Natural History Museum Library
- :: . ^ ' :
THE IBIS,
A MAGAZINE OF GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY
EDITED BY
PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., PhD., F.R.S.,
LATE FELLOW OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD;
SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON ;
FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY ; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, OF THE LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK, AND OF THE GERMAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ SOCIETY ; ETC.
YOL. V. 1863.
“ Ibimus indomiti venerantes Ibida sacram, Ibimus incolumes qua prior Ibis adest.’lL
LONDON:
TRUBNER AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.
Paris. i Leipzig.
Fr. Klincksieck, F. A. Brockhaus.
11, Rue de Lille. j
1863.
.
■
.
.
■'
. .
■ ■
. . •
LIST OF MEMBERS
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 1863.
Robert Birkbeck, F.Z.S.; 65 Lombard Street, London.
Henry Maurice Drummond -Hay, C.M.Z.S., Lientenant-Colonel, Royal Perth Rifles ; Seggieden, Perthshire.
Thomas Campbell Eyton, F.Z.S., F.G.S., &c.; Eyton Hall, Salop.
Frederick DuCane Godman, F.Z.S.; 55 Lowndes Square, London.
Percy Sandon Godman, B.A., Corr. M.Z.S.; Borregaard, Sarpsborg, Norway.
John Henry Gurney, M.P., F.Z.S., &e.; Catton Hall, Norfolk.
Rev. William Henry Hawker, M.A., F.Z.S.; Green Hook, Horn- dean, Hants.
Arthur Edward Knox, M.A., F.L.S.; Trotton, Sussex.
Right Hon. Thomas Lyttleton, Lord Lilford, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Lilford Hall, Northants.
Edward Clough Newcombe ; Feltwell Hall, Norfolk.
Alfred Newton, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. ; Fellow of Magdalen College, Cambridge.
Edward Newton, M.A., Corr. M.Z.S., Assistant Colonial Secretary, Mauritius.
John William Powlett-Orde, late Captain 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment ; Kilmorey, Argyllshire.
Osbert Salyin, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; 11 Hanover Terrace, Regent’s Park, London.
Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., Sec. Z.S., &c. ; 11 Hanover Square, London.
Alfred Forbes Sealy, M.A., F.C.P.S., &c. ; Madras.
Wilfred Huddleston Simpson, M.A., F.Z.S. ; 21 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London.
Rev. Edward Cavendish Taylor, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Oxford and Cam¬ bridge Club, Pall Mall, London.
Robert Fisher Tomes, Corr. M.Z.S. ; Welford Hill, Stratford-upon- Avon, Warwickshire.
Rev. Henry Baker Tristram, M.A., F.L.S., Corr. M.Z.S., Master of Greatham Hospital, Durham.
Extra-Ordinary Member.
Alfred Russel Wallace, F.Z.S., 5 Westbourne Grove Terrace, London, W.
|
. |
||||
|
■ |
.
HONORARY MEMBERS
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.
Professor Spencer P. Baird, Assistant Secretary to the Smithsonian Institution, Washington.
Doctor Eduard Baldamus, Pfarrer zu Osternienburg bei Cbihen , Sekretar der deutschen Ornithologen-Gesellschaft.
Edward Blyth, Curator to the Museum of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta.
Doctor Jean Cabanis, Erster Gustos am Konigl. Museum der Friedrich- Wilhelm’s Universitat zu Berlin.
John Cassin, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.
Doctor Gustay Hartlaub, Bremen.
Leopold Edgar Layard, South African Museum, Capetown.
Professor J. Reinhardt, Kongelige Naturhistoriske Museum, i Kjo- benhavn.
Robert Swinhoe, E.Z.S., F.R.G.S., H.BM.’s Vice-Consul at Formosa.
Jules Verreaux, Rue St. Louis au Marais, no. 17, a Paris.
CONTENTS of VOL. V. (1863.)
Number XVII., January.
I. Catalogue of the Birds of India, with Bemarks on their Geographical Distribution. By Edward Blyth, Curator of the Asiatic Society’s Museum, Calcutta. Part I., containing Scan- sores and Raptor es . . . .
Page
1
II. Description of a new African Plover. By Baron Th. v. Heuglin. (Plate I.) . . 31
III. Notes on the Birds of Egypt. By S. Stafford Allen . 32
IV. Note on the Kestrel of Madagascar ( Tinnunculus new-
toni). By J. H. Gurney. (Plate II.) . 34
V. Notice of the Occurrence of the Tawny Pipit (Anthus
rufescens) in Great Britain. By George Dawson Rowley . . 37
VI. On the Birds of the Interior of British North America.
By Captain Blakiston . . . . 39
VII. Additions and Corrections to the Ornithology of
Northern China. By Robert Swinhoe, Corr. Memb. Zool. Soc. (Plate III.) . . 87
VIII. Corrections and Additions to Captain Blakiston’s Paper
on the Ornithology of Northern Japan . 97
IX. Note on Corvus senecc, Garn. & Less., and Corvus fusci-
capillus, G. R. Gray. By Alfred R. Wallace, E.Z.S. . . . 100
X
CONTENTS.
X. Recent Ornithological Publications : —
1. English Publications : — Gould’s 4 Birds of Great Britain ’ . 102
2. French Publications: — Maillard’s ^ Notes sur Pile de la
Reunion’ . . . 103
3. Dutch Publications : — 4 Acta Societatis Indo-Neerlandieae
Schlegel’s 4 Museum d’Histoire Naturelle des Pays-Bas’ . . 104
4. Russian Publications: — Maximovicz’s 4 Zoologische Nach-
richten vom Ussuri ’ . . . . . 107
5. American Publications : — Coues’s Synopsis of North-Ame-
rican Colymbidce and Podicipidce : Coues’s Revision of the North American Gulls : Elliot’s Remarks on Pedioecetes : Lawrence’s 4 Descriptions of new Birds’ and 4 Third List of Birds from Panama ’ : Bryant on the Birds of Labrador . 107
XI. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, &c.: — Letters from Major Tickell ; from Dr. C. R. Bree and Dr.
Schlegel relating to the supposed extinction of the Erancolin in Europe : Mr. Gurney’s Note on Hirundo monteiri : News of Baron v. Heuglin ; Extract of a Letter from Mr. G. Kretft : Extracts from Mr. Blyth’s recent Letters : Notes by Dr. Schlegel on species of Lycocorax and Ptilojous : Mr. Plant’s arrival in Madagascar ................. Ill
Number XVIII., April.
XII. On the Birds of the Interior of British North America.
By Captain Thomas Blakiston . . . 121
XIII. Notes on the Birds of Egypt. By S. Staeeord Allen. 156
XIV. An Ornithological Letter from Mentone. By J. Tra¬ herne Moggridge . . 157
XV. Note on the Harrier of Bourbon ( Circus maillardi,
Verreaux). By P. L. Sclater. (Plate IV.) . 163
XVI. Notes on Birds observed in Madagascar. By S. Roch, Assistant- Surgeon, Royal Artillery, C.M.Z.S., and Edward Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S. (Part II.) ........ 165
CONTENTS.
XI
Page
XVII. Notes on the Birds breeding in the Neighbourhood of Sydney, New South Wales. By E. P. Ramsay, Esq., of Dobroyde. 177
XVIII. Descriptions of eight New Species of Birds from the Isthmus of Panama. By George N. Lawrence, Corr.Mem.Z.S. 181
XIX. Two Days at Madeira. By Alfred Newton, M.A.,
E.L.S., F.Z.S . . . 185
XX. Note on the Eastern- Asiatic Thrushes of the Genus
T.urdus. By P. L. Sclater . 195
XXI. The Ornithology of Formosa, or Taiwan. By Robert Swinhoe, F.Z.S., F.G.S., &c. (Part I.) (Plate V.) .... 198
XXII. Recent Ornithological Publications : —
1. English Publications : — Jerdon’s e Birds of India : ’ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal : Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria : Ansted and Latham’s ‘ Channel Islands ’ . 219
2. German, Russian, and Dutch Publications : — Landbeck on
the Coots of Chili: Nordman on the Amurian Capercailzie: Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde . 223
3. Scandinavian Publication : — Sundevall’s Essay on Aristo¬ telian Natural History . 226
4. Portuguese Publication : — Barbosa du Bocage’s 4 List of
the Birds of Portugal ’ . 227
5. American Publications : — Boardman’s ‘ Catalogue of the
Birds of Maine : ’ Elliot’s 4 Notes on European Ducks occurring in America : ’ Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of Phila¬ delphia . 228
XXIII. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices,
&c. : — -
Letters from Mr. E. V. Harcourt, Mr. M. Weston Moggridge,
Mr. H. Stevenson, and Dr. T. Salvadori : Extracts of Letters from Prof. Baird and Mr. 0. Salvin : Note on Didunculus strigi- rostris : Mr. E. L. Layard’s return to Cape Town : Mr. Blyth’s return to England . . 230
Xll
CONTENTS.
Number XIX., July.
Page
XXI Y. Ornithological Notes from the Antipodes. By E. L. Layard . . . 241
XXY. The Ornithology of Formosa, or Taiwan. By Bobert Swinhoe, F.Z.S. (Part II.) (Plate YI.) . 250
XX YI. Synopsis of the known Species of Dacnis. By P. L. Sclater. (Plate YII.) . . 311
XXYII. Notes on the Fruit-Pigeons of the Genus Treron.
By Alfred B. Wallace . 318
XXYIII. A Fifth additional List of Birds from Natal. By J. H. Gurney, M.P., F.Z.S. (Plates YIII. & IX.) .... 320
XXIX. Notes of a Second Yisit to Madagascar. By Edward
Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S . 333
XXX. Becent Ornithological Publications : —
1. English Publications : — English edition of Blasius’s ‘List of
the Birds of Europe :’ Ibbetson’s Translation of Tschudi on ‘ De¬ structive Insects ’ . . . . 350
2. French Publication : — Bevue et Magasin de Zoologie . . 354
3. German Publications : — Peters on a new form of Thrush :
Journal fur Ornithologie : Burmeister’s ‘ Beise durch die La Plata Staaten ’ . 355
4. Dutch Publications : — Bevue Methodique des Collections du
Musee des Pays-Bas : Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dier- kunde . 358
5. American Publications : — Baird’s List of Desiderata : Con¬ clusion of Elliot’s Monograph of the Pittas, . 360
XXXI. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices,
&c. : —
Letters from Messrs. J. H. Cochrane and S. Stafford Allen on Cuculus glandarius : Letters from Bev. H. B. Tristram and Mr. J. H. Gurney : Extract of a Letter from Mr. Elliott Coues : Letter and Corrigenda from Mr. E. Blyth: Spoliation of the late Mr. Salmon’s Collection of Eggs: Indignant Letter from t: Oophilus:” Occurrence of Eyrrhaptes paradoxus in England . 361
CONTENTS.
Xlll
Number XX., October.
Page
XXXII. The Ornithology of Formosa, or Taiwan. By Robert Swinhoe, Esq., F.Z.S., Ac . 377
XXXIII. A Visit to the Islet of Filfla, on the South Coast of Malta. By Charles A. Wright . 435
XXXIV. Note on the Genus Pyrrhula. By Edward Blyth, C.M.Z.S., &c. (Plate X.) ............ 440
XXXV. Notes on the Ornithology of Northern Japan. By Robert Swinhoe, F.Z.S., Ac . 442
XXXVI. Notes on Birds breeding in the Neighbourhood of Sydney. By E. P. Ramsay, Esq., of Dobroyde . 445
XXXVII. On Accvpiter stevensoni, a New Species of Hawk from China. By J. H. Gurney, M.P., F.Z.S., &c. (Plate XI.) 447
XXXVIII. List of recent Additions to the Genus Calliste.
By P. L. Sclater. (Plate XII.) . 450
XXXIX. Notes of a Second Visit to Madagascar. By Edward Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S. (Plate XIII.) . . 452
XL. Recent Ornithological Publications : —
1. English Publications: — Bates’s ‘Naturalist on the Amazons:’
Jardine on a new Spine-tailed Swift : Bree’s 4 Birds of Europe : ’ Blyth’s Report on Additions to the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal : Mouat’s 4 Adventures among the Andaman Islanders : ’ Baring-Gould’s 4 Iceland ’ . 462
2. German Publication : — Philippi & Landbeck’s Beitrage zur
Fauna von Peru . . 467
3. Scandinavian Publications : — Friesen’s 4 Review of Swedish Ornithological Literature : ’ Muller’s 4 Bird-Fauna of the Faeroes : ’ Reinhardt on Troglodytes borealis : Fischer’s articles
in Rroyer’s Tidsskrift . 467
4. Italian Publications : — Benvenuti on New Trochiliclce :
Atti della Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali . 470
5. American Publications : — Coues’s 4 Review of the Terns of North America,’ and additional note on the North- American AEgiothi : Verrill’s ‘Notes on the Natural History of Anticosti,’ and 4 Catalogue of the Birds of Maine ’ . . . 471
XIV
CONTENTS.
XLI. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, &c. : — - Letters from Messrs. H. H. Giglioli and W. J. Chambers :
Mr. Chambers’s Note on Birds observed in Palestine : Extract of a Letter from Prof. Baird: Dr. Martin Barry’s ‘List of the Birds that have bred in the island of Arran ’ : Letter from “ Oologicns ” in reply to “ Oophilus : ” Sale of the late Baron E. de Lafresnaye’s Collection : Delay of the proposed article on Syrrhaptes paradoxus : Mr. Tristram’s proposed visit to Palestine 474
Index to the Names of Contributors . . . . 481
Index to the Names of Species . . 485
ERRATA ET EMENDANDA.
Page 31, line 19, for “Plate II.” read “Plate I.”
Page 119, line 26, for “ bazlei ” read “ bayleii.” <
Page 208, line 13, for “shah” read “ schach”
Page 438, line 24, for “ candidissima ” read “ vermiculata” Page 439, line 11, for “ never ” read “ rarely.”
PLATES IN VOL. V.
Page
I. Hemerodromus cinctus . 31
II. Tinnuneulus newtoni . 34
III. Oroecetes giilaris . 87
IY. Circus maillardi . . . 163
Y. Circus spilonotus . 198
YI. Pomatorhinus musicus . . 250
VII. Dacnis venusta . 311
VIII. 1. Camaroptera natalensis . . . . ^
I qaa
2. Cisticola ayresii . . . . . j
IX. Megalophonus rostratus . 320
X. Pyrrhula erithacus . . 440
XI. Accipiter stevensoni . 447
XII. Calliste dowii . 450
XIII. Eggs of Madagascar Birds . . 452
THE IBIS.
No. XVII. JANUARY 1863.
I. — Catalogue of the Birds of India, with Remarks on their Geo¬ graphical Distribution . By Edward Blyth, Curator of the
Asiatic Society’s Museum, Calcutta. Part I., containing
Scansores and Raptores.
[This catalogue will include, besides the birds of India proper and Cashmere (to which Mr. Jerdon confines his attention in his work now in preparation), the species found in Ceylon, Assam, the British Burmese territories, and the Malayan peninsula, down to Singapore, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and what little is known of the Ornithology of the Maldives and Laccadives.]
Order SCANSORES.
Earn. PSITTACIDjE.
Genus Pal^ornis, Vigors (including Belocercus, Muller).
1. P. alexandri : Psittacus aleocandri, L. (Edwards, B. pi. 292. f. 1.)
Syn. Vide Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), p. 18.
Hab. The Alexandrian Parrakeet inhabits the hilly regions of all India, from the sub-Himalayas to Ceylon, inclusive, with those of Assam, Sylhet, Arakan, and the Tenasserim provinces as low as Amherst province. According to Dr. Mason, “ it is found in the provinces Amherst, Pegu, and Arakan ; but I never saw it,” he remarks, t( in Tavoy or Mergui.” Neither did I ob¬ serve it in the interior of the province of Martaban, nor towards the coast upon the hills near Moulmein. It has been received from Siam, and also from the Andaman Islands*. In Nepal,
* A living specimen, however ; very possibly a native of India that had been taken from Calcutta to Port Blair in the first instance.
YOL. V.
B
2
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
Mr. Hodgson states that “ it inhabits the Sal-forest exclusively, and is not known to the Parrot-tamers.” It is the ordinary Parrakeet of the Punjab. In the peninsula of India it appears to be somewhat rare ; but, in Ceylon, Mr. E. L. Layard “ found it in countless thousands at Battacalsa, nesting in the cocoa-nut palms, and resorting to them by night in vast flocks. I procured a specimen or two,” he adds, a at Maleth, in the central provinces ; and I shot a single bird at Gillymalle.” The very young are brought in considerable numbers to Cal¬ cutta, the earliest towards the close of February, and another batch of them in April, being doubtless the second brood ; many old birds also. They come from the Midnapur jungles chiefly, as I am assured, though some probably are from the Rajmahal and other proximate hills. Buchanan Hamilton states that this species “ frequents the Sunderbans, but comes to the neigh¬ bourhood of Calcutta when the crop of rice is ripe” (MSS.). If so (and the authority of that great observer is unquestionable), there can be little doubt that the flocks which visit this vicinity come rather from the hill-jungles westward of the delta; and it is not improbable, but consistent rather with daily observation of the habits of the birds of this genus, that they regularly return to their accustomed roosting-places in the hills every evening, however great may be the distance *. That Sonnerat observed the Alexandrian Parrakeet wild in the Philippine Islands needs confirmation.
2. P. torquatus : Psittacus torquatus , Boddaert (PI. Enl. 551). Ps. cuhicularis , Hasselquist (?) : P. parvirostris , Bp. (?) : P. layardi, Blyth.
Syn. Vide Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), p. 19.
Hah. “ The Rose-ringed Parrakeet,” writes Mr. Swainson, “ is one of the few birds of Senegal whose geographic distribu¬ tion extends from east to west. Of four specimens in very perfect plumage now before us, three are from Western Africa and one from Madras : between the first three of these there is
* “ All the Parrakeets love the shelter of hills, and breed there exclu¬ sively ; though they wander a good deal in the cold weather, especially in the plains ” (Hodgson). P. torquatus is so far an exception, that it breeds abundantly throughout the plains of India.
3
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
no difference whatever in size ; but that from the East Indies is considerably larger, the length of its wing, in fact, measuring 7 in., while that of the Senegal race is not quite 6 in.”* The late H. E. Strickland, however, in a list of birds procured in Kordofan, remarks that “this species, which extends across Africa from Abyssinia to Senegal, is identical with specimens from India f .” Col. Chesney, moreover, notices them in Syria as “abounding in the spring J.” Of numerous Asiatic specimens examined (from Upper India, Bengal, Ceylon, Burmah, &c.), I have found the length of wing to be very regularly 6i in., though a few old males attain to 7 in. According to Lieut. Irwin, “the Parrot and Maina are scarcely natives of Turkistan, or at least of the country around the Oxus § 39 ■ — by which, I presume, he means that they do occur there as visitants.
This is one of the commonest of Indian birds, inhabiting the plains chiefly, if not exclusively. It is found alike in Ceylon, the Deyra Doon, Assam, Sylhet, parts of Burmah, and the Malayan peninsula (to the latitude of Penang), preferring cultivated dis¬ tricts ; and, so far as I have seen, it is the only Indian Parrakeet that affects the vicinity of human habitations, flocks of them often settling on buildings, especially if in gardens with trees about them, and a few pairs commonly breeding in suitable cavities about large buildings. It is the only species observed wild in the densely populous immediate neighbourhood of Calcutta ; but in the nearest jungle-districts, more especially on hilly ground, it is replaced by P. rosa. The multitudes of them about some of the stations in the plains of Upper India, particularly where there are large avenues of trees (as at Allahabad), are indeed astonishing; and Mr. Layard^s description of them in Ceylon will be familiar to the ornithological reader In the dense forest-jungles of the hill-regions lying eastward of the Bay of Bengal it does not occur, though found in open country, as in Upper Pegu. In the Tenasserim provinces, remarks Dr. Mason,
* Nat. Libr., Birds of West Africa, ii. p. 175.
t Proc. Zool. Soc. 1850, p. 219.
% Journal of the Euphrates Expedition, i. pp. 443, 537.
§ Journ. As. Soc. viii. p. 1007.
If Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. xiii. (1854) p. 262.
B 2
4
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
this species is seen in smaller companies than P . javanicus, which have not the same habit of simultaneous descent upon the rice- fields.
3. P. columboides, Vigors (Jerdon, Madr. Journ. Lit. Sc. xi. p. 209. pL 3; Ill. Ind. Orn. pi. 18).
Syn. P.melanorliynchus, Sykes (female or young). Psittacus kienerii et Conurus sagittifer columboides, Bourj. Perr. t. 3, 3 a.
Hab. Forests of Malabar; rare in the Nilgiris.
4. P. calthraPjE, Layard; Blyth, J. A.. S. xviii. p. 801.
Syn. P. gironieri , Verreaux. Psittacus viridicollis, Cassin.
Hab. Mountains of Ceylon.
5. P. schisticeps, Hodgson, As. Bes. xix. p. 178.
Syn. Conurus himalayanus, Lesson.
Hab . Common in the middle and lower regions of the Hima¬ laya, extending westward to Pushut, where the late W. Griffith observed it in flocks; Naga and Kashya hills (Ya-ma-Doong range). Upper Pegu. Captured examples are not unfrequently brought to Dacca, but seldom to Calcutta.
6. P. rosa : Psittacus rosa, Boddaert, ex Buff. PI. Enl. 888.
Syn. P. bengalensis et P. cyanocephalus (?), Gray, vide Brit.
Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), pp. 20, 21.
Hab. The upland jungle-districts of all India proper, with Ceylon, Assam, Sylhet, Arakan, Pegu, Martaban, the Tenas- serim provinces, and Siam*; replacing in the lower hills, for the most part, the P. torquatus of the plains of India, but also inhabiting the plains where clad with forest jungle, or otherwise well wooded. Buchanan Hamilton states that many breed in the Bengal Sunderbans, “ to which they return in the spring for that purpose. They come out upon the cultivated country in immense flocks so soon as the first crop of rice approaches to maturity; for this is their favourite food.” — (MSS.) Great
* In the Catalogue of the India-house Museum, a specimen is noted from China, “ from Reeves’s Collection ; ” doubtless an Indian example, taken out probably from Calcutta. Is Sonnerat’s Philippine species really different — the P. cyanocephalus of Gray? — [Mr. Swinhoe has ex¬ amples of this bird from Canton, where it undoubtedly occurs as a feral species. — £d.]
5
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
numbers of them are brought to Calcutta, and the small young during the month of April.
7. P. caniceps, Blyth, J. A. S. xv. pp. 23, 51, 368 (Gould, B. As. pt. ix.).
Hah . Of this fine large species, a living male was obtained in one of the Nicobar Islands, with its wings and tail much muti¬ lated ; and the late Dr. Cantor procured a fine female in Penang.
