^

FORTHE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

ORNITHOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA.

VOL. I.

<^^M^

~ \-^ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA.

J. D. WHITNEY, State Geologist.

ORNITHOLOGY.

VOLUME I.

LAND BIRDS.

EDITED BY S. F. BAIRD,

FROM THE MANUSCRIPT AND NOTES OP

jro." COOPER.

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
1870.

University Press: Welch, Bigelow, & Co.,
Cambridue.

CONTENTS,

Introduction ..........

Order Oscines

Family Turdid.e. The Thrushes

Sub-Family Turdin.e

Sul>Family ili.MiN.E

Family Cinclid.e. The Dippers

Family Saxicolid.e. The Saxicolas

Family Sylviid.e. The Sylvias

Sub-Family Regdlin^e

Sub-Family Polioptilin^

Family Cham.eadve. The Ground Tits ....
Family Parid.e. Tlie Tits

Sub-Family Parin.e

Sub-Family Sittin.e

Family CERTiirAD.-E. The Creepers

Sub-Family Certiiian.e

Family Troolodytid.e. The Wrens

Sub-Family CAiiPYLORUYNoniN.E ....

Sub-Family Troglodytin.e

Family Motacillid.e. The AVagtails

Family Dexdrcecid.e. The AVarblers

Family Hikundinid.e. The Swallows

Family Vireonid.e. The Grcenlets

Sub-Family Vireon'in.e ......

Family Ampelid.e. The Chatterers

Sulj-Family Ampelin.b ......

Sub-Family Ptilogon.vtin.e

Family Laniid.e. The Shrikes

Family TANAGRiDiE. The Tanagers

Family Fringillid.e. The Finches

Sub-Family Fringillinje 146

Sub-Family Spizei.lin.e ^'"

Sub-Family Passerellix.e 219

Sub-Family Spizin.e 226

PiGE
i.'C

1

1

1

12

24

26

30

30

34

38

40

41

52

56

56

59

59

67

76

80

102

114

115

12G

126

130

135

141

146

YJ^ CONTENTS.

Order OsciNES (continued).

Family Alaudid.k. The Larks 250

Family Icterid.e. The Orioles 253

Sub-Family Agel^in^ 253

Sub-Family IcTERiXyB 272

Sub-Family QuiscAHN.t: 277

Family Corvid^. The Crows 280

Sub-Family Cokvinjs 280

Sub-Family Ctakrulix.e 293

Order Clamatores 309

Family TynANxiii.E. The Tyrant Flyoatliers 309

Order Strisores ............. 33G

Family Aloedinid.e. The Kingfishers 33G

Family CAPRiMtJLGiD.E. The Goat-Suckers 340

Family Cypselid.-e. The Swifts 346

Family Trooiiilid.e. The Humming-Birds 352

Order Soansores 3GG

Family Cuoulid.e. The Cuckoos 3G0

Family Picidje. The Woodpeckers 373

Order RArTORES 413

Family STRiom.E. The Owls 41.3

Sub-Family Strii:in.e 4I4

Sub-Family Bubonin^e . _ 4j(;

Sub-Family Syrniin.e _ _ 409

Sub-Family Athenin.e ..... 437

Sub-Family Nycteinin^ ^^g

Family Falconid.e. The Falcons ...... . 449

Sub-Family AquiLiNiE 449

Sub-Family Falconing: ...... 455

Sub-Family Accipitrin.e 434

Sub-Family Buteonin.k 459

Sub-Family Milvin.e ...... . 487

Sub-Family Polyborin.e 49I

Family Vulturid.e. The Vultures 494

Order Rasores ....... 1504

Family CoLUMEiDji. The Pigeons 504

Sub-Family Columbinte 505

Sub-Family Zenaidin.e 5]]^

Order Gallinje z->0

Family Phasianid.e. The Pheasants 520

Sub-Family Meleagrin^ 521

Family Tetraoxid.e. The Grouse 524

CONTENTS. YJi

Order Galling {continued.)

Family Perdicid^. The Partridges 544

Sub-Fiunily Ortygin-e 544

Appendix.

Additional Species 5G3

Explanation of Terms used in describing the external Form of Birds . . 5G5

Glossary of Technical Terms 575

Spanish Names of Californian Birds 580

IxDES OF Scientific Navies 579

Index of English and Spanish Names 590

INTRODUCTION,

rpTHE voknne herewith offered to the public is the first, in the order of pub-
-*- licatiou, of the zoological series of the reports of the State Geological
Survey of California. This survey, although called simply " geological," was
intended to embrace within its scope the natural history and topography of the
State as well as its geology. The Act under which the work was organized
expressly requii'ed of the State Geologist " a full and scientific description of
the botanical and zoological productions of CaUforuia." Provision was also
made for the collection of specimens in all branches of natural history ; these
were to be arranged and labelled and held in charge by the Survey, until
suitably disposed of by the Legislature. By a later Act the collections of
the Survey were ordered to be turned over to the State University, wluch
will be dune whenever a building has been prepared for their reception.

In carrying out the intentions of the Legislature with reference to the zo-
ological department, an assistant was appointed, whose duty it should be to
visit different portions of the State and make collections of animals, studying
in the field their distriljutioa and liabits, thus providing the materials to
be worked up and prepared for publication by specialists in the different
branches. The gentleman selected for this position was Dr. J. G. Cooper,
who had been employed in the same capacity on the United States Pacific
Piailroad surveys, and who was already well and favorably known to the
scientific world by various publications relating to the botany and zoology
of the Pacific States.

Dr. Cooper was steadily employed in collecting, from December, 1860, to
April, 1862, and during a considerable portion of the year 1863, being assisted
for six months of 1862 by Dr. Edward Palmer. Tlie regions examined were
chiefly the Colorado Valley near Fort Mojave, the route to the coast from
that fort, the vicinitv of San Diego and San Pedro, and Santa Barbara and

^ INTRODUCTION.

tlio islands oil' the coast. In 1804 portions of llie Sierra Nevada and the
coast from Baulines Bay to Santa ("riiz were zoologically explored. In 18G5
Dr. Cooper prepared and presented a series of reports on the higher classes
of the animals, in which were embodied all the facts Avhich had been observed
by him up to that time. Since the completion of these reports he has, how-
e\'er, been employed, at intervals, at the expense of the Survey, in visiting
portions of the State not before sufficiently explored; he has also done a
large amount of gratuitous work, in the way of elaborating tlie materials in
various branches of the zoology of tlie Pacific slope, and especially the mol-
lusca, several important papers in reference to their classification and distri-
bution having been published by him in the Proceedings of the California
Academy of Sciences and elsewhere.

Tlie report on tlie birds of California was submitted to Professor Baird for
revision and publication, and the first instalment of the work is herewith pre-
sented. In preparing it, all the available material of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, in this department, by permission of Professor Henry, has been freely
used and much important matter added. The generic aud specific technical
descriptions are taken almost exclu.sively from the work of Pi'ofessor Baird
on the Birds of North America ; the observations on the habits and distribu-
tion of the birds are chiefly from Dr. Cooper. ^^Tien other authorities have
been drawn upon, their names will be found appended to the paragrajJis
quoted.

As at first proposed, and announced in the Preface to the Geology of Cali-
fornia, Vol. T., the ornithological portion of the report was to be comprised in
one volume. This has been found impossible, and there w'ill be two ; the
first being devoted to the L.4ND Bll!D.5, while the second will embrace
tlie Water Birds. The scope of these volumes has also been some-
wliat changed since their preparation was begun. The present one in-
cludes all the species of land birds found in North America, north of
Mexico, and west of the Eocky Mountains ; while the second will con-
tain the water birds of the whole continent nortli of Mexico. By taking
tliis course, it will be apjnircnt tliat tlie volumes will be rendered available
to a nnu-li larger number of persons, especially to the inliabitauts of the
entire western half of the United States, than if they were strictly limited to
Californian birds, while their size and cost will not be materially augmented.
Their circulation will thus be greatly increased, the additional value given

IXTRODUCTION. xi

to them being out of projMrtion greater tlian the additional expense rendered
necessary by the course adopted.

Attention is called to the style and execution of the illustrations of the
present volume : these are believed to have solved a difficult problem, namely,
that of furnishing the means of identifying the species, without making the
work \-ery bulky and expensive. The plan here adopted of giving as far as
possilJe life-size figures of the heads of each species, and small full-lengtlis
of each genus, together with generic outline illustrations of the external
anatomy, will, we trust, enable even the tyro to refer correctly to genus and
species such specimens as may be collected, since the most Qharacteristic
parts will be found figured witli scrupulous accuracy. Copies colored i'rom
nature, both as to the lieads alone and the heads and full-lengths together,
M'iH be placed at the disposition of the public.

The second volume of the ornithological series will he is.sued as soon as
possible, the illustrations liaviug been all drawn upon the wood, and a part
of them already engra\ed.

All the illustrations introduced are from nature, and, with few exceptions,*
prepared expressly for the present work. The full-length generic figures are
by Mr. Edwin Slieppard of Philadelphia ; the lieads by Messrs. J. H. Eich-
ard and Henry W. ElUott ; the generic outlines by Mr. A. Schonborn ; the
latter engra\-ed by the peculiar process of Jewett, Cliaudler, & Co., of Buffalo.

The larger portion of the engraving of this volume has been done by, or
under the supervision of, Mr. H. H. Nichols of Washington, and to his
artistic skill and fidelity to nature the work is largely indebted for its value
and attractiveness. A few excellent cuts have also been made by Mr. Heniy
Marsh of Cambridge.

J. D. WHITNEY.

Ca.meridge, M.\ss., October 1, 1870.

* A few generic figures, mentioned in the text as they occur, were kindly furnished by the
Loudon Society for the Diffusion of Christian Knowledge. Some others also were prepared for
an unpublished work by Professor Blasius on tlie birds of Germany, and obtained from Messrs.
Vieweg and Son of Brunswick.

Order OS GOES.

SINGING BIRDS.

Char. Toes, three anterior, one behind ; all at the same level, and none
versatile, the outer anterior neA'er entirely free to the base. Tail feathers,
twelve. Primaries either nine only, or else the first is spurious, or much
shorter than the second, making the tenth. Tarsi feathered to the knee ;
the plates on the anterior face either fused into one, or -with distinct divis-
ions ; the posterior portion of tlie sides covered by one continuous plate on
either side, meeting in a sharp edge behind, or with only a few divisions
inferiorly. Occasionally the hinder side has transverse plates, correspond-
ing in number to the anterior, but there are then usually none on the sides.
Larynx provided with a peculiar muscular apparatus for singing, composed
of five pairs of muscles.

Most of the species of this division are more or le.ss musical; some, how-
ever, have only a harsh \-oice, though provided with the singing muscles.

Family TURDID^E, Thrushes.

Char. Primaries ten ; the first very small or not more than half the
longest ; second, usually shorter than fourth. Wings reaching about to mid-
dle of tail. Toes deeply cleft. Tarsi sometimes with the scutellse united
into a continiious plate in front ; sometimes distinct. Nostrils OA'al. Loral
and frontal feathers with bristly points ; gape provided with bristles. Bill
slender ; notched at tip.

Food chiefly fruit and insects.

Sub-Family TURDIN.E.

Char. Nostrils oval. Bristles along the base of the bill from gape to
nostrils ; those of rictus not reaching beyond nostrils. Second cpiill longer
than sixth. Outer lateral toe longer than inner. Tarsi covered anteriorly
witli a continuous plate. Wings long.

2 SLN(;iX(; lUKDS — OSCLNES.

Gem s TURDUS, Ltxnytjus.

Timlus, Lixx/F.fs, Systcmii N'iitunr. 1735. (Type, T. viscivortis, fide G. R. Gray.)

Gkx. CiiAi;. Bill iMllici- >t(iiil ; (■ununissiirc >tr:u^lit In near the tip. wliicli is quito ah-
riiptlv (Iociu'vimI. anil usually dislinctly uotclu'il ; luluu'ii !j;i'Mtly ((invcx from base. Bill
shorter than the heail ; Imili uullinrs ciiivL-il. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Lateral

Tttnius it$tutatus>

toes nearly eqnal ; outer longer. AVings mueli longer than the tail, jxiintod ; the first qnill
Pliin'iou? and very small, not one fourth the lengtli of longest. Tail short, nearl}' even, or
slightly eniai'ginate.

Titrflm luiistdinu^.

The California Tlinishcs fall into three gronp-s, perhaps not of generic
rank, hut serving to divide tliem conveniently into sitbgenera, as follows: —

IIvi.oi'UMii.A. Si'xes simil.ir. Rill notchcil. Bill short, Imiad at base and mucli depressed.
Tarsi liiufr and slender, longer tlian middle toe and claw liv the length of a claw. Ont-

TL'limD.E — THE THRUSHES — TUllDUS. 3

stretched legs reaching nearly to tip of tail. Color ahove olivaceous or redilish, beneath wliitish,
breast spotted ; throat without spots. Type, Turdus mustelinus.

This grouij eiubrace.s the small Woud Thrushes, all remarkable for their
sweet soug. All are North American, migrating south in winter, and of
wide geographical distribution.

Planesticus. Sexes .similar. Bill stouter and higher. Tarsi short, hardly longer than
middle toe and claw. Body stout. Under pai-t mostly uniform, the throat white aud alone
streaked. Type, T. tnigrutorius.

Turdus mii^raiorius.

The common Eobin, and its ally from Cape St. Lucas, represent this form
in North America ; many other species inhaliit Middle and South America.

Hesperocichla. Sexes dissimilar. Form of Plain stinis. Bill not notched. Male, reddish
beneath with black collar. Female, paler, with collar indistinct. Type, T. mevius.

TurttuA nccvius.

The single species of this section is confined to the Pacific coast.

4 SINCIIXt; lUUD.S — OSCINKS.

Turdus nanus, Audlbox.

THE DWAEF THRUSH.

Tunlus nanus, Adduhon, Orn. Biogr. V. I8;i9, 201 , pi. 419.— In. Birds Anicr. III. 1841, 32 ; pi.
147. (Columbia KivcT.) — G.vmukl, I'r. A. N. Sc. I. 1843, 202. — B-UUD, P. H. Hep.
IX. Birds, 213. — IIkkioi.vxx, X. vi. 45. — Baikd, Rev. N. A. Birds, June, 1864, IC.

Sp. Cn.\it. Above light olive-brown, passing into reddish on the upper coverts and
tail, slightly' also on the wings. Beneath white, with a pale butt' tinge on the fore part ot"
breast and sometimes of thi-oat ; distinctly defined triangular dusky spots on the sides
of throat and across the breast, sides of breast with less distinct and more rounded S250ts
posteriorly. Sides glossed with bluish ash. Tail with a purple tinge. Fourth quill
longest. Length, G.oO inches; extent, 10; wing, 3.30; tail, 2.90; tarsus, 1.1 o. Iris
brown, bill brown, lower mandible yellowish flesh-color at base, feet pale brown.

JIab. Pacific slope of North America, and along valley of Gila to El Paso. North to
Fort Crook (about hit. 41°), south to Cape St. Lucas. Rocky Mountains to Fort Bridger.

I saw but few of this species in the Colorado valley, where they seem to
remain only for the winter, as I observed none after April 1st. Most of
them winter in the same parts of the State in which they sj)end the summer,
chiefly south of San Francisco. They are shy and timid, preferring tlie dark,
shady thickets, and rarely venturing far from them except in the twiliglit,
their large eyes being suited for seeing in dark places. They feed chiefly on
the ground, running rapidly, and searching for insects among the leaves and
herbage, but not scratching for them. Probably, also, they feed on berries,
like others of the family.

About the 25th of Ajiril they liegin to sing near San Diego, the song con-
sisting of a few low ringing notes, like those of "Wilson's Thrush of tlie East,
and T. iisfulatus of the North, but not so loud. Their usual note of alarm is
a single chirp, sometimes loud and ringing, repeated and answered by others
for a long distance.

TUKUID.K — THE TIIUUSHES — TUKDUS. 5

At Santa Cruz, on the 1st of June, I found several of their nests, all built
in thickets, under tlie sliade of cottunwood-trees, each about five feet above
the ground, and containing eggs in various stages of liatcliing, from two to
four in number, -tlie smaller numl)er probaldy laid after the destruction of
a first set. The nests were built of dry leaves, root fibres, grass, and bark,
without mud, lined with decayed leaves ; measuring outside 4 inches each
way, inside 2.50 wide and 0.20 deep. The eggs measured 0.90 X 0.70, and
were pale bluish green, speclded with cinnamon-brown, chieily at the larger
end.

In 1S66, at Santa Cruz, I found nests with eggs about May 20th, one on
a horizontal branch not more than a foot from the ground, another on an
alder-tree fifteen feet up. After raising their young, they all left the
vicinity of the town, prubalily for the moister mountains, where food was
more plenty at the end of the dry .season.

Turdus ustulatus, Nuttall.

THE OREGON THRUSH.

Turdus «s(«fa(»s, Nuttall, Man. Orn. I. (2d cil.) 1840, 400. Columbia River (jirinted ces-
tvlalus, by a typographical error). — B.\ird, P. R. Kep. IX. Birds uf N. Am. 21.^;
pi. 81, f. 2. — Ib. Rev. Araer. Birds, 1864, 18. — Cooi-er and Suckley, P. R. R. XII.
iii. Zool. ofW. T. 171.

Sp. CuAii. Third and fourth (juills longest ; second intermediate between fourth and
fifth. Tail nearly even. Upper parts uniform reddish brown, with a liiint olivaceous

tinge. Fore part of the breast tinged with lirinvnish yellow, becoming ]>aler to the chin :
the remaining under parts are white. The sides of the throat and the fore part of the
breast with small, distinct triangular spots of well-defined brown, much darker than the

g SIX! ; IN (; BIRDS— OSCINES.

back; the sidos of the breast imirc obsoli'tclv spotted, anil tlie sides of tlie liodv washed
with olivaceous jellow-bi'own. The til)i;e are yellowish brown. Nearly the whole of the
lower niandil)le, exci'iit the rami, is brown. Len;!;lh, 7.2.") to 8; extent, 12; winj;, 3.7i ;
tail, 3; tarsu.s, l.li. Iris and bill, brown; lower mandible yellow at base; legs, jjale.

Hah. Coast region of Oregon and \\'ashington Territories. South to San Francisco in
winter.

Tliis iiiort' iioitlieni sjiecie.? i.s the exact counterpart of T. nanus in habits.
I I'ouiul their nests north of the Cohunbia, about the middle of June, 1854,
containing lour or five bhiish-white eggs, thickly spotted with brown.

Tiu'dus Swainsoni, C'Ar.Axis.

THE OLIVE THRUSH.

Turdus 6V'aiHS0Hi', C.^BANis, Tstluidi. Fauna Peruana, 1844-46, 188. — B.vinn, Birds N.

A. 1858, 216. — lu. Rev. Amcr. Birds, 19.
Turdus olivaccus, GiuxVD, Birds Long Island, 1843- 44, 92.

Sp. Cii.\lt. Above entirely nuitijrm olivaceous, with a shade of green. Fore part of
breast, throat, and eliiu jjale lirownish yellow ; rest of lower part white ; the sides marked
with brownish olive. Sides of throat and fore part of breast with rather rounded spots of
well-delined browu darker than the back ; the rest of the breast, e-xcept in the middle,

with rather less distinct spots that are more olivaceous. Tibia; yellowish lirown. Broad
ring round the eye, loral region, and a general tinge on the side of the head ilcar reddish
bufl'. Length. 7.00 ; wing, 4.15 ; tail, 3.10 ; tarsus, 1.00.

Ilah. Easti'rn Xorth America, and westward to Hundjoldt Valley, the Ujijicr Colum-
bia, and the Yukcju Rivers : very rare in California. Southward to Ecuador.

This bird, formerly supposed to be confined to Eastern North America, has

TURDID.E — THE THRUSHES — TUKUUS. 7

of late years been found fiirtlier and farther to the west, until its known dis-
tribution has become that indicated above. Several specimens were obtained
in the \icinity of San Francisco by Mr. Lorquin, and formed part of the
collections sent to the Smitlisouian Institution l)y the llussian Telegraph
Expedition.

This thrush breeds in tlie far north, more abundantly about Slave Lake, the
Lower Mackenzie and the L^pper Yukon Elvers. Like its congeners it is an
admirable singer, enlivening the woods with its melody. The nest is i)laced
on a low tree or bush, and the eggs are blue, with numerous reildisli
spots. Nest and eggs, indeed, are scarcely to be distinguished from those of
2'. ustulatus. Tlie two species, in fact, are closely related, but T. Swain-
soni will be readily distinguislied by the clear olive of the upper parts, in-
stead of reddish lirown, and the larger and Ijetter defined spots on the lireast.
(Baird.)

Turdus migratorius, Linn^us.

THE ROBIN.

Turdus mi'tjratorhta, Linnaeus, Syst. N:it. I. ITOfi, 292. — Wilson, Am. Orn. I. 1808, .3.') ; pi.
2. —Doughty, Cah. Nat. Hist. I. 1830, 1.33; pi. 12. — AfDUuON, Orn. Biog. II. 1834,
190; pi. 1.31. — Ib. Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 14; pi. 142. — Nkwberry, Zool. Cal. and Or.
Route, 81; liqj. I'. R. R. Surv. VI. IB.'jT. — IIeermann, X. vi. 4.'5. — Cooper and
SuCKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 172. — Menila inir/ruloria, S\v. & Rich., Fauna Bor.
Amcr. II. 1831, 176. — T. (Phiiieslicus) mujrulorius, B.vird, 1'. R. Rep. IX. Bird.s, 218.
— Ib. Rev. Amer. Birds, 28.

Sp. Cii.M!. Third and tourtli (jnills aliont ('(jnal ; fifth, a little shorter ; seeond, lonjjer than
si.\th. Tail slightly rounded. Above olive gray; top and sides of the head black. Chin

and throat white streaked with black. Eyelids, and a .spot above the eye anteriorlv, white.
Under parts ami iiisiile of the wings (diestnut-brown. The nniler tail coverts and anal
region, with tiliiie, white, showing the plunil)eous inner portions of the feathers. Wings
dark brown, the feathers edgeil more or less with pale a.sli. Tail still darker, the c.Ktreine

8

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

foatliors tippoil wiili ivliito. liiU vcllow, dusky along the r'uh^o and at the tip. Length,
9.75 to 10.25; extent, 1G..')0; wing, 5.40; tail. 4.75; tar.^us, 1.25.

Hab. C'i)ntinpiit of North Ameriea to JMexico. Accidental in Europe.

But few of this well-known species came about Fort Moliave in winter,
though flocks are said occasionally to wander as far as Fort Yuma. At San
Diego they were more numerous in the wet season, and remained until May,
when they probably went no farther than the summits of the mountains,
which rise 6,000 feet high, east of tliat place, and are similar in their vegeta-
tinn and animals, at that height, to far more nortliern regions.

.'Vbout the summits of the coast range towards Santa Cruz, elevated
about 0,000 feet above the sea, I found Eobins quite numerous in ]\Iay, lcS64,
and was satisfied that they had nests there. They also abound on the

Tttnliis 7nisratoTius.

higher parts of the Sierra Nevada, but probably do not breed below an ele-
vation of 3,000 feet in lat. 38^, as they have not been seen in tlie " mining
districts " of the west slope in summer. Northward, lL(_)we\"er, they range
lower, and on the Columbia build in all the wooded districts, the young
being fledged at Puget Sound as early as June 10th, and two or more
broods raised in a season. They prefer the borders of woods, culti^■ated
fields, and orchards, having everj'where a tendency to become familiar, which,
with their bright plumage and sweet singing, makes them universal favor-
ites. Tlieir name, associated with that of the European Eobin, celebrated
for its sociability in winter, and its traditional liistory, increases the respect
felt for our bird. The Kobin of Europe, however, is quite different, resem-
bling our red-breasted Blue-birds (Sialia), l.mt being olive-colored on the
back.

English settlers in the far north have compared our lloljin with their

TURDID.E — THE THRUSHES — TURDUS. 9

Fieldfare (a species of Turdus, which resembles om- young Eobin with a
spotted breast), and have given it that name.

The nest of the Eobin is built at various heights on trees, and sometimes,
as if relying fully on the nobler traits of humanity, in a shed, stable, or
even in a saw-mill, close to the constantly working and noisy machinery. I
have found one in the cleft of a split tree whicli had been broken down by
the wind. Nuttall relates instances of their building near a blacksmitli's
anvil ; on the stern timbers of a vessel that was being built at Portsmouth,
N. H. ; on a harrow, himg up in a cart-shed where three men were at work,
and where they took rei'uge after the destruction of their first nest.

The eggs are foiu' or five, dark bluish green, and unspotted. The nest is
composed outside of roots, shavings, etc., then a layer of leaves, moss, and
grass, cemented by mud, inside of wliich is a lining of soft, dry grass.

The Eobin's song is loud and sweet, Ijut not much varied. Though usually
uttered in spring, it occasionally is heard during other seasons, esjjecially in
fine weatlier, when the musician, having fed heartily in the garden or field,
mounts to the top of a tree, and returns thanks for luiman hospitality in tlie
most pleasing melody.

Their food consists chiefly of insects, especially worms, for wliich they
hop over grassy fields in the spring, watching and listening for tlie gnawing
grub or earthworm, driven to the surface by rain, occasionally seizing one
with a quick motion of the head, swallowing it whole, or picking it to pieces.
They also feed much on berries, especially during winter, when they eat those
of the Madrona (Arbutus), and even the bitter fruit of the dogwood (Cornus).

Kept in cages they become very familiar, and learn to imitate various
tunes and noises. They live sometimes for many years in captivity, and
have been made so domestic as to be allowed the free range of the house
and surrounding grounds.

Turdus confinis, B.vmD.

THE CAPE KOBIN.

Turdus coiijinis, Baiud, Rev. Amer. Birds, 18G4, 29.

Sp. Char. Above, witli sides of head and neck grayi-sh ash, faintl)- tinged with oliva-
ceous. Chin and throat white streaked with ash brown. Jugulum and breast pale yellow-
ish hurt'; axillars, inner wing covers, and .sides of the breast, more dee])ly .so. Belly and
edges of crissal feathers, white ; flanks behind, ashy. A whitish stri]ie from lores over and
a quarter of an inch behind the eye. Lower eyelid white. Tail feathers and greater
wing coverts narrowly tipped with white. Bill yellowish ; upper mandible and tip of low-
er tinged with dusky. Feet, pale brown. Wing, 5.10 inches ; tail, 4.10 ; tarsus, 1.20 ; bill,
above .60.

Hab. Cape St. Lucas.

10 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

A single specimen of tliis liinl was obtained (No. 23,789 of the Smith-
sonian collection) at Todos Santos, Cape St. Lucas, in 1860, liy IMr. John
Xantus, who has done so much to extend our knowledge of the zoJilogy of
both Upper and Lower California. It has a close resemblance to the com-
mon Eoliin, and may indeed be a local variety of it ; but, differing appreciably
from hundreds of specimens of the latter with wliich it has been compared,

it merits recognition at least as a strongly marked form. It is much lighter
than the Eobin, tlic dark chestnut or cinnamon of tlie latter being replaced
by light Ijutr, and the belly and Hanks are mucli more purely white. The
superciliary strijje extends fartlier behind the eye, and tlie bill appears to be
longer. There is no Idack or dusky on the head as in the Eobin. It was
obtained in the summer season, and was probably a resident liird. (Baikd.)

TurdiTS naevius, Cmelin.

THE VARIED THEUSH. WESTERN EOBIN.

Tiirdus nwviits, Gmf.lin, Syst. N;it. I. 1788, 817. — Arounox, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 489; V.
1839, 284; pi. 369, 4.33. — In. Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 22; pi. 143. — Cabot, Jour.
Bost. Soc. N. H. III. 1848, 17 (spec, shot near Boston). — Lawrence, Annals N. Y.
Lye. v. June, 18.52, 221 {.spec, shot near New York). — Newberry, Zool. Cal. and
Or. Route, 81 ; Kep. 1'. R. R. Swrv. VI. iv. 1857. — Heerjiaxn, X. vi. 4.5. — Cooi-er
and Si-CKi.KV, XII. iii. Zool. of W T. 172. — T. {Iroreus) mrr/i/.f, Bosap., Notes Orn.
Dclattre, in Comptes Rendus, XXVIII. 18.54, 269.— B.viRD, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
219. —In. Rev. Anicr. Birds, 32. — Lord, I'r. R. Art. Inst. Woolwich, 114.

Orpheus inrriiloides, Richardson, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 1831, 187 ; pi. 38.

Sp. Cii.\I!. Fourth quill lonf;cst ; tliinl ami lil'th a little shorter; second much longer
than sixth. Tail nearly even ; the latei-al feather shoi-ter. Above rather <lark bluish
slate ; under jiarts <jenerally, a patch on the up])er eyelids conthiuons with a stripe behind
if along the side of the head ami neek.the lower ovelids. two bands across the wing coverts
and the edges of the (juills, in part, rufous orange-brown ; middle of belly, white. Sides of

TURDIB.E — THE THRUSHES — TUKDUS.

11

the head and neck, conf iiuious with a broad pectoral transverse band, black. Most of tail
feathers with a terminal jjatch of brownish white. Bill, black. Feet, yellow. Female

more olivaceous above ; the white of the abdomen more extended ; the brown beneath,
paler; the pectoral band obsolete. Length, 9.75 inches ; wing, 5 ; tail, 3. 'JO ; tarsus, 1.25.
Hah. Pacific coast of North America. Accidental on Mackenzie Kiver, onLong Island,
and near Boston.

Turdus itiTviits.

This beautiful bird i-s a far nortlieru resident, merely visiting the lower
country of California in winter, and rarely straggling to the Colorado valley,
where one was obtained by Lieutenant Ives's exploring party in 1858. I have
not seen them myself south of the Coast Range, near Santa Clara, and there
uo later than April. It is very probable, however, that some breed in the

12 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

dark evergreen forests towards the north, as they do near tJio moutli of the
Columbia, though I did not see any about the siiiumits of the Sierra Nevada,
in September, at lat. 39°, elevation 7,000 feet.

In October tliey begin to come down to the valleys, and are quite com-
num in winter near San Francisco. They are then usually timid, but to-
wards spring come more familiarly around houses, and utter then- shrill, low
note.s, wjiich seem much more distant tliau tlie bird itself really is. If jiur-
sued, they hide, and sit immovable among the foliage. They are said to
" warble sweetly " at times, but I ha\'e never heard any true song from them.
The nest is said to be built much like that of the Eobin Thrush, which they
much resemble. AU these birds left Santa Cruz, about April 1, 1866, and
none liad returned from the North up to the 1st of November.*

Sub-Family MIMINiE.

CliAi;. Tail long, vaulted at the base ; the feathers more or less gi'aduat-
ed ; size, large ; general appearance, thrush-like. Eictus with distinct bris-
tles. Frontal feathers, normal, directed backwards. Anterior half of outer
side of tarsi distinctly scutellate.

Genus OREOSCOPTES, Baird.

Oroscopks, Baikb, P. R. Kcii. IX. Birds, .34G. (Type, O. jnnntantis.)

Gen. Cn.\R. Culnicn only slijjlitly ciirvi'ii towaril? tbu tip. Bill longer and slen-
derer tlian in Miiiiii.^: not quite e(jual to the bead. Wini;s deeidedly longer than the
tail, rather [jointed ; the first primary U'ss than half tlie seeond. third and fourth longest.
Tail rounded ; searoely graduated. Tarsi longer than niiildle toe and elaw.

Oreoscoptes montanus, Townsexd.

MOUNTAIN MOCKING-BIED.

Orplieus montanus, Townsend, J. A. X. Sc. VII. ii. 1837. 192. — Audcbox, Birds Amer. II.
1841, 194 ; pi. 139. — Tiirdus montanus, Alduuo.n, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 437 ; pi. 369, f.
1- — Miniiis muntanus, Boxap,\rte, List, 1838. — Ncttall, Man. 2d ed. I. 371. — Heer-
MAXX, r. K. Rep. X. vi. 44. — 0/os<y;/)fcs ;«onto«i«, Baihd, I'. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 347.
Ib. Review. — Kexxeklv, X. iv. 25.

Sp. Ciiah. First cpdll rather shorter than the sixth. Tail slightly graduated. Above
brownish asli ; eaeh feather obsoletely darker in the eentre. Beneath, dull -white, thiekly
marked with triangular .spots, excejit on the under tail coverts and around the anus, wbieb

» Nest and eggs of this bird liave been reeeived by the Sniitlisoniau Institution from the Yukon
(W. H. Dall) and Sitka (Dr. T. T. Minor). Tbc eggs resemble those of the Robin, but differ iu
being slightly spotted. (Baikd.)

TUKDID.i; — TllK THRUSHES — UREOSCOl'TES.

13

regions are tinged with jellowish brown. ^\'ini;; coverts and quills edged with dull white.
Tail leathers, brown ; the outer edged, and all (except, perlia|)s, the middle) tipped with
white. Length, 8.5U inches; extent, 12. .50 ; wing, 4 ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 1.2U. Iris brown; bill
brown, white below ; ti;et slaty ; soles yellow.

Oieoscoptcs monlanus.

Hub. Rocky Mountains ; south to Mexico. Along valley of Gila and Colorado. Cape
St. Lucas.

Oreoscoplfs viotltanus.

According to Dr. Heermanii, tliis T>ird is not rare in some of the cactus dis-
tricts near San Diego, but I did not succeed in finding any in the southern
part of California, although I have found them at Fort Laramie, Nebraska.
Their habits are very similar to those of the Mimas poli/glotius, but they in-
habit more barren regions, and, according to Nuttall, are found in the " sage
plains " as far north as the Columbia Eiver, at Wallawalla. He describes
a nest found in an artemisia-bush, near the sources of the Colorado, as

14

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

iiuule of small twi^s ami rough stiilks, lined with strips of bark and "bison-
wood." The I'eniale llcw off' a short distance, but made no complaint. The
eggs were four, almo.st emerald green, spotted with dark olive of two shades,
large and rouutUsh ; spots most numerous towards the largest end.

Their song is much like that of the Mocking-bird, but less strong and
varied. They feed ou berries and insects, and probably migrate but little
south of lat. iO°.

Genus HARPORHYNCHUS, Cabams.

Toxostoma, Wagler, Isis, 1831, 628. (Type, T. vetula, not Tuxostoma, Raf. 1816.)
Harpes, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. II. 1845, 264 (not of Golilfuss, 1839).
Harporhjnduis, Cabaxis, Wicgmann's Arcliiv, 1848, I. 98. (Type, Hdrpcs icdicwus.)

Harporhynrhus redivivus.

Chak. Bill from forclicad as long a?, or longer than, the head ; nearly straight to near
the tip, or Ijow-shajji-d, without any notch. Tarsus as long as, or longer than, the middle
toe, conspicuously scutellate ; outer lateral toe a litjtle the longer, not reaching the base of
the middle claw. Ilind toe longer than lateral ; its claw e(iual to its remaining portion.

TURDID.E — THE TIIIIUSIIES — IIARrORIIYNCIIUS.

15

Wings short, rounded ; the fourth or fifth quill longest ; the exposed portion of the first
about half that of longest. Tail longer than the wings, broad, more or less graduated.

The type of tlii.s genus is H. rcdivii-us, but the best known species is
the If. rufus, or common Brown Thrush of the Eastern United States. Al-
though apparently very different in tlie structure of the bill, yet there is so

Harporhynchuf; rufus.

uninterrupted a gradation from the one to the other as to render it impos-
sible to draw a line of distinction. We give here, by way of illustration, a
cut of H. rufus, and refer to the description of H. rcdivivus for its figure.
(Baied.)

Harporhynchus redivivus, GAJtBEL.

THE SICKLE-BILL THRUSH.

Harpes redicira, Gambkl, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliil. II. Aug. IS-tf), 264. — Tnxostoma rcdtvirn, Gam-
BEi., J. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2d scr. I. Dec. 1847, 42. — Cassix, Illust. I. ix. 18.5.5, 2G0 ; pi.
42 (poor figure). — ir<irporliijnclinx rrilirirns, Cabanis, Wiegmunn's Archiv, 184S, I. 98. —
Baird, p. R. Rep. IX. Birds, MO. In. Rev. Amer. Birds, 48. — Heermaxx, X. vi. 45.

" Prometops de la Californie srplmlrionair, La Pevrouse, 1797, Atlas Voyage ; pi. .37." (Gam-

BEL. )

Sp. Cii.\R. Wing mueh rounded ; the second <|uill shorter than the secondaries. Tail
much graduated. Bill mueh deeurved, longer than the head. Above, brownish olive,
without any shade of green ; beneath, pale cinnamon, lightest on the throat, deepening
gradually into a brownish rufous on the under tail coverts. The fore part of the breast

16

SINGINCx BIRDS — OSCINES.

and sides of tlir Imdy. brmvn olive. lij,diter lli:in the l):iel<. An obsoure ashy superciliary-
stripe, and anotlier lir;liter beneatli tlie eye. Ear coverts and an indistinct maxillary
stripe, (larii brown ; the shafts of the former whitish. Ends and tips of tail feathers obso-
letely paler. Lenslh, \i.r>0 inches; extent, l.S ; wing, 4.20 ; tail, .').7,') ; tarsus, 1..50. Iris
and feet brown ; bill black.

Hah. Caliiiirnia, west of the Sierra Nevada: north to lat. S8°.

This (Hlil-loiikiiig ami pLiinly colored l)inl is common in all the valleys
and hnsliy hillsides south of San Francisco, frequenting chiefly the dense
" chapparal," or low thickets, which often cover the gravelly sides of valleys
for miles, with an almost impenetrable growth of shrubs from two to six

*S^- ^ -

feet high, and occasionally a small tree rising above them. In such places
these birds are constant residents, raising their young in nests built in the
low trees or higher shrubs, and finding their subsistence mostly among the
dead leaves on the ground, and from the berries which are sometimes ntmier-
ous about such places.

In Santa Clara valley I found several nests in May, 1864, each containing
but three eggs, and built in a low bush about five feet from the ground.
Tliey were formed of stout, thorny, or rough twigs, and lined with grass, etc.
The eggs are pale bluish green, streaked and specked with faint umlier,
chiefly at the large end. They measure 1.10 X ')..So inclies. They also buihl
about San Diego, and seem to migrate little if any in all their range, being
found in winter at San Francisco. Their sliort Avings are not suited for
long fliglits, and they generally run off on the ground, seeking concealment

TUKDID.E — THE THRUSHES — HARPORHYXCHUS.

17

in the thickets when alarmed. Their bill seems adapted chiefly for scratch^
ing amonjr the dead leaves for insects.

Harporhyncht'S rcdi virus-

Their song is lond and varied, witli freqnent imitations of other liirds, bnt
they are mnch less musical than the true ilocking-birds, though often called
by that name.

Harporhynchus Lecontii, Lawrexce.

LECONTE'S THRUSH.

Toxostoma Lecontii, Lawrexce, Ann. N. Y. Lvc. V. Sept. 1851, 100 (Fort Ynma). — Harpo-
rl(i/nr!iii!i Lecontii, Bonaparte, Comptos ItcmUis, XXVIII. 1854, . '37. — Baird, P. R.
Rep. IX. Birds, .3.50. In. U. S. and Mex. Buimd. Rep. II. iii. 12; pi. 12. In. Rev. 47.

Sp. Ch.\R. Bill much curved. Second (juill about equal to tlie tenth ; exposed portion
of the first more than half the longest ; outer tail feather an inch shortest. General color
above light grayish ash, beneath much paler ; the chin and throat above almost white ; the
sides behind lirownish yellow or pale rusty yellow ash, of which color is the crissum and
anal region. Tail feathers rather dark brown on the under surface, lighter above, the
outer edges and tips of exterior ones obscurely paler. Quills nearly like the back. Length
about 10 inches; wing, 3.75 ; tail, 4.7.5.

Hah. Fort Yuma, to Moja\e River, California.

I found this bird rather common on the deserts along the route between
the Colorado Valley and the coast .slope of California, wherever there was a
thicket of low bushes, generally surrounded by sand-hills They werd so
3

18

SINGING KIUDS — OSCINES.

^^'

very wild that I could olitain liut two. In notes, lialiits, and general ap-
pearance tliey are like //. rcdivivus, but all I saw had the same pale colors.
I found a nest without eggs built in a Yucca, and similar to that of JI. rcdi-
vivus.

Harporhynchus crissalis, Henry.

HENRY'S THETJSH.

Ilarporhjnrhns crismhs, Henry, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. May, 1858. — B.\ird, P. R. Rep. IX.
Birds, .351, 92.3. Ib. Birds of N. Anier. ; ])1. 82. Ib. Rev. 47.

Sp. Char. Second (iiiill about a.s lour; as the .sooon(lario.<!. Piill niueh fun-cd, longer
than the head. Above oUve-brown, with a fahit shade of gray; beneath nearly nnifonn

TURDID^E — THE THRUSHES — HARPORHYNCHUS. IQ

brownish gray, much palor than the back, passhig insensibly into white on the cliin ; but
the under tail coverts dark brownish rufous, and abruptly defined. There is a black maxil-
lary stripe cutting off a white one above it. There do not appear to be any other stripes
about the head. There are no bands on the wings, and the tips and outer edges of the
tail feathers are very inconspicuously lighter than the remaining portion. Length, 11.50
inches ; e.xtent, 1 l.uO ; wing, 4.2 j ; tail, 5. GO ; tarsu.s, 1.25. Iris and feet browu ; bill black.
Hab. Southern Rocky Mountains to Colorado Valley, California.

I found this species rather common at Fort Mojave, but so very shy
that I only succeeded in shooting one after mucli wateliing for it. Their hab-
its, nest (eggs not seen), and song are closely similar to those of H. rcdivivus,
and the colors scarcely differ more than those of Ijirds of other species that
vary similarly in specimens from this valley, and those along the coast.

Harporhynchus cinereus, Xantus.

THE ASHY THRUSH.

Harporhynchus cinereus, X.iNTUS, I'r. Pliila. Acad. N. S. 1859, 298. — Baiki), Rev. Amer.
Birds, 1864, 46.

Sp. Cii.\i:. Above ashy brown, beneath fulvous white, darker on flanks, inside of wing,
and crissum. Beneath, except on chin, throat, and from middle of abdomen to crissum,
with well-defined V-shaped spots of dark brown at ends of feathers, largest across the

breast. Two narrow whitish bands across tips of greater and middle coverts ; quills
edged externally with paler. Outer three feathers with a rather obsolete white patch in end
of inner web and across tips of outer. Length, 10 inches ; wing, 4.10 ; tail, 4.05 ; bill from
gape, 1.40; tarsus, 1.2G.

Hab. Lower Calitbrnia (Capo St. Lucas).

This is one of the new species discovered by Mr. Xantus, in 1859, at
Cape St. Lucas.

20

SIXGIXG BIRDS — OSCLXES.

GENa-s MIMUS, BaiE.

AJimus, BoiE, Isis, Oct. 182G, 972. (Type, Turdus poljiijhtlus.)
Orpheus, SwAixsox, Zool. Jour. III. 1827, 167. (Same type.)

Gi;n'. Char, liill shorter tliuii the liL-ail, dwurvwl Iroiii the base; distinctly notclied at
tij). Tarsi longer than the middle toe ; lateral toe.s equal, not reaehing the base of the
middle claw, and shorter than the liiiid toe, the claw of which is hali' the total length.

V \'

M. poltjglottus.

Tail variable ; equal to or longer than the wings, moderately graduated. "Wings rounded,
the exposed portion of the fust nearly or quite half that of the second, which is consider-
ably shorter than the third.

M. jioli/glouus.

Other species of the genus are found througliout ^Middle and South
America, including tlio West Indies and the Galapagos.

TUllDIB^ — THE THRUSHES — MIMUS. 21

Mimus polyglottus, Lixn-eus.

THE MOCKING-BIKD.

Tunhis poIijijloUus, Linn.eus, Syst. X.it I. 176G, :293. — Wilson, Am. Orn. II. 1810, 14;
pi. X. f. 1. — Bon. Syn. 1828, 76. — Aud. Orn. Biog. I. 1831, 103; V. 1839, 438;
|)1. 21. — Mimus polijglotlus, var. cauJutas, B.viRD, Rev. Amcr. Birds, 43; P. K. Rop.
IX. BirJs, 344, var. cmdatiis, 245. — KiiNNiiRLY, X. iv. 25. — Heermann, X. vi. 44.

Si'. C'ii-4.u. Third to sl.xtli (juill.-; iiclu-1_v equal, second shorter than seventh. Tail con-
siderabl)' graduated. Above ashy brown, the feathers very slijihtly darker centrally, and
towai-ds the li.;;ht plumbeous downy basal portion (scarcely appreciable, except when the
feathers are lifted). The umler jiarts are wdiite with a faint brownish tinge, except on the
chin, and with a shade of ash across the breast. There is a pale superciliary stripe, but
the lores are dusky. The wings and tail are nearly black, except the lesser wing coverts,

which are like the back ; the middle and greater tl])]>cd with white, forming two bands ;
the basal portion of the ])rimaries white, most extended on the inner ])rimaries. Tail much
graduated, the lateral feathers being 1.20 inch shorter than the middle. The outer tail
feather is white ; the second is mostly white, except on the outer ^vcl) and towards the
base ; the third black with a dull white tip ; the rest, except the middle, very slightly
tipped with wdute. The bill and legs are liluck. Length, 10.25 ; extent, 14.25 ; wing,
4.75 ; tail, 5.75. Iris yellow, bill and fc'ct black.

Hub. West of llocky Mountains, and north to Monterey, C'alitbrnia.

Our ^Mocking-bird appears to fonu a peculit^r variety, differing from tlie
Eastern in being larger, and having the tail much more graduated, besides
some minor differences of color.

In habits I liave seen no difference, so far as I have observed them.

At Fort ]\roja\'e they were rare in March, and so very wild tliat I could
not get witliiu gunsliot of tlium, living fruiu the tup of one bush to another

22 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

at a long distance, and very watchful. They winter near the river, probably
in some of the bushy canons cliietly, and seemed to have gone out of the val-
ley in May, wlieu I found them quite common along the Mojave Ei\-er, and
westward to San Diego, but still too wild to slioot. They undoubtedly, also,
■winter near San Diego, as I have found tliuni common there in February,
and tliey are said to migrate nortli in small numbers as far as Salinas Valley,
near Monterey, which is about as far nortli as they have been found in the
Colorado and San Joaquin Valleys.

They are generally found in the^•icinity of the thickets of Cactus {Opuntia),
both the wild and cultivated species, on the fruit of wliich they feed much
of the time, and •wliich furnishes them with shelter also. I have not been
able to discover their nest, but it is probably veiy similar to that of the
Eastern M. puhjghttus. That bird builds in a thorny bush or thick tree a
nest formed of twigs, leaves, and grass, with a thick lining of root-fibres.
Their eggs are four or five, pale green, with blotches of brown scattered nearly
all over, and they raise two broods annually. (Nuttall.) I have seen similar
nests without eggs, in this State.

Their brilliant and endless powers of imitation are too well known to re-
quire special description. Most of their song is made up of the notes of
other birds, and whatever noises they hear around them. They are fre-
quently brought from San Pedro in cages, and have then all their habits of
mimicry unimpaired. ■

Genus GALEOSCOPTES, Cabanis.

Galeoscojites, Cabanis, Mus. Ilciti. I. 1850, 52.

Cn.\R. Bill shorter tlian tlic head, rather broad at base ; wings a little shorter than the
tail, rounded ; seeondaries well developed ; fourth and fifth quills longest ; third and si.xth
little shorter ; fii-st aud ninth about equal, and about as long as the secondaries ; fii-st quill

G. Carolmtttsis.

TURDID.E — THE THRUSHES — GALEOSCOPTES.

23

more than half the second, about half the third. Tail graduated. Tarsi longer than
middle toe and claw ; sciitellate anteriorly, more or less distinctly in different specimens.
Scutclla; about seven.

G. Carolinensis.

The single species hitlierto assigned to this genus, the common Cat-bird
of the United States, closely resembles the Mocking-bird in form, differing
mainlv in coloration.

Galeoscoptes Carolinensis, Li.vn.sus.

THE CAT-BIRD.

Musckapa Carolinensis, Lixs-el'S, Syst. Nat. I. 1776, .328. — Orpheus Carolinensis, AuD.,
Birds Amer. II. 1841, 19.i; pi. 140. — Mimus Carolinensis, Baird, Birds North Amer.
1859, 346. — Galeoscoptes Carolinensis, Baird, Rev. Amer. Birds, 54.

Turdus felivox, ViEiLLOT. Turdus lividus, WiLSOX.

Sp. Ch.\r. Prevailing color dark plumbeous, more ashy beneath ; crown of head and
nape sooty brown. Under tail coverts brownish chestnut. Length, 8.85 ; wing, 3. Go ; tail,
4.00; tarsus, 1.05,

r

Hah. Head-waters of Columbia River, Central Rocky fountains, and east to Atlantic ;
south to Panama. Resident in Bermuda.

24

SINGIXG BIRDS — OSCINES.

Tlie introduction of the Cat-bird, so well known to all tlic inhabitants of
the Eastern States, into the present work I'esults from its occurrence as a
common l>ird on tlie Columbia Eiver, wliere it was frequently met with
by the naturalists of the Xorthwestern J>oundary Survey. There, as else-
where, it inhahits low thickets or detached bushes ; making its nest of
strips of bark, twigs, roots, and such odd scraps as bits of rag, snake-slcin,
newsjiaper, etc. The eggs are four or live, and of a deep emerald green,
without spots. Their food consists of insects, worms, fruits, and berries.
The ordinary call-note resembles the mew of a cat, Ijiit it has a very agree-
able song, in some respects imitating the notes of other birds. (Baird.)

Family CINCLID^.

Ch.\r. General characters of Tunlidcc, ten primaries, of which the
first is very short, etc. ; the nostrils linear in lower edge of basal membrane.
Loral and frontal feathers soft and d<;iwiiy ; the mouth entirely without
bristles. Body ^•ery short and broad. "Wings short, rounded and concave.

Genus CINCLUS, Bechstein.

Cinchts, Bechsteix, Gemein. Natiirfj. 1802 (Agassiz).

Hijdrobata, Vikillot, AiliIvsc, 1816 (Ag.). (Type, Sturnus cinchts, Lixn-., European.)

Ge.v. Cii.vu. ]!ill ivitliimt any liristles at the base; slender, snbiilate ; the mandible
bent slightly upward ; the cuhuen slijjhtly concave to near the tip, which is much curved

C. MexicamiS'

TURDID.E — THE THRUSHES — CINCLUS.

25

and notched ; the commissural edges of the bill finely nicked. Feet large and strong, the
toes projecting considerably beyond the tail ; the ehnvs large. Lateral toes equal. Tail

C. Mexlcanus.

yery short and cyen ; not two thirds the wings, which are concave and somewhat falcate.
The first primary is more than one fourth the longest.

Cinclus Mexicanus, Swainson.

THE AMERICAN DIPPER ; WATER-OUZEL.

Cwdns Pnlhsii, Box.u'AiiTE, Zool. Jour. II. Jan. 1827, 52. Ib. Amcr. Oni. II. 1828, 17.3 ; pi.
xvi. f. 1 (not the Asiatic I'allasii). — Cinclus Mexicanus, Swainson, Syn. Mex. Birds, in
Phil. Mag. 1, May, 1827, .368. — Baird, Rev. N. Amcr. Birds, 1864, 59. — Cinclus Ameri-
canus, Sw. &RiCH.,F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 173. — Nuttall, Man. II. 1834, 569. — AuD.,
Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 493 ; V. 1839, 303 ; pi. 370, 435. Ib. Birds Amer. II. 1841, 182 ;
pi. 137. — Neweeruv, ZooI. Cal. and Or. Koutc, 80; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI. iv. 1857.
— Heermann, X. vi. 44. — C. Mortoni and Townsendii (AuD.), Townsend Nair. 1839,
.337, .346.

Hijdrobata Mi-Ticana, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Bird.s, 229. — Cooper and Suokley, XII. iii.
Zool. of W. T. 175.

Sp. Ch.\r. Above dark plumbeous, beneath paler ; head and neck all round a shade of
clove, or perhaps a light sooty brown ; less conspicuous beneath. A concealed spot of

■white above the anterior corner of the eve, and indications of the same sometimes on the
lower lid. Immature specimens usually with the feathers beneath edged with grayish
4

2(3 SIXOIXO BIKIIS— OSCIXES.

wliito ; tlio {jrpatcr and midillo win<i covfi-ts ami Icssi-r (|iiills li]ipcil with the samp. Tlie
colors iiion' unilonn. Lcii^rlli, 7. 'id ; wiiiii, 4.00 ; tail, 2.5.").

llnh. Hocky Mimntaiiis Iroin I'.ritisli Aim-rica to Mexico, and west to tli<' Pacilic.

I lir.st met with tlii.s plainly colored, but very intere.stiiig bird, at a moun-
tain stream in the Coast Ranges west of Santa Clara, where there was a pair
apparently mated, as early as March lOlh. About sunset I lieard the male
singing very melodiously as it sat on one of its favorite rocks in the middle
of the foaming rapids, making its delightful melody heard for quite a long
distance abo\-e the sound of the roaring water. I watched for some time
before I could perceive tlie min.strel, its somlire plumage concealing it in the
apiiroaching twilight.

In May, I Ibund the nest of another pair along a stream a few miles far-
ther siiuth, tlie " Arroyo de los Gatos." It was l)uilt near the foot of a mill-
dam, and rested on a slight ledge under an o\-erhanging rock, from the top of
wliicli water was continually dripping. Its sliai)e wa.s that of an oven, with
a small door- way, and it was Viuilt externally of green moss (which in that
damp sjiot grew, and pre\'ented its easy ('iisco\-ery), lined witli soft, grass, and
contained young. The eggs have not yet been descrilied, but are ju'oliably
four to six, and white, like those of the European species. I found a similar
nest l)uilt in the root of a large tree whicli lay across a mill-dam, north of the
Columbia Pliver, in July, 1854, and was told there that the birds had already
raised a brood that season in the same nest, which tlien contained yoimg.

The strange habits of this bird make it a very remarkable object, and it
attracts much attention wlierever found. It may be said to combine the
form of a sandjiiper, the song of a canary, and the aquatic habits of a duck.
Its food consists almost wliolly of aquatic insects, and these it pursues under
water, walking and flying witli perfect ease beneath a depth of several feet
of water. "When they di\-e below, there is a film of air surrounding them,
which looks like silver, and may assist in supporting respiration. They do
not, however, swim on the surface, l:)ut always di^-e, and sometimes fly across
streams beneatli the surface. They prefer clear, noisy mountain streams,
but 1 liave seen one on the summit of tlie Sierra Nevada, catching insects
along the shore of a calm mountain lake.

Their flight is rapid and direct, like that nf a samlpiper, and wlicn tliey
alight it is always on a rock or li:)g, where they jerk their tails much like that
bird. They are fotuid in the Sierra Nevada, at least as far south as Fort
Tejon, and northward nearly to the Arctic regions.

F.v.MiLV SAXICOLID.E.

Cii.VK. "Wings very long aiul much pointed, reaching beyond the middle
of the short, square, or emarginated tail, and one and a half times for more)

TURDIB.E — TlIK THRUSHES — SIALIA.

27

the length of the latter. Spurious primary very short, the second i|uill
longer than the fourth. In the closed wing the outer secondary reaches only
about two thirds the length of the longest primary. Nostrils oval. Mouth
■with bristles.

The genus Saxlcola, forming tlie type of this division, is found chieily in

S. Mexicajia.

the Old World, but the »S'. cenanthoides, Vigors, is stated to have come from
Northwest America. (See Cassin, Illust. I. 208, 1854, PI. 34, Nova Scotia
specimen.)

Genus SIALIA, Swainsox.

Sialia, SwAiNSON, Zool. .Juur. III. Sept. 1827, 173 (S. sialis).

Gen. CnAR. Bill, short, stout, broader than high at the base, then compressed ; slightly
notched at the tip. Rictus with short bristles. Tarsus, not longer than the middle toe.

Claws considerably curved. Wings much longer than the tail ; the first primary spurious ;
not one fourth the longest. Tail moderate ; slightly lorkcd.

28 SlXOlXf; BIRDS— OSCIXES.

Sialia Mexicana, Swaisson.

THE WESTERN BLUEBIRD.

Sialia Mexicana, Swaixson, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 202. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
223. — Kkxneulv, X iv. 23. — IlEbH.MANX, X. vi. 43. — Cooper and Slckley, XII.
iii. 173. — Suilia ocddmtalis, Tow.vse.nd, Jour. Ac. Niit. Sc. VII. ii. 1837, 1 88. — Aid.,
Birds Amcr. II. 1841, 176; pi. 135. — Nuttai.l, Man. I. (2d cd.) 1840, 513. — Kew-
liERRY, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, 80; Rep. P. R. K. \l. w. 1857. — Sylvia occidentulis,
Ald-, Oni. Biofj. V. 1839, 41 ; pi. 393. — Sialia co.rulw-collis, Vigors, Zool. Beechov's
Voyage, 1839, 18; pi. iii.

Si'. Cii.\u. Bill slender ; head and neek all round, and upper parts generally ljii;.dit
azure blue. ]iiterseapular rej;ions, sides aiul fore part ol" the l)reast, and sides of the belly,
dark reddish brown, llest of under ])arts (with tail coverts) pale bluish, tinged with

gray about tlie anal region. Female duller above"; the ba<'k brownish ; the blue of the
throat replaced Ijy ashy brown, with a shade of blue. Length, C.oO ; wing, 4.-2.") ; tail, 2.90.

Young brownish blue, the breast white, with pale brown spots.

Hab. Pacific Coast, North America, and along the ^'alley of the Gila to the ujiper Kio
Grande, and south.

Thi.s Ijeaiitiful and interesting bird is abundant in all tlie wooded districts
of California, except liigli in the mountains, and some probably reside during
summer even in the hot climate of the Colorado Valley, where I saw them
examining buildings and knot-holes in trees for a nesting-place in Feliruary.

They are numerous towards the coast, and up to the 49tli parallel at
least, in summer. Their song being much less sweet and varied than that
of the Eastern bluebird (S. sialis), they have attracted less attention, and, not
being encouraged to build about houses by the little box usually provided
for that species, they have not become quite so familiar. I have, however,
known of a nest built under tlie porch of a dwelling-house at Santa Barbara ;
they only need a little encouragement to become half domesticated.

The nest is usually built in a deserted woodpecker's hole, or other cavity of
a tree, and the eggs, very pale blue, are fom- or five in number. They prob-

TURDID^E — THE THRUSHES — SIALIA. 29

aLly ofteu raise two broods iu a season, the first being hatclied very early in
April.

The song lias a peculiar character, sounding as if two difiurent birds were
singing together, but it is not loud nor much varied.

Their food consist.s of insects and berries, and they feed much on grass-
hoppers, hovering o\'er tlie field like the sparrow-hawk, watching for them,
and dropping suddenly down on them when seen. In winter they asso-
ciate in small scattered flocks, flying with a short call-note, and resorting to
the iladrona-tree, and others, for berries.

At Santa Cruz this bird is even more confiding than the Eastern species,
which rarely frequents such large towns. In tlie spring, from February 2U
to iVpril, many pairs could be seen daily, seeking places for their nests,
even in the noisiest streets, inspecting closely every new building that was
being erected, as if they supposed it to be for their especial benefit. Some
few pairs found nesting-places under porches, in knot-holes, etc., though the
inhabitants provided them with no special homes.

One brood came every day during the grape season, and always about
noon, to pick up grape-skins thrown out by my door, and were delightfully
tame, sitting fearlessly within a few feet of the open window. Their favorite
perches during the day were the flag-staffs, weathercocks, and eaves of houses,
where they watched for passing insects.

Sialia Arctica, Sw.vinson'.

THE EOCKY MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD.

Erythraca (Sialia) Arctica, S«'Aixsox, F. Bor. Amcr. II. 1831, 209 ; pi. xxxix. — Sialia Arc-
tica, NuTTALL, Man. II. 1832, 573 ; I. 2d eil. 1840, 514.— AuD., Birds Amer. II. 1841, 178 ;
pi. 136.— McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. V. June, 1851, 215. — Baird, P. K. Rep. IX. Birds,
224. Ib. P K. Kep. X. iii. 13; pi. 35. — Kennerly, X. iv. 24. — HiiKR.iiAXN, X. vi.
44. — Si/lcia Arctica, AvDVIioy, Oni. Biug. V. 1839,38; pi. 373. — Sialia macroplera,
Baird, .Staiisbury, Ruport E.xp. Salt Laku, 1852, 314.

Sp. Cn.AR. Aziiru blue above ami below, brightest above ; the belly and undertail coverts
white ; the latter tinged with blue at the ends. Female showing blue only on the rump,
wings, and tail ; a white ring round the eye ; tlie lores and sometimes a narrow fi'ont wliit-
ish ; elsewhere replaced by brown. Young like that of .S'. Mcxicaiia, but paler. Length,
7.25 ; extent, 14 ; wing, 4.3G to .5 ; tail, 3.00. Iris brown, bill and feet black.

Ilab. From eastern base of Rocky ]\Iountains to Sierra Nevada. North to lat. (i4° 30',
and south to ile.xico. In winter, along the Pacific coast.

This bird lias been found in winter at Fort Yuma, though I saw none at
that season east of the sink of the Mojave Eiver.

At San Diego, however, in the severe winter of 1861 - 02, they came down

30 SI\(;iN(i BIRDS— OSCIXES.

in large numbers to the viuiuity of the town, and remained until the end of
February, wlieu all suddenly disappeared. They were at that time sitting
perched on the low weeds and bushes, about the plains, often quite a flock
together, and some constantly hovering like blue butterflies over the grass, at
a height often of fifty feet, on the watch for insects. They seem everpvhere
more gregarious than tlie other species.

Al.iout Lake Talioe, and the summits of the Sierra Nevada, above six thou-

sand feet elevation, I found this species numerous in September, and they
had with them the young lately fledged. They doubtless breed there as they
do throughout the Rocky Moimtains as far south as Santa Fe, New Mexico,
where Colonel McC'all found them building in lioxes jjut iij) for them by
the inhabitants. (Heermann.)

They usually build like the other species in holes of trees, sometimes in
holes in clifls. (Xuttall.)

They were remarkably silent at the seasons when 1 observed them.

Family SYLYIID.E, Syu7as.

Char. Bill slender, broad and depressed at the base, distinctly notched
and decurved at the tip. Culmen sharp-ridged at base. Frontal feathers
reaching to the nostrils, which are oval, with membrane above, and over-
hung by a few bristles or by a feather, llictal bristles extending beyond
nostrils. Tarsi booted or scntellate. Basal joint of middle toe attached its
win lie length externally, half-way internally. Primaries ten, sjjurious pri-
mary about half the second, which is shorter than the seventh. Lateral toes
equak

Sub-Family EEGULIN^.

Char. Nostrils oval. The frontal feathers elongated ; their bristle shafts
with the rictal bristles extending beyond the nostrils, the former scale-like.

SYLVIIl).^ — SYLVIAS — REGULUS.

51

Points of loral feathers bristly. Second i|nill shorter than sixth. Size very
small. Wings longer than the emarginated tail. Tarsi booted.

Genus REGULUS, Cuvier.

Reguhts, CuriEn, Lemons d'Anat. Comp. 1799 -ISOO (Agassi?.). {Type, Motnrilh rfrjiilua,
LiN'K. ; lirgidus rrixintiix, Kocil. )

Gen. Cii.\r. Bill slciKkr, iiiuc-h shorter than hoad, depressed at base, but becom-
ing rapidly compressed; moderatelj' notched at tip. Culmeu straight to near the
tip. then gently curved. Commissure straight ; gonys convex. Rictus well provided

R. satrapa.

with bristles ; nostrils covered by a single bristly feather directed forwards. Tarsi
elongated, exceeding consiilerably the middle toe, and without scutellae. Lateral
toes about equal ; hind toe with the claw longer than the middle one, and about lialf

R. satrapa.

the toe. Claws all much curved. First )irimary about one third as long as the
longest; second equal to fifth or sixth. Tail shorter than the wings, moderately
forked, the feathers acuminate. Colors olive green above, whitish beneath. Size very
small.

32 SINGIXC; RIRDS— OSCIXES.

Regulus sati'apa, Lichtrnstein.

THE GOLDEN-CEESTED WREN.

lirquhm sn^m/iri, LifiiTEXSTEiN', VtTzcicli. Doubl. 1823, Xo. 410. (Quotes Pnriissatrfijin, II-
i.iGEn, probably a niuscnm name.) — Bonap., List, 18.3S. In. Conspectus, IS.'iO, 291. —
AtiD., Synopsis, 18-39, 82. In. Birds Amer. II. 1841, 16.'j; pi. 132. — Baird, P. R.
Rep. IX. Birds, 227. — Coopkk and Suckley, XII. iii Zool. of AV. T. 174.
SyMa rcguhis, Wilson, Am. Orn. I. 1808, 126; pi. viii. f. 2. (Xot of Latbani.)
Reijuhis trirohr, Xuttali., Man. I. 1832, 420. — AuD., Orn. Biog. II. 1834, 476 ; pi. 183.

Sr. Char. Alinve olive groon, bri^rhtcst on flip outer edges of the wing; tail feathers
tinged with lirownish gray toward the head. Forehead, a line over the eye, and a spaec
beneath it, white. E.xterior of the erown before and laterally black, embracing a central
patch of orange red, encircled by gamboge yellow. A dusky space around the eye.

Eastern variety Western variety.

Wing coverts with two yellowish white bands, the posterior covering a similar band on the
quills, succeedeil by a broad dusky one. Under parts dull whitish. Length about 3.80 to
4 inches; extent, 6.2.5; wing, 2.25; tail, 1.80. Iris brown, bill black, tarsi brown, feet
yellow.

Hah. Xorthcni parts of United States from Atlantic to Pacific.

I fouud a few of thi.s species iu September, 1863, at the summits of the
Sierra Nevada, above seven thousand feet elevation in lat. 39°, wliich is the
most southern point they have been found at on this coast. In tlie forests
near the Columbia tliey are alnmdant, and a few remain in the valleys during
summer. Probably tliey migrate through the whole of the Sierra Nevada in
winter, and far towards San Francisco. Their nest and eggs have not yet
been described, but a nearly allied European species builds toward the ex-
tremity of the branches of fir-trees, the nest being spherical with a small
opening at the side ; formed of moss and lichen, with a soft lining, and the
eggs from six to twelve. While migrating, this species associates witli R.
calendula, and has similar habits. Professor Baird remarks (Ilex. Amer.
Birds, 65), that, as in several other instances, the Western specimens of tliis

SYLVUD.E — KEGULUS. 33

species are much brighter and more olivaceous above, especially on the rump
and tail, and names the race or variety, olivaccus. There are also some slight
diflerences in the pattern of coloration, represented in the two figures at the
head of this article.

Regulus calendula, Linn^eus.

THE RUBY-CKOWNED WEEN.

Motacilla calendula, LiNif.EUS, Syst. Nat. I. 176G, 3.37. — Si/h-ia calendula, Latham, Ind.
Ora. II. 1790, 549. — Wilson, Am. Orn. I. 1808, 8;!; pi. v. f. 3. — Doughty, Cab.
N. H. II. 1832, 61; pi. vi. — Rrr/idiis calendnhi, LiCHTENSTEix, Verzeich. 1823, Nos.
403-409. — NuTTALL, Man. I. 1832, 415. — Audubon, Orn. Biog. II. 18.34, 546; pi,
195. Ib. Birds, Amcr. II. 1841, 168; pi. 133. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 226.—
Kennerly, X. iii. 24. — IIeermaxx, X. vi. 43. — Cooper and Suokley, XII. iii. Zool.
of W. T. 174.

Sp. Ciiae. xlbove, dark gx'eenish olive, passing into bright olive green on the rumjD
and outer edges of the wings and tail. Crown with large concealed patch of scarlet feath-
ers, which are white at the base. The under parts are grayish white tinged with pale

olive yellow, especially bohinil. A ring round the eye, two bands on the wing coverts,
and the exterior of the inner tertials white. Young without the red on the crown.
Length, 4.25 to 4.75 ; extent, G.50 to 7.25 ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, 1.85. Iris, bill, and feet brown ;
toes yellow.

Ilab. United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

These little birds are abundant tlirougliout the State during tlie colder
months, even where there are only Ijushes, among whicli they are constantly
at work pursuing their insect prey. In May they retire to the mountains,
wliere they breed, but their nest and eggs have never been discovered, as far
as I can ascertain, and are probably placed in hollow trees.

They are fearless little creatures, Hitting close to a person's head, and ey-
ing him with curiosity. In the spring they utter a low, soft warble, often
quite extended, and half whispered, as if they feared to disturb the solitudes
5

34

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

they inhabit. They, however, often eoiue about liouses and gardens, and
imrsuo insects to the toiis of the liigliest trees, catching them by short
tliglits from twig to twig. Tliey feed chietiy on gnats and other Diptera.

fi, cnUiiiliila.

There is a slight diffei-ence between the external anatomy of this species
and the preceding, especially in lacking the small feather which covers the
nostril. The exact characters are illustrated liv the above outline.

SuB-F.\Mii.Y POLIOrTILIX.-E.

Char. Bill slender, elongated, distinctly notched ; nostrils not covered by
bristly feathers, but exposed ; nostrils elongated. Wings about equal to the
gradtiated tail. Tarsi with distinct scutellEe.

The little birds of this sub-family have many points of resemblance to the
true wrens and tlie titmice, but tlieir nearest relationship is probably to the
liiiiiily of Sylviidce, in which Professor Baird has lately placed them.

Gexis POLIOPTILA, 8f i,.\ter.

Pnlinpti'h, PcLATEK, Pr. Zool. Soc. ISS.'), 11. (Type, Motarilla rtrnilm.)

Ctilirirnra, SwAINSON, Class Birds, II. IS.'?", 243. (Type, C. afrio^ipilln.] Not Cidicivom
(typo, sirinini) of Swainson's Ziiol. Jour. III. 1827, Xi9.

Gen. Char. Bill slpndrr, uticnuateil, but depressed at the base; nearly as long as the
head, distinctly notched at the ti|i, and provided with moderate rictal bristles. Nostrils
rather elongated, not concealed, but anterior to the fmutal feathers. Tarsi longer than
the middle toe, distinctly scutellate •. the toes small, the hinder one scarcely longer than
the lateral its claw, .scarcely longer than the middle. Outer lateral toe lonjier than the

STLYIID.E — POLIOPTILA.

35

inner. First primary about one third the longest ; secoml, equal to the seventh. Tail a
little longer than the wings, moderately graduated ; the feathers rounded.

P. ceBTulea.

The species all lead-color above ; white Ijencath, and to a greater or less extent on the
exterior of the tail, the rest of which is black. Size very small.

P. ccerulea.

There are nine other closely allied species, besides ours, found in tropi-
cal America, described in Professor Baird's " Eeview of American Birds."

Polioptila ceerulea, Lixx^us.

THE BLTTE-GRAY FLYCATCHEE.

Molacilla carulea, LiNX.Eus, Syst. Nat. I. ITBrt, 43. — Musekapa cairulea, Wilson, Am. Orn.
II. 1810, 164; pi. xviii. f. 3. —Aid, Orn. Biog. I. 1831, 431 ; ]il. 84. — Nuttall, I.
1832, 297. — Culicivom cm-iikn, Boxap.irte, List, 1838. — Add., Birds Amer. I. 1840,
244 ; pi. 70. — Si/lvunia cterulea, Nuttall, Man. I. 2d ed. 1 840, 337. — Polloplila carulea,
SCLATER, Pro. Zool. Soc. Lund. 1853, II. — Baiku, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 380.—
Heermann, X. vi. 39.

Sp. Cii.^R. Above, grayish-ldue. gradually becoming bright blue on the crown. A nar-
row frontal band of black extending backwards over the eye. Under parts and lores bin-

36

SIXGIXG BIRDS — OSCIXES.

ish-wliito, tinged with lead-coloi- on the sides. First and seeoiid tail feathers white, except
at the extreme base, which is lilack, tlie color extending obli(jucly ibrward on the inner
web; third and iburth black, with white tip. very slight on the latter: iitth and sixth en-
tirely black. Upper tail coverts blackish-jjhnnbeuns. Quills edged externally with pale

bluish-gray, which is much broader, and nearly white on the tertials. Female without any
black on the head. Length, 4.D0; extent, (i.4U ; wing, 2.12; tail, 2.25. Iris brown; bill
and feet black.

Hah. United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, south of hit. 42°. South to Gua-
temala.

Tliis little bird is found in the southern part of California, but seems less
coninion than the peculiarly western P. mdanura, though they are so nearly
similar in habits and appearance that it is nearly inipossil)le to identify
without shooting them, except when the black crown of the latter is visible.
They all keep about the bushes, hunting insects in pau'S or small companies,
and seem as much like warblers in haliits as titmice. In the East this .spe-
cies also freqitents tall trees, and is alway.s rapidly moving about with hang-
ing wings and elevated tail, utteruig at times a faint, ahnost hissing or
squeaking note, repeated about three times, Kke that of the titmice. I
found them at Fort Mojave, March 20th, and think some winter there;
also at San Diego, in December. In the East they build their nest in
May, among twigs, from ten to fifty feet from the ground, forming it of
scales of buds, leaves, blossoms, fern-do'\A'n, and silk of plants, lined with
horse-hairs, and covered with lichens. The eggs are four or five, white,
with a few reddish dots near the larger end, and they are said to raise two
broods ui the season. They are not believed to winter north of the Gidf of
Mexico. (NuttaU.)

I did not find this, or the otlier species, at Santa Barbara, but this one
was collected as far north as Yreka, Calilbrnia, near lat. 42°, by Mr. VuiUe,
on May 26th.

SYLVUD.K — rOLlOPTILA. 37

Polioptila nielanura, Lawkejtce.

THE BIACK-TAILED FLYCATCHER.

Culicimm atricapUla, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, V. Sept. 1 85 1 , 1 24. (Not of Swaiiison. )
Cidicivom Mexicaiia, Cassix, Illust. I. vi. 1854, 164; pi. xxvii. (Kot of Bonaparte )
Polioptila mdanimi, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Ljc. VI. Dec. 1856, 168. — Baikd, I'. E. Rep.
IX. Birds, 382. — Heermann', X. vi. 39.

Sp. Ciiak. Above, aslij-blue ; whole crown to bill and eyes, and tail feathers lustrous
gi-eenish-black. Beneath, pale bluish-gray, almost white in the middle of the belly ; the
sides behind, with anal reniun and under coverts tinged with brown. Edge of evelids.

and the margin and tip of the outer web of first and second tail feathers, white. Female
without the blackhead. Length, 4.50 ; extent, G. 30 ; wing, 2.00 ; tail, 2.10. Iris brown ;
bill and feet black.

Huh. Yalle}- of the Rio Grande and Gila. West to San Diego. Cape St. Lucas.

This was also a rather common hinl during tlie whole winter at Fort ^lo-
jave, as well as at 8au Diego, and I obtained one in October, on Catalina
Island, hut did not find it there, or at Santa Barbara, in summer. I saw
tliem about San Diego up to the 20th of ^Nlay, and young birds, fully fledged,
as early as May 2d, but found no nests. Specimens were collected by ]\Ir.
F. Gruber as far north as lat. 39°, in the Sierra Nevada. In April I heard
them sing a harsh ditty of five parts, somewhat like a WTen's soug, and
another song resembling the notes of a swallow, and exactly Like that of
Virco Belli. Their scolding note is a faint mew like a cat's.

Polioptila plumbea, Baird.

THE LEAD-COLOKED FLYCATCHER.

Culicivora plumbm, BAruD, Pr. A. K Sc. VII. June, 1854. 118. — Puliuptila jihimbca, Baikd,
P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 382. — Kexnerly, X. iv. 26; pi. 33, f. 1.

Sp. Ciiak. Above, bluish-gray ; the forehead unitorm with the crown. Eyelids white.
A pale grayish-white line over the eye, above which is another of black, nuich concealed
by the feathers, and which does not reach to the bill. Under parts dull wliite, tinged with

38

SLNGIXG WRDS— OSCIXES.

bluish on the fiiles, and with browni:^li iK'hind. Tail leathers black ; the first and second
edged and tipped with white ; involvinj; the entire outer web of the first, and most of that
of the second ; the tliird with only a very faint edging of the same. Female without the

black superciliary line. Length, 4.50 ; extent, .5.50 ; wing, 1.80 ; tail, 2.30. Iris brown ;
biU and feet black.

Hab. Valley of Colorado and Gila.

This species was a winter resident aliotit Fort Mojave, in small numbers,
and undistingnishable in habits or general appearance from the two other
species found tliere. I shot one on the 20tli of Februaiy, which had a cry
of alanu much like that of a vrren. It seems to represent the P. mdanura, in
the country east of the Colorado, and probably leaves that valley altogether
for the moimtaius in spring. I suspect it is merely the yoimger plumage of
P. mdanura.

Family CKA^lMATiM.

Chak. Size small. Tail very greatly graduated, much longer than the
\nngs. Eictus with long bristles ; frontal feathers bristly, directed fonvard.
WTiole outer side of tarsi continuous and undivided. Wing much roimded.
Primaries ten, sixth longest.

CHAiLEAD^E — CHAII^A.

39

Genus CHAMPA, Gambel.

Chamcra, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. III. 18-17, I'ti. (Type, Parus fasrhtits.)

Gex. Ciiah. Bill shorter than the head, much compressed. Nostrils linear, covered by
an incumbent scale. Tarsus much longer than the toes, without well marked scales.

C. fasciata.

Lateral toes equal. Wings short, much rounded ; two thirds the length of the tail, which
is much graduated ; the lateral feathers not two thii'ds the longest. Feathers nan-ow, with
narrow outer webs. Plumage vevv soft and lax.

Chamsea fasciata, Gambel.

THE GEOTJND WEEN.

Pan's fasrintiis, Gambel, Pr. A N. Sc. II Aug. 184."), 26.5. — Chamcca fnscinta, Gambel, Pr.
A. N. Sc. III. Feb. 1847, 154. (Type of genus.) Ib. 3. A. N. S. 2d Series, I. 1847, ,34 ;
pi. viii. f. 3. — Cassin, 111. I. ii, 18.53, 39; pi. vii. — Baiud, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 370.
Ib. Rev. Amer. Birds, 76. — Heer5ianx, X. vi. 43.

Sp. Ciiah. Wings scarcely two thirds the length of the tail ; both very much gi-aduated.
Upper and outer parts generally (including the wdiole tail) olivaeeous-brown, tinged with
gray on the head ; beneath pale brownish-cinnamon, with obsolete streaks of dusky on
the throat and breast. .Sides and under tail coverts tinged with olive-brown. Lores

40 SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXES.

and a spot above the eye obscurely whitish. Tail feathers with obsolete transverse bars.
Length, 6.50; extent, 7.25; wing, 2.25; tail, 3.50.

Hab. Coast of CaUfornia, north to lat. 38°, ami foot-hills of the Sierra Nevada.

Tliis curiotis species is very diifereiit in uppearance from the North Amer-
ican wrens. Tlie colors are very simple, and the female differs from the
above description only in being ratlier smaller, and with the reddish of the
under parts less distinct ; the whitish spot over the eye scarcely recognizable.

This interesting link between tlie wrens and titmice is common ei.'ery-
where west of the Sierra Nevada, on dry jilains and hillsides covered with
chapparal and other shrubby undergrowth, but is not found in the forests.
It is one of those birds that can li\-e where there is iro water, except occa-
sional fogs, for six or eight months together. In these dreary " baiTcns," its
loud trill is heard more or less throughout the year, but especially on spring
mornings, when they answer each other from various parts of the thickets.
They have a variety of other notes resembling those of the wrens, and cor-
respond with them also in most of their habits, hunting their insect prey in
the vicinity of the ground or on low trees, often holding their tails erect,
and usually so shy that they can only be seen by patient watching, when
curiosity often brings them within a few feet of a person ; and as long as he
sits quiet, they will fearlessly hop around him, as if fascinated.

In tlie last week of April, 1862, 1 fotmd two of their nests near San Diego,
built in shrubs about three feet from the ground. They were composed of
straws and twigs mixed with feathers, firmly interwoven, tlie cavity 1.80
inch wide, and 1.70 deep, lined with grass and hair. The eggs were 0.70 X
0..52 inch in size, and pale greenisli blue.

Family PAPJDiE.

CiTAr.. Bill generally short; conical, not notched nor decurved at tip.
Culmen broad and roimded, not sharp-ridged at base. Nostrils rounded,
basal, and concealed by dense bristles or bristly feathers. Loral feathers
rough and bristly, directed forwards. Tarsi distinctly scutellate ; basal joints
of anterior toes abbreviated ; that of middle toe united about equally for
three fourths its length to the lateral ; in Parijiw forming a kind of palm ;
outer lateral toe decidedly shorter than inner. Primaries ten, the first much
shorter than the second. Tail feathers with soft tips.

This family is now made by most modern ornithologLsts to include the
Nuthatches, notwithstanding the considerable differences in external form.

PARID.E — LOPIIOPHANES.

41

Sub-Family PARIN.E.

Char. Body compressed. Ijill shorter than head, wings rounded, equal
to or shorter than the rounded tail. Second quill as short as the tenth.
Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, which are about equal to the
hinder ; soles of toes widened into a palm. Plumage rather soft and lax.

L. inoniatiis.

The species of this group, known familiarly as Titmice or Chickadees, be-
long to tlie northern portions of tlie world, and e.xhibit considerable variety
of form and color.

Genus LOPHOPHANES, K.\up.

Lophophanes, K.iup, EiUw. Gcsch. Eunip. Tliicrwelt, 1829 (Ag.assiz). (Type, Parus cris-
tatus.)

Gen. Ch.\k. Crown with a conspicuous crest. Bill conical ; both upper and lower
outlines convex. Wings graduated ; first quill very short. Tail moderately long and
rounded.

42 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Lophophanes inornatus, Gajibel.

THE PLAIN-CEESTED TITMOUSE.

Panis i}iornalus, Gamui-.i., Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliila. II. Aii<;. 1845, 265. (Upper California.) Ib.
III. Feb. 1817, 1854. In. Jour. Ac. N. Sc. I'liila. 2fl Scries, I. Dec. 1847, 35; pi. viii.— .
Lophophniies innnialus, C\SSiy, 111. I. 1853, 19. — B.UED, P.R. Rep. IX. Birds, 386. —
Heeiim.vxn, X. vi. 42.

Sp. Cii.vr. Crost flongatcrl. Color aT)Ovo olivaceous-afliy, bcnoatli whitisli. Sides of
bod}' and under tail coverts very faintly tinged with brownisli, scarecly appreciable. Sides

of head scaroely different from the orown. Forehead obscurely wliitish. Length, 5.60 ;
extent, 9; wing, 2.75. Iris brown; lull black; feet blue.

Ilalj. Coast of California and southern Rocky Mountains. (Fort Thorn, New ^Mexico.)

I found a few of this S2:)ecies in Felimaiy, near San Diego, l)ut none along
the Colorado. It prefers the evergreen oak-groves towards the middle of the
State, but I have not seen them in the higher SieiTa Nevada. They are
constant residents near San Francisco, like most of the birds inhabiting
the live-oaks, being among the few that brave the fog and winds about San
Francisco Bay all the year.

Tliey are generally seen in small parties, scattered aljout the trees, and
freipiently calling each other A\'itli a variety of rather sweet and loud notes,
among which the cMclc-a-dcc-clce of its relatives, the Pari, is frequent. Some
of its notes are almost equal to those of some of our best singers, and, indeed,
like the Eastern representative of the genus L. cristatus, it probably has some
power of imitation, and has the call of jxto-jjeto, whicli has given one of its
names to that species.

This bird feeds on seeds and acorns as well as insects, and often comes
down to the ground, hopping about like a sparrow in search of them. It
cracks the acorns with its bill, and hanmiers at bark and decayed wood after
insects, with the industry of a woodpecker.

Their nest is ]irobal)ly in the deserted hole of a woodpecker, or other
cavity, but I have never succeeded in finding the eggs. The Eastern species
is said to dig a hole for itself at times, and to line it with various warm ma-

PARID^ — LOPHOPHANES. 43

terials, laying six or eight eggs, white with a few brownish-red specks near
the large end. (Nuttall.) That species also kills small birds occasionally,
and has been found quite interesting as a cage-bird.

Lophophanes atricristatus, Cassin.

THE BLACK-CEESTED TITMOUSE.

Parus atricristatus, C.iSSis, Pr A. N. Sc. 1850, 103; p\. ii. — Lopliophanes atricristatus, Cas-
sin, 111. Birds Texas, I. 1853; pi. iii. — Baikd, Birds N. Amer. 1858, 385. Ib. llev.
Amer. Birds, 78.

Sp. Char. Crest very long (1.25), and much pointed. Above ash-colored. Abroad
band on the forehead dirty white ; rest of head above, and crest black, tinged with ash on

the sides. Color of back shading insensibly into the dull ashy white of the under parts.
Sides of body pale browrush-chestnut. Female with crest duller black. Iris brown.
Length, about 5. 25 ; wing, 3.00.
Hub. Valley of the llio Grande.

This species has not as yet been detected west of the Eio Grande basin,
though it wiU doubtless be met with in Eastern Arizona. Not niucli is
known of its habits, which, liowever, probably resemble those of L. iaornatus.
(Baird.)

Lophophanes WoUweberi, Bonaparte.
WOLLWEBEK'S TITMOUSE.

Lophoplianes WoUweberi, Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus, xxxi. Sept. 1850, 478. — Baird,
Birds N. Amer. 1858, 386 ; pi. liii. f. 1. Ib. Rev. Amer. Birds, 79. — Couiis, Pr. A. N.
Sc. 1866, 79.

Parus annexus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1850, 103 ; pi. i.

Lophophanes (jalealus, Cabanis, Mus. Hcin. 1850, 90.

Sp. Char. Central portion of crest ash, encircled by black, commencing as a frontal
band and passing over the eye. Chiu, throat, a hne from behind the eye and curving

44

SIXOLVG BIRDS— OSCIXES.

round the auriculars to the throat, and some oeeipital feathers, black. A white Hne from
above the e}e mai-ginmg the crest, with the cheeks below the eye, and under jjarts gener-

ally, -white. A black half collar on the uape. Ujjper parts of body ashy. Length about
4.60 ; wing, 2.50.

Hab. Southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico and Arizona. South into Mexico.

Dr. Coues found tlii.s species a permaneut and abuudaut resident at Fort
Wliipple, Arizona, as well as elsewhere in the Territory. Its habits appear
much like those of its allies. (Baird.)

Gexls PARUS, Lixxjins.

Parus, LiKN^cs, Syst. Kat. 1735 (Agassiz).

Gex. Char. Head not crested. Body and head stout. Tail moderately long, and
slightly rounded. Bill couicaf not very stout ; the upper and under outlines very gently

p. montanus.

PARID.E — PARUS.

45

and slightly convex. Tarsus but little longer tluui middle toe. Crown and thi-oat gener-
ally black.

p. atricapitlus.

There are five otlier Eastern species, several very closely allied.
Farus occidentalis, Baird.

THE WESTERN TITMOUSE.

Pams occidentalis, Baird, V. R. Rep. Birds, IX. .391 ; Rer. 81. — Cooper and Suckley,
XII. iii. Zool. ofW. T. 194.

Sp. Cii.\k. Tarsi lengthened. Tail gi-aduated ; outer feather about 0.25 of an inch
shorter than the middle. Above dark brownish ash ; head and neck above and below
black, separated on the sides by white ; beneath hght rusty yellowish brown, scarcely

X

whiter along the middle of body. Tail and wings not nuieh edged with whitish.
Length, about 5 inches ; extent, 7.50 ; wing, 2.50 ; tail, 2.40. Iris brown, bill black, feet
gray.

Hah. North Pacific Coast of the United States.

Tills species was considered by Xuttall and Newberry to be identical with
the Eastern P. atricapillus, and indeed it differs very slightly from that bird
in plumage, while its liabits are almost the same.

46 SrNClIXr, BIRDS— OSCINES.

I have not met with this species in the southern lialJ' ol' Calitbrni;i, but it
doubtless visits the northern jjart towards tlie coast in winter at least, as it
is abundant near the Columbia l\iver. There it is generally found among
the deciduous trees along streams and oak-groves, busily seeking food among
the leaves and branches, frequently uttering its lively call of chickadce-dcc-
dce, and a variety of other notes, many of them quite tender and musical.
It feeds on insects and seeds, and is very fond of fresh meat, fat, and crumbs
of bread. They migrate but little, remaining, even A\heii the ground is
covered with snow, at the Columbia.

Their nest is made m a hole burrowed near the top of a dead tree in rot-
ten wood, and their eggs, still undescribed, probably resemble those of the
Eastern species, which lays from six to twelve, w:hite witli brown specks.
(Nuttall.)

Parus montanus, Gambel.

THE MOUNTAIN TITMOUSE.

Purus moiituHus, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. I. April, 1843, 259. (Santa Fe.) Ib. Pr. A. N. Sc.
III. Feb. 1S47, 155. Ib. Jour. A. N. Sc. 2(1 Series, I. Dec. 1847, 35; pi. viii. f. 1.—
Cassin, Ulust. I. 1853, 18. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. 394; Rev. 82. — Neweeert, VI.
iv. 79. — Heekmanx, X. vi. 42. — Cooper and Scckley, XII. iii. 194.

Sp. Cii.^it. Head and neck above, with inider part of head and throat, glossy black ;
forehead, line above the eye and one below it, involving the auriculars, white. These
stripes embracing between them a black line through the eye and confluent with the black

of the head. Above, ashy: l)eneath similar, but paler; the u]iper part of bi-east, and mid-
dle line of belly, white. Length, about 5.20; extent, 8.00; wing, 2.70; tail, 2.50. Lis
brown ; bill black ; feet lead-color.

Ilab. Eocky ]\lijuntains, to Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range.

This seems to l)e the common species of the Sierra NeA'ada, esjjeciaUy on
their east slope, and I have .shot one, proliably of this sjjecies, near San
Diego, in Februaiy, but the specimen was destroyed by a cat. Its habits, as
far as kno^^^l, are exactly like those of F. occidentalis.

PARID.E — PSALTRIPARUS. 4 7

Panis rufescens, Townsend.

THE CHESTNTJT-BACKED TITMOTTSE.

Pants rufescens, Towxsend, Juur. A. N. Sc. riiilii. VII. ii. 1837, 190. — Acdubox, Orn.
Biog. IV. 1838, 371 ; pi. 353. In. Birds Amer. II. 1841, 158; pi. 129. — Cassin, Illust.
I. 1853, 18. — B.\IRD, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 394. — Heekmann, X. vi. 42. — CoorER
ami SuCKi-EY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 194.

Sp. C'h.\u. Whdk' head and nock abo\'C, and throat from bill to upper part of breast,
sooty blackish-brown. Siiles of heail and neck, u])per part of breast, and middle of body,

white ; back and sides dark Ifrownish-chestnut. Lenijth, 4. 75 ; extent, 7.50 ; wing, 2.40 ;
tail, 2.16. Iris brown ; bill black ; feet lead-color.

Hah. Pacific Coast of the United States, to northern Rocky Mountains.

This is the only species I have found near the coast of this State, and
only in the mountains as far south as Santa Cruz, wliere they are per-
manent residents, as they are towards the north. They resemble P.
occidcntalis closely in lialnts, but seem more partial to the evergreen
coniferous forests, and tlieir notes are more faint and lisping. They
are amusing and familiar little birds, very fond of each other's society.
Their eggs I have never found.

'^on'^

Genus PSALTRIPARUS, Bonaparte.

Psnltripnrus, Bonaparte, Coniptes Rendus, XXXI. 1850, 478. {Type, P. melanotis.)
Psalliia, Cassin, Illust. N. Amcr. Birds, 1853, 19. (Not of Tcniminck.)

Gex. Char. Size very small and slender. Hill very small, short, compressed, and
witli its upper outline much curved for the terminal half. Upper mandible much deeper
than under. Tail long, slender, much graduated ; much longer than the wings ; the feath-
ers very narrow. Tarsi considerably longer than the middle toe. No black on the crown
or throat.

48

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

p. minimus.

The type of this genus is the P. mdanotk, or the Black-cheeked Titmouse,
species found on the table-lands of Mexico, but although included by some

in the list of birds of the United States, not yet actually detected within our
teiTitory.

Psaltripanis minimus, Towxsend.

THE LEAST TITMOUSE.

Parus mim'mus, Towvrexd, Jour. A. N. Sl\ riiila, VII. ii. 183", 190. — Audubon", Om.
Biojr. IV. 18.38, 382 ; \)\- 3.53, f. .'), 6. Ib. Birds Anier. II. 1841, 160; pi. \30. — Psallria
mimma, C.\ssiN, lUust. I. 1853, 20. — Heermaxn, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 38. — Psallriiianis
viinimtis, Bonap.^rte, Comptcs Rendus, XXXVIII. 1854. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX.
Birds, 397. — Cooper and Sucki.ey, XII. iii. Zool. of \V. T. 195.

Sp. Cii.\r. Tail lonjr, fcathors {rradnated. Above, ratlipr dark olivaceous-cinereous;
top and sides of head smoky-brown. Beneath, pale whitish-brown, darker on the sides.
Lensith about 4.25 mches; extent, .5.70 ; wing, 2.00 ; tail, 2.25. Iris brown ; bill and feet
black.

Hab. Pacific Coast of the United States, east to the Sierra Nevada.

Tliese little birds frequent the evergreen oaks in small flocks or families
throughout the year, as far uortli at least as San Francisco, and probably much

PARID.E — rSALTKIPARUS. 49

farther, as they appear along the Columbia by the first of April. They are
usually observed scattered in the trees near together, keeping up a constant
chirping call, and following each other fmin tree to tree, thorouglily explor-
ing the foliage for their insect food.

As early as March 1st, near San Diego, 1 fcjund a newly Iniilt nest, liut
witliDUt eu<;s. At tliat time thev are in i)airs, Init an alarm soon brings
others around, anil the flock does not prol)ably scatter far during tlie breed-
ing season, though I have ne\'er found nests very near together. The great
size of the nest, compared to the bird, would lead us to think that the whole
flock united to buihl one. It is al)Out eight inches long, and three inches in
diameter, outside ; inside, 5 X 1-50 ; cylindrical, and suspended by one end

from a low branch. It is in fact a long purse, witli an opening near the top,
constructed of lichens, gatliered from the neigldjoriug In'anclies, mixed with
slender stems and heads of weeds, sliells of insect larvre, down of jilants, etc.
At San Diego, I found two nests on the 9th of May, one containing eggs,
deserted when half hatched, and another in the same bush witli seven pure
white eggs already sat upon, measuring 0.60 X 0.45 inch. Tlie number is
from six to eight (Heermann), and Nuttall found them already hatching liy
the middle of May, in Oregon, so that they probably are usually a niontli
earlier in this State.

When one is killed, the others come round it with great show of anxiety,
and call plaintively until they find that it Avill not foUow them. At such
times they become so fearless as almost to allow of being taken in the
hand.

Psaltriparus plumbeus, ?.,\iun.

THE PLUMBEOUS TITMOUSE.

Pmltriaplumbm, Baiud, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. VII. June, 18.'>4, 118. (Little Colorado R. N.
Mcx.) — Psaltriparus phimliciis, Baihd, P. R. Rej). IX. BinU, .398. — Rev. Amcr. Bird.s,
79. — Kennerly, X. iv. 25, pi. 33, f. 2. — Couks, Pr. A. N. S. 6G, 79.

Sp. Cn.\R. Tail limjr, feathers fjradiiated. Above, rather lis;ht olivaceous-cinereous.
Top of head rather clearer ; torehead, chin, and sides of head, pale sinok)--brown. Be-

50 SIXGING BIRDS— OSCrNTES.

neath, brownish-white, scarcely darker on the sides. Lenfrth, about 4.20 inches ; wing,
2.15; tail, 2.50.

Ilab. Soullicrn Rocky Mountains (to Sierra Kcvada, Cal. C.') Gruber.)

This species was found liy r)r. Keiinerly, along the eastern branch&s of the
Colorado, and probably at times comes down to that valley, though I saw
none of them at Fort Mojave. According to Dr. Kennerly, they seem to
have much the same habits as P. minivius, but frequented the tops of the
leafless cottonwood-trees, probably where there were few if any others. He
notes that specimens from the Little Colorado all had dark eyes, while those
from Williams Fork had yellow. This is a diiference never noticed before
in small birds of the same species, though common among hawks, depending
on difference of age.

Dr. Coues found tlie s])ecies alnmdant at Fort "Whipple, Arizona, and no-
ticed the same difference in the color of the eyes.

Genis AURIPARUS, P.-urd.

Atiriparus, Baikd, Rev. X. Amer. Birds, 8.i. .Inly, 1S.')4. (Type, ^Eyllhahtsflaviceps, SuND.)

Gex. Char. Form sylvicoline. Bill conical, nearly straight, and very acute : the com-
missure very slightly and gently curved. Xostrils concealed by decumbent bristles.

Wings long, Httlc roundeil : the first quill ludC the second : third, fourth, and fifth quills
nearly equal and longest. Tail slightly gi-aduated. Lateral toes equal, the anterior muted

PARIDiE — AUKIPARUS.

51

at the extreme base. Hind toe small, about equal to the lateral. Tarsus but Uttle longer
than the middle toe.

In the " Eeview," Professor Baird lias formed this genus for one species,
on account of its difi'eriug from Faroides (type, P. pcndulinus), in a curved

A. Jiaviceps,

bill, longer tarsi, smaller claws, and rounded tail. It differs from other
Paridce, in its longer wings and other characters.

Auriparus flaviceps, Sundevall.

THE YELLOW-HEADED TITMOUSE.

^■Erjithalus flaviceps, Sundevall, UlVi-rsigt af Vet. Ak. Forhandl. Vll. v. 1850, 129.
(Sitka or California.) — Heerm.ixn, P. E. Rep. X. vi. 43. — Paroidcs flaviceps, B.\ied,
P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 400. — U. S. and Mex. Bound. Rep. ; pi. xv. f. 2. — .luri'/jaras
flaviceps, B.iiRD, Rev. N. Amer. Birds, 85, July, 1864..— CouES, Pr. A. N. S. 66, 79.

Conirostrum ormitum, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, V. May, 1851, 113; pi. v. f. I.
(Texas.)

Sp. Cii.\k. Above, cinereous ; head, all round yellow ; lesser wing coverts chestnitt ;
beneath, brownish-wliite. Length, 4.50; extent, 0.4O ; wing, 2.12; tail, 2.35. Iris brown;
bill black ; feet lead-color.

Hab. Rio Grande to Mojave River, Calilbrnia. Cape St. Lucas.

I found numbers of this beautiful little bird at Fort Mojave during the
wholu winter, frequenting the thickets of Algarobia and other shrubs, and

52 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

liaving habits rather intermediate between those of the titmice and war-
blers, coiTesponding with their intermediate form. They had something of
tlie same song as the Pariis, and a loud call, generally nttered as they sat
on a high twig, besides a lisping triple note like that of Uec-ta-tu.

On the loth of ^^larcli, I found a ]iair l)uilding, first forming a wall nearly
spherical in outline, out of tlie tliorny twigs of the Alijarohia (in which tree the
nest is usually built), then lining it M'itli softer twigs, leaves, down of plants,
and feathers, covering the outside with tliorns, until it becomes a mass as
large as a man's head, or 9 X 5.50 inches outside, the cavity 4.50 X 2.70, with
an opening in one side, just large enough for the bird to enter. On the
27th of March, I found the first nest containing eggs, and afterwards many
more. There were in all cases four eggs, pale blue, v>\i\\ numerous small
brown spots, chiefly near the large end, though some had very fe\\' spots and
were much paler ; size 0.60 X 0.44 inch. In one nest which I watched, they
hatched in about ten days, and in two weeks more the young were ready to
leave the nest.

I noticed the nests of this liird in tlie A![/aroIiias that grow in a few places
on the mountains west of the Colorado Valley, and along INIojaAe Eiver as
far w'est as " Point of Eocks," where that tree ceases to grow. They were
exceedingly wild in that district, and no doubt leave it for the Colorado Val-
ley "in winter, as I saw none of them there in December.

Sub-Family SITTING.

Char. Body depressed. Bill about etpial to, or longer than the head.
Wings much pointed ; much longer than the nearly even tad. Tarsus
shorter than the middle toe and claw, wliich are about eipial to the hinder.
Plumage more compact than in I'urhuc.

The Sittina' are represented in America by only a single genus, Sitta,
with several species, two of whicli are peculiar to the "Western regions, two
to tlie Eastern, and one common to both. Other forms belong to the Old
AVorld, one of them, Sittdla, peculiar to Australia.

The Old World species of Sitta amount to about eight, one of these,
recently discovered in Northern China, having a very close resemblance to
S. Carolinensis. There is no species, however, which is found in both
America and Europe, or Asia.

PAR1D.T2 — SITTA.

53

Genus SITTA, Linn^.us.

Sitta, Lixxj:us, S^st. Kut. 1735 (Agassiz)

Gkn. Char. Bill subulate, acutely puiuted, compressed, about as long as tbe head ; cul-
lueii and commissure nearly straight ; gouys convex and ascending ; nostrils covered by a

5. acitleata.

tuft of bristles directed fijrwaril. Tarsi stout, scutellate, about equal to the middle toe,
much shorter than the hinder, the claw of which is half the total length Outer lateral
toe much longer than inner, and nearly equal to the middle. Tail very short, broad, and

i9. Carolhiensis.

nearly even ; the feathers soft and truncate. AVings reaching nearly to the end of the
tail, long and acute, the first jirimary one third the length of the third, or less.

54 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Sitta aculeata, Cassin.

THE WESTERN NUTHATCH.

Sitta CaroUnensis, G.iielin, of West Coast, Nuttall, Man. I. 2(1 cj. 695. — Newberry, P. R.

Rep. VI. iv. 79.
Sitta aculeata, C.vssiN, Pr. A. N. So. Phila. VIII. Oct. 1856, 254. — Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX.

Birds, 375. — Kenneuly, X. iv. 26 ; pi. 33, f. 4. — Heermann, X. vi. 55. — CoorEU

aud SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 193.

Sp. Chak. Above, ashy-blue ; top of head and neck black. Under parts and sides of
head, to a short distance above the eye, white. Under tail coverts, and tibial feathers
brown ; concealed primaries white. BUI very slender and long. Length, C inches ; ex-
tent, 10.50 ; wing, 3.50 ; tail, 2.12. Iris brown ; bill black ; feet gray.

Ilab. Pacilic Coast, and east towards the Rocky Mountains.

This is not a common bird soiitli of San Francisco, and only seen there in
the colder months, but I ha\'e ibiiiid tliem near San Diego in February. I
saw none even in the Coast Mountains in summer, near Santa Cruz ; but
northward they become numerous at that season, frequenting chiefly the
groves of deciduous oaks, constantly creeping about their trimks aud branches
in search of insects, and occasionally seeking for them on the roofs and walls
of houses. Their habits are similar to those of S. Canadensis, but they are
i-ather slower in movements, and their notes consist of a single harsh call,
uttered occasionally, and answered by their comrades. Their nest and eggs
are still unknown.

Sitta Canadensis, Linx.eus.

THE RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH.

Sitta Canadensis, LiNN-EUS, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 177. — Nuttall, Man. I. 1832,583. — Au-
dubon, Oin. Biog. II. 1834, 24; V. 474; pi. 108. Ib. Birds Anier. IV. 179; pi.
248.- Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 376. — Coopek and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool.
ofW. T. 193.

Sitta varia, Wils. Am. Orn. I. 1808, 40 ; pi. ii.

Si". Chau. Above, ashy-bhie. Top of head black ; a white line above, and a black one

PARID^ — SITTA. 55

tliroui'h the eve. Cluii white ; rest of under parts rusty-brown. Length aliout 4.50 in-
ches ; extent, 8.25 ; wing, 2.(50.
liab. North America generally.

I have not myself met with this bird in California, but it has been ob-
tained by Dr. Heermann, in the Sacramento Valley, ami a .straggler, as far
south as Fort Yuma, \^y Lieutenant Ive.s'.s exploring party in 1858-59. It
is very common toward.s the north, in company with S. aculcata, and ha.s

similar haljits, but is rather quicker in its motion.s, and with a more varied
call of several notes, resembling that of the chicadees (Farus). Both
occasionally frequent pine forests, especially those that are open. The
nest, according to Audubon, is sometimes in the hollow of a low stump or
tree (not burrowed out), and the eggs are four, bluish- white, sprinkled with
reddish dots.

Sitta pygmaea. Vigors.

THE CALIFORNIAN NUTHATCH.

S if ta pi/r/mcpa, Vigors, Zool. Beechey's Voyage, 18.39, 2.'j ; pi, iv. — Audubov, Om. B!og.
V. 18.39,6.3; pi. 415. In. Birds Amer. IV". 1842, 181; pi. 2.'j0. —Newberry, Zool.
Cal. Or. Route; P. R. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1857, 79. — Baird, IX. Birds, 378. — Cooper
and SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 193.

Sp. Cii.\r. Above, ashy-blue ; head and upper part of neck greenish ashy-brown, its low-
er border passing a little below the eye, where it is darker ; nape with an obscure whitish
spot. Chin and throat whitish ; rest of lower parts brownish-white ; the sides .and behind
like the b.ack, but paler. Middle tail feather like the back ; its basal half with a long
white spot; its outer web edged with black at the base. Length about 4.50 inches; ex-
tent, 8 ; wing, 2.70. Iris brown ; bill black ; lead-color at base ; feet gray.

Hub. Rocky Mountains, lat. 49°, and Pacific Coast south to Monterey.

A specimen from Monterey, — the original locality of tlie species, — is
much smaller than one from the Sierra Nevada, at Lake Tahoe, but may be
younger, though both were killed in September. The difference is 4.30 —
7.50 — 2.60 to 475 — 8.25 — 2.75, jMssibly the diflereuce between the size
of the sexes.

5Q SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

I have not seen tliis species south of Monterey, although probahly occnr-
ring farther south nloiii; tlie mountains. At tliat place there is an exten-
si\e pine forest coming down to the coast, and the summer resort of several
northern species, whicli are rare in other localities of the loAver country, but
there find a climate rendered ipiite cool V)y tlie sea breeze and frequent fogs.
They also frequent the moiuitains of New JMexico, and one was obtained

near the Colorado Eiver by Lieutenant Ives's exploring party. Northward
they avoid the dense forests, prefening those that are open, especially of the
true pines, and there wander about in large parties, chirping continually like
young chickens, and hunting for insects among the foliage and brandies.

Their nest and eggs resemble those of the closely allied S. pusilla of
the Southern Atlantic States, which builds in hollow trees a few feet from
the ground. The eggs, laid in March, are white, with reddish dots, and
number from four to six.

Family C'ERTHIAD.^.

Chae. First primary very short, less than half the second ; outer lateral
toe much the longest ; hind toe exceeding both the middle toe and the
tarsus, whicli is scutellate anteriorly, and very short. Bill slender, as long
as or longer than the head, without any notch. Entire basal joint of the
middle toes united to the lateral.

Sub-Fajiily CERTHIAN^.

Char. Bill much compressed and greatly decur\-ed ; gonys concave.
Tail long, cuneate ; the feathers stiffened at the tips.

CERTIIIAD.E — CERTinA.

57

Genus CERTHIA, Lixx.eus.

Certhia, LiNN.Ens, Syst. Nat. 1735 (Gray). (Type, C.Jhmiliaris.)

Gen. Ch.\r. Bill as long as the head, slemler, much compressed and deciuTcd from
the base ; without notch or rictal bristles. Tarsi distinctly scutellate, very short, not longer

C. Americana.

than the outer lateral toe, which mur'Ii exceeils the inner, reaching nearly as far as the
middle toe. Hind toe longer than the middle one ; its claw more than half the total lenn-th.
Claws all very long and acute. Tail rather longer than the wings, arched or vaulted.

C. Amerirnnn.

graduated or ouneate; the feathers very acute at the tips, the shafts stiffened- First pri-
mary rather more than one third the fourth or longest one. Color above brown, streaked
with white ; beneath, white.

58 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Certhia Mexicana, Gloger.

THE WESTERN CEEEPEE.

" Certhia Americana, Bonapaktk." Nuttall, Man. 2d cd. I. 701 (referring to Western
bird). — Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 372 (in part). — Kenxerly, X. iv. 2G. — Heer-
MANN, X. vl. 42. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 192. — Baird, Birds
N. Amcr. 372 ; pi. 83, f. 2. Ib. Rev. N. Amer. Birds, 89, July, 1864.— Certhia Afexi-
coiOT, " Gloger, Handbueh," Reichexbacii, llandbucli Spec. Orn. I. 18.51,265; pi.
l.xii. f. 3841, 3S42. — Si-later, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1850, 290. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX.
Birds, 923.

Sr. Cn.vR. Bill about the length of the head. Above, dark brown, with a rufous shade,
each feather streaked centrally, but not abruptly, with whitish ; rump brownish-orange.
Beneath, almost silky white ; the under tail coverts with a faint rusty tinge. A white streak

over the eye ; the ear oovcrts streaked with whitish. Tail feathers brown centrally, the
edges paler yellowish-brown. Wings with a transverse bar of pale reddish-white across
both webs. Length, 5.25 ; extent, 7.50 ; wing, 2.50 ; tail, 2.60.

JIdb. North America generally.

Cei!TIII.\ Mexicana, Gloger. '• A Mexican specimen, and one from Fort Tejon. Cali-
fornia, are darker than those from either coast, the rump brownish-orange, the light bars
on winfs narrower and less distinct. Beneath duller white, the throat similar. Bill con-
siderably longer. Others from the AVest Coast seem, however, to be intennediate in these
characters, though all hn\e a darker color and longer bill than Eastern specimens."
(Baird.)

The smaller size of Oloocr's specimens would correspond with the nsnal
nde as to Southern lurds, and the distinction lietween the .species must rest
on the darker hues and lonoer hill of the "Western.

This prettily marked hut inconspicuous little liird is found in winter
throughout the higher mountains and the Coast Ranges, as far south as Santa
Cruz, hut I have not seen it south of San Francisco in summer, though
douhtless living at that time in the higher Sierra Nevada. They frequent
chiefly the coniferous trees, creeping up and down their trunks and branches,
seeking insects in the crevices of the bark, and so nearly resemhle it in gen-
eral color tliat they are seen with difficulty when not in motion, and often
their shrill \\'iry notes are heard when the bird itself is scarcely visible Avith-

TROGLODYTID.E — THE WRENS — CA^klPYLORHYNCHLSTiE. 59

out careful search, the cry having tlie property of seeming quite distant from
the Ijinl itself. lu March I have heard from them a faint Ijut exceed-
ingly sharp-toned song, somewliat resembling that of a wren.

The nest and eggs of our species have not yet been described ; but the
Eastern bird, wliich it so much resembles, is said by Au(hibon to seek out
the deserted hole of a woodpecker, scpiirrel, or an accidental cavity in a tree,
where it makes a nest of grass and lichens, warmly lined with feathers, and
lays seven or more eggs of an ashy-white, marked with small reddish-yellow
dots.

Family TEOGLODYTID^, The Weens.

Chae. No bristles along the gape ; the loral featheis with bristly points ;
the frontal feathers generally not reaching to the nostrils. Xostrils varied ;
exposed or not covered Ijy feathers, and generally overhung Ijy a seale-like
membrane. Bill usually without notch. Wings much rounded, about ecj^ual
to tail, which is graduated. Primaries ten, the first generally about half the
second. Basal joint of middle toe usually united to half the basal joint of
inner, and the whole of that or more to the outer. Lateral toes about equal,
or the outer a little the longer. Tarsi covered with transverse scales in
front.

This family is quite characteristic of America, where it is universally dis-
tributed, few being found in the Old World. An unusually large proportion
of the species of the United States extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
although in the extremes of their distribution exhibiting slight permanent
variation from each other.

Sub-Family CAMPYLORHYNCHIN.E.

Chae. Tad plane ; nearly even, or slightly rounded, the first and second
feathers shghtly graduated ; the feathers very broad, tlie longest with the
width about one fifth the length. Size medium.

Of this group of wrens but two species are found within the limits of
North America. While, howe\'er, many belong to ^Middle and South
America, none have yet been detected in the West Indies. The species
are much the largest of the Troijlodytidce, although having, to a con-
siderable extent, the same habits.

GO

siX(;i.\(; luuDs — (jscines.

Genus CAMPYLORHYNCHUS, Siix.

Campijlvr]iijiich\is, Si'ix, Av. Bnis. 1824 (Agassiz).

Gkn. Char. Bill iis long as llic liu:ul : nut iiutrln-(l : (.■uniiiivssc'd. Culmen aiul coiii-
niissure bolli greiilly cluciirveil ; gonvs nearly sti'aigUt. Tarsus lunger than middle toe,
distinctly scutellate ; inner lateral tue a little tlu^ longer ; hind toe reaching nearly to the
middle ol' the middle claw ; slun-ter than its digit. Wings about as lung as tail ; exposed

C. hrunncicnpillua.

portion of first qnill about two thii'ds that of second, and rather more than half the longest,
or fourth. Tail feathers very broad, plane: the longest nearly c\en. with the width about
one fifth its length ; the two lateral graduated ; the outer about five sixths the middle.
Plumage soft and loose. Color brown ; streaks on the body. "Wings and tail transversely
barred.

r. hrutiiificapiUus.

TROGLODYTLDJi — THE WRENS — CAJMPYLOKHYNCHUS. Ql

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, Lafressaye.

THE CALIFOENIAN CACTUS-WEEN.

Picolaptes brimneicapillui, Lafresxaye, Giierin JIag. de Zuol. 1835, 61 ; pi. xlvii. (California.)
— Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lvu. V. May, 1851,114. (Texas.) — IIeermanx, Jour. A.
N. Su. Pli. 2d ser. II. Jan. 1853, 263. — Cassi.v, lUust. I. 1854, 156; pi. xxv.— Ctim-
jii/loi-lii/nchus bruniicicajiil/iis, Gray, Genera, I. March, 1847,159. — Baiku, P. K. Rep.
IX. Bird.<, 355. — Heerm.ixx, X. vi. 41.

Sp. Char. Bill as long as the head. Aljove, brown ; darkest on the head, which is
unspotted. Feathers on the back streaked centrally with white. Beneath, whitish, tinged
with rusty on the belly ; the feathers of the throat and upper parts, and under tail coverts,
with large ronnded black spots ; those of the remaining under parts with smaller, more

linear ones. Chin and line over the eye white. Tail feathers black beneath, barred sub-
terminally (the outer one tbronghout) with white. Length, 8.50; extent, 11.50; wing,
3.75 ; tail, 3.25. Iris blood red ; Ijill horn-color, whitish below ; feet whitish-brown.
Hab. Valleys of Rio Grande and Gila, to San Diego, California.

I found this interesting Ijird aljnndant, and already i)reparing to Ijuild nests,
near San Diego, as early as February 26th, but think they had been there
during the whole winter. They are, however, easily overlooked, as at most
times they keep close in the dense thickets of cactus, where early in the
morning the males mount to the top of some low tree, and utter a loud
harsh trill, reminding one of the song of the marsh-wren, but much louder
and more ringing. Several times after shooting one, I had to cut a path
for several yards through the thicket to get the sj^ecimen. The males were
then very quarrelsome, pursuing each other long distances, with slirill, angry
notes of jealousy.

62

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

At San Diego, about May 1st, I foimd several of their nests built in the
forks of the most thorny cacti, constructed of grass and fine twigs, with
tliick matted AvaUs, and in the form of a purse nine and a half inches
long and six wide, laid on its side. The eggs, from four to six, are of a
pale salmon red or white, mostly very thickly speckled with ashy and red
sjjots. Their size is 1 X 0.68 inch.

On the barren mountains, west of Colorado Valley I found a nest in
May, 18G1, built so openly that tlie young, then half-fledged, could be seen
through the walls. Tliis %\as probably adapted for the warmer climate.

In habits it resembles tlie wren, seeking for insects, and perhaps bun-ies,
among the cacti, chiefly on the ground, but I naver saw it climbing, as
represented in Cassin's plate.

It does not seem to I'ange north of lat. 35° in California.

Campylorhynchus afifinis, Xaxtus.

THE CAPE CACTUS-WBEN.

Campi/lorhjnchis affinis, Xantls, I'r. A. N. S. 1859, 29S. — Baikd, lb. 1859, 303. Ib. Rev.
Amer. Birds, 180.

Sp. Cii.\r. This s]H'i-iL's is very similar to C brunneicapillus, but may be readily dis-
tinguished by having the sjjots in the lower parts more unifonuly ditlused, instead of being
collected on the throat and jugulum. The spots are nuieh larger on the under parts, and
the posterior portion of the body lacks the cinnamon tinge. The tail feathers are black,
and all barred transver.sely with white, instead of having them entirely black with single
white band near the end (excepting the outer), as in hrunnekapillus.

Hah. Cape St. Lucas.

TROrxLODYTID^E — THE WRENS — SALPINCTES.

63

This interesting analogue of the Upper California species is extremely
abundant at Cape .St. Lucas, and will doubtless be detected in time, in
Southern California and Arizona. The haljits of the two birds are very sim-
ilar, both liuilding au iiuniuuse ne.st of dry grass, and laying a large salmon-

colored egg.

Genus SALPINCTES, Cabanis.

Salpincles, Cab.\nis, Wicgmann's Archiv, 1847, I. .32.3.

Gkx. C'n.vu. Bill as long a? tlio head ; all the outlines nearly- straight to the tip, then
dccurved ; nostrils oval. Feet weak ; tarsi ileeidedly longer than the middle toe ; outer
lateral toe much longer, reacliing to the base of the middle claw, and equal to the hinder.

S. obsoletit

Wings about one fifth longer than the tail ; the exposed jiortion of the first primary about
half that of the second, ami two fifths of the fourth and fifth. Tail feathers very broad,
plane, nearly even or slightly rounded ; die lateral moderately graduated.

S. obsotetus.

(34 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Salpinctes obsoletus, Sat.

THE ROCK WEEN.

Trajimh/tes olisoldus, Say, in Long's Expod. II. 1823, 4. S. Fork of Platte. — Ncttall,
Miin. 1. 18.32, 435. — AuD., Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 443 ; pi. 360. Ib. Birds Amcr. U. 1841,
113; pi. 116. — Newberry, Zool. P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1857, 80. — Heermann, P. R.
Rep. X. vi. 41. — Salpinclcs obsoletus, Cabaxis, Wieg. Arch. I. 323. — Baird, V. R.
Rep. IX. Birds, 357.

Sp. Char. Plumajre. very soft, and lax. Bill about as long as the head. Upper parts
brownish-gray, eaeh leather with a central line, and (e.xcept on the head) transverse bars
of dusky, and a small dull brownish- white spot at the end (seen also on the tips of the
secondaries). Rump, sides of the body, and posterior part of belly and under tail coverts
dull cinnamon, darker above. Rest of under parts dirty white ; feathers of throat and
breast with dusky central streaks. Lower tail coverts banded broadly with black. Inner

tail feathers like the back ; the others with a broad black bar near the end ; the tips cin-
namon; the outer on eaeh side alternately banded with tliis color and black. A dull white
line above and behind the eye. Length, 6 inches ; extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.40.
Iris brown ; bill black, yellow, or white below ; feet black.

Hah. High central plains through the Rocky jNIountains to the Cascades of Columbia
River and southward.

Tlii.s i.s an abuudaut species tlirougliout the dry, rocky, and barren districts
of the State, especially southward, where it comes to the coast ; but towards
the north they inhabit farther towards the interior, avoiding the wooded
region of the Coast IVIottntains, and even the warmer valleys, like that of
Santa Clara, reappearing towards the Sacramento A'alley, and north of this
State, again retreating eastward of the Cascade Eange. They are numerous
in summer throughoiit all the plains on both sides of the Eocky I\Iouutains,
and prolmbly do not migrate much to the south.

Tlieir favorite resorts are the rocks and canons, among which their loud,
shrill cliirp of alarm is frequently almost the only sign of life. They are

TROGLODYTIDJE — THE WRENS — CATHERPES.

65

ahvays actively engaged in hunting for insects in the crevices and low herb-
age, sometimes in autumn in families of five or six.

A nest brought to me from a pile of wood on the bank of the Upper Alis-
souri, in .hine, 1860, was comjjosed of a h.iose flooring of sticks, lined with a
great quantity of feathers of various birds, and contained nine eggs of a red-
dish color, thickly spotted with chocolate. I have found nests at San Diego
in the cavities under tiled roofs, but always Avitli young hatched, as early
as May.

Their song begins to be heard at Fort ilojave in February, and continues
through the spring. It is much more like that of the Sickle-biUs than that
of other VTens, being sweet and varied, but not very loud.

I did not observe them in the Colorado Valley after May 15th, and pre-
sume that most of them retired to the cooler mountains. Neither ha\'e I
seen them towards the summits of the Sierra Xe\-ada, biit on tlieir eastern
side tliey doulitless range to a liigli elevation, having Ijeeu found at Kla-
math Lake, Oregon, by Dr. Newberry.

Genus CATHERPES, B.vird.

Catherpes, B.urd, V. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 1858, 3.')6.

Gen. Cn.\n. Bill lonn;t'r than the head, .^lender, all the outlines nearly straight to the
tip, then pently deeurved, gonys least so : nostrils linear ; tarsus short, abo\it equal to the
middle toe, which reaches to the middle of the middle claw. Outer toe considerably

C. Mexicamis.

66

SIXGIXO BIHDS — OSCIXES.

longer than the inner, reaching beyond the base of the middle claw. AVings a little
longer than the tail ; the exposed portion of the first primary about half that of the fourth

C. ]\'Uxicanus.

and fifth. Tail feathers rerv liroad and pcrlt'otly plane, tail nearly even, the two lateral
graduated ; the outer about eleven twelfths of the middle.

Catherpes Mexicanus, Swaixson.

THE WHITE-THROATED WREN.

Thri/ofhonis Mexkamm, Sw.tixsos, Zool. Illust. i.l ser. I. 1S29; pi. xi. (Real del Monte,
Mexico.) — Tro!jlo(h/le-<: Mcricanus, Gray, Genera, I. 1S47, 159. — Heermanx, J. A. N.
Sc. 2d ser. 11. IS.3.3, 26.3. — Cassis, Illust. I. vi. 1854, 173 ; pi. xxx.

Certhia alhifrom, GiRAfD, IC Sp. Texan Birds, 1844 ; pi. viii.

Callurpes McrkaiiKS, Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 356. — Kexxeki.t, X. iv. 26.

Sr. Char. Bill considerably longer than the head; claws large. Head and neck
above dark ashv-brown, passing gradually into light rusty-brown on the rmnp ; the sides

of the body, b<dly. and under tail coverts similar, all these regions marked with small
rounded white and dusky s])ots, the latter in the form of waved bars on the feathers of the
back ; an obscure wliite line over the eye. Chin, tln-oat, and u]iper jiart of the breast

TROGLODYTIU.E — THE WRENS — THOGLODYTIN.E.

er

pure wliite. Tail i'eathoi's rusty-red on both sides, witli six or eiglit narrow transvei'se
bars of blacli. Eye brown ; bill and leet slaty. Length, 6.00 ; extent, 7. 65 ; wing, 2.50;
tail, 2.50.

Ilab. Valleys of the Kio Grande, Colorado, antl Gila, to San Joaiiuiu Valley, Calitbrnia.

I saw Imt once, at Fort Mojave, in April, a bird wliicli I thought might
be of tliis species, but could not shoot it on account of tlie dense thicket it
fretpteuted. Dr. Keniierly found them along Williams's Fork, among high
rocks, darting from one to another, and creeping al)Out their crevices very
rapidly, so that he could scarcely kill one, keeping up at the time a strange
ciy.

Dr. Heermann found them along the Calaveras and Cosuranes Pavers iu
fall and spring, very active, with a loud, sprightly song, heard at a consider-
able distance, and often repeated. They were searching for insects among
the large boulders along tlie river. He remarks that their hal)its and re-
sorts are the same as those of the Salpindcs ohsoldus.

I have not met with this bird myself iu the more northern country, or
near the coast, but obtained a specimen collected by Mr. Lorcjuin, some-
where in the San Joaipiin Valley.

Sub-Family TROGLODYTIKE.

Char. Tail feathers rather narrow ; the middle ones less than one sixth
as wide as long. Tail more or less vaulted or concave below ; usually con-
sideral)ly graduated. Tarsus longer than the middle toe, which exceeds
the hinder ones ; tlie lateral toes generally e([ual, and reaching the base of
the middle claw. Hind toe much longer than the lateral. Size diminutive.

68

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Genus THRYOTHORUS, \ieillot.

Thriothonis, V:eili.ot, Analyse, 1S16. (Not of ISIU.)
IViri/ollionis, Vieili.ot, Xouv. Diet. XXXIV. 1S19, i)5.
This name was intendud bv ViciUot to u|i|il_v tu tlic Ccri/iia jialuslris, Wilson; Thrijothorm arun-
dineus, Vieillot.

Gex. C'ii.\u. Bill about as long as the head; nearly straight to near the tip, whicli is
abniptl}' (leciirvcd with an obsolete notch. Gonys nearly straight. Hind toe nearly e(|iial
to the middle ; the lateral toes ecjiial, reaeliing to the base of the middle claw. Tarsus

T. LuUovicianiis.

longer than the middle toe. Wings about etjual to the tail, which is arched, and nearly
even ; the first or second lateral feathers moderately graduated ; the feathers narrow ; the
width of the longest about one tenth its length.

T. Bexokkii.

The type of the genu.s is T. Ludovicianus. The California species lielong
to a sub-genus Tliryomancs, the ch;\racters of ^vhieh are expressed in tlie
above diagram. There are several other species of the genus peculiar to
Mexico and Central America, and another closely allied form is Thri/ojAilus,
differing in having the nostril entirely exposed, instead of having a thick-
ened scale-like overhanging process.

TROGLODYTID.E — THE MREXS — TIIRYOTIIORUS. gg

Thryothorus spilurus, Vigors.
THE WESTERN MOCKING-WKEN.

Troglodi/tes spilurus, Vigors, Zool. Bcechcy's Voyage, 18; pi. iv. f. 1, 18.39. (California.)

Troijlodtjies Ifucoijastra, Gould, Pr. Zool. Sue. 1836, 39. (Tamaiilipas, Mexico. )

lyiri/olliorus Biicic/cii, \ar. spilurus, Baied, P. R. Kep. IX. Birds, 363, 1858. — Troglodi/tcs

BewicL-ii, Audubon, and other authors in reference to Pacific Coast hiril. — NEWiiERiir,

P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 80. — HEEB-ii.iNN, X. vi. 41. — Cooper and Suokley, XII. iii.

Zuul. of W. T. 189.

Si>. Cll.\r.. Bill shortrr lliau tin/ lu'ad. Tail lonicer than the winj;? ; much graduated.
Ui)per parts grayish-olive or bruwu ; beneath, grayish-white. A white streak over the eye,
the feathers edged above with brown. Exposed suriiice of the wings and the innermost
tail leathers closely barred with dusky ; the remaining tail feathers mostly black, barred

or blotched with wdiite at the tips, and on the whole outer web of the exterior feather,
and on the under tail coverts. Length, 5.50 ; extent, 7.00 ; wing, 2.25 ; tail, 2.50. L-is
brown ; bill brown, white, or yellow at base belo"W ; feet brown.

Var. leucogaslra, colors paler, above and below ; bill and tail longer.

Hab. Pacific Coast. Var. leucor/astni, east of the Sierra Nevada, and south into
Mexico.

This species aljouiids throughout the wooded parts of this State and
northward, fre(pieiiting the densest forests as well as the more ojDen gToves.
During the winter a few lived in the vicinity of Fort Mojave, iDut left,
probably for the mountains, in April. They winter also, throughout the
mild regions towards the coast as far north as Puget's Sound, and do not
leave their homes even when tliere has been considerable snow.

Though resembling closely the so-called mocking wrens of the Atlantic
side, I do not think that they really imitate other birds, though having a
great variety of songs, some of which resemble those of other birds, and are
well calculated to decei^'e one unaccustomed to them. I have often searclied
in vain ftn- some new bird, which I thought I heard singing ; and after
difficult scrambling tlirougli thickets in search of the author of the sound,
which retreated Ijefore me, at last caught a glimpse of the almost invisible
performer, to find that it was only this mocker.

70

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Near San Diego, April 21, ISfii, I discovered a nest of this species,
built in a low bush only three feet from the groiuid. It was (|uite open
abo\-e, formed of twigs, grass, etc., and contained five eggs just ready to
hatch ; white, with scattered brown specks near the lai'ge end. To be siu'e
of the species, I shot and }iruser\ed the female.

Genus TROGLODYTES, Yieillot.

Troglodytes, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II. 1S07, 52. (Type, T. aclon.)

Gex. Cii.vr. Wiugs longer than tlu' tail or nearly ecjnal. Tail ronndcd ; the lateral
feathers graduated. Hind elaw shorter than the rest of the toe. Back brown, obsoletely
waved with dusky.

>^

Srn-OEMs TROGLODYTES.

Wings about equal to the tail. Toes reaching to the tip of the tail. Bill nearly as
long as the head, compressed, deenr\ed.

TROGLODYTID.E — THE WRESTS — TROGLODYTES. 7I

Troglodytes Parkmanni, Audubon.

PARKMANN'S HOTJSE-WKEN.

Troglodytes Parhnanni, Aitdubox, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 310 (not figured). Ib. Birds Amer.
II. 1841, 133: pi- 122. — NUTT.S.LI,, Man. I. 2d ert. 483. — Baird, P. R. Rep. Birds,
IX. 3G7. — COOPEK .and Sucki-ev, XII. iii. Zool. of AV. T. 191.

Sp. C11.A.R. Tail and iving.s abnuf (.■(lual. Bill shorter than thr- hoad. Above, dark
brown, darker towards the head, brighter on the lannp. The feathers everywhere, e.xecpt
on the head and neck, barred with dusky. All the tail feathers barred from the base ;
the contrast more ^-ivid on the exterior ones. Beneath, grayish-white, tinged with light

brownish across tlic breast. Under tail coverts whitish, with dusky bars. An indistinct
line over the eye, eyelids, and loral region, whitish. Cheeks brown, streaked with whit-
ish. Length, 5.00; e.xtent, 6.50; wing, 2.12; tail, 2.12. Iris brown; bill dark brown,
bbii>li llesh-color at base below ; feet whitish or horn-brown.

llnli. Western America, on the plains, and from the Missouri to the Pacific.

This, the exact counterpart in habits of the Eastern honse-wren, is com-
inon in snnimer as thr m >rth as Puget's Sound ; but in winter I liave seen
liut few, and only in the Colorado A^alley. Tliere, true to their name, they
left the biishes, where they passed the day, to roost at nioht under tlie eaves
of the garrison buildings. In April they left that valley for the mountains,
liut some probably also winter towards the coast, as I have heard tliem at
San Francisco as early as the IGtli of [Marcli, and at Puget's Sound by
April 20th.

Throughout the wdiole coast slope, and probably most of the interior, they
Iniild their nests, beginning near San Diego in April. There I found sev-
eral nests in hollows of trees at various heights, from five to forty feet up,
all composed of a floor and barricade of long dry twigs, grass, and bark
loosely placed, but interw(j\-en so as to leave only just room for the liird to
squeeze in over them. t)n this is laid a large quantity of feathers, of all
kinds of birds, and frequently snake-.skins ; and the eggs, varying from five
to seven (and probaldy nine), are reddish-white, densely speckled with dark
cinnamon dots. Size 0.S8 X 0.50 incli. Tliey no doubt raise two broods
annually, like the Eastern bird.

72 SmGDfG BIRDS — OSCINES.

I have foiiiid a nest built in a horse's skull stuck iij) (in a pole ; and they
will accept any kind of accommodation jn'ovided for them, like the blue-
bird, being even contented with an old hat with a round hole in the crown,
nailed against a wall. The allied Eastern bird {T. wdon) will drive
the blueliinl and martin away from their dwellings, and keep posses-
sion, though so much the smaller and weaker. Its pugnacity is so gi'eat
that no more than one ])air can live in the same tree, or about the same
house, though several nests may be found, built liy the male in leisure
hours as an amusement, or to pro^'ide against accidents, but rarely if ever
to be occupied.

The song of the house-WTeu is nearly alike in both the Eastern and
Western species, but that of the latter is rather less strong and extended.
It is, however, lively and pleasing, though not much varied.

They feed on insects, especially spiders, and are attracted about buildings
in their search, gathering a wonderful number of them during the day,
especially when feeding their young. Like other wtcus, they are continu-
ally moving about in dark corners, scolding with a harsh chiiTup at sight of
an enemy, and especially hating cats, which they M"ill foUow at a safe dis-
tance, with every sign of anger, until far from their nest.

Though few ha^■e yet thought of furnishing a dwelling for this li"\'ely lit-
tle sonirster, it is ■well worthy of such encourauement, both for its cheerful
song and usefulness iu destroying insects. Let e\'ery one at least take the
troul)le to stick up some of the skulls so common in the country for the
birds to l)uild in.

This species winters in consideraljle numbers about Santa Cruz, Califor-
nia, where I found them in January, 1866. They have not yet become as
familiar about the towns as the T. melon in the East, biit will probably
be when the houses are surrounded by trees and shrubbery.

Sub-Gents ANORTHURA.

" Anorlhimi, Rexnie, 18.31." in Jloiit. Oniitli. Pict. (Baird.)

'Winfjs mucli lonj^pr than the very ?liort tail. Bill fhortor than the head, plender, nearly
straight. End of tarsus reaching to the tip of the tail. (Baird.)

T. hitemalls.

TROGLODYTID^ — THE WRENS — TROGLODYTES. 73

Troglodytes hyemalis, Vieillot.

THE WINTER WEEN.

Si/lvia Imrjlixhites, Wilson, Am. Orii. I. 18(18, 1.39; pi. viii. f. G.

