THE EDINBURGH 



JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



AND OF 



THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 



JULY, 1837. 



ZOOLOGY. 



DESCRIPTION or THE PLATE. ^THE MAKIS. 



The Lemurs or Makis are quadrumanous animals, which differ from most of the 

 other families of this extensive group in having a pointed muzilc, whence they have 

 been called Fox-monkeys, small ears, and a long unprehensile tail. They have four 

 incisors above, six below, edged canine teeth, and six grinders on each side of either 

 jaw. There is little diversity in their form, and they are said to be very limited in 

 their geographical distribution, being supposed to be peculiar to Madagascar, where 

 they reside in the woods, moving with great agility much in the manner of squirrels, 

 and living on fruit. 



Fi"-. J. The Woolly Maki (Lemur Mongoz). — As little can be said of the man- 

 ners of the different species, we shall confine our notices to their characteristic co- 

 lours. The present is of a brownish-grey colour, with the lower parts lighter, and 

 the throat and sides of the head light red. 



Fi". 2. The Red Maki (i. riifus), of a brownish-red colour, with the muzzle 

 black, and the sides of the head pale greyish-yellow. 



Fig. 3. The White-froxted JIaki (L. albifrons) Yellowish-grey, the head 



whitish, the muzzle black, the hands brownish-red. 



Fig. 4. The Ruffed Maki (jC. Macaco) Variegated with black and white, 



in large patches. 



Fig. 5. The Ruffed Maki (L. Macaco) A variety having the body all black, 



excepting a band across the back, the cheeks and part of the limbs white. 



Fig. 6. The Grey Maki {L. griseus) This species scarcely differs from the 



Woolly Maki in colour, but is smaller and has a shorter muzzle. 



Fig. 7. The Ring-tailed Lejiur (Z.. Catta) — Ash-grey, with the tail ringed 

 with black, the head white, the muzzle, a space about the eyes, and a collar black. 



DESCKlnlON OF THE PLATE. THE HUMMING BIRDS. 



Of the Humming Birds represented in this plate, little is known beyond their exter- 

 nal characters, which present some diversity as to colouring, but with respect to 

 form, proportions, and texture of plumage, are pretty similar. 



Fig. 1. The Azure-cbowkzd Humjukc Bird (Trochilus cyanocephahis) — So 

 named on account of the rich blue of the upper part of its head, is not remarkable for 

 briUiancy of colour. It is a native of Brazil, but its peculiar history is unknown. 



Fig. 2. Represents the young of the same species, differing from the adult in hav- 

 ing the bill darker, and the green colour of the upper paits more extended over the 

 sides. 



Fig. 3. The Blue-fronted Hdjoiixg Bird (T. glaucopis) Nearly four and 



a halt inches long, with the top of the head indigo-blue changing to green, the back 

 of a deep gold-green, the wings brown, and the tail steel-blue. It inhabits Brazil. 



Fig. 4. Temminck's Humming Bird (T. Temminchii) Was first described by 



the celebrated ornithologist, to whom it has since been dedicated by M. Lesson, 

 who states that it " belongs to Brazil, that rich country which yields the diamond, 

 and nourishes the most beautiful birds." 



Fig. 5. Sapphire and Emerald Humming Bird (T. bicoJor). Male — This 

 species nearly three and a half inches long, and distinguished by blue and emerald- 

 green colours, is said, by Buffon, to be a native of Guadaloupe, by Sonnini, to occur 

 also in Martinique, and, by Lesson, to have been received from French Guiana. 



Fig. 6. The young of this species, nearly of the same colour as the adult. 



Fig. 7. Clemence's Hujiming Bird (T. Clemencim) This beautiful species, 



which is about five inches in length, and of a bright green colour above, is a 

 native of Mexico. 



DESCKIPTION OF THE PLATE THE GROUSE. 



