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JAMES HALL COLLECTION
THIS BOOK 15 NO LONGEW THE PROPERTY OF THE |7
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THE
ZOOLOGY THE VOYAGE OF H.M_S. BEAGLE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN FITZROY, R.N.,
DURING THE YEARS
1832 To 1836.
PUBLISHED WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY’S TREASURY.
LVited and¥ Huperintenved by CHARLES DARWIN, ESQ. M.A. F.R.S. Sec. G.S.
NATURALIST TO THE EXPEDITION.
PART IIL.
BIRDS,
Y
JOHN GOULD, ESQ. F.L.S.
ee eco oe .
James Hall Collection
LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY SMITH, ELDER AND CO. 65, CORNHILL. MDCCCXLI.
iis BOOK {AyD
Nom.
eos pie PROPERTY Tor fee
UABIRSRY OF CHICAGO.
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LONDON : PRINTED BY STEWART AND MURRAY, OLD BAILHY.
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4 u/ 5
BIRDS,
Described hp
JOHN GOULD, ESQ. F.L.S.
WITH
A NOTICE OF THEIR HABITS AND RANGES,
BY CHARLES DARWIN, Esa. M.A. F.R.S. Src. Geoxoc. Soc.
AND WITH AN ANATOMICAL APPENDIX,
BY T. C. EYTON, ESQ, F.L.S.
ILLUSTRATED BY NUMEROUS COLOURED ENGRAVINGS.
SO es EN Mi a a
CORRIGENDA.
I am indebted to Mr. G. R, Gray for the following remarks and corrections :—
Page 13, to Milvago ocrocephalus, Spia. add Polyborus ocrocephalus, Jard. & Selby’s Ill. t. 5.
Alter 7, 8, 9, & 10, to 5, 6, 7, & 8
Page 15, Milvago leucurus, add Falco Australis, Jard. & Selby’s Ill. Orn. n. s. pl. 24.
Page 49, Serpophaga, Gould, is probably synonymous with
' Euscarthmus, Pr. Maz.
Page 56, Agriornis, Gould, is synonymous with Dasycephala of Swainson, and Tamnolanius, of Lesson ; the species therefore should be
sp.1. D. lividus, G. R. Gray. Thamnophilus lividus, Kittl. Voy.de Chili, pl.1. Tyrannus gutturalis, Eyd. & Gerv. &c.
sp.2. D. striata, G. R. Gray. Agr. striatus, Gould. Agr. micropterus, juv. Gould, sp. 3.
Page 57, sp. 4. D. maritima, G. R. Gray.
Agr. maritimus, G. R. Gray, &c.
Page 66. The generic appellation of Opetiorhynchus, was adopted after the subjection of Mr. Gould; since its publication, however, I have considered that it might cause confusion with Furnarius, of Vicillot, as it is Temminck’s name for the identical same division, therefore only a synonym, and am on
that ground induced to change and propose the name of Cinclodes, which has been adopted by a Continental writer. The species should be altered thus :—
Page 66, Sp. 1. Cinclodes vulgaris, G. R. Gray.
Page 67, sp. 2. C. Patagonicus, G. R. Gray, List of the Genera of Birds. sp. 3. C. antarcticus, G. R. Gray. Cinclodes fuliginosus, Less.
Page 68, sp. 4. C.nigrofumosus, G.R. Gray. Page 69, Eremobius, being previously employed, it is changed to Enicornis, G. R. Gray. The species to En. phenicurus, G. R. Gray, List of the Genera of Birds. Page 70, Rhinomya, being also previously employed ; it is therefore changed to Rhinocrypta, G. R. Gray. The species to R. lanceolata, G. R. Gray.
Page 76, for Synallaxis major, Gould, read Anumbius acuti- caudatus, G. R. Gray. Furnarius annumbi, Vieill. L’Anumbi, Azara, No. 222. Anthus acuticaudatus, Less. Anumbius anthoides, D’ Orb. & Lefr.
Page 94, Fringilla fruticeti, Kittl. gives place to Fringilla erythrorhyncha, Less. Voy. Thetis. ii. p. 324.
LIST OF
PLATES.
Plate I. Milvago albogularis. II. Craxirex Galapagoensis. TI. Otus Galapagoensis.
IV. Strix punctatissima. V. Progne modestus. VI. Pyrocephalus parvirostris.
Vil. nanus. VIII. Tyrannula magnirostris. TX. Lichenops erythropterus.
X. Fiuvicola Azare. XI dies variegata, in place of “\ Teenioptera variegata.
XII. Agriornis micropterus. XIII. leucurus. XIV. Pachyramphus albescens.
xv. — minimus. XVI. Mimus trifasciatus.
XVII. melanotis. XVIII parvulus.
XIX. { Uppucerthia dumetoria, in place of Upercerthia dumetaria. f Opetiorhynchus nigrofumosus, XX. in place of ( Opetiorhynchus lanceolatus. XXII.
XXII. { Anumbius acuticaudatus, in place of
Eremobius pheenicurus.
Synallaxis major. XXIII. Synallaxis rufogularis. XXIV. —
flavogularis.
Plate X XV. Limnornis curvirostris.
XXXVI. rectirostris. XXVII. Dendrodamus leucosternus. XXVIII. Sylvicola aureola.
XXIX. Ammodramus longicaudatus.
XXX.f Ammodramus Manimbe, in place of
Ammodramus xanthornus.
XXXI._ Passer Jagoensis. XXXII. Chlorospiza melanodera. XXXII. xanthogramma.
XXXIV. { Aglaia striata, in place of
Tanagra Darwin.
XXXV._ Pipilo personata. XXXVI. Geospiza magnirostris. XXXVI. strenua,. XXXVIII. fortis. XXXIX. parvula. XL. Camarhynchus psittaculus. XLI. crassirostris. XLII. Cactornis scandens. XLII. —assimilis. XLIV. Certhidea olivacea. XLV. Xanthornus flaviceps. XLVI. Zenaida Galapagoensis. XLVIT. Rhea Darwinii. XLVIII. Zapornia notata. ~ XLIX. spilonota.
L. Anser melanopterus.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Wuen I presented my collection of Birds to the Zoological Society, Mr. Gould kindly undertook to furnish me with descriptions of the new species and names of those already known. This he has performed, but owing to the hurry, consequent on his departure for Australia, —an expedition from which the science of Ornithology will derive such great advantages,—he was compelled to leave some part of his manuscript so far incomplete, that without the possibility of personal communication with him, I was left in doubt on some essential points. Mr. George Robert Gray, the ornithological assistant in the Zoological depart- ment of the British Museum, has in the most obliging manner undertaken to obviate this difficulty, by furnishing me with information with respect to some parts of the general arrangement, and likewise on that most intricate subject,— the knowledge of what species have already been described, and the use of proper generic terms. I shall endeavour in every part of the text to refer to Mr. G. R. Gray’s assistance, where I have used it. As some of Mr. Gould’s descriptions appeared to me brief, I have enlarged them, but have always endeavoured to retain his specific character; so that, by this means, I trust I shall not throw any obscurity on what he considers the essential character in each case; but at the same time, I hope, that these additional remarks may render the work more complete.
The accompanying illustrations, which are fifty in number, were taken from sketches made by Mr. Gould himself, and executed on stone by Mrs. Gould, with
B
li ADVERTISEMENT.
that admirable success, which has attended all her works. They are all of the natural size with the exception of four raptorial birds, a goose and a species of Rhea. As the dimensions of these latter birds are given, their proportional reduction will readily be seen. I had originally intended to have added the initial letter of my name to the account of the habits and ranges, and that of Mr. Gould’s to the description of the genera and species; but as it may be known that he is responsible for the latter, and myself for the former, this appeared to me useless ; and I have, therefore, thought it better to incorporate all general remarks in my own name, stating on every occasion my authority, so that wherever the personal pronoun is used it refers to myself. Finally, I must remark, that after the excellent dissertation, now in the course of publication, on the habits and distri- bution of the birds of South America by M. Alcide D’Orbigny, in which he has combined his own extended observations with those of Azara, my endeavour to add anything to our information on this subject, may at first be thought super- fluous. But as during the Beagle’s voyage, I visited some portions of America south of the range of M. D’Orbigny’s travels, I shall relate in order the few facts, which I have been enabled to collect together; and these, if not new, may at least tend to confirm former accounts. I have, however, thought myself obliged to omit some parts, which otherwise I should have given ; and, after having read the pub- lished portion of M. D’Orbigny’s great work, I have corrected some errors, into which I had fallen. I have not, however, altered any thing simply because it differs from what that gentleman may have written; but only where I have been
convinced that my means of observation were inferior to his.
B Pak Ds:
Famity—VULTURID. SaRcoRAMPHUs GRYPHUS. Bonap.
Vultur gryphus, Linn.
—, Humb. Zoolog. p. 31. Sarcoramphus Condor, D’Orbigny. Voy. Ois. Condor of the inhabitants of South America.
Tue Condor is known to have a wide range, being found on the west coast of South America, from the Strait of Magellan, throughout the range of the Cordil- lera, as far, according to M. D’Orbigny, as 8° north latitude. Onthe Patagonian shore, the steep cliff near the mouth of the Rio Negro, in latitude 41°, was the most northern point where I ever saw these birds, or heard of their existence ; and they have there wandered about four hundred miles from the great central line of their habitation in the Andes. Further south, among the bold precipices which form the head of Port Desire, they are not uncommon; yet only a few stragglers occasionally visit the sea-coast. A line of cliff near the mouth of the Santa Cruz is frequented by these birds, and about eighty miles up the river, where the sides of the valley were formed by steep basaltic precipices, the Condor again appeared, although in the intermediate space not one had been seen. From these and similar facts, I believe that the presence of this bird is chiefly determined by the occurrence of perpendicular cliffs. In Patagonia the Condors, either by pairs or many together, both sleep and breed on the same overhanging ledges. In Chile, however, during the greater part of the year, they haunt the lower country, near the shores of the Pacific, and at night several roost in one tree; but in the early part of summer they retire to the most inaccessible parts of the inner Cordillera, there to breed in peace. B 2
ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
With respect to their propagation, I was told by the country people in Chile, that the Condor makes no sort of nest, but in the months of November and December, lays two large white eggs on a shelf of bare rock. Certainly, on the Patagonian coast, I could not see any sort of nest among the cliffs, where the young ones were standing. I was told that the young Condors could not fly for a whole year, but this probably was a mistake, since M. D’Orbigny says they take to the wing in about a month and a half after being hatched. On the fifth of March (corresponding to our September), I saw a young bird at Concepcion, which, though in size only little inferior to a full-grown one, was completely covered by down, like that of a gosling, but of a blackish colour. I can, however, scarcely believe that this bird could have used, for some months subsequently, its wings for flight. After the period when the young Condor can fly, apparently as well as the old birds, they yet remain (as I observed in Patagonia) both roosting at night on the same ledge, and hunting by day with their parents: but before the young bird has the ruff round its neck white, it may often be seen hunting by itself. At the mouth of the Santa Cruz, during part of April and May, a pair of old birds might be seen every day, either perched on a certain ledge, or sailing about in company with a single young one, which latter, though full fledged, had not its ruff white.
The Condors generally live by pairs; but among the basaltic cliffs of the plains, high up the river Santa Cruz, I found a spot where scores must usually haunt. They were not shy; and on coming suddenly to the brow of the precipice, it was a fine sight to see between twenty and thirty of these great* birds start heavily from their resting place, and wheel away in majestic circles. From the large quantity of dung on the rocks, they must have long frequented this cliff; and probably they both roost and breed there. Having gorged themselves with carrion on the plains below, they retire to these favourite ledges to digest their food in quietness. From these facts, the Condor must, to a certain degree be considered, like the Gallinazo (Cathartes atratus), a gregarious bird. In this part of the country they live almost entirely on the guanacoes, which either have died a natural death, or, as more commonly happens, have been killed by the pumas. I believe, from what I saw in Patagonia, that they do not, on ordinary occasions, extend their daily excursions to any great distance from their regular sleeping places.
The condors may oftentimes be seen at a great height, soaring over a certain spot in the most graceful spires and circles. On some occasions I am sure that they do this for their sport ; but on others, the Chileno countryman tells you, that they are watching a dying animal, or the puma devouring its prey. If the condors
* J measured a specimen, which I killed there: it was from tip to tip of wing, eight and a half feet ; and from end of beak to end of tail four feet.
BIRDS. 5 glide down, and then suddenly all rise together, the Chileno knows that it is the puma, which, watching the carcass, has sprung out to drive away the robbers. Besides feeding on carrion, the condors frequently attack young goats and lambs. Hence the shepherds train their dogs, the moment the enemy passes over, to run out, and looking upwards, to bark violently. The Chilenos destroy and catch numbers ; two methods are used: one is to place a carcass within an enclosure of sticks on a level piece of ground, and when the condors have gorged themselves to gallop up on horseback to the entrance, and thus enclose them: for when this bird has not space to run, it cannot give its body sufficient momentum to rise from the ground. The second method is to mark the trees in which, fre- quently to the number of five or six, they roost together, and then at night to climb up and noose them ; they are such heavy sleepers, as I have myself witnessed, that this is not a difficult task. At Valparaiso I have seen a living condor sold for sixpence, but the common price is eight or ten shillings. One which I saw brought in for sale, had been lashed with a rope, and was much injured; but the moment the line was cut by which its bill was secured, it began, although surrounded by people, ravenously to tear a piece of carrion. Ina garden at the same place, between twenty and thirty of these birds were kept alive; they were fed only once a week, yet they appeared to be in pretty good health.* The Chileno countrymen assert, that the condor will live and retain its powers between five and six weeks without eating: I cannot answer for the truth of this fact, but it is a cruel experiment, which very likely has been tried.
When an animal is killed in this country, it is well known that the condors, like other carrion vultures, gain the intelligence and congregate in a manner which often appears inexplicable. In most cases, it must not be overlooked, that the birds have discovered their prey, and have picked the skeleton clean, before the flesh is in the least degree tainted. Remembering the opinion of M. Audubon on the deficient smelling powers of such birds,} I tried in the above mentioned garden, the following experiment. The condors were tied, each by a rope, in a long row at the bottom of a wall. Having folded a piece of meat in white paper, I walked backwards and forwards, carrying it in my hand at the
* I noticed that several hours before any of the Condors died, all the lice with which they are infested, crawled to the outside feathers. I was told, that this always happened.
+ In the case of the Cathartes Aura, Mr. Owen, in some notes read before the Zoological Society, (See Magazine of Nat. Hist. New Ser. vol. i. p. 638.) has demonstrated from the developed form of the olfactory nerves, that this bird must possess an acute sense of smell. It was mentioned on the same evening, in a com- munication from Mr, Sells, that on two occasions, persons in the West Indies having died, and their bodies not being buried till they smelt offensively, these birds congregated in numbers on the roof of the house. This instance appears quite conclusive, as it was certain, from the construction of the buildings, that they must have gained the intelligence by the sense of smell alone, and not by that of sight. It would appear from the various facts recorded, that carrion-feeding hawks possess both senses, in a very high degree.
6 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
distance of about three yards from them ; but no notice whatever was taken of it. I then threw it on the ground within one yard of an old cock bird ; he looked at it fora moment with attention, but then regarded it no more. With a stick I pushed it closer and closer, until at last he touched it with his beak: the paper was then instantly torn off with fury, and at the same moment every bird in the long row began struggling and flapping its wings. Under the same circumstances, it would have been quite impossible to have deceived a dog.
When the condors in a flock are wheeling round and round any spot, their flight is beautiful. Except when they rise from the ground, I do not recollect ever to have seen one flap its wings. Near Lima, I watched several of these birds for a quarter and half-an-hour, without once taking off my eyes. They moved in large curves, sweeping in circles, descending and ascending without once flapping. As several glided close over my head, I intently watched, from an oblique position, the separate and terminal feathers of the wing; if there had been the least vibratory movement, their outlines would have been blended together, but they were seen distinct against the blue sky. The head and neck were moved frequently, and apparently with force. If the bird wished to descend, the wings were for a moment collapsed; and then, when again expanded with an altered inclination, the momentum gained by the rapid descent, seemed to urge the bird upwards, with the even and steady movement of a paper kite. It was a beautiful spectacle thus to behold these great vultures hour after hour, without any apparent exertion, wheeling and gliding over moun- tain and river.
In the garden at Valparaiso, where so many condors were kept alive, I observed that all the hens had the iris of their eyes bright red, but the cocks yellowish-brown. In a young bird, whose back was brown, and ruff not white, (but which must have been at least nearly a year old, as it was then the spring) I observed that the eye was dark brown: upon examination after death, this proved to be a female, and therefore I suppose the colour of the iris changes at the same time with the plumage.
oo
BIRDS. 7
1. Caruarres atratus. Rich. and Swain.
Cathartes urubu, D’Orbigny. Voy. Ois. Vultur atratus, Bartram, p. 287. jota, Jardines Wilson, vol. iti. p. 236.
, Bonaparte's List, p. 1. Gallinazo or Cuervo of the Spanish inhabitants of America; and Black Vulture or Carrion Crow of the English of that continent.
Turse birds, I believe, are never found further south, than the neighbourhood of the Rio Negro, in latitude 41°: I never saw one in southern Patagonia, or in Tierra del Fuego. They appear to prefer damp places, especially the vicinity of rivers; and thus, although abundant both at the Rio Negro and Colorado, they are not found on the intermediate plains. Azara* states, that there existed a tradition in his time, that on the first arrival of the Spaniards in the Plata, these birds were not found in the neighbourhood of Monte Video, but that they subsequently followed the inhabitants from more northern districts. M. Al. D’Orbigny, in reference to this statement, observes that these vultures, although common on the northern bank of the Plata, and likewise on the rivers south of it, are not found in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres, where the immense slaughtering establishments are attended by infinite numbers of Polybori and gulls. M. D’Orbigny supposes that their absence is owing to the scarcity of trees and bushes in the Pampas; but this view, I think, will hardly hold good, inasmuch as the country near Bahia Blanca, where the Gallinazo (together with the carrion-feeding gull) is common, is as bare, if not more so, than the plains near Buenos Ayres. I have never seen the Gallinazo in Chile; and Molina, who was aware of the difference between the C. atratus and C. aura, has not noticed it; yet, on the opposite side of the Cordillera, near Mendoza, it is common. They do not occur in Chiloe, or on the west coast of the con- tinent south of that island. In Wilson’s Ornithology it is said that ‘the carrion crow (as this bird is called in the United States) is seldom found on the Atlantic to the northward of Newbern, lat. 35° North Carolina.” But in Richardson’s “ Fauna Boreali-Americana,” it is mentioned, on the authority of Mr. David Douglas, that on the Pacific side of the continent, it is common on the marshy islands of the Columbia, and in the neighbourhood of Lewis’s and Clark’s rivers (45°—47°N.) It has, therefore, a wider range in the northern
* Voyage dans l Amérique Méridionale, vol. iii. p. 24.
8 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
than in the southern half of the continent. These vultures certainly are gregarious ; for they seem to have pleasure in each other’s society, and are not solely brought together by the attraction of a common prey. On a fine day, a flock may often be seen at a great height ; each bird wheeling round and round in the most graceful evolutions. This is evidently done for their sport ; or, perhaps, is connected (for a similar habit may sometimes be observed dur- ing the breeding season amongst our common rooks) with their matrimonial alliances.
9. Caruartes aura. Ill.
Vultur aura, Linn.
, Jardins Wilson, vol. ili, p. 226.
Vultur jota, Molina, Compendio de la Hist. del Reyno de Chile, vol i. p. 296. Turkey-buzzard and Carrion Crow of the English in America.
Tus bird has a wide geographical range, being found from 55° S. to Nova Scotia (according to Wilson, in Jardine’s edition, vol. iii. p. 231,) in 45° N.; or exactly one hundred degrees of latitude. Its lesser range in Northern than in Southern America is probably due to the more excessive nature of the climate in the former hemisphere. It is said to be partly migatory during winter, in the Northern and even in the Middle States, and likewise on the shores of the Pacific. The C. aura is found in the extreme parts of Tierra del Fuego, and on the indented coast, covered with thick forests, of West Patagonia, (but not on the arid plains of Eastern Patagonia,) in Chile, where it is called Jote, in Peru, in the West Indies; and, according to Wilson, it remains even during winter, in New Jersey and Delaware, latitude 40°. It and one of the family of Polyborine are the only two carrion-feeding hawks, which have found their way to the Falkland Islands. The Turkey buzzard, as it is generally called by the English, may be recognized at a great distance from its lofty, soaring and most graceful flight. It is generally solitary, or, at most, sweeps over the country in pairs. In Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast of Patagonia, it must live exclusively on what the sea throws up, and on dead seals: wherever these animals in herds were sleeping on the beach, there this vulture might be seen, patiently standing on some neighbouring rock. At the Falkland Islands it was tolerably common ; but sometimes there would not be a single one near the settlement for several days together, and then many would suddenly appear. They were usually shy; a disposition which is remarkable, as being different from that of almost every other bird in this Archipelago. May we infer from this that they are migratory, like those of the northern hemisphere? In a female specimen killed there, the skin of the head was intermediate in colour between
BIRDS. 9
“ searlet and cochineal red,”* and the iris dark-coloured. D’Orbigny describes the iris as being bright scarlet; whilst Azara says it is “jaune léger.” Is this difference owing to the sex and age, as certainly is the case with the condors? As a considerable degree of confusion has prevailed in the synonyms of this and the foregoing species, caused apparently by a doubt to which of them Molina applied the name of Jote, I would wish to call attention to the fact, that at the present time the C. aura in Chile goes by the name of Jote. Moreover, I think Molina’s description by itself might have decided the question; he says, the head of the Vultur jota is naked, and covered only with a wrinkled and reddish (roxiza) skin.
Famity—FALCONID.
Sus-Fam. POLYBORINE, Swains. (Caracaridee, D’Orbigny.)
Potysorus BrasILiensis. Swazns.
Polyborus vulgaris, Vieddlot. Falco Brasiliensis Auctorum; Caracara of Azara; Tharu of Molina; and Carrancha of the inhabitants of La Plata.
Tuts is one of the commonest birds in South America, and has a wide geographi- cal range. It is found in Mexico and in the West Indies. It is also, according to M. Audubon, an occasional visitant to the Floridas; it takes its name from Brazil, but is no where so common as on the grassy savannahs of La Plata. It generally follows man, but is sometimes found even on the most desert plains of Patagonia: in the northern part of that region, numbers constantly attended the line of road between the Rio Negro and the Colorado, to devour the carcasses of the animals which chanced to perish from fatigue. Although abundant on the open plains of this eastern portion of the continent, and likewise on the rocky and barren shores of the Pacific, nevertheless it inhabits the borders of the damp and impervious forests of Tierra del Fuego and of the broken coast of West Patagonia, even as far south as Cape Horn. The Carranchas (as the Polyborus Brasiliensis is called in La Plata) together with the P. chimangot, attend in great numbers the estancias and slaughtering houses in the neighbourhood of the Plata. If an * In this work, whenever the particular name of any colour is given, or it is placed within commas, it implies, that it is taken from comparison with Patrick Syme’s edition of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours.
+ Milvago Chimango of this work.
Cc
10 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
animal dies in the plain, the Cathartes atratus or Gallinazo commences the feast, and then these two carrion-feeding hawks pick the bones clean. Although belonging to closely allied genera, and thus commonly feeding together, they are far from being friends. When the Carrancha is quietly seated on the branch of a tree, or on the ground, the Chimango often continues flying backwards and for- wards for a long time, up and down in a semicircle, trying each time, at the bottom of the curve, to strike its larger relative. The Carrancha takes little notice, except by bobbing its head. Although the Carranchas frequently assemble in numbers, they are not gregarious ; for in desert places they may be seen solitary, or more commonly by pairs. Besides the carrion of large animals, these birds frequent the borders of streams and the sea-beach, for the sake of picking up whatever the waters may cast on shore. In Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast of Patagonia, they must live almost exclusively on this last means of supply.