Troglodi/les lii/emalis, Vieili.ot, Noiiv. Diet. XXXIV. 1819, 514. — SwAiNSON, T. B. Am.

II. 1831,318. —Audubon, Oni. Biog. IV. 1838, 430; pi. 360. Ib. Birds Amer. II.

1841, 128; pi. 121.— Ndttall, Man. 2(1 cd. 481.
Tm/Iof/ijti's Americamis, Heekjiann, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 41 (not of Auduuon ').
Tror/loc/i/les [Anorlhiira] hyemalis, Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 369. — Cooper and Suckley,

XII. iii. Zool. ofW. T. 191.

Sp. Char. Bill very straight, slender, and conical ; shorter than the head. Tail con-
siderably shorter than the wings, which reach to its middle. Upper parts reddish-brown,
becoming brighter to the rnmp and tail : everywhere, except on the head and upper part
of the back, with transverse bars of dusky and of lighter. Scapulars and wing coverts
with spots of wdiite. Beneath, pale reddish-brown, ban-ed on the posterior half of the

v. -

body with dusky and whitish, and sjiotted with white more anteriorly ; outer web of pri-
maries similarly spotted with pale brownish-white. An Indistinct pale litre over the eye.
Length, about, 4.00; extent, .5.7.5 ; wing, 1.80 ; tail, 1.25.

Hah. Nortli America ; California, in the mountains, south to Fort Tejon.

Thi.s little Nortlierner spends the stnumer among the dense evergreen
forests of the higher mountains nortli of lat. 38°, deserting at that season
even the lowlands along the Columbia Elver for more elevated regions.

Audubon states that he found several nests in the mountains of New
York and Pennsylvania, which were composed of moss, built into a half-
globular form against the lower part of a tree, with a hole in the side, look-
ing so much like the mossy knobs, common in such places, as easily to
escaj)e notice. The eggs were six, pale rosy-white, spotted with dark
red. The nest was lined witli rabl)it'.s fur and feathers of the grouse.

Our bird does not come down to tlie coast, near San Franci.sco, even in
winter, but may no doubt be found tlien north of tlie Bay. Its haunts are
the dense woods, piles of logs and Ijru.sh, fences, etc., where it creeps about
like a mouse, rarely flying or inouiiting the trees. Its song is a rather long

10

I-

SINGING lilRDS— OSCINKS.

and sweet, Init low warlile, as cheerfully j^iveii in gloomy weather as in the
sunshine, ami in the forest often the only cheering sign of life*

Genus CISTOTHORUS, Cabanis.

Cistolhnriis, Cabanis, Mus. Hi'in. 1850 -Til, 77. (Type, Tror/lodi/tes sleltaris.)
Tcbimtodi/lr.i, Cabanis, Mus. Heiii. 1850-51, 78. (Type, Ccrtlda palnstris.)
r/in'ol/mnis, ViEiLi.oT, Analyse, 1816, according to G. R. Gray. This name would apply
lietter to tlie liabits of Tliri/ot/iurus.

Gex. Cii.vn. Bill about as long as tlic lirad or much shorter, much compressed, not
notelieil, gentlv derurvod from the midiUe ; the gonys slightly concave or straight. Toes

C. palnstris.

reaching to the end of the tail. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. Hind toe longer than
the lateral, shorter than the middle. Lateral toes about erjual. Hind toe longer than or

C. pahtstris.

* T. Ameri'canus, Audcbon, mentioned liy Nuttall and Ilecrniann as an inhabitant of this coast,
was probably the present species, since no specimens of the true Amerlcamis have been collected.
I saw a few of the species about Santa Cruz, lat. 37°, on the coast of California, but not further
south.

TROGLODYTID^ — THE WRENS — CISTOTHORUS. 75

equal to iu digit. "Wings ratliei- longer than thu tail, all the feathers of which are much
graJuateil ; the lateral only two thb-ds the middle, the feathers narrow. Back black,
conspicuously streaked with white.

Cistothorus palustris, Wilson.

THE LONG-BILLED MAESH-WEEN.

Cfrtlu'a palustris, Wilson, Am. Oni. II. 1810, 58 ; pi. xii. f. 4. — Troglodytes palustris, BoNA-
p.vRTE, Obs. Wilson, 1S24, No. 66. — Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II. 18.32, 319. — Audu-
bon, Orn. Biog. I. 1831, 500 ; V. 1839, 467 ; pi. 100. Ib. Birds Amer. 11. 1841, 135 ; pi.
123. — Newbebry, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route; P. R. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1857, 80.— Heer-
MANN, X. vi. 54. — Thryotliorus palustris, Nuttall, Man. I. 1832, 439. — Bon. List,
1838. — Cistothorus (Telmatocli/tes) palustris, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 364.

Sp. C'li.vu. Bill about as long as head. Tail and wing nearly equal. Upper parts of a
dull reddish-brown, except on the crown, interscapular region, outer surface of tertials,
and tail feathers, which are almost black ; the first with a median patch like the ground
color ; the second with short streaks of white, extending round on the sides of the neck ;

the third indented with brown : the fourth barred with whitish, decreasing in amount from
the outer feather, which is marked from the base, to the fifth, where it is confined to the
tips ; the two middle feathers above like the back, and barred throughout with dusky.
Beneath, rather pure white, the sides and under tail coverts of a lighter shade of" Iirown
than the back ; a white streak over the eye. Length, 5.25 ; extent, 6.75 ; wing, 2.25 : tail,
2.00. Iris and feet brown ; bill brown, paler below.

Hab. North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific ; north to Greenland.

This little bird migrates in winter throughout the State, but I ha\'e not
observed their nests in the southern portions, and suppose they retire in
summer toward the north or the mountain-tojjs, as I have seen tliem about
Lake Tahoe, over six thousand feet above the sea. They winter near the
coast as far north as the Columbia, and are to be foiuid wherever there is a
marsh overgrown with the " tule," (Scir2)us palustris). Among these rushes
they live constantly, running through their dense coverts with great agility,

70 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES

clinging to them sideways M'liere none are jjrostrate, and rarely flying more
than a few yards at a time. 'J'lieir ibod consists entirely of insects, which
they capture at rest.

In the spring, and less often during the rest of tlie year, the males may
be seen flying up a few feet above the marsh, singing a slirill and quaint,
but rather musical ditty, Avith a sort of gurgling sound, as if coming
through the water below them. There is no variety in this song, with time
or locality.

The nest is constructed of reeds and sedges, interwoven in an oval form,
about six inclies long and four wide, having an opening in the side, and a
small internal cavity. Tlie rushes are wet when used, and mud is mingled
in tlie walls to give more tenacity. It is lined with fine grass, and some-
times feathers, the whole being suspended among the rushes by strong
bands passing round them, or it sometimes rests ou those that are bent
down, and is also tied to others still standin"-. The e<!os are six or eisht,
of a dark fawn, almost mahogany color. (Nuttall.)

Few nests are found inhabited near together, and it is supposed that the
males spend much of their spare time in building nests that are never used,
as does the house-wren. Audubon says that they build a new nest for the
second brood annually. Sometimes a single marsh will be seen to contain
hundreds of these nests within a short distance of each other.

Family MOTACILLID^.

Chak. Bill slender, sliorter than the head, notched at the tip ; rictus
without bristles. Basal joint of middle toe entirely free externally. Tarsi
distinctly scutellate, longer than the middle, but nearly equal to the hind
toe, which is very long, exceeding all the others ; the cbnv slightly cur\-ed.
Wing very long, pointed ; first quill almost the longest ; the tertials con-
siderably longer than the secondaries. Tail emarginate.

This family is represented in ISTorth America by three genera : two, An-
thus and Ncocorys, belonging to the Western United States. The thii-d
genus, Motacilla, not unfrequently occurs in the Northeastern States, or
near their borders {Motacilla alba), and is e^-en recorded as belonging to the
country about Behring's Straits, -where it is probable that the exjjlorers of
tlie liussian Telegraph Company will find it. It has a very great develop-
ment in Europe and Asia. South America has several species of Anihus,
all, however, of a group quite difterent from that to which A. Ludoviciamis
belongs, and characterized l.iy shorter and more rounded wings.

MOTACILLID.E — ANTHUS

77

Gknus ANTHUS, Bechstein.

Aiilhus, Bechstei.v, GciiK-iu. Natiirg. Deutschl. 1802 (Agassiz). (Type, Alauda spinoletta.)

Gkn. Char. Bill slender, inucli attuiuiated, and distinctly notched. A lew short
bristles at the base. Ciilmen concave at the base. Tarsi quite distinctly scutellate ;

A. Lridovicianus.

longer than the middle toe ; inner lateral toe the longer. Hind toe rather shorter than
the tarsus, but longer than the middle toe, owing to the long, attenuated and moderately
curved hind claw, which is considerably more than half the total length of the toe. Tail

A. Lridovicianus.

rather long, emarginate. Wing very long, considerably longer than the lengthened tail,
reaching to its middle. The first primary nearly equal to the longest. The tertials almost
as long as the primaries.

78 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Anthus Ludovicianus, Gmelin.

THE TIT-LAKK.

Alauda Liidonciana, Gmelin, Syst. Nut. I. 1788, 793. — Anthus Ludovicianus, Lichtenstein,
Verz. 1823, 37, No. 421. — Audubon, Birds Amer. III. 1841, 40 ; pi. 150. — Baird, P.
U. Rep. IX. Birds, 232. — Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. 170.

Alauda rufa, Wilson, Am. Oni. V. 1812, 89 ; \A. Ixxxi.K.

Arithus spinokUa, Bonaparte, Synopsis, 1828, 90 (not oi'Linnieub). — Audubon, Orn. Bio"-.
L 1832, 408 ; V. 1839, 449 ; pi. 80. — Xuttall, Man. I. 1832, 450.

Antlms wjiuiticus, Audubon. Name on pi. x. folio ed. and

Anthus pipitii^s, Audubon, Orn. Biog. I. 1832, 408; V. 1839, 449; pi. 80. (Youiifr '(]

Sp. CiiAii. {Female, in spring.) Above, olive-brown, eaeli IL-atlier slightly darker to-
wards the central portion ; beneath, pale dull buff, or yellowish-brown, with a maxil-
lary series of dark brown spots and streaks across the breast and along the sides. Ring
round the eye, and superciliary stripe yellowish. Central tail feathers like the back.

others dark blackish-brown ; the external one white, except at the base within ; a white
spot at the end of the second. Primaries edged with whitish, othei- quills with pale
brownish. Length, ()..50 ; wing, 3.45 ; tail, 2.95.

Hab. North America generally. Greenland (Reinhardt). Accidental in Euroi)e.

This little iucoiispiciwiis Lird is comiiuni tliroiighout the State, partieularly
in winter, t're([uentiiig the barest pLiiiis, especially near tlie •water, and often
coming into tlie city, where they perch on the roofs, and occasionally de-
scend into the streets. They seein to live by picking uji insects and seeds
in j)laces so barren that no other bird \\ill take the troulile to examine them.
Their note while here is merely a faint chirp or twitter when disturljed and
about to tiy ; but, according to Atidubon, the male sometimes rises on wing to
the height of eight or ten yards, uttering a few clear, mellow notes, and then
suddenly settles down near its nest, or on some projecting rock. The nest
he found in Labrador, made on moss-covered rocks or cliffs near the sea,
somewhat smik in the ground, and formed of fine grass, without any haii'
lining. The eggs were six, reddish-brown, with numeroiis dots and lines of
a deeper color. It is very likely that they build on the high momitaius

MOTACILLID.li — XEOCORYS.

79

within this State, or perliaps near the sea-shore, but the nest has never yet
been found on this coast. Great numbers often associate together in scat-
tered Hocks during winter, and their walk reminds us of the water-thrushes.

Genus NEOCORYS, Sclater.

Neocorys, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1857, 5. — Baird, Birds N. Amer. I8.5S, 2.33.

Gen. Cii.^R. Bill half as long as the head ; the eulmcn concave at the base, slightly ile-
curvccl at the tip. Rictns without bristles. Legs stout ; tarsi distinctly scutellate, longer
than the middle toe ; hind toe very long, equal to the tarsus, much longer than the mid-

N. Spra^uei.

die too, the claw but slightly cm-vcd, and about half the total length. Inner lateral toe
rather longer than outer. Wings much longer than tail ; first quill longest. Tertials
considerably longer than the secondaries. Tail rather short, emarginate.

A^. 'Spra^itfi.

Only one species of this genus has been described ; it belongs to the in-
terior plains of Xorth America.

go SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Neocorys Spraguei, Audubon.

SPEAGUE'S LABK.

Almula Spraguei, Addubon, Oin. Biog. VII. 1843, 335; pi. 486. — Ncocort/s Sprarjuei,
SCLATER, p. Z. S. 1857, 5. — Baird, Birds N. Amer. 1858, 234. Is. Rev. 156.

Sp. Cn.\R. Above, brown ; ;ill the feathcr.s edged with paler, especially on the neck,
where there is a brownish-yellow tinge. Beneath, dull white, with a collar of sharply
defined narrow brown streaks across the fore part and along the fides of the breast.
Lores and a superciliary line whitish. Tail feathers dark brown, the outer white ; the

next white, with the inner margin brown. Outer primary edged with white, and two
dull whitish bands across the wings. Bill and feet yellow, the former brown above.
Length, 5.75 ; wing, 3.35 ; tail, 2.50.

Hah. Missom'i and Saskatchewan Plains.

Tlii.s .species lia.s as yet only been found in the plains of the Upper Mis-
souri and the Saskatche^van, though it will probably be met with in the
Great Basin. It is said to he abundant in its region, though very few
specimens have ever been collected. It is a true skylark, the only one we
have, rising high in the air, and singing when out of sight, then descending
and concealing itself in the grass. The note is said to be quite as sweet
as that of the European skylark. (Baird.)

Family DENDECECID^, Warbleks.

Si/lmcnlidw of Baird and .authors.

CiiAR. rrimaries nine, the first quill nearly as long as the second or
third. Tarsi distinctly scuteUate the whole length anteriorly. Bill conical,

DENDRffiCID.E — THE WARBLERS — HELMINTHOPHAGA.

81

slendei-, or depressed, usuully half the lengtli of the head ; more or less
bristled or notched. Nostrils oval or rounded. Lateral toes nearly or qnite
equal, and shorter than the middle ; the basal joint of the middle free nearly
to its base, externally ; united for about half, internally.

The name Sylvicola belonging to a genus of land shells, it is manifestly
improper to give the family of birds a name derived from tliat genus.

This fanuly is pre-eminently American, or New World, and embraces
many species. Although a large iiroportion belong to North America, Init
few, comparatively, are found in California and the adjacent States.

Genus HELMINTHOPHAGA, f abanis.

nelminlhophacja, Cabaxis, Mils. Ilein. IS.'JO - fjl, 20. (Type, Si/h-ia riijicapitla.)

Gen. Char. Bill clonj^atod, conical, very acute ; the outlines very nearly straight,
sometimes slightly deourved ; no trace of notch at the tip. AVings long and pointed ; the

H. celata.

first quill nearly or quite the longest. Tail nearly even or slightly emarginate ; short and
rather slender. Tarsi longer than the middle toe.

H. nifirnpiUa.

11

82 SINGING BIKDS— OSCTNES.

Helminthophaga ruficapilla, Wilson.
THE NASHVILLE WAKBLER.

Si/lfia riifcnpilla, Wii.soN, Am. (tin. 111. 1811, 120 ; pi. xxvii. f. 3. — Aldubos, Oin. Biog.
I. 1832, 4.i0; pi. 89.

Sylvia niinc«/«V/a, WiLsox, Am. Oni. VI. 1812, 15. (General Index.) — St/lvia {Dacnis}
ruhrkapilla, NuTTAi.i., Man. I. 1832, 412 ( Vcrmirora, 2(1 ed. 472). — Ildinaiii nibricaplUa ,
AuDUiiOX, Svn. 1839, 70. In. Biids Amer. II. IS41, 103 ; pi. 113.

H(lmiiithnj>ha<ja nifiatpilki, Baikii, 1'. Iv. l\o]i. IX. Birds, 256. Ib. Rev. Anier, Birds, 17.1.

Sp. Ch.\I!. HiMil and neck above and on fides ash-gray, the crown with a patch of
concealed darl< l)rownisli-oraiige liidden hy ashy tips to the feathers. Upper ])arts olive-
green, brightest on the rnnip. Under parts generally, with the edge of the wing, deep
yellow ; the anal region paler ; the sides tingeil with olive. A broad yellowish white ring

ronml the eve ; the lores yellowi,sh ; no superciliary stripe. Tlie inner edges of the tail
featlu-rs margined with dull wdiite. Ftmale similar, but duller ; the under parts paler ;
but little trace of the red of the crown. Length, 4.65 ; wing, 2.42 ; tail, 2.05.
Hah. Eastern North America to the Missouri ; Greenland ; California.

TliouL^li ^\■ell known a.s an Eastern species, tins was not found in Cali-
fornia until 1S58, when ^Ir. J. Xantus found one at Fort Tejon. Afterwards,
in the sunmier of 18G3 ^Ir. F. Gruber collected many specimens in the
Sierra Nevada, near Lake Tahoe.

AYilson discovered this species near IS^ash^•ille, Tennessee, and was at-
tracted by the singular note it made, like the breaking of small dry twigs, or
striking two pebbles together six or seven times, loud enough to lie heard at
forty yards' distance. But little is yet known of their habits, excejit that,
as with others of the genus, the nest is made ou or near the ground in the
grass, and never on trees, like most of the Sylvicolidcv. As a summer bird,
it appears to be most abundant in New England and New Brunswick, where
its nest and eggs are taken every year by the indefatigable naturalists of
that portion of Nortli ^Vmerica. According to Mr. George A. Boardman, of
Calais, Maine, the nest is built in the grass, or sunk in a hollow of the
ground. The eggs are white, finely sprinkled with reddish, and arc the small-
est of all laid by our warblers, except, perhaps, those oi Mi/iodiodcs 2JUsinu^.

DENDRCECID^ — THE WARBLERS — HELlVIIiSrTHOPHAGA. 83

Helminthophaga celata, Say.

THE ORANGE-CROWNED WABBLER.

Sylvia celata, Say, Long's Expcil. H. Mts. I. 1823, 169. — Bonaparte, Am. Oni. L 1825,
45 ; p]. V. f. 2. — Sylvia (Daaiis) celata, Nuttall, Man. I. 1832, 413, Vermivora, 2d ed.

273. AuDUBOX, Orn. Biog. II. 1834, 449 ; pi. 178. — Ilelinaia celata, Addubon, Syn.

1839, 69. Ib. Birds Anier. II. 1841, 100; pi. 112. — Helmintliophaya celata, Baird, P.
R. Rep. IX. Birds, 257. — IIeermann, X. vi. 40. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii.
Zool. of W. T. 178.

Sp. Guar. Above, olive-grccii, rather brighter on the rump. Beneath, entirely gi-een-
ish-yellow, except a little whitish about the anus ; the sides tinged with olivaceous. A
concealed patch of pale brownish-orange on the crown, hidden by the olivaceous tips to
the feathers. Eyelids and an obscure superciliary line yellowish, a dusky obscure streak

through the eye. No white spots on wings or tail of /e7na?e, with little or none of the
orange on the crown. Length, 4.75 ; e.\tent, 7 ; wing, 2 25 ; tail, 2.00. Iris, feet, and bill
brown ; lower mandible yellow. In fall, the bill yellow, and feet and head blue.
Hab. Mississippi River to the Pacific ; south to Northern Me.xico.

An abundant and constant resident everywhere near the coast south of
San Francisco, and extending in siimmer to the summits of the Sierra
Nevada, and north to Puget's Sound.

They frequent the low shrubbery, even -wliere it forms the only vegeta-
tion, covering entire mountains, and Avhere there is no water for many
miles. There this plain little bird is entirely at home, busily seeking
for insects from morning till night, and usually showing its presence only
by a harsh chirp wlieii alarmed. About February 1st, at San Diego, and a
moiitli later near San Francisco, tlie males begin to sing their simple trill,
which is low, but rather musical, and audible for a long distance in tlie
silent regions tliey inhabit. Tliey also frequent high trees in open places,
but not the evergreen forests ; and I have seen one on the barren, water-
less island of Santa Barbara.

I have searched frequently for their nests, but never succeeded in finding
one. Audvtbon speaks of finding them in New Brunswick in fir-trees, built
of lichens and grass, and lined with fine fibres and feathers. The eggs
were four, pale green, with small lilack spots.

yj. SINGIXG JilKDS— OSCLNES.

Helminthophaga Luciae, Cooper.

LUCY'S WAEBLEE.
Hehiiintliojihaya Liiciw, Cooi-EK, Proc. Cal. Acad. N;i[. Sc. IL 186i, 120.

Sp. Char. Above, light ash-gray, witli iiartiallv concealed spot on vertex, and the
upper tail coverts chestnut brown, (jnills and tail tinged with brown, edges of ])ri-
niaries and coverts paler ; beneath white, tinged with yellowish, this color extending
to lores and around eyes, forming a i'aint line above and behind them. Quills j)lum-
beous beneath, also the tail tc-athers, the ontcr ol' which are edged with white Intel'-

\

nally, ami with a white patch on the inner web near the end. Female differs only in
smaller size and duller colors. Iris brown ; bill black above, bluish below : leet ]jale
lead-color.

Length, 4.25 ; extent of wings, 6.50 ; wing, 2.25 ; tail, 1.50; tarsus, 0.G5 ; middle toe
and claw, 0.95 ; bill along ridge, 0.35 ; gape, 0.45 ; its height at base, 0.15 : width, a little
more. First quill shorter than the three next, and tail shorter than in other species,
proportionally. (Cooper.)

Ilab. Colorado Valley, California, to lat. 35°.*

This beaixtiful little warbler an-ived from tlie sotitli in the vicittity of
Fort Mojave on March 25th, when my attention was first struck by its
peculiar notes, resembling those of some Dciid/nras, but fainter. After
considerable watching and scrambling through the dense mcst^uite thickets,
I succeeded in shooting a specimen, and at once saw that it was a new
species. Afterwards they became quite nttmerous, frei|uenting the to^js of
the niesquite trees in pursuit of insects, and constantly uttering their short
but pleasing song. After the males had been about for ten days, I obtained
the first female, for which I had been on the watch daily, and think it
])rol)able that they are some time later in their migrations, as is the case
\\ith many other small songsters.

Up to the 25th of May, when I left the valley, I watched daily to dis-
coA er their nests, and tlierefore shot fewer specimens than I otherwise

* Since obtained by Mr. Holder, about lat. 34°, March 10, 1863, and by Dr. Coues, at Fort
Wliipple.

DENDRffiCID.E — THE WARBLERS — HELMINTHOPHAGA. §5

would have clone, but did not suceeed in discovering tlieni building. I ob-
tained li\-e males and one female, all in good plumage.

Helminthophaga Virginice, Hurd.

VIKGINIA'S WARBLER.

Helminthophaga Virginia!, B.iiiiii, Birds N. Anier. 18G0, xi. ; |j1. 79, f. 1. Ib. Rev. Aiiier.
Birds, 177. — CouES, Pi-. Ac. N. Sc. 18G6, 70.

Sp. Ciiak. Similar to //. rufcapilla. Top and sides of liead, back, and wings, light
ashv pinnibcous, with an ahnost imperceptible wash uf olivactous-grcen ; quills and tail
feathers brown, edged with pure ashy plumljeous, the latter indistinctly and narrowly mar-
gined with whitish, internally, and at the end. Rump, with upjjer and lower tall coverts
bright yellow, in vivid contrast with the rest of the bod)-. Crown with a concealed patch

of orange-brown. Rest of under parts brownish-white, with indications of yellow from chin
to breast, perhaps entirely yellow there wdien mature. Inside of wings and axillars whit-
ish. A white I'ing round the eye. Bill and legs dusky. Length, 5.00 ; extent, 7.25 ; wing,
2.50; tail, 2.20; tarsus, 0.C7.

Hah. Prescott, Arizona, and Fort Burgwyn, New Jlexico.

Of this very rare species but two specimens have been observed, and
nothing is known of its habits, which, however, in all probability resemble
those of H. cclata, riificainlla, etc., in nesting on or near the ground, feeding
on minute insects, etc. The plitmage described al)ove is not quite mature,
and tlie colors during the breeding season are doubtless considerably
brighter and better defined.

The discovery within a few years in Arizona and New Mexico of new
warblers, such as Helmintliojiliaga Virginice, Helminthophaga Luciai, and
Bendroica Gi-acim, shows that the ornithological fauna of the West is not yet
exhausted, and that as its hitherto ttnexjjlored regions, especially those to-
wards the sottthern Isoundaries of the United States, are investiuated, addi-
tional varieties will be brought to light. These will in all probability con-
sist of insecti\'orous oscines and flycatchers, rather than of conirostral birds.

86

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Genus DENDRCECA, (iR.vY.

St/lvicola, Gray, Genera Birds, 2cl ed. 1S41, 32. (Not of Iluinphreys nor Swainson.)
Deiidruica, GuAY, Genera Birds, Appendix, 1842, 8.

Gen. Cii.\k. Bill conical, attenuated, depressed at the base, (where it is, however,
scarcely broader than liij^li,) compressed fi'om the middle. C'ulmen straight for the basal
halt; then rather rapidly curving, the lower edge of upper mandible also concave. Gonys
slightly convex and ascending. A distinct notch near the end of the bill. Bristles, though
short, generally i^uite distinct at the base of the bill. Tarsi long ; decidedly longer than

D. Aiuhibonii.

middle toe, which is longer than the hinder one ; the claws rather small and much curved ;
the hind claw nearly as long as its digit. The wings long and pointed ; the second (juill
usually very little longer than the first. The tail slightl}- rounded and emarginatc.

Colors. Tail nearlv always with a white spot ; its ground color never clear oli'se-green

The most extensive genus of American warblers, there being over twenty
species in the United States, of which, however, few are found on tliis coast.

DENDRCECID^ — THE WARBLERS — DENDRCEC A. §7

Dendroeca sestiva, Gmelin.

THE YELLOW WARBLEK.

Motacilla nstiva, G.melin, Syst. Xat. I. 178S, 996. — Si/h-ia (estiva, Latham, Index Orn. II.

1790, 551. — AuDUiiON, Oni. Biog. I. 18.31, 476; pi. 95, 35. — Nuttall, Man. I. 1832,

370, 2d cd. 417. — Si//ficola u'stica, SwAiNSON, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 211. — Audubon,

Birds Amcr. II. 1841, 50 ; pi. 88.
Si/h'ia Cliildreni, Audubon, Oni. Biog. I. 1831, 180 ; pi. 35. (Immature.)
Dendmlca asliva, Baied, P. K. Kcp. IX. Birds, 282. — Heermann, X. vi. 40. — Cooper

and SuCKLEV, XII. iii. Zuol. of W. T. 181.

Sp. Char. Head all round, and under parts generally bright yellow ; rest of under
parts yellow-olivaceous, brightest on the rump. Back with obsolete streaks of dusky
reddish-brown. Fore breast and sides of the body streaked with brownish-red. Tail
feathers bright yellow ; the outer webs and ti))s, with the whole upper surfaces of the in-
nermost one, brown ; extreme outer edges of wing and tail feathers olivaceous, like the

back, the middle and greater coverts and tertials edged with yellow, forming two bands on
the wings. Female similar, with the crown olivaceous like the back ; the streaks wanting
on the back, and much restricted on the under parts. Tail with more brown. Length of
male, 5.25 ; wing, 2.GG ; tail, 2.25. Iris brown ; bill horn-color; lower mandible lead-blue ;
feet yellow.

Hah. The whole of North America ii-oni the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Tliis lively and bright little songster is one of the most abundant sum-
mer \'isitors on this coast, as it is in the Atlantic States, and has habits
entirely similar. They arrived at Fort ]\Iojave about April 15, 1861, but
I saw them at the Straits of Fuca as early as April <S, 1854; so tliat they
must vary their migration very much ^^'ith the season.

They prefer the warm inland valleys, frequenting chielly the deciduous
trees along rivers, and coming familiarly about gardens and orchards.
There they are actively engaged throughout the day seeking their insect
food among the leaves, and occasionally warbling their short but pleasing
songs, which have considerable variety, and yet a sameness of style and
tone which makes the performer easily recognizable.

Their nest is built sometimes in a low bush, at others as high as fifty feet

88 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

al>iivc' tlip i,n'imiiil. It is extremely neat and duralile, formed in great part
of the down of plants, mixed with iiue strips of liark and leaves, sometimes
lined with horsehair or feathers. They ^'ary much, however, in the mate-
rials chosen, and often select bits of cotton-twine, silk threads and small
rags, wdien building near a house.

The eggs are four or Ave, of a dull white, thickly sprinkled with pale
brown spots near the large end. When the nest is found, the female gen-
erally attempts to draw the invader away by feigning lameness, but soon
learns to take but little notice, if the eggs are not disturbed.

In autumn they are said to feed much on juicy fruits, but I have not
myself observed this.

Dendrceca Audubonii, Townsend.

AUDUBON'S WARBLER.

Si/ln'a Amliibomi, TowNSEND, J. A. N. So. Ph. VII. ii. 18.37. — Audubon, Orn. Biog. V.
18.39, 52; pi. .39.'5. — Si/lricohi Aiicliihonii, Bonaparte, List, 1838. — Audubon, Birds
AiiKT. II. 1841,26; pi. 77. — Nuttall, Man. 2cl ed. I. 414. — Dcndroim Aiiilulmnli,
Baird, p. K. Ki'p. IX. Birds, 273. — Kennerlt, X. iii. 24. — IIeee.mann, X. vi. 39. —
Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. 181.

Sp. Char. Above bluish-asli, streaked with l)lafk, most marked on the middle of the
back ; on head and neck bhiish-ash. Jliddlo of crown, rump, chin, and throat, and a
patch on tin.' side of the hreast, <;ambo2e-_venow. Space beneath and anterior to the eves,
fore part of breast and sides, black ; this color e.xtcndinf; behind on the sides in streaks.
Middle of belly, under tail coverts, a portion of upj)er and lower eyelids, and a broad

band on the winjxs, with a spot on each of the four or five exterior tail feathers, white ;
rest of tail feathers black. Fcmnlc, brown above ; the other markings less cons]iicuous
and less black. Length. 5..')0 ; extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.25 ; tail, 2 25. Iris brown ; hill and
feet black.

Hnh. Pacific Coast of the I'nited States to central Rocky Mountains. South to
Mexico.

This is a very abundant species, especially in winter, wlien Lirge numbers
reniiiin in the southern ])art of California, and are seen flitting about everj'
bush and tree, as well as the tall weeds of the prairie, seeking their insect

DENDRCECID.i: — THE WARBLERS — DENDRCECA. gg

food and uttering only a sliarji eliivp occasionally. They are then in tlie
dull iilumage of the female, and tlie males do not ol)tain tlieir riclier hues
and black breast until IVIareli or April. According to Hceruuinn, they
winter as far north as Sacramento, and some, I think, remain near the
CoUunbia Ifiver throughout mild winters. Aliout i\Iay 1st they aU seem
to retire towards the north, and I have seen none even in tlie Coast ]\Ioun-
tains, south of San Francisco, after that month, but they begin to appear
again in September.

Tlieir song resembles tliat of the D. cvdivo, and is heard chiefly in their
summer resorts towards the north. 1 obtained newly fledged young at Lake
Tahoe in September, and they pro])ably raise their broods throughout the
higher Sierra Nevada.

The nest is believed liy Nuttall to be built in the tall coniferous trees,
but has not yet been discovered.

This species does not returii to the latitude of Santa Cruz (37°, and at
the sea level) until the end of September, but some remain there all winter;
and about ]\Iarch 2(Jth the males, ra])idly changing their plain winter
livery for the gayer lines of summer, favor us with a few faint notes bel'ore
their departure north, the song being much like that of the D. a-siiva in
character. They disappear about April loth.

DendrcEca coronata, Linn.eus.

THE YELLOW-CROWNED WAEBLEB.

MotaciHa coronata, Linn.eus, Syst. Nat. I. ITBfi, .3.33. — Gjielin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 974

(male). Si/lvia coronata, Latii.\m, Index Orn. II. 1790, 538. — Wil.son, Am. Orn. II.

1810, 138 ; ])]. xvii. f. 4 (summer) ; II. 3.56 ; pi. xlv. f. 3 (wintci-). — Nutt.u-l, Man. I.
1832, 361. — Audubon, Orn. Biog-. II. 1834, 303 ; pi. cliii. — .S(//i7ra/« coronata. Swain-
son, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 216. — AuDUliox, Birds Amcr. II. 1841, 23 ; pi. Ixxvi. —
Nuttall, Man. 2(1 cil. I. 4\ I . — Dendroica coronata, G. U. Grav, Genera, 2(1 od. Suppl.
1842, 8. — Baird, p. K, Rep. IX. Birds, 272. — C'oopeh and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool.
of W. T. 180.

Sp. Char. Above, lilnish-ash, streaked ivith lilaek. Under |iarts white. The fore
part of breast anil the sides hlaek, the feathers mostly edged with white. Crown, rnmp.

90 SIXGIXG BIRDS— OSCIXES.

and .«i(ips of l)reast yellow. Cht'L-ks and lores black. Tlic oyelids and a .^upproiliary
stripe, two bands on the wing, and .sjjots on the onter three tail feathers, white. Fe-
male of dnller phnnase and browner above. Length, 5 05; e.xtent, 9 00; wing, 3 00;
tail, 2.50.

Hah. Eastern North America to the .Missonri Plains, and northward along Yukon
Valley to Norton Sound Stragglers .seen on Pnget's Sound. California.

This species closely resembles D. Ai((hihonii, ([\fierm^ chiefly in having
the Ihi'iiiit white. J saw a few of them at the Straits of Fiica in April,
1855, and suppose they must migrate through California, though not yet
detected there. In the Atlantic States they are numerous, and in hab-
its are the exact counterpart of our D. Auduhonii. The nest and eggs
found in Nova Scotia by Auduljon on a fir-tree scarcely differed from
those of D. wstiva.

Dendraeca nigiescens, Towxsexd.

THE BLACK-THROATED GKAY WARBLEB.

Sylcia nigrescens, Town.skxd, J. A. N. Sc. Pli. VII. ii. 18.37, 191. — At;DUBON, Om. Biog.
V. 1839, r>7 ; ]il. 395. — V(r»iii-iira iiiiiicsrens, Bonap.^rte, List, 1838. — NuTTALL,
.Alan. I. 2i\ cil. 1840, 471. — Si/himla iiifprsccns, Aitdubon, Syn. 1839, 60. In.
Birds Anicr. TI. 1841, C2 ; ]il. 94. — Ijondroka niipxsrens, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX.
Birds, 270. — IIekr.ma.vx, X. vi. 40. — CoortR and Sl'ckley, XII. iii. Zool. of
W. T. 180.

Sp. Char. Head all round, fore part of the breast, and streaks on the side of the body,
black; rest of under parts, a strijie on the side of the head, beginning acutely just above
the middle of the eye, and another parallel to it. beginning at the base of the under jaw
(the stripes of opposite sides confluent on the chin), and running farther back, white. A

yellow spot in front of the eye. Rest of upper parts bluish-gray, the interscapTilar re-
gion and upper tail coverts streaked with blaik. Wing coverts black, with two naiTow
white bands ; quills and tail feathers brown, the two outer of the latter white with the
shafts and a terminal streak brown : the third brown, with a terndnal narro^v white

DENDRCECID.E — THE WARBLERS — DENDRCECA. QJ

streak. Length, 5. mi ; extent, T.jii ; wing, "2. 50 ; tail, 2.10. L-is brown ; bill blaek ; feet
brown.

Hah. I'aeilic Coast of the United States; Fort Thorn, New Mexico.

This species appeared ueiir San Diego, April 20th, in small flocks miorat-
ing northward, and then uttering only a faint chirp. They fret[uented low
bushes along the coast, but as they go north they take to the deciduous oaks,
when the leaves begin to grow early in JMay, at which time they reach the
Cohunbia Iiiver. Their song is rather faint and monotonous, and I have
not heard it during their migration nortli, nor have I seen them in this
State after April. According to Townsend, their nest is built in the upper
branches of the oak, in Oregon.

Dendrceca Townsendii, Xuttall.

TOWNSEND'S WAEBLEB.

Sylvia Townsendii, (" Nuttall,") Tow.nskxu, J. A. N. So. Ph. VII. ii. 1837, 191. — AuDU-
Box, Orn. Biog. V. 18.33, 36; pi. 393. — .Sylvicvla Townsmdii, Bonaparte, List, 1838.
In. C'onsp. IS.iO, 308. — AunnBOX, Birds Ainer. II. 1841, .'i'J ; pi. 92. — Nuttall,
Man. I. 2d cd. 1840, m . — Demlmica Tmriisendii, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 269.
— Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zuul. of \V. T. 179.

Sp. Ch.\I!. Above, bright olive-green; the feathers all blaek in the centre, showing
more or less as streaks, especially on the crown (Juills, tail, and n]j]jer tail covert
ieathers dark brown, edged with bluish-gray ; the wings with two white bands on the
coverts ; the two outer tail leathers white, with a brown streak near the end ; a -white

>v

streak only in the end of the third feather lender parts as far as the middle of the body,
with the sides of head and neck, including a superciliary stripe and a s])ot beneath the
eye, yellow ; the median portion of the side of the head, the chin and throat, with streaks
on the sides of the breast, flanks, and under tail coverts, black ; the remainder of the
under parts white. Length, 6.00 ; extent, 8.00 ; wing, 2. 65 ; tail, 2.25. L-is and feet
brown ; bill black.

92 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

JIdb. Pacilic C<i;ist, Nurtli Aiiicrica: smith tu AU'xico and (juatemala. A straggler
taken near Pliilail('l|)liia.

Small flocks of this species arrivea near San Diego, with D. nigresceTis,
about April 20, 18G2, but I have not seen them elsewhere during sum-
mer, and they are very scarce at the Columbia Eiver, being sujjposed to
pass by there on their way to more nortliern regions, or perhaf)s to the
highest parts of the mountains. I shot two in November, 1855, near Santa
Clara, and saw what 1 sujjposed to be this species at Shoalwater Bay, W. T.,
as late as l)ecember 25, 1854, so tliat it is very jmjbable they may be
more common in tliis State in winter tlian summer.

In tlie north they frequent the higher parts of tlie lofty firs, and are
therefore less easily seen than (jther species. In this State I found them
when migrating among low willows and other bushes.

The sjjring plumage does not diti'er materially from that described by
Baird from fall specimens.

Dendroeca occidentalis, Thwxsend.

THE WESTERN WARBLER.

Sijlvid occidentalis. Townsend, J. A. N. So. VII. ii. I8:j7, 190. In. Narrative, 18.39, .340.—
Audubon, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 55; pi. 55. — Sylricula oroy™fa/('s, Boxapaute, List,
1838. — Audubon, Svn. 1839, 60. Ib. Bird.s Amer. II. 1841. 60; pi. 93. — Nuttall,
Man. 2d ed. I. 445. — Lkudmica orcidentaHs, Baird, P. K. Rep. IX. Birds. 268. —
Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 178.

Sp. CllAlt. Crown, with .■^iile.-i of the head and neek, continuou.s bright yellow, leathers
of the former narrowly edged with black ; rest of upper parts dark brown, edged with bluish-
gray, so much so on the baek and rump feathers as to obseure the brown, and with an

olivaceous shade. Chin, throat, and fore part of breast (ending convexly behind in a sub-
crescentic outline), black ; rest of under parts white, faintly streaked on the sides with
black. Two white bands on the wing, two outer tail leathers, and the terminal ])ortion
of a third, white ; the shafts, and an internal streak towards the end, dark brown.
Length, 4.7.i ; wing, 2.70 ; tail, 2. .30. Rill jet black ; legs brown.
Hab. Pacific Coast, north to Pnget's Sound.

DENDRtECID.E — THE WARBLERS — DEXDROICA. 93

This seems to be a very rare species, and I liave not seen tliem in tlie
soutliern part ut t'alifuruia, tliuugh they probably migrate into Mexico.
One was obtained at I'etalunia, liy Mr. E. .Samuels, on April 1, 1856.
They frequent lofty evergreens.

The pair of l)ii-ds from which the sjiecies was described, was obtained by
Mr. Towusend near Fort A'ancouver, ^May 28, 1835. They were flitting
among the pine trees in the depth of a forest, actively engaged in searching
for insects, and hanging frequently from the twigs like titmice. Their note,
uttered at distant intervals, resembled \ery much that of the black-throated
blue Avarbler {D. caTulesccns).

DendrcEca chrysopareia, Sclater.

THE GOLDEN-CHEEKED WAEBLEE.

Dauhoica chri/sopareia, Sclateu and Salvin, Vr. Zool. Soc. 18G0, 298. Ib. Ibis, 1865, 89. —
Baird, Hev. Amer. Birds, 183.

Sp. Cu-VH. .Similar, in gfiieral appuaraiicu, to D. Toicnseniju, but tliL- upper parts gen-
erally black, with oli\'aceous edgings on the back, the rimip and upper tail coverts pure

black. .Sides and lower tail coverts streaked with lilack. Cheeks yellow ; a simple black
stripe througli the eye ; no patch beneath it Bill very short Length, 4,5iJ ; wing, 2.50 ;
tail, 2.40; tarsus, 0.75.

Hah. Te.xas to Guatemala.

This species, originally described from Guatemala, has lately been taken
near San Antonio, Texas, and will doubtless be found in New Mexico and
Arizona. Nothing is known of its habits, which, however, in all proba-
bilty, resemble those of the Black-thr(jated green and other familiar Eastern
.species. The specimen described above is the ty])e lielonging to Mr. Salvin,
of Loudon ; those from Texas were obtained by the late Dr. Heermanu.

94

SINGING BIKD.S ~ OSCLNES.

Genus GEOTHLYPIS, (AiiAXis.

Trichas, Swainson, Zuul. Jour. III. July, 1827, 1G7. (Not of Gloger, March, 1827, equal

to t'riniyer, Tcniin.)
Geotlili/pis, f.'AiiANis, Witjfjiuimu's Arcliiv 1847, I. 31G, 349.

Gen. Char. Bill svlvicoline, rather tk-pres.sed, and distinctly notched ; rictal bristles
very short or wanting. Wings short, roinided, scarcely longer than the tail ; the first

G. trichas.

quill shorter than the fourth. Tail long ; much rounded or graduated. Legs stout ;
tarsi elongated, as long as the head. Olive-green above, belly yellow. Tail leathers
immaculate. Legs yellow.

This genus is represented iu Calit'ornia l>y two species, G. trichas and
Macgillivruiji, and a tliird and a niucli rarer one, G. PhUuddphkt, occurring
in the Eastern States, ■where (/. trivltax is also abundant. Many otliers, how-
ever, belong to ^liddle and South America, where they seem to be abun-
dant, and to have much the same habits as do the species of tlie Ignited
States, living in tliickets or among the grass, and nesting on or -^-ery near
the ground.

DENORCECID^E — THE WARBLERS — GEOTHLYriS. 95

Geothlypis trichas, Linnaeus.

THE MARYLAND YELLOW-THEOAT.

Turdus trichas, IjitivxES, Syst. Nat. I. 176G, 29.3. — S/Zc/n (WcAo.s Latham, Ind. Orn. II.

1790. — AuDi-BON, Orn. Biog. I. 1832, 120 ; V. 1838, 463 ; pis. 23 and 240. — Gcol/di/pis

trichas, Cabanis, Mils. Hcin. 1850, 16. — Baihd, P. K. Kup. IX. Bird.-;, 170. — Cooper

and SucKLEV, XIL iii. Zool. of W. T. 177.
Si/lfia Miirilamlira, Wilson, Am. Orn. I. 1808, 88; pi. vi. f. 1. — Tridias Mari/andica,

BoN-APARTE, List, 1838. — AuDLBOx, SvB. 1839, 65. hi. Orn. Biog. II. 1841, 78;

pi. 102.
Si/lfia Itoscoe, Audubon, Orn. Biog. I. 1832, 124 ; [il. 24. (Yonng male.) — Trichns Roscni;,

NuTTALL, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840, 457.
Trichas Delajiildii, Audubon, Orn. Biog. V. 307. — Heer.maxn, V. K. Hep. X. vi. 40.

Sp. Char. LTpper parts olive-trrecn, tinged with brown towards tlie middle of the
crown : diin, throat, and breast as far as the nud<llc of tlie lioilv, with the under tail
coverts, bright yellow. Belly dull whitish-buff. Sides of body strongly tinged with light
olive-brown; under coverts glossed with the same. A band of black on the forehead
(aliout 0 20 of an inch wide in the middle), passing backward so as to cover the
cheek and ear coverts, and extending a little above the e)-e ; this band bordered behind

by a suffusion of hoary-ash, forming a distinct line above the eye, and widening behind
the ear coverts into a larger patch, with a yellow tinge. In winter dress, and in the
female, without the black mask, the forehead tinged with brown, the yellow of the throat
less extended, the eyelids whitish, and an indistinct superciliary line yellowish. Length
of male, 4 80 ; extent, 6.75 ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, 2 20

Hah. North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

A very common little Ijircl during summer, and some possihly -winter
within the State, though I saw none in tlie Colorado A'alley, in winter.
At San Diego I saw the first on the 17th of April, Init have before seen
them at the Columbia liiver earlier than that time ; and as they are rather
scarce at all times in the southern part of the State, I suspect that many
winter in the middle portions.

They usually inhabit the densest thickets, and occasionally the reeds about
ponds and marshes, being constantly on the move after insects, and rarely

gg SINGIXf; RTRnS — OSCINES.

showing themselves. In the spring, however, the male often flies upward a
few yards, singing a short hut lively song, generally in triple liars, and tlien
drojjs su(klenly down again.

Their nest is built in the thickest, often on the ground, very closely con-
cealed ; it is made entirely of grass and leaves. Tlie eggs are white, slightly
flesh-color, with reddish-brown dots, specks, and lines, mostly near the
large end.

They generally keep near lirooks and marshes.

Geothlypis Macgillivrayi, jVuuubon.

MACGILLIVKAY'S WARBLER.

Si//n'a MacqiUb-miji, Audubon, Orn. Riog. V. 18.39, 75; pi. .399. {Si/hia Philadelphia on

plate.) Triclias Maa/illicrai/i, Audubon, Syn. 18:39, 64. Ib. Birds Amcr. II. 1S41, 74 ;

pi. 100.
Si/lfia tolmini, Townsend, J. A. N. Sc. VIII. 18.39, 149, 1.59. (Read in 1S39, but the volume

really not published till 1840.) — Triclias tohnicei, NuTTALL, Man. 1. lid ed. 1840, 460. —

Heeumanx, r. R. Rep. X. vi. 40.
(hothlypis Maci/iUivmi/i, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds of N. Amcr. 244 ; pi. 79, f. 4 (head).

— Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 177.

Sp. Cii.\I!. Head and nock all round, throat, and fore part of the breast clark ash-
color ; a narrow frontlet, loral rej^ion, and spaee round the eye (seareely complete bclund),
black Tlie eyelids above and below the eye (not in a continuous rinfr), white. The
feathers of the chin, throat, and fore breast really black, with ashy-f^i-ay tips, more or less
concealing the black. Rest of upper parts dark olive-green (sides under the wings paler),

of lower, bright yellow. Fi male with the throat paler and without any black. Young in
fall, without the blue hooil, and of a dull greenish color generally. Length of male. 5.00 ;
extent, 6.7.5; wing, 2.4.5; tail, 2.45. Iris brown; bill brown above, yellow below ; feet
rcdcli.sh-gray.

Hah. Eastern base of Rocky "Mountains to the Pacific, and south to I\[c.xico.

At Fort Mojave I noticed tlie first of this species A]iril l'4tli, but they
probably arrive earlier, as they reach the Columbia Itiver by j\Iay 3d.
They diiler considerably in habits from G. irichas, as they frequent dry

DENDRCECID.i; — THE WARBLERS — ICTERIA. 97

localities, hunting for insects, botli in low liushes and in the trees, like
some of the Dendrmcas. Their song is short and rather faint, somewhat
resembling that of G. trichas. The nest I fomid at Puget's Sound, in June,
was built, without attempt at concealment, about a foot above the ground,
and formed wholly of dry grasses, rather loosely put together. According
to Nuttall, they also use the bark fibres of the cedar {Thuja giganica), and
build among moss. The eggs are white, spotted with reddish.

I met witli this species at Lake Tahoe in September, and in the Coast
Eange diiring summer, Ijut n(jt near San Diego. It is cpiite possible that
some of tliem winter in the warmer parts of tlie State.

Tliey ha\"e a very sharp chirp of alarm when they see a strange object,
and if watclied are very shy, seeking the densest thiclvets ; Ijut if you wait
quietly for a .'^hort time their curiosity brings them out, and they will
approach until within a few feet, keeping up their scolding chirp all the
time.

Gents ICTERIA, Vieillot.

TcUrtn, Vieillot, Ois. Amci-. Sept. I. 1790, iii. and 85.

Gen. Cn.\R. Bill shorter than head ; broad at the base, but rapidly becoming com-
pressed or much higher than broad, with the ridge elevated and sharp from the very
base of the bill ; the upper outline much curved throughout ; the commissm-e less curved

/. i-h

hut strongly concave : the gonys nearly straight, the upper edge of the lower jaw as con-
vex as the commissure is concave. Xo notch in the bill, and the rictal bi-istles small.
Tarsi longer than the toes, without scuteUa', except faint indications on the inner side.
Lateral toes about e([ual ; shorter than the hinder. Wings about equal to the tail,
13

08

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

rounded ; tlio first (]uill longer than tlie sccondarios. Tail graduated ; above olive, be-
neath yellow. Abdomen, eyelid^i, maxillary patch, and line to the bill, ivhite.

/. virenx.

But one well-established species Leloiigs to this genus, although several
have been indicated by authors

Icteria longicauda, Lawrence.

THE LONG-TAILED CHAT.

Icteria longicamla, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VI. iv. Ap. 1853,4. — Newberkt, P. K.
Rep. Vl. iv. 81 ; pi. 34, f. 2. — Baikd, T. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 249. — IIeermann, X.
vi. 55.

? Icteria auricoll is (Liciit. Mus. Bcr.), Bo.XAr.iETE, Consp. 1850, .331.

Sp. CiiAR F(]iirlli (piill longest; third and fifth shorter; first shorter than the seventh.
Above ash-color, tinged ivith olive on the back and neck; the outer surface of the wings
and tail olive. Tlie under parts as far as the middle of the belly bright gamboge yellow,
with a tinge of orange ; the remaining ])ortions white The superciliary and ma.xillarv

wliite stripes extend some distance behind the eye. Outer edge of the first primary
white. Length, 7.00 ; extent, 8 .50 ; wing, 3, 20 ; tail, 3 70.

Hah. High central plains of the United States to the Pacific ; south to ^lexico ; north
to Walla-walla.

DENDRCECID^ — THE WARBLEKS — ICTERIA. 99

Many of this species arrived at Fort Mojave about April 20, 1861 ;
and at San Diego I saw one on April 26, 1862. Most of them, prob-
ably, take an inland route towards the north. They inhabit chiefly the
warmer valleys, near streams and marshes ; and the only place on the coast
where I have seen them was Santa Cruz, where I fomid a nest, with young,
in June. In deference to the opinion of most American naturalists, we
have retained a distinct name for the California Chat, as distinguished from
I. virois of the East. Tlie principal difference, however, is a greater
lenoth of tail, which, in view of the variations in this respect observed
in many species, appears hardly of specific value.

At Fort Mojave on May 19th I found a nest built in a dense thicket of
Algarobia, containing three eggs, besides one of the cowbird {Molothrus).
It was made of slender green twigs and leaves, and lined with grass and
hairs. The eggs were white, sprinkled witli cinnamon near tlie large end,
somewhat in the form of a ring. Size, 0.75 X 0.64 inch.

The nest is usually closely concealed, but that found at Santa Cruz
was in a very open situation, and only about two feet above tlie ground. I
found it by chance, after hunting the dense thickets around thoroughly,
and when on the point of giving it up. Tlie old birds are very bold when
the nest is approached, keeping up a constant scolding, and almost flying
in the intruder's face. At other times they are very shy, and scarcely to
be seen without long watching for them.

During the spring both day and night the song of the male is heard,
which consists of a great variety of grotesque notes, more odd than musical,
and like those of no other liird. They resemble sometimes the noises of
clucks, cats, and puppies, but these sounds are not imitated, as they are sim-
ilar everywhere, and are the same with our species as with the Eastern.
Their food consists chiefly of insects and berries. They probably leave the
State in September.

A male specimen from Fort JMojave has the tail as short as the Eastern
/. virens (3.25 inch), but resembles coast specimens in its grayish color.
A female like it has since been found there by Mr. Holder. The time of
arrival of this bird seems remarkably uniform, as they reached Santa Cruz,
in 1866, about April 27tli.

A chat from Mexico has been described as Idcria Velasquezi, differing
principally from the species of the United States in the whitish color of
the lower mandible. Young birds, however, of /. vircns exhibit tliis same
peculiarity, and it is ahnost certain that this IMexican species has no claim
to a distinctive name.

In the general appearance of the Idcria there is quite a close relation-
ship to a genus Terdristis from Cuba.

100

SIXCaXG BIKDS — OSCINES.

Genus MYIODIOCTES, Audubon.

Myiodiocles, Audubon, Syn. 1839, 48. (Type, ilulaciUa mitrata.)
Wilsoiiia, BoxAPAKTE, List, 1838. (I'lVouLUpicil ill Botany.)

Gen. Cii.\n. Bill ilopressed, llycatc-hcr-like ; bi'oador tluui high at tlic base ; gape with
bi-istlcs nearly as loii^' as the bill, wliieh is distinctly nut<-hed at the tip ; both outlines
gently cuiivi'.\. Tarsi longer than the head ; eonsiderably e.xceedmg the middle toe ;

]\[ JillsillllS

claws all considerably curved. Tail decidedly rounded or slightly graduated ; the lateral
feather.s 0.20 of an inch shorter. Wing very little longer than the tail ; the fh'st quill
decidedly shorter than the fourth ; colors yellow.

Three "species laesides ours inlialiit tlie eastern side of the continent, all
larger and quite differently marked. All liave mncli the habits of fly-
catchers, darting after insects and capturing them on the wing. They
usually keel) ^" dense thickets, and are generally diiScult of approach.

DENDIICECID.!; — THE WARBLERS — MYIODIOCTES. IQl

Myiodioctes pusillus, Wilsox.

THE GEEEN BLACK-CAP WAEBLEK.

Muscicapa pusilla, Wilson, Am. Oni. lU. KMl, 103; pi. xxvi. f. 4. —,%/«,»/„ pn.illa,

Nl-ttall, Man. I. 2d cil. 1840, 335.
Hylviu Wilsonii, Bos.U'.iRTE, 01).s. Wilson, 18-26, Xo. 127. — XlTTT.iLL, Man. I. 1832, 408.—

Musdcapa Vr^oriU, AUDUUON, Oni. Bio-. II. 1834, 148; pi. 124. — %,«(//of<.s Wilsonn,

Audubon, Syn. 1839, 50. Ib. Birds Amcr. II. 1841, 21 ; pi. 75.
Myiodioctes pusillus, Bon.*.parte, Conspectus, 1850, 315. — Baird, V. R. Rep. IX. Bird.s

293. — HEiiKMAXX, X. vi. 39. — Cod'ER and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T.

182.

Sp. Ch.\r. Forehead, line (iver and around tlie c.ve, and under parts generally bright
yellow. Upper part.s olive-green ; a square patch on the crown lustrous black. Sides of
body and cheeks tinged with ohve. Xo white on wings or tail. Female similar ; the

black of the crown obscured by olive-green. Length, 4.7j; wing, 2.25 ; tail, 2.30. L'is
brown ; bill brown : leet Ijrownisli.

Hub. United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific ; north to Kodiak, and south to
Guatemala.

This pretty little bird arrives in California about the first week in Alay,
and passes far to the north, occurring in Sitka and Kudiak. They frequent
chiefly the deciduous trees and bushes near ■svater, and have much the same
habits and song as the Deudroica cestiva.

According to Nuttall, they sometimes reach the Culuinbia Itiver the first
week in May, and he has seen them feeding their young by the 12th of
May ; so very probably some winter in California. He found a nest on
the brancli of a service-bash, built chiefly of moss, witli a thick lining of
grass, and containing finir eggs, Avliite with pale brown dots near the larger
end, in a sort of circle. They also build in fir-trees, according to Audubon.
The nest measures only 3.50 inches wide and L50 deep.

The arrival of these little l)irds at Santa Cruz, in 1866, was about April
20th. I observed them ajiparently gathering materials for nests at that date,
the male singing merrily during the employment. From Nuttall's observa-
tions in Oregon, it would seem that they must arrive there quite as early,
or else a few remain all winter unnoticed among the .shrubljery.

102

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Family HIEUNDINID^ The Swallows.

CiiAK. Bill very broad, short, uiid ruiieli depressed ; the uuliueu less than
half the eonmiissure, ■which opeus to Leueath the eye. Eictus smooth.
Wiugs very long, greatly exceeding the central tail feathers ; the fii'st
primary longest. Tarsi shorter than the lateral toes.

Gexus HIRUNDO, LiNNjjus.

Ilirundo, Linn.i:us, Syst. Jvat. 1735. — Gu.w, Genera, I. 1845.

Gen. Char. Nustrils basal, small, oblong, and covered partly Ijy a membrane.
Tail more or less forked ; the outer lateral leather sometimes greatly lengthened. Tarsi

H. horreorum.

naked, shorter than the middle toe, and scutellate. Toes long, slender, the lateral ones
unecjual. Claws moderate, cui-ved, acute.

H. korrcoruni.

HIRUNDraiD.E — THE SWALLOWS — HIRUNDO.

103

Hirundo horreorum, Barton.

THE BARN SWALLOW.

Hirundo horreorum. Barton, Fragments, N. II. Penn. 1799, 17. — Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX.

Birds, 308. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 184.
Hirundo rii/a, ViEiLLOT, Ois. Am. Sept. I. 1807, 60; pi. xxx. (Not of Gmclin.) — Cassin,

Illust. I. 18.55, 243.— Brewer, N. Am. Ool. I. 18.'>7, 91; pi. v. f. 63-67 (eggs).—

NOTTALL, Man. 2d ed. 726. — Heermann, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 34.
Hirundo Americana, Wilson, Am. Orn. V. 1812, 34 ; pi. xxxviii. f. 1, 2. (Not of Gmelin.)

— Rich. F. B. A. IL 1831, 329.
Hirundo ruslica, Audubon, Orn. Biog. II. 1834, 413 ; pi. 173. Ib. Syn. 1839, 35. Ib. Birds

Amcr. I. 1840, 181 ; pi. 48. (Not of Linnanis.)

Sr. CH.A.R. Tail very dcepl}- forked ; outer feathers several inches longer than the
inner, verv narrow towards the end. Aljove glossy blue, with concealed white in the
middle of the back. Throat chestnut ; rest of lower part reddish white, not conspicuously
different. A steel-blue collar on the upper part of the breast, interrupted in the middle.

Tail feathers with a white spot near the middle, on the inner web. Feinale with the

outer tail feather not quite so long. Length, 6.. 50 ; extent, 1'2.75 ;
Iris brown ; bill black ; feet slate-color.

Hab. North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

4.75; tail, 4.50.

This well-known and beautiful liird is less abundant along the western
than the eastern coast, its place being filled in great part by the IT. luni-
frons, and perhaps also because it does not find so many suitable places for
building in. As settlements multiply they seem to be gradually increasing
about farms near the coast, building in the barns, and living in perfect liar-

X04 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

mony with their cousins, whicli build under the eaves. In wihl districts
they buikl in caves, which abound in the liluffs along the sea-shore, from
San Diego to the Cohuubia Eiver.

Their nest is built of mud, plastered up against a rafter, or on some sup-
porting shelf; it is cup-shaped, and lined with fine liay. The saliva of the
bird is supposed to render tlie pellets of mud more adhesive. The eggs are
fU-e, white spotted with reddish-broM-n, and they usually raise two broods
in a season, but often leave the last to starve, in their sudden dejiarture
soutli in August or September.

I noticed their arri\-al at San Diego March 25th, and have found them
far uunv frequent along the sea-coast than inland, probably from the fact
that they prefer the vicinity of water, and deliglit to hunt insects over its
surface, sometimes even touching it as they skim ahmg. At Sacramento
they were found by Dr. Heermann, and I have seen them near there as late
as Septemlier 8th. They arrived at Santa Cruz jMarcli 21, 18G6, showing a
remarkable regularity in comparison with 1862, though the latter was a
much colder spring. They left Santa Cruz about September 15th.

Hirundo lunifrons, Sat.
THE CLIFF SWALLOW.

HiruMto lunifrons, S.\Y, Long's Expcd. R. Mts. II. 182.3, 47. — B.mkd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
307. — Heermann, X. vi. 36. — Cooper and Sdckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 184. —
Cassix, Illust. I. 1855, 243.— Brewer, N. Am. Ool. I. 1857, 94 ; pi. 68-73 (Egg).

/7m(nrfo_/ii/i'a, Bonaparte, Am. Orn. I. 1825, 63 ; pi. ii. (Xot of Vieillot ?) — Audubon,
Orn. Biog. I. 1831, 353; pi. 58. In. Birds Amer. 1. 1840, 177 ; pi. 47. — Ndttall. Man.
2d c-d. I. 729.

Sp. CnAR. Crown and back steel-blue ; the upper part of the latter with concealed
pale edges to the feathers. Chin, throat, and sides of the head dark chestnut ; breast
fuscous ; belly white. A steel-blue spot on tlu-oat. Rump light chestnut ; forehead

bi'ownishwhito ; a pale nnclial Viand. Tail slightly emarginate. Length, 5.75; wing,
4.40 ; tail, 2.20.

Hub. North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

HIRUNDINID.E — THE SWALLOAVS — HIRUNDO.

105

An abundant species tlirongliout C'alifoi-nia, and as far north as Columbia
River, on the coast. I saw the first of tlieni at San Diego March 1:1, 1862;
and at San Francisco they arri\'e about jMarch 25th, l>eing a week earlier
than the barn swallow, and also remaining later in autumn. I liave seen
them as late as October 5th, and they probably remain longer toward tlie
south. They live almost e^'erywhere during summer, except on the high
and wooded mountains, building on the cUfls of the sea-coast, where the
cold wind blows, as well as in the hottest valleys, under eaves of houses, and
sometimes on the sides of large branches or trunks of trees. Their bottle-
shaped nests of mud, lined with straw, are conspicuous objects Mdierever tliey
are allowed to build them, some even being visible in the noisy city of San
Francisco, which only this species ^^sits, sweeping through the crowded
streets with entire fearlessness. The eggs are usually four, white, spotted
with dusky-brown, and they hatch two broods in the season in most parts
of the State. Wlicn about tlie nest, they make a creaking noise very differ-
ent from the twitter of the barn swallow.

In June I saw a flock of tliese l)irds Inisily catching young grasslicippers
on tlie dry hillside, where these insects were swarming. As I huxe never
heard of other swallows eating grasshojipers, I suppose that this species is
specially adapted for such food, other insects being very scarce during the

H. hmifions.

dry season, and in the dry regions it inhabits so frequently, where other
species of swallow are unknown.

This swallow leaves Santa Cruz about September 1st, Ijut probalily only
goes to the large rivers and lakes of the interior.

To determine the question as to bedbugs being lirouyht to houses by
these swallows, I allowed about twelve pairs to raise broods under the ea^'es
of the house I lived in at Santa Cruz, in 186(3. They built between April
12th and 2C)th, and the young were fledged July 1st ; some also had laid
new broods of two and tliree eggs by the 5th. On tearing down the nests I
found bugs {Cimcx) in every one, whate^•er jjart of the roof it occupied,
showing that they were hrougld hij the birds, none having been observed in

14

lOG SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXES.

the house. But these bugs were evidently a tlistinct species from the C'imex
ledidariuii, being different in form, narrower, and jiale yellowish, instead of
the characteristic color from whicli the name " Puce " is derived, through
the French name of the insect. Moreover, although many crawled into the
cracks of the weather-boards, and could easily ha^•e entered the low bedroom
windo\ys, none were seen afterwards. So I think we may relieve the swal-
lows of the charge of bringing in these pests, and encourage their building
in suitable places, on account of the immense numbers of insects they de-
stroy. As usual, tlieir parasites are peculiar to them, and may be called
C'imex lunifrontis.

Hirundo bicolor, Vikillot.

THE WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW.

Hirmdo hkolor, Vieillot, (Jis. Am. t^opt. I. 1807, 61 ; pi. xxxi. — Audubon, Orn. Biog.
1831,491; pi. 98. Ib. Birds Amcr. I. 1840,175; pi. 46. — Brewer, X. Am. Ool. I.
1857, 100; pi. iv. f. 47 (Egg). — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 310. — Cooper and
SucKi.EY, Xn. iii. Zool. of W. T. 185. — Heerm.\nn, X. vi. 36.

Ilirnndu viridis, Wilson, Am. Orn. V. 1812, 49; pi. xxxviii.

Sp. Char. Glossy metallic-green above ; entirely white beneath. Female much duller
in color. Length, 6.00 ; extent, 12.50 ; wing, 4.75; tail, 2.65. Iris and feet brown; bill
black.

Hah. North America, from (he Atlantic to the Pacific.

This swallow is to some extent a constant resident in California, a few
wintering probably in the extreme southern portion. I first noticed their
ajipearance at Stockton on February 22, 1863, and was informed by Dr.
Holden that it does not vary more than three days from that date usually.
On February 21, 1862, I had seen the first swallows near San Diego, prob-
ably of this species ; but they have such powers of flight that they might
sj^end the nights of winter a hundred miles from where they feed at mid-
day. When first arriving they fly so high tliat it is difdcult to distinguish
the species.

HIRUNDINID.E — THE SWALLOWS — IIIRUNDO. 107

They are tlie hardiest of all our swallows, extending their range north-
ward at least to lat. 53°, east of the Eocky Mountains, and preferring the
neighborhood of the coast and mountain-tops iu this State. On the summit
of the Coast Eange I found them taldng the place of the ham and cliff
swallows, and have seen what I supposed this species flying above the
summits of the Sierra Nevada as late as September 25th, at an elevation of
probably nine thousand feet above the sea, migrating towards the south.

In this State they generally build in tlie knot-holes of oaks and other
trees, but in older settled regions they have been known to prefer the ad-
vantages of an old building, or the little dwelling put up for the martins
and bluebirds. The nest is made entirely of fine grass, lined with feathers,
and the eggs, four or five in numlier, are pure white. They commonly raise
two broods in a season.

Tliey are not very gregarious, few living in the same neighborhood in the
breeding season. Audubon found them wintering in Louisiana, roosting in
the branches of the wax-myi'tle, and feeding on its berries, as a variety to
their usual fare of insects. They then associated in large flocks. This in-
dicates more affinity to other insectivorous birds than we find in most
swallows.

Five or six pairs of tliis species wintered at Santa Cruz, and others
about sheltered ponds in the vicinity, where I saw them in January, 186G,
during the coldest weather of tlie season. Those at the town roosted in the
same knot-holes in the liouses where they had raised their young, so that
tliey were probably constant residents there, and not visitors from the north.
Like all the swallows, however, they seemed to depart about September 1st,
probably on account of the scarcity of insects during the latter part of the
dry season. In September, 1865, I saw a few, probably of this species, near
Tulare Lake, where thev doubtless found food more abundant.

Hirundo thalassina, Swaixson.
THE VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.

Hirundo thalassina, Swainson, Taylor's Philos. Mag. I. 1827, 365. — Audubon, Orn. Biog;.
IV. 1838, 597; pi. 385. Ib. Bird.s Aiiicr. I. 1840, ISO; pi. 49. — Bkewer, N. Am.
Oology, I. 1857, 102 ; pi. v. f. 74 (Egg). — Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 311. — Heek-
MANX, X. vi. 30. — Cooper ami Sucklev, XII. iii. 185.

Sp. Ch.\r. Tail acutely emarjiinate. Beneath, pure white. Al.ioie, soft velvety
green, with a -sery faint shack- of purplish-violet concentrated on the nape into a trans-
verse band. Rump rather more vivid green ; tail coverts showing a good deal of purple.
Colors of female much more obscure. Length, 5.00 ; e.xtent, 12.00 ; wing, 4.75 ; tail, 2.00.
Ii'is brown ; bill black ; feet brownish.

Hab. Rocky Mountains to the Pacific ; south to Mexico.

108

SINGIXG BIRDS — OSCINES.

This littlu l)inl, the rival uf the liuimiiin;4-hir(ls in hrilliancy and delicacy
of plumage, arrives in Santa Clara Valley as early as March 15th, and fre-
(£ueuts chiefly the groves of oaks along the sides of the valleys, and across
the whole Coast Eange, excepting the windy and cold neighborhood of the
sea. They range at least as far north as the Straits of Fuca, and across the
interior to the eastern base of the Eocky Mountains. Their nest is built in
the knot-holes of the oaks, and I have never seen them seek the vicinity of

buildings for a dwelling, although not averse to the society of man, but
rather more numerous about towns, when their favorite trees grow in the
neighborhood. They select such small knot-holes, and generally in such
inaccessible situations, that I never succeeded in obtaining tlieir nest and
eggs ; but according to observers, they lay four, of a jjure white color, some-
what like those of the bank swallow. Townsend states that along the
sources of the Colorado Eiver they build in the deserted nests of the cliff
swallow.

They migrate to the south in September. Their notes consist of a rather
faint warbling twitter, uttered as they sit on some low twig, their fa\'orite
perch ; when flying they seem to be rather silent.

I ha\'e not observed this species west of the Coast Range, except when
emigrating. They appeared at Santa Cruz, in 1866, on March 19th, and a
large flock, with a few Chaiura, stojjfjed for a few hours on their way south-
ward, October 5th, which dates are probably about the usual ones for their
migrations.

//. tkalasstn

HIRUNDINID^ — THE SAVALLOWS— COTYLE.

100

Genus COTYLE, Boie.

Cotyle, Boie, Isis, 1822, 550. (Type, //. rijiaria.)

Gex. Char. Bill very flat, extrumt-ly broad at tbf base, and gradually narrowed to-
wards tile tip ; nostrils prominent and rounded. Tail moderate, nearly straight or some-

what emarginated. Tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe, slender, and scutellate.
Toes very slender, the claws slightly curved. Colors generally dull brown above, without
gloss.

C. riparia.

The birds of tlii.s genus are among the plaine.st colored of the family,
lacking entirely the beautiful metallic or velvety lustre characterizing
most of the swallows. They belong essentially to the vicinity of the water,
always nesting in its banks or near to them, excavating holes, or occupy-

ing crevices between rocks and stones.

I [() SINGING BIRDS — OSCLNES.

Cotyle riparia, Linn^us.

THE BANK SWALLOW.

Hinmdo ripurui, Linn.«us, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 344. — Wilson, Am. Orn. V. 46; pi.
xxxviii. — Audubon, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 584 ; pi. 385. Ib. Biids Amer. I. 1840, 187 ;
[j1. fill. — Colijlc riparia, BoiK, Isis, 1822, 550. — Brewer, N. Am. Ool. I. 1857, 105;
|,1. iv. f. 49 (Egj,'). — B.viRD, P. R. Re]). IX. Birds 313.

Sp. Ciiau. Smallest of Amurican swallows. Tail slightly emargiuate. Outer web
of first primary soft, without hooks. Lower part of the tarsus with a few scattered
feathers. Above, grayish-browu, somewhat fuliginous, with a teudeney to paler margins

^

to the feathers. Beneath, pure white, with a band across the breast and sides of the body
like the back. Length, 4.75 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 2.00.
Hah. North America generally.

This ajjecies has been obtaiued at Sacramento by Dr. Heermann, accord-
ing to Baird, but as it seems rather less common on this coast than the next,
and resembles that so closely that they cannot be distinguished "without
examination of specimens, their habits being exactly alike, I will describe
those of both under one heading. It lays white eggs like that species.

Tlie bank swallow is the only species belie^-ed to be common to both
Europe and America, a careful comparison showing no tangible or i)erma-
nent difl'ereiice. The barii swallows of the two hemispheres are closely
related, but always distinguishable l.iy the rufous belly and narrow pectoral
band of the American variety.

Cotyle serripennis, Audubon.

THE EOTJGH- WINGED SWALLOW.

niruiuh serripennis, Audubon, Orn, Biog. IV. 1838, 593. — In. Birds Amer. I. 1840, 193;
pi. 51. — Coti/le serripennis, Bon.\1'ARTE, Consp. IS-iO, 342. — Brewer, X. Am. Ool. I.
1857, 106; pi. iv. f. 50 (Egg). — B.\ird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 313. — Kennerly, X. iv.
24. — Heermann, X. vi. 36. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 186.

Sp. Ch.\r. Tail slightly emarginate ; first primary with the pennulie of the outer web
much stiffened, with tlieh' tree extremities recurved into a hook, very appreciable to the

HIRUNDIXID.E — THK SWALLOWS — COTYLE.

Ill

touch. No feathers on the tarsus and toes. Above, rather light sooty-brown ; beneath,
whitish-gray, or light brownish-ash, becoming nearly pure white in the middle of the belly

and on the under tail coverts. Length, 5.. 'JO ; e.xtent 12.00; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 2.23. Iris,
brown ; bill and feet black.

Hah. United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Bank swallow.s, cliieHy of this specie.?, are fntnid in sunimcr tlirono-h
nearly the whole lower p(jrtions of the State. I saw them first at Fort
Mojave, on tlie 27th of Feljruary, hut I have seen them at San Diego on
Novemher 9th and January 27tli, so that, if they do not winter within the
State, they do not go far heyond it.

They frei^uent chiefly the sandy hanks of rivers, and hurrow in them to a
depth of two or three feet, the holes crowded very near together, and enter-
ing a few feet below the upper edge of the haidc. At the bottom of the
burrow is the nest, composed chiefly of dry grass with a few feathers, con-
taining fi\-e white eggs. Sometimes they resort to natural clefts in the
bank, or in adobe buildings, and occasionally to knot-holes. . In favorable
places they congregate in great niiml)ers about one sf)ot, and continue to
keep much in flocks during the fall. Tliey ha^-e only a faint twittering
note when Hying. At night they roo.st in tlieir burrows, and in cnhl
weather liave been found almost torpid in tliem. According to Audubon,
the eggs of this species are larger, longer, and more pointed than those of
the bank swallows.

The peculiarity of the wings of this species shown in tlie accompanying
figrxre is shared by several others in JMiddle and Soutli America, wliich liave
lately been grouped under a genus Stdyidoptcryx (cuny-comb wing).

C. scrnpennis.

112

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Genus PROGNE, Roie.

Progne, BoiE, Isis, 1826, 971. (Type, Hinmrln purpurea, L.)

CiiAR. Bill ?tronfr, shnrt, the gape very wide, the sides gradually compressed, the
culmen and lateral margins arched to the tip; the latter inflected; the nostrUs basal,

p. purpurea

lateral, open, and rounded. Tail considerably forked. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe
and claw ; about equal to the too alone. Toes long, strong ; lateral ones equal.

p. jiurpurfd

Many species of this genns occtir tlircnighout America, two of them
peculiar to the "West Indies, and a tliird to the Galapagos Islands. Some
are very local in distribution, thoiigh of most powerful iiight.

HIRUNDLNID.E — THE SWALLOWS — PROGNE. 2^3

Progne purpurea, Linnjeus.

THE PURPLE MARTIN.

Hirnndo purpnrra. LiNN;Ens, Syst. Nat. I. 17C6, 344. — Wilson, Am. Oni. V. 58 ; pi. .39, f.
1, 2. — AuDcnoN, Orn. Biog. I. 1831, 115; pi. xxiii. lu. Birds Amcr. I. 1840, 170;
pi. xli. — Pini/ne purpwra, BoiE, Isis, 1826, 971. — BoxAPARTE, List, 1838. — Cassin,
Illust. I. 1855, 245. — Brewer, N. Am. Ool. L 1857, 103 ; pi. iv. f. 47 (Egg). — Baird.
P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 314. — Heekma.nx, X. vi. 35. — Cooper and Sucklet, XIL iii.
Zool. of W. T. 186.

Sp. Cir.\R. Larfxcpt of North American sivallovrs. Clopcd wiiifjs rather lonrrpi- than
the deeply forkcil tail. Tar.«i and toes naked. Color in the old male, everywhere glossy
steel-blue, with purple and violet reflections. Female, and immature male, less brilliant

above, pale lirownish beneatli, blotched with darker or with lihu>h. Length, 8.00 ; ex-
tent, 16.25 ; wing, 5.80 ; tail, 3.40. L-is and feet brown ; bill black.
Hab. United States generally.

I liave not seen the beautiful and sociable martins in the Colorado Val-
ley, nor olxserved them along the coast earlier than April 29th, wlieu they
were migrating through San Francisco, percliing for a few hours on lofty
flag-staffs during the warm morning, but disappearing ■\\-lien the cold sea-
breeze began to blow. They resort chiefly to the warm valleys of the in-
terior, nesting in holes of large trees from near San Diego to Puget's Sound.
I also found them nesting on the summits of the Coast Range, in conijiany
with the Hirundo hicolor and fhalassina, but preferring the dead tops of the
loftiest red woods for their domiciles. They are numerous at Sacramento in
summer, and jirobably through most of tlie Sierra Nevada, but retire to the
south in August.

They have not yet attracted so much attention among our mo-\-abIc and
busy people as in the East, wliere almost every country-house, and even
some in large cities, furuisli them with a residence, usuall)' a neat little

114 SINGIXG BIRDS — OSCINES.

hotel with luaiiy apartments, each opening on to a porcli, and all nio\inted
together on a liigh pole. Like pigeons, the martins live iu i)erl'eet harmony
with tlieir neighbors ; while our other house-loving pets, the bluebirds and
■\\Tens, must have a large range of territory, and drive away intruders too
near their homes. Yet the martins have courage enough, as is shown by
their occasionally driving away the smaller birds, and even pigeons, in order
to api)roj)riat.e their ([uarters. They also drive away e\'ery hawk or crow
that shows itself near their nest, and thus protect poultry.

The loud and sweet twittering song of the martin, though mixed with
some harsh notes, is remarkably pleasing, and continues during its whole
stay with us, beginning at dawn, and heard at intervals during the day as
they pursue their prey through the higher air, generally far above the
smaller swallows, though they also sweep occasionally along the ground.

Their nest is made of leaves, straw, hay, and feathers iu large quantities,
and their eggs, from four to six, are jjure white. They probably raise tw'o
broods here, as in the East. They prey on the larger flying insects that
appear during the day, and none are so swift as to escape them.

According to Audubon, this species arrives in the ^Middle Atlantic States
before the barn swallow.

In ISGG I observed them first on April 2Gth, at Santa Cruz; but none
build iu (jr near the town.

Family VIREONID^, The Geeenlets.

Char. Basal joints of anterior toes shortened ; that of middle toe shorter
than that of inner, and imited throughout to the basal Joint of both inner
and outer toes. Lateral plates of tarsus undivided, except at lower end.
Lower edge of Iowqt mandilde more than half tlie lengtli of lower jaw from
tip to angle of mouth. Bill couieal and compressed,, decm-ved at end.
Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Lateral toes unequal. Prima-
ries ten ; the first short, sometimes wanting.

The family of the vireos, or greenlets, is peculiarly American, and is
represented by many species, some or other of them occurring in every
part of tlie continent. But two genera, and tliese closely allied to each
other, belong to the LTnited States.

The relations of the ViramuJcc are ^-ery close to the Ampdidw and
Laniidxr, the three forming a special group by themselves.

YIREONID.E — THE GREENLETS — VIREOSYLVIA.

115

Sub-Fajiily VIREONIN.E.

CllAR. Bill moderate, cylindrical, somewhat compressed. Wiugs long,
the first primary sometimes wanting. Tail short and nearly even. Sides
of the tarsi behind not scutellate.

Genus VIREOSYLVIA, Bonaparte.

Vireosylvia, Bonapaetk, Gray, Coiiip. List, 1838. [Tj^e, Muscicapa oUvacea, L.) — Baird,
Kev. Amer. Birds, .320.

Char. Wings pointed, consitlcrably lungu:- than the nearly even tail. Spurious pri-
mary quiU either wanting, or ver\' short, not one third the second.

The species of this genus are quite numerous, and soma of them widely
distributed. Several are peculiar to California and Arizona, although others
extend over the greater part of the United States.

116

SINGING BIRDS— OSCIXES.

Vireosylvia gilva, N'u. Swainsoni, Baird.

SWAINSON'S WARBLING GKEENLET.

Muscicapa gilm, Vieillot, Ois. I. 1807, 05; pi. xxxiv.

Vireo i/ilvus, Bonapaute, Obs. Wilson, 1825, No. 123. — Nuttall, I. 1832, 309. — Audu-
bon, Om. Biog. II. 1834, 114 ; V. 1839, 433 ; pi. 118. Ib. Birds Amc-r. IV. 1842, 149 ;
pi. 241. — Baird, P. K Rep. IX. Birds, 335. — Heermanx, X. vi. 55. — CoorER and
SucKLEY, XII. iii. 188.

Vireo Swainsoni, Baird, Birds N. Amer. 1858, 336. In. Kcv. Aiucr. Birds, 343.

Muscicapa mtloilia, Wilson", Am. Orn. V. 1812, 85 ; pi. 42, f. 2.

Sr. Char. Third, fuurtli, and (It'tli quills iK'arly uijiud ; second and sixth usually about
eciual, and about 1.25 of an inch shorter than third ; the exposed portion of spurious quill
about one fourth the tlurd. Above, trrcenish-olive : the head and hind neck a;hv, the

\

V. Sirninsoni.

back slightly tinged with the same. Lores dusky ; a white streak from the base of the
upper mandible above and a little behind the eye ; beneath the eye whitish. Sides of the
head pale yellowish-brown. Beneath, white tinged with very pale yellow on the breast
and sides. No light margins whatever on the outer webs of the wings or tail. Spurious

V. Siuainsom.

])rimary one fourth the length of second. Length about 5.50 ; extent, S.GO ; wings neai'ly
3.00. Iris brown ; bill horn-color and bluish ; feet white.
Ilah. Atlantic to the Pacific Coast of the United States.

' The description just oiven applies to the V. ijilva, as fouiKl iii Eastern
Xorth America. The AVesteru Lird, however, takes rank as a distinct

VIREONID^E — THE GREENLETS — YIREOSYLVIA. H'J

variety, if not species, xiiider the name of V. Swainsoni, and differs in
snudler size, more de})ressed liill, und in tlie second quill being much shorter
than the sixth, instead of equal to it or longer. Tlie colors generally are
paler, and the upper mandible is black, not horn-color. The better to
illustrate the differences, we give the heads of both, and add the outline of
a wing of Sivainsoni, for comparison with that of V. gilva.

Tliis lively and familiar little songster arrives near San Diego about
April Idth, and towards the middle of May reaches Puget's Sound, resid-
ing through the summer in nearly all the intermediate country, frequent-
ing the deciduous trees along the borders of streams and prairies, coming
into gardens and orchards with familiar confidence as soon as cultivation
has reclaimed the wilderness.

Their cheerful and A'aried song may be heard from morning till night,
and frequently until late in the autumn, as they industriously seek for their
insect prey among the Ijranches, occasionally interrupting the melody by
swallowing a victim. They even build their nests in the shade-trees along
the streets of busy cities, or in parks ; and though their low warbling attracts
little attention from the hurrying crowd, they sing on, sure of an audience
from some more observant lover of nature's nmsic.

Their nest is built pendant in the forks of a branch high above the
ground, sometimes as much as one hundred feet, and is composed of grasses
and vegetable fibres neatly inter\voven, lined with the silk and down from
plants. The eggs are white, with a few blackish spots of various sizes, and
straggling lines near the larger end. (Nuttall.)

In the autumn they wander about in families, feeding partly on berries,
and uttering a harsh note of complaint or alarm if closely ^\'atclled, as do
the old birds when the nest is approached. They probably lea\-e the State
in October.

Vireosylvia solitaria, Vieillot.

THE BLUE-HEADED FLYCATCHER.

Musclcapa solitaria, Wilson, Am. Orn. 11. 1.SI0, 14.3 ; pi. 17. f. 6.

Yireo solitarius, ViEiLLOT, Nouv. Diet. 1817. — Acduuon, Oru. Biog. I. 1831, 147 ; V.
1839,432; pi. 23. Ib. Syn. 1839. In. Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 144; ])1. 239. — Nut-
tall, Man. I. 1832, 3U.i. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Biiils, 340. — IIkekmanx, X. vi.
.55. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of AY T. 189.

Vireo Cassini, Baird, Birds N. Anier. IX. 340; pi. 75, f. 1. — Xantls, Pr. A. N. S.
1858.

Si'. Cii.\i;. Spurious primary very small, not one fourth tlii' second, wliieli is lonjier
than the si.^tli. Top and sides of the head and upper part of neck dark bluish-ash ; rest of
upper parts clear oli\-e-green. A white ring round the eye, interrupted in the anterior can-

118

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

thus by a dusky lore, but thu whik' color extcndiug above this spot to the base of
the bill. Under parts white ; the sides under the wings gi-eenish-ycllow. Two bands
on the wing coverts, with the edges of the secondaries, gi'eeuish-white. Outer tail

feather with its edge all round, including the whole outer web, whitish. Length about
5.50 inches ; extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.00. Iris brown ; bill black, bluish below ; feet lead-
color.

Ilab. United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

This species reaches Puget's Sound by the 1st of May, but I have not
noticed tlieir arrival in the southern part of this State, and have seen none
tliere, except a lew at Fort Mojave, Colorado Valley, after May 14th, when
tltey began to make tlieniselves conspicuous by singing, but in a few days
seemed to have passed away towards the north. It is quite possible that

y. solUarius.

they winter in tlie State. In the Eastern States they are so rare and scat-
tered that their migrations seem to be little understood.

I have seen them, with a nest suspended high in an alder-tree, in ^lay, at
the eastern base of the Coast Eange, and found them quite common in
summer at the Columbia Eiver. According to Nuttall, their nest is some-
times built quite low down, constructed of dead grass, leaves, cobwebs, and
externally with shreds of moss {Hypnum) glued on, to resemble the branches
around. It is lined with fine blades of grass and root-fibres. Tlie eggs,
according to Audubon, are four or five, white tinged with flesh-color, and
with brownish-red spots near the larger end.

Their favorite resorts are the deciduous oaks, which are most abundant
northward.

VIREONID.E — THE GKEENLETS — VIREOSYLVIA.

119

Their song consists of a variuty of notes, slowly delivered in an inter-
rupted manner, and having a rather plaintive but sweet tone, very different
from the lively warlile of V. gilra.

The bird described as V. Cassini, by ]\lr. Xantus, is probaljly only this
species in winter dress. A figure of it is given at the head of the article,
side by side with that sliowing tlie sjjring plumage.

Vireosylvia plumbea, Coues.

THE LEAD-COLORED GRKENLET.

\lreosi/Ivia phimhca, Coues, Pr. A. N. S. 1806. — Baikd, Rct. Amcr. Birds, 349.

Sr. CiiAR. Very similar to I', solilaria, but larger, with longer wings and tail. The
olive-green of solilaria is replaced by plumbeous, and the yellowish by white. There is
only a faint trace of olive on the lower back and flanks. The olive edgings of the wing

are replaced by ash ; of the tail, by whitish. Total length, G.IO ; extent of wings, 10.80 ;
wing, 3.25 ; tarsus, 0.75.

Hah. Eoeky Mountains and Arizona to Colima, Mexico.

V. phtmbea.

This fine species was first described by Dr. Coues, from specimens col-
lected at Prescott, Arizona, where it Avas very abundant. No notice of its
habits has yet been published.

120

SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXKS.

It has been collected at \-arious ])laces througli the Kocky ]\Ioiintains,
and appears to be quite abundant at Laramie Peak. The differences
from solitaria are reatlily appreciable in comparison. (Baird.)

Gends VIREO, Vikillot.

Vireo, ViElLLOT, Oin. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 8.3. (Type, Muscirnpa novehomcensis, Boxap.)

Cii.\R. Wiiifi roMiitloil, rather lonr;er than the more or less ronmled tail ; spurious

quill lensthcneil, one third or more as long as the second ; second {;eiierally, and

third almost always, longer tlian the secondaries ; third or fourth quill usually longest.
Bill rather compressed.

V. noveboracensr.

Tliis genus is represented in the United States by several species, and by
a still larger number in Middle America. All are of plain colors, and, as far

V. nnrfboracensts

as we know an}i:hing of them, they have the usual gentle and inoffen-
sive characteristics of the tA-pe.

VIRE0NIDzl3 — THE GREENLETS — VIUEO.

121

Vireo atricapillus, Woodhousb.

THE BLACK-HEADED GEEENLET,

llrco (lirirapiUus, Woodiioose, I'r. Ac. N. Sc. 1852, 60. — Cassin, Ilhist. 1854, 153; pi.
xxiv. — Baihd, Biiils N. Amer. 1858, .337. Ib. Roy. Birds Araer. 353.

Sp. Cii.\r. Top and pidos of head and neck blaek, rest of ii])per jiart olive-green.
Wing and tail feathers almost blaek on their ujiper surfaec ; the quills and rectrices edged

with olive : the wing coverts with two greenish-white bands on a blackish ground. Broad
line from bill to and aroimd eye, with under parts white. Bill black. Length, 4.75 ; ex-
tent, 7.25 ; wing, 2 25 ; tarsus, 0.75.
Hah A^'estern Texas.

V. atricapillus.

Thi.s .specie.s, unique among the Vireonida:, is very little known, only two
or three specimens having so far been obtained.

Vireo Huttoni, Cassin.

HTTTTON'S GEEENLET.

Vireo nulloni, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. V. Feb. 1851, 150. Id. VI. ; pi. i. f. 1. — Baird,
P. R. Rep. IX. Birds N. Amer. 339; pi. 78, f. 2 (eye too small). In. Rev. Amer.
Birds, 357.

Sp. Guar. Fourth, fifth, ami sixth quills about equal and longest ; third and seventh
equal, and 0.10 of an inch shorter; second (juiU not longer than secondaries; spurious
16

122

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

primary large, broad, about half tlio fccond. Above, olive-green, becoming considerably
darker towards the bill and on sides of head. Beneath, dirty gi-cenish-\vhite, tinged with
greenish-yellow postei'iorly. A paler ring around the eye. Two broad bands across the

wing coverts and edges of inner tertiaries, with gi-eater portion of outer web of the outer
tail feather greenish or olivaceous white. Length, 5.00 ; extent, 7.75 ; wing, 2.60. Iris
brown ; bill black, blue below ; feet lead-color. _ .

Hab. California, across by Valley of Gila to Northeastern Mexico.

My attention was first attracted to this liird near San Diego late in Feb-
ruary, having before mistaken it for tlie ruby-cro-\vned wren, which winters
there in abundance, and resembles this species closely in appearance and
habits. Two of them came down to within a few feet of where I sat, scold-
ing in a harsh tone, when I noticed their larger size and different plumage,
besides their remarkably large eyes, and a j)eculiar slowness and delibera-

tion in their movements, as they watched and searched the dark foliage for
lurking insects. I have since found them wintering plentifully up to lati-
tude 38°; and having observed but few in the Coast Range in May, I think
most of them go farther north in summer. At San Diego, however, I shot
a female on the 9th of March, containing an egg nearly ready to be laid,
but have never been able to find a nest, which is probably built in the
dense shade of their favorite evergreen oaks (Quercus agrifolia). Their
song consists of a few short and quaint notes.

On the table-lands of Mexico, especially about Orizaba, tliis species is
said to be abundant, and resident throughout the year.

VIREONID^E — THE GKEENLETS — YIREO.

123

Vireo Belli, Audubon.

BELL'S VLREO.

Vireo Belli, AuDUDON, Birds AmiT. VII. 1844, 3.33 ; jjl. 48.5 (Missouri).
So. V. Feb. 1851, 150. — B.uud, P. I{. Ucp. IX. Birds, 335.

• Cassik, Pr. A. N.

Sp. Char. Similar lo ]\ yilfus, but smallur. Olive-green above, tinged with asliv on
the top and sides of Lead. A short line tVoni the bill oxer the eye, and re"ion around
lower eyelid, white ; lores dusky. Beneath, yellowish-white ; ou the sides of body and

^«*r%'

X

posteriorly, sulpluir yellow. Two faint bars of whiti.-^h across the wing coverts ; inner ter-
tiaries edged broadly with whitish. Third quill longest, the rest successively shorter,
except the second, which is a little shorter than the seventh. Spurious primary about

7. Belli.

two fifths the second, and more than one third of the third. Length, 4.50 ; extent,
7.00; wing, 2."25 ; tail, 2.25. Iris brown; bill horn-color, below pale bluish; feet lead-
color.

Ilab. INIissouri River and Eastern Texas.

Thi.s species appears to belong to the region between the IJocky Moim- ^
tains and the Missouri Eiver, where it is by no means rare. The nest, as
in otlier species, is built between two forks of a horizontal twig, and
with the eggs are much like those of the wliite-eyed greeulet, V. novcbora-
ccnsis.

124

SINGING lilllUS — OSCINES.

Vireo pusillus, Coues.

Vireo ]iusilliis, CouES, I'r. A. N. S. 18GG, TO. — Baikd, Rev. Amer. Birds, 360.
Virco Ikllii, Cooi-Eii, Pr. Cal. Acad. ISCl, \-l-2.

Sp. Char. Similar in general appearance to V. r/ilcus, bnt smaller. Tarsi length-
ened ; tail graduated. Above, grayisli-asb. Beneath white, with a soiled tinge across

the breast. Eyelids and a short line from nostril to eye whitish. Primaries edged faintly
with whitish. Length, 4.80; wing, 2.2.5; tail, 2.25; tarsus, 0.73.
Hub. Cape St. Lucas, San Diegu, and Arizona.

This siDecies was first known from specimens collected at Cape St. Lucas
by Mr. Xantus. I found it rather common along the upper part of Mojave
riiver in June, 1861, and in the following spring, about April 20th, they
began to arrive at San Diego in considerable numbers. In habits, as far
as observed, they resemble V. (/ileus, but differ much iu soug ; those that I

F. puslllics.

heard singing very much like the Polioptiltx, which utter a c^uaint mixture
of the notes of the Nvi-ens, swallows, and vireos. Like other vireos, they
have more or less of an imitative power.

At Sacramento I frequently saw and heard in the willows along the
river what, from its peculiar note, I felt pretty certain was this species. As
I wished to find its nest, I refrained from shooting specimens, but did not
succeed in my object.

VlREOJSflDJi — TIIK GREEXLETS — VIREO.

125

Vireo vicinior, C'oues.

THE GEAY GEEENLET.

Vireo vicinior, CocES, Vr. Ac. N. Sc. 18GG, 75. — Baird, Kcv. Amer. Birds, 3G1.

Sp. Cii-VR. AbuvL', with fitlcs of licad and neck ashy or Ught phuiiboous, faintly oh-
vaceous on the nunp. Beneath wliito, slightly ashy on sides of breast. Flanks and
insido of wings showing a faint trace of )-ellow, only appreciable on raising the wings.

A faint line from bill to eye, and a more distinct ring round the eye, white. No bands
on the wings ; the quills edged internaUy with white. Iris brown. Length, 5.10; wing,
2.oO; tail, 2.C0 ; tamis, 0.72.

Hab. Vicinity of I'rescott, Arizona.

This strongly marked species, readily distinguishable from any other of
its allies, was obtained by Dr. Cones near Prescott, Arizona, and is one of
seA'eral new species which we owe to his indefatigable industry. Nothing
was observed of its haljits.

V. vicinior.

126 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Family MITELIBM, The Chatterers.

Chak. Basal joint of middle toe aljout equal to tliat of inner toe ; not
united to that of lateral toes, for more than half the length. Lateral plates
of tarsi, with tendency to subdivision. Lateral toes nearly equal. Lower
edge of lower jaw less than half total length of jaw. Bill short, broad at
base, and much depressed ; feathers of forehead soft. Nostrils overhung by
membrane. Tarsus equal to or less than middle toe and claw.

Sub-Fajiily AMPELIN^.

Char. Nostrils elongated, linear ; the frontal feathers extending close
to and concealing them. Wings very long and acute ; outer primary veiy
minute and inappreciable. Wings nearly twice the length of the short,
nearly even tail. Secondary quills with fiat horny appendages at the end
of the shafts, like red sealing-wax.

Genus AMPELIS, Linx.ecs.

Ampelis, LiNMiEUS, Syst. Nat. IT.'JS. (Tyjje, A. rjitmdus.)

Bombi/dila, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I. 1807, 88. (Type, B. cedronm.)

Gen. Ch.\u. Head with a broad (Impressed ci-cst. Bill very broad, opening nearly to
the eye; a series of sbort velvety feathers at the base of the bill, with bristles du-eeted

A. garrula.

AMPELTD,^ — THE CHATTERERS — AMPELIS.

127

forwarils ami covering tho nostrils, but none alonj; the ricttis. Commissure straight.
Culmen and gonvs eurved, convex ; both mandibles notched at tip. Legs stout ; tarsi
shorter than the middle toe ; seutellate anteriorly, and slightly on the lower half of the

A. garrula.

sides behind ; slightly feathered above. Hind toe shorter than the lateral, ■which are
equal. Wings very long, pointed, reaching almost to the tip of the nearly even tail.
First primary so short as to be witli difficulty discernible ; the second quill longest. Tips
of secondary quills with horny appendages, like sealing-wax.

Of this genu.s one sj^ecies belongs to tlie northern parts of both the New
and Okl World, one is j^eculiar to North America, and a third to Siberia
and Japan.

Ampelis garrulus, Lixn^us.

THE WAX- WING; THE BOHEMIAN CHATTEKER.

Ampelis (jarrnhis, Linn.eus, Syst. Nat. 1766, 297. — Bonaparte, 2il List, 1842. In. Consp.
1850,336. — iJom5yciy/a i7am(/a, Bonaparte, Zool. Jour. III. 1827, 50. In. Am. Orn.
III. 1828, pi. xvi. — Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 237. — AnDucoN, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838,
462 ; pi. 363. In. Birds Anier. IV. 1842, 169 ; pi. 246. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
317. Ib. Rev. Amcr. Birds, 405.

Sp. Ch.\r. Murh crested. General color brownish-ash, with a faint shade of red-
dish, especially anteriorly ; the forehead, sides of the head, and under tail coverts, brown-

128

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

ish-orange ; the liimler pnrfs purer ash ; the roc;ion a))oiit the vent white. Primaries and
tail feathers i)Uiml)eous black, especially towards the tips ; the tail with a tenuinal band
of yellow. A narrow frontal line passing backward and involving the eye, and extemling
above and behind it, chin and upper part of throat black. Tips of the secondary
coverts, and a spot on the end of the outer webs of all the quiUs, white ; those on the
inner primaries glossed with yellow. Secondaries with red horny tips, like sealing-wax.
Side of the lower jaw whitish. Length, 8.00 ; e.xtent, 13.75 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 3.00. Iris
brown ; bill and feet black.

Hah. Northern parts of both continents. Seen in the United States only in severe
winters, except along the great lakes. In the Mississippi Valley, south to Fort Riley,
Kansas ; Colorado Valley to Fort Mojave, lat. 35°.

This veiy beautiful Lircl is one of tlie most boreal, in its preference of a
residence, of any of the smaller birds, rarely descending south of lat. 45°,
even in the cold of the Eastern winter climate, and ranging entirely aroimd
tlie arctic circle. It is probable, ho-\vever, that they reside dming summer
aliout the summits of some of the loftiest mountains of the interior ranges,
if not of the Sierra Nevada, as I have seen them in September at Fort
Laramie, and the specimen obtained on the Colorado was a straggler from
some neighboring mountains. It appeared on January lOth, after a stormy
period wliich had whitened the tops of the mountains with snow, and was
alone, feeding on the berries of the mistletoe, when I shot it. It made no
noise, except a sort of hissing cry, and though called " chatterer," it is usually
a very silent bird. When in flocks, which are sometimes enormous, they,
however, make a loud twittering, and are so irregular in their wanderings
as to excite great curiosity when they appear in the more southern parts of
Europe. Their food consists chiefly of berries, and of insects during sum-
mer.

AMPELID.E — THE CHATTERERS — AMPELIS. ^29

Ampelis cedrorum, Yieillot.

THE CEDAE-BIRD.

Ampelis garrulus, Var. B. Linn.ecs, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 297.

Bumlycilla Carolinensis, Brisson, Orn. II. 1760, 337. — Audubon, Oni. Bioc;. I. 1831, 227 ;

V. 494 ; ]il. 43. In. Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 1G5 ; ]>]. 245. — NuwiiiiRp.y, P. K. Hep. VI.

iv. 81.
Domlyrilla cedrorum, Y1F.IL.Z.0T, Ois. Am. Sept. I. 1807, 88; pi. Ivii. In. Galcrie Ois. I.

1834, 186 ; pi. cxviii.
Ampelis Americana, Wilson, Am. Om. I. 1808, 107 ; pi. vii.
Ampelis cedrorum, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 318. — Heermann, X. vi. 56. — Coopek

and SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zoo), of W. T. 187.

Sp. Char. Head crested. General color redili.^h-olive, passing anteriorly, on tlic
neck, head, and breast, into purplish-cinnamon ; posteriorly, on the upper parts, into ash ;
on the lower, into yellow. Under tail coverts white. Chin dark sooty-black, fading in-
sensibly into the ground color on the throat. Forehead, loral region, space below the eye,
and a line above it on the side of the head, intense black. Quills and tail dark plum-

beous, passing behind into dusky ; the tail tipped with yellow ; the primaries, except the
first, margined with hoary. A short ma.xillary stripe ; a narrow crescent on the infero-
posterior quarter of the eye white. Secondaries with horny tips, like red sealing-wax.
Length, 7.2.5 ; extent, 11.75 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 2. GO. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.
Hub. Xorth America generally, south to Guatemala, north to lat. .50°.

In the .settled ili-stricts of this coa.st the little -n-ax-wing is as yet a rather
rare bird, but will probably increase in abundance with cultivation and the
abundance of its favorite fruits. The comparative scarcity of wild berries
in most parts of the mountains makes it also rather an uncommon bird, but
in winter I liave seen small flocks as far south as San Diego, feeding on the
mistletoe-berries ; and they appear tlien in various parts of the lower
country, even at San Francisco. They are at that season very silent,
sitting still most of the day after gorging themselves to the throat with
berries, rarely uttering their low hissing call.

17

]^30 SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXES.

Tliey are at all seasons silent and gregarious, merely scattering in pairs
in early summer, when tliey Iniild a nest generally in a low tree, com-
jiosed of fibrous grass, leaves, hark, and down of plants, in which they lay
four or fi\-e eggs of a pale white color, with a few dark spots at the large

end. (Nuttall.) I have seen a nest at Fort Vancouver, and they are doubt-
less to he found breeding in this State. They raise two broods, and are
easily reared, becoming very tame in a cage.

Sith-Famua- TTILOGONATIN.E.

Chat;. Legs, moderate. Nostrils oval, naked, not overhung by tlie
frontal feathers. "Wings graduated, shorter than the somewhat broad,
fan-shaped tail ; ten distinct primaries ; the first quill nearly half the
second.

AJIPELID^ — TIIK CHATTERERS — PHAINOPEPL A. I3I

Genus PHAINOPEPLA, Sclater.

P/iainopcpla (" Sclatek "), B.ukd, 1'. 11. Kcp. IX. 923, Oct. 1858.

Gen. Char. Head with an occipital crest uf loiii;' narrow feathers. Bill weak, de-
pressed, decidedly narrower than the length of the cnhncu. Base of bill with short
bristles. Tarsi scutellate, bare above ; shortc^ than the middle toe ; outer lateral toe

rather the longer ; equal to the hinder. Wings and tail rather long ; the foniier shortest ;
the first quill half the length of the second, and two fifths the fifth, or longest. Tail
feathers broad, widening to the rounded tip ; the tail moderately graduated ; the niitldle
ones longest.

Phainopepla nitens, SwAiNso>f.

THE BLACK FLYCATCHER.

Ptilogomjs ;ii>-ns, Swainsox, Anim. in Meiing. 21 Cent. 1838, 285. — Boxaparte, Consp.
1850, .335. — Heeioiann, J. A. N. Sc. II. Jan. 1853,263. In. P. R. Rep. X. vi. .38.
— Cassim, Ilhist. I. 1854, 169 ; pi. xxix. — Clchlopsis miens, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX.
Birds, 320. — P/iui«o/;.7j/a «/«tHs ("Sclater, MSS."), Baikd, IX. 923. — Kenneklv,
X. iv. 22.

Sr. Char. Head with an elongated occipital crest. Exposed portion of spurious ipiill
about half the length of the second, which equals the secondaries ; sixth ipuU bjiigest.
Tail graduated. Male throughout of a uniform lustrous black, glossed with green. Inner
webs of the primaries white, excejrt at the base, tips, and margins. Female, ash-color,
paler beneath ; the quills, wdng, and lower tail coverts and outer tail feathers edged with
whitish ; rest of tail feathers blackish. Length, 8.00 ; extent, 11.50 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 4.30.
Iris red ; bill and feet black.

2^32 SINGING BIRDS— OSCIXES.

Hah. Kiu Grande, Kuw Mexico, west to Sau Diego, Calilbruia ; uortli to lat. 39°, in
California.

Tliis bird, wliicli is in habits and ajDjiearance much more like the fly-
catchers than tlie wax-wings, is yet connected with the latter more closely
in structure, and has even some sweet notes, indicating a greater affinity to
the Oscincs than to the Clamatorcs.

On the Colorado I found them numerous, especially in -winter, and they
do not migrate much south of lat. S5°, though found in sunnner as far north
at least as Cosumnes liiver. (Heermanu.) I also found them rather com-
mon along the Moja\-e Eiver iu Decemberj and south of Los i\jageles to Sau
Diego in summer.

They prefer the vicinity of the trees on Avhich the mistletoe grows, as its
berries form much of their food during the whole year, but they also watch
for insects from the summit of some low tree, occasionally flying after one,
and pursuing it in a zigzag course, very much like the Sayornis nigricans.
They almost constantly utter a loud cry of alarm or warning, and when
pursued are very wild, requiring mucli artifice in winter to shoot them.
If wounded, they conceal themselves so fully iu the thick tufts of mistletoe
as to be found with much difficulty.

jMany left the Colorado Valley early in April, Init a few pairs remained,
and the males uttered a few short musical notes rather like those of the
Myiarchus, but sweeter. On the 25th of April I found a nest built on a
branch of the mesquite (Algamhia), twelve feet from the ground.

When at rest they have the same habit as the pewees of jerking the tail
and erecting their crest. When flying, the white spot on the spread wings
becomes very conspicuous ; and in the deserts along the ]\Iojave Eiver,
every thicket of inescjuite was frequented by one or more of them, some
being constantly on the wing, iu their gyratory flight after insects, giving
some appearance of life to those otherwise desolate regions in winter.

It was found by the late Captain Feilncr, at Fort Crook, in April, 1860,
and was probably migratory in that northern and elevated region. It does
not seem to occur near the coast in the northern half of California.

AMPELID.E — THE CHATTERERS — ISIYIADESTES.

133

Genus MYIADESTES, Swaixson.

Myiadistes, Swainson, Naturalists' Library ; Flycatchers, 1838. (Type, MuscicajM armil-
lata, VitiLLOT.)

Gen. Char. Head not crested. Bill rather narrower than the length of the culinen,
much depressed ; somewhat attenuated at the end ; lateral outline rather eoneave. Tarsi
without iiiathers above or scutellaj ; shorter than the middle toe. Hind toe rather shorter

21. TownsenJu

than the outer lateral toe, which barely reaches the base of the niiildle claw. Tail and
wings very long; the former shorter, quite deeply forked, but the outer lateral feather
abruj)tly graduated, and a little lunger than (he iinicriuost ; the fiMlliers all broad at the

]\I Toti'iiitnclii.

134

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

base, and taiirrin^' to tlu- tip. Spurious ])riiuar_v nuarlj- ouu Ibiu'tli the longest (tkird),
the second a quarter ol'an iiieli le^^. tliaii llie longest.

There arc other species iu Mexico.

Myiadestes Townsendii, Audubon.

TOWNSEND'S FLYCATCHER.

PtiUoqonijs Townseiirlii, Ahduison, (Jrn. Biojj. V. May, 183!), 206 ; pi 419, f. 2. Ib. Birds

Amur. I. 1840, 243 ; pi. 09. — Nuttall, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840, 361. — Gamisel, I'r. A. N.

■ Sc. I. 1843, 261. — Nkwuekky, P R. Rep. VI. iv. 82. — Mi/iuJesta: Townsendii, Cab-

ANis, Wicsm. Arch. I. 1847, 208. — B.vikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Bin'ds, .•i21. — Kennerlv, X.

iv. 25. — Heeumaxn, X. vi. 38. — CoofEii and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of \V. T. 187.

Sp. Cii.iU. Tail rather ileeiilv forked. Exposed portion of spurious cpuU less than one
third that ut'the second ; fourth quill longest ; second a little longer than the sixth. Head
not crested. General color bluish-ash, jjaler beneath ; under wing coverts white. Quills
with a brownish-yellow bar at the base of both webs, mostly concealed, but showing a
little below the greater coverts and alula; ; this succeeded by a bar of dusky, and next to
it another of brownish-yellow across the outer webs of the central quills only. Tertials

Mull.

Young.

tipped with white. Tail feathers dark brown ; the middle ones more like the back ; the
lateral with the outer web and tip, the second with the tip only, white. A white rinu
round the eye. Length, 9.00 ; extent, 14.00 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 4.00. Iris brown ; bill
and feet black.

Ilab. United States from Rocky Mountains to the Facilic ; south to the borders of
Mexico.

Although ph^in in plumage, and retiring in haljits, this bird is one of the
most interesting in the Western country, for, like its not distant relative,
the European nightingale, it compensates hy its delightful melody for its
deficiencies in beauty. Having seen them in the Eocky Mountains, where
they seemed merely plain and silent flycatcliers, with habits similar to those
of Sai/ornis sayus, my astonishment when first I heard one sing in the
Sierra Nevada was indeed great ; and if I had not shot the bird immediately,
I could not ha^•e l)elie\-ed that one belonguig to the same family as the
nearly silent Avax-wings and Phalnopcpla could sing with such power.

LANIIDiE — THE SHRIKES. I35

variety, and sweetness. Their song can be compared with nothing uttered
by any other bird I have lieard in the United States, for it excels that of
the mocking-bird in sweetness, besides being entirely original. It has a
sort of melancholy slowness, but without the interruptions of that of the
Eastern wood-thrush {Tardus mitstelinus), and agrees better with the de-
scriptions of that of the nightingale of Europe.

I saw only a few of this species among some junipers on the western
slope of the mountains, not far from the summit, in September, 1863. The
scarcity of the junij)er on the western slope, towards the north, seems to be
the reason why tliis 1 lird is not more frecpient there ; as, according to all ac-
counts, they are found wlierever that tree grows in al)undance, especially on
the mountain ranges of the great interior basin, and their extensions to the
north and south.

According to Newlierry, thousands of them frccpiented the east slope
of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, producing even in the fall a perfect
chorus of melody from daylight to dark. They feed on the juniper-berries
as well as insects, pursuing the latter like flycatchers.

They may be somewhat gregarious, though I have always met with them
nearly singly. Dr. T. C. Henry found them at Fort Webster, New Mexico,
in large numbers in fall and winter. (Heermann.) They are very scarce
northward, west of the Cascade Mountains ; and in the Eocky Moimtains
about lat. 47°, I met with but one. Their home, therefore, seems to be in
the vicinity of the great deserts of the central regions, on the cedar-covered
mountains that intersect them, where, in a comparatively lifeless and barren
wilderness, they make up for the absence of other songsters by a musical
talent excelling all.

Their nest and eggs, together v.'ith their habits during most of the
year, still remain to be described. I have seen a specimen shot at Forest
Hill, Nevada County, liy i\Ir. F. Gruber.

Family LANIID^, The Shrikes.

Chae. Feet constructed as in Amjy-lithr, but much stouter ; the tarsus
longer than midille toe and claw ; sometimes scutellate on both sides.
Lower outline of bill, about half the length of lower jaw. Bill very power-
ful and raptorial, decurved at end, where it is provided with a .■^harp liook,
notch, and tooth. Nostrils concealed by bristly feathers of foreliead.
Wings much rounded. Tail long and graduated. Primaries ten ; the first
about half the second.

136

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Gknus COLLURIO, Vigors.

Collurio, Vigors, Pr. Zool. Soc. IS.TI, 42. (Type, /jinius e.rrnhitnr, L.) (Gray, Gen. 1844.)
Lanius, of Autlioi'S.

Gex. Cii.vr. Feathers of forehcail ptiiVened ; hni^p of bill, including nostrils, covered
bv bristly fcnthcrs directed forward. Bill shorter than the head, much compressed, and
very powerful. Cuhnen decur\ed from base, the mandible abruptly bent down in a

C erruMtoroiiJes

powerful hook, with an acute lobe near the tip. Tip of lower mandible bent upwards
in a hook ; the gonys very- convex. Rictus with long bristles. Legs stout ; the tarsi
rather short, longer than the middle toe ; the lateral equal ; the claws all very sharp and

C. exctihitoroides.

much eurced. AVings roimded : the first primary about half the second, which is equal to
the sixth or seventh. Tail longer than the wings, much graduated, the feathers broad.

LANHD.E - THE SHRIKES— COLLURIO.

137

Collurio borealis, Vieillot.

THE NORTHERN SHRIKE; THE BUTCHEK-BIRD.

Ldttiim homilis, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sep. I. 1807, 90; pi. i. — Swain.son, F. B. Am. II.

18.31, 111. — AuDUBOJf, 8yn. 18.39, 157. —lis. Birds Amcr. IV. 1842, 130; pi. 2.36.
Colli/rio liorfalis, B.^IRD, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 324. — Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zool.

of W. T. 188.
Lanitis exciibilor, FoRSTER, I'liil. Trans. LXII, 1772,382. — Wilson, I. 1808, 74; pi. v. f. 1.

AuDLBO.N, Orn. Bio-. II. 18.34, 5.34 ; [jI. 192.
Laiiius sfjiti iitiiomilis, liosAi'AHTE, Syii. 1828,72. — Nuttall, Man. I. 1832,258. Ib. I.

2d cd. 1840, 285. (Not of Gmelin.)

Sp. Ch.\k. A1»vc, light l)luish-asli, obscurely soileil with reddish-brown. Forehead,
sides of the crown, scapulars, and upper tail coverts, hoary-white. Beneath white, the

breast with fine transverse lines. Wings and tail black : the former with a white patch
at base of primaries and tips of small quills; the latter with the lateral feathers tipped
with white. Bill blackish-brown, considerably lighter at the base. A black stripe from

the hill through and behind the e)e, but beneath the latter interrupted by a whitish
crescent. Female and young with the gray soiled with brownish. Length, 10.25 ; extent,
14.50 ; wings, 4.50 ; tail, 4.80 ; its graduation, 0.90. Iris brown.
Hab. Northern regions from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
18

138 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Tliis northern species proliahly visits tlie nortlicastt'ni parts of tlie State
in considerable numbers in winter, thuuj^li 1 can find no mention of its
occurrence in the State, except by Dr. Ganibel (Proc. Ac. Kat. Sc. Pliil. and
Jour. 1846-49), who mentions seeing it in the " Californian mountains."
They are common at the Cohunbia Eiver, in October and througliout the
winter. It is possible that they reside in the higher mountains in sunmier.

Their nest and eggs are said to resemble those of C. exciMtoroidcs, and
tlirir liabits \\\n\v with us are mostly like those of that species. They are,
however, more shy and savage in disposition, preying at times on mice and
small birds as well as insects, which they impale on thorns, when they
are nnt Inmgry, for future use. They, however, leave many untouched
afterwards. They have been known to pursue and attack cage-birds with
all the ferocity of a hawk, and to catch a wounded robin, larger than them-
selves.

They are said to utter some musical notes, and to imitate other birds.
(NuttaU.)

Captain Feilncr sent this species to the Smithsonian Institution from
Fort Crook, and reported that it was common in the colder months in the
northeastern portion of the State. Dr. E. Coues also found it at Fort
Whipple, Arizona.

CoUurio excubitoroides, Swainson.

THE WHITE-EUMPED SHEIKE.

Lanius exaihitoroiiles, S\v.\ixsos, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 115. — Gamrel, Vy. A. N. Sc. Ill, 1847,
200. — IIkek.mann, p. II. Rc]). X. vi. S.'i. — Colhjrio excuhitoroicli a, Baird, P. R. Rep.
IX. BiriLs, .'i27. In. Binls N. Amcr. pi. 75, f. 2. — Kennerlt, X. iv. 25.

Sl>. CiiAi!. AIkivc, ratlicr liL'lif imrc lihii^h-n«h. Forehead, sides of erown, seapulars,
and ii])per tail coverts, hoarj whitish. Beneath plain whitish. "Wings and tail blaek ;
the former with a white patch at base of primaries and tij)S of small qnills ; the latter with
the lateral feathers ti])]K-d with white, and this extending broadly at the base. Bill,
throughout piteh blaek. A continuous blaek strijie froiu the lull through and behind the
eye. Length, 9.25; extent, 12 25; wing, 4.00; tail, 4.35. Iris brown; bill and ieet
black.

Ilab. ]\Iissouri Plains and fur countries to Pacific Coast. Eastward into Wiscon.'iin,
Illinois, and Michigan. (?)

An abiinilant species in nil tlie ]>lains-region of Califcn-nia and eastward,
but it apparently does not extend north to the Columbia Iii\-er, although
found up to lat. 49°, on the east side of the Eocky Mountains. They re-
side constantly in Ihis State south of lat. 38°, but I have not met with them
on any part of the wooded mountains.

I found many about Fort IMojave in winter, which towards spring scat-

I.AXIID.E — THE SHRIKES — COLLURIO.

139

tered among the neighboring canons to buihl. As early as the 19th of
March I found the first nest in a thorny bush, fully two miles from water,
C(.)ntainiug four eggs. These measured 1 X 0.7-4 inch, color dusky with
specks of pale amber brown thickly scattered, and grouped in a ring roimd
the larger end. (Others from San Diego are paler and a little shorter.)

The old bird was still very shy, keeping out of gunshot, and apparently
caring little for its eggs. On April 4tli I found another nest similar to
the first, and on the 16tli found the young hatched, when the female
showed more solicitude, making a harsh squeak of complaint, but trying to
keep well out of sight.

Xear San Diego they were later in Ijuilding, as I found a nest with fresh
eggs, April 20tli. I heard there, for the first time, some attemjit at a song
in December and January, the notes being, however, harsh like those of a
jay, but not an imitation, as tliere were no jays in the vicinity.

I have seen one of this species catch a sparrow, but this is a rare occur-

rence, 1 tliink. Tliey depend more on grasshoppers and other insects, for
which they watch patiently from a fence or other prominent i)oint.

140

SINGLNU BlUDS — OSCINES.

At Santa Cruz 1 saw uuik' ol' this si)ecies until September, though some
probably breed in the warm valleys back from the coast. In fall, however,
they were common about tlie town, perching on the houses and tlag-stalls,
on the watch for insects, and occasionally uttering theii' loud harsh cries.
One day I saw four of them circling round over the gardens in sporti\-e
flight, as if engaged in a game of " tag," screaming and flying more than I
ever before noticed.

Specimens exhibit considerable differences in the size and shape of the
bill, as shown liy the preceding figures. One of the figures represents the
amount of white on the secondary i[uills.

Collurio elegans, Sw.u.vsux.

THE WHITE-WINGED SHEIKE.

Lanitis elcr/aas, SwAi.Nso.x, Fauna Bor. Am. II. 1831, li2. — Nuttall, Man. I 2d ed. 1840,
287. — G.4MBEL, Pr. A. N. Sc. I. 1843, 261.— Baikd, P. li. Kcp. IX. Birds, 328
In. Bii'ds N. Anicr. pi. Ix.w. I'. 1.

Sp. Char. " Clear bluisli-gray, bencatli mi.spotted white, frontlet the same color with
the liead ; a broad wliite band across the wing ; a slender and very crueiforni tail, en-
tirely bordered with white ; tlie second quill longer than the sL\th, the luurth longest ;

tarsi exceeding the length of bill, measured from (lie angle of mouth. Length, 9.7.5 ;
tail, 4.42 ; bill from angle of mouth, 0.92 ; above, 0.C7 ; tarsus, 1.21." (Swainson.)
Ilah. Of original specimen, uncertain, but somewhere in AVestern North America.

In his "Birds of North America" Professor Baird figures a sjiecimen
obtained by Dr. Gambel, somewhere iu " California," as probably this

TANAGRID^ — THE TAKAGERS. l^l

species, and refers to the same speciinuu, uu page 327, as differing in some
respects from both C. excubitoroides and " C. elegans." It is darker abo\e than
tlie former, head like back, rump but little paler, Ijlack extending fartlier
down clieeks, the under parts more bluish on the sides, and tlie secondaries
with a white patcli on base of inner web visible irom above. Tliu Ijill is
one tilth longer (U.75 to 0.60), the nostril a fourth farther from the tip
(0.60 to 0.46). This makes tlie bill longer even than that of Swainson's
specimen (0.75 to 0.67). Such specimens being very rare would seem, per-
haps, nothing more than a variety, if not a far northern species. All that I
shot at Fort Mojave and San Diego were typically like C. excubitoroides.

The figure on the opposite page represents the extent of white on the
secondary cj^uiLl.

Family TANAGEID^, The Tanagers.

Char. The precise position of the tanagers is a matter oi much uncer-
tainty, the relationship to the American FriiKjiUida: lieing very close. Both
have nine primaries and scutellate tarsi, and the liill iu some genera re-
sembles that of unquestionable finches ; it is, however, usually longer, and
though stout at the base, is not strictly conical, and lacks the great strength
necessary for a hard vegetable instead of soft animal diet, or one of ber-
ries and fruits. The bill is also notched behind the tip ; its margins are
not acute or iullexed, as in the Fringillidcc.

p. l.udoviciana-

142

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Genus PYRANGA, Vikillot.

Pi/niiii/(i, Vikillot, Ois. Aiu. Sept. I. 1S()7, iv.
Phanisuiiiii, Swai.nson, Class Birds, ii. 1837, 284.

Gex. CiiAU. Bill suiiiewhat straight ; sub-conical, ivliii(li-i('al, notched at tip ; ciilmcn
moderately curveil ; coininissiirc with a median acute lube. Wings elongated ; the luur
first primaries about equal. Tail moderate, slightly Ibrkcd. Colors of the male chielly
scarlet, of the fi'niale yellowish.

Many species related to these iiiluiliit the tropics of America, ucarly all
of which have very l)rilliant plumage.

Pyranga Cooperi, IUdgway.

COOPER'S TANAGEE.

Pijrnm/a a'sl!i;i, Cooper, Pr. Cal. Ac;ul. Sc. ISGl, 122.
Pi/raiii/a IiijHitica, CouKS, Pr. Acaii. Nat. Sc. Pliil. 18GG, 71.
Pi/niiu/a Cooperi, RiDGWAV, " " " 1809, 130.

Sp. Cii.\r. ilak: Length, S.GO ; extent, 13.50; wing, 4.24; tail, 3.G8 ; bill (along cul-
men), 0.84 ; tarsus, 0.80. Generally rich pure vermilion, similar to that of P. a-stira, l)ut
brighter than in any Eastern examples of this, and less rosaci^ous than in Central American
specimens. Upper surliice less marked, purplish-dusky ; the head and neck above being

ahruiitlv lighter than the back, in some specimens scarcely darker than the throat. Ex-
posed tips of primaries pure slaty-amber, each faintly margined tenninally with whitish.

Female. Above, deep orange-olivaceous ; beneath, olivaceous orange-yellow, ])urest
meiliallv ; crissum ]iurc deep Indian-yellow, the inner webs of tail feathers margined with
the same. Distinct line of orange-yellow over lores. (Ridgway.)

TAXAGRIDJE — THE TANAGERS — TYRAXGA. 143

Hab. Southern portion of jMiddle Province of" United Stiites, and sontli to Colima and
Mazatlan.

This species, dedicated l>v 'Sh. Robert Eidgwa)' to Dr. J. CI. Cooper, in an
analytical monograph of the red Pi/rroigas, may be readily distingni.shed
from P. astira npon slight comparison. Tlie size is mucli larger (length,
S.Gd, instead of 7.25 ; wing, 4.24, instead of 3.81), the hill especially so,
being 0.84 along the cidmen, instead of 0.70, as in P. ccstiva. The colors

*\

also differ very materially from those of ccstiva; the red of the head
above being scarcely different from that of the throat, instead of being
purplisli-dnsky like the back, as in ccstiva. The \\h\<^ also is much more
pointed than in a'stiru, the ]irimaries extending 1.16 beyond the tertiaries,
instead of 0.84. The third quill is generally longest, but in some specimens
the second and third are equal. In P. ccstiva the second is generally
longest. (Baird.)

This beautiful Ijird I found qiute common, after April 25, 18G1, at
Fort Mojave, Colorado Valley, lat. 35°. They then frequented chiefly the
tall cotton-woods, feeding on insects, and occasionally flying down to the
Lnrrca bushes after a kind of liee found on them. Dr. Cones obtained the
same species at Los Finos in New Mexico, and it has also been found at
jMazatlan and Colima.

They have a call-note, sounding like " Ke-dik," which singularly enough
means, in the language of the Mojave natives, " Come here." They also
sing in a loud, clear tone, and a style inucli like that of the robin, liut with
the faculty of making the soitnd appear very far distant, which is a protec-
tion to birds of such bright plumage.

144

SINGIXG BIKDS — OSCIKES.

P5rranga hepatica, Sw.unson.

THE LIVER-COLOEED TANAGEB.

Pi/rnnga hrjmlirn, Swainson, Phil. M.ig. I. lf'27, 438. — Baird, Birds N. Amcr. 1858, 302.

— Coi;es, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 71.
Pyranr/n azma, WoODHOUSE, Sitgraves Expl. 1853, 82.

Sp. Char. Length, 8 00 ; wing, 4.12 ; tiiil, 3.36 ; bill (along cnlmon), 0.68 ; tarsus, 0.84.
Dill shorter than in P. CBsliva, as well as higher and broader at the base, becoming com-
pressed toward the tip. A distinct prominent tooth about the middle of the commissure ;
color piumbeous-black, paler on lower mandihlc. Head above brownish scarlet, purer on
forehead, the tips of the feathers more brownish. Rest of upper siu-faee, with sides,
brownish-ashy, tinged with dull hepatic-red ; the wings, upper tail coverts, and tail inclin-

ing to dull hepatic-scarlet. Beneath, fine light scarlet, piu-est on the throat, paler pos-
teriorlv, the lateral parts much obscured by grayish.

Female. Above, greenish ashy-olivaceous, brightest on forehead ; edges of the prima-
ries, upper tail coverts, and tail more ashy on interscapular region. Beneath, nearly
uniform greenish olivaceous-ycUow, purest medially. Lores ashy, superciliary stripe oliva^
ceous yellow.

Female.

Ynung Male ]\Iurh like the female, l)ut forehead and crown olivaceous-orange, deepest
anteriorly ; superciliary stripe bright orange, purest over lore. 'Wliole throat, maxilla;.

TANAGRID.i:; — THE TANAGKRS — TYRANGA.

145

anil aliilomon mcilially, rkh oranf;i>, most intLMisc, and tinged with orange chrome, on
tliroat.

The red of this speeies is entirely ilitl'erent from tliat of any other, liaving a peeuUar
red-lead tinge ; it is also more restricted in extent than in any other species, except the
P. testacea. (Ridgwaj, MSS.)

Hab. Southern Rocky Mountains of United States, and monntainous regions of ^lexieo.

For tlie first iiitroduction of this species to th(^ fauna of the United States
we are indebted to Dr. Woodlionse, wlio olitained a specimen in the San
Francisco mountains of Arizona, and publislied it as P. azarcc.

Pyranga Ludoviciana, ^Vilson.
THE LOUISIANA TANAGEB.

Tanagrn Liidovirlaiia, Wilson, Am. ()rn. III. 1811, 27 ; pi. xx. f. 1. — Audchon, Orn. Biog.
IV. 1S.38, .385 ; V. 1839, 90 ; pi. 354, 400. — Tanagra [Pip-imtiii) Ludoviciana, Nuttall,
Man. I. 1832, 471, 2J cd. 543. — Pi/ranya Ludociciam, Avdvkos, Syn. 1839, 137. In.
Birds Amer. III. 1841, 211 ; pi. 210. — Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1856, 125. — Baird,
P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 303. — Heerjiann, X. vi. 52. — Cooi'ER and Suckley, XII. iii.
Zool. of W. T. 182.

Sp. Cll.vn. Bill shorter than the head. Tail slij;htly lurked ; fir.<t three quills nearly
equal. Male, yellow ; the middle of the back, the wings, and the tail black. Head and

neck all round strongly tinged with red : least so on the sides. A liand of yellow across
the middle coverts, and of yellowish-white across the greater ones ; the certials more or
less edged with whitish.

\

19

146 SIXGIXG BIRDS— OSCIXES.

Female, olive-greon above, yt-lluwisli lniu-atli : tlio feathers nf tlie interscapular repion
dusky, margined witli (ili\e. Tlie wings and tail rather dark brown, the former with the
same marks as the male. Length, 7.50 ; e.xtent, 11. oil : wing, 3.7.5 ; tail, 2.85. Iris brown;
bill horn-color, greenish below : feet lead-color.

Hnb. From the L'p])er Missouri to the Pacific, south to Mexico.

I noticed the arrival of thi.s beautiful Tiird, near San Diego, in small
parties on the 24:th of April, and they reach Puget's Sound about ]\Iay 15th.
The males come some time in ad\'ance, clothed in tlieir full suuuner livery,
and are more bold and conspicuous thtm tlie females, which are rarely seen
without close watching. They frequent trees, feeding on insects and lierries,
and singing much in the same manner as the other species, and more like
the robin and grosbeaks than any other birds.

I saw none of them in the Coast Range towards Santa Cruz, or at Santa
Barbara, in summer, and suppose they must seek the higher and more
northern regions at that season. Their nest and eggs have not been de-
scribed. I foimd tliis species in September, 1860, in the higher Eocky
Mountains, near the sources of the Columbia, in lat. 47°, and they pi-oliably
remain until October within this State. In the fall the yoimg and old, all
in tlie same dull greenish plumage, associate in families, and feed on elder-
berries and other kinds, witliout that timidity which they have in spring.
Although found as far east as the Eocky JMountains, I saw none along the
Colorado Valley, probalily because they migrate more in the line of moun-
tain ranges.

Family FEINGILLID^, The Fixches.

Ch.VK. Primaries nine. Bill Aery short, abruptly conical and robust.
Commissure strongly angulated at base of bill. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly,
but the sides with two undivided jilates meeting behind along the median
line, as a sharp posterior ridge.

SuB-F.uiiLY FRIXCILLIX.E.

Chae. Wings very long and much pointed ; generally one third longer
than the more or less forked tail ; first quill usually nearly as long as, or
longer than the second. Tertiaries but little longer, or equal to the
secondaries, and always much exceeded by the primaries. Bill very vari-
able in .shape and size, the upper mandible, however, as broad as the lower ;
nostrils rather more lateral than usual ; and always more or less concealed
by a series of small bristly feathers applied along the base of the upper

FRIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — CURVHIOSTRA.

147

mandible ; uo bristles at tlie laase of the bill. Feet short and rather weak.
Hind claw usually considerably longer than the middle anterior one ; some-
times nearly the same size.

C. Atnericann.

This sub-family is composed of the liri^htest colored and largest of
American sparrow-like l)irds, mostly inhabitiTig trees, and feeding on their
seeds. They have usually large, stout biUs, and sing lietter tlian tliose of
most of the other divisions.

The sexes xisually differ very much iu colors, and the young males, as
well as many of those in winter plumage, have the jilain garlj of the females.

Genus CURVIROSTRA, Scopoli.

Loxia, L1NJI.EUS, S_vst. Nat. 1758. (Type, Loxia curvirostra, L.)
Curvirostra, " Scopoli, 1777." (Type, Luxia curvirostra.)

Gex. Char. ^Iiuidibles much elongated, compres.seil and atti'imatLHl ; greatly curved
or falcate, the puiuts crossing or overlapping to a greater or less degree. Tarsi very

C. Americana.

148

SINGIN'G BIRDS — OSCIXES.

fliort ; claws all vorv lon^, thf lateral cxtcniling bc-_vimil tlu- uiidilk- ut' thi.' ecnlial ; liiinl
daw lunger than its iligit. Wings vcrv long and nuicli pointed, reaching bevond the mid-
dle of the narrow, forked tail. Colors reddish iii the male.

Curvirostra Americana, Wilson.

THE RED CROSSBILL.

Currirostra Americana, Wilson, Am. Oin. IV. 1S41, 44 ; pi. xxxi. f. 1, 2. — Baikd, Binls
N. Anier. 427. — Lvria Aiiicriniiiu, Bo.\,\rAKTL, List, 1838. — Newbekuv, Zuul. C;d.
and Or. Route, P. K. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1857 87.

Loxiu ciiri-irvstra, Forster Phil. Trans. LXII. 1772, No. 23. — Auuuuon, Biog. II. 1834, 5JU;
V. 511 ; pi. 197. Ib. Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 186 ; pi. 200.

Loxla Mcxiaimt, Stuickl.vxd, B,\iud, P. R. Rcji. IX. Birds, 427, 924.

Si>. C'li.vi:. Mule, dull red ; darkest across the back ; wings and tail dark blackish-
brown. Female, dnll greeni.sh-olive above, each feather with a dusky centre ; rump and
crown bright greenish-yellow. Beneath grayish ; tinged, especially on the sides of the

Male. CalifovQia.

