Part 16

Plate CXLVI. Male and Female.

Feathers of the head and neck oval and blended; third quill longest; tail considerably rounded, a small space at the base of the lower mandible on each side bare; general colour black, with blue and purple reflections above, blue and greenish beneath. Young brownish-black, with the blue and purple reflections less brilliant.

_Male_, 16, 33, _Female_, 15, 31.

From the mouths of the Mississippi upwards to Natchez, and along the Atlantic to New York. Common. Resident in the Southern States. Columbia River.

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 27.

Corvus ossifragus, Bonap. Syn. p. 57.

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 216.

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 268; v. v. p. 479.

GENUS II. PICA, Briss. MAGPIE.

Bill of moderate length, stout, considerably compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and arched, the sides convex, the ridge narrow, the edges nearly straight and overlapping, the notches faint, the tip declinate, and rather sharp; lower mandible with the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges inclinate, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by narrow stiff feathers directed forwards. Head large, ovate; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus stout, compressed, with eight scutella; toes of moderate length, stout, first large, stronger; lateral nearly equal, third considerably longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage full, soft, blended. Wings of moderate length, much rounded, the first quill very short, extremely narrow and falciform, fourth and fifth longest. Tail very long, graduated. Digestive organs as in Corvus.

227. 1. Pica melanoleuca, Vieill. Common Magpie.

Plate CCCLVII. Male and Female.

Bill black; head, neck, fore part of breast and back black, glossed with green and blue; middle of the back greyish-white; scapulars white; smaller wing-coverts black, secondary coverts, alula and primary coverts splendent with green and blue; primaries black, glossed with green, their inner webs white, except at the end, and for some way along their margin; secondaries bright blue, changing to green, their inner webs greenish-black; tail splendent with bright green, changing to greenish-yellow, purplish-red, bluish-purple, and dark green at the end; breast and sides pure white; legs, abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and lower wing-coverts, black.

_Male_, 18-1/2, 22-1/2.

Interior of Texas, West Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Rocky Mountains, and Saskatchewan. Common. Resident.

Corvus Pica, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 157.

Magpie, Corvus Pica, Wils. Amer. Orn.

Corvus Pica, Bonap. Syn. p. 57.

Magpie, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 219.

Common Magpie, Corvus Pica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 408.

228. 2. Pica Nuttallii, Aud. Yellow-billed Magpie.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 1. Male.

Bill and bare space beneath the eyes yellow; in form, proportion, and size, similar to the last; the feathers of the tail narrower; the colours similar, but the top of the head glossed with green, and the black of the back and fore neck tinged with brown.

_Male_, 18; wing, 7-3/4.

Upper California. Common. Resident.

Corvus Nuttali, Yellow-billed Magpie, Aud. Orn. Biog, v. iv. p. 450.

229. 3. Pica Bullockii, Wagler. Columbia Magpie.--Columbia Jay.

Plate XCVI. Adult.

Feathers of the head long and recurvate; tail extremely elongated; general colour blue; cheeks, fore neck, and anterior part of the breast black, the rest of the lower parts, with the tips of the outer four tail-feathers on each side, white.

_Male_, 31, 26.

Woody portions of North California.

Columbia Jay, Garrulus Bullockii, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 220.

Columbia Jay, Corvus Bullockii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 483.

GENUS III. GARRULUS, Briss. JAY.

Bill of moderate length, strong, straight, compressed, rather pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge scarcely distinct, the sides sloping, the edges nearly straight, sharp, and overlapping, the notches slight, the tip slightly depressed; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, rather wide, the dorsal line ascending, slightly convex, the sides sloping outwards, the edges direct, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, covered by reversed stiffish feathers. Head rather large; neck short; body stout. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with eight scutella; toes moderate, the first large, the outer considerably longer than the inner; claws well-arched, rather long, compressed, acute. Plumage blended; small bristles at the base of the upper mandible; feathers of the head generally elongated; wings rather short, first quill very short, fourth and fifth longest; tail rather long, much rounded. Roof of upper mandible concave, with three ridges; digestive organs as in Corvus.

230. 1. Garrulus Stelleri, Gmel. Steller's Jay.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 2. Male.

Occipital crest of linear-oblong, slightly recurved feathers; tail long, moderately rounded; head, neck, and fore part of back brownish-black, feathers of the forehead tipped with light blue; hind part of back, rump, upper tail-coverts and lower parts light blue; wings blue, secondary quills and their coverts rich ultramarine, narrowly barred with black, outer webs of primaries paler, their inner webs dusky; tail blue, with numerous narrow inconspicuous dusky bars.

_Male_, 13, wing 5-11/12.

Rocky Mountains, Columbia River, and north-west coast. Common. Migratory.

Corvus Stelleri, Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 370.

Corvus Stelleri, Bonap. Syn. p. 433.

