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"Fig 38 a, Reticulate tarsus of a Plover. b, Scutellate and reticulate tarsus of a pigeon." Elliot Coues, 1884

Reticulate Tarsus of a Plover

"Fig 38 a, Reticulate tarsus of a Plover. b, Scutellate and reticulate tarsus of a pigeon." Elliot Coues,…

"Fig. 39 shows a Tridactyle foot of a sanderling, Calidris arenaria." Elliot Coues, 1884

Tridactyle Foot of a Sanderling

"Fig. 39 shows a Tridactyle foot of a sanderling, Calidris arenaria." Elliot Coues, 1884

"Fig. 40 Phalanges of Cypseline foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 3, 3 of Caprimulginae." Elliot Coues, 1884

Phalanges of Cypseline Foot

"Fig. 40 Phalanges of Cypseline foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 3, 3 of Caprimulginae." Elliot Coues,…

"Fig. 41 shows phalanges of caprimulgines foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 4, 4." Elliot Coues, 1884

Phalanges of Caprimulgine

"Fig. 41 shows phalanges of caprimulgines foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 4, 4." Elliot Coues, 1884

"Fig 34 - Bones of a bird's hind limb: from a duck, Clangula islandica. A, hip: B, knee: C, heel or ankle-joint; D, bases of toes. A to B, thigh or "second joint"; B to C, crus, leg proper, "drumstick," often wrongly called "thigh"; C to D, metatarsus, foot proper, corresponding to instep, or foot from ankle to bases of toes; in descriptive ornithology the tarsus; often called "shank" From D outward are the toes or digits. fm. femur; tb, tibia, principal (inner) bone of leg; fi, fibula, lesser (outer) bone of leg; mt, principal metatarsal bone, consisting chiefly of three fused metatarsal bones; am, accessory metatarsal, bearing 1t, first or hind toe, with two joints; 2t second toe, with three joints; 3t, third toe, with four joints; 4t, fourth toe, with five joints. At C there are in the embryo some small tarsal bones, not shown in the figure, uniting in part with the tibia, which is therefore a tibio-tarsus, in part with the metatarsus, which is therefore a tarso-metatarsus; the ankle-joint being therefore between two rows of tarsal bones, not, as it appears to be, directly between tibia and metatarsus." Elliot Coues, 1884

Bones of a Bird's Hind Limb

"Fig 34 - Bones of a bird's hind limb: from a duck, Clangula islandica. A, hip: B, knee: C, heel or…

"Upper part ashy-gray, with scarcely a shade, and only on the rump, under parts similarly grayish-white, without a rusty tinge, the middle of the belly, the rest more heavily shaded. Wings and tail with comparatively little whitish edging - tail at least with no more than that of P. carolonensis. Sides of the head and neck white; top of the head, and the throat, black. A conspicuous white superciliary stripe in the black cap, usually meeting its fellow across the forehead." Elliot Coues, 1884

Mountain Chickadee

"Upper part ashy-gray, with scarcely a shade, and only on the rump, under parts similarly grayish-white,…

"Upper parts, central tail-feathers, and much edging of the wings, clear ashy-blue; whole crown, nape, and back of the neck, glossy black. Under parts, including sides of neck and head to above eyes, dull white, more or less marked on the flanks and crissum with rusty-brown. Wings and their coverts blackish, much edged as already said, and with an oblique bar of white on the outer webs of the primaries white; under wing-coverts mostly blackish; bold bluish and black variegation of the inner secondaries. Tail, excepting the two middle feathers, black, each feather marked with white in increasing amount, the outer web of the lateral feather being mostly white. Bill blackish-plumbeous, pale at the base below. Feet dark brown. Iris brown." Elliot Coues, 1884

White-Breasted Nuthatch

"Upper parts, central tail-feathers, and much edging of the wings, clear ashy-blue; whole crown, nape,…

"Fig. Typical passerine feet. The right hand fig. is plectrophanes lapponicus." Elliot Coues, 1884

Typical Passerine Bird Feet

"Fig. Typical passerine feet. The right hand fig. is plectrophanes lapponicus." Elliot Coues, 1884

