text:
RECORD: Darwin, C. R. ed. 1839. Birds Part 3 No. 3 of The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. by John Gould. Edited and superintended by Charles Darwin. London: Smith Elder and Co.
REVISION HISTORY: Scanned and text prepared by John van Wyhe 2.2006; proofread and corrected by Sue Asscher 3.2006. RN1
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Continued from Birds Part 3 No. 2
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points of intersection marked something like arrow-heads. The fulvous tint is here predominant. Downy feathers on thighs same fulvous colour as rest of body. Bill black.
FORM.—Second primary scarcely perceptibly longer than the first, and fourth rather longer than first. Tarsi thickly clothed with short feathers to the root of the nails.
In. |
Total length . . . . . . . . . . . | 13½ |
. . . . . . . . . . . . |
Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
6 |
Tarsi . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
2 |
Middle toe to root of nail . . . . . . . | 11/10 |
From tip of beak to interior edge of nostril . | 6/10 |
Habitat, James Island, Galapagos Archipelago, (October).
Mr. Gould informs me, that "this species has most of the essential characters of the common short-eared owl of Europe (Strix brachyota), but differs from it, and all the other members of the group, in its smaller size and darker colouring."
The lesser proportional size of the fulvous marks on the first primaries, and on the tail, and the peculiar transverse brown marks on the feathers of the belly, easily distinguish it from the common short-eared owl. The specimen described is a male bird.
2. OTUS PALUSTRIS. Gould.
Strix brachyota. Lath.
Specimens of this bird were obtained at the Falkland Islands, at Santa Cruz in Patagonia, and at Maldonado on the northern bank of the Plata. At the latter place it seemed to live in long grass, and took to flight readily in the day. At the Falkland Islands it harboured in a similar manner amongst low bushes. Mr. Gould says, "So closely do the specimens brought home by Mr. Darwin, resemble European individuals, that I can discover no specific difference, by which they may be distinguished."
We have, therefore, the same species occurring in lat. 52° S. on the coast of South America, and in the northern division of the continent, according to Richardson, even as far as the sixty-seventh degree of latitude. Jardine says it is found in the Orkney islands (lat. 59°), and in Siberia; and that he has received specimens of it from Canton. M. D'Orbigny says it is found in the Sandwich and Marianne islands in the Pacific Ocean, and at Bengal in India. This bird, therefore, may be considered as a true cosmopolite.
[page] 34 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Strix rufipes, King, in Zoological Journal, Vol. iii. p. 426.
I obtained a specimen of this bird from a party of Fuegians in the extreme southern islands of Tierra del Fuego. Owls are not uncommon in this country, and as small birds are not plentiful, and the lesser rodents extremely scarce, it at first appears difficult to imagine on what they feed. The following fact, perhaps, explains the circumstance : Mr. Bynoe, the surgeon to the "Beagle," killed an owl in the Chonos Archipelago, where the nature of the country is very similar to that of Tierra del Fuego, and, on opening its stomach, he found it filled with the remains of large-sized crabs: I conclude, therefore, that these birds here likewise subsist chiefly on marine productions.
1. STRIX FLAMMEA. Linn.
I obtained a specimen of a white owl from Bahia Blanca in Northern Patagonia, and Mr. Gould remarks concerning it, that he only retains the name of S. flammea provisionally, until all the white owls, from various countries, shall have been subjected to a careful examination. Mr. Gould suspects, that when this is effected, the South American white owl will prove to be specifically distinct from that of Europe.
2. STRIX PUNCTATISSIMA. G. R. Gray.
Plate IV.
S. supra nigricans, flavo subnebulosa, minutè albo-punctatissima, maculâ albâ ad apicem plumæ, cujusvis; subtus fulva, fasciis interruptis nigricantibus; caudâ dorso concolore, nigricanti-fasciatâ, apice albâ; disco faciali castaneo-rufo nigricanti-nebuloso circumdato, pogoniis internis albis, scapis nigris; pedibus longis, infra genu plumosis; tarso reliquo digitisque subpilosis.
Long. tot. 13½; alæ, 9¼; caudæ, 4¼; tarsi, 27/10.
COLOUR.—Head and feathers within facial disc, glossy ferruginous brown, those forming the margin of it, same coloured, with their tips dark brown. Back
of head and throat smoky brown, mottled with numerous small white dots, on the tips of the feathers. Back and wing-coverts the same, with the white spots larger and purer. Wings: primaries, same dark brown, mottled with dull chesnut red; the tip of each, with the exception of the three first, is marked with a triangular white spot, of the same kind with those over the rest of the body, but larger. Tail, transversely barred with brown and reddish fulvous, and the extreme points mottled with white. Under surface. Breast, belly and lining of wings, fulvous, mottled with brown; —the feathers being transversely barred with narrow brown lines. Under side of tail, pale gray, with well defined transverse bars of a darker gray. Short downy feathers on tarsi, of a brighter fulvous than the rest of the under surface.
FORM.—Third primary rather longer than second; first equal to third. Wing, exceeding the tail in length by nearly one inch and a quarter. Short feathers on the tarsus, extending about one-third of its length, below the knee. Tarsi, elongated. Toes and lower part of tarsi, with few scattered brown hairs.
In. |
Total length . . . . . . | 13½ |
. . . . . . |
9¼ |
Tail . . . . . . | 4¼ |
Tarsi . . . . . . | 27/10 |
Tip of beak to rictus . . . | 1½ |
Middle toe, from root of claw to base . | 11/10 |
Habitat, James Island, Galapagos Archipelago, (October.)
I am indebted to Mr. G. R. Gray for the description of this species, which is deposited in the British Museum. Only one specimen was obtained during our visit to the Galapagos Archipelago; and this formed part of the collection made by the direction of Captain FitzRoy.
This owl is in every respect a true Strix; it is fully a third less than the common species of Europe, and differs from it in many respects, especially in the darker colouring of its plumage. The colouring of the Plate is not perfectly accurate in its minuter details.
[page] 36 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE,
1. CAPRIMULGUS BIFASCIATUS. Gould.
Caprimulgus bifasciatus, Gould, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society, February 1837, p. 22.
C. capite nigro fusco et fulvescente ornatus; caudâ albo bifasciatâ, fasciâ terminali latâ: primâ angustâ; primariis nigrescentibus fasciâ angustâ albâ ad medium: alis spuriis maculâ albâ notatis; gutture lunulâ albâ; secundariis tectricibusque alarum maculâ fulvescente ad apicem; crisso pallidè rufescente; rostro pedibusque fuscis.
Long. tot. unc., 9¾; alæ, 61/3; caudæ, 5; tarsi; ¾.
Front and back of head gray, mottled with black and with little fulvous. The latter colour more abundant, and in larger markings in the interscapular region, and on the wing-coverts. The black markings give a somewhat streaked appearance to the back of head and interscapulars. On the back of throat the fulvous tint is so much pronounced, that a collar is formed which is continued under a white one round the breast. Wings: primaries brownish-black; four external ones, with a large white mark, forming a band, at about one-third of their length from their extremities: these white marks are edged with fulvous, and the part on the outer web of the first primary, is wholly so coloured. The other primaries are marked with reddish brown, as are the secondaries and tertiaries, the marks becoming more numerous and smaller, and the colours more mottled, nearer the back. Tail: upper tail-coverts and two central feathers of tail marked like those on the back; the black, however, forming narrow interrupted transverse bars. The pair next to these central ones have near their extremities a large white mark, but only on the inner shaft. In the three succeeding pairs, the white spot extends on both sides of the shaft, and in each pair increases somewhat in size; so that in the external pair, the white spot is merely bordered with a very narrow, faint margin, of brown and fulvous. At about half their length, all the feathers, with the exception of the central pair, have a smaller white mark, but only on the inner side of the shaft. This mark is transverse, in the form of a band, and the white blends into fulvous on the edges of the webs. Outer web of these same external feathers, are transversely barred with black and fulvous. Under surface.—Chin, breast, belly, and lining of wings, dirty fulvous, with numerous
narrow, irregular, transverse bars of brown. Throat with white collar, beneath which the fulvous tint is predominant, forming a kind of under collar, which is continued round the whole neck. Under tail-coverts fulvous,—tail itself appears almost black, with a great terminal white band, and a narrower one at about half its length.
Wings, an inch and a quarter shorter than the tail. Second primary, scarcely perceptibly longer than the third; the first about an eighth of an inch shorter than the second, and 8 ths longer than the fourth. Feathers on wing, with the outer webs, slightly excised.
In. |
Total length . . . . . . | 9¾ |
folded . . . . . . |
6½ |
Tail . . . . . . . . | 5 |
Tarsi . . . . . . . | 8/10 |
From tip of beak to rictus . . . | 1 |
Of middle toe without the claw . . . | 7/10 |
Habitat, Valparaiso Chile, (August).
This species frequents the mountains of central Chile. When bivouacking one night on the Bell of Quillota, at an elevation of 6000 feet above the sea, I heard a gentle, plaintive cry, which I was told was made by this bird. It is regarded with superstitious dread by many of the lower orders.
Mr, Gould observes, that "this species has a strong resemblance, at the first glance, with the Caprimulgus Europæus, but may be readily distinguished by its shorter wing, more lengthened tarsi, by a conspicuous white band across the base of the tail, and by all these feathers, except the two middle ones, having another white band near the tip." Mr. Gould then adds, as "I am quite undecided to which of the sub-genera this and the following species should belong, I leave them for the present in the restricted genus, Caprimulgus, although I certainly perceive in it many points of affinity to the group which inhabits the United States of North America."
2. CAPRIMULGUS PARVULUS. Gould.
Caprimulgus parvulus, Gould, Proceedings of the Zoological Society, February 1837, p. 22.