The Carranchas are said to be very crafty, and to steal great numbers of eggs; they attempt also, together with the Chimango, to pick the scabs off the sore backs of both horses and mules. On the one hand, the poor animal, with its ears down and its back arched; and, on the other, the hovering bird, eyeing at the distance of a yard, the disgusting morsel, form a picture which has been described by Captain Head with his own peculiar spirit and accuracy. The Carranchas kill wounded animals; but Mr. Bynoe (the surgeon of the Beagle) saw one seize in the air a live partridge, which, however, escaped, and was for some time chased on the ground. I believe this circumstance is very unusual: at all events there is no doubt that the chief part of their sustenance is derived from carrion. A person will discover their necrophagous habits by walking out on one of the desolate plains, and there lying down to sleep: when he awakes, he will see on each surrounding hillock, one of these birds patiently watching him with an evil eye. It is a feature in the landscape of these countries, which will be recognised by every one who has wandered over them. If a party goes out hunting with dogs and horses, it will be accompanied during the day, by several of these attendants. The uncovered craw of the Carrancha, after feeding, protrudes from its breast; at such times it is, and indeed generally, an inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. Its flight is generally heavy and slow, like that of the English carrion crow, whose place it so well supplies in America. It seldom soars ; but I have twice seen one at a great height gliding through the air with much ease. It runs (in contradistinction to hopping), but not quite so quickly as some of its congeners. At times the Carrancha is noisy, but is not generally so; its cry is loud, very harsh and peculiar, and may be compared to the sound of the Spanish guttural g, followed by a rough double rr. Perhaps the Spaniards of Buenos Ayres, from this cause, have called it Carrancha. Molina, who says it is called Tharu in Chile, states, that when uttering this cry, it elevates its head
BIRDS. 11
higher and higher, till at last, with its beak wide open, the crown almost touches the lower part of the back. This fact, which has been doubted, is true ; for I have myself several times seen them with their heads backwards, in a completely inverted position. The Carrancha builds a large coarse nest, either in a low cliff, or in a bush or lofty tree. To these observations I may add, on the high authority of Azara, whose statements have lately been so fully confirmed by M. D’Orbigny, that the Carrancha feeds on worms, shells, slugs, grasshoppers, and frogs; that it destroys young lambs by tearing the umbilical cord: and that it pursues the Gallinazos and gulls which attend the slaughtering- houses, till these birds are compelled to vomit up any carrion they may have lately gorged. Lastly, Azara states that several Carranchas, five or six together, will unite in chase of large birds, even such as herons. All these facts show that it is a bird of very versatile habits and considerable ingenuity.
I am led to suppose that the young birds of this species sometimes congre- gate together. On the plains of Santa Cruz (lat. 50° S. in Patagonia), I saw in the month of April, or early autumn, between twenty and thirty Polybori, which I at first thought would form a species distinct from P. Brasiliensis. Amongst those I killed, there were some of both sexes; but the ovarium in the hens was only slightly granular. The plumage of the different individuals was nearly similar; and in none appeared like that of an adult bird, although certainly not of avery young one. Having mentioned these circumstances to Mr. Gould, he likewise suspected it would form a new species; but the differences appear so trifling between it and the specimens of young birds in the British Museum and in the Museum of the Zoological Society, and likewise of the figure of a young bird given by Spix, (Avium Species Nove, vol. i. p. 3.), that I have thought it advisable merely to allude to the circumstance. In my specimen, which is a cock, the head, instead of being of a dark brown, which is the usual character of even very immature birds, is of a pale rusty brown. The bill and cere are less produced than in the adult P. Brasiliensis; and the cere is of a brighter colour, than what appears to be usual in the young of this species. In other respects there is such a perfect similarity between them, that I do not hesitate to consider my specimen as a young bird of the P. Brasiliensis in one of its states of change ;—and to be subject to great variation of plumage during growth, is known to be a character common to the birds of this sub-family. It may, however, possibly be some variety of the P. Brasiliensis, for this bird seems subject to variation: Azara (Voyage dans l’Amérique Méridionale, vol. iii. p. 35.) remarks, ‘‘ Il y a des individus dont les teintes sont plus faibles, ou d’un brun pale, avec des taches sur la poitrine, et d’autres qui ont des couleurs plus foncées ; jai décrit ceux qui tiennent le milieu entre les uns et les autres.”
I have myself more than once observed a single very pale-coloured bird, in
c 2
12 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
form like the P. Brasiliensis, mingled with the other carrion-feeding hawks on the banks of the Plata; and there is now in the British Museum a specimen, which may be considered as partly an albino. Spix, on the other hand, (Avium Species Nove, p. 3.) has described some specimens from the coast of Brazil, as being remarkable from the darkness of the plumage of their wings.
Mitvaco, Spi.
Several new genera have lately been established to receive certain species of the sub-family of Polyborineg, and consequently great confusion exists in their arrangement. Mr. George R. Gray has been kind enough to give me the following observations, by which it appears he has clearly made out, that Spix’s genus Milvago, is that which ought to be retained. M. D’Orbigny has made two sections in the genus Polyborus, according as the craw is covered with feathers, or is naked, and he states that the P. Brasiliensis is the only species which comes within the latter division; but we shall afterwards see that the Falco Nove Zelandie, Auct. (the Milvago leucurus of this work) has a naked craw, which is largely protruded after the bird has eaten. M. D’Orbigny has also instituted the genus Phalcobenus, to receive a bird of this sub-family, with the following characters :
“Bec fortement comprimé, sans aucune dent ni sinus, 4 commissure trés- arquée 4 son extrémité; cire alongée et droite; un large espace nu entourant la partie antérieure et inférieure de Veil, et s’étendant sur toute la mandibule inférieure ; tarses emplumés sur un tiers de leur longueur, le reste réticulé ; doigts longs, semblables 4 ceux des gallinacés, terminés par les ongles longs, deprimés et élargis, trés-peu arqués, toujours 4 extrémite obtuse ou fortement usée; ailes de la famille, la troisitme penne plus longue que les autres.”
Mr. George R. Gray, however, has pointed out to me that Spix, (in his Avium Species Nove) ten years since, made a division in this sub-family, from the rounded form of the nostril of one of the species, namely, the M. ochroce- phalus of his work, or the Chimachima of Azara. And Mr. Gray thinks, that all the species may be grouped much more nearly in relation to their affinities by this character, than by any other: he further adds ;—‘‘ The only difference which I can discover between this latter genus (Milvago), and D’Orbigny’s (Phalcobenus), is, that in the latter the bill is rather longer, and not quite so elevated in the culmen as in the former; and these characters must be considered too trivial for the foundation of a generic division. I, therefore, propose to retain Spix’s genus, Milvago, for all those Polyborine which possess rounded nostrils with
BIRDS. 13
an elevated bony tubercle in the centre. They were once considered to form three dis- tinct genera, viz.— Milvago, Spi. (Polyborus, Viedl/. Haliaétus, Cuv. Aquila, Meyen.) —Senex, Gray. (Circaétus, Less.)—Phalcobenus, D’Orb. but a careful com- parison of the several species, shows a regular gradation in structure from one to the other, which induces me to consider them as only forming two sections of one genus. Those which have the bill short, with the culmen arched, and are of small size, slender form, and with the tarsi rather long and slender, are— 1. Milvago ochrocephalus, Spix. Polyborus chimachima; Vieid/. (young). Falco degener, Licht. Haliaétus chimachima, Less. 2. Milvago pezoporos, nob. Aquila pezopora, Meyen. 3. Milvago chimango, n. Polyborus chimango, Vieid/. Haliaétus chimango, Less. Those which have a buteo-like appearance, and with rather short and stout tarsi, are, 7. Milvago leucurus, x. Falco leucurus, Forster's Drawings No. 34. Falco Nove Zealandix, Gm.
Australis, Lath. Circaétus antarcticus, Less.
8. Milvago albogularis, x. Polyborus (Phalcobzenus ?) albogularis, Gould.
9. Milvago montanus, x. Phalcobeenus montanus, D’Orbig.
10. Milvago megalopterus, x. Aquila megaloptera, Meyen.
1. MitvaGo PEZOPOROs.
I obtained two specimens of this bird, one from Port Desire, in Pata- gonia, and another at the extreme southern point of Tierra del Fuego. Meyen* describes it as common on the plains of Chile, and on the mountains to an elevation of 4000 or 5000 feet. As M. D’Orbigny does not notice this species, I presume it is not found on the Atlantic side of the continent, so far north as the Rio Negro, where he resided for some time. The habits and general appearance of M. chimango and this bird are so entirely similar, that
* Novorum Actorum Academic Ceesariee, Leopol. vol. xvi. p- 62. Observationes Zoologicas, F. J. Meyenii.
Aquila pezopora, Meyen. Nov. Act. Phys. Med. Acad. Cees. Leo. Car. Nat. Cur. suppl. 1834. p. 62. pl. VI
4 14 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
I did not perceive that the species were different; hence I cannot speak with certainty of their range, but it would appear probable that the M. pezoporus replaces in Chile, Tierra del Fuego and Southern Patagonia the M. chimango of La Plata. In the same manner the M. chimango is replaced between the latitudes of Buenos Ayres and Corrientes by a third closely allied species, the M. ochrocephalus. D’Orbigny, (p. 614, in the Zoological part of his work) speaking of the Chimango, says, ‘Il n’est pas étonnant qu’on ait long-temps confondu cette espéce avec le falco degener, Mliger, (the M. ochrocephalus) et quon Vait cru de sa famille. I] est impossible de présenter plus de rapports de forme et surtout de couleur. Nous les avions, nous-méme confondus au pre- mier abord; mais, en remarquant, ultérieurement, que le sujet que nous re- gardions comme le male ne se trouvait qu’ Corrientes, tandis quil y avait seulement des femelles sur les rives de la Plata, étude plus attentive des moeurs de ces oiseaux, et les localités respectives qu’habite chacun d’eux, ne tarda pas 4 nous y faire reconnaitre, avec Azara, deux espéces vraiment trés- distinctes ; mais qui, depuis, ont encore été confondues, sous la méme nom, par M. la Prince Maximilien de Neuwied. *” 1 may observe that the figure given in Meyen’s work, has the iris coloured bright red, instead of which it should have been brown.
2. MILvAGoO CHIMANGO. Polyborus chimango, Vieil/. Haliaétus chimango, Less. Chimango, Azar. Voyage, vol. ill. p. 35.
My specimen was obtained at Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. In the following short account of the habits of this bird, it must be understood that I have confounded together, the M. chimango and the M. pezoporus; but I am certain that almost every remark is applicable to both species. From what has been said under the last head, it may be inferred, that both of these allied birds have comparatively limited ranges, compared with that of the P. Brasilensis. Azara says the Chimango (and he first distinguished this species from the M. ochrocephalus, or M. chimachima) is rarely found so far north as Paraguay. D’Orbigny saw the Chimango (M. pezoporus ?) at Arica in lat. 16°, and I killed the M. pezoporus in the extreme southern point of America, in lat. 55° 30' south.
The Chimango, in La Plata, lives chiefly on carrion, and generally is the last bird of its tribe which leaves the skeleton, and hence it may frequently be seen standing within the ribs of a cow or horse, like a bird in a cage. The Chimango often frequents the sea-coast and the borders of lakes and swamps, where it picks up small fish. It is truly omnivorous, and will eat even bread, when thrown out
* Tom. iil. p. 162.
BIRDS. 15
of a house with other offal. I was also assured that in Chiloe, these birds (pro- bably in this district the M. pezoporus) materially injure the potato crops, by stocking up the roots when first planted. In the same island, I saw them follow- ing by scores the plough, and feeding on worms and larve of insects. I do not believe that they kill, under any circumstances, even small birds or animals. They are more active than the Carranchas, but their flight is heavy ; I never saw one soar; they are very tame; are not gregarious; commonly perch on stone walls, and not upon trees. They frequently utter a gentle, shrill scream.
3. MILVAGO LEUCURUS.
Falco leucurus, Forster's Drawings, No. 34. MS. Novee Zelandize, Gm. australis, Lath.
Circaétus antarcticus, Less.
It will be observed in the above list of synonyms, which I have given on the authority of Mr. G. R. Gray, that this bird, although possessing well marked characters, has received several specific names. Mr. Gray’s discovery of Forster’s original drawing with the name F’. leucurus written on it, I consider very fortunate, as it was indispensable that the names by which it is mentioned in most ornithological works, namely, Falco or Polyborus Nove Zelandie, should be changed. There is not, I believe, the slightest reason for supposing that this bird has ever been found in New Zealand. All the specimens which of late years have been brought to England have come from the Falkland Islands, or the extreme southern portion of South America. The sub-family, moreover, to which it belongs, is exclusively American; and I do not know of any case of a land bird being common to this continent and New Zealand. The origin of this specific name, which is so singularly inappropriate, as tending to perpetuate a belief which would form a strange anomaly in the geographical distribution of these birds, may be explained by the circumstance of specimens having been first brought to Europe by the naturalists during Captain Cook’s second voyage, during which New Zealand was visited, and a large collection made there. In the homeward voyage, however, Cook anchored in Christmas Sound, in Tierra del Fuego, and likewise in Staten Land: describing the latter place he says, ‘I have often observed the eagles and vultures sitting on the hillocks among the shags, without the latter, either young or old, being disturbed at their presence. It may be asked how these birds of prey live? I suppose on the carcasses of seals and birds, which die by various causes ; and probably not few, as they are so numerous.” From this description I entertain very little doubt that Cook referred to the Cathartes aura and Milvago leucurus, both of which birds inhabit these latitudes, as we shall hereafter show.
16 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
The plumage in the two sexes of this species differs in a manner unusual in the family to which it belongs. The description given in all systematic works is applicable, as I ascertained by dissection, only to the old females; namely, back and breast black, with the feathers of the neck having a white central mark following the shaft,—tectrices, with a broad white band at extremity ; thighs and part of the belly rufous-red ; beak ‘ash gray,” with cere and tarsi “ Dutch orange.”
Mate of smaller size than female: dark brown ; with tail, pointed feathers of shoulders and base of primaries, pale rusty brown. On the breast, that part of each feather which is nearly white in the female, is pale brown: bill black, cere white, tarsi gray. As may be inferred from this description, the female is a much more beautiful bird than the male, and all the tints, both of the dark and pale colours, are much more strongly pronounced. From this circumstance, it was long before I would believe that the sexes were as here described. But the Spaniards, who are employed in hunting wild cattle, and who (like the aboriginal inhabitants of every country) are excellent practical observers, constantly assured me that the small birds with gray legs were the males of the larger ones with legs and cere of an orange colour, and thighs with rufous plumage.
The Youne Mate can only be distinguished from the adult bird by its beak not being so black, or cere so white; and likewise in a trifling difference of plumage, such as in the markings of the pointed feathers about the head and neck, being more like those of the female than of the old cock. One specimen, which I obtained at the Falkland Islands, I suppose is a one-year-old female; but its organs of generation were smooth : in size larger than the male; the tail dark brown, with the tip of each feather pale colour, instead of being almost black with a white band; under tail-coverts dark brown, instead of rufous; thighs only partly rufous, and chiefly on the inner sides ; feathers on breast and shoulder like those of male, with part near shaft brown; those on back of head with white, like those of adult females. Beak, lower mandible gray, upper black and gray (in the old female the whole is pale gray); the edge of cere and the soles of the feet orange, instead of the whole of the cere, tarsi, and toes being thus coloured. The circumstance of the young birds of, at least, one year and a half old, as well as of the adult males, being brown coloured, will, I believe, alone account for the singular fewness of the individuals with rufous thighs, a fact mente at first much surprised me.
The Milvago leucurus is exceedingly numerous at the Falkland Islands, and, as an old sealer who had long frequented these seas remarked to me, this Archi- pelago appears to be their metropolis. I was informed, by the same authority, that they are found on the Diego Ramirez Rocks, the Il Defonso islands, and on some others, but never on the mainland of Tierra del Fuego. This statement I can corroborate to a certain degree, since I never saw one in the southern part of
BIRDS. 17
- Tierra del Fuego, near Cape Horn, which was twice visited during our voyage. They are not found on Georgia, or on the other antarctic islands. In many respects these hawks very closely resemble in their habits the P. Brasi- liensis. They live on the flesh of dead animals, and on marine productions. On the Ramirez Rocks, which support no vegetation, and therefore no land-animals, their entire sustenance must depend upon the sea. At the Falkland Islands they were extraordinarily tame and fearless; and constantly haunted the neigh- bourhood of the houses to pick up all kinds of offal. If a hunting party in the country killed a beast, these birds immediately congregated from all quarters of the horizon; and standing on the ground in a circle, they patiently awaited for their feast to commence. After eating, their uncovered craws are largely protruded, giving to them a disgusting appearance. I mention this particularly, because M. D’Orbigny says that the P. Brasiliensis is the only bird of this family in which the craw is much developed. They readily attack wounded birds; one of the officers of the Beagle told me he saw a cormorant in this state fly to the shore, where several of these hawks immediately seized upon it, and hastened its death by their repeated blows. I have been told that several have been seen to wait together at the mouth of a rabbit hole, and seize on the animal as it comes out. This is acting on a principle of union, which is sufficiently remarkable in birds of prey; but which is in strict conformity with the fact stated by Azara, namely, that several Carranchas unite together in pursuit of large birds, even such as herons.
The Beagle was at the Falkland Islands only during the early autumn (March), but the officers of the Adventure, who were there in the winter, mentioned many extraordinary instances of the boldness and rapacity of these birds. The sportsmen had difficulty in preventing the wounded geese from being seized before their eyes ; and often, when having cautiously looked round, they thought they had succeeded in hiding a fine bird in some crevice of the rocks, on their return, they found, when intending to pick up their game, nothing but feathers. One of these hawks pounced on a dog which was lying asleep close by a party, who were out shooting ; and they repeatedly flew on board the vessel lying in the harbour, so thatit was necessary to keep a good look-out to prevent the hide used about the ropes, being torn from the rigging, and the meat or game from the stern. They are very mischievous and inquisitive; and they will pick up almost anything from the ground: a large black glazed hat was carried nearly a mile, as was a pair of heavy balls, used in catching wild cattle. Mr. Usborne experienced, during the survey, a severe loss, in a small Kater’s-compass, in a red morocco case, which was never recovered. These birds are, moreover quarrelsome, and extremely passionate; it was curious to behold them when, impatient, tearing up the grass with their bills from rage. They are not truly
D
18 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
gregarious ; they do not soar, and their flight is heavy andclumsy. On the ground they run with extreme quickness, putting out one leg before the other, and stretching forward their bodies, very much like pheasants. The sealers, who have sometimes, when pressed by hunger, eaten them, say that the flesh when cooked is quite white, like that of a fowl, and very good to eat—a fact which I, as well as some others of a party from the Beagle, who, owing to a gale of wind, were left on shore in northern Patagonia, until we were very hungry, can answer for, is far from being the case with the flesh of the Carrancha, or Polyborus Brasiliensis. It is a strange anomaly that any of the Falconide should possess such perfect powers of running as is the case with this bird, and likewise with the Phalcobenus montanus of D’Orbigny. It perhaps, indicates an obscure relationship with the Gallinaceous order—a relation which M. D’Orbigny suggests is still more plainly shown in the Secretary Bird, which he believes represents in Southern Africa, the Polyborine of America.
The M. leucurus is a noisy bird, and utters several harsh cries; of which, one is so like that of the English rook, that the sealers always call it by this name. It is a curious circumstance, as shewing how, in allied species, small details of habit accompany similar structure, that these hawks throw their heads upwards and backwards, in the same strange manner, as the Carranchas (the Tharu of Molina) have been described to do. The M. leucurus, builds on the rocky cliffs of the sea-coast, but (as I was informed) only on the small outlying islets, and never on the two main islands: this is an odd precaution for so fearless a bird.
4. MILVAGO ALBOGULARIS. Puate I. Polyborus, (Phalcobeenus) albogularis, Gould, Proceedings of Zoolog. Soc. Part V. (Jan. 1837.) p. 9. M. Fem. fuscescenti-niger, marginibus plumarum inter scapulas _fulvis ; primariis secundariisque albo ad apicem notatis; guld, pectore, corporeque subtus albis ; lateribus fusco sparsis ; rostro livido, lineis nigris ornato; cera tarsis- que flavis.
Lona. tot. 20 unc. 4; rostri, 12; ale, 152; caude, 9; tarsi, 3.
Description of female specimen, believed to be applicable to both sexes. Cotour.—Head, back, upper wing coverts pitch black, passing into liver brown; feathers on back of neck and shoulders terminating in a yellowish- brown tip, of which tint the external portion of the primaries, and nearly the whole of the tertiaries partake. Tail liver brown, with a terminal white band nearly one inch broad; base of the tectrices white, irregularly marked with brown: upper tail coverts white. All the feathers of the wing
aise y Toga 7 e
Mivago albcgularis
Buds. Pb: 4.
ee a Sa
BIRDS. 19
tipped with white, their bases irregularly barred with transverse marks of brown and white. Under surface.—Chin, throat, breast, belly, thighs, under tail-coverts, under lining of wings, and edge of shoulders perfectly white. On the flanks, however, there are some brown feathers irregularly inter- spersed ; and on the lower part of the breast, most of the feathers show a most obscure margin of pale brown. Bill horn-colour. Cere and tarsi yellow.
Form.—Cere and nostril as in the M. Leucurus, but the bill not quite so strong. Feathers on the sides and back of head narrow and rather stiff; those on the shoulders obtusely pointed,—which character of plumage is very general in this sub-family. Wing: fourth primary very little longer than the third or the fifth, which are equal to each other. First primary three inches shorter than the fourth or longest, and more nearly equal to the sixth than to the seventh. Extremity of wing reaching to within about an inch and a half of the tail. Tarsi reticulated, with four large scales at the base : upper part covered with plumose feathers for about three quarters of an inch below the knee ; but these feathers hang down and cover nearly half of the leg. Middle toe with fifteen scales, outer ones with about nine. Claws of nearly the same degree of strength, curvature and breadth as in Polyborus Brasiliensis, or in M. leucurus, but sharper than those of the latter.
Inch. Inch. Total length ‘ ; . . : - 204 Hind claw measured in straight line from Tail . : ; . : . . 9 tip to root . . : ‘ b Wings when folded . . . . 153 Claw of middle toe, a twentieth less than that From tip of beak to anterior edge of eye . 3 of the hind one. Tarsus from soles of feet to knee joint - 38d
Habitat, Santa Cruz, 50° S. Patagonia. (April.)
Mr. Gould, at the time of describing this species, entertained some doubts whether it might not eventually prove to be the Phalcobenus montanus of D’Orbigny, in a state of change. I have carefully compared it with the description of the P.. montanus, and certainly, with the exception of the one great difference of M. albogularis having a white breast, whilst that part in the P. montanus is black, the points of resemblance are numerous and exceedingly close. The M. albogularis, appears to be rather larger, and the proportional length of the wing feathers are slightly different ; the cere and tarsi are not of so bright a colour; the middle toe has fifteen scales on it instead of having sixteen or seven- teen. The black shades of the upper surface are pitchy, instead of having an obscure metallic gloss, and the feathers of the shoulders are terminated with brown, so as to form a collar, which is not represented in the figure of
D2
20 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
P. montanus, given by M. D’Orbigny. Although the main difference be- tween the two birds, is the colour of their breasts, yet it must be observed, that in the M. albogularis there is some indication of an incipient change from white to brown in the plumage of that part. But as M. D’Orbigny, who was acquainted with the young birds of the P. montanus, (of which he has given a figure), does not mention so remarkable a modification in its plumage, as must take place on the supposition of M. albogularis being an immature bird of that species; and as the geographical range of the two is so very different, 1 am ‘nduced to consider them distinct. Moreover, on the plains of Santa Cruz, I saw several birds, and they appeared to me similar in their colouring. The M. albogu- laris is remarkable from the confined locality which it appears to frequent. A few pair were seen during the ascent of the river Santa Cruz, (Lat. 50° S.) to the Cor- dillera; but not one individual was observed in any other part of Patagonia. They appeared to me to resemble, in their gait and manner of flight, the P. Bra- siliensis; but they were rather wilder. They lived in pairs, and generally were near the river. One day I observed a couple standing with the Carranchas and M. pezoporus, at a short distance from the carcass of a guanaco, on which the condors had commenced an attack. These peculiarities of habit are described by M. D’Orbigny in almost the same words, as occurring with the P. montanus ; both birds frequent desert countries; the P. montanus, however, haunts the great mountains of Bolivia, and this species, the open plains of Patagonia.
