes met with in the low and swampy
districts of Norfolk, where, as Mr. Selby conjectures, it
has probably been driven by adverse winds out of its
usual line of flight. It is, indeed, somewhat singular
that it should be so scarce in Britain, seeing that it is by

252 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

no means uncommon in the northern and midland
countries of Europe. It is recorded by Wilson, how-
ever, as a ‘‘ very rare”’ visiter in the northern parts of
the United States, although generally dispersed in other
parts of the Union. From Dr. Richardson’s* account,
indeed, it braves the rigours of the arctic regions,
breeding in the woody districts of the Barren Grounds,
up to their most northern limits, in latitude 68°; and
his specimens were shot on the Saskatchewan, towards
the middle of May.

The haunts of the gadwall, in America, are on the
lakes, rivers, and marshes of the interior, particu-
larly such as abound with reeds and rank aquatic
grasses, in which they so much delight, as seldom to
visit the sea coast: their food, of course, is procured in
such situations, and consists of aquatic insects, plants,
and seeds. Dead birds are not unfrequently exposed
for sale in the poulterers’ shops of London, in May and
June; and we have likewise seen them in those at
Liverpool. It feeds during the night, and passes the
day concealed among the reeds and rushes. In com-
parison with the mallard and other kindred forms, its
powers of flight are very superior ; and, unlike most of
the river ducks, it dives with the same facility and
frequency as many of the lobed or marine ducks.

In the male, the head and neck are grey, spotted
with brown: the under part of the neck, the back, and
breast are marked with black lunules: the scapulars
and sides are barred with zigzag lines of white and
blackish ; the lesser wing covers are chestnut red; the
greater covers, rump, and under tail covers being deep
black : the speculum, or wing spot, is altogether peculiar,
being of the purest white, bordered below with black,
so as to form three broad bands on the wing, of chest-
nut, black, and white: belly dull white: rump and tail
- covers glossed with green: bill brownish black: legs
orange red.

* North, Zool, ii. 436.

_— ee

EIDER DUCK. 9538

Tue Emer Duck.
Somateria mollissima, Leach.

Somateria mollissima, Leach, in Cat. Mus. Brit. Selby, Brit.
Orn. ii. 338. Northern Zool. it. 448. Anas mollissima,
Linn., Auct., Wilson, viii. pl. 92. f. 2. and 3. Montagu,

Orn. Dict. vol. i. and Suppl. Oie a duvet, ou Eider,
Buffon, Pl. Enl. 289. 209. male and female. Canard
Eider, Temm. Man. Orn. ii. 848. Ejider or Cuthbert Duck,
Will., Penn., Lath., &e. Eider, Cuthbert Duck, Dunter
Goose, Provincial English Names.

The opinion of so accurate and experienced an
observer as Mr. Selby, that he has no doubt this beau-
tiful species may be domesticated, is sufficiently sanc-
tioned by the reasons he assigns ; and this at once gives
it a place in our present enumeration of the tameable
Anatide. Colonel Montagu, indeed, remarks, that he
** has known the young taken from the Fern Islands, in
hopes of domesticating them ; but all attempts proved
ineffectual, probably for- want of proper food:” but
Mr. Selby, on the other hand, distinctly says, —“ I have
twice succeeded in rearing these birds from the egg,
and preserving them alive till upwards of twelve months;
but, as I had no appropriate place for them at the time,
they fell victims to accident alone, being trodden upon
by horses or cattle. Indeed,” adds our author, “ their
sluggish nature, or rather their inactivity upon land,
renders their escape from any sudden danger a matter
of great difficulty. I know, also, other instances in
which they have been reared from the egg to maturity.”*
Encouraged by such authority, we strongly recommend
the attempt to the Ornithological Society. Through the
assistance of such of its members as reside on the coast
of Northumberland, where these birds are known to
breed, a few of the eggs might be procured at the
proper season, transmitted to London, and hatched under
a domestic duck: the young birds, thus initiated by its

* Ill. of Brit. Orn. ii. 341.

954 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES,

foster-mother, in all probability, might be taught to
feed in the same way; and with such noble preserves of
water as are at the Society’s disposal in the royal parks,
these elegant creatures would have ‘‘ ample room and
verge enough”’ for the full exercise of their diving and
swimming powers.

The eider duck, in its natural state, is rarely ever
seen on the southern coasts of England, although
Montagu says it breeds in the north of Scotland and
the Fern Islands; where, however, according to Mr.
Selby’s later observations, they have of late years very
much decreased, in consequence of having been wan-
tonly molested during the breeding season. Coquet
Island, which forms one of this small group, seems to
be the most southern breeding station of these birds,
On entering the arctic regions both of Europe and
America, they seem gradually to increase in number.
Dr. Richardson found them to be only partially migra-
tory in the Hudson Bay regions; for the older birds
seldom moved further southward in winter than to
permanent open water; but some of them go south,
and winter on the coast of New Jersey: he considers
them peculiarly sea ducks, as he has never seen them
in fresh water: this is not, however, conclusive autho-
rity, or, at least, is not sufficient to deter us from the
attempt to introduce them upon our canals or ponds. In
America, their most southerly range appears to be the
rocky islands beyond Portland, in the district of Maine;
where a few pairs have been known to breed. In
Greenland and Iceland they seem to be very common ;
and they are occasionally seen so far south as the capes
of the Delaware.

In Britain, the eiders which breed in the Fern Islands,
are seen assembling, about April, in small groups along
the shores of the main land, whence they cross over to
the islands in May; soon after which the females begin
to prepare their nests; and they usually commence
laying about the 20th of this month: upon this the
males leave the females, and. again spread themselves

a ee

EIDER DUCK. 955

along the shore in companies of four or five together.
The usual number of eggs is five, of a pale asparagus-
green colour, of an oblong form, and not much less
than those of a goose. Wilson describes the eggs as of
a pale olive colour, and says they are extremely smooth
and glossy; and Montagu calls the colour greenish
olive: it is important to notice these different accounts,
in order to guard against any mistakes of the people in
procuring the right sort. The nest, as examined by
Mr. Selby, is composed of dry grasses, mixed with a
quantity of the smaller A/g@, or sea-weed ; and as incu-
bation proceeds, a lining of down, plucked by the bird
from her own body, is added. This addition is made
daily, and at last becomes so considerable a mass as to
envelope and entirely conceal the eggs; contributing,
perhaps, by its effect as a non-conductor of heat, to
the perfect developement of the foetus ; and serving
also as a protection from gulls and other enemies. ‘The
young, as soon as hatched, are conducted to the water,
which in some instances must be effected by the parent
conveying them in her bill; Mr. Selby having often seen
the nest in such situations as to preclude the possibility
of their arriving at it in any other way: and this has
been confirmed by the testimony of an eye-witness.
Much has been written regarding the down of the
eider; the greatest part of which seems to be imported
from Iceland and the northern countries. Mr. Pennant
and Dr. Latham have been at much pains in coilecting
a great many details from books, on this head, which it
is not necessary to repeat in this place.* Mr. Selby
remarks, that from the nests of two or three of these
birds he has frequently procured as much down as would
fill a middle-sized pillow; though this quantity, when
compressed, was not above two handfuls, and did not
weigh above an ounce. In Iceland, Greenland, &c.,
where the procuring of this substance is a support to
many. people, the first eggs that are laid, together with
the down, is taken from them; but the next they are
* See Lath. Gen. Hist. x, 264.

256 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

allowed to hatch, though a part of the down is removed
from time to time; the female continuing to supply it as
long as any remains upon the lower part of her body.

The flight of the eider is excessively swift and
strong ; for major Cartwright found it, by repeated
experiments, to be at the rate of ninety miles an hour. *
When approached in a boat, they generally take wing
while beyond gunshot; and when suddenly surprised,
they dive: if patiently and perseveringly pursued,
however, and compelled to dive repeatedly, they become
fatigued, and the sportsman has then a chance of shoot-
ing them; but the flesh is very unpalatable.

The size of the eider is nearly double that of the
common duck. The upper part of the head is deep
velvet-black, divided laterally on the hind head by a
whitish band: the cheeks are white; but the sides of the
head are of a delicate pea-green, marked with a narrow
line of white passing from the ears; the feathers being
lengthened, but the ends even, so as to appear cut off:
upper part of the neck, scapulars, lesser wing covers, and
sides of the rump pure white: lower part of the breast,
belly, and vent deep black: greater and lesser quills,
together with the tail, brownish black: the tertials are
narrow, and so much curved as to fall over the wing:
legs yellow.

The female is thus described by Montagu: — “ Bill
dusky: nail horn-colour: irides yellowish: the whole
plumage of a dusky colour, mixed with ferruginous:
head and neck pale brown, more or less dashed with
ferruginous and dusky streaks: back, scapulars, and
smaller covers of the wings dusky black ; each feather
margined with ferruginous brown: quills dusky ;
palest on the inner webs and points of the secondaries,
but without any white band or bar on the wing, as
usually described: breast, and all the under parts, mixed
with pale ferruginous, and dusky in small specks and
streaks: tail short, uniform, and ee brown: legs
and feet dusky black.

* Montagu, Orn. Dict. Supp.

KING EIDER. 25)

The eider does not acquire its mature plumage till
either the third or fourth year. In the first year, as
Montagu affirms, the back is white ; and the usual part,
except the crown, black ; the rest of the body variegated
with black and white. In the second year, the crown
becomes black, and the neck and breast spotted with
black and white.

Captain Parry says that the Esquimaux Indians
catch these birds on the nest with springes made of
whalebone, and take the eggs wherever they can find
them. Captain Scoresby says a variety (?) he found
in Spitzbergen was very little larger than the common
domestic duck.

Tue Kine Emer.

Somateria spectabilis, Leach.

Somateria spectabilis, Leach, Cat. Brit. Mus. Selby, Ill. Brit.
Orn. li. 342. North. Zool. 11. 447. Bonap. Synop. p.” 332.
Anas spectabilis, Linn., Auct., Sabine, in Linn, Tr. xi. 553.
Le Canard a téte grise, Temm. Man. ii. 851. Grey-headed
Duck, Edwards, pl. 154. King Duck, Pennant, Latham,
&e.

The manners of the king eider, the most simply
beautiful of the whole of this group, appear to be much
the same as those of the common eider ; but whether
there is an equal chance of keeping it alive in these
temperate latitudes, admits of some doubt, seeing that its
southern range is much more limited: it has not been
met with, in fact, to the south of the Orkney and the
neighbouring isles. Dr. Latham states, that in Green-
land it is as common as the ordinary eider ; and it ap-
pears to be distributed in all the arctic regions of both
Europe and America.

Otho Fabricius mentions, that the natives of Green-
land hunt them both for their down and skins, in the
following manner: — On discovering a flock upon the
water, the natives assemble in their canoes, and begin
shouting and making as great a noise as possible: this
sudden outcry so frightens the birds, that, instead of

S

258 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

flying away, they begin to dive: the moment they come
to the surface, they are again pursued ; and after three
or four of these chases, the birds begin to be so tired that
they are easily taken and killed.

Mr. Hutchins says that the king eider ‘is plentiful
at Churchill River, Hudson’s Bay, in 59° N. latitude,
where it remains as long as the water is unfrozen ; but
that at York Fort it is scarce. It builds at the sides of
fresh waters ; the nest being made of sticks and moss,
and lined with feathers, like that of the common eider :
the eggs are yellowish white, and as large as those of a
goose : the young fly in July ; and the food is generally
worms and grass.* The same gentleman mentions, that
it is called by the Hudson’s Bay Indians Mis-se-sheep.

Pennant asserts that it is sometimes found in Orkney ;
but the only instance, in modern times, of its having
been met with there, rests on the fact of Mr. Bullock
having found a single nest of it in Papa Westra Island,
built on a rock impending over the sea.

Captain Sabine observes they are very numerous on the
coast of Greenland, in company with the common eider ;
but they were too shy to approach the ships, so that he
only procured a single specimen.

It is not the brilliancy or the variety, but the rich
and harmonious combination, of its colours, which
makes the title of ‘‘ King” so peculiarly applicable to
this noble bird. The size is nearly that of the other
species, At the base of the bill, in the male, is a high
protuberance, considerably compressed on the sides,
but flat at the top, where it is covered with velvet-
black feathers, which pass on each side to the eye:
the crown of the head and nape are of a delicately beau-
tiful grey: at the base of the upper mandible the fea-
thers are pea-green, passing backwards on each side of
the neck, and taking in half the eye ; beneath which, and

* We cannot reconcile this account with what Dr. Richardson says of his
thinking this bird is never seen in fresh water, and that its food mostly
consists of the soft mollusca so abundant in the Arctic Sea. If it really
feeds also on ‘‘ worms and grass,” there would be no difficulty in keeping it

alive in our inclosed ponds, if our summer did not prove too hot for its
constitution.

RED-HEADED POCHARD. 259

round to the chin, the feathers are of a dull white ; here
the two colours are blended, and the white is lost by de-
grees in the green: under the chin is a black mark,
diverging like the letter V inverted; the rest of the
neck and breast are whitish ; but the middle of the
back, the belly, and the vent are deep black: the wings
are dusky ; a patch of white being on the middle of the
covers: quills black ; the secondaries curving down-
wards ; the shafts deep ferruginous, with a patch of white ;
on each side of the outer ones a patch of white: the
bill is rich red ; and the naked sides of the elevated lobe,
at its base, rich orange: tail black: legs and toes ochra~
ceous yellow.

The plumage of the female closely resembles that of
the common eider; but is readily distinguished from
that by the form of the frontal process.

We have not yet heard of any instance of this king
of ducks being alive in any collection; and even stuffed
specimens are rarely to be met with among our com-
mercial naturalists.

Tue Rep-HEADED Pocuarp.
Fuligula ferina, Leach. (Fig. 40.)

Head and neck bright rufous: breast black: back and
upper plumage blackish cinereous, undulated with
transverse grey lines ; under parts white, with cine-
reous lines: rump and under tail covers black.

Fuligula ferina, Leach, Cat. Mus. Brit. Selby, Ill. Brit. Orn.
ii. 347. Anas ferina, Linn., Auct., Wilson, viii. pl. 70. fig.
6. Anas rufa, Gmelin, Latham, &e. Canard Milouin, Buff:
Pl. Enl. 803. male. Temm. Man. ii. 868. Pochard, or Red-
headed Wigeon, of British Authors.

Although this well-known bird truly belongs to the
natural division of the Fuliguline, or sea ducks, it is yet
one of those very few which frequent fresh water in
preference to such as is salt ; and it possesses, moreover,
a very decided aptitude for domestication: hence, from
being also 2 common bird in a state of nature, and

s 2

260 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

therefore easily pro-
cured, it is one of
those which every
gentleman may pos-
sess with advantage,
if his grounds con-
tain a piece of water
sufficiently large to
S admit of enjoyment
ale to the bird, and where
~ its dexterity in diving may interest and amuse the spec-
tator.
This duck, like the majority of its congeners, is only
a winter visiter in the British islands, which it flies to as
a shelter from the intense cold of the northern regions.
It is then most abundant in the fens of Lincolnshire and
Norfolk ; but of late years the numbers have very con-
siderably diminished ; and the majority of those now
sent to the London markets, where they are often called
dun-birds, are procured by shooting. Mr, Selby says,
that in the northern parts of England, and in Scotland,
it is somewhat rare. This he attributes either to the
deficiency of some particular food, or from those districts
being out of his migratory line: we are more disposed,
however, to attribute it to the simple fact, that these
northern parts of the empire are too cold for the pochard ;
in proof of which he passes them over, that he may, by
going more southerly, secure to himself a warmer at-
mosphere for the winter. Certain it is, that this bird
loves a mild and temperate climate; for it extends its
southerly migrations in America as far as the lakes ad-
joining the city of Mexico, as specimens which have been
sent direct from thence sufficiently testify ; while Dr.
Richardson establishes its migrations northward, during
summer, to the utmost limits of the fur countries, where
it breeds.
The pochard is a remarkably good diver, swims very
rapidly, and flies swiftly in a compact flock; differing in
this from the generality of ducks, which fly in a tri-

RED-HEADED POCHARD. 261

angular form. It seems naturally to prefer freshwater
lakes, rivers, and marshes ; but occasionally is found on
the sea shore, near the mouths of rivers. Mr. Selby ob-
serves, that it breeds among aquatic herbage ; Jaying
twelve or fourteen eggs, of a greenish white colour. It
becomes very tame when in confinement ; and we have
colonel Montagu’s authority for saying that no bird ap-
pears sooner reconciled to the menagerie. One that was
in his possession, and that had been winged, took to feed-
ing on corn immediately ; and, after three years’ confine-
ment, was in high health, and very tame: it should,
nevertheless, have free access to water ; being unable to
exert itself much on land, from the backward position
of its legs, and the great size of its feet.

In former times, when these birds were much more
abundant than they are now, vast quantities were taken
by nets. This mode of capture, as stated by Montagu,
we shall here insert, as it may probably be useful for
other foreign species, and may contribute to fill our pre-
serves with others more valuable.—*‘ Poles were erected
at the avenues to the decoy; and after a great number
of these birds had collected for some time on the pool
(to which wild fowl resort only by day, and go the
neighbouring fens to feed by night), a net, at a given
time, was erected by pulleys to these poles, beneath
which a deep pit had previously been dug: and as these
birds, like the woodcocks, go to feed just as it is dark,
and are said always to rise against the wind, a whole
flock may be taken together in this manner ; for, when
once they strike against the net, they never attempt to
return, but flutter down its sides till they are received
into the pit, whence they cannot rise; and thus, we
have been told, twenty dozen have been taken at one
catch.” We omitted to mention, in its proper place,
that we have met with this species, in great abundance,
on the lakes of Leontini, in the island of Sicily, during
an autumnal ornithological tour to these celebrated but
pestilential marshes in 1812. Wilson remarks of the
American race, that, with the connoisseurs in good eating,

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262 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

it ranks next in excellence to the canvas-back duck
‘about to be described, and which it much resembles in
plumage. , |

The colour of the male, on the head and neck, is
rich chestnut: the lower part of the throat, breast, and
upper part of the back are black, marked with fine un-
dulated lines of grey: the back and scapulars are marked,
in the same manner, with cinereous and dusky lines ;
smaller wing covers the same, but darker ; greater covers
and secondary quills blue grey ; primaries cinereous
grey: rump and under tail covers black: under parts
of the body dusky white, faintly undulated with zigzag
dusky lines, which are blackish at the vent: tail feathers
fourteen, and coloured like the wings: bill and feet
bluish grey; the tip and base of the former being
black.

The female differs in having the head and neck fer-
ruginous brown; the breast and belly dusky white,
clouded with brown ; and the under tail feathers dusky
and white: in other respects, as Montagu says, it is like
the male, but the markings are all less distinct.

Mr. Selby does not notice the female, but he describes,
in the following words, what he considers a variety,
killed upon the Northumberland coast, and now in his
collection. — ‘“‘ Head and neck bright reddish orange,
passing into reddish white upon the crown: breast very
pale broccoli brown *, with a silky lustre: all the rest of

* Two or three of our best ornithologists, from a laudable desire of intro-
ducing a distinct and peculiar nomenclature of colours, have adopted
certain terms like this, which, to those who are unacquainted with the
standard they refer to, are generally very perplexing, and often unintelli-
gible. With every deference to the opinion of my friends upon this subject,
I must confess my very strong objections to all such terms as are not in
general use, unless they are sufficiently and distinctly explained in a
separate page of the work in which they are used. It is quite out of the
question to suppose that any one nomenclature of colours, differing from
that which is in general use, should ever become universal ; or that people
will purchase a separate treatise upon that subject, in order that they may
understand the terms used in another book. Even were all the colours of
one tint, or, to speak more correctly, of one depth, the attempt at affixing
names to every shade would be utterly hopeless : how much more so then
is it, when every tint is capable of assuming an infinity of others, for which,
if the principle is to be followed up, separate names should be assigned !
I found this opinion upon experience; and upon repeated !attempts to
describe the colour of birds in such a way as to convey the highest degree

CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 263

the body greyish white, with very fine zigzag lines of
a darker shade : quills and tail plain greyish white: legs
and toes ash-grey, with the membranes darker.”

Tre Canvas-BAck Duck.
Fuligula Valisneria, Bonap. (Fig. 41.)

Anas Valisneria, Canvas-back Duck Wilson, viii. pl. 70. f. 3.
Fuligula Valesneria, Bonap. Synop. p. 392. North. Zool. ii
451. ,

The estimation in which this species is held, as an
article of food, by our transatlantic brethren, is well

of precision. I procured Syme’s Nomenclature of Colours, for this very
object ; but I found that, so far from enabling me to accomplish this object,
I was perplexed at almost every step: and I soon discovered, that, if I
attempted rigorously to define every tint, I must have invented three
times the number of names there employed; and, finally, should have ended
with making my descriptions so overburthened with new names, and new
combinations of terms, that nobody would have understood them. How-
ever desirable, therefore, such a universal standard might be, I cannot
but think it as chimerical as that all naturalists should adopt one uniform
system of classification or of nomenclature in systematic or vernacular
names. In describing colours, the bappy art is to define them in such a
way as to avoid the extremes of vagueness and of minuteness, I know of
no one, who, in my estimation, succeeded more perfectly in this, than our
late regretted friend, Dr. Leach. In the very useful Entomologist’s Com-
pendium, by Mr. Samuelie, which was written almost under his eye, he has
given, under the head of Cotour, the most admirable definitions of all
those that are usually seen in the animal world, of any that I have yet
met with ; so much so, indeed, that if I was induced to subscribe implicitly
to any one system of nomenclature, it would most assuredly be this: it is
clear, without being novel ; and precise, without being too refined ; while
the terms employed can be at once understood. Its great excellence, in
fact, consists in defending those general terms which have long been in
use, and with which every one is therefore acquainted; and in adding
only such others, of a very decided nature, as are really necessary. I have
long been in the habit of following this nomenclature myself, and I strongly
recommend it to others.
s 4

204 ‘ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

known; so that we may fairly look upon it as the ortolan
vf the duck family, and the turtle of the swimming birds.
“« The canvas-back,”’ says Wilson, ‘in the rich, juicy
tenderness of its flesh, and its delicacy of flavour, stands
unrivalled by the whole of its tribe in this, or perhaps
any, quarter of the world. Those killed in the rivers of
the Chesapeake are generally considered superior to all
others ; doubtless, from the great abnndance of their
favourite food, which these rivers produce. They not
only grace, but dignify, the table; and their very name
conveys, to the imagination of the eager epicure, the
most exhilarating ideas. Hence, on such occasions, it
has not been uncommon to pay from one to three dollars
a pair for these ducks; and indeed, at such times, if they
can, they must be had, whatever may be the price.” -

The canvas-back ducks arrive in the United States,
from the North, about the middle of October, and resort
to the numerous rivers of the Chesapeake Bay, where
they winter; and beyond which, Wilson was not able
to trace them. They are seldom found high up any of
these rivers; but chiefly frequent that particular part
of the tide water, where their favourite food (a certain
grass-like plant) grows: the root of this is white, and
has some resemblance to small celery; and it is upon
this only that the ducks feed. Wherever this plant
grows in abundance, the canvas-backs may be expected
either to pay occasional visits, or to make it their per-
manent residence during the winter; they are not, in
fact, found in any situation where this plant does not
grow.

When the canvas-backs first arrive from the north-
ward, they are very lean; but such are the nutritive
qualities of their favourite food, that, by the end of
November, they become in fine condition. Yet the
Valisneria grass is not their only food; for they readily
feed on grain, as the following anecdote shows : — Some
few years since, a vessel loaded with wheat was wrecked
near the entrance of Egg Harbour, and went to pieces.
The wheat floated out in vast quantities; and the whole

CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 265

surface of the bay was in a few days covered with ducks,
of a kind altogether unknown to the people of the
neighbourhood. The gunners collected from all quar-
ters around ; and were so successful, that 240 were shot
in one day, and sold to the country people at twelve cents
and a half each, without the feathers. The birds
continued about the bay, however, for three weeks;
during the greater part of which time the same destruc-
tion was going on. The gunners called them Sea-ducks,
not knowing they were in reality canvas-backs, at that
time on their way from the North, when this floating
feast attracted their attention, and for a time arrested
them. When the gunners of Egg Harbour discovered
their mistake, in selling for twenty-five cents, what
would have brought them four times that sum beyond
their immediate neighbourhood, we can readily fancy
their surprise and vexation.

The canvas-backs are excellent swimmers and divers ;
the latter quality being absolutely necessary for fishing,
or rather pulling up by the roots, their favourite food.
Sometimes they assemble in such multitudes as to cover
several acres of the river ; and when they suddenly rise,
produce a noise resembling thunder. They are, how-
ever, extremely shy, and can rarely be approached ex-
cept by stealth. When wounded in the wing, they dive
to such prodigious distances, and with such rapidity and
perseverance, as almost always to render the pursuit
hopeless.

From the great demand for these birds, and the high
price they uniformly bring in the market, various me-
thods are practised to procure them. The most success-
ful way is thought to be by decoying them to the shore
by means of a dog, while the sportsman lies concealed.
The dog, if properly trained, runs backwards and for-
wards along the margin of the water: the ducks, ob-
serving his manceuvres, and enticed perhaps by curiosity,
gradually approach the shore, until they are sometimes
within twenty or thirty yards of the spot where the
sportsman lies in ambush ; whence he opens upon them

266 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

a raking fire, first at those upon the water, and then as
they arise. This method is called tolling them in. If
the ducks seem difficult to decoy, any glaring object,
such as a red handkerchief, is fastened on the dog; and
this rarely fails to attract them. Another method is to
shoot them by moonlight. For this purpose the sports-
man directs his skiff towards a flock whose position he
had previously ascertained, keeping within the project-
ing shade of some wood, tree, or bank. By proceeding
in this manner, and paddling along with the least pos-
sible noise, he may frequently get within fifteen or
twenty yards of a flock of some thousands, among which
prodigious havoc may be made. But this wholesale
slaughter of the poor birds, however productive it may
be to the gunner for a short time, generally defeats his
object in the long run; for if thus intimidated and de-
stroyed in their places of rest, they will very soon aban-
don them altogether, and seek a more secure retreat.
During the day the ducks disperse and float about,
diving after their much-loved roots ; but towards even-
ing, collecting into large flocks, they assemble at the
mouths of creeks, where they sleep, as at anchor, with
their heads under their wings: yet there are always sen-
tinels awake, ready to give warning on the least appear-
ance of danger. Even when feeding and diving in small
parties, the whole never go down into the water at once,
so that some always remain above to guard the others.
In severe winters, when the river is frozen, the canvas-
backs retreat to its confluence with the bay; but here,
again, they fall into the snare of the fowler. In such
situations as produce their favourite grass, the gunners
_make air-holes in the ice, and then concealing themselves
at a convenient distance, shoot the birds as they approach
these holes to feed. An inhabitant of Herring Creek
informed Wilson, that, one severe winter, he and another
person broke a hole in the ice about twenty feet by forty,
immediately over a shoal of grass, and both then took
their station in a temporary hut, each having three guns
well loaded with large shot. The ducks, which were

\

CANVAS-BACK DUCK. 267

flying up and down the river in great distress for food,
soon crowded to the spot, so that the whole open space
in the ice was not only covered by them, but vast num-
bers stood around on the edge. The gunners fired three
rounds in concert; after which they picked up eighty-
eight birds, and might have collected more, had they
been able to reach the wounded ones at the extremity of
the ice. Wilson records an instance, not necessary to
repeat in detail, where the roots of their favourite plant
were nearly all torn up by the sudden rising of the tide
after a thaw, from a spot which had always been one of
the chief resorts of the birds: this accident, however,
drove them away; for although a few of the ducks were
seen the next winter, as if to reconnoitre their former
haunt, they soon went away.

The colours of the male will now be described. The
bill is glossy black ; irides dark red: the cheeks and
fore part of the head are blackish brown; but the rest
of the head, and the greater part of the neck, is glossy
reddish chestnut or rufous ; this colour ends in a broad
patch of black, which covers the upper part of the
breast, and spreads round to the back: the upper
plumage, including the back, scapulars, and tertials, are
white, delicately marked with innumerable transverse
waved lines, as if done with a pencil: the lower parts
of the breast, and also the belly, are the same; but the
lines are scarcely pereeptible on the breast, although
darker and thicker towards the vent: the wing covers
are grey, with numerous specks of blackish: the quills
are pale cinereous ; but two or three of the tertials have
a narrow edging of deep black: the tail is very short,
pointed, and of a cinereous brown colour: vent and
tail covers black: inner wing covers white: legs and
feet cinereous. The male is two feet long.

The female is rather smaller; and is thus described
by Wilson :—* Crown blackish brown: cheeks and
throat of a pale drab: neck dull brown: breast, as far
as the black extends on the male, dull brown, skirted
in places with pale drab: back dusky white, crossed

268 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

with fine waving lines: belly of the same dull white,
pencilled like the back: wings, feet, and bill as in

the male: tail covers dusky: vent white, waved with |

brown.”

