File:Report on the birds of Pennsylvania - with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations (1890) (20047203583).jpg

Title: Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations
Identifier: commercialpoultr11 (find matches)
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Warren, Benjamin Harry, 1858-
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Harrisburg : E. K. Meyers, State Printer
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
i; I'! 66 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, writer, in referring to examinations which he made, states that the teeth of the pectinated claw were thirty-five or forty in number, and, as they contained particles of the down of the bird, showed evidently from this circumstance that they act the part of a comb to rid the bird of vermin in those parts which it cannot reach with its bill. The late Isaac G. Darling-ton, of West Chester, some years ago, had large numbers of gold-fishes in a pond near his residence. One day Mr. Darlington caught twenty-five of these fish and placed them in a small pool, intend- ing to remove them the following morning. About bedtime, Mr. D. said, I heard a loud squawking, and on going out saw two Night Herons actively engaged in catching these fish. I shot one of these robbers, which you there see mounted, on the book-case, and on making an in- vestigaton found only one of the fish remaining. "An incident may illustrate the habits of the Night Heron, and perhaps of the whole family. A Night Heron had been noticed for several days sitting on a tree near a branch of White Clay creek. It was at length shot and brought tome, with the tail of a large fish projecting four inches beyond its bill. On removing the fish (a sucker Catostomus, which must have been twelve inches long), its head and shoulders—except the bony por- tions—were eaten away by the gastric liquor of the stomach."—Michener. I have examined the stomachs of twenty odd of these herons, adult and young, which have been shot in June at the breeding-gi'ounds, and found in all only the remains of fishes. In two or three immature birds, taken in August and September, I have discovered a few grasshoppers and portions of insects. Note.—The Yellow-crowTied Night Heron (N. violaceus) which is found in eastern North America, "from the Carolinas and the lower Ohio valley south to Brazil," has not, within the last twenty years, to my knowledge been observed in Pennsylvania. Dr. Turnbull, * wTiting of this species says: "A rare straggler from the south. It has been seen on the borders of the Schuylkill near Philadelphia." • Btrfis of East Pennsylvauia and New Jersey, published in 1801). Piatc J 5.
Text Appearing After Image:
Red-tailed Eawk. L Male; 2, Female, COLOR PLATE

Note About Images