Edinburgh, 1st July 1839.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page
[FAMILY I. VULTURINÆ. VULTURINE BIRDS,]1
[Genus 1. Cathartes. Turkey-Vulture,]1
[II. FALCONINÆ. FALCONINE BIRDS,]3
1.[Polyborus. Caracara,]4
2.[Buteo. Buzzard,]5
3.[Aquila. Eagle,]8
4.[Haliaetus. Sea-Eagle,]9
5.[Pandion. Osprey,]11
6.[Elanus. Elanus,]12
7.[Ictinia. Ictinia,]13
8.[Nauclerus. Swallow-tailed Hawk,]14
9.[Falco. Falcon,]15
10.[Astur. Hawk,]17
11.[Circus. Harrier,]19
[III. STRIGINÆ. OWLS,]20
1.[Surnia. Day-Owl,]21
2.[Ulula. Night-Owl,]23
3.[Strix. Screech-Owl,]24
4.[Syrnium. Hooting-Owl,]26
5.[Otus. Eared-Owl,]27
6.[Bubo. Horned-Owl,]29
[IV. CAPRIMULGINÆ. GOATSUCKERS,]30
1.[Caprimulgus. Goatsucker,]31
2.[Chordeiles. Night-Hawk,]32
[V. CYPSELINÆ. SWIFTS,]33
1.[Chætura. Spine-Tail,]33
[VI. HIRUNDINÆ. SWALLOWS,]34
1.[Hirundo. Swallow,]34
[VII. MUSCICAPINÆ. FLYCATCHERS,]37
1.[Milvulus. Swallow-Tail,]37
2.[Muscicapa. Flycatcher,]39
3.[Ptilogonys. Ptilogonys,]45
4.[Culicivora. Gnat-Catcher,]46
[VIII. SYLVICOLINÆ. WOOD-WARBLERS,]47
1.[Myiodioctes. Flycatching-Warbler,]48
2.[Sylvicola. Wood-Warbler,]50
3.[Trichas. Ground-Warbler,]63
4.[Helinaia. Swamp-Warbler,]66
5.[Mniotilta. Creeping-Warbler,]70
[IX. CERTHIANÆ. CREEPERS,]71
1.[Certhia. Tree-Creeper,]72
2.[Troglodytes. Wren,]73
[X. PARINÆ. TITS,]77
1.[Parus. Tit,]78
[XI. SYLVIANÆ. WARBLERS,]80
1.[Regulus. Kinglet,]81
2.[Sialia. Blue Bird,]83
[XII. TURDINÆ. THRUSHES,]85
1.[Cinclus. Dipper,]86
2.[Orpheus. Mocking-Bird,]86
3.[Turdus. Thrush,]88
[XIII. MOTACILLINÆ. WAGTAILS,]92
1.[Seiurus. Wood-Wagtails,]92
2.[Anthus. Pipit,]94
[XIV. ALAUDINÆ. LARKS,]95
1.[Alauda. Lark,]96
[XV. FRINGILLINÆ. FINCHES,]97
1.[Plectrophanes. Lark-Bunting,]98
2.[Emberiza. Bunting,]100
3.[Niphæa. Snow-Bird,]106
4.[Spiza. Painted-Bunting,]107
5.[Ammodramus. Shore-Finch,]109
6.[Peucæa. Pinewood-Finch,]112
7.[Linaria. Linnet,]113
8.[Carduelis. Goldfinch,]115
9.[Fringilla. Finch,]118
10.[Pipilo. Ground-Finch,]123
11.[Erythrospiza. Purple-Finch,]124
12.[Corythus. Pine-Finch,]126
13.[Loxia. Crossbill,]127
14.[Corydalina. Lark-Finch,]129
15.[Pitylus. Cardinal Grosbeak,]131
16.[Coccoborus. Song-Grosbeak,]132
17.[Coccothraustes. Grosbeak,]134
18.[Pyranga. Red-Bird,]135
[XVI. AGELAINÆ. MARSH-BLACKBIRDS,]137
1.[Dolichonyx. Rice-Bird,]138
2.[Molothrus. Cow-Bird,]139
3.[Agelaius. Marsh-Blackbird,]139
4.[Icterus. Hangnest,]142
5.[Quiscalus. Crow-Blackbird,]145
[XVII. STURNINÆ. STARLINGS,]147
1.[Sturnella. Meadow-Starling,]148
[XVIII. CORVINÆ. CROWS,]149
1.[Corvus. Crow,]150
2.[Pica. Magpie,]151
3.[Garrulus. Jay,]153
4.[Nucifraga. Nutcracker,]155
[XIX. LANIINÆ. SHRIKES,]156
1.[Lanius. Shrike, or Butcher-Bird,]157
[XX. VIREONINÆ. GREENLETS,]159
1.[Vireo. Greenlet,]159
[XXI. PIPRINÆ. MANAKINS,]162
1.[Icteria. Chat,]163
[XXII. AMPELINÆ. CHATTERERS,]163
1.[Bombycilla. Waxwing,]164
[XXIII. SITTINÆ. NUTHATCHES,]166
1.[Sitta. Nuthatch,]166
[XXIV. TROCHILINÆ. HUMMINGBIRDS,]168
1.[Trochilus. Hummingbird,]169
2.[Selasphorus. Ruffed-Hummingbird,]171
[XXV. ALCEDINÆ. KINGFISHERS,]172
1.[Alcedo. Kingfisher,]172
[XXVI. PICINÆ. WOODPECKERS,]174
1.[Picus. Woodpecker,]175
[XXVII. CUCULINÆ. CUCKOOS,]186
1.[Coccyzus. American Cuckoo,]186
[XXVIII. PSITTACINÆ. PARROTS,]188
1.[Centurus.,]188
[XXIX. COLUMBINÆ. PIGEONS,]189
1.[Columba. Dove,]190
2.[Starnænas. Ground Dove,]193
3.[Ectopistes. Long-tailed Dove,]194
[XXX. PAVONINÆ. PAVONINE BIRDS,]195
1.[Meleagris. Turkey,]196
[XXXI. PERDICINÆ. PARTRIDGES,]198
1.[Ortyx. American Partridge,]198
[XXXII. TETRAONINÆ. GROUSE,]201
1.[Tetrao. Grouse,]201
2.[Lagopus. Ptarmigan,]206
[XXXIII. RALLINÆ. RAILS,]209
1.[Gallinula. Gallinule,]209
2.[Fulica. Coot,]211
3.[Ortygometra. Crake-Gallinule,]212
4.[Rallus. Rail,]214
5.[Aramus. Courlan,]216
[XXXIV. GRUINÆ. CRANES,]218
1.[Grus. Crane,]218
[XXXV. CHARADRIINÆ. PLOVERS,]219
1.[Charadrius. Plover,]220
2.[Aphriza. Surf-Bird,]225
3.[Strepsilas. Turnstone,]226
4.[Hæmatopus. Oyster-catcher,]228
[XXXVI. SCOLOPACINÆ. SNIPES,]229
1.[Tringa. Sandpiper,]230
2.[Phalaropus. Phalarope,]238
3.[Lobipes. Lobefoot,]240
4.[Totanus. Tatler,]241
5.[Limosa. Godwit,]246
6.[Scolopax. Snipe,]247
7.[Microptera. Bogsucker,]250
8.[Recurvirostra. Avocet,]251
9.[Himantopus. Stilt,]252
10.[Numenius. Curlew,]253
[XXXVII. TANTALINÆ. IBISES,]256
1.[Ibis. Ibis,]256
2.[Tantalus. Tantalus,]258
3.[Platalea. Spoonbill,]259
[XXXVIII. ARDEINÆ. HERONS,]261
1.[Ardea. Heron,]261
[XXXIX. ANATINÆ. DUCKS,]267
1.[Phœnicopterus. Flamingo,]268
2.[Anser. Goose,]270
3.[Cygnus. Swan,]273
4.[Anas. Duck,]275
5.[Fuligula. Sea-Duck,]284
[XL. MERGINÆ. MERGANSERS,]298
1.[Mergus. Merganser,]297
[XLI. PELECANINÆ. PELICANS,]300
1.[Phalacrocorax. Cormorant,]301
2.[Plotus. Anhinga,]305
3.[Tachypetes. Frigate Bird,]306
4.[Pelecanus. Pelican,]308
5.[Sula. Gannet,]310
6.[Phaeton. Tropic Bird,]312
[XLII. LARINÆ. GULLS,]313
1.[Rhynchops. Skimmer,]313
2.[Sterna. Tern,]315
3.[Larus. Gull,]322
[XLIII. PROCELLARINÆ. FULMARS,]330
1.[Lestris. Jager,]331
2.[Diomedea. Albatross,]333
3.[Procellaria. Fulmar,]335
4.[Puffinus. Shearwater,]337
5.[Thalassidroma. Petrel,]339
[XLIV. ALCINÆ. AUKS,]341
1.[Mormon. Puffin,]342
2.[Alca. Auk,]344
3.[Phaleris. Phaleris,]345
4.[Mergulus. Sea-Dove,]348
5.[Uria. Guillemot,]349
[XLV. COLYMBINÆ. DIVERS AND GREBES,]351
1.[Colymbus. Diver,]352
2.[Podiceps. Grebe,]355