Dr. Richardson, who killed this species early in May,
on the banks of the Saskatchewan, observes, that it
breeds in all parts of the fur countries, from the 50th
parallel to their most northern limits ; and that it asso-
ciates on the water with the Fuligula yor ina, 1, marilla, and
several of the freshwater ducks.

Tue Common or GoOLDEN-EYE GARROT.
Clangula vulgaris, Leach. (Fig. 42.)

Mate. — Clangula vulgaris, Jil. of British Orn. ii. 367.
North. Zool. ii. 456. Anas clangula, Linn., Auct., Wilson,
viii. pl. 67. f. 6. Canard Garrot, Temminck, Man. ii. 870.
Pl. Enl. 802. Golden-eye Duck, of Authors, see Montagu,
Orn. Dict.

Fremate. — Anas glaucion, Linn., Auct. Morillon, Latham,
Synop. vi. 537. &e.

The circumstance of having just witnessed this very
handsome and interesting duck sporting and diving
about, along with that part of the collection of living
water-fowl turned out by the Ornithological Society on
the canal in St. James’s Park, sufficiently proves that
it may be in some measure domesticated, and accustomed
to such situations ; although there may be but small
hope of its ever being induced to breed in confinement.

Ee

COMMON GARROT. 269

It is a native both of Europe and North America ; com-
ing to us, as well as to the United States, only in winter ;
retiring northward in the spring, with the majority of
the other ducks, to breed, Wilson seems to have known
little or nothing of the manners of the American race;
although he says it is a “‘ well known”’ bird in various
parts of the United States, both along the sea coast and
about the lakes and rivers of the interior. In regard to
its manners in this part of the world, we cannot have a
better authority than Mr. Selby, whose two admirable
volumes * are by far the best of all those which have
hitherte appeared on our native ornithology: they are
not, indeed, very sentimental, or remarkably poetical ;
but they give that solid information, which the orni-
thologist more especially wants. When in full plumage,
Mr. Selby observes, ‘‘ the male golden-eye, in this
country, is rather of rare occurrence ; the great body of
those that visit our coasts being either females or young
males, both of which are generally known by the name
of Morillons, and as such were described by the old
ornithologists as a distinct species. The number of
this species which annually visit the British coast, is
regulated by the severity or mildness of the season ;
being always most abundant under the former state of
weather. This remark is equally applicable to all the
northern Anatide ; the extent of their migration south-
ward being in proportion to the greater or less extent of
those regions to the northward from which they have
been frozen out of food. The golden-eye is usually seen
in small flocks or societies, upon our lakes and larger
rivers, and occasionally upon the coasts, near estuaries,
It flies with great strength and rapidity, giving intima-
tion of its approach by the whistling noise of its wings
as its passes through the air. It is remarkably active
on the water, swimming and diving with equal facility.
From the quickness with which it plunges, and the dis-
tance to which it dives, it is very difficult to kill when

* Tllustrations of British Ornithology, 2 vols. 8vo. Longman and Co.; sold
separately from the folio Atlas of plates.

270 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

afloat ; and the introduction of the detonating lock has
alone given the water-fowl shooter any chance against
it, as it constantly dived at the flash of the pan, and was |
fairly beneath the surface before the shot reached it.
Upon the land it proceeds in a shuffling ungainly man-
ner, from the backward position of the legs, and the
great size of the feet. In summer it returns to the
northern regions to breed. Dr. Richardson found the
golden-eye in great numbers, throughout the fur coun-
tries, frequenting the rivers and freshwater lakes, where
it is by no means shy ; yet diving instantaneously at the
flash of the gun, or the twanging of a bowstring.

The male, in adult plumage, has the head, and about
two inches of the neck, of a brilliant duck green, broken
only by a large round patch beneath the lores: the bill
is black; and the irides are brilliant yellow, from which it
has obtained the name of Golden-eye : all the under parts,
from the neck downwards, are pure white: the greater
wing covers, and part of the scapulars, are also of the
same colour: the back, rump, the longest of the scapulars,
the primary quills, the four outer secondaries, and the
tertials are of a deep pitchy black: the flank feathers
have deep black edges ; and the tail and thighs are
brown: the legs and toes are rich orange.

The female has all the head, and the upper part of
the neck, deep brown; while the lower part, as also the
belly and vent, are white: the breast and sides of the
body are deep brown, edged with whitish: the feathers
of the back and scapulars are blackish in the middle,
edged and tipt with deep ash ; the wing covers varied
with white and black: the tip of the bill and the irides
are yellowish, and the feet bright yellow. The young
males of the year, as in all other birds, resemble the old
females ; but the irides are greenish, and the toes light
or yellowish brown. At the age of one year, the con-
spicuous white spot at the side of the gape becomes ap-
parent, and the feathers of the head and neck are black,
but without any green gloss.

BARROWS GARROT. o7t

Barrow’s or Rocky Mountain Garror.

Clangula Barrovii, Rich. and Sw.

Head and upper part of the neck glossy purple, with a
large crescent-shaped white mark before each eye:
speculum of the wing white; separated from the band
on the covers by a black stripe.

*Clangula Barrovii, Northern Zoology, ii. pl. 70. p. 456.

Of this interesting species, — at present so rare in our
collections, that only one specimen, we believe, is in
England,— Dr. Richardson merely observes as to its
manners, that they do not differ from those of the
common golden-eye, although it has hitherto been found
only in the valleys of the Rocky. Mountains. Hence we
may fairly conclude, that, like the Clangula vulgaris, it
would, if introduced alive into this country, readily
accommodate itself to the partial confinement of our
aquatic preserves ; and when we consider how many of
our countrymen are located in, or near to, the regions it
inhabits, we trust exertions will be used to accomplish
its introduction.

Notwithstanding the general similarity in the form
and markings of this bird and the common golden-eye,
the difference in their bills would alone point them out
to be distinct species. Exclusive of the specific dif-
ferences above noted, the Rocky Mountain garrot is
distinguished by the purer colour of its dorsal plumage,
and the smaller portion of white on its wings and sca-
pulars. Its long fiank feathers are also much more
broadly bordered all round with black: the bases of the
greater covers in the golden-eye are black, but they are
concealed, and do not form the black band so conspicu-
ous in this. ‘ The specific appellation is intended as a
tribute to Mr. Barrow’s* varied talents, and his unwea-
ried exertions for the promotion of science.”

* Now sir John Barrow, bart.

are ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

Tue Harwieguin Duck.

Clangula Histrionica, Leach. (Lig. 43.)

Blackish, with a narrow collar, broad pectoral bar, and
three spots on the sides of the head, pure white :
above the eyes a ferruginous stripe: flanks chest-
nut: mirror glossy black-blue, margined before and
above with white.—Male.

Clangula Histrionica, Rich. North. Zool. ii, 459. Selby, ii.
370. Anas Histrionica, Forster, Phil. Trans. xiii. p. 429.
Pennant, Arctic Zool. ii. 490. Wilson, viii, pl. 72. f. 4.
Sowerby’s Brit. Miss. pl. 6. Harlequin Duck, Pennant,
Latham, &e. Dusky and spotted Duck, Edwards, pl. 97.
female. | Painted or Mountain Duck, Hudson’s Bay Re-
sidents.

The natural habits of this elegant and very singularly
marked species, as explained by Dr. Richardson, is in
favour of our belief that it could, by proper manage-
ment, and in favourable situations, be in some degree
habituated to our menageries in the open air: this ob-
serving naturalist says, that ‘it haunts eddies under
cascades and rapid streams ; it takes wing at once when
disturbed, and is very vigilant.” We never saw it asso-
ciating with any other duck, and (in the fur countries)
it is a rare bird.

It seems to be equally scarce, according to Wilson,
on the coasts of the Middle and Southern States, though
not unfrequently found off those of New England,

i

HARLEQUIN DUCK. 273

where it is known by the dignified title of Lord,—pro-
bably from the elegant crescent and circles of white
which ornament its neck and breast. Though an inha-
bitant of both continents, little else is known of its par-
ticular manners, than that it swims and dives well, flies
swiftly and to a great height, and has a whistling note.
It is said to frequent the small rivulets inland from
Hudson’s Bay, where it breeds. The female lays ten
white eggs on the grass: the young are prettily speck-
led. It is here called the Painted Duck ; and at New-
foundland, as well as on the coast of New England,
the Lord. Wilson, on what authority we know not,
adds, that “‘ it is often seen in deep water considerably
out at sea.’ According to Latham and Pennant (both
very dubious authorities in all cases where locality is
concerned), it is found in Europe as far as Lake Baikal,
and thence to Kamtschatka, particularly up the River
Ochotska ; and was also met with at Avonalaska, and in
Iceland. Wilson adds,—‘ The few specimens of this
duck which I have met with, were all males ; and from
the variation in their colours, it appears evident that the
young birds undergo a considerable change of plumage,
before they arrive at their full colours. In some, the
white spot behind the eye was large, extending irregu-
larly half way down the neck ; in others, confined to a
roundish spot. The flesh is said to be excellent.” Mr.
Selby remarks, that “this is one of our rarest winter
visitants, the (known) instances of its capture being con.
fined to three or four, all of which occurred in the
northern parts of Scotland.”* The two sexes figured by
Sowerby t, were from that country ; and he mentions
that another (a young female) had been shot in one of
the Orkney Islands.

The colour of the male is so singularly diversified,
as to require much precision in a description which is to
convey any accurate idea of the bird. We should say
that the ground colour of the whole plumage, both above

* Selby, Ill. Brit. Orn. ii. 370. + British Miss, i. pl. 6.
Tr

QT4 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

and below, is bluish black,—of different tints, indeed,
but in all parts dark ; upon this ground are many bold
bands, stripes, and spots of white, giving the bird a
most elegant appearance. A large patch of this sort
fills up the side of the head between the eye and bill ;
another small and round one is just on the ear ; and a
third, longer and narrower, is behind it: the crown is
margined on each side by a stripe of white, which
changes to ferruginous after it passes the eye: at the
bottom of the neck is a narrow white collar, which sepa-
rates the deep black of the head and throat from the
cinereous or lavender-black of the breast: on each side
of the breast is a very broad transverse stripe of white,
margined above and below by a very narrow one of
velvet-black: the greater wing covers terminate in a
white bar, and the outer edges of the tertials are marked
with black and white stripes; the speculum, which
covers all the secondary quills, is of a very dark glossy
blue: sides of the body and flanks chestnut brown :
vent, rump, and tail covers velvet-black: at the base of
the tail, on each side, is a white spot: the bill is
bluish black, and the legs dark brown: quills and tail
brownish.

The female, which we have not seen, is thus de-
scribed by Dr. Richardson *: — “ Above, dark liver-
brown: the quills and tail blackish brown: the rump,
and the fiank feathers that hang down over the thigh,
pale umber: a spot behind the ears, a smaller one on
each side of the forehead, and some mottling under the
eye, white: upper part of the breast, and the sides,
under the wings, yellowish brown, edged with brownish
grey: rest of the under plumage greyish white, broadly
barred across the middle of each feather with clove-
brown. The size is much inferior to that of the male.”

* North. Zool. ii. 459.

BUFFEL-HEADED GARROT. 275

Tur BurreL-HEADED or Spirit GARROT.
Clangula albeola, Leach. (Fig. 44.)

Head and neck black, richly glossed with green and
purple; the feathers very full and silky: body white,
with the back and quills black. Female with a white
spot on the ears and wings.

Clangula albeata, Leach, in Gen. Zool. xii. ii. 183. Northern
Zool. ii. 458. Anas albeola, Linn., Auct., Wilson, viii. pl.
67. f. 2. male, 3. female. Pennant, Arct. Zool. ii. 558.
Anas bucephala, Linn., Auct., Pennant, Arct. Zool. ii. 559.
Buffel-head Duck, Wilson, Catesby, Pennant, Latham, &c.
Little Brown Duck, Catesby, Latham, &c. (the female).
Sarcelle blanche et noir, Buffon, Pl. Enl. 948. male. Little
Black and white Duck, Edwards, pl]. 100. male.

As there is evidence to show that the food and eco-
nomy of this pretty little duck are essentially the same as
those of the common golden-eye, there appears no reason
to doubt that it might be as much domesticated on our
water inclosures as that is. Both breed in the same
regions ; but, in their southward migrations, this species
appears to confine its range entirely to the American
continent.

During autumn and winter, this pretty duck is to be
met with in all parts of the United States, enlivening
the sea shores, rivers, and lakes; diving with the
greatest dexterity, and flying with extraordinary velocity.
So early as the latter part of February, the males are

bi

276 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

observed to have violent disputes for the females. At
this time they are more commonly seen in flocks ; but
during the preceding part of the winter they usually fly
in pairs. Their note, as Wilson observes, is a short
quak. It extends its migrations southward as far as
Carolina ; and is found on the ponds and fresh waters of
Georgia; but it is not common there. Mr. Hutchins
says that it appears at Hudson’s Bay, on the banks of
the Severn River, in June, and builds its nest in trees in
the woods, near ponds. According to Dr. Richardson,
it frequents the rivers and freshwater lakes throughout
the fur countries in great numbers. Their instantaneous
mode of diving on seeing the flash of a gun, has induced
the Indians to believe they are endowed with some su-
pernatural power ; hence their appellation of ‘* Conjur-
ing,” or Spirit Duck. Buffel-headed, as Wilson ob-
serves, is only a corruption of buffulo-headed, in allusion
to the disproportionate size of its head; a character,
however, which is also apparent, though in a less de-
gree, in the golden-eye, and all the garrots.* About the
middle of April, or early in May, this species leaves the
United States for their breeding places in the North. The
specimen described in the Northern Zoology, was killed
on the banks of the Saskatchewan in the month of
May.

The plumage of the male may be thus described : —
The feathers of the head, and half of the neck, are
thick, long, and silky; richly glossed with green on the
forehead and nape, but which changes to a shining pur-
ple on the crown and sides of the neck: in some par-
ticular lights, these have a rich lilac or flame-coloured
gloss. Behind the eye commences a broad band of pure
white, which terminates with the occipital crest formed
by the lengthened silky feathers of the head: irides
dark: the back, wings, and part of the scapulars are
black ; the rest of the scapulars, lateral band along the
wing, and the whole of the under plumage, pure white ;

* A large head, as we have frequently observed, is one of the most
typical distinctions of the aquatic type of all animals.

PINK-HEADED DUCK. 277

rather greyish on the vent and under tail covers: tail
brown; the covers greyish black.

The female is considerably smaller, and the head is
not so full of feathers. The head, neck, upper parts of
the body, and the wings are sooty black, darkest on the
crown: the sides of the head are marked with a small
oblong spot of white: the lower part of the neck is grey,
the feathers being tipt with white: belly dull white ;
but the the vent is cinereous: the outer webs of six of
the secondaries, and the tertials, are white; but the tips
of the latter are black: tail cinereous brown: bill and
feet brownish. The male measures sixteen inches in
length, but the female only fourteen and a half.

Tuer Pink-HEADED Duck.

Anas caryophyllacea, Latham.

Brown both above and beneath: head and part of the
neck pink: spot on the wings pale red or rufous.

Anas earyophyllacea, Latham, Index Ornith. 1. 866. Pink-
headed Duck, Gen. Synop. Supp. 276. Gen. Hist. x. 343.

Notwithstanding the number of years that has elapsed
since this remarkable species was first mentioned in the
Synopsis of Dr. Latham, we have never heard of a spe-
cimen being in this country, either alive or dead. If,
however, the information given to the doctor, and here
inserted, is correct, there seems no reason to doubt that
it might become an inhabitant of our menageries; for,
being found in the interior of India, we may presume
it is a freshwater species. A brown duck, with a pink-
coloured head, is a cast of colouring so peculiar, that its
possession is most desirable. Dr. Latham’s account of it
is as follows ; — but whether it is a duck or a goose, or
of what modern genus it belongs to, remains for future
discovery.

‘* Size of the black-winged whistling duck: length
twenty or twenty-one inches; bill two inches and a
half Jong, a trifle bent at the point. Colour pale red,

2 3

278 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

with the base and point pink, and, in some subjects,
mottled with black: head and half the neck pink ; the
feathers short and downy : irides red: the general co-
lour of the rest of the plumage deep chocolate brown,
with a tinge of pink throughout the whole: wings
paler brown; the outer edges of three or four of the
quills pale red, giving the appearance of a speculum ;
bend of the wing white, with some of the lower covers
curving downwards at the ends, as in the male of the
western duck: tail about two inches long, darker than
the quills, which reach to about two thirds of the length:
legs pale reddish brown, or blue grey ; the webs dark.
The adult female is said not to differ from the male,
except in the plumage being less brilliant ; and, accord-
ing to some drawings, none of the wing covers curve
downwards.

Inhabits various parts of India ; most frequent in the
province of Oude: is rarely seen in flocks, for the most
part only two being found together: is often kept tame,
and becomes tolerably familiar.”

Tue PeEtican.
Pelecanus Onocrotalus, Linn.

Linn. Syst. Nat. 1.215. Auct. Pelican blane, Temm. Man.
ul. 891. White Pelican, Edwards, Gleanings, pl. 93.

The pelican is such a well-known bird, and its de-
scription occupies such a prominent place in all natura
histories of birds, even the most elementary, that we shall
chiefly confine our remarks to a few of those particulars
only which regards its manners, whether in a wild or a do-
mesticated state. Pelicans are among the most common
birds seen in menageries, and are distributed over all the
temperate regions of the world ; but there seems reason
to believe that, under this general name, several species,
inhabiting different regions, will hereafter be detected.
Those described by Mr. Bennett, as then in the Tower
menagerie, were of a very light and delicate fiesh-colour,
varied only by occasional darker tinges, but with the

PELICAN. 279

quill feathers black: they were said to have been brought
from Hungary; a fact we are very much disposed to
question, since it is highly improbable that such a per-
fectly aquatic and almost maritime bird should inhabit
the heart of Central Europe; more especially, as it is so
rare on the warmer shores of Sicily and Italy, that,
although we were told it had been seen there, we never
could procure a specimen during a residence of six years.
At the time Mr. Bennett wrote, “‘ the female was there sit-
ting upon three eggs, and had built herself a very perfect
nest. Should these be brought to maturity,” he continues,
“as there is every reason to suspect, they will probably
be the first that were ever hatched in England. She
never quits her charge; but is fed by the male, who
crams his pouch with double his usual allowance, and
then proceeds to shovel her fair share into his partner’s
throat. It is in this manner, also, that the young are fed ;
the old bird pressing his full pouch against his chest, and
contriving thus to disgorge a portion of its contents; an
action which has, no doubt, given rise to the fabulous
notion of the pelican feeding its young with its own
blood : in fact, its appearance in this attitude, with the
bloody spot at the end of the bill, closely pressed against
the delicate plumage of the breast, may readily account
for the prevalence of such an idea in the minds of super-
ficial observers.*

The quantity of fish necessary to keep a pair of these
birds is enormous ; the above two requiring no less than
six dozen of small live plaice every day,—a supply which
it would be sometimes difficult to procure: so that
although a pair might be retained as specimens of fish
devourers, their increase would not be very desirable;
while it is obvious that they would be altogether un-
suited to canals or other artificial waters, thinly stocked
with their living food.

The following authentic account of its manners in a
state of nature, has been given by Dr. Richardson t:—

* Tower Menagerie, 230. t+ North. Zool. ii. 472.
Tt 4

280 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

“* Pelicans are numerous in the interior of the fur
countries up to the 61st parallel ; but they seldom come
within 200 miles of Hudson’s Bay. They usually de-
posit their eggs on small rocky islands, on the brink of
cascades, where they can scarcely be approached; but
they are otherwise by no means shy birds. They fly
low and heavily, usually in flocks of from six to four-
teen, sometimes abreast, at other times in an oblique line ;
and they often pass close over a building, or within a
few yards of a party of men, without exhibiting any
signs of fear: they haunt eddies under waterfalls, and
devour great quantities of carp and other fish. When
gorged with food, they dose on the water, and may be
easily captured, as they have great difficulty in taking
wing at such times, particularly if their pouches be
loaded with fish. Though they can perch on trees, they
are most generally seen either on the wing or swim-
ming. Some specimens, apparently in mature plumage,
have the bill quite smooth above; but some indi-
viduals have a long, thin, bony process, about two inches
high, springing from the ridge of the wpper mandible -
similar processes existed in the specimens alluded to by
Pennant and Forster, which were brought from Hud-
son’s Bay; but no such appearances have been described
as occurring on the bills of the white pelicans of the Old
Continent.”

The description of an American pelican, killed on the
Mississippi, in lat. 56°, is as follows:—-The general
colour is white, tinged with peach-blossom red, ex-
cept the breast, which is yellowish ; while the spurious
quills and primaries are deep black: the bill is bluish,
with the margins and tip of the upper mandible reddish:
the feet, the naked orbits, and the base of the upper
mandible are all flesh-coloured; the pouch being
yellow: the hind head is crested, but the neck is
covered with down. The total length is about six feet :
the second quill is the longest, and the first considerably
exceeds the fifth : the middle nail is entire.

281

PART ITI.

TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER OF BIRDS, EITHER
NEW, OR HITHERTO IMPERFECTLY DESCRIBED. *

1. Fauco gracilis.

Top of the head and wing covers cinereous ; the
latter marked with black spots: tail rufous, crossed be-
fore the tip with a band of black: outer feather white,
with six black bands on the inner web: body, beneath,
white, with black spots.

Inhabits Brazil: shot in the province of Bahia.

Differs from Falco sparverius in having six distinct black

bands on the outer tail feather, instead of only one, besides
the terminal band ; there is also no rufous on the crown.

2, Fauco cinnamominus.

Head and wing covers cinereous ; the latter with black
spots: ali the tail feathers entirely rufous, with one
black band before the tip: bands on the scapulars, and
spots on the body beneath, black.

Inhabits Chili. Mr. W. J. Hooker’s collection.

Size of Falco sparverius: differs in having no rufous on the
crown; in the tips of the tail being rufous instead of white ;
and in having no second band on the outer tail feather, which
is rufous instead of white. It seems intermediate between
sparvertus and gracilis, more resembling the first in the
strength and size of the black spots and bands on the upper
plumage, and those on the wing covers.

3. Fauco isabellinus.

Male.—Top of the head and wing covers cinereous,
without spots: tail rufous, with a black bar before the
tip; external web of the outer feather pure white:
breast, and body beneath, isabella, unspotted.

* As this part is referred to in the Second Volume of the Classification

of Birds, under the designation of Part V. of that volume, it is recom-
mended to be bound up with it.

282 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Female.— Above, rufous, banded with black ; beneath,
whitish, striped with brown on the breast and body :
crown cinereous: middle tail feathers with ten black bars.

Young male.— Crown with a rufous spot: outer tail
feather with one or two internal black bars.

Inhabits Demerara. Mr. Schombergh.

Three males and two females agreed in the above characters.
The male measures i0} inches; bill, gape ~,; wings 63;
tail, beyond, 13,; ditto, base 5; tarsus 1,3.

Note. — 'The above three species have been probably over-
looked, as varieties of the North American sparverius, which
seems to represent rather a section of the genus, than to be

the type of a species.

4. AccrPITER sexfasciatus.

Above, blackish brown ; beneath, white: crown and
nape, deep black: the feathers with their base white :
tail, beneath, black, with six entire white bars: thighs
and inner wing covers pale ferruginous.

Inhabits Guiana. Mr. Schombergh.

Total length 17 inches; wings 9, reaching to the upper
covers ; tail, beyond, 55; do. base 83; tarsus 2;,.— Obs. Form
typical: tail slightly rounded; the tips of the feathers pointed
and crossed by the sixth band; the other bands are dusky
above, but very white and regularly marked beneath; fourth
quill longest, with seven white bands on the inner web.

5. CumrospLemMMA Jleucocephala.

Front and upper part of the head pure white: ears
and sides brownish black: body above, wings, and tail,
brown, immaculate: under plumage white.

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. No. 270.

Size large, total length about 93 inches; bill, from the gape
1; ditto, front 6; wings 5~,; tail, beyond, about 11; base
41; tarsus 1; hind toe and claw 4.

6. Trxopuonus longirostris.

Above, brown ; beneath, cinereous: chin, ears, and
stripe above the eye, whitish: ears margined above by
a black line. Bill much lengthened, and slightly curved.

a

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 985

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. 423.
369.
Total length about 84 inches ; bill, from the front ~,; from
the gape 17,; wings 3; tail, from the base 4. Size and habit
of 7’. erythropterus ; but the bill is longer, much more slender,
and is slightly curved.

7. Tuamnopaiuus pectoralis.

Above, grey brown; beneath, whitish: wings
rufous: crown of the head, black in the male, rufous
in the female: breast and lower part of the throat
crossed by transverse black lines: tail rounded, black,
banded with white.

Inhabits the forests of Bahia, Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Rather smaller than 7. niveeus. Total length 53 inches ;
bill, front 33; wings 27,; tail, beyond, 174; base 24; tarsus,
1; middle toe and claw hardly j8. The grey of the upper
plumage is tinged with rufous, which is bright only on the
wings. The transverse lines on the throat and breast readily

distinguish this species: the chin, like the body, is white.

8. CoLLuRICINCLA strigata.

Above, grey ; beneath, pure white, with a grey line
down the middle of each feather : stripe above the eye,
and round the ear, ferruginous.

Inhabits Tasmania. Mus. Nost.

Size of C. cinerea. Total length 8} inches; bill, gape 17;;
wings 4{,; tail, beyond, 11h 5 base 4; tarsus 12. Bill deep
black: legs brown: margins of the greater covers, spurious
quills, and lesser quills, strongly tinged with rufous: lores,
ears, sides of the neck, breast, and body, cinereous: inner
wing covers pure white: the ferruginous stripe above the eye
commences at the nostrils, and joins another, which margins
the ear feathers: rump and tail pure cinereous.

9. TrpHRopornis superciliosus.

Above, light cinereous grey: stripe above the eye,
band on the rump, and two lateral tail feathers, white :
ears and upper tail covers blackish.

Inhabits Java. Mus. Nost.

Total length 6} inches; bill, front $; gape ~; wings

- . 10 ?
37; tail, beyond, 17; base 2}; tarsus %. Stripe above the

284 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

eye very broad: lores grey, ears blackish: tail even; upper
tail covers, and some of the lateral tail feathers, black ; the rest
brown ; the two outer pair pure white, but black at their base,
and marked with a brown spot on their outside tips: under
plumage white, tinged with grey on the breast.

10. Treruropnornis hirundinaceus.

Above, black, glossed with blue ; beneath, white:
front destitute of lengthened incumbent bristles: band
on the rump, and borders of the outermost tail feather,
white.

Inhabits Java. Mus. Nost. Mus. hirundinacea,
PI. Col.pl 119:

Total length 4} inches; bill, front ; to ~,; gape 4;
wings 2; tail, beyond, 1; base 18; tarsus 4. I have found
it necessary to draw up a specific character for this species, as
I have reason to know that the female has been confounded
with 7. superciliosus, notwithstanding the great difference in
their size: the outermost tail feather is deep black, bordered
all round with white.

11. Awnaucieus hirundinaceus.

Above, black, glossed with blue green: band on the
rump, and all the under plumage, pure white.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length 6 inches; bill, gape #; front 13; wings
38; tail, bey ond, 2 #3 from ihe base 2; tarsus 33. Bill cine-
reous, the margins whitish: the whole of the upper plumage
glossed with bluish green; the blue tint predominating on the
head, but there is little or none on the quills and tail: inner
wing covers deep black: the black forms a band under the
eye, and covers the upper half of the ears: the third and fourth
quills equal and longest.

12. Sauropnacus pusillus,
Colours of Saurophagus sul- | xy
phuratus; but all the yellow WY =,
crest feathers tipt with black. 25==
Total length, six inches and a 4 45

half. (fy. 45.) ep
: : yp Ries pam
Inhabits Brazil and Guiana ; A =e
but very rare in the former.
_ Total length 63 inches ; bill, front 7, ; ditto, gape 1 ; wings 375, ;

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 285

tail, beyond, Tas ; ditto, base Sip 3 ; tarsus fj. Notwithstanding
the remarkable difference in size between this delicate little
species and the robust S. su/phuratus, their colours are so
exactly alike, that I can only detect the trivial variation in the
crest, as mentioned above.

13. Mrcastoma flaviceps.

Above, olive brown ; beneath, fine yellow: chin, and
circle round the crown, white: crown and ears blackish,
with a concealed crest of fine yellow.

Inhabits Northern Brazil.

Total length 9 inches ; bill, gape 17; front 14; wings 47, ;
tail, beyond, 14; base 4; tarsus ~. This is, probably, the

Lanius pitanga of Linnzan authors.

14. Mrcasroma ruficeps.

Colour resembling M. flaviceps ; but the concealed
crest is rufous, and the body beneath, orange yellow.
Inhabits Southern Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 8{ inches ; bili 1; gape 1 ; front 13,; wings
45; tail, beyond, 2; base 33,; tarsus $.

15. Mereastoma atriceps.

Colour resembling I. flaviceps ; but the crown is
entirely blackish. Bill, 1-*, inch long.

0)

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Bill equally wide, but much shorter than in the two preced-
ing. Total length 8inches; wings 4;,; bill, gape 1}; front 1;
tail, base 3f,; tarsus 14, I suspect this group to be analogous
to Psaris in the uniformity of the colours which pervade the
species.