In the valleys north of 30° in Chile, I saw several pair, either of this species, or of the P. montanus of D’Orbigny, (if, as is probable, they are different) or of some third kind. From the circumstance of its not extending (as I believe) so far south even as the valley of Coquimbo, it is extremely improbable that it should be the M. albogularis,—an inhabitant of a plain country twenty degrees further south. On the other hand, the P. montanus lives at a great elevation on the mountains of Upper Peru; and therefore it is probable that it might be found in a higher latitude, but at a less elevation. M. D’Orbigny says, “Elle aime les terrains secs et dépourvus de grands végétaux, qui lui seraient inutiles; car il nous est prouvé qu'elle ne se perche pas sur les branches.” In another part he adds, “ Elle descend cependant quelquefois jusque prés de la mer, sur la céte du Pérou, mais ce n'est que pour peu de temps, et peut- étre afin d’y chercher momentanément une nourriture qui lui manque dans son séjour habituel; peut-¢tre aussi la nature du sol l’y attire-t-elle; car elle y trouve les terrains arides qui lui sont propres.”* This is so entirely the cha- racter of the northern parts of Chile, that, it appears to me extremely pro- bable, that the P. montanus, which inhabits the great mountains of Bolivia, descends, in Northern Chile, to near the shores of the Pacific; but that further
* Voyage dans l’Amerique Meridionale Partie, Oiscaux, p. 52.
ten gy Se ena soaaUE hy
BIRDS. 21
south, and on the opposite side of the Cordillera, it is replaced by an allied species,—the M. albogularis of Santa Cruz.
5. MILVAGO MEGALOPTERUS. Aquila megaloptera, Meyen, Nov. Act. Acad. Cas. Suppl. 1834, p. 64. Pl, VIII.
When ascending the Despoblado, a branch of the valley of Copiapé in Northern Chile, I saw several brown-coloured hawks, which at the time appeared new to me, but of which I did not procure a specimen. These I have no doubt were the A. megaloptera of Meyen. In the British Museum there is a specimen, brought from Chile by Mr. Crawley. Mr. G. R. Gray suspects that this bird may eventually prove to be the young of the Phalcobenus montanus of D’Orbigny, and as I saw that bird (or another species having a close general re- semblance with it) in the valleys of Northern Chile, although not in the immediate vicinity, this supposition is by no means improbable. Meyen’s figure at first sight appears very different from that of the young of the P. montanus, given by M. D’Orbigny, for in the latter the feathers over nearly the whole body are more dis- tinctly bordered with a pale rufous shade, the thighs barred with the same, and the general tint is of amuch redder brown. But with the exception of these differences, which are only in degree, I can find in M. D’Orbigny’s description no other distinguishing character, whilst on the other hand, there are numerous points of close resemblance between the two birds in the shadings, and even trifling marks of their plumage. Meyen, moreover, in describing the habits of his species, says, it frequents a region just below the limit of perpetual snow, and that it sometimes soars at a great height like a condor. Those which I saw had the general manners of a Polyborus or Milvago, and were flying from rock to rock amongst the mountains at a considerable elevation, but far below the snow-line. In these several respects, there is a close agreement with the habits of the P. montanus, as described by M. D’Orbigny. I will only add that the specimen in the British Museum appeared, independently of differences of plumage, distinct from the M. albogularis of Patagonia, from the thinness and greater prolongation of its beak, and the slenderness of its tarsi.
22 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Sus.-Fam.—BUTEONINZA. CraxIrEx. Gould.
Rostrum Buteonis sed longius; mandibule superioris margo rectus; versus apicem subitd incurvus. Ale elongate. Cera lata. Nares fere rotunde, aperte. Tarsi mediocres, antice squamis tecti. Digiti magni, fortes; ungues obtuse.
Mr. Govutp was partly led to institute this genus from the facts communicated to him by me regarding the habits of the following species, which is found in the Galapagos Archipelago, and there supplies the place of the Polybori and Mil- vagines of the neighbouring continent of America. Ifa principle of classification founded on habits alone, were admissible, this bird, as will presently be shown, undoubtedly would be ranked with more propriety in the sub-family of Poly- borine, than amongst the Buzzards. To the latter it is closely related in the form of its nostrils ; in the kind of plumage which covers the head, breast, and shoulders; in the reticulation of the scales on its feet and tarsi, and less closely in the form of its beak. To the Polyborine it manifests an affinity in the great strength and length of its toes and claws, and in the bluntness of the latter ; in the nakedness of the cere, in the perfectly uncovered nostrils, in the pro- longation and bulk of the bill, in the straightness of the line of commissure, and in the narrow shape of the head. In these several respects, taken conjointly with its habits, this bird supplies a most interesting link in the chain of affinities, by which the true buzzards pass into the great American sub-family of carrion- feeding hawks. I am, indeed, unable to decide, whether I have judged rightly in placing this genus, as first of the Buteonine, instead of last of the Poly- borine.
Birds £0. 2.
Caawen CUMpAgG USS.
BIRDS. 23
CraxirEX GALAPAGOENSIS. Gould. Puare IT. Polyborus Galapagoensis. Proceedings of the Zoological Society for January, 1837, p. 9.
C. Mas. adult. Intense fuscus; primariis nigris; secundariarum pogoniis internis transversim albo et fusco striatis; caudd cinerascenti-fuscd, transversim lineis angustis et numerosis intense fuscis notata; rostro obscure corneo; pedibus olivaceo-flavis.
Long, tot. 203 unc; rostri, 14; ale, 15; caude, 84; tarsi, 34.
Fem. adult. femine juniori fer similis, pectore tamen fusco.
Fem. juv. Capite corporeque intense stramineis, fusco-variegatis ; illo in pec- tore et abdomine prevalente; primariis fusco-nigris; rectricum pogoniis externe cinerascenti-fuscis, interne pallide rosaceis ; utrisque lineis angustis et Srequentibus Sfuscis transversim striatis, apicibus sordide albis ; rostro nigrescenti-fusco ; pedibus olivaceo-flavis.
Long. tot. 24 unc. ; rostri, 12; ale, 174; caude, 104; tarsi, 34.
Description of adult male.
Cotour.—Entire dorsal aspect umber brown: base of feathers on hind part of neck, white; base of those on back, irregularly banded with pale fulvous, and the scapulars with a distinct band of it. The inferior feathers of upper tail co- verts banded in like manner to their extremities. Tail dusky clove-brown, obscurely marked with darkened transverse narrow bands. - Primaries per- fectly black towards their extremities, but with the outer edge of their base, gray : inner web banded and freckled with gray, brown, and white, which in the secondaries takes the form of regular bars. Under surface, entirely umber brown, but rather paler than the upper. Lining of wings gray, with irregular transverse brown bars: under-side of tail the same, but paler. Thighs of a rather yellower brown. Bill and cere horn colour, mottled with pale gray: tarsi yellow.
Form.—Beak, with apex much arched, both longer and more pointed than it is in the group of the Polyborine. Cere naked, with few bristles ; nostrils large, quite uncovered, irregularly triangular, with the angles much rounded, and situated rather above a central line between the culmen and commissure. Fourth primary longest, but third and fifth nearly equal to it; first, four inches and a half shorter than fourth, and equal to the eighth; second shorter than fifth. Extremities of wing reaching within half an inch of end of tail.
24 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Tarsi strong, feathered for nearly a third of their length beneath the joint. Scales in narrow, undivided (with the exception in some instances of one) bands, covering the front of tarsus. Toes very strong and rather long, like those of the species of Milvago, and much more so than in the genus Buteo. Hind-toe equal in length to the inner one; but not placed quite so high on the Tarsus as in Polyborus. Basal joints of middle toe covered with small scales, with five large ones towards the extremity. Claws very strong, thick and long, and rather more arched, and broader than in Polyborus Brasilensts ; their extremities obtuse, but not in so great a degree as in some species of
Milvago.
Inches. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail following curvature of body . : : . . . 203 Tail. F : ; . ‘ ; : . : : . : : . , : . 83 Wing, from elbow-joint to extremity of longest primary . : : . : : . . .. 46 Bill, from tip to anterior edge of eye measured in a straight line aa Tarsus, from soles of feet to centre of joint 33 Hind claw from tip to root, measured in straight line 145 Claw of middle toe : : ‘ tots
Old female.
Cotour.—Nearly as in young female, but with the breast dark brown.
Young female.
Cotour.—Head, back of neck, back, wing coverts and tertiaries barred and mottled, both with pale umber brown (of the same tint as in the male bird) and with pale fulvous orange. On head and back of neck, each feather is of the latter colour, with a mere patch of the brown on its tip; but in the longer feathers, as in the scapulars, upper tail coverts, inner web and part of outer of the tertiaries, each is distinctly barred with the dark brown. Tail as in the old male. Primaries black as in male, with the inner webs nearly white, and marked with short transverse bars. Under surface and thighs of the same fulvous orange, but some of the feathers, especially those on the breast, are marked with small spots of umber brown on their tips. Some of the longer feathers on the flanks, on the under tail coverts, and on the linings of the wing, have irregular bars of the same.
Form and Size.—Larger and more robust than the male. Total length 24 inches. Tail ten and a half inches long, and therefore longer in proportion to the wings than in the other sex. Wings from joint to end of primaries, 17}.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (October).
BIRDS. 25
This bird is, I believe, confined to the Galapagos Archipelago, where on all the islands, it is excessively numerous. It inhabits, indifferently, either the dry sterile region near the coast, which, perhaps, is its most general resort, or the damp and wooded summits of the volcanic hills. This bird, in most of its habits and disposition, resembles the Milvago leucurus, or the Falco Nove Zelandie of older authors. It is extremely tame, and frequents the neighbourhood of any building inhabited by man. When a tortoise is killed even in the midst of the woods, these birds immediately congregate in great numbers, and remain either seated on the ground, or on the branches of the stunted trees, patiently waiting to devour the in- testines, and to pick the carapace clean, after the meat has been cut away. These birds will eat all kinds of offal thrown from the houses, and dead fish and marine productions cast up by the sea, They are said to kill young doves, and even chickens ; and are very destructive to the little tortoises, as soon as they break through the shell. In these respects this bird shows its alliance with the buzzards. Its flight is neither elegant nor swift. On the ground it is able, like the M. leucurus and Phalcobenus montanus of D’Orbigny, to run very quickly. This habit which, as before observed, is so anomalous in the Falcons, manifests in a very striking manner the relation of this new genus with the Polyborine. It is, also, a noisy bird, and utters many different cries, one of which was so very like the shrill gentle scream of the M. chimango, that the officers of the “Beagle” generally called it either by this name, or from its larger size by that of Carrancha,—both names, however, plainly indicating its close and evident relationship with the birds of that family. The craw is feathered; and does not, I believe, protrude like that of the P. Brasiliensis or M. leucurus. It builds in trees, and the female was just beginning to lay in October. The bird of which the full figure has been given, is a young female, but of, at least, one year old. The old male-bird is of a uniform dusky plumage, and is seen behind. The adult female resembles the young of the same sex, but the breast is dark brown like that of the male. In precisely the same manner as was remarked in the case of the M. leucurus, these old females are present in singularly few proportional numbers. One day at James’ Island, out of thirty birds, which I counted standing within a hundred yards of the tents, under which we were bivouacked, there was not a single one with the dark brown breast. From this circumstance I am led to conclude that the females of this species (as with the M. leucurus) acquire their full plumage late in life.
26 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
1. BuTreo ERYTHRONOTUS.
Haliaétus erythronotus, King, in Zoological Journal, vol. iii. p. 424. Buteo tricolor, D’Orbigny.
I obtained specimens of this bird from Chiloe and the Falkland Islands, and Captain King who first described it, procured his specimens from Port Famine, Lat. 53° 38' in Tierra del Fuego. M. D’Orbigny states that it has a wide range over the provinces of La Plata, central Chile, and even Bolivia; but in this latter country, it occurs only on the mountains, at an elevation of about 12,000 feet above the sea. The same author states, that it usually frequents open and dry countries ; but as we now see that it is found in the dense and humid forests of Chiloe and Tierra del Fuego, this remark is not applicable. At the Falk- land Islands, it preys chiefly on the rabbits, which have run wild and abound over certain parts of the island. This bird was considered by Captain King as a Haliaétus ; but Mr. Gould thinks it is more properly placed with the Buzzards. Captain King gave it the appropriate specific name of erythronotus, and, there- fore, as Mr. Gould observes, the more recent one of tricolor, given by M. D’Orbigny, must be passed over.
2. Bureo varius. Gould. Buteo varius, Gould, Proceedings of the Zoological Society, Part v. 1837, p. 10.
B. vertice corporeque supra intense fuscis, plumis fulvo marginatis vel guttatis ; primariis secundartisque cinereis, lineis numerosis fuscis transversim striatis ; caudd cinered, lineis angustis numerosis fuscis transversim notata; singults plumis flavescenti-albo ad apicem notatis ; guld fuliginosd; pectore fulvo, lined in- terruptd nigrescente a guld tendente circumdato ; abdomine imo lateribusque stra- mineo et rufescenti-fusco variegatis ; femoribus crissoque straminets liners transver- salibus anfractis rufescenti-fuscis ornatis ; rostro nigro ; cerd tarsisque olivaceis.
Long. tot. 214; alw, 165; caude, 10; tarsi, 33.
Cotour.—Head and back of neck umber brown, with edges of the feathers fringed with fulvous, (or buff orange with some reddish orange) and their bases white. Shoulders brown, with the feathers more broadly edged. Back the same, with the basal part of the feathers fulvous, with transverse bars of the dark brown. Tail blueish gray, with numerous, narrow, transverse, faint black bars. Tail-coverts pale fulvous, with irregular bars of dark fulvous and brown. Wings: primaries blackish gray, obscurely barred ; secondaries and tertiaries more plainly barred, and tipped with fulvous. Wing coverts, dark umber brown, largely tipped, and marked with large
BIRDS. 27 spots, almost forming bars, of pale fulvous. Under surface.—Chin black ; throat and breast ochre yellow, with a narrow dark brown line on the shafts of the feathers, which, in those on the sides of the throat and breast expands into a large oval spot. Feathers on belly reddish brown, fringed and marked at base with the ochre yellow. Lining of wings ochre yellow, with nume- rous transverse bars of dark brown. Under-side of tail, inner webs almost white, outer pale gray, with very obscure transverse bars. Thighs, ochre yellow, with numerous zigzag transverse bars of pale reddish brown. Bill pale blackish ; iris brown ; tarsi gamboge yellow.
Form.—Fourth primary very little longer than third, and about half an inch longer than fifth. First rather shorter than seventh, and longer than eighth. Wings when folded reaching within two inches of the extremity of the tail.
Inches, Total length : F . : : . , ; , . : 215 Septet 2. ek we ee ee Wings when folded. . : . . . : : . . : . : . 163 From tip of beak to within anterior edge of nostril, measured in straight line Bio Tarsi from soles of feet to middle of knee joint 33 23
Middle toe, measured from basal joint to tip of claw : : : :
Habitat, Strait of Magellan, (February,) and Port St. Julian in Southern Pata- gonia, (January.)
3. BuTeo vENTRALIS. Gould. Buteo ventralis, Gould, Proceedings of the Zoological Society, Part v. 1837, p. 10.
B. vertice corporeque intensd nitide fuscis, plumis dorsalibus purpurascentibus ; primariis nigris; caudé fuscd, lineis obscurioribus cancellatd numerosis, ad apicem sordide albd; guld abdomine medio crissoque stramineo-albis ; pectoris corporisque lateribus fascia abdominali femoribusque flavescenti-albis fusco notatis, notis in femoribus rufescentibus ; tarsis per mediam partem antice plumosis, rostro nigro; cerd tarsisque flavis.
Long. tot. 23 unc.; alw, 154; caudw, 94; tarsi, 34.
Coxtour.—Head, back of neck, back, and wing-coverts, umber brown. Feathers on sides of throat edged with fulvous ; those on lower parts of back with their basal parts marked with large white spots, edged with fulvous, but which do not show, until the feathers are ruffled. Tail of the same dark brown as the back, with many bars of pale brown, and extreme points tipped with dirty white. - Tail-coverts same brown, with the more lateral ones marked with white and fulvous. Wings: primaries black, with the inner and basal webs brownish; secondaries and tertiaries brown, with obscure traces of paler
E 2
28 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
transverse bars. Under surface——Chin almost white ; throat and breast very pale ochre yellow, with narrow brown lines on the shaft of the feathers, which expand into large marks on the sides of the upper part of the breast, and into regular spots on those of the belly. Lining of wing white, with brown spots on the feathers near their tips, like on those of the belly. Thighs very pale ochre yellow, with transverse bars of pale brown, appearing like inverted wedge-formed marks, with the apex on the shafts. Under tail- coverts almost white; under side of tail pale gray, with darker gray bars on the inner side of shafts. Bill blueish black, with base of lower mandible and part of upper yellowish. Tarsi pale yellow.
Form.—Fourth primary very little longer than either the third or fifth, which are equal. First nearly equal to the eighth. Extremity of wing when folded reaching within two inches and a half of the end of the tail.
Th. Ih. Total length . . : . . : 23 Tarsi : : : : : : 34 Wing when folded . : . : : 153 Middle toe from joint to tip of claw . Tail : : : : : : : 93 From extremity of beak to within nostril . a
Habitat, Santa Cruz, Lat. 50° S. Patagonia, (April.)
Mr. Gould remarks that “this species has all the characters of a true Buteo, and will rank as one of the finest of this well defined group. In size it rather exceeds the Common Buzzard of Europe, which in its general style of colouring it somewhat resembles.”
Sus-Fam.—FALCONINA, Vice.
Fauco remorauis. Zemm.
Falco femoralis, Temm. Pl. Col. 121 male; and 343 adult male. Spia, Av. Sp. Nov. 1. p. 18.
This specimen was shot in a small valley on the plains of Patagonia, at Port Desire, in Lat. 47° 44’. It buildsits nest in low bushes, and the female was sitting on the eggs in the beginning of January. Egg, 1°8 of an inch in longer diameter, and 1°4 in shorter; surface rough with white projecting points ; colour nearly uni- form dirty ‘“‘ wood brown,” thickly freckled with rather a darker tint; general appearance, as if it had been rubbed in brown mud. M. D’Orbigny supposed that Latitude 34° was the southern limit of this species; we now find its range three hundred and thirty miles further southward. The same author states that this falcon prefers a dry open country with scattered bushes, which answers to the character of the valleys, in the plains near Port Desire.
BIRDS. 29
TiInNUNCULUS SpARVERIUS. Vieill. Falco sparverius, Linn. et Auct.
I obtained specimens both from North and South Patagonia (Rio Negro and Santa Cruz), and Captain King found it at Port Famine in Tierra del Fuego. I saw it at Lima in Peru; and Mr. Macleay (Zoological Journal, vol. iii.) sent specimens from Cuba. According to Wilson it is common in the United States, and Richardson says its northern range is about 54°. The Tinnunculus therefore, ranges throughout both Americas over more than 107 degrees of latitude, or 6420 geographical miles. It is the only bird, which I saw in South America, that hovered over one particular spot, in the same stationary manner, as the common English kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, Linn.) is so frequently observed to do.
Sus-Fam.—CIRCIN A.
1. Circus MreGAsPiILus. Gould. Circus megaspilus, Gould, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society, Part V. 1837, p. 10.
C. vertice corporeque supra intense fuscis, lined stramined a naribus supra oculos ad occiput tendente ; hoc rufescenti-fusco; primariis intense fuscis ad basin cinereis, lineis nigris cancellatis ; caud@ tectricibus albis ; rectricibus intermediis cinereis, externis cinereo-stramineis, omnibus lineis latis fuscis transversim notatis, lined ultima latissimd, apice sordidé stramineo; guld pectoreque stramineis, fusco varie- gatis; corpore subtus stramineo; plumis pectoris laterumque strid centrali fuscd notalis; rostro nigro ; cera tarsisque flavis.
Long. tot. 22 unc. ; rostri, 14; alw, 17; caudw, 104; tarsi, 3}.
Co.our.—Head, back of throat, whole back, and wing-coverts umber brown, of a nearly uniform tint, and not very dark. Front, over the nostrils, with few fulvous bristly feathers ; over the eyes, extending backward, a pale almost pure white streak, which joins an irregular band, extending across the nape of the neck, from below ear to ear, of brown feathers, edged with pale fulvous, giving a streaked appearance to that part. The wing-coverts are just tipped with dirty white. Wings: primaries of the same brown as the back, the inner ones assuming a gray tinge; these, and the basal parts of the inner webs of all, are obscurely barred ; secondaries and tertiaries of a paler brown than the interscapular region. Tail grayish brown, with five well-defined bars,
30 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
about 3 of an inch wide, of the same brown, as the rest of the upper sur- face ; extremities tipped with very pale dirty brown. ‘Tail-coverts; upper ones brown, and the under ones white, with small brown spots on the shaft towards their extremities. Under surface. — Chin, pale fulvous, or ochre yellow. Breast, belly, thighs and under tail-coverts the same ; the feathers on the lower part of the breast and on the belly have a dark brown mark along the shaft, which widens but very little towards the extremity ; the brown on those on the upper part of the breast and on the throat is broader, and some of the feathers are of a darker fulvous, and as the dark brown of the back encroaches on each side, this part is much darker than the rest of the under surface. Above this, and just beneath the chin, a kind of collar is formed from ear to ear, of short feathers of a more strongly pronounced fulvous tint, with a narrow brown streak on their shafts. Lining of wings, and flanks almost white, with transverse brown bars. Under side of tail pale gray passing into fulvous, with the terminal dark brown bars seen through. Bill, horn-coloured, with some white markings towards its base; tarsi bright yellow.
Form.—Third primary rather longer than fourth, second equal to fifth; first more nearly equal to the sixth than to the seventh. Wings reaching within an inch of the end of the tail. Feathers on thighs depend but little below the
knee. - In. = im Total length . ; : . . : 22 Tarsi . . . . . : 33 Wings folded . : , : : : 17 Middle toe to end of claw : : : 23 Tail : . : : . : : 103 From tip of bill to nearest part of cere. aes
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata, (July.)
This hawk was not uncommon on the grassy savannahs and hills in the neighbourhood of the Rio Plata. Mr. Gould remarks “that in size it fully equals the Circus @ruginosus of Europe, which it doubtless represents in the countries it inhabits. This species has a remarkable specific character in the lanceolate and conspicuous stripes down its breast.”
2. Circus cINERIvs. Veeill.
Circus cinerius, Vieill. Ency. Meth. Falco histrionicus, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. autour du monde, Plate 15. Circus histrionicus, Vigors, Zoological Journal, vol. iii. p. 425, note.
My specimens were obtained at the Falkland Islands, and at Concepcion in Chile. M. D’Orbigny states that it is a wild bird; but at the Falkland Islands it
BIRDS. 31
was, for one of its order, very tame. The same author gives a curious account of its habits: in a different manner from other raptorial birds, when it has killed its prey, it does not fly to a neighbouring tree, but devours it on the spot. It roosts on the ground, either on the top of a sand hillock, or by the bank of a stream : it sometimes walks, instead of hopping, and when doing so, it has some resemblance in general habit to the Milvago chimango. It preys on small quadrupeds, mollus- cous animals, and even insects; and I find in my notes, that I saw one in the Falkland Islands, feeding on the carrion of a dead cow. Although in these respects this Circus manifests some relation in its habits with the Polyborine, yet it has the elegant and soaring flight, peculiar to its family ; and in form it does not depart from the typical structure. Mr. Gould remarks that ‘we see in this elegant bird as perfect an analogue of the Circus cyaneus of Europe, as in the preceding species of the Circus @ruginosus.”
Famity.-—_-S TRIGID &A.
Sus-Fam.—_SURNIN A. ATHENE CUNICULARIA. Bonap. Strix cunicularia, Mol. Bonap. Am. Omni. I. 68. pl. 7. f. 2.
