FAMILY VIREONIDÆ.—THE VIREOS
The essential features of this family appear to consist in the combination of the dentirostral bill, notched in both mandibles; the ten primaries (except Vireosylvia), of which the outer is usually from one fourth to one half the second; the rather short, nearly even tail, with narrow feathers, and the great amount of adhesion of the anterior toes,—the whole basal joint of the middle being generally united on both sides to the adjacent joints, and decidedly shorter than the basal of inner or two basal of outer. The outer lateral toe is generally appreciably longer than the inner, reaching considerably beyond the base of the middle claw. The tarsi are always distinctly scutellate anteriorly. The young are never spotted, or streaked as in the Thrushes; nor, indeed, do the adults exhibit such markings.
The Vireonidæ are peculiar to the New World, and are widely distributed, although but one genus belongs to the United States.
GENUS VIREO, VIEILL.
Vireo, VIEILL. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 83. (Type, Muscicapa noveboracensis, GM.)
No great violence will be done by considering all the American Vireos as belonging to one genus, divisible into three subgenera, as, however different the extremes of the series may be from each other, the gradation is quite complete.
The North American species take a wide range during their southern winter migration, only paralleled in this respect by the Sylvicolidæ; they do not visit the West Indies, save as very rare stragglers to Cuba (V. olivaceus, solitarius, flavifrons, and noveboracensis). They all have a melodious song, and, so far as known, make a deep nest, suspended by its upper edge between the forks of a horizontal twig. The eggs are white, generally with a few reddish or brown blotches.
Quite a number are characterized by having the eyes white, red, or yellow.
Subgenera.
Vireosylvia. Bill compressed, narrow; culmen and commissure straight, the tip abruptly curved (or, if this is not the case, there is no trace of light bands on the wing; see section “b”). Superciliary stripe continued back to the occiput. No trace of light bands on the wing. No conspicuous ring round the eye.
a. No spurious primary. Bill compressed, its tip abruptly hooked; culmen and commissure straight. Crown decidedly more ashy than the back … Sp. flavoviridis, barbatulus, olivaceus, philadelphicus.
b. An acute spurious primary. Bill depressed, the tip only slightly hooked; culmen slightly curved. Crown scarcely more ashy than back … Sp. gilvus.
Lanivireo. Bill compressed, stout; culmen arched from the base, commissure curved. Superciliary stripe stopping at posterior angle of the eye and curving under it, enclosing the eye in a conspicuous orbital ring, interrupted only in front. Two conspicuous white bands on the wing.
a. No spurious primary … Sp. flavifrons.
b. With an acute spurious primary … Sp. solitarius, plumbeus.
Vireo. Bill stout, scarcely compressed, sub-cylindrical. First primary not spurious, or, if so, not acute.
a. Two conspicuous light bands on wing … Sp. atricapillus, noveboracensis, huttoni.
b. One distinct light band on wing, and this not sharply defined, the anterior one being almost obsolete … Sp. belli, pusillus, vicinior.
SUBGENUS VIREOSYLVIA, BON.
Vireosylvia, BON. Geog. Comp. List, 1838. (Type, Muscicapa olivacea, LIN.) Phyllomanes, CAB. Arch. 1847, I, 321. (No type mentioned; name proposed as substitute for Vireosylvia.)
[Line drawing: Vireo olivaceus. 40089]
GEN. CHAR. Wings long and pointed, one third or one fourth longer than the nearly even or slightly rounded tail. First quill very small (less than one third the second), sometimes apparently wanting. Second quill longer than the seventh, much longer than the secondaries. Tarsi short (scarcely exceeding .70 of an inch); toes rather long. Body slender and elongated. Bill slender, narrow, straight; the culmen straight for its basal half, the commissure quite straight; light horn-color, paler beneath. Feet weak. Type, V. olivaceus.
Species and Varieties.
COMMON CHARACTERS. All species olive above, white or yellowish beneath. An ashy or brownish cap, contrasting more or less abruptly with the olive back. A whitish superciliary stripe extending to the nape, and a dusky one to and behind the eye. No light bands on the coverts. Inside of wings (flanks sometimes) and crissum yellowish, otherwise usually white beneath.
No spurious primary … Series I. A spurious primary … Series II.
Series I. (No spurious primary.)
A. A dusky “mustache” or cheek stripe along each side of the throat.
1. V. calidris. Eyes red?
a. No distinct dusky line along side of the crown.
Light stripes of the head dingy brownish-buff; crown scarcely ashy; back olive-brown; crissum and lining of the wing pure pale yellow. Wing, 3.20; tail, 2.25; bill, .42. Hab. Jamaica; Santo Domingo, Porto Rico, Santa Cruz, St. Thomas, and Sombrero … var. calidris.[70]
Light stripes of the head dingy grayish-white; crown distinctly ashy; back grayish-olive; crissum and lining of the wing scarcely yellow. Wing, 3.20; tail, 2.35; bill, .42. Hab. Cuba, Bahamas, and South Florida … var. barbatulus.
b. A distinct dusky line along each side of crown.
Colors as in barbatula, but “mustache” broader and more conspicuous, and crown much purer ash. Wing, 3.30; tail, 2.50; bill, .48. Hab. Barbadoes … var. barbadense.[71]
B. No “mustache.”
a. A dusky line along each side of crown.
2. V. olivaceus. Grayish olive-green above; beneath white, tinged laterally with dull olive; crissum and lining of wing scarcely yellow; inner edges of quills white. Eyes red.
1. Wing, 3.30; tail, 2.40; bill, .38. Hab. Eastern Province of North America, south to Northern South America … var. olivaceus.
2. Wing, 2.50; tail, 1.80; bill, .33. Hab. Eastern South America … var. chivi.[72]
3. V. flavoviridis. Yellowish olive-green above; beneath white medially, bright greenish olive-yellow laterally; crissum, lining of wings, and inner edges of quills, light yellow. Eyes yellow.
1. Wing, 3.15; tail, 2.55; bill, .41. Hab. Middle America north of Panama … var. flavoviridis.
2. Wing, 2.80; tail, 2.25; bill, .36. Hab. South America, from Buenos Ayres northward; Guatemala … var. agilis.[73]
b. No dusky line on side of crown.
4. V. magister.[74] Large. Above sooty-olive, more virescent posteriorly; crown without ashy tinge. Beneath similar, but lighter, whitish medially. Crissum and lining of wing very faintly yellow; inner edges of quills white. Eyes? Wing, 3.05; tail, 2.40; bill, .45. Hab. Honduras (Belize).
5. V. philadelphicus. Small. Above grayish-green; crown ashy. Beneath light yellow, deepest on the jugulum, whitish on belly. Eyes? Wing, 2.70; tail, 1.95; bill, .27. Hab. Eastern Province of North America; in winter south to Costa Rica.
Series II. (A spurious primary.)
C. No dusky line along side of crown. No “mustache.”
6. V. gilva. Eyes hazel (in all?).
a. Crown nearly like the back.
Above olive-gray, rump more virescent; crown more ashy. Beneath dingy whitish, with a strong tinge of dingy buff from bill along sides and across breast. Bill, .14 deep, .30 long; wing, 2.85; tail, 2.05. Hab. Eastern Province of United States … var. gilvus.
Similar, but above more grayish, and beneath with the buff tinge almost absent. Bill, .11 deep, and .22 long; wing, 2.80; tail, 2.15. Hab. Western Province of United States … var. swainsoni.
b. Crown very different from the back (dark brown).
Above olive-brown; rump more virescent; crown dark snuff-brown. Beneath uniform light yellow, throat whitish. Bill, .15 deep, .30 long; wing, 2.60; tail, 2.10. Hab. Middle America, from Ecuador to Honduras … var. josephæ.[75]
Vireosylvia calidris, var. barbatulus, BAIRD.
FLORIDA GREENLET.
Phyllomanes barbatulus, CAB. Jour. III, 1855, 467 (Cuba).—GUNDLACH, Cab. Jour. 1861, 324 (Cuba).—IB. Repertorio, Cuba, 1865. Vireosylvia barbatula, BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 331. Vireo altiloquus, GAMBEL, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1848, 127 (Florida).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 354 (Florida). Vireosylvia altiloqua, CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1851, 152.—IB. Illust. 1854, 8, and 221, pl. xxxvii (Florida).—BRYANT, Pr. Bost. Soc. V, 1859, 113 (Bahamas).—LAWRENCE, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. 1860 (Cuba).
SP. CHAR. (No. 25,958 ♂, Cuba.) Proportion of quills as in var. calidris, 2 = 3, 4, 1, 5, but the tips of the quills closer together, and the first quill about half or a little less than half the distance between fifth and fourth; the quills narrower.
[Line drawing: Vireosylvia barbatulus. 25958]
Colors similar to those of var. calidris, but of a purer and paler olive above; the back tinged with ash; the cap purer ash, and better defined, without olivaceous wash, its dusky edge more distinct. The superciliary stripe whitish or grayish, with the cheeks paler, and both, as well as the chin, without the buff tinge. Under parts nearly pure white, very faintly tinged across the breast with ashy; the sides olivaceous; the crissum and axillars pale sulphur-yellow. Total length, 5.50; wing, 3.15; tail, 2.50; difference of first and second quills, .18; of fifth and second, .22; length of bill from forehead, .82, from nostril, .46, along gape, .89; tarsus, .72; middle toe and claw, .60; claw alone, .21; hind toe and claw, .50; claw alone, .23.
HAB. Cuba; the Bahamas; and Charlotte Harbor, Florida. (Western Coast.)
This Vireo has been taken several times at Charlotte Harbor, in Florida, and is thus entitled to a place in our fauna. Its distinction from a closely allied race in Jamaica, Hayti, etc., var. calidris, is shown on page 359.
A specimen belonging to Mr. Salvin (“No. 187”), from “Isthmus of Panama,” we cannot distinguish satisfactorily from typical examples of the present race, with which it is to be compared, and not with calidris. The colors are quite identical with those of barbatulus. In size it is slightly larger, the wing measuring 3.25 instead of 3.15; the tail 2.50, instead of 2.35 (from exposed base of feathers); the bill is thicker, being .20 instead of .18 deep; the third quill is longest, the second intermediate between it and the fourth; the first intermediate between the fourth and fifth. In barbatulus the second is longest, the third and fourth successively a little shorter. It is not improbable that other specimens from that locality may show greater differences, as the specimen under examination is in rather worn plumage, and has the tip of the bill broken off.
HABITS. This species only claims a place in our avifauna on the ground of its presence in Florida. How abundant it is there is not determined, further than it has been observed within a restricted locality by Dr. Heermann. This was at Charlotte Harbor, on the southwestern coast. They appeared to be visitors only, from a more southern clime. They reached Florida in their northern migrations, remaining only for a short season, but evidently staying long enough to breed. Dr. Heermann states that this species resembles, in manners and in appearance, the common Red-eyed Vireo of the more northern States. He describes its song as clear and musical, and very distinctly uttered. It was constantly on the search for insects, and appeared even more active than any of the northern species, darting among the foliage, peering into crevices and cobwebs, suspended from branches with its back downward, and occasionally chasing a flying insect in the manner of a true Flycatcher. These movements were usually accompanied by a song. This species was not abundant, though Dr. Heermann saw it frequently, and obtained several specimens.
Dr. Bryant found this species very abundant at the Bahamas, arriving there about the first of May. All the specimens he obtained were males, the females not arriving there until after the 13th of May. The notes of these birds, he states, vary, though the most common one resembles whīp tom kĕllȳ pheūū, pronouncing the first word distinctly.
This bird,[76] in Brown’s History of Jamaica, is called “Whip-tom-kelly,” from the supposed resemblance of its notes to these articulate sounds, and this popular appellation has been given it by various other writers. Mr. Gosse, however, in his Birds of Jamaica, calls this bird “John-to-whit,” and can find no resemblance in its notes to the words referred to. He describes its song as uttered with incessant iteration and untiring energy, and as resembling Sweet-John! John to whit! sweet John to whit! After July the notes change to to-whit-to-whoo, and sometimes to a soft, simple chirp, whispered so gently as scarcely to be audible. The name of Whip-tom-kelly Mr. Gosse never heard applied to it in Jamaica. Yet it is a bird often heard, and one whose notes have a similarity to articulate sounds, and naturally suggest a common appellation. It is very vociferous and pertinacious in its calls, repeating them with energy every two or three seconds.
This species, he states, does not ordinarily sit on a prominent twig, or dart out after insects, though it has been seen in eager pursuit of a butterfly. It seems to live in the centre of thick woods. It does not pass the winter in Jamaica, but leaves at the beginning of October, returning as early as the 20th of March. Its food he states to be both animal and vegetable, as he found in its stomach the seeds of the tropical plants and berries. In April, Mr. Gosse observed it hunting insects by the borders of the Bluefields River, and so intent upon its occupation as to allow of a very near approach. It sought insects among the grass and low herbage, perching on the stalks of weeds, and darting out after both vagrant and stationary prey. They incubate in June and July.
Like all this genus the Long-billed Vireo builds a pensile nest of great architectural ingenuity and beauty. It is a deep cup, usually about two thirds of a sphere in shape, truncated at the top. The materials of which it is made are often somewhat coarse. Mr. Gosse describes it as about as large as an ordinary teacup, narrowed at the mouth, composed of dry grasses, silk, cotton, lichens, and spiders’-web. It is usually suspended from the fork of two twigs, the margin very neatly overwoven to embrace them. The materials are well interwoven, and the walls firm and close, though not very thick. The whole is smoothly lined with slender vegetable fibres resembling human hair. One nest had its cavity nearly filled with a mass of white cotton, interwoven with the other materials, which, being picked cotton, had evidently been taken from some yard or building.
The eggs of this species are three in number, of a brilliant white, delicately tinted with pink, and marked with a few fine red and red-brown spots, usually about the larger end.
An egg of the variety from Cuba is of an oblong-oval shape, slightly pointed at one end, and the markings of faint purple and of dark purplish-brown, in bold dashes, are all about the larger end. Another from the same locality is more distinctly rounded at one and pointed at the other end, and is marked with fine brown dots distributed over the whole egg. These eggs measure, one .825 by .55 of an inch, and the other .78 by .55. An egg from Jamaica is of an extremely oblong-oval, measuring .88 by .55 of an inch, and is boldly marked more or less over the entire egg with large blotches of purplish-brown.
The Messrs. Newton describe the nest of the calidris of St. Croix as a beautiful structure, shaped like an inverted cone, composed outwardly of dried blades of grass, dried leaves, and wool, woven round the twigs, to which it was attached with spiders’-webs, lined inside with finer blades of grass, and about three inches and a half in diameter, and five in height. The eggs, three in number, were white, with a few black spots, chiefly disposed about the larger end.
Vireosylvia olivaceus, BONAP.
RED-EYED GREENLET.
Muscicapa olivacea, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 327 (based on EDWARDS, tab. 253, and CATESBY, pl. liv).—WILS. Lanius olivaceus, LICHT. Verz. 1823, 49 (N. Amer.). Vireo olivaceus, VIEILL.; BON.; SWAINS. II.—AUD.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 331.—SAMUELS, Birds N. Eng. 270. Vireosylvia oliv. BON. Geog. Comp. List, 1838.—IB. Consp. 1850, 329.—REINHARDT, Vid. Med. f. 1853, 1854, 82 (Greenland).—IB. Ibis, III, 7.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1855, 151 (Bogota); 1859, 137, 363 (Xalapa).—A. & E. NEWTON, Ibis, 1859, 145.—SCLATER & SALVIN, Ibis, 1859, 12 (Guatemala).—LAWRENCE, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. VII, 1860, 246 (Cuba).—? Ibis, 1864, 394 (Derby, Engl. May, 1859).—BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 333. Phyllomanes oliv. CAB. Mus. Hein. 1850-51, 63.—IB. Jour. 1860, 404 (Costa Rica).—GUNDL. Cab. Jour. 1861, 324 (Cuba; very rare). ? Vireo virescens, VIEILL. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 84, pl. liii (Penna.).—? GRAY, Genera, I, 267, pl. lxv. Vireo bogotensis, BRYANT, Pr. Bost. Soc. VII, 1860, 227 (Bogota).—LAWRENCE, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. 1863 (Birds Panama, IV, No. 378).
[Line drawing: Vireo olivaceus. 40089]
SP. CHAR. (No. 1,418 ♂, Carlisle, Penn., May, 1844.) Upper parts olive-green. Top of head, from bill to nape, ash-color. A white line from nostrils above and beyond the eye, bordered above by a dusky line forming the edge of the ashy cap, and below by a similar, perhaps paler, loral and post-ocular cheek-stripe. Beneath, including tibiæ, white, with perhaps a tinge of olivaceous-ash across the breast; the sides of the neck like the back; sides of the body with a faint wash of olive. Axillars and crissum faintly tinged with sulphur-yellow; lining of wings and its edge, the latter especially, nearly white. Quills blackish-brown, edged externally, except at ends of primaries, with olive, internally with white. Tail-feathers lighter brown, edged externally like the back, internally with pale olivaceous-white. Bill dusky above, pale below; tarsi plumbeous; iris red. Length, 6.33; extent of wings, 10.25; wing, 3.33; tail, 2.50.
Female similar, but duller in plumage.
HAB. Whole of Eastern North America (Greenland, Halifax, Fort Simpson), west to base of Rocky Mountains, reaching Fort Bridger, and still farther northward to Bitterroot Mountains and Kootenay; south to Panama and Bogota, in winter (Xalapa only in Mexico); very rare in Cuba (only West Indian locality). Accidental in England. Trinidad. (FINSCH.)
HABITS. The common Red-eyed Vireo is an abundant species throughout Eastern North America, from Florida to Nova Scotia on the northeast, to Lake Winnepeg on the northwest, and as far west as the Rocky Mountains. It apparently breeds wherever found, and in especial abundance in the Central States. It is a familiar and fearless species, often found, like the Warbling Vireo, in the very midst of crowded cities, and making its lively and pleasant notes heard in their public squares and private gardens, amid the ruder sounds of the neighboring streets. It breeds in Texas and Louisiana, at the Southwest, and also in abundance, at least as far as Halifax, in the opposite direction. At Fort Resolution, at the Cumberland House, and at Fort Simpson, the nests and eggs of this species were procured by Kennicott and Ross. A single specimen of the bird has been procured in Greenland, and another accidental specimen was shot in England. Specimens have also been procured in Central America.
This Vireo, like all of its peculiar and well-marked genus, prefers the forests or the tops of large and shady trees, obtains its food usually among, their upper branches, and very rarely approaches the ground. It is not exclusively sylvan, as at times it may be found around dwellings, hunting for insects and spiders; and although it hunts for food among the tree-tops, its nest is not always in such high situations, often not more than four or five feet from the ground.
In their migrations these birds enter the United States early in March, but do not make their appearance in Pennsylvania until the last of April, or in New England until the middle of May.
The Vireos procure their food, for the most part, by moving about and along branches, and among the twigs of trees, hopping from one position to another, and securing their prey without the click of a Flycatcher. The insects they capture are usually not in motion, though occasionally they will take them on the wing. They also feed on several kinds of ripe berries in the autumn.
The song of this Vireo is loud, musical, simple, and pleasing. It is uttered in short, emphatic bars, and at times has a very marked resemblance to the melodious chant of the Robin, though without its volume and power. This Vireo is one of the earliest of our spring musicians, as it is also one of the most constant and untiring in its song, continuing to sing long after most of the other vocalists have become silent, and even until it is about to leave us, at the close of September. The tender and pathetic utterances of this Vireo, uttered with so much apparent animation, to judge from their sound, are in striking contrast to the apparent indifference or unconsciousness of the little vocalist who, while thus delighting the ear of the listener, seems to be all the while chiefly bent on procuring its daily supply of food, which it pursues with unabated ardor.
This Vireo builds the neat pensile nest of its race, suspending it from the fork of two or more twigs of a forest tree, at various heights of from five to fifty feet from the ground. It is cup-like in shape, and always dependent from small twigs, around which its upper edges are firmly bound. Externally it is woven of various materials, fine strips of bark, the hempen fibres of vegetables, and webs of spiders and of various caterpillars. These are compactly pressed and woven, and, as some suppose, agglutinated by the saliva of the builder. Sometimes the unmanageable materials give to the outside of the nest a rude and unfinished appearance, at others they are evenly and smoothly wrought. They are very strong, uninjured by the storms of winter, and are often made use of by other birds, by mice, and even by the same bird a second season.
A nest of this bird (S. I. Coll., 3,353) was obtained at the Cumberland House by Mr. Kennicott. It is pensile, like all others, but is composed almost exclusively of pine-needles,—a dry and hard material, difficult of management in making such a nest. With these are intermingled a few bits of moss, fine strips of bark, and flax-like vegetable fibres. Within this rude basket is an inner nest, made up of fine dry grasses, strips of bark, and pine leaves. The external fabric is loosely put together,—an unusual feature,—but the inner portion, in the firmness and strength with which it was made, is in remarkable contrast.
The Red-eyed Vireo’s nest is often chosen by the Cowbird for the deposition of her parasitic eggs, and these foster-parents are singularly devoted in the care of their alien guests, whom they tenderly nurture, even to the neglect of their own offspring. In one instance three eggs of a Cowbird were deposited in the nest of the Vireo before any of her own, and, without laying any, the female Vireo proceeded to sit upon and hatch the intruders. In another case, where two of the Vireo’s had been laid, two Cowbird’s eggs were added. The Vireo stopped laying, and proceeded to incubate. In each instance the female Vireo seemed to forego her own natural aspirations, and at once conform to the new situation.
The male Vireo often evinces great courage and spirit in the defence of his nest, when the young are hatched driving away intruders, and even flying in the face of a man who approaches too near.
Mr. Nuttall states that the young of the Red-eyed Vireo feed eagerly upon the berries of the cornel and the Viburnum dentatum, and other shrubs. A young bird kept in confinement soon became very gentle, and readily ate flies and grasshoppers from his hand, and viburnum berries. A tame Kingbird in the same room was very jealous of and tyrannized over him, so as to compel him to seek protection from his captor. The Vireos, like Flycatchers, have the power to regurgitate by the bill pellets of indigestible portions of their food.
The eggs of this Vireo vary greatly in size, according to the locality; the farther south the smaller they are found. One, marked on the shell East Tennessee, June 1, 1858, Alex. Gerhardt, measures .78 by .52 of an inch, while one from Halifax, Nova Scotia, measures .95 by .65. The ground-color of all is a clear crystal-white, and they are marked chiefly at the larger end with spots and finer dots of red-brown.