"Fig. 44- Syndactyle foot of a kingfisher. Thus a kingfisher shows what is called a syndactyle or syngnesious foot (fig. 44), where the outer and middle toes cohere for most of their extent and have a broad sole in common. It is a degradation of the insessorial foot, and not a common one either; seen in those perching birds which scarcely use their feet for progression, but simply for sitting motionless." Elliot Coues, 1884

The foot of a Kingfisher

"Fig. 44- Syndactyle foot of a kingfisher. Thus a kingfisher shows what is called a syndactyle or syngnesious…

"Fig. 45.- Zygodactyle foot of a woodpecker, Hylotomus pileatus. The zygodactyle or yoke-toed modification has been sufficiently noted in (fig. 45). It was formerly made much of, as a scansorial or climbing type of foot, and an absurd "order" of birds has been called Scansores." Elliot Coues, 1884

Zygodactyle Foot of a Woodpecker

"Fig. 45.- Zygodactyle foot of a woodpecker, Hylotomus pileatus. The zygodactyle or yoke-toed modification…

"Fig. 46. - Raptorial foot of a hawk, Accipiter cooperi. The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot. It is advantageous to a bird of pray to be able to spread the toes as widely as possible, that the talons may seize pray like a set of grappling irons; and accordingly the toes are widely divergent from each other, the outer one in the owls and a few hawks being quite versatile. In a raptorial character, the toes are cleft profoundly, or, if united at base, it is by movable webbing; the claws are immensely developed and the under-surfaces of the toes are scabrous or bulbous for greater security of the object grasped." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Raptorial Foot of a Hawk

"Fig. 46. - Raptorial foot of a hawk, Accipiter cooperi. The raptorial is another modification of the…

"Fig. 47. - Raptorial foot of an owl, The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot. It is advantageous to a bird of pray to be able to spread the toes as widely as possible, that the talons may seize pray like a set of grappling irons; and accordingly the toes are widely divergent from each other, the outer one in the owls and a few hawks being quite versatile. In a raptorial character, the toes are cleft profoundly, or, if united at base, it is by movable webbing; the claws are immensely developed and the under-surfaces of the toes are scabrous or bulbous for greater security of the object grasped." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Raptorial Foot of an Owl

"Fig. 47. - Raptorial foot of an owl, The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot.…

"European Wren. Feet strictly laminiplanter, as usual in Oscines. Tail thin, with narrow parallel-edged feathers. Wings and tail more or less completely barred cross-wise. Large. Upper parts uniform in color, without streaks or bars; rump with concealed white spots. Belly unmarked; a conspicuous superciliary stripe." Elliot Coues, 1884

European Wren

"European Wren. Feet strictly laminiplanter, as usual in Oscines. Tail thin, with narrow parallel-edged…

Geirrod the giant spies a bird on the chimney of his castle. It is really Loki wearing Freya's eagle feather coat. Geirrod keeps him and gives him no food or water since he will not talk.

Geirrod and Loki

Geirrod the giant spies a bird on the chimney of his castle. It is really Loki wearing Freya's eagle…

A sign warning of "No pirating on this ocean".

Sign with Bird on Top

A sign warning of "No pirating on this ocean".

An illustration of a mother and two children sitting at a dinner table with a large turkey in front of them.

Mother & Children at Table with Turkey

An illustration of a mother and two children sitting at a dinner table with a large turkey in front…

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (where it is currently the most common duck species), and Australia. It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south. For example, in North America it winters south to Mexico, but also regularly strays into Central America and the Caribbean between September and May

Mallard Duck

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a dabbling…

The White-bearded Manakin, Manacus manacus, is a small passerine bird which breeds in tropical South America. It is found from Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad south to Bolivia and northern Argentina.