This bird, from its numbers and the striking peculiarities of its habits has been mentioned in the works of all travellers, who have crossed the Pampas. In Banda Oriental it is its own workman, and excavates its burrow on any level spot of sandy soil; but in the Pampas, or wherever the Bizcacha is found, it uses those made by that animal. During the open day, but more especially in the evening, these owls may be seen in every direction standing frequently by pairs on the hillock near their habitation. If disturbed, they either enter the hole, or, uttering a shrill harsh cry, move with a remarkably undulatory flight to a short distance, and then turning round, steadily gaze at their pursuer. Occasionally in the evening they may be heard hooting. I found in the stomachs of two which I opened the remains of mice; and I saw a small snake killed and carried away by one. It is said that reptiles are the common object of their prey during the day time. Before I was aware, from the numbers of mice caught in my traps, how vastly numerous the small rodents are in these open countries, I felt much sur- prise how such infinite numbers of owls could find sufficient means of support. I never saw this bird south of the Rio Negro, (Lat. 41°S.) In North America they frequent only the trans- Mississippian territories in the neighbourhood of the Rocky Mountains. The account given by Say of their habits, agrees with what
32 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
may every day be observed in the Pampas; but in the northern hemisphere they inhabit the burrows of the Marmot or Prairie dog, instead of those of the Bizcacha ; and it would appear that their food is chiefly derived from insects, instead of from small quadrupeds and reptiles. Mr. Gould says he has compared my speci- mens from La Plata and Chile, on opposite sides of the Cordillera, with those from Mexico and the Rocky Mountains of North America, and he cannot perceive the slightest specific difference between them.
Sus-Fam.—ULULIN A. 1. Orus GatapacoeEnsis. Gould. Puate III.
Otus (Brachyotus) Galapagoensis, Gould, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society, Part V., 1837, p. 10. O. fascid circa oculos fuliginosd ; strigdé superciliari, plumis nares tangentibus et circa
angulum oris, gulé et disci facialis margine, albis ; vertice corporeque supra intense
stramineo fuscoque variegatis ; primariis ad apicem intense fuscis, ad basin stramineo
fasciutis ; corpore subtus stramineo, notis irregularibus fasciisque fuscis ornato ;
femoribus tarsisque plumosis rufescenti-stramineis ; rostro unguibusque nigris.
Long. tot. 134; rostri, 1; ale, 11; caudw, 6; tarsi, 2.
Cotour.—Facial disc ; plumose feathers immediately around the eyes, nearly black, tipped with glossy fulvous; those nearer the margin are white at their base, and only slightly tipped with a darker brown. Between the eyes a band of small fulvous feathers with a central streak of dark brown, passing backward, blends into the plumage of the nape. Back of head and throat streaked with fulvous and brown, the centre of each feather being brown, and its edge fulvous. Interscapular region and the feathers of the wing, coloured in the same manner, but the fulvous part is indented on each side of the shaft in the brown, giving an obscurely barred appearance to these feathers. Primaries brown, with large rounded marks of fulvous; those on the first feather being smaller, and almost white: wing-coverts brown, and but little mottled. Tail with transverse bars of the same brown and fulvous, the latter colour much clearer and stronger on the external feathers ;
in the central ones, the fulvous part includes irregular markings of the dark’
brown. Under surfuce.—Throat and breast, with center of each feather brown, edged with fulvous; the former colour being predominant. On the belly and under tail-coverts the brown coloured marks on the shafts are narrow, but they are united to narrow transverse bars, which form at the
| | |
Cts Galapagoenses.
BIRDS. 33
points of intersection marked something like arrow-heads. The fulvous tint is here predominant. Downy feathers on thighs same fulvous colour as rest of body. Bill black.
Form.—Second primary scarcely perceptibly longer than the first, and fourth rather longer than first. Tarsi thickly clothed with short feathers to the
root of the nails.
In. In. Totallength . - - - - es ee es 133 Warsi . « 9 4 tik «em we 4H eB Winger ta siete Oe ae eee 11 Middle toe to root of nail... ee ee LY TaN ahish eae gle ee wa ee) OS From tip of beak to interior edge of nostril . +85
Habitat, James Island, Galapagos Archipelago, (October).
Mr. Gould informs me, that “this species has most of the essential characters of the common short-eared owl of Europe (Séria brachyota), but differs from it, and all the other members of the group, in its smaller size and darker colouring.”
The lesser proportional size of the fulvous marks on the first primaries, and on the tail, and the peculiar transverse brown marks on the feathers of the belly, easily distinguish it from the common short-eared owl. The specimen described is a male bird.
2. Orus PpAuustrRis. Gould.
Strix brachyota. Lath.
Specimens of this bird were obtained at the Falkland Islands, at Santa Cruz in Patagonia, and at Maldonado on the northern bank of the Plata. At the latter place it seemed to live in long grass, and took to flight readily in the day. At the Falkland Islands it harboured in a similar manner amongst low bushes. Mr. Gould says, “So closely do the specimens brought home by Mr. Darwin, resemble European individuals, that I can discover no specific difference, by which they may be distinguished.”
We have, therefore, the same species occurring in lat. 52° S. on the coast of South America, and in the northern division of the continent, according to Richardson, even as far as the sixty-seventh degree of latitude. Jardine says it is found in the Orkney islands (lat. 59°), and in Siberia; and that he has received specimens of it from Canton. M. D’Orbigny says it is found in the Sandwich and Marianne islands in the Pacific Ocean, and at Bengal in India. This bird, therefore, may be considered as a true cosmopolite.
34 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
ULULA RUFIPES. Strix rufipes, King, in Zoological Journal, Vol. iii. p. 426.
I obtained a specimen of this bird from a party of Fuegians in the extreme southern islands of Tierra del Fuego. Owls are not uncommon in this country, and as small birds are not plentiful, and the lesser rodents extremely scarce, it at first appears difficult to imagine on what they feed. The following fact, perhaps, explains the circumstance: Mr. Bynoe, the surgeon to the “ Beagle,” killed an owl in the Chonos Archipelago, where the nature of the country is very similar to that of Tierra del Fuego, and, on opening its stomach, he found it filled with the remains of large-sized crabs: I conclude, therefore, that these birds here likewise subsist chiefly on marine productions.
Sus.-Fam.—STRIGIN A. 1. Srrix ruaAMMEA. Linn.
I obtained a specimen of a white owl from Bahia Blanca in Northern Pata- gonia, and Mr. Gould remarks concerning it, that he only retains the name of S. flammea provisionally, until all the white owls, from various countries, shall have been subjected to a careful examination. Mr. Gould suspects, that when this is effected, the South American white owl will prove to be specifically distinct from that of Europe.
2. Srrix puncratissima. G. R. Gray.
Plate IV.
S. supra mgricans, flavo subnebulosa, minute albo-punctatissima, maculd albé ad apicem plume, cujusvis ; subtus fulva, fasciis interruptis nigricantibus ; caudd dorso conco- lore, nigricanti-fasciatd, apice alba; disco faciali castaneo-rufo nigricanti-nebuloso circumdato, pogontis internis albis, scapis nigris; pedibus longis, infra genu plumosis ; tarso reliquo digitisque subpilosis.
Long. tot. 133; alw, 94; cauda, 44; tarsi, 2415.
CoLour.—Head and feathers within facial disc, glossy ferruginous brown, those forming the margin of it, same coloured, with their tips dark brown. Back
; ag ee ‘
Ste 1 PUPDAUY SUV
Birds Ll, 4
wipe pias ct el vistas Pde Se ik cat ate
BIRDS. 35
of head and throat smoky brown, mottled with numerous small white dots, on the tips of the feathers. Back and wing-coverts the same, with the white spots larger and purer. Wings: primaries, same dark brown, mottled with dull chesnut red; the tip of each, with the exception of the three first, is marked with a triangular white spot, of the same kind with those over the rest of the body, but larger. Tail, transversely barred with brown and reddish fulvous, and the extreme points mottled with white. Under surface. Breast, belly and lining of wings, fulvous, mottled with brown ;—the feathers being transversely barred with narrow brown lines. Under side of tail, pale gray, with well defined transverse bars of a darker gray. Short downy feathers on tarsi, of a brighter fulvous than the rest of the under surface.
Form.—Third primary rather longer than second; first equal to third. Wing,
exceeding the tail in length by nearly one inch and a quarter. Short feathers on the tarsus, extending about one-third of its length, below the knee. Tarsi, elongated. Toes and lower part of tarsi, with few scattered brown hairs.
In. | Tn. Total length . : : : : . 133 Tarsi : : . : : . 245 Wing . . : : . . 94 Tip of beak to rictus : . . 4 Tail : , . . : : 4% | Middle toe, from root of claw to base . 144,
Habitat, James Island, Galapagos Archipelago, (October.)
I am indebted to Mr. G. R. Gray for the description of this species, which is deposited in the British Museum. Only one specimen was obtained during our visit to the Galapagos Archipelago; and this formed part of the collection made by the direction of Captain FitzRoy.
This owl is in every respect a true Strix; it is fully a third less than the common species of Europe, and differs from it in many respects, especially in the darker colouring of its plumage. The colouring of the Plate is not perfectly accurate in its minuter details.
36 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Famity.—C A PRIMULGID &.
Sus-Fam.—CAPRIMULGIN A.
1. CaprimuLGus Birascratus. Gould.
Caprimulgus bifasciatus, Gould, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society, February 1837, p. 22.
C. capite nigro fusco et fulvescente ornatus ; caudd albo bifasciatd, fascid termi- nali lata: primd angustd ; primariis nigrescentibus fascia angustd alba ad medium : alis spuriis macula alba notatis; gutture lunuld alba ; secundarits tectricibusque alarum macula fulvescente ad apicem; crisso pallidé rufescente; rostro pedibusque Suseis.
Long. tot. unc., 93; ala, 64; cauda, 5; tarsi 3,
Front and back of head gray, mottled with black and with little fulvous. The latter colour more abundant, and in larger markings in the interscapular region, and on the wing-coverts. The black markings give a somewhat streaked appearance to the back of head and interscapulars. On the back of throat the fulvous tint is so much pronounced, that a collar is formed which is continued under a white one round the breast. Wings: primaries brownish-black ; four external ones, with a large white mark, forming a band, at about one-third of their length from their extremities: these white marks are edged with fulvous, and the part on the outer web of the first primary, is wholly so coloured. The other primaries are marked with reddish brown, as are the secondaries and tertiaries, the marks becoming more numerous and smaller, and the colours more mottled, nearer the back. Tail: upper tail-coverts and two central feathers of tail marked like those on the back; the black, however, forming narrow interrupted transverse bars. The pair next to these central ones have near their extremities a large white mark, but only on the inner shaft. In the three succeeding pairs, the white spot extends on both sides of the shaft, and in each pair increases somewhat in size ; So that in the external pair, the white spot is merely bordered with a very narrow, faint margin, of brown and fulvous. At about half their length, all the feathers, with the exception of the central pair, have a smaller white mark, but only on the inner side of the shaft. This mark is transverse, in the form of a band, and the white blends into fulvous on the edges of the webs. Outer web of these same external feathers, are transversely barred with black and fulvous. Under surface. —Chin, breast, belly, and lining of wings, dirty fulvous, with numerous
BIRDS. 37
narrow, irregular, transverse bars of brown. Throat with white collar, beneath which the fulvous tint is predominant, forming a kind of under collar, which is continued round the whole neck. Under tail-coverts fulvous,—tail itself appears almost black, with a great terminal white band, and a narrower one at about half its length.
Wings, an inch and a quarter shorter than the tail. Second primary, scarcely perceptibly longer than the third; the first about an eighth uf an inch shorter than the second, and s ths longer than the fourth. Feathers on wing, with the outer webs, slightly excised.
In. In Total length : ; : . : . 92 Tarsi . . ‘ . , i F =e Wing folded : . . : . ~ 64 From tip of beak to rictus : : . 1 Tail..:.. ‘ . : ; : . a) Of middle toe without the claw . . . qo
Habitat, Valparaiso Chile, (Auguste).
This species frequents the mountains of central Chile. When bivouacking one night on the Bell of Quillota, at an elevation of 6000 feet above the sea, | heard a gentle, plaintive cry, which I was told was made by this bird. It is regarded with superstitious dread by many of the lower orders.
Mr. Gould observes, that ‘this species has a strong resemblance, at the first glance, with the Caprimulgus Europeus, but may be readily distinguished by its shorter wing, more lengthened tarsi, by a conspicuous white band across the base of the tail, and by all these feathers, except the two middle ones, having another white band near the tip.” Mr. Gould then adds, as “I am quite unde- cided to which of the sub-genera this and the following species should belong, I leave them for the present in the restricted genus, Caprimulgus, although I certainly perceive in it many points of affinity to the group which inhabits the United States of North America.”
2. CapRIMULGUS PARVULUS. Grould. Caprimulgus parvulus, Gould, Proceedings of the Zoological Society, February 1837, p. 22. 1 * . 7 7 , : . eA 4 7 ;
C’. capite intense fusco, gultis minutis cinereis ornato ; vitid rufa cervicem cingente ; gutture scapularibusque ad marginem, secundariis ad apicem stramineis ; pectore et abdomine lineis fuscis transversis; primariis nigrescentibus, tribus fasciis ine- qualibus pallid rufescentibus ; caudd fasciis pallide fulvescentibus et fuscts ornata.
Long. tot. unc,, 73; ale, 5; caudw, 4; tarsi, 3.
Crown of head gray, with black longitudinal streaks. Back of neck with a fulvous ring, which extends round the front beneath one of white, as in the C. bifas-
38 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
ciatus. Back, dull gray. Interscapulars, with the central part of each feather, black, terminating ina point ; the outer part of the web being broadly fringed with a very pale fulvous, the inner with gray. Wings: primaries brown, with fulvous marks, forming three irregular transverse bars, which are scarcely visible when the wing is closed. Tail and upper tail-coverts, dull coloured, very obscurely marked with transverse bars of gray and fulvous, of different degrees of darkness. Under surface-——Throat white, edged with fulvous on lower side. Breast, belly, and under tail-coverts, fulvous, with numerous very narrow transverse bars of brown. The pale fulvous marks, forming interrupted bars, are more plainly seen on this than on the upper side of the tail. .
Third primary, very little longer than second, and second than first. First rather longer than fourth. Extremities of wings reaching within an inch anda quarter of end of tail. End of tail more rounded than in last species.
In. | In. Total length : . . . . » 7 Tarsi . : : . : . 2 Wings 5 Middle toe, from tip of claw to joint of foot qh Tail. . . : . . . . 4 From tip of beak to rictus 1
Habitat, La Plata, (September).
This species is not uncommon on the wooded banks of the Parana, near Santa Fé. If disturbed, it rises from the ground, in the same inactive manner as the European species. I saw one alight on a rope diagonally, but not so com- pletely in a longitudinal position as does the C. Europeus, nor transversely as other birds. Mr. Gould observes, that ‘this goatsucker is full a third less than the Caprimulgus Europeus, and is remarkable for the uniformity of its markings, having no distinct white bars, or marks, either on the wings or tail.”
Famity.—HIRUNDINIDE. E 1. ProGNE PuRPUREA. Bore. : Hirundo purpurea, Wiis. My specimens were obtained at Monte Video, (November) and Bahia Blanca, 39° S. (September) how much further southward this species extends I do not know. Jardine says, that in North America it migrates during summer as far as
the Great Bear Lake, in Lat. 66° N.; it is mentioned by M. Audubon, at New Orleans, 30° N., and by Mr. Swainson, at Pernambuco, in 83° S.; we may, there-
Birds. LC 3.
Lrogue nwonests.
BIRDS. 39
fore, conclude that it ranges throughout both Americas, but it is not found in the Old World. Wilson describes this bird as a great favourite with the inhabitants of North America, both European and Indian, who erect boxes and other con- trivances near their houses for it to build in. At Bahia Blanca, the females were beginning to lay in September, (corresponding to our March): they had excavated deep holes in a cliff of compact earth, close by the side of the larger burrows inhabited by the ground parrot of Patagonia, (Psittacara Patagonica.) I noticed several times a small flock of these birds, pursuing each other, in a rapid and direct course, flying low, and screaming in the manner so characteristic of the English Swift, (Hirundo Apus, Linn.)
2. Procne Mopesta. Gould.
Puare V. Hirundo concolor, Gould, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society.
P.. nitide cerulescenti-nigra.
Long. tot. 6 unc ; alw, 54; caudw, 22; tarsi, 3.
The upper and under surface has not so strongly a marked purple shade, as in the P. purpurea. The primaries and feathers of the tail, however, have a greenish gloss, perhaps slightly more metallic.
Tail not so deeply forked as in P. purpurea, which is owing to the two external feathers on each side not being so much prolonged and bent outward, as in that species. Nostrils of less size than in the latter, although the beaks differ but little. Claws and feet are much less strong, than might have been anticipated, even proportionally to the less dimensions of this species compared with the P. purpurea.
Inches. | Inches. Totallength . . 2. 2... | rr WR eich ee eee we Bh | Middle toe from tip of claw to joint ies RGA ae ek tm ws et ye BB
Habitat, James Island, Galapagos Archipelago, (October). Male.
This swallow was observed only on this one island of the group, and it was there very far from common. It frequented a bold cliff of lava overhanging the sea. Had not Mr. Gould characterized it as a distinct species, I should have considered it only as a small variety, produced by an uncongenial site, of the Progne purpurea. I can perceive no difference whatever from that bird,
40 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
excepting in its less size, slenderness of limbs, and less deeply forked tail; and the latter difference may perhaps be owing to youth.
1. Hirunpo Levcoryeia. Licht.
My specimens were obtained at Port Famine, in Tierra del Fuego, (February), and at Valparaiso, in Chile, (August to September). At Port Famine they build in holes in a cliff of earth. Mr. Gould says, “were it not for the bare legs of this little Martin, I should have some difficulty in discriminating between it and the one so well known as a summer visitor in our island.”
2. Hirunpo FRoNTALIS. Gould.
H. vertice, plumis auricularibus, dorso et lunuld pectorali nitide ceruleo viridescentibus, notd alba supra nares, guld corporeque subtus albicantibus, crisso niveo, alis caudda- que fuscis viridi tinctis, rostro nigro, pedibus intense fuscrs.
3 3. - tarsi, 2 Long. tot. 43 unc. ale, 43; caudw, 25 tarsi, 2.
Upper surface, with a greenish blue metallic gloss; which can faintly be perceived on the primaries and on the tail feathers. The short feathers over each nostril white, thus forming two small white marks; those over the ridge of bill pale brown, giving together the appearance of a narrow white band over the upper mandible. Entire under surface and lining of wings pure white. Tarsi rather darker than in H. leucopygia.
Very slightly larger than H. leucopygia; upper mandible rather broader.
"Inches. Inches. Totallength. 2 6 2 ee ee eee GE Tail . 2. 2 1 ee eee te ee Wings : 43 Tarsi wwe
Habitat, Monte Video, (November).
Mr. Gould says, “this species is closely allied both to the common martin, and to the last species ; from the former bird, however, its bare legs at once dis- tinguish it, while it differs from the latter in being rather larger in size, in having an obscure white mark on the forehead, at the base of the bill, and in having the metallic lustre of the upper surface deep steel green, instead of purple, which is the prevailing colour of both Hirundo leucopygia and H. urbica.”
It is abundant on the northern bank of the Plata, and more common than the H. purpurea, which frequents the same localities. It probably replaces on the eastern side of the continent, the H. leucopygia of Chile.
BIBDS. 4]
3. Hrrunpo cCYANOLEUCA. Vieili.
It is nearly allied to the two latter species, but is readily distinguished from them by the absence of the white rump. I procured specimens in September, both from Valparaiso, and from Bahia Blanca (North Patagonia). At the latter place it built in holes in the same bank of earth with P. purpurea.
CypsELus UNICOLOR. Jard.
C. unicolor. Jard. et Selby, Must. Ornith. pl. 83.
I obtained a specimen of this bird from St. Jago, Cape de Verd Islands. (September).
It more resembled a swallow than a swift in the manner of its flight. I only saw a few of them. Insects occur so scantily over the bare and parched plains of basaltic lava, which compose the lower parts of the island of St. Jago, that it is surprising how these birds are able to find the means of subsistence.
Famity.—HALCYONIDZ.
HALCYON ERYTHRORHYNCHA, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837. Alcedo Senegalensis var. 8, Lath.
In January, during the first visit of the Beagle to St. Jago, in the Cape de Verd Islands, these birds were numerous. But in our homeward voyage, in the beginning of September, I did not see a single individual. As Mr. Gould informs me it is an African species ; it is probably only a winter visitant to this archi- pelago. It lives in numbers in the arid valleys in the neighbourhood of Porto Praya, where it may be generally seen perched on the branch of the castor oil plant. I opened the stomachs of several, and found them filled with the wing cases of Orthopterous insects, the constant inhabitants of all sterile countries ; and in the craw of one there was part of a lizard. It is tame and solitary; its flight is not swift and direct like that of the European kingfisher. In these respects, and especially
G
42 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
in its abundance in dry rocky valleys where there is not a drop of water, it differs widely from the habits of the allied genus Alcedo; although certainly it abounded more in those valleys where streamlets occurred. This Halcyon was the only brilliantly coloured bird which I saw on the island of St. Jago.
1. Ceryte Americana, Bote. Alcedo Americana, Gmel.
This Kingfisher is common on the banks of the Parana. It frequents the borders of lakes and rivers, and sitting on the branch of a tree, or on a stone, it thence takes short flights, and dashes into the water to secure its prey. Its manner of flying is neither direct nor rapid, which character is so remarkable in the flight of the European species; but it is weak and undulatory, and resembles that of the soft-billed birds. It often arrests itself suddenly in its course, and hovers over the surface of the water, preparatory to darting on some small fish. When seated on a twig it constantly elevates and depresses its tail ; and as might have been expected from its figure, it does not sit in the stiff upright position so peculiar to the European Kingfisher. Its note is not unfre- quently uttered: it is low, and like the clicking together of two small stones. I was informed that it builds in trees. The internal coating of the stomach is of a fine orange colour. Mr. Gould has seen specimens of this bird from Mexico ; it enjoys, therefore, a very wide range.
2. CERYLE TorquaTA, Bonap.
Alcedo torquata. G'mel. Ispida torquata. Swain.
This bird is common in the south part of Chile, in Chiloe, the Chonos Archi- pelago, and on the whole west coast, as far as the extreme southern parts of Tierra del Fuego. In these countries, it almost exclusively frequents the retired bays and channels of the sea with which the land is intersected ; and lives on_ marine productions. I opened the stomach of one, and found it full of the remains of crustacee, and a part of a small fish. It occurs likewise in La Plata, and is very common in Brazil, where it haunts fresh water. It is said ( Dict. Class. d Hist. Nat.) to occur in the West Indian islands; it has, therefore, a wider range (from the equatorial region to the neighbourhood of Cape Horn) than the Ceryle Americana.
BIRDS. 43
Famity.—MUSCICAPIDAS. Vierll. Sus-Fam.—TYRANNIN. Sw.
SAUROPHAGUS SULPHURATUS. Swatns.
’ Lanius sulphuratus. G med. Tyrannus magnanimus. Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 850. Tyrannus sulphuratus. D’Orb. et Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 42.
The habits of this bird are singular. It is very common in the open country, on the northern banks of the Plata, where it does not appear to be a bird of passage. It obtains its food in many different methods. I have frequently observed it, hunting a field, hovering over one spot like a hawk, and then proceeding on to another. When seen from a short distance, thus suspended in the air, it might very readily be mistaken for one of the rapacious order; its stoop, however, is very inferior in force and rapidity. At other times the Saurophagus haunts the neighbourhood of water, and there, remaining stationary, like a kingfisher, it catches any small fish which come near the margin. These birds not unfrequently are kept, with their wings cut, either in cages or in court-yards. They soon become tame, and are very amusing from their cunning odd manners, which were described to me, as being similar to those of the common magpie. Their flight is undulatory, for the weight of the head and bill appears too great for the body. In the evening the Saurophagus takes its stand on a bush, often by the road-side, and continually repeats, without change, a shrill and rather agreeable cry, which somewhat resembles articulate words. The Spaniards
say it is like the words, “ Bien te veo” (I see you well), and accordingly have given it this name.