Mr. Robert Kennicott, in his notes, speaks of finding a nest of the Red-eyed Vireo at the Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, June 28. Incubation had not yet commenced. The pensile and neatly built nest was suspended about four feet from the ground, upon a hazel-bush. The parent, when scared from it, remained near until she was killed.
Vireosylvia flavoviridis, CASSIN.
YELLOW-GREEN VIREO.
Vireosylvia flav. CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Feb. 1851, 152.—IB. VI. pl. ii (Panama).—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1856, 298 (Cordova).—IB. 1859, 375 (Oaxaca; April).—IB. Catal. 1861, 44, no. 264.—SCLATER & SALVIN, Ibis, I, 1859, 12 (Guatemala).—BAIRD, Rev. 336. Vireo flav. BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 332. Phyllomanes flav. CAB. Jour. 1861, 93 (Costa Rica).
[Line drawing: Vireo flavoviridis. 38929]
SP. CHAR. (No. 3,976 ♂.) Above olive-green; the whole top of head and nape ash-color, the edges of this cap and a loral line dusky, but not very decidedly so. A grayish-white line from nostrils over the eye. Beneath white, the sides of the neck, breast, and body bright olivaceous-yellow; the axillars and crissum rich sulphur-yellow. On the breast the yellow extends almost to the median line, the color of opposite sides separated by a narrow interval. Quills dusky-brown; margined externally, except at ends of primaries, with olive-green, internally with grayish-white of a decided yellow shade. Tail-feathers dark olivaceous-brown, bright olive externally, internally olivaceous-yellow. Iris yellow or “red.”
Bill horn-color, paler below. Legs plumbeous. Wings long and pointed. Second and third quills nearly equal; fourth a little less; first about intermediate between fourth and fifth. Total length, 6.00; wing, 3.20; tail, 2.60.
HAB. From northern border of Mexico to Isthmus of Panama, especially on west side.
This species has not yet been recorded as taken within the limits of the United States, but it comes so near to our southern border that it doubtless sometimes crosses the line. Nothing distinctive appears to be known of its habits.
Vireosylvia philadelphicus, CASSIN.
PHILADELPHIA GREENLET.
Vireosylvia philadelphica, CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, Feb. 1857, 153.—IB. VI, pl. i, fig. 1 (Philadelphia).—SCLATER & SALVIN, Ibis, I, 1859, 12 (Guatemala).—BAIRD, Rev. Am. Birds, 340. Vireo philadelphicus, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 335, pl. lxxviii, fig. 3. Vireosylvia cobanensis, SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1860, 463 (Coban).—IB. Ann. Mag. N. H. 1861, 328.
[Line drawing: V. philadelphicus. 4364]
SP. CHAR. (No. 20,643 ♂.) Above dark olive-green, tinged with plumbeous-ash except on the rump; top of head and nape purer plumbeous-ash, not edged with dusky, the line of demarcation indistinct. Beneath light sulphur-yellow, paler and almost white on chin and middle of abdomen; sides more olivaceous. A whitish stripe from bill over eye, as also a patch beneath it and the eyelids. A dusky loral and post-ocular spot. Quills and rectrices brown, edged externally with olive, internally with whitish; the larger coverts with paler outer edges. Bill blackish, paler plumbeous below. Legs plumbeous. Spurious outer or first quill (seen in gilva) wanting; the outer about equal to fifth; third longest; second and fourth not much shorter. Total length, 4.80; wing, 2.60; tail, 2.25.
HAB. Eastern North America to Hudson’s Bay and Maine, south (in winter) to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Veragua (SALVIN). Not recorded from Mexico or West Indies.
Specimens vary somewhat in purity of tints, and especially in intensity of yellow of under parts, which color is deeper in autumnal skins.
Specimens from Costa Rica and Guatemala, being merely winter visitors to that region, are quite identical with North American examples.
HABITS. This but little known species was first described by Mr. Cassin, in 1851, from a specimen shot by him in some woods near Philadelphia nine years previously, which was then unique, and remained so for some time after. This fact, and its resemblance to V. gilva, led to the impression that it might be only a variety of that species. Since the publication of the description other specimens have been procured from different localities,—Moose Factory, Maine, Ohio, Wisconsin, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. But little is as yet known in regard to its habits or its distribution. It is quite abundant in the spring in Southern Wisconsin, where it appears only as a migrant passing north, none remaining to breed. As it makes its appearance late in May, and usually passes rapidly on, it seems natural to infer that it cannot be far from its breeding-place at the period of its appearance. The specimen obtained by Mr. Cassin was shot in September, on its southward journey. It was in the upper branches of a high tree, capturing insects; and his attention was drawn to it by its slow and deliberate movements.
Mr. Thure Kumlien, of Dane County, Wis., informs me that he has been familiar with this Vireo since 1849, and has collected it every year since that period, finding it both in the spring and fall. It appears occasionally as early as the 10th of May, the time varying with the season from the 10th to the 27th. In 1857, when the season was very backward and May very cold, they did not arrive until June 2. They were unusually numerous, and remained only a day or two. So far as he has been able to ascertain, none stop to breed. They are very quiet, have no song at the time they are passing, and seem only intent on collecting their food and in proceeding on their way. They are very tame and unsuspecting, and one can readily get to within a few feet of them. In the fall they are returning south from the 7th to the 19th of September.
The nest and eggs remain to be obtained.
Vireosylvia gilvus, CASSIN.
WARBLING GREENLET.
Muscicapa gilva, VIEILL. Ois. I, 1807, 65, pl. xxxiv. Vireo gilvus, BON. Obs. Wils. 1825, no. 123.—AUD. Orn. Biog. II, pl. cxviii.—IB. Birds Am. IV, pl. ccxli.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 335.—SAMUELS, Birds N. Eng. 273. Vireosylvia gilva, CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1851, 153.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1856, 298 (Cordova); (?) 1858, 302 (Oaxaca; June) (perhaps V. swainsoni).—BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 342. Muscicapa melodia, WILS. Am. Orn. V, 1812, 85, pl. xlii, fig. 2.
[Line drawing: Vireo gilvus. 988]
SP. CHAR. (No. 1,017 ♀) Above olive-green, strongly glossed with ashy; the head and nape above more distinctly ashy, but without decided line of demarcation behind, and without dusky edge; rump pure olive. Stripe from nostrils over eye to nape, eyelids, and space below eye, creamy-white. A rather dusky post-ocular and loral spot, the latter not extending to the bill. Under parts white, with tinge of greenish-yellow (occasionally of creamy fulvous or buff), especially on breast; sides more olivaceous. Crissum and axillars scarcely more yellowish. Quills and rectrices wood-brown, edged internally with whitish, externally with olivaceous, except perhaps on longer primaries. Edge of wing white. Larger wing-coverts grayish-brown, with paler edges, and no trace of olivaceous. Bill horn-color above, paler below.
First quill very short or spurious; second about equal to, generally rather longer than sixth; third longest; fourth, then fifth a little shorter.
Fresh specimen: Total length, 5.33; expanse of wings, 8.35; wing from carpal joint 2.85. Prepared specimen: Total length, 4.80; wing, 2.75; tail, 2.25. Sexes alike. Iris brown.
HAB. Eastern North America to Fort Simpson. Cordova and Oaxaca only southern localities recorded. Not West Indian.
A very young bird has a very cottony plumage, and differs in tints, having the top of the head and the nape a soft whitish isabella-color, this tingeing the back; the lower parts are wholly unsoiled white; the middle and secondary coverts are obscurely tipped with light brown, forming two indistinct bands across the wing.
A specimen (No. 54,262) from Orizaba is, in positively every respect, exactly intermediate between this species and V. josephæ of Costa Rica, Ecuador, etc. (See footnote on page 360.) The crown is brown, decidedly darker than, and different in tint from, the back, but less so than in josephæ; the back is less olive than in the latter, and less gray than in the former. The lower parts are more yellow than in gilvus, and less so than in josephæ, the superciliary stripe whiter and extending farther back than in the former, and less pure white and shorter than in the latter, etc.
HABITS. The Warbling Vireo has only a slightly less extended distribution than the Red-eyed, being found throughout all Eastern North America, as far north as Fort Simpson and Selkirk Settlement, and west to the Missouri River, and breeding as far south as Louisiana. It is stated by Audubon to be found on the Columbia River, but in this he probably referred to the Western race, V. swainsoni. That writer never observed this species in Louisiana or Kentucky, nor in the maritime part of Georgia, and its manner of entering the United States he was unable to ascertain. Where it moves to in the winter is also unknown, none having been met with in the West Indies, and only at a few points in Mexico, Cordova, Oaxaca, and the State of Vera Cruz. It was, however, found breeding at Calcasieu, Louisiana, by Mr. Würdemann.
It breeds abundantly from Virginia to Nova Scotia, and throughout the Northwestern States. West of the Rocky Mountains it is replaced by a closely allied species, the V. swainsoni. This Vireo, more than any other of its genus, if not exclusively, is to a large extent a resident of villages, towns, and even cities. It is by far the sweetest singer that ventures within their crowded streets and public squares,—although Mr. Cassin gives his preference to the notes of the Red-eyed,—and the melody of its song is exquisitely soft and beautiful. It is chiefly to be found among the tall trees, in the vicinity of dwellings, where it seems to delight to stay, and from their highest tops to suspend its pensile nest. It is especially abundant among the elms on Boston Common, where at almost any hour of the day, from early in the month of May until long after summer has gone, may be heard the prolonged notes of this, one of the sweetest and most constant of our singers. Its voice is not powerful, but its melody is flute-like and tender. Throughout the last of May, and in June and July, their charming song may be heard amid the din of the city from earliest dawn till nightfall, and rarely ceases even in the noontide heat, when all other birds are silent. It is ever in motion, while thus singing; and its sweetest notes are given forth as it moves among the tree-tops in search of insects. It is not only one of our most constant singers, but it remains musical almost until its departure for the South in October.
The Warbling Vireo appears in the Middle States about the 15th of April, and reaches New England early in May. The path of its northern migrations, and of its return, is somewhat in doubt. It is abundant in winter, according to Sumichrast, about Orizaba, and probably enters Texas and passes north and east along the Mississippi and the Ohio Rivers. In certain portions of the country this species is evidently on the increase, becoming more and more common as the country is settled, and towns and villages spring up.
The Warbling Vireo builds its nest usually in more elevated positions than any others of this family. For the most part in the vicinity of dwellings, often over frequented streets, they suspend their elaborately woven and beautiful little basket-like nest, secure from intrusion from their human neighbors, and protected by the near presence of man from all their more dreaded enemies. Audubon narrates, in an interesting manner, the building of their nest by a pair of these birds on a poplar-tree, near his window, in Camden, N. J. It was suspended between the body of the tree and a branch coming out at an acute angle. The pair were at work, morning and evening, eight days, first attaching slender blades of grass to the knots on the branch and the bark of the trunk, and thence working downward and outward. They varied their materials, from time to time, until at last he traced them, after a prolonged absence, to a distant haystack, from which they brought fine, slender, dry grasses, with which they completed and lined their nest.
The nests of the Warbling Vireo, while they resemble closely those of the other species in all the characteristics of this well-marked family, are yet, as a rule, more carefully, neatly, and closely built. They are usually suspended at the height of from thirty to fifty feet, in the fork of twigs, under and near the extremity of the tree-top, often an elm, protected from the sun and storm by a canopy of leaves, and quite out of reach of most enemies. They vary little in size, being about two inches in height and three and a half in their greatest diameter, narrowing, toward their junction with the twigs, to two inches. They are all secured in a very firm manner to the twigs from which they are suspended by a felting of various materials, chiefly soft, flexible, flax-like strips of vegetable fibres, leaves, stems of plants, and strips of bark. With these are interwoven, and carried out around the outer portions of the nest, long strips of soft flexible bark of deciduous trees. They are softly and compactly filled in and lined with fine stems of plants.
The eggs are usually five in number, and, like those of all the Vireos, are of a brilliant crystal-white, sparingly spotted at the larger end with markings of dark brown, and others of a lighter shade. They are less marked with spots than usual in the genus, and are often entirely unspotted, and pure white. Occasionally, however, they are found with well-marked blotches of reddish-brown. They vary in length from .75 to .70 of an inch, and average about .55 in their breadth.
Vireosylvia gilvus, var. swainsoni, BAIRD.
WESTERN WARBLING GREENLET.
Vireo swainsoni, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 336 (Pacific coast).— ELLIOT, Illust. Birds N. A. I, vii. Vireosylvia swainsoni, BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 343. Vireosylvia gilva, var. swainsoni, COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 116. Vireo bartramii, SWAINSON, F. B. A. II, 1831, 235 (in part; spec. from Columbia River?).
[Line drawing: Vireo swainsoni. 12891]
(No. 5,321 ♂.) Similar to V. gilva, but smaller; colors paler. Bill more depressed. Upper mandible almost black. Second quill much shorter than sixth. Total length, 4.75; wing, 2.71; tail, 2.35; difference between tenth quill and longest, .58; exposed portion of first primary, .58, of second, 1.82, of longest (measured from exposed base of first primary), 2.10; length of bill from forehead, .56, from nostril, .29, along gape, .65; depth of bill, .13; tarsus, .70; middle toe and claw, .56; hind toe and claw, .43.
HAB. United States, from Rocky Mountains to Pacific coast.
In the present bird the bill is darker in color, much smaller, and more depressed, the depth at the base being less than the width, instead of being equal to it as in var. gilvus. The wing is more rounded, the second quill much shorter than the sixth, generally shorter or but little longer than the seventh. In var. gilvus, the second quill is about equal to the sixth. The second quill is about .30 of an inch (or more) shorter than the longest in swainsoni, while in gilvus it is only about .20 shorter. The feet of swainsoni are weaker, and the colors generally paler and grayer. The iris, according to Coues, is dark brown.
Young birds in autumnal plumage have the crown decidedly ash, the sides more greenish; the wing-coverts pass terminally into a light brownish tint, producing an inconspicuous band.
HABITS. This Western representative of the Warbling Vireo is found throughout the western portions of our Union, from the Great Plains to the Pacific, and from Arizona to the extreme northern boundary of Washington Territory.
Dr. Cooper characterizes this as a lively and familiar songster. It arrives, he states, at San Diego about April 10, and reaches Puget Sound toward the middle of May, occupying nearly all the intermediate country throughout the summer. It frequents the deciduous trees along the borders of streams and prairies, coming into gardens and orchards with familiar confidence, wherever cultivation has reclaimed the wilderness. Like its Eastern prototype, its cheerful and varied song is heard all day long until quite late in the autumn. They too build their nests in the shade-trees of the parks of busy cities, singing ever their delightful strains, unconscious of the busy and noisy crowd that throngs the neighboring streets.
Dr. Cooper states that its nests are pendent from the forks of a branch high above the ground, sometimes to the height of a hundred feet.
Mr. Ridgway, who observed the habits of this species in Utah and Nevada, speaks of it as the characteristic Vireo of the West. It was found by him in all the fertile localities, and was one of the most common birds in the wooded regions. He found it very generally distributed through the summer, inhabiting the copses along the streams of the mountain cañons, and the open groves of the parks, as well as the cottonwoods and willows of the river valleys. In the fall the berries of a species of the cornel that grows along the mountain streams constitute its principal food. Its notes and manners are identical with those of the Eastern species.
The nests of this species are not distinguishable, except in the necessarily varying materials, from those of the Eastern birds. In position, size, and shape they are the same. The eggs, four or five in number, are white, spotted with brown and reddish-brown, and measure .78 by .58 of an inch. The spots are somewhat darker than those of the V. gilvus, and the shape more of an oblong-oval, in all that I have seen. But this difference may disappear in the examination of a larger number.
A nest found by Mr. Ridgway near Fort Churchill, Nevada, June 24, was suspended from the extremity of a twig of a sapling of the cottonwood, in a copse of the same growing in a river-bottom. It has a height of two and a half inches, and a diameter of three. It is composed externally of an elaborate interweaving of spiders’-webs, willow and cottonwood down, and strong cord-like strips of fine inner bark. These are strongly bound around the twigs from which the nest is suspended. It is one of the most elaborately interwoven, homogeneous, and well-felted nests of this bird I have ever met with. Another nest, from Parley’s Park, Utah, obtained June 28, differs in having the external portion woven almost exclusively of fine strips of bleached bark, and is lined with fine wiry grasses. In each of these the eggs were four in number, all oblong-oval in shape, but much more pointed at one end in the latter nest.
This species was found breeding in Napa Valley, Cal., by Mr. A. J. Grayson, and at Fort Tejon by Mr. Xantus.
SUBGENUS LANIVIREO, BAIRD.
CHAR. Body stout, head broad. Bill short and stout, broad at the base, the culmen curved from the base, the commissure considerably arched. Bill blue-black. Feet stout. Type, V. flavifrons. For figure, see page 379.
Species and Varieties.
COMMON CHARACTERS. A broad stripe from bill to and around, but not beyond, the eye. Two broad white bands across the wings. Bill plumbeous-blue, black toward culmen. Iris brown in all species?
1. L. solitarius. Spurious primary exposed. Throat and orbital ring white.
a. Spurious primary well developed,—.60 or more long, .10 broad.
Nape and side of neck plumbeous; upper tail-coverts olive-green. Crissum tinged with yellow, but none on side of throat, nor across breast. Wing, 3.05; tail, 2.40; bill, from nostril, .27; tarsus, .66. Hab. Eastern Province of United States, straggling westward to the Pacific Coast, especially in its migration southward into Mexico, where it penetrates in winter as far as Guatemala … var. solitarius.
Above continuous olive-brown; below ochraceous-white, with a buffy tinge across breast, and deeply olivaceous along sides. Crissum tinged with yellow. Wing, 2.80; tail, 2.15; bill, 30; tarsus, 66. Hab. Pacific Province of United States, straggling in autumn eastward into the Middle Province … var. cassini.
Above continuous ashy-plumbeous. Beneath pure white, ashy along sides, and very slightly so across breast. Wing, 3.25; tail, 2.50; bill, .30; tarsus, .66. Hab. Middle Province of United States, south, in winter, through Western Mexico to Colima … var. plumbeus.
b. Spurious primary very minute,—about .30 long by .04 wide.
Nape and side of neck olive-green; upper tail-coverts plumbeous. Crissum not tinged with yellow, but sides of the throat and across the breast are. Wing, 3.10; tail. 2.20; bill, .29; tarsus, .64. Hab. Coban, Vera Cruz, Guatemala; resident? … var. propinquus.[77]
2. L. flavifrons. Spurious primary concealed. Throat and orbital ring yellow.
Anterior half of body olive-green above, lemon-yellow below; posterior half plumbeous-ash above, white below. Wing, 3.00; tail, 1.90; bill, .32; tarsus, .70. Hab. Eastern Province of United States, south, in winter, to Costa Rica, and very rare in Cuba.
Lanivireo solitarius, BAIRD.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO.
Muscicapa solitaria, WILS. Am. Orn. II, 1810, 143, pl. xvii, fig. 6. Vireo solitarius, VIEILL.—AUD. I.—CASSIN, Sc.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1856, 298 (Cordova); 1859, 363 (Xalapa); 375 (Oaxaca?).—SCLATER & SALVIN, Ibis, 1860, 31 (Guatemala).—CAB. Jour. III, 468 (Cuba).—GUNDLACH, Cab. Jour. 1861, 324 (Cuba; very rare).—SAMUELS, Birds N. Eng. 277. Vireo (Lanivireo) sol. BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 329. Vireosylvia (Lanivireo) solitaria, BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 347.
[Line drawing: Lanivireo solitarius. 29274]
SP. CHAR. (No. 300 ♂.) Above olive-green, including upper tail-coverts; the top and sides of head and nape ashy-plumbeous; sides of the neck plumbeous-olive. Broad line from nostrils to and around eye, involving the whole lower eyelid, white. A loral line involving the edge of the eyelid, and a space beneath the eye, dusky plumbeous. Beneath white; the sides yellow, overlaid with olive, this color not extending anterior to the breast. Axillars and base of crissum pale sulphur-yellow, the long feathers of the latter much paler or nearly white. Wings with two bands and outer edges of innermost secondaries olivaceous-white; the quills dark brown, edged externally with olive-green, internally with white; tail-feathers similarly marked, except that the lateral feather is edged externally also with white, the central without internal border. Bill and legs blackish-plumbeous. Iris brown.
First quill spurious, rather more than one fifth the second, which is intermediate between the fifth and sixth; third longest.
Fresh specimen: Total length, 5.40; expanse of wing, 9.00. Prepared specimen: Total length, 5.25; wing, 2.95: tail, 2.35.
HAB. United States, from Atlantic to Pacific; Cape St. Lucas. Not recorded from Southern Rocky Mountains, where replaced by L. plumbeus. South to Mexico and Guatemala. Vera Cruz (winter, SUMICHRAST). Very rare in Cuba.
Spring specimens show sometimes a gloss of plumbeous on the back, obscuring the olive, the contrast of colors being greater in the autumnal and young birds. Sometimes the crissum appears nearly white. The length of the spurious primary varies considerably, from .45 to .75 of an inch.
In autumn the colors are similar, but slightly duller and less sharply defined, while the back is considerably tinged with ashy.
HABITS. The Solitary Vireo appears to be found, irregularly, throughout the United States. Nowhere abundant, so far as I am aware, it seems to be more common in California than on the Atlantic, while there are also large tracks of intervening territory in which we have no knowledge of its presence. On the Atlantic it has been met with from Georgia to the Bay of Fundy. In Massachusetts it has been found in a few restricted localities; in one or two of them, they are as abundant as the White-eyed. Mr. Dresser found it in Texas, near San Antonio, late in the autumn, and early in spring, but none remained to breed. Mr. Boardman gives them as a summer visitant at Calais, but not common, and Professor Verrill makes a similar statement for Western Maine, where it arrives in the second week of May. According to Mr. Allen, it reaches Western Massachusetts by May 1, but it is there quite rare. A few are presumed to stop and breed.
In California, Mr. Gambel states that it is quite abundant in the latter part of summer, and throughout the winter, frequenting low bushes and thickets. Dr. Heermann also frequently met with it. Both at the East and the West it is undoubtedly only migratory to about the 40th parallel, and does not, except in mountainous localities, breed south of that line. Professor Baird found it breeding in the South Mountains, near Carlisle, Penn., in May, 1844. It occurs in Guatemala in the winter.
Dr. Cooper states that it reaches Puget Sound by the first of May, and he has also observed it in the Colorado Valley, after the 14th, where they made themselves conspicuous by their song, but in a few days had all passed northward. He has met them nesting in May at the eastern base of the Coast Range, and has also found them quite common, in summer, on the Columbia River. Their favorite resorts are the deciduous oaks.
