A History of North American Birds, Land Birds. Volume 3

Coturniculus passerinus, var. perpallidus (I, 556). First described in Coues’s Key, October, 1872, p. 137.

Coturniculus lecontei (I, 558). Seven specimens of this interesting species were collected in August, 1873, by Dr. Coues, while attached to the Northern Boundary Survey. Five of them were obtained August 9, at the head-waters of the Souris River, on a boundless prairie. They inhabited the low portions of the prairie, where the grass was tall, recalling to mind the sea-shore marshes inhabited by the Ammodromi of the Atlantic coast. In habits they entirely resembled the seaside Buntings (A. caudacutus and A. maritimus).

These specimens reveal the fact that Leconte’s Bunting is quite as much an Ammodromus as a Coturniculus, being, in fact, just intermediate between A. caudacutus and C. henslowi, agreeing most nearly with the latter in style of coloration, and exactly resembling the former in form, the rectrices being even longer, stiffer, and more acute. This renders it necessary to unite Ammodromus and Coturniculus into one genus, recognizing them as subgenera, definable chiefly by the different style of coloration of the superior surface in the two groups. The name Ammodromus stands as the proper designation of the genus, being of earlier date.

Several stages of plumage are represented in the series obtained by Dr. Coues; and, the diagnosis of the species given on p. 552 being taken from a very defective specimen, we give here short descriptions taken from the elegant skins before us.

Adult male (No. 3,442, Coll. E. C.). Ground-color of the head white, tinged with buff on the maxillæ, and with ash on the auriculars; crown with two broad black stripes, separated by a narrow medial one of whitish; nuchal feathers bright rufous, edged with ashy-white, and shafted with black; dorsal feathers black, broadly edged exteriorly with white, and interiorly narrowly skirted with rufous. Beneath entirely white, tinged on the throat with buff, and streaked on the sides—from the breast to the flanks—with black. Length, 5.00; extent, 7.10; wing, 2.10; tail, 2.00; culmen, .42; tarsus, .68.

Adult female (No. 3,443, E. C.). Resembling the male, but, being in less abraded plumage, the colors more pronounced. The head is deep buff (just as in Ammodromus caudacutus), the auriculars and lores distinctly grayish-white, and the medial stripe of the crown ashy-white, except the anterior third, which is buff. On the lower parts, the whole lower side of the head, the entire breast, sides, flanks, and tibiæ, are deep buff, the sides sharply streaked with black. The abdomen, anal region, and crissum are pure white, in marked contrast. Length, 5.00; extent, 7.00; wing, 2.00; tail, 2.10; culmen, .45; tarsus, .70.

Young (Nos. 3,444, 3,445, and 3,446, E. C.). Ground-color above dull buff, below white; the pattern of the old birds seen in the markings, which, however, are pure black, all red and brown tints being absent,—except on the wings and tail, which are nearly as in the adult.

Ammodromus maritimus (I, 560). Mr. Maynard has discovered a very remarkable new local form of this species in Florida, which he has named var. nigrescens, possessing the following characters:—

Ammodromus maritimus, var. nigrescens, Ridgway.

Char. Above black, nearly uniform, and with a faint brownish cast; dorsal feathers with their outer edges narrowly grayish-white; remiges and tail-feathers edged with olive-brown; edge of the wing bright gamboge-yellow; supra-loral stripe deep yellow to above the middle of the eye; an obscure supra-auricular stripe of olive-grayish. Lores, auriculars, and cheeks nearly uniform black; lower parts pure white, covered with broad streaks of black, the anal region and middle line of the throat only unstreaked. Wing, 2.40; tail, 2.50; culmen, .55; tarsus, .95; middle toe, .55. (1855, Coll. R. R.)

Specimens of var. maritimus from Fort Macon, North Carolina, are much darker than Connecticut examples.

Zonotrichia leucophrys, var. gambeli (I, 569). Specimens from the Pacific Coast, which are true gambeli, are uniformly different from Middle Province examples in several important particulars; the colors are all darker, the ash more sombre, and the dorsal streaks sooty-black instead of chestnut-brown. In everything except the coloration of the head they closely resemble Z. coronata. The Middle Province form may be named Zonotrichia leucophrys, var. intermedia, Ridgway.

