DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.
Genus Cyrtonyx. Gould, Monograph of the Odontophorinæ (American Partridges) Introduction, p. 14, London, 1850. Folio.
Bill short, robust, ridge of the mandible curving downwards from its base; lower mandible straight with two slight dentitions near its point; nostrils large, covered and bordered with a membrane. Head crested, the feathers inclining backward and forming a thick tuft on the occiput; wings rather long, tertiaries pendant, longer than the primaries; tail short, and composed of soft feathers. Tarsi rather long and robust; toes short, hind-toe focal, nails large, long and curved. All the known species are natives of America. Type C. Massena.
Cyrtonyx Massena. (Lesson.) Ortyx Massena. Lesson. Centurie Zoologique, p. 189. Paris, 1830. Ortyx Montezumæ. Vigors. Zoological Journal, Vol. V., p. 275. London, 1830. Odontophorus Meleagris. Wagler. Isis. Vol. XXV. p. 277. Leipzig, 1832. “Perdix perspicillata. Lichtenstein in Mus. Berlin.” Gould in Monograph. ut supra. Tetrao guttata. Llave Reg. trimestre, I. p. 145. Mexico, 1832.
Form. Compact and robust; plumage of the head above, elongated, and forming a pendant thick tuft on the occiput. Wings rather long; tail short, formed of weak feathers, and concealed by the superior coverts; tarsi rather short, robust; toes short; claws long, curved.
Dimensions of Capt. French’s male specimen in spirits. Total length, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 9 inches; wing 5; tail 2 inches. Female. Dr. Woodhouse’s female specimen, (dried skin.) Total length about 8¼ inches; wing, 4¾; tail, 2 inches.
Colors. Male. General color of the sides of the head and throat, white, with black stripes commencing at the base of the bill and curving above and below the eye, forming a broad, abruptly terminated somewhat triangular patch on the cheek, which is united to a wide longitudinal mark on the throat;—the entire white space enclosed by an edging of black.
Occipital tuft of crest-like feathers, buff yellow, frequently nearly white, but varying in shade of color in different specimens. Head above with a central black line commencing at the base of the bill, and running into brownish and black, on the upper part of the head.
Upper surface of the body brown, inclining to reddish chestnut, every feather having several transverse bars of black, and a narrow longitudinal stripe of pale yellowish, nearly white in the centre; wing coverts and tertiaries paler, and with the black bars much broader, and inclining to form circular spots on some of the feathers. Primaries brownish black, transversely barred with pale reddish yellow, especially on the outer webs.
Middle of the breast and abdomen fine deep chestnut, forming a wide longitudinal stripe on those parts of the body; sides and flanks sooty black, every feather marked with about six or eight circular spots of pure white; ventral region, thighs, and under tail coverts, deep black. Tail and long superior coverts same color as the wing coverts. Upper mandible nearly black; under mandible lighter; tarsi pale colored.
Female. Head above, and occipital tuft and body above, pale reddish or purplish brown, with a tinge of cinereous; every feather with transverse irregular bars and lines of black, and with a conspicuous longitudinal narrow stripe of yellowish white in the centre.
Throat pale white; inferior surface of the body pale purplish brown on the belly and flanks, with irregular lines and minute spots of black.
Hab. Mexico and Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.
Obs. The descriptions by M. Lesson and Mr. Vigors, as cited above, were published nearly at the same time. That by M. Lesson appears to have had a short period of priority, which entitles his name to preference.
In our article on another species, we propose to give a synopsis, with descriptions of all the partridges inhabiting the continent of America.
LARUS HEERMANNI.—Cassin.
The White-Headed Gull.
PLATE V.—Adult Male and Young female.
Amongst the many species of sea-birds which frequent the coast of the American continent on the Pacific ocean, there is a race of Gulls with very graceful forms, slender and brightly colored bills, and handsome plumage, of which no immediate representatives have yet been discovered on the eastern shores of this continent. The range of the species of this race extends from Oregon to Cape Horn, and one species similar in general characters inhabits the coasts of Australia and some of the islands in the Pacific ocean.
This group appears to be characterized generally by the uniform lead-colored plumage which prevails in several of the known species, and seems to embrace Larus Belcheri. Vigors. Larus fuliginosus. Gould. Larus nova hollandiæ. Stephens, the present species, and some others.
The bird, which is the subject of the present description, is one of the most handsome of the numerous family to which it belongs, and of which species are found on all the sea shores of the world. It is one of many additions to the ornithological fauna of the United States, which have been discovered by Adolphus L. Heermann, M. D., of Philadelphia, who has been occupied for nearly three years in making researches and collections, with excellent judgment and great enterprise, in California, and has now succeeded in safely bringing home the most extensive collections ever made in that country.
Dr. Heermann found this Gull occurring frequently on the coast of California, but most numerous in the harbor of San Diego in the month of March, at which time though it appeared to have attained its perfect plumage in some instances, yet many specimens were clothed in that of young birds. Both of these stages of plumage are represented in our plate, and it is possible that the plumage assumed in winter, at all ages, may be similar in most respects to that of the young.
Plate 5
The White-headed Gull
Larus Heermanni (Cassin)
It was observed, at the localities alluded to, usually flying in company with the western Gull, Larus occidentalis, Audubon, a large and handsome species, of which, in a future part of our work, we hope to have the pleasure of presenting a figure and description to our readers. It appeared to be engaged in the capture of small fishes, of which several species abound in the harbor of San Diego, and also appeared to feed on the small maritime animals of various classes, that inhabit the immense beds of Kelp which occur on the coast, and are especially extensive off the harbor of San Diego less than a mile from its mouth.[1] The nests and eggs of both the present species and of the western Gull were found by Dr. Heermann on the Coronadoes islands which are situated a short distance below the mouth of the harbor.
Our first notice of this bird which we regard as having been previously undescribed, and which we dedicated to its discoverer, is in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. VI. p. 187, (October, 1852.) The figures given in the present plate are about one-sixth of the natural size.