These birds were found breeding at Fort Tejon by Mr. Xantus, and at Vancouver by Mr. Hepburn.
Mr. Ridgway met with a few in September, in the thickets along the streams flowing from the Clover Mountains.
This species was taken in winter by Mr. Boucard, at Talew, in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Mr. Audubon’s statement that this bird is rather abundant, and that it breeds in Louisiana, is undoubtedly incorrect, and his description of its nest and eggs belongs rather to the Yellow-throated, and agrees with none that I have ever seen of this species. That he found them abundant in Maine, and traced them as far north as Pictou, Nova Scotia, is more probable. Dr. Bachman speaks of this species becoming each year more abundant in South Carolina, coming in February and remaining through March.
Mr. Nuttall, who met with this species on the Columbia, about the beginning of May, describes its song as a plaintive, deliberate warble, intermediate between the song of the olivaceus and the flavifrons. Mr. Burroughs describes the love-notes of these birds as being inexpressibly sweet and tender in both sexes. The song of the male, as I have heard it, bears no resemblance to that of any other Vireo. It is a prolonged and very peculiar ditty, repeated at frequent intervals and always identical. It begins with a lively and pleasant warble, of a gradually ascending scale, which at a certain pitch suddenly breaks down into a falsetto note. The song then rises again in a single high note, and ceases. For several summers the same bird has been heard, near my house in Hingham, in a wild pasture, on the edge of a wood, always singing the same singular refrain, during the month of June.
Mr. Nuttall found a nest of this species suspended from the forked twig of a wild crab-tree, about ten feet from the ground. The chief materials were dead and withered grasses, with some cobwebs agglutinated together, externally partially covered with a few shreds of hypnum, assimilating it to the branch on which it hung, intermingled with a few white paper-like capsules of the spiders’ nests, and lined with a few blades of grass and slender root-fibres.
Seven nests of this species, found in Lynn and Hingham, Mass., exhibit peculiarities of structure substantially identical. In comparison with the nests of other Vireos, they are all loosely constructed, and seem to be not so securely fastened to the twigs, from which they are suspended. One of these nests, typical of the general character, obtained in Lynn, May 27, 1859, by Mr. George O. Welch, was suspended from the branches of a young oak, about twelve feet from the ground. The external depth of this nest was only two and a half inches, the diameter three and a quarter, and its cavity one and three quarters inches deep, and two inches wide at the rim. It was constructed externally of strips of yellow and of gray birch-bark, intermingled with bits of wool and dry grasses. The external portion was quite loosely put together, but was lined, in a more compact manner, with dry leaves of the white pine, arranged in layers. Another nest, found in Hingham, was but two feet from the ground, on a branch of a hickory sapling. In its general structure it was the same, only differing in shape, being made to conform to its position, and being twice as long as it was broad. It contained four young, when found, about the 10th of June. One nest alone, built on a bush in Lynn, exhibits even an average degree of compactness in its external structure. This is largely composed of cocoons, which are woven together into a somewhat homogeneous and cloth-like substance. Within, decayed stems of grasses take the place of the usual pine-needles.
In the summer of 1870 a pair built their nest in a dwarf pear-tree, within a few rods of my house. They were at first very shy and would not permit themselves to be seen at their work, and suspended all labor when any one was occupied near their chosen tree. Soon after the construction of the nest two Cowbird’s eggs were deposited, which I removed, although the female only laid two of her own before she began to sit upon them. By this time she became more familiar, and would not leave her nest unless I attempted to lay hands upon her. She made no complaints in the manner of the White-eyed, nor sought to attack like the Yellow-throated, but kept within a few feet, and watched me with eager eyes, until I left her. Unfortunately, her nest was pillaged by a Black-billed Cuckoo, and I was unable to observe her feed her young, as I had hoped to do.
The eggs are of an oblong-oval shape, moderately pointed at one end, and of a white ground, less crystalline than in the other species of its kind. They are spotted pretty uniformly over the entire egg with dots of dark red and reddish-brown. They are usually five in number.
Lanivireo solitarius, var. cassini, BAIRD.
CASSIN’S VIREO.
Vireo cassini, XANTUS, Pr. A. N. S. Phil. May, 1858, 117.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 340, pl. lxxviii, fig. 1; Review Am. B. I, 1865, 347 (sub V. solitaria), RIDGWAY.
SP. CHAR. Third and fourth quills nearly equal, fifth shorter, second longer than seventh. Spurious primary very narrow, falcate, acute; less than one third the second quill, and a little more than one fourth the third. Above, including edges of wing and tail-feathers, clear olive-green, becoming dusky ashy on the top and sides of head. Beneath fulvous-white, tinged with ill-defined olive-green on the sides (scarcely on the crissum). Two broad bands on the wing-coverts and the outer edges of the innermost secondaries greenish-white; the outer edge of outer tail-feather, with a broad ring round the eye, extending to a frontal band, dull white. Length about 5 inches; wing, 2.75; tail, 2.30.
HAB. Fort Tejon, Cal. (XANTUS); West Humboldt Mountains, Nevada (RIDGWAY).
Since the type of this variety was obtained, two other specimens (Nos. 53,418 ♀ and 53,419 ♂, September, 1867; R. Ridgway) have been secured by the United States Geological Survey of the 40th Parallel, in command of Mr. Clarence King, in the West Humboldt Mountains, Nevada. These specimens are even more different from true solitarius than is the type of this race, showing that it is really distinct, as a variety. In the same thickets at the same season, perfectly typical specimens of V. solitarius were obtained; the latter having, no doubt, come from their more northern summer home on their passage southward into Mexico.
In the Humboldt Mountain specimens the crown shows no trace of ash, and is even darker and more brownish than the back. In fact, the relation of the V. cassini to V. solitaria is an almost exact parallel to that of V. josephæ to V. gilvus, as far as coloration is concerned, in each case the extreme being widely different, but connected by specimens showing intermediate characters.
Nothing is known of the habits of this race.
Lanivireo solitarius, var. plumbeus, COUES.
LEAD-COLORED VIREO.
Vireosylvia plumbea, COUES, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1866 (Fort Whipple, near Prescott, Arizona).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 119.—ELLIOT, Illust. Birds N. A. I, vii. V. (Lanivireo) plumbea, BAIRD, Rev. 349.
SP. CHAR. (No. 37,011.) Whole upper parts and sides of head uniform plumbeous; the lower part of the back with a faint wash of olivaceous. A white line from bill to and around eye; a dusky line from corner of eye to bill. Sides of breast and flanks plumbeous, paler than the back; the flanks very slightly tinged with olive-green. Rest of under parts white; the axillars ashy, edged with white. Wings above with two conspicuous white bands; the innermost quills edged externally and the longer ones internally with white, the latter edged externally with light ash. Bill and legs dark plumbeous, “Iris hazel.” Tail-feathers narrowly edged all round with white, narrowest internally, and increasing from central to lateral feathers. Upper tail-coverts clear ash.
[Line drawing: Vireosylvia plumbea. 37010]
As the specimen in finest plumage (described above) is moulting the quills, the measurements are taken from another (37,010). In this the first quill is not quite one third the second, which equals the sixth, the third and fourth longest.
(No. 37,010.) Fresh specimen: Total length, 6.10; expanse of wings, 10.80. Prepared specimen: Total length, 5.75; wing, 3.25; tail, 2.70; difference between tenth and longest quill, .95; exposed portion of first primary, .75, of second, 2.34, of longest, third (measured from exposed base of first primary), 2.54; length of bill from forehead, .55, from nostril, .31, along gape, .70; tarsus, .75; middle toe and claw, .60, claw alone, .21; hind toe and claw, .50, claw alone, .23.
HAB. Southern Rocky Mountains; East Humboldt Mountains, Nevada (RIDGWAY). In winter to Colima, Mexico.
While the pattern of coloration is precisely similar to that of Lanivireo solitarius, the difference in the colors appears to be occasioned merely by removing, as it were, the yellow stain, which on the plumbeous produces the olive-green tinge, and exists in a purer tint along the sides, leaving, essentially, only clear plumbeous and pure white; there is, however, in the most typical specimens, always a faint tinge of green on the rump, and a stain of yellow along the side. Though identical with solitarius in most of its proportions, the wings and tail are considerably longer than in the average of that form.
There are many specimens from the Rocky Mountains and westward that are so decidedly intermediate between solitarius and plumbeus, that, considering also the lack of essential difference in form and coloration between the two, we do not hesitate to consider them, along with cassini and propinquus (see page 373), as races of a single species, of which each is the representative in a particular region. Thus, V. solitarius breeds in the Eastern Province of the United States (and possibly in the Western, following the same route far to the northward that many Eastern birds pursue in straggling westward), and migrates in winter into Middle America as far as Guatemala; those which breed in the Northwest pass directly southward, thus crossing the region where cassini and plumbeus breed, which accounts for their being obtained together. V. cassini is the representative on the opposite side of the continent; but the history of its migrations is yet obscure. V. plumbeus is the Middle Province and Rocky Mountain representative, breeding alone in that region, and in winter migrating southward through Western Mexico as far as Colima. V. propinquus is another permanent race, but a local one, being resident in the country where found, though mixed in winter with visitors of solitarius from the North.
HABITS. Of this very recently discovered race, very little is at present known. It was first described by Dr. Coues, who met with it in Arizona, near Fort Whipple. He says it is especially abundant in the northern part of that Territory. It was by far the most common Vireo at Fort Whipple, where it is a summer resident, arriving there about the 15th of April and remaining until October.
It was found to be common about Laramie Peak, by Dr. R. Hitz, and was also met with in winter on the plains at Colima, Mexico, by Xantus.
It was seen in the summers of 1868 and 1869, by Mr. Ridgway, among the cedar and nut-pine woods on the slopes and among the brushwood in the cañons of the East Humboldt Mountains, being most partial to the former situations. There, too, it undoubtedly breeds, as in the latter part of July young birds, unable to fly, were met with by him. He also states that the common notes of this Vireo very closely resemble those of the Western Wood Wren (Troglodytes parkmanni).
Lanivireo flavifrons, BAIRD.
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Vireo flavifrons, VIEILL. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 85, pl. liv.—AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, pl. cxix.—IB. Birds. Am. IV, pl. ccxxxviii.—CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1851, 149.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1857, 227 (Vera Cruz); 1860, 257 (Orizaba).—SCLATER & SALVIN, Ibis, I, 1859, 12 (Guatemala).—CAB. Jour. III, 468 (Cuba; winter).—GUNDLACH, Cab. Jour. 1861, 324 (Cuba; rare).—CAB. Jour. 1860, 405 (Costa Rica). Vireo (Lanivireo) flav. BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 341. Vireosylvia (Lanivireo) flavifrons, BAIRD, Rev. 346. Muscicapa sylvicola, WILS. Am. Orn. II, 1810, 117, pl. vii, f. 3.
[Line drawing: Vireosylvia flavifrons. 2217]
SP. CHAR. (No. 28,390.) Head and neck above and on sides, with interscapular region, bright olive-green. Lower back, rump, tail, and wing-coverts ashy. Wings brown, with two white bands across the coverts, the outer edges of inner secondaries, and inner edges of all the quills, with inside of wing, white. Outer primaries edged with gray, the inner with olive. Tail-feathers brown, entirely encircled by a narrow edge of white. Under parts to middle of body, a line from nostrils over eye, eyelids, and patch beneath the eye (bordered behind by the olive of neck) bright gamboge-yellow; rest of under parts white, the flanks faintly glossed with ashy. Lores dusky. Bill and legs plumbeous-black.
No spurious primary evident: second quill longest; first a little shorter than third.
Length, 5.80; wing, 3.00; tail, 2.00; difference of longest and innermost quills, .90; tarsus, .73.
HAB. Eastern United States, south to Costa Rica. Veragua (SALVIN). Very rare in Cuba.
Autumnal birds, perhaps more especially the young, are more glossed with olivaceous, which invades the ashy portions, and tinges the white.
HABITS. All the older ornithological writers, in speaking of the Yellow-throated Vireo, repeat each other in describing it as peculiarly attracted to the forest, seeking its solitudes and gleaning its food chiefly among its topmost branches. Such has not been my experience with this interesting and attractive little songster. I have found no one of this genus, not even the gilva, so common in the vicinity of dwellings, or more familiar and fearless in its intercourse with man. All of its nests that I have ever met with have been built in gardens and orchards, and in close proximity to dwellings, and they have also been exclusively in comparatively low positions. In one of the most recent instances a pair of these birds built one of their beautiful moss-covered nests in a low branch of an apple-tree that overhung the croquet-ground, within a few rods of my house. It was first noticed in consequence of its bold little builder flying in my face whenever I approached too near, even before its nest contained any eggs. The grounds were in frequent use, and the pair were at first a good deal disturbed by these constant intrusions, but they soon became reconciled to their company, and would not leave their position, even though the game was contested immediately under their nest, which was thus often brought within a foot of the heads of the players. Before this nest was quite finished, the female began her duties of incubation. Her assiduous mate was constantly engaged at first in completing the external ornamentation of the nest with lichens and mosses, and then with a renewal of his interrupted concerts of song. These duties he varied by frequent captures of insects, winged and creeping, most of which he duly carried to his mate. His song was varied, sweet, and touchingly beautiful. Less powerful than the notes of several others of its family, except those of the Warbling, I know of none more charming.
These birds reach New England about the 10th of May, and usually have their nests constructed early in June. Their habits, in all essential respects, are the same as those of all its family. They are somewhat confiding and trustful of man, are readily approached, and soon become so well acquainted with those among whom they have a home as to fearlessly come to the windows of the house in pursuit of spiders or flies, and even to enter them. In the latter case they cannot readily make their exit, and soon lose their self-possession, beating their heads against the walls and ceiling in vain attempts to get out, unless caught and released. In one instance a young bird, that had entered my barn-chamber, became so entangled in cobwebs, around his wings and feet, as to be unable to escape again. When taken in the hand, and his meshes one by one picked out from about his feet and quills, he was very docile, made no resistance or outcry, nor any attempt to escape, until he was entirely freed from his bonds, although it required some time and care to accomplish it. When entirely freed from these clogs, and permitted to go, he flew away very deliberately to a short distance, and occupied himself with dressing his disordered plumage.
The nest of this species is also a pendent structure, and hemispherical in shape. It may always be readily distinguished from any other nest of this family by the profusion of lichens and mosses with which its outer portion is adorned and covered, giving it the appearance of a large moss-covered knot.
In most of the towns in the vicinity of Boston this species, though not abundant, is quite common. Their nests, built usually in low and rather conspicuous positions for birds of this kind, occur most frequently in gardens and orchards. One of these, found suspended from a moss-covered branch of an apple-tree in Roxbury, may be taken as typical of its kind. Its rim was firmly bound around the fork of a branch by a continuation of the materials that form the outside of the nest itself. These are an interweaving of spiders’-webs, and silky threads from insect cocoons, largely intermingled with mosses and lichens, and thus made to conform closely in appearance to the moss-grown bark of the tree. The under portion of the nest is strengthened by long strips of the inner bark of the wild grape. Within is an inner nest made of fine grassy stems and bark. It forms exactly a half-sphere in shape, is symmetrical, and is very thoroughly made. Its diameter is four, and its height two and one fourth inches.
Mr. Nuttall describes a nest of this bird, found by him suspended from the forked twig of an oak, near a dwelling-house, as coated over with green lichens, attached very artfully by a slender string of caterpillars’ silk, the whole afterwards tied over by almost invisible threads of the same, so nicely done as to appear to be glued on. The whole fabric was thus made to resemble an accidental knot of the tree, grown over with moss. Another nest, observed by the same writer, was fixed on the depending branches of a wild cherry, and was fifty feet from the ground. So lofty a position as this is probably very unusual. I have never met with any higher than ten feet from the ground.
The food of this Vireo is chiefly insects, and in the breeding-season is altogether so. Later in the season they mingle with these various kinds of small berries.
The eggs of this species vary from .95 to .88 of an inch in length, and from .65 to .60 in breadth. Their ground-color is white, often with a very perceptible tint of roseate when fresh. In this respect they differ in a very marked manner from the eggs of any other of this genus, except, perhaps, the barbatula, and may thus always be very easily recognized. They are more or less boldly marked with blotches of a dark roseate-brown, also peculiar to the eggs of this species, though varying greatly in their size and depth of color.
This Vireo winters, in great numbers, in Central America, and was largely represented in the collection of Dr. Van Patten from Guatemala. It was also found at Pirico, in Colombia, South America, by Mr. C. W. Wyatt. It occurs in abundance as far to the west as Grinnell, Iowa, where Mr. W. H. Parker found it to be a very common summer resident.
SUBGENUS VIREO, VIEILL.
Vireo, VIEILL., Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 83. (Type, Muscicapa noveboracensis, GM.)
[Line drawing: Vireo noveboracensis. 29248]
CHAR. Wings short and rounded, a little longer than the tail, equal to it, or shorter. First primary distinct and large, from two fifths to half or more the length of the second, shorter or not longer than the eighth.
The characters of Vireo are essentially those of Vireosylvia; the bill, however, is shorter; the first quill always present, better developed, sometimes more than half the second. The wings are shorter, and more rounded; the tarsi usually longer. The, sections are as follows:—
Vireo. Wings pointed; first quill less than half the second, which is about equal to seventh or eighth, and decidedly longer than the tenth primary and the secondaries. Type, V. noveboracensis.
Vireonella. Wings rounded, scarcely longer than the tail; the first quill half as long as the second (or more than half), which is not longer than the tenth primary and secondaries, or even less. Bill and feet generally much stouter than the preceding. Type, V. gundlachi.
None of the species of Vireonella are found in the United States.
Species.
COMMON CHARACTERS. All the species olivaceous or ashy above, beneath whitish, or olivaceous-yellow. Wings with light bands. A light stripe from bill over the eye, but not beyond it, except in carmioli. Iris brown, as far as known, except in V. noveboracensis, where it is white.
A. Two conspicuous light bands on wing.
a. Sexes different. Whole lore white.
1. V. atricapillus. Above olive-green, outer edges of tail-feathers bright yellowish-green; wing-bands greenish-white. Sides olivaceous-yellow. Male. Head and neck (except lore, orbital ring, chin, and throat) deep black; lower parts pure white medially. Female with the black replaced by dull slate; lower parts ochraceous-white medially. Wing, 2.30; tail, 1.80; tarsus, .68; bill, from nostril, .24. Hab. Southern Texas; Mazatlan, Mexico.
b. Sexes alike. Lore dusky, with light mark above it.
2. V. carmioli.[78] Above brownish olive-green. Beneath, with supra-loral stripe, orbital ring, and light markings on the wings, light ochrey-yellow more whitish on the throat. Wing, 2.55; tail, 2.00; tarsus, .66; bill, .26. Hab. Costa Rica.
3. V. noveboracensis. Above olive-green, ashy across the nape. Supra-loral stripe and orbital ring deep yellow. Beneath ashy-white on throat, purer white on abdomen; sides, and a tinge across the breast, light yellow. Iris white. Wing, 2.40; tail, 2.00; tarsus, .63; bill, .26. Hab. Eastern Province of United States, south (in winter) to Guatemala (and Bogota?); very rare in Cuba; abundant and resident in Bermuda.
4. V. huttoni. Above grayish-olive, more olive-green toward tail. Below pale grayish-buff. Orbital ring very broad, yellowish-white. Wing, 2.50; tail, 2.05; tarsus, .67; bill, .24. Hab. California; in winter, Western Mexico to Oaxaca.
B. Only one band on wing, and this indistinct.
5. V. belli. Above ashy-olive, more virescent posteriorly. Markings on side of head not well defined. Below dull white, with a slight buffy tinge, strongly stained with yellow on sides and flanks. Upper feathers of middle row of wing-coverts passing into paler at tip, producing an indication of an anterior band. Wing, 2.20; tail, 1.80; tarsus, .69; bill, .25. Hab. Plains between the Mississippi Valley and the Rocky Mountains, from Dakota to Texas; in winter south to Tehuantepec, Mexico.
6. V. pusillus. Above grayish-ash, very slightly tinged with olive on rump. Below dull white, ashy laterally, the flanks with the slightest possible tinge of yellow. Wing, 2.30; tail, 2.20; tarsus, .69; bill, .24, .13 deep. Hab. Arizona; Cape St. Lucas, Lower California; California north to Sacramento City.
7. V. vicinior. Above bluish-ash, below ashy-white, scarcely more ashy laterally. Lores entirely ashy-white. Wing, 2.60; tail, 2.40; tarsus, .67; bill, .26, .18 deep. Hab. Fort Whipple, Arizona.
Vireo atricapillus, WOODHOUSE.
BLACK-CAPPED VIREO.
Vireo atricapillus, WOODHOUSE, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1852, 60 (San Pedro, Tex.).—IB. Sitgreaves’s Rep. 1853, 75, pl. i, Birds.—CASSIN, Illust. 1854, 153, pl. xxiv.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 337; Rev. 353.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 121.
[Line drawing: Vireo atricapillus. 6818]
SP. CHAR. (No. 6,818.) Top and sides of head and neck black; rest of upper parts olive-green. Wing and tail feathers almost black on their upper surface, the quills and rectrices edged with olive (paler on the exterior primaries), the wing-coverts with two greenish-white bands on a blackish ground. Broad line from bill to and around eye (not meeting on forehead) with under parts white; the sides of body olivaceous; the axillars and inner wing-coverts (perhaps crissum) yellowish. Bill black; feet plumbeous; iris bright red. First quill less than half the second, which about equals the tenth; third little shorter than fourth (longest).
Female. With the black replaced by dull slate; lower parts ochraceous-white medially. Possibly a distinct species (Mazatlan).
(No. 6,818.) Fresh specimen: Total length, 4.75; expanse of wings, 7.25; wing from carpal joint, 2.12. Prepared specimen: Total length, 4.10; wing, 2.25; tail, 1.95.
HAB. Southern border of Western Texas; Mazatlan.
The black head of this species, as far as known, makes it unique in the genus. It is extremely rare, but three or four specimens being known.
We refer to this species a specimen—probably a female—obtained at Mazatlan, on the western coast of Mexico, in April, by Colonel Grayson (S. I., No. 55,046). This specimen differs from those from Texas in having the black of the head replaced by a dull dark slate-color, the olive above rather less virescent, and the lower parts not pure white, but somewhat buffy. As all the other essential characters are identical, there being in both the white space covering the whole lore, and orbital ring interrupted on top,—features not seen in any other species,—we have little hesitation in considering them the same species; which opinion is moreover strengthened by the fact, that among the Texas specimens, all with black caps, there are no females.