White-bearded Manakin

The White-bearded Manakin, Manacus manacus, is a small passerine bird which breeds in tropical South…

he Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41-49 cm long with a 65-75 cm wingspan. The adult male is a striking and unmistakable bird. It has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. The female is similar to female Wood Duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill

Mandarin Duck

he Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related…

The House Martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the Northern House Martin or Common House Martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and temperate Asia; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia. It feeds on insects which are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. It has a blue head and upperparts, white rump and pure white underparts, and is found in both open country and near human habitation.

House Martin

The House Martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the Northern House Martin or Common House Martin,…

A martlet is a heraldic charge depicting a mythical bird, similar in appearance to the swallow, but with short tufts of feathers in the place of legs (swifts have such small legs that they were believed to have none at all).

Martlet

A martlet is a heraldic charge depicting a mythical bird, similar in appearance to the swallow, but…

"Meadow Pipit or Anthus pratensis. Upper parts greenish-brown distinctly marked with blackish-brown centres of the feathers; wing-quills and coverts clove-brown, edged with greenish-gray. Tail-feathers dark brown, edged with the greenish shade of the back, the outer one obliquely white for nearly half its length, and others with white at the end. Cheeks olivaceous, speckled with dusky. Under parts brownish-white with a tinge of green, marked on the breast and sides with brownish-black streaks running forward as a maxillary chain; chin, belly, and under tail-coverts unmarked. Bill dusky above and at end, the rest livid flesh-color; feet obscure flesh-color; iris blackish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Meadow Pipit

"Meadow Pipit or Anthus pratensis. Upper parts greenish-brown distinctly marked with blackish-brown…

"Black Throated Green Warbler or Dendroica virens. Back and crown clear yellow-olive; forehead, superciliary line, and whole sides of head rich yellow (in high plumage, middle of back with dusky marks, and dusky or dark olive lines through eyes and auriculars, and even bordering the crown); chin, throat, and breast jet black, prolonged behind as streaks on the sides; other under parts white; usually yellow-tinged; wings and tail dusky, former with two white bars and much whitish edging, latter with outer feathers nearly all white; bill and feet blackish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black Throated Green Warbler

"Black Throated Green Warbler or Dendroica virens. Back and crown clear yellow-olive; forehead, superciliary…

"Black and White Creeper or Mniotilta varia. Black; edges of feathers of upper parts, coronal, superciliary, and maxillary stripes, tips of greater and median wing-coverts, outer edges of inner secondaries and inner edges of quills and tail-feathers, and spots on inner webs of lateral tail-feathers, white; under parts mostly white with black streaks on sides and crissum; bill and feet black. Similar: less black in proportion to the white, being mostly white below." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black and White Creeper

"Black and White Creeper or Mniotilta varia. Black; edges of feathers of upper parts, coronal, superciliary,…

"Worm-Eating Warbler or Helmitheros vermivorus. Olive, below buffy, paler or whitish on the belly; head buff, with four black stripes, two along sides of crown from bill to nape, one along each side of head through the eye; wings and tail olivaceous, unmarked; bill and feet pale, bill acute, unbristled, unnotched, at least 0.50." Elliot Coues, 1884

Worm-Eating Warbler

"Worm-Eating Warbler or Helmitheros vermivorus. Olive, below buffy, paler or whitish on the belly; head…

"Blue Golden-Winged Warbler or Helminthophila chrysoptera. Upper parts slaty-blue, or or fine bluish-gray; crown, and large wing-patch formed by confluent wing-bars, rich yellow; a broad stripe on side of head and patch on chin, throat and fore-breast, black, the eye-stripe bordered above and below with white; under parts generally, excepting the black breast-plate, white, often tinted with yellowish, and shaded on the sides with ashy. Exposed surfaces of wings and tail like upper parts; great white blotches on three lateral tail-feathers; bill black; feet dark." Elliot Coues, 1884

Blue Golden-Winged Warbler

"Blue Golden-Winged Warbler or Helminthophila chrysoptera. Upper parts slaty-blue, or or fine bluish-gray;…