C. capite intensè fusco, guttis minutis cinereis ornato; vittâ rufâ cervicem cingente; gutture scapularibusque ad marginem, secundariis ad apicem stramineis; pectore et abdomine lineis fuscis transversis; primariis nigrescentibus, tribus fasciis inæqualibus pallidè rufescentibus; caudâ fasciis pallidè fulvescentibus et fuscis ornatâ.
Long. tot. unc., 7½; alæ, 5; caudæ, 4; tarsi, 5/8.
Crown of head gray, with black longitudinal streaks. Back of neck with a fulvous ring, which extends round the front beneath one of white, as in the C. bifas-
[page] 38 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
ciatus. Back, dull gray. Interscapulars, with the central part of each feather, black, terminating in a point; the outer part of the web being broadly fringed with a very pale fulvous, the inner with gray. Wings: primaries brown, with fulvous marks, forming three irregular transverse bars, which are scarcely visible when the wing is closed. Tail and upper tail-coverts, dull coloured, very obscurely marked with transverse bars of gray and fulvous, of different degrees of darkness. Under surface.—Throat white, edged with fulvous on lower side. Breast, belly, and under tail-coverts, fulvous, with numerous very narrow transverse bars of brown. The pale fulvous marks, forming interrupted bars, are more plainly seen on this than on the upper side of the tail.
Third primary, very little longer than second, and second than first. First rather longer than fourth. Extremities of wings reaching within an inch and a quarter of end of tail. End of tail more rounded than in last species.
In. |
Total length . . . . . . | 7½ |
. . . . . . . |
5 |
Tail . . . . . . . . | 4 |
Tarsi . . . . . . . | 5/8 |
Middle toe, from tip of claw to joint of foot | 9/12 |
From tip of beak to rictus . . . | 1 |
Habitat, La Plata, (September).
This species is not uncommon on the wooded banks of the Parana, near Santa Fé. If disturbed, it rises from the ground, in the same inactive manner as the European species. I saw one alight on a rope diagonally, but not so completely in a longitudinal position as does the C. Europæus, nor transversely as other birds. Mr. Gould observes, that "this goatsucker is full a third less than the Caprimulgus Europæus, and is remarkable for the uniformity of its markings, having no distinct white bars, or marks, either on the wings or tail."
1. PROGNE PURPUREA. Boie.
Hirundo purpurea, Wils.
My specimens were obtained at Monte Video, (November) and Bahia Blanca, 39° S. (September) how much further southward this species extends I do not know. Jardine says, that in North America it migrates during summer as far as the Great Bear Lake, in Lat. 66° N.; it is mentioned by M. Audubon, at New Orleans, 30° N., and by Mr. Swainson, at Pernambuco, in 8½° S.; we may, there-
fore, conclude that it ranges throughout both Americas, but it is not found in the Old World. Wilson describes this bird as a great favourite with the inhabitants of North America, both European and Indian, who erect boxes and other contrivances near their houses for it to build in. At Bahia Blanca, the females were beginning to lay in September, (corresponding to our March): they had excavated deep holes in a cliff of compact earth, close by the side of the larger burrows inhabited by the ground parrot of Patagonia, (Psittacara Patagonica.) I noticed several times a small flock of these birds, pursuing each other, in a rapid and direct course, flying low, and screaming in the manner so characteristic of the English Swift, (Hirundo Apus, Linn.)
2. PROGNE MODESTA. Gould.
Hirundo concolor, Gould, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society.
P. nitidè cærulescenti-nigra.
Long. tot. 6 unc; alæ, 5¼; caudæ, 2¾; tarsi, ½.
The upper and under surface has not so strongly a marked purple shade, as in the P. purpurea. The primaries and feathers of the tail, however, have a greenish gloss, perhaps slightly more metallic.
Tail not so deeply forked as in P. purpurea, which is owing to the two external feathers on each side not being so much prolonged and bent outward, as in that species. Nostrils of less size than in the latter, although the beaks differ but little. Claws and feet are much less strong, than might have been anticipated, even proportionally to the less dimensions of this species compared with the P. purpurea.
Inches. |
Total length . . . . . . . . . . . | 6 |
Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 5¼ |
Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 2¾ |
Tarsi . . . . . . . . . . . . . | ½ |
Middle toe from tip of claw to joint . . . | 35/100 |
Habitat, James Island, Galapagos Archipelago, (October).
This swallow was observed only on this one island of the group, and it was there very far from common. It frequented a bold cliff of lava overhanging the sea. Had not Mr. Gould characterized it as a distinct species, I should have considered it only as a small variety, produced by an uncongenial site, of the Progne purpurea. I can perceive no difference whatever from that bird,
[page] 40 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
excepting in its less size, slenderness of limbs, and less deeply forked tail; and the latter difference may perhaps be owing to youth.
1. HIRUNDO LEUCOPYGIA. Licht.
My specimens were obtained at Port Famine, in Tierra del Fuego, ( February), and at Valparaiso, in Chile, (August to September). At Port Famine they build in holes in a cliff of earth. Mr. Gould says, " were it not for the bare legs of this little Martin, I should have some difficulty in discriminating between it and the one so well known as a summer visitor in our island."
2. HIRUNDO FRONTALIS. Gould.
H. vertice, plumis auricularibus, dorso et lunulâ pectorali nitidè cæruleo viridescentibus, notâ albâ supra nares, gulâ corporeque subtus albicantibus, crisso niveo, alis caudâque fuscis viridi tinctis, rostro nigro, pedibus intensè fuscis.
Long. tot. 4¾ unc. alæ, 4¾; caudæ, 2; tarsi, ½.
Upper surface, with a greenish blue metallic gloss; which can faintly be perceived on the primaries and on the tail feathers. The short feathers over each nostril white, thus forming two small white marks; those over the ridge of bill pale brown, giving together the appearance of a narrow white band over the upper mandible. Entire under surface and lining of wings pure white. Tarsi rather darker than in H. leucopygia.
Very slightly larger than H. leucopygia; upper mandible rather broader.
Inches. |
Total length . . . . . . . . . . . | 4¾ |
Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . | 4¾ |
Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 2 |
Tarsi . . . . . . . . . . . . | ½ |
Habitat, Monte Video, (November).
Mr. Gould says, "this species is closely allied both to the common martin, and to the last species; from the former bird, however, its bare legs at once distinguish it, while it differs from the latter in being rather larger in size, in having an obscure white mark on the forehead, at the base of the bill, and in having the metallic lustre of the upper surface deep steel green, instead of purple, which is the prevailing colour of both Hirundo leucopygia and H. urbica."
It is abundant on the northern bank of the Plata, and more common than the H. purpurea, which frequents the same localities. It probably replaces on the eastern side of the continent, the H. leucopygia of Chile.
3. HlRUNDO CYANOLEUCA. Vieill.
It is nearly allied to the two latter species, but is readily distinguished from them by the absence of the white rump. I procured specimens in September, both from Valparaiso, and from Bahia Blanca (North Patagonia). At the latter place it built in holes in the same bank of earth with P. purpurea.
CYPSELUS UNICOLOR. Jard.
C. unicolor. Jard. et Selby, Illust. Ornith. pl. 83.
I obtained a specimen of this bird from St. Jago, Cape de Verd Islands. (September).
It more resembled a swallow than a swift in the manner of its flight. I only saw a few of them. Insects occur so scantily over the bare and parched plains of basaltic lava, which compose the lower parts of the island of St. Jago, that it is surprising how these birds are able to find the means of subsistence.
HALCYON ERYTHRORHYNCHA, Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837.
Alcedo Senegalensis var. ß, Lath.
In January, during the first visit of the Beagle to St. Jago, in the Cape de Verd Islands, these birds were numerous. But in our homeward voyage, in the beginning of September, I did not see a single individual. As Mr. Gould informs me it is an African species; it is probably only a winter visitant to this archipelago. It lives in numbers in the arid valleys in the neighbourhood of Porto Praya, where it may be generally seen perched on the branch of the castor oil plant. I opened the stomachs of several, and found them filled with the wing cases of Orthopterous insects, the constant inhabitants of all sterile countries; and in the craw of one there was part of a lizard. It is tame and solitary; its flight is not swift and direct like that of the European kingfisher. In these respects, and especially
[page] 42 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
in its abundance in dry rocky valleys where there is not a drop of water, it differs widely from the habits of the allied genus Alcedo; although certainly it abounded more in those valleys where streamlets occurred. This Halcyon was the only brilliantly coloured bird which I saw on the island of St. Jago.
1. CERYLE AMERICANA, Boie.
Alcedo Americana, Gmel.
This Kingfisher is common on the banks of the Parana. It frequents the borders of lakes and rivers, and sitting on the branch of a tree, or on a stone, it thence takes short flights, and dashes into the water to secure its prey. Its manner of flying is neither direct nor rapid, which character is so remarkable in the flight of the European species; but it is weak and undulatory, and resembles that of the soft-billed birds. It often arrests itself suddenly in its course, and hovers over the surface of the water, preparatory to darting on some small fish. When seated on a twig it constantly elevates and depresses its tail; and as might have been expected from its figure, it does not sit in the stiff upright position so peculiar to the European Kingfisher. Its note is not unfrequently uttered: it is low, and like the clicking together of two small stones. I was informed that it builds in trees. The internal coating of the stomach is of a fine orange colour. Mr. Gould has seen specimens of this bird from Mexico; it enjoys, therefore, a very wide range.
2. CERYLE TORQUATA, Bonap.
Alcedo torquata. Gmel.
Ispida torquata. Swain.
This bird is common in the south part of Chile, in Chiloe, the Chonos Archipelago, and on the whole west coast, as far as the extreme southern parts of Tierra del Fuego. In these countries, it almost exclusively frequents the retired bays and channels of the sea with which the land is intersected; and lives on marine productions. I opened the stomach of one, and found it full of the remains of crustaceæ, and a part of a small fish. It occurs likewise in La Plata, and is very common in Brazil, where it haunts fresh water. It is said ( Dict. Class. d'Hist. Nat. ) to occur in the West Indian islands; it has, therefore, a wider range (from the equatorial region to the neighbourhood of Cape Horn) than the Ceryle Americana.
