American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States : illustrated with plates engraved and colored from original drawings taken from nature

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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY:

OR,
THE NATURAL HISTORY

OF THE

BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES.

ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES

Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature.
BY ALEXANDER WILSON.

VOL. Hf.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY BRADFORD AND INSKEEP.

PRINTED BY R. & W. CARR.

@oeeeos0e0gcennas

PREFACE.

BOOKS on Natural History, calculated to improve the taste,
to enlarge the understanding and better the heart, as they are
friends to the whole human race, are generally welcomed by people
of all parties. ‘They may be compared to those benevolent and
amiable individuals, who, amidst the tumult and mutual irritations
of discordant friends, kindly step in to reconcile them to each
other, by leading the discourse to subjects of less moment, but of
innocent and interesting curiosity; till the mind forgets its pertur-
bations, and gradually regains its native repose and composure.
So comes, in these times of general embarrassment, dispute, and
perplexity, the peaceful, unassuming pages of AMERICAN ORNI-
THOLOGY. With little to recommend them but the simplicity of
truth, and some faint imitations of a most glorious and divine
ORIGINAL, they may, nevertheless, calm for a time the tumult of
the mind, communicate agreeable amusement, and suggest hints
for instruction. At least, these are some of the principal objects
to which they have been zealously directed,

Unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, which it is unne-
cessary to recapitulate, and over which the author had no control,

have retarded the publication of the present volume beyond the
VOL. III. B

vi PREFACE.

usual and stated period. Complaints and regret, for what is irre-
coverable, would be as unavailing, as apologies for what could not
be prevented, would be improper. He will only on this subject
remark, that a recurrence of similar obstacles not being likely
to take place, and the plates of the fourth volume, now in the
hands of the engraver, being in considerable forwardness, every
exertion will be made, consistent with the correct execution of the
work, to atone for past delays, by its early and prompt publication.

With respect to the contents of the present volume, the au-
thor has a few hints to offer to the consideration of the intelligent
reader, whose favorable opinion in behalf of his labours he is most
anxious to merit.

Should there appear in some of the following accounts of our
native birds, a more than common deficiency of particulars as to
their manners and migration, he would beg leave to observe, that
he is not engaged in copying from Museums the stuffed subjects
they contain; nor from books or libraries the fabulous and hear-
say narratives of closet naturahsis. A more laborious, and, as
he trusts, a more honorable duty is prescribed him. He has exa-
mined the stores of living Nature for himself; and submitted with
pleasure, to ail the difficulties and fatigues incident to such an un-
dertaking. Since he had last the honor of presenting himself be-
fore the public, he has traced the wilds of our western forests,
alone, for upwards of seven months ; and traversed, in that time,
more than three thousand miles, a solitary, exploring pilgrim. As
nearly one half of the whole number of birds contained in the fol-

lowing sheets (part of the products of his late tour), are such as

PREFACE. Vil

have never before been taken notice of by naturalists, a complete
detail of their habitudes and manners cannot reasonably be ex-
pected. To collect these, years of patient and attentive observa-
tion are requisite. What with truth and accuracy he could do, he
has done. In the drawings he has aimed at faithful and charac-
teristic resemblances of his subjects.—In the literary part at a clear
and interesting detail of their manners, as far as these have come to
his knowledge; and to future observation must be left the task of
filling up those chasms in the history of some of them, which the
so recent discovery of their species has rendered unavoidable.

To gentlemen of leisure, resident in the country, whose taste
disposes them to the pleasing and rational amusements of natural
history, and who may be in possession of facts, authentic and inte-
resting, relative to any of our birds which have not yet made their
appearance in this work, the author again earnestly and respect-
fully addresses himself. Such is the barrenness of the best Euro-
pean works on the feathered tribes of the United States, and so
numerous are the mistakes (to call them by the gentlest name) with
which they are disfigured, that little has been, or indeed can be,
derived from that quarter. On his own personal exertions and ob-
servation the author has chiefly depended. But, numerous as his
subjects are, scattered over an immense territory, and pursuing
their vast and various migrations through different regions, as want
of food or change of seasons inspire, unless Heaven would kindly
accommodate him with wings, to follow as an aerial spy on their
proceedings; or, (which is more likely to happen) his fellow-citi-

zens, lovers of their country, and well wishers to its arts and lite-

Vil PREFACE.

rature, will condescend to communicate some of the numerous facts
which many of them have, doubtless, witnessed among the feather-
ed part of the creation around them; his work will lose more than
half its worth; and, with all his endeavours, he must despair of
doing complete justice to the subject.

Every communication, having this for its object, will be ac-
knowledged with thankfulness; and receive that degree of atten-
tion which the importance of the facts it contains may require. By
such combined exertions, and reciprocity of information, we shall
do honour to this branch of science; and be enabled to escape, in
part, that transatlantic and humiliating reproach, of being obliged
to apply to Europe for an account and description of the productions of
our own country.

Nevertheless, the well-earned meed of praise must not, can-
not be withheld, from those worthy and indefatigable naturalists,
who, impelled by an ardent love of science, became voluntary
exiles from home and all its sweets, and subjected themselves
to years of labour and peril, in personal efforts to examine and
illustrate the natural history of this extensive Western empire.
The “Insects oF Gzeorcra,” by J. Abbot, published in London,
in two volumes, folio; the “Oaxs or Nortu America,” by Mi-
chaux, published in Paris; and the “ History oF THE FOREST
Trees or Nortu America,” by F*. André-Michaux, son to the
preceding, now publishing in Paris, and about to be republished in
this city by Messrs. Bradford & Inskeep, are works of the first
character in point of correct scientific description and splendid co-

lored representations of their respective subjects. Such examples

PREFACE. | 1X

particularly that of the latter, where elegance and utility are blend-
ed with the observations of a judicious and discriminating natu-
ralist, cannot fail of being highly acceptable to the friends of science
in every part of the world, and of animating our native citizens to
similar exertions in exploring and illustrating the various other de-
partments of the natural history of their country. Well authenti-
cated facts deduced from careful observation, precise descriptions,
and faithfully pourtrayed representations drawn from living nature,
are the only true and substantial materials with which we can ever
hope to erect and complete the great superstructure of science ;—
without these all the learned speculations of mere closet theory are
but “the baseless fabricks of a vision.”

For the direction of those who may be disposed to honor the
author with their correspondence, the following list is subjoined;
containing the common popular names of the most interesting of
our LAND BIRDS, whose history we have yet to detail, and of whose
manners any authentic particulars will be gladly received.

_ VULTURES.

“King Vulture.—Upper parts a reddish buff color ; lower yel-
lowish white; an elegant specimen; sometimes seen in E. Florida.

*Black Vulture, or Carrion Crow.—Common to the southern
states, and differing from the following.

Lurkey Buzzard.—Not confined to the southern, but found
also in the middle, and occasionally in the northern states. |

EAGLES AND HAWKS.
Bald Eagle—Or more properly the White-headed Eagle.

“Sea Eagle.—Three feet six inches long; color a rusty brown;
VOL. Ill. C

" PREFACE.

tail deep brown; bill blue; feeds on fish, which he takes without
the assistance of others.

* White-tailed Eagle —A bold and ferocious species; tips of the
tail feathers brown. Inhabits the northern states.

*Ash-colored Hawk.—Above a brownish ash; legs bluish ash,
half covered with feathers; tail cinereous banded with white; also
a native of the North.

Fish Hawk.—A general inhabitant during summer of our whole
Atlantic coast.

Barred-breasted Hawk.—Twenty inches long; above deep
brown; breast rufous, barred with white.

*Swallow-tailed Hawk.—Body blackish; head and whole lower
parts pure white: a most elegant species; inhabits the southern
and en states during summer; is often seen in the vicinity of
the Mississippi, between the towns of Natchez and Baton Rouge.
Tail very long, and remarkably forked.

Newfoundland Hawk.—Thighs ash-colored; legs half feather-
ed; length twenty inches. 7

Northern Hawk—Above a lead color; below barred with
white; eye reddish; length eighteen inches: a rare species.

Marsh Hawk.—Sides of the head and throat marked with a
circlet of white; through the eye a stripe of black. Length two
feet. |

Speckled Hawk

Great Hen Hawk

Chicken Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk |

all well known.

PREFACE. xi

OW LS.—Eared. |
Great Virgiman Owl.—Noted for its loud whooping.
_ Red or Common Screech Owl. |
_ Short-eared Owl.
With smooth Heads. | |
Snow Owl.—The largest of his tribe; white, spotted with small
brown spots. |
_ Barred, or Grey Oul.
Cinereous Owl.
White Owl.—Fourteen inches long; color above a pale brown-
ish yellow.
Tawny Owl—Tawny red, powdered with black. :
“Canada Owl.—Head above black, spotted with white dots;
breast rufous, with whitish bars and some black; sixteen inches —
iene Inhabits the northern states.
“Hawk Owl.—A singular species much resembling a hawk in
appearance; hunts during day. | |
Acadian Owl.—Above chocolate ; tail spotted with white ;
length seven inches. Fond of frequenting the sea shore.
SHRIKES, OR BUTCHER BIRDS.
“Crested, or Canada Shrike.—Head rufous ; length six inches.
*“Black-capped Shrike-—Inhabits Florida, sometimes found in
Georgia. |
lore) CROWS.
Raven.

Common Crow.

xii PREFACE.

Long-winged Crow.—A new species. Inhabits the southern
and western states. |
Magpie.-—Inhabits Upper Louisiana.
“Florida Jay.—Something smaller than our common Blue Jay.
Inhabits East Florida. Not crested.
ORIOLES.
fed-winged Oriole, or Marsh Blackbird.
Louisiana Oriole.—V ariegated with black and white.
Yellow-throated Oriole-—Green ; cheeks and chin yellow. Nine
inches long.
GRAKLE.
* Boat-tailed Grakle, or Teetdoie of the southern states.
CUCKOOS.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Black-billed Cuckoo.—A new species.
WOODPECKERS.
Lvory-billed Woodpecker.

Pileated Woodpecker.—Called by some the Woodcock.
*“Red-vented Woodpecker.—Inhabits the northern districts.
GROUS AND PARTRIDGE.

Pennsylvama Partridge, or Quail.
Rujfed Grous, or New England Partridge.
“Spotted Grous.
| PIGEONS.
Passenger, or common Wild Pigeon; a very interesting species.
Turtle Dove.

“Ground Dove.—Abundant among the sea islands of Georgia.

PREFACE. xii

GROSBEAKS.

Common Cross-bill Inhabit the pine woods of the north-
White-winged Cross-bill

Yellow-bellied Grosbeak
Blue Grey Grosbeak
Die Grosbeak
Hudson Bay Grosbeak > Yohabit the northern states.
Canada Grosbeak

ern states.

Inhabit Virginia.

BUNTINGS.
Wlute-crowned Bunting.
Blue Bunting.—Both of these inhabit the northern states.
Lousiana Boies Ralous: spotted with black; tail black;
length five inches. |
FINCHES.

_ Lesser Red-poll.—Visits the Gennesee country in winter in
flocks; has : spot of dark crimson on the crown; called by some
the Snow-bird. |

Black-faced Finch.—Red brown; throat and rump scarlet ;
band on the breast black. |

FLYCATCHERS.

“Forked-tail Flycatcher.—Length fourteen inches; tail long;
inhabits Canada.

Rusty Flycatcher—Wings and tail black; plumage above
brown; inhabits the southern states.

WARBLERS.
Of these little summer visitants there are probably a consi-

VOL. II. D

XIV PREFACE.

derable number that have not yet come to our knowledge. These
have slender bills; and ped for the most part on the larveze of in-
sects, which they glean from the leaves.
| SW ALLOWS.
Common, or Purple Martin.
White-belhed Swallow.—Above steel blue glossed with green.
Red-beihed, or Barn Swallow.
Chimney Swallow.
Bank Swallow.
GOATSUCKERS.
Night Hawk, or Great Bat of Virginia.
*Chuck-wills-widow.—Inhabits the southern and western states.

Whip-poor-will.
Those to whose names an asterisk is prefixed being rare birds
in Pennsylvania, well preserved skins of them would be received

as a very particular favour.

Philadelphia, Feb. 12th, 1811.

INDEX

TO THE THIRD VOLUME.

AUTUMNAL Warbler
Belted Kingsfisher

Black and Yellow Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Black and White Creeper
Blue Grosbeak .

| Blue-green Warbler .
Canada Flycatcher
Gide Jay

Carolina Parrot.
Clark’s Crow .

Fox-colored Sparrow .

Green Black-capt Flycatcher .

Hooded Flycatcher
Kentucky Warbler .
Loggerhead Shrike
Lewis’s Woodpecker

Louisiana Tanager

. Sylvia Autumnal .

Alcedo Alcyon
Sylvia magnolia

Sylvia Blackburma

. Certhia maculata .

Loxia caerulea
Sylvia rara .

Muscicapa Canadensis

. Corvus Canadensis

Psittacus Carolinensis
Corvus Columbianus

Fringilla rufa

. Muscicapa pusilla .

Muscicapa cucullata .
Sylvia formosa .

Lamus Carolinensis .

. Picus torquatus

Tanagra Ludoviciana

PAGE

£65

59
63
64

20

78
119

. 100
8

89
29
53

103

Ot

85
57

wan

OT

Xvi
Mississippi Kite .
Meadow Lark .

Mottled Owl .
Nashville Warbler

INDEX.

Falco Mississipprensis :

Alauda magna

. Strix nevia

Sylvia ruficapilla .

Painted Bunting (male and female) Emberiza ciris

Pine-creeping Warbler .
Pinnated Grous

Prairie Warbler .
Prothonotary Warbler
Purple Grakle

Rusty Grakle

Savannah Sparrow .
Snow Bunting . .
Swamp Sparrow |
Tennesee Warbler

Water Thrush

White-throated Sparrow .

Worm-eating Warbler .

Yellow-winged Sparrow .

Sylvia pinus

Tetrao cupido

. Sylvia munuta

Sylvia protonotaria \

Gracula quiscala 5

Gracula ferruginea

. fringilla Savanna.

Emberiza nivahs

Fringilla palustris

. Sylvia peregrina
. Lurdus aquaticus

Fringilla albicolhs .

Sylvia vermivora

Fringilla peregrina

PAGE

« B20

104

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.

MOTTLED OWL.
STRIX NEVIA.
[Plate XIX.—Fig. 1. ]

Arct. Zool. 231. No. 118.—Laruam, I. 126.—Turton, I. 167.—PeEare’s Museum,
No. AAA.

ON contemplating the grave and antiquated figure of this
night wanderer, so destitute of every thing like gracefulness of
shape, I can scarcely refrain from smiling at the conceit, of the lu-
dicrous appearance this bird must have made, had nature bestow-
ed on it the powers of song, and given it the faculty of warbling
out sprightly airs while robed in such a solemn exterior. But the
great God of Nature hath, in his wisdom, assigned to this class of
birds a more unsocial, and less noble, tho, perhaps, not less use-
ful, disposition, by assimilating them, not only in form of coun-
tenance, but in voice, manners, and appetite, to some particular
beasts of prey; secluding them from the enjoyment of the gay
sunshine of day, and giving them little more than the few solitary
hours of morning and evening twilight to procure their food and
pursue their amours; while all the tuneful tribes, a few excepted,
are wrapt in silence and repose. That their true character,
however, should not be concealed from those weaker animals on
whom they feed (for heaven abhors deceit and hypocrisy), He has
stamped their countenance with strong traits of their murderer the
Cat; and birds in this respect are, perhaps, better physiognomists
than men.

VOL. III. FE,

18 MOTTLED OWL.

The Owl now before us is chiefly a native of the northern re-
gions, arriving here, with several others, about the commencement
of cold weather; frequenting the uplands and mountainous dis-
tricts, in preference to the lower parts of the country; and feeding
on mice, small birds, beetles, and crickets. It is rather a scarce
species in Pennsylvania; flies usually in the early part of night
and morning; and is sometimes observed sitting on the fences
during day, when it is easily caught; its vision at that time being
very imperfect. |

The bird represented in the plate was taken in this situation,
and presented to me by a friend. I kept it in the room beside me
for some time; during which its usual position was such as I have
given it. Its eyelids were either half shut, or slowly and alternate-
ly opening and shutting, as if suffering from the glare of day; but
no sooner was the sun set, than its whole appearance became lively
and animated; its full and globular eyes shone like those of a cat;
and it often lowered its head, in the manner of a cock when pre-
paring to fight, moving it from side to side, and also vertically, as
if reconnoitring you with great sharpness. In flying through the
room it shifted from place to place with the silence of a spirit (if
I may be allowed the expression), the plumage of its wings being
so extremely fine and soft as to occasion little or no friction with
the air: a wise provision of nature, bestowed on the whole genus,
to enable them, without giving alarm, to seize their prey in the
night. For an hour or two in the evening, and about break of day,
it flew about with great activity. When angry, it snapped its bill
repeatedly with violence, and so loud as to be heard in the adjoin-
ing room, swelling out its eyes to their full dimensions, and low-
ering its head as before described. It swallowed its food hastily,
in large mouthfuls; and never was observed to drink. Of the eggs
and nest of this species I am unable to speak.

The mottled owl is ten inches long and twenty-two in extent;
the upper part of the head, the back, ears and lesser wing-coverts,

r)
ae

MOTTLED OWL. 19

are dark brown, streaked and variegated with black, pale brown,
and ash; wings lighter, the greater coverts and primaries spotted
with white; tail short, even, and mottled with black, pale brown,
and whitish, on a dark brown ground; its lower side grey; horns
(as they are usually called) very prominent, each composed of ten
feathers, increasing in length from the front backwards, and light-
est on the inside; face whitish, marked with small touches of dusky,
and bounded on each side with a circlet of black; breast and belly
white, beautifully variegated with ragged streaks of black, and small
transverse touches of brown; legs feathered nearly to the claws, with
a kind of hairy down, of a pale brown color; vent and under tail-
coverts white, the latter slightly marked with brown; iris of the eye
a brilliant golden yellow; bill and claws bluish horn color.

This was a female. The male is considerably less in size;
the general colors darker; and the white on the wing-coverts not
so observable.

Hollow trees, either in the woods or orchard, or close ever-
ereens in retired situations, are the usual roosting places of this and
most of our other species. ‘These retreats, however, are frequently
discovered by the Nuthatch, ‘Titmouse, or Blue Jay, who instantly
raise the alarm; a promiscuous group of feathered neighbours soon
collect round the spot, like crowds in the streets of a large city
when a thief or murderer is detected; and by their insults and vo-
ciferation oblige the recluse to seek for another lodging elsewhere.
This: may account for the circumstance of sometimes finding them

abroad during the day, on fences and other exposed situations.

20

MEADOW LARK.
ALAUDA MAGNA.

[Plate XIX.—Fig. 2. |

Linn. Syst. 289.—Crescent Stare, Arct.. Zool. 330. No. 192.—Latuam III. 6. Var. A.—
Le Fer-a-cheval, ou Merle a Collier d Amerique, Burr. Ill. p. 371.—Caress. Car. 1.
pl. 33.—Bartram, p. 290.—PrEate’s Museum, No. 5212.

THO this well-known species cannot boast of the powers of
song which distinguish that “harbinger of day” the Sky Lark of
Europe, yet in richness of plumage, as well as in sweetness of voice
(as far as his few notes extend), he stands eminently its superior.
He differs from the greater part of his tribe in wanting the long
straight hind claw, which is probably the reason why he has been
classed, by some late naturalists, with the Starlings. But in the
particular form of his bill, in his manners, plumage, mode and
place of building his nest, nature has clearly pointed out his pro-
per family. |

This species has a very extensive range; having myself found
them in Upper Canada, and in each of the states from New Hamp-
shire to New Orleans. Mr. Bartram also informs me that they are
equally abundant in East Florida. Their favorite places of retreat
are pasture fields and meadows, particularly the latter, which have
conferred on them their specific name; and no doubt supplies them
abundantly with the particular seeds and insects on which they feed.
They are rarely or never seen in the depth of the woods; unless
where, instead of underwood, the ground is covered with rich grass,
as in the Chactaw and Chickasaw countries, where I met with them
in considerable numbers in the months of May and June. The
extensive and luxuriant prairies between Vincennes and St. Louis

also abound with them.