The Grouse which inhabit the cold and temperate regions of both continents are 

 characterised by their robust form, full plumage, short, slightly curved, convex bill, 

 concave, rounded wings, and short, stout feet, of which the tarsi are usually entirely 

 or partially covered with feathers, but sometimes bare, and the toes are furnished with 

 lateral pectinated scales, by which especially these birds are distinguished from the 

 Ptarmigans. They exhibit considerable diversity of plumage, some having tufts on 

 the head or neclt, and the tail varying in length, as well as in the proportion and form 

 of its feathers. They live upon vegetable substances of various kinds, leaves, twigs, 

 and berries, and afford a generally esteemed article of food. They all nestle on the 



ground, laying numerous spotted eggs, and their young run about immediately after 



exclusion. .,■ -m ti ■ 



Fig 1 The Rocky Mountain Spotted Grouse CTetrao i^ranA/rauJ — 1 his 



bird is' by some considered as a variety of Tctrao Canadends, while others hold it 

 to be a distinct species. A certain writer, finding the tail feathers of specimens of 

 the one kind to be emarginate and mucronate, and those of the other plain, looks 

 upon this difference as decisive ; but a little practical knowledge is sufficient to con- 

 vince us that no dependence can be had on such a circumstance, for feathers which 

 are mucronate when new are often rounded when old, and in other cases the reverse 

 happens. It is plentiful in the Rocky Mountains near the sources of the Columbia 

 River. 



Fig. 2. Female. 



Fig. 3. The Dusky Grouse (T. obscurus). Male — This species has also been 

 named T. Richardsonii, and is stated to be plentiful in the subalpine regions of the 

 Rocky Mountains. The male is greyish-brown above, undulated with dusky, the 

 abdomen whitish. 



Fi" 4. Female. The female is more spotted and variegated than the male. 



Fi". 5. The Ruffed Grouse (T. UmheUus). Male — The beautiful species 

 here "represented has a tuft of feathers on the head, and a large ruff on the neck, 

 whence its specific name. It occurs in the British Colonies of North America, and 

 in most parts of the United States, where it is common in the markets. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE THE INDHIS, LORIS, GALAGOS, AND 



TARSIERS. 



These animals, generally of small size, constitute the last families of the great divi- 

 sion of the Quadrumana. 



Fi". 1. The Short-tailed Indri (Lichanotvs brevicaudatus). — This is the 

 onlv authenticated species of the genus, which differs from the Lemurs in having 

 four instead of six lower incisors, and a very short tail. It is of a blackish colour, 

 with the face grey ; has the hind limbs proportionally longer than those of any 

 species of Monkey ; and, according to Sonnerat, is tamed by the natives of Mada- 

 gascar, and employed in hunting, although in the natural state it is strictly fru- 

 givorous. 



Fi". 2. The Slow Lori (Stenops tardigradus) — The Loris have teeth similar 

 to those of the Makis, but with the points of the grinders more acute ; their muzzle 

 is less elongated, and they are destitute of tail. Their eyes are large and approxi- 

 mated, and" their tongue is rough. They are nocturnal animals, live upon insects 

 and other small animals, and are said to be very slow in their motions. The present 

 species is of a yellowish-brown colour, with a dusky band along the middle of the 

 back, and is a native of Bengal. 



Fi". 3. The Slender Lori (Stenops gracilis). — This speiies is smaller and of 

 a more slender form, with the nose a little raised, the colour nearly similar to that 

 of the last, but without the dorsal fine. 



Fig. 4. The Senegal Galago (Otolicmis Senegalensis) — The Galagos have the 

 same°kind of teeth as the Loris, and are also insectivorous ; but their tail is very long, 

 and their eyes and ears large. They are natives of Africa, reside on trees, in the holes 

 of which they nestle, and are very active. The present species is about six inches 

 in length, exclusive of the tail, and of a yellowish-brown colour. 



Fi"?5. The Little Galago (OtoUcnus Madagascariensis_).—1he colour is 

 similar, but the ears are shorter, and the size considerably smaller. 



Fig. 6. The Podge Tarsier (Tardus SpectrumJ.—The Tarsiers, so named on 

 account of the great length of their tarsi, are very similar to the Galagos, from 

 which they differ in having the interval between the grinders and incisors filled with 

 several shorter teeth, a shorter muzzle, and still larger eyes. They are equally of 

 nocturnal habits, and live on insects. The present species has the body about six 

 inches long, its tail considerably longer, and terminated by a tuft of hairs. It is said 

 to be a native of Madagascar. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE THE SWALLOWS, 



The Swallows constitute an extensive family of birds, remarkable for the elegance of 

 their form, their adaptation for rapid and protracted flight, and their extended mi- 

 grations. From the liveliness of their manners, their attachment to the habitations 

 of man, and the circumstance of their announcing the return of summer, they arc 

 general favourites. This group has been divided into several genera, of which it is 



