Part 1

Transcriber’s Note:

Inconsistent hyphenation, capitalization, and spelling in the original document have been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

The following inconsistencies were noted and retained:

Grous and Grouse John Bullow and John Bulow Ingalls and Ingals Lehman and Leehman lents and lints Magdaleine and Magdeleine Islands oppossum and opossum waggons and wagons Schuylkill and Schuylkil arcuato-declinate and arcuate-declinate cæca and cœca Macculloch and M’Culloch

The following are possible errors, but retained:

unrol “at the height of fifty years or more” John Quincey Adams Daniel Boon “The matin calls” Persimons pork-rhind p. 487 of Vol. II should possibly be page 435 of that volume.

The Errata on page 632 have been corrected in the text.

Download Volume 1 at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56989. Download Volume 2 at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39979.

ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY.

ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY, OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE HABITS OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ACCOMPANIED BY DESCRIPTIONS OF THE OBJECTS REPRESENTED IN THE WORK ENTITLED THE BIRDS OF AMERICA, AND INTERSPERSED WITH DELINEATIONS OF AMERICAN SCENERY AND MANNERS.

BY JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, F.R.SS.L. & E.

FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN AND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON; MEMBER OF THE LYCEUM OF NEW YORK, OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PARIS, THE WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY OF MANCHESTER, AND OF THE SCOTTISH ACADEMY OF PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE; MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT PHILADELPHIA, OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES OF BOSTON, OF CHARLESTON IN SOUTH CAROLINA, &C. &C.

Vol. III

EDINBURGH:

ADAM & CHARLES BLACK, EDINBURGH;

LONGMAN, REES, BROWN, GREEN & LONGMAN, LONDON; R. HAVELL, ENGRAVER, 77. OXFORD STREET, LONDON; THOMAS SOWLER, MANCHESTER; MRS ROBINSON, LEEDS; ALEXANDER HILL, EDINBURGH; J. HENRY BEILBY, BIRMINGHAM; E. CHARNLEY, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE; AND GEORGE SMITH, LIVERPOOL.

MDCCCXXXV.

PRINTED BY NEILL & Co. Old Fishmarket, Edinburgh.

INTRODUCTION.

Ten years have now elapsed since the first number of my Illustrations of the Birds of America made its appearance. At that period I calculated that the engravers would take sixteen years in accomplishing their task; and this I announced in my prospectus, and talked of to my friends. Of the latter not a single individual seemed to have the least hope of my success, and several strongly advised me to abandon my plans, dispose of my drawings, and return to my country. I listened with attention to all that was urged on the subject, and often felt deeply depressed, for I was well aware of many of the difficulties to be surmounted, and perceived that no small sum of money would be required to defray the necessary expenses. Yet never did I seriously think of abandoning the cherished object of my hopes. When I delivered the first drawings to the engraver, I had not a single subscriber. Those who knew me best called me rash; some wrote to me that they did not expect to see a second fasciculus; and others seemed to anticipate the total failure of my enterprise. But my heart was nerved, and my reliance on that Power, on whom all must depend, brought bright anticipations of success.

Having made arrangements for meeting the first difficulties, I turned my attention to the improvement of my drawings, and began to collect from the pages of my journals the scattered notes which referred to the habits of the birds represented by them. I worked early and late, and glad I was to perceive that the more I laboured the more I improved. I was happy, too, to find, that in general each succeeding plate was better than its predecessor, and when those who had at first endeavoured to dissuade me from undertaking so vast an enterprise, complimented me on my more favourable prospects, I could not but feel happy. Number after number appeared in regular succession, until at the end of four years of anxiety, my engraver, Mr HAVELL, presented me with the First Volume of the Birds of America.

Convinced, from a careful comparison of the plates, that at least there had been no falling off in the execution, I looked forward with confidence to the termination of the next four years’ labour. Time passed on, and I returned from the forests and wilds of the western world to congratulate my friend HAVELL, just when the last plate of the second volume was finished.

About that time, a nobleman called upon me with his family, and requested me to shew them some of the original drawings, which I did with the more pleasure that my visitors possessed a knowledge of Ornithology. In the course of our conversation, I was asked how long it might be until the work should be finished. When I mentioned eight years more, the nobleman shrugged up his shoulders, and sighing, said, “I may not see it finished, but my children will, and you may please to add my name to your list of subscribers.” The young people exhibited a mingled expression of joy and sorrow, and when I with them strove to dispel the cloud that seemed to hang over their father’s mind, he smiled, bade me be sure to see that the whole work should be punctually delivered, and took his leave. The solemnity of his manner I could not forget for several days; I often thought that neither might I see the work completed, but at length I exclaimed “my sons may.” And now that another volume, both of my Illustrations and of my Biographies is finished, my trust in Providence is augmented, and I cannot but hope that myself and my family together may be permitted to see the completion of my labours.