Muscivora Tyrannus. G. R. Gray. Muscicapa Tyrannus. Sv. Tyrannus Savana. Vieil/. Bonap. Am. Orn. pl. 1. f. 1.
This species belongs to Mr. Swainson’s genus Milvulus (more properly Milvilus,) but which name Mr. G. R. Gray has altered to Muscivora as the latter was proposed for Muse. forficata as far back as 1801, by Lacepéde.
It is very common near Buenos Ayres ; but I do not recollect having seen many in Banda Oriental. It sits on the bough of a tree, and very frequently on
*
A4 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
the ombu, which is planted in front of many of the farm houses, and thence - takes short flights in pursuit of insects. From the remarkable structure of its tail, the inhabitants of the country call it scissor-tail ; a name very well applied from the manner in which it opens and shuts the forked feathers of its tail. Like all birds thus constructed, (of which the frigate bird offers a most striking example), it has the power of turning very shortly in its flight, at which instant it opens and shuts its tail, sometimes, as it appears, in a horizontal and sometimes in a vertical plane. When on the wing it presents in its general appearance a caricature likeness of the common house swallow (Hirundo rustica). The Muscivora, although unquestionably belonging to the family of Muscicapide manifests in its habits an evident relationship with birds of the fissirostral structure.
Sus-Gen. PYROCEPHALUS, Goutp.
Muscicapa. Auct. Muscipeta. Cuv. TyRANNULA. Swain.
Rostrum capite brevius, rectum, depressum, basi setis numerosis nigris obsessum ; mandibuld superiore emarginatd, inferiorem obtegente ; naribus rotundatis patulis. Caput subcristatum. Ale longe; remige prima secundum tertiamque longissimas subequales fere equante. Tarsi mediocres, antice scutellati; digitis lateralibus ine- qualibus, exteriore longiore. Cauda mediocris quadrata.
Mr. Gould observes, that “the males of nearly all the members of this group (which may be considered either as a distinct genus or sub-genus of Myiobius), have the crown of the head and greater part of the under surface scarlet. Four species were obtained.— Pyrocephalus parvirostris, ( Gould),and Muscicapa coronata, (Auct.), may be taken as types.
1. PyrocEPHALUS PARVIROSTRIS. Gould. Plate VI. Le Churrinche, Azara. No. 177. P. supra fuscus ; capite et subtus nitide puniceis ; rectricibus exterioribus tectricumque et secundariorum apicibus griseo-marginatis. Long. tot. 55 une.; ala, 1841; ; caudw, 2-5; tarsi, 75 3 rost. 4%.
12
Crown of the head, crest, and all the under surface, bright scarlet ; the remainder
&
Birds LC. 6.
-?, ory 4 7 : . : LYVOCGINAMMNS Poa VV OSLVUS,
Burds. L607
Ly rvocphidlus wanus
BIRDS. 4d
of the plumage, deep brown; the outer tail-feathers on each side, and the edges of the secondaries and wing-coverts, margined with grey.
Habitat, La Plata, (October.)
This species differs from Pyr. coronatus or Musicapa coronata, of authors, chiefly in its size ; in other respects it is very similar. The admeasurements of the latter, for comparison (as given me by Mr. G. R. Gray), are: total length, 5 inches and 8 lines; bill, between 9 and 10 lines ; wings, 3 inches and 2 lines ; tail, 2 inches and 7 lines ; tarsi, 7 or 8 lines.
During the summer, this bird was common both near Buenos Ayres and Maldonado ; but at the latter place, I did not see one in the months of May, June, July, (winter) and therefore, no doubt it is a bird of passage, migrating southward during the summer from Brazil. The birds of this and the allied genera, correspond very closely in their habits to certain of the Sylviade of Europe ; some of the species frequenting bushes, like the black-cap, (Sylvia atri- capilla); others more usually the ground, as the robin (Sylvia rubecula) or hedge- sparrow (Accentor modularis). Another group (Synallaxis, Sc.) represent those European Sylvie, which frequent reeds.
2. PyrocepHALus osscurRus. Gould.
P. lividus rufotinctus ; precipue in fronte ventreque. Long. tot. 54%, unc. ; ale, 83%, ; caude, 23%) 5 tarsi, 7'y3 rost. Py. All the plumage chocolate-brown, tinged with red, the latter colour predominating on the forehead and lower part of the abdomen ; bill and tarsi, black. A single specimen was obtained, and it would appear to be either an imma- ture bird or a female.
Habitat, Lima, Peru. (August.)
3. PyrocerHaLus NANUS. Gould. : Prats VII.
P. fuscus ; rectricum exteriorum marginibus omniumque et secundartorum apicibus
nitide griseo-brunneis. Femina, brunnea; gutture griseo-albo; corpore subtus pallide flavescente ; pectoris
laterumque plumis in medio brunneo-striatis. Long. tot. 443 unc. ; ale, 23%; caudar, 2% ; tarsi, 853 rostrt, 38.
Male.
Crown of the head, crest, and all the under surface, scarlet; back, wings, and
46 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
tail, sooty-brown ; the external margin of the outer tail feathers, and the tips of all, light greyish brown ; bill and tarsi, black.
Female.
All the upper surface, wings, and tail, brown; throat, greyish white; the remainder of under surface, pale buff, the feathers of the chest and flanks, with an obscure fine stripe of light brown down the centre.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (September.)
There is nothing remarkable in the habits of this bird. It frequents both the arid and rocky districts near the coast, and the damp woods in the higher parts of several of the islands in the Galapagos Archipelago.
4. PyrocepHALus DuBIus. Gould.
P. minor, lividus ; fronte, superciliis corporeque subtus straminets ; tectricibus stramineo marginates. Long. tot. 44, une; ale, 243; caudw, 1495; tarsi, zy; rost.
Forehead, stripe over the eye, and all the under surface pale buff; back of the neck and upper surface chocolate brown; greater and lesser wing coverts margined with buff.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (September).
From the appearance of this bird when alive, although closely resembling P.. nanus, I entertained no doubt that it was a distinct species. Mr. G. R. Gray informs me that there isa specimen of a male in the British Museum, which differs from the male of the precedent species, in having the upper colour of a decided brown, and the external margins of the outer tail feathers and tips of the secondaries rather reddish white ; also in size as stated by Mr. Gould.
Myiosius. G. R. Gray. TYRANNULA. Swains.
Mr. Gould had adopted for the following species Mr. Swainson’s generic appellation of Tyrannula, but Mr. G. R. Gray has pointed out, that as Tyrannulus was proposed and published eleven years before, namely in 1816, by Vieillot, it becomes necessary to change the former name, and therefore he proposes Myrobius.
BIRDS. 47
1. Myrospius ausicers. G. R. Gray.
Muscipeta albiceps. D’Orb. et Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 47.
This bird is not uncommon in Tierra del Fuego, and along the western coast of the southern part of the continent, where the land is covered with trees; it is occasionally found near Valparaiso in central Chile ; and likewise in Banda Oriental on the banks of the Plata, where the country is open, from all of which places I procured specimens. At Port Famine and in the islands of the Chonos Archipelago, it inhabits the gloomiest recesses of the great forests. It generally remains quietly seated high up amongst the tallest trees, whence it constantly repeats a very plaintive, gentle whistle, in an uniform tone. The sound can be heard at some distance, yet it is difficult to perceive from which quarter it proceeds, and from how far off; and I remained in consequence, for some time in doubt, from what bird it proceeded.
2. My1opius AURICEPS. Tyrannula auriceps. Grould, MS.
M. rufus; capite cristato nitide flavo ; plumarum apicibus brunnets; alis brunneis, secundariarum marginibus tectricumque apicibus rufis; caudd pallid brunned, plumarum externarum marginibus externis pallidioribus; gutture corporeque subtus pallide flavescenti-albis ; plumis singulis fascia centrali brunned.
Long. tot. 5.3; une; alw, 2-7; caudw, 2-6, tarsi, +9; rost. 4.
All the upper surface rufous ; the basal portion of the coronal feathers yellow ; tail uniform light brown, the external margin of the outer feathers lighter ; wings brown, the external margin of the secondaries and the tips of the greater and lesser wing-coverts rufous ; throat and all the under surface pale buffy white, each feather having a brown mark down the centre; bill brown ; feet black.
Habitat, Buenos Ayres, La Plata, (August).
This bird is about the size of a sparrow. It is nearly allied to V'yrannula Jerruginea of Swainson and M. cinnamonea of D’Orbig. and Laft.
48 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
3. MyIoBius PARVIROSTRIS.
Tyrannula parvirostris, Gould, MS.
M. supra rufobrunneus; pileo, nuchd humerisque obscure olivaceo-brunneis ; alis brunneis, primariarum et secundariarum marginibus exterius angusté tectricumque late ferrugineis; caudd guttureque griseo-brunneis; pectore abdomineque flavescenti brunneis.
Long. tot. 442 une. ; ale, 2-f5; caudw, 2-25; tarsi, 53 rost. +f.
Crown of the head, back of the neck, and shoulders, dark olive brown ; back and upper tail coverts rufous brown; wings brown ; the external edges of the primaries and secondaries finely, and the greater and lesser wing coverts broadly margined with ferruginous ; tail uniform greyish brown; throat 4 brownish grey; chest and abdomen sandy brown; upper mandible dark brown ; under mandible yellowish brown ; feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Tierra del Fuego, Chile, and La Plata.
This bird inhabits the forests of Tierra del Fuego, and as I procured specimens of it in the beginning of winter (June), it probably remains throughout the year in the extreme southern part of South America. Other specimens were procured on the banks of the Plata, and near Valparaiso in Chile; it has there-
fore a wide range.
4, Myt1opius MAGNIROSTRIS.
Puate VIII.
Tyrannula magnirostris. Gould, MS.
M. Fem. Supra olivaceo-brunnea ; caudé brunned ; rectricum externarum marginibus griseo-brunneis ; gutture pectoreque olivaceo grisets ; abdomine caudeque tectricibus inferioribus pallide flavis; alis saturate brunneis, secundariis tectricibusque late griseo marginatis.
Long tot. 53%; ala, 28; ; caudw, 25% ; tarsi, 14; rost. 3%.
Crown of the head and back olive brown ; tail brown; the external margins of the two outer feathers greyish brown ; throat and chest olive grey ; abdomen and under tail coverts very pale citron yellow; wings dark brown; second- aries, greater and lesser wing coverts broadly margined with grey ; bill and : feet black. a
Habitat, Chatham Island, Galapagos Archipelago (October). - This bird and the Pyrocevhalus nanus, inhabit the same island. Not very
uncommon.
Dords £08
Lyranniita MAGNUI OSES,
BIRDS. 49
Genus.—_SERPOPHAGA. Gould.
Rostrum capite multd brevius, rectum, subdepressum ; tomiis rectis; mandibuld superiore subemarginatd ; naribus basalibus, lateralibus, pilis mollibus antice versis partim tectis. Ale breves, concave, remige quartd longissimd. Cauda longiuscula subrotundata. Tarst mediocres squamis duris annulati; digitis parvis, postico mediano breviore, lateralibus equalibus, exteriore cum mediano usque ad articulum priorem connatum.
1. SerporpHaGa Parutus. Gould.
Muscicapa parulus, Kitlitz, Mem. L’Acad. Imp. des Sci. St. Peters. 1831. 1. p. 190. Pl. 9. Sylvia Bloxami, Gray’s Zool. Misc. 1831. p. 11. Culicivora parulus, D’Orbig. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 57.
This bird is common in central Chile, in Patagonia, and although found in Tierra del Fuego, it is not numerous there. Its specific name is very well chosen, as I saw no bird in South America whose habits approach so near to those of our tom-tits (Parus). It frequents bushes in dry places, actively hopping about them, and sometimes repeating a shrill cry ; it often moves in small bodies of three and four together. In August I found the nest of one in a valley in the Cordillera of central Chile ; it was placed in a bush and was simply constructed.
2. SERPOPHAGA ALBO-CORONATA. Gould.
S. supra olivaceo-brunnea, subtus pallide flava; pileo nigrescenti brunneo, in hoc plu- marum basibus linedque supra oculos albis; alis nigrescenti brunneis, primariis angusté olivaceo marginatis, tectricibus late olivaceo-griseo marginatis, gutture griseo.
Long. tot. 4353 ale, 2; caudw, 2; tarsi, 8,5; rost. fy.
A stripe of white from the nostrils over each eye; crown of the head brown, the base of all the feathers pure white; back of the neck, back and upper tail coverts olive brown; wings blackish brown, the external edges of the pri- maries finely margined with olive, and the greater and lesser wing coverts largely tipped with olive grey; tail uniform brown; throat grey; abdomen and under tail coverts pale citron yellow ; bill and feet brown.
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata, (June). H
50 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
This bird, like the last species, generally moves in very small flocks. Its habits, I presume, are also very similar; for I state in my notes that it closely approaches to our tit-mice in general manners and appearance.
3. SERPOPHAGA NIGRICANS. Grould. Sylvia nigricans, Vieidl. Tachuris nigricans, D’ Orbig. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 55. Le Petit Tachuris noiratre, Azara, No. 167.
This bird is common in the neighbourhood of Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. It generally frequents the borders of lakes, ditches, and other moist places; but is related in its general manners with the last species. It often alights on aquatic plants, growing in the water. When seated on a twig it occa- sionally expands its tail like a fan.
Sus.-Fam.—TITYRANA. (Psariaya, Sw.)
Pacuyrampuus, G. R. Gray. Pachyrhynchus, Spa.
1. PACHYRAMPHUS ALBESCENS. Pachyrhynchus albescens, Gould, MS.
Puate XIV.
P. olivaceo-griseus ; als nigrescenti brunneis, albescenti marginatis ; gutture corpore- que subtus griseo-albis ; alarum tectricibus inferioribus pallidée sulphureis.
Long. tot. 5-25 une. ; ala, 25; caude, 2-5; tarsi, 8; rost. qh.
Head and all the upper surface olive grey; wings blackish brown, the coverts and secondaries broadly margined with dull white; primaries narrowly margined with greyish white; tail blackish brown, the external web of the outer feather white; under surface of the shoulder pale sulphur yellow; throat and under surface greyish white ; bill and feet black.
Habitat, Buenos Ayres.
The generic name of Pachyrhynchus Spix, is changed by Mr. G. R. Gray, to Pachyramphus, as the former word is used in entomology.
Lachyramphias adbescens.
Buds Lei.
Burds Ll 48.
Lachyramphis minimis.
BIRDS. 51
2. PACHYRAMPHUS MINIMUS.
Pachyrhynchus minimus, Gould, MS. Puate XV. P. rufo brunneus ; capite guttureque brunneo-nigris ; plumarum basibus albis ; alis cauddque brunneis, plumis flavescenti-albo marginatis; colli lateribus, fascid pectorali hypochondriisque fulvis ; jugulo ventreque pallide flavescentibus.
Long. tot. 34%; alw, 149; cauda, 145; tarsi, 38 5 rost. =).
Crown of the head, sides of the face and throat blackish brown, each feather white at the base; back of the neck black, and upper tail coverts rufous brown; wings and tail dark brown, each feather margined with sandy white ; sides of the neck, under surface of the shoulder, band across the chest and flanks reddish fawn colour; lower part of the throat, and centre of the abdo- men very pale buff; bill and feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Monte Video, (November).
Sus-Fam.—FLUVICOLIN A, Swain.
ALECTURUS GUIRAYETUPA. Vveill. Dict.
Muscicapa psalura, Z’emm., Pl. Col. t. 286 and 296. risoria, Vieill., Gal. des Ois. Pl. 131. Yetapa psalura, Less., Tr. d’Orn. i. p. 887.
Le Guirayetupa, Azara, No. 226.
This bird is not uncommon on the open grassy country near Maldonado on the banks of the Plata. It sits generally on the top of a thistle ; from which it makes short flights and catches its prey in the air. The two long feathers in its tail appear quite useless to it. It sometimes feeds on the ground. In the stomach of one which I opened there was a spider (Lycosa), and some Coleoptera.
1. LicHENorps PERSPICILLATUS. G. R. Gray.
Sylvia perspicillata, Gel.
QEnanthe perspicillata, Viedl/.
Ada Commersoni, Less.
Perspicilla leucoptera, Seains., Nat. Libr. x. Flyc. p. 105, Pl. 9. Fluviola perspicillata, D’Orb. 5 Lafr., Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 59. Le Clignot ou Lichenops, Comm., Sundev.
Le Bee d’argent, Azara, No. 228.
This bird belongs to the sub-genus, Perspicilla, of Mr. Swainson ; but as Mr.
52 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
G. R. Gray has pointed out that Commerson had previously considered it the type of his genus, Lichenops, we have been induced to prefer the latter as the oldest name. It is common in the neighbourhood of the Plata, and across the Pampas, as far as Mendoza on the eastern foot of the Andes; it has not, however, crossed those mountains and entered Chile. It usually sits on the top of a thistle, and like our common fly-catchers (Muscicapa grisola), takes short flights in pursuit of insects ; but does not, like that bird, return to the same twig. It feeds, also, occasionally on the turf: in the stomach of some which I opened, I found Coleopterous insects, chiefly Curculionide. Beak, eye-lid, and iris, beautiful primrose yellow.
2. LicHENOPS ERYTHROPTERUS. Gould.
Puate IX.
LL, supra nigrescenti-brunneus, plumis rufo-marginatis ; primariis secundartisque casta- nets, apicibus pogonieque externe dimidio apicali brunneis ; gutture corporeque subtus cervinis ; pectore brunneo-marginato.
Long. tot. 6 unc.; ale, 3; caude, 23; tarst, 1; rostri, =.
All the upper surface and tail blackish brown, each feather margined with rufous; primaries and secondaries reddish chesnut, their tips and their external webs for half their length from the tip, brown; tertiaries, greater and lesser wing- coverts dark-brown, each feather margined with reddish buff; throat, and all the under surface, fawn colour; the chest spotted with brown ; base of the bill, and chiefly of the lower mandible, as well as the iris, bright yellow ; eye-lid, blackish yellow; feet, dark brown.
Habitat, Banks of the Plata.
This bird is not very common. It frequents damp ground, where rushes grow, on the borders of lakes. It feeds on the ground and walks. It is certainly allied in many respects with the foregoing species, but in its power of walking, and in feeding on the ground, there is a marked difference in habits, As it has lately been described (Swainson’s Nat. Libr. Ornith. x. p. 106.) as the female of the L. perspicillatus, 1 will here point out some of its chief distinguishing characters. Its beak is slightly more depressed, but with the ridge rather more plainly pro- nounced. In the L. perspicillatus, the upper mandible is entirely yellow, excepting the apex; in the L. erythropterus, it is entirely pale brown, excepting the base. The eyelid in the former is bright primrose yellow, in the latter blackish yellow. The tail of L. erythropterus is squarer and contains only ten feathers instead of twelve: the wing is ;4, of an inch shorter, and the secondaries relatively to the primaries are also shorter. The red colour on the primaries represents, but does not correspond with, the white on the black feathers of L. perspicillatus; and the secondaries in the two birds
aw
Be
LBords L094,
Sr s
«. =
of
Lichengps ery throplerus.
e 4
.
Lirds. L040.
Lliavicha Meare
BIRDS. 53
are quite differently marked. In L. erythropterus, the third, fourth, and fifth primaries are the longest, and are equal to each other; the second is only a little shorter than the third. In L. perspicillatus the third is rather shorter than the fourth and fifth; and the second is proportionally shorter relatively to the third, so that the outer part of the wing in this species is more pointed than in L. ery- thropterus. The hinder claw in the latter is only in an extremely small degree straighter than in the former; and this, considering that the L. perspicillatus is generally perched, and when on the ground, can only hop; and that the ZL. ery- thropterus feeds there entirely, and walks, is very remarkable.
1. Fruvicota icreropurys. D’Orb. §& Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 59. Muscicapa icterophrys, Vieil/. Encyc. Meth. p. 832. Le Suiriri noiratre et jaune, A zara, No. 183. Specimens were found by me both at Monte Video and at Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. I found Coleoptera in their stomachs.
2. Fiuvicoya Irurero. G. R. Gray.
Tyrannus Irupero, Vieil/, Ency. Meth. p. 856.
Muscicapa meesta, Licht. Cat. p. 54.
Muscicapa nivea, Spia, Av. pl. 29. f. 1.
Pepoaza nivea, D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag, de Zool. 1837. p. 62. Trupero, Azara, No. 204.
This elegant bird, which is conspicuous amongst most land species by the whiteness of its plumage, is found, though not commonly, (in November) in Banda Oriental; whilst near Santa Fé, three degrees of latitude northward, it was com-
mon during the same time of year. It is rather shy, generally perches on the branches of bushes and low trees.
3. Fiuvicota Azarz. Gould. Puate X. F. alba; alis, caudé caudeque tectricibus atris, his albo-marginatis ; primariis flaves- centi-albis, basibus apicibusque nigris ; rostro pedibusque atris. I
Long. tot. 843; unc. ; ale, 4495; caude, 48; ; tarsi, 1; rost. 1.
Head, all the upper and under surface white; wings and tail black; tail coverts black margined with white; primaries broad and crossed near their extremity with sulphur white, and tipped with brown ; bill and legs black.
Habitat, banks of the Plata.
o4 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
This bird is very common in the neighbourhood of Maldonado, where it frequents the open grassy plains. It sits on the top of a thistle, or on a twig, and catches the greater part of its food on the wing. It is generally quiet in its movements and silent. Mr. Gould remarks, that he finds “nearly all the species of this peculiar group to differ remarkably in the structure of their wings and tail, while in all other respects they closely resemble each other both in form and habit ; I have, therefore, hesitated to separate them into so many genera. I have assigned the present species to Mr. Swainson’s subgenus Fluvicola, considering that differences in the form of one organ alone would not be sufficient grounds for the institution of a new genus among such closely allied species ; the present bird evidently leads off to T’enioptera, a genus proposed many years since, by the Prince of Musignano for the Pepoazas of Azara.
“This species is closely allied to, if not identical with the Pepoaza Do- minicana of Azara, but as there is a degree of obscurity in his description, which causes some doubt on this point, I have considered it better to pay a just tribute of respect to that zealous labourer in the field of natural science, by assigning his name to this very elegant bird.”
1. Xoumis coronata. G. R. Gray.
Tyrannus coronatus, Viei//. Ency. Meth. p. 885.
Muscicapa vittiger, Licht. Cat. p. 54. My specimen was obtained on the wooded banks of the Parana, near Santa Fé, in Lat. 31°S. Boie’s name of Xolmis is adopted by Mr. G. R. Gray, as it was proposed some five years anteriorly to that of the Prince of Musignano’s.
2. Xotmis NeNGETA. G. R. Gray.
Lanius nengeta, Linné, 1. p. 135. 7.
Tyrannus nengeta, Secains. Journ. Sci. xx. p. 279.
Fluvicola nengeta, Sewains. Nat. Libr. Fly-catchers, p. 102. pl. 8. Tyrannus pepoaza, Vieil/, Ency. Meth. p. 855.
Muscicapa polyglotta, Licht. Spiw. IT. pl. 24.
Tyrannus polvglottus, Cu.
Le Pepoaza proprement dit, A zara, No, 201.
My specimen was procured at Maldonado, north bank of La Plata, where
it is not common. Its habits in many respects are like those of the Fluvicola Azare ; it appears to catch its prey on the wing. Iris bright red.
Birds. Lt44
Lenugpleyva varvegan,
Qn Or
BIRDS.
3. Xou~mis vaRiEGATA. G. R. Gray. Pirate XI.
Pepoaza variegata. D’Orb. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63. Voy. dans VAmér. Mér. Orn. pl. 39. f. 2. Teenioptera variegata. On plate.
This bird feeds in small flocks, often mingled with the icteri, plovers, and other birds on the ground. Its manner of flight and general appearance never failed to call to my recollection our common fieldfares (Z'urdus pilaris, Linn.) and I may observe that its plumage (in accordance with these habits) is different from that of the rest of the genus. I opened the stomachs of some specimens killed at Maldonado, and found in them seeds and ants. At Bahia Blanca I saw these birds catching on the wing large stercovorous Coleoptera ; in this respect it follows the habits, although in most others it differs from those of the rest of its tribe. Iris rich brown.
