Books About Birds: Papers by Robert Ridgway

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Robert Ridgway pages

There are three Robert Ridgway pages on the site:


A Winter With The Birds In Costa Rica Robert Ridgway The Condor, Vol 7, No. 6, pages 151-160 1905 Opening lines: "Probably every ornithologist has hoped sometime in his life to visit the Tropics and see for himself the many wonderful things of which he has heard or read so much, and especially to see alive and in their natural environment, the strange and beautiful birds so inseparably associated in his mind with tropical lands. I had myself for many years looked forward to the possibility of such an enjoyable experience, but without serious expectation that my hope would ever be realized until the receipt of a cordial invitation from my friend Don Jose. Zeledon, of San Jose, Costa Rica, offered the desired opportunity, and I accordingly started for Costa Rica, accompanied by my wife, on November 28, 1904. Arriving in San Jose on December 8, we remained until May 28, 1905, our stay therefore covering a period of nearly six months, during which the country was traversed from ocean to ocean and from sea-level to the highest point of land, the summit of Irazu, 11500 feet in elevation."

Birds of the Galapagos Archipelago Robert Ridgway Proceedings, Volume XIX United States National Museum 1896 From the introduction: "While the present publication is intended to embody practically all that is known of the avifauna of the Galapagos archipelago, it does not claim to be exhaustive, for a great deal has yet to be learned before anything like a complete exposition of the subject is possible. Although our knowledge of the bird life of this interesting island group has been vastly increased since the publication of Darwin’s discoveries there, chiefly through the large collections made by Dr. Habel in 1868, the naturalists of the Albatross in 1888 and 1891, and Mcssrs. Baur and Adams m 1891, the information which has accumulated is still too fragmentary to warrant a serious attempt to solve the problems to which Mr. Darwin first called attention. Theories as to the origin of the Galapagoan fauna and related problems will therefore be briefly touched in the following pages, the principal object of the work being to collate the knowledge thus far secured and thereby facilitate future investigation in the field whose natural products afforded the basis of Darwin’s deductions concerning the complicated problems involve

On Birds Collected By Doctor W. L. Abbott In The Seychelles, Amirantes, Gloriosa, Assumption, Aldabra, And Adjacent Islands, With Notes On Habits, Etc., By The Collector Robert Ridgway Volume 18, pages 509-546 Proceedings Of The United States National Museum 1895 Opening lines: "The present paper is based upon two collections made by Dr. W. L. Abbott, of Philadelphia; one, of 59 specimens, on the Seychelles, during March, April, and May, 1890; the other, of 205 specimens, on Aldabra, Assumption, the Amirante group, Ile Glorieuse, and other islands northwest of Madagascar, during the period extending from July, 1892, to January, 1893, inclusive. The representation of species, including several accidental visitants, is believed by Dr. Abbott to be very nearly complete, as the following extract from a letter received from him, written at Mahe, Seychelles, March 10, 1893, will more fully explain."

Descriptions Of Twenty-Two New Species Of Birds From The Galapagos Island Robert Ridgway Volume 17, pages 357-370 Proceedings Of The United States National Museum 1894 Opening lines: "The very large and valuable collection of Galapagos birds made by Dr. G. Baur and Mr. C. F. Adams, in 1891, was referred to me for determination of the species soon after the return of those gentlemen from their highly successful exploration of that remarkable island group, but various circumstances have prevented an earlier publication of the results of my study of the collection. Many of the specimens having been obtained on islands never before visited by a collector, it is to be expected that novelties would be found among the rich material which it has been my privilege to study. One box containing more than one hundred specimens of small birds collected on Charles, Hood, Barrington, and South Albemarle islands was unfortunately stolen at Guayaquil. Had these specimens been received, there can be no doubt that the number of new forms to be here characterized would be still greater."

A Revision Of The Genus Formicarius Boddaert Robert Ridgway Volume 16, pages 667-686 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1893 Opening lines: "The present attempt to elucidate the species and local forms of the Genus Formicarius was bought about by a peculiar combination of circumstances. The U.S. National Museum has for a long time possessed specimens of two forms from Central America, one represented by specimens from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the other by specimens from Panama; and, although unquestionably distinct forms, all were labeled Formicarius hoffmanni.."

Scientific results of explorations by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross No. XXVII. Catalogue of a collection of birds made in Alaska by Mr. C. H. Townsend during the cruise of the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross, in the summer and autumn of 1888 Robert Ridgway Volume 16, pages 663-665 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1893

On A Small Collection Of Birds From Costa Rica Robert Ridgway Volume 16, pages 609-614 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1893 Opening lines: "The specimens referred to in the following notes were kindly submitted by the authorities of the Costa Rica National Museum, through Mr. George K. Cherrie, the ornithologist of that establishment."