FAMILY.—MUSCICAPIDÆ. Vieill.
SUB-FAM.—TYRANNINÆ. Sw.
SAUROPHAGUS SULPHURATUS. Swains.
Lanius sulphuratus. Gmel.
Tyrannus magnanimus. Vieill. Ency.
Tyrannus sulphuratus. D'Orb. et Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 42.
The habits of this bird are singular. It is very common in the open country, on the northern banks of the Plata, where it does not appear to be a bird of passage. It obtains its food in many different methods. I have frequently observed it, hunting a field, hovering over one spot like a hawk, and then proceeding on to another. When seen from a short distance, thus suspended in the air, it might very readily be mistaken for one of the rapacious order; its stoop, however, is very inferior in force and rapidity. At other times the Saurophagus haunts the neighbourhood of water, and there, remaining stationary, like a kingfisher, it catches any small fish which come near the margin. These birds not unfrequently are kept, with their wings cut, either in cages or in court-yards. They soon become tame, and are very amusing from their cunning odd manners, which were described to me, as being similar to those of the common magpie. Their flight is undulatory, for the weight of the head and bill appears too great for the body. In the evening the Saurophagus takes its stand on a bush, often by the road-side, and continually repeats, without change, a shrill and rather agreeable cry, which somewhat resembles articulate words. The Spaniards say it is like the words, "Bien te veo" (I see you well), and accordingly have given it this name.
MUSCIVORA TYRANNUS. G. R. Gray.
Muscicapa Tyrannus. Sw.
Tyrannus Savana. Vieill. Bonap. Am. Orn. pl. 1. f. 1.
This species belongs to Mr. Swainson's genus Milvulus (more properly Milvilus,) but which name Mr. G. R. Gray has altered to Muscivora as the latter was proposed for Musc. forficata as far back as 1801, by Lacepède.
It is very common near Buenos Ayres; but I do not recollect having seen many in Banda Oriental. It sits on the bough of a tree, and very frequently on
[page] 44 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
the ombu, which is planted in front of many of the farm houses, and thence takes short flights in pursuit of insects. From the remarkable structure of its tail, the inhabitants of the country call it scissor-tail; a name very well applied from the manner in which it opens and shuts the forked feathers of its tail. Like all birds thus constructed, (of which the frigate bird offers a most striking example), it has the power of turning very shortly in its flight, at which instant it opens and shuts its tail, sometimes, as it appears, in a horizontal and sometimes in a vertical plane. When on the wing it presents in its general appearance a caricature likeness of the common house swallow (Hirundo rustica). The Muscivora, although unquestionably belonging to the family of Muscicapidæ manifests in its habits an evident relationship with birds of the fissirostral structure.
MUSCICAPA. Auct.
MUSCIPETA. Cuv.
TYRANNULA. Swain.
Rostrum capite brevius, rectum, depressum, basi setis numerosis nigris obsessum; mandibulâ superiore emarginatâ, inferiorem obtegente; naribus rotundatis patulis. Caput subcristatum. Alæ longæ; remige prima secundum tertiamque longissimas subæquales fere æquante. Tarsi mediocres, anticè scutellati; digitis lateralibus inæqualibus, exteriore longiore. Cauda mediocris quadrata.
Mr. Gould observes, that "the males of nearly all the members of this group (which may be considered either as a distinct genus or sub-genus of Myiobius), have the crown of the head and greater part of the under surface scarlet. Four species were obtained.— Pyrocephalus parvirostris, (Gould), and Muscicapa coronata, (Auct. ), may be taken as types.
1. PYROCEPHALUS PARVIROSTRIS. Gould.
Plate VI.
Le Churrinche, Azara. No. 177.
P. suprà fuscus; capite et subtus nitidè puniceis; rectricibus exterioribus tectricumque et secundariorum apicibus griseo-marginatis.
Long. tot. 55/12 unc.; alæ, 131/12; caudæ, 25/12; tarsi, 7/12; rost. 6/12.
Crown of the head, crest, and all the under surface, bright scarlet; the remainder
of the plumage, deep brown; the outer tail-feathers on each side, and the edges of the secondaries and wing-coverts, margined with grey.
Habitat, La Plata, (October.)
This species differs from Pyr. coronatus or Musicapa coronata, of authors, chiefly in its size; in other respects it is very similar. The admeasurements of the latter, for comparison (as given me by Mr. G. R. Gray), are: total length, 5 inches and 8 lines; bill, between 9 and 10 lines; wings, 3 inches and 2 lines; tail, 2 inches and 7 lines; tarsi, 7 or 8 lines.
During the summer, this bird was common both near Buenos Ayres and Maldonado; but at the latter place, I did not see one in the months of May, June, July, (winter) and therefore, no doubt it is a bird of passage, migrating southward during the summer from Brazil. The birds of this and the allied genera, correspond very closely in their habits to certain of the Sylviadæ of Europe; some of the species frequenting bushes, like the black-cap, (Sylvia atri-capilla); others more usually the ground, as the robin (Sylvia rubecula) or hedge-sparrow (Accentor modularis). Another group (Synallaxis, &c.) represent those European Sylviæ, which frequent reeds.
2. PYROCEPHALUS OBSCURUS. Gould.
P. lividus rufotinctus; præcipuè in fronte ventreque.
Long. tot. 59/12 unc.; alæ, 32/12; caudæ, 25/12; tarsi, 7/12; rost. 8/12.
All the plumage chocolate-brown, tinged with red, the latter colour predominating on the forehead and lower part of the abdomen; bill and tarsi, black.
A single specimen was obtained, and it would appear to be either an immature bird or a female.
Habitat, Lima, Peru. (August.)
3. PYROCEPHALUS NANUS. Gould.
P. fuscus; rectricum exteriorum marginibus omniumque et sècundariorum apicibus nitidè griseo-brunneis.Femina, brunnea; gutture griseo-albo; corpore subtus pallidè flavescente; pectoris laterumque plumis in medio brunneo-striatis.
Long. tot. 411/12 unc.; alæ, 22/16; caudæ, 22/12; tarsi, 8/12; rostri, 8/12.
Crown of the head, crest, and all the under surface, scarlet; back, wings, and
[page] 46 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
tail, sooty-brown; the external margin of the outer tail feathers, and the tips of all, light greyish brown; bill and tarsi, black.
All the upper surface, wings, and tail, brown; throat, greyish white; the remainder of under surface, pale buff, the feathers of the chest and flanks, with an obscure fine stripe of light brown down the centre.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (September.)
There is nothing remarkable in the habits of this bird. It frequents both the arid and rocky districts near the coast, and the damp woods in the higher parts of several of the islands in the Galapagos Archipelago.
4. PYROCEPHALUS DUBIUS. Gould.
P. minor, lividus; fronte, superciliis corporeque subtus stramineis; tectricibus stramineo marginatis.
Long. tot. 41/12 unc; alæ, 23/12 caudæ, 19/12; tarsi, 7/12; rost.
Forehead, stripe over the eye, and all the under surface pale buff; back of the neck and upper surface chocolate brown; greater and lesser wing coverts margined with buff.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (September).
From the appearance of this bird when alive, although closely resembling P. nanus, I entertained no doubt that it was a distinct species. Mr. G. R. Gray informs me that there is a specimen of a male in the British Museum, which differs from the male of the precedent species, in having the upper colour of a decided brown, and the external margins of the outer tail feathers and tips of the secondaries rather reddish white; also in size as stated by Mr. Gould.
MYIOBIUS. G. R. Gray.
TYRANNULA. Swains.
Mr. Gould had adopted for the following species Mr. Swainson's generic appellation of Tyrannula, but Mr. G. R. Gray has pointed out, that as Tyrannulus was proposed and published eleven years before, namely in 1816, by Vieillot, it becomes necessary to change the former name, and therefore he proposes Myiobius.
1. MYIOBIUS ALBICEPS. G. R. Gray.
Muscipeta albiceps. D'Orb. et Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 47.
This bird is not uncommon in Tierra del Fuego, and along the western coast of the southern part of the continent, where the land is covered with trees; it is occasionally found near Valparaiso in central Chile; and likewise in Banda Oriental on the banks of the Plata, where the country is open, from all of which places I procured specimens. At Port Famine and in the islands of the Chonos Archipelago, it inhabits the gloomiest recesses of the great forests. It generally remains quietly seated high up amongst the tallest trees, whence it constantly repeats a very plaintive, gentle whistle, in an uniform tone. The sound can be heard at some distance, yet it is difficult to perceive from which quarter it proceeds, and from how far off; and I remained in consequence, for some time in doubt, from what bird it proceeded.
Tyrannula auriceps. Gould, MS.
M. rufus; capite cristato nitidè flavo; plumarum apicibus brunneis; alis brunneis, secundariarum marginibus tectricumque apicibus rufis; caudâ pallidè brunneâ, plumarum externarum marginibus externis pallidioribus; gutture corporeque subtus pallidè flavescenti-albis; plumis singulis fasciâ centrali brunneâ.
Long. tot. 53/12 unc.; alæ, 25/12 caudæ, 26/12 tarsi, 9/12 rost. 7/12.
All the upper surface rufous; the basal portion of the coronal feathers yellow; tail uniform light brown, the external margin of the outer feathers lighter; wings brown, the external margin of the secondaries and the tips of the greater and lesser wing-coverts rufous; throat and all the under surface pale buffy white, each feather having a brown mark down the centre; bill brown; feet black.
Habitat, Buenos Ayres, La Plata, (August).
This bird is about the size of a sparrow. It is nearly allied to Tyrannula ferruginea of Swainson and M. cinnamonea of D'Orbig. and Lafr.
