USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 1 > Part 42
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The accounts which are given of the number of pigeons in the uncultivated country, will appear almost incredible to those who have never seen their nests. Sometimes they occupy se- veral hundred acres with their nests. Twenty, and even thirty nests have been counted on one tree.
The turtle dove is some smaller than the pigeon. They come late in the spring, and depart early in autumn. They go in pairs, and are never seen in flocks. It is a timersome, and solitary bird, usually keeping in woods and thickets. The voice of the male is soft, plaintive, and impressive. They seldom ven- ture into the fields. The dove, from time immemorial, has been an emblem of innocence.
The domestic pigeon was originally imported from Europe. This bird, has not, as we have yet learned, returned to a state of nature. In the old world, they are migratory, like the wild pigeon. In Egypt and Persia, they are reared in great num- bers, and among good farmers, constitute a part of the estab- lishment.
The snow bird is rather larger than the wren. It is of a bluish grey colour, with some white and black on its head, wings, tail and belly. They usually go in pairs in summer, and small flocks in winter. They inhabit the most gloomy recesses of the forest. The snow bird continues with us all the year.
The yellow bird, so called from its colour, remains here all the year. On the approach of winter, its colour changes to a light grey. In summer they are yellow, with some black on their wings, back and tail The plumage of the male has a "higher and richer colour than that of the female. In summer they are seen in pairs, and in winter in flocks.
There are three kiuds, they build their nests in bushes, thick- ets, &c. In general, these birds choose the inhabited country.
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They are distinguished by the names, yellow bird, gold finch, or lettuce bird, lesser gold finch, and least gold finch.
The blue bird is migratory. It makes its appearance early in spring, and its departure late in autumn. In size, it does not vary much from that of the house swallow. . They go in pairs, and prefer the cleared lands. Its plumage, except the breast, which is red, is mostly blue, whence its name. In spring, its warbling notes add.much to the beauty of the land- scap. They build their nests in thickets and coppices. The brood consist of four or five-they remain with their parents during the season. These birds, it appears, have increased in numbers with the improvements.
Sparrows-There is the winter sparrow, the red fox colour- ed, ground, or hedge sparrow, and the large brown white throated sparrow.
. There are three kinds of chipping birds which belong to the sparrow family-they are less than the blue bird. Their colour is mottled, the ground being grey, intermixed with brown and white. They are birds of passage, appearing just after the snow has gone off.
The largest approaches in size to the blue bird. Its notes 1 , are melodious. The others are nearly of the same colour.
The wren is a bird of passage-in size it ranks among our smallest birds. The colour of its head, neck, back, wings and tail, is brown, and its breast and belly grey. They go in pairs, and build their nest in the hollow of some tree-the brood consists of four or five ; they live on flies, insects, &c. In spring they appear very soon after the snow has gone off.
The same fabulous stories have been propogated about the torpidity of the wren, that have been about the swallow, but they appear too absurd to require refutation-like other birds of delicate habits, the wren, on the approach of cold in autumn. retires to the south, to climes adapted to its nature. The wren, in spring, is sprightly, gay and musical. Its notes are harsh, and not very pleasing.
The cat bird is somewhat smaller than the robbin. . Its col- VOL. I.
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our is like that of slate, or a dark mouse colour, except the. . vent feathers, which are red. In form it resembles the robbin, . ouly its tail is longer in proportion to its size-they go in pairs, and dwell in thickets. They, like most other birds, prefer a re- sidence adjoining to a field. The periods of its arrival and de- parture, are April and September. The same couple return iu succession, to the same place, and build their nest on the same bush or tree, nay, in the same place, for years-the young amount to three or four ; the notes of the cat bird are harsh, and devoid of sweetness.
The red bird is the most beautiful bird that adorns our land- scapes. It is less than the cat bird. Its plumage is a deep red, except some black on its wings. They are seen in pairs-they are migratory, arriving late in the spring, and departing early in autumn. It builds its nest on the extremity of the bough of Some tree with a thick top. The melody of its notes do not correspond with the exquisite beauty of its plumage.
