THE EDINBURGH 



JOUENAL OF NATUKAL HISTORY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



MAY, 1836. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE THE GROnSE. 



These Birds belong to the order Gallinse, of which our domestic Cock is consi- 

 dered the type. Modern Ornithologists have subdivided the Linnaean genus Tetrao. 

 Latham re-established the genus Perdix, which was originally instituted by Brisson, 

 and more recently, the Quail and Ptarmigan have each been formed into a distinct 

 genus. The red or common Grouse of Scotland is removed from Tetrao, and 

 placed with the Ptarmigan, under the conunon appellation of Lagopus. 



Figs. 1 and 2. The Pinnated Grouse, Male and Female (T. Cupido). — This is 

 the most remarkable Bird of its genus ; it is a native of the United States of Ame- 

 rica, occupying a tract known by the name of the Brushy Plains of Long Island, 

 in the Queen's County, State of New York, extending for about fifty miles. The 

 soil is a sandy or gravelly loam, covered with trees, shrubs, and small plants. The 

 trees are mostly pitch-pines and white-oaks of inferior size. 



This singular species is 19 inches long, and weighs about 3i pounds. The neck is 

 provided with a pair of supplemental wings, each composed of 18 feathers: the head 

 has a small crest, and a semi circular comb of orange-yellow extends over each eye. 

 But the most remarkable peculiarity of the Male Bird consists in two curious wrinkled 

 bags of yellow skin situate near the bottom of the neck. When the Bird is at rest these 

 hang loose ; but during the breeding season, in particular, they are inflated with air, 

 resemble in colour and magnitude a middle-sized ripe orange, and appear to bo formed 

 by an expansion of the gullet with the external skin of the neck. By means of 

 these inflated bags, the Male Bird has the power of uttering a very extraordinary ven- 

 triloqual sound, which can be distinctly heard at some miles distant, " It does not 

 strike the ear of a bystander with much force, but impresses him with the idea, 

 though produced within a few yards of him, of a voice a mile or two distant. This 

 note is highly characteristic. It is termed tooting, from its resemblance to the blow- 

 in* of a conch or horn, from a remote quarter." During the period of miting, and 

 while the females are occupied in incubation, the males have a practice of assembling, 

 principally by themselves, in some select and central spot where there is very httlc 

 underwood; and, from the exercises performed there, is called a scratching place. 

 The time of meeting is the break of day, and the numbers assembling in one spot are 

 from forty to fifty. When the dawn is past, the ceremony commences by a low 

 tooting by one of the cocks, which is answered by another; they then come forth 

 one by one from the bushes, and strut about like Turkey Cocks, their tail and wings 

 beinf arranged as represented in the plate, they pass and repass each other, uttering 

 notes of defiance. These are signals for battles, in which they engage with great 

 spirit and fierceness ; frequently leaping a foot or two from the ground, uttering a 

 crackling, screaming, and discordant cry. 



Fi^s. 3 and 4. The Spotted Grouse, Male and Female ( T. Canadensis). — This 

 species inhabits Hudson's Bay during the whole year, where it frequents low grounds; 

 but in other parts of North America, it is frequently seen on mountains of consider- 

 able elevation. The Spotted Grouse has an extensive geographical range, extending 

 from Hudson's Bay as far as the State of New York, where it is frequently a winter 

 visitant. This game is often sent from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Boston 

 in a frozen state ; as in the North it is known to be kept hanging throughout the 

 winter, and when wanted for use to be taken down and thawed. In winter these 

 Bu-ds feed on spruce, and consequently their flesh is strongly flavoured with that 

 tree. They are very unsuspicious Birds, and are therefore easily approached and 

 killed by the sportsman. They are about 15 inches in length. Frequently they resort 

 to trees, although usually seen on the ground. 



Fig. 5. The Sharp- Tailed Grouse (T. Pliasiayiellm) The disposition of these 



Birds is very different from that last described, as they are extremely shy, hving solitary 

 in pairs durin^- summer, and assembling in packs in autumn, in which state they continue 

 durin"' the winter. Their principal food consbts of jxmiper buds and various sorts of 

 berries* and in winter they eat the tops of evergreens, and sometimes those of birch, 

 alder and poplar. They are usually seen on the ground, but, if disturbed, resort to 

 the tops of the highest trees. 



This beautiful Bird is 16 inches long. It inhabits the southern parts of Hudson's 

 Bay, and is met with on the shores of Lake Superior. In America it is called " the 

 Pheasant." 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE THE SOUI-MANGAS. 