Female. Pucet Sound.

body, with greenish-yellow. Young entirely brown ; paler beneath. (Bill of the "\^'est-
ern about 0.20 inch longer than that of the Eastern bird.)

Male, about 6 inches; extent, 10.25 ; wing, 3.30 ; tail, 2.25. Iris, bill, and feet, brown.

Hab. North America generally, coming southward in winter, liesideiit in the moun-
tains of Penns\dvania and the Sierra Nevada, California.

I found this curious bird in considerable numbers about the summits of
the Sierra Nevada, lat. 39°, in September, 1863, and Lave lieard of tlieir
being shot near San Francisco in winter, when they also ]U'obably wander as
far south as Monterey. Tlieir migrations are guided chiefly by tlie preva-
lence of the coniferous trees, whose seeds ■ constitute their ]>rincipal tViod,
especially those with small seeds and cones easily broken, such as the
spruces, cypresses, and red\\'oods. I have also seen Hocks of them descend
to the ground in the Eocky Mountains in quest of some seeds of small
plants, and they often come down to drink, especially about sunset.

FRINGlLLIBiE — THE FIN-CIIES — CURVIROSTRA. ^49

AVheii tlyiiig tliey have a loud, clear, and sharp call-note, liut are so silent
when feeding on the tops of the trees as to be found with ditticiilty. lu
snowy regions they become \evy tame, coming about houses in search of
food, and seem at all times very unsuspicious of danger. In orchards they
have been knijwu to destroy apples merely fur their seeds, and sometimes
to eat the buds of trees.

In the spring the males have something of a song, but not very long nor
connected. Their gay plumage at that season looks so much like the young-
red cones of the spruces, among which they sit, that they are nut easily
distinguished.

I never found their nests myself, but they are said to be laiilt in the forks
of fir-trees, as early as January or February, and the eggs, four or five, are
greenish-gray, with a circle of reddish-brown spots, points, and lines, chiefly
at the larger end, often also extending o\'er the whole surface. (Nuttall.)

Mate, rcunsj-lvania. Female.

Their feet are ^musually strong, and they use them as well as their bills in
climbing like parrots, hanging to the cones, head downwards, while twisting
off the scales by a dexterous turn of the bill, -which, though looking de-
formed, is admirably adapted for this purpose.

Specimens from the mountains of California all appear to come very near
to the A-ariety with large bill, named C. Mcxicana by Strickland, and resi-
dent in the mountains of Mexico. Others, however, from "Washington Ter-
ritory, have the bill more like the Eastern form.

Curvirostra leucoptera, (iMELix.

THE -WHITE--WINGED CROSSBILL.

Loxia Inintptera, Gst^-Lis, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 540. — Audubon, Birds Amer. III. 190 ; pi.
201. — Ciin-iruatra leucoj/Ura, Wilson, Am. Oni. IV.; ]j1. x.xxi. — B.urd, Birds N.
Amur. 427.

Sp. Cii.\u. Mdk', carminu-rc'il, tiii<;-c(l willi iliisky across (lie buck. Sides of body
under wiii"s streaked -with brown ; Irom the middle of the belly to tail co\erts -whitish,

150

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

the latter streaked with brown. Scapulars, whigs, and tail black ; two liniad white bands
on the wings across the ends of greater and middle coverts.

Female, brownish, tinged with olive-green in places ; feathers of Ijack and crown with

3ralf.

Female.

iliisky centres ; rump brijjht brownish-yellow. Two white bands on winp;s. Length, G.25 ;
wing, 3.50 : tail, 2.6(i.

Huh. Northern part of Amci'ica.

This species, tlioiigh not as yet actually detectetl within the limits of the
State of California, is yet so abundant in the regions north of it as to
render its occurrence there highly probable. Its habits are much like
those of the common crossbill. (Baird.)

Genus PINICOLA, Vieillot.

Pimcolii, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I. 1807, \\. iv. : pi. i. f. 1.3.
" Corylhus," Cuvier, R, An. 1817.

Gkn. Cii.vk. Bill short, nearly a.s high as long; upper outline much curved from the
base ; the margins of the mandiljles rounded ; the commissure gently concave, and abruptly

P. Caiiadensis.

FRING1LLID.E — THE FINCHES — PINICOLA.

151

dcfloxed at the li]i: baso of the iip]ic'i- mandiljle much eoneealeil by the Ijristly leathers
covei'iiiE; tlie liasal third. Tarsus rather shorter than the middle toe ; lateral toe short,
but their long claws reaeh the base of the middle one, which is longer than the liind claw.

P. Canndetisis.

AVings moderate ; the first quill rather shorter than the second, third, and fiiurth. Tail
rather shorter than the wings ; nearly even.

Pinicola Canadensis, Brissox.

THE PINE GKOSBEAK.

Loxia emiclmtoi; FoRSTER, Phil. Trans. LXII. 1772, 383.— Wilson, Am. Orn. I. 1808, 80 ;

pi. V. — Pi/nliiila cnuclealur, AvDVBOS, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 414: ]il. 358. — Corijthis

enuclealor, Addueon, Birds Amer. III. 1841, 179 ; pi. 191).
Pinicoh Ccmmlmisis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 18.51, 167. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 410.

Sp. Char. General color earmiue-red, not continuous aliove however, except on the
head ; the feathers showing brownish centres on the back, where, too, the red is darker.

Male. New York.

152

SINGING BIRDS— OSnXES.

Loral i-c<iion, base of lower Jaw all round, fiile?, ami post<'rior part of body, with under tail
coverts, asliv, whitest behind. A^'in;; with two white bands across -the tii)s of the greater
and middle coverts : the outer edges of the quills also white, broadest on the tertiaries.
Female, ashy, bi-ownish above, tinged with gi-eenish-yellow beneath ; top ol'head, rump,

and upper tail coverts, brownish gamboge-yellow. Wings as in the male. Length about
8 inches ; extent, 12.75 ; wing, 4.G2 ; tail, .3.50. Iris brown ; bill brown ; legs black.

Ilab. Arctic America. South to L^nited States, in severe winters. Resident in Sierra
Nevada, California.

This beautiful bird is not uncommon near the summits of the Sierra
Xevada, lat. 39°, in September, and doubtless breeds there, as I obtained two
fine specimens in the young jdumage. These seem rather smaller than tlie
largest Eastern one mentionetl liy Baird, Ijut tlieir wing is longer than the
average (4.50), while the tail is half an inch shorter.

Tliey were feeding on spruce seeds when I first saw them, and still
lingered about, after two liad lieen shot, as if waiting for their comrades,
soon descending to some shrubby alders to eat their seeds, then to the

ground, where they hopped abotit for some time, uttering a low chirping
note, and allowing me to go within a few feet of them.

About Hudson's Bay they are said to be quite musical in spring, and to

FRINGILLID^— THE FINCHES— CAEPODACUS.

153

build nests in trees, not very high ujd, of twigs externally, lined with feath-
ers. The eggs are said to be white. Besides seeds of trees, they feed on
their buds, also on berries, and probably on insects during the breeding
season, like other seed-eaters.

In Labrador, Audulmn fmind them very unsuspicious, and even stupid,
as when he shot one, the others, instead of Hying a^\•ay, came down within a
few feet of him to examine him closely. They have been kept in cages,
and are very musical.

Although the American j^ine grosbeak has received a different name from
the European, it is very difficult to distinguish them, and it is probable that
they are quite identical. Western specimens have larger bills than Eastern,
as shown by the lower figure on the opposite page, Mhich is from a Cali-
fornia bird. Those from Kodiak have- still larger bills.

Genus CARPODACUS, Kaup.

Carpodactis, Kaup, " Entw. Europ. Thienv. 1829."
Erijthrusinza, BoNAP.iKTE, Saggio di una dist. met. 18.31.

Gen. Ch.\u. Bill short, stout, and vaulted ; tlie culmen decurred towards the end ;
the commi-ssure nearly straight to the slightly decurved end. A slight development of
bristly feathers along the sides of the bill, concealing the nostrils. Tarsus shorter than
the middle toe ; lateral claws reaching to the base of the middle one. Claw of hind toe

C. frontalis.

much curved, smaller than the middle one, and rather less than the digital portion
Wing.s long and pointed, reaching to the middle of the tail, which is considerably shorter
than the wing, and moderately forked. Colors red, or red and brown.

These birds all have more or less purjjle colors, which are supposed by

154

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

C. frontalis.

some to characterize the females as -well as the males at times, but they do
not obtain it the first year, and are said to lose it as they grow old.

Carpodacus Californicus, 15aikd.

THE WESTERN PUEPLE FINCH.

Car;w(faCTS pifryjiirras, of West Coast, Newberrv, P. R. Rup. VI. iv. 88. — Heeemann, X.

vi. .^)0.
Carpodacus Gilifmiiiciis, Baird, P. R. Rcji. IX. Birds, 41.'3. Ib. Birds of N. Amer. ; pi. 72.

— Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 190.

Sp. Cii.\r. Third quill longest ; first shorter th.aii fourth. Body crimson, p.alest on the
breast, darkest across the middle of back and wing coverts, where the feathers have dusky
centres. The red extends below continuously to the lower part of the breast, and in spots
to the tibiae. The belly and under tail coverts white, streaked faintly with brown, except

Female,

in the very middle. Edjres of wings and tail featliers brownish-red ; lesser coverts like the
back Two reddish bands across the wings (over the ends of the middle and greater
coverts). Lores dull grayish ; the head with a broad supraorbital lateral band of lighter
purple.

FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — CARPODACUS. I55

Femide, olivaceous-brown; brigliter on the rump. Beneath white. All the feathers
everywhere streaked with brown, e.xcept on the middle of the belly and under coverts ; a
superciliary light strij)0. No light edging to wing coverts. Length, G. 25 ; extent, 10.25 ;
wing, 3.25 ; tail, 2.50. Iris brown ; bill and feet paler brown.

Hah. Pacific Coast of the United States, chiefly northward.

This brightly jjhuuaged little l)ird is ratlier a northern species, being com-
mon at the Columbia lii\er and northward, whUe iir this State it has not
yet been found south of Monterey on the coast, and Fort Tejon in the Sierra
Nevada. In summer they frei^uent the mountain forests, especially those
composed in part of Coidfcnv, while in winter they descend to the valleys,
and associate with their more southern cousins, the C. frontalis. I found
them in ^lay on the summits of the Coast Range towards Santa Cruz, but
not very numerous. They then had nests, but I did not succeed in finding
any. That of the closely allied (J. inirpurcus of the Eastern States is built
in a low tree, composed of coarse grass lined with root fibres, and the eggs,
five in number, are of a rather pale green, with scattered dots and streaks
of dark brown or dull purple.

The song of tliis liird is quite loud and varied, often resembling that of
difierent birds, sucli as Vireos and Dcndroicas, for which I have mistaken
it. This would doubtless succeed as well in a cage as the other spe-
cies ; but I liave not seen any in ca^jtivity, though the Eastern species is
often sold in cages by the name of liiniets. Tlieir food consists of all
such seeds and berries as they can obtain, besides buds of trees in times of
scarcity.

Carpodacus Cassinii, Pi.urd.

CASSIN'S PURPLE FINCH.

Cai-podcicus Cassinii, Baird, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Pliila. VII. June, 1854, 119. Id. P. R. Rep.
IX. Birds, 414. — Kenneklt, X. iv. 27 ; pi. xxvii. f. I.

Sp. C11.A.K. Larger than C Cali/ornicus. Bill 0.55 of an inch above. Second and
third quills longest ; first longer than fourth. Above pule grayish-brown, the fo'athers

MaU.

156

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

streaked with darkiT Iji-own, ;inil with only an occassional gloss of rcildish, except on the
crown, which is luiitbrni deej) crimson, and on the rump. Sides oi' the head and neck,
throat, and npj)er part of breast, with riiinp, [lale rose-color ; rest of under jiarts white,
very faintly and sparsely streaked with brown.

Female without any red, and streaked on the head and upper parts with brown.
Length, 6.50 ; extent, Ki.75 ; wing, 3.60 ; tail, 2.60. Iris, bill, and feet brown.

Hah. Iloeky Mountains and valley of the Colorado to the Sierra Nevada, lat. 39', Cali-
fornia. Resident in the mountains of Mexico.

I found this liinl in large numljers about Lake Talioe ; liut all were in
the hrown plumage, and seemed so much like the C. Californicus iu habits
that I mistook them for that species. I noticed, however, a call-note when
they tiew which reminded nie of that of the Puraiuja', and seemed different
from the other Carpodaci. Their song, as I have since heard it, was also loud-
er and finer than that of the C. Caiifornicus, and more original in its style.

Nothing has yet been published of their other habits. They may fre-
quent the Colorado Valley at times, but 1 did not find them there.

Carpodacus frontalis, S.vt.

THE BUEION; THE HOUSE FINCH.

Fringilla frontalis, Sat, Long's Exped. IL 1824, 40. — AuDL'iiON, Om. Biog. V. 1839, 2.30 ;
pi. 424. — Erijtiirospha frontalis, Audubon, Birds Amer. IIL 1841, 175; pi. 197. —
Gajibel, Jour. A. N. S. 2d Scries, I. 1847, 53. — Curpodacus frontalis, Gray, Genera,
1844-49. — M'Call, Pr. A. N. Sc. V. 1851, 219 — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
415. — Newberry, VI. iv. 88. — Kexxerly, X. iv. 28.

CariMchiciis fimiiiaris, M'Cai.-l, Pr. A. N. Sc. VII. April, 1852, GI, Santc Fe. — Cassin,
111. I. 73 ; pi. xiii. 1854. — Heekmanx, X. vi. 50.

Sp. CiiAi;. Male. Bill short, much curved. Forehead, for nearly the length of the
bill, a broad superciliary stripe extending to the nape, side of lower jaw, chin, tliroat,
and uj)per part of the breast, crimson-red ; rump, paler. Rest of upper parts and

Male.

sides of neck grayish-brown, with an occasional gloss of red externally on the crown, ami
with scai-cely appreciable darker brown towards the centres of the feathers. Belly, under
tail coverts, and sides whitish, conspicuously streakeil with light brown ; sometimes red

FKIXGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — CARPODACUS. I57

to the iniddlf of the toniior. Length, C.UO ; extent, 0.50 ; wing, 3.25 ; tail, 2.80. li-is, bill,
and teet brown.

Hah, Koeky Mountains to the Pacitic. Xot north of Calilbrnia.

Tliis lively and musical little bird al)Oimds in nearly all the southern
portions of California, and, according to Xewherry, throughout the A'alleys
northward up to Oregon. It is everywhere the species most peculiar to the
valleys, while the other two frequent the forest-clad mountains.

I have found this species on the barren rocky liills near the Colorado, and
in plains near the coast, where there is no plant higher than the wild mus-
tard, on the seeds of which it feeds. It frequents groves also, and open
forests on the summit of the Coast Ranges, in small numbers, in company
with C. Califomicus, and at times feeds on buds of trees, and seeds of the
Cottonwood and other plants.

It is principally abundant about ranches and gardens, wliere it does much
mischief by destroying seeds and young plants, fruit, etc., for wliich depre-
dations even its cheerfitl and constant song does not compensate, and the
angry gardener wages unrelenting war against the race.

At iSan I)iego they build as early as the 15th of March, or perhaps even
sooner. The situation and materials of their nest are exceedingly variable.
I have found them in trees, on logs and rocks, the top rail of a picket-
fence, inside a window-shutter, in the holes of walls, under tile or thatch
roofs, in haystacks and barns, in the interstices between the sticks of a
hawk's nest, and in an old nest of the oriole. Aljout houses tliey always
seek the protection of man, as if quite unconscious of havmg made him their

C. htrynorrhoii-!. WnRler. Male.

enemy. Heermann mentions also, as locations of nests, the thorny cactus
and deserted woodpeckers' holes. The materials are usually coarse grass or
weeds, with a lining of hair or fine roots. The eggs, from four to six, are
bluish-white, with spots and lines of black, chiefly towards the larger end.
They measure 0.78 X 0.50 inch.

The songs of this species differ very much from those of the others. They

1-58

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

are very lively and varied, though short, and are lieard throughout the year.
Cage-birds, usually called " California linnets," are easily kept and fre-
quently to be seen, but generally their jjurple changes to yellow after long
confinement.

They raise two, if not three, broods annually. These assemble iu large
flocks in autumn, but migrate very little if any to the south.

The house-finch of California is represented in Mexico by a closeh' allied
species, if not a mere variety, the C. hccmorrlwus of Wagler, in which the
colors are more sharply defined, and the red more restricted, as shown in
the preceding figiu'e.

Genus ^GIOTHUS, Cabaxis.

^giothus, Cabanis, JIiis. Ileiii. I8.)l, IGI. (Tvpe, FringiUalinaria, L.)

Gex. Ciiai!. Bill vory short, conical, and acutely pointed : the outlines even concave ;
the commissure straijiht : the ba.se of the ujjpcr mandible, and tlie nostrils concealed by
stitr, apprcssed, bristly liiathers ; middle of the mandible having several ridges jjarallel

A, linarla.

with the culmen. Inner lateral toe the longer, its claw reaching to the middle of the cen-
tral claw ; the hind toe rather longer than the digital portion. Wings very long, reacliing
the middle of the tail ; second quill a little longer than the first and third. TaU deeijly
forked.

A. linaria.

FRINGILLIDiE — THE FINCHES — iEGIOTHUS. J 59

Species of tliis genus belong to the northern parts of both liemisphcres.
Though spending the summer in the higliest latitudes, during the winter
they generally migrate in large troops to a somewhat milder climate.

^giothus linaria, Lixn/eus.

THE LESSEE REDPOLL.

Friiifjilla linnrin, Lixn.-eus, Svst. Nat. I. ITCfi, ."22. — ^Kipoihiis linaria, Caeanis, Mus. Ilein.

1S51, 161. — Baird, Birds N. Amer. 42.S.
Linaria minor, AuDl'RON, Birds Amcr. III. 122 ; j)l. 179.

Sr. CiiAU. Above, light yellowish, each feather streaked with dark lirown. Crown
dark crimson. Upper part of breast and sides of the body tinged with a lighter tint of the
same ; the rump and under tail coverts are also similar, but less vivid, and with dusky
streaks. Rest of under parts white, streaked on the sides with brown. Loral region and
chin dusky ; cheeks (brightest over the eye) and a narrow front, whitish. AVing feathers

edged externally, and tail feathers all round, with white. Two yellowish-white bands
across the wing co^■erts ; secondaries and tertiaries edged broadly with the same. Bill
yellowish, tinged with brown on the culmen and gonys ; the basal bristles brown, reaching
over half the bill. Length, 5.50; whig, 3.10 ; tail, 2.70.

Hnh. Throughout Eastern North America, coming south in winter. 'Washington
Territory. Northern Europe and Asia.

The specimen described above is a male in winter dress. The spring
plumage has much more of the red. The winter specimens of tlie female
lack the rose of the under parts and rump ; tlie breast is streaked across
with dusky.

During the breeding season this interesting bird is very alnindant in the
northernmost regions of America. On the Western coast it comes south-
ward as far as Washington Territory, and still lower on the Atlantic coast.
They are very familiar, entering cities and towns, and feeding unsuspici-
ously in yards and gardens. They subsist partially on the seeds of pine,

160

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

birch, linden, alder, and other trees, and very much resemble the chicka-
dees in their way of feeding.

Genus LEUCOSTICTE, Swaixsox.

Leucosli'cte, Swainson, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 18.31, 265. (Type, Linaria tephrocotis, Sw.)

Gex. Ciiak. Bill conical, rounded, rather blunt at tlic tip ; the culmen slightly convex ;
the commissure slightly concave ; the nostrils concealed by depressed bristly feathers ; a

L. tephrocotis-

depressed ridge extending about parallel with the culmen above the middle of the bill.
Another more conspicuously angulated ridge, extending forward from tlic lower posterior
angle of the side of the lower mandible, nearly parallel with the gonys. Tarsus about

L. tephrorolis.

C([ual to the middle toe. Inner and outer toes nearly equal, their claws not reaching be-
yond the base of the miildlc one. Hind toe rather longer, its claw longer than the digi-
tal portion. "Wings verv long ; first quill longest. Tail forked.

FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — LEUCOSTICTE. Ig]

Leucosticte griseinucha, Brandt.

THE GRAY-EAEED FINCH.

Passer arrfous, var. Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. II. 1831, 2,3.

Frinijith [Linoriu) griseinuclia, Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Pet. Nov. 1844, 36. — ifontifringilla
(Leucoslicte) rjriseinwhn, Bon. ami SciiL. Mon. Loxicns, IS.'iO, 35 ; pi. 41. — Leucosticte
griseinucha, Baird, Birds N. Amer. 430. — Kittlitz, Dcnkwiirdig. I. 1858, 291 (Nest-
ing).— Leucosticte griseigeni/s, Gould, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1843, July 25, 104. Ib. Voy.
Sulphur, 42 ; pi. xxiii.

Sp. Cii.iii. General color d.irk brownisli-chooolate anteriorly, the feathers of the liack
rather darker in the centre, and with paler edges. Forehead and crown black ; rest of
head, including the cheeks and ear,*, of a rather silvery gray; throat blackish, shading
off insensibly into tlie chocohite of breast. Feathers of abdomen (and under part of
breast to a less degree), flanks, and crissum, with the rump and upper tail coverts and
lesser middle wing coverts tipped with dark pomegranate or rose-red, allowing more or less

of their dusky bases to be visible, especially above, where there is an appearance of bars.
Wing and tail feathers brown, nearly all, including the greater wing coverts, edged with
pale yellowi.sh-gray, with only a faint tinge of rose. Bill dusky, darkest at tip. Legs
black. Total length, 7.50 ; wing, 4.80 ; tail, 3.50 ; exposed portion of first primary, 3.50.
Bill : length from forehead, 0.69 ; from nostril, 0.42. Legs : tarsus, 0.95 ; middle toe and
claw, 0.92 ; claw alone, 0.35 ; hind toe and claw, 0.69 ; claw alone, 0.38.
Hab. Aleutian Islands. (St. George's and Aonalaska.)

Thi.s is considerably tlie largest of the American species of Zcnrosfidc, and
has the longest bill. It also has the chocolate and rose colors darker, and
the rose extending farther forward on the breast than in other species. It
could only be confounded with C. littoralis as to color, both having the head
above and on the sides ashy, covering the whole ear coverts ; but the dusky
patcli in the crown is more extended, the gray ash of chin more restricted,
and the throat darker. The rose of the alidomen extends over on to the
breast, and the tints are different.

21

1(32 SIXGIXd I'.lllDS— OSCINKS.

A specimen, apparently young, pevliaps a female, differs in liaving a duller
lint, and a tinge of olivaceous-yeUow on the middle of the abdomen and
crissum. Tlie lining of the wings is witliout any rose-color. Bonaparte and
Schlegcl describe tlie young of this species also without any tinge of rose.

Specimens of tliis bird were obtained by Dr. T. T. IMiner at Aonalaska,
and by Mr. Dall at St. Cleorgu's Island, Behring's Sea, with the eggs, which
are white. (Baird.)

Leucosticte littoralis, B.mrd.
HEPBURN'S FINCH.

Leucosticte gri'seimicha, Elliot, Illust. Bii-Js Anier. I. pi. 11, 1S68.
Ij-ucostkte lilloralis, Baird, IISS.

Sp. Guar. Bodv ilioi-olatc-lji-own ; tlic iVatliers nan-oAvjy margined with p.ilcr, those of
the back with rather darker, centres. Abdomen, llank,^, crissum, rump, upper tail coverts,
wing coverts, and quills, edged with rose-red, more or less continuous (least so in the
rump), tlie outer edges of secondaries and tail feathers pale fulvous, tho latter with a ro.sy
shade. Head silvery-gra_v ; the forehead and patcli on crown black ; tlie chin ashy, like

and continuous with the cheek ; the throat dusky-brown, shading into tlie chocolate of
breast. Bill reddish, with extreme tip dusky. Total length, 7.00 ; wing, 4.30 ; tail, 3.10 ;
exposed portion of first primary, 3.40. Bill: length from forehead, 0.60; from nostril,
0.35. Legs: tarsus, 0.76.

Hab. Sitka (Bischoft'), Fort Simpson, British Columbia (Hepburn).

This species, lielieved to be ne^v, bears much resemlilance to L. griscimi-
cho, but is considerably smaller, the colors brighter and lighter, more like
those of tcphrocotis, the bill shorter and more conical ; tlie dark patcii on
the head more restricted ; the wliole clan a.shy. From tcphrocotis it is dis-
tinguished by the extension of the ash of the head below the eye, and from
campcstris by ha\ing the ear coverts ashy, instead of the anterior portion of
cheeks only ; there is also apparently a greater extent of gray on the chin.

The only specimens I have seen are one from Sitka, collected by Bischoff,

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — LEUCOSTICTE. 163

and one oljtaineJ a year or two previously at Fort Simpson, by Mr. Hep-
Lurn, an eminent Entilisli naturalist. lont>' time resident at Sau Francisco
and Victoria. (Baird.)

Leucosticte campestris, Baird.

THE GKAY-CHEEKED FINCH.

LcHcoaticte caiiii)e$tr/s, Baird, MSS.

Sp. Chak. Body light cliocolate-brown ; the feathers edged with paler, those of the
back widi rather darker, centres. Feathers of anal region, flanks behind, erissum, riuup,
and upper tad coverts, wing coverts, and primary quills, edged with rose-red ; secondary
quills and tad feathers with pale fulvous; little or no trace of rose on under wings. Fore-

head and patch on crown blackish ; the hind head to nape, cheeks, immediately under
the eye (but not including the auriculars, except jiei-liaps the most anterior), and base of
lower mandible all round, ashy-gray. Throat dusk}-. Bill }ellowish, with dusky tip.
Legs dusky. Specimen figured above from near Denver City, Colorado, Janiun-y, 1862.
Dr. C. We'rnigk. (Baird.)

Total lengdi, 7.00 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 3.00 ; exposed portion of first primary, 3.10. Bid :
length from tbrehead, O.GO ; from nostril, 0.40. Legs: tarsus, 0.75; middle toe and claw,
0.80; claw alone, 0.24 ; hind toe and claw, 0.80 ; claw alone, 0.37.

Ilah. Colorado Territory. (Dr. Wernigk.)

This species bears a close resemlilance to L. tcphrocotis, and may indeed
be a variety of it, but as it differs in the characters tliat appear generally to
be those most constant in Lcacosticic, and as in over fifty slcins of tlie
tcphrocotis I have seen nothing lil-ce it, I am inclined to consider them dis-
tinct. The size and general appearance are much the same, tlie difference
being that in tcpJnvcotis the clieel<s are chocolate below tlie level of the
eye, the chin without any gray, while in camjKstris the sides of the head
below the eye, but not including the ears, together with a narrow border of
tlie cliin, are of this color.

Tliis species may be distiuguislied from littoralis by the less extent of

104 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

ash ou the checks. In li/lomlis it covers the Avlidh; of the ears, and ex-
tends back fartlier (ni the head all round. L. ijrisiiiiuclia is marked like
littundU, and is luueli larger tliau either.

The specimen described was ja-esented to the Smithsonian Institution by
Dr. AVernigk, and at the time ^\as sujiposed to Ije L. Icphrocotis. (Baird.)

Leucosticte tephrocotis, Swainson.

THE GEAY-CKOWNED FINCH.

Linaria (Leucosticte) trplimruli.i, Sw.vixsoN, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831,' 255; ]il. 1. — Leticoslicle
tephrocotis, Swainson, Birds, II. 18.37. — Baird, Stunsbury's Salt Lake, 1852,317. —
Id. p. R. Kcp. IX. Birds, 430. — Eri/throspiza tcjikrocotis, Bonaparte, List, 1838. —
AuDunox, Birds Amer. III. 1841,176; ])1. 198. — Nuttall, Man. 2d cd. I. 032.—
FiinijiUa tephrocotis, Audubon, Orii. Biog. V. 1839, 232 ; jil. 424.

Sp. Chak. Head al-K)\o and nape liuundc-d below by a line iVoni the commissure a
little below the eyes, light ashy ; dnsky in the loral region. Crown with a distinet patch
of sooty-black, reaching nearly to the base of the bill. Lesser wing coverts and axillaries,
onter edges of primaries and tail ii.-athcrs, with ends of the feathers of the posterior half
of body all round, pale rose-red. Rest ot" body dark luuber-brown, tinged with dusky on

the eliin and throat. Wings and tail feathers blackish. The gi'cater coverts are tipped,
and the secondaries edged, with white. Length, 7.10; wing, 4.30 ; tail, 2.90. "Winter
plumage. Salt Lake City. (Baird.)

Hub. Northern Rocky Mountains. "S'icinity of Salt Lake City in winter, and North-
eastern California.

I have seen a specimen brought from somewhere east of Lake Tahoe in
Washoe, and presented by ilr. F. Grulier to the German Academy of Xatu-
ral Sciences in San Francisco. They were said to be plentiful there in the
very cold -winter of 1861-62, and doubtless visited the similar country east
of the northern Sierra Ne\'ada -within this State. The first specimen de-
scribed Mas ol)tained on tlie banks of the Saskatchewan Eiver, about lat.
51°, in jVIay, but very little is yet known of their habits. Captain Staus-
bury found them common near Salt Lake City, in IMarch, 1850.

FRmGILLIDJi — THE FINCHES — LEUCOSTICTE. JQ-j

Leucosticte ai'ctoa, Pall.vs.

THE SIBERIAN FINCH.

Passer arctous, Pallas, Zoog. Hosso-As. 11.1831,21. — I'liiigiUa (linaria) arctoa, 'Hrxsot,
Bull. Acad. St. Put. 184-3. — Mi ddendorf. Sib. Rei.se, II. ii. 1852, 15.3.— Monlijmyitla
{Leucosticte] iirctoa, BoxAPAKTE and Sciilegel, Mon. Lo.\iens. 1850, 38; pi. 44, 45. —
Leucosticte uictoa, Mxiiiu, Birds Amcr. 185S, 4.'30 ; pi. 74, f. I.

Sp. Ch.vr. (Figure, Sibiria.) Female, bod}- dark tdear brown, -with a faint suspicion
of purplish ; palur antL-riorly, esjjecially in tlic centres of the feathers of the head and breast.
Nape decidedly grayish. Frontal feathers and bristles dusky. Entire tail and coverts,
and the wings (except lesser coverts above and below), silvery gi-ay ; the ends of the feath-
ers (but nut the edges), especially of the quills, together with all the shafts, brownish; the

gray everywhere very finely, almost unappreciably, mottled with dusky. Bill yellowish
with dusky tip ; feet black. Total length, C.50 ; wing, 4.70 ; tail, 3.40 ; exposed portion of
first primary, 3.50. Bill: length from forehead, 0. 64 ; from nostril, 0.37. Legs: tarsus,
0.80 ; middle toe and claw, 0.79 ; claw alone, 0.25 ; hind toe and claw, O.CO ; claw alone,
0.36.

Hab. Siberia, the Kurile, ami the Aleutian Islands.

It is not im]>rol)aljle that more than one species is included, under the
above s}aionyniy and geographical distribution, as the specimen before me is
considerably larger, and is otherwise to some extent different from those
figured and descrilied by Bonaparte and Schlegel. A Friiujilla Gchlcri of
Brandt, from Siberia, (Bulletin Academy, St. Petersburg, 1843, not of 1841,)
is probably a closely allied tliough distinct species.

]S"o specimens from the Aleutian Islands are in American collections, and
I describe the species from a Siberian skin presented to the Smithsonian
Institution by Mr. John Gould. The bird is said to be very abundant in
Siberia, passing southward in winter, but soon returning northward, and
keeping in flocks about tlie villages in company with the redpolls. It is a

IGG

SINGING BIUDS — OSCiNES.

very stupid l)inl ; wlien pursuud, it thrusts its head into a tuft of grass, and,
iuianiuing itself concealed, can even lie taken with the hand.

jMiddendorf describes a male bird as luudng a wash of rose-red over the
lower back and breast, and rose edges to feathers of hind head and cheeks.
(Baird.)

Gexus CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie.

Chri/somilrls, BoiE, Isis, 1828, 322. (Type, Fn'mjilla sjumis, Linn',eu.s.)
Astragalitms, Cabanis, Mus. Ilciu. 1851, 159. (Type, Fiiiii/ilJa Iristis, Linn.eus.)

Gex. CllAB. Bill rathfi- acutely conic, the tip nut very sharp; the culmen slightly
convex at the tip ; the commissure gently curved. Nostrils couecaled. Obsolete ridges
ou the upper maudible. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe ; outer toe rather the longer,

C. tristis.

reaching to the base of the middle one. Claw of hind toe shorter than the digital jiortion.
Wings very long, reaching to the midtUe of the tail ; second (piill a little longer than first
and third. Tail deeply Ibrked.

C. tristis.

FRIlS^GILLnX^ — THE FIXCIIES — CHRYSOmTMS. IQ>J

Tlie colors are generally yellow, with lilaek on the crown, throat, hack, winrrs, and tail
varied sometimes with white.

The females are usually without yellow, or it is pale or dull, and their general hues are
brown or olive.

Clirysomitris tristis, LiNXJATfs.

THE YELLOW-BIED; THE THISTLE-BIED.

FriiicjiUn tristis, LiNN.^us, Syst. Nat. I. 17G6, .320. — Cardiiclis tristis, AuDUBON, Birds
Amcr. II. 1841, 129 ; pi. 181. — Heermanx, V. R. Rep. X. vi. 50. — Cliri/somitris tristis,
BoxAPAUTE, List, 1838. — Newberry, Zool. Cal. anJ Or. Route ; Rep. P. R. R. Surv.
VII. iv. 1857, 87. — Baird, R. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 421. —Cooper aiul Si;ckley, XII.
iii. Zool. ol'W. T. 197.

Sp. Char. Mule. Bright gamboge-yellow ; crown, wings, and tail black. Lesser
wing coverts, band across the end of gi-eater ones, ends of secondaries and tertiaries, inner
margins of tail feathers, upper and under tail coverts, and tibia, white. In winter the yel-

low becomes brownish, the black is wanting on crown, and that on wings is browner.
Throat vellowish beneath, ashy-brown ; abdomen white The female is much like this at
all times, but more olivaceous. Its bill is brownish, the tip paler. Length of male, 5.25 ;
extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.00. Iris brown ; bill yellowisli-wliite, tip black ; feet pale brown.
Hah. Xorth America generally.

The yellow-birds are constant residents in all the western parts of Cali-
fornia, hut I saw none along the Colorado. They become rare north of the
Columbia along the coast, but continue in the interior up to lat. 49°. Tliey
breed near San Diego as well as northward, and seem to avoid the hot in-
terior valleys, as well as the forest-clad mountains. Their favorite resorts
are in fact those places where thistles and other composite floAvers abound,
and their fondness for the seeds of the former has given them, in places, the
name of " thistle-bird." They are also very fond of willoM--groves and
cottonwoods, feeding much on their seeds, while in winter those of the
sycamore (Platamis) supply their chief subsistence. In the Eastern States
they remain throughout the snowy season, and are often seen feeding on
cockle-ljurs and other seeds left standing above the snow.

168 SIXGING BIRDS— OSCIXES.

In February, when the males acquire their yellow plumage, the flocks
often collect on top of a tree, and sing in chorus for an hour, their sweet
discord being particularly pleasing, the whole flock sinking and raising
their voices in concert, though not keeping one time. Their song, resem-
T)ling somewhat that of the canary, is well known, as they are frequently
kept in cages.

At Santa Cruz 1 found two nests about the first of June. One was in a
liush, not more than tlii'ee feet from the groiind ; the other on the low Viranch
of a tree, near the end, and contained young. They also build liigli in the
forks of trees. The nest is very compactly constructed of strijis of bark,
roots, and fibrous plants, mixed witli downy scales of leaves and catkins, and
lined witli tliistle-down, that of the sycamore, or sometimes %vool or cow-
liair and fine grass, the cavity measuring 1..50 X 1.30 inches. The oiitside
is often covered witli silk of caterpillars' nests, cobwebs, or plant fibres, and
seems glued smootlily togetlier. The eggs, from three to five, are pale
greenisli-white, and measure 0.60 X 0..50 inch.

Being rather late in the year in building, they usually raise but one
brood, tliough they have been known to feed their young as late as the
middle of September. (Nuttall.) Tliis lateness of incul)ation is observed
also in the East, and supposed to depend upon the absence of some neces-
sary kind of food in the earlier months.

Though occasionally visiting gardens for lettuce and sunflower seeds, they
rarely do any mischief, not meddling witli fruits, but doing much good by
destroying thistle seeds.

Chrysomitris psaltria, Sat.

THE AKKANSAS FINCH.

FringiJla psaJlria, Sat, Long's E.\pc(l. R. Mts. II. 182.3, 40. — Box.vrAKTE, Am. Orn. I.
1825,54; pi. &, {. 3. — CarHiieHs jmillria, AcDnnoN', Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 1.34; pi.
183. — IIeermann, 1'. R. Rep. X. vi. 50. — Chrysomitris psaltria, Bonaparte, List,
1838. — Newbeurv, P. R. Rep. VL iv. 87. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 422.—
Kennerlt, X. iv. 28.

Sr. Cii-VR. Ujipcr jiarts and sido? nf lirad ami nock olive-p-een. Hood, uppor tail
coverts, wings, and tail black. Beneath, bright yellow. A band across the tips of the
greater coverts, the ends of nearly all the tjuills, the outer edges of the tertiarics, the ex-
treme bases of all the primaries, except the outer two, and a long rectangular patch on
the inner webs of the outer three tail feathers near the middle, wdiite.

Female, with the upper parts generally, and sides, olive-green ; the wings and tail
brown, then- wdiitc marks as in the male. Length, 4.50 ; extent, 8.00 ; wing, 2 65 ; tail,
187. Iris brown; bill horn-lirown, greenish below; feet pale brown (or flesb-color in
summer) .

Hah. Southern Rock^- ^Mountains to the coast of California.

FRIXGILLIlXi: — Tl IE FJXCHES _ CHRYSOMITRIS.

169

I did not find tliis species in tlie Colorado Valley, though they have been
obtained along Williams Fork by Dr. Kennerly. At San Diego and along
the ^\■hole coast border they are rather rare, but seem to be common in the
interior valleys, and breed in small numbers in the Coast Eange near Santa
Cruz.

They have habits very similar to those of the yellow-bird, but seem to

1 r

Male

feed more on the ground or among weeds than on tree.s, and are perhaps
even more gregarious, keeping in flocks up to June 1st.

I have not met with their nests, or with any description of them ; lint
they doubtless much resemble those of C. tristis.

Their song resembles that of the yellow-lnrd, lint is much fainter. Prob-
ably, however, more exact observations than I have been able to make
would show many differences both in habits and song, especially if they are
kept in cages, in which they would doubtless do well.

Chrysomitris Mexicanus, BoNArARiE.

THE MEXICAN GOLDFINCH.

Cardiielis MeTicatitis, Swainson, Syn. Birds Me.\. Phil. Mag. 1827, 435. — Chri/somitris Mexi-
canus, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1850, .'JlG. — Baird, Birds N. Amer. 423. — Friiu/illa
Teiensis, Giraud, Sixteen Species of Texan Birds, 1841, pi. v. f. 1.

Sp. Char. Upper pnrts continuously and entirely black ; the feathers of the i-iunp
white subterniinally, and showing this through the black ; a few of the feathers with

Var. Arizona: Mile.
22

C Mfxirnvn. Fejnah.

270 SINGIXO BIRDS— OSCIXES.

greenisli-yollow het%vocn tlio wliito and black ; a few, perhaps, without blaek tips. Tlio
bases of the third to seventh printaries, and tlie ends of tlie tertiaries, externally wliite.
Tlic tail is blaek, except the outer three feathers, in which the outer webs and ti])3 (jnly

Chrijsomilris Mfrtrnna. Male.

arc this color ; the rest white. Inside of wins; black. Under parts of liody p.nle yellow.
Female with the blaek of the head and body replaced by olive-green. Length, 4 12;
wing, 2.25 ; tail, 2.00.

Hab. Mexican side of the valley of the Uio Grande, southward.

A'ar. Arizonge, Couks.

diri/somitris Mexicanus, var. Arizona, CouES, Pr. A. N. So. 1S66, 81.

Sp. Char. Dilfers from above in a decided gradation towards C psaltria. The black
of the back is mixed with about an e(iual amount of olive. Tlie auriculars are blaek as in
Jilexicanux, but the yellow lower eyelid, like that of psallria, is not disconnected with the
yellow of the throat. (Coues.)

Hah. Arizona.

Tlie Arizona variety of C. Mexicanus, pointed out a.s above hy Dr. Cone.s,
i.s .strongly related to C. xisaltria, in which, however, the top of the head i.s
l)lack, distinctly bounded on all sides witli olive, and the black does not
descend below the eye, as in Mexicanus. The liack also is distinctly oli\-e,
not mixed with Ijlack. "We have no special information as to its liabits,
Init tliey are probably much like those of the common thistle-bird (C. tris-
tis) of the United States. (Baird.)

FKINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES— CHRYSOMITRIS. J^l

Chrysomitris Lawrencii, Cassin.

LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH.

Carduelis Lawrencii, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V. Oct. 1850, lO.'i; pi. V. (California.) — Heer-
MANN, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 50. — Chri/soiiiitiis Lawrencii, Bo>fAPAETE, Comptcs Rciidus,
Dec. 18.53, 913. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 424.

Sp. Cii.\r. Hood, sides of lioad anterior to the middle of the eye, chin, and upper part
of throat, blaek. Sides of head, neek, and body, upper part of neelc and tlie back, and
upi)er tail coverts, ash-color. Rump and lesser wing coverts yellowish-green. Throat
below the blaek, breast, and outer edges of all the quills (exccjjt the first primary), bright

Female, Mate.

greenish-yellow, passing into white behind. Wings black. Tail feathers hlaek, with a
white scpiare patch on the inner web, near the end ; outer edges gra}'ish ; quills blaek.

Female, similar, witli the black of the head rejilaced by ash. Length, 4.50 ; extent,
8.00 ; wing, 3,00 ; tail, 2.30. Iris and feet brown ; bill smoky-white (brown in female).

Huh. California.

I found a few of tlii.s sjaecies at Fort Mojave, and tliey are rather numer-
ous near the coast, as far north as San Francisco at least, also in tlie north-
ern niinins; regions.

I saw some of them in December near San Francisco, and have no duuljt
they remain throughout winter in all the lower country. The mountains
they seem to avoid, and they have not lieen observed in Oregon.

Their habits and song are generally similar to those of C. tristis, liut their
voice is muclr weaker and more high in pitcli.

Their nests I have found in a small live-oak, built very much like those
of C. tridis, but much smaller, the cavity measuring 1..50 X 1 inch, and the
eggs, four or five in number, are pure white, 0.80 X 0.4G inch. I think
they usually prefer the live-oak for building, as I have not found nests in
other situations.

They feed sometimes on the ground on gi-ass-seeds, as well as on buds
and seeds of various weeds and trees. They seem more of a sylvan species
tlian the yellow-bird, and not so fond of willows and other trees growing

172

SINGIX(; I'.IKDS ^OSCIXES.

along streams and in wet places. In the Colorado Valley they feed on seeds
of an Artemisia. I did not see them there after April 15tli.

Chrysomitris piuus, ^\'ILsoN.

THE PINE FINCH.

FriiKjilla pinus, Wilson, Amcr. Oni. II. 1810, LIS; pi. xvii. f. 1. — AuDUnON, Orn. Biog.
II. 1834, 455; V. 509; pi. XSO. — Unaria pinus, AuDiuox, Birds Aincr. III. KS41,
li5 ; pi. 180. — IIiiKR.M.^N'X, I'. K. Rep. X. vi. 49. — Chrymmkris piuus, BoN.MMini:,
Consp. 1850, 515. — Baiku, V. K. Rep. IX. Birds, 425. — Cooper and Sucklev, XII.
iii. Zuol. of W. T. 197.

Sp. Char. Tail ik'c])ly forked. Above, brownish-olive. Beiie:itli, whitish, every
feather streaked distinctly with dusky. Concealed bases of tail feathers and quills, to-
gether with their inner edges, sulphur-yellow Outer edges of quills and tail feathers

ycllowish-gi-een Two yellowish-white bands on the wing. Length, 5.00; extent, 8.50;
wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.20. Iris, bill, and feet brow)i.

Hah. North Aniei-icn, from Atlantic to Pacific ; chiclly northward ; extending, however,
along the Kueky Mountains to the tabie-lands of jMe.vieo.

A common species in the far nortli, residing throughout the year at the
Columbia Eiver and northward, Imt in this State I have not met with
them even in the lofty Sierra Nevada in September, though they appear
along their whole western slope in winter, as far south as Fort Tejon.

Tliey are found both among the coniferous trees and those tliat are de-
ciduous, feeding uu the seeds of spruces, alilers, willows, ami juniper-berries.

FrvIX(iILLlI).l': ~ THE FINCIIIvS — IIESPERIPHONA.

173

They rarely descend to the ground or Ljwer herlwue, li\ing constantly
among tlie trees, especially along streams. Tliey have the same gregarious
habits, aud nearly the same call-notes, as the yellow-Lird, but not so much
song.

Genus HESPERIPHONA, r.ox.vp.uiTE.

Jlcspcriphona, Bonaparte, C'oniiites lluiulus, XXXI. Sept. 1800, 424. (Tyjic, Frimjilla vcs-
jici'lina.)

Gr.x. CiiAl!. Bill largost and stoutest of all the United States iVingilline birds. U[>-
per mandible nuieli vaulted ; cuhnen nearly straight, but arched towards the tip ; eonnnis-
sure curved. Lower jaw very large, but not broader tlian the upper, nor extending
back, as in Uuiraca ; considerably lower than the upjier jaw. Gonys luuisually long. Feet

H. vispfrtijja.

short, tarsi less than the middle toe ; lateral toes nearly e(pial, and reaching to the base
f]f the miildle claw. Claws nuich curved, stout, and compressed. Wings very long aud
pointed, reaching beyond the middle of the tail. Primaries uuich longer than the neaily

Cocrotliraustes fid^aris.

274 SINfUXG BIRDS — OSCIXES.

0(ni;il secondaries and tertials ; outer two cjuills longest ; tlic others rapidly graduated.
Tail slightly lurked ; scarcely more than two thirds the length of the wings.

The genus Hcsx>criphona is very closely allied to the Old ^^'ol■ld genus
Coccothruustcs. Tlie principal difierence consists in a ijeculiar character of
the quills, as shown in the preceding figure of Coccothraustcs, and while Hes-
IKi-iphona has the wing rounded off as usual in tlie Frimjillidm.

Hesperipliona vespeiiina, Cooper.
THE EVENING GEOSBEAK.

Fringilla vespertina, Cooper, Annals New York Lyceum, N. II. I. ii. 1825, 220. (Sault St.
Marie.) — Coccothrausles vespertina, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II. 183!, 269. — Audu-
bon, Syn. 134. Ib. Birds Amcr. III. 1841,217; pi. 207. — Hesperipliona vespertina,
Bonaparte, Comptos Rendus, XXXI. Sept. 1850, 424. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
409. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 196.

Sp. Char. Bill j-ellowish-green, dusky at the base. Anterior half of the body dark
yellowish-olive, shading into yellow to the rump above, and the under tail coverts below.
Outer scapulars, a broad frontal band continued on each side over the eye, a.xillaries, and

middle of under wing coverts, yellow. Feathers along the extreme base of the bill, the
crown, tibia;, wings, upper tail coverts, and tail, black ; inner greater wing coverts and
tertiaries white. Length, 7.50; wing, 2.30; extent, 7.50 ; tail, 2.75. Iris brown; legs
pale brown.

Hub. Lake Superior north and west ; along Ilocky Jluuntains to New Jlexieo ; Sierra
Kevada, northward. Resident in the mountains of Jlexico.

Tliis beautiful bird has been obtained at jVlichigan Bluffs, Placer County,
near lat. 39°, by Mr. F. Gruber, and this is the lowest point at which I liave
heard of its occurrence in this State, though tliey probably go farther south
along the summits of the Sien-a Nevada, as they follow the Eocky iloun-

FUIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — HESPERIPIION A. 175

tains clown to Fort Thorn, Xew ^Mexico. I have not myself seen them in
the State, bnt saw the feathers of one recently killed at the summit of the
Sierra Ne^'ada, hit. 39°, in September, 18G3.

In the north they are not uncommon, hut keep so high among the cotton-
woods and pines that they are rarely obtained. They do not seem to come
down near tlie coast, even at the Columl)ia Eiver, and in this State have
never been met with in the Coast liauge of mountains. They feed chiefly

on the seeds of pines, spruces, and cottonwood pojilars, occasionally seeking
other seeds nearer the ground. "When feeding they are very silent and diffi-
cult to perceive, but when they fly from one place to another they utter a
loud call-note. In spring they have a rather short but melodious song, re-
sembling that of the robin or black-headed "rosbeak. Their nest and e""s
are still undescribed. Dr. Townsend found them numerous at Fort Van-
couver in May, and they were then (|uite tame, active, and noisy the whole
day.*

In examining a large series of this species, in the Smithsonian Museum,
from diflerent localities, jMr. IJ. Eidgway has noted the existence of two
strongly marked A-arieties, both represented at the lieginning of this article.
One of these, figured on the preceding page, has a stouter bill, liroader patch
of frontal yellow, and the outer tail feathers spotted with white on the
iujier webs at end. This style appears to belong to the northern parts of
America, coming into the United States only in winter. The other, figured
above, is the variety belonging to and resident on the table-lands of Mex-

* IL sprripliomi irnjipitina. Since writing tlic previous parai:;'rn]ili I liave met witli a flock of
about ten intlivicliials that wintered near Santa Crnz, remaining until the end of April, 1866.
Their favorite resort was a small grove of alders and willows, close to the town, where their loud
call-note could he heard at all times of the day, though I never heard them sing. When tlie
herbage began to grow in sjiring, their favorite food was the young leaves of various annual
weeds that sjiroiited uji under the .shade of the trees. They then fed on the buds of the " box
elder" (.Voj/ok/o), and freipiented the large pear-trees in the old mission garden, probably to eat
their buds. They were generally very tame, allowing an approach to within a few yards of them
when feeding. (Cooper.)

176

SIXGIXG BIRDS— OSCIXES.

ico, and extending nnrtlnvavd into New IMexico. It has a narrower bill,
narrower frontal jiatch, and the tail I'eatliers entirely black. Some speci-
mens, again, arc (|uite intermediate, and it is very donbtful wlietiun- the
two forms can ever be considered as specifically distinct. (15aird.)

Genus PLECTROPHANES, Mfaer.

Pkrtmplianrs, Meyer, Tascln'iibiicli, 1810. (Type, Emheriza nivnlis.)

Gex. Ch.\i:. Rill viirialilc, fimiciil ; tlie lower inamliblo higher than the upper; the
sides of both mandibles (in the typieal speeies) guarded by a closcl)- applietl brush of

■■i^*^V^^^^v'?7-%^"^H''^*'^%^'^'"^''^^^^^^

P. nivalis.

stiffened bristly feathers direeted fbi-wards, and in the upper jaw concealing tlie nostrils;
the outlines of the bill nearly straight, or slightly curved ; the lower jaw considerably

FRIXGILLID.E— THE FIXCIIES — rLECTROPHANES. I77

broader at the base than the upper, and wider than the <i;onys is long. Tarsi consid-
erably longer than the nuddle toe; tlie lateral toes nearly ecpial (the inner claw largest),
and reaching to the base of the nuddle elaw. The liinder claw very long ; moderately
curved and acute ; considerably longer than its toe ; the toe and claw together reaching
to the miildle of the middle claw, or beyond its tip. Wings vei'y long and nuich pointed,
reaching nearly to the end of the tail; the first quill longest, the others rapidly graduated;
the tertiarics a little longer than the secondaries. Tail moderate, about two thirds as long
as the wings ; nearly even, or slightly eniarginated.

Tlie species of tliis genus <are inhaliitants of the northern hemisphere,
mostly occurring in the higliest latitudes. Two are common to the Old and
Xew Worlds ; the others peculiar to America. They all, as far as known,
nest on the ground, and are strictly terrestrial in their habits.

Plectrophanes nivalis, Meyer.

THE SNOW-BUNTING.

Emheriza niralis, L1KN.EUS, Syst. Nat. 1766, 308. — Pkclrophaiies nivalis, " Meyee," Audu-
bon, Birds Araer. III. 1841, 55 ; pi. 155. — Baikd, Birds N. Anier. 432.

Sp. Cii.Mt. Colors, in full plumage, entirely blaik and wdufe. Middle of back be-
tween scapulars, terminal half of primaries, and tertiaries, and two innermost tail feathers,
black ; elsewhere jmre white. Legs black at all seasons. In winter dress white beneath ;

the head and rump yellnwish-brown, as also some lilotclies on the side of the breast ; mid-
dle of back broirn, streaked with black ; white on wings and tail much more restricted.
Length about G.75 ; wing, 4.35 ; tail, 3.05 ; first quill longest.

Ilab. Northern America, from Atlantic to Pacific ; south into the United States in
winter.

This Species inhaliits the northern parts of both hemispheres, nesting
A\-ithin tlie Arctic Circle, and going southwards in winter, usually in large
flocks. lu company witli the skylark {Ercviopliila cornuta) they form a
conspicuous feature of the winter landscapes in many parts of the United
States, especially near the coast, frequenting roadsides and open fields.

23

l^jQ SINGIXG BIRDS — OSCIXES.

They are very almiulaiit in Greenland, breeding there as well as on the
islands alon" the Arctic Coast of North America.

Plectrophanes Lapponicus, Selby.

THE LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

Frinr/illa Lnpjmnca, LiNN.r.i'S, Fauna Succica, 1701. — Plertroplinnes Ijippoitica, " SEhnY,"
AuDunox, Birds Amcv. IV. ."JO ; jil. ITii. — Baird, Birds X. Aincr. 433.

Sp. Cu.vit. First quill Innrrost. Lcjrs black. IIc:nl all round black, tbis extending as
a semicircular patclx to the upper part of breast ; sides of lower neck and under parts
ivhite, with black streaks on the sides, and spots on the side of the breast. A -short,
brownish-white streak back of the eve. ■ A broad t'bestnut collar on the back of the neck.

Rest of upper parts brownish-yellow, streaked with dark brown. Outer tail feathers
white, e-xcept on the basal 'portion of llie inner web. Length, about G.25 ; wing, 3 90 ;
tail, 2.80.

Iliih. Northern America, coming soutlnvavd into the United States in winter. Not
found much west of the Jlissouri.

This species is very seldom seen in Ml spring plumage in the United
States. In perfect dress, the hlack of the throat prolialily extends farther
down over the breast. In winter the black is mr)re or less concealed by
whitish tips to the feathers beneath, and by yello'wish-ljrown on the crown.
Some fall specimens, apparently females, show no lilack whatever on the
throat, which, witli the nnder parts generally, are dnll white, with a short
black streak on each side of the throat.

The Lapland longspur is an extremely abundant species in the far North,
reaching from one ocean to another, and in winter entering the eastern por-
tions of the United States in large flocks. It has not yet been recorded as
found in California, but probably occurs there, at least as a straggler. It
breeds in immense numbers on the Arctic Coast of North America, usually

FRlNGlLLIDiE — THE FINCHES — SPIZELLIN^. ^79

in company with the ]'ainted longspur {P. p'uiiis), lualdng its uest on the
ground, like all the other species of tlie genus.

The special characteristics of the sub-genus, Ce7itrophanes, of which this
species forms the type, will be best appreciated by the above figure. (Baird.)

Sub-Family SPIZELLIN.E.

Char. Bill variable, usually almost straight ; sometimes curved. Com-
missure generally nearly straight, or slightly concave. Ujjper mandible
wider than lower. Nostrils exposed. Wings moderate ; the outer primaries
not nuich rounded. Tail variable. Feet large ; tarsi mostly longer than
the middle toe.

The birds of this division are usually small and diiU in colors, comprising
most of those which are commonly called sparrows. They live mostly on or
near the ground, in low bushes, thickets, and nuirshes, and their songs,
though often sweet-toned, are neither loud nor long. The sexes are nearly
similar in colors.

Genus PASSERCULUS, Bonaparte.

Passerculus, Bonaparte, Coiiipai-ative List, Birds, 1830. (Tvpc, Friiyilla Savunna, Wil-
son.)

Gen. Guar. Bill moderately conical ; the lower mandible smaller ; both outlines nearly
straight. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe. Lateral toes about equal, their claws
falling far short of the middle one. Hind toe much longer than the lateral ones, reaching
as far as the middle of the middle claw ; its claws moderately curved. Wings unusually
long, reaching to the middle of the tail, and almost to the end of the ujiper coverts. The

ISO

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

tertials nearly or quite as long as tlie primaries ; tlie first primary longest. Tlie tail is
quite short, considerably shorter than the wings ; as long as from the carpal joint to the
end of the secondaries. It is emarginate, and slightly rounded ; the feathers pointed and

P. Sax-anna

naiTow. Entire plumage above, head, neck, back, and rum]), streaked. Tliickly streaked
beneath.

All the specios are very similar in color, dill'ering mainly in size and
intensity of tint ; scarcely at all in pattern.

Passerculus Sandwicliensis, Gmelix.

THE AONALASKA SPARROW.

Emberiza Samhcichensis, Gmelin, I. 1788, 875. — Paxserciilns Snndu^irhensis, Bated, P. R.

Rep. IX. Birds, 444. — Cooper and StCKLET, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 199 ; pi. xxviii.

f. 2.
Emherha chiysops, PALL.iS, Zoog. IJosso-As. II. 1811, 4J ; tab. xlviii. C\g. 1. (Aon.ilaska.)

Sp. Cll.\R. Feathers of the U])|)er ]iarts gener.ally with a central streak of blackish-
brown ; the streaks of the back with a slight rufous suffusion laterally ; the feathers edged

FRIXGILLID.E — THE FJNCHES — PASSERCULUS. JgX

with gray, which is lightest (jji the scai;ji(jrs. Crown witli a broad median stripe of yel-
lowish-gray. A superciliary streak ll-om the bill to the back of the head ; eyelids, and
edge of the carpal joint, yellow. A yellowish-white maxillary stripe curving behind the
ear coverts, and margined above and below by brown. The lower margin is a series of
thickl)- crowded spots on the sides of the throat, which are also ibuud on the sides of the

neck, across the upper part of the breast, and on the sides of body. A few sj)Ots on the
throat and chin. Rest of under parts white. Outer tail leather and primary edged with
white. Length, G.12; extent, 9.25; wing, 3.00; tail, 2. .55. Iris brown; bill and feet
paler.

Hah. Northwestern Coast from the Cohunljia River to Russian America. California
in winter. (?)

This species I found in spring and fall only at the Columbia Eiver, in
their migrations to and from the north. As they were not seen there be-
tween Oetoljer and April, they probably spent tlie winter in Southern Ore-
gon and California, though hitlierto overlooked by collectors in this State.
During the warm season, between April and September, they were not to be
seen near the Columbia, probably passing to the nortli, or possilJy to the
interior plains east of the Ca.scade Eange. Their habits, as far as I ob-
served them, did not differ from those of P. alaudinus. They are, however,
considerably larger and darker colored.

Passerculus alaudinus, Boxap.vrte.
THE SKYLARK SPARROW.

PassaTtihis alaudinus, BoxAP.iUTE, Coniptes Eendiis, XXXVII. Dec. 1853, 918. (California.)
— Baikd, p. R. Reij. IX. Birds, 446. — Passerculus Sai-unna (and alaMliuus?) Heer-
snxN, X. vi. 49.

Sp. Cn.\i!. Similar to P. Siindwichensh, but smaller ; the bill rather slenderer and
elongated. Little of yellow in the superciliary stripe (most distinct anteriorly) ; the rest
of the head without any tinge of the same. General color much paler and grayer. Breast
with oidy a few spots. Length, 6.00 ; extent, 9.25 ; wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.30. Iris brown ;
bill brown above, flesh-color below ; feet brownisli-white.

Hab. California and Lower Rio Grande of Te.xas and ile.xieo.

2g2 SIXGING BIRDS — OSCIXES.

I think it very doubtful whether tliese specimens (wliich measure larger
than the dimensions given by Baird, though otherwise agreeing) are any-
thing more than a southern form of P. Sandwicliensis, thougli collected near
Sau Diego. Wliether Bonaparte's and Baird's birds are different, I cannot
determine. Baird considers it almost identical with P. Savanna of the East,
and says that P. Sandwichcasis differs from that species only in larger size.

Spring specimens have the superciliary stripe more decidedly yellow, so
that there only remains a more slender bill to distinguish this from P. Savan-
na, and tlie larger size (cliaracteristic of Northern specimens generally), with
darker hues, for P. Sandwichensis.

At the Columbia River I noticed the arrival (jf this species from the
south in March, and that they resided there until late in October. In tlus
State they seem chiefly winter residents, abounding on the dry interior
plains as far south as San Diego, where they remain until April in large
flocks. I liave not seen them during the summer months, though they very
probably breed in some of the higher prairies of this State, yet I saw none
about the summits of the Sierra Nevada in September. They prefer the
dry rolling plains to marslies, altliough occasionally found in tlie latter.
Dr. Heennanii's note on tliis species corresponds to the habits of P. anfhlaus,
and was ]irobably intended for that species, of which he collected a speci-
men, while lie got none of this, though referring to it as " P. Savanna." (See
lists of specimens in Baird's Eep. IX. 445, 446.)

The song of this bird is faint and lisping, delivered from the top of a tall
weed, during spring. Its nest is unknown, but P. savanna builds in the
grass, and lays pale greenisli eggs, slightly spotted and splashed with pale
umber. (Nuttall.)

The natviralist of the Bussian Telegraph Expedition found tlie P. Sand-
wiclinisis quite common at Sitka and Kodiak, although on the Yukon the
representative of the gemxs seemed to be a species most like the present,
or even the genuine P. Savanna.

FKINGILL1D.E — THE FINCHES — PASSERCULUS. 183

Passerculus anthinus, Bonaparte.

THE TITLAEK SPARROW.

Passerculus anthinns, Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus, XXVII. Dec. 1853, 919. (Russian

America.) — Baikd, T. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 445.
Pas^eicuhis alaiidinus, Hder.maxx, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 49.

Sp. Cii.\R. Similar to P. Sandirtchensis, but fmallpr. Beneath tinged -with redili^h.
Breast and upper part of belly thickly .spotted with sharply defined sagittate brown spots,
exhibiting a tendency to aggregation on tlie middle of the belly. Superciliary stripe, and

one in the middle of the crown, decided greenish-yellow, the head generally tinged with
the same ; as also the back and sides of the neck. Length, 5.75 ; extent, 0.00 ; wing, 2.75 ;
tail, 2.25. Iris brown ; bill brown ; feet and lower mandible paler.
Huh. Coast of Calilbrnia ; Ilussian America ; Kodiak. (Bonaparte.)

This plain little bird i.s peculiarly tlie marsh-sparrow of this coast, as I
have found them rarely out of the salt marslies, wliere they lie so close, and
run so stealthily under the weeds, as to lie flushed with some difficulty,
rising only to fly a few rods and drop again into the covert. They are not
very gregarious, except when migrating, and fly up singly.

Tliey abound in winter south of Sau Francisco, but I am not sure that
any of them spend the summer so far south, though inclined to think that
they do. Near San Diego, in February, they began to utter a short but
pleasant song as they perched on the top of some tall weed ; and though I
observed them there until April, I did not succeed in finding any nests, and
have not found the species at San Pedro in summer.

This species appears better marked, as compared with P. Savrrnna, than the
preceding, although I am not entirely satisfied that it is different. It may,
however, constitute a race characterized by a much greater amount of spot-
ting beneath, extending over the whole breast and upper part of jugulum.
They are rather dark brown, well-defined, and unusually sagittate.

J84 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Passerculus rostratus, Cassis.

THE SEA-SHOKE SPARROW.

Emheriza rostrata, CaSSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. VI. U^2, :H8. — Ammodranvis rnstratus, Cassijj,
Illust. I. 18.^5,226; pi. xxxviii. — Passerculus rostratus, Bxihd, V. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
446. — Heekmanx, X. vi. 46.

Sp. Char. Bill very long (O.o.'j of nn inch above). "Wholo npppr parts and sides of
head and neck pale gra}ish-brown, nearly every feather with a darker central blotch,
darkest along the shaft. A scarcely appi-eciable central stripe in the croAvn, an obscure
yellowish-white superciliary, and a wliitish maxillary one. Under parts pure white;

streaked on the breast and the sides of tliroat and body with dark brown (streak
paler externally). Under tail coverts unspotted white. Tail and wing feathers and
wings margined with the color of the back ; the edges of tertiaries rather paler. Length,
6.00; extent, 9.50; wing, 3.00 ; tail, 2.30.

Hah. Coast of California, near San Diego and San Pedro ; Cape St. Lucas.

Though having some re-semblance to Passcrcvlus, and without the acute,
graduated tail featliers of other Amm.odrovii, this bird resembles the latter
genus most closely in bill and claws, as well as in haliits, in which it is
veiy different from Passerculus.

I found them plenty at San Pedro and San Diego at all seasons, and
duubt wliether they migrate at all. Tliey frequented the shores of the
bays and the sea-beach, also coming familiarly about buildings near the
water, feeding on any seeds and insects tliey could find. On the beach
they run along tlie sand in tlie rows of drift-weed, etc., seeking food, and
rarely talce flight unless suryirised, and only fly a .short distance. I have
never seen them alight on bushes or lieard them sing, their only note being
a sliort cliirp. At San Pedro I saw tlieni in July feeding their young, liut
never found a nest that I was certain belonged to this species. Tliis bird is
a winter resident at Cape St. Lucas, where ]\Ir. Xantus found it in abun-
dance ; Init not in summer, altiiough they probably breed near.

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — POCECETES. 135

Passerculus guttatus, Lawrence.

THE ST. LUCAS FINCH.

Passerculus r/ultiit us, Lawrence, Amuils N. Y. L}-ceiini, N. II. VIII. May, 18G7, 473.

Si>. Cii.^K. Male. The jilumage above is of a dull grayish-brown, the centres of the
feathers blackish ; a stripe of pale yellow nuis from the bill to the eye, a longer stripe of
pale yellow extends from the under mandible down the side of the throat; the throat is
white, and is separated from the yellow stripe by a line of dark brown spots; tail and
wings innber-brown, the latter margined with dull pale fulvous ; breast, ujiiier jiart of
abdomen, and sides conspicuously marked with elongated spots of dark brown, the lower

part of the abdomen white ; the under tail coverts white, sparingly streaked with brown ;
bill dusky yellow, the culmen dark brown ; iris dark brown ; legs pale brown. Length,
5.1.^ ; wing, 2.60 ; tail, 2.00 ; tarsi, 0.80.

Hab. Lower California, San Jose. Collected by John Xnntiis, December, 1859.
(Type, spec, in Mus. Smith. Lis., No. 20,615 )

In the size and form of it.s bill only, this .specie.s re.sembles P. rostrahis ;
above it is very much darker, and differs from all its allies in the obscure
grayish coloring of these parts, with no reddish-brown, and in ha\-ing its
under phimage more closely and fully spotted. Nothing is known of its
haliit.s, which, however, are probably much like those of P. rostratus, with
which it was associated when killed.

Genus POCE3CETES, IJaird.

Poocmtes, Baihd, P. U. Hep. IX. Bhxls, 447.

Gen, Ch.\r. Bill rather large; upper outline slightly dectn'ved towards the end, lower

straight ; commissin-e slightly concave. Tarsus about ecjual to the middle toe : outer toe a

little longer than the inner, its claw reaching to the concealed base of the middle claw ;

hind toe reaching to the middle of the middle claw. Wings unusually long, reaching to

24

186

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

p. graminevs.

tlic middle of the tail, as far as the coverts, and pointed ; tlie jiriniaries considerably longer
than the secondaries, which are not much surpassed liy the tertiaries ; second and third
quills longest ; first a little shorter, about equal to the fourth, shorter than the tail, the

p. ^rnininetts.

outer feathers scarcely shorter ; the feathers rather stiff; each one acuminate and sharply
pninteil ; the feathers broad nearly to the end, when they are obliquely truncate. Streaked
with In-own above everywhere ; lieneatli, on the breast and sides. The lateral tail feather
is white.

Pooecetes gramineus, fhiELix.

THE GRASS FINCH; BAY-WINGED BUNTING.

FringiUa (jraminea, Gjielin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 922. — Eiiiheriza gmminea, WiLSOX, Am. Orn.
IV. 1811, 51; pi. xxxi. f. 5. Aui>., Birds Amer. III. 1841, 65 ; pi. 1 59. — 2bnofric/»a
(jrnminm, Bonap.^rte, List, 1838. — IIkermann, I". R. Rep. X. vi. 47. — Newberby,
VI. iv. 85. — Poocalcs firiimineiis, Bairi), P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 447. — Cooper and
SucKLEV, XII. iii. Zooi. of W. T. 200.

Sp. CiiAn. Tail ii-athers rather acute. Above light yellowisli-brown ; the feathers
everywhere streaked abruptly with dark brown, even on the sides of the neck, which are

FR1NGILLID.E — THE FIXCHES — POCECETES. Jg^

paler. Bciieatli yellowish-wliite ; the breast and sides of ncek and body streaked with
brown. A faint light sui)ereiliar)- and nuixiUary stripe ; the latter margined above and
below with dark brown ; the upper stripe continued around the ear coverts, which are
darker than the brown color elsewhere. Wings with the shoulder light chestnut-brown,
and with two dull whitish bauds along the ends of the coverts ; the outer edge of the

secondaries also is -white. Outer tail feather, and edge and tip of the second, white.
Length, about G. 25 ; extent, U. 75 ; wing, 3.50. Iris brown ; bill brown, paler below ; feet
whitish-brown.

Hab. United States, from Atlantic to Pacific ; or else one species to the high central
plains, and another from this to the Pacific (var. coiijiitis, Baird, differing in grayer hues,
legs and wings longer, bill more slender and straighter, streaks on the breast narrower).

I fouud this Liixl winteiiiig in the Colorado Valley in considerable numbers,
but it disappeared by April. I have not seen them near tlie coast, and
they seem to seek the interior vaUeys chiefly in summer. Their favorite re-
sorts are grassy meadows and open woods or orchards, where the grass grows
high ; they also seek food along roads when migrating. I am not sure
whether they breed in this State, but think tliey do towards the north.
Their nests (in the East) are built on the ground under tufts of grass, and
usually sunk below the surface ; they are formed principally of withered
wily grass, lined with softer grass and hairs. The eggs, four or five, are
white, with several shades of dark reddish-brown scattered in spots, chiefly
at the larger end. They probably raise several broods annually, and do
not migrate much from the Middle Atlantic States. (Nuttall.)

Their song is quite freipient, and resembles that of the canary, though
less loud and varied. They also sing sometimes late in tlie evening. They
feed much along roads, and are fond of dusting themselves in such jjlaces,
running along instead of flying when followed.

According to Dr. Xewberry they are common in the Sacramento Val-
ley in summer and fall, but I have not observed them myself in the Sierra
Nevada. Tliey do not go very far north, and the only late record of tlieir
occuiTence south of the United States is at Oaxaca in Western jMexico.
They have not yet been observed in the West Indies.

188

SIXGIN'fi 131Ki)S— OSCIXKS.

Genus COTURNICULUS, Bonaparte.

Cotumkuhis, BoxAP.MtTE, Geog. List, 1838. (Type, J-'riiiiji/ld passerimi, Wilson.)

Gen. C'ir.vu. Bill very stout and short. TiTtials almost equal lo the jirimaries.
Claws small, weak ; hinder one shorter than its digit. Outstretched ii;et not reaching

the till '^^ ''"^ t'"^''- Tail feathers not stiffened, graduated, short. Ujtper parts generally
streaked, blotches on interscapular region ver}- wide. Breast and siiles generally streaked

C. pofseriniis.

more or less distinctly. Edge of the wing yellow. Wings short, reaching little beyond
base of tail. Primaries and secondaries nearly equal.

Two species are confined to the eastern side of tlie continent, and a
tliird is found throughout tlie United States. There are others in South
America.

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES— COTURNICULUS. IgQ

Coturniculus passerinus, Wilson.

THE YELLOW-WINGED SPARKOW.

Frinr/illa jMsscrina, Wilson, Am. Uni. HI. 1811, 7C ; pi. xxvi. f. 5. — Cotiirninihis passerinus,
Bonaparte, List, 1838. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 4.50. — Heebmann, X. 49. —
Kenneely, X. vi. 28. — Emberizii passerinus, AvDVDOn, Syn. 1839. In. Birds Amer.
III. 73; pi. 1G2.

FrimjiUa snmnarum, " Gmehn," Nuttall, Man. I. 1832, 494, 2d cd. I. 1840, 570.

Sp. CiiAU. Ujjpoi- parts brownish-rufbus, margined narrowly and abruptly with ash-
color ; reddest on the lower part oi' back and rump ; the J'eathcrs all abruptly black in the
central portion ; this color visible on the interscapular region, where the rufous is more
restricted. Crown blackish, with a central and superciliary stripe of yellowish tinged
with brown, brightest in front of the eye. Bend of wing bright yellow, lesser coverts

tinged with greenish-yellow Quills and tail feathers edged with whitish ; tcrtiaries much
variegated. Beneath, brownish yellow, nearly white on the njiddle of the belly. Feath-
ers of the upper breast and sides of body with obsoletely darker centres. Length about
5.00; extent, 8 25; wing, 2 50; tail, 2.00. Iris brown; bill slate-color, reddish below;
feet brown. Young streaked below.

Hab. Eastern United States to Central Plains, valleys of Gila and Colorado, Cali-
fornia.

Nuttall mentions this bird as an inhabitant of " Oregon," but later collec-
tors have not found it west of tlie Eouky Mountains, with the exception of
Dr. Kennerly, wlio obtained one at Williams Fork of tlie Colorado, in Feb-
ruary. He remarks that they were in some places quite numerous, going in
flocks of five or six or more. I did not obtain or see the bird at Fort ]Mo-
jave. It is known only as a summer visitor east of the Eocky Mountains,
reaching Pennsylvania after tlie middle of May, and singing from trees in
gardens, etc., somewhat like tlie jiurple finch, though less vigorously. Their
nest is fixed on the ground among grass, composed of loose dry herbage,

190

SLXGIXC; 13IUDS — OSCINES.

and lined with hair and root fibres. The eggs, live, are gi'ayish-white,
spotted witli brown. (Nuttall.)

They migrate north to lat. 42°, east of tire mountains, and may be found
in this State west of the SieiTa Nevada. Heermann mentions them as
" abundant," but probably means to the eastward. I am, however, informed
that Mr. llepbiu'u has taken several specimens in California.

Genus AMMODROMUS, Swainson.

Ammodromus, Swainson, Zool. Juur. III. 1827. (Type, Oriulus cw.dacutus, Gmelin.)

Gen. Char. Bill very long, slender, and attenuated, considerably curved towards the
tip above. The gonys straight. The legs and toes are very long, and reach considerably
beyond the tip of the short tail. The tarsus is about equal to the elongated middle toe ;

A. raudacutus.

the lateral toes equal, their claws falling considerably short of the base of the middle one ;
the liiiiil claw e(iual to the lateral one. Wings short, reaching to the base of the tail ;
much rounded ; the secondaries and tortials equal, and nut much shorter than the prima-

A. caudaculus.

FKIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — AJIMODROMUS. I91

ries. The tail is short and graduated laterally ; each feather stifl'ened, lanceolate, and
acute.

Color. Streaked above and across the breast ; very faintly on the sides.

The typical species (2) are coniiued to the Eastern coast. A. rostratus
differs in having a very stout bill and notched tail ; A. Samuelis resembles
Melospiza in color, with the bill and wings of Ammodromns

Ammodromus Samuelis, Baird.

Ammodromiis Saniuelis, Baird, Pr. Boston Soc. X. H. for June, 185S. Ib. P. R. Rep. IX.
BirJs, 4.').5. In. Birds of N. Amer. ; pi. 71, f 1.

Sp. Char. Somewhat like Melospiza Heermanni, but considerably smaller. Bill
slender, attenuated, and acute. Tarsus not longer than middle toe and claw. Above
streaked on the head, back, and rump with dark brown, the borders of the feathers paler,
but without any rufous. Beneath, bluish-white ; the middle of the breast, with sides of
thi'oat and body, spotted and streaked with blackish-brown. Wings above nearly uniform

dark brownish rufous. Under tail coverts yellowish-brown, conspicuously blotched with
blackish. An ashy supen-iliary stripe, becoming nearly white to the bill, and a whitish
ma.xillary one ; the crown with faint gi-ayish median line. Length, 5.00 ; wing, 2.20 ;
tail, 2 35.

Hah. California, lat. 38^', near the coast.

Notliing is known of the habits of this species.

Gexls CHONDESTES, Swaixson.

Chomlestis, Sw.viNSOX, Phil. Ma-. I. 1827, ^^'^. In. Fauna Bor. Amcr. 11. 18.31. (Type,
Chondnstrs affir/fitifs, Swaixsox, crpuil to Frini/ilJa f/raiitiiiaca, S.VY.)

Gv.s. CiiAit. Bill swollen ; both outlines gently curveil ; the lower mandible as high as
the upper ; the commissure angulatcd at the base, and then slightly sinuated. Lower

192

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

mandible rather narrower at the base than the lenfrth of the gonvs ; broader tlian tlie
upper. Tarsi moderate, about equal to the middle toe ; lateral toes e(jual and very short,
reaching but little beyond the middle of the penultimate joint of the middle toe, and fall-

C. srammaca.

ing considerably short of the base of the middle claw. Wings long, pointed, reaching
nearly to the middle of the tail ; the tertials not longer than the secondaries ; the first
quill shorter than the second and third, whi(/h are I'ljual. The tail is moderately long,

C. ^ammaca.

considerably graduated, the feathers rather narrow, and elliptically rounded at the end.
Streaked on the back. Head with well-defined large stripes. Beneath white, with a
pectoral spot.

The typical specie.? is the only one kno\ni, and it has a wide range over
the continent, from the ]\Iississippi Valley to the shores of the Pacific east
and west, and from Oregon to ^lexico north and south.

FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — CIIONDESTES. 193

Chondestes grammaca, Sat,

THE LARK FINCH.

Fringilla rjrammam, S.VT, Long's Expcd. E. Jits. I. 1,«2.3, 139. — Chondestes grwnmma, BoN.v-
PAKTE, List, 18.38. — B.^iRD, P. R. Rep. IX. BirJs, 45(;. — Heermank, X. vi. 48.—
Cooper and Sucklet, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 200. — Emberiza orammaca, Audubon,
Birds Amcr. III. I84I, 63 ; pi. 158.

Chondestes strii/atiis, SwAiNSON, Pliilo.s. Mag. I. 1827, 43.5.

Sp. Cii.\R. Hood chestnut, tiniioil with black towards the forehead, with a median and
a superciliary stripe of dirty whitish. Rest of upper parts pale grayish-brown, the inter-
scapidar region streaked with dark brown. Beneath white, a roinid spot on the upper
part of the breast, a maxillary stripe, and a short line from the bill to the eye, continued

faintly behind it, lilaek. A white crescent tmdcr the eye, bordered below by black, and
behind by chestnut. Tail fL'athers dark brown, tipped Ijroadly with white. Length, 7.00 ;
extent, 11.50 ; wing, 3.75. Iris brown; bill horn-lirown, bluish below ; feet whitish.

Hab. From Wisconsin and the prairies of Illinois to the Pacific Coast ; south to Texas
and Mexico.

I did not observe this bird in the Colorado Valley, though one was
obtained at Fort Yuma during the Mexican Boundary Survey, on the 30th
of December ; and, as I found large flocks of them in the valleys of San
Diego County in February, I have no doubt that they winter in the
southern part of the State, though not as far north as San Francisco. They
reach the Columbia Eiver east of the Cascade Mountains early in May, and
breed in this State from near San Diego northward in the sheltered valleys,
and at Santa Barbara. I have not found their nests in this State, but have
met with many of them from Missouri west, through Kansas and Ne-
braska, in ^lay and June. They build on the ground, constructing their
nests chiefly of grass ; the eggs are white, with scattered hair lines and
spots of brown near the large end, if I remember rightly.
25

194

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

lu the spring the males sing veiy sweetly, more like the canary than any
other bird, but witli an occasional harsli note intermingled Tliey fre([uent
open plains, but usually near trees, and often alight on them in flocks.
Their food consists chiefly of grass and other seeds wliich they find on the
gnnuid.

They are more simihir in liabits to the grass iincli than to any otlicr l)iril,
and resemble this species somewhat in cohirs also.

Z. Iturophnjz.

Genus ZONOTRICHIA, Swainson.

Zonoinrhia, SwAissoN, Fauna Bor. Am. II. 1831. (Type, Emheriza letirnphtys, Forster.)

Gen. Cii-\r. Body rather stout. Bill oonical, .slightly notelioil, pomowhat compressed,
excavated insile, the lower maniliblc not so deep as the upper; gonys slightly convex ;
commissure nearly straight. Feet stout ; tarsus rather longer than middle too ; the lateral

Z. Ifucophryt.

FRINGILLlDiE — THE FINCHES — ZONOTRICHIA.

195

toes very nearly equal Hind toe longer than the lateral ones ; their claws just reaching
to base of middle one. Inner claw contained twice in its toe proper ; claws all slender
and considerably curved. Wings moderate, not reaching to the middle of the tail, but
beyond the rump ; secondaries and tcrtials C(|ual and considerably less than lonj^cst pri-
maries; second and third (piills longest ; first about equal to the fifth, nnich longer than
tcrtials. Tail rather long, moderately rounded ; the feathers not very broad. Back
streaked. Hump and under jjarts immaculate. Head black, or with white streaks en-
tirely dilfercnt from the back.

Zonotrichia Gambelii, Nuttall.

THE WESTERN WHITE-CKOWNED FINCH.

Friiiyilln Gambelii,l^UTT\I.h,M:\n. I. 2d cd. 1840, 55G. (California) — Znnntrirhia GmiMU,

Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Scries, 1. Dec. 1847, .50. — B.\ird, P. K. Kcp. IX. Birds, 4C0.

Ie. Birds of N. Anicr. ; pi. 09, t'. 1. — Kexnekly, X. iv. 28. — IIeekmann, X. vi. 48. —

Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zoul. of W. T. 201.
"Zonotrichia lencophrys," of older authors on tlie West Coast birds, not of Forstcr (Eastern).

— Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route; P. R. Rep. VII. iv. 1857, 87. — Nuttall,

Man. I. 2d cd. 5.54.

Sp. Cii.\r. Head above, and a narrow line behind the eye to the occiput, l)lack ; a
longitudinal patch in the middle of the crown, and a line above the ejc, the two continent
on the occiput, white. Lores gray. Sides of the head, tore part of breast, and lower neck
all round, pale-ash, lightest beneath and shading insensibly into the whitish of the belly and

■ >\'-

Adult.

chin ; sides of belly and under tail coverts tinged with ycllowisli-lirown. Interscapular
region streaked Ijroadly with dark chestnut brownish. Edges of the tcrtiaries brownish-
chestnut. Two white bands on the wing.

Female similar, but smaller; immature male with the black of the head replaced by
dark chestnut lirowu, the white tinged with brownish-yellow. Length, G.50 ; extent, 9.50 ;
wing, 3.25; tail, 3,12. Iris brown ; bill brown, below yellow ; feet pale brown.

Hub. Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast.

In the Culorado Valley, at Fort Mojave, I found this bird txuite common

196 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

throughout winter, and some remaining as late as May 15th, l)ut I Cduld
find no nests, and douht very mucli whether they Luild there, as tliey aU
seem to desert the coast south, of Santa Cruz, during summer. In winter
tliey abound tlirough all the inhabitahle country south of San Francisco,
and in summer wander to the summits of the Sierra Nevada, and the
regions north of the Columbia, a few remaining near San Francisco in
the cold district, subject to the sea breeze at that season.

Near the mouth of the Columbia I found a nest of this bird in June,
1854. It was built in a bush, not more than a foot from the ground,
formed of grasses neatly interwoven, and Lined with softer materials. The
eggs, if my memory of them is correct, were fom- or ti\-e in number, -white,
with thinly scattered dark sjjots near the large end.

The song of this species is loud but short, and remarkably melancholy.
It may be heard during the whole year at intervals, and frequently at night,
wlien its sad tone seems peculiarly suited to the darkness.

They are familiar little birds, tlie flocks spending most of the cool niontlis
around dwellings and barns, and I have been told that they sometimes build
in gardens.

Zonotrichia leucophrys, Forster.

THE WHITE-CROWNED SPAKEOW.

Emhrixi leiicophri/s, Forster, I'liil. Trans. LXII. 1772, 382, 426. — Fringilla leucophri/s,
SwAiNSON, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 255. — Audubon, Orn. Biog. II. 1834, 88 ; pi. 114.
Zunotridda leucophrys, SwAiNSON, BoNAPAKTE, List, 1838. — Baird, Birds N. Amer.
458.

Sr. Cn.\i5. Very similar to Z. Gambclii, as above dcscribi'd, but tlic white stripe from
bill over eye, instead of being continuous, is interrupted by a short black line reaching

from the black stripe on each side the head to the anterior portion of the eye. Size
and proj)ortions of Z. Gamhelii.

FRINGILLID.E— THE SPARROWS — ZONOTRICHIA. 297

Hah. Eastern portion of all Nortli America from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlan-
tic ; Cape St. Lucas in winter.

Tliis very close ally of Z. Gambdii is well known in the Eastern United
States as a Southern migrant ; in the spring breeding abundantly in Labra-
dor and the shores of Hudson's Bay. The habits and song are very similar
to those of Z. Gamhclii, and the mode of nesting almost identical.

The occurrence of this species at Cape St. Lucas in winter is a very ciui-
ous fact in geographical distribution. (Baiixl.)

Zonotrichia coronata, Pallas.

THE GOLDEN-CKOWNED SPAEEOW.

Emheri:a coronata, PalL.4S, Zoog. Eosso-Asiat. II. 1811, 44 ; ])l.ate.

Emhcrha alricafiilla, Ai'ihtbon, Orn. Biug. V. 1839, 47 ; ]j1. 394. (Not of Gmelin.) — Fr'm-

(jiUa atrhijiitln, AuDUisoN, Syn. 1839, 122. Ib. Birds Amer. III. 1841, 162; p\. 193.
Frinyilla (iitrorapi'lla, }ivTTXi,-L, Man. I. 2il «1. 1840, 5.55. — Zonotrichia aiirocapitia, Bosx-

PARTE, Consp. 478. — Newbeeky, Zuol. Cal. and Or. Route, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1857,

88.
Zonotrichia coronata, Baied, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 461. — IIeermank, X. vi. 48. — Cooper

and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of \V. T. 201.

Sp. Ciiah. Hood, from liill to u]iper part of nape, pure black ; the middle longitudinal
third occupied by yellow on the anterior half, and a pale ash on the jiostcrior. Sides and
under parts of head and neck, with upper part of breast, ash -color, passing insensibly into
whitish on the midiUe of the body ; sides and under tail coverts tinged with brownish. A
yellowish spot above the eye, bounded anteriorly by a short black line from the eye to

the black of the fiirehead. This yellow spot, however, is reduced to a few feathers in
spring dre.«.s. Interscapular region, with the feathers streaked with dark brown, suffused
with dark rufous externally. Two narrow white bands on the wings. Length about
7.00; extent, 9. So ; wing, 3.25. Iris brown ; bill bi'own, paler below ; feet pale brown.

Hab. Pacific Coast from Russian iVmerica to Southern California, and Cape St. Lucas ;
east of the Rocky Mountains (?).

198

SINGING RIUDS — OSCINES.

I met with a few of this species wintering as far south as San Diego,
associating with Z. Gumhdii, hut much less familiar, as they did not come
about the liouse, but kept among tlie dense thickets. Tliey were at that
time silent, and thuugli I luive seen them north of the Coliimljia in May, I
never lieard tliem utter any song.

According to Heermann, tliey sometimes breed in California, as he men-
tions tinding a nest near Sacramento. " It was composed of coarse stalks of
weeds, and lined internally with fine roots. The eggs, four in number, are
ashy-\\'hite, marked with lines of brown umber, sometimes appearing Ijlack
from the depth of their shade, and covered also with a few neutral tint
spots."

I saw none of this species near the summit of tlie Sierra Xevada.

Genus JUNCO, Wagler.

Junco, Wagler, Isis, 1831. (Tyiic, Frinr/illa cinereu, Swainson.)
Niphnu, Audubon, Syn. 1839. (Type, Emherhu hjeinalis, Gmelik.)

Gex. Cii.vr. Bill small, conical ; culmcn curvcJ at. the tip ; the lower jaw (jnite as
high as the up])er. Tarsus longer than the middle toe ; outer toe longer than the in-
ner, barely reaching to the base of the middle claw. Hind toe reaching as tar as the
middle of the latter ; extended toes reaching about to the middle of tlic tail. "Wings
rather short, reaching over the basal fourth of the exposed surface of the tail ; ]irimaries,
however, considerably longer than the nearly equal secondaries and tertials. The second

J. Oregonus

quill longest, the third to fifth successively but little shorter ; first longer than sixth,
much exceeding secondaries. Tail moderate, a little shorter than the wings ; slightly
emarginate and rounded. Feathers rather narrow, oval at the end. No streaks on
the head or body ; color above unitbrm on the head, l>ack, or rump, separately or on all
together. BeUy white ; outer tail feathers white.

FRIXGILLID^E — THE FINCHES — JUXCO.

199

J. liyejnal'S

Two otlier species of snow-liird, niucli reseinl)ling the J. Orcrjonux, inhabit
the liocky ]\luimtains ; one visits the Athmtiu States in winter, and several
occur in Mexico.

Junco Oregomis, Townsexd.

THE OREGON SNOW-BIKD.

FrhKiilht Orcrjona, Towxsen-d, J. A. N. Sc. VII- 1S.37, ISS. — Striiflms Orcrjomis, BoNArARTE,
List, 1838. — Newbeisky, Zool. C'al. and Or. Route, P. K. Rep. VI. iv. 1857,88.—
Niphaa Orerjoiiii, AuDDiiON, Syn. 1839, 107. Ib. Birds Amor. III. 1841, 91 ; jil. ItiS.—
Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 134. — Junco Oregomis, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soe. 1857, 7. —
Baird, p. R. Rep. IX. Bird,?, 46fi. — Kennerly, X. iv. 28. — Heermann, X. vi. 47.
— Cooper and Sccklet, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 202.

Sp. Ch.\h. Head and neck all ruuml sonty-lilack ; this color c.xtendinfr to the nppor
part of the breast, but not along the sides under tlie wings. Interscapular region of llie
back and exposed surface of the wings dark ruibus-brown. A lighter tint of tlie same on

the sides of breast and belly. Rump brownish-ash. Outer two tail feathers white ; the
third with oidy an obscure streak of white. Length, 6.00 ; extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.00.
Iris brown ; bUl flcsb color, tip dark ; feet brownisli-wbite.

200 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Hah. Pacific Coast of the United States to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.
Stragglers as far east as Fort Leavenworth in winter, and Great Bend of jNIissouri.

This species is abundant iii winter throngliout most parts of the State,
and resides in summer in tlie mountains, prohably down to the 32d i;)arallel,
though I have not determined its residence ah^ng tlie coast fartlier south
than Monterey. That locality is very cool, and an extensive forest of pines
coming down to the coast favors the residence of several Northern birds
during summer. At San Diego I observed them until April 1st, when they
probably retired to the high moimtaius visible a few miles back from the
coast. A few also visit the Colorado Valley in winter.

On the Coast Mountains south of Santa Clara I found many of them breed-
ing in May, 1864 ; one nest I saw near the west base of the moimtain-s,
on the 13th, containing young j\ist ready to fly. It was built in a cavity
among the roots of a large tree on a steep bank, formed of leaves, grasses, and
fine root-fiVires, and covered outside with an al>undant coating of green moss,
raised aljove the general surface of the groiind. The old birds showed such
anxiety that I was induced to liunt for the nest nearly an hour before I
found it, being satisfied from their actions that it was there, thougli very
hard to find. The moment I saw it the young flew out in all directions,
and their parents seemed more alarmed than ever.

On May 20th I discovered another nest on the very summit of the moim-
tains, probably a second laying, as it contained but three eggs. It was
slightly sunk in the groimd imder a fern (Ftcris), and formed like the other,
but with less moss around the edge ; some cow's and horse's hair was
also used in the lining. The eggs M-ere bluish-white, with blacki.sh and
brown sjiots of various sizes thickly sprinkled on the larger end, measuring
0.74 X ').C)0. According to Heermann, they build in bushes.

The only song of tliis species is a faint trill, much like that of the chip-
ping sparrow {S2n~c/la socialis), delivered from the top of some low tree in
March and April. At other times they have merely the sharp cliirp or call-
note by which they are easily distinguished from most other sparrows.
Though migrating so far south in winter, they also remain diuring winter at
least as far north as the Columbia Kiver, frequenting the vicinity of houses
and barns, in great numbers, especially when the snow is on tlie ground,
and then meriting the name of their Eastern cousin, which usually appears
in the United States only in the season of snow.

Tliey probably raise two broods in this State, and at Puget's Sound
I have seen young fledged as early as ]\Iay 24th.

According to Dr. Cones, tliis species is an exceedingly abundant winter
resident in Arizona,, arriving at Fort Whipple early in October, and becom-
ing very numerous in a short time. They remain until the middle of April,
and stragglers are even seen mitil May, keeping quietly hidden in out-

FRINGILLIDiE — THE FINCHES — JUXCO. 201

of-the-way places, like the Eastern siiuw-liird, until cold weather sets in,
when they become very familiar, and are to be seen everywhere.

Dr. Cones foimd numerous specimens that could only be considered as
hylirids between this species and tlie next. Although the two in their
typical cU-ess are very appreciably different ; yet individuals were met with
combining the tUstinctive characters of both.

Junco caniceps, Woodhousb.

THE GKEY-HEADED SNOW-BIKD.

Stnifhiis caniceps, Woodhouse, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliil. 18.'i2, 202. — Junco caniceps, Baird,

Birds N. Amcr. IB.'iS, 468. — CouE.s, Pr. A. N. So, 18G6, 85.
Junco doisalis, Henry, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1858, 117. — Baihd, Binls N. Amcr. 407.

Sp. Cii.\r. Bill yollciwish, black at the tip. Aljo\c dark plumbeous, the head and
neck all round of this color, which extends (paling a little) along the sides, leaving the
middle of the belly and crissum quite abruptly white. Lores conspicuously, but not very
abruptly darker. Interscapular region abruptly reddish chestnut-brown, which does not

extend on the wings, except perhaps a faint tinge on some of the greater coverts. Two
outer tail featliers entirely white ; third with a long white terminal stripe on the inner
web. Length, 6.00 ; wing, 3.23 ; tail, 3.04.

Ilah. Ilocky ^Mountains ; from Black Hills to San Francisco Mountains, New Mexico.

As will be seen by the synonymy above, I comlune Junco mnice2JS and
dorsalis into one species ; in this following the conclusions of Dr. Coues,
after a careful investigation of the t^'jie specimens of botli, and an extensive
series of skins. The first-mentioned name having priority is retained for
the species. It has a close relationshiii to a Mexican .species, J. cinnrus,
as M-ell as to one from Central Yucatan, recently described by Mr. Salviu,
but appears sufficiently distinct.

As stated in the preceding article, undoubted hyljrids have been met with
between this species and J. Orcgonus. One of these, described by Dr. Coues,

26

202

SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXES.

lias tlie general appearance of raniccps ; the liead and neck being slaty-gi-ay,
not black; the lores blacldsh iu contrast, etc. There is, liowever, a large
dorsal area colored as in Orajonus, -while the sides are strongly tinged with
pinkish-l'td\-ous, as in Orcgonas, instead of being plain cinereous-gray like
the throat, as in caniccps. Other siJeciniens exhibit still dilferent degrees of
combination of the characters of the two species. (Baird.)

Genus POOSPIZA, C.^banis.

Poospha, Cab.ynis, Wiegmann's Arcliiv, I. 18-47, 349.
Pipilo jiersonalo, Swainson.)

(Type, Emiteriza mrjro-rufa, Okb., or

Gex. Cii.U!. Bill sk'mlor, conical, both outlines gently cui-ved. Under jaw with the
eilges considerably inflected ; not so high as the upper. Tarsi elongated, slendiT ; con-
siderably longer than the middle toe. Toes short, weak ; the outer decidedly longer than

the inner, liut not reaching to the base of the middle claw. Hind toe about equal to the
middle without its claw. All the claws compressed and moderately curved. Wings
rather long, reaching about over the basal fourth of the exposed portion of the rather long

FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — POOSPIZA. 203

tail. Tortiarit'S and secondarii/s aljout equal, and not much shni'ter than the lengthencil
I>riniaries ; tho second to fifth aljout equal an<l longest ; the iirst considerably shorter, and
longer than the seventh. Tail long, slightly eniarginate, graduated ; the outer feather
aliruptly shorter than the others. Feathers broad, linear, and rather obliciuely truncate
at the ends, with the corners rounded.

Color. Uniform above, without streaks. Beneath while, with or without a black
throat. Black and white stripes on the head.

Poospiza bilineata, Cassin.

THE BLACK-THKOATED SPARROW.

Enibenza hiUneata, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. V. Oct. 1850, 104; pi. iii. (Texas.) Ib.
Ilhist. I. y. 1854, 150; pi. xxiii. — Poospiza bilineata, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1857, 7.
— Baiud, p. R. Ec'p. IX. Birds, 470. — Heekmann, X. v. 14.

Sr. Cn.\R. Above, unilbrni unspotted ashy-gray, tinged with light brown ; purer and
more phnubeous anteriorly. Under parts white, tinged with plumbeous on the sides, and
with yellowish-brown about the thighs. A sharply defined superciliary and maxillary
stripe of pure white, the former margined internally with black. Loral region black,

passing insensibly into dark slate on the ears. Chin and throat between the wdiite maxil-
lary stri])es black, extending on the upper part of the breast in a rounded outline. Tail,
black, edged externally with wdiite. Bill blue. Length, 5.75 ; extent, 8.00 ; wing, 2.50 ;
tail, 2.00. Iris brown ; bill black, liluish below ; feet brownish.

Hub. Valley of Kio Grande and of Gila, to Mojave River, California.

On the barren, treeless, and waterless monntains that border the Colorado
Valley, this was one of the few Inrds enlivening tlie desolate jirospect with
their cheerful presence. They were nowhere numerous, 1 lut generally seen in
pairs or small parties hojiping along the ground under the scanty shrub-
bery. In winter tliey descended to tlie hills near the Colorado, where the
males, perched on a low liush, sang short liiit lively ditties toward sjiring.

In crossing the Pro^ddence Eange, in May, I found a nest containing
white eggs, which I have little doubt belonged to this species.

204 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Poospiza Belli, C.vssin.
BELL'S FINCH.

Emheriza Belli, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. V. Oct. 1850, 104; pi. iv. (San Diego, Cal.) —
Pnosphn Bdli, ScLATEii, Pr. Zuol. Soc. 1857, 7. — Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birils, 470. —
Kexxerly, X. iv. 29. — IIeerji.Oi.v, X. vi. 46.

Sr. CiiAU. Upper parts generally, with sides of Lead and neek, uniform bluish-ash,
tinged with yellowish-gray on the crown and back, and with a few obsolete dusky streaks
on the interscapular region. Beneath, pure white, tinged with yellowish-brown on the
sides and under the tail. Eyelids, short streak from the bill to above the eye, and small
median spot at the base of bill, white. A stripe on the sides of thi'oat and spot on the

upper part of the breast, with the loral space and region round the eyes, plumbeous black.
Tail feathers black ; the outer edged with white. Wing feathers all broadly edged with
brownish-yellow ; the carpal joint tinged with yellowish-green. Bill and feet blue. Length,
6.00 ; extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.00. Iris brown ; bill brown, pale below ; feet brown.

Ilah. California and Valley of Gihx and Colorado to Fort Thorn. North to lat. 38° 30',
in Sacramento Valley.

Tlie extensive thickets, called chapan-al, wliich cover ban-en dry tracts for
miles, in all the southern lialf of California, are the favorite resorts of this
little bird. There they pick up a living from small seeds, and probably
insects, being apparently quite indifferent as to water, or depending on that
dropping from the foliage after dews and fogs. They may be seen running
rapidly, or rather hopping along the ground, with tail carried perfectly erect,
and at the least alarm seeking tlie friendly thicket. They reside all the
year in the same localities, and are numerous on the island of San Nicolas,
eighty miles from the main-land, tliough I saw none on the other island.s,
except one on Santa Barbara.

In spring the males sing a low, monotonous ditty from the top of a favor-
ite slirub, answering eacli otlier from long distances. Their nest, btiilt about
three feet from the ground, is composed of grasses and slender weeds, lined

FRINGILLID.E — TIIK FINCHES — SPIZELLA.

205

witli hair, etc. The eggs, about four, are jjale greenish, with reddisli-hrown
dots thicldy sprinlded over. At San Diego I found the young hutched ou
]\Iay 18th, hut think they are often earlier.

p. Eelh.

It is a common bird in the chaparral of Santa Clara Valley, and, accord-
ing to Heermann, along Cosiimnes Eiver.

We give above the details of external structure of P. Belli, to show the
difference from P. hilincata.

Gencs SPIZELLA, Bonaparte.

Sphdht, BoNAP.\ETE, Gi'og-. and Comp. List, 1838. (T3-pe, Friiu/illn Canadensis, Latiiaii.)
Spiniles, Cabanis, Mas. Huin. 1851, 133. (Type, Fnnr/ilhi socialix, Wilson.)

Gen. Cii.ar. Bill conifal, the outlines slij;;htly eurvod ; the lower mamliblc not so deep
as the upper, the eommissure gently sinuateil ; the roof of the mouth not knobbed. Feet

S. montirola.

206

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

slender; tarsus rather longer tluin tlic mil 1<1U> toe ; tlie himl toe a little longer than the
outer lateral, which slightly exeeeds the inner ; the outer claw reaching the base of the
middle one, and half as long as its toe. Claws moderately em-ved. Tertiaries and sec-
ondaries nearly equal ; wing somewhat pointed, reaching not quite to the middle of the

6'. monticola.

tail. First quill a little shorter than second anil equal io the fifth ; third longest. Tall
rather long, moderately forked, and divaricated at the tij) ; the feathers rather narrow.
Back streaked ; ruuqi and beneath immaculate. Hood generally unitbrm.

One species of this genus {S. inisilla, the field sparrow), which is not found
on this side of the mountains, visits the Atlantic States in summer. It is,
however, closely aUied to our S. Brcivcri, which replaces it in our fauna.

Spizella monticola, Gmelin.

THE MOUNTAIN OR TEEE-SPAEEOW.

Fringilla monticola, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 912, 1788. — Siiizilla monticola, Baird, P. R. Bep.

IX. Birds, 472. — Kexnerly, X. iv. 29. — Cooi'EK and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zuol. of W.

T. 20.'3.
Fringilla Canadensis, Latii.im, Iiulcx drn. I. 1790, 434. — Nuttall, Man. I. 2J eil. 572. —

Emberiza Canadensis, SwAiNsoN, Fauna Bor. Am. II. 1831, 252. — Audubon, Birds

Amer. HI. 1841, 83; pi. 16G.
Fringilla arborea, Wilson, Am. Orn. II. 1810, 12 ; pi. xii. f. 3.

Sp. Char. jNIiddle of back with the feathers dark brown centrally, tlicii rutinis, and
edged with pale fulvous (sometimes with whitish). Hood and U])per i)art of nape con-
tinuous chestnut ; a line of the same behind the eye. Sides of head and neck ashy. A
broad liiiht superciliary band. Beneath whitish, with a small circular blotch of brownish
in the middle of the upjjcr part of the breast. Edges of tail feathers, primary quills, and
two bands across the tips of the secondaries, white. Tertiaries nearly black ; edged exter-
nally with rufous turning to white near the tips. Length, 6.25 ; extent, 9.00 ; wing, 3.00.
Iris brown ; bill black ; lower mandible yellow.

FRINGILLID.^; — THE FINCHES — SPIZELLA.

207

Hah. Eastprn North America to the Missouri ; Ilocky Mountains to Little Colorado
Kiver, New Mexico ; Sierra Nevada and Cascade jSIountaius (?).

. ;5jftj*'

Although not contained in the collections of any late explorers within
this State, it is quite prohable tliat tliis bird visits California in winter, and
may even remain during summer about the summits of the Sierra Nevada,
where I thought I saw them in September, 1863, though not successful in
obtaining a specimen. I also saw them, as I thought, near the mouth of the
Columbia in the winter of 1854, and Dr. Suckley obtained at the Dalles in
January, 1855, what he identified Avith the description of this species.

In the Atlantic States it is a winter visitor, having at that season much
the same habits as the chippy {S. socialis), but towards spring displaying
considerable musical talent, singing something like the yellow-bird (6'. Ms-
tis), though with less variety. (Nuttall.)

They retire far north in summer, Ijreeding around Hudson's Bay, and
in the Mackenzie Eiver country to the Arctic Ocean, where, according to
Hutchins, the nest-is like that of S. socialis, and the eggs pale brown, with
darker spots. They probably lireed in the Rocky ]\Iountains, lat. 39°, where
they were found in Augoist, by Lieutenant F. T. Bryan, U. S. A.

Spizella socialis, Wilson.

THE CHIPPING SPAKEOW.

Frinrjilla socialis, Wilsok, Am. Orn. II. 1810, 127 ; pi. xvi. f. 5. — NnTT.\LL, Man. I. 2cl cd.
574. — 5/»>//a .swi'ti/i's, BoNAPAETE, List, 1838. In. Conspectus, 18.50,480. — Baird,
P. R. Ecp. IX. Birds, 473. — Heekmann, X. li. 48. — CoorER and Suckley, XII. iii.
Zool. of W. T. 203. — Emheri-a socialis, AcDtiBON, Syn. 1839. In. Birds Amer. III.
1841, 80; pi. 1G5.

Sp. Cii.\it. Rump, back of neck, and sides of head and neck, ashy. Interscapular
region with black streaks, margined with pale rufous. Crown continuous and uniform
chestnut. Forehead black, separated in the middle by white. A white streak over the

208 SIXGIXG RIUDS — OSCIXKS.

eye, and a black one from the base of the bill throiif^h and behind the eye. Under parts
unspotte<l whitish, tinged with ashy, especially across the n])per breast. Tail feathers and
primaries edged with paler, not white. Two narrow white bands across the wing coverts.

Bill black. Length, 5.60 ; extent, 8.75 ; wing, 2.87. Iris brown ; bill black, lielow brown ;
feet whitish.

Hah. North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

This truly sociaVile little sparrow, commonly known as the " chippy," from
its short and constant chirp, is quite as abundant in the northern part of Cali-
fornia, and north at least to lat. 49°, as on the Atlantic side of the continent.
I found them winterinp; in the Colorado Yalley in large numbers, but not
near San Diego. It is, however, quite probable tluit they winter in other
parts of the interior, as they reach San Francisco by the first of April with-
out appearing at San Diego. They spend the summer, and build in all the
northern half of the State, preferring the vicinity of oak groves and gardens,
coming familiarly aliout the doorstep to pick up crumlis, and building their
nest in low liranches of fruit-trees or garden shrul)s. It is neatly formed of
grass, rather thinly interwoven, and lined almost always with horse-hairs.
The eggs are four or five, bright greenish-blue, with a few light and dark
brown spots, chiefly at the larger end. They raise two or even three broods
annually, in the Atlantic States.

The only song of this bird is a low trill, usually heard from the top of a
tree during the still warm morning.

In airtumn tliey collect into large flocks, and frequent ojien woods, pas-
tures, etc. I found flocks of them on Catalina Island in June, luit could
discover no nests, and, as they were all old birds, concluded that they for
some reason had forgotten to migrate.

Dr. Coues found this species breeding abundantly at Fort '\^^lipple, Ari-
zona, arriving there in INIarch, and remaining until Xovember. In a large
series of skins collected by liim, he found a decided difl'erence in the young
from those of Eastern specimens, the color of the crown being more like that
of S. monticola. As, however, tlie adults of the two regions could not be
distinguished from each other, he did not venture to give the Arizona bird
a separate name.

FRIXGILL1D.E — TILE FINCHES — SPIZELLA. 999

Spizella Breweri, Cassin.

BREWER'S SPARROW.

Emheriza pallida, AuDUBOy, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 66; pi. 398, f. 2. Ib. Synopsis, 1839.

Ib. Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 71 ; pi. 161. — Heeemaxn, P. R. Kcp. X. vi. 48. (Not of
Swainson, 1831.)

Spizella Breweri, Cassix, Pr. A. N. Sc. VIII. Feb. 1856, 40. — Baird, P. R. Rop. IX.
" Birds, 475. — Kenxekly, X. iv. 29. — Newberry, VI. iy. 88.

Sp. Cu.vu. Smaller than .S. socialis. Back and sides of hind neck ashy. Prevailing
color above pale brownish-yellow, with a tinge of grayish. The feathers of back and
crown streaked with blackish. Beneath whitish, tinged with brown on the breast and
sides, and an indistinct narrow brown streak on the edge of the chin. Ear coverts brown-

ish-yellow, margined above and below by dark brown. Crown with median and super-
ciliary ashy-white stripe. Length, 5.38 ; extent, 7.38 ; wing, 2.50. Iris and feet brown ;
bill black, brown below.

Hab. Rocky Jlountains of United States to the Pacific Coast.

Spizella imllida, Swainson, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 1831, 251, only differs
from S. Breweri in having the marking more distinct, and in not having
brownish shafts to the featliers of the sides of body, besides being confined,
according to Baird, to tlie east side of the Rocky Mountains. Dr. Coues (Pr.
Phil. Ac. 1866) is satisfied of tlieir difference.

At Fort ]\Iojave I found small flocks of this sj^ecies after ]\Iarch 20th, fre-
quenting grassy spots among low bushes, and a montli later they were sing-
ing, much in tlie style of a canaiy, but more faintly ; they probably remain
in the valley all summer. I)r. Kennerly obtained one along Williams Fork
of the Colorado, in February, so that they probably winter there, as do sev-
eral other birds found by him, but which I did not find at Fort Mojave
in winter, thougli situated in a lower and milder valley. Drs. Heermann
and NewbeiTy also found tliem common in the Sacramento and Tejon
Valleys in autumn. Dr. C'oucs met witli them in small numbers at Fort
"Whipple, Arizona, where they breed.
27

210 SIXGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Spizella atrigulai'is, Tabat^is.

THE BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW.

Sjnnites atrignhris, Cabanis, Mus. Ilciii. 1851, 13,1. — .S/xW/a atriguJaris, Baied, Birds N.

Amcr. 1858, 476. — Coues, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. 1866, 87.
Stnithus ntrimcnhdis, Coucii, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. 1854, (,1 . — Sjiizdla n. s., CoCES, Ibis. 1865,

118, 164.
Sphdla rami, Baird, MSS. — ConES, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. 186C, 88.

Sp. Char. Adult male. Tail elongated, deeply forked, and divaricated ; general color
bluisli-asli, paler beneath and turning to white on the middle of the belly. Interscapular
region yellowish-rusty, streaked with black. Forehead, loral region, and side of head as
for as eyes, chin, and upper part of throat, black. IMouth and tail feathers very dark

X

Arhdl.

brown, edged with ashy. Edges of coverts like the back. Bill red. Length, 5.50 ; wing,
2.50 ; tail, 3.00. Iris black ; legs and feet brownish black.

Young birds, and perhaps the female, without the black marks on the face.

Hah. Fort Whipple, Arizona ; Cape St. Lucas, and the highlands of Mexico to the
Isthmus of Tchuantepec.

Yoiiit^

This .species is but little known, and is probably not very abundant in its
area of distribution. According to Dr. Coues, it reaches the vicinity of
Prescott, Arizona, in April, and remains till October, collecting towards
autumn in small Hocks. The note is said to be more sweet and melodious
than in any other of the genus. Nothing is known of the nesting of the
species, though it is quite probable that the eggs resemble those of S. jjusilla.

FlIINGILLIDJ:; — THE FINCHES — MELOSPIZA.

211

Genus MELOSPIZA, Baird.

Mdospiza, Baird, Birds N. Amcr. 1858, 476. (Type, Fringilla melodiu.)

Gex. Char. Bill conical, very obsoletely notched, or smootli ; somewhat compressed.
Lower mandible nut so deep as the upper. Commissure nearly straight. Gonj's a little
curved. Feet stout, uot stretching beyond the tail ; tarsus a little longer than the middle

toe ; outer toe a little longer than the inner ; its claw not cpiite reaching to the base of the
middle one. Hind toe appreciably longer than the middle one. Wings quite short and
rnundeil, scarcely reaching lieyond the base of tlio tail ; the tertials considerably longer
than the secondaries ; the quills considerably graduated ; the fourth longest ; the fij-st not

lit. melodia.

212

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Ioniser than the tcrtials, and ahnost the shortest of the primaries. Tail moderately long,
and consideralily graduated ; the leathers oval at the tips. Crown and baek similar in
color and streaked ; beneath thiekly streaked. Tail innuaeiilate.

Melospiza Heermanni, Bated.

THE CALIFOENIAN SONG-SPARROW.

Mduspiza Ilcerinannl, Baied, P. I!. Ecp. IX. Birds, 478. Ib. Birds N. Amor. pi. 70, f. 1.

Sp. Char. General tint of upper jiarts olivaeeoiis-brown, streaked with dark brown
and ashy-gray. The crown is brown, with a superciliary and median stripe of dull gray,
the former lighter ; nearly white anteriorly ; each feather of the crown with a narrow streak
of dark brown. Interscapulars dark brown in the centre, grayish on the margin. Paunp
grayer than upper tail coverts, both with obsolete dark streaks. There is a whitish max-
illary stripe, bordered above and below by one of dark brown, with a similar one from

M Ilecrynaniii.

behind the eye. The under parts are white ; the breast and sides of body and throat
streaked with dark brown. On the middle of the breast these marks are rather aggre-
gated so as to form a spot. No distinct white on tail or wings. Length, G.50 ; extent,
8 50; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 3.00. Iris brown; bill horn-brown, bluish below, edge and angle
yellow ; feet pale brown.

llah. Caliibruia, from Mojavo River and San Diego to San Francisco.

Melospiza Goiddii, Buinl, I'. E. Eep. IX. Birds, 1858, 479, and Biixls of N.

FEINGILLID^E — THE FINCHES — MELOSPIZA. 213

Amer. pi. TO, f. 2, is based on a specimen closely resembling M. Heermanni,
but much siiuiUer, the skiu measuring only 4.70 inches ; wing, 2.10 ; tail,
2.38 ; while the bill and feet are nearly as large as in M. Heermanni. It
was sent from England l>y Mr. John Gould, laljclled " California," and may
possibly be a southern dwarfed specimen I'rom tlie peninsula. None that I
ha^^e collected, even in the most southern localities, are nearly so small, the
wing being always at least half an inch longer.

Specimens from Mojave Eiver, San Diego, Santa Barbara, S. B. Island,
and San Francisco differ oidy in the comparative stoutness of their- bills,
which seems insufficient to distinguish more than one species, and may de-
pend on age.

Tills species is the representative of the genus in all the southern half of
California, except Colorado A'alley, being found in e^'ery locality where
there are thickets of low bushes and tall weeds, especially in the vicinity of
water, but coming familiarly about gardens and houses if unmolested by its
enemy the cat. Tlieir usual resort is on the ground under the shade of
plants, where they industriously scratch for seeds tliroughout the day, rarely
flying more than a few yards, and never deserting their homes from one end
of the year to the other.

Occasionally, especially in spring, tliey perch on some low bush or tree
and sing their lively and pleasing melodies, for an hour at a time, each song
being a comj)lete little stanza of a dozen notes, and frequently varied or
changed entirely for another of similar style, but quite distinct. There is
no dilficulty in distinguishing their songs when once heard, although no
two birds sing precisely alike. There is a similarity of tone and style in
all the species of Melospiza proper, that has led former observers to consider
them as of only one species, when taken in connection with their similar
colors and habits.

The nest of tliis species I cannot positively describe, though I found
one at Santa Cruz in June, which I liave little doubt belonged to it. It
was built in a dense blackberry-bush, about tliree feet from the ground,
formed of a thick wall of grasses and bark, lined with finer grasses. There
were but two eggs, smoky white, and densely sjDcckled with dull brown. I
waited for more eggs to be laid, but on my next visit found that it had been
robbed.

" Zonotrichia giafetta," of Heennann, P. E. Eep. X. vi. 47, refers chiefly to
this species, which he collected in Ttgon Yalley, wliile he did not obtain the
true guttdta {j'ufina, which see).

Though this bird was abundant around Santa Cruz, I only found two
nests after much searching. The first, built on a willow, close against the
tree, and three feet from the ground, contained four eggs partly hatched
on May 11th. (I had seen newly fledged young on the 7th.) It was com-

214 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

posed of coarse dry stems and lea\'es, liued with finer grass and horsehairs,
outside five inches wide, four higli, inside two and a half wide, two deep ;
eggs pale green, blotched and spotted with purplish-brown, chiefly at the
large end ; their size 0.62 X 0.82 inch. The ground color is paler and spots
darker than those of Z. Gumhdii, and the whole coloring much darker than
those of M. fuUax. This was probably an old nest used for a second brood.
I found another similar nest, also with, four eggs, in a tliicket, six feet up,
as late as July 10th, doubtless a second brood.

Melospiza rufina, Beandt.

THE EUSTY SONG-SPAEKOW.

" EmI.erha rufina, Brandt, Desc. Av. Rossic. 183G, tab. II. 5, Sitka." Bonaparte.
Frinijilla ciiima (Gjielin), Audubon, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 22; jjl. 390. Ib. Syn. 1839.

119. Ib. Birds Amer. III. 1841, 14.5 ; pi. 187.— (?) Friiigilla c'merai, Gmelin, I. 1788,

922.
Frinrjilla (Passerelh) rjuttala, Nuttall, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840, 581. — Zomtrirliia r/uttata, Gam-

BICL, J. A. N. Sc. I. Dec. 1847, :>0.
Melospiza riijjna, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 180. — Cooper and Sucklet, XII. iii. Zool.

of \V. T. 204.

Sp. Cn.\R. Bill slender. Similar in general appearance to M. Ileennanni, but much
more rufous, the colors more blended. General appearance above Uglit rufous-brown, the
interscapular region streaked very obsoletely with dark brownish rufous, the feathers of
the crown similar, with still darker oljsolete central streaks. A superciliary and very ol)-
scure median crown stripe, ashy. Under parts brownish-wlute ; the breast and sides of

throat and body broailly streaked with dark brownish-rufous ; darker in the centre. A
li'dit maxillary stripe. Sides of the body tinged strongly with the colors of the rump, and
leaving only a narrow space of the belly wliite. Under coverts brown. Length, 6.75 ;
extent, 8.75 ; wing, 2.70 ; tail, 3.00. Iris, bill, and feet bro%vn.
Hob. Russian America, to Sierra Nevada, California, lat. 35°.

This is the more northern and mountain-lo^-ing representative of the song-
sparrows, being resident in the higher Sierra Nevada, and on the borders of

FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — MELOSPIZA.

215

the evergreen forests towards the Columbia and northward, where it is the
only species, and common down to the level of the sea.* I there found
them having habits and songs entirely similar to those of the Eastern M.
mdodla, and also of the M. Hccrmanni. I never succeeded in finding a
nest, these forest birds being more artful in concealing their treasures than
those that have become accustomed to the society and protection of man-
kind, when many species, usually wild, select the garden as tlie safest place
for building in. In the mild winters, usual near the Columljia, tliese birds
do not show any disposition to emigrate, l>ut come more familiarly around
the house when the snow has buried their usual supply of food.

Melospiza fallax, Baird.

THE MOUNTAIN SONG-SPARROW.

^bnoCnrfi'a /!?/«T, Baikd, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ph. VII. June, 1854, 119. (Pueblo Creek, New

Mexieo.)
(?) Zonotrkhiafasciata (Gmelin), Gambei,, J. A. N. Sc. Ph. 2d Series, I. 1847, 49.
Melospiza fallax, B.iiRD, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 481. — Kennekly, X. iv. 29 ; pi. 27, f. 2.

Sp. Cii.A-R. Similar to Z. Hccrmanni, but with wings longer in proportion, and bill
smaller. Dark centres to the pale rufous streaks of tlie feathers of upper and under surfaces
obsolete or wanting. Superciliary liglit stripe ash-color anteriorly. Length, 6.25 ; ex-

tent, 8.25; wing, 2.75; tail, 2.87. Iris brown; bill horn-brown, paler below; feet pale
brown.

Hah. Rocky jNIountain region, from Fort Tliorn to the Colorado. Fort Tejon (?).

Were it not for the difference in proportions, this species might be con-
sidered one of tho.se bleached varieties of an allied species, inhabiting the
torrid and dry Colorado A^alley ; but the want of intermediate forms between

* I have seen a specimen obtained at Marysvillc, in spring, by Jlr. Gruber.

216 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

it and M. Hcermanni entitles it to distinction. It resembles most nearly the
Eastern M. vidodia. In habits and song there is no appreciable difi'erence
from tliose of the other species. A nest Ijuilt in a willow thicket was com-
posed of bark, fine twigs, and grass, lined with hair. The eggs are bluish-
wliite, blotclied and streaked with reddish-brown, measm-ing 0.7-i X 0.55
inch.

Melospiza Lincolnii, Audubon.
LINCOLN'S FINCH.

Fiingilla Li'ncoinn, AuDunON, Orn. Biog. II. 18.34, 539 ; pi. 19.3. — Ncttall, M.in. I. 2d cil.
1840,569. — Paic(m Lincolnii, AuDvaos, Syn. 18.39,113. Ib. Birds Amcr. IIL 1841,
116; pi. 177. — Melospiza Lincolnii, BxiRD, P. K. Rep. IX. Birds, 482. — Kennerlt,
X. iv. 29.

Sp. Cn.^R. Crown chestnut, witli a metlian and two lateral or superciliary ash-colored
stripes ; each feather above streaked centrally with black. Back with narrow streaks of
black. Beneath white, with a maxillary stripe curving round behind the ear coverts, a
well-defined band across the breast, extending down the sides, and under tail coverts,
brownish yellow. The maxillary stripe margined above and below with Unes of black

spots. The throat, upper part of breast, and sides of body, with streaks of black, smallest
in the middle of the former. There is a chestnut stripe back of the ear, streaked with
black. Tlie pectoral bands are sometimes paler. Length, 5.75; extent, 7.50; wing,
2.G0. Iris and bill brown ; feet brownish-wdiite.

Hab. United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific ; and south through ]\Iexico to
Gu.atemala.

Flocks of this species passed near San Diego on their way northward
about March 2.5th, keeping during the day among the grass, rather shy and
silent. They had indeed very much the same habits as a Passcrcuhis, in
which genus Bonaparte puts them. Tliey differ much in their migratory
habits, gregariousncss, and general form from other irehspizaft, and will
probably merit the generic distinction suggested by Baird for this and an

FRIXGILT.TD.E — THE FIXCIIKS — rEI'C.KA.

217

Eastern species luider the name of Hdospim, thongh this species does not
seem, wliile with us, to freq^iient marshes lilve the other and typical species.

Dr. Kennerly foinid tlieni in winter in New Mexico, and some probably
winter in California, tliougli I saw none in tlie Colorado Valley. I have not
seen nor heard of tliem during summer in this State, and they seem to go
very far nortli to lireed, as Audubon found them in Labrador. Tliere they
had much the habits of j\[. mclodia, and a similar song. The young were
fledged l)y tlie 4th of July, and tlio nest and eggs are still undescril)ed.

Genus PEUCSA, .Vudubon.

Peticcn, AuDunON, Synopsis, 18.39. (Type, Frim/illa a-ftii;a!!s.)

Gen. Ch.\r. Bill moderate. Upper outline and enniniissin-e decidedly curved ; gonys
nearly straight. Legs and feet small ; the tarsus about ecjual to the middle toe ; the lat-

^^^^^^\r

P. CBStivalis.

eral toes etiual, their claws fallin^r considerably short of the middle one ; the hind toe
reaching about to the mitldle of the latter. The outstretched feet reach only to the mid-

P. CBStivalis.

28

218

SIXGIXG BIRDS— OSCIXES.

ille of the tail. The •vving is very short, reaching only to the hase of the tail ; the longest
tertials do not exceed the secondaries, while both are not much short of the primaries ;
the outer three or four ([uills are graduated. The tail is considerably longer than the
wings ; it is much graduated laterally ; the feathers, though long, are peculiarly narrow,
linear, and elliptieally rolmded at. the ends.

Color beneath jilain whitish or brownish, with a more or less distinct dusky line each
side of the chin. Above witli bmad obsolete brown streaks or blotches. Crown uniform,
or the feathers edged with lighter. Iiuiei- tail feathers with obsolete transverse dusky bars.

A siiecies visits tlie Soutlieasteni States, and aiiotlier occurs from Texas
to Arizona.

Peucsea iiificeps, C'assin.

THE KED-CAPPED FINCH.

AmmoHinmiis rujiceps, C.^ssix, Tr. A. N. Sc. "\'I. Oct. 1852, ISi (California). In. Illust. I.
V. 18.54, 13.5; pi. xx. — IliiERMAXx, P. R. Kcii. X. vi. 49. — PcHCfra rujiceps, Baird, P-
R. Ecp. IX. Birds, 486.

Sp. Cii.\n. Above brownish-ash. The crown and nape uniibrni brownish-chestnut.
The interscapular region and neck with the feathers of this color, except around the mar-
gins. A superciliary ashy stripe, whiter at the base of the bill. Beneath, pale yellowish-
brown, or brownish-yellow, darker and more ashy across the breast and on the sides of

the body ; middle of belly and chin lighter ; the latter with a well-marked line of black on
each side. Under tail coverts more rufous. Length, G.2.5 ; extent, 7.50 ; wing, 2.25 ; tail,
2.85. Iris brown ; bill horn-brown, bluish below ; feet whitish.

Hah. Coast of California to Sierra Nevada; Catalina Island; San Francisco, rare ;
Cosumncs Kiver ; south to ]\Iexico.

I have only met with tliis species on (.'atahna Island in June, a few
keeping about the low huslies, feeding on the ground, and ^-ery difficult
even to get a sight of. I heard them sing a few musical notes that remind-
ed me of those of the Cijanosinza. Tliey flew short distances only, and in
habits seemed more like the Mdnspiza. Their favorite resort, like that of
the Eastern species, may, perhaps, be pine woods.

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — PASSEKELLlXJi:. £19

Peucaea Cassinii, Woodhouse.

CASSIN'S FINCH.

Zonolrkhia Cassinii, Woodiiouse, Pr. A. N. Sc. VI. April, 1852, GO. — Passcrcuhis Cassinii,
WooDiiousE, Sitgreaves's Report, 85. — Peuca:a Cassinii, Bxird, Birds N. Amer. 1858,
485.

Sr. Char. Above light cbc-stnut, all the feathers margined and tipped with blnish-
gray. Intersca|)ular and crown feathers with a narrow streak of brown. Beneath white,
liuged with ash across the breast, and with brown towards the tail. An obsolete hght

snpcrciliary stripe, and a naiTOw dnsky maxillary one. Tail featliers obsolelely blotched
with blnisli-white at the end. Bend of wing yellow ; lesser coverts tinged with greenish-
yellow. Length, 6.00; wing, 2.65; tail, 2.75.

Ilab. Southern Texas, and west to the' tJulf of California.

This specie.?, a close relation to the Eastern P. a-stiralis, though of
paler colors, and longer wings and tail, is but little known, only a few speci-
mens having been obtained, and nothing recorded of its habits.

Sub-Family PASSERELLIN/E.

C'liAR. Toes and claws very stout ; the lateral claws reaching beyond
the middle of the middle one ; all very slightly curved. Bill conical, the
outlines straight ; both mandibles equal ; wings long, longer than the even
tail, reaching nearly to the middle of its exposed portion. Hind claw longer
than its digit, which is nearly as long as the middle toe ; tarsus longer than
the middle toe. Brown abo\"e, either uniformly so, or faintly streidved ;
triangular spots below.

Professor Baird has formed this sub-family to embrace the single genus

220

SINGl\(i lilKDS— OSUINICS.

Pasacrclla, believing that it dilfers essentially from all those included in
the other sub-families, in the length of its lateral toes and the size of ils
claws, which characters are somewhat allied lo those of Pipllo and A'anlho-
CLj)hulm.

Genus PASSERELLA, Swainson.

Passcrella, SwAiNSON, Class. Birds, II. 1837, aSS. (Tviic, FrimjiHa iliaia, Mehrem.)

Gkx. CiiAit Boilv .stout. Bill conical, not notched, the outlines ftraij,'lit ; flic two
jaws of cciual dcjitli ; roofofinidcr mandible dcc])ly excavated, and vaulted ; not knobbed.
Tarsus scarcely longer than the nuddlc toe ; outer Icjc little lon;^er than the inner, its

claw reaching to the niiildle of the central one. Hind toe about ecjual to the inner lat-
eral; the claws all long, anil nioderately cnrve<l only; the posterior rather longer than
the middle, and ec^iud to its toe. AVings long, pointed, reaching to the middle of the tail ;

FKINGIJ.LID.K — THE FIXCIIES — PASSERELLA. 221

the tcrti.-ils not longer than the seoonrlai-ios ; second and third tiuills longest; first eijual to
the filth. Tail verv nearly even, scarcely longer than the wing. Inner claw contained
scarcely one am! a half times in its toe proper.

Culor. Kutbus or slat}- ; obsoletely streaked or uniform above ; thickly spotted with
triangular blotches beneath.

Passerella Townsendii, Audubon.

TOWNSEND'S SPAKKOW.

FringillaToivnsemlii.AvuVBOy, Orn. Biog. V. 1839,236 ; pi. 424, f. 7. —In. Birds Amur. III.

1841, 43; pi. 187. — Fmyilla [Passtrella) Townsendii, Nuttall, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840,

533. — Passerella 7'ouvisem///, Box.iparte, Consp. 1850,477. — Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX.

Birds, 489. — IIeermann, X. vi. 47. — Coopicu ami Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W.

T. 204.
FrinijiUa meruloides, ViGOES, Zool. Blossom (Monterey), 1839, 19.
Emherim Vnalaschmsis, GiiELiN, I. 875, probably has some relalion to the present species.

It is based on the Aonalaska Bunting, of Pennant, Arctic Zool. II. 3G4.

Sp. Cn.\R. Above, very dark olive-brown, with a tinge of i-iifuus, the color continuous
and uniibrni throughout, without any traces of blotches or spots ; the upper tail coverts
and outer edges of the wing and tail feathers rather lighter and brighter. The under
parts white, but thickly covered with ap[]i'o.\imating triangular blotches like the back,

sparsest on the middle of the body and on the throat ; the spots on the belly smaller.
Side almost continuously like the back ; tibiie and under tail coverts similar, the latter
edged with paler. Claws all very large and long ; the hinder longer than its toe. First
and si.xth quills about equal. Length about 7.25 ; extent, 10.00 ; wing about 3.00. Iris
and feet brown ; bill black, yellow at base below.

Hah. I'acific Coast of the United States as fitr south as Monterey.

This Lird is only a winter visitor in tlie lower countr}' near the Columliia,
but probably spends the summer in the Cascade Mountains, between April
and October. Speciiueus have been killed near San Francisco in winter.
While with us they are rather shy and silent birds, frequenting the woods
and thick bushes, where they are constantly scratching among the dead

222

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

p. Townseiidli.

leaves, gaining a scanty subsistence from seeds and insects. I have seen
eitlier tliis or the next species as far south as San Uiego in winter, and no-
ticed its arrival near San Francisco about October 20th.

Passerella megarhynchus, Baird.

THE LAEGE-BEAKED SPAKEOW.

PassenUa sdnstacm, B.iiiiD (in jiiirt), P. R. llcp. IX. Birds, 490. (Foi't Tcjon.)
Passerella meijurhijHchus, B.iiRD (same vol.), 925. Ib. Birds N. Aiucr. pi. I.kI.x. f. 4 (schis-
tacea, f. 3).

Sp. Char. Bill very thick ; the upper mandible much swollen at the base ; under
yellow. Above and on the sides uniform slate-gray ; the upper surface of wings, tail
feathers, and upper coverts dark brownish-rufous ; ear coverts streaked with white. Be-

P. vugarhynchus.

neath puva white, with hroad triangulai-, arrow-shaped, and well-defined spots of slate-
gray like the back everywhere, e.\ccpt along the middle of the belly ; not umnerous on the

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — TASSERELLA.

223

throat. A lioary spot at thf basu of the hill above the loral region. Length, G.SO ; wing,
3.08 ; tail, 3.40.

llab. Fort Tejon, California, anil northward in the Sierra Nevada.

P. schislacea.

I saw several of this species towards tlie sitmmits of the Sierra Nevada in
September, 18G3, but from tlie ditticulty of shooting them without destroy-

P. 7n^q;rtr/iifnchii!i.

ing the specimens, in the dense tliickets they frequented, I did not succeed
in preserving any. As far as I noticed, tlieir lial)its were similar to those of
tlie F. Toirnscndii, and they had no stmg at that season.

p. schistacea.

224

SINGING niRDS — OSflXES.

This species 1ms usually licen considered a variety nf P. schistacea, liut the
figures Ave give on the preceding page Avill sulticiently show the difference.
The true schistacea belongs to the Eocky ^Mountain region, and has a much
slenderer bill, as indicated in the figures.

Genus CALAMOSPIZA T'.ox.\rARTK.

Cnlumoapiza, BoNArARTE, List, 1838. (Tvpe, ynnr/Hla hlrolor, Townsend.)

