Oct. 1835. 



TAMENESS OF BIRDS. 



475 



brought home the specimens) that one species [Orpheus 

 trijasciatus, Gould) is exclusively found in Charles Island ; 

 a second {O. parvulus) on Albemarle Island ; and a third 

 (O. melanotus) common to James and Chatham Islands. 

 The two last species are closely allied^ but the first would 

 be considered by every naturalist as quite distinct. I 

 examined many specimens in the different islands, and in 

 each the respective kind was alo)ie present. These birds 

 agree in general plumage, structure, and habits ; so that 

 the different species replace each other in the economy of 

 the different islands. These species are not characterized 

 by the markings on the plumage alone, but likewise by the 

 size and form of the bill, and other differences. I have 

 stated, that in the thirteen species of ground-finches, a 

 nearly perfect gradation may be traced, from a beak extra- 

 ordinarily thick, to one so fine, that it may be compared to 

 that of a warbler. I very much suspect, that certain mem- 

 bers of the series are confined to different islands ; therefore, 

 if the collection had been made on any one island, it would 

 not have presented so perfect a gradation. It is clear, that 

 if several islands have each their peculiar species of the 

 same genera, when these are placed together, they will have a 

 wide range of character. But there is not space in this 

 work, to enter on this curious subject. 



Before concluding my account of the zoology of these 

 islands, I must describe more in detail the tameness of the 

 birds. This disposition is common to all the terrestrial spe- 

 cies; namely, to the mocking-birds, the finches, sylvicolee, 

 tyrant-flycatchers, doves, and hawks. There is not one 

 which will not approach sufficiently near to be killed with a 

 switch, and sometimes, as I have myseK tried, with a cap 

 or hat. A gun is here almost superfluous; for with the 

 muzzle of one I pushed a hawk off the branch of a tree. 

 One day a mocking-bird alighted on the edge of a pitcher 

 (made of the shell of a tortoise), which I held in my hand 

 whilst lying clown. It began very quietly to sip the water, 

 and allowed me to lift it with the vessel from the ground. 