MEADOW LARK. 21

It is probable that in the more rigorous regions of the north
they may be birds of passage, as they are partially so here; tho I
have seen them among the meadows of New-Jersey, and those that
border the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, in all seasons; even when
the ground was deeply covered with snow. There is scarcely a mar-
ket day in Philadelphia from September to March, but they may be
found in market. They are generally considered, for size and deli-
cacy, little inferior to the quail, or what is here usually called the
partridge, and valued accordingly. I once met with a few of these
birds in the month of February, during a deep snow, among the
heights of the Alleghany between Shippensburgh and Sommerset,
eleaning on the road, in company with the small snow-birds. In
the state of South Carolina and Georgia, at the same season of the
year, they swarm among the rice plantations, running about the
yards and out-houses, accompanied by the Killdeers, with little ap-
pearance of fear, as if quite domesticated.

These birds, after the building season is over, collect in flocks;
but seldom fly in a close compact body; their flight is something
in the manner of the grous and partridge, laborious and steady ;
sailing, and renewing the rapid action of the wings alternately.
When they alight on trees or bushes, it is generally on the tops of
the highest branches, whence they send forth a long, clear, and
somewhat melancholy note, that in sweetness and tenderness of ex-
pression is not surpassed by any of our numerous warblers. ‘This
is sometimes followed by a kind of low, rapid chattering, the par-
ticular call of the female; and again the clear and plaintive strain
is repeated as before. They afford tolerable good amusement to
the sportsman, being most easily shot while on wing; as they fre-
quently squat among the long grass, and spring within gunshot.
_ The nest of this species is built generally in, or below, a thick tuft
or tussock of grass; it is composed of dry grass, and fine bent laid
at bottom, and wound all around, leaving an arched entrance
level with the ground; the inside is lined with fine stalks of the

VOL. III. i

22 MEADOW LARK.

same materials, disposed with great regularity. The eggs are
four, sometimes five, white, marked with specks and several large
blotches of reddish brown, chiefly at the thick end. Their food
consists of caterpillars, grub worms, beetles, and grass seeds; with
a considerable proportion of gravel. Their general name is the
Meadow Lark; among the Virginians they are usually called the
Old field Lark.

The length of this bird is ten inches and a half, extent sixteen
and a half; throat, breast, belly, and line from the eye to the nos-
trils, rich yellow; inside lining and edge of the wing the same; an
oblong crescent of deep velvetty black ornaments the lower part
of the throat; lesser wing-coverts black, broadly bordered with
pale ash; rest of the wing feathers light brown handsomely serrated
with black; a line of yellowish white divides the crown, bounded
on each side by a stripe of black intermixed with bay, and another
line of yellowish white passes over each eye backwards; cheeks
blueish white, back and rest of the upper parts beautifully variegat-
ed with black, bright bay, and pale ochre; tail wedged, the feathers
neatly pointed, the four outer ones on each side, nearly all white;
sides, thighs, and vent pale yellow ochre, streaked with black; up-
per mandible brown, lower blueish white; eyelids furnished with
strong black hairs; legs and feet very large, and of a pale flesh color.

The female has the black crescent more skirted with grey, and
not of so deep a black. In the rest of her markings the plumage
differs little from that of the male. I must here take notice of a
mistake committed by Mr. Edwards in his History of Birds, Vol.
VI, p. 123, where, on the authority of a bird dealer of London, he
describes the Calandre Lark (a native of Italy and Russia) as be-
longing also to N. America, and having been brought from Caro-
lina. I can say with confidence, that in all my excursions thro
that and the rest of the Southern states, I never met such a bird,
nor any person who had ever seen it. I have no hesitation in be-
lieving that the Calandre is not a native of the United States.

BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER.
CERTHIA MACULATA.
[Plate XIX.—Fig. 3. |

Epwarps, pl. 300.—White poll Warbler, Arct. Zool. 402. No. 293.—Le Figuier varie,
Burr. V. 305.—Laru. II. 488.—Turron, I. p. 603.—Prare’s Museum, No. 7092.

THIS nimble and expert little species seldom perches on the
small twigs; but circumambulates the trunk, and larger branches,
in quest of ants and other insects, with admirable dexterity. It ar-
rives in Pennsylvania, from the south, about the twentieth of April,
the young begin to fly early in July; and the whole tribe abandon
the country about the beginning of October. Sloane describes this
bird as an inhabitant of the West India islands, where it probably
winters. It was first figured by Edwards from a dried skin sent
him by Mr. William Bartram, who gave it its present name. Suc-
ceeding naturalists have classed it with the warblers; a mistake
which I have endeavoured to rectify. :

The genus of Creepers comprehends about thirty different spe-
cies, many of which are richly adorned with gorgeous plumage; but,
like their congenial tribe the Woodpeckers, few of them excel in
song; their tongues seem better calculated for extracting noxious
insects from the bark of trees, than for trilling out sprightly airs;
as the hardened hands of the husbandman are better suited for
clearing the forest or guiding the plough, than dancing among
the keys of a forte-piano. Which of the two is the most honora-
ble and useful employment is not difficult to determine. Let the
farmer, therefore, respect this little bird for its useful qualities, in
clearing his fruit and forest trees from destructive insects; tho it

cannot serenade him with its song.

24: BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER.

The length of this species is five inches and a half, extent se-
ven and a half; crown white, bordered on each side with a band
of black, which is again bounded by a line of white passing over
each eye, below this is a large spot of black covering the ear fea-
thers; chin and throat black; wings the same, crossed transversely
by two bars of white; breast and back streaked with black and
white; tail, upper and also under coverts, black, edged and bor-
dered with white; belly white; legs and feet dirty yellow; hind
claw the longest, and all very sharp-pointed; bill a little compress-
ed sideways, slightly curved, black above, paler below; tongue long,
fine-pointed, and horny at the extremity. ‘These last circumstances,
joined to its manners, characterize it, decisively, as a Creeper.

The female and young birds of the first year want the black
on the throat, having that part of a greyish white.

PINE-CREEPING WARBLER.
SYLVIA PINUS.
{Plate XIX.—Fig. 4. ]
Pine-Creeper, Carvuszy, I. 61.—Praxe’s Museum, No. 7312.

THIS species inhabits the pine woods of the Southern states,
where it is resident, and where I first observed it, running along
the bark of the pines; sometimes alighting and feeding on the
sround, and almost always when disturbed flying up and clinging
to the trunks of the trees. As I advanced towards the south it
became more numerous. Its note is a simple reiterated c/urrup,
continued for four or five seconds.

Catesby first figured and described this bird; but so imper-
fectly as to produce among succeeding writers great confusion, and
many mistakes as to what particular bird was intended. Edwards
has supposed it to be the blue-winged Yellow Warbler; Latham
has supposed another species to be meant; and the worthy Mr.
Pennant has been led into the same mistakes; describing the male
of one species, and the female of another, as the male and female
Pine-Creeper. Having shot and examined great numbers of these
birds I am enabled to clear up these difficulties by the following
descriptions, which will be found to be correct.

The Pine-creeping Warbler is five and a half inches long, ae
nine inches in extent; the whole upper parts are of a rich green
olive, with a considerable tinge of yellow; throat, sides, and breast
yellow; wings and tail brown with a slight cast of bluish, the for-
mer marked with two bars of white, slightly tinged with yellow;
tail forked, and edged with ash; the three exterior feathers marked
near the tip with a broad spot of white; middle of the belly and

VOL. IIl. G

26 PINE-CREEPING WARBLER.

vent feathers white. The female is brown, tinged with olive green
on the back; breast dirty white, or slightly yellowish. The bill
in both is truly that of a Warbler; and the tongue slender as in
the Motacilla genus, notwithstanding the habits of the bird.

The food of these birds is the seeds of the pitch pine, and
various kinds of bugs. The nest, according to Mr. Abbot, is sus-
pended from the horizontal fork of a branch, and formed outwardly
of slips of grape-vine bark, rotten wood, and caterpillars webs, with
sometimes pieces of hornets nests interwoven; and is lined with dry
‘pine leaves, and fine roots of plants. The eggs are four, white, with
a few dark brown spots at the great end.

These birds, associating in flocks of 20 or 30 individuals, are
found in the depth of the pine Barrens; and are easily known by
their manner of rising from the ground and alighting on the body
of the tree. They also often glean among the topmost boughs of
the pine trees, hanging, head downwards like the titmouse.

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27

LOUISIANA TANAGER.

Be:

TANAGRA LUDOVICIANA.
[Plate XX.—Fig. 1.]
Praxre’s Museum, No. 6236.

THIS bird, and the two others that occupy the same plate,
were discovered, in the remote regions of Louisiana, by an explor-
ing party under the command of Captain George Merriwether
Lewis, and Lieutenant, now General, William Clark, in their
memorable expedition across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.
They are entitled to a distinguished place in the pages of AMERI-
CAN ORNITHOLOGY, both as being, till now, altogether unknown
to Naturalists, and as natives of what zs, or at least will be, and
that at no distant period, part of the western territory of the Unt-
ted States.

The frail remains of the bird now under consideration, as well
as of the other two, have been set up by Mr. Peale, in his Museum,
with as much neatness as the state of the skins would permit. Of
three of these, which were put into my hands for examination, the
most perfect was selected for the drawing. Its size and markings
were as follow. Length six inches and a half; back, tail, and
wings black; the greater wing-coverts tipt with yellow, the next
superior row wholly yellow; neck, rump, tail-coverts and whole
lower parts greenish yellow; forepart of the head to and beyond
the eyes, light scarlet; bill yellowish horn color; edges of the
upper mandible ragged, as in the rest of its tribe; legs light blue;
tail slightly forked, and edged with dull whitish: the whole figure
about the size, and much resembling in shape, the the Scarlet Ta-
nager (Plate 11. fig. 3.); but evidently a different species, from the

28 LOUISIANA ‘TANAGER.

black back, and yellow coverts. Some of the feathers on the up-
per part of the back were also skirted with yellow. A skin of what
I supposed to be the female, or a young bird, differed in having the
wings and back brownish; and in being rather less.

The family, or genus, to which this bird belongs, is particu-
larly subject to changes of color, both progressively, during the
first and second seasons; and also periodically, afterwards. Some
of those that inhabit Pennsylvania change from an olive green to
a greenish yellow; and, lastly, to a brilliant scarlet; and I con-
fess when the preserved specimen of the present species was first
shewn me, I suspected it to have been passing thro a similar
change at the time it was taken. But having examined two more
skins of the same species, and finding them all marked very nearly
alike, which is seldom the case with those birds that change while
moulting, I began to think that this might be its most permanent,
or at least its summer or winter dress.

The little information I have been able to procure of the spe-
cies generally, or at what particular season these were shot, pre-
vents me from being able to determine this matter to my wish.

I can only learn, that they inhabit the extensive plains or
prairies of the Missouri, between the Osage and Mandan nations ;
building their nests in low bushes, and often among the grass.
With us the Tanagers usually build on the branches of a hickory
or white oak sapling. These birds delight in various kinds of
berries with which those rich prairies are said to abound.

29

CLARK’S CROW.
CORVUS COLUMBIANUS.
[Plate XX.—Fig. 2. |

Prare’s Museum, No. 1371.

THIS species resembles, a little, the Jackdaw of Europe
(Corvus Monedula); but is remarkable for its formidable claws,
which approach to those of the Falco genus; and would seem to
intimate that its food consists of living animals, for whose destruc-
tion these weapons must be necessary. In conversation with dif-
ferent individuals of the party, I understood that this bird inhabits
the shores of the Columbia, and the adjacent country, in great
numbers, frequenting the rivers and sea shore, probably feeding
on fish; and that it has all the gregarious and noisy habits of the
European species, several of the party supposing it to be the same.

The figure in the plate was drawn with particular care, after
a minute examination and measurement of the only preserved skin
that was saved; and which is now deposited in Mr. Peale’s Mu-
seum.

This bird measures thirteen inches in length; the wings, the
two middle tail feathers, and the interior vanes of the next (except
at the tip) are black, glossed with steel blue; all the secondaries,
except the three next the body, are white for an inch at their ex-
tremities, forming a large spot of white on that part, when the
wing is shut; the tail is rounded; yet the two middle feathers are
somewhat shorter than those adjoining; all the rest are pure white,
except as already described; the general color of the head, neck,
and body above and below, is a light silky drab, darkening almost
to a dove color on the breast and belly; vent white; claws black,

VMeuc., 2BIrk: H

30 CLARK’S CROW.

large, and hooked, particularly the middle and hind claw; legs
also black; bill a dark horn color; iris of the eye unknown.

In the state of Georgia, and several parts of West Florida, I
discovered a crow, not hitherto taken notice of by Naturalists,
rather larger than the present species; but much resembling it in
the form and length of its wings, in its tail, and particularly its
claws. ‘This bird is a constant attendant along the borders of
streams and stagnating ponds, feeding on small fish and lizards,
which I have many times seen him seize as he swept along the
surface. A well preserved specimen of this bird was presented to
Mr. Peale, and is now in his Museum. It it highly probable that
with these external resemblances the habits of both may be nearly
alike.

of

LEWIS’S WOODPECKER.
PICUS TORQUATUS.
[Plate XX.—Fig. 3. ]

Pea e’s Museum, No. 2020.

OF this very beautiful and singularly marked species 1 am
unable to give any farther account than as relates to its external
appearance. Several skins of this species were preserved ; all of
which I examined with care ; and found little or no difference -
among them, either in the tints or disposition of the colors.

The length of this was eleven inches and a half; the back,
wings, and tail were black, with a strong gloss of green ; upper
part of the head the same; front, chin, and cheeks, beyond the
eyes, a dark rich red; round the neck passes a broad collar of
white, which spreads over the breast, and looks as if the fibres of
the feathers had been silvered; these feathers are also of a parti-
cular structure, the fibres being separate, and of a hair-like texture;
belly deep vermilion, and of the same strong hair-like feathers, in-
termixed with silvery ones; vent black; legs and feet dusky, inclin-
ing to greenish blue; bill dark horn color. |
For a more particular, and doubtless a more correct account
of this and the two preceding species, the reader is referred to
General Clark’s History of the Expedition, now preparing for the
press. The three birds I have here introduced are but a small
part of the valuable collection of new subjects in Natural history,
discovered, and preserved, amidst a thousand dangers and difh-
culties, by those two enterprising travellers, whose intrepidity was
only equalled by their discretion, and by their active and labori-
ous pursuit of whatever might tend to render their journey useful

32 | LEWIS'S WOODPECKER.

to Science and to their country. It was the request and particu-
lar wish of Captain Lewis, made to me in person, that I should
_ make drawings of such of the feathered tribes as had been pre-
served, and were new. ‘That brave soldier, that amiable and ex-
cellent man, over whose solitary grave in the wilderness I have
since shed tears of affliction, having been cut off in the prime of
his life, I hope I shall be pardoned for consecrating this humble
note to his memory, until a more able pen shall do better justice

to the subject.

LL fe

Dirceten Gy AME Els Or,

2 pot Chunting. 3 Gee uv Ciahle. tg fe te Cprahle

CANADA JAY.
CORVUS CANADENSIS.
[Plate XXI.—Fig. 1.]

_ Linn. Syst. 158.—Cinereous Crow, Arct. Zool. p. 248. No. 187.—Laruam, I. 389.—Le
Geay Brun de Canada, Brisson, Ul. 54.—Burron, UI. 117.

WERE I to adopt the theoretical reasoning of a celebrated
French naturalist, I might pronounce this bird to be, a debased
descendant from the common Blue Jay of the United States, de-
generated by the influence of the bleak and chilling regions of
Canada; or perhaps a spurious production, between the Blue Jay
and the Cat-bird: or what would be more congenial to the Count’s
ideas, trace its degradation to the circumstance of migrating, some
thousand years ago, from the genial shores of Europe, where
nothing like degeneracy or degradation ever takes place among
any of God’s creatures. I shall, however, on the present occa-
sion, content myself with stating a few particulars better sup-
ported by facts, and more consonant to the plain homespun of
common sense. |

This species inhabits the country extending from Hudson’s
Bay, and probably farther north, to the river St. Lawrence; also
in winter the inland parts of the District of Maine, and northern
tracts of the states of Vermont and New York. When the season
is very severe, with deep snow, they sometimes advance farther
south ; but generally return northward as the weather becomes
more mild. |

The character given of this bird by the people of those parts
of the country where it inhabits, is, that it feeds on black moss,
worms, and even flesh ;—when near habitations or tents pilfers

VOL. IIl. I

34 CANADA JAY.

every thing it can come at—is bold, and comes even into the tent
to eat meat out of the dishes :—watches the hunters while baiting
their traps for martens, and devours the bait as soon as their backs
are turned; that they breed early in spring, building their nests
on pine trees, forming them of sticks and grass, and lay blue
eggs; that they have two, rarely three young at a time, which are
at first quite black, and continue so for some time; that they fly
in pairs; lay up hoards of berries in hollow trees; are seldom
seen in January unless near houses; are a kind of Mock-bird;
and when caught pine away, tho their appetite never fails them ;
notwithstanding all which ingenuity and good qualities, they are,
as we are informed, detested by the natives.”

The only individuals of this species that I ever met with in
the United States were on the shores of the Mohawk, a short way
above the Little Falls. It was about the last of November, and
the ground deeply covered with snow. There were three or four
in company, or within a small distance of each other, flitting lei-
surely along the road side, keeping up a kind of low chattering
with one another, and seemed no ways apprehensive at my ap-
proach. I soon secured the whole; from the best of which the
drawing in the plate was carefully made. On dissection I found
their stomachs occupied by a few spiders and the aurelize of some
insects. I could perceive no difference between the plumage of the
male and female.

The Canada Jay is eleven inches long, and fifteen in extent;
back, wings, and tail, a dull leaden grey, the latter long, cunei-
form, and tipt with dirty white; interior vanes of the wings brown,
and also partly tipt with white; plumage of the head loose and
prominent; the forehead and feathers covering the nostril, as well
as the whole lower parts a dirty brownish white, which also passes
round the bottom of the neck like a collar; part of the crown and

~* Hearne’s Journey, p. 405.

CANADA JAY. 35

hind head black; bill and legs also black; eye dark hazel. The
whole plumage on the back is long, loose, unwebbed, and in great
abundance, as if to protect it from the rigors of the regions it
inhabits. )

A gentleman of observation, who resided for many years near
the North river, not far from Hudson, in the state of New York,
informs me, that he has particularly observed this bird to arrive
there at the commencement of cold weather—he has often re-
marked its solitary habits; it seemed to seek the most unfrequent-
ed shaded retreats, keeping almost constantly on the ground, yet
would sometimes, towards evening, mount to the top of a small
tree, and repeat its notes (which a little resemble those of the Bal-
timore) for a quarter of an hour together; and this it generally did
immediately before snow, or falling weather.

SNOW BUNTING.
EMBERIZA NIVALIS.

[Plate XXI.—Fig. 2. |

Linn. Syst. 308.—Aret. Zool. p. 355. No. 222.—Tawny Bunting, Br. Zool. No. 121.—
LT? Ortolan de Neige, Burron, IV. 329. Pl. Enl. 497.—Prare’s Museum, 5900.

THIS being one of those birds common to both continents,
its migrations extending almost from the very pole, to a distance
of forty or fifty degrees around; and its manners and peculiarities
having been long familiarly known to the naturalists of Europe,
I shall in this place avail myself of the most interesting parts of
their accounts; subjoining such particulars as have fallen under
my own observation.