I have performed no long journey since I last parted from you, and therefore I have little of personal history to relate to you. I have spent the greater part of the interval in London and Edinburgh, in both which cities I have continued to enjoy a social intercourse with many valued friends. In the former, it has been my good fortune to add to the list the names of WILLIAM YARRELL, Esq., Dr BELL, Dr BOOTT, Captain JAMES CLARK ROSS, R. N., and Dr RICHARDSON. From Mr YARRELL and the two latter gentlemen, both well known to you as intrepid and successful travellers, I have received much valuable information, as well as precious specimens of birds and eggs, collected in the desolate regions of the extreme north. My anxiety to compare my specimens with those of the Zoological Society of London, induced me to request permission to do so, which the Council freely accorded. For this favour I now present my warm acknowledgments to the Noble EARL of DERBY, the Members of the Council, their amiable Secretary Mr BENNETT, and to Mr GOULD, who had the kindness to select for me such specimens as I wanted. My friend Professor JAMESON of Edinburgh has been equally kind in allowing me the means of comparing specimens. From America I have received some valuable information, and many interesting specimens of birds and eggs, for which I am indebted to the Rev. JOHN BACHMAN, Dr RICHARD HARLAN, Dr GEORGE PARKMAN, EDWARD HARRIS, Esq. and others.

The number of new species described in the present volume is not great. Among them, however, you will find the largest true Heron hitherto discovered in the United States. I have corrected some errors committed by authors, and have added to our Fauna several species which, although described by European writers, had not been observed in America. The habits of many species previously unknown have also been given in detail.

Having long ago observed, in works on the Birds of the United States, the omission of the females and the different appearances produced by the change of season in most water birds, I have represented the male accompanied by his mate, and, in as many instances as possible, the young also. The technical descriptions have been given at greater length than in the former volumes, with the view of preventing error even in comparing dried skins with either the figures or the descriptions. I have also given the average measurement of the eggs, which I regret I had omitted to do in the other volumes; an error which I purpose to atone for by presenting you, in the last number of my Illustrations, with figures of all those which I have collected.

The figures in the third volume of my Illustrations amount to one hundred and eighty-two, and are thus much fewer than those in either of the preceding volumes. This, however, was rendered necessary by the comparatively large size of the originals, the aquatic species of Birds greatly exceeding the terrestrial in this respect. Many of them in fact are so large that only a single figure could be given, and that not always in so good an attitude as I could have wished. For this reason I have sometimes been obliged to give the figure of the young in a separate plate; and this I shall in a few cases continue to do, in order to correct the errors of authors respecting certain species, which I have proved to be merely nominal. Still the number contained in the three volumes being six hundred and seventy-four, there are more than two to each species.

The engraving and colouring of the plates of this volume have generally been considered as much superior even to those of the second. Indeed, some of my patrons, both in Europe and America, have voluntarily expressed their conviction of the superiority of these plates. This is the more gratifying to me, that it proves the unremitted care and perseverance of Mr HAVELL and his assistants, of whom I mention with approbation Messrs BLAKE and EDINGTON.

The Ornithology of the United States may be said to have been commenced by ALEXANDER WILSON, whose premature death prevented him from completing his labours. It is unnecessary for me to say how well he performed the task which he had imposed upon himself; for all naturalists, and many who do not aspire to the name, acknowledge his great merits. But although he succeeded in observing and obtaining a very great number of our birds, he left for others many species which he was unable to procure. These have been sought for with eagerness, and not without success, by persons who have engaged in the pursuit with equal ardour. The PRINCE OF MUSIGNANO, full of enthusiasm, having his judgment matured by long observation, and his mind stored with useful learning, collected in our woods and prairies, by our great rivers, and along our extended shores, materials sufficient for four superb volumes, intended as a continuation of WILSON’s work. THOMAS NUTTALL, equally learned and enthusiastic, next entered the field. His Manual of our Birds contains a mass of useful information, and is for the most part excellent. Many others have, in various ways, endeavoured to extend our knowledge on this subject; but with the exception of THOMAS SAY, none have published their discoveries in a connected form. Dr HARLAN has given to the world an excellent account of our Mammalia; various works on Mollusca have appeared, and at present Dr HORLBECK of Charleston is engaged in publishing an account of our Reptiles.

Along our extended frontiers I have striven to observe and gather whatever had escaped the notice of the different collectors; and now, kind Reader, to prove to you that if not so fortunate as I had wished, I yet have done all that was in my power, I present you with a third volume of Ornithological Biographies, in which you will find some account of about sixty species of Water Birds not included in the works of WILSON. These, at one season or other, are to be met with along the shores or streams of the United States. Some of them are certainly very rare, others remarkable in form and habits; but all, I trust, you will find distinct from each other, and not inaccurately described.