[page] 48 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
Tyrannula parvirostris, Gould, MS.
M. suprà rufobrunneus; pileo, nuchâ humerisque obscurè olivaceo-brunneis; alis brunneis, primariarum et secundariarum marginibus exterius angustè tectricumque latè ferrugineis; caudâ guttureque griseo-brunneis; pectore abdomineque flavescenti brunneis.
Long. tot. 410/12 unc.; alæ, 26/12; caudæ, 22/12; tarsi, 9/12; rost. 6/12.
Crown of the head, back of the neck, and shoulders, dark olive brown; back and upper tail coverts rufous brown; wings brown; the external edges of the primaries and secondaries finely, and the greater and lesser wing coverts broadly margined with ferruginous; tail uniform greyish brown; throat brownish grey; chest and abdomen sandy brown; upper mandible dark brown; under mandible yellowish brown; feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Tierra del Fuego, Chile, and La Plata.
This bird inhabits the forests of Tierra del Fuego, and as I procured specimens of it in the beginning of winter (June), it probably remains throughout the year in the extreme southern part of South America. Other specimens were procured on the banks of the Plata, and near Valparaiso in Chile; it has therefore a wide range.
Tyrannula magnirostris. Gould, MS.
M. Fœm. Suprà olivaceo-brunnea; caudâ brunneâ; rectricum externarum marginibus griseo-brunneis; gutture pectoreque olivaceo griseis; abdomine caudæque tectricibus inferioribus pallidè flavis; alis saturatè brunneis, secundariis tectricibusque late griseo marginatis.
Long tot. 56/12; alæ, 28/12; caudæ, 26/12; tarsi, 11/12; rost. 9/12.
Crown of the head and back olive brown; tail brown; the external margins of the two outer feathers greyish brown; throat and chest olive grey; abdomen and under tail coverts very pale citron yellow; wings dark brown; secondaries, greater and lesser wing coverts broadly margined with grey; bill and feet black.
Habitat, Chatham Island, Galapagos Archipelago (October).
This bird and the Pyrocephalus nanus, inhabit the same island. Not very uncommon.
GENUS.—SERPOPHAGA. Gould.
Rostrum capite multò brevius, rectum, subdepressum; tomiis rectis; mandibulâ superiore subemarginatâ; naribus basalibus, lateralibus, pilis mollibus anticè versis partim tectis. Alæ breves, concavæ, remige quartâ longissimâ. Cauda longiuscula subrotundata. Tarsi mediocres squamis duris annulati; digitis parvis, postico mediano breviore, lateralibus æqualibus, exteriore cum mediano usque ad articulum priorem connatum.
1. SERPOPHAGA PARULUS. Gould.
Muscicapa parulus, Kitlitz, Mem. L'Acad. Imp. des Sci. St. Peters. 1831. 1. p. 190. Pl. 9.
Sylvia Bloxami, Gray's Zool.
Misc. 1831.
Culicivora parulus, D'Orbig.
& Lafr.
de Zool. 1837, p.
This bird is common in central Chile, in Patagonia, and although found in Tierra del Fuego, it is not numerous there. Its specific name is very well chosen, as I saw no bird in South America whose habits approach so near to those of our tom-tits (Parus). It frequents bushes in dry places, actively hopping about them, and sometimes repeating a shrill cry; it often moves in small bodies of three and four together. In August I found the nest of one in a valley in the Cordillera of central Chile; it was placed in a bush and was simply constructed.
2. SERPOPHAGA ALBO-CORONATA. Gould.
S. supra olivaceo-brunnea, subtus pallidè flava; pileo nigrescenti brunneo, in hoc plumarum basibus lineâque supra oculos albis; alis nigrescenti brunneis, primariis angustè olivaceo marginatis, tectricibus latè olivaceo-griseo marginatis, gutture griseo.
Long. tot. 43/12; alæ, 2; caudæ, 2; tarsi, 8/12; rost. 6/12.
A stripe of white from the nostrils over each eye; crown of the head brown, the base of all the feathers pure white; back of the neck, back and upper tail coverts olive brown; wings blackish brown, the external edges of the primaries finely margined with olive, and the greater and lesser wing coverts largely tipped with olive grey; tail uniform brown; throat grey; abdomen and under tail coverts pale citron yellow; bill and feet brown.
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata, (June).
[page] 50 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
This bird, like the last species, generally moves in very small flocks. Its habits, I presume, are also very similar; for I state in my notes that it closely approaches to our tit-mice in general manners and appearance.
3. SERPOPHAGA NIGRICANS. Gould.
Sylvia nigricans, Vieill.
Tachuris nigricans, D'Orbig. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 55.
Le Petit Tachuris noirâtre, Azara,
This bird is common in the neighbourhood of Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. It generally frequents the borders of lakes, ditches, and other moist places; but is related in its general manners with the last species. It often alights on aquatic plants, growing in the water. When seated on a twig it occasionally expands its tail like a fan.
SUB.-FAM.—TITYRANÆ. (PSARIANÆ, Sw.)
PACHYRAMPHUS, G. R. Gray.
Pachyrhynchus, Spix.
Pachyrhynchus albescens, Gould, MS.
P. olivaceo-griseus; alis nigrescenti brunneis, albescenti marginatis; gutture corporeque subtus griseo-albis; alarum tectricibus inferioribus pallidè sulphureis.
Long. tot. 53/12 unc.; alæ, 27/12; caudæ, 25/12; tarsi, 8/12; rost. 7/12.
Head and all the upper surface olive grey; wings blackish brown, the coverts and secondaries broadly margined with dull white; primaries narrowly margined with greyish white; tail blackish brown, the external web of the outer feather white; under surface of the shoulder pale sulphur yellow; throat and under surface greyish white; bill and feet black.
Habitat, Buenos Ayres.
The generic name of Pachyrhynchus Spix, is changed by Mr. G. R. Gray, to Pachyramphus, as the former word is used in entomology.
Pachyrhynchus minimus, Gould. MS.
P. rufo brunneus; capite guttureque brunneo-nigris; plumarum basibus albis; alis caudâque brunneis, plumis flavescenti-albo marginatis; colli lateribus, fasciâ pectorali hypochondriisque fulvis; jugulo ventreque pallidè flavescentibus.
Long. tot. 37/12; alæ, 110/12; cauda, 17/12; tarsi, 8/12; rost. 5/12.
Crown of the head, sides of the face and throat blackish brown, each feather white at the base; back of the neck black, and upper tail coverts rufous brown; wings and tail dark brown, each feather margined with sandy white; sides of the neck, under surface of the shoulder, band across the chest and flanks reddish fawn colour; lower part of the throat, and centre of the abdomen very pale buff; bill and feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Monte Video, (November).
ALECTURUS GUIRAYETUPA. Vieill. Dict.
Muscicapa psalura, Temm., Pl. Col. t. 286 and 296.
———— risoria, Vieill., Gal. des
Ois. Pl.
Yetapa psalura, Less., Tr. d'Orn.
i. p.
Le Guirayetupa, Azara, No.
This bird is not uncommon on the open grassy country near Maldonado on the banks of the Plata. It sits generally on the top of a thistle; from which it makes short flights and catches its prey in the air. The two long feathers in its tail appear quite useless to it. It sometimes feeds on the ground. In the stomach of one which I opened there was a spider (Lycosa), and some Coleoptera.
1. LICHENOPS PERSPICILLATUS. G. R. Gray.
Sylvia perspicillata, Gmel.
Œnanthe perspicillata, Vieill.
Ada Commersoni, Less.
Perspicilla leucoptera, Swains.,
Libr. x. Flyc. p.
105, Pl. 9.
Fluviola perspicillata, D'Orb. &
Mag. de Zool.
1837, p. 59.
Le Clignot ou Lichenops, Comm.,
Le Bec d'argent, Azara, No.
This bird belongs to the sub-genus, Perspicilla, of Mr. Swainson; but as Mr.
[page] 52 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
G. R. Gray has pointed out that Commerson had previously considered it the type of his genus, Lichenops, we have been induced to prefer the latter as the oldest name. It is common in the neighbourhood of the Plata, and across the Pampas, as far as Mendoza on the eastern foot of the Andes; it has not, however, crossed those mountains and entered Chile. It usually sits on the top of a thistle, and like our common fly-catchers (Muscicapa grisola), takes short flights in pursuit of insects; but does not, like that bird, return to the same twig. It feeds, also, occasionally on the turf: in the stomach of some which I opened, I found Coleopterous insects, chiefly Curculionidæ. Beak, eye-lid, and iris, beautiful primrose yellow.
2. LICHENOPS ERYTHROPTERUS. Gould.
L. suprà nigrescenti-brunneus, plumis rufo-marginatis; primariis secundariisque castaneis, apicibus pogoniæque externæ dimidio apicali brunneis; gutture corporeque subtus cervinis; pectore brunneo-marginato.
Long. tot. 6 unc.; alæ, 3; caudæ, 23/8; tarsi, 1; rostri, 9/12.
All the upper surface and tail blackish brown, each feather margined with rufous; primaries and secondaries reddish chesnut, their tips and their external webs for half their length from the tip, brown; tertiaries, greater and lesser wing-coverts dark-brown, each feather margined with reddish buff; throat, and all the under surface, fawn colour; the chest spotted with brown; base of the bill, and chiefly of the lower mandible, as well as the iris, bright yellow; eye-lid, blackish yellow; feet, dark brown.
Habitat, Banks of the Plata.