16. Prinogonys nitens.

Glossy blue black (in the female grey) above and
beneath: head with a pointed crest: quills with a cen-
tral white band on their inner webs.

Inhabits Mexico. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 7} inches ; bill, front 4; wings 42;

tail, beyond, 2; base 4; tarsus ub, The black colour of the
male is uniform and glossy throughout the whole plumage:
the feathers of the crest are very narrow and conspicuous: the

female is uniform dark grey, with the crest alone blackish.

286 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

17. Psaris Guianensis.

Cinereous white: head, ears, chin spot, wings, and tail,
black: orbits naked: bill red, tipt with black. Female
with black stripes. Length of the wing, 43 inches.

Inhabits the interior of Guiana. Mr. Schombergh.

Differs from P. Cayenensis, in having the orbitsred and naked.
Total length 8 inches; bill, gape 13,; from the front 1; wings
43; tail, base 3. The female is coloured like the male, with the
addition of a large blackish brown spot in the middle of the
back feathers, and a narrow stripe on those of the chin, throat,

breast, and part of the body: the black hardly occupies the
outer half of the bill.

18. Psaris Braziliensis.

Cinereous white: head, ears, chin spot, wings, and
tail, black: orbits, naked: bill black, the marginal
base red. Female with the head, ears, and back, dark
cinereous, striped with blackish: length of the wing,
above five inches.

Inhabits Northern Brazil.

Differs from Cayenensis in having the orbits red and naked ;
and from Guinensis in being larger, in the bill being entirely
black beyond the nostrils, and in the female being without a

black hood on the head and ears, as in that species. It is the
largest and commonest of Brazil.

19. Psaris Natterii.

Cinereous white: head, ears, wings, and tail, black :
chin without a black spot: bill black: orbits feathered.
Wings 44 inches long: spurious quill falcate: first quill
much longer than the fifth.

Inhabits Southern (?) Brazil.

Size of P. Jardinii, but the spurious quill, situated between
the first and second, is very conspicuous, while in the latter it is
totally wanting. I dedicate this new species to my friend,
Dr. Natterer, whose ornithological researches in Brazil, and
whose scientific knowledge, justly entitle him to this mark of
public distinction and of private regard.

20. Psaris Selbii.

Cinereous white: head, ears, wings, and tail, black :
chin without a black spot: bill black: orbits feathered.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 2987

Wings four inches: spurious quill half the length of
the second.
Inhabits Southern Brazil. Mus. Nost.

The smallest of the black-caped species yet discovered, being
much inferior to size to P. erythrogenys. Total length about
64 inches ; bill, gape 1,1; ditto, front 7,; wings 4; tail, base
2b; tarsus 7 First quill intermediate in length between the
fourth and fifth perfect quills. The slight characters which I
originally gave of this species had better be cancelled for the
foregoing.

21. Psaris strigatus.

Grey: beneath, dusky ferruginous: head blackish:
wings with a broad longitudinal stripe of rufous.
Spurious quill broad, hatchet-shaped.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Paris.

Total length 7 inches ; bill, from the gape 37; ditto from the
nostrils ~,; wings 3,5 ; tail, base 274; ditto, beyond the wings
13; tarsus #;: spurious quill hatchet-shaped. Closely related to
Psaris cristatus*, but distinguished, at first sight, from that
by the broad longitudinal stripe of ferruginous or rufous,
which passes over part of the wing covers and the middle
portion of the latter quills: rump and upper tail covers grey,
tinged with rufous: all the under parts pale ferruginous,
deepest on the under tail covers; inner wing covers the same:
base of the inner web of the quills with a white spot, anda
very small concealed one at the base of the shoulders, as in
P. cristatus. Both these birds are links of connection between

Psaris and Pachyrynchus.

22. Pacayryncnus megacephalus.

Head very large: plumage, above, cinereous; _be-
neath, whitish: crown of the head glossy black: wings
brown ; quills rufous: ears, and inner web of the tail
feathers, fulvous brown. Wings rather short, rounded :
no spurious quill.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 7} inches ; bill, from the front ~,; ditto, gape
1; wings 4; tail, beyond, 1}; from the base 3; tarsus {.

De)
Head very large, crested: bill small, strong, and nearly as:

high on the sides as it is broad above; so that it deviates more
from the typical species than any I have yet seen: crown and
nape glossy black: upper plumage cinereous ; but the whole of

* Zool. ill. ii. pl. 41.

288 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

the wings and the sides of the tail feathers have a rufous
brown tinge, which also extends to the ears and the inner
wing covers: outer webs and margin of the inner webs of
the quills rufous: tail rounded.

23. Pacuyryncenus Swainsonii. Tapcnte and Selby.*

Above, olive ; beneath, yellowish: head subcrested,
ferrugineous in the male, olive in the female: wings
and tail black, with all the feathers more or less tipt or
margined with ferrugineous : : eyes encircled with a
white ring: no spurious quill.

Inhabits the forests of Eastern Brak Mus. Nost.

As the male only of this interesting species was known to
the authors who have done me the honour of attaching my
name to it, I have here indicated the female: the spurious
quill is wanting in both sexes. Its size and dimensions are

those of P. Cues i, of which Vieilloti Jardine and Selby seems
to be the female.

24. PacHyRYNCHUS ruficeps.

Rufous chestnut: paler beneath: crown of the head
darker, sub-crested, and encircled, except in front, with
a cinereous band. Tail rather lengthened, graduated :
no spurious quill.

Inhabits Brazil. Pachy. teas Spix. pl. 46. f. 2.

Total length 64 inches; bill, gape 7,; ditto, front 4; wings

3; second bid fifth equal ; - the four middle tail feathers equal,

the rest graduated ; tarsi $3. Ears pale chestnut like the

throat The cinereous band commences at the lores, passes
over the eye, and thus isolates the dark rufous of the crown
from the side of the head.

25. Pacnuyryneuus pectoralis.

Above, black, glossed with bluish; beneath, dark
cinereous: wings ferrugineous: throat with a rose-
coloured spot: no spurious quill.

Inhabits Cayenne. Mus. Paris. Querula minor
Lesson, Traité d’Orn. 363.

Size rather larger than P. Cuviert. Total length about 7

inches ; bill, from the gape 37; ditto, from the nostrils 3;

20?
wings 3f,; tarsus 7. Typical in form, although aberrant in

* Dust. of Orn. ii. Appendix.

GF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 289

its colours. Lateral toe united to the first joint of the mid-
dle toe.

26. Pacnyryncuus leucogaster.

Above, cinereous, tinged with olive: beneath, white:
crown black, subcrested: wings and tail grey, with
white margins: edge of the shoulders, and under wing
covers, fulvous or buff yellow: no spurious quill.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Paris.

Size of P. niger, from which it further differs in having a
shorter and less rounded tail, with the feathers more narrow
and pointed. The chin, throat, and middle of the belly are

pure white, the breast alone being tinged with grey: the back
is tinged here and there with olive.

27. Pacnyrynecuus albifrons.

Above, cinereous ; beneath, whitish: crown glossy
black, subcrested: wings and tail margined and tipt
with white: frontal band, and circle round the eye,
pure white. Spurious quill more than half the length
of the first.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size of the last, from which it further differs in having the
whole of the under plumage of a uniform light grey or pearly
white. Nape, ears, lower back, rump, and tail covers clear
cinereous: interscapulars varied with black: wings and tail
deep black, the feathers of the former are margined, those of
the latter broadly tipt with white: a narrow white line passes
on the front, and unites to the white ring round the eye. All
the tail feathers grey at their outer base.

28. Pacnyryncuus Spiwvii.

Male.— Above, black, with the rump and tail covers
cinereous: beneath, entirely cinereous: crown glossy
steel-black: wings and tail, black, margined and tipt
with white: spurious quill between the first and second.

Female, — Above, pale olive, where the male is grey :
lesser wing covers, and scapular quills, edged with
yellowish white: greater wing covers, and lesser quills,
edged with ochraceous: under plumage greyish white,
tinged with yellow: no spurious quill.

Inhabits Brazil? Mus. Paris. Nob.

wie

,290 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Crown glossy steel-black, changing to unglossed black on the
nape, neck, and interscapulars ; from whence to the base of the
tail feathers the colour is dark cinereous: all the under parts

pure uniform cinereous, rather paler than the rump: bill short,
broad.

29. PacHyRYNcHUS niger.

Sooty black both above and beneath: crown glossy
steel-black: wings and tail black, margined and tipt
with white. Spurious quill half as long as the second :
bill rather narrow.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size of the last, from which it is at once distinguished by
the under plumage being almost as black as the upper.
Although, in a young state, the under parts are dark cinereous,
yet they are never so light as in my Spirti. The white
markings on the wings and tail of the last four species are all
the same, and their general similarity of plumage is analo-

gous to that which belongs to Psaris Brazilienses and its
allies.

30. Oriotus Hodsonii.*

Yellow, with a black hood over the head and neck :
quills yellow edged, and tipt with white: all the tail
feathers with a central black band. Wings less than five
inches long: tail short.

Inhabits Nepal.

Resembling Oriolus melanocephalus of India; but much
smaller, and the tips of the quills are white instead of yellow :
middle feathers of the tail yellow, with a black bar nearly across
ar centre. Total length about 7 inches; bill, from the gape

ie: : Sie
; front §; wings 48 ; tail, beyond, 7; fea aos

31. Crateropus rufifrons.

Fulvous brown above and beneath: throat and
breast paler: front and lores bright rufous: inner
wing covers, and under parts of the quills, cinnamon.

Inhabits India? Mus. Nost.

‘Total length 10% inches; bill, gape 145; ditto, front 4;

‘%* Theeminent services which Mr. Hodgson has rendered to science during
his long residence at the court of Nepal, both by describing several of the
new animals of that country, and by transmitting to Europe large and va-
luable coHections of specimens, justly entitles him to the honour of having
one of the many new species, thus discovered, recorded by his name.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 291

wings 5; tail, beyond, 23; ditto, base 5; tarsus 1j4; hind toe
and claw 1. General colour drab brown, nearly as dark on
the body beneath as onthe back: the front of the chin and
throat is lighter, almost isabella brown, gradually deepening
downwards to the colour of the body: tail and wings like the
back, the former broad and much rounded ; quills very broad,
the basal half of all the primaries, and also the inner covers,
rufous or cinnamon; a small spot of the same is on the tip of
the chin. bill short, straight, and rather thick. Sixth and
seventh quill longest: lateral claws almost even.

32. Mreauurus isabellinus.

Light brown, striped with blackish above: isabella
beneath: middle of the throat and breast white: tail
and wings with transverse dark shades: bill and feet
pale.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Tota! length 8} inches; bill, gape #,; ditto, front —; wings
27, reaching only to the base of the tail; tail 4; tarsus 1,5;

. . . . 10 a
hind toe and claw ,; middle ditto #; inner toe shor ter than the

outer. Form and habit of Meg. palustris, Horsf., but smaller ;
the tail narrower ; the wings shorter; tertials not lengthened,
nor edged with any light colour; head and nape strongly
striated with black; belly white; no white on the sides of
the head; wings very short; the fourth quill longest.

35. GRYLLIVORA magnirostra.

Giossy black: body beneath,
stripe on the wings, and the
four external pair of the tail
feathers pure white. Bill large,
thick; the culmen straight,
and the tip much hooked.
( fig. 46.0)

Inhabits India? Mus. Nost.

Total length 8 inches; bill,
front 7; wings 3¥, ; ‘tail, beyond,
1}; base 4; tarsus 1,5; middle toe
and claw 1.

54. GRYLLIVORA intermedia.

Glossy black: body beneath, stripe on the win;s
u 2

292 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

and the four outer pair of tail feathers, pure white:
bill moderate ; culmen arched from the nostrils.—
Female? dark glossy cinereous above: the throat and
breast, grey: chin and sides of the head tinged with
rufous. (fig. 46. b.)

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length 8} inches; bill, front 4; wings 33,; tail, beyond,
21; base 33; tarsus 1,5; middle toe and claw §. This and the
last species are coloured precisely alike, but the difference
in their bills is so great, that I am disposed to consider them
distinct, more especially in reference to the next.

35. Grywuivora brevirostra.

Glossy black: chin, throat, and breast, grey: stripe
on the wings, and three lateral tail feathers, pure white.
Bill small, straight. (fig. 46. c)

Inhabits Java? Mus. Nost.

Total length 8 inches; bill, front $,; wings 3}; tail, beyond,
21; base 33; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw 1. This is pro-
bably a female, but the difference in the tail distinguishes it
at first sight from the two former.

36. THamnopia atrata.

Entirely sooty black: wings rather paler. Tail even.

Inhabits Africa? Mus. Nost.

Total length 53 inches ; bill, gape 7,; front hardly }; wings
2f,; tail, beyond, 1,; base 2; tarsus ~. This, in comparison
to the type, is an aberrant species, since the lateral toes are
not quite equal, and the tail is even, but the upper mandible is
destitute of any notch, and the quills are only ;4, longer than
the tertials; the third, fourth, and fifth quills are longest and
equal.

37. Saxicona leucoptera.

Entirely dark brown: inner webs of the primaries,
and shafts of the secondary quills, pure white.
Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Smith.

Large: wings and tail short; legs very long, lateral toes
equal, claws slightly curved. Total length 7% inches; bill,
the notch being obsolete, 14, from the gape, the margins not
inflexed ; wings 3.8,; tail, base 2}; tarsus 13,; middle toe and
claw 8; hind ditto § ; the claw as long as the toe.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 2935

38. SaxicoLa rufiventer.

Grey black: rump, tail covers, and body beneath,
chestnut. Tail rounded, and somewhat lengthened.
Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. No. 367.

Size of Sar. humeralis. Total length about 7} inches; bill,
front 1; wings 4},; tarsus 17; tail, base 33. The tail
is broad, more lengthened than usual, rounded, and unusually
soft: the deep chestnut colour begins at the breast, and spreads
round the lower back, rump and tail covers ; the two outermost
quills are graduated ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth are equal and
longest.

39. SeropHaca rubra.

Entirely red: ears of a silky whiteness: wings and
tail dusky.

Inhabits Mexico, near Toluca. Mus. Nost.

Form aberrant. Billsmall, compressed on the sides ; while its
form perfectly resembling that of Seiswrus awricapillus; the
sides inflexed ; the rictal bristles strong, and extending to two
thirds its length. The bright crimson of the plumage is uni-
form, except on the wings and tail, where it is duller, and only
edges the feathers: bill and legs horn colour. Total length
about 43 inches; bill, front #; wings 273;; tail, base 234;
tarsus 7;

40. SEeropHaGa miniata.

Upper plumage, with the chin and ears, cinereous ;
under plumage bright crimson: crown obscure rufous :
tail broad, soft ; terminal half of the three outermost
feathers white, the rest black.

Inhabits Mexico, between Temascaltepec and Toluca.
Mus. Nost.

Rather larger than S. rubra. Total length 54 inches; bill,
base 7; wings 2;4; tail, beyond, 1; base 3; tarsus §. Form
probably typical. Although the tail is much broader, longer,
and more rounded than in S. ruticilla, yet the bill is equally
depressed, and the rictal bristles so strong and lengthened, that

they nearly reach to the end of the bill. It is closely allied to
the S. picta.*

41. SeropHaca auricapilla.
Above, olive green: beneath, bright yellow : crown

* Zool. Ill. ii. pl. 3.
u 3

ZY4 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

fulvous orange, bordered on each side by a black stripe
and by another of white over the eye.

Inhabits Mexico and Brazil. Mus. Nost. ;

Size and general structure of S. ruticilla, while the colouring
of the upper plumage is almost an exact counterpart of Seisu-
rus auricapillus : the white stripe over the eye is between that
and the black one, much broader, and margins the orange _
buff in the middle of the crown, which latter becomes greyish
as it descends to the nape: the lores and ears are blackish, but
the colour again becomes nearly white below the eye: the bill
is brown, and the legs are very pale : the wingsare short. Total
length 5 inches ; bill, front nearly 4; wings 27; tail, beyond,
1;4,; base 2; tarsus 7.

42. Seropuaca rufifrons.

Above, olive green ; beneath, greyish white: fore
part of the head and crown, and also the ears, bright
rufous: above and beneath the eye a white stripe:
throat bright yellow.

Inhabits Mexico.

Closely resembles, in size and general form, S. auricapilla,
but the bill is more compressed. The rufous of the front and
crown is separated from the lores and ears by a white stripe ;
and another white stripe passes from the nostrils beneath the
eye and the upper part of the ears, which are rufous: the
whole of the throat is bright yellow as far as the breast.

43. Zosterors pallida.

Pale greyish olive: beneath, yellowish white, tinged
with isabella on the body and flanks: wings and tail
very light brown: inner wing covers white.

Inhabits Southern Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. No.
43,

Size of Z. flavigula*, from which it differs in being of a
much paler and greyer olive, and in having the under tail covers
straw colour instead of white.

44, ZosTEROPS cinerea.
Light cinereous : plumage beneath, and the upper

tail covers, white: ocular ring wanting.
Inhabits P Mus. Nost.

* Zool. Ill. i. pl. 164.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 295

The smallest of the genus I have yet seen. Total length
3} inches ; bill, front #; wings 2; tail, beyond, 3; base 14;
tarsus ~,. The under plumage, and the upper tail covers,
which are very long, are pure white; the flanks have a tinge
of light brown ; lores blackish, with a white line above ; the
white ring round the eye is wanting.

45, ZostpRops ambigua.

Above, dark cinereous, tinged with olive yellow on
the head, ears, wings, rump, and tail: under parts
white: chin and under tail covers tinged with yellow-
ish: flanks isabella. Bill rather lengthened.

Inhabits Cayenne? Bullock’s Mus. Nost.

Differs from the New Holland species, to which it has the
closest resemblance, in being rather larger, in having only a
very faint yellowish tinge on the throat, and in the under tail
covers not being white; the bill also is much longer. It was
stated to come from Cayenne ; and it is very singular that I
possess a drawing of this very species, made in the year 1806;
it was taken from a specimen which formed part of the
famous collection made there by the French, which was cap-
tured and sold by auction in this country in that year.

46. Tricuas superciliosus.

Above, olive green; beneath, white: head above,
nape, and ears, greyish black: a white line before and
above the eye: middle of the crown with a pale stripe:
under tail covers, yellow. Legs very long.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size of T. velatus. Inner wing covers and flanks olive yellow.
Wings 23 inches ; tarsus 1; middle toe and claw £,; hind ditto

The crown is darkest on the sides, and pale grey in the
middle ; all the under parts, to the vent, pure white, tinged
with grey on the sides of the neck and breast.

47. Tricnas brachidactylus.

Above, olive green; beneath, yellow: a black fillet
enveloping the front, eyes, and ears, bordered above by
cinereous white. Lateral toes nearly equal, and shorter
than the hinder one.

Inhabits, plentifully, the northern provinces of the
United States.

u 4

206 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

In general size and colour it is perfectly similar to T’richas
personatus, although the wings and tail are rather shorter: it
is, however, at once distinguished by the structure of its feet :
the two lateral toes are all but equal, and they are shorter than
the hind toe ; whereas in personatus the inner toe is consider-
ably the shortest, and the outer toe is as long as the hind one.
These characters have been drawn from many specimens, both
old and young.

48. CuLoropsis mysticalis.
Entirely green, with a blue 47
stripe beneath the ears. ( fig. 47.)
Inhabits IndiaP Mus. Nost.
Total length 6 inches ; bill, gape
753 wings 3; tail, beyond, 1} ; tarsus
#;; the smallest species I have
yet seen.

49. CAtypromina Rafflesia.
Green: gape smooth: spot on the ears, and three

bands upon the wings,
black. Tail short,even,
the feathers truncate
and slightly emargin-
ate. ( fig.48.a) Calyp-
tomina viridis, Raffles.
Cat. Lin. Tr. xiii. 295.

The discovery of the
following species, equal-_,
ly green, renders the
original specific name for this so objectionable, that I think
ornithologists will agree in distinguishing it, hereafter, by that
of its original discoverer, no less illustrious as a naturalist,

than as a statesman. The sexes, according to sir S. Raffles,
are coloured precisely alike.

50. Canypromina caudacuta.

Entirely green. Gape with setaceous hairs: tail
rounded ; the feathers narrowed towards their tips, which
terminate in fine soft points. (fig. 48. b)

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Size rather larger than the last. General colour of a Chio-

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 207

ropsis: tail tinged with blue. Total length 71 inches; bill,
gape 7,; wings 4; tail, beyond, }; outer tail feather | shorter
than the middle ; tarsus 4; hind toe and claw 13.*

51. BracuystoMa cinerea,

Body entirely cinereous: wings dark brown, with
pale edges to the quills: tail black, glossed with green-
ish, and marked by darker transverse linear shades.

Inhabits the interior of New Holland. Found by
Mr. Allan Cunningham.

Total length 12 inches; bill, gape 1; ditto, from the front
$3 Wings nearly 6; tail, beyond, 33; ditto, from the base 7 ;
tarsus 1{,; hind toe and claw $. The tips of the feathers on
the head and neck are paler: bill and feet black.

52. LamproTorNis melanogaster.

Shining sea green ; glossed with purple on the ears,
scapulars, rump, and upper tail covers: belly and flanks
black ; the latter glossed with copper: quills and tail
black, with obscure purplish edges.

Inhabits Senegal. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 8 inches; bill, gape ~; front {,;
wings 4,4; tail, beyond, 1}; from the base 32,; tarsus hardly
~;- Much smaller than Cyanotis, from which it is at once dis-
tinguished by having no spots on the wings; by the quill fea-
thers being deep black, with only an obscure purple gloss on
their outer edges; and by the middle of the belly and breast
being black, without any gloss; between this black, and the

green of the breast, is a purple tinge, which changes to that of
copper on the flanks.

53. Lamprortornis albiventris.

Brown, with slight metallic reflections: belly, thighs,
and under tail covers, fulvous white: gape with a pale,
naked, membranaceous skin : tail green, with transverse
black shades.

Inhabits Southern Africa. Le Spreo, Le Vaill.
L’Ois. d’Af. p. 188.

Total length 10 inches; bill, gape 1%; ditto, front 3;
wings 5}; tail, beyond, 14; ditto, base 4; tarsus almost Ik;
Bill black ; base of the under mandible pale: tail rounded.

* I have had my suspicions that this, after all, may be the young bird, or
thefemale, of the C. Rafflesta ; and yet the different form of its tail feathers

is so totally opposed to this supposition, that until such a similarity is esta-
blished beyond all doubt, I must continue to hold the opinion here acted upon.

298 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

54. Lamprorornis fulvipennis.

Black, glossed with purple:
greater quills externally ru-
fous, internally fulvous ; the
shafts half white, half black.
Tail moderate, rounded. Le
Naboroup, Le Vaill. Ois.
d’ Af. ii. pl. 91. (fig. 49. a)

Inhabits South Africa.
Le Vaillant, Burchell.

Total length 10 inches; bill, front $=; ditto, gape 1;
wings 54; tail, base 4}; tarsus1$. I suspect this species
has been overlooked by all our systematists, as a variety of
the L. rufipennis, or Roupenne of Le Vaill. ii. pl. 83. ; the
bill (a) is much smaller than in that (>); and the other di-
mensions proportionably less.

49

56. QuiscaLus versicolor.

Head glossed with steel blue; neck and breast with
copper green. Bill 1,*, inch from the gape. (fig. 50. a)

Inhabits North America.
Total length 12! inches ; wings 6 ; tarsus +.

56. QuiscaLus purpuratus.

Head, neck, and breast, glossed with lilac purple,
without any green. Bill 1,2, inch from the gape.
Inhabits North America. (fig. 50. 5)

Total length 114 inches; wings 5}; tarsus 174. Ornitho-
logists have cousidered the two last birds as only varieties ;

but, from inspecting a number of specimens, I am disposed, at

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 299

least for the present, to suspect they are distinct: the latter may
possibly be the female of L. versicolor*, but there does not
appear sufficient evidence of this fact.

57. Quiscatus lugubris.

Plumage black, obscurely glossed with purple. Wings
41 inches long.

Inhabits Brazil. (fig. 50. c)

Total length 9} inches; bill, gape 13,; wings 43; tail,
base 4; tarsus 1%; middle toe 1,3; hinder 1. There is
a very obscure greenish tinge on the wings and tail.

58. Quiscatus tenuirostris.

slender ; the commissure not sinuated. Plumage black,
slightly glossed with violet. Claws slender, but slightly
eurved. (fig. 51.5, c)

Inhabits the marshes adjoining Mexico. Mus. Nost.

Total length 15}inches ; bill, from the gape 1f,; front 1,;
wings 61; tail, beyond, 5; base 73; tarsus 17,; hind toe and
claw 13,; middle ditto 1: second and third quills nearly
equal, and longest ; the first shorter than the fourth: lateral
toes equal.

59. QuIScALUS macrourus.

Total length near 20 inches: bill 2 inches long.
Plumage black, glossed with blue on the body, and with
obscure greenish on the wings and tail. Claws slender,
but fully curved. (fig. 51. a)

* The prince of Musignano says that the bill of the female “* measures
nearly an inch and a half long ; ” whereas this is little more than an inch.

300 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Inhabits Real del Monte, Mexico.

Total length 19} inches; bill, gape 2; wings 8; tail,
base 10; outer feather 4 inches shorter; tarsus 1~,; hind toe
and claw 11. Resembles Tenwirostris ; but the bill is stronger,
the commissure sinuated, the upper mandible more bent, and
the claws more curved. The plumage has a blue, and not a
lilac purple gloss.

60. QuiscaLus corvinus.

Total length 17 inches: bill 2 inches long. Plumage
black ; richly glossed on the ears and throat with violet
purple, and on the breast, body, and back with golden
green. Inner toe longer than the outer.

Inhabits North America.

Total length 17 inches; bill, gape 2; from the front 175;
from the feathers of the nostrils 14; wings 77; tail, from the
base 7; tarsus 1{,; hind toe and claw 13; middle ditto 13;
the claw only ~; wings short, not reaching to the end of the
upper tail covers; first quill longer than the fifth. Claw less
curved than in Versicolor. Lower part of the back and rump

dull black, obscurely glossed with greenish ; first quill nearly
as long as the two next: secondaries with mucronated tips. *

61. Quiscauus inflexirostris.

Bill slender, near
4 inch long; com-
missure curved; the
margins consider- :
ably inflexed, and
not sinuated. Plu- ‘.
mage black, glossed with purple on the body, and
greenish on the wings. ( fig. 52.)

Inhabits ? Mus. Nost. Liverpool Institution.

Size and colour precisely like Q. lugubris ; but the great
difference in their bills induces me to consider them quite dis-
tinct. In this, the bill is longer and much more slender, the

upper mandible and the commissure more curved, but without
any sinuosity at the margins, which are also much inflexed.

52

~ =

* The Quiscalus major of the American ornithologists is stated to have
a bill only one inch and three quarters from the angle of the mouth; but
their descriptions, in other respects, are so defective, that it is impossible
to determine its comparative characters with those here defined.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 30]

62. Scapuipura barita.
Bill 1,4; inch 2
from the front. Z
Plumage deep
black, glossed
with lilac pur-
ple on the head =
and body. FA
Inhabits Bra- &
zil. (fig. 53.a) =
Total length 3

14 inches; bill
from the gape
1%; wings 7 ;

tail, beyond, 21; base 6; tarsus 17,; middle toe and claw the
same.

63. ScaPHIDURA crassirostra.

Bill little more than one inch from the front.
Plumage deep glossy black, without any other tint.
( fig. 53. b)

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 113; bill, from the gape 175; wings 53; tail,
beyond, 14; base 43; tarsus 1; middle toe and claw 1;.
Bill thicker and shorter than in the last. The black of the
plumage has a tinge of blue, but there are no positive reflec-

tions: the casque is broader, but does not extend so far back
on the forehead.

64. ScoLEcoPHAGUS sericeus.

Bill thick, short. Plumage black, richly glossed with
purple. Tail even: wings more than 45 inches long.
Icterus sericeus, Lich. Berlin Cat.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

General appearance of an Agilaius, but the culmenis not
flattened, and the tip of the upper mandible is bent over the
under, as in Quiscalus, with which it would be associated, but
for its flattened tail: both this and the next seem, therefore, to
connect Quiscalus to Scolecophagus. The wings have a slight

reenish gloss, but that on the body is rich, uniform purple.
‘Total length 8 inches; bill, gape 7; wings 47; tail, beyond,
1 {4,3 base 37); tarsus 1; inner toe rather shortest.

302 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

65. SconecopHaGus minor.

Bill thick, short. Plumage black, richly glossed with
purple. Tail rounded: wings hardly 4 inches long.
Icterus minor, Spix, pl. 63. f. 2.

Inhabits Brazil.

In structure and colour precisely resembling the last, of
which, but for its rounded tail, and much smaller size, I should
have thought it a variety. Total length 63inches; bill, gape
153 Wings hardly 4; tail, beyond, LA; base Sit 5 tarsus $, ;
inner toe rather shortest.

- 66. ScotecopHacus Mewicanus.

