Part 9

Resident during winter from Texas to South Carolina. In spring proceeds as far eastward as Massachusetts, breeding in all the fresh-water marshes.

Short-billed Marsh-Wren, Troglodytes brevirostris, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 436.

Nuttall's Short-billed Marsh-Wren, Troglodytes brevirostris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 427; v. v. p. 469.

FAMILY X. PARINÆ. TITS.

Bill very short or of moderate length, straight, strong, compressed, rather sharp; both mandibles with the dorsal line sloping and slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp; notches obsolete. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head rather large, roundish; neck short; body short, and rather full. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus rather short, compressed, with eight distinct scutella; toes large, the three anterior united as far as the second joint, the hind toe much stronger and flattened beneath; claws rather long, stout, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage very soft, blended, and full. Feathers at the base of the bill directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, much rounded, with the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail rather long, slender, of twelve narrow rounded feathers. Tongue emarginate and papillate at the base, abrupt at the tip, with four bristles. Œsophagus narrow, without dilatation; proventriculus oblong; stomach a rather strong oblong gizzard, with the muscles distinct, the epithelium dense, thin, longitudinally rugous; intestine short, of moderate width; cœca very small; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. PARUS, Linn. TIT.

Bill short, stout; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly decurved toward the end, the edges overlapping, with a slight lobe or festoon near the base, destitute of notch, rather acute; lower mandible with the dorsal outline slightly convex, the edges direct, the tip rather acute. Nostrils roundish, covered by bristly feathers. Head rather large, roundish; neck short. Feet proportionally large; tarsus of moderate length; hind toe very large and strong, the two lateral nearly equal, the outer adherent at the base; claws large, much compressed, very acute. Wings of moderate length, convex. Tail long, or of moderate length, rounded or graduated, of twelve rather narrow feathers.

125. 1. Parus bicolor, Linn. Tufted Titmouse.--Crested Titmouse. Great Chicadee.

Plate XXXIX. Male and Female.

Bill very stout; feathers of the upper part of the head elongated into a crest; tail long, slightly rounded; upper parts leaden-blue, forehead black, lower parts greyish-white, the sides light red.

_Male_, 6-1/2, 9.

From Texas, where it breeds, to the Fur Countries, generally distributed eastward of the Rocky Mountains. Resident in the middle, southern, and western districts. Abundant.

Crested Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 187.

Parus bicolor, Bonap. Syn. p. 100.

Tufted Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 236.

Crested Titmouse, Parus bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 199; v. v. p. 472.

126. 2. Parus atricapillus, Linn. Black-cap Tit.--Black-cap Titmouse, or Chicadee.

Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.

Bill moderately stout; tail long, emarginate, and rounded. Upper part of the head and hind neck, with a large patch on the fore neck, black; cheeks and sides of the neck white; back yellowish-grey; quills and tail-feathers dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white; the secondaries broadly edged with white; lower parts pale yellowish-red, the breast white.

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

From Maryland eastward and northward to Lat. 65°. In Kentucky during winter. Never in the southern parts.

Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 134.

Parus atricapillus, Bonap. Syn. p. 100.

Black-capt Titmouse, Nutt. Man. p. 241.

Black-capt Titmouse, Parus atricapillus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 374.

127. 3. Parus Carolinensis, Aud. Carolina Tit.

Plate CLX. Male and Female.

Bill very short, moderately stout; tail rather long, emarginate, and rounded. Upper part of the head and hind neck, with a large patch on the fore neck, black; cheeks and sides of the neck greyish-white; back yellowish-grey; quills and tail-feathers dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white, secondaries not conspicuously; lower parts greyish-white, tinged with yellow. This species is very similar to the last, but much inferior in size.

_Male_, 4-1/4, 6.

Breeds from Texas to New Jersey. Rather abundant. Resident.

Carolina Titmouse, Parus Carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 341; v. v. p. 474.