"Black-throated Gray Warbler or Dendroica nigrescens. Above, bluish-ash, the interscapular region, and usually also the upper-tail coverts, streaked with black. Entire head, with chin and throat, black; a sharply defined yellow spot before the eye, a broad white stripe behind the eye, and a long white maxillary stripe widening behind from the corner of the bill of the side of the neck. Wings fuscous, with much whitish edging, and crossed with two broad white bars on the ends of the greater and median coverts. Tail like the wings, the three lateral feathers mostly white, except on the outer webs, the fourth with a white blotch. Bill and feet black." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black-throated Gray Warbler

"Black-throated Gray Warbler or Dendroica nigrescens. Above, bluish-ash, the interscapular region, and…

"Yellow-rumped Warbler or Dendroica coronata. Yellow-crowned Warbler. Myrtle Bird. Slaty-blue, streaked with black; below, white, breast and sides mostly black, belly, and especially throat, pure white, immaculate; rump, central crown-patch, an sides of breast, sharply yellow, there being thus four definite yellow places; sides of head black; eyelids and superciliary line white; ordinary white wing-bars and tail-blotches; bill and feet black." Elliot Coues, 1884

Yellow-rumped Warbler

"Yellow-rumped Warbler or Dendroica coronata. Yellow-crowned Warbler. Myrtle Bird. Slaty-blue, streaked…

"Black-poll Warbler or Dendroica striata. Back, rump, tail-coverts grayish-olive, heavily streaked with black; whole crown pure glossy black. Below, pure white; a double series of black streaks starts from the extreme chin, and diverges to pass one on each side to the tail, the streaks being confluent anteriorly, discrete posteriorly. Side of the head above the chain of streaks pure white, including lower eyelid. Wings dusky, the primaries with much greenish edging, the inner secondaries with whitish edging, the greater median coverts tipped with white, forming two crossbars. Tail like the wings, with rather small white spots at the ends of the inner webs of two or three outer feathers. Upper mandible brownish-black; lower mandible with the feet flesh-colored or yellowish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black -poll Warbler

"Black-poll Warbler or Dendroica striata. Back, rump, tail-coverts grayish-olive, heavily streaked with…

"Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica. Back streaked with black and pale yellow (sometimes ashy or whitish); whole crown pure yellow, immediately bordered with white, then enclosed with black; sides of head and neck and whole under parts pure white, former with an irregular black crescent before the eye, one horn extending backward over the eye to border the yellow crown and be dissipated on the sides of the nape, the other reaching downward and backward to connect with a chain of pure chestnut streaks that run the whole length of the body, the under eyelid and auriculars being left white; wing-bands generally fused into one large patch, and, like the edging of the inner secondaries, much tinged with yellow; tail-spots white, as usual; bill blackish, feet brownish." Elliot Coues, 1884

Chestnut-sided Warbler

"Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica. Back streaked with black and pale yellow (sometimes…

"Black -and-Yellow Warbler. Magnolia Warbler. Back black, usually quite pure and uninterrupted in the spring, more or less mixed with olive in the winter; rump yellow; upper tail-coverts black , often skirted with olive and ashy. Whole crown of head clear ash; sides of head black, including a very narrow frontlet; the eyelids and a stripe behind the eye, between the ash and black, white. Entire under parts rich yellow, excepting the white crissum, heavily streaked with black across the breast and along the sides, the streaks on the breast so thick as to form a nearly continuous black border to the immaculate yellow throat. Wings fuscous, with lining, white edging of the inner webs of all the quills, of the outer webs of the inner secondaries, and with a large white patch formed by the tips of the median coverts and tips of the median coverts and tips and outer edges of the coverts. Tail blackish, with square white spots on the middle of the inner webs of al the feathers excepting the middle pair. Bill blackish; feet dark."