The whipporwell is a very singular bird ; it comes in May. and departs in September-we aver this, because it is never heard before or after those periods. Its voice is loud, shrill, and somewhat like a whistle. It is a nocturnal bird, and but rarely seen. The general opinion is, that it is the same bird which is called the night hawk : this opinion, we think, not to be well founded. The night hawk is frequently seen by day, flying for hours. and not always solitary, or even in pairs, but but by dozens, especially before storms. The whipporwell is heard alone, or at most, only in pairs, and these so distant, that it is seldom that we hear two in different directions. If the night hawk be the whipporwell, we ought to hear a dozen or twenty at once, in different directions, because the numbers would warrant this.
The night hawk is a dark brown bird, with white spots on its wings ; its head is large, its neck short and thick, its wings long, and tail moderately short-its legs are also short : when it flies, its movements, in some respects, resemble the chicken hawk. In size it nearly corresponds with that bird, but its wings are considerably longer. It sails and dives, but in both, it is
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much less regular, none of its movements being so graceful as those of the liawk. It is occasionally seen upon trees and fences during the day.
The boblincoln is a beautiful bird, of a small size-its plum- age is black, with some white on its. wings ; they go in pairs while here-they come in April or May, and go away in Sep- tember.
The phebe bird comes in spring and departs in fall. It is about as large as the chipping bird, already described by us.
The red fox coloured sparrow, and the large brown white throated sparrow, are also birds of passage ; they come late in spring and depart early in autumn-they dwell in thickets and woods filled with under brush-they live in pairs, and are rare- ly seen in the openings.
. The stork is nearly, or quite of the dimensions of a turkey, and of a white colour. It dwells in various parts of North America, avoiding the extremes of heat and cold. It inhabits, our coasts. It is a bird of passage, leaving our coasts in au- tumn for more southern latitudes, and returning in spring. They are seen in pairs and flocks. In their migrations they assemble in great numbers. It is supposed that they have an- nually two broods, the first towards the north, and the latter to- wards the south. The female lays from two to four eggs. 'The young are hatched in a month ; the male and female watch them by turns, till they can provide for themselves. The stork's food consists of snakes, and other reptiles, &c. hence the ven- eration of the ancients for this bird.
The little white heron comes in the spring, from the south, and returns in autumn. It is seen about New-York, Long Island, Staten Island, &c. Its length, when full grown, is nearly two feet. The body is entirely white ; the occiput crest- ed; the plumage of the upper part of the back is elougated and silky ; the bill black; the toes and legs greenish. It has a tuft of very slender and glossy feathers on the under part of the neck. The iris is a bright yellow.
The great white river heron arrives in the spring, from the south, and returns in autumn. The head is crested ; the occiput,
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or hinder part of the head and back, is a black green ; the ab- domen, a yellowish white. Its length is about twenty inches, and the extent of its wings about three feet two inches. At night, when it goes abroad in quest of food, it utters a very disagreeable croaking noise, resembling the straining of a per- son in the act of vomiting. During the day it conceals itself among reeds, trees, rocks, &c. It inhabits that part of Amer- ica, between Hudson's bay and Louisiana. The female con- structs her nest on the ground, among bushes and rush grass.
The grey white crested heron is a bird of passage. It comes in spring from the south, and returns again in autumn. The full grown male measures about two feet four inches in length, and three feet ten inches in extent of wing. The plumage is testaceous, with transverse spots above, paler, with oblong spots beneath. It is a shy, solitary bird, usually living among the reeds and rushes of marshes. When caught, it evinces to de- fend itself with great resolution. Its bill is its chief weapon of defence.
The green bittern, shite poke, or skouk, is of a slate black co- lour. It lives along rivers and streams, and around lakes and ponds. It arrives in spring and departs in autumn. Its length is about sixteen inches, and its breadth about twenty-two. The bill is large, the head of moderate size, the neck long, the body small, the wings are large, and the legs small. It lives on fish, which it catches by plunging into the water. They are not gregarious. Its tail is very short.
'T'he wood snipe inhabits woods and woody places. It is a bird of passage.
The meadow snipe resides in marshes, meadows and other low situations. It is migratory coming in spring and departing in fall.
