[192]

(1) 43

Vol. 1. Audubon's Ornithological Biography 1831

p. 4 & 13 wild turkey-males fight together & attract hens by display of beauty & gobbling & strutting, but it seems hens also court the males. The wild sometimes court the domestic hens "& are generally received by them with great pleasure". Yet illicit intercourse

p. 36 Quiscalus versicolor Each male "having by assiduity, valour, or good fortune secured a faithful mate".

p. 30 do. In N. States forms a much larger nest than in the Southern States, & instead of being placed by itself, is associated often with a dozen other nests.

p. 68 Icterus-Baltimore. In the south states the nest contains no warming substances & is very open, & is placed on the N. E. side

[193]

(2) vol. 1

of trees. In New York they use the warmest & softest materials & are placed in the Sunniest situation. He has often observed this difference.

p. 85 Falco peregrinus. Of late years has greatly increased in numbers. Can give no explanation of fact.

p. 110. Turdus polyglottus remains in Louisiana the whole year, but those which migrate to the N. E. States, on their return in Autumn "are instantly known by [insertion: Recognition] the Southians who attack them on all occasions."

p. 127 Fringilla melodia. Builds both on the ground & in bushes.

p. 142 Picus erythrocephalus. Feeds also on fruit & often suck the eggs of small birds

[194]

Vol. 1 (p. 3)

p. 174 Fringilla tristis or American goldfinch. It is more difficult to procure Hybrids between this bird & the Canary than between the latter & European goldfinch these birds are closely allied in voice, habits & nidification

p. 174 Do. Old males lose their beauty in winter: at that season young & old of both sexes resemble each other which is different from our goldfinch. (N. B. The extreme difference of male plumage shews most directly plumage not due to external influences, tho' light has some effect

p. 191 Picus auratus. The males do not fight but the hens are followed by even half a dozen of these gay suitors "until a marked preference is shewn to one, when the others leave her."

p. 193 Do The young of this & several other species have the whole upper part of the head tinged with red which disappears in winter, a circular line alone being left on the hind part

[195]

Vol 1 p. 4

p. 200 Parus bicolor, hammers fruit "this species sometimes forms a nest by digging a hole in the hardest wood, but more frequently uses a hole made by a woodpecker.

p. 221 Many male birds in U. S. as the male Tanagers & goldfinch lose their splendid colours in winter.

p. 222 Icterus spurius on the arrival of the hens, the males use every effort, redoubling the ardour of their song & tricks, to procure a return of attention from the hens.

p. 223 Do - in Louisiana the nest is wholly formed of long slender grass, in the middle States it is usually lined with soft & warm materials.

p. 229 Bombycilla carolinensis. The young females do not exhibit the waxen appendages so early as the young males.

[196]

Vol. 1. p. 5

p. 319 Columba migratoria has been killed near New York with crops full of rice which must have been eaten at between 3 & 400 miles distance

p. 349 Icterus phæoeniceus when the hens arrive they are pursued by several males until becoming fatigued she soon makes a choice.

p. 353 Hirundo fulva In 1815 this species first appeared in Kentucky; in autumn migrates northward (a)

p. 496 Icterus pecoris. Eggs are very small as with the cuckoo proves Selection. Its eggs are hatched earlier, consequently the other eggs are neglected & are not hatched, & are thrown out by the foster parents

[196v]

(a) From Richardson p 330, I almost suspect this may be same sp. (for Swainson speaks doubtfully) as H. lunifrons which extended its migration in Arctic regions. The extension seem to have been Eastward of H. fulva.

[197]

Vol 2 p. 6

p. 25 Sitta canadensis flew on a ship 300 miles from land

p 42 Cathartes aura assemble in parties of 8 or 10 males & females "exhibiting the strongest desire to please mutually.

p. 51 Cathartes jota the gesticulations & parade of the males at the beginning of the love season are extremely ludicrous

p. 55 Corvus or garrulus Canadensis or Canada jay male & female alike, young unlike both (different from rest of families).

p. 87 Sylvia sialis or Blue bird. Female leaden above. Hence sexes different, but young rather different from female. pl. see x 3. All 3 states figured.

p. 167 Fringilla ludoviciana nest in west very different from that in E. States.