This bird is not very common. It frequents damp ground, where rushes grow, on the borders of lakes. It feeds on the ground and walks. It is certainly allied in many respects with the foregoing species, but in its power of walking, and in feeding on the ground, there is a marked difference in habits. As it has lately been described (Swainson's Nat. Libr. Ornith. x. p. 106.) as the female of the L. perspicillatus, I will here point out some of its chief distinguishing characters. Its beak is slightly more depressed, but with the ridge rather more plainly pronounced. In the L. perspicillatus, the upper mandible is entirely yellow, excepting the apex; in the L. erythropterus, it is entirely pale brown, excepting the base. The eyelid in the former is bright primrose yellow, in the latter blackish yellow. The tail of L. erythropterus is squarer and contains only ten feathers instead of twelve: the wing is 4/10 of an inch shorter, and the secondaries relatively to the primaries are also shorter. The red colour on the primaries represents, but does not correspond with, the white on the black feathers of L. perspicillatus; and the secondaries in the two birds
are quite differently marked. In L. erythropterus, the third, fourth, and fifth primaries are the longest, and are equal to each other; the second is only a little shorter than the third. In L. perspicillatus the third is rather shorter than the fourth and fifth; and the second is proportionally shorter relatively to the third, so that the outer part of the wing in this species is more pointed than in L. erythropterus. The hinder claw in the latter is only in an extremely small degree straighter than in the former; and this, considering that the L. perspicillatus is generally perched, and when on the ground, can only hop; and that the L. erythropterus feeds there entirely, and walks, is very remarkable.
1. FLUVICOLA ICTEROPHRYS. D'Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 59.
Muscicapa icterophrys, Vieill. Encyc. Meth. p. 832.
Le Suiriri noirâtre et jaune, Azara,
Specimens were found by me both at Monte Video and at Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. I found Coleoptera in their stomachs.
2. FLUVICOLA IRUPERO. G. R. Gray.
Tyrannus Irupero, Vieill, Ency.
Meth. p.
Muscicapa mœsta, Licht. Cat. p.
Muscicapa nivea, Spix, Av. pl.
29, f.
Pepoaza nivea, D'Orb. & Lafr. Mag.
Zool. 1837. p. 62.
Irupero, Azara, No.
This elegant bird, which is conspicuous amongst most land species by the whiteness of its plumage, is found, though not commonly, (in November) in Banda Oriental; whilst near Santa Fé, three degrees of latitude northward, it was common during the same time of year. It is rather shy, generally perches on the branches of bushes and low trees.
3. FLUVICOLA AZARÆ. Gould.
F. alba; alis, caudâ caudæque tectricibus atris, his albo-marginatis; primariis flavescenti-albis, basibus apicibusque nigris; rostro pedibusque atris.
Long. tot. 83/12 unc.; alæ, 49/12; caudæ, 43/12; tarsi, 1; rost. 1.
Head, all the upper and under surface white; wings and tail black; tail coverts black margined with white; primaries broad and crossed near their extremity with sulphur white, and tipped with brown; bill and legs black.
Habitat, banks of the Plata.
[page] 54 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
This bird is very common in the neighbourhood of Maldonado, where it frequents the open grassy plains. It sits on the top of a thistle, or on a twig, and catches the greater part of its food on the wing. It is generally quiet in its movements and silent. Mr. Gould remarks, that he finds "nearly all the species of this peculiar group to differ remarkably in the structure of their wings and tail, while in all other respects they closely resemble each other both in form and habit; I have, therefore, hesitated to separate them into so many genera. I have assigned the present species to Mr. Swainson's subgenus Fluvicola, considering that differences in the form of one organ alone would not be sufficient grounds for the institution of a new genus among such closely allied species; the present bird evidently leads off to Tænioptera, a genus proposed many years since, by the Prince of Musignano for the Pepoazas of Azara.
" This species is closely allied to, if not identical with the Pepoaza Dominicana of Azara, but as there is a degree of obscurity in his description, which causes some doubt on this point, I have considered it better to pay a just tribute of respect to that zealous labourer in the field of natural science, by assigning his name to this very elegant bird."
1. XOLMIS CORONATA. G. R. Gray.
Tyrannus coronatus, Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 885.
Muscicapa vittiger, Licht. Cat.
My specimen was obtained on the wooded banks of the Parana, near Santa Fé, in Lat. 31° S.
Boie's name of Xolmis is adopted by Mr. G. R. Gray, as it was proposed some five years anteriorly to that of the Prince of Musignano's.
2. XOLMIS NENGETA. G. R. Gray.
Lanius nengeta, Linné, 1. p. 135.
Tyrannus nengeta, Swains. Journ.
Sci. xx.
Fluvicola nengeta, Swains. Nat. Libr. Fly-catchers, p. 102. pl. 8.
Tyrannus pepoaza, Vieill. Ency.
Meth. p.
Muscicapa polyglotta, Licht. Spix. II.
Tyrannus polyglottus, Cuv.
Le Pepoaza proprement dit, Azara,
My specimen was procured at Maldonado, north bank of La Plata, where it is not common. Its habits in many respects are like those of the Fluvicola Azaræ; it appears to catch its prey on the wing. Iris bright red.
3. XOLMIS VARIEGATA. G. R. Gray.
Pepoaza variegata. D'Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63. Voy. dans l'Amér. Mèr. Orn. pl. 39. f. 2.
Tænioptera variegata. On plate.
This bird feeds in small flocks, often mingled with the icteri, plovers, and other birds on the ground. Its manner of flight and general appearance never failed to call to my recollection our common fieldfares (Turdus pilaris, Linn.) and I may observe that its plumage (in accordance with these habits) is different from that of the rest of the genus. I opened the stomachs of some specimens killed at Maldonado, and found in them seeds and ants. At Bahia Blanca I saw these birds catching on the wing large stercovorous Coleoptera; in this respect it follows the habits, although in most others it differs from those of the rest of its tribe. Iris rich brown.
4. XOLMIS PYROPE. G. R. Gray.
Muscicapa pyrope, Kitlitz. Mem. l'Acad. Imp. des Sci. St. Peters. 1831. p. 191. pl. 10. Vögel von Chili, pl. 10. p. 19.
Pepoaza pyrope, D'Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63.
This bird is not uncommon near Port Famine in Tierra del Fuego, and along the whole western coast (at Chiloe specimens were obtained) even as far north as the desert valley of Copiapó. In the thickly wooded countries of Tierra del Fuego and Chiloe, where it is more common than further northward, it generally takes its station on the branch of a tree, on the outskirts of the forest. When thus perched, usually at some height above the ground, it sharply looks out for insects passing by, which it takes on the wing. Iris scarlet. It builds a coarse nest in bushes. Egg perfectly white, pointed oval; length one inch, breadth .76 of an inch.
[page] 56 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
GENUS.—AGRIORNIS. Gould.
Tyrannus, Eyd. & Gerv.
Pepoaza, D'Orb. & Lafr.
Rostrum longitudine capitis, rectum, forte, compressum, abruptè deflexum, emarginatum; tomiis rectis integris; naribus basalibus, lateralibus, rotundis, patulis; rictu pilis rigidiusculis obsesso. Alæ mediocres, remige primâ longâ, tertiâ quartâque æqualibus, longissimis. Cauda mediocris, quadrata. Tarsi longi, fortes, squamis crassis annulati; digito ungueque postico mediano breviore, lateralibus æqualibus, liberis.
Mr. Gould observes that the members of this genus are remarkable for their robust form and for their strength and magnitude of their bills; and their habits strictly accord with their structure, as they are fierce and courageous.
The species are closely allied to those of the preceding genus.*
1. AGRIORNIS GUTTURALIS. Gould.
Tyrannus gutturalis, Eyd. & Gerv. Voyage de la Fav. Ois. dans Mag. de Zool. 1836. pl. 11.
Pepoaza gutturalis, D'Orb. & Lafr.
de Zool. 1837. p.
My specimens were obtained near Valparaiso in Chile. I saw it as far north as the valley of Copiapó. I was assured by the inhabitants that it is a very fierce bird, and that it will attack and kill the young of other birds.
2. AGRIORNIS STRIATUS. Gould.
A. Fœm. intensè olivaceo-brunnea; alis caudâque fuscis, utriusque plumis marginibus apiceque pallidè brunneis; rectricum externarum pogoniâ externâ albâ; gutture facieque lateribus albis, his nigrostriatis; pectore hypochondriisque olivaceo-brunneis; ventre crissoque flavescentibus.
Long. tot. 10 unc.; alæ, 4 9/12; caudæ, 4 3/12; tarsi, 1 3/12; rostri, 1 2/12.
Head, and all the upper surface dark olive brown; wings and tail dark brown, each feather margined and tipped with pale brown, and the outer web of the external tail-feather, white; throat, and sides of the face, white, striated with
* Perhaps to this genus belong Muscicapa thamnophiloides and cinerea, figured by Spix, in his Aves, pl. 26. f. 1 and 2. G. R. Gray.
[BIRDS Pl. 21. Eremobius phœnicurus]
Birds. Pl: 21.
Eremobius phœnicurus.
[BIRDS Pl. 22. Synalaxis major]
Birds. Pl: 22.
Synalaxis major.
[BIRDS Pl. 23. Synalaxis rufogularis]
Birds. Pl: 23.
Synalaxis rufogularis.
[BIRDS Pl. 24. Synalaxis flavogularis]
Birds. Pl: 24.
Synalaxis flavogularis.
[BIRDS Pl. 25. Limnornis curvirostris]
Birds: Pl: 25.
Limnornis curvirostris.
[BIRDS Pl. 26. Limnornis rectirostris]
Birds. Pl: 26.
Limnornis rectirostris.
[BIRDS Pl. 27. Dendrodramus leucosternus]
Birds: Pl: 27.
Dendrodramus leucosternus.
[BIRDS Pl. 28. Sylvicola aureola]
Birds: Pl: 28.
Sylvicola aureola.
[BIRDS Pl. 29. Ammodramus longicaudatus]
Birds. Pl: 29.
Ammodramus longicaudatus.
[BIRDS Pl. 30. Ammodramus xanthornus]
Birds. Pl. 30.
Ammodramus xanthornus.
