Part 23

Many instances tending to demonstrate this extensive and remarkable migration might be produced, but we have unfortunately to acknowledge ourselves unable to offer a theory or even hypothesis attempting to account for it, and must regard the facts as remaining among many in natural history with which naturalists are for the present under the necessity of resting, without inference or application to any established general principles. Important results will yet reward American naturalists who may engage in this interesting field of scientific research.

Instinct is little or nothing more than inherited memory. But we are by no means satisfied that any definition which we have yet met with of the faculty known by the latter name is strictly correct. Whatever memory is, that inherited we are disposed to regard as instinct. And that the impressions on this faculty are transmissable in animals from parents to their offspring, we regard the migration of young birds, particularly those of a first brood, when the parents remain to attend to a second, as clearly substantiating.

The bird now before the reader is a species that appears to perform the extended northward migration to which we have alluded, and is one of the most remarkable instances that has come to our knowledge. It was first described by us from a specimen obtained in the vicinity of Montreal, Canada, and the only instance of its having been observed since, has been by Dr. Heermann, in California; though if ever occurring in the middle or southern States on the Atlantic, in the same latitude as on the Pacific, it has escaped the researches of all previous naturalists or travellers.

Adult and young birds of this species were observed, and specimens were obtained by Dr. Heermann, who ascertained that it reared its young in California.

For an opportunity to examine the specimen originally described by us in the present volume (p. 102), we are indebted to our lamented friend and correspondent, M. McCulloch, M. D., a naturalist of extensive acquirements, and an eminent physician, late of Montreal, but, we much regret to add, now recently deceased, and to John Pangman, Esq., of Grace Hall, in the vicinity of that city. Mr. Pangman had the kindness to interest himself, in conjunction with Dr. McCulloch, so much as to obtain the loan of the specimen from the Natural History Society of Montreal, in the museum of which it was deposited, and to bring it for our inspection to Philadelphia, and we shall not soon forget his evident and enlightened gratification, nor our own great pleasure, when we assured him that it was a bird hitherto unknown as an inhabitant of North America, and, as we then supposed, very probably an undescribed species, which we subsequently ascertained to be the case.

This is one of the most remarkable of the rapacious birds which have been recently added to the ornithological fauna of the United States. It differs entirely in color from any previously-known American species, unless it may be supposed to approximate in that character to the little-known Harlan’s Buzzard of Audubon. It bears also some distant resemblance to one stage of plumage of the Black Hawk.

The only information relative to the habits of this bird that we have in our power at present to lay before the reader, is the following from the Journal of Dr. Heermann:

“I first remarked this species at the crossing of Graysonville ferry, on the San Joaquim river, California, and continued to meet with it occasionally until we had crossed Kern river. Owing to the lateness of the season, I was able to ascertain but little respecting its propagation; the only nests which were found having been forsaken some time previously by the young. These nests, composed externally of coarse sticks, and lined with roots, were built in the topmost branches of oaks, which grow abundantly on the banks of the large water-courses.

“This bird, like the rest of its genus, appears sluggish in its habits, perching for hours in a quiescent state on some tall tree, and permitting the hunter to approach without showing any signs of fear. This apparent stolidity may, however, be owing to the fact that it is seldom molested, and has not yet learned to mistrust a gun, as do the birds of prey in more settled portions of the country.”

The specimens brought by Dr. Heermann are now in the national collection at Washington city.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Buteo. Cuvier, Regne Animal, I., p. 323. (1817.) Buteo insignatus. Cassin, Birds of California and Texas, I., p. 102. (1854.)

Form. Short and robust; wing long; third quill longest, secondaries emarginate at their tips; quills wide; tail moderate or rather short, somewhat rounded; under coverts of the tail long; tarsi rather short, feathered in front below the joints, with the tibiæ naked behind, and having in front about ten transverse scales; claws rather long, moderately curved; bill short; upper mandible slightly festooned.

Dimensions. _Adult male._—Total length of skin, 17 inches; wing, 14½; tail, 7½ inches.

Colors. Under coverts of the wing and tail white, the former striped longitudinally with pale ferruginous, each feather having a central dark line, and the latter transversely with reddish-brown; edges of wings at the shoulders nearly pure white; plumage of the tibiæ rufous, mixed with brown; throat and a few feathers of the forehead white, each feather having a line of dark brown, nearly black; entire other plumage above and below dark brown, nearly every feather having a darker or nearly black central line; quills above brown, with a slight purple lustre, beneath pale cinerous, with their shafts white, and with irregular and indistinct transverse bands of white; tail above dark brown, with an ashy or hoary tinge, and having about ten transverse bands of a darker shade of the same color; beneath nearly white, with conspicuous transverse bands of brown, the widest of which is subterminal; tip paler; bill dark; cere, tarsi, and feet yellow. _Adult male._

Young. Entire upper plumage dark brown; on the back of the head and neck white at base, and edged with reddish; scapulars and greater coverts of the wing with large partially-concealed rufous spots; under parts reddish-white, every feather with a large terminal oblong spot of dark brown, and on the abdomen and tibiæ with numerous transverse bands of the same color; under tail coverts very pale reddish-white, with a few transverse spots and lines; inferior coverts of the wing pale reddish-white, with large brown spots.