The wild swan measures five feet in length, and above seven in breadth, and weighs from thirteen to twenty pounds. The bill is about three inches long, and of a yellowish white ; from the base to the middle, and thence to the tip, it is black ; the · bare space, fro:n the bill, over the eye and eye-lids, is yellow : the whole plumage, in adult birds, is of a pure white, and next
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to the skin, they are clothed with a thick fine down : the legs are black. - The species generally keeps together in small flocks, or families, except in the pairing season, and at the setting in of winter. At the latter season they assemble in large flocks, particularly in the northern parts of America. But when the cold becomes excessive, they shape their course to the south, in small flocks, in search of milder climes. In such seasons they are seen in some parts of this State. They do not, however, re- main longer than the approach of the spring, when they again retire northward, towards, and at the arctic regions, to breed. A few, we believe, stop short, and perform that office by the way, for they are occasionally seen round the lakes in the nor- thern forest, lying between the Mohawk and St. Lawrence rivers.
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. Great numbers are seen in the rivers and lakes, near Hud- son's bay. They are said to return to the latter place in flocks of about one hundred at a time, in the spring.
The natives kill the young in August, when they are in moult, and unable to fly. The flesh is highly esteemed, as are . also the eggs. The Indians dress their skins with the down on, sew them together, and make them into garments of various kinds : they sometimes weave the down, and then manufacture it into ornamental dresses for the women.
The voice of the swan, singly, is shrill, piercing, and harsh, not unlike the sound of a clarionet when blown by a novice in music.
Swans feed on grass and weeds, and the seeds and roots of plants, which grow on the margins of the water-on insects, which skim over or float on the surface -- and also on small fish.
Swans are occasionally seen in spring, on the Mohawk, on Seneca and Cayuga lakes, &c. Within two years several were shot near Whitesborough, in Oneida county.
The wild goose is another species of the same genus. In some countries it has been reclaimed from a state of nature, and domesticated. It breeds, and is as familiar as the common goose. 'The form and size are analogous to the domestic goose. Its neck, head, and legs are, however, longer, and its body and
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wings more slender. The colour is cinerous, or an ash grey ;. the head and neck are black ; the cheeks and chin are white; also the vent and tail covert feathers.
The vernal flight of wild geese lasts from the latter part of March, or the beginning of April, to the first of May. Their first appearance coincides with the dissolution of the snow, the thawing of the ground, and the breaking up of the rivers, &c. The autumnal, or the season of their return with their young, is from the middle or latter part of September, to the last of Oc- tober, or the first of November: Very few of these animals re- main during the summer with us; and these few live in the for- est, between the Mohawk and St. Lawrence. Those usually seen seldom light, being bound either for the regions about Hudson's bay, or those regions lying to the south. At times, however, they halt at some of our rivers, ponds and lakes, and make a short stay. In their journeys, whether to the north or south, they go in small flocks. These flocks, whether large or small, form themselves into a kind of triangle, and are preceded by a leader, whose station is at the very point or angle, and who always goes foremost. They usually fly very high. They have considerable celerity, and can support theniselves for a long time in the air.
The natives around Hudson's bay, yearly kill great numbers, and lay them up for their winter food.
The wild and tame geese breed together. The offspring, however, is hybrid, and from its barrenness, affords unquestion- able evidence of the distinctness of these two species.
The brent goose is brown ; the head, breast and neck are black ; the latter with a lateral white spot ; the tail coverts and vent are white. They abound on the sea coast in autumn. It is considered by Mr. Wilson, as the same with the barnacle goose. It weighs about five pounds, and measures more than two feet in length, and nearly four and a-half in breadth.