«These birds,” says Mr. Pennant, “inhabit not only Green-
“land* but even the dreadful climate of Spitzbergen, where ve-
“getation is nearly extinct, and scarcely any but cryptogamious
“plants are found. It therefore excites wonder, how birds, which
“are graminivorous in every other than those frost-bound regions,
“subsist: yet are there found in great flocks both on the land and
“ice of Spitzbergen.; They annually pass to this country by way
“of Norway; for in the spring, flocks innumerable appear, espe-
“cially on the Norwegian isles: continue only three weeks, and
“then at once disappear.; As they do not breed in Hudson’s Bay
“it is certain that many retreat to this last of lands, and totally
“uninhabited, to perform in full security the duties of love, incu-
“bation, and nutrition. That they breed in Spitzbergen is very

* Crantz, I. 77. + Lord Mutcrave’s Voyage, 188. Marrin’s Voyage, 73.
t Lees, 256.

SNOW BUNTING. 37

“probable; but we are assured that they do so in Greenland.
«They arrive there in April, and make their nests in the fissures
“of the rocks, on the mountains, in May; the outside of their nest
“is grass, the middle of feathers; and the lining the down of the
« Arctic fox. They lay five eggs, white spotted with brown: they
“sing finely near their nest. Ay]

«They are caught by the boys in autumn when they collect
“near the shores in great flocks, in order to migrate; and are
“eaten dried.* | |

“In Europe they inhabit during summer the most naked Lap-
“land Alps; and descend in rigorous seasons into Sweden, and fill
“the roads and fields; on which account the Dalecarlians call them
“illwarsfogel, or bad-weather birds. 'The Uplanders hardwarsfogel,
“expressive of the same. The Laplanders style them Alapg.
«Leemst remarks, I know not with what foundation, that they
«fatten on the flowing of the tides in Finmark; and grow lean on
“the ebb. The Laplanders take them in great numbers in hair-
“springs for the tables, their flesh being very delicate.

“They seem to make the countries within the whole Arctic
“circle their summer residence, from whence they overflow the
“more southern countries in amazing multitudes, at the setting in
“of winter in the frigid zone. In the winter of 1778-9 they came
“in such multitudes into Birsa, one of the Orkney islands, as to
“cover the whole barony; yet of all the numbers hardly two
“agreed in colors.

“ Lapland, and perhaps Iceland, furnishes the north of Bri-
“tain with the swarms that frequent these parts during winter, as
“low as the Cheviot Hills in lat. 52° 32°. Their resting places the
« Feroe isles, Schetland and the Orkneys. ‘The highlands of Scot-
“land, in particular, abound with them. ‘Their flights are im-

“mense, and they mingle so closely together in form of a ball

* Faun. Greenl. 118. + Finmark, 255.

VOL. III. K

38 SNOW BUNTING.

“that the fowlers make great havock among them. ‘They arrive
“lean, soon become very fat, and are delicious food. They either
“arrive in the highlands very early, or a few breed there, for I
“had one shot for me at Invercauld, the fourth of August. But
“there is a certainty of their migration; for multitudes of them
“fall, wearied with their passage, on the vessels that are sailing
“through the Pentland frith.*

“In their summer dress they are sometimes seen in the south
“of England;t the climate not having severity sufficient to affect
“the colors; yet now and then a milk white one appears, which
“is usually mistaken for a white Lark.

“Russia and Siberia receive them in their severe seasons an-
“nually, in amazing flocks, overflowing almost all Russia. They
“ frequent the villages, and yield a most luxurious repast. They vary
“there infinitely in their winter colors, are pure white, speckled,
“and even quite brown.! This seems to be the influence of dif-
“ference of age more than of season. Germany has also its share
“of them. In Austria they are caught and fed with millet, and
“afford the epicure a treat equal to that of the Ortolan.”¢

These birds appear in the northern districts of the United
States early in December, or with the first heavy snow, particu-
larly if drifted by high winds. They are usually called the White
Snow-bird, to distinguish them from the small dark bluish Snow-
bird already described. Their numbers increase with the increasing
severity of weather, and depth of snow. Flocks of them sometimes
reach as far south as the borders of Maryland; and the whiteness
of their plumage is observed to be greatest towards the depth of
winter. ‘They spread over the Gennesee country and the interior
of the district of Maine, fiying in close compact bodies, driving
about most in a high wind; sometimes alighting near the doors,
but seldom sitting long, being a roving restless bird. In these

* Bishop Pococx’s Journal, MS. t Bzxv’s Travels, I, 198.
+ Morron’s Northamp. p. 427. § Kramer, Anim. Austr. 372.

SNOW BUNTING. Se

plentiful regions, where more valuable game is abundant, they hold
out no temptation to the sportsman or hunter; and except the few
caught by boys in snares, no other attention is paid to them. They
are, however, universally considered as the harbingers of severe
cold weather. How far westward they extend I am unable to say.
One of the most intelligent and expert hunters who accompanied
captains Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean,
informs me, that he has no recollection of seeing these birds in any
part of their tour, not even among the bleak and snowy regions of
the Stony mountains; tho the little blue one was in abundance.

The Snow Bunting derives a considerable part of its food from
the seeds of certain aquatic plants, which may be one reason for its
preferring these remote northern countries, so generally intersect-
ed with streams, ponds, lakes and shallow arms of the sea, that pro-
bably abound with such plants. In passing down the Seneca river
towards lake Ontario, late in the month of October, | was surprised
by the appearance of a large flock of these birds feeding on the sur-
face of the water, supported on the tops of a growth of weeds that
rose from the bottom, growing so close together that our boat could
with great difficulty make its way through them. ‘They were run-
ning about with great activity; and those I shot and examined were
filled, not only with the seeds of this plant, but with a minute kind
of shell fish that adheres to the leaves. In these kind of aquatic
excursions they are doubtless greatly assisted by the length of their
hind heel and claws. I also observed a few on Table rock, above
the falls of Niagara, seemingly in search of the same kind of food.

According to the statements of those traders who have resided
near Hudson’s bay, the Snow Buntings are the earliest of their mi-
gratory birds, appearing there about the eleventh of April, staying
about a month or five weeks, and proceeding farther north to breed.
They return again in September; stay till November, when the se-
vere frosts drive them southward.”

* Lond. Phil. Trans. LXII, 403.

40 SNOW BUNTING.

The summer dress of the Snow Bunting is a tawny brown, in-
terspersed with white, covering the head, neck and lower parts ;
the back is black, each feather being skirted with brown; wings
and tail also black, marked in the following manner:—the three
secondaries next the body are bordered with bay, the next with
white, and alli the rest of the secondaries, as well as their coverts,
and shoulder of the wing, pure white; the first six primaries are
black from their coverts downwards to their extremities; tail fork-
ed, the three exterior feathers, on each side, white, marked on the
outer edge, near the tip, with black; the rest nearly all black; tail
coverts reddish brown, fading into white; bill pale brown; legs
and feet black; hind claw long like that of the Lark, tho more
curved. In winter they become white on the head, neck, and whole
under side, as well as great part of the wings and rump; the back
continues black skirted with brown. Some are even found pure
white. Indeed so much does their plumage vary according to age

and season, that no two are found at any time alike.

AA

RUSTY GRAKLE.
GRACULA FERRUGINEA.
[Plate XXI.—Fig. 3.] _

Black Oriole, Arct. Zool. p. 259. No. 144.—Rusty Oriole, Ibid. p. 260, No. 146.—New
York Thrush, Ibid. p. 339. No. 205.—Hudsonian Thrush, Ibid. No. 234, female.—Labra-
dor Thrush, Itid. p. 340, No. 206.—PzEALE’s Museum, No. 5514.

HERE is a single species described by one of the most judicious
naturalists of Great Britain no less than five different times! The
greater part of these descriptions is copied by succeeding natu-
ralists, whose syhonyms it is unnecessary to repeat. So great is
the uncertainty in judging, from a mere examination of their dried
or stuffed skins, of the particular tribes of birds, many of which,
for several years, are constantly varying in the colors of their
plumage, and at different seasons, or different ages, assuming new
and very different appearances. Even the size is by no means a
safe criterion, the difference in this respect between the male and
female of the same species (as in the one now before us) being some-
times very considerable.

This bird arrives in Pennsylvania, from the north, early in
October; associates with the Red-wings, and Cow-pen Buntings,
frequents corn fields, and places where grasshoppers are plenty;
but Indian corn, at that season, seems to be its principal food. It
is a very silent bird, having only now and then a single note, or
chuck. We see them occasionally until about the middle of No-
vember, when they move off to the south. On the twelfth of Janu-
ary I overtook great numbers of these birds in the woods near Pe-
tersburgh, Virginia, and continued to see occasional parties of them
almost every day as I advanced southerly, particularly in South

VOL. III. L

AQ RUSTY GRAKLE.

Carolina, around the rice plantations, where they were numerous,
feeding about the hog pens, and wherever Indian corn was to be
procured. They also extend to a considerable distance westward.
On the fifth of March, being on the banks of the Ohio, a few miles
below the mouth of the Kentucky river, in the midst of a heavy
snow storm, a flock of these birds alighted near the door of the
cabin where I had taken shelter, several of which I shot, and found
their stomachs, as usual, crammed with Indian corn. Early in
April they pass hastily through Pennsylvania, on their return to
the north to breed.

From the accounts of persons who have resided near Hudson’s
bay, it appears, that these birds arrive there in the beginning of
June, as soon as the ground is thawed sufficiently for them to pro-
cure their food, which is said to be worms and maggots; sing with
a fine note till the time of incubation, when they have only a chuck-
ing noise, till the young take their flight; at which time they re-
sume their song. ‘They build their nests in trees, about eight feet
from the ground, forming them with moss and grass, and lay five
eggs of a dark color, spotted with black. It is added, they gather
in great flocks, and retire southerly in September.”

The male of this species, when in perfect plumage, is nine
inches in length, and fourteen in extent; at a small distance ap-
pears wholly black; but on a near examination is of a glossy dark
green; the irides of the eye are silvery, as in those of the Purple
Grakle; the bill is black, nearly of the same form with that of the
last mentioned species; the lower mandible a little rounded, with
the edges turned inward, and the upper one furnished with a sharp
bony process on the inside, exactly like that of the purple species.
The tongue is slender, and lacerated at the tip; legs and feet black
and strong, the hind claw the largest; the tail is slightly rounded.
This is the color of the male when of full age; but three-fourths of
these birds which we meet with, have the whole plumage of the

* Aret. Zool. p. 259:

RUSTY GRAKLE. 43

breast, head, neck, ana back, tinctured with brown; every feather
being skirted with ferruginous; over the eye is a light line of pale
brown, below that one of black passing through the eye. This
brownness gradually goes off towards spring, for almost all those
I shot in the southern states were but slightly marked with ferru-
ginous. ‘The female is nearly an inch shorter; head, neck, and
breast almost wholly brown; a light line over the eye, lores black;
belly and rump ash; upper and under tail coverts skirted with
brown; wings black, edged with rust color; tail black, glossed with
green; legs, feet and bill as in the male.

These birds might easily be domesticated. Several that I
had winged and kept for some time, became in a few days quite
familiar, seeming to be very easily reconciled to confinement.

44,

PURPLE GRAKLE.
GRACULA QUISCALA.

[Plate XXI.—Fig. 4. |

Linn. Syst. 165.—La Pie de la Jamaique, Brisson, U, 41.—Burron, Ill, 97. Pl. Eni.
538.—Aret. Zool. p. 263. No. 153.—Gracula Purpurea, the lesser Purple Jackdaw, or
Crow Blackbird, Bartram, p. 289.—PrEALE’s Museum, No. 1582.

THIS noted depredator is well known to every careful farmer
of the northern and middle states. About the twentieth of March
the Purple Grakles visit Pennsylvania from the south, fly in loose
flocks, frequent swamps and meadows, and follow in the furrows
after the plough; their food at this season consisting of worms,
grubs, and caterpillars, of which they destroy prodigious numbers,
as if to recompence the husbandman before hand for the havock
they intend to make among his crops of Indian corn. ‘Towards
evening they retire to the nearest cedars and pine trees to roost;
making a continual chattering as they fly along. On the tallest
of these trees they generally build their nests in company, about
the beginning or middle of April; sometimes ten or fifteen nests
being on the same tree. One of these nests, taken from a high
pine tree, is now before me. It measures full five inches in dia-
meter within, and four in depth; is composed outwardly of mud,
mixed with long stalks and roots of a knotty kind of grass, and
lined with fine bent and horse hair. The eggs are five, of a bluish
olive color, marked with large spots and straggling streaks of black
and dark brown, also with others of a fainter tinge. ‘They rarely
produce more than one brood in a season.

The trees where these birds build are often at no great dis-

tance from the farm house, and overlook the plantations. From

PURPLE GRAKLE. AS

thence they issue, in all directions, and with as much confidence, to
make their daily depredations among the surrounding fields, as if
the whole were intended for their use alone. Their chief atten-
tion, however, is directed to the Indian corn in all its progressive
stages. As soon as the infant blade of this grain begins to make
its appearance above ground, the Grakles hail the welcome signal
with screams of peculiar satisfaction, and without waiting for a for-
mal invitation from the proprietor, descend on the fields and begin
to pull up and regale themselves on the seed, scattering the green
blades around. While thus eagerly employed, the vengeance of
the gun sometimes overtakes them; but these disasters are soon
forgotten, and those

‘—_—— who live to get away,
Return to steal, another day.’

About the beginning of August when the young ears are in their
milky state, they are attacked with redoubled eagerness by the
Grakles and Red-wings, in formidable and combined bodies. They
descend like a blackening, sweeping tempest on the corn, dig off
the external covering of twelve or fifteen coats of leaves, as dexte-
rously as if done by the hand of man, and having laid bare the ear
leave little behind to the farmer but the cobs, and shrivelled skins
that contained their favorite fare. I have seen fields of corn of
many acres, where more than one half was thus ruined. Indeed
the farmers in the immediate vicinity of the rivers Delaware and
Schuylkill, generally allow one-fourth of this crop to the Blackbirds,
among whom our Grakle comes in for his full share. During these
depredations, the gun is making great havock among their num-
bers, which has no other effect on the survivors than to send them
to another field, or to another part of the same field. This system of
plunder and of retaliation continues until November, when towards
the middle of that month they begin to sheer off towards the south.

VOL. Ill. M

46 PURPLE GRAKLE.

The lower parts of Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Geor-
gia, are the winter residences of these flocks. Here numerous bo-
dies, collecting together from all quarters of the interior and nor-
thern districts, and darkening the air with their numbers, some-
times form one congregated multitude of many hundred thousands.
A few miles from the banks of the Roanoke, on the twentieth of
January, I met with one of those prodigious armies of Grakles.
They rose from the surrounding fields with a noise like thunder,
and descending on the length of road before me, covered it and
the fences completely with black, and when they again rose, and
after a few evolutions descended on the skirts of the high timbered
woods, at that time destitute of leaves, they produced a most sin-
gular and striking effect; the whole trees for a considerable extent,
from the top to the lowest branches, seeming as if hung in mourn-
ing; their notes and screaming the meanwhile resembling the dis-
tant sound of a great cataract, but in more musical cadence, swell-
ing and dying away on the ear, according to the fluctuation of the
breeze. In Kentucky, and all along the Mississippi, from its junc-
ture with the Ohio to the Balize, I found numbers of these birds,
so that the Purple Grakle may be considered as a very general in-
habitant of the territory of the United States.

Every industrious farmer complains of the mischief commit-
ted on his corn by the Crow Blackbirds, as they are usually called;
tho, were the same means used, as with pigeons, to take them in
clap nets, multitudes of them might thus be destroyed; and the
products of them in market, in some measure, indemnify him for
their depredations. But they are most numerous and most de-
structive at a time when the various harvests of the husbandman
demand all his attention, and all his hands to cut, cure, and take
in; and so they escape with a few sweeps made among them by
some of the younger boys with the gun; and by the gunners from
the neighbouring towns and villages; and return from their win-

ter quarters, sometimes early in March, to renew the like scenes

PURPLE GRAKLE. 47

over again. As some consolation however to the industrious culti-
vator, I can assure him, that were I placed in his situation, I should
hesitate whether to consider these birds most as friends or enemies,
as they are particularly destructive to almost all the noxious worms,
erubs, and caterpillars that infest his fields, which, were they al-
lowed to multiply unmolested, would soon consume nine-tenths of
all the production of his labour, and desolate the country with the
miseries of famine! Is not this another striking proof that the
Deity has created nothing in vain; and that it is the duty of man,
the lord of the creation, to avail himself of their usefulness, and
guard against their bad effects as securely as possible, without in-
dulging in the barbarous and even impious wish for their utter ex-
termination.

The Purple Grakle is twelve inches long and eighteen in ex-
tent; on a slight view seems wholly black, but placed near, in a
sood light, the whole head, neck, and breast appear of a rich glossy
steel blue, dark violet and silky green; the violet prevails most on
the head and breast, and the green on the hind part of the neck.
The back, rump, and whole lower parts, the breast excepted, re-
flect a strong coppery gloss; wing coverts, secondaries, and co-
verts of the tail, rich light violet, in which the red prevails; the
rest of the wings and rounded tail are black, glossed with steel
blue. All the above colors are extremely shining, varying as dil-
ferently exposed to the light; iris of the eye silvery; bill more than
an inch long, strong, and furnished on the inside of the upper man-
dible with a sharp process, like the stump of the broken blade of a
penknife, intended to assist the bird in macerating its food; tongue
thin, bifid at the end, and lacerated along the sides.

The female is rather less, has the upper part of the head,
neck and the back of a dark sooty brown; chin, breast and belly
dull pale brown, lightest on the former; wings, tail, lower parts of
the back and vent, black, with a few reflexions of dark green; legs,

feet, bill and eyes as in the male.

AS. PURPLE GRAKLE.

The Purple Grakle is easily tamed, and sings in confinement.
They have also in several instances been taught to articulate some
few words pretty distinctly.

A singular attachment frequently takes place between this
bird and the Fish Hawk. The nest of this latter is of very large
dimensions, often from three to four feet in breadth, and from four
to five feet high; composed, externally, of large sticks, or faggots,
among the interstices of which sometimes three or four pair of
Crow Blackbirds will construct their nests, while the Hawk is sit-
ting, or hatching above. Here each pursues the duties of incuba-
tion and of rearing their young; living in the greatest harmony,
and mutually watching and protecting each other’s property from
depredators.

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SWAMP SPARROW.
FRINGILLA PALUSTRIS.

| Plate XXT.—Fig. 1.]

Passer palustris, Bartram, p. 291.—Pza.e’s Museum, No. 6569.

THE history of this obscure and humble species is short and
uninteresting. Unknown or overlooked by the naturalists of Eu-
rope it is now for the first time introduced to the notice of the
world. It is one of our summer visitants, arriving in Pennsylva-
nia early in April, frequenting low grounds, and river courses:
rearing two, and sometimes three brood in a season; and return-
ing to the south as the cold weather commences. The immense
cypress swamps and extensive grassy flats of the southern states,
that border their numerous rivers, and the rich rice plantations
abounding with their favorite seeds and sustenance, appear to be
the general winter resort, and grand annual rendezvous, of this and
all the other species of Sparrow that remain with us during sum-
mer. From the river Trent in North Carolina, to that of Savan-
nah, and still farther south, I found this species very numerous;
not flying in flocks, but skulking among the canes, reeds, and grass,
seeming shy and timorous, and more attached to the water than
any other of their tribe. In the month of April numbers pass
through Pennsylvania to the northward, which I conjecture from
the circumstance of finding them at that season in particular parts
of the woods, where during the rest of the year they are not to be
seen. ‘The few that remain frequent the swamps, and reedy bor-
ders of our creeks and rivers. They form their nest in the ground,
sometimes in a tussock of rank grass, surrounded by water, and
lay four eggs of a dirty white, spotted with rufous. So late as the

VOL. UI. N

50 SWAMP SPARROW.

fifteenth of August, I have seen them feeding their young that were
scarcely able to fly. Their principal food is grass seeds, wild oats,
and insects. They have no song; are distinguished by a single
chip or cheep, uttered in a rather hoarser tone than that of the Song
Sparrow; flirt the tail as they fly; seldom or never take to the
trees, but skulk from one low bush or swampy thicket to another.