Remarks On The Avian Genus Myiarchus, With Special Reference To M. Yucatanensis Lawrence Robert Ridgway Volume 16, pages 605-608 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1893 Opening lines: "The discrimination and identification of tbe species and geographical races of the genus Myiarchus is one of the most difficult tasks with which the student of Neotropical ornithology has to deal, the style of their coloration being remarkably uniform, the species numerous, and their geographical variations perplexing. Some forms once considered specifically distinct, and indeed very different from one another when specimens from distant areas are compared, are connected by intermediate specimens where their respective ranges come together; in some cases (as for example that of M. cinerascens and M. nuttingi) it is not at all improbable that hybridism plays a part and thus complicates the problem; but in others (e. g., M. mexicanus and M. magister) the intergradation is on too extensive a scale to warrant serious consideration of hybridism as the probable cause."

Descriptions Of Some New Birds Collected On The Islands Of Aldabra And Assumption, Northwest Of Madagascar, By Dr. W. L. Abbott Robert Ridgway Volume 16, pages 597-600 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1893

Notes on the genus Sittasomus of Swainson Robert Ridgway Volume 14, pages 507-510 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1891 Opening lines: "In his recently published catalogue of the Tracheophonea, pages 118-121, Dr. P. L. Sclater recognizes three species of Sittasomus, as follows ...."

Notes On Some Costa Rican Birds Robert Ridgway Volume 14, pages 473-478 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1891 Opening lines: "For the privilege of exainining and reporting upon a small but very interesting collection of birds from that remarkably prolific country, the author is indebted to the courtesy of the Director of the Costa Rica National Museum, Sr. Anastasio Alfaro."

List Of Birds Collected On The Bahama Islands By The Naturalists Of The Fish Commission Steamer Albatross Robert Ridgway Volume 8, pages 333-339 The Auk 1891

Scientific results of explorations by the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross. No. I.. Birds collected on the Galapagos Islands in 1888 Robert Ridgway Proceedings, Vol XII, pages 101-128 United States National Museum 1890 From the introduction to part I: "The collection of birds made by the Fish Commission Steamer Albatross having been placed by the Commissioner of Fisheries in my hands for identification and report, the following list of the species is herewith given, classified according to locality, and accompanied by such notes as seem necessary or desirable. The collection was made by Prof Leslie A. Lee, naturalist of the expedition, assisted by Mr. Charles H. Townsend and Mr. Thomas Lee, and would doubtless have been much more extensive had not other duties, more closely connected with the main objects of the cruise, prevented"

Scientific Results Of Explorations By The U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross. No. II.. Birds Collected On The Island Of Santa Lucia, West Indies, The Abrolhos Islands, Brazil, And At The Straits Of Magellan, In 1887-'88 Robert Ridgway Proceedings, Vol XII, pages 129-139 United States National Museum 1890 From the introduction to part I: "The collection of birds made by the Fish Commission Steamer Albatross having been placed by the Commissioner of Fisheries in my hands for identification and report, the following list of the species is herewith given, classified according to locality, and accompanied by such notes as seem necessary or desirable. The collection was made by Prof Leslie A. Lee, naturalist of the expedition, assisted by Mr. Charles H. Townsend and Mr. Thomas Lee, and would doubtless have been much more extensive had not other duties, more closely connected with the main objects of the cruise, prevented"

A Review Of The Genus Sclerurus of Swainson Robert Ridgway Volume 12, pages 12-31 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1889 Opening lines: "The following attempt at a revision of the species of this difficult genus was brought about by the necessity of determining certain unnamed specimens in the National Museum collection. It has proved a difficult task, rendered particularly so by the confusion of synonyms which had to be unraveled, caused, in part, by the unnecessary lumping together of forms which, on comparison of specimens, are found to be perfectly distinct, although it is probable some of them will require a trinomial title when they shall have been found to intergrade with others."

A Review Of The Genus Xiphocolaptes Of Lesson Robert Ridgway Volume 12, pages 1-20 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1889 Opening lines: "Two specimens of an unknown species of this genus, from Costa Rica, having been sent to me for identification by the director of the Costa Hica National Museum, I found myself led into au investigation which, contrary to my expectation or desire, has involved a very considerable amount of labor and research."

Notes On Costa Rican Birds, With Descriptions Of Seven New Species And Subspecies And One New Genus Robert Ridgway Volume 11, pages 537-546 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1888 Opening lines: "With their accustomed liberality, the authorities of the National Museum of Costa Rica have sent me for examination a large collection of birds from that country, and given permission to describe any that were new to science. The collection, while consisting chiefly of species that are already known, includes several that are new, one of them being a remarkable new genus of uncertain affinities, besides others which are worthy of mention on account of their rarity."