Gf.x. Cu.\u. Bill ratlu'i- large, much swollen at the base ; the culmen Ijroad, gently
but (lecideiUy curved ; the gonys nearly straight ; the commissure much angulated near
the base, then shghtly sinuated ; lower mandible nearly as deep as the upper, the mar-

C. bicolor.

gins much inflected, and .shutting under the upper mandible. NostriLs small, strictly
basal. Rictus quite stiffly bristled. Legs large and stout. Tarsi a little longer than the
middle toe ; outer toe rather longer than the inner, and reaching to the concealed base of

FRIXIiir.MD.i: — TIIK riXCIIES — CAI.AMOSI'IZA.

225

tlu' niiiliUc claw; liiml tov rfacliiiiL;' to llu' 1)asc of the inidillc' c-law ; hind claw about as
long as its toe. Claws all strong, compressed, and considci-alilv curvod. ^Vings lon;j; and
pointed ; tlio first four nearly equal, and abruptly lonj;est ; the tertials nnich elongatc'd,
as long as the primaries. Tail a little shorter than the wings, slightly graduatcil, ijic leath-
ers riitluT narrow and obli(|\iely oval, rouniU'(l at the end.
Color. Black, with white on the wings. !•'( iiidle, varied.

This genus is \\c'll cliaracterized liy the large .swollen hill, w'nh its
cui'vetl culmeii ; the large strong feet and claw.s ; tlie long wings, a lit-
tle longer than the tail, and with the tertials as long as the prima-
ries, the first four quills etpal and aliniptly longest; the tail short and
graduated.

The only gn)up of North American Spizeliina', with the tertials equal to
the primaries in the closed wing, is PussurvhiH. This, however, has a dif-
ferently formed lull, weaker feet, the inner primaries longer and more
regularly graduated, the tail feathers more acute and shorter, and the plu-
maiie streaked brownish and white instead of black.

Calamospiza bicolor, Townsexh.

THE WHITE-SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD.

Frinriilla bicolor, Townsf.xi), ,J. A. N. Sc. I'liii. VII. 18;i7, 189. — l/alamospiza hirolor, Bona-
parte, List, 1838. — Bairi), Birds N. Amer. 49.3. — Cori/duliim bicolor, Audubon,
Birds Amer. III. 1841. 19.i; pi. -201.

Sp. Char. Male, entirely Ijlaek : a broad baud on the win;;-, with the outer eil^'cs of
the qnills and tail leathers, while.

/'ema/e, pale brown, streaked with darker aljove : beneath, white, spotted and streaked

rather sparsely with black on the l)rca.-t and >ides. 'Throat nearly iuunaculate. A ma.\-

Mnle.

illarv stripe of lilack, bordered above by white. Region arouTid the eye, a faint stripe
above it, and an obscure crescent back of the ear coverts, whitish. A broad fuhous white
29

226 STXoixr. r.inns — osciXES.

band across the ends of tlif <.'rcatcr wins; coverts. Tail feathers with a -n-hite spot at the
end of the inner web. Length about C.5U ; wing, 3.50 ; tail, 3.20 ; tarsus, 1.00 ; bill above,
O.CO.

Ilah High Central Plains to the Rocky Jlountains ; southwesterly to the Valley of
Mimbres and Sonora. Cape St. Lucas.

Fftnale.

Thi.s intercstincj species spends its time on the ground, associating in large
flocks, and, according to Nuttall, is one of the sweetest songsters of the
prairie. The nest is built among the grass, and the eggs are of a beautiful
Ijlue, sometimes witli a few red spots.

Suh-Family SPIZIX.E.

Cll.\.i!. Dill variable, always large, much arched, and with the culmen
considerably curved ; sometimes of enormous size, and with a great develop-
ment backwards of the lower jaw, which is always appreciably, sometimes
considerably, broader behind than the upper jaw at its base ; nostrils ex-
p)osed. Tail rather variable. Bill generally black or red. Wing shorter
than in the first gi'oup. Gape almost always much more strongly bristled.
Few of the .sjjecies sparrow-like or j/lain in appearance ; usually blue, red,
or black and white ; seldom (or never ?) streaked beneath.

This di\"ision embraces several large and gayly colored genera of sparrow-
like birds, besides those here described, including the splendid cardinal
birds of Lower California, Mexico, and the East. They are all frequenters
of low shrubbery and the ground, unlike the brightly colored tree-finches of
the first sub-family {Coccothraustinw), and, besides their differences in habits,
show a corresponding distinction in having short wings. Some, however,
especially Guiraca, are intermediate in these respects.

FRINGILLIDJi — THE FI^X^I1ES — GUIKACA.

227

Genus GUIRACA, Swainson.

GuiVaca, SwAixsON, Zool. Jour. HI. Nov, 1827,350. {Ty\>c, Loxia cccrulea,!,.)
Coccolonis, SwAiNSON, Class. Birds, II. 1837, 277. (Same tyijc.)

Gen. Ciiau. Bill very large, nearly as high as long ; the culmen curved, with a rather
sharp riilge ; the connnissure conspieuously angiilated just beluw the nostril, the jiosterior
leg ol' the angle nearly as lung as tlie anterior, both nearly straight. Lower jaw deeper

G. mdanocepj^ala.

than the upper, and e.xteuding mueli behind the forehead ; the width greater than the
length of the gonys, considerable wider than the uj>per jaw. A promment knolj in the
roof of the mouth. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe ; the outer too a little longer, reaeh-

C LiiiloL'iciana.

228 SDsGINf; I'.IRDS — OSCIXES.

ing not quite to the base of the iniildle claw ; liind toe rather lon^'er than to this base.
AVings long, reaching the niiildle of the tail ; (he i-ecoii<lanes and tortials nearly equal ;
the second quill longest ; the iirst less than the fourth. Tail very nearly even, shorter
than the wuigs.

Guiraca melanocephala, Swaixsox.

THE BLACK-HEADED GEOSBEAK.

Cuiram mchmocqikila, Swaixsox, Syn. Mcx. Birds, Pliilos. Mag. I. 1827, 438. — Baikd, P.
1{. Kep. IX. Birds, 49S. —Cooper and Slcki.ey, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 206. — /Vm-
(jilla mchinoi-ejihula, AuDUDON, Oni. Biog. IV. 18.38,519; pi. 373. — Cu-cdlmrus im-luno-
ciphiltis, AvDVUoy, Synop.sis, 1839, 133. — Ib. Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 214; pi. 206.—
llEliHMAXX, I'. K. I!e)i. X. vi. 51.

Sr. Cii.vi;. Ih-ad above ami on the siiles, with chin, back, wings, and tail, black. A
bruail median stri])e on the crown, a strijie behind the eye, a well-marked collar on the

hind neck all round, ed;:('S of interscapular feathers, rump, and under parts generally pale
brownish-orange, almost light cinnamon. Jliildle of belly, axillaries, and under wing
coverts, yellow. Belly just anterior to the anus, under tail coverts, a large blotch at the
end of the inner webs of first and second tail feathers, a band across the middle and
greater wing coverts, some spots on the ends of the tertiaries, the basal portions of all the
qnills, and the outer three pi'imaries near the tips, white.

Female, sinnlar, with less black ; wings and tail more olivaceous, thi^ latter uns|)otted ;
the black of the head anteriorly replaced by whiti.sh The imder wing coverts bright yel-
low. Length of m.ale, 8.00 ; extent, 12. .50 ; wing, 4.'25 ; tail, 3.50. Iris brown ; bill olive,
fleshv white at liase below ; feet slate-color.

llcil). High Central Plains from the Yellowstone to the Pacific. Table-lands of ^lexico.

This fine bird amves in tlie State near San Diego about April 12tli, and
is numerous during summer throughout the mountains both of the coast
and the Sierra Nevada, extending its migrations as far as Puget's Sound
at least. They are often kept in cages on account of their loud and sweet

FRINGILLID-E — THE FIXCIIKS — GUIKACA.

229

son" wliicli resembles that of tlie robin, Imt is londur and sliorter. In the
coast mountains in ^lay their music is deliglitful, the males vying with
each other from the tops of tlie trees, and making the hilLs fairly ring with
their melody.

A nest I found ]\Iay 12, at the eastern base of the Coast Eange, was
built on a low horizontal branch of an alder, consisting of a few sticks and
weeds, very loosely put together, and with a lining of roots and grass. The

Female.

eggs were only three, pale liluish-white, thickly spotted with Ijrown, densely
near large end ; size 0.9.5 X 0.70. According to Heerniann, they also build
in bushes.

They frequent the ground in search of food, but also live much in trees,
and feed sometimes on their buds. They are not very gregarious, merely
assembling in families in the autumn, and, unlike the evening gro.sbeak
{Heqicripliona), to which they have much external resemblance, do not fly
high, nor make any sound when flying.

This bird amved at Santa Cruz, in 1866, about April 12th, — the same
day they reached San Diego, three hundred and fifty miles farther south, in
1862 ; May 23d, I found a young one just fledged. Xo bird near the coast
equals this in loudness and sweetness of song, though it is surpassed by the
bow-bill thrush in variety.

Dr. Coues states that this bird is a summer A'isitor to Fort "Whipple (Pres-
cott), Arizona, where it is abundant, remaining until the latter part of
September. It then frequents the thick brush of ravines, etc., and the
Cottonwood copses of the creek bottom. Its ordinary note, according to the
Doctor, " resembles that of Gambel's partridge, but its song is superb, a
powerful but melodious succession of clear, rich, rolling notes, somewhat like
those of the Baltimore oriole."

230

SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXKS.

Guiraca caeiulea, Linnaeus.

THE BLUE GROSBEAK.

Loxia candiii, LiXN.EUS, Syst. Nat. I. 17G6, 3(iG. — Wilsu.v, Amer. Oru. III. 1811, 78 ; pi.
xxiv. f. 6. — Uuimca mriilca, Swaixso.n, Birds Mex. in I'liil. Ma;,'. I. 1827, 438. —
Newbeuuy, 1'. R. Rep. VI. iv. 88. — Baiuc, IX. Binls, 49'J. — Cucculorus citm'.eus,
Hw.viNSON, Birds, II. 1837, i77. — AiDUUox, Birds Aiirt. III. 1841, 2U4 ; \i\. -Mi. —
IIeer.m.inx, I'. R. Hq>. X. vi. 51.

Sp. C'n.\n. Brilliant bliiu ; darkur acnjss the middle.' of tliu back. Space; around the
base of the bill and lures, with tail ft-athers, blaek. Two Ijands un the wing across the

tips uf the primary and secondary coverts, with outer edges of tcrtiaries, reddish-brown.

Feathers on the posterior portion of the mider surfiu-e tipped narrowly with grayish-wdiite.

Female, yellowish-brown abu^•e, brownish-yellow beneath ; darkest across the breast,

and lightest on the throat. ^Ving coverts and tertials broadly edged witli brownish-

sF

yellow. A faint trace of blue on the crown. Length of male, 1J>Q\ extent, 11.00; wing,
3.7.'i ; tail, '2.8". Iris brown ; bill blaek, white below ; feet black.

Hall. More southern United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, south to Mexico.

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — GUIRACA.

231

Everywhere a shy and solitary bird, this brilliant songster is rarely seen,
although probalily scattered throughout California in the warmer months.
I noticed the first one at Fort ]\Iojave, ^May Gth, and afterwards saw many
more frequenting the trees and buslies along the river, and singing a lively
song, resembling tliat of the Carpodavus frontalis. I have also seen them at
Los Angeles and at Santa Barbara, and they were found at Pit Eiver, in the

G. cffrulea.

extreme northeast corner of the State, by Dr. Newberry. Their nest, as
seen in the Eastern States, is made in a low bush, and composed of fine
dry grass, lined with delicate root-hbres or horsehair. The eggs are about
four (bluish-white), and they raise two broods in the season. (Nuttall.)

They frequent the banks of streams crossing the great interior jilains and
deserts, where there is little vegetation, except a few bushes, and where such
brilliant birds seem quite out of place.

232

SlXGtXG lUllDS — OSCIA'ES.

Genus CYANOSPIZA, B.unn.

Ci/anospi:a,JiMRi>. (Tyiic, Tanwjra ojnnca , Ij.)

Gen. CnAU. Bill (k^op at tho base, compressed ; the upper nutlini' considerably
curved ; the commissure rather concave, with an obtuse, shallow lobe in the middle.
Gonys slightly curved. Feet moderate ; tarsus about equal to middle toe ; the outer lat-

C amdita.

cral toe barely longer than the inner, its claw falling short of the base of the middle ;
hind toe about equal to the middle without claw. Claws all much curved, acute. Wings
long and pointed, reaching nearly to the middle of the tail ; the second and third quills
longest. Tail appreciably shorter than the wings ; rather narrow, very nearly even.

C. cynnfa.

The species of this genus are all of very small size, and of showy plumage, usually blue,
red, or green, in well-defined areas.

FRLNGILLID.E — THE FINCIIKS — CYAXOSPIZA. 233

Cyanospiza amoena, Say.

THE BLUE LINNET.

Emheriza amirnn, Sat, Long's Expcd. II. \8->n, 47. — FrimjiUn (Spiza) amann, BoN.\r.\KTE,
Am. Orn. I. 1823, fil ; pi. vi. f. 5. — FniKjilla amana, Auduuon, Oni. Biog. V. 1839
64, 230 ; pl.s. 398 and 429. — Ndttall, Man. I. 2d ed. .546. — Spha amrrna, Bona-
parte, List, 1838. — Audubon, Synopsis, 1839, 109. In. Birds Amcr. III. 1841, 100;
pi. 171. — Heermann, p. R. Ruj). X. vi. 46. — Cijamspiza amana, Baird, P. R. Rep.
IX. Birds, 504. — Cooper and Sdcki.ev, XII. iii. ZudI. of W. T. 20.").

Sr. Cii.\n. Male. Upper parts generally, with the head and neck all round, nreenish-
bliie ; the interscapular region darker. Upper part of breast pale brownish-chestnut,
separated from the blue of the throat by a faint white crescent ; rest of under parts white.
A white patch on the middle wing coverts, and an obscurely indicated wliitc band across

Female.

the ends of the greater coverts. Loral region black. Length alinut .5.50 ; wing, 3.00 ;
tail, 2.60. Iris brown ; bill black, bluish Ijclow ; feet black.

Female. Brown above ; whitish beneath, with a trace of a buff jiectoral band.

Hah. High Central Plains to the Pacific.

This is an alnuidaut species throughout California, and north to Pnget's
Sound in summer, arriving at San Diego ahout April 22d, and remaining
until October. One which I saw kept in a cage during winter retained its
blue plumage, iinlike the wild birds which are believed to change to the
plain hues of the female in autunni. It is frequently kept in cages,
and dealers, noticing its similarity of haljits and song to the Eastern in-
digo-bird (6'. cyanca), have absurdly given it tliat name, though it lias not a
particle of indigo in its colors. Perhaps they tliinlc it merely a faded and
degenerate variety of that bird, just as Piuffonian naturalists considered all
American animals degenerate forms of those of Europe. Unfortunately, its
name of lazuli finch is scarcely better iinderstood than tliat of mncena, the
30

234 SINGIXO BIRDS— OSCINES.

celebrated lazuli Viluc stone of Italy being known to few except foreij;n
travellers.

During tlie summer there is scarcely a thicket or gro\'e in tlie niore open
portions of the State, uninhabited by one or more pairs of tliis beautiful
species. Tire male is not very timid, and frequently sings liis lively notes
from the top of some bush or tree, continuing musical throughout summer,
and in all weathers. The song is unvaried, and rather monotonous, closely
resembling that of the Eastern C. cijnnca.

Their nest is built in a busli not more tlian three or four feet aViove the
ground, formed of fibrous roots, strips of bark and grass, with a lining of
plant-dowu or hairs, and securely bound to the surrounding Ijranches. The
eggs are four or five, white, faintly tinged with blue. At Santa Barbara I
found them freshly laid on May 6th.

These birds are never very gregarious, though the males arrive in the
spring in considerable flocks, travelling at night, and several days before the
females. Tlie latter are at all times very shy, and so plain in plumage that
they are very dillicult to obtain, unless on the nest.

They arri\-ed at Santa Cruz in 1866, about April 12th, ten days earlier
than observed at San Diego in 1862. A nest found May 7th, in a low bush
close to the public I'oad, and aljout three feet from the ground, M'as built
very strongly, supported by a triple fork of the branch, composed of grass
blades firmly interwoven, the inside lined with much horsehair and cobwebs.
The outside measured three inches in heiglit, three and three fourths in
width ; inside it was two wide, one and three fourths deep. The three eggs,
partly hatched, were j)ale bluish-white, and measured 0.75 X 0.56 inch.

Cyanospiza versicolor, Ijonaparte.

THE WESTERN NONPAREIL.

Spi^ versicolor, Bon-.^tarte, Pr. Z. S. IS."!", 120. — Cab.\n'is, Mus. Hcin. 1851, 14S. — Cij-
anoapiza i-rrsicolor, Baiiii>, Birds N. Amcr. 50.3.

Sr. CiL-iR. ]\fa!c. Postuvior half of hood, with throat, (hirk brownisli-ri'il ; iiitcr-
scapiihrr rej;ion .similar, but ihxrker. Fore part of hooil, lesser wing t-ovt'rts, l)ac'k of nock,
and rnnip, purplish-ljhie ; the latter ]iurost blue ; the belly reddish-purple, in places tinged
with lihie, more obscure posteriorly. Feathers of wing and tail dark brown, edged with
dull bluish. Loral region and narrow frontal line, black. Length, 5 50 ; wing, 2.75 ; tail,
2.38.

Fcmcde. Similar to that of C. amoena, but distinguished by the ab.scnce of the two
white bands on wings, and by the legs being black instead of dark bro^^•n. Tlie bill is
ap])arently more curved, and the legs stouter.

Ilah. Northern Mexico, Sonera, and probably Southern Arizona. Cape St. Lucas.

FRIXGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — PYRRHULOXIA.

235

Male.

This beaiitil'ul bird is not rare at Cape St. Lucas, where it breeds ; the nest
and eggs, and the habits of the bii'd itself, likewise, are probably much lilce
those of C. aiiuxna.

Genus PYRRHULOXIA, Bonaparte.

Pi/nliuluxia, Bonaparte, Consp. 1830, SOU. {Typo, Cardimilis sinuatus, Bonaparte.)

Gen. Char. Thu bill is very short and imicli curved, the eiihnen Ibniung an are of a
circle of sixty decrees or more, and entlin"; at a ri"ht antjle with the straiirht ":onvs ; the
connnissure abruptly much angulated anterior to the nostrils in its middle point ; the
lower jaw very much wider than the upper, and wider than the gonys is long; anterior

p. sinitata.

portion of commissure straitdit. Tarsus longer than middle toe ; outer lateral toes longer,
not reaching the base of the midiUe ; wing considerably rounded, first quill longer than
secondaries. Tail much longer than the wing, graduated ; the feathers broad, truncate.
Head crested.

Color, gray, with red feathers and patches.

236

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Tlie essential cliaracter of this genus lies in the greatly curved, very sliort,
and liroad hill, soiuetliing like tliat of PyiThula. In otlier respects like Car-
diiialis, Ijut with less graduated wing and longer and hroader tail.

Pyrrhuloxia sinuata, Bonaparte.

THE TEXAS CARDINAL.

Canlinalis siiiiiiiliis, Bonaparte, Pr. Z. S. Lond. V. 1837, 111. — L.vwrence, Ann. N. Y.
Lye. 18.")1, 116. — Cassin, 111. Texas Birds, I. 204; pi. 33.— Pi/nliiiloxia sinuata,
BoNAPAKTE, Consp. 1850, 500. — Baird, Birds N. Aracr. 1858, 508.

Si'. Cii.\i;. Iluail ivith an c-longatcd, pointed crest, startinii; IVum the erown. Upper
]iarts generally pale asli\'-bruwn ; liuod, sides of ueek, and under parts of body rather

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — PYRRHULOXIA. 237

paler. Long crest feathers, bill all round, including lores and encircling the eye, wing
and tail, dark crimson. Chin and upper part of throat, breast, and median line of the
belly, under tail covers, tibi*, edge and inner coverts of the wings, bright carmine red.
Bill yellowish.

Female similar, with the under part brownish-yellow; middle of belly and throat only
tinged with red. Length about 8.50 ; wing, 3.75 ; tail, 4.50.

Hub. Valley of the Rio Grande of Texas. Southern Arizona and Cape St. Lucas.

TliLs beautiful bird is said to have much of tlie habits of the common
cardinal of the Eastern States, and the nest and eggs are scarcely distin-
guishable. It appears to be very common along the Lower Eio Grande, but
was observed by Dr. Heermann only once or twice westward of that river,
though common in Mexico and at Cape St. Lucas. L)r. Coues does not
mention in his " Prodromus " the authority for its occurrence at Fort Yuma,
where none of the government collectors seem to have found it, but strag-
glers might reach there Ijy way of the Gila Itiver, deserts intervening be-
tween the fort and the wooded portions of the peninsula toward the south-
west.

Captain J. 1'. jMcCown (in Cassin's Illustrations) mentions it as a gay,
sprightly bird, frequenting damp bushy woods, generally in small flocks ; its
voice resembling that of the Virginian cardinal, which utters a loud, clear
whistled note repeated several times, and varied on different occasions.
Our Canada jay has at times a similar whistle. It is said to be itsually very
shy, as are the males of all these brilliant songsters. The nest and eggs are
yet undescribed.

There does not seem to be more difference between this bird and Cardi-
iialis than between Carpoclacm frontalis and C. imrpurcus, etc., which are
considered of the same genus.

C. Virginianus.

238

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Genus CARDINALIS, Bonaparte.

CardliiuUs, BoNAPAnxE, Saygio, 1S31. (Tyjie, Lvxin Cuidiuatis, LiNXiEUS.)

Gen. CiiAi:. Bill enormously large ; culraen very slightly ourved, ooniinissure siiuiatuil :
lower jaw Ijroader than the length of the gonys, considerably wider than the iijiper jaw,
about as deep as the latter. Tarsi longer than middle toe ; outer toe rather the longer,
reaching a little beyond (he base of the middle one; hind toe not so long. Wings moder-

C. Virginianus.

ate, reaching over the basal third of the exposed part of the tail. Foor- outer quills
graduated ; the first equ.al to the secondaries. Tail long, decidedly longer than the wings,
considerably graduated ; feathers broad, truncated a little oblicjuely at the end, the cor-
ners rounded. Colors red. Head crested. (Figure on preceding page.)

Tlie e.ssential charactere of tlii.s gentis are tlie crested head ; very large
and thick bill e.xtendiiig; far back on the forehead, and only moderately
curved aliove ; tar.su.s longer tlian middle toe ; much graduated wings, the
tir.st primary equal to the secondary quills ; the long tail exceeding the
wings, broad and much graduated at the end.

Cardinalis igneus, Baird.

THE CAPE CAKDINAL.
Cardinalis iijiieus, Baird, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Pliila. IS.'iO, .305. —Elliot, 111. I. plalc 16.

Sp. Char. Body bright vcrmilion-red ; darker on the back, rum]), and tail. Chin
and ujiper part of the throat black ; Uiis color extending along the base of the bill to the

FEINGILLID.^ — THE FINCHES — PIPH.O.

239

nostrils, but not to the forelu'ail. Piill i-imI. Length about 8.50 ; wing, 3.75; tail, 4.50.
Female duller in color.

Ilah. Cape St. Lucas and Southern Arizona.

C. ignnn.

This species, discovered at Cape St. Lucas by Mr. J. Xanttts, is very sim-
ilar to C. Vivf/iniaiius, the well-known cardinal grosbeak or red-bird of the
Eastern United States. It diflers, however, in a more swollen bill, and in

C\ Virgin inmifi.

the black of the head not extending ali)ng the forehead Tjetween the eyes, as
shown l)y the above figures. Tlie haliits are prol,>ably nuich the same as in
C. Virginiaiuts ; the nest and eggs are very similar. This species is in-
cluded in a collection made by Dr. Palmer at Camp Grant, east of Tucson,
in Arizona.

Gents PIPILO, YiEii.r.oT.

Pipilo, ViEiLLOT, Analyse, 1815 (Aj^assiz). (Type, Fiiiii/illa en/tJirnphlluilma, Linn^us.)
Kieneria, Bonaparte, Coraptes Rcndus, XL. 1855, 356. In part.

Gi:x. Cil.\u. P)ill rather stout; the cuhncn gently curved, the gouys nearly straight ;
the commissure gently concave, with a decided notch near the cud ; the lower jaw not so

240

SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXES.

deep as the upper ; not as wide as the gonvs is lon^ : l)ut wider than the hase of the u])per
mandible. Feet large;, the tarsus as long as or a little longer than the middle toe ; the
outer lateral toe a little the longer, and reaching a little beyond the base, of tlic middle
claw. The hind claw about ecjual to its toe ; the two together about ecjual to the outer
toe. Claws all stout, compressed, and moderately curved. Wings reaching about to the
end of the upper tail coverts ; short and rounded, though the primaries are considerably

P. trylhrojiltl/inlmus.

longer than the nearly equal secondaries and tertials ; the outer four quills are gi-aduateil ;
the first considerably shorter than the second, and about as long as the secondaries. Tail
considerably longer than the wings ; moderately graduated externally ; the feathers rather
broad ; most rounded off on the inner webs at the end.

The colors vary ; the upjjer parts are generally luiifonn black or brown ; the un<ler white
or brown ; no central streaks on the il'athers. The hood sometimes ditl'erently colored.

P. erythrophthahnits.

FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — PIPILO. 241

Pipilo Oregonus, Bell.

THE OREGON GEOTJND-EOBIN.

Pipi/n Oreijnnus, Bell, Ann. N. Y. Lye. V. IS.ia, C (Oregon). — Newberry, P. R. Rep. VI.

iv. 89. — B.viRD, V. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 51.5. — Cooper and Slckley, XII. iii. Zool.

of W. T. 206.
Frinijilla arcticn, Audcbok, Orn. Biog. V. 18.39,49; pi. .394. — Pipilo nrctica, Audubon,

Syn. 18.39, 12.3. Ib. Birds Amur. III. 1841, 164 ; pi. 194 (not of Swainson).

Sp. Char. Upper surface generally, with the head and neck all round to the upper
part of the breast, deep black ; the rest of the lower parts pure white, except the sides of
the body and under tail eovert.s, which are light chestnut brown ; the latter rather paler.
The outer webs of scapulars (usually edged narrowly with black), and of the superincum-
bent feathers of the back, with a rounded white spot at the entl of the outer webs of the

P. Oregonus.

greater ami niiildle coverts ; the outer edges of the innermost tertials, white ; no white at
the base of the primaries. Outer web of the first tail feather black, occasionally white on
the extreme edge ; the outer three with a white tip to the inner web.

Female, with the black replaced by brownish. Length, 8.25 ; extent, 10.2.5 ; wing, 3.40 ;
tail, 4.00. Iris red ; bill black ; feet brown.

Hah. Coast of Oregon and Washington Territories. Northern California ?

I have introduced the de.sciiption of tliis species liere, becau.se it doubtless
is found in the northern parts of the State, and the higher Sierra Nevada,
where I have seen birds which I supposed to be of this species. In habits
and notes I have never observed any diflerence between this and P. maja-
lonyx, both liaving the complaining " mew," from which they have obtained
the name of " cat-Viird " on this coast, though entirely different in ever'ything
else from the Eastern cat-liird. The head of this species is scarcely dis-
tinguishable from that of P. ■mcf/alon>/.r, to which we therefore refer for illus-
tration of it.

]Mr. J. K. Lord mentions finding a nest of this species (or perhaps P. arc-
31

242

SINGIX(! BIRDS— OSCIXES.

tims, if at Fort Colville) Ituilt " on top of a stiunp, ronud wliicli yoim"
slioots had grown like a fringe, completely hiding it from the sharpest
eye.'

It contained six eggs.

Pipilo megalonyx, Baird.

THE CALIFOKNIA GEOUND-EOBIN.

P. mrijnioiii/r, Baird, P. Ti. l!cp. IX. Binls, .iI5. — Kexxkrlv, X. iv. .30. — IIeermanx, X.
vi. .51. — Baird, Birds N. Anicr. jil. Ixxiii. (feet cntiivly too large). — Coues, Vt: A. N.
Sc. 1866, 89.

Sp. Cii.\I{. Differs from P. Oregonus in much greater amount of white on the wings
and scapulars, the spots oblong. Outer edge of outer web of external tail feathers white,
sometimes confluent with that at tij) of tail. Concealed white spots on feather of side of
neck. Claws enormously large, the hinder longer than its digit ; the hind toe and claw

reaching to the middle of the middle claw, which, with its toe, is as long as, or longer
than, the tarsus. Inner lateral claw reaching nearly to the middle of the middle claw.
Length, 8.00 ; extent, 10.50; wing, ;140 ; tail, 4.25 ; hind toe and daw, 0.90. Iris red ;
bill bhaek ; feet pale brown.

Ildlj. California, and across through the valleys of Gila ami Rio Grande, eastward.

This is a common and resident species in all tlie lower districts of Cali-
fornia, and a considerable distance itp in the mountains. It also inhabits
Catalina Island, tliongli it has such short wings tliat a flight of sixteen miles
to tlie main-land would be a rare event for this species. I also found a few
of tliem on San C'lemente Island, twenty-two miles from Catalina, but not
on the others. Thougli found in New Mexico, I liave seen none in the
barren district between the Coast Eange and the Colorado, nor in the ^'al-
ley of that river.

Their favorite residence is in thickets and oak ^ro^•es, wliere they live

FRIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — FIPILO.

243

mostly on the ground, scratching among the dead leaves in the concealment
of the undergrowth, and rarely venturing far from shelter. They never fly
more than a few yards at a time, and only a few feet above the ground.
About towns, if unmolested, they become more familiar, entering gardens
and making their homes about the houses. They have little musical power,
the males merely uttering a feeble, monotonous trill from the top of some low
bush. The nest is made on the ground under a thicket, constructed of dry
leaves, stalks, and grass mixed with fine roots. The eggs, four or fi\'e in
number, are greenish-white, minutely speckled with reddish-brown. They
measure 1.00 X 0.70.

'^^^len alarmed they have a note something like the " mew " of a cat, from
wliich they are popularly known by the name of cat-bird ; and I have been
asked why the cat-birds of this country differ so much in color from those
of the East. If observers would name from the color instead of the note,
tliey would be more correct iu comparing it with tlie Eastern " chewink,"
" towhee," or " ground-robin," — all one and the same bird, with various
local names {P. eri/throphthalmus).

p. eri/throphthatmus.

P. On^omts.

P. megalonyx

We give above figures to illustrate the difference in tlie size of the claws
of the feet of Pipilo crythrophthahnus, Oregonus, and mcgnlony.r. These
tliree species, with P. an'tlcus, form a series of which P. cri/tlirophtliahnus is
one extreme, with no white on the wing coverts, and medium-sized claws,
and P. vugalonyx, with its mucli spotted coverts and long claws, the other.
How far these are merely geographical varieties of one common species re-
mains yet to be decided ; here it is not necessary to settle the question, nor
the relationship of tliese to several closely allied species from Mexico.

244 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Pipilo Abertii, Baird.

ABERTS FINCH.

Pipilo Ahcrtii, Baikd, Stansbury's Rqi. Great Salt Lake, Zoology, June, 18S2, 325 (New
Mexico). Ib. p. R. Kcp. IX. Birds, 516. — Kennerlt, X. iv. 30; pi. 30. — IIeer-
MANN, X. V. 15. — CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1806, 90. — Kieneria Abertii, Bonaparte,
Comptes Rcndus, XL. 1855, 356.

Sp. Char. General color of upper p.irts pale brownish or yellowish-red ; beneath
brighter, especially on the under coverts, palest on the middle of the belly. Sides of

head anterior to eyes, and chin, dark brown. Bill yelluwish. Length, 9.25 ; e.Ktent, 11.75 ;
wing, 3.70 ; tail, 1.85. Iris chestnut; bill pale brown; feet dark brown.

Ilab. Base of Rocky Mountains in New Mexico ; Valleys of the Gila and Colorado.

This species is almost the exact counterpart in the Colorado Valley of
the F.fvscus, the only difference I noticed in habits heing a loud note of
alarm in this species unlike that of P. fiisais, Init remarkably similar to that
of two very distinct birds of the same valley, namely, Ccntv.rus uro^ruyialis
and Phamopcpla nitens. Like its congener, this species li\'es almost con-
stantly on the ground, but seems rather more gregarious, especially in
winter.

About April 1st I found many of their nests, generally built in thorny
shrubs. They were composed of a flooring of coarse twigs or of green herbs,
and strongly interwoven witli strips of bark, grass, and leaves ; one bird hav-
ing taken ad\-antage of the recent introduction of horses into the vallty to
obtain a lining of horsehair for its nest. The eggs were in all cases only
three, bluish-white, with broA\n spots and streaks in a ring near the large
end, quite variable in number, and measuring 1.00 X 0.70 inch. One nest
was in a low mesquite-tree, another in a dense cluster of dead twigs hang-
ing from a Cottonwood.

The time required for hatching was twelve or thirteen days, and in a fort-

FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES — PIPILO. 245

night more the young left the nest. I found nests with eggs as late as May
25th, and have no doubt that they raise two or more broods. The song of
the male, throughout April and May, is precisely like that of the P. fuscus,
and reminded me of the notes of P. Ortyonus, and of the Eastern black-
throated bunting {EusiJiza Americana).

Pipito Abertii.

According to Kennerly, they aljound along the Eastern branches of the
Colorado, but neither this nor any otlier species lias been seen between that
river and the coast slope, a linear distance of over one huudi'ed miles.

PipilO fuscus, SWAIXSON.
THE BROWN FINCH.

Pipilo fusca, SwAiNSON, Thilos. Mag. I. 1827, 4.34. In, Anim. in Mcnag. 18.38, 347. — Cas-
sis, Illiist. I. iv. IS.ia, 124 ; pi. xvii. — Newberky, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, V. R. R.
Rcj). VI. iv. 18.'J7, 89. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, .517. — IIeermann, X. vi. 51.
— Kiencria fusca, Bonaparte, Comptes Reudiis, XL. 1855, 3.^6.

FriiKjitta crissiilis, Vigors, Zool. Blossom, 18T39, 19.

Oiitunis ]Vran(jcl), BoxArAUTE, Comptes Reiidus, XLIII. 1856, 413.

Sp. Char. Abovt', dark olive-lirown, the crown with a \L'r_v sUglit tinge of scarcely
appreciahle dark rufous. Under parts with the color somewhat similar, but of a lighter
shade, and washed with grayish ; middle of the belly ashy-white ; the under tail coverts

pale rufous, shading into lighter about the neck and sides of lower belly ; chin and upper
part of throat well-defined pale rufous, margined all round by brown spots, a few of them

246 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

scattered within the margin. Eyelids and sides of head, anterior to the eye, ruibus, lilce
the throat. One or two featliers on the lower part of the breast with a conceale<l brown
blotch. Outer primary not edged with white. Length, 9.00; extent, 12.00; wing, 3.75;
tail, 5.00. Iris brown ; feet paler ; bill brown, fleshy below.
Hah. California, except the more eastern parts.

This is one of the most abundant and characteristic birds of California,
residing constantly in all the lower country west of the Sierra Nevada, and
uj) to the summits of the Coast IMountains, three thousand feet high, as
well as higli up the slopes of the Sierra, probably to the same elevation.
The name of Canon finch, given by most authors, seems ratlier inappropri-
ate, as it is found plentifully in level districts also, wherever there are trees
and shrubbery. There they have habits very similar to those of the other
species, frequenting the ground, and seeking their food among the dead
leaves, which they much resemble in color. Tliis resemblance serves them
as a protection from hawks, their hues corresponding as fidly with that of
the earth and dusty foliage, during most of the year, as the dark colors of
the preceding species do with tlie gloomy thickets which they inhabit.
Being less conspicuous in the light, they ventm-e more fearlessly forth and
feed in open grounds.

They have little power of song, merely uttering a few quaint chirping and
hurried notes, as they sit perched on a low bush in spring.

At San Diego I saw the first nest with eggs on April 17th ; but some laid
much earlier, as I found young hatched by the 20tli. I afterwards ob-
served many more, all built in bushes, from two to four feet from the ground,
and containing but three eggs, except one, which contained four. I ha\e
also seen them built in low trees, and in a vine growing over the porch of
a house. The nest is formed of coarse twigs, bark, and grass, thick and
large, and Lined with fine grass and root-fibres. Tlie eggs are pale blue,
spotted with purplish-brown blotches mostly small and scattered, measuring
0.90 X 0.65 inch.

As remarked by Heermann, the eggs much reseml:>le those of the redwings,
and are unlike those of other Plpilos ; I am inclined to think that they lay
four oftener in the more northern jiarts of their range than near San Diego.
I also belie\-e that they raise two broods, as their altundance would indicate
it. According to Newberry, they are common along streams throughout
the Sacramento Valley (probably to near lat. 41°). At Santa Cruz, in 186G,
I also found young of this species hatched as early as April 18th.

Professor Baird is strongly inclined to the opinion that the coast species
of California is not the true fusca of Swainson, in which case tlie name will
become P. crissalis, Vigors. A\1rether, as suggested, the true fusca be the P.
mcsolcuca remains yet to be decided by a critical examination of the various
closely allied North American and Mexican brown Piinlos.

FKINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES — PiriLO. 247

Pipilo mesoleucus, Baird.
THE CANON FINCH.

Pipilo mesoleucus, Baird, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. VII. 18r)4, 119. In. Birds Amcr. 1858, .'518 ; pi.
xxix. — Codes, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 90.

Sr. Char. Above, olivaceoii,s-brown, with a grayish tinge ; hood dull chestnut, con-
spicuously different from the back. Sides beyond the edge of the wing like the back, but
paler ; posteriorly, and about the vent and under tail coverts, pale brownish-red. The
ashy olive-brown of the sides scarcely meets across the breast, the lower portion of

which, with the upper belly, is rather pure white. The chin, throat, and upper part of
tlie breast pale yellowish-rufous, spotted on the sides and across the 'breast with brown;
an obscure spot in the middle of the breast ; edge of outer primary white. Length, 8.50 ;
wing, 3.80 ; tail, 4.70.

Ilab. Valley of Ujiper Rio Grande, and across to Gila River. East to Santa Caterina,
New Leon.

This species is similar in general appearance to the F. ft'sciis, but tlie
olive-brown and rufous are both of a lighter shade. The crown is of a de-
cided chestnut, conspicuously different from the back, instead of nearly the
same tint. The light reddish under the head is wider throughout, and ex-
tends down to the upper part of the breast, blending with the colors of the
breast and belly, instead of being narrower, more sharply defined, and re-
stricted to the chin and throat. The isolated larger spot on the breast is
more conspicuous ; the breast and belly are quite pure white, shaded witli
obsolete brownish blotches, instead of being uniform grayish-brown, with
only an approach to whitish in the very middle. The edges of the
wing and tail feathers are a good deal lighter, the outer web of the first
primary being sharply edged with pure white, instead of obscure grayish-
brown. The size generally is rather smaller.

248

SINGING BIKUS — OSCINES.

This species is very abundant in Southern Arizona, where its habits are
much like those of P. Ahcrtii. The eggs resemble those of P. fusca.

Pipilo albigula, Baird.
THE WHITE-THROATED TOWHEE.

ripito alhignh, Baikd, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. Pliil. 1859, 305. — Elliot, 111. B. N. A. ; (jl. iv.

Sp. Char. Similar to P. mcsohncus, with more white on the middle ot'lielly ; the eliin
and npjicr part of the throat with a border of dusky spots, which do not extend as far
down as in mesoleucus, and are much better defined below. Tlie space enclosed by this

border of spots is yellowish-brown on the chin as in mesoleucus, but below on the throat
and in front of the spots it becomes nearly, sometimes quite white, in decided contrast to
the color of tlie chin. Size that of mesoleucus.

This species is very closely related to P. mesoleucus, Init proV)ably distinct.
It was discovered by Mr. Xantus, at Cape St. Lucas, wlio, however, has
puljlished no account of its liabits.

Pipilo chlorura, Townsend.

THE GEEEN FINCH.

Friiigilla chlorura, ADDunON, Orn. Biojx. V. IS.'JO, 3.36 (young). — Zonotrichia clihriirii,
Gamuel, Jour. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2d Scries, I. 1847, 51 ; pi. ix. f. 1. — Enihernagra ctilorvni,
Bonaparte, Conspectus, 1850, 483. — Heehmann, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 46. — Pijillo
rhloninis, Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 519. — Heermann, X. v. 15. — Coues, Pr. A.
N. Sc. 1866, 90.

Frim/illa DIaiidinfiiann, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. April, 1843, 260. — Embernnrjra Blandin-
ijiann, Cassin, Illust. I. iii. 1853, 70 ; pi. xii.

Sp. C'liAR. Above, dull grayish olive-green. Crown uniform chestnut. Forehead with
superciliary stripe, and sides of the head and neck, the upper part of the breast and sides

FRTXGILLID.E — THE FIXCIIES — ril'lEO.

249

of the body, bhiish-ash. Chin and upjier part of throat, abrnptly defined white, tlie former
margined by dusky, above whii-li is a sliort white maxillary stripe. Under tail coverts
and sides of body behind brownish-yellow. Tail feathers generally and exterior of wings

bright olive-gi'cen, the edge and under surface of the latter bright yellow ; edge of first
primary white. Length, 7.50 ; extent, 9.75 ; wing, 3.75 ; tail, 3. Go. Iris and feet brown ;
bill lilaek, bluish below.

Hah. Valley of the Rio (irande and Gila. Rocky ^lotmtains, north to South Pass,
south to Mexico ; Sierra Nevada to lat. 40" ; south to San Diego in winter.

As the other species of Pipilo seem suited by color to inhabit tlie dark
thickets and dry leaves, this one is clad in a gay livery well adapted for
concealment in its summer resorts, and aLso among the growing vegetation
of the lower country during the rainy season.

.T foimd a few of them in winter in the Colorado Valley, and rather more
at San Diego, Ijut they left both places in ]\Iarcli. They were generally

very silent and shy, hiding very closely in the bushes, and feeding on the
ground altogether. I heard only one note, which was a kind of crowing
resembling that of the California quail.

32

250

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Tlie nest and eggs, as •svell as the complete biograpliy of tins pretty liird,
remain to be described. It Las many jjoints of difference from the true
P'qyilos, and will probably be yet separated from that genus, perliaps as
a Kieneria, as suggested by Bonaparte. To illustrate its characters we give
above figures of the bird and of its external anatoniv.

Family ALAUDID.^:, The Larks.

Char. First primary very short or wanting. Tarsus scutellate anteriorly
and posteriorly, with the plates nearly of corresponding position and num-
ber. Hind claw very long and nearly straight. Bill short, conical ; frontal
feathers extending along its sides ; the nostrils usually concealed by a tuft
of bristly feathers directed forwards. Tertials greatly elongated beyond
the secondaries.

E. coniuta.

ALAUDID.i: — THK LARKS — KREMOPHILA.

251

Genus EREMOPHILA, Boie.

Eremopliihi, Boie, Isis, 1828, 322. (Type, Aluiidu ulpeslris. Not sufficiently distinct from

Enmuphilus, Humboldt (Fishes), 1805.)
Phileremcs, Brehm, Dcutschl. Vijgel, 1831.
" 0/ocoris," BoNAP.iRTE, List, 1839. (Type, Alaiida aljicstris," Grxx.)

Gex. Char. First primary wanting; ; bill scari-ely hijilicr than broail ; nostrils circular,
concealed b)- a dense tuft of feathers ; the nasal Ibssoe oblique. A pectoral crescent and
cheek patches of black.

Eremopliila cornuta, \\'il.s()N.
THE HORNED LABK.

Alaiida cornuta, WiLSOx, Am. (hii. I. 1808, 85 (in text). — Eremophila cornuta, Boie, Isis,
1828,322. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 403 ; X. iii. 13, pi. xxxii. — Cooper and
SuCKLEV, XIL iii. Zool. of W. T. 195. — Coues, Pr. A. N. So. 1866, 79.

Alaudu alpeslris, Forster, Pliil. Trans. LXII. 1772, 383. — WiLSOx, Am. Orn. I. 1808, 85 ;
pi. V. f. 4. — Audubon', Birds Amer. IIL 1841, 44; pi. 151. — OtocorU alpcstris,'Ni:\Y-
BKRRY, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 88. — Heermann, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 45.

Phllercmos cornu/us, Bonai'ahte, List, 1838.

WESTERN AND SOUTHERN VARIETY.

Alaudu clm/soltema, Wagler, Isis, 1831, 350. — Bonaparte, Pr. Zuol. Soc. 1837, 111.

Alauda minor, Giraud, Sixteen Spec. Texas Birds, 1841.

Alauda rufa, Audubox, Birds Amer. VII. 1843, 353 ; pi. 497. — Olocoris rufa, IIeermaxn,

P. R. Rep. X. vi. 45.
Olocoris occidenlalis, M'Cai.1., Pr. A. N. S. Pliil. V. .luno, 1831, 218, Santc Fe. — Baird,

Stansbury's Report, 1852, 318.

Sp. Cii.vk. Above, pinkish-brown, the feathers of the back streaked with dusky. A
broad band across the crown, extending backwards along the lateral tufts : a crescentic

252 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

patch froLii the Ijill below the eye and along the side of the head ; a juirular crescent anil
the tail feathers, black. The innermost of the latter like the back. A frontal baml ex-
tending backwards over the c)-e, and under parts, with outer edge of wings and tail.

Adult.

white. Chin and throat yellow. Length of Pennsylvania specimens, 7.75; wing, 4.50 ;
tail, 3.25 ; bill above, 0.22.

Var. chrysnlmna, smaller and lighter colored. Length, 7.25; e.\tent, 12.75 : wing, 4.25.
Iris brown ; bill black, bluish below ; feet black.

Young.

Ilah. E-\-er}-whcre on the prairies and desert plains of North America. The Atlantic
States in winter.

According to Professor Baird, specimens from west of the Sierra Ne\ada
are as dark or darker colored than Eastern ones, wliile tlie difference in size
is not constant. The variety is confined to the more arid and hot plains of
the interior.

I found these birds in considerable flocks about Fort JMoja^'e, about tlie
end of February, but tiU of them seemed to liave left the valley by the end
of March. About May 29th I found numbers of them towards tlie sum-
mits of the Pro\'idence liange of mountains, west of the valley, and about

ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES. 253

four thousand feet above it, where I believe tliey had nests. Tliey were
also common on the cooler plains towards the ocean on July 1st, so that they
doubtless breed in many parts of tlie southern portion of California, as well
as up the coast to Puget's Sound, and throughout most of the Great Plains of
the interior. In May or June the males rise nearly perpendicidarly into
the air until almost out of sight, and fly about in an irregular circle, singing
a sweet and varied song for several minutes, when they descend again,
nearly to the spot they started from.

Tiie nest is made in a small depression of the ground, usually under a
tuft of grass or a bush, composed of grass, sometimes lined with hairs, and
the eggs are Iduish-white with darker spots nearly covering them ; their
number four or five.

In i'all they associate sometimes in very large flocks, frequenting the bare
plains or prairies, but not the sea-shore. Both the name of sky-lark (Ijc-

Iiinerfiue of tarsus^ and under surfact of foot.

longing properly to another species) and shore-lark are objectionable, and
horned lark, though not strictly correct, is the most ajipropriate, and as
applicable as that of horned owl.

Their food consists of the small seeds and insects they fiud among the
grass. Tiiey probably never alight on a tree or bush.

Family ICTEPJD^, The Orioles.

CiiAE. Primaries nine. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly ; plated behind. BiU
long, generally equal to the head or l(.inger, straight or gently curved, coni-
cal, without any notch, the commissure bending downward at an obtuse
angle at the base. Gonys generally more than half the culmen. Basal
joint of the middle toe free on the inner side ; united half-way on the outer.
Tail rather long, rounded. Legs stout.

Sub-Family AGEL.EIN.-E.

CliAK. Bill stout, conical, and acutely pointed, not longer than tlie head ;
the outlines nearly straight, the tip not decurved. Legs adapted for walk-

254

SIXGIXG BIRDS — OSCINKS.

ing, longer than the head. Claws not much curved. Tail moderate, shorter
than the wings, nearly e^■en.

Genus DOLICHONYX, Swainson.

DoUcliomjx, Swainson, ZooI. Jour. IV. 1837, .351. (Type, Embcnza orij:ii-ora, Lixn.eus.)

Gen. Char. Bill short, stout, conical, little more tlian half the head ; the coiniiiissure
slightly siiiuatefl ; the cuhnen nearly strai;;ht. JMiildle toe considerably longer than the
tarsus (which is about as long as the head) ; the inner lateral toe longest, but not reaching

D. oryzivfirus.

the base of the middle claw. Wings long, first quill longest. Tail feathers acurainatelv
pointed at the tip, with the shafts stiffened and rigid, as in the woodpeckers.

Tlie jiecuhar characteristic of this genus is found in the rigid scansorial
tail, and the very long middle toe, by means of which it is enaliled to grasp
the vertical stems of reeds or other slender plants. The color of tlio Iviiuwu
species is black, varied witli whitish patches on the upper parts.

D. ortjzivonts.

ICTERID.E ^ THE OIUOLES — DOLICIION YX. 255

In coloration this genus bears a close relation to Calamofjriza, although
the other difl'erences are A'ery decided. Both are black, with Mliite patches
on the wings. Dolichonyx has, in addition, a white patch on the rump, and
a yellowish one on the nape.

But one species is at present known to naturalists.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Linnaeus.
THE BOBOLINK; THE KICE-BIKD.

£mipnza or^j/rom, LiNN.EUS, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 311. — WiLSOX, II. ISIO, 48; pi. .\ii. —
jUolichoiii/x oiyzii-om, Sw.vixsox, Zool. Jour. III. 1827,3.51. — Audubon, Birds Amur.
IV. 1842, 10; pi. 211. — B.iiRD, Birds N. Amer. 1858, 522.

Icterus (Iff ripenm's, BoxAi'.vRTE, Obs. Wilson, 1824, 87.

Sp. C'ii.\r. General color of male in spring black ; the nape brownish cream-color ; a
patch on the side of the breast, the scapulars and rump white, shading into light ash on
the upper tail coverts ami on the back below the interscapular region. The outer prima-

Male.

ries .sharply margined with yellowish-white ; the tcrtials less abruptly ; the tail feathers
margined at the ti]5s with pale brownish-ash.

Fciiiah:, yellowish beneath ; two stripes on the top of the head, and the upper parts
throughout, except the back of the neck and rump, and including all the wing feathers
generally, dark brown, all edged with brownish-yellow, which becomes whiter near the
tips of the quills. The sides sparsely streaked with dark brown, and a similar stripe be-
hind the eye. There is a superciliary and a median band of yellow on the head
Length of male, 7.70 ; wing, 3.83 ; tail, 3 15.

Hub. Eastern United States to the high central [jlains, and westward to Ruby "S'alley,
Xevada. Reaches South America in its winter migrations. Galapagos.

The introduction of the bobolink into the present work rests upon its dis-
covery in Euby Valley, Nevada, by Mr. Eidgvvay, while attached to the Geo-

256

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

logical Exploration of the 4Utli rii,ralli;l, where it occurs in abundance in
the wheat-fields, and with habits similar to those so well known at the
East. As bobolink in the North and West, reed-bird in Pennsylvania, and
rice-bird in the Southern States, it is well-known to every one. It breeds

abundantly in meadows in tlie North and West, laying its eggs on the
ground. Collecting in large flocks, after the breeding-season, it soon passes
southward, and as a favorite article of food runs the gauntlet of gunners
from Pennsylvania to Florida and the Gulf (P>aird.)

Gexhs MOLOTHRUS, Swainson.

Molothnia. SwAINSON, F. Bur. Am. II. IS.Tl, 277. (Type, FiimjlUa pcrrms, Gmelin.)

GE>f. C'll.M!. Bill ^hort, stout, about two thirds the Icn<itli of hrad ; tlio commissure
straight, cuIiirh nml gonys slightly curved, convex, the former broad, rounded, convex,

M. J'froTIS

ICTERID.E — TtlE ORIOLES — IMOLOTIIRUS.

257

M. pecoris.

and running back on the head in a point. Lateral toes nearly equal, reachinf; the base of
the middle one, whieli is shorter than tarsus ; claws rather small. Tail nearly even ;
wings long, pointed, the first ijuill longest.

Molothrus pecoris, Cmelix.
THE cow BLACKBIRD; THE COW-BIKD.

Friiiffi/la pecoris, Gmelix, Syst. Nat. L 1788, 910 (female). — KmbcriM pecoris, Wilson, Am.
Orn. IL 1810, 14.5 ; pi. xviii. f. 1, 2, 3. — Molothnis pecoris, Swainsox, F. Bor. Am. II.
18.31, 277. — AuDUBOx, Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 16; pi. 212. — Baird, P. K. Rep. IX.
Birds, 524. — Heermann, X. vi. 52. — CoUES, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 90 (Arizona).

Sp. CuAK. Second quill longest ; (irst scarcely shorter. Tail nearly even, or very
slightly rounded. Mair, with the head, neck, and anterior half of the breast, light choco-
late brown, rather lighter above ; rest of body lustrous black, with a violet purple gloss
next to the brown, of steel blue on the back, and of green elsewhere.

33

258 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Female, light olivaceous-brown all over, lighter on the head and beneath. Length, S.fifi ;
extent, 13.60 ; wing, 4.40 ; tail, .3,40. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.

Hah. United States from the Atlantic to California ; not found immediately on the
coast of the Pacific.

I think that a few of thi.s .specie.? pas.s the winter in the Colorado 'S'allcy,
and, perhaps, also in the San Joaquin VaUey, Init I have not seen them at
any time in those nearer the coast. In the country east of the Sierra
Nevada they probably wander as far north as the Columbia Elver, as they
follow wagon-trains along the Platte in great flocks, and may be expected to
accompany them farther west.

The remarkable habit of this bird of laying its eggs in the nests of other
birds, instead of Iniilding for itself, relieves it from the usual necessity of pair-
ing in the spring, and it remains gregarious at all seasons, though generally

Female.

the flocks are not large, except in autumn. They seemed to be migrating
northward through the Colorado Valley early in April, and on the 19th of
that month I found an egg of this bird in a nest of the yellow-breasted chat
{Idcria), showing that some of them are raised in the lat. of 35°, as well as
northward.

According to Nuttall, the sexes are polygamous, not even pairing like
other small liirds for one year. In the East he found their eggs oftenest in
the nests of the Vino olivaceus, GcotUypis trichas, Spizclla socialis, Dcn-
drmca ccstiva, ruliopfila ccerulea, and other species corresponding to our
Vireo Huttoni, Sialia Mcxicana, Cyanospiza, amana, Mclospiza Hccrmanni,
Sayornis nigricam, and Turdus nanus, all of which may be supposed to act
as nurses for this foundling bird in California. Though all much smaller
than the cow-bird, and building in very diflerent situations, the foster-parents
usually take good care of the large egg found in their nest, especially if
laid after one of their own, ami frequently Ijegin to sit immediately, although

ICTERID^ — THE OKIOLKS — MOLOTHRUS. 259

their own number is not complete. The Virco even sometimes deserts the
nest if the egg of the cow-bird is taken. The Dcndneca, however, is not so
easily deceived, as it sometimes builds a new Hoor or entire nest over the
strange egg, burying it completely. Larger birds have been known to throw
the egg out, but small ones are unable to do this. The Idcria, whose own
egg is nearly as large, and quite differently colored, seemed, in the instance
I saw, a willing dupe, though probably quite able to eject the parasite.

The color of the cow-bird's egg is greenish-white, thickly sprinkled with
points and blotches of olive-brown, of two shades, most numerous near the
large end. Sometimes the egg is nearly pure white with very dark spots.
It is small for the size of the bird, obtuse, measuring about 0.71 X 0.56
inch, and is supposed to be hatched in about twelve days, developing sooner
tlian tlie smaller eggs, perhaps because it obtains more warmth by contact
with the Ijody of the bird. When the legitimate eggs are liatched, the
young are soon stifled by the larger and stronger foundling, which gets most
of the food brought by the old birds, and fills up the small nest in a few
days. The parents then carry off their own dead oflspring, and drop them at
a distance, while the foundling, receiving their whole attention, grows rapidly,
and after becoming firlly fledged deserts its deluded foster-parents for the
society of its own species.

Another Molothrus in South America has the same habits, and the cele-
brated cuckoo of Europe, with several of its relatives in the Old World, has
long been known for the same perversity, the chief difference being that the
young cuckoos throw out their foster-brothers while stiU alive. The reason
why they cannot or do not V)uild for theiuselves is one of the mysteries of
nature.

The name of cow-liird is derived from tlie partiality of tliis species for the
society of cattle and horses. In the districts they inhalnt they may almost
always lie fjund among herds of cattle, walking after them to pick up the
insects disturbed by their feet, and often alighting on their backs and heads.
They also associate with their relatives, the other blackbirds, especially in
fall and winter.

The males, especially in spring, utter a few guttural croaking notes, either
from the top of a tree, or occasionally on the ground, sounding as if they
tried to imitate the more musical red-wings. They are at all times watch-
ful and suspicious, and the female, when desirous of laying, shows much
artfulness in searching for a suitable nest through the thickets, watching
until the owner is absent, and then taking the opportunity to deposit her
egg. Two eggs have been found in one nest, but ISTuttall thinks that in
these cases one is always abortive.

^\niy they do not approacli the Pacific Coast is somewhat strange, as tliey
are common near that of the Atlantic. The prevailing sea breeze is the

260

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

only thing that may he supposed olijectionahle to them, and yet they do not
seem elsewhere A-ery tender birds.

Molothrus obscurus, Gmelin.
THE DWAEF COW-BIED.

Slurnus ohscimis, Gmelix, Svst. Nat. I. 17SS, 804. — Motothrus obscurm, Cassik, Pi-. A. N. Sc.
1866, IS.

Sp. CH.\ii. Similar to M. pecnris, but considerably snialk-r : the bill more slender ; the
tail proportionally longer. Length, C 50 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 2.75.

Hah. Cape St. Lucas, Southern Arizona, and Northwestern Mexico.

This bird is a dwarf representative, perhaps rare, of the cow-bird, and
can liardly be considered as distinct, though worthy of note at least as a
variety. The habits are doubtless the same as those of the true M. xKcoris.

A. phanicexts.

ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES — AGELAIUS.

261

Gexus AGELAIUS, Vieillot.

Af/elaius, Vieillot, Analyse, 181G. (Type, Orioliis pJucniceus, L.)

Gkx. CnAR. First quill shorter than sccoiwi ; claws short ; the outer lateral scarcely
reaching the base of the nii<ldlc. Culinen depressed at base, parting the frontal feathers ;
length ecjual to that of the head, shorter than tarsus. Both mandibles of equal thickness
and acute at tip, the edges much curved, the culmen, gonys, and coiuuiissui'e nearly

A. fhaniceus.

straight or slightly sinuated ; the length of bill about twice its height. Tail moderate,
rounded, or very slightly graduated. Wings pointed, reaching to end of lower tail coverts.
Colors black, with red shoulders in North American species.

Agelaius phceniceus, Lixn.eus.
THE SWAMP BLACKBIRD ; THE RED-WING BLACKBIRD.

Oriuhis phdvicms. LiXN.Tius, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 161. — Aijilaiiis jihrcnicnts, "Vieillot, An-
alyse, 1816." — Audubon, Birds Amcr. IV. 1842, .31; pi. 216. — Baiud, P. I{. Rc|).
IX. Birds, ^26. — Kenxerlt, X. iv. 30. — Cooi-er and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zoul. of \V.
T. 207. — CouES, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 90.

Stimtus pncdatorins, Wilson, Am. Orn. IV. 1811,30; pi. xx.x.

.Sp. Char. Tail much rounded ; the lateral feathers about half an inch shorter. Fourth
quill longest ; first about as long as the fifth. Bill large, stout ; half as high or more than
half as high as long.

Male. General color unitbrm lustrous velvet-black, with a greenish reflection. Shoul-

262

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

ders and lesser wing coverts of a bright crimson or vermilion-red.
ish-yellow, and usually paler towards the tips.

Middle coverts brown-

Femeile. Brown above ; the leathers streaked with rutbus-browu and yellowish ; be-
neath wliite, streaked with Iji-own. Fore part of throat, superciliary, and median stripe
strongly tinged with brownish-yellow. Length of male, 9.00 ; extent, 15.50 ; wing, 5.00 ;

Female.

tail, 4.15. Female, length, 8.25; extent, 12.00; wing, 4.00. Iris brown; bill and feet
black.

Hub. United States, ii-om the Atlantic to the Pacific.

According to Baird, many .specimens of red-wings from tliis coast are
undistinguisliable from the Atlantic bird. All those I collected and saw in
the Colorado Valley, and near San Diego, as well as along the coast at Santa
Barbara, and many at Sauta Cruz, retained the yellow edging of the lesser
wing coverts throughout spring, while north of the Columbia River we
found only tliis species. Whether the difference is specific or only an im-
perfectly developed state of the A. guhcnudor, has been t|uestioned, but

ICTERID.E — THE OllIOLES — AGELAIUS.

263

there are differences in tlie females which seem to indicate a constant dis-
tinctness. Those males which I obtained in spring have the lesser coverts
entirely yellow, thus agreeing with the most essential character of plumage,

distinguishing this from A. r/nhcrnafor, which has them tipped with hlack.
Eggs from Santa liai'bara, measure 1.00 X 0.73 iuch, and are bluish-white
with blackish streaks near the large end.

Agelaius gubernator, Wagler.

THE RED-SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD.

Psarocolhis gnhernntnr, Wagi.er, Isis, 1832, IV. 281. — Ar/e!uiiis ijiibcrimtor, BoxAPAiiTE, List,
18.38. — AuDUisos, Syn. 1839, 141. In. Birds Amcr. IV. 1842, 29; pi. 21,'). — New-
berry, P. R. Rop. VI. iv. 1857, 86. — Baird, P. R. Rcji. IX. Birds, .529. — Kennerly,
X. iv. 31. — Heermann, X. vi. 53.

Icterus {Xaiitlioniiis) gubernator, NuTTALL, Man. I. 2d c(l. 1840, 187.

Sp. CiiAit. Bill ratlicr shorter than the head, ivilliont aiiv loiifrittidinal sulci, but with
faint traces of transverse ones at the base of the lower jaw. Tail rounded. First cpill
nearly equal to the fourth.

Mate.

264 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Male. Throughout of a histrons velvety-lihick with a grcenigh reflection. The shoul-
ders and lesser coverts rich crimson ; the middle coverts brownish-yellow at the base, but
the exposed portion black.

Female. Dusky, varied with paler. Length of male, 9.00 ; extent, 15.50 ; wing, 5.25 ;
tail, 3.80. Female, length, 8.00; extent, 13.00; wing, 4 35. Iris brown; bill and feet
black.

Hah. Colorado Ri\er (?) throughout California to the Columbia.

I did not myself see any specimens of red-wings in the Colorado Valley
without the yellow edging of A. 2:)]iceniccus, and Professor Baird mentions
this species as douhtfnlly from there. According to my observations, this
species inhabits chiefly the warmer interior of the State, Santa Cruz being
the only point on the coast where I have seen them. I found them in scat-
tered pairs in jNIay throughout the Coast Eauge, even to the summits, where
there are small marshes full of rushes, in which they build. I have been
unable to detect any difference between the habits and notes of this and the
A. 2^1iLeniccus ; and from the fact that the specimens with entirely red
shoulders seem limited to the middle of the State, or are rare along the coast,
while most of those on the coast closely resemble the Eastern bird, I should
think it a mere local variety, though said to occur also in IMexico.

During summer this species has a variety of sweet and liquid notes, de-

Shouhter patdl.

livered from some tree near its favorite marsh, or when liovering over its
nest, sometimes mingled with jingling and creaking sounds, all seeming
adapted for tlie watery clioir of frogs and aquatic birds ^^■ith which they
there associate.

A nest from the summit of the Coast Eauge is formed of grass and
rushes, lined with finer grass. The eggs are pale greenish-white, with large
curving streaks and spots of dark brown, mostly at the large end. They
measure 1.00 X 0.75 inch.

From a comparison of three species of black Agclaius, belonging to West-
ern North America, it will be seen that the differences consist mainly in the
color of the middle coverts. Tliese are entirely black in giihcrnator, entirely
white in tricolor, and buff-yellow in iJioinicews.

ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES — AGELAIUS.

265

Agelaius tricolor, Nuttall.

THE KED AND WHITE-SHOULDEKED BLACKBIED.

Icterus tricolor, " Nl'ttall," AcDL-nox, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 1 ; pi. 388. — Ndttall, Man.
I. ad ed. 1840, 186. — Ai/eluiim tricolor, Box.ap.iute, List, 1838. — Audubon, Syn. 1839,
141. In. Biids Amcr. IV. 1842, 27; pi. 214. — Neweekry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 86.
— Baiud, p. R. Rup. IX. Birds, 530. — Heeemaxn, X. vi. 53.

Sp. Char. Tail nearly even. Second and third quills longest; first a little shorter
than the fourth. Bill slenderer, not half as high as long.

il/((/e. General color unitijrm lustrous velvet black, with a decided greenish reflection.

Male.

Shoulders and lesser wing coverts brownish-red, of much tin; color of venous l)lood ; the
median coverts of a well-defined and nearl}- pure white, with sometimes a brownish tinge.
Female. Dark brown, variegated with dark gi-ayish-ash. Xo median stripe on the

crown, nor any maxillary one, and scarcely a superciliary. Length, 9.50 ; extent, 15.25 ;
wing, 5.25; tail, 3.90. Female, length 7.75; extent, 13.00; wing, 4.25. Iris brown;
bill and feet black.

Hab. Colorado River ; throughout California. Oregon.
34

266

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

This seems to be a rare species in tlie Colorado Valley, though one has
been obtained there by Dr. Kennerly,, according to Baird. I found them
the most abundant species near San Diego and Los Angeles, and not rare at
Santa Barbara, but they seem north of tliat point to pass more into the in-
terior, extending up as far as Klamatli Lake and Southern Oregon.

I have always seen them in considerable flocks, even in the lireedin"
season; and according to lleerniann, they liuild in company, selecting shrub-

by places near the water, and often building four or iive nests in one liush.
He found one of these lireeding-places in the northern part of California,
covering several acres, being led to it by tlie flocks returning from the sur-
rounding country, over which they had scattered for several miles in search
of food. The nests were composed of mud and straw, lined with fine grasses,
and the eggs were light blue, marked with lines and spots of dark umber,
M'ith a few light purple dashes. The nest and eggs are thus more lilce those
of the Scolccojjhagns than of the other red-wings.

The song of this species is less loud and more guttural than that of the
others. Their haliits are other\\-ise very similar, and they associate in fall
and winter in immense iiocks in the interior, though often found separately
also.

X. icterocfphalus-

ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES — XANTIIOCEniALUS.

267

Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS, Bonaparte.

Xaid/ionplialus, Bonaparte, Conspectus, 185(1, 431. (Type, Idenis icterocephalus, Bona-
parte.)

Gk-V. Cii-Vi:. Bill conical, the length about twice the height; the outlines nearly
straight. Claws all very long ; much curved ; the iuner lateral the longest, reaching be-

yond the middle of the middle claw. Tail narrow, nearly even, the outer web scarcely
widening to the end. Wings long, much longer than the tail ; the first (juill longest.

Tliere i.s a .species in Soutli America so closely resembling ours that tliey
were at first cousidered identical.

Xanthocephalus icterocephalas, Bonaparte.

THE YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIED.

Icterns ictei-ocep/ialiis, Bonaparte, Am. Orn. I. 1825, 27 ; pi. iii.

Icterus xiiiit/iurr-jjiulus, AuDunoN, Orn. Biog. V. IS-ig, G; pi. .388. — Af/e!iiiii:i xunllinrqihiihis,

SwAiNSON, F. B. Ara. II. 1831, 281. — Audubon, Birds Amor. IV. 1842, 24 ; jil. 213.

— Newuerry, Zool. Cal. & Or. Route; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI. iv. 8C. — IIeekmann,

X. vi. 52. — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 91.
Xanthocephalus icttrocephuhis, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 531 ; X. iii. 13.

Sp. Cii.\r. First three quills nearly equal, the first longest and decidedly longer than
the thii'd. Tail rounded, or slightly graduated. General color black, including the inner

268

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

surflifC of wings and axillarios, base of lowor mandible all roinid, fuatliors adjacent to nos-
trils, lores, upper eyelids, and remaining space around the eye. The head and neek all
round, the fore part of the breast, extending some distance down on the median line, and

^

a somewhat hidden space round the anus, yellow. A eonspicuous white patcli at the base
of the wing formed by the spurious feathers, interrupted by the black alula.

Female. Smaller, browner; the yellow confined to tlie under parts and siiles of the
head, and a superciliary line. A dusky maxillary line. Xo white on the wing. Length

\^

of male, 10.7.'; ; extent, 1 l.nO ; wing. 5.7.5 ; tail, 4.50. Female, length, 10.00 ; extent, 1 7.00 ;
wing, 5.50. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.

ricih. Western America from Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Ked River, to
Oregon, and Calilbrnia ; south into Mexico. Greenlan<l. (Reinhardt.)

This large and liaiulsome Linl i.s luinierou.s in all the valley.s of the State,
especially where there are grassy meadow.s or niar.shes. They winter in
large nuniLers in tlie middle district.?, and some wander at that season to the

ICTERID.E — TIIK OKIOLES — XANTIIOCEPIIALUS.

2G9

Colorado Valley and San iJiego, tlioiigh I doubt if any pass the summer so
far south. They build, liowever, at Santa Barbara and northward, avoiding
the immediate coast, but swarming about Klamath Lake. (Newberry.)
Though abundant east of the Eocky IVIountaiiis uji to lat. 58°, I ^e^■er saw
them near the Columbia.

They associate in flocks with the other Ijlackbirds, but also keep in sej)-
arate bands, and fly with such regularity that their yellow heads often
show all at once as they wheel in their aerial evolutions. Sometimes also
the sexes fly in separate flocks before tlie pairing season. They are %'ery
gregarious even in spring and simimer, and seem to build in company. The
only song the male attempts consists of a few hoarse chuckling notes and
comical squeakings, uttered as if it was a great effort to make any noise at
all. Though some kept about the marsh at Santa Barbara, in which were
the nests of the red-wings, I could not find theirs. According to Heermann,
the nest is composed of dry reeds and grasses, attaclied to the upright
stalks of the reeds, and firmly fixed by jjieces twisted around them. The
eggs, four in number, were pale ashy-green, thickly covered and minutely
dotted with points and spots of light lamber brown. Xuttall describes the
eggs as nearly similar, Ijluish-white, covered all over with minute specks of
brownisli-purple, largest and most numerous at the greater end. He says,
however, that the nest found liy Townsend near the Platte Biver, on the
edge of a grassy marsh, was on the ground, under a tussock formed of fine
grasses and canopied over like that of the meadow-lark {Sturiulla). As
there are no reeds there, the bird may vary its mode of building to suit
circum .stances.

5. mtis.na.

270

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Genus STURNELLA, \'ieillot.

Stiinitlla, ViEiLLOT, Analyse, 1816. (TyiJO, Alumla mar/iui, L.)

Gex. CiiAi:. Builv thick, stout; legs large, toes readiing bt-yond tlie tail. Tail short,
even, with narrow acuminate feathers. Bill slender, elongated ; length about three times
the height ; commissure straight from the basal angle. Culnien flattened basally, extend-
ing backwards and parting the frontal feathers ; longer than the head, but shorter than

tarsus. Nostrils linear, covered by an incumbent membranous scale. Inner lateral toe
longer than the outer, but not reaching to basal joint of middle ; hind toe a little shorter
than the middle, which is equal to the tarsus. Hind claw nearly twice as long as the
middle. Feathers of head stifi'ened, and bristly ; the shafts of those above e.xtended into
black setae. Tertials nearly equal to the primaries. Feathers above all transversely
banded. Beneath, yellow, with a black pectoral crescent.

StunicUa muijiia, Liniueus (Swainson), tlie Ea.stem meadow-lark, differs
very slightly from otirs, chiefly in the yellow of throat beiin;' narrower (not
extending on .side of face), and the bars of tertials and tail feathers being
connected by a wide black stripe running along middle of feathers.

Sturnella neglecta, Audubon.

THE WESTEKN LAKK.

Stimulh nri/lrrlii, AriunioN, Bh-ds Amcr. VII. 184.3, .■).39 ; ]j1. 487. — XEwncRRV, Zool. Cal.
and Or. l^ontc ; Rep. P. It. R. Sm-v. VI. iv. 18.57, 86. — B.vikd, P. R. Reii. IX. Binls,
5,37. — Kknnkri.v, X. iv. 31. — Hehemann, X. vi. 54. — Cooper and Slcklev, XII.
iii. Zuol. of W. T. 208. — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 91.

Sp. Ciiau. Feathers above dark In-own, margined with brownish-white, with a ter-
niinal blotch of pale reddish-brown. Exposed portion of wings and tail with transverse

ICTERIU^E — THE ORIOLES — ICTERIN.E.

271

bands, which, in the hitter, are coniiih'tely isohited from oaeh other, narrow and linear.
Beneath, yellow, with a blaek pectoral crescent. The \ellow of the throat extending; on
the side of the maxilla. Siiles, erissnn, and tibia very pale reddish-brown, or nearly
white, streaked with Ijlackish. Head with a light median and snperciliary stripe, the lat-

Tail feather.

ter yellow in front of the eye ; a Ijlackish line behind it. Tlie transverse bars on the
feathers above (less so on the tail), with a tendency to become continent near the exterior
margin. Length 10.50; extent, 1G.50 ; wing, 5.00; tail, 3.25; bill, 1.25. Iris brown;
bill horn-brown, blnish below ; feet pale flesh-color.

Hah. Western America from the high central plains to the Pacific ; east to Pembina,
and perhaps to Wisconsin.

This liird is ^'ery aljuiidant, and re.sident throunliont nearly the entire
State, though prohably leaving the high mountains in winter. I tliink they
build in the Colorado Valley, as well as all other districts not quite water-
less, including all the islands except one or two.

In fact the vast grassy plains and hiUs of California are the most favor-
able nurseries of this species that could be imagined. Tlieir abundance and
large size force them on the attention of every one, while their lively, sweet,
and varied songs make them general favorites. They sing at all seasons,
early and late; from the ground, the tree-top, fence, or flying in the air, and
when unmolested become so tame as to make the liouse-top a favorite perch.
Tlieir time in spring seems eipially di\-ided Itetween an industrious search
for food and musical contests w'lih. tlieir neighbors. Even the female has
considerable musical power, and cheers her mate by singing while he re-
lieves her in sitting on the eggs. She then also has a harsh, petulant chirp,
freq^uently repeated as if in anger.

272

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Their fliglit is usually slow and laLorious, partly sailing, and they fxirnish
pretty good game i'or the sportsman when no other is to be found. Their
flesh, though rather dry and insipid, is white and much eaten, especially by
foreigners, who consider every bird, ho^ve^-er small, a great delicacy.

Their nest is made in a slight depression under a bunch of grass, and
usually more or less arched over by blades bent down. It is C[uite artfidly
concealed, and the female, if on it, generally skulks off some distance before
flying. The eggs are four or five, measuring 1.15 X 0.85 inch, very obtuse,
wliite, with a few large purplish-brown blotches and dots towards the large
end.

They feed chiefly on insects, grass-seeds, and grain, but do no damage in
the fields, while they destroy many noxious insects. They walk rather
awkwardly but cpiickly, and have great ingenuity in concealing themselves
when wounded.

Specimens have been shot near San Francisco and northward, whicli Pro-
fessor Baird could not distinguish from the Eastern bird. The difference in
notes, however, has always been observed, and is an important character.

Trupialis militaris, Linnceus (Bonaparte), a South American lark with a
red breast, has been said to occur in California, but if so, must be a rare
visitor, as I have never seen or heard of it liere myself.

Sub-Family ICTERINiE.

CiiAR. Bill slender, elongated, as long as the head, generally a little de-
curved, and very acute. Tarsi not longer than the middle toe, nor than the
head ; claws short, much curved ; outer lateral toe a little longer than the
inner, reaching a little beyond base of middle toe. Feet adapted for perch-
ing. Tail rounded or gTaduated. Prevailing colors yellow or orange, and
black.

ICTERID.E — THE ORIOr.ES — ICTERUS.

WO

Genus ICTERUS, Brisson.

Ictenia, Xanthornus, Pendulimis, of autliorSj in part.

Gex. Char. Same as those of the suli-tainily,
genus.

riven by Baird, belli;,' the

Icterus BuUockii, Swaissox.
THE WESTERN ORIOLE.

Xiintlmrints Diilla-bi, Swainsox, Svii. JIcx. Birds, Taylor's Pliib M.-ifr. I. 1827, 4.10.—
YphanIcK Dullwldi, IIeeioianm, P. R. Rep. X. vi. .52. — Icterus IJuHorlii, Bosavxkti;,
List, 18 18. — AuDURo.N, Oni. Biog. V. 18.39, 9 ; pi. 388 anil 4:!.'!. Ib. Birds Amer. IV.
1842, 4.3 ; pi. 218. — Newberry, Rep P. R. R. VI. iv. 18.57, 87. — Ili/iikinlrs Bulloch'/.
Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1867, 62. — Baird, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. .549. — Coopek ami
SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 209.

Psarocolius iinricollif, Maxini- Reisc Xorilam I. 1839, 307 (Fort Pierre, Nebraska).

Sp. C'ii.vii. Tail very slightly graduated. Upper part of the head and iieek, ba<'k,
wings, two central tail feathers, line from base of bill through the eyi' to the blaek f>f the
nape, and a line from the base of the bill, rnnning to a point on the throat, blaek. Under

Male.

35

274 STXGIXG BIPJ1S — OSCIXES.

parts gciici-all y, sides of head and neck, ibrelicad, and line over the eye, rest of tail feath-
ers, rump, and upper tail coverts, yellow oranjie. A broad Ijand on the wings, in\-olving
the greater and middle coverts, and the outer edges of the qiulls, white. Young male with

FeniaJe.

the black replaced by greenish-yellow, that on the throat, jiersistent ; female without this.
Length, 7.75; extent, 12.50 ; wing, 4. 2.5. Iris brcjwn ; bill black, lead-blue below; feet
lead-color.

Hah. High central plains to the Pacific, south into iMexico.

This beautiful aud musietil l)ird arrives in California from tlte South
about ]\Iarch 1st near 8an Diego ; wliile at Fort ^Ioja\'e, only one hunilred
and sixty mile.s farther north, I saw none the jn-evious year until Ajiril 1st.
They migrate north of lat. 49°, whieli they do not reach before tlie first of
June, and, remaining there about tliree months, again retire south of the
State in early autumn. They resort to the open roads, gardens, and or-
chards, claiming the protection of man alxiut tlie towns, and repaying him for
it by their sweet melody and usefulness in destroying insects. Their home
is in the trees, and they rarely descend to the ground, except to pick up
some bit of twine or other material for their nest. This is built near tlie
end of a Ijrancli, often o\'erhanging the road or house, and constructed of
fibrous grasses, horse-hairs, strings, rags, down of p>lants, wool, and fine bark.
Sometimes one or two materials alone are used, such as wliite Iiorse-liair
and cotton twine, wliich I have found in one instance. These are neatly
and closely interwoven in the form of a deep bag, suspended by tlie edges
from the forks of a liranch, near its end.

The eggs, from four to six, are bluish-wliite, witli scattered winding
streaks and liair lines of black and reddish-lirown near the large end,
measuring 0.98 X 0.60 inch. They lay on the first or second week of May,
in the southern half of California.

At Santa Cruz, irt 1866, I did not observe any of this species until
A]iril 3d, which, however, was as early as they arrived at Fort Mojave in
ISGl.

ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES — ICTERUS. 275

Icterus cucuUatus, Swainsox.

THE HOOBED ORIOLE.

Icterus cucuUalus, Swainson, Phil. Mag. I. 18i7, 4.36. — L.vwnESCE, Ann. N. Y. Lye. V. Hay,
1851, 116 (first intruduceil into fauna of United States). — C.vssiN, III. I. ii. 18.53, 42;
pi. viii. — B.viRD, P. K. Reji. IX. Birds, .546. — Pendulinus cucuUatus, Bonaparte,
Consp. 1850, 43.'3. — Ca.ssin, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliil. 1867, 60.

Sp. Char. Both mandibles mneh curved. Tail nuieli graduated. Wings, a rather
narrow band across the back, tail, and a patch starting as a narrow frontal band, involv-
ing the eyes, anterior half of cheek, chin, and throat, and ending as a rounded patch on

Male.

the up])er part of lireast, black. Rest of liody orange yellow. Two bands on the wing
and the edges of the ijuills white.

Female without the black patch of the throat ; the up|ier parts generally yellowish-
green, browner on the back. Length, 8.50 ; extent, 11.00; wing, 3.75. Iris brown ; bill
black, its base below blue ; feet dark lead-color.

Hah. Valley of the Rio Grande, southward. Southern California. Al)undant at Cape
St. Lucas.

I found this species arriving at San Diego about April 22d, and they
were not rare for a fortnight afterwards, but then retired into the warmer
interior valleys, where I have seen them nearly as far north as Los Angeles.
While migrating they were nearly silent.

Captain McCown, U. S. A., found them quite abundant along the Ilio
Grande in Texas. They were generally sliy in the woods, but a jiair l>e-
came quite familiar around his quarters, alighting on tlie roof, and prying
into the crevices in search of insects, (dassin.)

276 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Icterus parisorum, Bonaparte.

SCOTT'S ORIOLE.

Icterus parisorum, 'Bos xrxRTY., Pr. Zool. Soc. V. IS^T, lii'.i. — B.viUD, Birds N. Amcr. 544.

— Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1867, 54 ; pi. 61, f. 1. In. Mc.\. I3uuiul. Kqi. i.l. 19.
Icterus iiieltviorliri/sura. Lesson, Hcv. Zool. 1839, lOj.
IcIlius Scuiti, Coircii, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliil. 1854, 66.

Sp. Char. Bill attomiatud ; not innch cU'ciu-\ cd ; tail moilcrately graduated. Antorior
lialf of body, or head and neek, baek and breast, black. Alidomen and rnni|) \-ellow, tlie
latter generally tinged with greenish. Wings blaek, the greater eovcrts widely tijijx'd

with white, shorter quills wideh- edged with white. Middle feathers of the tail lilack,
with their bases yellow ; otlK>r feathers of the tail with their basal two thirils yellow, ter-
minal one third blaek. Bill dark horn-color, base of under mandible i)ale blue ; legs
bhiish-brown. Bill straight, rather slender, pointed, culnien distinctly j-idged ; legs rather
strong ; wing long, third (juill longest ; tail moderate.

Achdt male. Total length about 7.00 to 8.00 inches; wing, 4.00 to 4.25 ; tail, 3.50 to
3.75 inches.

Youiu/cr. Entire head and back dark brown ; rump greenish-yellow, under parts of
body dull pale yellow ; tail olive-green ; outer feathers greenish-yellow at base ; wings dull
brown ; coverts tii)ped with white. Total length, 7.00.

Ilab. Southern border of United States from the mouth of the Kio Grande to Cape St.
Lucas. South into Mexico.

This specie.s i.s abundant at (_'ape St. Lucas, and has been found at rare
intervals all along the southern border of the United States as far east as
Te.xas. Nothing distinctive is known of its habits. I saw a bird at Fort
MojavC; in April, which I supposed to be this, but could not obtain it.

ICTERID.E — TUE OKIOLES — SCOLECOPHAGUS. 277

Sub-Family QUISCALIN.^.

Char. Bill rather attenuated, as Imig as or longer than the head. The
culnieii curved, the tip xuucli l>(;nt down. The cutting edges inflected so as
to impart a somewhat tubular appearance to eacli mandible. The coni-
missure sinuated. Tail longer than the wiugs, usually much graduated.
Legs longer than the head, htted for walking. There are I'oui- species of the
genus Quiscalus in the Eastern and Southern United States^

Genus SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swainson.

Scolecopttaijus, Swainson, F. 15or. Am. II. \Ki\. (Type, Oriolus ferriKjincus, Gmelin.)

Gkx. Cu.\r. Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges infle.xed as in
Quiscalus, which it otherwise greatly resembles ; the coniniissure siiinated. C'uhnen
rounded, Ijut not llattened. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Tail even or slightly
rounded.

S. ferrugincus.

The typical .species, »?. fcrrurjincus, is common in the Eastern United
States, and is much like our species, ■which was formerly confouiulcd \\\\\i
it by Nuttall, Townsend, and others.

Qiciscalios major, Vieillot, the boat-tailed grakle, is said by Gambel to oc-
cur at Mazatlan, " and occasionally in California," Init has not been obtained
by recent collectors. The Mazatlan species is Q. paluatris, Swainson.

278

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

S. /errttgineus.

Scolecophagus cyanocephalus, Wacler.

BKEWEK'S BLACKBIRD.

Psarocolitis r/yonocqj/ia/iis, Wagler, Isis, 1829, 753. — Scolecoiihapus cyanocephalus, Cabanis,
Mus. Hein. 18.51, 193. — Baikd, P. K. Rep. IX. Birds, 552. — IIeekmann, X. vi. 53.
Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 209.

Scoleco[)ha<jus Mexicanus, Swainson, Anim. in Men. 2| cent. 1838, 302. — Newberky, Zool.
Cal. and Or. Route ; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI. iv. 1857, 86.

Quiscaliis Brewer!, Audubon, Birds Amer. VII. 1843, 345 ; pi. 492.

Sp. Char. Bill stout, quiscaline, the commissure scarcely sinuatcd, shorter than the
head and the hind toe ; the height nearly half the len;;th aljuve. AN'ing nearly an inch
longer than the tail ; the second quill longest ; the first ahout equal to the third. Tail

rounded and moderately graduated ; the lateral feathers aliout 0.35 of an inch shorter.
General color of male black, with lustrous green reflections everywhere, except on the
head and neck, which arc glossed with purplish-violet.

Female, much duller, of a light brownish anteriorl\- ; a very faint superciliary stripe.

ICTERIDiE - THE ORIOLES — SCOLECOPHAGUS. 279

Lenjith, about 10.00: extent, IG. 25 ; wing, 5.25; tail, 4.40. Iris of male yellow (of fe-
male brown) ; bill and feet blaek.

Hah. Higli central plains to the Pacific ; south to Mexico. Pembina, IMinnesota.

All abundant species everywhere tlirougliout California, except in tlie
dense forests, and resident in winter as far north as the Columbia Eiver.
They frequent pastures and fields, often following cattle, like tlie cow-birds,
for the insects which tliey disturb in the grass, and the undigested seeds in
their ordure. Tliey also associate much «ith tlie otlier blackbirds, and are
fond of feeding and Ijathing along the edges of streams.

They have not much song, though the noise made by the associated flock,
as they sit sunning themselves on the top of some tree in early spring, is
quite pleasing, resembling much that of the red-wings, some of which often
assist in the chorus.

Their nests are built in low trees, often several in one tree. They are
large, and constructed externally of a rough frame and floor of twigs, then
a thick layer of mud, and a lining of fibrous roots and grass. The eggs,
laid from April 10th to May 20th, are four or five, dull greenish-white,
with numerous streaks and small blotches of dark brown thickly scat-
tered over them. They measure 1.00 X 0.72 inch. They doubtless raise
two and perhaps three broods in a season.

" Quiscalus imrpureus" {Quiscahts versicolor, Vieillot) is mentioned by
Newberry as common near San Francisco. No collector, however, has ob-
tained it on this coast, and I am satisfied that he mistook ;S^. cjjanoccphalus
for it, as I have myself at a distance.

At Santa Cruz these birds were more familiar than I have seen them else-
wdiere, frequenting the yards aliout houses and stables, building in the gar-
den trees, and daily, after their hunger was satisfied, collecting on the roofs,
or on convenient trees, to sing their best thanks for an hour or two at a time
to their human entertainers. I have seen two of them pursue and drive
away a large hawk, while the timid pigeons were wildly circling around the
town in efforts to escape, even before the hawk made any approach toward
them.

S- cyanocepkalus.

280

SIXGIXG BIRDS — OSCINES.

Family COEVIDiE., The Crows.

Char. Primaries ten ; tlie first short, generally aliont half as long as
the second (or a little more) ; the outer four sinuated on the inner edge.
The nasal fosste and nostrils usually more or less concealed by narrow
stiffened bristles (or Inistly feathers), with short ajipressed lateral branches
extending to the very tip, all directed forwards. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly,
the sides undivided (except sometimes Ijelow), and separated from the an-
terior plates by a narr(n\- nakeil strip, sometimes filled up ^\■ith small scales.
Basal joint of middle t(je united about equally to the lateral, generally for
aliout half the length. Bill usually notched.

Sub-Family CORVINE, The Crows.

Char. Wings long and pointed ; longer than the tail, and when closed
reaching nearly to its tip, extending far beyond tlie under tail coverts ; the
third, fourth, and fifth (pulls forming the tip of the wing.

vis*tv

C. cnrnirorux.

CORVIDJi; — THE CROWS — COKVUS.

281

Genus CORVUS, Linnjeus.

Corvus, LiNN^us, Syst. Nat. 1735. (Type, Cornis corax, L.)

Sp. Char. The nasal feathers lengthened, reaching to or beyond the middle of the
bill. Nostrils large, circular, overhung behind by membrane, the edges rounded else-
where. Rictus without bristles. Bill nearly as long as the tarsus, very stout; much
higher than broad at the base ; culmen much arched. Wings reaching to or nearly to the

C o^sifrngvs.

tip of the tail. Tarsi about equal to the middle toe, sometimes with a series of small
scales on the middle of each side, separating the anterior scutellate portion from the pos-
terior continuous plates. Side of the hea<l occasionally with nearly naked patches. Tail
graduated or rounded ; the outer four primaries sinuated internally.

Besides oitr species, there is one in Texas wliicli lias tlie featliers of neck
and breast sno^\•y white at base (C. cryptoleucus, Couch) ; and another very
large raven in Mexico (and New Mexico ?).

282 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Corvus carnivorus, Rartkam.

THE AMEBICAN KAVEN.

Corvus cnrniivriis, Baetram, Travels in E. Florida, 1793, 200. — IjATRd, P. B. Kcp. IX.

Birds, 500; X. iii. 14, pi. xxi. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. ofW. T. 210.
C'oiTHS coruT, Wilson, Am. Orn. IX. 182.5, 136; pi. Ixxv. f. 3. —Doughty, Cab. N. II. I.

1830, 270; pi. xxiv. — NuTTALL, Man. I. 1832, 202. — AuDUUOS, Orn. Biog. II. 1834,

476 ; pi. 101. In. Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 78 ; pi. 224. — Heermann, V. I!. Rep. X. vi.

54. (Not of Linna;us, Euro]}ean. )
Corras raca/y</, Newberry, P. K. Rep. VI. iv. 1857,82. — Baiud, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,

563. — Kennerly, X. iv. 31 ; pi. xx. (Not of AV.igler '.)
Cormis lugiibris, Agassiz, Pr. Boat. Soc. N. 11. II. Dec. 1840, 188.

Sp. Char. Fourth (luill longest ; third and fifth about equal ; second between fifth and
sixth ; first nearly equal to the eighth. Tail moderately graduated ; the outer about l.Gd

to 1.00 of an inch less th.an the middle. Entirely glossy blnck, with violet reflections.
Length, about 24 00 or 25.00 ; extent, 50 00 to 51.00 ; wing, about 17.00 ; tail, 10.00. Iris
brow'ii ; bill and feet black.

JJub. Entire continent of North America. Rare east of the ^Mississippi.

I obtained imuibers ol' the raven at Fort Mcijave, which, thongh more
brilliant than usual in Northern siDeciinens, did not .seem to differ enough in
size or proportions to separate them as a distinct species. The only ap-
proach to Professor Baird's " C. cacalotl " was in the more graduated tail
feathers of one, in which the outer were 2.10 inches shorter than the middle,
other specimens having them nearer alike. He gives the difference in C.
cncalotl at 2.30, while in C. carnivorus it ranges from 1.60 to 1.90. Still, my
specimens being intermediate, and the extremes of difference in all being
only 0.07 of an inch (" the lateral feathers where shortest not having fully
gro«-n out "), I do not think there is enough reason to distinguish them as a
distinct species. Their size is smaller than tlie average of Nortliern speci-

CORVID.E — THE CROWS — CORVUS. 283

mens. I think tlie greater lustre of the plumage is merely the effect of a
drier and hotter climate. The differences shown in Plates XX. and XXI.
are so very slight as to be of little consequence.

In cries and habits I have noticed no difference in tlie ravens of various
parts of the coast. Being very local in their residence, and scarcely if at
all migratory, there is a tendency to run into slight varieties of form, which
in some other birds of similar habits we see carried so far as to produce
local races or species, separated by various degrees of difference from tlieii'
allies.

Tlie American raven is found in pairs everywhere in California and tlie
adjacent regions, being much more numerous tlian in tlie Atlantic States,
where few are seen south of the Great Lakes. They frequent, as if by pref-
erence, even the most barren desert districts, Ijut are also common near cul-
tivated regions. Being omnivorous, and capable of enduring long fasts, they
take advantage of the very barrenness and scarcity of water in tlie deserts,
so destructive to many animals, and watcli for their death, in order to sup-
port their own life by eating them. They foUow trains and herds of cattle,
hoping to pick up a dying straggler, and are sure to visit every deserted
camp as soon as tlie occupants move off. When nothing better is to be had
they eat lizards, snakes, birds' eggs, and in fact everything of an animal na-
ture, however far gone to decay. They also occasionally devour grain, pota-
toes, etc., but do little damage in tliat way. They will, however, destroy
young cliickens, and it is said young lambs, fawns, etc., if they find tliem
unprotected. At times they soar like tlie hawks to a great height, espe-
cially before storms, Init also when looking out for food.

In selecting a place for nesting they show much sagacity, sometimes
choosing a hole in a lofty perpendicular cliff, at others a high tree very
difficult to climl). One nest I found on Santa Barbara Island, built in a
cavity under a projecting ledge of rock not more than twenty feet above the
water, where the waves dashed almost into it at high tide. Though a much-
frequented path passed close above it, the old birds were so wary in their
visits that it remained long undiscovered. The young were stiU unfledged
in June, much later than on the main-land, where I think they often lay in
March, having seen young in a nest at the Straits of Fuca in April. The
nest is composed of large sticks, twigs, roots, and various soft materials in-
side. The eggs are said to be from three to six, of a pale muddy bluish-
green, marked with numerous sjjots and lines of dark oUve-brown. (Nut-
tall, of the European species ?) Those of the whole sub-family Corvincc
are known to be very similar in colors.

At Beales's Ranch, south of Tej(jn Pass, and at the eastern edge of the
desert, there is a great roosting-place for ravens, which come at dusk from
all directions to sleep on the oaks found up the valley.

284 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

The well-known sagacity and imitative powers of the European raven are
doubtless possessed in an equal degree by om-s, which differs very slightly
from that species (Corvus corax). For full accounts of the many strange
facts and superstitions recorded concerning it, I must refer to other authors.

Corvus cryptoleucus, Cducn.

THE WHITE-NECKED CEOW.

Sp. Char. Tlic fourth quill is longest ; tlio third and filth equal ; the second longer
than the sixth ; the first about equal to the se\enth. Glossy black, with violet reflections;
feathers of ueek all round, back and breast, snow white at the base. Feathers of throat

lanceolate ; bristly feathers alonj; the base of the bill, covering it for nearly two thirds its
length. Length, about 21.00 ; wing, 14.00 ; tail, 8.50.

Ilab. Valleys of the Rio Grande and Gila. Abundant on the Llano Estacado.

Tlie general color of this raven is a lustrous lilack, with violet reflections,
almost exactly as in the common species. Its most striking distinctive
feature, however, is seen in the feathers of the neck all round, upper part of
the back, and the whole of tlie breast, which are pure snowy white for about
their basal half. The feathers of the head are plumbeous at the base ; the
greatest intensity of white is on the lower part of the neck ; the color fades
out on the back and belly into j)binibeous. In no other North American
crow is there any approach to this cottony whiteness. A species from Porto
Eico (Corvus Imcorjnrquhahis) has the same peculiarity of color. It is of
about the same size as C. cryptoleucics, but will be readily distinguished by
the nearly naked and exposed nostrils, a character shared by most of the
crows of the West Indies.

Nothing distinctive is known of the habits of this bird. The eggs have,
however, been collected, and resemble those of the common raven, although
perhaps of paler color. (Baird.)

CORVIDiE — TIIE CROWS — CORVUS. 285

Corvus caurinus, Baird.

THE WESTERN CROW.

Cmvus Americamis, from West Coast. Baird, V. R. Rep IX. Eirils, 566 (!n part). — Heer-
MANN, X. vi. 52. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 211.

Coitus osslfnii/iis, from West Coiist, of autliuis. Nuitali,, Man. I. 2ci cd. 221, 227. — New-
berry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 82.

Corutis caurinus, Baird, V. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 569. — Cooi'EK and Sockley, XII. iii. Zool.
of W. T. 211 ; pi. xxiv. (PI. xxiii. C. Amcricams.)

Sp. Cii.\r. Fourth quill longest, second longer than sixth, third and fifth about equal,
first shorter than ninth. Color black, glossed with pui-jjle. Tail nearly even. Tarsus

longer than middle too and claw. Female the smallest. Length, 1.5.00 to 1S.50 ; extent,

30.00 to 33.50 ; wing, 10.50 to 12.7.") ; tail, 6,50 to 7.80. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.

Hall. Pacific Coast from San Diego north ; east to the Northern Rocky Mountains.

Professor Baird, in lii.s description of Corvus caurimis, remarks that " but
for tlie slight difference in size it would be difficult to tell skins " from
those of C. Aincricaiius. " Indeed, it is almost a question whether it be
more than a dwarfed race of the other species." He, however, separates
specimens from California and Fort Vancouver, " on account of their larger
size," including them with G. Aimriainus. But liy reference to his table of
measurements, it appears that they were all below tlie average measurements
he gives for that species (length, 19.00 to 20.00 ; wing, 13.00 to 13.50 ; tail,
about 8.00), even measuring the stretched .skins.

I am now satisfied that there is but one species of crow on this side of
the continent, and if distinguishable at all from the Eastern, it is by its
smaller size, less graduated tail, more gregarious lialiits, and different voice.
The circumstance of their feeding much on fish towards the North is I
think of secondary importance, as they are decidedly omnivorous, and feed
on fish wherever they can get them more easily than other food. In this
State fish are not so numerous on the sea-shore and river-banks as near the

286 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Columbia, wliile the open plains offer an abundant supply of otber food.
Nor does tlie fish-eating race seem more degenerate in size on that account,
since the smallest specimens I have seen were collected by Mr. F. Grubcr
on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, about lat. 38° 30', one of tliem in
perfect condition and full grown, measuring only fifteen inches in lengtli
when fresh. Another, a male from San Diego, measured 17.50, so that the
coast birds and those from tlie North are actually the largest, the average
of Baird's caurinus, from Washington Territory, being 16.50 when fresh.
The largest Californian from Tulare Valley measured 18.30 dry ; one from
the Presidio a little less, and one from Fort Vancouver 17.00, all included
by Baird in C. Americanus, but smaller than the Eastern.

In the southern half of California this crow is rarely seen on the sea-
beach, but prefers the inland districts, occasionally, however, coming to the
shores of bays to feed.

They associate in large flocks during most of the year, feeding in com-
pany, and are even somewhat gregarious in the breeding-season, building in
close vicinity to each other, often several nests in a tree, unlike the Eastern
crows, whicli will not allow a strange pair in the neighljorhood of tlieir
nest. The places selected for building near San Diego were the groves of
evergreen oaks growing in ravines, and the nests were built from twelve to
forty feet above the ground. There were indeed but few other trees in the
lower country, except some few wiUows and sycamores, in wliich last they
might have obtained much higher positions for tlieir nests if desired. In the
North they often build in spruces, and Dr. Sucldey found one at the Dalles,
Oregon, in a dense willow thicket.

The nest is strongly built of sticks, coarse on the outside, and becoming
more slender toward the inside, where they are mixed with roots, grass,
moss, horsehair, etc., to form a rather soft lining. The eggs, of which I have
only found four in a nest, are dull green of a dark shade, thickly spotted
and streaked with dark brown and olive. Size, 1.60 X 1.10. At San Diego
they laid al)0ut April 15th.

Where unmolested these birds have not yet become so shy and cunning
as those of the older settled districts, but they soon learn the danger of
allowing a man witli a gun to come near them, and show all the cunning
characteristic of the tribe. They might, doubtless, be as easily tamed or
raised from the nest as other species, and probably taught as many tricks,
including the imitation of the human voice. They have not yet been found
very destructive in this country, there being little Indian corn raised, and
other crops are so prolific that the stealings of the crows are scarcely
noticed. Their destruction of immense numbers of grubs, grasshoppers,
and other noxious vermin counterbalances what little harm they may do.
They obtain much of their food about the ranches from the ofl'al of slaugli-

CORVID.E — THE CROWS — COKVUS. £87

tered cattle, and those that die of diseases, etc. In the northern half of the
State they also no doubt live in great part on fish. Near the Columliia
Eiver they feed much on clams and oysters, carrying the shell high in air,
and dropping it until it is broken. If unsuccessful at first they carry it
higher, or to a place wliere the ground is harder. Tliey show much sagacity
in -watching tlie turn of the tide, and fly in flocks at that moment for their
favorite feeding-grounds, in company with the gulls and various waders.

For some reason they shun particular districts in the breeding-season.
During six weeks of spring I did not see one near the east side of the Coast
Eange south of Santa Clara, but found them at Santa Cruz, where the only
difference was a cooler climate. At the same time they avoided the coast
farther north, where perhaps the wind was too strong for them. I never
saw one in the CoLjrado Valley, nor near the summits of the Sierra Nevada.
According to Dr. Newberry, they are chiefly confined to those districts
where oaks flourish.

At Visalia, where there is an extensive forest of oaks, forming an oasis in
the great " Tulare " j^lain (elsewhere either marshy or sterile gravelly
prairie), I found very large flocks of this bird, with the same gregarious
habits as elsewliere on the coast, and at that time (September) very noi.sy, as
if anticipating rain, wliich did not come, however, for some weeks after.
Near here was where Dr. Heermann obtained the large specimen called
Amcricanus, by him and by Professor Baird.

During July, 18G6, large numbers of this species came every evening to
roost in an alder grove close to the town of Santa Cruz. They gathered in
long trains from tlie surrounding field.s, flying ratlier high, and suddenly
pitching down toward tlie small trees with zigzag turns, sportively pecking
and chattering at each other in the air. Dr. Suckley foimd this crow very
abundant on Puget's Sound throughout the year, subsisting in winter on the
refuse food and oflal thrown out by the natives from their lodges, and at-
tending closely upon the residences of the white settlers. He describes it
as very cunning, but tame and impudent, allowing a near approach, and
when closely pursued retiring but a short distance. In reference to the
habit of dropping clams from a height in order to break the shell, he men-
tions tlie amusement afforded by the effort of one of these crows to get at
the contents of a clam by dropping it on soft ground, carrj-ing it over and
over again to a considerable height, and letting it droj) without the desired
result.

A small species of crow {€'. Mcxkanus), the least of all the continental
American species, is common at Mazatlan, and may yet be detected in Ari-
zona and Southern California.

288

SINGING BIRDS — OSCIKES.

Genus PICICORVUS, Bonaparte.

Picicormts, Bonapakte, Consp. Av. 1850, 384. (Type, Corrus Columhianus, Wilson.)

Gen. Ciiau. Lead color, with black wings and tail. Bill longer than the head, con-
siderably longer than the tarsus, attenuated, slightly dccurved ; tip without notch. Cul-
men and commissure curved ; gonys straight or slightly concave, as long as the tarsi.

P. Cohimbinmis.

Nostrils circular, completely covered by a full tuft, of incumbent white bristly feathers.
Tail much shorter than the wings, nearly even or .-ilightly rounded. Wings pointed,
reaching to the tip of tail. Third, foiu-th, and fifth quills longest. Tarsi short, scarcely

p. Columbianus.

CORVID^ — THE CROWS — PICICORVUS.

289

longer than the middle tne, the hind toe and elaw very large, reaehing nearly to the mid-
dle of the middle claw, the lateral toe little shorter. A row of small scales on the middle
of the sides of tarsus.

Picicorvus Columbianus, Wilsox.

CLAEKE'S CROW.

Corras C()/«m/i/onHS, Wilson, Am. Oni. III. 1811,29; pi. xx. — Ncttall, Man. I. 18.32,
218. — Nucifmga Coluinbinna, AuDCUOX, Orii. Biog. IV. 1838, 459 ; pi. 362. In. Birils
Amcr. IV. 1842, 127; pi. 235. — Nuttall. Man. I. 2(1 cd. 251. — Pkkorvus CuJnmbi-
anus, Bonaparte, Consp. 1850, 384. — Newberrv, V. R. Kep. VI. iv. 1837,83. —
Baird, r. R. liop. IX. Birds, 573. — Kennerly, X. iv. 32. — Coopeu and Slckley,
XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 212.

Sp. Char. Tail rounded or moderately gradnated, the closed wings reaching nearly to
its tip. Fourth (juill longest ; second considerably shorter than the sixth. General color
bluish-ash, changing on the nasal feathers, the forehead, sides of head (especially around
the eye), and chin to white. The wings, iiichiding their inner surface, greenish-ljlaek,
the secondaries and tertials, except the innermost, broadly tipped with wdiite ; tail white,

the inner well of the fifth f-nthor and the whole of the sixth, with the np])er tail coverts,
greenish-black. The axillars plnmbeous black. Bill and feet black. Length of male
(fresh), 12.60; extent, 24.50 ; wing, 8,00 ; tail, 4.30 ; tarsus, 1.20. Iris brown; bill and
feet black.

Hah. From Rocky Jlonntains to Pacific ; east to Fort Kearney ; south to Fort
Tejon.

This species is numerous near the summits of the Sierra Nevada, espe-
cially on their eastern .side, frequenting cliiefly tlae open forests of yellow
pine (P. pondcrosa), on the seeds of •wliich they feed almost entirely in the

290 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

autumn, swallowing tliem whole in such quantities as almost to suffocate
themselves. I also noticed them pecking at dead liark to olitain insects,
and flying short distances after them like tlie woodpeckers. When feeding
they were veiy shy, scarcely allowing me to get within shooting distance,
except hy artifice, and, if they saw me. Hying off to a long distance before
alighting. I have always found them wild, except in January, 1854, when
a few driven down l)y snow from the Cascade Mountains appeared at Fort
Vancouver. They often hang head downwards while extracting the seeds
from cones, reminding one of the titmice. They sometimes descend to the
groixnd in search of seeds and insects, but probably do not eat animal food
so generally as the crows and jays. They have a continuous, flapping, rapid
flight, and a loud, harsh cry when flying in the manner of the crows, gener-
ally associating in flocks in the autumn. Their similarity to the wood-
peckers in habits, especially to Mdanerpes torquatus, with which they live,
is sufficient to deceive most oljservers as to their affinities.

Of their haljits in spring nothing is known, except that Townsend speaks
of their building in very high pine-trees. They are in fact almost insepara-
ble from these, and only resort to the seeds of sj^ruces, berries, etc., when
the supply of pine seeds is exhausted.

It is doubtful if they ever wander to the coast mountains south of San
Francisco. Although in winter they descend to the Coluinliia Paver, they
have not been seen at other seasons below an elevation of from hjur to ten
thoiisand feet in California. They abound in the Eocky Mountains through-
out our limits.

Near Fort Colville, Washington Territory, Mr. J. K. Lord found this
species arriving in May in immense flocks, making a tremendous chattering
for about a week, and then pairing off. A nest he saw was in the top of a
pine-tree two hundred feet high, which was cut down on the boundary.
It was composed of fir-twigs, bark, leaves of pine, and fine root-fibres, with
some moss and gray lichen, — very large and shallow. The eggs M'ere about
four, of a light Ijluish-green.

Genus GYMNOKITTA, Maximilian von Wied.

C'l/mmrhimis, Vr. Jtax. Reise Kurd Araer. II. 1841, 21. (Not of Gray.) (Type, G. cijano-

crjifmla.)
Gi/iimokitia, Pr. Max. "1850," Gray.
Ci/anoccphalus, Bonaparte, " 1842." Preoccupied in Botany.

CtES. Char. Rill olnnrrated, depressed, shorter than the tarsus, longer than the head,
without notch, similar to that of Slurnclla in shape. Culmen nearly straight ; conuuissure

CORVIDiE — THE CROWS — GITMNOKITTA.

291

curved ; gonys ascending. Nostrils small, oval, entirely exposed, the bristly feathers at
the base of the bill being very minute. Tail short, nearly even, much shorter than the

G. ryanocephtda.

pointed wings, which cover three tburths of the tail. Tarsi considerably longer than the
middle toe.

The species described is so far the ouly one of the genus known, and
possesses many interesting generic peculiarities, Avhieli will be suHiciently

G njanorfjiintla.

evident from a comparison of the abo\-e diagram Mith those of the other
genera of Corvidec. Unlike Picicorvus, there is no genus closely related to
this in the Old World.

292 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Gymnokitta cyanocephala, Maximilian von Wied.

MAXIMILIAN'S JAY.

Gi/mnorhinns ri/miorcjihalus, Vr. Maximilian, Rcise in ilas innerc Noril Amcrika, II. 1841, 21.

In. Voyage dans Am. liu Nord, 111.1843,290. — Gi/>niwl:illa rjanocrjihnlu, Vr.Mwi-

MiLiAN, 1850. — BoNAPAKTE, Conspcctns, 18.50, 382. — Cassin, Illust. I. vi. IS.M, 1G.5;

pi. xxviii. — Nkwiserky, Rep. P. 11. R. VI. iv. 1857, 83. — B.vikd, P. R. Rep. IX.

Birds, 574. — Kexnerly, X. iv. 32.
Cijanocunix Casslnii, JI'Call, Pr. A N. Sc. V. .June, 1851, 21C.

Sr. CiiAii. Wings considerably longer than the tail, and reaching to within an inch of
its til). Tail nearly even. General color dull blue, paler on the abdomen, the nuddle of
which is tinged with ash ; the head and neck of a much deeper and more intense blue,

darker on the crown. Chin .ind fire jiart of the throat whiti:>h, streaked with blue.
Length, lU ; wing, b !I0 ; tail, 4. .50; tarsus, 1.50.

Iliih. Rocky Mountains to the Sierra Nevada, California.

This Ijird is cliietiy confined to the barren di.stricts ea.st of tlie Sierra Xe-
vada, where occasional groves of juniper constitute its favorite resorts.
According to Nevi'berry, tliey v^'ere numerous in flocks of twenty or tliirty
among tlie junipers along Des Chutes Eiver, Oregon, with the usual strag-
gling flight of the jays, chattering as they flew from tree to tree on tlieir
way to a stream to drink. Their note wlien flying or feeding was a fre-
quently repeated cd, (■(7, cd, usually soft and agreeable, but when disturbed
their cry was harsher. They were very shy, and only to be shot by lying
in wait for them. They fed on tlic berries of the juniper, and also the seeds
of the yellow-pine.

Dr. Kennerly found tliem in New Mexico, in November, about the water-

GARKULIN^ — THE JAYS — PICA.

293

courses. When scared they flew in circles, rising liigh above his liead
uttering tlieir singukxr cry, and then suddenly descended to the top of some
tree on the neighboring clifi's.

I have seen specimens from AVashoe, just east of the State boundary, and
am told by Mr. Clarence Iving that they fretj^uent the junipers on moun-
tains near Mariposa.

Sub-Family GARRULIN.^, The Jays.

Char. "Wings short, rounded ; not longer, or much shorter than the tail,
which is graduated, sometimes excessively so. AVings reaching not umch
beyond the lower tail coverts. Bristly feathers at base of biU variable.
Bill nearly as long as the head, or shorter. Tarsi longer than the bill or
than the middle toe. Outer lateral claws rather shorter than the inner.

Genus PICA, Beisson.

Coracias, Linn.eus, Syst. Nat. 1T.35 (Gray).

P/cn, Brisson, Ornitliolo^ia, 1700, and of Cuvicr (Agassiz). (Type, Coitus pica, 1j.)

Ckjites, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2a Sit. I. 1847, 47.

Gkx. Cn.\n. Tail very long, forming much more than half the total length ; the feath-
ers much graduated ; the lateral scarcely more than half the midc-lle. First primary

P. Hudsonka.

falcate, curved, and attenuated. Bill about as high as broad at the base ; the culmen and
gonys much curved, and about equal ; the bristly feathers reaching nearly to the middle

294

SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

of the bill. Nostrils nearly cireular. Tarsi very long ; middle toe scai'cely more than two
thirds the length. A patch of naked skin beneath and behind the eje.

There are two species of magpie in tlie United States differing in alnaost
notliing from each otlier except in tlie hlack liill of one and the yellow of
the other. The latter {P. Nuttalli) is confined to Western California, the
other (P. Hudsonica) is found more to the northward as well a,s in the mid-

dle region of North America. The yellow-billed bird is scarcely entitled
to consideration as a distinct species, since many species of American Cor-
vidcc have tlie bill indifferently yellow or black, or intermediate in color.
The European magpie has a lilack bill, and we believe a variety with yellow
bill is not found in the Old "World.

p. Hudsonica.

CORVID^ — THE CROWS — PICA.

295

Pica Nuttalli, Audubon.

THE YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE.

Pica Nultalli, AuDnBON-, Orn. Bitjf,'. IV. 1838, 4.iO ; ]>1. .362. Ib. Birds Amer. IV. 1S42,
104; pi. 228. — Nltt.\li., Man. I. 2cl td. 1840, 236. — Xemberry, IJep. P. R. K. VI.
iv. 1857, 84 ; pi. 26. — B.uuD, 1'. R. Rep. IX. Binis, 578. — IIeeem.vnn, X. vi. 54.—
Cleples Nultalli, Ga.mbel, J. A. N. Sc. Ph. 2d 8erie.s, I. 1847, 46.

Sr. ClI.M!. Pill, niid ii:ikc(l skin lirhiml llic cyu, ljrii;lit vrllnw. Tin; 1h-11_v, so-a]mlars,
ami iiunT webs (it'tln.' priiiiuries whiti- ; liiml part of back grayish ; exposed jiortiou ol'tlio

tail feathers glossy green, tingetl with purple and violet near tlie end ; wings glossed with
green ; the secondaries and tertials blue ; throat feathers sjjotted with white. Length,
17.00; wing, 8.00; tail, 10.00.

Ilah. California, west of the Sierra Nevada.

Tliis magpie is abundant in the valleys of California, especially near the
middle of tlie State, except in the spring montlis, -when I have seen none in
Santa Clara A''aUey, and supijose they must liave retired into some of the
mountains east-ward to Ijuild nests. There were none certainly at that time
in the Coast liange west of that vaUey. At Santa Barbara, however, I found
tliem numerous in April and May, and saw their nests in oak-trees, but the
young were Hedged liy the 25th of April. The nest is composed of a large
mass of coarse twigs twisted together in a spherical form, with a hole in the
side. The eggs resemble those of the other species, whicli are whitish-green,
spotted with cinereous-gray and oli\'e-bro\\ u. They breed abundantly about
IMonterey.

296 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Their food consists of almost everything animal and vegetable -which they
can find or eat, and they come much about farms and gardens to pick up
whatever tliey can. Like the magpie of Europe, they probalJy carry off
many tilings that can be of no use to them, out of mere curiosity or mischief

Tliey have a loud call like imit, paif, and a variety of chattering notes, in
tone resembling the human voice, which they can be taught to imitate.
They are said also to imitate the calls and songs of small birds, as if to at-
tract them within their reach, as they kill them, and destroy their eggs on
every opportunity. I have never seen magpies along the coast north of
Monterey.

Pica Hudsonica, Sabine.

THE AMEKICAN MAGPIE.

Con-nspica, FonSTEK, Pliil. Trans. LXXTI. 382.

Corciis Hiulaoniciis, S.4KINE, App. Frauklin's Journey, 182.3, 25. — Pirn TTnrlsnnim, Bo.VA-

rARTE, List, 1838. — Newuerry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 84. — Baird, iiinh X. Aiuer. 576.

— Cooper and Suckeey, P. R. R. XII. ii. 213.
Plai mcliinokuca, " Vieillot," Audubon, Bii'ils Amcr. IV. 1842, 99 ; pi. 227.

Sp. Char. Similar to P. NiillaUi, but with tlic bill and skin round tlu' eve black.
Throat li.'athL'rs spoiled with concealed white. Length, 19,00 ; wing, 8 oO ; tail, 11.00.

Ilah. Northern portions of North America. AMioIe Piocky jNIountain region and
North racidc States.

The magpie is not so familiar a bird to the inhabitants of the more settled
parts of the United States as its European congener, although west of the
Missouri and in the vicinity of Lake Superior it is well known. The liabits

CORVlDiE — THE CROWS — CYANURA.

297

are mucli as detailed for the yellow-billed magpie, and indeed it is almost
a qnestion whether the yellow bill of the latter is any more than a mere per-
manent form of a variation in this respect seen in many jays, as Psilorkinus
morio, Cyaniira Becclieiji, etc. Our bird is said not to be so much at home
with man as the European species, but resembles it in most of its habits. It
is a source of great annoyance to AVestern men from its fondness for light-
ing on the backs of horses and mules, and picking at any sore places it
may find, causing the animals to run away or roll over to get rid of their
tormentors, and often to the detriment of their load, or to their personal
injury. The magpies feed largely on carrion and the refuse of camps,
although nothing comes amiss to them, — eggs, young birds, fruits, etc.

Mr. J. K. Lord found this bird on Vancouver's Island, as well as at Fort
Colville, and says that they liuild in jMarcli, in dense thickets, often very
near the fish-crows, constructing a similar covered nest, and laying seven or
eight eggs. Great numbers were poisoned at the camp of the Boundary
Commission in winter, Itecause they became so troublesome to sore-backed
horses. They were so tame and impudent that he often gave them food
from his hand '

Genus CYANURA, Swaixson.

Ci/annnis, Swaikson, Fauna Bor. Amcr. II. 1831, 495, Appendix. (Type, Corvus crislatiis,

LlNNyEUR.)

Ci/anocitta, Cauanis, Miis. Hein. 1851. Not of Stricklanil, 1845.

Gkx. CiiAi!. Head crested. Winfjs and tail bhio, -Hith transverse black bars ; head
and back of the same color. Bill rather slender, somewhat broader than high at the base ;

culmen about ennal in length to the head. Nostrils larfje, nearly circnlar, concealed
by bristles. Tail about as long as the wings, lengthened, graduated. Hind claw large,
longer than its digit.

38

298

SINGIXG BIRDS — OSCIXES.

The Eastern l.ilue-jay, G. cridatus, belongs to this genus, and is its type,
and tliere ai-e se^'el■al otliers more nearly resemliling ours in the Eocky
Mountains, JNIexico, and Central America.

Galocitta collicci, Vigors (Gray), described and figured by Audubon as

m-m

Corvvs or Pica BuUocl-ii, " from the Columbian Eiver," is not found north
of INIexico. The same is true of Cyanocitta Bccchnji, Vigors, figured in
" Voyage of the Blossom," etc., as from California.

Cyanura Stelleri, Omelin.

STELLER'S JAY.

Con-im .S/r//fn', Gmei.in, Syst. N.it. I. 178S, S'i). — Ciirnilus .SVcV/cn, VlEII.T.OT, Diet. XII.
1817, 481. — Bonaparte, Am. Oin. II. 1828,44; pi. xiii. — Xuttall, Man. I. 1832,
229. — AuDCBON, Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 107 ; pi. 230. — Ci/anocilta Stelleri, Caisanis,
Miis. Hein. 321. — Newberry, P. R. R. Rep. VI. iv. 8.5. — Cyonuriis Stelleri, Swainson,
Fauna Bor. Amcr. II. 1831, 495, App. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 581. — IIeer-
MANN, X. vi. 55. — Cooper and Slcklet, XII. iii. Zoo), of W. T. 214.

Sp. Cll.^R. Crest about one third longer tlian the bill. Fifth (juill longest ; second
about equal to the secondary quills. Tail graduated; lateral feathers about 0.70 of an
inch shortest Head and neck all round, and fore Jjart of breast, dark brownish-black.

CORVID^ — THE CROWS — CYANURA.

299

Back and lesser wing coverts blackish-brown, the scapulars glossed with blue. Under
jiarts, rump, tail coverts, and wing, greenish-blue ; exj)Osed surfaces of lesser quills dark
indigo-blue ; tertials and ends of tail feathers rather obsoletely banded with black.

Feathers of the forehead streaked with greenish-blue. Length, about 12.50; extent,
18.00; wing, G.OO.

Hub. Pacific Coast of North America, to the Xorthern Rocky Mountains.

These birds are numerous in the mountains of California, inhabiting the
whole length of the Sierra Nevada, and the Coast Eange as ftir south as
Santa Cruz at least. They show a decided preference for the coniferous
forests, rarely going far from them, but sometimes in winter frequenting
those of oak. Their food consists of seeds of the pines and spruces, berries,
and acorns, which they crack before eating, besides insects, eggs, and any
animal food they can get. They even eat potatoes in winter, and resort to
the shores for dead fish. They are very noisy birds, having a variety of
harsh notes, and a consideralile talent for mimicry. They are sometimes
\evj bold and prying, at others very cautious and suspicious, soon learning
the effect of the gun, and showing much sagacity in their movements.

Their nests are built usually in evergreens at various heights, large, and
composed of twigs and roots, with a layer of mud and a lining of root-fibres.
The eggs, about four, are pale green, with small oli\"e-brown specks, and
others inclining to violet. (Nuttall.)

They lay in May near the Columbia Eiver, and probably a month earlier
in some parts of this State.

According to J. K. Lord, this species builds a nest amidst the thick foli-
age of a young pine-tree, of moss, small twigs, lichen, and fir leaves, lined
with deer hair, in which are laid about seven bluish-green eggs. The num-
ber he gives of the eggs of several birds near the 49th parallel is so much

300 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

larger than in this State, that I suspect he obtained his information from
others, instead of by personal observation.

Cyanura macrolophus, Baird.

THE LONG-CRESTED JAY.

Cyanocitta macrolopha, Baird, I'r. A. N. Sc. 1854, 118. — Ci/unum macrolophus, Baikd, Birds
N. Amer. 18.58, 582. — CouEs, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 92.

Sp. Char. Crest nearly twice the length of the bill. Tail moderately graduated ; the
lateral feathers about 0.60 of an inch shorter than the middle. Fourth and fifth cjuills
longest, second shorter than the secondaries. Head all round, throat, and fore part
of the breast black, the crest with a gloss of blue ; rest of back dark ashy-brown with a
gloss of greenish. Under parts, rump, tail coverts, and outer surfaces of primaries, green-

ish-blue ; greater coverts, secondaries, ami tcrtials, and u]i]ier surfaces of tail feathers,
bright blue, banded with black ; ibrehead streaked with opa(iue-white, passing behind into
pale blue ; a white patch over the eye. Chin grayish. Length, 12 50; wing, 5.85 ; tail,
5.85 ; tarsus, 1.70.

Hab. Central line of Rocky IMountains to the table-lands of Mexico ; Arizona.

This species is tlie Rocky Mountain representative of C. Stdlcri, from
which it differs mainly in tlie liluish-M-hite feathers of the foreliead, the
white over tlie eye, and the lonner black crest. In the northern part of
the liocky Mountains this jay has its most westward extension, and on the
head-waters of the Columbia meets with C. Sfcllcri, and apparently liybrid-
izes \\'ith it, as specimens occur there exactly intermediate in character.

The habits of C. inacrolo2)lms are inueli like those of StdJeri, and the nest
and eggs are jjrobably very similar.

CORVID^ — THE CROWS — CYANOCITTA.

301

Genus CYANOCITTA, Strickland.

Cyanocilta, Strickland, Aunals aud Mag. N. H. XV. 1845, 260. (Type, Garrulus Califor-

nicus, Vigors.)
Aphclocoma, Cabani-S, Mus. Ilcin. 1851, 221. {Same type.)

Gen. Char. Head without crest. Wings and tail blue, without any bands. Back
with a gray patch, diiferent from the head. Bill about as broad as high at the base, and

C. CalifoTnica.

the culmen a little shorter than the head. Nostrils large, nearly circular, and concealed.
Tail shorter or nearly equal to the wings, lengthened, graduated.

C. Californica.

Of this genus there are several species, all belonging to the southern por-
tions of the United States and Northern Mexico ; one of these, the Florida
jay (6'. Floridana), is confined at the present time to the peninsula of
Florida. It is (|uite similar to tlie California jay, although smaller.

/

302 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Cyanocitta Californica, Vigors.
THE CALIFORNIA JAY.

Garndus Califonu'ciis, Vigors, Zool. Beechey's Voyage, 1839, 21 ; pi. v. — Ci/anocitta Cali-
funiictis, Stkicklasd, Ann. Mag. XV. 342. — Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d Series, I. Dec.
1847, 45. — Newiieruv, P. R. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1857, 85. — Baird, P. R R. Rep. IX.
Birds, 554. — Kenxerly, X. iv. 32. — Heermasn. X. vi. 55.

Corvus ultramarinus, AuDCBON, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 456 ; pi. .362. (Not Gamihis ullramari-
nus, Bonaparte.) — Gan-ulus ultramarinus, Ai'dueos, Syn. 1839, 154. — Audubon,
Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 115; pi. 232. — Nuttall, Man. I. 2d ed. 245. Not of Bona-
parte.

Sp. Char. AVidth of bill at base of lower mandible ratlier more than half the length
of eulmen. Lateral tail feathers about an inch shortest. Tail an inch longer than the
wings. General color above, including the surface of the wings, bi-ight blue, without any
bars. The whole back, including to some extent the interscapulars, brownish-ash, very
faintly glossed with blue in the adult. A streaked white superciliary line from a little
anterior to the eye as far as the occiput. Sides of the head and neck blue, the region

around and behind the eye, including lores and most of ear coverts, black. Tlie blue of
the sides of the neck extends across the fore part of the breast, forming a crescent, inter-
rupted in the middle. The under parts anterior to the crescent, white streaked with
blue ; behind it dull white ; the sides tinged with brown. Length, 12.25 ; extent, 15.00 ;
wing, 5.00 ; tail, 6.15 ; tarsus, 1 55. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.

Hab. Pacific Coast from Columbia Elver south tu Cape St. Lucas. Not east of the
Sierra Nevada ?

According to Nuttall, tins species was common at Fort Vancouver in Oc-
tober, 1834, but it has not been seen there by recent collectors, and, according
to Newberry, was not found anywhere in Oregon during his journey in 1855,
its range being limited strictly by the Sacramento Valley. Xuttall found

CORVID.E — THE CROWS — CYANOCITTA. 303

them also with newly fledged young in June, and says they were found at
least as far north as Frazer's River. There is no reason to doubt his testi-
mony, and it seems to be one of those scarcely migratory southern species
which were then found north of the Columbia, but have since become nearly
or quite extinct there, perhaps from the effects of uncommonly severe win-
ters. Among these are the Ckdharics Culifornianus, Ayclaius guhcrnator,
Oreortijx pictus, and other more migratory species elsewhere mentioned.

In California this jay is one of the most common and conspicuous birds,
frequenting every locality where oaks grow, even close to tlie towns, enter-
ing gardens and audaciously pilfering fruits, etc., before the owner's eyes.
They share the usual cunning of the tribe, and if alarmed become very
quiet, concealing themselves in the thick foliage, so as to be found with
difficulty. They are usually, however, noisy and fearless, their odd cries,
grotesque actions, and bright plumage naaking them rather favorite guests, in
spite of their petty depredations. They live chiefly on small acorns and in-
sects, but, like other jays, are decidedly omnivorous.

Their cries are less harsli and loud than those of Steller's jay, and they
have also some talent for mimicry, besides notes to express their various
wants and ideas.

They Iniild throughout the western parts of California, constriicting a
large and strong nest of twigs, roots, grass, etc., in a low tree or bush, and
laying about five eggs, dark green, with numerous pale brown blotches and
sjjots, measuring 1.04 X 1-80 inch. At San Diego I found eggs laid about
April 5tli.

These birds inhabit the Coast Eauge to its summits, south of San Fran-
cisco, and the Sierra Nevada, probably up to the commencement of dense
pine woods and the limits of oaks, or from one thousand to five thousand
feet, according to latitude. They may feed on the pine seeds, as observed by
Dr. Kennerly of C. Woodhousii in New Mexico. I saw none on the east
side of the Sierra Nevada in lat. 39°.

Their flight is slow and laborious on account of their short wings, and
they never fly far at a time. They are very active, continually liopping
about and jerking their long tails. They are very destructive to bird's eggs,
making a business of hunting for them in tlie spring, and are then justly de-
tested and attacked by birds much smaller than themselves. They watch
the movements of small birds with great attention, in order to discover tlieir
nests, and if possible make a meal of tlie proprietor ; but they are very cow-
ardly, and never attack a bird that is prepared for them.

This bird is very abundant at Cape St. Lucas, and, like all the species
resident there, is much smaller than in more northern regions ; in size, in-
deed, not exceeding, if equalling, that of the diminutive Florida jay. The
habits, however, are said to be much the same.

304 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES.

Cyanocitta Woodhousii, Baird.

WOODHOtrSE'S JAY.

CijamciHa Woodhousii, Baikd, Birds N. Amer. 1858, 585; pi. 59. — CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc.

1866, 92.
Cyanocorax Californicus, Woodhouse, Sitgi-eave's Report, 1853, 77. (San Francisco Jloiin-

tains.)

Sp. Ch.\r. Size and general appearance of C. Californica. Graduation of tail one
inch. Blue, with a very obscure ashy patch on the back. Sides of the head and neck and
incomplete pectoral collar blue ; throat streaked with the same. Breast and belly imiform

brownish-ash glossed with blue ; luider tail coverts bright blue. Sides of head, including
lores, black, glossed with blue below ; a streaked white superciliary line. Length, 11.50 ;
wing, 5.35 ; tail, 6.10; tarsus, 1.60.

Hab. Central line of Rocky Mountains to the table-lauds of Mexico. Southern Ari-
zona.

This species is distinguishable from C. Californica hj the characters given
above, especially by the grayish under parts, and the greater or less amount
of blue on the under tail coverts. There is no white whatever in the under
parts, except immediately around the anus, and there is a gloss of blue dis-
tinctly appreciable, especially along the middle of the body. The back is
more blue, and the lores are quite black, without any hoary, as in Califor-
nica. According to Dr. Coues, it is very abundant in Arizona, being
found e\-erywhere, but preferring open hillsides among the scrub-oaks.
In winter it collects in flocks, and, like most jays, it is shy, restless, and
noisy.

COKVlDiE — TILE CROWS — CYANOCITTA. 305

Cyanocitta sordida, Swainson.

SIEBER'S JAY.

Garruhis sorclidiis, SwAiNSoy, Philos. Mag. June, 18'J7, 4.37. Ie. Zool. III. III. n. s. tab.
86. — Ai>helocoma sordida, C^BASIS, Mus. Hcin. 1S51, 221. — Cyanocitta sordida, B.\ird,
Birds N. Amer. IS.'iS, 587 ; pi. Ix. f. 1. lu. Mex. Bound. Rep. II. 21. — CouEs, Pr. A.
N. Sc. 1SC6, 92.

Pica Siehcri, Waglee, Syst. At. 1827. No. 2.3.

Sp. Cii.\it. Bill short, thick ; half as high as long. Wings about as long or but little
longer than the tail, wliich is graduated 0.85 of an inch. Above and on sides of head and
nock bright blue, scarcely duller in the middle of tlie back. Beneath white ; the throat
and breast tinged with very faint bluish, especially across the latter. Tibial feathers dull

bluish-ash ; crissura white, the tips of posterior feathers very faintly tinged with bluish-
gray. Length, 13 00; wing, 6.G0 ; tail, G. GO ; tarsus, 1. Go ; culmen, 1.00; height of bill
at base, 0.45.

Hab. Miinbres region of Rocky Mountains, and south to table-lands of Mexico.
Southern Arizona (Fort Buchanan).

This bird is found along the southern border of Arizona and N'ew Mexico,
but in wliat degree of abundance cannot now be stated. Nothing is known
of its liabits.

It is not at all improbable that another species of Cyanocitta, C. ultm-
marina (Bonaparte) (Baird, Birds N. Anier. 588) may yet be found in Ari-
zona or New IMexico, as it has been taken very near tlie southern boun-
daries of those territories. It is allied to C. Cali/omica, but has a shorter,
more even tail, much longer wings, and stouter feet. There are no dark
marks beneath, and the ash of the back is scarcely appreciable.
39

306

SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES.

Genus PERISOREUS, RnxAPARTE.

Perisoreus, Bonafakte, Saggio di una (list. met. 1831. (Type Corvus Canadensis ?)
Dysonuthia, Swainson, Fauna Bor. Amcr. II. 1831, 495. (Same type.)

Gex. Cn.\R. Feathers kx and full, especially on the back, and of very dull colors,
without any blue. Head without distinct crest. Bill very short ; broader than high.
Cukuen scarcely half the length of the head ; straight to near the tip, then slightly

P, Canadensis

curved ; gonys more curved than culmen. Bill notched at tip. Nostrils round, covered
by bristly feathers. Tail alxnit ecjual to the wings ; graduated. Tarsi rather short ; but
little longer than the middle toe.

p. Canadensis.

CORVIDJi: — THE CROWS — PERISOREUS.

3or

Perisoreus Canadensis, Linn^us.

THE CANADA JAY.