The Swamp Sparrow is five inches and a half long, and seven
inches and a half in extent; the back of the neck and front are
black; crown bright bay, bordered with black; a spot of yellow-
ish white between the eye and nostril; sides of the neck and whole
breast dark ash; chin white; a streak of black proceeds from the
lower mandible, and another from the posterior angle of the eye;
back black, slightly skirted with bay; greater coverts also black,
edged with bay; wings and tail plain brown; belly and vent brown-
ish white; bill dusky above, bluish below; eyes hazel; legs brown;
claws strong and sharp for climbing the reeds. ‘The female wants
the bay on the crown, or has it indistinctly; over the eye is a line
of dull white.

ot

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
FRINGILLA ALBICOLLIS,

[Plate XXII.—Fig. 2. |

Fringilla fusca, Bartram, p. 291.—Laru. Il, 272.—Epwarps, 304.—Aret. Zool. p. 373,
No. 248.—PrEaxe’s Museum, No. 6486.

THIS is the largest as well as handsomest of all our Spar-
rows. It winters with the preceding species and several others in
most of the states south of New England. From Connecticut to
Savannah I found these birds numerous, particularly in the neigh-
bourhood of the Roanoke river, and among the rice plantations.
In summer they retire to the higher inland parts of the country,
and also farther north to breed. According to Pennant they are
also found at that season in Newfoundland. During their resi-
dence here in winter, they collect together in flocks, always pre-
ferring the borders of swampy thickets, creeks, and millponds,
skirted with alder bushes and long rank weeds, the seeds of which
form their principal food. Early in spring, a little before they
leave us, they have a few remarkably sweet and clear notes, gene-
rally in the morning a little after sun rise. About the twentieth
of April they disappear, and we see no more of them till the begin-
ning or second week of October, when they again return; part to
pass the winter with us; and part on their route farther south.

The length of the White-throated Sparrow 1s six inches and
a half, breadth nine inches; the upper part of the back and the
lesser wing coverts are beautifully variegated with black, bay, ash
and light brown; a stripe of white passes from the base of the up-
per mandible to the hind head; this is bordered on each side with

a stripe of black; below this again is another of white passing over

52 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.

each eye, and deepening into orange yellow between that and the
nostril; this is again bordered by a stripe of black proceeding from
the hind part of the eye; breast ash; chin, belly, and vent white;
tail somewhat wedged; legs flesh colored; bill a bluish horn co-
lor; eye hazel. In the female the white stripe on the crown Is a
light drab; the breast not so dark; the chin less pure; and the
line of yellow before the eye scarce half as long as in the male.
All the parts that are white in the male are in the female of a light

drab color.

FOX-COLORED SPARROW.
FRINGILLA RUFA.
| Plate XXII.—Fig. 4. |

Rusty Bunting, Arct. Zool. p. 364, No. 231. Ib. 233.—Ferruginous Finch, Ib. 375, No.
251.—Fringilla rufa, BARTRAM, p. 291.—PkrALzE’s Museum, No. 6092.

THIS plump and pretty species arrives in Pennsylvania from
the north about the twentieth of October; frequents low sheltered
thickets; associates in little flocks of ten or twelve, and is almost
continually scraping the ground, and rustling among the fallen
leaves. I found this bird numerous in November among the rich
cultivated flats that border the river Connecticut; and was informed
that it leaves those places in spring. I also found it in the northern
parts of the state of Vermont. Along the borders of the great reed
and cypress swamps of Virginia, and North and South Carolina, as
well as around the rice plantations, I observed this bird very fre-
quently. They also inhabit Newfoundland.* They are rather of
a solitary nature, seldom feeding in the open fields; but generally
under thickets, or among tall rank weeds on the edges of fields.
They sometimes associate with the Snow-bird, but more generally
keep by themselves. ‘Their manners very much resemble those
of the Red-eyed Bunting (Plate X, fig. 4.); they are silent, tame,
and unsuspicious. ‘They have generally no other note while here
than a shep, shep; yet I suspect they have some song in the places
where they breed; for I once heard a single one, a little before
the time they leave us, warble out a few very sweet low notes.

The Fox-colored Sparrow is six inches long, and nine and a
quarter broad; the upper part of the head and neck is cinereous,

* PENNANT.

VOL. IIl. O

54: FOX-COLORED SPARROW.

edged with rust color; back handsomely mottled with reddish brown
and cinereous; wings and tail bright ferruginous; the primaries
dusky within and at the tips, the first and second row of coverts,
tipt with white; breast and belly white; the former, as well as the
ear feathers, marked with large blotches of bright bay, or reddish
brown, and the beginning of the belly with little arrow-shaped spots
of black; the tail coverts and tail are a bright fox color; the legs
and feet a dirty brownish white, or clay color, and very strong;
the bill is strong, dusky above and yellow below; iris of the eye
hazel. The chief difference in the female is that the wings are not
of so bright a bay, inclining more to a drab; yet this is scarcely
observable, unless by a comparison of the two together. ‘They are
generally very fat, live on grass seeds, eggs of insects, and gravel.

Or
2

SAVANNAH SPARROW.
FRINGILLA SAVANNA.
| Plate XXT1.—Fig. 3.— Female. |

Preare’s Museum, No. 6584.

THIS new species is an inhabitant of the low countries on the
Atlantic coast, from Savannah, where I first discovered it, to the
state of New York; and is generally resident in these places, tho
rarely found inland, or far from the sea shore. The drawing of
this bird was in the hands of the engraver before I was aware that
the male (a figure of which will appear in vol. IV,) was so much
its superior in beauty of markings and in general colors. With a
representation of the male will also be given particulars of their
nest, eggs, and manners, which, from the season, and the few spe-
cimens [ had the opportunity of procuring, I was at that time un-
able to collect. I have since found these birds numerous on the
sea shore, in the state of New Jersey, particularly near Great Ege
harbour. <A pair of these I presented to Mr. Peale of this city,
in whose noble collection they now occupy a place.

The female of the Savannah Sparrow is five inches and a half
long, and eight and a half in extent; the plumage of the back is
mottled with black, bright bay and whitish; chin white; breast
marked with pointed spots of black, edged with bay, running in
chains from each base of the lower mandible; sides touched with
long streaks of the same; temples marked with a spot of delicate
yellow; ear feathers slightly tinged with the same; belly white, and
a little streaked; inside of the shoulders and lining of the wing pale
yellowish; first and second rows of wing coverts tipt with whitish;
secondaries next the body pointed and very black, edged also with

56 | SAVANNAH SPARROW.

bay; tail slightly forked, and without any white feathers; legs pale
flesh color; hind claw pretty long.

The very slight distinctions of color which nature has drawn
between many distinct species of this family of Finches, render
these minute and tedious descriptions absolutely necessary, that
the particular species may be precisely discriminated.

ey

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE.
LANIUS CAROLINENSIS.
[Plate XXIJ.—Fig. 5. |

Peare’s Museum, No. 557.

THIS species has a considerable resemblance to the Great
American Shrike.* It differs however from that bird in size, being
a full inch shorter, and in color being much darker on the upper
parts; and in having the frontlet black. It also inhabits the warmer
parts of the United States; while the Great American Shrike is
chiefly confined to the northern regions, and seldom extends to the
south of Virginia.

This species inhabits the rice plantations of Carolina and
Georgia, where it is protected for its usefulness in destroying mice.
It sits, for hours together, on the fence, beside the stacks of rice,
watching like a cat; and as soon as it perceives a mouse, darts on
it like a Hawk. It also feeds on crickets and grasshoppers. Its
note, in March, resembled the clear creaking of a sign board in
windy weather. It builds its nest, as | was informed, generally
in a detached bush, much like that of the Mocking-bird ; but as the
spring was not then sufficiently advanced, I had no opportunity of
seeing its eggs. Itis generally known by the name of the Logger-
head.

This species is nine inches long, and thirteen in extent; the
color above is cinereous or dark ash; scapulars and line over the
eye whitish; wings black, with a small spot of white at the base
of the primaries, and tipt with white; a stripe of black passes along
the front through each eye half way down the side of the neck ;

* Vol. I, plate v, fig. 1.
VOL, Tit P

a8 hy LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE.

eye dark hazel, sunk below the eyebrow; tail cuneiform, the four
middle feathers wholly black; the four exterior ones on each side
tipt more and more with white to the outer one, which is nearly all
white; whole lower parts white, and in some specimens, both of
males and females, marked with transverse lines of very pale
brown; bill and legs black.

The female is considerably darker both above and below, but

the black does not reach so high on the front; it is also rather less
in size.

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BELTED KINGSFISHER.
ALCEDO ALCYON.

| Plate XXIII.—Fig. 1.—Female. |

BarTRAM, p. 289.—Turron, p. 278.—Prare’s Museum, No. 2145.

THIS is a general inhabitant of the banks and shores of all
our fresh water rivers from Hudson’s bay to Mexico; and is the
only species of its tribe found within the United States. This last
circumstance, and its characteristic appearance, make it as uni-
versally known here, as its elegant little brother, the common
Kingsfisher of Europe, is in Britain. Like the love-lorn swains of
whom poets tell us, he delights in murmuring streams and falling
waters; not however merely that they may sooth his ear, but for
a gratification somewhat more substantial. Amidst the roar of the
cataract, or over the foam of a torrent, he sits perched upon an
overhanging bough, glancing his piercing eye in every direction
below for his scaly prey, which with a sudden circular plunge he
sweeps from their native element, and swallows in an instant. His
voice, which is not unlike the twirling of a watchman’s rattle, is
naturally loud, harsh, and sudden; but is softened by the sound of
the brawling streams and cascades among which he generally ram-
bles. He courses along the windings of the brock or river, at a
small height above the surface, sometimes suspending himself by
the rapid action of his wings like certain species of Hawks, ready
to pounce on the fry below; now and then settling on an old dead
overhanging limb to reconnoitre. Mill-dams are particularly vi-
sited by this feathered fisher; and the sound of his pipe is as well
known to the miller as the rattling of his own hopper. Rapid

streams with high perpendicular banks, particularly if they be of

60 BELTED KINGSFISHER.

a hard clayey or sandy nature, are also favorite places of resort for
this bird; not only because in such places the small fish are more
exposed to view; but because those steep and dry banks are the
chosen situations for his nest. Into these he digs with bill and
claws, horizontally, sometimes to the extent of four or five feet, at
the distance of a foot or two from the surface. ‘The few materials
he takes in are not always placed at the extremity of the hole; that
he and his mate may have room to turn with convenience. ‘he
eggs are five, pure white, and the first brood usually comes out about
the beginning of June, and sometimes sooner, according to that part
of the country where they reside. On the shores of Kentucky river
near the town of Frankfort, I found the female sitting early in
April. They are very tenacious of their haunts, breeding for se-
veral successive years in the same hole, and do not readily forsake
it, even tho it be visited. An intelligent young gentleman inform-
ed me, that having found where a Kingstiisher built, he took away its
egos from time to time, leaving always one behind, until he had
taken no less than eighteen from the same nest. At some otf these
visits, the female being within, retired to the extremity of the hole
while he withdrew the egg, and next day, when he returned, he
found she had laid again as usual.

The fabulous stories related by the ancients of the nest, man-
ner of hatching, &c. of the Kingsfisher, are too trifling to be re-
peated here. Over the winds and the waves the humble Kings-
fishers of our days, at least the species now before us, have no con-
trol. Its nest is neither constructed of glue nor fish bones; but of
loose grass and a few feathers. It is not thrown on the surface of
the water to float about, with its proprietor, at random; but snugly
secured from the winds and the weather in the recesses of the earth;
neither is its head or its feathers believed, even by the most illite-
rate of our clowns or seamen, to be a charm for love, a protection
against witchcraft, or a security for fair weather. It is neither ve-
nerated like those of the Society isles, nor dreaded like those of

BELTED KINGSFISHER. 61

some other countries; but is considered merely as a bird that feeds
on fish; is generally fat; relished by some as good eating; and is
now and then seen exposed for sale in our markets.

‘Tho the Kingsfisher generally remains with us, in Pennsylva-
nia, until the commencement of cold weather, it is seldom seen
here in winter; but returns to us early in April. In North and
South Carolina, I observed numbers of these birds in the months
of February and March. I also frequently noticed them on the
shores of the Ohio, in February, as high up as the mouth of the
Muskingum.

I suspect this bird to be a native of the Bahama islands as
well as of our continent. In passing between these isles and the
Florida shore, in the month of July, a Kingsfisher flew several times
round our ship, and afterwards shot off to the south.

The length of this species is twelve inches and a half, extent
twenty; back and whole upper parts a light bluish slate color;
round the neck is a collar of pure white, which reaches before to
the chin; head large, crested, the feathers long and narrow, black
in the centre, and generally erect; the shafts of all the feathers, ex-
cept the white plumage, are black; belly and vent white; sides
under the wings variegated with blue, round the upper part of the
breast passes a band of blue interspersed with some light brown
feathers; before the eye is a small spot of white, and another im-
mediately below it; the bill is three inches long from the point to
the slit of the mouth, strong, sharp pointed, and black, except near
the base of the lower mandible, and at the tip, where it is of a horn
color; primaries and interior webs of the secondaries black, spot-
ted with white; the interior vanes of the tail feathers elegantly
spotted with white on a jet black ground; lower side light colored;
exterior vanes blue; wing coverts and secondaries marked with
small specks of white; legs extremely short; when the bird perches
it generally rests on the lower side of the second joint, which is
thereby thick and callous; claws stout and black; whole leg of a

VOL. III. Q

62 3 BELTED KINGSFISHER.

dirty yellowish color; above the knee bare of feathers for half an
inch; the two exterior toes united together for nearly their whole
length.

The female is sprinkled all over with specks of white; the
band of blue around the upper part of the breast is nearly half red-
dish brown; and a little below this passes a band of bright reddish
bay, spreading on each side under the wings. The blue and ru-
fous feathers on the breast are strong like scales. The head is also
of a much darker blue than the back, and the white feathers on
the chin and throat of an exquisite fine glossy texture, like the

most beautiful satin.

BLACK AND YELLOW WARBLER.
SYLVIA MAGNOLIA.

[Plate XXIII.—Fig. 2.]

Prare’s Museum, No. 7783.

THIS bird I first met with on the banks of the Little Miami,
near its junction with the Ohio. I afterwards found it among the
magnolias, not far from fort Adams on the Mississippi. These
two, both of which happened to be males, are all the individuals I
have ever shot of this species; from which I am justified in con-
cluding it to be a very scarce bird in the United States. Mr. Peale,
however, has the merit of having been the first to discover this ele-
gant species, which he informs me he found several years ago not
many miles from Philadelphia. No notice has ever been taken of
this bird by any European naturalist whose works I have examined.
Its notes, or rather chirpings, struck me as very peculiar and cha-
racteristic; but have no claim to the title of song. It kept constant-
ly among the higher branches, and was very active and restless.

Length five inches, extent seven inches and a half; front, lores,
and behind the ear, black; over the eye a fine line of white, and
another small touch of the same immediately under; back nearly
all black; shoulders thinly streaked with olive; rump yellow; tail —
coverts jet black; inner vanes of the lateral tail feathers white to
within half an inch of the tip where they are black; two middle
ones wholly black; whole lower parts rich yellow, spotted from
the throat downwards with black streaks; vent white; tail slightly
forked; wings black, crossed with two broad transverse bars of
white; crown fine ash; legs brown; bill black. Markings of the
female not known.

64

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.
SYEVIA BLACKBURNTIA.

{Plate XXIII.—Fig. 3. ]

Laruam, I, p. 461, No. 67.—Peaxre’s Museum, No. 7060.

THIS is another scarce species in Pennsylvania, making its
appearance here about the beginning of May; and again in Sep-
tember on its return, but is seldom seen here during the middle of
summer. It is an active silent bird. Inhabits also the state of
New York, from whence it was first sent to Europe. Mr. Latham
has numbered this as a variety of the Yellow-fronted Warbler, a very
different species. The specimen sent to Europe, and first described
by Pennant, appears also’ to have been a female, as the breast is
said to be yellow, instead of the brilliant orange with which it is
ornamented. Of the nest and habits of this bird I can give no ac-
count, as there is not more than one or two of these birds to be
found here in a season, even with the most diligent search.

The Blackburnian Warbler is four inches and a half long,
and seven in extent; crown black, divided by a line of orange; the
black again bounded on the outside by a stripe of rich orange pass-
ing over the eye; under the eye a small touch of orange yellow;
whole throat and breast rich fiery orange, bounded by spots and
streaks of black; belly dull yellow, also streaked with black; vent
white ; back black, skirted with ash; wings the same, marked with
a large lateral spot of white; tail slightly forked; the interior vanes
of the three exterior feathers white; cheeks black; bill and legs
brown. The female is yellow where the male is orange; the black

streaks are also more obscure and less numerous.

AUTUMNAL WARBLER.
SYLVIA AUTUMNALIS.
[Plate XXIII.—Fig. 4. |

‘THIS plain little species regularly visits Pennsylvania from
the north in the month of October, gleaning among the willow
leaves; but what is singular, is rarely seen in spring. From the
first to the fifteenth of October, they may be seen in considerable
numbers almost every day in gardens, particularly among the
branches of the weeping willow, and seem exceedingly industrious.
They have some resemblance in color to the Pine-creeping War-
bler; but do not run along the trunk like that bird; neither do
they give a preference to the pines. They are also less. After the
first of November they are no longer to be found, unless the sea-
son be uncommonly mild. ‘These birds doubtless pass through
Pennsylvania in spring, on their way to the north; but either make
a very hasty journey, or frequent the tops of the tallest trees; for
I have never yet met with one of them in that season; tho in Oc-
tober I have seen more than a hundred in an afternoon’s excursion.

Length four inches and three quarters, breadth eight inches;
whole upper parts olive green, streaked on the back with dusky
stripes; tail coverts ash, tipt with olive; tail black, edged with dull
white; the three exterior feathers marked near the tip with white;
wings deep dusky, edged with olive, and crossed with two bars of
white; primaries also tipt, and three secondaries next the body
edged, with white; upper mandible dusky brown; lower, as well
as the chin and breast, dull yellow; belly and vent white; legs
dusky brown; feet and claws yellow; a pale yellow ring surrounds
the eye. The males of these birds often warble out some low, but
very sweet notes, while searching among the leaves In autumn. — |

VOL. IIl. R

66

WATER THRUSH.
TURDUS AQUATICUS.
[Plate XXUI.—Fie. 5. |]
Prary’s Museum, No. 6896.

‘THIS bird is remarkable for its partiality to brooks, rivers,
shores, ponds, and streams of water; wading in the shallows in
search of aquatic insects, wagging the tail almost continually, chat-
tering as it flies, and, in short, possesses many strong traits and
habits of the Water Wagtail. It is also exceedingly shy, darting
away on the least attempt to approach it, and uttering a sharp chip,
repeatedly, as if greatly alarmed. Among the mountain streams
in the state of ‘Tennesee, I found a variety of this bird pretty nu-
merous, with legs of a bright yellow color; in other respects it dif-
fered not from the rest. About the beginning of May it passes
through Pennsylvania to the north; is seen along the channels of
our solitary streams for ten or twelve days; afterwards disappears
‘until August. It is probable that it breeds in the higher moun-
tainous districts even of this state, as do many other of our spring
visitants that regularly pass a week or two with us in the lower
parts, and then retire to the mountains and inland forests to breed.
But Pennsylvania is not the favorite resort of this species.
The cane-brakes, swamps, river shores, and deep watery solitudes
of Louisiana, ‘Tennesee, and the Mississippi territory, possess them
in abundance; there they are eminently distinguished by the loud-
ness, sweetness and expressive vivacity of their notes, which begin
very high and clear, falling with an almost imperceptible gradation
till they are scarcely articulated. At these times the musician is
“perched on the middle branches of a tree over the brook or river

WATER THRUSH. : 67

bank, pouring out his charming melody, that may be distinctly
heard for nearly half a mile. The voice of this little bird appear-
ed to me so exquisitely sweet and expressive, that I was never tired
of listening to it, while traversing the deep shaded hollows of those
cane-brakes where it usually resorts. I have never yet met with
its nest. | 7 :
The Water Thrush is six inches long, and nine and a half in
extent; the whole upper parts are of a uniform and very dark olive,
with a line of white extending over the eye, and along the sides of
the neck; the lower parts are white, tinged with yellow ochre; the
whole breast and sides are marked with pointed spots or streaks
of black or deep brown; bill dusky brown; legs flesh-colored; tail
nearly even; bill formed almost exactly like the Golden-crowned
Thrush, described in vol. II; and except in frequenting the water,
much resembling it in manners. Male and female nearly alike.