Hab. Canada and California. Spec. in Nat. Mus., Washington city.

Obs. There is no other North American Buzzard with which there is any probability of the present bird being confounded by the student, on account of the peculiarity of its colors. In this character it bears a resemblance to some stages of plumage of _Circus hudsonius_, or to the European _Circus æruginosus_. It also is somewhat similar in colors, especially those of the young bird, to _Buteo pennsylvanicus_, but is much larger, and readily distinguished.

MELANERPES THYROIDEUS.—(Cassin.) The Black-breasted Woodpecker. PLATE XXXII.—Male.

The species of Woodpeckers are more abundant in the regions on the Pacific Ocean or west of the Rocky mountains than in any other part of North America. Several of them inhabiting those countries are, too, amongst the handsomest birds of this family, as, for instance, Lewis’s Woodpecker (_Melanerpes torquatus_), a species now brought in almost every collection from California; the Red-breasted Woodpecker (_Melanerpes ruber_), a beautiful little species, with the head, neck and breast brilliant carmine; the Californian Woodpecker (_Melanerpes formicivorus_), figured in plate 2 of the present volume; and various others, attractive on account of either the beauty or the singularity of their colors.

The extensive and but partially-explored forests of Northern California and Oregon are peculiarly well adapted to the habits of this group of birds. This is, however, not solely the reason that they are found there; but there are principles involved which are at present beyond the deepest reasoning of zoologists, and are as yet subjects of theory only. All that we can positively advance is, that of the Woodpeckers of North America, the greatest number of species, and of more handsome plumaged forms, than elsewhere in our portion of the continent, are inhabitants of California and Oregon; and that whatever causes have tended to the development of this family of birds, they have been more efficient in the regions alluded to, than elsewhere in North America.

Philosophic zoology is yet in its infancy. Extreme conservatism in science fondly rests satisfied with present knowledge, and visionary speculators raise mountains of opinionative systems and theories, which must be cleared away to allow real progress. Between the two classes of operators, the true man of science may have a difficult time of it. Of sawing the air there is abundance, but much as elsewhere very little is done in zoology with due emphasis and discretion.

In addition to the species alluded to above, there is found in the forests of Oregon and the Rocky Mountains, the largest of all the Woodpeckers, a magnificent species related to the Ivory-billed Woodpecker of the Southern States, but much larger, and which has up to this period escaped the observation of any American naturalist, except Dr. Townsend, who saw it, but did not procure specimens. It is the _Dryocopus imperialis_, first described by Mr. Gould, a distinguished English ornithologist. This fine bird will be figured in a subsequent part of the present volume.

The bird now before the reader was discovered in California by Mr. John G. Bell, of New York, deservedly well known as a naturalist, and beyond comparison the most skilful preparer of birds and quadrupeds and general taxidermist in the United States. Mr. Bell was the first naturalist who visited California after it became a portion of the United States; and during his stay in that country, made a large and highly interesting collection, in which was the present and other new species. He observes in his notes now before us, that he found this bird in one locality only, and observed but two specimens, both of which he obtained.

Subsequently this Woodpecker has been found in California by Dr. Heermann, and in New Mexico by Dr. Henry; but is stated by both to be of rare occurrence. The former of these gentlemen observes:—

“I procured this bird three years since in the southern mines of California, where it frequents more especially the pine trees. I never saw it alight on the oaks, although abundant in that locality. It is one of the most rare of the Woodpeckers of that country.”

Dr. Henry states: “Of this bird I know nothing farther than that I procured a single specimen in the mountains near Fort Webster, in the winter of 1852-3. I shot it from near the summit of a tall pine tree, and was not aware until I obtained it, that it was different from any other species that I had ever seen. My efforts to find it again have been unremitting, but without success; and I regard it as a rare bird in this district. The specimen in my collection is an adult male.”

The figure in our plate is two-thirds of the size of life.

The plant represented is _Habrothamnus fasciculatus_, a native of Mexico.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Melanerpes. Swainson, Fauna Boreali Americana, Birds, p. 316. Melanerpes thyroideus. (Cassin), Proc. Acad. Philada., V., p. 349. (1851.)