The eider duck is of a size between the goose and domestic duck, and appears to be one of the graduated links of the chain which connects the two kinds. The full grown old males generally measure about two feet two inches in length), and
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two feet eight inches in breadth, and weigh from six to above seven pounds. The female is nearly of the same shape, though less than the male, weighing only between five and six pounds; but her plumage is quite different, the ground colour being of a reddish brown, prettily crossed with waved black Tues ; and in some specimens the neck, breast and belly are tinged with ash ; the wings are crossed with two bars of white ; the quills are dark ; the neck is marked with longitudinal dusky streaks; and the belly is deep brown, spotted obscurely with black. The eider duck lays from three to five large, smooth, pale, olive-coloured eggs. They keep together in small flocks, in the open parts of the sea, adjoining the State fishing, in quest of shell fish, and other food ; and when they have satisfied themselves they retire to the shore, whither they at all times repair for shelter, on the approach of a storm. 'The eider duck is found south and north of the State. The great body of these birds, however, constantly resides in the remote north- ern climates.
The scaup duck, or blue bill, is only met with on our shores during winter. In spring it repairs to Hudson's bay, and other cold regions. It is about eighteen inches in length, and thirty in breadth. The bill is broad and flat, more than two inches long, from the corners of the mouth to the tip, and of a fine · pale blue, or lead colour, with the nail black ; the irides are a bright deep yellow ; the head and the upper half of the neck are black, glossed with green ; the lower part of the latter and the breast are of a sleek plain black ; the throat, rump, upper and under coverts of the tail, and part of the thighs, are of the same colour, but dull, and more inclining to brown. The tail, when spread out, is fan-shaped, and consists of four- teen short brown feathers. The legs are short; the toes are long, and as well as the outer, or lateral webs of the inner toes, are of a dirty pale blue colour ; all the joints, and the rest of the webs are dusky. These birds are said to vary greatly in their plumage as well as size.
The golden eye is about eighteen inches in length, and about thirty in breadth. The weight varies from one pound
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and a-half to two pounds. They are frequent in the waters of this and the other Fredish States during the winter, and take their departure northward in the spring. They are excellent divers, and seldom set foot on the shore, except in the breed- ing season. . 'These birds do not congregate in large flocks ; they are varied with black and white ; the head is tumid and violet ; at each corner of the mouth there is a white spot.'
The shell drake is found in the waters of this State. There are several species. It is very common in those parts of Ame- rica, situated in higher latitudes. The bill is serrated, slender and hooked at the point ; the nostrils are small, oval, and near the middle of the bill ; the feet are fore toed, the outer one before, longer than the middle one.
Some of the' species weigh from three and a-half to four pounds, and are from twenty-four to twenty-eight inches long. They fly near the surface of the water, and with great appar- ent vigour. They subsist mostly on fish.
The wild duck, or mallard, is of a cinerous colour ; the middle tail feathers of the male arc recurved; the bill is straight ; the collar is white. Its length is about twenty-two in- ches ; the extent of its wings about two feet ten inches, and weight about two pounds and a-half. The female is of a more somber brown hue, as are the young males before the first moult. But as there are several varieties, it is not easy to give a de- scription applicable to all. They, in general, migrate to the north in the spring, and return southward in autumn. They frequent Jakes, ponds, rivers and 'marshes-lakes Ontario and Seneca, as they never freeze, subsist myriads in winter, espe- cially the first. At times the bays and coves teem with them. Wild ducks are naturally very shy, and are with difficulty taken. The female has six, seven, or eight at a brood. They swim with grace and elegance. It is interesting to see them sporting and swimming on the rapids above Niagara Falls, and even descending one-third, or half-way down the cataract, and then flying down the chasm, or mounting above. The wild duck is susceptible of domestication, but when kept at a dis- tance from running or standing water, degenerates in strength,
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beauty and flavour. They feed on animal and vegetable sub- stances.
The wood duck is nearly of the size of the common domestic duck. It inhabits various parts of the State. The species are not numerous. It migrates in autumn to the south, and returns in spring. These ducks abound in the countries around the Chesapeake bay.
The loon is found in the lakes and ponds in the northern parts of the State. It will swim under the water one hundred yards, and is caught with extreme difficulty. It is about three feet and a-half in length, and weighs fourteen or fifteen pounds. It keeps most of the time in the water. In autumn they pass to the south. They inhabit on the borders of the ocean, as well as the lakes. They subsist on fish, &c. The bill is toothless, subulate, straight and pointed ; the nostrils are linear.