Black, glossed with purple on the head and throat,
and with greenish on the rest of the plumage: base of
the under mandible flattened: first quill longer than
the fourth. (fig. 344. d)

Inhabits Mexico.

Rather larger than S. ferruginus, but resembling it in ge-
neral structure. Total length 9,4, inches; bill, from the gape

8; wings 54; tail, base al; esc I? middie toe and claw

1; hide ditto 1%. In S. Serruginus, the first quill is rather
shorter than es fourth, the bill is not so strong, and the base
of the under mandible is rounded.

67. Icrerus tibialis.
Black. Tail lengthened. Thighs and shoulder covers,
both above and beneath, pure yellow.
Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size and habit of J. Cat * Total length 81 inches ;
bill straight, from the Bape i front 13 wings 3]; tail, be-
yond, 21; base 45; tarsus ;

68. AgEuatus ruficollis.

Glossy black: front, crown, forepart of the neck, and
breast, chestnut.

Inhabits the province of Pernambuco in Brazil: ex-
cessively rare. Mus. Nost.

Total length 7 inches; bill, gape 7; ditto, front £:
wings 33; tail, beyond, 1; ditto, base 3; tarsus 1; mid-
dle toe and claw 17;. The second, third, and fourth quills

* Zool. Ill. ii. pl. 22.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 3038

longest and equal: tail rounded. Ears and sides of the neck
black.

69. AcELatus sulcirostris.

Entirely glossy black. Feathers of the head and neck
lanceolate: lores plumed : nae mandible slightly bent

at the tip; lower with oblique grooves at the base.
Spix, 64. f. 2.

Inhabits Brazil. (fig. 54.a@) Mus. Nost.

Total length 9 inches; bill, gape 2%; wings 5; tail, be-

10?

yond, 2; base 4; tarsus 13; hind toe and claw 7. This

seems to be the elo us unicolor of Lich. Berlin Cat.
70. AgELAIusS pustulatus.

Entirely glossy black. Feathers of the head lanceolate:
lores and base of the under mandible naked and warted.

Inhabits the plains in the interior of Bahia, Brazil.
( fig. 54. 6) Mus. Nost.

71. Leisrss oviolides.

5
NA .,

ey body beneath, lesser wing covers, we rump,

304 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

yellow. Bill lengthened; the commissure sinuated, and
the tip slightly depressed. (fig. 55. a)
Inhabits Brazil. a
The Zanth. gasquet. and L. Suchii of authors. ‘Total length
10 inches ; bill, gape 1%; front 145; wings nearly 5; tail
beyond 22;; base 44; tarsus 1,4; hind toe and claw 1.

72. Luistss brevirostris.

Brown: body beneath, lesser wing covers, and rump,
yellow. Bill short; culmen convex ; the tip of the upper
mandible slightly bent over the lower. (fig. 55.c)

_Inhabits Brazil.

The Oriolus bicolor of the Paris Museum. Rather smaller
than the next, particularly in the length of the bill, which only
measures one inch from the gape: neither the culmen nor the tip

is depressed or flattened: can it possibly be a young bird of
the last ?

73. Listes tenwirostris.

Olive brown: body beneath, and first row of the
lesser wing covers, yellow: rump brown. Bill slender ;
the commissure not sinuated; the tip considerably
depressed. ( fig. 54. d)

Inhabits Brazil.

The Oriolus draco of the Paris Museum. Nearly the size of
the last ; but the bill is much more slender, the rump is olive
brown, the wings are more pointed, and the tail less rounded :

sides of the body, crest, thighs, and under tail covers, olive
brown.

74. Listes niger.

Entirely glossy black, without reflections. Feathers
of the head and neck pointed: bill 11 inch long: wings
54 inches.

Inhabits Chili. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 10 inches; bill, from the gape 11; front
the same; wings 51; tail, beyond, 21; base 43; tarsus 11;
hinder toe and claw 1. Bill very straight, much depressed, and
advancing very far upon the forehead.

75. Leisrres unicolor.
Male entirely black: female, above, dark rufous brown,
ry

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 305

striped with black ; beneath, brownish buff. Bill small,
slender, less than 1 inch long.
Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size not larger than Agelaius pheniceus. (fig. 54. d) Bill
remarkably straight, slender, and laterally very acute ; but the
culmen is flattened from the front, and the tip of the upper
mandible considerably depressed and obtuse. The male is deep
black, but not glossed with any othertint: the tail broad, and,
with the wings, more than usually rounded : it seems the an-
nectant species between ee and Leistes. Total length 8
inches ; bill, base 9,; front 6 ; wings 3,6; the woh and second
quills graduated ; tail, base nearly 4; tarsus 7,; hind toe and
claw i.

76. Movorurus brevirostris.

Entirely black, slightly glossed with purple blue.
Bill short, 3 inch long: wings little more than 4 inches.
Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost. (fig. 54 oy

Total length 7, inches ;_ bill ena hes base, 34; from the
nostrils }; wings 455. tail, beyond, 154; base 3; ceaeae al-
most 1; middle toe 3; hind toe “ie In size, and somewhat
in colour, resembling Scol, sericeus ; but the bill is considerably
shorter and thicker ; the tarsi and toes are shorter in length,
yet stronger in structure: bill and feet dark brown: wings
brownish. Female entirely brown, paler beneath, with the chin
whitish.

77. Puocnus cristatus.

Black : crest, crown, ears, throat, and breast, crimson.
Crest wanting in the ee

LE-— AZZ

LEA Che Tis - “ hr
Inhabits Western Africa. Mus. Par. (fa. 56. b)
Total length 6} inches ; bill, from the gape 15.3 ditto
front 75; wings 34 tail, beyond, 1}; tarsus about 78; hind
x

306 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

toe and claw 13. Thisis the Malimbus cristatus of Vieillot,
who has mistaken the next species for the female: both sexes
are in the Paris Museum. ‘The first quill is nearly half as
long as the second: the black colour is inclined to brown :
the front and lores are black ; which colour spreads round the
eye, and forms a line at the base of the under mandible, and
the tip of the chin: claws fully curved.

78. Puoceus rubricollis.
Black: crown of the head, and upper part of the
neck, crimson. Ois. Chant. pl. 43.
M. Vieillot describes this as the female of the above, and

refers to a specimen in his own collection: the sizes, we may
therefore presume, are the same, yet I have never seen this.

79. PiocEeus niger.
Entirely sooty black: wings and tail tinged with
brown. The first quill nearly half as long as the second.
Inhabits Western Africa? Paris Mus. (fig. 56. a)
Size ie P. cristatus. Bill, from the gape § inch; ditto,
front 14; tail, beyond, 13,; wings 3,3; tarsus 7}; hind toe
and claw 7. Billblack : legs pale brown.

80. Procreus aurantius.

Orange yellow, deepest and brightest on the head :
back olive green: wing feathers blackish brown, mar-
gined with yellow. (fig. 55.d)

Inhabits Western Africa. Paris Mus.

Total length 5$inches; bill, from the gape 6; ditto, front

1; wings, 3 ; tail beyond, 11; tarsus, $3; hind toe and claw

12. Claws fully curved : second quill shorter than the third.
First spurious slores black: tail light dusky brown: rump
obscure orange yellow. Malimbus auraniius, Vieil. Ois. Ch.
pl. 44. (The fig. 56. c, is P. icterocephalus ; see Vol. I. p. 189.)

81. PLoceus personatus.

Large. Above, olive green ; beneath, yellow: front,
eyes, chin, and base of the ears enveloped in a black
hood, which descends in a narrow line on the throat.
‘Bill thick, arched above : tail rounded.

Inhabits ? Paris Mus. (fig. 56. e)

Total length about 6} inches; bill, from the gape 7; ditto,
front 3; wings 31; tail, beyond, 1}; tarsus ~,; hind toe and

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS, 307

claw 8. Feathers of the back with a dusky central brown
stripe : wing covers and quills with pale yellowish edges: bill
black, strong, and the culmen more curved than the gonys:
the black mask which is in front of the head, includes the
eyes, but only half of the ear feathers: legs brown: under tail
covers nearly white; tail rounded, coloured like the quills.
The first quill is nearly half as long as the second, the third
longest : claws large : commissure sinuated.

82. Puoceus melanotis.

Small. Above, olive green ; beneath, yellow: front,
ears, chin, and halfway down the middle of the throat
enveloped in a black hood. Bill slender: tail even.

Inhabits ——? Paris Mus. (fig. 56. f, 9)

Total length about 4} inches; bill, gape 3; wings 275;
tail, beyond, {,; tarsus 13; hind toe and claw ~. Exceedingly
like the last ; but the black in front does not include the eyes;
it likewise spreads over the whole of the ear feathers, and de-
scends in a much broader stripe in front of the throat: the
bill is likewise differently formed, more regularly conic, and
the commissure not sinuated: claws small; first quill small,
spurious ; second #, shorter than the third. An aberrant spe-
cies, leading to Euplectes.

83. Piocnus flaviceps.

Above, olive yellow, spotted with black : upper part
of the head, and plumage beneath, pure and bright
yellow: sides of the head and chin deep black, con-
tinued in a narrow stripe down the middle of the throat,
and beyond the breast.

Inhabits Senegambia.

Total length 64 inches; bill, gape #; front nearly the
same; wings 3}; tail, beyond, 1; from the base 2;,; tarsus
#53; middle toe and claw the same; hinder ditto, ~, Size ra-
ther larger than P. tertor, but precisely of the same form and
structure. The black patch which covers the ears, lores, and
chin, suddenly contracts and forms a slender line, which is
continued beyond the breast.

84. Proceus cucullatus.

Above, olivaceous yellow ; beneath, pure yellow: the
whole of the head, ears, and fore part of the throat
enveloped in a black hood.

x 2

308 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Inhabits Senegambia.

Total length nearly 6 inches; bill, from the gape 33; from

the front §,; wings 27; tail, beyond, 14; base 23; tarsus,
f; 3 hind toe and claw 33; middle ditto §. Structure of P.
textor, but smaller: the black hood forms a narrow rounded

lappet in front of the throat, and reaches as far as the breast.

85. PrLoceus ruficeps.

Above, olivaceous yellow ; beneath, pure yellow :
crown of the head, and fore part of the throat, rufous:
chin, ears, and frontal line, black.

Inhabits Senegambia.

Total length, about 5 inches; bill, gape, 54; wings 25;
tail, base nearly 2; tarsus}; middle toe and claw7; hinder
ditto ~,; inner toe rather shortest. Structure of the last, but
much smaller. The yellow adjoining the black on the head is
very pure, and like that of the under plumage; and there is
a slight tinge of rufous on the middle of the throat.

86. Puecreus erythrocephalus.
Head, neck, breast, and upper tail covers, crimson :

—
SZ.
=

“Ly wh
back brownish olive, striped with black: body, beneath,
pale olive: wing covers tipt with white.
Inhabits the Isle Mauritius. Pl. Enl. 665.? Brown,

Il. 28.? (fig. 57.f)

Total length about 5 inches; bill, gape ;3,; wings 2! ; tail,
beyond, #; ditto, base 14; tarsus , ; hind toe and claw f. I
know not whether to arrange this bird as a Ploceus ora Eu-
plectes : in structure it decidedly agrees the most with Ploceus,
both in the bill, wings, and feet; but in habit, size, and cast
of colouring, it resembles the next species, which is a true Eu-
plectes. Billlengthened, conic, much compressed ; commissure
not sinuated : tail even ; the first quill short, spurious ; second

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 308

shorter than the third; circle round the eyes, and the lores,
black: wings blackish ; tips of the greater covers with an ob-
solete white band, and a broader one on those of the lesser
covers: bill black: legs paler: claws broad, short, and well
curved,

87. EupLectes rubra.

Body entirely scarlet: feathers of the back striped
with black: wings and tail black, with pale yellowish

edges. (fig. 57. b)
Inhabits Madagascar. Pl. Enl. 134, f. 2.

Size of the last ; but the bill is short, thick, and perfectly
conic; the commissure being distinctly sinuated. Feet re-
sembling those of Ploceus: first quill feather minute, the
third and fourth longest : tail rounded, subdivaricated ; the
feathers narrow and pointed : feet more slender. Lores and
stripe behind the eye, black. This is the Emberyza rubra
of Gmelin; the former is the Fringilla erythrocephala; and
both have been confounded by Cuvier and other writers as
one species.

88. Eupxiectes albirostris.

Head, neck, and bill white, with a bright yellow sub-
crested crown : plumage, above, greyish brown; beneath,
white: breast with a broad black collar.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost. (fig. 57. a, d)

Form typical. Total length almost 53 inches ; bill, gape $5;
ditto, front 3,; wings 27,; tail, beyond, 1,; tarsus ; hind
toe and claw 75; the claw only ;§. Excepting the short bright
yellow crest, which covers the crown, the whole of the head,
nape, ears, and upper part of the throat, are white: on the
breast is a broad black collar, half an inch deep, which termi-
nates with having white edges to the feathers : upper plumage
grey; the feathers of the wings and back darkest in the mid-
dle; the quills and covers being margined with yellowish
white; from the breast downwards the plumage is also white,
tinged with grey on the flanks. Feet large: claws long and
slender: the first quill minute, the second longest ; bill large,
compressed ; the commissure scarcely sinuated. Edwards, pl. 189.

89. Eupxectes /epidus.*
Flanks with a blackish patch, the feathers of which

* I can see nothing in the structure of this bird to induce me to consider
it otherwise than as a typical species of Euplectes, which is itself a subgenus,
of which almost every known species varies somewhat in the size and form
ofthe bill, but never in those of the wings and feet.

x 3

310 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

are margined with whitish: chin black: plumage,

above, drab brown: the margins of all the feathers,

and the whole of the under parts, pale isabella.
Inhabits South Africa. Paris Mus. ( fig.57. c)

Form typical. Bill and legs very pale: there is a large
patch of black upon the throat, and a narrow line of the same
colour between the eye and the chin, close to the base of the
bill; the patch of blackish brown is on the side of the body;
and the sharp white edges of the feathers which it covers, gives
them a scale-like appearance: the commissure is sinuated.
Size of a sparrow. Total length about 5 inches; bill, gape §;
wings 3; tail, beyond, 7; tarsus jj.

90. Eup.ectres flaviceps.

Crown of the head bright yellow: sides, ears, and
chin, brownish black: upper plumage blackish, varied
with ferruginous: breast and flanks fulvous brown,
striped with black.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost. (fig. 57. e)

Form typical. Total length 5 inches ; bill, gape 7; wings
26; tail, beyond, 145; tarsus 7; hind toe and claw #. Bill
strong, thick. The brown of the chin extends half way down
the throat; the remaining portion, the breast, and the sides of
the body, and also the rump, are light ferruginous, narrowly
striped with black: middle of the body almost white : quills
and tail dark brown, with pale edges: bill black: legs, pale.
Tertials almost as long as the quills: claws long, very slender.

91. Eupuecres Philippensis.

Fore part of the head, ears, and chin, blackish brown:
crown, throat, and breast, pure yellow: body, belly,
and margin of the wing feathers, white: nape and neck,
above, yellow ; the feathers brown in the middle.

This is the Loxia Philippina of authors ; the above descrip-
tion being taken from its figure on Pl. Enl. 135. f. 2. If this
is correct, the species differs both from our Ploceus personatus

and melanotis, by having the crown bright yellow, and the body,
beneath, white, not yellow.

02. Eupuecres aurinotus.

Head, neck, and body, beneath, deep black: back
golden yellow: wings brown; the covers spotted with
black, and tipt with white: bill black: legs pale.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. Sil

Inhabits Benguela and Western Africa.

Size of Euplectes flaviceps. The above specific character I
have taken from Brown’s Illust. pl. 25. f. 1. ; the figure is so
characteristic of this genus, that I have no hesitation in thus
designating it, although I have never yet seen the species.
The above descriptions, with those in the two volumes of
Western African birds, will include all the species I have yet
seen of these two genera.

93. Tacuypuonus phenicius.

Glossy black: shoulder covers rich orange, margined
with white.

Inhabits ? In the collection of Mr. Horsfield,
of Everton, near Liverpool, who believes it came from
Fernando Po, on the African coast.

Size of T. cristatus. Bill almost 4 inch; wings 28; tail,
from the base 3. Form and structure strictly typical. Bill,
above, black ; beneath, whitish at the base: inner wing covers,
and base of the quills, pure white. The fourth quill the longest,
third and fifth equal: tail rounded. If this is truly African,
it is a solitary exception to the strict geographic range of the
whole family of tanagers.

O4. Prpitio personata.,

Above, dark cinereous; be_ 58
neath, rufous: middle of the
body, and tip of the outer tail
feather, white: eyes, ears, and
lores included in a black fillet,
which is margined above and be-
low by a stripe of white.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost. (fig. 58.)

Total length 54 inches ; bill, gape 4; wings 22; tail, be-
yond, 2; base 2}; tarsus 7. Form typical. Size small. Bill
black : legs pale: under tail covers pale buff; the upper white

stripe begins at the nostrils, and ends at the nape, where it is
tinged with buff.

95. Pripiti0 superciliosa.

Above, cinereous: rump and plumage beneath, rufous:
throat and breast pale fulvous: middle of the body,
ends of the lateral tail feathers, and longitudinal stripe

% 4

312 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

~

on the wings, white: above the °°
eye a whitish stripe, margined
above by a black one.

Inhabits neat Coritiva, South
Brazil. Mus. Nost. (fig. 59.)

Size of asparrow. Form typical. i
Bill horn colour: legs, pale. Total length nearly 6 inchas>
bill, Aen 3 wings 28; tail, beyond, 17; ditto, base 3°

“10 ?
tarsus §,; hind toe and claw §,. The white stripe on the wings

borders the external webs of the fourth and fifth quills.

06. Pipinio rufitorques.

Above, cinereous; beneath, 60
white: collar on the throat, and
sides of the body, rufous: lores
and line beneath the eye black: %
base of the outer quills white. —— i
Bill entire: tail almost even.

Inhabits South Brazil. Mus. Nost. (fig. a

Form aberrant. Size of the black-cap warbler. Total length
43inches; bill, infront 4; wings 27,; tail, beyond, 1; ditto,
base, 2}; tarsus 7; hind toe au claw }. This is evidently an
aberrant species, having the tip of the upper mandible per-
fectly entire, and the tail almost even, without any white at
the tips of the lateral feathers: the rufous collar is rather at
the base of the throat than upon the breast: the third and
fourth quills are equal, and longest; and the first much shorter
than the second: the stripe beneath the eye passes to the ears,
and encloses a white spot beneath the eye: the rufous of the
collar is extended, on each side, down the sides of the breast and
body ; and there is a faint olive tinge on the back. In the
two last species, the claws are more curved than in the larger

typical species.

97. LeucopyeraA ruficollis.

Above, black ; beneath, cream colour: chin and
throat buff or rufous: lower part of the back, band on
the lesser wing covers, and spot at the base of the quills,
white: flanks and under tail covers sometimes tinged
with rufous.

Inhabits the interior of Bahia, Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 6} inches; bill, from the gape ~; wings

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 313

3%; tail, beyond, 14; ditto, from the base 3; tarsus,$; mid-
dle toe and claw ~; hind ditto '§. Frontal feathers rather
stiff or setaceous. Ears and sides of the neck black: the band
or spot of white upon the wing covers is very large and con-
spicuous, but does not extend quite across ; and that upon the
outer base of the primary quills is confined to the fourth,
fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth. The upper tail covers, and
the tail, are black ; but the shaft of the outermost feather, and
also its internal tip, are white. In some specimens the rufous
on the throat is much paler than in others, so as to become of
a buff orange.
98. TANAGRELLA multicolor.

Bill slender, lengthened. 61
Plumage, above, black ;_be-
neath, varied: ears, chin, side
of the head, and lesser wing
covers, shining blue green:
rump and frontal spot golden :. ad
belly and vent rufous: breast and fianks cinereous
white: throat with a black collar: upper tail covers
blue green. Motacilla velia? Gmelin. (fig. 61.)

Inhabits, in abundance, the forests of Urupé, near
Bahia, Brazil: rare in other parts.

Total length 5} inches; bill, from the gape 13; ditto,
front 5; wings 2,6,; tail, beyond, 1; ditto, base 21; tarsus 6.
The mixture of rich colours in this beautiful bird renders its
accurate description very difficult; some of the feathers which
form the black collar are tipt with cinereous, while the lower
part of the back seems as if it was gilded.

99. TANaAcRA serioptera.

Light cinereous green: back and scapulars darker :
quills and tail blue green: shoulder and lesser wing
covers silky white, tinged with violet.

Inhabits gardens and cultivated tracts in Demerara.

Total length 6} inches; bill, gape 4%; wings 31; tail, be-
yond, 1}; base 27,; tarsus §. This is one of the small group
composing the bishop tanagers: it is immediately distin-
guished from episcopus, inornata, celestes, and ornata, and
one or two more of the same section, by the very peculiar co-
lour of the lesser wing covers, which are violet white, delicately
tinged round their edges with violet blue. Both sexes, sent by
Mr. Schomburgh, are coloured alike.

314 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

100. Lepronyx melanotis.

Above, sparrow brown, varied
with blackish stripes on the head,
grey on the neck, and rufous on
the back; beneath, white, im-<
maculate: ear feathers very large,
spreading, and black : sides of the
head with a broad white band:
under wing covers, and margin of the wings, bright yel-
low: tail feathers narrow, black, tipt with white. (fig. 62.)

Inhabits the plains of South Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size rather less than a sparrow. Total length 5} inches;
bill, in front 74; ditto, gape §,; wings 23; tarsus 43; hind
toe and claw 11; middle ditto {. Upper mandible brown ;

20? 10°
lower, pale buff: front and crown black, mixed with grey, and

with rufous on the nape: neck and its sides almost entirely
grey: rest of the upper feathers dark rufous in the middle:
wings, towards their outer edge, strongly tinged with yellow :
legs pale.

(2

101. AimopHiLa superciliosa.

Above, sparrow brown, striped with black ; beneath,
cinereous grey: eye stripe and chin white: lores and
lower border of the eye black: crown dark chestnut,
with a paler central stripe. (fig. 63. e, f, 9)

Inhabits Mexico. Mus. Nost.

Total length 7 inches ; bill, gape §,; front the same; wings
31,; tail, beyond, 2; base 3; tarsus ?,; hind toe and claw 7.
All the feathers above striped with black in the middle: the
eye stripe is very broad and cream coloured, beginning at the
nostrils and passing beyond the ears; these latter are blackish,

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 315

with white lines: tail feathers narrow, black in the middle ;
the centre pair with transverse blackish lines: bill deep black :
legs pale.

102. Arimopnina rufescens.

Above, rufous brown, unspotted ; beneath, greyish
white : crown rufous, bordered by a black line: sides ot
the head and eye stripe grey: the chin and upper part
of the ears are each margined with a black line. (fig.
63. d)

Inhabits Mexico. Mus. Nost.

Size of the last. Bill, gape finch: wings 2§,; tail, beyond,
18,; base 3; tarsus nearly 1; hind toe and claw 7%. Upper
plumage without spots: tail and lesser quills entirely rufous ;
but not of so deep a tinge as that on the crown, which is bor-
dered by a line of deep black: over the eye is a broad stripe,
beginning at the nostrils, where it is white; but it changes

beyond the eye into clear grey: upper mandible black, lower
pale: feet light: flanks drab brown.

103. Frinemuaria rufa.

Head and chin grey, with three white and two black
stripes on each side: crown black, with an obscure paler
stripe down the middle: upper plumage and wing
covers rufous brown, varied with black ; under plumage
and quills rufous, unspotted. (fig. 63. a)

Inhabits Africa? Mus. Nost.

Total length 5! inches; bill, gape 4; wings 2; tail, be-
yond, 125; ditto, base 21; tarsus 4.

104. FrineinuAria vittata.

Above, grey, striped with black ; beneath, cinereous
grey: sides of the head with two white and two black
stripes: wing covers rufous: quills and tail blackish:
chin and under tail covers whitish. (fig. 63. ¢)

Inhabits South Africa. Mus. Nost.

Size of asparrow. Total length 6 inches ; bill, gape, ; wings
2%, ; tail, beyond, 17; ditto, base 27; tarsus 7. Bill very conic ;
the two mandibles nearly equal: middle of the crown with an
obsolete grey line; the black stripes being thickest on the
sides: under wing covers and edge of the shoulders white :
edge of the outermost tail feather dirty white: lesser wing
covers pure rufous; greater, with their centre black : feet biack-
ish, rather strong.

316 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

105. Frineriarta anthoides.

Coloured like a lark: above, isabella, striped with
brown ; beneath, paler and immaculate: above the eye,
and beneath the ears, a pale stripe: outer edge of the
secondaries, and inner edge of all the quills, rufous: a
dark stripe behind the eye. (fig. 63. b)

Inhabits South Africa. Mus. Nost.

Form aberrant. Lower mandible and feet pale: inner
toe shorter than the outer: four first quills almost equal:
throat inclining to dusky white: breast of a darker isabella
colour than the body: belly and vent almost white: wings and
tail brown ; the latter quite even.

106. Acroproma bistriata.

Earthen brown, varied with deep fulvous: beneath,
whitish: breast striped: on each side the chin, two
black maxillary stripes. Hind claw shorter than its toe,
and moderately curved.

Inhabits Tasmania. Mr. Humphrey, Mus. Nost.

Total length 6} inches ; bill, from the gape 7; wings 8 ; tail,

beyond, 14; tarsus ~;; hind toe and claw 3. Lores and eye-

brows whitish: ears light fulvous brown, bordered above and
below with a black stripe, and below the lower one is another :
two outer tail feathers white, with a black band along their
inner margins.

107. Acroproma Australis.

Earthen brown, varied with light fulvous: beneath,
whitish: breast striped: on each side the chin a
single maxillary black stripe. Hind claw longer than its
toe, and nearly straight.

Inhabits Australia or Tasmania? Mus. Nost.

Total length 64 inches; bill, from the gape #; wings 32, ;
tail, beyond, 1,4,; base 21; tarsus 1; hind toe and claw §.
Closely resembling the last; but there is no second black
stripe below the ears, the fulvous ground of the plumage is
much paler, and all the claws are much less curved.

108. PyrraunaupA Australis. Smith.

Head, ears, throat, and all the under plumage, deep
black: back, wing covers, tertials, and rump, light
earthen brown, or isabella: the feathers darker in the
middle: quills and tail black; the two middle feathers
of the latter light brown.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 317

Inhabits South Africa.

Total length 5 inches; bill, front #;; wings 3,1; tail,
beyond, 1,1,; ditto, base 2: tarsus ,%,; hinder toe and claw 4; ;
middle ditto j,. Bill small : wings much lengthened : anterior
toes very small and short: all the claws nearly straight: the
black on the crown and ears graduates into the brown of the
neck: spurious quill } inch long. P. melanosoma, Class. of
Birds, ii. 294.

109. CritHacRa ruficauda.

Head grey, with two white lines beneath the eye, and
a larger one above : upper plumage isabella, striped with
brown: beneath, whitish: quills black : tail bright rufous.
Inhabits South Africa. Mus. Nost.

Total length 4} inches ; bill, gape #,; wings 24,; tail, be-
yond, 1,4; ditto, base 1,4; tarsus}. This is a most extraor-
dinary bird, having all the outward aspect of a Pyrrhulauda, in
regard to colour, but with the real structure of Crithagra ; this
affinity being manifested by the bill and feet. The tertials
are not lengthened ; and the hind toe and claw is scarcely
shorter than the tarsus. In its grey head, and rufous tail, it
shows its analogy to Dasycephala, and all those groups simi-
larly coloured: the wing covers are rufous, but not so bright
as the tail; and the base of the lesser covers are black: the
rump and upper covers are like the tail, the feathers of which
are more or less marked with a longitudinal black stripe at the
end of the shaft: the bill and feet are pale.

110. CritrHaeRaA canicollis.

Back of the head, neck, sides of the throat, and
breast, light cinereous: back, ramp, and margins of the
wing and tail feathers, yellow-olive: front, chin, and
under plumage, yellow: belly and vent white.

Inhabits Africa. Mus. Nost.

Total length 5} inches; bill, base 74; wings 3; tail, be-
yond, #,; ditto, base 2}; depth of the fork 3; tarsus ~,; hind
toe and claw 11, Fore part of the entire head, as far as the
“ears, dingy but glossy yellow, graduating into the clear cine-
reous, which extends from the nape to the interscapulars, and
round to the sides of the throat and breast: lores dusky : the
yellow of the breast becomes brighter as it descends, and leaves
the belly and thighs white: edges of the quill and tail feathers
bright yellow. Claws long, and very slender.

111. CrirHacra strigilata.
Above, greyish olive, striped with dusty: rump and

318 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

tail covers greenish yellow: sides of the head grey

brown, with two whitish stripes — one above the eyes,

the other beneath the ears: body beneath, with mie

stripes: belly white : inner wing covers yells
Inhabits South Africa. Mus. Nost.

