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PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
OF
PHILADELPHIA
1866.
PHILADELPHIA:
I" F. I NT ED FOR THE ACADEMY. 1866.
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS,
With references to the several Articles contributed bij each.
Allen, Dr. H. Notes on the Vespertilionidae of Tropical America 279
Berthoud, E. L. Description of the Hot Springs of Soda Creek, their location, number, temperature and altitude, and the Geological features of the surrounding locality ; together with the remarkable discovery of a human skeleton and a fossil Pine Tree in the Boulder and Gravel Formation of Soda Bar, Oct. 13, 1860 342
Cassin, John. A study of the Icteridae 10
Fasti Ornithologist No 2 35
A second study of the Icteridae 403
Cope, E. D. Fourth Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America 123 Remarks on the remains of a gigantic extinct Dinosaur, from the creta- ceous green sand of New Jersey 275
Third Contribution to the History of the Balamidse and Delphinidse 293
On the Reptilia and Batrachia of the Sonoran Province of the Nearctic
Region
Fifth Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America 317
Coues, Dr. Elliott. A critical Review of the Family Procellariida?, Part
III., embracing the Fulmarese 25
List of the Birds of Fort Whipple, Arizona; with which are incor- porated all other species ascertained to inhabit the Territory ; with brief critical and field Notes, descriptions of new species, &c 39
A critical Review of the Family Procellarhdae, Part IV., embracing the
iEstrelateae and the Prionese 134
Critical Review of the Family Procellariidse, Part V., embracing the
Diornedeiuse and the Halodroininse, with a general Supplement 172
Daniell, Dr. W. C. On the introduction of the American Shad into the
Alabama River 236
Horn, Dr. Geo. H. Descriptions of some new Cicindelidse, from the
Pacific Coast of the United States 394
Descriptions of some new genera and species of Central American
Coleoptera 397
/ S-3 J3
IV. LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
Lea, Isaac. Description of twelve new species of Unionidse, from
South America 33
Notes on some members of the Feldspar Family 110
Description of five new species of the Genus Unio 133
Description of two new species of the Genus Lithasia 133
Le Conte, Dr. J. L. List of Coleoptera collected in the Mountains of
Lycoming County, Pa 346
List of Coleoptera collected near Fort Whipple, Arizona, by Dr. Elliot
Coues, U. S. A., in 1864-65 348
Revision of the Dasytini of the United States 349
Additions to the Coleopterous Fauna of the United States. No. 1 361
Lincecum, Dr. G. A History of the "small bl ick erratic Ant" 101
On the Agricultural Ant, (Myrmica Molefaciens) 323
Meehan, Thos. On the Period and Ratio of the Annual Increase in the
Circumference of Trees 292
On the Consumption of Force by Plants in overcoming Gravitation 401
Meek, F. B., and A. H. Worthen. Contributions to the Palaeontology of
Illinois and other Western States 251
Meigs, J. Aitken. Observations on the Cranial Forms of the American Aborigines, based upon specimens contained in the Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences 197
Reakirt, Tryon. Descriptions of some new species of Diurnal Lepidop-
tera 238, 331
Rominger, Dr. Carl. Observations on Chsetetes and some related Genera, in regard to their Systematic Position ; with an appended descrip- tion of some New Species 113
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
OF
PHILADELPHIA
1866.
January Id.
The President. Dr. Isaac Hays, in the Chair. Twenty-two members present.
Dr. Leidy called the attention of the members to the greater part of a human skull, and a shell medallion, presented this evening by Col. A. W. Putnam, of Nashville, Tenn. The specimens were obtained frcm one of the so-called pigmy graves of an ancient aboriginal cemetery near the mouth of Stone River, Davidson Co., Tenn.
The part of the skull consists of nearly the entire cranial portion, and does Dot differ in general form, proportions and size, from that of the usual North American Indian skulls. The occipital region is high, somewhat compressed, and laterally deformed. The medallion is a circular piece of shell, about two inches in diameter, and is much eroded. It appears to have been covered with some pigment. One side is plain ; the other is marked with cross bars con- tained within a linear circle. The upper edge is perforated with two holes.
Dr. L. read an extract fiom an article by Col. Putnam, in relation to the specimens and the so-called pigmy race of Tennessee, published in the Nash- ville Dispatch, Dec. 12, 1865. The substance of the extract is as follows :
The ancient cemeteries in middle Tennessee are peculiar from the construc- tion and small size of the graves, which have given rise to the idea that they belonged to a people of small stature. The graves are near the surface, and so far as examined by Col. Putnam, or observed by the owners of lands on which they are situated, and where the plow has uncovered them, are of quite uniform structure. A few flat stones at the bottom, generally a single one at the bead and foot, and a variable number at the sides. The grave thus pre- pared, after receiving the human remains, was filled wi'h earth to the depth of one or two feet, and was then covered with one or more flat stones, though not in all instances. Col. Putnam supposes that recent dead bodies were not deposited in their graves, but were exposed, according to the custom of some of the later Indian tribes, on high scaffolds, or suspended to trees, in the open air, until the soft parts had decayed, after which the bones were collected and deposited in the stone graves. This would explain the reason of the small size of the latter in comparison with the length of the entire skeletons con- tained therein, and appears to receive confirmation from the fact that these graves, notwiihstanding their very superficial position, never appear to have been disturbed by wild animals, which they likely would have been had the bodies been buried in the fresh condition.
1866.] 1
Z PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
The following deaths were announced : — Col. J. D. Graham, U. S. A., Dec. 29, 1865, and Hon. Henry Winter Davis, Dec. 30, 1865, Corres- pondents, and Adolphus L. Heermann, M. D., Member, Sept. 2, 1865.
January 9th,. The President, Dr. Hays, in the Chair.
Twenty-one members present.
Dr. Slack directed the attention of the members to some interesting specimens of fossils, and chalk of the cretaceous period, from Smoky Hill River, Colorado Territory, presented this evening by Mr. D. C. Collier.
January ~[Qth. Mr. Vaux, Vice-President, in the Chair. Twenty-one members present.
January 23d. Mr. Yaux, Vice-President, in the Chair.
Seventeen members present.
The following deaths were announced : — Mr. Robt. Pearsall, Member, January 25, 1866 ; and Dr. John L. Riddell of New Orleans, and Dr. John L. Lindley, of London, Correspondents.
January 30th.
Mr. Vaux, Vice-President, in the Chair.
Thirty members present.
A letter to the President was read, as follows:
Philadelphia, January I9lh, 1866.
The President of the Academy of Natural 1 Sciences of Philadelphia. /
Sir, — I am prepared to pay a legacy of ten thousand dollars, (less U. S. tax ) left to the above Institution by the will of my late brother, Thomas B. Wilson, deceased, and have enclosed herewith a release, to be signed and acknowledged, &c, before a Commissioner of the State of Delaware ; when executed, please advise me where and when we can meet to close the transaction.
Yours, respectfully,
Rathmell Wilson, Exc'r., of Thomas B.Wilson, Deed. Address 919 Clinton street.
The death was announced of Mr. George Ord, Jan. 23, 18 .6, formerly President of the Academy.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Academy : Mr. Edwin L. Reakirt, Mr. Robert Frazer, Mr. Jas. H. B. Bland,
[Jan.
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA.
Mr. George W. Childs, Mr. George M. Woodward, Mr. Thomas Guil- ford Smith, Mr. William Forster Jones, and the Rev. E. R. Beadle.
Pursuant to the By-Laws, an election of members of the Standing Committees for the ensuing year was held, as follows :
ETHNOLOGY. BOTANY.
J. A. Meigs, Elias Durand,
S. S. Haldeman, C. H. Parker,
F. V. Hayden. C. E. Smith.
CO MP. AN AT. AND GEN. ZOOLOGY. H. Allen,
W. S. W. Ruschenberger, J. H. Slack.
MAMMALOGY.
J. H. Slack, E. D. Cope, H. Allen.
ORNITHOLOGY. J. Cassin, S. F. Baird, Henry Bryant.
IIERPETOLOGY AND ICHTHYOLOGY. E. D. Cope, Th. Norris, Robert Bridges.
CONCH OLOGY. Geo. W. Tryon, Jr., Isaac Lea, T. A. Conrad.
ENTOMOL OGY AND CR US TA CEA. Jno. L. Le Conte, J. H B. Bland, H. C. Wood, Jr.
GEOLOGY. Isaac Lea, J. P. Lesley, F. V. Hayden.
MINERALOGY.
W. S. Vaux,
J. C. Trautwine,
J. A. Clay.
PALAEONTOLOGY.
T. A. Conrad, Joseph Leidy, F. V. Hayden.
PHYSICS.
Robert Bridges, R. E. Rogers, Jacob Ennis.
LIBRARY. Joseph Jeanes, Joseph Leidy, John Cassin.
PROCEEDINGS. Joseph Leidy, W. S. Vaux, John Cassin, Robert Bridges, Oeo. W. Tryon, Jr.
February Qth.
Mr. Vaux, Vice President, in the Chair. Twenty-eight members present.
The following was presented for publication : " A Critical Review of of the Family Procellaridas," by Elliot Coues, M.
D., U. S. A.
Prof. E D. Cope presented to the Academy a specimen of Nautilus, obtained by him from the owner of " Heritages," Marl Pits, Glassboro, New Jersey, who stated to him that it had been found in those diggings. The identity of the matrix with that surrounding specimens of Teredo tibialis, and Terebratula
1868.]
* PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
fragilis and Harlani, taken from that bed by Prof. C.r seemed conclusive on this point. The species is an Aturia, and the first found in the cretaceous for- mation of New Jersey, though W. M. Gabb had discovered one perhaps the same in the cretaceous of California. It, has some resemblance to the zic-zac, but presents fewer and more diftant septa, longer chambers, and the parietal processes of the septa more divaricate and less dorsally situate. It differs from the A. Alabamensis (Morton) by the same features, and in the smaller siphuncle and much less parallel septa. The following are its characters :
Uncovered chambers nine ; septary process elongate, acuminate, shallow, diverging outward from a spiral line joining their bases ; well separated from the succeeding septa; dorsal portions of the septa short, very excentric as regards each other; ventral portions opposite them, forming nearly a right angle with the ventral outline. Siphuncle smnll, more dorsal than the end of the dorsal fourth of the diameter. Ventral face broad rounded; septal processes scarcely visible on the ventral view. Diameter of the l*st chamber o in. 111.; of first visible (at siphuncle) 22 1. Median diameter (from penul- timate chamber) 8 inches.
This species most resembles Nautilus Parkinsoni, which cannot be far re- moved from Aturia. In it the septary process approaches closely the succeed- ing septum ; while in the A. pancifex they fall far short of the latter, and are more divaricate; the siphuncle is less dorsally situate, measuring one-fourth the diameter in the former. In A. Agustata, Conrad, from the Eocene of Oregon, there is much resemblance, but that animal is much more like the zic- zac ; its septary processes are not divaricate and but little separated; the dorsal portion of the septary wall instead of being opposite its ventral portions is opposite that of the septum next anterior. The nearest ally i3 the A. Mathewsonii Gabb. It appears to differ in the small siphuncle, and obliquely truncate and divaricate septary processes, and the relatively much shorter median or central portion of the septary margins. My friend T. A. Conrad's opinion as to the peculiarities of this species is confirmatory of my own.
Dr. Leidy read several extracts from a letter of Dr. Gideon Lin- cecura, addressed to Mr. Durand, dated Long Point, Texas, Dec. 24, 1865. One of the extracts related an interesting account of an ant battle, witnessed by Dr. Lincecum, as follows :
"The large, black tree ants have exceedingly destructive wars sometimes with their own species. Like the honey bee, they maintain separate and distinct governments, or hives, and between these, as far as my observation goes, there is no commerce or intercourse of any description. But they have territorial claims and quarrels ; and these quarrels are occasionally decided on the battle field. As they are equal in physical strength and the science of war, the amount of life that is destroyed in one of their national conflicts is sometimes very great. I have seen left on one of their battle fields at least a gallon of the slain. Th*-y were not dead, but they were in a far more lamentable con- dition. Their legs having been all trimmed off; they lay on the ground amongst the scattered fragments of their dissevered limbs, wallowing and writhing their legless bodies, in an agony of sullen, mad, hopeless despair.
This disastrous engagement took place in the little front yard of my office, on the eveuing of the 10th of July, 1855. There were considerable numbers en- gaged in battle when I first observed them. They were madly fighting in a hand to hand conflict, and reinforcements were momentarily arriving to both armies. The battle had now become general, and was raging over an area of 15 to 20 feet in diameter. It was 4 P. St., and placing a chair in a convenient situation for observation, I seated myself, for the purpose, if possible, of ascer- taining the cause of the difficulty, and to note their mode of warfare. I was not present at the commencing of the battle, and now, while it was wildly raging, could not find out the cause of it. It was not long, however, until I
[Jan.
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 5
discovered that the belligerent parties were the subjects of two neighboring- kingdoms, or hives, each of which, as I could distinguish, by the arrival of their reinforcements, were coming from two different post-oak trees, which were standing about fifty yards apart, and the office-yard being very nearly the half-way ground, afforded me good opportunity to determine that the contend- ing parlies belonged to distinct communities, and not to the same hive.
The battle continued unabated, until the darkness of the night prevented further observation. I left them to their fate, with my feelings so highly excited that I did not rest well that night. Before sunrise the next morning I visited the battle field, and found it thickly strewed with the legless, hapless warriors, as described above. There could not have been less than 40,000 left on the ground who were utterly incapacitated to help themselves. A few of them had a single leg left. "With this they made shift to pull themselves incessantly around in a very limited circle. The larger proportion of them lay prost'ate, writhing and doubling, and vainly straining their agonized, limbless bodies in a stateof mental ■abandonmentand furious desperation. Few were dead. All the dead ona8 that I saw, did not exceed perhaps a hundred ; and these were found universally in pairs, mutually grappling each other by the throat. With a few of these pa'rs of unyielding warriors, life was not entirely extinct. My sympathies being painfnlly excited, 1 made an effort, where there were signs of vitality, to separate them. In this ! did not succeed. On closer scrutiny, I found that they had fixed their caliper-like mandibles in each others throat, and were gripped together with such inveterate malignity, that they could not be separated without tearing off their heads.
I had swept them up in a heap, and as the most humane method of curtailing the wretched condition of the poor, ruined victims of the bloody strife I couid think of, was making a bole in the ground, with the intention of entombing the whole of them, Whig and Tory together, and by filling the grave with water, drown them. But before I had completed ray arrangements, there came a heavy shower of rain, which soon overwhelmed them with mud and water, thereby relieving me from the painful task.
It is perhaps nothing amiss to state here, that among the slain — the van- quished— I saw no type of the species, except the neutrals, or working type. As on the ensanguined fields of the arrogant genus homo, the conjuring priests and better bloods of the self-created nobility, after raising the/«*s, had found it convenient to have business in some safer quarter.
This ant dwells in live trees, in large swarms, or more properly communities, and feeds principally on insects. On this account he is useful. It is a fortu- nate thing for any family to have a large tree netr their dwelling that contains a community of this civil but warlike species of ant.
Near the western corner of my dwel.itig, for eight years, stood a post oik tree — Quercus obtusiloba — which contained a quite populous community of the black tree ant in question. During the eight years that the tree survived, it was the custom of these ants to visit every portion of the house, every night in warm weather; search out all hidden cracks and crevices, in walls, bedsteads, and furniture, in fact, travel over every thing about the house, except the clothing; upon any woven texture they do not travel. In all that eight years, we had no fleas, bed bugs, or any other insect annoyances. But when the tree died, \r which they had their home, they went away, and we have missed them much, as, since their departure, we have been forced to scald and wash out the house often, to clear it of annoying insects. We should be happy in the ac- knowledgment of our dependence on the services of another such community.
This species of ant is the largest that is found in Texas. He is quite black, and disdaining the grovelling habits of the burrowing tribes of the genus, he constructs his habitation in the live trees. As far as my observation goes, however, he dwells only in the cedars and post oaks. Very seldom found in a tree that has been long dead. In the construction of the habitation for the
1866.]
6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY 0?
accommodation of the community, be displays a degree of forethonght, skill and ingenuity, which is arrogantly claimed to belong only to the genus homo. In the first place, a single female winged ant selects a live tree, in a locality favorably situated for the peculiar habits of the species, and the growth of the insects upon which it feeds mainly. She now seeks out some small crevice, dead limb, or wind crack in the tree, and cutting off her wing3, which are no- longer useful, but in the way, she commences the work of boriog and chisel- ing out suitable apartments for the coming community. This she accomplishes- by cutting away the firm, sound wood of the growing tree, until she has com- pleted a sufficient number of apartments, or cells, in which to deposit her eggsr and this ends her labors. Very soon — 12 days — she has produced a swarm of neutrals, who go to work collecting food and extending the cells to suit the growing population, until, as I have often witnessed, the inner portion of the tree will be cut into singularly constructed cells to the extent of 6 or 7 feet,, without greatly diminishing its strength."
Other extracts from the letter, in relation to certain speeies cf grapes of Texas, are as follows :
" I am familiar with Buckley's V. monticola, and am pleased that it has at last been named, and placed in scientific classi6cation. I am not right sure- that all the Texas grapes have yet been noted. I think it quite probable that future industry and close scientific scrutiny will deveb pe other species and; varieties, particularly when the investigator penetrates the valleys and gulches of our exceeding rough mountain ranges."
" la reference to the Post oak grapes, there are two species here that are- known among the people as the ' Post oak grape.'1 They are found in the Post oak lands. The one I sent you flourishes best in the very sandy elevations, with the bitter- fruited Post oak. This species does not rise exceeding four or five feet ; it is more of a bush than a vine. The berry is large and sour, but its odor is very fine. The other species is sometimes found in the same soil, alongside of the first, but more frequently in better soil, always, however,, in Post oak lands, which as a general thing, are more or less sandy. This species is a climbing vine, running over the tops of the trees, bearing heavy crops of large grapes. These are also too sour for a table grape ; they pro- duce a very palatable wine, which, very probably, might be greatly improved by cultivation."
"Mr. G. J. Durham, (my son in-law,) examined your description of the Vitis monticola to-day. He says Buckley is right about it being the best American grape, but has never seen such large clusters as you describe ; has eat of the fruit, which he describes as maturing in September ; that the berry when ripe, is of a medium siae, bright green, sprinkled with black dots, very sweet, and that the vine sometimes attains to the height of ten or eleven feet. It is almost universally found among, and clambering on the rocks, on dry limestone elevations. That it is not very abundant, &c, all of which I know to be correct. The other small mountain black grape is more abundant, and is also quite sweet. It occupies lower grounds than the V. montic(.lar being found mostly in the heads of the ravines, runniugon the dogwood trees in such quan- tit es, that he, Durham, has seen them, towards the latter part of September, when the leaves had all shed off, and in many places where the vines had mat- ted the tops of the dogwoods, impart a blue caste to the whole scenery, even at a mile's distance. Companies of soldiers have been known to subsist upon them alone, two or three days at a time, and no ill results arose from it. This last grape is called by the people of that country, ' sugar grape,' and is highly esteemed by all who have a knowledge of it. They will travel a great way at 1he proper season to procure them. The soldiers who are stationed in or near the mountains will go 30 or 40 miles after them. And yet, I have never heard of an attempt to domesticate either of the mountain species.
[Jan.
NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA.
It is at least 150 miles from my place to where they are found in any degree plenty. The excursions I have made in that direction have always been during the summer months, consequently I have only seen them in about a half-grown state. All the mature fruit I have seen were brought by travellers from that country."
February 13 th. Mr. Vaux, Vice-President, in the Chair.
Thirty-four members present.
The following deaths were announced :
Mr. Charles A. Poulson, Feb. 8, Member. Dr. William P. Grier, U. S. A., Jan. 28, Member. Mr. Lovell Beeve, of London, Corres- pondent
February 20th. Mr. Vaux, Vice-President, in the Chair, Twenty-five members present.
February 27th. Mr. Cassin, Vice-President, in the Chair.
Twenty members present.
The Committee on Proceedings placed on the table the fifth number of the published Proceedings, for November and December, 1865.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Academy: Mr. William E. White, Mr. John E. Graeff, Mr. William Evans, Jr., Mr. Edward R. Wood, Mr. Philip C. Garrett and Mr. Charles Harts- home ; and Mr. Geo. W. Clinton, of Buffalo, N. Y., was elected a Correspondent.
March Qlh. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. Sixteen members present.
March loth. Mr. Cassin, Vice-President, in the Chair.
Twenty-four members present.
Mr. Lea read an extract from a letter of Prof. Courtland, on the gradual extinction of the western Unionidse.
A paper was presented for publication, entitled " A List of Birds of Arizona, &c," by Elliot Coues, M. D., U. S. A.
Prof. E. D. Cope exhibited a cranium of a Black Fish (Globicephalus) found on the western shore of Delaware Bay by Cornelius Gregory. Comparison
I866.3
8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
with an example of the same genus from Cape Cod, revealed differences which must probably be regarded as distinctive of two species. The latter is apparently identical with the known species G. melas (or sivineval), and agrees with Harlan's description of G. intermedins, and in locality ; the Delaware specimen is of much broader and shorter proportions than any known species, exhibits a narrower supraorbital roof and shorter tooth line. The in- termaxillaries dilate and entirely cover the maxillaries at tbe basal two-fifths of the muzzle, which then rather abruptly contracts to the tip.
G. ? sp. nov. G. melas.
End of muzzle to end malar to length End of muzzle to end malar to length as
cranium, 2 to 4.5. 2 to 4 5.
Width at basal fourth equal from notch Width do. four fifths from notch to sup- to supraoccipital and 5-6ths length of raoccip. crest, muzzle.
Outlines begin to contract at basal Outlines continuous, nearly parallel. 2-5ths.
Width at distal fourth equal § length WTidih do. less than half length, muzzle.
.Supraoccipital everted to foramen mag- Supraocsipital straight to foramen mag- num, num.
Longitudinal width supraorbital roof, Longit. width supraorb. equal width.,
I width muzzle at basal third. muzzle at basal third.
Length of alveolar series scarcely more Length do. equal width, muzzle at 7tb
than half width of muzzle at seventh tooth. tooth.
Teeth above, six. Teeth abover ten.
Dr. Gray (Catal. Cetaceous Brit. Mus.,) describes a specimen from Guada- loupe in Mus. Paris, which has the maxilla; similarly concealed by the pre- maxillaries. The present individual is an adult male, with the ligamentous attachments on tbe muzzle, a^d muscular insertions largely developed. Total length 25 in. 6 lin. ; postorbital width (above.)
The whale alluded to (Proceedings, 1865, p. 168) as having been seen in Mobjack Bay, Virginia, was stated to have been captured by Dr. P. A. Talia- ferro and Prof. E. Taliaferro, of William and Mary College, Williamsburg, and prepared and set up. It is a short- finned Megaptera, probably of the species M. o s p h y i a. Prof. T. has kindly furnished me with the following details as tj its structure, carefully drawn up by himself.
Length from end of muzzle over convexity of back, forty-three feet nine inches ; girth about nineteen feet ; length from end of muzzle to axilla (ex- ternal measurement) fifteen feet; breadth of head across inferior margin of jaws, eight feet. Length of the pectoral extremity four feet; greatest breadtb fifteen inches ; they were situated close behind the angle ot the mouth. There were three hundred and sixty lamiuie of baleen, extending on either side of the mouth about six feet along the jaw, the longest about eighteen to twenty inches. The bead was acute. The folds of the throat many and capacious. The dorsal fin was represented by a conical mass covered by horny integu- ment, without any membranous appendage, situated well posteriorly. The body near the tail very slender. Tbe flukes suddenly expand to a breadth of ten foet. The cervical vertebrae were all distinct. Color: jet black above,, white on the belly; sides beautifully marbled by the combination of the two colors.
The most striking feature in this specimen is tbe shortness of the pectoral limbs, being relatively nearly half less than in the specimen of the o s p h y i a at Niagara, one- half the length of the cranium, and only one-tenth the total. This is very different from any of the hitherto known species, and without doubt distinct.
[March,
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 9
March 20th.
Mr. Cassin, Vice-President in the Chair.
Twenty-seven members present. The following were offered for publication :
" List of the Birds of Port Whipple, Arizona." By Elliot Coues, M.D. " Description of twelve Unionidae from South America." By Isaac Lea.