8. P. jayanicus, Osbeck (Swainson, Zool. Ill. ser. 1, pi. 16).
Syn. P. javanicasf P. tibrisca, P. barbatus (?), P. melano-
rhynchus , et P. borneus, Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), pp. 23, 24.
Hab. This handsome species is particularly abundant in the Indo-Chinese countries, but is not seen wild on the western side of the Bay of Bengal, though ponticerianus is one of its syno¬ nyms ; neither (according to the Dutch, naturalists) does it in¬ habit Borneo, though borneus is another synonym ; but it is common in Java and also in Siam, and thence to Assam, and westward to Nepal, breeding in the hills and adjacent forests, and resorting in immense flocks to the open plains when the crops are ripening. In the forests of Upper Martaban I ob¬ served only this species and P. rosa , both in extreme abundance. Buchanan Hamilton observed them “in the woods near Gor- ruckporeP Vast numbers are obtained by the Calcutta bird- dealers, even when very young, which are brought from Tippera and Chittagong, as I have been assured.
9. P. erythrogenys, Blyth, J. A. S. xv. pp. 23, 51, 368 (Gould, B. As. pt. ix.).
Syn. P. nicobaricus , Gould.
Hab. Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
10. P. longicaudus : Psittacus longicaudus , Boddaert, ex Buff. PI. Enl. 887.
Syn. Vide Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), p. 22. P. modestus, Eraser, et P. viridimystax, Blyth.
Hab. Sumatra, Borneo, and the southern portion of the Ma¬ layan peninsula, — being the only Palceornis there met with, and having the same range of distribution as the two following species.
6
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
Genus Psittinus, Blyth, J. A. S. xi. p. 189*.
11. Ps. malaccensis : Psittacus malaccensis, Latham (Swain- son’s Zool. Ill. ser. 1, pi. 154).
Syn. Vide Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidae (1859), p. 91 = Psittacula incerta (Shaw).
Hab. Sumatra, Borneo, and the Southern Malayan peninsula, as the last, but extending* northward, as somewhat of a rarity, to the southern Tenasserim provinces (Tavoy and Mergui). Its manners in captivity, and doubtless its wild.habits, are altogether those of a Palceornis , to which genus it is most closely akin.
Subfam. Eclectin^e.
Genus Loriculus, Blyth, J. A. S. xix. p. 236.
(a. Black-billed.)
12. L. galgulus : Psittacus galgulus, L. (Edwards, B. pi. 293.
f.i.)
Syn. Vide Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), p. 54.
Hab. Sumatra, Borneo, and southern part of Malayan penin¬ sula.
(b. Coral-billed.)
13. L. yernalis : Psittacus vernalis , Sparrm. (Sw. Zool. Ill. ser. 2, pi. 11).
Syn. Vide Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), p. 54.
Hab . All the hilly parts of India, from the sub-Himalayan region to the extreme south, but not Ceylon ; also the countries bordering the eastern shores of the Bay of Bengal, as far south as the Tenasserim provinces, where it is very abundant. It is likewise found in Java according to Dr. S. Muller, and a speci¬ men received from Java is in the Calcutta Museum j* ; but is replaced in the Malayan Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo by L. galgulus. The great supply to the Calcutta bird-dealers comes chiefly from the Rajmahal hills.
* Barely separable from Palceornis, despite the short tail. I have now tame living specimens.
t One from the “ Indian Archipelago ” is also noted in Gray’s ‘ Cata¬ logue.’
7
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
14. L. coulaci: Psittacula coalaci, Lesson (Edwards, B. pi. 6).
Syn. Vide Gray, Brit. Mus. Cat. Psittacidse (1859), p. 55
— L. indicus *.
Hab . Ceylon.
Order UAPTOEES.
Tribe I. Diurn^e.
Earn. FALCONIDiE.
Subfam. Falconing.
Genus Falco, L.
(a. Jer- or Arctic Falcons: Hierofalco , Kaup.)
Remark. — The Shanger of Eastern works on Falconry, stated to be “ very rarely met with in India — not more than one or two in a century, and then generally in the Punjab,” is a Jer-falcon of some species, probably F. candicans , Gmelin, and was doubt¬ less brought to India from Northern Asiaf.
( b . Cliff Falcons.)
15. F. calidus, Latham {vide J. A. S. xxviii. p. 281).
Syn. F. peregrinus of India, auctorum.
Hab. India generally (and Ceylon ?), as a winter visitant only, retiring beyond the Himalaya to breed, and resorting in the cold season much to watery situations, where it preys chiefly on the Anatidce. I have seen no example from the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal. F, peregrinus (- verus ) should be looked for
* I reject the name indicus, because the race does not inhabit India, so far as known; although so common in Ceylon, where it replaces L. vernalis.
t In a Kabul letter, published in the 4 Lahore Chronicle,’ we read that, on December 13th, 1858, 44 a letter was read from Sirdar Mahommed Ufzul Khan, from Balkh, stating that the ruler of Kokhan had sent his son with a present of 90 horses, 90 camels, 9 white Hawks, 40 slave girls and boys, and 18,000 tilles, to the king of Bokhara, who had accepted them, and was greatly pleased.”
A subsequent letter in the same newspaper states that, on the 9th January, 1859, 44the Amir received two Churkhs [Falco sacer?] from Balkh, which were sent off to Peshawur, for Major Lumsden.”
These extracts serve to show how the Falcons of Middle Asia are still conveyed about.
8
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
in the Himalaya ; and it remains to ascertain whether this and F. calidus do not grade into each other in W. Asia*.
16. F. peregrin a tor, Sund.4 (Gould B. As. pi. 36).
Syn. F. ruber indicus, Aldrovandi ; Sumatran F. communis (?), Gmv apud Baffles, Linn. Tr. xiii. p. 278. F.herbcecolaif), Tickell, J. A. S. ii. p. 570. F.shaheen, Jerdon. F. sultaneus, Hodgson.
Hab. India, Indo-China, and Malasia ; Ceylon: rare in Lower Bengal J. Arabia? Mesopotamia? Persia?
( c . Desert Falcons : Gennaia, Kaup.)
17. F. sacer, Schlegel (Gould, B. As. pi. 20 ; Hardw.Ill.Ind. Zool. pi. 25).
Syn. F. lanarius , of Temminck & Gould. F. cherrug , Gray.
Hab. Desert region of W. Asia and N. Africa; Punjab; Sulim ani and Salt ranges.
18. F. jugger, Gray (Gould, B. As. pi. 1 ; Young, in Jerdon's Ill. Iud. Orn. pi. 44).
Syn. F. lug gar, Jerdon. F. thermophilus , Hodgson.
Hab. Plains of India.
19. F. babylonicus, Gurney (fIbis/ 1861, p. 218).
Syn. F. peregrinoides, Gray, Cat. Hodgson's specimens. F . peregrinator (part.), Horsf. Catal.
Hab. Probably the same as F. sacer, but has doubtless been
* From Dr. Jerdon’s forthcoming work on Indian Ornithology I quote (with permission) the following : — “ The Bhyri does not breed in this country, nor ever, I believe, in the Himalayas, but migrates to the north in April, and returns about the first week in October. Mr. Layard men¬ tions the Peregrine as breeding in Ceylon in January, and Dr. Adams says that he found the nest on a tree on the banks of the Indus, below Feroze- pore ; but I imagine that in both cases an old Laggar (F. jugger) has been mistaken for the Bhyri.” Mr. J. H. Gurney is of opinion (expressed in epistola ) that the true F. peregrinus, in addition to the F. calidus, will prove to occur occasionally in India.
4 Prof. Sundeval obtained his specimen on board ship, in N. lat. 6°, be¬ tween Ceylon and Sumatra, about seventy miles from the Nicobar Islands.
+ In Horsfield’s ‘ Catalogue of the Birds in the India-house Museum ’ (i. 17) a drawing of “ F. peregrinus” is noticed, from “Sumatra. Pre¬ sented by Sir T. S. Raffles/’ Also No. 19 of the same work, “ Falco - ? ”
from Kumaon. Species undetermined. What is this?
9
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
often overlooked and mistaken for the last ; at least once obtained in Oude, and (it would seem) twice in Nepal.
Genus Hypotriorchis, Boie.
20. ft. severus. (Temm. PI. Col. 128.)
Syn. Falco severus , Horsfield. F. aldrovandi, Reinwardt. F. guttatus, G. R. Gray. F. rufipedoides, Hodgson.
Hab. Himalaya; Java; Philippines: visiting the plains of Ben¬ gal during the cold season, where it is somewhat rare.
21. H. subbuteo. (Gould, B. E. pi. 22.)
Syn. Falco subbuteo, L. F. barletta , Daudin. F. pinetarius, Shaw. F. hirundinum, Brehm.
Hab . Europe, Asia, N. and S. Africa : visits Lower Bengal in the cold season, when it is far from common ; and has been killed in S. India.
Genus (or subgenus) Turumtia, Blyth.
22. T. CHicQUERA (Gould, Cent. Him. B. pi. 2.)
Syn. Falco chicquera , Daudin.
Hab. India (common) ; Afghanistan.
Genus ^Esalon, Kaup.
23. IE. REGULUs (Gould, B. E. pi. 24).
Syn. Falco eesalon et F. lithofalco, Gmelin. F. regulus, Pallas. F. ccesius, Meyer. F. sibericus, Shaw. F. smirillus, Savigny.
Hab. Europe and N. Asia; N. Africa; and ikrctic America (Richardson). In India known only as a rare winter visitant towards the N.W. frontier of the Punjab.
Genus Tinnunculus, Vieillot.
24. T. ALAUDARius (Goukl, B. E. pi. 26).
Syn. Accipiter alaudarius , Brisson. Falco tinnunculus , L. F. brunneus, Bechst. F. rufescens, Swainson. F. inter stinctus, McClelland. Cerchneis murum , media, et tinnuncula, Brehm.
Hab. Europe, Asia, and N. Africa; Java and Celebes: a common winter visitant in India.
10
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
25. T. saturatus, Blyth, J. A. S. xxviii. p.277.
Syn. ? T. moluccensis , Schlegel, vide P. Z. S. 1860, p. 343.
Hah. Indo-Chinese region. (The adult male remains to be described * ; while T. alaudarius is likewise found in Burma.)
Genus (or subgenus) Erythropus, Brehm.
26. E. cenchris. (Gould, B. E. pi. 29.)
Syn. Falco cenchris , Naumann. F. tinnunculoides , Schinz. F. tinnuncularius , Vieillot. F. x ant homy x, Natterer. F. naumanni, Fleisch.
Hab. “ Abundant in many districts of the Lower Himalayas, and preys much on the Mountain Pipit” (A. L. Adams) ; Nil- giris : visits Lower Bengal during the rainy season.
27. E. vESPERTiNus. (Gould, B. E. pi. 23.)
Syn. Falco vespertinus, L. F. rufipes , Bechstein.
Hab. Europe, Asia, N. Africa : more diffused over India than the preceding species, and (like it) visits Lower Bengal during the rainy season. “ The most common Hawk in Asia Minor ” (Fellowes, in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Nov. 1839, p. 213).
Genus Hierax, Vigors.
28. H. melanoleucos, Blyth, J.A. S. xii. p. \7Qbis.
Hab. The only specimen that I have seen was brought alive in a cage from Assam. Another is noted dubiously in Horsfield’s Catalogue, from that comprehensive region “ India”-}-*
* Since received. It differs less from the adult male of T. alaudarius than the females and young of the two races differ, but is still very deep coloured.
t Edwards’s figure of “the Little Black and Orange Indian Hawk,” pi. 108 (an example of which was brought in spirit “from Bengal in the East Indies ”), upon which figure are founded Falco ccerulescens, L., and F. bengalensis, Brisson, appears not to have been verified by the discovery of a second specimen, nor is a Hierax known to inhabit Bengal ; but I am nevertheless of opinion that a peculiar and distinct species is represented by that figure, which may yet be recovered, and the more probably as six species of this genus are now recognized, and of these only a single speci¬ men (for certain) is known of H. melanoleucos. In P. Z. S. 1860, p. 343, “ H. ccerulescens ” is noted as an inhabitant of the Moluccas — H . fringil- larius being probably intended.
11
Mr. E. Blytli on the Birds of India.
29. H. eutolmos, Hodgson.
Syn. H. bengalensis, Blyth, J. A. S. xii. p. 179 bis. Bengal
Falcon , var. A, Latham.
Hab. Nepal; Sikhim; Assam; Arakan ; Pegu, and Tenasserim provinces (where it is rare).
30. H. fringillarius. (Drap. Diet. Class. d’Hist. Nat. pi. 21 ; PI. Col. 37.)
Syn. Falco fringillarius, Drapiez. H. malayensis, Strickland. Malayan H. ccerulescens , auctorum.
Hab. Malayan peninsula and Western Indonesia generally; replaced by other species in the more eastern islands : northward it extends to the southernmost Tenasserim province of Mergui.
Subfam. Pernin^e (Cuckoo- Hawks).
Genus Baza, Hodgson.
31. B. lophotes. (PI. Col. 10.)
Syn. Falco lophotes , Temm. Lepidogenys lathami} Gray. B . syama , Hodgson. Lophotes indicus, Lesson.
Hab. India generally ; rarer to the south : Ceylon ; Burma. Not uncommon, during the rainy season, in Lower Bengal.
32. B. reinwardtii (Muller, Verh. Aves, t. 5).
Syn. Falco [Lophotes) reinwardtii , S. Muller. Lophastur jerdoni, Blyth. Aviceda sumatrensis} Lafresnaye. Lepidogenys suberistatus (?), Gould.
Hab. Malayan peninsula (rare) and archipelago ; Australia ?
Genus Pernis, Cuvier.
33. P. cristata, Cuvier. (PI. Col. 44.)
Syn. Falco ptilorhynchus , Temminck. P. ellioti, Jameson. P. maculosa , tor quota, ruficollis, et atrogularis , Lesson. P. bha- ratensis, Hodgson. P. apivora of India, auctorum.
Hab. India generally ; Indo-Chinese and Malayan regions : not rare in Lower Bengal.
Obs. — Specimens from S. India, Ceylon, and Malasia appear to have constantly a well-developed occipital crest, attaining to a length of about 2^ in., which is merely indicated, and some-
12 Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
times not at all present, in examples from the Himalaya and Bengal.
Genus Mach^rhamphus, Westerman.
34. M. alcinus, Westerm. (Bijd. t. d. Dierk. i. fig. p. 29). Hah. Malayan peninsula ( non vidimus ).
Subfam. Elanin^:.
Genus Elanus, Savigny.
35. E. melanopterus (Lev. Ois. d’Afr. pi. 36).
Syn. Falco melanopterus, Daudin. F. clamosus , Shaw. F. sonninensis et F. vociferus, Latham. E. ceesius , Savigny. E. minor, Bonap.
Hah. Africa; S. Asia and its archipelago; straggling rarely into the S. of Europe : common in India.
Subfam. Circaetin^e (Snake Eagles).
Genus Circaetus, Vieillot.
36. C. gallicus. (PI. Enl. 413 ; Gould, B. E. pi. 13.)
Syn. Falco gallicus, Gmelin. F. leucopsis , Bechstein. F.
longipes, Nilsson. Aquila hrachydactyla, Meyer. A. leucam- phomma, Borkh. A.pygargus, Brisson. C. leucopsis et C. anguina , Brehm.
Hab. Europe, Asia, and Africa : common on the plains of India, and preying chiefly on snakes.
Genus Spilornis, Gray.
37. S. cheela (Gould, Cent. Him. B. pi. 1) *.
Syn. Falco cheela, Daudin. Hamatornis undulatus, Vigors. Circaetus nipalensis , mithilensis, tavayensis, et maculatior, Hodg¬ son. Buteo hacha, Franklin et Sykes. B. melanotis, Jerdon (young). Hcematornis spilogaster, Blyth (intermediate plumage). Hab. India generally, and Ceylon ; Andaman Islands ; Indo-
* After this species should come
37*. S. elgini. Hamatornis elgini, Tytler, MS.
Hab. Andaman Islands. (See Mr. Blyth’s letter below.) — Ed.
13
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
Chinese countries : common, preying much on frogs, which it clutches in the mud ; hence its feet are generally clothed with mud.
38. S. bacha (Lev. Ois. d’Afr. pi. 13).
Syn. Falco bacha, Daudin. F. bido , Horsfield. F. albidus, Cuv.
Hab. Malayan peninsula and archipelago. Barely separable from the last.
Subfam. CmciNiE (Harriers).
Genus Circus, Lacepede.
(i a . Fygargus, Kaup.)
39. C. iERUGiNosus (PI. Enl. 424, 460; Gould, B. E. pi. 32, and YarrelPs Br. B. i., both from Indian specimens !).
Syn. Falco ceruginosus , L. F. rufus, Gmelin. F. arundina- ceus, Bechstein. F. krameri, Kram. Accipiter circus , Pallas. Acc. Circus rufus et Acc. Circus palustris, Brisson. C. variegatus, Sykes. C. rufus, var. indicus, et C. sykesi, Lesson, Indian race. Konta Falcon, Muskooroo Falcon, and Rufous-eared Falcon, La¬ tham. Honey Buzzard ?, Tickell, J. A. S. ii. p. 570.
Hab. Europe, Asia, and Africa; common in India. ( N.B . The plumage of the adult male, as figured by Gould and Yarrell, is of ordinary occurrence in India, but does not appear to have been observed in Europe !)
( b . Strigiceps , Bonap., et Glaucopteryx , Kaup.)
40. C. cyaneus (Edw. B. pi. 8; Gould’s B. E. pi. 33).
Syn. Falco cyaneus, L. $ F.pygargus. L. &c. (vide Gray's
Brit. Mus. Cat. Accipitres (1848), pp. 78, 79).
Hab . Europe, N. Africa, N. and Middle Asia ; N. America (?) : in India known only as a winter visitant in the N.W. and sub- Himalayan region.
Remark. — The American race, C. uliginosus (Gmel.), accord¬ ing to Dr. Schlegel, “ se distingue, dans tous les ages, du Busard St. Martin ( C . cyaneus ) d^Europe, par des tarses plus eleves. Le vieux male a ordinairement toutes les parties infe-
14
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
rieures, h partir de Ja poitrine, ornees des taches nombreuses, soit orbiculaires, soit transversales, d'un brun ferrugineux.” Sir W. Jardine, however, could not distinguish some Bermudan spe¬ cimens from C. cyaneus of Europe. ( Vide Contr. Orn.) Neither does Mr. G. R. Gray regard the N. American Harrier as distinct from C. cyaneus , in his Brit. Mus. Cat. of Accipitres of 1848.
41. C. swainsonii, A. Smith (Gould's B. E. pi. 34).
Syn. C.pallidus, Sykes. C. albescens et Falco cyaneus , var. a , Lesson. C. dalmaticus, RiippelL Falco aquifer , Cuvier, MS. F. herbcecola, Tickell.
Hab . S.E. Europe, Asia, and Africa : common in India as a winter visitant.
42. C. cinerascens (Gould's B. E. pi. 35).
Syn. Falco cinerascens et cineraceus, Montag. F. montagui, Vieillot. C. cinerascens v. pallidus et C. nipalensis , Hodgson.
Hab. Europe, Asia, and Africa : all India, with Ceylon ; com¬ mon as a winter visitant.
43. C. melanoleucus (Lev. Ois. d'Afr. pi. 32 ; Pennant's Indian Zoology, pi. 2).
Syn. Falco melanoleucus , Pennant.
Hab. India generally, with Ceylon ; and Indo-Chinese coun¬ tries : common as a winter visitant ; but not mentioned by Pallas in his Zoology of Russian Asia ! Afghanistan.
Obs. In this species the sexes are alike ; and the young would appear not to differ in plumage*.
Subfam. Accipitrinas (Hawks).
Genus Accipiter, Ray.
44. Acc. nisus. (PI. Enl. 467, 412; Gould's B. E. pi. 18.)
Syn. Falco nisus, L. F. lacteus, Gmelin. F. nisosimilis,
Tickell, J. A. S. ii, p. 571 +. Acc.fringillarius, Ray. A.dussumieri ,
* What is the Circus, No. 34 of Horsfield’s Bird Catalogue, from China and also Afghanistan ?
t Thejate Prince of Canino considered this to be distinct (Comptes Rendus, xli. (1855) p. 652) ' “ Aux nombreuses races de vrais Accipiter
15
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
apud Jerdon, Madr. Journ. Lit. Sc. x. p. 84. Acc. maculatus, Brisson. Acc. subtypicus, Hodgson. Nisus communis , Cuvier. N. elegans, N. fringillarum, et N. peregrinus, Brehm. Bassura Falcon, Latham.
Hab. Europe, Asia, and N. Africa : a winter visitant in India, where it is numerous in the hilly parts ; rare, though occasional, on the alluvium of Lower Bengal. I have not seen it from the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal ; but it is recorded as an inhabitant of Japan.
45. Acc. nisoides (Blyth, J. A. S. xvi. p. 727, xxi. p. 359).
Syn. Acc. fringillarius, var., Vig. Appendix to Memoir of Sir
T. Stamford Raffles, p. 549.
Hab. Malayan peninsula ; Sumatra ?
Remark. — Mr. G. R. Gray is utterly mistaken in referring this as a synonym of the next species. It closely resembles the preceding one, but is smaller, with trivirgate throat ; and I doubt if the male has ever any rufous colouring. My friend Dr. Jer- don very strongly suspected that it is the Khdndesra of Indian falconers, of the existence of which (as a distinct Indian species) he is assured, from the concurrent testimony of all native fal¬ coners, although he has not succeeded hitherto in procuring a specimen. It may be mistaken for Acc. nisus ; but never for Acc. virgatus.
( Hierospiza , Kaup.)
46. Acc. virgatus (PI. Col. 109 S ; Jerdon' s Ill. Ind. Orn. pi. 4. p. 29).
Syn. Falco virgatus , Temminck. Acc. besra , Jerdon. $A. fringillarius , Jerdon, Catal. A. dussumieri, Sykes. A. affinis, Hodgson, Gray's Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 18. Nisus (nec Sparvius)
ajoutez Acc. nisosimilis, Tickell (1833), de l’Inde, qui semble identique au dussumieri de Jerdon, mais non a celui de Temminck, si voisin du badius , chacun ayant applique ce nom a sa guise, mon ami le colonel Sykes au virgatus ,” &c. All the specimens which I have seen from various parts of India, from the Himalaya to the south, and inclusive of Lower Bengal, were unmistakeable Acc. nisus (verus). The Prince, it also appears, dis¬ tinguished Micronisus badius from M. dussumieri ; but I doubt if any such distinction could be traced in an adequate series of specimens.
16 Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
minutus, Lesson*. F. minutus (?), L. F. brissonianus (?), Shaw.
Hab. India generally, but chiefly the hilly parts; also Malasia : rare and accidental in Lower Bengal.
Genus Micronisus, G. B. Gray.