Form. Short and compact; bill moderate, strong; upper mandible with the ridge (or culmen) very distinct, and short ridges over the apertures of the nostrils; wing rather long; third primary longest; tail moderate, graduated, with all its feathers somewhat rigid; two middle feathers longest.

Dimensions. Total length of skin, about 8¾ inches; wing, 5¼; tail, 3¾ inches.

Colors. _Male._—Breast with a large semi-circular patch or transverse belt of black; middle of the abdomen yellow; head above and throat pale brown, with obscure longitudinal lines and spots of black; back, wing coverts, sides of the body, and inferior coverts of the tail, transversely striped with white and black, the former tinged with obscure yellowish; rump and superior coverts of the tail white; a few feathers of the coverts with irregular bars of black on their outer webs; quills black, with spots of white on both edges; tail black, with irregular spots of white; bill and tarsi dark. _Female._—Similar to the male, but with the colors more obscure, and the black of the breast of less extent and not so deep in shade.

Hab. California and New Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Nat. Mus., Washington city.

Obs. Somewhat resembles in form only the Red Woodpecker of western North America (_Melanerpes ruber_), but is larger and differently colored. It also in some respects resembles the yellow-bellied Woodpecker (_Picus varius_), but not so much as to render it necessary for differences to be specially designated. It is possible that this species, when perfectly mature, or in spring plumage, may assume more brilliant colors, as do others of its genus.

We regard this bird as singularly blending the characters of genera which in typical species are very distinct and easily defined. It is of the general form of _Melanerpes_, though not strictly; while in some other respects, especially in colors, it shows an alliance to that group of typical _Picus_, which includes _Picus varius_, and several other American species. Our present arrangement or generic designation is provisional only.

CARDINALIS SINUATUS.—Bonaparte. The Texan Cardinal Bird. PLATE XXXIII. Male and Female.

In our present plate we present to the reader one of the most delicately colored of the many fine-plumaged birds which inhabit the southwestern countries of this Republic, and it is another of the birds of Mexico whose range of locality northwardly extends to within the limits of the United States. Our bird is, however, resident in Texas, or of but limited migration during the coldest season. It has occasionally been observed in considerable numbers; but is as yet to be met with in comparatively few collections, and is much valued by collectors.

Though not very closely resembling the beautiful Cardinal bird of the Northern States (_Cardinalis virginianus_), its general form, particularly its lengthened and handsome crest and long tail, are strictly similar, and its habits are of the same general character. The bill, however, in the present species will be found to be singularly different from that of any other bird of this genus.

The group of birds to which that now before us belongs, is composed of four or five species remarkable for their graceful forms and very showy colors, all of which inhabit North and Central America. In addition to the attractions of their plumage, these birds possess very considerable powers of voice, though by no means entitled to be ranked as songsters. The Cardinal bird, known also by the names of Virginia Nightingale and Red Bird, is the only species inhabiting the States north of Texas, and is frequently met with at all seasons in the States on the Atlantic. It inhabits, for the greater part, low and damp woods, in which there is a profuse undergrowth of bushes, and is particularly partial to the vicinity of water-courses. The male, on account of the splendid vermilion of his plumage, always attracts attention; and though rather shy and careful in exposing himself, is frequently shot by gunners for no other purpose than the possession of such a handsome bird.

The colors of our northern Cardinal bird are vermilion, with the throat black. In Mexico, there is found another beautiful species, singularly resembling in form and color that to which we have just alluded, but wanting the black throat. It differs also in the shape of the bill and some minor characters.

The bird now before the reader was originally described as a bird of Mexico, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, by Charles Lucian Bonaparte, Prince of Canino, one of the most accomplished zoologists of Europe, and held in deservedly high estimation in this country, on account of his splendid volumes on American Ornithology. His specimens were obtained near the city of Mexico.

Within the limits of the United States, this species was first observed by Capt. J. P. McCown, of the United States Army, at Ringgold Barracks, in Texas. Since that period, it has been noticed and specimens brought in collections by several of the naturalists, who have accompanied expeditions sent by the government, though never, so far as we have learned, out of the State of Texas.

To Captain McCown we are indebted for the following note respecting this species, for which and many similar favors we beg to tender our acknowledgements.

“This handsome species was occasionally seen on the Rio Grande, having apparently a strong partiality for damp and bushy woods; and in fact so far as I observed never venturing far from the river. I cannot speak positively, but am under the impression that it remains in Texas during the whole year, having seen it so late in the fall, and again so early in the Spring, that if not constantly resident, its migration must at any rate be very limited. It is a gay, sprightly bird, generally seen in company with others of the same species, frequently erecting its crest, and calling to its mate or comrades, though rather shy and not easily approached. Its voice and general habits appeared to me as very similar to those of the common species of the Northern States. I never saw its nest, though it undoubtedly breeds in Texas.”