128. 4. Parus Hudsonicus, Lath. Hudson's Bay Tit.

Plate CXCIV. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill short, moderately stout; tail long, emarginate, and considerably rounded. Upper parts dull light brown, tinged with grey; fore neck black; cheeks and sides of the neck white; breast and abdomen white, sides light yellowish-brown.

_Male_, 5, 7.

Northern parts of Maine, during winter. Breeds from New Brunswick to Labrador and Hudson's Bay. Common. Migratory.

Parus Hudsonicus, Lath. Ind. Orn. v. ii. p. 566.

Hudson's Bay Titmouse, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 543.

129. 5. Parus rufescens, Towns. Chestnut-backed Tit.

Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Bill moderately stout; tail rather long, emarginate, scarcely rounded; upper part of head and hind neck dark brown, fore neck of a deeper tint of the same; cheeks and sides of neck white; back, rump, and sides of the body under the wings bright chestnut; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white.

_Male_, 4-1/2, wing, 2-3/8.

Columbia River. Abundant. Resident.

Parus rufescens, Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.

Chestnut-backed Titmouse, Parus rufescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 371.

130. 6. Parus minimus, Towns. Chestnut-crowned Tit.

Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 5. Male. Fig. 6. Female.

Upper mandible with its outline more arched, the tip acute and considerably elongated; tail very long, emarginate, and much rounded; upper part of the head and hind neck pale brown; upper parts brownish-grey; wings and tail dusky, margined with greyish-white; cheeks of a paler tint than the head; all the lower parts brownish-white, the sides tinged with reddish.

_Male_, 4-1/2, wing, 1-((10-1/2)/12).

Columbia River. Common. Migratory.

Parus minimus, Chestnut-crowned Titmouse, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 190.

Chestnut-crowned Titmouse, Parus minimus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 382.

FAMILY XI. SYLVIANÆ. WARBLERS.

Bill of moderate length, slender, straight, a little broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line straight and declinate, convex at the end, the tip small, acute, the notches small; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval or oblong. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of ordinary length, slender; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes moderate, compressed; first stouter, second and fourth nearly equal, third much longer, and adherent at the base; claws moderate, arched, slender, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles short or weak. Wings of moderate length or long; the first quill very small, the second, third, and fourth longest. Tail long or of moderate length, of twelve feathers. Tongue, sagittate, slender, tapering to a slit and lacerated point. Œsophagus rather narrow, without crop; proventriculus oblong; stomach a gizzard of moderate strength, with the muscles distinct, the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

Of this family, which in Europe is so numerous, there are in North America only two genera, _Regulus_ and _Sialia_, the former composed of very small birds, allied in manners to the Tits, the latter approaching the Thrushes in form. The connecting links being wanting with us, these genera might seem at first sight very dissimilar.

GENUS I. REGULUS, Cuv. KINGLET.

Bill short, straight, very slender, a little broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible nearly straight in its dorsal outline, the edges slightly notched, the tip a little declinate, acute; lower mandible with its outline ascending, nearly straight, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, concealed by the reversed feathers. Head large, broadly ovate; neck short; body short. Legs rather long; tarsus slender, longer than the middle toe, much compressed, scutella blended, excepting the lower four toes, rather small, much compressed, hind toe large; lateral equal; claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage very loose and full. Short bristles at the base of the bill. Feathers of the head elongated and silky in the adults. Wings of ordinary length, with the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail of ordinary length, emarginate.

131. 1. Regulus Cuvieri, Aud. Cuvier's Kinglet.

Plate LV. Male.

Upper parts dull greyish-olive; anterior part of forehead, lore, and a line behind the eye, black; a greyish-white band across the forehead over the eye; a semilunar band of black on the forehead and sides of the head, enclosing a vermilion space; wings and tail dusky, edged with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts tipped with greyish-white; lower parts greyish-white.

_Male_, 4-1/4, 6.