47. M. badius (PL Col. 308,336).
Syn. Falco badius, Gmelin. F. brownii , Shaw. F. dussu- mieriy Temm. (not of Sykes's nor Jerdon's Catalogues). Acci¬ piter dukhunensisy Sykes. A.scutarius etA.fringillaroides, Hodg¬ son. Nisus malayensisy Meyer. Calcutta Sparrow-Hawk and Chippuck Falcon , Latham.
Hab . India generally; Indo-Chinese and Malay countries, being very numerous throughout India and Ceylon : not uncom¬ mon in Afghanistan ; Cashmere; Assam; Siam; China ?f
Genus Astur, Bechstein.
48. A. palumbarius (PI. Enl. 418, 423, 461 ; Gould's B. E. Pl- 17)-
Syn. Falco palumbarius et F. gentilis, L. F. gallinarius, Gmelin. F. albescens, Bodd. Accipiter astur, Pallas. Astur gallinarum, Brehm.
Hab. Europe and Asia ; rare in N. Africa : in India con¬ fined, or very nearly so, to the sub-Himalayas.
( Lophospiza , Kaup.)
49. A. trivirgatus (PI. Col. 303).
Syn. Falco trivirgatus, Beinwardt. A. indicus, Hodgson. A. palumbarius, apud Jerdon, Catal. A. cristatus, G. B. Gray. Spizaetus rufitindus, McClelland.
Hab. India, Indo-China, and Malasia ; being confined to the hilly parts.
* Referred by Dr. Pucheran to “ Nisus soloensis,” in the Rev. Zool. 1850, p. 210, — a species assigned by him to Sumatra on the authority of Duvaucel, and to the Coromandel coast and Ceylon on that of Lesche- nault, but which I have never seen or heard of even from the Malayan peninsula.
t Vide note to Accipiter nisus, p. 14.
17
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
Subfam. Theasaetin^e.
Genus Limnaetus, Vigors.
50. L. NIPALENSIS.
Syn. Nisaetus nipalensis , crested var., Hodgson, J. A. S. v.
p. 229. N. pulcher , id., J. A. S. vi. p. 361 et xii. p. 305. Falco orientalis (?) et F. lanceolatus (?), Temm. & Schleg.
Hab. Himalaya, chiefly eastward ; Khasyas ; also mountains of Ceylon, and probably those of S. India (rarely).
51. L. cristatellus. (PI. Col. 282; Jard. & Selb. Ill. Orn. pi. 66.)
Syn. Falco cristatellus , Temminck. F. Lathami, Tickell (?). F. cirratus (?), Gmelin.
Hab. The peninsula of India, andCleylon; rare in the Hi¬ malayas.
52. L. niveus. (PI. Col. 127; Horsf. Zool. Res. in Java, pi. 36.) Syn. Falco niveus , Temminck. F. limnaetus et Limn, hors -
fieldi , Vigors. Nisaetus pallidus, Hodgson, et N. nipalensis , crestless var., Hodgson, J. A. S. v. p. 229. Lake Eagle, Bauj Eagle, and probably Jerwied Eagle, Latham.
Hab. E. Himalaya; Bengal; Assam; Indo-Chinese and Ma¬ layan countries, where it is generally common.
53. L. CALIGATUS.
Syn. Falco caligatus, Raffles. Nisaetus alboniger, Blyth, J. A. S. xiv. p. 173, xix. p. 335.
Hab. Malayan peninsula; Sumatra.
54. L. kienerii. (Mag. de Zool. 1855, Ois. pi. 35.)
Syn. Astur kienerii, Geoffr. Spizaetus albogularis, Tickell : Blyth, J. A. S. xi. p. 456.
Hab. Himalaya ; Central India : rare.
Subfam. Aquiline.
Genus Eutolmaetus, Blyth ( Nisaetus , Hodgson).
55. Eu. bonellii. (PI. Col. 288 ; GouhPs B. E. pi. 7; Jerdon's Ill. Ind. Orn. pi. 1.)
Syn. Falco bonellii , Temminck. F. ducalis, Lichtenstein. F.
YOL. Y.
c
18
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
bellicosus (?), Daudin. F. armiger (?), Shaw. Aquila intermedia , Bonelli. Aq. bifasciata, Vieillot, Enc. Method, p. 1192 (teste G. B. Gray). Nisaetus grandis, Hodgson, J. A. S. v. p. 230. N. niveus, Jerdon, Catal. Genoese Eagle , Latham.
Hab. S. of Europe and Asia; N. (and S. ?) Africa: in India and Ceylon, confined chiefly to the hilly parts, where it is far from rare.
Genus Aquila, Meyer.
56. Aq. chrysaetos. (PI. Enl. 409, 410; Gould's B. E.
pi. 6.)
Syn. Falco chrysaetos , F. fulvus , F. melanaetos , et F. cana¬ densis * * * §, L. F. niger et F. americanus , Gmelin. F. melanonotus, Latham. F.regalis , Tei^ninck, Man. d'Orn. (1815) p. 10 (nec PI. Col. 495, teste G. B. Gray). Aq. nobilis , Pallas. Aq. regia, Lesson. Aq. melanaetos, Brehm. Aq. daphcenia, Hodgson.
Hab . Mountainous regions of the northern temperate zone, including the Himalaya; but not N.E. Africa, according to Biippell.
57. Aq. imperialis. (Sav. Descr. de PEgypte, i. t. 12; Gould's B. E. pi. 5.)
Syn. Falco imperialis , Temminck. F. mogilnik, Gmelin. F. ferox et Brown-bached Eagle , Latham. Aq. heliaca , Savigny. Aq. bifasciata, J. E. Grayf. Aq. nipalensis, Hodgson, As. Bes. xviii. pt. 2. p. 13. pi. 1. Aq. chrysaetos , Jerdon, Catal.
Hab. Hill regions of S.E. Europe and AsiaJ.
58. Aq. fulvescens, Gray (Hardw. Ill. Ind. Zool. ii. pi. 29). Syn. Falco obsoletus , Lichtenstein. Aq. fusca et Aq. punctata,
Gray, ibid. Aq. vindhiana , Eranklin§.
Hab. Plains of India : abundant.
* Aq. canadensis is recognized as distinct by the Americans {vide Proc. Acad. Philad. 1859, p. 185).
t Vide A. L. Adams in P. Z. S. 1858, p. 470.
X “Extremely numerous in the Punjab, preying, with Vultures, on carrion, and very numerous about the battle-fields ” (L. C. Stewart).
§ Distinct from A. noevioides of Africa, which is larger and more power¬ ful {vide J. A. S. xxiv. p. 253).
19
Mr. E. Blytli on the Birds of India.
59. Aq. nasvia. (Savigny, Descr. de PEgypte, Ois. t. 1, et t. 2. f. 1 ; Gould's B. E. pi. 8.)
Syn. Falco ncevius, F. maculatus , et F. undulatus , Gmelin. F. melanaetos , Savigny. Aq. clang a, Pallas. Aq. bifasciata, Hornsch. Aq, pomarina, Brehm. Aq. planga et Spizaetos fuscus, Vieillot. Spotted Eagle and Brown-backed Eagle, var. a, Latham.
Hab, E. of Europe, Asia, and N. Africa : rare in W. Europe, including the British Islands ; common in the Bengal Sunder- bans ; found likewise in the Himalaya (abundantly), and in C. and S. India : not on the plains, like the last, but in wooded and watery situations.
60. Aq. hastata.
Syn. Morphnus hastatus , Lesson. Spizaetus punctatus, Jerdon. Limnaetus unicolor, Blyth, J. A. S. xii. p. 128.
Hab. Common in the Bengal Sunderbans ; and found like¬ wise in E. Bengal generally, and in C. and S. India.
Remark. — This and the preceding three species vary greatly in plumage. No. 58 is a miniature of No. 5 7 ; No. 59 is larger than No. 58, but less robust; and the present species, with about the same linear dimensions, is, again, of more feeble con¬ formation. A practised eye readily distinguishes either, in any phase of colouring. No. 58 is, to a great extent, a devourer of eggs and callow broods — an habitual nest-robber, like No. 59.
Genus Neopus, Hodgson (also Heteropus, Hodgson;
Onichaetus, Kaup; Ictinaetus, Jerdon, nec Kaup),
61. N. MALAIENSIS. (PI. Col. 117.)
Syn. Falco malaiensis , Reinwardt. Aquila et Heteropus et Neopus per nig er, Hodgson. Nisaetus'l ovivorus, Jerdon. Black Eagle, Jerdon, Catal.*
Hab . S.E. Himalaya ; Nilgiris ; Malayan countries.
* The Eagle, “ about the size of the Aq. chrysaetos (colour black, but head and neck white, tail long and wedge-shaped),” seen at Rupshoo in Ladakh by Mr. A. L. Adams (P. Z. S. 1858, p. 471), very decidedly cannot have been the present species, as suggested by Mr. Adams. Possibly it might have been the great Halia'etus pelagicus (Pallas).
C 2
20
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India .
Genus Hieraetus, Kaup.
62. H. pennatus. (PI. Col. 33 ; Goulets B. E. pi. 9.)
Syn. Falco pennatus, Gmelin. F. lag opus, Bengal var., Latham.
Aquila minuta , Brehm. Aq. morphnoides (?), Gould, B. Austr. i. Spizaetus milvoides, J erdon. Butaquila strophiata, Hodgson.
Hab. E. Europe; Asia; Africa; Australia (?); India generally ; Ceylon ; Indo-Chinese region.
Remark .* — The Australian race, H. morphnoides, is stated to differ only in possessing a rudimentary occipital crest : this is constantly present in Indian specimens.
Subfam. Buteonin^;*.
Genus Archibuteo, Brehm.
63. A. hemiptilopus, Blyth, J. A. S. xv. p. 1 (Calc. Journ. N. H. viii. p. 89. pi. 5. f. 1).
Syn. A. cryptogenys, Hodgson, loc. cit.
Hab. Sikhim ; Tibet.
Genus Buteo, Cuvier.
64. B. aquilinus, Hodgson : Blyth, J. A. S. xiv. p. 176. Syn. B. leucocephalus, Hodgson, P. Z. S. 1845, p. 37. Falco
asiaticus (?), Latham, Ind. Orn. p. 14. F. hemilasius (?), Temm. & Schleg. B. strophiatus , Hodgson, test. Kaup et G. R. Gray. Eagle Buzzard, Swinhoe, Ibis, iii. p. 326, from N. China (?).
Hab. Nepal (G. R. Gray); Tibet; China (?) ; Japan (?).
65. B. canescens, Hodgson, J. A. S. xii. p. 308.
Syn. B. longipes, Jerdon. Nasal Falcon, Latham.
Hab. India generally ; plains and lower hills. In Lower Bengal, found chiefly above the tideway of the rivers.
66. B. vulgaris, Bechstein (Gould’s B. E. pi. 14).
Syn. Falco buteo, L. F. glaucopis, Merrem. F. variegatus, versicolor, cinereus, et obsoletus , Gmelin. B. pojana, Savi. B.
* Barely separable from Aquilince as here constituted; in which opinion I agree with the late Prof. Macgillivray. Some systematists seem disposed to refer to Aquilince all Falconidce of a certain size.
21
Mr. E. Blyth on the Bb'ds of India.
albus, Daudin. B. mutans et fasciatus, Vieillot. B. septen - trionalis, medius, et murum, Brehm. B. communis, Cuvier. B. swainsonii, Pr. Bonaparte. B. montanus , Riippell. B. rufiventer, Jerdon. B. japonicus, Schlegel.
Hab. Northern hemisphere; rare, and to the northward only in America. The loftier hills only in India. Common in the N.W. Himalaya.
67. B. plumipes, Hodgson, vide J. A. S. xiv. p. 2 ; P. Z. S. 1845, p. 37.
Syn. B. pygmceus, Blyth, J. A. S. xiv. p. 177.
Hab. Central region of Nepal ; Tenasserim provinces?*
Genus Poliornis, Kaup.
68. P. teesa. (Hardwicke, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 30.)
Syn. Circus teesa , Pranklin. Astur hyder , Sykes. Zuggun Falcon , Latham. P. fasciatus (?), A. Hay, Madr. Journ. L. Sc. xiii. p. 146. Astur barbatus (?), Eyton, Ann. N. H. 1845, p. 227.
Hab. Plains of India. Seldom met with on the mud-soil of Lower Bengal, though appearing immediately this is quitted, Tenasserim provinces (common); Malayan peninsula. “Not seen in the Punjab or W. Himalaya” (Adams).
Subfam. Haliaetin^e.
Genus Pandion, Savigny.
69. P. haliaetus. (GoukPs B. E. pi. 12.)
Syn. Falco haliaetus, L. F. carolinensis, F. cayanensis, et F. arundinaceus, Gmelin. F. pise at or, Brisson. Aquila piscatrix, Vieillot. Aq. balbuzardus, Dumeril. P. fluvialis, Savigny. P. americanus, Vieillot. P. alticeps et P. planiceps, Brehm. P. in- dicus, Hodgson. Bengal Osprey, Latham.
Hab. Of general distribution ; the Australian race (P. leuco- cephalus, Gould, which, according to Prof. Schlegel, is also found
* The probably identity of B. pygmceus with B. plumipes was suggested to me by Dr. Jerdon.
22
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
in Japan) alone slightly differing. Common throughout India, in all suitable localities*.
Genus Pontoaetus, Kaup.
70. P. ichthyaetus. (Horsfield, Zool. Res. in Java, pi. 34.) Syn. Falco ichthyaetus , Horsfield. Haliaetus plumbeus, Hodg¬ son. Ichthyaetus bicolor, G. R. Gray. I. horsfieldi et I. hucarius , Hodgson. Pandion lineatus , Jerdon, Cat. p. 8.
Hab. India ; Indo-Chinese and Malayan countries.
71. P. humilis. (Temm. & Muller, Ois. t. 6.)
Syn. Falco (Pandion) humilis, Muller, Verh.p.48. Ichthyaetus
nanus, Blyth, J. A. S. xi. p. 202, et xii. p. 304.
Hab. Malayan peninsula ; Sumatra.
Genus Blagrus, Blyth.
72. B. leucogaster. (PI. Col. 49 ; Gould's B. Austr. i. pi. 3.) Syn. Falco leucogaster, Gmelin. F. dimidiatus, Raffles. F.
albicilla, var., Latham. F. blagrus of S.E. Asia and Australia, auctorumf. Ichthyaetus cultrunguis, Blyth (the senior adult). Haliastur sphenurus, Gould (the young). Kumpa-maur Eagle (the senior adult) and Maritime Eagle (the adult), Latham.
Hab. India; Malasia; Moluccas; New Guinea; Australia; the Andaman and Nicobar Islands : chiefly the sea-coast and estuaries of the great rivers.
Genus Haliaetus, Savigny ( Cuncuma , in part, Hodgson).
73. H. fulviventer, Vieillot. (PI. Col. 8; Hardwicke's Ill. Ind. Zool. pi. 19, the young.)
Syn. Aquila leucorypha, Pallas J (?). Falco macei, Temminck.
* The Osprey is a very peculiar form among the Falconidce, and wants the projecting superorbital bone which is (I believe) so characteristic of all the rest. The next genus approximates Pandion in the adaptation of structure to piscivorous habits, but is nevertheless very distinct, and much more nearly affine to Haliaetus.
4 The true Blagre of Levaillant ( Falco blagrus, Daudin) is now believed to be the young of Haliaetus vocifer ( vide Cassin, Proc. Philad. Acad. 1859, p. 31).
J This name would hold precedence. Mr. Newton, on comparing the
23
Mr. E. Blytli on the Birds of India.
H. albicilla, Vigors & Horsfield. H. ossifragus, Raffles (?). II. albipes et H. lanceolatus, Hodgson. H. unicolor , Gray.
Hab. Northern India generally : abundant in Lower Bengal. Common in Kashmir and along the Indus; Indo-Chinese and Malay countries (?).
Genus Haliastur, Selby.
74. H. indus. (PI. Enl. 416.)
Syn. Falco indus , Boddaert. F. ponticerianus, Gmelin. Ha- liaetus garruda , Lesson. Milvus rotundicaudatus, Hodgson (the young).
Hab. India, with Ceylon; Indo-Chinese and Malayan countries; extremely common : replaced by an allied species in Australia, which extends to New Guinea, Batchian, Amboyna, and Ternate (P. Z. S. 1860, p. 342; Journ. Proc. Linn. Soc. ii. p. 154).
Genus Milvus, Cuvier.
75. M. govinda, Sykes.
Syn. M. cheela, Jerdon. Haliaetus lineatus, Gray (the young). Hab. S.E. Asia and its islands ; extremely common. In Lower Bengal it disappears during the rains, with the exception of an occasional straggler. It abounds in the lower ranges of the Himalaya [vide Adams in P. Z. S. 1858, p. 471).*
Fam. VULTURIDiE.
Subfam. VulturinjE.
Genus Vultur, L. (as restricted).
76. V. monachus, L. (Edwards, B. pi. 290; PI. Col. 426; Gould's B. E. pi. 2.)
Syn. V. cinereus et V. cristatus , Gmelin. V. arrianus , Lapeyr.
sterna of H.fulviventer from India and of H. leucoryphus(l) from the Crimea, found a considerable difference between them (Ibis, 1861, p. 223).
* The M. melanotis, Temminck, from China and Japan, appears to me to be a distinct race, however nearly akin. The beak is somewhat larger ; and the back is spotted in the adult, which is never the case with M. go¬ vinda.
24
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
V. imperial is, Temminck. V. vulgaris, Daudin. V. niger, Brehm. JEgypius niger, Savigny.
Hab. Mountainous parts of Europe and Asia ; Himalaya; rare on the plains of India.
Genus Otogyps, G. R. Gray.
77. 0. calvus. (PI. Col. 2.)
Syn. Vultur calvus, Scopoli. V. ponticerianus, Daudin.
Hab. India generally, and Burmah. Does not go far into the mountains ( vide Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 469).
Genus Gyps, Savigny.
[a. With fourteen tail-feathers.)
78. G. fulvus. (PL Enl. 426; GoukPs B. E. pi. 1.)
Syn. Vultur fulvus, Gmelin. V.persicus, Pallas*. V. vulgaris, V. kolbii, et V. percnopterus, Daudin. V. albicollis, Linderm. V. trincalos, Bechstein. V. indicus of Jerdon s Catal. and of A. L. Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 468.
Hab. Mountainous regions of Europe and Asia ; Himalaya : replaced in Barbary, the Pyrenees, and Sardinia by G. occiden¬ tal is; and by G. vulgaris, Savigny (G. ruppellii, Pr. Bonap.), in Egypt and Abyssinia.
79. G. indicus. (Gray & Mitchell, Gen. Birds, pi. 3.)
Syn. Vultur indicus, Scopoli & Latham. V. tenuiceps et V.
tenuirostris, Hodgson. V. kolbii of A. L. Adams (?), P. Z. S.
1858, p. 470.
Hab. India and Malay countries.
(b. With twelve tail-feathers.)
80. G. bengalensis. (Hardwicke’s Ill. Ind. Zool.)
Syn. Vultur bengalensis, Latham (the young). V. indicus , apud Temminck (the young). V. leuconotus, Gray (the adult) .
Hab. India generally ; Indo- China ; a summer visitant in Afghanistan; Sennaar (Riippell).
* Vide Journ. R. Geogr. Soc. x. p. 507.
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India. Subfam. Neophroninje.
25
Genus Neophron, Savigny.
81.. N. percnopterus. (PI. Enl. 407,429; Gould’s B. E. pi. 3.)
Syn. Vultur 'percnopterus , L. (nec Pallas). V. leucocephalus et V. fuscus, Gmelin. V. ginginianus et V. albus, Daudin. V. meleagris, Pallas. V. fuscus, Boddaert. V. leucocephalus , Brisson. Percnopterus cegyptiacus, Stephens.
Hab. Warmer regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa: abundant on the plains of India ; rare and accidental below the tideway of the rivers in Lower Bengal. A summer visitant in Afghanistan.
Pam. GYPAETIDiE.
Genus Gypaetos, Storr.
82. G. barbatus. (Gould’s B. E. pi. 4.)
Syn. Vultur barbatus, L. V. barbarus et Falco magnus, Gmelin. V. leucocephalus et V. melanocephalus, Meyer. G. grandis, Storr. G. alpinus, G. castaneus, et G, aureus, Daudin. G. himalayanus, Pearson*. G. hemachalanus, Hutton. Phene ossifraga, Savigny. Polypteryx cupido , Hodgson f.
Hab. High mountains of Europe and Asia; Himalaya; Af¬ ghanistan ; Salt and Sulimani ranges. ‘ Golden Eagle 9 of An¬ glo-Indian residents in the Himalaya { vide Adams, in P. Z. S. 1858, p. 467).
Tribe II. Nocturne.
Fam. STBIGIDiE.
Subfam. BuboninjeJ.
Genus Huhua, Hodgson.
83. H. orientalis. (PI. Col. 174, 229.)
* “ I see them both with and without the pectoral band ” (the late Lieut. Trotter, in epistola).
4 Prince Bonaparte recognises as distinct G. orientalis ( meridionalis , Brehm), from the Pyrenees, Sardinia, Arabia, and Abyssinia, and G. nudipes , from Africa.
X A Nepalese shikari in the employ of Mr. Hodgson, and brought by him to Calcutta, very positively recognized the Bubo maximus as a species
26
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
Syn. Strix orientalis, Horsfield. Str. sumatrana, Baffles. Str. strepitans , Temminck. Bubo et Huhua. nipalensis , Hodgson*. Hab . Himalaya ; Indo-Chinese and Himalayan countries.
84. H.pectoralis, Jerdon(Madr. Journ. Lit. Sc. x.p. 89, pi. 1.) Hab. S. India.
Genus Urrua, Hodgson ( Ascalaphia, Is. Geoffroy ?).
85. U. bengalensis. (Gould’s Cent. Him. Birds, pi. 3.) Syn. Otus bengalensis , Franklin. Bubo cavearius et Urrua
cavearia, Hodgson.
Hab. India generally, and Ceylon ; extending to Afghanistan ; but not met with below the tideway of the rivers in Lower Bengal.
86. U. coromanda. (Hardwicke, Ill. Ind. Zool. pi. 20.)
Syn. Strix coromanda , Latham. Urrua umbrata , Blyth.
Hab. Most parts of India : common in Lower Bengal.
Genus Asio, Brisson {Otus, Cuvier).
87. A. otus. (PI. Enl. 438 ; Gould’s B. E. pi. 40.)
Syn. Strix otus, L. Str. soloniensis , Gmelin. Str. deminuta, Pallas. Otus albicollis, Daudin. O. europceus, Stephens. O. communis, Lesson. O. vulgaris, Fleming. O. sylvestris, O. ar¬ bor eus, et O. gracilis, Brehm. O. wilsonianus, Lesson. O. ame- ricanus, Bonap. (American form).