Junco (I, 578). For a new synopsis of the genus, see Am. Nat. VII, October, 1873, p. 613.

Junco hyemalis, var. aikeni (I, 584). First described in Am. Nat. VII, October, 1873, p. 615.

Junco oregonus (I, 584). Dr. Cooper writes that the Oregon Snowbird frequents the Sierra Nevada, lat. 39°, up to an elevation of 9,000 feet. He found a nest with three eggs at an elevation of about 7,000 feet, July 28, 1870.

Poospiza belli (I, 593). A fall specimen from Dr. Cooper, collected at Saticoy, California, October 8, 1872, shows a new plumage of this form, and substantiates the remarkable difference, in every stage of plumage, from var. nevadensis (I, 594). It differs from specimens of the latter in the corresponding dress, in the following particulars:—

Sub-maxillary bridle deep black, very broad, and reaching to the bill; pectoral spot conspicuous, black; sides strongly washed with ochraceous; above dark plumbeous instead of light ash; no trace of streaks on the back. Wing, 2.80; tail, 3.00; culmen, .40; tarsus, .80. (No. 63,652, Mus. S. I.)

Spizella monticola (II, 3). Collected by Henshaw in Southern Utah, in October, 1872. Probably found throughout the Middle Province region.

Spizella socialis (II, 7). Dr. Cooper informs us that the Chipping Sparrow frequents the Sierra Nevada, near latitude 39°, up to 9,000 feet elevation, in summer, and is the only species of Spizella to be seen there at that season.

Spizella pallida, var. breweri (II, 13). Dr. Cooper met with this species arriving from the South, in small flocks, April, 1873, frequenting bushy grounds ten miles inland. They had the song and habits as described, but were not seen in the low country in summer.

Melospiza lincolni (II, 31). Dr Cooper writes that in July, 1870, he found this species numerous at and near the summit of the Central Railroad in an elevation of from 7,000 to 9,000 feet. They were always about marshy thickets, often close to fields of perpetual snow. They had there raised their young, which were mostly fledged. He found a nest with one egg on the ground. As he found this July 27, he thinks that without doubt it raises two broods in a season even in that subalpine region. The song he found quite different from that of the other Melospizæ, being fainter, more lively and continuous, like that of some Wren or Warbler.

Melospiza palustris (II, 34). Collected in Southern Utah (Washington), October 23, 1872, by Mr. Henshaw. (Mus. S. I., No. 63,500.)

Peucæa æstivalis, var. arizonæ (II, 41). First described in Am. Nat. VII, October, 1873, p. 616.

Peucæa carpalis. An additional species of Peucæa has been discovered in Arizona by that diligent collector, Lieutenant (now Captain) Charles Bendire, U. S. A. It has been described (Am. Nat. VII, June, 1873, p. 322) by Dr. Coues as Peucæa carpalis. Its characters are as follows:—

Peucæa carpalis, Coues. Rufous-shouldered Sparrow.

Sp. Char. Resembling in general appearance a large Spizella pusilla, but with rufous lesser wing-coverts, and blackish rictal and infra-maxillary streaks. Above grayish earth-brown, each feather with the medial portion dusky, forming conspicuous black streaks on the dorsal region, and dusky centres to the wing-coverts and tertials. Nape and rump plain, and more ashy. Crown and lesser wing-coverts plain rufous, the former divided anteriorly with a whitish medial line. Beneath ashy-white, including a well-defined superciliary and maxillary stripe, which have a slight buffy tinge. Throat nearly pure white, bordered on each side by a conspicuous narrow streak of black; whitish maxillary stripe bordered above by a dusky rictal streak. Bill reddish, darker on the culmen. Tarsi dilute brown; toes horn-brown. Wing, 2.50; tail, 2.75; culmen, .45; tarsus, .80; middle toe, .55.

Hab. Tucson, Arizona. (No. 62,372. September, 1872, Captain C. Bendire, U. S. A.)

Another specimen, supposed to be a female, in winter plumage (Tucson, January 10, 1873) differs quite appreciably in its markings and colors. The crown is more streaked, every feather being edged laterally with ashy-gray; the blackish streaks on the back and scapulars are more distinct, and the inner web of the lateral tail-feather is broadly bordered with white terminally. It measures, wing, 2.50; tail, 2.90; culmen, .45; tarsus, .70. “Length, 5.75; stretch, 7.80.”