Pennsylvania. Only one specimen found.

Cuvier's Crested Wren, Regulus Cuvierii, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 416.

Cuvier's Regulus, Regulus Cuvierii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 288.

132. 2. Regulus Satrapa, Lichtenstein. American Golden-crested Kinglet.

Plate CLXXXIII. Male and Female.

Male with the upper parts yellowish-green, changing to ash-grey on the neck and sides of the head, to greenish-yellow on the rump; a band of greyish-white across the anterior part of the forehead, which, at the eye, separates into two bands, one extending over, the other under the eye; above this, a broadish band of black, also margining the head on either side; the inner webs and tips of the feathers of this black band pure yellow; the crown of the head, in the included space, bright orange with silky gloss; a dusky spot at the anterior angle of the eye; an obscure dusky line from the angle of the mouth to beneath the eye; quills and coverts dusky, the former margined with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts broadly tipped with yellowish-white; base of all the quills, except the four outer yellowish-white; from the seventh primary to the innermost secondary but two, a broad bar of blackish-brown; tail dusky, the feathers edged with greenish-yellow, lower parts greyish-white. Female differs chiefly in having pale yellow substituted for the flame colour of the crown, and less grey on the hind neck. Young without coloured feathers on the head.

_Male_, 4, 7.

Breeds in Labrador and Newfoundland. In autumn migrates to the Southern States, as far as Texas. Columbia River.

Golden-crested Wren, Sylvia Regulus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 126.

Regulus cristatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 91.

American Fiery-crowned Wren, Regulus tricolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 420.

American Golden-crested Wren, Regulus tricolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 476.

133. 3. Regulus Calendula, Linn. Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Plate CXCV. Male and Female.

Upper parts greenish-olive, anteriorly tinged with grey, on the rump inclining to yellow; a patch of vermilion on the crown of the head; quills and tail dusky, edged with greenish-yellow; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with greyish-white, a circle of the same round the eye; lower parts greenish-white. Female similar, with the tints duller, especially the greenish-yellow of the wings. Young without the coloured patch on the crown, and more deeply tinged with yellow beneath.

_Male_, 4-1/4, 6.

Breeds in Labrador. In autumn migrates to the Southern States, as far as Texas. Abundant.

Ruby-crowned Wren, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 83.

Regulus Calendula, Bonap. Syn. p. 91.

Ruby-crowned Wren, Sylvia Calendula, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 415.

Ruby-crowned Regulus, Regulus Calendula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 546.

GENUS II. SIALIA, Swains. BLUE BIRD.

Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight and slightly declinate, until near the end, when it becomes convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the edges overlapping, with a distinct notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, oval. Head rather large, ovate, neck short; body moderately full. Feet of ordinary length, rather slender; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, its lower scutella only distinct; toes of moderate length, the first stouter, the lateral equal, the third much longer; the fourth adherent at the base; claws moderate, well curved, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended; short bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings very long, pointed; the first quill very small, second, third, and fourth longest. Tail rather long, emarginate, of twelve rather strong feathers.

134. 1. Sialia Wilsoni, Swains. Common Blue Bird.

Plate CXIII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with the upper parts ultramarine blue, the lower parts light chestnut-red, excepting the abdomen, which is white. Female with the upper parts dull greyish-blue, brighter behind; lower parts as in the male, but much duller. Young with the upper part of the head, hind neck, and part of the back greyish-brown, the rest as in the female, the lower parts light grey, the feathers on the breast and sides margined with brown.

_Male_, 7, 10. _Female_, 6-1/2.

Generally distributed from Texas to the Fur Countries. Vast numbers spend the winter in the Southern States. Columbia River. Migratory.

Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 56.

Saxicola Sialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 39.

Erythaca (Sialia) Wilsonii, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 210.

Blue Bird, Ampelis Sialis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 444.

Blue Bird, Sylvia Sialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 84; v. v. p. 452.