Size of C. canicollis. Although I have two specimens of
this obscurely coloured species, apparently male and female,
I do not feel sure that either are in very perfect plumage. It is,
however, quite distinguished, as a species, by the white longi-
tudinal bands on the sides of the head, and thebrown stripes on
the under plumage: the ground colour of this latter is (in one
sex) grey yellow, whitish only on the throat and vent ; in the
other it is white, with the brown stripes smaller and much
darker.

112. CrirHacra bistrigata.

Above, bright rufous ; beneath, white: head, throat,
and stripe on each side of the breast, deep black:
wings black: tail rufous.

Inhabits South Africa. Mus. Nost.

Size of C. ruficauda; but the bill is proportionally
much larger, which precludes the idea of these ive being
different sexes. Total length 4} inches; bill, gape 7; Wings
27,; tail, from the base 2; feet i; middle toe and claw {;
hinder ditto 2 This, like C. ruficanda, is disguised in the
plumage of DParrhilaida. The sides of the neck are pure
white, which forms a sort of collar half round the nape: the
black of the throat descends to the breast, and then is divided
into stripes, which branch off obliquely to the flanks: the quills
and part of the covers are deep black; under tail covers and
thighs tinged with rufous: bill pale : claws brown.

113, CritHacRra canaria.

Above, grey, with darker spots: face, throat, breast,
shoulders, and rump, yellow: tail distinctly forked.

Inhabits Madeira.

Total length 53 inches; bill, gape 73; wings 2%; tail, be-
yond, 17; ditto, ‘base 22 tarsus ;6,; hind toe and claw 7;
middle ditto }}. Sir W. Jardine obliged me with a native
specimen of this bird, to which I have thought it preferable to
retain the name by which it is so universally known ina
domesticated state, particularly as Linnzus expressly states the
F. butyracea is a native of India.

114. Critnacera flava.
Above, green: frontal band, spot on the ears, and all

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 319

the under plumage, bright yellow, immaculate. Tarsi
rather lengthened.

Inhabits South Africa. Mus. Nost.

Total length 6; inches ; bill, gape 34; wings 3; tail, be-
yond, 13,; ditto, base 24; tarsus 33; hind toe and claw j.
Size of C. strigilata. There are a few dusky stripes on the rich
and full yellowish green plumage of the upper parts: the sides
of the head are green, with an interrupted maxillary stripe of
yellow ; while the yellow frontal band is extended over the eves
and ears: wings and tail brown ; the latter almost even.

115. Crirnacra Setspu. Smith.*

Cinereous grey, striped above, and immaculate be-
neath: rump yellow: middle of the throat, belly, and
vent, white: sides of the head striped. Il. of Orn.
109. f. 2.

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell. Smith.

Size of asparrow. Total length 53-6 inches ; bill, large, thick,
Linch from the gape; wings 315; tail, beyond, 54; ditto, base
21; tarsus 3; hind toe and claw }. Stripes on the crown, and
spots on the back, dark brown : wing and tail feathers blackish
brown, edged with light grey : the stripe above the eye; a
small spot beneath it; and another, divided into two, beneath
the ears; are all white. On comparing this with the C. sulphu-
rata, 1 cannot but view it asa distinct species. The tail is
short, and almost even.

116. Pyrenestes frontalis.

Dark chestnut brown :
front, and spot on the
wings, pure white (male) :
under plumage, in the
female, whitish, striped
with brown: frontal spots
obsolete. (fig. 64.)

Inhabits Southern "<

Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. No. 410.

Total length about 7 inches ; bill, gape #5; wings 9; tail 8;
from the base 3; tarsus hardly 1; hind toe and claw :
This remarkable species differs from that + which I have consi-

dered the type of this subgenus, in having the culmen curved ;
yet, as the bill is perfectly entire, and the whole structure of

* Since the above was written, I find this speci i
sind 1 2 pecies has been described t
lag cas eps in pom of our mutual friend, Mr. Selby ; the
e, of cinerea which I desi it i C
eS aneomun » by whi designated it in a former volume,

t Pyrenestes sanguineus, Birds of W. Af. i. pl. 9.

320 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

the bird, in other respects, is strictly the same, I consider it as an
aberrant species, assuming the arched culmen of Coccoborus.
117. SpHEcoTHERES canicollis.

Olive: chin, neck, and breast, cinereous ; crown and
ears, glossy black ; middle of the body, and half of the
outer tail feather, white.

Ynhabits Australia. Mus. Nost.

Total length 10 inches; bill, gape, 11; front $5; wings 6;
tail, beyond, 11; base 41; tarsus #. Lores and sides of the
head, naked ; no feathers between the bill and ears: bill strong
and black: legs very pale. The crown and front is deep glossy
black, which extends to the ears, and then blends into a dark
uniform cinereous, which spreads over the neck, chin, and
throat ; blending unto the olive green on the breast and flanks :
the middle of the body, from the breast to the under tail covers,
is cream coloured white; all the quill feathers are black, but
the greater have a narrow cinereous border, and the rest are
broadly margined with the olive green of the upper plumage.
The tail is olive brown, changing to cinereous upon the outer
feathers ; but the last of all is white, excepting the basal half
of the inner web, which is deep black. In the female, or young
bird, the chin and middle of the throat and breast are varied
with white; the crown is brown, and the white on the belly
more pure. The true S. viridis is described in Linn. Tr. xv. 215.,
and figured in the Atlas to Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. pl. 21.

118. Agapornis cyanopterus.

Green: wings blue; the ends of the primary quills,
the middle of the lesser covers, and the scapulars, green :
lower part of the back, rump, and inner wing covers, blue.
Female entirely green. Psittacus passerinus of Authors.

Inhabits Brazil.

Differs from the P. passerinus of Authors *, in having the
quills and all the inner wing covers blue. Total length 4}
inches; wings 3}, as long as the tail.

119. Agapornis Guianensis.

Green: spurious quills and inner wing covers ame-
thystine blue: outer margin of the shoulders light green:
greater wing covers tinged with bluish. Female entirely
green. P. Capensis, Auct. Pl. Enl. 455. f. 1.

The smallest parrot of Demerara, where it is found in large
flocks. Size of the last.

120. Conurus chrysophrys.
Green: circle round the orbits, and lower part of the
* Founded on Edwards, pl. 239.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 321

belly, golden yellow: front, ears, throat, and breast,
drab or fulvous brown: body, beneath, greenish yellow.
Inhabits the interior of Guiana. Mr. Schomburgh.
Total length 8} inches; bill, gape 4; wings 5%; tail,
beyond, 2; ditto, base 4}.
121. Centropus Burchellii.

Above, einereous; beneath, whitish: crown, nape,
and ears, black: feathers of the neck and interscapulars
with a central white stripe, margined with black: rump
and upper tail covers transversely lineated with greyish
white and black : tail black, tipt with white; the feathers
lineated at their base.

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. 412.

Total length about 13 inches; bill, gape 154; wings 7; tail,
beyond, 5; from the base 9; tarsus 1;4; hind toe and claw
1}. Closely resembles C. Senegalensis ; but is rather larger,
and distinguished by the white stripes and the narrow bars on
the upper plumage: the shafts of the neck feathers are re-
markably thick.

122. CroropHaca§ J/e@vi- » <=
rostra. =

Entirely black: feathers of
the body with a slight mar- =
ginal gloss. Bill with the cul- =
men smooth. (fig. 65. a)

Inhabits Brazil.

Total length about 243 inches ;
bill, from the gape 14; wings 65; =<)
tail, beyond, about 4); tarsus 12. -

123. CroropHaca rugi- —
rostra. MB.

Entirely black: feathers of _ J'¥
the body with glossy margins.
Bill with the culmen and sides
transversely wrinkled. (fig. 2
65. b)

Inhabits Southern Brazil.

A slight degree smaller than the
last. The sexes are similar, and
both have been hitherto con-
founded as one species.

ps

322 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

124. CroropHaGa sulcirestra.

Entirely black: feathers of the body with glossy
margins. Bill with the sides longitudinally grooved
( fig. 65. c) Be

Inhabits Mexico. Mus. Nost.

Smaller than the last. I introduce this species merely for
the purpose of comparison with the two others ; although it
was described in my Synopsis of Mexican Birds, near three
years before M. Lesson called it C. Casasit.

125. Bucco chrysoptera.

Above, black, striped with
yellow; beneath, yellowish
white: frontlet crimson: chin
yellow: ears black, margined
with white: wing covers, and
margins of the lesser quills,
golden yellow. (fig. 66.)

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. 332. m.

Size very,small. ‘Total length 4} inches; bill, from the front,
hardly }; wings 27;; tail, beyond, 3; ditto, base 14; tarsus
$;-—Obs. Rather larger than B. chrysocomus : the yellow stripes
on the back are only on one side of each feather.

126. Geosates brevicauda.

Ferruginous above; paler beneath: breast with
darker shades and obsolete brown stripes : wings rufous ;
primary quills, with the base, tips, and band in the
middle, black; secondaries brighter rufous, with a broad
black band before the tips: inner wing covers bright
rufous: tail with a black band.

Inhabits Southern Brazil. Very rare. Mus. Nost.

Small. Resembling an Anthus, or Furnarius. Tertial quills
blackish brown, paler on the margins. Crown and ears dark :
chin, lores, and eye stripe, whitish: legs pale. Total length
4 inches; bill, from the gape #,; wings 3, as long as the tail ;
tail, from the base 1,5; tarsus 7; hind toe and claw ;4,; middle
ditto almost #.

127. Turvyoruorvus genibarbis.

Above, rufous: sides of the head black : stripe over
the eye, and another at the base of the lower jaw,
white: chin snowy, bordered by a black line, gradually

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 323

changing on the throat to pale fulvous, and on the body
and vent to rufous: wings unspotted: tail dusky,
banded with black.

Inhabits Brazil. Rare. Mus. Nost.

Size of T. rutilus. Total length 5) inches; bill thick, strong,
$3 ditto, from the nostril 5; wings 2}; tarsus 7; tail, base
2%. Wing covers unspotted: a few obscure transverse lines
on the tertial quills; fourth, fifth, and sixth quills longest :
lores black: the maxillary stripe is white, bordered beneath

by a deep black line: ears striped with white.

128. PLaryuRus niger.
Entirely sooty black. Tail short.
Inhabits Chili. Mr. William Hooker’s Collection.

Size of a wren. Total length about 4 inches; bill, gape 4;
wings 2; tail short, almost hid by its covers, and about 1 inch

from the base; tarsus ~,; hind toe and claw $. Feet pale:
bill black.

129. Gerositta anthoides.

~ Dark brown above ; paler beneath: chin and upper
tail covers dull white: breast with blackish stripes :
lesser quills ferruginous, with a black central band.

Inhabits Chili. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

Total length 6 inches; bill, front 7; wings 3}; tail, beyond,
4; tarsus #,; hind toe #,; its claw 7. Bill much rounded
above: the under plumage is uniform cream colour, which is
only broken by dusky stripes, as in the larks (one on each side
each feather), upon the breast: lateral tail feathers black, but
ferruginous at their base; lesser quills ferruginous, with a broad
blackish band towards their middle ; the greater quills ferru-
ginous only on their inner shafts ; tertials nearly as long as the

primaries ; outer tail feather edged with white: bill and legs
brown.

130. DenDRopHILA flavipes.

Bill and feet yellow: upper plumage cerulean blue,
varied with black ; lower, from the chin to the body,
pure white: crown, ears, nape, and belly, deep black.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length nearly 5 inches; bill, gape —; wings 3; tail,
base 1¢; bind toe and claw 7, ; middle toe and claw the same.
This is a most beautiful bird. The greater covers of the
wings are deep black, with a long oval stripe or spot of pale

¥iz

3S4 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

blue in the middle, extending their whole length; and the
quills are black, broadly edged with the same tint of blue; the
lateral tail feathers are black, tipt with blue; and the upper
and under tail covers entirely blue: the bill and feet seem
to be pure yellow; the former tipt with black. I conclude
this may be the Sitta c@rulea, slightly indicated in the Traité
d’Orn. ; a name I do not adopt, because blwe is the prevalent
colour of the whole division.

131. OxyurRus ornatus.

Above, brown ; beneath, white: greater wing covers
black, tipt with white: quills and tail black, varied with
rufous. Synallaxis Tupinieri 2? Lesson, Voy. 29.

Inhabits Chili. Mr. W. J. Hooker’s Collection.

Total length 5 inches ; bill, front 5 ; wings 23 ; tail, beyond,
14; ditto, base 2}; tarsus 3. Middle of the head, crown, and
nape, black, bordered by a broad stripe of buff on each side,
which meet in front of the nostrils: lores black : the buff stripe
is bordered by another of deep black, which includes the ears,
and extends nearly down the sides of the neck: fore part of
the back brown, changing to bright rufous on the rump and
tail covers: wings black; lesser covers tipt with dull buff;
the greater with a spot of pure white : spurious wings deep
black: greater quills with an oblique bar of rufous; lesser
with another bar, much paler, more buff-coloured, and nearer
to the tips: scapular covers edged with buff at their base:
tail black, with broad tips of rufous: scapular feathers near
the base of the wing brown, with a black border: under
plumage pure white from the throat to the breast, beyond which
it changes into fulvous, which is darkest on the under tail
covers. — Obs. The: Sylvia spinicauda of Authors * seems to
be a second species of this genus, which is obviously between
Certhia and Dendrocolaptes. The feet perfectly resemble the
latter.

132. Furnarivs melanotis.

Above, rufous; beneath, whitish: crown and ears
blackish brown : first and second quills internally rufous,
crossed with three black bands: spurious wings and tail
rufous, unspotted: feet black.

Inhabits theinterior plains of Bahia, Brazil. Mus. Nost.

General size and structure of F. leucopus, but rather
smaller. Above the eye and ears a broad fulvous white stripe,
which almost meet on the nape: secondary quills with a black

* Latham. Syn. pl. 52, I have just procured another species.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 325

internal spot in the middle: the third, fourth, and fifth quills
equal, and not longer than the tertials.
133.. FuRNaARius /eucopus.

Above, rufous :
throat, and body be-
neath, white: top of
the crown, and nape,
blackish brown: breast
rufous white: spurious
wings and first quill
feather entirely black:
feet very pale, almost
white. (fig. 67. a)

Inhabits Guiana, where it frequents the aides of rivers.

Total length 61 inches; bill, front 7; ditto, gape 1; wings
33; tail, bey ond, 143 dies base 235; tarsus 1; hind toe
and claw %. The FF. rufus of Brazil, but rather smaller : bill
straighter. Greater quills blackish, with an oblong rufous band,
and rather longer than the tertials: ears, ave: dark. The
wings are much. rounded, so that the fifth quill is the longest.

154. Furnarius griseus.

Above, grey brown, varied with transverse darker
shades on the wings ; beneath, white: crown and nape
black: above the eye a white stripe, bordered below by
a black one: tail black, with a white band before the tip.

Inhabits the savannahs of Guiana. (fig. 67. 6)

Total nenath 8; inches; bill, front 1; ditto, gape 1};
wings 31; tail, beyond, QI; ditto, base 3h; tarsus 1,,; hind
toe and ee 3. The ground colouring of this singular species
is very peculiar, and difficult to be described, owing to the
feathers of the body and wings being brown, mottled towards
their extremities either with grey or a dirty drab colour ; these
again, upon the wing covers and tertials, are crossed by indis-
tinct dusky bars: the head and nape are brownish black, bor-
dered by a conspicuous white band from the nostrils to the
nape, over the eye; below which, on the ears, is another of
black : the white on the sides of the neck forms a sort of half-
collar below the nape: two middle tail feathers black brown ;
the rest black, with a broad white oblique band, leaving the
tips partially black: bill and feet horn colour.

135. Puiteron buceroides.
General size and colours of Philedon corniculatus.
vy 3

326 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Sides of the head as far as the ears, and a spot on each

side of the neck, naked: crown of the head, chin, and

nape, covered with feathers: culmen continued in an

elevated ridge on the front, where it abruptly terminates.
Inhabits New Holland. Paris Mus.

Having mislaid the description I made of this singular bird,
I cannot give further particulars. It has been evidently con-
founded with the common species, since it bore the name
of Merops corniculatus in the French museum, where the other
did not then (1828) exist. The state of the specimen enabled
me to make a drawing of the tongue, which has hitherto been
entirely unknown. The annexed cut is of the natural size.

136. Eurystomus Australis.
Sea green: crown grey brown: throat, quills, and

base of the tail feathers, vivid
blue: six of the greater quills

with a greenish white basal band.
Inhabits New Holland.

Smaller than E. orientalis. The
bill is less compressed, and there-
fore much broader. The colours
are lighter, but the wings much
bluer; the spurious wings are en-
tirely vivid blue, as well as the outer ! /
webs of the quills ; while in orientalis N
these parts are almost black. (fig. 68. a)

69

137. Eurystomus orientalis Auct.

Sea green: crown black: throat blue: quills black ;
the base of four with a bluish green band. PI. Enl. 619.
Inhabits India. (fig. 69. 6),

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 327

The above specific character will immediately distinguish
this well-known species from the foregoing.

138. Tamatia bitorquata.

Above, brown, spotted with whitish; beneath, buff
yellow: frontal line, ears, and nuchal collar, white :
breast and sides with a broad black collar, below which
is another of black spots: bill black.

Inhabits Trinidad. Mus. Nost.

Total length 8} inches; bill, from the gape 1}; wings 31;
tail, beyond, 2}; ditto, base 34; tarsus . Allied to 7. macu-
tata and somnolenta, but much larger than either. Bill strong,
thick, not much compressed ; tip abruptly hooked: tail length-
ened, graduated, brown, immaculate: flanks only spotted.

139. GaLBuLA ruficauda.

Plumage above, and pectoral band, gilded blue green :
body beneath, and lateral tail feathers, rufous: the
four middle tail feathers green: chin and throat, in the
male, white ; in the female, pale rufous.

Inhabits Brazil.

Total length 83 inches; bill, front 1{,; wings 3; tail, be-
yond, 2!; ditto, base 33. Four middle tail feathers green ;

two outer, on each side, more or less edged with green: bill
black.
140. GaLBuLa viridicauda,

Plumage above, and broad pectoral band, gilded blue
green: tail shining blue green above, greenish black
beneath : body, beneath, rufous: chin and throat, in the
male, white ; in the female, pale rufous.

Inhabits Guiana. Mr. Schomburgh.

Total length 8} inches ; bill, front 17,; wings 3; tail, be-
yond, 2; ditto, base 31. The pectoral band is so broad as to
reach half way down the body. Scape of the tail feathers
rufous white: bill black.

141, GaLBuLa Jleptura.

Plumage above, and pectoral band, gilded green,
glossed with copper ; body, beneath, rufous: tail long,
graduated, rufous: the two middle tail feathers longest,
and gilded green: chin and throat white.

Inhabits Guiana. Mr. Schomburgh,

y 4

328 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Differs from G. ruficauda by its longer end more graduated
tail, of which the two middle feathers only are green; and by
having only a slight tinge of blue on the head. ‘Total length
104 inches; bill, front 27,; wings 3%; tail, beyond, 37;
ditto, base 45,; middle feathers 2 inches longer than the ex-
ternal, and 3 beyond the second pair. Is this the Rufous-tailed
jacamar of Lath. ?

142, GaxtBuia albiventer.

Head, wings, and tail, dark blue green: back and
scapulars reddish copper or flame colour: chin and ears
greenish black: throat, vent, and under tail covers,
white: breast, and body beneath, copper green. Tail
slender, 'cuneated.

Inhabits Guiana. Mr. Schomburgh.

Total length 8 inches; bill, front 174; wings 275; tail, be-
yond, 2}; ditto, base 4; two middle feathers 7 longer than
the others. The three lateral tail feathers on each side have a
slight margin, on their inner web and tip, of white: the white
upon the throat, which is very pure, is in the form of a trans-
verse and somewhat triangular band. The tail feathers are nar-
row, and much graduated. The female has not been found.

143. GaLBuLa flavirostra.

Plumage, above, gilded green: front and crown glossed
with reddish copper: beneath, rufous: (male with a
white transverse band on the throat:) tail feathers
shining green, tinged with rufous at the base: bill and
feet fine yellow: upper mandible tipt with black.

Inhabits Demerara. Waterton. Schomburgh.

Total length 6 inches; bill, front 175; wings 26; tail, be-
yond, 14; ditto, base 27.— Obs. Differs from the albirostris
of Authors, in not having the bill white; in not having pale
rufous within the white of the throat; in the two outer tail
feathers not being rufous on their side ; and the legs not being
black, but yellow. In both sexes the chin is pale rufous, but
the female has no white on the throat; the tail is short, and the
two outer feathers are alone graduated ; the rest are all even.

144, GaLBULA armata.

Feet three-toed. Plumage, above, blackish, glossed
with dark blue green: front of the head striped with
ferruginous: chin black: middle of the throat, breast,
body, and vent, white: sides cinereous. Wings armed
with a prominent tubercle: tail rounded.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 329

Inhabits Brazil. Sw.

Total length 74 inches; bill, front 144; wings 3; tail, be-
yond, 14; ditto, base 8. — Obs. The feathers of the front,
crown, tip of the chin, and of the maxillary stripe, are striped
with pale ferruginous in the middle: the chin and half way
down the throat is deep black, from whence begins the yel-
lowish white which is in front of all the remaining under parts :
the tubercles on the shoulder are very prominent; they are
brown, and project beyond the feathers; those on the next and
all the foregoing species, on the contrary, are so slight as
scarcely to be seen.

145. GatsuLa lugubris.

Feet three-toed. Plumage, above and below, brown,
glossed with obscure purple on the wings and tail:
lower part of the body, and vent, white. Tail short, even.

Inhabits the Conocou mountains of Demerara. Mr.
Schomburgh.

Total length 6 inches; bill, from the base 14,; wings 26. ;
tail, beyond, 1; ditto base, 2.—Obs. Feathers of the chin, in
both sexes, whitish in the middle; wings, tail, and upper tail
covers, glossed with dark and obscure greenish purple; head,
neck, and breast, light brown, mottled by the tips of the feathers
being paler; all the quill feathers pure white at their base ;
ears dark brown; all the tail feathers equal.

146. Trocon melanurus.

Head, body above, and breast, blue green: body, be-
neath, scarlet: tail, beneath, black, with minute white
dots on the edge of the exterior feather. Male.— Female,
cinereous : vent and under tail covers rosy: all the tail
feathers blackish, immaculate. (Pl. Enl. 452. male ;
pl. 737. female.

Inhabits Demerara. Mr. Schomburgh.

Total length 12 inches; bill, gape 12,; wings 6; tail, be-
yond, 3%; ditto, base, 65. Size large. Bill, in the male, yel-
low; in the female, brown above: two middle tail feathers
(male) black, glossed with green blue ; the two next edged only
with green; wing covers and scapulars white, with very distinct
undulated black lines: sides of the head, and chin, black.

147. Trogon auratus.
Head, breast, and body above, gilded green: body

330 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

beneath, scarlet : wing covers white, with distinct black
undulated lines: three lateral tail feathers white, with
about seventeen black transverse bars; the basal ones
confluent ; the tips white. Male.

The female is light fulvous brown where the male is green ;
and the belly pale rose colour: the three lateral tail feathers
white, dotted with black in the middle, and almost entirely
black towards their base; before the white tips is a distinct
black bar ; middle feathers rufous. Birds of Brazil, i. pl. 60,
61.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Note.—More than one species being confounded under the old
term of collaris (in itself unmeaning, as nearly all have
collars), I have not adopted it.

148. Trocon purpuratus.

Head and breast rich purple: back, and middle tail
feathers, green: body, beneath, crimson: wing cevers
whitish, with delicate, indistinct, undulated black
lines: lateral tail feathers white and black ; the exterior
feather with about six distinct black bars beyond the
base. Birds of Brazil, ii. pl. 63, 64.

Thefemale cinereous where the male is green and blue: wing
covers with distinct white undulations: body, beneath, rosy :
lateral tail feathers black ; the outer half white, with marginal
black spots, the tips white ; middle feathers cinereous black.
Total length about 9} inches; bill, gape 9,; wings 4}; tail,
beyond, 3. Inhabits the Cotinga woods in the interior of
Bahia, Brazil. Breast with a white collar: four middle tail
feathers with a terminal black band, the rest black at their base:
eyelids yellow, naked: upper tail covers bluish: bill pale.
This is not the variegatus of Spix, as some have asserted; for
the female of that is quite different from this, even according to
Spix’s own figure.

149. Trogon chrysogaster.

Head and breast blue, varying to greenish: back
gilded green: body, beneath, golden orange: three
lateral tail feathers white, with the bases black. Female
unknown.

Inhabits Southern Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 10! inches; bill, gape $,; wings 533; tail, be-

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 331

yond, 2}. This species seems to vary considerably in the tint of
the upper plumage. Of three specimens now before us, one has
the head, breast, rump, and four middle tail feathers, entirely
purple; another has these parts slightly tinged with green;
while the third has the breast, rump, &c. entirely dark green:
in all other respects they are the same: the white freckles on
the wing and scapular covers are fine and delicate, and the tail
resembles that of 7’. leuwcurus (probably the Surucura of Azara).

150. Trogon leucurus.

Head and breast violet blue: back green: body, be-
neath, crimson, without a white pectoral bar: lateral
tail feathers white, with their base black. Female cine-
reous: lower part of the body rose colour.

Inhabits Southern Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 11 inches; bill, gape 1; wings 5; tail, be-
yond, 3}. The wing covers of the male are very minutely
reticulated with blackaipon a grey ground; the rump, and four
middle tail feathers, strongly tinged with blue: the extent of
the white on the outer portion of the lateral tail feathers varies,
but it is always pure and unbanded. In the female, the white
lines on the wing covers are very regular and distinct, andy;

of aninch apart: the grey of the breast extends half way down
the body.

151. Trogon lepturus.

Outermost tail feathers attenuated and pointed ; the
three exterior pair banded and tipt with white: head,
neck, and breast, blackish: back, rump, and tail covers,
gilded green: body, beneath, yellow. — Female, fulvous
brown: body, beneath, pale yellow.

Inhabits Cayenne. Mus. Nost.

Total length of the female 10} inches ; bill, gape 12; wings
4}; tail, beyond, 4; ditto, base 6. Of this singular species,
remarkable for the attenuated form of the outer tail feather,
and even of the next to it, I have only seen the female, which
is probably that figured on P]. Enl. 736. ; although the ground
colour of the wing covers, in my specimen, is nearly of the
same brown as the back. The male is described in Sonnini’s
Buffon, xvii. 330., from which work I have framed its specific
character in regard to colour; and it is figured on Pl. Enl.
195., where the narrowed form of the lateral tail feathers is
tolerably well preserved,

332 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

152. Troeon meridionalis.

Small. Above, green: head and breast blue: body,
beneath, yellow: lateral tail feathers closely and regu-
larly banded with white and black: wing covers dark
cinereous.

Inhabits the Bahama, and other neighbouring islands.
Mr. Lees. Mus. Nost.

The smallest of the genus. Total length 8} inches; bill,
gape to 3 wings 47,; tail, beyond, 2%; ditto, base 5. The
female is cinereous, with distinct white transverse lines on the
wing covers. J have never seen specimens of this species
either from Brazil or Cayenne, nor do I believe it is found in
either of those countries; it is much more probable that au-
thors have mistaken the Cayenne yellow-bellied species, here
named lepturus, for our meridionalis, whose geographic range,
I suspect, is chiefly, if not exclusively, confined to the West
India islands, where it is yery common.

153. Trogon melanopterus.

Above, green ; beneath, yellow: head and breast violet :
wing covers entirely black: lateral tail feathers black,
broadly and obliquely tipt with white. — Female, cinereous,
with a yellow belly, lineated wing covers, and the
lateral tail feathers barred with black.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length nearly 11 inches; bill, gape 1,; wings 53;

tail, beyond, 3 31. I was at considerable ‘rantle, when in Brazil,
in ascertaining that these very different coloured birds were
sexes of the same species ; for al] authors, before the public-
ation of the above specific name, had considered them distinct.
It is a very local species, and by no means so common in
Brazil as some have asserted.

154. Prionrres Bahamensis.

Crown and head as in P. Braziliensis : body above,
wings, and tail, blue green: under plumage, from the
chin to the vent, deep brownish rufous; the sides
tinged with green.

Inhabits the Bahama Islands. Mr. Lees.

Total length 151 inches; bill, front 1}; wings 53,5 tail,
beyond, 63; ditto, base 83; tarsus 1. ‘Tail feathers 12, the
middle pair racket-shaped. Smaller than P. Braziliensis ; with

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 333

the whole under plumage rufous, except the usual black stripe
on the breast ; and the thighs, which are green. (Can this be
the Brazilian P. Marti?)

155. Eeretra scapularis.

Crest, and body above, sea green; beneath, cinereous :
neck cinereous; the front white, with two macular
ferruginous stripes, and a few black spots. Lateral toes
equal.

Inhabits Brazil. Ardea scapularis, Illiger. Wagler.

Total length about 18 inches; bill, front 24; wings 633
tarsus 2; middle toe and claw 27; bare space above the knee
73 lateral toes, with their claws, 1. So much confusion
exists In our systems regarding the small green-backed egrets,
that I have been obliged to draw up new specific characters
for the whole. M. Wagler, in his monograph of the old genus
Ardea, has confounded no less than three under the name of
scapularis, a species which seems peculiar to Tropical America :
its prototype in Africa is our Z. thalassina ; and Dr. Horsfield’s
Javanica represents it in India. The remarkable variation in
the relative length of the toes offers conclusive evidence of
their specific differences; they obviously lead immediately into
the subgenus Butor.