4. Xoumis pyrope. G. R. Gray. Muscicapa pyrope, Kitlitz. Mem. l'Acad. Imp. des Sci. St. Peters. 1831. p. 191. pl. 10. Végel von Chil, pl. 10. p. 19. Pepoaza pyrope, D’Orb. 5 Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63.
This bird is not uncommon near Port Famine in Tierra del Fuego, and along the whole western coast (at Chiloe specimens were obtained) even as far north as the desert valley of Copiapé. In the thickly wooded countries of Tierra del Fuego and Chiloe, where it is more common than further northward, it generally takes its station on the branch of a tree, on the outskirts of the forest. When thus perched, usually at some height above the ground, it sharply looks out’ for insects passing by, which it takes on the wing. Iris scarlet. It builds a coarse nest in bushes. Egg perfectly white, pointed oval ; length one inch, breadth °76 of an inch.
56 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Genus.—AGRIORNIS. Gould. Tyrannus, Hyd. & Gerv. Pepoaza, D’Orb. & Lafr.
Rostrum longitudine capitis, rectum, forte, compressum, abrupté deflexum, emargt- natum; tomiis rectis integris; naribus basalibus, lateralibus, rotundis, patults ; rictu pilis rigidiusculis obsesso. Ale mediocres, remige primé longa, tertid quartdque equalibus, longissimis. Cauda mediocris, quadrata. Tarsi longi, fortes, squamis crassis annulati; digito ungueque postico mediano breviore, lateralibus equalibus, liberis.
Mr. Gould observes that the members of this genus are remarkable for their robust form and for their strength and magnitude of their bills; and their habits strictly accord with their structure, as they are fierce and courageous.
The species are closely allied to those of the preceding genus.*
1. AGriorNIS GUTTURALIS. Gould. Tyrannus getntity Eyd. & Gere. Voyage de la Fav. Ois. dans Mag. de Zool. 1836. pl. 11. Pepoaza gutturalis, D’Orb. 5 Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 64. My specimens were obtained near Valparaiso in Chile. I saw it as far
north as the valley of Copiapé. I was assured by the inhabitants that it is a very fierce bird, and that it will attack and kill the young of other birds.
2, AcRiIoRNIS sTRIATUS. Gould.
A. Fem. intense olivaceo-brunnea ; alis cauddque fuscis, utriusque plumis marginibus apiceque pallide brunneis; rectricum externarum pogonid externa alba; gutture facieque lateribus albis, his nigrostriatis ; pectore hypochondriisque olivaceo-brunneis ; ventre crissoque flavescentibus.
Long. tot. 10 unc. ; ala, 44%; cauda, 4435 5 tarst, 143, ; rostri, 13%.
Head, and all the upper surface dark olive brown; wings and tail dark brown,
each feather margined and tipped with pale brown, and the outer web of the external tail-feather, white ; throat, and sides of the face, white, striated with
* Perhaps to this genus belong Muscicapa thamnophiloides and cinerea, figured by Spix, in his Aves, pl. 26.f. land 2. G. BR. Gray.
Q ;
Birds. LOSE.
Agrurnis micrvoplertis
Lrvds Ll hk
Agrees Leuciunus.
; fg ee ve a
be ead
Sees
BIRDS. o7
Bis Ff i F
black; breast and flanks olive brown; centre of the abdomen and under * tail-coverts, buff; bill, horn colour ; feet, black.
Habitat, Santa Cruz, Patagonia. (April.) 1 am not aware of any difference in habits between this species, and the fol- lowing (A. micropterus); and the country inhabited by itis similar. From these circumstances I am induced to suspect, that it is the same species in an immature
state.
3. AGRIORNIS MICROPTERUS. Gould.
Plate XII.
M. pallidd brunneus, subtus flavescenti-albus ; alarum caudeque plumis griseo-margina-
tis; gutturis albis, brunneo-marginatis.
Long. tot. 9-8; une. ; ale, 44; caudew, 243 tarsi, 133;; rostri, 14.
Head, all the upper surface, wings and tail, pale brown, each feather of the wings and tail margined with greyish brown; throat, white, striated with dark brown; the remainder of the under surface, buffy white ; bill, dark horn colour; feet brown.
Habitat, Port Desire, and St. Julian, Patagonia. (January).
These birds frequent the wild valleys in which a few thickets grow. They generally take their stand on the upper twigs. They are shy, solitary, and not numerous. Mr. G. R. Gray considers the two specimens which were obtained to be immature, and that one is a full-fledged young, and the other a nestling of the Agr. striatus.
4. AGRiIoRNiIs MARiITIMUS. G. R. Gray. Prats XIII.
Pepoaza maritima, D’Orb. et Lefr., Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 65. Agriornis leucurus. Gould’s MSS., and on PI. xiii.
Inhabits the coast of Patagonia. It is a scarce, shy, solitary bird, frequent- ing the valleys in which thickets grow, but often feeding on the ground. In the interior plains of Patagonia, on the banks of the Santa Cruz, I several times saw it chasing beetles on the wing, in a peculiar manner, half hopping and half flying ; when thus employed, it spreads its tail, and the white feathers in it are displayed in a very conspicuous manner. I also met with this species in the lofty and arid valleys on the eastern side of the Cordillera of Central Chile, and likewise at
Copiap6.
38 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Famity.—LANIAD &. Sus-Fam.—LANIANA, Swarns.
CycLaruis GuIANENSIs, Swains.
C. Guianensis, Seains., Ornith. Draw. Pl. 58. ¢
Tanagra Guianensis, Gmel. 4 Laniagra Guyanensis, D’Orb. ct Lafr.
Falcunculus Guianensis, Swains., (1837.)
Le Sourciroux, Levaill. Ois. D’Afr. Pl. 76. f. 2.
My specimen was obtained at Maldonado, in the latter end of May. I did not see another during my residence there. In its stomach were Coleoptera.
Sus-Fam.—THAMNOPHILINA. THAMNOPHILUS poLIaTUs, Viel.
Lanius doliatus, Linné.
My specimen was obtained at Maldonado, where it is not very common. It generally frequents hedge-rows. Cry rather loud, but plaintive and agreeable. Iris, reddish orange ; bill, blue, especially base of lower mandible. I observed individuals (females?) in which the black and white bands on the breast
were scarcely visible, and even those on the under tail-coverts but obscurely marked.
BIRDS. 59
Famity.—TURDID.
1, Turpus RUFIVENTER. Licht.
T. rufiventer, Licht. Cat. p. 38.
Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 639 ?
———._ Spix, Av. Sp. Nov. tom. 1. p. 70. t. Ixviii.
———— D’0rb. et Lafr. Voy. de VAmer. Mer. Av. p. 203. Grive rousse et noirdtre, Azara, No. 79.
Turdus Chochi, Viedd/. Ency. Meth. p. 639.
D’Orb. et Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1835. p. 17.
T. leucomelas, Vieil/. Ency. Meth. 644.
T. albiventer, Spiz, Av. Sp. Nov. tom. 1. p. 70. t. Ixix. f. 1.m. 2 fem. La grive blanche et noiradtre, Azaya, No. 80.
The white-bellied thrush, described under the three latter synonyms, accord- ing to M. D’Orbigny, (p. 203 of the ornithological part of his work), is the female of the 7’. rufiventer. My specimens were obtained at Maldonado and the Rio Negro, which latter place, in 41°, is its most southern limit: Spix found it near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It utters a note of alarm very like that of the common English thrush, (Zurdus musicus).
2. Turpus FaLKLANpicus. Quoy et Gaim.
T. Falklandicus, Quoy e¢ Gaim. Zool. de ’Uranie, p. 104.
Pernetty, Hist. dun Voy. aux Iles Malouines, II. p. 20. D Orb. & Lafr., Voy. de YAmer. Mer. Ay. p. 202.
T. Magellanicus, King, Proc. Zool. Soc, (1830) p. 14.
D Orb. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1835. p. 16.
M. D’Orbigny has pointed out that the Zwrdus Magellanicus of King is only the male bird of Turdus Falklandicus. 1 obtained specimens from the Rio Negro, Falkland Islands, Tierra del Fuego and Chiloe: I believe I saw the same species in the valleys of Northern Chile; I was informed that the thrush there lines its nest with mud, in which respect it follows the habits of species of the northern hemisphere. In the Falkland Islands it chiefly inhabits the more rocky and dryer hills. It haunts also the neighbourhood of the settlement, and very frequently may be seen within old sheds. In this respect, and generally in its habits, it resembles the English thrush (Turdus musicus): its cry, however, is different. It is tame, silent, and inquisitive.
60. ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
1. Mimus Orpuevs. G. R. Gray.
Orpheus Calandna, D’Orb. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. (1835) p. 17.—Voy. de YAmer. Mer. Av. 206. pl. x. f. 2.
Turdus Orpheus, Spiv. Av. t.1. pl. 71.
Mimus saturninus, P. Maz. Beitr. p. 658 ?
Orpheus modulator, Gowld, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part IV. (1836) p. 6.
This bird is described in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society (Part IV. 1836, p. 6.) as having come from the Straits of Magellan, which undoubtedly is a mistake. It is extremely common on the banks of the Plata; but a few degrees south of it, is replaced by the O. Patagonica of D’Orbigny. In Banda Oriental these birds are tame and bold; they constantly frequent the neighbourhood of the country houses to pick the meat, which is generally suspended to the posts and walls. If any other small bird joins in the feast, the Calandria (as this species is usually called in La Plata) immediately chases him away. In these respects, and in its manner of sometimes catching insects, the Mimus is related in its habits with that division of the Muscicapide, which includes the genus Xolmis : indeed, the general colour of the plumage of X. Nengeta is so like that of Mimus, that it might readily be mistaken for a bird of that genus. The Calandria haunts thickets and hedge-rows, where it actively hops about, and in doing so often elevates and slightly expands its tail. :
2. Mimus Paraconicus. G. R. Gray.
Orpheus Patagonicus, D’Orb. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 19.—Voy. de VAmer, Mer. Av. p. 210, pl. xi. f. 2.
I obtained specimens of this bird at the Rio Negro and at Santa Cruz in Southern Patagonia, at both of which places it is common. It is not found in Tierra del Fuego, for neither it nor the other species of the genus inhabit forests. This species has slightly different habits from the M. Orpheus. It is a shyer bird, and frequents the plains and valleys thinly scattered with stunted and thorn- bearing trees. It does not appear to move its tailso much. Its cry, like that of the rest of the genus, is harsh, but its song is sweet. The M. Patagonicus, whilst seated on the highest twig of some low bush, often enlivens the dreariness of the surrounding deserts by its varying song. Molina, however, describing the song of an allied species, has greatly exaggerated its charms. It may be compared to that of the sedge-bird (Motacilla salicaria, Linn.), but is much more powerful, some harsh notes and some very high ones being mingled with a pleasant warbling. The song of the different mocking thrushes certainly is
BIRDS. 61
superior to that of any other bird which I heard in South America ; and they are almost the only ones which formally perch themselves on an elevated twig for the purpose of singing. They sing only during the spring of the year. I may here mention, as a curious instance of the fine shades of difference in habits between very closely allied species, that when I first saw the M. Patagonicus, 1 concluded from habits alone that it was different from M. Orpheus. But having afterwards procured a specimen of the former, and comparing the two without particular care, they appeared so very similar that I changed my opinion. Mr. Gould, however, immediately upon seeing them (and he did not then know that M. D’Orbigny had described them as different) pronounced that they were distinct species; a conclusion in conformity with the trifling difference of habit and geographical range, of which he was not at the time aware.
3. Mimus Tuenca. G. R. Gray.
Turdus Thenca. Mol. Orpheus Thenca. D’Orb. Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. Orn. p. 209, pl. f. 3.
This species seems to be confined to the coast of the Pacific, west of the Cor- dillera, where it replaces the M. Orpheus, and M. Patagonicus of the Atlantic side of the continent. Its southern limit is the neighbourhood of Concepcion, (lat. 37° S.) where the country changes from thick forests to an open land. The Thenca, (which is the name of this species, in the language of the Aboriginal Indians,) is common in central and northern Chile, and is likewise found (I believe the same species) near Lima, (lat. 12°) on the coast of Peru. The habits of the Thenca are similar, as far as I could perceive, to those of the M. Patago- nicus. 1 observed many individuals, which had their heads stained yellow from the pollen of some flower, into which they bury their heads, probably for the sake of the small beetles concealed there. Molina describes the nest of the Thenca, as having a long passage, but I was assured by the country people, that this nest belonged to the Synallaxis egithaloides, and that the Thenca makes a simple nest, built externally of smali prickly branches of the mimosa.
62 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
4, Mimus Trirasciatus. G. R. Gray. Puate XVI. Orpheus trifasciatus. Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part v. 1837, p. 27.
M., vertice, nuchd, et dorso nigrescentibus ; uropygto rufo pallide lavato ; alis nigres- centibus, tectricibus nota albescente terminali fascias tres transversas facientibus ; rectricibus caude duabus intermediis nigrescentibus, reliquis ad apicem pallidioribus ; plumis auricularibus, strigdé superciliari, guld, et corpore subtis albis, lateribus notis guttisque fuscis ornatis ; rostro pedibusque nigris.
Long. tot. 103 wnc.; vost. 12; alw, 5; caudw, 5}; tarsi, 13. g ? 2 ?
The vertex, nape of the neck and the back, blackish ; with the lower part of the back tinged with pale rufous; the wings blackish, with the tips of the wing coverts white, forming three transverse bands ; the tail with the two interme- diate feathers black, with the tips of the others much paler; the auricular feathers with a streak above the eyes, throat, and beneath the abdomen white; the flanks ornamented with fuscous marks and spots.
Habitat, Charles Island, Galapagos Archipelago. (October).
5. Mruus metanotis. G. R. Gray. Puate XVII. Orpheus melanotis, Gow/d, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part v. 1837, p. 27.
M. vertice, nuchdé, dorsoque pallide fuscis; plumis capitis et dorsi ad medium colore saturatiore ; alis intense fuscis, singulis plumis ad marginem pallidioribus, secunda- ris, tectricibusque mayjoribus notd albd terminali, fascias duas transversas facien- tibus ; caude rectricibus nigrescenti-fuscis ad apicem albis, loro, plumisque auricu- laribus nigrescenti-fuscis ; laterum plumis nota fusca centrali, abdomine albo ; rostro pedibusque nigris.
Long tot. 94 unc. ; rost. 14; ale, 43; caudw, 43; tarsi, 13.
The vertex, nape of the neck and the back, pale brown ; the feathers of the head and the back, as far as the middle, of a darker colour; the wings intensely brown, with the margins of each of the feathers paler ; the secondaries and the greater wing-coverts terminated with white marks, giving the appearance of two transverse bands; the feathers of the tail blackish brown, with the tips white; the lores and the feathers of the ears blackish brown, the feathers of the sides with a central brown mark, the abdomen white ; the bill and feet black.
Habitat, Chatham and James’s Islands, Galapagos Archipelago. (October.)
es saan an ee
a el
Mimnias OY BS CUMS.
Birds Le V6
Levas: L647
Mimi melanotis
Lryros: L146.
Mimin parviilis
7
|
SS
BIRDS. 63
6. Mimus parvutus. G. R. Gray. Puate XVIII. Orpheus parvulus. Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part v. 1837, p. 27.
M. vertice, nuchd cauddque intense fuscis, hujus rectricibus ad apicem albo notatis; alis fuscis secundariis tectricibusque nota alba apicali fascias duas transversas facienti- bus; loro plumisque auricularibus nigrescentibus ; guld, colli lateribus, pectore, et abdomine albescentibus; plumis laterum notis fuscis per medium longitudinaliter ex- currentibus.
Long. tot. 83 unc. ; rost. 1; alw, 33; caude, 33; tarsi, 1}.
The vertex, the nape of the neck, and the tail intensely black ; with the tips of the tail feathers marked with white ; the wings brown with the secondaries and coverts tipped with white marks, giving the appearance of two transverse bands ; the lores and the feathers of the ears black ; the throat, the sides of the neck, breast, and the abdomen white ; the flanks marked longitudinally with brown.
Habitat, Albemarle Island, Galapagos Archipelago. (October.)
It will be seen, that the three last species of the genus Mimus, were procured from the Galapagos Archipelago; and as there is a fact, connected with their geographi- cal distribution, which appears to me of the highest interest, I have had these three figured. There are five large islands in this Archipelago, and several smaller ones. I fortunately happened to observe, that the specimens which I collected in the two first islands we visited, differed from each other, and this made me pay particular attention to their collection. I found that all in Charles Island belonged to M. tri- Sasciatus ; all in Albemarle Island to M. parvulus, and all in Chatham and James’s Islands to M. melanotus. I do not rest this fact solely on my own observation, but several specimens were brought home in the Beagle, and they were found, ac- cording to their species, to have come from the islands as above named. Charles Island is distant fifty miles from Chatham Island, and thirty-two from Albemarle Island. This latter is only ten miles from James Island, yet the many specimens procured from both belonged respectively to different species. James and Chat- ham, which possess the same species, are seventy miles apart, but Indefatigable Island is situated between them, which perhaps, has afforded a means of commu- nication. The fact, that islands in sight of each other, should thus possess pecu- liar species, would be scarcely credible, if it were not supported by some others of an analogous nature, which I have mentioned in my Journal of the Voyage of the Beagle. I may observe, that as some naturalists may be inclined to attribute these differences to local varieties ; that if birds so different as O. trifasciatus, and
64 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
O. parvulus, can be considered as varieties of one species, then the experience of all the best ornithologists must be given up, and whole genera must be blended into one species. I cannot myself doubt that M. trifasciatus, and M. parvulus are as distinct species as any that can be named in one restricted genus.
The habits of these three species are similar, and they evidently replace each other in the natural economy of the different islands ; nor can I point out any differ- ence between their habits and those of M. Thenca of Chile; I imagined, however, that the tone of their voice was slightly different. They are lively, inquisitive, active birds, and run fast ; (I cannot assert, positively, that MW. Thenca runs). They are so extremely tame, a character in common with the other birds of this Archipe- lago, that one alighted on a cup of water which I held in my hand, and drank out of it. They sing pleasantly ; their nest is said to be simple and open. They seem to prefer the dry sterile regions nearer the coast, but they are likewise found in the higher, damper and more fertile parts of the islands. To these latter situ- ations, however, they seem chiefly attracted by the houses and cleared ground of the colonists. I repeatedly saw the M. melanotis at James Island, tearing bits of meat from the flesh of the tortoise, which was cut into strips and suspended to dry, precisely in the same manner as I have so often observed the M. Orpheus, in La Plata, attacking the meat hung up near the Estancias.
1. Furnarius rurus. Vierll.
Furnarius rufus, Vieil/., Ency. Meth. 518.
Merops rufus, Gime, Pl. enl. 739.
Opetiorhynchus rufus, Tem. Man.
Turdus vadius, Licht. Cat.
Figulus albogularis, Spia. Av. pl. Ixxviii. f. 1 & 2.
Fournier, Buff, Azara, No. 221.
This bird is common in Banda Oriental, on the banks of the Plata; but I
did not see it further southward. It is called by the Spaniards Casaro, or house- builder, from the very singular nest which it constructs. The most exposed situation, as on the top of a post, the stem of an opuntia, or bare rock, is chosen. The nest consists of mud and bits of straw; it is very strong, and the sides are thick ; in shape it resembles a depressed beehive or oven, and hence the name of the genus. Directly in front of the mouth of the nest, which is large and arched, there is a partition, which reaches nearly to the roof, thus forming a passage or ante-chamber to the true nest. At Maldonado, in the end of May, the bird was busy in building. The Furnarius is very common in Banda Oriental ; it often haunts the bushes in the neighbourhood of houses; it is an active bird, and both walks and runs quickly, and generally by starts ; it feeds chiefly on Coleop- tera ; it often utters a peculiar, loud, shrill, and quickly reiterated cry.
BIRDS. 65
2. Furnarivus cunicutarius. G. R. Gray.
Alauda cunicularia, Vieidd. Alauda fissirostra, Kitt]. Mem. |’Acad. St. Peters. ii. pl. 3. Certhilauda cunicularia, D’Orb. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool.
This bird has a considerable geographical range. On the eastern side of the continent it is found from about 40° (for I never saw one in the southern districts of Patagonia) northward to at least 30°, and perhaps much further. On the western side its southern limit is the neighbourhood of Concepcion, where the country becomes dry and open, and it ranges throughout Chile (specimens were procured from Valparaiso) to at least as far north as Lima, in lat. 12°, on the coast of Peru. I may here observe, that the northern limit of all birds, which are lovers of dry countries, such as this Furnarius and some of the species of Mimus, is not probably at Lima but near Cape Blanco, 10° south of the Equator, where the open and parched land of Peru blends (as it was described to me) rather suddenly into the magnificent forests of Guayaquil. This Furnarius constantly haunts the driest and most open districts; and hence sand-dunes near the coast afford it a favourite resort. In La Plata, in Northern Patagonia, and in Central Chile, it is abundant: in the former country it is called Casarita, a name which has evidently been given from its relationship with the Casaro, or Fur- narius rufus, for, as we shall see, its nidification is very different. It is a very tame, most quiet, solitary little bird, and like the English robin (Sylvia rubecula) it is usually most active early in the morning and late in the evening. When disturbed it flies only to a short distance; it is fond of dusting itself on the roads ; it walks and runs (but not very quickly), and generally by starts. I opened the stomachs of some, and found in them remains of Coleoptera, and chiefly Carabide. At certain seasons it frequently utters a peculiar, shrill but gentle, reiterated cry, which is so quickly repeated as to produce one running sound. In this respect, and in its manner of walking on the ground, and in its food, this species closely resembles the Casaro, but in its quiet manners it differs widely from that active bird. Its nidification is likewise different, for it builds its nest at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical hole, which is said to extend horizon- tally to nearly six feet under ground. Several of the country people told me, that when boys, they had attempted to dig out the nest, but had scarcely ever succeeded in getting to the end. The bird chooses any low bank of firm sandy soil by the side of a road or stream. At the settlement of Bahia Blanca the walls are built of hardened mud; and I noticed one, enclosing a courtyard, where I lodged, which was penetrated by round holes in a score of places. On asking the owner the cause of this, he bitterly complained of the little Casarita, several
K
66 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
of which I afterwards observed at work. It is rather curious, that as these birds were constantly flitting backwards and forwards over the low wall, they must be quite incapable of judging of distance or thickness even after the shortest circui- tous route, for otherwise they would not have made so many vain attempts.
Uprucertuia pumetoria. J. Geoffr. § D Orb. Puate XIX.
Uppucerthia dumetoria, J. Geoffr. § D’Orb. Ann. du Mus. i, 393 and 394. Furnarius dumetorum, D’Orb. MS. Uppucerthia dumetorum, D’Orb. Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 20.
This bird is an inhabitant of extremely sterile regions. I saw several at the Rio Negro, but at Port Desire they were, perhaps, more numerous. I did not observe it near Valparaiso, in Central Chile, but I procured specimens of it from Coquimbo, where the country is more desert. It frequents open places, in which a few bushes grow. It hops very quickly, and often flies quietly from one place to another. It may often be seen turning over and picking dry pieces of dung. It is a remarkable circumstance, that in the three specimens which I brought home, from different localities, namely the Rio Negro, Port Desire, and Co- quimbo, the beak varies considerably in length: in that from Port Desire in Patagonia it is three-eighths of an inch shorter than in that from Coquimbo in Chile ; whilst the Rio Negro specimen is intermediate between them. Mr. G. R. Gray has pointed out to me that Latham long since observed a great variation in the beak of the Patagonian warbler, Opetiorhynchus Patagonicus.
1. OperiorHyNncHus vuLeaRis. G. R. Gray. Uppucerthia vulgaris, DOrbig. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 28.