" Fasti OrnithologijB, No. 2." By John Cassin.
Dr. Leidy directed the attention of the members to the specimen of a large phalanx of an extinct reptile, presented this evening by Dr. W. Spillman, of Columbus, Mississippi. It was derived from the cretaceous formation in the vicinity of the latter place, and is remarkably well preserved. It is a first phalanx, and in general form resembles the corresponding phalanges of the Alligator, but is proportionately more robust. The proximal articular surface is moderately concave, somewhat uneven ; and in outline is transverse oval with the lower side flat. The distal extremity is provided with a trochlear articular surface, and deep pits laterally for ligamentous attachment. The animalto which the bone belonged is unknown ; it may be conjectured to have appertained to the fore foot of Hadosaurus. The measurements are as follows: Length in the axis 5 inches 8 lines ; length laterally ft inches ; trans- verse diameter of proximal end 2 inches 11 lines ; vertical diameter of do. 2 inches 5 lines; transverse diameter of distal end inferiorly 2 inches 5J lines; vertical diameter at middle of trochlea 1 inch 6 lines.
Dr. Leidy next directed the attention of the members to a specimen of the liver of a turkey suspended in alcohol, containing half a dozen cream-colored tumors, from the size of a pea to that of a nutmeg. The tumors examined microscopically appear to have the structure of soft cancer, as usually described, being composed of large nucleated cells in great variety of form. Dr. L. stated that, after having dined on part of the turkey, on making inquiry for the missing liver, the cook had given information, that in consequence of the " white lumps in it, it had not been cooked." On procuring it from the slops, it was found to be in the condition described. Dr. L. took the opportunity of expressing the opinion that an unnecessary degree of alarm had been created in the community in relation to what were considered to be diseased meats, especially such as are infested with parasites. While he most decidedly re- commended the avoidance of the flesh of diseased or unwholesome animals, he thought that all parasites would be destroyed by thorough cooking.
In answer to a question from one of the members, whether he had noticed Trichina in pork, Dr. L. observed that he had been the first to discover this parasite in the hog ; the discovery having been made twenty years ago, as may be seen by referring to the Proceedings of this Academy for October, 1846, page 107 — 8. This notice had attracted the attention of the German helmin- thologists, as proved by reference to Diesing's Systema Helminthum, vol. ii. page 114, and Leuckart, Untersucbungen ii. Trichina spiralis, pages 6, 18.
The circumstances under which the Trichina had been first detected in pork, was on an occasion when Dr. L. had dined on part of the infested meat. While eating a slice of pork, he noticed some minute specks, which recalled to mind the Trichina spots seen in the muscles of a human subject only a few days previously. Preserving the remainder of the slice, on examination of it mi- croscopically, he found it full of Trichina spiralis, but the parasites were all dead from the heat of cooking. In conclusion, Dr. L. observed that all meats were liable to be infested with parasites, but that there was no danger from infection if the meats were thoroughly cooked, for he had satisfied himself by experiment that entozoa are destroyed when submitted to the temperature of boiling water.
1866.]
10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
March 27th. Mr. Cassin, Vice-President, in the Chair.
Twenty-four members present.
The following gentlemen were elected members :
J. A. Heinrzelman, Amos It. Little, James C. Parrish, Clemmons Hunt, R. Shelton Mackenzie, Charles B. Durborrow, John Turner, Samuel E. Slayraaker, William E. Kehmle, Alfonso de Figaniere, Thomas C. Stellwagen, M. D., and Charles S. Westcott.
The following were elected correspondents :
Robert Gray and William Sinclair, of Glasgow, Scotland; D. C. Collier, of Central City, Colorado; and Rev. Joseph Blake.
On report of the respective committees, the following papers were ordered to be published :
A STUDY OF THE ICTERIDAE. BY JOHN CASSIN.
1. Sub-family Agelaiinae. 1. Genus AGELAIUS, Vieillot. (Genus Agelaius, Vieill, Analyse, p. 33, 1816.) 1. Agelaius.
1. Agblaids phceniceus (Linnaeus.)
Oriolus phceniceus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 161, (1766.)
Sturnus praedatorius, Wils. Am. Orn. iv. p. 30, (1811. Wilson Am. Orn. pi. 30. Aud B. of Am. pi. 67, Oct. ed. iv. pi. 216. An abundant and well known species, diffused throughout the whole of temperate North America. It is nearly related to the two species immediately succeeding, from whicb it is, however, generally not difficult to distinguish, though all of them much resemble each other whea in young plumage. Numerous specimens are in the Acad. Museum, and in the Museum Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Specimens from Yucatan, in the Smithsonian Museum, have the bill more slender and present some other slight differences, and may be distinct or referable to A. assimilis, Gundlach.
2. Agelaius tricolor, Audubon.
Agelaius tricolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. p. 1. (1839.)
Aud. B. of Am. pi. 388, Oct. ed.. iv. pi. 214.
Numerous specimens in the Academy Museum, and in that of the Smithsonian Institution. Resembles the preceding but is quite distinct specifically, and can be distinguished readily by the different red of the shoulders, less rounded tail and more slender bill, in the present bird. Abundant in the western countries of North America.
3. Agelaius assimilis, Gundlach.
Agelaius assimilis. " Gundl. MSS.," Lembeye, Aves Cuba, p. 64, (1850.) Agelaius assimilis, Gundl. Cabanis Jour. 1856, p. 12. Lembeye, Aves Cuba, pi. ix. fig. 3.
Restricted apparently to the Island of Cuba, but in the adult male much re- sembling specimens from Yucatan. In this species the female is totally black in which respect it differs from the two preceding species, though the adult male is very similar to that of A. phceniceus. The young male resembles the female, bnt is usually recognizable by the presence of more or less of the scarlet of the shoulders.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 11
Specimens in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and in the collection of Mr. Lawrence of New York. The females and young males are uniform brownish black, not in the smallest degree mottled, as in the two preceding species and in A. Gubernator. >
4. Agelaius Gdbernator, (Wagler.)
Psarocolius gubernator, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 281.
Aud. B. of Am. pi. 420, Oct. ed. iv. pi. 215.
Easily distinguished when adult from either of the preceding by its shoulders being uniform rich crimson, without paler margin, though the young much resemble each other. Abundant in western North America.
Numerous specimens in Academy Museum and Museum Smithsonian Institu- tion.
5. Agelaius humeralis, (Vigors.)
Leistes humeralis, Vig. Zool. Jour. iii. p. 442, (1827.) La Sagra Cuba, Ois. pi. 5.
Now well known as a bird of the Island of Cuba. This species is smaller than either of the preceding, and not quite strictly of the same subgroup, having the tail proportionally rather longer and general form apparently more slender. Common in Cuba. Numerous specimens in the Academy Museum, and Museum Smithsonian Institution, and in Mr. Lawrence's collection.
In this species the females and young males are stated to be black, (as in A. assimilis, alsj of Cuba.) A specimen in Mr. Lawrence's collection, which I regard as a young male of this species, is clear uniform black, the rufous of the shoulder beginning to appear.
2. Xanthocephalus. (Genus Xanthocephalus, Bonap. Consp. Av. 1. p. 431.)
6. Agelaius xanthocephalus, (Bonaparte.)
Icterus xanthocephalus, Bonap. Jour. Acad. Philad'a. v. p. 223, (1827.)
Agelaius longipes, Swains. Phil. Mag. 1827, p. 436.
Psarocolius perspicillatus, Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 753.
Icterus icterocephalus, Bonap. Am. Orn. 1. p. 27, (supposed by Bonaparte,
to be Oriolus icterocephalus, Linn.) Icterus frenatus, Licht., Isis, 1843, p. 69. Bonap. Am. Orn. 1. pi. 3. Aud. B. of Am. pi. 388, Oct. ed. iv. pi. 213. In my judgment this species is properly to be arranged as an Agelaius It is an abundant bird of the central and western countries of North America, and specimens are in all collections in this country, though formerly scarce and highly valued. Straggling specimens, generally of young birds, have occasionally been obtained in the States on the Atlantic, several having occurred, within my knowledge, in the vicinity of Philadelphia.
This species does not resemble any other sufficiently intimately to render close comparison necessary, and can usually be recognized quite readily. It is handsomely figured by Audubon, and by Bonaparte as above.
3. Apfrobus. •
(Genus Aphobus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein, i. p. 194.)
7. Agelaius chopi, Vieillot.
Agelaius cbopi, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. p. 537, (1819.)
Icterus unicolor, Licht. Verz. p. 19. (1823.)
Icterus sulcirostris, Spix. Av. Bras. i. p. 67, (1824.) Spix Av. Bras. i. pi. 64. Hahn Voeg. pt. xvi. pi. 2.
Specimens obtained by Mr. John G. Bell, at Mazatlan, Mexico, have the bill larger and in general stature are rather more robust than in specimens labelled as from various parts of South America, but otherwise are quite identical. Easily identified in this group by the sharply lanceolate and acuminate form of the feathers of the bead and the oblique grooves at the base of the lower 1866.]
12 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP
mandible. My impression at present is, that this bird is properly to be arranged here as a subgenus of Agelaius.
Numerous specimens in the Academy Museum. In general appearance and in the pointed feathers of the head this bird resembles Leistes curaeus (=Curneus a(errimus) with which it has been sometimes confounded, though much smaller and not, in my opinion, belonging to the same genus.
4. Agelasticus.
(Genus Agelasticus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein, i. p. 188.)
8. Agelaius thilius, (Molina.)
Turdus thilius, Mol. Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, (1782.) Xanthornus chrysocarpus, Vigors, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1832, p. 3. Thilius major, Bonap. Corapt. Rend. 1853, p. 833. Gilliss, U. S. Astr. Exp. Chili, Birds, pi. 16.
Numerous specimens from Chili in the Academy and Smithsonian Institution . So far as I can see, this bird is an Agelaius, presenting only somewhat greater attenuation of form than in the more typical species, and in my judgment it is the type of a subgeneric group quite identical with Neopsar, Sclater. This species intimately resembles the next succeeding but is larger.
9. Agelaius xanthocarpus, Bonaparte.
Agelaius xanthocarpus, Bonap. Consp. Av. i. p. 430, (1850.) "Icterus chilensis, Kittlitz." Bonap. Compt. Rend. 1853, p. 834.
This is a black species with yellow shoulders, much resembling the preceding (.4. thilius) and apparently to be distinguished mainly by its smaller size. It is scarcely to be recognized from the Prince Bonaparte's description in Consp. Av., as cited above, but is clearly indicated by the same distinguished Natural- ist in Comp. Rend. 1853, p. 833. This bird seems to be constantly smaller than the preceding, with the bill disproportionately more slender, the wing shorter and the proportionate lengths of the quills different.
Specimens of this species in the Mus. Smiths. Inst., from Capt. Page's La Plata Expedition, were obtained at Buenos Ayres and Santa Fe, Argentine Republic.
(Genus Neopsar, Sclater, Cat. Am. Birds, p. 139 )
10. Agelaius nigerrimus, (Osburn.)
Icterus nigerrimus, Osburn, Zoologist. 1859, p. 6662.
Neopsar nigerrimus, (Osburn,) Sclat. Cat Am. B. p. 139. An entirely black species, apparently of frequent occurrence in the Island of Jamaica, from whence numerous specimens have been received at the Smith- sonian Institution. Specimens in the Academy Museum, also from Jamaica. Structurally I cannot see that this bird is anything else than an Agelaius, and of the same subgroup as the preceding. It is more nearly related to the species immediately succeeding, which is also entirely black, from which, however, it can readily be distinguished on examination, by its being rather smaller, the bill more slender and the tarsi shorter, but the most reliable character is the different color of the plumage at the ba'se of the feathers. In the present bird the feathers are dark ashy or nearly black at their base, and in the next (.4. cyanopus,) they are light ashy, abruptly tipped with black. The female in this bird is stated to be black, in which respect it seems to differ from the suc- ceeding.
11. Agelaius cyanopus, Vieillot.
Agelaius cyanopus, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. p. 552, (1819.) This apparently little kaown species is in structura exceedingly like the species immediately preceding (A. nigerrimus=yeopsar nigerrimus) and the adult males, at least, of both being glossy black, the general resemblance also is very strong. In fact, I had always supposed the two to be identical until I had un- dertaken the present more extended examination, an impression which, though
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NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 13
I have never printed, I may have expressed verbally and epistolatorially, and beg now to correct, both for myself and others contingently interested.
The males only of the two species are alike in color, the female of the present species being strictly as described by M. D'Orbigny in Guerin's Magazine, Zool. 1838, p. 5, and previously by Azara and Vieillot; reddish chestnut, with longitudinal central stripes of black on the back and dullish yellow on the under parts of the body. In the Jamaica species {A. nigerrimus) both sexes are st.ted to be black. The present bird is slightly the larger, with the bill rather the thicker and the tarsus longer, but the most decisive and reliable character is that in this species the entire plumage of the body above and below is light ashy at the bases of the feathers, easily seen in raising them, es- pecially on the rump and lower part of the back. On those parts, in fact, the feathers are, almo t throughout their length, light ashy, being only rather narrowly and abruptly tipped with deep black. In A. nigerrimus this is not the case, the feathers being, throughout, much darker and in fact nearly black, widely tipped with deep black. Both birds are strictly of the subgroup Neopsar.
This bird is accurately described by Azara, Apuntamientos, i. p. 313, (Walckenaer's French edition, iii. p. 190) whose description is copied by Vieillot, Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. p. 552. It is also sufficiently described by D'Orbigny, Guerin's Magazine, Zool. 18C8, Syn. Av. p. 5. The sexes, as given somewhat provisionally by these authors, are so labelled in the fine collection made by Mr. Christopher J. Wood, while attached to Capt. Page's Expedition, which surveyed the Rio La Plata and Rio Parana, which collection is now in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. The female, and probably the young male, are entirely different from the male in colors, in which respect this species apparently differs in a singular manner from its near relative, Agelaius or Neopsar nigerrimus, numerous specimens of which, labelled as both males and females, are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, and are entirely black. One of M. D'Orbigr.y's specimens in the Academy Museum is probably that of a young male, but differing only from the female in having the black stripes of the under parts more numerous and the throat less conspicuously mottled with black.
This species seems to be of rather wide diffusion, though apparently but in- differently known to naturalists. Specimens in Academy Museum, labelled " Bolivia," from M. D'Orbigny's collection, and others received from Mr. John G. Bell of New York, in " Bogota" collections. Specimens in Capt. Page's La Plata collection are labelled, undoubtedly correctly, by Mr. Wood, " Para- guay."
The points of distinction between the two closely allied species here men- tioned, and especially the infallible character, as I regard it, to be found in the difference of the colors at the bases of the feathers, I am happy to ac- knowledge were first pointed out to me by Miss Grace Anna Lewis, most favora- bly known, and deservedly so, as a lecturer and teacher of Ornithology and General Natural History. Miss Lewis is one of several accomplished ladies who have most diligently studied in the Library and Museum of this Academy during the present winter, and not only successfully, but have contributed also in the highest degree to the general agreeableness of the similar pursuits of their fellow students of the stronger sex.
5. Macroagelaius.
2. Agklaius subalaris, (Boissoneau.)
Quiscalus subalaris, Boiss. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 70. Specimens in the Academy Museum labelled " Bogota." Though usually rated as a Quiscalus, this bird, in my opinion, is more properly to be regarded as an Agelaius, though differing from the typical subgroups in having a longer and more Quiscalus-like tail. It is not an uncommon bird in collections from the northern countries of South America.
1866.]
14 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
II.— Genus LEISTES, Swainson.
(Genus Leistes, Swains. Zool., Jour, ii., p. 191.)
1. Leistes.
1. Leistis militaris, (Linnseus.)
Emberiza militaris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 178, (1758.) Oriolus guianensis, Linn. Syst Nat. i. p. 162, (1766.) Oriolus americanus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 386, (1788.) Xanthornus rubricollis, Hahn, Voegel, pt. v. (1819.) Buff. PI. Enl. 236, fig. 2. Edwards' Birds, pi. 82. Vieill. Gal. ii. pi. 88. Hahn, Voegel, pt. v., pi. 2.
Numerous specimens of this well known species are in the Academy Museum, labelled as from Brazil and Guiana, and in the Museum Smithsonian Institution from Trinidad.
2. Leistes superciliaris (Bonaparte.)
Trupialis superciliaris, Bonap., Consp. Av., i. p. 430, (1850.) Resembles the preceding, but rather larger and easily distinguished by its conspicuous superciliary stripe of white. Specimens in the Academy Museum, labelled Cayenne, and in Smithsonian Museum from Buenos Ayres, and Ceara, Northern Brazil.
2. Gymnomystax.
(Genus Gymnomystax, Reichenbach.)
3. Leistes melanicterus, (Vieillot.)
Agelaius melanicterus, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. p. 544, (1819.) Icterus citrinus, Spix. Av. Bras. i. p. 69, (1824.) Psarocolius gymnops, Wagl., Syst. Av., p. (not paged, 1827.)
Spix, Av. Bras., i. pi. 66.
Specimens in Academy Museum from Cayenne and Brazil.
3. Xanthosomus.
(GeDUS Xanthosomus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 189.)
4. Leistes icterocephalus, (Linnreus.)
Oriolus icterocephalus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 163, (1766.) Edward's Birds, pi. 323. Hahn, Voegel. pt. v., pi. 6. Numerous specimens in Academy Museum, from Guiana and Trinidad.
5. Leistes flavus, (Gmelin.)
Oriolus flavus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 389, (1788.) Psarocolius flaviceps, Wagler, Syst. Av., p. (not paged, 1827.) ChrysomuB xanthopygius, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 345, (1838.) Voy. Beagle, Birds pi. 45.
Specimens in Academy Museum from Brazil and other countries of South America. This bird presents some variations in size, but nothing of specific value in the specimens under examination.
4. Fseudoleistes.
(Genus Pseudoleistes, Sclat. Cat. Am. Birds, p. 137.)
6. Leistes viridis, (Gmelin.)
Oriolus viridis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 395, (1788.) Agelaius Guirahuro, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxiv., p. 545, (1819.) Leistes Suchii, Vigors, Zool. Jour, ii., p. 192, (1825.) Xanthornus Gasquetii, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. Uranie, Ois. p. 110, (1824.) Leistes Orioloides, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 303, (1838.) Leistes brevirostris, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 304. Zool. Jour. Supp. pi. 10. Voy. Uranie Ois. pi. 24. PI. Enl. 236, fig. 1. Specimens from Brazil in Museum Academy. This species is nearly allied to the next succeeding, but seems to be larger, and has the under parts clear yellow.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 15
7. Leistes virescens, (Vieillot.)
Agelaius virescens, Vieill. Nour. Diet, xxxiv., p. 513, (1819.)
Icterus anticus, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 19, (1823.)
Leistes tenuirostris, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 304, (1838.)
" Oriolus Draco." Label in Massena collection. Resembles the preceding, but is very probably quite distinct, being smaller, and has the bill more slender. In this species the yellow of the abdomen is restricted to a medial space, the sides being dark brownish olive, uniform with the upper parts of the body. Numerous specimens from Brazil in Academy Museum.
5. Curaeus.
(Genus Curaeus, Sclater, Cat. Am. Birds, p. 139.)
8. Leistes cdraeds, (Molina.)
Turdus curaeus, Mol. Sagg. Hist. Nat. Chili, 1782. (2d ed. p. 211, 1810.) Sturnus aterrimus, Kittl. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. 1834, p. 467. Leistes niger, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 304, (1838.) Agelaius pustulatus, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 303 ? Gillis U. S. Exp. to Chili, Birds pi. 15. Kittl. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. Voeg. pi. 2.
Specimens from Chili in the Academy Museum, and two specimens in the Massena collection labelled " St. Dominique," which if intended for the Island of St. Domingo or Hayti, is very probably erroneous. A large black species, with the feathers of the head rigid and pointed, well known as a bird of Chili and other countries of western South America. Resembles, especially in the pointed feathers of the head, Agelaius chopi, but is much larger. Sturnus aterrimus, Kittlitz, seems to be the young of this species.
III.— Genus DOLICHONYX, Swainson. (Genus Dolichonyx, Swains. Zool. Jour, iii., p. 351.)
1. Dolichonyx.
1. Dolichonyx oryzivora, (Linnaeus.)
Emberiza oryzivora, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 31 1. (1766.) Icterus agripennis, Bonap. Comp. List, p. 24, (1827.) Psarocolius caudacutus, Wagl. Syst. Av. p. (not paged, 1827.) Catesby Carolina, pi. 14. Edwards' Birds, pi. 291. Wils. Am. Orn. ii. pi. 12. Aud. B. of Am., pi. 54, Oct, ed. iv. pi. 211.
Numerous specimens in Academy Museum from various localities in Eastern North America, and two specimens labelled "Rio Negro." Specimens in Museum Smithsonian Institution from Cuba, Jamaica, and from Capt. Page's La Plata collection. The specimens from the " Rio Negro," in the Academy Museum seem to be rather large, but are not in adult plumage, and I find no reliable characters for distinction. Precisely similar specimens from the Rio Napo are in Mr. Lawrence's collection. This species is, assuredly, a great wanderer, but very probably the same in all localities on the continent of America.
2. Agelaioides.
2. Dolichonyx badius, (Vieillot.)
Agelaius badius, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. p. 535, (1819.) Icterus fringillarius, Spix, Av. Bras, i. p. 68, (1824.) Spix, Av. Bras. i. pi. 65.
Tail black, or brownish black. Quills red, tipped with brownish black. Lores black, which color extends slightly under and behind the eye ; entire plu- mage of the head and body dark cinereous, with an olivaceous tinge on the top of the head and on the back, much lighter and generally with a tinge of dull yellow on the under parts. Primaries and secondaries bright reddish, with their tips brownish black, (easily seen on the under surface of the wing.) ter-
1866.]
16 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
tiaries and greater coverts of the wing brownish black, widely tipped and edged with ferrugineous red. Bill black, feet brown. Sexes very similar, though the female is less tinged with gray on the head and back.
Total length about 8 inches, wing 3f, tail 3^ inches. Female smaller.
Ilab. — Brazil, Paraguay, Buenos Ayres, Southern Brazil, exclusively?
Having before me two species which to some extent resemble each other, and both of which 1 suspect are known by the names cited above, I have given this short description of the bird, which is apparently that described by both Vieillot and Spix, and figured, rather unsuccessfully, by the latter. The present species seems to inhabit Southern and South-eastern Brazil, and adjacent countries, but the only authentic specimens to which I have access are in Capt. Page's collection, in Smithsonian Museum, and labelled " Buenos Ayres,"' which locality agrees sufficiently with those authors who have described this bird.
In this species the tail is black, usually with a tinge of brown, and much darker than the back, while in the species next described it is much lighter and exactly of the color sometimes called " hair brown," but little darker than the upper parts of the body. The quills are red on both webs for about two- thirds to three-fourths of their length, with the terminal one-third or one-fourth brownish black. The entire plumage is darker than in the species immediately succeeding. The description and figures of Spix, cited above, seem to be clearly from birds of this species, though perhaps not fully adult. Vieillot describes this species also. I do not regard it as possible that either this bird or the next succeeding is the young or female of any black species, as sometimes suspected by authors.
3. Dolichonyx fuscipennis, nobis.
Tail light brown, quills light brown, primaries narrowly edged on their outer webs, secondaries and tertiaries widely edged on their outer webs, with bright ferrugineous red. Lores black, which color extends behind the eye, and be- comes paler. Entire plumage of the head and body light reddish cinereous, with a tinge of grayish olivaceous on the upper parts, much lighter on the under parts, and strongly tinged with dull pale ochre yellowish. Greater coverts of the wings ferrugineous red, with paler edges, which is the color of the external edges of the wings, (but not of the quills, as in the preceding species.) Bill and feet brownish black.
Total length about 7 inches, wing 3J, tail 3 inches. Female rather smaller.
Hub. — Cearu, N. E. Brazil. Specimens in Museum Smithsonian Institution, Washington.
The bird now described is clearly distinct from that immediately preceding, and is easily distinguished by its lighter and different colors generally, and especially by its light brown tail, and by its quills being light biown also, edged only with red. In the preceding the tail is black or brownish black, and the quills are red on both webs for more than two-thirds of their length, and brownish black at their ends or terminal one-fourth to one-third.