Steller's Jay, Corvus Stelleri, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 44.

Garrulus Stelleri, Steller's Jay, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 294.

Steller's Jay, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 229.

Steller's Jay, Corvus Stelleri, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 453.

231. 2. Garrulus cristatus, Linn. Blue Jay.

Plate CII. Male and Female.

Feathers of the head elongated, oblong; tail much rounded. Upper parts light purplish-blue; wings and tail ultramarine, secondaries, their coverts, and tail-feathers barred with black, and tipped with white; a narrow band margining the forehead, loral space, and a band round the neck, black; throat and cheeks bluish-white; lower parts greyish-white tinged with brown.

_Male_, 12, 14.

Breeds from Texas eastward and northward to the Fur Countries, and as far as the bases of the Rocky Mountains. Abundant. Resident in the Middle, Interior, and Southern States.

Blue Jay, Corvus cristatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 2.

Corvus cristatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 58.

Garrulus cristatus, Blue Jay, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 293.

Blue Jay, Corvus cristatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 11; v. v. p. 475.

232. 3. Garrulus ultramarinus, Bonap. Ultramarine Jay.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 3. Male.

Feathers of the head short; tail much rounded; upper part of head, sides, and hind part of neck, wings and tail, with its coverts, light blue; back light greyish-brown; a faint band over the eye, formed by the tips of the feathers; cheeks dusky; fore neck greyish-white, faintly streaked with dusky, and banded below by a narrow semilunar band of light blue, continuous with that of the neck; lower parts pale grey passing into white.

_Male_, 12, wing 5-8/12.

Columbia River, and Upper California. Common. Migratory.

Ultramarine Jay, Corvus ultramarinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 456.

233. 4. Garrulus Floridanus, Bartram. Florida Jay.

Feathers of the head short; tail much rounded; upper part of head, sides, and hind part of neck, wings and tail, with its coverts, light blue; back very light greyish-brown; a bluish-white band over the forehead and eyes; cheeks dusky; fore neck greyish-white, with the shafts of the feathers dusky, and bordered below by a rather broad band of light blue, continuous with that of the neck; lower parts pale purplish-grey.

Intimately allied in colour to the Ultramarine Jay, but distinguishable by its smaller size, and more rounded tail, and by its having a band of whitish across the forehead, and extended over the eye, where it is not in dots as in that species.

_Male_, 11-1/4, 14.

Confined to the Floridas. Not very common. Resident.

Corvus floridanus, Bonap. Syn. p. 58.

Florida Jay, Garrulus floridanus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p.

Florida Jay, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 230.

Florida Jay, Corvus floridanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 444.

234. 5. Garrulus Canadensis, Linn. Canada Jay.

Plate CVII. Male and Female. Plate CCCCXXX. Fig. 3. Young.

Upper parts dull leaden-grey; lower dull yellowish-white; forehead yellowish-white; hind part of the head and neck greyish-black; throat and band passing round the neck, greyish-white; secondary quills and tail-feathers narrowly tipped with white. Young very dull slate-colour, paler on the abdomen, on the head blackish, wings and tail as in the adult, their tips of a duller white.

_Male_, 11, 15.

Rare, and only in winter, from Pennsylvania to New York. More abundant in Massachusetts. Common from Maine northward to the Fur Countries. Columbia River.

Canada Jay, Corvus canadensis, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. iii. p. 33.

Corvus canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 58.

Garrulus canadensis, Whisky Jack, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 295.

Garrulus brachyurus, Short-billed Jay, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 296. Young.

Garrulus canadensis, Canada Jay, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 232.

Short-billed Jay. Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 599.

Canada Jay, Corvus canadensis. Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 58; v. v. p. 208.

GENUS IV. NUCIFRAGA, Briss. NUTCRACKER.

Bill as long as the head, moderately stout, conical, compressed, at the tip rather depressed; upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides rounded, the edges sharp and overlapping, without notch, the tip flattened and obtuse; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges sharpened a little involute, the tip flattened and rather obtuse. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards. Head large, broadly ovate, neck rather short; body moderately stout. Tarsus rather short, compressed, with eight scutella; toes stout, the first very large, the inner a little shorter than the outer, which is adherent at the base. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended; no distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible, wings long, much rounded, the first quill very short, the fourth longest; tail of moderate length, rounded.

235. 1. Nucifraga Columbiana, Wils. Columbian Nutcracker.--Clark's Crow.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.

Light brownish-grey; forehead, throat, fore part of cheeks, and space round the eye yellowish-white; wings glossy bluish-black, seven of the secondaries largely tipped with white; upper tail-coverts greyish-black; tail pure white, except the two middle feathers, and the greater part of the inner webs of the next pair, which are bluish-black.

_Male_, 12, wing 7-11/12.

Rocky Mountains.

Clarke's Crow, Corvus columbianus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 29.