135. 2. Sialia occidentalis, Townsend. Western Blue Bird.

Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.

Male with the upper parts and throat ultramarine blue; fore part of back, breast, and sides, light chestnut-red; rest of lower parts light blue, the abdomen whitish. Female with the upper parts dull greyish-blue, the back tinged with brown, the wing-coverts and rump brighter; lower parts pale red, the abdomen light grey.

_Male_, 7; wing, 4-5/12. _Female_, 6-3/4.

North California, and Oregon Territory. Abundant. Migratory.

Sialia occidentalis, Western Blue Bird, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 188.

Western Blue Bird, Sylvia occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 41.

136. 3. Sialia arctica, Swains. Arctic Blue Bird.

Plate CCCXCIII. Fig. 2. Male. Fig. 3. Female.

Male with the upper parts light ultramarine, with a tinge of green; sides of the head, fore neck, and sides of neck, and the anterior half of the breast, light greenish-blue, that colour gradually fading into white behind. Female with the upper parts light greyish-brown, the rump and wing-coverts blue; fore part of neck and anterior portion of the breast reddish-grey, the rest of the lower parts pale brownish-grey.

_Male_, 7-1/4; wing, 4-((7-1/2)/12). _Female_, 6-3/4; wing, 4-2/12.

Columbia River, Rocky Mountains, and Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Erythaca (Sialia) Arctica, Arctic Blue Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 209.

Arctic Blue Bird, Sialia Arctica, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 573.

Arctic Blue Bird, Sylvia Arctica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 38.

FAMILY XII. TURDINÆ. THRUSHES.

Bill short, or of moderate length, rather strong, straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal outline a little convex and declinate, the tip small, rather acute, the notches small; lower mandible with the angle rather short, of moderate width, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the tip acute. Head oblong, compressed, of moderate size; neck rather short; body moderate. Eyes of moderate size. External aperture of ear large and roundish. Feet of moderate strength; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather strong, compressed; first, second, and fourth, nearly equal, third much longer, and adherent to the fourth at the base; claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage rather blended. Bristles small. Wings of moderate length, broad, rounded; the first quill very small, third and fourth longest. Tail of twelve feathers, varying in length. Tongue sagittate, and papillate at the base, slender, tapering, its tip slit. Œsophagus rather narrow, without crop; proventriculus oblong; stomach a gizzard of moderate strength, its lateral and lower muscles distinct; the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small, cylindrical. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. CINCLUS, Bechst. DIPPER.

Bill rather short, slender, slightly ascending, much compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line straight until toward the end, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, with an obscure notch close to the narrow deflected tip; lower mandible slightly bent upwards, the angle medial and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the tip narrow and rather acute. Nostrils linear, direct, exposed. General form short, full, and compact. Head oblong, compressed. Legs strong; tarsus of moderate length, compressed, covered anteriorly with a long undivided plate and four inferior scutella; toes rather large and strong; claws arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, that of the hind toe considerably larger. Plumage ordinary, rather blended. Bristles obsolete. Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail short, even.

137. 1. Cinclus Americanus, Swains. American Dipper.

Plate CCCLXX. Adult. Plate CCCCXXXV. Young.

Head and neck chocolate-brown, upper parts very deep bluish-grey, lower somewhat lighter, and tinged anteriorly with brown. Young with the upper parts deep bluish-grey, the head and hind neck slightly tinged with brown; lower parts lighter, the feathers margined with whitish, the throat with a slight tinge of brown.

_Male_, 7-1/2, 10-1/2.

Rocky Mountains. Oregon Territory. North California. Not abundant.

Cinclus Pallasii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 173.

Cinclus Americanus, American Dipper, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 173.

Black Water-Ouzel or Dipper, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 358.

American Dipper, Cinclus Americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 493; v. v. p. 303.

GENUS II. ORPHEUS, Swains. MOCKING-BIRD.