156. Eererra virescens.

Crest, and body above, sea green; beneath, grey: neck
deep chestnut ; the fore part white, spotted and striped
with blackish. Inner toe shorter than the outer.

Inhabits North America. Wilson, vii. pl. 61. f. 1.
Wagler, 36.

Distinguished from scapularis by its unequal toes ; and from

the two following by the deep rufous of the neck. Length of

the bill, from the front 24; wings 774; tarsus 18; naked

space above the knee $,; middle toe and claw 2,1.
157. Eererra thalassina.

Crest, and body above, sea green: neck, and body
beneath, cinereous: the front of the throat white, tinged
with ferruginous, but without spots. Inner toe and
claw slightly shorter than the outer.

Inhabits Senegal. Mus. Nost.

Resembles scapularis, but it is smaller; the throat has no
distinct spots or stripes, and the inner toe is the shortest. Bill,

334 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

from the front 23, inches; wings 6}; tarsus 1{,; middle toe
and claw the same; naked space above the knee hardly +.

158. Eeretra Javanica.

Resembles E. scapularis ; but the thighs are nearly
feathered to the joint, and the inner toe is much the
shortest.

Inhabits Java. Ardea Javanica, Horsf. Lin. Tr. xiii.
p- 326.

Not having an adult specimen of this species,\I can only
point out its peculiar characters. In its general dimensions, it
appears much the same as scapularis; but the tarsi and toes
are much shorter, the inner toe is conspicuously shorter than
the outer, and the naked space above the knee is hardly ,3, of
an inch. Length of the bill 2} inches; wings 7; tarsus 145;
middle toe and claw 14.

159. Eerertra plumbea.

Small: scapulars entire: inner toe longer than the
outer. Plumage dark lead colour: throat white, with a
central black stripe: lower neck and breast feathers
half black, half creamy: body and vent striped with
fulvous and dark cinereous.

Inhabits Senegal: probably the Ardea Sturmii of
Wagler, imperfectly described.

Size of scapularis. Feathers on the sides of the body broadly
striped on each side with ferruginous: bill deep black : legs
pale brown. Bill, front 1$,inches; wings 6}; tarsus 1/6; mid-
dle toe and claw 1,8; naked space above the knee;. It is
by this species that the egrets blend into the bitterns ; all of
which have the inner toe longer than the outer, and the sca-
pulars entire. This interesting bird forms the passage between
Egretta and Butor.

160. Parra atricollis.

Rufous: chin, ears, and fore part of the neck, black:
hinder part and rump white: quills black.

Inhabits India? Mus. Nost.

Total length 11 inches; bill, gape 1; wings 51; tarsus
2%,; hind toe and claw 3; middle ditto 31. Size and _ struc-
ture of P. Africana. Tubercle on the shoulder minute, yellow.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 335

161. Rauius sanguinolentus.

Bill green, with a red spot at the base of the under
mandible: plumage, above, olive brown; beneath, cinere-
ous and unspotted : tail brown ; the under covers black.

Inhabits Brazil and Chili.

Total length about 11 inches; bill, gape 2; wings 5;
tarsus 1,8 ; middle toe and claw 2. Both mandibles of the

bill slightly curved. There is no white on the chin, as in the
next.

162. Rauuus ce@esius.

Olive brown : beneath, dark cinereous: tail feathers,
and the upper and under covers, black: chin whitish.

Inhabits Brazil. Gallinula cesia? Spix, Av. Braz.
ik, p. 95.

Total length about 11 inches; bill, gape 2; wings 5;
tarsus 1,; middle toe and claw 2. Bill straight, green, the
base yellowish: irides rufous: feet Indian red. In size and
colour closely resembles the last; but the bill is less curved ;
and both the tail, and its upper and under covers, are deep
black: the chin, also, is much whiter. I suspect these two
have been confounded by more than one author.

163. Rauuus superciliosus.

Front with a lateral white stripe before the eye:
plumage, above, brown; beneath, cinereous: flanks
banded. Tarsus 14 inch long.

Inhabits South Africa.

Total length about 12 inches; bill 2; wings 5; tarsus 13;
middle toe and claw 2,1. Chin white: belly tinged with fer-
ruginous: flanks black, with transverse white bands: the
shorter or external under tail covers black, tipt with ferru-
ginous; the inner or longer ones white, with terminal black
bands : lower part of the back, and all the tail, black: feet
and bill probably red in the live bird.

164. Raxuus neglectus.

Plumage, above, brown; beneath, cinereous: sides of
the body, flanks, and under tail covers, banded white
and black. Tarsus 14 inch long.

Inhabits Brazil? Mus. Nost.

336 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Closely resembles the last ; but there is no white superciliary
line ; the bands on the flanks extend to the sides of the body ;
the wings are } inch, and the tarsus is ¢ inch shorter. Total
length about 10 inches; bill 2; wings only 44; tarsus 14;
middle toe and claw 2}. The under tail covers are black and
white ; those in the middle tinged with ferruginous. In both,
the bill and feet are light brown, probably red in the live
bird.

165. Raxuus brachipus.

Head above, and half way down the neck, rufous,
striped with black: the rest of the neck, back, rump,
and tail, black, striped with olive: wings, and body be-
neath, banded with black and white: belly whitish :
vent with a fulvous patch: chin white. ‘Tarsus very
short.

Inhabits Tasmania. Discovered by Adol. W. H.
Humphrey, esq. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 10 inches; bill, gape 146; wings 4;
tarsus ;3; middle toe and claw nearly 13. For the size of
the bird, the sarsus of this and the next species is unusually
short: the carpal spur is nearly obsolete. Just behind the
vent, and at the base of the under tail covers, is a patch of clear
fulvous or isabella: the whole of the body beneath (except the
middle), as also the under tail covers, are strongly banded with
white on a black ground: the sides of the head and neck are
rufous, without any black stripes: the whole of the wings,
with the sides of the breast and lower neck, are marked by
white bands: bill pale brown: legs greenish.

166. Rattus Lewinii.

Head above, and all the upper parts of the body,
black, striped with dark olive ; under parts, cinereous
grey: wings, and sides of the body beneath, with trans-
verse white spots and bands: under tail covers isabella.

Inhabits Tasmania. Named in memorial of Lewin
author of the first work on the Birds of Australia.

Total length about 83 inches; bill, gape 13,3; wings 473;
tarsus 1; middle toe and claw 14. Size and general colour
of the last; but there is no rufous on the head and neck, which
are of the same colour as the back: all the under tail covers

are isabella colour, although their bases are black.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 337

167. Rauuus albiventer.

Under tail covers white, immaculate: crown, and
neck above, rufous: back and wings olive, with trans-
verse white bars, edged with black: ears, breast, and
under parts, cinereous: chin and belly white: flanks
banded.

Inhabits India. Gallinula gularis? Gray. (plate
unpublished. }

Total length 8} inches; bill, gape 18; wings 5; tarsus
1443; middle toe and claw 1$,; hinder ditto }. I donot think
this is the G. gularis of Latham, whose description does not
appear to me to be applicable. It approaches very near to R.
brachypus by its rufous crown and nape; but is known at once
by its immaculate tail covers: the flanks only are banded
with black and white; the belly and vent being almost pure
white.

168. Gauuinuta immaculata.

Unspotted: crown and nape blackish cinereous,
changing to chestnut brown on the neck, back, and wing
covers, ald to black -on the tail: throat and under
plumage uniform cinereous: under tail covers black,
banded with white.

Inhabits Tasmania. Discovered by Adol. W. H.
Humphrey, Esq. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 6} inches; bill, front j4; wings 374;
tarsus hardly 1; middle toe and claw 1,3,; hind ditto}. Re-
markable for having no white upon the chin (which is nearly
as dark as the throat), or any bands on the flanks: the edges of
the shoulders are white: the deep chestnut of the neck blends
into the dark cinereous of the head, and becomes nearly black as
it approaches the tail: bill black: legs pale, perhaps red. The
inner toe is slightly shorter than the outer.

169. GatuinuLa curvirostra.

Culmen and commissure of the bill curved. Plumage,
above, olive, striped with black; beneath, cinereous :
chin white: flanks and thighs brown, banded with
whitish.

Inhabits ——-? Mus. Nost.

Z

338 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Total length 9 inches; bill, gape 144; front 54; wings 4;
tarsus, 144; middle toe and claw 1,8, hind ditto 1. This is
the only species I have yet seen, having the commissure regu-
larly curved, and the culmen consequently more bent down-
wards, than the gonys is upwards. In other respects there is
nothing remarkable in the structure or the plumage: the
colours above are black, striped with olive on the side of each
feather: the under tail covers are black, with a few interrupted
bands of whitish: flanks and thighs greyish olive, with white
transverse bands. Bill and legs greenish.

170. GaLLInuLa flavirostra.

Entirely deep black : bill fine yellow: legs bright red.
Inhabits West Africa. Mus. Nost. Raillus carinatus,
Classif. of Birds, Vol. I. p. 158. fig. 86. ¢, d.

Total length 7 inches; bill, front. nearly 1; wings 435;
tarsus 1}; naked space above the knee 7; middle toe and
claw 2; hinder ditto ?,. Confounded with one or two others,
under the name of R. niger. Carpus ending in a small acute
slender spur, #, of an inch long, curved inwards, and nearly
hid in the feathers, but probably moveable in the live bird.
I have reason to think the elevation of the bill, in the specimen
figured as above quoted, is accidental, for another, since ex-
amined, had not this peculiarity. As the name of carinatus
would, therefore, lead to error, I now substitute that of flavi-
rostra. It seems to be one of the supposed varieties of G.
NiLTA.

171. Gatumnuta albifrons.

Front of the chin, neck, breast, and body, white:
sides of the head, neck, and breast, rufous: flanks
banded with black and white: upper plumage olive
brown.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total Jength about 5} inches; bill, front, 13; wings 3;
tarsus 1; middle toe and claw 13; hinder 3}; inner toe 3, shorter
than the outer. Bill greenish: legs pale: the rufous which
is on the side of the head, ears, and neck, ceases at the breast ;
the body, belly, and thighs are cream coloured white, quite

pure, but the under tail covers are deep rufous.

172. AnneTHenta lineata.

Above, blackish, varied with numerous undulated
transverse lines of light fulvous brown ; beneath, whit-

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 339

ish, with black stripes on the neck and breast, and bands
on the flanks and body : tail and its covers black, banded
with ferruginous lines.

Inhabits South Africa? Mus. Nost.

Total length 64 inches; bill, gape 4; front 2; wings 28;
tarsus §,; middle toe and claw ~. Lateral toes nearly equal.
The whole plumage above is variegated with light fulvous, or
isabella brown, which assumes the appearance of stripes on the
head and neck, and then of undulated bands on all the re-
maining parts: the quills alone are free from spots, and are
light sepia brown: the tail covers are long, silky, and are of
the same colour and texture as the true tail feathers; these
latter being placed edgeways, like those of a hen; and this,
no doubt, is the true structure of the type, which obviously
represents Megapodius. The chin is pure white, and the bill
and feet pale.

173. Tacuypromus Orientalis.

Total length 94 inches. Upper part of the head, neck,
throat, breast, and body, rufous, terminating in a black
point in the middle of the body: upper tail covers
white : wings 6 inches, and longer than the tail.

Inhabits India. In the Collection of the Countess of
Dalhousie. Zool. Mus.

Total Jength 9} inches; bill, front §,; gape 1,4; wings 6,
projecting } inch beyond the tail; tarsus 27; middle toe
and claw 14; naked space above the knee 1. I have consi-
dered this as distinct from the T. Asiaticus of Temminck * (the
Coromandelicus of Lichenstein+), solely on the presumption
that these two ornithologists are correct in stating that their
species measures only 8 inches in total length, whereas this is
9!. It is only the upper tail covers, and not the rump also,
which are white in this bird: the rufous of the breast goes on
gradually contracting, and then terminates at the end of the
abdomen in a black spot, leaving the sides of the body and the
flanks of the same light drab brown as the back. If the above
measurements of MM. Temminck and Lichenstein are in-
correct, then I see no difference between their descriptions,
Dr. Latham’s f, and the bird before me, sufficiently strong to
separate it from Asiaticus. Such brief descriptions, without
measurements of a]l the parts, rather tend to confusion than to
elucidation.

* Manuel, 2 ed. ii. p. 514. t Berlin Catal. p. 72.
+ Hist. of Birds, ix, 353.
z2

~

340 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

174. Tacuypromus Burchellii.

Front and fore part of the head rufous; hinder part
and nape cinereous : crown bordered (behind the eye)
with a pointed white collar, margined by black: upper
plumage fawn colour: rump cinereous. Wings even
with the tail.

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Coll. No. 155.

Intermediate in size between 7. Senegalensis Lich. and
Asiaticus. Total length about 8 inches; bill, gape 14; front
$,; wings 5%; tail, base 23; tarsus 1,3. . General colours of
Senegalensis, but with the following differences :—The back has
a greater tinge of rufous; and the termination of this colour,
below the breast, is simply marked by a blackish shade: the
secondary quills are light brown, and are all of them broadly
tipt with white: the throat, breast, and middle of the body are
of the same tinge as the back: the tail is cinereous ; the outer-
most feather white, the base obliquely brown on its inner web
only; the two next feathers cinereous, with a black bar and
white tip; and the rest cinereous, more or less tipt with black
only. The young bird is variegated with brown lines and
light spots. Is this latter the Erolia (!) variegata shortly noticed
by Vieillot ?

175. Ruyncors melanurus.

Above, black: lesser quills tipt with white: tail
brownish black ; each feather margined externally with
white : base of the bill, and feet, red.

Inhabits the coast of Demerara. Mr. Schomburgh.

Total length about 16 inches; bill (the under mandible
from the gape) 374; wings 14, three inches longer than the
tail ; tail, base 5; depth of the fork 14; tarsus 12. Larger
than the &. borealis (niger Auct.).

176. Fauco eucullatus.

Upper plumage, and the whole of the head, except
the middle of the chin, cinereous black: chin, throat,
and breast, cream colour: body, beneath, black, with
transverse white lines: belly, vent, and thighs, rufous.

Inhabits Brazil, Trinidad, &c. Mus. Nost.

Total length 9} inches ; wings 7}, equal with the tail; tail
from the base 4; tarsus 1; middle toe and claw 1}; inner

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 341

toe much shorter than the outer. Tarsus feathered beyond the
knee. First quill longer than the third: inner wing covers
black, with white spots. Tail short, even: quills and tail
internally barred, with isolated white lines.

177. Fauco longipennis.

Above: cinereous brown: crown, sides of the head :
and ears, blackish: beneath, rufous white, striped and
spotted with grey : wings as long as the tail: the latter
with rufous bands on the inner web.

Inhabits Tasmania. Mus. Nost.

Size of the Kestrel. Total length hardly 12 inches; wings
9; nearly even with the tail; tarsus 1,3; middle toe and
claw 14; outer ditto 1-2; inner much shorter; tail, base 5.
First quill nearly equal to the third; the second longest. Inner
wing covers grey, varied and spotted with pale rufous; quills,
internally banded like the tail with pale rufous: chin and
throat cream colour: the first quill only is emarginate on the
inner web: front, lores, and base of the maxillary stripe,
white.

178. Fatco macropus.

Above, cinereous black, immaculate; beneath, ful-
vous white, striped with blackish: wings as long as
the tail: feet very large: middle toe and claw much
longer than the tarsus.

Inhabits Tasmania. Discovered by T. Winter, Esgq.,
Mus. Nost.

Form and structure of 7. cucullatus. Total length near 16
inches ; wings 123; tail, base 7; tarsus 1; middie toe 2;
the claw ,; total 26. A perfectly adult bird. The stripes
beneath are dark and well defined ; and there is no detached
maxillary stripe. The ground of the under plumage is cream-
colour: the inner covers with broad transverse bands, leaving
cream-coloured spots between : the bill and feet are very large :

the tail short, and nearly even.

180. Manaconortus Jeucotis.

Above, olive green ; beneath, and stripe over the eye;
yellow: crown, and two stripes on each side of the
head, cinereous: stripe on the ears white.

Inhabits Africa? Mus. Nost.

Zo

342 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Small. Total length hardly 6 inches ; pigs fh: gape 4;
wings 23; tail, beyond, 1; base 2; tarsus ~. Tail rather
short, and nearly even: the yellow eye stripe is very broad and
bright, and passes as far as the nape: the white stripe on the
ears is between the two grey ones Flanks and belly tinged
with olive: middle toe very short.

179. Mauaconorus similis.

Above, black: lores, lower part of the back, and
plumage, beneath, greyish white: tips of the lateral
tail feathers white.

Inhabits P Mus. Nost.

Total length 63 inches; bill, front, 5; gape fj; wings 3;
tail, base 3; tarsus #. Closely resembling in structure and
colour M. mollissimus; but is smaller in ‘all its proportions
except the legs, which are longer: the lores are grey, not black ;
and the long rump feathers are dark cinereous beneath, not
pure white: the tail much shorter, and the lateral feathers tipt
with white.

181. Orionus coronatus.

Crown of the head yellow: incircled by a narrow
black band, round the nape: quill feathers, and spuri-
ous quills, edged with yellow.

Inhabits Java. Mus. Nost.

Total length 9$ inches; bill, front, 1,; wings 53; tail
beyond, 1; base 34; tarsus &, Smaller than O. Stinensis
(Pl. Enl. 570.), with which it has been confounded, and differs
by having the whole of the crown, and not the front only,
yellow : the black band only passes round the nape.

182, GRYLLIVORA 7o0sed.

Glossy black: body, beneath, stripe on the wings,
and four lateral pair of tail feathers, rosy.
Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length 73 inches; bill, front 4: wings 3%; tail,
base 3}. Smaller than G. intermedia; the wings being near
half an inch shorter, but the bill is rather longer ; four, instead
of three of the tail feathers, on each side, are white, or rather
rosy, as are all the light parts of the plumage. Until there is
positive evidence that this, and the three preceding, are varie-
ties, I must consider them as species.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 343

183. Ortuotomus longirostris.

Cinereous: beneath, whitish: head, chin, and thighs,
ferruginous : throat black: tail brownish, graduated ;
the latter with dusky black ends, tipt with whitish.

< S$. W. coast of Australia. M. Labillardiere.”
Mus. Paris.

Total length 4}inches; bill, gape #; wings 2}; tail, be-
yond, 1; base 14; tarsus #. Sides of the body cinereous, the
middle white: bill and legs pale. Allied to the 0. sepium
(Horsf.) of Java, but has no olive above, or yellow beneath.
(See Class. of Birds, Vol. II. p. 62. fig. 135.)

184. OrtHotomus sphenurus.

Olive yellow above; white beneath: hind head
and nape brown: front and crown rufous. Tail slender,
cuneated ; the lateral feathers very narrow and obtuse ;
the two middle pair lengthened and pointed.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length nearly 6 inches; bill, gape 2; front }; wings
14; tail, base 3; middle feathers beyond the others 1; tarsus
q> Upper plumage bright olive yellow: ears and lores white :
bill and legs pale.

185. Praticota anthoides.

Above, olive; beneath, ocracious: each feather
striped in the middle with black: lores and eye stripe
fulvous: lateral tail feathers with.a penultimate black
band.

Inhabits Tasmania. Mus. Nost.

Total length 5} inches ; bill, gape 53 ; front nearly $; wings 2 ;
tail, base 2,; tarsus #,; middle toe and claw 7; hind toe #4;
its claw $. The black stripes, which are broad on the upper
plumage, are very narrow on the under: the tail has a rufous
tinge, and the middle feathers have a black central stripe ; they
are all graduated and marked as in Orthotomus.

186. CryrrotopHa auricapilla.

Olive green above ; yellow beneath: crown of the
head fulvous yellow, bordered on each side by a broad
black stripe. (fig. 70.) -

Inhabits India. Linnean Society’s Museum.

z 4

RES ae

344. TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Total length 4 inches ;_ bill,
gape 3; front #; wings 21;
tail, beyond 7,; base 14; tarsus
x33 hind toe and claw #. The
crown resembles that of the Sez-
surus auricapillus, but the black
stripes are darken, they widen be-
hind, and then end abruptly: the f
yellow is deepest on the belly and ff
in the middle of the body.

187. EryTuRostomus cyano- }
gaster.
Bright green: body, and |
belly beneath, rich purple
blue, glossed with lilac: tail
lengthened, rounded, tipt with
purple. )
Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.
Total length nearly 12 inches; wings 6}; tail, beyond, 3;

base 5; tarsus ;4,; middle toe and claw 1. Second and third

quills equal, and longest; the first tinged with blue. This
beautiful species may, probably, have been described on the

Continent ; but it is very rare, even in Brazil.

188. Erpopsaris bicinctus.

Body, above, grey ; beneath, paler: middle of the
back, and sides of the tail, olive: nape, sides, and
upper part of the head, black, with a broad crescent-
shaped band of white uniting the eyes. |

Inhabits Tasmania. Sent by Thomas James Lem-
priere, Esq. Mus. Nost.

Total length 6 inches; bill, gape §; front {; wings 3;
tail, beyond, 1}; base 22; tarsus ~The plumage above, and
on the sides of the neck and breast, is cinereous grey : the region

of the chin is pure white: the nape may be said to have two
bands, — the first of white, the second of black.

189. Eupynamis Australis.
Entirely black. The bill yellow. Wings nine inches
long.
Female.— Spotted: the third quill longest.
Inhabits Australia. Mus. Nost.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 345

Total length 18 inches; bill, gape }§; front 9; tarsus 1% ;

hind toe and claw §,; middle ditto 1,4. Hitherto confounded

with the true Z. orientalis, which is much smaller, and whose
wings measure only 74 inches.

190. Curysomus zanthopygius.

Glossy black: the head,
rump, shoulder covers, and
the whole of the under plu-

mage, golden yellow.
Inhabits ? Mus. Nost.

(fig. 71. b)

Total length nearly 8 inches;
bill, gape 3; front the same;
wings 4; tail, beyond, 11; base 3;
tarsus 1; hind toe and claw #,;
middle ditto 1. Claws long, slen-
der, and very slightly curved.
The yellow on the head does not
reach so far as the nape: the
inner wing covers, and the margin of the carpus, are also
yellow. The total confusion into which Dr. Wagler has
thrown the whole of the American Sturnide, by uniting
them into one genus, renders it now utterly impossible to
determine any but the most common species: his treatment
of this group, and of the Psittacide, is truly anomalous; and
both seem to be regulated more by caprice than by any one
principle of classification, natural or artificial. Our present
species is more typical than C. icterocephalus (a), which has the
hind claw shorter and more curved.

191. CutLororsis curvirostris.

Green: maxillary stripe violet: shoulder covers
vivid blue: middle of the body, and under tail covers,
orange.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length 7 inches; bill, gape 1; front 7; wings 3};
tail, beyond, 17,; base 2}; tarsus 33; hind toe and claw i.
The bill is much lengthened, and both mandibles are curved.

192. Dunus nuchalis.

Above, olive brown: nape with a transverse bar of
white: beneath, cream colour, with distinct stripes of
dark brown.

346 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 7 inches; bill, gape 33; front; wings 337, ;
tail, beyond, 18; base 3; tarsus }3. Edges of the quills and
tail feathers olive green: ears and lores blackish: tail very
slightly forked ; the two middle tail feathers cinereous: bill
pale.

193. ANABANUS rufescens.

Entirely rufous: paler beneath: tail black, tipt
with white, and crossed by numerous greyish bands:
vent brown.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length 15 inches; bill, front 1; gape 14; wings 43;
tail, beyond, 5; base 1; tarsus 1; middle toethe same. Bill
green: orbits and lores naked. Tail long, broad, graduated :
the upper covers banded with black and dark grey ; the under,
blackish brown.

194. CroToPpHAGa semisulcata.

Culmen sharp and carinated, but not much elevated :
upper mandible with three elevated lines ; convex be-
tween: under mandible smooth. Size and plumage of
Sulcirostra.

Inhabits South America. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 13 inches; bill, gape 1%,; wings 5;
tail, base 74; tarsus 12,; middle toe and claw the same.

195. Pioceus auricapillus.

Head above, upper tail covers, and all the under
parts, bright yellow: frontal line, lores, ears, and chin,
velvet black: above the frontal line a shade of rufous.
First quill spurious; second hardly shorter than the
third.

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Collection,
No. 1:52.

Closely resembles P. personatus ; but it is smaller, and hardly
6 inches long; bill, gape 13; wings 33,; tail, base 23;
tarsus 17; hind toe and claw 33. Excepting the back, the
wings, tail, and lower part of the neck, the whole plumage is
of a clear, full, and bright yellow: the back feathers have an
olive tinge, with an almost imperceptible dusky stripe; the
black mark does not descend so far on the throat; and the

yellow, just in front of the head, is tinged with bright rufous :

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 347

the upper and under tail covers are bright yellow. The first
quill is spurious, and only , of an inch long.

196. Pip1nLo0 macronyx.

General plumage resembling P. maculata ; but the
spots on the wings, the under wing covers, and tips of the
lateral tail feathers, are yellow. Feet and claws very
large.

Inhabits Mexico. Mus. Nost.

Total length 8 inches; wings 35; tail, nee 5; tarsus 13;
middle toe and claw 1,5; hind ditto. Ground colour of the
upper plumage olive green: bill deep black: legs pale.
Another specimen, which I view as the female, has no yellow
spots whatever, either on the back, wings, or lateral tail fea-
thers ; although in other respects they are both alike.

197. Preto fusca.

Greyish brown above; white beneath: chin and
throat fulvous, with dusky spots: under tail covers
fulvous: tail blackish brown, unspotted.

Inhabits Mexico. Mus. Nost.

Total length 74} mches; wings 31; tail, base 4; tarsus 3;
middle toe and claw the same ; hinder ditto }8. Rather smaller
than maculata. Bill and legs pale: the latter smaller, and
the claws more curved, than in any other known species: crown
with a pale rufous tinge.

198. ArrEmon flavirostris.

General plumage of 4A. torquatus; but the bill is
bright yellow, and the hinder toe longer.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Total length 6 inches ; bill, gape ~, ; front #, ; wings 3 ; tail,
beyond, 2; base 3; tarsus nearly 1; middle toe and claw ¥ ;
hinder ditto 13. Top of the bill with a line of black, the rest
fine yellow: the three stripes on the head, which in 4. tor-
quatus commence at the base of the bill, do not begin in this
so far forward ; and the white ones commence above, and not
before, the eye: the tail feathers are longer and narrower.

199. Leucopurys pileatus.

Above, light earthen brown; beneath, white: front,
crown, and sides of the chin, black: stripe above the
eye, rump, and upper tail covers, pure white.

348 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

Inhabits South Africa.
Total length 7 inches; bill, gape 13; wings 4,4; tail, be-

20 >
yond, 2; base 23; tarsus ~,; middle mae and claw $,; hind
ditto $3. The white stripes over the eye are very broad behind,
and narrow in front, and almost meet at the nape. Upper tail
feathers very long. Wing covers with two broad cream white
bands; all the quills edged with the same: bill black: legs
pale.

200. GALLINULA ecaudata.

Olive: crown, upper tail covers, and the whole of
the under plumage, deep rufous: sides of the head
cinereous: tail feathers olive, nearly obsolete, very soft,
almost concealed by the covers.

Inhabits ———— ? Mus. Nost. Pl. Enl. 753. ?

Total length 6 inches ; bill, front 13; wings 32,; tarsus 17;
middle toe and claw 14; hind ditto}. The rufous on the
under plumage is uniform from the chin to the vent. The tail

feathers are exceedingly short, and the covers long, — thus
leading to Alecthelia.

201. GALLINULA modesta.

Upper plumage, and under tail covers, olive brown:
beneath, cinereous: chin and part of the throat white.
Bill one inch long.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 9 inches; bill, gape 14; wings 4,8;
tarsus 1,6,; middle toe and claw 2; hind ditto }3. The co-
louring is particularly simple. The form is typical, although
the upper mandible is more curved than usual. The tail and its

covers are like the back: bill green: legs brown.

202. GALLINULA Jeucosoma.

Above, light brown ; beneath, white: crown and neck
cinereous: lores black: before the eye, and beneath the
ear, are two white stripes.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Size small. Total length 7} inches; bill, base $; gape #5
wings 7; tarsus 1 ; middle toe and claw 1-6; hind ditto }§. A
typical and elegant species. Ears, and sides of the neck, light
cinereous ; above the former, a clear white stripe: crown nearly

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 349

black: flanks, and under tail covers, fawn colour: from the
chin to the vent pure white: bill and legs pale.

203. GALLINULA ruficollis.

Crown and sides of the head, throat, and breast,
cinereous: neck, above, clear rufous: under plumage
white: fianks and tail covers banded with black and
white: wing covers with narrow whitish bands.

Inhabits America. Andersonian Museum of Glasgow.