Hab. Europe and N. Asia; Himalaya (rare); N. Africa; N. America.
88. A. brachyotus. (PI. Enl. 438; Gould’s B. E. pi. 40.) Syn. Strix brachyotus, L. Sir. ulula, S. cegolius, et S. acci-
pitrina, Pallas. Str. arctica, Sparrm. Str. tripennis, Schrank.
well known to him, and wrould not listen to the suggestion that his bird might have been Urrua bengalensis. [ Bubo maximus certainly occurs in Tibet. See P. Z. S. 1860, p. 99.— Ed.]
* According to the late Prince of Canino, “ Bubo nipalensis, Hodgson, est une espece a ajouter au genre Huhua : elle est le double d’ orientalis, Horsfield ( strepitans , Temminck), avec laquelle on Pa confondu ” (Comptes Rendus, xli. (1855) p. 655). Mr. Cassin unites Strix orientalis and Bubo nipalensis, but regards H. pectoralis as distinct.
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
27
Str.palustrisy Siemss. Str.caspia, Shaw. Str. brachyura, Nilsson. Otus palustr is et agrarius, Brehm.
Hab. Europe, Asia, Africa, and N. and S. America; India generally, visiting the plains in winter *.
Genus Ephialtes, Keys. & Blasius.
89. Eph. superciliaris. (Cassin, Journ. Phil. Acad. ii. pi. 12.)
Syn. S trice superciliaris , Vieillot, vide Rev. Zool. 1849, p. 19(?) . Str. rufescens , Horsfield. Ephialtes sagittata, Cassin.
Hab. Malayan peninsula and archipelago (not India).
90. Eph. lempiji. (PI. Col. 99.)
Syn. S trice lempiji, Horsfield. Str. noctula, Temminck. Scops javanicus , Lesson. Sc. lettia} Hodgson. Sc. lettioides et griseus, Jerdon.
Hab. India, China, and the Malay countries.
Remarks. — Specimens of this bird from the sub- Himalayas, Assam, Sylhet, Arakan, and the Tenasserim provinces, also China, are generally (but not always) larger than those from S. India and Ceylon ; while examples from the Malay countries are, for the most part, deeply tinged with rufous brown.
91. EPH. BAKKAMiENA.
Syn. Strice bakkameena , Pennant. Scops sunia (chestnut variety) and Sc.pennata (grey variety), Hodgson. Sc. malayensis , A. Hay. Eph. spilocephalus (?), Blyth, J. A. S. xv. p. 8 (young var. ?).
Hab. India, with Ceylon ; Indo-Chinese region and Malayan peninsula. Not rare in Lower Bengali*.
* 0. brachyotus , of Peale, from Hawai, is Asio sandvicensis, Bloxam.
f Barely separable from the European Eph. scops (L.). The Eph. rutilus (Pucheran), Rev. Zool. &c. 1849, p. 299, would seem to be a similar pyrrhous variety of the E. sunia of Hodgson. What is Eph. gymnopodus, Gray, from “ India,’5 which (according to Kaup) has the tarsi over the toes naked, and the toes completely naked, — otherwise resembling Eph. scops, but having shorter tarsi and wings ? Hab. “ India,” accordingt o Mr. Gray’s Catalogue, “ presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq.” Qy. from China ( vide Pr. Bonap., in Comptes Rendus, xli. (1855) p. 653, genus Acnemis, Kaup).
28
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
Genus Ketupa, Lesson.
92. K. FLAYIPES.
Syn. Cultrunguis flavipes, Hodgson.
Hab. Himalaya only (so far as hitherto observed).
93. K. ceylonensis. (Hardwicke's Ill. Ind. Zool. pi. 31.) Syn. Strix ceylonensis, Latham. Str. leschenaultii, Temminck.
Str. hardwickii, Gray. Str. dumeticola, Tickell. Cultrunguis nigripes, Hodgson.
Hab. India generally, with Ceylon ; Assam ; Arakan ; Tenas- serim provinces : very common in Lower Bengal ; not so in W. Himalaya.
94. K. javanensis, Lesson. (PI. Col. 74.)
Syn. Strix ketupa, Horsfield. Str. ceylonensis, apud Temminck. Hab. The common species of the Malayan peninsula and archipelago : rare in Arakan*.
Subfam. Surnin^e.
Genus Athene, Boie.
95. Ath. cuculoides. (Gould's Cent. Him. Birds, pi. 4.) Syn. Noctua cuculoides, Vigors. N. auribarbis , Hodgson. Hab. Himalaya ; Assam ; Arakan ; Tenasserim provinces;
China.
96. Ath. radiata.
Syn. Strix radiata, Tickell. Athene erythropterus, Gould. Noctua perlineata, Hodgson. N. cuculoides, Jerdon, Catal. Ath. undulatus , Blyth, J. A. S. xi. p. 457. Ath. cuculoides, Phillips, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 86 (?).
Hab. Most parts of India ; sub- Himalayan region : never on the alluvium of Lower Bengal, but appears immediately this is quitted in a westerly direction.
97. Ath. malabarica, Blyth, J. A. S. xv. p. 281.
Syn. Ath. castanoptera , Jerdon's Cat., Supp.
Hab. S. Malabar (Travancore, Cochin, &c.).
* Mr. Cassin gives “ India ” as the locality for a specimen of this bird ; but I have never heard of its occurrence on the western side of the Bay of Bengal, and know but of one instance of its having been obtained so high as in Arakan. When will writers cease to cite the word “ India ” so very vaguely ?
29
Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
98. Ath. castanoptera. (PL Col. 98.)
Syn. Striae castanoptera, Horsfield. Str. spadicea, Reinwardt.
Ath. castanotus, Blyth.
Hab. Ceylon ; Tenasserim (Heifer) ; Malayan peninsula (?) ; Java.
99. Ath. brama. (PI. Col. 68.)
Syn. Strix brama, Temminck. Noctua indica, Franklin. N. tarayensis, Hodgson. “ Athene indica, Gould,” Chesney's Ex¬ pedition, i. p. 362.
Hab. Most parts of India, from the Punjab to Burmah and Ceylon; Persia; W. Asia; Assam; Sylhet : never ascends into the hills.
100. Ath. noctua. (PI. Enl. 439 ; Gould, B. E. pi. 48.)
Syn. Strix noctua, Retzius, Faun. Suec. p. 85. Str. nudipes,
Nilsson. Str. passerina, Lath. & Temm. Ath . bactriana , Blyth, J. A. S. xvi. p. 761. Ath. gymnopus , Hodgson*. Noctua glaux, Savigny. Str. persica (?), Vieillot [vide Rev. Zook 1849,
p. 18).
Hab. Europe ; N. Africa, W. Asia ; Afghanistan ; rare in Himalaya f.
Genus T^enioptynx, Kaup.
101. T. BRODII.
Syn. Noctua brodiei, Burton. N. tubiger, Hodgson.
Hab. Himalaya (common).
Genus Ninox, Hodgson.
102. N. scutellatus. (PI. Col. 289.)
Syn. Strix scutellata, Raffles. Str. hirsuta, Temminck. Str.
* This species wants seeing to. There would seem to be two — A. bactriana , nobis (= noctua v. nudipes ? = meridionalis'l), and A. gym- nopus, Hodgson ( vide Bp. in Comptes Rendus, xli. (1855) p. 653).
4 Himalayan specimens require to be compared with Ath. meridionalis, Brehm, the true “ Bird of Minerva.” Str. sonneratii , Temm. (PL Col. 21), is stated to be from Pondichery; but no such bird appears to inhabit India properly so called. It appertains to the genus Athene.
30 Mr. E. Blyth on the Birds of India.
luguoris, Tickell. Ninox nepalensis, Hodgson. Athene malay - ensis, Eyton.
Hah. All India, with Ceylon ; Indo-Chinese region ; Malayan peninsula and archipelago ; China.
Remarks. — Prince Bonaparte gives the Bornean and Japanese («'. e. Chinese ?) races as distinct species— var. borneensis et var. japonica of Schlegel. He also describes a N. philippensis , Compt. Rend. xli. p. 654 ; and approximates the Madagascar race to that of Japan.
Genus Bulaca, Hodgson.
103. B. newarensis, Hodgson, As. Res. xix. p. 168; J.A.S.B. ii. p. 372.
Hab . Himalaya.
104. B. indranee. (Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, pi. 14?)
Syn. Strix indranee , Sykes. Bulaca monticola , Jerdon,
Hab. S. India and Ceylon ; Tenasserim provinces and Malayan
peninsula.
105. B. seloputo. (PI. Col. 230.)
Syn. Strix seloputo , Horsfield. Str. pagodarum , Temminck. Hab. Tenasserim provinces ; Malayan peninsula and archi¬ pelago ; Nicobar Islands.
106. B. sinensis. (Hardwicke's Ill. Ind. Zool. pi. 21.)
Syn. Strix sinensis , Latham. S. orientalis , Shaw. Syrnium
ocellatum , Lesson.
Hab. Most parts of India, to foot of Himalaya : not Lower Bengal (at least, below the tideway of the rivers). Tenasserim provinces (Mergui).
Genus Syrnium, Savigny.
107. S. nivicolum, Hodgson.
Hab. Himalaya (barely separable from the European S. aluco) .
Subfam. StriginjE.
Genus Phodilus, Is. Geoffroy.
108. Ph. badius. (HorsfiekPs ZooL Res. in Java, pi. 37.)
Ilia 1863, WL
\
\
I Heuolin, del ,iS J. J emeus lith.
HEMEHOHROMUS
I
M $ .HankartlffiJ
CINCTUS
31
Baron T. v. Heuglin on a new African Plover.
Syn. Stria badia, Horsfield.
Hab. Nepal; Sikbfen; Assam; Arakan ; Tenasserim provinces ; Malayan peninsula and islands.
Genus Strix, L. (as limited).
109. Str. javanica. (Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, pi. 15 ; Gould’s Birds of Austr. i. pi. 31.)
Syn. Str. javanica , Gm. Str. delicatula, Gould. Str. flammea of India and S.E. Asia generally, auctorum.
Hab. India generally, and Ceylon, with S.E. Asia and its archipelago, extending to New Caledonia and Australia.
Genus Scelostrix, Kaup.
110. Sc. Candida. (Jerdon’s Ill. Ind. Orn. pi. 30.)
Syn. Stria Candida , Tickell, J. A. S. ii. p. 572. Str. longi - membris , Jerdon. Str. javanica , Phillips, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 87.
Hab. Plains of India ; common in high grass : very rare on the mud-soil of Lower Bengal* *.
II. — Description of a new African Plover.
By Baron Th. v. Heuglin f.
(Plate II.)
Hemerodromus cinctus, Heugl., sp. et gen. nov.
Avis hornotina. Supra fuliginosus, subtus albus, notsei plumis late et distincte rufo-ochraceo limbatis : fronte, stria lata verticali, loris, superciliis, fasciaque stricta nuchali ad oculos utrinque extendente albidis, plus minusve intensius rubente isabellino indutis ; fascia nuchali delicate nigricante strio- lata; gutture fascia angusta pectus versus in apicem pro- longata intense castanea circumdato ; stria longitudinali per colli latera decurrente fusco-nigra ; fascia lata basin
* The Strix capensis, A. Smith (S. African Zoology, Aves, pi. 45), is con¬ sidered by Prof. Kaup to be synonymous with Sc. Candida ; but it is obviously a second species of the genus. Horsfield’s Strix capensis, from a drawing by Dr. F. Buchanan Hamilton, refers, of course, to the Indian species.
t Communicated to the Editor by Dr. G. Hartlaub.
32
Mr. S. S. Allen on the Birds of Egypt.
colli antici circumdante ochracea, lateraliter nigricante strio- lata, infra nigro cincta ; fascia altera^ngusta ventrali cas- tanea; supracaudalibus, basi caudse rectricibusque tribus exterioribus albis, harum secunda et tertia anguste fulvo bifasciatis; reliquis pallide fuliginosis, indistincte ferrugi- neo limbatis, apicibus albis; quarta macula pogonii in- terni et externi, quinta pogonii interni alba : remigibus nigro-fuscis indistinctius ferrugineo limbatis ; primae basi tota reliquarum parte basali pogonii interni albis ; cubita- libus notseo pallidioribus, apicibus albo limbatis : subalari- bus albidis, ex parte irregulariter fusco fasciatis : rostro nigro, tomiis pallidioribus ; iride brunnea : pedibus pallide violacescenti-ochraceis. Long, tota 9" ; latitudo ext. al. 18,r ; long, rostri et fronte 6n 7'" ; alse 6n ; caudse 3" 2"r ; tarsi 2" 3'3"'; digiti medii sine ungue 7" 71" ; dig. lat. 4" 8"'} poll, et lin. Gall.
This Plover is nearly allied to Cursorius in form ; but the top of the beak is less curved downwards, and the maxilla at the top is a little inflated : the nasal apertures are not oval but rather cuneate and very much elongated. The second remex is somewhat longer than the first. The legs are very long, and scutellated on both sides. The three toes are rather lengthened, the middle and outer ones being connected by a faint indication of a mem¬ brane. The inner margin of the claw of the middle toe is di¬ stinctly dentated. The subcuneate tail consists of 12 rectrices.
The unique specimen here described was obtained near Gon- dokoro, on the White Nile, in the Bari country, in 5° N. lat. The bird appears to be rather rare.
III. — Notes on the Birds of Egypt. By S. Stafford Allen.
[Continued from vol. iv. p. 361.]
4. The Buff-backed Heron ( Herodias bubulcus).
Perhaps the most conspicuous bird that catches the eye of the traveller in Egypt is the Buff-backed Heron [Herodias bubulcus ; Ardea russata , Yarr. & Gould ; Bubulcus ibis , Bonaparte), in its winter plumage of pure white, which is to be met with in flocks of from four or five to thirty, distributed all over the country.
33
Mr. S. S. Allen on the Birds of Egypt.
These birds especially affect the society of cattle, and may be seen feeding about among the legs of the cows and buffaloes in the most fearless manner, like starlings in a flock of sheep, fre¬ quently perching on the backs of the lazy animals in the same way. The Arab name “ Abou Gerdan ” (father of flocks), the French “PHeron Garde-bceuf,” and the Latin specific appella¬ tion “ hubulcus ” all have reference to this marked peculiarity.
Contrary to the usual custom of the Herons and Egrets, most of which are piscivorous, the “ Buff-backed ” does not feed upon fish, but upon the various kinds of insects, particularly grass- hoppers, which are so abundant in the rank herbage produced by the peculiar system of irrigation which obtains amongst the Arabs. They are consequently seldom seen near the water’s edge. About dusk they retire to the trees to roost ; and though I have occasionally seen them in the date-palms, they generally choose the Sycamore, or wild fig-tree, for that purpose.
It is frequently asserted that the Arabs consider this bird as sacred , and that killing one is looked upon as a serious offence ; but I believe this is not the case, at least not in a religious sense. I have sometimes, on having shot one for a specimen, been reproached for so doing, much in the way that we should speak to any one who killed a robin ; and I think that this more correctly represents the feeling on the point, although it is a hopeless task to try. to make an Arab understand anything of an abstract nature.
During the winter the plumage of the Buff-backed Heron is of a creamy-white colour, with a small reddish-buff patch on the top of the head, the legs and feet being black. About the commencement of April, longer feathers, of a pale buff, begin to appear on the back, neck, and crest (the rest of the plumage remaining in statu quo). These continue to grow in length and deepen in colour until the end of May, by which time the summer dress is complete. At the same time the legs and feet change to a pale yellowish olive. The bill at all times is of an ochraceous yellow, and the irides vary in different specimens (probably according to age) from pale to bright yellow. The lore is greenish. The male is generally rather larger than the female, and the long feathers are a little more developed.
VOL. v. d
34 Mr. J. H. Gurney on the Kestrel of Madagascar.
We did not meet with the nests of the Buff-backed Heron ; and it seems probable that they are late breeders, as in those killed about the end of April the ovaries did not appear to be enlarged.
I purchased specimens of the eggs from the widow of the late M. Odascalchi, naturalist of Cairo, who had a large stock, and there seems no doubt of their genuineness. They are of the usual pale blue, vary considerably in size and shape, and have a very thin shell.
The Buff-backed Heron (H. bubulcus) is easily distinguished from the Little Egret, H. garzetta , even at a considerable distance, as the latter is almost invariably solitary, while its long, sharp, black bill contrasts strongly with the short, thick, yellow one of the former.
In consequence of its supposed sanctity among the Arabs, many people maintain that H. bubulcus is the true “ Sacred Ibis,” and no amount of proof to the contrary will make them think otherwise, I have never been able to hear of any one who has seen the Ibis religiosa in Egypt, and I only know of one in¬ stance in which the /. falcinellus occurred.
[To be continued.]
XV.— Note on the Kestrel of Madagascar (Tinnunculus newtoni) .
By J. H. Gurney.
(Plate II.)
The Norwich Museum is indebted to the liberality of Mr. Edward Newton for a specimen of the Tinnunculus gracilis of Lesson, from the Seychelles Islands, and also for two Kestrels collected by him in Madagascar, and described under the same specific title of “gracilis,” in ‘The Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 2 67.
The sex of the specimen from the Seychelles Islands, above alluded to, has not been noted, but I am disposed to consider it a male bird.
The two individuals from Madagascar are both marked as males by Mr. Edward Newton.
On comparing the two Madagascar Kestrels with the spe-
‘IF- cLel.ellitrL.
TLNNimCULIIS 1EWT0NI
!
Ri&,].§6.S;P12.
M. &-TT .Ha.nka.irt imp1' |||
35
Mr. J. H. Gurney on the Kestrel of Madagascar .
cimen from the Seychelles, I find such a difference of size and colouring as to lead me to believe that they are not examples of Tinnunculus gracilis, but that they belong to a distinct and undescribed species. The following Table will show the measure¬ ments of these birds as compared with Tinnunculus gracilis, and also with a male specimen of Tinnunculus punctatus from the Mauritius.
|
Total length. |
Length of wing from carpal joint. |
Tarsus. |
Middle toe with claw. |
|
|
inches. |
inches. |
inch. |
inch. |
|
|
Tinnunculus gracilis . Madagascar Kestrel : |
Q3 * |
6 |
n |
If |
|
Specimen A, $ . |
10f 1 |
7i |
4 |
|
|
Specimen B, $ . |
ii ; |
i 2 |
||
|
Tinnunculus punctatus, $ |
lii |
7k |
it |
if |
From the above Table it will be apparent that the Madagascar Kestrel exceeds the Seychelles species ( T. gracilis) in all the above dimensions, whilst it is itself exceeded by the Mauritius bird ( T '. punctatus ) in all except the length of the wing from the carpal joint.
The colouring of the two birds sent from Madagascar is not precisely identical. In specimen A, the feathers on the upper part of the head and on the back of the neck are of a dark grey, slightly tinged with rufous, with a darker shaft-mark passing down the centre of each feather. The back and scapulars are rufous, of a tint paler than that of the same parts in T. gracilis, but darker than in T. punctatus, and much resembling the colour of the back in T. rupicola (Daud.). The scapulars are spotted with darker ovate spots, one at the end of each fea¬ ther, which are larger in proportion as they are further removed from the bird's head and neck. The wing-feathers are of a brownish black, the primaries being barred with rufous on their inner webs, and the secondaries and tertiaries on both webs. On the secondary feathers, the brownish-black bars are broader than the rufous ; but on the tertiaries this is reversed. The
* Allowing half an inch to cover an accidental defect in the end of the tail-feathers : this is a full allowance.
D %
36 Mr. J. H. Gurney on the Kestrel of Madagascar.
rump is bluish grey, with a darker sagittate mark on each feather. The upper side of the tail is of a blackish-brown tint, with seven lighter transverse bars ; these are grey towards the upper part of the tail, but tinged with rufous towards the lower part. The cheeks and throat are white, with the exception of an indistinctly defined dark moustache extending downwards and backwards from the angle of the mouth. All the under parts are also white, with the exception of a slight rufous tinge on the breast, and of dark lanceolate shaft-marks on the feathers of that part and of the inside of the wing near the carpal joint. The feathers on the inside of the wing, covering the roots of the primaries, show these marks in a more ovate form, which also appears on the feathers of the abdomen.
Specimen B differs from A in the rufous colour of the back being paler and duller, apparently from the action upon the feathers of the sun and weather, also in the sagittate marks on the rump being more sparsely distributed, in all the light trans¬ verse bars of the tail being grey, in the cheeks being of the same colour as the upper part of the head, in the ground-colour of the breast, abdomen, flanks, and outer sides of the thighs being of a dark rufous, and in the darker ovate spots being spread over the thighs and under tail-coverts.
The accompanying Plate, by Mr. Wolf, in which the upper figure represents specimen B, and the two lower figures speci¬ men A in two attitudes, all reduced to one-third of their natural dimensions, will probably give a clearer idea than any more detailed description of the Madagascar Kestrel. They may be compared with the figure of T. gracilis in DesMuiVs ( Icono- graphie Ornithologique/ pi. 25, and with that of T. punctatus in Temmincfs ‘Planches Coloriees/ pi. 45.
Should the readers of e The Ibis J agree with me in consider¬ ing the Kestrel of Madagascar a distinct species, I am sure they will also agree in the propriety of distinguishing it by the name of the naturalist by whom the specimens now described were collected, and of adopting for it the specific designation of T. newtoni.
In conclusion, I beg leave to add a list of the species of Kestrels which I have had the opportunity of personally ex-
37
Mr. G. D. Rowley on the Tawny Pipit.
amining (and all of which appear to me to be specifically dis¬ tinct), arranged in what appears to me to be their natural order : —
Tinnunculus sparverius {Linn.).
- sparverioides ( Vigors ).
- gracilis (Lesson).
- newtoni, nobis.
- punctatus ( Temm .).
- rupicoloides (Smith).
Tinnunculus rupicola ( Baud .).
- moluccensis (Schlegel).
- alaudarius ( Gmel .).
- cenchroides (Vigors).
- cenchris (Frisch).
V. — Notice of the Occurrence of the Tawny Pipit (Anthus ru- fescens) in Great Britain. By George Dawson Rowley.
The fact that the Tawny Pipit is common in Prance would lead us to suppose that it might be found, more or less frequently, on our south coasts. I think I have established, in two instances, that it already has been taken near Brighton, and have little doubt that more examples would have been known had the attention of ornithologists been directed towards the species. Late on the evening of Sept. 24th last, a person named Wing brought a Pipit, in the flesh, to Mr. George Swaysland, naturalist, 4 Queen's Road, Brighton, with directions to stuff it for him. Swaysland saw at once that it was a curious bird, and, after some conversation, induced Wing to part with it, calling to his attention that he did not collect, and it could not be a parti¬ cular object of interest to any one but an ornithologist.
