Nature has, for much the greater part, denied to birds of brilliant plumage any remarkable powers of melody, and there are many birds of great beauty, in which the voice is harsh and uninviting, if not absolutely disagreeable. Occasional exceptions occur, particularly in the families of Grosbeaks and Finches, species of which are capable of producing short, though expressive and musical notes, sometimes uttered in connection with each other, and forming a partial song. Such is the case, too, with a few of the Orioles; but we should infer from the interesting statement of Lieut. Couch, that the bird now before us is, at least, one of the most gifted of its family, and we shall look forward to his further investigations in Mexico, which he is now about commencing, hoping for additional information in relation to this remarkable species.
All the most celebrated songsters of the feathered kingdom are birds of very plain plumage. The Nightingale, famed in all ages, and universally admitted to be the most superior in vocal ability of all the birds of the world, would attract no attention whatever from the general observer, so modest and unpretending is its appearance. The Mocking Bird of the United States, properly regarded as second only to the Nightingale, is scarcely less so, and our other Thrushes, and the little Vireos, very respectfully to be mentioned as vocalists, partake of the same character.
Mr. Pease noticed the Black-headed Oriole not only at Jalapa, but also on the tierra caliente, between that city and Vera Cruz. At the season when observed by him, it fed principally on fruits, as noticed by Mr. Clark, which fact does not conflict with Lieut. Couch’s statement, that it is an insect-eater; as all the birds of the family to which this species belongs, subsist on both fruits and insects, or are what are termed omnivorous. At Jalapa, it was called by the Mexicans, Calandria iquimite, the latter word being the name of a tree, of the fruit of which it is said to be particularly fond.
Our plate represents the adult male, which is but little different from the female. The figure is two-thirds of the natural size.
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.
Genus Icterus. Brisson, Orn., II. p. 85. (1760.) Icterus melanocephalus. (Wagler.) Psaracolius melanocephalus. Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 756. Icterus Audubonii. Giraud. New species N. A. Birds, p. 1. (1841.)
Form. Rather robust; bill strong, high at base; wings rather short; third and fourth quills longest; tail graduated; central feathers longest; legs and feet large and strong.
Dimensions. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, 8¾ inches; wing, 4; tail, 4¼ inches.
Colors. Head black, which color has a semicircular termination on the breast. Entire under parts and neck behind, bright yellow; back and rump yellowish-green; wings black; quills edged externally with ashy white; tail black; bill bluish-black, lighter at the base of the lower mandible; tarsi and feet lead-colored; irides brown. Sexes nearly alike; female with the yellow parts of the plumage less vivid, and the tail in some specimens edged and tinged with greenish.
Hab. Texas, Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada.; and Nat. Mus., Washington city.