THE EDINBURGH 



JOUENAL OF NATUEAL HISTOEY, 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



JUNE, 1837- 



ZOOLOGY." 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. — THE MARMOSETS AND TAMARINS. 



These generally beautiful and gentle little animals are all inhabitants of South Ame- 

 rica, where they reside in the midst of the forests, living on vegetable substances. 

 They seldom much exceed a common squirrel in size, and are easily tamed, but being 

 peculiarly delicate, are unable, without much care being bestowed upon them, to 

 withstand the effects of our variable and severe climate. The Marmosets differ very 

 little from the Tamarins, one of the principal external distinctions being derived from 

 the tail, which, although very long in both, is bushy and ringed in the former, while 

 it is slender and uniformly coloured in the latter. The species of both genera have 

 the head of a roundish form, the face flat, the nostrils lateral, the hips clothed with 

 hair; they have no cheek-pouches, and their tail is not prehensile; all their claws 

 are compressed and pointed, excepting tho?e of their great-toes, which toes are how- 

 ever so small, and so little separated from the rest, or capable of being put into op- 

 position to them, that these animals are more bipedal than quadrumanous. 



Fig. 1. The Common Marmoskt (Jacckus vulgaris.^ — This delicate bttle crea- 

 ture is characterized by having two large tufts of white hair before the ears, the 

 body gi'ey, transversely banded with dusky, the tail bushy, and ringed in its whole 

 length with blackish- brown and greyish-white. It is pretty generally distributed 

 over South America. 



Fig. 2. The Great-eared Tamabin (Midas mjimanus.) — Of a dusky colour, 

 the hind parts barred with grey, the hands and feet reddish. It inhabits Guiana and 

 other parts of South America. 



Fig. 3. The Red-tailed Tamarin (ATidas (Edipus.) — The head and lower 

 parts of this species are white, the upper parts brown, the tail reddish, tipped with 

 dusky. 



Fig. 4. The Fair or Silvery Tamaris (Midas argcntatiis.) — The face is 

 red, the hair o%'er the whole body of a greyish or silvery white, excepting that of 

 the tail, which is dusky. It inhabits the countries along the Amazons River. 



Fig. 5. The Silkv Tamarin (Midas Rosalia.) — This species, of which the 

 fur is of a reddish colour, the tail with two bands of dusky, is further characterized 

 by the great length of the hair of the head and neck. It occurs in Brazil and 

 Guiana. 



Fig. 6. The Negro Tamarin (Midas Ursulus.^^-The fur is black, the back 

 and sides undulated with reddish, the hands and feet black. In other respects 

 ;^ resembles the M. rujimanits. Like the other species, it is a native of South 

 America. 



DESCRIPTfON OF THE PLATE THE CROSSBILLS. 



The Crossbills constitute a genus of small birds of the Conirostral division of the 

 Insessores, characterized by the peculiar form of their bill, of which the curved and 

 attenuated points of the mandibles are laterally deflected, so as to present the ap- 

 pearance of crossing each other. In other respects, these birds agree with the Btdl- 

 finches and Buntings, between which they are in a manner intermediate. They 

 inhabit the pine and larch forests of the northein parts of the European and Ame- 

 rican Continents, and derive the principal part of their food from the seeds of the 

 cones, the scales of which they separate by a lateral motion of their mandibles. It 

 rs in fact probable that this habit, commenced at an early period, when the bill is 

 yet comparatively soft, is the cause of the lateral divarication of the tips of the man- 

 dibles. They are irregularly migratory, shifting about in flocks from place to place, 

 according to the abundance or scarcity of food. The plumage varies greatly in 

 colour, that of the young birds being dull, of the females generally not much brighter, 

 and of the males remarkable for its conspicuous, but not generally vivid tints. Only 

 four species are known: The Parrot Crossbill, Loxia pytiopsittacus ; the Coipmon 

 European Crossbill, L. Europaa; the American Crossbill, L. Americana; and the 

 White-winged Crossbill, L. leucoptera. The first is common to Europe and Ame- 

 rica ; the second peculiar to Europe ; the third confined to America ; the fourth 

 common to both continents. In the plate are represented the American and White- 

 winged species. 



Fig. I. The American Crossbill (Loxia Americana.) Adult male. — This 

 species is in all respects similar to the Common European Crossbill, excepting in 

 being considerably smaller, and in having the bill more slender, with the tips of the 



mandibles much more elongated. The old male has the greater part of the plumage 

 of a dull vermihon tint, more or less mixed with yellow, the wings and tail dusky, 

 their feathers edged with lighter, the hack of a darker red, the rump much brighter. 