Having succeeded, Swaysland took down the particulars, and sent for me. I read Wing's address and the paper, which stated that he had shot the bird on the cliff, about a mile and a half from Rottingdean, near Brighton. It was pointed out to him by a coast-guard or fisherman; and the bird flew just over the cliff at first, then alighted on the edge, and was killed. I examined the shot-marks, and next compared it with Yarrell and Morris, at first thinking it was Anthus ricardi ; but the hind claw proving much too short, I began to suspect we had a new species before us. Taking time to reflect, I mentioned it to Mr. Alfred Newton, who observed, Can it be Anthus rufescens , a
38
Mr. G. JD. Rowley on the Tawny Pipit.
bird I always expected to turn up in England ? ” Ultimately I sent it up to Mr. Gould, whose answer I give in his own words :
- — “ The bird is Anthus rufescens ; apparently a fine old male in summer plumage. It is unusual for it to have spotted markings on the chest ; but I have no doubt I am right as to its name. Others ought to be found on the south coast, as the bird is com¬ mon in the central parts of France and Spain.”
1 had previously thought, and Swaysland with me, that it was a young bird of the year, and still ' incline to that view, though hesitating to differ from so great an authority. We did so partly on account of the fine hair-like feathers about the vent, and the spangles or light edges to the feathers on the back, which all our Larks and Pipits have in their first plumage. It now came to our remembrance that another specimen, which had been sold to Henry Collins, Esq., of Aldsworth, near Ems- worth, for an Anthus ricardi , was exactly the same as the one under examination. Upon this I wrote to Mr. Collins, a gen¬ tleman whose collection is rich in British-killed birds; and he, in the most liberal manner, directly placed it at my disposal. I knew that there could not be the smallest doubt that this latter was a bond fide British bird, as it had been shot by Harding, a domestic servant in Brighton and a highly respectable man, with whom I am well acquainted, and can quite depend upon. I was therefore much pleased to find it exactly correspond with the other (particularly in the short hind claw, which is long in A. ricardi), and to observe that Mr. Collins's example is even finer than Swaysland's. I ascertained the particulars of its cap¬ ture from Harding myself. It was shot by him, August 17, 1858, about 7 o'clock in the morning, close to a shallow pool (a good locality, which I hold in great respect), near Shoreham Harbour, where I have, as the wished-for daylight began to appear, come upon a Grey Plover ( Vanellus melanog aster), heard “ his signal-whistle,'' and traced his tracks upon the mud. I asked Harding what called his attention to this bird more than others, since he said there were several Rock Pipits about at the time, and the Meadow Pipit [Anthus py'atensis) is abundant. He said the note struck him as different to the Titlarks. “ It came piping down from above,” and allowed him to approach with
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of British North America . 39
great facility. Mr. Collins’s Pipit, though rather hard hit, is evidently older than Swaysland’s, and is also, I believe, a male. It seems probable, when we consider the time it was killed, that it had bred somewhere in this country, perhaps not far off, and was then thinking of departure. The Rottingdean bird likewise had migration in view, doubtless. I have preserved the sternum of the latter. Mr. Tristram, in his catalogue of 1858, says of this bird, “ it is the Pipit of the Sahara Desert, and its eggs vary as widely as those of the Tree Pipit in England and Mr. Wheelwright states the Tawny Pipit (A. campestris , Briss.) to occur in Sweden, “ where it is confined to the sandy shores of the south.” Notwithstanding its wide range, it is strange that no examples have previously been recorded here. A genuine British-taken nest of eggs of Anthus rufescens may not be im¬ possible, therefore, to a pains-taking Sussex collector or others ; and that such a piece of good fortune may befall some of his ‘ Ibis ’ friends is the sincere desire and wish of the individual who has ventured to trouble them with this communication.
VI. — On the Birds of the Interior of British North America ..
By Captain Blakiston.
When I first thought of a communication on this subject, my intention was simply to supply additional notes concerning speci¬ mens collected during my wanderings in the Indian country, between Hudson’s Bay and the Rocky Mountains, in 1857, 1858, and 1859, which I was prevented from attaching to the list published in ‘The Ibis’ (Nos. 12 and 13) by the shortness of my stay in England previous to leaving for China. On going through my note-books, however, I found many observations on birds that I had not been fortunate enough to preserve specimens of, which I considered ought not to be lost; and having, when identifying my collection, rummaged up most that was pre¬ viously known respecting the ornithology of the northern part of the American continent, which I found much scattered, I determined upon making this as complete a list as possible of the birds inhabiting the interior portion of the vast tract stretch¬ ing from ocean to ocean, known as British North America,
40 Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
As the title which heads this paper may seem to some persons rather ambiguous, I will first observe, that by the “ interior " of British North America I mean the wild uncultivated region which, tenanted by few besides the aboriginal Indian tribes, lies to the north and west of Lake Superior, and may be said to be bounded by the Bocky Mountains, the 49th parallel of north latitude (which is the international boundary), Canada, Hudson's Bay, and the Arctic Sea ; and, secondly, that the birds included are such as have been identified as inhabitants of that area by specimens reliably authenticated. With respect to the species enumerated, I should state that I have added to my own those mentioned in the ‘ Fauna Boreali- Americana 3 of Richardson and Swainson, and in the narratives of Arctic expeditions made since that time. Next to this, I have included the birds given by Mr. Andrew Murray in a paper entitled “ Contributions to the Natural History of the Hudson's Bay Company's Territories," published in the 1 Edinb. New Phil. Journ.' for April 1859, which seems to have been drawn up with care and caution ; and also such birds as have been received by the Smithsonian Institution at Washington from the same country. I had, however, nearly completed the list when I discovered a most valuable addition to the ornithology of the north-west in an account, based on a large collection, of the “ Mammals, Birds, & c., of the Mackenzie River District," by Mr. Bernard H. Ross, of the Hudson's Bay Company's Service, published in the f Natural History Review' for July 1862. I need scarcely say that this unexpected source of information has been carefully attended to ; and it affords me, as it must most American ornithologists, the greatest satisfac¬ tion that so much has been done in that out-of-the-way part of the world. The principal thing that I feel in want of is a knowledge of the doings of Mr. R. Kennicott, an American col¬ lector, who, having spent two winters in the north, has made extensive collections. However, I hope that this may be added by I rofessor Baird in a future number of ‘The Ibis,' and I feel sure he will gladly do this for the sake of the readers of this Magazine.
With respect to the nomenclature and arrangement, I have, for the sake of uniformity, and in order to save the space requi-
Interior of British North America. 41
site for synonyms and reference to authorities, adopted that of Professor S. F. Baird in his admirable ‘ Report on the Birds of North America/ because that publication, being the result of much labour, must hereafter be looked on as a standard synopsis for reference on American ornithology ; and I will here mention that I am indebted to its author for material assistance in the identification of my collection, he having supplied me with specimens from the Smithsonian Institution of those species that were likely to be confounded together.
Recurring to the geographical area to which the following notes refer, a glance at a map is sufficient to show that, being quite the heart of the northern part of the continent, its fauna may be considered strictly American ; for, being well removed from both the eastern and western sea-boards, it ought not to include stragglers from either Europe or Asia. Some Pacific forms, however, occur, as might be expected, in the north-western corner, namely, on the Mackenzie River and its tributaries ; for the configuration of the west coast north of the Columbia is such, that birds taking a direct north flight would naturally strike the upper waters of the Yukon River, flowing through the Russian territory, between which and the Mackenzie the lowness of the northward extension of the Rocky Mountain range is hardly a barrier ; and consequently we find not only stragglers, but regular visitants from the Pacific frequenting the north part of the valley of the Mackenzie and adjacent Arctic shore. Such birds, there¬ fore, are here included, at least so many as are known to us ; and I have sometimes mentioned the occurrence on the Yukon of cer¬ tain species (although that is beyond my bounds), in order to draw attention to them. For like reason also, I have noticed birds which have been found by American expeditions on the Upper Missouri ; but, like the last, they have only been referred to incidentally, and do not figure in the list in capitals, such being applied only to those ascertained to inhabit some portion of the “ interior ” as defined above ; and no species which have been found only in Labrador and the north-east Arctic lands, British Columbia, or any part of Canada have been admitted ; but I have drawn up this paper with the sole intention of sup-
42
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
plying a local list, brought up to the present time, of the birds of the interior of British North America, and, as such, I shall feel honoured by its appreciation.
Order I. ACCIPITRES.
Cathartes aura.
In the ‘ Fauna Boreali- Americana 3 a specimen of this Vulture is recorded from the Saskatchawan*. An individual was shot at Red River Settlement on the 27th of April, 1859, which I examined, and I was very sorry that my departure the following day, on a journey to the United States, prevented my preserving it. What adds to the interest of this second capture is, that at that date, it being a late spring, the winter's snow was covering the ground to the depth of a foot, while the rivers were still ice-bound. Besides this, I observed a Vulture, which I took to be C. aura , at Fort Carlton, near the forks of the Saskatchawan River, in latitude 53°, on the 7th of May, the year previous ; and again on the 2nd of September of the same year, I saw one feeding on the remains of a dead horse, abandoned by some Kootonay Indians, at the western base of the Rocky Mountains, a few miles south of where I had determined the international boundary (the 49th parallel) to exist. Again, I saw many Vultures in the northern part of the State of Minnesota in the early part of the May following ; and there are several specimens in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington from near the 49th parallel. These latter instances, of course, were not on British ground, although very near it. They will not, therefore, swell the number of occurrences in the region treated of in this paper, where the Turkey Buzzard cannot be said to be com¬ mon. The only part of it, indeed, as far as I can ascertain, that it inhabits is the prairie country that lies to the south and west of Lake Winipeg, which may be considered as the northern extension of the “ high central plains ” between the valley of the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains.
* Saskatchawan is thus spelt, as being most in keeping with the Indian pronunciation of the “ Strong Current.”
43
Interior of British North America.
1*. Falco anatum.
Besides my specimen from near the head-waters of the south branch of the Saskatchawan River /Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 31 5), I have received the American Peregrine from the west coast of Hudson’s Bay ; and Mr. Bernard Ross notices it, but says it is rare on the Mackenzie.
2. Falco columbarius.
With respect to this species, I would correct a typographical error which occurs in my former notes / Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 316), where the colour of the “ feet, cere, and space round the eye ” of a female should be light yellow, in contradistinction to the bright yellow of the male, No. 117. This distinction was noticed in the case of each of the two pairs which I examined. The bird figured in the ‘ Fauna Boreali- Americana/ pi. 25, as F. cesalony is doubtless the Pigeon- Hawk. In my former papers (‘ Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 316), I mentioned having obtained eggs of this species. Since then, I have seen Part 1 of Dr. Brewer’s ' North American Oology/ where he has figured an egg supposed to belong to it, but in the letter-press mentions that Mr. Audubon’s figure is very different. My specimens prove that Mr. Audubon was correct, and that Dr. Brewer has made an unlucky selection in taking a specimen when he was only told that a bird which was given to him at the same time was the parent, in preference to the personal observation of a naturalist of Mr. Audubon’s merits. The nest which I found (the parent birds belonging to which I shot, and preserved the male) was situated in a small clump of willows and aspens on the prairie, not more than ten feet from the ground, and contained four eggs. The eggs and bird collected by M. Bourgeau corresponded with my own. I find that Mr. Bernard Ross obtained this bird as far north as the Arctic Circle, on Mackenzie River, and I am glad to see that he has also secured the egg.
Falco candicans, F. islandicus, et F. grcenlandicus.
The Gyr-Falcon is given in the f Fauna Bor.-Am./ as identified by a specimen from Hudson’s Bay, as F. islandicus (Latham);
* The numbers attached to species refer to my original list (‘ Ibis,’ Nos. 12 and 13).
44
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
while Mr. Murray has recorded F. candicans { Gmelin) from the same locality. On the Saskatchawan this bird, or rather one of these birds, is rare, for I have only three or four recorded instances of having seen any individuals of the Falcon family during winter. It is known to the Indians and half-breeds of the interior as “the Hawk that winters.3* Some specimens which have lately come from Hudson3s Bay differ considerably, the largest measur¬ ing 16J inches in the wing. Mr. J. H. Gurney has decided that they are of two species, F. islandicus and.F. grcenlandicus .
Falco sparverius.
The American Sparrow-Hawk is identified as an inhabitant of the interior by specimens from the forks of the Saskatchawan recorded in the ( Fauna Boreali- Americana, 3 also one in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution from between Hudson3s Bay and Lake Winipeg, and from the Mackenzie by Mr. Bernard Boss. I found it throughout the prairie country, where, in the spring, it comes in the van of the migratory birds, and whence it continues its journey as far as the Arctic Circle. I observed an individual at Bed Biver Settlement on the 22nd of April, in 1859, the day previous to the arrival of the first Goose, while the whole country was yet covered with snow, and the decided spring thaw had not commenced. The year previous, I saw what I took for the Sparrow-Hawk on the 15th of March, at Fort Carlton, while Sir John Bichardson observed it, the spring which he spent there, on the 13th.
3. Astur atricapillus.
The Goshawk is found to range throughout the interior from Hudson3s Bay to the Bocky Mountains and Mackenzie Biver. My specimens (f Ibis,3 vol. iii. p. 316), collected as far west as the Saskatchawan, do not differ from others from the most eastern part of the continent, Nova Scotia.
4. Accipiter cooperi. Killed at Fort Carlton. (See f Ibis,3 vol. iii. p. 317.)
As Accipiter mexicanus has been found on the Upper Missouri,
I would draw attention to it as likely to be an inhabitant of the Saskatchawan Plains, between which and the prairie bordering the former river there is no natural line of demarcation.
45
Interior of British North America.
5. Accipiter fuscus.
Besides inhabiting the Saskatchawan Plains (f Ibis/ vol. iii.
p. 317), there are specimens of the Sharp-shinned Hawk in the Smithsonian Institution from Red River Settlement, and from between Hudson's Bay and Lake Winipeg, while Mr. Bernard Ross obtained it on the Mackenzie.
6. Buteo swainsonii.
This bird, of which I have recorded several examples from the Saskatchawan in my first paper (‘ Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 317), is figured in the ‘ Pauna Bor.-Am.' as Buteo vulgaris. Mr. Bernard Ross found it more rare to the northward, in the Mackenzie River district.
7. Buteo borealis.
Besides my record of the Red-tailed Buzzard (f Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 318), I find that it is mentioned in the /Fauna Bor.-Am.' as having been shot also on Hudson's Bay.
Buteo bairdii , from the localities in which it has already been found, as well as B. montanus (the Western Red-tail) (which I find Mr. Ross has obtained, but I am not aware of the locality), may be looked for on the plains west of Lake Winipeg ; but B. lineatus appears to be an eastern bird.
Buteo pennsylvanicus.
A specimen from the southern extremity of Hudson's Bay, on the authority of the ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am./ brings the Broad¬ winged Hawk within the limits of this paper, but it appears pro¬ perly to belong to the eastern side of the continent.
8. Archibuteo lagopus .
I here introduce this bird because it stands recorded as an inhabitant of the “ interior of British North America," on the authority of a specimen killed by Mr. Drummond on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, in latitude 55° (‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.' pi. 28), and is given by Mr. Ross as common on the Mac¬ kenzie. I have also seen specimens in the plumage of the figure above mentioned from Hudson's Bay, and frequently observed others in a wild state, though I never procured a specimen. Moreover, Professor Baird feels assured of its existence, and
46
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
remarks that its identity with the European bird is most perfect in specimens from western North America. I have, however, only recorded it in italics , because Mr. John H. Gurney (whom no one in this country can equal as a referee on raptorial birds) considers that A. lagopus does not range to America; the patches of colouring on American birds being invariably larger, and the lightest individuals darker than the darkest European examples. He leans to the opinion that the American bird is the young of A. sancti-johannis , next to be noted.
9. Archibuteo sancti-johannis.
In my first paper a specimen and eggs are mentioned from the western plains (‘Ibis,’ vol. iii. p. 318), where the Black Hawk is not an uncommon bird. I find also that Mr. Andrew Murray, in his paper entitled “ Contributions to the Natural History of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Territories,” in the ‘Edin. New Phil. Journ.’ for April 1859, has also recorded specimens from Hudson’s Bay and the country lying between its western shore and Lake Winipeg. Mr. Boss gives it on the Mackenzie as rare, which is the most western locality assigned to the species. The supposed A. lagopus has, however, been obtained in California and Washington Territory, but those localities, although on the Pacific side of the Bocky Mountain range, are not further west in longitude than Mackenzie Biver ; still it is curious that Professor Baird has received no specimens of A. sancti-johannis , if it is the adult of the other, from the Pa¬ cific States.
10. Archibuteo ferrugineus. (See ‘Ibis,’ vol. iii. p. 318.)
Although my observations on the American Falconidce have
been but few, I am obliged a second time to call in question the veracity of the 1st Part of Hr. Brewer’s ‘ Oology.’ I refer to the case of the “California Squirrel-Hawk,” or “Western Bough¬ legged Buzzard,” the supposed egg of which he has figured from a specimen said to have been obtained by Dr. Heermann in California. There has evidently been some mistake about it ; for, as stated in my first paper (‘ Ibis,’ No. 12), I took two nests of this bird on the Saskatchawan prairies, from one of which I shot a female bird, now in the collection of the Boyal Artillery
47
Interior of British North America.
Institution at Woolwich ; so that there can be no doubt of the identity of my eggs. Now Dr. Brewer figures this Buzzard’s egg (N. A. 0. pi. 3. fig. 26) as being “ of a yellowish white/’ “ marked with large blotches of a light, but very distinct, purplish grey,” and measuring “2-^g- by 1-tt. inches,” — whereas my eggs present very much more the appearance of the eggs of the Common Buzzard, and exhibit similar variations. One of them is white, with large distinct blotches and smaller specks of two shades of brown ; another is more obscurely blotched with paler brown, and at the same time freckled nearly all over. They measure —
Spec. a. 2*6 by 2*0 inches,
Spec. b. 2*5 by 1*95 inches,
being thus considerably larger than is represented by Dr. Brewer, besides being quite differently coloured. Mr. Bernard Ross seems doubtful about this bird on the Mackenzie.
11. Circus hudsonius. (See fIbis,’ vol. iii. p. 319.)
Also common on the Mackenzie (Bernard Ross).
12. Aquila canadensis. (See * Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 319.)
Also Mackenzie River, to the Arctic Coast (Bernard Ross).
13. Haliaetus leucocephalus. (See ‘ Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 319.)
Also Mackenzie River, to the Arctic Coast (Bernard Ross).
14. Pandion carolinensis. (See f Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 320.)
Also Mackenzie River, to the Arctic Coast (Bernard Ross).
15. Bubo virginianus. 16. Bubo ardicus.
In my first paper (f Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 320) the light-coloured variety of the Great Horned Owl was placed as a distinct species from B. virginianus. I am, however, very doubtful of the correct¬ ness of this view, and consequently would prefer keeping it under the original name ; otherwise we shall have to allow at least three species, all differing from the type. Professor Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, whose complete ornithology of North America has been published as a volume of the ‘ Pacific Railroad Reports’ by order of the United States Government, has had perhaps greater facilities for examining into this subject than any one else; he thus sums up (p. 50) : — “ We have, therefore,
48
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
to regard them all as B. virginianus , and to attribute the differ¬ ences in their colours to variety only, either local or caused by accidental circumstances. With but a single well-characterized specimen of each of the four varieties, the inducement would be strong to regard them as distinct species, so different are their colours ; but with an extended series (thirty specimens) like the present, all the characters exist in such various degrees of modi¬ fication, and are so blended, that it is to us quite impossible.” The two specimens obtained by myself, which differed very considerably in colour, were taken at Fort Carlton, on the north branch, near the forks of the Saskatchawan Fiver, at which lone habitation I spent my first winter (1857-58) in thelndian country. The dark-coloured one was trapped during mid-winter by one of the half-breed Hudson's Bay Company's men, in a snare set in the woods for rabbits, or, as I should properly call them, hares ( Lepus americanus). The second was not so easily caught. It was near the end of March, on a stormy day, that I trudged along the side of a narrow wooded ravine, which, opening from the river valley near the fort, runs some distance back into the plain, the general level of which is about 200 feet above the river. I was on my usual ornithological walk, which it was my custom to take daily, in the afternoon, after my share of the labours of magnetical observations was over. As I proceeded, I started a large light-coloured Owl, but having the buffalo-leather cover on my fowling-piece, as is the usual custom of the Indian country, I was not ready for him when he rose. He alighted near the head of the ravine, and I followed ; but, before getting within shot, he started again. From this point a continuous line of clumps of aspens and willows, with clear spaces between them, stretch out on the prairie. Many a long chase have Owls led me at different times, but I think this was one of the longest. As I advanced, Mr. Arcticus (if we may so call him) continually shifted his position further and further along the line of clumps, so that I found it impossible to get within two or three gun-shots of him. At one moment I lost the run of him alto¬ gether, and was nearly abandoning the chase, when I again espied my friend; but again he changed his position, and dived some_ where into the middle of large-sized coppice. I now bethought
49
Interior of British North America.
me of, and at once adopted, a ruse de guerre , and by making a considerable circuit I entered the clump on the far side. It happened to be only thick in places, and the deciduous trees being at that season, of course, devoid of leaves, I walked tole¬ rably easily, keeping a good look-out. I had a pointer-dog with me, which I allowed to beat the ground, thinking perhaps he might attract the attention of the Owl from me ; and I was already so angry with the length of the chase that I determined to blaze even if he rose a hundred yards from me. But to the point at once : as I steadily made my way through the little wood, up started friend “ Arcticus,'' as unexpectedly as a snipe, among the tops of the small aspens. My gun rose to my shoulder as quickly as if I had been on a bog in the “ auld country,” and down dropped the quarry to a touch of No. 3 shot at thirty-two yards. I need hardly say how delighted I was as I trudged homeward to the fort, with a fine but very light-coloured spe¬ cimen of the Great Horned Owl tied by my pocket-handkerchief to the barrel of the gun over my shoulder. On a post-mortem examination made at the inquest, the doctors agreed (for once) as to the cause of death : but a jury of very eminent men divided as to the identity of the deceased ; for friends on two sides ap¬ peared, the one party claiming him as a true Bubo virginianus , while others contend (for the contest is not yet ended) that his Christian name should be “ Arcticus.'' The case has been referred to the Chancery Court, whence it is hoped that the ward will some day be extricated. The final decision will be of im¬ portance to the progress of ornithology, as it will define the limit to which we may go in varieties — local, accidental, or, if we may so term them, permanent. In the meantime I shall assume that the Great Homed Owls of North America are all B. virgini¬ anus. aAm I right — or any other man ? " The Great Horned Owl appears to be a common inhabitant of the interior of North America, from Hudson's Bay to the Bocky Mountains, and north to the Arctic Circle — in fact, the whole of North America.
Otus wilsonianus.
The Long-eared Owl, an inhabitant of the whole of temperate North America, is given in the f Fauna Bor. -Am.' up to 60° N. latitude, while a specimen has been supplied to the Smithsonian
VOL. v.