68

PAINTED BUNTING.
EMBERIZA CIRIS.
[Plate XXIV.—Fig. 1, Male.—Fig. 2, Female. |

Linn. Syst. 313.—Painted Finch, Caressy, I, 44.—Epw. 130. 173.—Aret. Zool. p. 362,
_ No. 226.—Le Verdier de la Louisiane, dit vulgairement le Pape, Brisson, II, 200. App.
74.—Burron, 1V, 76. Pl. Eni. 159.—Laru. I, 206.—Linaria ciris, the Painted Finch,

or Nonpareil, Bartram, p. 291.——Prare’s Museum, No. 6062, and 6063.

THIS is one of the most numerous of the little summer birds
of Lower Louisiana, where it is universally known among the
French inhabitants, and called by them “ Le Pape,
Americans the Wonparei. Its gay dress and docility of manners

3

and by the

have procured it many admirers; for these qualities are strongly
attractive, and carry their own recommendations always along with
them. The low countries of the southern states, in the ‘vicinity of
the sea, and along the borders of our large rivers, particularly
among the rice plantations, are the favorite haunts of this elegant
little bird. A few are seen in North Carolina; in South Carolina
they are more numerous; and still more so in the lower parts of
Georgia. ‘To the westward I first met them at Natchez, on the
Mississippi, where they seemed rather scarce. Below Baton Rouge,
along the Levee, or embankment of the river, they appeared in
greater numbers; and continued to become more common as I ap-
proached New Orleans, where they were warbling from almost
every fence, and crossing the road before me every few minutes.
Their notes very much resemble those of the Indigo Bird (Plate VI,
fig. 6.); but want the strength and energy of the latter, beng more
feeble and more concise.

I found these birds very commonly domesticated in the houses
of the French inhabitants of New Orleans; appearing to be the

Tacenie

A Seanted Sountingy 2% Semale 0. af rolheonolitiyy Viiwillei. A
2. Wow winger Lieto! b. Wilue Ui OSCR By ae —
vr ao é :

for Miter Oy A Vilion . > ~) ' '
4h, Voi mecaliny If,

PAINTED BUNTING. 69

most common cage bird they have. The negroes often bring them
to market from the neighbouring plantations, for sale; either in
cages, taken in traps, or in the nest. A wealthy French planter,
who lives on the banks of the Mississippi, a few miles below Bayo
Fourche, took me into his garden, which is spacious and magnifi-
cent, to shew me his aviary; where, among many of our common
birds, I observed several Nonpareils, two of which had nests, and
were then hatching.

Were the same attention bestowed on these birds as on the
Canary, [have no doubt but they would breed with equal facility,
and become equally numerous and familiar, while the richness of
their plumage might compensate for their inferiority of song. Many
of them have been transported to Europe; and I think I have some- :
where read that in Holland attempts have been made to breed
them and with success. When the employments of the people of
the United States become more sedentary, like those of Europe,
the innocent and agreeable amusement of keeping and rearing
birds in this manner, will become more general than it is at pre-
sent, and their manners better known. And I cannot but think,
that an intercourse with these little innocent warblers is favorable
to delicacy of feeling, and sentiments of humanity; for I have ob-—
served the rudest and most savage softened into benevolence while
contemplating the interesting manners of these inoffensive little
creatures.

Six of these birds, which I brought with me from New Orleans
by sea, soon became reconciled to the cage. In good weather the
males sung with. great sprightliness, tho they had been caught only
a few days before my departure. They were greedily fond of flies,
which accompanied us in great numbers during the whole voyage;
and many of the passengers amused themselves with catching these
and giving them to the Nonpareils; till at length the birds be-
came so well acquainted with this amusement, that as soon as they
perceived any of the people attempting to catch flies, they assem-

VO. TI, S

70 PAINTED BUNTING.

bled at the front‘of the cage, stretching out their heads through the
wires with eager expectation, evidently much interested in the issue
of their success.

These birds arrive in Louisiana from the south about the
middle of April, and begin to build early in May. In Savannah,
according to Mr. Abbot, they arrive about the twentieth of April.
Their nests are usually fixed in orange hedges, or on the lower
branches of the orange tree; I have also found them in a common
bramble or blackberry bush. ‘They are formed exteriorly of dry
grass, intermingled with the silk of caterpillars, lined with hair, and
lastly with some extremely fine roots of plants. ‘The eggs are four
or five, white, or rather pearl colored, marked with purplish brown
specks. As some of these nests had eggs so late as the twenty-
fifth of June, I think it probable that they sometimes raise two
brood in the same season. ‘The young birds of both sexes, during
the first season, are of a fine green olive above, and dull yellow
below. The females undergo little or no change, but that of be-
coming of a more brownish cast. ‘The males, on the contrary, are
long and slow in arriving at their full variety of colors. In the
second season the blue on the head begins to make its appearance,
intermixed with the olive green. ‘The next year the yellow shews
itself on the back and rump; and also the red, in detached spots,
on the throat and lower parts. All these colors are completed
in the fourth season, except, sometimes, that the green still conti-
nues on the tail. On the fourth and fifth season the bird has at-
tained his complete colors, and appears then as represented in the
plate (fig. 1.). No dependance, however, can be placed on the re-
gularity of this change in birds confined in a cage, as the want of
proper food, sunshine, and variety of climate, all conspire against
the regular operations of nature.

The Nonpareil is five inches and three quarters long, and
eight inches and three quarters in extent; head, neck above, and
sides of the same, a rich purplish blue; eyelid, chin, and whole

PAINTED BUNTING. Fl

lower parts, vermilion; back and scapulars glossy yellow, stained
with rich green, and in old birds with red; lesser wing coverts
purple; larger green; wings dusky red, sometimes edged with
green; lower part of the back, rump and tail coverts deep glossy
red, inclining to carmine; tail slightly forked, purplish brown (ge-
nerally green); legs and feet leaden grey; bill black above, pale
blue below; iris of the eye hazel.

The female (fig. 2.) is five and a half inches long, and eight
inches in extent; upper parts green olive, brightest on the rump;
lower parts a dusky Naples yellow, brightest on the belly, and
tinged considerably on the breast with dull green, or olive; cheeks
or ear-feathers marked with lighter touches; bill wholly a pale lead
color, lightest below; legs and feet the same.

The food of these birds consists of rice, insects, and various
kinds of seeds that grow luxuriantly in their native haunts. I also
observed them eating the seeds or internal grains of ripe figs.
They frequent gardens, building within a few paces of the house;
are particularly attached to orangeries; and chant occasionally
during the whole summer. Early in October they retire to more
southern climates, being extremely susceptible of cold.

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.
SYLVIA PROTONOTARIUS.

[Plate XXIV.—Fig. 3. |

Aret. Zool. p. 410.—Burron, V, 316.—Laruam, I, 494. Pi. Enl. 704.—
Peare’s Museum, No. 7020.

THIS is an inhabitant of the same country as the preceding
species; and also a passenger from the south; with this difference,
that the bird now before us seldom approaches the house or gar-.
den; but keeps among the retired deep and dark swampy woods,
through which it flits nimbly in search of small caterpillars; utter-
ing every now and then a few screaking notes, scarcely worthy of
notice... ‘hey are abundant in the Mississippi and New Orleans.
territories, near the river; but are rarely found on the high ridges
inland.

From the peculiar form of its bill, being roundish and remark-
ably pointed, this bird might with propriety be classed as a sub-
genera, or separate family, including several others, viz. the Blue-
winged Yellow Warbler; the Golden-crowned Warbler, and Gold-
en-winged Warbler of the second volume, and the Worm-eating
Warbler of the present plate, and a few more. ‘The bills of all
these correspond nearly in form and pointedness, being generally
longer, thicker at the base, and more round than those of the genus
Sylvia, generally. ‘The first mentioned species, in particular, great-
ly resembles this in its general appearance; but the bill of the Pro-
_ thonotary is rather stouter, and the yellow much deeper, extending
farther on the back; its manners and the country it inhabits are
also different.

This species is five inches and a half long, and eight and a
half in extent; the head, neck, and whole lower parts (except the

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 73

vent) are of a remarkably rich and brilliant yellow, slightly in-
clinmg to orange; vent white; back, scapulars and lesser wing
coverts yellow olive; wings, rump and tail coverts a lead blue; in-
terior vanes of the former black; tail nearly even, and black, broad-
ly edged with blue, all the feathers, except the two middle ones,
are marked on their inner vanes near the tip with a spot of white;
bill long, stout, sharp pointed and wholly black; eyes dark hazel;
legs and feet a leaden grey. The female differs in having the yel-
low and blue rather of a duller tint; the inferiority, however, is

scarcely noticeable.

VOL. III. T

WORM-EATING WARBLER.
SYLVIA VERMIVORA.
(Plate XXIV.—Fig. 4.]

Arct. Zool. p. 406, No. 300.—Enwarps, 305.—Laruam, II, 499.—Le Demt-fin mangeur
de vers, Burron, V, 325.—Prae’s Museum, No. 6848.

THIS is one of the nimblest species of its whole family, in-
habiting the same country with the preceding; but extending its
migrations much farther north. It arrives in Pennsylvania about
the middle of May; and leaves us in September. I have never yet
met with its nest; but have seen them feeding their young about
the twenty-fifth of June. This bird is remarkably fond of spiders,
darting about wherever there is a probability of finding these in-
sects. If there be a branch broken and the leaves withered, it
shoots among them in preference to every other part of the tree,
making a great rustling in search of its prey. I have often watch-
ed its manoeuvres while thus engaged and flying from tree to tree
in search of such places. On dissection I have uniformly found
their stomachs filled with spiders or caterpillars, or both. Its note
is a feeble chirp, rarely uttered.

The Worm-eater is five inches and a quarter in length, and
eight inches in extent; back, tail, and wings a fine clear olive;
tips and inner vanes of the wing quills a dusky brown; tail slight-
ly forked, yet the exterior feathers are somewhat shorter than the
middle ones; head and whole lower parts a dirty buff; the for-
mer marked with four streaks of black, one passing from each nos-
tril, broadening as it descends the hind head; and one from the
posterior angle of each eye; the bill is stout, straight, pretty thick
at the base, roundish and tapering to a fine point; no bristles at

WORM-EATING WARBLER. eee

the side of the mouth; tongue thin, and lacerated at the tip; the
breast is most strongly tinged with the orange buff; vent waved
with dusky olive; bill blackish above, flesh colored below; legs
and feet a pale clay color; eye. dark hazel. The female differs
very little in color from the male.

On this species Mr. Pennant makes the following remarks.—
“ Does not appear in Pennsylvania till July in its passage north-
‘ward. Does not return the same way; but is supposed to go be-
“ yond the mountains which lie to the west. ‘his seems to be the
“ case with all the transient vernal visitants of Pennsylvania.’”’*
That a small bird should permit the whole spring and half of the
summer to pass away before it thought of “passing to the north
to breed,” is a circumstance one should think would have excited
the suspicion of so discerning a naturalist as the author of Arctic
Zoology, as to its truth. Ido not know that this bird breeds to
the northward of the United States. As to their returning home
by “the country beyond the mountains,” this must doubtless be for
the purpose of finishing the education of their striplings here, as is
done in Europe, by making the grand tour. ‘This by the by would
be a much more convenient retrograde route for the ducks and
geese; as, like the Kentuckians, they could take advantage of the
current of the Ohio and Mississippi, to float down to the south-
ward. Unfortunately however for this pretty theory, all our vernal
visitants with which I am acquainted, are contented to plod home
by the same regions through which they advanced; not even ex-
cepting the geese.

* Arct. Zool. p. 406.

76

YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW.
FRINGILLA PASSERINA.

[Plate XXIV.—Fig. 5. |
Praxe’s Museum, No. 6585.

THIS small species is now for the first time introduced to the
notice of the public. I can, however, say little towards illustrating
its history, which, like that of many individuals of the human race,
would be but a dull detail of humble obscurity. It inhabits the
lower parts of New York and Pennsylvania; is very numerous on
Staten island, where I first observed it; and occurs also along the
sea coast of New Jersey. But tho it breeds in each of these places,
it does not remain in any of them during the winter. It has a short,
weak, interrupted chirrup, which it occasionally utters from the
fences and tops of low bushes. Its nest is fixed on the ground,
among the grass; is formed of loose dry grass, and lined with hair
and fibrous roots of plants. ‘he eggs are five, of a greyish white
sprinkled with brown. On the first of August I found the female
sitting. |

I cannot say what extent of range this species has, having
never met with it in the southern states; tho I have no doubt that
it winters there with many others of its tribe. It is the scarcest
of all our summer Sparrows. Its food consists principally of grass
seeds, and the larvze of insects, which it is almost continually in
search of among the loose soil and on the surface, consequently it
is more useful to the farmer than otherwise.

The length of this species is five inches, extent eight inches;
upper part of the head blackish, divided by a slight line of white;
hind head and neck above marked with short lateral touches of

YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. ca

black and white; a line of yellow extends from above the eye to
the nostril; cheeks plain brownish white; back streaked with black,
brown, and pale ash; shoulders of the wings above and below, and
lesser coverts olive yellow; greater wing coverts black, edged with
pale ash; primaries light drab; tail the same, the feathers rather
poited at the ends, the outer ones white; breast plain yellowish
white, or pale ochre, which distinguishes it from the Savannah Spar-
row (plate XXII, fig. 3.); belly and vent white; three or four slight
touches of dusky at the sides of the breast; legs flesh color; bill
dusky above, pale bluish white below. The male and female are

nearly alike im color.

VOL. III. U

78
BLUE GROSBEAK.
. LOXTA CH RULEA.
[Plate XXIV.—Fig. 6. |

Linn. Syst. 304.—Laruam, II, 116.—Aret. Zool. p. 351, No. 217.—Caressy, I, 39.—
Burrow, Ill, 454. Pl. Eni. 154.—Prarr’s Museum, No. 5826.

THIS solitary and retired species inhabits the warmer parts
of America, from Guiana, and probably farther south,* to Virgi-
nia. Mr. Bartram also saw it during a summer’s residence near
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In the United States, however, it is a
scarce species; and having but few notes, is more rarely observed.
Their most common note is a loud chuck; they have also at times
a few low sweet toned notes. ‘hey are sometimes kept in cages
in Carolina; but seldom sing in confinement. The individual re-
presented in the plate was a very elegant specimen, in excellent
order, tho just arrived from Charleston, South Carolina. During
its stay with me, I fed it on Indian corn, which it seemed to pre-
fer, easily breaking with its powerful bill the hardest grains. They
also feed on hemp seed, millet, and the kernels of several kinds of
berries. ‘They are timid birds, watchful, silent and active, and ge-
nerally neat in their plumage. Having never yet met with their
nest, [ am unable at present to describe it.

The Blue Grosbeak is six inches long, and ten inches in ex-
tent; lores and frontlet black; whole upper parts a rich purplish
blue, more dull on the back, where it is streaked with dusky ;
greater wing coverts black, edged at the tip with bay; next supe-
rior row wholly chesnut; rest of the wing black, skirted with blue;
tail forked, black, slightly edged with bluish, and sometimes mi-

* Latham, II, p. 116.

BLUE GROSBEAK. io

nutely tipt with white; legs and feet lead color; bill a dusky bluish
horn color; eye large, full and black.

The female is of a dark drab color, tinged with blue, and con-
siderably lightest below. I suspect the males are subject to a
change of color during winter. The young, as usual with many
other species, do not receive the blue color until the ensuing spring;
and till then very much resemble the female.

Latham makes two varieties of this species; the first wholly
blue, except a black spot between the bill and eye; this bird in-
habits Brasil, and is figured by Brisson, Orn. ITI, 321, No. 6. pl.
17, fig. 2. ‘The other is also generally of a fine deep blue, except
the quills, tail and legs, which are black; this is Edwards’ « Blue
Grosbeak from Angola,’ pl. 125; which Dr. Latham suspects to
have been brought from some of the Brasilian settlements, and con-
siders both as mere varieties of the first. I am sorry I cannot at
present clear up this matter, but shall take some farther notice of

it hereafter.

80

MISSISSIPPI KITE.
FALCO MISISIPPIENSIS.
[Plate XX V.—Fig. 1, Male. |
Peare’s Museum, No. 403.

THIS new species I first observed in the Mississippi territory,
a few miles below Natchez, on the plantation of William Dunbar,
esquire, where the bird represented in the plate was obtained, after
being slightly wounded; and the drawing made with great care
from the living bir i. To the hospitality of the gentleman above
mentioned and his amiable family, | am indebted for the oppor-
tunity afforded me of procuring this and one or two more new spe-
cles. ‘This excellent man (whose life has been devoted to science)
tho at that time confined to bed by a severe and dangerous indis-
position, and personally unacquainted with me, no sooner heard
of my arrival at the town of Natchez, than he sent a servant and
horses, with an invitation and request, to come and make his house
my home and head quarters, while engaged in exploring that part
of the country. ‘The few happy days I spent there I shall never
forget.

In my perambulations I frequently remarked this Hawk sail-
ing about in easy circles, and at a considerable height in the air,
generally in company with the Turkey Buzzards, whose manner
of flight it so exactly imitates as to seem the same species, only
in miniature or seen at a more immense height. Why these two
birds, whose food and manners, in other respects, are so different,
should so frequently associate together in air, I am at a loss to
comprehend. We cannot for a moment suppose them mutually
deceived by the similarity of each other’s flight: the keenness of

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‘

35

MISSISSIPPI KITE. 8i

their vision forbids all suspicion of this kind. ‘hey may perhaps
be engaged, at such times, in mere amusement, as they are ob-
served to soar to great heights previous to a storm; or, what is
more probable, may both be in pursuit of their respective food.
One that he may reconnoitre a vast extent of surface below, and
trace the tainted atmosphere to his favorite carrion; the other in
search of those large beetles, or coleopterous insects, that are known
often to wing the higher regions of the air; and which, in the three
individuals of this species of Hawk which I examined by dissec-
tion, were the only substances found in their stomachs. For seve-
ral miles, as I passed near Bayo Manchak, the trees were swarm-
ing with a kind of cicada, or locust, that made a deafening noise;
and here I observed numbers of the Hawk now before us sweeping
about among the trees like Swallows, evidently in pursuit of these
locusts; so that insects, it would appear, are the principal food of
this species. Yet when we contemplate the beak and talons of this
bird, both so sharp and powerful, it is difficult to believe that they
were not intended by nature for some more formidable prey than
beetles, locusts, or grasshoppers; and I doubt not but mice, lizards,
snakes and small birds, furnish him with an occasional repast.
This Hawk, tho wounded and precipitated from a vast height,
exhibited, in his distress, symptoms of great strength, and an almost
unconquerable spirit. Ino sooner approached to pick him up than
he instantly gave battle, striking rapidly with his claws, wheeling
round and round as he lay partly on his ramp; and defending him-
self with great vigilance and dexterity; while his dark red eye
sparkled with rage. Notwithstanding all my caution in seizing
him to carry him home, he struck his hind claw into my hand
with such force as to penetrate into the bone. Anxious to preserve
his life, I endeavoured gently to disengage it; but this made him
only contract it the more powerfully, causing such pain that | had
no other alternative but that of cutting the sinew of his heel with
my penknife. ‘The whole time he lived with me, he seemed to

VOL. IIl. x

82 MISSISSIPPI KITE.

watch every movement I made; erecting the feathers of his hind
head, and eyeing me with savage fierceness; considering me, no
doubt, as the greatest savage of the two. What effect education
might have had on this species under the tutorship of some of the
old European professors of falconry, I know not; but if extent of
wing, and energy of character, and ease and rapidity of flight,
would have been any recommendations to royal patronage, this
species possesses all these in a very eminent degree.