[198]

Vol 2 p. 7

Muscicapa crinita. The nest when placed low bulky, when at a height scanty & in more than one instance the eggs without a nest at the bottom of a hole in the tree. Asks why "often is there so much difference in the Conformation & materials of nests of the same species in [different] latitudes & localities"

p. 219 Sturnus ludovicianus. Males engage in fierce conflict, but at the sight they all fly after her as if mad.

p. 233 Sylvia pinus. The nest in Carolinas is made with less workmanship & care than further North where it is thin but compact & lined with feathers & hair

[199]

Vol. 2 p. 8

p. 257 Muscicapa acadica In middle states often 2 brood. In North only one. Many such cases given & differences in number of the eggs.

p 271 Corvus ossifragus very few are bare on lower mandible, perhaps not more than 6 or 7 out of 100 exhibit this nakedness.

p. 275 Caprimulgus Virginianus several males court in a highly entertaining manner one female, but "no sooner has she made her choice than her approved gives chance to all intruders & drives them beyond his dominions"

p. 282 Fringilla caudacuta common in S. States "within a few years this species has extended its range toward the E. portions as far as the vicinity of Boston

[200]

Vol 2. p. 9

p. 289 Vireo olivaceus The nest differs greatly in difft latitudes as described. In middle states apparently glue with Saliva. Leaves of fir trees together. In the South nest bound to twigs with fibres warped round them.

Audubon saw 2 nightjars killed by lightening & drop into the sea.

p 326 Quiscalus ferrugineous They prefer bushes for their nests, but has seen them in tall reeds attached by the intertwining of the leaves in the nest in Labrador line their nests with moss.

p 329 Sypselus palasgeus glues sticks for nest & in most parts has abandoned hollow trees for chimneys

[201]

Vol 2 p. 10

p. 395 Muscicapa dominicensis "It furnishes another of the new numerous instances of new species entering the Union from the South to increase our fauna.

p. 422 Muscicapa Cooperii = Tyrannus Borealis. "It is difficult for me at least to understand how we should now have in the united States so many birds, which not more than 20 years ago, were nowhere to be found in those countries. That birds shd thus suddenly make their appearance & at once diffuse themselves over almost the whole of the country is indeed a very curious fact.

p 421 The difference between the European chimney swallow & the American Barn Swallow is analogous to that between the barn owl of the 2 countries believes neither to be distinct

[202]

Vol 2 p. 11

p. 439 Tetrao Canadensis. The hens in Maine are more richly coloured than in Labrador. The like difference is perhaps still more remarkable in the ruffed grouse which are so uniformly coloured in the N. E. States as to induce almost every one to think them distinct from those found in the South

p. 445 Columba leucocephala Many of these birds which breed in some of the Bahama I.s come daily to the Florida Keys for food for their young.

p. 492 Tetrao cupido cocks in full plumage assemble to about the number of 20 strut about & their notes fill the air caused by a particular apparatus. At the first answer from any hen

F they fight furiously, the weaker give way, the remaining few maintain their ground, the vanquished & victors then search for the females a mated pair is sometimes attacked by another male & they fight. I can understand this.

[202v]

Many of the young males fight in autumn like young wild turkies. This seems useless

[203]

Vol. 2 p. 12

505 The female wild Turkey shuns her mate that she may save not her eggs only but even her young which he wd destroy. (mistaken instinct) Something like this occurs in the Quiscalus major

Vol 3.

p 2 Anser Canadensis. Individuals which were not mated "would be coquetting for hours every day until all seemed satisfied with the choice they had made." The males also struggle with each other for half an hour or more.

p. 9 Do Anser Canadensis. I have seen several kept for more than 8 years without ever mating, while other individuals had young the 2nd spring after their birth an impatient male wd sometimes abandon his own female & mate with a common goose.