Captain Bendire informs me that he found this species rather common in the vicinity of Tucson. It was generally seen in company with Poospiza bilineata. Its usual call-note resembled the syllables zib-zib-zib. He believed it to be a resident of Arizona throughout the year. It commences nesting early in June, generally building in the small mesquite bushes, sometimes not over six inches, seldom more than four feet, from the ground. The nests are composed of fine dry grasses and rootlets, and lined with the fine, slender seed-tops of the secatow or rye-grass, and sometimes with a few hairs. The nest is very deep, and is firmly fixed into a fork of the bush in which it is built. The eggs, when fresh, are of a pale green color, and average .73 of an inch in length by .58 in breadth, are unspotted, are generally four, seldom five, in a nest. One nest with four eggs was found September 11, 1872.

Passerella (II, 49). The capture of a specimen exactly intermediate between P. iliaca and P. townsendii, at Saticoy, California, December 14, 1872, by Dr. Cooper, renders it extremely probable that all the known forms of this genus are but geographical races of one species. The characters of this specimen (No. 63,651) are as follows: Most like iliaca in reddish tints and coloration of the head, with occasional nearly pure ashy lights, but with the suffused pattern of townsendii. Wing, 3.60; tail, 3.60; culmen, .50; tarsus, 1.00.

Passerella megarhynchus (II, 57). Dr. Cooper found this species common between 5,000 and 7,000 feet elevation, on the Central Pacific Railroad line, where most of the country was still covered with snow. One or two were to be found in every thicket at distances of a quarter of a mile, already paired and having selected their summer residence, having remained in close proximity to the snowy region all winter. In July, on a second visit to the mountains, he observed them still singing occasionally, at Truckee, near 6,000 feet altitude, on the east slope.

Euspiza americana (II, 65). According to Mr. Allen this species is abundant at Denver, Colorado, being found entirely across the Plains to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains.

Guiraca cærulea (II, 77). Has been obtained in El Paso County, Colorado, by Mr. Aiken.

Cardinalis virginianus, var. igneus (II, 103). Has been found in El Paso County, Colorado. Specimens from Eastern Kansas, collected by Mr. Allen, seem also to be referrible to this form.

Pipilo erythropthalmus (II, 109). Specimens collected by Dr. Coues at Pembina, Minnesota, in June, 1873, have (both males and females) a greater or less number of minute white specks more or less distinctly indicated on the portion where the large white spots of the western forms are located. This points to the probability that all the black races ranged in the synopsis under maculatus (including the latter itself) must be referred to erythropthalmus.

Pipilo mesoleucus (II, 125). Captain Bendire found this species breeding in Southern Arizona, in the neighborhood of Tucson. One nest was found August 2, another September 4, 1872. Both were built in mesquite-trees, and were six feet from the ground,—an unusual position in birds of this family. The eggs are also peculiar, and differ from any of this genus I have ever met with, having more resemblance to eggs of Sturnellæ, especially to the militaris of South America. The eggs from one nest are one inch in length by .73 in breadth, have a bright white ground, with a slight tinge of bluish, and are boldly plashed, especially around the larger end, with distinct deep dashes of reddish and purplish brown. A few of these blotches are scattered irregularly over the entire egg, but the greater portion are grouped around the more obtuse end. The eggs are of oval shape, both ends rounded, one slightly less than the other. The eggs in another nest are more nearly spherical, with less difference in the ends; the ground-color is more distinctly white; the spots, of reddish-brown, are finer and more concentrated about the larger end; and the faint markings of purplish are much more numerous. These measure .74 by .90 of an inch.

This species has also been found resident in El Paso County, Colorado, by Mr. Aiken.

Pipilo aberti (II, 128). Captain Bendire found this species breeding abundantly in the vicinity of Tucson, in Southern Arizona. The nests were not on the ground, as is usual among the more northern forms of Pipilos, but in trees and in bushes at the height of several feet from the ground. One nest was taken July 28, in a small ash-tree, and another was found on the same day in a willow-tree, more than eight feet from the ground. The eggs bear a close resemblance to those of Pipilo fuscus and to those of P. albigula, having a ground-color of very light blue, marked almost exclusively around the larger end with a wreath of irregular blotches of dark purplish-brown. They are of a rounded oval shape, are quite obtuse at one end, and vary in length from .97 of an inch to .88, and in breadth from .76 to .75.