Corvus columbianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 57.

Columbian Crow, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 218.

Clarke's Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 459.

FAMILY XIX. LANIINÆ. SHRIKES.

Bill short, or of moderate length, stout, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; the gape-line slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the notch and dentiform process large, the tip narrow and decurved. Head large, roundish, ovate; neck short; body compact. Legs of moderate length; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes moderate, compressed; hind toe rather stout, lateral about equal, the outer adherent at the base. Claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles rather strong. Wings and tail various. Roof of upper mandible narrow, with a median ridge; tongue slender, concave above, horny toward the end, with the margins lacerated, and the tip slit; œsophagus wide, uniform; proventriculus elliptical; stomach broadly elliptical or roundish; its muscular coat thin, the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small; cloaca oblong or globular. Trachea simple; four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. LANIUS, Linn. SHRIKE, or BUTCHER-BIRD.

Bill of moderate length, strong, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line a little arched, towards the end decurved, the sides convex, the edges direct, with a large prominence succeeded by a deep notch, the tip decurved and acute; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex, the sides convex, the edges inflected, the tip ascending, acute. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, concealed by the bristly feathers. Head large, broadly ovate; neck short; body robust. Tarsus rather short, compressed, slender, with eight scutella; toes small, the first stout, the lateral nearly equal. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, extremely acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles stiff. Wings of ordinary length, first quill very short, fourth longest. Tail long, graduated, or rounded.

236. 1. Lanius borealis, Vieill. Great American Shrike.

Plate CXCII. Male and Female.

Fourth quill longest, third little shorter, second shorter than sixth, first half the length of second; tail long, graduated; bill brownish-black at the end, paler towards the base; upper parts light ash-grey, the ends of the scapulars and the upper tail-coverts grayish-white; a streak of whitish over the eye; loral space and a patch behind the eye brownish-black; first row of smaller wing-coverts, larger coverts, and quills, brownish-black; secondary quills and coverts edged and tipped with whitish; base of primaries white, forming a conspicuous patch, when the wing is extended; tail-feathers brownish-black, outer web of lateral feathers, and more than a third of its inner web from the tip, white; the extremities of all the rest, excepting the middle two, also white, gradually occupying less extent on the inner feathers; lower parts greyish-white, the fore part of the breast tinged with brown, and faintly marked with transverse undulating lines of dark grey, as are the sides. Female similar, but with the head and neck slightly tinged with brown, and the lower parts more banded.

_Lanius Excubitor_ differs in being considerably smaller, and in having the white on the wings and tail more extended, the bases and a great portion of the inner webs of the secondaries, except the inner three, being of that colour, as well as the bases of the primaries, and forming a conspicuous spot when the wing is closed, and the outer tail-feathers being often white in their whole length.

_Male_, 10-2/12, 14-2/12.

Breeds from Pennsylvania northward. During winter, migrates westward to the Mississippi, and as far south as Natchez. Not uncommon.

Great American Shrike or Butcher Bird, Lanius Excubitor, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 74.

Lanius septentrionalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 72.

Lanius borealis, Greater Northern Shrike, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 111.

Great American Shrike, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 258.

Great American Shrike, Lanius Excubitor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 534; v. v. p. 434.

237. 2. Lanius Ludovicianus, Linn. Loggerheaded Shrike.

Plate LVII. Male and Female.

Third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, second and sixth equal; tail rather long, graduated; bill black, upper parts deep leaden-grey, lower greyish-white, the sides bluish-grey; a streak of whitish over the eye, and margining the forehead; loral space, and a patch behind the eye, black; posterior scapulars almost entirely white; quills and coverts black, secondaries narrowly tipped with white; bases of primaries white, forming a conspicuous patch on the extended wing; tail-feathers black, all except the middle pair white at the end, that colour occupying nearly two-thirds of the outer, and gradually diminishing on the rest. Female with the plumage somewhat darker. Young brownish-white beneath, the breast and sides transversely barred with dark grey.

_Male_, 8-1/2, 13.

From Louisiana to Carolina, laterally to the Columbia River, and northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Resident in the south. Migratory in the north.

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius Carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 57.

Lanius ludovicianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 72.

Lanius Excubitorides, American Grey Shrike, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 115.

Loggerhead Shrike, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 261.

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius Ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 300; v. v. p. 300.

FAMILY XX. VIREONINÆ. GREENLETS.

Bill of moderate length, straight, rather stout, compressed toward the end; gape-line slightly arched, notches distinct, tip very small, declinate. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus compressed, slender, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather small, hind toe rather stout, lateral equal. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rather pointed. Tail of moderate length, even or emarginate. Roof of upper mandible concave, with a median ridge; tongue narrow, flat above, with the point slit; œsophagus of moderate length, without dilatation; stomach, roundish, muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine short, and rather wide; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. VIREO, Vieill. GREENLET.