The long pointed wings and forked tail point out the affinity
of this bird to that family, or subdivision of the Falco genus, dis-
tinguished by the name of Kites, which sail without flapping the
wings, and eat from their talons as they glide along. | |

The Mississippi Kite measures fourteen inches in length, and
thirty-six inches, or three feet, in extent! The head, neck, and ex-
terior webs of the secondaries, are of a hoary white; the lower
parts a whitish ash; bill, cere, lores, and narrow line round the eye,
black; back, rump, scapulars, and wing coverts dark blackish ash;
wings very long and pointed, the third quill the longest; the pri-
maries are black, marked down each side of the shaft with reddish
sorrel; primary coverts also slightly touched with the same; all
the upper plumage at the roots is white; the scapulars are also spot-
ted with white; but this cannot be perceived unless the feathers be
blown aside; tail slightly forked, and, as well as the rump, jet
black; legs vermilion, tinged with orange, and becoming blackish
towards the toes; claws black; iris of the eye dark red, pupil black.

‘This was a male. With the female, which is expected soon
from that country, I shall, in a future volume, communicate such
further information relative to their manners and incubation, as I
may be able to collect.

83

TENNESEE WARBLER.
SYLVIA PEREGRINA.
(Plate XXV.—Fig. 2.]
Peare’s Museum, No. 7787.

THIS plain little bird has hitherto remained unknown. | first
found it on the banks of Cumberland river, in the state of ‘Tenne-
see, and suppose it to be a rare species, having since met with only
two individuals of the same species. It was hunting nimbly among
the young leaves, and like all the rest of the family of Worm-eaters,
to which by its bill it evidently belongs, seemed to partake a good
deal of the habits of the Titmouse. Its notes were few and weak;
and its stomach on dissection contained small green caterpillars,
and a few winged insects.

_ As this species is so very rare in the United States, it is most
probably a native of a more southerly climate, where it may be
- equally numerous with any of the rest of its genus. ‘The small Ce-
rulean Warbler, (plate XVU, fig. 5.) which in Pennsylvania, and
almost all over the Atlantic states, is extremely rare, I found the
most numerous of its tribe in Tennesee and West Florida; and the
Carolina Wren of the same volume, (plate XI, fig. 5.) which is
also scarce to the northward of Maryland, is abundant through the
whole extent of country from Pittsburgh to New Orleans.

Particular species of birds, like different nations of men, have
their congenial climes and favorite countries; but wanderers are
common to both; some in search of better fare; some of adven-
tures; others led by curiosity; and many driven by storms and
aceident.

84, TENNESEE WARBLER.

The Tennesee Warbler is four inches and three quarters long,
and eight inches in extent; the back, rump and tail coverts, are
of a rich yellow olive; lesser wing coverts the same; wings deep
dusky, edged broadly with yellow olive; tail forked, olive, relieved
with dusky; cheeks and upper part of the head inclining to light
bluish, and tinged with olive; line from the nostrils over the eye
pale yellow, fading into white; throat and breast pale cream color;
belly and vent white; legs purplish brown; bill pointed and thicker
at the base than those of the Sylvia genus generally are; upper
mandible dark dusky, lower somewhat paler; eye hazel.

The female differs little, in the color of her plumage, from
the male; the yellow line over the eye is more obscure, and the

olive not of so rich a tint.

KENTUCKY WARBLER.
SYLVIA FORMOSA.
[Plate XXV.—Fig. 3.]
Peare’s Museum, No. 7786.

THIS new and beautiful species inhabits the country whose
name it bears. It is also found generally in all the intermediate
tracts between Nashville and New Orleans, and below that as far
as the Balize, or mouths of the Mississippi; where I heard it seve-
ral times, twittering among the high rank grass and low bushes of
those solitary and desolate looking morasses. In Kentucky and
Tennesee it is particularly numerous, frequenting low damp woods,
and builds its nest in the middle of a thick tuft of rank grass, some-
times in the fork of a low bush, and sometimes on the ground; in
all of which situations I have found it. The materials are loose
dry grass, mixed with the light pith of weeds, and lined with hair.
The female lays four, and sometimes six eggs, pure white, sprink-
led with specks of reddish. I observed her sitting early in May.
This species is seldom seen among the high branches; but loves
to frequent low bushes and cane swamps, and is an active spright-
ly bird. Its notes are loud, and in threes, resembling, tweedle,
tweedle, tweedle. t appears in Kentucky from the south about the
middle of April; and leaves the territory of New Orleans on the
approach of cold weather; at least I was assured that it does not
remain there during the winter. It appeared to me to be a restless,
fighting species; almost always engaged in pursuing some of its
fellows; tho this might have been occasioned by its numbers, and
the particular season of spring, when love and jealousy rage with
violence in the breasts of the feathered tenants of the grove; who

MO bina Y

86 KENTUCKY WARBLER.

experience all the ardency of those passions no less than their lord
and sovereign man.

The Kentucky Warbler is five inches and a half long, and
eight inches in extent; the upper parts are an olive green; line
over the eye and partly under it, and whole lower parts, rich bril-
liant yellow; head slightly crested, the crown deep black, towards
the hind part spotted with light ash; lores, and spot curving down
the neck, also black; tail nearly even at the end, and of a rich
olive green; interior vanes of that and the wings dusky; legs an
almost transparent pale flesh color.

-'The female wants the black under the eye, and the greater
part of that on the crown, having those parts yellowish. ‘This bird
is very abundant in the moist woods along the Tennesee and Cum-

berland rivers.

87

PRAIRIE WARBLER.
SYLVIA MINUTA.
(Plate XXV.—Fig. 4.]
Peare’s Museum, No. 7784.

THIS pretty little species I first discovered in that singular
tract of country in Kentucky, commonly called the Barrens. I shot
several afterwards in the open woods of the Chactaw nation, where
they were more numerous. ‘l’hey seem to prefer these open plains,
and thinly wooded tracts; and have this singularity in their man-
ners,. that they are not easily alarmed; and search among the
leaves the most leisurely of any of the tribe I have yet met with;
seeming to examine every blade of grass, and every leaf; uttering
at short intervals a feeble chirr. I have observed one of these
birds to sit on the lower branch of a tree for half an hour at a
time, and allow me to come up nearly to the foot of the tree, with-
out seeming to be in the least disturbed, or to discontinue the regu-
larity of its occasional note. In activity it is the reverse of the pre-
ceding species; and is rather a scarce bird in the countries where
I found it. Its food consists principally of small caterpillars and
winged insects.

The Prairie Warbler is four inches and a half long, and six
inches and a half in extent; the upper parts are olive, spotted on
the back with reddish chesnut; from the nostril over and under
the eye, yellow; lores black; a broad streak of black also passes
beneath the yellow under the eye; small pointed spots of black
reach from a little below that along the side of the neck and under
the wings; throat, breast and belly rich yellow; vent cream co-

lored, tinged with yellow; wings dark dusky olive; primaries and

88 PRAIRIE WARBLER.

greater coverts edged and tipt with pale yellow; second row of
coverts wholly yellow; lesser, olive; tail deep brownish black,
lighter on the edges, the three exterior feathers broadly spotted
with white.

The female is destitute of the black mark under the eye; has
a few slight touches of blackish along the sides of the neck; and
some faint shades of brownish red on the back.

The nest of this species is of very neat and delicate workman-
ship, being pensile, and generally hung on the fork of a low bush
or thicket; it is formed outwardly of green moss, intermixed with
rotten bits of wood and caterpillars silk; the inside is lined with
extremely fine fibres of grape-vine bark; and the whole would
scarcely weigh a quarter of an ounce. ‘The eggs are white, with
a few brown spots at the great end. These birds are migratory,
departing for the south in October. |

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89

CAROLINA PARROT.
PSITTACUS CAROLINENSIS.
[Plate XXVI—Fig. 1.]

Linn. Syst. 141.—Catessy, I, 11.—Laruam, I, 227.—Aret. Zool. 242, No. 132. Lbid.
133.—PEA Le’s Museum, No. 762.

OF one hundred and sixty eight kinds of Parrots enumerated
by European writers as inhabiting the various regions of the globe,
this is the only species found native within the territory of the
United States. ‘The vast and luxuriant tracts lying within the tor-
rid zone seem to be the favorite residence of those noisy, numerous
and richly plumaged tribes. The count de Buffon has indeed cir-
cumscribed the whole genus of Parrots to a space not extending
more than twenty-three degrees on each side of the equator; but
later discoveries have shewn this statement to be incorrect; as
these birds have been found on our continent as far south as the
straits of Magellan, and even on the remote shores of Van Die-
men’s Land, in Terra Australasia. ‘The species now under con-
sideration is also known to inhabit the interior of Louisiana, and
the shores of the Mississippi and Ohio and their tributary waters,
even beyond the Illinois river, to the neighbourhood of lake Mi-
chigan in lat. 42° North; and, contrary to the generally received
opinion, is chiefly resident in all these places. Eastward, however,
of the great range of the Alleghany, it is seldom seen farther north
than the state of Maryland; tho Raa parties have been oc-
casionally observed among the vallies of the Juniata; and accord-
ing to some, even twenty-five miles to the north-west of Albany, in.
the state of New York.* But such accidental visits furnish no cer- —

* BarTon’s Fragments, &c. p. 6, Introd.

VOL. III. z

90 CAROLINA PARROT.

tain criteria by which to judge of their usual extent of range;
those aerial voyagers, as well as others who navigate the deep,
being subject to be cast away, by the violence of the elements, on
distant shores and unknown countries.

From these circumstances of the northern residence of this
species, we might be justified in concluding it to be a very hardy
bird, more capable of sustaining cold than nine-tenths of its tribe;
and so I believe it is; having myself seen them, in the month of
February, along the banks of the Ohio, in a snow storm, flying
about like pigeons, and in full cry.

The preference, however, which this bird gives to the western
countries lying in the same parallel of latitude with those eastward
of the Alleghany mountains, which it rarely or never visits, is wor-
thy of remark; and has been adduced, by different writers, as a
proof of the superior mildness of climate in the former to that of
the latter. But there are other reasons for this partiality equally
powerful, tho hitherto overlooked; namely, certain peculiar fea-
tures of country to which these birds are particularly and strongly
attached; these are, low rich alluvial bottoms, along the borders
of creeks, covered with a gigantic growth of sycamore trees or but-
ton wood—deep and almost impenetrable swamps, where the vast
and towering cypress lift their still more majestic heads; and those
singular salines, or as they are usually called licks, so generally in-
terspersed over that country, and which are regularly and eagerly
visited by the Parakeets. A still greater inducement is the supe-
rior abundance of their favorite fruits. That food which the Para-
_keet prefers to all others, is the seeds of the cockle burr, a plant
rarely found in the lower parts of Pennsylvania, or New York; but
which unfortunately grows in too great abundance along the shores
of the Ohio and Mississippi, so much so as to render the wool of
those sheep that pasture where it most abounds, scarcely worth
the cleaning, covering them with one solid mass of burrs, wrought
up and imbedded into the fleece, to the great annoyance of this va-

CAROLINA PARROT. |

luable animal. ‘The seeds of the cypress tree and hackberry, as
well as beech nuts, are also great favorites with these birds; the
two former of which are not commonly found in Pennsylvania, and
the latter by no means so general or so productive. Here then
are several powerlul reasons, more dependant on soil than climate,
for the preference given by these birds to the luxuriant regions of
the west. Pennsylvania, indeed, and also Maryland, abound with
excellent apple orchards, on the ripe fruit of which the Parakeets
occasionally feed. But I have my doubts whether their depreda-
tions in the orchard be not as much the result of wanton play and
mischief, as regard for the seeds of the fruit, which they are sup-
posed to be in pursuit of. I have known a flock of these birds
alight on an apple tree, and have myself seen them twist off the
fruit, one by one, strewing it in every direction around the tree,
without observing that any of the depredators descended to pick
them up. To a Parakeet which I wounded and kept for some con-
siderable time I very often offered apples, which it uniformly re-
jected; but burrs, or beech nuts, never. ‘To another very beauti-
ful one which I brought from New Orleans, and which is now sit-
ting in the room beside me, I have frequently offered this fruit, and
also the seeds separately, which I never knew it to taste. Their
local attachments also prove that food more than climate deter-
mines their choice of country. For even in the states of Ohio,
Kentucky, and the Mississippi territory, unless in the neighbour-
hood of such places as have been described, it is rare to see them.
The inhabitants of Lexington, as many of them assured me, scarce-
ly ever observe them in that quarter. In passing from that place
to Nashville, a distance of two hundred miles, I neither heard nor
saw any, but at a place called Madison’s lick. In passing on I next
met with them on the banks and rich flats of the Tennesee river;
after this I saw no more till I reached Bayo St. Pierre, a distance
of several hundred miles; from all which circumstances | think we

cannot from the residences of these birds establish with propriety,

92 | CAROLINA PARROT.

any correct standard by which to judge of the comparative tempe-
ratures of different climates.

In descending the river Ohio, by myself, in the month of Fe-
bruary, I met with the first flock of Parakeets at the mouth of the
Little Sioto. J had been informed, by an old and respectable in-
habitant of Marietta, that they were sometimes, tho rarely, seen
there. J observed flocks of them, afterwards, at the mouth of the
Great and Little Miami, and in the neighbourhood of numerous
creeks that discharge themselves into the Ohio. At Big Bone lick,
thirty miles above the mouth of Kentucky river, I saw them in
great numbers. ‘They came screaming through the woods in the
morning, about an hour after sunrise, to drink the salt water, of
which they, as well as the pigeons, are remarkably fond. When
they alighted on the ground it appeared at a distance as if covered
with a carpet of the richest green, orange and yellow. They after-
wards settled, in one body, on a neighbouring tree, which stood
detached from any other, covering almost every twig of it, and the
sun shining strongly on their gay and glossy plumage, produced a
very beautiful and splendid appearance. Here I had an opportu-
nity of observing some very particular traits of their character.
Having shot down a number, some of which were only wounded,
the whole flock swept repeatedly around their prostrate compa-
nions, and again settled on a low tree, within twenty yards of the
spot where I stood. At each successive discharge, tho showers of
them fell, yet the affection of the survivors seemed rather to in-
crease; for after a few circuits around the place, they again alight-
ed near me, looking down on their slaughtered companions with
such manifest symptoms of sympathy and concern, as entirely dis-
armed me. I could not but take notice of the remarkable contrast
between their elegant manner of flight, and their lame and crawl-
ing gait among the branches. They fly very much like the Wild
Pigeon, in close compact bodies, and with great rapidity, making
a loud and outrageous screaming, not unlike that of the Red-headed

CAROLINA PARROT. 93

Woodpecker. Their flight is sometimes in a direct line; but most
usually circuitous, making a great variety of elegant and easy ser-
pentine meanders, as if for pleasure. They are particularly at-
tached to the large sycamores, in the hollow of the trunks and
branches of which they generally roost, thirty or forty, and some-
times more, entering at the same hole. Here they cling close to
the sides of the tree, holding fast by the claws and also by the
bills. ‘They appear to be fond of sleep, and often retire to their
holes during the day, probably to take their regular siesta. They
are extremely sociable with and fond of each other, often scratch-
ing each other’s heads and necks, and always at night nestling as
close as possible to each other, preferring, at that time, a perpen-
dicular position, supported by their bill and claws. In the Fall,
when their favorite cockle burrs are ripe, they swarm along the
coast or high grounds of the Mississippi, above New Orleans, for a
reat extent. At such times they are killed and eaten by many
of the inhabitants; tho I confess I think their flesh very indifier-
ent. I have several times dined on it from necessity in the woods;
but found it merely passable, with all the sauce of a keen appetite
to recommend it.

A very general opinion prevails, that the brains and intes-
tines of the Carolina Parakeet are a sure and fatal poison to cats.
I had determined, when at Big Bone, to put this to the test of ex-
periment; and for that purpose collected the brains and bowels of
more than a dozen of them. But after close search Mrs. Puss was
not to be found, being engaged perhaps on more agreeable busi-
ness. I left the medicine with Mr. Colquhoun’s agent, to admi-
nister it by the first opportunity, and write me the result; but I
have never yet heard from him. A respectable lady near the town
of Natchez, and on whose word I can rely, assured me, that she
herself had made the experiment, and, that whatever might be the
cause, the cat had actually died either on that or the succeeding
day. A French planter near Bayo Fourche pretended to account

VOL. III. A a

94 CAROLINA PARROT.

to me for this effect by positively asserting, that the seeds of the
cockle burrs on which the Parakeets so eagerly feed, were delete-
rious to cats; and thus their death was produced by eating the in-
testines of the bird. These matters might easily have been ascer-
tained on the spot, which, however, a combination of trifling circum-
stances prevented me from doing. I several times carried a dose
of the first description in my pocket till it became insufferable,
without meeting with a suitable patient, on whom, like other pro-
fessional gentlemen, I might conveniently make a fair experiment.

I was equally unsuccessful in my endeavours to discover the
time of incubation or manner of building among these birds. All
agreed that they breed in hollow trees; and several affirmed to me
that they had seen their nests. Some said they carried in no ma-
terials; others that they did. Some made the eggs white; others
speckled. One man assured me that he cut down a large beech
tree, which was hollow, and in which he found the broken frag-
ments of upwards of twenty Parakeets’ eggs which were of a green-
ish yellow color. The nests, tho destroyed in their texture by the
falling of the tree, appeared, he said, to be formed of small twigs
glued to each other, and to the side of the tree, in the manner of
the Chimney Swallow. He added, that if it were the proper sea-
son, he could point out to me the weed from which they procured
the gluey matter. From all these contradictory accounts nothing
certain can be deduced, except that they build in companies, in
hollow trees. That they commence incubation late in summer, or
very early in spring, I think highly probable, from the numerous
dissections I made in the months of March, April, May and June;
and the great variety which I found in the color of the plumage of
the head and neck, of both sexes, during the two former of these
months, convinces me, that the young birds do not receive their
full colors until the early part of the succeeding summer.

While Parrots and Parakeets, from foreign countries, abound

in almost every street of our large cities, and become such great

CAROLINA PARROT. 95

favorites, no attention seems to have been paid to our own, which
in elegance of figure and beauty of plumage is certainly superior
to many of them. It wants indeed that disposition for perpetual
screaming and chattering that renders some of the former pests,
not only to their keepers, but to the whole neighbourhood in which
they reside. It is alike docile and sociable; soon becomes per-
fectly familiar; and until equal pains be taken in its instruction,
it is unfair to conclude it incapable of equal improvement in the
language of man.

As so little has hitherto been known of the disposition and
manners of this species, the reader will not, I hope, be displeased
at my detailing some of these, in the history of a particular favorite,
my sole companion in many a lonesome day’s march, and of which
the figure in the plate is a faithful resemblance.