Catalogue Of A Collection Of Birds Made By Mr. Chas. H. Townsend, On Islands In The Caribbean Sea And In Honduras Robert Ridgway Volume 10, pages 572-597 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1887 Opening lines: "In the Auk for October, 1886, on pages 497-501, Mr. Charles B. Cory has published 'Descriptions of thirteen new species of birds from the island of Grand Cayman, West Indies,' and on pages 501, 502, 'A list of the birds collected in the island of Grand Cayman, West Indies, by W. B. Richardson, during the summer of 18SG.' The last-mentioned list enumerates forty species as having been found on the island."

A Review Of The Genus Psittacula Of Brisson Robert Ridgway Volume 10, pages 529-548 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1887 Opening lines: "The number of species of this genus admitted by different writers varies greatly. Exciuding the large number of species by him wrongly referred to it, Dr. Otto Finsch, in his "Die Papageien" (1868), recognizes only five, viz, P. passerina (LINN.), P. sclateri GRAY, P. cyanopyga SOUANCE, P. conspicicillata LAFR., and P. coelestis (LESS). The first of these, however, includes two or more additional species which Dr. Finsch supposed to represent merely immature stages or 'transitional plumages' of P. passerina."

Descriptions Of Some New Species And Subspecies Of Birds From Middle America Robert Ridgway Volume 10, pages 505-510 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1887

A review of the genus Dendrocincla Gray Robert Ridgway Volume 10, pages 488-497 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1887 Opening lines: "Probably no group of birds presents greater difficulties to the student than the great Neotropical family Dendrocolaptidae, embracing nearly 300 plainly colored species, among which an essentially similar style of coloration is often repeated in widely different genera, while the various species, sometimes numerous, within one genus are usually distinguished by characters which are obvious only on actual comparison of specimens. The vague descriptions of many authors renders it almost a hopeless task to attempt to identify their species from the descriptions alone; and type specimens, when they are in existence, are scattered through the museums in various countries, many of them being thus practically inaccessible."

On Phrygilus Gayi (Eyd. & Gerv.) And Allied Species Robert Ridgway Volume 10, pages 431-435 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1887 Opening lines: "The collection of the United States National Museum contains examples of three species of this perplexing group, viz, P. gayi (Eyd, & Gerv.), P. formosus (Gould), and an undescribed species from Lake Titicaca, Peru. The two former are represented by specimens received from the National Museum of Chili, and were determined, respectively, as P. aldunatei (Gay) and P. gayi, in accordance with the very general custom of applying these two names, a custom which I hope to be able to show is erroneous."

Catalogue Of A Collection Of Birds Made On The Island Of Cozumel, Yucatan, By The Naturalists Of The U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross, Capt. Z.L. Tanner, Commander Robert Ridgway Volume 8, pages 560-583 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1885 Opening lines: " In a pamphlet of four pages, entitled Description of some New Species of Birds from Cozumel Island, Yucatan, published at Washington, February 2G, 1885, the writer gave brief diagnoses of thirteen new species, and promised a full report upon the collection to be published in the Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum. On account of pressure of other duties, it has not been found practicable to make the report as complete as might be desired, or to present it sooner; but it is believed that on many accounts it will be better to publish it in its present form, rather than secure greater elaboration at the expense of additional delay."

A Review Of The American "Golden Warblers" Robert Ridgway Volume 8, pages 348-350 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1885 Opening lines: "In a short paper published in the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, vol. iii, pp. 1-4, I briefly characterized a new form of this group from the island of Cozumel, Yucatan, under the name of Dendroica petechia rufivertex. The birds of this group being much confused, it was found necessary, before the status of the Cozumel bird could be determined, to carefully examine all the material available (embracing considerably more than one hundred specimens from tropical America, besides a very extensive series of D. oestiva from North America); and as the results of this examination may be of interest, a brief synopsis is herewith presented, together with a fuller diagnosis of the Cozumel form, and also another new one from Lower California and western Mexico."