Bill rather short or of moderate length, rather strong, straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping and towards the end somewhat convex, the edges straight, the notches distinct, the tip small, decurved, acute; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and rather narrow, the dorsal line ascending and rather convex, the sides convex, the edges inclinate, the tip acute and ascending. Nostrils basal, oblong. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather stout. Tarsus rather short, slender, compressed, with seven scutella; toes small, first large, inner considerably shorter than outer, which is adnate at the base. Plumage soft and blended; bristles small. Wings rather long, with the second and third quills longest, the first not much shorter. Tail of moderate length, nearly even.

238. 1. Vireo flavifrons, Vieill. Yellow-throated Greenlet.

Plate CXIX. Male.

Upper parts light green, the rump, scapulars, and smaller wing-coverts bluish-grey; quills and coverts brownish-black; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; primaries narrower, edged with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brownish-black, the outer edged with white; sides of the neck yellowish-green; a line over the eye, throat, and breast yellow, the rest of the lower parts white.

_Male_, 5-3/4, 9-1/2.

From Texas to Nova Scotia. Rare in the interior, more abundant in the middle Atlantic districts. Migratory.

Yellow-throated Flycatcher, Muscicapa sylvicola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 117.

Vireo flavifrons, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

Yellow-throated Vireo, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 302.

Yellow-throated Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 119; v. v. p. 428.

239. 2. Vireo solitarius, Vieill. Solitary Greenlet.

Plate XXVIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light olive-green, head greyish-blue; lower white, the sides greenish-yellow; eyelids and a band of white from the bill over the eye; a dusky spot before the eye; quills and coverts brownish-black; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; primaries narrowly edged with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brownish-black, the outer edged with white; head and sides of neck inclining to greyish-blue.

_Male_, 5-1/2, 8-1/2.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, rather abundant. Rare in the interior. Columbia River. Migratory.

Solitary Flycatcher, Muscicapa solitaria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 143.

Vireo solitarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.

Solitary Vireo or Flycatcher, Vireo solitarius, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 305.

Solitary Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo solitarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 147; v. v. p. 432.

240. 3. Vireo Noveboracensis, Gmel. White-eyed Greenlet.

Plate LXIII. Male.

Upper parts light green, inclining to olivaceous, forehead tinged with yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides yellow; eyelids and a band from the bill over the eye yellow; quills and coverts brown; two bands of yellowish-white on the wing formed by the tips of the secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts; primaries narrowly margined with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brown, without white edgings; iris white.

_Male_, 5, 7.

Throughout the United States and Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Migratory, but great numbers spend the winter in the Southern States.

White-eyed Flycatcher, Muscicapa cantatrix, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 266.

Vireo noveboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

White-eyed Vireo or Flycatcher, Vireo noveboracensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 806.

White-eyed Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo noveboracensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 328; v. v. p. 431, 433.

241. 4. Vireo gilvus, Vieill. Warbling Greenlet.

Plate CXVIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light greenish-olive, the head and hind neck greyish-brown; a white band over the eye; wings and tail brown, quills edged with green; lower parts dull yellowish-white, the sides tinged with yellow.

_Male_, 5-1/4, 8-1/2.

From Texas to Maine, and in the interior to Columbia River. Abundant. Migratory.

Warbling Flycatcher, Muscicapa melodia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 85.

Vireo gilvus, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

Warbling Vireo, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 309.

Warbling Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo gilvus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 114; v. v. p. 433.

242. 5. Vireo Bartrami, Swains. Bartram's Greenlet.

Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 4. Male.

Wings of moderate length, with the second and third quills longest and about equal, the fourth scarcely shorter, the first considerably shorter than the fifth. Upper parts light yellowish-olive, the crown of the head deep grey, bordered on each side by a blackish line, below which is a band of yellowish-white from the nostril over the eye; loral space dusky; quills and tail-feathers brown, margined with greenish-yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides greenish-yellow.

_Male_, 4-7/8, 7-3/4.

From Texas to New York. Not met with in the interior. Rather rare. Migratory.

Vireo Bartramii, Swains. Bartram's Greenlet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 235.

Bartram's Vireo, Vireo Bartramii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 296.

243. 6. Vireo olivaceus, Linn. Red-eyed Greenlet.

Plate CL. Male.

Wings long, with the second quill longest, the third slightly shorter, the first considerably longer than the fourth, upper parts light yellowish-olive, crown of the head deep grey, bordered on each side by a blackish line, below which is a band of white; quills and tail-feathers brown, margined with greenish-yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides greenish-yellow; iris red.

_Male_, 5-1/2, 9.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, and through the interior. Accidental in the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Red-eyed Flycatcher, Muscicapa olivacea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 55.

Vireo olivaceus, Bonap. Syn. p. 71.

Vireo olivaceus, Red-eyed Greenlet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 233.