Anxious to try the effects of education on one of those which
I procured at Big Bone lick, and which was but slightly wounded
in the wing, I fixed up a place for it in the stern of my boat, and
presented it with some cockle burrs, which it freely fed on in less
than an hour after being on board. The intermediate time be-
tween eating and sleeping was occupied in gnawing the sticks that
formed its place of confinement, in order to make a practicable
breach; which it repeatedly effected. When I abandoned the river
and travelled by land, I wrapt it up closely in a silk handkerchief,
tying it tightly around, and carried it in my pocket. When I stop-
ped for refreshment, I unbound my prisoner, and gave it its allow-
ance, which it generally dispatched with great dexterity, unhusk-
ing the seeds from the burr in a twinkling; in doing which it al-
ways employed its left foot to hold the burr, as did several others
that I kept for some time. I began to think that this might be pe-
culiar to the whole tribe, and that the whole were, if I may use the
expression, /eft-footed; but by shooting a number afterwards while
engaged in eating mulberries, I found sometimes the left, some-

times the right foot stained with the fruit; the other always clean;

96 | CAROLINA PARROT.

from which, and the constant practice of those I kept, it appears,
that like the human species in the use of their hands, they do not
prefer one or the other indiscriminately, but are either /eft or right-
footed. But to return to my prisoner. In recommitting it to “du-
rance vile” we generally had a quarrel; during which it frequently
paid me in kind for the wound I had inflicted, and for depriving it
of liberty, by cutting and almost disabling several of my fingers
with its sharp and powertul bill. The path through the wilderness
between Nashville and Natchez is in some places bad beyond de-
scription. ‘There are dangerous creeks to swim, miles of morass
to struggle through, rendered almost as gloomy as night by a pro-
digious growth of timber, and an underwood of canes and other
evergreens; while the descent into these sluggish streams is often
ten or fifteen feet perpendicular into a bed of deep clay. In some of
the worst of these places, where I had, as it were, to fight my way
through, the Parakeet frequently escaped from my pocket, obliging
me to dismount and pursue it through the worst of the morass be-
fore I could regain it. On these occasions I was several times
tempted to abandon it; but I persisted in bringing it along. When
at night I encamped in the woods, I placed it on the baggage be-
side me, where it usually sat, with great composure, dozing and
gazing at the fire till morning. In this manner I carried it up-
wards of a thousand miles in my pocket, where it was exposed all
day to the jolting of the horse, but regularly liberated at meal times
and in the evening, at which it always expressed great satisfaction.
In passing through the Chickasaw and Chactaw nations, the Indians,
wherever I stopped to feed, collected around me, men, women and
children, laughing and seeming wonderfully amused with the no-
velty of my companion. ‘The Chickasaws called it in their lan-
guage “ Kelinky;’ but when they heard me call it Poll, they soon
repeated the name; and wherever I chanced to stop among these
people, we soon became familiar with each other through the me-
dium of Poll. On arriving at Mr. Dunbar’s, below Natchez, I pro-

CAROLINA PARROT. | as

cured a cage, and placed it under the piazza, where by its call it
soon attracted the passing flocks, such is the attachment they have
for each other. Numerous parties frequently alighted on the trees
immediately above, keeping up a constant conversation with the
prisoner. One of these I wounded slightly in the wing, and the
pleasure Poll expressed on meeting with this new companion was
really amusing. She crept close up to it as it hung on the side of
the cage, chattered to it in a low tone of voice, as if sympathizing
in its misfortune, scratched about its head and neck with her bill;
and both at night nestled as close as possible to each other, some-
times Poll’s head being thrust among the plumage of the other.
On the death of this companion, she appeared restless and incon-
solable for several days. On reaching New Orleans, I placed a
looking glass beside the place where she usually sat, and the in-
stant she perceived her image, all her former fondness seemed to
return, so that she could scarcely absent herself from it a moment.
It was evident that she was completely deceived. Always when
evening drew on, and often during the day, she laid her head close
to that of the image in the glass, and began to doze with great
composure and satisfaction. In this short space she had learnt to
know her name; to answer and come when called on; to climb
up my clothes, sit on my shoulder and eat from my mouth. I took
her with me to sea, determined to persevere in her education; but,
destined to another fate, poor Poll, having one morning about day-
break wrought her way through the cage, while I was asleep, in-
stantly flew overboard, and perished in the gulf of Mexico.

The Carolina, or Illinois Parrot, (for it has been described
under both these appellations) is thirteen inches long, and twenty-
one in extent; forehead and cheeks orange red; beyond this, for
an inch and a half, down and round the neck, a rich and pure yel-
low; shoulder and bend of the wing also edged with rich orange
red. The general color of the rest of the plumage is a bright yel-
lowish silky green, with light blue reflexions, lightest and most di-

VOL. III. Bb |

98 CAROLINA PARROT.

luted with yellow below; greater wing coverts and roots of the pri-
maries yellow, slightly tinged with green; interior webs of the pri-
maries deep dusky purple, almost black, exterior ones bluish green;
tail long, cuneiform, consisting of twelve feathers, the exterior one
only half the length, the others increasing to the middle ones,
which are streaked along the middle with light blue; shafts of all
the larger feathers, and of most part of the green plumage black;
knees and vent orange yellow; feet a pale whitish flesh color; claws
black; bill white, or slightly tinged with pale cream; iris of the
eye hazel; round the eye is a small space without feathers cover-
ed with a whitish skin; nostrils placed in an elevated membrane
at the base of the bill, and covered with feathers; chin wholly bare
of feathers, but concealed by those descending on each side; from
each side of the palate hangs a lobe or skin of a blackish color;
tongue thick and fleshy; inside of the upper mandible near the point
grooved exactly like a file, that 1t may hold with more security.

The female differs very little in her colors and markings from
the male. After examining numerous specimens, the following
appear to be the principal differences. ‘The yellow on the neck
of the female does not descend quite so far; the interior vanes of
the primaries are brownish instead of black, and the orange red
on the bend and edges of the wing is considerably narrower; in
other respects the colors and markings are nearly the same.

The young birds of the preceding year, of both sexes, are ge-
nerally destitute of the yellow on the head and neck, until about
the beginning or middle of March, having those parts wholly green,
except the front and cheeks, which are orange red in them as in
the full grown birds. ‘Towards the middle of March the yellow
begins to appear, in detached feathers, interspersed among the
green, varying in different individuals. In some which I killed
about the last of that month, only a few green feathers remained
among the yellow; and these were fast assuming the yellow tint;

for the color changes without change of plumage. A number of

CAROLINA PARROT. oS

these birds, in all their grades of progressive change from green to
yellow, have been deposited in Mr. Peale’s museum.

What is called by Europeans the Illinois Parrot, (Psittacus
pertinax) is evidently the young bird in its imperfect colors. Whe-
ther the present species be found as far south as Brasil, as these
writers pretend, I am unable to say; but from the great extent of
country in which I have myself killed and examined these birds, I
am satisfied that the present species, now described, is the only one
inhabiting the United States.

Since the foregoing was written I have had an opportunity,
by the death of a tame Carolina parakeet, to ascertain the fact of
the poisonous effects of their head and intestines on cats. Having
shut up a cat and her two kittens, (the latter only a few days old,)
in a room with the head, neck, and whole intestines of the Para-
keet, I found on the next morning, the whole eaten except a small _
part of the bill. The cat exhibited no symptom of sickness; and
at this moment, three days after the experiment has been made,
she and her kittens are in their usual health. Still, however, the
effect might have been different, had the daily food of the bird
been cockle burrs, instead of Indian corn.

100

CANADA FLYCATCHER.
MUSCICAPA CANADENSIS.
[Plate XXVI.—Fig. 2. |

Linn. Syst. 324.—Aret. Zool. p. 338, No. 273.—Latuam, II, 354.—PzAe’s Museum,
No. 6969.

THIS is a solitary, and in the lower parts of Pennsylvania,
rather a rare species; being more numerous in the interior, parti-
cularly near the mountains, where the only two I ever met with
were shot. ‘They are silent birds, as far as I could observe; and
were busily darting among the branches after insects. From the
specific name given them it is probable that they are more plenty
in Canada than in the United States; where it is doubtful whether
they be not mere passengers in spring and autumn.

‘This species is four inches and a half long, and eight in ex-
tent; front black; crown dappled with small streaks of grey and
spots of black; line from the nostril to and around the eye yellow;
below the eye a streak or spot of black, descending along the sides
of the throat, which, as well as the breast and belly, is brilliant
yellow, the breast being marked with a broad rounding band of
black, composed of large irregular streaks; back, wings and tail
cinereous brown; vent white; upper mandible dusky, lower flesh
colored; legs and feet the same; eye hazel. |

Never having met with the female of this bird I am unable at
present to say in what its colors differ from those of the male.

101

HOODED FLYCATCHER.
MUSCICAPA CUCULLATA.
[Plate XXVI.—Fig. 3. |

Le gobe-mouche citrin, Burron, IV, 538. Pl. Enl. 666.—Hooded Warbler, Arct. Zool. p.
400, Vo. 287.—Laruam, Il, 462.—Caressy, I, 60.—Mitred Warbler, Turron, I,
601.—Hooded Warbler, Ibid.— Pr are’s Museum, No. 7062.

WHY those two judicious naturalists, Pennant and Latham,
should have arranged this bird with the Warblers is to me unac-
countable; as few of the muscicapze are more distinctly marked
_than the species now before us. The bill is broad at the base,
where it is beset with bristles; the upper mandible notched, and
slightly overhanging at the tip; and the manners of the bird, in
every respect, those of a Flycatcher. ‘This species is seldom seen
in Pennsylvania and the northern states; but through the whole
extent of country south of Maryland, from the Atlantic to the Mis-
sissippi, is very abundant. It is however most partial to low situa-
tions, where there is plenty of thick underwood; abounds among
the canes in the state of Tenessee, and in the Mississippi territory;
and seems perpetually in pursuit of winged insects; now and then
uttering three loud not unmusical and very lively notes, resembling
twee, twee, twitchie, while engaged in the chase. Like almost all
its tribe it is full of spirit, and exceedingly active. It builds a very
neat and compact nest, generally in the fork of a small bush, forms
it outwardly of moss and flax, or broken hemp, and lines it with hair,
and sometimes feathers; the eggs are five, of a greyish white, with
red spots towards the great end. In all parts of the United States,
where it inhabits, it is a bird of passage. At Savannah I met with
it about the twentieth of March; so that it probably retires to the

VOL. III. Ce |

102 HOODED FLYCATCHER.

West India islands, and perhaps Mexico, during winter. I also
heard this bird among the rank reeds and rushes within a few miles
of the mouth of the Mississippi. It has been sometimes seen in the
neighbourhood of Philadelphia; but rarely; and on such occasions
has all the mute timidity of a stranger, at a distance from home.

‘This species is five inches and a half long, and eight in ex-
tent; forehead, cheeks and chin yellow, surrounded with a hood of
black that covers the crown, hind head, and part of the neck, and
descends, rounding, over the breast; all the rest of the lower parts
are rich yellow; upper parts of the wings, the tail and back, yellow
olive ; interior vanes and tips of the wing and tail dusky; bill
black; legs flesh colored; inner webs of the three exterior tail fea-
thers white for half their length from the tips; the next slightly
touched with white; the tail slightly forked, and exteriorly edged
with rich yellow olive.

The female has the throat and breast yellow, slightly tinged
with blackish; the black does not reach so far down the upper part
of the neck, and is not of so deep a tint. In the other parts of her
plumage she exactly resembles the male. I have found some fe-
males that had little or no black on the head or neck above; but
these I took to be young birds, not yet arrived at their full tints.

103

GREEN BLACK-CAPT FLYCATCHER.
MUSCICAPA PUSILLA.
[Plate XXVI.—Fig. 4. |

Pzeare’s Museum, No. 7785.

_ THIS neat and active little species I have never met with in
the works of any European naturalist. It is an inhabitant of the
swamps of the southern states, and has been several times seen in
the lower parts of the states of New Jersey and Delaware. Amidst
almost unapproachable thickets of deep morasses it commonly
spends its time, during summer, and has a sharp squeaking note,
noways musical. It leaves the southern states early in October.

This species is four inches and a half long, and six and a half
in extent; front line over the eye and whole lower parts yellow,
brightest over the eye and dullest on the cheeks, belly and vent,
where it is tinged with olive; upper parts olive green; wings and
tail dusky brown, the former very short; legs and bill flesh co-
lored; crown covered with a patch of deep black; iris of the eye
hazel. |

The female is without the black crown, having that part of a
dull yellow olive, and is frequently mistaken for a distinct species.
_ From her great resemblance, however, in other respects to the
male, now first figured, she cannot hereafter be mistaken.

104

PINNATED GROUS.
TETRAO CUPIDO.
[Plate XX VII.—Fig. 1. |

Linn. Syst. I, p. 274, 5.—Larn. II, p. 740.—Aret. Zool_—La Gelinote hupée @ Amerique,
Briss. Orn. I, p. 212 10.—Urogalus minor, fuscus cervice, plumis alas imitantibus donata,
Catess. Car. App. pl. 1 —Tetrao lagogus, the Mountain cock, or Grous, BartRAM, p.
290,—Heath-hen, Prairie hen, Barren-hen.—Pxraxx’s Museum, No. 4700, male—4701,
Jemale.

BEFORE I enter on a detail of the observations which I have
myself personally made on this singular species, I shall lay before
the reader a comprehensive and very circumstantial memoir on the
subject, communicated to me by the writer, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell .
of New York, whose exertions, both in his public and private capa-
city, in behalf of science, and in elucidating the natural history of
his country, are well known; and highly honorable to his distin-
cuished situation and abilities. That peculiar tract generally
known by the name of the Brushy plains of Long island, having
been, for time immemorial, the resort of the bird now before us,
some account of this particular range of country seemed necessa-
rily connected with the subject, and has accordingly been obliging-
ly attended to by the learned professor.

« New York, Sept. 19th, 1810.
‘‘ DEAR SIR,

“1T gives me much pleasure to reply to your letter of the
twelfth instant, asking of me information concerning the Grouse
of Long island.

« The birds which are known there emphatically by the name
of Grouse, inhabit chiefly the forest-range. This district of the

ts

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PINNATED GROUS. 105

island may be estimated as being between forty and fifty miles in
length, extending from Bethphage in Queen’s county to the neigh-
bourhood of the court-house in Suffolk. Its breadth is not more
than six or seven. For although the island is bounded by the
Sound separating it from Connecticut on the north; and by the
Atlantic ocean on the south, there is a margin of several miles on
each side in the actual possession of human beings.

«The region in which these birds reside, lies mostly within
the towns of Oysterbay, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, and Brook-
haven; though it would be incorrect to say, that they were not
to be met with sometimes in Riverhead and South-hampton.—
Their territory has been defined by some sportsmen, as situated
between Hempstead-plain on the west, and Shinnecock-plain on
the east.

«The more popular name for them is Heath-hens. By this
they are designated in the act of our legislature for the preserva-
tion of them and of other game. I well remember the passing of
this law. The bill was introduced by Cornelius J. Bogert, esq.
a member of the assembly from the city of New York. It was
in the month of February, 1791, the year when as a representa-
tive from my native county of Queens, I sat for the first time in
a legislature. |

_ «The statute declares among other things, that the person who
shall kill any Heath-hen within the counties of Suffolk or Queens,
between the first day of April and the fifth day of October, shall
for every such offence, forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars and
an half, to be recovered with costs of suit, by any person who
shall prosecute for the same, before any justice of the peace, in
either of the said counties; the one half to be paid to the plain-
tiff, and the other half to the overseers of the poor. And if any
Heath-hen so killed, shall be found in the possession of any per-
son, he shall be deemed guilty of the offence, and suffer the pe-
nalty. But it is provided, that no defendant shall be convicted

VOL. Wl: pd

106 PINNATED GROUS.

unless the action shall be brought within three months after the
violation of the law.”

“The country selected by these exquisite birds requires a
more particular description. You already understand it to be the
midland and interior district of the island. The soil of this island
is, generally speaking, a sandy or gravelly loam. In the parts less
adapted to tillage, it is more of an unmixed sand. This is so much
the case, that the shore of the beaches beaten by the ocean, affords
a material from which glass has been prepared. Siliceous grains
and particles predominate in the region chosen by the Heath-hens
or Grouse. Here there are no rocks, and very few stones of any
kind. ‘This sandy tract appears to be a dereliction of the ocean,
but is nevertheless not doomed to total sterility. Many thousand
acres have been reclaimed from the wild state, and rendered very
productive to man. And within the towns frequented by these
birds, there are numerous inhabitants, and among them some of
our most wealthy farmers. |

«‘ But within the same limits, there are also tracts of great ex-
tent where men have no settlements, and others where the popula-
tion is spare and scanty. ‘These are however, by no means, naked
desarts. They are, on the contrary, covered with trees, shrubs
and smaller plants. The trees are mostly pitch-pines of inferior
size, and white oaks of a small growth. They are of a quality
very fit for burning. Thousands of cords of both sorts of fire-wood
are annually exported from these barrens. Vast quantities:are oc-
casionally destroyed by the fires which through carelessness or acci-
dent spread far and wide through the woods. ‘The city of New York

* The doctor has probably forgotten a circumstance of rather a ludicrous kind that oc-
curred at the passing of this law; and which was, not long ago, related to me by my friend
Mr. Gardiner, of Gardiner’s island, Long island. The bill was entitled ‘‘ An Act for the pre-
servation of Heath-hen and other Game.” The honest chairman of the assembly, no sports-
man I suppose, read the title “‘ An Act for the preservation of HEarHewn and other Game !”
which seemed to astonish the northern members, who could not see the propriety of pre-

serving Indians, or any other Heathen.

PINNATED GROUS. 107

will probably for ages derive fuel from the grouse-grounds. The
land after having been cleared, yields to the cultivator poor crops.
Unless therefore he can help it by manure, the best disposition is
to let it grow up to forest again. Experience has proved, that in
a term of forty or fifty years, the new growth of timber will be fit
for the axe. Hence it may be perceived, that the reproduction of
trees, and the protection they afford to Heath-hens would be per-
petual; or in other words, not circumscribed by any calculable
time; provided the persecutors of the latter would be quiet.

- “ Beneath these trees grow more dwarfish oaks, overspreading
“the surface, sometimes with here and there a shrub, and sometimes
a thicket. These latter are from about two to ten feet in height.
Where they are the principal product, they are called in common
conversation brush, as the flats on which they grow are termed
Brushy plains. Among this hardy shrubbery may frequently be
seen the creeping vegetable named the partridge-berry covering
the sand with its lasting verdure. In many spots the plant which
produces hurtle-berries, sprout up among the other natives of the
soil. These are the more important, though I ought to inform you
that the hills reaching from east to west, and forming the spine of
the island, support kalmias, hickories, and many other species ;
that I have seen azalias and andromedas as | passed through the
wilderness; and that where there is water, crane-berries, alders,
beeches, maples, and other lovers of moisture, take their stations.

“ This region, situated thus between the more thickly inhabited
“strips or belts on the north and south sides of the island, is much
travelled by waggons, and intersected accordingly by a great num-
ber of paths.

« As to the birds themselves, the information I possess scarcely
amounts to an entire history. You, who know the difficulty of col-
lecting facts, will be the most ready to excuse my deficiencies.
The information I give you is such as I rely on. For the purpose
of gathering the materials, I have repeatedly visited their haunts.

108 PINNATED GROUS.

I have likewise conversed with several men who were brought up |
at the precincts of the grouse-ground, who had been witnesses of
their habits and manners, who were accustomed to shoot them for
the market, and who have acted as guides to gentlemen who go
there for sport. .

« Bulk.—An adult Grouse when fat weighs as much as a barn
door fowl of moderate size, or about three pounds avoirdupoise.
But the eagerness of the sportsman is so great, that a large pro-
portion of those they kill, are but a few months old, and have not
attained their complete growth. Notwithstanding the protection
of the law, it is very common to disregard it. The retired nature
of the situation favours this. It is well understood that an arrange-
ment can be made which will blind and silence informers, and that
the gun is fired with impunity, for weeks before the time prescribed
in the act. "lo prevent this unfair and unlawful practice, an asso-
ciation was formed a few years ago, under the title of the Brush
club, with the express and avowed intention of enforcing the game-
law. Little benefit, however, has resulted from its laudable exer-
tions; and under a conviction that it was impossible to keep the
poachers away, the society declined. At present the statute may
be considered as operating very little toward their preservation.
Grouse, especially full-grown ones, are becoming less frequent.
Their numbers are gradually diminishing; and assailed as they
are on all sides, almost without cessation, their scarcity may be
viewed as foreboding their eventual extermination.

« Price—Twenty years ago a brace of Grouse could be bought
for a dollar. They now cost from three to five dollars. A hand-
some pair seldom sells in the New York market now a days for
less than thirty shillings [three dollars, seventy-five cents |, nor for
more than forty [five dollars]. These prices indicate indeed the
depreciation of money and the luxury of eating. They prove at the
same time, that Grouse are become rare; and this fact is admitted

by every man who seeks them, whether for pleasure or for profit.