Magnolia Warbler

"Black -and-Yellow Warbler. Magnolia Warbler. Back black, usually quite pure and uninterrupted in the…

"Golden-crowned Wagtail Warbler. Golden-crowned Accentor. Golden-crowned Thrush. Oven-bird. Seiurus aurocapillus. Entire upper parts, including the wings and tail, uniform bright olive-green, without markings. Top of head with black lateral stripes, bounding a golden-brown or dull orange space. A white ring round eye; no white superciliary stripe. Under parts white, thickly spotted with dusky on the breast, the spots lengthening into streaks on the sides; a narrow black maxillary line; under wing-coverts tinged with yellow. Legs flesh-colored." Elliot Coues, 1884

Ovenbird

"Golden-crowned Wagtail Warbler. Golden-crowned Accentor. Golden-crowned Thrush. Oven-bird. Seiurus…

"Kentucky Warbler. Oporornis formosus. Clear olive-green; entire under parts bright yellow, olive-shaded along sides; crown black, separated by a rich yellow superciliary line(which curls around the eye behind) from a broad black bar running form bill below eye thence down the side of the neck; wings and tail unmarked, glossed with olive; feet flesh-colored." Elliot Coues, 1884

Kentucky Warbler

"Kentucky Warbler. Oporornis formosus. Clear olive-green; entire under parts bright yellow, olive-shaded…

"Geothlypis trichas. Common Yellowthroat. Yellow-throated Ground Warbler. Maryland Yellow-throat. Upper parts rich olive, inclining to grayish on the head, brightest on the rump. Wings and tail brown, edged with the color of the back. Chin, throat, and breast, with under wing- and tail-coverts, rich yellow. middle under parts dull whitish, shaded on the sides. A broad mask on the front and sides of the head, bordered behind by hoary-ash. Bill black; feet flesh-colored." Elliot Coues, 1884

Common Yellowthroat

"Geothlypis trichas. Common Yellowthroat. Yellow-throated Ground Warbler. Maryland Yellow-throat. Upper…

"Myiodioctes pussies. Blacked-capped Fly-catching Warbler. Upper parts, including exposed edging of the wings and tail, bright yellowish-olive; under parts, including front and sides of the head and superciliary line, rich yellow, shaded with olive on the sides. A squarish, glossy blue-black patch on the crown. Wings and tail plain fuscous, with greenish edging, unmarked with with other color. Upper mandible dark; under mandible and feet light." Elliot Coues, 1884

Black-capped Fly-catching Warbler

"Myiodioctes pussies. Blacked-capped Fly-catching Warbler. Upper parts, including exposed edging of…

"Myiodioctes canadensis. Canadian Fly-catching Warbler. Canada Warbler. Bluish-ash; crown speckled with lanceolate black marks, crowded and generally continuous on the forehead; the latter divided lengthwise by a slight yellow line; short superciliary line and edges of eyelids yellow; lores black, continuous with black under the eye, and this passing as a chain of black streaks down the side of the neck and prettily encircling the throat like a necklace of jet; excepting these streaks and the white under tail-coverts, the entire under parts are clear yellow; wings and tail unmarked; feet flesh-colored." Elliot Coues, 1884

Canada Warbler

"Myiodioctes canadensis. Canadian Fly-catching Warbler. Canada Warbler. Bluish-ash; crown speckled with…

"Certhiola flaveola. Honey Creeper. Dark brown above; long superciliary line and under parts dull white; breast, edging of wing, and rump, bright yellow; wings dusky, with a white spot at base of primaries, and whitish edging of the quills; tail dusky, tipped with white; bill and feet black; eyes blue." Elliot Coues, 1884

Honey Creeper

"Certhiola flaveola. Honey Creeper. Dark brown above; long superciliary line and under parts dull white;…

"Fig 178 - the dentirostral bill of a Tanager (Pyranga hepatica)" Elliot Coues, 1884

The Dentirostral Bill of a Tanager

"Fig 178 - the dentirostral bill of a Tanager (Pyranga hepatica)" Elliot Coues, 1884

"Fig 181 - Generic details of Hirundo horreorum(Barn Swallow) Deep lustrous steel-blue; forehead and entire under parts rufous, generally deepest on the forehead and throat; an imperfect steel-blue collar. Wings and tail blackish, with steel-blue or somewhat greenish gloss; the lateral pair of tail-feathers much lengthened and filiform at the end, all but central pair with white spot." Elliot Coues, 1884

Barn Swallow Details

"Fig 181 - Generic details of Hirundo horreorum(Barn Swallow) Deep lustrous steel-blue; forehead and…

"Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Tail deeply fornicate, nearly or about as long as the wings; lateral feather linear-attenuat, about twice as long as the middle feather." Elliot Coues, 1884

Barn Swallow Tail

"Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Tail deeply fornicate, nearly or about as long as the wings; lateral…

Aerial (top) view of Barn Swallow's bill "Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Bill of moderate size for this family, of the usual shape, with straight commissure; nostrils lateral overarched by a membranous scale." Elliot Coues, 1884

Barn Swallow Bill

Aerial (top) view of Barn Swallow's bill "Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Bill of moderate size for…

Side view of the Barn Swallow's claw. "Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Tarsi shorter than middle toe and claw, above feathered for a little distance; basal joint of middle toe partly adherent to both lateral toes." Elliot Coues, 1884

Barn Swallow Claw

Side view of the Barn Swallow's claw. "Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Tarsi shorter than middle toe…

"... basal webs generally run out to the end of the first, or along part of the second, phalanx of the toes; usually farther between the outer and middle that between the middle and inner toes. Such a foot is well illustrated by the semipalmated plover (Aegialites semipalmatus), semipalmated sandpiper(Ereunetes pusillus, fig 48)." Elliot coues, 1884

Half-Webbed Foot of a Sandpiper

"... basal webs generally run out to the end of the first, or along part of the second, phalanx of the…

The semipalmated (half-webbed) bases of toes on the foot of a Willet. "... basal webs generally run out to the end of the first, or along part of the second, phalanx of the toes; usually farther between the outer and middle that between the middle and inner toes." Elliot Coues, 1884

Half-Webbed Foot of a Willet

The semipalmated (half-webbed) bases of toes on the foot of a Willet. "... basal webs generally run…

"In the palmate or ordinary webbed foot, all the front toes are united by ample webs." Elliot Coues, 1884

Webbed Foot of a Tern

"In the palmate or ordinary webbed foot, all the front toes are united by ample webs." Elliot Coues,…

"...one or both webs may be so deeply incised, that is, cut away, that the palmation is practically reduced to semipalmation, as in terns of the genus Hydrochelidon." Elliot Coues, 1884

Incised Webbed Foot of a Tern

"...one or both webs may be so deeply incised, that is, cut away, that the palmation is practically…

"Typical passerine sternum, pectoral arches, and sternal ends of ribs; from the robin, Turdus migratorius, nat. size; Dr. R.W. Shufeldt, U.S.A. Sternum single-notched, with prominent costal processes and forked manubrium; five ribs reaching sternum, one rib "floating"" Elliot Coues, 1884

Sternum of a Robin

"Typical passerine sternum, pectoral arches, and sternal ends of ribs; from the robin, Turdus migratorius,…

"Right pectoral arch of a bird. s, scapula; c, coracoid; gl, glenoid, the cavity for head of humerus; cl, clavicle; hc, hypecleidium. In situ, the right end of the figure should tilt up a little. The pectoral arch is that bony structure by which the wings are borne upon the axial skeleton. It is to the fore limb what the pelvic arch is to the hind limb; but is disconnected from the back-bone and united with the breastbone, whereas the reverse arrangement obtains in the pelvic, which is fused with the sacral region of the spine. Each pectoral arch of birds consists (chiefly) of three bones: the scapula and coracoid, forming the shoulder-girdle proper, or scapular arch; and the accessory clavicles, or right and left half of the clavicular arch." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Right Pectoral Arch of a Bird

"Right pectoral arch of a bird. s, scapula; c, coracoid; gl, glenoid, the cavity for head of humerus;…