Total length about 5 inches ; bill, gape 7; front £; wings 3 ;
tarsus 1; middle claw 1,4; hinder ditto 5; outer 1. Nearly
an inch shorter than G. albifrons, No. 171.3; from which it is
further distinguished by the under tail covers being banded
with black upon a whitish ground, instead of being deep
rufous: the lower flanks, and the upper tail covers, are crossed
in the same way ; but the sides of the body are banded with
white upon a black ground: ears and sides of the head pale
cinereous: all the under plumage is white, having the sides
cinereous; the white only begins at the base of the lower
mandible.

204, CEpIcNEMuS Americanus.

Sides of the crown with a black stripe: quills black-
ish brown, with a white external band at the base of
the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Tarsus four inches long.

Interior of Guiana. Mr. Schomburgh.

Total length 17 inches’; bill, front 14; gape 27; wings 9;
tail, base 5. General colour of the other species ; but all the
wing covers are like the back; and the only external white on
the wings.are the bases of the sixth, seventh, and eighth quills :
sides of the head white, and of the crown and nape black.

205. CEpicnemus recurvirostris.

Grey and unstriped: body, beneath, white : ears, stripe
at the gape, and sides of the crown, black: shoulder
covers black. Culmen of the bill very straight: gonys
considerably curved upwards.

Inhabits Ava. Andersonian Museum.

Total length about 20 inches ; bill, gape 32,: from the front
275; wings 10; tail, base 4}; tarsus 3}; middle toe and claw 1,8, ;
outer 1}; inner 13,; naked space above the tarsus 17. A

.
350 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

skin of this extraordinary bird is in the Andersonian Museum
at Glasgow. The upper plumage i is entirely without those dark
stripes so common in the genus: the front and lores are white ;

a stripe of the same colour passes over the eye and ears, where
it unites with another, which also passes under the ears: the
shoulder covers are deep black, separated from the grey of the
other covers by a light border: the quills are black ; the three
last of the primaries being white, with a black band before
their tips; and there is a white external band on the middle
of the first quill, continued, internally only, on the two next.
Tail short and grey; the lateral feathers with a band of white,
and tipt with another of black: the neck and breast are grey;
but the body, beneath, is white: bill black: legs yellow.

2060. Trogon Peruvianus.

Female.—Upper plumage, chin, throat, and sides of
the body, cinereous: ring round the eye, and pectoral
band in the middle of the breast, white: lower part of
the body rose-colour: three lateral tail feathers black,
with numerous oblique white bands on the outer web,
narrow white tips, and white dots at the edge of the.
inner webs: wing covers lineated.

Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

- Total length 9} inches ; bill, gape 7; front ~,; wings 33; tail,
bey yond, 3; from ‘the base 5% Of this species I have only seen
the female, which very much resembles that of my lewcurus in
the whole of the upper plumage; but it is easily distinguished
by its smaller size, by the obsolete white pectoral bar, by the
red commencing much higher on the breast, and, above all, by
the distinct white bands on the tail, of which there are about
13 on the outermost feather: the white tips are also not broader
than these bars, —a circumstance very unusual in this genus.

207. Furnarivos longipennis.

Above, brown ; beneath, white: quills with a broad
white basal band: tail black; the two outermost feathers
edged and tipt with rufous. Bill short: wings length-
ened.

Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

Total length 6} inches; bill, gape #4; front ; wings 33; tail,

beyond, 75; basd: 3; tarsus 1; middle toe and claw 25 hind
ditto fy This is a very singular species; having larger and

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 351

more pointed wings than the next; the second, third, and fourth
quills being nearly of equal length, and longer than the others ;
‘ and the tail only projects three quarters of an inch beyond:
the carpus is white; and there is a spot of the same colour in
the middle of the outermost feathers of the spurious wings :
the broad white band across the base of the quills gives it an
angulated form, but it disappears on the four exterior prima-
ries: behind the eye is a white stripe, leaving the ears dark
brown: the tail is rounded, the webs much worn, and the shafts
in a slight degree rigid: the form of the bill, also, makes some
approximation towards that of Certhia and Synallavis. I hope
soon to indicate the subgenera of this interesting group, of
which there are several other species. I have no doubt it is the
grallatorial division of the Certhiane.

208. Furnarivs fasciatus.

Entirely banded, both above and beneath, with black-
ish brown and white: crown grey, with dusky spots:
tip of the chin white. Tail rather lengthened.

Inhabits Peru. Mus. Hooker. Nost.

Total length 8} inches; bill, gape1; front 1; wings 3!; tail,
beyond, 2; base 33; tarsus 1; middle toe and claw 2; Form
typical. Bill nearly straight: tail with the lateral feathers
graduated ; third and fourth quill equal, and longest.

209. Genus. Zenopuasia. Nob.

Wings, tail, and feet as in Dendrocolaptes. Outer and
middle toe of equal length; inner toe much shorter, and
equal to the hallux : anterior claws much curved ; hinder
less so: bill short, straight, strong, nearly as broad as
it is high, suddenly and considerably depressed near the
tip, which is rounded, and slightly recurved; gonys
ascending’; commissure straight.

This most singular form obviously represents Zenops, in the
subfamily of Certhiane, from which it totally differs in the
structure of its bill, tail, and feet: in the two latter members
it agrees with Dendrocolaptes, to which it is closely related in
affinity. Nevertheless, as the five types of that genus have
been already pointed out, it follows that Zenophasia should
come immediately after: and, under these views, it will take
the place hitherto assigned to Sclerurus; which thus appears to

352 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

be only a subordinate form, connecting this with Furnarius.* 1
form this opinion, because, by this disposition of the groups in
the two circles, the contents of each will mutually represent
each other, in the following manner: —

ANABATIN&. CERTHIANZ.
Dendroma. Oxyurus.
Synallazxis. Certhia.
Geobates. Furnarius.
Zenops. Zenophasia.
Anabates. Dendrocolaptes.

Zeunopuasia platyryncha.

Brown, inclining to chestnut on the back, and to ful-
vous beneath: chin, throat, breast, and sides of the
head, varied with whitish stripes: body immaculate :
inner base of the quills with a fulvous white band:
inner wing covers white: tail rufous.

Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size of Zenops affinis ; but the tail is considerably longer.
Total length 54inches ; bill, gape ~; front 2; wings 2}; tail,
beyond, 1,5; base 27; tarsus{. The ground colours are pre-
cisely the same as the rest of the Dendrocolapti; but there are
no pale stripes on the upper plumage, and they disappear a
little beyond the breast.

210. ZeENops affinis.

Chin, part of the throat, and stripe beneath the ears,
pure white: tail rufous; the third pair of lateral fea-

thers black on their inner webs: bill with the culmen

very straight, and the commissure recurved.
Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost. Zenops genibarbis,
Zool. Ill. i. pl. 100. nec. Temm. Pl. Col. 150. f. 1.

M. Temminck observes of the tail of his genibarbis, “le
roux vif est placé au bout de chaque penne, le deux demilieu
exceptées, qui sont d’un noir profond; le roux occupe plus
d’espace sur les pennes latérales qui sur celles placées vers le
centre.” In this, on the contrary, the whole of the feathers

* Another view, indeed, may be taken of this question; namely, that the
birds I have placed under the subgenus Dendrocolaptes, are but aberrant
species of my Zzphorynchus: if this be correct, which I at present doubt,
then Z. procurvis will stand as the type of Dendrocolaptes, and my sub-
genus Dendrocolaptes must be abolished: Zenophasia would then come in
as one of the five subgenera, still representing Zenops as a subgenus of
Dendrocolaptes.

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 353

are entirely rufous, except the pair which follow the two middle
pair, which are deep black on their inner webs only. In M. Tem-
minck’s figure the commissure is straight, but in this it is re-
markably recurved: the ground colour of the quills is blackish
brown, with an oblique rufous band across the primaries and
secondaries; but this is also seen in Z. genibarbis and dentiros-
tris; and all three have a cream-coloured stripe above the ears.

211. Zenors dentirostris.

Bill very short ; the commissure nearly straight ; the
tip of the upper mandible slightly inclined downwards,
and obsoletely notched. Tail rufous; two pair of the
lateral feathers black on their inner webs.

Inhabits Demerara? Mus. Nost.

Smaller than Z, affinis. Total length 4 inches; bill, front 2, ;
wings 27,; tail, beyond,}; base 1}; tarsus }; middie toe and
claw 5. The plumage is coloured like the last, excepting that
two pair, and not one only, of the lateral tail feathers are black
internally, and the white feathers of the throat are edged with
fulvous brown. This singular little species, in its size, and par-
ticularly in the tail, agrees with Vieillot’s ruficaudus ; but the
peculiar shape of the bill forbids the supposition of their being

the same.

212. Cerrtuia Asiatica.

Tail with numerous black bars ; the tips of the lateral
feathers obliquely rounded. Bill nearly an inch long,
Inhabits India. Andersonian Museum.

Total length 53 inches ; bill, from the gape %; from the front
3; wings 2%. PT beyond, 14; base 2; tarsus}; middle toe
and claw the same; hinder ditto 3 3. The general appearance
of this new species of true Certhia is much like that of C. fa-
miliaris, but it is much larger, and the tail feathers are more

obtuse: the crown is almost dull black, with only a few narrow
pale stripes: the tail feathers, scapulars, and base of the pri-

maries are crossed by narrow black transverse bars, of which
_ there are about twenty on the middle tail feathers. In other
respects, the colours and markings have a general resemblance
to those of C. familiaris.

AA

854 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

213. Crentrurus flaviventris.

Head grey; front and nape golden yellow; spot in
the middle of the crown (in the male only) crimson:
middle of the belly orange yellow: rump pure white.

Inhabits P Liverpool Museum.

Total length 9 inches; bill, from the gape 1}; front 1}; wings
5; tail, beyond, 1 ?,; from the base 3}; tarsus 7, ; hind toe and claw
searcely 1. ‘The upper plumage, like all the known species of
Centurus, is banded with black and white, excepting the rump,
which is pure white: the under plumage is cinereous white ;
the middle of the belly being fine buff yellow: the red spot on
the crown is oval, and isolated: tail entirely black, except the
outer feather, which has three obsolete bars and a white tip.
The female is known by the crown being entirely cinereous
grey.

214. Crenturus rubriventris.

Front of the head, cheeks, and chin golden yellow;
ears, and connected stripes over the eyes, cinereous
white; nape, middle of the crown, and the belly, crimson :
rump pure white.

Inhabits P = =Mus. Nost.

This most elegant species is the smallest Centurus I have yet
seen. Total length 7,5 inches; bill, gape 1; front =%; wings 4,3,
nearly as long as the tail, which from the base is 3; tarsus 5.
Upper plumage, as in the last, banded with black and white ; the
latter being narrower than the former: the broad greyish white
band over each eye unites in front, and there becomes white,
so as to separate the golden yellow round the bill, from the
crimson of the crown; the yellow covers all the face before
the eye, and passes round the chin: the under plumage is light
cinereous grey; the middle of the body and belly being tinged
with crimson: the tail feathers are black and unspotted, ex-
cept the base of the middle pair, and a few spots and obsolete
bands on the outermost: bill deep black.

125. QuiscaLus Peruvianus.

Bill one inch anda half long. Plumage glossy purple
on the head and neck, changing to green on the body
beneath: back, wings, and tail black, with. an obscure
greenish gloss.

OF NEW OR EITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 355

Inhabits Peru. Mr.W. Hooker’s Collection. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 13} inches; bill from the gape 1,7, ; front
1} ; wings 7}; tail, from the base 7? ; tarsus nearly 2 ; middle toe
and claw 1,7, ; hinder ditto 19. Commissure of the bill slightly
sinuated in the middle. The purple of the head and part of the
neck gradually becomes steel blue on the breast, and then as-
sumes a greenish tinge on the interscapulars and under part
of the body: the greater wing covers, quills, back, rump, and

tail are almost entirely glossy black.

216. QuiscaLus crassirostris.

Bill strong, one inch and a quarter long. Plumage
glossy purple on the head, neck, back, and body: wings
and tail glossy black.

Inhabits Jamaica. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

Total length about 10 inches; bill, from the gape 11; front
1}; wings 6; tarsus 14; middle toe and claw 13; hind claw
12,. Size of Q. versicolor ; but differs in having no green or
copper reflections whatsoever upon the plumage: the bills of
both are nearly of the same size and thickness; but in this the
commissure is not sinuated, the margins are more inflected.
and the tarsus rather longer: the third quill is shorter, and not

equal to the fourth.

917. Aguaia melanotis.

Vivid green, striped with black above: middle of the
throat, and body beneath, pure yellow: front, and spot
on the sides of the head, velvet-black : wing covers and
quills black, margined with green and blue: crown and

rump yellowish.
Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker's Collection.

Total length 5 inches; bill, front 45; wings 28 ; tail, beyond, 1 ;
base 2; tarsus 6. General form and structure of A. citrinella,
to which it is closely allied: the crown and back are marked in
the same way with black, but the feathers on the head are
more scale-like ; the chin is green ; but the tip, close to the bill,
is black: the inner wing covers are pure white: there is a yel-
lowish gloss on the crown; and a brighter yellow, shaded with
green, is on the rump: the shoulder and lesser wing covers, as
well as the primaries, are edged with blue: but the rest of the
wing feathers have green edgings: abroad band of black is in
front, and a large patch of the same covers the ears: before

AA

356 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

the eye is a crescent-shaped spot of light and vivid beryl green ;
the tail is edged with blue green.

218. Aenaia ceruleocephala.
Head and chin entirely cerulean blue: neck, back,
breast, and body velvet-black, varied with dark blue on
the flanks: rump, upper tail and wing covers, change-
able golden yellow.
Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

Size and general structure of the next. Lores velvet-black :
head beryl blue, richly glossed with violet on the front and
chin : the lower half of the neck, both above and below, as well
as the interscapulars, the back, and all the under plumage, are
deep velvet-black, except the sides of the body, where the fea-
thers are tipt with bright purple blue; but those on the under
tail covers are edged with blue green, as are also the quill and
tail feathers: under wing covers velvet-black : the wing covers
are particularly brilliant.

219. Acuaia Peruviana.

Above, green, unspotted : rump, and plumage beneath,
light cerulean blue: front, crown, and sides of the
head rufous red.

Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

Size and general structure of the last; but differs in having
the whole of the under plumage light blue; in the shoulder
covers being green, instead of golden yellow ; and in the rump
being cerulean blue: the rufous on the head in both species is
terminated on the nape by a yellow margin. In young birds
the upper part of the head is green; the blue of the body gra-
dually assumes a greenish tinge towards the vent.

2920. Agcuaia chrysoptera.

Green, unspotted: middle of the breast and body sky-
blue: shoulder covers golden yellow: front, crown, and
sides of the head rufous red.

Inhabits Demerara. Tanagra gyrola, Auct. Pl. Enl.
123: f. 2.

Total length 43 inches; bill front 33 wings 2.7,; tail, beyond, $;
base 2; tarsus §. As two species appear to have been con-
founded under the specific name of gyrola, I have retained that

name to the one figured in Zool. Ill. ii. pl. 28., which has no

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 357

blue on the plumage, nor yellow on the wing covers, and is pe-
culiar to Brazil: in this, on the contrary, the middle of the
breast and body, down to the vent, is of a bright cerulean
blue: the rich rufous of the head extends so as to margin the
chin round the base of the lower mandible: the thighs are rufous.

221. ARrREMON semitorquatus.

Upper mandible of the bill black ; the lower yellow :
neck with a black semi-collar, open in front.
Inhabits Brazil. Mus. Nost.

Size and colour of 4. flavirostris, No. 198.: but the white
stripe, which in that species commences behind the eye, takes
its origin, in this, from the nostrils, as in torquatus, and conse-
quently passes over the lores; the bill is shorter, and thicker at
the base ; and the wings are also rather shorter: the legs and
feet are dark brown, instead of a light fulvous; nor is the outer
edge of the carpus bright yellow: the semi-collar is so inter-
rupted as to leave only two black patches: the tip of the chin
is also black.

222. SuspeEen. PIPREOLA.

Suspeen. CHaracter.—Wings moderate ; the pri-
maries not narrowed: tarsus shorter than the middle toe;
lateral toes nearly equal, the inner being scarcely shorter
than the outer ; inner, cleft to the base ; outer toe con-
nected to the middle only as far as the first joint: tail
very short.

The peculiar structure of the feet in this bird, so different
from that of the typical Pipre, induces me to consider it as
the type of one of the subgenera; Metopia is probably an-
other ; and I have an imperfect acquaintance with a third.

Prereowa chlorolepidota.

Above, parrot green; beneath, yellow, each feather
having a green border: chin with a central stripe of
orange yellow: quills tipt with white.

Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker's Collection.

Size ofa Robin. Total length 55 inches; bill, front |, ; from
the gape 6; wings 3; tail, beyond -8,; base 2 ; tarsus, 6 ; middle
toe and claw 7, . The green is particularly vivid on the back ; it
forms a margin round the breast feathers, which are pale yellow-
ish, having an additional blackish lunule in the centre, only seen

when the feathers are raised: these marks almost disappear on
o

AA J

358 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

the belly : the tail is even, each feather being mucronate : feet
pale. I doubt not that this is the representation of the genus
Ptilochloris, in the neighbouring circle of Vereoine.

223. Cryprticus superciliosus.

Above, olive green: ears, interscapulars, and under
plumage, rufous: stripe beneath the ear, and down the
middle of the throat, black; the latter bordered with
blue: crown margined by a broad superciliary stripe of
beryl colour: tail and secondaries blue, broadly tipt with
black.

Inhabits Spanish America. Mus. Nost. Momotus
superciliosus. Liverpool Institution.

Totai length 14 inches; bill, gape 1%; front 1}; wings 4};
lateral tail feathers, beyond, 2; middle tail feathers, from the
base 84; naked part of the shafts 2}. This is the second spe-
cies of this remarkable subgenus now known. The narrow
black stripe beneath the ears takes its rise from the orbits, and
extends half way down the neck, having a small line of blue at
its inner edge, just beneath the eye and orbits: the black
stripe down the throat begins at the chin, and ends at the breast:
middle of the crown olive green: the spatules of the two
middle tail feathers are very large, and the terminal half are
deep black: the lateral tail feathers are tipt with deep black,
and graduated: the beryl green stripes over the eyes are par-
ticularly large and brilliant.

224. Cassicus latirostris.

Bill broader than high. Plumage black: head and
neck, above, chestnut: lateral tail feathers yellow, tipt
with black.

Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

Total length about 12 inches; bill, gape 1,3; front 13;
breadth of the frontlet 3,; wings 7; tail, base 45; tarsus 14.
The remarkable form of the bill in this new and singular spe-
cies deserves particular attention, because it is evidently a mo-
dification of that broad and depressed structure which belongs
to the fissirostral type, and to its representatives, throughout
this class. The frontlet advances far upon the forehead, and is
there so much dilated as to be three times as broad as this man-
dible is in depth, which consequently becomes remarkably de-
pressed ; the under mandible is much thicker than the upper ;
and both, on their terminal half, are suddenly narrowed and

ee ee ee ee

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 359

compressed. The wings have an obscure greenish gloss; but
there is none on the body: the chestnut on the crown and
back of the neck is very dark, and blended with the unglossed
black of the upper and under plumage: the bill appears to
have been white, or pale yellow: the four middle tail feathers,
the tips of the others, and the external margins of the outer-
most, are black; the rest fine yellow: third and fourth quills
longest.

225. Ruampxopis melanogaster.

Above, brownish black: rump, tail covers, and body
beneath, bright crimson: head, throat, and breast, red-
dish chestnut: thighs, and middle of the body, black.

Inhabits Peru. Mr. W. Hooker’s Collection.

Size of R. nigro-gularis of Spix: form typical. Total length
about 73 inches; bill, gape §,; front}; wings 32; tail, beyond,
13 base 3 35; tarsus %. The head, throat, and breast are of the
same dark colour asin R#. atrococcineus ; but the rump, tail covers,
and the sides of the body are bright crimson; which colour
blends into the darker hue of the throat, upon the breast: the
middle of the body and belly are deep black. The female is light
brown above, graduating into rufous red on the rump and tail
covers: the under parts are of the same tint, but not so bright;
the throat being brown. Wings and tail black in the male,
and brown in the female: bill black; the base bluish white.

226. Lamprorternis chloropterus.

Uniform shining sea-green on the whole of the back,
wings, and tail: ears, shoulder and inner wing covers,
flanks, and belly, blue ; greater and lesser wing covers
with black spots.

Inhabits Western Africa. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 7} inches; bill, gape 1; front, §,; wings
41; tail, beyond, ?; base 3; tarsus 1. The smallest African
species I have yet seen of this genus. It has a general resem-
blance to Cyanotis, but is much smaller; and the tail, instead of
being purple, is of the same glossy green colour as the wings,
quills, back, and all the upper plumage: the ground colour of
the under parts is the same; but on the flanks, belly, and inner
wing covers the green changes to blue, yet without any lilac or
purple reflections: the ears and the shoulder covers are also
rich blue: under tail covers green. This has come into my
possession since the publication of The Birds of Western Africa.

AA 4

360 TWO CENTENARIES AND A QUARTER

227. LAMPROTORNIS phenicopterus.

Sea green, glossed with blue on the head, rump, tail,
and thighs, and with violet on the ears: shoulder covers
greenish blue, margined by a flame-coloured and violet
band. Inner webs of the primaries with a central notch.

Inhabits South Africa. Dr. Burchell’s Collection,
No. 336.

Total length about 9! inches; bill, gape 13; front &; wings
g 2 ape 135 10 g

53,; tail, beyond, about 1}; base 33; tarsus 12;. This is un-
questionably the Nabirop of Le Vaillant, pl. 89., which Lin-
nzan authors have continued to place with their Turdus auratus,
Pl. Enl. 540., although Le Vaillant himself considered them
distinct. It is one of the most beautiful of the whole genus,
distinguishable at first sight by the red or fiery coloured band
on the last range of the shoulder covers, which is deep copper,
glossed with lilac and flame-colour ; the upper range of feathers
being green blue: the ears and sides of the head are tinged
with violet blue; and the blue predominates over the green on
the rump, tail, thighs, vent, and under tail covers: the inner
wing covers are violet blue, and the inner webs of the quills
dull blackish green ; the greater and lesser covers are spotted
with black.

228. Ruyncuops albicollis.

Front lores, neck, throat, and under plumage, white :
crown, nape, body above, and wings, brown: tail white,
the two middle feathers with their inner web brown.

Inhabits India. Mus. Nost.

Total length about 18 inches; bill, the under mandible from
the gape 3£,; wings 12}, about 44 longer than the tail; tail,
base 44; depth of the fork 9,; tarsus #. Bill orange yellow,
dusky horn colour towards the end: feet yellow ; claws blackish.
This species is at once distinguished by having the whole of
the neck, both above and below, pure white: the tail is the
same, but the two middle feathers have a stripe of brown: the
crown, nape, back, and scapulars are dark brown, passing into
blackish on the wings: all the quills are tipt more or less
with white, except the six first primaries: the brown on the
crown includes the eye and ears, but ends abruptly at the
nape ; and the white of the upper neck advances on the inter-
scapulars, but terminates abruptly there. There now appears
to be, at the least, five species of this singular genus; namely,
1. the borealis of North America (the nigra of Wilson);

OF NEW OR LITTLE KNOWN BIRDS. 361

2. albirostris, Lich. Berlin Cat. 80.; 3. orientalis, Rupp.
Atlas, pl. 24.; 4. melanurus, Nob. No. 176.3; 5. albicollis. I
have not yet seen the cinerascens and brevirostris of Spix, placed
by Wagler as the young, in different stages of growth, of
borealis.

229. Rauuus nivosus.

Black: wings and back varied with olive brown:
upper plumage with numerous snow-white oval spots
on the neck and back, and with stripes on the scapulars ;
under plumage entirely banded and spotted with white
and. black.

Inhabits —— ? Mus. Nost.

Total length 10} inches; bill, gape 145; front 18); wings
4,7; tail, beyond, 7,; base 23,; tarsus 1/4,; middle toe and
claw 12,; hind ditto 7%. Bull strong; the upper mandible
much curved towards the tip, and distinctly notched ; but the
gonys is straight: the colour seems yellowish green, with a
red spot at the base. The ground colour of the whole plumage
is black ; but the margins of the feathers on the wing covers,
scapulars, back, and rump are olive brown: quills sooty black ;
the outermost with five white marginal spots: under tail
covers white: crown and lores blackish ; the former with a few
whitish specks: each feather of the neck and under scapulars
has two oval spots, purely white, near the tip: tail brownish
black, edged with olive: legs red: the under plumage is
entirely black and white, striped on the neck, and banded on
the body.

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INDEX.

TO PARTS I. AND II.

I. SYSTEMATIC NAMES.

MAMMALIA.

Antilope Americana, Ord -
palmata, Desm. -
Aotus trivirgatus, Humb. -
Arctomys Hoodii = =
pruinosus, Rich. -
Richardsonii =
Ateles Beelzebuth, Geof -
paniscus = - =
Bradypus ursinus, Shaw -
Callithrix lugens, Geoff <
sciureus, Cuv. -
Capreolus Europeus, Smzth
Castor Americanus, Cuv. =
Fiber, Linn. 2 =
Cebus fatuellus, J2/. = >
Cercocebus Athiops, Geoff -
cynosurus, Geoff:
fuliginosus - -
nictitans = =
niger, Geoff. =
Silenus, Z/2. -
Sylvanus, Geof.
Cercoleptes caudivolvulus, | ee
liger
Cercopithecus Diana, Geoff,
Mona, Geoff -

3

petaurista, Geoff? 6

ruber, Geoff
Sabzea, Geaiie
Cervus (Alces), Rich.
Axis, Auct, ~ -
Canadensis = -
Capreolus, Linn. -
Macrotis, Say. -
Strongyloceros, ich.
(Tarandus) arctica,
Rich. - -
(Tarandus) sylvestris,
Rich.

Dicranoceros farcifer, Smith
Felis canescens, Sw. - =
catenata, H. Smith

Colocolo, H. Smith -

concolor, Linn. =

Diardi, Cuv. - -
. gracilis, Horsf.

Felis Javanensis, Loe -
jubata - -
Leopardus, H. Smith -
lineata, Sz. -
Macrourus, PreiceMae

tmilian - =
microcelis, Temm.
mitis -

nebulosa, H. Smith
Ocelot y, H. Smith
Onca, Gmel. -
Pardalis, Linn.
Pardus, Linn. -
Pardus a H.
Smith
Serval
Smithii, Sw. -
Sumatrana, Horsf.
Tigris, Linn. -
Uncia
Wiedii, Sching -
Gulo Arcticus, Desm.
luscus, Sabine -
mellivora Sw. =
vittatus, Cuv. -
Hapales Jacchus, Til.
Herpestes Javanicus, Desm.
Jchneumon Javanicus, Geoff:
Jacchus vulgaris, Desm.
Lemur albifrons, Geof
Catta, Linn.
collaris, Geoff? -
laniger, Linn.
Macaco, Linn. -
Mongooz, Linn.
murinus, Gmelin
ruber, Péron et Le
Sueur -
tardigradus, Linn.
Lepus Americanus, Rich.
glacialis, Leach
Hudsonius, Pail.
Loris tardigradus, Geoff
Lutra Braziliensis, Ray
Canadensis, Rich.
leptonyx, Horsf.
Mangusta Javanica, Horsf.
Martes abietinum, Ray

By, Ao Sic Be 18g 8 Bon Sk Bee ee at eg

364

Meles Javanensis, Sw. - — -
Labradoria, Rich. -
Mephitis Americana, Sabine
Hudsonica, Rich. -
Javanensis, Raffles
Midas Rosalia, Geof? -
Mus leucopus - -
Mustela Braziliensis, Gel.
Canadensis, Linn. -
erminea, Linn. -
Martes, Linn. -
Vison, Linn. -
Zibellina, Linn. -
Mycetes ursinus, Desm. -
Mycetus ursinus, J//. z
Mydaces miliceps, F. Cuv. -
Mygale Muscovita, Cuv. -
Nasua fusca, Desm. -
rufa, Desm. - <=
Nycticebus Bengalensis, Desm.
tardigradus, hu
Otolicnus pusillus, 22.
Papio Mormon, Cuv. - -
Pithecia chiropotes -
melanocephala, Geoff.
Plecotus Barbastellus, Geoff:
Prionodon gracilis, Horsf. =
Prochilus ursinus, 7/7. - =
Procyon lotor, Cuv. a
Nasua, Sw. -
Pteropus Javanicus, Horsf.
Putorius erminea, Cuv.
Ratellus Ratel, F. Cuv.
Scalops Canadensis, Cuv.
Scartes murinus, Sw. -
Semnopithecus comatus? F.,
Cuv. - -
cristatus, Sw.
Entellus, Cuv.
Maurus, Cuv.
melalophus, F.
Cuv. -
Pyrrhus
Simia /Xthiops, Linn. -
cristata, Raffles -
Diana, Linn. -
inuus, Linn. -
Jacchus, Linn. -
Maura, Linn. -
melalophus, sraiies
Mormon -
rubra, Linn. S
Sabeea, Linn. -
sciureus, Linn. -
Silenus, Linn. =
ursina, Humb. «
Sorex aquaticus, Linn.
Stenops tardigradus, J//.
Stentor stramineus, Geoff?
Ursus Americanus, Pail.
Arctos, Linn. -
‘Aretos ? Americanus,
Rich, - 2 i

INDEX TO PARTS I. AND II.