During his late connection with Lieut. Williamson’s expedition, this bird was noticed by Dr. Heermann, from whose beautiful specimens, through his kindness, our plate has been prepared, and who has allowed us to make the following extract from his Journal:—

“After leaving Teusoa, we observed the first specimen of this bird but little beyond the crossing of the San Pedro river. It was in a dry caignau, perched on a bush, and seemed weary and lost, and was probably a wanderer, as no more were observed until we reached El Paso. At this place, in the vicinity of the habitations of man, we found it quite common, frequenting the hedges and trees, and continued to see it occasionally on our road until we left civilization behind us. Raising its crest erect as it moves actively about in search of food, it emits at intervals a clear, plaintive whistle, varied by a few detached notes. It is said to be quite common on the Rio Grande river and in Mexico.”

This species was also found in Texas by Mr. John H. Clark, zoologist, attached to the Mexican boundary surveying party. In Mexico, particularly in the States of Tamaulipas and Nueva Leon, Lieut. Couch observed it in considerable numbers.

Our figures, which are those of the adult male and female, are rather less than two-thirds of the size of life.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Cardinalis. Bonaparte, Comp. List., p. 35. (1838.)

Bill short, very thick at base; culmen advancing on the forehead; wing moderate; fourth and fifth quills longest and nearly equal; tail long, slightly rounded; tarsi rather long; middle toe long, others moderate; general form robust; tail long; and head above with elongated crest-like feathers on all known species. A genus containing five or six species of handsome birds, peculiar to America.

Cardinalis sinuatus. Bonaparte, Proc. Zool. Soc., London, p. 111. (1837.)

Form. About the size or rather larger than _Cardinalis virginianus_ of North America; not strictly exhibiting the characters of this genus; bill short; lower mandible much thicker than the upper; gonys ascending abruptly; upper mandible curved; wings short; third, fourth and fifth quills nearly equal and longest; tail long; tarsi moderate; head with a conspicuous crest of lengthened erectile feathers.

Dimensions. Total length of skin, about 8 inches; wing, 3¾; tail, 4¼ inches.

Colors. _Male._—Plumage encircling the base of the bill; longer feathers of the crest, wide medial longitudinal band on the under parts, tibiæ, and under coverts of the wings, fine crimson; entire upper parts light cinerous, which is the color also of the sides and flanks; quills ashy brown, both webs edged with crimson; tail above and below dark crimson, tinged with brown; abdomen and under tail coverts pale rosy white, the feathers of the latter crimson at their bases; plumage of the breast edged and tipped with pale ashy; bill and tarsi pale yellowish.

_Female._ Under wing coverts, edges of quills, crest, and tail, pale crimson, the last shaded with brown; entire plumage above cinerous, below yellowish-cinerous; no crimson on the forehead or on the throat or other under parts.

Hab. Texas, Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Nat. Mus., Washington city.

Obs. This beautiful species, though in general form and appearance presenting the characters of _Cardinalis_, is quite different in the form of the bill, and has been placed by the distinguished and accomplished naturalist who first described it (the Prince of Canino) in a subdivision which he names _Pyrrhuloxia_ (Conspectus Avium, p. 500).

It appears to be restricted to Mexico and the southern part of Texas, though its northern range may yet be ascertained to extend farther than at present known. It does not resemble any other species sufficiently to lead to confusion.

SAXICOLA ŒNANTHOIDES.—Vigors. The American Stone Chat. PLATE XXXIV.—Adult.

The Stone Chats and Wheat Ears, which are the English names of birds of the genus _Saxicola_, are abundant in the old world, though the greater number of the species appear to be restricted to Africa. The few that are natives of Europe are numerous throughout the greater part of that continent. They are birds of plain but agreeable colors, and inhabit fields and other open grounds or plains covered with shrub-like vegetation, running with facility, and making their nests on the ground, or in holes beneath the surface. These are curiously constructed by some species of this group, and very carefully concealed, though frequently in situations much exposed. There are nearly forty species of this group of birds composing the present and a nearly allied genus.

Though there are so many species of these genera, the bird now before us is the only one that appears to be peculiar to the continent of America. One other, the _Saxicola œnanthe_, a common European bird, is, however, a visitor to this continent. We have seen undoubted specimens from Greenland, and occasionally it strays so far southwardly as New York, in the vicinity of which city a few specimens have been captured, one of which is in the collection of our friend, Mr. George N. Lawrence.