147. 6. Turdus nanus, Aud. Dwarf Thrush
Plate CCCCXIX. Fig. 1. Male.
Wings with the fourth quill longest, the third and fifth equal and slightly shorter, the second shorter than the sixth. Upper parts light olivaceous-brown, the rump and upper tail-coverts brownish-red, as is the tail; quills dusky brown, margined with light brownish-red; a whitish ring round the eye; lower parts greyish-white, the sides tinged with greyish-brown, the neck and breast tinged with yellowish-red, and marked with broad triangular blackish-brown spots, becoming fainter on the hind part of the breast and sides.
Although this species closely resembles the last in its colours, and the proportions of the quills, it is yet so much inferior in size, and its bill, tarsi, and toes are so much shorter, that it cannot be considered otherwise than as distinct.
Male
6, 91/2.
Columbia River. Accidental in the Middle Atlantic districts. Migratory.
Turdus nanus, Dwarf Thrush, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 201.
FAMILY XIII. MOTACILLINÆ. WAGTAILS
Bill of moderate length, straight, slender, a little broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, a little convex toward the end, the nostrils slight, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and scarcely convex, the edges somewhat involute, the tip acute. General form slender; head ovato-oblong; neck short. Feet of ordinary length, slender; toes very slender, the lateral equal, the outer adherent at the base, the hind toe rather large; claws rather long, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe generally very long. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles small. Wings long and pointed, one of the minor secondaries often much elongated and tapering. Tongue sagittate, slender, with the tip slit; œsophagus uniform; stomach a very muscular gizzard, roundish, with large tendons, and thin rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.
This family is connected with the Turdinæ by
Seiurus
, and with the Alandinæ by
Anthus
, which are the only two American genera.
GENUS I. SEIURUS, Swains. WOOD-WAGTAILS
Bill rather short, straight, slightly broader than deep at the base, compressed toward the end, the edges a little inflected, the dorsal lines of both mandibles slightly convex, the notches very slight, the tip acute. Nostrils basal elliptical. General form slender; head ovato-oblong. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus slender, compressed, covered anteriorly with a long undivided piece and three inferior scutella; toes of moderate length, slender; the first a little stouter than the third, the inner slightly shorter than the outer, which is adherent at the base; claws of moderate length, very slender, much compressed, moderately arched, acute. Plumage soft, blended. Bristles very small. Wings of moderate length; the first or outer quill little shorter than the third, which is longest. Tail of moderate length, even.
148. 1. Seiurus aurocapillus, Lath. Golden-crowned Wood-Wagtail
Plate CXLIII. Male and Female.
Upper parts yellowish-olive, the crown brownish-orange, with two lateral bands of brownish-black spots; lower parts white, the throat with two lateral lines of brownish-black, the lower neck, fore part of breast, and sides, marked with triangular spots of the same. Female similar to the male. Young without the orange crown.
Male
, 6, 9.
From Texas eastward. Fur Countries. Not seen in Labrador. Throughout the interior. Resident in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Abundant.
Golden-crowned Thrush, Turdus aurocapillus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 88.
Sylvia aurocapilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 77.
Seiurus aurocapillus, Golden-crowned accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 227.
Golden-crowned Thrush or Oven Bird, Turdus aurocapillus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 355.
Golden-crowned Thrush, Turdus aurocapillus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 253; v. v. p. 447.
149. 2. Seiurus Novæboracensis, Gmel. Aquatic Wood-Wagtail
Plate XIX. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 7.
Upper parts dull greenish-brown, wings and tail dark chocolate-brown, lower parts pale yellow; a streak of the latter from the bill over the eye; loral space, and a streak behind the eye dusky; cheeks yellowish-grey, streaked with brown; the whole fore part and sides of the neck, the breast, and sides, marked with triangular blackish-brown spots, which are more elongated on the sides; abdomen and lower tail-coverts unspotted; bill dusky; feet flesh-coloured and transparent. Individuals vary, the throat sometimes without spots, the lower parts pale or yellowish-white, the feet dusky tinged with purple.