Pipilo chlorurus (II, 131). Dr. Cooper met with none of this species in the Sierra Nevada between 3,000 and 7,000 feet elevation in April, 1870, when they were leisurely working their way up from the lower country; but in July he found them from Truckee, 6,000 feet on the east slope, up to the summit, 7,000 feet, but not higher. They were then feeding half-grown young. Dr. Albert Kellogg found a nest on the ground, with four eggs, spotted near the larger end on a bluish ground. The males were still singing occasionally and very melodiously, and had the same cry of alarm or anger as the Pipilo erythropthalmus. Dr. Cooper also met with this species at Clear Lake, near the end of September, showing that they probably breed in the northern Coast Range.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus (II, 149). Specimens from every portion of the Plains, and west to the Great Basin, have the black intenser and more continuous, the nuchal patch clear ochraceous-white, the scapulars and rump unshaded white, and the white of the back confined to a median line. The bill and feet are also jet-black, instead of horn-color. They constitute var. albinucha, Ridgway.

Icterus cucullatus (II, 193). Except in the materials, which difference may be more local than specific, the nests of this species are hardly distinguishable from those of I. spurius. A nest from Cape St. Lucas (S. I. No. 4,954), collected May, 1860, by Mr. Xantus, is basket-shaped and pendulous, suspended on two sides to the numerous twigs of each fork of a drooping branch. In structure it is exactly like that of I. spurius, and is composed of dry wiry grasses, lined scantily with vegetable down. The length is six inches, lower side of aperture only two and a half inches from the bottom. Another (S. I. No. 1,940) taken May 20, 1859, at San José, Lower California, by Mr. Xantus, is a very elaborately wrought basket-shaped nest. The circumference of the circular rim is much less than the greatest girth of the nest. The lower walls and base of the nest are very thick. The whole is composed of fine wiry grasses and scantily lined with vegetable down and soft flaxy fibres. The external diameter is 5.00 inches, the internal 2.10, height about 3.00, and the depth of the cavity 2.80.

Captain Charles Bendire met with this species in Southern Arizona. It was first noticed by him on the 15th of April, but he thinks they had arrived nearly ten days previously, and that the date of their coming may be given as during the first week of April. He describes it as a shy, active, and restless bird, generally frequenting the extreme tops of the tallest cottonwood-trees near the borders of the watercourses, which, however, are usually dry. There the bird flutters through the dense foliage in search of insects, and is scarcely ever seen for more than an instant at a time. It commences building about the first of June. The nest is suspended from the extremities of the lower branches of an ash, walnut, mesquite, or cottonwood tree, and is exclusively composed of fine wire-like grasses, which are made use of while green and pliable, and sparsely lined with the silky fibres of a species of Asclepias. These grasses are interlaced in such a complicated manner as to form, even when dry, a very strong structure. The dimensions of a nest are: Inner diameter, three inches; inside depth the same; outside from five and a half to four inches wide and about four deep. The eggs are from two to four in number, usually three, are of a pale bluish-white ground, spotted with dark lilac and umber-brown about the larger end. The largest eggs measure one inch by .64. Captain Bendire adds that he cannot regard this Oriole as a fine singer. Besides a usual chattering note resembling the syllables char-char-char, frequently repeated, it has a call-note something like hui-wit, which is also several times repeated.

Icterus baltimore (II, 195). Extends its range westward to the Rocky Mountains. Collected in El Paso County, Colorado, by Mr. Aiken.

Icterus bullockii (II, 199). Extends eastward to Eastern Kansas, where it is not uncommon. (See Snow’s Catalogue of the Birds of Kansas, 1873.)

Corvus cryptoleucus (II, 242). According to Mr. Aiken this species is abundant, and nearly replaces C. carnivorus along the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Cheyenne.