HABITS. Of the general history and habits of this rare species very little is known. It was first met with by Dr. Woodhouse, on the 26th of May, 1851, in Western Texas. This was on the Rio San Pedro, within ten miles of its source. He found it among some cedars, and was attracted by its very singular notes. It was in continual motion, like a Wood Warbler, and was by him at first supposed to be one of those birds. He obtained two specimens, both of which proved to be males.
Mr. John H. Clark, the naturalist of the Mexican Boundary Commission, likewise found this species in Texas, and not far from the same locality in which it was discovered by Dr. Woodhouse. His attention also was drawn to the bird by its shrill discordant chirp, which it uttered incessantly in its pursuit of insects. Three specimens only were seen, and all of them at one locality, the valley of the Rio San Pedro, to which it seemed to be confined. It was not at all shy, and showed no concern when Mr. Clark approached within a few rods. Its constant motion, hopping incessantly from branch to branch, made it a matter of some difficulty to procure specimens. It was found in June, and the single specimen shot by Mr. Clark was also a male.
Vireo noveboracensis, BONAP.
WHITE-EYED VIREO.
Muscicapa noveboracensis, GM. Syst. Nat. I 1788, 947 (_Green Flycatcher_, PENNANT, Arctic Zoöl. II, 389). Vireo noveb. BON. Obs. Wilson, 1825.—AUD.; CASSIN.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 338; Rev. 354.—MAX.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1857, 204 (Xalapa); 228 (Vera Cruz).—SCLATER & SALVIN, Ibis, II, 1860, 274 (Coban, Guat.).—JONES, Nat. Bermuda, 1859, 71 (resident).—CAB. Jour. III, 469 (Cuba).—GUNDLACH, Cab. Jour. 1861, 324 (Cuba; rare).—SAMUELS, Birds N. Eng. 275. Vireo musicus, VIEILL. Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 83, pl. liii. Muscicapa cantatrix, WILS. II, 1810, 266, pl. xviii. Figures: AUD. Orn. Biog. pl. lxiii.—IB. Birds N. A. IV, pl. ccxl.
SP. CHAR. (No. 10,193 ♂, Illinois.) First primary about half the length of second, which is longer than secondaries, and about equal to the eighth; the fourth longest; third and fifth little shorter.
Above quite olive-green; sides of neck, and a gloss on its upper surface, ashy. The middle concealed portion of feathers of lower back and rump pale sulphur-yellowish. Beneath white; the chin and lower cheeks with a grayish tinge; the sides of breast and body, with axillars and base of crissum (more faintly), bright yellow; the inner wing-coverts and rest of crissum much paler, almost white. A broad yellow line from nostrils to and continuous with a yellow ring round the eye, which is encircled exteriorly by olivaceous; a dusky loral, but no post-ocular spot. Wings with two covert-bands and innermost secondaries externally, broadly yellowish-white; rest of quills edged externally with olive, except the two outer and tips of other primaries, which are grayish. Rectrices edged externally with olive, except outermost, which is bordered by grayish. All the long quills bordered internally by whitish. Bill blue-black, paler on the edges; legs dark plumbeous. Iris white. Total length, 4.90; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.20.
HAB. United States, west to base of Rocky Mountains; south to Guatemala; Bogota? Very rare in Cuba. Abundant and resident in the Bermudas.
Specimens vary slightly in a greater amount of ashy on the head, and less brilliancy of the yellow of head and sides. Sometimes there is a decided ashy shade in the white of throat and jugulum, which again has a very faint tinge of yellowish.
HABITS. The White-eyed Vireo is one of the most common and one of the most widely diffused of its genus in all parts of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It apparently breeds in all parts of the Union, from Texas and the Indian Territory on the southwest to Iowa and Wisconsin, and as far to the northeast as Massachusetts. In the last-named State it becomes exceedingly rare, and beyond it is apparently not found, none having been met with either by Messrs. Verrill or Boardman in any part of Maine. In Western Massachusetts it was not found by Mr. Allen, though it occurs in the eastern part, along the coast. Mr. Dresser found it common in Western Texas, many remaining there to breed, and Dr. Woodhouse also found it abundant in Texas, New Mexico, and the Indian Territory, where it frequented the thickets bordering on the streams. It breeds abundantly in the Northwest States of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. It also breeds in the islands of Bermuda.
In the winter months this species retires to the more southern States, and to Mexico and Central and South America, though Sumichrast does not give it as occurring in the Department of Vera Cruz. Nuttall found it in South Carolina in the middle of January, and Wilson met with them in full song in Georgia in February. The fact that it was seven weeks after this before they made their appearance in Pennsylvania is given by that writer as evidence of the gradual progression made by this species in its movements northward, regulated by the development of the season. Audubon, however, states the first of March as about the time of its first appearance in Louisiana. He also mentions that this species is a constant resident in the Floridas during winter, and also in the lower portions of Alabama and Georgia. A large number also pass farther south, as is shown by the abundance of the arrivals in early spring on the coast of Texas. Mr. Audubon states also that Townsend met with them on the Columbia River, and that he himself found them along the coast in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Labrador. This, however, I am inclined to consider a misstatement, as they have not since been detected either west of Dakota or north of the 42d parallel.
This Vireo is one of the most conspicuous singers of this family. Its songs are more earnest and louder than those of any of our Eastern species, and exhibit the greatest variations, beginning in the earlier part of the season with a simple low whistle, but changing in May into a very quaint and peculiar succession of irregular notes. Some of these are very softly and sweetly whistled, while others are uttered with a vehemence and shrillness that seem hardly possible in so small a bird.
This is an unsuspecting and familiar bird, permitting a near approach, and when whistled to will often stop and eye you with marked curiosity, and even approach a little nearer, as if to obtain a better view, entirely unconscious of any danger. This is not so, however, when they have a nest. On this occasion they exhibit great uneasiness when their nest is visited, approaching very near to the intruder, looking down upon him with marked expressions of uneasiness, and scolding all the while with great earnestness, and with a hoarse mewing that is very peculiar. This display is continued even after the fledglings are full grown and able to take care of themselves.
The food of this species in early summer is almost exclusively small insects, which it gleans with great assiduity. In Eastern Massachusetts, like all its kindred, it feeds eagerly upon the young larvæ of the destructive canker-worm, and doubtless, in the wilder portions of the country, is of considerable service in restricting the increase of this scourge.
The White-eyed Vireo may usually be found in wild, swampy, open grounds, near the edges of woods, and where there are small thickets of smilax and other briers and wild vines, in the midst of which it often builds its pensile nest. These nests are rarely, if ever, more than three or four feet from the ground. Two nests of this bird, one from Neosho Falls, Kansas, the other from Lynn, Mass., may be taken as characteristic of the species. They are almost exactly hemispherical in shape, their height and diameter being the same,—three inches. They were suspended from low bushes, hanging from the extreme ends of the twigs, among which the nests were fastened by fine impacted masses of wood-mosses, which are very nicely and elaborately interwoven with the lower portions of the outer covering of the nest. The latter is composed of a singular medley of various materials, among which may be noticed broken fragments of dry leaves, bits of decayed wood and bark, coarse blades of grass, various vegetable fibres, lichens, fragments of insects, mosses, straws, stems, etc. These are all wrapped round and firmly bound together with strong hempen fibres of vegetables. Within this outer envelope is an inner nest, made of the finer stems of grasses and dry needles of the white pine, firmly interwoven. For the size of the bird, these nests are proportionally larger and deeper than any others of the common kinds. The cavity is two or two and a half inches deep.
The eggs are usually five in number. One from Georgia measures .77 by .55 of an inch, and is of an oblong-oval shape; another, from Massachusetts, is much more broadly ovate, measuring .80 by .62. Their greatest breadth is .65 of an inch, and their length .80. They have a clear crystal-white ground, spotted about the larger end with fine dark-purple and reddish-brown dots.
This species is one of the most common foster-parents of the Cowbird, the eggs of which are always tenderly cared for, and the offspring nurtured by them, always to the destruction of their own nestlings.
Vireo huttoni, CASSIN.
HUTTON’S VIREO.
Vireo huttoni, CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1851, 150 (Monterey, Cal.).—IB. 1852, pl. i, fig. 1.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 339, pl. lxxviii, fig. 2; Rev. 357.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1858, 302 (Oaxaca); 1862, 19 (La Parada).—IB. Catal. 1861, 358, no. 256.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 121.
SP. CHAR. (No. 3,725.) First quill rather less than half second, which about equals the tenth; third a little longer than seventh; fourth and fifth nearly equal, and longest. Tail slightly rounded, shorter than wings. Bill very small.
[Line drawing: Vireo huttoni. 3725]
Above olive-green; brightest behind, especially on rump and edging of tail, duller and more ashy towards and on top and sides of head and neck. Wings with two bands on coverts, and outer edges of innermost secondaries rather broadly olivaceous-white; other quills edged externally with olive-green, paler towards outer primary; internally with whitish. Lateral tail-feather edged externally with yellowish-white. Feathers of rump with much concealed yellowish-gray.
Under parts pale olivaceous-yellowish; purest behind, lightest on the throat and abdomen; the breast more olivaceous, the sides still deeper olive-green, the breast soiled with a slight buffy tinge. Axillars and crissum yellowish; the inside of wings whitish. Loral region and a narrow space around eye dull-yellowish, in faint contrast to the olive of head. Bill horn-color above, paler below; legs dusky.
Total length, 4.70; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.05; difference between tenth and longest quills, .43; exposed portion of first primary, .72, of second, 1.52, of longest, fourth, and fifth (measured from exposed base of first primary), 1.90; length of bill from forehead, .45, from nostril, .29, along gape, .60; tarsus, .72; middle toe and claw, .50, claw alone, .16; hind toe and claw, .45, claw alone, .22.
HAB. California and Western Mexico, to Oaxaca; La Parada (SCL.); Orizaba (alpine region, resident, SUMICHR.).
The description just given is based upon the type specimen, probably in winter plumage. Spring specimens do not vary materially except in greater purity of white edgings of the feathers. Two Mexican specimens are rather larger, the wing measuring 2.50, the tail 2.30. No other differences are appreciable. In general the first primary is about half the second, sometimes rather less.
This species is readily distinguished from other Vireos, excepting V. modestus, which it greatly resembles in the small bill, form, coloration, and size; nor indeed is it easy to separate them. In modestus, however, the first quill is usually more than half the second, not less; the wing shorter, and less pointed; the tail longer. The upper parts are more uniform, not much brighter towards rump.
HABITS. This species is one of comparatively recent origin, and of its history but little is as yet known. It was first described by Cassin, in 1851, from a specimen obtained in Monterey, Cal. It has been found in various parts of California, in the valley of the Gila, and in the northern and eastern portions of Mexico. Mr. Sumichrast gives it as a resident of the alpine region of the Department of Vera Cruz.
Dr. Cooper has observed this bird near San Diego, late in February, where he at first mistook it for the Ruby-crowned Wren, a bird that winters there in abundance, and which he states resembles this species closely in appearance and habits. Two of them came to within a few feet of where he sat, scolding in a harsh tone. He recognized then their larger size and different plumage, as well as their remarkably large eyes, and a peculiar slowness and deliberation in their movements as they searched the foliage for insects.
Dr. Cooper has since found them wintering plentifully up to latitude 38°. Having observed but few of them in the Coast Range, in May, he thinks that most of them go farther north in summer. At San Diego, however, he shot a female, on the 9th of March, containing an egg nearly ready to be laid. He had not been able to find the nest, which is presumed to be built in the dense shade of the evergreen oaks (Quercus agrifolia). Their song is said to consist of a few short and quaint notes. Among the memoranda of Mr. Xantus, made at Fort Tejon, I find the following: (No. 1,827.) Nest and eggs of Vireo huttoni, found May 8, one foot from the ground, under high trees, suspended from three high stems of weeds, fastened to them, but very loosely put together. The eggs had been incubated. He furnished no further description of nest or eggs.
Vireo belli, AUD.
BELL’S VIREO.
Vireo belli, AUD. Birds Am. VII, 1844, 333, pl. cccclxxxv (Missouri River).—CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1851, 150.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 337; Rev. 358.—SCLATER, Catal. 1861, 42, no. 258.—BON. Consp. 1850, 330.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 123.
[Line drawing: Vireo belli. 1926]
SP. CHAR. (No. 1,926.) Above olive-green, brightest on the rump; tinged anteriorly with ashy; the top and sides of head ashy, in faint contrast. A line from nostrils to eye (scarcely beyond it), and eyelids very pale yellowish-white; lores dusky. Under parts, including inner wing-coverts, and edge of wing, creamy-white; the sides, axillars, and crissum pale yellow (sides of lower neck and of breast glossed with olivaceous, faintest on the longer feathers of the latter). Two rather narrow bands on the wing-coverts, and the outer edges of innermost secondaries white; the other quills edged with faded olivaceous. Inner edges of quills whitish. Tail-feathers brown, edged externally with olive; internally fading into paler brown. Median portion of rump feathers concealed with pale yellowish. Bill horn-color above, pale below. Legs plumbeous. “Iris brown.”
First quill spurious; not quite half the second, which is about equal to the eighth; third and fourth quills longest; fifth scarcely shorter. Tail nearly even, or a little rounded, the feathers narrow.
Total length, 4.20; wing, 2.18; tail, 1.90; tarsus, .75.
HAB. United States, from Missouri River to base of Rocky Mountains; Tehuantepec, Mexico (October, SUMICHRAST); Missouri (HOY); Iowa (ALLEN); Southeast Illinois (RIDGWAY).
The above description is taken from a type specimen received from Mr. Audubon, and represents the average spring plumage. Autumnal skins are rather brighter, and there is occasionally an ochraceous tinge on the white of the under parts.
This species at first sight appears like a miniature of V. gilvus, the head being almost exactly similar. The back is, however, much brighter olive, the sides and crissum deeper yellow. The superciliary light stripe is shorter. The white markings of the wings are wanting in gilvus. The wing, tail, and feet are entirely different in their proportions.
HABITS. This species was first procured by Mr. Audubon’s party in the excursion to the Yellowstone River, in what is now known as Dakota Territory. In his account of it Mr. Audubon states that it is usually found in the bottom-lands along the shores of the Upper Missouri River, from the neighborhood of the Black Snake Hills, as far as they ascended that river. In its habits he describes it as more nearly allied to the White-eyed Vireo than any other.
Dr. Woodhouse, in his report of the Zuñi River Expedition, mentions finding this species abundant in Texas. Mr. Dresser also speaks of it as not uncommon, during the summer, near San Antonio, and remaining there to breed. He mentions finding a nest on the 2d of July in a wesatche bush near the San Pedro, containing three eggs of this species and one of the Cow-Bunting. Being anxious to procure the parent bird he left it, but on his return the nest had been torn and the Vireo’s eggs smashed. Dr. Heermann found a nest on the Medina about the same time. He describes this nest as beautifully formed of fine grasses, and hung from the small twigs of a tree. The eggs, four in number, were very small, white, with an occasional reddish dot at the larger end. The nest found by Dr. Heermann was attached to the pendent twigs of a willow. The stomachs of these Vireos were found to contain small green caterpillars.
Dr. Coues met with this species near Fort Riley, May 23. It appeared to be quite common, and was found inhabiting thickets and clumps of bushes, like V. noveboracensis, but having a very different song, the peculiarity of which first attracted his attention. Mr. Ridgway found it to be a common summer resident in the thickets and copses of Southern Illinois, especially in the prairie districts. He first met with it on the 8th of June, 1871, on Fox Prairie, in Richland County. His attention was drawn to it by its peculiar song, which has a general resemblance to that of the White-eyed Vireo, having the same odd delivery, but being more sputtering, reminding one somewhat of the song of Troglodytes ædon.
This Vireo appears to have quite an extended distribution during the breeding-season, or from Texas to the Upper Missouri, and even as far as the eastern edge of Southern Illinois. It breeds also as far to the east as Eastern Kansas. Its western limits are not so clearly defined. It was not found by Mr. Ridgway in Nevada or Utah, nor by Dr. Coues in Arizona.
A nest of this species, found in June, near Neosho Falls, Kansas, by Mr. B. F. Goss (S. I. Coll., 1,875), is pensile; suspended from two small twigs, which make the basis of three fourths of its rim. Over these is strongly bound a finely felted webbing of the flax-like fibres of plants, interwoven with slender stems. With these are connected and interwoven also the materials that make up the periphery of the nest itself. This is composed of long and slender strips of bark, fragments of dry leaves, bits of wood, and various other fragmentary substances. The nest, unlike others of this family, is lined with down, and the fine long hair of some animals, instead of with vegetable stems. The diameter as well as the height of this nest is about two and a half inches.
Another nest from West Texas, obtained by Captain Pope, is essentially different in its general characteristics. It is three inches in diameter, and but one inch and three quarters high. The opening is circular, but only one and a half inches wide. Below the rim the cavity widens until it is two and a half inches in diameter. The outer nest is made up of an interweaving of fine strips of bark and dry leaves, intermixed with and firmly bound around by strong flax-like fibres of different plants. Within, it is lined with fine flexible grasses and stems of plants.
The eggs of this species are from .73 to .76 of an inch in length, and from .52 to .56 in breadth. They are pure white, sparingly spotted with fine red dots distributed around the larger end.
Vireo pusillus, COUES.
LEAST VIREO.
Vireo pusillus, COUES, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1866.—BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 360.—ELLIOT, Illust. Birds N. A. I, vii.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 124. ? Vireo belli, COOPER, Pr. Cal. Acad. 1861, 122 (Fort Mohave).
[Line drawing: Vireo pusillus. 31893]
SP. CHAR. Somewhat similar in general appearance to Vireosylvia gilva and swainsoni, but smaller. Bill very small; tarsi lengthened. Wings about equal to the tail, which is lengthened, graduated, and with the feathers narrow and pointed. Exposed part of first primary about half that of the second, which is intermediate between seventh and eighth; the fourth and fifth longest.
Above grayish-ash, with a tinge of olive behind. Beneath, including the inside of the wings, white, with a soiled tinge on the sides of the throat and across the breast. Axillars and flanks exhibiting a faint trace of greenish-yellow. Eyelids and a short line from the nostrils to the eye whitish; no other stripe apparent. A dusky loral spot. Primary coverts edged indistinctly with whitish, producing an obscure band (a second on the middle coverts hardly appreciable). Quills and tail-feathers edged externally with pale grayish-olive, the innermost secondaries with whitish. Bill dusky above, whitish beneath. Legs plumbeous. Iris of two specimens marked as “light brown,” of another as “rufous.”
The details of structure taken from No. 23,785, of color from No. 23,788: Length, of 23,785 ♂, 4.80 when fresh, of skin, 4.25; wing, 2.25; tail, 2.25; bill above, .37; tarsus, .73; middle toe and claw, .50; hind toe and claw, .42. First quill, .70; second, 1.40; longest (fifth), 1.64. (Cape St. Lucas.)
HAB. Cape St. Lucas; San Diego; Fort Mohave, and Arizona; Sacramento, California (RIDGWAY).
This species scarcely needs comparison with any other, except, perhaps, V. pallens of Middle America, which, however, besides belonging to Vireonella, and not Vireo, as restricted, differs in many minor, but no less essential points. The coloration of the two is remarkably similar, but pusillus has only one indistinct band on the wing, instead of two sharply defined ones. The bill is much smaller, and the tail longer, than in pallens. V. belli is less ashy above and less pure white beneath, the sides much more yellowish; the wing is also longer, and the tail much shorter. V. vicinior is much larger, with the wing longer than the tail, instead of shorter; the ash above has a bluish instead of a greenish cast; the lores are wholly grayish-white, etc.
HABITS. The Least Vireo is a recently described species of its genus, and one in regard to whose history comparatively little has been ascertained. It was first met with at Cape St. Lucas by Mr. Xantus, and described by Dr. Coues in 1866. Dr. Coues assigns as its habitat Lower and Southern California, Sonora, and Arizona, at least as far north as Fort Whipple. Dr. Cooper also found it at Fort Mohave. Dr. Coues met with it fifty miles south of Fort Whipple, where he found it breeding abundantly. He gives no information in regard to its habits. Dr. Cooper states that he found it rather common along the upper part of Mohave River, in June, 1861; and in the following spring, about April 20, they began to arrive at San Diego in considerable numbers. In its habits Dr. Cooper thinks it greatly resembles V. gilvus, though it differs entirely in its song. The notes of those that he heard singing resembled very much those of the Polioptilas uttering a quaint mixture of the notes of the Wrens, Swallows, and Vireos. They also seem to possess more or less of imitative powers. At Sacramento he saw and heard, in the willows along the river, individuals which, from their peculiar notes, he had no doubt were of this species, but he did not verify his conjectures. His suppositions were confirmed later by the observations of Mr. Ridgway, who states that he found these birds the most abundant as well as the most characteristic Greenlet in the vicinity of Sacramento. It is a species, he adds, easily recognized, being in all respects quite distinct from any other. The character of its notes, as well as its habits, show it to be a true Vireo. Its song, though weaker, bears a great resemblance to that of the White-eyed. A nest of this species was found by him near Sacramento. It was placed about three feet from the ground, in a low bush in a copse of willows. Like all the nests of this genus it was pensile, being attached to and suspended from the twigs of a branch.
Two nests of this interesting species were also obtained near Camp Grant, Arizona, in 1867, by Dr. E. Palmer. They are wrought like all the nests of this kind, below the small forked branches of a tree, suspended from the extremity of its twigs. They each have a diameter of about three and a half inches, a height of two, with a cavity an inch and a half deep and two wide. The external portion, like the nests of the V. belli, is wrought with woven hemp-like vegetable fibres, strongly bound around the ends of the twigs and covering the entire exterior. Within this is placed a strong, firmly made basket, composed of slender strips of bark and long, fine, and flexible pine-needles, with a lining of finer materials of the same. In one of these nests there were three eggs of the Vireo, and one of a Molothrus (obscurus?). The former were of a bright crystalline whiteness, marked with very minute and hardly discernible spots of red, and measure .69 by .56 of an inch. The egg of the Molothrus, except in its much smaller size, is hardly distinguishable from those of the common M. pecoris, and measures .75 by .56 of an inch.
In the other nest were also three eggs of the Vireo. They correspond in size, but are much more distinctly marked with larger spots of a dark red and reddish-brown. In this nest there is a somewhat larger proportion of fine strips of inner bark, and mixed with these are also a few silky insect cocoons, by means of which the nest is firmly bound around the twigs from which the whole is suspended.