E
50
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
Institution, from Red River Settlement, by Mr. Donald Gunn, an influential settler in that isolated colony ; and Mr. Bernard Ross has found it on the Mackenzie.
Brachyotus cassinii.
The ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am/ also gives the Short-eared Owl in the fur-countries, up to 67° north. Mr. Murray notes a specimen from the woody district between Hudson’s Bay and Lake Winipeg ; I have seen it from the coast of Hudson’s Bay, and Mr. Bernard Ross gives it from Mackenzie River.
Syrnium cinereum.
The Great Grey Owl, a northern species, is identified as be¬ longing to the interior of British North America by a specimen in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, from Red River Settlement; one mentioned in the ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am.,’ from Great Bear Lake ; and two which I received from the Rev. J. P. Gar¬ diner, a missionary resident at York Factory, Hudson’s Bay.
Syrnium nebulosum.
The Barred Owl, an Eastern American bird, was described by Forster from a specimen from Hudson’s Bay; it is recorded also as having been lately found in California.
Nyctale richardsoni.
This species, the Sparrow-Owl, was figured and described under the name of Strix tengmalmi in the ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am.,’ from the forks of the Saskatchawan. It has been found breeding on the Mackenzie by Mr. Ross.
N. albifrons, from the localities in which it has been taken, will possibly be found in the region treated of in this paper ; as well as Athene hypogcea , of which a specimen has been obtained at Fort Benton, on the Upper Missouri. I have inserted these names only to draw the attention of naturalists who may at a future time more fully explore the little-known (in an orni¬ thological sense) British Indian territory lying to the west of Canada.
17. Nyctea niyea.
The Common Snowy Owl (f Ibis,’ vol. iii. p. 320) is known to the fur- traders and voyageurs of the North by its partiality for
Interior of British North America. 51
Willow-grouse and American hares — the “ white partridges ” and “ rabbits ” of their parlance ; and its audacity is such, that it was related to me by a chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s service, that he knew of an instance of one carrying off a wounded bird from the haversack of a hunter; its wing, having been sticking out and fluttering, attracted the Owl’s attention. I observed the Snowy Owl in the neighbourhood of the forks of the Saskatchawan as early as the 3rd of November. Mr. Ross has found it breeding on the Mackenzie.
18. SlJRNIA ULULA.
The Hawk-Owl (f Ibis/ vol. iii. p. 320) is the most common Owl of the interior, up to the Arctic Coast ; it is resident all the winter through on the Saskatchawan, and extends thence to Hudson’s Bay. It is the same bird that inhabits Northern Europe ; but I have not heard that it has yet been met with by any ornithologist to the west of the Rocky Mountains.
Order II. SCANSORES.
1 cannot find that any Cuckoo has been observed in the western Indian country north of 49° ; but two species are known to in¬ habit the Missouri Plains.
19. PlCUS VILLOSUS.
The Hairy Woodpecker, or its varieties, extends as far as 63° N. lat. My two specimens (‘ Ibis,’ vol. iv. p. 3) are of the larger variety, and were obtained during winter. I have seen as many as six holes, one above another, in an old burnt tree, the nest¬ ing-places of this bird.
20. PlCUS PUBESCENS.
This and the preceding species are frequently to be met with in company, as in the eastern part of the continent ; and while the larger bird searches a good-sized poplar-tree in quest of its insect prey, the smaller is as actively engaged within a few feet on a dead or dying alder-bush. Besides my specimens Ibis,’ vol. iv. p. 3), both these birds are noted by Mr. Bernard Ross on the Mackenzie.
PlCOIDES ARCTICUS.
The Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker, besides being given
e 2
52
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
in the * Fauna Bor .-Am/ as an inhabitant of the Bocky Moun¬ tains, is identified from the neighbourhood of Bed Biver Settle¬ ment by specimens procured by Mr. Donald Gunn, now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, and by Mr. Bernard Boss on the Mackenzie. I observed what I took for this species on several occasions, and, in fact, shot a specimen on the western slope of the Bocky Mountains, but at the time I had no oppor¬ tunity of preserving it.
PlCOIDES HIRSUTUS.
The Banded Three-toed Woodpecker is here inserted on the authority of the ( Fauna Bor.-Am.’ and Mr. Bernard Boss as an inhabitant of the central and northern regions, and on that of Mr. Murray of the shores of Hudson’s Bay.
Mr. Bernard Boss considers that he has obtained a specimen of Picoides dorsalis on the Mackenzie, where it winters.
21. Sphyropicus varius.
Besides having been found on the Saskatchawan, whence my specimen (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 3) was obtained, both Sir John Bich- ardson and Mr. Bernard Boss record the Yellow-bellied Wood¬ pecker on the Mackenzie.
22. Hylotomus pileatus.
This fine bird is highly esteemed among the Indians of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s territory as medicine. It must not, however, be considered that t( medicine ” means physic ; it should more properly be understood as “ charm.” So greatly do these people value the bird in this way, that they skin it and stuff it, hanging it to the poles of the wigwam when any inmate is labouring under indisposition ; and they cannot be induced to part with it under any circumstances. Before I succeeded in obtaining a specimen myself (f Ibis,’ vol. iv. p. 3), a Cree Indian, who was camping near Fort Carlton for a few days in January 1858, brought one stuffed in the manner above no¬ ticed to show me, because he had heard that I was “ curious about birds.” It had been shot at a place called Sturgeon Lake, about sixty miles to the north of the fort — the last fall, and had been presented to him as medicine for his wife, who had stuffed it with moss ; and, to do the old squaw credit, I must say that the
53
Interior of British North America.
head was remarkably well done, retaining in perfection all the features of life. He would not give it me, as it was a great charm, being hung up in the lodge always when “ medicine was being made” (which medicine-making consists in a great amount of singing, drumming, and certain mysterious operations) for the benefit of his wife, who had been injured many years before when dressing a buffalo-robe, and had never entirely recovered from the accident. The Indian's name was Ousa-wanaskie'' (the Yellow Otter). He was very chary of the specimen, and it was only with great difficulty that I could induce him to lend it me while I made a coloured drawing of its head, as I was then doubtful whether I should meet with another. When done, however, he was much delighted with the drawing, and took it to show to his wife and family, whom it was very amusing to watch as they compared the original and the representation. This they deemed highly satisfactory, and it served me very well in lieu of a preserved skin. The Pileated Woodpecker has not been obtained from the neighbourhood of Hudson's Bay, and on the Mackenzie is noted as rare. It is known to the inland Cree Indians as “ Ma-maou.''
23. Melanerpes torquatus.
Lewis's Woodpecker, being a western bird, had not been found in British territory before my specimen noted in a former paper in f The Ibis ' (vol. iv. p. 3). The locality was on Bow Biver, at the eastern base of the Bocky Mountains ; but I am unable to add any particulars concerning the species, having only obtained that one specimen. Melanerpes erythrocephalus of the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am/ has been found on the Upper Missouri, but I did not meet with it.
24. COLAPTES AURATUS.
Besides the specimen noted in my original paper ( ‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 3), from Hudson's Bay, others have been presented to the Smithsonian Institution, from Bed Biver Settlement, and Nelson Biver between Hudson's Bay and Lake Winipeg, while it is given by Mr. Bernard Boss as common as far north on the Mackenzie as the Arctic Circle. The Yellow-winged Woodpecker is among the earliest arrivals from the south, whence it comes in large
54
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
bands ; and nothing astonished me more than the immense num¬ ber of these birds which were migrating northwards, favoured by a southerly breeze, at Red River Settlement, on the 26th of April, 1859. This was also the date that the first was seen at Fort Carlton on the Saskatchawan the previous year. By cut¬ ting down a hollow tree near Fort Carlton, I obtained the eggs ; they were nine in number, perfectly white of course, and laid in finely chopped dry decayed wood.
25. Colaptes mexicanus.
Colaptes hyhridus.
Being at the time ignorant of the existence of more than one species of this genus, I did not take any particular trouble to collect specimens in the interior of the continent, and conse¬ quently I am now in doubt of what species were numbers of “ Flickers ” which I observed in large congregations on either slope of the Rocky Mountains in the autumn of 1858. M. Bourgeau, the indefatigable botanical collector of Captain Pal- liser's Exploring Expedition, obtained one specimen on the Sas¬ katchawan Plains ; but whether it was C. mexicanus of Swainson, or the hybrid bird which is so plentiful on the upper waters of the Missouri, I was not able to determine, as I had not an op¬ portunity of examining the specimen after my return to England.
Order III. INSESSORES.
Trochilus, sp.
There seems to be some doubt as to which of three species, colubris , rufus, or platycercus, inhabits the northern interior of the American continent. On the authority of the f Fauna Bor.-Am.,’ Humming-birds are found to range up to 5 7° N. lat. They are known about the gardens of the inhabitants of Red River Settlement, while I observed certain birds of this family both at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains and in the valley of the head waters of the Flathead River, which lies between the eastern and western ranges of the chain, where I crossed it a few miles north of American territory. All I can say about them is that the general colour was brown, with a light throat.
55
Intei'ior of British North America.
Antrostomus vociferus.
Although it may seem presumptuous to include in a local fauna n bird which has not been seen, yet the note of the Whip- poor-will is so distinct and unmistakeable that I think we may reasonably include it among the birds of the interior of the British possessions in North America, from the fact of its voice being known at the Bed Biver Settlement, in lat. 50° N., where I have frequently heard it spoken of. Mr. Donald Gunn of that place, who has contributed considerably to our knowledge of the natural history and climate of the Hudson* s Bay Terri¬ tories, informed me that he heard the voice of the Whip-poor- will on the 2nd of May, 1856; I was also told that a chance one or two had been heard on the Saskatchawan. Moreover, I myself heard this bird when camped, on the night of the 4th of May, 1859, on the banks of Bed Lake Biver, in the north¬ ern part of the State of Minnesota. Its early arrival in that latitude would indicate it as a northern bird ; but Dr. Bichardson does not mention having noticed it west of Lake Huron ; while I never heard its peculiar note during my eighteen months* tra¬ velling to the north of the United States. A. nuttalli may per¬ haps take its place in the west.
26. Chordeiles henryi.
Whether this is the species (for the distinctions are but slight) which is given by Dr. Bichardson as a visitor to the most remote Arctic lands, only the re-examination of his specimens can prove. M. Bourgeau*s and my own, from the Saskatchawan, have been made out to be the Western Night-Hawk, as yet not found in the eastern part of the continent. Specimen No. 132 (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 3), a male, measured 9J inches in length, and 7^ in the wing. The feet were of a dark purple-flesh, marked with white ; the bill dark brown; and the iris of the eye, which was small, also brown. Its stomach contained the remains of insects. M. Bourgeau*s specimen, obtained on the prairie between the north and south branches of the Saskatchawan, on the 27th of June, measured in the wing 8§ in. Three eggs, which he obtained at the same time, were of a light olive, blotched with black more thickly at one end than the other. No nest was constructed ;
56 Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
but the eggs lay where an old patch of buffalo-dung (which is deposited similar to cow-dung in the fields of England) had been turned over, and the ground for that space (say a circle of 15 to 18 inches diameter) was consequently bare of grass. Dr. T. M. Brewer, in the 1st Part of his c North American Oology/ notices the great diversity of colouring in the eggs of the allied species C. virginianus or popetue ; and therefore I am not astonished at the difference of M. Bourgeau's specimens from those figured in Dr. Brewer's plate. He, however, states that the number of eggs is limited to two ; and therefore I wonder how it is that another species so closely allied has been found with three. Let us charitably hope that the Common Night-Hawk is sometimes blessed with more than twins ; or, if not, we may advise her to try a trip to the high western plains, where the invigorating air of the trackless prairies may benefit her constitution. I am sorry that the whereabouts of M. Bourgeau's collection is un¬ certain, or I might have brought the eggs of C. henryi forward as a novelty. With regard to the habits of the Western Night- Hawk, I may observe that the first time I noticed it at Port Carlton, near the forks of the Saskatchawan, was on the 2nd of June, when I shot one. On the same day I saw large congrega¬ tions about the river valley, in one of which there must have been from 80 to 100 individuals ; and as, previous to this, I was out every day with my gun in search of birds, and did not notice any, I concluded they were on their spring migration. Dr. Richardson, however, mentions the Night-Hawk ( C . virginianus ?) at Great Bear Lake, some 800 miles further north, on the last day of May. It was numerous at Fort Pitt, on the Saskatchawan River, at the end of J une ; and I found it on the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains in August. As another proof to add to those already known as to the misnaming of this bird Night - Hawk, I may mention that at a small inland lake on the buffalo plains I once saw half a dozen of them hawking about in company with a number of Terns [Hydrochelidon plumbed) in bright sun¬ light. I see that Mr. A. Murray has called a specimen from near Hudson's Bay C. virginianus ; and Mr. Bernard Ross says that C. popetue ranges as far north on the Mackenzie as the Arctic Circle. Both species may inhabit the interior, but I should be inclined to think that western specimens were C. henryi .
57
Interior of British North America.
27. Ceryle alcyon.
Besides the specimen from the Rocky Mountains already
noted (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 3), I obtained a second from my friend Mr. J. C. Clare, at York Factory, on Hudson’s Bay; there are others also, in the Smithsonian Institution, from between that place and Lake Winipeg, and also from Red River Settle¬ ment. Dr. Richardson and Mr. Bernard Ross have noted the Belted Kingfisher up to 67° N. lat., while I have observed the bird the whole distance across the interior, from Hudson’s Bay to the western base of the Rocky Mountains. It remained, in 1857, on the lower part of the Saskatchawan River till the 7th of October; and I observed it in 1859 at Pembina, where the 49th parallel crosses the Red River of the north, on the 1st of May. The river then had not opened, although there was considerable water on the surface of the ice, and we crossed over with horses and carts. This is not much in favour of the climate of the interior, but it must not be thought that the season is always as late as in this instance.
28. Tyrannus caroltnensis.
Besides a specimen recorded from Fort Carlton in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am./ and my own from the same locality (‘Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 3), Mr. Bernard Ross notices the King Bird on Mackenzie River.
29. Sayornis sayus.
Two specimens of Say’s Flycatcher are recorded in the ‘Fauna Bor.-Am.’ from Fort Carlton, where mine (‘Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4) was procured. Mr. Bernard Ross gives it as rare on the Mac¬ kenzie. S.fuscus is also given by Mr. Ross ; but I should think such a western range doubtful.
CoNTOPUS BOREALIS.
The Olive-sided Flycatcher, described by Swainson in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am./ from a specimen killed on the Lower Saskat¬ chawan, has been since obtained on Hudson’s Bay, as recorded by Mr. Murray, and on the Mackenzie by Mr. Ross.
CONTOPUS RICHARDSONII.
The occurrence of this species in the interior rests on a spe¬ cimen described in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am./ from the same locality as the last.
58
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
CONTOPUS VIRENS.
The Wood-Pewee is given by Richardson in the Appendix to Back's ‘ Voyage.' There is also a specimen from Northern Minnesota in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
30. Empidonax pusillus.
Besides my specimen killed at Fort Carlton, on the Saskat- chawan (‘ Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 4), the f Fauna Bor.-Am.' records one from the same place, and Mr. Bernard Ross notices it on the Mackenzie.
Empidonax traillii.
Empidonax minimus.
Both these Flycatchers are given by Mr. Bernard Ross as summer visitors to the Mackenzie River, the latter the more common.
Of the Thrushes, Turdus pallasii (the Hermit Thrush) stands first in order ; but its occurrence in the interior is at present uncertain, as Mr. Ross is doubtful concerning a specimen collected by him on Mackenzie River. In the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.' there has been a jumble about the Thrushes : Professor Baird considers the description of Merula wilsonii , and the figures of M . solitaria (pi. 35) and M. minor (pi. 36), of that work, to belong to Turdus swainsonii (Cab.) ; while the description only of M. solitaria, given as from Lake Huron, refers to T. pallasii, the true Hermit Thrush.
Turdus fuscescens.
A specimen from the Lower Saskatchawan, mentioned in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.' as Merula minor, and another from Red River Settlement, in the Smithsonian Institution, place Wilson’s Thrush as an inhabitant of the region treated of in this paper ; but, for my own part, I did not obtain a specimen.
31. Turdus swainsonii.
On account of the confusion which existed between the three species, T. fuscescens, T. ustulatus, and the present one, my speci¬ men (‘Ibis,' vol. iv. p.4) was carefully compared with a typical one given me by Professor Baird. I shot another at the same time at Fort Carlton, which, being a male (the sex of No. 99 could not be distinguished on account of the penetration of the shot);
Interior of British North America. 55
corresponded in colour and markings ; they measured respectively in length 6^ and 6J- inches, and the wings 4 and 4J inches. The eyes were brown ; feet brownish flesh ; bills dark horn-colour, except the base of the lower mandible, which was flesh ; the inside of their mouths yellow ; and the second and third quill- feathers the longest. On the 5th of June, in the same loca¬ lity, I obtained another Thrush, a female by dissection ; the bill of the same colour as those mentioned above; feet dull flesh; length 7-J inches, wing 4 inches, tarsus 1^ inch. It was so much damaged that I did not preserve it, hoping to get another. The whole upper parts, including the tail, were of a uniform reddish olive ; its identity must remain doubtful. T. swainsonii is given by Mr. Bernard Boss on Mackenzie Biver north to the Arctic Circle. T. alicice has also been found by Mr. Boss in the north on the Yukon Biver, to the west of the Bocky Moun¬ tains ; it is, however, a bird of the Mississippi valley.
32. Turdus migratorius. (See ‘Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4.)
So widely as the American Bobin is distributed on that con¬ tinent, it is unnecessary for me to note the different localities where it has been found in the northern interior. Dr. Bichardson, during his travels, observed that it hatches its young in latitude 54° at the end of May, and in 65° by June the 11th. Its first occurrence at Fort Franklin, in 65°, he notes on May 20th ; at Fort Chepeweyan, 58J°, May 7th; and Fort Carlton, April 22nd. In 1858, however, when I was at this last post, the Bobin arrived from the south on the 16th of that month; but there can be no question that in those latitudes which are frozen up for nearly half the year, both the arrivals in spring and the departures in autumn are very much dependent on the progress of the seasons. For instance, in the following year the Bobin did not reach Bed Biver Settlement, three degrees further to the southward, before the fourth week in April. In 1858 I observed this bird on the north branch of the Saskatchawan Biver till the 28th of October. Mr. Boss notices its abundance on the Mackenzie, to the Arctic Circle.
Turdus NjEVius.
A specimen is mentioned under the name of Orpheus meruloides
60
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
in the e Fauna Bor.-Am.,’ from Fort Franklin, near the Arctic Circle ; while all those enumerated in Professor Baird’s Report are from the Pacific side of the Rocky Mountains. This is singular, but only helps to prove the mingling of the fauna, as well as the flora, of the Atlantic and Pacific slopes in the far north, which has been adverted to elsewhere.
SlALIA ARCTICA.
As I do not include any portion of Canada in the “ interior,” I cannot take notice of specimens of the Blue Bird ( S . sialis) killed on Lake Huron, as recorded in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.’ The western species which heads this note, however, was obtained on Great Bear Lake by Dr. Richardson ; while T observed what I took for this bird on both slopes of the Rocky Mountains, when I crossed by the Kootonay Pass, in August 1858.
Regulus calendula.
The Ruby-crowned Wren is mentioned by Mr. Bernard Ross as rare at Great Slave Lake, from whence the Mackenzie runs towards the Arctic Sea. I observed and shot specimens of a Regulus , which was not uncommon, on my boat-voyage in September between Hudson’s Bay and Lake Winipeg; it asso¬ ciated with the Tits (Parus atricapillus et P. hudsonicus). I saw it as far as the Grand Rapid, near the embouchure of the Saskat- chawan, at the north-west corner of that lake. I also observed a species on Bow River, at the eastern base of the Rocky Moun¬ tains. The f Fauna Bor.-Am.’ does not give any species.
Hydrobata mexicana.
Specimens were obtained by Mr. Drummond, the botanist, at the head waters of the Athabasca River, and described by Swain- son in the f Fauna Bor.-Am.’ as Cinclus americanus. It does not seem to be known on the eastern side of the continent. Mr. Lord, who has collected extensively in British Columbia, considers that all may be referred to one species.
33. Anthus ludoyictanus.
My two specimens (f Ibis,’ vol. iv. p. 4) seem to show that this is A . aquaticus of the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.’ from the Saskatchawan. I did not find it nearly as plentiful as the following species.
61
Interior of British North America.
Mr. Murray notes it from Hudson’s Bay, and Mr. Bernard Ross from the Mackenzie.
34. Neocorys spraguii.
The Missouri Skylark, hitherto looked on as a rare bird, is common on the prairies of the Saskatchawan during the breed¬ ing-season. The first occasion on which I found it was in the neighbourhood of Fort Carlton, on May 6th. When disturbed from the prairie grass, which is its general haunt, it utters a single chirp, and immediately mounts in the air by a circuitous course, with a very undulating flight, to a great height, where it rests in a peculiar manner on its outstretched wings, and utters a very striking song, which it is difficult to describe, and I can liken to nothing I know. The sound is repeated in a quick succession of notes in the descending scale, each note being lower than the preceding. The bird then usually descends to the ground with great rapidity, almost like a stone, and some¬ thing similar to a hawk swooping on its prey. These striking manners, if once seen, are not to be forgotten ; and I should recognize the note instantly, even if I heard it in the depths of a mangrove-swamp in the tropics. I found it rather difficult of approach, and hard to shoot. How this bird should have been so long overlooked seems marvellous, for I do not know a more common bird on the buffalo plains of the Saskatchawan during summer, and it must consequently be a visitor to the southern prairies. I find also, by my note-books, that I observed it in Northern Minnesota on the 4th of May, 1859. My spe¬ cimen from Fort Carlton was a male ; it measured in length 6| inches, the wing 3J inches, and bill along the ridge scarcely half an inch ; the eye was hazel ; feet dull flesh-colour, tinged with yellowish underneath ; bill above and at the point dusky, remainder of under mandible flesh. The first four quill-feathers were nearly equal and the longest, the fifth being |ths of an inch shorter ; greater coverts tipped with dull white. It differs from Anthus ludovicianus principally in the bill, legs, chin, line over the eye, and tail-feathers.
Mniotilta varia (the Black-and-white Creeper) and Oporornis varius (the Connecticut Warbler) are given as doubtful by Mr. Bernard Ross on the Mackenzie.
62
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
Helminthophaga ruficapilla.
A specimen of the Nashville Warbler is noted in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.’ from the Lower Saskatchawan, and by Mr. Boss on Great Slave Lake.
35. Helminthophaga celata.
The Orange-crowned Warbler was obtained by myself, for the first time, on the Saskatchawan (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4) ; and Mr. Boss gives it, along with the foregoing, as. rare on the Mackenzie.