The only specimens that I have seen of this species are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, and are labelled as male and female, and are undoubtedly from Cearii, Northern Brazil. This bird and the immediately pre- ceding D. badius, present some structural characters, which entitle them to be arranged with nearly equal propriety in either Agelaius or in Dolichonyx, but I think not in Molothrus*
* DOL1CHONTX MELANCHOLICUS, (LinnfCUS.)
Oriolus melancholicus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 180, (1758.)
Edwards' Birds, pi. 85.
Judging from the figure and description of Edwards, I suspect that this is a third species of the same subgroup of Dolichonyx as D. badius and D. fuscipennis, (above described,) and at present unknown to naturalists. It is peculiar in having not only the sides of the head, but the throat dear black, which is not the case in either of the others just mentioned, but otherwise it resem- bles them. It is stated by Kdwaids to be from the " Spanish West Indies," which now properly means those islands that were Spanish in 1743.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 17
3. Erythropsar.
4. DOLICHONYX FRONTALIS, (Vieillot.)
Agelaius frontalis, Viell., Nouv. Diet., xxxiv. p. 545, (1819.) Chrysotuus et Xanthosomus frontalis, Auct.
Gray, Gen. Birds, i. pi. 86.
This is a well known and apparently abundant species of the northern coun- tries of South America, briefly and by no means sufficiently described by Vie- illot as above, but very accurately and handsomely figured by G. R. Gray in his great woik, " The Genera of Birds." The locality given by Vieillot is Cay- enne, and on that account, in a greater degree than on any peculiar applica- bility of his description, I am induced to conclude that this is the species en- titled to the name as above given. The description is short, but, in my opin- ion, can safely be assumed as intended for this bird.
Head above to near the occiput, and neck before, reddish chestnut or bay color, which extends and widens on the breast. All other parts of the plu- mage glossy black. Lores and sides of the head black, which color is restricted to a very narrow line over the eye. Bill and feet black. Total length about 7 inches.
Hab. — Cayenne; Ceara, Northern Brazil.
Numerous specimens of this species are in the Acad. Mus. and in Mus. Smiths. Inst. It differs from that immediately succeeding (D. ruficapillus,) in having the red or bay colors on the head, neck and breast in front much more ex- tended and ot a different color, reddish chestnut in the present bird, dark chest- nut in the next succeeding species. The two species are very nearly of the same size. Both are, in my opinion, most properly to be arranged as a sub- group of the genus Dolichonyx.
5. Dolichonyx ruficapillus, (Vieillot.)
Agelaius ruficapillus, Vieill., Nouv. Diet., xxxiv. p. 536, (1819.) Del Corona de canella, Azara, Apuntamientos, i. p. 315, (1802.)
This species is described as from Paraguay, by Azara, whose description is copied by Vieillot as above, and is, in my opinion, distinct from that immedi- ately preceding (D. frontalis,) though usually regarded as the same. The only specimens that I have seen are in Capt. Page's La Plata collection now in the Mus. Smiths., and are from Paraguay.
In this species the head above and neck before are dark chestnut, and on both parts that color is more restricted than in the preceding, but especially on the neck in the present bird, in which it is narrower and does not extend to the breast. All other parts glossy black, on the sides of the head the black space is wider over the eye than in the preceding. In a young bird, also in Page's collection and from the same locality, Paraguay, the chestnut color of the neck in front is only beginning to appear, but is the same dark chestnut as in the adult, and quite different in shade from that of the preceding bird.
Although I regard the present and immediately preceding species as differ- ent, yet if they were the same, the name here given would be entitled to adop- tion, being the first given by Vieillot, though usually cited erroneously by authors. In nearly all late works, when the two names A. frontalis and A. ru- ficapillus are given, the pages cited in Nouv. Diet, are transposed.
IV.— Genus MOLOTHRUS, Swainson.
(Genus Molothrus, Swains., Faun. Bor. Am., ii. p. 277.)
1. Molothrus.
7. Molothrus pecoris, (Gmelin.)
Oriolus ater, Bodd., Tab. PI. Enl., p. 37, (1782.)
Oriolus fuscus et minor, Gin., Syst. Nat., i. pp. 393, 394, (1788.)
Fringilla pecoris, Gm., Syst. Nat., i. p. 910, (1788.)
1866.] 2
18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
Icterus Emberizoides, Daud., Traite d'Orn., ii. p. 350, (1800.) Buff., PI. Enl. 606. Wilton, Am. Urn., ii. pi. 18. Aud., B. of Am., pi. 99. Oct. ed., iv. pi. 212.
One of the most common birds of North America, migrating in the winter to Mexico, Central America and probably into the northern countries of South America. Specimens are in the Museum of the Philada. Acad, from Mexico, and others labelled Central America and South America. The first name for this species is that of Boddsert as cited, who applies it to the bird figured by Buffou, as above.
Total length 7 to 7£ inches, wing 4J to 4£, tail 2| to 3 inches.
2. Molothrcs OBScuRrs, (Gmelin.)
Sturnus obscurus, Gm., Syst. Nat , i. p. 804, (1788.)
Sturnus junceti, Lath., Ind. Orn., i. p 326, (1790.)
Sturnus Novae Hispaniae, Briss. Orn., ii. p. 448. Numerous specimens in the Smithsonian Museum, to which I ascribe this name, are from Mr. Xantus' collections at Colima and Manzanillo, Western Mexico, and from Mira Flores, Lower California. This species is distinct from the preceding, but much resembles it in colors and form also, having the same long wings and proportionate lengths of quills, the first quill being usually longest. It is smaller and has the bill much more slender ; the wing is shorter and all other measurements less than those of the preceding well known spe- cies, except the tail, which is comparatively longer. In colors it is very nearly the same, but in form it is more slender and smaller, with the tail rather longer. One specimen from Lower California has the first quill shorter than the second, but otherwise is quite the same as those from Manzanillo.
Total length about 6£ to Of inches, wing 4, tail 2f to 3 inches.
2. Callothrus.
.3. Molothrus .sneus, (Wagler.)
Psarocolius aeneus, Wagl., Isis, 1829, p. 728.
Molothrus robustus, Cab., Mus. Hein, i. p. 193, (1851,) Jour. Ore, 1861, p. 81. .Specimens in the Smithsonian Museum from Yucatan, Costa Rica, and vari- ous parts of Mexico, and it is evidently an abundant species. Those from Ma- zatlan and Manzanillo seem to have the bill larger than others, and in some specimens this is so much the case as to suggest a doubt of specific identity.
This bird presents such very considerable changes in the shades and lustres of its plumage, that it might readily be mistaken for several species. The adult has the entire plumage of the head and body of the rich silky metallic yellow- ish-green, which characterizes the species, the upper and under tail coverts, wings and tail being lustrous green and blue. Singularly enough, in younger specimens the back and a large space on the abdomen are fine deep lustrous blue and violet, having so much the appearance of adult plumage, that series of specimens are necessary to determine their really intermediate character. Nearly all specimens brought in collections are of this intermediate description, and in a younger plumage there is a trace of blue, violet and purple lustre on nearly the entire plumage. The youngest in the large collection now under examination are dull brown, with a Taint trace of greenish lustre on the wings and tail only, and of blue on the back. Forty-two specimens are now before me, twenty-four of which are from the Smithsonian collections, others are from the fine collection of my friend Mr. Lawrence, of New York, and in the Acad- emy Museum. The Academy specimens are from Panama, (Mr. J. G. Bell's.) Nicaragua, Xalapa, Mazatlan, (Dr. Gambel's,) and various specimens received from Europe, labelled "Mexico."
.4. Molothrus Armenti, Cabanis.
Molothrus Armenti, Cab., Mus. Hein., i. p. 192, (1851,) Jour. Orn., 1861, ,p. 82.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 19
One specimen in adult plumage kindly lent to me for examination with other interesting birds of this group, by my friend Mr. Lawrence, of New York. Another specimen, which I suppose to be this species, is in quite young plumage, and was received at the Academy in a collection from Demarara. The latter appears to be younger than those described by Dr. Cabanis in Mus. Hein, as above.
This species can only be identified from Dr. Cabanis' note in Jour. Orn., 1861, p. 82, the previous descriptions by him being only applicable to young plu- mages. It resembles and is allied to the preceding, but is smaller, and the lustre of the head and body is quite different, being silky yellowish broivn, not green as in M. seneus. This brown lustre is darker than in the head of M.peco- ris, but if restricted to the head might readily suggest a comparison with that species, as is done by Dr. Cabanis in Mus. Hein,, as above. It is a beautiful species.
Adult. Smaller than M. seneus, bill more slender, wing with the third quill slightly longest, first shorter, tail rather short. Entire plumage black, the head and body with a rich silky yellowish- brown lustre 5 upper and under tail coverts, wings and tail with rich purplish blue and green lustre, the blue prevailing on the tail coverts and shorter quills. Bill black, feet brownish black.
Total length about 7£ inches, wing 4, tail 2f inches.
Ilab. — Savanilla, New Grenada. Collection of Mr. George N. Lawrence, New York.
Young? Entire plumage dull brown, lighter on the under parts, and with a faint trace of green on the wings and tail, and blue on the back. First quill shorter than the third, and about equal to the fourth. Total length about 6 inches.
Hah. — Demarara. Mus. Acad., Philada.
Mr. Lawrence's specimen is the only adult of this species that I have seen, and, so far as I know, the only adult specimen known in any collection. It is a species with very fine rich lustre and perhaps the most handsome bird of this group.
3. Cyanothrus'.
5. Molothrcs BONARtENSi?, (Graelin.)
Tanagra bonariensis, Gin., Syst. Nat., i. p. 898, (1788.)
Buff., PI. Enl. 710. " Le Tangavio de Buenos Ayres," Buffon.
Specimens, undoubtedly of the bird figured and named as above, are in the Smithsonian Museum, from the same locality as that given by Buffon, (Buenos Ayres,) and are peculiarly valuable in the recognition of this species. They were obtained by the expedition under Capt. T. J. Page, U. S. Navy, which surveyed the Rivers La Plata and Parana, and are quite reliable in point of local- ity.
This bird is rather the smallest of four species nearly allied and resembling each other, which I am about to enumerate. My opinion is that there are at least this number of species of these nearly related birds, and I suspect that there are more of which I have only seen immature specimens.
Bill in adult, moderate or rather slender, with the upper mandible narrower than the under viewed laterally, and slightly curved ; wing long, second quill longest ; tail moderate or rather short, composed of wide feathers, slightly rounded at the end.
Plumage black, the entire upper and under parts of head and body having a uniform purple violet lustre, differing in shade in different specimens, but always uniform above and below. Shoulders also with purple lustre. Wings and tail with green lustre, not very brilliant, but easily distinguished ; under tail coverts also with green lustre. In fine adult specimens there is a tinge of pur- ple lustre on the wing coverts and on the shortest quills. Bill and feet black.
Total length about 8 inches, wing 4£ to 4J, tail 3\ inches.
Hob. — Southern and southeastern South America, Buenos Ayres, Rio Para-
1866.]
20 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP
na, Paraguay, Brazil. Spec, in Smithsonian Museum, Washington, and Acad Mus., Philada.
About the size of, but scarcely recognizable from Buffon's figure. The spe- cies is, however, entirely respectable, and entitled, by all the laws of ornitho- logical genealogy, to bear the name here given. A female or young male from Buenos Ayres, in Capt. Page's La Plata collection, is nearly uniform dark grayish fuscous, darker and nearly black on the back, and lighter on the under parts of the body. Quills and wing coverts edged very distinctly with pale gray, nearly white on the edges of the quills. Bill and feet black.
6. Molothrus discolor, (Vieillot.)
Passerina discolor, Vieill., Ency. Meth., iii. p. 939, (1823.) Molothrus atronitens, Cab., Sehotnbg. Guiana, iii. p. 682, (1848.)
Specimens from the Island of Trinidad, and one from Cuba, in the Academy Museum, seem to be the bird described by both the authors cited above. These specimens are undoubtedly authentic, the former having been collected under the direction of Mr. J. G. Bell, of New York, in Trinidad, and most kindly fur- nished by him for examination, and the specimen from Cuba, collected by the late Mr. R. C. Taylor of this Academy, in the northern part of that Island, (Port Gibara, province of Holguin.)
This bird is exceedingly like the preceding, though it is rather larger and has especially large legs and feet. The color and lustres are nearly the same, though the present bird seems always to have a large space on the lower abdo- men, green, uniform with the under tail coverts. My opinion is that it is a distinct species, though requiring further investigation. I have never seen an authentic female specimen.
Resembling 31. bonariensis, but larger. Bill rather long, upper mandible slightly curved, wing long, second quill longest, tail moderate, rounded, feet strong. Entire plumage black, the head and body above and below with an uniform purple violet lustre, except on the lower abdomen or ventral region and the under tail coverts, which have green lustre. Shoulders with purple lustre. Wings and tail with green lustre not very strong, but very similar to that of same parts in 31. bonariensis.
Total length 8£ to 9 inches, wing 4j to 4J, tail 3i inches.
Hub. — Trinidad, Cuba, Northern South America? Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philada.
Scarcely to be distinguished from 31. bonariensis, but is larger in all its measurements, and especially in total length and in the bill and feet. Possibly to be regarded as a variety of the same species. This bird has not previously been noticed under any name, to my knowledge, from the island of Cuba.
7. Molothrus purpurascens (Hahn).
Xanthornus purpurascens, Hahn, Voeg. As. Af., &c, pt. v. pi. 4, 1819.
Hahn, Voeg. As. Afr., &c, pt. v. pi. 4.
Specimens from Callao, Peru, collected by the late Dr. Gambel, others labelled as from Callao and Lima, and others labelled " Mexico " in Acad. Museum. This is a species about the size of the two preceding, but readily distinguished from them by its large strong bill, and the golden yellowish- purple lustre of the under parts of the body. It is a clearly distinct species, and appears to be the bird figured by Habn, as above cited, whose figure is rather too short, but in form generally, and especially the thick strong bill, and the color of the upper parts, is a fair representation. The immature plumage is entirely different from that of either of the preceding.
Rather larger than 31. bonariensis, and about the size of 31. discolor, and easily distinguished by its stronger bill and the golden purple lustre of the plumage of the under parts of tbe body. Bill rather long, strong upper man- dible slightly curved, wing long, with the third quill longest, tail moderate, not so much rounded as in the preceding species.
Entire plumage black, head above and upper parts of body with a violet
[Mavch,
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 21
purple lustre, under parts with a rich golden purple lustre, most conspicuous on the breast and neck in front ; under tail coverts with green lustre. Shoulders purple, wings and tail with green lustre.
Total length about 8 to 8} inches, wing 4\ to 4|, tail 3\ to 3£ inches.
Young. General colors "light yellowish and dull brown, much like young Plocei or Xanlhorni. Upper parts dull light brown, plumage edged with dull yellow, under parts pale dull yellow, with longitudinal stripes of pale brown. Bill very strong.
Ilab. — Western South America, Pern, Mexico? Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philadelphia. Probably peculiar to the countries of Western South America, and an entirely respectable species.
8. Molothrus sericeus (Swainson).
Scolecophagus sericeus, Swains. Cat. Cy., p. 301, (1838).
Molothrus brevirostris, Swains. Cat. Cy., p. 305, (1838) ?
Icterus sericeus, Licht. Verz. Doubl., p. 19, (1823)? Specimens from Bahia, from which locality this bird is commonly brought, and is apparently the common species of Eastern South America. Rather larger than, but difficult to distinguish from, the species immediately preced- ing, (M. purpurascens,) and has the same golden purple lustre on the plumage of the under parts of the body. The bill is straighter, and not so strong, and the second and third quills nearly equal.
Though commonly brought from Bahia in collections, I have not a sufficient aumber of specimens in adult plumage for a satisfactory examination of th'S bird, though I am inclined to the opinion that it is not quite identical with either of the preceding. Specimens that I regard as M. brevirostris appear to me to be the same as others also from Bahia, which I regard as M. sericeus, probably differing only in age. This seems to be rather the largest species of this group, though, perhaps, little larger than M. seneus or M. purpurascens, and, though my opinion is favorable, I am under the necessity of regarding it as a species of but imperfect respectability. It is certainly, I think, the bird described by Swainson, as above, and probably also by Lichtenstein under the same name.
4. Cyrtotes.
(Genus Cyrtotes, Reiehenbach.)
9. Molothrus maxillaris, (D'Orbigny et Lafresnaye).
Icterus maxillaris, D'Oib. et Lafres. Mag. Zool., 1838, p. 6.
D'Orb. Voy. Am. Mer. Ois., pi. 52, fig. 3.
Two specimens from M. D'Orbigny's collection are in the Academy Museum. This curious bird, in color and general characters, intimately resembles the last four species above given, but also much resembles the birds of the group Lampropsar. Of the species here given as Molothri, it approaches most closely M. bonariensis and M. discolor, and has the lustres of the plumage very similar, but is larger than either, and, in fact, is rather larger and with longer wings than either of the preceding species in this memoir. It is, in my judg- ment, entirely a peculiar bird, and described, entirely judiciously, by the dis- tinguished authors above cited as a distinct species.
The peculiar character of this bird is the singular lobe on the cutting edge of the upper mandible, as stated by M. D'Orbigny, near the point, and which, if met with in a single specimen, might readily be suspected of being a deformity, as intimated by the greatest of European Ornithologists now living: " rostro deformi?" This suspicion and general view of the case is, however, to me rendered less cogent by the fact that I have before me two of M. D'Orbigny's specimens, and they are like each other with much exactness ! In both the adult specimens, this curious lobe is more strongly developed than as repre- sented in M. D'Orbigny's figure above cited.
This bird is accurately described by M. D'Orbigny, as above cited, and also
1866."]
22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
in Voy. Am. Mer. Ois., p. 36?. It is with doubt that I arrange this bird as representing a subgroup, and am not without a suspicion that it is more properly to be placed in the group Lampropsar. The only specimens that I have seen are those of M. D'Orbigny, above alluded to, and this species seems to be little known to naturalists.
5. Lampropsar.
(Genus Lampropsar, Cabanis, Schombg. Guiana, iii. p. 682.)
10. MOLOTHRUS TANAGRINUS, (Spix).
Icterus tanagrinus, Spix, Av. Bras., i. p. 67, (1824).
Icterus violaceus, De Wied, Beitr. Naturg : Bras., iii. p. 1212, (1831).
Spix, Av. Bras., i. pi. 64, fig. 1.
Total length about 1h inches, wing 4, tail 3 to 3A inches. Entire plumage black, with a nearly uniform purplish blue lustre on the head and body, above and below, wings and tail with a green lustre. Bill and feet black.
The smallest of several species of this genus, and brought abundantly io collections from Brazil. In the various specimens now before me, this bird presents a uniform purplish blue lustre, by which it can be easily distinguished from either of the two species immediately succeeding. It has not quite the fine purple and violet lustre of either of them. Numerous speeimens in the Academy Museum.
11. Molothktjs gcianenbis, (Cabanis).
Lampropsar guianensis, Cab. Schombg. Guiana, iii. p. 682, (1848).
Total length about 8 inches, wing 3f to 4, tail 3i inches. Rather larger than the preceding, with the wing rather shorter, comparatively, and third quill slightly longest. In the specimens before me, this species is easily dis- tinguished from the preceding by the violet purple lustre of the head and of the upper and under parts of the body. Wings and tail with greenish lustre, darker than in the preceding. In colors, this species resembles the nest suc- ceeding, though scarcely more than half the size. It appears to be from Northern South America.
Specimens of this species are in the Academy Museum, and in the collection of that distinguished and excellent Ornithologist, Mr. George N. Lawrence, of New York.
12. Molothrus Cabanisii, nobis.
Lampropsar dives, Cab. Mus. Hein., p. 194? (nee Bonap.) Total length about 10 inches, wing 5 to 5^, tail 4| inches, bill strong, though of the same general form as in both the preceding. Entire plumage black, head and body, above and below, with a fine violet purple lustre, and having a golden tinge on the under parts. Wings and tail with a dark green lustre, bill and feet black, claws ratber long and slender, but very sharp.
Easily distinguished from the two preceding species by its much larger size, and, in the specimens now at my disposal, the plumage is the most lustrous, the golden violet purple in the present bird being especially a distinguishable feature. I am not confident that this is the bird alluded to by Dr. Cabanis as Lampropsar dives, as above cited, but regard it as probable. It is smaller than, and generically distinct from the bird which seems to be L. dives, Bonap. Comp. Av. i. p. 425, now well known as a bird of Mexico and Central America, (and which I regard as the same as Quiscalus sumichrasti, De Saussure).
One specimen in the Acad. Mus. is from Guiana, and another in the col- lection of my friend Mr. Lawrence, is from Santa Martha, New Grenada; others in Acad. Mus. are without indication of locality, though the species is singularly uniform in characters in all the specimens now under examination. To this handsome species I have taken the liberty of applying the name of my excellent friend and correspondent, Dr. Cabanis, of Berlin, not so much
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NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 23
because I suspect that this is the bird alluded to by him, as to avail myself of an opportunity to express my high appreciation of his great merits and acquirements as an Ornithologist.
13. MoLOTHRUS RUFO-AXILLARIS, nobis.
With a part of the axillary feathers clear reddish chestnut color.
Entire plumage black, head and body, above and below, with a bluish purple lustre, wings and tail with an obscure greenish lustre or nearly plain black. Bill and feet black.
Total length about 8| inches, wing 4|, tail 3h inches.
Hab. — Buenos Ayres. Spec, in Smithsonian Mus., Washington. .
Uue specimen only of this curious bird is in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and seems clearly to belong to this group, though not presenting such highly lustrous plumage as either of the preceding. It is apparently quite adult, and easily recognized by the reddish che3tnut-colored axillary feathers, to be seen at once by raising the wing at the shoulder.
Though having all the characters of an adult bird, the plumage in this specimen has but slight lustre, inclining to bluish purple on the head and body, and greenish on the wings and tail. The only specimen that 1 have se*n is in the fine collection made by Mr. Christopher J. Wood, while attached to Capt. T. J. Page's La Plata Expedition, which is now in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.*
V.— Genus STURNELLA, Vieillot. (Genus Sturnella, Vieill. Analyse p. 34.) 1. Sturnella.
1. Sturnella ludoviciana, (Linnaeus.)
Sturnus ludovicianus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 290, (1766.) Alauda magna, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 167, (1758.) Cacicus alaudarius, Daud. Tr. D'Orn. ii. p. 325, (1800.) Sturnella collaris, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxii. p. 203, (1819.) Catesby, Carolina, pi. 33. Buff. pi. Enl. 256. Vieill. Gal. Ois. ii. pi. 90. Wilson Am. Orn. iii. pi. 191. Aud. B. of Am. pi. 136. Oct. ed iv. pi. 223.
An abundant bird of Eastern North America, carefully described by the authors cited above, and by Prof. Baird in Birds of N. A. p. 535, and accu- rately figured as above given. The specific name " magna," has undoubted priority for this species, and I only object to it and do not use it at present on account of its singular inappropriateness to this bird as a species of the genu9 Sturnella or Little Stare. Sturnella magna, or Great Little Stare, strikes me as approaching absurdity, if that is possible, or any fault in ornithological nomen- clature ! I will in no wise molest scientific persons whose tastes may be differ- ent in this matter, however, and so promise.
This bird is nearly related to all of the next four species of this genus, equally in structure and in colors, and it would be difficult to describe by positive characters either spf-cies of this group, so as to insure recognition absolutely, or without comparative characters being given. All the species can be identified from the excellent descriptions in Ibis, 1861, p. 179, by Dr. Sclater of London, and the best descriptions of the two species of the United States are by Prof. Baird in Birds of N. A. p. 535. No other genus or sub- genus of this family presents so many spec:es of such uniformity of structure and similarity of colors, and there are, assuredly, few such in the entire king- dom of birds.
2. Sturnella neglecta, Audubon.
Sturnella neglecta, Aud. B. of Am. Oct. ed. vii. p. 339, (1844.) Aud. B. of Am. Oct. ed. vii. pi. 489. An abundant bird of Western and Central North America. Generally paler
* Lampropsar Warczewiczi, Cab. Jour. Orn., 1861, p. 83, may be another species of this gruip.
1866.]