Male
, 62/12, 91/2.
Female
, 58/12, 87/12.
In winter resident from Texas to Florida, including Louisiana. In summer migrates as far as the Fur Countries. Not Abundant.
Water Thrush, Turdus aquaticus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 66.
Sylvia novæboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 77.
Seiurus aquaticus, Aquatic Accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 229.
New York or Aquatic Thrush, Turdus novæboracensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 353.
Louisiana Water Thrush, Turdus ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 99.
Common Water Thrush, Turdus aquaticus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 284.
GENUS II. ANTHUS, Bechst. PIPIT
Bill of moderate length, straight, very slender, as broad as high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the ridge narrow at the base, the notches slight, the tip a little deflected; lower mandible with the dorsal line straight, the edges involute, the tip acute. General form very slender. Tarsus of moderate length, much compressed; toes slender; claws arched, extremely compressed, acute, that of the hind toe much elongated. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long; the outer three quills about equal and longest; inner secondaries tapering, one of them nearly as long as the outer primaries when the wing is closed. Tail rather long, emarginate.
150. 1. Anthus Ludovicianus, Lichtenstein. American Pipit
Plate X. Male and Female. Plate LXXX. Young.
Hind claw longer than the toe, slightly arched, and very slender. Male, in winter plumage, with the bill dusky, the legs and claws deep greenish-brown; upper parts greyish-olive, tinged with green, and obscurely streaked with dusky; a whitish band over the eye, cheeks brown; lower parts brownish-white, the throat white, the sides and lower part of the neck, fore part of breast, and sides of body marked with elongated, distinct, blackish-brown spots; quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with greenish-grey, the lateral tail-feathers half white, the next obliquely white at the end. Female similar. Male in summer with the bill black, the upper parts olive-brown, tinged with grey; a greyish-white line over the eye, cheeks greyish-brown; lower parts light yellowish-grey, the fore neck and breast often deeply tinged with red, and marked with short, slender, brownish-black spots, the sides streaked; quills and tail-feathers as in winter with the pale margins less distinct. Young more tinged with green above, the bill paler, with a great part of the lower mandible yellowish-red, the lower parts pale yellowish-grey, with an obscure lunule of brownish-black on the fore neck, the lower part of which and the sides are streaked with dark brown, and tinged with reddish-brown.
Male
, 61/2, 101/2.
Throughout the Western and Southern Districts during autumn and winter. Breeds in Labrador and the Fur Countries. Abundant.
Brown Lark, Alauda rufa, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 89.
Anthus Spinoletta, Bonap. Syn. p. 90.
Brown Titlark, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p 49. Adult.
Prairie Titlark, Anthus pipiens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 408, Young. Brown Titlark and Prairie Titlark, v. v. p. 449.
This species is nearly allied to
Anthus aquaticus
and
A. pratensis
, more especially to the latter, from which it is distinguished by having the bill much stouter, the tarsus longer, the hind claws stouter, more curved, and much shorter, the colour of the feet much darker, in being always much more rufous beneath, and in sometimes, when the summer is advanced, being almost entirely unspotted there. From
A. aquaticus
it is at once distinguished by the whitish band over the eye, and the white on the outer tail-feathers. It indeed seems wonderful that any ornithologist should have mistaken it for that species.