Vireo vicinior, COUES.
ARIZONA VIREO.
Vireo vicinior, COUES, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1866.—BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 361.—ELLIOT, Illust. Birds N. A. I, vii.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 125.
[Line drawing: Vireo vicinior. 40697]
SP. CHAR. (No. 40,697 ♂.) Bill stout, considerably compressed and deep. Wings moderately pointed, about equal to tail, which is decidedly graduated; first quill rather more than half the second, which about equals ninth and the secondaries; the fourth and fifth longest. Tarsus considerably longer than middle toe and claw; lateral toes quite conspicuous for their disproportion, the inner claw reaching only to base of outer, and falling short of base of middle; the terminal digit of inner toe reaching only to end of second joint of middle toe.
Upper parts, with sides of head and neck, ashy or light plumbeous, faintly olivaceous on rump. Beneath white; slightly ashy on sides of breast. Flanks and inside of wings showing a faint trace of yellow, only appreciable on raising the wings. An obsolete line from bill to eye, and a more distinct ring round the eye, white. No bands on the wing, except a faint edging of whitish on the greater coverts; the quills edged internally with white. Bill and legs plumbeous. “Iris brown. Mouth livid, bluish-white.” (COUES.)
Fresh specimen: Total length, 5.60; expanse of wings, 8.60. Prepared specimen: Total length, 5.10; wing, 2.50; tail, 2.60, its graduation, .22; difference of tenth and longest quills, .40; exposed portion of first primary, .85, of second, 1.65, of longest (measured from exposed base of first primary), 1.95; length of bill from forehead, .50, from nostril, .32, along gape, .61; depth of bill, .18; tarsus, .72; middle toe and claw, .51, claw alone, .16; hind toe and claw, .40, claw alone, .19.
HAB. Prescott, Arizona.
This species might at first sight be taken for a small specimen of V. plumbeus, the colors, character of bill, etc., being very similar, except that the white of lores and around eye is much less distinct, the lore without any blackish before the eye, and there is only one faint band on wing, instead of two conspicuous ones; the tail-feathers, too, lack the distinct white edgings. The much more rounded wing, and the first primary half the second or more, will, however, readily distinguish them. The form of the bird is very much that of V. pusillus, which it resembles considerably also in color. The outer quill is, however, longer, the bill deeper and more compressed, the inner lateral toe considerably shorter, and the size larger. The colors are purer, without the olive of the back or the yellowish of the under parts; the bill, too, is entirely dark plumbeous, instead of horn-color, whitish beneath. From V. pallens it is distinguished by a smaller, darker bill; longer tail and wing; one wing-band, not two; and purer colors.
HABITS. In regard to the habits of this well-marked but very rare species but little is as yet known. It was first described, in 1866, by Dr. Coues, from a single specimen obtained by him near Fort Whipple, Arizona. It was shot May 4, 1865, and is supposed by Dr. Coues to be a summer resident of Arizona wintering in the Gila and the Lower Colorado Valleys, or in Sonora.
FAMILY AMPELIDÆ.—THE CHATTERERS
The characteristics of the Ampelidæ have already been presented in the synopsis of allied families; chief among them, the short, broad, depressed, and triangular bill with short gonys, the deeply cleft mouth, the short tarsus, and the tendency to subdivision of its lateral plates.
The South American genus, Dulus, probably forms the type of a subfamily Dulinæ, characterized by the much arched gape of mouth, the metatarsal scutellæ in two series, and the body streaked beneath, as in young Ampelis. The two other subfamilies may be defined as follows:—
Subfamilies.
COMMON CHARACTERS. Grape of mouth nearly straight. Metatarsal scutellæ in three series. Body plain beneath.
Ampelinæ. Wings very long and much pointed, longer than the short, even tail. First primary excessively rudimentary; the outermost about the longest. Gape without bristles. Frontal feathers extending forward beyond the nostrils.
Ptilogonatinæ. Horny appendages like red sealing-wax at end of shaft of secondaries. Wings rounded, shorter than the graduated tail. First primary nearly half the second. Gape well bristled. Frontal feathers falling short of the nostrils. No red horny appendage to wing-feathers.
SUBFAMILY AMPELINÆ
CHAR. Legs moderate. Nostrils elongated, linear, with the frontal feathers extending close to the edge and to anterior extremity, concealing them; these feathers short, velvety, and erect, with few bristles. Wings very long and acute; outer or first primary so much reduced as to be almost inappreciable; the second nearly the longest. Wing nearly twice the length of the short, narrow, even tail. Under coverts of tail reaching almost to its tip. Secondary quills with flat horny appendages at end of shaft like red sealing-wax. Young birds streaked beneath as in Dulus. Adults plain.
Of this family as restricted, we have but a single genus in America.
GENUS AMPELIS, LINN.
Ampelis, LINN. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, 1766, 297. (Type, Lanius garrulus, L. Named Linnæus in 1735.)
GEN. CHAR. Tail even. Tertials and secondaries with horny appendages like red sealing-wax. A well-developed soft crest.
A more elaborate diagnosis of this genus could be readily given (see Rev. Am. Birds, 404), but the above characters, as entirely peculiar, will serve to establish it.
Species.
COMMON CHARACTERS. A lengthened crest of soft blended feathers. Colors, soft silky brownish becoming more vinaceous anteriorly, and ashy posteriorly above. A black stripe on side of head, from nasal feathers across lores through the eye and behind it beneath crest, and a patch of the same on chin, with a white streak between them, on side of lower jaw.
A. Wing variegated. Lower tail-coverts rufous. Crest much developed. Forehead and side of head bright purplish-rufous. Black patch covering whole throat, and sharply defined. No white line between black of lore, etc., and brown of forehead. Inner webs of primaries tipped narrowly with white.
a. Terminal band of tail red.
A. phœnicopterum.[79] Greater coverts tipped with red, producing a band across the wing. No yellow on tips of primaries. Hab. Japan and Eastern Siberia.
b. Terminal band of tail yellow.
A. garrulus. Secondaries and primary coverts tipped with white, forming two broad short bands. Primaries with outer webs tipped with yellow. Hab. Arctic regions of both hemispheres; in winter south into northern United States, and along Rocky Mountains as far as Fort Massachusetts, New Mexico.
B. Wings unvariegated. Lower tail-coverts white. Crest moderately developed. Forehead, etc., not different from crest. Chin only black, this fading gradually into the brown of throat. A white line between black of lore, etc., and brown of forehead. Inner webs of primaries not tipped with white.
a. Terminal band of tail yellow.
A. cedrorum. Wing bluish-ashy. Hab. Whole of North America, from 52° N., south (in winter?) to Guatemala; Jamaica and Cuba in winter.
Ampelis garrulus, LINN.
NORTHERN WAXWING; BOHEMIAN CHATTERER.
Lanius garrulus, LINN. “Fauna Suecica 2, no. 82.”—IB. Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 1758, 95. Ampelis garrulus, LINN. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. 1766, 297 (Europe).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 317; Rev. 405.—BOARDMAN, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. IX, 1862, 126 (Calais, Me.).—COOPER, Pr. Cal. Acad. II, 1861 (1863), 122 (Fort Mohave, Ar.). Bombycilla garrula, BON. Zoöl. Jour. III, 1827, 50.—RICH.—AUD. Orn. Biog. IV, 462, pl. ccclxiii.—IB. Birds Am. IV, 169, pl. ccxlvi.—MAYNARD, B. E. Mass., 107.—DALL & BANNISTER, 280 (Alaska).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 127.—SAMUELS, Birds N. Eng. 264. Bombycilla garrula, KEYS. & BLAS. Wirb. Europas, 1840, 167.—DEGLAND, Ornith. Europ. I, 1849, 349 (European).—WOLLEY, Pr. Z. S. 1857, 55 (nest and eggs).—NEWTON, Ibis, 1861, 92, pl. iv (nesting).—NORDMANN, Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 307, and VII, 1859, pl. i (nesting). (European.) Other figures: BON. Am. Orn. III, pl. xvi.
SP. CHAR. Crest lengthened. Body generally soft, silky brownish-ashy, with a purplish cast, the wing-coverts and scapulars more brownish, becoming more reddish anteriorly and ashy posteriorly; the rump and upper tail-coverts, as well as the secondaries, being nearly pure ash. Anteriorly the color passes gradually into deep vinaceous-chestnut on the forehead to behind the eye and on the cheeks; abdomen yellowish-white. Lower tail-coverts deep chestnut. A stripe on side of the head, covering the lores and nasal feathers (scarcely meeting across the forehead), involving the eye and continued back toward the occiput and beneath the crest, with a large patch covering the chin and throat, deep black; a narrow crescent on lower eyelid, and a short stripe between the black of the throat and that of the chin at the base of the lower mandible, two very broad bars on the wing, one across ends of primary coverts, and the other across ends of secondaries (the first occupying both webs, and the latter the outer), white. Primary coverts, primaries, and tail slaty-black, the latter growing gradually ashy basally. A broad band across end of tail, and a longitudinal space along end of outer web of primaries, gamboge-yellow,—the marks on primaries, however, sometimes white, only stained with yellow. Each of the secondaries with an expanded continuation of the shaft, in form of flattened, very thin, somewhat elliptical appendages, of a bright vermilion-red resembling red sealing-wax. Male with the white of outer web of primaries continued around end of inner webs also. Female without white on terminal edge of inner webs of primaries, and with the “sealing-wax” appendages smaller. Young not seen. Length, 7.40; wing, 4.50; tail, 3.00.
[Line drawing: Ampelis garrula. 19221]
HAB. Northern parts of Europe, America, and Asia. In America not hitherto found in the Pacific Province. In winter extending along the Rocky Mountains and the Plains as far south as Fort Massachusetts and Fort Riley; regular visitor to shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. East of this rarely seen along the United States border. Fort Mohave (???) (COOPER).
The specimen seen by Dr. Cooper, at Fort Mohave, if really of this species, fixes the most western locality on record.
For many years authentic eggs of the Bohemian Chatterer were greatly sought after, but it was not until 1856 that any were brought to the notice of the scientific world, when the late Mr. H. Wolley discovered them in Lapland. Early duplicates from his collection were sold at five guineas each, and although a good many have since been obtained, they are yet considered as great prizes. A nest, with its eggs, of those collected by Mr. Wolley, has been presented to the Smithsonian Institution by Mr. Alfred Newton. The only instances on record of their discovery in America are of a nest and one egg by Mr. Kennicott, on the Yukon, in 1861, and a nest and single egg on the Anderson River, by Mr. MacFarlane, both of which, with the female parents, are in the possession of the Institution. Although there is frequently considerable difference between individuals, there appears to be no difference between those from the two continents.
HABITS. The Waxwing is, in many respects, one of the most interesting and remarkable of the birds of North America. The roving character of its life, the mystery, still only imperfectly solved, of its habits and residence during its breeding-season, and its somewhat cosmopolitan residence in Europe, Asia, and America, impart to it an interest that attaches to but few other species. Though not common in any portions of the United States, and only appearing at all during midwinter, yet in the more northern States, in which it is occasionally found, it moves in such large flocks, and is so noticeable and conspicuous a bird, that it never fails to make a lasting impression, and hardly seems to us so very rare as it undoubtedly is.
In a single instance, in midwinter, somewhere about 1844, during a severe snow-storm, a large flock of these birds made their appearance in Boston, and alighted on a large horse-chestnut tree that stood in an open and retired place. There were at least twenty or thirty in the flock; they remained in their shelter undisturbed for some time, and their true specific character was plainly noticeable.
Several specimens were procured near Worcester, Mass., and given to Dr. Bryant. Eleven individuals of this species were shot in Bolton by Mr. S. Jillson, January, 1864, and others have since been noticed in Watertown by Mr. William Brewster. They have also been obtained near Hartford, Conn., by Dr. Wood.
Prior to this, as Mr. Audubon states, specimens had been procured near Philadelphia, and in the winters of 1830 and 1832 several of these birds were also shot on Long Island.
Mr. Boardman mentions that they are occasional, in winter, near Calais; and Professor Verrill, who did not meet with it in Norway, Me., cites it as accidental and rare in the State.
It is not common in the Arctic regions. Specimens of the bird were obtained on Anderson River, in 1862, by Mr. MacFarlane, but he was not able to find the nest. At Fort Yukon, July 4, Mr. Kennicott met with the nest of this species. The nest, which contained but one egg, was about eighteen feet from the ground, and was built on a side branch of a small spruce that was growing at the outer edge of a clump of thick spruces, on low ground. The nest was large, the base being made of small, dry spruce twigs. Internally it was constructed of fine grass and moose-hair, and lined thickly with large feathers. The female was shot, as she rose from her nest, by Mr. Kennicott’s hunter, who had concealed himself near the spot for that purpose. Mr. Kennicott had seen the nest and both parents near it before it was taken, and had thoroughly satisfied himself as to its complete identification.
Ross speaks of them as not rare throughout the district in which they winter, but yet not numerous. He adds that at Great Bear Lake they are very plentiful, and that they are reported to nest there. Mr. Dall states that they were quite common at Nulato, where they did not arrive before June 10, or later. He obtained a number of skins from the Indians, taken in his absence. He adds that it breeds, and its eggs have been obtained at Fort Yukon.
Except in a few instances, where Dr. Cooper noticed this species, in September, at Fort Laramie, and also when he obtained an individual on the Colorado, none of these birds have been seen west of the Rocky Mountains. The bird obtained by Dr. Cooper was, in his opinion, a straggler from some neighboring mountain. It made its appearance January 10, after a period of stormy weather, and was shot while feeding on the berries of the mistletoe.
This bird was first noticed in America, in the spring of 1826, near the sources of the Athabasca River, by Mr. Drummond, and in the same season by Sir John Richardson, at Great Bear Lake, latitude 65°. In the latter region he states that they appeared in flocks about the 24th of May. At that time the spring thaw had exposed the berries of the Arbutus and the Vaccinium, that had been covered during the winter. It stayed only a few days, and none of the Indians knew where it bred, or had ever seen its nest. Afterwards, early in May, 1827, Sir John Richardson saw a large flock of three or four hundred individuals at Carlton House, on the Saskatchewan. They all alighted in a grove of poplars, on one or two trees, making a loud twittering noise. They stayed only about an hour in the morning, and were too shy to be approached within gunshot.
In England they have been known to appear as early as August. They are always shy, and not easily approached. In their activity and incessant change of position and place, they are said to resemble the Titmice. They feed on the berries of the mountain-ash, the hawthorn, and the ivy. They will also feed on insects, catching them as dexterously as Flycatchers. Their call-note is a single chirp, frequently repeated.
Mr. McCulloch, writing to Mr. Audubon, gives a touching account of the devotion shown by one of these birds to its wounded mate. The latter had been so crippled that it was hardly able to move. Its mate stationed itself on the top of the tree in which it had sought shelter, and with great vehemence continually uttered the notes tzee-tzee, in alarm and warning, and, when danger approached, flew against it and urged it on to flight, and stayed to share its fate, rather than leave its partner.
The nest and eggs of this species remained entirely unknown until the spring of 1856, when the late Mr. John Wolley, an enthusiastic English oölogist, first discovered them in Lapland. The season was unusually backward and cold, and the nests contained their full complement by the 12th of June. One of the nests, obtained in Finland, June 19, 1861 (S. I., 5,327), contained five eggs. It is of remarkable size in proportion to that of its builder, measuring eight inches in diameter. It is flattened in shape, and its cavity, though large, is not deep. The height of the nest is three and a quarter inches, and the depth of the base is fully two and a half inches. The cavity is less than an inch deep, and is four inches in diameter. The base and outer periphery of this nest are of a coarse interlacing of the small ends of branches of fir and spruce trees. Within this is built a close, compact inner nest, chiefly composed of a lichen peculiar to Arctic regions, called tree-hair, which hangs abundantly from the branches of trees in northern forests. It resembles a mass of delicate black rootlets. These are not uncommon ingredients in the nests of northern birds, especially of European. In America, Arctic nests of the A. carolinensis are occasionally built of similar materials. With these lichens are also mingled fragments of dry leaves and soft dark-colored mosses. The rim of the nest is strongly made, almost exclusively of these fine dark-colored lichens. This kind of lichen is not always black, but is often brown, and even whitish. In some of these nests silvery fibres of grass-leaves are mingled with the lichens, and in one or two there is a slight lining of feathers.
The Lapland nests were built on the branch of a tree, at a distance from the trunk, and stood up from it unsupported by the surrounding twigs, and at the height of from six to twelve feet from the ground. They were generally much exposed, and were, for the most part, built in the more open portions of the forests. The general number of the eggs was five, in one instance it was six.
The nest from the Yukon, obtained by Mr. Kennicott (S. Coll., 6,326), is smaller, and bears but little resemblance to the European. It is but five inches in diameter, of irregular shape. In height and cavity it nearly corresponds. In place of the lichens of the European, this nest is made of fine grass-stems, strips of bark, and a few feathers.
The eggs of this bird, the gift of Mr. Wolley, measure an inch in length, and from .70 to .67 of an inch in breadth. Their ground-color varies from a light slate to a yellowish stone-color. They are marked, blotched, and dotted with spots of various hues and size. These are chiefly of a dark purple, at times approaching black. Mingled with these are markings of a yellowish-brown. Nearly all these spots are surrounded by a peculiar penumbra, or shading, such as forms so marked a feature in the eggs of the common Cedar-Bird.
The egg obtained by Kennicott on the Yukon is smaller than the European specimen, measuring .90 by .65 of an inch. Its ground is more of a greenish-slate or stone-color, and the spots are of a dark brown, with a deep violet shading.
Ampelis cedrorum, SCL.
SOUTHERN WAXWING; CEDAR-BIRD.
Ampelis garrulus, var. β, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 297. Bombycilla cedrorum, VIEILLOT, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 88, pl. lvii.—IB. Galerie Ois. I, 1834, 186, pl. cxviii.—CAB. Jour. IV, 1856, 3 (Cuba).—GUNDLACH, Cab. Jour. 1861, 328 (Cuba; rare). Ampelis cedrorum, SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1856, 299 (Cordova); 1858, 302 (Oaxaca; January); 1859, 364 (Xalapa; Cordova); 1864, 172 (City of Mexico).—SCLATER & SALVIN, Ibis, 1859, 13 (Guatemala).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 318; Rev. 407.—TAYLOR, Ibis, 1860, 111 (Honduras).—MARCH, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1863, 294 (Jamaica).—LORD, Pr. R. Art. Inst. WOOLWICH, IV, 116 (British Columbia; nesting).—COOPER & SUCKLEY, P. R. Rep. XII, II, 187 (Washington Ter.).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 129.—SAMUELS, Birds N. Eng. 265. Ampelis americana, WILS. Am. Orn. I, 1808, 107, pl. vii. Bombycilla americana, JONES, Nat. Bermuda, 1859, 29 (winter).—RICH. Bombycilla carolinensis, BRISSON, Orn. II, 1760, 337 (not binomial).—AUD. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 227, pl. xliii.—IB. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 165, pl. ccxlv.—WAGLER. Ampelis carolinensis, GOSSE, Birds Jamaica, 1847, 197 (January).—BON.
SP. CHAR. Crest moderate. General color soft vinaceous-cinnamon, deepest anteriorly, more olivaceous on back, scapulars and wing-coverts, passing into pure light ash on the rump and upper tail-coverts, and into dingy yellow on flanks and abdomen. Lower tail-coverts white. Whole of the wing posterior to the greater coverts slaty-ash, almost black along end of inner webs of primaries, the outer webs of which are narrowly edged with hoary whitish. Tail slate passing into black terminally, tipped with a broad, sharply defined band of gamboge-yellow. A broad stripe of intense velvety-black on side of head, starting from nostril, passing across lore, and involving the eye, continued from it beneath the crest to the occiput; chin dull black, blending gradually into the brownish of the throat. A narrow white line across the forehead and along side of crown, between brown of crown and black of lore, etc., a narrow crescent on lower eyelid and a stripe between black of lore and that of the throat, white. Male with each secondary quill terminated by a bright red horny appendage to the shaft. Female with these very small and few in number, or entirely absent. Young. In general appearance similar to the adult female. Colors more grayish, with obsolete concealed whitish streaks on nape and down back, these stripes becoming very conspicuous on the sides and flanks and across breast. No black on chin. Rump grayish-brown; abdomen and flanks dingy whitish. No appendages to secondaries, and the yellow band across end of tail narrower than in adult.
HAB. Whole of North America as far north as Lake Winnipeg and Hudson’s Bay, south branch of Saskatchewan, latitude 52½° (RICHARDSON); south to Guatemala; Jamaica and Cuba in winter.
A specimen from Guatemala (No. 50,455 ♂) is almost identical with examples from the United States, but differs in having a small spot of yellow at the tip of each primary; also there are red appendages on the tip of a few tail-feathers, as well as the longest feather of the lower tail-coverts. The colors, generally, are softer, the brown more purplish, and the ash finer and more bluish, than in a fine spring male from Washington, D. C.
A specimen (No. 53,396 ♂, Humboldt River, Nevada, September 10, 1868, C. King, R. Ridgway) from the Middle Province of the United States, differs considerably from any other in the collection. The colors are much paler, the anterior portions being almost ochraceous, the whole abdomen nearly white. The white band across the forehead is very broad; the extreme point of the chin only black. Whether it is a representative of a style peculiar to the Great Basin, or merely a bleached individual, cannot be decided without additional specimens from the same region.
There is so much variation in different specimens in regard to the red wax-like appendages, that the Guatemalan specimen mentioned above can hardly be considered as more than a very highly developed individual.
HABITS. The habits of the common Cedar-Bird are eminently nomadic, and, so far as those of the Waxwing are known, correspond in all respects, except in the more general and especially the more southern distribution of the present species. They are found throughout North America at least so far as the wooded country extends, and they breed from Florida to the Red River country. They are a common bird in New England, and would be much more so but that their fondness for cherries and other small fruits, and their indifference to danger, makes them an easy and frequent mark for destruction. Their unpopularity has caused their numbers to be greatly reduced of late years in the thickly settled portions of the country.
In Southern Texas Mr. Dresser found these birds very common during the winter at San Antonio and Eagle Pass, but he observed none later than the middle of April. They were seen in Tamaulipas, by Lieutenant Couch, in March, and afterwards in April at New Leon, Mexico. Sumichrast states that these birds are found everywhere and in great abundance in winter throughout Vera Cruz. They are there known as the Chinito, and are highly appreciated by the Mexican epicures. They are equally abundant in northern parts of South America, and also throughout Central America.