24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
colored than the preceding, and with the transverse markings of the upper parts narrower, and, as pointed out by Prof. Baird, (B. of N. A. p. 538), the yellow of the throat seems generally to extend around under the eye and at the base of the under mandible in this bird more than in S. ludovieiana. The two species are about the same size.
Numerous specimens in the Academy Museum and in the Museum Smithso- nian Institution. In the central regions of North America it is possible that a hybrid race between the two species may be produced, to be referred with about equal propriety to either. Usually, and having some degree of experi- ence with these two species, it is not difficult to distinguish them at sight, though such consummation to be surely brought about, would require elabo- rate descriptions in words.
:!. Stursella hippocrepis, Wagler.
Sturnella hippocrepis, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. '281.
Smaller than either of the preceding, and having the pectoral black collar much more narrow. This species is very nearly related to the next succeed- ing (S. mexicana,) and can scarcely be distinguished from it by any characters which seem to be reliable. It is, howerer, in my opinion, clearly distinct from S. ludovieiana and S. neglec/a, and all the characters are present in the speci- mens before me, which are stated with his usual great clearness and accuracy by Mr. Lawrence, in an interesting memoir on the birds of Cuba, in Annate N. Y. Lyceum, vii. p. 266. In the present species the tertiaries are nearly or quite equal in length to the primaries, while in S. ludovieianus they are much shorter, which character is especially stated by Mr. Lawrence and seems to be quite correct.
Numerous specimen? from Cuba are in the Museum Smithsonian Institution, and this bird seems to be peculiar to that island. The peculiarities pointed out by Mr. Lawrence stand good in all specimens of this bird now under examination.
4. Sturnella mexicana Sclater.
Sturnella mexicana, Sclat. Ibis, 1861, p. 79. Very nearly related to the preceding, (S. hippocrepis,} if distinct, and I give it, at present, as a species provisionally only. Smaller than 5. ludovieiana and
5. neglccta, but perhaps rather more closely resembling the latter in colors. Pectoral black collar narrow. The colors of the upper parts seem to be less clearly defined, and of a slightly different style and pattern from the preceding, and it may bear about the same relation to that species (S. hippocrepis} that 5. neglecta does to &. ludovieiana. Such relation I hold to be rather probable from the specimens now at hand.
Specimens from Mexico in Academy Museum, and in Museum Smithsonian Institution from Mexico and Guatemala.
5. Sturnella meridionals, Sclater.
Sturnella meridionalis, Sclat. Ibis, 1861, p. 79. Quite distinct, in my opinion, from either of the preceding. Fu)ly as large, apparently, as S. ludovieiana, with the tarsus slightly longer, and larger toes and claws, bill longer and more pointed. Black pectoral collar narrow as in
5. hippocrepis and S. mexicana, but with tertiaries short as in S. ludovieiana. One specimen from Brazil, in Museum Smithsonian, and others of doubtful
locality, but South American, in Museum Academy. This species seems to be the peculiar South American form, and is apparently rather the largest bird of this closely allied group. Its characters are carefully and accurately stated by Dr. Sclater of London, as above cited, though the species seems to be little known to ornithologists.
2. Trupialis.
(Genus Trupialis, Bousp. Consp. Av. i. p. 429.)
6. Sturnella militaris, (Linnaeus.)
Sturnus militaris, Linn. Mant. p. 527, (1771.)
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 25
Well known as a bird of Chili and other countries of Western South America. In this species the under wing coverts are white, and the fine scarlet of the throat and breast extends over the abdomen.
Numerous specimens in the Academy Museum, and in Museum Smithsonian Institution.
7. Sturnella loyca, (Molina.)
Sturnus loyca, Mol., Dizz. Stor. Nat. Chili, (1782,) 2d ed. p. 212, (1810.)
Sturnella bellicosa, De Filippi.
Pezites brevirostris, Cab., Mus. Hein., p. 191, (1850.)
Leistes albipes, Philip, et Landb. Trosch. Archiv., 1863, p. 128? This is apparently a smaller bird than the preceding, with a shorter and thicker bill, and the scarlet of the under parts is restricted to the throat, neck and breast, not extending on the abdomen as in the preceding. One fine ap- parently adult specimen now before me has the tibise clear white on their inner surfaces, mottled with black on their outer, in which plumage it seems to be Leistes albipes, Philip, et Landb., as above cited. The under wing coverts are white, as in the preceding.
The synonymy of this species I find to be difficult, but it is not improbable that it was first described by Dr. Cabanis as above cited, authors to the con- trary notwithstanding. Specimens in Mus. Acad.
8. Sturnella De Filippii, (Bonaparte.)
Trupialis defllippii, Bonap. Consp. Av. i. p. 429 (1850.) Easily distinguished from either of the two preceding by its black under wing coverts. Specimens from Brazil in Museum Academy.
3. Amblyramphus. (Genus Amblyramphus, Leach, Zool. Misc. p. 81, 1815.)
9. Sturnella holosericea, (Scopoli.)
Xanthornus holosericeus, Scop. Flor. et Faun. Insub. p. 88, (1786.) Oriolus ruber, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 388, (1788.) Amblyramphus bicolor, Leach, Zool. Misc. i. p. 82, (1815.) Sturnus pyrrhocephalus, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 18, (1823.) Sturnella rubra, Vieill. Ency. Meth. ii. p. 635, (1823.) Leistes erythrocephalus, Swains. Cab. Cy. Birds, ii. p. 275, (1837.) Leach. Zool. Misc., i. pi. 36.
Numerous specimens of this apparently common species are in the Academy Museum from Brazil. Easily recognized when adult, by its brilliant scarlet head, and tibiae and black body. The young is nearly uniform dull black, the scarlet generally first appearing on the throat and forehead.
This species ends the subfamily Agelaiinae, but I am not quite confident that the genera or subgenera Creadion, Vieillot, and Amblycercus, Cabanis, do not belong here. Such may be the case also with Hypopyrrhus, Bonaparte. At present, however, my impression is, that all of these have greater affinities in other groups of the family Icteridce.
A Critical Review of the Family PROCELLARIID.E :— Part III ; embracing
the FULMARE.E.
BY ELLIOTT COUES, A. M., M. D.
[Continued directly from page 144 of these Proceedings for 1864.*]
The Fulmarece, as I would define them, form a group of the Procellarina represented as far as is now known by only three genera. These are Fulma- rus, Thalassoica and Ossifraga ; all closely allied in general form and propor-
* The writer's protracted residence in Arizona, where books and specimens were alike unat- tainable, has unavoidably delayed until now the continuation of the series of papers begun in 1864. Efforts will now be made to finish the subject.
1866.]
26 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
tiona, though presenting considerable diversity in coloration. The genus Adamas'or which has been placed among the Fulmars by Bonaparte, seems, as I have attempted to show in a previous paper,* to fall mo -t naturally among the Puffin fee ; being not widely separable from Majaqueus, which Bonaparte hini- se'f (C«ms;). Av. ii. p. 200) places among the Shearwaters. The position of the somewhat anomalous genus Daption is a little uncertain ; possessing, as it does, some of the characteristics of the present group. I am of opinion, however, that it is most naturally to be included with the sEstrelatece, uuder which section I shall hereafter consider it.
The section Fulmar e<e then, as thus constituted, is composed of large or moderate sized species, having a form very stout, compact, and robust, and being nearly always very light colored. It is apparently the section of Petrels most closely allied to the Laride, and forming the connecting link between the two families. Particularly in the genus Tkalassoica U the Laridine aspect very marked.
The bill is always large and robust. The unguis of the upper mandible is strong, very convex in profile, and much hooked at the extremity. That of the lower mandible is never much attenuated nor decurved, with the outline of the gonys decidedly concave ; hut is short, stout, obtuse, with a straight as- cending gonys. The nasal tubes are prominent, wide, long, vertically truu- cated, usually emarginated at their end ; the nasal septum very thin and deli- cate. The wings are of mo lerate length, reaching when folded about to the end of the tail ; the primaries are very broad. The tail is short ; more or less rounded ; of 14 to 16 feathers, all of which are broad and subtruncated at their extremities. The feet are comparatively small and weak. The tarsus is slender, compressed, reticulated, shorter than the middle toe. The outer toe is as long or longer than the middle one. The tip of the inner claw about reaches to the base of the middle.
Of the three genera which I regard as the components of this section, Ossi- fraga has 16 rectrices, while Fulmarus and Tkalassoica have but 14. Of Ful- marus we at present know three species ; of Tkalassoica, two ; while Ossifraga has but a single representative. The section is cosmopolitan.
FULMARUS Leach.
Procellaria sp., Auctorum ; nee Linn.
Fulmarus, Leach, Stephen's Gen. Zool, 1825, xiii. p. 233. Type Proc. glacialis L.
Rhantistes, Kaup, Sk. Ent. Eur. Thierw. 1829, p. 37. Same type.
Gtn. Ckar. Bill about two-thirds as long as the head, three-fourths as long as the tarsus ; short, very stout, exceedingly robust at the base, where it is higher than broad ; the lateral laminae of the upper mandible especially large, and swollen ; the unguis short, very stout, convex in outline, commencing to rise almost from the nostrils; commissure greatly curved; the outline of inferior mandibular rami a little concave ; the gonys ascending ; the sulci of both mandibles deep and distinct ; the nasal tubes long, nearly half the cul- men, prominent, inflated, their dorsal outline about straight, their apex emar- ginate, vertically truncated ; the nasal septum very thin. Wings of moderate length ; reaching when folded about *o end of tail ; the primaries very broad at their bases, somewhat rapidly tapering to their rounded tips. Second pri- mary nearly as long as the first. Tail of 14 rectrices, all broad, subtruncated ; the lateral ones somewhat graduated. Feet rather small and weak ; the tibiae exposed for a short distance ; the tarsi slender, moderately compressed, about three fourths as long as the middle toe and claw. Outer toe and claw about equal to middle toe and claw ; the toe alone longer than the middle without its claw. Inner toe very short, the tip of its claw barely reaching to the base of the middle claw. Hallux short, only observable as a stout obtuse subcorneal claw.
* Vide Pr A. N. S I'h. f -r April, 1864, p. 117.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA 27
Large in size, and very robust in form. Colors white and light pearl blue, with darker primaries.
As above defined, the genus Fulmarus is restricted to its type glacialis, and tlie two other closely allied species pacificus and Itodgersii.
As is the case with all the genera of the family, the name Procellaria has been applied to the present genus. As I have already indicated,* I consider P. pelagica and its congeners as typical of the genus Procellaria. Fulmarus appears to be the first distinctive appellation of the present group ; having priority over Rhantistes of Kaup.
The type of this genus is subject to variations in size, etc., remarkable even in this variable family. In consequence, several races or varieties have been described aud named ; which I think are properly to be included under glaci- alis. 1 recognize as valid the three following species.
Fdlmarus glacialis (Linn.) Steph.
Procellaria glacialis, Linn., S. N. 176(3, p. 213 ; et auct. nee Pall., nee Forst. Fulmarus glacialis, Stephens, Gen. Zool. 1826, xiii. p. 234, pi. 27. Bona- parte, Consp. Av. ii. 1856, p. 187 ; et al. auct. recent. Fulmarus glacialis, var. Audubonii, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1856, ii. p. 187. Fulmarus glacialis var. minor, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1856, ii. p. 187. "Procellaria minor, Kjaerb," fide 13p. "Procellaria h!/emalis,,' Brehm.
Habitat. North Atlantic Ocean.
This species has served as the basis of so many nominal species, caused by its great variations, that, although no description of it is needed, it may bo well to notice the differences to be found whenever large series are compared.
Examination of numerous specimens convinces me that the differences in color are those of age and season chiefly if not wholly ; since the species passes very gradually from the uniform dull greyish brown of youth to the pure white and pearly blue of the adult condition. There do not seem to be any very well defined stages during this transition. Birds of the year, before the autum- nal moult, are entirely fuliginous gray, lighter beneath, with darker margins to the feathers of the back and wing coverts. The tail is about concolor with the rest of the plumage. There is an angular anteocular black spot. The bill and feet are of a dull yellowish or ashy brown. After the moult, the pearly blue of the back extends upon the nape and head ; (just as it does in Rissa tridactyla ;) and the upper tail coverts, and the rectrices are of the same color. The primaries are colored the same as in the mature bird. Spring and summer adults have the pearl blue restricted to the back and wing coverts ; other parts of the body being pure white. The distribution of colors is then just as in Larus canus, argentatus, etc. The dark anteocular spot however seems perma- nent. The bill is wholly yellow ; the feet yellow with a bluish tint.
The variations in size are carefully to be noted ; since, taken in connection with a varying length and robustness of bill, they have given rise to nominal species. The average length appears to be about 16'5 inches; there is how- ever a margin of one or even two inches both above and below this standard to be allowed. The wing measures from the carpal joint to the tip of the longest primary, from rather less than 11 to 12-5 inches. The average length of the bill (chord of the culnien) is 1*5 ; but it may be l-33 or 1-66, with a corresponding difference in robustness. Young birds are always weak-billed. The tail ranges from about 4 to about 5 inches. The average of the tarsus is about 2 inches : of the middle toe without its claw, 2*25 ; both varying to the extent of a fourth of an inch or rather more. The feet however as a general rule differ less in dimensions than other parts.
The synonomy of this species is very brief and uninvolved ; the points re-
• Proc. A. N. S. Philad'a. March, 1864, p. 79.
1866.]
I
28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
quiring considerations being hardly more than those relating to the varieties or supposed species which have been separated from it.
I have before me a rather small and weak-billed specimenfrom Greenland, which appears to be an example of what was called P. minor by Kjserb, or P. glacialis var. viinor by Bonaparte. It has no claim that I can discover to be considered as even a variety ; as the difference in size from the ordinary standard is by no means uusual. In the var. Audubonii of Bonaparte — based upon the bird used for the figures in Audubon's works — there is exhibited a by no means unusual variation in size, or in strength of bill.
While I would thus consider the Atlantic Fulmars as representing but a single species, nothing that I have found in an extensive series tends to invali- date the claims of F. pacijicus to specific distinction.
Fdlmakus pacificus (Aud.) Lawr.
Procellaria glaciulis, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-As. ii., 1811, p 312.. Sed non Linn.
nee auct. Procellaria pacijica, Audubon, Orn. Biog. v. p. 331. Id Bds. N. Amer. vii.
1844, p. 208. Procellaria (Fuhnarus) pacifica, Lawrence in Baird s B. N. A. 1858, p. 826. Fidmarus glacialis var. pacijicus, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. ii. 1856, p. 187. ? Procellaria glacialis (juniores), Kuhl, Beit. Zool., 1823, p. 141.
This species, though very closely allied to glacialis, and requiring a rather careful comparison to distinguish it, yet appears to differ by constant char- acters. It is nearly or quite as large as that species ; but the feet are, per- haps, a little shorter and weaker. There seems to be a constant difference in the shape of the bill ; which, though not much shorter, is considerably weaker, more compressed, and more attenuated and decurved at the tip. The inferior mandibular rami divaricate at a more acute angle. But I have not been able, in examining quite a large series, among which is one of Audu- bon's types, to find any distinctive characters in the nasal tubes ; the dorsal outline of which does not appear to be straighter than that of the Atlantic bird. In fact, one example of pacificus has a more concave tube than one of glacialis, now before me ; nor can I discover that the carination of the tubes is more marked in one species than in the other. One example of pacificus shows no trace of any carination.
Some features of coloration are, perhaps, most distinctive of this species. The upper parts are much darker in pacificus than in glacialis ; inclining to a bluish cinereous rather than a pearly blue. The rump and upper tail coverts, in lieu of being nearly pure white, are concolor with the middle of the back, or even darker than it. The bend of the wing, and the secondaries and tertials are somewhat deeper-colored than those of glacialis. The bill is bright yellow, lightest on the unguis ; the root of which latter is bluish horn-colored. The feet are bright yellow, only slightly obscured on the outer aspect of the tarsus, and on the outer toe. The anteocular spot is smaller and more indistinctly marked than in glacialis.
Young birds have the yellow of the bill obscured by brownish or greenish, the unguis especially being quite dark, as are also the feet and toes. The entire plumage is fuliginous grayish brown ; deepest on the side of the head ; lighter on the under parts of the body, where there is considerable of a smoky cinereous tint. Most of the feathers of the upper parts have cinereous or pearly tips. Some of the tertials are more or less distinctly tipped with grayish white. The remiges and rectrices are brownish black ; the former lightest, inclining towards their tips to grayish. The primary shafts are light brown, deepening in color at their apices. The under surfaces of the primaries are cinereous gray.
I thus detail the differences I have been able to find between the two sup- posed species, considering them as sufficient to establish a species ; though
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 29
with equal reason they might be held as indicative of the extreme of varia- tion of a single changeable type, and thus forming only a local race or geo- graphical variety.
The Procellaria glacialis of Pallas in all probabilty refers to this species rather than to the'true glacialis of Linnaeus. I also think that the "Procel- laria glacialis, juniores ex America Septentrionali allatre, colore cineraseenti- fuliginoso tincta) " of Kuhl's "Beitrage," p. 141, belongs here rather than to the Thalassoica glacialoides to which Dr. Schlegel has referred it.
Fulmarus Rodgersii Cassin.
Fulmarus Rodgersii, Cassin, Cat. Birds North Pacif. U. S. Expl. Exped., in Pr. A. N. S. Ph. 1862, p. 290. Habitat. — North Pacific Ocean.
I have before me Mr. Cassin's original and type specimen. With exactly the size and very nearly the form of F. glacialis, it differs from the latter very decidedly in color, as will be seen by the following comparative de- scription :
The bill is bright yellow, except the base of the unguis of the upper man- dible, which is bluish black. The middle of the back, the scapular feathers and some of the lesser wing coverts are a rather dark grayish ash, approach- ing the hue that is most distinctive of pacijicus. The rump and upper tail coverts are pure white. The rectrices are fuliginous grayish ash ; their inner webs and their extreme apices whitish, their shafts wholly yellowish. The whole of the tertials and the greater wing coverts are pure white ; the lesser wing coverts and edge of the wing of the same color, but marbled with the ashy hue of the back. The secondaries are white with yellow shafts; the terminal half of their outer webs grayish brown. The primaries are dull brownish black, their entire shafts yellow, their inner webs to within an inch of their tips white. These markings of the primaries are much like those of Thalassoica glacialoides. All the rest of the body is white. The legs and feet are bright yellow ; the outer aspect of the tarsus, aud the outer toe somewhat obscured by dusky. The nails are ochraceous brown.
Bill along chord of culmen 1*50 inches and hundredths ; from feathers on side of lower mandible to its apex 140; nasal tubes *60 ; height of bill at base *80 ; width about the same ; wing from the carpus 1225 ; tail 5*50 ; exterior rectrices -75 shorter; tarsus 2-00 ; middle toe and claw 2-60 ; inner do. 220. Some differences in the shape of the bill of this species are readily recog- nizable. It is even stouter than that of glacialis, being at the base fully aa wide as high ; and the lateral lamina? of the upper mandible is bulging and convex rather than straight. The nasal tubes are larger, broader, more depressed, with no traces of median longitudinal carination. Independently of these discrepancies, it is to be distinguished from glacialis by the restric- tion in extent and deep hue of the color of the back ; by the white tertials and coverts, dark rectrices, yellow primary shafts, amount of white on inner webs of primaries, etc.
But a single specimen is known to exist in any collection. No. 21304 of the Smithsonian Register. From the North Pacific, the precise locality not known.
THALASSOICA Reich.
Procellaria sp. auctorum.
Thalassoica, Reichentiach, Syst. Av. Type P. glacialoides, Smith.
Priocella, Homb. et Jacq. Same type ; fide Gr. R. Gray.
Gen. char. Bill slightly shorter than the head, or tarsus, about three- fifths the middle toe and claw ; higher than broad at the base, compressed, not very robust, its sides regularly tapering to the rather thin tip. Unguis attenuated and only moderately hooked ; commissure a little curved, outline of inferior mandibular rami, and of gonys, both slightly concave. Nasal
1866.]
30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
tubes two-fiftlis as long as the culmen, basally wide and depressed, termin- ally high and compressed. Feet rather small ; tarsus much compressed, as long as the inner toe without the claw ; about three-fifths the middle toe. Wings and tail as in Fulmariis.
This genus differs from Fulmarus in little except the bill ; in which, how- ever, the distinction is well marked. The bill has, notwithstanding the presence of the nasal tube?, an aspect which is Laridine to a degree not found in any other genus of the family ; and the pattern of coloration in the type of the genus is almost precisely that of a Larus.
Two species are known to compose the genus. Intimately allied in form, thair colors are more widely diverse than is usually found to be the case in congeners of this family.
Thalassoica glacialoides (Smith) Reich.
Procellaria glacialis, Forster, Descr. Anim. ed. Licht. 1844, p. 25, No. 21.
Nee Linn., nee auct. al. Procellaria glacialis, Var. B., Gm. S. N. i. 1788, p. 563. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii.
1760, p. 823. Procellaria glacialoides, Smith, Illust. S. Afric. Bds. t. 51. Thalassoica glacialoides, Reich. Syst. Av. Bonaparte Consp. Av. 1856, ii.
p. 192. Thalassoica glacialoides var. polaris, Bp. Consp. Av. 1856, ii., p. 192. Thalassoica glacialoides var. tenuirostris. Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1856, ii.
p. 192. Procellaria tenuirostris, Audubon, Orn. Biog., 1839, v., p. 333. Id. Birds
North Amer. vii. 1844, p. 210, (fig. nulla.) Lawrence, in Baird's
B. N. A., 1858, p. 826. Procellaria Smithi, Schlegel, Monog. Proc. Mus. Pays Bas, 1863, p. 22. Priocella Garnoti, Homb. et Jacq. Voy. Pole Sud, pi. 32, fig. 43 ; fide G. R. Gray. Habitat. — Southern hemisphere generally, apparently replacing the F. glacialis. Columbia River and whole Pacific Coast of North and South Ame- rica. Cape Horn. Cape of Good Hope. Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Africa. Not in the North Atlantic?
The sulci on the 6ides of the bill, uniting the lateral laminae with the un- guis, are remarkably narrow, shallow, and indistinct ; and the bill in other respects calls forcibly to mind that of a small Larus argentatus. The colors of the back, and of the primaries even to the white spaces on their inner webs, and the size and shape of the feet and tail are rather those of a Laridine than & Procellaridine bird.
Nasal tubes a third the length of the culmen, basally broad and depressed : terminally narrower and elevated ; their dorsal outline concave, subcarinated, their tip deeply emarginated ; nasal septum very thin, and so short as not to reach the end of the nasal tube. Culmen flattened from tube to unguis ; latter much elevated and very convex. Shape of lower mandible that of Larus. Tarsus much compressed, shorter than middle toe without its claw ; hardly exceeding the inner toe alone. Outer toe without its claw longer than the middle. Folded wings reach to end of tail. Primaries broad, tapering rather suddenly to their rounded apices. Tail contained 1\ times in the wing from the carpal joint.
Bill yellow ; nasal tube, unguis and sometimes basal portion of superior lateral mandibular laminae, bluish horn. Feet yellow. Upper parts uniform clear pearl blue ; exactly the shade that obtains in some species of Larus. This color begins as a faint wash or shading on the nape, deepening as it pro- ceeds backwards until on the interscapular region it has gained its full inten- sity ; which continues undiminished over the whole back, rump, wing coverts, tertials and tail coverts, to the tips of the rectrices themselves. The feathers just along the edge of the wing, however, are grayish slate. Primaries black,
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 31
their shafts yellowish white at the base, changing to black towards their apices ; their inner webs pearly white near their tips. This white on the first primary extends to within two inches of the tip ; on the rest successively extends nearer the tip of each, till on the innermost it occupies the whole web. Secondaries slaty black on their outer, white on their inner webs. Elsewhere the bird is pure white ; except a small anteocular dusky spot ; and a faint shade of pearl gray on the sides of the breast and body, and on the flanks.
Dimensions. Length 18 to 19 inches, extent of wings about 36. Bill along culuien 2, from feathers on side of lower mandible l-75 ; its height or width at base '70; nasal tubes *66. Wing from the carpus 13. Tail 5-25. Tarsus 2 ; middle toe and claw 2*60 ; outer 2-70 ; inner 2*25.
There is no other species towards which the present bears an intimate re- semblance. Th. antarctica is exceedingly dissimilar in color, though so nearly the same in form. The generic peculiarities — especiallyof the bill — of Fuhna- rus glacialis er pacificus at once distinguish the latter.