FAMILY XIV. ALAUDINÆ. LARKS
Bill rather short, or of moderate length, somewhat conical, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line sloping and slightly convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches generally obsolete; the tip narrow and a little deflected; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and nearly straight, the edges slightly inflected, the tip acute; gape-line straight. Nostrils elliptical or oblong, basal. Head oblong, of moderate size; neck rather short; body ovate. Feet of moderate length, or rather long; tarsus compressed, with eight anterior scutella; toes slender, compressed; the hind toe elongated, second and fourth about equal, third much longer. Claws rather long, arched, slender, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe very long, straightish, tapering. Plumage generally soft and blended. Wings rather long, broad, the inner secondaries tapering, and one so elongated as nearly to equal the longest primary, when the wing is closed. Tail of twelve feathers, generally emarginate. Roof of the upper mandible concave, generally with three prominent lines; tongue slender, thin, flat, tapering to a slit and bristly tip; œsophagus of uniform width; stomach a very strong muscular gizzard of a roundish form and compressed, its lateral muscles very large, its epithelium dense and rugous; intestines short, of moderate width; cœca very small, cylindrical. Nest on the ground. Eggs five or six, oval, spotted.
GENUS I. ALAUDA, Linn. LARK
Bill rather short, stout, somewhat conical, compressed, straightish, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the edges without notch, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending, slightly convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Head rather large; neck short; body ovate. Legs of ordinary length, anteriorly scutellate; lateral toes nearly equal, hind toe of moderate size, with a very long, tapering, acute, and nearly straight claw. Plumage rather dense and compact. Wings of moderate length, the second and third quills longest; inner secondaries much elongated. Tail of moderate length, emarginate.
151. 1. Alauda alpestris, Linn. Shore Lark. – Horned Lark
Male with two erectile pointed tufts of feathers on the anterior lateral parts of the head. In winter the upper parts dusky brown, the feathers paler on the edges; on the forehead a recurved crescentic band of brownish-black; another curved downwards, proceeding on each side from the base of the upper mandible; a band of yellowish-white over the eye and forehead; throat pale-yellow, with a broad dusky patch on the lower neck, the rest of the lower parts brownish-white; quills dusky, tail-feathers blackish, excepting the two middle, which are reddish-brown, like the upper tail-coverts. In summer, the brownish-black bands on the head and neck become deep black, the throat and frontal band white, and the upper parts light brownish-red. Female dusky brown above, dull white beneath; the wings and tail as in the male, but the black bands on the head and neck wanting. Young from the nest with the upper parts deep brown, mottled with pale reddish-brown, lower parts pale yellowish-grey.
Male
, 71/2, 14.
Breeds in Labrador and northwards. Migrates in autumn southward, as far as the Texas. Not uncommon in the Western Country at that season.
Shore Lark, Alauda cornuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 85.
Alauda alpestris, Bonap. Syn. p. 102.
Horned or Shore Lark, Alauda cornuta. Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 245.
Shore Lark, Nutt. Man. v. i. p.
Shore Lark, Alauda alpestris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 570; v. v. p. 488.
FAMILY XV. FRINGILLINÆ. FINCHES
Bill short, stout, conical, acute; upper mandible generally with its dorsal line more or less convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected or direct, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges involute. Gape-line ascending for more than a fourth of its length, then direct. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers. Head of moderate size, or rather large, ovate or roundish; neck short; body compact; tarsus generally shorter than the middle toe with its claw, compressed, with seven or eight anterior scutella; hind toe stout; outer toe adherent at the base, lateral about equal. Claws long or moderate, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended, but firm. Wings various, acute, or rounded. Tail of twelve feathers. Roof of upper mandible concave, with three prominent lines, of which the middle is sometimes elevated into an oblong hard prominence. Tongue much compressed, pointed; œsophagus rather wide, with a dilatation or crop on the right side; stomach roundish or oblong, muscular, with the epithelium thin, dense, and longitudinally rugous; intestine short, rather wide; cœca very small, cylindrical. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. The Fringillinæ pass into the Icterinæ on the one hand, and the Alaudinæ on the other. The Buntings scarcely differ from the Finches in any other character than the knob on the palate, which is common to them with the Icterinæ.