[204]

Vol 3 p. 13

p 23 Colymbus septentrionalis very far North lines his nest with down, not in Labrador.

p. 89 Ardea herodias "The males walk about with great dignity bidding defiance to their rivals & the females croak to invite the males to pay their addresses to them

p 92 Ditto found in the Stomach of one seeds of the great Southern waterlily (Q. from digested fish?) Hooker says no doubt

p 149 Is convinced that birds in difft places lay more or fewer eggs.

p. 168 Anas boschas on Mississippi wild birds easily tamed & breed. Hybrids with the Muscovy "now & then wander off & become quite wild."

p 170 Wild duck. Is confident that they fly at the rate of 120 miles an hour.

[204v]

Nelumbium speciosum var. luteum, this has large acorn-like seed as large as nut which A. Gray says is edible. As other Herons eat seeds, probably eaten & not frm Fish Might occasionally pass through stomach or Heron killed or vomit, when attacked, like Cormorant, Gulls, Terns & Vultures, but I cannot remember that ever do vomit

I have looked through accounts of several species & nothng said about their vomiting.

[205]

Vol 3 p. 14

p. 182 Hæmatopus palliatus In Labrador lays eggs on bare rock, but when it lays eggs on sand in middle districts it seldom sits on them during the heat of the sun. Whereas in Labrador it sits as closely as any other bird.

p. 193 Charadrius vociferus Nests are various either a hollow on bare ground or a nest made of grass. Now & then pebbles & broken Shells are raised in the form of a ring.

p. 241 Numenius longirostris is distinguished by great length of bill which is variable in length, being in some nearly 3 inches shorter than in others tho' all full grown.

p 362 Podiceps Has found the seeds of compositæ in stomach of many.

[206]

Vol 3 p. 15

"All the terns which breed in N. parts of U. S. & in regions still nearer the Pole sit closely on eggs, while the small species which breed to the S. incubate only in the night or during rainy weather.

p. 381 Pelicanus fuscus. The stronger males by snapping of their beaks hard tugs & heavy blows with their wings have driven away the weaker males which content themselves with less prized belles" (if hens of poultry have no choice plumage of cocks wd be useless on my view)

p. 477 Scolopax minor. Males fight "tugging & pushing each other with bills in the most curious manner imaginable"

[207]

Vol 3 p. 16

p. 497 Tachypetes aquila or frigate pelican. Males & females considerably different in plumage. Young males undergo less changes than young females but both are difft from old hen (so that Cuvierian other law here does not hold)

p. 499 Has seen frigate bird occasionally sitting on water.

p. 507 Sterna Cayana in the S. lay eggs on bare sand, in Labrador make a nest neatly formed of moss.

p. 559 some herons feed on berries in the Autumn.

p. 576 Totanus Chloropygius. Almost all the habits of this bird differ according to the locality other similar instances have been given of this,

[208]

Vol 3. p. 17

p. 588 Larus Argentatus builds in Scotland and parts of North America on cliffs & low islands, but in the bay of Fundy builds on trees even 40 ft. high. The owner of the island asserted that the birds had acquired this habit within his recollection. the youngest birds however still make some nests on the ground. The birds hatched in the nests in the trees do not leave them until able to fly, whereas those on the ground run about in less than a week. Audubon considers it a remarkable case of instinct.

p. 592 he saw this gull carry up a hard mussle-shell 3 times successively in order to break it, & each time to a greater height than the former one.