Description Of Three Supposed New Honey Creepers From The Lesser Antilles, With A Synopsis Of The Species Of The Genus Certhiola Robert Ridgway Volume 8, pages 25-30 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1885

A Review Of The American Crossbills (Loxia) Of The L. Curvirostra Type Robert Ridgway Volume 2, pages 101-107 Proceedings of The Biological Society of Washington 1885 Opening lines: "Having long suspected the existence of two forms of the Red Crossbill in the United States, besides the Mexican race (Z. mexicana Strickl.) which occurs just within our borders in Southern Arizona (and perhaps also in New Mexico), I was not surprised to find this conviction fully confirmed by a fine series of specimens presented to the National Museum by Captain Chas. E. Bendire, U. S. A., and obtained by him at Fort Klamath, Oregon, during the winter of 1882-83. The form under consideration being unquestionably distinct from both L. americana and L. mexicana, as well as from the several Palearctic races, and being, so far as I am able to discover, unnamed, I take great pleasure in dedicating it to Captain Bendire as a slight recognition of his very valuable services to North American ornithology."

On A Collection Of Birds Made By Messrs. J. E. Benedict And W. Nye, Of The United States Fish Commission Steamer Albatross Robert Ridgway Volume 7, pages 172-180 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1884 Opening lines: "A collection of birds made by Messrs. J. E. Benedict and W. Nye, naturalists accompanying the steamer Albatross on her winter's cruise through West Indian waters and along the southern coast of the Caribbean Sea, although not extensive, is of much interest. This is especially true of those collected on the island of Old Providence, 250 miles north of Aspiuwall, all the species from that locality being new to science."

On Some Costa Rican Birds, With Description Of Several Supposed New Species Robert Ridgway Volume 6, pages 410-415 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1883 Opening lines: "The following interesting species are included in a small collection of birds lately received by the National Museum from Sr. Don Jose C. Zeledon, of San Jose, Costa Rica."

Catalogue Of A Collection Of Birds Made In The Interior Of Costa Rica By Mr. C.C. Nutting Robert Ridgway Volume 5, pages 493-502 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1882 Opening lines: "On page 383 of the present volume, reference is made to a collection of birds from the interior of Costa Rica, but which at the time of writing- had not been received. This collection has lately come to hand, and a list of the species is presented herewith. The better to aid our knowledge of the geographical distribution of Central American birds, the specimens collected at the two principal points of San Jose and the Volcan de Irazu, are given in separate lists."

On a collection of birds from the Hacienda La Palma, Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica C.C. Nutting With critical notes by Robert Ridgway Volume 5, pages 392-409 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1882 Opening lines: "Costa Rica, the southernmost of the Central American States, lies between the eighth and eleventh degrees north latitude, quite a considerable portion being actually south of Panama, owing to the peculiar curve of the continent between Costa Rica and South America proper."

Nomenclature Of North American Birds Chiefly Contained In The United States National Museum Robert Ridgway Bulletin No. 21 United States National Museum Government Printing Office 1881 From the introduction: "Since the publication, in 1859, of the last Smithsonian catalogue of North American birds, so many important changes have been made in the nomenclature of the species, and so numerous have been the accessions to the fauna, that the wants of ornithologists require a new list which shall bring the subject fully up to date. It also appears desirable that an analysis should be given of the principal points of variance, numerical and otherwise, between the list which is herewith presented and that which has for so many years been the standard of reference; while, in order to further increase the utility of the list, a brief review of the revisions of nomenclature which have been adopted, the species added to the fauna, and other matters of like interest, is given under appropriate headings on pages 59-84."

Notes On Some Costa Rican Birds Robert Ridgway Volume 4, pages 333-337 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1881 Opening lines: "The following birds, all of greater or less interest, have recently been received at the National Museum from Sr. Don Jose C. Zeledon, of San Jose."

List Of Species Of Middle And South American Birds Not Contained In The United States National Museum Robert Ridgway Volume 4, pages 165-203 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1881 Opening lines: "None of the species named in the following list are at present in the collection of the United States National Museum, and any of them that can be supplied by correspondents of the Museum, or of the Smithsonian Institution, will be very thankfully received."

A Review Of The Genus Centurus, Swainson Robert Ridgway Volume 4, pages 93-119 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1881 Opening lines: "The collection of the United States National Museum contains examples of all the known species of the genus Centurus, excepting C. hypopolius (Wagl.), C. ruhriventris Swains., and C. terricolor Berlepsch, the two latter being of somewhat doubtful status. More or less confusion has hitherto existed regarding the nomenclature of several of the Middle American forms, and it was the desire to clear away as much of this confusion as possible that prompted the investigations upon which this review is based, and which have led to the discovery of relationships which were before quite unsuspected, at least by the writer."

Catalogue Of Trochilidae In The Collection Of The United States National Museum Robert Ridgway Volume III, pages 308-320 Proceedings of The United States National Museum 1880 Opening lines: "The following catalogue enumerates all the species of Humming Birds which are contained in the collection of the National Museum, with the localities represented, the latter being in many cases additional to those given in standard text-books relating to this family of birds. The chief aim of the list is to show what species are wanted to complete the collection, and exchanges to this end are respectfully solicited."