 It inhabits the woods of Canada, Nova Scotia, and the Northern United States, feed- 

 in<T on the seeds of the pines, larches, and junipers. 



Fig. 2. The American Crossbill. Female. — The female is destitute of red, 

 the upper part of the head, the hind neck, and the back, being dull greenish-grey, 

 spotted with dusky, the rump wax-yellow, the lower parts greyish-yellow, the neck, 

 breast, and sides, spotted with dusky. 



Fig. 3. The White-winged Crossbill (L. leucoptera.') — This species is about 

 the same size, and has the same general form, but is differently coloured, its principal 

 specific distinction being derived from two white bands crossing the wings, which, as 

 well as the tail, are otherwise deep black. The upper parts are of a light reddish 

 ochre. Its habits are the same as those of the other species. 



Fig. 4. The White-winged Crossbill. Young male — In its second plumage, 

 the male has the upper parts deep-red, largely spotted with black, the rump rose-red, 

 the wings black, with transverse white bands, the tail also black, the lower parts 

 greyish-white. 



Fig. 5. The White-winged Crossbill. Female.- — The female is greenish- 

 grey, spotted with dusky, above, pale grey, also spotted, beneath, the wings and tail 

 black, but the former with conspicuous white bands. 



The Siskin. — Our esteemed correspondent, Mr William Drew, of Paisley, has 

 favored us with the following notice respecting this bird : — " I have remarked the 

 account of the Siskin contained in your Journal of this month. Undoubted as the 

 circumstance of its breeding in Scotland must now be, from the respectable autho- 

 rity of Mr Weir, yet I do not think it amiss so far to corroborate his observations. 

 Early in June 1833, at which time I resided at Inveraray, I went out one morning 

 to fish, and, according to my usual practice, I carried a light gun with me. I was 

 rather surprised, at that season, to see a pair of Siskins among some furze bushes, on 

 the shore of Lochfine, and the birds being close together, I killed both. On dissect- 

 ing the female, an egg was found ready for exclusion, and I never had any doubt but 

 that the birds were breeding in the neighbourhood, though I did not look for or see 

 the nest. It is very likely that it was on some of the spruces, which were the pre- 

 dominant trees in the place. I subsequently saw and secured a pair of Siskins in the 

 same locality. — Paisley^ 26, Causeyside Street, 3d March 1837." 



Ventriloquisji of the Robin. — The bird endowed with this singular control 

 over his vocal powers, is our favorite and pugnacious little Robin, whom I discover- 

 ed to be as complete an adept in this art as any human ventriloquist could possibly 

 be. While in my garden a few weeks ago, the notes of this bird fell deliciously on 

 my ear, being mellowed, as I believed, by distance. I expected to descry my musi- 

 cian on some distant tree ; but, to my great surprise, I perceived him within a few 

 yards of the spot I occupied. I was near enough to observe the alternate contrac- 

 tions and expansions of the breast ; but 1 could not see any motion of the bill. — Mr 

 Edmunds, in Loudon s Magazine. 



Preservation of Zoological Specimens Various substances have been 



employed in preparing skins of animals to be stuffed as specimens, and with various 

 success. Arsenical soap has of late years been very generally substituted for the 

 powders and solutions formerly used ; but this substance, being applied exclusively 

 to the inner surface of the skin, has no other effect than to preserve it; while the 

 hair, the feathers, and especially the down, are left without protection. Now, of 

 what value is a well-preserved skin, from which the feathers have been eaten by 

 moths ? We have seen such skins in abundance. The arsenical lathering which they 

 had received did not act in the slightest degree as a preservative from vermin. 

 Others, prepared with alum, corrosive sublimate, and powdered spices, we have seen 

 similarly affected. In short, it is our firm conviction, founded on observation, that 

 nothing applied to the inside of the skin can prevent the hair and plumage from being 

 eaten. As to solutions applied to the outer surface, we have found none that has a 

 permanent effect. Alcohol quickly destroys moths, and so does solution of corrosive 

 sublimate ; but neither has a lasting effect. Rectified oil of turpentine acts stiH 

 more speedily, and even its vapour in a close case destroys insects, but although its 

 action is thus powerful, it is not permanent. Still, we are convinced, it is the best 

 preservative; but, not to injure the plumage, it must be of the best quality, for, if 