Synonymy. The Proc. glacialis of Forster's Descriptiones Animalium is un- doubtedly this species. The expressions regarding the nasal tube — " coerules- cens in rostro incarnato,*— apice uigro"; and regarding the primaries — " fusco- nigrae, margine interiore albido, " are quite inconsistent with the true glacialis. This is the only instance I have met with of the application of the name " gla- cialis " to this species.
The Procellaria tenuirostris Audubon is most certainly this species. I have compared Audubon's type specimen with specimens of undoubted ghcialoides from various localities. Mr. Cassin has shown (U. S. Expl. Exp. 1858, Birds, p. 409) that possibly Audubon's designation lias priority over that of timith.
I do not suppose that the var. polaris of Bonaparte's Couspectus is in any way diverse fr- m the true glacialoides.
I hardly know upon what grounds Dr. Schlegel has laid aside the prior names of this species to give it the appellation " JSmithi."
Thalassoica Antarctica Reich.
Procellaria antarctica, Gmelin, S. N. 1788, i. p. 565 ; et auct. Thalassoica antarctica, Reicheubach, Syst. Av. t. 22, fig. 790. Bonaparte, Consp. Av. 1856, ii. p. 192.
In this species there is the same general character of the nasal tube as in T. glacialoides ; though it is comparatively a little broader and shorter, and somewhat less carinated on the median dorsal line. The sulci uniting the different laminae of the bill are ratber deeper and more distinct, taking away something of the Laridine aspect, so marked in the other species. The lateral rostral lamina is wider at its base, and tapers more rapidly to the acute apex by which it is united to the unguis. The tip of the lower mandible is more decurved, and the gonys is a little concave.
The coloration of this species is so peculiar, and so widely dissimilar from any other Procellaridian, that it is needless to give any description here. The species has I believe no important synonyms.
OSSIFRAGA Hombr. et Jacq.
Procellaria sp. Gmelin, et auct. Ossifraga, Hombron et Jacquinot.
Char. Tail of 16 recti ices, moderately long, rounded. Win2;s rather short, and not very pointed. Tarsi short, much less than the middle toe without ita claw ; compressed, stout, reticulated. Bill as long or rather exceeding the tarsus, very robust ; the nasal case very long, depressed, carinated, the aper- ture small. Of immense size and powerful organization.
• "Bill black and flesh-colored, the latter hue f>ding to whitish on drying," I find on the label of a specimen collected by the North Pac fie Exploring Expedition. I note this her* became the bill is generally described as ''yellowish" and to sh^w how pertinent is forater'e ex- pression •' incarnato, apice nigro."
1866]
32 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEM1 OP
But a single species of this genus is known ; which in size vastly exceeds all other Procellarince, and is only itself surpassed by the Diomedince.
Ossifraga gigantea (6m.) Reich.
Procellaria gigantea, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. 1788, p. 563. Lawrence, Birds N. A.
1858, p. 825, et al. auct. Ossifraga gigantea, Reichenbach, Syst. At. t. 20, fig. 332. Bonaparte, Consp.
Av. 1855, ii. p. 186. ? Procellaria brasiliana, Latham, Ind. Orn. ii. 1790, p. 821, No. 2. Gm. S. N.
i. 178, p. 564. Procellaria ossifraga, Forster, Descr. Anim Ed. Licht., 1844, p. 343. " Quebranthuesos ; '' " Bonebreaker." Vdlgo. Habitat. Chiefly the Southern Seas. Has been taken off the Coast of Oregon. Bill exceedingly robust, compressed, higher than broad at the base ; longer than the head, rather longer than the tarsus (chord of the arc of the culmen about equal to the tarsus ;) sulci separating the rostral laminae very distinctly defined. Nasal case very long, more than half the length of the culmen* ; basally exceedingly broad, being nearly as wide as the bill ; narrowing ante- riorly to the small nearly circular apical orifice ; on the upper surface so flattened as to be a little concave ; the median carination strongly marked, though the ridge is rather broad than sharp, and more elevated anteriorly than at the base ; the apex of the case vertically truncated, not emargined. The frontal feathers extend in an obtuse angle a little way upon the root of the case. Uuguis large and strong, its dorsal outline very broad and not sharp ; regularly decurved, its tip rather obtuse. Commissure much sinuated for its whole length. Gape of mouth moderate, the angle of the commissure falling far short of the eye. Outline of lower mandibular runi about straight: angle of gonys obtuse, its dorsal outline straight, ascending. Feathers of the chin ex- tending quite to the symphysis. Feet very large and stout. Tibia? bare for a considerable portion of their extent. Tarsus short, stout, much compressed, reticulated : the plates minute posteriorly and superiorly ; larger and trans- versely very broad on the infero-anterior aspect. Toes very long ; the outer with its claw as long as the middle ; its claw alone shorter than that of the middle toe. Webs full. Hallux a very stout, nearly straight, subcorneal, obtuse claw. Wings short ; not very pointed : when folded falling considerably short of the end of the tail. Tail of moderate length, or rather short for this group ; much graduated ; of 16 instead of as usual 14 feathers.
Dimensions. Averasing about 3 feet in length by 7 in extent. Bill 3^ to 4 inches. Tarsus 3 \. Middle toe and claw 5| : outer do. about the same ; inner do. 4^. Wing from the carpal joint about 20 inches.
The species is found in quiie diverse states of plumage. The upper parts are of a varying shade of brown, and more or less mottled with dull white, the edges and tips of many of the feathers being thus colored. Often however there are no traces of this white mottling, and the dorsal plumage is of a uniform sombre fuliginous. The wings and tail seem to be nearly always plain dark brown. In adult birds the under parts, and a portion of the neck in front are white. The amount of this white varies with age ; and young or immature birds have the whole under parts similarly colored with the rest of the body ; though tiie hue is usually rather lighter and duller. The gradations in color between old and young are very gradual ; scarcely any two specimens, not perfectly mature, being found exactly alike. The feet of some specimens are yellowish, more or less obscured by dusky ; of others are uniform fuliginous brownish black. The bill is yellow in all the specimens I have seen. As a re- markable state of plumage which I do not recollect to have seen given, I may in- stance a specimen in the Philadelphia Academy, which is pure white, all over,
• But its length seems liable to Home c msiier.ible variation. I believe it always extends nearly or quite to the root of the ungu.s.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 33
even to the wings and tail ; the continuity of the white only interrupted by a few isolated brown feathers sparsely scattered at irregular intervals over the body. Other specimens in the Academy Museum are in very nearly the plumage described by Gmelin and Latham as P. Brasiliana ; so that there can be little doubt of the propriety of referring the latter to tbis species.*
The species and genera treated of in this paper are so few and so well known that an analytical synopsis does not seem to be required.
(To be continued.)
Description of twelve new species of TJNIONIDJi: from South America.
BY ISAAC LEA.
The species described and figured in this paper were procured in South America by Don Patricio M. Paz, of Madrid, and very obligingly submitted to me. Some of them fortunately were in alcohol, thus preserving the soft pans, which are of great interest. These have been carefully examined and described, and it will be observed that the South American characteristics of the outer hard parts, as well as the included soft parts, which seem to pertain to the Uniones of that continent, are here exhibited. I allude more particularly to the round palpi, or mouth lips, and the divergent folds of the tips of the beaks, neither of which have I observed in our North American species. Very little atten- tion, heretofore, has been given to the soft parts of the Unionidce of South America, and none to the embryonic shell, except by myself. M. d'Orbigny, in his Voyage dans V Amerique 3Ieridional, has imperfectly described and figured the soft parts of some of the genera. Spix, in his Testacea Fluviatilia Braziliensia,. takes no notice of the soft parts of the species, which he describes and figures with much accuracy.
Unio pecdliaris. — Testa laevi, quadrata, compressiuscula, ina?quilaterali, postice obtuse angulata, antice rotunda : valvulis crassiusculis, antice aliquantc crassioribus ; natibus subprominentibus, ad apices divaricati uudulatis ; epi- detmide virido-fusca, eradiata; demibuscardinalibus parviusculis, compressis, obliquis, in utroque valvulo duplicibus ; lateralibus longis, lamellatis curvis- que ; margarita crerul -o-alba et iridescente.
Embryonic Shell subtriangular, light brown ; dorsal line rather long and straight ; side margins irregular and unequal — one being a segment of a circle, the other an irregular curve line — forming an obtuse angle at the base :: basal margin obtusely angular and furnished with hooks ; granulate over the whole surface.
Bab. — South America, Don Patricio M. Paz.
This very peculiar and unique form is now for the first time observed. Its- unequal lateral margins give it an abnormal and lapsided appearance, totally differing in this from any other species known to me.
Unio firmus. — Testa laevi, elliptica, subinflata, valde inaequilaterali, postice et antice rotundata; valvulis crassiusculis, antice aliqnanto crassioribus; natibus prominulis ; epidermide viiidi-fusca, eradiata; dentibus cardiualibus subcrassis, compressis ; in utroque valvulo duplicibus; lateralibus longis, lamellatis subcurvisque ; margarita argentea et valde iridescente.
Ilab. — South America, Don Patiicio M. Paz.
Unio rtgososolcatus. — Testa sulcata, triangulari, subinflata, subequila- terali, postice biangulata, antice oblique rotundata; valvulis percrassis, antice crassioribus ; natibus prominentibus ; epidermide olivacea, ruyoso sul- cata, obsolete radiata ; dentibus cardinalibus crassis, rugosis, elevatis ; later-
* Bonaparte (Cunsp. Av. ii. p. 172) makes tne ProceUaria brasiliana Gm. Lath, to be the bird now known as Graculus or Phulacrocorax brasilianus.
1866.]
34 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP
alibus sublongis, subcrassis, lamellatis subcurvisque; margarita argentea et iridescente.
Hab. — Central America? Don Patricio M. Paz.
Unio appkimus. — Testa laevi, elliptica, inflata, inaequilaterali, postice emar- ginata, obtuse angulata, antice rotundata; valvulis percrassis, antice crassi- oribus ; natibus subprominentibus, ad apices divaricate undulatis ; epidermide castanea, micanti, substriata, obsolete radiata ; dentibus cardinalibus grandi- bus et valde partitis ; lateralibus praelongis, lamellatis, curvatis et decore grannlatis; margarita argentea et iridescente.
Hab. — South America, Don Patricio M. Paz.
Unio locellus. — Testa lsevi, elliptica, valde inflata, inaequilaterali, postice subrotundata, antice subtruncata; valvulis tenuibus ; natibus subprominenti- bus, tumidis, ad apices divaricate undulatis; epidermide tenebroso-fusca, obsolete radiata, antice striata; dentibus cardinalibus parvis, valde compressis, valde obliquis, in utroque valvulo duplicibus; lateralibus parviusculis, lamel- latis; margarita caeruleo-alba et iridescente.
Ilab. — Butnos Ajres, South America, Don Patricio M. Paz.
Unio parous. — Testa laevi, late elliptica, subinflata, valde inae^uilaterali ; postice subrotundata, antice roiunda; valvulis subtenuibus, antice aliquanto crassioribus ; natibus prominulis, ad apices divaricate undulatis; epidermide polita, tenebroso-oliva, eradiata ; dentibus cardinalibus parviusculis, obliquis lamellatisque ; lateralibus longis, lamellatis subrectisque ; margarita caeruleo- alba et iridescente.
Hab. — South America, Don Pntricio M. Paz.
Unio acotirostris. — Testa laevi, oblonga, ad latere compressa, valde inae- quilaterali, postice obtuse angulata, antice truncata ; valvulis crassiusculis, antice crassioribus ; natibus prominulis; epidermide tenebroso-fusca, nigris- cente, eradiata ; dentibus cardinalibus, parviusculis, in utroque valvulo sul- cato divergente; lateralibus praelongis aliquanto curvatis granulatisque ; margarita alba et valde iridescente.
Hab. — South America, Don Patricio M. Paz.
Unio ampuli.aceus. — Testa lsevi, suboblonga, valde inflata, inEequilaterali, postice obtuse angulata, antice rotundata; valvulis crassiusculis, antice cras- sioribus; natibus subprominentibus, inflatis; epidermide tenebroso-fusca, rugoso- striata, eradiata; dentibus cardinalibus parvis, obliquis, lamellatis corrugatisque; margarita alba et iridescente.
Ilab. — South America, Don Patricio M. Paz.
Unio Paraguayensis. — Testa laevi, elliptica, inflata, sublenticular!, valde inasquilaterali, postice et antice rotundata; valvulis subcrassis, antice crassi- oribus; natibus vix prominentibus ; epidermide viridi-fusca, obsolete radiata ; dentibus cardinalibus crassiusculis, obliquis, compressi3, in utroque valvulo duplicibus; lateralibus sublongis, lamellatis curvisque; margarita argentea et valde iridescente.
Hab. — -Paraguay, South America, Don Patricio M. Paz.
Monocondyloia LENTiFOKMis. — Testa laevi, rotundata, lenticulari, valde inas- quilaterali, postice rotundata, antice curta rotundaque ; valvulis subcrassis, antice crassioribus; natibus prominentibus, ad apices acuminatis, retusis ; epidermide tenebroso-oliva, striata, eradiata ; dentibus cardinalibus parvius- culis, tuberculatis ; margarita albida et valde iridescente.
Hab. — South America, Don Patricio M. Paz.
Monocondylosa Pazii. — Testa laevi, obovata, inflata, valde inaequilateraM, postice rotundata, antice curta rotundaque ; valvulis crassiusculis, antice ali- quanto crassioribus ; natibus prominentibus, tumidis, retusis ; epidermide
[March,
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 35
tenebroso-oliva, striata, eradiata; dentibus cardinalibus subcrassis, com- presso-tuberculatis, subelevatis ; margarita alba et valde iridescente. Hab. — South America, Don Patricio M. Pas.
Anodonta Pazii. — Testa laevi, subrotunda, valde inflata, ineequilaterali, postice et antice rotundata^ valvulis crassiusculis ; natibus subprominentibus, acuminatis; epideraaide tenebroso-rufo-fusca, eradiata, striata; margarita, punicea et formossissime iridescente.
Hab. — South America, Don Patricio M. Paz,
FASH ©RNITHOLOGI.E.
BY JOHN CASSIN.
Woe be to the man who reads but one book 1 — Rev. George Herbert. My starvling bull,
Alack for me, In pasture full How lean is hel
Rev. Thomas FuUer.
No. 2.
Bes Naturforschee.
A Journal for Natural History^ edited by J. C. D, Schreber and J. E. J. Walck,
" Der Naturforscher " was published at Halle from the year 1774 to 1804, that is to say, during a period of thirty years, one part or volume every year, though it is usually bound in fifteen volumes, octavo. Each of the thirty parts is, however, separately paged and has a title page and date of its own, and must be considered and treated as a volume for all practical purposes. The first thir- teen volumes are edited by Walch, the last seventeen by Schreber, both of whom ■are contributors of a large number of papers in various departments of the Zoo- logical and Botanical Sciences. In Zoology the papers of both are mainly on groups of the Invertebrata, but the latter occasionally has a valuable article on other subjects and higher orders of animals, and is the eminent and successful author of sta«dard and elaborate work3 on Mammalogy.
The illustrations in this Journal are generally very superior, many of the colored plates, of Insects and Shells especially, being much above the average of those of a similar description to be found in books of the last century, and all of them seem to be quite sufficient for the easy recognition of species. There are about one hundred and fifty plates in the series, nearly all of which are carefully colored, those of Insects being the most numerous, but of Shells, also, there are a very considerable number. Special allusion will be made to the plates of Birds towards the end of this paper. Of the contents of the en- tire work as published, Indices and " Registers" are given at the end of every tenth volume, apparently very copious and accurate, and from which it appears that no less than sis hundred and four memoirs in all departments of Natural History are contained in these thirty volumes. In Ornithology the contribu- tions are not numerous, and contain but few descriptions of species, but of those few descriptions, nearly all the names proposed would stand good were it not for the recently exhumed names of Prof. P. L. S. Miiller. The authors of these contributions are, for the greater part, quite unknowa in modern times as or- nithological writers.
" Der Naturforscher " seems to have been a very considerable journal in its day, and names amongst its contributors many naturalists of standard and de- servedly 'nigh reputation. The memoirs on Conchological and Entomological subjects are apparently the most valuable, and are certainly the most numerous and most carefully illustrated. For better or worse it happens that compara- tively few of its many papers are devoted to Ornithology, and a large majority
1866.]
36 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP
of those are of a general or local character, relating mainly to European birds, though several of them are highly interesting. In the entire series of .thirty volumes, there are on'y seven descriptions of species presumed to have been previously unknown, and which we give in a succeeding page of this article ; and, also, we propose to give an inventory or general reckoning of the entire ornithological contents of this periodical, not premising in the least that it is either an extended or difficult enterprise. But as we have frequently seen this Journal cited by the older authors, and even occasionally in books of recent formation, (mostly conglomerate,) we have looked up these ornithological ar- • tides to the end that hereafter they shall be seen truly, not only by ourselves, but also by such others who, like us, may have found out that there i3 a differ- ence between hearing and believing, and even between looking and seeing1. Any one can look, but comparatively few, see, and, at least, light shall no longer be wanting on " Der Naturforscher."
The words of our choice text for this interesting occasion, beloved brethren, we shall not dwell upon nor enlarge upon, even not so much as might conduce to solid profit in a moral sense; both somewhat of time and inclination being wanting, and an homily, fortunately perhaps, not necessary. Who has suffered, beloved, not for his fault, but thine ? And in the vast affluence of the field of study and solid acquirement spread before thee, not only in the libraries and museums established by the governments of all civilized nations, but in our own times, in the countries of our native language and by our own contempo- raries, such high souled and ever memorable men as Thomas B. Wilson and Henry Bryant, John Henry Gurney and Osbert Salvin, art thou indeed but a siarvling? We wait not for answer, but proceed about our business with some soberness of thought, (and with recommendatory suggestion.)
Here follows a list of all the memoirs relating to Ornithology in this Journal, and, at the end of that, a list of the species of Birds therein described, as cer- tainly intended and supposed by the authors (but generally erroneously,) for the first time.
List of memoirs on Ornithology in "Der Naturforseher" alphabetically arranged, after a fashion, so far as relates to the writers of them.
Bechstein, J. M. Bergrath.
1. Bemerkungen uber die Motacillen, vol. xxvii. p. 38, (1793.)
Beckmans, Johann, Professor zu Gcettingen.
1. Linneische Synonjmie zu Kleins verbesserterHistorie der Voegel, vol. l. p. 65,(1774.) Bocks. Consistorialrath zu Kcenigsberg.
1 Preussiche Oruithologie, vol. viii. p. 39, (1776) ; ix. p. 39, (1776) ; xii. p. 131, (1778); xiii. p. 201, (1779); xvii. p. 66, (1782.)
Gotz Georg Friedrich. Candidatus in Hanau, Lehrer der Durchlauchtigsten Prinzessinnen zu Hessen-Cassel.
1. Anmerkungen zu des Herrn Professor Sanders zweytem Beytrag znr Geschichte der Vogel im 13 ten Stuck desNaturforschers, S. 179, vol. xv. p. 157, (1781.)
2. Forgesetzte Beytriige zur Ornithologie, vol. xix. p. 78, (1783.)
3. Ueber die anomalisch weissen Vogel, vol. xvi. p. 37, (1781.)
4. Beytrag zur Naturgeschichte des Mauerspechts, Certhia muraria, Linn, vol. xvii. p. 40. (1782.)
5. Naturgeschichte des Silber und weifsen Phasans, vol. xvi. p. 122, (1781.)
6. " des Goldphasans, vol. xiv. p. 204, (1780.)
7. " des Kronvogels, Columba coronata, Linn., vol. xvii. p. 32, (1782.)
Grillo, F. Professor.
1. Ornithologtsche Bemerkungen auf Veranlassung des Naturforschers be- kannt gemacht, vol. xxii. p. 127, (1787); xxv. p. 13, (1791.)
[March,
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 37
Giinthers, D. Friedrich Christian, Herzogl. Sachsen Coburgischen Hofraths und Leibarztes zu Cahla.
1. Von der anomalisch-weissen Farbe der Voegel, vol. i. p. 54, (1774.)
2. Von der anomalisch-schwarzen Farhe der Voege', vol. ii. p. 1, (1774.)
3. Vom Creuzvoegel, dessen Nest und Eyern, vol. ii p. 66, (1774.) Kuhn.
1. Von dem Gesange der Voegel, vol. xxi. p. 195, (1785.)
2. Von dem Kriinitz oder Krumschnabel (Loxia curvirostra,) vol. xxi. p. 197, (1785); xxii. p. 142, (1787.)
3. Von dem Nachtschatten, Ziegen-Meloker (Caprimulgus,) vol xxi. p. 199, (1785.)
Leske.
1. Von den Jymphitischen Gefassen in den Vogeln, aus dem 58 Band der philosophischen Transaction, vol. v. p. 188, (1775.)
Murr, Christian Gottleib, von.
1. Best'hreibung des Patagonischen Pinguins, aus dem 58 Band der philosophischen Transactionen, vom Jahre 1769, vol. i. p. 258 (1774).
2. Von der beaten Art, Vogel in Sarumlungen aufzubehalten aus dem Gentlemen's Magazine vom J. 1772. vol. i. p. 262.
3. Beytriige zur Thiergeschichte von Gstiudien, aus Pennant's Indian Zoology, vol. i. p. 265.
4. Von den Nestern und Eyern der Vogel. Ein Auszug aus Herrn Thorn. Pennant's Genera of Birds, vol. i. p. 284.
5. Vom Flitg der Vogel, vol. i. p. 291.
6. Von Ornithologischen Systemen, vol. i. p. 292.
Nau, B. S. Professor der Cameralwissenschaften zu Mainz.
1. Beitrage zu nahern Kenntniss der Naturgeschichte einheimscher Voegel, vol. xxv. p. 7 (1791).
Otto, Doctor und Adjunct.
1. Abhandlung von den Abartender Kreutzschnabel, vol. xii. p. 92 (1778).
Pacius, Georg Friedrich.
1. Zwo vortheilhafte Arten Voegel und kleine vierfussige Thiere auszus- topfen, vol. ii. p. 87 (1774).
Sanders, Professor zu Carlsruh.
1. Beytrage zur Geschichte der Voegel, vol. xi. p. 11 (1777), xiii. p. 179, (1779), xviii. p. 232 (1782).
2. Beobachtes Gewicht einiger Vogel-Eyer, vol. xiv. p. 48 (1780).
Schrank, Franz von Paula, Kurpsalzbaierschen geistlichen Rathe.
1. Zoologische Beobachtungeu, vol. xviii. p. 66 (1782).
2. Ueber die anomalisch weisse Farbe der Voegel, vol. xxiii. p. 138
(1788).
Schreber, J. C. D.
1. Beytrage zur exotischen Ornithologie, vol. xvii. p. 12 (1782), xviii. p. 1. (1782.)
Walch, J. E. J. Hofrath.
1. Von der anomalish-weissen Farbe der Voegel, vol. iv. p. 128 (1774).
2. Beytrage zur exotischen Ornithologie, vol. xi. p. 1 (1777), xiii. p. 11, (1779), xvii. p. 12 (1782).
The following are the species described as previously unknown : —
1. Trogon fasciatus, Schreber, Naturforscher, xvii. p. 17 (1782).
Pencant Ind. Zool. p. 15, pi. 5.
Trogon fasciatus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 405 (1788).
Harpactes fasciatus (Schreber) ! 1 1866.]
38 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
This name happens to be the same as that of Gmelin, but Schreber is tbe first to apply it, and is, therefore, to be cited as authority. It is given by both authors to the bird figured by Pennant as cited, but what that is cannot be so easily settled.
2. Todus cristatus, Schreber, Naturfors. xvii. p. 21 (1T82).
Buff. PI. Enl. 289. Der Naturforscher, xvii. pi. 7. Up to Gmelin, the synonomy of this species stands:
Muscicapa coronata, Muller, Syst. Nat. Supp. p. 168 (1776). Todus cristatus, Schreb., Der Naturfors. xvii. p. 21 (1782.) Todus regius, Gm., Syst. Nat. i. p. 445 (1788.) Muscivora coronata (Muller)! !