Bill of moderate length or longish, rather slender, straight or slightly arched, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end, acute; upper mandible with the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the notches very slight, the tip narrow; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, the dorsal line straight or slightly decurved toward the end, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, partially concealed by the feathers. Head of ordinary size, ovato-oblong; neck of moderate length; body rather slender. Feet of ordinary length, slender; tarsus scarcely so long as the middle toe and claw; hind toe of moderate length, stout, lateral toes equal; claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles rather long. Wings of ordinary length, broad, rounded, the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest. Tail very long, straight, much rounded, or graduated.

138. 1. Orpheus polyglottus, Linn. Grey Mocking-Bird.

Plate XXI. Male and Female.

Upper parts light grey tinged with yellowish-brown; feathers of the wings and tail greyish-black; primary coverts white, as are the primary quills in their proximal part; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with white; outer tail-feather white, as are the greater part of the next, and a portion of the third toward the end; lower parts greyish-white, on the breast tinged with brown, on the sides and under the tail with yellow. Female smaller, with the tints duller, and the white markings on the wings less extended.

_Male_, 9-1/2, 13-1/2. _Female_, 9, 12-1/2.

From Texas to Massachusetts. In the interior up the Mississippi and Ohio, to Henderson in Kentucky. Abundant and resident in the southern parts.

Mocking Bird, Turdus polyglottus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 14.

Turdus polyglottus, Bonap. Syn. p. 74.

Mocking Bird, Turdus polyglottus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 320.

Mocking Bird, Turdus polyglottus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 108; v. v. p. 438.

139. 2. Orpheus montanus, Townsend. Mountain Mocking-Bird.

Plate CCCLXIX. Fig. 1. Male.

Upper parts greyish-brown; feathers of the wings and tail greyish-black; tips of secondary coverts, edges of primary quills, and a large spot at the end of the three lateral tail-feathers, white; lower parts whitish, marked with triangular dusky spots, of which there is a distinct line from the base of the bill; throat, middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, unspotted.

_Male_, 8; wing, 3-9/12.

Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory.

Orpheus montanus, Mountain Mocking-Bird, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 192.

Mountain Mocking Bird, Turdus montanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 487.

140. 3. Orpheus Carolinensis, Linn. Black-capped Mocking-Bird.--Cat Bird.

Plate CXXVIII. Male and Female.

Blackish-grey, lighter beneath; upper part of head black; lower tail-coverts deep red. Female with the tints duller. Lateral tail-feathers more or less banded with lighter, sometimes whitish tints.

_Male_, 9, 12.

From Texas to Massachusetts, inland to the Missouri. Accidental in the Fur Countries. Constant resident in the Southern States. Abundant.

Cat Bird, Turdus lividus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 90.

Turdus felivox, Bonap. Syn. p. 75.

Orpheus felivox, Cat Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 192.

Cat Bird, Turdus felivox, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 332.

Cat Bird, Turdus felivox, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 171; v. v. p. 440.

141. 4. Orpheus rufus, Linn. Ferruginous Mocking-Bird.--Thrushes. Brown Thrush.

Bill and tail more elongated than in the other species, wings shorter. Upper parts light brownish-red; inner webs of quills dusky. Wings crossed by two white bars margined anteriorly with black, being on the tips of the first row of small and secondary coverts; lower parts yellowish-white, the breast and sides marked with triangular dark brown spots. Female smaller.

_Male_, 11-1/2, 13.

From Texas eastward, and to the Fur Countries, breeding everywhere. Abundant, and resident in the Southern and Western States.

Ferruginous Thrush, Turdus rufus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 83.

Turdus rufus, Bonap. Syn. p. 75.

Orpheus rufus, Fox-coloured Mocking-Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 189.

Ferruginous Thrush or Thrasher, Turdus rufus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 328.

Ferruginous Thrush, Turdus rufus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 102; v. v. p. 441.

GENUS IV. TURDUS, Linn. THRUSH.