Corvus Canadensis, LiNN^ns, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 158. — WiLSOX, Am. Orn HI. 1811,33;
pi. xxi. — Garrulus Canadensis, BoNAP.^RTE, (Saggio, 1831 >) Syn. 1828, .58 — SwAIN-
SON, FiUina Bor. Amer. II. 1831, 29.'j. — Nuttall, Man. I. 1832, 232 —Audubon,
Birds Amcr. IV. 1842, 121; pi. 234. — Pe>-iso>etis Canadensis, Bos afarte, Li.st, 1838.
— Newberry, Rep. V. R. R. Surv. VI. iv. 18.57, 85. — Baird, P. K. Rep. IX. Birds,
590. — Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 216.

Gan-ulus brachi/rhi/nc/ats, SwAiNSOX, rauna Bur. Amer. II. 1831, 296 ; pi. 55 (young).

Sp. C«ar. Tail graduated ; lateral feathers about one inch shortest. Wings a little
shorter than the tail. Head and neck and fore part of breast white. A plumbeous brown

'""Is

occipital patch, becoming darker behind, fi-om the mi<ldle of the crown to the back, from
which it is se]iarated by an interrupted whitish collar. Rest of upper parts ashy-plumbe-
ous ; the outer primaries margined, the secondaries, tertials, and tail feathers obscurely

Younc

308 SINGING BIEDS — OSCINKS.

tipped with white. Beneath smoky gi-ay. Crissiim whitish. Length, 10.50 ; extent,
17 00; wing, 5 50 ; tail, 6.00 ; tarsus, 1.40. Iris brown; bill and feet black.

Hal). Northern America into the northern parts of the United States from the Atlantic
to the Pacific ; more south in llocky Mountains.

Dr. Newberry found tliis bird common in California north of lat. 40° in
autumn, and tliey probably descend much farther south in winter, if not
resident in the highest Sierra Nevada, for nearly their whole length. I did
not see them about lat. 39° in September, but liave everywhere towards the
north fouftd them so scattered in their range that they may easily be over-
looked in a short visit to a district, tliough common there at times.

Tliey are generally rather shy l:>irds, migrating in small families through
tlie woods, occasionally whistling in a loud and clear tone quite unlike other
jays. They have indeed much the habits and appearance of the titmice,
thouo-h so much larger, searching closely among the evergreens for seeds,
insects, etc., hanging head downwards and uttering a variety of quaint and
musical notes:* At times, especially in winter, they become very bold, en-
tering cabins in the woods, and following hunters to obtain scraps of meat
and fat of the game he may hang up, from which they have obtained one of
their names of " meat-bird." They are also called in the far North " Wliis-
key Jack," not from any fondness for liquor, liut from a corruption of their
Chippewa name of WisImcJion. (Suckley.)

They are most numerous in the cold regions of the fur countries north of
lat. 49°, and do not migrate much even in that climate. According to
Hutchins, they in winter become so bold as to steal from the very dishes in
the hunter's camp. They lay up stores of berries, etc., in hollow trees, and
even are said to eat lichens. They are considered mockers and birds of ill
omen by the Indians, and are very noisy about the commencement of
storms.

Their nests are built in pine-trees of twigs and grass, and their eggs, four
to six, are light grayish, with faint brown spots. (Nuttall.) The young for
the tirst autumn are nearly as black as crows.

Order CLAMATORES.

Chae. Toes, three anterior and one posterior, not versatile. Tail feath-
ers usually twelve. Primaries always ten, the first nearly as long as the
second. Tarsal scales generally passing entirely around.

But one family of this order is found within our limits, though there are
numerous others in tlie tropics, preseuting great variety of form.

Family TYEANNID^, The Tykant Flycatchers.

Char. Bill broader than high at the base, much depressed, more or less
triangular. Culmen nearly as long as the head or shorter ; straight to near
the tip, then suddenly bent down into a conspicuous hook, with a notch
behind it ; tip of lower jaw also notched. Commissure straight to near
the notch ; gonys sliglitly convex. Nostrils oval or rounded, in the an-
terior extremity of the nasal groove, and more or less concealed by long
bristles which extend from the posterior angle of the jaws along the base of
the bill, becoming smaller, but reaching nearly to the median line of tlie
forehead. Tliese bristles with lateral branches at the base. Similar bristles
mixed in the loral feathers and margining the chin. Tarsi short, generally
less than the middle toe, completely enveloped by a series of large scales,
which meet near the posterior edge of tlie inner side, and are separated
either by naked skin or by a row of small scales. Sometimes a second
series of rather large plates is seen on the posterior face of the tarsus, these,
however, usually on the upper extremity only. Basal joint of middle toe
united almost throughout to tliat of the outer toe, but more tlian lialf free
on the inner side ; outer lateral toe rather the longer. Wings and tail
variable ; first quill always more than three fourtlis the second. The outer
primaries sometimes attenuated near the tip.

310

CRYING BIRDS — CLAJtIATURES.

Gekus TYRANNUS, Cc\-ier.

Tijrannus, Cuvier, Le9ons Anat. Comp. 1799, 1800 (Agassiz).

Gf.n. Char. Tail nearly even, or moderately foi-ked ; rather shorter than the wings ;
the feathers broad, and widening somewhat at the ends. Wings long and jiointed ; the

T. Carolinensis. '

outer primaries ratlier abruptly attenuated near the end, the attenuated portion not linear,
however. Head with a concealed patch of red on the crown.

This is exclusively an American genus, of wliicli tliere are many species
in warm and tropical regions.

r. CarolineTisis.

TYRANNID^ — THE TYR.VNT FLYCATCHERS — TYRANNUS. ^H
Tyrannus Carolinensis, Baird.

THE KING-BIED; BEE-MARTIN.

Lam'us fi/rannus, Linnjeus, Syst. Nat. 1. 176G, 136. (This belongs to the Cuban T. maltitt-

nus, according to Bonaparte.) — Musciaiju li/raniius, (Brisson ?) Wilson, Am. Orii. I.

1808, 66; pi. xiii. —Audubon, Orn. Biog. I. 1832, 403; V. 1839, 420; pi. 79. lis.

Birds Amcr. I. 1840, 204; pi. 56. — Luiiius fi/raiinus, var. CaroUnensis, Litdvvicianiis,

G.iiiiLiN, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 302.
Mtiscicapa rex, B.vrton, Fragments, N. 11. Penna. 1799, 18.
Ti/ranniis Cnrolinensis, B.\iRD, P. 1?. Rep. IX. Birds, 171. — Cooper and Sucklet, XII. iii.

Zool. ofW. T. 167. — Lord, Pr. II. A. Inst. Woolwich, 1804, 113. British Columbia.

Sr. CiiAR. Two, sometimes tliree, outer primaries abruptly attenuated at the end.
Si'cond (juill lonf^est ; third little shorter ; first rather longer than fourth, or nearly equal.
Tail slightl)' rounded. Above dark bluish-ash, the top and sides of the head to beneath
the eyes bluish-black. A concealed orcst on the crown, vermilion in the centre, white
behind, ami before partially mi.xed with orange. Lower parts jiure white, tinged with
pale bluish-ash on the sides of the throat and across the breast ; sides of the breast and

under the wings similar to, but rather lighter than, the back. Axillaries pale grayish-
brown tipped with lighter. The wings dark brown, darkest towards the ends of tlie
quills ; the greater coverts and quills edged with white, most so on the tertials ; the lesser
coverts edged with paler. Upper tail coverts and upper surface of the tail glossy black,
the latter very dark brown beneath ; all the feathers tipped and the exterior margined
externally with white, forming a conspicuous terminal band about 0.2.5 of an inch broad.
Length, 8.7.5; extent, 1.5.00; wing, 4.65; tail, 3.70 ; tarsus, 0.75. Iris brown ; bill and
feet black.

Huh. Eastern North America to Rocky Mountains. West of this seen only in Wash-
ington Territory. California V South to Panama and the Upper Amazon, in winter.

Altliough tlii.s Ijird lias never vet been collected in California, it is almost
impossible that one of its migratory habits should be abundant at the

312 CRYING BIRDS— CLAMATORES.

Columbia Eiver, as I found it, without passing tlirough California in the
spring and fall. It is scarcely probable that they prefer a route of travel
through the barren regions towards the Eocky Mountains, when they can
find abundance of food on the route through California, and a country quite
congenial to their habits. I have found them, however, all along tlie Upper
Missouri, and across the Eocky JMountains northward.

Their haliits are well known to settlers from the Atlantic States. Their
name of king-bird is deri\-ed from their quarrelsome disj)osition during the
breeding season, when they drive every bird, even to the size of the eagle,
away from their nest. This is built on a low l)ranch, often in the garden or
orchard, constructed firmly of roots, grass, and a lining of soft materials,
horse-hair, etc. The eggs are three to five, yellowish-white, and with a few
large well-defined brown spots. Their notes consist of harsh guttural twitters
and chirps, not worthy to be called a song. Their food is almost wliolly of
insects, for which they watch from some prominent perch ; also of berries,
and they sometimes watch around hives for bees. They leave the Atlantic
States in October, to winter in Tropical America. (Nuttall.)

T5nrannus verticalis, Say.

THE AEKANSAS FLYCATCHER.

Ti/rammi! vertlcaHs, S.\T, Long's Exped. II. 1S2.3, 60. — Nuttai-l, Man. II. 2tl ed. ISIO, 306.
Baird, P. R. Kcp. IX. Biicls, 173. — Heermann, X. vi. 37. — Cooper and Sdckley,
XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 168. — Lord, Pr. R. A. Inst. Woolwich, 1864, 113. British
C'olnmbia. — Musckapa ro//ca//s, Bokap.vrte, Am. Orn. I. 182.'), 18; pi. xi. — Audd-
BON, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 422 ; pi. 359. Ib. Birds Anicr. I. 1840, 199 ; pi. 54.

Sp. Char. The four exterior quills attenuated very gently at the end, the first most
so ; third and fourth quill longest, second and fifth successively a little shorter. Tail slight-
ly forked ; bill shorter than the head. Crown, sides of head above the eyes, nape, and
sides of neck, pale lead-color or ash-gray ; a concealed crest in the crown, verniilion in
the centre, and yellowish before and behind. Hind neck and back ashy-gray, strongly
tinged with light olivaccous-gi-een, the gray turning to brown on the rump ; upper tail
coverts nearly black, lower dusky ; chin and part of ear coverts dull white ; throat and
upper part of breast similar to he-ad, but lighter, and but slightly contrasted with the
chin ; rest of the lower parts, with the under wing coverts and axillars, yellow deepening
to gamboge on the belly, tinged with olivaceous on the breast. Wing brown, tlie coverts
with indistinct asbv margins; secondaries and tortials edged with whitish ; inner webs of
primaries whitish towards the base. Tail nearly black abo-\-e, and glossy, duller brownish
beneath ; without oliv.nceons edgings. Exterior feather, with the outer web and the shaft,
yellowish-white; inner edge of latter brown. Tips of remaining feathers paler. Bill and
feet dark brown.

Female rather smaller and colors less bright. Length of male, 8.50 ; extent, 13.25 ;
wing, about 4.50.

TYRANNID.E — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — TYRANNUS.

513

Hah. Western North America, from the High Central Plains to the Pacific. Acci-
dental in the Eastern States.

This beautiful and abundant species arrives in the State about March
20th, and I think none remain within our limits during winter. Small par-
ties of males come first, which are constantly quarrelling until the victors
have decided the contest and selected their mates. This does not seem to
take place for several M'eeks, as I have not found a nest with eggs earlier
than May 12tli at Santa Barbara. Tliis nest was built on a branch of a low
oak near the town, was five inches wide, and constructed of lichens, twigs,

coarse grass, and wool, lined with hair, and the four eggs it contained were
creamy-white spotted with purple of two shades near large end, measuring
0.94 X 0.70 inch. They exhibit similar courage in defence of their nest,
and are in fact almost the exact counterpart of the king-bird in habits.
Their notes are rather more varied and noisy, and they utter tliem almost
constantly during the spring, often when flying and fighting. As " bee-
birds " they are fully as destructive, but compensate for the damage by de-
stroying great numliers of no.xious insects, and therefore ought to be driven
away from the neighborhood of the hives instead of shot. Tliey leave the
State, I tliink, in October. With tliis species as with the king-V)ird, it is not
uncommonly the case that smaller l.)irds take advantage of its courageous
behavior in driving away predatory birds from its nest, by constructing
their own in the same neighborhood, so as to enjoy a certain amount of
protection. This reliance of one bird on another is shown stiU more strik-
ingly in regard to a Jamaican species of allied family, the Hadrostomus
niger, of about the size of the king-bird, which builds a nest as large as a
bushel measure, in tlie substance of wliicli half a dozen birds of other
species sometimes make their nest likewise.

40

314

CRYING BIRDS — CLAMATORES.

Tyrannus vociferans, Swainson.

CASSIN'S FLYCATCHER.

Tyrannus vociferans, Swaixson, Mon. Tyrant Shrikes in Quarterly Jom-nal Sc. XX. Jan.

1826, 27.3. In. Tliilos. Mag. 1. 1827, 368. — Baird, P. R. Ecp. IX. Birds, 174; U. S.

and Mex. Bound. Ecp. II. ili. 8 ; pi. x. — Coues, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866, 59.
Ti/rannus Cassinii, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, V. 1852, 3» ; pi. iii. f. 2. (Texas.)

Sp. Char. Bill from the forclicad, about as long as the head. Tail e\-en or slightly
rounded. Outer five jirimaries attenuated ; the first four abruptly and deeply euiar-
ginated ; third ([uill longest, second and fourth a little less, first shorter than the sixth,
and half an ineh less tlian the longest. Head and neek above and on the sides rather
dark bluish-ash ; the throat and breast similar, and only a little paler. Rest of upper parts
olive-green tinged with gray, mixed with brown on the rump ; the upjier tail coverts and
siu-face of the tail nearly black ; the outer web of the external feather and tips of all )3ale

hro-vm. The ehin is white, in strong contrast to the dark ash of the throat ; the rest of
the under jiarts bright sulphur yellow (the sides olivaceous), palest on the under tail
coverts and inside of wings. A concealed vermilion patch in the crown, bordered by
straw vellow. Wing feathers lirown, tinged with olive, becoming paler towards the edge.
Length, 9.00 to 10.00 ; extent, 15.00 to 17.00 ; wing, 4.2.5 to 6.50 ; tail, 4.25. Iris brown ;
bill black ; feet grayish.

Hab. Pecos River, Texas, and into ]\Iexieo, and Guatemala on table-lands. West to
Coast of California.

Quite conniion in the southern linlf of CalJfonii;i, and resident as far
north as Los Angeles during winter. Tliey much reseinlile the T. rcrticalis
in color, hut are less lively and quarrelsome in halnts. During the early
part of the year they begin to sing at daylight, generally from the top of a

TYRANNID.E — THE TYllANT FLYCATCHERS — MYIARCHUS. 3^5

sycuiiiore-tree, tlieir notes being loud and much more musical than those of
the other sj)ecies, Avith considerable variety tor a bird of this family.
During the middle of the day they are ratlier quiet, and sit much of the
time on tlieir percli, occasionally catching an insect that comes very near,
but I think their feeding is done mostly in the very early morning.

I fomid them breeding at San Diego as early as March 2Sth, as well as
subsequently. The nest is much larger and more firmly built than that of
the others, being 5.50 X 2.50 inches externally, and 3.00 across the cavity,
the eggs 0.96 X 0.70 inch, white with large scattered reddish-brown and
undjer blotches. I found some of these birds in Santa Clara Valley in
May, 1804, which were smaller and greener on the back than those from
tlie south.

They winter in small nundjers at Santa Cruz, lat. 37°, together with Trog-
ludi/ics rarliitaiini and Iliri/iulo hkolor, indicating a much milder climate
than anywhere else in the State.

Genus MYIARCHUS, Cabanis.

Mijiarchus, Cab.\nis, Fauna Peruana, 1844-1846,152. — Bukjiei.stee, Thiero Brasiliens,
II. ViJgd, 1856, 4G9.

Gex. C'u.\i:. Tarsus ciiual to or not longer than the middle toe, whieh is deeidedly
longer than the hinder one. Bill wider at base than half the culuieu. Tail broad, long,

M. cnnitus.

even, or slightly rounded, about equal to the wings, whieh scarcely reach the middle of
the tail ; the first primary shorter than the si.xth. Head with elongated lanceolate dis-

)16

CRYING BIRDS — CLAMATORES.

M. crinitus,

tinct feathers. Above brownisli-olive, tliroat atli, belly yellow. Tail and wing feathers
varied with rufous

Myiarchus Mexicanus, Kaup.

THE ASH-THEOATED FLYCATCHER.

Tyrannula Mexicana, Kaup, Pr. Zool. Soc. Feb. 1851, ^>\ .— Myiurchts Mexicanus, JiwR-D,
P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 179. — Heekmann, X. vi. 37; pi. iv. — CouES, Pr, Pliil. Ac.
1866, 59.

Ti/raiviula cinerasccns, Lawrence, Annals N. Y. Lye. N. Ilist^ V. Sept. 1851, 109. — New-
BEKRY, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 81.

Sp. Ch.\r. Bill black, the width opposite the nostrils uot half the length of the culmen.
Head crested. Tail even, the lateral featliers slightly shorter. Second, third, and iuurth
quills longest ; first rather shorter than the seventh. Above a dull grayish-olive ; the

M. Mczicamis.

TYRAXNID.E — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — MYIARCHUS. 317

centres of the feathers rather darker ; the crown, rump, and upper tail coverts tinged with
brownish. The forehead and sides of the head grayisli-asli ; tlie chin, throat, and fore
part of tlie breast ashy-white ; the middle of the breast white ; the rest of the under parts
very pale sulphur yellow ; wings and tail brown. Two bands across the wing, with outer
edges of the secondaries and tertials dull white ; the outer edges of the primaries light
chestnut brown (excejit towards the tip and on the outer feather) ; the inner edges tinged
with the same. Whole of the middle tail leathers, with the outer webs (only), and the
ends of the others brown ; the rest of the inner webs reddish-chestnut, the outer web of
exterior feather yellowish- white. Legs and bill black ; lower mandible brownish at the
base. Length, about 8.60 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 4.10 ; tarsus, 90.

Hah. Coast of California, and across by Valley of Gila anil Rio Grande to Northeastern
Mexico, and south to Giuitemala.

I found one of tins species at Fort Mojave on Jannaiy lath, and think a
few may lialjitually winter in the Colorado A^alley. They began to arrive
from tlie south about Marcli 10th, and extend their range through nearly
the wliole State or its lower portions. Their notes are few, loud, and harsh,
little varied, and uttered from time to time as they fly after an insect from
their accustomed perch (whicli is usually on the lower dead limbs of the
forest trees), prefening shady situations, and feeding late in the evening.
According to Heermaun, the nest, found in a hollow tree, or a deserted bur-
row of a woodpecker, is composed of grasses lined with feathers. The eggs,
five in number, are cream-color, marlced and speckled with piirplisli-red
dashes and faint neutral tint blotches.

M. crinitns.

A variety (Mi/iarchm Mcxicanus, var. 2XTtinax, Baird, Pr. Phil. Acad. 1859,
303) of this species occurs at St. Lucas, where it was collected by Mr. Xantus,
characterized by the possession of a decidedly stouter bill and stronger
feet than usual. The size of the bird itself is perhapis less tlian the average.

318

CRYING BIRDS— CL.IjVIATORES.

M. Cooperi.

This species is closely allied to the M. crinitus of the Eastern States,
and M. Coojn'ri of Mexico ; the difference will be shown in the preceding
figures. The principal characters will be found in the markings of the tail.

Genus SAYORNIS, Bonaparte.

Sai/ornis, Bonapakte ? Atcnco Italiano, 185-t. Id. Comptes Rcnclus, 1854; Kotcs Orn.

Delattrc.
Aulanax, Cabanis, Journal fiir Orn. 1856, 1. (Tjpc, Tijranmdu nigricans.)

Gen. Char. Ilt-ml with a blended depressed moderate crest. Tarsus decidedly longer
thau middle toe, which is scarcely longer than the hind toe. Bill rather narrow ; width at

S. nigricans.

TYEANNID^ — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — SAYOKNIS. 319

5. nigricans.

base about half the culmen. Tail broad, long, slightly forked ; equal to the ■n-ings, ■which
are moderately pointed, and reach the middle of the tail. First primary shorter than the
sixth.

Sayornis nigricans, Swaixsox.

THE BLACK FLYCATCHEE.

Tyranmda ni'r/rirans, SwAlNSON, Syn. Birds Mcx. Taylor's Phil. Mag. I. 1827, 367. — New-
berry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1837, 81. — MuscicajHi niijri-
cans, AuDCBON, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 302 ; pi. 474. In. Birds Aracr. I. 1840, 218; pi.
60. — Ti/ramius nii/ricdiis, NuTTAi.L, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840, 32G. — Sai/oi-nis nir/rirnns, Bona-
parte, Comptcs Kcndus, XXVIII. 18.54, notes Orn. 87. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
183. — Kennerly, X. iv. 23. — Heeumaxn, X. vi. 38. — CouES, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866,60.

Sp. Cil.\i!. Wings rounded; second, third, and fourth quills longest; first shorter
than si.\th. Tarsi with a second row of scales behind. The head and neck all round,

fore part and sides of the breast dark sooty-brown ; the rest of the upper parts similar, but

lighter ;' faintly tinged with lead-color towards the tail. Tlie middle of the breast, abdo-

320 CRYING BIRDS — CLAMATORES.

men, and lower tail coverts white ; some of the latter with the shafts and the centres
brown. The lower wing coverts grayish-brown, edged with white. "Wings dark brown ;
the edges of the secondary coverts rather lighter ; of primary coverts dull white. Edn-e
of the exterior vane of the first primary, and of the secondaries, white. Tail dark brown,
with the greater part of the outer vane of the e.xterior tail feather white ; this color nar-
rowing from the base to the tip. Bill and feet black. The tail rounded ; rather emar-
ginate ; feathers broad ; more obliquely truncate than in S. sai/us. The bill slender ;
similar to that of S.fuscus. Length, nearly 7.00; wing, 3. GO ; tail, 3.45.
Hab. California to Texas, and south into Mexico.

An abtuidaiit and resident species in all the lower parts of California,
except the Colorado Valley, where I saw none later than March 25, 18G1,
as they had gone north. At San Diego they had nests and eggs at that date
(1862), and are elsewhere among the earliest birds to build. The nest is
formed of an outer wall of mud, about 5.25 inches wide, and 3.50 high, in
little pellets piled on successively as they dry, in the shape of half a cup,
stuck against a wall or sometimes on a shelf, beam, or ledge of rock, but
always under some protecting roof, often under a bridge. It is lined ^\■ith
fine grass or moss, and horse or cow hair, and the eggs, four or five in num-
ber, are pure white ; measuring 0.74 X 0.55 inch. They prefer the vicinity
of human haljitations, and also to keep around water, on account of the
numerous flies they find in such situations.

They often sit for hours on the end of a barn or other perch, uttering
their monotonous but not unpleasing ditty, which sounds like " Pittic, pit-
tit," alternately repeated, much like the cry of the Eastern " Pewee " or
"Phoebe-bird" (jS'. /mscms), which is their exact analogue in habits. They
fly only short distances at a time, turning and dodging quickly in pursuit of
their prey, ■which they capture with a sharp snap of the biU.

Sayornis Sayus, Bonaparte.
SAY'S FLYCATCHEK.

Muscicaim Sai/n, Bon-apaete, Am. Orn. I. 182r), 20 ; ]il. xi. f. 3. — Audubon, Orn. Biog.
IV. 1838, 428 ; pi. 359. Ib. Birds Amcr. I. 1840, 217 ; pi. .')9. — Tymnmis Saija, NuT-
TALL, Man. I. 2d ed. 1840, 311. — Maxim. Cab. Jonr. 18.58, 183. — Ti/ranHH/n -Sn^a,
BoxAPARTE, Conspectus, 1850. — Newberry, P. K. Rep. VI. iv. 81. — Saijornis Stiijus,
Baird, r. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 185. — ICennerly, X. iv. 24. — Heermann, X. vi. 37. —
CouES, Pr. Pliil. Ac. 1866, 60.

Sp. Ciiak. Al>ove and on the sides of the head, neck, anil breast, grayish-brown,
darker on the crown ; region about the eye dusky. The chin, throat, and upper part of
the breast, similar to the Ijack, but rather lighter and tinged with the color of the rest of
the lower parts, which are pale cinnamon. Under wing coverts pale rusty white. The
wmgs of a rather deeper tiut than the back, with the exterior vanes and the tips of the

TYEAi^NID^ — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — SAYORNIS. 321

quills darker. Edges of the greater and secondary coverts, of the outer vane of the outer
primary, and of the secondaries and tertials, dull white. The upper tail coverts and tail
nearly black. Edge of outer vane of exterior tail feather white. Bill dark brown ; rather

paler beneath. The feet brown. Second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal ; fifth
nearly equal to sixth ; sixth much shorter than the first. Tail broad, enuirginate. T;u>i
with a posterior row of scales. Length, 7.00 ; wing, 4.30 ; tail, 3.33.

Hab. Missouii and central high plains westward to the Pacific, and south to Mexico.

This seems to be mostly a winter visitor in the southern and western
parts of California, where I ha\'e seen none after March. Tliey migrate in
summer throughout the great interior plains, and, according to Eichardson,
as far north as lat. G0° in the Hudson's Bay region, where they seem to
take the place of the other two species. Their nest was found there in a
tree, resembling that of the S. nigricans. They probably, howe\-er, l.)uild
more frequently among the cliffs, which are the only suitable situati(jns in
the barren, treeless regions they inhabit. Their habits are similar to those
of the other species, and the few notes they utter while with us are also
similar.

41

0O9 CRYING BIRDS — CLAMATOKES.

I first noticed the aiTi\-al of this Idrd from the north at the end of Sep-
tember, near Los Angeles, but it probaldy arri\-es mucli earlier in the north-
ern part of the State, if indeed it does not breed there, east of the Sierra.

Genus CONTOPUS, Caisanis.

Cuntopus, Cabams, Jouraal fiir Orn. III. Nov. 1855, 479, (Type, Musn'rapa virciis, L.)

Gen. Cii.\R. Tarsus very short, but stout ; less than the middle toe and scarcely longer
than the hinder. Bill quite broad at the base ; wider than half the cubnen. Tail mod-

erately forked, much shorter than the wins: (rather more than three fourths). AVings
very long and much pointed, reaching beyond the middle of the tail ; the first primary

TYEANNIDiE — THE TYKAi^T FLYCATCHERS— COJITOPUS. 323

about equal to the fourth. All the primaries slender and rather acute, but not attenuated.
Head moilerately crested. Color, olive above, pale yellowish beneath, with a darker patch
on the sides of the breast. Under tail coverts streaked.

There is one Eastern species not found on this coast, though it has been
attributed to it (C. virens). It differs from C. Richardsonii in smaller size,
outer primary edged with whitish, the breast paler than the back, and with
a median white Une.

Contopus borealis, Swainson.

THE OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHEK.

Tyrminns horealis, Sw. and Rich., Fauna Bor. Amcr. W. 1831, 141 ; plate.

Musckapa inormila, NuTTALL, Man. I. 1832, 282.

Muscicapa Cooperi, NuTTALL, Man. I. 1832, 282. — AuDUBON, Orn. Biog. H. 1834, 422; V.

1839, 422; pi. 174. Ib. Birds Amer. I. 1840, 212; pi. 58. — Ti/rannus Cooperi, BoK.\-

PARTE, List, 1838. — NuTTALL, Man. I. 2d ed. 1840, 298. — Contopus Cooperi, Cabanis,

Jour, fur Ornithol. III. Nov. 1855, 479.
Contopus borealis, B.URD, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 188. — Cooper and Scckley, XII. iii.

Zool. ofW. T. 169.
Contopus mesoleucus, Sclater, Pr. Z. S. 1859, 43. (Mexico.)

Sp. Cii.\i:. Wings long, much pointed ; the second cpull longest ; the first longer than
the third. Tail deeply forked. Tarsi short. The upper parts ashy brown, showiniT
darker brown centres of the feathers ; this is eminently the case on the top of the head ;
the sides of the head and neck, of the breast and body resembling the back, but with the
edges of the feathers tinged with gray, leaving a darker central streak. The chin, throat,
narrow hne down the middle of the breast and body, abdomen, and lower tail coverts

white, or sometimes with a faint tinge of yellow. The lower tail coverts somewhat
streaked with brown in the centre. On each side of the rump, generally concealed by
the wings, is an elongated bunch of white silky feathers. The wings and tail very dark
brown, the former with the edges of the secondaries and tertials edged with dull white.
The lower wing coverts and axillaries grayish-brown. The tips of the primaries and tail
feathers rather paler. Feet and upper mandible black, lower mandible brown. The
young of the year sinular, but the color duller ; the feet light brown. Length, 7.25 ; e.x-

324 CRTLNG BIRDS — CLAjMATORES.

tent, 12.75; wing, 4.25 ; tail, 3.30 ; tarsus, O.CO. Iris brown; liill Ijlack, yellow at base ;
feet black.

Hah. Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of the United States, and interior towards the nortb.
Greenland (Ruinbardt). Soutb to Costa Rica.

Tins is a Nortliem flycatcher, -which .seem.s to be resident in most parts of
this State wliere it is found, but not occurring south of Monterej^ where Dr.
Gambel found young in July. I found them rather common in the Coast
Eange toward Santa Cruz, where they had nests in May, but I could not
examine any of these, their location being generally on a high. inaccessible
branch. I also found this bird at Lake Talioe in September. It is rather
silent, keeping mostly on tops of the trees, and catching passing insects. In
spring it utters a loud, monotonous chirping note, frequently repeated,
sometimes for hours together, and sometimes a call resembling " phee-bee."
Nuttall found a nest, about fifty feet from the ground, in ]\Iassachusetts,
built much like that of the king-bird. The eggs were four, yellowish cream-
color, with dark brown and lavender purple spots thinly dispersed.

It is a much more abundant bird near the Columbia Eiver and through-
out the Northern Eocky IMountains. There they migrate, remaining at the
Lower Columbia from ]\Iay to October.

Contopus pei'tinax, Cabanis.
COUES FLYCATCHER.

Contopus poilnnr, CuiANis. Mus. Hcin. II. 1859, 72. (Mexico.) — CouES, Pr. Phil. Acail.
1866, 60. (Fort Wliipplc.) — Elliot, B. N. A. I. ; pi. 8.

Sp. Char. Second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal ; first intermediate between fifth
and si.Kth. Tail slightly forked. Upper parts uniform olive-green, rather darker on the

head. Beneath, the olive is a little lighter, and covers the whole under surfaces in slightly
varying shade, exce|)t the chin, middle of belly, and crissnm. Axillars, and inside and
edge of wings, yellowish with tinge of buff. Middle and greater wing coverts rather paler

TYRANNIDiE — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS— CONTOPUS. 325

at ends, without forming a distinct band. Secondaries edged externally with lighter
olive. A concealed white tuft on flanks. Bill black above ; yellow beneath. Young with
two pale buff bands on the wings. Length, about 7.50 ; wing, 4.40 ; tail, 4.00 ; bill
above, 0.70 ; tarsus, 0.70 ; middle toe and claw, 0.65.
Hab. Mexico to Fort AVliipplc, Arizona.

This species was first detected witliiu tlie limits of tlie United States by
Dr. Cones, who found a young bird at Fort Wliipple. He noticed nothing
peculiar in its habits. Of much the same size as C. borcalis, the tail is dis-
proportionately longer, and the wing formula and colors quite different. The
species is not uncommon in Mexico, and will probably be yet found more
abundantly in the United States, botli in Arizona and New IVIexico, as
its inconspicuous plumage renders it very liable to be overlooked by col-
lectors.

Contopus Richardsonii, Swainson.
THE SHORT-LEGGED PEWEE.

Tijmmmhi Rii/iarrlsoiiii, i^w.ussoy, Fauna Bor. Amer. IL 18.31, 146; plate. — Sfiiscicapa
Riclmrdsonii, Audubon, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 299; pi. 434. — Contopus Richardsunii,
B.UKD, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 189. — Coues, Pr. Ph. Ac. 1866, 61.

Muscknpa phabe, AuDUBON, Syn. 1839, 42. lis. Birds Amer. I. 1840, 219 ; pi. 61 (not of
Latliam). — Tyramms phahe, Nutt.\ll, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840, 319.

Contopus sordidulus, Sclater.

Contopus pkheius, Cabanis. •

Sp. Chah General appearance of C. virens. Bill broad. Wings very long and much
pointed, considerably exceeding the tail ; second quill longest ; third a little shorter ; first
shorter than fourth, and about midway Ix'tween distance from second to fifth (O.GO of an
inch). Primaries 1.20 inches longer than secondaries. Tail moderately forked. Above,
dark olive-brown (the bead darker), the entire breast and sides of head, neck, and body

$1

of a paler shade of the same, tinging strongly also the dull whitish throat and chin. Ab-
domen and under tail coverts dirty pale yellowish. Quills and tail dark lilackish-brown ;
the secondaries narrowly, the tcrtials more broadly edged with whitish. Two quite indis-
tinct bands of brownish-white across the wings. Lower mandible yellow ; the tip brown.
Length, 6.20 ; extent, 10.50 ; wing, 3.50 ; tail, 3.10. L-is brown ; bill black, brown below;
feet black.

326 CRYING BIRDS— CLAMATORES.

Hab. High central phiins to the Pacific ; Rio Grande Valley, southward to Mexico
and Costa Rica ; Labrador (Audubon).

This bird arrives in California from the south about April 15th, and
spends the summer in most moimtainous parts of tlie State. It perches
mainly on lower dead limlis, and watclies for passing insects, uttering occa-
sionally a plaintive " pe-ah," but is usually \ti\j silent, and prefers tlie dark,
solitary recesses of the forests.

I have not discovered their nest, but Audubon descriljes one found in
Labrador as built in a bush, of a large size, cliietly composed of dry
moss, and lined with feathers, being almost suspended like that of an
oriole. The eggs were five to seven, white, and minutely speckled nearly
all over with brown.

If Audubon made no mistake in this, the nest was not like that of most
birds of this family, but may have been modified to suit the cold climate of
Labrador.

Genus EMPIDONAX, Cabanis.

Empidonax, Cabanis, Jour, fiir Oruitliuloyie, III. Nor. 1855, 480. (Type, Ti/rannvla

piisilld.)
Tymmnda of most authors.

Gen. Char. Tarsus lengthened, considerably longer than the middle toe, which is
decidedly longer than the hind toe. Bill variable. Tail very slightly forked, even or

E. pnsillus.

rounded ; a little shorter only than the wings, which are considerably rounded ; the first
primary much shorter than the fourth. Head moderately crested. Culur, olivaceous
above, yellowish beneath : tlu'oat generally gray.

TYRANNID^ — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — EMPIDONAX.

E' at:adicus.

Empidonax Traillii, Audubon.
TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER.

Miiscicapa Traillii, AvouBOS, Orn. Biog. I. 1832, 236; V. 1839, 426; pi. 45. Ib. Birds
Amcr. I. 1840, 234 ; pi. 65. — Tijramius Traillii, Nuttall, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840, 323. —
Empidonax Traillii, Baikd, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 193.

Sp. Char. Tliird quill longest ; second scarcely shorter than fourth ; first shorter than
fifth, about 0..3.5 shorter 4han the longest. Primaries about 0.75 of an ineh longer than
the secondaries. Tail even. Upper parts dark olive-green ; lighter under the wings, and
duller and more tinged with ash on nape and sides of the neek. Centre of the crown
feathers brown. A pale yellowish-white ring (in some specimens altogetlier white) round

E. pitsttlus.

the eye. Loral feathers mixeil with white. Chin and throat white ; the Ijrcast and sides
of throat light ash, tinged with olive, its intensity varying in individuals, the former some-
times faintly tinged with olive. Sides of the breast much like the Ijack. Middle of the
belly nearly white ; sides of the belly, abdomen, and the lower tail coverts sulphur-yellow.
The quills and tail feathers dark brown. Two ohvaceous yellow white bands on the wing,
formed by tlie tips of the first and second covert;s, succeeded by a brown one ; the edge of
the first primary and of the secondaries and tertials a little lighter shade of the same.

328 CRYING BIRDS — CLAMATORES.

The outer edge of the tail feathers like the hack ; that of the lateral one rather li<;hter.
Length, 6.00 ; extent, 8.50 ; wing, 2.90 ; tail, 2.60. Iris hrown ; bill black, pale brown he-
low ; feet black.

Bah. Eastern United States and south to Mexico. Colorado River, California.

Although Nuttall thought he saw thi.s .species on the banks of the Cohim-
bia, no specimens were obtained west of the Eocky Mountains by any of
the later explorers.

At Fort Mojave on the first of May, I found several of them inhaliiting a
very dark dense thicket, being attracted by their note, which sounded like
qucet-quA(h. They were very shy ; and though afterwards more common
there, I obtained but three. They differed from the description given by
Baird only in having the sides of body viorc yellow than the back. I after-
wards heard their peculiar note in the thickets along Mojave Paver, near
Los Angeles, and in May, 1863, at Santa Barbara.

Heerman, though he found no specimens in the State, mentions it as
" abundant," but whether in California or Te.xas is uncertain.

[I do not agree with Dr. Cooper in considering the California species to be
U. Traillii, as all the specimens examined by me from the :Middle and
Western Provinces appear to belong to E. inmiUus. This differs in having
the tarsus decidedly longer than middle toe ; the first quill shorter than
sixth, not longer ; the color is also appreciably distinct. The synonymy is as
follows.* S. P. B,]

Empidonax flaviventris, B.\ird,

THE YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.

Tiirannula flaviventris, Wm. 51. and S. F. B.urd, I'r. Ac. Nat. Sc. I'liila. I. .T„Iy, 1843, 28,3.
Ib. Am. Journ. Science, April, 1844. — Audubon, Birds Amcr. IV. 1844, 341 ; pi.

490.
Tymnmda p„silla (Swainson), Rcinhardt, Vidensk. Mcddd. fur 1853, 1854, 82.-Ologee,

Cab. Journ. 1854, 426.
Empidonax flai-iveiitris, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 198.
Empidonax diflicili^, Baird (provisional name for Western specimens), Bh-ds N. Amcr. pi.

75^ f. 2. — Cooi'ER and Sucklet, XII. iii. errata, p. xv. Zool. of W. T. 170.

Sp. Char. Second, third, and fourth quills nearly e.|nal ; first intermediate between
fifth and sixth. Tail nearly even, slightly rounded. Tarsi long. Above bright olive-
green ; crown rather darker. A broad yellow ring round the eye. The sides of the head,
neck, breast, and body, and a band across the breast like the back, but lighter ; the rest

* Empidonax ri;sii.n;R. — ? P/nd/r/K/nr/iHs pui^illns, Swainson, Phil. Map;. 1827, 366. — Ti/-
rnnmda pusilla, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831, 144 ; plate. - ,1/»sara/« pusilla, Audubon, Oni.
Bio-. V, 1839, 288; pi. iU. — T,jmnnus pusilla, Nuttall, Man. I. 2d ed, ISiO. — Empidonax
pm'illus,^.K\-RV, Birds N. Amcr. 1858, 194. — Coues, Pr. Pliil. Acad. 1866, 61.

Hah. Middle and Western Provinces of United States ; nortli to Saskatchewan.

TYRANNID.i; — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — EilPIDONAX. 329

of the lower parts bright sulpliur-vcUow ; no white or ashy anj-wherc on the body. Quills
dark brown ; two bands on the win<; formed by the tips of the primary and secondary
coverts, the outer edge of the first primary and of the secondaries and tertials pale yellow,
or grccuish-yellow. The tail feathers brown, with the exterior edges like the back. The

bill dark brown above, yellow beneath. The feet black. In the autumn the colors are
purer, the yellow is deeper, and the markings on the wings of an ochry tint. Length,
5.1.5 to 5.75; extent, 8.50 ; wing, 2.83; tail, 2.45. Iris brown; bill dark brown, below
flesh-color, edge orange ; feet black.
Hah. United States generally.

At San Diego I observed the arrival of this species on April 1.5th, and
preserved specimens which agree exactly with the description of Eastern
specimens by Baird, as does one collected at Cape St. Lucas by Xantus. I
obtained one also at Lake Tahoe, wliich is like tlie Eastern bird, while one
obtained at IMonterey has the darker markings on tlie wings, characterizing
the variety dijfirilis. Tliis, however, seems scarcely more than the young
plumage ; and though Baird mentions the difference in proportions of the
qtiills also (first shorter than sixth, second considerably shorter than fourth),
this does not characterize spring specimens, as far as I have obtained them,
and I cannot divide tlie sjiecies.

This bird frequents the woods, chiefly those of Comfcrcv, and is very silent,
having in summer only a lisping song of three notes. I have never seen
their nest or eggs.

Empidonax obsciu'us, Swaixson.

THE GKAYISH FLYCATCHEE.

? Tijrannula obscura, Swainsos, Syn. Mex. Birds, in Philos. Mag. I. 1827, .367. — Empidonax
obscurus, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 200. Id. U. S. and Mex. Bound. Survey, II.
iii. 9 ; pi. xi. f. 3. — Coues, Pr. Pliil. Ac. 186G, 62.

Sp. Cn,\R. Bill very narrow. Tarsi long. Second, third, and fourth quills longest ;

first shorter than sixth. Tail rounded. Above dull brownifh-oli\e, paler on the rump,

tinged with gray on the head. Loral region and space round the eye whitish. Throat

and fore part of the breast grayish-white, slightly tinged with olive across the latter ; the

42

330

CRYING BIRDS — CLA^[ATORES.

rest of the under parts pale j'l'llowish. Win^s and tail brown, the ft>rmer with two con-
spiouons bands of brownish-wliite ; the outer primary edged, the secondaries and tertials
edged and tipped with the same. The outer web of the external tail feather white, in

strong contrast. Length, .5.7.5; extent, 0.25; wing, 2.75; tail, 2.55 ; tarsus, 0.70. Iris
brown ; bill black, and yellow below ; leet black.

Hah. Rocky Mountains of Texas, to Colorado River, California ; south to jMexico.

I first observed this species at Ftirt ]\[oja^•e about AjH-il 1st, and a few
afterwards until May 25th. They kept about low buslies, generally .silent or
with only a single lisping chirp, occasioually flying a short distance after
insects, like other species of the genus.

Empidonax Hammondii, X.\ntus.

HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHEK.

Tijranniihi Hammondii, Xantcs, Pr. Phil. Ac. May, 1858. — Empidonax Hammondii, Baikd,
P. R. Rep. IX. BinLs, 199. In. Birds N. Amcr. pi. 7G, f. I.

Sp. Char. Tail moderately forked ; the feathers acutely pointed. Third quill long-
est ; second and then fourth a little shorter. First nnich shorter than fifth, a little longer
than sixth. Bill very slender, dark brown. Above dark olive-green, considerably darker

on the head. Breast and sides of the liody light olive-green, the throat grayish-white ;
the rest of under parts bright sulphur-yellow. A whiti.sh ring round the eye. Wings and
tail dark brown ; the former with two olivaceous gray bands across the coverts ; the latter

TYRANNID.E — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — EMPIDONAX. 33I

with the outer eilj;e a little paler than elsewhere, but not at all white. Length, 5.75 ; ex-
tent, 8.50 ; wing, 2.80 ; tail, 2.50 ; tarsus, 0.6 7. Iris brown ; bill black, flesh-color below;
feet black.

Hab. Vicinity of Fort Tejon to Los Angeles. Colorado Valley ; south to Mexico.

I obtained but one specimen of thi.s specie.^ at Fort Mojave on May 20th.
Thi.s clofsely re.sembled in habit;?, at that time, E. ohscurus, for which I mis-
took it. I afterwards saw on Catalina I.sland, in June, several birds wliich I
think were of this species, but did not succeed in getting one. They kept
on low trees, and uttered a few faint lisping notes.

The first of this species arrived at Santa Cruz, March 13, 1866, and
they were numerous during the summer, disappearing in September. April
27th, I found the first nest built on a horizontal branch of a " box-elder "
{Negundo), about eighteen feet from the ground, but in pulling down the
branch the eggs were broken. I found four others afterwards from four to
ten feet high, either on horizontal branches or in forks of smaU trees, and
containing three or four eggs or young. The last found with eggs was as
late as June 29th, probably a second attempt of a pair before robbed. All
were thick walled, composed externally of dry moss and downy buds, with
a few leaves and strips of bark, then slender fibres of bark, often a few hairs
and feathers, lining the inside. The size outside was about four inches
wide, two and a half high, the cavity two inches wide, one and a half deep,
the walls nearly one and a half thick. The eggs were white with bro\vn
blotches and specks near the large end, mostly in a circle. They measm-ed
0.68 X 0.52 inch.

These birds frequented only the darkest groves along the river, had very
few simple calls of two or three monotonous notes, and were so shy that I
did not get near enough to determine the species positively.

This bird is among the many species of birds that, while breeding, per-
liaps even as far nortli as the higher latitudes of North America, occur at
the same time on the table-lands of Mexico, from which country mtmerous
summer specimens have been sent to the Smithsonian Institution by Dr.
Sartorius, Professor Sumichrast, and other correspondents. As in other
instances, these are rather smaller than our birds, liut no other difference
is appreciable.

There is considerable resemblance in immature specimens between E.
Hamniondii and ohscurus ; the former species is the smaller bird, though
with nearly as long a wing. The tail is decidedly shorter, being appreciably
less than the wing, instead of about equal to it, as in ohscurus. The first
quill in nammo7ulii is rather longer than the sixth, while in ohscurus it
is shorter, sometimes shorter than the eighth or ninth. The feet and bill
of ohscurus are considerably the larger.

CRriNG BIRDS— CLAM ATORES.

Gends PYROCEPHALUS, Gould.

Pijrocephalus, GocLD, Zool. of Beagle, 1838, 44.

Gen. Char. Tarsus moderate, very little longer tlian the middle toe ; liind toe not
longer than the lateral. Bill slender ; very narrow at the base. Tail broad, even, about

P. Mexicanus.

four fifths the length of the wings, which reach beyond the middle of the tail. First quill
shorter than the fifth. Head with a cons])icuous rounded crest. Se.xes dissimilar. Male
with the crown and beneath red ; tail, back, and wings brown.

P. Mexicamis.

Of this geniLs several other species are known to naturalists, all, with
perhaps a single excejjtion, of much the same colors. In the red of the
under parts they are perhaps unique in tlieir family, where gray, white,
or yellow are so much more frequently met with.

TYRANNIDiE — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — PYROCEPHALUS. 333
Pyrocephalus Mexicanus, Sclater.

THE KED FLYCATCHEE.

Pyrocephalus ^fe.rica7nls, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1859, 45. — CouES, Pr. rhil. Ac. 1866, 64.
Pyrocepliahis ru'iineiis, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. V. May, 1851, 115. — Cassin, Illust. I.

iv. 185.3, 127 ; pi. xvii. — Baird, P. R. Kep. IX. Birds, 201. — Heekmann, X. vi. 38.
Pyrocephalus nanus, WooDHOUSE, Sitgreavc's Kcport, 185.3, 75.

Sp. Char. He'iid witli a full rounded or globular crest. Tail even. Crown and wliole
under parts bright carmine red ; rest of upper parts, including the cheeks as far as the
bill, dull dark brown ; the upper tail coverts darker ; the tail almost black ; greater and
middle wing coverts and edges of secondaries and tertials dull white towards the edges.
Outer web of exterior tail leather and tips of all the tail It^athers whitish.

Female, similar, without the crest ; the crown brown, like the back ; the under parts
whitish anteriorly, streaked with brown ; behind white, tinged with red or ochraceous.
Length of male, about 5.50 ; wing, 3 25 ; tail, 2.75. (Baird.)

Hab. Valleys of Rio Grande and Gila southward. Colorado Valley, California, south
to Honduras.

On the 24tli of May, 1861, I saw at Fort Mojave a small brilliant red
bird, which I supposed must have been of the above species. It perched on
the top of bushes, and would not allow me to approach within shooting dis-
tance, always flying off for several hundred yards before alighting again.

According to Dr. Heermann, they are quite common in spring at Fort
Yuma, and he noted exactly the same wild habits above mentioned. Lieu-
tenant Couch describes its habits as like those of a flycatcher, and its note
as a low chirp.

One has since been obtained by Mr. W. W. Holder in Colorado Valley,
lat. 34", on April 18th.

The Xorth American species, originally supposed to be identical with that
inhabiting Soutli America, has lately been described by Dr. Sclater as dis-
tinct. It may, however, perhaps be faii'ly questioned whether here, as in
many other instances, there is anything more than a .slight difference ijro-
duced by peculiarities of climate, etc.

OO'i

CRYING BIRDS— CLAMATORES.

Genls MITREPHORUS, Sclater.

Mitrephonts, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1859, 45. (Type, M. phmocercus.) — Codes, Pr. Pliil.
Ac. 1866, 63.

Sp. Char. Similar in general character to Empidonax, but with fulvous, fulvous-
olive, and rufous tints, instead of clear olive, gi-ay-white, and sulphiu- or olive-yellow.
Head crested. Bristles of gape reaching nearly to tip of bill.

M. pnllescens.

The single North American species exhibits a strong resemblance in form
to Emjiidonax, although the type is decidedly different.

Mitrephorus pallescens, Coues.

THE BUFF-BEEASTED FLYCATCHER.

Mitrephorus pallescens, CotiES, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866, G.3. (Fort Whipple.)
Mitrepliorus fuh-ifrous, Elliot, IIlus. B. N. A. I, pi. 19.

Sp. Cii.\R. Wing short, much ruundeil ; first quill consideraljl)' shorter than sixth ; the
second, third, and fifth little shorter than the fourth. Above plain didl grayish-brown,

tinged with olive, particularly on the middle of the b.ack ; the head and rump hardly appre-
ciably thus tinged. Below very pale fulvous, most pronounced across the breast, the chin

ALCEDINID.E — THE KINGFISHERS. 335

and tliroat being much liglitor, and the abdomen almost, white. No fulvous suffusion about
the forehead ; the dark leathers of the crown reaching to the bill ; the space between eye
and bill, the auriculars and sides of the head generally light brownish-olive, with no trace
of fulvous. Wings and tail plain dusky ; the outer web of the external rectriccs, the mar-
gins of the inner primaries, except just at their base, and the tips of greater and median
coverts, dull white, with no tint of olive or ferrugineous. Iris brown ; upper mandible and
feet black: lower mandible and mouth bright yellow. Length, 4.75; extent, 7.30; wing
from the carpus, 2.15 ; tail, 2.00 ; tarsus, 0.55 ; middle toe and claw, 0.45 ■ bill above, 0.40.
Hub. Fort AVliipplc, Arizona.

Since this species was described by Dr. Coues, Mr. Giraud lias presented
to the Smithsonian Institution his type of Muscicapa fulvifrons, which,
though niucli like the palksccns, seem yet suflficiently distinct. The color-
ation is similar but darker, and more ochraceous throughout, with less olive
above. The wing bands are fulvous (the edges of secondaries more yellow-
ish), instead of grayish-white. While the bill seems actually smaller, the
other dimensions of i/. fulvifrons are considerably larger (length, 4.80 ;
wing, 2.65 ; tail, 2.40 ; tarsus, 0.61). The wing is considerably more point-
ed ; the first quill equal to, not shorter than, the sLxth ; the third, not fourth,
quill longest. (Baird.)

Order STRISORES.

Char. Toes variable, generally three anterior, and one posterior, some-
times in pairs. Primaries ten. Tail feathers generally ten. Tarsi witli
small scales or with naked skin, without the broad encircling plates of the
preceding order.

Tliis order is represented in North America by a greater numl:>er and
variety of families than the preceding. Several others, however, are found
in Middle and South America.

Family ALCEDINID^, The Kingfishers.

Char. Head large ; bill long, strong, straight, and sub-pjTamidal, usually
longer than the head. Tongue very small. Wings short ; legs small ; tlie
outer and middle toes united to their middle. Toes with the usual number
of joints (2, 3, 4, 5).

C. alcyon.

ALCEDINIDiE — THE KINGFISHERS — CERYLE.

ooHr
OO I

Genus CERYLE, Boie.

Cenjle, BoiE, Isis, 1828, 316. (Type, C. riirli's ?)

Spida, SwAiNSON, Binls, II. 1837, 336. (Type, C. alci/on.)

Gen. Cn.VR. Bill long, straight, and strong, the cuhnon slightly advancing on the
forehead and sloping to the acute tip ; the sides much compressed ; the lateral margins

C. alryon.

rather dilated at the base, and straight to the tip ; the gonys long and ascending. Tail
rather long and broad. Tarsi short and stout.

Ceryle alcyon, Linn.eus.

THE BELTED KINGFISHER.

Akedo o/cyon, LiNN.Ens, Syst. Nat. I. 1765, 180. — WiLSOX, Am. Orn. III. 1811,59.^
AuDUBOX, Orn. BioR. I. 1831,394; pi. 77. — Cfry/c alqion, BoiE, I.^is, 1828, 316. —
Cassin, lUust. I. 1855, 254. —Brewer, N. Am. Ool. I. 1857, 110; pi. iv. f. 52 (egg).
— Newberrt, p. R. Rep. VI. iv. 79. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 158. — Heer-
MANN, X. vi. 57. — Cooper and Sockley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 167. — Coues, Pr.
Phil. Ac. 1866, 59.

Sp. Char. Head with a long crest. Above blue, without metallic lustre. Beneath,
with a concealed band across the occiput, and a spot anterior to the eye, pure white. A
43

338

SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISORES,

band across the breast, and the sides of the body under the whigs, like the back. Prima-
ries white on the basal half, the terminal unspotted. Tail with transverse bands and
spots of white.

mppji^'^'

Half natural size.

Yomig, with the sides of body and a transverse band across the belly below the pectoral
one, light chestnut ; the pectoral band more or less tinged with the same. Length of
adult, 12.00 to 14.00; extent, 20.00 to 23.00; wing, G. 00 to 7.00. Bill slate-blue; feet
reddish-white.

Hob. The entire continent of North America.

Thi.s bird is common along the coast, and about every clear .stream and
lake througliout California, but rare about those wliich, like the Colorado,
are constantly muddy. They are usually to be seen perched on some dead
branch, stake, or other object overhanging the water, watcliing for their prey,
which consists wholly of small fish. When one is seen, the bird plunges
suddenly headlong into the water, and usually catches the victim. If
unsuccessful, he sometimes flies off and searches for fish, flying rapidly along
near the shores, and if any are seen, he stops and hovers for a moment
over them, diving with a somewhat spiral motion. When alarmed he utters
a harsh rattling sound, as he flies off, and is usually rather wary.

The hole for a nest is burrowed in a sandy bank, to the depth of five or
six feet, and usually not far from the top of the ground. The inner end of
the burrow is enlarged into a rounded cliamber, and the same hole is used
for several years.' The eggs are white, six in number, and laid on a nest

ALCEDINID^ — THE KINGFISHERS — CERYLE. 339

composed of a few twigs, grass, and feathers. According to Nuttall, both
parents sit on them, and they are hatched in sixteen days.

This bird is not migratory iu California, unless it is from the highest
mountain streams to the vaUeys and coast. Pacific Coast specimens are
larger than Eastern.

Ceryle Americana, Gmelin.

THE TEXAS KINGFISHEK.

Alcedo Americana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788,451. — Ceryle Americana, BoiE, Isis, 1828,
316. — Lawrence, Annals N. Y. Lyceum, V. 1831, 118. (First introduction into the
fauna of the United States.) — Cassin, lUust. I. 1855, 255. — Brewer, N. Am. Ool. I.
1857, 3 ; jjl. iv. f. 53 (egg). — Baird, Birds N. Araer. 1858, 159 ; pi. 45. In. Rep. Mcx.
Bound. IL 7; pi. vii. — Coues, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866, 59. — Chlorocerijte Americana
Reiciienb. Handb. Sp. Orn. I. ii. 1851, 27; pi. 413, f. 3112-3115.

Alcedo viridis, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XIX. 1818, 413 (Cassin).

Alcedo Cabanisii, Tschudi, Fauna Per. 253.

Sp. Char. Head slightly crested. Upper parts, with a pectoral and abdominal band
of blotches, glossy green, as also a line on each side the throat. Under parts generally,

Natural size.

a collar on the back of the neck, and a double series of spots on the quills, white ; a chest-
nut band across the breast in some skins. Length, about 8.00 ; wing, 3.25.
Hub. Rio Grande and the Lower Colorado, southward.

This diminutive species, scarcely one sixth the weight of the belted
kingfisher, is not at all rare along the Eio Grande, but has been seen more
seldom in Southern Arizona. Dr. Coues observed it at several points on
the Colorado Eiver between Forts IMojave and Yuma.

340

SimiEIONG BIRDS— STIUSORES.

No detailed account of tlie haljits of this species has been published, but
it is probable that they resemble those of C. alci/on. The eggs are white,
as in other species of the family. (Baii-d.)

Family CAPEIMULGID^, The Goat-Suckeks.

CiiAB. Bill very short, triangular, tlie culmen less than one sixth the
gape. The anterior toes united at the base l)y a membrane. The inner
anterior toe with three joints, the otliers with four ; all with distinct scutel-
Ire above. Tlie toe much elongated, its middle claw pectinated on the inner
edge. Hind toe directed a httle more than half forwards. Tarsi partly
feathered superiorly. The biU more or less bristled ; the nostrils separated,
rather nearer the commissure than the culmeu. Plumage soft, lax, and
owl-lilce. (Baird.)

A. CaroUnensis.

The chuck-wills-widow (_A. CaroUnensis) is the only species of the family
in which the bristles of the mouth have lateral filaments, as shown in the
ficrure above.

CAPKBIULGICE — THE GOAT-SUCKERS — ANTROSTOMUS. 341
Genus ANTROSTOMUS, Gould.

Anirostojiius, Gould, Iconcs Avium, 1838 (Agassiz).
Gen. Chau. Bill remarkably small, with tubular nostrils, ami tbe gape with long, stiff.

A. NuttaUi.

sometimes pectinated bristles. Wings long, somewhat rounded, second quiU longest, tbe
primaries emargiuated. Tail rounded. Plumage loose and soft.

Antrostomus Nuttalli, Audubon.
NTTTTAIL'S WHIPPOORWILL.

Caprimul/jus NiitfaUi, AuDUBoy, Birds Amer. VII. 1843 ; pi. 495, Appendix. — Antrostoiiuis
Nuttulli, Cassin, J. A. N. Sc. Phila. 2d Scries, II. 1852, 123. In. lUiis. I. 1855, 237.—
Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, 77 ; P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 77. — Baird, P. K. Rep.
IX. Birds, 149. — Kennerly, X. iv. 23. — Heermaxx, X. vi. 35. — Cooper and
SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 16G. — Coues, Pr. Phil. Ac. 18G6, 58.

Sp. Cn.\R. Male. General color of upper parts dark lirownish-gi-ay, lighter on the
head and medial tail feathers, which extend a lialf-inch beyond the others, all which are
minutely streaked and sprinkled with brownish-black and ash gray. Quills and coverts
dull cinnamon color, spotted in bars with brownish-black ; tips of former mottled with light
and dark brown ; three lateral tail feathers barred with dark brown and cinnamon, and
tipped with white. Throat brown, annulated with black ; a band of white across fore neck;
beneath the latter black, mixed with bars of light )ellowishgray and black lines. Under
tail coverts dull yellow. Length, 7.25 to 8.00; extent, 17.50; wing, 5.75; bill, edge,
0.19; second and third quills nearly equal. Tail to end of upper feathers, 3.50 ; tarsus,
0.63 ; middle toe, 0.63 ; claw, 0.25 ; strongly pectinated. Iris brown ; bill and feet gray.

Hub. High central plains, and mountains to the Pacific Coast.

342

SHRIEKING BIRDS— STRISORES.

I did not myself meet with this Ijird ia the Colorado Valley, where, how-
ever, Dr. Kennerly obtained one on February 23, 1854, indicating that they
may perhaps winter there. I heard their call of " poor-will " on the barren
mountains west of the valley in ]\lay, but have neither heard nor seen any
west of the Coast Eange, nor in the Santa Clara Valley in spring, though
their habits of concealment during the day might lead to mistakes as to their

real occurrence. They are, however, common in the hot interior valleys,
and remain near San Francisco as late as November, hiding usually on the
ground under a low bush or tuft of grass, and flying at dusk in short fitful
courses in pursuit of insects. They inhabit the almost bare and barren
" Sage-plains," east of the Sierra Nevada, and their rather sad whistle is
heard all night during sprmg, like an echoing answer to the cry of their
cousins, the Eastern " whip-poor-will."

Their eggs are probably laid on the ground.

C. popetue-

CAPEBIULGID^ — THE GOAT-SUCKEKS — CHORDEILES.

343

Genus CHORDEILES, Swainson.

Chordeiles, Swainson, Fauna Bor. Amcr. II. 1831, 496.

Gen. Char. Bill very small, the gape with ^•ery short feeble bristles. Wings very
long and pointed, with the first quill nearly or quite equal to the second, and the prima-

C. popetue.

ries not cmarginated on the inner edge. Tail long ; slightly forked in Xorth American
species ; plumage rather compact.

Chordeiles popetue, Vieillot.

THE NIGHT-HAWK; THE BULL-BAT.

Caprimuhjus popetue, ViEiLLOT, Ois. Am. Sept. I. 1807, 56; pi. xxiv. (?).— Bonaparte,

Obs. Wilson, 1825, 177 ; J. A. N. Sc. Phil. VI.— Chordeiles popetue, Baird, P. R. Rep.

IX. Birds, 151. — IIeermann, X. vi. 35. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W.

T. 166.
Caprimulijus Americnnns, WiLSOX, Am. Orn. V. 1812, 65; ])1. cxl. f 1, 2.— Chordeiles

Ainericanus, I)e Kay, N. Y. Zool. II. 1844, 34 ; pi. xxvii.
Caprimulfjus Vinjiiiianus, Brisson, 11.1760,477. (In part only.) Acdubon, Orn. Biog.

II. 1834, 273 ; pi. 147. — SwAiNSON, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 1831, 62.
Chordeiles Viryinmmis, Box. List, 1838. — AuD. Birds Amer. I. 1840, 159; pi. 43. — Cassin,

IIlus. I. 1855, 238. —Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or Route, 79; P. R. Rep. VI. 1857.
Cliordeiles Henryi, Cassin, IlUis. I. Jan. 1855, 233. —Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 153,

922; X. iii. 13 ; pi. xvii. — CouES, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866, 58. (Arizona.)

Sp. Char. Male, above greenish-black, with but little mottling on the head and back.
AVing coverts varied with grayish ; scapulars with yellowish-rufous. A nuchal band ot

244 SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISOKES.

fine gray mottling, behind which is another coarser one of rufous spots. A white V-
shaped mark on tlie throat ; behind this a colhir of pale rufous blotches, and another on
the breast of grayish mottling. Under parts banded transversely with dull yellowish or

reddish-white and brown "Wing quills quite uniformly brown. Tlie five outer primaries
with a white blotch midway between the tip and carpal joint, not extending on the outer
web of the outer quill. Tail with a terminal wlnte patch.

Female without the caudal white patch, the white of the throat mixed with reddish.
Length of male, 9.50 ; wing, 8.20.

Ilab. North America generally.

This species slums tlie coast border of this State, probably on account of
the cold winds, though it is common near the mouth of the Columbia Eiver.
In Santa Clara Valley and the Coast Eange I have seen none, but, accord-
in"- to ISTewberry, they are quite common in the Sacramento A^alley in sum-
mer. I saw but one in the Sierra Nevada in September, the month in which
they depart for the South. At the Columbia Eiver they are very numerous,
and during June, even on clear days, may be seen pursuing their insect prey
hi'di in the air, uttering their monotonoits croaking at short intervals. I
saw one, probably of this species, migrating north high above the town
of Santa Barbara on the 27tli of April, 186.3, and this is proliably about the
time they arrive from Mexico. Their flight is easy and swift, resembling
that of a swallow, and they often sweep do^\^l close to a person's head, espe-
cially in the twilight. AVlien they have a nest, they attempt to drive away
intruders by pitching down perpendicularly towards them, with their mouth
wide open, producing a singular hollow sound like that made by blowing
into a large bottle. They sometimes alight on the ground in pursuit of in-
sects, and also lay two whitish eggs, speckled with brown, in a slight cavity
among the dead leaves on the ground, or sometimes among gravel or on the
bare sand. They generally roost during the day on a horizontal branch,
sitting lengthwise. The female if found on the nest feigns lameness to draw
away the intruder.

C APKBIULGID^ — THE GOAT-SUCKERS — CHORDEILES.

345

Chordeiles Henryi, described by Mr. Cassin as distinct, is probably only
a lighter race of this species, iu wliich the markings are more distinctly
appreciable, owing to the lighter color.

Chordeiles Texensis, Lawrence.

THE TEXAS NIGHT-HAWK.

Chordeiles Bmsiliaiius, Lawrkxck, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, V. Miiy, 1851, 114. (Texas.) (Not

ol'Gmelin.) — Cassin, lUiis. I. 1855, 238.
Chordeilts Texeiisis, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, VI. Dec. 1856, 167. — Baird, P. R,

Rep. IX. Birds, 154. — U. S. anil Mex. Bound. Rep. II. iii. 7 ; pi. vi. — CocES, Pr.

Phil. Ac. 1866, 58. (Arizoiui.)

Sp. Ch.\I!. Much smaller than C. pojjcluc, but ^inlilar. AVldtr on the wini; e.xtendinr'
over only four outer primaries, the bases of which, as well as the remaining ones, with
other quills, have round riitbus spots on both webs. Under tail coverts and abdomen with
a strong jellowish-rufous tinge. Female, more ruious, and without the spot of the tail.
Length, 8.S0 ; e.Mtent, 21.00 ; wing, 7.30 ; tail, 3.40.

Hab. Rio Grande Valley and south ; west to Southern Calilbrnia.

On the 17th of April I saw tlie first of tliis .species at Fort Mojave, and
soon after they became quite numerous, hunting in comimny after sunset,
and hiding during tlie day on the around under low bushes. About the

25th of May they were paired, but continued nearly silent, making only a
loAV croaking when approached. Tliey flew like C. j>o2Ktue, but sailed rather
more in small circles. I found them common as far west as the Coast

Mountains,
species.

The eggs are said to be much paler than those of the other

44

346 SHRIEKING BIRDS— STRISORES.

Family CYPSELID^, The Swifts.

Chae. Eill very small, without notch, triangular, much broader than
hio-h ; the culmen not one sixth the gape. Anterior toes cleft to the base,
each with three joints (in the typical species), and covered with skin ; the
middle claw without any serrations ; the lateral toes nearly equal to the
middle. Bill without bristles, but with minute feathers extending along
the under margin of the nostrils. Nostrils elongated, superior, and very
close together. Plumage compact. Primaries ten, elongated, falcate.
Species of this family are found abundantly both in the Old and the
New World.

Gexus PANYPTILA, Cabanis.

Panyptila, Cab.inis, Wicgm. Archiv, 1847, 1, 345.
Pseudoprocne, Streubel, Isis, 1848, 357.

Gen. Char. Tail half as long as the wings ; moderately forked; the feathers rather
lanceolate, rounded at tip, the shafts stitTened but not projecting. Fu-st prim.ary shorter

than the second. Tarsi, toes, and claws very thick and stout ; the former shorter than
the uuddle toe and claw, which is rather longer than the lateral one ; middle claw longer

CYPSELID.E — THE SWIFTS — PANYPTILA.

547

p. melailoleuca.

than its digit. Ilind toe very sliort; lialf versatile, or inserted on the side of the tarsus.
Tarsi and toes featliercd to tlie claws, except on the under surfaces.

Panyptila melanoleuca, Laird.

THE WHITE-THEOATED SWIFT.

Ci/psdiis melanolcucus, Baird, Pr. A. N. Se. Phil. VII. .June, 1854,118. (San Francisco
Mountains, N. M.) — Cassin, IUus. I. 1855, 248. — Pani/ptUa melamkiirun, Baird. P. K.
Rep. IX. Birds, 141. — Kennerlt, X. iv. 23. — Heer.manjj, X. v. 10 ; X. vi. 35 ; ]jl.
xviii. f. I (lower figure). — CouEs, Pr. Phih Acad. 1866, 57.

Sp. Ch.\1!. Wings very long ; tail forked ; tarsi and feet covered with feathers. Black
all over, except the chin, throat, middle of the belly as far as the vent, a patch on each
side of the rump, the edge of the outer primary, and blotches on the inner webs of the

median tail feathers, near the base, which are white, as is also a band across the ends of
the secondaries. Length, 5.50 ; wing, 5 50 ; tail, 2.70. Tris brown ; bill black.
Hab. Colorado Basin, New Mexico to San Diego, California.

Dr. Kennerly discovered this species along Williams Fork of tlie Colo-
rado, on February If!, 1854, and remarks that large flocks could be seen at
any time in the vicinity of tlie canons, flying and circling about very high,
and far beyond the reach of shot, occasionally descending lower towards

348

SHPvIEKIXG BIRDS — STPJSORES

sunset. It is very probable that they winter about the canons,, though I
saw none at Fort Mojave until May, probably stragglers from their favorite
mountains. On the 7th of June, near the head of the Mojave Eiver, I found
a few of them about some lofty granite cliffs, and l:)y watching them closely
succeeded in shooting one as it came sweeping towards me al)0ut sunset as
if about to ily in my face. Their flight is exceedingly swift and changeable,
resemljling that of the Chaiura, and they are probably the most difficult
of all our birds to shoot. Tlieir cry when flying is low but harsh, and
sound.s much farther off than the actual distance of the bird. They also
utter a harsh croaking noise.

About twelve miles north of San Diego, I again found them rather
numerous about some high rocky fluff's close to the sea-shore. They \\'ere
there March 22d, and may have been about for a month previously, but
generally fly so high during the day tliat they are first betrayed by their
harsh twitter when scarcely percepti! >le in the zenith. Occasionally they
dart off like lightning for several miles and back, as if it were only a slight
curve in their course. Sometimes tliey sweep for a moment near the
ground, and the next disappear in the sky above. They doubtless build in
the crevices of the lofty rocks about which tliey \\\e, but, though I have
looked for their nests, I have not been able to find them.

Genus NEPHCECETES, Baird.

NepJiwcetes, B.URii, P. Kcp. IX. Binls, 18")S, 142.

Gen. Ch.\r. Tail rather less tlian half the wings ; (jnite (lec])ly forked ; the feathers
obtusely acuminate ; the shafts scarcely stifTened. First quill longest. Tarsi and toes
completely bare, and covered with naked skin, without distinct indications of scutells.

C YPSELID.E — THE SWIFTS — NEPHCECETES.

349

Tarsus rather longer than middle toe ; the three anterior toes about equal, with moder-
ately stout claws. Claw of middle toe mutdi shorter than its digit. Hind too not versatile,

but truly posterior and apposite, with its claw rather longer than the middle toe without
it. Toes all slender ; claws moderate. Kostrils widely ovate, the leathers margining its
entire lower edge.

Nephoecetes niger, Gmelin.

THE NORTHERN SWIFT.

? Hirundo nifjra, Gmelix, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 1025. — ? Ci/pseliis nir/er, GossE, Birds Jamaica,
1847, G3. Ib. I11u3. Birds .Jamaica. — Guxdlach ami Lawkexce, Ann. N. Y. Lyccura,
VI. 1858, 269. — Nep/KEcales nlijcr. Bated, P. H. Rep. IX. Birds, U2.

Cypselus horealis, Kexxerlv, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sc. Pliil. IX. Nov. 1857, 202.

Sp. Cn.\R. ^^'ing the length of the body. General color rather lustrous dark sooty-
brown, with a greenish gloss, becoming a very little lighter from the breast anteriorly be-
low, but rather more so on the neck and head above. The feathers on the top of the
head edged with light gi'ay, which forms a continuous wash on each side the forehead

anterior to the usual black crescent in front of the eye. Some feathers of the under parts
behind narrowly edged with gray. Bill and feet black. Length, 6.75; wing, G. 75; tail,
3.00; depth of fork, 45.

Hah. Northwestern Xorth America to Jamaica and Cuba.

350

SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISOEES,

This bird has not yet been obtained within this State ; yet it must un-
doubtedly migrate through some part of it to reach its summer residence
near the Straits of Fuca. I have seen a black swift, without any white
apparent, flying about, very high above Pah-Ute canon, west of Fort Mojave,
on May 29th, 1861. I also saw an ajaparently black swallow at Santa Bar-
bara in Ma}', 1S63, but this may have been the Chcvtura Vauxii. As men-
tioned above, it is found in Jamaica and Cuba, where it appears to be resi-
dent, and of smaller size. It is also occasionally seen on the table-lands of
Mexico, according to Professor Sumichrast; but its movements otherwise are
but little known. Like other swifts, flying hal)itually almost out of sight,
and rarely coming near the ground, except in cloudy weather, it would very
readily escape the attention of travellers in tlie West, liowever abundant it
might be.

It is by no means improbable tliat other species of the present family will
yet be discovered in New j\Iexico and Arizona, as there are several kinds
belonging to Mexico and Guatemala, that miglit readily extend their spring
migrations across our boundary witliout detection.

Of its habits no account has been published, and yet it is one of the
most interesting additions lately made to the North American fauna.

Genus CH-S3TURA, Stephens.

Chatura, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. Birds, XIII. ii. 1825, 76. (Type, C. pehsijia.)
Acanllii/lis, BoiE, Isis, 182G, 971. (.1. spiiiimMla.)

Gen. Cii.\r. Tail very short, scarcely more than two fifths the wings, slightly rounded ;
the shafts stifluued and extending some distance beyond the feathers in a rigid spine.

C. Vauxii.

CYPSELID^ — THE SWIFTS — CH.ETURA.

351

First primary longest. Legs covered by a naked skin, witliout scutella; or fcatliers.
Tarsus longer than middle toe. Lateral toes equal, nearly as long as the middle. Ilind
toe scarcely versatile, or quite posterior ; with the claw, shorter than the middle toe with-

C. pdasgia

out it. Toes slender ; claws moderate. Feathers of the base of the bill not extending
beyond the beginning of the nostrils.

Chcetura Vauxii, Tdwnsexd.

THE OREGON SWIFT.

Cypsdus Vauxii, Townsend, J. A. N. Sc. VIII. 1839, 148. (Oregon.) Ib. Narrative,
1839. — NuTTALL, Man. I. 2d ed. 738. — Chmtura Vaurii, De Kav, N. Y. Zool. II. 1844,
36. — Baird, P. R. Kep. IX. Birds, 14.5 ; upper fig. pi. 18. — Cooper and Suckley,
XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 16.'). — Acanlhijlis Vauxii, Boxaparte, Comptes Uondiis,
XXVIII. 1854; notes Delattrc, 90. — C.vssiN, lUus. I. 1855, 250. — Newbekrv, Zool.
Cal. and Or. Route, 78 ; P. R. K. Surv. VI. 1857.

Sp. Char. Li.uht sooty-brown ; iimip and under parts paler ; lightest on the chin and
throat. Length, 4. -25 ; extent, 11.50 ; wing, 4 50 ; tail, 1.90. L-is brown.
Hah. Pacific Coast, fi-om Puget's Sound to California.

I first met witli tliese Ijirds on ]\Iay 4, 1864, in the Coast Eange, twelve
miles south of Santa Clara. They may have arrived some time earlier.
I was satisfied that they had nests in hollow trees at the snmmit of the
Coast Eange, but did not succeed in finding any. Dr. Townsend, in 1834,
found them at the Colunihia ItiA'er, breeding in hollow trees, forming a nest

352 SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISORES.

like tliat of the Eastern cliiinney-swallow, of small sticks glued together,
and stuck against the wall of the cavity by the saliva of the bird, containing
four pure white eggs. I did not, however, observe them in tlie summer of
1853, at Fort Vancouver.

Not having been in the interior at the proper season, I do not know
whether they occur in the central valleys, but Heermann does not men-
tion seeing them there. They may lieconie common where high chimneys
are built. Like the Eastern species they probably go south early.

In 1866 their first appearance at Santa Cruz was May 4th, though as
they rarely descend to the town, they may have been among the hills for
some time previously.

October 5th, I observed five of them in company with a large flock of
Hirundo bicolor, which spent the morning hunting insects near town, appar-
ently delayed in their migration southward by a thick fog and cold south
wind. As this is two months later than the Eastern species departs south,
these may have been a late brood from the far north.

Family TEOCHILID^, The Humming-Birds.

Char. Bill long and thin, forming a sheath for the very long forked
thread-like tongue. Secondaries six. Wings falcate, shafts of the primaries
strong, the first always longest. Tail of ten feathers. Feet very small,
claws sharp and strong.

Tliere are over four hundred species of these splendidly brilliant birds
known to naturalists, all inhabiting America ; but only nine of them oc-
cur within the limits of the United States, and Ijut one is found in
the Atlantic States, the T. coliibris, or ruby-throated hummer.

T. colubris.

TROCHILID.E — THE HUISIMING-BIRDS — TROCIIILUS. 353

Gexus TROCHILUS, Linn^us.

Trochilus, LiNN.EUS, Syst. Nat. 1748 (Agassiz).

-'—-«''/

^■i''

T. Atezantlri.

Gex. Char. Feathors of throat but littlo elongated laterally. Lateral tail feathers
but little narrower than the others, and lanceolate acute. Tail forked.

Trochilus Alexandri, Bourcier and Mulsant.

THE BLACK-CHINNED HTJMMING-BIKD.

Trorhilus Alexandri, BonRCiEU and Mulsant, Ann. dc Soc. d'Agric. dc Lyons, IX. 1846,
3.30. — Heermann, Jour. A. N. Se. Phil. 2d Series, II. 18:5.3, 269. — Cassix, Illus. N.
Amcr. Birds, I. v. 18.54, 141 ; pi. xxii. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 1.3.3. In. U. S.
and Mcx. Bound. Report, II. iii. 6 ; pi. v. f. 3. — IIeermasx, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 56.

Sp. Char. T.ail slit^htly forked ; the chin and upjier part of the throat opaque vclvety-
blaek, without metallic relleetions, which are confined to the ]iostei-ior border of the gor-
get, and are violet, changing to steel-blue or green, instead of coppery-red.

Female without the metallic scales; the tail feathers tipped with white, the tail gradu-
ated, not emarginated; the innermost feather among the longest. Length of male, 3.30;
wing, 1.70; tail, 1.2G; bill O.7.').

Hab. California southward.
45

354 SIIRIEIONG BIRDS — STRISORES.

I observed none of this species in the Colorado A^'alley, and in comin"
westward first saw tliom along the Mojave Kiver on the 3d of June. I also
found one of their nests there, huilt in a dark willow thicket in a fork of a
tree about eight feet from the ground. I liave since found several more
nests near Santa Barbara, all of them Ijuilt near tlie end of hanging branches
of the sycamore (Platanus), constructed entirely of white down from the
willow or sycamore catkins, agglutinated by the bird's saliva, and attached
in the same way to tlie branch on which they rested. These were built in
April, and early in May I found several containing two white eggs, like those
laid by all humming-birds, oblong in shape, and alike at each end ; size
0.51 X 0.32. Dr. Heermann found their nests as far north as Sacramento,
and south to Guaymas. I have never seen the species in places exposed
to the cold sea-winds, where others are found. It is a less interesting and
conspicuous bird than the larger species found in this State, and probably
not often recognized, though its small size is alone sufficient to distinguish
it. I believe they go entirely beyond this State in winter, as I have seen
none at that season. ]\Ir. W. W. Holder has since obtained a specimen in
Colorado Valley, March 20.

During the progress of the Northwestern Boundary Survey, ilr. J. K.
Lord, of the British Commission, was so fortunate as to find this si)ecies be-
tween the Cascade and Eocky Mountains, near lat. 49", where they arrived

T. cohibris. Mah.

towards the end of INIay, and frequented the vicinity of lakes, pools, and
swamps wlierc the liircli-tree grew. The sap exuding I'rom the bark of this
tree attracted nundjers of in.sects, on whicli this humming-bird chiefly fed.
He found the nests in higli forks of liranches of the birch or alder.

This species is very closely allied to T. cohihris, the connnon liumming-
bird of tlie Eastern States, and the only one found east of the IJocky Aloun-
tains. The difference, consisting in the color of the chin and the shajie of
the tail, will be best expressed by the above figure. As will be seen, the
tail in the male is nearly even, or slightly rounded, instead of being de-
cidedly forked. The females of the two species are very similar, and can
scarcely be distingui.shed. Tlie locality will be the best indication, as the
one is confined to the region west of the Ilocky Mountains, and the otlier to
that east of the same Ean"e.

TROCIIILID.E — THE HUAUIING-BIRDS — SELASPHOKUS. 355

Genus SELASPHORUS, Swaixson.
Selasphortis, Swai.nson, F. Bor. Am. II. 1831.

iwf^(

ib'. rit/ilS.

Gen. Char. Fcatlicrs of the tln-oat laterally imicli clon-ated, forming a niflf. Lateral
tail feathers mucli narrower than the middle, linear, or with the sides parallel to the

rounded end. Tail graduated or cuneate. Outer primary attenuated at the tip. Crown
without red metallic scales.

Selasphorus nifus, Gmelin.

THE KED-BACKED HTJMMING-BIED.

TrocMus rufns, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 497. - Audup.on, Orn. Ciog. IV. 18.38, .555;
pi 372" — NuTTAi.L, Man. I. 2il ed. 1840, 714. — Selasphorus ntfiis, Swainson, F. Bor.
Am" li. 1831, 324.' In. Birds Amor. IV. 1842, 200; pi. 2G4.— Baikd, P. R. Rep.
IX. BircU, 1.34. — Heermasn, X. vi. 57. — Oopeb and Sucklet, XII. iii. Zool. of
W. T. 1C4.

Sp. CH.A.R. Tail strongly cunentc and wedge-shaped. Upper parts, lower tail oovcrts,
and breast, cinnamon. A trace of metallic green on the crown, which sometimes extends
over the back ; never on the bcUv. Tliroat coppery-red, with a wcll-.Ieveloped ruft of
the same ; below this a white collar. Tail feathers cinnamon, edge.l or streaked at the
end with purplish-brown.

356 SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISORES.

Female with the nilbus of tlie back coverod or rejilacoil with fjrecn ; less i;innamon on
the breast. Traces ouly of metallic feathers on the throat. Tail ruibus, banded with

black and tipped with white ; middle feathers glossed with green at the end. Tail cune-
atc. Length of male, 3. SO to 4.00; extent, 4.40 ; wing, 1.55 to 1.75; tail, 1.30. Iris
brown ; bill and feet black.

Hab. ^Vest coast of North America to highlands of Mexico.

Altlioiigli the most nortliern in its range of any North American species,
this liiunming-l)ird does not ai323ear to be so liardy as the S. Anna, since I
luive found none of them during winter, even at San Diego, where they
first arrived on the 5tli of February, 1862. Still, some may remain in the
warmer interior valleys, as I saw several on the 22d of February, a few
miles back from the coast, feeding among the flowers of tlie evergreen
gooseberry. The blooming of this plant may indeed be the guide to their
migration northward, as that of another species (Bihcs sanguinncm) is for
their arrival at the Columbia Eiver about March 10th. By the first week
of April they were swarming about San Diego.

I found a nest of this species on Catalina Island, in which young had
already been raised by the middle of June. Some also build about San
Francisco, and probalily also on the higher Sierra Nevada, as weW as more
abundantly near the Colundiia rd\-er, where this is the only species I have
seen. The nest is made as usual of moss, and the down of plants, covered
with lichens, and the two small eggs can scarcely be distinguished from
those of the other species.

When perching the males ha\-e a shrill wiiy call, like the higliest note of
a violin. ~\^^ien sporting in the air, or trying to drive an enemy from their
nest, they have a curious haliit of rising to a considerable height, then
plunging perpendicularly downward with a hollow wliirring sound, perhaps
produced liy their wings. They also produce a kind of a bleating sound.

They are probalily the most lively and noisy species in the coxmtry,
being very quarrelsome, chasing each other away from favorite flowers, and
rising into the air until out of sight, buzzing and chirping in an angry man-
ner as tliey go.

Though found on the interior table-lands of Mexico and the Eio Grande

TROCHILIDJi — THE HUMMING-BIRDS — SELASPHORUS. 357

Valley, I did not see this species along tlie Colorado, and am inclined to
think that it is replaced in most parts of the interior by the next species.

Mr. J. K. Lord, in his interesting " Naturalist in British Culuniljia," etc.,
published 1866, mentions the first arrival of this species at the " Little
Spokan llivei-," near lat. 49°, early in ]\Iay, together with the CulUopc, and
confirms the statement that they come simultaneously with the flowering
of the Rihcs sanguincum, which seems to be two months later east of the
Cascade Eange than on Wliidljy's Island. He found the nests usually in
a low shrub, and close to a rippling stream. The females of all the species
arrived about a week behind the males.

Selasphorus platycercus, Swainson.

THE BBOAD-TAILED HTJMMING-BIED.

Trochilus j)Iali/cercus, Sw.iiNSON, Phil. Majj. I. 1827,441. — Se/asphorus plati/cerciis, Gould,
Mon. Trocli. 1852. — B.\ird, P. R. Kcp. IX. Birds, 135. In. U. S. and Mcx. Bound.
Surv. II. iii. 6; pi. V. f. 1, 2. (El Pnso, Texas.)

Oniisniia tricolor, Lessox, Colibris, 125; pi. xiv. — Jardine, Nat. Lib. II. 77 ; pi. xiii. —
Ornismia moiitana, Lesson, Troch. 161 ; pis. 63 and 163, 64 (young), 1831.

Sp. Cii.\r. Outer primaries greatly attenuated at the end. Outer tail feather nearly
linear, but widening a little from the base ; its width 0.20 of an ineh. Tail slightly gi'adu-
ated and emarginated. Male above and on the sides metallic green ; chin and throat light
reddish-purple, behind which, and along the belly to the tail, is a good deal of white.

AVings and tail dusky purplish ; the tail feathers, e.xcepting the internal and external
ones,' edged tow.irds the base with light cinnamon. Length, .3.75 ; extent, 4.75; wing,
1.90 ; tail, 1.40. Rill, gape, 0.80. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.

Hah. Rocky Mountains, to lat. 42" ; west to Sierra Nevada, and south to jMexico.

At Lake Tahoe, over six thousand feet alcove the sea, I found the young
of this species quite common near tlie middle of September, but .sup])osing
them to lie the S. rnfiis, obtained only one specimen. It prol}ably extends
nortli to the Blue IMountains, near Snake Eiver, Oregon, and is referred to

358 SHRIEKIXG BIRDS— STKISORES.

Ijy Nuttall as the S. rufus seen there in autumn. Their habits at that
season do not exhibit anything peculiar.

Genus CALYPTE, Gould.

Cahjptc, Gould, IntroJ. Trocliiliiliv, 1801, 87. (Type, Oniismya cosltr )

Gex. Char. Bill longer tluin the heail ; ptraiglit or slij;litly curved ; tail rather short ;
forked, the outer lijuther abruptly narrower, linear aud incurved (the second and third

sometimes so to a less degree). Outer primary not attenuated at end. Top of head as
■well as throat with metallic scale-like leathers. A decided and elongated ruff on each
side the neck.

The species of tliis genus will be readily distinguished from their allies in
North America by the metallic feathers of top of head.

Calypte Anna, Lessox.

THE ANNA HUMMING-BIED.

Ornismi/a Atmn. Lesson, Oiseaux Mouchcs, 1830 (?) ; pi. cxxiv. — Troclulus Anna, J.^nnixE,
Nat. Lil). Hnmmins-Birds, I. 93 ; pi. vi. — AuDUiiox, Orn. Bio,';. V. 1839, 428; ])1. 428.
In. Birds Anur. IV. 1842, 188; pi. 2.i2. — Newberry, I". R. Rop. VI. ii. 79.—
IIeermann-, X. vi. 56. — CaViphhx Anna. Gambel, Pr. A. N. So, Phil. III. 1846, 3.
Ib. Joum. 2d Series, I. 1847, 32. — Aulas Anna (Reichendach), B.\ird, P. R. Rep.
IX. Birds, 137. — Calypte Anna, Gould, Introd. Trochilidic.

TrochHiis icteroce})hahis,'NvTTAJ.h, Man. I. 2d ed. 1840, 712. (Male with forehead covered
wiih yellow pollen.)

Sp. Char. Tail deejilv f irked ; extern.il feather narrow, linear. Tup of the head,
throat, and a moderate ruff, metallic rcil, with purple reflections. Rest of upper parts and
a band across the breast, f^-een. Tail feathers purplish-brown, darkest centrally. In the
fejnale the tail is slightly rounded, not emarginate ; the scales of the head and throat are

TROCHILID.E — THE IIUMMLNG-BIRDS — CALYPTE. 359

wanting. Tail barred with black, and tipped with white. Length, 3. SO to 4.00 ; extent,
5.00 ; wing, 2.00 ; tail, 1.45. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.
Ilah. California.

This large species seems to be peculiar to California, and constantly resi-
dent soutli of San Francisco, in mild winters remaining among the foot-hills
of the Sierra ]Sre\-ada, at least fifteen liundred feet above tlie sea, where I
have found tlieni conuHdU in Fel)ruary. They find tlowers more abundant at
that season tliau in the dry siunmer, and many insects. The males are in

o

fine plumage very early in January, though tlie brilliancy of their ruby head
increases towards spring. The nest described by NuttaR seems to be rather
that of T. Alcxandri, as all those of this species which I have seen are
about twice as large, and covered externally Avitli lichens, even when on
branches not having these parasites. One I found in a thicket of wild
gooseberry, aliout two feet above the ground, and Ijuilt in a trijile fork. It
was on top of an old nest of the same kind, and seemed to have been de-
serted before I found it, perhaps robbed of its eggs. Otliers are built at
various heights and positions, often in gardens, and sometimes on dead
branches, witliout any attempt at concealment except the outside covering
of lichens. Tliey are often almost wholly of moss, with only a lining of
feathers and down from plants. Tlie eggs are, as usual, two, and white.
About San Francisco the young are sometimes hatched as early as March
loth, wdien the climate is really warmer tlian it becomes in summer, after
the cold sea-winds begin to blow. This species is, however, more hardy
than others, being common along the coast border, though I did not observe
them near the summits of the Sierra Nevada.

The notes of the male sound very mucli like those produced by filing a
saw, and sometimes like the sound of whetting a scythe. They come
familiarly about the city, and often into rooms, in search of flowers. Like
all humming-ljirds, they are so confident of their power of fliglit as to alight
within a few feet of a man, eying him curioirsly, and uttering their harsh
cry ; but on the least motion darting away like a meteor.

360 SHRIEKING BIRDS— STRISORES.

Calypte Costse, Bourcier.

COSTA'S HUMMING-BIED.

Ornismya Cosier, BouRCiEit, Rev. Zool. Oct. 1839, 294. (Lower Caliroiiiia.) — AMis Coslrp,
Reichenb.vcii, Joiini. fur Orn. Extraheft, 1853, 1854. — Baikd, 1'. 11. Kep. IX. Birds,
138. — Kenneely, X. iv. 22; pi. xix.

Cahjpte Costa, GouLD, Mon. IIumming-Birds.

Sp. Char. Tail very slightly cmarginatcd and rounilcd ; exterior feather very narrow,
and linear. A \ery long mil' on each side of the throat. Head abo^e and below, with
the rnif, covered with nietallie-red, jnn-ple, violet, and steel-green. Remaining npper
parts and sides of the body green. Throat' under and between the ruffs, side of head be-

hind the eye, anal region, and under tail coverts, whitish. Female with the tail rounded,
scarcely emarginate ; barred with black, and tipped with wliite. The metallic colors of
the head wanting. Length, 3.30 to 3.50 inches ; extent, 4.40 ; -n-ing, 1.75 ; tail, 1.10 ; hill,
0.68. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.

Hah. Southern California and Colorado Basin. Capo St. Lucas.

This species, distinguished fi-oin A. Anna by its smaller size, and piir])le
instead of ruliy-red head, probalily Avinters in the Colorado Valley in small
numbers, as Dr. Kenneiiy found them along William's Fork on the 9th of
February. I did not, however, observe any at Fort IMojave until ilarcli
5th, and they were not numerous afterwards. At San Diego, in the back-
ward spring of 18G2, I iirst saw them April 22d, and have since found them
north to San Francisco, where, however, they are rare.

Their notes are faint chirps, and sometimes a sound like the highest and
sharpest note that can be made on a violin, uttered as a song, when tlie
male is resting on a dead twig.

Their habits of building have not yet been observed, but doubtless resem-
ble those of the Anna humming-liird, to which this is so nearly related.

This species is extremely abundant at Cape St. Lucas, where many sjieci-
mens, mostly in immature plumage, were collected by Mr. Xantus. It
appears also to occur on the eastern side of the Gulf of California, at Guay-
mas and Mazatlan, as well as on the table-lands of Mexico, and perhajDS of
Guatemala.

TROCIIILIDiE — THE IIUMMIXG-BIRBS — ATTHIS. gQl

Genus ATTHIS, Reichen'bach.

Atlhis, Eeichenbach, Cabanis, Jouru. fiir Oru. ; ExtrahoCt fiir 1853, 1854, Appendix B.
{Type, Oiiiijsntija Helolsir .)

Gex. Chau. Size very diiuinutivf ; Ijill ^llOl■t, ^curoel}- longer than the head. Outer
primary attenuated as in Sdasphorus : the tail graduated ; the feathers, however, not lan-
ceolate-acute, but rounded at end, and tipped with wliite in the male.

This genus seems closely related to Schisphurus, agreeing in character of
throat, the curious attenuation of outer primary, and the general shape of
the tail, with its rufous base and edging. The featliers, however, are not
lanceolate or pointed, either sharj^ly as in *S'. ruj'us, or obtusely as in
platyccrcim, but are more equal to near the end, where they round off.
The white tips of the tail in the male .seem to be the principal reason why
Mr. Gould removes tlie single species from Sdasphorus, where it was pre-
■\-iously placed liy him, and where perhaps it iiught have not inappropriately
remained.

Atthis HeloiSce, Lesson.

HELOISA'S HUMMING-BIED.

Orni/smijn Heloism, Lessox, Delattre, Rev. Zuol. 1839, 15. (Xalapa.) — Mellisnrja Uctoisce,
Gray and Mitchell, Gen. Birds, I. 113. — Trijphw.na Ihloisn:, Boxaparte, Consp.
Troch. Rev. Ma^. Zool. 1854,257. — Selasphorus Heloisn; Goui-D, Mon. Trochil. III.;
pi. 141. — Altliis Ileloisu;, Reichenbach, Jour, fiir Orn. E.xtraheft, 1853, App. 12. —
Gould, Intvod. Trochil. 1861, 89. — Elliot, B. N. A. I. pi. 21.

Sp. Cn.\R. Above, metallic green with golden reflections ; beneath white, the sides of
breast glossed with green, the Hanks with rufous, which tinges very faintly tne crissum.
Gorget brilliant violet or light jiurpli.sh-reil, bordered Ijehind Ijy clear white. All the tail

feathers rufous-cinnamon for liasal half; the three outer, Mack centrally and tipped with
white (mixed with reddish on the third) ; the Iburth, gi'een centrally tipped with black ;
the central, entirely green for the exposed portion, perhaps glossed with blackish at the
end. Length, 2.7U ; wing, 1.35; taU, 1.00 ; exposed part of bill above, 0.45.

46

362 SHRIEKIXG BIRDS— STRISORES.

Female. Outer primary not attenuated ; colors similar to male, wanting the metallic
gorget ; the feathers spotted with dusky ; crissum and flanks more rufous ; innermost tail
feathers entirely green ; other feathers as in male, but with the central black encroaching
on the basal rufous ; third and fourth feathers tipjied with reddish-white.

Hub. Southern New Mexico to Guatemala.

The introduction of this .sf)ecies into the fauna of the United States is
based on a female sjoecinien collected by Mr. J. H. Clark at El Paso, Texas,
and tor a time supposed to be Sdasjfhorm ru/us, but, after a careful exam-
ination by j\lr. Lawrence, has been pronounced to lielong to this species.
Its range is southward along the lughlands of INIexico to Guatemala.

The species is very much like Sdaaphorvs in shape, and hardly differs
more than S. ru/us and 2^^((t!/<'crcus do from each other. The male is easily
distinguislied from its allies ; the females are closely related to those of
ru/us, difl'ering in much shorter bill (0.4.5 to 0.6.5), much less rufous on the
more nearly even tail, with broader feathers, etc.

Genus STELLULA, Gould.

Sirlluh, Gould, Introd. Trochil. 1861, 90. (Tyfic, Trochilus ealliope, Gould.)

Gen. Char. Bill rather longer than the head, straight ; wings much developed, reach-
ing beyond the tail, which is short, nearly even or slightlv rounded ; and with the inner-
most feathers abruptly shorter ; the outer leather rather narrower and more linear than

the others. Metallic throat feathers elongated and rather linear and loose, not forming a
continuous metallic surface. Central tail feathers without green.

This genus established liy Gould has a .slight resemblance to AffJiis, but
differs in absence of the attenuated tip of outer primaiy. The outer three
tail feathers are longest and nearly even (the second rather longest), the
fourth and fifth equal and abruptly a little shorter ; the latter without any
green. The feathers are rather broad (the outermost least so), and are ob-
tusely rounded at end. Tlie tail of the female is quite similar. The ab-

TR0CII1LID.E — THE HUMMING-BIRDS — STELLULA. 363

sence of green on the tail seems a good character. But one species is known
of the genus.

CalotJiomx is a closely allied genus, in -svhich the tail is considerably-
longer. One species, C. cjjanoiwfjon, will probably be yet detected in New
Mexico. (Baird.)

Stellula calliope, Gould,
THE CALLIOPE HTJMMING-BIBD.

Trochilus calliope, Godld, Pr. Z. S. 1847, 11. (Me.xico.) — Calulhomx calliope. Gray, Genera,
I. 100. — BoNAPAiiTE, licv. Mag. Zool. 1854, 257. — Gould, Mon. Trouli. III.; pi. 142.
— Xantus, Hiil. Ac. 1859, 190. — Slellida calliope, Gould, Iiitrod. Trocli. 1861, 90.

Sp. CH.\n. Male. Above, e.xecpt on tail, golden gi'ccn ; beneath ivhite, the sides
glossed with green ; the flanks somewhat with rusty ; orissum pure white. Throat feathers
pure white at base, terminal half violet-red, as is Allliis Hcloisw ; the sides of neck pure
white. Tail feathers brown, edge<l at base, especially on inner webs (but inconspicuously)
with rufous ; the ends paler as it' faded ; central feathers like the rest. Under mandible
yellow. Length, 2.75 ; wing, 1 GO ; tail, 1.00 ; bill above to base of feathers, 0.55.

Female, without the metallic gorget (replaced by a few dusky specks), and the throat

feathers not elongated ; no green on side, and more tinged with rufous beneath. A white
crescent under the eye. Tail more rounded and less emarginate than in the male ; the
outer three feathers green at base, then black, and tipped with white ; the fourth green
and black ; the fifth green, with a dnsky shade at end ; all e.\ce])t central, edged internally
at base with rufous. The under maudiljle is paler at base than elsewhere, but not yellow-
ish-white as in the male.

Ilah. Mountains of Washington, Oregon, California, to Northern Me.xico.

The male l>ird is easily distinguished from other Xorth American species
by its very small size, the snowy-wliite bases of tlie elongated loose throat
feathers, and liy the shape of tlie tail, as also the absence, at least in the
only male before me, of decided metallic green on the central tail feathers.
The females resemble those of A. Hcloisw most closely, but have longer bills
and wings, broader tail feathers, and their rufous confined to the edges, in-
stead of crossing the entire basal portion. Sdasphorus idatijccrcus and riifus
are much larger, and have tails marked more as in ^. Hdoiscc. (Baird.)

364 SHRIEKING BIRDS — STRISORES.

Mr. Lord found this species numerous near tlie northwest boundary line,
east of the Cascade Mountains in May, arriving with <S'. rufus, and fre-
quenting the Ribcs flowers also. During the summer he observed them
chiefly about rocky hillsides at great altitudes, frequently above the line
of perpetual snow, and discovered the nest, usually on the liranch of a
young pine, artfully concealed among the leaves at the very end so as to be
rocked by the lireeze.

I probalily saw the same species in August, 1853, on the summit of the
Cascade Mountains, liut mistook them in their moulting plumage fi-ir tlie
yoimg of »S'. rufus. (Cooj^er.)

Genus HELIOPiEDICA, Gould.

ndiopadka, Gould, Jlon. Trocbil. II. ; Intiod. Troclul. 18G1. 60. (Type, Tmcliilus melaiio-

tis, SWAIN.SON.)

Gen. Char. Bill longer than head, depressed ; broad at its exposed base ; the frontal
feathers not advancing forward beyond the beginning of the nostrils, nor so far as those
of the ehin. Hind toe shorter than the lateral ; tar.si feathered. Outer primary not at-

_ f/

tenuated. Tail nearly even, slightly roundeil and emarginate, the feathers broad, the
webs nearly even. Metallic feathers of throat nut elongated. Female quite similar in
form.

TIlis genus is quite peculiar among those of North America, in the ex-
posure of the liase of Ijill, which is entirely bare between the lengthened
nostrils, instead of co\-ered by the frontal feathers. Tliis makes the Tiill
appear very broad, although it really is more so tlian in our other genera.
The feathers on tlie chin extend considerably beyond those of the forehead,
instead of to about the same line. The tail and its feathers are much
broader than in the other genera.

Of Hcluqxndica there are two species, both with green throats and white
stripe in the black of the side of the head ; the top of head blue ; they differ,
however, in decided characters. (Baird.)

TKOCIIILID.E — THE IIUMMING-BIRDS — HELIOP^EDICA. 365
Heliopsedica Xantusii, Laweence.

XANTUS'S HUMMING-BIRD.

Amnz'ilia Xantmii, Lawrexce, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VII. April, 1860, 109. — HeUoprvdka
Xanlusii, Gould, Mon. Trocli. II. ; pi. 65. Ib. lutrod. Troth. 61. — Elliot, 111. B. N.
A. I. pi. 23.

Heliopcedlca castaneocauda, Lawke.vce, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1860, 14.^ (femiilc).

Sp. Char. Male. Above metallic fjreen ; the forehead, cheeks, and cliin, velvety-
black (the former perhaps deep blue when in perfbct plumage). A distinct white stripe
from bill, throuLi;h and behind the eye. Throat and fore part of breast, brilliant metal-
lie green ; rest of under parts cinnamon-rufous. All the tail feathers iiurplish-rufous ; the
central glossed with green above near the ed<:cs; the others obscurely edged with blackish

along ends. Bill red at base : black at ends. Length, .3.50 ; wing, 2.10; tail, 1.40; ex-
posed portion of bill about 0.65.

Female. Forehead and all under parts light cinnamon beneath, without any green or
any dusky specks on throat ; white cheek stripe appreciable, but tinged with rufous. Tail
as in male, but the central feathers entirely gi-een above ; the others, except the outer,
with a dusky greenish or purplish spot on each web near the end. Whole upper mandi-
ble apparently dusky ; base of lower, red.

Hah. Cape St. Lucas.

This Avell-marked and interesting species we o^ve to JNIr. Xantus, with
many other birds of the West Coast. It is sufficiently distinct to require
no comparison than that given under the general head ; it can be separated
from H. mdanotis in all stages of pkimage by the rufous tail.

Specimens vary sometimes in the intensity of the rufous shade ; and, as
stated, it is probable that the forehead, instead uf being black in full plu-
mage, is deep blue, as in mdanotis. (Baird.)

Order SCANSORES,

Char. Toes in pairs, two in front and two behind, the enter anterior
being usually directed backwards. Tail feathers eight to twelve. Prima-
ries ten. Tarsi (in our species), with broad plates anteriorly, small scales
behind.

In this order we find the most perfect development of the bird type,
analogous to Quaclrumana.

The parrots and trogons of the tropics are members of this order, as usu-
ally understood. There are, however, none of these two families found
within our State.

The term Zi/fjodactyle, or cross-toed, is also applied to these birds.

Family CUCULID^, The Cuckoos.

Chak. Bni compressed laterally, gently curved, sometimes attenuated
and generally lengthened. A few bristles at the base of bill or none.
Tarsi lengthened, toes rather short. Tail long and soft, of ten feathers iu
our genera.

This family is numerously represented in warm countries. The genus
Cuculus, and allied forms of the Old World, are celebrated for never Ijuikl-
ing a nest of their own, Ijut laying eggs in those of others birds, like our
Molothrus.

Genus GEOCOCCYX, Wagler.

GeococcijT, TVagler, Isis, IS-Tl, .^24.

Lrptoslomii, SwAiNSON, Classilicatiou BiiJs, II. 1837, .325.

Gex. Cii.\r. Bill lung nnil strong, sliglitly compressed, .and nt least as long as the
Lead ; head crested ; loral leathers and those at base of biU stiffened and bristly. Nostrils

CUCULID.E — THE CUCKOOS — GEOCOCCYX.

367

G. Cali/omiamts.

elongated, linear. A naked colored skin around and behind the eye ; the eyelids ciliated.
Tarsi longer than the toes ; very stout. Wings very short and concave ; the tertials as
long as the primaries. Tail longer than the head and body ; composed of ten narrow,
much graduated feathers.

Another species inhabits Mexico.

G. Californtantis.

3(38 CLBIBING BIRDS— SCANSORES.

Geococcyx Californianus, Lesson.
THE PAISANO; THE KOAD-KUNNEE; THE CHAPPARAL COCK.

Saurothera Californiam, "Lesson, Com]ilcm. Buff. VI. 1829, 420. lu. Ann. dii Mus. 18.35,

121 ; pi. Lx."
Geococcyx vialicus, H.^rtladb, Rev. Zuol. 1844, 21.'j. — M'Call, Pi-. A. N. Sc. III. July,

1847,234. — Heerman.n, J. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2cl Scries, II. 1853, 270. — Newbeury,

Zool. Cal. and Or. Route, 91 ; P. R. R. Rep. VI. 1857.
Leptosloma longicauda, Swaikson, Birds, II. 1837, 325. — Gambel, Pr. A.N. S. I. 1843,

263.
Geococcyx Mexicamts, Gambel, Jour. A. K. Sc. Phil. 2d Series, I. 1849, 215 (not of Gmclin).

— Cassin, 111 I. 1855, 213; pi. x.xxvi. — Heermann, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 59.
G. Culiforniamm (Lesson), Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 73. — Kenxerly, X. iv. 21.

Sp. Char. Tail very long ; the lateral ieatliers niueli shortest. Au erectile crest on
the head. A bare skin around and behind the eye, colored bkiish-white and orange when
alive. Legs very long and stout. All the feathers of the upper parts and wings of a dull
metallic olivaceous-green, broadly edged -with white near the end. Tliere is, however, a
tiniTe of black in the green along the line of white, which itself is suffused with brown.
On the neck the black preponderates. The sides and under surface of the neck have the
white feathers streaked centrally with black, next to which is a brownish sufl'usion. The
reniainino- under parts are whitish, immaculate. Primary quills tipped with white, and
with a median band across the outer webs. Central tail feathers olive-brown ; remain-
ing ones clear dark green, all edged, and (except the central two) broadly tipped with
white. Top of the head dark blackish blue. Length, 20.00 to 23.00 ; extent, 21.00 ; wing,
6.00 to 7.00; tail, 12.00 to 13.00. Iris brown and yellow; bill olive ; feet black.

Hub. Middle Texas, New Mexico, and Calitbrnia to Central Mexico. Seen as far
north as Fort Reading, California.

This remarkable bird is abundant in the southern part of the State, and
follows the valleys northward nearly to the head of the Sacramento, being
resident everywhere south of San Francisco at least. I observed them first
at Fort jMojave, Colorado Valley, on the 25th of February, when I heard
one making a low cooing noise like that of a dove, for which I at first mis-
took it. After much watching I surprised it perched on top of a low tree,
and shot it. On April 3d the Indians brought me a female specimen,
probably caught on the nest, as it laid au egg in the cage in ^\•luch I put it,
Avhich unfortunately got broken. This bird was timid, and made no attempts
to defend itself, running off on the ground when I released it, instead of
attempting to fly. I afterwards saw this one or others several times sit-
ting on trees, where it allowed me to approach within ten feet, cooing
harshly, and chattering its mandibles together, at the same time jerking up
its tail and erecting its crest.

I saw none in the Viarren mountains and plains towards the coast, until I
reached San Diego, where, a little after sunrise, I saw a pair sitting on a

CUCDLID.E — THE CUCKOOS— GEOCOCCYX.

369

fence in the cemetery, close to the town, where they sat still while several
wagons i^assed by.

Wliere not molested, tliey liccome quite tame, and seem to liave a prefer-
ence for the vicinity of to\\-ns and liouses. At Santa Barbara I observed a

young one nearly fledged in May. I have seen several nests, but never
discovered one with young or eggs in it. The nest is luiilt in a low thicket,
composed mostly of sticks, rather loosely put together, and ^■ery shallow.
The eggs are two, larger tlian a pigeon's egg, wliite, and nearly equal in size
at each end ; size, 1.65 X 1.22.

The food of this liird consists of insects, lizards, and snakes, probaldy also
of any small or young animal it can destroy. It is said to hedge in the
rattlesnake with a circle of cactus-joints, until the reptile, becoming en-
raged, bites itself and falls an easy prey to the bird. This I have never
seen, nor can I understand how such a hard-slicllcd reptile could be en-
closed by even a spiny hedge so as to be unable to escape. It is, howe\'er,
i;ndoubtedly true that the bird kills these, and other snakes also. Its fieet-
ness on foot, when in an o[)en plain, is well known, a fast horse being
scarcely able to overtake it. On such occasions it never flies, unless down-
wards from a height, and its wings seem scarcely ever of much use to it,
as it probably cannot fly upwards at all.

Mr. H. E. Dresser, in an article pulilished in the London Ibis, (1865, 466.)
speaks of it as abundant in the niez(piite region of Texas, especially near the
Pdo Grande. He found its eggs near San Antonio as late as September, laid
usually in a clumsy nest of niezquite twigs, and from two to four in nunilicr,

47

570

CLIMBIXG BIRDS — SCANSOKES.

as ascertained by liim. Its food consists of small snakes, lizards, ticks, and
large insects, and when tamed it catclies and devours mice with gTeat avidity.
The practice of keeping them tamed he found (|uite general, the oLject Leing
apparently to have them in readiness in case of sickness, for some forms of
which their flesh is considered a perfect cure. One in his possession became
very familiar and mischievous, stealing and hiding anything it could carry
off, and being particularly fond of tearing up letters and spilling the ink. It
was not confined in any way, and frequently visited the neighbors, always,
however, returning before evening.

Mr. A. J. Grayson, of San Jose, in an article published, in Hutchings's
IMagazine for November, 1856, gives the following additional particulars,
together with a good figure : —

" The road-runner is seldom seen on trees, iTuless pursued very closely,' '
when it has been seen to spring from the ground to the branches, at a height
of ten or fifteen feet at a single bound ; Imt it prefers running along the road
or path, from which habit it deri\'es its name.

" I liave now in my possession one of these birds, which is becoming
quite tame, and readily feeds upon any kind of raw meat, but prefers liz-
ards and small birds, wliich it swallows wliole, feathers and all. If given
to him alive, he will play with them awhile before swallowing them, just
as a cat wiU do with a mouse. I have seen him devour three sparrows, one
lizard, and a portion of the breast of a coot for his breakfast, without ex-
periencing any apparent inconvenience.

" Although it cannot fly well, by its activity and quickness it easily
catches small birds, whether on the ground or in the thicket."

I have heard of their
insects, etc.

tamed and kept about gardens to kill mice.

C. Ainin'camis.

CUCULIDxE — THE CUCKOOS — COCCYGUS.

371

Genus COCCYGUS, Vieillot.

Cocajgus,V lEiLLOT, Analyse, 1816.

Erylhrophri/s, Swainson, Class. Birds, II. 1837, 322.

Gex. Char. Ile.-id without crest ; feathers about ba?e of bill soft ; bill nearly as long
as the head, deeurved, slender, and attenuated towards the end. Nostrils linear. Wings

s£i\

-v-V^

lenj^thencd, reaching the mid.Ue of the tail ; the tertials short. Tail of ten graduated
feathers. Feet weak ; tarsi shorter than the middle toe.

Several species iulialiit Tropical America.

Coccygus Americanus, Ltxx.eus.

THE YELLOW-SILLED CUCKOO.

Cwnhis Amrrknnns, LiSN.EUS, Syst. Nat. I. 1 TGfi, 170, tO. — rom/7»s /Immrams, BosA-
PARTB, Obs. Wilson, 1825, No. 47. — Aunnsov, Orn. Bio-. L 1.8.12, IS ; V. .520 ; iil. 2.
In. Birds Amcr. IV. 1842, 29.3; pb 275. — Nuttall, Man. I. 2.1 «1. C.52. — Cocc^^us
AmericaiiKS, B.viiiD, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 70.

Sp. Char. Ujiper mandible and tip of lower, black ; rest of lower mandible and cut-
ting edges of the upper yellow. Upper parts of a metallic greenish-olive, slightly tinged
with asdi towards the' bill ; beneath, white. Tail feathers (except the median, which are
like the back) black, tipiied with white for about an inch on the outer feathers, the exter-
nal one with the outer edge almost entirely white. Quills orange-cinnamon ; the terminal

3 72 CLIMBING BIRDS — SC ANSORES.

portion and a gloss on the outer webs olive ; iris brown. Length, 12.00; wing, 5.9,5;
tail, 6.35. (Baird.)

Hub. Eastern United States to the IMissouri Plains. Very rare in California. Ore-
gon. (Nuttall.)

Althoiigli ISTuttall and Townsend mentioned seeing this liird in " Oregon,"
no one has since confirmed its occurrence on any part of the AVest Coast
until tlie summer of ISG:^, Avliea Mr. Gruher obtained two specimens, shot
in Napa Valley. Dr. Newberry, in P. E. Eep. "\'I. iv. 'J2, does indeed men-
tion licarinrj what he thought was the note of a cuckoo, but did not obtain a
specimen, and referred it to the otiier Atlantic Coast species {Coccygus rrij-
thro'ptlialmus). He might easily have been mistaken about the cry of the
bird, as I was myself at San Diego, until I ascertained that the noise was
made by a kind of toad [Scwphiopus), and produced the same deceptive
effect as that of the bird does, sounding as if in a different direction from
the real one. I have not heard this bird in Santa Clara Valley, and think
its migration, if any more than an occasional visitor, must lie liy way of the
interior valleys of the State. In the East it is called " koubird " from its
note, like lon-lvv-hiv , often repeated, and also rain-crow.

Tliough nearly allied to tlie cuckoo of Europe, it Ijuilds a nest and hatches
its own eggs. The nest is usually in a low tree loosely constructed of small
twigs, almost witliout a cavity, and tlie eggs are Iduish-green, without spots,
the ends nearly equal, and rather large. According to Audubon, they lio-
gin to sit on one etr", but lay another soon after, the iirst being hatched so
much earlier that the young are often of (juite different sizes. When one is
fledged, another egg is laid, and the young assists by its M'armth in hatching
it. This occurs successively through the summer, until as many as eleven
lia\'e l)een raised from one nest.

This remarkable habit is not known to characterize any other bird, except
perhaps some eagles. They feed, like the Gi'ococcijx, at times on small birds
and their eggs, as well as insects. In " Hutchings's California jMagazine," an
account of the liabits of one of the North American species, extracted from

PICIDiE — THE WOODPECIOiRS.

373

" Wilson's Ornithology," is published, with a figure of some very distinct
foreign species.

While stationed at Sacramento in 18G5, I found these birds quite com-
mon in the large cotton wood-trees about the city, from about May 1st to
September 1st, but as usual very shy, and I could not find any nests. WhUe
travelling south througii the San Joaquin Valley, in Septenil^er, I neither
saw nor heard them, though there are gTOves along the river-banks suited
for them ; and as they migrate south in that month from the Atlantic States,
they must pass very silently and I'apidly into ^Mexico, as I have not seen
them ill tlie south parts of California.

Family PICID.E, The Woodpeckers,

CiiAR. Bill straight, rigid, and chisel-shaped at the tip, the base without
rictal Ijristles. Feet stout, covered anteriorly with broad plates. Tail
feathers twelve, the exterior very small and concealed. Primaries ten, the
first very short, secondaries nine to twelve. Tongue elongated and acute,
with short spines or barbs on each side near the point.

Of the eight genera found in Northern America, California possesses rep-
resentatives of all, and more species than any other district of equal ex-

P. JlaTTisii.

tent. Individuals arc very abundant in some district.s, and they are axery-
where conspicuous birds, on account of the noise made in hammering

374

CLIMBING BIRDS — SCANSORES.

against trees, and the size of many of the species. All make their nests in
holes of trees, usually excavated Ly themselves with considerable efl'ort;
they lay four or five white eggs, with crystalline shell. Their food consists
in great jiart of insects, though fruit, berries, and even the bark of trees
are occasioually devoured.

Genus PICUS, Linx.eus.

Picus, LiNN.tus, Syst. Nat. 1748.

Gen^. Ch.\r. Bill equal to the head, or a little longer ; the lateral ridges conspicuous,
starting about the raitWle of the base of the bill ; the basal, elongated, o-ial nostrils
nearer the commissure ; the ridges of the culmen and gonys acute, and very nearly
straight, or slightly convex towards the tip ; the bill but littU- broader than high at the
base, becoming compressed considerably before the luiddlu. The outer posterior toe

longest; the outer anterior about intermediate between it and the inner anterior, the inner
posterior reaching to the base of the claw of the inner anterior. Tarsus about equal
to the inner anterior toe ; .shorter than the two other long toes. Wings rather long, reach-
ing the middle of the tail, rather roumU'il ; the fourth and fifth quills longest, the quills
rather broad and roimded.

The species are numerous, and found in nearly all parts of the world.
Probably none of the genus, as now restricted, are to be found on the AVest
Coast, except those here mentioned.

PICID^ — THE WOODPECItERS — PICUS.

375

Ficus Harrisii, Audubon.

HAKEIS'S WOODPECKER.

Pints Ilan-isii, AuDTBoy, Orn. Bidg. V. 18.39, 191; pi. 417. Ib. Sjn. 1839,178. Ib.
BinU Amcr. II. 1842, 242 ; pi. 2G1 (dui-U-bcUiccl variety). — Nutt.^ll, JIan. I. 2il ed.
1840, 627. — Baikd, 1'. H. Kcp. IX. Birds, 87. — Kennerly, X. iv. 21. — IIeer-M.vx.v,
X. vi. .57. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 159.

rirus hijtoscopus, Cau.\nis and Heine.

Sp. Char. Abovo lilack, ,n wliik' Ptripe down i\w bark. The only white spots on the
surface of the folded wings are seen on the outer web.s of the jiriniaries and outer seeon-

Male.

daries (none on tertials). Reneath wliilish, with faint streaks on the side of the body.
Two white and twn blacdc stripes on each sidi' of the head; the latter continent
with the blaek of the neek, the upper while strijie nearly eonduent. Three outer tail

Female.

feathers with the exposed portions white. Length, 9.7.5 ; extent, 16.00 to 17.00; wing,
5.7.5.

376 CLIMBING BIRDS— SCANSORES.

Male, with a niiclial scarlet ci-est eoviTing the white of the back of the head ; want-
ing in the female. Iris bruwnish-red ; bill slate-colored ; feet dark gray.

Young, with whole top of head red.

Ilah. From the Pacific Coast to the eastern slope of the Rocky Slountains.

This is chiefly a Northern bird, frequenting the forests of all kinds up to
the summits of the Sierra Nevada, but also resident as far south as Santa
Barbara, descending to the eastern Ijranches of the Colorado Eiver in winter
(Kennerly), and to Tejon Pass.

I found a pair excavating a burrow in a stump not more than four feet
above the ground. May 4, 186.3. I enlarged the opening, hoping to find
eggs, as the old liirds were very solicitous, but was disappointed, and did not
examine it again, supposing tliat they would certainly desert the place. I
found them more common in the higher Coast Range near Santa Cruz, but
they become still more so towards the Columbia Ei\'er.

The cry of this species is louder tlian that of most of the small wood-
peckers, and it is rather shy, especially if it thinks itself pursued. Like
most other .species, it feeds at time.s on fruits and berries, and sometimes
visits gardens. It is one of the " sap-suckers " also, though, like P. Gdinlmri
it probably does more good than harm in the orchard liy destroying the
larvffi of insects burrowing in the bark, and also the perfect insects that are
depositing the eggs from which the larvre are hatched.

It is much to be questioned whether this species is any more than a West-
ern variety of Picns rillosvs, the common hairy woodpecker of the Eastern
States, differing from it in the absence of many of the white spots of the
winos.

PICID^ — THE WOODPECKERS — PICUS. ^77

Picus Gairdneri, Audubon.
GAIBDNEE'S WOODFECKEB.

Picus Gairdneri, Audubon, Orn. Biog. V. 183'J, 317. lu. Syn. 1839, 180. Ib. Birds Amer.
IV. 1842, 252. — B.URD, P. K. Rep. IX. Birds, 91. Ib. Birds N. Amer.; pi. 85. —
Heermanx, X. vi. 57. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 159.

Picus meridionalis, Ndttall, Man. I. 2d ed. 1840, 090 (not of Swainson).

Picus lurali, Malherbe, — Dryobates homorus, Cabak'IS and Heine.

Sp. Guar. Vlm-v similar in (.'olor to P. Ilarrisii, but smaller. Larger wing coverts, and
more exposed tertials, either pure blai'k, or with but occasional spots on the outer web in
the latter. Back with a white median stripe. Sitle of head with two white and two

black stripes. Two outer tail feathers white, with two bands of black at the end.
Length, (i.75 to 7.0() ; e.\tent, 12.00 ; wing, 3.75, generally rather less.

Male, with a scarlet occipital band. Iris brown ; bill slate-color ; feet gray.

Hab. With P. Harrisii, from the Pacific Coast to tlie eastern base of tlie Rocky IMoini-
tains, northward.

This species is appareutly confined cliietly to the northern ]»arts of the
State, as I have not met with it south of the Santa Clara Valley. I there
found one of their nests containing young on the 24th of ^lay, 1864. It
was liuiTowed in a small, partly rotten tree about fi^'e feet from the ground.
From the fact of their hreeding so far south, we may suppose that they
occur much farther south ou the mountain.s, like almost all the northern
birds.

This woodpecker frequents chiefly the smaller trees in the vicinity of the
evergreen woods, and may be found at all seasons industriously tapping
their bark to obtain insects. It is so closely analogous to P. jJuhcscens, the
" little sap-sucker " of the Atlantic States, that we may expect it to show a
similar haliit of perforating apple-tree bark to suck the sap. It is, however,
very doubtful whether the injury thus caused counterbalances the benefit
which the bird efi'eets in the destruction of insects, esj)ecially as no one has
48

378 CLIMBING BIRDS— SCANSORES.

ever observed trees to Le killed in this way, aud the holes made are so shal-
low as not to reach the principal sap-wood or inner liark.

As this is a familiar, industrious little bird, we may hope to see it en-
couraged in the vicinity of orchards, at least until the true extent of benefit
or damage it produces shall be fuUy ascertained.

This species, like P. Harrisii, will probably ultimately be considered as a
mere local variety of another (in this case P. puhcscciis).

Picus Nuttalli, Gambel.

NUITALL'S WOODPECKER.

Picus Nuttalli, Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. I. April, 184.3, 259. (Los Angeles, Cal.) — Baikd, P.

B. Uep. IX. Birds, 9.3. — Newbekry, VL 89. — Heermann, X. vi. 57.
Picus scalaris, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2d Series, L Dec. 1847, 55; pi. 9, f. 2, 3 (not of

Waglcr).
Picus Wilsonii, Malherbe, Rev. Zool. 1849, 529.

Sp. Char. Back Ijlack, lianded transvursfly with whito ; not, however, as far forward
as the neek. Crown black, with white sjjots. Occiput aud uape crimson. Tufts of

feathers at the base of the bill white. Sides of the head black, with two white stripes, one
above the eye and passing down on the side of the neck, the other below and interrupted
by the black. Under parts smoky yellowish-white, s])otted on the sides of the head with
black. Predominant color of the three outer tail feathers white, with three, two, or one
spot on the outer web near the end. Length, 8.00 ; wing, 4.50.

Female, with the top of the head uniform black. Iris brown ; I.iill black ; feet gray.

Hah. Coast region of California.

This little woodpecker is abuiulaut towards the coast of California, and
among the foothills of the interior, west of the Sierra Nevada. It frequents
the oaks and smaller trees almost exclusively, avoiding the coniferous for-

PICID^ — THE WOODPECKERS — PICUS. 379

ests. It is very industrious, and not easily frightened when engaged in its
laborious hammering on the bark of trees, allowing a very near approach,
though, like all woodpeckers, somewhat suspicious and wary when pursued.
On April 20, 18G2, I discovered a burrow of this bird near San Diego, in

Female.

a rotten stump only about four feet above the ground, and captured the
female on the nest. It contained five pure and pearly white eggs, wliich is
the number and character of those laid by aU of the small woodpeckers, as
far as known.

This species apparently remains throughout the year in the ^•alleys, and
migrates little if at all. I have not observed it west of the Coast Eange,
except near Santa Barbara, nor have I seen any around gardens or orchards.
None have been observed north or east of this State, the P. scalaris taking
its place east of the mountains.

Picus scalaris, Wagler.

THE AEIZONA WOODPECKER.

Pints scalaris, Wagler, Isis, 1829, V. 511. (Mexico.) — Bonaparte, Consp. 18S0, l.'iR.
Picus (Di/cliopicus) scalaris, Bonaparte, Consp. Zygod. Atcn. Itiil. 18.54, 8. — Baird, P. R-

Rep. IX. Birds, 94. — Heehmann, X. v. 18; VI. 57. — U. S. and Mex. Buimd. lii'p.

II. iii. 5 ; pi. iii.
Picus parvus, Cabot. — Picus Dairdii, Sclater. — Picus vaijalus, and Orizabie, Cassin.

Sp. CH.i.R. Back ban(k'il transversely with black and white to the neck. Black and
white bands of b.ack about equ.al. Crown crimson spotted with white, from the bill to the
nape ; tuft of feathers at the base of the bill brown. A white stripe above the eye, con-
tinued on the side of the neck ; another under the eye, interrupted by the black of the
side of the head. Under parts smoky brownish-white, spotted on the sides of the breast,
and banded on the flank with black. Predominating color of the three outer tail feathers

380

CLIMBING BIRDS— SCAN SORES.

Male.

black, with white bands (jliivfly on the outer webs. Lenpth. about 7.50; extent. 13 00;
winir. 4.25.

Female, withont reil un the lieach Iris ilark brown ; bill liorn-eolor ; feet gray.

H(tb. Rocky Mountains and its slopes, west to San Bernadino Mountains of California.

P ifnlaris P. NittlrjUt.

P1CID.E — THE WOODPECKERS — PICUS.

581

Abundant in tlie Colorado Valley, and sometimes seen on tlie Inislies
covering the neigliboring mountains. In habits they are the exact re^jre-
sentatives of P. Nuttalli, which they so much resemble.

The relationships of color between this species and NuttaJli are very-
close. The differences are, however, well illustrated by the figures of the
head and by the diagram, on the preceding page, of the tails of tiie two.

Ficus scalaris,

lucasanus, Xaxtus.

THE CAPE WOODPECKEK.

Picus lucasanus, Xantus, Vr. A. N. S. 1859, 298, 302. — Maliierbe, Mon. Picitla;!. 166.
— Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 186.3, 195.

Sp. Ch.\I!. General appearance that oi Picus Nuttalli and sealaiis. Bill stout, as long
as or longer tlian the head. Above black, banded transversely with white on the back
and scapulars to the nape, the white band narrower, the rump and inner tail feathers en-
tirely black ; (juills with a row of white spots on each web, the outer sijuare, the inner
rounded, these spots on the tertials becoming transversely quadrangular. Beneath brown-
ish-wliite, with rounded black spots on the sides of the breast, passing behind on the flanks

and under tail coverts into transverse bars. Greater inner wing coverts transversely
barred. Outer two tail feathers wliite, with one, sometimes two terminal bars, next to
which are one or two bars on the inner web only ; third feather black, the outer web mostly
white, with traces of a terminal black bar ; sometimes there is a greater predominance of
black on the inner web. Two white stripes on siile of head, one starting al)Ove, the other
below the eye, with a tendency to meet behind and form a wliitisli collar on the nape.

Male, with the entire top of the head streaked with red, becoming more conspicuous
behind ; each red streak witli a white spot at base. Feathers covering the nostrils smoky-
brown. Length, 7.15 ; extent, 12.15 ; wing, 4.00 ; bill above, 1.00 ; middle toe and claw,
0.80 ; tarsus, 0.76.

Hab. Cape St. Lucas.

382

CLIMBING BIRDS — SCANSORES.

Mr. Xantus makes no meution of any peculiar habits of this variety,
which are probalily much like those of sccdaris. Of the distinctness of this
bird as a species from P. Nuttalli and sccdaris I had at one time no doubt,
but the discovery that otherwise t3'-pical scalaris from Mazatlan and
Western Mexico generally have the same markings on the tail, has in-
duced me to consider it as a kind of connecting link. I have, however,
thought it best to give a detailed description for comparison. Of about
the same size witli Kuttrdli, the liill and feet are much larger. The legs,
indeed, are nearly if not quite as large as those of a male P. villosus, from
Pennsylvania ; the bill, however, .is somewhat less. The relationship to
tyjiical P. scc(h(ris is seen in the dorsal bands extending to the nape ; the
smoky-brown feathers of the nostrils ; the whole top of head red (scattering
anteriorly) ; the brownish shade beneath ; the width of the white cheek
bands. On the other hand, it has the black bands of the back rather wider
than the white, as in Nuttcdli ; and the white outer tail feathers even less
banded with black. The two outer are entirely white, with one terminal
black bar ; one or two spots on the outer web ; and two or three bands on
the inner, with a sub-basal patch on the inner web even smaller than in
Ntdtcdli. It is rarely that even two continuous transverse bands can be
seen to cross both webs of the tail. The bill and feet are much larger.

The following measurements, taken from the largest specimens before me
of Bi/ctiopicus, and one of P. villosus, will illustrate what has been said of
the size of the bill and feet of P. lucnsanus. (Baird.)

p. villosus.

P. lucasanus.

P. Nuttalli.

P. scalaris.

884

J 12939

i 4482

i 6105

Bill fi-om forehead,

1.2G

1.10

.90

.99

Tarsus,

.76

.76

.70

.68

Middle toe and claw,

.87

.84

.75

.65

Claw alone,

.39

.34

.32

.31

Outer hind toe and claw,

.95

.84

.79

.80

Claw alone,

.40

.32

.31

.31

Picus albolarvatus, Cassin.

THE WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER.

Leuconerpcs aWolarmfiis, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V. Oct. 1850, 106. (California.) — ^flIanerpcs
albolarmliis, Cassin, .Jour. A. N. Sc. 2d Series, 11. Jan. IS.'iS, 2.i7 ; pi. 22. — Newuerry,
Zool. Cal. & Or. Route; P. R. Rep. VI. 18.57. — Heer5iaxn, X. vi. 59. — Picus
{Xaiopiciis) alliolarvatus, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 9G. — Cooper and Sucklev,
XII. iii. Zool. of AV. T. 160.

Sp. Ch.\r. Fourth and fifth quills e(pial and longest. Entirely bluish-black, excepting
the head and outer edges, with the entire basal portion, of the primaries, which are white.

PICID^— THE WOODPECKEKS — PICOIDES.

383

Length, about 9.50 ; extent, 1G.5U ; wing. 5. -25. Male, with a narrow line of red on the nape
Hab. Cascade Mountains of Oregon, and southward into California.

I fouiul tliis beautiful species quite common near the summits of tlie
Sierra Nevada, lat. 39°, in September, 18G.3, and obtained three specimens.
In 1860 I found it also common at Fort DaUes, Columbia Itiver, its cliief
range of distribution being between these two points, though I have also
found it as far north as Fort Colville, Washington Territory, near lat. 49°.
It is rather a silent l.)ird, and Uttle known.

Genus PICOIDES, Lacep.

Picoidcs, Lacep. Mora. Inst. 1799.

Tridactijlia, Stephens, Shaw, Gen. Zool. 181.5.

Ajiternus, SwAiNSON, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 1S.3I, .311.

Gen. C'hau. Bill about as long as the head, very much tlcpressed at the base ; the
outlines nearly straight ; the lateral ridge at its base much nearer the commissure than

P Aretii

384 CLIMBING BIRDS — SCANSOllES.

the eulmen. so as to bring the Uirge rather linear nostrils elose to the edge of the eonimis-
sure. The gonys very long, equal to the distance from the nostrils to the tip of the bill.
Feet with only three toes ; the outer lateral a little longer than the inner, but slightly ex-

P. hirsuftl.^.

ceedcd by the hind toe, whieh is aljout equal to the tarsus. Wings very long, reaehing
be}-ond the middle of the tail ; fourth anil lifth quills longest. Color blaiJc with a broad
patch of yellow on the crown ; body transversely banded on the sides. Quills with round
spots.

Three species iulialut North America, and others are found on the OLl
Continent. F. dorsalis, Baird, with a white stripe down the middle of Lack,
may perliaps stray as far to the west as the Northern Sierra Nevada or the
Cascade Mountains, as it inhabits the Rocky ilountains at least as far south
as lat. 40°.

Picoides arcticus, .Swalnsdx.

THE ARCTIC THEEE-TOED WOODPECKER.

Picm (Apternns) arrticus, Swainson, Fauna Bur. Am. II. ISai, Z\Z. — Aplcrms nrclicus,

BoxAi'ARTE, List, 1838. Ib. Cons]). 1850, 1.39. — Newberry, Zool. Cul. and Or.

Route, 91 ; Rep. P. R. Surv. VI. IS^7. — Piciis arcticus, Audubon, Syn. 1839, 182.