Consisting chiefly of Figures and
Descriptions of the
Objects of Natural History collected during an Expedition
into the Interior of South Africa, in the years 1834, 1835, and 1836,
fitted out by
"The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa."
THE Cape of Good Hope is now acknowledged to be one of the greatest avenues as yet opened for the researches of the Naturalist. Our Colony in that part of Southern Africa is the key to a large portion of an extensive continent which is still but very partially explored; and the field to which it admits the scientific traveller is rich to exuberance in the variety and novelty, both of animal and vegetable life.
Stimulated by the prospect of Discovery in a quarter so fertile in interest, "The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa" was established in 1833; and in 1836, an Expedition fitted out by that body, consisting of thirty-four persons, and directed by Dr. Smith, after an absence of nineteen months, and penetrating as far as 23° 28' South latitude, returned to Cape Town laden with a variety of curious and important specimens in Natural History, &c.
Previously to this period little information has been furnished, in a shape calculated to enable the public to form accurate ideas of the various animated beings by which these regions are inhabited. The splendid publication of Le Vaillant, no doubt, should be mentioned as forming an exception, pro tanto; but this includes only a portion of the Birds of the most southern extremity of the country, and a work therefore extensive enough to comprehend the various departments of Zoology is still a desideratum.
The members of The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa found themselves, on the return of the recent Expedition, in a situation to supply at least some portion of the existing deficiencies; but their funds, even if it had been possible to divert them to such an object, were altogether inadequate to defray the expense of laying the result of their labours before the world. Under such circumstances, it was decided that Dr. Smith, the director of the Expedition, should be authorised, on his arrival in England, to wait upon Lord Glenelg, for the purpose of making him acquainted with the position and views of the Society, in the hope that Government might be induced to assist in the publication of their materials.
This hope has not been disappointed. At the recommendation of the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have been pleased, by a pecuniary grant, to enable the Society to publish the result of its labours, without infringing upon the funds raised solely for the purposes of discovery; and in a form which, while it places the work within reach of most of the friends and promoters of science, will not, it is hoped, be found inconsistent with the interest and importance of the subject.
The materials for the work now offered, under such patronage, to the public, will consist of pictorial illustrations of between three and four hundred subjects of the animal kingdom, all of which have been collected to the south of 23° 28' South latitude; and will comprise,
First, and principally, unknown animals;
Secondly, animals known, but not yet figured; and
Lastly, such as have been imperfectly figured; but of which the Association is in possession of accurate drawings.
The Entomological portion of the work will be from the pen of W. S. Macleay, Esq., who has kindly undertaken that department. The rest of the descriptions will be furnished by Dr. Smith, who will add a summary of African Zoology, and an inquiry into the Geographical ranges of species in that quarter of the Globe.
Conditions of Publication.
The Work will appear periodically; and it is estimated that the whole will be completed in about thirty-four parts, price, on an average, Ten Shillings each. As it will be necessary that the plates be published promiscuously, they will be arranged in five divisions, viz. MAMMALIA, AVES, PISCES, REPTILIA, and INVERTEBRATÆ. The plates of each of these divisions will be numbered independently, and the letter-press descriptions left unpaged, so that on the work being completed, they may be arranged either agreeably to the general classified order which will accompany the last number, or according to the particular views of the purchasers.
The whole of the Plates will be engraved in the highest style of Art, from Drawings taken expressly for this Work, and beautifully coloured after Nature.
[Continued in Birds Part 3 No. 4]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022


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More evidence that the gods have it in for me...
Edit: WonderBaby update, below
You know how it goes.
The weekend starts out lovely - say, you and your husband realize that the planets are in such proper alignment that it is finally possible to celebrate your tenth anniversary, a month after the fact - and it's all going swimmingly - you put on a new dress and go out for dinner and have martinis and oysters and lobster sous vide and multiple glasses of Chateau de Quantin - until later that night when the baby wakes up with a holler and disrupts your boozy sleep and sets you on an insomnia spin until 6 in the morning when she wakes again, all pink-cheeked and warm to the touch and dripping with snot and mad as hell that she has been compromised in her robustness and this continues through the afternoon when you discover that she has a disturbing rash across her abdomen that spreads as you watch and so you call the hospital and are given the distinctly unreassuring advice to just watch her, it *probably* isn't an emergency but you'll want to bring in to the doctor first thing tomorrow and do watch her because if anything changes you will want to bring her in yada yada blah and so you spend the rest of the day peering at her belly and monitoring the rash and feeling her forehead and periodically subjecting her to the indignity of the rectal thermometer and generally fretting about whether or not the fact that she is not running means that she is, in WonderBaby terms, lethargic and you make yourself crazy and you know that you're going to remain crazy and unsettled and anxiously insomniac until you get to the doctor tomorrow.
You cling to the hope that, maybe, if you're lucky, the hangover will pass before then and that maybe you'll get some sleep and that you'll feel strong and capable and in control in the morning.
(Except that, um, you? Lucky? HA.)
Just a few more days in the life of a kick-toy of the gods. You know how it goes.
I'll be incommunicado until we get some sort of all-clear from the doctor, and I get some sleep. In the meantime, you might consider amusing yourselves, and me - I need a laugh, or at least a weak chortle - by playing WTF: The Guessing Game! with this object:
It is not, I hasten to assure you and very possibly disappoint you, a sex toy. (In any case, you think that I would risk provoking the gods further by waving phalluses about, do you? It's usually what gets me into trouble in the first place.) But don't let that stop your imagination from running wild.
Help a girl out. I need a laugh.
WonderBaby Update (and secrets of C3P0's penis revealed!):
So, we've been to the doctor, and the doctors don't know squat. The rash comes and goes - appears and disappears - which makes it seem like hives, except that it doesn't provoke any itching or discomfort. So they can't diagnose hives. And the fever was brief and hasn't returned, so they don't think that it's roseola. And WonderBaby now seems healthy, except for the rash that has been coming and going, so they can't say for certain that it's viral. Could be a mysterious allergy, could be a mysterious virus. They don't know. What they do know is that she kicked the asses of two separate doctors - wrenching various medical devices from unsuspecting medical hands and turning the medical tables ('how'd you like a knobby thing in *your* ear, doc?') on unsuspecting medical persons - and took off down the hall and that means, apparently, that she is likely in good health. 'Just keep an eye on her.' Oh, uh, OKAY.
I expect that I will be stressed for as many days as it takes for her to return to normal. Oh, hey, wait! What the fuck is normal?
Thank god for modern medicine.
And thank you all so much for keeping me laughing through the stress. Now it can be revealed: the strange plastic thingamajig that resembled, apparently, among other things, C3P0's penis, is in fact this:
Yes, Graham, it is indeed a Banana Bunker. The better way to keep fruit interesting.
Regularly scheduled blogging will resume shortly.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Jack Brooks dies; was in JFK motorcade, famous Dallas photo
FILE - In this Nov. 22,1963, file photo, provided by the White House, Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as President of the United States in the cabin of Air Force One as Jacqueline Kennedy stands at his side. Judge Sarah T. Hughes, a Kennedy appointee to the Federal court, left, administers the oath. In background, from left are, Jack Valenti, admistrative assistant to Johnson; Rep. Albert Thomas, D-Tex.; Mrs. Johnson; and Rep. Jack Brooks, D-Tex. (AP Photo/White House, Cecil Stoughton, File) (Cecil Stoughton)
HOUSTON -- Jack Brooks, who spent 42 years in Congress representing his Southeast Texas district and was in the Dallas motorcade in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, has died. He was 89.
Brooks died Tuesday night at Baptist Hospital of Beaumont after a sudden illness, according to a statement from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Brooks, who would have turned 90 on Dec. 18, was surrounded by family when he died, Deputy Rod Carroll said.
Brooks was among the last links to an era when Democrats dominated Texas politics and was the last of "Mr. Sam's Boys," protégés of fellow Texan and legendary 21-year Democratic House Speaker Sam Rayburn in the state's congressional delegation.
"I'm just like old man Rayburn," Brooks, from Beaumont, once said. "Just a Democrat, no prefix or suffix."
He also was a contemporary and supporter of Lyndon Johnson, who was U.S. Senate majority leader in the 1950s and later president.
Brooks was in the Dallas motorcade Nov. 22, 1963, when President Kennedy was assassinated. He's in the famous photo taken later that day aboard Air Force One at Dallas' Love Field, standing immediately behind the grief-stricken Jacqueline Kennedy as Johnson, his right hand raised, takes the oath of office from U.S. District Judge Sarah Hughes.
Brooks, first elected to the House in his far Southeast Texas district in 1952, was returned to office 20 more times and was on the verge of becoming the dean of the U.S. House when he was ousted in the Republican revolution of 1994.
Rayburn, whose 48 years rivaled Brooks' House tenure, put Brooks on the House Government Operations Committee, a panel Brooks eventually would chair. Brooks gained notoriety as a curmudgeon-like scourge of bureaucrats he grilled for wasting taxpayers' money, peering at witnesses over his glasses as he chewed on a cigar.
"I never thought being a congressman was supposed to be an easy job, and it doesn't bother me a bit to be in a good fight," Brooks once said.
A Brooks-authored law required full and open competition to be the standard for awarding federal contracts. The 1965 Brooks Act set policy for the government's computer acquisition program, requiring competitive bidding and central management. His Inspector General Act established independent Offices of Inspector General in major agencies to prevent fraud and waste.
Other Brooks bills reduced federal paperwork, provided a uniform system of federal procurement, eliminated overlapping audit requirements and established the Department of Education.
"He literally has saved American taxpayers billions of dollars through his actions in improving government efficiency and eliminating waste," former Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe, a longtime friend who died in 2010, said two years earlier when Brooks donated his congressional papers, photos, correspondence and other items to the Center for American History at the University of Texas.