3. Xauthornus virens, Schreber, Naturfors. vol. xviii. p. 1 (1782.)
Buff. PL Enl. 328, Der Naturf. xviii. pi. 1. The synonymy of this species is :
Oriolus viridis, Miiller, Syst. Nat. Supp. p. 87 (1776.) Xanthomas virens, Schreb., Der Natuifors. xviii. p. 1 (1782.) Oriolus viridis, Boddaert, Tab. PI. Enl. p. 20 (1783.) Cassicus viridis, Vieill. Nour. Diet. v. p. 364 (1816.) Oassicus viridis (Muller) I ! Muller comes in again several lengths ahead of Schreber and Boddaert. and Vieillot is nowhere, though currently reported for about fifty years as having won, by error of the judges. Both of S-chreberrs plates above cited are recognizable and, in fact, much better than usual at the date of tbe per- formance. This is the same Schreber famous as a Mammalogist, but the papers here referred to are his only attempts at Ornithology, so far as I knowP and so successful that bis three species here mentioned would have s-tood, but for Prof. Miiller's long-neglected names.
4. Scolopax punctata, Nau, Naturfors. xxv. p. 1 (1791.)
" Scolopax rostro arcuato, gula rufescente, dorso fusco, punctis albis^ pedibus nigris.'' Hab. — Europe. Probably the young or a seasonal plumage of Totanus ochropm, and also probably the same plumage subsequently described as Tringa liltorea, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 731. A full description is given in German, which seems applicable, as we have stated. Professor Nau is or was well known as a. Botanist, but this is his first and only appearance as an Ornithologist.
5. Motacilla longirostra, Bechstein, Naturfors. xxvii. p. 43 (1793.)
Quite an extended description of this species is given by Bechstein, but I fail to recognize it, and do not find it again alluded to in the works of that author. It is given as an European bird.
6. Motacilla Sibilatrix, Bechstein Naturfors. xxvii. p. 47 (1793.)
Sylvia sylvicola, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. 53 (1801.) Phjllopneuste sibillatrix (Becbst.) Brehm I
7. Motacilla Fitis, Bechstein, Naturfors. xxvii. p. 50 (1793.)
Motacilla Trochilus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 338 (1766)? Phyllopneuste fitis (Bechst.) Brehm 1 I The plates of birds are as follows :
Pipra rupicola, Linnaeus, vol. xL pi. 1. Gracula carunculata, Gmelin, vol. xi. pi. 2. Picus miniatus, Gmelin, vol. xiii. pi. 4. Muscicapa coronata, Muller, vol. xvii. pi. 1. Oriolus viridis, Mtiller, vol. xviii. pi. 1.
[Mai-el^
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 39
List of the BIRDS of Fort Whipple, Arizona : with which are incorporated
all other species ascertained to inhahit the Territory ; with brief
critical and field Notes, descriptions of new species, etc.
BY ELLIOTT COUES, A. M., M. D. (Assistant Surgeon U. S. Army.)
The Territory of Arizona comprises that portion of what was formerly the vast Territory of New Mexico lying west of the 109th meridian; together with an extensive tract obtained from Mexico, known as the " Gadsden purchase." As at present bounded, Utah and Nevada form its northern limit, while its southern border is contiguous in its whole extent to the Mexican State of Sonora. The Colorado River separates the greater portion of its western border from California ; the extreme southwestern corner of the Territory being at the junction of the Gila with the Colorado River.
The extensive area thus bounded, constitutes, in connection with New Mex- ico, what is known, in relation to its Faunal characteristics, as the " South- ern Middle Province" of the United States.* It possesses marked features whereby it is distinguished from the western littoral Province, or Pacific region proper, as well as from the Eastern Province. Most of the character- istics of the Arizonian Avifauna are shared to a considerable degree by that of New Mexico; the main points of discrepancy being those few wherein the valley of the upper Rio Grande differs from that of the Colorado. It does not appear that the difference between the two slopes of the main chain of the Rocky Mountains is in this region very strongly marked. In general terms it may be affirmed that the Ornis inclines in character decidedly to- wards that of the Pacific region proper, as might be expected from the posi- tion of Arizona relative to the main chain of the mountains just named. But still notable differences from the truly littoral Fauna are apparent ; and there can be little doubt that the presence of so extensive a desert just west of the Colorado exerts much influence in producing this result. At certain points however in this desert, some species, respectively typical each of its own habitat, are known to meet.f The features, dependent upon latitude, which separate Arizona from adjacent regions, to the north or south, are by no means so marked as those which distinguish it from the countries lying east and west, and mainly consist in the introduction into the lower warmer parts of the Territory, from Sonora, of several Mexican and subtropical species. A "wedge," so to speak, of these types is pushed a little northward of Mexico, and they are readily recognizable as a somewhat prominent element among the birds of Southern Arizona, and of the Colorado valley for a considerable distance. Perhaps this is more deciedly the case here than at other points on our southern border. A considerable number of species properly belong- ing to the United States Fauna, and generally distributed throughout Ari- zona, retire in winter beyond the Sonoran border ; while at the same time it is interesting to note that some speciesj breed quite high up in Arizona, or even further north, which are at the same time summer residents of the table lands of Mexico. To the northward, neither the climate nor physical geography of
* See the American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. xli., Jan. and March, 18fi6 ; " On the Dis- tribution and Migration of North American Birds, by Spencer V. Baird," where the several pro- vinces into which North America is divisible are characterized, and the peculiarities of their Avi- faunae indicated.
■\ E. g. The Lnphortyx Gambeli and L. Californicus, and very probably also some species of Jays; along theMojave River, which rises in the San Beinadino Mountains, and flows eastwanlly towards the Colorado River, affording a degree of fertility which is an inducement to the species just named and to others.
% E. g. Hesperiphona vespeitina, Carpodacus Cassinii, Curvirostra americana, Plectrophants melanomus,etc.
1866.]
40 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
Arizona are sufficiently diverse from those of adjacent Territories to produce any special differences in their Avifaunae; unless indeed the apparent absence of one family* can be substantiated as a marked peculiarity.
Some facts of physical geography have a marked influence upon the birds. From the dearth of water throughout almost every portion of the Territory tbere results, as a natural consequence, a great paucity of Grallatorial and Natatorial forms ; so much so, that with a few prominent exceptions, a list of the Water Birds of the Territory is little more than an enumeration of those of the Colorado and Gila Rivers. There is also to be noted, as an interesting fact, the effect of the hot, arid, desert wastes of the region of the Gila, and Southern Arizona generally, upon the colors of the species found there. A light, dull, apparently faded condition of plumage, in which some shade of gray is a predominant tint, and all lines and streaks are more or less obsolete in character, is met with in numerous instances, forming true local races or varieties. In other casesj- the specific characters which distinguish birds of this middle southern province from other closely allied species, partake in a measure of this peculiarity.
Our knowledge of the Ornis of Arizona has been hitherto chiefly obtained from the collections made by the naturalists attached to several of the United states Government Surveys of various regions of the West. The expeditions along the 35th and the 32d parallel passed through different portions of the Territory; the Mexican Boundary Survey along its southern border; that of the Colorado passed up the river to the head of navigation. The first men- tioned of these, under Capt. A. W. Whipple, with Dr. C. B R. Kennedy and Mr. H. B. Mollhausen as naturalists, passed very near the present site of Fort Whipple; and its collections agree most closely with my own. Collections of some private individuals have added materially to the results of these Ex- plorations ; especially those of Dr. J. G. Cooper, who spent several months at Fort Mojave, on the Colorado River, in latitude 35° N. To the observations and collections of this gentleman I shall have frequent occasion to allude ; and I am indebted to him for free access to his MSS. notes, which are of special in- terest and value, not only as adding some species to my list, but as affording an opportunity of comparing the birds of Fort Whipple with those of a point in the Colorado valley, at nearly the same latitude ; whereby the effect of the differences in physical geography is finely elucidated. My own observations, made during the sixteen months I resided in Arizona, extend over the Ter- ritory from east to west, chiefly near the line of the 35th parallel; and along the valley of the Colorado from Fort Mojave to Fort Yuma. It was chiefly at Fort Whipple, and the mountainous region of that vicinity, that my collec- tions were made. This particular locality possesses a rich and varied Avi- fauna; numerous features of which are quite peculiar, as might be expected from the following facts regarding its situation and relations.
Fort Whipple is very nearly in latitude 34° 30/ N.. longitude 112° W. (from Greenwich.) It is difficult to give an estimate of the altitude of the vicinity with anything more than approximate accuracy, in consequence of the broken and varied nature of the surface. It may be stated, in round numbers, as be- tween 4000 and 5000 feet ; but in several directions, and more particularly to the southward, there are confused masses of short mountain ranges or ab- rupt isolated peaks, which rise far above the level indicated by the preceding figures. The altitude of the San Francisco mountains, about sixty miles a little east of north of Whipple, has been fixed at about 12,000 feet. The main point of interest which attaches to this particular locality — Fort Whipple —
* The Telraoiiidie. I have never seen nor heard of a finale species of grouse in Arizona. But the northern portions of the Territory are so imperfectly explored that it is not safe to assert their entire absence. Dr. J. G. Cooper has seen the Centrocercus urophasianus ou the Mojave Kiver; the southernmost point, 1 believe, from which it has thus far been recorded.
t Of which Ilarparhynchus Ltcontzior criisaiis, as distinguished from H. redivivus of the Pacific coast, is a go.id example.
fMarch,
NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 41
is that it is nearly upon the dividing line between two tracts of country quite diverse from each other in those points which chiefly affect the distribution and migration of species. A single day's journey to the southward gives us changes in the birds, so great, that I do not hesitate in comparing the differ- ence to that which exists between the Middle Atlantic and the Gulf States, in the eastern Province. Very numerous species,* not detected at any season at Fort Whipple, are yet found abundantly within fifty miles to the south and southwest. At the same time the locality is a true component of the eleva- ted and cold regions to the northward, and assimilates in this respect to Utah and Nevada. Intermediate in situation between the two great valleys of southwestern United States — those of the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers, — it draws tribute in a measure upon each of them, though, as might be supposed, vastly more from the latter than the former. In this connection I may advert to an interesting point, which I consider as quite probable, though contrary to the usual laws of migration ; viz., that many of the birds of the Colorado vallej, which are there winter residents, instead of migrating far to the north in spring, by turning simply to the eastward, find in the region of which Fort Whipple is the southern limit the conditions necessary for breeding grounds. That such is a fact would seem to be indicated by comparing the forms common to both Mojave and Whipple; the summer residents or spring migrants of the latter place being usually winter residen's at the former locality ; but can only be incontrovertible* proven by showing that some species wintering at Mojave are not found directly north of that point in summer ; and that they do breed in the Whipple mountains.
The seasons are well pronounced at Fort Whipple, and do not differ nota- bly from those of the Middle Atlantic States. This enables us trenchantly to divide those of its birds which are not permanent residents, into summer and winter residents, and migratory species passing through in the spring and autumn. And I have noticed in many instances that the times of arrival and departure of non-residents are strikingly similar to those of the migratory species passing through Washington, D. C. Quite the reverse is the case in southern Arizona ; where the protracted heat and drought of a long summer, which encroaches on intermediate seasons, disturbs the regularity of migra- tion ; or even entirely takes away from some species the migratory impulse.
The immediate vicinity of Fort Whipple is admirably adapted to ornitho- logical pursuits in the very varied character of surface presented within the compass of a day's walk. Pines constitute the main feature of the Sylva, covering all the mountains down to what may be considered as the average altitude of the locality. .An extensive undulating plain stretches to the north- ward, partially grassy, partially covered with the characteristic shrubs of the country. Ranges of broken low hills, sparsely covered chiefly with sev- eral species of dwarf oak, or so nearly naked as to be little more than huge masses of metamorphic rocks, attract their share of species. The head of one of the forks of the San Francisco River flows past; at times a considera- ble stream, but usually dry. The vegetation along this, as well as all other water courses of the Territory, has as its most prominent element the ever present Populus moniliferus ; together with species of Salix, Primus, Castanea, etc., the bases of which trees are as usual tightly sewn together by a tangled matted network of rank undergrowth ; the whole forming a tract peculiarly yielding, as every ornithologist knows, of variety and value in specimens. A small rather open swamp near by affords several species, which, but for its presence, would not form a part of the birds of the locality.
By adding to the species observed at Fort Whipple, and characteristic of that locality, such others as have been ascertained to inhabit any portion of the Territory, the subjoined list becomes an exposition of the present state of
* For example: Chordeiles texensis, Pyrocepho.lus mexicanus, Catherpes mexicanus, Vireo pusillus (a. sp.,) Pipilo Abertii, P. mesoleueus, etc., etc.
1866.]
42 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP
our knowledge of tbe Arizonian Ornis. I have included no species in the list which has not actually been detected in the Territory, or which must necessarily be found there, from the known range of its habitat ; but frequent reference is made to species, not yet recognized as components of the Arizo- nian Avifauna, which in all probability are hereafter to be detected. In view of the favorable circumstances attending the preparation of the list, I do not think that very many species remain to be added to it. Still, as my opera- tions were conducted at the most imminent personal hazard from the con- tinued presence of hostile Indians, — the wily and vindictive Apaches — which always cramped, and at times necessitated entire cessation of investigations, it maybe perhaps that some species have been overlooked ; and I have only the same excuse to offer, for some other shortcomings, of which no one can be more fully aware than myself. I have taken care to eliminate the Whip- ple birds, as contradistinguished from all others of the Territory, in order that attention may be drawn to their peculiarities ; considering the Fauna of any natural geographical region as more interesting and instructive than that comprised within arbitrary political boundaries, since the latter almost al- ways include fragments of two or more diverse Faunas ; of which fact the very region now under discussion affords an example. The Whipple species are preceded by an uninclosed number ; all others have their number in pa- renthesis. It has been my aim merely to add to the remarks elucidative of the distribution of the species, such purely technical observations, compari- sons of closely allied forms, descriptions of immature or little known states of plumage, as seemed quite pertinent to the subject. In a few cases syno- nymy is introduced for reasons which will be obvious. Except in a few in- stances of special interest I have nottouched upon the natural history proper of the species, reserving for future elaboration the mass of ornithobiographical notes which I have taken care to accumulate. All remarks are to be under- stood as referring to the species as observed at Fort Whipple, and by myself, except when the contrary is explicitly stated.
VULTURID.E.
1. Cathartes aura (L.) Illig. ^
Summer resident ; abundant. Arrives last week in March ; remains until latter part of October. Resident in the southern portions of the Territory.
(2.) Cathartes Californianus (Shaw,) Cuv.
Resident in Southern Arizona. Individuals observed at Fort Yuma, in September, 1865.
FALCONWsE.
3. Falco (Tinnunculus) sparverics L.
Resident ; very abundant. In highly-plumaged spring birds, the cere, the feet and the edges of the eyelids are bright vermilion, not yellow: the claws and bill bluish black.
4. Falco (Hypotriorchis) columbarius L.
Common ; resident. " A specimen taken by me at Fort Mojave is remark- able for its light colors " (Cooper). A light, dull, faded condition of plumage has been already adverted to as characterizing, in many instances, birds from the Gila and Colorado Valleys.
In the immense series of " Pigeon "-Hawks which I have examined from all parts of the West, I find a few specimens which constantly differ, to a marked degree, from any and all of the exceedingly diverse plumages under which the typical F. columbarius presents itself. These specimens are inva- riably much larger than any others in the series ; are much lighter colored, (yet not dull or faded,) and differ constantly in the increased number of light and dark bars on the tail. Compared with a European specimen of
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 43
Falco xialon, they agree in every particular. I think it most probable that future careful research will demonstrate satisfactorily the existence of a species hitherto usually confounded with some of the protean plumages of F. columbarius; but quite distinct from the latter, and doubtless referrible to the European type above mentioned. In fact, a Falco sesalon has been quoted by Townsend and Nuttall as from the northwestern portions of the United States ; though not usually recognized by later ornithologists.
(5.) Falco (Hypotriorchis) femoralis Temm.
South Arizona, near the Sonoran border. Specimens were obtained by Lieut. J. G. Parke's Expedition along the 32d parallel ; and by the Mexican Boundary Survey.
It is quite possible that the F. aurantius Gm. extends northward through Sonora into the southern portion of Arizona.
6. Falco polyagrus Cassin.
? Falco mexicanus* "Licht. Mus. Berol.," Schlegel, Abhandl. Geb. Zool. u. Vergl. 1841, p. 15. Schlegel, Falcones, Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Pays- Bas, 1st, 1862, p. 18. Falco (Gennaia) polyagrus, Cassin, Birds N. A. 1858, p. 12. Sparingly distributed throughout the Territory. Not observed at Whipple, though doubtless to be found there. Colorado Chiquito River, Kennerly.
o'
(7.)Accipiter Cooperi Bon.
This generally distributed species is found throughout the Territory.
8. Accipiter Mexicands Swains.
Common, resident. Iris, cere, legs, and feet light yellow. Bill bluish black. Claws black.
I have seen young birds of this species, reared by hand from the nest, so thoroughly domesticated as to come to their master on being whistled for, and perch upon his shoulder, or follow him when shooting small birds for their food. They were allowed entire liberty. Their ordinary note was a shrill and harsh scream ; a low, plaintive, lisping whistle was indicative of hunger. •
The shape of the tail of this speeies is decidedly less rounded than that of Cooperi, and is a feature of considerable value in distinguishing the female Mexicanus from the male Cooperi.
9. Accipiter fuscus (Gm.) Bon.
Resident. Abundant throughout the Territory.
10. BOTEO " MONTANUS" Nuttall.
B. montanus, Nuttall, Manual, 1840, i. p. 112; and of later American
writers generally : equals B. borealis from Western North America. B. borealis, (Gm.) Gray, Genera, i. 1849, p. 11. Bryant, Remarks on
Variations of Plumage of Buteo borealis, etc., in Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat.
Hist, for 1861 : considers montanus Nutt., calurus Cass., and probably
also Cooperi Cass., as referrible to borealis.
*I think it very likely that polyagrus is not the first distinctive name this Hawk has received. The description of Falco mexicanus by Schlegel, as above cited, is substantially as follows: — •'Wing 11.50 to 13; tail 6.50 to 7 50; legs finely scaled, feet yellow; above brown, paler on the tail; head and nape edged with rusty brown; quills with rust-colored spots; stripe through the eye, spot on nape, and middle of auriculars whitish; beneath white, each feather with a Darrow blackish drop-shaped spot; large lateral feathers covering flanks brown, with some rust-colored transverse spots. The young bird has the edges of the feathers above light, the spots below larger, and the feet greenish yellow." A fuller description is in the first number of Dr. Schlegel's Catalogue of the Pays-Bas Museum, above cited. These descriptions are pertinent to F. polyagrus in most respects; but, in view of some discrepancies, {color of the legs, which, in polyagrus, are light dull blue, etc.,) I do not wish, at present, at least, to make the change of names, though such a procedure may hereafter he considered necessary. Mr. Cassin himself refers (B. N. A., 1868, p. 12,) to this name of Dr. Schlegel's, as very probably the first designation of the species.
1866.]
44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
B. Swainsoni, Bonaparte, Conspectus, i. p. 19. Cassin, Birds Cal. and
Tex. i. p. 98 (1853) ; but not of Cassin, B. N. A. (1858). Falco buleo, Audubon, Orn. Biog. ; Sw. & Rich. F. B. A., according to Cassin.
The most abundant and characteristic species of the larger Hawks; resi- dent, but particularly abundant during the winter months. It may be readily recognized at any distance, when flying, by the very dark-colored area presented by the lesser under wing coverts, sharply contrasted against the very light colors of the rest of the under surface of the wings. The iris is clear light brown ; the bill bluish black ; the cere, legs and feet light yellow.
In the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History for 1861, appeared a paper by Dr. Henry Bryant, on the variations of the plumage of Western North American Buleones ; in which facts are elicited tending to demonstrate that nearly all the species enumerated as valid by Mr. Cassin, in 1858, may be reduced to two. One of these, of which borealis Gm may be taken as the type or parent stock, and for which the name must stand, is large and muscular, with a strong bill, long stout tarsi, and a rounded wing. Here Dr. Bryant would range montanus Nutt., calurus Cass., and pro- bably also Cooperi Cass. ; together with a specimen in the Philadelphia Museum, which has been labelled and usually called Ifarlani. The other species is distinguished by its smaller size, more slender form, longer and weaker tarsi, and more pointed wing. Harlani* Aud. is considered as the first name of this species ; and to it are referred Swainsonii,f Bairdii of Hoy % and of Cassin; insignatm,?^ Cassin, and oxypterus || Cassin. Dr. Bryant gives careful measurements of these supposed species, having access to the types of many of them, and fiuds that, if we are to take size and proportions alone as indicative of specific validity, we can admit but the two species he characterizes ; while, if we are to be guided by color, we cannot avoid still further increasing the number of species to be recognized to such an extent, that (together with the other undoubted species, such as linea/as, pennsyl- vanicus, etc.,) we should have a total of twenty- three inhabiting North America.
It cannot be denied that our constantly increasing knowledge of the dis- tribution of North American Buteones, and of the "theory of variation" which is applicable to them, decidedly tends towards a confirmation of Dr. Bryant's views. Nevertheless, I am by no means prepared to accept with- out reservation the extreme conclusions arrived at. I prefer, at present, to enumerate the species — or varieties, if they are only such — as determined by Mr. Cassin ; considering the names given as at least indicative of strongly marked, and apparently geographical, though perhaps not permanent, varieties.
11. Buteo "calurus" Cassin.
B. calurus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. S. Ph. 1855, p. 281 ; and B. N. A. 1858, p. 22.
" B. borealis Gm." Bryant, 1. c. Resident at Fort Whipple, and by no means rare. Specimens taken in the winter of 1864—5, and in April following. Orig. No. 1246; $. Length 23'75; extent 55'50. Iris light yellow. Bill dusky bluish horn. Cere dull yellowish green. Mouth livid flesh color. Legs and feet chrome yellow. Claws black.
*"Harlani Aud.," of which the type is in the British Museum, is given by Cray (Cat. Brit. Mus. Accipitres) as borealis. If such be the truth, that Audubon's species was founded upon the fuliginous state of plumage of borealis, then Swainsoni Bp. is the first distinctive name of the smaller of the two species recognized by Dr. Bryant.
+ 0f Bonaparte, Comp. List, 1838, p. 3, as defined by Cassin, B. N. A., 1858, p. 19.
IB. Bairdii, Hoy, Pr. A. N. S. Ph. vi. 1853, p. 451.— Cassin, B. of Cal. and Tex. pi. 41.— Idem, B. N. A., 1858, p. 21.
$ B. insignatus, Cass., B. of Cal. and Tex., 1854, p. 102, pi. 31.— B. N. A., 1858, p. 23.
11 B. oxypterus, Cass., Pr. A. N. S. Ph. vii. p. 282— Id. B. N. A., 1858, p. 30.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 45
My specimens have a large pectoral area dark chestnut brown, not very different in color from the superior aspect of the tail. I have seen other specimens from Fort Tejon, Cala., in which the breast is still brighter chestnut, in marked contrast to the fuliginous brownish black of the rest of the plumage. Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and California seem to constitute the special range of this species or variety.
B. " Cooperi" has only been taken from Southern California, (Santa Clara County, Cooper,) and, as but a single specimen is known, it is impossible to decide with certainty upon its relations to borealis.
(12.) Buteo "Harlani Audubon."
Individuals identified with this supposed species of Audubon by Mr. Cassin and Mr. Lawrence are from New Mexico and California ; so that the bird necessarily ranges over the intermediate ground of Arizona.
Dr. Bryant considers that the specimens thus identified present nothing incompatible with their being regarded as a variety of borealis. And it is quite probable that the specimen upon which Audubon himself based the name " Harlani1' is really referrible to a state of plumage of borealis. This must be finally determined by examination of the type in the British Museum. But the name " Harlani Aud." is employed by Dr. Bryant in his paper to designate a species radically distinct from borealis in all its variety, and is the one to which the three following names are by him referred.