36. Helminthophaga peregrina.
Two^of my specimens (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4) are referred to this species, which is likewise noted in the 1 Fauna Bor.-Am.’ from the Saskatchawan, and by Mr. Boss from Mackenzie Biver.
Seiurus aurocapillus.
The f Fauna Bor.-Am.’ notices the Golden-crowned Thrush as breeding on the Lower Saskatchawan.
37. Seiurus noyeboracensis.
Besides my specimen obtained at Fort Carlton (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4), the Water-Thrush is noted in the f Fauna Bor.-Am.’ as passing that post in May. Mr. Andrew Murray gives it from the southern part of Hudson’s Bay, and Mr. Boss as far north on the Mackenzie Biver as the Arctic Circle.
Dendrceca coronata.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler is given in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.’ as resident during the summer on the Lower Saskatchawan, and I observed this bird near Fort Carlton, above the forks ; Mr. Boss also mentions it on the Mackenzie, nearly to its mouth.
38. Dendrceca striata.
Besides a specimen of mine (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4) killed at Fort Carlton, the ‘ Fauna Bor.- Am.’ notices it on the Lower Sas¬ katchawan; Mr. Murray gives it from Hudson’s Bay, and Mr. Boss as a common bird on the Mackenzie.
Dendrceca blackburnias.
This species is given, on the authority of Mr. Murray, from Severn House, on Hudson’s Bay, and Trout Lake, under the name of D. parus.
Interior of British North America . 63
39, Dendrceca estiva.
A specimen from Fort Carlton Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4), and my having observed it from near Hudson's Bay, all the way to the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, denote the Yellow Warbler as widely distributed throughout the interior; while Hr. Richardson and Mr. Ross have recorded its abundance to the Arctic Circle ; and Mr. Murray gives it from localities on Hudson's Bay. Its showy plumage, attracting attention, has caused the Indians to give it a special name. The Crees of the Saskatchawan call it “ Ousawoo-peeasees " (the Yellow Bird).
Dendrceca maculosa.
The Black-and-yellow Warbler rests on the authority of the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.' as a bird of the Saskatchawan ; for I did not obtain a specimen, but only saw what I took for the bird, and hailed it as an old acquaintance of Nova Scotia. It has been found on the Mackenzie by Mr. Bernard Ross.
Dendrceca palmarum.
A single specimen, from the Lower Saskatchawan, is mentioned in the f Fauna Bor.-Am.' under the name of Sylvicola petechia. Mr. R. Kennicott has supplied the Smithsonian Institution from Red River Settlement; and Mr. Ross notes it as rare at Great Slave Lake.
Myiodioctes pusillus.
Rare on the Mackenzie (Mr. Bernard Ross) .
Myiodioctes canadensis.
A single specimen is recorded in the 1 Fauna Bor.-Am.,' taken to be of this species, from the Lower Saskatchawan.
40. Setophaga ruticilla.
Besides my specimen (f Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 4) from the Saskat¬ chawan, this bird is noted in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.,' and given by Mr. Bernard Ross as reaching the Arctic Circle, on the Mac¬ kenzie.
Hirundo horreorum.
The Barn Swallow, on the authority of the f Fauna Bor.-Am./ builds within the Arctic Circle in May, and leaves early in Au¬ gust. It is mentioned by Mr. Ross as rare at Great Slave Lake.
64
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
Hirundo lunifrons.
The Cliff Swallow is also given in the ‘Fauna Bor. -Am/ and by Mr. Boss on the Mackenzie ; and I observed it in considerable numbers under the eaves of the buildings at Fort Pitt, on tbe north branch of the Saskatchawan, in June. While travelling over the prairie in the neighbourhood of Bow Biver, our party came upon an immense granite-boulder, about 25 feet high, standing alone on the plain. This had been taken advantage of by the Cliff Swallow, the mud-formed nests of which were clustered together in a mass. The steep cliffy banks of some parts of the Saskatchawan Biver are also used by this bird for nesting-places.
41. Hirundo bicolor.
My specimen (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4) was, I believe, the first re¬ corded from the interior, as it is only mentioned as having been observed in the c Fauna Bor. -Am/ Since that, however, Mr. Boss has observed it on the Mackenzie, as far north as the Arctic Circle. In 1858 the White-bellied Swallow was first seen by myself at Fort Carlton, on the 23rd of April ; but I was told of Swallows on the 21st. They were numerous early in May; and on the 17th I found a great number of them congregated about a small lake or pond entirely surrounded by old woods and willows, with its edge margined with long grass. After a time the whole congregation alighted on a couple of dead willow-bushes, about eight feet from the ground. Approaching within shot, I poured among the thickest lot my usual half-charge of small shot and powder, which brought a number to the ground. I picked up eight ; but, on account of the length of the grass, I have no doubt I missed finding several. They alighted again in the same manner twice, before I quitted the place. I skinned one, and measured the whole; they ranged between 5J and 5| inches in length, and from 4^ to 5 inches in the wing. I found these birds common on the Saskatchawan during the whole summer, and at the eastern base of the Bocky Mountains, near the inter¬ national boundary, on the 7 th of September.
42. Cotyle, sp. ?
The specimen and eggs obtained by M.Bourgeau /Ibis/ vol.iv.
65
Interior of British North America.
p. 4) were taken by me to belong to C. riparia ; but as I find there is. another species ( C . serripennis) which might be mistaken for it, I must leave the matter doubtful. Whichever of these two species it may be, it breeds in large numbers along the alluvial banks of the Saskatchawan River, where the holes may be seen frequently in horizontal lines, caused by the birds preferring to bore in the softest of the lines of strata in the cliffs. They select situations from 10 to 150 feet above the river; and the Cliff Swallow [Hirundo lunifrons) frequently constructs its mud-nests in the same bank. No specimen is recorded in the * Fauna Bor.-Am./ but Mr. Bernard Ross gives C. riparia abundant as far north as the Arctic Sea.
43. Progne purpurea.
No specimen is recorded in the ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am./ although the bird is noted ; so that on mine, from the Saskatchawan (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 4), rests the undoubted occurrence of the Pur¬ ple Martin to the west of Canada and north of the United States.
Ampelis garrulus.
The European Wax- wing was obtained by both Mr. Drummond and Sir John Richardson, as recorded in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am./ in the Mackenzie River district ; and specimens and eggs have since been collected in that locality by Mr. Bernard Ross and Mr. R. Kennicott. A specimen was shot in February, which stamps it as a much more northern bird than the following species.
Ampelis cedrorum.
The ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.5 records a specimen of this species killed on the south branch of the Saskatchawan. The “ Wax¬ wing 55 is also known to the inhabitants of Red River Settlement. On the 25th of August, while travelling at the western base of the Rocky Mountains, near the Kootonay River, in latitude 49°, I saw a number of Cedar Birds, of which I killed a couple : one proved to be a male in the young plumage ; it was 6| in. long, and 3| in. in the wing, which seems to prove its being A. cedro¬ rum. Their stomachs were filled with a delicious berry, called by the Cree Indians and half-breeds the “ Sasketoon.55
44. Collyrio borealis.
It will be seen by the date of one of my specimens (f Ibis/
vol. v.
F
66
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
vol. iv. p. 5) that this Shrike is a winter bird on the Saskatcha- wan. Mr. Murray also notices it from Hudson's Bay, and Mr. Boss on the Mackenzie. A figure of a female is given in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.'
45. COLLYRIO EXCUBITOROIDES.
The White-rumped Shrike is only a summer visitor to the north. Sir John Richardson considers that it does not go further north than 54°, and that only in the western plains. Mr. Boss, however, has found a Shrike in the Mackenzie River, which he records, with a mark of doubt, as being C. ludovicianus. The specimen given in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.' was from Fort Carlton, — the same locality as mine (‘ Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 5), which was a female, — obtained, with a nest of seven eggs, by M. Bourgeau. The nest was in a willow-bush, about five feet from the ground, made of Artemisice and fine grass, which exactly agrees with Mr. Drummond's observations,
Collyrio elegans is given in the ‘Fauna Bor.-Am.,' from a specimen presented to the British Museum, from some part of the fur-countries : no particulars are known.
46. VlREO OLIVACEUS. h
Besides my specimen (‘Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5), the ‘ Fauna Bor.- Am.' records one from the Lower Saskatchawan, and Mr. Boss from the Mackenzie.
47. VlREO GILVUS.
My specimen of the Warbling Yireo killed on the Saskatcha¬ wan (‘Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 5) was the only one I knew of from the interior, until I found that Mr. Boss had obtained it on the Mackenzie.
V, bartramii of Swainson, considered by Prof. Baird to be virescens (Vieill.), is given in the ‘Fauna Bor.-Am.,' but only from the Columbia, and therefore cannot be included in this list.
48. Mimus carolinensis. (See ‘Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5.)
I noticed that this bird differed from Wilson's description in the top of the head being dark brown, and the colour of the feet (when fresh) purple-brown ; also in being difficult of approach — in fact, a shy bird. A specimen is also given in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.,' from Fort Carlton, on the Saskatchawan.
67
Interior of British North America.
49. Harporhynchus rtjfus.
The ‘Fauna Bor.-Am/ records a specimen of the Brown Thrush
from Fort Carlton, besides my own (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5).
50. ClSTOTHORUS PALUSTRIS.
The Long-billed Marsh Wren, besides being obtained by my¬ self near Fort Carlton (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5), was procured by Mr. Drummond on the eastern declivity of the Bocky Mountains, in latitude 55°. The time of its arrival and departure in Pennsyl¬ vania, mentioned by Wilson, and a few differences in colouring from that given by the same author, led me to suppose at the time that my specimen might be of a more northern and, perhaps, western species. However, all the specimens here referred to have passed through the hands of Dr. Sclater, than whom I suppose there is not a better authority on American birds in this country.
51. Troglodytes parkmanni.
My specimen (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5) has been referred to this species. May not also that mentioned in the f Fauna Bor.-Am.J as T. aedon , from the Bocky Mountains, in lat. 55° N., be the same?
With respect to other Wrens, it is not unlikely that T. hye- malis may be found in the interior, though the ‘ Fauna Bor.- Am/ does not mention it beyond Lake Huron. The Bock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) has been obtained on the high central plains in American territory, as far north as Fort Union on the Upper Missouri ; it may consequently be looked for on the British prairies.
52. SlTTA CANADENSIS.
Besides inhabiting the Saskatchawan (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5), the Bed-bellied Nuthatch is identified from Bed Biver Settlement by a specimen in the Smithsonian Institution, from Mr. Donald Gunn.
It is worthy of note that not one of the five foregoing birds has been collected by Mr. Boss in the Mackenzie Biver district. They probably do not go so far north.
53. Parus septentrionalis.
Four specimens collected by me (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5), after careful comparison, were pronounced to be of this long-tailed
f 2
68
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
western and northern species. It seems to be resident in the interior, and is one of the few birds to be met with during the long and dreary winter. Mr. Ross mentions it as “ not rare” on the Mackenzie. The voice of this bird is like the first few notes of the peculiar call of the White-throated Sparrow [Zonotrichia albicollis). In winter, on the Saskatchawan, I found it feeding on the cones of the willow-bushes ; and M. Bourgeau, who used to keep us in food during the rather “ hard times ” at Fort Carlton by snaring rabbits (Lepus americanus ), declared that this bird ate the eyes of the rabbits when in his snares.
Parus atricapillus is given by Mr. Ross as rare, hut a winterer on the Mackenzie, and is included in the ‘Fauna Bor.-Am.;’ but at the time that work was compiled, P.septentrionalis was not recognized as a distinct species.
54. Parus hudsonicus.
This bird, included in my original list (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5), does not seem to range to the western plains ; for neither during winter nor summer did I find it, after leaving the thickly wooded country to the east of Lake Winipeg. I should mention that, although I did not procure a specimen, I have not the least doubt of this bird, as it was an old acquaintance of mine in Nova Scotia, where I had shot many. I now find, however, that Mr. Ross has obtained the Hudson’s Bay Tit on the Mackenzie.
55. Eremophila cornuta.
Besides my specimen from Fort Carlton (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 5), the e Fauna Bor.-Am.’ records one from the same locality, while Mr. Murray mentions some from the shores of Hudson’s Bay, whence I have since received specimens myself. My measure¬ ments range from 7 to 7\ in. in length, and 4J to 4J in. in the wing. I found the Shore Lark on the lower part of the Saskatchawan River, in small flocks, for about a week from the 4th of October, 1857. In the following spring I observed it near Fort Carlton on the 26th of April, and it was common on the prairies by the 2nd of May. I may here observe that the Calandre Lark given in the e Fauna Bor.- Am./ from a specimen presented to the British Museum by the Hudson’s Bay Company, is not recognized in later works on American ornithology.
69
Interior of British North America.
56. Hesperiphona yespertina.
The authors of the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am/ were mistaken in con¬ sidering the Evening Grosbeak as a summer visitor to the Saskatchawan. The fact is, it only inhabits that region during the winter season, and was not observed by me subsequent to the 22nd of April ; its breeding-country must consequently be far to the north, whence it arrived at Fort Carlton in the middle of November. The four specimens recorded (‘Ibis/ vol. iv. pp. 5 & 6) were shot in a grove of maple- trees just out¬ side the stockades of Fort Carlton. The maple is by no means a common tree on the Saskatchawan, one species only, the Ash¬ leaved ( Acer fraxinifolium) , reaching so far north and west. It is found in small groves in sheltered situations in the river valley, and these places are resorted to in the spring by the Indian women for the purpose of sugar-making. This operation is carried on in a very primitive manner, the tree being simply notched, and a piece of wood driven in just below the notch, to lead the sap, from the end of which it drips into little pannikins of birch bark laid at the foot of the tree to receive it. These are visited once or twice a day, according to the yield, which depends very much on the weather, frosty nights and warm days being the best. The syrup thus collected being boiled down in kettles, sugar is produced in the form of a hard cake — very pleasant to eat by itself, but nothing to be compared to cane- sugar in its sweetening property. The maples commenced to “ run,” or rather drip, on the 28th of March — the spring (1858 — a rather early one) that I resided at Fort Carlton. Any un¬ usually cold weather occurring will put a stop to the flow of sap, and cause lamentations among the old Indian squaws. But to return to the Grosbeaks : both species, the Evening ( H . vespertina ) and the Pine ( Pinicola canadensis ), were to be found, on and off in small parties in the maple-trees I have mentioned, near Fort Carlton, during the whole winter ; but the former were never as numerous as the latter. They appeared to feed alike on the seeds of the maple. For some days early in March, I lost sight of my friends ; but on the 14th I was again allowed the gratifying sight of a flock of about five-and-twenty Evening Grosbeaks, which I took to be some that had wintered more to the south, and were merely passing on their northward journey,
70
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
having only stopped for the purpose of making a meal on their favourite food. Again, on the 24th of the same month, I found another travelling party, one-third of which only were females. This singularity I had moreover invariably noticed during the winter, that while of the Pine Grosbeaks those in the female plumage predominated, among the Evening Grosbeaks there were always as many, and usually more, in the brilliant dress of the males. Are the young birds longer in coming to maturity in the one species than in the other ? Although I did not observe the Pine Grosbeak as late in the spring as the other, yet in autumn I saw it more than two weeks earlier, namely, on the 28th of October. The Evening Grosbeak is considered to be a western bird, and seems common on the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific. It has a very sharp and clear note in winter, is an active bird, and will stand a good charge of shot. The males and females, of which I examined a good number, differed but little in size, being from 7 f to 8 in. in length, and the closed wing from 4§ to 4|. In winter the bill is of a light dull greenish yellow ; eye dark hazel ; feet flesh, and claws brown. Descriptions of both male and female appeared in the ‘ Zoologist ' for 1859 (p. 6325), which I took from good specimens; and I have a couple of very well marked ones still in my possession. The figure in the 1 Fauna Bor.-Am.' is good.
57. PlNICOLA CANADENSIS.
This species extends from Mackenzie River to Hudson's Bay (see preceding, No. 56; also ‘ Ibis,5 vol. iv. p. 6, and Mr. Ross's list). Sir John Richardson mentions an instance of its winter¬ ing at York Factory, on Hudson's Bay.
58. Carpodacus purpureus. (See f Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 6.)
The stomach of one of the Purple Finches which I shot in the
spring contained the centres of young aspen-leaves. It is also given in the f Fauna Bor.-Am.,' from the Saskatchawan.
Chrysomitris tristis.
This American Goldfinch is mentioned in the f Fauna Bor.- Am.' as passing three months of the summer in the fur-countries ; an individual is said to have been killed, but the locality is not^stated. I may remark that the “ fur-countries " is rather an indefinite region ; however, I have little doubt that the bird
71
Interior of British North America.
may be found on the Saskatchawan, as there is a specimen in the Smithsonian Institution from the Blackfoot country, which lies on the Upper Missouri, and stretches northward across the international boundary.
59. Chrysomitris pinus. (See ‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6.)
I do not know of the Pine Pinch having been obtained in the interior previously to my specimen from the Saskatchawan.
CtJRVIROSTRA LEUCOPTERA.
The White-winged Crossbill is given in the ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am/ as inhabiting the “ dense spruce-forests ” of the north ; Mr. Murray records it from Hudson's Bay, and Mr. Boss gives it as a winter bird on the Mackenzie. Pine-woods being scarce on the Upper Saskatchawan, I did not fall in with it.
/Egiothus linaria.
/Egiothus canescens.
Five specimens in my collection, obtained at Fort Carlton in the months of November, December, January, and March, were omitted in the original list Ibis/ vol. iv. No. 13), on account of the difficulty of deciding to which species they belonged. Neither can I now pretend to determine, as the specimens have not been returned from Washington ; but only say that, from Professor Baird having one from Bed Biver Settlement in the Smithsonian Institution, which he considers to be AE. canescens of Gould, and Mr. Boss giving both on the Mackenzie, we may presume that two species inhabit the interior. Mr. Murray has also satisfied himself that a specimen from Hudson's Bay is Linota borealis = canescens (Gould). I think the best I can do is to say only that a species of Bedpole is a winter resident on the Saskatchawan, where it is common enough, and leave this much- disputed question alone*.
Leucosticte tephrocotis.
The Grey-crowned Finch was described in the { Fauna Bor.- Am.' from a specimen killed on the Saskatchawan in May. I know nothing more about it.
* Mr. Coues’s Monograph of the AEgiotki, of which we have spoken in our last volume (‘ Ibis,’ 1862, p. 186), should be consulted on this point. Probably Capt. Blakiston’s specimens may be referable to AS. exilipes , Mr. Coues’s new species. — Ed.
72
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
Plectrophanes nivalis.
Of the Snow Bunting it is needless to say more than that it is very generally distributed throughout the country, from Hudson’s Bay to the Bocky Mountains, and has been found breeding in the north ; and that a few small parties sometimes winter on the plains of the Saskatchawan and at Bed Biver Settlement where they can find any patches of ground free from snow, while the main body goes further south. On the Saskat¬ chawan Biver they may be met with early in October, and at Bed Biver Settlement by the 10th. Great docks left Fort Carlton, bound southward, in the first few days of November ; and after the 3rd of December I saw none there till late in March. At Bed Biver Settlement, in 1859, 1 saw some on the 7th of April, and by the 10th there were large flocks. It was a very late spring, and large numbers were passing in their migration till the end of the month. In spring, I have seen them perched on the shingled roofs of the cattle-sheds in the warm sun, chirping away quite merrily with a clear note, such as I never heard them utter in the autumn; I consequently presume that in their breeding-places in the far north they may be found to have a ^pleasant song. I suppose that the Snow Bunting does not often perch on trees, although I once observed one do so ; but as it was just after I had taken a shot into a flock of them, I fancied it might have been a wounded bird.
60. Plectrophanes lapponicus.
Besides the specimen already recorded from the Saskatchawan (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6), I have received the Lapland Bunting from the western shore of Hudson’s Bay; and Mr. Murray notes it from the same locality. Sir John Bichardson says that it breeds in the moist meadows on the shores of the Arctic Sea ; and Mr. Ross includes it among the birds of the Mackenzie. Towards the end of May they were in large flocks on the prairies at Fort Carlton, and were then very fat.
61. Plectrophanes pictus.
In the f Fauna Bor.-Am.’ it is stated that this Bunting was observed associating with the preceding species at Fort Carlton. In the Smithsonian Institution there is a specimen from Pern-
73
Interior of British North America.
bin a, 49° N. lat., on the Red River of the North, which flows into Lake Winipeg, collected by Mr. R. Kennicott in September. Mr. Murray records it from Hudson's Bay; and Mr. Ross from the Mackenzie. My specimen (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6) I shot at the summit of the “ Boundary Pass " of the Rocky Mountains — so named by me on account of its western end being in United States territory, while the eastern is on the British side of the line. It was on the 6th of September, when I was recrossing the mountains from the Pacific side. The day previous having been Sunday, I had remained encamped, as was my usual custom, with my small party (which then consisted of only two Red River half-breeds, a Cree Indian, and a dozen horses), in a valley in the midst of the mountains. In fact, we had been driven to halt sooner than we had intended on the Saturday afternoon, on account of a severe storm of rain and wind ; and even if we had wished, I do not think we could have travelled very well on Sunday ; for the storm continued with much violence, and what fell upon us as rain was heavy snow higher up on the mountains. Next day, however (Monday), we made a start at 6 a.m., and travelled up the course of a creek until ten o'clock, when we halted for breakfast. Suspecting that we had a good day's work before us, I delayed as little as possible ; so, repacking the horses, we were under way again in less than an hour and a half. After two or three miles we began a steep ascent, and wrere soon on ground entirely covered with snow, in which the tracks of some Kootonays, on whom I depended for guiding us across the pass, were visible. Passing along the edge of a very steep hill, it was as much as our horses or ourselves could do in some places to keep our footing. We now descended, crossed a thickly wooded gully, and then commenced the ascent to the watershed through thick forests. The snow increased in depth as we advanced, until on arriving at the crest it was two feet on the level, and in places drifted to double that depth. It was cold work trudging through the snow in thin leather mocassins, without socks ; and, to make matters worse, it was blowing fresh, with more snow falling thickly. However, on arriving at the dividing ridge, with the assistance of the Indian, I unpacked the horse with the instrument-boxes, and obtained a reading of the barometer, which gave an altitude of 6030 feet. Packing up
74
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
again, we followed the crest of the ridge for a short distance, and were just going to descend, when I espied a bird on some open ground where the snow had been nearly all drifted away by the wind. All I had to do was to pull my gun out of its cover, and discharge the barrel which contained shot (for I seldom kept more than one of the two loaded with ball), and I secured a specimen of this Bunting. Of course I did not know what species it was at the time, and, considering the situation and circumstances, did not stop to inquire, but tied the bird up as nicely as I could, and commenced the descent. This was even more steep than the western slope, and for some distance we followed a zigzag path. It was not, however, very bad ; and we soon arrived at a mountain torrent flowing eastward, thus regaining the waters which find their way to the Atlantic. The trail led on through thick forests down a valley due east, on either side of which the rocky tops of the mountains were often of very curious shapes, and the strata in places much contorted. There were also some magnificent cliffs — sheer walls of rock, rising hundreds of feet vertically, while the cascades of snow¬ water tumbling down the narrow gullies added motion to this wild and stern scenery. The snow became less and less as we de¬ scended, and on reaching the end of the valley we came to a snug little patch of prairie, where we found the Kootonay Indians encamped ; and I was glad enough to unsaddle and let my horse go free, for we had travelled this day from six to six, with a halt of only one hour and a half. The horses had the first half of the next day to rest, and I took the opportunity, among other things, to skin and preserve some specimens.