In Washington Territory and in Oregon Dr. Cooper speaks of them as less common than in the Atlantic States, and he only met with a few, in single pairs, in the summer. Townsend states that he found them in Oregon, but Dr. Suckley never met with any west of the Rocky Mountains.
In California Dr. Cooper has seen small flocks in winter, as far south as San Diego, feeding on the mistletoe berries. He found their nests at Fort Vancouver, and has no doubt that they also breed in various parts of California.
Mr. Robert Kennicott states, among other memoranda of his route, that, May 31, on an island in Winnipeg River, he saw a large flock of these birds, numbering fifty or more.
With some irregularity as to their appearance, they are found throughout the year in New England, their presence being usually regulated by their food. They are, by preference, eaters of berries and other vegetable food, except in spring and early summer, when they eat insects almost exclusively, feeding upon the larvæ of the spanworm and the canker-worm, and small caterpillars, and supplying these to their young. They also feed their nestlings with various kinds of berries and small fruits, both cultivated and wild. They do not nest until late in June or early in July, and with so much irregularity that I have found them sitting on their unhatched eggs as late as the 12th of October. They are a greedy bird, feeding voraciously where they have an opportunity. They are very much attached to each other and to their offspring. Once, when one had been taken in a net spread over strawberries, its mate refused to leave it, suffered itself to be taken by the hand, in its anxiety to free its mate, and when set at liberty would not leave until its mate had also been released and permitted to go with it. In the summer of 1870 a nestling, hardly half fledged, fell from its nest, and was found injured by its fall, taken into the house, and fed. Whenever exposed in its cage its parents came about it, and supplied it with cherries and other fruit, unmindful of the near presence of the family. The young bird lived, and became perfectly tame, feeding from the hand, and preferring to be fed rather than feed itself. Besides its low lisping call, this bird had a regular faint attempt at a song of several low notes, uttered in so low a tone that it would be almost inaudible at even a short distance. It became perfectly contented in confinement, and appeared fond of such members of the family as noticed it.
The noticeable feature of the Cedar-Bird, its crest, it has the power to erect or depress at will. In confinement it generally keeps this depressed, only erecting it when excited from any cause, such as alarm, or desire to receive food.
Wilson states that in Pennsylvania they collect in August in large flocks and retire to the mountains, feeding on the fruit of the Vaccinium uliginosum, which grows there in great abundance. Later in the season they descend to the lowlands to feed on the berries of the sour-gum and the red-cedar. In confinement they are very fond of apples, bread soaked in milk, and almost any kind of soft food. They are also very fond of flies, and are expert flycatchers, snapping at all that venture within the cage.
In their migrations their flight is graceful, easy, and continued, and is performed at a considerable height.
It is unfortunate for the horticulturist that this bird has done so much to merit his prejudices and reprobation, and that he does not appreciate to the full the immense services it renders to him each spring in the destruction of injurious insects. A flock of these birds will, in a short space of time, devour an immense number of the larvæ of the destructive canker-worms (Phalænæ) that infest the apples and elms of Massachusetts, and, if permitted, would soon greatly reduce their numbers. But these prejudices cannot be softened by their good deeds, and the Cherry-Bird is still hunted and destroyed.
Their nests are usually constructed late in June or early in July, and are placed in various positions, sometimes in a low bush or tree not more than three or four feet from the ground, and rarely more than twenty. Their nests are large and bulky, but strongly made of various materials. Generally they build a strong external framework, six or seven inches in diameter, composed of the ends of twigs, coarse stems of vegetables, and grasses. Within this they build a compact, well-made fabric of grasses, grapevine bark, and other finer substances, lining the whole with leaves and fine root-fibres. The cavity is large and deep for the bird. The parents are fourteen days in incubating before the young are hatched out, and all this while are remarkably silent, hardly uttering a sound, even their faintest lisping note, when the nest is meddled with, though they evince great anxiety by their fearless indifference to their own danger.
The eggs, usually five, sometimes six, in number, have a marked resemblance to those of the Waxwing, but are smaller. Their ground-color varies from a light slate-color to a deep shade of stone-color, tinged with olive. These are marked with blotches of a dark purplish-brown, almost black, lighter shades of a dark purple, and penumbræ of faint purple, sometimes by themselves or surrounding and continuing the darker spots. They vary in length from .80 to .88 of an inch, and average about .85. In breadth they are from .60 to .70 of an inch, and in shape they differ also from an oblong-oval to one of a quite rounded form.
Nests of these birds from the Arctic regions are more elaborately built and more warmly lined, being often largely made up of the fine dark-colored lichens that cover the forest trees of those regions.
SUBFAMILY PTILOGONATINÆ
CHAR. Legs moderate. Nostrils oval, with wide naked membrane above and to some extent behind them; the frontal feathers not reaching to their border, and rather soft. Wings graduated, shorter than the somewhat broad, fan-shaped tail; the first quill nearly half the second. Adults plain.
Although we find it convenient for the present to retain the genera Ptilogonys and Myiadestes in the same subfamily, there seems little doubt that they belong to very different families, the latter being more properly placed in Turdidæ, as shown in Rev. Am. Birds. It is not necessary that the subject be discussed here, however, and we merely give the diagnosis of the two groups of which these genera are the types respectively:—
Ptilogonateæ. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly; not longer than middle toe and claw.
Myiadesteæ. Tarsi with a continuous plate anteriorly; longer than middle toe and claw.
SECTION PTILOGONATEÆ.
CHAR. Tarsus stout, shorter, or not longer than the middle toe and claw; conspicuously scutellate anteriorly, and frequently on one or other or on both sides; sometimes with a row of small plates behind. Wings much graduated; the second quill not longer than secondaries. Outline of lateral tail-feathers parallel or widening from base to near tip. Tail unvaried, or else inornate at end. Quills without light patch at base. Head crested. Young birds not spotted. Not conspicuous for song.
There are two genera of this section having in brief the following characters:—
Crest narrow, pointed, its feathers stiff, their webs compact; outer primaries broad. Tail rounded … Phænopepla.
Crest broad, decumbent, soft, the feathers loose; outer primaries attenuated. Tail even or cuneate … Ptilogonys.
The genus Ptilogonys has two species, one Mexican, the other Costa-Rican, neither coming within the limits of the United States. The type is P. cinereus, SWAINSON (BAIRD, Rev. Am. Birds, 412), a species of the tablelands of Mexico, which may yet be found within the southern borders of the United States in New Mexico or Arizona.
GENUS PHÆNOPEPLA, SCLATER.
Phænopepla, SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1858, 543. (Type, Ptiliogonys nitens, SWAINS.)
GEN. CHAR. Crest narrow, pointed behind. Outer primaries broad, not attenuated nor pointed at end; the first half the second. Tail rounded, fan-shaped; feathers very broad, wider towards end. Bill feeble, rather narrow, well bristled; nostrils somewhat overhung by frontal feathers. Sexes dissimilar; male black; quills with median white patch on inner webs; tail not varied.
The single known species is glossy black in the male; the female brownish-ash.
Phænopepla nitens, SCLATER.
SHINING-CRESTED FLYCATCHER.
Ptiliogonys nitens, SW. An. in Menag. 1838, 285.—BON. Consp. 1850, 335.—HEERMANN, Jour. A. N. Sc. Phila. II, 1853, 263.—CASSIN, Ill. Birds Texas, etc. 1854, 169, pl. xxix. Cichlopsis nitens, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 320, 923. Phænopepla nitens, SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1858, 543; 1864, 173 (City of Mexico).—BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 416.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 131. “Lepturus galeatus, LESS.”
SP. CHAR. (No. 8,275 ♂.) Tail broad, almost fan-shaped; graduated slightly; not at all emarginate, and longer than wing. First quill broad, slightly falcate, scarcely attenuated; more than half the second, which about equals the tenth; sixth longest; third equal to seventh. Feathers on nape rather full, with a lengthened, pointed, narrow, occipital crest.
Male (No. 8,275) entirely glossy greenish-black; the inner webs of all the primary quills with a large, lengthened patch of white, which does not reach the inner margin; their outer webs very narrowly edged with ashy, as are also lateral tail-feathers externally.
Female (No. 8,274) brownish-ash, paler below; the white of inner webs of quills obsolete; the greater coverts and quills edged externally with whitish, the anal and crissal feathers edged and tipped with the same; the outer tail-feather with narrow edge of white externally towards end.
Immature birds show every gradation of color between the two extremes described above.
Total length, 7.60; wing, 3.80; tail, 4.35; length of bill from forehead, .46, from nostril .31, along gape, .66; tarsus, .70; middle toe and claw, .65.
[Line drawing: Phænopepla nitens. 8275]
HAB. Mountainous region of the southern portions of Western and Middle Provinces of United States, and south to Orizaba; Cape St. Lucas; Plateau of Mexico (resident, SUMICHRAST).
HABITS. So far as known, this bird occurs in the mountainous portions of the United States, from Fort Tejon, Cal., to Mexico, and from the Rio Grande to San Diego. It is closely allied, in its appearance, as also in many of its habits, both with the Waxwings and the Flycatchers.
This species was first detected within the United States by Colonel McCall, who obtained it in California in 1852. Its habits, as he observed them, partook of those of the true Flycatcher. They are said to be remarkable for their slender, active form, in which their long and ample tail, and the elongated feathers of their head, capable of being erected into a crest, are conspicuous features. Colonel McCall first met with them in a clump of trees on the borders of a mountain brook, between Valliecita and El Chino. A number of them were together actively engaged in the pursuit of insects. They were light and graceful on the wing, though less swift and decided in their motions than the true Flycatchers. In these evolutions the bright white spot on the wing, visible only when the wing is spread, was quite conspicuous, and in fine contrast with the glossy black of the general plumage. In his journey Colonel McCall afterwards met this bird several times, either in small companies or singly. They were always either on mountain sides, or in the timbered borders of mountain streams.
Dr. Henry met with this species near the Little Lagoon, on the Colorado Desert. It was perched on a mezquite-tree, jerking its tail almost incessantly, as do other kinds of Flycatchers, and, from time to time, dashing in irregular curves high into the air in pursuit of insects. It became quite abundant as he approached the Colorado, occurring in companies of twenty and thirty. At Fort Yuma he also met with them in considerable numbers late in November, as they were migrating southward. Dr. Henry describes its note as a low, plaintive whistle. He ascertained that it breeds in California by finding specimens of young birds. He likewise met with this species near Fort Webster, in New Mexico; and Dr. Kennerly also noticed it, in February and March, between Big Sandy Creek and the Colorado River.
Mr. Dresser obtained two specimens of this species at Eagle Pass. One of these had its stomach filled with the berries of a species of mistletoe that grows abundantly on the mezquite-trees. He noticed that it carries its crest erect and much recurved, after the manner of the European Parus cristatus.
Sumichrast states that this species, called Reyecito, is well distributed throughout the Plateau of Mexico, but only ranges in the valley of the Orizaba, to the height of about 1,500 metres, rarely coming as far as that. It is also common at Tehauntepec and other places.
Dr. Cooper found them quite numerous, in winter, near the Colorado. He also found them common, in December, about the Mohave River, and in summer, from Los Angeles to San Diego. They were found to prefer the trees in which the mistletoe grows, on the berries of which they largely feed, though they occasionally pursue insects in a zigzag course similar to that of the Sayornis nigricans.
They almost constantly utter a loud cry of alarm, and when pursued are very wild. When wounded, they conceal themselves so closely in the thick tufts of the mistletoe as to be found with difficulty. Many left the Colorado Valley in April, but a few remained. Their notes Dr. Cooper describes as similar to those of the Crested Flycatchers, but sweeter.
It was found by Feilner, at Fort Crook, in April, 1860, but has not been met with near the coast so far to the north.
A nest of this bird, obtained by Dr. Cooper, on the 27th of April, was built on a horizontal branch of the mezquite (Algarobia), twelve feet from the ground. It was found near Fort Mohave, on the Colorado River. The nest is a very flat structure, four inches in diameter, and less than two in height. The cavity is less than an inch in depth. The nest is made almost entirely of hempen or flax-like fibres of plants, interwoven with fine grasses, stems of plants, and stalks of a larger size. It is lined with a soft downy substance of a vegetable character.
The eggs, two in number, are of an oblong-oval shape, nearly equal at either end, and with a ground-color of a light slate, tinged with a yellowish-green. They are marked and blotched equally over the entire egg, with spots and blotches of various lines, from a light, faint, obscure purple to deeper tints of purplish-brown, even to black. It is a very marked egg, and unique in its appearance. They measure .90 by .60 of an inch.
Dr. Coues found this species a summer resident in Arizona, somewhat rare about Fort Whipple, but found very abundantly a little farther south, and a permanent resident in the southern portions of that Territory. It inhabits rather open country in preference to densely wooded regions. He describes it as a shy, wild, and restless bird, with a superb song, powerful and finely modulated. Dr. Coues appears to think that this species has but little affinity with the forms with which it is usually grouped.
SECTION MYIADESTEÆ.
CHAR. Tarsus slender, longer than middle toe and claw; undivided as in Turdidæ. Toes deeply cleft. Wings more pointed; second quill much longer than secondaries. Lateral tail-feathers cuneate, or narrowing from base towards tip; generally whitish at end of inner web. Quills with their extreme bases, especially of inner webs, buffy yellow, showing a light patch inside. Head not crested, though the feathers sometimes full. In the young all the feathers with light rounded spots. Pre-eminent as melodious singers.
But a single genus of this group belongs to the United States, although two others (Cichlopsis and Platycichla?) occur in South America. As already stated, the affinities of Myiadesteæ are much closest to Turdidæ, and this would seem the proper family for it.
GENUS MYIADESTES, SWAINSON.
Myiadestes, SWAINSON, Jard. Nat. Library, XIII. Flycatchers, “1838,” 132. (Type, M. genibarbis, SW.)
[Line drawing: Myiadestes townsendi. 38426 16168]
GEN. CHAR. Occipital feathers full and soft. Plumage rather loose. Bill weak, much depressed. Commissure nearly straight. Hind toe longer than inner lateral. Toes deeply cleft. Closed wing externally with an exposed light band across the base of the quills, and another nearer the end, separated by a darker one. Tail somewhat graduated on the sides.
Of the ten or more described species of this genus, only one belongs to the limits of the United States, although several others occupy adjacent territory in Mexico. Several are peculiar to islands of the West Indies.
The only two species closely related to the M. townsendi are the M. unicolor and M. obscurus, which belong to Mexico. They may be distinguished as follows:—
An ochraceous band across base of secondaries and upper primaries, conspicuous on outer surface.
1. M. townsendi. Generally dull ashy, paler beneath. Throat and abdomen whitish. Hab. Middle and Pacific Provinces of United States only.
No ochraceous on outer webs of secondaries and primaries.
2. M. obscurus.[80] Back and wings rusty-olive. Head and beneath ashy, top of head deepest ash. Hab. Mountains of Mexico and Guatemala; Tres Marias Islands.
3. M. unicolor.[81] Entirely dark bluish slate-color, lighter beneath. Lores black. Hab. Central Mexico and Guatemala.
Myiadestes townsendi, CABAN.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE.
Ptiliogonys townsendi, AUD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 206, pl. ccccxix, fig. 2. (For other references see Birds N. Am. 321.)—NEWBERRY, P. R. Rep. VI, Whipple’s Rep. Zoöl., 82. Culicivora towns. DE KAY, N. Y. Zoöl. II, 1844, 110. Myiadestes towns. CABANIS, Wieg. Arch. 1847, I, 208.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1857, 5; 1858, 97.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 321; Rev. 429.—COOPER & SUCKLEY, P. R. Rep. XII, II, 187.—KENNERLY, P. R. Rep. X, Whipple’s Rep. 25.—LORD, Pr. R. Art. Inst. WOOLWICH, IV, 116 (Br. Col.).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 134.
SP. CHAR. Tail rather deeply forked. Exposed portion of spurious quill less than one third that of the second; fourth quill longest; second a little longer than the sixth. Head not crested. General color bluish-ash, paler beneath; under wing-coverts white. Quills with a brownish-yellow bar at the base of both webs mostly concealed, but showing a little below the greater coverts and alulæ; this succeeded by a bar of dusky, and next to it another of brownish-yellow across the outer webs of the central quills only. Tertials tipped with white. Tail-feathers dark brown; the middle ones more like the back; the lateral with the outer web and tip, the second with the tip only, white. A white ring round the eye. Length, 8 inches; wing, 4.50; tail, 3.85. (8,234).
HAB. Mountainous regions of Middle and Western United States. (Not found at Cape St. Lucas nor in Mexico.)
Young birds have a large triangular pale-ochraceous light spot on the end of each feather (rather paler below), bounded externally by a narrow border of blackish; the quill and tail feathers as in the adult.
HABITS. The first specimen of this somewhat remarkable bird was shot by Captain Brotchie, at Fort George, Astoria, and presented to Mr. Townsend, and by the latter given to Mr. Audubon. For some time this remained unique, and the habits of the species unknown. Through the government explorations, however, we have been made more familiar with its habits and peculiarities.
Dr. Newberry, in his report on the Zoölogy of Lieutenant Williamson’s explorations, mentions finding this bird very abundant in the Des Chutes Basin. It did not frequent either dense forests or prairies destitute of trees, but seemed to select surfaces covered with a scattered growth of pine and cedar. His party first met with it at the base of Mount Jefferson, in the cañon of Mpto-ly-as River. In picking his way with infinite difficulty down this gorge, his attention was drawn by its new and attractive song. There were several of them in the pines and cedars growing on the face of the cliff. He describes its song as clear, full, and melodious, like that of a true Mimus. The next day, as he followed down the river, in the bottom of the cañon the deep gorge was filled with a chorus of sweet sounds from thousands of these birds. He describes them as having a habit of sitting on the branch of a tree projecting over a stream, or hanging from some projecting crag, and at times flying out in narrow circles, after insects, precisely in the manner of Flycatchers.
Afterwards, in another cañon, the terraced banks of which were sparsely set with low trees of the Western cedar, he again found these birds quite numerous, and had every opportunity both of hearing and of seeing them, watching them for hours while feeding and singing. They began their songs with the first dawn of day, and at sunrise the valley was perfectly vocal with their music. He describes their song as not greatly varied, but speaks of all their notes as particularly clear and sweet, and with strains of pure gushing melody that were both spontaneous and inspiring. At that time, September 30, they were feeding on the berries of the cedar. They were very shy, and could only be obtained by stratagem.
Dr. Kennerly, in his Report on the birds observed in the explorations under the charge of Lieutenant Whipple, speaks of meeting with these birds in the Rocky Mountains, in the vicinity of the Pueblo of Zuñi, in New Mexico. Thence, westward, he occasionally met with it, and usually in the cedar thickets.
Dr. Suckley mentions, in his Report on the Zoölogy of Washington Territory, obtaining a specimen of this species at Fort Steilacoom, April 28, 1856. It was very wild and difficult of approach. It was the only specimen obtained, and he considered it accidental west of the Cascade Mountains. Dr. Cooper, in the same Report, speaks of obtaining a specimen near Fort Laramie in October, where it seemed to be not uncommon.
Dr. Cooper, in his Birds of California, dwells with much emphasis upon the delightful melody of this species. Having always found them silent, and with habits like the Flycatchers’, he was quite unprepared to hear them singing in the Sierra Nevada, and, if he had not obtained the bird, would not have believed that one of this family was capable of singing with such power. Their song, he says, can be compared with nothing uttered by any other bird he has ever heard in the United States; for, he adds, it excels that of the Mocking-Bird in sweetness, besides being entirely original.
He met with only a few of this species among some junipers on the western slope near the summit, in September, 1863. He has always met with them nearly singly. Dr. Henry found them at Fort Webster, New Mexico, in large numbers, both in fall and in winter. Their home, Dr. Cooper thinks, seems to be in the vicinity of the great deserts of the central regions, or the cedar-covered mountains that intersect them.
Dr. Woodhouse obtained several specimens on the Zuñi Mountains in New Mexico, and from there westward found it exceedingly abundant. Its food seemed to be exclusively berries, and chiefly those of the cedar.
Dr. Coues also found these birds rare summer residents in Arizona, and confirms its possession of rare local powers, producing a rich, sweet, and finely modulated song.
Mr. Robert Ridgway, in accompanying Mr. King’s party of explorations, writes that he found this curious bird only occasionally, most frequently among the pines of the Sierra Nevada, and only once or twice among the mountains east of that range. In July, 1867, he found a nest of this bird. It was in a deep ravine on the western slope of the Sierras, at an altitude of five thousand feet. It was placed in a cavity of the rocks forming the perpendicular upper bank of a sluice constructed for mining purposes, through which ran the waters of a considerable mountain stream. The nest was about a foot above the water, and was as bulky as that of the Harporhynchus rufus, and similarly constructed, being composed almost entirely of sticks. It contained four young. When he approached, the female was much excited, flying before, or running on the ground in the manner of a true Thrush. Mr. Ridgway makes no mention of its song.
Mr. Lord met with these birds only once, and then at Colville, towards the end of November. All the leaves had fallen, the ground was deeply covered with snow, and the cold was intense. His attention was first attracted by hearing a low sweet song, not unlike that of the Song Thrush of Europe, which at that season was a most unusual sound. On looking around he saw about twenty of these birds perched on the top sprays of some white thorn-bushes. In their mode of darting off and returning again they reminded him of a Shrike. He shot six, and could detect no material difference in plumage between males and females. In the stomachs of those he opened were the remains of small coleopterous insects and a few haws.
FAMILY LANIIDÆ.—THE SHRIKES
CHAR. Bill very powerful, strong, and much compressed, the tip abruptly hooked, deeply notched, and with a prominent tooth behind the notch; both mandibles distinctly notched, the upper with a distinct tooth behind, the lower with the point bent up. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, strongly scutellate. Primaries ten; first primary half the second, or shorter (occasionally wanting). Wings short, rounded; tail long and much graduated. Sides of tarsi with the plates divided on the outside.
Of this family only a single genus is known in North America.
GENUS COLLURIO, VIGORS.
Collurio, VIGORS, Pr. Zoöl. Soc. 1831, 42. (Type, Lanius excubitor, L.) Lanius, AUCT. (not of LINNÆUS, whose type is L. cristatus). Collyrio, G. R. GRAY.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 323.
[Line drawing: Collurio excubitoroides. 38423]
GEN. CHAR. Feathers of forehead stiffened; base of bill, including nostrils, covered by bristly feathers directed forward. Bill shorter than the head, much compressed, and very powerful. Culmen decurved from base, the mandible abruptly bent down in a powerful hook with an acute lobe near the tip. Tip of lower mandible bent upwards in a hook; the gonys very convex. Rictus with long bristles. Legs stout; the tarsi rather short, and longer than the middle toe; the lateral equal; the claws all very sharp and much curved. Wings rounded; the first primary about half the second, which is equal to the sixth or seventh. Tail longer than the wings, much graduated, the feathers broad.
