Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Excerpt from Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. 1: A Quarterly Journal of Ornithology
Helminthophaga Leucobronchialis. Pl. 1
Adult male: summer plumage. Crown, bright yellow, slightly tinged with olive on the occiput. Greater and middle wing coverts, yellow, not so bright as the crown. Superciliary line, cheeks, throat and entire under parts; silky-white, with a slight tinge of pale yellow on the breast. Dorsal surface, - exclusive of nape which is clear ashy - washed with yellow, as are also the outer margins of the secondaries. A narrow line of clear black passes from the base of the upper mandible, through and to a short distance behind the eye, interrupted however by the lower eyelid, which is distinctly white. No trace of black on the cheeks or throat, even upon raising the feathers. Bill black. Feet, dark brown. Dimensions - length, 5.19; extent, 7.88;wing, 2.45; tarsus, .71; tail, 1.86; culmen, .53.
It will be seen from the above description that this bird resembles most closely the Golden-winged Warbler, (Helminthophaga chrysoptera.)
The entire absence of black or ashy on the cheeks and throat, the peculiar character of the supereiliary line, and the white lower eyelid, present however differences not to be reconciled with any known seasonal or accidental variation of that species. The restricted line of black through the eye gives the bead a remarkable similarity to that of Helminthophaga pinus, but the semblance goes no farther.
The specimen above described was shot by the writer in Newtonville, Mass., May 18, 1870.It was in full song when taken and was flitting about in a thicket of birches near a swampy piece of oak and maple woods.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Synopsis
Excerpt from Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. 1: A Quarterly Journal of Ornithology
The above are the principal differences, and together with Audubon's fine plate. Which is a perfect facsimile of my bird, give a most emphatic contradiction to all assertions that Audu bon was unable to distinguish the difference between Buteo fvul garis and what to him would have been a new bird. I This noted ornithologist was constantly on the lookout for new species with which to embellish his book, and it is extremely improbable that he would have let such an opportunity escape him.
The descriptive points given are enough to separate Audu bon's bird from all others, but as if to give more weight to his testimony we find him saying as a final to his article: When compared with European specimens, mine have the bill somewhat stronger; but in all other respects, including the scutella and scales of the feet and toes, and the structure of the wings and tail, the parts are similar.
It will be noticed that he uses the plural mine, for before this was appended he had received another, also shot by Dr. Townsend, on the plains of the Snake River.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.