This splendid tribe of Birds principally inhabits Africa. Their food consists chiefly 

 of Insects, to which some add the nectar of flowers; these they pierce or sip with their 

 tongue. This organ is capable of elongation beyond the bill, and is terminated by a^ 



forked point. During the season of incubation, the plumage of the males shines with 

 the most splendid iridescent and metallic lustre, nearly equal in brilliancy to that of 

 the Humming-Birds. They have an agreeable song, and their disposition is gay and 

 livelv. During the rainy season they are subject to a complete change of plumage^ 

 which is of the most sombre hues. 



Fif'S. 1 and 2. The Cardinal Soui-Manga (Cinmjris Cardinulls).— This Rlale 

 Bird is remarkable for the harmonious arrangements and beautiful contrast of its 

 colours; the vivid green of its head and neck is subject to reflections of the most 

 beautiful burnished gold, when subjected to a varied play of light; its whole form is 

 very graceful, and the central tail feather being considerably elongated, adds much 

 to the elegance of the bird. Contrary to what is usually the case, the female plu- 

 mage, although consisting of diff'orent colours from that of her mate, is not less beau- 

 tiful. 



Figs. 3 and 4. The Orange Soui-Manga (C. Oranga.) — The male of this species 

 exhibits a combination of tints of great beauty, the green of the head and neck being 

 subject to the prismatic reflections of the amethyst, ruby, and topaz. The female 

 attire is of a more sober kind, on which account she is less attractive than the male 

 bird. 



Figs. 5 and 6. The Red Sovii-Manga (C. Hufa). — Although a Bird as remarkable 

 for the brilliancy of its attire as any of the preceding, it is less elegant, being divested 

 of the elongated central tail feathers, which add so much to the grace of the others. 

 The more subdued colouring of the female is of a deeply rich tone on the breast and 

 back. 



Fig. 7. The Shining Soui-Manga (C Fa/nosa.) — This Bird will yield to none of 

 the feathered tribe for the lustre of its plumage, the whole shining and sparkling 

 by the shghtest variation in the play of light, exhibiting colours of the most vivid 

 kinds, which blend and contrast hke a galaxy of the most splendid gems. The feathers 

 of the breast present the hues of ruby and gold, bordered with ultra-marine. It is 

 about the size of a Linnet. 



Fig. 8. Tlie Black-breasted Soui-Manga (C Melanogaster), is still more elegant 

 in its formation than any of its congeners, and yields to none of them in point of 

 beauty. It is an extremely lively Bird, flitting among the branches of low flowering 

 shrubs with exceeding nimbleness. 



Fi". 9- The Fig-eating Soui-Manga (C Ficulnea), although less varied than 

 some others of the genus, is nevertheless beautiful and elegant in its form. 



Incosgroous Associates. — A gentleman in Teignmouth had a fine large Dog of 

 the Newfoundland breed, a Rabbit, and a bird of the Gull genus, all inhabitants of the 

 same court yard. The friendship between these animals continued for several months ; 

 the Rabbit would follow the Dog round the court, attended by the Gull, without be- 

 traying the least symptom of fear, as if confident of security in the protection of the 

 noble anbnal. At the usual time of giving the Dog his meat, his two companions 

 would invariably attend, and the Gull would eat from the same vessel. The Rabbit 

 would join the Dog in all his tricks and gambols. The Dog possessed all its natural 

 fierceness, and would not permit any stranger to enter the court, unless in company 

 with some who had been accustomed to him. He bit several persons, amongst whom 

 was a lady who had been in the habit of feeding him daily, for several months. A 

 workman who was employed on the premises was attacked by him, and with great 

 difficulty escaped by jumping in at a window which had been left open. His afi'ection for 

 the Rabbit never decreased. Since we have been gratified with the sight, the Rabbit 

 escaped into the street, and was worried to death by Dogs. The Dog and Gull re- 

 mained companions till the owner leaving Ti'ignraouth for his seat at Newry, in 

 Ireland, gave the Dog and Gull to different persons. 



A Gander in Love. — From the Dumfries Courier — *' We have the authority 

 of Captain Brown, in his curious work on Dogs, for stating that, brutes though they 

 be, the tender passion is not unknown to the species, whether setter, cur, colly, or 

 mongrel, and why may it not be equally developed in the feathered tribe ? Some time 

 since a Gander was located on a farm on the Craigs Barony, and provided with a 

 helpmate that survived the union but a very brief period. The Gander was provided 

 with a wife the second; bat meanv/hile he had taken a better thought — conceived a 

 devoted attachment to a buxom inhabitant of a cottage, and to this day (1835) 

 gives very unequivocal proofs of it. Though chary of entering the house, morning, 

 noon, and night he stands at the door, and in a moonlight eve serenades his fair ono 

 in a fashion peculiaidy his own; whenever she appears, he looks so overjoyed, that 

 winiTS and feet appear all in motion, and the steps of the damsel are actually im- 

 peded by his fluttering. The woman confesses that the only way she can get rid of 

 him is by " jouking out o' the house, and v/hipping hard round the corner;" but once 