The difficulties which are to be encountered in studying the habits of our Water Birds are great. He who follows the feathered inhabitants of the forests and plains, however rough or tangled the paths may be, seldom fails to obtain the objects of his pursuit, provided he be possessed of due enthusiasm and perseverance. The Land Bird flits from bush to bush, runs before you, and seldom extends its flight beyond the range of your vision. It is very different with the Water Bird, which sweeps afar over the wide ocean, hovers above the surges, or betakes itself for refuge to the inaccessible rocks on the shore. There, on the smooth sea-beach, you see the lively and active Sandpiper; on that rugged promontory the Dusky Cormorant; under the dark shade of yon cypress the Ibis and Heron; above you in the still air floats the Pelican or the Swan; while far over the angry billows scour the Fulmar and the Frigate bird. If you endeavour to approach these birds in their haunts, they betake themselves to flight, and speed to places where they are secure from your intrusion.

But the scarcer the fruit, the more prized it is; and seldom have I experienced greater pleasures than when on the Florida Keys, under a burning sun, after pushing my bark for miles over a soapy flat, I have striven all day long, tormented by myriads of insects, to procure a heron new to me, and have at length succeeded in my efforts. And then how amply are the labours of the naturalist compensated, when, after observing the wildest and most distrustful birds, in their remote and almost inaccessible breeding places, he returns from his journeys, and relates his adventures to an interested and friendly audience.

I look forward to the summer of 1838 with an anxious hope that I may then be able to present you with the last plate of my Illustrations, and the concluding volume of my Biographies. To render these volumes as complete as possible, I intend to undertake a journey to the southern and western limits of the Union, with the view of obtaining a more accurate knowledge of the birds of those remote and scarcely inhabited regions. On this tour I shall be accompanied by my youngest son, while the rest of my family will remain in Britain, to direct the progress of my publication.

In concluding these prefatory remarks, I have to inform you that one of the tail-pieces in my second volume, entitled “A Moose Hunt,” was communicated to me by my young friend THOMAS LINCOLN of Dennisville in Maine; and that it was at his particular request, and much against my wishes, that his name was not mentioned at the time. I have now, however, judged it proper to make this statement.

JOHN J. AUDUBON.

EDINBURGH, 1st December 1835.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page