This bird in general habits has several points of resemblance with the Fur- narius cunicularius, but differs in some other respects. Its flight is somewhat similar, but it shows two red bands on its wings, instead of one, by which it can be distinguished at a distance: instead of walking it only hops; it feeds entirely on the ground, and in its stomach I found scarcely anything but Coleop- terous insects, and of these many were fungi feeders. It often frequents the borders of lakes, where the water has thrown up leaves and other refuse. It likewise may be met with in all parts of the open grassy plains of Banda Oriental, where (like the Uppucerthia at the Rio Negro) it often turns over dry dung. Its note is very like that of the F. cunicularius, but more acute, and consists of a shrill cry, quickly reiterated so as to make a running sound. I was informed that, like that bird, it builds its nest at the bottom ofa deep burrow. This species
lpercerthia dimeloww:
Birds, Ll49
e s
BIRDS. 67
is common in La Plata, the Falkland Islands, and Tierra del Fuego; in the latter it frequents the higher parts of the mountains, or those exposed to the western gales, which are free from forests, for it is a bird that exclusively lives in open countries and on the ground. I believe it is not found in Chile ; nor is it common on the coast of Patagonia. This species in its habits is very different from the three following closely allied ones, since the latter never, or most rarely, leave the sea beach, whilst this bird, excepting by chance, is never seen there, but always in the interior country. Nevertheless with this marked difference in habits, (there are several other points beside that of the station frequented), if the preserved skins of O. parvulus and O. vulgaris were placed in the hands of any one, even perhaps of a practised ornithologist, he would at first hesitate to consider them distinct, although upon closer examination he would find many points of differ- ence,—of which the much greater strength of the feet and the greater length of the tarsus are conspicuous in those species, which live amongst the stones on the sea beach.
2. OpeTiorHyNncHus Paraconicus. G. R. Gray.
Patagonian Warbler, Lath. Syn. iv. p. 434. Motacilla Patagonica, Gimel. Motacilla Gracula, /orst. Draw. No. 160. Sylvia Patagonica, Lath. Index, ii. 517. Furnarius Lessonii, Dumont. Chilensis, Less. Voy. de la Coqu. i. p. 671, n. Tr. d’Omith. p. 307, pl. 75, f. 1. Opetiorhynchus rupestris, Aitt/. Mem. de Acad. St. Petersb. i. p. 188, pl. viii. Uppucerthia rupestris, D’Orb. 5 Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 21.
This bird is extremely common on the sea shore of all the bays and channels of Tierra del Fuego; on the western coast it is replaced in Northern Chile by the O. nigrofumosus, and in the Falkland Islands by the O. antarcticus. As the habits of this species and those just named are quite similar, I shall describe them all together under the head of O. nigrofumosus. A specimen of O. Pata- gonicus from Chiloe has a bill rather more than two-tenths of an inch longer than in those from Tierra del Fuego ; but as no other difference can be perceived, I cannot allow that this is a specific character any more than in the case of the
Uppucerthia. 3. OPETIORHYNCHUs ANTARCTICUS. G. R. Gray.
Certhia antarctica, Garn. Ann. des Sc. Nat. 1826. Furnarius fuliginosus, Less. Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. i. p. 670. Patagonian Warbler, Lath. in Dixon’s Voy. App. No. 1, 359 and pl.
This species inhabits the Falkland Islands. My specimens were procured at
68 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
the east island, from which, also, those described by the French naturalists came, and likewise that given in the Appendix to Dixon’s Voyage. I have no doubt that it is peculiar to this group, for the foregoing species, which in the neighbour- ing mainland of Tierra del Fuego supplies its place and has precisely the same habits, has been examined by Mr. Gould and is considered distinct. The O. an- tarcticus has long been noticed by voyagers to the Falkland Islands from its extreme tameness: in the year 1763 Pernety states it was so tame that it would almost perch on his finger, and that in half an hour he killed ten with a wand.
4, OPETIORHYNCHUS NIGRoFUMoSUS. G. R. Gray. Puate XX.
Uppucerthia nigrofumosa, D’Orb. et Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 23. Opetiorhynchus lanceolatus, Gould, MS. and on plate XX.
My specimen was killed at Coquimbo, on the coast of Chile. It differs from O. Patagonicus in its larger size, much stronger feet and bill, and more dusky plumage, and in the white streak over the eye being less plainly marked. In this species the red band, which extends from the body obliquely across the wings in all the species, reaches to the third primary, whereas in O. Patagonicus, O. vulgaris, and O. antarcticus, that feather is not marked, or so faintly, as scarcely to be distinguishable. In the genus Furnarius, the wing feathers are marked in an analogous manner. I saw this species (as I believe) on the coast near the mouth of the valley of Copiap6.
I will now make a few remarks on the habits of these three coast species. The first, O. antarcticus, is confined, as I have every reason to believe, to the Falkland Islands. The second inhabits Tierra del Fuego, and in Chiloe and Central Chile is replaced by the local variety with a long beak, and this still further northward by the O. nigrofumosus. On the east side of the continent I do not believe these marine species extend so far northward. I never saw one on the shores of the Plata, but they occur in Central Patagonia. These birds live almost exclusively on the sea beach, whether formed of shingle or rock, and feed just above the surf on the matter thrown up by the waves. The pebbly beds of large rivers sometimes tempt a solitary pair to wander far from the coast. Thus at Santa Cruz I saw one at least one hundred miles inland, and I several times observed the same thing in Chile, which has likewise been remarked by Kittlitz, who has given a very faithful account of the habits of O. Patagonicus. 1 must add that I also saw this bird in the stony and arid valleys in the Cordillera, at a height of at least 8000 feet. In Tierra del Fuego I scarcely ever saw one twenty yards from the beach, and both there and at the Falkland Islands they may fre-
Birds Lb. 20.
Cpeiwrhynchus lanceolatns
Lremobius phanicusras.
Lids Ll 2
BIRDS. 69
quently be seen walking on the buoyant leaves of the Fucus giganteus, at some little distance from the shore. In these respects, the birds of this genus entirely replace in habits many species of Tringa. In the stomachs of those I opened [I found small crabs and little shells, and one Buccinum even a quarter of an inch long: Kittlitz says, he found in one, besides such objects, some small seeds. They are very quiet, tame and solitary, but they may not unfrequently be seen in pairs. They hop and likewise run quickly ; in which latter respect, and likewise in their greater tameness, they differ from the O. vulgaris. Their cry is seldom uttered, but is a quick repetition of a shrill note, like that of the last named bird, and of several species of Furnarius.
On the 20th of September, I found, near Valparaiso, the nest of O. Patago- nicus, with young birds in it: it was placed in a small hole in the roof of a deep cavern, not far from the bank of a pebbly stream. Three months later in the summer I found, in the Chonos Archipelago (Lat. 45°), a nest of this species, placed in a small hole beneath an old tree, close to the sea-beach. The nest was composed of coarse grass and was untidily built. The egg rather elongated ; length 1°11 of an inch, width in broadest part ‘8 of an inch; perfectly white.
Genus.—Eremosius. Gould.
Rostrum capitis longitudine seu longius, fere rectum, ad apicem deorsum curvatum, haud emarginatum ; naribus parvis, basalibus, oblongis, in sulco positis ; Ale breves, remigibus primariis secundartisque fere equalibus, plumis 4, 5, 6-que subequalibus longissimisque ; Cauda mediocris apice rotundato; Tarsi sublongi antice squames fere obsoletis induti, halluce digito medio breviore, digitis lateralibus inequalibus, internis brevioribus.
EREMOBIUS PH@NICURUS. Gould. Pirate XXI.
E. fuscus, remigibus cinereo fusco marginatis, strid superciliart pone oculos extensd cinereo-alba; cauddé nigro-fuscdé bast castaneo fusca 3 guld abdomineque medio cinereo albis; hypochondriis tectricibusque caudalibus inferioribus pallide flaves- centibus.
Long. tot. 672; unc. ; rost. 1; alw, 2%; caude, 3; tarsi, =.
Head and all the upper surface brown; the primaries margined with greyish brown; stripe over and behind the eye greyish white; tail feathers chestnut brown at the base, and blackish brown for the remainder of their length ;
70 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
throat and centre of the abdomen greyish white, passing into pale buff on the flanks and under tail-coverts; bill and feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Patagonia.
This bird, though forming a well-marked genus, is in many respects, even in plumage, allied to Furnarius and Opetiorhynchus, —for instance, in the streak over its eyes, in the red band on its wings extending obliquely from the body to the third primary, and to some of the species of these genera in its rather plumose feathers. In its general manners, the same resemblance, together with some differences, always struck me. It lives entirely on the ground, and generally in dry sterile situations, where it haunts the scattered thickets, and often flies from one to another. When skulking about the bushes it cocks up its tail, imitating in this respect Pteroptochos and Rhinomya. Its cry is shrill, quickly reiterated, and very similar to that of several species of Furnarius and Opetio- rhynchus. The stomach of one which I opened was full of Coleoptera. I procured specimens from three places on the coast of Patagonia; namely, Port Desire, St. Julian, and Santa Cruz; but it is nowhere common. I likewise saw it ata considerable elevation in the eastern valleys of the barren Cordillera, near Mendoza.
Ruinomya Lanceouata. Is. Geoffr. § D’Orb.
Rhinomya lanceolata. Js. Geofir. § D’Orb. Voy. de YAmer. Mer. pl. 7. f. 1. 1832, cl. 11. pl. 3. id.—Mag. de Zool. 1832, 11. pl. 3. and 1837, p. 15.
I procured a specimen of this bird from the Rio Negro in Northern Patagonia, and I never saw one any where else; and M. D’Orbigny makes the same remark. On the Atlantic side of the continent, it replaces the several species of Pteroptochos which live on the shores of the Pacific. Its habits, in some respects, are similar ; it lives at the bottom of hedges or thickets, where it runs with such quickness, that it might easily be mistaken fora rat. It is very unwilling to take flight, so that, I was assured by some of the inhabitants, that it could not fly, which, however, is a mistake. It frequently utters a loud and very singular cry. The Rhinomya is distantly allied to the Eremobius phenicurus, which is found in Southern Pata- gonia, whose habits in some respects are similar.
1. Preroprocnos Tarno. G. R. Gray.
Hylactes Tarnii. Vigors, Proc. Zool. 1830. Megalonyx ruficeps. D’Orb. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 15. Leptonyx Tamii. D'Orb. § Lafr. Voy, de P Amer. Mer. Av. p. 198, pl. viii. f. 1.
This species, as well as several others of the genus, and likewise of Scytalopus are confined to the west coast of South America. The P. Tarnii ranges from the
BIRDS. 71
neighbourhood of Concepcion, lat. 37°, to south of the Peninsula of Tres Montes, between 41° and 50°. It is not found in Tierra del Fuego, where the climate pro- bably is too cold for it, for in other respects, the great forests of that country appear admirably adapted to its habits. Its limit, northward of the province of Concepcion, is evidently due to the change which there takes place, from dense forests to an open and dry country. The P. Tarnii is abundant in all parts of the Island of Chiloe, where it is called by the native Indians, guid-guid; but by the English sailors, the barking-bird. This latter name is very well applied, for the noise which it utters is precisely like the yelping of a small dog. When a person is walking along a pathway within the forest, or on the sea-beach, he will often be surprised to hear on a sudden, close by him, the barking of the gued-guid. He may often watch in vain the thicket, whence the sound proceeds, in hopes of see- ing its author, and if he endeavour, by beating the bushes, to drive it out, his chance of success will be still smaller. At other times, by standing quietly within the forest, the guwid-guid will fearlessly hop close to him, and will stand on the trunk of some dead tree, with its tail erect, and strange figure full in view. It feeds exclusively on the ground, in the thickest and most entangled parts of the forest. It rarely takes wing, and then only for short distances. It has the power of hopping quickly and with great vigour; when thus awkwardly proceeding, it carries its short tail in a nearly erect position. Iwas informed that the gued-guid, builds a nest amongst rotten sticks, close to the ground.
2. PreroprocHuos mEeGApopvivus. Kittl.
Pteroptochos megapodius. Kittl. 1830, Mem. de l’Acad. 1, pl. iv. et Vogel. von Chili, p. 10, pl. iv. Megalonyx rufus. Less. Cent. Zool. 1831, pl. 66.
D Orb. & Lafr.
Leptonyx macropus. Swains. Zool. Tl. pl. 117.
D Orb. § Lafr. Voy. de VAmer. Mer. Av. 197.
This bird is common in the dry country of central and northern Chile, where it replaces the P. Tarnii of the thickly wooded southern regions. The P. mega- podius, is called by the Chilenos, “ E/ Turco ;” it lives on the ground amongst the bushes which are sparingly scattered over the stony hills. With its tail erect, every now and then it may be seen popping on its stilt-like legs from one bush to another with uncommon celerity. Its appearance is very strange and almost ludi- crous, and the bird seems always anxious to hide itself. It does not run, but hops, and can hardly be compelled to take flight. The various loud cries which it utters, when concealed in the bushes, are as strange as its appearance. I opened the ex- tremely muscular gizzards of several of these birds, and found them filled with beetles, vegetable fibres, and pebbles. Observing the structure of the gizzard, the
72 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
fleshy covering to the nostrils, and the arched, rounded wing, and great scratching claws, it was easy to imagine some distant kind of relationship between these birds and those of the Gallinaceous order. I was informed that the Turco makes its nest at the bottom of a deep burrow which it excavates in the ground.
3. Preroprocuos ALBICOLLIS. Kitil.
Pteroptochos albicollis. Ki#t/. Mem. de l’Acad. Petersb. 1. pl. iii. Vogel von Chili; p. 8. pl. iii. Megalonyx medius. Less. Ill. Zool. pl. lx.
Megalonyx albicollis. D’Orb. and Lafr. Mag. de Zool. (1636,) Aves, p. 15.
Leptonyx albicollis. .D'Orb. Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. Av. p. 196, pl. viii. f. 2.
This species is called by the Chilenos ‘‘ Tapacolo,” or cover your posteriors. The name is well applied, as the Tapacolo generally carries its short tail more than erect, that is, inclined backward and toward the head. It is extremely common in central Chile; and in the same manner as the Turco replaces the Barking-bird of the southern forest-land, so does the Tapacolo replace a fourth species (P. rubecula), which is an inhabitant of the same forests. The Tapacolo frequents hedge-rows, and the bushes which are scattered at a considerable eleva- tion over the sterile hills, where scarcely another bird can exist: hence it plays a conspicuous part in the ornithology of Chile. In its manner of feeding, and quickly hopping out of a thicket and back again, in its desire of concealment, un- willingness to take flight, and nidification, it manifests a close resemblance with the P. megapodius ; its appearance is not, however, so strange, and (as if in con- sequence) it exposes itself more readily to view. The Tapacolo is very crafty ; when frightened by any person, it will remain motionless at the bottom of a bush, and will then, after a little while, try with much address to crawl away on the opposite side. It is also an active bird, and continually making a noise ; these noises are various and strangely odd; one is like the cooing of doves, another like the bubbling of water, and many defy all similes. The country people say it changes its cry five times in the year, which is according, I suppose, to some change of season. I was told that the Tapacolo builds its nest at the bottom of a deep burrow, like the Turco; whereas the P. Tarnii, (as well as the P. ru- becula, an inhabitant of the same districts,) makes its nest amongst the sticks just above the ground. This difference in the nidification, of the southern and northern species, is probably due to the nature of the damp forests inhabited by the former in which a burrow could hardly be made dry. I may here observe, that travelling northward from Valparaiso to Coquimbo, I met near Illapel with a bird closely allied to the Tapacolo, but which, from some slight difference in manners, I believed was a distinct species. The range of this supposed species, is from between Coquimbo and Valparaiso, to at least as far north as the valley of
Copiapo.
Bree
BIRDS. 73
4. PreroprocHos rRuBEcuLA. Kittl.
Pteroptochos rubecula, Kittl. Vog. von Chili, p. 7. pl. ii.
Megalonyx rubecula, D' Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 16. Megalonyx rufogularis, D Orb. & Lafr. Voy. de VAmer. Mer. pl. 7, f. 2. Leptonyx rubecula, D'Or. & Lafr. Voy. de YAmer. Mer. Av. p. 196.
This species appears to have nearly the same range with the P. Tarnii: its southern limit certainly extends as far as 47° south, but northward, where the forests cease, near Concepcion, I was unable to ascertain that this bird is ever met with, and Kittlitz has made the same remark. In Chiloe, where it is com- mon, it is called by the Indian inhabitants the ‘“ Cheucau.” It frequents the most gloomy and retired spots within the damp forests. Sometimes, although the cry of the Cheucau is heard close by, a person may watch attentively and yet in vain; at other times, if he stands motionless, the red-breasted little bird will approach within a few feet, in the most familiar manner. It then busily hops about the entangled mass of rotting canes and branches, with its little tail cocked upwards. I opened the gizzard of several specimens ; it was very muscular, and contained hard seeds, buds of plants, occasionally some insects, and vegetable fibres mixed with small stones. The Cheucau is held in superstitious fear by the Chilotans, on account of its strange and varied cries. There are three very distinct kinds :—one is called “‘ chiduco,” and is an omen of good; another “ hui- treu,” which is extremely unfavourable; and a third, which I have forgotten. These words are given in imitation of its cries, and the natives are in some things absolutely governed by them. I have already stated that I was informed by the inhabitants that the Cheucau builds its nest amongst sticks close to the ground.
5. Preroprocuos parapoxus. G. R. Gray.
Troglodytes paradoxus, Kitél. Vog. von Chili, p. 12, pl. 5.—Jd. Mem. de l’Acad. St. Peters. 1833, i. pl. 5. Malacorhynchus Chilensis, Aitt/. Mem. de l’Acad. St. Peters. 1835, p. 527. Leptonyx paradoxus, D’Orb. Voy. de ! Amer. Mer. Av. p. 197.
This species differs in a small degree from all the others of the genus: its claws are longer, tarsi shorter, and bill flattened at the top: in these, and some other respects, it approaches to Scytalopus. I may add, that from a greater degree of resemblance, especially in the feet, P. Tarnii and megapodius may be ranked in one section, and P. albicollis and rubecula in another.
I procured specimens of the P. paradoxus both from Valdivia and Chiloe ; like the P. Tarnii and P. rubecula it is confined to the regions of forest. Its habits are closely similar to those of the last species. I opened the gizzard of one at Valdivia, and found it full of large seeds and the remnants of insects. In
L
74 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Chiloe, where it is much less common than the Cheucau, it is called by the inha- bitants Cheuqui. Kittlitz procured specimens from Concepcion. He describes the cry which it utters over and over again, in the same high tone, as very singular, and more like that of a frog than of a bird.
Scyratopus Maceuuanicus. G. R. Gray.
Sylvia Magellanica, Zath. Index, ii. p. 528.9 Forst. Dr. No. 163. 9 Scytalopus fuscus, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part iv. 1836, p. 39. $ Jard. and Selb, Mil. Orn. New Ser. pl. 19. ¢ Platyurus niger, Swains., Two Cent. and a Quarter, p. 323. g
This bird has a wider range than the species of the foregoing and closely allied genus. It is common near Port Famine in Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast in the thickly wooded islets of the Chonos Archipelago. I was assured by an intelligent collector that this bird is met with, though rarely, in central Chile; and Mr. Gould informs me, that he has received specimens from that country. It has found its way over to the Falkland Islands, where, instead of in- habiting forests, it frequents the coarse herbage and low bushes, which in most parts conceal the peaty surface of that island. In general appearance the Scy- talopus fuscus might at first be mistaken for a Troglodytes, but in habits it is closely allied to the several species of Pteroptochos. In a skulking manner, with its little tail erect, it hops about the most entangled parts of the forests of Tierra del Fuego; but when near the outskirts, it every now and then pops out, and then quickly back again. It utters many loud and strange cries: to obtain a good view of it is not always easy, and still less so to make it fly. A specimen I pro- cured at Chiloe had its upper mandible stronger and more arched, but differed in no other respect.
1. Troctopytes Macexuanicus. Gould. T. Magellanicus, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part iv. 1836, p. 88.
This bird has a considerable range. I procured specimens of it near Rio de Janeiro, on the banks of the Plata, throughout Patagonia, in Tierra del Fuego, where it is one of the commonest birds, and likewise in Central Chile: its habits resemble very closely those of the common Troglodytes of England. In the open country near Bahia Blanca it lived amongst the thickets and coarse herbage in the valleys; in Tierra del Fuego, in the outskirts of the forest. Its chirp is harsh. In Chile I saw one in October building its nest in a hole in a stone wall, in a situation such as would have been chosen by our Troglodytes.
Pee LET CT eee RP ee
BIRDS. 75
9. TROGLODYTES PLATENSIS. Gmel.
I procured specimens of this bird from Bahia Blanca, in Northern Patagonia, and likewise from the Falkland Islands, where it is not uncommon. When first killed, its legs and beak appear of larger size, compared to its body, than in other species of this genus. In the Falkland Islands it lives, almost exclusively, close to the ground, in the coarse grass which springs from the peaty soil. I do not think I ever saw a bird which, when it chose to remain concealed, was so difficult to disturb. I have frequently marked one down to within a yard on the open grassy plain, and afterwards have endeavoured; quite in vain, by walking back- wards and forwards, over the same spot, to obtain another sight of it.
1. SYNALLAXIS HUMICOLA. Kitil. S. humicola, Kittl. Mem. de l'Acad. St. Peters. i. pl. 6.—Jd. Vog. von Chili, p. 18, pl. vi.
Not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Valparaiso. Kittlitz has well de- scribed its habits. He says it lives on the ground under thickets, that it is active in running about, and that it readily flies from bush to bush. It holds its tail upright; utters a shrill, quickly reiterated cry; feeds on insects; but Kittlitz found in the stomach chiefly grains and berries, with little stones. From these circumstances, he conceives that this bird shews some affinity with Pteropto- chos, but I feel no doubt that in the form of its beak, wings, tail, manner of carrying the latter, kind of plumage, sound of voice and habits, the relationship is much closer with Eremobius, which perhaps it may be considered as represent- ing on the Pacific side of the Cordillera. Its tongue is furnished with bristly points, but apparently is less deeply bifid than in the other species of Synallaxis or Limnornis. J obtained both sexes, but there is no difference in their plumage.
For the reason just given, I have put this species at the head of its genus, and therefore nearest to Eremobius, although it is impossible to represent by a linear arrangement, the multiplied relations between the following genera— Furnarius, Uppucerthia, Opetiorhynchus, Eremobius, Anumbius, Synallaxis, Limnornis, Oxyurus; and again, Rhynomya, Pteroptochos, Scytalopus, and Troglodytes, which, with the exception of the last, are strictly South American forms.
76 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
2. SyNALLAxIs Masor. Gould. Pirate XXII.
S. olivaceo fuscus; infra fulvus albo distinct? maculatus ; plumis singulis stria ob- scura centrali notatis ; fronte rufo, remigibus fuscis, cinereo-fusco externée maculatis, tertiarus nigro fuscis apice margineque late cinereo-fuscis; guld albd, plumarum Slavescentium serie fusco maculatarum circumdatd.
Long. tot. 8 unc.; rost.1; alw, 31; caudw, 4; tarsi, 1.
Forehead rufous ; crown of the head, back of the neck and back olive brown, with a conspicuous stripe of blackish brown down the centre of each feather ; wing-coverts and lower part of the back olive brown, with a faint trace of the dark patch in the centre of each feather; primaries brown, margined exter- nally with greyish brown ; spurious wing and secondaries rufous tipped with brown ; tertiaries blackish brown broadly margined and tipped with greyish brown; two centre tail feathers dark olive brown; the remainder blackish brown largely tipped with white; throat white encircled with a series of feathers of a buff colour spotted with dark brown; breast and all the under surface tawny indistinctly blotched with white ; tarsi with a very pale blue tinge.
Habitat, Maldonado, north bank of La Plata. (June).
This bird is not very common. Those which I saw lived on the ground in dry and open places, and did not frequent the neighbourhood of lakes abounding with rushes or thickets, like the greater number of species of Synallaxis, and the allied genus Limnornis. The flight of this bird is peculiar, which seems chiefly due to the length of its elegantly acuminated tail. It sometimes alights and rests on the summit of a thistle or twig, a habit different from that of any species of the genus which I have seen, Its manner of living and feeding on the ground might have been suspected, from the length of the soft secondaries, like those of a lark or of Furnarius cunicularius. The claws also of the front toes are produced and perhaps they are rather straighter than in other members of the family. The tongue is bifid and divided into bristly points. The nest, of which I have seen two, is very peculiar. It is cylindrical, about two feet long, and placed vertically in the middle of a thick bush in an exposed situation. It is made externally of prickly branches, and is very large compared with the size of the bird. The opening is at the upper extremity, from which a passage leads to the true nest, which is lined with feathers and hairs. There is a slight bend in the passage both at its exit and where it enters the nest.