"Ampelis cedrorum. Cedar Waxwing. Carolina Waxwing. Cedar-bird. Cherry Bird. General color shading from clear pure ash on the upper tail-coverts and rump through olivaceous-cinnamon into a richer and somewhat purplish-cinnamon on the foreparts and head. On the under parts, the color shades through yellowish on the belly into white on the under tail-coverts. There is no demarcation of color whatever, and the tints are scarcely susceptible of adequate description. Frontlet, lores, and stripe through the eye, velvety-black; chin the same, soon shading into the color of the breast. A sharp white line on the side of the under jaw; a narrower one bordering the black frontlet and lores; lower eyelid white. quills of the wings slate-gray, blackening at the ends, paler along the edges of the inner webs; without white or yellow markings, as a rule; inner quills tipped with red horny appendages. Tail-feathers like the primaries, but tipped with yellow, and sometimes also showing red horny appendages. Bill plumbeous-black, sometimes paler at base; feet black." Elliot Coues, 1884

Cedar Waxwing

"Ampelis cedrorum. Cedar Waxwing. Carolina Waxwing. Cedar-bird. Cherry Bird. General color shading from…

"Generic details of a Myiadestes townsendi (Townsend's Flycatching Thrush); bill and foot nat. size, wing and tail 3/4ths."

Generic Details of a Thrush

"Generic details of a Myiadestes townsendi (Townsend's Flycatching Thrush); bill and foot nat. size,…

"Lanius borealis. Great Northern Shrike. Butcher-bird. Great Grey Shrike. Above, clear bluish-ash, blanching on rump and scapulars; below, white, always vermiculated transversely with fine wavy blackish lines; a broad black bar along side of head, not meeting its fellow across forehead, interrupted by a white crescent on under eyelid, and bordered above by hoary white that also occupies the extreme forehead; wings and tail black, the former with a large white spot near base of the primaries, and white tips of most of the quills, the latter with the outer web of the outer feather edged, and all the feathers excepting the middle pair broadly tipped, with white, and with concealed white bases; bill and feet bluish-black; eyes blackish. Elliot Coues, 1884

Butcher-bird

"Lanius borealis. Great Northern Shrike. Butcher-bird. Great Grey Shrike. Above, clear bluish-ash, blanching…

"Lanius borealis. Great Northern Shrike. Butcher-bird. Great Grey Shrike. Above, clear bluish-ash, blanching on rump and scapulars; below, white, always vermiculated transversely with fine wavy blackish lines; a broad black bar along side of head, not meeting its fellow across forehead, interrupted by a white crescent on under eyelid, and bordered above by hoary white that also occupies the extreme forehead; wings and tail black, the former with a large white spot near base of the primaries, and white tips of most of the quills, the latter with the outer web of the outer feather edged, and all the feathers excepting the middle pair broadly tipped, with white, and with concealed white bases; bill and feet bluish-black; eyes blackish. Elliot Coues, 1884

Butcher-bird Head

"Lanius borealis. Great Northern Shrike. Butcher-bird. Great Grey Shrike. Above, clear bluish-ash, blanching…

Fringilla coelebs. Chaffinch. A small finch with edges of the tail being white, white bars on wings, rump green, under parts reddish, and a bluish-gray cap.

Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs. Chaffinch. A small finch with edges of the tail being white, white bars on wings,…

"Fig 56 - Axial skeleton, minus the skull, of an owl, Asio wilsonianus, life size; from nature by Dr. R.W. Shufeldt, USA. at, atlas; ax,axis; cv, cervical vertebrae; c, c', cervical ribs, or free pleurapophyses; dv, dorsal vertebrae, excepting the last one, which joins the sacrum; R, two of the six true ribs (pleurapophyses), whereof sr is sacral; u, one of the five uncinate processes or epipleura; cr, two of the six sternal ribs(haemapophyses), whereof the sixth floats; p, pelvic or sacral region of the spine, comprehending one dorsal, and several lumbar, sacral proper, and urosacral vertebrae; I ilium; Is, ischium; P pubis; a, acetabulum; in, ischio-iliac foremen; o, obturator foramen; clv, caudal or coccygeal vertebrae, whereof py is the pygostyle; s, scapula; ohs, os humero-scapulare; cl, clavicle; C, coracoid; S, sternum." Elliot Coues, 1884

Axial Skeleton

"Fig 56 - Axial skeleton, minus the skull, of an owl, Asio wilsonianus, life size; from nature by Dr.…

"Pelvis of a heron (ardea herodias), nat. size, viewed from below; from nature by Dr. R.W. Shufeldt, U.S.A. dl, dorso-lumbar vertebrae to and including the last one, sc; below sc, for the extent of the large black spaces (opposite the arrow) are the true sacral vertebrae; us, urosacral vertebrae (opposite the five oval black spaces; Il, ilium; Is, ischium; P, pubis; ob, obturator foramen. The arrow flies into the acetabulum.