The Canada Goose, _Anser canadensis_, 1

The Red-throated Diver, _Colymbus septentrionalis_, 20

The Great Red-breasted Rail, _Rallus elegans_, 27 or Fresh-water Marsh-Hen,

The Clapper Rail, or Salt-water _Rallus crepitans_, 33 Marsh-Hen,

The Virginian Rail, _Rallus virginianus_, 41

THE AMERICAN SUN PERCH, 47

The Wood Duck, _Anas Sponsa_, 52

The Booby Gannet, _Sula fusca_, 63

The Esquimaux Curlew, _Numenius borealis_, 69

Wilson’s Plover, _Charadrius Wilsonius_, 73

The Least Bittern, _Ardea exilis_, 77

THE EGGERS OF LABRADOR, 82

The Great Blue Heron, _Ardea Herodias_, 87

The Common American Gull, _Larus zonorhynchus_, 98

The Puffin, _Mormon arcticus_, 105

The Razor-billed Auk, _Alca Torda_, 112

The Hyperborean Phalarope, _Phalaropus hyperboreus_, 118

FISHING IN THE OHIO, 122

The Wood Ibis, _Tantalus Loculator_, 128

The Louisiana Heron, _Ardea ludoviciana_, 136

The Foolish Guillemot, _Uria Troile_, 142

The Black Guillemot, _Uria Grylle_, 148

The Piping Plover, _Charadrius melodus_, 154

THE WRECKERS OF FLORIDA, 158

The Mallard, _Anas Boschas_, 164

The White Ibis, _Ibis alba_, 173

The American Oyster-Catcher, _Hæmatopus palliatus_, 181

The Kittiwake Gull, _Larus tridactylus_, 186

The Kildeer Plover, _Charadrius vociferus_, 191

THE WHITE PERCH AND ITS FAVOURITE BAIT, 197

The Whooping Crane, _Grus americana_, 202

The Pintail Duck, _Anas acuta_, 214

The Green-winged Teal, _Anas Crecca_, 219

The Scaup Duck, _Fuligula Marila_, 226

The Sanderling, _Tringa arenaria_, 231

A RACOON HUNT IN KENTUCKY, 235

The Long-billed Curlew, _Numenius longirostris_, 240

The Hooded Merganser, _Mergus cucullatus_, 246

The Sora Rail, _Rallus carolinus_, 251

The Ring-necked Duck, _Fuligula rufitorques_, 259

The Sooty Tern, _Sterna fuliginosa_, 263

A WILD HORSE, 270

The Night Heron, _Ardea Nycticorax_, 275

The Hudsonian Curlew, _Numenius hudsonicus_, 283

The Great Marbled Godwit, _Limosa Fedoa_, 287

The American Coot, _Fulica americana_, 291

The Roseate Tern, _Sterna Dougallii_, 296

REMINISCENCES OF THOMAS BEWICK, 300

The Great Black-backed Gull, _Larus marinus_, 305

The Snowy Heron, _Ardea candidissima_, 317

The American Snipe, _Scolopax Wilsonii_, 322

The Common Gallinule, _Gallinula Chloropus_, 330

The Large-billed Guillemot, _Uria Brunnichii_, 336

PITTING OF WOLVES, 338

The Eider Duck, _Fuligula mollissima_, 342

The Velvet Duck, _Fuligula fusca_, 354

The Pied-billed Dobchick, _Podiceps carolinensis_, 359

The Tufted Puffin, _Mormon cirrhatus_, 364

The Arctic Tern, _Sterna arctica_, 366

A TOUGH WALK FOR A YOUTH, 371

The Brown Pelican, _Pelecanus fuscus_, 376

The Florida Cormorant, _Phalacrocorax floridanus_, 387

The Pomarine Jager, _Lestris pomarinus_, 396

Wilson’s Phalarope, _Phalaropus Wilsonii_, 400

The Red Phalarope, _Phalaropus fulicarius_, 404

BREAKING UP OF THE ICE, 408

The Reddish Egret, _Ardea rufescens_, 411

The Double-crested Cormorant, _Phalacrocorax dilophus_, 420

The Hudsonian Godwit, _Limosa hudsonica_, 426

The Horned Grebe, _Podiceps cornutus_, 429

The Forked-tailed Petrel, _Thalassidroma Leachii_, 434

A MAPLE-SUGAR CAMP, 438

The Whooping Crane, _Grus americana_, 441

The Tropic Bird, _Phaeton æthereus_, 442

The Curlew Sandpiper, _Tringa subarquata_, 444

The Fulmar Petrel, _Procellaria glacialis_, 446

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper, _Tringa rufescens_, 451

THE OPOSSUM, 454

The Common Cormorant, _Phalacrocorax Carbo_, 458

The Arctic Jager, _Lestris parasiticus_, 470

The American Woodcock, _Scolopax minor_, 474

The Greenshank, _Totanus Glottis_, 483

Wilson’s Petrel, _Thalassidroma Wilsonii_, 486

A LONG CALM AT SEA, 491

The Frigate Pelican, _Tachypetes Aquilus_, 495

Richardson’s Jager, _Lestris Richardsonii_, 503

The Cayenne Tern, _Sterna cayana_, 505

The Semipalmated Snipe, _Totanus semipalmatus_, 510 or Willet,

The Noddy Tern, _Sterna stolida_, 516

STILL BECALMED, 520

The King Duck, _Fuligula spectabilis_, 523

Hutchins’s Goose, _Anser Hutchinsii_, 526

Schinz’s Sandpiper, _Tringa Schinzii_, 529

The Sandwich Tern, _Sterna cantiaca_, 531

The Black Tern, _Sterna nigra_, 535

NATCHEZ IN 1820, 539

The Great White Heron, _Ardea occidentalis_, 542

The White-winged Silvery Gull, _Larus leucopterus_, 553

The Wandering Shearwater, _Puffinus cinereus_, 555

The Purple Sandpiper, _Tringa maritima_, 558

The Forked-tailed Gull, _Larus Sabini_, 561

THE LOST PORTFOLIO, 564

The White-fronted Goose, _Anser albifrons_, 568

The Ivory Gull, _Larus eburneus_, 571

The Yellowshank, _Totanus flavipes_, 573

The Solitary Sandpiper, _Totanus chloropygius_, 576

The Red-backed Sandpiper, _Tringa alpina_, 580

LABRADOR, 584

The Herring Gull, _Larus argentatus_, 588

The Crested Grebe, _Podiceps cristatus_, 595

The Large-billed Puffin, _Mormon glacialis_, 599

The Pectoral Sandpiper, _Tringa pectoralis_, 601

The Manks Shearwater, _Puffinus Anglorum_, 604

GREAT EGG HARBOUR, 606

The Barnacle Goose, _Anser leucopsis_, 609

The Harlequin Duck, _Fuligula histrionica_, 612

The Red-necked Grebe, _Podiceps rubricollis_, 617

The Dusky Petrel, _Puffinus obscurus_, 620

The Golden Plover, _Charadrius pluvialis_, 623

REMARKS ON THE FORM OF THE TOES OF BIRDS, 629

ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY.

THE CANADA GOOSE.

_ANSER CANADENSIS_, VIEILL.

PLATE CCI. MALE AND FEMALE.