The Gull-Several species inhabit the waters of this State, such as the great white gull, the great grey gull, the little white river gull, the mackerel gull, the fishing gull, &c. The birds of this genus are found in almost every maritime country. Flocks of them resort to the shores of the ocean and lakes, in pursuit of fish. In the winter, when the shores of Lake On- tario are ice bound, hundreds repair to the Falls of Niagara, where they find abundance of fish, that have been killed in descending the rapids and falls. Gulls, though frequently on the wing, occasionally repose either on the surface of the water, or on the shore. They breed among the rocks or downs ; and some of the smaller species, in meadows and grounds ad- jacent to the ocean or streams. They are qualified for easy, rapid and extensive flight. The flesh, of most of them, is fishy, tough and repulsive.
Black backed gull, great black and white, or great black backed gull. This is the largest species of the genus, weighing nearly five pounds, and measuring about thirty inches in length. It is often seen on our coast. In very cold weather they con- gregate in small flocks. The shoulders are slate black, the legs white ; the length of the tarsus nearly three inches ; the folded wings stretch a little beyond the tail ; the quill feathers VOL. I.
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are black towards the end, but tipped with white. It lives mostly on fish. It is very ravenous.
The mackerel gull is found in the marshes and fens on the coast, and along the borders of the ocean. The mantle is a clear cinerous colour. There is a large white space on the middle of the primary quills. The length of the tarsus is one inch and eight lines. Its length is fourteen or fifteen inches. In different countries it has different names, such as the laugh- ing, black headed, or pewit gull, &c.
The fishing gull seems to belong to a different genus. The number of species exceed twenty-five, but only a few inhabit our waters.
Generic character of the gull .- The bill is straight, pointed and slender ; the nostrils are linear; the tongue slender and pointed ; the wings are very long; the back toe is very small ; and the tail forked. They live on fish, insects, &c. They sometimes dart upon their prey from a considerable height, and at other times skim the surface of the water in the manner of a swallow.
They dwell on the sea coast, and along lakes and rivers.
Alca-The water hen is found on the coast. They come in March or April, and depart in August or September.
The water hen inhabits the ocean bordering upon this State, and thence northerly. They are sometimes seen in large flocks. The bill is compressed and two edged ; the upper mandible has three grooves, and the lower two ; the orbits and temples are white, the upper eye-lids are daggered, or furnished with a point- ed callus. The male and female have the crown of the head, all the upper parts, and a broad collar, deep and glossy black ; the quill feathers, dusky brown ; the breast, belly and lower parts, . pure white. The bill, which imparts such an air or appearance of novelty to this bird, varies considerably according to age; for in the first year it is small, weak, destitute of any furrow or sulcus, and dusky ; in the second year, it is larger, stronger, of a paler colour, and, discovers a faint vestige of a sulcus near the base ; but in the third, and more advanced years, it exhibits great strength and vivid colours. The water hen is about one
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foot in length; the extent of the wings about twenty-one inches, and weight about twelve ounces. They rise with great diffi- culty ; but when once they get wind, they fly very well. They are sometimes driven ashore by sudden gusts of wind, and then they are easily taken. They deposite their eggs in holes, where the soil is light ; but where the coast is abrupt, they lay them in holes and crevices iu the rocks. The flesh of the old bird is rank and fishy ; but the young ones, which are seized before they are quite fledged, are much relished by some.
The crane is about five feet in length, and about six feet in breadth, and weighs nine or ten pounds.
The bill is about three inches and a-half long, straight, and . of a blackish colour ; the crown of the head is covered with soft black feathers like velvet.
The colour of this bird is a slaty black. The neck is long and slender ; the body is small, the wings are long and large ; the tail moderately short ; the legs and thighs long and small. Upon the whole, it is an uncommonly tall, slender bird. When walking it appears to be going upon stilts. It is slow in getting upon the wing, and is rather a clumsy flyer. The crane dwells round lakes, ponds, and mill dams, and along rivers, prefering marshy places. They are shy and not easily approached. They are usually seen in pairs. They build their nests on the ground, near the water. The number of the young are said to be two or three. Their food is fish, insects, &c. Cranes are migratory, arriving in April or May, and departing in Septem- ber or October .*
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