But few species of this genus belong to America, and these are confined to the northern portion. For the purpose of more readily identifying the species we present a brief diagnosis, and then furnish descriptions of all (including a European ally) in a single table.
Species.
A. Outer webs of secondaries wholly white for basal half (mostly concealed by coverts, however). Upper eyelid white.
C. excubitor.[82] Nasal tufts grayish-white. In other respects, as regards colors, like excubitoroides. Wing, 4.20; tail, 4.00; tarsus, .95. Hab. Europe.
B. Outer webs of secondaries black to the base. Upper eyelids black.
a. White crescent on lower eyelid. Beneath with wavy bars of dusky in all stages. Tarsus less than 1.00; wing more than 4.50.
C. borealis. Upper half of nasal tufts white. Black spectacle bordered above the ear-coverts by hoary whitish. Scapulars and upper tail-coverts approaching white. Wing, 4.70; tail, 4.70; tarsus, .93. Hab. Arctic America; in winter south into United States, especially into the northern portions.
b. No white crescent on lower eyelid. Beneath without bars, except in young. Tarsus more than 1.00; wing less than 4.50.
C. ludovicianus. Black spectacle not bordered over ear-coverts with whitish.
White patch on primaries reaching nearly as far as end of first quill. Nasal tufts entirely black.
Black of lores and nasal tufts bordered above with hoary whitish. Tail white at base; inner webs of secondaries paler toward margin, but not abruptly white. Beneath entirely white, without ashy tinge laterally, or across breast. Axillars whitish. Upper tail-coverts ashy-white, scapulars pure white. Wing, 4.10; tail, 4.20; tarsus, 1.10; bill, .50. Hab. Western North America from Pacific Coast east to a little beyond the Mississippi, and to Texas. Nearly all of Mexico … var. excubitoroides.
Black of lores, etc., not bordered above by whitish. Tail black at base. Inner webs of secondaries pure white to the shaft on basal half. Beneath tinged with ashy laterally and across breast. Scapulars and upper tail-coverts hardly different from back. Bill, .60. Hab. California and fur countries … var. robustus.
White patch on primaries reaching only about half-way to end of first quill. Nasal tufts hoary-grayish above.
Black of lores bordered above by hoary-whitish. Tail as in elegans,—secondaries as in excubitoroides. Beneath very strongly tinged with plumbeous laterally and across breast. Upper tail-coverts like the back, posterior scapulars only inclining to white. Axillars plumbeous. Wing, 3.80; tail, 3.95; tarsus, 1.00; bill, .50. Hab. South Atlantic and Gulf States … var. ludovicianus.
We now proceed to give a more detailed table of these species, and under the heading of each shall omit any further description:—
GENERAL COLOR. Bluish or plumbeous ash above; the outer edges of scapulars, sometimes the forehead and rump, paler. Beneath white, sometimes with waved transverse dark lines. A broad black stripe from side of upper bill through eye (extending more widely beneath than above it, sometimes wanting above) to end of ear-coverts. Wings (except lesser coverts) and tail black; the former with a white patch across base of primaries, sometimes on inner webs of secondaries; the secondaries tipped with white; the tail with broad white tips to the lateral feathers, the concealed bases of which are also usually white.
A. Black cheek-stripes involving eyelid only on upper border of eye, and not meeting across the forehead. A crescentic patch of white in the black below the eye; upper edge of black stripe behind the eye bordered by hoary whitish. Breast and belly always with distinct, transverse waved lines of dusky. Bill, when mature, entirely black. Length about 10 inches.
Above light ash. Upper tail-coverts and forehead much paler than the back, the former without waved lines. Axillars whitish.
Inner webs of secondaries paler towards edges, but not of well-defined white. Concealed bases of tail-feathers, except sixth, white. Tarsus shorter than the gape of mouth. Length, 10.00; extent, 14.50; wing, 4.70; tail, 4.70; bill above, .85; tarsus, .93 … borealis.
B. Black cheek-stripes not involving upper border of eye or upper eyelid, which is whitish, and not meeting across the forehead, its upper edge behind the eye with scarcely a lighter border. No patch of white on lower eyelid. Under parts unvaried white; in female obscurely waved. Base of under mandible whitish. Length about 9 inches.
Above light ash. Upper tail-coverts and forehead decidedly paler than the back. Axillars whitish.
Inner webs of all secondaries (except innermost) white to shaft, except for less than terminal half, which is black along the shaft. Concealed base of tail white, except on sixth feather. Tarsus equal to the gape … excubitor.
C. Black cheek-stripes involving upper eyelid, as in A, but without patch of white below the eye; meeting in a narrow, sometimes inconspicuous, line across the forehead, its upper edge behind the eye not bordered by lighter. Beneath plain white, or very obscurely waved in ludovicianus (the female?). Bill, when mature, entirely black. Length about 8.50 inches.
Above dark plumbeous-ash. Upper tail-coverts and forehead scarcely paler than the back. Sides and breast tinged with bluish-gray.
Black of loral space rather hoary along upper border. Frontal dark line inappreciable or wanting. Inner webs of secondaries paler only along the marginal half, and not abruptly white. Axillars plumbeous. Tail-feathers, except the innermost, with a concealed well-defined white patch at base, largest on the more exterior one. Bill from nostril, .50. Under parts often with very obscure faint waved lines (in the female?). White patch on wing reaching about to middle of first primary. Tarsus equal to the gape. Length, 8.50; wing, 3.72; tail, 4.10; bill above, .82; tarsus, 1.00 … ludovicianus.
Black of loral space without any lightening above it. Frontal black band well marked. Inner webs of secondaries (except innermost) pure white to shaft, except along rather more than terminal half, where the shaft is bordered by black. Axillars whitish. Tail-feathers black to base, except the loose fibres, which are grayish. Bill from nostril, .60. Under parts without waved lines. White patch on wing reaching nearly opposite to end of first primary. Tarsus about equal to the gape. Length, 8.75; wing, 4.20; tail, 4.40; bill above, 1.00; tarsus, 1.20 … elegans.
Above light ash-color. Upper tail-coverts and forehead much lighter than the back, the former sometimes almost white. Sides and breast generally nearly pure white.
Black of loral space with conspicuous hoary margin above it. Inner web of secondaries much as in C. ludovicianus. Axillars whitish. Tail-feathers with concealed white patch at bases of all the feathers. Bill from nostril about .50. No waved lines beneath. White patch on wing reaching nearly opposite to end of first primary. Tarsus longer than the gape. Length, 8.50; wing, 4.05; tail, 4.25; bill above, .83; tarsus, 1.12 … excubitoroides.
Collurio borealis, BAIRD.
GREAT NORTHERN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER-BIRD.
Lanius borealis, VIELLOT, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 90, pl. 1.—SW.— AUD. Syn.—IB. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 130, pl. ccxxxvi.—CASSIN.—MAX. Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 190 (Upper Missouri).—JONES, Nat. Bermuda, 1857, 51 (Bermuda).—DRESSER & SHARPE, P. Z. S. 1870, 590. Collyrio borealis, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 324.—COOPER & SUCKLEY, P. R. Rep. XII, II, 1860, 188 (Washington Territory).—DALL & BANNISTER, 280 (Alaska).—SAMUELS, Birds N. Eng. 268. Collurio borealis, BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 440. Lanius excubitor, FORSTER, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 382 (not of LINNÆUS).—WILSON, I, 1808, 74, pl. v, fig. 1. Lanius septentrionalis, BON. Syn. 1828, 72 (not of GMELIN, which cannot be identified as an American species).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 137.—CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213.—MURRAY, Ed. New Phil. Jour. XI, 1859, 223 (H. B. T.).
HAB. Whole of America north of United States; in winter south to Washington, St. Louis, Prescott (Arizona), and North California; Bermuda (winter, JONES).
The description of this and the succeeding species will be found on page 413. In winter, the colors, especially of the immature birds, are quite different from those described. The plumage of the adult, in winter, differs from that of spring as follows: the lores and nasal tufts are whitish, instead of pure, sharply defined black, with, however, some of the hair-like fibres blackish. The ash above is a little less clear, the white beneath less pure; the under mandible whitish at the base. An immature bird, in winter, has the ash above overlaid by a wash of reddish-brown, producing a prevailing uniform light-brown tint; the black on side of head is reduced to an obsolete patch on the ear-coverts. The dull white beneath is everywhere—sometimes even on the lower tail-coverts—covered with numerous bars of dusky, more sharply defined, and darker than in the adult.
Eastern specimens appear to have as much white on the rump as Western ones.
HABITS. In the breeding-season this species of Shrike is found in all North America north of the United States, and is said to breed also within our territory, in mountainous districts. Such, at least, is the statement of Mr. Audubon, and Wilson leaves us to infer the same thing by giving a minute description of its nest and eggs. But Audubon may have confounded this species with the excubitoroides, and Wilson, apparently believing our species and the excubitor of Europe to be identical, may have had the nest and eggs of the European bird in view in his description. We know of a single recent instance in which this bird has bred within the limits of the United States, though it may breed in Northern and Eastern Maine. Mr. Boardman spoke of it as common only in winter, near Calais, but he has since met with its nest in New Brunswick, within twelve miles of St. Stephen. It was supposed by his informant to be the nest of the Canada Jay, but proved, on shooting the parent, to be that of the Northern Shrike. When found, it contained four eggs, but these had hatched out before it was secured. The nest was found on the last of April, and was built in a low spruce-tree. Mr. Boardman has since seen these birds in his neighborhood during the summer. Professor Verrill thinks it is only common in the autumn and winter in Western Maine. In Western Massachusetts, Mr. Allen cites it as not very common, but a regular winter visitant, from the last of October to the middle of April.
Mr. Ridgway met with it frequently in the neighborhood of Carson City during the winter, among the willows bordering the streams that flow from the mountains. Dr. Coues also found it as far south as Arizona, though Mr. Dresser did not meet with any in Texas, nor did Dr. Woodhouse notice any in his expedition to the Zuñi. Captain Feilner found this species common, in the colder months, in the northeastern portions of California, and Dr. Cooper gives it as abundant at the Columbia River in October.
Mr. Audubon further states that in severe winters he has met with it as far south as Natchez on the Mississippi. It is also not uncommon in Kentucky during the same season, but he never met with it near the seaboard.
Mr. Kennicott’s memoranda in reference to this species are to the effect that he observed one individual at Fort Simpson, September 23, and again October 22, but on no other occasion. Both of these specimens, when first observed, were singing. Their notes, he states, were low and irregular, but were varied and quite musical. Captain Blakiston found these birds winter residents on the Saskatchewan.
In the fall and winter of 1871, a pair of these birds was attracted to the Common, in Boston, by the large number of half-domesticated European Sparrows. For a while they made daily inroads upon these favorites, killing one or more for several days in succession. They appeared to keep themselves secreted most of the time, showing themselves each day early in the forenoon, and pouncing upon their victims, unaware of their near presence, in the manner of a Hawk, aiming always at the heads, which were torn off and devoured; generally the headless remains were left uneaten. In one instance where a Sparrow had been struck on the back, an ugly wound was made, the bird escaped alive, and was soon after seen, in the middle of Tremont Street, apparently not seriously injured. These Shrikes were so bold and destructive that pains had to be taken to watch for and shoot them. Three were killed, on different days, and each with a dead Sparrow in its claws, upon which it was feasting when shot.
Both Mr. Audubon and Mr. Nuttall refer to this Shrike’s imitating the cries of other birds, apparently to decoy them within its reach. The former has heard it utter cries like those of the Sparrow screaming in the claws of a Hawk, to induce them to come out of their coverts and rescue their suffering fellows, and has seen them dart suddenly into a thicket in pursuit of one, from which would soon issue the real cries of the bird it had seized. Nuttall states that in some parts of New England this Shrike is called a Mocking-Bird, on account of its imitations of the notes of smaller birds. Its more usual note resembles the discordant creaking of a signboard hinge. He also states that it has been known to mimic the quacking of ducks, so that these would answer to it as to a decoy. He heard one of these birds, as late as November 10, uttering a low and soft warble, resembling that of the Song Sparrow, immediately after changing it to the notes of the Catbird.
When in pursuit of small birds, it will dart down with closed wings, in the manner of a Hawk, and seldom fails to obtain the object of its pursuit, following it with rapidity and pertinacity through the thickets in which it seeks shelter. When it seizes its prey, it alights on its back, and tears open its head.
Its bold audacity and perseverance are quite remarkable, and are often displayed, in the fall, in the manner in which it will enter an apartment through an open window and attack a Canary, even in the presence of members of the family. It rarely fails, if it gains access to the cage, to destroy its inmate before the latter can be rescued by the intervention of those present, and only by great promptness in sheltering the cage. In one instance the writer was sitting at a closed window reading, with a Canary hanging above him. Suddenly there was a severe blow struck at the pane of glass near the cage, and the frightened Canary uttered cries of alarm and fell to the bottom of its cage. The cause was soon explained. A Shrike had dashed upon the bird, unconscious of the intervening glass, and was stretched upon the snow under the window, stunned by the blow. He revived when taken up, and lived several days, was sullen, but tame, and utterly devoid of fear. He refused raw meat, but eagerly tore in pieces and devoured small birds when given to him. His tameness and indifference to our presence may have been occasioned by stupor arising from his injury. In another case a Shrike made a similar attack, but escaped unharmed, and though he remained about the house several days, was too wary to allow himself to be decoyed within gunshot.
A nest of the Northern Shrike, containing six eggs, was obtained by R. R. McFarlane, at Anderson River Fort, June 11, 1863. This is in many respects in striking contrast with the nests of its kindred species of the Southern States, far exceeding them in its relative size, in elaborate finish and warmth. It is altogether a remarkable example of what are known as felted nests, where various materials are most elaborately worked together into a homogeneous and symmetrical whole. It is seven inches in diameter and three and a half in height. The cavity is proportionately large and deep, having a diameter of four and a half inches, and a depth of two. Except the base, which is composed of a few twigs and stalks of coarser plants, the nest is made entirely of warm and soft materials, most elaborately interworked together. These materials are feathers from various birds, fine down of the Eider and other ducks, fine mosses and lichens, slender stems, grasses, etc., and are skilfully and artistically wrought into a beautiful and symmetrical nest, strengthened by the interposition of a few slender twigs and stems without affecting the general felt-like character of the whole. The egg measures 1.10 inches by .80, and is of a light greenish ground, marbled and streaked with blotches of obscure-purple, clay-color, and rufous-brown.
Sir John Richardson found this a by no means uncommon bird in the woody districts, at least as far as the sixteenth parallel. On account of its resemblance to the Canada Jay, the Indians called it the “White Whiskey-John.” It remains all winter in the fur regions, but is much more numerous in summer. He states that the nest is built in the fork of a tree, of dry grass and lichens neatly intertwined, and lined with feathers.
Collurio ludovicianus, BAIRD.
SOUTHERN SHRIKE; LOGGERHEAD.
Lanius ludovicianus, LINN. Syst. Nat. 1766, 134 (based on _Lanius ludovicianus_, BRISSON, II, 162, tab. xv, fig. 2).—AUD. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 300, pl. xxxvii.—IB. Birds Am. IV, pl. ccxxxvii.—CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213. Collyrio ludovicianus, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 325. Collurio ludov. BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 443. Lanius ardosiaceus, VIEILLOT, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, 81, pl. li. Lanius carolinensis, WILS. Am. Orn. III, 1811, 57, pl. xxii, fig. 5.
HAB. South Atlantic (and Gulf?) States.
The young bird is quite different from the adult, differing as does that of excubitoroides, but the colors are all darker than in the corresponding age of that species.
HABITS. This species, if we regard it as distinct from the excubitoroides, has apparently a very restricted distribution, being confined to the South Atlantic and Gulf States. I am not aware that it has been found farther north than North Carolina. It is not common, according to Audubon, either in Louisiana or Mississippi, and probably only occurs there in the winter. I have had its eggs from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Dresser speaks of this Shrike as common in Texas in summer, and Dr. Woodhouse states that he found it very abundant in Texas and the Indian Territory. These observations may probably apply to the kindred race, excubitoroides, and not to this form.
It is said to be exclusively a bird of the lowlands, and never to be met with in the mountainous parts, even of its restricted habitat.
Dr. Coues found this species very common in the neighborhood of Columbia, S. C., frequenting the wooded streets and waste fields of that city. On one occasion he observed a Loggerhead busily foraging for insects in the grounds of the Capitol. From the top of a tall bush it would occasionally sally out, capture a large grasshopper, and carry it to a tree near by, full of sharp twigs. It would then proceed to impale the insect on one of these points, remain awhile watching the result of its performance, and then resume its post on the bush, watching for more grasshoppers, some of which, one by one, it caught and impaled in like manner, others it ate on the spot.
This curious habit of impaling insects, more or less common to the entire family of Shrikes, seems to admit of no satisfactory explanation. In this case the bird thus secured them when apparently hungry, eating some and impaling others. Yet, so far as I know, it never makes any use of those it thus impales.
Mr. Audubon states that in South Carolina it is quite common along the fences and hedges about the rice plantations at all seasons, and that it renders good service to the planters in the destruction of field-mice, as well as of many of the larger insects. He speaks of its song as consisting only of shrill, clear, creaking, prolonged notes, resembling the grating of a rusty hinge. His account differs, in many respects, from the more minute and exact descriptions of Rev. Dr. Bachman. In pursuing its prey, he states that it invariably strikes it with its bill before seizing it with its claws.
In reference to its song, Dr. Bachman states that it has other notes besides the grating sound mentioned by Audubon. During the breeding-season, and nearly all the summer, the male bird posts itself at the top of some tree and makes an effort at a song, which he compares to the first attempts of a young Brown Thrush. This is a labored effort, and at times the notes are not unpleasing, but very irregular.
Dr. Bachman also claims that the male evinces marked evidences of attachment to his mate, carrying to her, every now and then, a grasshopper or a cricket, and driving away hawk or crow as they approach the nest.
He also states that he has usually found the nest on the outer limbs of trees, often from fifteen to thirty feet from the ground, and only once on a bush so low as ten feet from the ground. He has occasionally seen these birds feeding on mice, and also on birds that had been apparently wounded by the sportsman. It will sometimes catch young birds and devour them, but its food consists chiefly of grasshoppers, crickets, coleopterous and other insects, including butterflies and moths, which it will pursue and capture on the wing. Dr. Bachman has observed its habit of pinning insects on thorns. In one instance he saw it occupy itself for hours in sticking up, in this way, small fishes thrown on the shore, but he has never known them to devour anything thus impaled.
This Shrike is partially migratory in South Carolina, as a few may be found all winter, but only one tenth of those seen in summer. It is also very fond of the little changeable green lizard, which it pursues with great skill and activity, but not always with success.
It is said also to breed twice in a season. Dr. Bachman describes their eggs as white, and Mr. Audubon speaks of them as greenish-white. Neither make any reference to their spots.
All the nests that I have ever seen of this species, in the simplicity of their structure and in their lack of elaboration, are in remarkable contrast with the nests of both the borealis and the excubitoroides. They are flat, shallow structures, with a height of about two inches and a diameter of five. They are made externally of long soft strips of the inner bark of the basswood, strengthened on the sides with a few dry twigs, stems, and roots. Within, it is lined with fine grasses and stems of herbaceous plants.
The eggs, often six in number, are in length from 1.02 to 1.08 inches, and from .72 to .78 of an inch in breadth; their ground-color is a yellowish or clayey-white, blotched and marbled with dashes, more or less confluent, of obscure purple, light brown, and a purplish-gray. The spots are usually larger and more scattered than in the eggs of C. borealis, and the ground-color is a yellowish and not a bluish white, as in the eggs of C. excubitoroides.
Collurio ludovicianus, var. robustus, BAIRD.
WHITE-WINGED SHRIKE.
?? Lanius elegans, SW. F. B. A. II, 1831, 122.—NUTTALL, Man. I, 1840, 287.—CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 327. Collyrio elegans, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 328. Collurio elegans, BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 444.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 140. (According to DRESSER & SHARPE, P. Z. S. 1870, 595, who have examined the type, the L. elegans of Swainson is the same as L. lahtora, SYKES, of Siberia.)
HAB. California?
The description already given is taken from a specimen in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy, labelled as having been collected in California by Dr. Gambel, and is very decidedly different from any of the recognized North American species. Of nearly the size of C. excubitoroides and ludovicianus, it has a bill even more powerful than that of C. borealis. In its unwaved under parts and uniform color of the entire upper surface, except scapulars, it differs from borealis and excubitoroides, and resembles ludovicianus. In the extension of white over the inner webs of the secondaries, it closely resembles C. excubitor. The great restriction of white at the base of the tail—the four central feathers being entirely black, and the bases of the others grayish-ashy—is quite peculiar to the species.
The specimen in the Philadelphia Academy we originally referred to the L. elegans of Swainson, alleged to have come from the fur countries, as although some appreciable differences presented themselves, especially in the coloration of the tail, these were considered as resulting from an imperfect description. Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser, however, as quoted above, show that Swainson’s type really belongs to L. lahtora, an Old World species. We therefore find it expedient to give a new name to the variety, having no reason to discredit the alleged locality of the specimen.
Collurio ludovicianus, var. excubitoroides, BAIRD.
WESTERN LOGGERHEAD; WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE.
Lanius excubitoroides, SWAINSON, F. B. A. II, 1831, 115 (Saskatchewan).—GAMBEL, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1847, 200 (Cala.).—CASSIN, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1857, 213.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1864, 173 (City of Mexico). Collyrio excubitoroides, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 327. Collurio excub. BAIRD, Rev. Am. B. 1864, 445.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 138. ? Lanius mexicanus, BREHM, Cab. Jour. II, 1854, 145.—SCLATER, Catal. 1861, 46 (Mexico). Lanius ludovicianus, MAX. Cab. Jour. 1858, 191 (Upper Missouri).—DRESSER & SHARPE, P. Z. S. 1870, 595.
HAB. Western Province of North America, as far north as Oregon; Middle North America, to the Saskatchewan, and east to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois; south to Orizaba and Oaxaca, and City of Mexico; Cape St. Lucas.
The precise boundaries between this species and C. ludovicianus are difficult of definition, as the transition is almost insensible.