Ib. Birds Amcr. IV. 1842, 266; pi. 268. — Nuttali,, Man. L 2a ed. 1840, 691.

Picoides arcticus, Gray, Baikd, P. R. Rc]i. Birds, IX. 98.
Piciis tridacti/lics. Bosai-akte, Am. Orn. II. 1828, 14; pi. xiv. f. 2. — Audubon, Orn. Biof;.

n. 18.34, 198; pi. 132.

Sp. Cii.\u. Above entirely imiform glossy liluish-black ; a squ.ire patch on the middle
of the crown, saffron yellow, and a few white spots on the outer edges of both webs of the
prim.ary and secondary (juills. Beneath white, on the sides of the breast longitudinally
striped, and on the sides of the belly, ilaiiks, and tibial region banded transversely with

PICID.E — THE WOODPECKERS — PICOIDES.

385

black. A narrow concealed white line from the eye a short distance backwards, and
a white stripe from the extreme forehead (meeting anterioi-ly) under the eye, and down
the sides of the neck. Bristl)- feathers of the base of the bill bruwn. Exposed portion

Male.

of two outer tail feathers (first and seconil) white. Iris brown ; bill and feet black.
Length, 9.00 to 10.00; extent, IG.OO to 17.00; wing, 5.25 ; tail, 3.85. F<-mcile, without
yellow on the head.

Hah. Northern portions of the United States to the Arctic regions, from the Atlautic
to the Pacific.

I fouud this bird (|iiite imnierou.s al>o\it Lake Tahoe, and the summits of
the Sierra Nevada above si.x: thousand feet altitude, in Sei:)temher, and it
extends tlience northward, cliieily on tlie east side of these and the Cascade
Mountains, as I nexev saw it near the Lower Columbia. At the lake they
were quite fearless, coming close to the hotel, and industriously rapping the
trees in tlie early morning and evening. In the North I found them very
wild, probably because the Indians pin'sue them for their scalps, wliich they
consider very valuable. I noticed their burrows in low pine-trees near the
lake, where they had doubtless raised their young. According to Nuttall,
they lay four or five white eggs. I have found them silent birds, though
probably in the spring they have more variety of calls. Tlie only note I
heard was a shrill, harsh, rattling cry, sufficiently distinct from that of any
other woodpecker.

Picoides Americanus, Brehm.

THE STRIPED THEEE-TOED WOODPECKEK.

Var. fasciatUS. Banded back.

Picus hirsiitus, ViEiLLOT, Orn. Am. Sept. II. 1807, 68 ; pi. cxxiv. (Eiiropcin specimen). —
TVagler, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 27 (mi.xed with imdulatus). — Audubon, Orn. Bioj;. V.
49

386

CLIMBING BIRDS — SCANSORES.

1839,18-1; jil. 417. In. Birds Amcr. IV. 1842; jil. 2G9. — KtiTTAt.i., Man. I. 2(1 cd.

1840, 692. — Aptaniis liirsatus, Bos \i'\RTE, List. — Picoides /liisuhis, Bmrd, Birds N.

Amer. 18.'j8, 98.
? Picus undulatus, Vieillot, Orn. Am. Sept. II. 1807, 09 (based on I'l. eiil. 553, a fictitious

species ?).
Picus uniJatus, Tem.m.

Picus unclosiis, Cuv. R. A. 1829, 457 (all based on same figure).
Tridactylia undulata, C.4BANIS and Heine, Mus. Ilein, IV. 2, 1863, 28.
Picus tridactylus, Swainson, Fauna Bor. Am. 1831, 311 ; pi. hi.
Picoides Americanus, Breum, Vii^el Ucutsclilands, -1831, 195. — Maliierbe, Mon. Picida;,

L 176 ; pi. 17, 36. — Sclater, Catal. Gray, Cat. Br. Mus. IIL 3, 4, 1808, SO. — Apter-

7nis Americanus, SwAlNSOK, Class. II. 1837, 306. — Picus Americanus, Sundevall, Consp.

Av. Picin. 1866, 15.

Var. dorsalis. Striped Ijack.

Picoides dorsalis, Baird, Birds N. Amer. 1858, 100; pi. 85, f. 1. — Tridacti/Ila dorsulis, Ca-
BANis and Heine. — Picus dorsulis, Sundevall, Consp. 1866, 14.

Sp. Char. Black .ibove ; the back with transverse bands of white to the runiji. A
white line from behind the eye, widening on the nape, and a broader one under the eye
from the loral region, but not extending on the forehead ; occiput and sides of head uni-

form black. Quills, but not coverts, spotted on both webs with white, seen on inner webs
of inner secondaries. Under parts, including crissum, wliite ; the .-^ides, including a.xillars
and lining of wing, banded transversely with black. K.\])osed portion of outer three tail
feathers white; that of third much less, and sometinu's with a, narrow tiji of black.

p. (lorS(ili$.

PICIDzi: — THE WOODPECKERS — PICOIDES. 357

Upper tail coverts sometimes tipped with white. Top of tlie head spotted witli white ;
the crown of the male with a yellow patch. Nasal bristles black, mixed with <;ray.

Female, with the whole top ofliead spotted with white ; very rarely entirely black.

Hab, Arctic regions of North America.

Var. dorsulis. The black transverse bands on the emls of the central dorsal feathers
wanting, partly or entirely, leaving the white more or less continuous as in Picas vlllusns.
Ilah. Rocky Mountains of the United States and British America.

This species varies considerably in its markings, especially in tlie amonnt
of white above. The head is sometimes niore coarsely spotted with white
than in the average ; very rarely are the white spots wanting, leaving mere-
ly the broad malar- and interrupted post-ocnlar stripe. The rictal black
stripe is sometimes mnch obscured by Avhite. In typical specimens i'rum
the Hudson Bay and Labrador provinces, which seem to Ijc darkest, the
featliers of the centre of the back have three transverse bars of white (one of
them terminal), and rather narrower tlian the intermediate Ijlack Ijars ; the
basal white one disaj^pearing both anteriorly and posteriorly, leaving but two.
In specimens from the Mackenzie Iliver district, there is a greater develop-
ment of white, the white bands being broader than the black, and some-
times extending along the shafts so as to reduce the black bars to pairs of
spots. Tlie next step is the disappearance of these spots on one side or the
other of the feather, or on both, leaving the end entirely white, especially
anteriorly, where tlie back may have a longitudinal stripe of white as in
ricus villosus. Usually, however, in this extreme the npper tail coverts re-
main lianded transversely.

In all the specimens from the Eocky Mountains of the United States,
especially Lai-araie Peak, tliis \\hite back unbarred, except on the rump, is a
constant cliaracter, and added to it we have a broad nuchal patch of white
running into that of the Ijack, and connected with the white post ocular
stripe. The bands, too, on the sides are less distinct. It was to this state
of plumage that I applied the name of P. dorsalis, in 1858, and although, in
view of the connecting links, it may not be entitled to consideration as a
distinct species, it yet ajspears to be a well-marked geographical variety.

This same character prevails in all the Rocky Mountain specimens (from
more northern regions) before me, including those from Fort Liard, and in
only one not found in that region, named No. 49,905, collected at Nulato liy
Mr. Dall. Here the middle of the Ijack is very white, although the nitchal
band is less distinct. Other specimens from that locality and the Yukon
River generally, as also from Kodiak, show the transverse bars distinctly.

In one specimen, 29,ll'(), from tlie ^Mackenzie River, all the upper tail
coverts are banded decidedly \vith white, and the wing coverts spotted with
the same. Even the central tail feathers show white scollops. The back is,
however, very distinctly banded transversely, not longitudinally.

388 CLIMBING BIRDS— SCANSORES.

P. Avicricanus, in all stages of color, is distiiiguislied from arctirus by the
white along the middle of the back, the absence of distinct frontal white
and black bands, more numei-ous spots of white on the head, etc. The inner
Avelis of inner secondaries are banded with white, not uniform black. The
maxillary black stripe is rather larger than the rictal white one, not
smaller ; the size is decidedly smaller. Females almost always have tlie top
of head spotted with white, instead of uniform black, wliich is the rule in
arcticus. Still, the relationship is very close ; and from the Xew Brunswick
specimens of P. Americumis, with ^'ery little white on the back, to typical
arcticus, \iii\\ovii any, is but a single step. In reality, if dorsalis and Avicri-
canus are one, Amcricanus and arcticus would scarcely seem entitled to
separation.

It is possible that the difference in the amount of white on the iijiper
parts of tins species is to some extent due to age and season, the winter
specimens and the young showing it to the greatest degree. Still, however,
tliere is a decided geographical relationship, as already indicated.

This species can be easily distinguished from the Picoicles tridactylus of
Northern and Alpine Europe, by the tail feathers ; of these, the outer three
are white (the rest black) as far as exposed, without any bands, the tip of
the third Iieing white only at the end. The supra-ocuhir white stripe is
very narrow and scarcely appreciable ; the crissum white and unhanded.
Tlie back is banded transversely in one variety, striped longitudinally in
the other. In P. tridacti/Ius, the two outer featliers on each side are white,
banded with black, the outer with the bands regular and equal from base ;
the second black, except one or two terminal bands. Tlie crissum is well
banded with black ; the back striped longitudinally with white ; the supra-
ocular white stripe almost as broad as the infra-ocular. P. crissolcucus, of
Siberia, is similar to the last, but differs in white crissum, and from both
species in the almost entire absence of dark bands on the sides.

I follow Sundevall in using the specitic name Amcrimnus, Brehm, for this
species as being the tirst legitimately lielonging tii it. 1'. hirsutus, of
Vieillot, usually adopted, is liased on a Euro})ean bird, and agrees with it,
though referred by the author to the American. The name of undulcdus,
Vieillot, selected liy Cabanis, is based on Buflbn's figure (pi. enl. 5.53) of a
bird said to be from Cayenne, with four toes ; the wliole top of the head red
from Ixise of l)ill to end of occiput, with the edges of tlie dorsal featliers
narrowly white, and with the three lateral tail feathers regularly banded
with lilack, tipped with red ; the fourth 1 )anded white and lilack on outer
web, tipped with black. None of these features belong to the bird of Arc-
tic America, and the markings answer, if to any, better to the European.
(Baird.)

PIClDiE — THE WOODPECKERS— SPIIYROPICUS.

389

Genus SPHYROPICUS, B.mrd.

Pilumnus, BosAPARTE, Cons]i. Zvgod. Atcneo Italiano, May, 1854. (P. Ihyroidim.) Name

preofcuiiied.
Sphyrapicus, Baird, P. K. Rep. IX. Bird.s, 1858, 102.

Gex. Char. Bill as in Picus, but the lateral riilge, ■vvliieh is very prominent, running
out distinctly to the cuuiniissure at about its middle, beyond whieli the bill is rounded

p. borealis.

without any angles at all. Tlie culmcn and gonys arc very ncarl)- straight, but slightly
convex, the bill tapering rapidly to a point ; the lateral outline concave to very near the
slightly bevelled tip. Outer pair of toes longest ; the hinder exterior rather longest ; the

390

CLIMBIXG BIRDS — SCANSORES.

inner posterior toe very sliort ; less than the inner anterior witliont its I'law. Wings long
and pointed ; the fourth quill longest. Tail feathers very broad, abrujitly accuniinate,
with a very long linear point.

Professor Baird includes five species in tliis new division of PicuH, all but
one inhaljitiuo' this coast.

Sphyropicus nuchalis, BairDo

THE RED-NECKED WOODPECKER.

Piciis varius, Heermann, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 58 (not of Linnanis). — Sj)hi/rnj)!ciis i-ariii><, var.

tiiichaUs, Baird, 1*. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 10.3.
Splii/riiiikiis >nii:/iulis, Baird, P. Iv. Rep. IX. Birds, 921. In. Birds of N. Amor. ])1. xxxv.

Sp. Ch.\R. General color above black, variegated with white, the back and rump
brownish-white, spotted with black. Crown scarlet, boi-dered behind by a black occipital
band, and beldnd this a scarlet nuchal band or crescent curving forward to the eye. A

5- 7iuchalis.

triangular liroad jiateli of scarlet on the chin and front of throat. A stripe from above
the eye, and anothi-r from tlie bristles of the l)ill passing lielow the eye, and into the fair-
est yellowish of the belly, white. Between the lower stripe and the red of chin, a black

PICID/E — THE WOODPECKERS — SPIIYROPICUS. 39I

stripe, not extending to the lai'ge (juailrate blacli jiatcli on the breast. A white stripe
along the edges of wing coverts, outer webs of secondaries ahnost entirely black, the rest
of the quills spotted with white on the edges of both webs. Tail feathers black, except
the inner webs of the innernidst, which are white banded with black, the others occasion-
ally e(lge<l with yellowish.

Female with the throat red, the chin more or less white.

Length, 8 50 ; extent, 15.50 ; wing, 5.12. Iris brown ; bill horn-color ; feet gray.

Hah. Rocky ISIountains near lat. 48°, south to Colorado Valley.

At Fort jVIojave, on the 20tli of February, 1861, I shot a female specimen
of this beautiful woodpecker, which may have wandered in a storm from
the mountains, being the only one I saw, though Dr. Heermann states that
they are not rare at Fort Yuma. It was silent and seemed inactive, as if
exhausted by a long flight, keeping concealed in the tall jjoplars.

I found this species rather common in crossing the Itocky Mountains
near lat. 48°, in September, 1860, and noticed a great similarity in habits to

tliose of the Eastern r. rariKs. They fre(|uent chiefly small deciduous trees,
and feed in tlie same manner as other woodpeckers, having also a shrill,
unvaried call, or note of alarm.

It is very likely that this S[)ecies occurs on the eastern slope of the Sierra
Nevada, although I saw none there in September, 1863. Its nest has not
yet been discovered.

We have placed figures of the heads of this species and the Eastern P.
varius on the opposite page, as the best mode of exliiljiting the differ-
ences.

The female of aS'. nuchalis is shown in tlie above figure.

392 CLIMBING BIRDS— SCANSORES.

Sphyropicus ruber, Ojielin.

THE KED-BKEASTED WOODPECKER

Piais ruher, GsiELiN, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 429. — Wagler, Syst. At. 1827, No. 151. — Audu-
bon, Om. Biog. V. 1839, 179; pi. 416. Ib. Bii-ils Amcr. IV. 1842, 261 ; pi. 266.—
Heer.mann, p. R. Ku]). X. vi. 57. — Piluinnus riihcr, Bonaparte, Consp. Zyg. Atcn.
Ital. 1854, 8.

Pmisjiaviventris, Vieillot, Ois. Am. St-pt. II. 1807, 67.

Si>hyiOj)icus nibei; Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 104. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii.
Zool. ofW. T. 160.

Sp. Char. Fourtli quill longest ; third intermediate between fourth and fifth. Bill
brown wax-color. Head and neck all round, and breast, carmine red. Above black ; cen-
tral line of back from nape to rump spotted with whitish ; rump, wing coverts, and inner
web of the inner tail feathers white, the latter with a series of round black spots. Belly

snl]ihur-yellow, streakeil with brown on the sides. Narrow space around and a little in
fi-ont of the e\e black. A narrow yellowish stripe front the nostrils, a short distance be-
low and behind the eye. Length, about 9.50 ; e.\tent, 15.75 ; wing, 5.00; tail, 3.40. Iris,
bill, and feet, pale brown.

Hah. Pacific slope of the United States.

Tliis is rather a Xortheni species, as I have not seen any soiitli of Santa
Clara, and there only in the mountains of the Coast Eange in early spring.
According to Dr. Heennann, they are not unconmion in the Sierra Nevada,
but I did not observe them near the summits, and even at the Columbia
Eiver found tliem rather scarce, solitary, and shy, keeping chiefly in the
high coniferous trees. Nuttall states that he saw one of their burrows con-
taining young in a tall fir-tree in Oregon. During some weeks' stay in the
coast mountains towards Santa Cruz, I saw none of them, and think that
most of them go North in summer. Their cry is compared by Heermann to
that of a young child in distress.

PICIDJE — THE WOODPECKERS — SPHYROPICUS. 393

Sphyiopicus Williamsonii, Newberry.

WILLIAMSON'S WOODPECKER.

Piciis WiHiamsonii, Newberry, ZijoI. C'al. iiiul Or. Koiite, 89 ; P. R. Ecp. VI. iv. 1857 ; pi.

xxxiv. fig. 1. — Sjilii/rapicus Williamsonii, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Biitls, 10.5.
Melunn-pes rubriyuluris, ScL.iTEK, Annals ami Mag. N. II. .3d Series, I. Feb. 1858, 127.

Sp. CnAii. Black ; middle line of belly yellow ; central line of chin and throat above
red. A large patch on the wing, rump, and upper tail coverts, a line from the forehead

beneath the eye, and another from its upper border, white. Tail entirely black. Ex-
po.'^ed surface of wing without any white, except on the outer primaries.

Female with the chin white instead of red. (V) Length, 0.00 ; wing, 5.00 ; tail, 4.70.

Hah. Rocky Mountains to the Cascade Mountains, and Sierra Xevada, California.

The tir.st specimen of this beaiititiil bird that I met with was a straggler
in winter to the Colorado Valley, wliich I shot on the 12th of March, 1861,
but unfortunately did not find it until three days after, when it was nearly
destroyed by ants. In September, 1863, I found them rather common near
the summit of the Sierra Nevada in lat. 39°, where I shot two, Iwth of
which stuck in tlie trees. Dr. Newberry saw but one near Klamath Lake,
but it lias since been found at Laramie Peak, and towards the mouth of
Ivlamath River.

Of its liabits I observed nothing peculiar on the few occasions wlieii 1 saw
tliem. They seemed to keep high in the trees, shy and silent, like others of
this grou]3, less noisy in their hammering than other woodpeckers.

The male of this species is very remarkable in the absence of any red on
the upper part of the head, a character which, shared by the *S^. thyroidcun,
is scarcely to be foimd on any other North American woodpecker. It,
however, appears to be strictly congeneric with S. michalis, varius, etc.

Tlie first indication of this species is to be found in the report of Dr. New-
berry on tlie birds collected by Lieutenant Williamson's party, and published
in 1857. Earlv in 18.7)8 Mr. Sclater renamed and described it, as stated
above, Dr. Newberry's report not Im^'ing reached him at the time.

50

394 CLEVIBIXG BIRDS— SCANSORES.

Sphyropicus thyroideus, Cassin.

THE KOUND-HEADED WOODPECKEE.

Picus thyrokleus, Cassin, Pr. A. X. Sl'. V. IJcc. 1S.")1, .■J4'J. (California.) — Heermaxn, J. A.
N. Sc. Phil. 2d Series, II. 1853, 270. lu. 1'. R. Kep. X. vi. 5S. —Melanerpts thyroideus,
Cassin, lUust. I. 1S.')4, 201 ; pi. xxxii. — Pi/innnus thijrokleus, Bonaparte, Consp. Zv-
god. Aten. Ital. 1854, 8. — Sphyropicus thyroideus, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 106.

Sp. Char. About tliL- .sizo of P. ruber. Head dark ashy-ljrown ; rest of l)odv appar-
ently encircled by narrow transverse and continnous IjaniLs crossinij; tbe winp;?, of black
and brownish-white, except a large, round, black jiatcli on the breast ; and the central

line of the body from the crest to the vent, which is the color of rrjll-sulphur. Xo red on
top of the head, but the chin and thi-oat tinged with this color in adult males.

Fewa/e with rather duller colors. Length, about 9.00; wing, 5.00; tail. 4 10.

Hah. Interior nmuntain ranges of Calilijrnia and Oregon, to mountains of New
Mexico.

This seems to lie a very rare Inrd, as I ]ia\'e nexer met with it, and (hmbt
if it is ever found in the Coast Iiange south of San Francisco. Mr. liell of
New York first found it in tlie Lower Sierra Ne^-ada, Dr. Heermann near the
Colorado Ei^•er, and it has .since been found near Fort Crook. It may be
more common in the mountains of Eastern Oreo'cn and Central Utah.

Uexus HYLOTOMUS, llAiia,.

Dryotomus, Malherise, Mem. Ac. Metz. 184'.), .■122. (Not of Swainson, 18.31.)
Dryopicus, BoNAPARTE, Consp. Zygod. in Aten. Ital. May, 18.'J4. (Not of Malhcrbe.)
Hylatomus, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 1858, 107.

Gkn. Char. Bill a little longer than the head ; considerably depressed or broader
than high at the basi- ; shaped much as in Ceimpeplrilus, except shorter, and without the
bristh' feathers directed forwards at the base of the lower jaw. Gonvs about half the

PICID.E — THE WOODrECKEKS — HYLOTOMUS.

395

length of the comniissure. Tai'sus shorter tlian any toe, except the inner posterior. Outer
posterior toe shorter than the outer anterior, and a little longer than the inner anterior.

H. pikatiis.

596

CLIMBING BIRDS — SCANSORES.

Inner posterior very short ; jiut half the uiilcr anterior ; about lialf tlie inner anterior one.
Tail long, graduated ; the long leathers much ineurved at the tip. Wing longer than the
tail, reaehing to the middle of the exposed suriiiee of tail ; eiinsideral)ly graduated, though
pointed ; the tuurth and fifth quills longest.

Color, uniturni blaek, with white patehes on the side of the head. Head with pointed
crest.

Hylotomus pileatus, Linx^eus.
THE BLACK WOODCOCK ; THE LOG-COCK.

Picus pileatus, Linn^us, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 17.3. — Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. II. 1807, 58 ;
pi. c.\. — Wilson, Am. Orn. IV. 1811, 27 ; pi. xxix. f. 2. — Wa ,lek, Syst. Av. 1827,
No. 2. — AuDUBOS, Orn. Biog. II. 1834, 74; V. 5.33 ; pi. 111. In. Birds Amer. IV.
1842, 266; pi. 257. — Picus (Dnjotomus) pileatus, SwAixsox, Fauna Bor. Amer. II.
1831, 30i. — H(/l(iJomus pileatus, Baikd, P. E. Eep. IX. Birds, 107. — Cooper and
SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zoul. of W. T. 161.

Sp. Cn.\i!. Fourth and fifth quills equal and longest ; third intermediate between sixth
and seventh. Bill blue-baek. General eolor of l^ody, wings, and tail dull greenisli-blaek.
A narrow white streak from just above the eye to the oeeiput ; a wider one from the nos-
tril feathers (inelusive) under the eye and along the side of the head and neck ; sides of

the breast (.(ineealrd by the wings), axillarirs, and \nid,-r wing coverts, and concealed
bases of all the quills, with rhiii and beneath the bead, white, tinged with sulphur-yellow.
Entire erown from the base of the bill tn a well-develo])ed oc'cipital crest, as also a patch
on the ramus of the lower jaw, scarlet red. A fL'W faint white crescents on the sides of
the bodv and on the abdomen. Length, about 1« 00 ; extent. 29.00; wing. 0.50.

PICID.E — THE WOODPECKERS — CEXTURUS.

397

Female v;ithout the red on the ehi-ck ami tin- antrrior half of that on the top of the
head replaced by black.

Tfah. North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

This large specie.? is rarely if' ever seen to the south of lat. 38°, on this
coast. I lia\e never met with them, or heard of them, except one killed
near Mount J)ial»lo. Even on the summits of the Sierra Xevada I saw
none, tliouoh they douhtless wander occasionally through the whole extent
of that range.

They are abundant near the Columbia Eiver, and their loud call resem-
bling that of the Colaptes, but much louder, often indicates their presence
for miles away. They are usually very sby and difficult to kill. Their
burrow for a nest I have seen dug in the side of a tree al)out forty feet
above the ground. According to Nuttall, they lay about .six snowy white
eggs, and are said sometimes to raise two In-oods in a season.

Specimens from Washington Territory are nuich larger than those of the
Middle Atlantic States.

Genus CENTURUS, Swainsojt.

Centunis, SwAINSOX. Class Birds, II. 1S.'!7, .310. (Tvpe, C. Cmoliniis.)
Zehriipicus, M.ilh. Mem. Acad. Metz. 1849, 3G0. (Type, C. Carolimis )

Gen. C'h.\r. Bill aliont the lenuth of the head, or a littli' lonser ; decidedly com-
pressed, except at the extreme base. A lateral ridge starting a little Ix-low the culmen at

398

CLIMBING BIRDS— SCANSORKS.

the base of the bill, and angular for half the length of the bill, then becoming obsolete
though traceable nearly to the tip. Culmen considerably curved from the base ; gonys
nearly straight. Nostrils very broad, elliptical ; situated about midway on the side of

^W<^

C. Carnlinus

the mandible, near the base ; partly concealed. Outer pairs of toes unequal ; the anterior
longest. Wings long, broad ; third to fifth primaries ecjual ami longest. Tail feathers
rather narrow, .stiffened.

C. Carohn^is.

Tlie species are all banded above transversely \vith black and white : the rump white.
The head and under parts are brown ; the belly with a reel or yellow tinge.

PlClDiB — THE WOODPECKERS — CENTURUS. 399

Centurus aurifrons, Gray.

THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKEE.

Centurus flaviventns, Swainson, Anim. in Menag. 1838 (2\ centenaries), 354. — Baird,
Birds N. Amer. 1853, 1 10 ; pi. 42. Ib. Rep. Mex. Bound. U. S. ; pi. 4. — Heermaxn,
P. R. Rep. X. c. 18. — Dresser, Ibis. 1865, 469. (Resident in Texas.)

Centurus cleyans, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. V. May, 1851, 116.

Centurus Sautacru:ii, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. V. 1851, 123. (Not of Bonaparte.)

Picus aiHT/ioHs, Wagler, Isis, 1829, 512. — Slndevall, Consp. Pic. 53. — Centuris auri-
frons, Gray, Genera. — Caisanis, Jour. 1862, 323.

Picus ornat)is, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, 102.

Sp. Char. Fourth and fifth quills nearly equal ; third a little shorter ; longer than the
fourth. Back banded transversely with black and white ; rump anil upper tail coverts
pure white. Crown with a sub-quadrate spot of crimson, about half an inch wide and
long, and separated from the gamboge-yellow at the base of the bill by dirty white ; from
the orbit and occiput by brownish-ash. Xape halt-way round the neck orange-yellow.
Under parts generally and sides of head dirty white. Middle of belly gamboge-yellow.

Tail feathers all entirely black, except the outer, which has some obscure bars of white.
Length, about 9 50 ; wing, 5.00.

Female without the red of the crown.

Hab. Rio Grande region of the United States ; south into Mexico. Probably Arizona.

Young birds avu not difl'erent from adult.s, except iu showiug indication
of dark shaft-lines beneath, becoming broader behind on the sides. The
yellow of the nape extends over the wliole side of the head.

Centurus uropygialis, Baird.

THE GILA WOODPECKER.

Centurus uropygialis, Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. I'll. VII. June, 1854, 120. (Bill Williams's
River, N. M.) Ib. P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 111. — Kennerly, X. iv. 22; pi. 36. —
Heermann, X. v. 17 ; X. vi. 58.

Sp. Char. Third, fourth, and fifth quills longest, and about ecpial. Back, rump, and
upper tail coverts barred transversely with black and wliite, purest on the two latter.

400

CLlMBINfi BIRDS— SCANSORES.

Head find neck all round pale dirty brown, or brownish-ash, darkest above. A small sub-
quadrate patch ol"re<l on the middle of the erown, separated from the bill by dirty wdiite.
Middle ' of the abdomen gamboge-yellow ; under tail coverts and anal region strongly
ban-ed with black. First and second outer tail feathers banded black and white, as is

also the inner web of the inner tail feather; the outer web of the latter with a white
stripe. Length, about 9.50 to 10.00 ; wing, .5. .50. Iris red ; bill horn-black ; feet gray.

Female with the head uniform lirownish-ash. without any red or yellow.

Hah. Lower Colorado River of the West, and along the Gila.

At Fort Mojave I found this woodpecker alnindaut in winter, when they
feil chiefly on the lierries of tlie mistletoe ( Fis«W)i), and were rather .shy.
I rarely saw them pecking at the trees, Imt they seemed to depend for a
living on catching insects, which were numerous on tlie foliage during the
spring. Tliey had a loud note of alarm, strikingly similar to that of Fhaino-
20vpla iiitiriis, which associated with them in the mistletoe houghs.

Aljout ]VIarch 25th they were preparing their nests in burrows near the
dead tops of trees, none of those which I saw Leing accessible. By the 25th

M. erylhrocephahi^

PICID^E — THE WOODPECKERS — MELANERPES.

401

of ^lay tliey had deserted the mistletoe entirely, and were proljably feeding
their young on insects. According to Heermann, they burrow holes in the
giant cactus {Ccrcus gicjantciis), which often grows forty feet high along tlie
Gila, and at Tucsou tliey frecj^uent the corn-fields.

Genus MELANERPES, Swainson.

Melnnerpes, Swainsox, Fauna l5or. Amor. II. 1!<;51. (Type, ^^. erijlhrocephahix.)
Mdampicus (Section 3), JIaliierre, Mem. Ac. Metz, 1849, .'iG.").

Gen. Char. Bill about ctjual to the head : hroader than high at the base, but becom-
ing compressed immediately anterior to the coramenceiuent of the gonys. Culmen and
gonys with a moderately decided angular ridge ; both decidedly curved from the very-
base. A rather prominent acute riilge commences at the base of the mandible, a little
below the ridge of the cuhiien. and proceeds but a shcjrt distance anterior to the nostrils

M. forrnirivormt.

(about one third of the way), when it sinks down, ami the bill is then smooth. The lateral
outlines are gently concave from the basal two thirds ; then gently convex to the tip,
wliich docs not e.xliibit any abrupt bevelling. Xostrils open, broadly oval ; not concealed
by the feathers, nor entirely basal. The outer pair of toes equal. Wings long, broad ;
third and fourth quills longest. Tail feathers broad. Back plain black.

Species of this genus are (|uite numerous in America, including tlie
West Indies, but do not occur in the Old World. They are among the
most brightly colored of woodpeckers, and usually present themselves in
considerable aliundance where fnuud at all.
51

402

CLniBlXG BIKDS — SCANSORES.

Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Swainson.

THE KED-HEADED WOODPECKER.

Picus eri/throcephaliiSy Linn^us, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 174 — Vieillot, Ois.Am.Sept.il.
1807, 60; pi. cxii., cxiii. — Wilson, Am. Orn. I. 1810,142; pi. jx. f. 1. — Waglek,
Syst. Av. 1827, No. 14. In. Isis, 1829, 518 (young), —Audubon, Orn. Biog- I. 18.32,
141 : V. 536 ; pi. 27. Ib. Birds Amur. IV. 1842, 274 ; pi. 271. — Max. Cab. Jour. VI.
1858, 419. (Upper Missouri) — Sundevall, Consp. 50. — Melanerpes erythrocephalus,
SwAiNSON, Fauna Bor. Araer. II. 1831, 316. — Bonaparte, List, 1838. Ib. Con-
spectus, 1850, 115. — Gambel, J. Ac. Nat. Sc. Ph. 2d Series, I. 1847, 55. — Baikd,
Birds N. Amer. 1858. — Dressek, Ibis, 1865, 469. (Resident from Nueces to Brazos,
Texas.)

Picus obscuriis, Gmelin, I. 1788, 429 (young).

Red-headed woodpecker. Pennant, Kalm, Latham.

Wldte-rumped woodpecker, L.\TH.YM.

Sp. Char. Head aud neck all round crimson red, margined by a narrow crescent of
black on the upper part of the breast. Back, primary quills, and tail, bluish-black. Un-
der parts generally, a broad band across the middle of the wing (exposed portion of sec-

ondaries), and the rump, white. The female is not cHH'crrnt. Length, about 9.75 ; wing,
5.50.

Hab. North America, friim the Atlantic Coast to the eastern slope of the Rocky ]\Ioun-
tains. (Coast of California, Gamlx'l.)

The ci'iiiison feathev.s on tlie head and neck all rnund have the .same
bristly te.xtiire as described tinder M. lorrjnatus. The red descends much
lower lielow than above ; its posterior outline well defined and semicircular.
Tlie white on the wing involves the whole of the secondaries, except the

PICID.E — THE WOODPECKERS — MELANERPES. 403

extreme bases ; the shafts are black. There is a yellowish tinge to the
wliite on tlie middle of tlie belly, and the exterior tail feathers are tipped
.with whitish. Tlie inside of the wing is white.

I can detect no difference in Western specimens. Occasionally the
secondaries are blotched or Ijarred with black near the end (587). Imma-
ture specimens almost always have this cliaracter. Tlie young lack the red
of the head, Avliich is replaced by brown, obscurely spotted and streaked.
The white of the breast too is duller, and also streaked. Dr. Gambel
speaks of this species as common in oak timber near the Mission of San
Gabriel, California, but none have been noticed west of the mountains by
any one else. As, however, it extends to the Eocky Mountains, and per-
haps west of them, we introduce the species into the present report.

Melanerpes formicivorus, Sw.vinson.

THE CALIFORNIA WOODPECKER.

Picus formicivorus, Swainson, Birds Mex. in Pliilos. Mag. I. IS27, 439. (Mexico.) — Vig-
ors, Zool. Blossom, 1839, 23. (Monterey.) —Nuttall, Man. I. 2d cd. 1840. — .l/c-
lanerpes formickorus, Bonaparte, Conspectus, IS.'JO, 115. — Heermann, J. A. N. Sc.
Phil. 2d Series, 11. 1853, 270. — Cassix, Illust. II. 1853, 11 ; pi. ii. — Newberry, Zool.
Cal. and Or. Route, 90 ; P. K. R. .Surv. VI. 1857. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 114.
— IIeermann, X. vi. 58.

Sp. Char. Fourth (piill longest, tliinl a little shorter. Above on the anterior halt' of
the body glossy bhiish or greenish black ; the top of the head and a short occipital crest
red. A white patch on the forehead, connected with a broad crescentic collar on the

upper part of the neck bv a naiTow istlimus, white tinged with sulphur-yellow. Belly,
rump, bases of primaries, and inner edges of the outer cpiills, white. Tail feathers uniform
black.

404 CLLAIBIXG BIRDS— SCANSORES.

Female with the red confined to the occipital crest, tlie rest rcphiceil by greenish-black ;
the three patches wliite, black, and red, very sharply defined. Length, about iJ.oO ; ex-
tent, 18.00 ; wing, about C.OO. Iris brown ; bill black ; feet gray.

Female

Hab. Coast region of Caliibrnia and south : in Northern ^Mexico, eastward almost to
the Gulf of Mexico ; also on I'jipcr ]!io finindc.

This beaTitiful Ijird is one of the commonest species in all the lower re-
gions of California, frequenting chiefly the oaks, and extending up as far as
they grow on the mountains. Its brilliant plumage, lively and familiar
habits, and loud notes make it a very con.spicuous inhabitant of tlie woods,
and it will, if unmolested, liecome quite i'amiliar around dwellings.

Their usual resorts are among tlie topmost and decayed branches, where
they seek their insect food ; liut they also feed in great part on insects
cauolit amono- the lea^■es and on the l)ark, as well as on fruits, lieing less
industrious in hanmiering for a subsistence than the Pin'.

They burrow out the ca^■ity for a nest in a dead luanch, making it, ac-
cording to Heermann, from six incites to two I'eet deep, and laying lour or
five pure white eggs, on the dust and chilis at the bottom, like nearly all
woodpeckers.

They are fond of playing together around tlie bi'anches, uttering their
rattling calls, and often darting off to take a short sail in the air, returning
to the same s]iot. They have a hal)it, peculiar to them, of drilling small
holes in the bark of trees, and fitting acorns tightly into them, each one
being carefully adapted, and driven tight. The bark is often so full of
these holes as to lea\-e scarcely room to crowd in anotlier witliout destroying
the bark entirely. These are generally considered as laid u]i for a winter
supply of food ; Init wliile in this climate no such proN'ision is necessary, it
is also A-ery improl)al:ile that birds of this family would feed on hard nuts or
seeds of any kind. The more probalde explanation is that they are pre-

riCID.E — THE WUODi'ECKEUS — MELAXEKPES.

405

served for the sake of the grubs they contain s(i frequently, which, being
very small when the acorn falls, grow until they eat tlie A\'hole interior,
when they are a welcome delicacy for the bird. Whctiier they select only
those containing grulis, or put away all they meet with, is uncertain ; Ijut as
they leave great numbers in the tree untouched, it is probaljle that these
are sound acorns, and often become a supply to the squirrels and jays.

From this strange habit the bird has received the name of " carpintero,"
and tliis is also adojited Ijy many Americans.

Melanerpes formicivonis, var. angustifrons, Baird.

THE NAEROW-FEONTED WOODPECKEK.

Sp. CuAii. Conipnrod witli M. formicieoi-us, the size is sraallfr, the li{j;lit frontal bar '0
is miK'li naiTOWiT ; in the ieniah- scaroely more than half tlie bhick one behind it, anil not

reachint; anytliiu;; Hke as far back as the anterior l)or(ler of the eye, instead of exceedino-
tliis Unlit. The liglit frontal and the black bars together are only about two thirds the

406

CLIMBING BIRDS — SCANSORES.

length of the occipital red, instead of exceeding it in length ; the red patch reaches for-
ward nearly or quite to the posterior border of the eye, instead of falling a considerable
distance behind it, and being nuicli broader posteriorly. The frontal band, too, is gamboge-
yellow, much like the throat, anil not white ; the connection with the }ellow throat ])atch
much broader. The white upper tail coverts show a tendency to a black edge. Length,
8.00 ; wing, 5.20 ; tail, 3.20.
Hah. Cape St. Lucas.

As tlie differences mentioned are constant, I consider the Cape St. Lucas
bird as forming at least a permanent variety, and indicate it as above. A
single specimen from the Siena iladre of Colima is very similar.

Melanerpes torquatus, Wilson.

LEWIS'S WOODPECKEK.

Picus torquatus, Wilson, Amcr. Orn. III. 1811,31 ; pi. xx. — Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827,
No. 82. — AuDunON, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 176,- pi. 416. Id. Birds Anier. IV. 1843,
280 ; pi. 272. — Mekmeiyes torquatus, Bon.vparte, Conspectus, 1850, 115. — IlEEnjiAXK,
J. A. N. Sc. Phil. 2d Series, II. 1853, 270. — Newberry, Zool. Cal. .and Or. Route,
90 ; P. R. R. Surv. VI. 1857. — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 115. — Heermann, X.
vi. 58. — Cooper and Sdckley, XIL iii. Zool. of W. T. 161.

Sp. Char. Feathers on the under parts bristle-like. Fourth quill longest ; then third
and fifth. Above dark glossy green. Breast, lower part of the neck, anil a narrow collar
all round hoary grayish-white. Around the base of the bill and sides of the head to be-
hind the eyes, dark crimson. Belly blood red, streaked finely with lioary-whitish. Wings
and tail entirely uniform dark glossy green.

Female with the markings more obscure. Length, about 10.75 ; extent, 21.00 ; wing,
6.50. Female smaller.

Hab. Western America from the Black Hills to the Pacific.

PICID.^ — THE WOODPECKERS — COLAPTES.

407

I have found this species quite common near New Ahnaden, but not else-
Avhere in the Coast Eange southward, during summer. They are, however,
numerous in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and doubtless also in the
more northern Coast Eange. They occur also on the higher parts of the
Sierra, frequenting chietly the coniferous trees, and having very much the
same habits and notes as the 3£. formicivorus. They keep much about the
higher jjarts of the trees, circling around them in pursuit of insects, and not
troubling themselves much to hammer the bark for food. They feed in
great part also on fruits, and the flocks of black young, associating together
in autumn, nught be taken for something very different from woodpeckers.
Their flight is rather slow and flapping, causing them to look like crows at a
distance, while they frequently sail in circles around the tree-tops like
hawks. In fact, they are less like ordinary woodiDeckers than any other
species we have.

Their nest is burrowed out at a consideralJe height, )jut no description of
the eggs has yet been given, though they doubtless resemble those of other
woodpeckers.

Gexus COLAPTES, Swainson.

Colaptes, Swainson, Zool. Jour. III. Dec. 1827, S.'iS. (Type, C. auratus.)

Gen. Cii.\r. Bill slender, depressed at tlic base, then compressed. Cnlnien nuieh
curved ; gonys straight, both with acute ridges, and coming to (juite a sharp point with

>kfc\) i%y: ^aSj^.

C. Mexicanus.

408

CLIMBING BIRDS— SCANSORES.

the commissure at the end. Xo i-iilj;i'S on tliu liill. Xostrils basal, mi'ilian, oval, and ex-
posed. Gonys very short ; about half the cuhnen. Feet large ; the anterior outer toe

C. aiiratus.

considerably longer than the posterior. Tail long, exceeding the secondaries, the feathers
suddenly acuminate, with elongated points.

The species of tlie Atlantic States, known as golden-winged woodpecker,
flicker, liigli-liolder, and yellow-lianimer (C. (itiratus), closely resembles C.
chrysoidcs ; and in fact the hylirids l)etween tlie former and C. Mcricaims are
often marked so ninch like C. chn/soidcs that, were not tlte plumage of tlie
latter constant, its \'alidity as a species would be doubtfid.

Colaptes Mexicanus, Swainson.

THE KED-SHAFTED FLICKER.

Cohptes Mexicanus, Swainson, Syn. Mex. Birds, Pliilos. Miifr. I. 1827, 440. In. Fauna Bor.
Ainer. 11. 1831, 315. — NEwnERRV, Zool. C.al. and Or. Route, 91 ; V. R. R. Rep. VI.
IS.'ir. — Baird, p. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 120. — Kenxerly, X. iv. 22. — Heermann, X.
V. .',9. _ Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 163. — Pkus Mexicanus, Audu-
bon, Oi-n. Biog-. V. 1839, 174 : \>\. 410. Ib. Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 295 ; pi. 274.

Colaptes eollaris. Vigors, Zool. Jour. IV. Jan. 1829, 3.53. Ib. Zool. Beechcy's Voy. 1839,
24 ; 111. ix.

Sp. Ch.\r. Shafts and under surfaces of wing anil tail feathers orange-red. A red
patch on each side the cheek ; nape without reil crescent ; sometimes very faint indica-
tions laterally. Throat and stripe beneath the eye bluish-ash. Back glossed with pur-

PICID.E — THE WOODPECKERS — COLAPTES.

409

plisli-brown. Spots on the belly, a crescent on the breast, and interrupted transverse
bands on the back, black.

Female whhont the red check patch. Length, r2..")0 to 14.00; extent, 21.00; wing,
6 00 to 7.00.

Hull. ^Vestcrn North America from the Black Hills to the Pacific.

This beautiful and cuinmon species is found in every part of the State,
except tlie barest plains, frequenting even the low huslies, wliere no trees are
to be seen for miles. They are much more abundant, liowever, in the mid-
dle wooded districts, and towards the north.

The burrows of this species are made at all heights above the ground,
and about a foot in depth ; the eggs are five or six, and white. Towards
the south they are laid early in April, and in May at Puget Sound.

Along the Colorado I found tliis species very shy, probably on account of
their being much hunted liy the Indians for their bright feathers. In most
other places they are, however, rather tame, and tlieir interesting habits may
be watched without difficulty. In these they are the exact counterpart of
the Eastern golden-wing, whose history is so completely given by American
ornithologists. They do not depend much on hard work for their subsist-
ence, but live in great part on ants, for which they visit the large ant-hills
so common in many localities, and, lilfe tlie four-footeil ant-eater, catch tliem
by means of their glutinous tongue. They also feed miicli on berries during
the season ; and if they do destroy decayed wood in searcli of insects, it is
usually the softest branches, their curved bill not Ijeing very well suited for
cutting into harder materials. Of the Eastern species, however, Nuttall re-
marks that they have been known to make a winding burrow for their nest
througli solid oak, for fifteen inches in deptli, recpiiring several weeks for its

52

410

CLIMBING BIRDS — SCANSORES.

completion. The young of our species I have found when nearly fledged,
and at that time they hiss like snakes when a hand is inserted in the bur-
row, — a sufficient warning for tho.se who do not know wjiat is in it, and
doubtless intended as sucli by nature. They are fond of playing, and chas-
ing each other around the trunks of trees, always uttering at that time a
peculiar note of recognition, like.y whittoo, whittoo, whittoo."

Of the various names given to it by immigrants from \arious parts of the

East, that of " flicker " seems the most appropriate, while " yellow-hammer "
is rpiite unsuitalile for a bird •\\ithout any yellow on it, and ^^■as besides
originally the English name of a small yellow liird not Ibund in America.

The relationship of this species to the Eastern C. auraius will be best
exhibited by a comparison of the preceding figures.

Colaptes chrysoides, !Malherbe.

MALHERBE'S FLICKER.

Cohptef: rlm/xoidi-x, Mamif.rbe, V.cv. et Map. do Zool. IV. 18.")2, 5.53. — B.\ii!i>, V. K. Kcp.

IX. Birds, 1858, 125. In. Proc. Ac. N. Sc. Pliil. XI. 1859, 302.
? Colaptes Aijnsii, Heeiuiaxn, P. R. Rep. X. vi. 59. (Not of Audubon ■?)

Sp. Ciiah. Aliovo Vl■llll^vi^ll-ash, ti-:inpverpi.-ly Imrrfd witli Mack; cliin, throat, niul
sides of head (dear a?h ; muU'r jiarts white ; a broad pectoral crescent, and rounded spots

PICIU^^E — TILE AVOODPECKEKS — COLAPTES.

411

on remaining under parts, black. Top of head light brown. Shafts of wings and tail
feathers gamboge-yellow. Tail black, the basal portion yellow ; the outer feathers uni-
formly black on the exjjosed terminal half, including the shafts. No red on the nape.
Bill blackish horn-color ; iris blood red; feet lead-gray. Length, male, 11.75; extent,
19.25 ; wing, G.25. Female little smaller. Smaller southwai'd.

C. chrysoides.

Hah. Colorado Valley, lat. 35°, to Cape St. Lucas and Jlexico. Cosumnes River, Cali-
fornia? (Ilcermann.)

I found only two pairs of this species at Fort Mojave, after February 20tli,
wliicli were then mated, and at that time fed like many other insectivorous
Ijirds on the insects they found among the blossoms of the poplars. They
had precisely the same habits, flight, and cries as the C. Mcxicanufi, but were
somewhat smaller than specimens of that species killed at the same place.
I had great ditRculty in ol;itaiuing them on account of their wariness, and
shot only three. The mate of one of these was still alxnit there in IMay
when I left, liut no others liad arrived. As they seemed somewhat migi-a-
tory, coming from the south, it is possible that they do not go so far to the
north as the Cosumnes Eiver, where Dr. Heermann mentions finding C.
Ayrcsii. His specimens may have been hybrids between this and C. Ifcxi-
canus, analogous to the forms found in the Eocky Mountains, and described
by Baird as C. hyhridus, — a mixture of C. Mexicarms and C. auratus, includ-
ing as one variety the form described by Audubon as C. Ayrcsii. The com-
binations of colors found in tliose specimens are almost endless, and furnish
one of the most interesting objects of study in ornithology. Whetlier they
are all males or productive, and how far these distinctions of color can be

412

CLIMBING BIRDS— SCANSORES.

relied on to distiiiguisli species, and to determine tlieu- " origin," will Ije for
future Darwins to examine into*

A female Lird from Cape St. Lucas is represented in the accompanying
fi"ure.

Note. — Since writing the above, two or more specimens have been obtained at Oakland, oppo-
site San Francisco, which are evidently of the form lii/hrichis, Baird. One, sent to Mr. H. 1*. Carl-
ton fresh, differs from the ciuiatiis only in having the head grayish like Mexicaiiiis, and the lldck
cheek feathers tipped with red. These mnst be stragglers from the Eocky Moimtains.

Order RAPTOTtES.

Char. Base of upper mandible with a soft skin or cere. Upper mandi-
ble compressed ; its point curving down over that of the lower, forming a
strong sharp hook. Toes four, one behind. Size ^usually large, and frame
powerful. Female bird the larger, except in the Aadtures (and Polyhorus ?).

These birds may be divided into two suli-orders, namely : —

A. True birds of prey, which catcli their victims alive, and are dis-
tinguished by powerful bills, claws, and vigorous swift flight.

B. CaiTion-eaters, feeding on dead animals, having rather weak bills,
long, straight claws, and heavy flight. The gradation of luiLs between these
two is, however, very close.

Species are found in all parts of the world, the carrion-eaters, however,
being limited to warm climates. They are analogous to the Rapacia among
mannnals, and their office in the economy of nature is to keep in check the
excessive increase of the smaller kinds of other animals. Some foreign
snake-eating species have tlie legs very long like the cranes, to protect their
body from the bite of venomous serpents.

Family STPJGID^, The Owls.

Chak. Form usually short and liea\-y, the liead very large, round, and
frequently with tufts of feathers resembling ears. Eyes usually very large,
directed forwards, surroimded by short bristles and radiating feathers, which
form a more or less perfect disk around the face. Bill rather strong, much
curved from the base, nearly concealed by projecting bristles ; wings gener-
ally long ; outer edges of primaries fringed with soft ends ; whole plumage
very loose and soft, legs rather short, and in all American species feathered
or bristly. Cavity of tlie ear very large.

414

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTOllES.

About one hundred and forty sjjecies of owls have been described, some
inhabiting every country. (Cassiu.)

Sub-Family STRIGIN.E.

Chak. Of medium size ; facial disk perfect ; 1)111 rather long ; eyes
rather small for owls ; somewhat lateral ; legs rather long, fully feathered
to the toes.

Genus STRIX, Lixn.eus.

Strir, LiNNJEns, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 131.

Gen. Char. Head large, without ear tufts ; ivinp;s loni; ; tail rather short ; toes and
claws rather long ; tarsi thinly covered with small leathers ; middle claw serrated. There
are about twelve species known.

S. flamvua.

Note. — We give a figure of the European race of the l)arn owl, as type of the genus, one of a
series of cuts kindly furnished by the Society for the Diffusion of Christian Knowledge, of
London, from a work published by it, entitled " British Birds in their Haunts," by St. John.
The illustrations of this work arc of remarkable excellence, having been drawn by John Wolf,
and engraved by F. Wliymper.

STRIGID^ — THE OWLS — STRIX.

415

Strix pratincola, Bonaparte.
THE BAKN-OWL.

Strix flammea, Wilson, Am. Orn. VI. 57; pi. 50, f. 2. — AuDunoy, Birds Amcr. pi, 171
(not of Liiin.'ciis, whiuli is an European .species).

Strix pradmola, Box.vp.\nTE, Comp.Llst, 18.38, 7. — De Kay, Xat. Hist. N. Y. I. 31 ; pi. 13,
f. 28. — Newberky, r. R. Rep. VI. ii. 76. — Cvssin, Birds, IX. 47. — IIeermasn,
X. vi. 34. — CouES, Pr. Acad. Phil. 18G6, 4?.

Strix Amertanm, Audubon, Orn. Biog. II. 18.34, 421 ; oct. cd. I. 127 ; [il. 34. — Ncttall,
Man. I. 2d ed. 149 (not of Gmelin, whicli is Olus Wilsoiiianus, according to Bona-
parte ').

Strix perJalii, Kaui', Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. V. 1859, 247.

Sp. Cn.\R. Above pale fliwR-onlor, ox tawny Ijrownisli-yollow, frequently very pale,
nearly every feather with a snuill subterniiual black .spot, sueceeded by a white one. Be-

S. prnlinrola

neath, generally pale fawn-color, but frecpu'utly ]iure white, with small lanceolate and
circidar spots of brownish-black ; under coverts of wings and tail white ; ipiills fawn-

416 PREYmG BIRDS — RAPTORES.

colored ; primaries with about five irregular transverse bars of brownish-black ; tail with
about four or five bands of dark brown. Face white, spots of dark chestnut-brown around
the eyes. Length, 15.50 to 17.00 ; extent, 40.00 to 45.00 ; wing, 12.75 to 14.00 ; tail, 5 00
to 5.50. Iris brownish-black ; bill, toes, and claws yellowish.

Hah. The United States as far north as Long Island, New York, and the Columbia
River, lat. 46 ^ The West Indies ; Central and South America generally.

Abundant throughout the southern part of California, especially near the
coast, frequenting cliiefly old buildings, barns, etc., but often found hid in
dark thickets and hollow trees. It closely resembles the Euroi^ean barn-
owl, and others of almost every part of the world, and its habits seem to
resemljle closely tliose of its Old W(H"ld relati^'e. In tlie AtMntic States it
is said rather to avoid human habitations, Ijut this is proliably on account
of the thoughtless persecution too much practised among our countrymen
against all owls, under the impression that they destroy fowls. Careful
observations of the habits of the European species have shown that they
very rarely if ever do so, and that, on the contrary, they destroy an incredi-
ble number of rats and mice, — in fact, more than they and their young can
eat ; a pair of old ones being watched and seen to arrive at the nest every
few minutes with a rat or mouse, during the early night. 'Wnten flying
about at dusk they utter a variety of loud, har.sh, and rather strange cries,
which are sometimes heard throughout the night. Tlieir nest is merely the
natural floor of the cavity in which they li\'e, and tlieir eggs are said by
Nuttall to be three to five, of a whitish color.

Audubon also found them nesting among high grass on the ground in
Texas, on the 3d of May. They had avenues leading under the grass and
bushes for some distance from the nest. Tlie eggs were ovate, 1.79 by 1.25
inches, white and rougli.

The figure of the European Strix flammca, under the general head, will
illustrate the American bird sufficiently, as they are scarcely, if at all, to be
distinguished.

Specimens from different regions of the earth exhiljit certain peculiarities
whicli have been made the basis of specific distinctions, but it is question-
able whether these are more than climatic variations.

Sdb-Familt BUBONIN^, The Horned Owls.

Char. Head with erectile and prominent ear-like tufts. Eyes large ;
facial disk not complete above the eyes, and liills, legs, feet, and claws
usually very strong. Size various.

The species are numerous, and found almost everywhere throughout the
globe.

STRIGID^ — THE OWLS — BUBO.

417

They include some of the largest and most powerful of the owls, among
them, species nearly ecpial to the eagle in strength.

Genus BUBO, Cuvier.

Biiho, Cuvier, Kegno Anim. I. 1817, 331.

Gex. Ciiak. Sizi! large ; general form very robust anil powerful Head with long
tufts ; eyes very large ; wings long ; tail short ; legs and toes densely feathered ; bill rather

B. Virgintn7iit:i.

short, strong, covered at base by projecting feathers. Concha of ear moderate, oval, with
an operculum.

Aljout fifteen species are known, some of them the largest of the iamily.
Their feathers are rpiite compact, in this respect resembling somewhat the
Falconida', and some of the species are quite diurnal in their habits.
53

418

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTOKES.

Bubo Virginianus, Gmelin.

THE GREAT HORNED OWL.

Strix Virgimana, Gmelix, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 287. — Wilson, Am. Orn. VI. 52 ; pi. 50, f.
I. — Audubon, Birds Amer. ; pi. 61. — Nuttall, Man. I. 129. — Buho Yiniininmis,
BoN.^r.iKTU, Corap. List, 6. — Audubon, Birds Amer. ; pi. 61 ; oot. cd. I. 14.3, pi. .39.
— Nuttall, Man. I. 124. — Vars. arcticus, Atlanlicus, Pad finis, Cassin, Birds of C.il.
and Texas, I. 1853, 178. Ib. P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 49. —Newberry, VI. 76. — Ken-
NERLY, X. iv. 20. — Heeemann, X. vi. 35. — Coopek and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of
W. T. 154. — Coues, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866, 49.

Sp. Ch.\k. Uppi'r parts usually dark brown, each foather mottlod an<l barred with
irregular lines of pale ashy and reddish, the latter color prevailing at the base of featlu'rs.
Ear tufts dark brown, nearly blaek, their inner webs edged with dark fulvous; a blaek
spot above the eye, posterior feathers of disk pale or dark reddish ; tips of all black.

S. Virgiilinnus.

Throat and neek in front white ; breast with wide longitudinal black stripes, other under
parts variegated with white and fulvous, each feather with narrow transverse brown lines.
Middle of abdomen frequently white. Feathers of legs and toes white or fidvous, fre-
quently with narrow dark-brown bars. Quills brown, with wide transverse cinereous
bands ; usually tinged, on inner webs, with fulvous ; tail similar, with much fulvous on
outer feathers.

Var. Pacifcns is less redilish, and tlie posterior part of facial disk is pale ashy ; the
general color darker.

Var. arcticuss, pale yellowish, lace and legs nearly white, markings indistinct.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — BUBO. 419

Length, 18.00 to 23.00 ; c.xtL-nt, 35.00 to 52.00 ; wing, 14.00 to IC.OO ; tail, 0.00 to 10.00.
Iris yellow ; bill and claws brownish-black.

Hah. All of North America. Var. wclicus, iu the most northern and central regions;

also found in the Alpine Sierra Nevada, about lat. 3,6°, by Mr. C. King. Found also, in
varying cliar.acters, through Mexico and Central America into South America. Not re-
corded from the West Indies.

Next to tlie liurrowinn- o\\], this species is probably the most common in
California, or the most frec^uently seen, on account of its large size, and the
difficulty of its finding conceabnent during the day, where large hollow trees
are scarce. They are often started from the evergreen oaks, where they sit,
scarcely hid at all, and indeed seem able to bear a great deal of light. I
found a nest of this species near San Diego, apparently an old crow's-nest,
of which there were several in the same tree, about sLxty feet from the
ground. On climbing to it, the female flew oft' into the bright simlight, and
we were surprised to see two young, lately hatched and covered with white
down. I in-eserved one of them, and afterwards found an egg-shell in a
brook under the tree, white and larger than that of a hen when perfect.
They also build sometimes in hollow trees, and in Florida I liave seen a nest
built on the top of a lonely column, which was left standing after the ruin
of a fine building, almost in the broad sunlight. Eggs three to six, 2.38 by
2.00 inches, the ends alike. (Audubon.) This is probably the only species
of owl that preys much on domestic fowls, as all the other owls common in
California are rather too small to kill them. Their loud hooting is well
kno^\^l, and not like the cry of any other owl that I know of ; and travellers'
tales are filled with allusions to tlie terror inspired in the uninitiated by
hearing their sudden and unexpected note, when camped about a fire by
night in the woods.

420

PKEYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

Gexus scops, Savigny.

Scops, Savigny, Hist. Nat. (I'Eyyptc, I. 1809, 105.

Gen. Char. Size small, ear-tufts cunspiciioiis. Facial disk iinperfoet in front ; bill
short, nearly covered by jn-ojecting feathers ; wings long ; tail rather short, frequently

cui'vcil inwards ; tarsi rather long, more or less fully covered with short feathers; those on
the toes hair-like.

ALotit twenty-five specie.s of Scojis are kiiowu.

Scops asio, LiNNJEus.

THE MOTTLED SCREECH-OWL.

Strix asio, LiNN.T.us, Syst. Nat. I. ITOn, 1.12 (red form). — Bubo nsin, AiinnnON, Birds
Amer. oct. ed. I. 147; jd. 40. — Pr. Max. Cab. .Jour. 1858, 2.3. — k'cops asio, "Bon \-
PAKTE, Comp. List, 6. — Cassik, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 51. — IIeekmann, X. vi. 35.
— Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of \V. T. 155.

Sirix mcvia, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 287. — Wilson, Am. Orn. V. 83; pi. 42, f.
1 ; III. 17; pi. 19, f. 1. — Audubon, Birds Amer. pi. 97. — Nuttall, Man. I. 125,
127.

? Scops McCallii, Cassin, Birds of Cal. and Texa.s, I. 1854, 180. In. P. R. Rep. Birds, IX.
52. In. Mex. Bound. Rep. II. iii. 4 ; pi. 1.

Sp. Char. Above pale ashy-brown, with streak of brownish-blaek, and irregular mot-
tlings of the same mixed with cinereous. Beneath asliy- white witli brownishddack stripes,
and transverse lines of the same ; face, throat, and tarsi ashy-white, irregularly lined and

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — SCOPS.

421

mottled with palo brownish ; quills brown with transverse bands, nearly white on the outer
webs; tail pale ashy-brown, with about ten transverse nai-row bands of pale einerec

eons ;

under wing coverts white, the larger tipped with black. (^Scops ncevia.)

i'ounr/ci: Entire upper parts pale brownish-red with streaks of brownish-black, espe-
cially on tlie head and scapulars ; face, throat, under wing coverts, and tarsi, reddish-white ;
quills reddish-brown ; tail rufous with bands of brown, darker on the inner webs. {Scops
axio.)

Young. Entire plumage banded with ashy-wliite and pale browni ; wings and tail pale
rufous.

S. McCall'd docs not seem to have tangible difl'crences in plumage, and its smaller size
is according to the usual rule in Southern specimens of widely distributeil birds. Lcngtli,
8.00 to 10.75 ; extent, 18,50 to 22.50 ; wing, COO to 7.00 ; tail, 3.00 to 3.50. Ks yellow;
bill and claws horn-color ; cere greenish ; toes wliitish-gray.

llah. All tcnqierate North America. Cuba ?

According to Dr. Bachinan, the youug are red for two years, wlien they
cliange to gray. I have never seen a red specimen in California.

Tills little owl is quite common in the wooded parts of the State, and
often captured in houses. At Fort Mojave one was brought to me from a
hollow tree, which differed from one I found at Santa Barbara only in being
rather smaller and much paler gray, as if its line was affected by the hot,
dry climate, although it never exposed itself to the sunshine. It did not,

422 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

therefore, present the " darker " color and more numerous better defined
transverse lines below, being scarcely more than light ash-color in any
part. Being thus unlike Cassin's S. McCallii, I have considered it only a
pale variety of S. ado, although its southern locality would lead us to ex-
pect to find it to be *S'. McCallii, if indeed that be a distinct species.

At Santa Barbara I found a young one half Hedged on ]\Iay 4th, and in
another tree a fine full-grown bird. The young was gray, but, according to
Cassin, they become red when the feathers are fully grown, and afterwards
gray again, specimens of both colors being found breeding together in the
East, showing probably that it requires some years to effect the change.
They have been, however, often taken for distinct species. Their food is
entirely composed of small birds, mice, and insects. 1 have seen one living
harmlessly in a pigeon-house.

Scops flammeola, Lichtenstein.

THE FLAMMTJLATED OWLET.

Hcopsjlaimneola, Lioiit. KomcnuUitor Mus. Burol. 1S31.— Kaup, Trans. Zool. Soc. IV. 226.
ScnLEGUL, Mus. Pays Bas, Ois. 27.— Sclatkr, P. Z. S. 1858, 96. — Sclatek .iiul Sal-
VIN, Pr. Z. S. 1868, 57. Ib. Exotic Oniilliul. VII. 68, 99 ; pi. 50.

Sp. Cii.ak. Above o ra\ i^li-brown, streaked an<l -ieriuieulated with blaek ; the margins
of the scapulars and the phiines of the head partially varied with rufous, the former forming
a rufous line between the wing and the back. Outer webs of the primaries with ([uadrate
white spots. Beneath grayish-white, all the feathers with a shaft streak, and numerous
fine transverse lines of blaek. Throat and breast slightly tinged with rulbus. Tar.si en-

S fiammcola.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — SCOPS.

423

tirely feathered, white fhghtly varied with liLack ; tries entirely naked and lirown. Length,
7.00 ; wing, 5.50 ; tail, 1.60 ; tarsi, 0.90. Iris golden yellow ; bill pale horn-color, yellowish
at tip. (Selater and Salvin.)

Hab. Fort Crook, California, and the mountains of Mexico (Orizaba) to Guatemala.

Tlie introduction of tliis specie.s into the fauna of California rests upon a
specimen collected at Fort Crook, by the late Captain John Feihier, and
transmitted by him to the Smithsonian Institution. Though not entirely
mature, it is unmistakably this species. It is much the smallest of the
American eared owls, and readily distinguished by the naked toes and the
rufous scapular stripe. It is well figured by Sclater and Salvin in the work
quoted alxive, the Californian skin, and another from Orizaba, having been
submitted to those gentlemen for their inspection. (Baird.)

Scops Kennicotti, Elliot.
KENinCOTT'S OWL.

-Scops Kennicotti, Elt.iot, Pr. Acad. Nat. Sc. I'liil. 18G7, 99. In. Ilhist. I5irds N. A. I. pi. 27.

Sp. Cu.4n. Head and iip])cr parts light rnfons brown, each feather having a central
streak of brownish-black, and also barred with the same color. The rulbus-browu hue is

iS*. Kfntttcotri.

424

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

lightest on the lower part of tlie neck, where it is almost a buff. Outer feathers of inter-
scapulars with outer webs light buff^tbrniing a distinct bar. Wings same color as the
back, but the central streak broader. Primaries dark brown, outer webs marked with dis-
tinct spots of light buff, slightly discernible on the inner. Secondaries blackish-brown, outer
webs distinctly spotted with dark bull'. Tertiids mottled with light buff and black. Ear-
tufts light bull', with a central streak of black, and barred with the same, broadest on outer
webs. Feathers round the eye reddish-brown; those covering the nostrils soiled white,
with black shafts. Concealed patches of white feathers ecjuidistant between the ear-tufts
and the ears. Upper part of breast light buff, several leathers on each side having very
broad central streaks of black, forming together a conspicuous spot ; the rest have this
mark much narrower, and the black bars either nearly obsolete or mere wavy lines.
Flanks light bull', with a broad line of black in the middle, and a consjiicuous Viar of pale
yellowish-white near the tips. Centre of abdomen and under tail coverts )-ellowish-white,
a few indistinct brown bars on the latter. Length, 11.00; wing, 7.2.5; tail, 4.00 ; bill,
0.87 along the curve ; claws, 0.50. Tarsi reddish-brown ; feet yellowish-white ; bill black,
■white at tip.

The general color is rcildish-brown, mottled and Ijlotched with black. In size it is
between Scops usiu and Olu.i Wilsoiiianus. (Elliot.)

Bab. Sitka.

Tliis species was descriljecl by Mr. Elliot, from the single specimen taken
in Sitka by j\Ir. Bisclioff. It was called after Mr. Keimicott, with a ^^•ell-
deserved tribute of respect to his memory. Nothing is known of its
habits.

It is not a little remarkable tliat our knowledge of four species of owls
of Western North America, so far, rests upon single specimens. Three
of these, Syrnium occidentalc, Scops Kcnnicotti, and Mkrathcnc Wliitneiji,
are types ; of the fourth, — Scoijs flummcola, — the type was taken in
Mexico. (Baird.)

Otits Wtlsonianits.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — OTUS.

425

GeSUS OTUS, CUVIER.

Otus, CrviEK, Rogne Anim. I. 1817, 327.

Gen. Ciiar. Form somewhat elongatetl. Head moderate ; car-tufts long, erectile ;
bill rather short, cm'ved from the base ; facial disk nearly perfect. Wings long, tail mod-

erate ; tarsi and toes covered with short feathers ; claws long, cnr%-cd. Eyes rather small.
Concha of ear semicircular, extending i'rom the bill towards summit of head, anteriorly
operculate. (Cassin.)

O. Wtlsonianus.*

* This figure is taken from the European bird, and not distinguishable in a woodcut from the
Amcricati.

54

426 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

Otus Wilsonianus, Lesson,

THE LONG-EAEED OWL.

Strix otus, Wilson, Am. Orn. VI. 73; pi. 51, f. 3. — Audubon, Birds Amer. pi. 383;

Oct. ed. I. ; pi. 37. — Nuttall, Man. I. 139. (Not of Liiinaius, the European species.)
Strix Americana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 288. — Otus Amcricanus, Bonapaete, Comp.

List, 1838, 7. — Pr. Max. Cab. Jour. 1858, 25.
Otus Wilsonianus, Lesson, Traite' d'Orn. I. 1831, 110. — Cassin, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 53.

— Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 155, — CouES, Pr. Phil. Acad.

1866, 50.

Sp. Cii.\n. Above mottled -svith brownish-black, fulvous, and ashy ■■white, the former
predominating. Breast pale fulvous, with stripes of brownish-black ; abdomen white, every
feather with a wide stripe crossed by others of brownish-black ; legs and toes pale fulvous,
xisually unspotted, frequently with irregular dark-brown bars. Eye nearly encircled by
black ; other feathers of the face ashy-white, with minute lines of black ; ear-tufts brown-
isli-ljlack, edged with fulvous and ashy-white ; quills pale fulvous at their bases, with irreg-
ular transverse brown bands ; lower wing coverts ])ale fulvous, frequently nearly white ;
the larger widely tipped with black ; tail brown, with several irregular transverse bands
of ashy-fulvous, mottled as on the quills Length, 1.3.00 to 15.00 ; extent, 35 00 to 38 00 ;
wing, 1 1.00 to 1-2.00 ; tail, 5.00 to 6.00. Iris yellow ; bill and claws horn-black.

Ilah. All of temperate North America.

I found tliis owl quite common near San Diego, and in March observed
them sitting in pair.s in the evergreen oaks, apparently not much troubled
l)y the light. One which I shot was much infested hy insects, which may
have caused them to leave the hollow tvees. On the 27tli of !March I
found a nest, perliaps that of a crow, built in a low evergreen oak, in which
a female owl was sitting on five eggs, then lialf hatched. The liird was
quite bold, flying round and snapping her bill at me, I took one egg, and
on the 2.3d of April fotmd the rest hatched. In trying to draw me away
from the nest, the female imitated the cries of wounded birds in a remark-
ably accurate manner, showing a power of voice not heretofore attributed to
the owls, but indicating their affinity to the parrots.

The eggs are white, measuring 1,60 X 1.36 inches, and rounded at both
ends about equally, like those of most other owls.

According to Nuttall, the cry of this owl is a plaintive and hollow moan-
ing, sounding like " clow cloud," and incessantly repeated during the night.
I have not heard this in California, but it is doubtless correct.

This, as well as the great horned owls, wanders into the liarren, treeless
deserts east of the Sierra Xevada, and may he found quite frequently in
autumn hiding in the thickets of willows along the streams, wliere the sun
shines with scarcely diminished brightness. They also resort to caves,
where there are any to be found.

STRIGID^ — THE OWLS — BRACHYOTUS.

427

Their food consists of small animals entirely, and I think it very doulitful
if they ever attack j)0ultry. By many persons they are, however, mistaken
for young horned owls, and ruthlessly slain. I need scarcely remark that
a bird which has become able to fly never grows afterwards to any very
ajipreciable degree.

Genus BRACHYOTUS, Gould.

Bmchjolus, GoDLD, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1837, 10.

Gen. Char. Ear-tufts very short and inconspicuous. General form ratlier strong ;
wings long ; tail moderate ; legs rather long, and with the toes fuUy covered by short

B. Cassinii.

feathers ; claws long, very sharp and rather slender. Head moderate ; eyes rather small ;
facial disk impci-fect ou the forehead and above eyes ; tail moderate. (Cassin.)

B. Cassini.

Of several species referred to this genus, and representing the different
quartei-s of the globe, naturalists are now incHned to make but one, varying
somewhat with the region, but scarcely differing in essential character.

428

PREYING BIllDS — llAPTOKES.

Brachyotus Cassinii, Brewer.

THE SHORT-EAEDD OWL.

Strix hrachjptus, Forster, Pliil. Trans. LXII. 1772, 3S4. — Wilson, Am. Orn. IV. 64 ; pi.
33, f. 3. — AuDuiiON, Birds Ainer. ; [il. 410, oct. cd. I. 140; pi. 38 (Otus).— Nut-
tall, Man. I. 141.

Brachjotus palustris Americamis, BoN.\p.\RTE, Cousp. Av. 1S49, 51. — Otus hrar]ii/otus Ameri-
canus, Pk. Max. Cab. Jour. 1858, 27.

Brachyotus Cassinii, Brewer, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1855 ? — Newberry, P. I{. Rep.
VI. iv. 1857, 76. — Cassin, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 54. — IIeerman.v, X. vi. 34.—
CoorER and Sockley, XII. iii. Zool. ofW. T. 155.

Sp. CH.\n. Ear-tufts very short. Entire plumage buff or pale fulvous; cacli feather
above with a wiile dark brown stripe, this eolor predominatino; on the baek. Under jiarts
paler, frequently nearly white on the abdomen, with bruwnish-blaek stripes, most numer-

^4

i?. pnluslris.*

ous on the breast, very narrow and less numerous on the abdomen and flanks ; legs and
toes usually like the abdomen. Quills pale reddish-fulvous at base ; brown at their ends,
with wide bands and large sjiots of darker shade ; tail similar, with about five irregular
transverse dark brown bands, this color predominating on the central l(.'atbers ; under tail

* Tlie figure is talicn from tlic European bud. The American is not distinguishable in a
cut.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — BRACIIYOTUS.

429

coverts nearly -n-liite. Throat white; eyes enclosed by large brownish-black spots; ear-
tufts brown, edged with fulvous. Iris, cere, and toes yellow ; bill and claws horn-color.
Length, 14 to 15 ; wing, 11 to 12; tail, 5 J to 6.

Hab. All of temperate North America and South America ; Greenland ; Cuba.

Tliis is a more northern species than the Otiis, visiting the United States
only in winter, and then aiipearing in considerable numbers or Hocks. They
generally sit in long grass or bushes during the day, little disturbed by the
sunlight, and on cloudy days even hunt over the prairies, on which they
usually obtain their prey. I have not seen them south of Santa Clara
Valley ; but east of the Sierra they have been seen along the Mojave Eiver
by Dr. Heermann.

Audubon found a nest of tliis species in the jiine forest on the moun-
tains of Pennsylvania. It was built on the ground under a bush, hidden
among long grass, of which it was roughly formed. This nest was Hat, and
much spread out, and contained, on the 17th of June, four bluiah-white
eggs, 1.50 X 1.12.

Sub-Family SYRNIIN.E.

Char. Head large, with concealed ear-tufts or none. Facial disk nearly
perfect ; eyes small for owLs ; wings rather short ; tarsi and toes generally
fully feathered. Size moderate or small. Concha of ear semicircular,
operculate.

S. nef)itlo$um.

Tliis sub-family embraces species differing greatly in size. Some are
among the largest, and otliers among tlie smallest of the owls, and they
inhabit extremes of latitude. The plumage is generally very lax and soft.

430

PKEYIXG BIKDS — RAPTORES.

Genus SYRNIUM, Savigny.

Si/rnium, Savigny, Hist. Nat. d'Egyptc, I. 1809, 112.

Gen. Char. Size usually large ; head large, without cai-tufts ; eyes rather small ;
bill strong, curved from the base : fourth and fifth quills longest ; tail rather long, wide,
rounded ; legs moderate or rather long ; claws long, strong, very sharp. Conch of the
ear a simjjle oval cavity only half the height of the cranium.

A genus containing fifteen or twenty .species, chiefly from tlie uortliein
parts of the world.

S3n:nium occidentale, Xaxtus.

THE WESTERN BAERED OWL.

Si/rnium occidentale, Xaxtls, Proc. A. N. Sc. riiil. XI. Jidy, 18.59, 193. — Baird, Cassin,
and Lawrence, Birds N. Amer. II. v. ; ]jI. Ixvi. 1860. Index, p. v. descr.

Sp. Char. General color liver-brown, the feathers barred everywhere, c\-en on the
flanks. AxUlars and under wing and tail coverts banded transversely with white, the

^'■-><

S. occhteiitnle

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — SYRNIUM.

431

bands towards and on the head contracted into rounded spots. Bars of white on feathers
of body, two; several on the scapulars, axillars, and other long feathers. Quills and tail
with 7-9 bars, one terminal. Legs dirty-yellowish, with obscure transverse brown mot-
tlings. Toes thickly feathered, exposing only two scutellte at the base of claws. Fourth

quill longest, fifth and third .•shorter, second between sixth and seventh, first shorter than
eighth. Length of male, 18.00 ; extent, 40.00 ; wing, 13.00 ; tail, 8.50 ; tarsus about 2.00.
Bill greenish-yellow; iris gamboge ; claws horn-color.
Ilah. Fort Tcjou, Calitbrnia (and northward V).

Thi.s species, of the history of which notliing is yet known, prolial.ily
resembles tlie Eastern barred owl (*S'. nehdosum) in halaits, as it does in
plumage. It was discovered by ilr. J. Xanttis, at Fort Tejon, March (3,
1858 ; but only one specimen was olitained. Tlie allied Eastern species
is widely spread, and this will probably be tbimd common in some parts of
the State.

Ssnrnium nebulosum, Forster.

THE BARBED OWL.

Strix nebuJosn, FonSTER, Ti-ans. Philos. Soc. London, LXII. 1772. 386, 424.

Strix varhis, Barton, Frai;. Nat. Hist. Penn. 1799, 11.

Syrnium nebulosum. Cassis, Birds N. Aincr. IS.'iS, .56.
Figures. — Vieillot, Ois. d'Ain. Sept. pi. 17 ; Wilson, Am. Orn. I\^. pi. .33, fig.
Birds Amcr. pi. 46 : oct. ed. I. pi. 3G ; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 10, fig. L>1 ;
of Eur. I. pi. 46.

2 ; Audubon,
Gould, Birds

Sp. Char. Smaller than the tnlluwiug; head large, without ear-tufts: tail rather
long. Upper parts light ashy-brown, frcfpiently tingeil with dull yellow ; with transverse
narrow bands of white, most numerous on the head and neck behind, broader on the back.
Breast with transverse bands of brown and white ; abdomen ashy-white, with longitudinal
stripes of brown ; tarsi and toes ashy-white, tinged with fulvous, generally without spots,
but frequently mottled and banded with dark brown. Quills brown, with si.x or seven

432

PREYING BIRDS — EAPTORES.

transverse bars nearly pure white on the outer webs, and ashy-fulvous on the inner webs ;
tail light brown, with about five bands of white, generally tinged with reddish-vellow.
Feathers of disk tijiped with white ; face ashy-white, with lines of brown, and a spot of

S. nebulosum.

hlac-k in front of the eye ; throat dark brown ; claws horn-color ; bill pale yellow ; irides
bluish-black. Sexes alike. Total length about 20.00; wing, 13.00 to 14.00; tail, 9.00.
Sexes nearly of the same size.

Hah. Eastern North America. South to jNIexico.

No specimens of this well-known species have yet been found west of the
Eocky Mountains of the United States. As it is, however, exceedingly im-
probalile that a bird of such wide range in other parts of North America
should not cross the mountains, we introduce it here, in anticipation of the
period of its detection in the mountains of California, which will un-
doubtedly occur sooner or later. The nocturnal habits of the owls naturally
keep them from the notice of observers, and even in the Eastern States
some species are but rarely seen or killed, although perhaps known to be
actually abundant.

Messrs. Sclater and Salvin have lately described /S'. fulvcscens as a A-ery
closely allied Mexican species. (Baird.)

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — SYRXIUM.

433

Syrnium cinereum, Gmelin.

THE GEEAT GRAY OWL.

Strh cinerea, Gmelin, Syst. Xat. I. 1788. 291. — Boxaparte, Am. Oni. ; pi. 23, f. 2.—

Addubox, Orn. Biog. ; pi. .35.3. — Xuttall, Man. I. 134.
Si/niiiim cinereum, Bonaparte, B. of Eur. and Am. 6. — Aodcbon, Birds Amer.; pi. 58.—

Cassin, p. R. Rep. Birds IX. 56. —Newberry, Yl. iv. 77. — Cooper, XII. iv. Zool.

of W. T. 156. — Kaup, Trans. Zool. Soc. IV. 1859, 256.

Sp. Char. The lar<;est Xorth American owl. Above smoky or ashy-brown, mottled
and barred with ashy-white ; beneath ashy-white, with numerous dark ashy-brown stripes,
especially on the breast, and with bars of the same on the abdomen, legs and lower tail

coverts. Quills brown, with almut five wide irrefjular bands of ashy-white ; tail similar,
with five or six bands, and mottled with dark brown. Feathers of the disk, on the neck
tipped with white ; eye nearly encircled by a black spot ; radiating feathers round the eye,
55

434

PREYING 15IRUS — RArTORKS.

with regular transverse narrow bars of dark brown and ashy-wliifc. Length, 25.00 ; ex-
tent, SU.OO ; wing, 18.00 ; tail, 12.00 to 1.5.00. Iris yellow ; bill and claws paler.
Uah. Northern North America. Sacramento Valley, according to Newberry.

This owl i.s common in the dense spruce forests near the C'ohimliia Pdvcr,
and northward. It is proliaLly resident throuyliont the year in that lati-
tude, and perhaps in the high mountains of California.

Its habits are to some extent diurnal, or it is active towards sunset, and
at times utters a low laughing cry, said to resemble that of the mottled owl.
Eichardson found a nest near lat. 60°, built of sticks in the top of a lofty
balsam poplar, and lined with feathers. It contained three young, covered
with wldtish down.

Genus NYCTALE, I'.heiim.

Nyctak, BitEHJi, Isis, 1828, 1271.

Gen. Char. Size small. Head with very small ear-tufts, only seen when erected ;
eyes small ; bill moderate ; facial disk nearly perfect. Wings rather long ; tail short ; toes
densely feathered. Conch of ear \ery large, with an operculum.

iV. acndka.

Only four or five species of N//rfaIc are kncjwn, most of them in America.
They are all of diminutive size, and rarely met witli living, owing to tlie
close concealment which tliey practise during the day, in this respect quite
different from some of our Americ-an species.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — NYCTALK.

435

Nyctale albifrons, Shaw.

KIRTLAND'S OWL.

Strix albifrons, Shaw, Nat. Misc. V. 1794. — Nyctale albifrons, Cassix, B. of Cal. and Tex.

187. Ib. p. R. Rep. Birds, IX. .57. — Codes, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1860, 50.
Strix frontalis, Lichtenstein, Trans. Berlin Ac. 1838, 340.
Nijctale Kirthmdii, Hoy, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliil. VI. 1852, 210. — Cassix, B. of Cal. and Tex. I.

1855, 63 ; pi. xi.

Sp. Cii.\k. Ileatl, upper part of breast, anil entire upper parts, dark chocolate-brown ;
forehead and eyebrows white. Throat, and a line running down on each side from base
of under mandible, white ; other under parts of body reddish ochre-yellow. Quills dark
brown, with small white spots on their outer edges, and large white spots on their inner

N. albifrons,

webs. Tail dai-k brown, -n-itli two transverse bands of white, and a naiTow whiti' tip.
Lengtli about 8.00 ; wing, 5.25 ; tail, 3.00. Iris yellow; bill and claws dark. (Cassin.)
Ilab. Northern North America to Canada and Wisconsin. California (Lichtenstcin).

I have .seen in the mu.seuni of the German Acailemy of Natural Sciences,
of San Francisco, a specimen of tliis owl, brought fr(jni Nevada, close to
the boundary of California, about lat. 39°, altitude seven thousand feet.

Cassin's beautiful plate, and interesting description above referred to, in-
clude all at present known of its habits. On the eastern side of the conti-
nent it seems limited to the northern regions, and on this coast probably
confines its range to the highest mountains, unless driven down to the val-
leys in winter by cold.

Dr. Hoy remarks that one flew into an open shop in Eacine, Wisconsin,
in July, 1852. It was strictly nocturnal, uttered a low tremulous note, and
was an active, efficient mouser.

436

PREYING BIllDS — RAPTORES.

Nyctale Acadica, Umelin.
THE ACADIAN OWL.

Strix ylrarfica, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 296. — Nuttall, Man. I. 145. — Acdubox,
BirJs Amcr. ; pi. 199. — Xi/ctule Acadica, Bon.\parte, Kur. ami N. Amer. Birds, 7. —
Cassin, p. R. Rep. Birils, IX. 58. — Kaup, Trans. Zool. Soe. IV. 206. — Cooper and
SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 156. — ScL.\TER, Pr. Zool Soc. 1858, 295. (Oax-
aca.) — LoRD,Pr. R. Art. Inst. Woolwich, IV. 1863, 111.

Strix passer ina, " Linn.eus," Wilson, Am. Orn. IV. 66; pi. 34.

Sp. Char. Above reddish-brown, tinged with olive ; head in front with fine white
lines, and large partly concealed white sjiots on the neck behind, runi]i, and scapulars.
Face ashy-white, throat white, under parts a.shy-whiti', with pale reddish-brown striijes ;

under wing and tail coverts white. Quills brown, with small white spots on their outer
edges, and large white spots on their inner web,'! ; tail brown, each feather with about tlu'ce
pairs of white spots. Iris yellow ; hill and claws dark.

Hah. Northern jiarts of North America. .South to Oa.xaca, Mexico.

Found !it Fort Tejon liy J\Ir. J. Xantii.s de Vesey. It is probably more
conimoii iKjrthward, as I obtained it at Vancouver, Washington Territory,
and in the Eastern States it does not seem to be common south of Pennsyl-
vania. It is very nocturnal, and its liabits are therefore but little known.
It is said to liave a cry like tlie whetting of a saw. Audubon found their
eggs in Maryland, deposited in crow's uests or holes of trees, numbering
three to si.x, white, and elliptical.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — ATHENE.

437

Sub-Family ATHENIN^.

Char. Size small ; facial disk very imperfect, nearly obsolete ; tarsi par-
tially or liut tliiuly feathered ; head imtufted.

The species of tliis group are numerous, and less strictly nocturnal than
others.

Gexus ATHENE, Boie.

Athene, BoiE, Isis, 1822, 549.

Gen. Char. Wings rather long ; tail rather short ; bill short ; legs rather long, thinly-
covered with short bristly feathers ; toes naked, or with a few hair-lLke feathers.

Contains forty species, generally distributed.

Athene cunicularia, Molina.

THE BUEEOWING OWL.

Strix cunicularia, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 1782. — Ndttall, Man. I. 123, and
other authors on the Cahfornian species. — Athene cunicw/ana, Bonaparte, Eur. and
Am. Birds, G. — Cassiv, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 60. — Baird, X. iii. 13. (Utah.) — Iven-
NERLY, X. iv. 20. — Kaup, Trans. Z. S. iv. 201. — Heeb.mann, X. vi. 33. — Canfield,
Aiuer. Nat. 1869, 583 (habits). — Cooper and Scckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 157.

Strix Califurnica, Audubon, Birds Araer. ; jjl. 432, f. 2 (name). In. oct. cd. I. ; jil. 31.
(Lower figure.)

Athene hijpwirea, Newberry, P. R. Rep. VI. ii. 17, but not of Bonaparte ; the species found
cast of tlic Roclcy Mountains, according to Cassin.

Sp. Char. Upper parts light ashybrown, with large spots of dull white enclosed in
edgings of brownish-black. Throat white ; a transverse band of brownish-black and red-

it. cunicutana.

438

PREYING BIUDS — RAPTORES.

disli-wliite feathers across the ncok in front, siioceefled by a hirge patch of ivliitc. Breast
Hght brown with large spots of white as above ; abdomen yellowisli-wbite, witli liastate or
crescentic spots of rechlish-brown, in transverse bands. Under tail coverts, tibia', tai'si,
and under wing coverts yellowish-white : (luills and tail light brown, with spots of reddish-
white, which are edged with bi-owni»li-black. Tail with about six transverse bands, or

.4. ntnicidnrm.

pairs of spots, of reddish-white edged witli dark brown. (3ther sjiecimens arc nuieh
lighter and tinged with dull yellow, having a failed appearance.

Younger. Above with light grayish-brown spots irregular in shape and confused ; fre-
quently predominating on head. Abdomen yellowish-white, nearly imspotted. Length,
9.50 to 10.00; extent, 23.50 to 25.00; wing, G. 75 to 7.75; tail, 3.50 to 4.00. Iris yel-
low ; bill horn-color ; toes gray.

Hab. North America west of the Rocky Mountains ; South America (Peru, Chili,
Buenos Ayres, etc.).

Probably one of tlie most common birds in California, and known to
almost everybody, as they are visible at all times of the day, and not timid.
Wlierever the large gronnd-squirrel {Spermophilus Bccchci/i) is found, — and
that is in almost every valley west of the Sierra, — this owl is its constant
comjianion, lixing in the deserted burrows of the sciuirrels, and apparently
in perfect liarniony with them, although tlie young squirrels dotibtless oc-
casionally ftirnisli the owl with a meal, for which tlie sqtiirrel perhaps takes
its pay by sucking the owl's eggs, after tlie manner of its relative, the rat.

The owl, however, undoubtedly burrows for itself in regions where there
are no squirrels large enough to make burrows for it. I foimd one li^■ing
near the Colorado, in a burrow which it had apparently just made, as tliere

Note. — Specimens obtained liy Mr. Hepburn, near Mariposa, and one from Vancouver
Island, closely resemble A. Iii/i»tgwa.

STRIGID.E — THE UWLS — ATHENE. 439

was no animal in that region that made such liiirrows. The soil was grav-
elly, and yet the holes were so deep that I could not roach the bottom with
a ramrod. The difficulty of burrowing, and comparative scarcity of food,
make this owl scarce in that region. The specimen I preserved was like
those found near the coast, in colors and size.

At San Diego, as early as January 11th, they were preparing to lay, and I
saw one chase a large hawk {F. jwli/agrus ?) away from its burrow, towards
which the hawk had darted with the intention of catching the owl.

On February 4th the males began to utter a call in the early evening, as
they sat at tlie mmith of their burrow. Tliis note sounded like the word
" cuc-koo " slowly pronounced, with an accent on the first syllable, and the
last very long. Europeans told me that it was very much like the cry of
the well-known European cuckoo, and I have since seen a statement in one
of the newspapers that the writer had discovered "the cuckoo" in California,
knowing it by its note, whicli he heard near the tule marshes of the San
Joaquin ! His cuckoo was doubtless this owl ; for though I liave not liefore
seen any record of this fact, I heard and saw the birds too frequently to be
mistaken. The tone is soft and musical, but has the property of seeming to
be much farther off than the bird really is, and therefore may have been
often heard when its origin was unknown. The owl continued tliis call
during the month of IVIarcli, and then sometimes uttered it during the day
at intervals.

On the 4th of Ajjril I dug out two fresh eggs from a burrow, which I
had to follow for a depth of three feet, and then five feet horizontally, wliere
I found an enlarged chamljcr in whicli were the eggs, deposited on a few
feathers. They were smaller than pigeons' eggs, nearly round, and j)ure
white. The Eastern species lays four eggs, according to Audubon.

About tlie end of April the young begin to appear at the mouth of their
burrow, where they sit in company with the parents during the early morn-
ing, easily distinguished l)y their darker plumage and almost banded breasts.
Their actions are very ludicrous, as they allow one to come quite near, and
bow repeatedly to the apjDroaching \isitor, uttering at the same time a low
cackling note. If alarmed tliey either fly off to another burrow or suddenly
dive down into one. Their flight is rapid, by repeated flaps and undulating
sailings, like that of a woodjjecker, showing, as does their call-note, a rela-
tionship to the Scansores.

Their food consists wholly of mice, small birds, and insects, and they
must be among the most useful birds we have in destroying gophers. They
hunt chiefly or altogether at night, and then often make a loud cackling
as they fly. They are constant residents in most parts of this State, and ex-
tend north to the Columbia Iliver.

In October, 1863, I heard the call-note of these birds almost every even-

440

PKEYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

ing about Dram Barracks, Wilmington, showing tliat it is not confined to
tlie sirring.

From INIonterey north this species becomes very rare, or entirely absent
on the west side of the Coast Eange.

Athene hypugsea, Bonaparte.

THE BTJEEOWING OWL.

Strix hypurjcm, BoNAPAKTE, Am. Orn. I. 1825, 72. — Athrnc hi/pn^a-a, Cassin, Baird, Birds

N. Amcr. 1858, 59. — Cooper and Sucklet, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 151.
Athene social is, Gambel, Pr. Acad. Phil. III. 1846, 47. — Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1857, 201.
(Xalapa, Mexico.) — Dresser, Ibis, 65, 330.
Figures. — Boxaparte, Am. Orn. I. pi. 7, fig. 2; Audubon, Birds Amcr. pi. 432, fig. I :
Oct. cd. I. 31 (upper figure).

Sp. Ch.vr. Tarsi long, slender, tliinly covered in front only witli short feathers, gen-
erally with its lower half nearly bare, and frequently almost entirely naked, and with
small circular scales laterally and posteriorly ; toes with a few hairs.

Adult. Upper parts light ashy-brown, with numerous partially concealed circular, cor-
date, and ovate spots of dull white, which spots are enclosed with a naiTOw edge of dark
brown. Tliroat white ; a transverse band of dark brown and reddish-white on the neck
in front, succeeded by a large patch of white ; breast light brown, with large spots of
white, like the upper parts ; abdomen yellowish, with transverse narrow bands of red-

A. hfpugrra.

dish-brown ; under tail coverts, feathers of the tibia and tarsus, and under wing coverts,
yellowish-white. Quills light brown, with semicircular spots of reddish-white on their
outer webs, and with oval or irregular spots of the same on their inner webs. Tail light
brown, with about five or six irregular transverse bands of yellowish-wdiite. Bill dark
bluish at base, yellow at tip and on the ridge of the upper man<lible. Tins is the most
mature plumage, and is that represented in Audubon's figiire cited above. The most usual
plumage is, however, as follows : —

Adult. Upper parts like the preceding, but lighter colored, and much more tinged

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — MICRATHENE. 44^

with dull yellow, having generally a fa<leil or bleached appearance. ^Vliite spots more
numerous and irregular in shape, and Ircquently giving the predominating color to the
head. Rump and tail strongly tinged with reddish. Under parts like the preceding, but
lighter, and with tlio reddish-brown of the abdomen assuming the form of semicircular or
hastate spots. This plumage has very nearly the same characters as the preceding, but is
lighter and has a faded appearance, and is much the most frequently met with in speci-
mens. This plumage is not figured.

Another ])lumage is : Ujiper parts much less tinged with yellow or reddish, being nearly
light grayish-brown ; white spots very irregular in shape. Abdomen nearly pure white,
or tinged with yellowish, with traces only or but few spots of reddish-brown. This plu-
mage is given in Bonaparte's plate, cited above ; but it is unusual for the abdomen to be
so nearly pure white and unspotted as represented. Total length, female (of skin), about
0.50 ; wing, 7.00 ; tail, 3.50. Male, total length, about 9.00 ; wing, fi..')0 ; tail, 3.00.

//((/). From the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. Mexico.

In thi.s species the featliers on the tarsu.s are restricted to a narrow longi-
tudinal band or stripe in front, generally quite imperfect in the lower half,
leaving that portion nearly bare to the toes, though it is quite unusual to
find the tarsus so entirely uncovered, as represented in Audubon's figiu'e
cited above. This bird is rather smaller than amicularia, and has the tar-
sus shorter as well as much less feathered. It inhabits the countries east of
the Rocky jNIountains, while the cuniculuria appears to belong exclusively
to the west of the same range. (Cassin.)

Whetlier we really have more than one species of l;>uiTowing owl in Xorth
America is still a question, the difference, if any, Ijeing exceedingly slight.
To furnish tlie means of comparison, however, we reproduce above the re-
marks of Mr. Cassin on the subject. Mr. James Hepburn, an excellent
authority on the liirds of the I'acific Coast, thinks that there are two species,
and states that both are found within tlie limits of the State of California.
If two species exist, their habits appear to be very similar. (Baird.)

Genus MICRATHENE, Coues.

Micrathene, Coces, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 57. (Type, Alliene W/iilnri/i, CooPEK.)

Gex. C'n.\R. Bill small and weak, compressed at base. Facial disk not conspicuously
defined ; imperfect Ijehiud the eyes. Wings very long ; from the carpal joint, nic;isuring
two thirds the total length of body ; exposed portion of first primary only two thirds that
of longest ; thu-d and fourth quills longest, fifth little shorter, second about equal to sixth.
Tarsi moderate ; feathered only a short distance below the upper joint, the remaining por-
tion clothed only with sparse bristly hairs, as is the superior surface of the toes. Claws
very weak, moderately curved. Jliddle toe and claw about as long as tarsus. (Coues)

Of tlte size and general apjjearance of Glaucidium, this gemis has a small-
er bill, much longer wings, and much shorter tail, witli different proportions
56

442

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

of tarsus and toes. From Athene it diflers in jwoportion of toes, of quills,
etc. ; the tai-sus being shorter, and the outer primaries mucli more elongat-
ed. The bristly bare legs are the only point common to the two genera.
(Ooues.)

Micrathene Whitne5ri, Cooper.

WHITNEY'S OWL.

Athene WTiitnciji, Cooper, Proc. Ca). Acad. N. Sc. II. 186.3,118. — Micrathene Whitney!,
CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1860, .'51. —Elliot, 111. B. N. A. XII. ; plate.

Sr. CllAR. Above liiilit brownifh-f^ray, tbickly spotterl with nnpular pale brown dots,
most densely on bead, but those on baek largest ; back also somewhat barred with waving

A. Wtitneyi.

lines of the same color. A concealed white bar crosses the middle of feathers on back of
neck, tbrniing a collar, the bases of these feathers being plumbeous like those of the rest
Quills with three to si.x spots on each web, those on the inner web white, as are those on

STRIGID.E — THE OW^LS— GLAUCIDIUM. 443

outer web of the second, third, and tburfli quills ; the rest of the spots light brown. A
row of white spots on edges of lesser coverts, four on the ujjper, seven on the lower series,
with a row of light brown spots Ijetween. A few white spots also on outer secondaries.
A white stripe on outer row of scapulars, edged by light brown stripes towards the middle
of back. Rest of wing feathers dark brown, the secondaries with light ashy dots towards
their ends. Tail feathers colored like the quills, the light spots forming five broken bars,
and another narrower bar at the tip. Wings and tail ashy-brown beneath, with white
bars ; edge of wing white ; lower wing coverts white, tinged with yellowish, and with a
dark brown patch at their ends.

StifT feathers above eye white, with black spots on the middle of their shafts. Feathers
below orbit light brown, faintly barred with darker ; bristles around bill black for their
outer half Chin and throat fiiathers white, their bases black, and the tips of the lower
scries light brown ; the white thus forming a broad crescent in front of neck, extending
between outer angles of orbits, somewhat broken at the median line, and edged with
brown, darkest laterally. Sides of neck narrowly barred with ashy, alternating with light
and dark brown ; a large white patch in fi-ont of neck, mottled with blackish. Breast im-
perfectly barred and blotched with the same colors, the brown forming large patches
toward abdomen, margined with gray and white. Sides more grayish, tinged yellow, flanks
l)lumbeous. Tiliial feathers narrowly barred with light and dark brown. Tarsal bristles
white, those on toes yellowish. Length, G. 25 ; extent, 15.25 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 2.25 ; tar-
sus, 0.00 ; middle toe, O.GO ; with its claw, 0.70; inner lateral claw reaching to base of
middle, outer to base of inner ; hind toe and claw, 0.50 ; gape of bill, 0.45 ; its height, 0.30 ;
with at base, 0.40. Iris bright yellow ; bill pale green (drying black with yellow edges) ;
soles yellow ; claws horn-brown.

Hub. Colorado Valley, California.

No. 208, State collection, male (?), sliot at Fort Mojave, lat. 35°, Colorado
Valley, on April 26, 1801, is a.s yet a uni(jue specimen. It is the smallest
owl yet discovered within the United States, being considerably less than
the little Glaucidiimi gnovia. In colors it much resembles that species, but
diflers essentially in the generic characters, these being closely like those
of our Athene, the burrowing owl. Its habits are probably, however, en-
tirely different, as I found it in a dense thicket, on a very windy morning,
where it may perhaps have merely taken a temporary refuge, after being
blown down from some of the caverns in the barren mountains surrounding
the valley. Its stomach contained insects and some small feathers.

Genus GLAUCIDIUM, Boie.

Glaiicidiiwi, BoiE, Isis, 182G, 970.

Gen. Char. Size very small ; head moderate, untufted ; wings moderate or rather
short ; tail short ; facial disk nearly obsolete ; bill short, rather wide, strong ; tarsi fully
feathered ; claws rather long and curved, very sharp.

444

PREYING BIRDS — EAPTORES.

Glaucidium Californicum, Sclater.
THE PYGMY OWL.

Sfrix passeri'noiJes, Audubon, Orn. Bioy. V. 271, pi. 432, f. 4, 5 : oct. cd. I. pi. 30. (Suriiia.)

MuTTALL, Man. I. 148.
Glaucidium iii/usmttim, Cassin, B of Cal. and Tex. I. 175. — Newberry, P. K. Rep. VI. ii.

77. (" Not of Temminck, wliicU is same as preeeding." Cassin.)
Glaucidium cjnoma, Waglee, Isis, XXV. 1832, 275. — Cassin, P. R. Kep. Birds, IX. G2. —

Heermann, X. vi. 34. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 158. —

CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1860, 50. — Loud, Intellectual Observer, 18G5, 409. (Habit.)
Glaucidium CaliJ'uniicum, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1857, 4.

Sp. Ciiak. Spot before the eye, and extending over it, white. Upper parts entirely
brownish-ohvo, with small eireular s])ots of dnll white or pale rnfoiis, numerous on the
head, largest on the seajnilars. An in-egular, partly concealed band of white on the neck
behind, succeeded by a black one. Throat wliite, a band of brownish-olive across breast ;
other under parts white, striped with dark olive brown ; quills dark brown, with small

G gnoma.

white spots on tlu'ir outer welis, and large circular or oval ones on their inner; tail dark
brown, with about six or seven pairs of spots on each feather ; larger on the inner webs.
Under wing coverts white, with black spots.

Female, with rather larger and more numerous spots above. Length, C..50 to 7.50; ex-
tent, 13.00 to 14.00; wing, 3.50 to 3.75; tail, 2.75 to 3.00. Iris yellow; bill greenish-
yellow; feet pale yellow.

Hab. Oregon, California. No authentic case of its occurrence south of the United
States.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — GLAUCIDIUM.

445

Not uncommon in the middle parts of California, but I did not meet with
it southward. The one I obtained near the Columbia Eiver, in 1854, was
flying about on a cloudy day among some sparrows, not much smaller than
itself ; and sometimes, according to Townsend, this owl makes a meal of
tliem, though my sj^ecimeu had nothing but insects in its stomach. Its
fliglit is rapid and easy, and its motions quick for an owl. Drs. Heer-
mann and Newberry mention its frequent occurrence in the Sierra Nevada,
but of its habits nothing further has been recorded.

Mr. J. K. Lord found this bird on Vancou^•er's Island, and found the nest

G. Calijorniriun.

of the pair, or rather two round rough eggs, laid on the decayed wood in a
large knot-hole of an oak near a small lake, early in May. By watching in
the morning twilight lie observed them to ily with a .short, quick, jerking
flight in search of insects, which they usually captured on the ground, often
pouncing upon them from the lower branches. After obtaining enough food
the pair would sit close together in tlie shade during the heat and glare of
the sunshine, and about dusk again pursued their prey for a short time, re-
tiring at dark into the knot-hole, thus showing that their habits are not
nocturnal.

The Indians seem to have a greater superstitious dread of this owl than
of any other animal, and to consider the killing of one as sure to cause
horrible misfortunes.

Sub-Family NYCTEININ^, The Day Owls.

Char. General form compact and robust. Head moderate, without ear-
tufts ; wings and tail rather long ; tarsi strong, which, with the toes, are
more densely covered than in any other division of this family.

446

PREYING KIRDS — RAPTORES.

This division embraces two species only, which inhabit the Arctic regions
of both continents, migrating southward in the winter.

Gexus NYCTEA, Stephens.

Nyctea, Stephens, Cont. of Shaw's Zool. XIII. 182G, 62. (Type, Strix nyctea, L.)

Gen. C'liAit. Large; head rather large, without ear-tufts ; no faeial disk ; legs rather
short, and with the toes co\ered densely with long hair-like feathers, nearly eoncealiug

the claws. Bill short, nearly concealed by projecting feathers, very strong ; wings long ;
tail moderate, or rather long, wide ; claws strong, fully curved.

But one species of this genus is at present known to naturalists, occurring
in the north of both hemispheres.

STRIGID.E — THE OWLS — SURNIA. 447

Nyctea nivea, Daudin.

THE SNOWY OWL; THE WHITE OWI.

Sirix nivea, Daudin, Traite d'Orn. II. 1800, 190. — yi/ctca nirea, Breiim, Isis, 1834, 108. —
Cassin, Baikd, Birds N. Amor. 1858, 63.

Strix nijclea, Linnjscs, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 132.

Slrix Candida, JjKTiix-ii, Ind. Orn. Supp. 1801, 14. — Duessed, Ibis, 1865, 330. (San An-
tonio, Texas.)

Strix ei-minea, SilAW, Gen. Zool. VII. 1809, 251.

Slrix arctim, Bartram, TravcLs, 289. (1791, bnt not of Sparrmann, 1789.)

Strix scandiaca, " LiNN.EUS," Malmgren, Cab. Jour. 1865, 396.

Figures. — Wilson, Am. Orn. IV. pi. 32, fig. 1 ; Audubon, Birds Amcr. pi. 121 : oct. ed.
I. pi. 28 ; Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 9, fig. 20 ; Gould, B. of Eur. I. pi. 43.

Sp. C'n.VR. Bill nearly concealed liy projecting i)himes ; eyes large. Entire plumage
white, tVeipiently with a few spots, or ini]ierlect Ijanils, only on the upper parts, dark
brown, and on tlie under parts, with a few irregidar and imperfect bars of the same ; quills
and tail with a few spots or traces of bands of the same dark brown. The prevalence of
the dark brown color varies much in different specimens ; frequently both upper and un-
der parts are very distinctly banded transversely, and sometimes this color predominates
on the back. Plumage of the legs and toes pure snowy-white ; bill and claws dark horn-
color ; irides yellow. Total length, 24.00 to 27.00; wing, 16.00 to 17.00; tail, 10.00.

Hah. Northern regions of both continents ; migrating southward in the winter almost
to the Gulf of Mexico.

Although there i.s as yet wo intimation of the occuiTeuce in California of
this large owl, its abundance througliout the Arctic regions generally, and
the extreme southward migrations along the Atlantic and ]\Iississippi States
to the Gulf of JMexico, render it very probable that it will yet be detected
south of British Columbia in the winter season, especially along the moun-
tains. Like the hawk owl, this species is abroad at all hours of the day,
and in the high north makes its prey of ptarmigan, or white grouse, rabbits,
mice, and other animals so abundant in the same region. The nest is made
on the ground, and the eggs are astially five or six in nundier, white as in
all owls, and rather small for the ajijiarent size of tlie bird.

GeXU.S SURNIA, DlMERIL.

Surnla, DrHERU., Znoln^ie Analytii|ue, ISOG, 34. (Type. Strir ulula, Linn.eus.)

Gen. Ch.\r. General form rather long, but robust ; size median. Head moderate,
without ear-tufts; facial disk obsolete ; bill moderate, curved from the base, covered with
projecting plumes ; wings long ; tail long, wide, graduated ; legs rather short, and with the
toes densely feathered ; contains one species only, which inlndiits the Arctic regions of
both continents.

448

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

Sumia ulula, Linnaeus.
THE HAWK OWL ; THE DAY OWL.

Sifnx ulula, LiNy.EUS, Syst. Nat. I. I7GG, IS.'i. — Sumia ulula. Bonaparte, Cassin, Baird,

Birds N. Amer. 1858, 64. — Lord, Pr. R. Ai-t. lust. Woolwich, IV. 111.
Sirix Iluikonia, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 295.
Strix doliata, Pallas, Zoog. Ross. As. I. 1811, 316.
" Strixfunerea, Linn^us, Fauna Suecica, 1761, 22." — Audubon, Birds N. Amcr. pi. 378.

Sp. Char. Wings rather lont; ; first three quills incised on their inner webs ; tail long,
with its central feathers about two inches longer than the outer ; tarsi and toes densely
feathered. Upper jiarts fuliginous-brown, with numerous partially concealed circular
spots of white on the neck behind scapulars and wing coverts. Face grayish-white ;
tlu'oat wliite, with longitudinal stripes of dark brown ; a large brown spot on each side of

the breast ; other under parts with transverse lines or stripes of pale ashy-brnwn ; quills
and tail brown, with transverse bands of wliite ; bill pale yellowish ; irides yellow. Color
of upper parts darker on the head, and the white markings more or less numerous in dif-
ferent specimens. Total length, female, IG. 00 to 17.00; wing, 9.00; tail, 7.00. Male
rather smaller.

Hah. Northern regions of both continents.

This species, a day liunter like tlie snowy owl, has not yet licen found
within the limits of California, l)ut will donljtless be met with sooner or
later, as it is so abundant in the resions to the north of it. It nests in
trees, and lays from three to six eggs. It is resident in Alaska and the
Mackenzie Eiver region, and is one of the best known species of its order.

FALCONID.E — THE FALCONS — AQUILA. 449

Family FALCOXID.E, The Falcons.

Char. Bill cur\ing uniformly from the base, or only straight for a short
distance, provided with a thick and colored cere, perforated hy the nostrils.
Eyes sunken under a projecting brow. Head feathered. Claws strong and
hooked.

Found in aU parts of the world.

The exact limits of this family are hard to define. The sub-family,
Pohjlorina', is about as closely related to the vultures as to the eagles, while
others approach to the diurnal owls.

Sub-Family AQUILIX.E, The Eagles.

Char. Size large, form very robust and strong. Bill large, compressed,
straight at base, curved, and acute at tip ; wings long, pointed ; tail ample,
generally rounded ; tarsi moderate, very strong ; claws much cur\'ed, sharp,
and strong.

Gexls AQUILA, .Mcehrisg.

Aquila, MtEHiiiNG, Gen. Av. 1752, 49, ct auctoruni.

Gex. Char. Wings long and iiuintL-il ; tarsi ratliiT short, very strong, feathered to
the toes ; middle and outer toes coniieeted by a luenibraue.

Aquila Canadensis, Lixx.eus.

THE AMERICAN GOLDEN EAGLE.

Falco Canadensis, LiNN^ns, Syst. Xat. I. 1766, l-25. — Ai/itlhi Canadensis, Cassix, P. R.

Rep. Birds, IX. 41. — Heermax.v, X. vi. 30. — CocEs, Pr. A. X. Sp. 1866, 49.
Aquila chysatos, Rich, anil Swainsox, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 12. — AuDUBoy, Birds

Amer. pL 182 : oct ed. 50, pi. 12. (Xame of European species.) — Nuttall, M.an. I.

56. — MAXIMILI.A.N, Cab. Jour. 1838, 9. — Blasil's, Bericht Vurein Deutseh. Oru. 1862,

83. (Tliese say it is absolutely identieal with European.)
Fakofalnis, WiLSOX, Am. Orn. VII. 13, pi. 53, f. 1. (Not of Linmeiis ?)

Sp. Char. Head and neck behind li^dit brownish-fulvous, varying in shade, fre-
quently light yellowish, generally darker. Tail at base white, often for the greater part
of its length, the terminal portion glossy black. Other parts rich j urplish-brown, fre-
quently very dark, nearly clear black on under parts of body. Primaries shining black ;
57

450

PREYING BIRDS — RAl'TORES.

secondarifs purplisli-brnwii ; tiliia' ami tarsi lirowiiisU-fiilvous, generally mixed with dark
ashy.

Yuuiigei: Entire jilmnage lighter, and mixed witli dull tidvous ; under parts of budy
nearly uniform with ujiper.

A. Chri/SfSlos.^

nwuVv

Length, 30.00 to 40.00; wing, 20.00 to 25.00; tail, 12.00 to 15.00. L'is brown; bill
liorn-eolor ; cere and feet yellow.
Ilab. All of North America.

This iiolile liird is quite common in almost all parts of tlie State ilnring
the colder months, Imt nuich less si.i than the white-lieadetl eagle. They
are, however, more of a mountain liird, and their descents into the plains or
to the sea-coast are not freipient. Nuttall observed them ahout the lofty
cliffs of the Upper Missouri, and says tliat they huilt on a I'oeky liluff, and
laid two, or rarely three eggs, white blotched with reddish. These measiu'e
3.50 X 2. .50 inches, according to Audulion. They prey on young fawns,
lambs, hares, etc. Eecent authors declare that there is not the least differ-
ence between European and American specimens.

* The European Ai/iiiln chri/salos is not in a cut distinguishable from the American bird.

FALCONID^ — THE FALCONS — HALLETUS.

451

Genus HALI^TUS, Savigny.

Halketus, Savigny, Hist. Nat. d'Egvpte, I. 1809, 85.

Gen. Char. Size large ; tarsi short, naked, or feathered for only a short distance
below the joint, and like the toes covered with scales ; toes rather long ; claws very strong,
curved and sharp. Bill large, very strong, compressed ; margin of upper mandible slightly
lobed ; wings long, pointed ; tail moderate.

HalicGtus leucocephalus, Linnjecs.

THE WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.

Fako leucocephalus, Linn^us, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 124. — Wilson, Am. Om. IV. 89;
pi. 36. — AuDtiBON, Birds Amer. pi. 31, 126. — Halialus leucocephalus (Savigny),
Cdvier, Regne Anim. 2d cd. 326. — Audubon, oct. ed. I. pi. 14. — Ncttall, Man. I.
74.— NiiWBEERY, P. R. Rep. VI. ii. 75. — Cassin, P. R. Rep. Biid.s IX. 43.—
Heek.mann, X. vi. 30. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of \V. T. 151. —
Dresser, Iliis, 1865. (Texan birds.) — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. IS66, 49.

Faico osslfiagus, Wilson, Am. Orn. VII. 16 ; pi. 55. (Youni;.)

Sp. Cii.\r. Adult. Head, tail, and its up]irr and under coverts, white; rest of plumage
brownish-black, generally with the edges of the feathers paler ; bill, feet, and iris, yellow.

H lencorfphalus

452 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

Younycr. Entire plumage dark brown ; paler on the throat, edges of" the feathers paler
or fulvous, especially below ; tail more or less mottled with white, which as age advances
extends over a large portion of the tail, especially on the inner webs. Bill brownish-black ;
iris brown.

Length, 30.00 to 43.00; extent, 78.00 to 88.00; wing, 20.00 to 25.00; tail, 13.00 to
15.00.

JIab. All of temperate North America. Greenland; Iceland; accidental in Europe.

This specie.s, adopted as the bird of America, is much less noble in its
disposition than the golden eagle. It lives in great part on squirrels, rab-
bits, wounded birds, and fish stolen from the industrious fish-hawk, rarely
venturing to attack large birds or quadrupeds, and having less strength of
wing or swiftness than is required for it to catch many large birds. It is a
very abundant species where not exterminated by the foolisli ambition to
" kill an eagle," which inspires most gunners. It is, in fact, so tame around
many of the Spanish ranches that it is far easier to kill than the quail or
other more legitimate game. The Spanish inhabitants rather encourage its
presence, on account of the great number of scpiirrels it kills ; and I ha\'e
been told of instances where young ones raised from the nest liave been
kept for several years in a domestic state, going out daily to kiU squirrels,
and returning to the house at night.

Dr. Gambel states that they were held sacred by the Indians, which will
in a measure account for their abundance and protection by the nati\-es.

About the ranches this eagle also depends in great measure on the weakly
lambs, calves, or larger animals that often die iu great numbers during
seasons of drought ; but I have never known of their eating carrion.

On the sea-shore, and around lakes or rivers, it depends more on fish,
especially sahnon, which it ol)tains in abundance at mo.st seasons, as im-
mense numbers of them die after spawning. I have seen an eagle pick up
a dead fish from the surface of the ^^■ater, and have also seen one catch a
flying-fisli during its short flight above the surface, but have never kudwn
of their diving for fish.

The manner in which they rob the fish-hawk after its successful plunge
and laborious ascent into tlie air Ls well known, and may be ol>ser\ed in
many places where both birds are found, especially along the sea-coast. I
have not, however, found this habit universal, as both species seem to li\e
in harmony about the islands of the southern coast. I have seen more
than thirty of these eagles in young plumage, soaring about the north end
of Catalina Island on the 9th of July, and their nests were numerous among
the inaccessil)le cliffs of that i.sland. They seem, however, to prefer to Ijuild
in trees, where there are any large ones, and continue to build one nest
above another year after year, until the pile becomes large enougli to fill a
wagon. One such I liave seen in Santa Clara VaUey, near a farm-house,

FALCONlDvE — THE FALCONS — PAXDI OX 453

aud I am not certain tliat the magpie does ntit sometimes take advantage of
these piles to construct its own nest in their recesses, even while the eagle
occupies the upper story. I have kno\\-n tiie little red-headed linnet {Cor-
podacus frontalis) to build in a similar but smaller nest of a Butco, which I
think was occupied at the time by the hawks themselves.

The &""% are said to be laid in February, and to be of a dull white color.
Only two are found at a time, and one often hatches much later than the
other, tliough, according to Lawson, they raise several young in a year, lay-
ing eggs while tlie first brood is Ijut half gro-\vn, and can assist in hatching
by its warmth. This seems somewliat probable from the fact that they are
seen about their nests or on tliem at various seasons, and seem to make
them more of a home than do most other binls.

Like all birds of prey this eagle can sustain long periods of fasting ; and
as it depends so much on chance for a supply of food, its fasts must be quite
frequent. According to some authors, they have been known at times to
feed on carrion, and even to pursue the vultures, obliging tliem to disgorge
their nauseous food, which the eagle catches before it can reach the ground.
Occasionally, made bolder by hunger, they attack fuU-grown sheep and
deer, and Wilson says that one attempted to caiTy off a child from a garden
in New Jersey, while its mother was near by. Nuttall knew of one can-y-
ing off an infant to its nest, and though the liird was immediately pursued
the child was found dead. .Such instances are, howe\er, \'ery rare. The
wliite head and tail are not obtained Ijy this eagle until its third or finirth
year.

There is considerable difference in the size of specimens, as is tlie case
with all birds resident over large areas of this continent, the smaller ones
being raised in the south. Mr. Cassin thinks it probable that Audubon's
H. Washingtonii may have been the young of the larger form. It re-
semlaled a very large specimen of this in young plumage, but had the bill
shorter and more alaruptly curved, and the tarsus with broad plates in front
instead of scales. No such specimen lias since been seen.

Genus PANDION, S.uigxy.

Pnmlion, Savigny, Hist. Nat. d'Egypte, I. 1809, 9.5.

Gen. Cii.\r. Wins;? very long: freneral form heavy; bill short, i-urvert from the base,
.compressed ; tarsi very thick and strong ; covered by small circular scales ; claws large,
curved, very sharp ; soles of feet very rough ; tail moderate, or rather short. Cere
hispid; nostrils obliquely curved ; outer toe versatile.

454

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

Pandion Carolinensis, Gmelin.

THE FISH-HAWK.

Falco Carolinensis, Gmelix, Syst. Xat. I. 1788, 2G3. — Pandion Carolinensis, Bosapakte,

Comp. Eiir. and Amcr. Birds, 3. — Newbekky, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 75. — Cassin, P. R.

Kep. Birds, IX. 44. — Heeemann, X. vi. 31. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of

W. T. 153. — CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 49.
Falco halicclus, WlLSOX, Am. Orn. V. 14; pi. 37. — Audubo-n, Birds Amer. pi. 81. In.

Orn. Biog. I. 415: oct. cd. I. pi. 15, (N"ot of Linna:iis, which is a European

species.)
" Pandion haliietus, Bo.VAPARTE," Nuttall, Man. I 80,

Sp. Cu.\n. Adtdl. Head and entire under parts ivliite ; stripe through the eves, tup
of the head, and upper parts of the body, wings, and tail, deep umber-brown, the tail with
about eight bands of blackish-brown ; breast with numerous cordate and circular spots of
pale yellowish-brown ; bill and claws bluish black ; tarsi and toes greenish-yellow.

¥i53S=.

P Italirptiis, L European.*

Young. Similar, but with the upper plumage edged and tipped with pale browuish,
nearly white. Spots on the breast more numerous and dai-ker colored.

Length, 23.00 to 25.00 ; extent, 64.00 to 68.00 ; wing, 10.00 to 21.00 ; tail, O.oo to 10.50.
Iris yellow ; bill lilack ; feet greenish-yellow.

liab. Tln-oughout the United States ; south to Panama.

* From the Society for the Diffusion of Christian Knowledge. Not distinguishable from the
American bird.

FALCONIDiE — THE HAWKS — FALCONING. 455

Tlie fish-luiwk is found wherever there is clear water containiug fish, and,
uulike the white-headed eagle, works for its li^'ing, occasionally also provid-
ing for that dishonest bird. It may be seen about its resorts, especially
along the sea-coast, sailing round in circles high in the air, watching for
hours until it sees a fish in a suitable position, when plunging perpendicu-
larly beneath the water, it seizes its prey in its strong, rough-soled talons,
and flies off to some convenient perch to feed. It thus obtains aljundance of
food, and can rest for hours, or amuse itself in carrying materials to its nest,
which it does at all .seasons, and without apparent reason. I have seen a
pair attempt to build on the main-top platform of an old hulk lying in San
Diego Bay, and at the time inhabited. Though frequently driven away, and
their materials blown off by the wind almost as fast as carried up, they jiev-
severed until the keeper of the vessel shot one of tliem. They build either
in high trees, or on cliffs and islands, the nest itself being rather small and
compact, but sun-ounded liy a great quantity of sticks, roots, bones, and
even wire, of whicli I found a piece several yards long carried up by them
from an old fence. I climljed to this nest on the 2Uth of June, supposing,
from the apparent solicitude of the old birds, that there might be a second
brood of eggs in it, but did not find any. Still, they may sometimes raise
more than one brood in a year. At that time the young birds about Cata-
lina Island appeared to be fully fledged.' Of the eggs I must quote Nuttall's
account, who says that they are from two to four, a little larger than hen's
eggs, and vary from reddish or yellowish cream-color to nearly white,
marked with large blotches and points of reddish-brown. Many nests ,are
often built near together, and small birds sometimes build in their inter-
stices. The fish-hawk is timid, and will allow even the raven to rob it.
]\Iany interesting anecdotes and details of habits are given by the authors
above cpioted, to mIihui 1 must refer the reader for further information.

This is one of the many species of Eaptores which, at one time suj)posed
distinct from their European congeners, are now considered to be the same.

Sub-Family FALCONIN.E, The Noble Falcons.

Chak. Form \ery compact and roljusl ; tail and legs short ; wings long ;
bill and feet very strong ; tooth of upper mandible very acute. Size small
or moderate.

These are the swiftest, boldest, and most tj'pical of tlie birds of prey, often
killing other liirds and quadrupeds larger than themselves.

The species here included in the single genus Fairo ha\'e been distriliuted
in three genera by some late naturalists, F. cn/innlxirii/s being a Jli/potrior-
cJiis, and F. sparvcrius a Tinnuncidus. The distinctions are, however, slight,
and, with so few species, inconvenient.

456 PREYING BIRDS— RAPTORES.

Genus FALCO, Lixn.hus.

Fako, LiNx.sus, Syst. Nat. I. I7r,6, 124.

Gen. Char. General form robust and coiupait. Bill short, curved strongly frcm
base to point, which is very sharp, and with a distinct, generally prominent tooth near
the tip ; nostrils circular, with a central tubercle. "Wings long, pointed ; tail rather long
and wide ; legs short, robust, covereil with circular or hexagonal scales ; middle toe long ;
claws large, strong, curved, and very shai-p. (Cassin.)

This geinis includes tlie most typical species of tlie sub-family, fifteen or
twenty in nnioLer, and found in most parts of the world.

Falco nigriceps, Cassin.

THE WESTERN DUCK-HAWK.

Fako niijriccps, Cassin, Birds of C.il. and Tex. I. ls.5.3, 87. In. U. S. Astron. Exp. to
Chili, II. pi. xiv. IS.'jS. In. P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 1858, 8. — Cooper and Sucklet,
XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 142 ; pi. xi. 1859.

Sp. Char. Above dark slaty, with narrow bands of black; qiulls brownish-black ; tail
lio-ht ashy at base, banded like the back. Beneath reddish-white, with circular spots .and
transverse bands of black. A white frontal liaud ; top of head, neck, and cheeks nearly
black.

Yoiinf/cr. Above dark brown, tail liarrcd with rulnus on inner webs. Beneath clull
reddi.sh-yellow, paler on the throat, an<l with broad longitudinal stripes of black ; Hanks
and under wing coverts with transverse bars and circular spots of reddish-white. Iris
brown ; bill whitish-blue ; feet yellow, or pale green.

Male. Length, n.-i.'i; extent, 39.50; wing, lloO; tail, 6.00.

Female. Length ''^..^O ; extent, 43.00 ; wing, 13.7.5.

Hab. AVestcrn Xorth and South America.

I liave found this species along the whole southern coast of California,
where it resides constantly, while north of the Columbia it is migratory. They
build in cavities of the iofty, inaccessible cliffs overhanging the water, both
along the main-land and on the islands. On Santa Barbara Island, in jMay,
1863, a pair which probably were still feeding their young swept boldly
around my head, when I must luiA'e been fully half a mile from the nest,
and I shot the female, a very fine specimen. I have seen one pursue a
swallow, and turning feet upwards seize it flying, with perfect ease. I liave
also seen them pursue qiuiils near tlie coast ; but their chief prey consists of
ducks and other water-birds, wliich they seize on the wing or on the water,
frequently carrying off birds heavier than themselves.

FALCONIDiE— THE HAWKS — FALCO.

457

We give no figure of this species, as it is scarcely to be distinguished iu a
cut from anatum ov iJcrcffrinus.

Falco anatum, Bonaparte.

THE DUCK-HAWK.

Falco anatum, Bonapartk, Comp. List, 1838,4. — Cassin, Baird, Birds N. Anicr. 18.58,

7. — Blakiston, Ibis, 1861, 31.5. —M.uich, Pr. I'hil. Ac. 1863,304. (Jamaica.)
" Falco perer/rinus," Wilson, Acduhon, and other autliors.
FiGURE.s. Wilson, Am. Orn. IX. pi. 76 ; Aduubon, Birds Amer. pi. 16 : oct. cd. I. pi. 20 ;
Lcmljcye B. of Cuba, pi. 1, fig. 2 ; Dii K.\y, Nat. Hist. New York, Birds, pi. 3, fig. 8.

All nil. Frontal band white. Entire ii])|)er parts bluish cinereous, with transverse
bands of brownish-black, lighter on the rump. Under parts yellowish-white, with cordate
and circular spots of black on the breast and abdomen, and transverse bands of black on
the sides, under tail coverts, and tiljiic ; quills and tail brownish-black, the latter with

F. peregrinus. European.*

transverse bars of p.alc cinereous. Cheeks with a patch of black ; bill light lilue ; legs and
toes yellow. Sexes alike.

Younger. Entire upper parts brownish-black, frontal spot obscure, large space on the

* Not distinguishable in a cut from the American bird.
58

458 PREYING BIRDS — KAPTORES.

cheeks black. Under jiarts dull yellowish-white, darker than in adult, and with longi-
tudinal stripes of brownish-black ; tarsi and toes bluish lead-color.

Total length, 18.00 to 20.00 ; wing, 14.00 to 15.00 ; tail, 7.00 to 8.00.

Hah. North America, east of the Rocky Mountains. Jamaica, Cuba, and South
America.

It was at one time supposed that there were many species of hawks allied
to the peregrine falcon of Europe, America, Japan, Australia, etc., all having
their presumed representatives. The tendency, however, of modern research
is to call all these one ; and the different forms referred to above seem to
lie considered merely as varieties, if even entitled to that rank. It is very
difficult to define with precision the races referred to, and individuals oc-
cur within the region of each one that have the characteristics of nearly all
the others.

Without attempting here to solve this much-vexed question, I may re-
mark that North America has a large race of the Peregrine falcon of
Europe, known as the duck-hawk in the Atlantic States, and very altun-
dant in the whole region north of the boundary of the United States. This
is the Falco anatum, described at the head of this article. It appears to be
replaced on the Pacific Coast by the smaller variety, F. nicjrkrps, just re-
ferred to. Occasionally, however, a bird is killed on the Farallones, and
elsewhere, which is more nearly related to the anatum, differing from nigri-
ccps in considerably larger size, and particularly robust bill.

The F. anatum has much the liabits described for nigriccijs, and, like it, is
a terror to all land animals weaker tlian itself. It breeds alnindantly in the
far north, chiefly on cbffs or rocks, and lays three or four chocolate-colored
eggs. (Baird.)

Falco polyagrus, Cassin.

THE PBAIBIE HAWK.

Falco poh/arp-iis, Cassis, Birds of Cat. and Tex. I. 185.3, 88; pi. 16. — In. P. K. Rep. Birds,

IX. 12. — SucKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 14.3. — Kexnerlt,X. iv. 19. — Heer.mann,

X. vi. 31. — Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 323. (Texas.) — CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 42.
Falco Mexicanus, Schlegel.

Sp. Cn.\n. A narrow white frontal band ; line over the eye and entire under parts
white ; breast and abdomen with longitudinal stripes and spots of brown, a large brown
spot on the flanks. Upper parts brown, paler on the rump ; tail above grayish-lirown,
naiTowly tipped -with white, and with transverse bands of white ; quills dark grayish-
brown ; edge of wing at shoulder white. Beneath spotted with brown, the brown of the
back extending somewhat on to the breast at the wing.

Young, with the white parts nnich obscured Ijy brown ; above paler with rufous streaks,
and below with a dark brown stripe on nearh- every feather.

FALCONIDiE— THE HAWKS — FALCO.

459

Length, 18.00 to 20.00 ; extent, 39.00 to 45.00 ; wing, 13.00 to 14.00 ; tail, 7.50 to 8.00.
Bill Ijhiisli-wliite ; iris brown ; cere and feet )-ellow (lead-oolur in young). (Cassin.)
Ilah. Western North America.

Tills hawk rarely visits the coast border, altliough Dr. Heermann records
]ia\ing shot a straggler od the Farallones. At Sail Diego I saw two or
three times what I supposed to be this bird, but could not get near enough
to be certain of it. At Martinez, in December, 1863, I succeeded in shoot-
ing one as it tlew away I'rom its perch on the approach of a wagon in which
I was riding. It seems to be the shyest of hawks, and is also one of
the swiftest, Hying -witli rapid fla^jpings of the wings, like other falcons.
It prefers tlie Ijorders of prairies, where it catches hares, quails, and other
larger game, which these nobler falcons jJi'd'er to the smaller and more taste-

less or disagreeable vermin on which other hawks prey. It extends its
migrations in summer to the Upper Columbia, but avoids the densely forest-
clad regions. I have seen but few of the species in the State, though my
explorations of the interior have not been sufficient to determine its true
range of migration and liabits. Its nest and e<'us are still unknown to
naturalists. Dr. Heermann saw a young unfledged one at San Francisco, so
that it doubtless breeds witliin the State. It extends its range eastward to
the plains east of the Rocky JMountains.

460

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

It is still a f^uestiou whether the name iJohj(t(jru,s or Mexicanus should
have priority.

Falco columbarius, LixNiEus.

THE PIGEON-HAWK.

Falco columharius, Linn.eus, Syst. Xat. I. 1766. 128. — Wilson, Aracr. Orn. ir. 107 ; pi. 15,
f. 3. — Audubon, Birds Amer. I. 88 ; \,\. 21 and 92. — C.i.ssiN, P. K. Rep. Birds, IX.
1858,9. — CooPEK and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 142. — Ili/polriorcliis colum-
barius, (Kaup?) Heermans, p. II. Rep. X. vi.31. — Newberry, VI. ii. 74. — Coues,
Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 42.

Fako temerarius, Audubon, Orn. Bioy. I. 381.

Sp. Chau. Small, and of stout form. Above blviish slate-color, -witli a black central
line on each feather ; forehead and throat white ; rest of under parts pale yellowish or
reddish-white, each feather with a central brownish-lilaek line, the tibial leathers li^ht
ferruginous, with lines of black. Quills black, tipi>ed with ashy-white ; tail light bluish-
ashy barred with black and tipped with white ; inner webs nearly white.

Female.

Younger, dusky or light brown, sometimes with ferruginous markings; beneath dull
white with light brown stripes. Tail pale brown, with about six white bands.

Younrj, brownish-black, the stripes wider, the white parts dusky, sides with black bands

FALCONID^E — THE HAWKS — FALCO. 401

and white spots ; quills and tail m/arly black ; tail unspottcil, or with aliout f'uur white
bands. Female like the young in color.

Length of female, 12.00 to U.OO ; extent, 27.00 to 28.00 ; wing, 8.00 to 9.00; tail, 5.00
to 6 00. Male, 10.00 to 12.00 ; wing, 7.00 to 8.00. Iris brown ; bill bluish-black ; cere and
feet yellow or greenish in the young.

Huh. Most of North and South America.

This well-known little falcon ranges over the whole State in tlie colder
months, but I have not observed it, even in the high Coast Eange, in sum-
mer, though some probably remain in the cooler regions in the breeding-
season. I shot a fine specimen in winter at Fort Mojave, which differed
from the usual form only in being of a very pale, almost asliy color ; Ijut
this was doubtless the effect of the dry hot climate of the interior, which
affects the plumage of many Ijirds in the same way.

Though small, the pigeon-hawk has all the fierceness and courage of a
true falcon, and captures Ijird.s fully as large as itself It, however, chiefly
follows the flocks of gregarious birds, such as black-birds, do^'es, etc., ;ind
preys much on mice, gophers, and squirrels. I have not heard of its at-
tacking domestic poultry, and those farmers who shoot every " chicken-
hawk " that comes around the house would do well to observe them more
closely, and will discover that these small species are not the young of the
larger ones, and should rather be encouraged than destroyed.

Audubon found a nest in Labrador on June 1st, built in a low fir-tree,
ten or twelve feet from the ground, composed of sticks, slightly lined with
moss and feathers. The eggs were five, 1.75 by 1.25 inches, elongated.
Their ground color was dull yellowish-bro\\Ti, with irregiilar thickly clouded
blotches of dull dark reddish-ljrown. (Oct. cd. I. 89.)

Falco femoralis, Temminck.
THE ARIZONA HAWK.

Fako femoralis, Temminck, PI. Col. I. liv. 21. — Cassin, Baird, Birds N. Amer. 1858, 11 ;

pi. i. — Dkesser, Ibis, 1865, 333. — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. 18C6, 42.
Falco thoracicus, (III.) Liciit. Verz. 1823, 62.