A Catalogue Of The Birds Of North America Robert Ridgway Volume III, pages 163-246 Proceedings of The United States National Museum 1880 Opening lines: "During the interval of twenty-one years which ha« elapsed since the publication of the last Smithsonian catalogue, a great advance has naturally been made in our knowledge of North American ornithology; and so numerous and important are the changes which have resulted, through additions of new species, rectifications of synonymy, etc., that a new list seems desirable to take the place of the old one."

Revision Of Nomenclature Of Certain North American Birds Robert Ridgway Volume III, pages 1-16 Proceedings of The United States National Museum 1880 Opening lines: "The following emendations of nomenclature apply both to species enumerated in the latest published list of North American birds - Coues's Check List, and others not contained therein. These two series are therefore included in separate categories, the former having, for convenience of reference, the corresponding number of the Check List prefixed to each name."

Descriptions Of Two New Species Of Birds From Costa Rica, And Notes On Other Rare Species From That Country Robert Ridgway Volume 1, pages 252-255 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1878 Opening lines: "A small collection of birds brought from Costa Rica by Mr. Jose C. Zeledon includes several exceedingly rare and interesting species, among which may be mentioned a young male of Carpodectes nitidus, a second specimen of Porzana einereiceps, Lawr., the recently described Zonotrichia vulcani, and Phoenoptila melanoxantha, besides Pyrgisoma capitalis, Panterpe insignis, Geotrygon costaricensis, etc. In addition to the above are the two following, which are believed to be undescribed."

A Review Of The American Species Of The Genus Scops, Savigny Robert Ridgway Volume 1, pages 85-117 Proceedings of the United States National Museum 1878 Opening lines: "Previous to the publication, some two years since, of Mr, R. B. Sharpe's admirable work on the Strigidae, I had paid considerable attention to the study of the American Scops-owls, but the lack of sufficient material prevented my reaching any very positive conclusion as to several forms of questioned validity. More recently, however, through the assistance of several friends, among whom I may name in particular Mr. Osbert Salvin, of England, and Mr. George N. Lawrence, of New York City (both of whom have kindly loaned me their entire series), I have been enabled to bring together a collection amply sufficient to settle former doubts."

The Genus Glaucidium Robert Ridgway Colour plate (Glaucidium jardinii): J.G. Keulemans Ibis: Volume 18, Issue 1, pages 11-17 1876 Opening lines: "Two monographs of the genus Glaucidium have recently appeared the first in the 'Proceedings' of the Boston Society of Natural History for May 1873, by the writer, and the second in 'The Ibis' for January 1875. The latter, by Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, is a review of the former paper, and embodies, besides certain criticisms, numerous remarks based upon very large series of the several species. The present paper represents the conclusions arrived at after a careful reconsideration of the subject, with much additional material, and the benefit of Mr. Sharpe's monograph, and is intended as a special discussion of the points of variance between the two memoirs."

Outlines Of A Natural Arrangement Of The Falconidae Robert Ridgway Department Of The Interior Government Printing Office 1875 [Extracted From Bulletin Of The United States Geological And Geographical Survey Of The Territories, No. 4, Second Series] Opening lines: "Until very recently, the Birds of Prey have been classified entirely according to their external characters, the primary division being into three so-called families; as follows: (1) Vulturidae, or vultures, characterized by their naked heads, sluggish habits, and filthy food; (2) Falconidae, or falcons, hawks, eagles, and other diurnal birds of prey, distinguished by their feathered head and predatory nature; and (3) Strigidae, or owls, known from both the preceding by having the eyes directed forward, instead of laterally, and by being nocturnal."

Studies of the American Falconidæ: Monograph of the Genus Micrastur Robert Ridgway Volume 27, pages 470-502 Proceedings of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 1875 Opening lines: "No group of American hawks has presented more numerous difficulties in the way of elucidating and strongly characterizing its species; and so complex are the obstacles presented in this case, that the conclusions of authors, who have made the genus Micrastur a subject of special study, are very conflicting. The brevity and otherwise unsatisfactory nature of the original descriptions of the older species is the main difficulty, but the perplexing stages of plumage, which in this genus are very remarkable, and so far as we know entirely peculiar among the Falconidae, add still more to the confusion into which their synonymy has fallen. In the latter we have reference to the fact, perhaps not yet generally known, that two distinct phases of color, a gray and a rufescent, occur in some of the species at all stages of growth, which circumstance has but very recently been taken into consideration in defining the specific characters."