[209]

Vol 4. p. 18

p. 20 Anas obscura is closely allied and in all habits to common duck, but has no curled tail feathers crossed with common duck the hybrids were larger than either parent; they layed eggs but always sterile.

p. 25 Totanus Bartramius accommodates itself to food in different localities; in one district on beetles, another on grasshoppers, in another on seeds & fruit sometimes lays eggs in [bare] hollows, sometimes makes nest of loosely arranged grasses.

p. 40 Galinula Martimea has been caught 300 miles from land in a ship.

p. 66 Ardea Caerulea breeds at a year old, so that white mottled & blue birds may be seen paired several analogous cases have been given.

p 68 Totanus Melanoleucus is very noisy, & its cries are generally supposed to be uttered to warn other birds of danger & hence has been called the "Tell-tale" but when by itself no other species being present is equally noisy.

[210]

Vol 4. p. 19

p. 74 Sterna Hirundo, if many specimens are measured All the individuals are found in to differ slightly in all sorts of respects.

p. 81 Totanus Macularius, At St Laurence the nests were more bulky & more neatly constructed than any to the south, yet not comparable with those in Labrador, which were made of any mosslined with slender grasses & feathers.

p. 124 Larus Atricilla, on the Tortugas lays its eggs in hollows, in sand in Texas makes nests but less bulky than in the Jerseys.

p. 177 Sterna Minuta, in the S & middle districts scoops hollow in sand for eggs; in Texas lays on dry drifted weeds, in Labrador forms very snug nests of well-matted moss.

p. 291 killed a heron at 4 o'clock in the evening, opened it next morning, & found a little turtle about 1 1/2 inch in length still alive & it crawled away

[211]

Vol. 4. p. 20

p. 375 Parus Atricapillus, saw a pair excavating a hole in a tree for their nest. (p. 376.) often hammers & breaks open nuts.

p. 388 Tanagra Rubra, the old hens improve in plumage as they grow older, the young at first resemble the hens, but the young males are distinguishable by brighter tints. 2 males presented a remarkable variation in having a scarlet band on their blacks wings.

p. 441 Troglodytes Nyemalis, the American specimens can always & safely be distinguished from the European, by very slight differences in their plumage; but he does not thinks these amount to a specific difference.

[212]

Vol 5 (21)

p 170 Several species of woodpeckers feed on grain in the autumn & P. villorus bores holes in sugarcane for juice

p. 217 Young of many birds reared in high latitudes migrate further Southward than their parents.

294 gives list of species which once were extremely rare in U. S. but are now "abundant in many of our districts"

p. 388 Strix flammea from Europe & N. America present a remarkable difference in feathers of operculum.

p 425 Mussicapa Dr Brewer supports statement of this bird gluing materials for nest together with saliva.

p 455 Sylvia childrenii entombs eggs of Icterus when laid in its nest by building a story has seen a nest with 3 stories & 2 buried eggs

[213]

Vol. 5 p. 23

p. 489 Dr Bachman says nearly all our birds breed when a year old however imperfect their plumage "I cannot recollect any species which does not"

p 516 Fringilla Savanna. Situation & size of nests in Labrador & colour of eggs differed from those in Maine & other parts of U. S.

p 517 Fringilla ciris breeds as perfectly as Canary in confinement Bachman

537 Picus varius Young in nest make a curious incessant wheezing noise & Mr Macculloch adds "it is the only bird I know whose nest is betrayed by the young"

552 Columba migratoria lays invariably 2 eggs but with Lord Derby have invariably laid only one. So it is (p 557) with columba leucocephala

[214]

Vol 5 p. 23

p 559 Dr Bachman states that wild turkies tho' kept separate from tame lose the brilliancy of plumage & here & there have white feathers intermixed in the 3rd generation.

p. 602 Dr Brewer kept a night heron (Ardea nycticorax) tame (from early youth) in Oct. manifested great uneasiness nature having told it that the period of migration had arrived. So that it strolled away often at night "but what was most unaccountable all these attempts were uniformly in the Northern direction shewing as it would seem that experience is necessary as well as instinct to enable then to know their proper route. (no. many young birds migrate before their parents)

[214v]

(43)

Fringilla & tristis from being seasonal good argument that colour of Goldfin & Siskin, sexual.