Captain Bendire found this a resident species in Southern Arizona, and met with two nests at the base of the St. Catharine Mountains, near Tucson. One of these contained three, the other four eggs. These he described as very light colored, so pale that if mixed with hundreds of others of this family they could be picked out without difficulty. Their ground-color is said to be a very pale green, with darker markings running more into lines than spots; in fact, very few spots were found on either set. The size of the largest was 1.85 inches by 1.33, that of the largest 1.70 by 1.19. They were not common in the vicinity of Tucson.

Cyanura (II, 271). For a special treatment of the races of C. stelleri, see Am. Journ. Science and Arts, January, 1873.

Cyanocitta californica (II, 298). Dr. Cooper has ascertained that this species does occur on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, but lower down than the region he visited in 1863. He found a few at Verdi, close to the eastern boundary-line of California, at about 4,500 feet elevation, in July, 1870. He saw none elsewhere.

Tyrannus vociferans (II, 327). Captain Bendire writes that this species arrives in the neighborhood of Tucson about the middle of April, but does not commence nesting until the middle of June. All the nests he found were difficult to get at, being generally placed on a branch of a large cottonwood-tree, and at a distance from the trunk. The nest is described as very large for the size of the bird, composed of sticks, weeds, dry grasses, and lined with hair, wool, and the inner soft fibres of bark of the cottonwood. The usual complement of eggs is three, seldom four. They measure from 1.00 by .75 to 1.10 by .80 of an inch, are of a creamy-white color, with large isolated spots of a reddish-brown, scattered principally about the larger end.

Myiarchus (II, 329). For a discussion of the races of M. lawrencii considered in their relation to climatic color-variation, see Am. Journ. Science and Arts, December, 1872.

Sayornis (II, 339). The outlines of species of Sayornis given below are additional to those already published.

Empidonax brunneus (II, 363). Specimens in the collection of the Boston Society bear the MSS. name of E. olivus. But we cannot find a reference to this name.

Empidonax minimus (II, 372). Has been collected in El Paso County, Colorado, by Mr. Aiken.

7226 ♂

Sayornis sayus.

2707

Sayornis fuscus.

10028 ♀

Sayornis nigricans.

Empidonax obscurus (II, 381). Dr. Cooper found a few of this species wintering in a large grove of balsam, poplars, and willows, which retained most of their old leaves till spring, near San Buenaventura. Those shot were remarkably gray, and were supposed to have been blown down from the borders of the desert by the violent northeast-wind.

Pyrocephalus mexicanus (II, 387). Captain Bendire found the Red Flycatcher quite abundant in Southern Arizona, where they breed as early as April. They were most common in the neighborhood of Reledo Creek, near Tucson, and were generally found in the neighborhood of water. Their nests were in various situations, in one instance in a cottonwood-tree thirty feet from the ground, in another in the forks of a mesquite not more than ten feet from the ground. The nests were small, slight, and loosely made, and not readily preserved. They were made externally of twigs, fine bark, stems of plants, etc., and lined with hair and feathers. The usual number of eggs was three, and never more. Except in size these bear a close resemblance to the eggs of Milvulus forficatus. Their ground is a rich cream-color, to which the deep purplish-brown markings with which they are blotched imparts a slight tinge of red. These markings are few, bold, and conspicuous, and encircle the larger end with an almost continuous ring. In shape they are of a roundish oval, and measure .66 of an inch in length by .55 in breadth. The nest and eggs of this species were also obtained at Cape St. Lucas by Mr. John Xantus, and the eggs correspond. Dr. Cooper found two male birds of this species in a grove near the mouth of the Santa Clara River, six miles from San Buenaventura, in October, 1872. They had obtained their perfect plumage, but seemed to be young birds. They hunted insects much like a Sayornis, and uttered only a faint chirp.

Chordeiles popetue, var. minor (II, 400). Specimens from Miami, Florida, collected by Mr. Maynard, agree very nearly with typical examples of var. minor from Cuba, both in size and color, and should possibly be referred to that race. A male (7,414, Mus. C. J. M.) measures: wing, 7.00; tail, 4.15. The colors are those of var. popetue, with less rufous than in the single specimen of minor with which it has been compared.

Chordeiles texensis (II, 406). Dr. Cooper shot a single specimen of this species near San Buenaventura, April 18, 1873.