Brooks also served on the House Judiciary Committee, where he strongly supported President Richard Nixon's impeachment and drafted the articles of impeachment the judiciary panel adopted. Nixon, who resigned Aug. 8, 1974, referred to Brooks as "the executioner." Brooks would rise to committee chairman.
Jack Bascom Brooks was born Dec. 18, 1922, in Crowley, La., and moved to Texas at age 5. While in public schools, he worked as a carhop, grocery clerk, magazine salesman and a reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. He attended Lamar University in Beaumont, then a two-year school, and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Texas. He served with the Marines in the Pacific in World War II and retired as a colonel from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1972. He received a law degree from the University of Texas and was a two-term Texas state legislator when he was elected to the U.S. House at age 29.
He supported civil rights bills, refused to sign the segregationist "Southern manifesto" in 1956, helped write the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 that banned racial segregation.
His congressional longevity -- figures showed there were 13,858 roll call votes during his tenure -- was an issue for him and other long-serving Democrats who were swept from office in 1994. Brooks also had alienated gun owners for supporting a ban on assault weapons and abortion opponents for his support of abortion rights.
Brooks married Charlotte Collins in 1960 and the couple had three children, Jeb Brooks, Kate Brooks Carroll and Kim Brooks, and two grandchildren, Matthew Carroll and Brooke Carroll.


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text:
I'd be super psyched to win it.
Like, super super psyched.
You can vote once a day now through July 6th, simply by typing in your e-mail address.
That is all. Dismissed!
(Oh, and since there are about a billion blogs on the list, you might have a hard time finding Cake Wrecks. I'd advise using the "find" tool on your web browser.)


text:
Check this fresh headline from The Times-Picayune in New Orleans:
"Public's anger at lengthy power outage after Isaac boils over."
According to the newspaper, after six days of camping outside in sweltering temperatures because Hurricane Isaac knocked out power last week, there are many angry folks in the city and surrounding parishes.
"What burns my ass is there's no reason in the world it should have to be like this," Melvin Odenwald of Algiers Point told the newspaper. His house, according to the Times-Picayune, "is well above 100 degrees after six days without power."
The newspaper adds that:
"As of 6 p.m. Monday, Entergy had restored power to 89.6 percent of the homes and businesses in New Orleans that lost it after the storm, leaving 16,772 still in the dark. In Jefferson Parish, just 69 percent of power has been restored, with 52,566 left to go.
"A 90-year-old man without power at his home died of heat stroke in Jefferson Parish, where Parish President John Young has been the loudest critic of Entergy's 'snail's pace' response to Isaac, a Category 1 hurricane."
According to The Associated Press, as of Monday evening "more than 100,000 people without power" in Louisiana and "thousands also were without power in Mississippi and Arkansas."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Acne (say: ak-nee) — also known as pimples or zits — is a totally normal part of growing up. Kids get acne because of changes that occur during puberty, the time when kids' bodies begin the many changes that turn them into adults.
When you got your first pimple, you probably ran to ask your parent, older brother or sister, or a friend about what to do. But before you take their advice and pop that pimple, you should know that some of what you hear about acne is just plain wrong.
Let's clear up some common myths about acne — and maybe even your skin in the process!
Myth: Popping your pimples is the best way to get rid of them.
Fact: Step away from that mirror! Some people might tell you that popping your zits will make them less noticeable and help them heal faster, but they're wrong. Picking or popping your pimples pushes germs further under your skin, which could cause more redness, pain, and maybe even a nasty infection. And popping zits can lead to scarring, which could last forever.
If pimples always seem to show up at the wrong time, like before a big event such as a dance, talk to your parent about seeing your doctor or a dermatologist (say: der-muh-tah-luh-jist), a doctor who specializes in treating acne. A doctor can help get your acne under control.
Myth: Stress causes acne.
Fact: Are you worried that the big test tomorrow or that next week's championship game will cause your skin to break out? Don't worry — the normal everyday stress of being a kid doesn't cause acne. If you're going through an especially stressful period in your life — such as moving to a new house or dealing with your parents' divorce — your skin may produce more oil, also known as sebum (say: see-bum), but that doesn't mean you'll get more zits.
Myth: Getting a tan clears up acne.
Fact: Baking in the sun does nothing to improve your acne. When you spend time outside and your skin becomes darker, the redness caused by acne may be less noticeable for a little while. But when your tan fades, you'll still see your zits. And spending time in the sun without the proper protection can cause dry, irritated, or burned skin — not to mention it increases your risk of developing wrinkles and skin cancer later in life.
Before you head outdoors, protect your skin with a sunscreen that contains a sun protection factor (on the label it'll say SPF) of at least 30. Use a brand that's marked "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic," which means it won't clog your pores and worsen acne. Don't forget to wear a hat and sunglasses when you're outside to keep your skin in top shape. And if you ever wondered about tanning beds, here are the facts — they're boring, expensive, and dangerous because they increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
Myth: You can get rid of acne by washing your face more.
Fact: Washing your face regularly is a good idea because it helps remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and dirt from your skin's surface. But overwashing or scrubbing your skin too hard can dry out and irritate your skin, which only makes acne worse.
What's the best skin care strategy? As a general rule, gently wash your face no more than twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser. After you've finished washing, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Steer clear of exfoliants or scrubs, which can irritate your pimples. Also avoid products that contain alcohol because they can dry out and irritate your skin.
Myth: If you want to avoid acne, don't wear makeup.
Fact: Young skin looks great without makeup. But if you like cosmetics, be sure to choose products that are labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic." That means the product won't clog your pores or cause breakouts. Some cosmetics even contain acne-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. If you are not sure, ask your parent or doctor.
Myth: If you keep breaking out, using more medicine will get your zits under control.
Fact: Do you know the saying "less is more"? It definitely applies to acne medication. Using too much medicine to zap zits can lead to dry, irritated skin. Whether you bought an acne product at your local drugstore or you are using something prescribed by a doctor, be sure to follow the directions carefully.
If over-the-counter medicine isn't helping your acne problem, talk to your parent. You may need to see your doctor or a dermatologist, who may prescribe other medications to help clear up your skin.
It can take as long as 8 weeks before you notice an improvement. If you don't, talk to your doctor, who will make the right adjustments for you. Don't use extra medication on your own, though — using more medicine than prescribed can cause unpleasant and even dangerous side effects.
Almost all kids and teens have to deal with acne at some point — but the good news is that with the right facts and the proper acne treatment, you can help your skin and put your best face forward!
source: http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/acne_myths.html#


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Company successfully tests space-tourism balloon
By Jeri Clausing
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - An Arizona company says it has successfully completed the first small-scale test flight of a high-altitude balloon and capsule being developed to let tourists float 20 miles above the earth.
World View Enterprises of Tucson said Tuesday that it launched the flight last week from Roswell.
CEO Jane Poynter said the system broke the world record for highest parafoil flight, lifting a payload to 120,000 feet.
"It went really, really, really well," Poynter said. "Actually, the guys hit the ball out of the park. We're thrilled."
The system uses a balloon similar to that used in 2012 to lift Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner 128,000 feet to make a world-record breaking 24-mile sky dive. That flight also launched from the Roswell airport.
Poynter said last week's flight was the first testing all the components together. It used a balloon about third the size of that planned for passenger flight to lift a payload of about one-tenth of what will be used to carry passengers.
The company is still planning to begin its $75,000 per-person flights in 2016, she said. The balloons will lift a capsule carrying six passengers and two crew members 20 miles up, where they will float under a parafoil for about two hours before floating back down to earth. The capsule will be big enough for the passengers to walk around.
The selling point is the view of the Earth and seeing its curve, the company says. Other space-tourism ventures under development will rocket passengers the full 62 miles into space but on much shorter flights.
In filings with the Federal Aviation Administration, World View said it planned to launch its flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico. But Poynter Tuesday said that no final decision has been made on where to base the flights.
Spaceport is where Virgin Galactic plans to launch its first space-tourism flights at a cost of $200,000 per person. Development of Virgin's spacecraft has taken longer than originally planned, and it is unclear when the company, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, will make its first flight. The company's newest target date is the end of this year, but it has said that for each of the last several years.
"I don't think anyone considers us in a race," Poynter said when asked if they might beat Virgin Galactic to passenger flight. "We don't consider us in competition because the experience is so completely different."


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Sailors are passionate about their time on the water — buoyed by a sense of empowerment as the wind fills the sails and the boat glides peacefully through the water. Sailing is a green activity and is fulfilling for anyone at any age. This is the lifestyle you've been dreaming about — to share with family and friends close to home or in magnificent cruising grounds around the world. Whether you're interested in day sailing, cruising, competitive racing, or charter vacations, there is a sailboat for you and a lifetime of sailing adventures ahead.
Sailboats differ from other types of boats in that they are propelled partly or entirely by wind; they use sails to transform the power of the wind into power that moves the boat through the water. The term sailboat covers a wide variety of sailing craft, each with its own characteristics and styles. In general, sailboats are distinguished by size, hull configuration, keel type, number of sails, use and purpose. Read more about buying a sailboat and sailing basics.
Choosing the Right Sailboat for You
Traditional wisdom says to start with something small, maybe a dinghy or simple sloop (single-masted boat with two sails), hone your skills and move up. That's great for your kids –a boat that can capsize will teach you to sail very quickly – but most adults are better off investing in a small keelboat…
read more


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The year really has started off so well! My sun dried tomatoes and purple basil pesto entry to HHDD #24 was one of the two winning entries. I am sharing the honor with another lovely blogger, Tartasacher of Mil Postres who presented a grand panna cotta with sweet pesto and raspberry sauce. When Joey wrote to me telling me the news I could hardly believe it. But yes - it seems for the first time since the begin of Hay Hay it's Donna Day! there has been tie.