The Pelvis of a Heron

"Pelvis of a heron (ardea herodias), nat. size, viewed from below; from nature by Dr. R.W. Shufeldt,…

"Pelvis of a young grouse, showing three distinct bones. Il,P, ilium, ischium, pubis. In front of former a dorsal vertebra protrudes." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Pelvis of a Young Grouse

"Pelvis of a young grouse, showing three distinct bones. Il,P, ilium, ischium, pubis. In front of former…

"Carpodacus. Purple Bullfinch. Bill smaller and less turgid than in Pinicol or Pyrrhula, more regularly conic and more acute; sides convex in all directions, but with distinct ridge prolonged in a point on forehead where not concealed by the antiae, its outline moderately curved; commissure decidedly angulated, about straight before and behind the bend; gonys quite straight. Nasal ruff little developed, barely cocealing the slight nasal fossae, thence falling over sides of bill, but discontinuous across culmen." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Bill of a Purple Finch

"Carpodacus. Purple Bullfinch. Bill smaller and less turgid than in Pinicol or Pyrrhula, more regularly…

"Leucosticte tephrocotis. Swainson's Rosy Finch. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Sexes similar. Adult in breeding plumage or nearly so: Bill and feet black. Nasal plumules white. Frontlet black; rest of pileum hoary-ash, not descending below level of eyes and upper border of auriculars (for when the ash invades the sides of head to any extent, the bird takes the first step toward litoralis, in which the head is extensively hooded in ash). General color, sides of head included, chocolate or liver-brown of varying intensity, many feathers skirted with gray or whitish, especially the interscapulars, which also have dusky centres, and inclining to blackish on chin and throat. Hinder parts of the body above and below, including tail-coverts, rich rosy or carmine red, this color due to broad edgings of the dusky feathers of these parts. Wings and tail blackish, the wing-coverts and primaries edged with rosy, showing nearly continuous in the closed wing; edgings of inner secondaries rosy-white or white." Elliot Coues, 1884

Swainson's Rosy Finch

"Leucosticte tephrocotis. Swainson's Rosy Finch. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Sexes similar. Adult in breeding…

" Fig 110 - Hens egg, nat. size, in section; from Owen, after A. Thompson. A, cicatricle or "tread," with its nucleus, of white germ-yelk, floating on surface of pale thin nutritive yelk, leading to central yelk-cavity, x; a, the yellow yelk-ball, deposited in the successive layers, forming a set of halones, and enveloped in the chalaziferous membrane which is spun out at opposite poles into the twisted strings, chalazae, c, c; b, b', successive investments of softer white albumen; d, membrana putaminis, the "soft shell" or egg-pod, between layers of which at the great end of the egg is the air space, f;e, the shell." Elliot Coues, 1884

Hen's Egg

" Fig 110 - Hens egg, nat. size, in section; from Owen, after A. Thompson. A, cicatricle or "tread,"…

"Astragalinus tristis. American Goldfinch. Yellow-bird. Thistle-bird. In summer: Rich yellow, changing to whitish on the tail-coverts; a black patch on the crown; wings black, ore or less edged with white; lesser wing-coverts white or yellow; greater coverts tipped with white; tail black, every feather with a white spot; bill and feet flesh-colored. In September, the black cap disappears; the general plumage changes to a pale flaxen-brown above and whitey-brown below, with traces of the yellow, especially about the head; wings and tail much as in summer; sexes then much alike: this continues until the following April or May." Elliot Coues, 1884

American Goldfinch

"Astragalinus tristis. American Goldfinch. Yellow-bird. Thistle-bird. In summer: Rich yellow, changing…