PINNATED GROUS. 109

« Amours.—The season for pairing is in March, and the breed-
ing time is continued through April and May. Then the male
Grouse distinguishes himself by a peculiar sound. When he ut-
ters it, the parts about the throat are sensibly inflated and swelled.
It may be heard on a still morning for three or more miles; some
say they have perceived it as far as five or six. This noise is a sort of
ventriloquism. It does not strike the ear of a bystander with much
force; but impresses him with the idea, though produced within
a few rods of him, of a voice a mile or two distant. This note is
highly characteristic. Though very peculiar, it is termed tooting,
from its resemblance to the blowing of a conch or horn from a re-
mote quarter. The female makes her nest on the ground, in re-
cesses very rarely discovered by men. She usually lays from ten
to twelve eggs. Their colour is of a brownish, much resembling
those of a Guinea-hen. When hatched, the brood is protected by
her alone. Surrounded by her young, the mother bird exceedingly
resembles a domestic hen and chickens. She frequently leads them
to feed in the roads crossing the woods, on the remains of maize
and oats contained in the dung dropped by the travelling horses.
In that employment they are often surprised by the passengers.
On such occasions the dam utters a cry of alarm. The little ones
immediately scamper to the brush; and while they are skulking
into places of safety, their anxious parent beguiles the spectator by
drooping and fluttering her wings, limping along the path, rolling
over in the dirt, and other pretences of inability to walk or fly.
| «« Food.—A favourite article of their diet is the heath-hen plum,

or partridge-berry before mentioned. They are fond of hurtle-ber-
ries, and crane-berries. Worms and insects of several kinds are
occasionally found in their crops. But in the winter they subsist
chiefly on acorns, and the buds of trees which have shed their
leaves. In their stomachs have been sometimes observed the leaves
of a plant supposed to be a winter green; and it is said, when they
are much pinched, they betake themselves to the buds of the pine.

VOL. Il. Ee

110 PINNATED GROUS.

In convenient places they have been known to enter cleared fields,
and regale themselves on the leaves of clover; and old gunners
have reported that they have been known to trespass upon patches
of buckwheat, and pick up the grains.

“« Migration.—They are stationary, and never known to quit
their abode. ‘There are no facts showing in them any disposition
to migration. On frosty mornings and during snows, they perch
on the upper branches of pine trees. They avoid wet and swampy
places; and are remarkably attached to dry ground. The low and
open brush is preferred to high shrubbery and thickets. Into these
latter places, they fly for refuge when closely pressed by the hun-
ters; and here, under a stiff and impenetrable cover, they escape
the pursuit of dogs and men. Water is so seldom met with on the
true grouse-ground, that it is necessary to carry it along for the
pointers to drink. The flights of Grouse are short, but sudden,
rapid and whirring. I have not heard of any success in taming
them. ‘They seem to resist all attempts at domestication. In this
as well as in many other respects, they resemble the Quail of New
York, or the Partridge of Pennsylvania.

« Manners. —During the period of mating, and while the fe-
males are occupied in incubation, the males have a practice of as-
sembling, principally by themselves. ‘To some select and central
spot where there is very little underwood, they repair from the ad-
joining district. From the exercises performed there, this is called
a scratching-place. The time of meeting is the break of day. As
soon as the light appears, the company assembles from every side,
sometimes to the number of forty or fifty. When the dawn is past,
the ceremony begins by a low tooting from one of the cocks. ‘This
is answered by another. They then come forth one by one from
the bushes, and strut about with all the pride and ostentation they
can display. Their necks are incurvated; the feathers on them
are erected into a sort of ruff; the plumes of their tails are ex-
panded like fans; they strut about in a style resembling, as nearly

PINNATED GROUS. 111

as small may be illustrated by great, the pomp of the turkey-
cock. ‘They seem to vie with each other im stateliness; and as
they pass each other frequently cast looks of insult, and utter notes
of defiance. ‘These are the signals for battles. They engage with
wonderful spirit and fierceness. During these contests, they leap
a foot or two from the ground, and utter a cackling, screaming
and discordant cry. |
“They have been found in these places of resort even earlier
than the appearance of light in the east. This fact has led to the
belief that a part of them assemble over night. The rest join them
in the morning. This leads to the further belief that they roost on
the ground. And the opinion is confirmed by the discovery of little
rings of dung, apparently deposited by a flock which had passed
the night together. After the appearance of the sun they disperse.
‘¢ These places of exhibition have been often discovered by
the hunters; and a fatal discovery it has been for the poor Grouse.
Their destroyers construct for themselves lurking holes made of
pine branches, called bowgh-houses, within a few yards of the pa-
rade. Hither they repair with their fowling-pieces in the latter
part of the night, and wait the appearance of the birds. Watching
the moment when two are proudly eyeing each other, or engaged
in battle; or when a greater number can be seen in a range, they
pour on them a destructive charge of shot. This annoyance has
been given in so many places, and to such extent, that the Grouse,
after having been repeatedly disturbed, are afraid to assemble. On
approaching the spot to which their instinct prompts them, they
perch on the neighbouring trees, instead of alighting at the scratch-
ing place. And it remains to be observed, how far the restless and
tormenting spirit of the marksmen, may alter the native habits of
the Grouse, and oblige them to betake themselves to new ways
of life. |
«They commonly keep together in coveys, or packs, as the
phrase is, until the pairing season. A full pack consists of course

£12 PINNATED GROUS.

of ten or a dozen. Two packs have been known to associate. I
lately heard of one whose number amounted to twenty-two. ‘They
are so unapt to be startled, that a hunter, assisted by a dog, has
been able to shoot almost a whole pack, without making any of
them take wing. In like manner the men lying in concealment
near the scratching places, have been known to discharge several
guns before either the report of the explosion, or the sight of their
wounded and dead fellows would rouse them to flight. It has fur-
ther been remarked, that when a company of sportsmen have sur-
rounded a pack of Grouse, the birds seldom or never rise upon
their pinions while they are encircled; but each runs along until
it passes the person that is nearest, and then flutters off with the
utmost expedition.

“As you have made no inquiry of me concerning the orni-
thological character of these birds, I have not mentioned it, pre-
suming that you are already perfectly acquainted with their clas-
sification and description. In a short memoir written in 1803,
and printed in the eighth volume of the Medical Repository, I
ventured an opinion as to the genus and species. Whether I was
correct is a technical matter, which I leave you to adjust. I am
well aware that European accounts of our productions are often
erroneous, and require revision and amendment. This you must
perform. For me it remains to repeat my joy at the opportu-
nity your invitation has afforded me to contribute somewhat to
your elegant work, and at the same time to assure you of my
earnest hope that you may be favoured with ample means to com-
plete it.

“SAMUEL L. MITCHILL.”

Duly sensible of the honor of the foregoing communication,
and grateful for the good wishes with which it is concluded, I shall
now, in further elucidation of the subject, subjoin a few particulars
properly belonging to my own department.

PINNATED GROUS. 113

It is somewhat extraordinary that the European naturalists,
in their various accounts of our different species of Grous, should
have said little or nothing of the one now before us, which, in its
voice, manners, and peculiarity of plumage, is the most singular,
and in its flesh the most excellent, of all those of its tribe that in-
habit the territory of the United States. It seems to have escaped
Catesby during his residence and different tours through this coun-
try, and it was not till more than twenty years after his return to
England, viz. in 1743, that he first saw some of these birds, as he
informs us, at Cheswick, the seat of the earl of Wilmington. His
lordship said they came from America; but from what particular
part could not tell.* Buffon has confounded it with the Ruffed
Grous, the common Partridge of New England, or Pheasant of
Pennsylvania (Tetrao umbellus); Edwards and Pennant, have, how-
ever, discovered that it is a different species; but have said little
of its note, of its flesh, or peculiarities; for alas! there was neither
voice, nor action, nor delicacy of flavour in the shrunk and decay-
ed skin from which the former took his figure, and the latter his
description; and to this circumstance must be attributed the bar-
renness and defects of both.

That the curious may have an opportunity of examining to
more advantage this singular bird, a figure of the male is here
given, as large as life, drawn with great care from the most per-
fect of several elegant specimens shot in the barrens of Kentucky.
He is represented in the act of strutting, as it is called, while with
inflated throat he produces that extraordinary sound so familiar to
every one who resides in his vicinity, and which has been described
in the foregoing account. So very novel and characteristic did the
action of these birds appear to me at first sight, that, instead of
shooting them down, I sketched their attitude hastily on the spot,
while concealed among a brush-heap, with seven or eight of them

* Caress. Car. p. 101. App.

VOL. III. Ff

114 PINNATED GROUS.

within a short distance. ‘Three of these I afterwards carried home
with me.

This rare bird, tho an inhabitant of different and very distant
districts of North America, is extremely particular in selecting his
place of residence; pitching only upon those tracts whose features
and productions correspond with his modes of life; and avoiding
immense intermediate regions that he never visits. Open dry
plains, thinly interspersed with trees, or partially overgrown with
shrub-oak, are his favorite haunts. Accordingly we find these birds
on the Grous plains of New Jersey, in Burlington county, as well
as on the Brushy plains of Long island—among the pines and shrub-
oaks of Pocano, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania—over the
whole extent of the Barrens of Kentucky—on the luxuriant plains
and prairies of the Indiana territory, and Upper Louisiana; and ac-
cording to the information of the late governor Lewis, on the vast
and remote plains of the Columbia river. In all these places pre-
serving the same singular habits.

Their predilection for such situations will be best accounted
for by considering the following facts and circumstances. First,
their mode of flight is generally direct, and laborious, and ill cal-
culated for the labyrinth of a high and thick forest, crowded and
intersected with trunks and arms of trees, that require continual
angular evolution of wing, or sudden turnings, to which they are
by no means accustomed. I have always observed them to avoid
the high-timbered groves that occur here and there in the barrens.
Connected with this fact is a circumstance related to me by a very
respectable inhabitant of that country, viz. that one forenoon a
cock Grous struck the stone chimney of his house with such force
as instantly to fall dead to the ground.

Secondly, their known dislike of ponds, marshes, or watery
places, which they avoid on all occasions, drinking but seldom,
and, it is believed, never from such places. Even in confinement
this peculiarity has been taken notice of. While I was in the ©

PINNATED GROUS. 115

state of Tennesee, a person living within a few miles of Nash-
ville had caught an old hen Grous in a trap; and being obliged
to keep her in a large cage, as she struck and abused the rest of
the poultry, he remarked that she never drank; and that she even
avoided that quarter of the cage where the cup containing the water
was placed. Happening one day to let some water fall on the cage,
it trickled down in drops along the bars, which the bird no sooner
observed, than she eagerly picked them off, drop by drop, with a
dexterity that shewed she had been habituated to this mode of
quenching her thirst; and probably to this mode only, in those
dry and barren tracts, where, except the drops of dew and drops
of rain, water is very rarely to be met with. For the space of a
week he watched her closely to discover whether she still refused
to drink; but, tho she was constantly fed on Indian corn, the cup
and water still remained untouched and untasted. Yet no sooner
did he again sprinkle water on the bars of the cage, than she eager-
ly and rapidly picked them off as before.

The last, and probably the strongest inducement to their
preferring these plains, is the small acorn of the shrub-oak; the
strawberries, huckle berries, and partridge berries with which they
abound, and which constitute the principal part of the food of these
birds. These brushy thickets also afford them excellent shelter,
being almost impenetrable to dogs or birds of prey.

In all these places where they inhabit they are, in the strictest
sense of the word, resident; having their particular haunts, and
places of rendezvous, (as described in the preceding account,) to
which they are strongly attached. Yet they have been known to
abandon an entire tract of such country, when, from whatever cause
it might proceed, it became again covered with forest. A few miles
south of the town of York, in Pennsylvania, commences an extent
of country, formerly of the character described, now chiefly cover-
ed with wood; but still retaining the name of barrens. In the re-
collection of an old man born in that part of the country, this tract

116 PINNATED GROUS.

abounded with Grous. The timber growing up, in progress of
years, these birds totally disappeared; and for a long period of
time he had seen none of them; until migrating with his family to
Kentucky, on entering the barrens he one morning recognized the
well known music of his old acquaintance the Grous; which he
assures me are the very same with those he had known in Penn-
sylvania.

But what appears to me the most remarkable circumstance
relative to this bird is, that not one of all those writers who have
attempted its history have taken the least notice of those two ex-
traordinary bags of yellow skin which mark the neck of the male,
and which constitute so striking a peculiarity. These appear to
be formed by an expansion of the gullet as well as of the exterior
skin of the neck, which, when the bird is at rest, hangs in loose
pendulous wrinkled folds, along the side of the neck, the supple-
mental wings, at the same time, as well as when the bird is flying,
lying along the neck in the manner represented in one of the dis-
tant figures on the plate. But when these bags are inflated with
air, in breeding time, they are equal in size and very much re-
semble in color a middle sized fully ripe orange. By means of this
curious apparatus, which is very observable several hundred yards
off, he is enabled to produce the extraordinary sound mentioned
above, which, tho it may easily be imitated, is yet difficult to de-
scribe by words. It consists of three notes, of the same tone, resem-
bling those produced by the Night Hawks in their rapid descent ;
each strongly accented, the last being twice as long as the others.
When several are thus engaged the ear is unable to distinguish the
regularity of these triple notes, there being at such times one con-
tinued bumming, which is disagreeable and perplexing, from the
impossibility of ascertaining from what distance or even quarter it
proceeds. While uttering this the bird exhibits all the ostentatious
gesticulations of a turkey-cock; erecting and fluttering his neck
wings, wheeling and passing before the female and close before his

PINNATED GROUS. 117

fellows, as in defiance. Now and then are heard some rapid cack-
ling notes, not unlike that of a person tickled to excessive laugh-
ter; and in short one can scarcely listen to them without feeling
disposed to laugh from sympathy. These are uttered by the males
while engaged in fight, on which occasion they leap up against
each other, exactly in the manner of turkeys, seemingly with more
malice than effect. This bumming continues from a little before
day-break to eight or nine o’clock in the morning, when the par-
ties separate to seek for food.

Fresh ploughed fields, in the vicinity of their resorts, are sure
to be visited by these birds every morning, and frequently also in
the evening. On one of these I counted, at one time, seventeen
males, most of whom were in the attitude represented in the plate;
making such a continued sound as I am persuaded might have
been heard for more than a mile off. The people of the barrens
informed me, that when the weather became severe, with: snow,
they approach the barn and farm-house; are sometimes seen sit-
ting on the fences in dozens; mix with the poultry, and glean up
the scattered grains of Indian corn; seeming almost half domesti-
cated. At such times great numbers are taken in traps. No pains,
however, or regular plan has ever been persisted in, as far as I was
informed, to domesticate these delicious birds. A Mr. Reed who
lives between the Pilot Knobs and Bairdstown, told me, that a few
years ago one of his sons found a Grous’s nest with fifteen eggs,
which he brought home, and immediately placed below a hen then
sitting; taking away her own. ‘The nest of the Grous was on the
sround, under a tussock of long grass, formed with very little art
and few materials; the eggs were brownish white, and about the
size of a pullet’s. In three or four days the whole were hatched.
Instead of following the hen, they compelled her to run after them,
distracting her with the extent and diversity of their wanderings;
and it was a day or two before they seemed to understand her
language, or consent to be guided by her. ‘They were let out to

VOL. Il. Gg

118 PINNATED GROUS.

the fields, where they paid little regard to their nurse; and in a
few days only three of them remained: These became extremely
tame and familiar, were most expert fly-catchers; but soon after
they also disappeared.

The Pinnated Grous is nineteen inches long, twenty-seven
inches in extent, and when in: good order, weighs about three
pounds and a half; the neck is furnished with supplemental wings,
each composed. of eighteen. feathers, five of which are black, and
about three inches long, the rest shorter, also black, streaked late-
rally with. brown, and, of unequal lengths; the head is -slightly
crested; over the eye.is an elegant. semicircular comb of rich
orange, which the bird has the power.of raising or ‘Telaxing; un-
der the neck wings, are two, loose pendulous and wr inkled skins,
extending along the side of the neck for two-thirds of its length,
each of which, when inflated with air, resembles, in bulk, color and
surface,a middle sized orange; chin cream-colored ; under the eye
“runs a. dark, streak of brown, whole upper parts. mottled trans-
versely, with black, reddish brown and white; tail short, very much
rounded, . and of:.a,plain, brownish soot color ;. throat. elegantly
marked with touches. of reddish brown, white ae black ; lower
part of the breast and belly pale brown, marked transversely with
white; legs covered to the toes with hairy down of a dirty drab
color; . feet dull yellow, toes pectinated; vent whitish; bill brown-
ish horn, color; eye reddish hazel. |'Vhe: female is consider ably
less, of a lighter, color; destitute of the neck. wings, the, naked, yel-
low, skin on the. neck, and the semicircular comb of yellow over
the eyes, | ‘ah a Ligier J Negen

On dissecting ‘diene longi the eimend was Sivas exirenicly
muscular, having almost the hardness of a stone; the heart re-
markably large; the crop was filled with briar knots, containing
the larvee of some insect,—quantities of a species of green lichen,

small hard seeds, and some grains of Indian corn.

119
-< BLUE-GREEN‘ WARBLER: ©
SYLVIA RARA.
[Plate XXVIP.—Fig. 2.]""
Palibs Miseuti, No. 7788." te

“THIS new species, the only one of its’ sort ‘I’ have’ yet ‘met
with, was shot 6n the banks of Cumberland river, about the begin-
ning of April; and'the drawing made with care immediately after.
Whether male or' female’ Ail uficértain. “It is One of ‘those’ birds
that. usually glean among’ ‘the high ’ ‘branches Of the tallest treés,
which render it difficult to be procured. It was ‘darting’ about ‘with
great nimbleness among the leaves, and appéared to have many of
the habits'of the Flycatcher. Aftér séVéral ineffectual excursions in
search of’anodther of the 'samekind; ‘with which T might” compare
the peat ‘Tam obliged ’to introduce it with this brief: devout.

The specimen’ has’ been’ deposited in' Mr. Péale’s museum:

The Blue-green Warbler 1 is four inches anda half long, and
geven and a half in extent; the upper parts are verditer, tinged
with pale green, brightest on the front and forehead; lores; line
over the eye, throat, and whole lower parts very pale cream; cheeks
slightly tinged with greenish; bill and legs’ bright’ light’ blues’ ex-
cept the upper mandible; which is dusky; tail forked, and, as well
as the wings brownish black; the former marked on the three ex.
terior vanes with white and edged with greenish; ‘thé latter having
the first and waimeks row of coverts ack with Vaan ‘Note a feeble
chin. | iS re ae

120

NASHVILLE WARBLER.
SYLVIA RUFICAPILLA.
[Plate XXVII.—Fig. 3. ]

Preae’s Museum, No. 7789.

THE very uncommon notes of this little bird were familiar
to me for several days before I succeeded in obtaining it. ‘These
notes very much resembled the breaking of small dry twigs, or the
striking of small pebbles of different sizes smartly against each
other for six or seven times, and loud enough to be heard at the
distance of thirty or forty yards. It was some time before I could
ascertain whether the sound proceeded from a bird or an insect.
At length I discovered the bird; and was not a little gratified at
finding it an entire new and hitherto undescribed species. I was
also fortunate enough to meet afterwards with two others exactly
corresponding with the first, all of them being males. ‘These were
shot in the state of Tennesee, not far from Nashville. It had all
the agility and active habits of its family the Worm-eaters.

The length of this species is four inches and a half, breadth
seven inches; the upper parts of the head and neck light ash, a
little inclining to olive; crown spotted with deep chesnut in small
touches; a pale yellowish ring round the eye; whole lower parts
vivid yellow, except the middle of the belly, which is white; back
yellow olive, slightly skirted with ash; rump and tail coverts rich
yellow olive; wings nearly black, broadly edged with olive; tail
slightly forked and very dark olive; legs ash; feet dirty yellow;
bill tapering to a fine point, and dusky ash; no white on wings or

tail; eye hazel.

END OF VOLUME III.

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