The young bird is pale fulvous-ash above, everywhere with transverse crescentic bars of dusky. Two bands of mottled pale fulvous across wings, on tips of middle and greater coverts. Tail tipped with ochraceous, the white feathers tinged with the same. Breast and sides with obsolete bars of dusky. Black band on side of head rather obsolete.
In its extreme stage of coloration it differs from ludovicianus in paler and purer color; the ash of back lighter; the under parts brilliant white, not decidedly plumbeous on the sides as in the other, and without so great a tendency to the usual obsolete waved lines (noticed distinctly only in winter or immature birds); the axillars bluish-white, not plumbeous. The white of wings and tail is more extended; the hoary of forehead and whitish of scapulars more distinct. The bristles at base of bill somewhat involving the feathers are black, forming a narrow frontal line, not seen in the other. The most striking difference is in the rump and upper tail-coverts, which are always appreciably and abruptly lighter than the back, sometimes white or only faintly glossed with plumbeous; while in typical specimens of ludovicianus these feathers are scarcely lighter at all, and generally more or less varied with blackish spots at the end. The legs and tail are apparently longer, the latter less graduated. These differences are, however, most appreciable in specimens from the Middle and Western Provinces. Those from the Western States, east of the Missouri River, as far north as Wisconsin, are more intermediate between the two, although still nearest to the Rocky Mountain bird as described; the back darker, the rump and axillars more plumbeous, the sides more bluish. There is little doubt that the examination of series from the States along the Mississippi will show a still closer resemblance to typical C. ludovicianus, and that the gradation between the two extremes will be found to be continuous and unbroken. It therefore seems reasonable to consider them all as one species, varying with longitude and region according to the usual law,—the more western the lighter, with longer tail. The only alternative is to suppose that two species, originally distinct, have hybridized along the line of junction of their respective provinces, as is certainly sometimes the case. The approximation in many respects of coloration of the Shrikes of the Pacific coast to those of the South Atlantic States is not without its importance in the discussion of the subject. However it may be, it is necessary to retain the name of excubitoroides, as representing, whether as species or variety, a peculiar regional form, which must be kept distinctly in mind. The comparatively greater size of the bill in the Cape St. Lucas specimens is seen in other species from this locality (No. 26,438 of adjacent figure).
[Line drawings: 26438 13600]
The intensity of the black front in this species varies considerably, being sometimes very distinct, and again entirely wanting. This may probably be a character of the breeding-season, the dulness of black anterior to the eye and the lighter color of the bill having a close relationship here, as in other species, to maturity, sex, and season.
HABITS. This variety was first described from specimens obtained in the territory of the Hudson’s Bay Co. Richardson states that it was not found farther north than the fifty-fourth degree, and there only in the warm and sandy plain of the Saskatchewan. Its manners, he says, are precisely similar to those of the borealis, feeding chiefly on the grasshoppers, which were very numerous on the plains. Mr. Drummond found its nest in the beginning of June, in a bush of willows. It was built of the twigs of the Artemisia and dry grass, and lined with feathers. The eggs were six in number, of a pale yellowish-gray color, with many irregular and confluent spots of oil-green, mixed with a few of smoke-gray.
Mr. Ridgway met with it, in his Western explorations, in all localities, but most frequently among the Artemisia and in the meadow-tracts of the river valleys. It is also seen on all parts of the mountains, among the cedar groves, localities in which the ludovicianus is said never to be found.
Dr. Cooper describes this bird as abundant in all the plains-region of California, but not as far as the Columbia River. South of latitude 38°, they reside all the year. They were abundant about Fort Mohave all winter, and nested as early as the 19th of March in a thorn-bush. They had young early in April. At San Diego they nested later, about April 20. He speaks of their singing as an attempt at a song, the notes being harsh, like those of a Jay, but not imitative. They catch birds, but do so very rarely, depending upon grasshoppers and other insects.
The nests of the excubitoroides, so far as I have had any opportunity to examine them, always exhibit a very marked contrast, in the elaborateness of their structure, to any of the ludovicianus that have fallen under my notice. They resemble those of the borealis in their size and the felted nature of their walls, but are more coarsely and rudely put together. They have an external diameter of about eight inches, and a height of four. The cavity is also large and deep. These nests are always constructed with much artistic skill and pains. The base is usually a closely impacted mass of fine grasses, lichens, mosses, and leaves, intermingled with stout dry twigs. Upon this is wrought a strong fabric of fine wood-mosses, flaxen fibres of plants, leaves, grasses, fur of quadrupeds, and other substances. Intertwined with these are a sufficient number of slender twigs and stems of plants to give to the whole a remarkable strength and firmness. This is often still further strengthened by an external protection woven of stouter twigs and small ends of branches, stems, etc. The whole is then thoroughly and warmly lined with a soft matting of the fur of several kinds of small animals, vegetable down, and a few feathers.
The eggs, five or six in number, measure 1.00 by .73 of an inch, and strongly resemble those of both the borealis and the ludovicianus. Their ground-color is pale greenish-white, over which are marks and blotches, more or less confluent, of lilac, purplish-brown, and light umber.
Mr. Ridgway, who is familiar with this bird in Southern Illinois, informs me that in that section it is a resident species, being abundant during the summer and by no means rare in the winter. It is there, strangely enough, often called the Mocking-Bird, its similar appearance and fondness for the same locality leading some persons to confound these very different birds. In districts where the true Mimus is not common, young birds of this species are frequently taken from their nests and innocently sold to unsuspecting admirers of that highly appreciated songster.
This bird inhabits, almost exclusively, open situations, being particularly fond of waste fields where young honey-locusts (Gleditschia triacanthos) have grown up. Among their thorny branches its nests are almost utterly inaccessible, if beyond the reach of poles. In such localities this bird may often be seen perched in an upright position upon some thorn-bush, or a fence-stake, quietly watching for its prey, remaining nearly an hour at a time motionless except for an occasional movement of the head.
The flight of this bird, Mr. Ridgway adds, is quite peculiar, utterly unlike that of any other bird except the Oreoscoptes montanus, which it only slightly resembles. In leaving its perch it sinks nearly to the ground, describing a curve as it descends, and, passing but a few feet above the surface, ascends in the same manner to the object upon which it is next to light. The flight is performed in an undulating manner, the bird sustaining itself a short time by a rapid fluttering of the wings, and sinking as this motion is suspended. As it flies, the white patch on the wing, with the general appearance of its gray and white plumage, increases its resemblance to the Mocking-Bird.
Though very partial to thorn-trees (honey-locust), other trees having a thick foliage—as those canopied by a tangled mass of wild grapevines—are frequently occupied as nesting-places; while a pair frequently make their home in an apple-orchard, selecting the old untrimmed trees. The situation of the nest varies according to the character of the tree; if in a thorn-bush, it is placed next the trunk, encased within protecting bunches of thorns; but if in an apple-tree, it is situated, generally, near the extremity of a horizontal branch. The number of eggs is generally six, but Mr. Ridgway has several times found seven in one nest. No bird is more intrepid in the defence of its nest than the present one; at such times it loses, apparently, all fear, and becomes almost frenzied with anger, alighting so near that one might grasp it, were he quick enough, and with open mouth and spread wings and tail threatening the intruder, its attacks accompanied by a peculiar crackling noise, interrupted by a harsh, grating qua, qua, qua, slowly repeated, but emphatically uttered.
The habit peculiar to the Shrikes of impaling their victims Mr. Ridgway has observed frequently in this species; for this purpose the long and extremely sharp thorns of the honey-locust serve it admirably; and “spitted” upon them he has found shrews, mice, grasshoppers, spiders, and even a Chimney-Swallow (Chætura pelagica); and, in another instance, but upon the upright broken-off twig of a dead weed in a field, a large spider. He has also known this bird to dart at the cage of a Canary-Bird, and frighten the poor inmate so that it thrust its head between the wires, when it was immediately torn off by the powerful beak of the Butcher-Bird.
The young of this species becomes a very pleasing and extremely docile pet. Mr. Ridgway has known one which, though fully grown, with power of flight uninjured, and in possession of unrestrained freedom, came to its possessor at his call, and accompanied him through the fields, its attachment being rewarded by frequent “doses” of grasshoppers, caught for it. It had been fully feathered before taken from the nest. Unfortunately the vocal capabilities of this Shrike are not sufficient to allow its becoming a general favorite as a pet; for, although possessing considerable talent for mimicry, it imitates only the rudest sounds, while its own notes, consisting of a grating, sonorous qua and a peculiar creaking sound, each with several variations, are anything but delightful.
FAMILY CÆREBIDÆ.—THE CREEPERS.
As already stated on page 177, there is little to distinguish the Cærebidæ from the Sylvicolidæ, except by the longer and more protracted tongue, and by the narrower gape in some of the forms. The genera Certhiola, Cæreba, Diglossa, etc., have peculiarities by which they are easily recognized; but when we come to such members as Dacnis, Conirostrum, etc., it becomes very difficult to separate them from the slender-billed Tanagers, the Wood Warblers, and the Helminthophagas.
Although the family is one widely distributed, in numerous genera, over Middle and South America, but one, Certhiola, belongs to North America, this being represented by a species, or rather a race, abundant in the Bahamas, and occasionally met with in the Florida Keys. We shall therefore give only the diagnosis of this family.
GENUS CERTHIOLA, SUNDEVALL.
Certhiola, SUNDEVALL, Vet. Akad. Handl. Stockholm, 1835, 99. (Type, Certhia flaveola, LINN.
[Line drawing: Certhiola flaveola, Sund.]
GEN. CHAR. Bill nearly as long as the head; as high as broad at base, elongated, conical, very acute, and gently decurved from base to tip. Culmen uniformly convex; gonys concave. No bristles at base of bill. Tail rounded, rather shorter than the wings. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Iris brown? Nest pensile and arched. Eggs with yellowish ground dotted thickly with rufous spots.
This genus is one of those especially characterizing the West Indies, almost every island as far as known having its peculiar species, differing, it is true, in very slight characters, but always constant to the normal type. Cuba alone has so far furnished no representative of this genus, its place being supplied apparently by Cæreba cyanea. The specimens from St. Thomas I cannot distinguish from those of Porto Rico, but this is, so far as the series before me indicates, the only case where one species occurs on two islands. All the West Indian species, nine or ten in number, agree in having the whole upper part nearly uniformly dusky or blackish; the head and back being concolored, while of the three or four South American all but one (C. luteola) have the back more olivaceous, the head much darker. Again, the West Indian species, with a single exception (C. bananivora), have both webs of lateral tail-feathers broadly and about equally tipped with white; while in all the South American this white is more restricted on the inner web, and on the outer reduced to a narrow border. C. caboti from Cozumel, near the eastern coast of Yucatan, exhibits the Continental impress in possessing the character last mentioned.
In all the species from the Greater Antilles and the portion of Continental America west and directly south of this group, there is a distinct external white patch at base of quills; while this disappears in the species of the Lesser Antilles and eastern South America, or is only faintly traceable. Again, in the species of the Lesser Antilles, with the disappearance of the white wing-patch, the greater and middle wing-coverts show a faint edging of lighter, by which, as well as by the darker back, they are distinguished from their South American allies.
The shape of the white patch at base of the quills on the outer web furnishes, in combination with the color of the throat, excellent and permanent specific characters. This in the Jamaican, Haytien, and Bahaman forms is elongated, extending gradually and uniformly behind to the outer edge of the quill, while in those of Porto Rico, St. Thomas, Cozumel, and the South American species, where it exists, the posterior outline is nearly transverse, and only running out a little along outer web.
As a general rule South American species have shorter tails than the West Indian.
It is a nice question what are really species in this genus, and what merely races or varieties; but it would probably be not far from correct to assume that the various forms described are simply modifications of one primitive species, produced by geographical distribution and external physical conditions. In the following diagnosis I shall treat all the varieties as occupying the same rank, without attempting any discrimination. Although but one of these belongs to the United States, and that as a straggler from the Bahamas, I give the table of the whole, to show the interesting relationship between them.
COMMON CHARACTERS. Above dusky-olive or blackish; the rump olivaceous or yellowish; the head and cheeks always black, and sometimes darker than back. Chin and throat ashy or black. Rest of under part yellow, duller behind. A broad white stripe from bill above eye to nape. A white patch at base of primaries; generally visible externally, sometimes concealed. Lateral tail-feathers tipped with white. Bill black; legs dusky.
A. Head uniform in color with rest of upper parts; dark sooty-brown or blackish. Both webs of outer tail-feather tipped with white (except in luteola). All West Indian except luteola, which, however, occurs in Tobago and Trinidad, and generally belongs to the shores of the Carribean Sea.
1. A distinct and conspicuous external white patch at base of primaries. Wing-coverts not margined with paler.
a. Throat uniformly but decided dark ash-color, varying in shade, never entirely black, however, nor ashy-white.
Throat very dark ash, not contrasting or appreciably different from blackish of cheeks.
Wing-spot elongated; the white running out gradually and obliquely behind to the outer edge of the primary, reaching shaft of outer primary. Yellow of breast decidedly ochraceous. Rump as bright yellow as the belly. Hab. Jamaica … flaveola.[83]
White patch of wing more quadrate on each quill; transverse; not tapering off gradually and uniformly behind; not reaching the shaft on outer primary. Breast without ochraceous; rump olivaceous-yellow; the color different from that of belly. Hab. Santa Cruz … newtoni.[84]
b. Chin and throat lighter ash (but not at all whitish); in decided and appreciable contrast with blackish of cheeks. Jugulum yellow, like under parts generally.
Lateral tail-feather broadly tipped with white on both webs. Rump olivaceous-yellow.
Wing-spot on each primary nearly quadrate, as in newtoni. Hab. Porto Rico and St. Thomas … portoricensis.[85]
Lateral tail-feather with inner web only broadly tipped with white. Rump bright yellow like belly. Bill very small.
White of wing as in flaveola, but less extended, and margining edge only of outer primary. Hab. Hayti and St. Domingo … bananivora.[86]
White of wing as in newtoni. Size much larger; darker above. Hab. Tobago, Trinidad, and north shore of South America … luteola.[87]
c. Chin, throat, and jugulum white, with a tinge of ashy. Yellow of under parts much restricted.
Depth of bill less than half distance from nostril to tip. Superciliary stripe reaching to nape. Yellow of under part restricted to a triangular patch on breast. White spot on wing large, tapering off gradually on each primary, as in flaveola; on the outer reaching shaft. Both webs of outer tail-feather about equally tipped. Hab. Bahamas and Florida Keys … bahamensis.[88]
Depth of bill fully half distance from nostril to tip. Superciliary stripe reaching the occiput only. Yellow of under parts more extended. White spot on wing restricted; more quadrate, as in newtoni; edge only of outer primary involved. Outer web of outer tail-feather scarcely tipped. Hab. Cozumel Island, Yucatan … caboti.[89]
2. No external white patch at base of primary quills. Wing-coverts obscurely margined with paler. Both webs of outer tail-feathers tipped about equally with white. Rump olivaceous; this color of but slight extent.
a. Throat black; continuous with black of cheeks; or else very dark plumbeous, scarcely distinguishable from the cheeks.
Median line of throat white, the sides black like the cheeks; chin alone black. Superciliary stripes not confluent anteriorly. Hab. Martinique … martinicana.[90]
Whole throat blackish. No white frontal band?
Wing 2.50 inches. Belly ochraceous. Hab. Dominica Island, West Indies … dominicana.[91]
Wing 2.20 inches. Belly more yellow. Hab. Barbadoes … barbadensis.[92]
Whole throat very dark plumbeous. A whitish frontal broad band connecting the superciliary stripes which extend in front of the eye. Hab. Antigua, West Indies … frontalis.[93]
A grayish frontal band; superciliary stripes narrow; not extending in front of eye. Trace of white patch at base of primaries … bartholemica.[94]
B. Head blackish, in distinct contrast to the more olivaceous back. Outer tail-feather with outer web scarcely tipped with white. Wing-coverts not margined with paler. Throat light ash, in distinct contrast to black of cheek.
1. A distinct external white wing-patch at base of primaries.
Rump olive-green. Hab. Mexico and Central America, but hardly reaching line of Panama R. R. … mexicana.[95]
Rump olive-yellow. Hab. Panama R. R.; south along Andes to Peru … peruviana.[96]
a. No external white wing-patch.
Rump olive-green. Hab. Brazil and Guiana … chloropyga.[97]
The preceding table is based upon a critical examination of many hundred specimens belonging to the Smithsonian Institution.—S. F. BAIRD.
Certhiola bahamensis, REICH.
BAHAMA CREEPER.
Certhia flaveola, var. β. LINN. Syst. Nat. ed. 12, I, 1766, 187. (“Certhia” bahamensis, CATESBY, Car. tab. 59. Bahamas.) Certhiola flaveola, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 924, pl. lxxxiii, f. 3 (Indian Key, Fla.). Certhiola bahamensis, REICH. Handb. I, 1853, 253 (CATESBY, Car. tab. 59, Bahamas).—CASSIN, Pr. A. N. S. Ph. 1864, 271. C. bairdi, CABANIS, Jour. Orn. 1865, 412 (_C. flaveola_, BAIRD, Birds N. A.).
SP. CHAR. (11,951 ♂, Bahamas.) Above dark dusky-brown; scarcely darker on the head; the rump yellow. Edge of wing and a triangular patch covering the front of breast (the angle behind) pale yellow; the rest of under parts pale ashy-white, purest on front and sides of neck and on crissum; on flanks somewhat soiled and rather darker. A broad superciliary white stripe (not crossing the forehead) from bill to nape, but little lighter than the throat; the line of feathers immediately behind the nostrils, and a small patch at base of lower mandible under the tips, with the usual stripe from bill through the eye, being blackish. White spot at base of quills very distinct externally; the posterior outline on each outer web of the primaries not quadrate, but running out obliquely behind and on the outermost quill reaching the shaft. Edges of quills narrowly margined with grayish-white; on the secondaries continued round the tips. No distinct bands on the coverts. Outer tail-feathers broadly tipped with white; this even involving the innermost, but reduced to a narrow edge. Total length, 4.40; wing, 2.30; tail, 1.80.
Bill: Length from forehead, .62; from nostril, .41; along gape, .59; depth at base, .17. Legs: Tarsus, .75; middle toe and claw, .58; claw alone, .17; hind toe and claw, .45; claw alone, .20.
HAB. Bahamas and Keys of southeast coast of Florida.
A specimen from the Florida Keys (10,367) is rather darker than those from the Bahamas, the white less extended, and not quite reaching the shafts in the outer quills.
HABITS. This species, belonging properly to the Bahaman group of the West Indian Islands, was found at Indian Key, Fla., January 31, 1858, by Mr. Würdemann, where it appeared to be not at all rare. Nothing is known of its habits, but they are doubtless nearly the same as those of the allied species. The C. flaveola is known in Jamaica as the Banana Quit, Honey-Sucker, and Black and Yellow Creeper. According to the description of them given by Mr. Gosse, these birds, scarcely larger than the Humming-Birds, are often seen in company with them, probing the flowers for similar purposes, but in a very different manner. Instead of hovering like the Humming-Bird in front of the blossom, for which its short wings would be incompetent, these birds alight on the tree and proceed in a very business-like manner. Hopping from twig to twig in an active manner, they carefully examine each blossom. In doing this they throw their bodies into a variety of positions, often clinging by the feet with the back downwards, the better to reach the interior of a blossom with their curved beaks and peculiar tongue. The objects of these researches are the small insects which are always found in the interior of flowers. This bird is unsuspecting and familiar, and very freely resorts to the blossoming shrubs of the gardens and yards. Mr. Gosse mentions, in evidence of this familiarity, that a large moringa-tree under his window, as he was writing, and which all through the year was profusely set with fragrant blossoms, and was a favorite resort of these birds, was being carefully scrutinized by two active little Creepers. Although within a few feet of his window, they pursued their examinations, perfectly undisturbed by his looking on. As they move about they utter a soft sibilant note.
The nests of this little bird are usually built in those low trees and bushes to which are fastened the nests of the brown wasps, and in close contiguity to them. Mr. Gosse regards this singular predilection as a remarkable exercise of instinct, if not of reason, as the evident object of it is the protection afforded by the presence of those formidable insects, though upon what terms of amity this defensive alliance is kept does not appear.
These Creepers incubate during the months of May, June, and July. On the 4th of May, Mr. Gosse observed one with a bit of “silk-cotton” in her beak, and found the skeleton of the nest just commenced in a bush of the Lantana camara. It was evidently to be of dome shape, and so far had been constructed entirely of silk-cotton. The completed nests are made in the form of a globe, with a small opening below the side. The walls are very thick, composed of dry grasses intermixed irregularly with the down of asclepias. One of these nests was fixed between the twigs of a branch of a Bauhinia projecting over a highway. Another, found towards the end of June, was built in a bush of Lantana, and of the same structure. It contained two eggs, greenish-white, thickly but indefinitely dashed with reddish at the larger end. Mr. Gosse quotes a Mr. Robinson as giving their dimensions at .44 by .31 of an inch, while his own specimens are much larger than this, measuring .63 by nearly .50. Two eggs of C. flaveola, from Jamaica, in my cabinet, measure, .68 by .51 and .68 by .49 of an inch. In one the ground is a dull white, so generally and thickly covered with minute but confluent dots of reddish-brown as to impart a pinkish tinge to the whole egg. In the other the ground is a dull white, sparingly marked with blotches of brown over about three fourths of its surface, but at the larger end covered with a crown of larger and confluent blotches of subdued purple and dark umber, intermingled with a few lines of a darker hue, almost black.
Two eggs of G. newtoni, from St. Croix, are of a more rounded-oval shape, and measure .69 by .45 and .65 by .44 of an inch. They have a dull white ground, but this is so uniformly and generally covered with confluent reddish-brown markings as to be nowhere very distinct.
The St. Croix species is called the Sugar-Bird in that island, from its habit of entering the curing-houses, through the barred windows, probably attracted thither by the swarms of flies. It is a very familiar species, haunting gardens, and often entering houses, and never manifesting any alarm. It keeps in pairs, and breeds from March to August. Mr. Newton states that it builds a domed and often pensile nest, with a small porch, or pent-house roof, over the entrance, generally at the extremity of a leafy bough. The nest is generally very untidy on the outside, and is composed of coarse grass and cotton, with feathers on the inside. It deposits its eggs before the completion of the nest, “rather to the discomfiture of the oölogist, who delays inserting his finger into the structure while he sees one or both of the birds busy with a tuft of grass or cotton in their bills, until at last he finds their eggs already hatched.” Mr. Newton observed one instance in which two broods were reared in the same nest, with only an interval of ten days between the time the young left it and the laying of an egg.