13. Boteo " Swainsoni " Bonaparte.
B. Swainsoni, Bp. Comp. List, 1838, page 3. Cassin, 1. c.
B- vulgaris, Audubon ; Swainson & Richardson ; but not of European
authors. B. Harlani, Bryant, 1. c. (Provisionally adopts the name, proposing to accept that of Swainsonii Bp. in event that Harlani Aud. proves to be a variety of borealis.) A species or variety of extensive distribution throughout the West. Colorado Chiquito River, Ariz., Dr. G. B. R. Kennerly. I never met with it at Fort Whipple, though, beyond a doubt, it is to be found there.
Some of the states of plumage of this bird are so exceedingly similar to those of B. vulgaris of Europe, that it has been thus malidentified by certain American writers. See Cassin, B. N. A., pp. 19, 20, 21, for elucidation of changes of plumage, geographical distribution, and synonymy.
(14.) Buteo " oxypterus " Cassin.
B. oxypterus, Pr. A. N. S. Ph. vii. 1855, p..282.- Idem, B.N. A. 1858, p. 30. B. Harlani Bryant, 1. c. Not actually detected within the limits of the Territory ; but the original locality whence the type of the species was described is so near the borders of Arizona as to render it most probable that the species will be here- after detected. (Fort Fillmore, N. M., Dr. T. C. Henry.)
(15 ) Buteo "insi«natus" Cassin.
B. insignatus, Cassin, B. of Cal. and Tex., 1854, p. 102, pi. 31. Cassin,
B. N. A., 1858, p. 23. B. Harlani, Bryant, 1. c. The known range of this species or variety includes Arizona. The bird first characterized by Hoy and subsequently by Cassin as B. Bairdii (by Dr. Bryant also referred to " Harlani Aud.,") has not, to my knowledge, been taken as far south as Arizona, though detected at various other points in the West.
16. Buteo elrgtns Cassin.
Rare ; and only known as an inhabitant of Arizona from a single specimen taken on the Colorado Chiquito by Dr. Kennerly. I am informed by Dr. Cooper that it is an abundant bird in Southern California. It will doubtless be hereafter found at Whipple.
18rj6.]
46 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
This fine species is radically different from any of the foregoing Buteones, belonging to a group subgenerically distinct, partially characterized by a different amount of feathering of the tarsi. Among North American species it is only intimately related to lineatus, from which species the study of its neossology readily enables us to distinguish it.
(17.) Bctko zonocercus Sclater.
B. zonocercus, Sclater, Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1858, p. 263.
A single specimen, procured on the Gila River, Sept. 24, 1864. The species is doubtless restricted in its northern range to the warm valleys of the Gila and Lower Colorado.
This interesting Mexican species was first found within the limits of the United States by the indefatigable Cooper, who procured a specimen in Santa Clara County, California. Without being aware of this at the time, I redis- covered it myself in Arizona ; an additional example of what has occurred in several instances in our operations in the West, during the greater part of which each was ignorant of the other's exact whereabouts and labors. I must yield to my friend the priority of discovery, although I have the pleas- ure of first presenting the species in an American publication as an addition to the United States Fauna.
18. Archibuteo PERR0GINED3 (Licht.) Cassin.
Buteo ferrugineus, Lichtenstein, Trans. Acad. Berlin, 1838, p. 428. Archibuteo ferrugineus, Cassin, B. N. A. 1858, p. 34. Archibuteo regalia, Gray, Genera, i. pi. vi. (desc. nulla.) Buteo Calif or nicus, A. J. Grayson, Hutchins' Cal. Mag. 1857.
This large, noble, and by far the handsomest of our Falconines, hitherto only known from California, is found quite abundantly about Fort Whipple, especially in winter. It is probably a permanent resident there. It chiefly fre- quented meadows, plains and more open woods. 1 observed it to be quite numer- ous on the dry, level, grassy plains of Southern California. I usually found the stomach filled with Geomys, Arvicola, or Hesperomys. In life it may always be readily recognized by its conspicuously white under parts, contrasted with its dark chestnut tibiae and reddish back.
No. 1114, taken Dec. 2, 1864. Male. Length 22-50; extent 54-50; wing 16-25; tail 9-50 ; tibia 4-80; tarsus 3-25; middle toe 125; its claw -75; outer toe -85; its claw -55 ; hallux 1-00; its claw 1-00; bill along culmen 1-50; along gape 2-00; its depth at base -90. No. 1115, taken Dec. 6, 1864. Fe- male. Length 23-25 ; extent 56-50 ; wing from carpus 46-75 ; tail 10-00 ; tarsus 3-40 ; the other measurements not differing notably from those of the male above given.
When perfectly adult, the whole under parts, from chin to under tail cov- erts, inclusive, are pure white. In the majority of specimens, however, there will be found a few slender, sharp, shaft lines of black on the chin; which, as they pass down the breast, become broader, and tinged with chestnut. Usually, also, the feathers of the flanks have small, isolated, interrupted and incomplete bars of chestnutand black. Less mature specimens exhibit a con- tinuation of these bars quite across the lower part of the abdomen, and they are so broadened as to form somewhat hastate spots. Some of the feathers of the flanks are tipped with chestnut. The chief other variations in adult birds seem to be a greater or less intensity of the deep color of the tibiae, a lighter or darker shade of ferrugineous on the back, and a fainter or more de- cided wash of pearl grey on the superior surface of the tail.
The bill is dark leaden bluish black. The mouth is light purplish flesh color, becoming livid bluish on the corneous portions. The cere, edges of the commissure, tarsi and toes are bright chrome yellow. The claws are black. The naked skin just over the eye is greenish, tinged with crimson posteriorly. The iris of adult birds is fine light yellow ; of young ones brown, more or less ochraceous with increasing age.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 47
The following brief anatomical notes maybe of interest, as the species has not hitherto been dissected. They relate chiefly to the alimentary canal :
Anatomical Notes. On the roof of the mouth a narrow but prominent me- dian ridge runs from the very apex of the upper mandible to the fissure of the posterior nares, widening, becoming less sharply defined, and more ob- tusely papillated towards its posterior extremity. At a point about a third of its length from its termination it is crossed at right angles by a very short, transverse ridge, which connects it on either side with a lateral ridge. These lateral ridges run parallel with each other as far back as the Eustachian ori- fice, and are papillated for their whole length, which papilla? are anteriorly sparsely distributed, short, stout and obtuse ; posteriorly gradually becoming thick-set, long, soft and acute. The ridges themselves terminate abruptly in the smooth, soft, mucous membrane of the posterior portions of the palate, measuring 1-60 inches in length. That portion of the palate between these ridges and the nasal fissure is roughened by numerous short, blunt tubercles. From the extremity of that portion of the nasal fissure which has soft, ele- vated, approximate ridges, there runs outwards on either side a fringe of delicate papilla;. Rather more than the posterior third of the nasal fissure stands broadly open, and has hard, immobile, bony edges, over which the mucous membrane is tightly and smoothly stretched. The nasal aperture measures in total length 1-25. Just posterior to it, on the median line of the palate, is the opening of the Eustachian tube, situated in the centre of a smooth, somewhat vaulted space. In shape it is oval, and its edges, though somewhat mobile, are not completely approximable. From its posterior extremity, on either side, a fringe of soft papilla? curves obliquely outwards and forwards. The rest of the palate is not noticeable. Posteriorly it is very soft, and nu- merous vessels may be seen ramifying beneath its mucous membrane. An- teriorly it becomes harder and more fibrous, and finally, towards the tip of the bill, quite corneous.
The tongue is large and fleshy, its tip obtusely rounded, its lateral outline convex, its dorsum with a median furrow, its under surface with a corres- ponding ridge, its posterior extremity deeply bifid, the edges of the fork corneous, and armed with stiff, hard, papillae. The outermost of these pa- pillae is greatly developed, forming a large, strong, acutely pointed spine. The tongue is -75 long ; its laryngeal fissure '50. The elevated space just posterior to the rima glottidis is pure white, and thickly beset with stiff, acute papillae, some of which have black tips.
On the floor of the mouth, on either side of the frenum linguae, at the apex of the angle formed by the divergence of the inferior maxillary rami, lies a thin, flattened, broadly oval gland, a third of an inch long, of a deep pur- plish red color. Its surface is studded with numerous depressed puucta,',the orifices of the emunctory ducts.
The trachea is 5-50 inches long, and -45 wide at its superior extremity ; rings about 90 in number. It is broad and much flattened superiorly, but towards the lower larynx becomes more cylindrical. The lateral muscles are well developed. The lower larynx, as usual in this order, is quite simple. The bronchial half-rings are 15 in number, all small, soft and weak.
The oesophagus is extremely capacious and dilatable. The distended crop is irregularly ovoid in shape ; 3-50 long by about 2-25 wide.
The proventricular glands form a complete zone, with a uniform width of 1-25. The proventricular parietes is about one-twelfth of an inch in thickness. The individual glands are large enough to be readily discernible to the naked eye ; closely aggregated in the parenchyma of the parietes. Their orifices are plainly visible, thickly studding the whole internal surface of the organ ; and during active digestion the mucous membrane is covered with their thick, glairy, viscid secretion.
The fully distended gigerium occupies about three-fourths of the abdominal cavity. It reaches within an inch of the rectum, inclining towards the left
1866.]
48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
side of the abdomen, with the internal parietes of which it is in close ap- proximation. The intestines all seem crowded backwards, downwards and to the right. There is no apparent constriction between the proventriculus and gigeriuin ; but from the termination of the oesophagus proper the calibre of the canal regularly increases, so that the two stomachs together form a pyri- form mass, its large end directed backward. The walls of the gigerium are thin ; the mucous membrane quite smooth. The pylorus is nearly circular in shape ; i's aperture quite open and direct. It is guarded by elevated folds of mucous membrane, forming partial valves. The opening is situated about the middle of the right side of the gizzard.
The duodenal fold is between three and four inches in length. It curves around the right side and fundus of the gizzard, separating the latter from the rectum, and thence returns upon itself to its point of departure.
The intestine then curves around the dorsal aspect of the gizzard until near the median line of the body, whence it descends nearly in a straight line, in the right iliac fossa, almost as far as the rectum. After numerous short con- volutions in this region, it again ascends, on the right of the spine, till it re- gains the dorsal aspect of the gizzard near the origin of the duodenal fold. It then traverses the gizzard from right to left, and descends in the left iliac fossa, half way to the rectum, when abruptly returning on itself along the left side of the spine, it forms a loop about an inch long. Here, after again abruptly reversing its direction so as to point directly backwards, it termi- nates, at the coeca, in the colon.
There are two cceca, each about one-eighth of an inch long, very small, perfectly straight, obtusely rounded at their extremities, and closely adherent by cellular tissue to the walls of the colon.
The colon is very short, being less than two inches in length. It is a per- fectly straight tube, running directly backwards along the median line of the sacrum. Its diameter does not exceed the average of the "small" intestines, and is less, in fact, than that of the duodenum. Between the ischia it ex- pands into a large, nearly globular, though somewat pyriform rectum, about an inch in length. A spincter partially guards the recto-colal passage.
The pancreas in the specimens examined was not, as usual, slender and elongated, and received in the fold of the duodenum ; but was short, thick and obtuse, and closely applied to the right side of the gizzard.
The spleen measures a third of an inch in length, and is of a flattened, ovoid shape, and dull reddish purple color. It rests on the dorsum of the gizzard, a little to the right, and high up near the proventriculus.
The liver is large, and its two lobes are of about equal size. They lie one on each side of the abdomen, their commissure being directly on the median line of the body. Their superior concave surfaces combined are in apposi- tion with the gizzard and intestines ; their convex inferior surfaces are accu- rately moulded to the thoracic parietes. Anteriorly they diverge to receive the apex of the heart between them ; posteriorly they are in close mutual apposition.
The total length of the alimentary canal from pylorus to anus is about 40 inches.
19. Archibdteo lagopus (Briinn.) Gray.
Rare. A single specimen taken in winter. None others met with.
(20.) Elanus LEucuRtrs (Vieill.) Savigny.
The known range of this Hawk includes Arizona : though I am not aware that any examples have actually been brought from the Territory.
(21.) Nauclerus furcatus (L.) Vig.
I have been on several occasions assured of the existence of this Kite in Arizona, by reliable if unscientific observers. I have myself never seen it.
Numerous facts regarding the geographical distribution of this species in-
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 49
dicate that it is one of several, which, as noted by Mr. Cassin, (B. N. A., p. 37,) range much farther norih in the western than in the eastern portions of the continent. I have met with it as high up as Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri River.
{22.) Ictinia Mississippiensis (Wils. ) Gray.
As a bird of New Mexico, this species is doubtless to be detected in south -eastern Arizona.
It is probable that the Asturina nitida remains to be discovered near the Sonoran border.
23. Circus hudsonicts {Linn.) Vieill.
An abundant species throughout the Territory, chiefly in its more watered portions.
24. Halijetus letjcocephalus (L.) Savigny.
Bald Eagles were frequently observed at different seasons in the vicinity of Fort Whipple.
25. Aquila canadensis (Linn.) Cassin.
Rare ; but occasionally observed at different seasons : warranting the belief that it is a permanent resident of the mountains around Fort Whipple.
(26.) Pandion Carolinensis (Sm.) Bonap. Observed on the Colorado River.
{27.) Polvborus Audubonii Cass.
P. Audubonii, Cassin, Pr. A. N. S. Ph. 1865, p. 2, which see for syno- nymy and specific characters. Apparently not a rare bird of the southern and western portions of the Ter- ritory. " Rio Gila and Colorado, near Fort Yuma; abundant ; " Heermann*
{28.) Craxirex unicinctus (Temm.) Cass.
Taken by Kennedy and Mollhausen on the Colorado River. (See P. R. R. Survey, Vol. x. pt. iv. p. 20.) Probably a permanent resident of southern Arizona.
[Note. — The following extract from my Journal may be of interest : " Camp on San Francisco River, near mountains of same name, July 13, 1865. A pair of exceedingly large rapacious birds sailed over camp this evening. Their Slight was easy, graceful, firm, and sustained for a long time with no visible motion of the wings, which latter were exceedingly long, pointed and acutely angulated at the carpal joint. In size they about equalled Bald Eagles ; but the shape of the wings and mode of flight were very different and intimately resembled those of the Turkey Vultures. The entire under parts of these birds were pure white; their upper parts were not visible." I could not pro- cure a specimen, nor can I now refer the birds to any species known to me, unless, possibly, they were the Sarcorarnphus papa ; a species which may be included hereafter in our Fauna, though its presence within our limits has not yet been positively substantiated.]
STRIGIDJSL
29. Strix pratincola Bonap.
Common. Resident. One of the most abundant Owls of the Territory. 1 have frequently observed it at midday ; on one occasion it was preying upon Black-birds in the middle of a small open reed swamp.
30. Bubo virginianus (Sm.) Bonap.
Common ; resident. My specimens incline towards Mr. Cassin's variety pneificus; which was also taken on the Colorado Chiquito, by Dr. Kennerly.
31. Scops McCalli Cassin.
Taken at Fort Mojave by Dr. Cooper, who thinks it is scarcely distinct from
1866.] 4
50 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP
»*•>. asio. The latter species is doubtless distributed throughout the Territory. I have not personally met with it. Dr. Kennedy procured MeCalli on the Colorado Chiquito River. It is therefore to be enumerated among the Whipple birds.
32. Otus Wilson-anus (Lesson.)
Sparsely distributed throughout the Territory. Colorado Chiquito, Ren- tierI ' y.
33. Brachyotps Cassini Brewer.
Common throughout the Territory. I saw a surprising number on differ- ent occasions along the Colorado River, in the day time.
:?4. Nyctale acadica (Gm.) Bonap.
The known range of this little Owl includes Arizona ; though I have not seen specimens from within the limits of the Territory.
In addition to the preceding Strigides a species of Athene occurs in Arizona : but whether h ypogea or cnnicularia I cannot now determine positively. The Syrnium occidentale Xantus, (Pr. A. N. S., Ph. 1S59, type from Fort Te.jon) will very probably be found in the Colorado Valley. Dr. Cooper has obtained Nyctale albifrons on the Sierra Nevada of California, which causes Arizona to fail within its now known range.
35. Glaucidium gnoma Wagler.
Glaucidium gnoma, Wagler, Isis v Oken, xxv. 1832, p. 275. (Mexico.)
Cassin, in Baird, B. N. A., 1858, p. 62. (Oregon, Cal. etc.)
" Strix passer inoides Temm." Audubon, Orn. Biog. v. p. 271, pi. 432,
fig. 4, 5 ; (not the original species as descr. and fig. by Temm.
Planches Color. No. 344, which is South American, and probably the
same as S. infuscata Temm.)
" Surnia passTinoides Temm." Audubon, B. N. A., 8vo. ed. i. p. 117,
pi. 30. Glaucidium infuscatum, Cassin, Birds Cal. and Texas, 1853, i. p. 139. (Name from Strix infuscata Temm., Man. Orn. 1820, i. p. 97 ; which is S. Amer. species, probably the same as passerinoides Temm.) Glaucidium californicum, Sclater. P. Z. S., 1857, p. 4; in text ; pro- posing name if N. Am. species is not true gnoma Wagl. My numerous specimens present no material discrepancies from Wagler's original description in the Isis. I think it far best, with our present informa- tion on the subject, to refer the Oregonian, Californian and Arizonian bird to this species of Wagler, as Mr. Cassin has done. Should the Mexican bird ever be found to differ from the North American, the latter is to be called G. californicum after Sclater, as above quoted.
My citations of Audubon's and Cassin's works, (ut supra) all refer to the North American bird, though these authors erred in applying to it either of the names infuscatum or passerinoides, both of which refer to South American species, in all probability identical with each other, and quite distinct from our bird. Mr. Cassin himself corrects his error in the " Birds of North America; " and with this gentleman's later views of the synonymy I entirely agree.
The sexes of this little Owl differ much in size. A male before me measures only 5 "50 X 14*50, but the tail feathers are quite imperfect ; had they grown out fully the bird's lens;th would have been about 7.00. The female is larger, measuring 7*50 X 15-25. The male is rather darker colored than the female : t lie spots above more numerous and smaller; the imperfect nuchal collar of black and white much better defined than in the other sex, where it is almost obsolete. In both sexes ihe iris is bright yellow ; the mouth light purplish flesh ; the bill, cere and feet light greenish yellow ; the soles chrome yellow ; the claws black.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 51
A diurnal and crepuscular rather than a nocturnal species. The stomachs of those individuals examined, contained the remains of orthopterous and coleopterous insects. A permanent resident at Fort Whipple, but not very abundant.
MICRATHENE Coues, nov. gen.
Generic Characters. — Bill small and weak, compressed at the base, where it is densely covered with recurved feathers terminating in stiff bristles ; out- line of culmen and gonys moderately convex ; lower mandible obsoletely notched. Facial disk not conspicuously defined, imperfect behind the eye. Wings exceedingly long ; measuring from the carpal joint rather more than two-thirds the total length of the body ; much rounded, the exposed portion of the first primary only two-thirds that of the longest one ; third and fourth longest, fifth but little shorter, second about equal to the sixth. Tail of mod- erate length, not graduated : rectrices broad to their very tips. Tarsi of mod- erate length, feathered only for a short distance below the tibio-tarsal joint ; the rest of their extent, and the superior surface of the toes, clothed with bristly hairs. Claws unusually small and weak, moderately curved ; the outer one reaching a little beyond the base of the middle one ; the inner in- termediate between outer and middle ones. Middle toe and claw about as long as the tarsus. Hallux elongated. Of small size, being among the most diminutive of known Owls.
Type. A'hene Whitneyi, Cooper. *
With the size and general aspect of Glaucidinm, this genus differs greatly from it as follows: The bill is smaller, weaker, less strongly hooked and den- tulated. The wings are much longer, and the tail much shorter. The tarsus is unfeathered except for a short space superiorly. The claws are so small, and weak as to be hardly more than insessorial rather than raptorial in char- acter. The proportions of the tarsus and toes differ decidedly. Nor has it much in common with Athene, except the partially denuded tarsi ; the rela- tive prop irtions of the tarsus and toes to each other being quite different in, the two genera ; Athene having the middle toe and claw about two-thirds the- tarsus, instead of fully as long. The claws of Athene are very long, acute andi little curved. While both genera are very long winged, there is a decided difference in the shape of the wing; that of Athene being much the most pointed, in consequence of the greater elongation of the first and second pri- maries. I think it more than probable that Micrathene is a truly arboreal, genus, like GUiacidtKin, thus differing radically in its habits from the species - of Athene.
In conversation with me Dr. Cooper intimated his belief that the bird was. not a true Athene ; and my critical examination of his type, made at his own. request, amply confirms the accuracy of his opinion.
(36.) Micrathene Whitneyi (Cooper.)
Athene Whitnet/i, Cooper, Pr. Cala. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1861, p» 118. For the discovery ot this delicate raptorial gem we are indebted tothe in- defatigable Dr. J. G. Cooper, so long and well known as an excellent natural- ist, who procured the only known specimen at Fort Mojave, April 26, 1861. ft is unnecessary to add anything to the accurate description above cited. It is one of the most interesting of the recent additions to our westera Avi-. fauna.
CUCUL1D.E.
37. Geococcyx camfoknianus (Less.) Baird.
Rare and seen on but few occasions at Fort Whipple, which is near its northern and eastern limits, though specimens have been taken as far north as the Colorado Chiquito River, by Dr. Kennerly. Very abundant in the more southern and western portions of the Territory. Known as the " Chap-
1866.1
52 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
arral Cock," "Road runner" and "Snake killer," to the whites; by the Mexicans called " Paisano ;" marvellous stories of its powers of killing rat- tlesnakes and other Ophidians pass current.
Dr. Cooper has found Coccygus Americanus in Southern California, and thinks it is yet to be detected in the valley of the Colorado.
PICID^E.
38. Picus Harrisii Audubon.
One of tlie most common and characteristic birds in the vicinity of Fort Whipple.
The iris is brown at all ages ; but varies from a clear light reddish brown to a dark blackish brown. The bill and feet are horn-bluish black. The speci- mens from the same locality hardly vary notably in size, though the male is usually larger than the female. None of my specimens approach in size the immense race found in Arctic America.
No specimens out of a very large series, exhibit the slightest tendency towards the smoky brown tinge, or discoloration of the under parts, seen almost constantly in birds from California and Oregon and Washington Ter- ritories ; but have the under parts pure white, and usually, too, with no in- dications of the obsolete lateral and crissal black streaks seen in the race from the Pacific coast. Specimens not in high plumage frequently have the pri- maries and rectrices gray instead of black ; and this gray is sometimes so faded towards the apices of the feathers, as to be almost white.
It is a little singular that in a locality where P. Harrisii is resident, and so very common, P. Gairdneri should be either not found at all, or so very rare that I <li I not identify it with certainty during my whole stay ; though I am under the impression that I once saw a single specimen.
39. Picus scALARis Waaler.
jPjcws scalaris, Wagler, Isis, 1829, v. 511. Bp. C. A. 1850, p. 138. Baird,
B. N*. A., lh'58, p. 94; hut not of Gambel, which is P. nuttalli. Picus gracilis, Lesson. Revue Zoolog. 1839, p. 90. Picus parvus, Cabot, Bost. Jouru. N. H., 1845, p. 90. Fort Whipple appears to be about tb.3 northern limit of this species. It is not very common there, being only a summer visitant, breeding sparingly ; further south, through the Territory and in the Colorado Valley, it is abund- ant. It does not appear to cross the Colorado Desert into California, (whure the P. Nuttalli replaces it,) but extends far southward into Central America. A male shot June 5th has the feathers worn off the belly, as if incubating. Young birds just fledged were taken July 10th. The nest was in the top of a live-oak tree. The heads of the young at this season have rather more red on them than those of the adults.
Iris deep reddish brown ; bill dark slaty black ; legs and feet horn bluish. The average length is 6*50 inches ; some specimens measure nearly 7 inches. P. Nuttalli seems to be exclusively a toast species, not crossing to the Colo- rado Valley-
SPHYRAPICUS Baird, 1858.