Page

Ursus Canadensis, Hamilton

Smith - 62
cinereus, Desm. - - 62
Europzus, Cuv. - - 56
ferox, Lewis et Clarke 62
horribilis, Say. - - 62
labiatus, Blainv. = eG
Labradoricus, Linn. - 72
lotor, Linz. - Patni
luscus, Linn. 2 79
luteolus - 60
Malayanus, Raffles - 68
marinus, Pail. = 165
maritimus, Linn. -, 65
Richardsoni, Sw. - 54

Vespertilio Barbastellus, Gmel. 43

Viverra caudivolvula, Schreb. 77

Civetta, Gmel. -

Lesang, Hardw. - 96

mellivora, Gmel. = 82

Musanga, Raffles - 93

vittata, Linn. - 81

Zibetta, Linn. So)

AVES.

Anas albeola, Linn. - = 215
Americana, Gmel. - 232
Antarctica, Lath. - 216
arborea - - - 224
atrata, Lath. - - 200
autumnalis, Linn. - 202
Boschas, Bonap. - 237
bucephala, Linn. - 275
cerulescens, Linn. - 209
caryophyllacea, Lath. - 277
circia, Linn. = - 243
Clangula, Linn. - 268
Coscaroba, Lath. - 215
discors, Linn. - - 240
ferina, Linn. ° - 259
formosa, Lath. - - 246
galericulata, Linn. - 233
glaucion, Linn. - 268
histrionica, Forst. - 272%
hybrida, Lath. =-- 215
Hyperboreus, Pail. - 209
Javanensis, Lath. - 249
leucoptera, Lath. - 218
mollissima, Linz. =) ey
moschata, Sw. a oy
plutonia, Shaw - 200
Querquedula, Temm. - 243
rufa, Gmel. 5 - 259
semipalmata, Lath. - 2921
spectabilis, Linn. - 257
sponsa, Gmel. = - 229
strepera, Linn. - 251
sylvestris Braziliensis,

Ray - - -227
Tadorna, Linn. - 225
trachyptera, Lath. =) ets,

———

INDEX TO PARTS I. AND II. 305
Page Page
Anas Valisneria, Bonap. - 263 ferus, Ray “ - 190
Anser Canadensis, Rick. - 201 mansuetus, Ray 193
griseus, Vieillot - 218 Dendrocygna erythroryncha. 229
Hutchinsonii, Rich. - 207 semipalmata, Sw. 221
Aquila leucocephalus, Auct.- 160 Dendronessa galericulata, Sw. 233
Boschas circia, Sw. - = 243 sponsa, Sz. =e
discors, Sw. - 240 Fuligula ferina, Leach - 259
domestica, Sw. - 237 Valisneria, Bonap. - 263
formosa, Sw. - 246 Lophocerus galeata, Sw. - 184
Javanica, Sw. 249 Lophophorusrefulgens, Temmnz. 172
major, Ray 237 resplendens, Temm. 172
Calurus resplendens, Sw. - 167 Mareca Americana, Rich. - 234
Cereopsis Australis, So. - 218 Meleagris ocellata, Cuv. welt?
Nove Hollandia, Nycthemerus argentatus - 176
Lath. = 218 pictus, Sw. - 173
Chauliodus strepera, Sw. = 951 Ourax erythrorynchus, Sw. 1¢7
Clangula albeola, Leach - 275 Mitu, Cwv. - 187
Barrovii, Rich. et Sw. 271 Pavo cristatus, Linz. - 163
histrionica, Leach - 272 Javanicus, Horsf. - 168
vulgaris, Leach - 26 muticus, Linn. 169
Crax Alector, Linn. - 179 Pelecanus Onocrotalus, Linn. 278
Alector 6, Lath. - 187 Phasianus Impeyanus, ” Lath. 172
carunculata, Temm. - 183 Nycthemerus Linn. 176
galeata, Lath. - - 184 pictus, Linn. =, 175
globicera, Linn. - 180 torquatus, Temm. 174
Mitu, Linz. - - 187 Querquedula circia, Leach - 243
Pauxi, Linn. - - 184 Somateria mollissima, Leach - 253
rubra, Linn. - - 182 spectabilis, "Leach - O57,
Yarrellii, Bennett - 188 Tadorna Bellonii, Leach =- 225
Cygnus atratus, Meyer - 200 moschata, Svv. - 227
Bewickii, Yarrell - 193 Vulpanser, Selby = 2295
Cygnus buccinator, Rich. = - 198

II.

POPULAR NAMES.

The Names printed in Roman Characters are those adopted in the present

Work ;
BEASTS.

American Badger 3
Beaver = 2
Black Bear -
Hare = =
Lion - =
Moose Deer -
Once
Woodland Reindeer

Ammisk S

Anjing-ayer

Antelope, Prong- horned

Ape, Black *

Barbary -

Araguato cS

Axis sg 2

Axis Deer “

Attehk =

Baboon, Dog-faced
Dog-tailed
Great P
Lion.tatled

the Names in Italic are Synonymes.

Baboon, Ribbed-nose’ <
Badger, American 3
Javanese =
Mountain .
Barbary Ape ~ .
Barbastel Bat - -
Barren Ground Bear é
Reindeer -

Bat, Barbastel = «
Bear, American Black -
Barren Ground 3
Black - 5
Black American <
Black European e
European Brown =
Grisly - <
Honey - =
Malay = 2

Polar 3 e
Raccoon - 2

Sea -
Thick- lipped =
White - a
Yellow, of Carolina -

366 INDEX TO PARTS I. AND II.

fe Page Page
Bear-like Howling Monkey- 21 Diard’s Java Cat = = 180
Beaver - 13) Dog-faced Baboon - ~ een
Beaver, American - 131 Dog-tailed Baboon - ape Fg
pec - - a Dwarf Lemur - - 42
Bengal Tiger - - 1 nA :
Black American Bear - 5 Elk, Wapiti sf eye - l41
Black Ape a Breas) Entellus Monkey = Sea ke)
Black Bear - 5 Ermine 5 = Se
Black-crested Monkey =e European Brown Bear - 51
Black European Bear = 1.56 Roebuck - - 146
Black-headed Monkey - 9 Fox,
Black-tailed Deer eosa. |) Berreeya. = es
as ) Fisher - - =) 18a
zee ‘i oe x a os Fisher Weasel = - 85
Brazilian Otter Phat Bogs 2 | eae ee anes 3 5 a
Racoon -. 5 i i 5
Brown Bear, European = on Garan :
2 Zan - - - 94
Brown Coatt Fj > VGie Genett, Javanese = - 93
Brown Rat . = 50 Glutton - - =o
Bruang - - 68
2 S 13 Gouaxouara - - - 106
udeng 7 z Great Boban - <1, Fae
vai reen Monkey - - 6
Callitriche 7 ae Great-eared Deer - - 144
Canadian Otter Sater Greyish Ocelot 2 oy dS
ea de i = ides | Grisly Bear |“ = POE ie
oo, ee verine : poh Geiscn 7 at bees
Capucin de l’ Ormogue - 2 Geen NEBEE 7 BON ie
Carcajou - - 72,79 Hand-drinking Monkey _ 98
ae - - ml Hare, American = = sie
armiri = - Polar - - 136
Cat, Diard’s Java - - 130 Varying - - 136
Javan - - - 129 Hoary Marmot - - 134
lineated = - - 128 Honey Bear s S = ene
Sumatran - - - 130 Horned Monkey - - Db
i Lg - ie a Hudson’s Bay Weasel - 96
7, lt - - - z —-
Chat-Pard - =, 195 Ibec - A - 146
Chati Tiger-Cat | 126 Ichneumon, Javanese - 9% .
Chestnut Long-armed “Monkey 14. j
Chevreuil - - - 146 Jaguar - - - 109
Cinnamon Bear - - 60 e Small - - 110
Civetie - 7 Javan Cat « 2. 199
Clouded Tiger SNS uke eall Javanese Badger : Btn Gs j
Coatta i ventre blanc stage Genett - - 93 }
Coaiti, Brown e - 76 Ichneumon - - 9 4
Coati Mondi - = 5 Otter - = oN |
Coati, Red . - - 76 Vampire - = 45
Colocolo - = Being lier 138 Jumping Dew. - - 144
Common Deer - - 139
Common Green Monkey = 6 Kablee-arioo = STS
Common Otter - - - 89 Kenank - - - 129
Common Racoon - he hl Kinkajou - - =i
Congeuar - * - 106 Kosa Dikaja - - 146
Crested Monkey - - 16
Lapin - - 135
Deer, aoe Moose - ie eu Dwarf - - 42
xis - - - ittle - - » 42
Black-tailed - - 144 | Red . => | See
Great-eared - - 144 |;Ring-tailed = - - 41
Jumping - - - 14 Ruffled - - 40
Delundung - - =) W096 Slow-paced = - - 934
Diana Monkey - - 2 *White-fronted =e
Diane - - eg }. Woolly = - 39

INDEX TO PARTS I. AND II.

Leopard .
Lesser Whitenosed Monkey -
Lineated Cat -
Linked Ocelot -
Lion, American -
Lion-tailed Baboon >
Lion-tailed Monkey -
Little Lemur -
Little Macauco = -
Little Striated Monkey
Long-tailed Tiger-Cat -
Long-tailed Tiger-Cat -

Page

111
6

127

Long-tailed Tiger-Cat of Brazil 119
Long-tailedTiger-Cat of Mexico 119

Loutre de Canada - 89
Lutung - - - 14
Luwak - - - 93
Macaco, Woolly - - 39
Macauco, Little = - 4
Yellow = igh ih

Magot = = =P als
Maki Angouan - - 3
@’ Anjouan - =: 00
nain = = =" £49

TOUR - - - 036
Malay Bear = - - 68
Malbrouc - - - i
Mandrill = - a2)
Mangabey - - <1 KO
Manguste de Java - «= 94
Marimond = = - 93
Marmot, Hoary = - 134
Whistling - - 134

Marte - = = Of
Marten = - - 91
Marten, Pennant’s - oe
Pine - a 91
Maucauco = Beli
Maucauco, Ring- tailed - 41
Melengsang = 5 ce Sil
Melursus - . - 70
Minx - S a ee
Minx Otter - - SU GE!
Mitzli = < - 106
Mococo - - 41
Mona Monkey =o no
Mongoox - - A ee}
Mongous - - 39
Monkey, Bear-like Howling 3) UE
Black-crested ae 9 1155
Black-headed - 929
Chestnut ert 14

Crested = 16

Coaita Howling - 21

Diana - ~ 2

Entellus < eel ty;
Full-bottom - - 10

Green - - 6
Hand-drinking - 28

Horned - - 2&4

Lesser White-nosed 6
Lion-tailed ~ - 9

Little Striated

Monkey, Mona -

Negro -
Palatine -
Patras

Red -
Silky =
Smoke-coloured
Squirrel =
Striated -
Three-striped
Vaulting

White-bellied

White-eyelid

Widow -
Moose Deer, American
Mountain Badger -
Musang-bulem -
Musaraynetaupe =
Musk Shrew -
Musquaw = =

Nebulose Tiger =
Neekek = 2
Negro Monkey -

Occanderou = Z
Ocelot, Greyish -
Linked =
Small-spotted
True S.
Once = e
American °
Otchack = E
Otter, Brazilian ~
Canadian ¢
Common -
Javanese -
of Paraguay -
Slender-clawed
Ounce = =
Ours blanc - -
d’ Amérique -
gulaire -

Palatine Monkey .
Panther -
Panther of the Ancients
Panthére - -
Parrah = *
Patras Monkey °
Pennani’s Marten -
Petit Fruret -
Pekan = -
Pine Marten -
Polar Bear -
Hare -

Potto =
Prong-horned Antelope
Puma ~

Quickehatch -

,12

868 INDEX TO PARTS I. AND Il.
Page Page
Rabbit = - =! 435 Tantseeah - - - 4137
Racoon * - = tL ‘ass = = ee |
Brazilian . SD Teledu = x eS,
Common - = ed Teleggo - = 18s
Raccoon Bear - Sue Telegon s SARS
Rat, Brown. - = 00 Thick-lipped Bear _ - - 70
Rat de Madagascar - 42 Tiger, Bengal - - 100
Ratan = - = al Clouded - Pte |
Rattel - - - 82 Nebulose 5 2 \T2i
Red Coati - - 76 Tortoise. shell > 193
Red Lemur - - 36 Tiger- Cat - - 195
Red Monkey - - 5) Tiger-Cat, Long-tailed 118. 127
Redbock s = - 146 hati - = 26
Rehe - 146 Titi x 4 ere) =
Reindeer, American Wood- Took-too - x - 9069
land - 137 Tortoise-shell Tiger - 193
Reindeer, Barren Ground =gleo True Ocelot ~ - 116
Rekaleck - - - 136 Ttsonlayé - -. ‘= 431
Ribbed-nose Baboon = ee) Tukta 2 a ae 3o
Rimau bulu - - 130
Rimau- Dahan - - 121 Ursiform Sloth - eA)
Ring-tailed Lemur - 41
Ring-tatled Macauco - 41 Vampire - - - 45
Roebuck, European - 146 Vampire, Javanese - 45
Rousette = - ee 25) Vari = - 40
Ruffed Lemur = - 40 Varying Hare - = 1136
Russian Desman - ~ 48 Vaulting Monkey =\ C=) ied
Russian Musk Shrew Sacks) ison 5 a AER)
i Vison Weasel. - - 83
Sable - - 91. 95
Weasel - Sens Wapiti Elk - = 141
Sabbol - - - 95 Wappanow - = OE
Sanglinu 32 Wargul - - =e
Sarscovienne de la Guyanne - - 90 Warpeestan - eral ee) |
Scalope de Canada 2 - 50 Wawbeechins - = Wor!
Sea Bear - - ae elo) Weasel, Fisher = 85
Seecawk - - - 86 Fizzler - =| 982
Seegoos - - - 87 Hudson’s Bay =" 86
Sempaz - - - od Sable Ps = Or
Seng-gung - 73 Skunk = 2.86
Serval = - 195 Stoat = ase
Shacooshew - - 87 Vison = = eS
Shrew Mole - Se) Weasel-Cat - =e06
Siffieur - . Sa 4 Wejack z i mie
Silky Monkey - a0) 02 Whistling Marmot - - 134
Simung - - - O1 White Bear natal
Stnge vert - - 6 White-bellied Monkey = 3
Skunk = - - 86 White-fronted Lemur By eS 7
Skunk Weasel - = 400 White-eyelid Monkey = 8
Slender-clawed Otter = edo Widow Monkey = Peo)
Sloth, Ursiform - eye 70) Wid Cat - = a6
Slow- paced Lemur - = (34 Wolverine 2 =o
Small Jaguar - 110 Cape ! = ee
Small-spotted Ocelot - 120 Woodshock = BH iy 5
Smoke-coloured Monkey . 9 Woolly Macaco ~ ates,
Sobol = - - 95 wik
Souffieur - 134 Yellow Bear of Carolina = (60
Squirrel Monkey - = Nge26 Yellow Macauco - =a
Stag, Canadian - - 142 ;
Stank f - “87 Zibett : z a. ag
Stoat Weasel 2 - 8&7
Striated Monkey = - 380 BIRDS.
Sumatran Cat - - 130 American Widgeon 234,

Antarctic Goose aS =

INDEX TO PARTS I.

Apistiskeesh

Baikal Teal
Bald Eagle
Barrow’s eect
Beautiful Duck
Bewick’s Swan

Black and white Pheasant
Black-billed ies apt Bc

Black Swan
Blue-winged Duck
Blue-winged Goose
Blue-winged Teal
Buffel-head Duck -
Butfel-headed Garrot
Burrow Sheldrake
Bustard Goose =
Canada Goose
Canard 4 téte grise
Chipeau
Hider
Garrot
huppé
Jensen
Milouin
musque
Sauvage -
Tadorne
Canvas-back Duck
Cereopsis

cendre
Chilian Goose
Chinese Summer Duck
Chinese Teal -
Common Duck

Gadwall

Garrot

Peacock -

Sheldrake
Conjuring Duck
Cosearoba Goose
Cream-coloured Goose

-Crested Curassow
Crested Curassow
Crested Pauxi
Curassow Cock

Crested
Crested
Cushew
Galeated
Globe-billed
Helmet
Red

Red- billed”

Red-knobbed

Wattled |
Cushew Curassow <
Cuthbert Duck
Cygne

a bec noir -

tuberculé

Duck, Beautiful -

Page
207

246

AND It.

369

Page

Duck, Black-billed Whistling 905
240

Blue-winged
Buffel-head
Canvas-back
Chinese Summer
Common
Conjuring’
Cuthbert
Dusky and spotted
Eider

‘Gargany
Golden-eye
Grey-headed
Harlequin
Javanese
Kin

&
Little Black pad white

Little Brown
Loggerhead
Mountain
‘Muscovy
Musk
Painted
Pink-headed

Red-billed Whistling

Roan
Spanish Main
Stock

Whistling

White-.faced

Wild C
Dunter Goose
Dusky and spotted Duck

Eagle, Bald /
White- nae
Eider Duck

Faisan noir et blanc

Gadwall, Common
Galeated Curassow
Gargany Duck
Gargany Teal
Garrot, Barrow’s
Buffel-headed
Common
Golden-eye
Rocky Mountain
Spirit
Globe-billed Curassow
Golden-eye Duck
Golden-eye Garrot
Golden Pheasant
Goose, Antarctic
Blue-winged
Bustard
Canada
Chilian
Coscaroba
Cream-coloured
Dunter

370 INDEX TO PARTS I. AND II.

Page Page

Goose, Hutchins - 207 Pheasant, Ring-necked mi

Hybrid = = 215 Silver - - 176

Pigeon - - 218 Pigeon Goose = - - 218

Semipalmated =) 221 Pink-headed Duck - 27

Snow - - 209 Pisesic - - - 923

Southern . - 216 Pochard - - 259

Gran Canard - ms ey, Pochard, Red- headed = 259

Grey - - = 951 Purre de Cay yenne - 184
Grey-headed Duck - 257

Red Curassow ? = - 132

Harlequin Duck - - 272 Red-billed Curassow - 187

Helmet Curassow - 184 Red-billed Whistling Duck - 222

Hocco 5 - - 180 Red-headed Pochard - 259

Coaclitlé - - 182 fied-headed Wigeon - 259

de la Guiane = lf9 Red-knobbed Curassow - 188

de Péron - = W182 Refulgent Lancecrest - 170

Fencholi > - 180 Ring-necked Pheasant - 172

Hoco Moluporanxa - 179 Roan Duck - 939

Honduras ‘Turkey = lye Rocky Mountain Garrot oul
Hutchins Goose - = 207

alybrid Goose - = 215 Sarcelle blanche et noir - 275

de la Chine - 233

Java Peacock ~ = 6S @ Eté 2 - 243

Javanese Duck - - 249 Soucrouron - 240

Semipalmated Goose - 221

King Duck = - 257 Sheldrake - - 295

King Eider - - 257 Siffleur & bec rouge - 222

Kinmodsut . =- 283 Silver Pheasant = - J76

Snow Goose = - - 209

Little Black and white Duck Q75 Southern Goose - - 216

Little Brown Duck 975 Spanish Main Duck -

i
tsa)
ome
Ss)

Loggerhead Duck = Spirit Garrot - =o!
Lord = 273 Stock Duck 4 leon
Summer Duck - =14229
Mallard - - Se Summer Teal - — 5243
Mandarine - - 233 Swan, Bewick’s - - 197
Mis-se-sheep - - 258 Black = - 200
Mountain Duck - - Q72 Tame es - 193
Morilion - - 268 Trumpeter . - 198
Muscovy Duck - - 92 Wild od 5-190
Musk Duck = a QO7
Mute Swan ~ - 193 Tadorne = = - 295 :
Tame Swan = ~alOs
New Holland Cereopsis - 218 Teal, Baikal - - 246
Blue-winged ~ - 240
Ove & duvet, ou Kider 953 Chinese = = 233
Oie H 'yperbor ée, ou de Nidge - - 209 Gargany = u | 243
Ourase Pauxi = - 184 Summer = - 243
Tree Duck - - 239
Painted Duck - - 972 Trumpeter Swan - UTR
Painted Pheasant - 173 Turkey, Honduras £ Poin U7
Pato reale 6 grande - 229
Pauxi Mitu dhe ee Wattled Curassow - = 183
Peacock, Common - 163 Whistling Duck - - 224
Java 4 - 168 White-faced Duck - - 240
Pelican = - - 278 White-headed Eagle - 160
Blanc - - 278 White Pelican - =) 973
White - - 278 Widgeon, American - 234
Pencilied Pheasant hii B76 Wigeon, Red-headed - 259
Pheasant, Black and white - 176 Wild Duck a 237
Golden - = 10S Wild Swan = 196
Painted - - 173
Pencilled =o LG Ypeguaza 4 - - 229

INDEX TO PART III.

Accipiter sexfaciatus
Agapornis cyanopteris
Guianensis
Agelaius pustulatus
ruficollis
sulcirostris
Aglaia ceruleocephala
chrysoptera
melanotis
Peruviana =
Agrodroma Australis
bistriata
Aimophila rufescens
superciliosa
Alecthelia lineata
Anabeenus rufescens

Analcipus hirundinaceus

Ardea Javanica, Horsf.
scapularis, Ul.
Sturmii, Wagl.

Arremon flavirostris

semitorquatus

Brachystoma cinerea

Bucco chrysoptera

Calyptomina caudacuta

Rafflesia

viridis, Raffles

Cassicus latirostris
Centropus Burchellii
Centurus rubriventris
flaviventris
Certhia Asiatiea

Chetoblemma leucocephala

Chloropsis curvirostris
mysticalis

Chrysomus zanthopygius

Colluricincla strigata
Conurus chrysophrys
Crateropus rufifrons
Crithagra bistrigata
canaria -
canicollis
cinerea .

flava -

ruficauda
Selbii, Smith

fie CH) Veet Path CMe Tes fe eet fics) Jay Troe (et hae ty |

[Fe Ves Goes mei Ye eet Ts a Tiel

Crotophaga Casaszi, Lesson -

Crotophaga strigillata
levirostra
rugirostra
semisulcata
sulcirostra

Crypticus supercilicsus

Cryptolopha auricapiila

Dendrophila flavipes

Dulus nuchalis =

Egretta Javanica -
plumbea -
scapularis ~
thalassina -
virescens -

Eidopsaris bicinctus
Emberyza rubra, Gmel.

Erythrostomus cyanogaster

Eudynamis Australis

Euplectes albirostris
aurinotus
flaviceps
lepidus
Philippensis
rubra -

Eurystomus Australis

orientalis, Auct.

Falco cinnamominus

cucullatus az
gracilis =
isabellinus -
longipennis -
macropus -

OTC BU ir OI ae ee” png,

Fringilla erythocephala, Gm.

Fringillaria anthoides
rufa -
vittata -

Furnarius fasciatus -

griseus -
leucopis .
longipennis

melanotis -

Galbula albiventer -

armata - -

flavirostra -

leptura - -

lugubris -

ruficauda -

372 INDEX TO PART III.

Page
Galbula viridicauda - - 3827
Gallinula albifrons - - 338
cesia - - 335
curvirostra - - 33
ecaudata - - 348
flavirostra | - - 338
gularis? Gray - 33
immaculata - - 337
leucosoma - 348
modesta - - 348
ruficollis - - 349
Geobates brevicauda_ - - 322
Geositta anthoides - - 323
Gryllivora brevirostra - - 292
intermedia - 291
magnirostra - 291
rosea - - - 342
Icterus mznor, Spix - - 302
Sericeus = - - 3ol
tibialis - - 302
unicolor, Lich. - 9303
Lamprotornis albiventris - 297
chloropterus - 359
fulvipennis - 298
melanogaster - 297
pheenicopterus- 360
Leistes brevirostris - - 304
niger - - - S04
oriolides - - - 303
Suchii, Auct. - - 304
tenuirostris - - 304
unicolor - - - 304
Leptonyx melanotis - - 314
Leucophrys pileatus = - - 347
Leucopygia ruficollis - 312
Loxia Philippina, Auct. - 310
Malaconotus Jeucotis - - 339
similis - - 342
Malimbus aurantius, Vieill. - 306
cristatus, Vieill. - 306
Megalurus isabellinus - 20]
Megastoma atriceps = - 285
flaviceps - 285
ruficeps ~ - 285
Molothrus brevirostris - 305

Momotus superciliosus, Liv. In. 358
Motacilia velia? Gmel. 313

Muscicapa hir pene - 284
Naboroup, Le Vaill. - - 298
CEdicnemus Americanus - 349
recurvirostris - 349

Oriolus bicolor, Par. Mus. - 304
coronatus - - 342

draco, Par. Mus. - 304
Hodsonii - - 290
Orthotomus longirostris - 343
sphenurus - 343

Oxyurus ornatus - - 324
Pachyrynchus albifrons - 289
leucogaster - 289

megacephalus 287

niger - - 290

pectoralis - 288

Page
Pachyrynchus vefescens ? Spix 288
ruficeps - 288
Spixit's = - 289
Swainsonii,Jar-
dine et Selby - 288 —
Parra atricollis - - 334
Philedon buceroides - - 325
Pipillo fusca - - - 347
macronyx - - 347
personata - - 310
rufitorques - - 3812
superciliosa - - 310
Pipreola, Gen. Character - 357
chlorolepidota - 357
Platyurus niger — - - 323
Ploceus aurantius = - 306
auricapillus - - 346
cristatus - 743805
cucullatus - - 307
erythrocephalus - 310
flaviceps - - 307
melanotus - - 807
niger - - 306
personatus - - 306
rubricollis = - 306
ruficeps - - 308
Praticola anthoides - - 343
Prionites Bahamensis 332
Ptilogonys nitens - 285
Psaris Braziliensis = - 286
Guianensis - - 286
Natterii - - 286
Selbii - - - 286
strigatus - - 287
Psittacus capensis, Auct. - 320
passerinus, Auct. - 320
Pyrenestes frontalis E 319
Pyrrhulauda australis, Smith- 316
melasoma, Class.
of Birds apiol7
Querula minor, Lesson - 988
Quiscalus corvinus - - 300
crassirostris - 355
inflexirostris - 300
lugubris - - 299
macrourus - 299
Peruvianus - 354
purpuratus--~- - 298
tenuirostris = 299
versicolor - - 298
Rallus brachipus - - 3836
albiventer - - 337
ceesius = =" 930)
carinatus, Cl. of Birds a
Lewinii - - 336
neglectus - - 335
nivosus - - 361
superciliosus = - 335
Ramphopis melanogaster = 359
Rhynchops albicollis —- - 360
melanurus ~*~ = - 340
Saurophagus pusillus - ~- 284
Saxicola leucoptera - =) 292

INDEX TO PART III.

Saxicola rufiventer - -
Scaphidura barita =e -
crassirostra -
Scolecophagus Mexicanus -
minor - -
sericeus
Setophaga auricapilla -
miniata -
rubra 2
rufifrons -
Sitta cerulea, Lesson
Sphecotheres canicollis
Spreo, Le Vaill. -
Synallaxis Tupiniert, Lesson -
Tachydromus Burchellii
Orientalis
Tachyphonus pheenicius
Tamatia bitorquata “s
Tanagra gyrola, Auct.
Tanagra serioptera ss -
Tanagrella multicolor
Telophonus longirostris
Tephrodornis hirundinaceus
superciliosus -

set © bo 8 8 ro '

Page
293 Trichas brachidactylus
301 Trichas superciliosus
301 Thamnobia atrata -

302 Thamnophilus pectoralis
302 Thryothorus genibarbis

301 Trogon auratus -
293 | chrysogaster -
293 lepturus -
293 leucurus =
294 melanopterus”~ -
324. melanurus’~ |-
320 meridionalis -
297 Peruvianus =
324 purpuratus -

340 | Zanthornis gasquet., Auct.
339 | Zenophasia, Gen. Character

311 platyryncha

327 Zenops affinis -

357 dentirostris -
315 genibarbis, Zool. Il.
313 Zosterops ambigua -
282 cinerea .

284 pallida e

284.

THE END.

Vie Lonpon:
i Yrinted by A. Sporriswoopz,
ae on New-street-Square.

SWAINSONIAN MUSEUM.

Tue great object which the Author has had, for the last
thirty years, in forming this Museum, was to trace and
elucidate that system which it is his intention to develope
in the Casrner or Naturav History. As his labours,
therefore, in each department are brought before the
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THE

CABINET

OF

NATURAL HISTORY.

CONDUCTED BY THE

REV. DIONYSIUS LARDNER, LL.D. F.R.S. L. & E.
M.R.LA, F.R.A.S. F.L.S. F.Z.S. Hon. F.C.P.S. &c. &c.

ASSISTED BY *

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ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES.

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LONDON:

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