Sp. Cn.in. Head above, and entire upper parts light cinereous ; darker, and with
transverse bars of white on the upper tail coverts ; front and line over the eye to the back
of the neck white, tinged with orange on tlie latter ; a wide band under and behind the
eye, and another short band running downwards from the base of the under mandible,
dark cinereous. Throat and breast very pale yellowisli-white ; a wide band across tlie
body beneath, black, with narrow transverse stripes of white ; abdomen, tiljia", and under
tail coverts light rufous. Under wing coverts pale yellowish-white, spotted with black;

462

PREYING BIRDS — R APTORES.

primaries ashy-black, witli niiim.'rous transverse bands of white un tln-ir inner webs; sec-
ondaries light cinereous, tipjied with white ; two middle teathers of the tail light cinereous,
with transverse bands of ashy-white ; other feathers of the tail browuish-black, tipped

W. femoralis.

with white, and having about eight transverse bands of whit
15.00; wing, 10.50; tail, 7.50. Bi
legs yellow.

Ilah. New Me.xieo, jMexieo, and South America.

Tiital length about

about eight transverse u<ui.i:> ui „i]ii.. i..l.i. migm .i.jum,
yellow at base, tiiJjied wi:li linht bluish horn-color;

This species is extremely rare in tlie United States, though occasionally
seen and captured in Arizona and New Mexico. Nothin.n' special is known
of its haliits, exce^jt tliat tliey resemble those of tlie other true falcons.

Falco sparverius, Li.nn.eus.

THE SPAKROW-HAWK.

Falco sparverius, Linn.^us, Syst. Nat. I. 176G, 1:^8. — Wilson, Am. O™. II. 117 ; jil. Ifi, f.
1 ; IV. 57 ; pi. 32, f. 2. — Audl'don, Birds Anier., oct. I. 90 ; jil. 22; I'.il. |.l. 42. — Cas-
siN, V. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 13. — Cooper and Slckley, XII. ii. Zonl. of W. T. 14.-!.
— Tinniiriniliis sitarrerhis, ViEiLLOT, Ois. Amcr. Sept. 40; ])1. 12 ami l-'S. — Newrekrv,
P. R. Rej). VI. ii 74 — Kexxerly, X. iv. 19. — IIker.m.vx.v, X. vi. 1859,31. — Coues,
Pr. A. N. Sc. 18G6, 42.

Sp. Cn.\i;. Adult. Frontal band and space, in(diiding eyes, and throat, white; a spot
on the ncek bidund, two others on ea(di side of neck, and a line running down from before
the eye, black. Spot on top of the head, anil u]iper jiarts behind neck, light rufous or
cinnamon. Under parts generally, ])aler rufous, fi-etpiently nearly white, with numerous
circular oblong black spots. Quills brownish-black, with w-hite bars on their inner webs.

F ALCONIDiE — THE HAWKS — FALCO.

463

Tail tipped witli wliite, ami with a lirnad subtcrminnl black baml. Rai'k sjonerallv with
transverse bars of" black, but they are frccim^iitly very lew or wantiiii;'. Uufbus spot on
tlie head variable in size, sometimes wanting.

Younger male, similar, but with the wing- coverts and tail li'rrujiinous-rcd, with luimer-
ous transverse bands of brownish-black. Beneath with numerous longitudinal stripes, and

on the sides with transverse bands of brownish-black, external tail feathers palest ; the
broad subterniinal black band obscure or wanting.

Youiif/, with all the rufous parts of the jilumage more wiilely banded with brownish-
black ; wing coverts dark lihiish-ciuereous, with large circular spots of black ; beneath with
longitiulinal stripes and large circtdar black spots.

Length, 10.00 to 12 00; extent, 19.00 to 22.00; wing, 7.00 to 8.00 ; tail, ,5.00 to .5.50.
Iris yellow ; bill blue, black at tip ; feet orange.

Hub. Entire continent of America.

Tlii.s little hawk resides constantly in California, freqttenting chiefly the
plains, and feeding on grasshoppers, mice, gophers, etc. It must lie con-
sidered one of the farmer's best friends, and is seldom killed liy oliserving
persons. Unlike most hawks, it builds its nest in deserted holes of the
woodpecker, in hollow trees, and is said to lay four or i\ye eggs, light l)njwu-
ish-yellow spotted with brown. Its graceful form, varied and rapid flight,
and inoffensive habits, combined with its beautiful plumage, make it one of
tlte most interestino- inhabitants of ottr rural districts.

464 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTOKES.

Sub-Family ACCIPITRIN^E.

Chak. Form rather long and slender ; tail and legs long ; wings rather
short ; bill short, hooked ; upper mandible with a rounded lobe instead of a
tooth. (Cassin.)

Forty or fifty species are known, distributed throughout the globe.

Genus ACCIPITER, Brisson.

Arcipiter, Brissox, Orn. I. 1700, 310.

Gex. Char. Size rather small ; wings short, and tail ratlwr long ; tarsi long and
fltndcr, witli the seales in front freqnently nearly obsolete.

This genus contains about twenty species, all much alike in color, fre-
quenting woods, and preying chiefly on smaller Ijirds.

Accipiter Cooperii, Bonaparte.

COOPER'S HAWK.

Falco Cooperii, Bonaparte, Am. Orn. II. 1; pi. 10, f. 1. (Young.) — Astur Cooperii,
(Bonaparte) Nutt.\i.l, Man. I. 89. — Audubon, Birds Amcr. pi. 36. — Newiserry,
P. R. Rep. VI. ii. T4. — Accipitei- Cooperii, Gray, List Brit. Mus. 38 — Cassin, P. R.
Rep. Birds, IX. 16. — Cooper and Sucklet, XII. ii. Zool. of W. T. H.'i. — Coce.s,
Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 4.3.

Sp. Char. Above ashy-brown, darker on head, mixed with white and rufous on neek ;
beneath wdiite, throat with narrow streaks, other parts with light rufous bars. Quills
ashy-brown with darker bands, and white irregular marks on inner webs; tail dark einerc-
ous, tipped witli white, and ^vith four wide bands of brownish-black.

Youni/, light umber-brown above, with more white and rufous; upi)er tail coverts tipped
with white ; beneath white, with narrow light brown stripes.

Length, 16.00 to 20.00; extent, 2G.00 to 32.00; wing, 9 50 to 10.00; tail. 8.00 to 9.75.
Bill bluish horu-eolor ; cere and feet, yellow ; iris orange or yellow.

JIal). All of temperate North America.

This is the large.st of the genus found in Xorth America, and approaches
the falcons in strength of wing, swiftness, and audacity. It fre(|uently
comes about the farm-house, and seizes the fowls from tlie Acry duor. It
is a common species during tlie winter months in all wooded portions of
the State, but retires to tlie nortli or to the high mountains in tlie spring to

FALCOXID.E — THE HAWKS — ACCIPITER.

465

breed, the fledged young appearing in tlie lower country in August. Its
nest and eggs have not yet been described.

^fS^

^v,^.-' >a f^^-l

Its flight is chiefly by ([uick flappings, and its home is by preference near
or among trees.

Accipiter Mexicanus, Swainson.

THE MEXICAN HAWK.

Accipiter Mexicanus, Sw.vixsoy, F.auiia Bor. Amcr. : Birtls, 1831, 4.5. — Cassix, P. K. Kcp.
Birds, IX. 17. — Cooper anil Sccki.ky, XII. ii. Zool. of \V. T. I46. — Coles, I'r. A.
N. Sc. 1866, 4.-3.

Sp. Ch.\I!. Very similar to .1. Coi)perii,hnt sniMllor : head bliiisli-lilai'k aiiovc, back
more brownish ; throat and under tail coverts white ; other under ])arts fine liijlit rufous,
darkest on the tibia;, spotted and barred transversely with white, chiefly on abdomen ;
dark central streaks on breast feathers only ; otherwise as in A. Cnoperii.

Young, much tinged with yellowish-red above ; beneath yellowish, each feather centrally
streaked, and often transversely barred with brown near its base.

Length, 14.00 to 18.00 ; wing, 9.00 to 10.00; tail, 8.00 to 9.00.

Hab. Western North America and Mexico.

This smaller species has lieen found at Auburn, Placer County, in spring,
by 'My. F. Gruber ; and at Bodega, in February, by Mr. T. A. Szabo. It
therefore, probably, has much the same habits of migration as A. Cooprrii,
and doubtless resembles it closely in general liabits. I liave not myself

59

466

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

obtained a specimen in this State. It may pvi_>\'e, ho-\vevev, tliat tlie liird
cannot be separated specifically from Coojicrii. As it could not be dis-
tinguished in a cut, we do not give a figure of it.

Accipiter fuscus, Gmelin.

THE SHAEP-SHINNED HAWK.

Fako fuscus and Fako dubius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 280, 281.

Fiiko velox and Fako Pennsylvankus (in part), Wilson, Am. Orn. V. IIG ; pi. 45, f. 1 : VI.
13 ; pl. 46, f. 1.

Astur fuscus, Audubon, Birds Amcr. pl. 3T4 : oct. cd. pl. 2.5. — Nuttall, Man. I. 9n. —
Accipiter /"mschs, Bonaparte, Conip. List, 5. — Cassin, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 18. —
Cooper and Suckley, XII. ii. Zool of W. T. 146 — Coues, Pr. A. N. Se. 1866, 4.3.

Sp. Ch.\r. Very similar to A. Mcxicanu!!, hnt smaller ; above colored like A. Cooperii ;
tail more brownish ; under parts similar ; secondary and tertiary quills with large partially
concealed spots of white.

you)!!/, brown, darker than that of ^. Cooperii; beneath with longitudinal, ovate, and

A. fuseus.

circular spots of reddish-brown, becoming transverse bands on flaidcs and tibia?; under tail
coverts wdiitc ; otherwise as in preceding.

Lenirth, 10.00 to 14.00 ; extent, 20.00 to 25 00 ; wing. G.OO to G.50 ; tail, 5.00 to 5.50.

Hnh. Throughout North America and south to Panama.

FALCONID^ — THE HAWKS — ASTUR. 467

This little hawk much resembles A. Cooperii in habits, allowing for the
oreat difference in its size. The eggs are said Ijy Audubon to lie fuur or
five, <frayish-^\■Ilite, blotclied with reddish-ln-own ; the nest is built in a tree.
He found another in a hole in a rock, composed of a few sticks, and lined
with grass, while in one case the eggs were deposited on rotten wood in a
hollow branch.

They probably breed more generally towards the southern and lower parts
of the State than that species, as I have seen a few of them (or perhaps A.
Mexicanus) in the warmer months, and they are known to build in the ]\lid-
dle Atlantic States.

They are generally found iu the woods, flying short tlistances, and poun-
cing on their- prey from some perch or a low branch. On the Sierra Nevada
I have seen one pursuing a striped squirrel, coming down with a zigzag
course as if to prevent it from escaping, by appearing on aU sides of it at
once. They frequently take young chickens, and have been seen by NuttaU
to drive away a red-tail hawk from the vicinity of their nest with aU the
corn-age of the king-bird. They occasionally soar upward to a great height,
apparently for pleasure, like other hawks, and, though their wings are short,
seem to ascend with very little effort ; wliile near the earth their flight is by
rapid flappings and short sailings, as if laborious.

Genus ASTUR, Lacepede.

Astur, LAcfePEDE, Mom. Inst. III. 1800, 506.

Gex. Cii.\u. Size rather large but slender; wings rather short ; tail long ; tarsi long,
covered in front with rather wide transverse scales ; toes and claws moderate, the latter
nuich curved and sharp. Bill short, nostrils large, ovate.

About twelve species are known, inhabiting the forests of all countries.
(Cassin.)

Astur atricapillus, Wilson.

THE AMERICAN GOSHA-WK.

Fako atricapillus, Wilson", Am. Oni. VI. 1812, 8U ; ]jl. 52, f. .3. — ^ls(Hr atricapillus, BoxA-
TARTE, Obs. Cuvicr Res. An. 3.3. — Nuttall, Man. I. 87. — Newberry, P. R. Rep.
VI. iv. 74. — Cassix, p. R. Rep. Bird.'!, IX. 15. — Lord, Pr. R. Art. Inst. Woolwich,
IV. 1860, 110. — Cooper .ind Suckley, XII. ii. Zool. of W. T. 144.

Falco (Asliir ?) puhimlmrius, AuDUBOx, Birds Amer. pi. 141 : oct. cd. I. pi. 23. (Xot of Lin-
na:us, European species.)

Sp. Chap,. Top of head, hind neck, and a line behind eve, black, gener.illy tinged with
ashv. Other upjier parts dark slate-color ; shafts of feathers black, and frequently their

468

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

edges also. Stripe over the eye, and a jiartly concealed i>atcli on occiput, white. Be-
neath mottled with white and ashy-brown, in numerous irregular and narrow bars on each
feather, and a central stripe on the shaft crossing them. Quills brown, with deeper brown
bands, and ashy-white on their inner webs. Tail of same color as other upper ])arts ; be-
neath very pale, nearly white, with about four obscure bands of deeper ashy-brown, an<l
narrowly tipped with white ; inidcr tail coverts white.

Younr/, dark brown above, the feathers edged and spotted with light rcddifli, nearly

A. atricnpitlus.

white. Tail lifht ashy, with about five wide bands of brown, narrowly tijipcd with asliy-
white ; quills brown, with wide darker brown bars, and wide bands of redilish-white on
their inner webs. Beneath white, generally tinged yellowish or reddish, every feather
with a longitudinal stripe, ending in an ovate spot of brown. Sides and tibi;r, with cir-
cular and long spots, and irregular bands of brown ; under tail coverts white, with a few
large spots.

Length, 20.00 to 24.00 ; extent, 38.00 to 44.00 ; wing, 12.50 to 14.00; tail, 9,50 to 11.50.
Bill bluish-black and white ; iris, cere, and feet, yellow.

Hub. Northern parts of North America.

This is a northern repre.sentative of the family, frequenting dense forests,
and only coining into our valleys in winter. I ha\-e seen a dead one on
the summit of the Sierra Nevada in Septeniber, and one shot at Michigan
Bluffs by Gruber.

The European goshawk is readily distinguishable from the American
species by the much sharper definition of the transverse bars across the
breast.

FALCONID.E-THE HAWKS — BUTEO. 469

Sub-Family BUTEONIN.E, The Buzzards.

Char. General form heavy ; size moderate or large ; wings rather short
and broad ; tail moderate! Flight vigorous, Init not swift.

About twenty-five speeies are known in all countries ; they feed on
smaR animals.

Genus BUTEO, Cuvier.

Btileo, Cl-vier, Rej^ue Aniiii. I. 1817, 323.

Gen Char. Bill short, wide at base, not very acute; edges of upper mandible with
sli.dit rounded lobes ; nostrils large, ovate; wings with iburth and fiith .pulls usuall)- long-
est" .'ivin- them a rounded ibrin ; tail moderate, wide ; tarsi moderate, robust, with trans-
verse seak-s beibre and Ijehind, small eireular and he.xagonal scales on sides ; toes moderate
or short, claws strong.

The number of species is stiU undetermined, partly on account of the
great variations in their plumage, which seem analogous to those of the
wolves and foxes.

§ 1. Very stout and heavy. Length over twenty inches. First (piill shorter than
eighth. (Tails always red in the adults V) " B. borealU et cars.'- (Bryant.)

Buteo montanus, Nutt.vll.

THE RED-TAILED HAWK.

Falco hideo, Richardson and Swainsox, Fauna Bor. Amcr. Birds (in jjart) ; not the Euro-
pean Falco buteo, LiNN.EUS.

Buteo n,li,a,is, AuDUBOS, Oru. Biog. IV. ,'508 ; pi. 372 : oct. ed. I.

BiUeo moHtam,s, NuTTALL, Man. I. 1840, 112. - Cassin, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 2G. -New-
berry, VI. iv. 75. - Bairi), X. iii. 12. — Kexxerly, X. iv. 19. - Heermann, X. vi.
32. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 147.

Buleo Swainsonii, Cassin, Birds of Cal. and Te.xas, I. 98. (Not of Bonaparte, Conip. Li.t,
1838, 3.)

Sp. Char. Above dark umber brown, with jiartially concealed ashy-white and pale
fulvous spots and transverse bands, especially on the scapulars an.l shorter quills. Upper
tail coverts red,lish-white, with transverse bands of dark brown. Tail above bright rufous,
narrowly tipped with wliite, with a subterminal band of black, and a few short, narrow
bars across shafts of leathers, sometimes absent. Throat and neck in front dark brown,
mixed with white ; abdomen, tiljix-, and iin.ler tail coverts deeply tinge.l with rutous ; the

470

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

tibiiB transversely barred with rutinis of a darker shade. Sometimes the breast and abdo-
men are nearly white, with some central lines of dark brown. Under wing coverts pale
yellowish-white, with brown spots ; sides with numerons narrow lanceolate and oblong
spots of dark brown and rufous : abdomen with a broad transverse baud of similar sjjots
varying in numbers, sometimes nearly all wanting.

B. montanus.

Youny, darker brown above, the feathers edged and spotted with white, tinged with
rufous. Beneath white, with large ovate and sagittate spots of dark brown, more numer-
ous on the abdomen. Tibial and under tail coverts white, with transverse bars and sjjots
of dark brown. Tail above ashy-brown, with abotit twelve to fourteen bars of brownish-
blaek.

Length, 19.00 to 24.50; extent, 48.00 to 54.00; wing, 15.00 to 17.00; tail, 8.50 to

10.00. Iris brown; bill bluish; eere and feet yellow. I'ou;/^?, with bill horu-blaek ; feet
greenish.

Hub. Western North America.*

This, ■which i.s the ino.st coiumoii of tlie genu,?, may be taken as a repre-
sentative of the hal:iit.s of all the other large species. They are common in
nearly all parts of the State and neighboring region.?, where not destitute of
trees, and reside permanently in most places, merely scattering in pairs

* Buteo borealis, Gmelix, Syst. Nat. I. 1778, 266. — WiLsox, Am. Orn. VI. 75 ; pi. 52, f. 1 :
and 78 ; pi. 52. — Audubon, Birds Amer. jjl. 51 : oct. ed. 1, pi. 7. — Cassin, P. E. Rep. Birds,
IX. 25.

FALCONID^E — THE HAWKS — BUTEO. 471

during the nesting season. Their nests are numerous in the valleys and on
the lower mountains. They are generally luiilt in the forks of a syca-
more or other large tree, and formed of twigs, pretty firmly constructed,
and with a distinct cavity, nnlike the vultures. The eggs I found near
San Diego, laid about ]\Iarch 2(lth, were three in number, measuring
2.28 X 1-76 inches, and dull yellowish-white, with faint brown spots. On
my climbing to the nest tlie old birds darted towards me from a neighbor-
ing bluif, but when within a few feet of my head they turned away, and
did not attempt to make an assault upon me.

They prey on rabbits and tlie smaller animals, including lizards, and occa-
sionally seize a fowl from the farm-yard. They usually become very fat,
especially where squirrels are numerous, and spend hours in sitting stupidly
on some tree, dozing while they digest their food. They also soar high into
tlie air during tlie middle of the day, sometimes in large numbers during
the cold months, occasionally rising to so great a height as to disappear
entirely.

The Eastern red-tailed hawk is so similar, that sometimes the differ-
ences are scarcely appreciable, but, according to Cassin, it may be dis-
tinguished by smaller size (19.00 to 24.00 inches long; wing, 1400 to 16.00;
tail, 7.50 to 8.50), also by whiter under parts, fewer spots below, and fewer
bars on tail in the young. Dr. Bryant considers them the same, but the
majority of Western and Eastern specimens differ as above described. A
specimen from Fort Mojave, Colorado Valley, may perhaps belong to this.

Buteo calurus, C.\ssin.

THE KED-TAILED BLACK HAWX.

Biileo aihirus, Cvssix, Pr. A. N. Sc. riiil. VII. 18,5.'j, 2SI. Ib. P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 22. —
Bairi), X. iii. II ; pi. xiv. — CouES, Pr. A. X. 8c. 1S66, 4.'!.

Sr. Cii.\R. Entire pliimaf^e of boily l)ri)wnisli-black, deeper anil dearer on back and
abdomen, paler on throat and breast. Above with concealed transverse bands of white at
the base of feathers, beneath also, with circular white concealed spots ; quills brownish-
black, with a large portion of their inner webs white, banded and mottled with pale ashy-
brown ; under tail coverts transversely barred with brownish-black and pale rufous. Tail
bright rufous above, white at base, with eiplit or ten irre<iular and iiujicrt'cct narrow banils,
and one subterminal wider band of brownish-black, narrowlv ti|ipiMl with reddish-white ;
beneath silky reddish-white.

Young, duller brown above and below ; tail brown with ten or twelve narrow transverse
bands ; ashy below. Primaries white at base, black at end.

Length, 21.00 to 22.00 ; extent, 48.00 to 53.00 ; wing, 16.50 to 1 7.50 ; tail, 9.00 to 10.50.
Iris brown ; bill horn-color ; cere and ii-et }ellow.

//(///. \ew Mexico and Califiiniia.

472 PREYING BIRDS — KAPTORES.

Although this hawk umch resembles the coininou Red-tail, I am inclined
to think it>a distinct sijecies, as it is much heavier and stouter about the
chest than tliat bird, besides the ditfereuces of plumage. I ha\e never seen
them associated duiing the breeding-season, and tliink tliat this is a more
southern species in its range, as I have heard of none northward of Peta-
luma, where tliey •were i'ound breeding by j\Ir. Samuels, who obtained the
eggs. I have myself not met with its nest, nor seen tlie bird during tlie
warm season. In the cokl months tliey are common in tlic southern coun-
ties, and in liabits mucli resemble the Iled-tail at that time.

The young ])lumage, not descrilied by Mr. C'assin, I have found as above
mentioned, and have little doulit tluit the Ijird was of tliis species.

In the " Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hi.st. ]\Iarch, 1801," Dr. Henry P)ryant gives
a synopsis of the " varieties of B. horcalis" including montanus, ccdurus,
Cooperi? and Harlaai (of C'assin). Very dark specimens of viontanvs from
the north connect with a ferruginous ccdurus from Fort Tejon, and light ones
from Cape St. Lucas approach the Eastern £. borcalis. The possibility of
occasional hybrids should be considered.

Buteo Cooperi, C'assin.
THE CALIFORNIA HAWK.

Buteo Cooperi, Casstn, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliil. VIII. 18.'j6, 25.3. Ib. P. P. Rep. Bird.';, IX.
1858, .31. — CoopEK, XII. iii. Zuol. of W. T. 18.^)9, 148 ; pi. xvi.

Sp. CH.\n. Iinmature bird. Head above, and hind-nock with tlic fcatbcrs white at base,
and with a central stripe and tip of brown ; back and rnnip l:)row;iish-black, tinfjed with
cinereous; upper tail coverts white, transversely barred with dark brown, and tin>;cd with
rufous ; wing coverts and quills brownish-cinereous, the latter lighter ; inner webs of quills
white, mottled, and irregularly banded with light ashy; ends of quills nearly white. Tail
white at base ; external feathers with their outer webs cinereous, the inner white, niottleil
with cinereous, other tail feathers mottled and striped with white, rufous, brown, and
cinereous, darker on oitter web. A subterininal wide brown band, above this chiefly
rufous, and basal part of feathers white, tips whitish. Under parts white, with narrow
dark brown stripes on throat, neck, and flanks. A large spot of brownish-black on under
wing coverts, near upper edge of wing. Tibia; tinged with reddish-yellow. Iris dark
brown ; bill liluish ; cere and feet yellow.

Female? Length, 20.50; extent, 51.00; wing, 15.00; tail, 9.00.

Tins specimen (tlie original) still remains unique in collections, and
during my late exj^lorations I liave never seen any like it, excei)t ■\\liat I
mi.stook for the same in 18.55, and mentioned as sucli in my Eeport on the
Zoology of Wasliington Territory, etc. I am now satisfied that those were
merely the Airln'hidro /crriif/iunix, wliich closely resembles this in tlie color

FALCONID^ — THE HAWKS — BUTEO.

473

of tlie tail, suggestin,n- the ixissiliility of its buing a liylirid. The type speci-
men 1 sliot near ^Mountain ^■ie\^-, Santa ('lara Valley, California, November,

B. Cooperi.

1855, ami have been aljont there at various seasons since, without seeing
others. It is possible that this may be a species common in jMexico or
Soutli America.

Buteo Harlani, .Vudubox.

HAKLAN'S HAWK.

Falco (Butco) ITdrhiiii, AfDUBO\, Orn. Biog. I. 441; pi. Sfi : oct. cil I. 1830; pi. 8. —
NuTTAL!,, Man. I. 104. — Biitn> Harlaiii {Bosxpxktk}, Lxwuksve, Ann. N. Y. Lye.
ofN. 11., V. 220. — C.i.ssix, P. K. Rep. Birds, 24.

Sp. Ch.\k. Brownisli or cjicicolatc, nearly black, with a ]iiir|ilisli lustre above. Fore-
head white, and feathers of head and oceiput white at base. (jiiiUs with transverse lighter
fiO

474 PKEYIXG BIRDS — KAPTORES.

banilf, and a portion of tlieir inner webs aslij'-white, tliis color prevailing on their under
surface. Tail mottled -with brownish-black, ashy, and white, a wide subterminal band
nearly black, with tinges of bright rufous ; tip paler, under surface like that of wings.

Young. Above light brown, dull fulvous and white ; tips of feathers generally with a
large ovoid brown spot, bordered with fnlvous, and white at base ; rump with transverse
bands of brown and reddish-fulvous ; quills dark brown, their under surface white ; under
wing coverts white, spotted with brown and rufous ; tail light ashy, tinged with reddish,
and with six or seven imperfect narrow brownish-black bands, all edged with dark red-
dish-fulvous ; the tip white. Beneath white, with ovate and sagittate large spots on the
front of neck, sides, and abdomen ; tibial and under tail coverts with nearly regular bands
of brown and pale reddish ; under surface of tail asli\\

Length, about 21.00 ; wing, IG.OO ; tail, 9.50 ; tarsus, 3.00. Bill dark bluish ; legs green-
ish-yellow. (Cassin.)

Ilab. Mexico north to Louisiana (Audubon) ; Xew Mexico (Dr. IIenr\-) ; California
(Lawrence).

Tliis is another form referred to B. horcalis by Dr. Bryant, as a variety,
but it is scarcely ^yell enough known for ns to decide on this point. Tlie
best marked specimens, above described, are very different. I shot a young
specimen at Fort Mojave, agreeing very well with that above described,
which, however, Dr. Bryant considers not the young of £. Haiiani, of
Audubon.

§ 2. Length generally under twenty inches, less robust ; tarsi and bill weaker ; first
quill longer than eighth; tail never red. (-'Zi. Swaiiisonil cl vars." Bryant.)

Buteo insignatus, Cassin.
THE BBOWN HAWK.

Buteo insignatus, Cassix, Birds of Cal. and Tex. 1854, 102, 198; pi. .31. In. V. E. "Rep.
Birds, IX. 23. — Heekmaxn, X. vi. 32.

Sp. Char. Entire plumage above and below brown, each feather with a darker central
line. Quills above brown, with a purplish lustre, their under surface pale asliy, with
white shafts and irregidar white bars. Tail .above dark brown, with an ashy tinge, and
about ten darker bands ; beneath nearly white, witli brown bands, the widest snliterminal ;
tij) paler or nearly white. Under wing and tail coverts white, striped with reddish-
l)rown ; edi'es of wings at shoulder nearly ]Hire white ; tibia; rufous, irregularly barred with
brown ; throat, and a few feathers of forehead, white, each feather having a dark brown
line.

Younger, with upper plumage darker, and the under parts dark rufous chestnut ; darker
on breast, quite uniform on flanks and abdomen ; throat, forehead, under wing and tail
coverts white.

Young, beneath redili^h-wlute ; each feather with a large terminal oblong brown spot ;
abdomen and tibia; with numerous brown bars. Above with nuchal feathers white at

FALCONIDxE — THE HAWKS — BUTEO.

475

base, edged with reddish ; scapulars and greater wing coverts with large, partly concealed,
rufous spots. Under wing coverts jiale reddish-white, with large brown spots ; under tail
coverts pale reddish, with a few brown stripes.

Length, 17.00 to 19.75; extent, 50.00 ; wing, 14.50 to 15.75; tail, 7.50 to 9.00. Iris
brown ; bill horn-color and bluish ; feet yellow.

Hah. Western North America. Canada.

I found tlii.s .species pretty common near San Diego, in iMarcli, 1SG2,
wlien they were af)parently migrating northward. Two wliich I shot agreed
closely with Cassin's description, and were very nearly alike. In lial)its
they resembled very much the larger sjjecies.

I afterwards saw a large number of hawks flying over in a scattered flock
towards the north. Among them were variously colored specimens which 1
saw only at a distance, as they did not come near enough to be shot.

Bryant considers this merely a variety of B. Su-ainsonii, next described;
but as none of that style of coloration have been found on the Pacific slope,
I think it as well to consider this for the present as distinct. Butco Bairdii,
of Hoy, is, however, the young bird of B. Swninsonii.

The whole subject of the American buzzard hawks, liowe\-e)-, requires a
careful revision, and it is very jirobable that naturalists will ultimately con-
clude to accept a much smaller number of species than they do at the
present time.

S. Swainfnnii. Adult.

47G

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

Buteo Swainsonii, I'.oNArARTE.

SWAINSON'S HAWK.

Biileo vufyirix, Rich, ami Swainsox, Fauna Bor. Amor. Birds, 47. (Not B. vtiJgnrls of

Euro]je )
BiU(o Sui;ainsomi, Bonaparte, Comp. List, 18.38, 3. (Not of Bonaj)artc, Consp. Av. 19, nor

of Cassin, Birds of Cal. and Texas, I. 98, wliicli is B. nionliiiiiis, Nuttall, according to

Cassin.) — Cassin, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 19. — Baird, r. R. Rep. X. iii. 11; pi. xii.

and xiii.— Dresser, Ibis, ISe.*;, 324. — Corns, Pr. Phil. Ac. 1866, 43.
Buleo Baiidii, Hov, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. — Cassin, Bird.s N. Amer. 1858, 21. (Young.)

Sp. Cii.\i!. AliovL' ridiius i>r dark lu-divn, tbr tVatlicrs edged with rnfons ; tail brown,
tinged with ashy anil barreil with ten cir twidve narrow bands of'blaidvi^h, the snbterminal
widest ; tip white, sometimes more asliy ami with fl'w bars. Throat white with longi-
tudinal brown lines, sometimes yellowish, the lines I'aint : neck in front and breast ashy-
brown, nearly as in tail; some of the feathers eilged with reddish; sometimes nearly

B. Sjrniv^n

Young.

black ; other under parts wdiite with transverse irregular bars of rufous on tibi;e and flanks,
and darker bars on abdomen ; sometimes sagittate spots, or nearly pure white, unspotted :
under wing coverts white, or with a few spots of brown. Quills brownish-black, with
■wick' cinereous bands on their inner webs, Ijccoming nearly jiure wdiitc towards bases ; tlie
shafts of quills and tail, wdute beneath. Length, 19 50 to 22.50 ; extent, 46.50 to 51.50 ;

FALCONID^ — THE HAWKS — BUTEO. 477

wing, IS.SO to 1G.50 ; tail, 8.00 to 8.50 ; tarsus, 2.50. Bill dark slate-color ; tarsi, toes, and
cere, yellow. (Cassin.)

Hab, Rocky Mountains and British America to Lower ^Missouri. California ?

Average .size equal to those of the previously deserihed division.

Should tliis prove the same as B. imif/natus, the name Siminsonii will
have precedence. Dr. Bryant thinks that the adult B. Hnrlani of Audubon
may be also the same, Ijut Professor Baird informs me by letter, tliat ]Mr.
Kennicott lias obtained wliat lie considers a black form of B. Swuinsonii in
Britisli America, from ■which I suppose that lie does not consider B. Harlani
(Audulxjii) the same. There are also two or tliree jNIexican black hawks
described, which may be the adult plumage of some of tliose described by
Cassin ; as, for instance, Professor Baird thinks B. fulic/inosus, Sclater, the
adult of B. oxypterus, Cassin, neither of wliich has yet been found in Califor-
nia.* Many specimens and notes on these difficult birds will be recjuired
to determine wlietlier the black ones are distinct or merely the perfect plu-
mage of others wliicli may themselves be merely different stages of plumage,
of a few true species whose limits are undetermined. At any rate, the
various stages can as weU be described under si.x; names as under two.

Buteo elegans, C'Assm.

THE ELEGANT HAWK.

Butco elnjans, C.ISSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. I'liil. VII. 1855, 281. In. P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 28. —
Newberry, VI. iv. 75. — Kenxerly, X. iv. 19. — Heer.ma.nx, X. vi. .12 ; pi. ii. iii. —
Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 325. — Coues, Pr. Pliil. Ac. 1866, 45. — Cooper, XII. iii. Zool.
ofW. T. 147.

Sp. Cu.\r. Above dark brown, feathers of head and back edged with rufous ; upper
tail coverts narrowly tipped with white. Shoulders dark rufous, each feather with a nar-
row central line of dark brown ; upper wing coverts dark brown, their inner webs edged
witli rufous, with transverse stripes and partly concealed circular spots and tips of white.
Primary and secondary quills brownish-black, with numerous iiTegular bands of white,
running obliipiely on their inner webs, all the quills tijiped with white. Tail brownisli-
black, white at base, with four white bands and a white tip. Tliroat brownish-black, with
a few white feathers ; breast dark rnfous, unspotted, and other under parts of the same
color, with numerous, nearly regular, transverse bars of reddish-white. Under wing
coverts dark rufous, transversely barred with reddish-white. Dark lines on shafts of
breast-feathers.

Young. Above dull brown, many feathers edged with reddish-white or rufous, especially
on Ihe back and wing coverts. Quills brownish-black, their inner webs barred with white.
Tail brown, tinged ashy, with ten or twelve narrow darker bars, and tipped with white.

* Figured by Baird, Birds of N. Amcr. 1860 ; pi. xv.

478

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

Throat (lark brown, vith narrow wliite stripes. I'mlcr jiarts vellowish-whitc, oacli feather
with wiile irregular conthient banils of (lark brown, ami at the end a brown sagittate spot
(more elongated in young males), less numerous on abdomen and under tail coverts.

B. elfgans.

Tibial feathers and under wing coverts pale rufous (dark in males), under tail coverts
tinged with the same.

Length, 18.50 to 19.50 ; extent, 40 00 to 41.00 ; wings, 12.00 to 13.00 ; tail, 8.00 to 9.00.
Iris brown ; bill honi-blue ; cere and feet j'ellow.

Ilab. Western North America. (Not in Oregon ?)

This is the Pacific Coast representative of the red-shouldered hawk (B.
linearis) of tlie Atlantic States, and resembles that species closely in habits
as well as in plnmage. The principal difference appears to be in the young.
I have found it common in the southern part of the State, especially near
San Diego, but did not see any in the Colorado Valley, though Dr. Kennerly
obtained one in Xew ^Mexico. On my a]iproacli they would always fly off
from their usual perch, circling up high into the air, and uttering short, shrill
screams in rapid succession, like the Eastern bird. From finding the same
pair constantly at one place during my visit to Judge Witherby's ranch in
March, I supposed that they were aliout l;>uilding there ; but I did not suc-
ceed in finding their nest.

FALCONID^ — THE HAWKS — BUTEO.

479

Buteo zonocercus, Sclater.
THE BAITD-TAILED BLACK HAWK.

Buteo zonocercus, Sclater, Proe. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1859, 2C3 ; pi. 59. — CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc.
1866, 46. — Elliot, 11Iu.s. B. N. A. II. pi. 33.

Sp. Char. Male. Of the size of iJ. (Vii/^/io^Hs, C'assiii, moderately robust ; bill small ;
lobe of upper mandible slight ; wings and tail long ; feet rather weak ; tarsus feathered in
front more than one third of its length, and with eleven transverse seales ; naked behind ;
claws moderate, curved, the hind claw forming nearly a .semicircle.

Color. Almost entirely black, slightly tinged with brown, the head and neck somewhat

B. zonocenus.

ashy ; feathers not lustrous. A narrow white band across base of upper mandible ; feathers
of head and neck white at base, and mixed with white down over rest of the body. (Quills
brownish, inner side mottled with ashy, but not banded : un<ler wing coverts black. Tail
black above, tipped with ashy-white, and with two ashy bands, half an iuch wide, at

480 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

two inches I'rom the- tip, tlie otliei' a quarter of an ineli wide at four and a half inelies from
tip. Also a rudimentary band of light spots on the two outer feathers two inches higher.
All these are pure white on the inner webs, and beneath. Length, 20.25 ; extent, 5G.50 ;
wing, 16.2o ; tail, 10.00; tarsus, 2.50. Iris reddish-brown; bill black, whitish at base;
cere and feet yellow.

Hab. Southern Caliibrnia and ^Mexico.

Differs from B. Harlani of Cassia iu smaller size, generally -weaker form,
darker colors, longer wings and tail, and shorter tarsus, with fewer scales.
Still, it may not differ so much from the male, Cassin's specimens being
probably all females. It belongs to the smaller type, of which some lia\e
been taken for B. Harlani, Audubon, though his plates represent a larger
and lirowner bird, with various other differences of color, which may indicate
immaturity, the tad having several narrow lilack bars and no white ones.
His type specimen is also said to belong to the large forms, though he gives
the length as only twenty-one inches.

I shot the specimen above described, the first found within the United
Stiites, on the 23d of February, 1862, thirty miles north of San Diego, and
fi\-e li'om the coast. It was associating witli many of B. insirjnutus and
other hawks wintering there, and was rather sluggish and tame as long as I
observed it. I saw no more black hawks iu that region.

Buteo oxypterus, Cassin.
THE SHASP-WINGED HAWK.

Buteo oxjiptmis, Cassin, I'r. Phil. Ae. VII. 1855, 282. In. B.urd, Binls N. Anicr. 1858, ])1.

XV. f. 1.
Buteo fnllginosus, ScLATER, Proc. Zoul. Soc. Lond. 1858, 356. Iu. Trans. IV. 1809,267;

]il. l.xii.

Sp. Ciiae. About the size of Biiten Pennsi/lcanicus, Wilson. Bill rather long and
compressed, edge of upper mandible slightly waved in its outline, but scarcely lobed ; wing
long, pointed, third quill longest ; tail moderate or rather short ; legs rather long ; tarsus
feathered in front for about one third of its length, naked behind, naked portion in front
having about fourteen narrow, transverse scales ; claws large, strong, fully curved.

Younff bird. Sex unknown. Entire plumage above dark brown, nearly black on the
liack. Feathers of the head white at base, and edged laterally with the same ; iqiper
plumage witli partially concealed spots and transverse bands of white. Quills nearly
black, witli the inner webs dark cinereous, barred with brown ; tail above ashy-brown,
white at base, and having about ten transverse bands of dark-brown, outer feathers ashy-
white on their inner webs ; tail beneath silky, ashy-white, with a bronzed yellowish olive
lustre.

Behind and under the eye a stripe of rufous brown Under parts pale yellowish-white ;
throat with lines and narrow stripes of Ijrownish-black, and on other under parts every
teatlier with a large lanceolate, cordate, or circular spot of dark brown, some feathers on

FALCONID.E — THE HAWKS — ARCHIBUTEO.

481

the flanks and sidos having also some in-fgiilar liands of the same color. Nearly all the
feathers on the under parts with lines of dark brown on their shafts. Quills, with their
inner webs on the under surface, grayish or dark ashy, and near the shafts with a bronzed
olive lustre ; shafts white (on the under siu'face). Inferior coverts of the wing white, with

B. oxypterus.

sagittate spots of dark brown. Tiliial feathers yellowish-white, tinged with rufous, and
having irregular transverse bars of dark brown.

Total length (sex unknown) about IG.OO ; wing, 13.50 ; tail, 7.00.

Ilah. Fort Fillmore, New Mexico.

A single specimen of this .species, considered by jMi'- Cassin to be diflerent
from all described North American raptores, was ol:)tained at Fort Fill-
more New Mexico. Rul.isequently Dr. Sclater, under the name of Butcofuli-
^»ios».s, descrilied a bird of the same species from jMexico whicli was entirely
brownish-black, and wliicli j\[r. Cassin con.siders to be the adult. Additional
specimens and ol)Ser\'ation.s will be necessary before the cpiestion of rela-
tionship can be positively decided. (Baird.)

Genus ARCHIBUTEO, Brehm.

Archilnitf'O. Breiim, Isis, 1828, 1269.

Gem. Char. Tarsi densely feathered to the toes, but more or less naked and scaly be-
hind. Wings long and wide ; toes short, claws moderate ; tail rather short and wide.
Form robust and heavy, generally larger th:in in Buteo.
61

482

PREYING BIRDS — llAl'TORES.

Archibuteo feirugineus, ].i< htexstein.

THE RUSTY SQUIRREL-HAWK.

ZJiffro ycrru^/ncHS, LiCHTENSTEiN, Trans. Aciul. Burlin, 428. — Ldippus finurjineus, Frazer,
I'r. Zool. Soc. 1844, .36. — Arcliibiileo Jhriifjiiieiis, Gray, Gen. BirJs, 2d ed. 3 ; pi 6.
(Named yl. (T(7o/(S in plate.) — Cassin, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 34. Id. Birds of Cal.
and Texas, I. 159 ; pi. 2r). — IIeek.masx, V. R. Rep. X. vi. 32. — Cooper and Suck-
ley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 149. — CorES, Pr. A. N. Se. 1866, 46.

BiUeo Califonikus, Grayson, Hntchings's California Magazine, Mareh, 1857.

Sp. Ch.\k. Aliuve \vj\\t niti>u,s ami dark liniwn, ])alest on rump anil wing coverts ;
quills ashy-V)roivn, the greater part of tbcir inner welis wliite ; tail above reddisli-wliite,
mottled with ashv-brown ; beneath pale yellowish- ivliite. Under parts of body white,
with narrow longitudinal lines and lanceolate spots of reddish-brown on the breast, and

A ferritghieiis.

with narrow irregidar transverse lines i>f lirnwn and black nn the abdomen ; flanks anil
axillary feathers bright ferrnginons : tibial and tarsal feathers the same, with narrow
transverse black stri[)es.

Yiiunij. Umber-brown above, slightly mixc'd with fulvous; upper tail coverts white,

FALCONID.E — THE HAWKS - ARCHIBUTEO. 483

spotted with brown ; under parts pure wliite, with a few streaks of brown on the breast ;
and sagittate brown spots on sides and abdomen, Larger and more numerous on the flanks ;
tibiie wliite ; tarsi ihirk brown, mixed with white ; under wing coverts and edges of wings

wliite.

Lenjjth, 21.00 to 25.00 ; extent, 52.00 to 5fi.00 ; wing, 17.00 to 17.75 ; tail, 8.00 to 9.00.
Iris liruwn ; bill black and horn ; cere and feet yellow.

Ilab. Western Xorth America, Mexico.

Tliis large ami powerful liird aliminds in spring ami fall in the south-
western parts of California, migrating in summer through the interior
plains at least as far north as the Dalles of the Columbia and the Platte
Rivers. I found it common in December at Martinez, and few probably mi-
grate lieyond this State. It is usually seen slowly sailing over the plains,
sometimes in circles, occasionally pouncing down obliquely on its prey,
which consists chiefly of the large ground-squirrels. It usually alights
on the ground, Ijut often on trees also. I have not discovered its nest
and eggs, but Dr. Ileermann thus describes it as found by him on the
Cosunmes Eiver, in 18.51 : "While climbing a tree to examine some mag-
■ pies' nests, tlie hawk in flying from her own betrayed her retreat. It was
placed in the centre of a bunch of mistletoe springing from the forks of the
oak, and was composed of coarse twigs, lined with grasses and moss ; the
eggs, two in number, being white, marked with faint Ijrown dashes."

This hawk appears to attack poultry but rarely, limiting its prey to the
wild animals, and should therefore be considered rather as a friend than an
enemy to the farmer. This may be said, indeed, of all the birds of this sub-
family, wliich may be seen in large numbers in the thinly settled districts
watching from tlie tree-tops, but rarely approaching the farm-yard.

Archibuteo lagopus, Gmeux.
THE ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.

Fako hfjopus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 178S, 2G0. — Wilson, Am. Orn. IV. 59; pi. S3
(young). — Bideo lagopus, Audubos, Binls Amer. pi. 1C6 ami 422. — Xcttall, Man. I.
90.—°Arc!ubiUeo lagopus, Gk.vy, Gen. Birds, 2d ed. 3. — C.^ssin, P. 11. Rep. Birds, IX.

32. ICexnerly, X. iv. 19. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. uf \V. T. 148. —

CouES, Pr. A. X. Sc. 1866, 48.

Sp. Cii.vr. Head above yellowish-white, witli reddish-brown stripes ; back, scapulars,
and shorter quills, pale ashy, with partly concealed transverse bands of white and dark
brown, the latter frequently prevailing on back; rump dark umber-brown: primaries
ed<'ed with ashy, a large space on their inner webs at base white. Under parts white,
throat with dark brown stripes, breast with larger spots and concealed reddish-brown
stripes; abdomen with numerous narrow bars of brownish-black, most conspicuous on
flanks, and tinged with ashy ; tibiic and tarsi barred transversely with white and dark

484

PREYING BIRDS — KAPTORES.

brown, tinged with reil<lish ; lunkT tail coverts white ; upper tail coverts white at base,
tipped with brownish-bhick ; tail white at base, with a wide subterminal band of black,
and about two other black bands alternating with light cinereous. Under wing coverts
white, with brownish-black spots, and a long patch of ashy-brown on the lonirer ones.

Young. Liglit umber-brown abo\e, much edged with yello\vi^h and redilish-wliitc. A
wide baud on abdomcu browuish-black, other under parts jellowiah-white, with a few

A lagnpus.

lines and spots of brownish-black. Quills asliy-browu, a large portion of their inner webs
white at base, with a subterminal band of light umber-brown, tip white ; libi:e and tarsi
pale reildish-yellow, with stripes and spots of dark-brown.

Length, 19.00 to 23.00; extent, 50.00 to .03.00; wing, 15.00 to 17.00; tail, 8.00 to 9.00
Iris pale brown ; bill slate-color ; cere and feet yellow.

Ilah. Northern America and Europe.

This siiecies i.s only a •winter vi.sitor in California, as far as known, and T
have not seen them south of Santa Clara Valley, though I think some may
breed in the higli mountains, as they are seen at the Columbia Eiver in July.
In habits they are in winter somewhat gregarious and rather stupid, sitting
like owls on the topis of low trees, and allowing a near approach. East of
the mountains they go south to Me.xieo. They breed in great numbers in
the northern part of the American continent, especially north of Great Slave
Lake. The nest is built on a tree, of sticks and twigs, lined with leaves and
grass, and usually contains three, sometimes foiu' eggs, thickly blotched with
brownish, though sometimes nearly A\hitu.

FALCONIDiE — THE HAWKS — ARCHIBUTEO.

485

Archibuteo Sancti Johannis, G.melin.

ST. JOHN'S BLACK HAWK.

Falco Sandi-Johantu's, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 273. — Archibuteo Sniicli-Johannls, Gray,
Gen. Birds, Vol. I.— C.vssin, P. R. Hep. Birds, IX. 33. — Blakiston, Ibis, III.
318 (eggs).

Falco nlger, WiLSON, Am. Orn. VI. 1812, 82; pi. 53, f. 1, 2.

Buleo lagopus, Audubon, Birds Amer. pi. 422, and 166 (young?). — Nuttall, Man. I. 99
(in part), and of some other authors, who consider it the adult plumage of that species.

Sr. Cii.\R. Entire pUiniage glossy black, ol'tfu with a brown tinge ; forehead, thnjat,
and large partly concealed spot on occiput, white. Tail with one transverse band of
white, and irregular markings of the same towards the base. QuiUs with their inner webs

A. Sancti-Johaanis.

white, conspicuous from below. Head sometimes more or less striped with yellowisli-
white and reddisli-yellow, and tail sometimes with several transverse bands of white more
or less irregular.

Younfj, like that of A. Ini/opnn, but larger, and with more niunerous dark spots on the
under parts.

Length, 20.00 to 24.00 ; wing, IG. 00 to 17.50; tail, 8.00 to 9.00. Bill blackish; iris,
cere, and feet, }ellow.

Hab. Northern America ; south in winter.

486 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

There is good reason to believe that this is only a more perfect plumage,
or variety of A. lagopus, but it is rare, and I have seen only one, obtained
by Mr. Lorquin at San Francisco.

■ Genus ASTURINA, Vieillot.

Astunna, Vieillot, Analyse, 181C, 24. (Type, Fako nitldus, Lath.)

Gen. Char. Smallei- than in the preceding two genera. General form compact, and
adapted to greater activity of habits and swifter fliglit. Bill rather thick, strong ; cere
lar^e, extending somewhat into the feathers of the forehead ; wings moderate, third and
fourth quills longest ; tail rather long ; legs rather long ; claws strong, fully curved. This
genus contains a lew species, all of which are South American.

Asturina nitida, L.^tiiam.

THE GEAY HAWK.

Fako niticlus, Latham, Ind. Orn. I. 41 . — Asturina nituhi, Bon-aparte, Consp. Av. 1850, 30.

— Cassis, Baird, Birds N. Amer. 1S58, 35 ; pi. C4.
Astunna cvierea, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816, 68. — Owen, Ibis, 18G1, 69 (ogg).
Astur slriolatus, Cdvier, Reg. An. I, 332.
Asturina phifiata, Sciilegel, Rev. Mus. Pays-Bas, 1862.
Figures. Tcmm. PI. Col. 87, 294 ; Vieillot, Gal. I. pi. 20.

Sp. Char. Adult. Upper parts light cinereous; darker, and sometimes nearly
black on the rump ; upper tail coverts white ; cjuills ashy-brown, with obscure dark bands.

FALCOXIDJE — THE HAWKS — ASTUKINA.

487

and widely edged with white on tlii-ir inner webs ; tail brownish-blaek, with about three
transverse bands of white. Under parts with numerous narrow transverse bands of cinere-
ous and wliite, the former predominating and darker on the breast ; under tail coverts
white ; cere and legs yellow.

Young. Entire upper parts umber-brown ; darker on the rump, and much mixed with
white on the head ; upper tail coverts white ; tail liglit brown, with about eight bands of
brownish-black. Under parts white, with longitudinal strij)es of umber-brown ; under
wing and tail coverts white ; cere and legs yellow.

Total length, female,- about 18.00; wing, 10.00 ; tail, 7.50. Male smaller.

Hab. Northern j\Ie.\ico and South America.

This Iianclsome hawk was fouiid iu the state of New Leon, one of the
most northern provinces of Mexico, by Lieutenant D. N. Couch, L^nited
States Army, and very probably extends its range northward into the terri-
tory of the L^'nited States. In fact, a sjjecimen is said to lia\'e been taken
in Arizona by Lieutenant "Wliipple's party. Not much is knoflai of its
habits, except that the nest is made in the tojj of a lofty tree, and that the
eggs are greenish-white, like those of Astiir.

If Schlegel be correct in distinguishing two allied species, the bird here
refeiTed to will be known as A. ]}lagiata. (Baird.)

Sub-Family MILVIN.E, The Kites.

Char. Size usually . moderate or small. Clencral form rather slender
and not strong ; wings and tail long ; biE short, weak, hooked and acute ;
tarsi and toes slender and %\'eak.

Tl. lejicitntx.

488 PREYIIJG BIRDS — RAFTORES.

Of this genus but few species are known, mainly confined to the
warmer regions of the Old World and the Xew, including Australia. All
have the same general appearance as to color and size, and might in-
deed not improperly be considered local or geographical varieties of one
species.

Genus ELANUS, S.vvigny.

Elaniis, S.VVIGNY, Hist. Nat. d'Eygptc, 1. 1809, 97.

Gen. Cn.^n. Wings long, pointed ; tail nKjiU'vatc, omarginated ; tarsi short. Bill
modcratelv strong, compressed, and ronnded above ; month ck'i't l)eliind tlie eyes ; lobe of
upper mandiljle obtnse ; cere villons ; nostrils oval. Tarsi short, thick, reticulated, feath-
ered half-way down in front ; toes distinct ; claws large and acute, the outer very small.

Elanus leucurus, Vieillot.

THE BLACK-SHOULDERED HAWK.

Slihus leucurus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XX. 1818, .563. — Elanus leucurus, Bonaparte,
Comp. List, 4. — Cassin, P. R. Rep Birds, IX. 37. — Heermann, X. vi. 33. — Coop-
er anil SuCKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of VV. T. 149.

£alco dispar, Te.mm. Planches col. I. liv. 1824, 54. — AuDunoN, Om. Biog. IV. 367; pi.
352: Oct. cd. pi. 16. — Bonaparte, Am. Orn. II. 18; pi. 11, f. 1. — Elanus dispar,
NfTTALL, Man, I. 95. — Audubon, Oct. ed. 70; pi. 10.

Sp. CilAR. Head, tail, and entire under parts, wdiite. Tpper parts fine hhiish-cinere-
ous • lesser wino- coverts glossy black, forming a large oblong patch on the shoulder ; lower
winn- coverts white, with a smaller black patch. Middle tail feathers light ashy like the
back. Length, 15.00 to 17.00 ; extent, 39.00 to 41.00; wing, 11.00 to 12.00 ; tail, 7.00 to
7.50. Iris orange red ; bill black ; feet orange.

Hab. Southern Atlantic States ; California ; South America.

This beautiful and harmless species is quite abundant in the middle
districts of California, remaining in large numbers during winter among
tlie extensive tale marshes of the Sacramento and other valleys. (Heer-
mann.) I did not see one during winter at Fort IMojave, nor do they
seem to have been collected by any one in the dry interior, or the southern
part of California. I have seen tliem as far north as Baulines Bay, and near
Monterey, but always about streams or marshes. Their food consists
entirely of mice, gophers, small birds, snakes, etc., and they rarely, if ever,
attack poultry. Of their nest and eggs no observations have yet been
recorded in this State; but, according to Audubon, they build on the Santee
Eiver, South Carolina, in j\larch.

FALCONID.E — THE HAWKS — CIRCUS.

489

Gends circus, L.uepede.

Circus, Lacepede, Mem. dc I'liist. Fims, III. cxi. 180.3, 506.

Gen. Char. Face partly encircled by a ruff of short projecting feathers, as in the
owls. Head rather large ; bill short, compressed, curved, from the base ; nostrils large ;

C. Httdsoilius.

wings long, pointed ; tail long ; tarsi long and slender ; toes moderate ; claws rather
weak.

Circus Hudsonius, Lixx/eus.

THE MAHSH HAWK.

Falco Hudsonius, LlXN.Ens, Syst. Nat. I. 17Cfi, 128. — Circus Iludsoniu':, ViEir.LOT, Ois.
Am. Sept. pi. 9. — Cassijj, P. K. Kcp. Birds, IX. 38. — Newiii-hrv, P. R. Uop. VI. iv.
'i. — Baird, X. iii. 12 — Kesnerly, X. iv. 19. — ^EER^rA^■^^ X. vi. ."J.l. — Cooper
and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. l.iO. — Coi.'ES, Pr. A. N. Sc. ISGG, 491. (Ari-
zona )

Falco ullr/iiiosus, Gmeltn, Syst. Xat. I. 1788, 278. — Wii.sox, Am. Orn. VI. G7, jd. 51, f 2.
— Bonaparte, Am. Orn. II. pi. 11, f. 1. (Adiilt male.)

Fako ct/anew!, AvDVROs, Orn. Biog. IV. 396; pi. 356: Oct. cd. I. pi. 26. — Nuttull, Man.
I. 113 (but not the same as C. ci/nneus, of Europe).

Sp. Cii-\r. Adult. Entire upper jiarts, head and Iireast, pale bluish-einercons. on the
back of head mi.xed with dark fulvous ; upper tail coverts wdiite. Beneath white, with

62

490

PREYING BIRDS — RAl'TORES.

small cordate or hastate spots of light ferrugiiious ; iiuills Ijrowiiish-ljlack, their outer webs
tinn-ed with ashy, and a large portion of their inner webs white ; tail light cinereous, nearly
white on the inner webs of the feathers, and with obscure tians-vcrsc bauds of brown ; its
under siu-faee silky-white ; under wing coverts wliite.

Youn/jer. Entire upper parts dull umber-brown, many feathers edged with dull rufuus,
especially on the neck ; beneath dull reddish-white, with longitudinal brown stripes, most
numerous on front of throat and neck ; tibia- tinged with reddish : upper tail coverts

white.

Young. Entire upi.cr jiarts dull umber-ljrown. cxrejit white tail coverts. Beneath

FALCONID.E — THE HAWKS— POLYBORUS. 49^

rufous, with stripes of brown on breast and sides ; tail rcddisli-brown, witli about three
wide bands of dark fulvous, paler on the inner webs.

Length, IC.OO to 21.00 ; extent, 37.00 to 45.00 ; wing, 13.50 to 15.50 ; tail, 9.00 to 10.00.
Bill slate-blue ; iris, cere, and feet, yellow.

Ilah. All of North America. South to Costa Rica.

One of the most abundant hawks throughout tlie unwooded country, and
about every marsh, e\en in tlie dense forest. The brown phimayed speci-
mens are much more numennis e\'ery\vliere, and it appears as if only very
old specimens attained the blue plumage, as these become very scarce in the
older settled districts, where few are allowed to li\"e many years. I have
obtained both male and female in this plumage, but have also seen a pair,
which had a nest near San Diego, one of which was of each color, showing
that they breed in the brown as well as the blue plumage. The nest was
built on the ground, on the slope of a grassy hill, neatly constructed, chieHy
of grass, and contained four white eggs, laid about April 10th. The old
birds flew around, making a sort of cackling noise, but did not dare to attack
me. Sometimes, however, these birds show considerable boldness, seizing
wounded birds almost from the sportsman's grasp, and occasionally catching
young poultry. Their chief prey consists, how^ever, of small birds, mice,
snakes, and even grasshoppers, and they are often pursued and driven away
by birds as small as the blackbirds, when too near their nest.

Sometimes they are seen in large numbers in fall, as if migrating from the
noi'tli, but I have not observed them more abundant in the southern part of
California in winter. They probably do not remain in the hot interior
valleys in summer as they are tlien found ab(jut prairies at the summits of
the mountains.

SuB-F.\.MiiA- ?( )LYBURIA'.E, The Vulture Eagles.

Char. Size large ; form combining the character of the vultures and
eagles. Bill strong, rather short, and much hooked ; legs ratlier elongated,
and toes and claws rather weak. Head covered with feathers, or naked

near the eyes.

Genus POLYBORUS, Vieilldt.

Poll/horns, Vieillot, Aniilyse, 1816, 22.

Gen. Cn.\R. About the size of Pandion : bill ratlier long, compressed ; cere large ;
wings long, pointed ; t.^il moderate or rather long; tarsi long, rather slender; claw.s long,
rather weak, and liut slightl}' curved ; sjjaee in front of and lielow the eye n;dced.

But two other species are known, inliabiting South America.

492

PKEYING BIRDS— RAl'XOKES.

Polyborns Audubonii, Cassin,
THE CAEACABA EAGLE.

" Polyhonis Brasilicnsis, Swainsox," Audibon, Birds, ort. cd. I. 21 ; pi. 4. — Xuttall, Man.

I. f,l.
Poli/hon(s viilijaris, ViEiLLOT, Nouv. Diet. V. 1816, 357. — Audueon, Biids Amcr. pi. 161.
Pulyhonis tharun, Cassis, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 4.'>. — Heermann, X. vi. SO.
Poli/horiis Awhihonii, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1865, 2. — Coces, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 49.

Sp. Char. Adult. Head and body above, and a wide belt on the abdomen and tibia;,
brownish-black ; neek, breast, upper and tmder tail coverts, yellowish-white ; the breast
with narrow transverse bands of black. Tail white at base, with numerous lilack bands,
and widely tipped with black ; primaries banded with white.

Younger. Head and body above dull brown, darker on the head, and many feathers
having paler edgings; under parts dark brown, with dull yellowish white strijies; throat

P. Audubonii.

dull white ; tail for the greater part, and its coverts above and below, white, with numer-
ous ashy-brown bars, tijjped with brownish-black.

Bill pale bluish, edged with yellow ; space before eye, cheeks, and cere, bright red ; feet
yellow ; iris dark brown.

Length. 33.00 to 25 00 ; extent, 48.00 ; wing, 15.50 to 1 7.00 ; tail, 9.00 or 10.00.

Hull. Central America, north to Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado Valley, Cali-
fornia.

According to Dr. Heermann, as quoted allO^-e, tlii.s liird \-isits Fort Yuma
in company with the vultures;, wliicli it resembles in habits, being scarcely

FALCONID.I; — THE II AAVKS — CRAXIREX. 493

worthy of the name of eagle, though resembling it in form. He also says
that lie found its nest in an oak-tree on the jMedina liiver, Texas, and that
it is abundant tiiere. As he does not mention the Craj:ircx, which much
resembles this, and obtained no specimen, it is possible that some of his
obser\'ations may prc.iperly belong to that species. It is, however, quite
probable that tliey sometimes reach the Colorado Valley, though 1 saw
none there myself JMr. Cassiu has lately separated the North and Cen-
tral American race of this species from the South American, as P. Andn-
honii.

Audubon f(jund their nests in Florida on tall trees, and also on bushes,
composed of sticks, flat, lined with roots, grass, and moss, the eggs two (color
not given).

He also states that tliey catch ducks when wounded, and, unlike the
vultures, carry their prey in their talous.

Genus CRAXIREZ, Gould.

Craxirex, Goui.D, Voy. Bc:ii;k>, Birds, 1841, 22.

Gen. Ciiak. Aljnut the size of tin- lar<;rr Ijiitcos; legs lonjj; tarsi and toes strong.
Bill rather long, abruptly curved at the tip ; edges of upper mandible festooneil ; wings
and tail lon<r. Tarsi with wide transverse scales in front ; claws moderate.

One or two species only ari' knnwn.

Craxirex Harrisii, .Vudubon.

HASBIS'S BUZZAKD.

Biiim Hanisil, AiDunox, (.)ni. Bioi;. V. .'in ; jjI. 392 : Oct. cd. I. pi. .'i. — XuTTALL, Man. I.

111. — Ciaxiirx Ilarrisii, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. 186'), 2. — CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 18G6,

49. (Arizona.)
Craxirex umcinctus, Cassix, P. Rep. Birds, IX. 46. — Kf.nnerlv. X. iv. 20.

Si>. CiiAit. Adult. Shoulders, wing coverts and tibia', reddisli-i-licstnnl ; u|)per and
tuider ttul eo\ erts white ; tail white at base and tip, between which is a very wi<le band of
brownish-black, with a violet tinge. Roily above and below ilark brown, sometimes nearly
black on the under parts.

Younger. Tapper parts dull umber-brown, much mixed with fulvous; .shoulders chestnut-
red, spotted with dark brown: entire under ]iarls yellowish-white, with large oblong and
circular spots of brown ; upper and under tail coverts white ; tail brown, witli many bands
of a deeper shade ; the inner webs yellowish and reddish-white ; base and tip of tail yel-
lowish-white.

494

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTOKES.

Length, 20.00 to 24.00 ; wing, 13.00 to 15.00 ; tail, 0.00 to 10.00. Bill light blue, darker
at the tip ; cere and feet yellow.

Hah. Tropical America to Southern United States, New Mexico, Colorado Valley,
California.

Dr. Kennerly, while with Lieutenant Whipple's Pacific Eailroad Expedi-
tion, obtained one of these birds from the Indians, in Colorado Valley, near
Fort Mojave, February 27, 1854. It may have been kept by the Indians as
a i^et, caught in summer, or raised from the nest, as I did not see any of the
species durinc; my five months' residence at the Fort in ISGO-Gl. It is said
to be found in large numbers in Texas, and descriljed by Colonel MeCall as
" haljitually fre(iuenting the ground in the vicinity of water. It is slow and
heavy in tliglit, and a dull, sluggish bird in all its habits, partaldng in these
respects of the general characters of the viiltures."

Mr. Cassin considers the North and Central American specimens of this
bird as distinct from the South American, and retains Audubon's name of
Harrisii for the former.

Family VULTUEID^, The Vultures.

Char. Bill contracted or indented on the anterior liorder of the cere,
the culmen ascending again anteriorly ; somewhat liow-shaped. Eyes pro-

VULTURID^^E — THE VULTURES — CATIIARTES.

495

jecting even with sides of head. Head sparsely covered with downy featli-
ers only, or partially naked. Claws weak, rather slender, and hut moder-
ately curved ; tarsi and hases of the toes reticulated.

Tiiese birds feed wholly on carrion, and are cowardly and gregarious.
They are numerous in licit climates, Ijoth in species and individuals. Some
kinds kill small animals.

Gexus CATHARTES, Illigek.

Catliartes, Illiger, Pr. Syst. JIamm. ct Av. 1811.

Gex. Char. Bill long and straight to the curved tip ; cere extending beyond middle
of bill ; nostrils narrow, elongated, and pervious, situated near middle of bill ; tongue chan-
nelled and serrated. Head elongated, flattened, and wrinkled ; neck with patches of naked
skin ; tail of twelve feathers. Tarsus rather slender ; toes long, the lateral ones ecjual,
united by a web at base. Third quill longest.

This genus is the American representative of the true Ynltnvcs (Vultiir),
of tlie old continent. There are five species known besides the two found
within this State.

Of the vultures there are two principal divisions, one with the nostrils on
opposite sides separated Ijy a bony partition, tlie other lacking such a wall.
The lirst emliraces the Old World species, the other tlie New.

C. CalifnrnianuK. Young

496

PREYING BIRDS— RAPTORES.

Cathartes Californianus, Shaw.

THE CALIFOKNIAN VULTURE.

Vultur Californianus, Shaw, Nat. ilisc. IX. 1779, 1; pi. 301. — Calhcirtes Culifornianiis,
CuviER, Uegne Anim. II. .316. — Nitt.\ll, Man. I. 39. — AuDuaoN', BiiiLs Aincr.
pi. 411: oct. cd. I. 12; pi. 1. — Baird and Cassijj, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 5. —
Newiieukv, p. R. Rep. VI. iv. 73. — Heekmaxn, X. vi. 59. — Cooper and Scck-
LEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 141. — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 42. (Fort Yuma.) —
Taylor, Hutcliings's Magazine, IV. 18.i9, 537. (Figure of egg and young.) — Gdr-
NEY, Catal. Raptoral Birds, 1864, 39. — Scl.iter, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1866, 366 (figure from
life) ; 1868, 183 (young in down, from life).

Sp. Cn.\n. Plumage black, lustrous above, duller bdciw ; seeondarv quills witb a gray-
ish tinge ; greater wing coverts tipped witli wliite, forming a transverse band on tlie wing.

C. Califomianu.t. — Female, not tiuite maturn.

VULTURID^ — THE VULTURES — CATHARTES. 497

Bill yellowish ; hoad and neck orange-yellow and red (drying lirown). A seniicireiilar
spot of .short blaek feathers at base of upper mandible, and a few scattered hair-like feath-
ers on other parts of the head. Ruft"of long lanceolate feathers extending on to breast.

Length, 45,00 to 5G.00 ; extent, about 100.00; wing, 30.00 to 3.).00 ; tail, 15.00 to 18.00.
Iris carmine (hazel in young female) ; feet and tarsi bluish-black (dirty white in male,
Taylor.)

Hall. Western North America, to lat. 49=". (Douglas.)

This lai'ge bird, .sueond in .size only to the condor of South America, among
the Eajitores, appeai'.s to be limited to the western part of tlie United States,
not liaving been yet obtained in Mexico, and rarely north of the Columbia
Eiver.

It is most abundant in the hot interior valleys of California, where the
large herds of cattle furnish abundance of food; but I saw none along the
Colorado, or east of the San Bernardino Mountains, the scarcity of large
animals there being a barrier to their migration, although from their lofty
flight and extensi\-e vision they probably sometimes see a dead or sickly
antelope and follow it to the more desert regions of the State, in which they
may find also some mountain sheep. The cattle killed at Fort Mojave
attracted but two turkey-ljuzzards there during five months, and no vul-
tures.

I have not seen many of these birds along the sea-coast where most of my
later collections were made, and none on the islands or in the highest
Sierra Nevada. Tliey are said, however, when other food is scarce, to feed
on dead seals and whale meat, though I have not seen them do so.

At Monterey I saw in Dr. Canfield's possession a full-grown living speci-
men, which he had raised from the nest. Being fed on fresh meat, it had
no offensive smell, and its plumage was clean and shining. It was gentle
and familiar, but stupid, spending most of its time dozing on the fence.

The following are Douglas's remarks on this bird in the " Zoiilogical
Joui'ual," Vol. IV., as quoted by Audubon, omitting some incorrect parts : —

" Food, carrion, dead fish, or other dead animal matter. In no instance
wiU they attack any Living animal, nnless wounded and unal)le to walk.
Their senses of smelling and seeing are very acute. In searching for pi'ey
they soar to a very great altitude, and when they discover a wounded deer
or other animal they follow its track, and when it sinks, precipitately
descend on their ol)ject. Although only one is seen at first occupying the car-
cass, few minutes elapse before the prey is surrounded by great numbers, and
it is then devoured to a skeleton within an hour, even though it be one of
the larger animals, as the elk or horse. Their voracity is almost insatiable,
and they are extremely ungenerous, suffering no other animal to approach
them while feeding. After eating they become so sluggish and indolent as
to remain in the same ]ilace until urged by hunger to go in quest of another
C3

498 PREYmG BIRDS — RAPTORES.

repast. At such times they perch on decayed trees, with their head so
much retracted as to he with difficulty observed through tlie long loose
feathers of the collar ; the wings at the same time hang down over the
feet. This position they invarialily observe in dewy mornings, or after the
rains. Except after eating, or while protecting their nest, they are so
excessively wary, that the hunter can scarcely approach sufficiently near
even for bucksliot to take effect \ipon them, the fulness of the plumage
affording them a double chance of escaping uninjured. Their flight is slow,
steady, and particularly graceful ; gliding along with scarcely any apparent
motion of the wings, the tips of which are curved upwards in flying. Pre-
ceding hurricanes or thunder-storms, they appear most numerous and soar
the highest. The epulis are used by huntei's as tubes for tobacco-pipes."

Dr. J. K. Townsend informed Audubon that " the California vidture in-
habits the region of the Columbia Eiver, to the distance of five hundred miles
from its mouth, and is most abundant in spring, at which season it feeds on
the dead salmon that are thrown upon the shores in great numbers."

I never saw them north of the Columbia, nor near its mouth, and that river
may be considered as usually their northern limit. "It is also met with near
tlie Indian villages, being attracted by the oftal of the fish thrown around
their habitations. It associates with the Ccdhartcs aura, but is easily dis-
tinguished I'rom that species in flight, lioth by its greater size and the more
abrupt cur\-ature of the wing." To this I may add, by the large white
patch. " Indians, whose observations may generally be depended upon [!],
say that it ascertains the presence of food solely by its power of ^•ision."

" In AA-alking they resemble a turkey, strutting over the ground with
gTcat dignity ; but this dignity is occasionally lost sight of, especially when
two are striving to reach a dead fish, which has just been cast upon the
shore ; the stately walk then degenerates into a clumsy sort of hopping
canter, which is anything but graceful. When about to rise, they always
hop or run for several yards, in order to give an impetus to their heavy
body ; in this respect resembling the condor of South America, whose well-
known lialiit enables it to be easily taken in a pen by the Spaniard."

Hutchings's California ]\Iagazine for June, July, and August, 1859 (Vol.
lY. Xo. 3G - 38) contains a series of articles on this A'ultui-e by Alexander
S. Taylor, then of Monterey, and well known for his many interesting con-
tributions to the zoijlogy of this State, as well as its ethnology.

]\Ir. Taylor calls it the " California condor," putting it in tlie genus
Sarcoramphus, on account of its great size, nearly equalling tliat of the
South American condor {S. grijplms). Size, however, is insufficient as a
generic distinction without other characters, in which our vulture agrees
closely with the Catliartcs, while it differs very much from Sarcoramplms, in
wanting the fl.esliy comli on the head.

VULTURID.^ — THE VULTURES— CATIIARTES. 499

The illustrations given ^yitll tlie articles, representing the male flying, the
female standing, tlie newly hatched young, and the eggs, are the best I have
ever seen of this bird, having been taken from life by W. JI. Ord. The
male, however, is represented as carrying oft' a hare in its clair^, — a doubtful
circumstance, as these vultures are not addicted to canying dead animals, for
which their straight, weak claws and toes are poorly adapted. The young
are fed by food disgorged from the crop of the old bird, not carried in its
claws.

Mr. Taylor ^\Tites : " In January, 18."i8, a large condor ^\'as killed by
Jlr. S. B. AVright, near St. Helena, in Xapa County, while Hying oft' with a
nine-pound hare it had Idlled." [?] " The bird measured fourteen feet from
tip to tip of wings." He also mentions others said to measure eleven and
twelve feet ; but as those he measured himself only measured eiglit to nine
feet in extent, and knowing the tendency of newspaper contributors to exag-
gerate, we may set this down as their usual stretch of wings. Douglas's
largest was nine feet three inches in extent.

The following are extracts from ilr. Taylor's article : —

" One of the rancheros of the Carmelo, in hunting among tlie higliest peaks
of tlie Santa Lucia Range, during the last week of April, disturlicd two
condors from their nests, and at great risk of lireakiiig his neck, etc., brouglit
away a young bird of six or seven days old, and also an egg, — the egg from
one tree, the cliick from anotlier. There was, jjroperly speaking, no nest,
but the egg was laid in the hollow of a tall old rol)les-oak, in a steep
barranca, near the summit of one of the highest peaks in the vicinity of tiie
Tularcitos, near a place called 'Conejos.' The birds are said Ijy some
hunters not to make nests, but simply to lay their eggs on the ground, at
the foot of old trees, or on the bare rocks of solitary peaks ; others say they
lay in old eagles' or buzzards' nests, while some affirm they make nests of
sticks and moss ; but the truth seems to be, they make no nests." (Only a
slight one " of a few loose sticks thro^\^^ negligently together," according to
Heermann, who saw several in the Sierra Nevada.) " The egg weiohed ten
and a half ounces, and the contents eight and three (quarter ounces. The
color of the egg-shell is what painters call ' dead, dull white,' the surface
not glossy, but slightly roughened. Its form is very nearly a perfect ellipse.
It measured four and a lialf inches in length by two ami three eighth inches
in breadth, and was eight and tliree quarters inches in circumference. Tlie
egg-shell, after the contents were emptied (\\'hich were as clear, fine, bright,
and inodorous as those of a hen's egg, with a bright yellow yolk), held as
much as nine fluid ounces of water. Some of the old hunters say the egg
is excellent eating." The weights used were avoirdupois, except the fluid
ounce. " The young mentioned above is from five to seven days old, and
weighed ten ounces. The whole skin is of an ochreous yellow, and co\-ered

500

PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

with a (lull white fine down ; the beak was horn-colored, — the skin of the
head and neck entirely bare of down, and of an oehreous yellow, — the color
of the legs a deeper shade of that of the body ; it had the musky smell of
the old birds ; the size and appearance similar to that of a two-month old
o-osling ; it had only been dead a couple of hours." In the following points
]\Ir. Taylor's description of the bird differs from that of others : " MaJc, with
bright lemon-yellow head and upper neck. Female, with dark coppery oli\-e
head and neck, covered with feathery down on head and most of the neck ;
both birds about same weight." This pair, killed in July and Xo\-ember,
were probably young birds of the year, as they had horn-colored bills, while,
according to Douglas, the bill becomes yellow, and the head deep orange,
the neck brownish yellow with blue tints. (Douglas described also from
fresh specimens, as did Townsend, whose accounts were quoted liy Nuttall
and Audubon.) The female, however, retains a darker hue of head and
neck through life, and also, as observed liy Taylor, a row of black spots on
the white jiortion of wing-feathers. From its size, Douglas's specimen must
have lieen a female, and he states that the sexes are alike in colors, proljably
from observation. " Dr. Canfield tells me that he has seen as many as one
hundred and fifty at one time and place, in the vicinity of antelopes he
had killed ; he in-\-ariably observed that they sighted their prey." " It is
often killed by feeding on animals, such as liears, when poisoned with
strychnine by the rancheros ; the poisoned meat kills them readily. The
rancheros have very little fear of their depredations on young cattle, though
it has been within my knowledge for five or six to attack a young calf,
separate it from its mother and kill it ; tlie Californians also say they are
often known to kill lambs, hares, and raljljits."

" A larn-e grizzly bear being killed, the '\'a(iuero left it on the plains near
the sea-shore, to return to the house, aliout three miles distant, for assistance
in sldnning the animal. Before his return, which was in aliout two hours, a
flock of vidtures had cleaned the entire carcass of its flesh and A'iscera,
leaving nothing but the skin and skeleton."

"Tlie 'condors' and turkey-buzzards often feed together over the same
carcass, and generally in such cases do some fighting and lilting ; they may
sometimes be seen soaring and circling together in the air.

" JMany of them make their nests in the high mountains east and south
of the Carmelo YaUey, and also near Santa Cruz, and in the Santa Lucia
Eange, where they may be seen at all seasons of the year, but in greater
numliers from July to November. These huge creatures may often be seen
fighting each other over a carcass on the lieach ; generally striking with
their outstretched wings, and running along the ground like the commiin
turkey-buzzard.

" A few days ago we got within about seventy yards of a number of the

\'TJLTUPJD.E — THE VULTURES — CATHARTES. 501

male and female vulture-i. Tliey were feeding on the carcass of a whale on
the sea-.shore, and must have lieen gorged, as we could make out every
feature of Ijotli sexes witli distinctness, except that the color of the head and
neck of the male appeared of an orange-color instead of a briglit lemou-
yellow." Probably this was an old female, and the su2)posed females of
Taylor were young of the year. " AVe got witliin thirty yards of the male,
liut he kept his position on a pine-tree hard by, without moving more
than his head, in great anxiety ; he appeared incapable of flight.

" Sometimes they make a smothered and squeaking noise or hiss, liut they
are generally mute."

Dr. Newberry's oljser\ations in the northern part of California were as
follows : —

" A portion of every day's experience in our march through the Sacra-
mento Valley was a pleasure in watching the graceful e\'olutions of this
spli'udiil l>ird. Its colors are pleasing; the head orange, body l]lack, with
wings brown and white and black ; while its iliglit is easy and eflbrtless,
almost beyond that of any other bird.

" This vulture, tliongh common in California, is much more .shy and
difficult to shoot than its associate tlie turkey-buzzard (C. aura), and it is
never seen in such numbers, nor exhibiting such familiarity as that species.
We had, however, on our first entrance into the field, many opportunities of
shooting this bird, birt were unwilling to burden ourselves with it. After we
left the Sacramento VaUey, we saw very few in the Klamath basin, and none
within the limits of Oregon. It is sometimes found there, but much more
rarely than in California."

This confirms the observations of Dr. Suckley and myself, as we saw none
during a long residence and travels near the Columbia, except one which I
supposed to be this, seen at Fort Vancou\er, in Januarjj. I,ike several other
birds seen there by Townsend and Xuttall, they seem to have retired more
to the south since 1834.

Dr. Heerniann gi^'es the following, on its habits towards the south : —

" Whilst ixnsuccessfully liuuting in the Tejon Valley, we liave often jiassed
several hours without a single one of this species being in sight, but on
bringing down any large game, ere the body Iiad grown cold, these birds
might be seen rising above the horizon, and .slowly sweeping towards us,
intent upon their share of the prey. Nor, in the absence of the hunter, will
his game be exempt from their ravenous appetite, though it be carefully
hidden, and covered by ,slirul>liery and lieavy branches ; as I liave known
these maurauders to drag forth from its concealment and devour a deer
within an hour. Any article of clothing thrown oxnx a carcass will shield
it from the vulture, though not from the grizzly bear, wlio little respects
:3uch flimsy protection. The California vidture joins to his rapacity an

502 PREYING BIRDS — RAPTORES.

immense muscular po^vel'; as a sample of wliieli it will suffice to state that
I have known four of them, jointly, to drag off, over a space of two hundred
yards, the body of a young grizzly bear, weighing ujiwards of a hundred
pounds.

" A nest of this l:>ird, with young, was discovered on the Tuolumne Eiver,
by some Indians who were sent there in search of a horse-thief. It
was about eight feet back from the entrance of a crevice in the rocks,
completely surrounded and masked by thick underbrush and trees, and
composed of a few loose sticks thrown negligently together. The effluvium
arising fi'om the vicinity was overpowering. We found tw'o other nests of a
like construction and similarly situated ; one at the head of the IMerced
Eiver, and the other in the mountains near Warner's Ranch. From the
latter the Indians annually rob the young, and, having duly prepared them
by long feeding, kill them at one of their great festivals."

At Santa Cruz I saw three or four pairs (_)f cultures constantly, from
Februarv to October. At almost all times they could be seen sailing far
overhead ; but I did not, after much watching, trace them to their nests.
They are doubtless constant residents. ' ■

The figure of the adult vulture we give is taken from a cast of the cut in
the Proceedings of the Zoological Society quoted above. The liird was pre-
sented by Dr. Canfield, of Monterey, to the Zoological Society of London,
and the figure taken from life. The figure of the young bird in the down is
from the same specimen in infancy, taken from a photograph furnished by
Dr. Canfield, and a duplicate of the cut sent to the Zoological Society of
London, in exchange for that of the adult.

Cathartes aura, Lixx.eus.

THE TtrRKEY-BTJZZAED, OB VULTURE.

V:ihuraurii, LiNN.T!r,s, Syst. Nat. I. 17GG, 122. — Wilson, Am. Oni. IX. 9.5; pi. Ixxv. f.
1 . — Cai/miies mmi, Illiger, Prod. Syst 1811, 236. — Ai-Diiios, Birds Amer. 106 ; pi.
ili. : oL-t. cd. I. pi. 2. — NuTTALL, Man. I. 44. — Baird and Cassis, P. R. Hop. IX.
]jj,-,ls, 0, — Newberry, VI. iv. 7.3. — CoorER and Si-cklev, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T.
140. — IIeermann, X. vi. 59. — Dresser, Ibi.s, 1865, 322. (Texas.) — CouES, Pr. A.
N. Sc. 1866, 42.

vSp. CiiAR. Browiiish-lilapk, darkest above, with a piirjilisli lustre, many feathers with
a pale border. Bill yellowish; head and neck bright reil. A ruff' of projeetiiif!; feathers
at base of neck. Tail rather long, rounded. Length of female, about .30.00; wing, 23.00 ;
tail, 12.00. Male smaller, length about 27.00.

Ilah. All of the United States and Mexico, and throughout South America.

This vulture is exceedingly numerous throughout tlie Pacific State.s,
wherever it can find food ; and though none may be seen for weeks, in places

VULTUIIID.E — THE VULTURES — CATHARTES.

503

where animals are scarce, they very soon appear when a hxrge carcass has
been for a short time exposed. At Fort Mojave I saw none until March,
though they remain in considerable numbers in the middle parts of the State
during winter. Their lofty soaring and sharp sight enalile them to perceive
dead animals at a great distance, and, with the preceding species, they soon

C. aura.

gather around one from their airy watch-towers, in which they seem to the
eye no larger than swallows, while olijects on earth nnist appear to them
plamly perceptible.

I saw numerous nests of this species on the cliffs near San Diego, lint did
not succeed in finding eggs or young in tliem, although I examined them
from January to I\Iay. Tlie eggs are said to lie yellowish-wliite, irregularly
blotched with lirown spots, and larger than those of a turkey.

The black vulture {C. afratus, Bart.) has been several times reported as a
species found on the Pacific Coast, but no late collectors have oljt.uned or
seen it. The J'oung turkey-ljuzzard, which lias a Ijlack head, may ha\'e
been mistaken for it.

OiiDER EASOllES.

Char. Bill not longer than tlie head ; the terminal iiortion more or less
vaulted, hard, witli or without a soft skin intervening between it and the
head. Nostrils with an overlapping fleshy or leathery scale or valve ex-
tending over their upper edge (except in some tropical families).

Though there are many points of resemblance between the pigeons and
gallinaceous birds, the differences are still so great that they shoidd probaljly
constitute different orders, representing each other in the two sub-classes of
birds formed by Bonaparte, viz. the Altriccs, or those whicli feed tlieir young
in the nest, and the Prcemccs, or those whose young run about as soon as
hatched.

Still, as many tropical pigeons are closely similar to the Gallinte (though
probably none are really Puisorcs, or scratchers), and as tlie di\'isions of
Altriccs and Praxoccs present still greater difficulties among the herons,
cranes, and some aquatic families, I retain this as a convenient though
unnatural grouping. The Coltonhcc have some aflinity to the parrots and
cuckoos, and should perhaps be put among Inscssorcs.

SuB-Or>DER COLUMByE, The Pigeoks.

Chak. The liasal ]iortion of the bill covered l)y a soft skin, in wLicb
are situated the nostrils, overhung by an incumbent fleshy valve, the apical
portion hard and convex. The hind toe on the same level with the rest ;
the anterior toe without membrane at the base. Tarsi more or less naked ;
covered laterally and behind with hexagonal scales.

Family COLUMBID^.

Char. Bill horny at tip. Tail feathers twelve, occasionally fourteen.
Head iincrested.

COLUMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — COLTOIBA.

505

Sub-Family COLUMBIN.E.

Char. Tarsi, stout, short, with transverse scutellffi anteriorly ; feathered
for the basal third above, but not at all behind. Toes lengtliened, the
lateral decidedly longer than the tarsus. Wings lengthened and pointed.
Size large. Tail feathers twelve. (Baird.)

Genus COLUMBA, Link^us.

Columha, LiNX.Ens, Syst. Nat. 1735. (Type, Columba livia, L., the domestic pigeon.)

Gen. Char. Bill .stout and rather short ; eulmen from the base of the feathers about
two fifths the head. Lateral toes and claws about equal, reaching nearly to the base of

C. /asciata.

the middle claw ; the claws rather long and not much curved. Tail ratlior short, riiniidoil,
or nearly even ; as long as from the carpal joint to the end of secondaries in the closed
winrf. Second and third quills longest. (Baird.)

This genus, and several closely allied to it, have numerous representatives
scattered in nearly all parts of the world, especially in the tropics. Our
species is the only one, however, found in temperate North America, except
two which straggle to Te.xas and Florida. The Eastern svild pigeon belongs
to a different genus {Uctopisfcs), with a very small head, and long, pointed
tail. That species has been obtained near the Pacific Coast, at latitude 49',
and may yet be found to wander to California.
64

506

SCRATCHING BIRDS — RASORES.

Columba fasciata, Say.

THE BAND-TAIL PIGEON.

Columbu fasciata, S\Y,'Long'sExpc(\. R. Mts. II. 1823, 10. — Bonaparte, Amcr. Orn. I.
1825, 77; pi. viii. — Nuttall, Man. I. 1832, 624. — Auduiion, Orn. Biog. IV. 1838,
479 ; pi. 367. Ib. Syn. 1839, 191. Ib. Birds Amer. IV. 1842, 312 ; pi. 279. — New-
berry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route; P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 92. — Baird, P. R. Rep. Birds,
IX. 597. — Cooper .ind .Suckley, XU. iii. Zool. of W. T. 217. — Codes, Pr. A. N.
Sc. 1866, 93.

Columba monilis, Vigors, Zool. Beechcy's Voy. 1839, 26 ; pi. x.

Sp. Cii.\u. Above, olivaceous tinged with ash, dianging on the wing coverts to bluish-
ash, of which color are the hinder part of the back, rump, and basal portion of the tail.

Tlic terminal third of the tail is whitish-brown, witli a tinge of ash, succeeding a narrow
bar of dusky. Head all round, siiles of neck, and under parts, including (he tibia, puri>lish-
violet ; the middle of the abdomen, anal region, and crissum, whitish. Tibia and throat
tinged with blue. Quills brown, narrowly margined with white. A conspicuous narrow
half-collar of wdiite on the nape ; the feathers below this to the upper part of the back
metallic golden gi'ccn.

Female similar, with less purple ; the nuchal collar of white obsolete or wanting.

Length, about 15.50; extent, 25.00 , wing, 0.00 ; tail, C. 20. Iris carmine, edged with
gold ; bill yellow, black at tip ; feet yellow.

Ilab. From Rocky ^Mountains to Pacific Coast ; south to Oriz.aba.

This large and beautiful binl is eommon in the mountains of most parts
of California, wherever there are trees, and descends to the valleys in quest

COLUilBID.!; — THE PIGEONS — COLUMBA.

507

of irrain duriii" autumn and winter. Nortli of San Francisco I liave seen

o o

them in flocks in the grain-tiehls as early as July, and at the Columbia
Iliver they spend the summer in the valleys as well as throughout the
mountains. They are there migratory, lea\'ing in Octoher, but in Calitbrnia
their wanderings are guided chiefly l)y want of food. I have found them
building in the Coast Eange as far south as Santa Cruz, though I did not
succeed in finding any nests. I was told that they built in companies on
low bushes in unfrequented parts of the mountains, but Townsend found
their eggs on the ground near the banks of streams in Oregon, numbers
congregating together. I have myself found eg^.

s which I supposed to

be of this bird in a similar situation. They are white and aliout tlie
size of those of the tame pigeon. Like all their tribe, they lay but one or
two at a time. Their cooing is very much like that of the tame ])ige()n,
and easily distinguishable from that of the dove. From their similarity
of habits, there seems no reason why they should not be easily domesti-
cated.

They feed on acorns, which they swallow whole, even when very large ;
also on berries, especially those of the Madrona (Arbutus), grain, and seeds of
various kinds. Being large, and delicate food, they furnish much sport for
the fowler in certain districts, but soon become so watchful and shy that
they are shot with difficulty, except when young or where they can be
watched for in amliu.sh.

In Oregon tliey collect in flocks of thousands in the autumn, but I have
never seen more than a hundred together in this State.

508 SCRATCfflNG BIRDS — RASORES.

Columba flavirostris, Wagler.

THE EEB DOVE.

Columha flavtrostrh, 'Wagler, Isis, 1831, 519. — Lawiience, Ann. N. Y. Lye. V.May,

1851, 116. — Dresser, Ibis, 1866, 23. — Baird, Birds N. Amcr. 1858, 598; pi. 61. In.

U. S. Mex. Bound. V. 21 ; pi. 23. — Chloraims Jlavirostiis, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. II.

1854, 52.
? Columha soUtana, McCall, I'r. A. N. Sc. Phil. III. July, 1847, 233. Eio Grande, Texas.

Description referring' probably to the female of this species.

Sr. CnAR. Second and third quills equal, and decidedly loncjer than the first and
fourth, also nearly equal. Tail truncate, slightly roiuidcd. Head and neck all round,
breast, and a larijo patch on the middle and lesser wing coverts, light chocolate-red, the

latter deeper and more opaque-red ; the middle of the back, scapulars, and tcrtials, olive ;
the rest of body, wings, and tail very dark slaty-blue ; the inferior and concealed surfaces
of the latter black. Bill and legs yellow in the dried skin, said to be purple in life ; eyes
purple. Length, 14.00 ; wing, 8.00 ; tail, 5.70.

Huh. Lower Rio Grande and Korthern Sonora. Cape St. Lucas ; south to Costa
Rica.

There is no trace of any metallic scale-like feathers on the neck of this
species. The wing feathers, including the greater coverts, are whitish on
their external border. There is a tinge of the red on the inside of the
wing.

This beautiful pigeon is about the size of the common passenger pigeon,
although without the long graduated tail of the latter species. It is com-
mon in the Eio Grande of Texas, and extends across to the Gulf of Califor-
nia, and has been taken so near to the southern boundary of Arizona, as to
render it quite certain that it must cross it at times. Little is known of its
haliits, save that it is quite solitary, keeping in pairs or alone, usually near
the water.

COLUMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — ECTOPISTES.

609

Genus ECTOPISTES, Swaixsox.

Eclopistcs, SwAINSON, Zuol. Jour. III. 1827, 3G2. (Type, Culumba luiyraloriii, L. )

Gen. Ciiak. IL-ail very small. Bill short, black; culmen one tliinl the rost of head.
Tarsi very short, half covered anteriorly by feathers. Inner lateral claw much larger

E. migratoriOk

than outer, reaching to the base of the middle one. Tail very long and excessively cune-
ate ; about as long as the wings. First primary nearly equal to the second or longest.

Ectopistes migratoria, Swaixsox.

THE WILD PIGEON; THE PASSENGER PIGEON.

Columhn migratoria, Liyx.Eus, Syst. Nat. I. 17GG, •iKi. — Gmelix, Syst. Nat. I. .3S9. —
FoRSTER, Phil. Trans. LXII. 1772, .398. — Wilsos, Am. Orn. I. 180->, 102; pi. xliv.
— BoNAP.UiTK.Obs. Wils. 182.^, No. 179. — Wagi.er, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 91. — Audu-
bon, Orn. Biog-. I. 1831, 319; V. SGI ; pi. G2. — Ertopisirs mii/raloiia, Swaixson', ZooI.
Jour. III. 1827, 355. Ib, Fauna Bor. Anier. II. 1831, 36.3. — Bonaparte, List, 1838.
Ib. Consp. Av. II. 1854, 59. — AuDUBOX, Syn. 1839, 194. Ib. Birds Amer. V. 1842,
25; pi. 285. — "Reich. Icones Av. tab. 249, figs. 1377, 1379." — Baird, Birtls N.
Amer. 1858, 600. — Cooper and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. ofW. T. 218.

Cohimba Canadensis, Linn.eus, Syst. Nat. I. 17G6, 284. — Gmelix, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 785.
Female or young. (Prior name ?)

Colamha Americana, " Kalm, It. II. 527."

Passenger Pigeon, Pennant, II. 322. — Lath. Syn. II. ii. 661.

>Sp. Char. Tail with twelve feathers. l'])per parts generallv, including siiles of boily,
head, and neck, and the chin, blue. Beneath jiurplish browuisli-rcd, fading behind with a

510

SCRATCHING BIRDS — RASORES.

violet tint. Anal region and nnder t;iil coverts, liliiish-ivliite. Seapulars, inner tertials,
and middle of back, with an olive-brown tinge ; the wing co\'erts, seapulars, and inner ter-
tials, with large oval spots of blue-blaek on the outer webs, mostly eoneealed, except on
the latter. Primaries blackish, with a border of jiale bluish, tinged iulernally wilh red.

Middle tail feathers brown; the rest pale blue on tlie outer web, white internally ; each
with a patch of reddish-brown at the base of the inner web, followed by another of black.
Sides and liack of neck richly glossed with metallic golden violet. Tibia bluish-violet.
Bill black ; feet yellow.

Tlie female is smaller ; nuieh duller in color ; more olivaceous above ; beneath, pale

blue instead of red, except a tinge on the neck ; the jugulum tinged with olive, the throat
whitish.

COLUIMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — ZEN AIDUKA. 5^2

Length of male, 17.00; wing, 8.50; tail, 8.40.

Hab. North America to High Central Plains. Straggles westward to "West Humboldt
Mountains, and the vicinity of Puget's Sound.

The account of the birds of the Western United States would not be com-
plete without the introduction of the passenger jjigeon, which, although
never known in such flocks as have rendered it so conspicuous in the East,
is yet met with in small numl lers along the northern boundary of the United
States to Puget's Sound. With its habits every one is familiar, — the vast
hosts in wliich it formerly appeared, its roosts in large forests, where huge
trees are broken down liy the weight of the clustering masses, the devasta-'
tion it sometimes causes, and the varied modes in which its capture is
accom[>lished. It is strictly confined to North America, the only record
of its occurrence elsewhere beim; in Cuba.

SuB-F.uiiLY ZENAIDINyE.

Char. Tarsi stout, lengthened ; always lunger than the lateral toes, and
entirely witliout feathers ; the tibial joint usually denuded. Tarsus some-
times ^\■ith hexagonal scales anteriorly. Tail feathers sometimes fourteen.

Genus ZENAIDURA, linx.iP.vRTE.

Ze.nakhira, Bojaparte, Consp. Av. II. 18.")4, 84. (Type, Colmnba CaroUnensis, L. )
Pa-issura, Cabaxis, Jour, fiir Orn. IV. 1856, 111.

Gen. Cii.\k. Bill weak, Ijlack ; ciilmm from frontal feathers, about one third the head
above. Tarsus not ([uite as long as middle toe and claw, but considerably longer than the

Z. Oirolhienais.

512

SCRATCHIXG BIRDS — RASORES.

Lateral onos ; covered nntcriuHy liy a single series of scutell.T. Imior lateral claw eoiisiil-
crably longer than outer, and reaching to the base of niiddle. Wings pointed ; second

Z. Carolhieusix,

quill longest; first and ihivd nearly e(iual. Tail very long, equal (o the wings; excessive-
ly graduated and cuneate, of ibnrteen leathers.

Zenaidura Carolinensis, Linnaeus.

THE CAKOLINA OR COMMON DOVE.

Columba Carolinertais, Linn.i;us, Syst. Nat. I. ITfifi, 2Sr,, No. ."i?. — AVilson, Am. Orn. V.
1812, 91 : ])1. xliii. — AuDUBOx, Oni. Biog. I. 18.31, 91 ; V. 18.39, .'j.'JS ; pi. 17.— Nut-
tall, Man. I. 18.32,020. — Ectnpi'stc.1 Ctiro/incnsin, Hicu. List, 1837. — AliDUiiOX, Syn.
1839, lO.'i. III. Birds Ainer. V. 1842, 30 ; pi. 280. — Newderry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 92.
— Heekmann, X. vi. on — Ziiai'ihim Cam/inensis, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. II. 1854,
84. — Baird, V. R. Rep. IX. Biril<, 604. — Kennerly, X. iv. .33. — CoorER and Suck-
ley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 218. — Coues, Br. A. N. .Sc. 180G, 0.3.

EctopktK mnrfihirlliin. WooDHOusE. Br. A. N. Sc. VI. June, 1852. 104. In. Exp. Ziini
and Color. 1853, 93 ; Birds, jd. v. Canadian River, Ark. Inunature bird.

Sp. Cii.^R. Aliove bluish, although this is overlaid with light brownish-olive, leaving
the blue pure only on top of the head, the exterior of the wings, and the upper surface of
the tail, which is slightly tinged wdth this color. The entire head, except the vertex, the
sides of the neck, and the under ]iarts generally, light Iirowni.-ih-rcd, strongly tinged with
purple on the breast, becoming lighter behind, ami passing into brownish-yellow on the
anal region, tibia, and uniler tail coverts. Sides of the neck with a patch of metallic pur-
plish-red. Sides of boily, anil inside of wings, clear light blue. Wing coverts and scapu-

COLUMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — ZENAIDURA. 513

lars spotted with black, mostly concealeil, and an oblong patch of the same below the
ear. Tail feathers seen from below blackish, the outer web of outermost white, the
others tipped with the same, the color becoming more and more Ijhiish to the inner-
most, which is Ijriiwii. Seen from above, there is the same gradation from white to light
blue in the tips ; the rest of the iijatlier, however, is bhie, with a bar of Ijlack anterior

to the li^ht tip, which runs a little fiirwaril, alons the iriargin and shaft, of the
feather. In the sixth feather the color is uniform bluisli, with this bar ; the seventh is
without bar.

Female smaller and with less red beneath.

Lentrth of male, 12.75 ; extent, 18,00 ; wing, 5.75 ; tail, 6.70. Iris brown ; Ijill black ;
feet red.

Hah. Throughout the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Cuba, Gimd-
lach ; south to Costa Rica.

This do^'e is aluunlant tlirougliout Califoriiia, and nortli at least to lat.
49° in summer, while a few winter in California as far north as San Fran-
cisco, lat. 38°, thongh I think most of them leave the State.

They arrive from the soutli in large flocks in jMarcli and A2)ril, and
spread over the whole country, even those barren desert mountains towards
the Colorado, where scarcely any birds are to be found. I there noticed
them in May coming from all directions about sunset to drink at tlie springs
whicli are scattered at long inter\-als in that region. From early in April to
June their nests and eggs may lie f(iun<l in various situations, on the ground,
on fences, stumps, large brandies, and among the foliage of trees and bushes.
The nest consists of a few twigs carelessly laid togetlier, is aliout 4.50 inches
wide, M'ith scarcely any depression, and so open tliat the two white eggs
may be seen tlirough tlie bottimi. These measure about 1.12 X 0.90
inches.

Being delicate food, and easily killed, tliey are much shot, and being un-
protected by law, are bavbannisly killed even during tlie breeding season,

514

SCRATCHING BIRDS — RASORES.

when pot-liuiiters take advantage of their ati'ecti(jnate disposition and slioot
tliem in pairs even on the nest. Sneli liarharisni should he nniversally uou-
denmed liy all true sjiortsnien.

Genus MELOPELIA, BoxArARTE.
Mthpella, BoNAPAKTE, Consp. II. Dec. 1854, 81. ('rypc, Coliimlm kiiroptera, L.)
Gen. Ciiak. Similar to Zenaida ; the orbital region nakud ; the bill lunger ; tbu niij-

M. Icucoptera.

(lie toe longer ; the hinder shorter. Tarsal sentelhi? in a single series anteriorly. First

quill nearly as long as the second and third.

M. leilrajiUra,

COLUMBID^ — THE PIGEONS — MELOPELIA.

515

Melopelia leucoptera, Bonapaete.

THE WHITE-WINGED DOVE.

Cdumha leucoptera, Linn.'eus, Syst. Nut. I. 1766, 281. (Not the locality, — "Asia.")— Gmelin,
Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 773. — Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827, Columha, No. 71. — M'Call, Vr. A.
N. Sc. IV. 1848, 64. — Zenaida leiicojitera, Git.vY, Gen. — Tiiitiir leucopterus, GossE,
Birds Jam. 1847, .304. — Melopelia leucoptera, Bon.vparte, Consp. Av. II. IS.W, 81. —
Baiud, Birds N. Aiiier. IS.'JS, 60.3. — Coues, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1866, 93. — Makcii, Pr. A.
N. Sc. 1863,302. (Jamaica.)

? C'ohiinha hoilotl, G.MELIS, Syst. Nat. I. 1788, 777.

Columha trudeaui, Al'dubon, Birds Amcr. VII. 1843, 352; pi. 496.

Sp. Cii.\I!. Tail moileratcl)' gradiiatcil un the sides. Second and third (jiiills longest. ;
first a little shorter ; £i)nrth considerably shorter. In the female the upper parts generally
are light olive brown ; the head and neck above purpli.sli, with a black spot below the ear;
the lower part of the neck with scale-feathers of metallic golden green. Forehead and
nndcr parts light bhiish-gray ; more blue on the sides. Tail featliers, e.\ee]rt the middle,
bhush above, black lieneath, broadly terminated with wdiite ; the upper surface witli a bar
of black in the end of the blue. Quills (except inner tertials) black, margineil or tipped
with white : a broad white patch along the exterior of the greater wing coverts and alular
feathers. Bill black, base pinkish-purple; iris purple. Length (female), 11.00; wing,
6.00; tail, 4.75.

Ihih. Valley of Rio Gvanck', westward through New ^Mexico and Southern Arizona, to
Cajie St. Lucas. South to Costa Rica. Culia and Jamaica.

Not iniu'li is kiiiiwii of the habits of tliis dove, altliougli a common species
in the region above mentioned. According to Mr. March, the .species is gre-
garions, sometimes collecting in \ery large flocks. The eggs are white, like
those of all the pigeons ; size 1.30 X O.'-'O. Its geographical distribntion is
somewhat peculiar in extending from Cape St. Lucas across the soutlieni
border of the United States to the AVest Indies, in this range accompanied
by Chamapclia passcrina.

)f^^/^.v^.;; }' ^

C passerina.

516

SCRATCHING BIRDS — RASORES.

Gexus CHAM^PELIA, Swainson.

Cliamcrpella , SwAINSOx, Zool. Juur. 111. 1827, 3U1. (Typp, Culuinha passmiia, L.)

Gen. Char. Size vory small. Bill sU'iulor, clongatL'd. Culincn more tlian lialf tho
head iiieasnrcd from frontal leatluTS. Levi's stout. Tar.si loni;cr than lateral toes ; e(]n::I
to the middle witlimit its ilaw ; eovered anteriorly li\' a sin"le series of seutelhe. Winis

C. passertna.

broad ; the tertials excessively lennthened ; nearly as lonj; as the primai'ies ; qnitc eqnal to
the first ])rimary. Tail neai'ly as long as the wings ; rounded laterally.

Chaniaepelia passerina, Linn.eus.

THE GKOUND DOVE.

Cohimha paiserinn, Linn.f.i-s, Syst. Nat. I. ITGG, 285. — Wir.sox, Am. Orn. IV. 1811, l.'i ;
pi. xlvi. — AunuBO.N, Orn. Bioj;. II. 18.'i4, 471; V. 18.M, .WS ; pi. 1,6:2. In. Birds
Amcr. V. 1842, 19; ]il. 28.3. — Nuttall, Man. I. 2(1 oil. 7G7. — C/mimijif/iii /uissm'tia,
Swainson, Zool. Jour. iii. 1827, 358. — Baiud, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 606. — CouES, Pr.
A. N. Sc. 18GG, 93.

Sp. Char. Back, rnm]i, ex])osed surface of tertials, ami l.iil .-diove, uniform grayisli-
olive ; neck above ami occijjnt tin-ed wilh blnish ; forehead, .^idi'S of head and neck, under

COLUMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — CHAJLEPELIA.

517

parts generally, and lesser upper wing coverts, light purplish-red, tinged with duskv to-
wards the tail. Feathers of the head, neck, and fore-hreast, margined with a darker shade
of the ground color, the forehead and chin, only, nearly uniform. Feathers of the hreast
dusky brown in the centre, — this most consincuous on the jugulum. Under wing coverts,
axillars, and quills brownish orange ; the latter margined externally, and tipped with
dnsk}'-brown, — the tertials almost entirely of this color. Middle tail feathers like the
hack ; the others mostly black, the outer one edged towards the tip with white. The
exposed surface of the wing variously marked with blotches exhibiting black, steel blue,
and violet. Bill and feet yellow, the former tipped with brown.

Female with little or none of the ])urj)lish-red.

Length, 6 50 ; extent, 10.50 ; wing, 3.50 ; tail, 2.80.

Hub. South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Fort Yuma, California, to Fort Mojave ? lat.
35°. Also, AVest Indies, Mexico, and Central America.

This pretty little tlo\-e, \\'liicli is common in the South Atlantic States,
]\Iexico, and the West Indies, undoubtedly visits Fort Yuma, and I have
heard of what I suj)posed to be the same as far north in the Colarad(5
Valley as Fort Mojave, lat. 35°, though I did not myself see them there.

In Florida they associate in small ilocks, and come familiarly around the
door to feed. I found their nests there, both on the ground and in trees,
built like those of the common dove, and with two white eggs. They are
in miniature very similar, both in appearance and habits, to the common
]iigeon, and are often kept in cages, — mostly to fatten for food.

Chamaepelia passerina, var. pallescens, Baird.

THE CAPE GEOUND DOVE.

Chamapelia passerina? var. ixtllescens, Baird, Phil. Acad. 1859, 305.

Sp. Char. Shade of color considerably lighter than in C. passerina. Chin and anal
region nearly white ; the latter consider.ably lighter than the belly, instead of nearly the
Siime color. Bill darker. Legs stouter.

TIab. Cape St. Lucas.

This bird, hardly a species, but a decided variety, has hitherto been only
found at Cape St. Lucas, forming one of the many forms peculiar to that

518

SCRATCHIXG BIRDS — IJASORES.

part of Lower California. Tlie eggs and nest resemble tho§e of C. jiasserina,
and the habits are probably identical. (Baird.)

Genus SCARDAFELLA, Bux.vrAnTE.

Scanhfella, BoN'.iPARTE, Consp. Av. II. 1854, 85. (Tyiic, Culumhii squamosa, Tkmm.)

Gen. Cii.\r. Bill lengthened ; culmen more than half the length of head measured
from the frontal feathers. Feet as in Cliantajjclla. "Wings -with the tertials nearly as

long as the primaries ; shorter, however, than the first primary. Tail considerahly longer
than the wings ; much graduated ; the feathers narrow, linear, or tapering towards the
end.

This remarkable type is a miniature oi Edoinstcs or Zcnaidum in respect
to the tail, Avhicli is even longer compared with the wings.

Two species are known, the (S'. inca and a Soutli American ally, S. squa-
mosa, similar in color, but differing in a greater intensity of the dark bor-
ders to the feathers.

COLUMBID.E — THE PIGEONS — SCARDAFELLA. 519

Scardafella inca, Bonaparte.

THE INCA DOVE.

ScanlafiUa squamosa, Baird, Birds N. Araer. 1858, 605. (Not of Temminck.)

Scardafella inca, BoNAPABTE, Consp. 1850. — Elliot, B. N. A. II. pi. 37. — Bctciier, Pr.

A. N. Sc. 1868.

Sp. C'liAi!. Fcmrilr. Above ashy-olive, clianifing to purer ashy on tlie win^s. Be-
neath asliy-wliite, cliansing on tlie l)rcMst and tliroat to pale violaceous. All the feather.'i
on the head and buily abruptly margined with dark brown, e.xcept on the forehead and

eliiu. All the quills, except the innermost tcrtials, orange-brown ; the outer margins and
tijjs dusk)- brown ; the under coverts orange-brown ; the axillars strongly tinged with
.sooty. Tail feathers blackish, tinged with gray above ; all (e.xcept the innermost) broadly
tipped with wdiite ; the exterior with the white extending backwarils on the outer web.
Female. Length, 8.00 ; wing, 3.75 ; tail, 410. Iris puri)le ; bill black ; ic'ct flesh-color.

Ilab. Valley of Rio Grande ; westward to the Gulf of California, and south to Hon-
duras and Guateuiala.

This species, now knowii to be an inhabitant of Southern Texas, is not rare
tliere, and is met with thronghout Mexico ; we liave no special account of it.s
habits, wliich are probably similar to those of Chmncr'jidia , though it is jier-
liajis not so terrestrial. It luis not yet been detected in Arizona. (Baird.)

Order GALLOJ:.

Char. Bill usually rather short and stout, and less than the head.
Basal portion liard, generally covered with feathers, and not by a soft naked
skin. Legs lengthened ; the hind toe generally elevated above the level of
the rest, and short ; when lower down it is longer. Toes connected at the
base by a membrane. The feathers of forehead not extending on the cul-
men in a point, but more restricted, and parted by the backward extension
of the culnien.

This di\'ision, of which the common liarn-yard fowl {Gallus) is the type,
has numerous representatives in tlie tropics, most of which belong to fami-
lies diii'erent from those found here.

The Poidopida:, peculiar to LlidcUe and South America, ]ia-\-e tlie hind
toe even witli the others, as in most pigeons, and are mostly large birds
known as Curassows, Guans, etc.

The Phasianidm, including tlie common fowl, are mostly Asiatic, but have
one genus in America, namely, Mdcagrk, including the turkeys, of which
the M. Mcxicana, found as far northwest as Tucson, is now believed to be the
original stock of the domestic turkey.

Family PHASIANID^E, The Tiieasaxts.

Char. Bill moderate, the legs, toes, and nasal fossae liare ; tlie tarsus
usually with one or more spurs, in the male. Tlie hind toe elevated
above the level of the otliers. Tail feathers more than twelve. Face
generally more or less naked.

Of the entire family of Pliasianidce, as above described, but a single
genus, MdccKjris, belongs to America, the others being found entirely in tlie
Old World. It includes the different pheasants, Jungle fowl, the domestic

SCRATCHING BIRDS— GALLIX.E.

521

chicken, the turkeys, the peacocks, and other well-known birds, among
them liy far tlie most important and interesting species domesticated by
man.

Sub-Family :\IELEAURIX.E.

Char. Tail moderate, truncate. Head and neck nearly naked, and more
or less carunculated or with Heshy lobes.

The preceding diagnosis is quite sufficient to distinguish the 3T(Icaf/rinm
of Gray from his other sub-families, the Puvoniiuc having the tail and its
co\'erts much developed and depressed, but broad and rounded ; the Phasi-
anincv have tlie tail greatly lengthened and attenuated, cuneate, compressed ;
the GuUimc liave the tail moderate, arclied, and compressed, the sides of the
head only nakeil ; and the Lo/iJiojihorinw have the head feathered, except
immediately around the eye ; the tail moderate, broad, and rather de-
pressed.

M. gnllopavo.

But one of these groups is represented by indigenous .species in the
Xew World, although species of all tlie others are fa.niliar inhabitants
of the barn-yard or tlie aviary. Three species of the genus 3Idcagris are
known, — two closely allied, the third, M. occUnfa of Yucatan, being quite
different. Tliis is one of the most beautiful of tlie gallinacea, in the liril-
liancy of its plumage almost rivalling the jteacock, and especially in the
eye-shaped spots on its feathers.

C6

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLIN.E.

Genus MELEAGRIS, Linnaeus.

Meleai/ris, LixN,=ED9, Syst. Nat. 1735. (Type, Milairjrix (jaUojHiro, Linn.)

Sp. Char. Legs with transverse scutella: before and behind ; reticulated laterally.
Tarsi with spurs. Tail rounded, rather long, usually of eighteen feathers. Forehead with

a depondinp; fleshy cone. Head and the upper half of the neck without feathers. Breast
of male in most species with a long tuft of bristles.

Tlie aliove cliagnosis will be sufficient to distinc;nisli the true turkeys from
their allies, the nearest being NKmida, according to most authors. Three
species are known to naturalists ; tlie ^^•il(l turkey of the Eastern Fniteil
States {M. ijaJlopavo), the M. Mcxicana, and the M. occUatn, or peacock tur-
key of Honduras. The latter .species is tlie smaller, and liy far the most
varied in coloration, resembling the peacock in the pattern of some of its
markings.

PHASIANID.E — THE PHEASANTS — MELEAGllIS. 523

Meleagris Mexicana, Gould.

THE MEXICAN TURKEY.

Afcleac/n's Afexicana, Gould, Pr. Zool. Soc. 185G, 61. — Baird, Birds N. Amcr. 1858,618.

Iii. Rqj. U. S. Ag. Dcpt. for 1800, 288. — Elliot, 111. B. N. A. II. pi. 38.— CouES, I'r.

A. N. Sc. 186G, 93.
Mdcaijris (jallopavo, Gkav, Catul. Br. Mus. Gallin.x, 1867, 42.

Sp. Cii.\I!. Naked skin of head and neck livid blue ; legs red ; general color copper
bronze, with copper and green reflections, each feather with a narrow black border. All
the (juills brown, closely barred with white. Tail feathers chestnut, narrowly barred with
black, with a very broad subterniinal black bar, and the tips light brownish-yellow or
cream-color. Upper tail coverts also with pale, almost white tip.

Female smaller, and less brilliant.

Length, 48.50 ; wing, 19.00; tail, 14.G0 ; tarsus, G. 50; bill from nostril, 1.04.

Ilah. Southern Rocky Mountains, ami from Western Texas to Arizona, south to
Orizaba.

Persons familiar with the wild turkey of the United States, east of the
Missouri Plains and of Eastern Texas, have Leen struck on going westward,
after crossing the plains of the Pecos liiver, in Texas, and reaching New
Mexico and Arizona, to find a wild turkey which, while presenting the
general features of the Eastern bird, has yet various peculiarities, the most
striking consisting in the creamy-white or fulvous tips to the tail feathers and
the upper tail coverts, these being chestnut brown in the other, and in the
white instead of dark flesh. Other difterences, as the lighter shade of the
chestnut, and the tendency to a greenish rather than purplisli gloss, seem
of less importance.

A careful consideration of the subject brings us to the conclusion that
these two series form, if not distinct species, at least strongly marked and
permanent races, and furtliermore, that the Rocky Mountain bird, extending
as it does southward through Mexico, is really the original of our domestic
ttirkey. It is well known that at the period of the Spanish disco\-ery the
nati\'e turkey was widely domesticated in Mexico, and was introduced thence
first into Europe, and then into North America. Furthermore, the native
bird of Eastern North America does not occur in IMexico at all. The mark-
ings of the domestic turkey are sometimes exactly like those of wild birds
of M. Mcxicana, while they never assume the plumage of the wild M. cjallo-
pavo of the North.

According to Dr. Sartorius, the wild Mexican bird breeds in March or
April, the female laying three to twelve spotted eggs, which are hatched out
in thirty days. Dr. Coues and Dr. Palmer state that the species is not

524

SCRATCHING BIRDS — (iALLIX.E.

rare iu Arizona, altlujugli ilitiicult to procure. Some specimens were of eiior-
uiuus size, I'ully equalling the largest of the Eastern race.

Family TETHAOXID.E, The Grouse.

Char. Tlie Tctmonidw are characterized among gallinaceous hinls hy
their densely feathered tarsi, and hy tlie feathers of the nasal fossa or
groove, which hll it completely, and conceal the nostrils. The toes are
usually naked (feathered to the claws in the genus Lai/ojncs), and witli pec-
tinations of scales alonu' the edues. The nuudier of tail leathers varies i'roui
sixteen to eighteen and e\'en twenty ; the tail is rounded, acute, or forked.
The orbital region is generally somewhat hare, with a naked strijie above
tlie upjier eyelid, beset by .short fringe-like processes.

There are two genera of this family found iu North America, wliich do
not occur in California. These are the Cvpichnia ciipido, or pinnated
grouse, east of the Mississippi, and the species of Lajjopus or ptarmigan,
inhabiting the Arctic regions and snowy summits of mountains. Tlie L.
Icucurus, Swainson, lias been found about the snowy peaks near tli(! Co-
lumbia River, and in tlie Eocky Mountains down to lat. M'.J°, but not in
California. It may, however, yet be detected iu the Sierra Nevada.

T. obscurus.

TETRAONID.E — TllE GKOUSE — TETKAO.

525

Gexus TETRAO, Lixxjeus.

Tiirao, LINX.ECS, Syst. Xat. 1744. (Type, T. urogallas, L., au European species.)

Gi-;x. Char. Tail loiigtlimed, slightly n.irrowoil to the squai-o or somewhat rounded
tip; about two thmls the wing ; the leathers with stiflened shafts. Tarsus feathered to

and between the bases of the toes. No unusual feathers on the side of throat. Culnien
between the nasal fossa; nearly half the total length. Color nxostly black.
Inhaljit wooded regions.

Mr. I). G. Elliott, in Vyw. Acad. Xat. Sc. of Pliil. XVI. 2:'., Fol.. 1864,
]ii'oposes to .separate the T. ohsrvrus and T. Richanlmnii from the genu-s
Tdnw (wliicli is tlieu represented only in Europe), on account of their
greater number of tail feathers (twenty), and otlier differences. Tlie name
pniposed for the new genus is Dcndragapus, from the Greek for tree-lover,
BtfBpov, ayaTTO}.

The other American species with sixteen tail feathers, etc. (Ciniadcnsis
and FrnTtklinii) had before been separated nuder the name of Caiiacc, by
Keiclienbach.

526

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLIN.E.

Tetrao obscurus, Hay.

THE DUSKY GROUSE.

Tetrao ohscunis, Say, Louy's ExiKcl. li. Mts. II. 1823, U. — BoN.^rARTE, Am. Orn. III.
1830 ; pi. xviii. — SwAiNSON, Fauna Bor. Amcr. II. Ig.'Jl, 344 ; pi. lix., Ix. — Nuttali.,
Man. I. 1832, C66. — Audl'uox, Oni. Bioi:. IV. 1.S38, 446; pi. 301. In. Birils Aiiu'r.
1.1842,89; pi. 295. — Newberry, P. H. l!i|>. VI. iv. 1857, 93. — Baii:i>, P. li. Kip.
IX. Birds, 620. — Heermann, X. vi. 01. — Coui'ek ami Suckley, XII. iii. Zuul. uf
W. T. 219. — Loud, Pr. R. Art. Inst. AVoolwicli, I. 1863, 122. (British Cohiinbiu.) —
Oinace ohscura, Bo:JAPAETE, Coniptcs Rcndus, XLV. 1857, 428. — Daidrayajms obscurus,
Elliot, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1864, 23. 1b. Mon. Tcfraouida', plate.

Sp. Ciiak. Soxl'S ilissiniilar. Above lihiisli-lilack ; ]ilimib(.'iiiis or black bcni'alh. Tail
uniform black, finely and obscurely mottled above, and broadly tipped with liglit ^^late.
Beneath uniform ])lunibeons. A dusky half-collar on the throat. The chin and throat
above white, varied with black. Tail about two thirds the length of the wing,s, broad,

Male.

rounded, composed of twenty broad, even, and truncated leathers. Tarsi feilhered to the
toes, the feathers exteniling along the sides of the basal half of the first joints of the toes.
Pectinations on the sides of the toes very short. Length, 19.00 ; extent, 28.00 ; wing,
9.50 ; tail, 7.50. Iris brown ; lull horn-color ; feet grayish.

Hah. Oregon and 'Washington ; througli the mountains of Northern California, and
eastward to the Black Hills and southward to New INIexico.

This fine o'aine-liinl is common in Ore^iju ami Xovtlieni Califoriiia, ex-
tendiug in the Coast Ilange nearly to San Francisco Bay, and in the Sierra
Nevada to abotit lat. .38°. They are hrouglit to marl'Cet in ■winter i'roni tlie

TETRAONID.E — THE GROUSE — TETRAO. 527

iiininitains near Xapa, and are saii.l to come down at times into the valleys,
liut have never been met with in California sontli of San Francisco.

In the Sierra Nevada, Lit. 3'J°, I found them rather scarce, and in Septem-
her only above an elevation of six thousand feet, but was informed that
they went down mucli lower in winter, prol)ably about as far as the snows
fall, or to aliout two thousand feet, in that latitude.

1 think their range is more dependent on the prevalence of spruce and
other dense coniferous forests than on the climate, as it is much milder near
Napa than at tliat elevation in the Sierra Nevada, and towards the north
they frequent valleys. I have seen them near the Columbia Eiver at all
seasons, usually inhabiting the dense forests, and therefore hard to shoot.

Female,

They, however, come out on the borders of ]irairies and openings when not
molested, esj)ecially in the early morning, and then afford a fine shot for the
sportsman, as tliey fly straightforward on being flushed, oidy reqiuilng a
quick eye and heavy shot to bring them down. If in or near the woods,
they often alight in a tree, and conceal themselves in the dark foliage so
perfectly as to require a long search to find them. They stand so perfectly
motionless at such times as to lie mistaken often for a bunch of dry leaves,
and I have seen them fly off from a tree where I had been looking for them
in -N-ain for some time. In flying downward they usually sail silently with
spread wings, but in starting from the ground make a loud whin-ing like
other grouse.

In spring the males may be heard " tooting " in the trees, — making a low
htillow sound, something like tiie cooing of a pigeon, and which seems to
come from some place (piite distant liTim where the bird really is.

528 SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLIX.E.

Their foo.l consists of various IxTries, nuts, and seeds, besides grain
around ianns. Their eggs are numerous, laid in a slightly constructed nest
on the ground, and of an asliy-hrown color, hlunt at both ends. (Xuttall.)
The young at Puget's Sound are full grown about August, and probably
earlier in California. They are llien easily killed, and very white and
tender, being fit for shooting about September 1st. In the Sierra Ne\-ada
they frequented such ditticult ground, co\-ered with dense thickets, and on
steep slopes of the mountains, that I did not succeed in shooting any, but had
a good view of one, quite sufficient to determine its species, as it tiew down
from the top of a lofty spruce, and sailed half a mile away, while I was look-
ing down on it from tlie top of a mountain ridge.

In winter they lixe much on the buds of trees, even those of the coniferfe,
and in Oregon are seen so seldom on the ground at that season that they
have been supposed by some to enugrate. Se\-eral may sometimes be shot
from one tree by taking care to kill the lo\\-est ones first. They weigh
three or four pounds.

Tetrao Richardsonii, Douglas.

BICHAEDSON'S GROUSE.

Tetrao Ric!mr(fsonii,T)ovc,LXS,'Linn. Ti-ans. XVI. HI —Wilson-, Zool. lilnst. pi. 30, 31.

— Gu.vY, Cat. Galliiuc, Br. llus. 1867, 86. — Loud, Pi-. R. Art. Inst. I. 1863, 122.—

Denclnti/tipus Richardsonii, Elliot, Mon. Tctraouida', |ihuc.
Tetrao obsc urns, Sw.unsox and Uicii. Fauna Bor. Aiiicr. II. 1831, 344; pi. 59, 60. (Also

of Audnl)uii ill iiart.)

Sp. Cn.\u. Similar to T. ohicuni.f ; dilfe'rs in liivinc; tht tail more pqnare at cml, and
entirely blaek, or witliont the gray tip.

//()/). Central Uueky Mnuntains, from South Piiss, and nortlnvard to Fort Liard.
II. B. T.

This bird appears, in general habits and cliaracteristics, to be undis-
tinguisliable from tlie common dusky or blue grouse, except as stated aliove.
Its distribution is (piite peculiar, being encircled as it were liy the 1\ ohscnrus,
to the east, west, and soutli, and reaching northward at least as far as Fort
Liard, west of Tort Simpson, perhaps as far as the forest extends. It is
extremely abundant at Fort Liard, a post of the Hudson's Bay Company,
situated on the Liard River, and not \-ery far from Fort Simpson, likewise
one of the company's posts on tlie [Mackenzie liiver. At certain seasons of
tlie year its meat is excellent, and much souglit after by t!ie Indians and
Avhites. "With the exception of the tail, there appears but little to separate
it from its ally, Tetrao ohscurvs, and it was described as the last-mentioned
species in tlie " Fauna Boreali ^Vmericana " of Swainson and Lichardson,
and the two again confused by Audubon. (Laird.)

TETRAONIDiE — THE GROUSE — TETRAO. 529

Tetrao Franklinii, Douglas.
FKANKLIN'S GROUSE.

Telmo Frnnllimi, Douglas, Trans. Linn. .Soc. XVI. 1829, 139. — Rich. F. Bor. Anicr. II.

1831, 348; pi. Ixi. — Gray, Cat. G;illin;v, 80. — Baird, Birds N. Amer. 1858,623.—

CoorER lunl SucKLEV, N. H. Wash. Terr. 220. — Cuiiuce /■VhiiW/hk', Elliot, Pr. A.

N. Sc. 1864, 23. Ib. Mon. Tctraoiiiila-, plate.
Tetrao Canadensis, var. Bonaparte, Am. Orn. III. 1830, 4" ; pi. x.x.
? 7'e((ao/«sca, Ord, Guthrie's Geog. 2cl Am. ed. II. 1815, 317. Based on " Snuill brown

pheasant " of Lewis and Chirk, II. 182, wliieh very probably is lliis speeics.

Sp. Cii.^u. Prevailing color in the male black ; each leather of the hcail, neck, and
ii]iper parts generally, ha\ ing its surface waved with plumbeous gray. This is in the iurin
of two or three well-defined concentric bars parallel to each other, one along the exterior
edge of the feather, the others behind it. The sides of the body, the scapulars, and outer
surface of the wings are mottleil like the back, but more irregularly, and with a browner
shade of gray, the feathers with a central white streak expanding towards the tip (on the
■wing these streaks seen only on some of the greater coverts). There is no white above,
except as described. Tlie under jiarts are mostly uniform black, the feathers of the sides

Male.

of the belly and breast broadly tipped with white, which sometimes forms a pectoral band.
There is a white bar across the feathers at the base of the up]ier mandiljle, usually inter-
rniitcd above ; a white spot on the lower eyelid, and a white line beginning on the cheeks
and running into a series of white spots in the feathers of the throat, the lower feathers of
which are banded terminally with whitish. The feathers at the base of the bill, and the
head below the eyes and beneath, are pure black. The quills are dark brown, without
any spots or bands, the outer edges only mottled with gi-ayish. The tail feathers are sim-
ilar, but darker, and the tail is entirely black to the tip. Uj^jier tail covert broadly
67

530

SCllATCIIING BIRDS — (;ALLIX.E.

tipi)LMl with whiti' ; feathers of the legs mottled brown ami whitish ; dirly white hehiiul
the tarsi. The bill is blaek.

The female is smaller Imt somewhat similar, the blaek bars above broader, the inner
gray bars of eacli feather, iniduding- the tail, replaeed by broader ones of brownish-orange.
The under parts have the tc'athers blaek, barred with the brownish-orange, whieh, on the

Female.

tips of the lielly leathers, is pure white. The elear eontiniious blaek of the head and
breast are wanting. The scapnlars, greater eoverts, and sides are streaked as in the
male. The tail is tippeil with whitish, as are the iqiper eoverts.

Length, about 10 00; wing, 7..S5 ; tail, 5.62.

//()//. Niirthern Roeky Mountains of the United States, and westward through Wash-
ington Territorv to the Caseade ]Mouutains.

Thi.s intere.sting \ariety of the Canada "rouse, if it be not a distinct
species, replaces the other form in tlie Eocky Mountains of the United
States, hut does not seem to extend iinich northward, as all specimens re-
ceived at the Smitlisonian Institution, from the JVIackenzie Paver region,
and Alaska, including Sitka, are true T. Ciniadcn.'iis. The differences consist
mainly in a rather longer, broader, and nuu'e truncated tail, which is pure
black to tlie ends, instead of l>cing tipped with In-own ish-orange. The up-
per tail coverts also are sharjily ended with white. The female has the tail
tipped with whitish, instead of orange-brown.

The species is abundant in the Eocky and Bitter Eoot IMountains, and
extends to the Cascade Eange. It lives among the spruce and pine
vegetation, princiimlly in swami)y tracts, feeding on leaves an<l l)uds of
the conifertc. The eggs are light chocolate-brown, spotted with tlarker,
mucli like those of the Canada grouse. (Baird.)

TETRAONID.E — THE GROUSE — PEDICECETES.

531

Gems PEDICECETES, Baiiid.

Pcdiceceks, B.vinD, P. K. Kip. IX. Birds, 1858, ri:^."). (Type, Telnm jihasianellus.)

Gen. Ciiak. Tail t^hort, gniiUiatiMl, the shortL'i- part of it half the length of the full
rounded wing. Tarsi densely leathered to the toes and between their bases. Neck

P phnsiniielliis

■nithout peculiar feathers. Cnlnien between nasal fossae not half the length of bill.
(Elliot.)

Two .species of the oeuu.s are recognized by later iiuthor.s.

p. phnslantUiti.

532

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLING.

Pedioecetes Columbianus, Ord.

THE SHARP-TAILED GEOTJSE, OK PEAIKIE CHICKEN.

Phasianus Colunchiamis, Ord, Giilh. Geog. 2d Am. eel. II. ISI.'i, 317. — Palirecetes Cohim-
biams, (Oed) Elliot, I'r. A. N. Sc. Phil. XIV. 1S62, 40.3. In. Mon. Tutraonidx,
plate.
Tctnio fjhasiancilus, Ori>, same place, and of all other authors since 1800, except Bonaparte,
Amcr. Orn. III. (tc.Kt only), which is true phaslandlus, Linna;us (Klliot). Fij,'ures (all
of Columbianus), Bonaparte, An)er. Orn. III. jjl. xi.\. (supposed female). — Audubon,
Orn. Biog. IV. pi. 3S2, p. 569. lis: Birds Amer. V. 110 ; pi. 298. In. Synop.>;is, 205.—
NuTTALL, Man. I. G69. — Newberry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1S57, 94. — Swainson and
Rich. F. Bor. Am. II. 361. — Pcdircales phasianeHus, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
1858, 626.— CoorER and Suckley, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 223.

Sp. CiiAn. General color white anil brownish-yellow with irregular black markings,
lioneatli pure white, the feathers on the breast and flanks with brown ^'-shIl|)eJ markings.
Throat buff. (Elliot.) Length, 18.00 ; e.\tent, 28.00 ; wing, 8.30; tail, 5.24.

Hah. N'orthern prairies and plains from Wisconsin, west to Cascade Mountains and
Sierra Nevada.

Though -well kno\Mi as a game-bird, and a delicate luxury for the table,
ill the Upper ^Mississipjii Valley (where it is confounded hy sportsmen gen-
erally with the pinnated grouse, Cupidonia nipido), this prairie-chicken has
not yet been enrolled among the game-birds of California, on account of the
remote and thinly inhabited part of the State which it inlialiits. It is

TKTKAONID.E — THE GROUSE — PEDICECETES. 533

wortliy, however, of an attempt at naturalization in the h>wer and western
districts. From what I have seen of tlieir resorts and habits along tlie
Upper Columbia, I see no reason wliy they cannot flourisli in many of tlie
valleys west of the Sierra Ne\'ada, unless tliere is some unknown agent fatal
to them either when young or full grown, such as the pecidiarities of the
climate or some poisonous plant or seed which they eat. Their eggs might,
at any rate, be easily obtained and hatched under a hen for trial.

According to Dr. Newberry, the prairie-chicken is first met with in Cali-
fornia, near Canoe Creek, about fifty miles northeast of Fort Eeading, on the
east side of the Sierra Nevada. Thence they are abundant north and east-
ward, and I think extend south as far as lat. 39°, though this is somewhat
uncertain. I have not lieard of them in the southeastern parts of California,
though there are tracts apparently suited for them, sucli as Owen's Valley.
Towards the Coluniliia tliey are numerous in all tlie grassy prairies about
the upper part of the ri\er east of the Cascade Eange. It has been lately
ascertained that their range to the north ends about lat. 49° ; Mr. Kennicott
having obtained specimens from Britisli America which prove different, and
turn out to be the true T. jihasicmclhis of Linnaeus, though described also as
P. Kennicottii by Suckley. It is a resident species throughout aU its range,
or only descends from the high lands to the warmer' valleys in the cold
months.

I have seen tlie nest of this species near the Upper Missouri Paver in
]\Iay. It is a mere cavity in the grass under a log or buish, lined with a few
feathers ; the eggs are about twelve, white, obscurely spotted with brownish.
In the spring the male is said by Nuttall to utter a shrill but rather feeble
crowing ; and at all times when started they have a loud cry of kii]:-lxtik-l-iilc,
which assists tlie winning of their wings and their unexpected appearance
ill tlirowing the inexperienced sportsman off his guard.