SYNOPSIS.

FAMILY I. VULTURINÆ. VULTURINE BIRDS, OR VULTURES.

Bill of moderate length, stout, cerate; upper mandible with the tip elongated and decurved; lower mandible rounded and thin-edged at the end. Head rather small, or of moderate size, ovato-oblong, and with part of the neck destitute of feathers. Eyes of moderate size, without projecting ridges. External aperture of ears rather small and simple. Skin over the fore part of the neck bare or merely downy. Tarsus rather stout, bare, and shorter than the middle toe; hind toe much smaller than the second; anterior toes connected at the base by a web; claws large, moderately curved, rather acute. Plumage full and rather compact. Wings very long, subacuminate. Œsophagus excessively wide, and dilated into a crop; stomach rather large, somewhat muscular, with a soft rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca extremely small. The young when fledged have the head and upper part of the neck generally covered with down. Eggs commonly two.

GENUS I. CATHARTES, Illiger. TURKEY-VULTURE.

Bill of moderate length, rather slender, somewhat compressed; upper mandible with its dorsal outline nearly straight and declinate to the end of the large cere, then decurved, the edges a little festooned, rather thick, the tip descending and rather obtuse; lower mandible with the angle long and rather narrow, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the edges sharp, towards the end decurved. Nostrils oblong, large, pervious. Head oblong. Tongue deeply concave or induplicate, its edges serrate with reversed papillæ. Œsophagus dilated into an enormous crop; stomach moderately muscular; duodenum convoluted. Head and upper part of neck denuded, being only sparingly covered with very short down. Wings very long and extremely broad; third, fourth, and fifth primaries longest, first much shorter. Tail of moderate length, nearly even. Tarsus short, rather stout, roundish, reticulate. Hind toe very small, second a little shorter than fourth, third very long, all scutellate for more than half their length. Claws strong, arched, compressed, obtuse.