GENUS I. PLECTROPHANES, Meyer. LARK-BUNTING
Bill very short, robust, tapering, somewhat compressed; upper mandible considerably narrower than the lower, its dorsal outline very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the marginal outline slightly angulate; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges involute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers. Head of moderate size, ovate; neck short; body compact, tarsus shorter than the middle toe with its claw, compressed, with seven anterior scutella; hind toe stout; claws long, rather stout, little arched, acute, that of the hind toe much elongated. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, pointed; the first quill longest. Tail rather long, emarginate.
152. 1. Plectrophanes Lapponica, Linn. Lapland Lark-Bunting
Plate CCCLXV. Male and Female.
Male, in summer, with the head and fore part of the neck black; a white band over the eye, passing along the neck, and margining the black; a brownish-red crescent on the hind neck; the feathers on the rest of the upper parts black, broadly margined with yellowish-red; first row of small coverts tipped with white; lower parts white, the sides streaked with black. Male, in winter, with the upper part of the head black, the feathers edged with brownish-red, cheeks and band over the eye greyish-yellow; feathers of the fore neck black, broadly tipped with white; dark streaks on the sides not apparent. Female with the upper parts reddish-grey, spotted with black; a greyish-white band over the eye; the cheeks greyish-brown; lower parts greyish-white, the sides streaked with dusky.
Male
, 69/8; wing, 310/12.
Fur Countries in summer. In winter, as far westward as Kentucky. Abundant. Migratory.
Lapland Longspur, Emberiza lapponica, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 53.
Emberiza lapponica, Bonap. Syn. p. 440.
Emberiza (Plectrophanes) lapponica, Lapland Buntling, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 248.
Lapland Longspur, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 463.
Lapland Longspur, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 473.
153. 2. Plectrophanes pictus, Swains. Painted Lark-Bunting
Plate CCCC. Fig. 5. Male.
Male with the upper part and sides of the head deep black, with three bands of white on each side, one from the base of the upper mandible over the eye and along the neck, another under the eye and over the ear, the third bordering the throat; upper parts brownish-yellow spotted with black; a band of white on the smaller wing-coverts; lower parts, and a band across the fore part of the back, buffy orange.
Male
, 62/12; wing, 31/4.
Fur Countries. Accidental, in winter, on the banks of the Mississippi. Migratory.
Emberiza (Plectrophanes) picta, Painted Bunting, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 250.
Painted Bunting, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 589.
Painted Bunting, Emberiza picta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 91.
154. 3. Plectrophanes ornatus, Towns. Chestnut-collared Lark-Bunting
Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 1. Male.
Male, in summer, with the upper part of the head, a streak, and some spots behind the ear, and the breast black; a broad band over the eye, the throat and sides of the neck, the abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and three lateral tail-feathers, white; a transverse belt of yellowish-red on the hind neck; upper parts yellowish-grey, spotted with dusky.
Male
, 51/4; wing, 32/12.
Rocky Mountains.
Plectrophanes ornata, Chestnut-collared Lark-Finch, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 189.
Chestnut-collared Lark-Bunting, Emberiza ornata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 44.
155. 4. Plectrophanes nivalis, Linn. Snow Lark-Bunting
Plate CLXXXIX. Male and Female in winter.
Male, in winter, with the head, neck, lower parts, a great portion of the wings, including the smaller coverts, secondary coverts, several secondary quills, the bases of the primaries and their coverts, and the greater part of the outer tail-feathers on each side, white; the head and hind neck more or less tinged with brownish-red, the upper parts reddish-grey or yellowish-red, mottled with black, the concealed part of the plumage being of the latter colour, the bill brownish-yellow. Female, in winter, with the white less extended. Young, at this season, like the female, but more brown. Male, in summer, with the back, scapulars, inner secondaries, terminal portion of primaries, and four middle tail-feathers, deep black, all the other parts pure white, the bill black. Female with the black parts tinged with brown, and more or less reddish-brown on the head and rump.
Male
, 7, 13.
In winter, from Nova Scotia to Kentucky. Abundant. Much rarer along the Atlantic coast. Some breed in Vermont and Massachusetts. Fur Countries in