The genus Splii/rapicus instituted by Prof. Baird, in 1S58, to replace the preoccupied and therefore untenable Pilumnus of Bonaparte, (type P. t/n/roi- deus Cass.) is a most natural one, widely separated from other genera by sin- gular anatomical peculiarities as well as striking external features. Its North American components are all very closely allied, notwithstanding that Prof. Baird intimates his doubts as to the propriety of referring P. Williamsani here, and Prof. Reichenbach has been inclined to consider P. thyroideus as a Cnlajit s. I am familiar with the habits and anatomical peculiarities of all our North American Sphyrapiei except 5. ruber, and my study has revealed points so essentially at variance with other Picida-, that I am inclined to in- stitute for the reception of the genus a subfamily ■Spliyrapicince.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 53
The genus in question is a xylophagous rather than an insectivorous one. I do not mean that the Sphyrapici never eat insects, for coleoptera and their larvae may often be found in their stomachs. But their main sustenauce is the cambrium, or soft, inner, live bark of trees, the succulent juices of which they appropriate to their ceconomy, rejecting the ligneous, uunutrious fibres in the ordinary method. They are, in fact, true "Sap-suckers," and it is their devastations upon fruit and ornamental trees which have brought the family of woodpeckers into such disrepute among agriculturalists ; a class not ordinarily observant enough to discriminate between these birds and the harmless or rather beneficial species of Picus Melanerpes, Centurus, etc In- stead of simply "tapping" trees, — generally their decayed or dead portions too, — to extract the injurious beetles and their larvae lurking within, the Sphy- rapicines denude live branches of their bark, often for an area of several square inches at a time. I have before me specimens of wood thus a tacked, from which the bark has been removed from large irregularly shaped spaces ; and the result, as might be expected, is exceedingly different from that pro- duced from the simple drilling of little holes by the insectivorous genera. Be- sides the cambrium, all the species, particularly in the fall, feed extensively upon ripe fruits and berries of all sorts.
The anatomical peculiarities which produce this remarkable difference in habits are very striking, and involve to a greater or less extent the whole lin- gual, salivary and gastric apparatus. In the tongue itself, however, and its bones, the most remarkable differences are to be seen. The tongue cannot be protruded, as a dart, far beyond the tip of the bill ; the amount of extension it is capable of not exceeding a fourth or a third of an inch. This is caused by the great abbreviation of the apo-hyal and cerato-hyal elements of the hyoid bone, which do not reach backwards much beyond the tympano-maxillary articulation, instead, as in Picus, Colaptes, etc, of being produced so far as to extend over the occiput to the top of the cranium, or even to curve around the orbit of the eye in an osseous groove formed for their reception. The basi- hyals which support the tongue are also shorter and somewhat differently shaped. The tongue itself is short and flattened, with a superior longitudi- nal median groove, and a corresponding inferior ridge. Its tip is broad and flattened, and obtusely rounded, and provided with numerous long and soft bristly hairs. All these features are quite diverse from the long, protruda- ble, subulate, acutely pointed tongue of Picus, etc., armed near its tip with a few strong, sharp, short, recurved barbs.
The muscular apparatus for the movements of the tongue differs, of course, in a degree corresponding to these modifications of the hyoid bone. I am in- clined to believe, though I have not prosecuted my dissections far enough to speak positively, that there exist differences in the salivary glands, and, perhaps, in the gastric mucous membrane, rendered necessary by the radical diversity of the ingesta.
My attention was first called to these interesting points by a communication from Dr. P. R. Hoy, of Wisconsin, in one of the newspaper periodicals of that State ; which I believe was the first published notice of these facts, and that gentleman's observations I have amply confirmed by my own scalpel and field studies.
It is unnecessary to detail the external characters of this genus, as they have already been given in ample detail by Prof. Baird.
40. Sphyrapicus ncchalis Baird.
S. nuchalis Baird, B. N. A. 1858, p. 103, in text under /?. varius. Op. cit. App. H. p. 921. (New Mexico.)
Permanent resident. Abundant.
In the adult spring male the whole chin, throat and jugulum are bright red ; this color extending on the sides of the lower mandible so as to interrupt the black lateral stripe of the jugulum, which in varius continuously borders the
lSlifj.]
54: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
red, and invading to a considerable distance the pectoral spot of pure, deep, glossy, greenish black. In the adult female the chin is white, bordered pos- teriorly by a somewhat semilunar patch of red, not so intense in tint as that of the male, nor so broad. The pectoral black spot, though rather smaller, is equally pure in color. Both sexes invariably have the red crescentic nuchal collar, separated from the red pileum by a distinct line of black. Autumnal birds have the white portions of the upper parts and the belly more or less strongly tinged with lemon yellow, especially noticeable on the abdomen. Birds of the year hardly differ from the adults, except that the pectoral spot is only indicated by a few isolated black feathers scattered through a dull grey area. Tlie nuchal collar is always observable, though its continuity may not he perfect. Independently of age, sex or season, there are great variations in the. size and shape of the bill to be observed in large series from different lo- calities.
This is to be considered as a thoroughly established species. In an im- mense series of skins of both species before me from all parts of North America, there is not one which cannot unhesitatingly be referred to one or the other species.
41. Sphyrapicus Williamsoni (Newb.) Baird.
Picus Williamsoni, Newberry, 1857, (Oregon.) Melanerpes rubrigularis, Sclater, 1858, (California.) Sphyrapicus Williamsoni, Baird, 1858.
Resident. Not uncommon. Exclusively pinicoline in the regions where I have observed it. Ranges from both slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, fiom as far north at least as Oregon. Fort Whipple is probably near its southern limit.
(No. 844, Oct. 13, 18b'4. rj\) Length 9-5; extent 16-75. Iris dark brown. Mouth pinkish flesh color. Bill bluish black. Feet dull greenish black. Claws black.
This species exhibits the anatomical peculiarities noticed under head of the genus Sphyrapicus, and its habits aie entirely correspondent.
42. Spbyrapjcts thyroideus (Cass.) Baird. Resident. Very rate. Cliierly pinicoline.
The range of this species is now known to include both slopes of the Rocky Mountains, from Oregon to the Rio Grande, and probably it extends through Arizona to the Sonoian border.
Some male specin ens have the grey chin more or less suffused with reddish, forming a mental spot something like that of Williamsoni. Neither sex ap- pears to have any red about the crown or nape, a very unusual fact if such he invariably the case.
This species is strictly congeneric with Sphyrapicus varivs in anatomical pe- culiarities and in habits, and has nothing in common with Colaptes beyond some similarity in the pattern of coloration.
Sphyrapicus ruber, as a bird of the whole Pacific Slope of the Rocky Moun- tains, will most probahly be hereafter detected. It seems chiefly, however, a coast species. The Uylatomus pileatus is undoubtedly an inhabitant of Ari- zona.
43. Centueus uropygialis Baird.
1 Rare, and perhaps accidental in the immediate vicinity of Fort Whipple. A common bird of the Gila and Lower Colorado River valleys. " Abundant at Fort Mojave," (Cou]>er.) A species remarkable for inhabiting the Giant Cactuses, (Lepidocerws (jiganteus and/.. Thurberi, of Englemann,) whence is derived its provincial name of " Suwarrow '' or "Saguaro." Its plumage is often found stain' d with the juices of these plants. It feeds upon their fruit, but catches insects as well The female is similar to the male, except that she wants the quadrate patch of red on the crown. The absence of the
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 55
yellow nuchal crescent, and of the yellow at the base of the bill are some of the features that distinguish hoth sexes from the C. Jiaviventris.
44. Melanekpes fokmicivorus (Sw.) Bp.
Exceedingly abundant, being the commonest Woodpecker, not even except- ing P. Harrisii. Resident. Found in all situations.
The tongue of this Woodpecker is rather brushed at the tip, like that of a Sphyrapicus, than barbed, as in Picas, etc. Si ill it is exceedingly protruda- ble, the hyoid bone being well developed.
This species presents variations in the color of the iris rarely equalled. In a great many individuals the iris is pure white, and so it is usually described. But this is not the color in even a majority of instances, for this white is tinged with various colors, — red, blue, yellow or brown. A greater or less admixture of red gives every shade from a clear rose pink to the most deli- cate creamy white, and these tints are usual in adult spring birds of both sexes. Varying degrees of yellowish or ochraceous are by no means rare. Young birds are rarely found with pure white irides, for the color is usually obscnred by a greater or less amount of blue or grey, producing a bluish grey or a " milk white " tint. Rarely an individual is found with dark brown irides. The latter seems to be purely accidental ; the admixture of blue to denote immaturity, and the reddish tinge to indicate high spring maturity, in each case quite independently of sex.
The moult, which commences in July, continues for an unusually long pe- riod,— until November, — at least in some instances.
Adult birds are very constant both in size and plumage, but, at the same time there is an immense variation in the length and stoutness of the bill in different individuals. The black of the breast, and the lemon yellow on the jugulum have often a few isolated red feathers among them. Some few spe- cimens have white tips and inner borders of the secondaries, but this is un- usual. The pileum of young birds has often a bronzy tint, not seen iu the adult.
ASYNDESMUS Coues, nov. gen.
Generic Characters. — Bill as long as the head, rather longer than the tarsus, as high as broad at the base, terminally compressed, somewhat decurved ; almost colaptine in general aspect. Culmen much curved, tips of bill acute, gonys straight, lateral outline of bill decidedly concave, lateral bevelling scarcely appreciable, lateral ridge distinct, superior and inferior ridges but slightly developed. Wings very long, when folded reaching to near the end of the long tail ; fourth quill longest, third and fifth about equal to each other and shorter than the second. Inner anterior claw reaching but little beyond the base of the outer claw. Feathers of the under parts and of a nuchal col- lar with the fibres on their terminal portion disconnected, loosened, enlarged in calibre, stiffened, almost bristle-like, with a peculiar glistening silicious hardness, destitute of fibrilhe whereby to interlock. Dorsal plumage imbri- cated, with an intense metallic lustre.
Type. Picas torquatus Wilson.
The bill of this genus is quite peculiar, approaching that of Colaptes in its length, convexity of culmen, acute tip, and slightly bevelled sides ; and re- sembling that of Melanerpes in its sharply defined lateral ridge. The nasal* plumuli are long and bristly but not dense. The length of the wing is ex- cessive, and the proportions of the primaries peculiar. The most essential feature is found in the unusual texture of the feathers of the under parts and nuchal collar, which has thus been described : " The fibres of the feath- ers are longer than usual and remarkably stiff. Those on the terminal third of each feather are of the usual character at the base, or provided with fibril- lar, those of opposite sides interlocking as in feathers generally. The termi- nal portion, however, of the stem of the fibre is much enlarged and expanded
1866]
56 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMI OP
laterally to twice or more the diameter at the root, and converted into quite a stiff bristle, nearly smooth or with slight indications in place of fibrillse. It is- this portion of the feather that is colored," [Baird.] The feathers of the nuchal collar also posses these peculiarities. The dorsal plumage is intensely lustrous. The red about the face has a peculiar velvety aspect.
I do not find any name already proposed for this genus, which seems emi- nently worthy of separation from Melanerpes. I had long been of this opinion from examination of skins alone ; and since studying the bird in the field, have become quite convinced. My name has reference to the disconnection of the fibres of the feather.
45. AsYNDESMUS TORQUATUS (WilS.)
Picas torquatus Wilson. Melanerpes (orquatas Bonap. et Auct. Asyndesmus torquatus Coues. Picas montanus Ord. P. Lewisii Drapiez.
Common : resident.
In young birds there is hardly a trace of a nuchal collar, and the upper parts, especially about the head, have very little lustre. The crimson fore- head and lores are very illy defined ; nor are they trenchantly divided from the hoary of the breast by a black area. The blood-red of the under parts only shows in isolated patches, except perhaps on the abdomen, where it is- more or less continuous ; the color being of various shades of gray on the breast and sides. The feathers hardly acquire their peculiar character until old enough to have their proper color.
46. Colaptes mexicanus Swainson.
Resident ; abundant: found in all situations, and in habits is quite a coun- terpart of the eastern species it represents in Western North America.
(47.) Colaptes chrysoides Malh.
Gtopicus (Colaptes) chrysoides, Malherbe, Rev. et Mag. N. H. iv. 1852,
553. Monog. Pieidce, ii. p. 262. Colaptes chrysoides, Baird, B. N. A- 1858, p. 125.
Colaptes Ayresii, Heermnnn, Parke's Exped. 32° parallel, in the P. R. R. Surv. vol. x. pt. ii. p. 50. Not of Audubon. This species has been shot at Fort Mojave by Dr. J. G. Cooper, in Feb. 1861, when it was feeding on the larvae of insects among the Pbpulus moniliferus. He found it very shy and wary as all the Colaptes seem to be. It doubtless winters in the Colorado valley, though I do not think it leaves the valley to the north and east, as I have never found it among the Whipple mountains.
" Geopicus ehrysoides Malh." was given by Prof. Baird in 1858 as a syno- inyin, with a query, of his C hyridus. At that time there was not sufficient material available to decide the point ; but the impropriety of the reference has since become evident.* The bird is now well known as a common species- of Lower and Southern California, and of the Colorado valley, and has been brought from the Sonora line. Very numerous examples are in the Smith- sonian from Cape St. Lucas.
" Colaptes Ayresii Aud." of Dr. Heermann's Report, as above cited, is un- doubtedly the present species. But the true Ayresii of Audubon is a mixture of auratus and mexicanus, more recently characterized by Prof. Baird as C. hybridus.
TROCHILIDJE.
(48.) TrochiI/US alexandri Bo ure. and Muls.
This species has been taken in the Colorado Desert so near the western boundary of the Territory as to render it exceedingly probable it is a bird of the Colorado River valley, as well as of the coast of Southern and Lower California. But I am not aware that it has actually been taken in Arizona.
* See <le.scriptions of ani remarks upau this species by S. F. Baird, in Pr. A. N. S. Ph. for Not- ember. 1S59.
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NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 57
Dr. Cooper tells me that the nests which he found on the Mojave River were composed entirely of the soft white downy cotton of Platanus and Salix.
(49.) Atthis cost m (Bourc.) Reich.
A species generally distributed throughout the Territory, particularly in its southern and southwestern portions. Not taken at Fort Whipple, though observed some fifty miles south. From Bill William's River, Dr Kennerly, in February ; from Fort Mojave, Dr. Cooper. Doubtless winters withiu the lim- its of the Territory.
(50.) Selasphorcs platycercus (Sw.) Gould.
Numerous specimens seen on the sumuiit of Whipple's Pass of the Rocky Mountains in July, feeding among clumps of wild roses. Not observed at Fort Whipple ; but the range northward of this species, as now known, in- cludes the whole of New Mexico and Arizona ; and further north, at least, as far as Fort Bridger, Utah.
51. Selasphorus rpfus Swains.
Very abundant at Fort Whipple, as it is elsewhere along the whole Pacific slope of the Rocky Mountains, and across their southern extensions into the Rio Grande valley. Summer resident, breeding abundantly ; arrives April 10 ; remains until middle of September. Found in all situations, particularly meadows, open copses, ravines, etc., where flowers are most abundant.
CYPSELTD^E.
52. Panyptila melanolefjca Baird.
Acanthylis saxatilis, Woodh. Sitgreave's Expl. Zuiiiand Col. Riv. Birds,
18(33, p. 64. ("Inscription Rock," N. M.) Cypselus melanoleucu*, Baird, Pr. A. N. S. Ph. vii. 1854, p. 118. (San Francisco Mts. Ariz.) Cassin, Illust. Bds. Cal. and Texas, i. 1855, p. 248. Panyptila melanoleuca, Baird. B. N. A. 1S58, p. 141. Coues, Newton's Ibis., 1865, p. Rather sparingly distributed throughout the Territory ; chiefly in the neighborhood of cliffs and precipices, which, I believe, it almost exclusively inhabits.
I think there can he no doubt that the bird described by Prof. Baird, as above, is the same as that briefly and somewhat incorrectly indicated by Dr. Woodhouse. While encamped at Inscription Rock, July 3, 1864, I saw great numbers of tbese Swifts ; but, as unfortunate as Dr. W., I was unable to pro- cure a single specimen, though many passed so near me that I could posi- tively identify them. The cbief point of discrepancy is the white rump mentioned by Dr. Woodhouse, which does not exist in Prof. Baird's speci- mens. But I am perfectly satisfied, in my own mind, that Dr. Woodhouse, from the imperfect observations he was only enabled to make, mistook the white patches on each side of the rump, which in life often reach nearly or quite across the uropygium till they coalesce on the median line. There is a corroboration of this view afforded by the Tachycincta thalassina. Observa- tions of the latter in life gives the impression of a white rump ; whereas this species has that part concolor with the back ; but the large white cottony patches on the flanks are long and loose enough to meet each other on the rump. Moreover the localities whence the two supposed species come are so near as to render it unlikely there should exist two such closely allied Swifts. From Inscription Rock* to the San Francisco Mountains, I continually met
* Inscription Rock is a huge mass of sandstone protruding from the side of a hill, with a front of great height perpendicular to the plain below; situate a days march west of Whipple's Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and rather more than that distance east of the Pueblo of ZuEi. The San Francisco Mountains are a well known locality.
I860.]
58 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
with great numbers of these birds ; except along the valley of the Colorado Chiquito River, where there were no suitable places for their habitation. It is preeminently a saxicoliue species, and always found congregated in con- siderable, sometimes in immense numbers, in the vicin ty of huge cliffs and piles of rocks ; usually associating intimately and peacefully with several spe- cies of Hirundmidce, especially Hirundo lunifrons. Its flight is very rapid and vigorous ; similar in character to that of the common Chmtura. Its note is an often and quickly repeated twitter, loud and shrill, quite different intone from that of Chce.lv.ra pelasgia. It builds upon the vertical faces of precipitous rocks.
Notwithstanding the identity of Baird's with Woodhouse's species, I do not think that the former's name, accompanied by a definite description, should give way to the brief and incorrect indication of Acanthylis saxutilis.
CAPRIMULGIDJE.
53. Antrostomus Nuttalli (Aud.) Cassin.
This widely distributed species, which extends from Missouri and Kansas to the Pacific and south into Mexico, is particularly abundant throughout Ari- zona. At Fort Whipple it is a summer resident, arriving late in April and remaining until October. So numerous is it in some localities that around the camp-fires of the traveller a perfect chorus of their plaintive two-s.\llabled notes is continued all through the night, and some of the performers are usually so near that the sharp click of their mandibles which follows each cry is distinct- ly audible. But from the difficulty of observing them, little of their personal habits, beyond their cries, are known to us. I never saw a single bird in Ari- zona, though I have listened to perhaps many hundred. Their dissyllabic note is a peculiarity which well distinguishes them from A. vociftrus.
I have been informed that the trissyllabic notes of A. vociferus have been heard in Arizona; but I consider the statement as very improbable.
(54.) Chordeiles Henryi Cass.
Abundant throughout the Territory. At Fort Whipple a summer resident, arriving in April and remaining until October. It is particularly numerous in August and September.
This species, if it be really one, is not larger than C. popetue, and it otherwise is so closely allied to the latter, as to render the separation of some specimens a matter based upon locality rather than upon differences to be found on com- parison of skins. The western bird presents variations quite parallel with those of popetue ; but nevertheless the average is much lighter colored and with more rufous about it, than usually exhibited by eastern specimens. These remarks are founded upon examination of very extensive series of both birds which have been at my disposal.
(55.) Chordeiles Texensis Lawr.
Common in the Colorado valley to even further north than the latitude of Fort Whipple ; but not observed elsewhere further north than some fifty miles south of the last mentioned locality ; and then only in summer. Ex- tends from the Rio Grande valley to the Pacific. Numerous specimens are in the Smithsonian from Cape St. Lucas.
A female procured at Date Creek, June 5, 1865, differs from C. Henryi as follows : The wing from the carpus measures 7 inches instead of about 8 ; the tail 4^ instead of 5. The throat, though the specimen is a female, is pure white ; but there are no white bands on the tail, the lateral rectrices having very irregular, interrupted bands of rufous, except the middle pair, which are barred with black and mottled gray, the latter much the widest. The pri- maries are all basally spotted thickly on both inner and outer webs with bright rufous, which spots show a tendency to form incomplete bars. On the three first primaries is a large spot of very light rufous, placed within 2% inches of
[March,
NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 59
the point of the wing. The fork of the tail is less than a third of an inch. In neither sex of C. Henryi is there any rufous mottling on the primaries ; and thus one conpsicuous alar spot is white in hoth sexes ; and is moreover much nearer the bases of the primaries, being 3^ inches from the point of the wing : so that when the wing is folded the spot is anterior to the ends of the secon- daries. The reverse is the case in C. Texensis ; and these points will always separate the two species, even when small female C. Henryi is compared with large male texensis. I do not know if the female texensis always has a white throat.
I am unable to discuss the relationship of the C. branliensi* 6m., and in adopting the name texensis I am following Mr. Lawrence's authority altogether.
HALCYONlDsE.
56. Ceryle alcyon (L. ) Boie.
Common summer resident. Arrives April 10th ; remains until November. Generally distributed over the various streams of the Territory.
(57.) Ceryle Americana (Gm.) Boie.
Observed at several points on the Colorado River between Forts Mojave and Yuma, which I believe is the first recorded instance of its occurrence in the Uuited States elsewhere than in the valley of the Rio Grande.
COLOPTERID.E. 58. Tyrannus vociferans Swains.
Abundant summer resident. Arrives third week in April ; remains until latter part of Sept. Found in every sort of locality.
Adult individuals of the same sex hardly vary appreciably in size ; and the colors are exceedingly constant. Males average from 9* X 16-5 to 9"25 X 16-75 ; females measure about 8-75 X 16. Iris brown. Bill and feet black. Mouth livid flesh color.
The young of the year in July and August differ materially from the adults. The mouth and some part of the lower mandible are bright yellow. The feet are light colored instead of black. The primaries are not attenuated near their tips. There is no trace of the red in the crown. Tue outer web of the exterior tail feather is barely appreciably lighter than the rest. The wing coverts are strongly margined and tipped with pale rufous ; the quill feathers less conspicuously edged with yellowish white. The back is nearly pure dull brown, concolor with the head instead of being olive gray in contrast with the plumbeous head. Below the two ages are nearly alike ; but the yellow is sometimes so pale as to be dull sulphury white ; while the breast is rather brown than plumbeous. The chin is always conspicuously pure white.
(59.) Tyrannus verticalis Say.
A bird which in its extensive wanderings includes Arizona, though that country cannot be considered as properly a part of its habitat. Dr. Cooper has taken it at Fort Mojave, and throughout Southern California. I have never met with it at Fort Whipple, where vociferans is so very abundant.
60. Myiarchus MExicANCS (Kaup.) Baird.
Common summer resident. Arrives third week in April; remains until middle of September. Seldom found in the pines, preferring ravines, hill- sides, creek bottoms, etc. Some winter as high in the Colorado Valley as Fort Mojave. (January; Cooper.) Iris brown. Mouth livid flesh color. Bill and feet black. Moult through July and August.
At Fort Whipple .young birds were first observed early in July. Though not mistakable for any other species, they differ notably from the adults. The head is clear brown, in tolerably strong contrast to the color of the back, which latter is lighter and duller than that of the adult. All the wing coverts are so widely edged and tipped with light rufous as to give the prevailiug color
1866.]
60 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF
to these parts. The reddish edging of the primaries is very broad, and takes in more of the primaries, but is duller than in the adult. The tail differs most ; instead of being dimidiated with clear brown and deep pure chestnut, (the outer webs and tips being of the former color,) the whole tail is light dull chestnut, more or less obscured by dusky towards the bases of the feathers ; the central pair having a narrow median shaft line of this color. The under parts are quite similar to those of the adults ; the yellow being fully as in- tense. The bill and feet are black, as in the adult ; the mouth, however, is bright yellow.
The males average 8*50 X 13-25. The females are generaly fully 50 X 1*50 shorter in these dimensions ; a somewhat unusual amount of difference in this family.
61. Sayornis sayds (Bp. ) Baird.
Common throughout the Territory ; a summer resident at Fort Whipple. Is the first of the migratory birds in spring, arriving in March ; and it also re- mains very late, until the middle of October. Winters in the whole Colorado Valley, and southern portions of the Territory generally. Almost exclusively frequents open plains in stunted chaparral, sage brush, etc. ; and in some other points of habit differs remarkably from our other Fly-catchers.
The iris is dark brown ; the bill and feet blaik, the mouth chiefly flesh col- ored. The moult is not finished until late in September.
There is an interesting parallelism in the migrations of the smaller Fly- catchers of the eastern and western coasts. Thus the present species arrives at Fort Whipple among the very first of the spring migrants, just as S.fuscus does in the middle districts of the Eastern States. Both likewise depart very late, some remaining through October. Next in