62. Plectrophanes ornatus.
The specimen (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6) obtained by me, about eighty miles S.W. of Fort Carlton, is the only one I know of from the interior. The Chestnut-collared Bunting has, however, been found by the Americans on the plains of the Upper Missouri.
63. Passerculus savanna.
There were three specimens of the Savannah Sparrow in my collection from Fort Carlton, although only one appeared in the original list Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6). I find, moreover, that there is one from Red River Settlement in the Smithsonian Insti-
Interior of British North America. 75
tution ; Mr. Ross also notices it on the Mackenzie. This bird is not included in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.,’ nor is it mentioned by Mr. Murray among skins which he has received from the neighbourhood of Hudson’s Bay ; but this is not astonishing, as it is one of those quiet retiring birds which would be over¬ looked, except by a diligent ornithologist, and neither its habits nor its plumage are likely to attract the attention of a casual observer. I believe that I was the first to discover it in Nova Scotia, where I distinguished it from others of the genus by its note and manners. The former is a feeble chirping, and when you approach it, it will fly from one small bush to another without mounting in the air ; it perches also on stone walls, and often on the ground, where it runs smartly. Wilson’s description of the Savannah Sparrow is not minute enough ; for he makes no mention of the dividing-line of white on the crown, — of the line of brown running from the lower mandible and bordering the white throat, — of a second line of brown from the slit of the mouth, encircling the ear-coverts, and joined, or nearly so, by a third from the back of the eye, — of the decided line of pale white which is thus left from the lower mandible to the back of the ear-coverts, between the first two of these brown lines ; neither does he remark, as he has in the case of the Tree Sparrow ( Spi - zella monticola), the almost concealed spot of brown on the breast, which is very apparent in the living bird, but might be passed unnoticed in a dead one or preserved specimen. Those indivi¬ duals I have measured have been between 5| and 5J in. in length, and 2f and 2| in the wing. The Savannah Sparrow was a common bird at Fort Carlton during spring, where I observed it by the 4th of May. I also shot one near the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains in August, to the westward of which bar¬ rier I believe the bird has not been observed.
Passerculus sanbvichensis.
Observed by Mr. Ross on the Mackenzie, as well as P. anthinus; but this latter he marks as uncertain.
64. POCECETES GRAMINEUS.
The Bay-winged or Grass Finch is mentioned in the ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am.’ as an inhabitant of the Saskatchawan, where I obtained
76
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
my specimen (‘Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6) ; and I find that there is a speci¬ men in the Smithsonian Institution, from near the Red River Settlement. The eggs obtained by M. Bourgeau (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6) were of a greyish white, blotched with light Venetian red. The bird was caught on the nest by means of a butterfly-net.
65. ZoNOTRICHIA LEUCOPHRYS.
I found the White-crowned Sparrow was not uncommon along the east side of the Rocky Mountains in September, whence my specimen was obtained (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6). Mr. Murray has seen specimens from Hudson’s Bay. It is also recorded in the ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.’ from Great Bear Lake, and by Mr. Ross from Great Slave Lake.
66. ZoNOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS.
The White-throated Sparrow, like the last species, must be pretty generally distributed throughout the interior, as my specimen (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6) was from Fort Carlton. Mr. Murray has noted it from Hudson’s Bay ; and I found it east of Lake Winipeg till the 15th of September, where my attention was drawn to it by its peculiar note. Sir John Richardson found it breeding on the Saskatchawan and at Great Bear Lake ; and Mr. Ross has obtained eggs on the Mackenzie.
ZONOTRICHIA GAMBELII.
Mackenzie River to Arctic Circle (Bernard Ross).
67. JuNCO HYEMALIS.
At Fort Carlton, in the spring of 1858, I observed a single specimen of the Snow Bird on the 4th of April, but not again till the 16th, when my specimen (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6) was obtained. This bird was common (the ‘Fauna Bor. -Am.’ says “uncommon”) during my boat voyage the preceding autumn between Hudson’s Bay and the Saskatchawan ; and I observed it in company with the Tree Sparrow ( Spizella monticola ) till the 18th of October. I also saw what I took to be this bird on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains ; but it may have been J. oregonuSj the existence of which species I was not aware of at that time.
JuNCO OREGONUS.
Mackenzie River (Bernard Ross).
77
Interior of British North America.
68< Spizella monticola.
No sailor ever looked out more anxiously for the land than did I, after the long and dreary winter spent at Fort Carlton, watch for the arrival of the first harbinger of approaching spring. A few days of mild weather (which set in before the middle of March) having made considerable diminution in the depth of the snow caused me to look out with more than usual anxiety ; and each day I mounted a convenient eminence near the fort, telescope in hand, in expectation of catching sight of some winged voyagers. At last, on the 15th, I was rewarded by the appearance of a Hawk, which I took to be the Sparrow-Hawk, sailing along high in the air ; but, as a fresh nor'-wester was blowing, he was sood out of sight. I subsequently learned that, on the 14th, a White- headed Eagle, and considerable flocks of small white birds, which were doubtless Snow Buntings, had been seen by some buffalo- hunters on the prairies between Fort Carlton and the south branch of the Saskatchawan, where the snow had in many places disappeared from the ground ; but, as I have before observed when speaking of Plectrophanes nivalis, I believe that some of these hardy birds remain in certain situations during the entire winter, and we must consequently look upon them as winterers. Waiting patiently for a few days, on the 18th I started out after dinner with my gun, and took a track which led from the fort across the plain to the south-east. The forenoon had been overcast with the last touch of a north-easter, bringing its usual accompaniment of snow ; but the wind having died away by the middle of the day, the sun broke through and dispersed nearly all the cloud, so that, although the thermometer was only just up to the freezing-point, it was a delightful afternoon. There was still sufficient snow on the ground to cause walking to be awkward, but I laboured along in expectation of falling in with something in the way of the Falcon tribe, for such birds are said to be the first to make their appearance,- — which, by the by, I have always thought rather curious ; for surely, if the Hawks come, they must have some smaller birds to live upon, and I fancy that if we searched diligently we should find them. Having gone some distance, I turned homewards with the full intention of inserting in my journal, “ Not a single spring
78
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
visitor but when I reached the bottom of the bill leading down from the plain into the river valley in which the fort is situated, I observed a dull-coloured birdfly across the track, and alight among some maple-trees ; I was soon up with him, and bringing him down, I found to my delight that it was a Tree Sparrow ( S . monti- cola ) (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 6). In my joy at having killed the first spring bird, I yelled a sort of Indian war-whoop, and went off whistling to the fort. Its crop contained the interior grains of the Snow-berry ( Symphoricarpus racemosus), which M. Bourgeau, the botanist, determined for me, and said that he had met with the plant “ part out ” west of Lake Winipeg, and that it was common as a bush about two feet high in the river valley at Fort Carlton. A fresh south-west wind blew on the 19th, and on the 20th I found another Tree Sparrow, and the next day a party of seven or eight. After this the spring wore slowly on, and it was some time before we received any more additions in the ornithological way ; so that the Tree Sparrow may be considered by far the earliest of the Insessores. The ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am/ remarks that it leaves the Saskatchawan in the third week in April, and goes farther north to breed. Mr. Murray has received specimens from Hudson's Bay ; and Mr. Boss records it on the Mackenzie ; while I found it from York Factory, on the western coast of the Bay, in August, to Lake Winipeg and up the Saskatchawan till the 14th of October. It was then nearly always in company with Junco liyemalis ; but that bird did not arrive until some time after it in the spring. The Tree Sparrow may always be distin¬ guished from among the other sparrow- like Buntings, when in a wild state, by the chestnut of the head and the dark spot on the breast. In 1858 1 met with it as late as the 28th of October, on the north branch of the Saskatchawan, and found that its range extended to the eastern base of the Bocky Mountains.
Spizella socialis.
Notwithstanding that the Chipping Sparrow ranges across the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific, it has not been found, until lately, in the interior of British North America, except at Pembina, wdiere the boundary-line (the 49th parallel) crosses the Bed Biver of the North, from which locality there is a specimen in the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Boss, however.
Interior of British North America. 79
in his published list referred to at the beginning of this paper, records both the common one and tee striped-crowned variety on the Mackenzie.
69. Spizella pallida.
The Clay-coloured Bunting attracted my attention first on the 21st of May, at Fort Carlton, by its peculiar note, which resem¬ bles, as much as anything I know, a sharp edition of the buzzing- made by a fly in a paper box, such as boys confine them in for amusement ; or I may also liken it to a very faint imitation of the sound of a watchman's rattle. This it utters when perched on some young tree or bush, sometimes only once, but at others as many as four times in quick succession. The eggs, found by M. Bour- geau (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7) in a nest in a Snow-berry bush two feet from the ground, were four in number, of a greenish blue, speckled at the large end with brown. This bird is noticed in the ‘ Fauna Bor. -Am./ but nothing concerning its range ; Mr. Boss also found it on Great Slave Lake. It does not appear to inhabit the eastern part of the continent.
70. Melospiza melodia.
Several specimens of the Song- Sparrow were shot at Fort Carlton /Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7). First seen on the 21st of April.
71. Melospiza lincolnii. (See f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7.)
Also obtained at Fort Carlton, and by Mr. Boss on the
Mackenzie.
Melospiza palustris.
Bare at Great Slave Lake (Bernard Boss).
Passerella iliaca.
The 1 Fauna Bor.-Am./ as well as Mr. Boss, notes the Fox- coloured Sparrow as breeding in the wooded districts of the fur- countries, up to 68° N. I observed it (for it was a bird I knew well in Nova Scotia) between Hudson's Bay and Lake Wini- peg in September, and on the Saskatchawan north branch in October.
72. Guiraca ludoviciana.
Besides my specimen / Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7), the ( Fauna Bor.- Am.5 records the Bose-breasted Grosbeak from near the Saskat-
80
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
chawan; and Mr. Donald Gunn sent one, from Red River Set¬ tlement, to the Smithsonian Institution. Both Guiraca melano - cephala and Cyanospiza amoena have been obtained from Fort Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone, and may reach British territory.
PlPILO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS.
A specimen from Red River Settlement, procured by Mr. Donald Gunn, is in the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
73. Pipilo ARCTICUS.
This bird, described by Swainson in the f Fauna Bor. -Am./ is there stated to frequent moist shady clumps of wood, being generally seen on the ground. I only shot one individual at Fort Carlton Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7) ; but I noted at the time in my journal (which I wrote from day to day), “ This bird uttered a loud harsh note, and, unless disturbed, was usually perched near the top of a conspicuous tree in the woods.” The eye, in an adult male, was bright reddish orange.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus.
The Boblink, or “ Skunk-bird” of the Cree Indians, mentioned in the f Fauna Bor.-Am/ as a summer visitant to the Saskatcha- wan, was only once seen by me, when travelling between Forts Carlton and Pitt. Had I been stationary during the summer (for I defy any one to collect much when constantly travelling by land), with nothing to do besides collecting birds, I might have picked up many more to swell this list ; but, as it was, my ornithological researches were mostly confined to the winter (when there were but a few resident birds) and the spring. There is a specimen of this species in the Smithsonian Institution, from the Red River of the North, in lat. 49°.
74. Molothrus pecoris.
Although the Cow-bird is noticed in the c Fauna Bor. -Am./ no specimen is mentioned. I observed it at Red River Settle¬ ment on the 28th of April, and as far west as the base of the Rocky Mountains. Three individuals which I shot at Fort Carlton, all males Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7), measured 7\ to 7Jin. in length, and 4§ to 4f in. in the wing. They are easily mistaken
Interior of British North America. 81
for Grackles. Mr. Ross mentions the Cow-bird as very rare on the Mackenzie.
75. Agel^us phceniceus.
The Swamp Blackbird (‘ Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7) arrived in the neighbourhood of Fort Carlton on the 4th of May, 1858 ; or, at least, I did not observe it before that, notwithstanding that I was out every day at that season with my gun. I fancy, however, that it is an early spring bird ; for I saw it at Red River Settlement the following spring (which was a very late one) on the 26th of April. No doubt, had there been a garden or other cultivated land about the fort, I should have found it earlier on the Sas- katchawan; but husbandry is almost entirely neglected in the territories of the Hudson’s Bay Company, where vegetable diet, excepting wild berries, is despised by the carnivorous fur- traders and voyageurs. I found this bird as far west as the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Murray records a specimen from Hudson’s Bay, and Mr. Ross on the Mackenzie.
Agel,eus gubernator.
Common on the Mackenzie (Bernard Ross).
Agel^us tricolor.
Rare on the Mackenzie (Bernard Ross).
These are two more instances of the Pacific- coast birds fre¬ quenting the Mackenzie River district.
76. Xanthocephalus icterocephalus.
I saw this bird at Red River Settlement on the 29th of April. Two, shot at Fort Carlton in May Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7), had the remains of insects and Snow-berries ( Symphoricarpus racemosus) in their stomachs. Mr. Murray also notices it from Hudson’s Bay ; but whether this means the shores of that bay, or from some part of the H. B. Company’s territories, I cannot tell. Sir John Richardson did not observe it eastward of Lake Winipeg, while its eastern limit in the United States is Illinois. However, it has been found in Greenland, and may range to the eastward in the north.
77. StURNELLA MAGNA.
My specimen (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7), having been compared with specimens of both S. magna and S. negleeta given me by Professor
vol. v.
G
82 Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
Baird, is considered to be of the original species. One, however, in the Smithsonian Institution, from about 60 miles south of Red River Settlement, is called S. neglecta. Probably both species inhabit the British prairies. One or the other was seen at Port Carlton by the 11th of April, and found as far as the western base of the Rocky Mountains, on the Tobacco Plains. It was supposed to have been seen also near Port Carlton as late as the 3rd of November, having been taken by one of the gentlemen at the fort for a Quail.
78. Icterus Baltimore.
Besides my specimen (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7) of this showy bird, it is likewise recorded in the fPauna Bor.-Am./ from the Sas- katchawan,
79. ScOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS.
The specimen recorded (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7) as killed on the 31st of March was the first which I saw at Port Carlton in the spring; it was in good condition, and the stomach contained masticated insects, which appeared to be small Carabi. It fre¬ quented a small pond still partially covered with ice and snow. It was a male, and measured 9 in. in length, and 4f in. in the wing. The Rusty Blackbird is also given by Mr. Ross as common on the Mackenzie to the Arctic Circle.
80. ScOLECOPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS.
My specimen of this bird (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7) was a male, and measured 10 in. in length, and 5^ in. in the wing. A female pro¬ cured at the same time measured Sj- and 4f in., while two others came between these measurements. Along with these birds two nests were taken, each containing six eggs. There were several together in a swampy place, from one foot to four feet above the ground, on willow-bushes. One, however, was at the base of a willow -bush and resting on the ground, where a small excavation had been formed, in which the nest was made, in this case with grass without any mud, and lined with horsehair. Not having been aware of the existence of any species but the Rusty Grackle, it was quite by chance that I obtained a specimen of Brewers bird. I believe the reason was because I fancied I observed a dif¬ ference in the birds, considering some to be larger than others; but
Interior of British North America . 83
I find no notes concerning them in my journal, which I have care¬ fully gone over. The nests which I found were usually, as above noted, in swampy thickets, about six feet from the ground, of about the same size as those of the American Robin, and made much in the same way, of sticks, mud, &c., and lined with hair and fine grass ; they were generally affixed to the contiguous stems of a willow- bush. Now, whether in thus describing the nest I am speaking of S.ferrugineus or S. cyanocephalus , I am at a loss to know. All I can say is that I obtained the two birds in the same locality ; but one was early in the spring, and the other in June. Whether one is a more northern bird than the other, or whether one builds on the ground, and the other on bushes, I cannot at present undertake to say ; further researches must determine. In the meantime I will observe that I found one or other of these birds common from York Factory, on Hudson's Bay, to the Saskatcha- wan Plains, where they remained till late in October. S. ferru - gineuslaas been noticed in the f Fauna Bor. -Am./ and Mr. Murray records specimens from Hudson's Bay; but, except a specimen from Pembina, where the international boundary-line crosses the Red River of the North, which is now in the Smithsonian Institution, S. cyanocephalus had not, I believe, been previously obtained in the interior of British North America. Now that I see Mr. Ross's list, however, I find that he has also procured it on the Mackenzie.
81. Quiscalus versicolor.
In September I found the Crow Blackbird sparingly between Hudson's Bay and Lake Winipeg, observing the last one on the Lower Saskatchawan on the 4th of October. The following spring, I did not see this species at Fort Carlton before the last week in April ; so that it is not nearly so early a bird as the Rusty Grackle. M. Bourgeau found the nests clustered together in a willow-thicket, at the end of June, on the Saskatchawan Plains ; they were over six feet above the ground, and no mud was used in their manufacture. One was also found in the old nest of a Magpie. With regard to the peculiar mode of carrying its tail which this bird has during flight, I noticed that it was only done by the males, and that instead of being a twist of the whole tail, as has been supposed, and which it certainly resembles, it is
g 2
84
Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of the
done by the outer tail-feathers being considerably elevated and closed inward abo^e the others, back to back. The eggs vary in the ground-colour from greenish blue to olive. My specimen (f Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7) was from Fort Carlton. I have received one from Hudson's Ray ; Mr. Donald Gunn has collected them at Red River Settlement, and Mr. Bernard Ross on the Mackenzie.
82. CoRVUS CARNIVORUS.
The American Raven (the “Crow" or “Corbeau" of the English and Canadian half-breeds, and the “ Ka-ka-kiu” of the Cree Indians) is very generally distributed throughout the northern interior, but seems most numerous on the buffalo plains of the west. Having lived nearly two years in the Indian country, L have had very frequent opportunities of observing the economy of the American bird, and must exonerate him from the stigma of exclusiveness which has been attached by naturalists to the family name from observation of his European brother. “ Brother J onathan " certainly, on the western prairies, is by no means a solitary bird, nor do the Indians inhabiting that region seem to hold any ridiculous ideas of ill omen, or such like super¬ stitious notions, concerning him; it may be, that being better known, and his hoarse croak so often heard, both in times of plenty and seasons of want, he is regarded more as a familiar friend than anything else. During the day, the Raven is usually met with in pairs, except when the carcase of a dead animal draws a number together, or a general slaughter of buffaloes by the Indians affords a repast for all the wolves and ravens of the neighbourhood. At night, however, during winter, they repair to some chosen resting-place, usually a clump of trees on the edge of the prairie, and there roost in one immense body. One of such “ bedrooms " was only about a mile distant from Fort Carlton, and my attention was first drawn to it by noticing that all the Ravens which I saw about sunset, no matter where I happened to be, were invariably flying towards the same point. Having been out one day with my gun, I made a point of returning to the fort in the evening by that quarter; and I was surprised by finding a clump of aspen- trees, none of which were above twenty-five feet high, or thicker than one's arm, filled with Ravens, which on my near approach took wing and flew round and round. I judged, by counting a
Interior of British North America. 85
portion, that there were upwards of fifty at that one spot : I shot one, which I preserved (‘ Ibis,’ vol. iv. p. 7). 1 found that this
was a regular roosting-place, and my friends continued to use it during the entire winter. What also interested me was the won¬ derful regularity with which they repaired to their roosting-place in the evening, and left it again in the morning, by couples, for their day's hunt. One pair used to fly directly over the fort regularly every morning ; and as I sat watching for the minute- hand of the chronometer to come round to the hour of observa¬ tion for the magnetic instruments, they would give a croak or two as a morning salutation, — at any rate I gave them credit for such civility, and noting the time, I found it the same, within two or three minutes; but as the days lengthened, it became a little earlier and earlier each morning. On a cloudy or unusually cold morning they were sometimes a few minutes late, but their usual time was, as near as possible, half an hour before sunrise. In March I observed that the Ravens became restless, and were often to be seen chasing one another in the air, and wheeling about in circles. I also, on some occasions, heard very prolonged croaks — more, in fact, approaching to cawing, and I judged that these signs were indicative of the approaching love-season. In April they paired off, and the roosting-place spoken of became deserted. I should be glad to discover if this habit of congre¬ gating in winter has been observed in any other species. During an excursion which I made on the prairies about a hundred miles south-west of Fort Carlton, in company with a party of hunters who went out to obtain buffalo- meat for the fort, I found several nests of the Raven, with eggs. One was in a small tree close to a lake, and not more than fifteen feet above it ; it con¬ tained six eggs, was about a foot in diameter, composed of sticks, and lined with buffalo-hair and, what may seem rather singular, pieces of scarlet cloth ; but these latter had doubtless been picked up about the Indian camping-grounds.
83. CoRVUS AMERICANUS.
I was never fortunate enough to obtain a specimen of the <f Barking Crow," or “ Rook," as this bird is called, on the Sas- kat.chawan, where it is only a summer visitor ; M. Bourgeau, however, captured one with its eggs (‘Ibis/ vol. iv. p. 7). I
86 Capt. Blakiston on the Birds of British North America.
heard of this bird being seen near Fort Carlton on the 26th of March, in 1858 ; and Mr. Donald Gunn informed me that it arrived at Bed River Settlement in 1859, which was a late spring, before the 4th of April. The ‘ Fauna Bor.-Am.’ mentions that it does not approach within 500 or 600 miles of Hudson’s Bay ; but I find that Mr. Murray, whose ‘ Contributions to the Natural History of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Territories’ I have noticed before, mentions a specimen from Trout Lake post, between Lake Winipeg and Hudson’s Bay. There is also a specimen in the Smithsonian Institution from Nelson River, which flows into Hudson’s Bay ; and Mr. Ross says that it goes as far north as latitude 61°, on the Mackenzie.
84. PlCICORVUS COLUMBIANUS.
I only observed this bird in the Rocky Mountains, at the Koo- tonay Pass Ibis,’ vol. iv. p. 7) .
85. Pica hudsonica.
A resident during the entire year on the Saskatchawan Ibis,’ vol. iv. p. 7), but said to be rare to the east of Lake Winipeg. Mr. Ross notices it as ranging to the west side of the Rocky Mountains in the far north.
86. Cyanura cristata.
There is a specimen in the Smithsonian Institution from Red River Settlement, where I observed the Blue Jay in the spring. I also saw it in some pine-woods near Fort Carlton in March, and the