So, for the first time we decided to have two Donna Hay recipes for you to present. In this 25th session of HHDD you will be creating a savory and a sweet recipe as presented by Donna Hay. I hope you're getting excited about this.
While Tartasacher has selected a delicious sugar grilled fruit and cinnamon yogurt (mouthwatering picture to the right), I thought chicken satay skewers would be ideal for a light and easy meal. This makes an incredibly flavorful combination and a great Donna Hay meal.
I liked the chicken satay because it promised to be full of flavor, marinated in coconut milk and ginger. I loved the fact that cashews are used to coat the chicken adding a lovely crunch. Finally, it's light and easy, which currently fits perfectly into my attempt to avoid heavy foods.
The sugar grilled fruit is so deliciously tantalizing. The fruit is pressed into some sugar and then caramelized in a hot pan. Adding to the caramel flavor is the light cinnamon flavored yogurt. Simply irresistible. You'll find the recipe for the sugar grilled fruit and cinnamon yogurt over at Tartasacher's blog.
A note for Vegetarians/Vegans: You can really go crazy with a vegetarian version of the satay. I love a mix of mushrooms: porcini or button mushrooms are just perfect. Or try tofu, which should be incredibly good with the lovely coconut flavor. Allow your fantasy to take control!
As this is a special HHDD event, a few of the guidelines have been modified so please read carefully.
As with each HHDD here are the guidelines for your entries:
Hay Hay It's Donna Day is open to all food and wine bloggers.
Entries submitted for HHDD must be made specifically for this event, although photos may be submitted to Does My Blog Look Good In This.
The host/s will select, make and post the original Donna Hay recipe without any changes. Participants may make the same recipe as is, or put their own spin on the recipe by altering the ingredients whilst remaining with the theme or if they prefer to share a well loved recipe within the theme. Entrants must include a link to the host/s and the HHDD facilitator - Bron, in their post.
Entries can be made at any time once the event has been announced but must be posted and emailed to the host by the closing date.
The deadline for your submissions is February 2, 2009.
As we have two hostesses this month with two Donna Hay recipes we ask you to send all your sweet Donna Hay recipes for sugar grilled fruit and cinnamon yogurt to Tartasacher at: milpostres[AT]gmail[DOT]com.
Your savory Donna Hay recipes for chicken satay should be sent to me at:
When emailing your savory submissions to me, please include "HHDD # 25 - Satay Skewers Entry" in the subject line of your email and the following information:
Your blog name
Your name
The URL of blog
Your location
Your recipe name
The URL or the permalink to your entry.
After the deadline all participants will get the opportunity to vote on their favorite dish and one overall winner shall be selected from both the sweet and savory dishes.
So, enough of all those guidelines and now to Donna Hay's recipe for Chicken satay.
Recipe Coconut Cashew Chicken Satay Skewers
(as presented by Donna Hay - Chicken Satay Skewers)
Printable version of recipe here.Serves 4
½ cup (125ml) coconut milk
1 cup (150g) cashew nuts
½ teaspoon grated ginger
½ teaspoon fish sauce
½ teaspoon chilli flakes
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 x 200g chicken breast fillets, trimmed and sliced
12 bamboo skewers, soaked and drained
¼ cup (60ml) vegetable oil
lime wedges, to serveMethod
- Place the coconut milk, cashews, ginger, fish sauce, chilli and soy in a small food processor and process until well combined.
- Place the chicken in a bowl, add the coconut milk mixture and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Thread the chicken onto the skewers. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and cook the skewers, in batches, for 2−3 minutes each side or until cooked through.
A flavor explosion! The coconut milk kept the chicken wonderfully tender and succulent. There was just a hint of coconut flavor - you could just taste the bit of exotic without it being overpowering. The best part for me was the coating with the crunchy cashews, which added not only texture but a crunchiness. I served it with a large green salad, which was just perfect for a light and easy lunch!
So, get those thinking caps on and get cooking. Bron, Tartasacher and I are all looking forward to your delectable creations!
You might like these Asian flavors from WFLH:
Tilapia Asian Style | Chinese Vegetable Noodles | Stir-Fried Root Vegetables |
From around the blogs:
- Satay Prawns - Rasa Malaysia
- BBQ Satay - Dad ~ Baker & Chef
- Tofu Satay with Coconut Peanut Sauce - Albion Cooks
Daily Tiffin Reading Tip:
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2009 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


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Jesse Winchester, whose "blend of folk, blues and country ... embodies the spirit of American music," has died.
His manager, Keith Case, tells NPR's Jacob Ganz that Winchester died Friday morning in Charlottesville, Va., where he lived. He was 69 and had been battling cancer.
Winchester spent many of his early years in Memphis, and the Commercial Appeal offers a long appreciation of him. He was, the newspaper says, "one of music's sweetest voices and most incisive songwriters." It adds that:
"The mellifluous-voiced author of 'The Brand New Tennessee Waltz,' 'Mississippi, You're on My Mind' and 'Biloxi,' the Memphis-raised Winchester had long been a favorite of critics and fellow musicians, covered by a wide array of artists from Wilson Pickett to the Everly Brothers, Jerry Garcia to Reba McEntire. Bob Dylan was famously quoted as saying of Mr. Winchester: 'You can't talk about the best songwriters and not include him.' In 2007, Mr. Winchester was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from performing rights organization ASCAP for his body of work."
The Commercial Appeal reports it learned of Winchester's death from the singer-songwriter's wife, Cindy Winchester.
Last November, NPR Music posted a Mountain Stage performance by Winchester. That page includes this background:
"Winchester ranks among the elite group of singer-songwriters who can captivate an audience with just his words, his voice and an acoustic guitar.
"The musician is revered by everyone from James Taylor and Lyle Lovett to Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris. Winchester even famously brought a tear to Neko Case's eye after performing 'Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding' on Elvis Costello's Spectacle program, which he also performs in this set."
Winchester's career was dramatically affected by his decision to leave the U.S. rather than face the draft during the Vietnam War. As World Cafe has written:
"Winchester was on track for a successful performing career, but his status as a Vietnam War draft-evader prevented him from touring and gaining a footing in the U.S. He opted to move north to Montreal in 1967, and developed a strong Canadian following while touring there. Winchester released seven albums in the 1970s and early '80s, culminating with the Top 40 hit 'Say What' in 1981."
Winchester, like hundreds of thousands of other anti-war protesters who left the country or otherwise avoided the draft, was able to return to the U.S. after President Carter granted them unconditional pardons on his first day in office — Jan. 21, 1977.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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All right, let's bring in NPR's counter-terrorism correspondent Dina Temple-Raston, to update us on the investigation into the Boston Marathon attack.
And, Dina, we just heard from Corey Flintoff all about the Russian Republic of Dagestan. And U.S. officials have been there already to see if there are leads to follow.
DINA TEMPLE-RASTON, BYLINE: Well, they're trying to build a timeline to account for the six months that Tamerlan Tsarnaev was in Dagestan. And they're looking for associations he might have had. There is, for example, a Russian-born Canadian militant named William Plotnikov that they are checking into. And officials said they're trying to establish whether he had some sort of relationship with Tamerlan Tsarnaev. This Canadian was a boxer. He overlapped with Tamerlane in Dagestan last summer, and he was killed by Russian police just days before Tamerlan return to the U.S. last July.
Officials are also continuing to interview two Kazakh students who were arrested here in the U.S. in New Bedford, Massachusetts soon after the bombing. They were friends with the brothers. In fact, they're in a photograph with Dzhokhar, the younger brother, taken last year in Times Square. They're being held on immigration charges. But officials are trying to figure out if they knew about or helped with the attack.
GREENE: So, Dagestan, as we've heard of the place where there are militants. There is anger. And I guess they're trying to find out what if any contacts or influences these brothers might have had there.
TEMPLE-RASTON: Exactly.
GREENE: Well, OK. So that's the situation in Dagestan. As we said, this investigation is spanning many countries. In Boston, Dina, the focus has shifted to a woman's DNA that was found on one of the bombs. What could this mean?
TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, law enforcement officials, among other things, they collected DNA samples from Katherine Russell. She's the widow of the accused bomber, Tamerlan Tsarnaev. And if her DNA matches what they found on the bomb that might indicate that she had some direct contact with the device.
It could be significant although it could have an innocent explanation, as well. There are innocent ways a hair, for example, could have ended up on the bomb. So it doesn't prove anything. It just gives them another line of inquiry. And there's a chance that the DNA isn't hers. And if it isn't hers, that could lead to another co-conspirator.
And officials told us that there are as many as a dozen people they're investigating in connection with this. And those are the kinds of things that investigators are pursuing. They also went to a landfill near the younger brother dorm room over the weekend. And they were hoping to find a laptop there. Apparently they didn't find one but they did find a cell phone and some other material they told us might be helpful to the investigation.
I mean, one of the big things that interest them is where the bombs might've been tested. Officials say it would've been really unlikely that a device was wired up without testing it, and they haven't been able to find out yet.
GREENE: It sounds important to note that there could, could be more people involved here beyond the two brothers. One brother, of course, Tamerlan, is dead. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev still alive in a prison hospital. Are investigators learning anymore from him at this point?
TEMPLE-RASTON: Well, we're told that after he was read his Miranda rights last week, he hasn't spoken with investigators in a substantive way since. He allegedly told them last week, before he exercised his right to remain silent, that he and his brother were working alone. But there were some details he had given officials that just didn't check out. So they're trying to figure out if there were people who helped them before or after.
And there's some question of whether or not there were discussions about taking the death penalty off the table in exchange for cooperation. But it's unclear whether investigators me that offer - to try to get them to talk - or if his lawyers asked if that was possible.
GREENE: OK, this is a story we'll keep following. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston updating us on the investigation in Boston. Thanks a lot, Dina.
TEMPLE-RASTON: You're welcome.
GREENE: And you're listening to her on MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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