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Synilaas rajoguiaris
BIRDS. 77
3. SYNALLAXIS RUFOGULARIS. Gould.
Puate XXIII.
S. olivaceo fuscus plumis singulis maculd oblonga fusco nigra ; remigibus primarits secundariisque basi ferrugineo fuscis, apice nigro fuscis, flavescentt albo marginatis ; lined superciliari, mento abdomineque medio flavescenti albis ; guld ferrugineo fusca ; pectore fulvescenti fusco, plumis singulis strié pallidiore centrali ornatis.
Long. tot. 64 unc; rost. 2; alw, 3; cauda, 3}; tarsi, 1.
Head and all the upper surface and two centre tail feathers, brown, with a large ob- long patch of brownish black down the centre of each feather ; primaries, except the three outer ones, bounded posteriorly with an irregular line of black ; secon- daries, rusty brown at the base, and brown for the remainder of their length, margined all round with greyish olive ; lateral tail feathers brownish black, largely tipped with tawny white ; stripe from the nostrils over each eye, chin, and centre of the abdomen, pale buff; sides of the face and throat grey, with a spot of dark brown down the centre of each feather ; in the centre of the throat, a patch of ferruginous brown ; chest, pale brownish buff, with a fine pale stripe down each feather ; bill and feet brown.
Habitat, Patagonia. (Apri/.) Valparaiso. (September.)
These birds are not uncommon on the dry rocky mountains near Valparaiso, and in the valleys of southern Patagonia, where a few thickets grow. They hop actively about the withered herbage and low thickets, and often feed on the ground. The hind claw is weaker and straighter than in most of the other species of this genus.
4, SYNALLAXIS MALUROIDES. S. maluroides. D’Orb. § Lafr. Voy de Y Amer. Mer. Ois. pl. xiv, f. 2. Mag. de Zool. 1837, Cl. 11, pl. 22.
My specimens were shot near Maldonado. Iris yellow; tarsi very pale coloured.
This species, as well as some others of Synallaxis, Anumbius, and Limnornis, live amongst reeds and other aquatic plants on the borders of lakes, and have the same general habits. I will, therefore, here describe them. They all have the power of crawling very quickly by the aid of their powerful claws and feet, as I soon discovered when they were not killed at once, for then it was scarcely possible to catch them. Their soft tail-feathers show signs of being used, but they never apply them, as the Certhias do, as a means of supporting their bodies. The tail-feathers were (at least during June) so loosely attached, that I seldom procured a specimen with all of them perfect; and 1 saw many (especially of S. maluroides), flying about with no tail. All the species, or nearly all, utter an
78 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
acute, but not loud, rapidly reiterated cry. They are active and busily seek for small insects, chiefly Coleoptera, in the coarse herbage. The iris in all is rusty red; the tongue is divided and terminates in bristly points. These reed birds, which are very numerous both in species and individuals, on the borders of lakes in the provinces north of the Plata, appear to supply in South America, the various Sylvie, which frequent similar stations in Europe.
5. SYNALLAXIS FLAVOGULARIS. Gould. Plate XXIV.
S'. supra fuscescenti cinereus, infra cinereo-fuscus ; remigibus obscure fuscis, bast obscure rufis; caud@ plumis sex mediis nigro-fuscis, externis ferrugineis; genis guldque flavescentibus, plumis singulis apice obscure fuscis.
Long. tot. 63 unc; rost. 3; alw, 23; caudw, 33; tarsi, 3;
Head and all the upper surface, brown; primaries, dark brown, with the basal portions rufous ; six central tail-feathers, blackish brown ; the remainder fer- ruginous ; sides of the face and throat yellowish, with the tip of each feather dark brown; the remainder of the under surface, greyish brown; bill and feet, dark brown.
Habitat, Patagonia.
My specimens were obtained at Bahia Blanca and at Santa Cruz, two extreme parts of Patagonia. It frequents the thinly scattered thickets on the arid plains : the hind claw of its foot is not produced as in S. rufogularis, and it lives less on the ground.
6. SYNALLAXIS BRUNNEA. Grould.
S. pallide rubro fusca ; primariis secundariisque rufis apice fuscis ; caude plumis qua- tuor mediis nigrescenti fuscis, duabus proximis ferrugineo Juscis interne nigres- centi-marginatis, duabus extimis ferrugineo fuscis ; gents, guld abdomineque medio albescentibus ; hypochondriis cinerets.
Long. tot. 543 une. rost. fy; ale, 24% ; caude, % ; tarsi, +9.
Head and all the upper surface pale reddish brown; primaries and secondaries, brown at the tip and rufous at the base; four central tail feathers, blackish brown; the next on each side rusty brown, margined internally with black- ish brown; the two lateral feathers wholly rusty brown; sides of the face, throat, and centre of the abdomen, whitish ; flanks cinereous ; bill and feet brown.
Habitat, Port Desire, Patagonia. (January.)
synalaas flavogulares.
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BIRDS. 79
This little bird frequents the thickets in the dry valleys near Port Desire. It often flies from bush to bush, and its habits are nearly like those of the rest of the genus. From its tail feathers, however, being little used, and the tarsi being slightly elongated, I suppose it lives chiefly on the ground. I may observe, that this species comes nearest to S. flavogularis, but that in the form of its tail, straightness of bill, and kind of plumage, it departs from Synallaxis, and approaches Eremobius.
7. SYNALLAXIS EZGITHALOIDES. <Kitél. S. Egithaloides. Kittl. Mem. de l’Acad. 11. pl. vii—Vog. von Chili, p. 15, pl. vii.
This bird is common throughout Patagonia and Central Chile, being found wherever thickets grow on a rocky or dry soil. It sometimes moves about in small flocks. Its habits, as Kittlitz remarks, resemble in many respects, those of a titmouse (Parus); but there is one remarkable point of difference, namely, that this bird is able to run very quickly on the ground. It does not always do so, but often hops about with great activity ; nevertheless, I repeat, I have distinctly seen it running very quickly amongst the thickets. When hopping from twig to twig, it does not use its long tail, any more than the long-tailed titmouse (Parus cau- datus) of Europe. It utters a harsh, shrill, quickly reiterated cry, like so many other species of this genus and the allied ones. In Chile, I several times saw a very large cylindrical nest, built of prickly twigs of the mimosa, and placed in the middle of a thorn-bearing bush, with its mouth at the upper extremity ; I was assured by the country people, that although so very large, it belonged to this little bird.* This kind of nidification, the habit of feeding on the ground, and the length of acuminated tail, are points of resemblance with S. major.
8. SYNALLAXIS RUFICAPILLA. Veeill.
Synallaxis ruficapilla. Véiei//. Gal. des Ois. pl. Ixxiv. Parulus ruficeps. Spia. Av. Sp. Nov. tom. 1. p. 84, t. Ixxxvi. f. 1. m. f. 2. fem. Sphenura ruficeps. Licht. Ver. p. 42.
My specimens were obtained at Maldonado, (June) where it was rare, and at Buenos Ayres. Near Santa Fé, in Entre Rios, 3° northward, it was common : Spix found it near the Rio San Francisco in Brazil. Iris yellowish red ; legs with faint tinge of blue; tongue terminated in bristly points, not deeply bifid. This Synallaxis approaches in character Anumbius ruber. Habits similar to those of S. malurotdes.
* Molina, in his account of Chile, attributes this nest, I believe, through an error, to Mimus thenca.
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80 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
ANuMBIUS RUBER. D’Orb. and Lafr.
Anumbius ruber. D’Orb. & Laf. Mag de Zool, 1838, p. 18. Furarius ruber. Vieid/. Ency. Meth. 514. Anumbi rouge. Azara, No. 220.
Frequents reeds on the borders of lakes near Maldonado. Habits very similar to those of Synallaxis maluroides, and likewise of the two species of Lim- nornis ; to one of which L. curvirostris, it is most closely allied in structure. Iris bright yellowish orange ; tarsi, with faint tinge of blue; tongue divided on each side a little below the extreme point.
Genus.—LIMNORNIS. Gould.
Rostrum capitis longitudine seu longius, leviter a basi ad apicem arcuatum, lateraliter compressum, haud emarginatum ; naribus magnis basalibus linearibus apertis aut partim operculo tectis: ale brevissime rotunde, plumis quarta, quinta sextaque feré equalibus et longissimis; cauda rotundata et graduata, scapis aliquanto ultra radios productis ; tarsi mediocres, fortiter scutellati; halluce digito medio breviore, ro- busto, ungue robusto armato, digitis lateralibus fere equalibus, intermediis aliquanto brevioribus.
1. LimNornNIS RECTIROSTRIS. Gould.
Plate XXVI.
L. pallide flavescenti fusca; cervice nigrescenti fusco ; cauda rufa; tectricibus prima- ris secundariisque fuscis rufo late marginatis ; fascia pone oculos, guld abdomineque flavescenti albis ; hypochondriis fulvis.
Long. tot. 642, unc; rost. =, alw, 2.5 caude, 2-95 tarsi, =.
Crown of the head brown; the remainder of the upper surface, pale yellowish brown ; tail rufous and acutely pointed; wing coverts, primaries and secon- daries brown, broadly margined with rufous ; stripe behind the eye, throat, and all the under surface buffy white ; flanks tawny ; bill lengthened, orange at the base, dark brown at the tip; iris rusty red ; feet very pale coloured ; claws whitish.
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata. (June.)
This bird lives amongst the reeds on the borders of lakes. It often alights vertically on stems of plants, but in climbing does not use its tail: habits, gene- rally similar to those of Synallaxis maluroides.
LDivils. LE 20
Limnorvnis reckerostys. The Univ
Lrevds Ll: 28.
Limnorvnes CUurvivoslres
BIRDS. 81
2. Limnornis cuRVIROSTRIS. Gould.
Piatt XXV.
L. rufescenti-fusca ; caudd, remigiumque basibus pallide castaneo-fuscis, lined superci- liari, genis, guld abdomineque albis ; hypochondriis cervino tinctis.
Long. tot. 7 unc., rost. 13; ale, 2-8;; caude, 84,3 tarsi, 19,
Head, all the upper surface, and wings reddish brown ; tail and basal portion of the outer margins of the primaries and secondaries reddish chesnut brown ; stripe over the eye, throat, and all the under surface white, tinged, especially on the flanks, with fawn colour ; bill orange at the base, the tip brown ; legs pale bluish ; claws white ; tongue bristled on the sides; near the extremity it is divided into little bristly points.
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata. (June.)
This species frequents the same localities with the last, and [am unable to point out any difference in its habits. Of the two specimens collected, the beak of one is very nearly one-tenth of an inch longer than that of the other; but this is almost wholly due to the sharp point of the upper mandible projecting beyond the lower mandible in the one, whereas they are nearly equal in the other.
1. Oxyurus TUPINIERI. Gould.
Synallaxis tupinieri. Less. Zool. de la Coqu. pl. 29. f. 1. Oxyurus ornatus. Swains, 2 Cent. and 4. p. 324.
This bird is perhaps the most abundant of any land species inhabiting Tierra del Fuego. It is common along the west coast, (and numerous in Chiloe,) even as far north as a degree south of Valparaiso ; but the dry country and stunted woods of central Chile are not favourable to its increase. In the dark forests of Tierra del Fuego, both high up and low down, in the most gloomy, wet, and scarcely penetrable ravines, this little bird may be met with. No doubt, it appears more common than it really is, from its habit of following, with seeming curiosity, every person who enters these silent woods; continually uttering a harsh twitter, it flutters from tree to tree, within a few feet of the intruder’s face. It is far from wishing for the modest concealment of the creeper (Certhia familiaris) ; nor does it, like that bird, run up the trunks of trees, but industriously, after the manner of a willow wren, hops about and searches for insects on every twig and branch.
82 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
2. OxyuRus? porso-macuLATUS. Gould.
Synallaxis dorso-maculata. D’Orb. and Lafr. Voy. del Amer. Mer. Ois. pl. 14. f. 1. Mag. de Zool. 1837, Cl. 11. p. 21.
My specimen was procured from Maldonado, (June), where it was not common. It frequents the same localities with Synallavis maluroides, and the two species of Limnornis, and has very similar habits with them. In structure, and in the general shade of its plumage, it is closely allied to the foregoing species, although differing from it in habits.
Grenus.—DENDRODRAMUS. Gould.
Rostrum capitis longitudine, aut longius, culmine recto, gonide ascendente, per omnes partes lateraliter compressum, durum et apice inemarginatum, naribus basalibus lon- Sttudinalibusque ; ale mediocres et subacuminate, plumis tertia, quarta et quinta a@qualibus longissimisque; cauda mediocris, scapis ultra radios in spinas acutas pro- ductis ; tarsi sub-breves, digitis unguibusque longis, his multum curvatis, digito externo valido et fere digitt medii longitudine, digitis lateralibus inequalibus, internis multum brevioribus.
DENDRODRAMUS LEUCOSTERNUs. Gould. Plate XX VII.
D. capite, dorsi parte superiore alisque nigrescenti fuscis, rubro-tinctis ; primariis secundariisque subferrugineo fusco irregulariter marginatis, uropygio cauddque nitide ferrugineis, guld pectoreque albis, abdomine medio rufescenti Susco, singulis plunis ad apicem maculd magné ovali albé; hypochondriis saturate rufis ; rostro bast corneo, apice pedibusque nigro fuscis.
T 3. . , 1. . J 9. , _9 Long. tot. 63; unc. ; rostri, 141,; ale, 8; caude, 2-95; tarsi, 5.
Head, upper part of the back and wings blackish brown, tinged with red; pri-
maries and secondaries irregularly margined with dull rusty brown; rump —
and tail rich ferruginous; throat and chest white ; feathers of the centre of the abdomen reddish brown, with a large oval spot of white near the tip of each feather ; flanks deep rufous; bill horny at the base, the remainder and the feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Chiloe and Southern Chile.
This bird is common in the forests of Chiloe, where, differently from the Oxy- urus tupimert, it may constantly be seen running up the trunks of the lofty forest
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Lendrodranits leicost#nus
BIRDS, 83
trees. Its manners appeared to me to resemble those of Certhia familiaris. 1 found Coleopterous insects in its stomach. Its range does not appear to be extensive ; Chiloe to the south, and some woods near Rancagua (a degree south of Valparaiso) were the extreme points where I met with it. The Dendrodramus is not found in Tierra del Fuego, where the O. tupiniert is so numerous. Mr. G. R. Gray remarks that this genus is very nearly allied to Dendroplex of Mr. Swainson.
Famity.—S YLVIAD &. Sus-Fam.—MOTACILLIN A.
1. MuscisaxicoLa MENTALIS. D’Orb. § La/r.
M. mentalis, D’Orb. § Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 66. Voy. dans l’Amer. Mer. Ornith. pl. 40, f. 1.
I procured specimens of this bird from Bahia Blanca, in Northern Patagonia, from Tierra del Fuego, from Chiloe, and from Central and Northern Chile. It is everywhere common. It frequents open places; so that in the wooded countries it lives entirely on the sea-beaches, or near the summits of mountains, where trees do not grow. In the excessively sterile upper valleys of the Cordillera of Northern Chile I met with this bird, even at a height of little less than ten thousand feet, where the last traces of vegetation occur, and where no other bird lives. It gene- rally moves about in very small flocks, and frequents rocky streams and marshy ground: it hops and flies from stone to stone, very much after the manner of our whinchat (Motacilla rubetra), but when alighting it frequently expands its tail like a fan. The sexes are exactly similar in size and plumage.
Mr. G. R. Gray observes, that the genus Muscisaxicola is probably synony- mous with Lessonia of Mr. Swainson; but the latter name cannot be used, as it has already been twice employed in other branches of Natural History.
2. MuscisaxicoLa MAcLtoviana. G. R. Gray.
Sylvia macloviana, Garn. Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. p. 663. Curruca macloviana, Less.
I brought home only one specimen of this bird; it came from East Falkland Island, whence also those described by Messrs. Lesson and Garnot were procured. Mr. Gould considered it a distinct species, but having carefully compared it with M. mentalis, 1 can see not the smallest difference in any point, excepting that it
)
84 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
is somewhat larger in all its dimensions. The length of the whole body is .6 of an inch greater, of wing when folded .45, of tarsus .2, greater than in the forego- ing species. I can scarcely hesitate in thinking it a large-sized local variety, from some favourable condition in the Falkland Islands to its growth.
3. MuscisAxICOLA BRUNNEA. Gould.
M. griseo-fusca; gutture abdomineque albis flavescenti tinctis, pectore obscuro ; alis cauddque obscure fuscis, singulis plumis rufescenti fusco marginatis ; rectricum ex- ternarum radiis lateralibus flavescentibus.
Long. tot. 5 unc.; rostri, 44; ale, 83; caude, 24; tarsi, 1.
Head, and all the upper surface greyish brown ; wings and tail dark brown, each feather margined with reddish brown; the outer webs of the external tail feathers buffy white; throat and all the under surface white, slightly tinged with buff; bill and feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Port St. Julian, Patagonia. (January).
The only specimen I procured was immature.
4. Muscisaxtcota nicRA. G. R. Gray.
Alauda nigra, Boddater.
rufa, Gmel.
fulva, Lath. Index.
Anthus fulvus, Vieil/. Ency. Meth. p. 309.
variegatus, Gerv. § Hydoux, Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 26. Sylvia dorsalis, King.
Lessonia erythronotus, Svcains. Class. of Birds. Alouette noire 4 dos fauve, PJ. enl. 738. L’Alouette a dos rouge, Azara, No. 149.
This bird has a wide geographical range. It is found in La Plata, Pata- gonia, Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast at least as far north as the valley of Copiapé, in Northern Chile. It is every where common : it is a quiet, tame, inoffensive little bird : it lives on the ground, and frequents sand-dunes, beaches, and rocky coasts, which it seldom leaves : the broad shingly beds of the rivers in Chile have, however, tempted it inland, together with the Opetiorhynchus. I was told that it builds in low bushes.
BIRDS. 85
1. ANTHUS CORRENDERA. Veeill.
Anthus correndera, Vieidl. Ency. Meth. i. p. 325. La correndera, Azara, No. 145.
This titlark is found in La Plata, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. I was informed by an intelligent sealer, that it is the only land-bird on Georgia and South Orkney (lat. 61°S.): it has, therefore, probably a further range southward than any other land-bird in the southern hemisphere. It does not live in flocks, is very common, and resembles a true Alauda in most of its habits. This species (as well as the following) is so closely allied to our meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis, that Latham considered it only as a variety ; the latter has a high northern range, as
the former has a southern one. There can be little doubt that the bird alluded to”
by Mr. Yarrell (British Birds, p. 392, vol. i.) as having been caught in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, nine hundred miles from Georgia, was this species, which was mistaken, owing to its close similarity, for the true Anthus pratensis.
2. Antuus FurcATUS. D’Orb. & Lafr. A. furcatus, D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 27. Voy. de Amer. Mer. Av. p. 227.
My specimens were procured on the northern bank of the Plata. It is more common there than the foregoing species, to which it is most closely allied: its chief distinguishing character appears to be the greater shortness of its toes and of the hind claw. I have seen this species alight on twigs. In the breeding season it flies upward, and then falls to the ground, with raised wings, in the peculiar manner common to the Anthus arboreus of England. It builds on the ground ; nest simple; egg 49 of an inch in length, and .j, in width; colour dirty white, with small specks and blotches of dull red and obscurer ones of purple. This species, both in habits and structure, appears to be an analogue of A. arboreus of the northern hemisphere, as A. correndera is of A. pratensis. Mr. Yarrell informs me that the egg of Anthus furcatus is very different from that of A. arboreus, although the parent birds are so similar.
3. Anruus Cur. Licht.
A. Chii, Licht. Spix. Av. Sp. No. i. t. Ixxvi. fig. 2, p. 75. Le Chii, Azara, No. 146.
My specimen was procured at Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
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86 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
SYLVICOLA AUREOLA. Gould. Prats XXVIII.
S. supra flavescenti olivacea ; fronte cerviceque nitide flavis, singulis plumis ad apicem rufescenti castaneis ; occipite griseo; alis cauddque nigrescentibus, late flavo-margi- natis; genis guttureque nitide flavis ; pectore concolori sed singulis plumis in medio pallidé castaneo notatis ; abdomine albescenti.
. , 8. Gs 3B. ick Long. tot. 5 unc.; rostri, -8, ; ale, 247 3 caudw, 235; tarsi, 19,
The nape of the neck, back and tail-coverts yellowish olive ; the wings and tail blackish, broadly margined with yellow; the front and crown yellow, with the tips of the feathers reddish castaneous ; the hind head grey mixed with yellow, the cheeks and the throat bright yellow; the breast of the same colour, but each feather is marked down the middle with pale reddish casta- neous, the sides and middle of the abdomen whitish.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (September).
This bird is not uncommon on these islands. It has the habits of our Sylvie. It frequents the thickets in the lower, dry and rocky parts of the island, and especially a peculiar bush, with thick foliage, which grows only near the sea- coast.
CYANOTIS OMNICOLOR. Sains.
Regulus omnicolor, Vieil/. Gal. pl. 166. Sylvia rubrigastra, Vied//.
Regulus Byronensis, Gray, Griff. An. King. pl. Tachuris omnicolor, D’Orb. § Lafr.
Tachuris roi, Azara, No. 161.
My specimens were obtained at Maldonado in June, and therefore probably it is not a bird of passage. It frequented reeds on the borders of a lake, but was exceedingly rare. I likewise saw one in Northern Patagonia, and in a collection of birds at Santiago, in Chile, made there by an inhabitant of the place. The soles of the feet of this exquisitely beautiful little bird are bright orange.
Burds Ll 28.
Sybrcola areola
BIRDS. 87
TricHas vELATA. G. R. Gray.
Sylvia velata, Vieil/. Ois. de ’ Amer. Sept. ii. pl. 74. DOrb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 20.
Tanagra canicapilla, Seains. Ill. Orn. pl. 174.
Trichas canicapilla, Szwains.
My specimen was procured at Maldonado in June.
Famity.—FRINGILLID~.
Sus-Fam.—ALAUDINA. MeELANocoryPHA CINCTURA. Gould.
M. Fem. fuscescenti rufa; gulé abdomineque medio pallidioribus ; remigibus ad apicem nigrescenti fuscis ; rectricibus singulis maculd albd ovatd nigrescenti fusca ad apicem notatis.
Long. tot. 52 une. ; alw, 31; caude, 24; tarsi, 3; rost. 4.
The whole of the plumage, bill, and feet, sandy rufous brown, which is lightest on the throat and centre of the abdomen; primaries near their extremities pass- ing into blackish-brown; and each of the tail feathers with a large oval spot of blackish-brown near the tip.
Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands. (September.)
This bird inhabits the most arid plains of lava; it runs, and in its habits resem- bles, in many respects, a lark.
PyRRHALAUDA NIGRICEPS. Gould.
P. supra fuscescenti alba, plumis medio obscurioribus ; fronte, genis linedque pectoris utringue albis ; corpore infra linedque @ basi rostri supra oculos ad occiput transiente mgris; caude plumis mediis nigrescentibus fuscescentt albo marginatis, plumis externis atris.
Long. tot. 43 unc., alw, 25 ; caudw, 18; tarsi, -6,; ‘rost. +4.
Upper surface brownish-white, with the middle of the feathers darker ; the front, cheeks, and a line on each side of the breast white; beneath the body, and a line from the bill passing over the eyes to the hind head, black; the tail with the middle feathers blackish, margined with brownish-white, the outer feathers deep black ; the bill and feet pale.
88 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands. (September and January.)
Like the last species, this bird inhabits sterile Java plains; it runs like a lark, and generally goes in small flocks.
Sus-Fam.—_PYRRHULIN &. SPpERMOPHILA NIGROGULARIS. Gould.
S. capite corporeque supra, alis cauddque fusco cinereis ; loris guldque nigris ; lineis a rostri angulis per collum utrinque descendentibus, pectore abdomineque medits, teg'mi- nibusque caudalibus inferioribus cinereo albis.