Transactions of the Linnean Society of London/Volume 12/Some Account of the Tantalus Ephouskyca, a rare American Bird
V. Some Account of the Tantalus Ephouskyca, a rare American Bird. By Benjamin Smith Barton, M.D. F.M.L.S.
Read June 6, 1815.
The annexed figure (Tab. I.) of a rare American bird, together with those very few facts and circumstances which I have been able to collect concerning the bird, may, I flatter myself, prove acceptable to the Linnean Society. It may be proper to observe, that although the drawing, by my friend Mr. William Bartram, has been in my possession for many years, no engraving has ever been made from it.
We know little or nothing of this bird, but what has been communicated to us by the ingenious gentleman just mentioned. I here subjoin all that he has said concerning it.
"There is inhabiting the low shores and swamps of this river[1], and the lakes of Florida, as well as Georgia, a very curious bird, called by an Indian name, (Ephouskyca[2],) which signifies in our language the Crying Bird. I cannot determine what genus of European birds to join it with. It is about the size of a large domestic hen. All the body, above and beneath, is of a dark lead colour, every feather edged or tipped with white, which makes the bird appear speckled on a near view: the eye is large, and placed high on the head, which is very prominent: the bill or beak is 
Tantalus Ephouskyca.
five or six inches in length, arched or bent gradually downwards, in that respect to be compared to one half of a bent bow: it is large or thick near the base, compressed on each side, and flatted at top and beneath, which makes it appear four-square for more than an inch, where the nostrils are placed, from whence to their tips both mandibles are round, gradually lessening or tapering to their extremities, which are thicker for about half an inch than immediately above, by which the mandibles never fit quite close their whole length : the upper mandible is a small matter longer than the under: the bill is of a dusky green colour, more bright and yellowish about the base and angles of the mouth. The tail is very short, and the middle feather the longest: the others on each side shorten gradually, and are of the colour of the rest of the bird, only somewhat darker: the two shortest or outermost feathers arc perfectly white, which the bird has a faculty of flirting out on either side as quick as a flash of lightning, especially when he hears or sees any thing that disturbs him, uttering at the same instant an extreme harsh and loud shriek. His neck is long and slender; and his legs are also long, and bare of feathers above the knee, like those of the bittern, and are black, or of a dark lead colour[3]."
It will be evident, I think, from an inspection of the drawing, that the Ephouskyca is a species of the genus Tantalus or Ibis; a genus of which America produces many species, several of which are now known to be natives of the United States. I cannot, however, find that the "Crying Bird" is noticed by any of the European ornithologists. I am pretty sure that it is not one of the nineteen species described by Mr. Latham in his General Synopsis of Birds. I may add, that our bird has entirely escaped the notice of the late Mr. Wilson, author of the American Ornithology. This gentleman has noticed only three species of the genus Tantalus, viz. Tantalus Loculator, or Wood Ibis; T. ruber, or scarlet Ibis; and T. albus, or white Ibis. I think it highly probable that the two last birds are really one and the same species.
I am fully sensible how imperfect are these notices: but I have not hitherto been able to obtain any thing more satisfactory on the subject, though I have for several years endeavoured, through the medium of my correspondents in the country of the Muscogulge, or Creek-Indians, to obtain a specimen of the bird. I have no doubt that I shall ultimately be successful in my researches. In this case, I shall not fail to communicate something much more satisfactory on the subject to the Linnæan Society, whose pursuits are at all times highly interesting to me.
I shall only further observe at present, that should the Crying Bird prove to be a new species of Tantalus (I mean a species not noticed by any systematic ornithologist), it may be well to call it Tantalus Ephouskyca. This, I have already observed, is its Indian name, the literal meaning of which has been mentioned. Ephous, or Ephaus, in the language of the Creek Indians, signifies a bird. — Nor will those who are well versed in the study of the oriental languages, fail to observe how close is the affinity between this word and the word for bird in the language of the ancient Chaldeans: I may add, even in the Hebrew. That this affinity is not accidental, will appear more probable from what I am now to state; that the Creek and other North-American languages contain many words that are most palpably derived from the Chaldaic, Hebrew, Persian, &c.[4]
There is no reason to believe that the Tantalus Ephouskyca has ever been seen in the United States, to the north of Georgia, or at least of the Carolinas. In page 293, Mr. Bartram mentions it as one of those birds which are natives of Carolina and Florida, and continue the year round in those countries. I have no doubt that we shall find our Tantalus in Cayenne, and other parts of southern America. I have elsewhere shown that the American animals have a great geographical range.
Philadelphia, July 10, 1814.
- ↑ The St. Juan, in East Florida.
- ↑ "Tantalus pictus." In another part of his work (p. 293.) Mr. Bartram mentions our bird by the same name.
- ↑ Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, &c., by William Bartram, pp. 147, 148. Philadelphia, 1791.
- ↑ See my New Views, &c. Philadelphia, 1798.