In the autumn they often congregate aliout favorite spots in great num-
bers, and where not much hunted furnish excellent sport for a cool and
quick shot. They usually scatter in the morning among the long grass in
the neighborhood of thickets, and lie so close as to be almost trodden under
foot before they fly, when they rise with a few whirring flaps of the wing to
a height of about six feet, and then sail off direct for a hundred yards or
more, unless they are mucli hunted, when tliey make for the nearest thicket.
Sometimes, when unused to the hunter's devices, they merely fly into a low
tree, and, as if perfectly safe there, look down coolly while several are suc-
cessively shot around tlieni, the only precaution being to shoot the lowest
first, so that their fall may not alarm tlie others.

In frosty and snowy weatlier they often sun themselves in the morn-
ing on the trees, and li\"e much in winter on the liuds of the alder, poplar,
etc.

534

SCKATCHING BIRDS — GALLINiE.

We give above a figure of the head of the P. pliasiandlvti to ilhistrate
the supposed diflerences between this race and P. Columbianus.

(5Exrs CENTROCERCUS, Swaixson.

Centrurercus, SwAINSON, F. I3or. Amer. II. 18.'!1, 49G. (Type, Trlniu uropliasiainis, BoNA-
PAnxii.)

(iKN. CiiAR. Tail excessively lengthened, enneate, longer than the wings, the feathers
all lanceolate. Tarsi feathered to the joint and between the bases of the toes. Lower

C itronhn^inint^.

TETRAONID.E — THE GROUSE — CENTROCERCUS.

535

throat ami its sides with stitl'encil spinous featliers. AViiios with the ti'atliers raiher
sharp ; the primaries longer than the seconilaries. Nasal tbssa' extending very far for-

C. rirnpjtnsiayius.

ward; the length of enlmen hetween them two thirds the total length. Color mottled
yellowish above, with large hlaek patehes beneath.

But one species is yet known, tlionyii tlie "sage fowls," said l" inluiliit
Lower California near lat. :52°, may very possibly prove distinct, few (d' litis
family having such a long range nortli and south as from 'oA" to 49°.

The genus Ccntroccrcus jiresents se\-eral peculiarities among its allies, as
shown by the above cut, that readily distinguish it, and embraces much the
largest species of true grouse found in America. Tliis form of grouse is less
known to sportsmen than any of tlie others belonging to tlie faxina of the
Xew World, as it only makes its first appearance at a considerable distance
to the west of the Mississijipi.

Dot

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLIXiE.

Centrocercus urophasianus, BdXArARXE.
THE SAGE-COCK; COCK OF THE PLAINS.

Tetrao urophasianus, Bonaparte, Zool. Jour. III. Jan. 1828, 214. In. Am. Oni. III. 1830;
pi. xxi. f. 1. — WiLSOX, Ilhis. 18.31 ; pi. 26, 27. — Nl-ttall, Man. I. 1832, 656.—
AuDUBOX, Orn. Bio-. IV. 1838, 503 ; pi. 371. Ib. Birds Amcr. V. 1842, lOG ; pi. 297.
— Newberry, ZooI. Cal. and Or. lioutc, Kt'p. P. R. R. Surv. VI. iv. 18.57, 9.5.— JIaxi-
MiLIAX, Cab. Jour. 1858, 431. — Tdrao {Ceittrocercus) urophasianus, Swaixsox, F. Bor.
Amcr. II. 1831, 358 ; pi. Iviii. — Centrocercus urophasianus, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds,
024.- Cooper and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 222.

Sp. Cii.vr. Tail ft'atlKT.s twenty. Above varied with blaek and brownish-yellow ;
coverts having all the feathers sti'eaki'd with the latter. Beneath black ; the breast
white, the upper leathers with spiny shafts, the lower streaked with black ; tail coverts

with white tips; the sides also with much white. Lenrrth, 2!1.00 ; extent, 42.00 ; wing,
12.00 ; tail, 11.50. Iris of adult yellow, of young brown ; bill and toes blackish.

Hal). Sage plains of the northwest, to Eastern California. Sontli to Lower California?

Altliouoh tlie largest and ino.st beaut iful of American groti.se, this species
has not been mnch noticetl as a game-hird, on account of the barren, unin-
habited regions it frequents, and also from the bitterness of its flesli, caused
by feeding on the "wild sage" (Artemisia). It is said, however, tliat the

TETRAOXID.E — THE GROUSE — CEXTROCERCUS.

537

latter olijection may be overcome by stripping off the skin as soon as the
bird is killed, and emptying the contents of the crop and stomach. Prob-
ably if trapped and fed for a few days this trouble would be entirely obvi-
ated.

I have not myself seen tliis bird in California, but there is a fine speci-
men in the possession of Mr. I)illon, of (lakland, Avhicli he says was shot
near the IMojave Ei\-er. I saw wliat I thought must be the tracks of this
bird among the scrulj-oaks near the bead-waters of that river, and have
lieard of birds resembling tliem having Ijeen seen near tlie boundary of
Lower California, — a country similar to that inhabited by them east of the
Sierra. I haxe heard that they are common near "N'irgiaia City, Kevada.

Female.

Dr. Newberrv found them common in the northeast corner of Califdrnia,
along I'it Itiver, near " Kound Valley," and thence al)uudant towards tlie
north, and east of tlie Cascade IMountains. In the plains north of the l^p-
per Columbia I found some of them in 1853, lint they were not abundant,
and in 1860 I saw none there, wliile Mr. J. Hepburn, who visited that dis-
trict especially in search of them, was equally unsuccessful. Xuttall, how-
ever, speaks of seeing flocks of hundreds of them south of Snake PiiN'er, and
their chief range is probably in Eastern Oregon, Utah, and Nevada. They
are only found in those barren, sandy, and almost waterless districts where
the chief vegetation is Artemisia, and other plants ^\'hich cattle will not
touch. They feed on the leaves of this bitter shrub, as well as others, and
probably on various seeds of grasses, etc.

G8

538

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLIN.E.

They do not fly readily, but run ; and if they think they are not seen, squat
close to the ground, allowing travellers to pass very near withovit flying,
and often without Ijeing detected, although scarcely concealed by vegetation.
When they fly it is sometimes with a loud whir, sometimes without much
noise, and they generally continue their flight for a long distance before
they alight.

AVhen they fly they make a cackling noise, very much like that of the
common fowl, when flushed, but rather hoarser. Their flight is rather slow
and laborious, compared to that of other grouse.

According to Nuttall, they " pair " in March and April, but are also
polygamous, like most of the order. At that time they assendjle on emi-
nences near the l)anks of streams, the male lowering his wings and strut-
ting about with a luunming somid, the wings dragging on the groimd, tail
spread out like a fan, and the bare .skin of the breast inflated like an
orange, this being the apparatus that produces the hollow' sound, like blow-
ing into a hollow cane. The l;>lue grouse has this Ijlowing organ also con-
nected with the windpipe.

The nest is on the ground, made of dry grass and slender twigs, under low
bushes or tufts of high grass. The eggs, from thirteen to seventeen, about
the size of hens'-eggs, are wood-l^rown, wdth irregidar chocolate l>lotches
at the thick end. They are hatched in t^^•enty-one or twenty-two days, and
the young at once run about. (Nuttall.) According to Newberry, the male
weighs five or si.x pounds ; the female is a third smaller, as usual in some
birds of this family.

TETRAONID.E — THE GROUSE — BONASA.

539

Genus BONASA, .Stkphexs.

Bonasa, Stephen's, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XI. 1819. (Type, Tetnw honasia, L., ofEtirope.)
Tilrastes, IvEVsEULiNcj and Blasils, Wirbeltliiere Europas, 1840. Ixiv.

Gex. Cll.\n. Tail wiiU'iiiiiii to tho end, its teathor.s very broail, as long as the wings;
the feathers soft, and eighteen in number. Tarsi naked in the lower half; covered with

B. umhellits.

two rows of hexagonal scales anteriorl}', as in the Orhjrjince. Sides of toes strongly pec-
tinated. Naked space on the side of throat covered by a tuft of broad soft feathers.
Portion of culnien between the nasal fossae about one third the total length. Top of head
with a soft crest.

The rufled grou.se — " partridge," or " phea.sant," of the Atlantic State.s —
is different, though very much like ours. That of tlie Xorthern liocky
^lountain.s is probably also dift'erent, being very pale gray, with but little
brown in its plumage. {B. uinhcJloides, Douglas.) There is also one species
at least in Europe. The genus, in its partly naked tarsi, with two rows of
scutelhe anteriorly, indicates a close degree of affinity to the American jiar-
tridges or quails, as will be seen Ijy a comparison of the generic illustrations
of the two forms. Both have the flesh wliite and tender, and are equally
sought after as a delicacy.

540

SCRATCfflNG BIKDS — GALLINiE.

Bonasa Sabinii, Baird.
THE OKEGON GROUSE.

Tetrao Sabinii, Douglas, Trims. Linn. Soc. XVI. 1829, 137. — Rich. F. Bor. Anicr. H.

1831, 343. — B.viRD, P. R. Rep. Birds, IX. 031. — Cooper and Slcklev, XII. iii.

Zool. of W. T. 224. — Lord, Pr. R. Art. Inst. 1864, 123. — Elliot, Mon. Tetraoiiidic,

plate.
Tetrao umhd/iis, Rich , F. Bor. Amcr. II. 1831, 342. —Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Ronte,

Rep. P. R. R. Snrv. VI. iv. 1857, 94. And of other authors on the West Coast

speeies (not of Linnivus).

Sp. CiiAil. Dark oranfje-cliostnut above; the back with conhito ppots of lij:;htor. Be-
neath reddish-yellow, transversely barred with dull brown. Tail tipped with gray, and

•with a siibterniinal bar of lilaek. Broad feathers of the rnfT black. Length, 18 00 ; ex-
tent, 23.00; wing, 7 30; tail, C.70; midiUe toe, 2 30. Iris brown; bill and toes horn-
color.

//(//;. Rocky Moinitains to I'acific Coast of Oregon and ^Vashington. Northern Cali-
fornia ?

Altliougli this liird lia.s not yet been obtained in r'alifornia, as far as I can
learn, it is so abnndant at the Columbia Eiver and in (Jregon, tliat I think
it must inhaljit the northern part of this State, -where there are districts well
suited for its habits. It is an inhabitant of the forests, especially those of
deciduous trees along streams, and aliout the borders of prairies, I)ut never
ventures far from the woods. At times they feed aljout yrain-tields, and

TETRAONID.E — THE GROUSE — BONASA.

541

early in the morning are fund of dusting and snnning themselves on roads.
From the dense covert they usually inhabit they are not easy to shoot, hut
often alight in trees, and if (quickly shot at, give time for killing them before
flying.

In -January and Feljruary tlie males maybe heaixl " drumming" often dur-
ing the day, and sometimes at night. This they do by standing on a log and
beating it with their short concave wings, beginning slowly, and gradually
striking more rapidly, until the sound becomes a hollow whir. Tliey may
sometimes be seen doing this, but are \'ery difficult to approach in the
woods. They make no other soimd, except a cackling, sometimes when tliey
fly, and the low notes of the female when in charge of her young. The
Eastern species {B. umhdlus), very similar to ours, lays ten to fifteen dull
yellowish eggs, in a depression among tlie dead leaves near a log or bush.
Tlie young fly in about a week, and at Puget's Sound are hatched in May.

According to Lord, in his " Naturalist in Vancou\er's Island," etc., this
species forms a nest in May, on tlie ground under a fallen log or bush, of dry
leaves, lined with grass, bits of moss, and a few featliers, laying ten to four-
teen eggs, of a dirty wliitish, unspotted. He found about ten nests in one
swamp near the Spokan Prairie, Wasliington Territory.

It is somewhat remarkable that the rutted grouse of the Lower Yukon,
in Alaska, should belong to the variety B. imnbelloidcs, rather than to one so
characteristic of the coast reuion of Washiniiton and Oreuon.

Lagnpus albus.

542

SCRATCHliSTG BIRDS— GALLING.

Genus LAGOPUS, Vieillot.

/.ojTopus, ViEiLLOT, Analyse, I81C. (Type, Tetrao higopiis, Xj)

Gen. Char. Nasal crroove densely elotlied with leathers. Tail of sixteen or eighteen
feathers. Le"S leathered densely to the elaws. All the American species becoming white
in winter.

L. albits

Of this genus three, if not four, well-niurked species occur in Xnrtli
America, belonging principally to the high north, and especially aliuiidaut
in and near the Arctic circle.

Lagopus leiicurus, Swainson.

THE WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN.

Tetran {Larjnpiis} Iniciinis:, SwAixsON, Tauna Ror. Amcr. II. I83I, 356 ; pi. Ixiii. — Ncttali.,
Man. II. 18.34, 612. lit. I. 2(1 cd. lS4n, 820 — Buhd, Birds N. Amcr. 1S58, 636. —
Gray, Cat. Gallina\ Br. Mns. 1807, O^.— Trtnw Ininirus, AuDUBON, Orn. Biog. V.
1839,200; ]il. 4t8. — Lnr/nptis Imniriis, AiJDUiiON, Syn. 1839. Ib. Birds Amer. V.
1842, 125 ; pi. 302. — Elliot, Men. Tetraonid;e, i)]ato.

Sp. Char. I'.iU slender, rinniatre in siiininer barred with lirownLsh-yelLiw. In win-
ter pure white, including the tail leathers. Length, 13 00; wing, 7.00; tail, 4.25.

TETRAON^ID.E — THE GROUSE — LAGOPUS.

543

Hah. High alpine rej;ions of the Eofky ^Mountains, from Jfew Jlexico to the i\a'ctic
Ocean. Also highest peaks of Washington Territory, and Briti:^h Columbia.

The fact tliat the tail feathers, whicli on the other species of Lagoims are
always black throughout the year, are here entirely white, will serve to dis-
tinguish the species at once from all its congeners. Formerly but little
known in the United States, and its first introduction based on specimens
collected in the Cochetope Pass of the Eocky Mountains (lat. 39°), liy Cap-
tain ]\Iarcy, in 1858, this species lias now come to be a familiar member
of the alpine regions of the Rocky ^fountains, as depicted by artists and
authors. (Baird.)

OrtijT yirs'intanux

544

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLINiE.

Family TEEDICID^, The rAUTiiincES.

Chak. Nostrils protected liy a naked scale. The tarsi bare and scix-
tellate.

The partridges difi'cr hrnn the gmnse in the liare legs and naked nasal
grooves. They have a very extended distriljution, being fonnd, in one genus
or another, over almost the A\-hole globe. Tlie Old and tlie Xe-\v A^'orld
forms are tpute different, the latter forming the sub-family Ortyyina;.

Sub-Family ORTYGIN.E.

Chae. Bill stout ; the lower mandiltle more or less bidentate on each
side near the end.

The toothed or serrated character of the edge of the lower jaw, although
an apparently trifling feature, yet marks a constant distinction from the
smooth-edged bills of the Old World sub-families. There are several genera
recognized by naturalists, many of them represented by species of the
United States, and the total number of species is nearly fifty. They have a
close resemblance to each other, and the differences of form pointed out

PERDICID.-E — THE TAllTRIDGES — OREORTYX.

545

appear, in many cases, to be specific rather than oeueric. The crested (j^uails
are principally Calii'ornian.

The type of tliis sub-family is the well-known quail of tlio Atlantic
States, of which a tiyure is given on the preceding page.

Gexus OREORTYX, Baird.

Orrorli/r, BAiiin, Birds N. Amer. 1859, 642. (Tvpe, O^fi/.r pii-ta.)

Gen. Cii.vu. Roflv 8tiiiit, liroad : bill Inrj^e ; crt'st as in Li>/i/iiirl>/.r : tnil slioi-t, liroail,
scarct-'ly mure than halt' the wing, ruiindeil, the longest leathers not much e.\eeeiling the

O. pictta.

coverts. Leg.s developed, the elaws extending beyond the tip of the tail ; the lateral toes
short, the outer claw falling considerably short of the base of the miildle. Very similar to
Orlijx, except in the crest.

O. pictus.

The Eastern quails belong to the genus Orfijx, Stephens, and are not
crested.

69

646

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALIJN/E.

Oreortyx pictus, Douglas.
THE PLUMED PAKTEIDGE; THE HOTJNTAIN QtJAIL.

Ortijr: picia, Douglas, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI. 18^9, U.'i. — ('allipr/ila piria, Gould, Mon.

Odont. pi. XV.— Nem'beruy, P. K. Hep. VI. iv. 1857, 93. — Heeumann, X. vi. CI.

— Orcoiti/x pictus, Baiud, 1'. K. Kuji. IX. Binls, G42 — Coopeu .ind Sucklev, XII. iii.

Zool. ofW. T. 225.
Ortijx pUimifim, Gould, Pr. Zool. Soc. V. 1837, 42. — Audubon, Birds Amcr. V. 1842, G9 ;

pi. 291. — Pm//j-;)/«M//^ra, AuDUiiON, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 220; pi. i22. — Loi/hoiijx

pluniljh-a, NuTTALL, .Man. I 2d od. 1840, 791.

Sp. Char. Ilfad with a crest of two straight feathers, much longer than the bill and
head. Anterior half of the body grayisli-jjlumbeous ; the upper paris generally olivaceous
brown, with a slight shade of rufous, this extending narrowly along the nape to the crest.
Head beneath the eyes and throat orange-chestnut, borilered abuig the orbi!s, and a short
distance behiml by black, bounded anteriorly and superiorly Iiy white, of which color i< a
short line behind the eye. I'usterior half nf the body beneath white, a large centr,;! ]iateh

anteriorly (bifurcating behind), with the flanks and tibial feathers orange-chostnut-brown,
the sides of body showing black and white bands, the former color tinged with chestnut.
I'pper tail coverts black, streaked with orange-cliestnut. Upper tertials margined inter-
nally with whitish. Length, 11.50; extent, 18.00; wing, 5.75; tail, 3.25. Iris brown;
bill bluish horn-color ; feet brownish-white.

Hnh. IMountain ranges of California and Oregon. Not in Coast Range south of San
Francisco.

Tills liiril, one of the most heautiful of its family, is common in tlie higlier
mountain ranges of California and Oregon, and I tliink a few are found

PERDICID^— THE PARTRIDGES — OREORTYX.

547

nortli of the Columbia. South of San Francisco they are unknown near the
coast, unless some birds seen by memljurs of the survey in the iVLjunt
Dialilo Eange at an elevation of over three thousand feet, were of this species.
In the Sierra Nevada they have been obtained at Fort Tejon, about four
thousand feet elevation, and seen at Cajon Pass in winter, about the same
elevation, and in lat. 34°. They probalily extend farther south in the
mountains. At lat. 39° they descend in winter to about three thousand
feet, and are found lower towards the north, until in Oregon they frequent
the borders of the Willamette Valley, but little above the sea-level. They
are not common anywhere within the range of the gunners who supply
the San Francisco market ; all those I have seen there having been brought
alive from the Sierra Nevada. They abound in summer up to seven thou-
sand feet in that range, where I found them in September, the young not
quite full grown, and the old birds inoulting. In habits and flight they
have considerable resemblance to our other i[uails, Ijut their cries are quite
different. Tlieir note of alarm is a rather faint chirp, scarcely warning the
sportsman of their presence before they fly. They scatter in all directions
wlien Hushed, and then call each other together by a wliistle, ^'ery much
like that of a man calling his dog. According to Newbeny, the hen has a
cluck, much like that of the common hen, when calling together her young
brood about the first of August. The chickens also uttered a piping note,
scattering and concealing themselves in the gTas.s. Tlicir notes and Iiabits
in spring have not yet been described.

They do not seem anywhere to associate in flocks of more than fifteen or
twenty, and from the rugged, shrubby chai'auter of the country they inhabit
they are not easily shot, except in the early morning, when they come out
into the roads and openings to feed. Tliey live on seeds, berries, and
insects, and are very good for the table. As witli the other species, more
are taken in traps than by tlie gun. AVhen liunted in the thick brush they
generally run some distance before flying, and tlien rise singly, scattering so
that only one can be killed at a shot. I have never seen them perch in
trees, like the otlier species.

Lophortijx Cali/brnicus.

548

SCRATCIIIXG BIRDS — GALLIX.E.

Genus LOPHORTYX, Bonaparte.

Lophorli/T, Bonaparte, Gcog. and Com]i. List, 1838. (Type, Tetrao Californkus, SnAw.)

Gkx. Chau. Head with a crest of len<j,'theiiecl f'eatlie)'S springing from the vertex, the
shafts ill tlie same vertical ])Lane, tlie webs root-shajied, anil overlapping each other ; the
number vai'ies troni two to six or more ; they widen to the tiji, where they are slightly re-

life^A

L Californicus.

curved. Tail lengthened and graduated ; nearly as long as the wing, composed of twelve
.stiff feathers. Wings with the tertials not as long as the primaries ; the coverts without
any luuisual development; claws rather short ; the lateral reaching to, but scarcely bc}ond
the base of the middle ; the outstretched toe not reaching the tip of the tail.

Several other species of this genus are found in ^Mexico and Lower Cali-
fornia. Of these Lopliortyx ncoxcnus. Vigors (Nuttall) ; cristattts, Linnajus ;
Z. elegans, Nuttall ; L. Dowjlasii, Bonajiarte ; and " Ortyx " fasciatus, batterer,
have been attributed to I"p]ier California, lint not found liy any recent col-
lectors.

Tlie two species of this genus belonging to the Western United States
are ^•ery similar in pattern of color, and differ rather in tints. The males
may be best distinguislied by the following diagnosis.

L. Cnlifornkus. Vertex and occipnt liglit smoky olive-brown ; foreliead
whiti.sh ; spot in middle of belly orange-chestnut ; sides of body olivaceous-
plumbeous.

L. Gamhclii. Vertex and occiput clear chestnut-1 irown ; forehead black-
isli ; spot in middle of belly black ; sides of Ijody orange-chestnut.

PERD1C1DJ3 — THE PARTRIDGES — LOPIIORTYX.

549

Lophoityx Califoriiicus, Suaw.

THE CALIFORNIA QUAIL.

Teirao Califoniiais, SuAW, Nat. Misc. pi. 34.5 (prior to ISOl ). — Perdix Culifornica, Latham,
Suppl. IikI. Orn. II. App. 1801 ; pi. Ixii. — Audubon, Oni. Bioj;-. V. 1830, 152; ]il.413.
— HuTCiIiNGS, Cal. Mag. II. 18.i7, 241. (Woodcut of bird and egg.) — Orliji Culijhrnim,
SxEFiiiiNS, in Shaw'.s Zool. XI. 1819, 3S4. — Audlbos, Svn. 1839,199. Ib. Birds
AmtT. V. 1842, 67; pi. 290. — Lo/ihorti/x Califontka, BoNArAKTE, List, 1838. — Nut-
tall, Man. I. 2d ed. 1840, 789. — Baird, p. E. Rep. IX. Birds, 644. — CoopEit and
SuCKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of W. T. 225. — Callipepla Callfornica, Gould, Mon. Udont.
pi. xvi. — Newberry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 1857, 92. — Heermann, X. vi. 60.

Sp. Cii.\r. Crest black. Anterior half of boily and upper parts plumbeous ; the wings
and back glossed with olive brown. Anterior half of head above brownish-yellow, the
shafts of the still' feathers black; behind this is a white transverse band, which passes back
along the side of the crown ; within this white, anteriorly and laterally, is a black sufi'u-
sion. The vertex and occiijut arc light brown. Chin and throat black, margined laterally

Male.

and behind by a white band, beginning behind the eye. Belly pale bufT anteriorlv (an
orange-ljrown rounded patch in the niiddk'), and white latcralh', the fl'athcrs all margined
abnqitly with lilack. The feathers on the sides of borly, like the back, streaked centrally
with white. Feathers of top and sides of neck with the margins and shafts black. Under
tad coveits buff, broadly streaked centrally with Ijruwn.

550 SCRATCPUNG BIRDS— GALLIX.E.

Female similar, -n-itliout the wliite ami lilark uf the lu-ad ; (ho fratlnTs of the throat
brownisli-yclluvv, streaked with brown. The butr and orange-brown of the bellx- wanting.
The crest short.

Length, 10.00 ; extent, 14.00 ; wing, 4.50 ; tail. 4.-20. \rh brown : bill blaek ; ieet olive-
brown.

//(//;. Plains and lowlands of Caliliirnia and Oregon towards the coast, and as fiir as
the Colnmbia Ri\er. Mojave River.

The California quail, iialley quail, or common crested qutiil, is so abun-
dant a .species in all the lower parts of the country, that its appearance is per-
fectly familiar to every one, and it has had numerous illustrations in hooks
of natural history, etc., during the last seventy years. It abounds from tlie
Colnndiia River to Lower California in the valleys, and on the lo^\•cr jjaits
of the mountain-slopes up to about three thousand feet in lat. 3'j°, above
which it is replaced Ijy the mountain quail. It is also numerous on
Catalina Island, but was probably carried there originally, as a flight of
eighteen miles at once would probably be too far for a bird with so short
wings. It is not .found on any of the other more southern islands.

At most seasons these quails can be found in flocks, sometimes of several
hundreds, and they do not scatter in pairs even in the nesting season, e.v-
cept for a short period, the males soon collecting again in small flocks. It
has been stated that in the warm valleys of the interior they commence to
lay as early as March, but I have never found eggs near the coast before
April. At San Diego I found the first on the 22d of that month, about
thirty days later than Gambel's quail begins to lay at Fort !Mojave. At
Santa Barbara I found the first on ]\Iay 1st, and at Santa Cruz observed the

PERDICID.E — THE PARTRIDGES — LOPHORTYX. 551

young just hatched, ]\Iay 25th, so that the usual time for laymg seems to he
throughout Aj^ril and ^lay, perhaps extending two weeks earlier and later
in the extremes of its range. The number of eggs in a nest I have found to
vary from ele\'en to twenty, and several females probably lay in one nest at
times, as in the case with nearly all gallinaceous birds. Their color is
white or yellowish, with numerous blotches and spots of various sizes and
shades of brown, scattered mostly towards the larger end. The shade and
distribution of spots varies in such a manner as to lead to the opinion that
they are laid liy different l)irds. As an evidence of their habit of laying at
times in strange nests, I have found two of their eggs in a nest containing
four otliers of a Pvpilo, on the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in which
case the nest was deserted by l)otli species. The size of tlie egg is about
1.20 or 1.24 X 0.90 or 0.9G.

A writer in Hutcliing.s's California Magazine for December, 1857, men-
tions that a female kept in San Francisco laid during one .stimmer the aston-
isliing number of seventy-nine eggs, being of course depri\-ed of them and
not allowed to sit, while supplied with abundance of food. I'l'obaljly in
many instances tlie wild birds raise a late brood after losing their first
nest, and perhaps at times two broods annually. In the instance just men-
tioned the male bird showed at times a very tyrannical disposition, driving
the female for refuge into corners for several days together. I have not,
however, observed any pugnacity among them in a wild state, or much even
when confined in cages, unlike many of their foreign allies which have be-
come celeltrated for their figliting propensities.

The period of incubation is probaT)ly about four weeks, as with its nearest
allies, but I have had no o])portunity to ^■erify this. They are very easily
tamed, either when taken wild or raised from the eggs. In San Francisco
they are constantly to be found exposed for sale alive, and many escape
from the cages, scattering about the city, flying from roof to roof, and occa-
sionally descending into quiet gardens, especially if there are caged birds to
call them. A few rods from the suburbs, flocks of quails are frequent
among the dense imdergrowtli which covers the sand-hills.

They are carried East in almost every steamer, but no account of their
sitccessful naturalization in our more severe Atlantic climate has yet been
published. They are, however, said to be very numerous in France, where
tliey have found a suitalde climate, and are carefully protected. Experiments
made in England have not been so successful.

In the spring the males sit im a bush and ratter at short intervals a single
loud, almost screaming note, wliich .seems to be a call peculiar to that
season. At other times they have a triple call-note rather soft and pleasant,
capable of being interpreted in ^-arions words, according to tlie fancy of the
listener. Perliaps the nearest approach to it is in the syllables tucl'-l-e-t/u,

552 SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLING.

quickly whistled. This is their usual call to assemble when scattered ; if
suddenly startled they fly off with several loud chirps, pil'-p'ii-r'I'-pip, ex-
actly like the alarm-note of the rohin. Tlie young wlien alarmed chirp
similarly, hut more faintly.

When hunted they usually run a good deal before flying, and scatter,
rising in small numbers at a time or singly ; but it is probable that hunting
them with dogs may change this habit, especially in open grounds, and in-
duce them to lie closer, like the species of older countries. "When there are
trees near, some of tliciu almost always fly into them, and if hard pressed
conceal themselves so chjsely in tlie foliage that they are discovered with
great difficulty.

Tlieir habit of scattering makes it difficult to shoot more than one or two
at a time, even on the ground, and market-liunters rely chiefly on traps, by
which the quails are \-ery soon exterminated from a district. Sportsmen
are obliged to destroy these traps wherever Ibund, to prevent this destruc-
tion in more populous districts.

Tlie whir they make when started up is sufficient to put an inexperienced
shot quite off his guard ; and I tliink the birds where much hunted discover
this fact, and lie closer, starting up in larger numbers and nearer to their
pursuer, in order to destroy the effect of his shot. The Eastern quail shows
similar differences in habits in different districts.

From their frequenting the vicinity of bushes and other cover, there seems
to be no necessity for the female to use artifice in protecting her young
brood, and I have always seen them scatter at once, the old bird flying off'
as if confident that the )-oung could take care of themselves. The Eastern
species {Ortip- Virgin lanus) has often Ijeen raised liy the domestic hen, and
there seems no reason why this should not be also.

The only point east of the Sierra Nevada, where I have seen this liird, is
along the upper part of the Mojave Eiver, and it is doulitful whether tliey
occur elsewhere, unless it is in Owen's Valley. Towards the south. Dr.
Heermann states that the Colorado desert forms an impassable barrier to
their extension eastward. Near the sink of Mojave Iliver they meet with
the nearly allied species, Z. Gamhdii, and it would be highly interesting to
discover whether the two species hybridize in a wild state.

Attempts ha\-e Ijeen made to naturalize this species at Puget's Sound, but
they probably could not flourish there for many years. They have been
establislied, however, in the Sandwich Islands, and it is quite probable that
persistent and systematic effort ^\■ill result in making them familiar inhabi-
tants of many regions to whicli they do not belong naturally.

The flesh of the California quail is white and delicate, but rather de-
ficient in flavor, though capalile of improvement by fattening in confine-
ment.

PEIIDICIDJE — THE TARTRIDGES — LOrHORTYX. 553

Lophortyx Gambelii, Nuttall.

GAMBEL'S QUAIL.

Lophorti/x Gamhdil, " Nuttall," Gambel, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. I. 1S43, 260. — McCall, Pr.
A. N. Sc. V. June, IS.'JI, 221. — Baihd, P. li. Rej). IX. Bii-ds, 64.'j. — Kennerly, X.
iv. 3.3. — Co0ES, lliis, 1866, 46 (haliit). In. Pr. A. N. Sc. Phil. 1866, 94. —Dresser,
Ibis, 1866, 28. — Calli/H-jjId Giimhclu, Gould, Mon. Odont. pi. xvii. — Cassin, Illust. I.
ii. 1833, 45 ; pi. ix. — IIeermanx, P. R. Rep. X. v. 19 ; vi. 60.

.'^r. Cii.\R. Ht-ad ^vith .1 crost of five or si.K purplish-black fcatliers, about as long as
the bill ami head together, or a little longer. Ujiper parts, with the neck all round, and
the breast, plumbeous gray ; the shafts of the feathers brown ; those on the neck above and
on the sides edged with the same. Anterior half of head all rounil, with the chin and
upper piirt of throat, and a hirge spot on the l.)ell_v, lilack ; the forehead streaked witli
hoary gray. Top of the head chestnut, bordered anteriorly and laterally by black, inuue-

diately succeeded by an abruptly defined white stripe. A second stripe starts from the
posterior corner of the eye, and borders the black on the sides of the head and on the
throat all round. Belly pale brownish-yellow ; the sides of the body dark or.ange-brown,
broadly streaked centrally witli white. Inner edges of tertials light brownish-yellow.
Tail light plumbeous.

Female without the black and white of the head and tlie black of the belly, and only a
slight trace of the chestnut crown ; the crest shorter and of fewer feathers.
70

554 SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLINr.i;.

Length, 11.00; extent, 14.50 ; 17^12,475; tail, 4.2.5. Iris brown; bill black, pale be-
low ; feet lead-gray.

Ilah. Upper Rio Grande and Gila to the Colorado of Califiirnia. A few as far west as
the sink of Mojave River.

This species is almost exactly like the better kno'wn L. Ccdifornims in
habits as well as in pattern of plumage, but differs in both quite sufliciently
to constitute a good species, having also an entirely different range of
distribution. They seem more able to endure the droughts and heat of tlie
interior deserts, as I have seen small flocks on the barren moimtains vest
of the Colorado, and they occur in a genersrily more inhospitable country.
Their range toward the north is not known to be aboA'e lat. 36^, though pos-
siljly farther. Thougli more southern in their habitat, their average size
is larger than that of the coast l:)ird, as seen liy the measurements above
gi\-en, from many specimens, while birds of the same species are always
found smaller toward their southern limits. Tliey doulitless extend far into
Mexico, but not into Lower California.

At Fort Mojave they are numerous, and have all the calls of tlie coast
species, except the alarm chirp like a robin's, which I never lieard them
utter. There is, however, a slight difference in their notes, which is recog-
nizable by strangers.

They are also equally sociable, soon becoming tame, and after a few days'
feeding in a cage may be released to associate witlt the fowls, coming to be
fed, and making the vicinity of tlie house their home. One thus tamed
went off in the spring, hatched a Ijrood of young, and brought tliem to tlie

PERDICID Ji — THE PARTRIDGES — LOPUORTYX.

555

house for protection. Another hiid its eggs in the hen-house, which were
soon hatched by a hen, which, however, immediately killed the young, per-
haps considering them helpless dwarfs. These eggs required as much as
twenty-four days to hatch, which is, however, less than those of the Eastern
quail, said to need four weeks.

I obtained the first eggs March 2Gth, and as late as May 25th saw a nest
witli foui'teen eggs on which the hen was sitting. It was formed like that
of tlie California quail, but more carefully, being well hued witli soft grass
bent around in a circle about eighteen inches wide, and concealed under a
tuft of tall grass.

The young when hatched are jDrettily marked with several brown stripes
on a yellow ground like many chickens, but have also little crests of downy
plumes.

The eggs present all the varieties shown by those of the coast bird, and in
fact are scarcely distinguishable from them. They measure 1.18 to 1.22 X
0.90 to 0.98 inch.

As a game-bird this species is also similar to the California quail, though
perhaps less inclined to fly, and rarely if ever taking to trees. Its flesh is
similar, thougli, from the more barren districts it inhabits, generally drier
and more insipid, probably also tougher.

Genus CALLIPEPLA, Wagler.

Callipepla, Wagler, Isis, 1832. (Tvpf, Orlt/r squamata. Vigors.)

Gen. Cii.\r. Iload with a short depressed tufted crest of soft thick feathers springing
from the vertex. Other characters as in Loplwrli/x.

C squamata.

The single United States species is of a bluish tint, without any marked
contrast of color. The feathers of the neck, breast, and belly have a narrow
edging of black.

556

SCRATCHING BlUDS — UALLlNiE.

Callipepla squainata, Gray.

THE SCALED OR BLUE PARTRIDGE.

Ortiix sqmmatus. Vigors, Zool. .Jour. V. 18.30, 275. — Auekt, Pr. A. N. Sc. III. 1847, 221.
— Callijiepla sijuamata, Gkay, Gen. III. 1846, .")14. — McCall, Pr. A. N. Sc. V. IS.il,
222. — C.tssiN, lUiist. I. V. 1854, 129; pi. xi.x. — Gould, Mon. Odout. jil. xi\.—
Bairu, Birils N. Amcr. 1858, 476.

Callipepla stieiiua, VVagler, Isis, XXV. 1832, 278.

Tclrao cristalu, De la Ll.we, Registro triraestrc, I. 1832, 144.

Sp. Cii.\r. Ilt-ad with a lull broad llattenud crest of soft, elongated feathers. Prevail-
ing color plumbeous-gray, whitish on the belly, the central portion tinged with lirownish ;

the exposed surflice of the wings tinged with light yellowish-brown, and very finely and
almost imperceptibly mottled. Head and throat without markings, light gra^ish-plumbe-

PEEDICIDiE — THE PAKTKIDGES — CYRTONYX.

557

oils, throat tuim.'il with yollowish-brown. pLMthcrs of neck, iippm- jiart of back and under
parts generally, exc<'pt on the sides and behinil, with a narrow but well-defined maigin of
l)lackisli, jiroducing the effect of imbricated scales. Feathers on the sides streaked cen-
trally with white. Inner edge of inner tertials, and tips of long feathers of the crest,
whitish. Crissuni rusty white, streaked with rust}-. Female nearly similar. Length,
9.50; wing, 4.80; tail, 4.10.

Ilah. Valley of Rio Grande of Texas. Not yet detected fartluT west. Most abundant
on the high broken table-lands and niezquite plains. Southward into Mexico.

This .species has not yet, I "believe, been actually taken west oi' the Itocky
Mountains, but there is no reason why it may not occur in Arizona, and it
is introduced here for the purpose of completing the history of the family.
It is found high up in the mountains of Xew Mexico, and is there exposed to
considerable intensity of cold, while in the low lands it resists successfully
au equal extreme (jf lieat. They afford consideralile sport to the hunter, but
rarely lie to a di.ig, ruuning away with great swiftness when approached.
The ilesh, like that of other species of the family, is said to be excellent.

Genus CYRTONYX, Gould.

Cyrtonj.T, Gould, Mou, Odout. 1 1845. (Type, Ortyx /nassenu, Lesson.)

Gex. Char. Bill very stout and robust. Head with a broail soft occipital crest of
short decumbent feathers. Tail very short, half the length of the wings, composed of soft
feathers, the longest scarcely longer than the coverts ; much graduated. AVings long and

broad, the coverts and tertials so much enlarged as to conceal the quills. Feet robust,
extending considerably beyond the tip of the tail. Claws very large, the outer lateral

558

SCRATCHING BIRDS — GALLIN/E.

reaching nearly to the middle vi' the central anterior. The toes without the claws, how-
ever, are very short.

-:^l

i^^^:-.

This genus differs very luucli iVuiii its Kortli American allies in the great
development of the leathers composing the Aving coverts, the very short and
soft tail, and the very short toes and long claws. It is almost worthy of
forming the type of a distinct suli-1'amily, so many and great are its pectdi-
arities. The single North American representative is the only one of our
species with round white spots on the lower surface and black ones above.'
A second species, C. ocdlatus, is found in Mexico.

Cyrtonyx massena, (iouLD.

THE MASSENA PARTRIDGE.

OiUjx massena, Lkssox, Cent. Zool. 1830. 189. — Vjrlomjx missrna, Godld, Mon. Oilont.
1850, 14 ; tab. vii. — McCali,, V. A. N. Sc. V. 1851, 221. — Cassin, lUust. I. i. 1853,
21 ; pi. xxi. — Reichenisacii, Syst. Av. 1850, pi. xxvii. — Baiud, Birds N. Anier. 1858,
647. Ib. Mex. Bound. Rep. II. 23.— CoUES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1806, 95. — Dkesser, Ibis,
1865, 29. — Gray, Catal. Gallina; Br. Mus. 1867, 74.

Ortiji monlcziimo!. Vigors, Zool. Jour. V. 1830, 275.

Odoiilojiliorus mekaijris, AVaclek, IsIs, XXV. 1832, 279.

Tetiao r/iillata, De la Llave, Registio trimcstre, I. 1832, 145.

Sp. C'n.VR. Head striju'd with white, black, and lead-color; chin lilack. Feathers
above streaked centrally with whitish, those on the outer surface of the wings, with two
series of rounded black spots. Central line of breast and belly dark chestnut ; the abdo-
men, thighs, and crissum black ; the sides of breast and body lead -color, with round white
spots. Legs blue. Length, 8.75 ; wing, 7 00 ; tail, 2.50.

Hah. Chieflv on the L^pjier Rio (Jrande from the high plains of the Pecos. Westward
to Fort Whipj)le, Arizona, and the (iulf of California.

This, the most strikingly marked of all the American partridges, is abun-
dant along the southern border of the Viiited States, and is met with in

PERDICID.E — THE PARTIIIDGES — CYPaONIX.

559

small flocks or coveys, pi-incipally in sterile or rocky districts. It is said to
be very gentle aud unsuspicious, scarcely disturbed by the presence of man,

and capable perhaps, as sug'^cstcd by Mr. t'assin, of being readily domesti-
cated. Nothing- definite is known as to their mode of breeding. (IJaird.)

Female.

APPEJN^DIX.

By S. F. BAIRD.

I.

ADDITIONAL SPECIES.

The following species were omitted iu their proper place, aud are given here to
render the work more complete : —

Dendroica Graciae, Coues.

GKACIE'S WABBLEK.

Dendroica Gracia;, Codes, MS. Baikd, Kcv. Aracr. BJrils, 1865, 210. — Codes, Pr. A. N. Sc.
Phil. 18CG, 67.

Sp. Char. (No. 36,988, $ '!) Bill Fhovtor than the head ; gonys slightly convex.
Color of upper parts, with sides of neck, ash-gray ; the middle of back, and less conspicu-
ously, the upper tail coverts, streaked with black. A line from nostrils to above the eye
(passing into white for a short distance behind it), eyelids, a crescentic patch beneath the
eye, the chin, throat, and centre of jnr;nluni, bright yellow ; the rest of under jiarts, includ-
ing inside of wing, axillars, and tibia", white ; the border of the yellow, and the sides of
body streaked with black. A line ii-uni bill, through the eye, the cheeks (enclosing the

yellow crescent), the sides of the vertex, the forehead, and the centres of feathers on top
of head, blackish. Wings and tail blackish, the outer edges of the larger feathers pale
bluish-gray ; two white bands across the wing coverts. Lateral tail feather white, except
tlie inner web at extreme base, the shaft, and a narrow streak at the end of the outer web ;
the next feather similar, but the basal blackish extending farther along third feather with
edge of outer web, and a wedge-shaped patch in end of inner web, only, white.

Autumnal specimens similar ; the black markings less distinct ; the back tinged with
olivaceous.

Very young birds do not diller materially fiom the adult, showing nothing of the spot-
ting and mottling of the Turdii/ii'.

Total length, 4.C0 ; wing, 2.75; tail, -2.30.

Ildb. Fort Whi]iple, near Prescott, Arizona, and Belize, Honduras.

564 ADDITIONAL SPECIES.

This species is almost exactly like D. iiiijresceiis in the color and murliings of
the back (with its blackish interscapular streaks), 'wings, and tail, as well as of the
under parts, except that the chin and throat are yellow, margined with black,
instead of black margined with white. The heads are, however, very difierently
marked.

This interesting addition to the fauna of Arizona was made by Dr. Coues, during
his residence in that Territory. It is an inhabitant of the pines about Prescott,
where it breeds, though its nest was not obtained. It has much the habits of
other warblers, without any very striking or conspicuous note.

Junco annectens, Baird.

THE FINK-SIDED SNOW-BIRD.

Sp. Char. TMiole upper jiarts, with head and neck all round, and upper part of breast,
nearly uniform ah^h-color ; this on the under surface with a convex outline behind, and
not extending under the wings. Whole interscapular region, outer webs of greater wing
coverts, and sides of body from bend of wing, liglit diestnut rufous ; paler beneath, and of
a pinkish tinge, and contrasting quite abrui)tly with tlie white of middle of breast, belly,
and anal region. Lores abruptly darker; outer two tail leathers white, the next with
longitudinal white stripe Bill yellow, with dusky tip; legs yellow. Length, 5 50; wing,
3.10; tail, 2.80.

Hab. Rocky Mountains to Arizona. (Fort Bridger, Fort Burgwyn, and Fort Wliip-
pie.)

This species or race is so decidedly intermediate in character between J. Ore-
gonus and caniceps, that I have always considered it (with concurrence of Dr.
Coues, who met with it in life) as a hybrid between the two. The characters,
however, appear very constant, the relative share of the two species being always
preserved, and I think, therefore, that iF'is entitled to a provisional appellation,
even if a hybrid. In the case of the Upper Missouri hybrid Colaptes (between
Mexicamis and auratus), no two specimens are alike in the proportional share of
features of the parent species, while in the present instance there is a decided
constancy.

The general appearance is that of canicejis, in the light, uniform ash-eulor of
the upper and anterior jjortion of body, and the blackish lores in appreciable con-
trast with the rest of the face. The posterior outline of the ash on the breast,
however, is not concave, extending along the sides as in caniceps and hi/emalis, but
convex, transverse, and on tlic sides washed with pinkish-rufous, as in Ore</oiiiis.
This latter color, however, is usually deeper, more extended, and better defined
against the white of the belly. The chestnut or rufous of the back is not con-
fined to the interscapidar region, as in canicep.^ but extends on the wing coverts as
in Oregonus and ciiiereus. Its color is, however, that of cauiaps, not of Oregoiitis.

11.

EXrLANATION OF TERMS USED IN DESCEIBING THE
EXTEENAL EOEM OF BIEDS.

Turtfiis jntgrntorius, h.

REFEKENCES TO THE FIGURE.

N. B. In

tlie fisurc the adjacuiit regions arc separated liy a double bar, with the letters he-

A. The body in Kfiiei--'!- ''" T'he resion of the tad.

n. The region of tlie head. F- " " " ^'''"S--

C " •' " neek. G. " " " legs.

j,^ u u u trank. II- Tlie featlicr.^.

NOTE. -I am uiKlor obligations to Profossor Pu.ulov.ll of Stockholm and Dr. Sclatcr of London for as.«istance
in correcting and improving thu present article.— S. F. Uaikd.

566

APPENDIX.

B.

Head.

9.
10.

Bill in general.
Miixilla.

32.

33.

Front head (sinciput ).
Hind head (occiput).

11.

20.

llandible.
Ridge.

34.
36.

Forehead.
Frontal points.

21.

Tip of maxilla.

39.

Lores.

•22.

Kfcl.

40.

Ophthalmic region.

23.

Angle of chin.

41.

Orbits.

27.

Angle of mouth.

42.

Cheeks.

28.

Commissure.

43.

ICyebrows.

28*.

, Nostrils.

44.

Temples.

30.

Cap (pileus), includes 32, 33.

45.

Parotics.

31.

Crown (vertex).

C.

Neck.

46.

Chm.

48.

Hind neck (includes

49,

50).

52.

Throat.

40.

Xape.

53.

Jugulum.

50.

Hcruffi

54.

Side neck.

51.

Fore neck ( includes

62,

53).

D. Trunk or Body.

57.

Back (includes 58, 59).

62.

Breast.

58.

Upper back.

63.

Abdomen (includes 64, 65)

59.

Lower back.

64.

Epigastrium.

60.

liunii).

65.

Belly.

61.

JIantle (back and wings together)

66.

Crissum.

E. TaU.

70. Tail feathers (or rectrices).
72. Upper tail coverts.

73. Lower tail coverts.

F. "VS

rings.

75.

Primary quills.

89.

Secondary coverts (include 9:

76.

Secondary quills.

93, 94).

77.

Bend of wing.

02.

, Greater wing coverts.

79.

False wing (alula).

93.

Lesser wing coverts.

80.

Scapulars.

94.

Middle wing coverts.

86.

Primary coverts.

95.

Edge of wing.

G. Legs.

97. Thigh (concealed under skin).

98. Sliiu (tibia).
103. Heel joint.
1035. Tarsus.
112. Foot.

116. Toes.

126. Outer toe.

127. Inner toe.

128. Middle toe.

129. Hind toe.

For the purpose of dcfiuino- the form, markings, coloration, and other peculiari-
ties of birds, the diftereut regions of the body have received names bj' which intol-
lio-ible reference can be made to any portion. It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to
say that all livin-' liirds have a head supported on a neck, with jaws e.xtended
into a bill covered with a horny sheath, or witli skin, the two jaws situated one

APPENDIX. -jQ^j-

above the other, and always destitute of teeth. The anterioi- pair of hmbs is
developed into winjjs which, however, are not alwaj-s capable of use in flight ;
the posterior serve as legs for the support of the body in an oblique or nearly
erect position. The body is covered with feathers of variable structure and charac-
ter, both in the young bird and the old. (The wings are apparently wanting in
some fossil species.)

The following terras, English .and Latin, arc those most generally cmplovcd in
describing the external ibrin of birds, and are principally as defined by llliger.
In cases whei'e there is no suitable English word in use, the Latin equivalent onlv
is given. The figure selected for illustration, drawn by Mr. R. Ridgway, is tliat
of the common American robin {7'iirdiis miyratoritis, L.), and will be familiar to
most students of ornithology.

A. Body in General (Corpxs).

1. Feathers [Phimw). A dry elastic object, with .1 centr.il stem at one end fonninf; a hol-

low horny tube implanted in the skin at its tip, the other feathered on opposite sides.

2. Quills (Pcnnw). The large stiff' feathers implanted in the posterior edge of the wing and

in the tail.
.■?. Plumage (Plilosis). The general feathery covering of the body.

4. Unfeathered (Imphimix). A portion of skin in which no feathers arc inserted.

5. Upper parts {NntrcKm). The entire upper surface of the animal. (Sometimes restricted

to the trunk.)

6. Lo'wer parts {Gasti-rrum). The entire lower surface of the anim.al. (Sometimes restricted

to the trunk.)

7. Anterior portion {Sielliimim). The forward part of the bodj' (about half), boili up]ier

and under surfaces, including the chest.

8. Posterior portion (irtcum). The hinder portion of the body (about hiilf), including the

abdominal cavity.

B. The Head (Crqmt).

9. Bill (7?os/!-»»i). Tlie projecting jaws, one above the other, united by i binge joint beliiud,

and covered by a horny sheath, or a skin, and enclosing the mouth.

10. Maxilla, or upper jaw {ilaiilhi)

11. Mandible, or lower ja-w (Manrlihnla).

12. Raniphotheca. The horny covering, or sheath of the jaws.

13. Rhinotheca. The covering of the upper jaw.

14. Gnathotheca. The covering of the lower jaw.

15. Cere (CVra, or Ceroma). A skin at the base of the maxilla, in certain birds.

(In birds without a horny sheath to the bill, the cere may be considered as
extending to its very tip.)

16. Edges of bill (Tom /a). The margins of upper and lower jaws where they come in

contact. We have thus a

17. Maxillary tomium, and a

18. Mandibular tomium.

19. Gape or Commissure (Commissura). The junction of the tomia, or of tbe two bills.

568

APPENDIX.

Head (Cmitimml).

20. Ridge {Ciilmen). The nppcr outline of the hill when viewerl laterally; extending from

hasc of hill to the

21. Tip (Dcrtrum).

•22. Keel {Gonijs). The lower outline of the hill viewed laterally; extending Irom the

angle of the chin to the tip.
2.3. Angle of the chin (Amjulus menlalis). The point where the two hranches, or rami,

of the lower jaw

24. (Giiathidia, Rami) nnite, thence to be continncd to its tip as the

25. Myxa {Si/miilii/sis).

26. Malar region (Regio malan's). The ont.side of the base of lower jaw ; ii.^imlly covered

with feathers.

27. Angle of the raowth {Anfjtilns oris). The angle formed by the niandihle and maxilla;

the posterior boundary of the ga])e or commissure, the tip of bill being the anterior.

28. Nostrils (Nares).

29. Head, as restricted (Caput). The head, exclusive of the bill.

."iO Cap (Plleiis). The whole top of head from the base of Ijill to nape.

.31. Croivn ( Veite.r). The highest central portion of the top of heiul (between the ear.s).

32. Sinciput {Sinripul). The anterior half of cap (from bill to middle of crown).

33. Occiput (Occijmt). The posterior half of cap, (from middle of crown to the nape).
.34. Forehead [Frons). From base of bill to crown (usually anterior to line of eyej.

35. Nape (A^/«.7«(). See 49.

36. Frontal points (Aniia). The two projecting feathered angles of the forehead embra-

cing the base of the eulmen, or included between the frontal angle of the maxilla and
the angle of the mouth (not always present).

37. Mastax (Maslax). The side of the fore part of the head, adjacent to the base of the

n.nxiUa, and distinguished by its feathers or its color.

38. Capister {Capistntm). The anterior portion of the head all round the base of the

bill.

39. Lore (Lorum). Narrow space between the bill and the eye, on each side.

40. Ophthalmic legioa [Rer/io ophthalmica). Space round the eye.

41. Orbits (Orhila). The innermost portion of the ophthalmic region immediately adjacent

to the eye.

42. Cheeks ( G'entE). See Malar region.

43. Eyebro'w (Siipercilia). A longitudinal stripe immediately above the eye.

44. Temples ( Tcmpora). Whole side of the head behind the eye or between the eye, top of

head, and the ear.

45. Parotic legion [Regin parotira). Space around the cars.

46. Chin (Mentuin). Space embraced between the branches of lower jaw.

C. The Neck {Collum).

47. Neck {CoHiiiii). The part connecting the head .and trunk, enclosing the neck vertchraj.

48. Hind-neck [Cercix). The upper or posterior portion of the neck, from occiput to

back.

49. Nape {Xucha). The portion of hind neck nearest the head.

APPENDIX.

569

Neck [Continued).

50. Auchenium {Atichenium). The ijortion of hind neck nearest the tack, the "scruff"

of the iieek.

51. Fore-neck (O'ullnr). The inferior or anterior portion of neck, from tlie chin to th'j

hreast.

52'. Throat {(jiiIh). The up]ier part of fore neck, or that nearest the chin.

53. Jugulum (.Iwjnlnm). Tlie lower part of fore neck, between llie tlu-oat aTul the

breast. (Divided into upper, middle, and lower.)

54. Side neck {Paraudienium). The sides of the neck, between the front and the hind

neck.

55. Collar [Torrjues). A ring of any kind encircling the neck.

D. The Trunk {Tumcm).

56. Trunk (Truncus). That portion of the body enclosing the viscera and intestines, and carry-

ing the neck and head at one cud, the tail at the other, as also the four limbs.

57. Back (Dorsum). The jiortion of llie upper surface of the trunk, from the neck to the

rump, and corrcsiionding to the dorsal and sacral vertcbr.-B.

58. Upper back [Interscuputium). The upper portion of the back, or along the dorsal

vertebra' ; between the shoulder-blades, and Ojjpositc the breast, sometimes called
dorsum anticum.

59. liovrei hSLC^ (Teiyiim) . The lower portion of the back elong the saeral region,

from the upper Iiack to the rump, and opjiosite the belly, somclimcs called clumum
post/mm.

60. Rnmp (Umpyfiium). The portion of the upper side of the trunk corresponding to the

caudal vertebra'.

61. Mantle (Straijulum ; Pallium). The back and the outside of the folded wings taken

together.
CI J. Ventral region {liojio venlrulis). Under side of body, including breast and abdomen.

62. Breast (Pectus). The most anterior portion of the lower surface of trunk, representing

the region of the sternum or breast bune (between the jugulum and the abdomen).

63. Abdomen (.-ibJomcn). The imder side of body, between tlje breast and the anal region.

64. Epigaster {Ejjii/iislriiim). The anterior portion of abdomen, next to the breast.

65. Belly (i'enter). The hinder portion of the abdomen, next to the anal region or

crissum.

66. Anal region (Crissum). The region around the anus, below the tail, and opposite to

the rump. Freciuently includes under tail coverts.

67. Flanks {fh/pnrliondria). The siile.s of the soft parts of the body.

68. Humeral region (/lir/io humemlis). The anterior portion of the sides; that in which

the wing is iuiplanted.

E. The Tail (Cauda).

69. Tail {Cauda). The feathers forming the posterior extremity of the body, implanted on tlic

OS cocoygis, or rump bone.

70. Tail feathers {Pedrias). The long individual feathers belonging to the tail.

Note. — Tefjminn (73j) arc coverts in general, whether of wing or tail. CalyptcHa are tail coverts.
Teclrices(&Z), wing coverts.

570 APPENDIX.

Tail ( Continued).

71. Tail coverts {Cahjpteria). The feathers overlying and covering tlic base of the tail

fcatlicrs ; the
'1. Upper (siipa-iores) being tliose above, and

73. Lower (injiriorcs) those below ; someiiincs concealing or projecting beyond the tail.

F. The Wings (.lAr).

74. Wings [Alic). Tlic anterior jiair of limbs of the bird, nsed in flight.

75. Primary quills, or quills of the first series; Hand-quills (Remtrjes primarim).

The (usiialh) ten stitf feathers insei ted on the hand or tirst joint (metacarpus and
di.^it), ur from the bend uf the winy to tlie tip.
70. Secondary quills or quills of the second series; Arm-quills {Remiyes secun-

darii ; Pmnm cubili). The inner quills, or those inserted along the posterior edge of
the forearm or cuhitiis. The innermost of these quills, sometimes longer or dift'erent
from the rest, are frequently called tertials. [Pennai tertiariw.)

77. Bend of the wing {Fle.nira, Plica). The angle of junction of the hand-joint and that

of tlic fijrcai-ni.

78. Armpit ( A.ri/h). The under side of the insertion of the wing into the liody.

79. False or Bastard -wing {Ahdi:). A scries of several stiffened feathers on tlie edge of

the wins, overlying and exterior to the primary quills, and inserted on the thumb johit
of the hand.

80. Scapulars (Pewm scapulares) Stiffened feathers inserted on the shoulder-blade or the

insertion of arm {Jinmeriis), and hlliug up the intcrvtil between the secondary qtiills
and the body.

81. Axillars {Pennrr. axillures). Similar feathers connecting the under snifacc of the wing

and the body, and concealed in the closed wing.

82. Speculum, or Mirror {Sjiccnlnm atx). A lirilliantly colored portion of the wing

especially in the ducks, over the extremities of tlic secondary quills, and framed in on
one side (in the closed wing) by the primary quills, or the other by the scapulars.
8.3, Wing coverts (Tecfn'ecs). The smaller feathers of the wing. Tlic

84. Upper (.<i(/)fnOTrs), side above or outer. The

85. Lower {infenorcs), below, or inside, and overlying the bases of the quills. Those

and the quills form the surfaces of the wings.

86. Primary coverts {Ttctrices piimariaj. The feathers, which cither

87. Upper or

88. Under overlie the bases of the primary quills. These are on the nppcr or

under surface of the wing ; not often distini^nished in descriptions.

89. Secondary coverts ( TlcZ/ices sccH»(/un'(t). Tlie feathers which, as

90. Upper and

91. Under, cover the bases of the sccomlary quills, on the np]ier or under surface of

the wings, being generally those referred to as " coverts."

92. Greater coverts (Tectrirrs mnjorrs). The longest coverts projecting beyond the

rest, and resting directly upon the b.ises of the sccomlary quills.

93. Lesser coverts (Tectriccs minorcs). The succession of many series of small

feathers bcgiiming at and covering the anterior edge of the wing, very small at
first and increasing in size behind.

94. Middle coverts (Tcdrices nmliir). One or more rows of coverts, intertnediate

in size as well as position, between the lesser and greater coverts.

APPENDIX,

571

WiugS (Conlinued).

95. Edge of the -wiilg {Camptmmn ; ^fargo carpi). The small featliers covering the an-

turioi- eilye of the wing, both along the f'ureann and the hand or first joint, including

the bend of the wing.

G. The Legs (Pedes).

96. Legs {P((ks). The posterior pair of limbs inserted in the pelvis, and used in walking or

riinnint;.

97. Thigh {Femur). The basal joint of the leg, its head articulating with the pelvis. This

is generally imbedded in the tlesh, and covered by the skin so as not to be appreci-
able, especially in the prepared specimen.

98. Shin {Tibia). The second or middle joint of the leg, articulated above to the thigh,

below to the tarsus. The upper part, sometimes the whole, is enveloped in flesh,
and covered by skin and feathers; sometimes the lower extremity is covered by horny
plates, the

99. (Cnemidium).

100. Foot joiut ( Puclarlhnim). The junction of the tarsus below with the foot.

101. Podotheca (Pmhtlieca). The horny or skinny covering of lower til)ia, tarsus, and feet.

102. Kuee ( Giiiu). The junction of the thigh with the leg, usually concealed by the skin.
10.3. Heel joint {Sujfrayo). The junction of the leg with the tarsus.

103A. Tarsus {Tarsus). The third joint of the leg and next to the tiliia ; covered generally
with born, sometimes with naked skin or feathers, never with flesh ; the toes are ar-
ticulated to its lower extremity. This joint corresponds to the ankle joint of tlic human
body.

104. Instep, or Front of tarsus {Acrotarsium). The anterior face of the tarsus,

usually covered by small plates, which in the higher groups are united into one ;
sometimes covered by skin.

105. Side of tarsus {Paralarsium).

106. Back of tarsus {Planta larsi). Homologically the Sole {Pkinta).

107. Heel (Ca'caHcus; Talus). The upper posterior extremity of the tarsns.

108. Spur [Calcar). Any bony sharp process or spine implanted on the tarsus, as

in the rooster.

109. ScuteWss {Scutelhi). The succession of small, usually rectangular plates, applied

against the anterior face of the tarsus, and the upper surface of toes. These
sometimes encircle the tarsus completely, meeting on the inner side; sometimes
reach half round with similar half rings on tlie back side of the tarsus ; are some-
times divided into polygonal plates ; are sometimes fused into a continuous plate,
cither anteriorly or laterally. Modifications of structure in this respect indicate
differences in rank and systematic position of the highest value.

110. Scutellate tarsus. When the tarsus is covered with transverse or polygonal

scales, as described above.
1 1 1 Booted tarsus. Where ihc anterior face is covered with a contiuuous horny

plate not divided into seutella;.

112. Foot (Pis). The toes and tarsus taken together.

113. Top of foot (^4cropoc?/Hni). The entire upper surface of the foot. ~

114. The track (Pe/!«a). The entire lower surface of the foot.

115. Heel pad (Ptevra ; Tubtr). The posterior portion of the /;eZ«io, immediately under

the joint of the foot, and freijuently prominent.

572 APPENDIX.

Legs ( Colli iniwd).

116. Toes (Digiri). The, usually four, sometimes three, very rarely two, articulated portions

of tlie leg hinged on the lower extremity of the tarsus. "When all four are [iresent, one
is usually behind, sometimes two before, and two behind.

117. Top of toes {Acroilacii/liiiii). The upper surfiice of the toes individually.

118. Soles of toes {Ili/podaclijtuin). The lower or plantar surfaee of the toes indi-

vidually.

119. Side of toes {Parmhnli/lum). The sides, in any w.iy distinguished from the

soles.

120. Phalanges. The several bones composing a toe.

121. Claw {Uiiijiies). The horny tips sheathing the last joint of the toes.

122. ClaTW joint (Rhizonijduum). The terminal bone of the toe, carrying or armed

with the claws.

123. Pads ( Ti/lari). The swellings or bulbs on the under side of the phalanges.
Those Toes arc

124. Anterior which are directed forwards ;

125. Posterior, directed backwards ;

126. Exterior, on the outer side of the foot ;

127. Interior, on the inner side of the foot ; the

128. Middle toe is the central of three toes directed forwards.

123. Hind toe (Hallux). The single toe directed backwards. This is homologically

the first or great toe directed backward. It is

130. Insistent {insistms). when the tip at least touches the ground, but the base raised

above the level of the rest ;

131. Incumbent (incumbms), when its whole under surface touches the ground ; and

132. Elevated (clevatiis ; amoliis), when raised so high that the tip does not touch the

ground at .all.

133. Unarmed toe (Diijitus unitkus). Toe without a claw. Tlic tarsus is unarmed

when without a spur.

134. Fringed toe (Digilns lomaihais). A lateral membranous margin to the toes. This

135. Fringe (Loma) may be

136. Continuous (anitiuuiini), or

137. Lobed or Scolloped (Inbatum).

138. Membrane (Palama). A skin cither soft or covered with scales or fcithers con-

necting two adjacent toes together at the base, and sometimes extending to or
beyond their tips. The foot so constructed is called

139. Palmate {/lalniatiis) when the anterior toes only are so connected and

141. Oaied {ater/aiiopiis], where all the toes, including the hinder, are so connected in

the cormorants, etc. The feet may be half, or semipaUnate ; entirely or toti-
palmate.

KoTE. In the u>ual aiTaugement of the toes, of three before and one behind, the hinder corre=pond.s
to the great toe of man, or the first; the inner anterior is the second; the middle is the third; and the
outer is the fourth. When the toes are in pairs or two before and two behind, it is the outer or fourth
toe that is turned backwards, as is the woodpeckers. In the Trogons, however, the inner toe is revered.
With scarcely an exception in birds, the hinder or first toe h.as two joints; the inner (2d) has three; the
middle (3d) has four; and the outer (4th) has five, or a formula of 2.3.4.5. In the typical Cnpri-
mulfjUlcE the outer toe has only four phalanges the formula being 2.3.4.4. Finally, in some Ciip^itVnhe
{Cypselus and PaiiytUa), we have the middle and outer toes with three joints only each, the formula be-
ing 2.3.3.3. When there are but three toes, the hinder or first is wanting; the ostrich ( Sli'uthio) has but
two tries, hacking the first and second.

APPENDIX. 573

H. The Outer Covering (InJianenium).

142. Outer covering (Indmwmtum ; Plilosis). The exterior of the bird in detail.

143. Feathers (P/«m(p). Composed of ihe stoH and the iceis.

144. Stem {Scapus). The entire central axis of the fe.ither.

145. Quill ( Calamus). Tlie hollow horny basal portion of the feather.

146. Shaft (PJiarhis). The solid terminal portion of tlie stem in which the fibres

ai'c implanted.

147. Webs (Pogonia). The series of fibres implanted on each side the shaft, generally

stitV, and having little

148. Hooks or barbules along the edges, by which adjacent ones interlock; sometimes

soft, with the baibules not interlocking, the barbules sometimes wanting. The

149. Inner web (Pogonium internum) is situated on the inner side of the shaft ; tlie

150. Outer (externum), on the outer side.

I51- Vane ( Vesilhun). The shaft and webs taken together, or the portion of the feather

left when tlie barrel or quill is cut away.

III.

GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TEEMS.

N. B. The figures refer to the paragraphs of tlie preceding systematic explana-
tion of terms used iu describing the external form of birds.

Abdomen, 63.

Abnormal. Different from the usual character.

Aci-odaclijhun, 117.

Acrojiodiunt, 1 13.

Acrotarslum, 104.

Acuminate. With a narrowed or tapering-
point, the sides of which are usually more or
less concave.

Adidt. A bird which has assumed its perfect
or final plumage and slmpe.

Alw, 73.

Alar. Relating to the wings.

Alula, 79.

Amotux, 132.

Anal. About the anus.

Anal retjion, 66.

Angle of chin, 23.

Angle of mouth, 27.

Annotiue. A bird one year old, or which has
renewed its feathers once.

Anterior. The forward portion ; in front of

Anterior portion, 7.

Anterior toes, 1 24.

Aniicc, 36.

Anus.

Armpit, 78.

Ash or Ashy (color). The color of wood-
ashes.

Attenuated. Lengthened out, and gradually be-
coming narrower.

Auckenium, 50.

Auricular. Pertaining to the region about the
cars.

Autumnal. The dress or plumage of a bird in
the autumn.

Axilla, 78.

Axilhiries, 81.

AxiUars, 81.

B.

Bad; 57.

Back of tarsus, IOC.

Band. A mark perpendicular or transverse to
the axis of the body.

Barbules (of feathers), 148.

Basal. At the base ; in a feather, the end next
the body.

Bearded. With elongated fcatliers or hairs hang-
ing from the chin or tln-oat.

Belhj, 65.

Belt. A band completely encircling the body.

Bend of wing, 77.

Bevelled. Where two surfaces meet obli(iuely or
other than at a right angle.

Boat-shaped (tail). The planes of the two sides
of tail forming an angle with each other, the
concavity above.

Boot ; Booted. The horny covering or envelope
of the tarsus when continuous and not divid-
ed transversely into scales or scutellte.

Booted tarsus. 111.

Breast, G2.

Buff. The color of yellow buckskin.

Calamus, 145.

Calcanrns, 107.

Calcar, 108.

Cali/pleria, 71.

Campterium, 99.

Canthus. The corners of the eye where the two

eyelids meet.
Cap, 30.
Capistrum, 38.
Capitate (feather). Where the end of a linear

feather is slightly expanded.
Caput, 9, 29.

GLOSSARY,

575

Caruncles. Naked fleshy portion of the head ;

usually wrinkled, or warty, and highly col-
ored.
Cauda, 69.
Cera, 15.
Cere, 15.
Ceroma, 15.
Certiix, 48.
C/icefa, 26.
Chin, 46.
Ciliated. Fringed with hairs or bristles, like

the eyelashes.
Cinereous. Ashy; the eolor of wood-ashes.
Circular. Shaped like a circle ; round.
Clem) joint, 122.
Claws, 121.
Collar, 55.
Colluni, 47.

Coloration. The tint or color of an olijcct.
Comb. Naked fleshy crest on the U]ipcr part of

the bill or hood.
Commissure, 19.
Compressed. Brought together so as to be higher

than wide.
Compressed (tail). The planes of the two sides

of the tail forming an angle with each other

concave below.
Concave. The inner side of a curved line or

inner face of a curved surface ; the opposite

of convex.
Confluent. Running together ; .is when spots

run into each other.
Connate. Growing together, or united.
Continuous. Without any interruijlion or break.
Convex. The outer side of a curved line, or

outer face of a curved surface ; the opposite

of concave.
Cordate. Heart-shaped ; ovate, with a notch in

the broader end producing two rounded lobes,

the other end sometimes acutely pointed, some-
times rounded.
Crest. Lengthened feathers in the cap or

nape.
Crissum, 66. The under tail coverts ; generally

used for the region behind the anus.
Crown, 31.
Culnien, 20.

Cuneate. Wedge-shaped, or of angular outline.
Cuneate (tail). The central tail feather longest,

the others diminishing rapidly, the outline

forming an angle with the sides straight.
Cuspidate. With a sharp and rigid point,

not formed entirely by a projection of the

shnft.

D.

Decumbent. Bent, or hanging downwards.

Decurved. Bent, or curved downwards.

Dentate; Dmtated. Notched, leaving nearly regu-
lar tooth-like points, with the two sides e(pud,
or forming nearly an isosceles triangle.

Denuded. Laid bare (of the skin, when freed
from feathers).

Deplumate. Bare of fcatliers.

Dei>luntalus, 4.

Depressed. Flattened down ; broader than deep.

Dertrum, 21.

Digit. The finger or toe portion of the hand or
foot.

Dirjiti, 116.

Disk. (In owls.) A space around the eye,
with the feathers diftcrent in texture aiul
character from those of the rest of the head.

Divaricatid (tail). The tail feathers curved out-
wards on each side.

Dorsum, 57.

Down. Short, soft, concealed fcatliers inserted
between the bases of the stiffened feathers of
the body in some birds (especially the Ana-
tidw). The basal portion of the webs of stiff
feathers, sometimes developed into a similar
substance.

DusLi/. Of a dark color.

Edge of wing, 95.

Elevated toe, 132.

Elliptical. Considerably longer than wide, and
rounded equally at the ends.

Elongated. Lengthened, or longer than com-
mon.

Emarrpnalcd. With a notch at the end, as of a
leaf or feather.

Eniarqinated (tail). AVlicn the outline of the
end of the tail forms a slightly concave curve ;
tlie outermost featliers the longer, and the
others diminishing gradually and slightly.

Epigastrium, 64.

Erectile. Capable of being stiffened up, or
raised to a more or less upright ])osition, —
as the tail of a peacock or turkey, etc.

Exterior. The outer portion or surface, as dis-
tinguished from the interior or inner.

Exterior toes, 126.

Even (tail). The ends of all the feathers in the
same straight line.

Etjcbrow, 42.

576

GLOSSARY.

Falcate. Shaped like a scj-the or sickle.

False ifing, 79.

Fastiyiate. Gathered up into a conical bunch
or head.

Feathers, I, 143.

Femur, 97.

Fibrillce. Little fibres.

Filiform. Thread-like.

Flanks, 67.

Flexura, 11.

Flexure. The bend (of the wing).

Fuot, 112.

Foot-joint, 100.

Forehead, 33.

Fore-neck, 51.

Forked (tail). The exterior feathers consider-
ably the longer ; tlic intermediate ones of
nearly the same length. When the central
feathers of a forked tail are longer than those
next to them, the tail becomes doithli/ forked.

Fossa. A place hollowed out, as in that por-
tion of the bill in which the nostril is situ-
ated.

Frim/e, 135.

Frintjed toe, 134.

Fro7is, 33.

Frontal points, 36.

Front of tarsus, 104.

Fulcous. A brownish-yellow.

Gape. Tlic opening of the mouth, 28.

Gastraum, 6.

Genie, 43.

Genu, 102.

Gnathidea, 24.

Gnathotheea, 14.

Gonijs, 22.

Gorget. A crescent-shaped patch on the neck.

Graduated. Diminishing or increasing regular-
ly, and rather rapidly in length.

Graduated (tail). The central feathers longest,
the others diminisliing regularly and consid-
erably to the outermost one ; the outline of
end of tail forming a curve longer than broad.

Greater coverts, 92.

Gula, 52.

Guttur, 51.

riallui, 129.
Humerus, 68.

H.

Iland-ijnills, 75.

Head, 9, 29.

Heel, 107.

Heel-joint, 103.

Heel-pad, 115.

Hexagonal. Six-sided and six-angled.

Hind-neck, 43.

Hind-toe, 129.

Hoarij. A light silvery gray.

Hooks of fathers, 148.

Homotine. A bird of the brood of the same

year.
Hypochondria, 67.
Hi/podacti/lum, 118.

Incuhntion. The covering an Q^,^',^ by the parent
bird, in iuitching it.

Incumbent. Bent downwards so that tlie ends
touch, or rest on something else.

Incumbent toe, 131.

Indumentum, 142.

Inner toes, 127.

Inner iveb, 148.

Insistent toe, 130.

Instep, 104

Interior. Inner.

Interior toes, 127.

Interrupted. Not continnons, bnt broken up.

Interscapular. Between the shoulder-blades.

Interscapuhtm, 58.

Immaculate. Without spots or marks ; of an
uniform color.

Immature. Said of a bird which iias not as-
sumed it^ final color or shape.

Isthmus. A neck, or narrow stripe, connecting
two larger portions of the same region or
color.

.lugulum, 53.

Keel, 22.
Knee, 102.

J.

K.

L.

Lamella. A little jdatc, as in the inside of the

edge of a duck's bill.
lamellate. Provided with lamclhc.
lamina. A thin plate.
Lanceolate. Tapering rather in\rrowly towards

either end, like a lance-head.

GLOSSARY.

577

Lanceolate. Lanec-shapcd; rather narrow am!

lajjcriiig gradually to one cud ; uiorc rapidly

to ihe other.
Larijnx. The orjj;an of voice in the windpipe.
Lateral. Towards one side or the otlier ; not

in the middle.
Legs, 96.
Lesser coverts, 9.3.
Linear. Witli straight outlines parallel to each

other, and close together.
Lobe. A projecting division, niunded or blunt

at the cud.
Lobed, 1.37.
Loma, 1.35.
L.omatinus, 134.
Loni/iludinal. In the direction of the greatest

dimension, or of the a.xis ; the direction from

head to tail.
Lore, 39.
Loriim, 39.
Lower back, 59.
Lower jaw, 11.
Lower pa7is, 6.
Lower wing coverts, 85.
Lunulate. Crescent-shaped.

M.

Mala, 26.

Mandible, 11.

Mandibiila, 1 1 .

Mantle, 61.

Mastax, 37.

Mature. Sec Adult.

Maxilla, 10.

Median. In the middle, as distinguished from
lateral.

Membrane, 138.

Mentmn, 46.

Middle coverts, 94.

Middle toe, 128.

Minor, 82.

Mottled. When one or more colors are laid on
in rather i\ell-delined spots or patches, more
or less irregularly.

Mucronate. In a feather when the shaft, or mid-
rib, projects slightly beyond the rest of the
feather.

Muticns, 1.33.

Mi/za, 25.

N.

A'opc, 35, 49.
Nares, 28i.

Xedc, 47.

Xornial. Of the ordinary or usual character.

Nostrils, 28.J.

A^oteeuin, 5.

Nucha, 35, 49.

Nuchal. Pertaining to the nape.

0.

Oared-foot, 140.

Ob (in composition) signifies that the usual con-
dition is inverted, or that an attribute, gener-
ally posterior, is now anterior, or vice versa.

Obsolete. With only a faint trace or indication
(as of a spot).

Olituse. With the point rounded off.

Occipital. Relating to the occiput.

Occiput, 33.

Olivaceous. A greenish-brown color, similar to
that of an olive.

Opltthahnic refjion, 40.

Orbila, 41.

Orbits, 41.

Oscine. A s])ccial group of birds, pre-eminent
for the power of singing.

Outer covering, 142.

Outer web, 150.

Oval. But little longer than wide, and rounded
equally at both ends ; shaped like the outline
of an egg.

Ovate. A more pointed oval.

Pads, 123.

Palama, 138.

Palmate (feet). A membrane connecting the

middle toe to the two lateral, and extending

as far as the claws or beyoud.
Palmate foot, 139.
Paradacti/hnn, 119.
Paratarsiam, 105.
Parauclienium, 54.
Parotic region, 45.
Parotics, 45.
Pectus, 62.
Peclinattd : Pectination. Shajied like the teeth

of a comb.
Pedes, 96.
Pilma, 114.
Penna, 2.

Perforate. Pierced through.
Phalanges, 120.
Pileus, 30.
Plnnta, 106.
Plica, Tl.

)78

GLOSSARY.

riuma, 1, 143.

Plumage. The contiiifr of featlKTs.

Phtmbious. Tlie color of t;irnislied lead.

Potlnthriim, 100.

Podium, 112.

Podotlicca, 101.

Pogonium, 147.

Poli/i/oii. A continuous figui-o of many sitlcs
and angles.

Posterior. The hinder, or most backward.

Posterior portion, 8.

Posterior toes, 125.

Prehensile. Capable of taking liold of an olyect,
or of grasping it.

Primdrij coveriti, 86.

Primitri/ e/ntlls, 75.

Prolrcu-lile. Capalilc of being nio\ed, or extend-
ed forward, as the tongue of a bird.

Pterna, 115.

Pteromiila, 89.

Pliki, 86.

Ptitusis, 3.

Q.

Qnadrnnrjuhr. Four-sided.

Quadrate. Squared, with four equal sides and
angles.

Q'lills, 2, 75, 76, 145.

Q'tills. The large, stilf feathers of the wing, in-
serted in its posterior edge.

R.

Rhampothmi, 12.

liectrices, 70.

Recurved. Bent gradually upwards.

Reflection. A play of color on a suifacc, gener-
ally differing with the direction of vision.

Remiges, 75, 76.

Reticulated. Lines uniting into meshes, as in a
net.

Retractile. Capable of licing drawn back and
driven forward, as the claw of a hawk.

Rhachia, 146.

Rhinotheca, 13.

Rhizomjcliiuni, 122.

Rictus. The gape of t)ic month.

Ridije, 20.

Rounded (tail). The central feathers the long-
er, the other diminishing regularly and gradu-
ally, but slightly to the cxtcrioi". A tail is
sometimes emarginated in the centre, and
rounded at the sides.

Rudimentari/. Reduced from the usual condition

to a very small size, as the first quill of many
birds, etc.
Rump, 60.

s.

Sagittate. An elongated cordate fignre, with
the lobes acutely ]iointed, not rounded or
shaped like the head or barb of an arrow.

Scapnln. The shoulder-blade.

Scapular. Pertaining to the region of the shoul-
der-blade.

Scapulars, 80.

Scapus, 144.

Scissor-shaped (tail). The outer tail foiuher con-
siderably the longer, the others diminishing
regularly to the central.

Scolloped, 137.

Scutella, 109.

Scutelhc. The small plates, (u- scales, on the
leg.

Scutellale. Provided with seutella;.

Scutellate tarsus, 110.

Secondari/ coverts, 89.

Seco7Klan/ quills, 76.

Semipalmate. Wlion a membrane connects the
middle too to the lateral, for the basal half
only.

Settc. Bristles.

Shaft, 146.

Shin, 98.

Shoulders, 68.

Sidc-necl-, 54.

Side of tarsus, 105.

Sides of toes, 119.

Serrated. Marked or shaped like the teeth of a
saw.

Sinciput, 32.

Sole, 106.

Soles of toes, 118.

Spatulate (feather). When the shaft is naked,
or narrowed for a certain distance, and is
then webbed or widened at the end.

Speculum, 82.

Spur, 108.

Spurious (quill). A quill reduced to a very
small size.

Stegani, 141 .

Steqanopus, 141.

Stethiteuni, 7.

Stem, 144.

Strai/ulum, 61 .

Streak. A short longitudinal mark, or one
nearly in the direction of the line of the body.

GLOSSARY.

579

Slripe. A continuous longitudinal nuiik, witli
the sides nearly paiMllel.

Sub (in composition^. Somewhat or slightly.

anffrarp, 103.

Suffusion. A "rimning" of color, or its gradual
fading around the outside of ;i spot or mark.

Sulcus. A groove or furrow.

Supemliarij. Pertaining to the region of tlic
eyehrow (as a stripe over the eye).

SupercUium, 42.

Sijndacli/le. The toes more or less united to-
gether directly and without inteimediatc
membrane.

Tall, 69.

Tail cori:}is, 71.

Tail fuilhers, 70.

Tarsus, 10.3i.

Tarsus, back of, lOG.

Tarsus, booted. 111.

Tectrices, 72, 73, 83.

Teymina, 72, 73.

Temples, 44.

Terijnm, 59.

Terminal. At the end.

Tempore, 44.

Terlials, 80.

Thirjh, 97.

Throat, .^2.

Tibia, 98.

Tibial. Pertaining to the tibia.

Toes, 116.

Top of toes, 117.

Tomia. The edges of the two jaws that shut

together.
Torques, 55.
Track, 114.
Transverse. In a direction perpendicular to or

across that of the Hue of the body.

Truncate. As if abruptly cut off, either perjien-

dicularly to the general line, or oblicpio to it.
Truncits, 56.
Trunk, 56.

Tubercle. A little lump or elevation
Tylari, 123.

U.

Unarmed toe, 133.
Ungues, 121.
Upptr buik, 58.
Upper jatv, 10.
Upper paits, 5.
Upper wing coverts, 84.
Uneum, 8.
Uropygium, 60.

V.

Tone, 151.

Venter, 65.

Vernal. Pertaining to the spring.

Versatile. Capable of being changed or turned

from one position to another, as a lateral toe

of some birds.
Vertex, 31.
Vexillum, 151.

W.

Washed. As if overlaid, or coated with a thin
layer of another color.

Wattle. A naked fleshy, and usually wrinkled
and highly colored skin hanging from the
chin or throat.

Web, 147.

Wedge-shaped. See Cuneate.

Whiskered. With elongated feathers, or bris-
tles, on the cheeks.

n7»i7S, 73.

Wing, bend of , 77.

Wing coverts, S3.

IV.

SPANISH NAMES OF CALIFOENIAN BIRDS,

The following arc names in use among the Spanisli population of Upper and
Lower California. The list has been fm-uished by John Xantus, Esq.

Ciithavtos aiir.a.

Poljl)Onis Auiitilioni.

Accipitcr Coopcri.

Butco Swainsoni.

Aivliilnitco fLMTUKiiiciis.

Circus Hudsonius.

Crnxircx Harrisii.

Falco |ioly.i^;Tiis.

Tinminculiis sparvcrius.

PanJion Carolincnsis.

Bubo Virginianus.

Strix pratincola.

Scops Me Callii.

Pyioccphalus Mexican us.

Sayornis nigricans.

Pliitnopepla nitons,

Tyraniius vcilicalis.

Myiarclnis cinerasccns.

Vin^o, ]

Svlvicolitliu, j- without distinction.

Troglorlytcs, J

Polioptila plumbca.

Anriparns flavioeps.

Ilclininthopliaga ruficapilla.

Antlius Uulovicianus.

Agelaius phocniceus.

Xantlioce])lialus icterocephalus.

Scolccophagus cyanocephalus.

Cliondcstcs graniniaca.

Calainospiza bicolor.

Poospiza biliiicata.

CulUirio cxculiitoroides.

Canijiylorhynclnis allinis.

Pi|iilo albigula.

Pipilo clilorura.

Sdasphorus rufns (')

Heliopicdica xantusii' ?.

Mclancrpcs forniicivoius.

Aura morcna.
Queleli.

Aguililla pinta.
Gavilan lilanco.
Gavilan cerrano.
Halcon bravo.
Halcon negro.
Halcon acuatil.
Ilembrilla.
Aguila pcscadora.
Tecolotc grande.
Lechuza blanca.
Lechuza cerrana.
Muscicapa colorada.
Muscica]ia oscura.
Cazador de nioscas.
Cazador amariUo.
Cazador comiin.

Reyezuelo.

Burioncilo.
Paro amarillo.
Paro Colorado.
Paro acuatil.
Mirlo Colorado.
Mirlo negro.
Mirlo pcqucTio.
Gorrion dc Imcrtas.
Gorrion pinto.
Gorrion ])rieto.
Carniccro.
Viracoche.
Gorrion bianco.
Gorrion vcrde.
Chuparosa Colorado.
Cliui)arosa pinto.
Chuparosa csplcndcnte.
Carjiintero jjinto.

SPANISH NAMES OF CALIFOKNIAN BIRDS.

581

Picus liicasanus.

Centurus iiropvgialis.

Colaptes chrysoidcs.

Cyanocitta Ciilit'ornica.

Corviis ossifragus {').

Hirundo thalas.sina.

llii'undo liiculor.

Progne purpurea.

Chordciles tcxciisis.

Melopelia luucoptcra.

Zeiiaiiliira Caroliiiensis.

CIiama;pelia passcrina var. pallescciis.

Lophortyx Californicus.

Gcococcyx Californianus.

Ccryle alcyon.

Cardinalis igneus.

I'yrrhuloxia sinuata.

Carpodacus frontalis.

Carpodaciis (?) (a green species).

Carpodacus Calitbriiicus.

Cyanospiza versicolor.

Ilurporliynclnis cincrcus.

Guiraca mclanocepliala.

Guiraca ccerulca.

Mimus polyglottus.

Oreoscoptcs montanus.

Icterus cucullatus.

Icterus parisorum.

Ictcria Inngicauda.

Pyranga ludoviciana.

Zonotricliia leucoplirys.

Melospiza .

Tardus nuistelinus ?

Sturnella neglecta.

Pulioa Americana.

Kallus 1

Gallinago AVilsonii.

Macrorliamphus griseus.

JEgialitis vocifcriis.

Gambctta, ,

without distinction.

Calidris,

Ilimantopus nigricollis.

Ibis falciiiellus,

Tantalus loculator.

Liniosa.

Numenius.

Triiiga.

Anscr.

Anas bosclias.

Dafila acuta.

Spatula clypcata.

Qiierqiiedula cyanoj)tera.

Qiicrquediila Carolinensis,

Buccpliala .

Carpintero negro.

Car)iintero I'resno.

Picamadero.

Gallo azul, or Pajaro azul.

Caervo pescador.

Golondrina vcrde.

Golondrina blanca.

Tragazon.

Tapa camino.

Paloina comiin.

Paloma zorrita.

Torcacita.

Codorniz.

Cliurea.

Pescador del Key.

Cardcnal.

Ecscpecbo.

Burion Colorado.

Burion verde.

Billion ccrrano.

Trinador.

Vitacochon.

Gorrion grande.

Gorrion azul.

Sinsonte.

Ccrcion.

Calandria amarilla.

Calandria ncgra.

Calandria acuiitil.

Acanta orilla.

Acanta pinta.

Acanta priet.a.

Alondra del inonte.

Alondra cerrana.

Gallineta negra.

Gallineta niorena.

Zopenco prieto.

Zopenco gi-is.

Filtir, or Piletir.

Agacbadiza.

Sarajjico negro.

Sarajjico verde.

Sarapico grande.

Bobo.

Chorlito.

Eng.aiio.

Ganzo.

Anade grande.

Puntiacola.

Palnpico.

Cerccta.

Zarccta.

Pato buzo.

582

SPANISH NAMES OF CALIFORNIAN BIRDS.

Gnis Americ.inus ?
Botauriis lentiginosus.
NyctheroiUiis violaceus.
Ardca Iierodias.
Floiitla cceriilea.
Garzetta caiulidissima.
Ilerodias cgrctta.
Fclecaniis f'uscus.
Pelecamis crythroiiiynclius.

Caibo ;

Lophoilytes cucuUatus.
Tachyputcs nquila.
Lams (no Jisiinction).
Sterna (no distinction).
Podiceps (no distinction).
Brachyrhamphus.

GiuUa ccnana.
Garza morena.
Garza llamadora.
Garza grandisima.
Garza azul.
Garza pequeiia.
Garza blanca.
Alcatia'z negro.
Alcatraz l)laiico.
Cormoran.
Mcrganzar.
Piijaro de fragata.
Gaviota.

Golondrina di.1 mar.
Buzo.
Paloma del mar.

INDEX OF SCIEXTIFIC NAMES.

N. B. SpeciSc Dames begin with a small letter ; all others have capital initials.

abcrtii,

Pifnlo, 244.
aca'lica,

.\'i/rtale, 436.
Accipitcr 4G4.

coop^rti, 464.

y^itsctts, 4GG.

mextcanus, 46.5.
aciilcata,

^iltii, .54.
JE<put\ins 158.

tinaria, 159.
sestiva,

Dencli-tEca, 87.
affinis,

Canipi/Iorliijnclius, 62.
Agciaius 261.

gubermitor, 26.3.

phwniceus, 261.

tricolor, 265.
agripennis,

Icterus, 255.
Alauditla;, 250.
alaudinus,

PassercuUts, 181.
albilVoiis,

Certhta, 66.

jVi/clnle, 435.
albi^ula,

PZ/i/to, 248.
albohuvatus,

Pic»s, 382.
Alceilinida;, 335.
alcyon,

Cerjjie, 336.
ak'xaiulri,

Trorhilus, 353.
alpestris,

Aland:', 251.
americana,

Ampelis, 129.

CVi-yc, 338.

Coc'-i/ijus, 371.

Coluiuha, 509.

Cbrr».s-, 285.

Cura'rostrn, 14S.

Picoides, 3«5.

.S/njr. 415.
Aminotlromus 190.

sainuelis, 191.
amoena,

Ci/(inospha, 233.
Ampelicte, 1 26.
Ampelis 126.

cedrortim, 129.

fjairidus, 127.
auatnm,

Palvo, 457.
anna,

Cahipte, 3.58.
anncxiis,

PiirH.f, 43.
Anortliur.i, 72.
anthinus,

Passerctilus, 183.
Anthiis 77.

/tidovtciajtiis, 78.
Aiitrostomiis 340.

imltalli, 340.
aquatii'us,

Antlius, 78.
Aqiiila 449.

cinuideniih, 449.
Aichibiitco 481.

Jerruf/ineus, 482.

tar/opus, 483.

Sancti-Jahaiinis, 485.
arctoa,

Leiicostictp, 165.

Passf-r, 161.
arctica,

Frimjilla, 241.

Picdidis, 384.

5/a//a, 29.
arborea,

FringiUa, 206.
asio,

Scops, 420.
Astur 467.

atrtcapillita, 467.
Astiiriiui 486.

;iiV((/u, 480.
Athene 437.

cunicularia, 437.

ktjpiig(ca, 440.
atricapiUus,

yls^ir, 467.

Cidicivora, 37.

EmI'criza, 197.

Friinjdhi, 197.

V7cfo, 121.
atrieristatiis,

Lnjihopltancs, 43.
atri^'ularis,

Spizclla, 210.
Altliis 361.

hrloisic, 361.
atulubonii.

Dendraca, 88.

Pu/yborus, 492.
anra,

Catharles, 502.
auricollis,

Icteria, 98.

Psarocoliiis, 273.
Auriparus 50.
Jiaciceps, 51.
ayresii,

Colaptes, 410.
azarae,

Pijranrja, 144.

belli,

Poospiza, 204.

TVico, 123.
be\vicl<ii,

Thrijotltorus, 69.
bicolor,

Calamospiza, 225.

Ilmmdo, 106.
bilineata,

Poospiza, 203.
blandincian",

Frimjilla, 248.
Bonasa 539.

sabinii, 540.
borealis,

fiK(ro, 470.

Colhino, 137.

Conlopiis, 323.

Nephacctis, 349.
Brachyotus 427.

cdssinii, 428.
br;ich_vrhynciuis,

Gii'rrnliis, 307.
brasilianus,

Chordciles, 344.
brasiliensis,

Poli/borus, 492.
bfunncicapilliis,

Ciunpylurhyuchus, 61.
brewcri,

Qitlscalus, 278.

Spiztlla, 209.
Bubo 417.

rlnpiiinnus, 418.
buUockii,

Icterus, 273.
Buteo 469.

cahiriis, 471.

cooperii, 472.

eleyans, ATi.

684

INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES.

Iiar/ani, 473.
jusi^/nutus, 474.
}itoufanu^, 41)9.
oxijpteiuA^ 481).
stvainaonii, 476.
zouocercus, 479.

cab.ini>ii,

Alccclo, 338.
cacalotl,

Corvus, 282.
ca;rulea,

Guiraca, 230.

Polioptila, 35.
Cahunospiza 224.

bicohr, 225.
calciulula,

Rrijuhis, 33.
califuniiL'US,

ZJwteo, 482.

Carpoihicus, 154.

Cutliartes , 496.

Cijaiiocitla, 302.

(Jeococci/x, 368.

Lojihorlijx, 549.
calliope,

aiMula, 363.
Callipepla 555.

S'juaniaki, 556.
caliirus,

i'H(<o, 471.
Calyple 358.

anna, 358.

cosdr, 360.
canipestris,

Lciicostkle, 163.
Campylorliynchus 60.

affinis, 62.

bninneicapilius, 61.
canadensis,

Aquila, 449.

Cohiinha, 509.

Frinrplla, 206.

Per'n^orcua, 307.

Pinirola, 151.

>S7/(a, 54.
can a,

Splzdla, 210.
Candida,

i;;n>, 447.
canireps,

JiiHro, 201 .
Caprimulgidre, 340.
Cardinalis 238.

i(jiieus, 238.
cavnivorns,

forms, 282.
carolinensis,

Bombi/cilh, 129.

Galeoscopfes, 23.

Pandion, 454.

.S'/«(;, 54.

Tip'annils, 31 1.

Zentii<hini, 512.
Carpodnciis 153.

catifuviiicits, 154.

cassinii, I 55.

frontalis, 156.

cassmn,

Brai-Iujotus, 428.

Cai-poikicns, 155.

Cf/anocorax, 292.

Pcucaa, 219.

FiVto, 117.
castancucauda,

Hdiojiivdim, 365.
Cathartes 495.

((«rt/, 502.

calijbrniaiiiis, 496.
Catherpes 65.

niexicuniis, 66.
caurinus,

Corvus, 285.
cedroinm.

Amp, lis, 129.
tclata,

Ilelminthoplaif/it, 83.
Centroeeicus 534.

iirop/iasianus, 536.
Ccntnrus 397.

uropi/i/ialis, 399.
(.'ertliiad;v, 56.
Certliia 57.

mexicana, 58.
Cevyle 336.

alri/on, 336.

umirlcana, 338.
Chanura 350.

vuuxii, 351.
Chamaiadai, 38.
Cliama:a 39.

fascialu, 39.
Cham;epelia 516.

palksctns, 517.

posserina, 516.
childieni,

Sijivia, 87.
chlonira,

P(/w7o, 248.
Clioiidestcs 191.

(/raiuinaca, 193,
Cliordeilcs 342.

henriji, 344.

pojjctue, 342.

texeiisis, 344.
chrysajtos,

Aquila, 449.
chrysoidcs,

ColapU'S, 410.
chry.sola'ma,

Alauda, 251.
Clirysomitris 166.

laivrencii, 171.

mexicantts, 169.

piniis, 172.

psnilrid, 168.

trtslis, 167.
ohrvs()]iareia,

baulraca, 93.
chrvsoi)S,

Emhcriza, 180.
Cinolidai, 24.
Cindns 24.

Dtpxicanus, 25.
cincrascens,

Tyranuida, 316.

cincrea,

Print/ilia, 214.

Ilaiporlii/ric/ats, 19.

i>i/ridiini, 433.
Circus 489.

hudsonicus, 489.
Cistotliorus 74.

pultistris, 75.
Claniatores, 309.
Coccygus 371.

aincrica7ms, 371.
ca'i'nlco-coUis,

tSialia, 28.
C0O]>L'rii,

Accipitcr, 4G4.

Putco, 472.

Pipiiwja, 142.
Colaptes"407.

chri/soides, 410.

mexicunus, 408.
collaiis,

Colaptfs, 408.
Collurio 136.

bomdis, 137.

cliijans, 140.

excnhitoroidrs, 138.
Columljida;, 504.
Columba 505.
Jasciata, 506.

finviroslris, 508.
colninliarius,

/■>;/(■», 460.
coUimhianus,

Pidiiicetes, 532.

PicicorcHS, 289.
confinis,

Turdtts, 9.
Contopns 322.

bonalis, 323.

pcrtinax, 324.

ricjiaulsonii, 325.
eorax,

tVuivis, 282.
coronata,

Ilendraca, 89.

ZmotricJua, 197.
eonuua,

Ercniophilu, 251.
Corvida;, 280.
Corvus 281.

carnirorus, 282.

caurinus, 285.

cri/ptoUucus, 284.
Cotuiriieulus, 188.

passirinus, 189.
costa',

Cali/ple, 360.
Cotyle 109.

riparia, 110,

serripennis, 110.
cucullatns,

Iclriiis, 275.
CuculiiUv, 366.
Culifivora, .34.
Curvirostra 147.

americona, 148.

Icucoptcra, 149.

/o.r«i, 148.

INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES.

585

Craxirex 49.3.

harrisii, 493
crissalis,

FrimjWii, 24.5.

Iluijiurliijnchus, 18.
cristata,

T<trao, 556.
cryptoleuous,

Vorvus, 284.
cvancus,

' Fairo, 489.
t'yaiioceplmlu.s, 290.

Gi/mnn/,it a, 292.

Sco/t'ro/ihttf/its, 278.
Cyanocitta 297.

catifornica, 302.

soniidd, 305.

uvod/ioiisii, 304.
Cyano.S[jiza 232.

aiiuciHi, 233.

irrsicolor, 234,
Cyanura 297.

macrolo/ikus, 300.

s/c//e/v', 298.
Cypsclida;. 345.
Cyrlonyx 557.

massena, 558.

delafieldii,

Tridias, 95.
Deiulruicidai, 80.
Dcndra'ca 86.

(P.v/i'm, 87.

audubunii, 88.

c/in/sopiirciii, 93.

corouata, 89.

graci(e, 5(>.'l.

iti(frfsi:cns, 90.

OCri(lfnt(di:i, 92.

toicnsciidti, 91.
difficilis,

ICmindonax, 328.
dispar,

/•a/co, 488.
doliata,

6V)/.r, 448.
Dolichonyx 254.

oryzivorus, 255.
doi'salis,

Sunco, 201.

Pkoides, 386.

Ectopistes 509.

miijratoiia, 509 .
Elaii'us 488.

leucurus, 488.
elcgans,

Bw/m, 477.

Co'hin',1, 140.
Empidonax 326.

Jtavirejilrh, 328.

hammondli , 330.

obscurus, 329.

()-a///ii, 327.
enuclcator,

Loxia, 151.
Ercmo|iliila 251.

coninlttj 251.

erythi-ooephalus,
Mclauerfies, 402.

excubitoroides,
Culluno, 138,

excubitor,
Laniits, 137.

Falconida;, 449.
Falco

anatum, 457.

columbarius, 460.

Jeinorali:<, 461.

polydyrus, 458.

sparverius, 462.
fallax,

Melusprzct, 215.
fiimiliaris,

Carpodacus, 156.
fasciata,

Chumtea, 39.

Cotuiidtd, 506.

Zonotridiiu, 215.
felivox,

Turdus, 23.
fenioialis,

Fu/co, 461.
fernigiiiciis,

Archibidto, 482.
flammea,

Strix, 415.
flam^ncola,

Scops, 422.
flavicups,

Aun'jiariis, 51.
flavirostris,

Cu/iaiihii, 508.
flaviventris,

Empidonax 328.

/-■/(•H.v, 392.
forniifivorii.s,

Mclaiierpes, 40.3,
fuIii.'iiiosu<,

i'liYeo, 4S0.
lulva,

Ilirimdo, 104.

/■u/co, 449.
fiilvilrons,

Milrcplionis, 334.
fusciis,

Accipiter^ 466.

/'//«■/'), 245.
FrinyillidiC, 146.
iVanklinii,

re/;-no, 529.
frontalis,

Car/iodacus, 156.

57/7>, 435.

gairdneri,

/"(CHS, 377.
gaIeatu.•^,

Lophophancs, 43.
Galeoscoptcs 22.

carolitien^iSf 23.
Gallinif, 520.
gallopavo,

Mrlmiiris, 523.
^ainbclii,

jLopkorti/x, 553.
yiunotric/ua, 195.
garrulus,

Ampelis, 127.
Geococcyx 366.

califurniamts, 368.
Geollilypis 94.

mac»/iluvrai/i, 96.

tdchas, 95.
gilva,

Vireosf/!ri(i, 1 16.
Glaucidiiim 443.

yiwimi, 444.
gnoma,

Glaucidiiim, 444.
gracite,

Dendrceca, 563.
grammaca,

Vkoiidirstcs, 193.
graniineus,

Poaceles, 186.
gri-scinucha,

Leucosficte, 161.
gubernator,

A;/eluius, 26.3,
Guiraca 227.

cirrtika, 230.

mdanocephaia, 228.
guttata,

Fringilla, 214.

Passerculus, 185.

Te^rao, 558.
Gymnokitta 290.

cyanocephala, 292.

Haliaitus 451.

falco, 454.

leucocephaliis, 451.
hammondii,

Empidonax, 330.
harl.ani,

Z?i(f(?o, 473.
Haiporbyncliiis 14.

cinereiis, 19.

crissalis, 18.

Iccontii, 1 7.

redivivus, 15.
harrisii,

Craxirex, 493.

Piciis, 375.
heermauni,

Mi'lospiza, 212.
Helmintliophaga 81.

cc/if/a, 83.

/»o/(C', 84.

ru/icapilla, 82.

virf/iniai, 85.
Heliopffidica 364.

xaiitusii, 365.
heloi-.-E,

.-1«/((S, 361.
heniyi,

Cliordeiles, 344.
hepatica,

Pi/ranr/a, 144.
Hespeiipliona 173.

Vf-Spertiiia, 174.
Hesperociclila, 3.

586

hirsutus,

Picus, 3«5.
Hiiuii'linida;, 102.
Ilirumlo UI2.
l)icoli»-, Kl6.
liorrfonini, 103.
hmifioim, 104.
thalassina, 107.
hoilotl,

Colimhd, 515.
horreorum,

Hintmlo, 103.
luulsonic'us,
CVrcKS, 489.
Pirn, 296.
,S7/-(X, 448.
huttoni,

Vino, 121.
Hydrobatii, 24.
livciniilis,

Troijlothjlps, 73.
HykH-'ichUi, 2.
hylosco]His,

Picus, 375.
Hylotomus
pileatns, 396.

Athene, 440.

Icteria 97.

lofifjlfuufhi, 93,
Ictcrid*, 253.
Icterus 273.

bullockii, 273.

ciicuUatus, 275.

pnrisorum, 276.
icterorcphalus,

Tvorhitns, 358.

Xanlhorephaliis, 267.
igneus,

CardlnuUs, 238.

incn,

Scardafilla, 519.
infuscatiim,

Gli'iicidiiiin, 444.
inornatus,

Lophophanes, 42.

Muscirnpa, 323.
insisnatus,

Bufco, 474.

Junco 198.
caniceps, 201.
oregomis, 199.

kennicotti,
Scops, 423.

Lagnpus 542.
Arcliibiiteo, 483.
leucnrus, 542.
Laniid.i3, 135.
lapponicus,

Plfcffophancs, 178.
lawrciicii,

Chrijsomitrh, 171.
Iccomii,

Uarporhynchus, 17.

INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES.

leucocephaUis,

IlatiiEtus, 451.
leucogastra,

TrofjlodijlfS, 69.
leucophrys,

Zonotricliia, 196.
leiK'optcra,

Ciirvirostra, 149.
Melopelia, 515.
Leucofttk-tc 160.
urctoa, 1G5.
cainpestris, 163.
qriseinurlut, 161,
'litluralis, 162.
tt'phiocutis, 164.
leuciinis,
/•;/(»ii/s, 488.
Lai/optis, 542.
linaria,

^■Eiiiotlnis, 159.
lincolnii,

Mtlospizn, 216.
littoralis,

Leucosticle, 162.
lividus,

r»r(/»s, 23.
longicaiula,
litcria, 98.
Leptosioma, 368.
Loplioplianes 41.
utricrisUttits, 43.
inOTiiatus, 42.
irolUveheri, 43.
Lophortyx 548.
califonilrus, 549.
gambelii, 553.
Loxia, 147.
lucia;,

Hdmhtlhnpharja, 84.
ludoviiiamis,
Aiitliiis, 78.
Ptiriiiifja, 145.
Inguhi'is,

"Cori-HS, 282.
lunil'rons,

Hirnndo, 104.

macgillivrayi.

Geolliliji>is, 96.
rnaci'olo]ihus,

Cijanura, 300.

macrop:cra,

S('a//a, 29.

marilandica,

&//(■(■«, 95.

marixinclhi?^,

Eclopi^t,s, 512.
inassena,

Cip't07ii/.v. 558.
Melanerpcs 401 .
O7iqustifrotis, 405.
erijihrorvp/ialus, 402.
formirirori'S, 403.
torqiiatiiS, 406.
melaiioceijliala,
Guirnca, 228.
melanochrysni-a
Icterus, 276.

melanoleiifa,
Panijpliln, 347,
/'(.■a, 296.
melanura,

PolioptHa, 37.
Meleagi-ina;, 521.
Meleagris 522.
viexicaiia, 523.
Odontopltorus, 558.
I melodia,

Musciciijin, 116.
Melopelia 514.

lencnjitrirn, 515.
Melospiza 211.
/a«».r. 215.
j/<,«W(/, 212.
liccrmaunt, 212.
lincolnii, 216.
rujina, 214.
megalonv.s,

f (/(iVo," 242.
meL'avliyni.luis,

Passirella, 222.
meridionalis,
/Jfcus, 377.
meruloides,
Frmrjilhi, 221.
Orpheus, 10.
nicsok'ucus,
ContojHis, 323.
P//)i7o, 247.
mexicanus,
Acci/ntcr, 465.
Catherpes, 66.
Certliiu, 58.
Chrijsoiuilris, 169.
Cinclus, 25.
Colaples, 408.
Culicirora, 37.
F«/'0, 458.
Mikngrk. 523.
M ijiarchis, 316.
Pijrocrpludns, 333.
Scolecojiliii'lus, 278.
S(Vi/m, 28'
Micratliene 441.
whitiiryi . 442.
migratoria,

Kctopislis, 509.
Turd US, 7.
Milvina;, 487.
Mimus 20.

poljiylottus, 21.
minimus,

Psiiltrijiiirus, 48.
minor,

Alaudo, 251.
Mitrepliijrus 334.
patlcsceiis, 334.
Molothrus 256.
ohscurus, 260.
pecnris, 257.
moiiilis,

Coluniha, 506.
montanus,
B;i((», 469.
Orioscnples, 12.
Oi-nismia, 357.

INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAIMES.

587

Pants, 46.
monteziinuu,

Orti/.r, 558.
inonticola,

S/ji:clla, 206.
Motacillid;c, 76.
Myiadestes 133.

townsendii, 134.
Myiarchus 315.

inexiraiiHS, 316.
Myiodioctes 100.
pusillus, 101.

noEvius,

Turdns, 10.
nanus,

Pi/tucephalus, 333.
Tardits, 4.
nebulostim,

Sijrnium, 431.
neglecta,

Slurmdia, 270.
Ncocorys 79.

s/tra(/uei, 80.
Nephuec-ctes 348.

borealis, 3-19.
ni-ra,

llinimh, 349.
nigrescens,

IJeiidrueca, 90.
nigricans,

Sii/oniis, 319.
nitL'ii-i,

Phuinupeplu , 131.
nitiila,

Aslurina, 486.
nivalis,

Pltctruphanes, 177.
nive.a,

Nijctca, 447.
nitvia,

5(nr, 420.
nuchalis,

Sphyropicus, 390.
nuttalli,

Antrosfomiis, 340.
/■/ca, 295.
/^/ciK, 378.
Nyctale 434.
aciidica, 436.
alliifioiis, 435.
Nyctea 446.
HU'ea, 447.

obsourus,

Eiiipidnimx, 329.

Molothi-iix, 260.

P/c«.<, 402.

Tetrno, 526.
obsoletus,

Sa/pimles, 64.
occidcntalis,

Dcndnaa, 92.

Olocoris, 251.

Pains, 45.

Sialia, 28.
occidentalo,

Syrnium, 430.

oestiva,

Pi/ranga, 142.
olivacous.

Tardus, 6.
oregonns,

Jiinco, 199.

/^//)//o, 241.
Oreorty.-i 544.

pictus, 546.
Oreosioptcs 12.

moidanus, 12.
oruatum,

Coiiiiostrum, 51.
oryzivorus,

Dolichomjx, 255.
Oscines, 1.
ossifi-agiis,

Vorvus, 285.
/u/to, 451.
Otus 425.

wihonianus, 426.
oxypterus,
iiirfeo, 480.

pallasii,

Cinclus, 25.
pallescens,

Chiwmpelia, 517.
pallida,

Emberha, 209.
palnmbariiis,
Fufco, 467.
palustris,

Cistotliorus, 75.
Pandion 453.

ciirolintnsis, 454.
Panyptila 346.

melanohiica, 347.
parkmanni,

Troy/odi/U's, 71.
pari~ornm,

Iiicrus, 276.
Parida', 40.
I'anis 44.
rtifest'ens, 47.
oa-identulls, 45.
paiviis,

-P(>i(S, 379.
Passerculus 179.
alaiidi litis, 181.
niilhiiiw:, 183.
giilliUiis, 185.
roslrntus, 184.
sandioiclmisis, 180.
Passerclla 220.
tnetjarhijnrhiis, 222.
townsendti, 221.
passcrina,

ChiDmn/ie/in, pi 6.
Coturnir.idus, 1 89.
Snr, 436.
pecorls,

ilolothms, 257.
Pedicccetcs 531.

co/umbianus, 532.
Perdii'ida;, 544.
peregrinus,
.^ufco, 457.

Perissura, 511.
Perisoreus, 306.

canadensis, 307.
personata,

Pipilo, 202.
pertinu.x,

Conlopus, 324.
Peucaia 217.
cassinii, 219.
ruficeps, 218.
PhainopL-pla 131.

KiVo/.s, 131.
Phasianid*, 520.
plia^ianelhis,

/■e^/tio, 532.
Pliilcremos, 251.
plioebo,

Muscicapa, 325.
plioeniceus,

Arjelaius, 261.
Pica 293.

hitdsonira, 296.
nultaili, 295.
Picida-, 373.
Picicorvus 288.

columbianus, 289.
Picoidus 383.
americaiins, 385.
nrclicus, 384.
pictiis,

Oreortijx, 546.
Picus 374.

ulbolarvatns, 382.
ffrdrdiieri, 377.
/larrisii, 375.
Incasaniis, 381.
mUta/li, 378.
scalaris, 379.
pileatus,

fli/lo/omtis, 396.
Pinicola 15(i.

camidntsis, 151.
pin us,

(.'liri/somitris, 172.
pipiens,

Anthiis, 78.
Pipilo 239.
abn-rii, 244.
a/biipda, 248.
c/dornra, 248.
Tnega/oni/x, 242.
mexokiKHs, 247.
fnsciis, 245.
omjoniis, 241.
plagiaia,

Aslurina, 486.
platyoer'us,

S'-lasphorus, 357.
Plc'-trophanes 176.
lapponicus, 178.
Jiitta/is, 177.
pUimbca,

Polioptihi, 37.
Psaiiripnrns, 49.
V'irposi/leia, 1 1 9.
pliimifora,

^^'Vyc, 546.
Polioptila 34.

588

INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES.

ctcriiJfa, 35.

inelamira, 37.
pluiitlKd, 37.
polyaf^rus,

Faico, 458.
Polvboriiiie, 491.
Polyborus 491.

aadiihomi, 492.
polvglottus,

iliinns, 21.
Poa"ceies 185.

gramineus, 186.
Pouspiza 21)2.

brlli, 204.

hilimala, 203.
popi'tue,

Chordeiles, 342.
pralincola,

,Sirl.r, 415.
pra'datorius,

Stiinius, 261.
Progne 112.

puf/mrea, 113.
psaltria,

Chn/somiln's, 1G8.
Psaltriparus 47.

ininiiiiifs, 48.

pluwbeus, 49.
Pseudpiocne, 346.
Ptilogotiatin*, 130.
purpuieus,

Ctirpodaciis, 154.

Prof/ne, 1 13.
pusilliis,

Mi/iodioctes, 101.

Tijmimnin, 328.
Pyranga 1 42.

cooptriy 142.

Iippatica, 144.

Ittdoviciana, 145.
pygmfoa,

.SZ/ta, 55.
Pyrocephahis 332.

inesicanns, 333.
Pyrrluiloxia 235.

sinuata, 236.

Quiscalina;, 277.

Raptorcs, 413.
liasores, 504.
redivivus,

Jldrpm-hi/ncIiHS, 15.
Roiiulina\'30.
Kc;:nhis 31.

cnlciididn, 33.

snirapii, 32.

.Syc/d, 32.
rex,

hhiscirnpti, 311.
vicliaid.^onii,

Coninpns, 325.

7p/mo, 528.
riparia,

Co'.)//?, no.

ro.scf)c

.SV/;-m. 95.

rObtiatUa,

Passerculus, 184.
ruber,

^pliijropicus^ 392.
rubinfus,

Pi/rocejihalus, 333.
riibrigiilaiis,

Mcluiuipis, 393.
rufa,

Alaudii, 78.

Ilinwdo, 103.
riifL'Scens,

Pum.S 47.
niHcapilla,

Helmiiithophar/a, 82.
ruficeps,

Peiiaca, 218.
rufina,

Mehspiza, 214.
rufus,

iSclasplionis, 355.
rustica,

Uirundo, 103.

sabinii,

Bonded, 540.
Salpinctcs 63.

obsoletiia, 64.
.sancti-johannis,

Archihiileo, 485.
sandwicliensis,

Passercultie, 1 80.
satnipa,

Piyiiliis, 32.
.savanariini,

Frinr/illa, 189.
Saxicolin.T, 2fl.
Sayomis, 318.

nign'tans, 319.

sat/Hs, 320.
sayus,

Saijoruif!, 320.
scalaris,

PiCHS, 379.
Scansnrcs, 366.
Scardafclla 518.

mca, 519.
scliistacea,

Passei-clla, 222.
Scoleroplingiis 277.

ci/am>(rj)lialiis, 278.
Scops 420.

(v.^/o, 420.

fldiiuuffih, 422.

kfnnicnili, 423.
Selaspliorus 355.

pi/iifi/rcrrns, 357.

rii/iK, 355.
.st'pt'Mitriotialis,

Lniiiim, 137.
scriipcnnis,

Cor///<>, no.

Si.dia, 27.

arrtirn, 29.

mf'.Vf'rniia, 28.
sinnata,

PiiriSndoriil, 236.
Sinina', 52.
bitta 53.

arukata, 54.

cuiiadi^iisls, 54.
pi/r/mii^a, 55.
socialis,

Athme, 440.

Spizflla, 207.
solitaria,

Columha, 508.

Vireosi/lfui, 1 17.
sordida,

Ci/anocitia, 305.

Onrruliis, 305.
sordidulus,

Contopiis, 325.
sparvevius,

/«/co, 462.
Spliyropicus 389.

ui'ichalis, 390.

ruhf-V, 392.

thijroidnis, 394.

icilliaiilfiuuit, 393.
spiliirns,

T/iii/otltorns, 69.
Sjiinites, 205.
.-pinoleita,

AnlJdis, 78.
.Spizi-lliiKV, 179.
Spizella 205.

atriqidai'ls, 210.

breimi, 209

moiitirola, 206.

S'jridh's, 207.
Spizina', 226.
spraguci,

Ntocorijs, 80.
yqiiamata,

Cdllipepla, 5511.
squamosa,

Scdrdajilla, 519.
stelleri,

Ci/dnum, 298.
Stcllnbi 362.

cdl/iojie, 363.
siromia,

Cdllipppla, 556.
strigatus,

thondcstes, 193.
Stiigida\ 413.
striiilatiis,

^-ls/«r, 4 86.
Stiix 414.

]>rdtiiicold, 415.
Sturnulla 270.

ncglttid, 270.
Snrnia 447.

k/h/o, 448.
.swain^onii,

/)H/fo. 476.

r//,T/«.S 6.
Sylviida<, .30.
Svriiiiua', 429.
iSyniiuni 4'iO.

cinf renin, 433.

nehnlomnn, 431.

orcidnitate, 430.

Taiiaaiitba?., 141.
Tthuatodytes, 74.

INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES.

589

temerarius,

Ftilco. 460.
teplirocotis,

Leucosticte, IG4.
Teir;ioiiiila>, 524.
Tetrao 525.

frankUniij ^'2^.

ohsrunts, 52fi.

rkliardsonii, 528.
texensis,

Chonhiles, .344.

Frinr/illii, 169.
ih.ilas^ina,

Hlnindo, 107.
tliariH,

Puli/boius, 492.
thoracicus,

Fako, 461.
Thriotlioriis 74.
Thnotliorus 68.

spiluniSj 69.
thvroideiis,

S/i/ii/roj)icus, 394.
tolmiaii,

S(/lcia, 96.
torqnatus,

i\Ji/ancrpi:S, 406.
townscndii,

Deiiiinica, 91.

Mi/iaclistfs, 134.

Pa^aiiiel/a, 221.
Toxostoma, 14.
traillii,

EmpidonaXy 327.
triclias, 94.

Gc-ot/ili/pis, 95.
tricoliir,

A(ji-/aius, 265.

Oniismui^ 357.

Rajuhis, 32.
tridactylia, 383.

/^/ci(s, 384.
tristis,

C/irf/somitris, 167.
Ti-oc-liilid:c, 352.
Troclulus 353.

alemndri, 353.
Troglodytida;, 59.
Troijlodues 70.

hijfmitlh, 73.
jmrkmanni, 71.
trudeaui,

Coluniha, 515.
turati,

P/tKs, 377.
Tnrdida-, 1.
Turdus 2.

coiijinis, 9.

miyratorius, 7.

na-viits, 10.

nanus, 4.

swahisoni, 6.

ustnltitiis^ 5.
Tvrannula, 326.
Tyrannid*. .309.
Tvraimus 310.

caioUnentiis, .311.

vert i calls, 312.

voclferans, 314.

ultramarinu.",

Cori'us, 302.
uhila,

Sitrnla, 448.
umbcHiis,

Tdrao, 540.
unalascliensis,

Einheriza, 221.
undulatus,

P/cus, 386.
unicinctus,

Craxlrcx, 493.
urophasianus,

Cetttrocercits, 536.
uropygialis,

Cenlurits, 399.
iistulatus,

2\irdus, 5.

varius,

/Vc«s, 390.

-S'/r/x, 431.

Sltta, 54.
vauxii,

Chceliira, 351.
versicolor,

Ci/anosjiiza, 234.
veriicalis,

Tijmnnus, 312.
vespertiiia,

ih'sperlphona, 174.
viaticas,

Geococcijx, 368.
vicinior.

FiVco, 125.
Vireo 120.

afrlcapdhts, 121.

6fW, 123.

hutloiil, 121.

puslllits, 124.

vicinior, 125.
Vireonida", 1 14.
Vircosylvia 115.

(///(■a, 116.

pliiiiihia, 119.

scllkirla, 117.
virglniie,

llelminlhopharja, 85.
virgiiiianiis,

£«/», 418.

Cliordelies, 342.
viridis,

Alcedo, 338.

Hlrunda, 106.
vociferans,

Ti/rannus, 314.
vulgaris,

jButeo, 469.
Vulturidit, 494.

whitneyi,

Micradiene, 442.
williamsonii,

Sphijroplcas, 393.

O^us, 426.

PfCMS, 378.
wolhveticri,

Lo/jliojiliaiies, 43.
woodhousii,

Cijanocitta, 304.
wraiigcli,

Orlturus, 245.

Xantliocephalus 267.

Icterocepkalus, 267.
xantuiii,

lldlopivdica, 365.

Zenaidinic, 511.
Zenaidura 511.

carollneiisis, 512.
zonoeercus,

Bii^o, 479.
Zonotrifliia 194.

coroiiata, 197.

i/aiiilu'tli, 195.

teucophrys, 196.

INDEX OF ENGLISH AND SPANISH NAMES.

Acanta

orllla, 581.

piiittt, 581.

jiricta, 581.
Agachadiza, 581.
Aguililla

pinlti, 580.
Aguila

pescadora, 580.
Alondia

cerrami, 581.

delmonte, 581,
Anade

grande, 581.
Aura

morenci, 580.

Barn-owl, 415.
blackbird.

Brewer's, 278.

Bed-shoiildaed, 263.

y?^rf and white a/ioiUdercd, 2G5

/Jerf-«.vn/7prf, 261.

Sivai7>p, 261.

White-shouldered, 225.

Yellow-headed, 267.
black-bawk,

Bund-tailed, 479.

Red-tailed, a; I.
blueliird,

7?or% Mountain, 29.

TKes(f-™, 28.
Biiho, 581.
Bobolink, 255.
Bull-bat, 342.
bunting,

Bay-winejed, 186.
Buriun 156.

cerrano, 581.

Colorado, 581.

t'trrfp, 581.
Burioncito, 580.
Butclier-bird, 137.
Buzo, 582.
buzzard,

Harris's, 493.

cactus-wren,

Culiforniun, 61.

Cwyjr, 62.
Calami ria

aciidtil, 581.

omurilla, 581.

neyra, 581.

Cardenal, 581.
cardinal,

C'o;w, 238.

Teras, 236.

airniceio, 580.
Carpintcro

freano, 581.

'/)/»to, 580.
Cat-bird, 23.
Cazador

amarillo, 580.

coniun, 580.

(/e moscas, 580.
Cedar-bird, 129.
Cerceta, 581.
Chapparal cock, 368.
chat,

Lonrj-taikd, 98.
chatterer,

Bohemian, 127.
Chorlito, 581.
Cluiparosrt

Colorado, 580,

esplciidente, 580.

7)/h;o, 580.
Clmren, 581.
Cock of tlic Plain.-!, 536.
cock,

6'nf/c, 536.
Codorniz, 581.
cow-bird,

Common, 257.

Dwarf, 260.
Cow-bunting, 257.
creeper,

Western, 58.
crossbill,

/'n^e, 151.

Bed, 148.

While-winged, 149.
crow,

Clarke's, 289.

White-necked, 284.

IFcs^e™, 2S5.
cuckoo,

Yellow-billed, 371.
Cuervo

pescador, 581.

Day-owls, 445.
dove.

Cape ground, 517.

Carolina, ov couunon, 512.

Grouitd, 516.

7nra, 519.
/fe/, 508.
White-winged, 515.
Duck-hawk, 457.

eagle,

American golden, 449.

Caracara, 492.

White-headed, 451.
Engano, 581.

Falcons, 449.
fintb, 146.

Abrn-l's, 244.

^4i/(iHS(7s, 168.

jSe//'.'!, 204.

Brown, 245.

CfKloH, 247.

Cassin's, 219.

Grass, 186.

Graipchrehd, 1 63.

Graij-crou-ned, 1 64.

Crag-eared, 161.

Grcfn, 248.

Ilephurn's, 162.

L«/7,-, 193.

Lazuli, 2:)3.

Lincrjin's, 216.

P/w, 172.

lied-eapped, 218.

Siberian, 165.

iS/. Lucas, 185.

Tl'fS/crH irltite-crowmd, 195.
Fisb-bawk, 454.
flycatcher,

Arkansas, 312.

Ash-lhioated, 316.

Z)7/if/i-, 319.

Blaek-tailid. 37.

Bluf-(/rai/, 35.

Blue-hraded, 1 1 7.

Buff-breasted, 334.

Cassin's, 314.

CoHf.s's, 324.

Gragish, 329.

J/ai'umond's, 330.

Liad-rolored, 37.

Olire-sirled, 323.

7i«/, 333.

iS«,v's, 320.

Townsettd's, 134.

Traill's, 327.

Yellow-bellied, 328.
flicker.

INDEX OF ENGLISH AND SPANISH NAMES.

59]

MaUiirhe's, 410.

Rtd-sliajled, 4U8.
Gallo

azul, 5S1.
Gallincta

morcna, 581.

nerj7-a, IJSl.
G.inzo, 581.
Garza

azul, 582.

tilanra, 582.

giandisima, 582.

Uamachra, 582.

morena, 582.

]ieque7\a, 582.
Gavilaii

bianco, 580.

cerrano, 580.
Gaviota, 582.
Cercion, 581.
Goat-suckers, .3-39.
goliltinch,

Lawrence's, 171,

Mexican, 1G9.
Golonilrina

blanca, 581.

(/e/ mar, 532.

ferr/e, 581.
Gorrion

o^h;, 581.

bianco, 580.

rfe hiicrtas, 580.

yrande, 581.

/)('nto, 580.

;)ne/o, 580.

vei'de, 580.
goshawk,

American, 4G7.
greenlet.

Black-headed, 121.

Gm//, 125.

Hutton'x, 121.

Lead-colored, 1 1 9.
ground-robin,

Californinn, 242.

Oregon, 241.
grosbeak,

Black-licaded, 228.

B/uc, 230.

Eveninrf, 174.
grou«e, 524.

Z^Ksi-i/, 526.

Franhli}i'^, 529.

Ore(/on, 540,

liichirJ.sou 's, 528.

Sharp-tailed, 5.32.
GruUa

cerrana, 581.

Ilalcon

acudtil, 579.

bravo, 579.

negro, 579.
hawk,

.4n~ona, 461.

Black-shonldered, 488.

Brown, 474.

Californian, 472.

Cooptr^s, 464.

Kleriant, 477.

G'ray, 486.

Harlan's, 473.

Marsh, 489.

Mexican, 465.

Pigeon, 4 60.

Praine, 458.

Red-tailed, 469.

Romjh-leejged, 483.

Sharp-siiinucd, 466.

Sharp-winged, 480.

Sparrow, 462.

Si. JoAn's Z?/aci-, 485

Swainson's, 47G.
HeinbrilUi, 579.
House-finch, 156.
house-wren,

Parkmawi's, 71.
humming-bird,

.clnna, 358.

Black-chinned, 353.

Broad-tailed, 357.

Calliope, 363.

Coxta's, 360.

Heloina's, 361.

Red-backed, 355.

Zantus's, 365.

jay,

California, 302.
Canada, 307.
Long-crested, 300.
Maximilian's, 292.
Sieber's, 305.
Sleller's, 298.
IFoodAoKse's, 304.

Kins-bird, 311.
kinslisbrr,

LWte/, 336.

T&cas, 338.
Kites, 487.

lark.

ITorned, 251.

Spragne^s, 80.
JKcsten, 270.
Lechuza,

blanca, 579.

cerrana, 579.
Log -cock, 396.
long.spur,

Lapland, 178.

magpie,

American, 296.

Yellow-hilled, 295.
marsh-wren,

Lonij-billed, 75.
martin,

Bee, 311.

Pur/)/;!, 113.
Mertjanzar, 581.
Mirlo

Colorado, 580.

negro, 580.

peejueiio, 580.

morkin<r-bird, 21.

Mortntain, 12.
mocking- wren,

irts/erH, 69.
Muscicapa

colorada, 580.

oscura, 580.

night-hawk, 342.

Texas, 344.

IKraicni, 344.
Noble Falcons, 455.
nonpareil,

IF(.s(er/i, 234.
nutliateli,

California, 55.

Reel-bellied, 54.

IFt.sieni, 54.

oriole,

Iloodid, 275.

Scott's, 276.

IFcsfc'ni, 273.
owl,

Acadian, 436.

Barred, 431.

Burrowing, 437.

G/ca< '-ray, 433.

Great-homed, 4 1 8.

i/««.'i-, 448.

Horned, 416.

Kennicott's, 423.

Kirtland's, 435.

Long-eared, 426.

Pijgmij, 444.

Short-eared, 428.

Snowj/, 447.

IF(S<er« Barred, 430.

Whitney's, 442.
owlet,

Flammululed, 422.

Pajaro

o;«/, 581.

c/e fraqata, 582.
Pal.apicb, 581.
Paloma

cerrana, 581.

comnn, 581.

f/e/ m«r, 582.

zorrita, 581.
Paro

acitdtd, 580.

amnrillo, 580.

Colorado, 580.
partridge,

Mas'iena, 558.

Plumed, 546.

Scaled, or Blue, 556.
Pato

6kio, 582.
Pescador del Rev, 581.
pewee.

Short-legged, 325.
Pheasants, 520.
Picamadero, 581.
pigeons.

59^

INDEX OF ENGLISH AND SPANISH NAMES.

Baml-tai/, 506.
Pas&enytr, 509.

Wild, 509.
Prairie Cliickcn, 532.
ptarmigan,

W/iile-lalled, 542.
Puiitiacola, 581.
purple tincli,

Cassin*s, 155.

Western, 154.

quail,

CaJifornia, 549. .

(laifibd's, 55.'i.

Moitntftin, 54G.
Qucleli, 579.

raven,

American, 282.
redpoll.

Lesser, 1 59.
Reyezuelo, 579.
Rice-bird, 255.
Road-runner, 368.
robin,

Common, 7.

Cape, 9,

Western, 10.
Rosepcclio, 581.

Sara])ico

yrande, 581.

neyro, 581.

verde, 581.
screecli-owl.

Mottled, 420.
shrike,

Northern, 137.

White-nimped, 138.

White-ivini/ed, 140.
Singing Birds, 1.
Sinsonte, 581.
snow-bird,

Gratj-headed, 201.

Oreqon, 199.

Pink-sided, 564.
Snow-Bunting, 177.
song-sparrow,

California, 212.

Mountain, 215.

/toy, 214.
sparrow,

Aoiialdsia, 180.

Blaek-chinned, 210.

Black-throated, 203.

Brewer's, 209.

Chipping, 207.

(roldtn-croirned, 197.

/.«);</(• /iwite/, 222.

Mountain, 206.

Sea-shore, 184.

Hki/lark, 181.

Titlark, 183.

TownseneVs, 221.

r?-(?e, 206.

White-a owned, 196.

Yellow-winged, 1 89.
squirrel-hawk,

A'us(j/, 482.
swallow,

ain/.', 110.

i'ooi, 103.

O///; 104.

Bouf/h-winged, 110.

Violet-yreen, 107.
\ Wldte-btllied, 106.
swift.

Northern, 349.

Oreijon, 351.

White-thruatcd, 347.

tanager.

Cooper's, 142.

Liver-colon d, 144.

Louisiana, 145.
Thistle-bird, 167.
thrushes, 1 .

Jls/iy, 19.

/)«-•«)/, 4.

Uenry's, 18.

Leconte's, 17.

O/i'ce, 6.

Orifjon, 5.

Siclle-hilUd, 15.

Varied, 10.
Titlark, 78.
titmouse,

Blacka-esled, 43.

Chtstnut-backed, 47,

X«/s/, 48.

Mountain, 46.

Plain-crested, 42.

Plumbeous, 49.

HV.s-/^rn, 45.

Wvllweber's, 43.

Ytllow-headed, 51.
Toreacila, 580.
tow bee,

Wlute-throated, 248.
Tragazon, 581.
Trinador, 581.
Turkey-buzzard, or Vulture

502.
turkey,

Mexican, 523.
Tyrant Flycatchers, 309.

vireo,

jQ(//'s, 123.
Vitacocbe, 580.

Vitacochou, 581.
vulture,

Californian, 496.

warbling grecniet,

Swaiuson's, 1 16.
warbler,

Audubon's, 88.

Black-throattd Graij, 90.

Goldcn-cheelad, 93.

Grade's, 563.

Green Black-cap, 101.

Lurj/'s, 84.

Mactjillirrai/'s, 96.

Nashville, 82.

Oranfje-crowned, 83.

Toivnsend's, 91.

Virginia's, 85.

TFt'Ato'H, 92.

l'f//o«-, 87.

Yellow-crowned, 89.
Water Ouzel, 25.
Wax-Wing, 127.
whijjporwill,

A H^/ti/rs, 340.
woodcock,

/)Y(/c/.-, 396.
woodpecker,

^i-d/c Three-toul, 384.

Arizona, 379.

California, 403.

Oi/iP, 381.

Gairdner's, 377.

6\7u, 399.

Harris's, 375.

Lewis's, 406.

Narrow-fronted, 405.

Nuttall's, 378.

l!,d-breasltd, 392.

lied-hiudid, 402.

Jird-uixl.id, 390.

Roimd-lieadtd, 394.

Williamson's, 393.

Wlute-hiaded, 382.
wren.

Golden-crested, 32.

Ground, 39.

A'oc/.-, 64.

Ruby-crowntd, 33.

II^Hffj-, 73.

White-tliroated, 66.

Yellow-bird, 167.
yellow-throat,
Man/land, 95.

Zarccta, 581.
Zojieiict)

;ym-, 581.

prielo, 581.

END OF VOL. I.

C-imbridge : Electrotyped and Printed by Welch, JJigelow, & Co.

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